the World yet he was raised up by the Spirit The same Power the Spirit of God puts forth in working Faith the Spirit irradiates the Mind subdues the Will the Will naturally is like a Garrison which holds out against God the Spirit with a sweet Violence conquers or rather changeth the Will making the Sinner willing to have Christ upon any Terms to be ruled by him as well as saved by him Quest. Wherein lyes the Preciousness of Faith Resp. As Faith is the chief Gospel-grace the Head of the Graces as Gold among Mettals so is Faith among the Graces Clem. Alexandrinus calls the other Graces the Daughters of Faith Indeed in Heaven Love will be the chief Grace but while we are here Militant Love must give place to Faith Love takes Possession of Glory but Faith gives a Title to it Love is the Crowning Grace in Heaven but Faith is the Conquering Grace upon Earth 1 Joh. 5.4 This is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith 2. As Faith hath influence upon all the Graces and sets them awork not a Grace stirs till Faith set it awork As the Clothier sets the Poor awork he sets their Wheel a going Faith sets Hope awork The Heir must believe his Title to an Estate in Reversion before he can hope for it Faith believes its Title to Glory and then Hope waits for it Did not Faith feed the Lamp of Hope with Oyl it would soon dye Faith sets Love awork Gal. 5.6 Faith which worketh by love believing the Mercy and Merit of Christ causeth a flame of Love to ascend Faith sets Patience a work Heb. 6.12 Be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises Faith believes the glorious Rewards given to Suffering this makes the Soul patient in suffering Thus Faith is the Master-wheel it sets all the other Graces a running 3. As Faith is the Grace which God honours to Iustifie and Save thus indeed it is precious Faith as the Apostle calls it 2 Pet. 1.1 The other Graces help to sanctify but it is Faith that justifies Rom. 5.1 Being justified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by faith Repentance or Love do not justifie but Faith Quest. How doth Faith justifie Resp. Faith doth not justify 1. As it is a Work that were to make a Christ of our Faith but Faith justifies as it lays hold of the Object viz. Christ's Merits If a Man had a precious Stone in a Ring that could heal we say the Ring heals but properly it is not the Ring but the precious Stone in the Ring heals Thus Faith saves and justifies but it is not any inherent Vertue in Faith but as it lays hold on Christ so it justifies 2. Faith doth not justify as it exerciseth Grace It cannot be denied Faith doth Invigorate all the Graces it puts strength and liveliness into them but it doth not justifie under this Notion Faith works by Love but it doth not justifie as it works by Love but as it applys Christ's Merits Quest. Why should Faith save and justifie more then any other Grace Resp. 1. Because of God's Sanction He hath appointed this Grace to be justifying and he doth it because Faith is a Grace that takes a Man off himself and gives all the Honour to Christ and Free-grace Rom. 4.20 Strong in faith giving glory to God Therefore God hath put this Honour on Faith to make it saving and justifying The King's Stamp makes the Coyn pass for Currant if he would put his Stamp upon Leather as well as Silver it would make it Currant So God having put his Sanction the Stamp of his Authority and Institution upon Faith this makes it to be justifying and saving 2. Because Faith makes us one with Christ Eph. 3.17 It is the espousing incorporating Grace it gives us Coalition and Union with Christ's Person other Graces make us like Christ Faith makes us Members of Christ. 1. Use of Exhortation Let us above all things labour for Faith Fides est sanctissimum humani pectoris bonum Ephes. 6.16 Above all taking the shield of faith Faith will be of more use to us then any Grace as an Eye though dim was of more use to an Israâ—lite then all the other Members of his Body not a strong Arm or a nimble Foot it was his Eye looking on the Brazen Serpent that cured him It is not Knowledge though Angelical not Repentance though we could shed Rivers of Tears could justifie us only Faith whereby we look on Christ. Without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 and if we do not please him by believing he will not please us in saving of us Faith is the Condition of the Covenant of Grace without Faith without Covenant and without Covenant without Hope Eph. 2.12 2. Use of Tryal Let us try whether we have Faith There is something looks like Faith and is not a Bristol-stone looks like Diamond Some Plants have the same Leaf with others but the Herbalist can distinguish them by the Root and Tast. Something may look like true Faith but it may be distinguished by the Fruits Let us be serious in the Tryal of our Faith there is much depends upon our Faith If our Faith be not good there is nothing good comes from us our Duties and Graces are adulterate Quest. Well then how shall we know it is a true Faith Resp. By the Noble Effects 1. Faith is a Christ-prizing Grace it puts an high Valuation upon Christ 1 Pet. 2.7 To you that believe he is precious St. Paul did best know Christ 1 Cor. 9.1 Have I not seen Iesus Christ our Lord Paul saw Christ with his bodily Eyes in a Vision when he was wrapped up into the third Heaven and he saw him with the Eye of his Faith in the Holy Supper ergo he best knew Christ. And see how he stiles all things in comparison of him Phil. 3.8 I count all things but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dung that I may win Christ. Do we set an high Estimate on Christ could we be willing to part with our Wedg of Gold for the Pearl of Price Greg. Nazianzen blessed God he had any thing to lose for Christ's sake 2. Faith is a refining Grace 1 Tim. 3.9 Mystery of faith in a pure conscience Faith is in the Soul as Fire among Metals it refines and purifies Morality may wash the outside Faith washeth the inside Acts 15.9 Having purified their hearts by faith Faith makes the Heart a Sacrary or Holy of Holies Faith is a Virgin-Grace tho' it doth not take away the Life of Sin yet love of Sin Examine if your Heart be an Unclean Fountain sending out Mud and Dirt Pride Envy if there be Legions of Lusts in thy Soul there is no Faith Faith is an Heavenly Plant which will not grow in an impure Soil 3. Faith is an Obediential Grace Rom. 16.26 The obedience of faith Faith melts our Will into Gods Faith runs at God's Call if God commands Duty though
Variety is wanting we are apt to nauseate to feed only on Hony would breed Loathing but in God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all Variety of Fulness Col. 1.19 He is an Universal Good Commensurate to all our Wants He is Bonum in quo omnia Bona a Sun a Portion an Horn of Salvation He is called the God of all Comfort 2 Cor. 1.3 There is a Complication of all Beauties and Delights in him Health hath not the comfort of Beauty nor Beauty of Riches nor Riches of Wisdom but God is the God of all Comfort Fourthly In the chief Good there must be Eternity God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is a Treasure that can neither be drawn low nor drawn dry Though the Angels are still spending on him he can never be spent he abides for ever Eternity is a Flower of his Crown Now if God be our God here is enough to let in full Contentment into our Souls What though we want Torch-light if we have the Sun What if God deny us the Flower if he hath given us the Jewel How should this rock a Christians Heart quiet If we say God is our God and we are not content we have cause to question our Interest in him III. If we can clear up this Covenant-Union that God is our God let this chear and revive us in all Conditions To be content with God is not enough but to be chearful what greater Cordial can you have than Union with Deity When Jesus Christ was ready to Ascend he could not leave a richer consolation with his Disciples than this Tell them I go to my God and their God John 20.17 Who should rejoyce if not they who have an Infinite Alsufficient Eternal God to be their Portion who are as Rich as Heaven can make them What though I want Health I have God who is the Health of my Countenance and my God Psal. 42.11 What though I am low in the World if I have not the Earth I have him that made it The Philosopher comforted himself with this though he had no Musick or Vine-Trees yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here are the Houshold Gods with me So though we have not the Vine or Fig-Tree yet we have God with us I cannot be Poor saith St. Bernard as long as God is Rich for his Riches are mine O Let the Saints rejoyce in this Covenant-Union To say God is ours is more than to say Heaven is ours Heaven would not be Heaven without God All the Stars cannot make Day without the Sun All the Angels those Morning Stars cannot make Heaven without Christ the Sun of Righteousness And as to have God for our God is matter of rejoycing in Life so especially it will be at our Death Let a Christian think thus I am going to my God A Child is glad when he is going home to his Father This was Christs comfort when he was leaving the World Iohn 20.17 I go to my God And this is a Believers Death-bed Cordial I am going to my God I shall change my Place but not my Kindred I go to my God and my Father IV. If God be our God then let us break forth into Doxology and Praise Psal. 118.28 Thou art my God and I will praise thee O infinite Astonishing Mercy that God should take Dust and Ashes into so near a Bond of Love as to be our God As Micah said Iudg. 18.24 What have I more So what hath God more What richer Jewel hath he to bestow upon us than himself What hath he more That God should put off most of the World with Riches and Honours and that he should pass over himself to us by a Deed of Gift to be our God and by virtue of this settle a Kingdom upon us O let us praise him with the best Instrument our Heart and let this Instrument be scrued up to the highest Peg Let us praise him with our whole Heart See how David riseth by degrees Psal. 32.11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce and shout for Ioy. Be glad there is Thankfulness rejoyce there is Chearfulness shout there is Triumph Praise is called Incense because it is so sweet a Sacrifice Let the Saints be Queristers in Gods Praises the deepest Springs yield the sweetest Water The more deeply sensible we are of Gods Covenant-Love to us the sweeter Praises we should yield We should begin here to eternize Gods Name and do that Work on Earth which we shall be always doing in Heaven Psal. 146.2 While I live will I praise the Lord. 5. Let us carry our selves as those who have God to be our God that is when we walk so that others may see there is something of God in us Live Holily What have we to do with Sin Is it not this that if it doth not break yet will weaken the Interest Hos. 14.8 What have I to do any more with Idols So should a Christian say God is my God what have I to do any more with Sin with Lust Pride Malice Bid me commit Sin as well bid me Drink Poison Shall I forfeit my Interest in God Let me rather Dye than willingly offend him who is the Crown of my Joy the God of my Salvation Of the Ten Commandments Exod. 20.2 The Land of Egypt c. THE Second part of Preface Who have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of Bondage Egypt and the House of Bondage are the same only they are represented to us under a different Expression or Notion I begin with the First Expression Who have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt Quest. Why doth the Lord mention this Deliverance of Israel out of the Land of Egypt Resp. 1. Because of the strangeness of the Deliverance God delivered his People Israel by strange Signs and Wonders by sending Plague after Plague upon Pharaoh blasting the Fruits of the Earth killing all the First-born in Egypt Exod. 12.29 And when Israel march'd out of Egypt God made the Waters of the Sea to part and become a Wall to his People while they went on Dry Ground and as he made the Sea a Cawsey to Israel so a Grave to Pharaoh and his Chariots Well might the Lord mention his bringing them out of the Land of Egypt because of the strangeness of the Deliverance God wrought Miracle upon Miracle for their Deliverance 2. God mentions Israel's Deliverance out of Egypt because of the greatness of the Deliverance God delivered Israel from the Pollutions of Egypt Egypt was a bad Air to live in it was infected with Idolatry The Egyptians were gross Idolaters they were guilty of that which the Apostle speaks of Rom. 1.23 They changed the Glory of the uncorruptible God into an Image made like to Corruptible Man and to Birds and Four-Footed Beasts and Creeping Things The Egyptians Worshipped instead of the true God First A Corruptible Man they Deified their King Apis forbidding all under pain of Death to say that he was a Man
Scandal or Apostacy 4. Men leave off pursuing the Kingdom of Heaven out of Timorousness if they persist in Religion they may lose their Places of Profit perhaps their Lives The reason saith Aristotle why the Camelion turns into so many Colours is through excessive fear When Carnal fear prevails it makes Men change their Religion as fast as the Camelion doth its Colours Many of the Iews who were great followers of Christ when they saw the Swords and Staves deserted him What Solomon saith of the Sluggard is as true of the Coward he saith there is a Lyon in the way Prov. 22.13 he sees dangers before him he would go on in the way to the Kingdom of Heaven but there is a Lyon in the way This is dismal Heb. 10.38 If any Man draw back in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if he steals as a Soldier from his Colours my Soul shall have no pleasure in him VSE III. Of Tryal Let us examine whether we shall go to this Kingdom when we dye Heaven is called a Kingdom prepared Matth. 25. Quest. How shall we know this Kingdom is prepared for us Answ If we are prepared for this Kingdom Quest. How may that be known Answ. By being Heavenly persons An earthly heart is no more fit for Heaven than a Clod of Dust is fit to be a Star there is nothing of Christ or Grace in such an heart It were a Miracle to find a Pearl in a Gold Mine and it is as great a Miracle to find Christ the Pearl of Price in an earthly heart Would we go to the Kingdom of Heaven are we heavenly 1. Are we heavenly in our Contemplations do our Thoughts run upon this Kingdom do we get sometimes upon Mount Pisgah and take a Prospect of Glory Thoughts are as Travellers most of Davids Thoughts travelled Heavens Road Psal. 139.17 Are our Minds heavenlâ—z'd Psal. 48.12 walk about Sion tell the Towers thereof mark ye well her Bulwarks Do we walk into the Heavenly Mount and see what a glorious Scituation it is Do we tell the Towers of that Kingdom While a Christian fixeth his Thoughts on God and Glory he doth as it were tread upon the Borders of the Heavenly Kingdom and he peeps within the Vail as Moses who had a sight of Canaan though he did not enter into it so the heavenly Christian hath a sight of heaven though he be not yet entred into it 2. Are we heavenly in our Affections do we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 set our Affections on the Kingdom of Heaven Col. 3.2 If we are heavenly we despise all things below in comparison of the Kingdom of God We look upon the World but as a beautiful Prison and we cannot be much in love with our Fetters though they are made of Gold our heart is in Heaven A Stranger may be in a Forreign Land to gather up his Debts owing him but he desires to be in his own Kingdom and Nation so we are here a while as in a strange Land but our desire is chiefly after the Kingdom of Heaven where we shall be for ever The World is the Place of a Saints Abode not of his Delight is it thus with us Do we like the Patriarks of old desire a better Country Heb. 11.16 This is the temper of a true Saint his Affections are set on the Kingdom of God his Anchor is cast in Heaven and he is carried thither with the Sails of Desire 3. Are we heavenly in our Speeches Christ after his Resurrection did speak of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God Act. 1.3 Are our Tongues tuned to the Language of the heavenly Canaan Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often to one another Do you in your visits season your discourses with Heaven There are many say they hope they shall be saved but you shall never hear them speak of the Kingdom of Heaven perhaps of their Wares and Drugs or of some rich Purchase they have got but nothing of the Kingdom Can Men travel together in a Journey and not speak of the Place they are travelling to are you Travelers for Heaven and never speak a word of the Kingdom you are travelling to Herein many discover they do not belong to Heaven for you shall never hear a good Word come from them Verba sunt speculum Mentis Bern. The Words are the Looking-glass of the Mind they show what the Heart is 4. Are we heavenly in our Trading Is our Traffick and Merchandize in Heaven Do we trade in the heavenly Kingdom by Faith A Man may live in one place and trade in another he may live in Ireland and trade in the West-Indies so do we trade in the heavenly Kingdom They shall never go to heaven when they dye who do not trade in Heaven while they live Do we send up to Heaven Vollies of Sighs and Groans Do we send forth the Ship of Prayer thither which fetcheth in Returns of Mercy Is our Communion with the Father and his Son Jesus 1 Iohn 1.3 Phil. 3.20 5. Are our Lives heavenly Do we live as if we had seen the Lord with Bodily eyes Do we aemulate and imitate the Angels in Sanctity Do we labour to copy out Christs Life in ours 1 Iohn 2.6 'T was a custom among the Macedonians on Alexanders Birth day to wear his Picture about their Necks set with Pearl and Diamond Do we carry Christs Picture about us and resemble him in the Heavenliness of our Conversation If we are thus heavenly then we shall go to the kingdom of Heaven when we dye and truly there is a great deal of Reason why we should be thus Heavenly in our Thoughts Affections Conversation if we consider 1. The main end why God hath given us our Souls is that we may mind the kingdom of Heaven Our Souls are of a Noble Extraction they are akin to Angels a Glass of the Trinity as Plato speaks Now is it rational to imagine that God would have breathed into us such noble Souls only to look after sensual Objects Were such bright Stars made only to shoot into the Earth Were these immortal Souls made only to seek after dying Comforts Had this been only the end of our Creation to eat and drink and converse with Earthly Objects worse Souls would have served us Sensitive Souls had been good enough for us what need our Souls be rational and divine to do only that work which a Beast may do 2. Great reason we should be heavenly in our Thoughts Affections Conversation if we consider what a blessed kingdom Heaven is it is beyond all Hyperbole Earthly Kingdoms do scarce deserve the Names of Cottages compared with it We read of an Angel coming down from heaven who did tread with his Right Foot upon the Sea and with his Left on the Earth Rev. 10.2 Had we but once been in the heavenly kingdom and viewed the superlative glory of it how might we in an holy scorn trample with one Foot upon
after appear in an Eclipse to them 2. The Meditation of the heavenly Kingdom would much promote holiness in us Heaven is an holy place 1 Pet. 1.4 an Inheritance undefiled 't is described by Transparent Glass to denote its Purity Rev. 21.21 The contemplating heaven would put us upon the study of holiness because none but such are admitted into that kingdom Heaven is not like Noah's Ark into which came clean Beasts and unclean only the pure in heart shall see God Mat. 5.8 3. The Meditation of the heavenly Kingdom would be a Spur to diligence immensum Gloria Calcar habet 1 Cor. 15.58 alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. When the Mariner sees the haven he plies it harder with his Oars when we have a sight and prospect of Glory it would make us much in Prayer alms watching it would add wings to duty and make the Lamp of our Devotion burn brighter 2. If you have hopes of this Kingdom be content though you have but a little of the World Contentment is a rare thing 't is a Jewel that but few Christians wear but if you have a grounded hope of heaven it may work your heart to Contentation what though you have but little in Possession you have a Kingdom in Reversion Were you to take an estimate of a Mans Estate how would you value it by what he hath in his house or by his Land perhaps he hath little Money or Jewels in his house but he is a Landed Man there lies his Estate A Believer hath but little Oyl in the Cruse and Meal in the Barrel but he is a landed Man he hath a Title to a Kingdom and may not this satisfy him If a Man who lived here in England had a great Estate befallen him beyond the Seas and perhaps had no more Money at present but just to pay for his Voyage he is content he knows when he comes to his Estate he shall have Money enough Thou who art a Believer hast a Kingdom befallen thee though thou hast but little in thy Purse yet if thou hast enough to pay for thy Voyage enough to bear thy Charges to heaven it is sufficient God hath given thee Grace which is the Fore Crop and will give thee Glory which is the After-Crop and may not this make thee content 3. Branch If you have hope of this blessed Kingdom pray often for the coming of this glorious Kingdom Thy Kingdom come Only Believers can pray heartily for the hastening of the Kingdom of Glory 1. They cannot pray that Christs kingdom of Glory may come who never had the kingdom of Grace set up in their Hearts Can the guilty Prisoner pray that the Assisâ—s may come 2. They cannot pray heartily that Christs kingdom of Glory may come who are Lovers of the World they have found Paradise they are in their kingdom already this is their heaven and they desire to hear of no other they are of his mind who said if he might keep his Cardinalship in Paris he would lose his part in Paradise 3. They cannot pray heartily that Christs kingdom of Glory may come who oâ—â—ose Christs kingdom of Grace who break his Laws which are the Scepter of his kingdom who shoot at those who bear Christs Name and carry his Colours sure these cannot pray that Christs kingdom of Glory may come for then Christ will judge them and if they say this Prayer they are Hypocrites they mean not as they speak But you who have the kingdom of Grace set up in your hearts pray much that the kingdom of Glory may hasten Thy Kingdom come when this kingdom comes then you shall behold Christ in all his embroidered Robes of Glory shining ten thousand times brighter then the Sun in all it's Meridian Splendor When Christs kingdom comes the Bodies of the Saints that slept in the dust shall be raised in honour and made like Christs Glorious Body then shall your Souls like Diamonds sparkle with Holiness you shall never have a sinful thought more you shall be as holy as the Angels you shall be as holy as you would be and as holy as God would have you to be then you shall be in a better state than in Innocency Adam was Created a Glorious Creature but mutable a bright Star but a falling Star but in the Kingdom of Heaven is a fixation of Happiness When Christs Kingdom of Glory comes you shall be rid of all your enemies As Moses said Exod. 14.13 The Egyptians whom you have seen to day you shall see them no more for ever so those enemies who have plough'd on the backs of Gods people and made deep their surrows when Christ shall come in his Glory you shall see these enemies no more All Christs enemies shall be put under his feet 1 Cor. 15.25 and before the wicked be destroyed the Saints shall judge them 1 Cor. 6.2 Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the World This will cut the wicked to the heart that those whom they have formerly scorned and scourged shall sit as Judges upon them and vote with Christ in his judicial proceedings O then well may you pray for the hastening of the Kingdom of Glory Thy Kingdom come 4. Branch If you have any good hope of this blessed Kingdom let this make the colour come in your Faces be of a sanguine chearful temper have you a Title to a Kingdom and sad Rom. 5.2 We rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God Christians the Trumpet is ready to sound an eternal Jubilee is at hand when a freedom from Sin shall be proclaimed your Coronation day is a coming it is but putting off your clothes and laying your head upon a pillow of dust and you shall be inthroned in a Kingdom and invested with the embroidered Robes of Glory Doth not all this call for a chearful Spirit Chearfulness adorns Religion it is a temper of Soul Christ loves Iohn 14.28 If ye loved me ye would rejoyce It makes many suspect Heaven is not so pleasant when they see those that walk thither so sad How doth the heir rejoyce in hope of the Inheritance Who should rejoyce if not a Believer who is heir of the Kingdom and such a Kingdom as eye hath not seen When the Flesh begins to droop let Faith lift up its head and cause an holy jubilation and rejoycing in the Soul 5. Let the Saints long to be in this blessed Kingdom A Prince that travels in Foreign parts doth he not long to be in his own Nation that he may be Crowned The Bride desires the Marriage day Rev. 22.17 The Spirit and the bride say Come Even so come Lord Iesus Sure our unwillingness to go hence shows either the weakness of our Faith in the belief of the Heavenly Kingdom or the strength of our doubtings whether we have an interest in it Were our Title to Heaven more cleared we should need Patience to be
Hence that saying of St. Augustine Surgunt indocti rapiunt coelum the unlearned Men rise up and take Heaven they know the Truths of Christ more savingly then the great admired Rabbies The duller the Scholar the more is his skill seen that teacheth Hence it is Christ delights in teaching the Ignorant to get himself more Glory Isa. 35.5 The eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped Who would go to teach a blind or a deaf Man yet such dull Scholars Christ teacheth Such as are blinded with Ignorance they shall see the Mysteries of the Gospel and the deaf Ears shall be unstopped 3. Wait upon the Means of Grace which Christ hath appointed Though Christ teacheth by his Spirit yet he teacheth in the use of Ordinances Wait at the Gates of Wisdoms door Ministers are Teachers under Christ Eph. 4.11 Pastors and Teachers We read of Pitchers and Lamps within the Pitchers Iudges 7.16 Ministers are Earthen Vessels but these Pitchers have Lamps within them to light Souls to Heaven Christ is said to speak to us from Heaven now Hebr. 12.25 viz. by his Ministers as the King speaks by his Ambassador Such as wean themselves from the Breast of Ordinances seldom thrive either they grow light in their Head or lame in their Feet The Word preached is Christ's Voice in the Mouth of the Minister and they that refuse to hear Christ speaking in the Ministry Christ will refuse to hear them speaking on their Death-bed 4. If you would have the Teachings of Christ walk according to that Knowledge which you have already Use your little knowledge well and Christ will teach you more Iohn 7.17 If any man will do his will he shall know of my Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self A Master seeing his Servant improve a little Stock well gives him more to trade with Use 3. If you have been taught by Christ savingly be thankful It is your Honour to have GOD for your Teacher and that he should teach you and not others is matter of admiration and gratulation O how many knowing men are ignorant They are not taught of God they have CHRIST's Word to enlighten them but not his Spirit to sanctifie them But that you should have the Inward as well as the Outward Teaching that Christ should anoint you with the Heavenly Unction of his Spirit that you can say as he Iohn 9.25 One thing I know that whereas I was blind I now see O! how thankful should you be to Christ who hath revealed his Father's Bosom Secrets unto you Iohn 1.18 No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him If Alexander thought himself so much obliged to Aristotle for the Philosophical Instructions he learned from him O how are we bound to Jesus Christ this great Prophet for opening to us the Eternal Purposes of his Love and revealing to us the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven CHRIST's Priestly Office Quest. XV. HOw doth Christ execute the Office of a Priest Resp. In his once offering up of himself a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice and reconcile us to GOD and in making continual Intercession for us Heb. 9.26 Now once in the end of the world hath he appear'd to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Quest. What are the parts of Christ's Priestly Office Resp. Christ's Priestly Office hath two Parts his Satisfaction and Intercession 1. His SATISFACTION and this consists of two Branches 1. His Active Obedience Matth. 3.15 He fulfillâ—d all righteousness Christ did every thing which the Law required his holy Life was a Perfect Commentary upon the Law of God and he obeyed the Law for us 2. His Passive Obedience Our Guilt being transferred and imputed to him he did undergo the Penalty which was due to us He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself The Paschal Lamb slain was a Type of Christ who was offered up in Sacrifice for us Sin could not be done away without Bloud Heb. 9.22 Without bloud is no remission Christ was not only a Lamb without spot but a Lamb slain Quest. Why was it require there should be a Priest Resp. There needed a Priest to be an Umpire to mediate between a Guilty Creature and an Holy God Quest. How could Christ suffer being God Resp. Christ suffered only in the Humane Nature Quest. But if only Christ's Humanity suffered how could his suffering satisfie for Sin Resp. The Humane Nature being united to the Divine the Humane Nature did suffer the Divine did satisfie Christ's Godhead as it did support the Humane Nature that it did not faint so it did give Vertue to his Sufferings The Altar sanctifies the thing offered on it Matth. 23.19 so the Altar of Christ's Divine Nature sanctified the Sacrifice of his Death and made it of infinite value Quest. Wherein doth the Greatness of Christ's sufferings appear Resp. In the Sufferings of his Body he suffered truly not only a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Appearance the Apostle calls it Mors Crucis The Death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 Tully when he speaks of this kind of Death Quid dicam in crucem toilere though he were a great Orator he wanted words to express it The thoughts of this made Christ sweat drops of Bloud in the Garden Luke 22.44 It was an ignominious painful cursed Death Christ suffered in all his Senses 1. In his Eyes they beheld two sad Objects he saw his Enemies insulting and his Mother weeping 2. In his Ears his Ears were filled with the Revilings of the People Matth. 27.42 He saved others himself he cannot save 3. In his Smell when their Drivel fell upon his Face 4. In his Tast when they gave him Gall and Vinegar to drink Bitterness and Sharpness 5. In his Feeling his Head suffered with Thorns his Hands and Feet with the Nails Totum pro vulnere Corpus Now was this white Lily dyed of a Purple colour 2. In the Sufferings of his Soul he was pressed in the Wine-press of his Father 's Wrath. This caused that Vociferation and Outcry on the Cross My God my God Cur deseruisti Christ suffered a double Eclipse upon the Cross an Eclipse of the Sun and an Eclipse of the Light of God's Countenance How bitter was this Agony The Evangelist useth three words to express it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He began to be amazed Mark 14.33 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He began to faint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To be exceeding sorrowful Matth. 26.37 Christ felt the Pains of Hell in his Soul though not locally yet equivalently Quest. Why did Christ suffer Resp. Surely not for any desert of his own Dan. 9.26 The Messiah shall be cut off but not for himself it was for us Isa. 53.6 Unus peccat alius plectitor He suffered that he might satisfie God's Justice for us We by our Sins had infinitely wronged God
Request for them in Heaven Quest. What are the Fruits of Christ's Intercession Resp. 1. Iustification In Justification there is two things 1. Guilt is remitted 2. Righteousness is imputed Ier. 23.6 The Lord our Righteousness We are reputed not only Righteous as the Angels but as Christ having his Robes put upon us 2 Cor. 5.21 But whence is it that we are justified 'T is from Christ's Intercession Rom. 8.33 34. Lord saith Christ these are the Persons I have died for look upon them as if they had not sinned and repute them Righteous 2 d Fruit. The Unction of the Spirit 1 Iohn 2.20 Ye have an Unction from the holy one This Unction or Anointing is nothing else but the Work of Sanctification in the heart whereby the Spirit makes us partake of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Such as speak of the Philosophers Stone suppose it to have such a Property that when it toucheth the Mettal it turns it into Gold such a Property hath the Spirit of God upon the Soul when it toucheth the Soul it puts into it a Divine Nature it makes it to be holy and to resemble God This sanctifying work of the Spirit is the fruit of Christ's Intercession Iohn 7.39 The Holy Ghost was not yet given because Iesus was not yet glorified Christ being glorified and in Heaven now he prays the Father and the Father sends the Spirit who pours out the holy Anointing upon the Elect. 3 d Fruit. The Purification of our holy Things It is Christ's work in Heaven not only to present his own Prayers to his Father but he prays over our Prayers again Rev. 8.3 Another Angel came having a golden Censer and there was given to him much Incense that he should offer it with the Prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar This Angel was Christ he takes the golden Censer of his Merits and puts our Prayers into this Censer and with the Incense of his Intercession makes our Prayers go up as a sweet perfume in Heaven It is observable Lev. 16.16 Aaron shall make Atonement for the holy Place this was Typical to shew that our holy Duties need to have Atonement made for them Our best Services as they come from us are mixed with Corruption as Wine that tasts of the Cask Isa. 64.6 they are filthy rags But Christ purifies and sweetens these Services mixing the sweet odours of his Intercession with them and now God accepts and Crowns them What would become of our Duties without an High Priest Christ's Intercession doth to our Prayers as the Fan to the Chaff it winnows it from the Corn so Christ winnows out the Chaff which intermixeth with our Prayers 4 th Fruit. Access with boldness unto the Throne of Grace Hebr. 4.16 We have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens let us go Come boldly to the Throne of Grace we have a Friend at Court that speaks a good word for us and is following our Cause in Heaven therefore let this animate and encourage us in Prayer We think it too much boldness what such Sinners as we to come for pardon we shall be denied this is a sinful modesty Did we indeed come in our own Name in Prayer it were presumption but Christ intercedes for us in the forcâ— and efficacy of his Blood now to be afraid to come to God in Prayer is a dishonour to Christ's Intercession 5 th Fruit. The sending the Comforter Iohn 14.16 I will pray the Father and â—e will give you another Comforter The Comfort of the Spirit is distinct from the Anointing this Comfort is very sweet sweeter than the Honey drops from the Comb it is the Manna in the Golden Pot it is Vinum in pectore a drop of this heavenly Comfort is enough to sweeten a Sea of worldly Sorrow It is called arrhabo the earnest of the Spirit 2 Cor. 1.22 an Earnest assures one of the whole Sum. The Spirit gives an Earnest of Heaven in our Hand whence is this comforting work of the Spirit Thank Christ's Intercession for it I will pray the Father and he shall send the Comforter 6 th Fruit. Perseverance in Grace Iohn 17.11 Keep through thy own Name those which thou hast given me It is not our prayer or watchfulness or grace that keeps us but it is God's care and manu-tenancy he holds us that we do not fall away and whence is it God preserves us it is from Christ's Intercession Father keep them That Prayer of Christ for Peter is the Copy of his Prayer now in Heaven Luke 22.32 I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Peter's Faith did fail in some degree when he denied Christ but Christ prayed that it might not totally fail The Saints persevere in believing because Christ perseveres in praying 7 th Fruit. Absolution at the Day of Judgment Christ shall judge the World Iohn 5.22 God hath committed all Iudgment to the Son Now sure those that Christ hath so prayed for he will Absolve when he sits upon the Bench of Judicature Will Christ condemn those he prays for Believers are his Spouse will he condemn his Spouse Use 1. Branch 1. See here the Constancy of Christ's Love to the Elect. He did not only die for them but intercedes for them in Heaven when Christ hath done dying he hath not done loving he is now at work in Heaven for the Saints he carries their names on his breast and will never leave praying till that Prayer be granted Iohn 17.24 Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am Branch 2. See whence it is that the Prayers of the Saints are so powerful with God Iacob as an Angel prevailed with God Moses's Prayer tied God's hands Precibus suis tanquam vinculis ligatum tenuit Deum Let me alone Exod. 32.10 Whence is this It is Christ's Prayer in Heaven makes the Saints Prayers so available Christ's Divine Nature is the Altar on which he offers up our Prayers and so they prevail Prayer as it comes from the Saints is but weak and languid but when the Arrow of a Saint's Prayer is put into the Bow of Christ's Intercession now it pierceth the Throne of Grace Branch 3. It shows where a Christian must chiefly fix his Eye when he comes to prayer viz. on Christ's Intercession We are to look up to the Mercy-seat but to hope for Mercy through Christ's Intercession We read Levit. 6. That Aaron made the Atonement as well by the Incense as the Bloud We must look to the Cloud of Incense viz. the Intercession of Christ. Christian Look up to thy Advocate one that God can deny nothing to A word from Christ's Mouth is more then if all the Angels in Heaven were interceding for thee If a Man had a Suit depending in the Court of Chancery and had a skilful Lawyer to plead this would much encourage him Christ is now at the Court appearing for us Heb. 9.24 and he hath great Potency in Heaven
one with God our Nature is enobled above the Angelical Nature Christ taking our flesh hath made us nearer to himself than the Angels The Angels are his Friends Believers are flesh of his flesh his Members Eph. 5.30 and cap. 1.23 And the same Glory which is put upon Christ's Humane Nature shall be put upon Believers CHRIST's EXALTATION Phil. 2.9 Wherefore GOD also hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name c. BEfore we have spoken of Christ's Humiliation now of his Exaltation Before you saw the Sun of Righteousness in the Eclipse now you shall see it coming out of the Eclipse and shining in its full Splendour and Glory Wherefore God hath highly exalted him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Super-exaltavit Ambr. Above all Exaltation Quest. XVIII Wherein consists Christ's Exaltation Resp. In his rising from the Dead his ascending into Heaven and sitting at the right Hand of God the Father c. Quest. In what sence God hath exalted Christ Resp. Not in respect of Christ's Godhead for that cannot be exalted higher then it is as in Christ's Humiliation the Godhead was not lower so in his Exaltation the Godhead is not higher But Christ is exalted as a Mediator his Humane Nature is exalted Quest. How many ways is Christ exalted Resp. Five ways God hath exalted Christ 1. In his Titles 2. In his Office 3. In his Ascension 4. In his Session at God's right Hand 5. In constituting him Judge of the World First Title 1. God hath exalted Christ in his Titles 1. He is exalted to be a Lord Act. 19.17 The name of the Lord Iesus was magnified He is a Lord in respect of his Soveraignty he is Lord over Angels and Men Matth. 28.18 All power is given to him Christ hath three Keys in his Hand the Key of the Grave to open the Graves of Men at the Resurrection the Key of Heaven to open the Kingdom of Heaven to whom he will the Key of Hell Rev. 1.18 to lock up the Damned in that fiery Prison To this LORD all Knees must bow Phil. 2.10 That at the name of Iesus every knee should bow Name is put here for Person To that holy thing JESUS to the Scepter of that Divine Person every knee shall bow Bowing is put for Subjection all must be subdued to him as Sons or Captives submit to him as to their Lord or Judge Kiss the Son Psal. 2.12 With a Kiss of Love and Loyalty We must not only cast ourselves into Christ's Arms to be saved by him but we must cast ourselves at his Feet to serve him Second Title Christ is exalted to be a Prince Dan. 12.1 There shall stand up Michael the great prince Some think it was a created Angel but it was Angelus Foederis Christ the Angel of the Covenant He is a great Prince Rev. 1.5 The prince of the kings of the earth They hold their Crowns by immediate Tenure from him His Throne is above the Stars he hath Angels and Archangels for his Attendance Thus he is exalted in his Titles of Honour 2. God hath exalted Christ in his Office He hath honoured him to be Salvator Mundi The Saviour of the World Act. 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a saviour It was a great Honour to Moses to be a Temporal Saviour but what is it to be the Saviour of Souls Christ is call'd the Horn of Salvation Luke 1.69 He saves from sin Matth. 1.21 From Wrath 1 Thess. 1.10 To save is a Flower belongs only to his Crown Acts 4.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neither is there salvation in any other What an Honour is this to Christ How doth this make Heaven ring of the Saints Praises they sing Halelujahs to Christ their Saviour Rev. 5.9 They sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy bloud 3. God hath exalted Christ in his Ascention If he be ascended then he is exalted Austin saith Some were of Opinion that Christ's Body ascended into the Orb and Circle of the Sun So the Hermians But the Scripture is plain he ascended into Heaven Luke 24.51 And Eph. 4.10 Far above all heavens Ergo above the Firmament He is ascended into the highest part of the Empyraean Heaven which Paul calls the third Heaven Concerning Christ's Ascension two things 1. The manner of Christ's Ascension 1. Christ being to ascend blessed his Disciples Luke 24.50 He lift up his hands and blessed them and while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven Christ did not leave his Disciples Houses and Lands but he left them his Blessing 2. Christ ascended as a Conqueror in a way of Triumph Psal. 68.18 Thou hast led captivity captive c. He triumph'd over Sin Hell and Death and Christ's Triumph is a Believer's Triumph Christ hath conquered Sin and Hell for every Believer 3. The Fruit of Christ's Ascension Christ's Ascension to Heaven causeth the Descention of the Holy Spirit into our Hearts Eph. 4.8 When he ascended up on high he gave gifts to men Christ having ascended up in the Clouds as his Triumphant Chariot gives the Gift of his Spirit to us As a King at his Coronation bestows Gifts liberally to his Favourites 4. God hath exalted Christ in his Session at God's right hand Mark 16.19 After the Lord had spoken to them he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God Eph. 1.20 He raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand far above all principality and power and every name that is named Quest. What is meant by Christ's sitting at God's right hand Resp. To speak properly God hath no right Hand or left for being a Spirit he is void of all bodily parts but it is a borrowed Speech a Metaphor taken from the manner of Kings who were wont to advance their Favourites next to their own Persons and set them at their right Hand Solomon caused a Seat to be set for the Queen his Mother and placed her at his right hand 2 Kin. 2.19 So for Christ to sit at the right Hand of God is to be in the next place to God the Father in Dignity and Honour The Humane Nature of Christ being personally united to the Divine is now set down in a Royal Throne in Heaven and adored even of Angels By Vertue of the Personal Union of Christ's Humane Nature with the Divine there is a Communication of all that Glory from the Deity to Christ as his Humane Nature is capable of Not that the Manhood of Christ is advanced to an Equality with the Godhead but the Divine Nature being joyned with the Humane the Humane Nature is wonderfully Glorified though not Deified Christ as Mediator is filled with all Majesty and Honour beyond the Comprehension of the highest Order of Angels Descendit Christus quo inferius non
make a Will and settles his Estate upon such Persons as he names in the Will none else but they can lay claim to the Will so God makes a Will and Testament but it is restrained and limited to such as are sanctified and it is high presumption for any else to lay claim to the Will 4. There is no going to Heaven without Sanctification Hebr. 12.14 Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. God is an holy God and he will suffer no unholy Creature to come near him A King will not suffer a Man with Plague-sores to approach into his Presence Heaven is not like Noah's Ark where the clean Beasts and the unclean entred no unclean Beast comes into the Heavenly Ark. Though God suffer the Wicked to live a while on the Earth he will never suffer Heaven to be pestered with such Vermin Are they fit to see God who wallow in wickedness will God ever lay such Vipers in his bosom Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. It must be a clear Eye that sees a bright Object only an holy Heart can see God in his Glory Sinners may see God as an Enemy not as a Friend may have an affrighting Vision of God but not a beatifical Vision They may see the flameing Sword but not the Mercy Seat O then what need is there of Sanctification 5. Without Sanctification all our holy things are defiled 1 Tit. 1.15 Unto them that are defiled is nothing pure Under the Law if a Man who was Unclean by a dead Body had carried a piece of holy Flesh in his Skirt the holy Flesh had not cleansed him but he had polluted that Hag. 1.12 13. An Emblem of a Sinners polluting his holy Offering A foul Stomack turns the best Food into ill Humours An unsanctified Heart pollutes Prayers Alms Sacraments this evinceth the necessity of Sanctification Sanctification makes our holy things accepted an holy Heart is the Altar which sanctifies the Offering his Duties tho' they are not to Satisfaction yet to Acceptation 6. Without Sanctification we can show no sign of our Election 2 Thes. 2.13 Election is the cause of our Salvation Sanctification is our Evidence Sanctification is the Ear-mark of Christ's Elect Sheep Quest. What are the Signs of Sanctification Resp. 1. Such as are sanctified can remember a time when they were unsanctified Tit. 3.3 We were in our Bloud and then God wash'd us with Water and anointed us with Oyl Ezek. 16.9 Those Trees of Righteousness that blossom and bear Almonds can remember when they were like Aaron's dry Rod not one Blossom of Holiness growing A sanctified Soul can remember when he was estranged from God thro' Ignorance and Vanity and then Free-grace planted this Flower of Holiness in him Second Sign of Sanctification is the in-dwelling of the Spirit 2 Tim. 1.14 The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us As the Unclean Spirit dwells in the Wicked and carries them to Pride Lust Revenge the Devil hath entred into these Swine Acts 5.3 So the Spirit of God dwells in the Elect as their Guide and Comforter The Spirit possesseth the Saints God's Spirit sanctifies the Fancy causing it to mint holy Thoughts it sanctifies the Will putting a new Byass upon it whereby it is inclin'd to Good He who is sanctified hath the Influence of the Spirit tho' not the Essence Third Sign of Sanctification is an Antipathy against Sin Ps. 119.104 An Hypocrite may leave Sin yet love it as a Serpent casts its Coat but keeps its Sting but a sanctified Person can say he not only leaves Sin but loaths it As there are Antipathies in Nature between the Vine and Laurel so in a sanctified Soul there is an holy Antipathy against Sin and Antipathies can never be reconciled Because he hath an Antipathy against Sin he cannot but oppose it and seek the Destruction of it Fourth Sign of Sanctification is the Spiritual Performance of Duties viz. with the Heart and from a Principle of Love The sanctified Soul prays out of love to Prayer he calls the Sabbath a Delight Isa. 58.13 A Man may have Gifts to Admiration he may speak as an Angel drop'd out of Heaven yet may be carnal in spiritual things his Services do not come from a renewed Principle nor is he carried upon the Wings of Delight in Duty A sanctified Soul worships God in the Spirit 1 Pet. 2.5 God doth not judge of our Duties by the length but by the love Fifth Sign A well-order'd Life 1 Pet. 1.15 Be ye holy in all manner of conversation Where the Heart is sanctified the Life will be so too the Temple had Gold without as well as within As in a Piece of Coyn there 's not only the King's Image within the Ring but his Superscription too without So where there is Sanctification there is not only God's Image in the Heart but a Superscription of Holiness written in the Life Some say they have good Hearts but their Lives are Vitious Prov. 30.12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes yet is not washed from their filthiness If the Water be foul in the Bucket it cannot be clean in the Well Psal. 45.13 The king's daughter is all glorious within There is Holiness of Heart her Garments are wrought of wrought Gold Holiness of Life Grace is most beautiful when its Light doth so shine that others may see it this adorns Religion and makes Proselites to the Faith Sixth Sign Stedfast Resolution he is resolved never to part with his Holines let others reproach it he loves it the more let Water be sprinkled on the Fire it burns the more He saith as David when Micol reproach'd him for Dancing before the Ark 2 Sam. 6.22 If this be to be vile I will yet be more vile Let others persecute him for his Holiness he saith as Paul Acts 20.24 None of these things move me He prefers Sanctity before Safety and had rather keep his Conscience pure than his Skin whole He saith as Iob My integrity I will hold fast and not let it go Cap. 27.6 He will rather part with his Life then his Conscience Use 1. See what is the main thing a Christian should look after viz. Sanctification this is the Unum necessarium Sanctification is our purest Complexion it makes us as the Heaven bespangled with Stars it is our Nobility by it we are born of God and partake of the Divine Nature it is our Riches therefore compar'd to rows of Jewels and Chains of Gold Cant. 1.10 It is our best Certificate for Heaven what Evidence have we else to show have we Knowledge so hath the Devil Do we profess Religion Satan oft appears in Samuel's Mantle and transforms himself into an Angel of Light But here is our Certificat to show for Heaven Sanctification Sanctification is the first Fruits of the Spirit the only Coyn will pass currant in the other World Sanctification is the Evidence of God's Love we cannot guess at God's Love by giving us
Desertion and are cast down for want of Assurance Resp. 1. Want of Assurance shall not hinder the Success of the Saints Prayers Sin lived in doth ponere obicem put a Bar to our Prayer but want of Assurance doth not hinder Prayer we may go to God still in an humble fiducial manner A Christian perhaps may think because he doth not see Gods smiling Face therefore God will not hear him This is a mistake Psal. 31.22 I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my Supplication If we pour out Sighs to Heaven God hears every Groan though he doth not shew us his Face he may lend us his Ear. 2. Faith may be strongest when Assurance is weakest the Woman of Canaan had no Assurance but a Glorious Faith O Woman Great is thy Faith Mat. 15.28 Rachel was more Fair but Leah was more Fruitful Assurance is more fair and lovely to look upon but a fruitful Faith God sees is better for us Iohn 20.28 Blessed are they that Believe and feel not 3. When God is out of sight yet he is not out of Covenant Psalm 89.28 My Covenant shall stand fast Though a Wife doth not see her Husbands Face in many Years yet the Marriage Relation holds and he will come again to her after a long Voyage God may be gone from the Soul in Desertion but the Covenant stands fast Isa. 54.10 The Covenant of my Peace shall not be removed Quer. But this Promise was made to the Jews and doth not belong to us Yes Verse 17. This is the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord. This is made to all the Servants of God them that are now living as well as those who lived in the time of the Jews Quest. 8. What should we do to get Assurance Resp. 1. Keep a pure Conscience let no Guilt lie upon the Conscience unrepented of God Seals no Pardons before Repentance God will not pour in the Wine of Assurance into a foul Vessel Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near in full Assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience Guilt clips the Wings of Comfort he who is conscious to himself of Secret Sins cannot draw near to God in full Assurance he cannot call God Father but Judge keep Conscience as clear as your Eye that no dust of sin fall into it 2. If you would have Assurance be much in the Actings of Grace 1 Tim. 4.7 Exercise thy self unto Godliness Men grow rich by Trading by Trading in Grace we grow rich in Assurance 2 Pet. 1.10 Make your Election sure How Add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge Keep Grace upon the Wing it is the lively Faith flourisheth into Assurance no Man will set up a great Sail in a small Boat but in a large Vessel God sets up the Sail of Assurance in an Heart enlarged in Grace 3. If you would have Assurance cherish the Holy Spirit of God When David would have Assurance he Prays Take not away thy Spirit from me Psal. 51.11 He knew it was the Spirit only that could make him hear the Voice of Joy The Spirit is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Comforter he seals up Assurance 2 Cor. 1.22 therefore make much of the Spirit do not grieve it As Noah opened the Ark to receive the Dove so should we open our Hearts to receive the Spirit This is the Blessed Dove which brings an Olive branch of Assurance in its Mouth 4. Let us lye at the Pool of the Ordinances frequent the Word and Sacrament Cant. 2. He brought me to the Banqueting House and his Banner over me was Love The blessed Ordinances are the Banqueting House where God displays the Banner of Assurance The Sacrament is a Sealing Ordinance Christ made himself known to his Disciples in the breaking of Bread So in the Holy Supper in the breaking of Bread God makes himself known to us to be our God and Portion Quest. 9. How should they carry themselves who have Assurance Resp. 1. If you have Assurance of your Justification do not abuse Assurance 1. 'T is an abusing of Assurance when we grow more remiss in Duty as the Musician having Mony thrown him leaves off playing By Remisness or intermitting the Exercises of Religion we grieve the Spirit and that is the way to have an Imbargo laid upon our Spiritual Comforts 2. We abuse Assurance when we grow Presumptuous and less fearful of sin What because a Father gives his Son an Assurance of his Love and tells him he will entail his Land upon him shall the Son therefore be Wanton and Dissolute This were the way to lose his Fathers Affection and make him cut off the Entail it was an Aggravation of Solomon's Sin His Heart was turned away from the Lord after he had appeared to him twice 1 Kings 11.9 'T is bad to sin when one wants Assurance but it is worse to sin when one hath it Hath the Lord seal'd his Love with a Kiss Hath he left a Pawn of Heaven in your Hands and do you thus requite the Lord Will you sin with Manna in your Mouth Doth God give you the sweet Clusters of Assurance to feed on and will you return him wild Grapes It much pleaseth Satan either to see us want Assurance or abuse it This is to abuse Assurance when the Pulse of our Soul beats faster in Sin and slower in Duty 2. If you have Assurance admire this stupendious Mercy You deserv'd that God should give you Gaul and Vinegar to drink and hath he made the Hony-Comb of his Love to drop upon you O fall down and adore his Goodness say Lord How is it that thou shouldest manifest thy self to me and not to other Believers Those whom thou lovest as the Apple of thine Eye yet thou holdest them in Suspence and givest them no Assurance of thy Love though thou hast given them the new Name yet not the White stone though they have the Seed of Grace yet not the Oyl of Gladness though they have the Holy Ghost the Sanctifier yet not the Holy Ghost the Comforter Lord whence is it that thou shouldest manifest thy self to me and make thy Golden Beams of Assurance shine upon my Soul O admire God! this will be the Work of Heaven 3. Let your Hearts be endeared in Love to God If God gives his People Correction they must love him much more when he gives them Assurance Psal. 31.23 O love the Lord ye his Saints Hath God brought you to the Borders of Canaan given you a Bunch of Grapes crown'd you with loving Kindness confirm'd your Pardon under the Broad Seal of Heaven How can you be frozen at such a Fire How can you choose but be turn'd into Seraphins Burning in Divine Love Say as St. Austin Animam meam odio Haberem I would hate my own Soul if I did not find it loving God Give God the Cream and Quintessence of your Love and shew your Love by
beatorum the Royal Seat of the Blessed it is the region of Happiness the Map of Perfection There is that Manna which is Angels Food there is the Garden of Spices the Bed of Perfumes the Rivers of Pleasure Sinners at Death lose all this 4. They lose their Hopes For though they lived wickedly yet they hoped God was Merciful and they hoped they should go to Heaven Their Hope was not an Anchor but a Spiders Web. Now at Death they lose their Hopes they see they did but flatter themselves into Hell Iob. 8.14 Whose Hope shall be cut off That is sad to have a Mans Life and his Hope cut off together Use 2. If the Saints gain such glorious things at Death then how may they desire Death Doth not every one desire Preferment nemo ante funera Foelix Faith gives a Title to Heaven Death a Possession Though we should be desirous of doing Service here yet we should be ambitious to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 We should be content to live but willing to Dye Is it not a blessed thing to be freed from Sin and to lie for ever in the Bosom of Divine Love Is it not a blessed thing to meet our Godly Relations in Heaven and to be singing Divine Anthems of Praise among the Angels Doth not the Bride desire the Marriage Day especially if she were to be matched unto the Crown What is the Place we now live in but a Place of Banishment from God We are in a Wilderness while the Angels live at Court Here we are combating with Satan and should not we desire to be out of the Bloody Field where the Bullets of Tentation fly so fast and to receive a Victorious Crown Think what it will be to have always a smiling Aspect from Christs Face to be brought into the Banqueting House and have the Banner of his Love displayed over you O ye Saints desire Death it is your Ascension-day to Heaven Egredere anima egredere said Hilarion on his Death-bed Go forth my Soul what fearest thou Another Holy Man said Lord lead me to that Glory which I have seen as through a Glass Hast Lord and do not tarry Some Plants thrive best when they are transplanted Believers when they are by Death transplanted cannot choose but thrive because they have Christ's sweet Sun-beams shine upon them And what though the Passage through the Valley of the shadow of Death be troublesome Who would not be willing to pass a tempestuous Sea if he were sure to be crown'd as soon as he came at shore Use 3. Comfort in the loss of our dear and pious Relations They when they dye are not only taken away from the Evil to come but they are great gainers by Death They leave a Wilderness and go to Paradise They change their Complaints into Thanksgivings They leave their Sorrows behind and enter into the Joy of their Lord Why should we weep for their Preferment Believers have not their Portion paid till the day of their Death Gods Promise is his Bond to make over Heaven in Reversion to them But though they have his Bond they do not receive their Portion till the day of Death Oh! Rejoyce to think of their Happiness who dye in the Lord to them to dye is gain They are as Rich as Heaven can make them A Believers Privilege at Death Phil. 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to dye is gain HOPE is a Christan's Anchor which he casts within the vail Rom. 12.12 Rejoycing in Hope A Christians Hope is not in this Life but he hath Hope in his Death Prov. 14.32 The best of a Saints Comfort begins when his Life ends The Wicked have all their Heaven here Luke 6.28 Woe unto you Rich you have received your Consolation You may make your Acquittance and write Received in full Payment Luke 16.25 Son remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things But a Saints Happiness is in Reversion The righteous hath Hope in his death God keeps the best Wine till last If Cato the Heathen said To me to dye is gain He saw Mortality to be a Mercy Then what may a Believer say Eccles. 7.1 The day of Death is better than the day of ones Birth Nemo ante Funera Felix Solon A Queen of this Land said she prefer'd her Coffin before her Cradle Quest. 1. What Benefits do Believers receive at Death Resp. 1. They have great Immunities 2. They pass immediately into a State of Glory 3. Their Bodies are united to Christ in the Grave till the Resurrection 1. The Saints at Death have great Immunities and Freedoms A Prentice when out of his time is made Free When the Saints are out of their time of living then they are made Free not made Free till Death 1. At Death they are freed from a Body of Sin There are in the best reliquiae peccati some Remainders and Reliques of Corruption Rom. 7.24 O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Death By the Body of Death is meant the Congeries the Mass and lump of Sin It may well be called a Body for its weightiness and a Body of Death for its noisomness 1. It weighs us down sin hinders us from doing good A Christian is like a Bird that would be flying up but hath a string tyed to its Legs to hinder it so he would be flying up to Heaven with the Wings of desire but sin hinders him Rom. 7.15 The good that I would I do not A Christian is like a Ship that is under Sail and at Anchor Grace would sail forward but Sin is the Anchor that holds it back 2. Sin is oft more active in its Sphere than Grace How stirring was Lust in David when his Grace lay dormant 3. Sin sometimes gets the Mastery and leads a Saint Captive Rom. 7.19 The evil I would not that do I. Paul was like a Man carried down the stream and could not bear up against it How oft is a Child of God over-power'd with Pride and Passion Therefore Paul calls sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Law in his Members Rom. 7.24 it binds as a Law it hath a kind of Jurisdiction over the Soul as Cesar had over the Senate 4. Sin defiles the Soul it is like a stain to Beauty it turns the Souls Azure Brightness into Sables 5. Sin debilitates us it disarms us of our strength 2 Sam. 3.39 I am this day weak though anointed King So though a Saint is crown'd with Grace yet he is weak though anointed a Spiritual King 6. Sin is ever Restless Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusts against the Spirit It is an Inmate that is always quarrelling Like Marcellus that Roman Captain of whom Hannibal said Whether he did beat or was beaten he would never be quiet 7. Sin adheres to us we cannot get rid of it It may be compar'd to a wild Fig-tree growing on a Wall though the Roots are pull'd up yet there are some Fibers
into his image 1 Iohn 3.2 We shall be like him If when Moses was with God on the Mount and had but some imperfect sight of his Glory Moses face shined Exod. 34.33 How shall the Saints glorified shine being always in God's Presence and having some beams of his Glory put upon them We shall be like him One that is deformed may look on Beauty and not be made Beautiful But the Saints that so see God as that sight shall transform them into his Likeness Psal. 17.15 When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness Not that the Saints shall partake of God's Essence for as the Iron in the Fire is made Fiery yet remains Iron still so the Saints by beholding God's Majesty shall be made Glorious Creatures but yet Creatures still 4. Our seeing of God in Heaven will be unweariable Let a Man see the rarest Sight that is he will be soon cloyed when he comes into a Garden and sees delicious Walks fair Arbours Pleasant Flowers within a little while he grows weary But it is not so in Heaven there is no Surfeit Ibi nec Fames nec Fastidium Bern. The Saints will never be weary of their Prospect viz. of seeing God for God being infinite there shall be every Moment new and fresh Delights springing from God into the Souls of the Glorified II. The Second thing implied in our enjoying God is our Loving of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is a Saints grief that his Heart is like the Frozen Ocean that he can melt no more in Love to God but in Heaven the Saints shall be like Seraphims burning in Divine Love Love is a pleasing Affection Fear hath Torment in it 1 Iohn 4.18 Love hath Joy in it To love Beauty is delightful God's amazing Beauty will attract the Saints Love and it will be their Heaven to Love him III. The Third thing implyed in enjoying God is Gods Loving us Were there Glory in God yet if there were not Love it would much eclipse the Joys of Heaven but God is Love 1 Iohn 4.16 The Saints glorified cannot love so much as they are loved What is their Love to God's What is their Star to this Sun God doth love his People on Earth when they are black as well as comely they have their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Imperfections O how intirely will he Love them when they are without Spot or Wrinkle Eph. 5.27 1. This is the Felicity of Heaven to be in the sweet Embraces of God's Love To be the Hephsibah the delight of the King of Glory To be Sunning our selves in the Light of Gods Countenance Then the Saints shall know that Love of Christ which passeth Knowledge Eph. 3.19 From this glorious manifestation of God's Love will flow infinite Joy into the Souls of the Blessed Therefore Heaven is call'd entring into the joy of our Lord Mat. 25.21 The Seeing of God the Loving of God and being Beloved of God will cause a Jubilation of Spirit and create such Holy Raptures of Joy in the Saints as is unspeakable and full of Glory 1 Pet. 1.8 In Deo quadam dulcedine delectatur anima imo rapitur Aug. Now the Saints spend their Years with Sighing they weep over their Sins and Afflictions then their Water shall be turned into Wine then the Vessels of Mercy shall be fill'd and run over with Joy they shall have their Palm-Branches and Harps in their Hand Rev. 14.2 in token of their Triumphs and Rejoycing 2. The Second thing comprehended in Glory is the good Society there There are the Angels every Star adds to the Light Those Blessed Cherubims will welcome us into Paradise If the Angels rejoyced so at the Conversion of the Elect First How will they rejoyce at their Coronation Secondly There is the Company of the Saints Heb. 12.23 The Spirits of Iust Men made Perfect Quest. Whether shall the Saints in Glory know each other Resp. Certainly they shall for our Knowledge in Heaven shall not be diminished but increased We shall not only know our Friends and Godly Relations but those glorified Saints which we never saw before It must be so for Society without Acquaintance is not comfortable And of this Opinion were St. Austin Anselm Luther And indeed the Scripture seems to hint so much to us For if Peter in the Transfiguration knew Moses and Elias whom he never saw before Mat. 17.4 then surely in Heaven the Saints shall know one another and be infinitely delighted in each others Company 3. The Third thing comprehended in Glory is Perfection in Holiness Holiness is the Beauty of God and Angels it makes Heaven What is Happiness but the quintessence of Holiness Here a Christians Grace is imperfect he cannot write a Copy of Holiness without blotting He is said to receive but Primitas Spiritus the first Fruits of the Spirit Grace in Fieri Rom. 8.23 But at Death Believers shall arrive at Perfection of Grace Then this Sun shall be in its Meridian Splendour then they shall not need to pray for Encrease of Grace for they shall be as the Angels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Light shall be clear as well as their Joy full 4. The Fourth thing in Glory is Dignity and Honour they shall reign as Kings Therefore the Saints glorified are said to have their insignia Regalia their Ensigns of Royalty their white Robes and their Crown 2 Tim. 4.7 Caesar after his Victories in token of Honour had a Chair of Ivory set for him in the Senate and a Throne in the Theatre the Saints having obtained their Victories over Sin and Satan shall be inthroned with Christ in the Empirean Heaven To sit with Christ denotes Safety to set on the Throne Dignity Rev. 3.21 This Honour have all the Saints 5. The Fifth thing in Glory is the Harmony and Union among the Heavenly Inhabitants The Devil cannot get his Cloven Foot into Heaven He cannot conjure up any Storms of Contention there there shall be perfect Union There Calvin and Luther are agreed there 's no jarring String in the Heavenly Musick there is nothing to make any difference no Pride or Envy there Though one Star may differ from another one may have a greater degree of Glory yet every Vessel shall be full There shall the Saints and Angels fit as Olive-Plants round about their Fathers Table in Love and Unity Then shall they joyn together in consort then shall the loud Anthems of Praise be sung in the Heavenly Quire 6. The Sixth thing in Glory is a blessed Rest Heb. 4.9 There remains a Rest Foelix transitus à labore ad requiem here we can have no rest tossed and turn'd as a Ball on Racket 2 Cor. 4.8 We are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 troubled on every side How can a Ship rest in a Storm But after Death the Saints get into their Haven Every thing is quiet in the Center God is centrum quietativum animae as the Schoolmen The Center where the Soul doth sweetly acquiesce
yet do it not Resp. 1. The not obeying of God is for want of Faith Isa. 53.1 Quis credidit Who hath believed our Report Did Men believe Sin were so bitter that Hell followed at the Heels of it Would they go on in Sin Did they believe there were such a Reward for the Righteous that Godliness were Gain Would they not pursue it But they are Atheists not fully captivated into the Belief of these things Hence it is they obey not This is Satan's Master-piece His Draw-net by which he drags Millions to Hell by keeping them in Infidelity He knows if he can but keep them from believing the Truth he is sure to keep them from obeying it 2. The not obeying God is for want of Self-denial God commands one thing and Mens Lusts command another and they will rather dye than deny their Lusts. Now if Lust cannot be denied God cannot be obeyed Use 2. Obey Gods Voice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is the Beauty of a Christian. Quest. What are the great Arguments or Incentives to Obedience Resp. 1. Obedience makes us precious to God we shall be his Favourites Exod. 19.15 If ye will obey my Voice ye shall be a peculiar Treasure to me above all People you shall be my Portion my Jewels the Apple of mine Eye I will give Kingdoms for your Ransom Isa. 43.3 2. There is nothing lost by Obedience To obey Gods Will is the way to have our Will 1. Would we have a Blessing in our Estates Let us obey Deut. 28.1 3. If thou shalt hearken to the Voice of the Lord to do all his Commandments Blessed shalt thou be in the field Blessed shall be thy Basket and thy store To obey is the best way to thrive in our Estates 2. Would we have a Blessing in our Souls let us obey Ier. 7.23 Obey and I will be your God My Spirit shall be your Guide Sanctifier and Comforter Heb. 5.9 Christ became the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him While we please God we pleasure our selves While we give him the Duty he gives us the Dowry We are apt to say as Amaziah 2 Chron. 25.9 What shall we do for the hundred Talents You see you lose nothing by obeying The obedient Son hath the Inheritance setled on him Obey and you shall have a Kingdom Luke 12.32 It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom 3. What a Sin Disobedience is 1. It is an irrational Sin 2. We are not able to stand it out in Defiance against God 1 Cor. 10.22 Are we stronger than he Will the Sinner go to measure Arms with God He is the Father Almighty who can command Legions If we have not strength to resist him it is irrational to disobey him 2. It is irrational as it is against all Law and Equity We have our daily Subsistence from God in him we live and move Is it not equal that as we live by him we should live to him That as God gives us our Allowance so we should give him our Allegiance 2. It is a destructive Sin 1 Thess. 7.8 The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire taking Vengeance on them who obey not the Gospel He who refuseth to obey Gods Will in commanding shall be sure to obey his Will in punishing The Sinner while he thinks to slip the knot of Obedience twists the Cord of his own Damnation He perisheth without excuse he hath no Plea or Apology to make for himself Luke 12.47 The Servant which knew his Lords will but did it not shall be beaten with many stripes God will say why did ye not obey You knew to do good but did it not therefore your Blood is upon your own Head Quest. What means shall we use that we may obey Resp. 1. Serious Consideration Consider Gods Commands are not grievous He commands nothing unreasonable 1 Iohn 5.3 It is easier to obey the commands of God than Sin The Commands of Sin are Burdensome Let a Man be under the power of any Lust How doth he tire himself What Hazards doth he run even to the endangering his Health and Soul that he may satisfie his Lust What tedious Journeys did Antiochus Epiphanes take in persecuting the Jews Ier. 9.5 They weary themselves to commit Iniquity and are not Gods commands more easie to obey Chrysost. saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Virtue is easier than Vice Temperance is less Burdensome than Drunkenness Some have gone with less pains to Heaven than others have to Hell Consideration 2. God commands nothing but what is Beneficial Deut. 10.12 13. O Israel what doth the Lord require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God and to keep his Statutes which I command thee this day for thy good To obey God is not so much our Duty as our Privilege His commands carry Meat in the Mouth of them He bids us repent and why That our Sins may be blotted out Acts 3.19 He commands us to believe And why That we may be saved Acts 16.31 There is love in every command As if a King should bid one of his Subjects dig in a Gold Mine and then take the Gold to himself 2. Earnest Supplication Implore the help of the Spirit to carry us on in Obedience Gods Spirit makes Obedience easie and delightful If the Loadstone draw the Iron now it is not hard for the Iron to move If Gods Spirit quicken and draw the Heart now it is not hard to obey When a Gale of the Spirit blows now we go full Sail in Obedience Turn that Promise into a Prayer Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes The Promise encourageth us the Spirit inables us to Obedience Of LOVE THE Rule of Obedience being the Moral Law comprehended in the Ten Commandements the next Question is Quest. What is the Sum of the Ten Commandements Resp. The Summ of the Ten Commandements is to love the Lord our God with all our Heart with all our Soul with all our Strength and with all our Mind and our Neighbour as our selves Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy might The Duty call'd for is Love yea the strength of Love with all thy Heart God will lose none of our Love Love is the Soul of Religion and that which goes to the right constituting a Christian Love is the Queen of the Graces it shines and sparkles in Gods Eye as the precious Stones did on the Breast-plate of Aaron Quest. 1. What is Love Resp. It is an Holy Fire kindled in the Affections whereby a Christian is carried out strongly after God as the Supreme Good Quest. 2. What is the antecedent of Love to God Resp. The Antecedent of Love is Knowledge The Spirit shines upon the Understanding and discovers those Orient Beauties in God his Wisdom Holiness Mercy and these are the
Grave and the Holy Ghosts descending upon the Earth This Day is perfum'd with the sweet Odour of Prayer which goes up to Heaven as Incense This Day the Manna falls that Angels Food this is the Soul's Festival Day on this Day all the Graces act their Part The other Days of the Week are most employed about Earth this Day about Heaven Then you gather Straw now Pearl Now Christ takes the Soul up into the Mount and gives it transfiguring Sights of Glory Now Christ leads his Spouse into the Wine-Cellar and displays the Banner of his Love now he gives her his Spiced Wine and the Iuice of the Pomegranate Cant. 8.2 The Lord doth usually reveal himself more to the Soul on this Day The Apostle Iohn was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day Revel 1.10 He was carried up in Divine Raptures towards Heaven This Day a Christian is in the Altitudes he walks with God and takes as it were a turn with him in Heaven 1 Ioh. 1.3 On this Day holy Affections are quickened The Stock of Grace is improved Corruptions are weakened On this Day Satan falls like Lightning before the Majesty of the Word Christ wrought most of his Miracles upon the Sabbath So he doth now The dead Soul is raised the Heart of Stone is made Flesh. How should this Day be highly esteemed and had in Reverence This Day is more precious than Rubies God hath anoynted this Day with the Oyl of Gladness above its Fellows On the Sabbath we are doing Angels Work our Tongues are tuned to God's Praises This Sabbath on Earth is a Shadow and Type of that Glorious Rest and Eternal Sabbath we hope for in Heaven when God shall be the Temple and the Lamb shall be the Light of it Rev. 21.22 23. EXOD. XX. 9 10. Six Days shalt thou labour and do all thy Work but the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of Work c. Six Days shalt thou labour God would not have any live out of a Calling Religion seals no Warrant for Idleness 'T is as well a Duty to labour Six Days as to keep Holy Rest on the Seventh Day Six Days shalt thou labour 2 Thess. 3.11 We hear there are some among you walking Disorderly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 working not at all Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Iesus that with Quietness they work and eat their own Bread A Christian must not only mind Heaven but his Calling While the Pilot hath his Eye to the Star he hath his Hand to the Stern Without labour the Pillars of a Common-wealth will dissolve and the Earth will be like the Sluggards Field over-run with Briars Prov. 24.31 Adam in Innocency tho he was the Monarch of the World yet God would not have him idle but he must dress and till the Ground Gen. 2.15 Piety doth not exclude Industry Six Days shalt thou labour Standing Water putrifies The Inanimate Creatures are in Motion The Sun goes its Circuit the Fountain runs the Fire sparkles And Animate Creatures Solomon sends us to the Ant and Pismire to learn Labour Prov. 6.6 Chap. 30.35 The Bee is the Emblem of Industry some of the Bees trim the Honey others work the Wax others frame the Comb others lie Sentinel at the Door of the Hive to keep out the Drone And shall not Man much more inure himself to labour That Law in Paradise was never yet repealed In the Sweat of thy Brows shalt thou eat Bread Gen. 3.19 Such Professors are to to be disliked who talk of living by Faith but live out of a Calling They are like the Lillies which toil not neither do they spin Mat. 6.28 'T is a Speech of Holy and Learned Mr. Perkins Let 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 What is an idle Person good for What benefit is there of a Ship that lies always on the shore Or of Armour that hangs up and rusts To live out of a Calling exposeth a Person to Temptation Melancton calls Idleness Balneum Diaboli the Devil's Bath because he bathes himself with delight in an idle Soul We do not use to sow Seed in ground when it lies fallow but Satan sows most of his Seed of Temptation in such Persons as lie fallow and are out of a Calling Idleness is the Nurse of Vice Seneca an Heathen could say Nullus mihi per Otium Dies exit No Day passeth me without some labour An idle Person stands for a Cypher in the World and God writes down no Cyphers in the Book of Life We read in Scripture of eating the Bread of Idleness Prov. 31.27 and drinking the Wine of Violence Prov. 4.17 It is as well a sin to eat the Bread of Idleness as to drink the Wine of Violence An idle Person can give no account of his Time Time is a Talent to trade with both in our Particular and General Calling The slothful Person hides his Talent in the Earth he doth no good his Time is not lived but lost An idle Person lives unprofitably he cumbers the ground God calls the slothful Servant wicked Mat. 25.26 Thou wicked and slothful Servant Draco whose Laws were written in Blood deprived them of their Life who would not work for their Living In Hetruria they caused such Persons to be banished Idle Persons live in the Breach of this Commandment Six Days shalt thou labour Let them take heed they be not banished Heaven A Man may as well go to Hell for not working in his Calling as for not Believing So I pass to the next But The Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of work Having spoken already of the Reasons of sanctifying the Sabbath I come now to that Question Quest. In what manner we are to sanctifie the Sabbath Resp. 1. Negatively we must do no Work in it that is expressed in the Commandment In it thou shalt do no manner of Work God hath enclosed this Day for himself therefore we are not to lay it common by doing any Civil Work As Abraham when he went to sacrifice left his Servant and the Ass at the bottom of the Hill Gen. 22.5 So when we are to Worship God this Day we must leave all worldly business behind leave the Ass at the Bottom of the Hill And as Ioseph when he would speak with his Brethren thrust out the Egyptians so when we would converse with God this Day we must thrust out all earthly Employments The Lord's Day is a Day of Holy Rest all secular Works must be forborn and suspended it is a prophaning the Day Nâ—hem 13.15 In these days saw I in Iudah some treading Wine-presses on the Sabbath and bringing in Sheaves as also Wine-Grapes and Figs and all manner of Burdens which they brought into Ierusalem on
Presence Ioh. 8.56 Abraham saw my day and rejoyced So when we see the Light of a Sabbath shine we should rejoyce Isa. 58.13 Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight This is the Queen of Days which God hath Crowned with a Blessing As there was one Day in the Week on which God did rain Manna twice as much as upon any other Day so God rains down the Manna of Heavenly Blessings twice as much on the Sabbath as on any other This is the Day wherein Christ carries the Soul into the House of Wine and displays the Banners of Love over it Now the Dew of the Spirit falls on the Soul whereby it is revived and comforted How many may write the Lord's day the day of their New Birth This day of Rest is a Pledge and Earnest of that Eternal Rest in Heaven and shall not we rejoyce at the approach of it That day on which the Sun of Righteousness shines should be a day of Gladness 2. Get up betimes on the Sabbath-morning Christ rose early on this day before the Sun was up Iohn 20.1 Did Christ rise early to save us and shall not we rise early to worship and glorifie him Psal. 63.1 Early will I seek thee Can we be up betimes on other days The Husbandman is early at his Plough the Traveller riseth early to go his Journey and shall not we when we are on this day travelling to Heaven Certainly did we love God as we should we would rise on this day betimes that we may meet with him whom our Soul loveth Such as sit up late at work on the Night before will be so buried in sleep that they will hardly be up betimes on a Sabbath-morning 3. Having dressed our Bodies we must dress our Souls for the hearing of the Word As the People of Israel were to wash themselves before the Law was delivered to them Exod. 19.10 so we must wash and cleanse our Souls and that is by Reading Meditation and Prayer I. By Reading the Word The Word is a great means to sanctifie the Heart and bring it into a Sabbath-frame Iohn 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy truth c. And read the Word not carelesly but with seriousness and affection it is the Oracle of Heaven the Well of Salvation the Book of Life David for the preciousness of God's Word esteemed it above Gold and for the sweetness above Honey Psal. 19.10 By reading the Word aright our Hearts when they are dull are quickened when they are hard are mollified when cold and frozen are enflam'd and we can say as the Disciples Did not our Hearts burn within us Some step out of their Bed to hearing The Reason why many get no more good on a Sabbath by the Word Preached is because they did not break Fast with God in the Morning by the Reading of his Word II. Meditation Get upon the Mount of Meditation and so converse with God Meditation is the Soul 's retiring of its self that by a serious and solemn thinking upon God the Heart may be raised up to Divine Affections Meditation is a Work fit for the Morning of a Sabbath Meditate on Four things 1. On the Works of Creation That is express'd here in the Commandment The Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea c. The Creation is a Looking-glass in which we see the Wisdom and Power of God gloriously represented God produced this fair Structure of the World without any pre-existent Matter and with a Word Psal. 33.6 By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made The Disciples wondred that Christ could with a Word calm the Sea Matth. 8.26 but it was far more with a Word to make the Sea Let us on a Sabbath meditate on the Infiniteness of our Creator look up to the Firmament there we may see God's Glory blazing in the Sun twinkling in the Stars look into the Sea there we may see God's Wonders in the Deep Psal. 107.24 Look into the Earth there we may behold the Nature of Minerals the Power of the Load-stone the Vertue of Herbs and Beauty of Flowers By meditating on these Works of Creation so curiously embroidered we come to admire God and praise him Psal. 104.24 O Lord how manifold are thy Works in Wisdom hast thou made them all By meditating on the Works of Creation we come to confide in God He who can Create can Provide he that could make us when we were nothing he can raise us when we are low Psal. 124.8 Our Help stands in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth 2. Meditate on God's Holiness Psal. 111.9 Holy and reverend is his Name Hab. 1.13 Thou art of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity God is Essentially Originally and Efficiently Holy All the Holiness in Men and Angels is but a Chrystal Stream that runs from this Glorious Ocean God loves Holiness because it is his own Image A King cannot but love to see his own Effigies stamp'd on Coyn. God counts Holiness his Glory and the most sparkling Jewel of his Crown Exod. 15.11 Glorious in Holiness Here is a Meditation fit for our first entrance into a Sabbath God's Holiness The Contemplation of this would work in us such a Frame of Heart as is suitable to an Holy God It would make us then Reverence his Name Hallow his Day While we are musing of the Holiness of God's Nature we begin to be transformed into his Likeness 3. Meditate on Christ's Love in redeeming us Rev. 1.5 Redemption exceeds Creation the one is a Monument of God's Power the other of his Love Here is fit Work for a Sabbath O the infinite stupendious Love of Christ in raising poor lapsed Creatures from a state of Guilt and Damnation 1. That Christ who was God should die That this Glorious Sun of Righteousness should be in an Eclipse we can never enough admire this Love no not in Heaven 2. That Christ should die for Sinners Not sinful Angels but sinful Mankind That such Clods of Earth and Sin should be made bright Stars of Glory O the amazing Love of Christ This was Illustre amoris Christi mnemosynum 3. That Christ should not only die for Sinners but die as a Sinner 2 Cor. 5.21 He was made sin for us He who was among the Glorious Persons of the Trinity was numbred among Transgressors Isa. 53.12 Not that he had Sin but he was like a Sinner having our Sins imputed to him Sin did not live in him but it was laid upon him Here was an Hyperbole of Love enough to strike us into Astonishment 4. That Christ should redeem us when he could not look to gain any thing or be at all advantaged by us Men will not lay out their Mony upon a Purchase unless it will turn to their Profit But what Benefit could Christ expect in purchasing and redeeming us We were in such a Condition that we could neither deserve nor recompense Christ's Love First We could not deserve it for we were in
will make thee keep it joyfully I will give thee those Enlargements in Duty and that inward Comfort as shall abundantly satisfie thee thy Soul shall overflow with such a stream of Joy that thou shalt say Lord in keeping thy Sabbath there is great Reward And I will cause thee to ride upon the High Places of the Earth That is I will advance thee to Honour ascendere faciam so Munster interprets it Some by the High Places of the Earth understand Iudaea So Grotius I will bring thee into the Land of Iudaea which is higher situated than the other Countries adjacent And I will feed thee with the Heritage of Iacob That is I will feed thee with all the delicious things of Canaan and afterwards I 'll translate thee to Heaven whereof Canaan was but a Type And another Promise Isa. 56.2 Blessed is the Man that doth this that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it Blessed is the Man in the Hebrew it is in the Plural Ashre Blessedness To him that keeps the Sabbath holy here is Blessedness upon Blessedness belongs to him he shall be blessed with the Vpper and Nether Springs he shall be blessed in his Name Estate Soul Progeny Who would not keep the Sabbath from polluting it that shall have so many Blessings entail'd upon him and his Posterity after him 2. A Conscientious keeping the Sabbath seasons the Heart for God's Service all the Week after Christian the more holy thou art on a Sabbath the more holy thou wilt be on the Week following EXOD. XX. 12 Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy Days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Having done with the First Table I am next to speak of the Duties of the Second Table The Commandments may be likened to Iacob's Ladder The First Table as the Top of the Ladder reacheth to Heaven it respects God The Second Table as the Foot of the Ladder rests on the Earth it respects Superiors and Inferiors By the First Table we walk Religiously towards God by the Second we walk Righteously towards Man He cannot be good in the First Table that is bad in the Second Honour thy Father and thy Mother In this 1. A Command Honour thy Father and thy Mother 2. A Reason annexed to it That thy Days may be long in the Land 1. The Command Honour thy Father Quest. Who is meant here by Father Ans. Father Verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken several ways the Political Ancient Spiritual Oeconomical Natural First The Political Father the Magistrate He is the Father of his Countrey he is to be an Encourager of Vertue a Punisher of Vice a Father to the Widdow and Orphan Such a Father was Iob Chap. 29.16 I was a Father to the Poor and the Cause which I knew not I searched out And as Magistrates are Fathers so especially the King who is the Head of Magistrates is a Political Father He is placed as the Sun among the lesser Stars The Scripture calls Kings Fathers Isa. 49.23 Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers They are to nurse up their Subjects in Piety by their good Edicts and Examples and to nurse them up in Peace and Plenty Such nourishing Fathers were David Hezekiah Iosiah Constantine Theodosius It is happy for a People who have such nursing Fathers whose Breasts milk Comfort to their Children These Fathers are to be Honour'd For 1. Their Place deserves Honour God hath set these Political Fathers to preserve Order and Harmony in a Nation and to prevent those State-Convulsions which otherwise might ensue Iudg. 17.6 When there was no King in Israel every man did that which was right in his own Eyes A Wonder Prov. 30.27 2. God hath promoted Kings that they may promote Iustice. As they have a Sword in their Hand to signifie their Power so a Scepter an Emblem of Justice It is said of Marcus Aurelius Emperor That he allotted one Hour of the Day to hear the Complaints of such as were oppressed Kings place Judges as Cherubims about the Throne for distribution of Justice These Political Fathers are to be honoured Honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 And this Honour is to be shown by a Civil Respect to their Persons and a chearful Submission to their Laws so far as they agree and run parallel with God's Law Kings are to be Pray'd for which is a part of that Honour we give them 1 Tim. 2.1 I exhort that Supplications Prayers Intercessions be made for Kings that we may lead a quiet peaceable Life under them in all Godliness and Honesty We are to pray for Kings that God would honour them to be Blessings that under them we may enjoy the Gospel of Peace and the Peace of the Gospel How happy was the Reign of Numa Pompilius when the Swords were beaten into Plough-shares and the Bees made their Hives of the Soldiers Helmets Secondly There is the grave ancient Father who is Venerable for old Age whose Grey Hairs are resembled to the White Flowers of the Almond-tree Eccles. 12.5 These are Fathers for Seniority on whose wrinkled Brows and in the Furrows of whose Cheeks is pictur'd the Map of Old Age. These Fathers are to be honoured Levit. 19.32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary Head and honour the Face of the Old Man Especially those are to honoured who are Fathers not only for their Seniority but their Piety whose Souls are flourishing when their Bodies are a decaying 'T is a blessed sight to see the Spring of Grace in the Autumn of Old Age To see Men stooping towards the Grave yet going up the Hill of God To see them lose their Colour yet keep their Savour Such whose silver Hairs are crowned with Righteousness are worthy of double Honour They are to be honoured not only as Pieces of Antiquity but as Patterns of Vertue If you see an Old Man fearing God whose Grace shines brightest when the Sun of his Life is setting O honour him as a Father by reverencing and imitating him Thirdly There are Spiritual Fathers as Pastors and Ministers These are the Instruments of the New-Birth 1 Cor. 4.15 Tho you have Ten Thousand Instructors yet have ye not many Fathers for in Christ Iesus I have begotten you through the Gospel The Spiritual Fathers are to be honoured 1. In respect of their Office What-ever their Persons are their Office is honourable They are the Messengers of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2.7 They represent no less than God himself 2 Cor. 5.20 Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ. Jesus Christ was of this Calling he had his Mission and Sanction from Heaven Ioh. 8.18 And this Crowns the Ministerial Calling with Honour 2. Ministers these Spiritual Fathers are to be honoured for their Work sake they come like the Dove with an Olive-branch in their Mouth they preach glad Tidings of Peace Their Work is to save Souls Other Callings have only to do with Mens Bodies or Estates but the Ministers
Christ could not have prepared Mansions for us if he had not first purchased them by his Death So that we have a great deal of cause to commemorate Christ's Death in the Sacrament Quest. In what Manner are we to remember the Lord's Death in the Sacrament Answ. It is not only an Historical Remembrance of Christ's Death and Passion Thus Iudas remembers Christ's Death and how he betray'd him And Pilate remembers Christ ' Death and how he crucify'd him But our remembring Christ's Death in the Sacrament must be 1. A Mournful Remembrance We must not be able to look on Christ crucified with dry Eyes Zech. 12.10 They shall look on him whom they have pierced and mourn over him O Christian when thou lookest on Christ in the Sacrament remember how oft thou hast crucifyed him The Jews did it but once thou often Every Oath is a Nail with which thou piercest his Hands Every unjust sinful Action is a Spear with which thou woundest his Heart O remember Christ with Sorrow to think thou shouldst make his Wounds bleed afresh Mark XIV 22 23 24. Iesus took Bread c. 2. It must be a Ioyful Remembrance Iohn 8.56 Abraham saw my Day and rejoyced When a Christian sees a Sacrament Day approach he should rejoyce This Ordinance of the Supper is an Earnest of Heaven 't is the Glass in which we see him whom our Souls love It is the Chariot by which we are carried up to Christ. When Iacob saw the Waggons and Chariots which were to carry him to his Son Ioseph his Spirit revived Gen. 45.27 God hath appointed the Sacâ—â—ment on purpose to chear and revive a sad Heart When we look on our Sins â—e have cause to mourn but when we see Christ's Blood shed for our Sins this may make us rejoyce In the Sacrament our Wants are supplyed our Strength is renewed Here we meet with Christ and doth not this call for Joy A Woman that hath been long debarred from the Society of her Husband how glad is she of his Presence At the Sacrament the believing Spouse meets with Christ He saith to her All I have is thine My Love is thine to pity thee my Mercy is thine to save thee How can we think in the Sacrament on Christ's Blood shed and not rejoyce Sanguis Christi clavis Paradisi Christ's Blood is the Key which opens Heaven else we had been all shut out 3. End of the Sacrament is to work in us an endeared Love to Christ. When Christ bleeds over us well may we say Behold how he loved us Who can see Christ die and not be Sick of Love That is an Heart of stone whom Christ's Love will not melt 4. End of the Sacrament the mortifying of Corruption To see Christ crucified for us is a means to crucify sin in us Christ's Death like the Water of Jealousie makes the Thigh of Sin to rot Numb 5.27 How can a Wife endure to see that Spear which killed her Husband How can we endure those sins which made Christ vail his Glory and lose his Blood When the People of Rome saw Caesar's bloody Robe they were incensed against them that slew him Sin hath rent the White Robe of Christ's Flesh and died it of a crimson Colour The Thoughts of this will make us seek to be avenged on our sins 5. End the Augmentation and Encrease of all the Graces Hope Zeal Patience The Word Preached begets Grace the Lord's Supper nourisheth it The Body by feeding encreaseth Strength so doth the Soul by feeding on Christ Sacramentally Cum defecerit virtus mea calicem salutarem accipiam Bern. When my spiritual strength begins to fail I know a Remedy saith Bernard I will go the Table of the Lord there I will drink and recover my decayed strength There is difference between Dead Stones and Living Plants The Wicked who are Stones receive no spiritual Encrease but the Godly who are Plants of Righteousness being watered with Christ's Blood grow more fruitful in Grace Quest. 4. Why are we to receive this Holy Supper Answ. Because it is a Duty incumbent Take Eat And observe it is a Command of Love If Christ had commanded us some great matter would not we have done it 2 Kings 5.13 If the Prophet had bid thee do some great thing wouldst thou not have done it If Christ had enjoyned us to have given him a Thousand of Rams or to have parted with the Fruit of our Bodies would we not have done it Much more when he only saith Take and Eat Let my broken Body feed you let my Blood poured out save you Take and Eat This is a Command of Love and shall we not readily obey 2. We are to celebrate the Lord's Supper because it is a provoking to Christ to stay away Prov. 9.2 Wisdom hath furnished her Table So Christ hath furnished his Table set Bread and Wine representing his Body and Blood before his Guests and they wilfully turn their Backs upon the Ordinance Christ looks upon it as a slighting of his Love and that makes the Fury rise up in his Face Luke 14.24 For I say unto you that none of those that were bidden shall taste of my Supper I will shut them out of my Kingdom I will provide them a black Banquet where weeping shall be the first Course and gnashing of Teeth the Second Quest. 5. Whether the Lord's Supper be oft to be Administred Resp. Yes 1 Cor. 11.26 As oft as ye eat of this Bread The Ordinance is not to be celebrated once in a Year or once in our Lives but often A Christians own Necessities may make him come often hither His Corruptions are strong therefore he had need come often hither for an Antidote to expell the Poyson of Sin and his Graces are weak Grace is like a Lamp if it be not often fed with Oyl it is apt to go out How therefore do they sin against God who come but very seldom to this Ordinance Can they thrive who for a long time forbear their Food And others there are who do wholly forbear This is a great Contempt offered to Christ's Ordinance Men do as it were tacitly say Let Christ keep his Feast to himself What a cross-grain'd piece is Man he will Eat when he should not and he will not eat when he should When God said Eat not of this forbidden Fruit then he will be sure to eat When God saith Eat of this Bread and Drink of this Cup then he refuseth to eat Quest. 6. Are all to come promiscuously to this Holy Ordinance Resp. No that were to make the Lord's Table an Ordinary Christ forbids to cast Pearls before Swine The Sacramental Bread is Children's Bread and it is not to be cast to the Profane As at the giving of the Law God set Bounds about the Mount that none might touch it So God's Table should be guarded that the Profane should not come near In the Primitive Times after Sermon done and they were going to
temptation Satan is not yet fully east into Prison but is like a Prisoner that goes under bail he walks about tempting he labours to trappan us into sin he is either laying of snares or shooting of darts Stat in procinctu Diabolus He laid a train of temptation to blow up the castle of Iobs Faith This is a great grief to a Believer to be followed with temptations to sin as it is for a Virgin to have her Chastity assaulted but in the Kingdom of Heaven the Saints shall be freed from the Red Dragon he is cast out of Paradise and shall be for ever lock'd up in Chains Iude 6 7. In the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from all vexing cares The Greek word for care 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes from a Primitive that signifies to cut the heart in pieces Care discruciates the Mind it wasts the Spirits it eats out the comfort of Life Care is an evil spirit that haunts us Care to prevent future dangers and preserve present co 〈…〉 all care is full of fear and fear is full of torment 1 Iohn 4.18 God threatens it as a Judgment Ezek. 12.19 They shall eat their bread with carefulness Every Comfort hath its Care as every Rose its Prickle but in the Kingdom of Heaven we shall shake off this viper of Care What needs a Saint glorified to take any Care who hath all things provided to his hand There is the Tree of Life bearing all sorts of Fruit. When the Heart shall be freed from Sin the Head shall be freed from Care 8. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from all Doubts and Scruples In this Life the best Saint hath his doubtings as the brightest Star its twinkling If there were no doubtings there would be no unbelief Assurance it self doth not exclude all doubting Psal. 26.3 Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes but at another time Psal. 89.49 Lord where are thy former loving kindnesses A Christian is like a Ship at Anchor which though it be safe yet it may sometimes be tossed upon the Water Sometimes a Christian questions his interest in Christ and his title to the Promise and these doubtings as they eclipse a Christians Comfort so they are a bearing false witness against the Spirit But when the Saints shall come into the Kingdom of Heaven there shall be no more doubtings then a Christian shall say as Peter Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent his Angel and delivered me Acts 12.11 So now I know that I am passed from Death to Life now I am got beyond all Rocks I have shot the gulph now I am in my Saviours embraces for ever 9. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from all society with the Wicked Here we are forced sometime to be in their company Psal. 120.5 Wo is me that I dwell in Mesech and sojourn in the tents of Kedar Kedar was Ishmaels Son whose Children dwelt in Arabia a profane barbarous People Here the Wicked are still raising Persecutions against the Godly and crucifying their eares with their Oaths and Curses Christs Lilly is among Thorns but in the Heavenly Kingdom there shall be no more any pricking bryar Matth. 13.41 The Son of man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend As Moses said Exod. 14.13 Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day ye shall see them again no more for ever So will God say Stand still and see the Salvation of God these your enemies that vex and molest you you shall see them again no more for ever At that day God will separate the precious from the vile then Christ will throughly purge his Floor he will gather the Wheat into the Garner and the Wicked which are the Chaff shall be blown into Hell 10. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from all signs of Gods displeasure Here God may be angry with his People Though he hath the heart of a Father he may have the look of an enemy this is sad As when the Sun is gone the Dew falls when the Light of Gods Face is gone Tears drop from the Saints Eyes but in the Kingdom of Heaven there shall be no spiritual eclipses there shall never appear any tokens of Gods displeasure the Saints shall have a constant aspect of Love from God they shall never complain any more as Cant. 5.6 My beloved hath withdrawn himself 11. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from all Divisions That which is the saddest thing in the World is to see divisions among them that are good 'T is sad that such as have one Faith yet should not be of one Heart Ephraim envies Iudah and Iudah vexeth Ephraim 'T is matter of tears to see those who are united to Christ to be divided one from another The Soldiers spear pierced Christs side but the divisions of Saints wound his heart but in the Kingdom of Heaven there shall be no vilifying one another or censuring Those who before could hardly pray together shall praise God together there shall not be one jarring string in the Saints Musick 12. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from Vanity and Dissatisfaction What Solomon saith of Wisdom Iob 28.14 The depth saith it is not in me and the sea saith it is not with me The same may I say concerning satisfaction every Creature faith It is not in me Take things most pleasing and which we promise our selves most content from still out the Spirits and purest Quintessence of them and we shall say as he did Eccles. 2.11 And behold all was vanity God never did or will put a satisfying vertue into any Creature In the sweetest musick the World makes either there is some string wanting or out of tune Who would have thought that Haman who was so great in the Kings favour He set his seat above all the princes of the provinces Esther 3.1 yet for want of the bowing of a knee he was dissatisfied but in the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from these dissatisfactions The World is like a Landskip you may see Gardens and Fruit-trees curiously drawn in the Landskip but you cannot enter into them but you may enter into the Joyes of Heaven Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord the Soul shall be satisfied while it bathes in those rivers of pleasure at Gods Right-hand I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Psal. 17.15 Thus you see what the Kingdom of Glory implyes Namely A Blessed Freedom from all Evil. 13. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from the Torments of Hell 1 Thess. 1.10 Iesus which delivered us from the wrath to come 1. The multiplicity of these Torments In this Life the Body is usually exercised but with one pain the Stone or Head-ache but in Hell there is a diversity of Torments there is Darkness
to affright Fire to burn a Lake of Sulphur to choke Chains to bind the Worm to gnaw 2. The Torments of Hell will sieze upon every part both of Body and Soul the Eyes shall be tortured with the sight of Devils the Tongue that hath swore so many Oaths shall be tortured Luke 16.24 Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue The Memory shall be tormented to remember what Mercies have been abused what seasons of Grace neglected the Conscience shall be tormented with self-accusations 3. In the pains of Hell there is no mitigation no mixture of Mercy In this Life God in Anger remembers Mercy Hab. 3.2 but in Hell there is no alleviation or lessening of the pains As in the Sacrifice of Jealousie Numb 5.15 God would have no Oyl or Frankincense put to it so in Hell there is no Oyl of Mercy to lenifie the sufferings of the Damned no Incense of Prayer to appease Gods Wrath. 4. In the pains of Hell there is no intermission The Poets feign of Endymion that he got leave of Iupiter alwayes to sleep What would the damned in Hell give for one hours sleep Rev. 14.11 They rest not day nor night they are perpetually upon the rack 5. In the pains of Hell there is no expiration they must alwayes lye scorching in flames of Wrath Rev. 14.11 The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever but in the Heavenly Kingdom the Elect shall be freed from all infernal torments Jesus hath delivered us from the Wrath to come A Prison is not made for the Kings Children Christ drank that bitter cup of Gods Wrath that the Saints might never drink it 2. In the Kingdom of Heaven there is a Glorious Fruition of all Good Had I as many Tongues as Hairs on my Head I could not fully describe this I may say as Iudg. 18.9 10. Heaven is called The excellent Glory 2 Pet. 1.17 I may as well span the Firmament or drain the Ocean as set forth the Glory of this Kingdom Caelum non habet Hyperbolem The Kingdom of Heaven is beyond all Hyperbole Were the Sun ten thousand times brighter than it is it could not parallel the lustre of this Kingdom Apelles Pensil would blot Angels Tongues would lessen it I can but give you the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or dark shadow of it expect not to see it in all its orient colours till you are mounted above the Stars But let us not stand afar off as Moses to behold this Canaan but enter into it and taste the honey Concerning the Fruitions and Priviledges of the Heavenly Kingdom 1. We shall have an immediate Communion with God himself who is the inexhausted Sea of all Happiness This Divines call The Beatifical Vision The Psalmist did triumph in that enjoyment he had of God in this Life Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee If God enjoyed by Faith doth give so much Comfort to the Soul how much more when he is enjoyed by immediate Vision Here we see God but darkly through the glass of Ordinances but in the Kingdom of Heaven we shall see him face to face 1 Cor. 13.12 we shall have an intellectual sight of God i. e. we shall see him with the eyes of our mind we shall know God as much as the Angels in Heaven do Matth. 18.10 1 Cor. 13.12 We shall know as we are known We shall have a full knowledge of God though not know him fully as a Vessel in the Sea is full of the Sea though it holds not all the Sea To see and enjoy God will be most delicious in God are beams of Majesty and bowels of Mercy God hath all Excellencies concentred in him bonum in quo omnia bona If one Flower should have the sweetness of all Flowers how sweet would that Flower be All the beauty and sweetness which lyes scattered in the Creature is infinitely to be found in God therefore to see and enjoy him will ravish the Soul with delight We shall so see God as to love him and be made sensible of his Love and when we shall have this sweet Communion with God then God shall be all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 Light to the eye Manna to the taste Musick to the ear 2. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven with these eyes see the Glorified Body of Jesus Christ. This our Saviour makes a great part of the Glory of Heaven to view the Glory of his Humane Nature Iohn 17.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That they may behold my glory When Christ was transfigured upon Earth it is said That his face did shine as the sun and his rayment was white as the light Matth. 17.2 If the Glory of his Transfiguration was so great what will the Glory of his Exaltation be Much of the Glory of God shines in Christ by vertue of the Hypostatical Union Col. 2.9 In whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily Through Christs Humanity as through a bright mirrour we may see some beams of the Divine Majesty shine forth put a back of Steel to a Glass and you may see a Face in it Christs Humane Nature is as a back of Steel put to the Divine Nature through this we may see God and then our Capacities shall be enlarged to a wonderful degree to receive this glorious object and we shall not only see Gods Glory but some of his Glory shall be put upon us non tantum aderit Gloria sed inerit Bern. A Beggar may behold the Glory of a King and not be the happier but Christs Glory shall be ours We shall be like him 1 Iohn 3.2 we shall shine by his beams 3. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven enjoy the society of innumerable company of Angels Heb. 12.22 Quest. But is there not enough in God to fill the Soul with delight Can the sight of Angels add to the Souls happiness What need is there of the light of Torches when the Sun shines Answ. Besides the Divine Essence the sight of Angels is desirable much of Gods curious workmanship shines in the Angels the Angels are beautiful glorious Creatures and as the several strings in a Lute make the harmony sweeter and the several Stars make the Firmament brighter so the society with Angels will make the delight of Heaven the greater and we shall not only see the Angels with the glorified eye of our understanding but converse with them 4. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven have sweet society with Glorified Saints then the Communion of Saints will be illustrious O what a blessed time will it be when those who have prayed wept suffered together shall rejoyce together we shall see the Saints in their white Linnen of Purity and see them as so many Crowned Kings in beholding the Saints Glorified we shall behold an Heaven full of Suns Some move the Question whether we shall know one another in Heaven Surely our knowledge shall not be diminished but
increased It is the Judgment of Luther and Anselm and many other Divines that we shall know one another yea the Saints of all Ages whose Faces we never saw and when we shall see the Saints in Glory without their spots viz. their infirmities Pride and Passion this will be a glorious sight We see how Peter was transported when he saw but two Prophets in the Transfiguration Matth. 17.3 but what a blessed sight will it be when we shall see such a Glorious Company of Prophets and Martyrs and Holy Men of God How sweet will the Musick be when they shall all sing together in consort in the Heavenly Quire And tho' in this great Assembly of Saints and Angels one Star may differ from another in Glory yet no such weed as Envy shall ever grow in the Paradise of God then there shall be perfect Love which as it casts out Fear so also Envy though one Vessel of Glory may hold more than another yet every Vessel shall be full 5. In the Kingdom of Heaven there shall be incomprehensible Joy Aristotle saith Ioy proceeds from Vnion When the Saints Union with Christ is perfected in Heaven then their Joy shall be full all the birds of the Heavenly Paradise sing for Joy What Joy when the Saints shall see the great gulph shut and know that they are passed from Death to Life what Joy when they are as holy as they would be and as God would have them to be what Joy to hear the Musick of Angels to see the golden banner of Christs Love displayed over the Soul to be drinking that Water of Life which is quintessential and is sweeter than all Nectar and Ambrosia what Joy when the Saints shall see Christ clothed in their Flesh sitting in Glory above the Angels then they shall enter into the joy of their Lord Matth. 25.21 Here Joy enters into the Saints in Heaven they enter into joy O thou Saint of God who now hangest thy harp upon the Willows and minglest thy drink with weeping in the Kingdom of Heaven thy Water shall be turned into Wine you shall have so much felicity that your Souls cannot wish for more The Sea is not so full of Water as the Heart of a Glorified Saint is of Joy there can be no more Sorrow in Heaven than there is Joy in Hell 6. In Heaven there is honour and dignity put upon the Saints A Kingdom imports honour All that come into Heaven are Kings they have 1. a Crown Rev. 2.10 dabo tibi the Crown of Life Corona est insigne regiae potestatis This Crown is not lined with Thorns but hung with Jewels it is a never-fading Crown 1 Pet. 5.4 2. The Saints in Heaven have their Robes they exchange their Sackcloth for white Robes Rev. 7.9 I beheld a great multitude which no man could number clothed in white robes Robes signifie their Glory White their Sanctity And 3. They sit with Christ upon the Throne Rev. 3.21 We read 1 Kings 6.33 the doors of the Holy of Holies were made of Palm-trees and open Flowers covered with Gold an emblem of that victory and that garland of Glory which the Saints shall wear in the Kingdom of Heaven When all the Titles and Ensigns of Worldly honour shall lye in the dust the Mace the Silver Star the Garter then shall the Saints honour remain 7. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven have a blessed Rest. Rest is the end of motion Heaven is Centrum quietativum animae the blessed Centre where the Soul doth acquiesce and rest In this Life we are subject to unquiet motions and fluctuations 2 Cor. 7.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We are troubled on every side like a Ship on the Sea having the waves beating on both sides but in the Kingdom of Heaven there is Rest Heb. 4.9 How welcome is Rest to a weary Traveller When Death cuts asunder the string of the Body the Soul as a Dove flyes away and is at Rest. This Rest is when the Saints shall lye on Christs bosom that hive of sweetness that bed of perfume 8. The Saints shall in the Kingdom of Heaven have their Bodies richly bespangled with Glory they shall be full of Clarity and Brightness as Moses Face shined that Israel were not able to behold the Glory Exod. 34 30. The Bodies of the Saints shall shine seven times brighter than the Sun saith Chrysostome they shall have such a resplendency of Beauty on them that the Angels shall fall in love with them and no wonder for they shall be made like Christs glorious body Phil. 3.21 The Bodies of Saints glorified need no Jewels when they shall shine like Christs Body 9. In the Heavenly Kingdom is Eternity 't is an eternal fruition they shall never be put out of the Throne Rev. 22.5 They shall reign for ever and ever It is called the everlasting kingdom 2 Pet. 1.11 and an eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 The Flowers of Paradise of which the Saints Garland is made never wither If there could be a cessation of Heavens Glory or the Saints had but the least fear or suspicion of losing their Felicity it would infinitely abate and cool their Joy but their Kingdom is for ever the Rivers of Paradise cannot be dryed up Psal. 16.11 At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore The Kingdom of Heaven was typified by the Temple which was built with Stone covered with Cedar over-laid with Gold to show the fixed permanent state of Glory that Kingdom abides for ever Well may we pray Thy Kingdom come Having spoken of the Kingdom of Grace and how we may know that Kingdom is set up in our Hearts I am next speaking of the Kingdom of Glory or Heaven 1. What is meant by the Kingdom of Heaven 2. What are the Properties of this Kingdom 3. Wherein this Heavenly Kingdom excels all the Kingdoms upon Earth 4. When this Kingdom shall be bestowed 5. Wherein appears the Certainty and Infallibility of it 6. VVhy we should pray for the coming of this Kingdom 1. Quest. What is meant by the Kingdom of Heaven Resp. 1. It imports a blessed freedom from all evil 2. It implies a glorious fruition of all good 1. Immediate communion with God who is the inexhausted Sea of all Happiness 2. A visible beholding the glorified Body of Jesus Christ. 3. A glorious Vision of Saints and Angels 4. Dignity and Honour the Crown and white Robes 5. A blessed Rest. Quest. 2. What are the Properties or Qualifications of the Kingdom of Heaven Resp. 1. The Glory of this Kingdom is solid and substantial the Hebrew word for Glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a VVeight to show how solid and weighty the Glory of the Caelestial Kingdom is The Glory of the worldly Kingdom is Aery and imaginary like a blazing Comet or Fancy Act. 25.23 Agrippa and Bernice came with a great Pomp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a great Fancy Iob. 26.7 The Earth hangs like a Ball in the Air
did not beseech but knock as if they did not doubt to be let into Heaven yet to these Christ saith I know you not whence you are Depart from me ye workers of iniquity Therefore fear and tremble least any of us miss of this Kingdom of Heaven Secondly This fear is necessary if we consider what a loss it is to lose the Heavenly Kingdom All the tears of Hell are not sufficient to lament the loss of Heaven They who lose the Heavenly Kingdom lose Gods sweet Presence the ravishing viewes and smiles of Gods Glorious Face Gods Presence is the Diamond in the Ring of Glory Psal. 16.11 In his presence is fulness of joy If God be the Fountain of all Bliss then to be separated from him is the Fountain of all Misery They who lose the Heavenly Kingdom lose the Society of Angels and what sweeter Musick than to hear them praise God in Consort they lose all their Treasure their white Robes their sparkling Crowns they lose their hopes Iob 8.14 Whose hope shall be cut off Their hope is not an Anchor but a Spiders Web If hope deferred makes the heart sick Prov. 13.12 what then is hope disappointed They lose the end of their being Why were they Created but to be enthronâ—d in Glory Now to lose this is to lose the end of their being As if an Angel should be turned to a worm There are many aggravations of the loss of this Heavenly Kingdom 1. The eyes of the Wicked shall be opened to see their loss now they care not for the loss of Gods Favour because they know not the worth of it A Man that loseth a rich Diamond and took it but for an ordinary Stone is not much troubled at the loss of it but when he comes to know what a Jewel he lost then he laments He whose Heart would never break at the sight of his sins shall now break at the sight of his loss Phinehas his Daughter when she heard the Ark was lost cryed out The Glory is departed 1 Sam. 4.21 When the Sinner sees what he hath lost he hath lost the Beatifical Vision he hath lost the Kingdom of Heaven now he will cry out in horrour and despair The Glory the everlasting Glory is departed 2. A second aggravation of the loss of this Kingdom will be that Sinners shall be upbraided by their own Conscience This is the worm that never dyes Mark 9.44 viz. a self-accusing Mind When Sinners shall consider they were in a fair way to the Kingdom they had a possibility of Salvation though the door of Heaven were strait yet it was open they had the means of Grace the jubilee of the Gospel was proclaimed in their ears God called but they refused Jesus Christ offered them a plaister of his own Blood to heal them but they trampled it under foot the Holy Spirit stood at the door of their heart knocking and crying to them to receive Christ and Heaven but they repulsed the Spirit and sent away this Dove and now they have through their own folly and wilfulness lost the Kingdom of Heaven This self-accusing Conscience will be terrible like a venomous Worm gnawing at the Heart 3. A third aggravation of the loss of Heaven will be to look upon others that have gained the Kingdom the happiness of the Blessed will be an eye-sore Luke 13.28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the Prophets in the kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out When the Wicked shall see those whom they hated and scorned to be exalted to a Kingdom and shine with Robes of Glory and they themselves miss of the Kingdom this will be a dagger at the heart and make them gnash their teeth for envy 4. A fourth aggravation is this loss of the Kingdom of Heaven is accompanied with the punishment of Sense He who leaps short of the Bank falls into the River such as come short of Heaven fall into the River of Fire and Brimstone Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into hell And how dreadful is that If when but a spark of Gods Anger lights into the Conscience here it is so torturing what will it be to have mountains of Gods Wrath thrown upon the Soul Psal. 90.11 Who knoweth the power of thy anger The Angel never poured out his Vial but some woe followed Rev. 16.3 when the bitter Vials of Gods Wrath are poured out Damnation follows Dives cryes out O I am tormented in this flame Luke 16.24 In Hell there 's not a drop of Mercy There was no Oyl or Frankincense used in the Sacrifice of Jealousie Numb 5.15 in Hell no Oyl of Mercy to lenifie the Sufferings of the Damned nor Incense of Prayer to appease Gods Wrath. 5. A fifth aggravation of the loss of this Kingdom will be to consider on what easie and reasonable terms Men might have had this Kingdom If indeed God had commanded impossibles to have satisfied his Justice in their own Persons it had been another matter but what God did demand was reasonable only to do that which was for their good to accept of Christ for their Lord and Husband only to part with that which would damn them if they kept their Sins these were the fair terms on which they might have enjoyed the Heavenly Kingdom Now to lose Heaven which might have been had upon such easie terms will be a cutting aggravation it will rend a Sinners Heart with rage and grief to think how easily he might have prevented the loss of the Heavenly Kingdom 6. It will be an aggravation of the loss of Heaven for Sinners to think how active they were in doing that which lost them the Kingdom they were felo de se. What pains did they take to resist the Spirit to stifle Conscience they sinned while they were out of breath Ier. 9.5 They weary themselves to commit iniquity What difficulties did Men go through what did they endure for their Sins how much shame and pain how sick was the Drunkard with his cups how sore in his Body was the Adulterer and what marks of his sin did he carry about him What dangers did Men adventure upon for their Lusts they adventured Gods Wrath and adventured the Laws of the Land O how will this aggravate the loss of Heaven how will this make Men curse themselves to think how much pains they were at to lose happiness How will this sting Mens Consciences to think had they taken but as much pains for Heaven as they did for Hell they had not lost it 7. Aggravation of the loss of this Kingdom it will be an eternal irreparable loss Heaven once lost can never be recovered Worldly losses may be made up again if a Man lose his Health he may have it repaired by Physick if a Man be driven out of his Kingdom he may be restored to it again as King Nebuchadnezzar was Dan. 4.36 My honour returned to me and I
of Gods Will Thy Will be done 3. By doing the Will of God we evidence Sincerity as Christ said in another sense Iohn 10.25 The works which I do bear witness of me So it is not all our golden words if we could speak like Angels but our works our doing of Gods Will which bears witness of our Sincerity We judge not of the health of a Mans Body by his high Colour but by the Pulse of the Arm where the Blood chiefly stirs so a Christians soundness is not to be judged by his Profession what is this high Colour but the estimate of a Christian is to be taken by his Obediential acting his doing the Will of God this is the best Certificate and Letters Testimonial to shew for Heaven 4. Doing Gods Will much propagates the Gospel this is the Diamond that sparkles in Religion Others cannot see what Faith is in the Heart but when they see we do Gods Will on Earth this makes them have a venerable opinion of Religion and become Proselites to it Iulian in one of his Epistles writing to Arsatius saith That the Christian Religion did much flourish by the Sanctity and Obedience of them that professed it 5. By doing Gods Will we show our Love to Christ Iohn 14.21 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me What greater Love to Christ than to do his Will though it cross our own Every one would be thought to love Christ but how shall that be known but by this do you do his Will on Earth Neque principem veneramur si odio ejus Leges habemus Isid. 'T is a vain thing for a Man to say he loves Christs Person when he slights his Commands Not to do Gods Will on Earth is a great evil 't is 1. Sinful 2. Foolish 3. Dangerous 1. It is Sinful 1. We go against our Prayers we pray Fiat voluntas tua thy will be done and yet we do not obey his will we confute our own Prayer 2. VVe go against our Vow in Baptism we have vowed to fight under the Lords Banner to obey his Scepter and this Vow we have oft renewed in the Lords Supper if we do not Gods will on Earth we are forsworn and God will indite us of Perjury 2. Not to do Gods will on Earth is Foolish 1. Because there is no standing it out against God If we do not obey him we cannot resist him 1 Cor. 10. â—2 Are we stronger than he Iob. 40.9 Hast thou an arm like God Canst thou measure Armes with him To oppose God is as if a Child should fight with an Arch-Angel as if an heap of Bryars should put themselves into a battalia against the Flame 2. Not to do Gods will is foolish because if we do not Gods will we do the Devils will Is it not folly to gratifie an enemy To do his will that seeks our ruine Quest. But are any so wicked as to do the Devils will Answ. Yes Iohn 8.44 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do VVhen a Man tells a lye doth he not do the Devils will Acts 5.3 Ananias Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye to the Holy Ghost 3. Not to do Gods Will is dangerous it brings a Spiritual Praemunire If Gods Will be not done by us he will have his will upon us if we obey not Gods will in commanding we shall obey his will in punishing 2 Thess. 1.7 The Lord Iesus shall be revealed with his mighty Angels in flames of fire taking vengeance on them that obey not his gospel Either we must do Gods will or suffer it 6. VVhatever God wills us to do is for our benefit Behold here self-interest As if a King commands his Subject to dig in a Mine of Gold and then gives him all the Gold he hath digged God bids us do his will and this is for our good Deut. 10.13 And now O Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God and keep the commandments of the Lord which I command thee this day for thy good It is Gods will that we should repent and this is for our good Repentance ushers in remission Acts 3.9 Repent that your sins may be blotted out It is Gods will that we should believe and why is it but that we should be crowned with Salvation Mark 16.16 He that believes shall be saved VVhat God wills is not so much our Duty as our Priviledge he bids us obey his voice and it is greatly for our good Ier. 7.23 Obey my voice and I will be your God I will not only give you my Angels to be your guard but my self to be your portion my Spirit shall be yours to sanctifie you my Love shall be yours to comfort you my Mercy shall be yours to save you I will be your God 7. To do Gods will is our Honour A Person thinks it an Honour to have a King speak to him to do such a thing the Angels count it their highest Honour in Heaven to do Gods will Servire Deo regnare est To serve God is to reign Non onerant nos sed ornant Salvian How chearfully did the Rowers row the Barge that carried Caesar to be imployed in his Barge was an Honour to be imployed in doing Gods will is insigne Honoris the highest ensign of Honour that a Mortal Creature is capable of Christs Precepts do not burden us but adorn us 8. To do Gods Will on Earth makes us like Christ and akin to Christ. 1. It makes us like Christ Is it not our Prayer that we may be like Christ. Jesus Christ did his Fathers will Iohn 6.38 I came down from Heaven not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me God the Father and Christ as they have but one Essence so but one VVill Christs will was melted into his Fathers Iohn 4.34 My meat is to do the will of him that sent me By our doing Gods will on Earth we resemble Christ nay we are akin to Christ and are of the Blood-Royal of Heaven Alexander called himself Couzen to the Gods what Honour is it to be akin to Christ. Matth. 12.50 Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven the same is my Brother and Sister and Mother Did King Solomon arise off his Throne to meet his Mother and set her on a Throne by him 1 Kings 3.19 such Honour will Christ bestow on such as are doers of Gods will he will salute them as his Kindred and set them on a Glorious Throne in the Amphitheatre of Heaven 9. Doing Gods will on Earth brings Peace in Life and Death 1. In Life Psal. 19.11 In keeping thy precepts there is great reward not only after keeping them but in keeping them when we walk closely with God in Obedience there is a secret Joy let into the Soul and how swiftly and chearfully do the wheels of the Soul move
Sea 2. Consideration God hath a special hand in the disposal of all Occurrences that fall out Iob eyed God in the Affliction chap. 1.21 The Lord hath taken away He doth not complain of the Sabeans or the Influences of the Planets he looked beyond all second Causes he saw God in the Affliction and that made him chearfully submit Blessed be the name of the Lord. And Christ looked beyond Iudas and Pilate he looked to Gods determinate Counsel in delivering him up to be Crucified Acts 4.28 this made him say Matth. 26.39 Father not as I will but as thou wilt 'T is vain to quarrel with instruments VVicked Men are but a Rod in Gods hand Isa. 10.5 O Assyrian the rod of my anger VVhoever brings an Affliction God sends it The consideration of this would make us say Thy Will be done what God doth he sees a reason for VVe read of a wheel within a wheel Ezek. 1.15 the outward wheel which turns all is Providence the wheel within this wheel is Gods Decree this believed would rock the Heart quiet Shall we mutiny at that which God doth VVe may as well quarrel with the works of Creation as the works of Providence 3. Consideration which may make us humbly to submit to Gods VVill is that there is a necessity of Affliction 1 Pet. 1.6 If need be ye are in heaviness It is needful some things be kept in brine Afflictions are needful upon several accounts 1. To keep us Humble Oft times there is no other way to have the heart low but by being brought low 2 Chron. 33.12 When Manasseh was in affliction he humbled himself greatly Corrections are Corrosives to eat out the proud flesh Lam. 3.19 Remembring my misery the wormwood and the gall my soul is humbled in me 2. It is necessary that there should be Affliction for if God did not sometimes bring us into Affliction how could his power be seen in bringing us out Had not Israel been in the Egyptian Furnace God had lost his glory in their deliverance 3. If there were no Affliction then many parts of Scripture could not be fulfilled God hath promised to help us bear Affliction and Psal. 37.24 39. how could we experience Gods supporting us in trouble if we did not sometime meet with it God hath promised to give us Joy in Affliction Iohn 16.20 how could we taste this honey of Joy if we were not sometimes in Affliction Again God hath promised to wipe away tears from our eyes Isa. 25.8 how could God wipe away our tears in Heaven if we never shed any So that in several respects there is an absolute necessity that we should meet with Affliction and shall not we quietly submit and say Lord I see there is a necessity of it Thy Will be done 4. Consideration to make us submit to Gods VVill in Affliction is that whatever we feel it is nothing but what we have brought upon our selves we put a Rod into Gods hand to chastise us Christian God layes thy Cross on thee but it is of thy own making If a Mans field be full of Tares it is nothing but what he hath sown in it If thou reapest a bitter crop of Affliction it is nothing but what thou thy self hast sown The cords that pinch thee are of thy own twisting Me me adsum qui feci If Children will eat green Fruit they may thank themselves if they are sick if we eat the forbidden Fruit no wonder to feel it gripe Sin is the Trojan Horse that lands an Army of Afflictions upon us Ier. 4.15 A voice publisheth affliction ver 18. Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee this is thy wickedness If we by Sin run our selves into arrears with God no wonder if he set Affliction as a Sergeant on our back to arrest us This may make us patiently submit to God in Affliction and say Thy Will be done VVe have no cause to complain of God it is nothing but what our Sins have merited Ier. 2.17 Hast not thou procured this unto thy self The Cross though it be of Gods laying it is of our own making say then as Mica 7. â—9 I will bear the Indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him 5. Consideration to cause submission to Gods Will in Affliction God is now about to make an Experiment he doth it to prove and try us Psal. 66.10 Thou O God hast tried us as Silver is tried thou laidst Affliction upon our Loyns If there were no Affliction how should God have an Opportunity to try Men Hypocrites can sail in a Pleasure-boat serve God in Prosperity but when we can keep close to God in times of danger when we can trust God when we have no Pawn and love God when we have no smile here is the trial of Sincerity This may make us say Thy Will be done God is only trying us what hurt is in that What is the gold worse for being tried 6. Consideration to make us submit to God in Affliction and say Thy Will be done is that in all our Crosses God hath a kindness for us as there was no Night so dark but Israel had a Pillar of Fire to give Light so there 's no Condition so cloudy but we may see that which gives Light of Comfort David would sing of Mercy and Judgment Psal. 101.1 This may make our Wills chearfully submit to Gods to consider in every Path of Providence we may see a Footstep of kindness Quest. What kindness is there in Affliction when God seems most unkind Answ. 1. There is kindness in Affliction in that there is love in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost. Gods Rod and Gods Love may stand together Heb. 12.6 Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth Whom he cockereth above the rest so Mercer As Abraham when he lift up his hand to sacrifice Isaac loved him so when God afflicts his People and seems to sacrifice their outward Comforts yet loves them The Husbandman loves his Vine when he cuts it and makes it bleed and shall not we submit to God shall we quarrel with that which hath kindness in it which comes in love The Chyrurgion binds the Patient and launceth him but no wise Man will quarrel with the Chyrurgion it is in Love and in order to a Cure 2. There is kindness in Affliction in that God deals with us now as Children Heb. 12.7 If you endure Chastening God deals with you as Sons God had one Son without sin but no son without stripes Affliction is a Badge of Adoption 't is Dei Sigillum saith Tertullian it is Gods Seal by which he marks us for his own When Munster that holy Man lay sick his Friends ask'd him how he did he pointed to his Sores saying hae sunt gemme Dei these are the Jewels with which God decks his Children shall not we then say Thy Will be done Lord there 's kindness in the Cross thou usest us as Children the Rod of Discipline
Righteousness Heb. 12.11 This may make us submit to God and say Thy Will be done there 's kindness in Affliction it is for our spiritual profit 5. There 's kindness in Affliction in that there is no condition so bad but it might be worse when it is duskish it might be darker God doth not make our Cross so heavy as he might he doth not stir up all his Anger Psal. 78.38 He doth not put so many Nails in our Yoak so much Wormwood in our Cup as he might doth God chastise thy Body he might torture thy Conscience doth he cut thee short he might cut thee off The Lord might make our Chain heavier Is it a burning-Feaver it might have been the burning Lake Doth God use the Pruning Knife to lop thee he might bring his Axe to hew thee down Ezek. 47.3 The Waters were up to the Ankles Do the Waters of Affliction come up to the Ankles God might make them rise higher nay he might drown thee in the Waters this may make us submit quietly and say Thy Will be done because there is so much kindness in it whereas God useth the Rod he might use the Scorpion 6. There is kindness in Affliction in that your case is not so bad as others they are alwaies upon the Rack they spend their Years with sighing Psal. 31.10 Have you a gentle fit of an Ague others cry out of the Stone and Strangullion Do you bear the wrath of Men others bear the wrath of God you have but a single trial others have them twisted together God shoots but one Arrow at you he shoots a Shower of Arrows at others is there not kindness in all this We are apt to say never any suffered as we was it not worse with Lazarus who was so full of Sores that the Dogs took pity on him and licked his Sores Nay was it not worse with Christ who lived poor and died cursed May not this cause us to say Thy Will be done there is kindness in it that God deals not so severely with us as others 7. There is kindness in Affliction in that if we belong to God it is all the Hell we shall have some have two Hells they suffer in their Body and Conscience here is one Hell and another Hell is to come unquenchable Fire Iudas had two Hells but a Child of God hath but one Hell Lazarus had all his Hell here he was full of sores but had a Convoy of Angels to carry him to Heaven when he dyed Say then Lo if this be the worst I shall have if this be all my Hell I will patiently acquiesce Thy Will be done 8. There is kindness in that God gives gracious supports in Affliction if he strikes with one hand he will support with the other Deut. 33.27 Vnderneath are the everlasting Arms. There is not the least Trial but if God did desert us and not assist us with his Grace we should sink under it The Frown of a great Man the fear of a Reproach Peter was frighted at the Voice of a Maid Mat. 26.69 O therefore what Mercy is it to have Christ strengthen us and as it were bear the heaviest part of the Cross with us One said I have no ravishing Joys in my sickness but I bless God I have sweet supports and should not this cause submission to Gods Will and make us say Lo if thou art so kind as to bear us up in Affliction that we do not faint put us into what Wine-press thou pleasest Thy Will be done 9. There is kindness in Affliction in that it is preventive 1. God by this stroke of his would prevent some sin Paul's Thorn in the Flesh was to prevent his being lifted up in Pride 2 Cor. 12.7 As Affliction is sometimes sent for the punishing of sin so sometimes for the preventing of sin Prosperity exposeth to much evil 'T is hard to carry a full Cup without spilling and a full Estate without sinning Gods People know not how much they are beholding to their Affliction they might have fallen into some Scandal had not God set an Hedge of Thorns in their way to stop them what kindness is this God lets us fall into sufferings to prevent falling into Snares say then Lord do as it seems good in thy sight Thy Will be done 2. God by Affliction would prevent Damnation 1 Cor. 11.32 We are corrected in the World that we may not be condemned with the World A Man by falling into the Briars is saved from falling into the River God lets us fall into the Briars of Affliction that we may not drown in Perdition It is a great favour when a lesser punishment is inflicted to prevent a greater Is it not Clemency in the Judge when he lays some light Penalty on the Prisoner and saves his life so when God lays upon us light Affliction and saves us from wrath to come as Pilate said Luke 23.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will chastise him and let him go so God chastiseth his Children and lets them go frees them from eternal torment What is a drop of sorrow the Godly tast to that sea of Wrath the Wicked shall be drinking of to all Eternity O what kindness is here may not this make us say Thy Will be done it is preventing Physick 10. There is kindness in that God doth mix his Providences Hab. 3.2 In Anger he remembers Mercy Not all pure Gall but some Honey mixed with it Ashurs Shoes were Iron and Brass but his Foot was dip'd in Oyl Gen. 33.24 Affliction is the shoo of Brass but God causeth the Foot to be dipp'd in Oyl As the Limner mixeth with his dark shadows bright Colours so the wise God mingles the dark and the bright Colour Crosses and Blessings The Body is afflicted but within is Peace of Conscience there is a Blessing Ioseph was sold into Egppt and put in Prison there was the dark side of the Cloud Iob lost all that ever he had his Skin was clothed with Boils and Ulcers here was a sad Providence but God gave a Testimony from Heaven of Iobs Integrity and did afterwards double his Estate Iob. 42.10 The Lord gave Iob twice as much Here was the goodness of God seen towards Iob. God doth checquer his works of Providence and shall not we submit and say Lord if thou art so kind mixing so many bright Colours with my dark Condition Thy Will be done 11. There is kindness in Affliction in that God doth moderate his Stroke Ier. 30.11 I will correct thee in Measure God will in the day of his East-wind stay his rough wind Isa. 27.8 The Physician that understands the Crasis and temper of the patient will not give too strong Physick for the Body nor will he give one Dram or Scruple too much God knows our frame he will not over-afflict he will not stretch the strings of his Viol too hard least they break and is there not kindness in all this may not this work our
owe God themselves to pay it in part and do not look to have it all forgiven But why did Christ teach us to pray forgive us our sins if we can of our selves satisfie God for the wrong we have done him This Doctrine robs God of his Glory Christ of his Merit and the Soul of Salvation Alas is not the lock cut where our Strength lay are not all our Works fly-blown with sin and can sin satisfie for sin this Doctrine makes men their own Saviours it is most absurd to hold for can the Obedience of a finite Creature satisfie for an infinite Offence Sin being forgiven clearly implies we cannot satisfie for it 2. From this word Vs forgive us we learn that pardon is chiefly to be sought for our selves For tho' we are to pray for the pardon of others Iam. 6.16 Pray one for another yet in the first place we are to beg pardon for our selves What will anothers pardon do us good every one is to endeavour to have his own name in the pardon A Son may be made free by his Fathers Copy but he cannot be pardoned by his Fathers pardon he must have a pardon for himself In this sence selfiâ—hness is lawful every one must be for himself and get a pardon for his own sins Forgive Vs. 3. From this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OVR Our sins we learn how just God is in punishing us the Text saith Our Sins we are not punished for other mens sins but our own Nemo habet de proprio nisi peccatum Augustine There 's nothing we can call so properly ours as sin Our daily bread we have from God our daily sins we have from our selves Sin is our own Act a web of our own spinning How righteous therefore is God in punishing of us we sow the seed and God only makes us reap what we sow Ier. 17.10 I give every man the fruit of his own doings When we are punished we do but tast the fruit of our own grafting 4. From this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sins see from hence the multitude of sins we stand guilty of we pray not forgive us our Sin as if it were only a single debt but sins in the plural so vast is the Catalogue of our sins that David cries out Who can understand his Errors Ps. 19.12 Our sins are like the drops in the Sea like the atoms in the Sun they exceed all Arithmetick Our debts we owe to God we can no more number than we can satisfie Which as it should humble us to consider how full of black Spots our Souls are so it should put us upon seeking after the pardon of our sins and this brings to the second Vse Exhort To labour to have the forgiveness of sin sealed up to us How can we eat or drink or sleep without it 'T is sad dying without a pardon This is to fall into the Labyrinth of Despair of this the next time Vse 2. Let us labour for the forgiveness of sin If ever this was needful then now when the Times ring Changes and Dangers seem to be marching towards us Labour I say for the Forgiveness of sin this is a main Branch of the Charter or Covenant of Grace Heb. 10.12 I will be merciful to your Unrighteousness and your Sins and Iniquities I will remember no more It is Mercy to feed us but it is rich Mercy to pardon us this is spun and woven out of the Bowels of Free-grace Earthly things are no signs of God's love he may give the Venison but not the Blessing but when God seals up Forgiveness he gives his Love and Heaven with it Psal. 21.3 Thou settest a Crown of pure Gold on his head A Crown of Gold was a Mercy but if you look into 103. Psalm you shall find a greater Mercy v. 3 4. Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities who crowneth thee with loving-kindness To be crowned with Forgiveness and Loving kindness is a far greater Mercy than to have a Crown of pure Gold set upon the Head it was a Mercy when Christ cured the palsy man but when Christ said to him Thy sins are forgiven Mar. 2.5 this was more than to have his palsy healed forgiveness of Sin is the Chief thing to be sought after and sure if conscience be once touched with a sence of Sin there 's nothing a man will thirst after more than forgiveness Ps. 51.3 My Sin is ever before me this made David so earnest for pardon Ps. 51.1 Have Mercy upon me O God blot out my Transgressions If one should have come to David and asked him David where is thy pain what is it troubles thee is it the fear of shame which shall come upon thee in thy Wives is it the fear of the Sword which God hath threatned shall not depart from thy House he would have said No it is only my sin pains me My Sin is ever before me Were but this removed by forgiveness tho' the Sword did ride in circuit in my Family I should be well enough content When the Arrow of Guilt sticks in the Conscience nothing is so desirable as to have this Arrow plucked out by forgiveness Oh therefore seek after the Forgiveness of Sin can you make a shift to live without it but how will you do to die without it will not death have a sting to an unpardoned Sinner how do you think to get to Heaven without forgiveness as at some solemn Festivals there 's no being admitted unless you bring a Ticket so unless you have this Ticket to shew Forgiveness of Sin there 's no being admitted into the Holy Place of Heaven Will God ever Crown those that he will not forgive O be ambitious of pardoning Grace When God had made Abraham great and large Promises Abraham replies Lord what is all seeing I go Childless Gen. 15.2 so when God hath given thee Riches and all thy heart can wish say to him Lord what is all this seeing I want Forgiveness let my pardon be sealed in Christ's Blood A Prisoner in the Tower is in an ill Case notwithstanding his brave Diet great Attendance soft Bed to lie on because being Impeach'd he looks every day for his Arraignment and is afraid of the Sentence of Death In such a Case and worse is He that swims in the Pleasures of the World but his sins are not forgiven A guilty Conscience doth impeach him and he is in fear of being Arraign'd and Condemn'd at God's Judgment-Seat Give not then sleep to your Eyes or slumber to your Eye lids till you have gotten some well-grounded hope that your sins are blotted out Before I come to press the Exhortation to seek after forgiveness of Sin I shall propound one question Quest. If pardon of Sin be so absolutely necessary without it no Salvation what is the Reason that so few in the world seek after it If they want health they repair to the Physitian if they want Riches they take a Voyage to the Indies
this together sure must make sin burdensome and should not we labour to have this Burden removed by pardoning Mercy 2. Sin is a Debt Mat. 6.12 Forgive us our Debts and every Debt we owe God hath written down in his Book Isa. 65.6 Behold it is written before me and one day God's Debt-Book will be opened Rev. 20.12 The Books were opened And is not this that which may make us look after Forgiveness Sin being such a debt as we must eternally lie in the Prison of Hell for if it be not discharged shall not we be earnest with God to cross the Debt-book with the Blood of his Son There is no way to look God in the face with Comfort but by having our debts either payed or pardoned 3. There is nothing but Forgiveness can give Ease to a troubled Conscience there is a great difference between having the Fancy pleased and having the Conscience eased Worldly things may please the Fancy but not ease the Conscience Nothing but pardon can relieve a troubled Soul it is strange what shifts men will make for Ease when Conscience is pained and how many false Medicines they will use before they will take the right way for a Cure When Conscience is troubled they will try what merry Company can do they may perhaps drink away trouble of Conscience perhaps they may play it away at Cards perhaps a lent whipping will do the deed Perhaps multitude of Business will so take up their time that they shall have no leisure to hear the Clamours and Accusations of Conscience But how vain are all these Attempts still their Wound bleeds inwardly their Heart trembles their Conscience roars and they can have no peace Whence is it Here is the Reason they go not to the Mercy of God and the Blood of Christ for the pardon of their Sins and hence it is they can have no ease Suppose a man hath a Thorn in his Foot which puts him to pain let him anoint it or wrap it up and keep it warm yet till the Thorn be pluck'd out it akes and swells and he hath no ease So when the Thorn of Sin is gotten into a Man's Conscience there 's no ease till the Thorn be pull'd out when God removes Iniquity now the Thoâ—n is pluck'd out How was Davids Heart finely quieted when Nathan the Prophet told him tâ—e Lord hath put away thy Sin 2. Sam. 12.13 How should we therefore labour for Forgiveness till then we can have no ease in our Mind nothing but a pardon seal'd in the Blood of a Redeemer can ease a wounded Spirit 4. Forgiveness of sin is feasible it may be obtained Impossibility destroys Endeavour but as Ezra 10.2 There is hope in Israel concerning this the Devils are past hope a sentence of death is passed upon them which is irrevocable but there is hope for us of obtaining a Pardon Psal. 130.4 There is Forgiveness with thee If pardon of sin were not possible then it were not to be pray'd for but it hath been pray'd for 2 Sam. 24.10 I beseech thee O Lord take away mine Iniquity and Christ bids us pray for it Forgive us our Trespasses That is possible which God hath promised but God hath promised pardon upon Repentance Isa. 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and return to the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Hebr. Ki Iarbe lisloac He will multiply to pardon That is possible which others have obtain'd but others have arrived at Forgiveness therefore it is haveable Psal. 32.5 Isa. 38.17 Thou hast cast all my Sins behind thy back this may make us endeavour after pardon because it is feasible it may be had 5. Consideration to perswade to it is forgiveness of Sin is a Choice Eminent Blessing to have the Book cancel'd and God appeas'd is worth obtaining which may whet our Endeavour after it That it is a rare Transcendent Blessing appears by three Demonstrations 1. If we consider how this Blessing is purchased namely by the Lord Iesus there are three things in reference to Christ which set forth the Choiceness and Pretiousness of Forgiveness 1. No meer created Power in Heaven or Earth could expiate one Sin or procure a Pardon only Jesus Christ 1 Iohn 2.2 He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the propitiation for our Sins no Merit can buy out a Pardon Paul had as much to boast of as any man His high Birth his Learning his legal Righteousness but he disclaims all in point of Justification and lays them under Christ's Feet to tread upon No Angel could with all his Holiness lay down a price for the pardon of one Sin 1 Sam. 2.25 If a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him What Angel durst be so bold as to open his Mouth to God for a delinquent sinner Only Jesus Christ who is God-Man could deal with God's Justice and purchase Forgiveness 2. Christ himself could not procure a Pardon but by Dying every Pardon is the Price of Blood Christ's Life was a Rule of Holiness and a Pattern of Obedience Mat. 3.15 He fulfilled all Righteousness And certainly Christ's Active Obedience was of great Value and Merit but here is that which raiseth the worth of Forgiveness Christ's active Obedience had not fully procured a Pardon for us with the shedding of his Blood Therefore our Justification is ascribeâ— to his Blood Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his Blood Christ did bleed out our Pardon There is much ascribed to Christ's Intercession but his Intercession had not prevail'd with God for the forgiveness of one sin had not he shed his Blood 'T is worth our notice that when Christ is described to Iohn as an Intercessor for his Church he is represented to him in the likeness of a Lamb slain Revel 5.6 To shew that Christ must die and be slain before he can be an Intercessor 3. Christ by dying had not purchased Forgiveness for us if he had not dyed an Execrable Death he endured the Curse Gal. 3.13 All the Agonies Christ endured in his Soul all the Torments in his Body could not purchase a Pardon except he had been made a Curse for us Christ must be cursed before we could be blessed with a pardon 2. Forgiveness of Sin is a choice Blessing if we consider what glorious Attributes God puts forth in the pardoning of sin 1. God puts forth infinite Power when Moses was pleading with God for the pardon of Israels Sin he speaks thus Let the Power of my Lord be great Numb 14.17 Gods forgiving of Sin is a Work of as great Power as to make Heaven and Earth Nay a Greater for when God made the World he met with no Opposition but when he comes to pardon Satan opposeth and the Heart opposeth A Sinner is desperate and slights yea defies a pardon till God by his mighty Power convinceth him of his Sin and Danger and makes him willing to accept of a pardon 2.
unsetled are of the Tribe of Reuben Unstable as water Gen. 49.4 Like a Ship without a Ballast overturn'd with every Wind of Doctrine Beza writes of one Bolsectius whose Religion chang'd as the Moon The Arians had Annuam Fidem every Year a new Faith These are not Pillars in the Temple of God but Reeds shaken every way The Apostle calls them damnable Heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 A Man may go to Hell as well for Heresie as Adultery To be unsetled in Religion argues want of Judgment if their Heads were not giddy they would not reel so fast from one Opinion to another It argues Lightness Feathers will be blown any way so will feathery Christians Triticum non rapit ventus inanes paleae jactantur Cypr. Therefore such are compar'd to Children Eph. 4.14 That we be no more children tossed to and fro Children are fickle sometimes of one mind sometimes of another nothing pleaseth them long So unsetled Christians are childish those Truths they embrace at one time they reject at another sometimes they like the Protestant Religion and soon after they have a good mind to turn Papists Now that you may labour to be setled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Ignatius in the Faith in unsetled Times of setled Judgments 1. It is the great End of the Word preach'd to bring us to a Settlement in Religion Eph. 4.11 13. And he gave some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the edifying of the body of CHRIST that we henceforth be no more children The Word is called an Hammer Ier. 23.29 Every blow of the Hammer is to fasten the Nails of the Building the Preacher's Words are but to fasten you the more to Christ they weaken themselves to strengthen and settle you This is the grand Design of Preaching not only for the Enlightning but for the Establishing of Souls not only to guide them into the right Way but to keep them in it now if you be not setled you do not answer God's End in giving you the Ministry 2. To be setled in Religion is both a Christian's Excellency and Honour 't is his Excellency when the Milk is setled it turns to Cream now he will be something zealous for Truth walk in close Communion with God And his Honour Prov. 16.31 The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness 'T is one of the best sights to see an old Disciple to see Silver Hairs adorn'd with Golden Vertues 3. Such as are not setled in the Faith can never suffer for it Scepticks in Religion will hardly ever prove Martyrs they that are not setled do hang in aequilibrio in suspence when they think of the Joys of Heaven then they will espouse the Gospel but when they think of Persecution then they desert it Unsetled Christians do not consult what is best but what is safest The Apostate saith Tertullian seems to put God and Satan in Ballance and having weighed both their Services prefers the Devil's Service and proclaims him to be the best Master and in this sence may be said to put Christ to open shame Heb. 6.6 They will never suffer for the Truth but be as a Souldier that leaves his Colours and runs over to the Enemy's side he will fight on the Devil's side for Pay 4. Not to be setled in the Faith is highly provoking to God To espouse the Truth and then fall away brings an ill Report on the Gospel which will not go unpunished Psal. 78.57 59. They turned back and dealt unfaithfully When God heard this he was wrath and greatly abhorred Israel The Apostate drops as a Windfall into the Devil's Mouth 5. Is ye are not setled in Religion you will never grow We are commanded to grow up into the Head Christ Eph. 4.15 But if we are unsetled no growing Planta quae saepe transfertur non coalescit The Plant which is continually removing never thrives He can no more grow in Godliness which is unsetled then a Bone can grow in the Body that is out of joynt 6. What great need there is to be setled because indeed there are so many things to unsettle us and make us fall away gradually from the Truth Seducers are abroad whose work is to draw away People from the Principles of Religion 1 Joh. 2.26 These things have I written concerning them that seduce you Seducers are the Devil's Factors they are of all others the greatest Fellons that would rob you of the Truth Seducers are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they have Silver Tongues a fair Tongue can put off bad Wares they have a slight to deceive Eph. 4.14 The Greek word there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taken from those that can cog a Dye and cast it for the best advantage So Seducers are Impostors they can cog a Dye they can so dissemble and sophisticate the Truth that they can deceive others Now the Style by which Seducers use to deceive is 1. By Wisdom of Words Rom. 16.18 By good words and fair speeches they deceive the hearts of the simple They have fine elegant Phrases flattering Language whereby they work on the weaker sort as being Christed with Christ and the Light within them 2. Another Slight is a Pretence of Extraordinary Piety that so People may admire them and suck in their Doctrine They seem to be Men of Zeal and Sanctity and to be divinely inspir'd they pretend Revelations as Munster Michel Servetus and other of the Anabaptists in Germany though they were tainted with Pride Lust and Avarice 3. A third Slight or Cheat Seducers have is a labouring to villifie and nullifie sound orthodox Teachers they would eclipse those that bring the Truth like unto the black Vapors that darken the Light of Heaven They would Defame others that themselves may be more admired Thus the false Teachers cried down Paul that they might be received Gal. 4.17 4. The fourth Slight or Cheat of Seducers is by preaching Doctrines of Liberty As the Antinomian preacheth That Men are freed from the Moral Law the Rule as well as the Curse He preacheth that Christ hath done all for them and they need do nothing So he makes the Doctrine of Free-grace a Key to open the Door to all Licentiousness 5. Another thing to unsettle Christians is Persecutors 2 Tim. 3.12 The Gospel is a Rose cannot be pluck'd without Prickles The Legacy Christ hath bequeath'd is the CROSS While there is a Devil and a wicked Man in the World never expect a Charter of Exemption from Trouble And how many fall away in an Hour of Persecution Rev. 12.3 4. There appeared a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven The Red Dragon the Heathenish Empire and his Tail viz. his Power and Subtilty drew away Stars viz. Eminent Professors that seemed to shine as Stars in the Firmament of the Church Therefore we see what need there is to be setled in the Truth for
only bow the Knee give God Worship but bring Presents Golden Obedience This is to glorifie God when we stick at no Service we will fight under the Banner of his Gospel against Regiments and we say to him as David to King Saul 1 Sam. 17.32 Thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine Thus you see wherein the Glorifying of God doth consist in Appretiation Adoration Affection Subjection A good Christian is like the Sun which doth not only send forth Heat but goes its Circuit round the World thus he who glorifies God hath not only his Affections heated with love to God but he goes his Circuit too he moves vigorously in the sphere of Obedience Quest. Why we must glorifie God Resp. 1. Because he gives us our Being Psal. 100.3 It is he that hath made us We think it a great kindness in a Man to spare our Life but what kindness is it in God to give us our Life we draw our breath from him and as Life so all the Comforts of Life are from God he gives us Health which is the Sawce to sweeten our Life he gives us Food which is the Oyl that nourisheth the Lamp of Life now if all we receive is from the hand of his Bounty is it not good reason we should glorifie him and live to him seeing we live by him Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him are all things Of him are all all we have is of his Fulness through him are all all we have is through his Free-grace and therefore to him should be all so it follows To him be glory for ever God is not only our Benefactor but our Founder the Rivers come from the Sea and they empty their Silver Streams into the Sea again 2. Because God hath made all things for his own Glory Prov. 16.4 The Lord hath made all things for himself that is for his Glory As a King hath Excise out of Commodities God will have his Glory out of every thing he will have Glory out of the Wicked the Glory of his Justice they will not give him Glory but he will get his Glory upon them Exod. 14.17 I will get me honour upon Pharoah But especially he hath made the Godly for his Glory they are the living Organs of his Praise Isa. 43.21 This people have I formed for myself and they shall shew forth my praise It is true they cannot add to his Glory but they may exalt it they cannot raise him in Heaven but they may raise him in the Esteem of others God hath adopted the Saints into his Family and made them a Royal Priesthood that they should shew forth the Praises of him who hath called them 1 Pet. 2.9 3. Because the Glory of God hath so much intrinsick Value and Excellency in it it transcends the Thoughts of Men and the Tongue of Angels God's Glory is his Treasure all his Riches lie here as Mica said Judg. 18.24 What have I more So of God what hath God more God's Glory is more worth then Heaven More worth then the salvation of all Mens souls Better Kingdoms be thrown down better Men and Angels be annihilated then God should lose one Jewel of his Crown one Beam of his Glory 4. Creatures below us and above us bring Glory to God and do we think to sit Rent-free shall every thing glorifie God but Man it is pity then that ever Man was made 1. Creatures below us glorifie God the inanimate Creatures the Heavens glorifie God Ps. 19.1 The heavens declare the glory of God The curious Workmanship of Heaven sets forth the Glory of its Maker the Firmament is beautified and pensill'd out in Blue and Azure colours where the Power and Wisdom of God may be clearly seen The heavens declare his glory We may see the Glory of God blazing in the Sun twinkling in the Stars 2. Look into the Air the Birds with their chirping Musick sing Hymns of Praise to God saith Anselm Every Beast doth in its kind glorifie God Isa. 43.20 The beasts of the field shall honour me 2. Creatures above us glorifie God The angels are ministring spirits Heb. 1.14 They are still waiting on God's Throne and bring some Revenues of Glory into the Exchequer of Heaven Then surely Man should be much more studious of God's Glory then the Angels for God hath honour'd him more then the Angels in that Christ took Man's Nature upon him and not the Angels say tho' in regard of Creation God hath made Man a little lower then the Angels Heb. 2.7 yet in regard of Redemption God hath set him higher than the Angels he hath married Mankind to himself The Angels are Christ's Friends but not his Spouse he hath covered us with the Purple Robe of his Righteousness which is a better Righteousness then the Angels have 2 Cor. 5.20 So that if the Angels bring Glory to God much more should we being dignified with Honour above the Angelical Spirits 5. Resp. We must bring Glory to God because all our Hopes hang upon him Psal. 39.7 My hope is in thee And Psal. 62.5 My expectation is from him I expect a Kingdom from him A Child that is good natur'd will Honour his Parent as expecting all that ever he is like to be worth from him Psal. 87.8 All my fresh springs are in thee The Silver Springs of Grace the Golden Springs of Glory Quest. How many ways may we glorifie God Resp. 1. It is a glorifying God when we aim purely at God's Glory it is one thing to advance God's Glory another thing to aim at it God must be the Terminus ad quem the Ultimate End of all our Actions thus Christ Joh. 8.50 I seek not my own glory but the glory of him that sent me 'T is the Note of an Hypocrite he hath a squint Eye he looks more to his own Glory then God's Glory Our Saviour Deciphers such and gives a Caveat against them Matth. 6.2 When thou givest alms do not sound a trumpet A Stranger would ask What means the noise of this Trumpet Then it was answered They are going to give to the Poor And so they did not give Alms but sell them for Honour and Applause that they may have Glory of Men the Breath of Men was the Wind that blew the Sails of their Charity Verily they have their reward The Hypocrite may make his Acquittance and write Received in full payment Vain-glory Chrysostome calls one of the Devil 's great Nets to catch Men. And Cyprian Quem non gula 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 superavit Whom Satan cannot prevail against by Intemperance those he prevails against by Pride and Vain-glory. O let us take heed of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Self-worshipping Aim purely at God's Glory Quest. How shall we know we aim at God's Glory Resp. 1. When we prefer God's Glory above all other things above Credit Estate Relations when the Glory of God comes in competition with them we prefer his Glory before them if
Relations lie in our way to Heaven we must either leap over them or tread upon them A Child must unchild himself and forget he is a Child he must know neither Father nor Mother in God's Cause Deut. 33.9 Who said unto his father and his mother I have not seen him neither did he acknowledge his Brethren This is to aim at God's Glory 2. Then we aim at God's Glory when we can be content that God's Will should take place though it cross ours Lord I am content to be a Looser if thou a Gainer to have less Health if I may have more Grace and thou more Glory whether it be Food or bitter Physick thou givest me Lord I desire that which may be most for thy Glory Thus our Blessed Saviour Not as I will but as thou wilt Matth. 26.39 So God might have more Glory by his Sufferings he was content to suffer Joh. 12.28 Father glorifie thy name 3. Then we aim at God's Glory when we can be content to be out-shined by others in Gifts and Esteem so God's Glory may be encreased A Man that hath God in his Heart and God's Glory in his Eye desires that God should be exalted and if this be effected let who will be the Instrument he rejoyceth Phil. 1.15 Some preach Christ of Envy notwithstanding Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce and will rejoyce they preached Christ of Envy they envyed Paul that Concourse of People and they preached that they might out-shine him in Gifts and get away some of his Hearers Well saith Paul Christ is preached and God is like to have Glory therefore I rejoyce let my Candle go out if the Sun of Righteousness may but shine 2. We Glorifie God by an ingenuous Confession of Sin The Thief of the Cross had dishonour'd God in his Life but at his Death he brings Glory to God by Confession of Sin Luke 23.41 We indeed suffer justly He acknowledged he deserved not only Crucifixion but Damnation Josh. 7.19 My son give I pray thee glory to God and make confession unto him An humble Confession exalts God how is God's Free-grace magnified in crowning those who deserve to be condemn'd as the excusing and mincing of Sin doth cast a Reproach upon God Adam denies not he did tast the forbidden Fruit but instead of a full Confession he taxes God Inscripser◠Deos sceleri Gen. 3.12 The woman whom thou gavest me she gave me of the tree and I did eat It is long of thee if thou hadst not given me the Woman to be a Tempter I had not sinned So Confession glorifies God it clears it acknowledgeth he is Holy and Righteous whatever he doth Nehemiah vindicates God's Righteousness Chap. 9.33 Thou art just in all that is brought upon us And Confession then is ingenuous when it is free not forc'd Luke 15.18 I have sinn'd against heaven and before thee he chargeth himself with Sin before ever his Father chargeth him with it 3. We glorifie God by Believing Rom. 4.20 Abraham was strong in faith giving glory to God Unbelief affronts God it gives him the Lye He that believeth not maketh God a lyer 1 Joh. 5.10 So Faith brings Glory to God it sets to its Seal that God is true Ioh. 3.33 he that believes flies to God's Mercy and Truth as to an Altar of Refuge he doth Ingarrison himself in the Promises he trusts all he hath with God Psal. 31.5 Into thy hands I commit my spirit this is a great way of bringing Glory to God therefore God honours Faith because Faith honours God It is a great Honour we do to a Man when we trust him with all we have we put our Lives and Estates into his hand a sign we have a good Opinion of him The three Children glorified God by believing The God whom we serve is able to deliver us and will deliver us Dan. 3.17 Faith knows there are no Impossibles with God and will trust him where it cannot trace him 4. We glorifie God by being tender of God's Glory God's Glory is dear to him as the apple of his Eye now when we are tender of his Glory by laying to heart his Dishonours this is a glorifying of him An ingenuous Child weeps to see a Disgrace done to his Father Psal. 69.9 The reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me When we hear God reproached it is as if we were reproached when God's Glory suffers 't is as if we suffered This is to be tender of God's Glory 5. We glorifie God by Fruitfulness Joh. 15.8 Hereby is my Father glorified if ye bring forth much fruit As 't is a Dishonour to God to be barren so Fruitfulness doth honour him Phil. 1.11 Filled with the fruits of righteousness which are to the praise of his glory We must not be like the Fig-tree in the Gospel which had nothing but Leaves but like the Pomocitron that is continually either mellowing or blossoming it is never without Fruit. 'T is not Profession but Fruit glorifies God God expects to have his Glory from us this way 1 Cor. 9.7 Who plants a vineyard and eats not of the fruit of it Trees in the Forrest may be barren but Trees in the Garden are fruitful We must bring forth the Fruits of Love and Good Works Matth. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Faith doth sanctifie our Works and Works do testifie our Faith To be doing good to others to be Eyes to the Blind Feet to the Lame doth much glorifie God And thus Christ did glorifie his Father He went about doing good Acts 10.38 By being fruitful we are fair in God's Eyes Jer. 11.16 The Lord called thy name a green olive-tree fair and of goodly fruit And we must bear much Fruit it is Muchness of Fruit glorifies God if ye bear much Fruit. The Spouse's Breasts are compared to Clusters of Grapes Cant. 7.7 to shew how fertile she was Tho' the lowest degree of Grace may bring Salvation to you yet not so much Glory to God it was not a spark of Love Christ commended in Mary but much love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 she loved much Luke 7.47 6. We glorifie God by being contented in that State where his Providence hath set us we give God the Glory of his Wisdom in that we rest satisfied with what he carves out to us Thus did holy Paul glorifie God the Lord had cast him into as great variety of Condition as any Man in Prisons more frequent in Deaths oft 2 Cor. 11.23 yet he had learned to be content St. Paul could sail either in a Storm or a Calm he could be any thing that God would have him he could either want or abound Phil. 4.13 A good Christian argues thus It is God hath put me in this Condition he could have raised me higher if he pleas'd but that might have been a Snare to me God hath done it
God Resp. God is a Spirit Infinite Eternal and Unchangeable in his Being Wisdom Power Holiness Justice Goodness and Truth Here is 1. something implied That there is a God 2. Expressed that he is a Spirit 3. What kind of Spirit 1. Implied that there is a God The question What is God takes it for granted that there is a God the belief of God's Essence is the Foundation of all Religious Worship Heb. 11.6 He that comes to God must believe that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there must be a first Cause which gives a Being and Existence to all things besides We come to know that there is a God 1. By the Book of Nature the Notion of a Deity is engraven in Man's Heart it is demonstrable by the Light of Nature I think it hard for a Man to be a natural Atheist he may wish there were no God he may dispute against a Deity but he cannot in his Judgment believe there is no God unless by accumulated Sin his Conscience be sear'd and he hath such a Lethargy upon him that he hath sinn'd away his very Sense and Reason 2. We come to know that there is a God by his Works and this is so evident a Demonstration of a God-head that the most Atheistical Spirits when they have considered these Works of God have been forced to acknowledge some Wise and Supream Power the Maker of these Things as 't is reported of Galen and others 1. We will begin with the greater World 1. The Creation of the glorious Fabrick of Heaven and Earth sure there must be some Architect or first Cause the World could not make itself Who could hang the Earth on Nothing but the Great God Who could provide such rich Furniture for the Heavens the glorious Constellations the Firmament bespangled with such glittering Lights all this speaks a Deity We may see God's Glory blazing in the Sun twinkling in the Stars Who could give the Earth its Clothing cover it with Grass and Corn adorn it with Flowers enrich it with Gold only God Iob 28.4 Who but God could make the sweet Musick in the Heavens cause the Angels to joyn in consort and sound forth the Praises of their Maker Job 38.7 When the morning-stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy If a Man should go into a far Country and see stately Edifices there he would never imagine that these could build themselves but that some greater Power built them To imagine that the Work of the Creation was not framed by God is as if we should conceive a curious Landskip to be drawn by a Pensil without the Hand of a Limner Acts 17.24 God that made the world and all things therein To Create is proper to a Deity 2. The wise Gubernation of all things evince there is a God God is the great Superintendent of the World he holds the Golden Reins of Government in his Hand guiding all things most regularly and harmoniously to their proper end who that eyes Providence but must be forced to acknowledge there is a God Providence is the Queen and Governness of the World it is the Hand that turns the Wheel of the whole Creation Providence sets the Sun its Race the Sea its Bounds If God should not guide the World things would run into an Ataxy and Confusion When one looks on a Clock and sees the motion of the Wheels the striking of the Hammar the hanging of the Plummets he would say there were some Artificer did make it and put it into that Order So when we see the excellent Order and Harmony in the Universe the Sun that great Luminary dispensing its Light and Heat to the World without which the World were but a Grave or Prison the Rivers sending forth their silver Streams to refresh the Bodies of Men and prevent a Drought and every Creature acting within its Sphere and keeping its due Bounds we must needs acknowledge there is a God who wisely orders and governs all these things Who could set this great Army of the Creatures in their several Ranks and Squadrons and keep them in their constant March but he whose Name is The LORD of Hosts And as God doth wisely dispose all things in the whole Regiment of the Creatures so by his Power he doth support them Did God suspend and withdraw his Influence never so little the Wheels of the Creation would unpin and the Axle-tree break asunder 3. The Motion of the Creatures All Motion as the Philosophers say is from something that is unmoveable As for Example The Elements are moved by the Influence and Motion of the heavenly Bodies The Sun and Moon and these Planets are moved by the highest Orb call'd Primum Mobile now if one should ask Who moves that highest Orb or the first Mover of the Planets Sure it can be no other hand but God himself 2. Let us speak of Man who is a Microcosm or lesser World The excellent Contexture and Frame of his Body who is wrought curiously as with Needle-work Psal. 139.15 I was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth And the Endowment of this Body with a noble Soul who but God could make such an Union of different Substances Flesh and Spirit In him we live and move and have our being The quick acute Motion of every Part of the Body shews that there is a God we may see something of him in the sparkling of the Eye And if the Cabinet of the Body be so curiously wrought what is the Jewel The Soul hath a Coelestial Brightness in it as Damascen saith 'T is a Diamond set in a Ring of Clay What noble Faculties is the Soul endowed with Understanding Will Affections which are a Glass of the Trinity as Plato speaks The Matter of the Soul is Spiritual 't is a Divine Sparkle lighted from Heaven and being spiritual is immortal as Scaliger notes Anima non senescit the Soul doth not wax old it lives for ever And who could create a Soul enobled with such rare Angelical Properties but God We must needs say as the Psalmist It is he that hath made us and not we our selves Psalm 100.3 2. We may prove a Deity by our own Conscience Conscience is God's Deputy or Vicegerent Conscience is a Witness of a Deity If there were no Bible to tell us there is a God yet Conscience might Conscience as the Apostle saith either accuseth or excuseth Rom. 2.15 Conscience acts in order to an higher Judicatory 1. Natural Conscience being kept free from gross sin excuseth When a Man doth Vertuous Actions lives soberly and righteously obeserves the golden Maxim Doing to others as he would have them do to him then Conscience approves and saith well done Conscience like a Bee gives Honey 2. Natural Conscience in the Wicked doth accuse When Men go against the Light of Conscience then they feel the Worm of Conscience Eheu quis intus scorpio Sen. Conscience being sinned against spits fire in Mens
faces fills them with shame and horrour When the Sinner sees an Hand-writing on the Wall of Conscience his Countenance is changed Many have hanged themselves to quiet their Conscience Tiberius the Emperour a bloody Man felt the Lashes of his Conscience he was so haunted with that Fury that he told the Senate he suffered Death daily And what is it should put a Man's Conscience into such an Agony but the Impression of a Deity and the Thoughts of coming before God's Tribunal Those who are above all Humane Laws yet are subject to the Checks of their own Conscience And it is observable the nearer the Wicked approach to Death the more they are terrified and Conscience gives a louder Alarm to them And whence is this but from the apprehension of Judgment approaching The Soul being sensible of its Immortal Nature trembles at him who never ceaseth to Live and therefore will never cease to Punish 3. That there is a God appears by the Consent of Nations by the Universal Vote and Suffrage of all Nulla gens tam barbara cui non insideat haec persuasio Deum esset Tully No Nation so barbarous saith Tully as not to believe there is a God Though the Heathen did mistake in their Devotion they did not worship the true God yet they worshipped a God They set up an Altar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the unknown God Acts 17.22 They knew a God should be worshipped though they knew not the God whom they worshipped Some did worship Iupiter some Neptune some Mars rather than not worship something they would worship any thing 4. That there is a God appears by his Prediction of Future Things He who can foretel things which shall surely come to pass is the True God God foretold that a Virgin should conceive he prefixed the time when the Messias should be cut off Dan. 9.76 he foretold the Captivity of the Iews in Babylon and who should be their Deliverer Isa. 45.1 This is such a strong Argument to prove a Deity as God himself useth it to prove he is the True God and that all the Gods of the Heathens were Fictions and Nullities Isa. 41.22 Testimonium Divinitatis est Veritas Divinationis Tertul. To foretel Things contingent and which depend upon no natural Causes is proper to a Deity 5. That there is a God appears by God's unlimited Power and Soveraignty He who can work and none hinder him is the True God but God can do so Isa. 43.13 I will work and who shall let it Nothing can hinder Action but some Superiour Power but there is no Power above God all Power that is is by him therefore all Power is under him he hath a mighty Arm Psal. 89.13 He sees the Designs Men drive on against him and plucks off their Chariot Wheels he maketh Diviners mad Isa. 44.25 he cutteth off the Spirit of Princes He bridleth the Sea gives check to the Leviathan binds the Devils in Cains he acts pro arbitrio he doth what he will I will work and who shall let it 6. There are Devils therefore there is a God Atheists cannot deny but there are Devils and then they must grant there is a God We read of divers possessed with the Devil The Devils are called in Scripture Cashegnirini Hairy ones because they oft appeared in the form of Goats or Satyrs Gerson in his Book De probatione Spirituum tells us how Satan on a time appeared to an holy Man in a most glorious manner professing himself to be Christ the old Man answered I desire not to see my Saviour here in this Desart it shall suffice me to see him in Heaven Now if there be a Devil then there is a God Socrates an Heathen when he was accused at his Death confessed that as he thought there was a malus genius an Evil Spirit so he thought there was a Good Use 1. Seeing there is a God this reproves such Atheistical Fools as deny it Epicurus denied that there was a Providence saying That all things fell out by Chance Diagoras He that saith there is no God is the wickedest Creature that is he is worse then a Thief who doth but take away our Goods from us but the Atheist would take away our God from us Joh. 20. They have taken away my Lord. So we may say of Atheists they would take away our God from us in whom all our Hope and Comfort is laid up Psal. 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart There is no God He durst not speak it with his Tongue but said it in his Heart he wished it Sure none can be Speculative Atheists The devils believe and tremble Jam. 2. I have read of one Arthur a professed Atheist who when he came to die cried out he was damned But though there are few found who say There is no God yet many deny him in their Practices Tit. 1.16 In works they deny him Cicero said of Epicurus Verbis reliquit Deos resustulit The World is full of Practical Atheism most People live as if they did not believe there was a God Durst they lie defraud be unclean if they believed there were a God who would call them to account If an Indian who never heard of a God should come among us and have no other means to convince him of a Deity but the Lives of Men in our Age sure he would be of Protagoras his mind who did hang in a doubtful suspence and did question Whether there were a God Utrum Dii sint non ausim affirmare Use 2. Seeing there is a God he will deal righteously and give just Rewards to Men. Things seem to be carried in the World very unequally The wicked flourish Psal. 73. they who tempt God are delivered Mal. 3.15 The ripe Clusters of Grapes are squeezed into their Cup and in the mean while the godly who wept for sin and served God are afflicted Psal. 102.9 I have eaten Ashes like Bread and mingled my drink with weeping Evil Men enjoy all the Good and Good Men endure all the Evil. But seeing there is a God he will deal righteously with Men Gen. 18.25 Shall not the Iudge of all the World do right Offenders must come to punishment The Sinners Deaths-day and Dooms-day is a coming Psal. 37.13 The Lord seeth that his day is coming While there is an Hell the wicked shall be scourged enough and while there is Eternity they shall lye there long enough and God will abundantly compensate the faithful Service of his People They shall have their white Robes and Crown Psal. 58.11 Verily there is a Reward for the Righteous verily he is a God that judgeth in the Earth Because God is God therefore he will give forth glorious Rewards to his People Use 3. Seeing there is a God woe to all such as engage this God against them he lives for ever to be avenged upon them Ezek. 22.14 Can thine heart endure or can thine hands be strong in the day that I shall
hath made it intelligible and hath stamped upon it his Likeness not his Essence Quest. But is it not said That we are made Partakers of the Divine Nature Resp. By Divine Nature there is meant Divine Qualities 2 Pet. 1.4 We are made Partakers of the Divine Nature not by Identity or Union with the Divine Essence but by a transformation into the Divine Likeness Thus you see how God differs from other Spirits Angels and Souls of Men. He is a Spirit of transcendent Excellency the Father of Spirits Object Against this Vorstius and the Anthropomorthites object That in Scripture an Humane Shape and Figure is given to God he is said to have Eyes and Hands Resp. It is contrary to the Nature of a Spirit to have a Corporeal Substance Luke 24. â—9 Handle me and see me for a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as ye see me have Bodily Members are ascribed to God not properly but metaphorically and in a borrowed sence he is only set out to our Capacity By the right Hand of the Lord is meant his Power by the Eyes of the Lord are meant his Wisdom Now that God is a Spirit and is not capable of Bodily Shape or Substance probatur 1. A Body is visible but God is invisible Therefore he is a Spirit 1 Tim. 6.16 whom no man hath seen nor can see not by an Eye of sence 2. A Body is terminated can be but in one place at once but God is ubique in all places at once Therefore he is a Spirit Psal. 139.7 8. God's Center is every where and his Circumference is no where 3. A Body being compounded of integral Parts may be dissolved Quicquid divisibile est corruptibile but the God-head is not capable of dissolution he can have no End from whom all things have their Beginning So that it clearly appears God is a Spirit which adds to the Perfection of his Nature Use 1. If God be a Spirit then he is impassible he is not capable of being hurt Wicked Men may set up their Banners and bend their Forces against God they are said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fight against God Acts 5.39 But what will this fighting avail what hurt can they do to the Deity God is a Spirit and therefore cannot receive any hurtful impression wicked Men may imagine Evil against the Lord Nahum 1.9 What do ye imagine against the Lord But God being a Spirit is impenetrable The wicked may Eclipse his Glory but cannot touch his Essence God can hurt his Enemies but they cannot hurt him Iulian might throw up his Dagger into the Air against Heaven but could not touch the Deity God is a Spirit invisible how can the Wicked with all their Forces hurt him when they cannot see him Hence all the Attempts of the Wicked against God are foolish and prove Abortive Psal. 2.3 4. The Kings of the Earth set themselves against the Lord and against his Anointed He that sits in the Heavens shall laugh He is a Spirit he can wound them but they cannot touch him Use 2. If God be a Spirit then it shows the folly of the Papists who worship him by Pictures and Images Being a Spirit we cannot make any Image to represent him by Deut. 4.12 The Lord spake to you out of the midst of the fire ye heard the voice of the words but saw no similitude 1. God being a Spirit is imperceptible cannot be discerned how then can there be any Resemblance made of him Isa. 40.18 To whom then will ye liken God or what likeness will ye compare unto him How can you paint the Deity can we make an Image of that which we never saw Ye saw no similitude God is a Spirit It were a folly to go to make the Picture of the Soul because it is a Spiritual Thing or to Paint the Angels because they are Spirits Object Are not the Angels in Scripture represented by the Cherubims Resp. There is Imago Personae Officii there is the Image of the Person and the Image that represents the Office The Cherubims did not represent the Persons of the Angels but their Office The Cherubims were made with Wings to show the swiftness of the Angels in discharge of their Office and if we cannot Picture the Soul nor the Persons of the Angels because they are Spirits much less can we make an Image or Picture of God who is Infinite and the Father of Spirits 2. God being a Spirit is Omnipresent he is present in all places Ier. 23.24 Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord Therefore being every where present it is absurd to worship him by an Image Were it not a foolish thing to bow down to the King's Picture when the King is present So to go to worship God's Image when God himself is present Quest. But how then shall we conceive of God being a Spirit if we may make no Image or Resemblance of him Resp. We must conceive of him Spiritually viz. 1. In his Attributes his Holiness Justice Goodness which are the Beams by which his Divine Nature shines forth 2. We must conceive of him as he is in Christ Christ is the Image of the invisible God Col. 1.15 Set the Eyes of your Faith on Christ God-man In Christ we see some Sparklings of the Divine Glory in him there is the exact Resemblance of all his Fathers Excellencies The Wisdom Love and Holiness of God the Father shine forth in Christ Iohn 14.9 He that hath seen me hath seen the Father 3. Infer If God be a Spirit it shows us that the more spiritual we grow the more we grow like to God To be earthly is to be unlike God How do Earth and Spirit agree Phil. 3.19 Earthly ones may give for their Crest the Mole or Tortoise that live in the Earth What Resemblance is there between an Earthly Heart and him who is a Spirit The more Spiritual any one is the more like God Quest. What is it to be Spiritual Resp. To be Refined and Sublimated to have the Heart still in Heaven to be thinking of God and Glory and to be carried up in a fiery Chariot of Love to God this is to be Spiritual Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee on which Beza paraphraseth thus Apage Terra utinam tecum in Coelo essem O that I were in Heaven with thee A Christian who is taken off from these Earthly Things as the Spirits are taken off from the Lees hath a noble Spiritual Soul and doth most resemble him who is a Spirit 4 Infer It shows us what that Worship is God requires of us and is most acceptable to him viz. such a Worship as is suitable to his Nature Spiritual Worship John 4.24 They which worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth Spiritual worship is the Virgin-worship Though God will have the Service of our Bodies our Eyes and Hands lifted up to testifie to others that Reverence we have of God's Glory
Influence as the Body of the Sun is in Heaven it only sends forth its Beams and Influences to the Earth or as a King who is in all places of his Kingdom Authoritative by his Power and Authority but he is personally in his Throne Resp. But to answer God who is Infinite is in all places at once not only by his Influence but his Essence for if his Essence fills all places then he must needs be there in Person But Ergo Minor in Ier. 23.24 Do not I fill heaven and earth Object But doth not God say Heaven is his Throne Isa. 66.1 Resp. It is also said that an humble Heart is his Throne Isa. 57.15 The humble Heart is his Throne in regard of his gracious Presence and Heaven is his Throne in regard of his glorious Presence and yet neither of these Thrones will hold him for the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him Object But if God be Infinite in all places then he is in places impure and he mingles with that Impurity Resp. Though God be in all places in the Heart of a Sinner by his Inspection and in Hell by his Justice yet he doth not mingle with that Impurity or receive the least tincture of Evil Divina natura non est immista rebus aut sordibus inquinata Aug. No more then the Sun shining on a Dunghil is defiled or its Beauty spotted or then Christ going among Sinners was defiled his Godhead was a sufficient Antidote against Infection Reason why God must needs be Infinite in all places at once not only in regard of the Simplicity and Purity of his Nature but in regard of his Power which being so glorious who can set him Bounds or prescribe him a Circuit to walk in 'T is as if the Drop should go to limit the Ocean or the Star to set the Sun its Bounds Use 1. It condemns the Papists who would make more things Infinite then the Godhead they hold that Christ's Body is in many places at once that it is in Heaven and in the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament Though Christ as he is God is Infinite and in all places at once yet as Man he is not Christ when he was on Earth his Manhood was not in Heaven though his Godhead was and now he is in Heaven his Manhood is not on Earth though his Godhead be Heb. 10.5 't is spoken of Christ A body hast thou prepared me This Body cannot be in all places at once for then it is no more a Body but a Spirit Christ's Body in Heaven though it be Glorified it is not Deified it is not Infinite for so it must be if it be both in Heaven and in the Bread and Wine by Transubstantiation If God be Infinite present in all places at once then it is certain he governs all things in his own Person he needs no Proxies or Deputies to help him carry on his Government He is in all places at an instant and manageth all Affairs both in the World and Heaven A King cannot be in all places of his Kingdom in his own Person therefore he is fain to govern by Deputies and Vicegerents and they often pervert Justice but God being Infinite needs no Deputies he is present in all places he sees all with his own Eyes and hears all with his own Ears he is every-where in his own Person therefore is fit to be the Judge of the World he will do every one Right If God be Infinite by his Omnipresency then see the Greatness and Immensness of the Divine Majesty What a Great God do we serve 1 Chr. 29.11 Thine O Lord is the greatness and the glory and the majesty and thou art exalted as head above all Well may the Scripture display the Greatness of his Glory who is Infinite in all places He transcends our weak Conceptions how can our finite Understanding comprehend him who is Infinite He is infinitely above all our Praises Neh. 9.5 Blessed be thy glorious name which is exalted above all blessing and praise O what a poor Nothing is Man when we think of God's Infiniteness as the Stars disappear at the rising of the Sun O how doth Man shrink into nothing when Infinite Majesty shines forth in his Glory Isa. 40.15 The nations are as a drop of the bucket or the small dust of the ballance O what a little of that Drop are we The Heathens thought they had sufficiently praised Iupiter when they called him Great Iupiter Of what Immense Majesty is God who fills all places at once his is excellent Greatness Psal. 150.2 If God be Infinite filling Heaven and Earth see what a full Portion the Saints have they have him for their Portion who is Infinite His Fulness is an Infinite Fulness and he is infinitely sweet as well as infinitely full If a Conduit be fill'd with Wine here is a sweet Fulness but still it is Finite but God's is a sweet Fulness and it is an Infinite He is infinitely full of Beauty of Love his Riches are call'd unsearchable Eph. 3.8 because they are Infinite Stretch your Thoughts as much as you can there 's that in God exceeds it is an Infinite Fulness He is said to do abundantly for us above all that we can ask Ephes. 3.20 What cannot an ambitious Spirit ask he can ask Crowns and Kingdoms Millions of Worlds but God can give more then we can ask because he is Infinite nay or think We can think what if all the Dust were turn'd to Silver if every Flower were a Ruby every Sand in the Sea a Diamond yet God can give more then we can think because he is Infinite O how rich are they who have the Infinite God for their Portion Well might David say The Lord is the portion of my inheritance the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places and I have a goodly heritage Ps. 16.5 We may go with the Bee from Flower to Flower but we shall never have full Satisfaction till we come to the Infinite God Iacob said I have enough in Hebrew Li col I have all Gen. 33.11 because he had the Infinite God for his Portion God being an Infinite Fulness there is no fear of Want for any of the Heirs of Heaven though there be Millions of Saints and Angels which have a share in God's Riches yet he hath enough for them all because he is Infinite Though a thousand Men behold the Sun there is Light enough in the Sun for them all Put never so many Buckets into the Sea there 's Water enough in the Sea to fill them Though an innumerable Company of Saints and Angels are to be filled out of God's Fulness yet God being Infinite he hath abundantly enough to satisfie them God hath Land enough to give to all his Heirs there can be no want in that which is Infinite If God be Infinite he fills all places is every-where present this is sad to the Wicked God is their Enemy and they cannot escape him
nor flie from him for he is every where present they are never out of his Eye nor out of his Reach Psal. 21.8 Thy hand shall find out all thy enemies What Caves or Thickets can Men hide in that God cannot find them go where they will he is present Psal. 139.7 Whither shall I flie from thy presence If a Man owes a Debt to another he may make some Escape and flie into another Land where the Creditor cannot find him But whither shall I flie from thy presence God is Infinite he is in all places so that he will find out his Enemies and punish them Object But is it not said Cain went out from the presence of the Lord Gen. 4.16 Resp. The meaning is he went out from the Church of God where were the visible Signs of God's Presence and where God did in a special manner manifest his sweet Presence to his People But Cain could not go out of God's sight for God being Infinite is every-where present Sinners can neither go from an Accusing Conscience nor a Revenging God If God be every-where present then for a Christian to walk with God is not impossible God is not only in Heaven but he is on Earth too Isa. 66.1 Heaven is his Throne there he sits the Earth is his Footstool there he stands He is every-where present therefore we may come to walk with God Enoch walked with God Gen. 5.21 If God were confin'd to Heaven a trembling Soul might think how can I Converse with God how can I walk with him who lives in Excelsis above the upper Region but God is not confined to Heaven he is Omnipresent he is above us yet he is about us he is near to us Acts 17.27 Though he be not far from the Assembly of his Saints He stands in the Congregation of the Mighty Psal. 82.1 He is present with us God is in every one of us so that here on Earth we may walk with God In Heaven the Saints rest with him on Earth they walk with him To walk with God is to walk by Faith we are said to draw nigh to God Heb. 10.22 and to see him Heb. 11.27 as seeing him who is invisible and to have Fellowship with him Hos. 1.3 Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Fellowship is with the Father Thus we may take a turn with him every day by Faith 'T is a slighting of God not to walk with him if a King be in presence it is a slighting him to neglect him and walk with the Page there 's no Walk in the World so sweet as to walk with God Psal. 89.15 They shall walk in the light of thy countenance Psal. 138.5 Yea they shall sing in ways of the Lord it is like walking among beds of spices which send forth a fragrant perfume Use 2. If God be Infinite in his glorious Essence learn to admire where you cannot fadom The Angels wear a Veil they cover their Faces as adoring this Infinite Majesty Isa. 6.3 Elias wraped himself in a Mantle when God's Glory passed by admire where you cannot fadom Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God Here we see some Beams of his Glory we see him in the Glass of the Creation we see him in his Picture his Image shines in the Saints but who can search out all his Essential Glory what Angel can measure these Pyramids Canst thou by searching find out God He is Infinite We can no more search out his Infinite Perfections then a Man upon the top of the highest Mountain can reach the Firmament or take a Star in his hand O have God-admiring Thoughts adore where you cannot fathom There are many Mysteries in Nature which we cannot fathom Why the Sea should be higher then the Earth yet not drown it Why Nilus should overflow in Summer when by the Course of Nature the Waters are lowest How the Bones grow in the Womb Eccles. 11.5 If these things pose us how may the Infinite Mystery of the Deity transcend our most raised Intellectuals Ask the Geometrician if he can with a pair of Compasses measure the breadth of the Earth So unable are we to measure the Infinite Perfections of God In Heaven we shall see God clearly but not fully for he is Infinite he will communicate himself to us according to the bigness of our Vessel but not the Immensness of his Nature Adore then where you cannot Fathom If God be Infinite in all places then let us not go to limit God Psal. 78.41 They limited the holy one of Israel 'T is a limiting God to confine him within the narrow compass of our Reason Reason thinks God must go such a way to work or the business will never be effected This is to limit God to our Reason whereas he is Infinite and his ways are past finding out Rom. 11.33 In the Deliverance of the Church it is a limiting God either to set him a Time or prescribe him a Method for Deliverance God will deliver Sion but he will be left to his own Liberty he will not be tied to a Place to a time to an Instrument this were to limit him and then he should not be Infinite God will go his own way he will pose and nonplus Reason he will work by Improbabilities he will save in such a way as we think he will destroy now he acts like himself like an Infinite Wonder-working God Of the Knowledge of GOD. FOr the Lord is a God of Knowledge and by him Actions are weighed 1 Sam. 2.3 Glorious things are spoken of God he transcends our Thoughts and the Angels Praises God's Glory lies chiefly in his Attributes which are the several Beams by which the Divine Nature shines forth Among other of his Orient Excellencies this is not the least The Lord is a God of Knowledge or as the Hebrew word is el Degnoth a God of Knowledges Through the bright Mirror of his own Essence he hath a full Idaea and Cognisance of all things the World is to him Corpus diaphanum a transparent Body He makes an Heart-Anatomy he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 2.23 I am he which searcheth the Reins and the Heart The Clouds are no Canopy the Night is no Curtain to draw between us and his sight Psal. 139.12 The Darkness hâ—deth not from thee There is not a word we whisper but God hears it Psal. 139.4 There is not a word in my Tongue but lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether There is not the most subtil Thought comes into our Mind but God perceives it Isa. 66.18 I knâ—w their thoughts Thoughts speak as loud in Gods Ears as Words do in ours All our Actions though never so subtilly contrived and secretly conveyed are visible to the Eye of Omnisciency Isa. 66.18 I know their works Achan hid the Babylonish Garment in the Earth but God brought it to light Iosh. 7.21 Minerva was drawn in such curious Colours and so lively pensil'd that which way soever one turned Minerva's
6.4 he sees in secret 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in impios habet Rivet As a Merchant enters down Debts in his Book so God hath his Diary or Day-Book and he enters down every sin into the Book He makes a Critical Discant upon Mens Actions Ieroboam's Wife disguised her self that the Prophet should not know her but he discern'd her 1 Kings 14.6 Why feignest thou thy self to be another The Hppocrite thinks to prevaricate and juggle with God but God will unmask him Eccles. 12.14 God shall bring every work into Iudgment with every secret thing Jer. 29.23 They have committed Villany in Israel even I know and am a witness saith the Lord. I but the Hypocrite hopes he shall colour over his sin and make it look very specious Absolom masks over his Treason with the pretence of a Religious Vow Iudas dissembles his Envy at Christ and Covetousness with a pretence of Charity to the Poor John 12.5 Iehu makes Religion a stirrop to his Ambitious Design 1 Kings 10.16 but God sees through these Figleaves You may see a Jade under his gilt Trappings Ier. 16.17 Their Iniquities is not hid from my eyes And he that hath an Eye to see will find an Hand to punish Use 2. of Exhortation Is God so infinite in his Knowledge then we should always set our selves as under his Omniscient Eye Sic vivendum est tanquam in conspectu Seneca Let us set David's Prospect before our Eye Psal. 16.8 I have set the Lord always before me Seneca counselled Lucilius that whatever he was doing he should imagine some of the Roman Worthies beheld him and then he would do nothing dishonourable The consideration of God's Omnisciency would 1. Be preventive of much sin The Eye of Man will restrain from sin and will not God's Eyes much more Esther 7.8 Will he force the Queen before me when I stand and look on Will we sin when our Judge looks on Would Men speak so vainly if they considered God over-heard them Latimer took heed to every word in his Examination when he heard the Pen go behind the Hangings So what care would Persons have of their words if they remembred God heard and the Pen is going in Heaven Would Men go after strange Flesh if they believed God were a Spectator of their wickedness and would make them do Pennance in Hell for it would they defraud in their Dealings and use false Weights if they thought God saw them and for making their Weights lighter would make their damnation heavier 2. The setting our selves as under the Eye of God's Omnisciency would cause Reverence in the Worship of God God sees the frame and carriage of our Hearts when we come before him How would this call in our stragling thoughts how would this animate and spirit Duty it would make us put fire to the Incense Acts 26.7 The Tribes instantly served God day and night 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnibus venibus with the utmost zeal and intensness of Spirit To think God is in this place he beholds us would add Wings to Prayer and Oil to the flame of our Devotion 2. Is God's Knowledge infinite study sincerity be what you seem 1 Sam. 16.7 The Lord looketh upon the heart Men judge of the Heart by the Actions God judgeth of the Actions by the Heart If the Heart be sincere God will see the Faith and wink at the failing Asa had his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Blemishes but his Heart was right with God 2 Chron. 15.17 God saw his Sincerity and pardoned his Infirmity Sincerity in a Christian is like Chastity in a Wise which doth excuse many Failings Sincerity makes our Duties acceptable like Musk among Linen that perfumes it As Iehu said to Iehonadab 2 Kings 10.15 Is thy heart right with me and he said it is if it be saith he give me thy hand and he took him up into the Chariot So if God sees our heart is right that we love him and design his glory now saith he give me your Prayers and Tears now you shall come up with me into the triumphant Chariot of Glory Sincerity makes our Services to be golden and God will not cast away this Gold though it may want some weight Is God Omniscient and his Eye chiefly upon the Heart wear this Girdle of Truth about you and never leave it off Use 3. of Comfort Is God a God of infinite Knowledge then there is Comfort 1. To the Saints in particular 2. To the Church in general in three Respects 1. In case of Private Devotion Christian thou settest hours apart for God thy Thoughts run upon him as thy Treasure God takes notice of every good Thought Mal. 3.17 He had a Book of Remembrance written for them that thought upon his Name Thou enterest into thy Closet and prayest to thy Father in secret he hears every sigh and groan Psal. 38.9 My groaning is not hid from thee Thou waterest the Seed of thy Prayer with Tears God bottles every Tear Psal. 56.8 Put thou my Tears into thy bottle When the Secrets of all Hearts shall be opened God will make an honourable mention of the Zeal and Devotion of his People and he himself will be the Herauld of their Praises 1 Cor. 4.5 Then shall every man have praise of God 2. The Infiniteness of God's Knowledge is a Comfort in case the Saints have not so clear a Knowledge of themselves They find so much Corruption that they judge they have no Grace Gen. 25.22 If it be so why am I thus If I have Grace why is my Heart in so dead and earthly a frame O remember God is of infinite Knowledge he can spy Grace where thou canst not he can see Grace hid under Corruption as the Stars may be hid under a Cloud God can see that Holiness in thee which thou canst not discern in thy self He can spy the flower of Grace in thee though overtop'd with weeds 1 Kings 14.13 Because there is in him some good thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God sees some good thing in his People when they can see no Good in themselves and though they judge themselves he will give them an Absolution 3. It is Comfort in respect of Personal Injuries It is the Saints lot to suffer The Head being crowned with Thorns the Feet must not tread upon Roses if Saints find a real Purgatory 't is in this Life but this is the Comfort God sees what wrong is done to them The Apple of his Eye is touched and is not he sensible St. Paul was scourged by cruel Hands 1 Cor. 11.35 Thrice was I beaten with Rods as if you should see a Scullion whip the King's Son God beholds it Exod. 3.7 I know their sorrows The Wicked make wounds in the backs of the Saints and then pour in Vinegar God writes down their Cruelty Believers art part of Christs Mystical Body and for every drop of a Saint's Blood spilt God puts a drop of Wrath in his Vial. 2. Comfort
decreed the time of my Life in the use of Means so God hath decreed my Salvation in the use of Word Prayer Sacraments And as a Man that refuseth his â—ood murders himself so he that refuseth to work out his Salvation doth destroy himself The Vessels of Mercy are said to be prepar'd unto Glory Rom. 9.23 How are they prepar'd but by being sanctified and that cannot be but in the use of Means therefore let not God's Decree take thee off from Holy Endeavour A good Saying of Dr. Preston Hast thou an Heart to pray to God it is a sign no Decree of Wrath is passed against thee Use 1. If God's Decree be Eternal and Unchangeable then God doth not Elect our Faith foreseen as the Arminians Rom. 9.11 The children being not yet born that the purpose of God according to election might stand It was said Iacob have I loved Esau have I hated We are not elected for Holiness but to Holiness Eph. 1.3 If we are not justified for our Faith much less elected for our Faith but we are not justified for it We are said to be justified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through Faith as an Instrument Eph. 2.8 but not for Faith as a Cause and if not justified for Faith then much less elected God's Decree of Election is Eternal and Unchangeable therefore depends not upon Faith foreseen Acts 13.48 As many as were ordained to eternal life believed They were not elected because they believed but they believed because they were elected Use 2. If God's Decree be Unchangeable 't is Comfort in two Cases 1. Concerning God's Providences towards his Church We are ready to quarrel with Providence if every thing doth not jump with our Desire Remember God's Work goes on and nothing falls out but what he hath decreed from Eternity 2. God hath decreed Troubles for the Churches good the troubling of God's Church is like the Angel's troubling the Water Ioh. 5.4 which made way for healing his People He hath decreed Troubles in the Church His fire is in Sion and his furnace in Ierusalem Isa. 31.9 The Wheels in a Watch move cross one to another but they all carry on the Motion of the Watch So the Wheels of Providence often move cross to our Desires but still they carry on God's unchangeable Decree Dan. 12.10 Many shall be made white God lets the Waters of Affliction be poured on his People he doth but lay them a Whitening Therefore murmur not at God's Dealings His Work goes on nothing falls out but what he hath wisely decreed from Eternity every thing shall promote God's Design and fulfil his Decree 2. Comfort to the Godly in regard of their Salvation 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of God stands sure having this seal the Lord knows who are his God's Counsel of Election is Unchangeable once elected and for ever elected Rev. 3.5 I will not blot his name out of the book of life The Book of God's Decree hath no Errata's in it no blottings out once justified never unjustified Hos. 13.14 Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes God never repents of his electing Love â— Joh. 13.1 He loved them to the end Therefore if thou art a Believer comfort thy self with this the Immutability of God's Decree Use 3. To conclude a word to the Wicked who march furiously against God and his People let them know God's Decree is Unchangeable God will not alter it nor can they break it and while they resist God's Will they fulfil it There 's a twofold Will of God Voluntas praecepti decreti The Will of God's Precept and of his Decree While the Wicked resist the Will of God's Precept they fulfil the Will of his Permissive Decree Iudas betrays Christ Pilate condemns him the Souldiers crucify him while they resisted the Will of God's Precept they fulfilled the Will of his Permissive Decree Acts 4.28 Such as are wicked God commands one thing they do the quite contrary to keep Sabbath they prophane it while they disobey his Command they fulfil his Permissive Decree If a Man set up two Nets one of Silk the other of Iron the Silken Net may be broken not the Iron God's Commands are the Silken Net while Men break the Silken Net of God's Command they are taken in the Iron Net of his Decree while they sit backward to God's Precepts they row forward to his Decree his Decree to permit their Sin and to punish them for their Sin permitted Of the Wisdom of GOD. THE next Attribute is Gods ' Wisdom which is one of the brightest Beams of the Godhead Iob 9.4 He is wise in heart Kacham lavau The Heart is the Seat of Wisdom Cor in Hebraeo sumitur pro Iudicio Pineda Among the Hebrews the Heart is put for Wisdom Iob 34.32 Let Men of Understanding tell me In the Hebrew Let Men of Heart tell me God is wise in heart that is he is most wise 1. God is only wise he doth monopolize and ingross all Wisdom Ergo he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the only wise God 1 Tim. 1.17 All the Treasures of Wisdom are lock'd up in him and no Creature can have any Wisdom but as God is pleased to give it out of his Treasury 2. God is perfectly wise there is no defect in his Wisdom Men may be wise in some things but in other things may betray imprudence and weakness But God is the Exemplar and Pattern of Wisdom and the Pattern must be perfect Matth. 5.48 God's Wisdom appears in two things 1. His Infinite Intelligence 2. His Exact Working 1. His Infinite Intelligence He knows the most profound obstruse Secrets Dan. 2.28 He knows the Thoughts which are the most intricate subtil things Amos 4.13 He declareth to Man what is his thought Let Sin be contrived never so politickly God will pull off all Masks and Disguises and make an Heart-Anatomy He knows all future Contingencies ante intuitu all things are before him in one clear Prospect 2. His exact curious Working He is wise in heart his wisdom lies in his works These Works of God are bound up in three great Volumes where we may read his Wisdom 1. The Work of Creation The Creation as it is a Monument of God's Power so a Looking-glass in which we may see his Wisdom None but a wise God could so curiously contrive the World Behold the Earth deck'd with variety of Flowers which are both for Beauty and Fragrancy the Heaven bespangled with Lights we may see the glorious Wisdom of God blazing in the Sun twinkling in the Stars His Wisdom is seen in the marshalling and ordering every thing in its proper Place and Sphere If the Sun had been set lower it would have burnt us if higher it would not have warm'd us with its Beams God's Wisdom is seen in appointing the Seasons of the Year Psal. 74.17 Thou hast made Summer and Winter If it had been all Summer the Heat would have scorched us if all Winter the Cold would
strike a strait stroak by crooked sticks God hath oft made his Church grow and flourish by persecution The showrs of Blood have made her more fruitful Iulian. Exod. 1.10 Come let us deal wisely with them least they multiply And that way they took to suppress them made them multiply Vers. 12. The more the afflicted them the more they multiplied Like Ground the more it is harrowed it bears the better Crop The Apostles were scattered by reason of Persecution and their scattering was like the scattering of Seed they went up and down and preached the Gospel and brought in daily Converts Paul was put in Prison and his Bonds were a Means to enlarge the Gospel Phil. 1.12 3. The wisdom of God is seen in making the most desperate Evils turn to the good of his Children As several poisonful Ingredients wisely tempered by the skill of the Artist make a Soveraign Medicine so God makes the most deadly Afflictions co-operate for the good of his Children He purifies them and prepares them for Heaven 2 Cor. 4.17 These hard Frosts hasten the Spring-flowers of Glory The wise God by a Divine Chymistry turns Afflictions into Cordials God makes his People gainers by losses and turns their Crosses into Blessings 4. The wisdom of God is seen in this that the sins of Men shall carry on God's work yet that he should have no hand in their sins The Lord permits sin but doth not approve it He hath an Hand in the Action in which sin is but not in the sin of the Action As in the crucifying of Christ so far as it was a Natural Action God did concur if he had not given the Jews Life and Breath they could not have done it but as it was a sinful Action so God abhorred it A Musitian plays upon a Viol out of tune the Musitian is the Cause of the sound but the jarring and discord is from the Viol it seâ—f so Men's natural Motion is from God but their sinful Motion is from themselves A Man that rides on a lame Horse his riding is the Cause why the Horse goes but the lameness is from the Horse it self Herein is God's wisdom the sins of Men shall carry on his Work yet he hath no hand in them 5. The wisdom of God is seen in helping in the desperate Cases God loves to shew his wisdom when Humane Help and Wit fail Exquisite Lawyers love to wrestle with Nicities and Difficulties in the Law to shew their skil the more God's wisdom is never at a loss but when Providences are darkest now appears the Morninst-star of Deliverance Psal. 136.23 Who remembred us in our low condition Sometimes God melts away the Spirits of his Enemies Iosh. 2.24 Sometimes he finds them other work to do and sounds a Retreat to them as he did to Saul when he was pursuing David The Philistines are in the Land In the Mount will God be seen When the Church seems to be upon the Altar her Peace and Liberty ready to be Sacrificed now comes the Angel 6. God's wisdom is seen in befooling wise men and making their wisdom a means of their overthrow Achitophel had deep Policy 2 Sam. 16.23 The counsel of Achitophel which he counselled was as if a man had enquired at the Oracle of God but he consulted his own shame The Lord turned his counsel into foolishness 2 Sam. 17.23 Job 5.13 God taketh the wise in their own craftiness that is when they think to deal wisely he not only disappoints them but insnares them The Snares they lay for others catch themselves Psal. 9.16 In the Net which they hid is their own foot taken God loves to counter-plot Politicians he makes use of their own Wit to undo them and hangs Haman upon his own Gallows Use 1. Adore the wisdom of God it is an infinite Deep the Angels cannot search into Rom. 11.33 His ways are past finding out And as we should Adore so we should Rest in the wisdom of God God sees what Condition is best for us Did we believe the wisdom of God it would keep us from murmuring Rest in God's wisdom in several Cases 1. In want of Spiritual Comfort God is wise he sees it good sometimes we should be without Comfort Perhaps we should be lifted up with Spiritual Enlargements as Paul with his Revelations 2 Cor. 12.7 'T is hard to have the Heart low when Comfort is high God sees Humility is better for us then Ioy. 'T is better to want Comfort and be humble then to have it and be proud 2. In want of bodily strength rest in God's wisdom he sees what is best Perhaps the less Health the more Grace Weaker in Body the stronger we are in Faith 2 Cor. 4.16 Though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day At Rome there were two Laurel Trees when the one withered the other flourished The inward Man is renewed When God shakes the Tree of the Body he is now gathering the Fruits of Righteousness Hebr. 12.11 Sickness is God's Launce to let out the Impostbume of sin Isa. 27.9 3. In case of God's Providences to his Church we wonder what God is doing with us and are ready to kill our selves with Care Rest in God's wisdom he knows best what he hath to do Psal. 77.19 His footsteps are not known Trust him where you cannot trace him God is most in his way when we think he is most out of the way When we think God's Church is as it were in the Grave and there is a Tombstone laid upon her God's wisdom can rowl away the Stone from the Sepulchre Christ cometh leaping over Mountains Cant. 2.8 Either his power can remove the Mountain or his wisdom knows how to leap over it 4. In case we are low in the World or have but little Oil in our Cruise Rest in God's wisdom he sees it best it is to cure Pride and Wantonness God knew if thy Estate had not been lost thy Soul had been lost God he saw Riches would be a Snare to thee 1 Tim. 6.9 Art thou troubled that God hath prevented a Snare God will make thee rich in Faith what thou lackest in Temporals shall be made up in Spirituals God will give thee more of his love Thou art weak in Estate yet God will make thee strong in Assurance O rest in God's wisdom he will Carve the best piece for thee 5. In case of the loss of dear Friends a Wife or Child or Husband rest satisfied in God's Wisdom God hath taken away these because he would have more of your Love He breaks these Crutches that we may live more upon him by Faith God would have us learn to go without Crutches Use 2. If God be infinitely wise then let us go to him for Wisdom as Solomon 1 Kings 3.9 Give thy servant an understanding heart and the speech pleased the Lord and there is encouragement for us If any one lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth liberally
of sight In all Afflictions we may see some Sunshine of Mercy That outward and inward Troubles do not come together is Mercy Position 4. Mercy sweetens all God's other Attributes God's Holiness without Mercy and his Justice without Mercy were Terrible When the Water was bitter and Israel could not drink Moses cast a Tree into the Water and then they were made sweet How bitter and dreadful were the other Attributes of God did not Mercy sweeten them Mercy sets God's Power on work to help us it makes his Justice become our Friend it shall avenge our Quarrels Position 5. God's Mercy is one of the most Orient Pearls of his Crown it makes his Godhead appear amiable and lovely When Moses said to God I beseech thee shew me thy glory The Lord answer'd him I will make all my goodness pass before thee and I will shew mercy Exod. 33.19 God's Mercy is his Glory his Holiness makes him Illustrious his Mercy makes him Propitious Position 6. Even the Worst tast of God's Mercy such as fight against God's Mercy tast of it The Wicked have some Crumbs from Mercy 's Table The Lord is good to all Psal. 145. ◠The sweet Dew drops on the Thistle as well as the Rose The Diocess where Mercy visits is very large Pharaoh's Head was crown'd though his Heart was hardned Position 7. Mercy coming to us in a Covenant is sweetest It was Mercy that God would give Israel Rain and Bread to the full and Peace and Victory over their Enemies Levit. 26.4 5 6. But it was a greater Mercy that God would be their God Verse 12. To have Health is a Mercy but to have Christ and Salvation is a greater Mercy this is like the Diamond in the Ring it casts a more sparkling Luster Position 8. One Act of Mercy engageth God to another Men argue thus I have shown you Kindness already therefore trouble me no more But because God hath shown Mercy he is more ready still to show Mercy his Mercy in Election makes him Justifie Adopt Glorifie one Act of Mercy engageth God to more A Parent 's love to his Child makes him always giving Position 9. All the Mercy in the Creature is derived from God and is but a drop of this Ocean The Mercy and Pity a Mother hath to her Child is from God he that puts the Milk in her Breast puts the Compassion in her Heart therefore God is call'd the Father of Mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 because he begets all the Mercies in the World If God hath put any Kindness into the Creature how much Kindness is in him who is the Father of Mercy Position 10. God's Mercy as it makes the Saints Happy so it should make them Humble Mercy is not the Fruit of our Goodness but the Fruit of God's Goodness Mercy is an Alms that God bestows they have no cause to be Proud that live upon the Alms of God's Mercy Job 10.15 If I be righteous yet will I not lift up my head All my Righteousness is the Effect of God's Mercy therefore I will be humble I will not lift up my Head Position 11. It is Mercy stays the speedy Execution of God's Justice Sinners continually provoke God and make the fury come up in his face Ezek. 38.18 Whence is it God doth not presently Arrest and Condemn them it is not that God cannot do it for he is arm'd with Omnipotency but it is from God's Mercy Mercy gets a Reprieve for the Sinner and stops the speedy Process of Justice God would by his Goodness lead Sinners to Repentance Position 12. 'T is dreadful to have Mercy witness against one How sad was it with Haman when the Queen herself accused him Esth. 7.6 so when this Queen of Mercy shall stand up against a Person and accuse him It is only Mercy that saves a Sinner now how sad to have Mercy become an Enemy If Mercy be an Accuser who shall be our Advocate The Sinner never scapes Hell when Mercy draws up the Indictment I might shew you several Species or Kinds of Mercy Preventing Mercy Spareing Mercy Supplying Mercy Guiding Mercy Accepting Mercy Healing Mercy Quickning Mercy Supporting Mercy Forgiving Mercy Correcting Mercy Comforting Mercy Delivering Mercy Crowning Mercy but I shall speak of the Qualifications or Properties of God's Mercy 1. God's Mercy is free To set up Merit is to destroy Mercy nothing can deserve Mercy because we are polluted in our Bloud nor force it We may force God to punish us not to love us Hos. 14.4 I will love them freely Every Link in the Chain of Salvation is wrought and interwoven with Free-grace Election is free Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen us in him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the good pleasure of his will Justification is free Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace Salvation is free Tit. 3.5 According to his mercy he saved us Say not then I am Unworthy for Mercy is free If God should shew Mercy only to such as are Worthy he should shew Mercy to none at all 2. God's Mercy is an Overflowing Mercy 't is Infinite Psal. 86.5 Plenteous in mercy Eph. 2.4 Rich in mercy Psal. 51.1 Multitude of mercies The Viol of Wrath doth but drop but the Fountain of Mercy runs The Sun is not so full of Light as God is of Mercy God hath Morning-mercies Lam. 3.23 His mercies are new every morning and Night-mercies Psal. 42.8 In the night his song shall be with me God hath Mercies under Heaven those we tast of and in Heaven and those we hope for 3. God's Mercy is Eternal Psal. 103.17 The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting It is repeated six and twenty times in one Psalm His mercy endureth for ever Psal. 136. The Souls of the Blessed shall be ever bathing themselves in this sweet and pleasant Ocean of God's Mercy God's Anger to his Children lasts but a while Psal. 103.9 But his mercy lasts for ever As long as he is God he will be shewing Mercy As his Mercy is overflowing so ever-flowing Use 1. of Information It shews us how we are to look upon God in Prayer not in his Judge's Robes but cloath with a Rain-bow full of Mercy and Clemency add Wings to Prayer When Jesus Christ ascended up to Heaven that which made him go up thither with Joy was I go to my Father so that which should make our Hearts ascend with Joy in Prayer is We are going to the Father of Mercy who sits upon a Throne of Grace Go with Confidence in this Mercy as when one goes to a Fire it is not doubtingly perhaps it will warm me perhaps not Use 2. Believe in this Mercy Psal. 52.8 I trust in the mercy of God for ever God's Mercy is a Fountain opened let down the Bucket of Faith and you may drink of this Fountain of Salvation what greater Encouragement to believe then God's Mercy God counts it his glory to be scattering Pardons he is desirous that sinners
have the knowledge of the true God is more then if we had Mines of Gold Rocks of Diamonds Islands of Spices especially if God hath savingly revealed himself to us if he hath given us eyes to see the light if we so know God as to be known of him as to love him and believe in him Matth. 11.25 We can never be enough thankful to God that he hath hid the knowledge of himself from the wise and prudent of the World and hath revealed it unto us The TRINITY Quest. VI. HOw many Persons are there in the Godhead Resp. Three Persons yet but one God 1 John 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one God is but One yet there are three distinct Persons subsisting in one God-head This is a sacred Mystery which the Light within could never have discovered As the two Natures in Christ yet but one Person is a wonder so three Persons yet but one God-head I am in a great deep the Father God the Son God the Holy Ghost God yet not three Gods but one God The three Persons in the blessed Trinity are distinguished but not divided three Subsistances but one Essence This is a Divine Riddle where one makes three and three make but one Our narrow Thoughts can no more comprehend the Trinity in Unity then a little Nutshel will hold all the Water in the Sea Let me shadow it out by this similitude In the Body of the Sun there is the Substance of the Sun the Beams and the Heat the Beams are begotten of the Sun the Heat proceeds both from the Sun and the Beams but these three though different are not divided they all three make but one Sun So in the blessed Trinity the Son is begotten of the Father the Holy Ghost proceeds from both yet though they are three distinct Persons yet but one God First let me speak of the Unity in Trinity then of the Trinity in Unity 1. Of the Unity in Trinity The Unity of the Persons in the Godhead consists in two things 1. The identity of Essence In the Trinity there is an Oneness of Essence the three Persons are of the same Divine Nature and Substance so that in Deo non est magis minus there are no degrees in the Godhead one Person is not God more then another 2. The Unity of the Persons in the Godhead consists in the mutual in-being of them or their being in one another The three Persons are so united that one Person is in another and with another Iohn 17.21 Thou Father art in me and I in thee 2. Let me speak of the Trinity in Unity 1. The first Person in the Trinity is God the Father Hâ— is call'd the first Person in respect of Order not Dignity for God the Father hath no essential Perfection which the other Persons have not He is not more wise more holy more powerful then the other Persons are a Priority not Superiority 2. The second Person in the Trinity is Iesus Christ who is begotten of the Father before all Time Prov. 8.23 24 25. I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was When there were no depths I was brought fortth when there were no fountains abounding with water Before the mountains were set led before the hills was I brought forth Which Scripture declares the Eternal Generation of the the Son of God This second Person in the Trinity who is Jehovah is become our Jesus The Scripture calls him the Branch of David Jer. 23.5 and I may call him the Flower of the Virgin having assum'd our Nature By him all that believe are justified Acts 13.39 3. The third Person in the Trinity is the Holy Ghost who proceeds from the Father and the Son His work it is to illuminate the Mind and inkindle sacred Motions The Essence of the Spirit is in Heaven and every where but the Influence of it is in the Hearts of Believers This is that blessed Spirit who gives us the holy Unction 1 Iohn 2.20 Though Christ merits Grace for us it is the Holy Ghost works it in us Though Christ makes the Purchase it is the Holy Ghost makes the Assurance and Seals us up to the Day of Redemption Thus I have spoken of all the three Persons The Trinity of Persons may be proved out of Matth. 3.16 Iesus when he was baptized went up straitway out of the water and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and lo a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son Here are three Names given to the three Persons He who spake with a Voice from Heaven was God the Father He who was baptized in Iordan was God the Son He who descended in the likeness of a Dove was God the Holy Ghost Thus I have shewn you the Unity of Essence and the Trinity of Persons Use 1. It confutes the Jews and the Turks who believe only the first Person in the Godhead this cuts assunder the Sinews of our Comfort Take away the distinction of the Persons in the Trinity and you overthrow Man's Redemption for God the Father being offended with Man for sin how shall he be pacified without a Mediator This Mediator is Christ he makes our Peace and Christ having died and shed his Blood how shall this Blood be applied but by the Holy Ghost Therefore if there be not three Persons in the Godhead Man's Salvation cannot be wrought out If there be no second Person in the Trinity then there is no Redeemer If no third Person then there is no Comforter And so the Plank is taken away by which we should get to Heaven 2. It confutes the execrable Opinion of the Socinians who deny the Divinity of the Lord Jesus they make him only to be a Creature of an higher Rank As the Papists blot out the Second Commandment so the Socinians would the Second Person in the Trinity If to oppose Christ's Members be such a sin what is it to oppose Christ himself 1. Jesus Christ is coequal with God the Father Phil. 2.6 He thought it no robbery to be equal with God 2. He is coeternal with God the Father Prov. 8.23 I was from the beginning for else there was a time when God was without a Son and so he should be no Father nay else there was a time when God was without his glory for Christ is the brightness of his Fathers glory Hebr. 1.3 3. He is coessential with God the Father The Godhead subsists in Christ Col. 2.9 In whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily 'T is said not only Christ was with God before the beginning but he was God John 1.1 and 1 Tim. 3.16 God manifest in the flesh The Title of Lord so often given to Christ in the New Testament doth answer to the Title of Jehovah in the Old Testament Deut. 6.5 Matth. 22.37 so that Christ hath a
is only a Passage-room to Eternity the World is to us as the Wilderness was to Israel not to rest in but to travel through to the glorious Canaan The World is a Tyring-room to dress our Souls in not a place where we are to stay for ever The Apostle tells us of the Worlds Funerals 2 Pet. 3.10 The Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up 2. Positively God made the World to demonstrate his own glory The World is a Looking-glass in which we may see the Power and Goodness of God shine forth The Heavens declare the glory of God Psal. 19.1 The World is like a curious Piece of Arras or Tapestry in which we may see the Skill and Wisdom of him that made it Use 1. Did God create the World This convinceth us of the Truth of his Godhead to create is proper to a Deity Acts 17.24 This convinced Plato of a Deity when he saw all the World could not make a Fly Thus God proves himself to be the true God and distinguisheth himself from Idols Ier. 10.11 It is written in Chalde Thus shall ye say to them the gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish Who but God can create The Creation is enough to Convince the Heathen that there is a God There are two Books out of which God will judge and condemn the Heathen viz. the Book of Conscience Rom. 2.15 Who have the Law written in their heart and the Book of the Creation Rom. 1.20 The invisible things of him are clearly seen by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead The World is full of Emblems and Hyeroglyphicks every Star in the Sky every Bird that flies in the Air is a Witness against the Heathen A Creature could not make it self 2. Here is a mighty support for Faith God Creates He that made all things with a word what cannot he do He can create strength in weakness he can create a supply of our wants What a foolish question was that Psal. 78.19 Can he prepare a table in the wilderness Cannot he that made the World do much more Psal. 124.8 Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth Rest on this God for help who made Heaven and Earth The work of Creation as it is a Monument of God's Power so it is a stay to Faith Is thy Heart hard he can with a word create softness Is it unclean he can create purity Psal. 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God Is the Church of God low he can create Ierusalem a Praise Isa. 65.18 No such golden Pillar for Faith to stay upon as a creating Power 3. Did God make this World full of Beauty and Glory every thing very good then what an evil thing is sin that hath put out of frame the whole Creation Sin hath much eclipsed the beauty sowrd the sweetness and marred the harmony of the World How bitter is that Gall a drop whereof can imbitter a whole Sea Sin hath brought Vanity and Vexation into the World yea a Curse God cursed the ground for Man's sake Gen. 3. There were several Fruits of the Curse 1. In sorrow shalt thou eat of it vers 17. By that word sorrow is to be understood all the Troubles and Cares of this Life 2. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread vers 19. In Innocency Adam did till the ground he must not live idly but it was rather a delight then a labour that tilling was without toiling The eating in sorrow and the sweat of the brow came in after sin 3. Thorns also and Thistles shall the ground bring forth vers 18. Quest. Whether in Innocency did not the Earth bear Thorns because it is threatned as a punishment Answ. It is likely it did bear Thorns for when God had done creating he made no new Species or Kinds of things but the meaning is now after Sin the Earth should bring forth more plenty of Thorns and now those Thorns should be hurtful and choke the Corn which hurtful quality was not in them before Ever since the Fall all the Comforts of this Life have a Thorn and a Thistle in them 4. The fourth fruit of the Curse was the driving Man out of Paradise vers 24. So he drove out the Man God at first brought Adam into Paradise as into an House ready furnished or as a King into his Throne Gen. 1.28 have dominion over every living thing that moveth Now God's driving Adam out of Paradise signified his dethroning and banishing him that he might look after an heavenly and a better Paradise 5. A fifth fruit of the Curse was Death verse 19. To dust thou shalt return Death was not natural to Adam it came in after sin Iosephus is of opinion Man should have died though he had continued in Innocency only he should have had a longer term of years added to his life but out of question Death grew out of the Root of Sin the Apostle saith Rom. 5.12 By sin came death See then how cursed a thing Sin is that hath brought so many Curses upon the Creation If we will not hate Sin for its Deformity let us hate it for the Curse it brings 4. Did God make this glorious World did he make every thing good was there in the Creature so much beauty and sweetness Oh! then what sweetness is there in God Quicquid efficit tale illud est magis tale the Cause is always more noble than the Effect Think with your selves is there so much excellence in House and Lands then how much more is there in God that made these Is there beauty in a Rose what beauty then is there in Christ the Rose of Sharon Doth Oil make the face shine Psal. 104.15 How will the Light of God's Countenance make it shine Doth Wine chear the heart O what Virtue is in the true Vine How doth the Blood of this Grape chear the Heart Is the fruit of the Garden sweet how delicious are the Fruits of the Spirit Is a Gold Mine so precious how precious is he who founded this Mine What is Christ in whom are hid all Treasures Coloss. 2.3 We should ascend from the Creature to the Creator If there be any Comfort here below how much more is there in God who made all these things How unreasonable is it that we should delight in the World and not much more in him that made it How should our Hearts be set on God and how should we long to be with God who hath infinitely more sweetness in him than any Creature Use 2. of Exhortation 1. Did God create the World let us wisely observe these Works of Creation God hath given us not only the Book of the Scriptures to read in but the Book of the Creation Look up to the Heavens they shew much of God's glory the Sun gilds the World with its bright
Beams behold the Stars their regular motion in their Orbs their Magnitude their Light their Influence We may see God's glory blazing in the Sun twinkling in the Stars Look into the Sea and see the wonders of God in the Deep Psal. 107.24 Look into the Air there the Birds make Melody and sing forth the Praises of their Creator Look into the Earth there we may wonder at the Nature of Minerals the Power of the Loadstone the Virtue of Herbs See the Earth deck'd as a Bride with Flowers all these are the glorious Effects of God's Power God hath wrought the Creation as with curious Needle-work that we may observe his Wisdom and Goodness and give him the Praise due to him Psal. 104.24 O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all 2. Did God create all things let us obey our Maker We are his Iure Creationis we owe our selves to him If another gives us our Maintenance we think our selves bound to serve him much more should we serve and obey God who gives us our Life Acts 17.28 In him we live and move God hath made every thing for Man's Service the Corn for nourishment the Beasts for usefulness the Birds for Musick that Man should be for God's Service The Rivers come from the Sea and they run into the Sea again All we have is from God let us honour our Creator and live to him that made us 3. Did God make our Bodies out of the Dust and that Dust out of Nothing let this keep down pride When God would humble Adam he useth this Expression Out of the dust was thou taken Gen. 3.19 Why art thou proud O Dust and Ashes thou art made but of course Mettal cum sis humi limus cur non humilimus Bernard David saith I was curiously wrought Psal. 139. Thy being curiously wrought may make thee thankful but being made of the Dust may keep thee humble If thou hast Beauty it is but well-colour'd Earth Thy Body is but Air and Dust mingled together and this Dust will drop into the Dust. When the Lord had said of the Judges they were Gods Psal. 82.6 lest they should grow proud he tells them they were dying gods vers 7. Ye shall die like men 4. Did God create our Souls after his Image but we lost it let us never leave till we are restored to God's Image again We have now got the Devils Image in Pride Malice Envy let us get God's Image restored which consists in Knowledge and Righteousness Col. 3.10 Grace is our best Beauty it makes us like God and Angels As the Sun to the World so is Holiness to the Soul Let us go to God to repair his Image in us Lord thou hast once made me make me anew Sin hath defaced thy Image in me O draw it again by the Pencil of the Holy Ghost The Providence of GOD. GOD's Works of Providence are his most holy wise and powerful Preserving and Governing all his Creatures and all their Actions The Work of God's Providence Joh. 5.17 My Father worketh hitherto and I work The great God hath rested from the Works of Creation he doth not create any new Species of Things Gen. 2.7 He rested from all his Works and therefore the Scripture must needs be meant of God's Works of Providence My Father worketh and I work Psal. 103.19 His kingdom ruleth over all i. e. his Providencial Kingdom Now for the clearing of this Point I shall 1. Show you that there is a Providence 2. What that Providence is 3. Lay down some Maxims or Propositions concerning the Providence of God 1. That there is a Providence There is no such thing as blind Fate but there is a Providence that guides and governs in the World Prov. 16.33 The lot is cast into the lap but the whole dispose thereof is of the Lord. 2. What this Providence is I answer Providence is God's ordering all Issues and Events of things after the Council of his Will to his own Glory 1. I call Providence God's ordering of things to distinguish it from his Decrees God's Decree ordains things that shall fall out God's Providence ordereth them 2. I call Providence the ordering of Things after the Council of God's Will that I may free it from all Rashness and Precipitancy and to show you that 't is a high Act of Prudence done after the Council of his own Will 3. God orders all Events of things after the Council of his Will to his own Glory the Glory of God being the Ultimate End of all God's Actings and the Centre where all the Lines of Providence do meet The Providence of God is Regina Mundi the Queen and Governess of the World it is the Eye that sees and the Hand that turns all the Wheels in the Universe God is not like an Artificer that builds a House and then leaves it and is gone but like a Pilot that does with a great deal of Care steer on the Ship of the whole Creation 3. I shall lay down some Positions about the Providence of God 1. God's Providence reaches to all Places Persons and Occurrences 1. To all Places Jer. 23. Am I a God at hand and not a God afar off The Diocess where Providence visits is very large it reaches to Heaven to Earth and Sea Ps. 107.23 24. They that go down to sea see the wonders of God in the deep Now that the Sea which is higher then the Earth should not drown the Earth is a Wonder of Providence and the Prophet Ionah he saw the Wonders of God in the Deep when the very Fish which did devour him and swallow him did bring him safe to Shore 2. God's Providence reaches to all Persons especially the Persons of the Godly they are in a special manner taken notice of God takes care of every Saint in particular as if he had none else to take care for 1 Pet. 5.7 He careth for you i. e. Elect in a special manner Psal. 33.18 19. The eye of the Lord is over them that fear him to preserve them from death and to keep them alive in famine God by his Providential Care shields off Dangers from his People he sets a Life-guard of Angels about them Psal. 19.11 God's Providence keeps the very Bones of the Saints Psal. 34.10 It bottles their Tears Psal. 56.8 It strengthens the Saints in their Weaknesses Heb. 11.34 It supplies all their Wants out of its Alms-basket Psal. 23.5 Thus Providence doth wonderfully supply the Wants of the Elect. When the Protestants in Rochel were besieged by the French King God by his Providence sent in a great number of small Fishes that fed them such as were never seen before in that Haven So the Raven that unnatural Creature that will hardly feed its own Young yet providentially brought Sustenance to the Prophet Elijah 1 Kings 17.6 The Virgin Mary though by bearing and bringing forth the Messiah she help'd to make the World rich yet she herself was
any Affliction befal you remember God sees it is that which is fit for you or it should not come your Cloaths cannot be so fit for you as your Crosses God's Providence may sometimes be secret but it is always wise Tho' we may not be silent under God's Dishonour yet we should learn to be silent under his Displeasure 3. You that are Christians believe that all God's Providences shall conspire for the good of his People and shall promote their Salvation at last The Providences of God are sometimes dark and our eyes dim and we can hardly tell what to make of them but when we cannot unriddle Providence believe it shall work together for the good of the Elect Rom. 8.28 The Wheels in a Watch seem to move cross one to another but they help forward the Motion of the Watch and make the Larum strike so the Providences of God seem to be cross Wheels but for all that they shall carry on the Good of the Elect. The pricking of a Vein is in itseâ—f evil and hurtful but as it prevents a Fevor and tends to the Health of the Patient so it is good So Affliction in itself is not glorious but grievous but the Lord turns this to the good of his Saints Poverty shall starve their Sins Affliction shall prepare them for a Kingdom Therefore Christians believe that God loves us that he will make the most cross Providences to promote his Glory and our Good 4. Let this be an Antidote against Immoderate Fear for nothing comes to pass but what is ordain'd by God's Decree and ordered by his Providence We sometimes fear what the Issue of things will be Men grow high in their Actings let us not make things worse by our Fear Men are limited in their Power and shall not go one Hair's breadth further then God's Providence will permit He might let Sennacherib's Army march towards Ierusalem but he shall not shoot one Arrow against it Isa. 38.36 Then the angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred and fourscore and five thousand When Israel was compassed in between Pharoah and the Red Sea no question some of their hearts did begin to tremble and they look'd upon themselves as dead Men but Providence so ordered it that the Sea was a safe Passage to Israel and a Sepulchre to Pharaoh and all his Host. Use 2. Comfort in respect of the Church of God God's Providence reacheth in a more special manner to his Church Isa. 27.2 Sing ye unto her A vineyard of red wine God waters this Vineyard with his Blessings and watcheth over it by his Providence I the Lord keep it night and day Such as think totally to ruin the Church must do it in a time when it is neither Day nor Night for the Lord keeps it by his Providence Night and Day What a miraculous Conduct of Providence had Israel God led them by a Pillar of Fire gave them Manna from Heaven set the Rock abroach God by his Providence preserves his Church in the midst of Enemies which is as to see a Spark kept alive in the Ocean or a Flock of Sheep among Wolves God saves his Church strangely 1. By giving Unexpected Mercies to his Church when she looked for nothing but Ruine Psal. 126.1 When the Lord turned the captivity of Sion we were like them that dream How strangely did God raise up Queen Esther to preserve alive the Iews when Haman had got a bloudy Warrant sign'd for their Execution 2. Strangely by saving in that very way in which we think he will destroy God works sometimes by Contraries He raiseth his Church by bringing it low The Bloud of the Martyrs hath watered the Church and made it more fruitful Exod. 1.12 The more they afflicted them the more they multiplied The Church is like that Plant Gregory Nazianzen speaks of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it lives by dying and grows by cutting 3. Strangely in that he makes the Enemy do his Work When the People of Amon and Moab and Mount Seir came against Iudah God set the Enemy one against another 2 Chr. 20.23 The children of Amon and Moab stood up against them of Mount Seir to slay them and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir every one help'd to destroy another In the Powder-Treason he made the Traytors to be their own Betrayers God can do his work by the Enemies hand God made the Aegyptians send away the People of Israel laden with Jewels Exod. 12.36 The Church is the Apple of God's Eye and the Eye-lid of his Providence doth daily cover and defend it 5. Let the merciful Providences of God cause Thankfulness We are kept alive by a Wonder-working Providence Providence makes our Cloaths warm us our Meat nourish us We are fed every day out of the Alms-basket of God's Providence That in Health that we have an Estate it is not our Diligence but God's Providence Deut. 8.18 Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for he it is that gives thee power to get wealth Especially if we go a stâ—p higher we may see cause of Thankfulness That we should be born and bred in a Gospel Climate that we should live in such a place where the Sun of Righteousness shines this is a signal Providence Why might not we have been born in such places where Paganism prevails That Christ should make himself known to us and touch our hearts with his Spirit when he passeth by others Whence is this but from the miraculous Providence of God which is the Effect of his Free-grace Use 3. See here that which may make us long for that time when the great Mystery of God's Providence shall be fully unfolded to us Now we scarce know what to make of God's Providences therefore are ready to Censure what we do not understand but in Heaven we shall see how all God's Providences Sickness Losses Sufferings carried on our Salvation Here we see but some dark pieces of God's Providence and it is impossible to judge of God's Works by Pieces but when we come to Heaven and see the full Body and Pourtraicture of God's Providence drawn out in its lively Colours it will be a glorious Sight to behold Then we shall see how all God's Providences help'd to fulfil his Promises Never a Providence but we shall see had either a Wonder or a Mercy in it The Covenant of Works Quest. IX I Proceed to the next Question What special Providence did God exercise towards Man in the Estate wherein he was created Answ. When God created Man he entred into a Covenant of Life with him upon Condition of perfect Obedience forbidding him to eat of the Tree of Knowledge upon pain of death For this consult with Gen. 2.16 17. And the Lord commanded the man saying of every Tree of the Garden thou mayest freely eat but of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil thou shalt not eat for in the day thou
bosom as the Spouse did Cant. 1.13 lye betwixt my Breasts What was said of Ignatius that the Name of Jesus was found written in his heart should be verified of every Saint he should have Jesus Christ written in his heart CHRIST a Prophet DEUT. 18.15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet c. HAving spoken of the Person of Christ we are next to speak of the Offices of Christ Prophetical Priestly Regal 1. Prophetical The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet Enunciatur hic locus de Christo 't is spoken of Christ. There are several Names given to Christ as a Prophet He is called the Counsellor Isa. 6.9 In uno Christo Angelus faederis completur Fagius The Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 a Lamp 2 Sam. 22.29 the bright Morning-star Rev. 22.16 Jesus Christ is the great Prophet of his Church the Woman of Samaria gave a shrewd guess Iohn 4.19 He is the best Teacher he makes all other teaching effectual Luke 24.45 Then opened he their Understanding He did not only open the Scriptures but opened their Understanding He teacheth to profit Isa. 48.17 I am the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit Quest. How Christ teacheth Resp. 1. Externally By his Word Psal. 119.105 Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet Such as pretend to have a Light or Revelation above the Word or contrary to it never had their Teaching from Christ Isa. 8.20 2. Christ teacheth these sacred Mysteries Inwardly by the Spirit John 16.13 The World knows not what it is 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receives not the things of God neither can ye know them He knows not what it is to be Transformed by the renewing of the mind Rom. 12.2 or what the inward workings of the Spirit means these are Riddles and Paradoxes to him He may have more insight into the things of the World then a Believer but he doth not see the deep things of God A Swine may see an Acorn under the Tree but he cannot see a Star he who is taught of Christ sees the Arcana imperii the Secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven Quest. What are the Lessons Christ teacheth Answ. 1. He teacheth us to see into our own Hearts Take the most Mercurial Wits the greatest Politicians that understand the Mysteries of State yet they know not the Mysteries of their own Hearts they cannot believe there is that Evil in them as is 2 Kings 8.13 Is thy servant a dog Grande profundum est homo Aug. The Heart is a great deep which is not easily fathomed But Christ when he teacheth removes the Vail of Ignorance and lights a Man into his own Heart And now he sees swarms of vain Thoughts he blusheth to see how Sin mingles with his Duties his Stars are mixt with Clouds he prays as Austin that God would deliver him from himself 2. The second Lesson Christ teacheth is the Vanity of the Creature A Natural Man sets up his Happiness here worships the golden Image but he that Christ hath anointed with his Eye-salve hath a Spirit of Discerning he looks upon the Creature in its night dress sees it to be empty and unsatisfying not commensurate to an Heaven-born Soul Solomon had put all the Creatures into a Limbeck and when he came to extract the Spirits and Quintissence all was Vanity Eccl. 2.11 The Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Show or Apparition 1 Cor. 7.31 having no intrinsical Goodness 3. The third Lesson is the Excellency of Things unseen Christ gives the Soul a sight of Glory a prospect of Eternity 2 Cor. 4.18 We look not at things which are seen but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things which are not seen Moses saw him who is invisible Hebr. 11.27 And the Patriarks saw a better Country viz. an heavenly Hebr. 11.16 where Delights of Angels Rivers of Pleasure the Flower of Joy fully ripe and blown Quest. How doth Christ's Teaching differ from other Teaching Resp. Several ways 1. Christ teacheth the Heart Others may teach the Ear Christ the Heart Acts 16.14 Whose heart the Lord opened All that the Dispensers of the Word can do is but to work Knowledge Christ works Grace They can but give you the light of the Truth Christ gives you the love of the Truth They can only teach you what to believe Christ teacheth how to believe 2 Christ gives us a Taste of the Word Ministers may set the Food of the Word before you and carve it out to you but it is only Christ causeth you to taste it 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be ye have tasted the Lord is gracious Psal. 34.8 Taste and see that the Lord is good It is one thing to hear a Truth preached another thing to taste it one thing to read a Promise another thing to taste it David had got a taste of the Word Psal. 119.102 103. Thou hast taught me How sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter then honey to my mouth The Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the savour of Knowledge 2 Cor. 2.14 The light of Knowledge is one thing the savour another Christ makes us taste a savoriness in the Word 3. Christ when he teacheth makes us obey Others may instruct but cannot command obedience They teach to be humble but Men remain proud The Prophet had been denouncing Judgments against the People of Iudah but they would not hear Ier. 44.17 We will do whatsoever goeth out of our own mouth to bake cakes to the Queen of Heaven Men come quasi armed in Coat of Male that the Sword of the Word will not enter but when Christ comes to teach he removes this obstinacy he not only informs the Judgment but inclines the Will He doth not only come with the Light of his Word but the Rod of his Strength and makes the stubborn sinner yield to him His Grace is irresistible 4. Christ teacheth easily Others teach with difficulty Difficulty in finding out a Truth and in inculcating it Isa. 28.10 Precept must be upon precept line upon line some may Teach all their lives and the Word take no impression They complain as Isa. 49.4 I have spent my labour in vain Plough on Rocks But Christ the great Prophet teacheth with ease He can with the least touch of his Spirit convert He can say Let there be light with a word he conveys Grace 5. Christ when he teacheth makes Men willing to learn Men may teach others but they have no mind to learn Prov. 1.7 Fools despise instruction they rage at the Word as if a Patient should rage at the Physician when he brings him a Cordial thus backward are Men to their own Salvation But Christ makes his People a willing people Psal. 110.3 they prize Knowledge and hang it as a Jewel upon their Ear. Those that Christ teacheth say as Isa. 2.3 Come let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in
them and as Acts 10.33 We are all here present before God to hear all things commanded 6. Christ when he Teacheth doth not only illuminate but animate He doth so teach as he doth quicken Iohn 8.12 I am the light of the world he that follows me shall have lumen vitae the light of life By Nature we are dead therefore unfit for teaching who will make an Oration to the Dead But Christ teacheth them that are dead he gives the light of life as when Lazarus was dead Christ said Come forth and he made the dead to hear Lazarus came forth So when Christ saith to the dead Soul Come forth of the Grave of Unbelief he hears Christ's voice and comes forth it is the Light of Life The Philosophers saith Calor lux concrescunt Light and Heat encrease together 'T is true here where Christ comes with his Light there is the heat of Spiritual Life going along with it Use 1. of Information Branch 1. See here an Argument of Christ's Divinity Had he not been God he could never have known the Mind of God or revealed to us those Arcana Caeli those deep Mysteries which no Man or Angel could find out Who but God can anoint the eyes of the blind and give not only light but sight who but he who hath the Key of David can open the Heart who but God can bow the iron sinew of the Will He only who is God can enlighten the Conscience and make the stoney Heart bleed Branch 2. See what a Cornucopia or Plenty of Wisdom is in Christ who is the Great Doctor of his Church and gives saving knowledge to all the Elect. The Body of the Sun must needs be full of Charity and Brightness which enlightens the whole World Christ is the great Luminary In him are hid all Treasures of Knowledge Col. 2.3 The middle Lamp of the Sanctuary gave light to all the other Lamps Christ duffuseth his glorious Light to others We are apt to admire the Learning of Aristotle and Plato alas what is this poor Spaâ—k of Light to that which is in Christ from whose infinite Wisdom both Men and Angels light their Lamp Branch 3. See the Misery of Men in the state of Nature before Christ came to be their Prophet they are inveloped with Ignorance and Daâ—kness Men know nothing in a salvifical sanctified manner they know nothing as they ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 This is sad 1. Men in the dark cannot discern Colours so in the state of Nature they cannot discern between Morality and Grace they take one for the other pro dea nubem 2. In the dark the greatest Beauty is hid Let there be rare Flowers in the Garden and Pictures in the Room yet in the dark their Beauty is vail'd over so though there be such transcendent Beauty in Christ as amazeth the Angels a Man in the state of Nature sees none of this Beauty What is Christ to him or Heaven to him the vail is upon his heart 3. A Man in the dark is in danger every step he goes so a Man in the state of Nature is in danger every step of falling into Hell Thus it is before Christ teacheth us nay the darkness in which a Sinner is while in an unregenerate state is worse then natural darkness for natural darkness affrights Gen. 15.12 An horrour of great darkness fell upon Abraham But the Spiritual Darkness is not accompanied with horrour Men tremble not at their condition nay they like their condition well enough Iohn 3.19 Men loved darkness This is their sad condition till Jesus Christ comes as a Prophet to teach them and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God Branch 4. See the happy condition of the Children of God they have Christ to be their Prophet Isa. 54.13 All thy children shall be taught of the Lord. 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made to us wisdom One Man cannot see by anothers eye but Believers see with Christ's eyes in his light they see light Christ gives them the light of Grace and light of Glory Use 2. Labour to have Christ for your Prophet he teacheth savingly he is an interpreter of a thousand he can untie those Knots which puzzle the very Angels till Christ teach never learn any Lesson till Christ is made to us wisdom we shall never be wise to Salvation Quest. What shall we do to have Christ for our Teacher Resp. 1. See your need of Christ's Teaching you cannot see your way without this Morning Star Some speak much of the Light of Reason improved Alas the Plumb-line of Reason is too short to Fathom the deep things of God the Light of Reason will no more help a Man to believe then the light of a Candle will help him to understand A Man can no more by the power of Nature reach Christ then an Infant can reach the top of the Pyramids or the Ostridge fly up to the Stars See your need of Christ's Anointing and Teaching Rev. 3.18 2. Go to Christ to teach you Psal. 25.5 Lead me in thy truth and teach me As one of the Disciples said Lord teach us to pray Luke 11.1 so Lord teach me to profit Do thou light my Lamp O thou great Prophet of thy Church give me a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that I may see things in another manner then ever I saw them before Teach me in the Word to hear thy Voice and in the Sacrament to discern thy Body Psal. 13.3 Lighten mine eyes c. Cathedram habet in coelo qui corda docet in terra Aug. He hath his Pulpit in Heaven who converts Souls And that we may be encouraged to go to Christ our great Prophet 1. Jesus Christ is very willing to teach us Why else did he enter into the Calling of the Ministry but to teach the Mysteries of Heaven Matth. 4.23 Iesus went about teaching and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases among the people Why did he take the Office Prophetical upon him why was Christ so angry with them that kept away the Key of Knowledge Luke 11.52 why was Christ anointed with the Spirit without measure but that he might anoint us with Knowledge Knowledge is in Christ as Milk in the Breast for the Child O then go to Christ to Teach None in the Gospel came to Christ for sight but he restored their eye-sight And sure Christ is more willing to work a cure upon a blind Soul than ever he was upon a blind Body 2. There are none so dull and ignorant but Christ can teach them Every one is not fit to make a Philosophers Scholar of Ex omni ligno non fit Mercurius but there is none so dull but Christ can make a good Scholar of such as are ignorant and of low parts Christ teacheth them in such a manner that they know more then the great Sages and Wisemen of the World
and could we have shed Rivers of Tears offered up Millions of Holocausts and Burnt-Offerings we could never have pacified an angry Deity therefore Christ must dye that God's Justice might be satisfied It is hotly debated among Divines Whether God could not have forgiven Sin freely without a Sacrifice Not to dispute what God could have done but when we consider God was resolved to have the Law satisfied and to have Man in a way of Justice as well as Mercy then I say it was necessary that Christ should lay down his Life as a Sacrifice 1. To fulfil the Predictions of Scripture Luke 24.46 Thus it behoved Christ to suffer 2. To bring us into Favour with God 'T is one thing for a Traytor to be pardoned and another thing to be made a Favourite Christ's Bloud is not only called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sacrifice whereby God is appeased but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Propitiation whereby God becomes gracious and friendly to us Christ is our Mercy-seat from which God gives Answers of Peace to us 3. Christ dyed that he might make good his last Will and Testament with his Bloud There were many Legacies which Christ bequeathed to Believers which had been all null and void had not he dyed and by his Death confirm'd the Will Heb. 9.17 A Testament is in force after Men are dead The Mission of Spirit the Promises those Legacies were not in force till Christ's Death but Christ by his Bloud hath sealed them and Believers may lay claim to them 4. He died that he might purchase for us Glorious Mansions Therefore Heaven is called not only a promised but a purchased Possession Eph. 1.14 Christ dyed for our Preferment He suffered that we might reign he hung upon the Cross that we might fit upon the Throne Heaven was shut c. Crux Christi clavis Paradisi The Cross of Christ is the Ladder by which we ascend to Heaven His Crucifixion is our Coronation Use 1. In the Bloudy Sacrifice of Christ see the horrid Nature of Sin Sin it is true is odious as it banish'd Adam out of Paradise and threw the Angels into Hell but that which doth most of all make it appear Horrid is this it made Christ vail his Glory and loose his Bloud We should look upon Sin with Indignation and pursue it with an Holy Malice and shed the Bloud of those Sins shed Christ's Bloud The sight of Caesar's Bloudy Robe incensed the Romans against them that slew him The sight of Christ's bleeding Body should incense us against Sin let us not parly with it let not that be our Joy which made Christ a Man of Sorrow Use 2. Is Christ our Priest sacrific'd see God's Mercy and Iustice displayed I may say as the Apostle Rom. 11.27 Behold the goodness and severity of God 1. The Goodness of God in providing a Sacrifice Had not Christ suffered on the Cross we must have lain in Hell for ever satisfying God's Justice 2. The Severity of God Though it were his own Son the Son of his Love and our Sins were but imputed to him yet God did not spare him Rom. 8.32 but his Wrath did flame against him And if God were thus severe to his own Son how dreadful will he be one day to his Enemies Such as dye in wilful Impenitency must feel the same Wrath as Christ did and because they cannot bear it at once therefore they must be enduring it for ever Use 3. Is Christ our Priest who was sacrificed for us then see the endeared Affection of Christ to us Sinners The Cross saith Austin was a Pulpit in which Christ preached his Love to the World That Christ should dye was more then if all the Angels had been turned to Dust And that Christ should dye as a Malefactor having the weight of all Mens Sins laid upon him That he should dye for his Enemies Rom. 5.10 The Balm-tree weeps out its precious Balm to heal those that cut and mangle it Christ shed his Bloud to heal those that crucified him And that he should dye freely it is call'd the Offering of the Body of Jesus Heb. 10.10 And though his Sufferings were so great that they made him sigh and weep and bleed yet they could not make him Repent Isa. 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his soul and be satisfied Christ had hard travel upon the Cross yet he doth not repent of it but thinks his Sweat and Bloud well bestowed because he sees Redemption brought forth to the World O infinite amazing Love of Christ a Love that passeth Knowledge Eph. 3.19 That neither Man or Angel can paralel How should we be affected with this Love if Saul was so affected with David's Kindness in sparing his Life How should we be affected with Christ's Kindness in parting with his Life for us At Christ's Death and Passion the very Stones did cleave asunder Matth. 27.5 The rocks rent Not to be affected with Christ's Love in dying is to have Hearts harder then the Rocks Use 4. Is Christ our Sacrifice then see the Excellency of this Sacrifice 1. It is perfect Heb. 10.14 By one offering he hath perfected them that are sanctified Therefore how impious are the Papists in joyning their Merits and the Prayers of Saints with Christ's Sacrifice They offer him up daily in the Mass as if Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross were imperfect this is a Blasphemy against Christ's Priestly Office 2. Christ's Sacrifice is meritorious he not only died for our Example but to merit Salvation The Person who suffered being God as well as Man did put Vertue into his Sufferings and now our sins are expiated and God appeased No sooner did the Messengers say Uriah is dead but David's Anger was pacified 2 Sam. 11.21 No sooner did Christ dye but God's Anger is pacified 3. This Sacrifice is beneficial out of the dead Lyon Sampson had Honey it procures Justification of our Persons Acceptance of our Services Access to God with Boldness Entrance into the Holy Place of Heaven Heb. 10.19 Per latus Christi paâ—escit nobis in coelum Israel passed through the Red Sea to Canaan so through the Red Sea of Christ's Bloud we enter into the Heavenly Canaan 2. Use of Exhortation Branch 1. Let us fiducially apply this Bloud of Christ All the Vertue of a Medicine is in the applying though the Medicine be made of the Bloud of God it will not heal unless by Faith applyed As Fire is to the Chymist so is Faith to a Christian the Chymist can do nothing without Fire so there is nothing done without Faith Faith makes Christ's Sacrifice ours Phil. 3.8 Christ Iesus my Lord. It is not Gold in the Mine enricheth but Gold in the Hand Faith is the Hand receives Christ's Golden Merits It is not a Cordial in the Glass refresheth the Spirits but a Cordial drunk down Per fidem Christi sanguinem sugimus Cypr. Faith opens the Orifice of Christ's Woundâ— and drinks the precious Cordial of
this should much encourage us to look up to him and hope for Audience in Prayer We might indeed be afraid to present our Petitions if we had not Christ to deliver them Branch 4. The sad Condition of an Unbeliever he hath none in Heaven to speak a word for him Joh. 17.9 I pray not for the world As good be shut out of Heaven as be shut out of Christ's Prayer Christ pleads for the Saints as Queen Esther did for the Iews when they should have been destroyed Let my people be given me at my request Esth. 7.3 When the Devil shows the Blackness of their Sins Christ shows the Redness of his Wounds But how sad is the Condition of that Man Christ will not pray for Nay that he will pray against As Queen Esther petitioned against Haman and then his Face was covered Esth. 7.6 and he was led away to Execution 'T is sad when the Law shall be against the Sinner and Conscience and Judge and no Friend to speak a word for him There 's no way then but Jaylor take the Prisoner Branch 5. If Christ makes Intercession then we have nothing to do with other Intercessors The Church of Rome distinguisheth between Mediators of Redemption and Intercession and say The Angels do not redeem us but intercede for us and pray to them But Christ only can intercede for us Ex Officio God hath consecrated him an High-Priest Heb. 5.6 Thou art a priest for ever Christ intercedes Vi pretii in the Vertue of his Bloud he pleads his Merits to his Father the Angels have no Merits to bring to God therefore can be no Intercessors for us Whoever is our Advocate must be our Propitiation to pacifie God 1 Joh. 2.1 We have an advocate with the Father Verse 2. And he is our propitiation The Angels cannot be our Propitiation ergo not our Advocates 2. Use of Tryal How shall we know that Christ intercedes for us They have little ground to think Christ prays for them who never pray for themselves Well but how shall we know Resp. 1. If Christ be praying for us then his Spirit is praying in us Gal. 4.6 He hath sent forth his spirit into your heart crying Abba Father And Rom. 8.26 the Spirit helps us with Sighs and Groans not only with Gifts but Groans We need not climb up into the Firmament to see if the Sun be there we may see the Beauty of it upon the Earth so we need not go up into Heaven to see if Christ be there interceding for us let us look into our Hearts if they are quickned and inflamed in Prayer and we can cry Abba Father by this interceding of the Spirit within us we may know Christ is interceding above for us Resp. 2. If we are given to Christ then he intercedes for us Joh. 17.9 I pray for them whom thou hast given me 'T is one thing for Christ to be given to us another for us to be given to Christ. Quest. How know you that Resp. 3. If thou art a Believer then thou art one given to Christ and he prays for thee Faith is an Act of Recumbency we do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rest on Christ as the Stones in the Building rest upon the Corner-stone Faith throws itself into Christ's Arms it saith Christ is my Priest his Bloud is my Sacrifice his Divine Nature is my Altar and here I rest This Faith is seen by the Effects of it a refining Work and a resigning Work it purifies the Heart there is the refining Work it makes a Deed of Gift to Christ it gives up its Use its Love to him 1 Cor. 6.19 There is the resigning Work of Faith These that believe are given to Christ and have a part in his Prayer Joh. 17.20 Nor do I pray for these alone but for all them that shall believe on me 3. Use of Exhortation Branch 1. It stirs us up to several Duties 1. If Christ appears for us in Heaven then we must appear for him upon Earth Christ is not ashamed to carry our Names on his Breast and shall we be ashamed of his Truth Doth he plead our Cause and shall not we stand up in his Cause What a mighty Argument is this to stand up for the Honour of Christ in Times of Apostacy Christ is interceding for us Doth he present our Names in Heaven and shall not we profess his Name on Earth Branch 2. If Christ lays out all his Interest for us at the Throne of Grace we must lay out all our Interest for him Phil. 1.20 That Christ may be magnified Trade your Talents for Christ's Glory there 's no Man but hath some Talent to trade one parts another Estate Oh trade for Christ's Glory spend and be spent for him Let your Head study for Christ your Hands work for Christ your Tongue speak for him If Christ be an Advocate for us in Heaven we must be Factors for him on Earth every one in his Sphere must act vigorously for Christ. Branch 3. Believe in this glorious Intercession of Christ that he now intercedes for us and that for his sake God will accept us In the Text Who maketh Intercession for us If we believe not we dishonour Christ's Intercession If a poor Sinner may not go to Christ as his High-Priest believing in his Intercession then are we Christians in a worse Condition under the Gospel then the Iews were under the Law they when they had sinn'd had their High-Priest to make Atonement and shall not we have our High-Priest Is not Christ our Aaron who presents his Bloud and Incense before the Mercy-seat O look up by Faith to Christ's Intercession Christ did not only pray for his Disciples and Apostles but for the weakest Believer Branch 4. Love your Intercessor 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be Anathama Kindness invites Love had you a Friend at Court who when you were questioned for Delinquency or Debt should plead with the Judge for you and bring you off your Troubles would not you love that Friend So it is here how oft doth Satan put in his Bills against us in the Court now Christ is at the Judge's hand he sits at his Father's right hand ever to plead for us and to make our Peace with God O how should our Hearts be fired with Love to Christ Love him with a sincere and superlative Love above Estate Relations Bern. Plusquam tua tuos and our Fire of Love should be as the Fire on the Altar never to go out Lev. 6.13 4. Use of Comfort to Believers Christ is at work for you in Heaven he makes Intercession for you Oh but I am afraid Christ doth not intercede for me Quest. I am a Sinner who doth Christ intercede for Resp. Isa. 53.12 He made intercession for the transgressors Did Christ open his sides for thee and will he not open his mouth to plead for thee Quest. But I have offended my High-Priest by distrusting
their Offering Luke 2.24 A pair of Turtle Doves which was the usual Offering of the Poor Lev. 12.8 Christ was so poor that when he wanted Money he was fain to work a Miracle for it Matth. 17.27 He when he died made no Will. He came into the World poor 4. Why he came That he might take our flesh and redeem us that he might instate us into a Kingdom He was poor that he might make us rich 2 Cor. 8.9 He was born of a Virgin that he might be born of God he took our Flesh that he might give us his Spirit He lay in the Manger that we might lye in Paradise He came down from Heaven that he might bring us to Heaven And what was all this but Love If our Hearts be not Rocks this Love of Christ should affect us Behold Love that passeth Knowledge Eph. 3.19 Branch 2. See here the wonderful Humility of Christ Christ was made flesh O Sancta Humilitas Tu filium Dei descendere fecisti in uterum Mariae Virginis Aâ—st That Christ should clothe himself with our flesh a piece of that Earth which we tread upon O infinite Humility Christ's taking our flesh was one of the lowest Steps of his Humiliation Christ did humble himself more in lying in the Virgins Womb then in hanging upon the Cross. It was not so much for Man to die but for God to become Man that was the wonder of Humility Phil. 2.7 He was made in the likeness of Men. For Christ to be made flesh was more Humility then for the Angels to be made Worms Christ's flesh is called a Vail Hebr. 10.20 Through the Vail that is his Flesh. Christ's wearing our Flesh vail'd his Glory For him to be made flesh who was equal with God O Humility Phil. 2.6 Who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God He stood upon even Ground with God he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Patri co-essential and con-substantial with his Father as Austin and Cyril and the Councel of Nice expresses it yet for all this he takes flesh Christ strip'd himself of the Robes of his Glory and covered himself with the Rags of our Humanity If Solomon did so wonder that God should dwell in the Temple which was enrich'd and hung with Gold how may we wonder that God should dwell in Man's weak and frail Nature Nay which is yet more Humility Christ not only took our flesh but took it when it was at the worst under Disgrace as if a Servant should wear a Noble-man's Livery when he is impeached of High Treason Nay besides Christ took all the Infirmities of our flesh There are two sorts of Infirmities Such as are sinful without pain or such as are painful without sin The first of these Infirmities Christ did not take upon him sinful Infirmities to be covetous or ambitious Christ never took these upon him but Christ took upon him painful Infirmities as 1. Hunger Matth. 21.18 He came to the Fig-tree and would have eaten 2. Weariness as when he sate on Iacob's Well to rest him Iohn 4.6 3. Sorrow Matth. 26.38 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My soul is sorrowful even unto death It was a Sorrow guided with Reason not disturb'd with Passion 4. Fear Hebr. 5.7 He was heard in that he feared Nay yet a further Degree of Christ's Humility he not only was made flesh but in the likeness of sinful flesh He knew no sin yet he was made sin 2 Cor. 5.21 He was like a sinner he had all sin laid upon him but no sin lived in him Isa. 53.12 He was numbred among Transgressors He who was numbred among the Persons of the Trinity he is said to bear the sins of many Hebr. 9.28 Now this was the lowest degree of Christ's Humiliation For Christ to be reputed as a sinner never such a Pattern of Humility That Christ who would not endure sin in the Angels should himself indure to have sin imputed to him it is the most amazing Humility that ever was From all this learn to be humble Dost thou see Christ humbling himself and art thou proud 'T is the humble Saint is Christ's Picture Christian be not proud of your fine Feathers 1. Hast thou an Estate be not proud the Earth thou treadest on is richer then thou it hath Mines of Gold and Silver in the Bowels of it 2. Hast thou Beauty be not proud it is but Air and Dust mingled 3. Hast thou Skill and Parts be humble Lucifer hath more knowledge than thou 4. Hast thou Grace be humble thou hast it not of thy own growth it is borrowed Were it not a folly to be proud of a Ring that is lent 1 Cor. 4.7 Thou hast more Sin then Grace Spots then Beauty O look on Christ this rare Pattern and be humble It is an unseemly sight to see God humbling himself and Man exalting himself to see an humble Saviour and a proud Sinner God hates the very resemblance of Pride Lev. 2.11 He would have no Honey in the Sacrifice Indeed Leaven is sowr but why no Honey because when Honey is mingled with Meal or Flour it makes the Meal to rise and swell ergo no Honey God hates the resemblance of the Sin of Pride better want Parts Comforts of Spirit then Humility Si Deus superbientibus Angelis non pepercit If God saith Austin spared not the Angels when they grew proud will he spare thee who art but Dust and Rottenness Branch 3. Behold here a Sacred Riddle or Paradox God manifest in the flesh The Text calls it a Mystery That Man should be made in God's Image was a wonder but that God should be made in Man's Image is a greater wonder That the Ancient of Days should be born that he who Thunders in the Heaven should cry in the Cradle Qui tonitruat in Coelis clamat in cunabulis qui regit sidera sugit ubera that he who rules the Stars should suck the Breasts that a Virgin should conceive that Christ should be made of a Woman and of that Woman which himself made that the Branch should bear the Vine that the Mother should be younger than the Child she bare and the Child in the Womb bigger than the Mother that the Humane Nature should not be God yet one with God This was not only mirum but miraculum Christ taking flesh is a Mystery we shall never fully understand till we come to Heaven when our Light shall be clear as well as our Love perfect Branch 4. From hence God manifest in the flesh Christ born of a Virgin a thing not only strange in nature but impossible learn That there are no impossibilities with God God can bring about Things which are not within the sphere of Nature to produce That Iron should swim that the Rock should gush out with water that the Fire should lick up the water in the Trenches 1 Kings 18.38 'T is natural for the water to quench the fire but for the fire to
of Love 2. Be like Christ in Grace He was like us in having our Flesh let us be like him in having his Grace In three Graces we should labour to be like Christ. 1. In Humility Phil. 2.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he humbled himself he left the bright Robes of his Glory to be clothed with the Rags of our Humanity A wonder of Humility Let us be like Christ in this Grace Humility saith St. Bernard is contemptus propriae excellentiae a contempt of Self-excellency a kind of Self-annihilation This is the glory of a Christian. We are never so comely in God's Eyes as when we are black in our own In this let us be like Christ. True Religion is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. to imitate Christ. And indeed what cause have we to be humble if we look within us about us below us above us 1. If we look intra nos within us Here we see our sins represented to us in the Glass of Conscience Lust Envy Passion Our sins are like Vermin crawling in our Souls Iob 13.23 How many are my iniquities Our sins are as the Sands of the Sea for number as the Rocks of the Sea for weight Austin crys out Vae mihi faecibus peccatorum polluitur Templum Domini my Heart which is God's Temple is polluted with sin 2. If we look juxta nos about us here 's that may humble us We may see other Christians out-shining us in Gifts and Grace as the Sun out-shines the lesser Planets Others are laden with Fruit perhaps we have but here and there an Olive-berry growing to shew that we are of the right kind Isa. 17.6 3. If we look infra nos below us here is that may humble us We see the Mother Earth out of which we came The Earth is the most ignoble Element Iob 30.8 Thou art viler than the Earth Thou that dost set up thy Scutcheon and Blaze thy Coat of Arms behold thy Pedigree thou art but pulvis animatus walking Ashes and wilt thou be proud What is Adam He is the Son of Dust and what is Dust The Son of Nothing 4. If we look supra nos above us here is that may humble If we look up to Heaven there we see God resisting the proud Superbos sequitur ultor à Tergo Deus The proud Man is the Mark which God shoots at and he never misseth the Mark He threw proud Lucifer out of Heaven he thrust proud Nebuchadnezzar out of his Throne and turned him to Grass Dan. 4.29 O then be like Christ in Humility 2. Did Christ take our flesh was he made like to us let us be made like to him in Zeal Iohn 2.16 The Zeal of thy House hath eaten me up He was zealous when his Father was dishonoured In this let us be like Christ zealous for God's Truth and Glory which are the two Orient Pearls of the Crown of Heaven Zeal is as needful for a Christian as Salt for the Sacrifice or Fire on the Altar Zeal without Prudence is Rashness Prudence without Zeal is Cowardliness Without Zeal our Duties are not acceptable to God Zeal is like Rosin to the Bow-strings without which the Lute makes no Musick 3. Be like Christ in the Contempt of the World When Christ took our flesh he came not in the pride of flesh he did not descend immediately from Kings and Nobles but was of mean Parentage Christ was not ambitious of Titles of Honour Christ did as much decline the worldly Dignity and Greatness as others seek it When they would have made him King he refused it he chose rather to ride upon the Fole of an Ass then to be drawn in a Chariot and to hang upon a wodden Cross then to wear a golden Crown Christ scorn'd the Pomp and Glory of the World he waved Secular Affairs Luke 12.13 Who made me a Iudge His Work was not to arbitrate Matters of Law he came not into the World to be a Magistrate but a Redeemer Christ was like a Star in an higher Orb he minded nothing but Heaven Was Christ made like us let us be made like him in heavenliness and contempt of the World Let not us be ambitious of the Honours and Preferments of the World let us not purchase the World with the loss of a good Conscience What wise Man would damn himself to grow Rich or pull down his Soul to build up an Estate Be like Christ in an holy contempt of the World 3. Be like Christ in Conversation Was Christ Incarnate was he made like us let us be made like him in Holiness of Life No Temptation could fasten upon Christ Iohn 14.30 The Prince of this World cometh and hath nothing in me Temptation to Christ was like a Spark of Fire upon a Marble Pillar which glides off Christ's Life saith Chrysostom was brighter than the Sun-beams Let us be like him in this 1 Pet. 1.16 Be ye holy in all manner of conversation We are not saith Austin to be like Christ in working Miracles but in an holy Life A Christian should be both a Loadstone and a Diamond a Loadstone in drawing others to Christ a Diamond casting a sparkling lustre of Holiness in his Life O let us be so just in our Dealings so true in our Promises so devout in our Worship so unblamable in our Lives that we may be the walking Pictures of Christ. Thus as Christ was made in our likeness let us labour to be made in his likeness Branch 3. If Jesus Christ was so abased for us he took our flesh which was a disparagement to him 't was mingling Dust with Gold if he I say abased himself so for us let us be willing to be abased for him If the World reproach us for Christ's sake and cast Dust on our Name let us bear it with patience The Apostles Acts 5.41 departed from the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to endure shame for Christ's Name Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they were graced to be disgraced for Christ. That is a good saying of St. Austin Quid suis detrahit famae meae addet mercedi meae they who take away from a Saints Name shall add to his Reward and while they make his Credit weigh lighter they make his Crown weigh heavier O! was Christ content to be humbled and abased for us to take our flesh and to take it when it was in disgrace let us not think much to be abased for Christ. Say as David 2 Sam. 6.22 If this be to be vile I will yet be more vile If to serve my Lord Christ if to keep my Conscience pure if this be to be vile I will yet be more vile Use 3. of Comfort Jesus Christ having taken our flesh hath enobled our Nature Naturam nostram nobilitavit our Nature now is invested with greater Royalties and Priviledges then in time of Innocency Before in Innocency we were made in the Image of God but now Christ having assumed our Nature we are made
decuit ideo ascendit quo altius non potuit Christ in his Humiliation descended so low that it was not fit to go lower and in his Exaltation he ascended so high that it is not possible to go higher In his Resurrection he was exalted above the Grave in his Ascension he was exalted above the Aery and Starry Heaven in his sitting at God's right Hand he is exalted above the highest Heavens far Eph. 4.10 Far above all heavens 5. God hath exalted Christ in constituting him Judge of the whole World Ioh. 5.22 The Father hath committed all judgment to the Son At that day of Judgment shall Christ be exalted super-eminently He shall come in the glory of his Father Mark 8.38 He shall wear the same embroydered Robes of Majesty as the Father And he shall come with all his holy Angels Matth. 25.31 He who was led to the Bar with a Band of Souldiers shall be attended to the Bench with a Guard of Angels Christ shall judge his Judges he shall judge Pilate that condemned him Kings must leave their Throne and come to his Bar. And this is the highest Court of Judicature from whence is no Appeal 1. Use of Information Branch 1. See Christ's different State on Earth and now in Heaven O how is the Scene alter'd When he was on Earth he lay in the Manger now he sits in the Throne then he was hated and scorn'd of Men now he is adored of Angels then his Name was reproached now God hath given him a Name above every name Phil. 2.9 Then he came in the Form of a Servant and as a Servant stood with his Bason and Towel and washed his Disciples Feet Ioh. 13.4 5. now he is clad in his Prince's Robes and the Kings of the Earth cast their Crowns before him on Earth he was a Man of Sorrow now he is anointed with the Oyl of Gladness on Earth was his Crucifixion now his Coronation then his Father frowned upon him in Desertion now he hath set him at his right Hand before he seemed to have no Form or Beauty in him Isa. 53.2 now he is the Brightness of his Father's Glory Heb. 1.3 O what a change is here Him hath GOD highly exalted Branch 2. Was Christ first Humble and then Exalted hence learn the way to true Honour is Humility Luke 14.11 He that humbleth himself shall be exalted The World looks upon Humility as that which will make one contemptible but it is the ready way to Honour The way to rise is to fall the way to ascend is to descend Humility exalts us in the Esteem of Men and it exalts us to an higher Throne in Heaven Matth. 18.4 Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven Viz. He shall have a greater degree of Glory in Heaven Branch 3. Christ first suffered and then was exalted see hence that Sufferings must go before Glory Many desire to be glorified with Christ but they are not content to suffer for Christ 2 Tim. 2.12 If we suffer with him we shall reign with him The Wicked first reign and then suffer the Godly first suffer and then reign There 's no way to Constantinople but through the Straits no way to Heaven but through Sufferings No way to the Crown but by the way of the Cross. Hierusalem above is a pleasant City Streets of Gold Gates of Pearl but we must travel through a dirty Road to this City through many Reproaches and Sufferings Acts 14.22 We must enter into Glory as Christ did first he suffered Shame and Death and now is exalted to sit at God's right Hand 2. Use of Comfort Branch 1. Christ being so highly exalted hath Ennobled our Nature he hath crowned it with Glory and lifted it up above Angels and Archangels Though Christ as he was Man was made a little lower than the Angels Heb. 2.9 yet as the Humane Nature is united to the Divine and is at God's right Hand so the Humane Nature is above the Angels And if God hath so Dignified our Humane Nature what a shame is it that we should debase it God hath exalted the Humane Nature above the Angels and the Drunkard abaseth the Humane Nature below the Beasts Branch 2. Christ being exalted at God's right hand the Key of Government is laid upon his shoulders he governs all the Affairs of the World for his own Glory Do you think when Christ is so highly advanced and hath all Power in Heaven and Earth in his hand he will not take care of his Elect and turn the most astonishing Providences to the good of his Church In a Clock the Wheels move cross one to another but all make the Clock strike so Christ being at his Father's right hand he will make the most cross Providences tend to the Salvation of his Church Branch 3. Christ being at God's right hand we may be assured he hath now finished the Work of Man's Redemption Heb. 10.12 This man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God If Christ had not fully expiated Sin and satisfied God's Law he had not sate down at God's right hand but had still lain in the Grave but now he is exalted to Glory This is an evident Token he hath done and suffered all that was required of him for the working out our Redemption Branch 4. Though Jesus Christ is so highly exalted in Glory yet he is not forgetful of us on Earth some when they are raised to Places of Honour forget their Friends when the Chief Butler was restored to his Place at Court then he forgot poor Ioseph in Prison But it is not so with Christ though he be exalted to such Glory in Heaven yet he is not unmindful of his Saints on Earth Our High-Priest hath all the Names and Wants of his People written upon his Breast-plate Art thou tempted though Christ be in Glory he knows how to pity and succour thee Heb. 4.15 We have not a high-priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmity Dost thou mourn for sin Christ though in a glorified State he hears thy Sighs bottles thy Tears Branch 5. Christ being exalted at God's right hand this is for the Comfort of Believers that they shall one day be exalted to that Place of Glory where he is Christ's Exaltation is our Exaltation Christ hath prayed for this Joh. 17.24 Father I will that all those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am And he is said to go before to prepare a place for Believers Ioh. 14.2 Christ is called the Head and the Church is called his Body Eph. 1.22 23. The Head being exalted to Honor the Body Mystical shall be exalted too as sure as Christ is exalted far above all Heavens so sure will he instate Believers in all that Glory which his Humane Nature is adorn'd with Ioh. 17.22 As here he puts his Grace upon the Saints so shortly he
the Law which he hath transgressed the other from the Gospel which he hath despised But Christ hath redeemed a Believer from this Malediction he hath set him out of the Power of Hell and Damnation Quest. To what hath Christ redeemed us Resp. He hath redeemed us to a glorious Inheritance 1 Pet. 1.4 To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you 1. To an Inheritance Christ hath not only redeemed us out of Prison but he hath redeemed us to a State of Happiness to an Inheritance Heaven is not a Lease which soon expires but an Inheritance and a glorious Inheritance Col. 1.12 An Inheritance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Light Lumen actuat colores Light adorns and gilds the World What were the World without Light but a Prison The Heavenly Inheritance is irradiated with Light Christ as a continual Sun enlightens it with his Beams Rev. 21.23 2. To an Inheritance incorruptible It doth not moulder away or suffer Dissolution Earthly Comforts are shadowed out by the Tabernacle which was transient but Heaven is set out by the Temple which was fixed and permanent built with Stone overlaid with Gold This is the Glory of the Coelestial Inheritance it is incorruptible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrysost. Eternity is written upon the Frontis-piece of it 3. Undefiled The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Undefiled alludes to a precious Stone called Amiantus which cannot be blemished Such a Place is Heaven undefiled nothing can stain it there 's no Sin there to Eclipse its Purity For the Holiness and Undefiledness of it it is compar'd to pure Gold and to the Saphir and Emerald Rev. 21. The Saphir hath a Vertue saith Pliny to preserve Chastness the Emerald to expel Poyson These are the lively Emblems of Heaven to show the Sanctity of it no Feaver of Lust no Venom of Malice there are none but pure Virgin spirits inhabit 4. It fadeth not away The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the name of a Flower Amarantus which keeps a long time fresh and green as Clem. Alexandrinus writes Such is the Heavenly Inheritance it doth not lose its Orient Colour but keeps its Freshness and Greenness to Eternity the Beauty of it fadeth not away To this glorious Inheritâ—nce hath Christ redeemed the Saints an Inheritance which cannot be fully described or set forth by all the Lights of Heaven though every Star were a Sun and that which is the Diamond in the Ring the Glory of this Inheritance is the Eternal Sight and Fruition of the blessed God the sight of God will be most alluring heart-ravishing Object Kings Presence makes the Court Ioh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is It is comfortable to see God showing himself through the Lettuce of an Ordinance to see him in the Word and Sacrament The Martyrs thought it comfortable to see him in a Prison O then what will it be to see him in Glory shining ten thousand times brighter then the Sun and not only see him but enjoy him for ever Proemium quod fide non attingitur Aug. Faith itself is not able fully to comprehend this Reward And all this Blessedness hath Christ purchased through the Redemption of his Bloud Use 1. Branch 1. See into what a wretched deplorable Condition we had brought ourselves by sin we had sinned ourselves into Slavery Slavery so that we needed Christ to purchase our Redemption Nihil durius servitute Cicero Slavery is the worst Condition Such as are now Prisoners in Algiers think so But by Sin we were in a worse Slavery Slaves to Satan a Merciless Tyrant who sports in the Damnation of Souls In this Condition were we when Christ came to redeem us Branch 2. See in this as in a transparent Glass the Love of Christ to the Elect he came to redeem them these he dyed Intentionally for Were it not great Love for a King's Son to pay a great Sum of Money to redeem a Captive but that he should be content to be a Prisoner in his stead and dye for his Ransom this were Matter of Wonder Jesus Christ hath done all this he hath written his Love in Characters of Bloud It had been much for Christ to speak a good word to his Father for us but he knew that was not enough to redeem us Though a Word speaking made a World yet it would not redeem a Sinner Heb. 9.22 Without shedding of bloud is no remission 2. Use of Tryal If Christ came to purchase our Redemption then let us try whether we are the Persons whom Christ hath redeemed from the Guilt and Curse due to Sin This is a needful Tryal for let me tell you there is but a certain Number whom Christ hath redeemed O say Sinners Christ is a Redeemer and we shall be saved by him Beloved Christ came not to redeem all then we overthrow the Decrees of God Redemption is not as large as Creation I grant there is a Sufficiency of Merit in Christ's Bloud to save all but there 's difference between Sufficiency and Efficiency Christ's Bloud is a sufficient Price for all but it is effectual only to them that believe A Plaister may have a soveraign Vertue in it to heal any Wound but it doth not heal unless applyed to the Wound And if it be so that all have not the Benefit of Christ's Redemption only some then it is a necessary Question to ask our Souls Whether we are in the Number of them that are redeemed by Christ or no Quest. How shall we know that Resp. Such as are redeemed are reconciled to God the Enmity is taken away their Judgments approve their Wills incline ad bonum Col. 1.21 Are they redeemed that are unreconciled to God who hate God and his People as the Vine and Laurel have an Antipathy who do all they can to disparage Holiness are these redeemed who are unreconciled Christ hath purchased a Reprieval for these but a Sinner may have a Reprieve and yet go to Hell Ioh. 5.6 2. Such as are redeemed by Christ are redeemed from the World Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver or redeem us from this present evil world Such as are redeemed by Christ are risen with Christ Col. 3.1 As the Birds though they light upon the Ground to pick up a little Seed yet immediately they take their Wings and flye up to Heaven again so the Redeemed of the Lord though they use the World and take the lawful Comforts of it yet their Hearts are presently off these things and they ascend to Heaven live here trade above Such as Christ hath dyed for are dead to the World Gal. 6.14 I am crucified to the world to the Honours Profits and Preferments of it What shall we think of them who say they are the Redeemed of the Lord yet are Lovers of the World like the Tribes who desired to have their Portion on this side Canaan Phil. 3.19
Calls Satan calls by a Temptation Lust calls evil company calls But as the Adder stops its Ear against the Voice of the Charmer so he who is effectually called stops his Ear against all the Charms of Flesh and Devil Use 3. Of Comfort to them who are the called of God This Call evidenceth Election Rom. 8.30 Whom he predestinated them he also called Election is the cause of our Vocation and Vocation is the sign of our Election Election is the first Link of the golden Chain of Salvation Vocation is the second he who hath the second Link of the Chain is sure of the first Link As by the Stream we are led to the Fountain so by Vocation we ascend to Election Calling is an earnest and pledge of Glory 2 Thess. 2.13 God hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification We may read God's predestinating love in the work of Grace in our heart Branch 2. To such as are called to be thankful to God for this unspeakable Blessing be thankful to all the Persons in the Trinity to the Father's Mercy to the Son's Merit to the Spirit 's Efficacy To make you thankful consider when you had offended God that he should call you that when God needed you not he had Millions of glorified Saints and Angels to praise him yet he called you Again consider what you were before God called you you were in your sins when God called Paul he found him persecuting when he called Matthew he found him at the Receipt of Custom when he called Zacheus he found him using Extorsion When God calls a Man by his Grace he finds him seeking after his Lusts as when Saul was called to the Kingdom he was seeking the Asses That God should call thee when thou wert in the hot pursuit of sin admire God's Love exalt his Praise Again that God should call you and pass by others what Mercy is this Matth. 11.26 Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight That God should pass by the wise and noble Persons of sweeter disposition acuter parts guilty of less Vice and that the Lot of Free-grace should fall on you O astonishing Love of God It was a great favour of God to Samuel that God call'd to him and revealed his Mind to him and passed by Eli though a Priest and a Judge in Israel 1 Sam. 3.9 so that God should call to thee a flagitious sinner and pass by others of higher birth and better morals here is that calls aloud for Praise As God so governs the Clouds that he makes them rain upon one place and not upon another so doth he dispence his Grace it shall drop its sweet dew upon one and not another Two at a Sermon one his heart the Lord opens the other is no more affected with it than a deaf Man with the sound of Musick Here is the Banner of Free-grace display'd and here should be the Trophies of Praise erected Eliah and Elisha were walking together on a sudden there came a Chariot of Fire and carried Eliah up to Heaven but left Elisha behind so when two are walking together Husband and Wife Father and Child that God should call one by his Grace but leave the other carry one up in a triumphant Chariot to Heaven but let the other perish eternally O infinite rich Grace how should they that are call'd be affected with God's discriminating Love how should the Vessels of Mercy run over with Thankfulness how should they stand upon Mount Gerizim blessing and praising God O begin the work of Heaven here Such as are Patterns of Mercy should be Trumpets of Praise Thus S. Paul being call'd of God and seeing what a Debtor he was to Free-grace breaks forth into Admiration and Gratulation 1 Tim. 1.13 Use 4. To the Called walk worthy of your high Calling Eph. 4.1 I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called in two things 1. Walk compassionately pity such as are yet uncalled Hast thou a Child that God hath not yet called a Wife a Servant Weep over their dying Souls They are in their Bloud under the Power of Satan O pity them Let their sins more trouble you then your own Sufferings If you pity an Ox or Ass going astray will you not pity a Soul going astray Show your Piety by your Pity 2. Walk holily yours is an holy Calling 2 Tim. 1.9 You are called to be Saints Rom. 1.7 Show your Vocation by a Bible-conversation Shall not Flowers smell sweeter than Weeds Shall not they who are ennobled with Grace have more Fragrancy in their Lives than Sinners 1 Pet. 1.15 As he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation O dishonour not your high Calling by any sordid Carriage When Antigonus going to defile himself with Women one told him He was a King's Son O remember your Dignity Called of God! of the Bloud-Royal of Heaven do nothing unworthy of your Honourable Calling Scipio refused the Embraces of an Harlot because he was General of an Army Abhor all Motions to sin because of your high Calling 'T is not fit for them who are the Called of God to do as others tho' others of the Iews did drink Wine it was not fit for the Nazarite because he had a Vow of Separation upon him and had promised Abstinence Though Pagans and loose Christians take liberty to sin yet it is not fit for them who are called out of the World and have the Mark of Election upon them to do so You are consecrated Persons your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and your Souls must be a Sacrary or Holy of Holies OF IVSTIFICATION Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace Quest. XXI WHat is Iustification Resp. It is an Act of God's Free-grace whereby he pardoneth all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the Righteousness of CHRIST imputed to us and received by Faith Iustification is the very Hinge and Pillar of CHRISTIANITY and an Errour about Iustification is dangerous like a Crack in the Foundation or an Errour in the first Concoction Iustification by Christ is a Spring of the Water of Life and to have the Poison of corrupt Doctrine cast into this Spring is damnable It was a Saying of Luther That after his Death the Doctrine of Iustification would be corrupted As it hath been in these latter Times the Arminians and Socinians have cast a dead Fly into this Box of precious Oyntment I shall endeavour to follow the Star of Scripture to light me through this Mysterious Point Quest. What is meant by Iustification Resp. It is verbum forense a word borrowed from Law-courts wherein a Person arraigned is pronounced Righteous and is openly absolved in the Court Thus God in justifying a Person pronounceth him to be Righteous and looks upon him as if he had not sinned Quest. What is the Ground of Iustification Resp. The Causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the
the adoption and the glory But now in the time of Gospel the Chartar is enlarged and the believing Gentiles are within the Line of Communication and have a Right to the Priviledge of Adoption as well as the Iews Acts 10.35 In every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him Position 2. Adoption takes in both Sexes Females as well as Males 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters I have read in some Countries Females are excluded from the Supream Dignity as by the Salique Law in France no Woman can inherit a Crown But if we speak of Spiritual Priviledges Females are as capable as Males Every gracious Soul of whatever Sex lays claim to Adoption and hath an Interest in God as a Father Ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty Position 3. Adoption is an Act of pure Grace Eph. 1.5 Having predestinated us to the adoption of children according to the good pleasure of his will Adoption is a Mercy spun out of the Bowels of Free-grace all by Nature are Strangers therefore have no Right to Sonship only God is pleased to adopt one and not another to make one a Vessel of Glory another a Vessel of Wrath. The adopted Heir may cry out Lord how is it thou wilt show thyself to me and not unto the World Quest. What this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Filiation or Adoption is Resp. Adoption is the taking a Stranger into the Relation of a Son and Heir So Moses was the adopted Son of King Pharoah's Daughter Exod. 2.10 And Esther was the adopted Child of her Cousin Mordecai Esth. 2.7 Thus God adopts us into the Family of Heaven and God in adopting us doth two things 1. He Ennobles us with his Name he who is adopted bears his Name who adopts him Rev. 3.12 I will write on him the name of my God 2. God consecrates us with his Spirit Whom he Adopts he Anoints whom he makes Sons he makes Saints When a Man adopts another for his Son and Heir he may put his Name upon him but he cannot put his Disposition into him if he be of a morose rugged Nature he cannot alter it But whom God adopts he sanctifies He doth not only give them a new Name but a new Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 God turns the Wolf into a Lamb he makes the Heart humble and gracious he works such a Change as if another Soul did dwell in the same Body Quest. From what State doth God take us when he adopts us Resp. From a State of Sin and Misery King Pharoah's Daughter took Moses out of the Ark of Bulrushes in the Water and adopted him for her Son God did not take us out of the Water but out of our Bloud and adopted us Ezek. 16. God adopted us from Slavery It is a Mercy to redeem a Slave but it is more to adopt him Quest. To what God adopts us Resp. He adopts us to a State of Excellency it were much for God to take a Clod of Dust and make it a Star it is more for God to take a Piece of Clay and Sin and adopt it for his Heir 1. God adopts us to a State of Liberty Adoption is a State of Freedom A Slave being adopted is made a free Man Gal. 4.7 Thou art no more a servant but a son Quest. How is an adopted Son free Resp. 1. Not to do what he list he is freed from the Dominion of Sin the Tyranny of Satan the Curse of the Law 2. He is free in the manner of Worship he hath God's free Spirit which makes him free and chearful in his Service of God he is joyful in the house of prayer Isa. 56.7 2. God adopts us to a State of Dignity God makes us Heirs of Promise God Instals us into Honour Isa. 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable The Adopted are God's Treasure Exod. 19.5 His Jewels Mal. 3.17 His first Born Heb. 12.23 They have Angels for their Life-guard Heb. 1.14 They are of the Bloud-Royal of Heaven 1 Iob. 3.9 The Scripture hath set forth their Spiritual Heraldry they have their Escutcheon or Coat-armour Sometimes they give the Lyon for their Courage Prov. 28.1 Sometimes the Dove for their Meekness Cant. 2.14 Sometimes the Eagle for their Sublimeness Isa. 40.31 Thus you see their Coat of Arms display'd but what is Honour without Inheritance God adopts all his Sons to an Inheritance Luke 12.32 It is your Father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom 'T is no Disparagment to be the Sons of God To reproach the Saints is as if Shimei had reproached David when he was going to be made King Adoption ends in Coronation The Kingdom God gives his adopted Sons and Heirs excels all Earthly Monarchies 1. In Riches Rev. 21.21 the Gates of Pearl and the Streets of pure Gold and as it were transparent Glass 2. In Tranquility it is peaceable the white Lily of Peace is the best Flower of a Prince's Crown Pax una triumphis innumeris melior No Divisions at Home or Invasions Abroad no more the Noise of the Drum or Canon but the Voice of Harpers harping the Hieroglyphick of Peace Rev. 14.2 3. In Stability other Kingdoms are corruptible though they have Heads of Gold yet Feet of Clay but this Kingdom into which the Saints are adopted runs parallel with Eternity 't is a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Heb. 12.28 The Heirs of Heaven reign for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 Quest. What is the Organical or Instrumental Cause of Adoption Resp. Faith interests us in the Priviledge of Adoption Gal. 3.26 Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus Before Faith be wrought we are Spiritually Illegitimate we have no relation to God as a Father an Unbeliever may call God Iudge but not Father Faith is the filiating Grace it confers upon us the Title of Sonship and gives us right to inherit Quest. Why Faith is the Instrument of Adoption more then any other Grace Resp. 1. Faith is a quickning Grace it is the Vital Artery of the Soul Hab. 2.4 The just shall live by faith Life makes us capable of Adoption dead Children are never adopted 2. Faith makes us CHRIST's Brethren and so GOD comes to be our Father Use 1. Branch 1. See the amazing Love of God in making us his Sons Plato gave God Thanks that he had made him a Man and not only a Man but a Philosopher but it is infinitely more that he should invest us with the Prerogative of Sons It is Love in God to feed us but more to adopt us 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God! It is an Ecce Admirantis a Behold of Wonder The Wonder of God's Love in adopting us will appear the more if we consider these six things 1. That God should adopt us when he
Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation Use 1. SEE the Excellency of Grace it perseveres Other things are but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Season Health and Riches are sweet but they are but for a Season but Grace is a Blossom of Eternity The Seed of God remains 1 Iohn 3.9 Grace may suffer an Eclipse not a Dissolution It is called Substance for its Solidity Prov. 8.21 and durable Riches for its Permanency Prov. 8.18 It lasts as long as the Soul as Heaven lasts Grace is not like a Lease which soon expires but it runs parallel with Eternity 2. See here that which may provoke in the Saints everlasting Love and Gratitude to God What can make us love God more than the fixedness of his love to us he is not only the Author of Grace but finisher his love is perpetuated and carried on to our Salvation Iohn 10.27 My Sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me And I give unto them eternal Life My Sheep there is Election hear my voice there is Vocation and I know them there is Justification and I give unto them eternal Life there is glorification How may this make us love God and set up the Monuments and Trophies of his Praise How much have we done to cause God to withdraw his Spirit and suffer us to fall Finally yet that he should keep us let his name be Blessed and his Memorials eternized who keepeth the Feet of his Saints 1 Sam. 3.9 3. See whence it is that the Saints do persevere in Holiness it is solely to be ascribed to the power of God we are kept by his power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 kept as in a Garison It is a Wonder any Christian perseveres if you consider 1. Corruption within The Tares are mingled with the Wheat there is more Sin than Grace yet Grace is habitually predominant Grace is like a Spark in the Sea a wonder it is not quenched a wonder Sin doth not destroy Grace that it doth not do as sometimes the Nurse to the Infant overlay it and it dies so that this Infant of Grace is not smothered by Corruption 2. Temptations without Satan envies us Happiness and he raiseth his Militia stirs up Persecution he shoots his fiery Darts of Temptation they are called Darts for their Swiftness Fiery for their Terribleness we are every day beset with Devils As it was a wonder Daniel was kept alive in the midst of the Roaring Lions so that there are so many Roaring Devils about us and yet we are not torn in pieces Now whence is it we stand against these powerful Temptations We are kept by power of God 3. The Worlds Golden Snares Riches and Pleasure Luke 18.24 How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God How many have been cast away upon these golden Sands 2 Tim. 4.10 as Demas What a wonder any Soul perseveres in Religion that the Earth doth not choak the Fire of all good Affections Whence is this but from the power of God We are kept by his power Use 2. Consolation This Doctrin of Perseverance is as Bezar stone 't is a Sovereign Cordial to keep up the Spirits of the Godly from Fainting There is nothing doth more trouble a Child of God than this he fears he shall never hold out these weak Legs of mine will never carry me to Heaven But Perseverance is an inseparable Fruit of Sanctification Once in Christ and for ever in Christ. A Believer may fall from some degrees of Grace but not from the State of Grace An Israelite could never wholly fell or alienate his Land of Inheritance Lev. 25.23 A Type of our Heavenly Inheritance which cannot be wholly alienated from us How despairing is the Arminian Doctrin of falling from Grace To day a Saint to morrow a Reprobate to day a Peter to morrow a Iudas This must needs cut the Sinews of a Christians endeavour and be as the boaring an hole in the Vessel to make all the Wine of his Joy run out Were the Arminian Doctrin true how could the Apostle say The Seed of God remains in him 1 Iohn 3.9 and the anointing of God abides 1 Iohn 2.27 What comfort were it to have ones name written in the Book of Life if it might be blotted out again But be assured for your Comfort Grace if true though never so weak shall persevere Though a Christian hath but little Grace to Trade with yet he need not fear breaking because God doth not only give him a Stock of Grace but will keep his Stock for him Gratia concutitur non excutitur Aug. Grace may be shaken with Fears and Doubts but it cannot be pluck'd up by the Roots Fear not falling away if any thing should hinder the Saints Perseverance then it must be either Sin or Temptation but neither of these 1. Not the Sins of Believers That which humbles them shall not Damn them but their Sins are a means to humble them they gather Grapes of Thorns from the Thorn of Sin they gather the Grape of Humility 2. Not Temptation The Devil lays the Train of his Temptation to blow up the Fort of a Saints Grace but this cannot do it Temptation is a Medicine for Security the more Satan tempts the more the Saints Pray When Paul had the Messenger of Satan to buffet him 2 Cor. 12.8 For this besought I the Lord thrice that it might depart from me Thus nothing can break off a Believer from Christ or hinder his Perseverance let this Wine be given to such as are of an heavy Heart This Perseverance is Comfort 1. In the loss of worldly Comforts When our Goods may be taken away our Grace cannot Luke 10.42 Mary hath chosen the better part which cannot be taken from her 2. In the Hour of Death When all things fail Friends take their farewel of us yet still Grace remains Death may separate all things else from us but Grace A Christian may say on his Death-bed as Olevian once Sight is gone Speech and Hearing are departing but the loving kindness of God will never depart Quest. 1. What Motives and Incentives are there to make Christians persevere Resp. 1. It is the Crown and Glory of a Christian to persevere In Christianis non initia sed fines laudantur Prov. 16.31 The hoary head is a Crown of Glory if found in the way of Righteousness When gray Hairs shine with golden Virtues this is a Crown of Glory The Church of Ihyatira was best at last Rev. 2.19 I know thy patience and thy works and the last to be more than the first The Excellency of a Building is not in having the first stone laid but when it is finished The Glory and Excellency of a Christian is when he hath finished the work of Faith 2. You are within a few Days march of Heaven Salvation is near to you Rom. 13.11 Now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed
aspects and smiles of Gods Face Which brings me to the third thing 3. The Saints at Death shall not only have a Sight of God but shall enjoy the Love of God there shall be no more Veil on Gods Face nor his Smiles checker'd with Frowns but Gods love shall discover it self in all its Orient Beauty and fragrant Sweetness Here the Saints pray for Gods Love and they have a few drops but there they shall have as much as their Vessel can receive To know this love passeth Knowledge This will cause a Jubilation of Spirits and create such Holy Raptures of Joy in the Saints as are Superlative and would soon overwhelm them if God did not make them able to bear 4. Believers at Death shall gain a Celestial Palace an House not made with Hands 2 Cor. 5.1 Here the Saints are straitned for Room they have but mean Cottages to live in but they shall have a Royal Palace to live in Here is but their Sojourning House there in Heaven is their Mansion-house An House built high above all the Visible Orbs an House bespangled with Light Col. 1.12 Enriched with Pearls and Precious Stones Rev. 21.19 And this is not their Landlord's House but their Father's House Iohn 14.2 And this House stands all upon Consecrated Ground it is set out by Transparent Glass to shew the Holiness of it Rev. 21.27 5. Believers at Death shall gain the sweet Society of glorified Saints and Angels This will add something to the felicity of Heaven as every Star adds some lustre to the Firmament First The Society of the glorified Saints we shall see them in their Souls as well as in their Bodies Their Bodies will be so clear and bright that we shall see their Souls shining through their Bodies as the Wine through the Glass and Believers at Death shall have Converse with the Saints glorified And how delightful will that be when they shall be freed from all their Sinful Corruptions Pride Envy Passion Censoriousness which are Scars upon them here to disfigure them In Heaven there shall be perfect Love among the Saints they shall as the Olive and Myrtle sweetly embrace each other The Saints shall know one another as Luther speaks If in the Transfiguration Peter knew Moses and Elias which he never saw before Mat. 17.3 then much more in the glorified State the Saints shall perfectly know one another though they never saw them before Secondly The Saints at Death shall behold the Angels with the glorified Eye of their Understanding The Wings of the Cherubins representing the Angels were made of Fine Gold to denote both their Sanctity and Splendor The Angels are compared to Lightning Mat. 28.3 because of those Sparkling Beams of Majesty which as Lightning shoot from them And when Saints and Angels shall meet and sing together in Consort in the Heavenly Quire what Divine Harmony what Joyful Triumphs will it Create 6. Believers at Death shall gain Perfection of Holiness Here Grace was but in Cunabulis in its Cradle very Imperfect we cannot write a Copy of Holiness without Blotting Believers are said to receive but Primitias Spiritus the first Fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 But at Death the Saints shall arrive at Perfection their Knowledge clear their Sanctity perfect their Sun shall be in its full Meridian Splendour They need not then pray for Encrease of Grace they shall Love God as much as they would Love him and as much as he desires to have them Love him they shall be then in respect of Holiness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Angels of God 7. At Death the Saints shall gain a Royal Magnificent Feast I told you before what a glorious Palace they shall have but a Man may starve in a House if there be no Chear The Saints at Death shall have a Royal Banquet shadowed out in Scripture by a Marriage Supper Rev. 19.9 Bullinger and Gregory the Great understand by that Marriage-Supper of the Lamb the stately Magnificent Festival the Saints shall have in Heaven they shall feed on the Tree of Life Rev. 22. They shall have the Heavenly Nectar and Ambrosia the Spiced Wine and Iuice of the Pomegranate Cant. 8.2 This Royal Supper of the Lamb will not only satisfie Hunger but prevent it Rev. 7 16. They shall hunger no more Nor can there be any Surfeit at this Feast because a fresh Course will be continually served in New and fresh Delights will spring from God therefore the Tree of Life in Paradise is said to bear Twelve sorts of Fruit Rev. 22.2 8. Believers at Death shall gain Honour and Dignity they shall reign as Kings therefore we read of the Ensigns of their Royalty their White Robes and Crowns Caelestial 2 Tim. 4.7 We read that the Doors of the Holy of Holies were made of Palm-Trees and open Flowers covered with Gold 1 Kings 6.35 An Emblem of that Victory and Triumph and that Golden Garland of Honour wherewith God hath invested the Saints glorified When all Worldly Honour shall lye in the Dust the Mace the Star the Robe of Ermin the Imperial Diadem then shall the Saints Honour remain not one Jewel shall be pluck'd out of their Crown they shall gain at Death a Blessed Eternity If the Saints could have but the least Suspicion or Fear of losing their Glory it would much cool and imbitter their Joy but their Crown fades not away 1 Pet. 5.4 As the Wicked have a Worm that never dies so the Elect have a Crown that never fades Ever is a short Word but hath no ending in fine erit gaudium sine fine Bern. 2 Cor. 4.18 The things which are not seen are Eternal Psal. 16.11 At thy right Hand are Pleasures for evermâ—re Who can span Eternity Millions of Ages stand but for Ciphers in Eternity This is the Elah or highest strain of the Saints Glory ever in Christ's Bosom Quest. How come the Saints to have all this Gain Resp. Believers have a right to all this Gain at Death upon a diverse account By vertue of the Fathers Donation the Sons Purchase the Holy Ghosts Earnest and Faiths acceptance Therefore the state of future glory is called the Saints proper inheritance Col. 1.12 They are Heirs of God and have a right to inherit Use 1. See the great difference between the Death of the Godly and the Wicked the Godly are great gainers at Death the Wicked are great Losers at Death They loose Four things 1. They lose the World and that is a great loss to the Wicked they laid up their Treasure upon Earth and to be turned out of all at once is a great loss 2. They lose their Souls Mat. 16.26 The Soul was at first a noble piece of Coin which God stamped his own Image upon this Caelestial spark is more precious than the whole Globe of the World But the Sinners Soul is lost not that the Souls of the Wicked are annihilated at Death but damnified 3. They lose Heaven Heaven is Sedes
A Christian after his weary Marches and Battels shall put off his Bloody Armour and rest himself upon the Bosom of Jesus that Bed of Perfume When Death hath given the Saints the Wings of a Dove then they shall fly away to Paradise and be at rest 7. The Seventh thing in Glory is Eternity 2 Cor. 4.17 An Eternal weight of Glory First Glory is a Weight The Hebrew Word for Glory quod significat Pondus is a Weight God must make us able to bear it Secondly An Eternal Weight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glory is such a Manna as doth not breed Worms If the Saints glory in Heaven were but for a time and they were in fear of losing it it would eclipse and imbitter the Joys of Heaven but Eternity is written upon their Joys The Garland made of Flowers of Paradise fades not 1 Pet. 5.4 I have read of a River which they call the Day-River in which time it runs with a full Torrent but at Night it is dried up such are all Earthly Comforts they run with a full Stream all the Day-time of Life but at the Night of Death they are dried up but the Saints glorified shall drink of the Rivers of Pleasure for evermore Psal. 16.11 Eternity is the Heaven of Heavens in fine Gaudium erit sine fine Bern. The Joys of Heaven as overflowing so ever-flowing Quest. 2. When do Believers enter upon Possession of Glory Resp. They pass immediately after Death into Glory Some hold with the Platonists and Lucianists that the Soul dies But many of the Sober Heathens believed the Souls immortality The Romans when their Great Men died caus'd an Eagle to be let loose and fly about in the Air signifying hereby that the Soul was immortal and did not dye with the Body Christ tells us the Soul is not capable of Killing Luke 12.4 Therefore not of Dying And as the Soul doth not Dye so neither doth it Sleep in the Body for a time If the Soul be at Death absent from the Body 2 Cor. 5.8 then it cannot Sleep in the Body There is an immediate passage from Death to Glory It is but winking and we shall see God Luke 23.43 This Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise by Paradise is meant Heaven the Third Heaven into which Paul was wrap'd which all hold to be the Heaven of the blessed was called Paradise 2 Cor 12.4 Now saith Christ to the Thief on the Cross 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise his Body could not be there for it was laid in the Grave But it was spoke of his Soul that it should be immediately after Death in Heaven Let none be so vain as to talk of Purgatory A Soul purg'd by Christs Blood needs no fire of Purgatory but goes immediately from a Death-bed into a glorified State Use 1. See what little cause Believers have to fear Death when it brings such glorious Benefits To me to Dye is Gain Why should the Saints fear their Preferment Is it not a blessed thing to see God to love God and to lye for ever in the Bosom of Divine Love Is it not a blessed thing to meet our Godly Relations in Heaven Why should the Saints be afraid of their Blessings Is a Virgin afraid to be matched into the Crown Now is but the Contract at Death is the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb Rev. 19.9 What hurt doth Death but take us from among Fiery Serpents and place us among Angels What hurt doth it do but to cloath us with a Robe of Immortality Hath he any wrong done that hath his Sack-Cloath pull'd off and hath Cloath of Gold put upon him Fear not Dying who cannot live but by Dying Use 2. You who are Real Saints whose Hearts are purified by Faith spend much time in musing upon these glorious Benefits which you shall have by Christ at Death Thus might you by a Contemplative Life begin the Life of Angels here and be in Heaven before your time Eudoxus was so affected with the Glory of the Sun that he thought he was born only to behold it What should we contemplate but Caelestial Glory when we shall see God Face to Face David was got above the ordinary sort of Men he was in the Altitudes â—sal 139.18 I am ever with thee A true Saint every Day takes a turn in Heaven his Thoughts and Desires are like Cherubims flying up to Paradise Can Men of the World so delight in looking upon their Bags of Gold and Fields of Corn and shall not the Heirs of Heaven take more delight in Contemplating their Glory in Reversion Could we send forth Faith as a Spy and every Day view the Glory of the Ierusalem above how would it rejoyce us as it doth the Heir to think of the Inheritance which is to come into his Hand shortly Use 3. Consolation This is that which may comfort the Saints in Two Cases 1. Under their Wants they abound only in Wants The Meal is almost spent in the Barrel but be patient till Death and you shall have a Supply of all your Wants You shall have a Kingdom and be as Rich as Heaven can make you He who hath the promise of an Estate after the expiring of a few Years though at present he hath nothing to help himself yet comforts himself with this that shortly he shall have an Estate come into his Hands 1 Iohn 2.3 It doth not yet appear what we shall be we shall be enamel'd with Glory and be as rich as the Angels under their Sufferings 2. A true Saint is as Luther Haeres Crucis but this may make us go chearfully through our Sufferings there are great things laid up in store there is Glory coming which Eye hath not seen we shall drink of the Fruit of the Vine in the Kingdom of Heaven though now we drink in a Wormwood Cup yet here is Sugar to sweeten it we shall taste of those Joys of Paradise which exceed our Faith and may be better felt than they can be expressed Of the RESVRRECTION John 5.28 Marvel not at this for the Hour is coming in which all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done Good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done Evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Quest. WHat Benefits shall Believers receive from Christ at the Resurrection Resp. 1. Their Bodies shall be raised up to Glory 2. They shall be openly acquitted at the Day of Judgment 3. They shall be made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God for ever 1. The Bodies of Believers shall be raised up to Glory The Doctrin of the Resurrection is a Fundamental Article of our Faith the Apostle puts it among the Principles of the Doctrin of Christ Heb. 6.2 The Body shall rise again we are not so sure to rise out of our Beds as we are to rise out of our Graves The saved Body shall arise again Some
Body I will enter into thee again and be eternally married to thee Use 3. The Resurrection of the Body is a Cordial when a Christian lyes a dying Thy Body though it drop into the Sepulchre it shall revive and flourish as an Herb in the Resurrection The Grave is a Bed of dust where the Bodies of the Saints sleep but they shall be awakened by the Trump of the Arch-angel The Grave is your long home but not your last home Though Death strip you of your beauty yet at the Resurrection you shall have it restored again As David when he found Saul asleep took away his Spear and Cruse of Water but when he awoke he restored them again 1 Sam. 26.22 So though at death all our strength and beauty be taken away yet at the Resurrection God will restore all again in a more glorious manner Quest. 4. But how shall we know that our Bodies shall be raised to a glorious Resurrection Resp. If we have a part in the first Resurrection Rev. 20.6 Blessed is he that hath a part in the first Resurrection Quest. What is meant by this Answ. It is a rising by Repentance out of the Grave of Sin He who lies buried in sin can have little hope of a joyful Resurrection His Body shall be raised but not in Glory O then ask Conscience Have you a part in the first Resurrection Hath the Spirit entred into you and lifted you up Hath it raised you out of your Unbelief Hath it raised your Hearts above the Earth This is the first Resurrection and if your Souls are thus Spiritually raised then your Bodies shall be gloriously raised and shall shine as Stars in the Kingdom of Heaven Regeneration makes way for a glorious Resurrection Use Seeing you expect your Bodies should arise to Glory keep your Bodies unspotted from sin Shall a drunken Body rise to Glory Shall an unclean Body rise to Glory Shall a thievish Body steal into Heaven O keep your Bodies pure Keep your Eyes from unchast Glances your Hands from Bribes your Tongues from Slander Defile not your Bodies which you hope shall rise one day to Glory Your Bodies are the Members of Christ and hear what the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 6.15 Shall I take the members of Christ and make them the members of an Harlot God forbid O keep your Bodies unspotted let them be Instruments of Righteousness 1 Cor. 6.20 Glorifie God in your Body If your Bodies glorifie God God will glorifie your Bodies Quest. 5. But seeing our Bodies must be laid in the Grave and they may lye many years rotting there before the Resurrection What may support and comfort us in this case Resp. 1. That God will not leave his People in the Grave Our Friends bring us to the Grave and leave us there but God will not God will go to the Grave with us and watch over our dead Bodies and take care of our Ashes Rizpah watched over the dead Bodies of the Sons of Saul and guarded them against the ravenous Fouls of the Air 2 Sam. 21.10 Thus the Lord watcheth over the dead Bodies of the Saints and looks to it that none of their dust be missing Christian thou hast a God to watch over thy Body when thou art dead 2. The Bodies of the Saints in the Grave though separated from their Souls are united to Christ. The dust of a Believer is part of Christs Mystical Body 3. When the Bodies of the Saints are in the Sepulchre their Souls are in Paradise The Soul doth not sleep in the Body but returns to God that gave it Eccles. 12.7 The Soul immediately partakes of those Joys the blessed Angels do When the Body returns to dust the Soul returns to rest When the Body is sleeping the Soul is triumphing When the Body is buried the Soul is crowned As the Spies were sent before to taste of the Fruits of the Land Numb 13. so at Death the Soul is sent before into Heaven to taste of the Fruit of the Holy Land 4. When Gods time is come the Graves shall deliver up their Dead Rev. 20.13 When the Judge sends the Goaler must deliver up his Prisoners As God said to Iacob Gen. 46.4 I will go down with thee into Egypt and I will surely bring thee up again So the Lord will go down with us into the Grave and will surely bring us up again 5. Though the Bodies of the Saints shall rot and be loathsom in the Grave yet afterwards they shall be made Illustrious and Glorious Concerning this consider 1. The Bodies of the Saints when they arise shall be comely and beautiful The Body of a Saint in this Life may be deformed Those whose minds are adorned with Virtue yet may have mis-shapen Bodies as the finest Cloth may have the coarsest List But this deformed Body shall be aimable and beautiful This beauty consists in two things 1. Perfection of parts There shall be a full Proportion of all the Members In this Life there is oft a defect of Members The Eye is lost the Arm is cut off but in the Resurrection all parts of the Body shall be restored again Therefore the Resurrection is called the time of restoring of all things Acts 3.19 Malcha's Ear cut restituit 2. Clarity and Splendor The Bodies of the Saints shall have a graceful Majesty in them they shall be like Stephen whose Face shined as if it had been the Face of an Angel Acts 6.15 Nay they shall be made like Christs glorious Body Phil. 3.21 2. The Bodies of the Saints when they arise shall be free from the Necessities of Nature as Hunger and Thirst Rev. 7.16 They shall hunger no more Moses on the Mount was so fill'd with the Glory of God that he needed not the Recruits of Nature Much more in Heaven shall the Bodies of the Saints so fill'd with Gods Glory be upheld without Food 3. The Bodies of Saints when they arise shall be swift and nimble our Bodies on Earth are dull and heavy in their Motion then they shall be swift and made fit to ascend as the Body of Elias in the Air. Now the Body is a Clog in Heaven it shall be a Wing We shall be as the Angels Matt. 22.30 And how nimble are they The Angel Gabriel in a short time came from Heaven to the Earth Dan. 9.21 As the Helm turns the Ship instantly whether the Steersman will so the Body in an instant will move which way the Soul will 4. The Bodies of the Saints at the Resurrection shall be very firm and strong 1 Cor. 15.43 It is raised in power Through frequent Labour and Sickness the strongest Body begins to Languish But at the Resurrection we shall be of a strong Constitution Then there will be no Weariness in the Body nor Faintness in the Spirits This may comfort you who now conflict with many bodily Weaknesses This weak Body shall be raised in Power The Body which is now a weak Reed shall be like a Rock
in Splendour above the brightest Cherub 2. Christ will come as a Friend Indeed if the Saints Judge were their Enemy they might fear Condemning But he who Loves them and Pray'd for them is their Judge he who is their Husband is their Judge therefore they need not fear but all things shall go well on their side Thirdly The Trial it self which hath a Dark and a Light Side 1. A Dark Side It will fall heavy on the Wicked The Judge being set the Books are opened Rev. 20.12 The Book of Conscience and the Book of God's Remembrance and now the Sinners Charge being Read and all their Sins laid open their Murder Drunkenness Uncleanness Christ will say Sinner what can you plead for your selves that the Sentence of Death should not pass The Wicked being Convicted will be Speechless Then follows that Dismal Sentence Mat. 25.41 Ite Maledicti Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting-Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels He that said to God Depart from me Job 21.14 and to Religion Depart from me must now hear that Word pronounced from his Judge Depart from me a dreadful Sentence but Righteous Psal. 51.4 The Sinner himself shall cry Guilty Though the Wicked have a Sea of Wrath yet not one Drop of Injustice And when once the Sentence is past it is irreversible there is no appealing to an Higher Court 2. The Trial hath a Light side It will be for the encreasing the Joy and Happiness of the Righteous The Day of Judgment will be a Day of Iubile to them I. At that Day Christ their Judge will own them by Name Those whom the World scorn'd and look'd upon as Precisians and Fools Christ will take by the Hand and openly acknowledge them to be his Favourites What is Christ's Confessing of Men Luke 12.8 but his open acknowledging them to be precious in his Eyes II. Christ as Judge will plead for them It is not usual to be both Judge and Advocate to sit on the Bench and to Plead but it shall be so at the Day of Judgment First Christ will plead his own Blood for the Saints These Persons I have paid a Price for they are the Travail of my Soul they have sinned but my Soul was made an Offering for their Sin Secondly Christ will vindicate them from all unjust Censures Here they were strangely mis-represented to the World as Proud Hypocritical Factious Paul was called a Seditious Man the Head of a Faction Acts 24.5 But at the Day of Judgment Christ will clear the Saints Innocency then he will bring forth their Righteousness as the Light Psal. 37.6 As he will wipe off Tears from their Eyes so Dust from their Name Moses when he was charg'd with Ambition that he took too much upon him comforted himself with this To Morrow will the Lord shew who are his Numb 16.5 So may the Saints when reproached comfort themselves with the Day of Judgment then will Christ say who are his Then the Saints shall come forth as the Wings of a Dove covered with Silver Thirdly Christ as Judge will Absolve them before Men and Angels As Pilate said of Christ I find no Fault in this Man John 18.38 So will Christ say of the Elect I find no Fault in them I pronounce them Righteous Then follows Come ye Blessed of my Father Inherit the Kingdom Mat. 25.34 As if Christ should say O ye happy ones the delight of my Soul the Fruit of my Sufferings stand no longer at the Bar ye are Heirs apparent of the Crown of Heaven enter and take possession At the Hearing of this Sentence with what ravishing Joy will the Saints be fill'd This Word Come ye Blessed will be Musick to their Ear and a Cordial to their Heart Fourthly Christ will mention before Men and Angels all the Good Deeds the Saints have done Mat. 25.35 I was an Hungred and ye gave me Meat I was Thirsty and you gave me Drink you that have wept in Secret for Sin that have shewn any Love to Christ's Name that have been rich in Good Works Christ will take notice of it at the last Day and say Well done Good and Faithful Servants He himself will be the Herauld to proclaim your Praises Thus shall it be done to the Man whom Christ delights to Honour Fifthly Christ will call his Saints from the Bar to sit upon the Bench with him to Judge the World Iude 14. Behold the Lord cometh with Ten Thousands of his Saints to execute Iudgment upon all 1 Cor. 6.2 Know ye not that the Saints shall Iudge the World The Saints shall sit with Christ in Judicature as Justices of Peace with the Judge they shall applaud Christs Righteous Sentence on the Wicked and as it were Vote with Christ. This as it is a great Honour to the Saints so it must needs add to the Sorrows of the Wicked to see those whom they once hated and derided to sit as Judges upon them Sixthly The Saints shall be fully Crowned with the Enjoyment of God for ever They shall be in his sweet Presence in whose Presence is fullness of Ioy Psal. 16.11 And this shall be for ever The Banner of God's Love shall be eternally Display'd the Joys of Heaven are without intermission and expiration 1 Thes. 4.17 And so shall we be ever with the Lord. Use. As it is sad News to the Wicked they shall not stand in Iudgment Psal. 1.5 They shall come to Judgment but they shall not stand in Judgment viz. they shall not stand acquitted they shall not stand with Boldness but sneak and hang down their Head and not be able to look their Judge in the Face so it is great Consolation to the Godly When the Apostle had said The Lord shall descend from Heaven with a Shout with the Voice of the Arch-Angel and the Trump of God he presently adds Wherefore comfort one another with these Words 1 Thes. 4.16.18 1. The Day of Judgment is comfort in respect of Weakness of Grace A Christian is ready to be troubled to see his Grace so minute and imperfect but at the last Day if Christ find but a Dram of True Grace it shall be accepted If thine be true Gold though it be many Grains too light Christ will put his Merits into the Scales and make it pass current 2. It is a comfort to such of the Saints who have met with Unrighteous Iudgment in the World who have been wrong'd of their Estates in Law-Suits or had their Lives taken away by an Unrighteous Sentence Christ will judge over things again and will give a Righteous Sentence if your Estates have been taken away wrongfully you shall be restored a Thousand fold at the Day of Judgment If you have lost your Lives for Christ yet you shall not lose your Crown You shall wear a Garland made of the Flowers of Paradise which fadeth not away Bran. I. Meditate much upon the Day of Judgment Feathers swim upon the Water but Gold sinks into
Lenocinium the Load-stone to entice and draw the Love to God Ignoti nulla Cupido Such as know not God cannot love him If the Sun be set in the Understanding there must needs be night in the Affections Quest. 3. Wherein doth the formal Nature of Love consist Resp. The Nature of Love is in delighting in the Object Complacentia amantis in amato Aquin. This is our loving God our taking delight in him Psal. 37.4 Delight thy self in the Lord As a Bride delights in her Jewels Grace changeth a Christians Aims and Delights Quest. 4. How must our Love to God be qualified Resp. 1. If it be a sincere Love we must love God with all our Heart In the Text Thou shalt love the Lord thy God Becol Leuauca with all thy Heart God will have the whole Heart we must not divide our Love between God and Sin The true Mother would not have the Child divided Nor will God have the Heart divided it must be the whole Heart 2. We must love God propter se for himself for his own intrinsick Excellencies We must love him for his Loveliness Meretricius est amor plus annulum quam sponsum amare It is an Harlots Love to love the Portion more than the Person Hypocrites love God because he gives them Corn and Wine We must love God for himself for those shining Perfections which are in him Gold is loved for it self 3. We must love God with all our might In the Hebrew Text our Vehemency We must love God quoad posse as much as we are able Christians should be like Seraphins burning in Holy Love We can never love God so much as he deserves The Angels in Heaven cannot love God so much as he deserves 4. Love to God must be Active in its Sphere Love is an Industrious Affection it sets the Head a studying for God Hands a working Feet a running in the ways of his Commandements it is called the Labour of Love 1 Thess. 1.3 Mary Magdalen loved Christ and poured her Oyntments on him We think we can never do enough for the Person whom we love 5. Love to God must be Superlative God is the Quintessence of Beauty a whole Paradise of Delight and he must have a Priority in our Love Our Love to God must be above all things besides as the Oyl swims above the Water We must love God above Estate Relations great is the Love to Relations There is a Story in the French Academy of a Daughter who when her Father was condemned to dye by Famine gave him suck with her own Breasts But our Love to God must be above Father and Mother Matt. 10.37 We may give the Creature the Milk of our Love God must have the Cream The Spouse keeps the Juice of her Pomgranate for Christ Cant. 8.2 6. Our Love to God must be constant like the Fire the vestal Virgins kept in Rome which did not go out Love must be like the motion of the Pulse it beats as long as there is Life Cant. 8.7 Many Waters cannot quench Love not the Waters of Persecution Eph. 3.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rooted in love A Branch withers that doth not grow on a Root That Love may not dye it must be well rooted Quest. 5. What are the visible Signs of our Love to God Resp. 1. If we love God then our Desire is after him Isa. 26.8 The desire of our Soul is to thy Name He who loves God breaths after Communion with him Psal. 42.2 My Soul thirsts for the living God Persons in Love desire to be oft conferring together He who loves God desires to be much in his Presence He loves the Ordinances they are the Glass where the Glory of God is resplendent In the Ordinances we meet with him whom our Soul loves We have Gods Smiles and Whispers and some Fore-tasts of Heaven Such as have no desire after Ordinances have no love to God 2. The second Visible Sign He who loves God cannot take Contentment in any thing without him An Hypocrite who pretends to love God give him but Corn and Wine and he can be content without God But a Soul fired with love to God cannot be without him Lovers faint away if they have not a sight of the Object loved A gracious Soul can want Health but not want God who is the Health of his Countenance Psal. 43.5 If God should say to a Soul that intirely loves him Take thy Ease swim in Pleasure solace thy self in the Delights of the World but thou shalt not enjoy my Presence this would not content the Soul Nay if God should say I will let thee be taken up to Heaven but I will retire into a withdrawing Room and thou shalt not see my Face This would not content the Soul it is an Hell to want God The Philosopher saith There can be no Gold without the Influence of the Sun There can be no golden Joy in the Soul without Gods sweet Presence and Influence 3. The third visible Sign He who loves God hates that which would separate between him and God and that is Sin Sin makes God hide his Face it is like an Incendiary which parts chief Friends Therefore the Keneness of a Christians Hatred is set against Sin Psal. 119.128 I hate every false way Antipathies can never be reconciled one cannot love Health but he must hate Poyson So we cannot love God but we must hate Sin which would destroy our Communion with him 4. The fourth visible Sign is Sympathy Friends that love do grieve for the Evils which befall each other Homer describing Agamemnon's Grief when he was forced to Sacrifice his Daughter brings in all his Friends weeping with him and accompanying him to the Sacrifice in Mourning Lovers grieve together If we have true Love in our Heart to God we cannot but grieve for those things which grieve him We shall lay to Heart his Dishonours The Luxury Drunkenness Contempt of God and Religion Psal. 119.136 Rivers of Tears run down mine eyes c. Some speak of the Sins of others and make a laughing at them sure they have no love to God who can laugh at that which grieves his Spirit Doth he love his Father who can laugh to hear him Reproached 5. The Fifth Visible Sign He who loves God labours to render him Lovely to others he not only admires God but speaks in his Praises that he may allure and draw others to be in love with God She that is in Love will commend her Lover The Love-sick Spouse extols Christ she makes a Panegyrical Oration of his worth that she might perswade others to be in love with him Cant. 5.11 His Head is as the most Fine Gold True love to God cannot be silent it will be elegant in setting forth God's Renown no better sign of loving God than by making him appear Lovely and so drawing Proselytes to him 6. The Sixth Visible Sign He who loves God weeps bitterly for his Absence Mary comes weeping they
have taken away my Lord John 20.2 One cries my Health is gone another my Estate is gon but he who is a Lover of God cries out my God is gone I cannot enjoy him whom I love What can all Worldly Comfors do when once God is absent It is like a Funeral Banquet where there is much Meat but no Chear Iob 30.28 I went Mourning without the Sun If Rachel Mourned so for the loss of her Children what Vail or Pensil can shadow out the Sorrow of that Christian who hath lost God's sweet Presence Such a Soul pours forth Floods of Tears and while it is lamenting seems to say thus to God Lord thou art in Heaven hearing the Melodious Songs and Triumphs of Angels but I sit here in the Vally of Tears weeping because thou art gone O when wilt thou come to me and revive me with the Light of thy Countenance Or Lord if thou wilt not come to me let me come to thee where I shall have a perpetual Smile of thy Face in Heaven and shall never more Complain My Beloved hath withdrawn himself 7. The Seventh Visible Sign He who loves God is willing to do and Suffer for him He subscribes to God's Commands he submits to his Will First He subscribes to Gods Commands If God bids him Mortifie Sin Love his Enemies be Crucified to the World he obeys 'T is a vain thing for a Man to say he loves God and slights his Commands Secondly He submits to God's Will If God will have him suffer for him he doth not Dispute but Obey 1 Cor. 13.7 Love endureth all things Love made Christ suffer for us and Love will make us suffer for him It is true every Christian is not a Martyr but he hath a Spirit of Martyrdom in him He hath a Disposition of Mind to suffer if God call him to it 2 Tim. 4.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am ready to be Offered up Not only the Sufferings were ready for Paul but he was ready for the Sufferings Origen chose rather to live despised in Alexandria than with Plotinus to deny the Faith and be great in the Princes Favour Rev. 12.11 Many say they love God but will not suffer the loss of any thing for him If Christ should have said to us I love you well you are dear to me but I cannot suffer for you I cannot lay down my Life for you we should have questioned his Love very much And may not the Lord question ours when we pretend Love to him but will endure nothing for his sake Use 1. What shall we say to them who have not a Dram of Love in their Hearts to God They have their Life from him yet do not Love him God spreads their Table every Day yet they do not Love him Sinners dread God as a Judge but do not love him as a Father All the strength in the Angels cannot make the Heart love God Judgments will not do it Only Omnipotent Grace can make a Stony Heart melt in Love How sad is it to be void of Love to God When the Body is cold and hath no heat in it 't is a sign of Death He is Spiritually Dead who hath no heat of Love in his Heart to God Shall ever such live with God that do not love him Will God lay an Enemy in his Bosom Such as will not be drawn with Cords of Love shall be bound in Chains of Darkness Use 2. Let us be perswaded to love God with all our Heart and Might O let us take our Love off from other things and place it upon God Love is the Heart of Religion the Fat of the Offering 'T is the Grace which Christ enquires most after Iohn 21.15 Peter lovest thou me Love makes all our Services Acceptable it is the Musk that perfumes them 'T is not so much Duty as Love to Duty God delights in therefore Serving and Loving God are put together Isa. 56.6 'T is better to Love him than to Serve him Obedience without Love is like Wine without the Spirits O then be perswaded to love God with all your Heart and Might To perswade to this Virgin Affection of Love 1. 'T is nothing but your Love God desires The Lord might have demanded your Children to be offered in Sacrifice he might have bid you Cut and Launce your Selves or lain in Hell a while but he only desires your Love he would only have this Flower Is this an hard Request to Love God Was ever any Debt easier paid than this Is it any labour to the Wife to Love her Husband Love is delightful Non potest Amor esse dulcis non esse Bern. What is there in our Love that God should desire it Why should a King desire the Love of a Woman that is in Debt and Diseased God doth not want our Love There are Angels enough in Heaven to Adore and Love him What is God the better for our Love It adds not the least Cubit to his Essential Blessedness God doth not need our Love yet seeks it Why doth God desire us to give him our Heart Prov. 23.26 Not that he needs our Heart but that he may make it better 2. Great will be our Advantage if we love God God doth not court our Love that we should lose it 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard the things which God hath prepared for them that love him If you will Love God you shall have such a Reward as exceeds your Faith God will betroth you to himself in the dearest Love Hos. 2.19 I will betroth thee unto me for ever in Loving-Kindness and Mercies Zeph. 3.17 The Lord thy God will rejoyce over thee with Ioy he will rest in his Love If you love God he will interest you in all his Riches and Dignities he will give you Heaven and Earth for your Dowry he will set a Crown on your Head Vespasian the Emperor gave a great Reward to a Woman who came to him and professed she Loved him God gives a Crown of Life to them that Love him Iames 1.12 3. Love is the only Grace that shall live with us in Heaven In Heaven we shall need no Repentance because we have no Sin no Faith because we shall see God Face to Face But Love to God shall abide for ever Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 never faileth 1 Cor. 13.8 How should we nourish this Grace which shall out-live all the Graces and run parallel with Eternity 4. Our Love to God is a sign of his Love to us 1 Iohn 4.19 We love him because he first loved us By Nature we are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we have no Love to God we have Hearts of Stone Ezek. 36.1 And how can any love be in Hearts of Stone Our Loving God is from his Loving us If the Glass burn it is because the Sun hath shined on it else it could not burn If our Hearts burn in Love 't is a sign the Sun of Righteousness hath shined upon
but not the Bloody Axe Numb 23.21 He hath not seen Iniquity in Jacob He will not see Sin in his People so as to destroy them He sees their Sins so as to pity them he sees them as a Physician sees a Disease in his Patient to heal him Isa. 57.18 I have seen his Iniquities and I will heal him Every failing doth not break the Marriage Bond asunder The Disciples had great Failings they all forsook Christ and fled but this did not break off their Interest in God Therefore saith Christ at his Ascension Tell my Disciples I go to my God and to their God 7. If God be once our God he is so for ever Psal. 48.14 This God is our God Gnolam Vagned for ever and ever Whatever worldly Comforts we have are but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Season Heb. 11.25 We must part with all as Paul's Friends did accompany him to the Ship and there left him Acts 20.28 So all our earthly Comforts will but go with us to the Grave and there leave us You cannot say you have Health and shall have it for ever You have a Child and shall have it for ever But if God be your God you shall have him for ever This God is our God for ever and ever If God be our God he will be a God to us as long as he is a God You have taken away my God saith Micah Iudges 18.24 But it cannot be said so to a Believer that his God is taken away he may lose all things else but cannot lose his God God is ours from everlasting in Election and to Everlasting in Glory 8. If God be our God we shall enjoy all our Godly Relations with him in Heaven The great Felicity on Earth is to enjoy Relations a Father sees his own Picture in his Child a Wife sees a piece of her self in her Husband We plant the Flower of Love among our Relations and the loss of them is like the pulling a Limb from the Body But if God be ours with enjoying God we shall enjoy all our pious Relations in Glory The gracious Child shall see his Godly Father the Virtuous Wiâ—e shall see her Religious Husband in Christs Arms and then there will be a dearer Love to Relations than ever was before though in a far different manner then Relations shall meet and never part and so shall we be ever with the Lord. Of the Commandments Exod. 20.1 I am the Lord thy God c. TO all such as can make out this Covenant-Union It exhorts to several things I. If God be our God let us improve our Interest in him cast all our Burdens upon him the Burden of our Fears Wants Sins Psal. 55.22 Cast thy Burden upon the Lord. Wicked Men who are a Burden to God have no right to cast their Burden upon him but such as have God for their God are called upon to cast their Burden on him Where should the Child ease all its cares but in the Bosom of its Parent Iudg. 19.20 Let all thy Wants lye upon me So God seems to say to his Children let all your Wants lye upon me Christian what doth trouble thee Thou hast a God to pardon thy Sins to supply thy Wants Therefore roul your Burden on the Lord 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting all your Care on him Whence are Christians so disquieted in their Minds they are taking care when they should be casting care II. If God be our God let us learn to be contented though we have the less of other things Contentment is a rare Jewel it is the Cure of Care If we have God to be our God well may we be contented I know whom I have believed 2 Tim. 1.12 There was Paul's Interest in God 2 Cor. 6.10 As having nothing yet possessing all There was his Content That such who have Covenant-Union with God may be fill'd with Contentation of Spirit consider what a rich Blessing God is to the Soul 1. God is Bonum Sufficiens a sufficient Good He who hath God hath enough If a Man be thirsty bring him to the Ocean and he is satisfied in God there is enough to fill the Heaven-born Soul He gives Grace and Glory Psal. 84 11. There is in God not only a sufficiency but a redundancy He is not only full as a Vessel but as a Spring Other things can no more fill the Soul than a Mariners Breath can fill the Sails of a Ship But in God is a Cornu-Copia an infinite fulness He hath enough to fill the Angels therefore enough to fill us The Heart is a Triangle which only the Trinity can fill 2. God is bonum Sanctificans a Sanctifying Good First He sanctifies all our Comforts and turns them into Blessings Health is blessed Estate is blessed he gives with the Venison a Blessing Psal. 132.15 I will abundantly bless her Provision He gives us that Life we have â—anquam arâ—abo as an Earnest of more He gives the little Meal in the Barrel as an Earnest of the Royal Feast in Paradise Secondly He sanctifies all our Crosses They shall not be destructive Pâ—â—ishments but Medicines they shall corrode and eat out the Venom of Sin they shall Polish and Refine our Grace The more the Diamond is cut it sparkles the more Gods stretching the Strings of his Viol is to make the Musick better 3. God is bonum seâ—ectum Choice Good all things sub sole are but baâ—â— sâ—abelli as Austin the Blessings of the Footstool but to have God himself to be ours is the Blessing of the Throne Abraham gave gifts to the Sons of the Coâ—â—ubines but he setled the 〈…〉 â—5 5 Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac God may send away the Men of the World with Gifts a little Gold and Silver but in giving us himself he gives us the very quintessence his Grace his Love his Kingdom Here is the Crowning Blessing 4. God is Bonum summum the chief Good In the chief Good there must be First Delectability it must have something that is delicious and sweet And where can we suck those pure quintessential Comforts which ravish us with Delight but in God In Deo quadam dulcedine delectatur anima imo rapitur At Gods Right Hand are Pleasures Psal. 16.11 Secondly In the chief Good there must be Transcendency it must have a surpassing Excellency Thus God is infinitely better than all other things 't is below the Deity to compare other things with it Who would go to weigh a Feather with a Mountain of Gold God is Fons Origo the Spring of all Entities and the Cause is more noble than the Effect It is God that bespangles the Creation that puts Light into the Sun that fills the Veins of the Earth with Silver other Creatures do but maintain Life God gives Life God infinitely out-shines all Sublunary Glory he is better than the Soul than Angels than Heaven Thirdly In the chief Good there must be not only Fulness but Variety where
Secondly They were Worshippers of Birds they worshipped the Hawk Thirdly They were Worshippers of Beasts they worshipped an Ox Thus they made the Image of a Beast to be their God Fourthly They were Worshippers of Creeping Things they worshipped the Crocodile and the Indian Mouse Therefore God mentions this as a memorable and signal favour to Israel that he brought them out of such an Idolatrous Country I brought you out of the Land of Egypt The thing I would note is this That it is no small Blessing to be delivered from Places of Idolatry God speaks of it no less than Ten times in the Old Testament I brought you out of the Land of Egypt an Idolatrous Place Had there been no Iron Furnace in Egypt yet there being so many Altars there and False Gods it was a great Privilege to Israel to be delivered out of Egypt Ioshua reckons it among the chief and most memorable Mercies of God to Abraham that he brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans where Abraham's Ancestors served strange Gods Iosh. 24.2 3. 'T is well for the Plant that is set in a bad Soil to be transplanted into a better where it may grow and flourish So when any are planted among Idolaters 'T is a Mercy when they are removed and transplanted into Sihon where are the Silver Drops of Gods Word to make them grow in Holiness Quest. Wherein doth it appear that it is such a great Blessing to be delivered from Places of Idolatry Resp. It is a great Mercy because our Nature is so prone to Idolatry Israel began to be defiled with the Idols of Egypt Ezek. 23.3 Dry Wood is not more prone to take Fire than our Nature is to Idolatry The Jews made Cakes to the Queen of Heaven that is the Moon Ier. 7.18 Quest. Whence is it that we are so prone to Idolatry Resp. 1. Because we are led much by Visible Objects and love to have our Senses pleas'd Men naturally fancy a God that they may see though it be such a God as cannot see them yet they would see it The true God is invisible this makes the Idolater worship something that he may see 2. 'T is a Mercy to be delivered from Idolatrous Places because of the greatness of the Sin of Idolatry It is giving that Glory to an Image which is due to God All 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Divine Worship God appropriates to himself 't is a Flower of his Crown the Fat of the Sacrifice God laid claim to Levit. 3.3 Divine Worship is the Fat of the Sacrifice which God reserves for himself The Idolater devotes this Worship to his Idol which the Lord will by no means endure Isa. 42.8 My Glory will I not give to another neither my Praise to Graven Images Idolatry is Spiritual Adultery Ezek. 23.37 With their Idols have they committed Adultery To worship any other than God is to break Wedlock This makes the Lord disclaim his interest in a People Hos. 2.2 Plead with your Mother plead for she is not my Wife And Exod 32.7 Thy People have corrupted themselves no more my People but thy People God calls Idolatry Blasphemy Ezek. 20.27 31. Thus your Fathers have blasphemed me Idolatry is Devil-worship Deut. 32.17 They Sacrificed to Devils not unto God to new Gods These New Gods were Old Devils Lev. 17.7 And they shall no more offer their Sacrifices unto Devils the Hebrew Word Lashegnirim is the Hairy Ones because the Devils were Hairy and appeared in the Forms of Satyrs and Goats How dreadful a Sin is Idolatry and what a signal Mercy is it to be snatch'd out of an Idolatrous Place as Lot was snatch'd by the Angel out of Sodom 3. It is a Mercy to be delivered from Idolatrous Places because Idolatry is such a silly irrational Religion I may say as Ier. 8.9 What Wisdom is in them Is it not Folly to refuse the best and choose the worst The Trees of the Field in Iotham's Parable despised the Vine-Tree which chears both God and Man and the Olive which is full of Fatness and the Fig-Tree which is full of Sweetness and choose the Bramble to reign over them this was a Foolish Choice Iudge 9. So for us to refuse the Living God who hath power to save us and to make choice of an Idol that hath Eyes and sees not Feet but walks not Psal. 115.6 What a Prodigy of Madness is this therefore to be delivered from committing such folly is a Mercy 4. It is a Mercy to be delivered from Idolatrous Places because of the sad Judgments inflicted upon Idolaters This is a Sin enrageth God and makes the Fury come up in his Face Ezek. 38.18 Search through the whole Book of God and you shall find no Sin God hath followed with more Plagues than Idolatry Psal. 16.4 Their Sorrows shall be Multiplied that hasten after another God Psal. 78.58 59. They moved him to Iealousie with their Graven Images When God heard this he was wroth and greatly abhorred Israel ver 60. So that he forsook the Tabernacle of Shiloh Shiloh was a City belonging to the Tribe of Ephraim There God set his Name Ier. 7.12 But for their Idolatry God forsook that Place gave his People up to the Sword caus'd his Priests to be Slain his Ark to be carried away Captive and it never returned to Shiloh any more How severe was God against Israel for Worshipping the Golden Calf Exod. 32.27 The Jews say that in every Misery that befals them there is Uncia Aurei Vituli an Ounce of the Golden Calf in it Rev. 18.4 Come out of her my People that ye be not partakers of her Sins and that ye receive not of her Plagues Idolatry liv'd in cuts Men off from Heaven 1 Cor. 6.9 So then it is no small Mercy to be delivered out of Idolatrous Places Use 1. See the goodness of God to our Nation who hath brought us out of mystical Egypt delivering us from Popery which is Romish Idolatry and hath caused the light of his Truth to break forth gloriously among us In former times and more lately in the Marian days England was over-spread with Idolatry we worshipped God after a false manner That is Idolatry not only to worship a false God but the true God in a false manner This was our case formerly we had Purgatory Indulgences the Idolatrous Mass the Scriptures lock'd up in an unknown Tongue Invocation of Saints and Angels Image-worship Images are Teachers of Lyes Hab. 2.18 Wherein do they teach Lyes Because they represent God in a Bodily shape whereas he cannot be seen Deut. 4.12 Ye saw no similitude only ye heard a voice Quod invisibile est pingi non potest Ambr. God cannot be pictur'd out by any Figure You cannot Picture the Soul being a Spirit much less God Isa. 40.18 To whom then will ye liken God The Papists say they worship God by the Image which hath a great Absurdity in it for if it be absurd to bow down
Gods Children may sometimes be under sore Afflictions in the House of Bondage 2. That God will in his due time bring them out of their afflicted State I brought thee out of the House of Bondage 1. Gods Children may sometimes be under sore Afflictions In domo servitutis in the House of Bondage Gods People have no Writ of Ease granted them no Charter of Exemption from Trouble in this Life While the Wicked are kept in Sugar the Godly are oft kept in Brine And indeed how could Gods power be seen in bringing them out of trouble if he did not sometimes bring them in Or how should God wipe away the Tears from their Eyes in Heaven if on Earth they shed none Doubtless God sees there is need that his Children should be sometimes in the House of Bondage 1 Pet. 1.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If need be ye are in heaviness The Body sometimes doth more need a bitter Potion than a Julip Quest. 1. Why God lets his People be in the House of Bondage in an afflicted State Resp. He doth it 1. For Probation for Trial Deut. 8.16 Who led thee through that terrible Wilderness that he might humble thee and prove thee Affliction is the Touch-stone of Sincerity Psal. 66.10 11. Thou O God hast proved us Thou hast tried us as Silver Thou laidest Affliction upon our Loyns Hypocrites may imbrace the true Religion in Prosperity and court this Queen while she hath a Jewel hung at her Ear But he is the good Christian who will keep close to God in a time of Suffering Psal. 44.17 All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee To love God in Heaven is no wonder but to love God when he chastiseth us this discovers Sincerity 2. For Purgation To purge out Corruption Ardet palea purgatur aurum Isa. 27.9 And this is all the Fruit to take away his sin The Eye though it be a tender part yet when it is sore we put sharp Powders and Waters into it to eat out the Pearl Though the People of God are Dear to him yet when Corruption begins to grow in them he will apply the sharp Powder of Affliction to eat out the Pearl in the Eye Affliction is Gods Flail to thresh off our Husks It is a means God useth to purge out Sloath Luxury Pride and Love of the World Gods Furnace is in Zion Isa. 31.9 This is not to consume but refine What if we have more Affliction if by this means we have less Sin 3. For Augmentation To increase the Graces of the Spirit Grace thrives most in the Iron Furnace Sharp Frosts nourish the Corn so do sharp Afflictions Grace Grace in the Saints is often as Fire hid in the Embers Affliction is the Bellows to blow it up into a Flame The Lord makes the House of Bondage a Friend to our Grace Now Faith and Patience act their part The darkness of the Night cannot hinder the Brightness of a Star So the more the Diamond is cut the more it sparkles And the more God afflicts us the more our Graces cast a sparkling Lustre 4. For Preparation To fit and prepare the Saints for Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Those stones which are cut out for a Building are first hewen and squared The Godly are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 And God doth first hew and polish them by Affliction that they may be fit for the heavenly Building The House of Bondage prepares for the House not made with Hands 2 Cor. 5.1 The Vessels of Mercy are seasoned with Affliction and then the Wine of Glory is poured in Quest. 2. How the Afflictions of the Godly differ from the Afflictions of the Wicked Resp. 1. These are but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Castigations those on the Wicked are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Punishments these come from a Father those from a Judge 2. Afflictions on the Godly are Fruits of Covenant-Mercy 2 Sam. 7.14 But Afflictions on the Wicked are Effects of Gods Wrath Eccles. 5.17 He hath much wrath with his Sickness Afflictions on the Wicked are the Pledge and Earnest of Hell They are like the pinnioning of a Malefactor which doth presage his Execution 3. Afflictions on the Godly make them better but Afflictions on the Wicked make them worse The Godly pray more Psal. 130.1 The Wicked Blaspheme more Rev. 16.9 Men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the Name of God Afflictions on the Wicked make them more Impenitent Every Plague upon Egypt increased the Plague of Hardness in Pharoah's Heart To what a prodigy of Wickedness do some Persons come after great Sickness Affliction on the Godly is like bruising of Spices which are more sweet and fragrant Affliction on the Wicked is like stamping of Weeds with a Pestle which makes them more Unsavory Use 1. It shews us that we are not to wonder to see Israel in the House of Bondage 1 Pet. 4.12 The Holiness of the Saints will not excuse them from Sufferings Christ was the Holy one of God yet he was in the Iron Furnace Christs Spouse is a Lilly among Thorns Cant. 2.2 His Sheep though they have the Ear-mark of Election upon them yet may have their Wool fleeced off The Godly have some Good in them therefore the Devil afflicts them and some evil in them therefore God afflicts them While there are two Seeds in the World expect to be under the Black Rod. The Gospel tells us of reigning but first of Suffering 2 Tim. 2.12 2. It informs us that Affliction is not always the Sign of Gods Anger Israel the Apple of Gods Eye a peculiar Treasure to him above all People Exod. 19.5 Yet these were in the House of Bondage We are apt to judge and censure them who are in an afflicted State When the Barbarians saw the Viper on Paul's hand they said No doubt this Man is a Murderer Acts 28.4 So when we see the Viper of Affliction fasten upon the Godly we are apt to censure them and say These are greater Sinners than others and God hates them This rash censuring is for want of Wisdom Were not Israel in the House of Bondage Ieremy in the Dungeon Paul a night and a day in the Deep Gods Afflicting is so far from evidencing Hatred that his not afflicting is Hos. 4.14 I will not punish your Daughters when they commit Whoredom Deus maxime irascitur cum non irascitur Ber. God punisheth most when he doth not punish his Hand is heaviest when it seems to be lightest The Judge will not burn him in the Hand whom he intends to execute 3. If Gods own Israel may be in the House of Bondage then Afflictions do not of themselves demonstrate a Man Miserable Indeed Sin unrepented of makes one miserable but the Cross doth not If God hath a design in afflicting his Children to make them happy then they are not miserable but Gods afflicting them is to make them happy Therefore they are not Miserable Iob
such Secrets that they must not be spoken of again Or as if it were a shame to speak of that which will save us VI. Shut up the Sabbath-Evening with Repetition Singing of Psalms and Prayer Beg that God would bless the Word you have heard but I hope your Practice herein will prevent my farther speaking Could we but thus spend a Sabbath we might be in the Spirit on the Lord's Day Rev. 1.10 our Souls might be nourished and comforted And this Sabbath which we now keep would be an earnest of that everlasting Sabbath which we shall Celebrate in Heaven EXOD. XX. 8 Remember to keep the Sabbath-day Holy Vse I. See here a Christians Duty To keep the Sabbath-Day Holy 1. The whole Sabbath is to be Dedicated to God It is not said Keep a part of the Sabbath holy but the whole day must be religiously observed If God hath given us Six Days and taken but One to himself shall we grudge him any part of that Day It were Sacriledge The Jews kept a whole Day to the Lord and we are not to abridge or curtail the Sabbath saith St. Austin more than the Jews did The very Heathens by the Light of Nature did set apart a whole Day in the Honour of their False Gods And Scaevola their High Priest did affirm That the wilful Transgression of that Day could have no Expiation or Pardon Whoever do rob any part of the Sabbath for servile Work or Recreation Scaevola the High Priest of the Heathenish Gods shall rise up in Judgment against such Christians and condemn them And they who say that to keep a whole Sabbath is too Iudaical let them show where God hath made any Abatement of the Time of Worship where he hath said You shall keep but a Part of the Sabbath And if they cannot show that it argues much Boldness to go to rob God of his Due That a whole Day be design'd and set apart for God's special Worship is a perpetual Statute while the Church remains upon the Earth saith Pet. Martyr Of this Opinion also were Theodoret Austin Iraeneus and the Chief of the Fathers 2. As the whole Sabbath is to be Dedicated to God so it must be kept Holy You see the manner of sanctifying the Lord's Day by Reading Meditation Prayer hearing of the Word and by Singing of Psalms to make Melody to the Lord. Now besides what I have said for the keeping this Day holy let me make a short Comment or Paraphrase on that Scripture Isa. 58.13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thy own ways nor finding thy own pleasure nor speaking thy own words Here is a Description of the right sanctifying a Sabbath 1. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath That may be understood either Literally or Principally First Literally If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath that is If thou withdrawest thy Foot from taking long Walks or Journeys on the Sabbath-day So the Jewish Doctors expound it Or Secondly Spiritually If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath that is If thou turn away thy Affections the Feet of thy Soul from enclining to any worldly Business 2. From doing thy Pleasure on my holy Day That is Thou must not do that which may please the Carnal Part as Sports and Pastimes This is to do the Devil's Work on God's Day 3. And call the Sabbath a Delight Call it a Delight that is esteem it so Tho the Sabbath be not a Day for Carnal Pleasure yet holy Pleasure is not forbidden The Soul must take pleasure in the Duties of a Sabbath The Saints of old counted the Sabbath a Delight The Jews called the Sabbath Dies Lucis A Day of Light The Lord's Day on which the Sun of Righteousness shines is both a Day of Light and Delight This is the Day of sweet Intercourse between God and the Soul On this Day a Christian makes his Sallies out to Heaven his Soul is lifted above the Earth and can this be without Delight The higher the Bird flies the sweeter it sings On a Sabbath the Soul acts its Love to God and where the Love is there is the Delight On this Day a Believers Heart is melted q. d. quickned enlarged in Holy Duties and how can all this be and not a secret Delight go along with it On a Sabbath a gracious Soul can say as Cant. 2.3 I sat under his shadow with great delight and his Fruit was sweet to my taste How can a Spiritual Heart chuse but call the Sabbath a Delight Is it not delightful to a Queen to be putting on her Wedding Robes in which she shall meet the King her Bridegroom When we are about Sabbath-Exercises we are dressing our selves and putting on our Wedding-Robes in which we are to meet our Heavenly Bridegroom the Lord Jesus And is not this delightful On the Sabbath God makes a Feast of fat things he Feasts the Ear with his Word and the Heart with his Grace Well then may we call the Sabbath a Delight and to find this holy Delight is to be in the Spirit on the Lord's Day 4. The Holy of the Lord honourable In the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glorious To call the Sabbath Honourable is not to be understood so much of an outward Honour given to it by wearing richer Apparel or having better Diet on this Day as the Jewish Doctors corruptly gloss This is the chief Honour some give to this Day But thou shalt call the Sabbath Honourable that is meant of the Honour of the Heart that we give to this Day reverencing it and esteeming it the Queen of Days We are to count the Sabbath Honourable because God hath honoured it All the Persons in the Trinity have honoured it God the Father blessed it God the Son rose upon it God the Holy Ghost descended on this Day Acts 2.1 And indeed this Day is to be honoured of all good Christians and had in high Veneration It is a Day of Renown On this Day a Golden Scepter of Mercy is held forth The Christian Sabbath is the very Crepusculum and Dawning of the Heavenly Sabbath It is honourable because this Day God comes down to us and visits us To have the King of Heaven present in a special manner in our Assemblies makes the Sabbath-day honourable Besides the Work that is done on this Day makes it honourable The Six Days are fill'd up with-servile Work which makes them lose much of their Glory but on this Day Sacred Work is done The Soul is employed wholly about the Worship of God it is Praying Hearing Meditating it is doing Angels Work Praising and Blessing of God Again The Day is Honourable by vertue of a Divine Institution Silver is of it self valuable but when the Royal Stamp is put upon it it is honourable
So God hath put a Sacred Stamp upon this Day the stamp of Divine Authority and the stamp of Divine Benediction This makes it honourable This is a sanctifying the Sabbath to call it a Delight and Honourable 5. Not doing thy own ways That is Thou shalt not defile the Day by doing any Servile Work 6. Nor Finding thy own pleasure That is not gratifying the Fleshly Part by Walks Visits or Pastimes 7. Nor Speaking thy own Words That is Words Heterogeneous and unsuitable for a Sabbath vain impertinent Words Discourses of Worldly Affairs Here is the sanctifying of a Sabbath described Vse II. If the Sabbath-day be to be kept holy it reproves them who instead of sanctifying the Sabbath profane it They take that Time which should be Dedicated wholly to God and spend it in the Service of the Devil and their Lusts. The Lord hath enclosed this Day for his own Worship and they lay God's Day common God hath set an Hedge about this Commandment Remember and they break this Hedge But he who breaks an Hedge a Serpent shall bite him Eccles. 10.8 The Sabbath-day in England lies bleeding And Oh! that our Parliament would pour in some Balm into the Wounds which the Sabbath hath received How is this Day profaned by sitting idle at home by selling Meat by vain Discourse by sinful Visits by walking in the Fields by using Sports The People of Israel might not gather Manna on the Sabbath and may we use Sports and Dancings on this Day Truly it should be matter of Grief to us to see so much Sabbath-profanation When one of Darius's Eunuchs saw Alexander setting his Feet on a rich Table of Darius's he fell a weeping Alexander ask'd him why he wept He said It was to see the Table which his Master so highly esteemed to be now made a Footstool So we may weep to see the Sabbath-day which God so highly esteems and hath so honoured and blessed to be made a Footstool and to be trampled upon by the Feet of Sinners To profane the Sabbath is a Sin of an High Nature it is a wilful Contempt of God It is not only a Casting God's Law behind our back but a trampling it under foot God saith Keep the Sabbath holy but Men will pollute it This is to despise God to hang out the Flag of Defiance to throw down the Gantlet and challenge God himself Now how can God endure to be thus saucily confronted by proud Dust God will not suffer this high Impudence to go unpunished This will draw God's Curses upon the Sabbath-breaker and God's Curse blasts where it comes No sooner did Christ curse the Fig-tree but it withered Tho the Law of the Land lets Sabbath-breakers alone to rob a Man of his Purse shall be punished with Death but to rob God of his Day shall not be punished with Death But God will take the matter into his own hand he will see after the punishing of Sabbath-violation And how doth he punish it 1. With Spiritual Plagues He gives up Sabbath-profaners to hardness of Heart and a seared Conscience Spiritual Judgments are sorest Psal. 81.12 So I gave them up to their own Hearts Lusts. A Sear in the Conscience is a Brand-mark of Reprobation 2. God punisheth this Sin of Sabbath-breaking by giving them up to commit other Sins God to revenge the breaking of his Sabbath suffers Men to break open Houses and so come to be punished by the Magistrate How many such Confessions have we heard from Thieves going to be executed They never regarded the Sabbath and so God suffered them to commit those hainous Sins for which now they are to die 3. God punisheth Sabbath-breaking by sudden visible Judgments on Men for this Sin God punisheth them in their Estates and in their Persons One carrying Corn into his Barn on the Lord's Day both House and Corn consumed with Fire from Heaven In Wiltshire there was a Dancing Match appointed upon the Lord's Day and one of the Company as he was dancing fell down dead suddenly and so was made a Spectacle of God's Justice The Theatre of God's Iudgments relates of one who used every Lord's Day to hunt in Sermon-time and he had a Child by his Wife with an Head like a Dog and it cried like an Hound His Sin was monstrous and it was punish'd with a monstrous Birth The Lord threatned the Jews That if they would not hallow the Sabbath-day he would kindle a Fire in their Gates Jer. 17.27 The dreadful Fire which brake out in London began on the Sabbath-day as if God would tell us from Heaven he was then punishing us for our Sabbath-profanation Nor doth God punish it only in this Life with Death but with Damnation Such as break God's Sabbath let them see if they can break those Chains of Darkness in which they and the Devils shall be held Vse III. It exhorts us to Sabbath-holiness I. Make Conscience of keeping this Day Holy The other Commandments have only an Affirmative in them or a Negative This Fourth Commandment hath both an Affirmative in it and a Negative Thou shalt keep the Sabbath-day holy And Thou shalt not do any manner of Work in it To show how carefully God would have us observe this Day Nor only must you keep this Day your Selves but have a care that all under your Charge keep it Thou and thy Son and thy Daughter and thy Man-Servant and thy Maid-Servant That is Thou who art a Superiour a Parent or a Master thou must have a Care that not only thy self sanctifie the Day but those who are under thy Trust and Tuition To blame are those Masters of Families who are careful that their Servants serve them but have no care that they serve God They care not though their Servants should serve the Devil so long as their Bodies do them Service That which St. Paul saith to Timothy 1 Tim. 6.20 Serva Depositum Keep that which is committed to thy Trust is of a large Extension Not only have a Care of thy own Soul but have a Care of the Souls thou art entrusted with See that they who are under thy Charge sanctifie the Sabbath God's Law provided That if a Man met an Ox or an Ass going astray he should bring him back again Much more when thou seest the Soul of thy Child or Servant going astray from God and breaking his Sabbath thou shouldest bring him back again to a Religious Observation of this Day Now that I may press you to Sabbath-Sanctification consider 1. God hath promised great Blessings to the strict Observers of this Day If this Day be a Delight Isa. 58.14 Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord. Delighting in God is both a Duty and a Reward In this Text it is a Reward Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord As if God had said If thou keep the Sabbath Conscientiously I will give thee that which shall fill thee with Delight If thou keepest the Sabbath willingly I
Day of Judgment there shall be an open and honourable mention made of them in the Presence of the Angels Sixthly Hard-heartedness to them in Misery reproacheth the Gospel When Men's Hearts are like pieces of Rocks or as the Scales of the Leviathan shut up as with a close Seal Job 41.15 You may as well extract Oyl out of a Flint as the Golden Oyl of Charity out of their Hearts These Vnchristian themselves Unmercifulness is the Sin of the Heathen Rom. 1.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Mercy It eclipseth the Glory of the Gospel Doth the Gospel teach Uncharitableness Doth it not bid us draw out our Soul to the Hungry Isa. 58.10 Tit. 3.8 These things I will that you affirm that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works While you relieve not such as are in Want you walk Antipodes to the Gospel you cause it to be evil spoken of and lay it open to the Las◠and Censure of others Seventhly There is nothing lost by relieving the Necessitous The Shunamite Woman was kind to the Prophet she welcomed him to her House and she received Kindness from him another way He restored her Dead Child to Life 2 Kings 4.35 Such as are helpful to others shall find Mercy to help in time of need Such as pour out the Golden Oyl of Compassion to others God will pour out the Golden Oyl of Salvation to them For a Cup of cold Water they shall have Rivers of Pleasure Nay God will make it up some way or other in this Life Prov. 11.25 The Liberal Soul shall be made fa◠As the Loaves in breaking multiplied or as the Widows Oyl encreased by pouring out 1 Kings 17.16 An Estate may be imparted yet not impaired Eighthly To do good to others in Necessity keeps up the Credit of Religion Works of Mercy adorn the Gospel as the Fruit Adorns the Tree When our Light so shines that others see our Good Works this glorifies God Crowns Religion silenceth the Lips of Gain-sayers Basil saith Nothing rendred the True Religion more famous in the Primitive Times and made more Proselytes to it than the Bounty and Charity of the Christians Ninthly and Lastly The Evil that doth accrue by not preserving the Lives of others and helping them in their Necessities God sends oft a secret Moth into their Estate Prov. 11.24 There is that with-holdeth more than is meet but it tendeth to Poverty Prov. 21.13 Whoso stoppeth his Ears at the cry of the poor he also shall cry himself but shall not be heard Jam. 2.13 He shall have Iudgment without Mercy that showed no Mercy Dives denied Lazarus a Crumb of Bread and Dives was denied a Drop of Water Mat. 25.41 Depart from me ye cursed for I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat Christ saith not Ye took away my Meat But Ye gave me no Meat ye did not feed my Members therefore depart from me By all this be ready to distribute to the Necessities of others This is included in the Commandment Thou shalt not kill Not only Thou shalt not destroy his Life but thou shalt preserve it by giving to his Necessities 2. It is imply'd that we should endeavour to preserve the Souls of others counsel them about their Souls set Life and Death before them help them to Heaven In the Law if one met his Neighbours Ox or Ass going astray he must bring him back Exod. 33.4 Much more if we see our Neighbours Soul going astray we should use all means to bring him back to God by Repentance 2. In reference to our selves The Commandment Thou shalt not kill requires that we should preserve our own Life and Soul 'T is engraven upon every Creature that we should preserve our own Natural Life We must be so far from Self-murder that we must do all we can to preserve our Natural Life We must use all means of Diet Exercise and lawful Recreation which is like Oyl to preserve the Lamp of Life from going out Some have been under Temptation Satan hath suggested they are such Sinners as do not deserve a bit of Bread and so they have been ready to starve themselves This is contrary to this Sixth Commandment Thou shalt do no Murder it is imply'd we are to use all means for the preserving our own Life 1 Tim. 5.23 Drink no longer Water but use a little Wine for thy Stomach's sake Timothy was not by drinking too much Water to over-cool his Stomach and weaken Nature but he must use means for Self-preservation Drink a little Wine c. Secondly This Commandment requires that we should endeavour as to preserve our own Life so especially to preserve our own Souls Omnia si perdas animam servare memento It is engraven upon every Creature as with the Point of a Diamond that it should look to its own Preservation If the Life of the Body must be preserved then much more the Life of the Soul If he who doth not provide for his own House is worse than an Infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 then much more he who doth not provide for his own Soul This is a main thing implied in the Commandment a special Care for the preserving our Souls The Soul is the Iewel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar The Soul is a Diamond set in a Ring of Clay Christ puts the Soul in ballance with the World and it outweighs Matth. 16.26 The Soul is a Glass in which some Rays of Divine Glory shine It hath in it some Faint Idea and Resemblance of a Deity It is a Celestial Spark lighted by the Breath of God The Body was made out of the Dust but the Soul is of a more noble Extract and Original Gen. 2.7 God breathed into Man a living Soul 1. The Soul is Excellent in its Nature It is a Spiritual Being 't is a kind of Angelical thing The Mind sparkles with Knowledge the Will is crown'd with Liberty and all the Affections are as Stars shining in their Orb. The Soul being Spiritual 1. Is of quick Operation How quick is the Motion of a Spark How swift is the Wing of a Cherubim So quick and agil is the Motion of the Soul What is quicker than a Thought How many Miles can the Soul travel in an Instant 2. The Soul being Spiritual moves upward it contemplates God and Glory Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee The Motion of the Soul is upward only Sin hath put a wrong Byass upon the Soul and made it move too much down-ward 3. The Soul being Spiritual is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it hath a self-moving Power it can subsist and move when the Body is dead as the Mariner can subsist when the Ship is broken 4. The Soul being Spiritual is Immortal Scaliger Aeternitatis Gemma a Bud of Eternity 2. As the Soul is excellent in its Nature so in its Capacities It is capable of Grace it is fit to be an Associate and Companion of Angels It
is more worth than the House When Alexander had overcome King Darius in Battel Darius seemed not to be much dismayed But when he heard his Wife was taken Prisoner now his Eyes like Spouts did gush forth Water as valuing his Wife dearer than his Life But yet in this place in Exodus the House is put before the Wife The Reason is Because the House is first in Order The House is erected before the Wife can live in it The Nest is built before the Bird is in it The Wife is first esteemed but the House must be first provided 1. Then Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours House How depraved is Man since the Fall Man knows not how to keep within Bounds but is coveting more than his own Ahab one would think had enough he was King and one would suppose his Crown-Revenues should have contented him but still he was coveting more Naboth's Vineyard was in his Eye and stood near the Smoak of his Chimney and he could not be quiet till he had it in Possession Were there not so much Coveting there would not be so much Bribing One Man pulls away anothers House from him It is only the Prisoner lives in such a Tenement as he may be sure none will go about to take from him 2. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife This Commandment is a Bridle to check the Inordinacy of Brutish Lusts. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife It was the Devil that sowed another Man's Ground Matth. 13.25 But how is the Hedge of this Commandment trodden down in our Times There be many who do more than covet their Neighbours Wives they take them Deut. 27.20 Cursed be he that lies with his Fathers Wife and all the People shall say Amen If it were to be proclaimed Cursed be he that lies with his Neighbours Wife and all that were guilty should say Amen how many would curse themselves 3. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Man-servant nor his Maid-servant Servants when Faithful are a Treasure What a true and trusty Servant had Abraham he was his Right-hand How prudent and faithful was he in the matter he was entrusted with in getting a Wife for his Masters Son Gen. 24.9 And surely it would have gone near to Abraham to have had any one enticed away his Servant from him But this Sin of coveting Servants is common If one hath a better Servant others will be inveigling and laying Baits for him and endeavour to draw him away from his Master This is a Sin against the Tenth Commandment To steal away anothers Servant by Enticement is no better than Thievery 4. Nor his Ox nor his Ass nor any thing that is thy Neighbours Were there not coveting of Ox and Ass there would not be so much stealing First Men break the Tenth Commondment by coveting and then they break the Eighth Commandment by stealing It was an excellent Appeal that Samuel made to the People 1 Sam. 12.3 Witness against me before the Lord whose Ox have I taken or whose Ass or whom have I defrauded And it was a brave Speech of St. Paul Acts 20.33 I have coveted no Man's Gold or Silver or Apparel Quest. But what means may we use to keep us from coveting that which is our Neighbours Ans. The best Remedy is Contentation If we are content with our own we shall not covet that which is anothers St. Paul could say I have coveted no Man's Gold or Silver Whence was this It was from Contentment Phil. 4.11 I have learned in whatever state I am therewith to be content Content saith as Iacob Gen. 33.11 I have enough I have a Promise of Heaven and have sufficient to bear my Charges thither I have enough And he who hath enough will not covet that which is anothers Be content And the best way to be contented is 1. Believe that Condition best which God carves out to you by his Providence If God had seen it fit for us to have more we should have had it but his Wisdom sees this best for us Perhaps we could not manage a great Estate it is hard to carry a full Cup without spilling and a full Estate without sinning Great Estates may he Snares a Boat may be overturned by having too great a Sail. The believing that Estate best God carves us makes us content and being contented we will not covet that which is anothers 2. The way to be content with such things as we have and not to covet anothers is to consider the less Estate we have the less Account we shall have to give at the last Day Every Person is a Steward and must be accountable to God They who have great Estates have the greater Reckoning God will say What good have you done with your Estates Have you honoured me with your Substance Where are the poor you have fed and cloathed If you cannot give a good Account it will be sad This may make us contented with a less Portion To consider the less Estate the less Account we have to give The less Riches the less Reckoning This is the way to have Contentment and no better Antidote against coveting that which is anothers than being content with that which is our own So much for the Commandments Quest. Is any Man able perfectly to keep the Commandments of God Answ. No meer Man since the Fall is able in this Life perfectly to keep the Commandments of God but doth daily break them in Thought Word and Deed Iames 3.2 In many things we offend all Man in his Primitive State of Innocency was endued with Ability to keep the whole Moral Law Adam had rectitude of Mind Sanctity of Will Perfection of Power Adam had the Copy of God's Law written in his Heart no sooner did God command but he did obey As the Key is suited to all the Wards in the Lock and can open them so Adam had a Power suited to all God's Commands and could obey them Adam's Obedience did exactly run parallel with the Moral Law as a well-made Dial goes exactly with the Sun Man in Innocency was like a well-tuned Organ he did sweetly tune to the Will of God He was adorned with Holiness as the Angels but not confirmed in Holiness as the Angels Adam was Holy but Mutable he fell from his Purity and we with him Sin cut the Lock of Original Righteousness where our Strength lay Sin hath brought such a Languor and Faintness into our Souls and hath so weakned us that we shall never recover our full Strength till we put on Immortality The thing I am now to demonstrate is That we cannot yield perfect Obedience to the Moral Law In many things we offend all 1. The Case of an Vnregenerate Man is such that he cannot perfectly obey all God's Commands He may as well touch the Stars or span the Ocean as yield exact Obedience to the Law A Person unregenerate cannot act Spiritually he cannot pray in the Holy Ghost he cannot live by Faith
so small that it is scarce discernable Such as at the first dash have a strong Perswasion that Christ is theirs who leap out of Sin into Assurance their Faith is false and spurious That Faith which is come to its full Stature on its Birth-day is a Monster The Seed that sprung up suddenly withered Matth. 13.5 4. Faith is a Refining Grace it consecrates and purifies Moral Vertue may wash the out-side Faith washeth the in-side Acts 15.9 Having purified their Hearts by Faith Faith makes the Heart a Sacrary or Temple with this Inscription Holiness to the Lord. Such whose Hearts have Legions of Lusts in them were never acquainted with true Faith For one to say he hath Faith yet lives in Sin is as if one should say he were in Health yet his Vitals are perished Faith is a Virgin-Grace it is joyn'd with Sanctity 1 Tim. 3.9 Holding the Mystery of Faith in a pure Conscience The Jewel of Faith is always put in the Cabinet of a pure Conscience The Woman that touch'd Christ by Faith fetch'd an healing and cleansing Vertue from him 5. True Faith is Obediential Rom. 16.26 The Obedience of Faith Faith melts our Will into the Will of God If God commands Duty tho cross to Flesh and Blood Faith obeys Heb. 11.8 By Faith Abâ—aham obeyed Faith doth not only believe the Promise but obey the Command It is not having a Speculative Knowledge will evidence you to be Believers The Devil hath Knowledge but that which makes him a Devil is he wants Obedience 6. True Faith is encreasing Rom. 1.17 From Faith to Faith i. e. From one Degree of Faith to another Faith doth not lie in the Heart as a Stone in the Earth but as Seed in the Earth it grows Ioseph of Atimathea was a Disciple of Christ but afraid to confess him afterwards he went boldly to Pilate and begg'd the Body of Jesus Iohn 19.36 And a Christians Encrease in Faith is known two ways 1. By Stedfastness He is a Pillar in the Temple of God Col. 2.7 Rooted and built up in him and stablished in the Faith Unbelievers are Scepticks in Religion they are unsettled they question every Truth But when the Faith is on the encreasing Hand it doth Stabilire animum it doth corroborate a Christian he is able to prove his Principles he holds no more than he will die for As that Martyr Woman said I cannot dispute for Christ but I can burn for him An encreasing Faith is not like a Ship in the midst of the Sea that fluctuates and is tossed upon the Waves but like a Ship at Anchor which is firm and stedfast 2. A Christians Encrease in Faith is known by Strength He can do that now which he could not do before When one is Man-grown he can do that which he was not able to do when he was a Child He can carry an heavier Burden So a Christian can bear Crosses with more Patience Obj. But I fear I have no Faith it is so weak Resp. If you have Faith tho but in its Infancy be not discouraged For 1. A little Faith is Faith as a Spark of Fire is Fire 2. A weak Faith may lay hold on a strong Christ A weak Hand can tie the Knot in Marriage as well as a strong She in the Gospel who but touch'd Christ fetch'd Vertue from him 3. The Promises are not made to Strong Faith but to True The Promise doth not say He who hath a Giant-faith who can believe God's Love through a Frown who can rejoyce in Affliction who can work Wonders remove Mountains stop the Mouth of Lions shall be saved but whosoever believes be his Faith never so small A Reed is but weak especially when it is bruised yet the Promise is made to it Matth. 12.20 A bruised Reed he will not break 4. A weak Faith may be Fruitful Weakest things multiply most The Vine is a weak Plant but it is Fruitful The Thief 's Cross which was newly converted was but weak in Grace but how many precious Clusters grew upon that tender Plant Luke 23.40 He chiâ—les his Fellow-Thief Dost not thou fear God He Judgeth himself We indeed suffer justly He believes in Christ when he said Lord. He makes a Heavenly Prayer Remember me when thou comest into thy Kigdom Weak Christians may have strong Affections How strong is the first Love which is after the first planting of Faith 5. The weakest Believer is a Member of Christ as well as the strongest and the weakest Member of the Body Mystical shall not perish Christ will cut off rotten Members but not weak Members Therefore Christian be not discouraged God who would have us receive them that are weak in Faith Rom. 14.1 will not himself refuse them II. The Second means whereby we escape the Curse and Wrath due to Sin is by Repentance Acts 11.18 Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted Repentance unto Life Repentance seems to be a bitter Pill to take but it is to purge out the bad Humour of Sin Repentance is by some Antinomian Spirits cryed down as a Legal Doctrine but Christ himself preached it Matth. 4.17 From that time Iesus began to Preach and to say Repent c. And in his last Farewell when he was ascending to Heaven he commanded that Repentance should be Preached in his Name Luke 24.37 Repentance is a pure Gospel-Grace The Covenant of Works would not admit of Repentance It cursed all that could not perform perfect and personal Obedience Gal. 3.10 Repentance comes in by the Gospel it is the Fruit of Christ's Purchase that Repenting Sinners shall be saved Repentance is wrought by the Ministry of the Gospel while it sets before our Eyes Christ Crucified Repentance is not Arbitrary but Necessary there is no being saved without it Luke 13.3 Except ye repent ye shall all likewise Perish And we may be thankful to God that he hath left us this Plank after Shipwrack 1. I shall show the Counterfeits of Repentance 1. Natural Softness and Tenderness of Spirit Some have a tender Affection arising from their Complexion whereby they are apt to weep and relent when they see any Object of Pity These are not Repenting Tears For many weep to see anothers Misery who cannot weep at their own Sin 2. Counterfeit Legal Affrightments A Man hath lived in a course of Sin at last he is made a little sensible he sees Hell ready to devour him and he is filled with Anguish and Horror but within a while the Tempest of Conscience is blown over and he is quiet Then he concludes he is a true Penitent because he hath felt some bitterness in Sin This is not Repentance Iudas had some trouble of Mind If Anguish and Trouble were sufficient to Repentance then the Damned should be most penitent for they are most in Anguish of Mind There may be Trouble of Mind where there is no grieving for the Offence against God 3. Counterfeit a slight superficial Sorrow When God's Hand
Resp. Seek to God for it It is his Promise to give an Heart of Flesh Ezek. 36. and to pour on us a Spirit of Mourning Zech. 12.10 Beg God's Holy Spirit Psal. 147.18 He causeth his Wind to blow and the Waters flow When the Wind of God's Spirit blows upon us then the Waters of Repentant Tears will flow from us III. The Third way to escape the Wrath and Curse of God and obtain the Benefit of Redemption by Christ is The diligent Vse of Ordinances In particular the Word Sacraments and Prayer 1. I begin with the First of these Ordinances I. The Word 1 Thess. 2.13 which effectually worketh in you that believe Quest. 1. What is meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Words working effectually Resp. The Word of God is said to work effectually when it hath that good effect upon us for which it was appointed of God namely when the Word works powerful Illumination and thorough Reformation Acts 26.18 To open their Eyes and turn them from the power of Satan to God The opening their Eyes denotes Illumination And turning them from Satan to God denotes Reformation Quest. 2. How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to Salvation This Question consists of Two Branches 1. How may the Word be read Effectually 2. How may it be heard Effectually 1. I shall begin with the First Branch of the Question How is the Word to be read that it may be effectual to our Salvation Answ. That we may so read the Word that it may conduce effectually to our Salvation 1. Let us have a Reverend Esteem of every part of Canonical Scripture Psal. 19.10 More are they to be desired than Gold Value this Book of God above all other Books It is a Golden Epistle endited by the Holy Ghost sent to us from Heaven more particularly to raise our Esteem 1. The Scripture is a Spiritual Glass to dress our Souls by it shows us more than we can see by the Light of a Natural Conscience that may discover gross Sins but the Glass of the Word shâ—ws us Heart-Sins Vain Thoughts Unbelief c. And it not only shows us our Spots but washeth them away 2. The Scripture is a Sacred Magazine out of which we may fetch our Spiritual Artillery to fight against Satan When the Devil tempted our Saviour he fetch'd Armour and Weapons from Scripture It is written Matth. 4.4 7. 3. The Holy Scripture is a Panacea or Universal Medicine for the Soul it gives a Receipt to cure Deadness of Heart Psal. 119.50 Pride 1 Pet. 5.5 Infideliâ—y Iohn 3.36 It is a Physick-Garden where we may gather any Herb or Antidote to expell the Poyson of sin The Leaves of Scripture like the Leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the Nations Rev. 22.2 And may not this cause a reverend Esteem of the Word 2. If we would have the Word written effectual to our Souls let us peruse it with Intenseness of Mind Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures The Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to search as for a Vein of Silver The Bereans Acts 17. searched the 〈…〉 daily The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to make a curious and critical Search And 〈◊〉 was mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 Some gallop over a Chapter 〈…〉 and get no good by it If we would have the Word effectual and saving we must mind and observe every Passage of Scripture And that we may be diâ—igent in the perusal of Scripture Consider First The Word written is Norma Cultus the Rule and Platform by which we are to square our Lives it contains in it all things needful to Salvation Psal. 19.7 What Duties we are to do what Sins we are to avoid God gave Moses a Pattern how he would have the Tabernacle made and he was to go exactly according to the Pattern Exod. 25.9 The Word is the Pattern God hath given us in Writing for modelling our Lives therefore how careful should we be in the pursuing and looking over this Pattern Secondly The Written Word as it is our Pattern so it will be our Iudge Iohn 12.48 The Word that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last Day We read of the opening of the Books Rev. 20.12 This is one Book God will open the Book of Scripture and will judge Men out of it He will say Have you lived according to the Rule of this Word The Word hath a double Work to Teach and to Iudge 3. If we would have the Word written effectual we must bring Faith to the reading of it Believe it to be the Word of the Eternal Iehovah The Word written comes with Authority it shews its Commission from Heaven Thus saith the Lord It is of Divine Inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 The Oracles of Scripture must be surer to us than a Voice from Heaven 1 Pet. 1.18 Unbelief enervates the Vertue of Scripture and renders it ineffectual First Men question the Truth of the Scripture and then fall away from it 4. If we would have the Word written effectual to Salvation we must delight in it as our Spiritual Cordial Ier. 15.16 Thy Words were found and I did eat them and they were the joy and rejoycing of my Heart All true solid Comfort is fetch'd out of the Word The Word as Chrysostom saith is a Spiritual Garden and the Promises are the Fragrant Flowers or Spices in this Garden How should we delight to walk among these Beds of Spices Is it not a Comfort in all dubious perplext Cases to have a Counsellor to advise us Psal. 119.24 Thy Testimonies are my Counsellors Is it not a Comfort to find our Evidences for Heaven and where should we find them but in the Word 1 Thess. 1.4 5. The Word written is a Sovereign Elixir or Comfort in an hour of Distress Psal. 119.50 This is my Comfort in Afflictions for thy Word hath quickned me It can turn all our Water into Wine How should we take a great Complacency and Delight in the Word They only who come to the Word with Delight go from it with Success 5. If we would have the Scripture effectual and saving we must be sure when we have read the Word to hide it in our Hearts Psal. 119.11 Thy Word have I hid in my Heart The Word locked up in the Heart is a Preservative against sin Why did David hide the Word in his Heart In the next Words That I might not sin against thee As one would carry an Antidote about him when he comes near a place infected so David carried the Word in his Heart as a Sacred Antidote to preserve him from the Infection of Sin When the Sap is hid in the Root it makes the Branches fruitful When the Seed is hid in the Ground then the Corn springs up So when the Word is hid in the Heart then it brings forth good Fruit. 6. If we would have the Word written effectual let us labour
Blood of a deeper Colour and can wash away Sin If Satan strikes us with his Darts of Temptation here is a precious Balm comes out of Christ's Wounds to heal us Isa. 53.5 What tho we feed upon the Bread of Affliction as long as in the Sacrament we feed upon the Bread of Life So that Christ received aright Sacramentally is an universal Medicine for the healing and an universal Cordial for the cheering of our distressed Souls III. The Benefits of our Redemption are applyed to us by Prayer Psalm 109.4 But I give my self to Prayer I shall not expatiate upon Prayer at large being to speak more fully to it in the Lords Prayer But to the words I give my self to Prayer It is one thing to Pray and another thing to be given to Prayer He who prays frequently is said to be given to Prayer as he who often distributes Almes is said to be given to Charity Prayer is a glorious Ordinance it is the Souls trading with Heaven God comes down to us by his Spirit and we go up to him by Prayer Quest. 1. What Prayer is Answ. It is an offering up of our desires to God for things agreeable to his Will in the Name of Christ. 1. Prayer is an offering up of our Desires Therefore it is called a making known of our Requests Phil. 4.6 In Prayer we come as humble Petitioners begging to have our Suit granted 2. 'T is offering up our Desires to God Prayer is not to be made to any but God The Papists pray to Saints and Angels but they know not our grievances Isa. 63.16 Abraham is ignorant of us And all Angel-worship is forbidden Col. 2.18 19. We must not pray to any but whom we may believe in Rom. 10.14 How shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed But we cannot believe in an Angel therefore we must not pray to him Quest. Why must Prayer be made only to God Resp 1. Because he only hears Prayer Psal. 65.2 O thou that hearest Prayer Hereby God is known to be the true God in that he hears Prayer 1 Kin. 18.37 Hear me O Lord hear me that the people may know that thou art the Lord God 2. Because God only can help We may look to second Causes and cry as the Woman did 2 Kings 6.26 Help my lord O king And he said if the Lord do not help thee whence shall I help thee If we are in outward distress God must send from Heaven and save if we are in inward agonies he only can pour in the Oyl of Joy therefore Prayer is to be made to him only 3. For things agreeable to his Will When we pray for outward things for Riches or Children perhaps God sees these things are not good for us our Prayers must comport with Gods Will. We may pray absolutely for Grace For this is the will of God our Sanctification 1 Thess. 4.3 There might be no strange incense offered Exod. 30 9. When we pray for things which are not agreeable to Gods Will it is offering strange Incense 4. In the Name of Christ. To pray in the Name of Christ is not only to mention Christs Name in Prayer but to pray in the hope and confidence of Christs Merit 1 Sam. 7.9 Samuel took a sucking Lamb and offered it c. We must carry the Lamb Christ in the arms of our Faith and so we prevail in Prayer When Vzziah would offer Incense without a Priest God was angry and struck him with Leprosie 2 Chron. 26.16 When we do not pray in Christs Name in the hope of his Mediation we offer up Incense without a Priest and what can we expect but to meet with rebukes and to have God answer us by terrible things Quest. 2. What are the parts of Prayer Answ. 1. There is the Confessory part which is the acknowledging of Sin 2. The Supplicatory part when we either deprecate and pray against some evil or request the obtaining of some good 3. The Gratulatory part when we give thanks for Mercies received which is the most excellent part of Prayer In Petition we act like Men in giving of Thanks we act like Angels Quest. 3. What are the several sorts of Prayer Resp. 1. There is Mental Prayer in the Mind 1 Sam. 1.13 2. Vocal Psalm 77.1 3. Ejaculatory which is a sudden and short elevation of the heart to God Neh. 2.4 So I prayed to the God of Heaven 4. Conceiv'd Prayer when we pray for those things which God puts into our heart Rom. 8.26 The Spirit helps us with sighs and groans Both the expressions of the tongue so far as they are right and the impressions of the heart are from the Spirit 5. Prescribed Prayer Our Saviour hath set us a pattern of Prayer God prescribed a set Form of Blessing for the Priests Numb 6.23 6. Publick Prayer when we pray in the audience of others Prayer is more powerful when many joyn and unite their forces Vis uniâ—a fortior Matth. 18.19 7. Private Prayer when we pray by our selves Mat. 6.6 Enter into thy closet Quest. 4. What is that Prayer which is most like to prevail with God Resp. When Prayer is rightly qualified That is a good Medicine which hath the right ingredients That Prayer is good and is most like to prevail with God which hath these seven ingredients in it 1. Prayer must be mixed with Faith Iam. 1.6 But let him pray in faith Believe God hears and will in his due time grant Believe Gods Love and Truth Believe that he is Love therefore will not deny you believe that he is Truth therefore will not deny himself Faith sets God a work Faith is to Prayer as the Feather is to the Arrow Faith feathers the arrow of Prayer and makes it fly swifter and pierce the Throne of Grace Prayer that is faithless is fruitless 2. A melting Prayer Psal. 51.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken heart The incense was to be beaten to typifie the breaking of the heart in prayer O saith a Christian I cannot pray with such gifts and elocution as others as Moses said I am not eloquent But canst thou weep Doth thy Heart melt in Prayer Weeping prayer prevails Tears drop as pearls from the eye Iacob wept and made supplication and had power over the Angel Hos. 12.4 3. Prayer must be fired with zeal and fervency Iam. 5.16 Effectual fervent Prayer prevails much Cold Prayers like cold Suitors never speed Prayer without fervency is like a Sacrifice without Fire Prayer is called a pouring out of the Soul 1 Sam. 1.15 to signifie vehemency Formality starves prayer Prayer is compared to Incense Psal. 141.2 Let my prayer be set forth as incense Hot Coals were to be put to the Incense to make it odoriferous and fragrant fervency of Affection is like Coals put to the Incense it makes prayer ascend as a sweet perfume Christ prayed with strong cryes Heb. 5.7 Clamor iste penetrat nubes Luther Fervent prayer like
a petard set against Heaven gates makes them fly open To cause holy fervour and ardency of Soul in prayer consider 1. Prayer without fervency is no prayer it is speaking not praying Lifeless prayer is no more prayer than the picture of a Man is a Man One may say as Pharaoh Gen. 41. I have dreamed a dream It is dreaming not praying Affectus operi nomen imponit Ambr. Life and fervency baptizeth a Duty and gives it a name 2. Consider in what need we stand of those things which we ask in prayer We come to ask the favour of God and if we have not his love all we enjoy is cursed to us We pray that our Souls may be washed in Christs Blood and if he wash us not we have no part in him Iohn 13.8 When will we be earnest if not when we are praying for the life of our Souls 3. It is only fervent prayer hath the promise of Mercy affixed to it Ier. 29.14 Then shall ye find me when ye search for me with all your heart 'T is dead praying without a promise and the promise is made only to ardency The Aediles among the Romans had their doors always standing open that all who had petitions might have free access to them Gods heart is ever open to fervent prayer 4. Prayer must be sincere Sincerity is the Silver-thread which must run through the whole Duties of Religion Sincerity in prayer is when we have gracious holy ends in prayer Our prayer is not so much for Temporal Mercies as Spiritual We send out our prayer as a Merchant sends out his Ship that we may have large returns of Spiritual Blessings Our aim in prayer is that our Heart may be more holy that we may have more Communion with God Our design is that by prayer we may encrease the stock of Grace Prayer which wants a good aim wants a good issue 5. Prayer that will prevail with God must have fixation of mind Psal. 57.7 O God my heart is fixed Since the fall the mind is like Quick-silver which will not fix it hath principium motus but non quietis The thoughts will be roving and dancing up and down in prayer Just as if a Man that is travelling to such a place should turn out of the road and wander he knows not whither In prayer we are travelling to the Throne of Grace but how often do we by vain cogitations turn out of the road which is rather wandring than praying Quest. But how shall we cure these vain impertinent thoughts which do so distract us in Prayer and we may fear hinder the acceptance Answ. 1. Be very apprehensive in Prayer of the infiniteness of Gods Majesty and Purity Gods eye is upon us in Prayer and we may say as David Psal. 56.8 Thou tellest my wandrings The thoughts of this would make us hoc agere mind the Duty we are about If a Man were to deliver a petition to an Earthly Prince would he at that time be playing with a feather Set your selves when you pray as in Gods presence Could you but look through the key-hole of Heaven and see how devout and intent the Angels are in their worshipping God sure you would be ready to blush at your vain thoughts and wild impertinencies in Prayer 2. If you would keep your Mind fixed in prayer keep your Eye fixed Psalm 123.1 Vnto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens Much vanity comes in at the eye When the eye wanders in prayer the heart wanders To think to keep the heart fixed in Prayer and yet let the eye gaze is as if one should think to keep his house safe yet let the windows be open 3. If you would have your thoughts fixed in Prayer get more love to God Love 〈◊〉 a great fixer of the thoughts He who is in love cannot keep his thoughts off the Object He who loves the World his thoughts run undisturbedly upon the World Did we love God more our minds would be more intent upon him in Prayer Were there more delight in Duty there would be less distraction 4. Implore the help of Gods Spirit to fix our minds and make them intent and serious in Prayer The Ship without a Pilot rather floats than sails that our thoughts do not float up and down in Prayer we need the Blessed Spirit to be our pilot to steer us only Gods Spirit can bound the thoughts A shaking Hand may as well write a line steadily as we can keep our Hearts fixed in Prayer without the Spirit of God 5. Make holy thoughts familiar to you in your ordinary course of Life David was oft musing on God Psal. 139.18 When I awake I am still with thee He who gives himself liberty to have vain thoughts out of Prayer will scarce have other thoughts in Prayer 6 If you would keep your Mind fixed on God watch your Hearts not only watch them after prayer but in prayer The Heart will be apt to give you the slip and have a thousand vagaries in prayer We read of Angels ascending and descending on Jacobs Ladder So in Prayer you shall find your Hearts ascending to Heaven and in a moment descending upon Earthly Objects O Christians watch your Hearts in prayer What a shame is it to think that when we are speaking to God in prayer our Hearts should be in the Fields or in our Compting house or one way or other running upon the Devils errand 7. Labour for more degrees of Grace The more Ballast the Ship hath the better it sails so the more the Heart is ballasted with Grace the steadier it will sail to Heaven in Prayer 6. Prayer that is likely to prevail with God must be Argumentative God loves to have us plead with him and use Arguments in Prayer see how many Arguments Iacob used in Prayer Gen. 32.11 Deliver me I pray thee from the hand of my Brother The Arguments he useth are 1. From Gods Command ver 9. Thou saidst to me return to thy Country As if he had said I did not take this Journey of my own head but by thy direction therefore thou canst not but in honour protect me And he useth another Argument ver 12. Thou saidst I will surely do thee good Lord wilt thou go back from thy own promise Thus he was Argumentative in Prayer and he got not only a new Blessing but a new Name ver 28. Thy name shall no more be called Iacob but Israel for as a Prince hast thou had power with God and prevailed God loves to be overcome with strength of Argument Thus when we come to God in prayer for Grace be Argumentative Lord thou callest thy self the God of all grace and whither should we go with our Vessel but to the Fountain Lord thy grace may be imparted yet not impaired Hath not Christ purchased grace for poor indigent Creatures Every dram of Grace cost a drop of Blood Shall Christ dye to purchase Grace for us and
capacity Clearness is the grace of Speech 3. It s Compleatness This prayer contains in it the chief things that we have to ask or God hath to bestow VSE Let us have a great esteem of the Lords prayer let it be the model and pattern of all our prayers There is a double benefit ariseth from framing our petitions suitable to the Lords prayer 1. Hereby Error in prayer is prevented 'T is not easie to write wrong Copy we cannot easily err having our pattern before us 2. Hereby Mercies requested are obtained for the Apostle assures us God will hear us when we pray according to his Will 1 Iohn 5.14 and sure we pray according to his Will when we pray according to his pattern he hath set us So much for the Introduction to the Lords prayer After this manner pray ye II. The Prayer it self which consists of three parts 1. A Preface 2. Petitions 3. The Conclusion 1. The Preface to the prayer 1. Our Father 2. Which art in Heaven To begin with the first words of the Preface 1. Our Father Father is sometimes taken personally Iohn 14.28 My Father is greater than I But Father in the Text is taken essentially for the whole Deity This Title Father teacheth us to whom we must address our selves in prayer to God alone Here is no such thing in the Lords prayer as O ye Saints or Angels that are in Heaven hear us but our Father which art in Heaven Quest. In what order must we direct our Prayers to God Here is only the Father named may not we direct our Prayers to the Son and Holy Ghost Answ. Though the Father only be named in the Lords prayer yet the other two persons are not hereby excluded The Father is mentioned because he is first in order but the Son and Holy Ghost are included because they are the same in Essence As all the three persons subsist in one Godhead so in our prayers though we name but one â—â—rson we must pray to all To come then more closely to the first words of the Preface Our Father Princes on Earth give themselves Titles expressing their Greatness as High and Mighty God might have done so and expressed himself thus Our King of Glory Our Iudge but he gives himself another Title Our Father an expression of Love and Condescension God that he might encourage us to pray to him represents himself under this sweet notion of a Father Our Father Dulce nomen Patris The Name Iehovah carries Majesty in it the Name Father carries Mercy in it Quest. 1. In what sense is God a Father Resp. 1. By Creation it is he that hath made us Acts 17.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are his Off-spring Mal. 2.10 Have we not all one Father Hath not one God Created us But there is little comfort in this for so God is Father to the Devils by Creation but he that made them will not save them 2. God is a Father by Election having chosen a certain number to be his Children whom he will entail Heaven upon Eph. 1.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath chosen us in him 3. God is a Father by special Grace he consecrates the elect by his Spirit and infuseth a supernatural principle of Holiness therefore they are said to be born of God 1 Iohn 3.9 Such only as are sanctified can say Our Father which art in Heaven Quest. 2. What is the difference between God being the Father of Christ and the Father of the Elect Resp. God is the Father of Christ in a more glorious transcendent manner Christ hath the primo-geniture he is the eldest Son a Son by eternal generation Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was Isa. 53.8 Who shall declare his generation Christ is a Son to the Father yet so as he is of the same Nature with the Father having all the incommunicable properties of the Godhead belonging to him But we are Sons of God by Adoption and Grace Gal. 4.5 That we might receive the adoption of Sons Quest. 3. What is that which makes God our Father Resp. Faith Gal. 3.26 Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus An Unbeliever may call God his Creator and his Judge but not his Father Faith doth legitimate us and make us of the Blood-Royal of Heaven Ye are the children of God by faith Baptism makes us Church-Members but Faith makes us Children Without Faith the Devil can show as good a Coat of Arms as we Quest. 4. How doth Faith make God to be our Father Resp. As Faith is an uniting Grace by Faith we have Coalition and Union with Christ and so the Kindred comes in being united to Christ the Natural Son we become Adopted Sons God is the Father of Christ Faith makes us Christs Brethren Heb. 2.11 and so God comes to be our Father Quest. 5. Wherein doth it appear that God is the best Father Resp. 1. In that he is most Antient Dan. 7.9 The antient of dayes did sit A figurative representation of God who was before all time This may cause Veneration 2. God is the best Father because he is perfect Matth. 5.48 Your Father which is in Heaven is perfect He is perfectly good Earthly Fathers are subject to infirmities Elias though a Prophet was a man of like passions Iam. 5.17 but God is perfectly good All the perfection we can arrive at in this Life is sincerity we may a little resemble God but not equal him He is infinitely perfect 3. God is the best Father in respect of Wisdom 1 Tim. 1.17 The only wise God He hath a perfect Idea of Wisdom in himself He knows the fittest Mediums to bring about his own designs the Angels light at his Lamp In particular this is one branch of his Wisdom that he knows what is best for us An Earthly Parent knows not in some intricate cases how to advise his Child or what may be best for him to do but God is a most wise Father he knows what is best for us he knows when Comfort is best for us he keeps his Cordials for fainting 2 Cor. 7.6 God who comforteth them that are cast down He knows when affliction is best for us and when it is fit to give a bitter potion 1 Pet. 1.6 If need be ye are in heaviness He is the only wise God he knows how to make evil things work for good to his Children Rom. 8 28. he can make a soveraign treacle of poyson Thus he is the best Father for Wisdom 4. He is the best Father because most loving 1 Iohn 4.16 God is love He who causeth bowels of affection in others must needs have more bowels himself quod efficit tale The Affections in Parents are but Marble and Adamant in comparison of Gods Love to his Children he gives them the cream of his Love electing Love saving Love Zeph. 3.17 He will rejoyce over thee with joy he will rest in his love
the power of Godliness cannot say God is their Father they may say Our Father which art in Hell Well then how may we know that God is our Father Resp. 1. By having a Filial disposition This is in four things 1. To melt in tears for Sin A Child weeps for offending his Father When Christ looked on Peter and he remembred his Sin in denying Christ he fell a weeping Clemens Alexandrinus reports of Peter he never heard a Cock crow but he wept This is a sign God is our Father When the heart of stone is taken away and there is a gracious thaw in the heart it melts in tears for Sin and he who hath a Child-like heart mourns for Sin in a Spiritual manner as it is Sin He grieves for it 1. As it is an Act of Pollution Sin deflours the Virgin-Soul it defaceth Gods Image it turns beauty into deformity 't is called the plague of the heart 1 Kings 8.38 It is the spirits of evil distilled A Child of God mourns for the defilement of Sin Sin hath a blacker aspect than Hell 2. He who hath a Child-like heart grieves for Sin as 't is an Act of Enmity Sin is diametrically opposite to God It is called a walking contrary to God Lev. 26.40 If they shall confess their iniquity and that they have walked contrary to me Sin doth all it can to spight God If God be of one mind Sin will be of another Sin would not only unthrone God but it strikes at his very Being if Sin could help it God should be no longer God A Child-like heart grieves for this O saith he that I should have so much enmity in me that my Will should be no more subdued to the Will of my Heavenly Father this springs a leak of godly sorrow 3. A Child-like heart weeps for Sin as it is an Act of Ingratitude Sin is an abuse of Gods Love it is a taking the Jewels of Gods Mercies and making use of them to sin God hath done more for his Children than others he hath planted his grace and given them some intimations of his favour and to sin against kindness dyes a sin in grain and makes it Crimson Like Absalom as soon as his Father kissed him and took him into favour plotted Treason against him Nothing so melts a Child-like heart in tears as sins of unkindness O that I should sin against the Blood of a Saviour and the Bowels of a Father I condemn ingratitude in my Child yet I am guilty of ingratitude against my Heavenly Father This opens a vein of godly sorrow and makes the heart bleed afresh certainly this evidenceth God to be our Father when he hath given us this Child-like frame of heart to weep for sin as it is sin an act of Pollution Enmity Ingratitude A wicked Man may mourn for the bitter Fruit of Sin but only a Child of God can grieve for the odious Nature of Sin 2. A Filial or Child-like disposition is to be full of sympathy We lay to heart the dishonours reflected upon our Heavenly Father when we see Gods Worship adulterated his Truth mingled with the poyson of Errour it is as a Sword in our Bones to see Gods Glory suffer Psal. 119.158 I beheld the transgressors and was grieved Homer describing Agamemnons grief when he was forced to sacrifice his Daughter Iphigenia brings in all his Friends weeping and condoling with him so when God is dishonoured we sympathize and are as it were clad in mourning A Child that hath any good Nature is cut to the heart to hear his Father reproached An Heir of Heaven takes a dishonour done to God more heinous than a disgrace done to himself 3. A Filial disposition is to love our Heavenly Father He is unnatural that doth not love his Father God who is crown'd with excellency is the proper object of delight and every true Child of God saith as Peter Lord thou knowest that I love thee But who will not say he loves God If ours be a true genuine love to our Heavenly Father it may be known 1. By the effects 1. Then we have an holy fear There is a fear which ariseth from love to God that is we fear the loss of the visible tokens of Gods presence 1 Sam. 4.13 Elies heart trembled for the Ark. It is not said his heart trembled for his two Sons Hophni and Phinchas but his heart trembled for the Ark because the Ark was the special sign of Gods Presence and if that were taken the Glory was departed He who loves his Heavenly Father fears least the tokens of his Presence should be removed least Profaneness should break in like a flood least Popery should get head and God should go from a people The presence of God in his Ordinances is the glory and strength of a Nation The Trojans had the Image of Pallas and they had an opinion that as long as that Image was preserved among them they should never be conquered So long as Gods presence is with a people so long they are safe Every true Child of God fears least God should go and the glory depart Try by this whether we have a Filial disposition Do we love God and doth this love cause fear and jealousie Are we afraid least we should lose Gods presence Least the Sun of Righteousness remove out of our Horizon Many are afraid least they should lose some of their Worldly profits but not least they lose the presence of God If they may have Peace and Trading they care not what becomes of the Ark of God A true Child of God fears nothing so much as the loss of his Fathers presence Hos. 9.12 Wo to them when I depart from them 2. Love to our Heavenly Father is seen by loving his Day Isa. 58.13 If thou call the Sabbath a delight The Antients called this Regina Dierum the Queen of Days If we love our Father in Heaven we spend this day in Devotion in Reading Hearing Meditating On this day Manna falls double God sanctified the Sabbath He made all the other days in the Week but he hath sanctified this day this day he hath crown'd with a Blessing 3. Love to our Heavenly Father is seen by loving his Children 1 Iohn 5.1 Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him If we love God the more we see of God in any the more we love them we love them though they are poor A Child loves to see his Fathers picture though hung in a mean frame we love the Children of our Father though they are persecuted 2 Tim. 1.16 Onesiphorus was not ashamed of my chain Constantine did kiss the hole of Paphnusius's eye because he suffered the loss of his eye for Christ. It appears they have no love to God who have no love to his Children they care not for their company they have a secret disgust and antipathy against them Hipocrites pretend great reverence to the Saints departed they canonize
dead Saints but persecute living I may say of these as the Apostle Heb. 12.8 They are bastards not sons 4. Effect of love if we love our Heavenly Father then we will be Advocates for him and stand up in the defence of his Truth He who loves his Father will plead for him when he is traduced and wronged He hath no Child-like heart no love to God who can hear Gods name dishonoured and be silent Doth Christ appear for us in Heaven and are we afraid to appear for him on Earth Such as dare not own God and Religion in times of danger God will be ashamed to be called their God it would be a reproach to him to have such Children as will not own him 2. A Child-like love to God is known as by the Effects so by the Degree it is a superiour love We love our Father in Heaven above all other things above Estate or Relations as Oyl runs above the Water Psal. 73.25 A Child of God seeing a super eminency of Goodness and a constellation of all Beauties in God he is carried out in love to him in the highest measure As God gives his Children such a love as he doth not bestow upon the wicked electing love so Gods Children give God such a love as they bestow upon none else adoring love they give him the flower and spirits of their love they love him with a love joyned with worship this spiced Wine they keep only for their Father to drink of Cant. 8.2 4. A Child-like disposition is seen in honouring our Heavenly Father Mal. 1.6 A Son honoureth his Father Quest. How 〈◊〉 show our honour to our Father in Heaven Resp. 1. By having a reverential awe of God upon us Lev. 25.17 Thou shalt fear thy God This reverential fear of God is when we dare do nothing that he hath forbidden in his Word Gen. 39.9 How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God It is the part of the honour a Son gives to his Father he fears to displease him 2. We show our honour to our Heavenly Father by doing all we can to exalt God and make his Excellencies shine forth though we cannot lift up God higher in Heaven yet we may lift him higher in our hearts and in the esteem of others When we speak well of God set forth his renown display the trophies of his goodness when we ascribe the glory of all we do to God when we are the trumpeters of Gods praise this is an honouring our Father in Heaven and a certain sign of a Child-like heart Psal. 50.23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me 2. We may know God is our Father by our resembling of him The Child is his Fathers Picture Iudg. 8.18 Each one resembled the children of a King Every Child of God resembles the King of Heaven herein Gods adopting Children and Mans differ A Man adopts one for his Son and Heir that doth not at all resemble him but whosoever God adopts for his Child is like him he not only bears his Heavenly Fathers Name but Image Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the image of him that created him He who hath God for his Father resembles God in Holiness Holiness is the glory of the Godhead Exod. 15.11 The Holiness of God is the intrinsick Purity of his Essence He who hath God for his Father partakes of the Divine Nature though not of the Divine Essence yet of the Divine Likeness As the Seal sets its print and likeness upon the Wax so he who hath God for his Father hath the print and effigies of his Holiness stamped upon him Psal. 106.16 Aaron the Saint of the Lord. Wicked Men desire to be like God hereafter in glory but do not affect to be like him here in grace they give it out to the World that God is their Father yet have nothing of God to be seen in them they are unclean they not only want his Image but hate it 3. We may know God is our Father by having his Spirit in us 1. By having the intercession of the Spirit 'T is a Spirit of Prayer Gal. 4.6 Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Prayer is the Souls breathing it self into the bosom of its Heavenly Father None of Gods Children are born dumb implet Spiritus sanctus organum suum tanquam Pila chordarum tangit Spiritus Dei corda sanctorum Prosper Acts 9.11 Behold he prayeth But it is not every Prayer evidenceth Gods Spirit in us Such as have no grace may excel in gifts and affect the hearts of others in Prayer when their own hearts are not affected As the Lute makes a sweet sound in the ears of others but it self is not sensible how therefore shall we know our Prayers are indited by Gods Spirit and so he is our Father Resp. 1. When they are not only Vocal but Mental when there are not only gifts but groans Rom. 8.26 The best Musick is in consort the best Prayer is when the heart and tongue joyn together in consort 2. When they are zealous and fervent Iam. 5.16 The effectual fervent Prayer of a righteous man availeth much The eyes melt in Prayer the heart burns Fervency is to Prayer as Fire to the Incense it makes it ascend to Heaven as a sweet perfume 3. When Prayer hath Faith sprinkled in it Prayer is the Key of Heaven and Faith is the hand that turns it Rom. 8.15 We cry Abba Father We cry there is fervency in Prayer Abba Father there is Faith Those Prayers suffer shipwrack which dash upon the rock of unbelief Thus we may know God is our Father by having his Spirit praying in us As Christ intercedes above so the Spirit intercedes within 2. By having the renewing of the Spirit which is nothing else but Regeneration which is called a being born of the Spirit Iohn 3.5 This regenerating work of the Spirit is a transformation or change of Nature Rom. 12.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind He who is born of God hath a new heart New not for substance but for qualities The strings of a Viol may be the same but the Tune is altered Before this Regeneration there are Spiritual Pangs much heart-breaking for Sin Regeneration is called a circumcising of the heart Col. 2.11 In Circumcising there was pain in the flesh so in this Spiritual Circumcision there is pain in the heart there is much sorrow arising from the sense of guilt and wrath The Jaylors trembling Acts 16.30 was a pang in the new birth Gods Spirit is a Spirit of Bondage before it be a Spirit of Adoption This blessed work of Regeneration spreads over the whole Soul it irradiates the Mind it consecrates the Heart and reforms the Life Though Regeneration be but in part it is in every part 1 Thess. 5.23 Regeneration is the signature
and engraving of the Holy Ghost upon the Soul The new born Christian is bespangled with the Jewels of the 〈◊〉 which are the Angels glory Regeneration is the spring of all true joy At our first birth we come weeping into the World but at our new birth there 's cause of rejoycing for now God is our Father and we are begotten to a lively hope of glory 1 Pet. 1.3 We may try by this our relation to God Hath a regenerating work of Gods Spirit passed upon our Souls Are we made of another Spirit Humble and Heavenly This is a good sign of Son-ship and we may say Our Father which art in Heaven 3. By having the conduct of the Spirit We are led by the Spirit Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Gods Spirit doth not only quicken us in our Regeneration but leads us on till we come to the end of our Faith Salvation It is not enough the Child have Life but he must be led every step by the Nurse Hos. 11.3 I taught Ephraim to go taking them by their armes Their Armes as the Israelites had the Cloud and Pillar of Fire to go before them and be a guide to them so Gods Spirit is a guide to go before us and lead us into all truth and counsel us in all our doubts and influence us in all our actions Psalm 73.24 Thou shalt guide me by thy counsels None can call God Father but such as have the conduct of his Spirit Try then what Spirit you are led by Such as are led by a Spirit of Envy Lust Avarice these are not led by the Spirit of God it were blasphemy for them to call God Father These are led by the Spirit of Satan and may say Our Father which art in Hell 4. By having the Witness of the Spirit Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God This Witness of the Spirit suggesting that God is our Father is not a Vocal Witness or Voice from Heaven The Spirit in the Word witnesseth The Spirit in the Word saith he who is so qualified who is an hater of Sin and a lover of Holiness is a Child of God and God is his Father if I can find such qualifications wrought here is the Spirit witnessing with my Spirit that I am a Child of God Besides we may carry it higher the Spirit of God witnesseth to our Spirit by making more than ordinary impressions upon our hearts and giving some secret hints and whispers that God hath purposes of Love to us Here is a concurrent witness of the Spirit with Conscience that we are Heirs of Heaven and God is our Father This Witness is better felt than expressed this Witness scatters doubts and fears silenceth temptations but what shall one do that hath not this Witness of the Spirit If we wâ—â—t the Witness of the Spirit let us labour to find the Work of the Spirit if we have not the Spirit testifying labour to have it sanctifying and that will be a support to us 4. If God be our Father we are of Peaceable Spirits Matth. 5.9 Blessed are the peace-makers they shall be called the children of God Grace infuseth a sweet amicable disposition it files off the ruggedness of Mens Spirits it turns the Lion-like fierceness into a Lamb-like gentleness Isa. 11.7 They who have God to be their Father follow Peace as well as Holiness God the Father is called the God of Peace Heb. 13.20 God the Son the Prince of Peace Isa. 9.6 God the Holy Ghost is a Spirit of Peace It is called the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4.3 The more peaceable the more like God It is a bad sign God is not their Father 1. Who are fierce and cruel as if with Romulus they had sucked the Milk of a Wolf Rom. 3.17 The way of peace have they not known they sport in mischief these are they who are of a persecuting Spirit as Maximinus Dioclesian Antiochus who as Eusebius took more tedious journeys and run more hazards in vexing and persecuting the Iewes than any of his Predecessors had done in getting of Victories These Furies cannot call God Father if they do they will have as little comfort in saying Father as Dives had in Hell when he said Father Abraham Luke 16.24 2. Who are makers of division Rom. 16.17 Mark them which cause divisions and avoid them Such as are born of God are makers of Peace what shall we think of such as are makers of Division will God Father these The Devil made the first division in Heaven they may call the Devil Father they may give the Cloven Foot in their Coat of Armes their sweetest Musick is in Discord they unite to divide Sampsons Fox-tails were tyed together only to set the Philistians Corn on fire Iudg. 15 4. Papists unite only to set the Churches Peace on fire· Satans Kingdom goes up by Divisions St. Chrysostome observes of the Church of Corinth when many Converts were brought in Satan knew no better way to dam up the current of Religion than to throw in an Apple of Strife and divide them into Parties one was for Paul and another for Apollos but few for Christ. Would not Christ have his Coat rent and can he endure to have his Body rent Sure God will never Father them who are not Sons of Peace Of all them who God hates he is named for one who is a sower of discord among brethren Prov. 6.19 5. If God be our Father then we love to be near God and have converse with him An ingenuous Child delights to approach near to his Father and go into his presence David envyed the Birds that they built their Nests so near Gods Altars when he was debarred his Fathers house Psal. 84.3 True Saints love to get as near to God as they can In the Word they draw near to his Holy Oracle in the Sacrament they draw near to his Table a Child of God delights to be in his Fathers presence he cannot stay away long from God he sees a Sabbath day approaching and rejoyceth his heart hath been often melted and quickened in a Ordinance he hath tasted the Lord is good therefore he loves to be in his Fathers presence he cannot keep away long from God Such as care not for Ordinances cannot say Our Father which art in Heaven Is God their Father who cannot endure to be in his presence VSE I. Of Instruction See the amazing goodness of God that is pleased to enter into this sweet relation of a Father God needed not to adopt us he did not want a Son God did not want a Son but we did a Father God showed Power in being our Maker but Mercy in being our Father When we were enemies and our hearts stood out as garrisons against God that he should conquer our stubbornness and of enemies make us children and write his
his Son Doth God command Parents to instruct their Children Leut. 4.10 and will not he instruct his Isa. 48.17 I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit Psal. 71.17 O God thou hast taught me from my youth If God be our Father he will give us the teachings of his Spirit The natural man receives not the things of God neither can he know them 1 Cor. 2.14 The Natural Man may have excellent notions in Divinity but God must teach us to know the Mysteries of the Gospel after a Spiritual manner A Man may see the figures upon a Dyal 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 God by his Spirit shine upon our Soul God teacheth not only our Ear but our Heart he not only informs our Mind but inclines our Will we never learn till God teach us If God be our Father he will teach us how to order our affairs with discretion Psalm 112.5 how to carry our selves wisely 1 Sam. 18.5 David behaved himself wisely he will teach us what to answer when we are brought before Governours he will put words into our mouths Matth. 10.18 19 20. Ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my sake but take no thought how or what ye shall speak For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you 2. If God be our Father then he hath Bowels of Affection towards us If it be so unnatural for a Father not to love his Child can we think God will be defective in his Love All the affections of Parents come from God but a spark from his flame He is the Father of Mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 he begets all the Mercies and Bowels in the Creature His Love to his Children is a Love which passeth knowledge Eph. 3.19 it exceeds all dimensions it is higher than Heaven it is broader than the Sea That you may see Gods Fatherly Love to his Children 1. Consider God makes a precious valuation of them Isa. 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight A Father prizeth his Child above his Jewels their names are precious for they have Gods own name written upon them Rev. 3.12 I will write upon him the name of my God Their Prayers are a precious perfume their Tears God bottles Psal. 56.8 God esteems his Children as a Crown of glory in his hand Isa. 62.3 2. God loves the places they were born in the better for their sakes Psal. 87.6 Of Sion it shall be said this man was born there this and that Believer was born there God loves the ground his Children tread upon Hence Iudea the seat of Gods Children and Chosen God calls a delightsome Land Mal. 3.12 It was not only pleasant for Scituation and Fruitfulness but because Gods Children who were his Hephsibab or Delight lived there 3. He chargeth the great ones of the World not to prejudice his Children their Persons are sacred Psal. 105.14 He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes saying Touch not mine anointed By Anointed is meant the Children of the High God who have the Unction of the Spirit and are set apart for God 4. God delights in their company he loves to see their Countenance and hear their Voice Cant. 2.14 he cannot refrain long from their company Let but two or three of his Children meet and pray together he will be sure to be among them Matth. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name I am in the midst of them 5. God bears his Children in his Bosom as a nursing Father doth the sucking Child Numb 11.12 Isa. 46.4 To be carried in Gods Bosom shows how near his Children lye to his Heart 6. God is full of sollicitous care for them 1 Pet. 5.7 He careth for you His eye is still upon them they are never out of his thoughts A Father cannot always take care for his Child he sometimes is asleep but God is a Father that never sleeps Psal. 121.4 He neither slumbereth nor sleepeth 7. He thinks nothing too good to part with to his Children He gives them the Kidneys of the Wheat and Honey out of the Rock and Wine on the Lees well refined Isa. 25.6 He gives them three Jewels more worth than Heaven the Blood of his Son the Grace of his Spirit the Light of his Countenance Never was there such an indulgent affectionate Father 8. If God hath one Love better than other he bestows it upon them they have the cream and quintessence of his Love He will rejoyce over thee he will rest in his love Zeph. 3.17 God loves his Children with such a love as he loves Christ Iohn 17.26 it is the same love for the unchangeableness of it God will no more cease to love his Adopted Sons then he will to love his Natural Son 3. If God be our Father he will be full of sympathy Psal. 103.13 As a Father pityeth his Children so the Lord pityeth them that fear him Ier. 31.20 Is Ephraim my dear Son my bowels are troubled for him God pityes his Children in Two Cases 1. In Case of Infirmities 2. Injuries 1. In Case of Infirmities If the Child be deformed or hath any â—odily distemper the Father pityes it If God be our Father he pityes our weaknesses and he so pityes them as to heal them Isa. 57.18 I have seen his wayes and will heal him As God hath Bowels to pity so he hath Balsam to heal 2. In Case of Injuries Every blow of the Child goes to the Fathers heart when the Saints suffer God doth sympathize Isa. 63.9 In all their afflictions he was afflicted He did as it were bleed in their Wounds Saul Saul why persecutest thou me When the foot was trod on the head cryed out Iudg. 10.16 Gods Soul was grieved for the children of Israel As when one string in a Lute is touched all the rest of the strings sound When Gods Children are stricken his Bowels sound Zach. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of my eye 4. If God be our Father he will take notice of the least good he sees in us if there be but a sigh for Sin God hears it Psal. 38.9 My groaning is not hid from thee if there be but a penitential tear comes out of our eye God sees it Isa. 38.5 I have seen thy tears If there be but a good intention God takes notice 1 Kings 8.18 Whereas it was in thy heart to build an house to my name thou didst well that it was in thine heart God punisheth intentional wickedness and crowns intentional goodness Thou didst well that it was in thy heart God takes notice of the least scintilla the least spark of grace in his Children 1 Pet. 3.6 Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord. The Holy Ghost doth not mention Sarahs unbelief or laughing at the Promise he puts a finger upon
are more than conquerours How are Gods Children more than Conquerours Because they conquer without loss and because they are crowned after death which other Conquerours are not 15. If God be our Father he will now and then send us some tokens of his Love Gods Children live far from home and meet sometimes with coarse usage from the unkind World therefore God to encourage his Children sends them sometimes tokens and pledges of his Love What are these He gives them a return of Prayer there is a token of Love he quickens and enlargeth their Hearts in Duty there is a token of Love he gives them the first fruits of his Spirit which are Love-tokens Rom. 8.23 As God gives the wicked the first fruits of Hell horrour of Conscience and Despair so he gives his Children the first fruits of his Spirit Joy and Peace which are foretasts of Glory Some of Gods Children having received these tokens of Love from their Heavenly Father have been so transported that they have dyed for Joy as the Glass oft breaks with the strength of the Wine put into it 16. If God be our Father he will indulge and spare us Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him Gods sparing his Children imports this his clemency towards them he doth not punish them as he might Psal. 103.10 He hath not dealt with us according to our sins We oft do that which merits Wrath grieve Gods Spirit relapse into Sin God passeth by much and spares us God did not spare his Natural Son Rom. 8.32 yet he will spare his Adopted Sons God threatned Ephraim to make him as the Chaff driven with the Whirlwind but he soon repented Hos. 13.4 Yet I am the Lord thy God ver 10. I will be thy King Here God spared him as a Father spares his Son Israel oft provoked God with their complaints but God used clemency towards them he oft answered their murmurings with Mercies here he spared them as a Father spares his Son 17. If God be our Father he will put Honour and Renown upon us at the last day 1. He will clear the innocency of his Children Gods Children in this Life are strangely misrepresented to the World they are loaded with invectives they are called factious seditious Elijah the troubler of Israel Luther was called the trumpet of Rebellion Athanasius was accused to the Emperor Constantine to be the raiser of Tumults the Primitive Christians were accused to be infanticidii incestus rei killers of their Children guilty of Incest as Tertullian St. Paul reported to be a pestilent person Acts 24.5 Famous Wickliff called the Idol of the Hereticks and that he dyed drunk If Satan cannot defile Gods Children he will disgrace them if he cannot strike his fiery darts into their Conscience he will put a dead fly into their Name but God will one day clear his Childrens innocency he will roll away their reproach As God will make a Resurrection of Bodies so of Names Isa. 25.8 The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away God will be the Saints compurgator Psal. 37.6 He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light The Night casts its dark mantle upon the most beautiful Flowers but the light comes in the Morning and dispells the darkness and every Flower appears in its orient brightness so the wicked may by misreports darken the honour and repute of the Saints but God will dispel this darkness and cause their Names to shine forth He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light As God did stand up for the honour of Moses when Aaron and Miriam went about to eclipse his Fame Numb 12.8 Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses So will God say one day to the wicked wherefore were not ye afraid to defame and traduce my Children They having my Image upon them how durst ye abuse my Picture At last Gods Children shall come forth out of all their calumnies as a Dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold Psal. 68.13 2. God will make an open and honourable recital of all their good deeds As the Sins of the Wicked shall be openly mentioned to their eternal infamy and confusion so all the good deeds of the Saints shall be openly mentioned and then shall every man have praise of God 1 Cor. 4.5 Every Prayer made with melting eyes every good service every work of Charity shall be openly declared before Men and Angels Matth. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me meat thirsty and ye gave me drink naked and ye clothed me Thus God will set a Trophy of Honour upon all his Children at the last day Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father Matth. 13.43 18. If God be our Father he will settle good land of inheritance upon us 1 Pet. 1.4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus who hath begotten us again to a lively hope to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled A Father may be fallen to decay and have nothing to leave his Son but his Blessing but God will settle an Inheritance on his Children and an Inheritance no less than a Kingdom Luke 17.32 It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom This Kingdom is more Glorious and Magnificent than any Earthly Kingdom it is set out by Pearls and precious Stones the richest Jewels Rev 21.19 What are all the Rarities of the World to this Kingdom The Coasts of Pearl the Islands of Spices the Rocks of Diamonds In this Heavenly Kingdom is that which is satisfying unparallel'd Beauty Rivers of Pleasure and this for ever Psal. 16.11 At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Heavens eminency is its permanency and this Kingdom Gods Children shall enter into immediately after Death There is a sudden transition and passage from Death to Glory 2 Cor. 5.9 Absent from the body present with the Lord. Gods Children shall not stay long for their Inheritance it is but winking and they shall see God How may this comfort Gods Children who perhaps are low in the World your Father in Heaven will settle a Kingdom upon you at death such a Kingdom as eye hath not seen he will give you a Crown not of Gold but Glory he will give you white Robes lined with Immortality It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom 19. If God be our Father it is Comfort 1. In case of loss of Relations Hast thou lost a Father yet if thou art a Believer thou art no Orphan thou hast an Heavenly Father a Father that never dyes 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality 2. It is comfort in case of Death God is thy Father and at Death thou art going to thy Father Well might Paul say Death is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 it is your friend that will carry you home to your Father
How glad are Children when they are going home This was Christs comfort at Death he was going to his Father Ioh. 16.28 I leave the world and go to the Father and Iohn 20.17 I ascend to my Father If God be our Father we may with comfort at the day of death resign our Souls into his hands So did Christ Luke 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit If a Child hath any Jewel he will in time of danger put it into his Fathers hands where he thinks it will be kept most safe Our Soul is our richest Jewel we may at Death resign our Souls into Gods hands where they will be safer than in our own keeping Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit What a comfort is this Death carries a Believer to his Fathers house where are delights unspeakable and full of glory How glad was Old Iacob when he saw the Waggons and Chariots to carry him to his Son Ioseph the Text saith His Spirit revived Gen. 45.27 Death is a triumphant Chariot to carry every Child of God to his Fathers Mansion house 20. If God be our Father he will not disinherit his Children God may for a time desert them but not disinherit them The Sons of Kings have been sometimes disinherited by the cruelty of Usurpers as Alexander the Great his Son was put by his just Right by the violence and ambition of his Fathers Captains but what Power on Earth shall hinder the Heirs of the Promise from their Inheritance Men cannot and God will not cut off the entail The Arminians hold falling away from Grace and so a Child of God may be defeated of his Inheritance but I shall show you that Gods Children can never be degraded or disinherited their Heavenly Father will not cast them off from being Children 1. It is evident Gods Children cannot be finally disinherited by vertue of the Eternal Decree of Heaven Gods Decree is the very Pillar and Basis on which the Saints perseverance depends Gods Decree tyes the knot of Adoption so fast that neither Sin Death or Hell can break it asunder Rom. 8.30 Whom he did predestinate them he also called c. Predestination is nothing else but Gods decreeing a certain number to be Heirs of Glory on whom he will settle the Crown whom he predestinates he glorifies what shall hinder Gods electing Love or make his Decree null and void 2. Besides Gods Decree he hath engaged himself by Promise that the Heirs of Heaven shall never be put by their Inheritance Gods Promises are not like blanks in a Lottery but as a sealed Deed which cannot be reversed The Promises are the Saints Royal Charter and this is one Promise that their Heavenly Father will not disinherit them Ier. 32.40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Gods Fidelity which is the richest Pearl of his Crown is engaged in this Promise for his Childrens perseverance I will not turn away from them A Child of God cannot fall away while he is held fast in these two Armes of God his Love and his Faithfulness 3. Jesus Christ undertakes that all Gods Children by Adoption shall be preserved in a state of Grace till they inherit Glory As the Heathens feigned of Atlas that he did bear up the Heavens from falling Jesus Christ is that blessed Atlas that bears up the Saints from falling away Quest. How doth Christ preserve the Saints Graces till they come to Heaven Resp. 1. Influxu Spiritus Christ carries on Grace in the Souls of the Elect by the influence and co-operation of his Spirit Christ doth Spiritu continually excite and quicken Grace in the Godly his Spirit doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blow up the sparks of Grace into an holy flame Spiritus est Vicarius Christi The Spirit is Christs Vicar on Earth his Proxy his Executor to see that all that Christ hath purchased for the Saints be made good Christ hath obtained an Inheritance incorruptible for them 1 Pet. 1.4 and the Spirit of Christ is his Executor to see that this Inheritance be settled upon them 2. Christ carries on Grace perseveringly in the Souls of the Elect vi orationis by the prevalency of his intercession Heb. 7.25 He ever lives to make intercession for them Christ prayes that every Saint may hold out in Grace till he comes to Heaven Can the Children of such Prayers perish If the Heirs of Heaven should be disinherited and fall short of Glory then Gods Decree must be reversed his Promise broken Christs Prayer frustrated which were Blasphemy to imagine 4. That Gods Children cannot be disinherited or put by their Right to the Crown of Heaven is evident from their Mystical Union with Christ. Believers are incorporated into Christ they are knit to Christ as the Members to the Head by the Nerves and Ligaments of Faith so that they cannot be broken off Eph. 1.22 23. The Church which is his Body What was once said of Christs Natural Body is as true of his Mystical A bone of it shall not be broken As it is impossible to sever the leaven and the dough when they are once mingled and kneaded together so it is impossible when Christ and Believers are once united that they should ever by the power of Death or Hell be separated Christ and his Spiritual Members make one Christ now is it possible that any part of Christ should perish How can Christ want any Member of his Body Mystical and be perfect Every Member is an Ornament to the Body and adds to the honour of it How can Christ part with any Mystical Member and not part with some of his Glory too So that by all this it is evident that Gods Children must needs persevere in Grace and cannot be disinherited If they could be disinherited then the Scripture could not be fulfilled which tells us of Glorious Rewards for the Heirs of Promise Psal. 58.11 Doubtless there is a reward for the righteous Now if Gods Adopted Children should fall finally from Grace and miss of Heaven what Reward were there for the Righteous And Moses did indiscreetly to look to the recompence of reward and so there would be a door opened to despair Object This Doctrine of Gods Children persevering and having the Heavenly Inheritance settled on them may cause carnal security and make them less circumspect in their walking Resp. Corrupt Nature may as the Spider suck poyson from this Flower but a sober Christian who hath felt the efficacy of Grace upon his Heart dares not abuse this Doctrine He knows perseverance is attained in the use of means therefore he walks holily that so in the use of means he may arrive at perseverance St. Paul knew that he should not be disinherited and that nothing could separate him from the love of Christ but who more holy and watchful than he 1 Cor. 9.27 I
Preface which I shall but briefly touch on is which art in Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God is said to be in Heaven not that he is so included there that he is no where else for the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him ◠Kings 8.27 but the meaning is God is chiefly resident in the Empyrean Heaven which the Apostle calls the third Heaven 2 Cor. 12.2 there God doth most give forth his Glory to his Saints and Angels Quest. What may we learn from this that God is in Heaven Answ. 1. Hence we learn that we are to raise our Minds in Prayer above the Earth God is no where to be spoken with but in Heaven God never denyed that Soul his suit who went as far as Heaven to ask it 2. We learn from Gods being in Heaven his Soveraign Power Hoc vocabulo intelligitur omnia subesse ejus imperio Calvin Psal. 115.3 Our God is in the heavens he hath done whatever he pleased God being in Heaven governs the Universe and orders all Occurrences here below for the good of his Children When the Saints are in straits and dangers and see no way of relief he can send from Heaven and help them Psal. 57.3 He shall send from heaven and save me 3. We learn Gods Glory and Majesty He is in Heaven therefore he is covered with light Psal. 104.2 cloathed with honour Psal. 104.1 and is as far above all Worldly Princes as Heaven is above Earth 4. We learn from Gods being in Heaven his Omnisciency All things are naked and unmasked to his eye Heb. 4.13 Men plot and contrive against the Church but God is in Heaven and they do nothing but what our Father sees If a Man were on the top of an high Tower or Theatre he might thence see all the People below God is in Heaven as in an Tower or Theatre and he sees all the transactions of Men. The Wicked make wounds in the backs of the Righteous and then pour in Vinegar God writes down their cruelty Exod. 3.7 I have seen the afflictions of my people God is in Heaven and he can thunder out of Heaven upon his enemies Psal. 18.13 The Lord thundered in the heavens yea he sent out arrows and scattered them and he shot out lightnings and discomfited them 5. We learn from Gods being in Heaven Comfort for the Children of God when they pray to their Father the way to Heaven cannot be blocked up One may have a Father living in Foreign parts but the way both the Sea and by Land may be so blocked up that there is no coming to him but thou Saint of God when thou prayest to thy Father he is in Heaven and though thou art never so confined thou mayest have access to him A Prison cannot keep thee from thy God the way to Heaven can never be blocked up So I have done with the word Father I shall speak next of the Pronoun 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Our Father In the first there is an Appellation Father in the second an Appropriation Our Father Christ by this word Our would teach us thus much That in all our Prayers to God we should act Faith Our Father Father denotes Reverence Our Father denotes Faith In all our Prayers to God we should exercise Faith Our Father Faith is that which baptizeth Prayer and gives it a name it is called the Prayer of Faith Iam. 5.15 without Faith it is speaking not praying Faith is the breath of Prayer Prayer is dead unless Faith breathe in it Faith is a necessary requisite in Prayer The Oyl of the Sanctuary was made up of several sweet Spices pure Myrrhe Cassia Cinamon Exod. 30.23 Faith is the chief spice or ingredient into Prayer which makes it go up to the Lord as sweet Incense Iam. 1.6 Let him ask in faith Mat. 21.22 Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive Invoco te Domine quanquam languida imbecilla fide tamen fide Lord said Cruciger I pray though with a weak Faith yet with Faith Prayer is the Gun we shoot with Fervency is the Fire that dischargeth it and Faith is the Bullet which pierceth the Throne of Grace Prayer is the Key of Heaven Faith is the Hand that turns it Pray in faith Our Father Faith must take Prayer by the hand or there is no coming nigh to God Prayer without Faith is unsuccessful If a poor Handicrafts-man that lives by his labour hath spoiled his tools that he cannot work how shall he subsist Prayer is the tool we work with which procures all good for us but unbelief spoils and blunts our Prayers and then we can get no Blessing from God A Prayer that is Faithless is Fruitless As Ioseph said You shall not see my face unless you bring your brother Benjamin with you Gen. 43.3 so Prayer cannot see Gods face unless it bring its brother Faith with it What is said of Israel They could not enter in because of unbelief Heb. 3.19 is as true of Prayer it cannot enter into Heaven because of unbelief This makes Prayer often suffer shipwrack because it dasheth upon the rock of Unbelief O sprinkle Faith in Prayer We must say Our Father Quest. 1. What doth praying in Faith imply Resp. Praying in Faith implyes the having of Faith the act implyes the habit To walk implyes a principle of Life so to pray in Faith implyes an habit of Grace None can pray in Faith but Believers Quest. 2. What is it to pray in Faith Answ. 1. To pray in Faith is to pray for that which God hath promised where there is no promise we cannot pray in Faith 2. To pray in Faith is to pray in Christs meritorious Name Iohn 14.13 Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that will I do To pray in Christs Name is to pray in the hope and confidence of Christs Merit When we present Christ to God in Prayer when we carry the Lamb slain in our Armes when we say Lord we are Sinners but here is our Surety for Christs sake be propitious this is coming to God in Christs Name and this is to pray in Faith 3. To pray in Faith is in Prayer to fix our Faith on Gods faithfulness believing that he doth hear and will help this is a taking hold of God Isa. 64.7 By Prayer we draw nigh to God by Faith we take hold of him 2 Chron. 13.14 The children of Iudah cryed unto the Lord and this was the crying of Faith ver 18. They prevailed because they relyed on the Lord God of their Fathers Making supplication to God and staying the Soul on God is praying in Faith To pray and not rely on God for the granting our Petitions irrisio Dei est saith Pelican it is to abuse and put a scorn upon God By praying we seem to honour God by not believing we affront him In Prayer we say Almighty Merciful Father by not believing we blot out all his Titles again Quest. 3. How may we know
out of fear of Hell or because it brings shame and penury but still his heart goes after it Hos. 4.8 They set their heart on their iniquity as Lots Wife left Sodom but still her heart was in Sodom Hypocrites are like the Snake which casts her coat but keeps her poyson They keep the love of sin as one that hath been long Suitor to another though his Friends break off the march yet still he hath a hankering Love to her 2. It may be a partial Reformation He may leave one Sin and live in another he may refrain drunkenness and live in covetousness he may refrain swearing and live in the sin of slandering one Devil may be cast out and an other as bad may come in the room 3. A Man may forsake gross sins but have no reluctancy against Heart-sins Motus primo primi proud lustful Thoughts though he dams up the stream he lets alone the Fountain O therefore if there be so many deceits and Men may think the kingdom of grace is come into their Heart when it is not How curious and critical had we need be in our search whether we have the kingdom of grace really come into our hearts If a Man be deceived in the Title of his Land it is but the loss of his Estate But if he be deceived about his grace 't is the loss of his Soul I should now come to answer this Question How we know that the kingdom of grace is set up in our Hearts Quest. How may we know the Kingdom of Grace is set up in us Answ. 1. In general By having a Metamorphosis and Change wrought in the Soul This is called the New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 The Faculties are not new but there is a new Nature As the strings of the Lute are the same but the Tune is altered When the Kingdom of grace is set up there is Light in the Mind Order in the Affections Pliableness in the Will Tenderness in the Conscience Such as can find no change of heart they are the same they were as vain as earthly as unclean as ever there is no sign of Gods kingdom of grace in them 2. More particularly We may know the kingdom of grace is set up in our hearts 1. By having unfeigned desires after God This is the smoaking Flax Christ will not quench A true desire of grace is grace By the beating of this pulse conclude there is life Nehem. 1.11 O Lord let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy Servants who desire to fear thy Name But may not an Hypocrite have good desires Numb 23.10 Let me dye the Death of the Righteous Therefore I say unfeigned desires evidence the kingdom of God within a Man Quest. But how may these unfeigned Desires be known 1. An unfeigned desire is ingenuous we desire God propter se for himself for his intrinsecal Excellencies and the Oriency of his Beauty which shines The savour of Christs Ointments i. e. his graces draw the Virgins desires after him Cant. 1.3 A true Saint desires Christ not only for what he hath but for what he is not only for his Rewards but for his Holiness No Hypocrite can thus desire God he may desire him for his Jewels but not for his Beauty 2. An unfeigned desire is unsatiable it cannot be satisfied without God let the World heap her Honours and Riches they will not satisfy Not Flowers or Musick will content him who is thirsty Nothing will quench the Souls thirst but the blood of Christ He faints away his heart breaks with longing for God Psal. 84.2 Psal. 119.20 3. An unfeigned desire is active it flourisheth into endeavour Isa. 26.9 With my Soul have I desired thee yea with my Spirit within me will I seek these early A Soul that desires aright saith Christ I must have grace I must have I will have Heaven though I take it by storm He who desires water will let down the Bucket into the Well to draw it up 4. An unfeigned desire is superlative We desire Christ not only more then the world but more then Heaven Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee Heaven it self would not satisfy without Christ Christ is the Diamond in the Ring of glory If God should say to the Soul I will put thee into Heaven but I will hide my Face from thee I will draw a Curtain between that thou shalt not behold my glory the Soul would not be satisfied but say as Absalom 2 Sam. 14.32 Now therefore let me see the Kings face 5. An unfeigned desire is gradual It encreaseth as the Sun in the Horizon A little of God will not satisfy but the pious Soul desireth still more A drop of water is not enough for the thirsty Traveller Though a Christian is thankful for the least degree of grace yet he is not satisfied with the greatest still he thirsts for more of Christ and his Spirit Desire is an holy Dropsie A Saint would have more knowledge more Sanctity more of Christs Presence A glympse of Christ through the Lattice of an Ordinance is sweet and now the Soul will never leave longing till it sees him face to face He desires to have grace perfected in glory Dulcissimo Deo totus immergi cupit inviscerari He would be swallowed up in God and be ever bathing himself in those perfumed waters of pleasure which run at his right hand for ever Sure this unfeigned desire after God is a blessed sign that the kingdom of grace is come into our Hearts the beating of this pulse shows life est a Deó ut bene velimus Aug. If iron move upward contrary to its Nature 't is a sign some Loadstone hath been there drawing it If the Soul move towards God in unfeigned desires it 's a sign the Loadstone of the Spirit hath been drawing it 2. We may know the kingdom of grace is come into our Hearts by having the Princely grace of Faith Fides est sanctissima humani pectoris Gemma Faith cuts us off from the wild Olive of Nature and ingrafts us into Christ Faith is the vital artery of the Soul Heb. 10.38 The just shall live by Faith Faith makes an holy adventure on Christs Merits When this Faith as a Princely grace reigns in the Soul now the kingdom of God is come into us The Hebrew word for Faith comes from a Radix which signifies to nourish Faith nourisheth the Soul and is the Nurse of all the graces But who will not say he is a Believer Simon Magus believed Acts 8.13 yet was in the gall of bitterness The Hypocrite can put on Faiths Mantle as the Devil did Samuel's How shall we know therefore that our Faith is â—ound That it is the Faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12 and so that the kingdom of God is within us Answ. 1. True Faith is wrought by the Ministry of the Word Rom. 10.17 Faith comes by hearing Peter let down the Net of his Ministry and
2. That it may encrease and flourish 3. That the Kingdom of Glory may hasten and that God would in his due time translate us into it 1. What this Kingdom of Glory is 2. What are the Properties of it 3. Wherein it exceeds all other Kingdoms 4. When this Kingdome comes 5. Wherein appears the Certainty of it 6. Why we should pray for its coming 1. What this Kingdom of Glory is Answ. By this Kingdom is meant that glorious Estate which the Saints shall enjoy when they shall reign with God and Angels for ever If a Man stand upon the Sea-shore he cannot see all the Dimensions of the Sea the length breadth and depth of it yet he may see it is of a vast Extension So though the Kingdom of Heaven be of that incomparable Excellency that neither Tongue of Man or Angels can express yet we may conceive of it to be an exceeding glorious thing such as eye hath not seen Concerning the Kingdom of Heaven I shall show What 1. It Implies 2. It imports 1. What it implies Answ. It implies A blessed Freedom from all Evil. 2. What it imports Answ. It Imports glorious Fruition of all good 1. What the Kingdom of Heaven implies Resp. It implies a blessed freedom from all evil 1. A freedom from the Necessities of Nature We are in this Life subject to many Necessities We need Food to nourish us Cloathes to cover us Armour to defend us Sleep to refresh us But in the Kingdom of Heaven there is no need of these things and it is better not to need them then to have them as it is better not to need Crutches then to have Crutches What need will there be of Food when our Bodies shall be made spiritual 1 Cor. 15.44 Though not spiritual for substance yet for qualities What need will there be of Clothing when our Bodies shall be like Christs glorious Body what need will there be of Armour when there is no Enemy what need will there be of Sleep when there is no Night Rev. 22.5 The Saints shall be freed in the Heavenly Kingdom from those Necessities of Nature to which now they lye exposed 2 In the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from the Imperfections of Nature Since the Fall our Knowledge hath suffered an Eclipse 1. Our Natural Knowledge is imperfect it is checkered with Ignorance There are many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hard Knots in Nature which we cannot easily unty Why the Sea should be higher then the Earth yet not drown it What way the Light is parted Iob 38.24 What is the reason of all the occult Qualities Sympathies and Antipaâ—â—â—es He who sees clearest hath a Mist before his Eyes Socrates said on his Death-bed there were many things he had yet to learn Our Ignorance is more then our Knowledge 2. Our Divine Knowledge is imperfect we know but in part said Paul 1 Cor. 13.9 though he had many Revelations and was wrapt up into the third Heaven We have but dark Conceptions of the Trinity Iob 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God our narrow Capacities will no more contain the Trinity then a little Glass-Vial will hold all the Water in the Sea we cannot unriddle the Mistery of the Incarnation the Humane Nature assumed into the Person of the Son of God the Humane Nature not God yet united with God We see now in aenigmate in a Glass darkly but in the Kingdom of Heaven the Vail shall be taken off all Imperfections of Nature shall be done away When the Sun-light of Glory shall begin to shine in the Heavenly Horizon all dark shadows of Ignorance shall flye away our Lamp of Knowledge shall burn bright we shall have a full knowledge of God though not know him fully 3. In the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from the toylsome Labours of this Life God enacted a Law in Paradise In the sweat of thy Brows thou shalt eat Bread Gen. 3.9 There is the Labour of the Hand in Manufacture and the Labour of the Mind in Study Eccl. 1.8 All things are full of Labour but in the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from our Labours 1. There needs no Labour when a Man hath got to the Haven he hath no more need of failing In Heaven there needs no Labour because the Saints shall have that Glory which they laboured for 2. There shall be no Labour Rev. 14.13 They rest from their Labours As God when he had finished the Work of Creation rested from his Labours Gen. 2.2 So when the Saints have finished the Work of Sanctification they rest from their Labours Where should there be rest but in the Heavenly Center Not that this sweet rest in the Kingdom of Heaven excludes all Motion for Spirits cannot be idle but the Saints Glorified shall rest from all wearisome Imployment it shall be a labour full of ease a Motion full of Delight The Saints in Heaven shall love God and what labour is that Is it any Labour to love Beauty They shall praise God and that sure is delightful When the Bird sings it is not so much a Labour as a pleasure 4. In the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from Original Corruption This is causa causati the root of all Actual Sin There would be no Actual Sin if there were no Original there would be no Water in the Stream if there were none in the Fountain Original Sin is incorporated into our Nature 't is as if the whole mass of Blood were corrupted This makes a Christian weary of his Life he offends that God whom he loves What would a Christian give to have his Chains taken off to be rid of vain thoughts How did Paul that bird of Paradise bemoan himself for his Sins Rom. 7.24 we cannot act either our Duties or Graces without Sin The Soul that is most refined and clarified by Grace is not without some dregs of Corruption but in the Kingdom of Heaven the Fountain of Original Sin shall be quite dryed up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What a blessed time will that be never to grieve Gods Spirit more In Heaven are Virgin Souls there is Beauty which is not stained with Lust nothing enters there that defiles Rev. 21.27 5. In the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from all sorrows Rev. 21.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There shall be no more sorrow Our Life here is interlarded with trouble Psal. 31.10 either Losses grieve or Law-suits vex or Unkindness breaks the heart We may as well separate moisture from Air or weight from Lead as Troubles from Mans Life Quid est diu vivere nisi diu torqueri Aug. but in the Kingdom of Heaven sorrow and sighing shall fly away Here the Saints sit by the Rivers weeping but one smile from Christs Face will make them forget all their Sufferings their Water then shall be turned into Wine their Mourning into Musick 6. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from the immodesty of
〈◊〉 to depart and be with Christ from this Connexion departing and being with Christ we see clearly that there is a subitus transitus speedy passage from death to Glory No sooner is the Soul of a Believer divorced from the Body but it presently goes to Christ 2 Cor. 5.8 absent from the Body present with the Lord it were better for Believers to stay here if immediately after death they were not with Christ in Glory for here the Saints are daily encreasing their Grace here they have many praelibamina sweet tasts of Gods love so that it were better to stay here if their Soul should sleep in their body and they should not have a speedy sight of God in Glory But this is the Consolation of Believers they shall not stay long for their kingdom 't is but winking and they shall see God it will be a blessed change to a Believer from a Desert to a Paradise from a bloody battle to a victorious Crown and a sudden Change no sooner did Lazarus dye but he had a Convoy of Angels to conduct his Soul to the kingdom of Glory You who now are full of bodily Diseases scarce a well day Psal. 31.10 My Life is spent with Grief be of good Comfort you may be happy before you are aware before another Week or Month be over you may be in the kingdom of Glory and then all tears shall be wiped away 2. The Glory in the kingdom of Heaven will be fully perfected at the Resurrection and general day of Judgment then the Bodies and Souls of Believers will be re-united what Joy will there be at the Re-union and meeting together of the Soul and Body of a Saint O what a welcome will the Soul give to the Body O my dear Body thou didst oft joyn with me in Prayer and now thou shalt joyn with me in Praise thou wert willing to suffer with me and now thou shalt reign with me thou wert sown a vile Body but now thou art made like Christs Glorious Body we were once for a time divorc'd but now we are married and Crowned together in a kingdom and shall mutually congratulate each others Felicity 5. Quest. Wherein appears the Certainty and infallibility of this Kingdom of Glory Resp. That this blessed kingdom shall be bestowed on the Saints is beyond all Dispute 1. God hath promised it Luke 12.32 It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom Luke 22.29 I appoint unto you a Kingdom Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I bequeath it as my last Will and Testament Hath God promised a kingdom and will he not make it good Gods promise is better then any Bond Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal Life which God that cannot lye hath promised The whole Earth hangs upon the Word of Gods Power and cannot our Faith hang upon the Word of his Promise 2. There is a Price laid down for this kingdom Heaven is not only a kingdom which God hath promised but which Christ hath purchased 'T is called a purchased Possession Eph. 1.14 Though this kingdom is given us freely yet Christ bought it with the Price of his blood Christs blood is an Heaven-procuring blood Heb. 10.19 Having boldness to enter into the Holiest i. e. into Heaven by the blood of Iesus Crux Christi Clavis Paradisi Christs blood is the key that opens the Gates of Heaven to us should not the Saints have this kingdom then Christ would lose his Purchase Christ on the Cross was in hard Travail Isa. 13.11 he travailed to bring forth Salvation to the Elect should not they possess the kingdom when they dye Christ should lose his Travail all his Pangs and Agonies of Soul upon the Cross should be in vain 3. Christ prays that the Saints may have this kingdom settled upon them Iohn 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am i. e. in Heaven This is Christs Prayer that the Saints may be with him in his kingdom and be bespangled with some of the Beams of his Glory now if they should not go into this heavenly kingdom then Christs Prayer would be frustrated but that cannot be for he is Gods Favourite Iohn 11.42 I know thou hearest me alwaies and besides what Christ prays for he hath power to give Observe the manner of Christs Prayer Father I will Father there he prays as Man I will there he gives as God 4. The Saints must have this blessed kingdom by vertue of Christs Ascension Iohn 20.17 I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and to your God Where lies the comfort of this here it lies Jesus Christ ascended to take Possession of heaven for all Believers as an Husband takes up Land in another Country in the behalf of his Wife so Christ went to take possession of heaven in the behalf of all Believers Iohn 14.2 I go to prepare a place for you My Ascension is to make all things ready against your coming I go to prepare the heavenly Mansions for you The Flesh that Christ hath taken into heaven is a sure Pledge that all our Flesh and Bodies shall be where he is ere long Christ did not ascend to heaven as a private Person but as a publick Person for the good of all Believers his Ascension was a certain Fore-runner of the Saints ascending into heaven 5. The Elect must have this blessed kingdom in regard of the previous Works of the Spirit in their hearts they have the beginning of the kingdom of heaven in them here Grace is heaven begun in the Soul besides God gives them primitias spiritus the first Fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 These First-fruits are the Comforts of the Spirit the First-fruits under the Law were a certain sign to the Jews of the full Crop or Vintage which they should after receive The First-fruits of the Spirit consisting in Joy and Peace do assure the Saints of the full Vintage of Glory they shall be ever reaping in the kingdom of God and the Saints in this Life are said to have the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts 2 Cor. 5.5 as an earnest is part of Payment and an assurance of Payment in full to be made in due Time So Gods Spirit in the hearts of Believers giving them his Comforts bestows on them an earnest or tast of Glory which doth further assure them of that full Reward which they shall have in the kingdom of heaven 1 Pet. 1.8 believing ye rejoyce there is the earnest of heaven Verse 9. receiving the end of your Faith Salvation there is the full Payment 6. The Elect must have this blessed Kingdom by virtue of their Coalition and Vnion with Jesus Christ. They are Members of Christ therefore they must be where their Head is Indeed the Arminians hold that a justified person may fall from Grace and so his Union with Christ may be dissolved and the Kingdom lost but I would demand of them can Christ lose a
Member of his body then he is not perfect and if Christ may lose one Member of his Body why not as well all by the same reason and so he shall be an head without a Body but be assured a Believers Union with Christ cannot be broken and so long he cannot be hindred of the kingdom Iohn 17.12 what was said of Christs natural Body is as true of his Mistical Iohn 10.39 A bone of him shall not be broken Look how every Bone and Limb of Christs natural Body was raised up out of the Grave and carried into Heaven So shall every Member of his Mistical Body be carried up into Glory 7. We read of some who have been translated into this Kingdom Paul had a sight of it for he was caught up into the third Heaven 2 Cor. 12. and the converted Thief on the Cross was translated into Glory Luke 23.43 This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise By all that hath been said it is most evident That Believers have a glorious Kingdom laid up for them in reversion and that they shall go to this Kingdom when they dye There are none doubt of the certainty of the Heavenly Kingdom but such as doubt of the Verity of Scripture 6. Quest. Why we should so earnestly pray for this Heavenly Kingdom Thy Kingdom come Resp. 1. Because it is a kingdom worth praying for it exceeds the glory of all earthly kingdoms it hath Gates of Pearl Rev. 21.21 We have heard of a Cabinet of Pearl but when did we hear of Gates of Pearl In that Kingdom is the Bed of Love the Mountains of Spices there are the â—herubims not to keep us out but to welcome us into the Kingdom Heaven is a Kingdom worth praying for there 's nothing wanting in that Kingdom which may compleat the Saints happiness for wherein doth Happiness consist Is it in knowledge We shall know as we are known Is it in Dainty Fare We shall be at the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb Is it in rich Apparel We shall be clothed in long White Robes Is it in delicious Musick We shall hear the Quire of Angels singing Is it in Dominion We shall reign as Kings and judge Angels Is it in Pleasure We shall enter into the Ioy of our Lord. Sure then this Kingdom is worth praying for Thy Kingdom come Would God give us a Vision of Heaven a while as he did Stephen who saw Heaven opened Act. 7.56 We should fall into a Trance and being a little recovered out of it how importunately would we put up this Petition Thy Kingdom come 2. We must pray for this kingdom of Glory because God will not bestow this kingdom on any without Prayer Rom. 2.7 They who seek for Glory and Immortality and how do we seek but by Prayer God hath promised a kingdom and we must by Prayer put the Bond in suit God is not so lavish as to throw away a Kingdom on them who do not ask it and certainly if Christ himself who had merited Glory did yet pray for it Iohn 17.5 Now O Father Glorify me with thy own self How much more ought we to pray for the Excellent Glory who have this Kingdom granted as a Charter of Gods meer Grace and Favour 3. We must pray that the kingdom of Glory may come that by going into it we may make an end of sinning I think sometimes what a blessed time it will be never to have a sinful thought more though we must not pray Thy Kingdom come out of discontent because we would be rid of the troubles and crosses of this Life This was Ionahs fault he would dye in a pet because God took away his gourd Lord saith he take away my life too Ionah 4.8 But we must pray Thy Kingdom come out of an holy design that the fetters of corruption may be pulled off and we may be as the Angels those Virgin Spirits who never sin This made the Church pray Rev. 22.20 Veni Domine Iesu. 4. Because that all Christs enemies shall be put under his feet the Devil shall have no more power to tempt nor wicked Men to persecute the Antichristian-Hierarchy shall be pulled down and Sions Glory shall shine as a lamp and the Turkish strength shall be broken 5. We must pray earnestly that the kingdom of Glory may come that we may see God face to face and have an interrupted and eternal communion with him in the Empyrean Heaven Moses desired but a glimpse of Gods Glory Exod. 33.18 how then should we pray to see him in all his embroidered Robes of Glory when he shall shine ten thousand times brighter than the Sun in its Meridian splendour Here in this Life we do rather desire God than enjoy him how earnestly therefore should we pray Thy Kingdom of Glory come The beholding and enjoying God will be the Diamond in the Ring the very Quintessence of Glory And must we pray Thy Kingdom come how then are they ever like to come to Heaven who never pray for it Though God gives some prophane persons Daily Bread who never pray for it yet he will not give them a kingdom who never pray for it God may feed them but he will never crown them VSE I. Of Information 1. Branch From all this you see then that there is nothing within the whole sphere of Religion imposed upon unreasonable terms when God bids us serve him it is no unreasonable request he will out of Free-Grace inthrone us in a kingdom When we hear of Repentance steeping our Souls in brinish tears for sin or of Mortification beheading our king sin we are ready to grumble and think this is hard and unreasonable But do we serve God for nought Is it not infinite bounty to reward us with a Kingdom This Kingdom is as far above our thoughts as it is beyond our deserts No man can say without wrong to God that he is an hard Master though he sets us about hard work yet he is no hard Master God gives double pay he gives great vails in his service sweet Joy and Peace and a great reward after an eternal weight of Glory God gives the Spring flowers and a Crop he settles upon us such a Kingdom as exceeds our Faith Praemium quod Fide non attingitur Aug. Such as mortal eye hath not seen nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive 1 Cor. 2.9 Alas what an infinite difference is there between Duty enjoyned and the Kingdom prepared What is the shedding of a Tear to a Crown So that Gods commands are not grievous 1 Ioh. 5.3 our service cannot be so hard as a Kingdom is sweet 2. Br. See hence the Royal Bounty of God to his Children that he hath prepared a Kingdom for them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys A Kingdom bespangled with Glory It is infinitely above the Model we can draw of it in our Thoughts The Painter going to draw the Picture of Helena as not being able to draw her Beauty
the Earth and with the other Foot upon the Sea There are Rivers of Pleasure Gates of Pearl sparkling Crowns white Robes may not this make our hearts heavenly it is an heavenly kingdom and only such go into it as are heavenly VSE IV. Of Exhortation To all in General 1. Branch If there be such a glorious Kingdom to come believe this great Truth Socinians deny it The Rabbins say the great dispute between Cain and Aâ—â—l was about the world to come Abel affirmed it Cain denied it this should be engraven upon our hearts as with the point of a Diamond there is a blessed Kingdom in reversion Psal. 58.11 Doubtless there is a Reward for the Righteous Let us not haesitate through unbelief doubting of Principles is the next way to denying them Unbelief as Sampson would pull down the Pillars of Religion be confirmed in this there is a Kingdom of Glory to come whosoever denies this cuts a sunder the main Article of the Creed Life Everlasting 2. Branch If there be such a blessed Kingdom of Glory to come let us take heed least we miss of this Kingdom let us fear least we lose Heaven by short shooting trembling in the Body a Malady in the Soul a Grace this fear is not a fear of Diffidence or Distrust such a fear as discourageth the Soul for such a fear frights from Religion it cuts the Sinews of Endeavour but this holy fear least we miss of the Kingdom of Heaven is a fear of diligence it quickens us in the use of means and puts us forward that we may not fail of our hope Heb. 11.6 Noah being moved with fear prepared an Ark Fear is a watch Bell to awaken sleepy Christians it guards against security it is a spur to a sluggish heart He who fears he shall come short of his Journey rides the faster And indeed this Exhortation to fear least we miss of this Kingdom is most necessary if we consider two things First There are many who have gone many steps in the way to Heaven yet have fallen short of it Mark 12.34 Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God yet he was not near enough Quest. How many steps may a Man take in the way to the Kingdom yet miss of it Resp. 1. He may be adorned with Civility he may be morally righteous he may be prudent just temperate he may be free from paenal Statutes this is good but not enough to bring a Man to Heaven 2. He may hang out the Flag of a glorious Profession yet fall short of the Kingdom the Scribes and Pharisees went far they sate in Moses Chair were Expounders of the Law they pray'd gave Alms were strict in the observation of the Sabbath if one had got a Thorn in his Foot they would not pull it out on the Sabbath day for fear of breaking the Sabbath they were so externally devout in Gods worship that the Iews thought that if but two in the all World went to Heaven the one should be a Scribe and the other a Pharisee but the Mantle of their Profession was not lined with Sincerity they did all for the applause of Men therefore they missed of Heaven Mat. 5.20 Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of God 3. A Man may be a Frequenter of Ordinances and yet miss of the Kingdom 't is a good sight to see People flock as Doves to the Windows of Gods House 't is good to lye in the way where Christ passeth by yet be not offended if I say one may be an Hearer of the word and fall short of Glory Herod heard Iohn Baptist gladly yet beheaded Iohn instead of beheading his sin the Prohpet Ezekiel's Hearers did come with as much delight to his Preaching as one would do to a fit of Musick Ezek. 33.32 Thou art to them as a lovely Song of one that hath a pleasant Voice and can play well on an Instrument they hear thy Words but they do them not What is it to hear ones Duty and not do it As if a Phisician prescribe a good Receipt but the Patient doth not take it 4. A Man may have some trouble for sin and weep for it yet miss of the Heavenly Kingdom Quest. Whence is this Answ. 1. A Sinners tears are forced by Gods Judgments as water which comes out of a Still is forced by the fire 2. Trouble for sin is transient it is quickly over again as some that go to Sea are Sea-sick but when they come to Land they are well again So Hypocrites may be Sermon-sick but this trouble doth not last the sick fit is soon over 3. A Sinner weeps but goes on in sin his sins are not drowned in his tears 5. A Man may have good desires yet miss of the Kingdom Numb 23.10 O that I might dye the death of the righteous Quest. Wherein do these desires come short Answ. 1. They are sluggish A Man would have Heaven but will take no pains As if one should say he desires water but will not let down the bucket into the well Prov. 21.25 The desire of the slothful kills him his hands refuse to labour 2. The Sinner desires Mercy but not Grace he desires Christ as a Saviour but not as he is the â—oly One he desires Christ only as a bridge to lead him over to Heaven Such desires as these may be found among the damned 6. A Man may forsake his Sins Oaths Drunkenness Uncleanness yet come short of the Kingdom Quest. Whence is this Answ. 1. He may forsake gross sins yet he hath no reluctancy against heart sins Pride Unbelief and the first risings of Malice and Concupiscence Though he dams up the Stream yet he lets alone the Fountain though he lop and prune the Branches yet he doth not strike at the Root of it 2. Though he leaves Sin for fear of Hell or because it brings shame and penury yet he still loves Sin as if a Snake should cast her Coat yet keep her Poyson Hos. 4.8 They set their heart on their iniquity 3. 'T is but a partial forsaking of Sin though he leave one Sin he lives in some other Herod reformed very much Mark 6.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He did many things but he lived in Incest Some leave Drunkenness and live in Covetousness they forbear Swearing and live in Slandering It is but a partial reformation and so they miss of the Kingdom of Glory Thus you see there are some who have gone many steps in the way to Heaven yet have come short Some have gone so far in Profession that they have been confident their estate hath been good and they should go to the Kingdom of Heaven yet have missed it Luke 13.25 When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door and ye begin to stand without and to knock saying Lord Lord open to us How confident were these of Salvation they
was established in my Kingdom King Henry VI. was deposed from his Throne yet restored again to it but they who once lose Heaven can never be restored to it again After millions of years they are as far from obtaining Glory as at first Thus you see how needful this Exhortation is that we should fear least we fall short of this Kingdom of Heaven Quest What shall we do that we may not miss of this Kingdom of Glory Resp. 1. Take heed of those things which will make you miss of Heaven 1. Take heed of Spiritual Sloath. Many Christians are settled upon their lees they are loath to put themselves to too much pains It is said of Israel They despised the pleasant land Psal. 106.24 Canaan was a Paradise of Delight a Type of Heaven I but some of the Iews thought it would cost them a great deal of trouble and hazard in the getting and they would rather go without it They despised the pleasant land I have read of certain Spaniards that live where there is great store of Fish yet are so lazy that they will not be at the pains to catch them but buy of their Neighbours such a sinful sloath is upon the most that though the Kingdom of Heaven be offered to them yet they will not put themselves to any labour for it They have some faint velleities and desires O that I had this Kingdom like a Man that wisheth for Venison but will not hunt for it Prov. 13.4 The soul of the sluggard wisheth and hath nothing Men could be content to have the Kingdom of Heaven if it would drop as a ripe Fig into their mouth but they are loath to fight for it O take heed of Spiritual Sloath God never made Heaven to be an hive for drones We cannot have the World without labour and do we think to have the Kingdom of Heaven Heathens will rise up in Judgment against many Christians what pains did they take in their Olympick Races when they ran but for a Crown of Olive or Myrtle intermixed with Gold and do we stand still when we are running for a Kingdom Prov. 19.15 Sloathfulness casts into a deep sleep Sloath is the Souls sleep Adam lost his Rib when he was asleep Many a Man loseth the Kingdom of Heaven when he is in this deep sleep of sloath 2. Take heed of Unbelief Unbelief kept Israel out of Canaan Heb. 3.19 So we see they could not enter in because of unbelief and it keeps many out of Heaven Unbelief is an enemy to Salvation 't is a damning sin it whispers thus to what purpose is all this pains for the Heavenly Kingdom I had as good sit still I may come near to Heaven yet come short of Heaven Ier. 18.12 And they said there is no hope Unbelief destroyes hope and if you once cut this sinew a Christian goes but lamely in Religion if he goes at all Unbelief raiseth jealous thoughts of God it represents him as a severe Judge this discourageth many a Soul and takes it off from Duty Beware of unbelief believe the Promises Lam. 3.25 God is good to the Soul that seeks him seek him earnestly and he will open both his Heart and Heaven to you Deus volentibus non deest do what you are able and God will help you While you spread the sails of your endeavour Gods Spirit will blow upon these sails and carry you swiftly to the Kingdom of Glory 3. If you would not miss of the Heavenly Kingdom take heed of mistake imagining the way to the Kingdom of Heaven to be easier than it is 't is but a sigh or Lord have Mercy There 's no going to Heaven per saltum one cannot leap out of Dalilahs lap into Abrahams bosom The Sinner is dead in trespasses Eph. 2.1 is it easie for a dead Man to restore himself to life Is Regeneration easie Are there no pangs in the new birth Doth not the Scripture call Christianity a warfare and a race And do you fancy this easie The way to the Kingdom is not easie but the mistake about the way is easie 4. If you would not miss of the Heavenly Kingdom take heed of delayes and procrastinations Mora trahit periculum It is an usual delusion I will mind the Kingdom of Heaven but not yet when I have gotten an Estate and am grown old then I will look after Heaven and on a sudden Death surprizeth Men and they fall short of Heaven Delay strengthens sin hardens the heart and gives the Devil fuller possession of a Man Take heed of adjourning and putting off seeking the Kingdom of Heaven till it be too late Caesar deferring to read a Letter put into his hand was killed in the Senate-house Consider how short your Life is 't is a Taper soon blown out Animantis cujusque vita in fuga est The Body is like a Vessel tun'd with breath Sickness broacheth it Death draws it out delay not the business of Salvation a day longer sometimes Death strikes and gives no warning 5. If you would not come short of the Kingdom of Heaven take heed of prejudice Many take a prejudice at Religion and on this Rock dash their Souls they are prejudiced at Christs Person his Truths his Followers his Wayes 1. They are prejudiced at his Person Matth. 13.57 And they were offended in him what is there in Christ that Men should be offended at him He is the pearl of price Matth. 13.46 are Men offended at Pearls and Diamonds Christ is the wonder of Beauty Psal. 45.2 Fairer than the children of men is there any thing in Beauty to offend Christ is a mirrour of Mercy Heb. 2.17 why should Mercy offend any Christ is a Redeemer why should a captive slave be offended at him who comes with a summe of Money to ransom him The prejudice Men take at Christ is from the inbred pravity of their hearts The eye that is sore cannot endure the light of the Sun the fault is not in the Sun but in the sore eye There are two things in Christ Men are prejudiced at 1. His Means The Iewes expected a Monarch for their Messiah but Christ came not with outward Pomp and Splendor His Kingdom was not of this World The Stars which are seated in the lightest Orbs are least seen Christ who was the bright Morning Star was not much seen his Divinity was hid in the dark Lanthorne of his humanity all who saw the Man did not see the Messiah this the Jews stumbled at the Means of his Person 2. Men are prejudiced at Christs strictness they look upon Christ as austere and his Lawes too severe Psal. 2.3 Let us break their bands and cast away their cords from us Though to a Saint Christs Laws are no more burdensome than Wings are to a Bird yet to the Wicked Christs Laws are a yoke and they love not to come under restraint hence it is they hate Christ. Though they pretend to love him as a Saviour yet they
hate him as he is the holy One 2. Men are prejudiced at the Truths of Christ. 1. Self-denyal A man must deny his Righteousness Phil. 3.9 his Duties and Moralities he would graft the hope of Salvation upon the stock of his own Righteousness 2. He must deny his Unrighteousness The Scripture seals no patents to Sin it teacheth us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.11 We must divorce those Sins which bring in Pleasure and Profit 3. Forgiving of injuries Mark 11.25 These Truths Men are prejudiced at they can rather want forgiveness from God than they can forgive others 3. Men are prejudiced at the Followers of Christ. 1. Their paucity there are but few in comparison that embrace Christ but why should this offend Men are not offended at Pearls and precious Stones because they are but few 2. Their Poverty many that wear Christs livery are low in the World but why should this give offence 1. Christ hath better things than these to bestow upon his Followers the holy Anointing the white Stones the hidden Manna the Crown of Glory 2. All Christs Followers are not humbled with Poverty Abraham was rich in Gold and Silver as well as rich in Faith Though not many Noble are called yet some Noble Acts 17.12 Honourable women which were Greeks believed Constantine and Theodosius were Godly Emperours so that this stumbling block is removed 3. Their Scandals Some of Christs Followers under a mask of Piety commit sin this begets a prejudice against Religion but doth Christ or his Gospel teach any such thing The Rules he prescribes are holy Why should the Master be thought the worse of because some of his Servants prove bad 4. Men are prejudiced at the Wayes of Christ they expose them to Sufferings Matth. 16.24 Let him take up his cross and follow me many stumble at the Cross. There are as Tertullian delicaetuli silken Christians who love their ease they will follow Christ to Mount Oliver to see him transfigured but not to Mount Golgotha to suffer with him But alas what is Affliction to the Glory that follows The weight of Glory makes Affliction light Adimant Caput non Coronam O take heed of prejudice this hath been a stumbling stone in Mens way to Heaven and hath made them fall short of the Kingdom 6. If you would not miss of the Kingdom of Heaven take heed of Presumption Men presume all is well and take it as a principle not to be disputed that they shall go to Heaven The Devil hath given them Opium to cast them into a deep sleep of security The presumptuous Sinner is like the Leviathan made without fear He lives as bad as the worst yet hopes he shall be saved as well as the best He blesseth himself and saith he shall have peace though he goes on in sin Deut. 29.19 As if a Man should drink Poyson yet not fear but he should have his health But whence doth this presumptuous hope arise Surely from a conceit that God is made up all of Mercy 'T is true God is merciful but withal he is just too Exod. 34.6 7. Keeping mercy for thousands and that will by no means clear the guilty If a King did proclaim that only those should be pardoned who came in and submitted should any still persisting in Rebellion claim the benefit of that Pardon Dost thou hope for Mercy who wilt not lay down thy Weapons but stand out in Rebellion against Heaven None might touch the Ark but the Priests none may touch this Ark of Gods Mercy but holy consecrated Persons Presumption is heluo Animarum the great devourer of Souls A thousand have missed of Heaven by putting on the broad spectacles of Presumption 7. If you would not miss of the Heavenly Kingdom take heed of the delights and pleasures of the Flesh soft pleasures harden the heart Many people cannot endure a serious Thought but are for Comedies and Romances they play away their Salvation Homines capiuntur voluptate ut pisces hamo Cicero Pleasure is the sugred bait Men bite at but there is an hook under Iob 21.12 They take the timbrel and harp and rejoyce at the sound of the organ And a parallel Scripture Amos 6.4 That lye upon beds of ivory that chant to the sound of the viol that drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the chief oyntments The pleasures of the World do keep many from the pleasures of Paradise What a shame is it that the Soul that princely thing which swayes the sceptre of Reason and is akin to Angels should be enslaved to sinful pleasure Beard in his Theatre speaks of one who had a Room richly hung with fair Pictures he had most delicious Musick he had the rarest Beauties he had all the Candies and curious Preserves of the Confectioner thus did he gratifie his Senses with Pleasure and swore he would live one week like a God though he were sure to be damned in Hell the next day Diodorus Siculus observes that the Dogs of Sicily while they are hunting among the sweet Flowers lose the scent of the Hare so many while they are hunting after the sweet pleasures of the World lose the Kingdom of Heaven 'T is saith Theophylact one of the worst sights to see a Sinner go laughing to Heaven 8 If you would not fall short of the Kingdom of Heaven take heed of Worldlimindedness a covetous Spirit is a dunghil Spirit it choaks good Affections as the earth puts out the fire The World hindred the young Man from following Christ abiit tristis he went away sorrowful Luke 18.23 which extorted those words from our Saviour Verse 24. How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God Divitiae saeculi sunt laquei Diaboli Bern. Riches are golden Snares If a Man were to climb up a steepy Rock and had Weights tied to his Legs it would hinder him from his ascent Too many Golden Weights will hinder us from climbing that steepy Rock which leads to Heaven Exod. 14.3 They are entangled in the Land the Wilderness hath shut them in So it may be said of many they are entangled in earthly Affairs the World hath shut them in The World is no Friend to Grace the more the Child sucks the weaker the Nurse is and the more the World sucks and draws from us the weaker our Grace is 1 Iohn 2.15 Love not the world Had a Man a Monopoly of all the wealth of the World were he able to empty the Western Parts of Gold and the Eastern of Spices could he heap up Riches to the Starry heaven yet his heart would not be filled Covetousness is a dry dropsy Ioshua who could stop the course of the Sun could not stop Achan in his covetous pursuit of the Wedge of Gold he whose heart is lockt up in his Chest will be lockt out of heaven Some Ships that have escaped the Rocks have been cast away upon the Sands Many who have escaped gross Sins
have been cast away upon the Worlds Golden Sands 9. If you would not come short of the Kingdom of heaven take heed of indulging any sin one Mill-stone will drown as well as more and one sin lived in will damn as well as more Vbi regnat peccatum non potest regnare Dei regnum Hierom. If any one sin reign it will keep you from reigning in the kingdom of heaven especially keep from sins of Presumption which wast Conscience vastare Conscientiam Tertul. and the Sin of your natural Constitution the peccatum in delitiis Aug. the darling Sin Psal. 18.23 I have kept my self from mine iniquity That Sin which my heart would soonest decoy and flatter me into as in the Hive there is one Master-Bee so in the heart one Master-sin O take heed of this Quest. How may this sin be known A. 1. That Sin which a Man cannot endure the Arrow of a reproof should shoot at that is the bosom sin Herod could not brook to have his Incest medled with that was a noli me tangere Men can be content to have other sins declaimed against but if a Minister put his Finger upon the sore and toucheth upon one special sin then igne micant oculi they are enraged and spit the Venome of Malice 2. That sin which a Mans heart runs out most to and he is most easily captivated by that is the Dalilah in the Bosom One Man is overcome with wantonness another by worldliness 't is a sad thing a Man should be so bewitched by a beloved sin that if it ask him to part with not only half the kingdom but the whole Kingdom of heaven he must part with it to gratify that Lust. 3. That sin which doth most trouble a Man and fly in his Face in an hour of sickness and distress that is the sin he hath allowed himself in and is his complexion sin When Ioseph's Brethren were distressed their sin in selling their Brother came into their Remembrance Gen. 42.21 We were verily guilty concerning our Brother c. So when a Man is upon his sick-bed and Conscience shall say thou hast been guilty of such a sin the sin of slandring or uncleanness Conscience reads a Man a sad Lecture it affrights him most for one sin that is the Complection sin 4. That sin which a Man is loathest to part with that is the endeared sin Iacob could of all his Sons most hardly part with Benjamin Gen. 42.36 Will ye take Benjamin away So saith the Sinner this and that Sin I have left but must Benjamin go too must I part with this delightful sin that goes to the heart as it is with a castle that hath several Forts about it the first and second Fort are yeilded but when it comes to the main Castle the Governour will rather fight and dye then yeild that So a Man may suffer some of his Sins to be demolished but when it comes to one that is like the taking of the Castle he will never yeild to part with that surely that is the Master-sin take heed especially of this sin the strength of sin lies in the beloved sin This is like an humour striking to the heart which brings Death I have read of a Monarch that being pursued by the Enemy he threw away the Crown of Gold on his head that he might run the faster So that sin which thou didst wear as a Crown of Gold throw it away that thou maiest run the faster to the Kingdom of heaven O if you would not lose Glory mortify the beloved sin set it as Vriah in the Fore-front of the battle to be slain by plucking out this right eye you will see the better to go to heaven 10. If you would not fall short of the kingdom of heaven take heed of inordinate Pashion many a Ship hath been lost in a storm and many a Soul hath been lost in a storm of unruly Passions Every Member of the Body is infected with sin as every Branch of Wormwood is bitter but the Tongue is full of deadly poyson Iam. 3.8 Some care not what they say in their Passion they will censure slander wish evil to others how can Christ be in the heart when the Devil hath taken possession of the tongue Passion disturbs reason it is brevis insania a short Frenzy Ionah in a Passion flies out against God Ionah 4.9 I do well to be angry to the death What to be angry with God and to justify it I do well to be angry the Man was not well in his Wits Passion unfits for Prayer 1 Tim. 2.8 I will therefore that Men pray lifting up holy hands without Wrath He that prays in wrath may lift up his hands in Prayer but he doth not lift up holy hands Water when it is hot soon boils over so when the heart is heated with Anger it soon boils over in fiery passionate Speeches Some curse others in their Passion They whose tongues are set on fire let them take heed that they do not one day in Hell desire a drop of water to cool their tongue O if you would not miss of the heavenly kingdom beware of giving way to your unbridled Passions some say words are but wind but they are such a wind as may blow them to Hell 11. If you would not fall short of the heavenly kingdom beware of too much indulging the sensual Appetite Rom. 13.14 Make not Provision for the flesh the Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to make Provision signifies to be Caterers for the flesh Phil. 3.19 Whose God is their Belly The Throat is a slippery place Iudas received the Devil in the Sop and often the Devil slides down in the Liquor Excess in Meat and Drink clouds the Mind choakes good Affections provokes Lust many a Man digs his own Grave with his Teeth the Heathen could say magnus sum ad mojora natus quam ut sim corporis mei mancipium Sen. He was higher born then to be a slave to his Body To pamper the Body and neglect the Soul is to feed the Slave and to starve the Wife Take such a proportion of food as may recruit Nature not surfeit it Excess in things lawful hath lost many the kingdom of heaven A Bee may suck a little honey from the leaf but put it in a Barrel of honey and it is drowned to suck temperately from the Creature God allows but excess ingulphs Men in Perdition 12. If you would not fall short of the Kingdom of Heaven take heed of injustice in your dealings defrauding lies in two things First mixing Commodities as if one mix bad Wheat with good and sell it for pure Wheat this is to defraud Isa. 1.22 Thy Wine is mixed with Water Second Giving scant Measure Amos 5.8 Making the Ephah small Ephah was a Measure which the Iews used in selling they made the Ephah small they scarce gave measure I wish this be not the sin of many Hos. 12.7 He is a Merchant the
would not come short of this Heavenly Kingdom let us be much in the exercise of Self-denyal Matth. 16.24 If any man will come after me let him deny himself He who would go to Heaven must deny self-righteousness Cavendum est a propria justitia Phil. 3.9 That I may be found in him not having my own righteousness The Spider weaves a web out of her own Bowels an Hypocrite would spin a web of Salvation out of his own Righteousness We must deny our Civility in point of Justification Civility is a good staff to walk with among Men but it is a bad ladder to climb up to Heaven We must deny our holy things in point of Justification Alas how are our Duties checkered with Sin Put Gold in the fire and there comes out dross our most golden services are mixed with unbelief Deny self-righteousness use Duty but trust to Christ. Noahs Dove made use of her wings to fly but trusted to the Ark for safety Let Duties have your diligence but not your confidence Self-denyal is via ad regnum there is no getting into Heaven but through this strait gate of self-denyal 2. The second means for the obtaining of the Kingdom is serious Consideration Most Men fall short of Heaven for want of Consideration 1. Consideration We should often consider what a Kingdom Heaven is 'T is called Regnum paratum a Kingdom prepared Matth. 25.34 which implyes something that is rare and excellent God hath prepared in his Kingdom such things as eye hath not seen nor ear heard 1 Cor. 2.9 Heaven is beyond all hyperbole In particular in this Coelestial Kingdom are two things 1. A stately Pallace 2. A Royal Feast 1. A stately Pallace 1. It is large and hath several stories for the dimensions of it it is twelve thousand furlongs Rev. 21.15 or as it is in some Greek Copies twelve times twelve thousand furlongs a finite number put for an infinite no Arithmetician can number these furlongs Though there be an innumerable company of Saints and Angels in Heaven yet there is infinitely enough room to receive them 2. The Pallace of this Kingdom is lucid and transparent 't is adorned with light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The light is sweet Hell is a dark dungeon but the Pallace above is bespangled with light Col. 1.12 Such illustrious beams of Glory shine from God as shed a brightness and splendour upon the Empyrean Heaven 3. This Pallace of the Kingdom is well scituated for a good Air and a pleasant prospect There is the best Air which is perfumed with the odours of Christs Oyntments and a most pleasant prospect of the bright Morning-Star 4. The Pallace is rich and sumptuous it hath Gates of Pearl Rev. 21.21 it is enriched with white Robes and Crowns of Glory and this Pallace never falls to decay and the dwellers in it never dye Rev. 22.5 They shall reign for ever and ever 2. A Royal Feast It is called The marriage supper of the lamb Rev. 19.9 which Bullinger and Gregory the great understand of the magnificent Supper prepared in the Kingdom of Heaven A Glorious Feast it will be in respect of the Founder God the Glorified Saints shall feast their eyes with Gods Beauty and their hearts with his Love a delicious Feast it will be in respect of the festivity and holy Mirth What Joy when there shall be the Anthems and Triumphs of Glorified Spirits when Saints and Angels shall twist together in an inseparable union of Love and lye in each others sweet embraces a Royal Banquet it shall be where there is no surfeit because continually a fresh course served in The serious Consideration what a Kingdom Heaven is would be a means to quicken our endeavour in the pursuit after it What causeth Men to make Voyages to the Indies but the consideration of the Gold and Spices which are to be had there did we survey and contemplate the Glory of Heaven we should soon take a Voyage and never leave till we had arrived at the Coelestial Kingdom 2. Consideration How it will trouble you if you should perish to think you came short of Heaven for want of a little more pains The Prophet Elisha bid the King of Israel smite the ground six times and he smote but thrice and stayed 2 Kings 13.19 and he lost many Victories by it So when a Man shall think thus I did something in Religion but did not do enough I prayed but it was coldly I did not put coals to the Incense I heard the Word but did not meditate on it I did not chew the end I smote but thrice and I should have smitten six times had I taken a little more pains I had been happy but I have lost the Kingdom of Heaven by short shooting The consideration how terrible the thoughts of this will be that we should lose Heaven for want of a little more pains will be a means to spur on our sluggish hearts and make us more diligent to get the Kingdom 3. The third means for the obtaining this Kingdom is to keep up Daily Prayer Psal. 109.4 I give my self to Prayer Prayer inflames the affections and oyls the wheels of the endeavour Prayer prevails with God it unlocks his Bowels and then he unlocks Heaven all that have got to Heaven have crept thither upon their knees The Saints now in Heaven have been Men of Prayer Daniel prayed three times a day Iacob wrestled with God in Prayer and as a Prince prevailed this Prayer must be fervent else it is thuribulum sine prunis as Luther a Golden Censer without Fire O follow God with Prayers and Tears say as Iacob to the Angel Gen. 32.26 I will not let thee go except thou bless me Prayer vincit invincibilem Luther it conquers the Omnipotent Elijah by Prayer opened Heaven by ardent and constant Prayer Heaven is at last opened to us 4. If you would obtain the Heavenly Kingdom get a love to Heaven Love puts a Man upon the use of all means to enjoy the thing loved He that loves the World how active is he he will break his sleep and peace for it he that loves Honour what hazards will he run he will swim to the crown in Blood Iacob loved Rachel and what would not he do though it were serving a two seven years Apprenticeship for obtaining her Love carries a Man out violently to the Object loved Love is like Wings to the Bird like Sails to the Ship it carries a Christian full sail to Heaven Heaven is a place of Rest and Joy 't is Paradise and will you not love it Love Heaven and you cannot miss it Love breaks through all opposition it takes heaven by storm Love though it labour is never weary it is like the Rod of Myrtle in the Travellers hand which makes him fresh and lively in his travel and keeps him from being weary 5. If you would obtain the Kingdom of Heaven make Religion your business What a Man looks upon as
draws 2. Obedience must be chearful I delight to do thy Will O my God yea thy Law is within my heart Psal. 40.8 That is the sweetest Obedience which is chearful as that is the sweetest Honey which drops from the Comb freely God doth sometimes accept of willingness without the work but never of the Work without willingness Zach. 5 9. There came out two Women and the wind was in their wings Wings are swift but wind in the Wings denotes great swiftness an Emblem of the swiftness and chearfulness which should be in Obedience we go to Heaven in the way of Obedience 14. If we would obtain this Kingdom be much in the Communion of Saints one Coal of Juniper will warm and inflame another when the heart is dead and frozen the Communion of Saints will help to warm it Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another Christians should never meet saith Mr. Bolton but speak of their meeting together in Heaven One Christian may be very helpful by Prayer and Conference to another and give him a lift towards Heaven Old Latimer was much strengthened and comforted by hearing Mr. Bilnyes Confession of Faith We read that when Moses his hands were heavy and he was ready to let them fall Aaron and Hur staid up his hands Exod. 17.12 A Christian who is ready to faint under Tentation and le ts down the hands of his Faith by conversing with other Christians he is strengthened and his hands are held up a great benefit of holy Conference is Counsel and Advise If a Man saith Chrysostom who hath but one head to advise him could make that head an hundred heads to advise him he would be very wise A single Christian hath this benefit by the Communion of Saints they are as so many heads to advise him what to do in such a case or exigence By Christian conference the Saints can say Did not our heart burn within us Communion of Saints we have in our Creed but 't is too little in our practise Men usually travel fastest in Company we travel fastest to Heaven in the Communion of Saints 15. If we would attain to this Kingdom of Heaven let us be willing to come up to Christs terms many will be cheapening and bid something for the Kingdom of Heaven they will avoid gross sin and will come to Church and say their Prayers and yet all this while they are not willing to come up to Gods Price that is they will not renounce the Idol of self Righteousness flying only to Christ as to the Horns of the Altar they will not sacrifice their bosom-sin they will not give God Spirit-worship serving him with zeal and intenseness of Soul Iohn 4.24 they will not forgive their Enemies they will not part with their carnal profits for Christ they would have the Kingdom of Heaven but they will not come up to the Price If you would have this Kingdom do not article and indent with Christ but accept of his Terms say Lord I am willing to have the Kingdom of Heaven whatever it cost me I am willing to pluck out my right eye to part with all for the Kingdom here is a blank paper I put into thy hand Lord write thy own Articles I will subscribe to them 16. If we would obtain the Heavenly Kingdom let us attend to the holy Ordinances thus God brings Souls to heaven Act. 27.31 Except ye abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved Some People would leap out of the Ship of Ordinances and then God knows whether they leap but except ye abide in the Ship of Ordinances ye cannot be saved especially if you would get to Heaven attend to the VVord preached It was by the Ear by our first Parents listening to the Serpent that we lost Paradise and it is by the Ear by the hearing of the word that we get Heaven Isa. 55.3 Hear and your Soul shall live God sometimes in the preaching of the word drops in that holy Oyl into the Ear which softens and sanctifies the heart The word preached is called the Ministry of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 because the Spirit of God makes use of this Engine to convert Souls If the word preached doth not work upon Men nothing will not Judgment or Miracles no nor though one should arise from the Dead Luke 16.31 If a glorified Saint should come out of Heaven and assume a Body and tell you of all the glory of Heaven and the joys of the blessed and perswade you to believe if the preaching of the word will not bring you to Heaven neither would his Rhetorique do it who rose from the dead In Heaven there will be no need of Ordinances but there is while we live here The Lamp needs Oyl but the Star needs none While the Saints have their Lamp of Grace burning here they need the Oyl of Ordinances to be continually dropping upon them but there will be no need of this Oyl when they are Stars in Heaven If you intend to get to Heaven be swift to hear for faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.14 17. Peter let down the Net of his Ministry and at one draught catch'd three thousand Souls If you would have Heavens Door opened to you wait at the Posts of Wisdoms Door 17. If you would arrive at Heaven have this Kingdom ever in your eye Our blessed Lord looked to the Joy which was set before him and Moses had an eye to the Recompence of Reward Heb. 11.26 Let the Kingdom be much in our thoughts Meditation is a means to help us to Heaven Quest. How doth it help Answ. 1. As it is a means to prevent sin no Sword like this to cut asunder the Sinews of Tentation it is almost inpossible to sin presumptuously with the lively thoughts and hopes of Heaven It was when Moses was out of Sight that Israel set up a Calf and worshipped it so it is when the Kingdom of Heaven is out of sight I mean out of Mens thoughts that they set up their Lusts and idolize them the Meditation of Heaven banisheth sin he who thinks of the weight of Glory throws away the weights of sin 2. The 〈◊〉 on the Kingdom of Heaven would excite and quicken Obedience we should think we could never pray enough never love God enough who hath prepared such a Kingdom for us immensum Gloria calcar habet Saint Paul had Heaven in his eye he was once caught up thither and how active was he for God 1 Cor. 15.10 This would oyl the Wheels of Obedience 3. It would make us strive after Holiness because none but such are admitted into this Kingdom only the pure in heart shall see God Mat. 5. Holiness is the Language of Heaven it is the only coin will pass currant in Heaven this considered would make us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 Thus you see how the Meditation of Heaven would be
Heaven If the Prayers of the Saints have so much power with God then what hath Christs Prayer how can the Children of such Prayers miscarry how can they fall short of the Kingdom who have him praying for them who is not only a Priest but a Son and besides what he prays for as he is Man that he hath power to give as he is God thus you see how a Christian comes to Persevere till he comes to the Kingdom Object But methinks I hear some Christians say if only perseverance obtains the Kingdom they fear they shall not come thither they fear they shall faint by the way and the weak legs of their Grace will never carry them to the Kingdom of Heaven Answ. Wert thou indeed to stand in thy own strength thou mightest fall away that Branch withers and dies which hath no Root to grow upon thou growest upon the Root Christ who will be daily sending forth vital influence to strengthen thee thou art imbecil and weak in Grace yet fear not falling short of Heaven For 1. God hath made a promise to weak Believers what is a bruised Reed but the Emblem of a weak Faith yet it hath a Promise made to it Mat. 12.20 A bruised Reed he will not break God hath promised to supply the weak Christian with so much Grace as he shall need till he comes to Heaven Beside the two Pence which the good Samaritan left to pay for the Cure of the poor wounded Man he passed his Word for all that he should need beside Luke 10.35 So Christ doth not only give a little Grace in hand but his Bond for more that he will give as much Grace as a Saint shall need till he comes to Heaven Psal. 84.11 The Lord will give Grace and Glory that is a fresh supply of Grace till it be perfected in Glory 2. God hath most care of his weak Saints who fear they shall never hold out till they come to the Kingdom doth not the Mother tend the weak Child most Isa. 40.11 He will gather the Lambs in his Arms and carry them in his Bosom If thou thinkest thou art so weak that thou shalt never hold out till thou comest to Heaven thou shalt be carried in the Arms of the Almighty he gathers the Lambs in his Arms Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah marched before hi◠People and his Power is their Rear-ward so that none of them faint or dye in their March to Heaven 3. Quest. What are the Encouragements to make Christians hold on till they come to the Kingdom of Heaven Answ. 1. It is a great Credit to a Christian not only to hold forth the Truth but to hold fast the Truth till he comes to Heaven when Grace doth flourish into perseverance and with the Church of Thyatira our last works are more then our first Rev. 2.19 This is insigne honoris a Star of Honour 'T is matter of renown to see gray hairs shine with golden vertues the Excellency of a thing lies in the finishing of it What is the excellency of a Building not when the first stone is laid but when it is finished so the beauty and excellency of a Christian is when he hath finished his Faith having done his work is landed safe in Heaven 2. You that have made a progress in Religion have not many Miles to go before you come at the Kingdom of Heaven Rom. 13.11 Now is our Salvation neerer then when we believed You who have hoary hairs your green Tree is turned into an Almond-tree you are near to Heaven it is but going a little further and you will set your Feet within Heaven Gates Oh therefore now be encouraged to hold out your Salvation is nearer then when you first began to believe Our diligence should be greater when our Salvation is nearer When a Man is almost at the end of the Race will he now tire and faint will he not put forth all his strength and strain every Limb that he may lay hold upon the Prize Our Salvation is now nearer the Kingdom is as it were within sight how should we now put forth all our strength that we may lay hold upon the Garland of Glory Doctor Taylour when he was going to his Martyrdom I have saith he but two Stiles to go over and I shall be at my Fathers House Though the way to Heaven be up hill you must climb the steepy Rock of Mortification and though there be Thorns in the way viz. Sufferings yet you have gone the greatest part of your way you are within a few days march of the Kingdom and will not you persevere Christian pluck up thy Courage fight the good fight of Faith pursue Holiness 't is but a while and you shall put off your Armour and end all your weary Marches and receive a Victorious Crown your Salvation is nearer you are within a little of the Kingdom therefore now presevere you are ready to commence and take your Degree of Glory 3. The blessed promise annexed to Perseverance the promise is a Crown of Life Rev 2.10 Death is a Worm that feeds in the Crowns of Princes but behold here a living Crown and a never-fading Crown 1 Pet. 5.4 and Rev. 2.28 He that overcometh and keepeth my works to the end I will give him Stellam matutinam the Morning Star The Morning Star is brighter then the rest this Morning Star is meant of Christ as if Christ had said I will give to him that perseveres some of my Beauty I will put some of my illustrious Rays upon him he shall have the next degree of Glory to me as the Morning Star is next the Sun will not this animate and make us hold out we shall have a Kingdom and that which is better then the Kingdom a bright Morning Star 4 Quest. What are the means conducing to perseverance or what shall we do that we may hold out to the Kingdom Resp. 1. Take up Religion upon good Grounds not in a Fit or Humour or out of worldly design but be deliberate weigh things well in the Ballance Luke 14.28 Which of you intending to build a Tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost Think with your selves what Religion must cost you it must cost you the parting with your sins and what is may cost you it may cost you the parting with your Lives consider if a Kingdom will not countervail your Sufferings weigh things well and then make your choice Psal. 119.30 I have chosen the way of thy Truth Why do many Apostatize and fall away but because they did never sit down and count the cost 2. If we would hold out to the Kingdom let us cherish the Grace of Faith 1 Cor. 1.24 By Faith ye stand Faith like Hercules Club it beats down all Oppositions before it 't is a conquering Grace Quest. How comes Faith to be so strong Resp. Faith fetcheth Christs strength into the Soul Phil. 4.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Captain
may give his Soldier Armour but not strength Faith partakes of Christs strength and Faith gets strength from the promise as the Child by sucking the Breast gets strength so doth Faith by sucking the Breast of the Promise hence Faith is such a wonder working Grace and enables a Christian to persevere 3. If you would hold out to the Kingdom set before your Eyes the Examples of those Noble Heroick Saints who have persevered to the Kingdom Vivitur Exemplis Examples have more influence upon us then Precepts Iob 23.11 12. My Foot hath held his steps Though the way of Religion hath Flints and Thorns in it yet my Foot hath held his steps I have not fainted in the way nor turn'd out of the way Daniel held on his Religion and would not intermit Prayer though he knew the writing was signed against him and a Prayer might cost him his life Dan. 6.10 The blessed Martyrs persevered to the Kingdom through Sufferings Saunders that holy Man said Welcome the Cross of Christ my Saviour began to me in a bitter Cup and shall I not pledge him Another Martyr kissing the Stake said I shall not lose my Life but change it for a better instead of Coals I shall have Pearls What a spirit of gallantry was in these Saints let us learn Constancy from their Courage A Souldier seeing his General fight valiantly is animated by his Example and hath new Spirits put into him 4. Let us add fervent Prayer to God that he would inable us to hold out to the Heavenly Kingdom Psal. 119.117 Hold thou me up and I shall be safe Let us not presume on our own strength When Peter cryed to Christ on the water Lord save me then Christ took him by the hand Matth. 14.30 but when he grew confident of his own strength then Christ let him fall O pray to God for auxiliary Grace The Child is safe when held in the Nurses armes so are we in Christs armes Let us pray that God will put his fear in our hearts that we do not depart from him and that Prayer of Cyprian Domine quod caepisti perfice ne in portu naufragium accidat Lord perfect that which thou hast begun in me that I may not suffer shipwrack when I am almost at the haven 3. Branch Let us press forward with the greatest diligence to this Kingdom And here let me lay down some powerful Perswasives or Divine Arguments to make you put to all your strength for the obtaining this blessed Kingdom 1. This is the great errand for which God hath sent us into the World to prepare for this Heavenly Kingdom Matth. 6.33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God First in time before all things and first in affection above all things Great care is taken for the atchieving Worldly things Matth. 6.25 To see people labouring for the earth as Ants about a Molehill would make one think this were the only errand they came about But alas what is all this to the Kingdom of Heaven I have read of a devout Pilgrim travelling to Ierusalem who passing through several Cities where he saw many stately Edifices Ware and Monuments he would say I must not stay here this is not Jerusalem So when we enjoy Worldly things Peace and Plenty and have our presses burst out with new Wine we should say to our selves this is not the Kingdom we are to look after this is not Heaven 'T is Wisdom to remember our errand It will be but sad upon a Death-bed for a Man to think he was busying himself only about trifles playing with a feather and neglected the main thing he came into the World about 2. The seeking after the Heavenly Kingdom will be judged most prudent by all Men at last Those who are regardless of their Souls now will before they dye wish they had minded Eternity more when Conscience is awakened and Men begin to come to themselves Now what would they give for the Kingdom of Heaven How happy were it if Men were of the same mind now as they will be at Death Death will alter Mens opinions then those who did most slight and disparage the wayes of Religion will wish their time and thoughts had been taken up about the excellent Glory At Death Mens eyes will be opened and they will see their folly when it is too late If all Men even the worst will wish at last they had minded the Kingdom of Heaven why should not we do that now which all will wish they had done when they come to dye 3. This Kingdom of Heaven deserves our utmost pains and diligence it is Glorious beyond Hyperbole Suppose Earthly Kingdoms more magnificent than they are their Foundations of Gold their Walls of Pearl their Windows of Sapphire yet they are not comparable to the Heavenly Kingdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys. If the Pavement of it be bespangled with so many bright shining Lights glorious Stars what is the Kingdom it self 1 Iohn 3.2 It doth not yet appear what we shall be This Kingdom exceeds our Faith How sublime and wonderful is that place where the blessed Deity shines forth in his immense Glory infinitely beyond the comprehension of Angels 1. The Kingdom of Heaven is a place of Honour there are the glorious Triumphs and sparkling Crowns In other Kingdoms there is but one King but in Heaven all are Kings Rev. 1.6 Every Saint glorified partaker of the same Glory as Christ doth Iohn 17.22 The glory thou hast given me I have given them 2. This Kingdom is a place of Joy Matth. 25.21 Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. To have a continual aspect of Love from Gods face to be crowned with Immortality to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Angels of God to drink of the Rivers of Pleasure for ever this will cause Raptures of Joy Sure it deserves our utmost pains in pursuing and securing this Kingdom Iulius Caesar coming towards Rome with his Army and hearing the Senate and People fled from it said They that will not fight for this City what City will they fight for If we will not take pains for the Kingdom of Heaven what Kingdom will we take pains for It was the speech of the Spies to their Brethren Iudg. 18.9 We have seen the land and behold it is very good and are ye still be not slothful to go and to enter to possess the land We have had a lively description of the Glory of Heaven we find the Kingdom is very good why then do we sit still Why do we not operam navare put forth our utmost zeal and industry for this Kingdom The diligence of others in seeking after Earthly Kingdoms shames our coldness and indifferency in pursuing after the Kingdom of Heaven 4. The time we have to make sure of the Heavenly Kingdom is very short and uncertain take heed it doth not slip away before you have prepared for the Kingdom Time passeth on apace Cito pede praeterita vita
It will not be long before the silver cord be loosed and the golden bowl broken Eccles. 12. The skin wherein the Brains are inclosed as in a bowl this golden bowl will soon be broken Our Soul is in our Body as the Bird is in the Shell which soon breaks and the Bird flyes out the Shell of the Body breaking the Soul flyes into Eternity We know not whether we shall live to another Sabbath Before we hear another Sermon-bell go our Passing-bell may go Our Life runs as a swift stream into the ocean of Eternity Brethren if our Time be so minute and transient if the taper of Life be so soon wasted or perhaps blown out by violent death how should we put to all our strength and call in help from Heaven that we may obtain the Kingdom of Glory If time be so short why do we wast it about things of less moment and neglect the one thing needful which is the Kingdom of Heaven A Man that hath a great work to be done and but one day for the doing of it had need work hard We have a great work to do we are striving for a Kingdom and alas we are not certain of one day to work in therefore what need have we to bestir our selves and what we do for Heaven to do it with all our might 5. To excite our diligence let us consider how inexcusable we shall be if we miss of the Kingdom of Heaven who have had such helps for Heaven as we have had Indians who have Mines of Gold have not such advantages for Glory as we they have the light of the Sun Moon and Stars and the light of Râ—ason but this is not enough to light them to Heaven But we have had the light of the Gospel shining in our Horizon we have been lifted up to Heaven with Ordinances we have had the Word in season and out of season The Ordinances are the pipes of the Sanctuary which empty the golden Oyl of Grace into the Soul they are scala ParAdisi the Ladder by which we ascend to the Kingdom of Heaven Deut. 4 7. What nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for We have had Heaven and Hell set before us we have had Counsels of Friends Warnings Examples the Motions and Inspirations of the Holy Ghost how should all these spurs quicken us in our pace to Heaven Should not that Ship sail apace to the Haven which hath Wind and Tide to carry it The Tide of Ordinances and the Wind of the Spirit Surely if we through negligence miss of the Kingdom of Heaven we shall have nothing to say for our selves we shall be as far from excuse as from happiness 6. You cannot do too much for the Kingdom of Heaven you cannot pray too much sanctifie the Sabbath too much love God too much you cannot over-do In secular things a Man may labour too hard he may kill himself with working but there is no fear of working too hard for Heaven In virtute non est verendum ne quid nimium sit Seneca The World is apt to censure the Godly as if they were too zealous and did over-strain themselves in Religion Indeed a Man may follow the World too much he may make too much hast to be rich The Ferry-man may take in too many Passengers into his Boat to the sinking of his Boat so a Man may heap up so much Gold and Silver as to sink himself in Perdition 1 Tim. 6.9 but one cannot be too earnest and zealous for the Kingdom of Heaven there is no fear of excess here when we do all we can for Heaven we come short of the Golden Rule set us and of Christs Golden Pattern when our Faith is highest like the Sun in the Meridian yet still 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is something lacking in our Faith 1 Thess. 3.1 so that all our labour for the Kingdom is little enough When a Christian hath done his best yet still he hath sins and wants to bewail 7 By this you may judge of the state of your Souls whether you have Grace or no by your earnest pursuit after the Heavenly Kingdom Grace infuseth a Spirit of activity into a person Grace doth not lye dormant in the Soul 't is not a sleepy habit but it makes a Christian like a Seraphim swift and winged in his Heavenly motion Grace is like fire it makes one burn in love to God and the more he loves him the more he presseth forward to Heaven where he may fully enjoy him Hope is an active Grace 't is called a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 hope is like the spring in the Watch it sets all the wheels of the Soul a running Hope of a Crop makes the Husbandman sow his seed hope of Victory makes the Souldier fight and a true hope of Glory makes a Christian vigorously pursue Glory Here is a Spiritual Touchstone to try our Grace by If we have the anointing of the Spirit it will oyl the wheels of our endeavour and make us lively in our pursuit after the Heavenly Kingdom No sooner had Paul Grace infused but presently Behold he prayes Acts 9.11 The Affections are by Divines called the Feet of the Soul if these Feet move not towards Heaven it is because there is no Life 8. Your labour for Heaven is not lost Perhaps you may think it is in vain that you have served God but know that your pains is not lost The Seed is cast into the Earth and it dyes yet at last it brings forth a plentiful Crop so your labours seem to be fruitless but at last they bring you to a Kingdom Who would not work hard for one hour when for that hours work he shâ—uld be a King as long as he lived And let me tell you the more labour you have put forth for the Kingdom of Heaven the more degrees of Glory you shall have As there are degrees of Torment in Hell Matth. 23.14 so of Glory in Heaven As one Star differs from another in Glory so shall one Saint 1 Cor. 15.41 Though every Vessel of Mercy shall be full yet one Vessel may hold morâ— than another Such as have done more work for God shall have more Glory in the Heavenly Kingdom Could we hear thâ— Saints departed speaking to us from Heaven sure they would speak after this manner Were we to leave Heaven a while and live on the Earth again we would do God a thousand times more service than ever we did we would pray with more Life act with more Zeal for now we see the more hath been our labour the greater is our reward in Heaven 9. While we are labouring for the Kingdom God will help us Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes The Promise encourageth us and Gods Spirit inableth us A Master gives his Servant work to
do but he cannot give him strength to work but God as he cuts us out work so he gives us strength Psal. 86.16 Give thy strength unto thy servant God not only gives us a Crown when we have done running but gives us legs to run he gives exciting assisting Grace Lex jubet Gratia juvat The Spirit helping us in our work for Heaven makes it easie If the Loadstone draw the Iron it is not hard for the Iron to move If God Spirit drawes the heart now it moves towards Heaven with facility and alacrity 10. The more pains we have taken for Heaven the sweeter Heaven will be when we come there As when an Husbandman hath been grafting Trees or setting Flowers in his Garden it is pleasant to review and look over his labours so when in Heaven we shall remember our former zeal and earnestness for the Kingdom it will sweeten Heaven and add to the joy of it For a Christian to think such a day I spent in examining my heart such a day I was weeping for Sin when others were at their sport I was at Prayer and now have I lost any thing by my Devotion My Teaâ—s are wiped away and the Wine of Paradise chears my heart I now enjoy him whom my Soul loves I am possessed of a Kingdom my labour is over but my joy remains 11. If you do not take pains for the Kingdom of Heaven now there will be nothing to be done for your Souls after death This is the only fit season for working and if this season be lost the Kingdom is forfeited Eccles. 9.10 Whatever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there is no work nor device nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest It was a Saying of Charles the Fifth I have spent my Treasure but that I may recover again I have lost my Health but that I may have again but I have lost a great many brave Souldiers but them I can never have again So other Temporal things may be lost and recovered again but if the term of Life wherein you should work for Heaven be once lost it is past all recovery you can never have another season again for your Souls 12. There is nothing else but this Kingdom of Heaven we can make sure of We cannot make sure of Life Quis scit an adjiciant hodiernae crastina Vitae tempora dii superi Hor. When our Breath goes out we know not whether we shall draw it in again how many are taken away suddenly We cannot make Riches sure it is uncertain whether we shall get them The World is like a Lottery every one is not sure to draw a Prize Or if we get Riches we are not sure to keep them Prov. 23 5. Riches make themselves wings and fly Experience seals to the truth of this Many who have had plentiful Estates yet by Fire or losses at Sea they have been squeezed as spunges and all their Estates exhausted but if Men should keep their Estates a while yet Death strips them of all When Deaths gun goes off away flyes the Estate 1 Tim. 6.7 It is certain we can carry nothing out of the World So that there is no making sure any thing here below but we may make sure of the Kingdom of Heaven Prov. 11.18 To him that worketh righteousness is a sure reward He who hath Grace is sure of Heaven for he hath Heaven begun in him A Believer hath an evidence of Heaven Heb. 11.1 Faith is the evidence of things not seen he hath an earnest of Glory 2 Cor. 1.22 Who hath also given us the earnest of his Spirit an earnest is part of the whole summe he hath a sure hope Heb. 6.19 Which hope we have as an anchor this anchor is cast upon Gods promise Titus 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye hath promised So that here is great encouragement to take pains for Heaven we may make sure of this Kingdom 13. The Kingdom of Heaven cannot be obtained without labour Non est ad astra mollis e terris viâ— A boat may as well get to land without oars as we to Heaven without labour We cannot have the World without labour and do we think to have Heaven If a Man digs for Gravel much more for Gold Phil. 3.14 I press toward the mark Heaven Gate is not like that â—â—on-gate which opened to Peter of its own accord Acts 12.10 Heaven is not like those ripe figs which fall into the mouth of the eater Nahum 3.12 No there must be taking pains Two things are requisite for a Christian a watchful eye and a working hand We must as Hannibal force a way to the Heavenly Kingdom through difficulties We must win the garland of Glory by labour before we wear it with triumph God hath enacted this Law That no man shall eat of the Tree of Paradise but in the sweat of his browes how then dare any censure Christian diligence how dare they say you take more pains for Heaven than needs God saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strive as in an agony fight the good sight of Faith and these say you are too strict But who shall we believe an holy God that bids us strive or a prophane Atheist that saith we strive too much 14. Much of our time being already mispent we had need work the harder for the Kingdom of Heaven He who hath lost his time at School and often played truant had need ply it the harder that he may gain a stock of Learning he who hath slept and loytered in the beginning of his journey had need ride the faster in the evening least he fall short of the place he is travelling to Some here present are in their Youth others in the flower of their Age others have gray hairs the Almond tree blossoms and perhaps they have been very regardless of their Souls or Heaven Time spent unprofitably is not time lived but time lost if there be any such here who have mis-spent their golden hours they have not only been sloathful but wastful Servants how had you need now redeem the time and press forward with might and main to the Heavenly Kingdom 1 Pet 4.3 The time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles It may suffice us that we have lost so much time already let us now work the harder Such as have crept as Snails had need now fly as Eagles to the Paradise of God if in the former part of your Life you have been as Willows barren in goodness in the latter part be as an Orchard of Pomegranats with pleasant fruits Cant. 4.13 Recompence former remisness with future diligence 15. How uncomely and sordid a sloathful temper of Soul is Zeph. 1.12 I will punish the men who are settled on their lees Hebr. Hakkophim Coagulatos curdled on their lees Settling on the lees is an emblem of a dull unactive Soul The Snail by reason of its slow
on the Morning of the Marriage day he puts on his Vesture and wedding Robes in which he shall be married to his Bride so in all the Duties of Religion we are putting on those wedding Robes in which we shall be married to Christ in Glory O what solace and inward Peace is there in close walking with God Isa. 32.17 The Work of Righteousness shall be Peace Serving of God is like gathering of Spices or Flowers wherein there is some labour but the labour is recompenced with delight Working for Heaven is like digging in a Gold Mine the digging is labour but getting the Gold is pleasure O then let us bestir our selves for the Kingdom of Heaven it is a labour full of Pleasure a Christian would not part with his Joy for the most delicious Musick he would not exchange his Anchor of Hope for a Crown of Gold Well might David say in keeping thy Precepts there is great Reward Psal. 19.11 not only after keeping thy Precepts but in keeping them a Christian hath both the Spring Flowers and the Crop inward delight in serving God there is the Spring Flowers and the Kingdom of Glory at last there is the full Crop 22. How industrious have the Saints in former Ages been they thought they could never do enough for Heaven they could never serve God enough love him enough minus te amavi Domine Austin Lord I have loved thee too little What Pains did Saint Paul take for the Heavenly Kingdom Phil. 3.13 Reaching forth unto those things which are before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Greek Word to reach forth signifies to stretch out the neck a Metaphor from Racers who strain every Limb and reach forward to lay hold on the Prize Anna the Prophetess Luke 2.37 departed not from the Temple but served God with Fastings and Prayers night and day Basil the Great by much labour and watching exhausted his bodily strength Let Racks Pullies and all torments come upon me said Ignatius so I may win Christ. The Industry and Courage of former Saints who are now crowned with Glory should provoke our diligence that so at last we may sit down with them in the Kingdom of Heaven 23. The more pains we take for Heaven the more welcome will Death be to us What is it makes Men so loath to dye they are like a Tenant that will not out of the House till the Sergeant pull him out they love not to hear of Death why so because their Conscience accuseth them that they have taken little or no pains for Heaven they have been sleeping when they should have been working and now they are afraid least Death should carry them Prisoners to Hell Whereas he who hath spent his time in serving of God he can look Death in the Face with comfort he was wholly taken up about Heaven and now he shall be taken up to Heaven he traded before in Heaven and now he shall go to live there Phil. 1.23 Cupio dissolvi I desire to be dissolved and be with Christ Paul had wholly laid out himself for God 1 Cor. 15.10 and now he knew there was a Crown laid up for him and he longed to take Possession Thus I have given you twenty three Perswasives or Arguments to exert and put forth your utmost diligence for the obtaining the Kingdom of Heaven O that these Arguments were written in all your Hearts as with the Point of a Diamond and because delaies in these Cases are dangerous let me desire you to set upon this Work for Heaven presently Psal. 119.60 I made hast and delayed not to keep thy Commandments Many People are convinced of the necessity of looking after the Kingdom of Glory but they say as those Hagg. 1.2 The time is not yet come They adjourn and put off till their time is slip'd away and so they lose the Kingdom of Heaven beware of this fallacy delay strengthens sin hardens the heart and gives the Devil fuller possession of a Man 1 Sam. 21.8 The Kings business requires hast so the business of Salvation requires hast do not put off an hour longer volat ambiguis mobilis alis hora what assurance have you that you shall live another day have you any lease of life granted why then do you not presently arise out of the Bed of Sloath and put forth all your strength and Spirits that you may be possessed of the Kingdom of Glory should not things of the highest importance be done first setling a Mans Estate and clearing the Title to his Land is not delayed but done in the first place what is there of such grand importance as this the saving of your Souls and the gaining of a Kingdom therefore to day hear Gods Voice now mind Eternity now get your Title to Heaven cleared before the Decree of Death bring forth what imprudence is it to lay the heaviest Load upon the weakest Horse so to lay the heavy Load of Repentance on thy self when thou art infeebled by sickness the Hands shake the Lips quiver the Heart faints O be wise in time now prepare for the Kingdom He who never begins his Voyage to Heaven but in the storm of Death it is a thousand to one if he doth not suffer an Eternal Shipwrack VSE VI. Of Exhortation 1. Branch If there be such a glorious Kingdom a coming then you who have any good hope through Grace that you are the Heirs of this Kingdom let me exhort you to six things 1. Often take a Prospect of this heavenly Kingdom climb up the Caelestial Mount take a turn as it were in Heaven every day by holy Meditation Psal. 48.12 13. Walk about Sion tell the Towers thereof mark well her Bulwarks See what a glorious Kingdom Heaven is go-tell the Towers view the Palaces of the Heavenly Ierusalem Christian show thy Heart the Gates of Pearl the Bed of Spices the Clusters of Grapes which grow in the Paradise of God say O my Soul all this Glory is thine it is thy Fathers good pleasure to give thee this Kingdom The Thoughts of Heaven are very delightful and ravishing can Men of the World so delight in viewing their Bags of Gold and Fields of Corn and shall not the Heirs of Promise take more delight in contemplating the Caelestial Kingdom The serious Meditation of the Kingdom of Glory would work these three effects 1. It would put a damp and slur upon all worldly Glory Those who stand upon the top of the Alps the great Cities of Campania seem but small in their eye Could we look through the Perspective Glass of Faith and take a view of Heavens Glory how small and minute would all other things appear Moses slighted the Honours of Pharaohs Court having an eye to the Recompence of Reward Heb. 11.26 St. Paul who had a Vision of Glory and Saint Iohn who was carried away in the Spirit and saw the holy Ierusalem descending out of Heaven having the Glory of God in it Rev. 21.11 how did the world
content to stay here any longer Again Our unwillingness to go hence declares we love the World too much and Christ too little Love as Aristotle saith desires Union did we love Christ as we should we would desire to be united to him in Glory when we might take our fill of Love be humbled that we are so unwilling to go hence Let us labour to arrive at that divine temper of Soul as Paul had Cupio dissolvi I desire to depart and be with Christ Phil. 1.23 We are encompassed with a body of sin should not we long to shake off this viper We are in Meseck and the Tents of Kedar in a place where we see God dishonoured should not we desire to have our pass to be gone We are in a valley of Tears is it not better being in a Kingdom Here we are combating with Satan should not we desire to be called out of the bloody field where the bullets of Temptation fly so fast that we may receive a victorious Crown O ye Saints breath after the Heavenly Kingdom Though we should be willing to stay to do service yet we should ambitiously desire to be alwayes sunning our selves in the light of Gods Countenance Think what it will be to be ever with the Lord are there any sweeter smiles or embraces than his Is there any bed so soft as Christs bosom Is there any such joy as to have the golden banner of Christs Love displayed over us Is there any such honour as to sit upon the Throne with Christ Rev. 3.21 O then long for the Caelestial Kingdom 6. Wait for this Kingdom of Glory It is not incongruous or improper to long for Heaven yet wait for it long for it because it is a Kingdom yet wait your Fathers good pleasure God could presently bestow this Kingdom but he sees it good that we should wait a while 1. Had we the Kingdom of Heaven presently assoon as ever Grace is infused then God would lose much of his Glory 1. Where would be our living by Faith which is the Grace that brings in the chief revenues of Glory to God Rom. 4.20 2. Where would be our suffering for God which is a way of honouring him which the Angels in Heaven are not capable of 3. Where would be the active service we are to do for God Would we have God give us a Kingdom and we do nothing for him before we come there Would we have Rest before Labour a Crown before Victory This were disingenuous Paul was content to stay out of Heaven a while that he might be a means to bring others thither Phil. 1.23 â— While we wait for the Kingdom our Glory is increasing Every Duty Religiously performed adds a Jewel to our Crown Do we desire to have our Robes of Glory shine brighter let us wait and work the longer we stay for the Principal the greater will the Interest be The Husbandman waits till the seed spring up Wait for the harvest of Glory Some have their waiting Weeks at Court this is your walting time Christ saith Pray and faint not Luke 18.1 so wait and faint not Be not weary the Kingdom of Heaven will make amends for your waiting I have waited for thy Salvation O Lord said that dying Patriarch Gen. 49.18 VSE V. Comfort to the people of God 1. In all their Sufferings The true Saint is as Luther saith Haeres Crucis heir to the Cross Affliction is his Dyet drink but here is that may be as Bezoar-stone to keep him from fainting these sufferings bring a Kingdom The hope of the Kingdom of Heaven saith Basil should indulcorate and sweeten all our troubles 2 Tim. 2.12 If we suffer we shall reign with him 'T is but a short fight but an eternal triumph this light suffering produceth an eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 1. A weight of Glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Things which are precious the more weighty the more they are worth the more weight is in a Crown of Gold the more it is worth 'T is a weight of Glory 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An eternal weight of Glory Did this Glory last but a while it would much abate and imbitter the Joyes of Heaven but the Glory of that Kingdom runs parallel with Eternity God will be as a deep Sea of Blessedness and the Glorified Saints shall for ever bathe themselves in that Ocean One dayes wearing the Crown will abundantly pay for all the Saints sufferings how much more then when they shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 O let this support under all the Calamities and Suffering in this Life What a vast difference is there between a Believers Sufferings and his Reward Rom. 8.18 The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory which shall be revealed in us For a few Tears Rivers of Pleasure for Mourning white Robes This made the Primitive Christians laugh at Imprisonment and snatch up Torments as so many Crowns Though now we drink in a Worm-wood Cup here is Sugar in the bottom to sweeten it 'T is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom 2. Comfort in Death Here is that which may take away from Gods Children the terrour of Death they are now entring into the Kingdom Indeed no wonder if wicked Men be appal'd and terrified at the approach of Death they dye unpardoned Death carries them to the Goal where they must lye for ever without â—ail or Mainprize But why should any of Gods Children be so scared and half-dead with the thoughts of Death What hurt doth Death do to them but lead them to a Glorious Kingdom Faith gives a Title to Heaven Death a Possession let this be a Gospel-antidote to expel the fear of Death Hilarion that blessed Man cryed out Egredere Anima egredere quid times Go forth my Soul go forth what fearest thou Let them fear Death who do not fear Sin But let not Gods Children be over-much troubled at the grim Face of that Messenger which brings them to the end of their Sorrow and the beginning of their Joy Death is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 it is part of a Believers inventory Is a Prince afraid to cross a narrow Sea who shall be Crowned when he comes to Land Death to the Saints shall be an usher to bring them into the Presence of the King of Glory This puts Lilies and Roses into the ghastly face of Death and makes it look amiable Death brings us to a Crown of Glory which fades not away The day of Death is better to a Believer than the day of his Birth Death is aditus ad Gloriam an entrance into a blessed Eternity Fear not Death but rather let your Hearts revive when you think these ratling wheels of Deaths Chariot are but to carry you home to an everlasting Kingdom MATTH vi 10 Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven WE come next to the Third Petition Thy Will be done in Earth as it
delight in duty he doth it rather out of fear of Hell then Love to God when he doth do Gods will yet it is against his will Virtus nolentium nulla est Cain brought his Sacrifice but grudgingly his worship was rather a Task then an Offering rather Pennance then Sacrifice he did Gods will but against his will we must be carried upon the wings of Delight in every Duty Israel were to blow the Trumpets when they offered Burnt-Offerings Numb 10.10 blowing the Trumpets was to show their Joy and Chearfulness in serving God we must read and hear the word with Delight Ier. 15.16 Thy Word was found and I did eat it and it was unto me the Ioy and Rejoycing of my heart A pious Soul goes to the word as to a Feast or as one would go with delight to hear Musick Sleidan reports that the Protestants in France had a Church they called Paradise because when they were in the House of God they thought themselves in Paradise The Saints flock as Doves to the windows of Gods House Isa. 60.8 who are these that flock as Doves to the windows not that a truly regenerate Person is always in the same chearful temper of Obedience he may sometimes find an indisposition and weariness of Soul but his weariness is his burden he is weary of his weariness he prays weeps useth all means to regain that alacrity and freedom in Gods Service that he was wont to have This is to do Gods will acceptably when we do it willingly 't is this crowns all our Services delight in duty is better then duty the Musician is not commended for playing long but well 't is not how much we do but how much we love Psal. 119.97 O how love I thy Law Love is as Musk among Linnen that perfumes it Love perfumes Obedience and makes it go up to Heaven as Incense this is doing Gods will as the Angels in Heaven do it they are ravished with delight while they are praising God therefore the Angels are said to have Harps in their Hands Rev. 15.2 as a sign of their chearfulness in Gods Service 4. VVe do Gods will as the Angels in Heaven when we do Gods VVill fervently sine remissione Rom. 12.11 Fervent in spirit serving God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Metaphor from vvater when it seeths and boils over so our Affections should boil over in zeal 〈◊〉 fervency the Angels serve God vvith fervour and intenseness the Angels are called Seraphims from an Hebrew word vvhich signifies to burn to shovv hovv the Angels are all on fire Psal. 104.4 they burn in Love and Zeal in doing Gods will Grace turns a Saint into a Seraphim Aaron must put burning Coals to the Incense Exod. 16.12 Incense was a Type of Prayer burning Coals of Zeal to show that the fire of zeal must be put to the Incense of prayer Formality starves Duty when we serve God dully and coldly is this like the Angels Duty without fervency is as a Sacrifice without fire we should ascend to Heaven in a fiery Chariot of Devotion 5. VVe do Gods VVill as the Angels in Heaven when we give God the best in every Service Numb 18.29 Out of all your Gifts ye shall offer of all the best thereof Numb 28.7 In the holy place shalt thou cause the strong Wine to be poured unto the Lord for a drink-Offering The Jews might not offer to the Lord wine that vvas small or mixed but the strong wine to imply that we must offer to God the best the strongest of our affections if the Spouse had a Cup more juicy and spiced Christ should drink of that Cant. 8.2 I would cause thee to drink of spiced Wine of the juice of my Pomgranate Thus the Angels in Heaven do Gods Will they serve him in the best manner they give him their Seraphick high stringed Praises he who loves God gives him the Cream of his Obedience God challenged the fat of all the Sacrifice as his due Lev. 3.16 Hypocrites care not what Services they bring to God they think to put him off with any thing they put no Cost in their Duties Gen. 4.3 Cain brought of the fruit of the Ground The Holy Ghost took notice of Abel's Offering that it was costly he brought of the Firstlings of his Flock and of the Fat thereof Gen. 4.4 bâ—t when he speaks of Cain's Offering he only saith he brought of the Fruit of the Ground Then we do Gods VVill aright when we do offer Pinguia we dedicate to him the best Domitian would not have his Image carved in VVood or Iron but in Gold God will have the best we have golden Services 6. VVe do Gods VVill as the Angels in Heaven when we do it readily and swiftly the Angels do not dispute or reason the Case but assoon as they have their Charge and Commission from God they immediately obey and to show how ready they are to execute Gods VVill the Cherubims representing the Angels are described with VVings to show how swift and forward they are in their Obedience it is as if they had wings Dan. 9.21 The Man Gabriel that was an Angel being caused to fly swiftly Thus should we do Gods VVill as the Angels assoon as ever God speaks the VVord vve should be ambitious to obey alas how long is it sometimes eâ—e we can get leave of our hearts to go to a Duty Christ went more readily ád Crucem then we to the Throne of Grace how many disputes and excuses have we is this to do Gods VVill as the Angels in Heaven do it O let us shake off this backwardness to Duty as Paul shook of the Viper nescit tarda molimina Spiritus sancti gratia Zeck 5.9 I saw two Women and the wind was in their wings VVings are swift but wind in the wings great swiftness such readiness should be in our Obedience as Peter assoon as ever Christ commanded him to let down his Net at Christs VVord he presently let down the Net and you know what success he had Luke 5.4 It vvas prophesied of such as vvere brought home to Christ Psal. 18.44 Assoon as they hear of me they shall obey me 7. We do Gods VVill as the Angels in Heaven when we do it constantly the Angels are never weary of doing Gods VVill they serve God day and night Rev. 7.17 thus must we imitate the Angels Psal. 106.3 Blessed is he that doth Righteousness at all times Constancy crowns Obedience non cepisse sed perfecisse virtutis est Cypr. our Obedience must be like the Fire of the Altar which was continually kept burning Lev. 6.13 Hypocrites soon give over doing Gods Will like the Chrisolite which is of a golden Colour in the Morning it is very bright to look on but towards Evening it grows dull and hath lost its splendor VVe should continue in doing Gods VVill because of that great loss that will befal us if we give over doing Gods VVill. 1. A loss of Honour Rev. 3.11
that no man take thy Crown implying if the Church of Philadelphia left off her Obedience she would lose her Crown viz. her Honour and Reputation Apostacy creates Infamy Iudas from an Apostle to be a Traytor it was a Dishonour 2. If we give over our Obedience it is a loss of all that hath been already done as if one should work in silver and then pick out all the stitches all a Mans Prayers are lost all the Sabbaths he hath kept are lost he doth unravel all his good works Ezek. 18.24 all his Righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned he undoes all he hath done As if one draw a curious Picture with the Pensil and then come with his Spunge and wipe out all again 3. A loss of the Soul and Happiness We were in a fair way for Heaven but by leaving off dâ—ing Gods VVill we miss of the excellent Glory and are plunged deeper in Damnation 2 Pet. 2.21 It had been better not to have known the way of Righteousness then after they have known it to turn from the Holy Commandment Therefore let us continue in doing Gods VVill Constancy sets the Crown upon the head of Obedience Thus you see how we are to do Gods VVill acceptably VSE I. Branch 1. See hence our Impotency we have no innate power to do Gods VVill VVhat need pray Thy Will be done if we have power of our selves to do it I wonder Free-willers pray this Petition 2. Branch If we are to do Gods Will on Earth as it is done by the Angels in Heaven see then the Folly of those who go by a wrong Pattern they do as the most of their Neighbours do if they talk vain on the Sabbath they do but as their Neighbours do if now and then they swear an Oath it is the Custom of their Neighbours to do so but we are to do Gods Will as the Angels in Heaven do the Angels do such things we must make the Angels our Patterns and not our Neighbours if our Neighbours do the Devils will shall we do so too If our Neighbours go to Hell shall we go thither too for Company 3. Branch See here that which may make us long to be in Heaven then we shall do Gods Will perfectly as the Angels do alas how defective are we in our Obedience here how far do we fall short we cannot write a Copy of Holiness without blotting our holy things are blemished like the Moon which when it shines brightest hath a dark spot in it But in Heaven we shall do Gods will perfectly as the Angels in Glory VSE II. Of Reproof 1. Branch It reproves such as do not Gods Will they have the knowledge of Gods will Knowledge they count an Ornament but though they know Gods Will yet they do it not 1. They know what God would have them avoid they know they should not swear Mat. 5.34 Swear not at all For this sin the Land mourns Ier. 23.10 Yet though they pray Hallowed be thy Name they profane it by shooting Oathes like Chain-Bullets against Heaven they know they should abstain from Fornication and Uncleanness yet they cannot but bite at the Devils Hook if he bait it with Flesh Iude 7. 2. They know what God would have them practise but they leave undone those things which they ought to have done they know it is the will of God they should be true in their Promises just in their Dealings good in their Relations but they do not the Will of God they know they should read the Scriptures consult with Gods Oracle but the Bible like rusty Armour is hung up and seldom used they look oftner upon a Pair of Cards then a Bible they know their Houses should be Palestrae Pietatis Nurseries of Piety yet have no Face of Religion in them they do not perfume their Houses with Prayer what Hypocrites are these to kneel down in the Church and lift up their Eyes to Heaven and say Thy Will be done yet have no care at all to do Gods Will what is this but to hang out a Flag of Defiance against Heaven and Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft 2. Branch It reproves those who do not Gods Will in a right acceptable manner 1. They do not Gods VVill intirely all Gods VVill they will obey God in some things but not in other as if a Servant should do some of your work you set him about but not the rest Iehu destroyed the Idolatry of Baal but let the golden Calves of Ieroboam stand 2 Kings 10.30 Some will observe the Duties of the Second Table but not the first Others make an high Profession as if their Tongues had been touch'd with a Coal from Gods Altar but live idly and out of a Calling these the Apostle complains of 2 Thess. 3.11 We hear there are some which walk among you disorderly working not at all Living by Faith and living in a Calling must go together This is an evil thing not to do all Gods VVill. 2. They do not Gods will ardently they do not put Coals to the Incense nor chearfully they bring their Sacrifice but not their heart this is far from doing Gods VVill as the Angels this loseth the Reward how can God like this to serve him as if we served him not how can God mind our Duties when we our selves scarce mind them VSE III. Of Examination Let us examine all our Actions whether they are according to Gods will The will of God is the Rule and Standard 't is the Sun-dial by which we must set all our Actions he is no good workman that doth not work by Rule he can be no good Christian who goes not according to the Rule of Gods will let us examine our Actions whether they do quadrare agree to the will of God Are our speeches according to Gods will Are our words savoury being seasoned with Grace Is our Apparel according to Gods will 1 Tim. 2.9 In like manner that women adorn themselves in modest Apparel not wanton and garish to invite Comers Our Diet is it according to Gods will Do we hold the golden Bridle of Temperance and only take so much as may rather satisfy Nature then surfeit it too much Oyl choaks the Lamp Is our whole carriage and behaviour according to Gods will Are we patterns of Prudence and Piety Do we keep up the Credit of Religion and shine as Lights in the world We pray Thy Will be done as it is in Heaven are we like our Pattern would the Angels do thus if they were on Earth would Jesus Christ do this thus is to Christianize this is to be Saints of degrees when we live our Prayer and our Actions are the Counter-pane of Gods will VSE IV. Of Exhortation Let us be doers of the Will of God Thy Will be done 1. It is our Wisdom to do Gods Will Deut. 4.6 Keep and do these statutes for this is your wisdom 2. It is our Safety Hath not Misery alwayes
hearts to submission Lord if thou usest so much gentleness and correctest in measure Thy Will be done 12. There is kindness in Affliction in that God often sweetens it with divine Consolation 2 Cor. 1.4 Who comforteth us in all our Tribulation After a bitter Potion a lump of Sugar God comforts in Affliction 1. Partly by his Word Psal. 119.50 This is my Comfort in my Affliction for thy Word hath quickened me The Promises of the word are a shop of Cordials 2. God comforts by his Spirit Philip Landtgrave of Hesse said that in his troubles se divinas Martyrum consolationes sensisse he felt the divine Consolations of the Martyrs David had his Pilgrimage-Songs Psal. 119.54 and St. Paul his Prison-Songs Act. 16.25 Thus God candies our Wormwood with Sugar and makes us gather Grapes of Thorns Some of the Saints have had such ravishing Joys in Affliction that they had rather endure their Sufferings then want their Comforts O how much kindness is in the Cross In the Belly of this Lyon is an Honey-Comb may not this make us chearfully submit to Gods Will when God lines the Yoak with Comfort and gives us honey at the end of the Rod 13. There is kindness in Affliction in that God doth curtail and shorten it he will not let it lye on too long Isa. 57.16 I will not contend for ever least the Spirit should fail before me God will give his People a Writ of Ease and proclaim a Year of Jubilee the wicked may plow upon the backs of the Saints but God will cut their Traces Psal. 129.4 The Goldsmith will not let his gold lye any longer in the Furnace then till it is purified The Wicked must drink a Sea of Wrath but the Godly have only a Cup of Affliction Isa. 51.17 and God will say Let this Cup pass away Affliction may be compared to Frost it will break and Spring Flowers will come on Isa. 35. Sorrow and sighing shall fly away Affliction hath a Sting but withal a Wing sorrow shall fly away this Land Flood shall be dryed up if then there be so much kindness in the Cross God will cause a Cessation of trouble say then Fiat Voluntas tua Thy Will be done 14. Vlt. There is kindness in Affliction in that it is a means to make us happy Iob 5.17 Behold happy is the Man whom God correcteth This seems strange to flesh and blood that Affliction should make one happy when Moses saw the bush burning and not consumed I will sâ—ith he turn aside and see this strange sight Exod. 3.3 So here is a strange sight a Man afflicted yet happy The World counts them happy who can escape Affliction but happy is the Man whom God correcteth Quest. But how do Afflictions contribute to our happiness Resp. 1. As they are a means to bring us nearer to God the Loadstone of Prosperity doth not draw us so near to God as the Cords of Affliction VVhen the Prodigal was pinch'd with want then saith he I will arise and go to my Father Luke 15.18 The Deluge brought the Dove to the Ark The Floods of Sorrow make us hasten to Christ. 2. Afflictions make us happy as they are Manuductions to Glory The Storm drives the Ship into the harbour Happy is that Storm which drives the Soul into the Heavenly harbour is it not better to go through affliction to glory then through pleasure to misery not that afflictions merit glory no cross ever merited but that which Christ endured but they do disponere fit and prepare us for glory Think O Christian what Affliction leads to it leads to Paradise where are Rivers of Pleasure always running may not this make us chearfully submit to Gods VVill and say Lord if there be so much kindness in Affliction if all thou dost is to make us happy Thy Will be done 7. Consideration It is Gods ordinary course to keep his People to a bitter Diet-Drink and exercise them with great Trials Affliction is the beaten Road all the Saints have gone in The lively Stones in the Spiritual building have been all hewn and polished Christs Lilly hath grown among the Thorns 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live Godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution 'T is too much for a Christian to have two Heavens that is more than Christ had It hath been ever the lot of the Saints to encounter with sore tryals Both of the Prophets Iam. 5.10 Take my brethren the Prophets for an example of suffering affliction And of the Apostles Peter was Crucified with his Head downward Iames beheaded by Herod Iohn banished into the Isle of Patmos the Apostle Thomas thrust thorow with a spear who was chosen Apostle in Iudas room Matthias stoned to death Luke the Evangelist hanged on an Olive-tree Those Saints of whom the World was not worthy did pass under the Rod Hebr. 11.36 Christs Kingdom is Regnum Crucis this is the way God hath alwayes gone in such as God intends to save from Hell yet he doth not save from the Cross the consideration of this should quiet our Minds in Affliction and make us say Thy Will be done Do we think God will alter his course of Providence for us Why should we look for exemption from trouble more than others Why should we think to tread only upon Roses and Violets when Prophets and Apostles have marched through the Bryars to Heaven 8. Consideration God hath done that for thee Christian which may make thee content to suffer any thing at his hand and say Thy Will be done 1. He hath adopted thee for his Child David thought it no small Honour to be the Kings Son in Law 1 Sam. 18.18 what an Honour is it to derive thy pedigree from Heaven to be born of God why then art thou troubled and murmurest at every slight cross As Ionadab said to Amnon 2 Sam. 13.4 Why art thou being the Kings Son lean So why art thou who art Son or Daughter to the King of Heaven troubled at these petty things What the Kings Son and look lean This may quiet thy Spirit and bring thy Will to Gods he hath dignified thee with Honour he made thee his Son and Heir and will entail a Kingdom on thee 2. God hath given thee Christ. Christ is communis thesaurus a Magazine and Storehouse of all Heavenly Treasure a Pearl of Price to enrich a Tree of Life to quicken He is the quintessence of all Blessings why then art thou discontented at thy Worldly Crosses They cannot be so bitter as Christ is sweet as Seneca said once to Polybius Why dost thou complain of hard Fortune salvo Caesare is not Caesar thy Friend So is not Christ thy Friend He can never be poor who hath a Mine of Gold in his Field nor he who hath the unsearchable Riches of Christ Say then Lord Thy Will be done though I have my Cross yet I have Christ with it The Cross may make me weep but Christ wipes off all
when he was to dye he said O that I had never been King O that I had lived a private solitary Life here is all the fruit of my Kingdom it hath made my accounts heavier So then may not this quiet our Hearts in a low adverse condition and make us say Lord Thy Will be done as thou hast given me a less portion of Worldly things so I have a less burden of Care and a less burden of Account 2. A prosperous condition hath plus periculi more danger in it Such as are on the top of the pinacle of Honour are in more danger of falling they are subject to many temptations their Table is oft a snare Heliogabalus made Ponds of sweet Water to bathe in Millions are drowned in the sweet Waters of Pleasure A great Sail over-turns the Vessel how many by having too great Sails of Prosperity have had their Souls over-turn'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil It must be a strong Head that bears heady Wine he had need have much Wisdom and Grace that knows how to bear an high condition It is hard to carry a full Cup without spilling and a full Estate without sinning Agar feared if he were full he should deny God and say Who is the Lord Prov. 30.9 Prosperity breeds 1. Pride The Children of Kohath were in an higher Estate than the rest of the Levites they were imployed in the Tabernacle about the most holy things of all Numb 4.4 they had the first lot Iosh. 21.10 but as they were lifted up above others of the Levites in Honour so in Pride Numb 16.3 In the Thames when the Tyde riseth higher the Boat riseth higher so when the Tyde of an Estate riseth higher many Mens Hearts rise higher in Pride 2. Prosperity breeds security Sampson fell asleep in Delilahs lap so do Men in the lap of Ease and Plenty The Worlds golden sands are quick-sands How hard is it for a rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Luke 18.24 the consideration of this should make us submit to God in adversity and say Thy Will be done God sees what is best for us if we have less Estate we are in less danger if we want the Honours of others so we want their Temptations 12. Consideration The having of our Wills melted into Gods is a good sign that the present Affliction is sanctified Then an Affliction is sanctified when it attains the end for which it was sent The end why God sends Affliction is to calm the Spirit to subdue the Will and bring it to Gods Will when this is done Affliction hath attained the end for which it came it is sanctified and it will not be long ere it be removed When the sore is healed the smarting Plaister is taken off 13. Consideration How unworthy it is of a Christian to be froward and unsubmissive and not bring his Will to God 1. It is below the Spirit of a Christian. The Spirit of a Christian is Dove-like 't is meek and sedate willing to be at Gods dispose Not my will but thy will be done Luke 22.42 A Christian Spirit is not fretful but humble not craving but contented See the picture of a Christian Spirit in St Paul Phil. 4.12 I know 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how to be abased and how to abound Paul could be either higher or lower as God saw good he could sail with any Wind of Providence either a prosperous or a boisterous gale his Will was melted into Gods Will now to be of a cross Spirit that cannot submit to God is unworthy of the Spirit of a Christian 't is like the Bird that because 't is pent up in the Cage and cannot fly in the open Air beats it self against the Cage 2. A froward unsubmissive frame that cannot submit to Gods Will is unworthy of a Christians Profession He professeth to live by Faith yet repines at his condition Faith lives not by bread alone it feeds on Promises it makes future Glory present Faith sees all in God When the fig-tree doth not blossom Faith can joy in the God of its salvation Hab. 3.17 Now to be troubled at the present Estate because low and mean where is Faith Sure that is a weak Faith or no Faith which must have crutches to support it O be ashamed to call thy self Believer if thou canst not trust God and acquiesce in his Will in the deficiency of outward Comforts 3. To be of a froward unsubmissive Spirit that cannot surrender its Will to God is unworthy of the high Dignities God hath put upon a Christian. 1. He is a rich Heir he is exalted above all Creatures that ever God made except the Angels yea in some sense as his Nature is joyned in an Hypostatical Union to the Divine Nature so he is above the Angels O then how is it below his dignity for want of a few earthly Comforts to be froward and ready to quarrel with the Deity Is it not unworthy for a Kings Son because he may not pluck such a Flower to be discontented and rebel against his Royal Father 2. A Christian is espoused to Jesus Christ what to be married to Christ yet froward and unsubmissive Hast not thou enough in him As Elkanah said to Hannah 1 Sam. 1.8 Am not I better than ten Sons Is not Christ better than a thousand Worldly Comforts Omnia bona in summo bono 'T is a disparagement to Christ that his Spouse should be froward when she is matched into the Crown of Heaven 4. To be of a froward unsubmissive Spirit is unsuitable to the Prayers of a Christian he prayes Thy Will be done it is the Will of God he should meet with such troubles whether Sickness loss of Estate crosses in Children God hath decreed and ordered it why then is there not submission Why are we discontented at that which we pray for It is a saying of Latimer speaking of Peter who denyed his Master Peter saith he forgot his Prayer for that was Hallowed be thy Name So oft we forget our Prayers nay contradict them for we pray Thy Will be done Now if unsubmissiveness to God be so unworthy of a Christian should not we labour to bring our Wills to Gods and say Lord let me not disparage Religion let me do nothing unworthy of a Christian. 14. Consideration Frowardness and unsubmissiveness of Will to God is very sinful 1. It is sinful in its Nature to murmur when God crosseth us in our Will showes much ungodliness The Apostle Iude speaks of ungodly ones ver 15. and that we may better know who these are he sets a mark upon them ver 16. These are murmurers Some think they are not so ungodly as others because they do not swear or are drunk but you may be ungodly in murmuring there are not only ungodly Drunkards but ungodly Murmurers nay this is the height of ungodliness namely Rebellion Korah and his Company murmured against God and see how the Lord interprets this Numb 17.10 Bring
under her Gen. 31.34 He knows God sees him which is more than if Men and Angels did behold him He avoids Complexion-sins Psal. 18.23 I was also upright before him and kept my self from my iniquity As in the Hive there is a Masâ—er-Bee so in the Heart there is a Master-Sin An heart without guile takes the Sacrificing-knife of Mortification and runs it through his Beloved-Sin 3. An heart without guile desires to know the whole mind and will of God An unsound heart is afraid of the Light lucifuga he is not willing to know his Duty A sincere Soul saith as Job 34.32 What I know not teach thou me Lord shew me what is my Duty and wherein I offend let me not sin for want of light what I know not teach thou me 4. An heart without guile is uniform in Religion He hath an equal eye at all God's Commands 1. He makes Conscience of private Duties he worships God in his Closet as well as in the Temple Iacob when he was alone wrestled with the Angel Gen. 32.3 4. So a Christian when he is alone wrestles with God in Prayer and will not let him go till he hath blessed him 2. He performs difficuâ—t duties wherein the heart and spirit of Religion lie and which do cross flesh and blood His is much in self-humbling and self-examining Vtitur specâ—lis magis quam perspicillis Sen. He rather useth the Looking-glass of the Word to look into his own heart than the broad Spectacles of Censure to spy the faults of others 5. An heart without Guile is true to God's interest 1. He grieves to see it go ill with the Church Nâ—hâ—miah though the King's Cup-bearer and Wine so near yet was sad when Sion's Glory was Eclipsed Nehem. 2.3 Like the Tree I have read of if any of the Leaves are cut the rest of the Leaves begin to shrink up themselves and for a time to hang down the head So a sincere Soul when God's Church suffers feels himself as it were touched in his own Person 2. He Rejoyceth to see the Cause of God get Ground To see Truth Triumph Pieâ—y lift up its head and the Flowers of Christ's Crown flourish This is an Heart without Guile it 's loyal and true to God's interest 6. An heart without Guile is Iust in his dealings As he is upright in his Words so he is upright in his Weights He makes Conscience of the Second Table as well as the First He is for Equity as well as Piety 1 Thessal 4.6 That no Man go beyond and defraud his Brother in any matter A sincere heart thinks he may as well Rob as Defraud His Rule is to do to others what he would have them do to him Matt. 7.12 7. An heart without Guile is True in his Promises His Word is as good as his Bond If he hath made a Promise though it be to his prejudice and doth intrench upon his Profit he will not go back The Hypocrite plays fast and loose flies from his word there 's no more binding him with Oaths and Promises than Sampson could be bound with green Wit hs Iudg. 16.7 A sincere Soul saith as Iephtha Judg. 11.3 5. I have opened my mouth to the Lord and I cannot go back 8. An Heart without Guile is faithful in his Friendship He is what he pretends his Heart goes along with his Tongue as a well-made Dial goes with the Sun He cannot Flatter and Hate Commend and Censure Counterfeiting of Love is Hypocrisie 'T is too usual to betray with a Kiss 2 Sam. 20.9 Ioab took Abner by the beard to kiss him and smote him in the fifth rib that he died Many deceive with Sugar Words Physicians use to judge of the Health of the Body by the Tongue if that look well the Body is in Health but we cannot judge of Friendship by the Tongue the Words may be full of Honey when the Heart hath the Gall of Malice Sure his heart is not true to God who is Treacherous to his Friend Thus you see what an Heart without guile is now to have such an Heart is a Sign sin is pardoned God will not impute Sin to him in whose Spirit is no Guile What a blessed thing is this not to have Sin imputed If our Sins be not imputed 't is as if we had no Sin Sins remitted are as if they had not been committed this is the blessing belongs to a sincere Soul God imputes not Iniquity to him in whose Spirit is no Guile 9. He whose sins are forgiven is willing to forgive others who have offended him Ephes. 4.32 Forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you An Hypocrite will Read come to Church give Alms build Hospitals but cannot forgive Wrongs He will rather want Forgiveness from God than he will forgive his Enemies A Pardon'd Soul argues thus Hath God been so good to me to forgive me my sins and shall not I imitate him in this Hath he forgiven me Pounds and shall not I forgive Pence 'T is noted of Cranmer Nihil oblivisci solet praeter injurias Cicero He was of a forgiving Spirit and would do Offices of Love to them that had injur'd him Like the Sun which having drawn up black Vapours from the Earth returns them back in sweet Showers By this Touchstone we may try whether our sins are pardoned we need not climb up into Heaven to see whether our sins be forgiven but let us look into our hearts Are we of Forgiving Spirits Can we bury Injuries requite Good for Evil a good sign we are forgiven of God If we can find all these things wrought in our Souls they are happy signs that our sins are pardoned and are good Letters Testimonials to shew for Heaven Vse 3. Consolation I shall open a Box of Cordials and shew you some of the Glorious Priviledges of a pardoned condition This is a peculiar favour 't is a Spring shut up broched for none but the Elect. The Wicked may have Forbearing Mercy but onely an Elect Person hath Forgiving Mercy Forgiveness of sin makes way for solid joy Isa. 40.1 Comfort ye comfort ye my People saith your God speak ye comfortably to Ierusalem or as in the Hebrew Dabberu Gnal leâ— speak to her heart What was this must chear her heart tell her that her iniquity is pardoned If any thing would comfort her the Lord knew it was this When Christ would chear the Palsie Man Matt. 9.2 Son be of good chear thy sins be forgiven thee It was a greater comfort to have his sins forgiven than to have his Palsie healed This made David put on his best clothes and anoint himself 2 Sam. 12.20 It was strange his Child was newly dead and God had told him the sword should not depart from his house yet now he spruceth up himself he puts on his best Clothes and Anoints himself Whence was this David had heard good News God sent him his Pardon by Nathan the Prophet 2 Sam.
two Talents take the Venison and take a Blessing with it Take the Oil in the Cruse and take my Love with it Take two Talents 'T is observable Christ joins these two together Give us our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as if Christ would teach us there is little comfort in daily bread unless sin be forgiven Forgiveness doth perfume and drop sweetness into every earthly enjoyment 11. If sin be forgiven God will never upbraid us with our former sins When the Proâ—igal came home to his Father the Father received him into his loving embraces and never mentioned his former Luxury or spending his Estate among Harlots So God will not upbraid us with former sins nay he will intirely love us we shall be his Jewels and he will put us in his bosom Mary Magdalen a pardoned Penitent after Christ arose he appeared first to her Mark 16.9 So far was Christ from upbraiding her that he brings her the first New of his Resurrection 12. Sin being pardoned is a pillar of support in the loss of dear Friends God hath taken away thy Child thy Husband but withal he hath taken away thy sins He hath given thee more than he hath taken away He hath taken a-away a Flower and given thee a Jewel He hath given thee Christ and the Spirit and the earnest of Glory He hath given thee more than he hath taken away 13. Where God Pardons Sins he bestows righteousness With Remission of sin goes Imputation of Righteousness Isa. 61.10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness If a Christian can take any comfort in his Inherent Righteousness which is so stain'd and mix'd with sin O then what comfort may he take in Christ's Righteousness which is a better Righteousness than that of Adam Adam's Righteousness was Mutable but suppose it had been Vnchangeable yet it was but the Righteousness of a Man but that Righteousness which is Imputed is the Righteousness of him who is God 2 Cor. 5.21 That we might be made the Righteousness of God in Him O blessed priviledge to be reputed in the sight of God Righteous as Christ having his Embroidered Robe put upon the Soul This is the comfort of every one that is pardoned he hath a Perfect Righteousness and now God saith of him Thou art all fair my Love and there is no spot in thee Cant. 4.7 14. A pardon'd Soul needs not fear death He may look on Death with Joy who can look on Forgiveness with Faith To a pardoned Soul death hath lost his Sting Death to a pardon'd sinner is like the Arresting a Man after the Debt is paid Death may Arrest but Christ will shew the Debt-book Crossed in his Blood A pardoned Soul may Triumph over Death O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory He who is pardon'd needs not fear death it is not a Destruction but a Deliverance It is to him a day of Iubilee or Release it releaseth him from all his sins Death comes to a pardoned Soul as the Angel did to Peter it smote him and beat off his Chains and carried him out of Prison So doth Death to him who is pardon'd it smites his Body and the Chains of Sin fall off Death gives a pardon'd Soul a Quietus Est it frees him from all his Labours Revel 14.13 Faelix transitus à labore ad Requiem Death as it will wipe off our Tears so it will wipe off our Sweat Death will do a pardon'd Christian the greatest good turn therefore it is made a part of the Inventory 1 Cor. 3.22 Death is yours Death is like the Waggon which was sent for old Iacob it came ratling with its Wheels but it was to carry Iacob to his Son Ioseph So the Wheels of Death's Chariot may rattle and make a noise but they are to carry a Believer to Christ. While a Believer is here he is absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 He lives far from Court and cannot see him whom his Soul loves But Death gives him a sight of the King of Glory in whose presence is fulness of Ioy To a pardoned Soul Death is Transitus ad regnum it removes him to the place of Bliss where he shall hear the Triumphs and Anthems of Praise Sung in the Quire of Angels No cause hath a pardoned Soul to fear Death What needs he fear to have his Body buried in the Earth who hath his Sins buried in Christ's Wounds What hurt can Death do to him It is but his Ferry-man to Ferry him over to the Land of Promise The day of Death to a pardon'd Soul is his Ascension day to Heaven his Coronation-day when he shall be Crown'd with those delights of Paradice which are unspeakable and full of glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost. Thus you see the the rich Consolations which belong to a pardoned sinner Well might David proclaim him blessed Psal. 32.1 Blessed is he whose iniquity is forgiven In the Hebrew it is in the plural 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blessednesses Here is a Plurality of Blessings Forgiveness of sin is like the first link of a Chain which draws all the links after it it draws these 14 Priviledges after it It Crowns with Grace and Glory Who then would not labour to have his sins forgiven Blessed is he whose Iniquity is forgiven whose sin is covered Now followeth the Duties of such as have their sins forgiven Mercy calls for Duty Be much in Praise and Doxology Psal. 103. 1. Bless the Lord O my Soul who forgiveth all thy Iniquities Hath God Crowned you with pardoning Mercy set the Crown of your Praise upon the head of Free Grace Pardon of sin is a Discriminating Mercy a Jewel hung onely upon the Elect this calls for Acclamations of Praise You will give thanks for daily bread and will you not much more for Pardon You will give thanks for deliverance from Sickness and will you not for deliverance from Hell God hath done more for you in forgiving your sin than if he had given you a Kingdom And that you may be more thankful do but set the Unpardoned condition bâ—fore your eyes How sad is it to want a pardon all the Curses of the Law stand in full force against such an one The Unpardoned Sinner dying he drops into the Grave and Hell both at once He must quarter among the Damned and will not this make you Thankful that this is not your condition but that you are delivered from wrath to come 2. Let God's pardoning love inflame your hearts with love to God For God to pardon freely without any desert of yours to pardon so many offences that he should pardon you and pass by others that he should take you out of the ruines of Mankind and of a clod of dust and sin make you a Jewel sparkling with Heavenly Glory Will not this make you love God much Three Prisoners that deserve to die if the King pardon one
will your Heavenly Father forgive your Trespasses A man may as well go to Hell for not forgiving as for not believing How can they expect mercy from God whose Bowels are shut up and are merciless to their trespassing Brethren Jam. 2.13 He shall have Iudgment without Mercy that hath shewed no Mercy I cannot Forgive said one tho I go to Hell 6. The examples of the Saints who have been of forgiving Spirit Ioseph Forgave his Brethren tho they put him into a Pit and sold him Gen. 50.21 Fear not I will nourish you and your little ones Stephen pray'd for his Persecutors Moses was of a forgiving Spirit How many injuries and affronts did he put up The People of Israel dealt unkindly with him they murmurâ—d against him at the Waters of Marah the Water was not so bitter as their Spirits but he fell to prayer for them Exod. 15.24 He cried unto the Lord and the Lord shewed him a Tree which when he had cast into the Waters they were made sweet When they wanteâ— Water they fell a chiding with Moses Exod. 17.3 Why hast thou brought us out of Egypt to kill us with thirst As if they had said if we dye we will lay our Death to thy charge here was enough to have made Moses call for Fire from Heaven upon them but he passeth by this injury and to shew he forgave them he becomes an intercessor for them ver 4. and set the Rock abroach for them ver 6. The Prophet Elisha feasted his Enemies 2 Kin. 6.23 He prepar'd a Table for them who would have prepared his Grave Cranmer was famous for forgiving injuries When Luther had revil'd Calvin saith Calvin Etiamsi millies me diabolum vocet tho he call me Devil a thousand times yet I will love and honour him as a pretious Servant of Christ. When one had abus'd and wronged a Christian asking him What wonders hath your Master Christ wrought saith he He hath wrought this wonder that tho you have so injured me yet I can forgive you and pray for you 7. Forgiving and requiting good for evil is the best way to conquer and melt the Heart of an Enemy Saul having pursued David with Malice and hunted him as a Partridge upon the Mountains yet David would not do him a mischief when it was in his power Davids kindness melted Saulâ— Heart 1 Sam. 24.16 17. Is this thy voice my Son David and Saul lift up his Voice and Wept and said Thou art more righteous than I for thou hast rewarded me good This forgiving is heaping Coals which melts the Enemies Heart Rom. 12.20 This is the most noble Victory to overcome an Enemy without striking a blow to conquer him with love Philip of Macedon when it was told him that one Nicanor did openly rail against him the King instead of putting him to death sent him a rich present which did so overcome the man and make his Heart relent that he went up and down to recant what he had said against the King and did highly extol the Kings Clemency 8. Forgiving others is the way to have forgiveness from God and is a sign of forgiveness 1. It is the way to have forgiveness Mat. 6.14 If ye forgive men their trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you But one would think other things should sooner procure forgiveness from God than our forgiving others No surely nothing like this to procure forgiveness for all other acts of Religion may have leaven in them God forbad Leaven in the Sacrifice Exod. 34.25 One may give Alms yet there may be the leaven of Vain-glory in this The Pharisees sounded a Trumpet they did not give Alms but sell them for applause Mat. 6.2 one may give his Body to be burned yet there may be leaven in this it may be a false zeal there may be Leaven in many acts of Religion which soures the whole lump but to forgive others that have offended us this can have no Leaven in it no Sinister aim this is a Duty wholly Spiritual and is done purely out of love to God hence it is God rather annexeth forgiveness to this then to the highest and most renown'd works of Charity which are so cried up in the World 2. It is a sign of Gods forgiving us It is not a cause of Gods forgiving us but a sign We need not climb up into Heaven to see whether our sins are Forgiven let us look into our Hearts and see if we can Forgive others then we need not doubt but God hath forgiven us Our loving others is nothing but the reflection of Gods love to us Oh therefore by all these arguments let us be persuaded to the forgiving others Christians how many offences hath God pass'd by in us Our sins are innumerable and Heinous is God willing to forgive us so many offences and cannot we forgive a few no man can do so much wrong to us all our life as we do to God in one day Quest. But how must we Forgive Answ. As God Forgives us 1. Cordially God doth not only make a show of forgiving and keeps our sins by him but doth really forgive He passeth an act of Oblivion Ier. 31.34 so we must not only say we Forgive but do it with the Heart Mat. 18.35 If ye from your Hearts forgive not 2. God forgives Fully he forgives all our sins He doth not for fourscore write down fifty Psalm 103.3 who Forgiveth all thy iniquities Hypocrites pass by some offences but retain others Would we have God deal so with us to remit only some trespasses and call us to account for the rest 3. God forgives often we run afresh upon the score but God multiplies pardon Isa. 55.7 Peter asks the question Mat. 18.21 Lord how oft shall my Brother sin against me and I forgive him Till seven times Ieâ—us saith to him I say not until seven times but until seventy times seven If he say I Repent you must say I Remit Quest. But this is one of the highest acts of Religion Flesh and Blood cannot do it how shall I attain to it Answ. 1. Let us consider how many wrongs and injuries we have done against God What Volume can hold our Errata Our sins are more than the Sparks in a Furnace 2. If we would forgive see Gods hand in all that men do or say against us Did we look higher than Instruments our Hearts would grow calm and we would not meditate revenge Shimei reproach'd David and Cursed him David look'd higher 2 Sam 16 11. Let him alone let him curse for the Lord hath bidden him What made Christ that when he was reviled he reviled not again He look'd beyond Iudâ—s and Pilate he saw his Father putting the bitter Cup into his Hand and as we must see Gods hand in all the affronts and Incivilities we receive from men so we must believe God will do us good by all if we belong to him 2 Sam. 16.12 It may be the Lord will requite
Temptation strikes at some Grace more than other As in tempting he aims at some Persons more than others so he aims at some Grace more than other and if he can prevail in this he knows what an advantage it will be to him If you ask what Grace it is that Satan in his Temptations doth most strike at I Answer it is the Grace of Faith He lays the Train of his Temptation to blow up the Fort of our Faith Fidei scutum percutit Why did Christ pray more for Peter's Faith than any other Grace Luk. 22.32 Because Christ saw that his Faith was most in danger the Devil was striking at this Grace Satan in Tempting Eve did labour to weaken her Faith Gen. 3.1 Yea hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree of the Garden The Devil would perswade her that God had not spoken Truth and when he had once wrought her to distrust then she took of the Tree 'T is called Scutum fidei the Shield of Faith Ephes. 6.16 Satan in Tempting strikes most at our Shield he assaults our Faith True Faith though it cannot be wholly lost yet it may suffer a great Eclipse Though the Devil cannot by Temptation take away the Life of Faith yet he may the lively acting He cannot Gratiam diruere but he may debilitare Quest. But why doth Satan in Tempting chiefly set upon our Faith A. 1 King 22.31 Fight neither with small nor great save onely with the King So Faith is as it were the King of the Graces it is a Royal Princely Grace and puts forth the most Majestick and noble Acts therefore Satan fights chiefly with this Kingly Grace I shall shew you the Devils Policy in assaulting Faith most First Because this is the Grace doth Satan most Mischief it makes the most resistance against him 1 Pet. 5.9 Whom resist stedfast in Faith No Grace doth more bruise the Serpents Head than Faith Faith is both a Shield and a Sword defensive and offensive 1. It is a Shield A shield guards the Head defends the Vitals the shield of Faith causeth that the fiery darts of Temptation do not pierce us thorough 2. Faith is a Sword it wounds the Red Dragon Quest. How comes Faith to be so strong that it can resist Satan and put him to flight Answ. 1. Because Faith brings the strength of Christ into the Soul Sampson's strength lay in his Hair ours lies in Christ If a Child be assaulted it runs and calls to its Father for help So when Faith is assaulted it runs and calls Christ and in his Strength overcomes 2. Faith furnisheth it self with store of Promises the Promises are Faith's Weapons to fight with Now as David by Five Stones in his Sling wounded Goliah 2 Sam. 17.40 So Faith puts the Promises as Stones into its Sling I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 He will not break the bruised reed Matt. 12.20 He will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able 1 Cor. 10.13 The Lord will shortly bruise Satan under your feet Rom. 16.20 None shall pluck you out of my Fathers hands Joh. 10.29 Here are Five Promises like five Stones put in the Sling of Faith and with these a Believer wounds the Red Dragon Now Faith being such a Grace that doth so resist and wound Satan he will watch his opportunity that he may batter our shield though he cannot break it 2. Satan strikes most at our Faith and would weaken and destroy it because Faith hath a great influence upon all the other Graces Faith sets all the Graces a-work Like some rich Clothier that gives out a stock of Wool to the Poor and sets them all a Spinning So Faith gives out a stock to all the other Graces and sets them a working Faith sets Love a-work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 5.6 Faith which worketh by love When once the Soul believes God's Love this kindles Love to God The believing Martyrs burned hotter in Love than in Fire Faith sets Repentance a-work When the Soul believes there is Mercy to be had and that this mercy is for him this sets the eyes a Weeping O saith the Soul that ever I should offend so gracious a God Repenting tears drop from the eye of Faith Mark 9.24 The Father of the Child cried out with tears Lord I believe Faith set his eyes abroach with Tears therefore the Devil hath most spight at Faith and by his Temptations would undermine it because it is such an Operative Grace it sets all the other Graces on work If the Devil cannot destroy our Faith yet if he can disturb it if he can hinder and stop the actings of Faith he knows all the other Graces will be lame and unactive If the Spring in a Watch be stopp'd it will hinder the motion of the Wheels If Faith be down all the other Graces are at a stand 21. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting is In broaching those Doctrines that are Flesh-pleasing Satan knows the Flesh loves to be gratified it cries out for ease and liberty it will not endure any yoke unless it be lined and made soft The Devil will be sure so to lay his bait of Temptation as to please and humour the flesh The Word saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strive as in an Agony to enter into Glory Crucifie the Flesh Take the Kingdom of Heaven by holy Violence Now Satan to enervate and weaken these Scriptures comes with Temptations and flatters the Flesh. He tells Men there needs no such Strictness Why so much zeal and violence a softlier pace will serve sure there is an easier way to Heaven There needs no breaking the heart for Sin do but confess to a Priest or tell over a few Beads or say some Ave Maries and this will procure you a Pardon and give you admission into Paradise Or the Devil can go another way to work if he sees Men startle at Popery then he stirs up the Flattering Antinomian and he comes in another Disguise and saith What needs all this cost What needs Repenting Tears These are legal VVhat need you be so strict in your Obedience Christ hath done all for you you may make use of your Christian Liberty This Temptation draws away many it takes them off from strictness of life He who sells cheapest shall have most Customers The Devil knows this is a cheap easie Doctrine which will please the flesh and he doth not doubt but he shall have Customers enough 22. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting is in Reference to Holy Duties His policy is either to hinder from duty or discourage in duty or put Men on too far in duty I. To hinder from Duty as 1 Thes. 2.18 I would have come once and again but Satan hindred me So many Duties of Religion had been performed but Satan hindered The hand of Ioab is in this There are Three Duties which the Devil is an enemy to and labours to keep us from 1. Meditation He will let Men
the Springs of Mercy and there is no Hope Hereupon Satan gets farther advantage of a troubled Spirit sometimes he puts the troubled Soul upon sinful wishes and execrations against it self Iob in distemper of Mind Cursed his Birth-day Iob 3.3 Iob though he did not curse his God yet he cursed his Birth-day Thus you see what advantages the Devil gets by raising storms and troubling the Saints Peace and let me tell you if the Devil is capable of any delight it is to see the Saints disquiets their Groans are his Musick 'T is a sport to him to see them torture themselves upon the wrack of Melancholy and almost drown themselves in tears When the Godly have unjust surmises of God question his Love deny the Work of Grace and fall to wishing they had never been Born now Satan is ready to clap his hands and shout for a Victory Having shewn you the advantages the Devil gets by this Temptation of disturbing the Saints Peace I shall Answer a Question by what Arts and Methods doth Satan in Tempting disturb the Saints Peace Answ. 1. Satan slily conveys evil thoughts and then makes a Christian believe they come from his own heart The Cup was found in Benjamin's sack but it was of Ioseph's putting in So a Child of God oft finds Atheistical Blasphemous Thoughts in his mind but Satan hath cast them in The Devil doth as some lay their children at anothers door So Satan lays his Temptations at our door fathers them upon us and then we trouble our selves about them and Nurse them as if they were our own 2. Satan disturbs the Saints Peace by drawing forth their sins in the most black colours to affright them and make them ready to give up the Ghost Satan is called the Accuser of the Brethren not onely because he accuseth them to God but accuseth them to themselves He tells them they are guilty of such sins and they are Hypocrites Whereas the sins of a Believer shew only that Grace is not perfect not that he hath no Grace When Satan comes with this Temptation shew him that Scripture 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Iesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin 27. Subtilty of Satan is by plausible Arguments to tempt Men to be felo de se to make away themselves This Temptation doth not onely cross the current of Scripture but is abhorring to Nature to be ones own Executioner Yet such cunning artifices hath Satan that he perswades many to lay violent hands upon themselves which the Bills of Mortality witness 1. He tempts some to this in terror of Conscience telling them All the Hell they shall have is in their Conscience and Death will give them present ease 2. He tempts others to make away themselves that they may live no longer to sin against God 3. Others he tempts to make away themselves that they may presently arrive at happiness he tells them The best of the Saints desire Heaven and the sooner they are there the better Austin speaks of Cleombratas who hearing Plato Read a Lecture of the Immortality of the Soul and the Ioys of the other World se in praecipitium dejecit threw himself down a steep Precipice or Rock and kill'd himself This is Satan's Plot but we must not break prison by laying Violent hands upon our selves but stay till God send and open the door Let us Pray Lead us not into temptation Still bear in mind that Scripture Exod. 20.13 Thou shalt not kill Clamitat in Coelum vox sanguinis if we may not kill another much less our selves and take heed of discontent which often opens the door to self-murder Thus I have shewn you 27 Subtilties of Satan in Tempting that so you may the better know them and avoid them There is a Story of a Iew that should have Poisoned Luther but a Friend sent to Luther the Picture of this Iew warning him to take heed of such a Man when he saw him by which means he knew the Murderer and escaped his hands I have told you the subtil devices of Satan in tempting I have shewn you as it were the Picture of him that would Murder you I beseech you being forewarned take heed of the Murderer 1. Vse From this subtilty of Satan in Tempting let me draw two Inferences 1. It may administer matter of wonder to us how any soul is saved How may we admire that Satan this Abaddon or Angel of the Bottomless Pit Rev. 9.11 This Apollyon this Soul-devourer doth not ruine all Mankind What a wonder is it that some are preserved that neither Satan's hidden snares prevail nor his fiery darts that neither the Head of the Serpent nor the Paw of the Lion destroys them Sure it will be matter of admiration to the Saints when they come to Heaven to think how strangely they came thither that notwithstanding all the force and fraud the power and policy of Hell yet they should arrive safe at the Heavenly Port This is through the safe Conduct of Christ the Captain of our Salvation Michael is too hard for the Dragon 2. Is Satan so subtil see then what need we have to pray to God for wisdom to discern the snares of Satan and strength to resist them we cannot of our selves stand against Temptation if we could this Prayer were needless Lead us not c. Let us not think we can be too cunning for the Devil we can escape his wiles and darts If David and Peter who were Pillars in God's Temple fell by Temptation how soon should such weak Reeds as we be blown down â—id God leave us Take Christ's Advice Mat. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into Temptation Inference 3. See what the end of all Satans subtilties in tempting is He is a Tempter that he may be an accuser He lays the plot enticeth men to Sin and then brings in the Indictment as if one should make another drunk and then complain of him to the Magistrate for being drunk The Devil is first a Tempter and then an Informer first a Liar and then a Murderer Having shewn you the subtilties of Satan in tempting I shall answer two questions Quest. 1. Why doth God suffer his Saints to be so hurried and buffeted by Satans Temptations Answ. The Lord doth it for many wise and holy ends 1. He lets them be tempted to try them The Hebrew word Nissa in Pyhil signifies both to Tempt and to Try Temptation is a Touchstone to try what is in the Heart The Devil tempts that he may deceive but God lets us be tempted to try us Qui non tentatur non probatur Aug. 1. Hereby God tries our sincerity Iobs sincerity was tryed by Temptation the Devil told God that Iob was an Hypocrite and served God only for a Livery but saith he Touch him that is let me tempt him and then see if he will not curse thee to thy Face Iob 1.11 well God did let the Devil touch him by a Temptation yet
Sin 4. Prudence and Holiness is seen in this to know what we 〈…〉 and do what we know To know what we should do thereâ—â— the Wisdom 〈◊〉 â—he Serpent to do what we know there is the â—nnocency of the Dove Iohn 〈…〉 Knowledge is a Jewel 〈◊〉 him that wear◠〈…〉 is the 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 of the Mind Knowledge i◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Eye of the Soul to guide it in the right way but this Knowledge must â—e joyn'd with holy 〈◊〉 To separate Practice from Knowledge is to separate the Dove from the Serpent Many illuminated Heads can discourse fluently in Matters of Religion but they do not live up to their knowledge This is to have good Eyes but to have the Feet cut off They know they should not break the Sabbath they should not defame or defraud but they do not practise what they know Here they separate the Dove from the Serpent Vertue from Knowledge How vain is Knowledge without Practice As if one should know a Sovereign Medicine and not apply it Satan is a knowing Spirit he hath enough of the Serpent but that which makes him a Devil is he wants the Dove he doth not practise Holiness 5. To mix the Serpent and the Dove is to keep two Trades going To understand worldly Affairs there is the Wisdom of the Serpent yet not neglect the Soul there is the Innocency of the Dove God hath said Six Days shalt thou Labour Exod. 20.9 Religion did never grant a Patent to idleness There is a Lawful Care to be had about Secular Things To have insight into one's Calling is a commendable Wisdom but with this wisdom joyn the Dove's Innocency so follow your Calling as not to neglect your Soul The Soul is a precious thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it would beggar the Angels to give half the price of a Soul Our greatest care should be to get Grace While you put Gold in your Bag do not forget to put Oil in your Vessel Trade beyond the East Indies Drive a Trade of Holiness This Merchandice is better than the Merchandice of Silver Prov. 3.14 Live in a Calling but especially live by Faith Look to the providing for your Families but especially to the saving of your Souls The Soul is the Angelical part the loss of this can never be made up again God saith Chrysostom hath given a Man two Eyes if he lose one Eye he hath another but he hath but one Soul if he lose that it is irrecoverable it can never be made up again O unite the Serpent and the Dove Prudence and Holiness use the World but love your Soul Trade on Earth but beware of breaking in your Trade for Heaven How many part these two the Serpent and the Dove they are wise for the World but Fools for their Souls 'T is too often seen that Men pull down their Souls to build up an Estate 6. To join the Serpent and the Dove Prudence and Innocency consists in this To know how to give Counsel and how to keep Counsel He hath the Wisdom of the Serpent that can give Counsel he knows how to advise another in difficult cases and speak a Word in due season 2 Sam. 16.23 The Counsel of Achitophel was as if a Man had enquired at the Oracle of God But this is not enough to have the Wisdom of the Serpent in being able to give Counsel but there must be the Innocency of the Dove too in keeping Counsel If a Friend's secret be imparted to us unless in case of Blood we are not to reveal it A Friend is alter idem as one's own Soul Deut. 13.6 And what he imparts of his Heart should be kept under Lock and Key Prov. 25.9 Discover not a Secret to another lest he that hear thee put thee to shame c. To disclose a Friend's secrets though it be not Treason it is Treachery it is most Unchristian a Word may be spoken in secret which when it is Trumpeted out may occasion Quarrels or Law-suits He that cannot keep a Matter committed to him is like a Vessel that runs out or a sick Stomach that cannot keep the Meat but brings it up again He that publisheth his Friends secret doth publish his own shame 7. To mix these two Prudence and Holiness is to know the Seasons of Grace and improve them To know the Seasons of Grace there 's the Wisdom of the Serpent 'T is Wisdom in an Husband-Man to know the fit time for pruning of Trees sowing of Seed so it is no less Wisdom to know the Golden Seasons of Grace While we hear the joyful Sound while we have praying Hours while the Spirit of God blows on our Hearts here is a Gale for Heaven The day of Grace will not always last the Shadows of the Evening seem to be stretched out Things look as if the Gospel tended a-pace to a Sun-setting Be Wise as Serpents to know what a prize is put in your Hands and with the Serpent joyn the Dove that is in improving the Seasons of Grace The Stork and Turtle not only know their Season but improve it they approach to the warmer Climate against Spring saith Pliny Here is the Serpent and Dove united knowing and improving the Day of Grace when we profit by Ordinances when we mix the Word with Faith when an Ordinance hath stamped Holiness upon us as the Seal leaves its print upon the Wax This is to improve the Seasons of Grace 8. The Serpent and the Dove Wisdom and Innocency is to be moderate yet zealous Moderation is good in some cases Phil. 4.5 Let your Moderation be known to all First Moderation is good in case of Anger When the Passions are up Moderation sits as Queen and Governess in the Soul it allays the Heat of Passion Moderation is Fraenum Irae the Bridle of Anger Secondly Moderation is good in case of Law-Suits so the Greek Word for Moderation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is properly taken If there be a Dispute in Law between us and others we are not to take the Extremity of the Law but use Christian Equity and Mildness nay for Peace sake cedere de Iure rather part with some of our right than oppress them this much Honours the Gospel Thirdly Moderation is good in Things indifferent Things ought not to be rigorously imposed in God's Worship which are not of Divine Injunction God never made Governours of the Church to be like Pilots of a Ship to steer Men's Consciences which way they please Moderation and Christian Forbearance in Things indifferent would much tend to the Peace and Unity of the Church All this Moderation is commendable and shows the Wisdom of the Serpent but remember to joyn the Dove with the Serpent We must so exercise Moderation as withal to cherish Zeal St. Paul in some things was moderate he did not press Circumcision Act. 15.25 He was tender of laying a Yoke upon the Consciences of the Disciples but he had Zeal with his
nor Vncircumcision but a new Creature We are for new Things we love new Fashions and why not new Hearts But People are full of Prejudices against the new Creature Object 1. If we are new creatures there must be so much strictness in Religion so much praying and watching as discourageth Answ. 1. Is there any thing excellent to be obtained without Labour What pains is taken in searching for a Vein of Silver or seeking for Pearl Men cannot have the world without labour and would they have Salvation so 2. The Labour in Religion bears no proportion with the Reward What are a few tears shed to a weight of Glory The Soldier is content to wrestle with difficulties and undergo a bloody Fight for a glorious Victory In all Labour for Heaven there is Profit 'T is like a Man that digs in a Gold-Mine and carries away all the Gold 3. Men take more pains to go to Hell What pains doth an ambitious man take to climb to the Pinacle of Honour Tullia rid over the dead Body of her Father to be made Queen How doth the covetous man tire himself break his sleep and his peace to get the World Thus some Men take more pains in the Service of sin than others do in the pursuit of holiness Men talk of pains in Religion when God's Spirit comes into one it turns Labour into Delight 'T was Paul's Heaven to serve God Rom. 7.22 The ways of Wisdom are pleasantness Prov. 3.17 'T is like walking among Beds of Spices which cast forth a sweet Perfume Object 2. But if we leave our old company and become new creatures we shall be exposed to many Reproaches Answ. Who are they that speak evil of Religion but such as are evil Male de me loquuntur sed mali said Seneca Besides is it not better that Men reproach us for being good than that God damn us for being wicked Mat. 5.11 Blessed are ye when men shall revile you Stars are nevertheless glorious though they have ugly Names given them as the Bear and the Dragon A Saint's Reproachs are like a Soldier 's Scars honourable 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye are reproached for the Name of Christ a Spirit of God and of Glory rests upon you While Men clip your Credit to make it weigh lighter they make your Crown heavier Having answered these Objections I come now to re-assume the Exhortation Above all things labour to be New Creatures MOTIVES 1. In this true Christianity doth consist it is not Baptism makes a Christian Many are no better than baptized Heathens The essential part of Religion lies in the new creature Rom. 2.29 Circumcision is that of the Heart Every thing hath a Name from the better part we call a Man a Reasonable Creature because of his Soul which is the more noble part so one is called a Christian because he acts from a Principle of the new creature which the carnal man doth not 2. It is the new creature fits us for Communion with God We cannot converse with God till then Birds cannot converse with men unless they had a Rational Nature put into them nor can Men converse with God unless being made new creatures they partake of the Divine Nature Communion with God is a Mystery to most Every one that hangs about the Court doth not speak with the King All that meddle with holy Duties and as it were hang about the Court of Heaven have not communion with God 'T is only the new creature enjoys God's Presence in Ordinances and sweetly converses with him as a Child with a Father 3. The necessity of being new creatures 1. Till then we are odious to God Zech. 11.8 My Soul loathed them A Sinner is to God worse than a Toad a Toad hath no Poyson but what God hath put into it but a Sinner hath that which the Devil hath put into him Acts 5.3 Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye A wicked Man is possessed with an evil Spirit One man is possessed with the Devil of Pride another with the Devil of Malice This must needs make Persons odious to God to be possessed with the Devil Thus it is till we become new creatures 2. Till we are new creatures our Duties are not accepted with God they are but wild Grapes 1. Because God accepts no man but where he sees his Image The new creature is call'd the renewing of God's Image Eph. 4.24 When they brâ—â—ght Tamerlane a Pot of Gold he asked what stamp it had on it And when he saw the Roman stamp on it he refused it So if God doth not see his own Stamp and Image on the Soul he rejects the most specious Services 2. Duties of Religion are not accepted without the new Creature because there is that wanting which should make them a sweet Savour to God The holy Oil for the Tabernacle was to be made of several Spices and Ingredients Exod. 30.23 Now if any of these Spices had been left out it had not been pleasing The unregenerate Man leaves out the chief Spice in his Duties and that is Faith And Heb. 11.6 Without Faith it is impossible to please God Faith lays hold on Christ and so is accepted 3. Such as are not new creatures but grow upon the Stock of old Adam get no benefit by Ordinances They are to them as Diascordium in a dead Man's Mouth they lose their virtue Nay not only Ordinances do them no good but hurt It were sad if all a man did eat should turn to poison The Word Preached is a Savour of Death 't is not healing but hardning Nay Christ himself is accidentally a Rock of offence 1 Pet. 2.7 The Wicked stumble at a Saviour and suck death from the Tree of Life 4. Without being new creatures we cannot arrive at Heaven Rev. 21.27 There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth Heaven is not like Noah's Ark that received clean and unclean A Sinner is compared to Swine 2 Pet. 2.22 And shall a Swinish Creature tread upon the Golden Pavement of Heaven Indeed the Frogs came into King Pharoah's Court but in Heaven there is no entertainment for such Vermin 'T is only the new creature qualifies us for Glory This consecrates the Heart and only the pure in heart shall see God The new creature elevates the Soul as the Loadstone elevates the Iron A Soul renewed by Grace is fit to ascend to the heavenly Glory 4. The Excellency of the new Creature 1. the Nobility 2. The Immortality I. The Nobility The new Creature fetcheth its Pedigree from Heaven 't is born of God God counts none else of the Blood Royal it enobles a man's Spirit he aspires after the Favour of God and looks no lower than a Crown The new creature raiseth one to honour he excells the Princes of the Earth Psal. 89.27 and is Fellow-Commoner with Angels II. The Immortality The new creature is begotten of the incorruptible Seed of the Word and never dies It lasts as long as
Tongue Thus they know that Covetousness is a Sin yea the root of all evil yet the World ingrosseth all their Time and Thoughts They are like Midas who wished every thing that he touched might be Gold They have this dry Dropsie thirsting after Gold more than Grace and labouring more to have a full Purse than a good Conscience They know they should not vent their Passions Iam. 1.26 If any man among you seems to be religious and bridleth not his Tongue this Man's Religion is vain Origen observes of the Rich Man in the Gospel he had no Water to cool his Tongue He had sinn'd most in his Tongue therefore was punished most in it How unworthy is it for Men to have their Eyes and Hands lift up to Heaven and their Tongues set on fire from Hell at one time praying and another time cursing The Devil rejoyceth in this he warms himself at the Fire of Mens Passions How can such pray in a Family that are possessed with an angry Devil Hot Passions make cold Prayers Thus men know they should abstain from evil but they do it not 2. They know they should pursue Holiness but they do it not They know they should read the Word sanctifie the Sabbath use holy Conference pray in their Families redeem the Time walk circumspectly they know to do Good but do it not Quest. Whence is it that Men know to do Good yet do it not Answ. 1. It is for want of sound Conviction Men are not throughly convinced of the necessity of practick Godliness They think there 's a necessity of Knowledge because else there 's no Salvation they will get some Notions of Christ that he is a Saviour and has satisfied Divine Justice and they hope they believe in him Well then we tell them that Faith and Obedience go together then God is merciful and though they are not so good as they should be yet Free Grace will save them Thus Men content themselves with general Notions of Religion but are not convinced of the Practick Part of Godliness 2. Men know to do Good yet do it not because they are not awakened out of their Spiritual Sloth It is easie to get the Knowledge of a Truth to give assent to it to commend it to profess it but to digest Knowledge into Practice is difficult and men are lying upon the Bed of Sloth and are not willing to put themselves to too much trouble they know they should deny themselves but the Work of Self-denial is hard so that the Plough stands still and nothing of the practick part of Religion goes forward Prov. 19.24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom and will not pull it forth though it be to lay hold on a Crown 3. Men know to do Good but do it not through Incredulity they are in part Atheists Did they believe that Sin were so bitter that Wrath and Hell followed it would they not leave off their Sins Did they believe that to do the Will of God were a privilege Religion were their Interest that there is Joy in the way of Godliness and Heaven at the end would they not espouse Holiness But People though they have some slight transient thoughts of these things yet they are not brought to the Belief of them therefore though they know to do good yet they do it not The Reason why there are so few Doers of the Word is because there are so few Believers 4. Men know to do Good but do it not because the Knowledge in their Head never works into their Hearts it doth not quicken them or warm their Affections with Love to the Truth Their Light is greater than their Love their Knowledge doth not work upon their Conscience like a few Heat-drops that wet the leaf but never go to the Root of the Tree Men are not transformed by their Knowledge therefore they are not reformed their Hearts never took the full impression of the Word like Wooll that hath had only a slight Tincture but not a deep Dye 5. Men know to do Good but do it not because of prejudicate Opinion Prejudice is a Bar in the way of Men's Salvation He who hath an ill opinion of the Physick will not take it The things to be done in Religion are judg'd to be too strict and severe they restrain Sin too much or they press too much to Holiness When Christ had been preaching to the young Man that he must sell all and give to the Poor and he should have Treasure in Heaven 't is said Mark 10.22 he was sad at that Saying and went away grieved Many though they know the Truth yet do disgust it and have a secret hatred at the Spirituality of it As Michal looked out at a Window see to David when he danced before the Ark but the Text saith she despised him in her Heart 1 Chron. 15.29 So many go out to meet a Sermon but hate it in their Heart 6. Men know to do Good yet do it not because they love their Sin more than they love the Word Hos. 4.8 They set their Heart on their Iniquity Though Sin be a Meat that breeds the Worm of Conscience yet they love it and the more Sin is loved the more the Word is loathed The Word Preached calls for plucking out the right Eye it comes to separate between Men and their Lusts and they cannot endure to hear of a Divorce When Iohn Baptist comes to break off the Match between Herod and his Incest rather than he will behead his Sin the Prophet himself shall be beheaded This is much to be lamented and laid to heart that Men know to do Good but do it not Some content themselves with having Means of Knowledge Iudg. 17.13 Then said Micah now know I that the Lord will do me good seeing I have a Levite to my Priest But what is one the better to know what Physick he should take if he doth not take it It will be but poor Comfort on a Death-Bed for a Man to remember what glorious Ordinances he hath had and what a deal of Knowledge he hath gain'd when his Conscience shall tell him this is his Condemnation that he knew to do Good but did it not Vse 2. Exhortation Let me beseech you all who have been Hearers of the Word and have been lighting your Lamps at the Sanctuary and have gotten a great measure of Knowledge that as you know to do Good you would do it This is the Soul of Religion Luther says Mallem obedire quam Miracula facere I had rather do the Will of God than be able to work Miracles 1. To do what you know evidenceth your Relation to Christ. You count â—t a great Honour to be near allied to the Crown but it is more Honour to be a-kin to Christ. It was much to be of Christ's Line and Race Rom. 9.5 Of whom concerning the Flesh Christ came But would you see whom Christ counts his best Kindred such as do what
dead in the Act of Sin Kindness in this that though the Sinner hath sinn'd against his Conscience yet now if he will repent of Sin God will repent of his Judgments and the white Flag of Mercy shall be held forth Ier. 3.1 Thou hast plaid the Harlot with many Lovers yet return again to me saith the Lord. But the Sinner is of a base morose Spirit he is not melted with all this Love but his Heart like Clay hardens under the Sun Here 's an apparent Abuse of God's Kindness and God cannot endure to have his Kindness abused The Vulture draws Sickness from Perfumes so the Sinner contracts Wickedness from the Mercy of God Here 's high Ingratitude 5. To sin presumptuously to know what is good yet not to do it is a Contempt done to God A Noble Spirit cannot bear a contempt It is bad enough for a Sinner to forget God but it is worse to contemn him He that knows to do Good yet doth it not he slighteth God he cares not whether God he pleased or no he will have his Sin Therefore the presumptuous Sinner is said to reproach God Numb 15.30 The Soul that doth ought presumptuously the same reproacheth the Lord every Sin displeaseth the Lord. To contemn the Authority of a Prince is a Reproach done to him The presumptuous Sinner who knows to do Good but doth it not reproacheth the Lord though not explicitly yet interpretatively by his presumptuous Sin he makes as if God were either ignorant and did not know his Wickedness or impotent and were not able to punish him How horrid is this to reproach the Lord There 's a kind of Blasphemy against God in every presumptuous Sin The Sinner that knows what is good yet will not do it what is evil yet will do it he contemns God and in contemning him blasphemes him Contempt is the highest Affront that we can offer to God and an Affront will make one draw his Sword 6. To sin presumptuously to know what is good yet not to do it is a bold Contest with God a daring of God to punish The Man that sins against Conscience presumptuously and will not be reclaimed doth in effect say What care I for the Commandment it shall be no Check upon me but I will go on in Sin and let God do his worst A godly Man is said to fear the Commandment Prov. 13.13 He dares not sin because the Law of God stands in his way He fears the Commandment but the presumptuous Sinner doth not value the Commandment he will sin in spight of God's Law This is sawcily to contest with God to throw down the Gantlet and challenge God to a Duel 1 Cor. 10.22 Do we provoke the Lord to Anger Are we stronger than he Shall the Child go to fight with an Archangel This is the Folly and Madness of a presumptuous Sinner he dares God to his Face and hangs forth the Flag of Defiance against Heaven O then good reason we should take-heed of presumptuous Sin it is so heinous and desperate To him that knows to do Good yet doth it not to him it is Sin it is Sin with a Witness Vse 2. Trial. Let us examine if we are not guilty of sinning thus presumptuously knowing to do good yet not to do it 1. Is it not to sin presumptuously when we live in the total neglect of Duty We know we ought to pray in our Families yet do it not Houses that have no Prayer in them are the Devil's Houses and it is a wonder they are not haunted Ier. 10.25 Pour out thy Wrath upon the Families that call not on thy Name Neglect of Family-Prayer doth quasi uncover the Roof of your Houses and make way for a Curse to be rain'd down upon your Table To live in the neglect of Family-Duties is not this to sin presumptuously to know to do Good and not to do it 2. Is it not to sin presumptuously when we will venture upon the same Sins which we condemn in others Rom. 2.1 Therefore thou art inexcusable O Man whosoever thou art that judgest for thou that judgest dost the same things As Austin speaks of Seneca He wrote a Book against Superstitions but quod culpabat adoravit he worshipped those Images he reproved Thou Christian condemnest another for Pride and yet thou livest in that Sin thy self A Father condemns his Son for swearing yet he himself swears The Master reproves his Servant for being drunk yet he himself will be drunk The Snuffers of the Tabernacle were of pure Gold Those who are to reprove and snuff the Vices of others had need themselves to be free from those Sins The Snuffers must be of Gold Is not this to sin presumptuously to live in those Sins which we condemn in others 3. Do not they sin presumptuously against Conscience who will sin in spight of Heaven Though they see the Iudgments of God executed on others yet will adventure on the same Sins Exempla efficacius docent quam Praecepta Dan. 5.22 And thou his Son O Belshazar hast not humbled thy heart though thou knowest all this Though thou sawest the Judgments of God upon thy Father God turn'd him to Grass for his Pride yet thou goest on in the same Sin Ier. 3.8 When for all the Causes whereby Israel had committed Adultery I had put her away and given her a Bill of Divorce yet her treacherous Sister Iudah feared not but went and played the Harlot also He is a bold Thief indeed who sees his Fellow-Thief hung up in Chains yet is not afraid to rob in that place This is to run upon the thick Bosses of God's Buckler Job 15.26 To venture in Sin against all the Judgments and Threatnings of God 4. Do not they sin presumptuously they know to do Good yet do it not who labour to stifle the Convictions of their Conscience and will not let Conscience speak freely to them They smother the Light of it like one that puts his Light in a dark Lanthorn that it may not be seen This the Scripture calls holding the Truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1.18 They labour to blot out all the common Notions of God engraven in their Minds 5. Do not they sin presumptuously who know to do Good but do it not who after they have felt the smart of Sin it hath bred a Worm in their Conscience a Moth in their Estate yet after all this they again embrace their Sins Though this Viper hath stung them they will put it again in their Bosom is not this to sin presumptuously and to rebel against Light If there be any such here who are guilty in this high degree know to do Good but do is not let them fear and tremble their Case is sad The Wrath of God hangs over their Heads and that I may shew you you have cause to scar and that I may beat you off from presumptuous Sins let these things be seriously laid to Heart 1. These presumptuous Sins knowing to do Good
a Fountain of Delight Psal. 36.8 9. The higher the Lark flies the sweeter it sings and the higher we flie by the Wing of Faith the more of God we enjoy the sweeter Delight we feel in our Souls How is the Heart inflamed in Prayer and Meditation what Joy and Peace in believing Is it not comfortable being in Heaven He that enjoys much of God in this Life carries Heaven about him O let this be the thing we are chiefly ambitious of the enjoying of God in his Ordinances remember the enjoying God's sweet Presence here is an Earnest of our enjoying him in Heaven and that brings me to the second thing which is 2d The enjoying God in the Life to come Man's chief end is to enjoy God for ever before this plenary Fruition of God in Heaven there must be something previous and antecedent and that is our being in a State of Grace We must have Conformity to him in Grace before we can have Communion with him in Glory Grace and Glory are inter se connexae link'd and chain'd together Grace precedes Glory as the Morning-star ushers in the Sun God will have us qualified and fitted for a state of Blessedness Drunkards and Swearers are not fit to enjoy God in Glory the Lord will not lay such Vipers in his Bosom only the pure in heart shall see God We must first be as the King's Daughter glorious within before we are cloathed with the Robes of Glory as King Ahashuerus first caus'd the Virgins to be purified and anointed and they had their sweet Odours to perfume them and then they were to stand before the King Esth. 2.12 so must we we must have the anointing of God and be perfum'd with the Graces of Spirit those sweet Odours and then we shall stand before the King of Heaven now being thus divinely qualified by Grace we shall be taken up into the Mount of Vision and enjoy God for ever This enjoying God for ever is nothing else but to be put into a State of Happiness As the Body cannot have Life but by having Communion with the Soul so the Soul cannot have Blessedness but by having immediate Communion with God God is the Summum Bonum the Chief Good therefore the enjoying of him is the highest Felicity He is I say the Chief Good 1. He is an Universal Good Bonum in quo omnia Bona. The Excellencies of the Creature are limited A Man may have Health not Beauty Learning not Parentage Riches not Wisdom But in God are eminently contained all Excellencies He is a Good commensurate fully to the Soul he is a Sun a Portion an Horn of Salvation in him dwells 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all Fulness Col. 1.19 2. God is an Unmixed Good No Condition in this Life but hath its mixture for every drop of Honey there is a drop of Gall. Solomon who gave himself to find out this Philosopher's Stone to search out for an Happiness here below he found Vanity and Vexation Eccles. 1.2 but God is a perfect quintessential Good He is sweetness in the Flower 3. God is a Satisfying Good The Soul cries out I have enough Psal. 17.15 I shall be satisfied with thy likeness A Man that is thirsty bring him to the Ocean and he hath enough If there be enough in God to satisfie the Angels then sure enough to satisfie us The Soul is but Finite but God is an increase Infinite Good And yet though God be such a Good as doth satisfie yet not surfeit Fresh Joys spring continually from God's Face and God is as much desired after Millions of Years by Glorified Souls as at the first moment There is so much Fulness in God as satisfies yet so much Sweetness that the Soul still desires it is Satisfaction without Surfeit 4. God is a delicious Good That which is the chief Good must ravish the Soul with pleasure there must be in it Spirits of Delight and Quintessence of Joy and this is to be enjoyed only in God In Deo quadam dulcedine delectatur anima immo rapitur the Love of God drops such infinite suavity into the Soul as is unspeakable and full of glory If there be so much delight in God when we see him only by Faith 1 Pet. 1.8 what will the joy of Vision be when we shall see him face to face If the Saints have found so much delight in God while they were Suffering O then what Joy and Delight will they have when they are Crowning If Flames are Beds of Roses O then what will it be to lean on the Bosom of Jesus what a Bed of Roses will that be 5. God is a Superlative Good He is better then any thing you can put in competition with him he is better then Health Riches Honour Other things maintain Life he gives Life But who would go to put any thing in Ballance with the Deity who would weigh a Feather with a Mountain of Gold God excels all other things more infinitely then the Sun the light of a Taper 6. God is an Eternal Good He is the ancient of Days Dan. 7.9 yet never decays or waxes old The Joy he gives is eternal the Crown he gives fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5.4 The glorified Soul shall be ever solacing it self in God it shall be feasting on his Love and sunning it self in the light of his Countenance We read of the River of Pleasure at God's right hand but will not this in time be dried up No there 's a Fountain at the bottom which feeds it Psal. 36.9 With the Lord is the fountain of life Thus God is the Chief Good and the enjoying God for ever is the Supream Felicity the Soul is capable of 1. Use of Exhortation Let it be the chief end of our living to enjoy this Chief Good hereafter this is that will crown us with Happiness Austin reckons up two hundred eighty eight Opinions among the Philosophers about Happiness but all did shoot short of the Mark. The highest Elevation of a reasonable Soul is to enjoy God for ever It is the enjoying God makes Heaven 1 Thess. 4.17 Then shall we ever be with the Lord. The Soul trembles as the Needle in the Compass and is never at rest till it comes to God To set out this excellent State of a Glorified Soul's enjoying God 1. This enjoying of God must not be understood in a Sensual Manner we must not conceive any Carnal Pleasures in Heaven The Turks in their Alcoran speak of a Paradise of Pleasure where they have Riches in abundance and red Wine served in Golden Chalices Here is an Heaven consisting of Pleasures for the Body the Epicures of this Age would like such an Heaven when they die Though indeed the State of Glory be compared to a Feast and is set out by Pearls and precious Stones yet these Metaphors are only to be Helps to our Faith and to show us that there is Superabundant Joy and Felicity in the Empyraean Heaven but those are
not carnal but sacred Delights As our Employments shall be spiritual it will consist in Adoring and Praising of God so our Enjoyment shall be spiritual it shall consist in the having the Perfection of Holiness in seeing the pure Face of Christ in feeling the Love of God in conversing with Heavenly Spirits these Delights will be more adequate and proper for the Soul and infinitely exceed all carnal voluptuous Delights 2. We shall have a Lively Sence of this glorious Estate A Man in a Lethargy though he be alive yet he is as good as dead because he is not sensible nor doth he take any pleasure in his Life we shall have a quick and lively sence of the infinite Pleasure which ariseth from Enjoyment of God we shall know our selves to be happy we shall reflect with joy upon our Dignity and Felicity we shall taste every Crumb of that Sweetness every Drop of that Pleasure which flows from God We shall be made able to bear a sight of that Glory We could not now bear that Glory it would overwhelm us sensibile fortè destruit sensum as a weak Eye cannot behold the Sun but God will capacitate us for Glory our Souls shall be so heavenly and perfected with holiness that they may be able to enjoy the blessed Vision of God Moses in a Clift of the Rock saw the Glory of God passing by Exod. 33.22 Through that blessed Rock Christ we shall behold the Beatifical sight of God 4. This Enjoyment of God shall be more then a bare Contemplation of him Some of the Learned move the Question Whether the Enjoyment of God shall be only by way of Contemplation Answ. That is something but it is but one half of Heaven there shall be a Loving of God an Acquiescence in him a Tasting his Sweetness not only Inspection but Possession Joh. 17.24 That they may behold my Glory there is Inspection Vers. 22. And the Glory thou hast given me I have given them there 's Possession Glory shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 not only revealed to us but in us To behold God's Glory there is Glory revealed to us but to partake of his Glory there is Glory revealed in us As the Spunge sucks in the Wine so we shall suck in Glory 5. There 's no Intermission in this State of Glory We shall not only have God's glorious Presence at certain special Seasons but we shall be continually in his Presence continually under Divine Raptures of Joy There shall not be one Minute in Heaven wherein a glorified Soul may say I do not enjoy Happiness The Streams of Glory are not like the Water of a Conduit often stopped that we cannot have one drop of Water but those heavenly Streams of Joy are continually running O how should we despise this Valley of Tears where we now are for the Mount of Transfiguration How should we long for the full Enjoyment of God in Paradise Had we a sight of that Land of Promise we should need Patience to be content to live here any longer 2. Let this be a Spur to Duty How diligent and zealous should we be in glorifying God that we come at last to enjoy him If Tully Demosthenes Plato who had but the dim Watch-light of Reason to see by and did but fancy an Elizium and Happiness after this Life did take such Herculean Pains to enjoy it O then how should Christians who have the Light of Scripture to see by bestir themselves that they may arrive at the Eternal Fruition of God and Glory If any thing may make us rise off our Bed of Sloth and serve God with all our might it should be this the hope of our full Enjoyment of God for ever What made Paul so active in the Sphere of Religion 1 Cor. 15.10 I laboured 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more abdundantly then they all His Obedience did not move slow as the Sun on the Dial but swift as the Sun in the Firmament Why was he so zealous in glorifying God but that he might at last center and terminate in him 1 Thess. 4.17 Then shall we be ever with the Lord. 3. Use of Consolation Let this comfort the Godly in all the present Miseries they feel Thou complainest Christian thou dost not enjoy thy self Fears disquiet thee Wants perplex thee in the Day thou canst not enjoy Ease in the Night thou canst not enjoy Sleep Thou dost not enjoy the Comforts of thy Life let this revive thee that shortly thou shalt enjoy God and then thou shalt have more then thou canst ask or think Thou shalt have Angels Joy Glory without Intermission and Expiration We shall never enjoy our selves fully till we enjoy God Eternally Of the SCRIPTVRES Quest. II. WHat Rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorifie and enioy him Answ. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament is the only Rule to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy him 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God c. By Scripture is understood the Sacred Book of God It is given by Divine Inspiration that is the Scripture is not the Contrivance of Man's Brain but of a Divine Original The Image of Diana was had in Veneration by the Ephesians because they did suppose it fell from Iupiter Acts 19.35 This Book then of the Holy Scripture is to be highly reverenced and esteemed because we are sure it came from Heaven 2 Pet. 1.21 The two Testaments are the two Lips by which God hath spoken to us Quest. How doth it appear that the Scriptures have a Jus Divinum a Divine Authority stamped upon them Answ. Because the Old and New Testament are the Foundation of all Religion If their Divinity cannot be proved the Foundation is gone on which we build our Faith I shall therefore endeavour to evince this great Truth That the Scriptures are the very Word of God I wonder whence the Scripture should come if not from God 1. Bad Men could not be the Authors of Scripture would their Minds be imployed in indighting such holy Lines would they declare so fiercely against Sin 2. Good Men could not be the Authors of Scripture Could they write in such a strain or could it stand with their Grace to Counterfeit God's Name and put Thus saith the Lord to a Book of their own devising 3. Nor could any Angel in Heaven be the Author of Scripture Because 1. the Angels pry and search into the Abyss of Gospel Mysteries 1 Pet. 1.12 which implies their nescience of some parts of Scripture and sure they cannot be Authors of that Book which themselves do not fully understand besides 2. what Angel in Heaven durst be so Arrogant as to Personate God and say I create Isa. 65.17 and I the Lord have said it Numb 14.35 So that it is evident The Pedigree of Scripture is Sacred and it could come from none but God himself Not to speak of the