himself By virtue of this Sacrifice the soul may go to God with boldness Lord give me heaven Christ hath purchased it for me he hung upon the Cross that I might sit upon the Throne Christs Bloud and Incense are the two hinges on which our Salvation turns 3. Christs Regal Office is precious Rev. 19. 16. He hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ hath a preheminence above all other Kings for Majesty he hath the highest Throne the richest Crown the largest Dominions and the longest possession Heb. 1. 8. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever Though Christ hath many Assessors Ephes. 2. 6. yet no Successors Christ sets up his Scepter where no other King doth he rules the will and affections his power binds the Conscience The Angels take the oath of Allegiance to him Heb. 1. 6. Christs Kingship is seen in two Royal Acts. 1. In ruling his people 2. In over-ruling his Enemies 1. In ruling his people He rules with Clemency his Regal Rod hath honey at the end of it Christ displays the Ensign of Mercy which makes so many Volunteers run to his Standard Psal. 110. 3. Holiness without Mercy and Justice without Mercy were dreadful but Mercy encourageth poor sinners to trust in him 2. In over-ruling his Enemies He pulls down their pride befools their policy restrains their malice Psalm 76. 10. The remainder of wrath thou shalt restrain Or as it is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou shalt girdle up That stone cut out of the Moutains without hands which smote the Image Dan. 2. 34. was an Embleme saith Austin of Christs Monarchical power conquering and triumphing over his Enemies 3. Christ is precious in his benefits by Christ all dangers are removed through Christ all mercies are conveyed in his bloud flows Justification Act. 3. 9. Purgation Heb. 9. 14. Fructification Ioh. 1. 16. Pacification Rom. 5. 1. Adoption Gal. 4. 5. Perseverance Heb. 12. 2. Glorification Heb. 9. 12. This will be matter of sublimest joy to Eternity We read that those who had passed over the Sea of Glass stood with their Harps and did sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb Revel 15. 2. So when the Saints of God have passed over the glassie Sea of this world they shall sing Hallelujahs to the Lamb who hath redeemed them from sin and hell and hath translated them into that glorious Paradise where they shall see God for ever and ever 2. The second thing to be illustrated is that every godly man doth set an high value and estimate upon Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. Unto you therefore who believe he is precious In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an honour Believers have an honourable esteem of Christ the Psalmist speaks like one captivated with Christs amazing beauty Psalm 73. 25. There is none upon earth that I desire besides thee He did not say he had nothing he had many comforts on earth but he desired none but God as if a wife should say there 's no ones company she prizeth like her husbands How did David prize Christ Psa. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the children of men The Spouse in the Canticles looked upon Christ as the Coriphoeus the most incomparable one Cant. 5. 10. The chief among ten thousand Christ out-vies all others Cant. 2. 3. As the appletree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sons Christ doth infinitely more excel all the beauties and glories of this visible world than the appletree doth surpass the trees of the wild Forrest So did Paul prize Christ that he made him his chief study 1 Cor. 2. 2. I determined to know nothing among you save Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I judged not any thing else of worth St. Paul did best know Christ 1 Cor. 9. 1. Have I not seen Iesus our Lord He saw him with his bodily eyes in a Vision when he was wrap'd up into the third heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2. and he saw him with the eye of his faith in the blessed Supper therefore he did best know him and behold how he did slight and vili-prize other things in comparison of Christ Phil. 3. 8. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. Gain he esteemed loss and gold dung for Christ. Indeed a godly person cannot chuse but set an high valuation upon Christ he sees a fulness of worth in him 1. A fulness in regard of variety Col. 2. 3. In whom are hid all treasures No Country hath all commodities of its own growth but Christ hath all kind of fulness fulness of Merit of Spirit of Love he hath a treasure adequate to all our wants 2. A fulness in regard of degree Christ hath not only a few drops or rays but is more full of goodness than the Sun is of light he hath the fulness of the Godhead Col. 2. 9. 3. A fulness in regard of duration The fulness in the creature like the brooks of Arabia is soon dried up but Christs fulness is inexhaustible 't is a fulness over-flowing and ever-flowing And this fulness is for Believers Christ is Communis Thesaurus as Luther saith a common Treasury or Magazine for the Saints Ioh. 1. 16. Of his fulness have we all received Set a glass under a Still and it receives water out of the Still drop by drop So those who are united to Christ have the dews and drops of his grace distilling upon them Well then may Christ be admired of all them that believe Use 1. Is a godly man an high prizer of Christ then what is to be thought of them who do not put a value upon Christ are they godly or no There are four sorts of persons who do not prize Christ. 1. The Iews They believe not in Christ 2 Cor. 3. 15. Unto this day the vail is upon their heart They expect their saeculum futurum a Messiah yet to come as their own Talmud reports they blaspheme Christ they slight righteousness imputed They despise the Virgin Mary calling her in derision Marah which signifieth bitterness They vilifie the Gospel they deny the Christian Sabbath they have the Christians in abomination they hold it not lawful for a Jew to take physick of a Christian. Schecardus relates of one Bendema a Jew that being stung with a Serpent a Christian came to heal him but he refused his help and chose rather to die than to be healed by a Christian So do the Iews hate Christ and all that wear his Livery 2. The Socinians who acknowledge only Christs Humanity this is to make him below the Angels for the Humane Nature simply considered is inferiour to the Angelical Psa. 8. 5. 3. Proud Professors who do not lay the whole stress of their Salvation upon Christ but would mingle their dross with his gold their duties
walk in my Statutes The Lord doth not only fit work for us but fit us for our work with his Command he gives power 6. Supplies A Master will not let his servants want Gods servants shall be provided for Psal. 37. 3. Verily thou shalt be fed Doth God give us a Christ and will he deny us a crust Gen. 48. 15. The God who hath fed me all my daies If God doth not give us what we crave he will give us what we need the wicked are fed who are dogs Phil. 3. 2. If a man feeds his dog sure he will feed his servant Oh then who would not be in love with Gods service 3. We are ingaged to serve God we are pretio empti bought with a price 1 Cor. 6. 20. 'T is a Metaphor taken from such as do ransom Captives out of prison by paying a sum of money for them they are to be at the service of them that ransomed them So when the Devil had taken us prisoners Christ ransomed us with a price not of money but bloud therefore we are to be only at his service If any can lay a better claim to us than Christ we may serve them but Christ having the best right to us we are to cleave to him and enroll our selves for ever in his service 2. I pass to the second Branch of this Character A godly man is not the servant of men 1 Cor. 7. 23. Be ye not the servants of men Quest. But is there no service we owe to men Answ. There is a three-fold serving of men 1. There is a Civil service we owe to men as the inferiour to the superiour The servant is a Living Tool as Aristotle saith Eph. 6. 5. Servants obey your Masters 2. There is a Religious serviceâ—we owe to men when we are serviceable to their souls 2 Cor. 4. 5. Your servants for Iesus sake 3. There is a sinfull serving of men this consists in three things 1. When we prefer mens Injunctions before Gods Institutions God commands one thing man commands another God saith sanctifie the Sabbath man saith prophane it When mens Edicts have more force upon us than Gods Precepts this is to be the servants of men 2. When we do voluntarily prostitute our selves to the impure lusts of men we let them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lord it over our Consciences when we are ductill and frameable to any thing either Arminian or Atheist either for the Gospel or the Alchoran when we will be what others will have us just of Issachars temper Gen. 49. 14. Issachar is a strong Ass couching down between two burdens This is not humility but sordidness and it is a serving of men 3. When we are Advocates in a bad Cause pleading for any impious unjustifiable actings when we baptize sin with the Name of Religion and with our Oratory wash the Devils face this is to be the servants of men in these cases a godly person will not so unman himself as to serve men he saith as Paul Gal. 1. 10. If I pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ And as Peter Act. 5. 23. We ought to obey God rather than men Use. How many leagues distant are they from godliness who do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who either for fear of punishment or hope of preferment comply with the sinful commands of men who will put their Conscience into any yoak and sail with any wind that blows profit These are the servants of men they have abjured their Baptismal Vow and renounced the Lord that bought them He who is such a Proteus who can change into any form and bow as low as hell to please men I would say two things to him 1. Thou that hast learned all thy postures who canst cringe and tack about how wilt thou look Christ in the face another day When thou shalt say upon thy death bed Lord look upon thy servant Christ shall disclaim thee and say 〈◊〉 servant No thou didst renounce my service thou wert a servant of men depart from me I know you not What a cooling card will this be at that day 2. What doth a man get by sinfully inslaving himself he gets a blot in his name a curse in his estate an hell in his Conscience nay even those that he basely stoops to will scorn and despise him How did the High-Priests kick off Iudas Mat. 27. 4. Look thou to that That we may not be the servants of men let us abandon fear and advance faith Faith is a world-conquering grace 1 Ioh. 5. 4. It overcomes the worlds musick and fornace it steels a Christian with Divine courage and makes him stand immoveable as a Rock in the midst of the Sea SECT VII 7. A godly man is a Christ-prizer To illustrate this I shall show 1. That Jesus Christ is in himself precious 2. That a godly man esteems him precious 1. That Jesus Christ is in himself precious 1 Pet. 2. 6. Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone elect precious Christ is compared to things most â—recious 1. To a bundle of myrrhe Cant. 1. 13. Myrrhe is very precious it was one of the chief spices whereof the holy anointing Oyl was made Exod 30. 25. 1. Myrrhe is of a perfuming Nature so Christ perfumes our persons and services that they are a sweet odour to God whence is it the Church that heavenly Bride is so perfumed with grace but because Christ that Myrrhe-tree hath dropped upon her 2. Myrrhe is of an exhilarating nature the smell of it doth comfort and refresh the spirits So Christ doth comfort the souls of his people when they are fainting under their sins and sufferings 2. Christ is compared to a Pearl Mat. 13. 46. When he had found one Pearl of great price Christ this Pearl was little in regard of his humility but of infinite value Jesus Christ is a Pearl that God wears in his bosome a Pearl whose lustre drowns the worlds glory a Pearl that enricheth the soul the Angelical part of man a Pearl that enlightens heaven a pearl so precious that it makes us precious to God a Pearl that is cordial and restorative a Pearl more worth than heaven The preciousness of Christ is seen three wayes 1. He is precious in his â—erson he is the picture of his Fathers glory Heb. 1. 3. 2. Christ is precious in his Offices which are several Rays of the Sun of Righteousness 1. Christs Prophetical Office is precious Deut. 18. 15. He is the great Oracle of Heaven he hath a preciousness above all the Prophets which went before him he teacheth not only the ear but the heart He who hath the Key of David in his hand opened the heart of Lydia Act. 16. 14. 2. Christs Priestly Office is precious This is the solid basis of our comfort Heb. 9. 26. Now once hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
good ignorant persons cannot give God a reasonable service Rom. 12. 1. 'T is sad that after the Sun of Righteousness hath shined so long in our Hemisphere yet that persons should be under the power of ignorance Perhaps in the things of the world they are knowing enough none shall out reach them but in the things of God they have no knowledge Nahash would make a Covenant with Israel that he might put out their right eyes 1 Sam. 11. 1. The Devil hath left men their left eye knowledge in secular matters but he hath put out their right eye they understand not the Mystery of Godliness it may be said of them as of the Jews To this day the vail is upon their heart 2 Cor. 3. 15. Many Christians are no better than baptized Heathens What a shame is it to be without knowledge 1 Cor. 15. 34. Some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Men think it a shame to be ignorant in their Trade but no shame to be ignorant of God there 's no going to Heaven blindfold Isa. 27. 11. It is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them Surely ignorance in these daies is affected 't is one thing nescire another thing nolle scire 't is one thing not to know another thing not to be willing to know Iohn 3. 19. They loved darkness rather than light 'T is the Owle loves the dark Sinners are like the Athlantes a people in Aethiopia which curse the Sun Wicked men shut their eyes wilfully Mat. 13. 15. and God shuts them judicially Isa. 6. 10. 2. Are they godly who though they have knowledge yet they know not as they ought to know they know not God experimentally How many knowing persons are ignorant they have Illumination but not Sanctification their knowledge hath not a powerful influence upon them to make them better If you set up an hundred Torches in a garden they will not make the flowers grow but the Sun is influential Many are so far from being better for their knowledge that they are worse Isa. 47. 10. Thy knowledge hath perverted thee the knowledge of most makes them more cunning in sin these have little cause to glory in their knowledge Absalom might boast of the hair of his head but that hanged him so these may boast of the knowledge of their head but it will destroy them 3. Are they godly who though they have some glimmering of knowledge yet no fiducial applying of Christ Many of the Old World knew there was an Ark but were drowned because they did not get into the Ark Knowledge which is not applying will but light a man to hell it were better to live an Indian than to die an Infidel under the Gospel Christ not believed in is terrible Moses Rod when it was in his hand did a great deal of good it wrought Miracles but when it was out of his hand it became a Serpent So Christ when laid hold on by the hand of Faith is full of comfort but not laid hold on will prove a Serpent to sting Use 2. As we would evidence our selves godly let us labour for this good knowledge of the Lord What pains will men take for the atchievement of Natural Knowledge I have read of one Benchorat who spent forty years in finding out the motion of the Eighth Sphere what pains then should we take in finding out the knowledge of God in Christ There must be digging and searching for it as one would search for a vein of silver Pro. 2. 3. If thou seekest her as silver Et pluteum coedit dimorsos sapit ungues This is the best knowledge it doth as far surpass all other as the Diamond doth the Christal no Jewel we wear doth so adorn us as this Pro. 3. 15. She is more precious than Rubies Iob 28. 12 13. Man knows not the price thereof the depth saith it is not in me it cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir with the precious Onyx or the Saphire The dark Chaos was a fit Embleme of an ignorant Soul Gen. 1. 2. but when God lights up the Lamp of Knowledge in the mind what a new Creation is there How doth the Soul sparkle as the Sun in its glory This knowledge is comfortable we may say of the Knowledge of Nature as Solomon Eccles. 1. 18. He that encreaseth knowledge encreaseth sorrow The knowledge of Arts and Sciences is gathering of straw but the knowledge of God in Christ is gathering of Pearl This Knowledge ushers in Salvation 1 Tim. 2. 4. Quest. But how shall we get this Saving Knowledge Answ. Not by the power of Nature Some speak of Reason well improved how far it will go but alas the plumb-line of Reason is too short to fathom the deep things of God A man can no more by the power of Reason reach the Saving Knowledge of God than a Pigmy can reach the Pyramides The Light of Nature will no more help us to see Christ than the light of a Candle will help us to understand 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receives not the things of God neither can he know them What shall we do then to know God in a Soul-saving manner I answer let us implore the help of Gods Spirit Paul never saw himself blind till a light shined from heaven Act. 9. 3. God must anoint our eyes ere we can see What needed Christ have bid Laodicea to come to him for eye-salve if she could see before Revel 3. 18. Oh! let us beg the Spirit which is a Spirit of Revelation Eph. 1. 17. Saving Knowledge is not by speculation but by inspiration Iob 32. 8 The inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding Narrat Cassianus de Theodoro quodam qui notitia Scripturarum praeclare emicuit quam ei non tam studium lectionis contulerat quà m Spiritus Sancti Gratia siquidèm vix ipsius Graecae Linguae perpauca verba vel intelligere poterat vel proloqui quae Sancti Patris Oratio inquit Acosta non eò pertinere putanda est ut studium humanum floccipendamus sed ut hoc nobis eluoeat Divini Spiritus dono interdùm fieri ut homo plura de Sacris Scripturis Saluificè intelligat vel nuda lectione quam magna vallatus copia commentariorum alioqui assequi possit We may have excellent notions in Divinity but the Holy Ghost must inable us to know them after a spiritual manner A man may see the Figures upon a Dial but he cannot tell how the day goes unless the Sun shine We may read many Truths in the Bible but we cannot know them savingly till Gods Spirit doth shine upon us 1 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God The Scripture discovers Christ to us but the Spirit reveals Christ in us Gal. 1. 16. The Spirit makes known that which all the world cannot do namely the
sense of Gods love Use 3. You who have this saluifical sanctifying knowledge flourishing in you bless God for it this is the Heavenly Anointing the most excellent objects cannot be seen in the dark but when the light appears then every flower shines in its Native beauty So while men are in the midnight of a natural estate the Beauty of Holiness is hid from them but when the light of the Spirit comes in a saving manner then those truths they slighted before appear in that glorious lustre as transports them with wonder and love Bless God ye Saints that he hath taken off your Spiritual Cataract and hath given you to discern those things which by Natures Spectacles you could never see How thankful was Christ to his Father for this Mat. 11. 25. I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes How should you admire Free-grace that God hath not only brought the light to you but given you eyes to see it that he hath inabled you to know the truth as it is in Iesus Ephes. 4. 21. That he hath opened not only the eye of your understanding but the eye of your Conscience This is a mercy you can never be enough thankful for that God hath so enlightned you that you should not sleep the sleep of death SECT II. 2. The godly man is a man acted by Faith as gold is the most precious among the metals so is Faith among the Graces Faith cuts us off from the wild Olive of Nature and inoculates us into Christ Faith is the vital artery of the Soul Hab. 2. 4. The just shall live by his Faith Such as are destitute of Faith though they breathe yet they want life Faith is the quickner of the Graces not a Grace stirs till Faith sets it awork Faith is to the soul as the animal spirits are to the body they excite lively operations in the body Faith excites Repentance it is like the fire to the Still which makes it drop When I believe Gods love to me this makes me weep that I should sin against so good a God Faith is the Mother of Hope first we believe the Promise then we hope for it Faith is the Oyl which feeds the Lamp of Hope Faith and Hope are two Turtle-graces take away one and the other languisheth If the sinews be cut the body is lame if this sinew of Faith be cut Hope is lame Faith is the ground of Patience He who believes God is his God and all Providences work for his good doth patiently yield up himself to the Will of God thus Faith is a living Principle And the life of a Saint is nothing else but a life of Faith his prayer is the breathing of Faith Iam. 5. 15. His obedience is the result of Faith Rom. 16. 26. A godly man by Faith lives in Christ as the beam lives in the Sun Gal. 2. 20. I live yet not I but Christ lives in me A Christian by the power of Faith sees above Reason trades above the Moon by Faith his heart is finely quieted he trusts himself and all his affairs with God As in a time of War men get into a Garrison and trust themselves and their treasure there So the Name of the Lord is a strong Tower Pro. 18. 10. and a Believer trusts all that ever he is worth in this Garrison 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day God trusted Paul with his Gospel and Paul trusted God with his Soul Faith is a Catholicon or remedy against all troubles it is a godly mans sheat-anchor that he casts out into the Sea of Gods mercy and is kept from sinking in despair Si modo firma fides nulla ruina nocet Use. Let us try our selves by this Character Alas how far are they from being godly that are destitute of Faith such as are altogether drowned in Sense Most men are spiritually purblind they can see but just before them 2 Pet. 1. 9. I have read of a people of India who are born with one eye such are they who are born with the eye of Reason but want the eye of Faith who because they do not see God with bodily eyes they do not believe a God they may as well not believe they have Souls because being Spirits they cannot be seen O where is he who lives in Excelsis who is gotten into the upper Region and sees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things not seen Heb. 11. 27. Did men live by Faith would they use sinful policy for a livelihood Were there Faith would there be so much fraud Did Faith live would men like dead fish swim down the stream In this Age there is scarce so much Faith to be found among men as there is among the Devils for they believe and tremble It was a grave and serious speech of Mr. Greenham that he feared not Papisme but Atheisme would be Englands ruine But I shall not expatiate having been more large upon this Head in another discourse SECT III. 3. A godly man is fired with love to God Psalm 116. 1. Faith and Love are the two Poles on which all Religion turns A true Saint is carried in that Chariot the midst whereof is paved with love Cant. 3. 10. As Faith doth quicken so love doth sweeten every duty The Sun mellows the fruit so love mellows the services of Religion and makes them come off with a better relish A godly man is sick of love Ioh. 21. 16. Lord thou knowest I love thee Though dear Saviour I did deny thee yet it was for want of strength not for want of love God is the Fountain and Quintessence of goodness his beauty and sweetness lay constraints of love upon a gracious heart God is the Saints portion Psalm 119. 57. And what more loved then a portion I would hate my own Soul saith Austin if I found it not loving 〈◊〉 A godly man loves God therefore delight to be in his presence he loves God therefore takes comfort in nothing without him Cant. 3. 3. Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Lilia nigra videntur Pallentesque rosae nec dulce rubens hyacinthus Nullos nèc myrtus nec laurus spirat odores The pious Soul loves God therefore thirsts after him the more he hath of God the more still he desires a sip of the Wine of the Spirit provokes the appetite after more The Soul loves God therefore rejoyceth to think of his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 8. He loves him therefore longs to be with him Christ was in Pauls heart and Paul would be in Christs bosome Phil. 1. 23. When the Soul is once like God it would fain be with God A gracious heart cries out O that I had wings that I might flie away and be
to purifie it and make it holy 2. Holiness is that alone which God is delighted with Tamerlain being presented with a pot of gold asked whether the gold had his Fathers stamp upon it But when he saw it had the Roman stamp he rejected it Holiness is Gods stamp and impress if he doth not see this stamp upon us he will not own us 3. Holiness fits us for communion with God communion with God is a paradox to the men of the world every one that hangs about the Court doth not speak with the King We may approach to God in duties and as it were hang about the Court of Heaven yet not have communion with God That which keeps up the intercourse with God is holiness the holy heart enjoys much of Gods presence he feels heart-warming and heart-comforting virtue in an Ordinance Where God sees his Likeness there he gives his love SECT V. 5. A godly man is very exact and curious about the Worship of God the Greek word for godly signifies a right Worshipper of God A godly man doth reverence Divine Institutions and is more for the Purity of Worship than the Pomp Mixture in sacred things is like a dash in the wine which though it gives it a colour yet doth but adulterate it The Lord would have Moses make the Tabernacle according to the pattern in the Mount Exod. 25. 40. If Moses had left out any thing in the pattern or added any thing to it it would have been very provoking The Lord hath always given testimonies of his displeasure against such as have corrupted his Worship Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire other than God had sanctified on the Altar and fire went out from the Lord and devoured them Levit. 10. 1. Whatsoever is not of Gods own appointment in his Worship that he looks upon as strange fire and no wonder he is so highly incensed at it for as if God were not wise enough to appoint the manner how he will be served Men will go to prescribe him and as if the rules for his Worship were defective they will attempt to mend the Copy and superadd their inventions A godly man dares not vary from the Pattern which God hath shewn him in the Scripture and probably this might not be the least reason why David was called a man after Gods own heart because he kept the springs of Gods Worship pure and in matters sacred did not super induce any thing of his own devising Use. By this Character we may try our selves whether we are godly Are we tender about the things of God Do we observe that mode of worship which hath the stamp of Divine Authority upon it 'T is of dangerous consequence to make a medley in Religion 1. Those who will add to one part of Gods Worship will be as ready to take away from another Mar. 7. 8. Laying aside the Commandment of God ye hold the Traditions of men They who will bring in a Tradition will in time lay aside a Command This the Papists are highly guilty of they bring in Altars and Crucifixes and lay aside the second Commandment They bring in Oyl and Cream in Baptism and leave out the Cup in the Lords Supper they bring in praying for the dead and lay aside reading the Scriptures intelligibly to the living They who will introduce that into Gods Worship which he hath not commanded will be as ready to blot out that which he hath commanded 2. Those who are for outward commixtures in Gods Worship are usually regardless of the Vitals of Religion living by Faith leading a strict mortified life these things are less minded by them Wasps have their Combs but no honey in them the Religion of many may be likened to those ears which run all into straw 3. Superstition and Prophaness kiss each other Hath it not been known that those who have kneeled at a Pillar have reeled against a Post. 4. Such as are devoted to Superstition are seldome or never converted Mat. 21. 31. Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdome of God before you It was spoken to the Chief Priests who were high Formalists and the reason why such persons are seldom wrought upon savingly is because they have a secret antipathy against the power of godliness the Snake is of a fine colour but it hath a sting so outwardly men may look zealous and devout but retain a sting of hatred in their hearts against goodness Hence it is that they who have been most hot for superstition have been most hot for persecution The Church of Rome wears white linnen an Embleme of Innocency but the Spirit of God paints her out in Scarlet Rev. 17. 4. Whence is this not only because she puts on a scarlet Robe but because her body is of a scarlet die having imbrued her hands in the bloud of the Saints Rev. 17. 6. Let us then as we would demonstrate our selves godly keep close to the rule of Worship and in the things of Iehovah go no further than we can say it is written SECT VI. 6 A godly man is a servant of God and not a servant of men This Character hath two distinct branches I shall speak of both in order 1. A godly man is a servant of God Ezra 5. 11. We are the servants of the God of Heaven Col. 4. 12. Epaphras a servant of Christ. Quest. In what sense is a godly man a servant of God Answ. In seven respects 1. A servant leaves all other and confines himself to one Master so a godly man â—eaves the service of sin and betakes himself â—o the service of God Rom. 6. 22. Sin is a tyrannizing thing a sinner is a slave when he â—ins with most freedome The wages which sin gives may deter us from its service Rom. â— 23. The wages of sin is death Here is â—amnable pay A godly man Lists himself 〈◊〉 Gods Family and is one of his menial serâ—ants Psalm 116. 16. O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant David useth an inâ—emination as if he had said Lord I have â—aken earnest none else can lay claim to me â—â—y ear is bored to thy service 2. A servant is not sui juris at his own â—ispose but at the dispose of his Master A servant must not do what he please but â—e at the will of his Lord. Thus a godly â—an is Gods servant he is wholly at Gods â—ispose he hath no will of his own Thy will 〈◊〉 done on earth Some will say to the godly why cannot you do as others Why will not you drink and swear and prophane the Sabbath as others do The godly are Gods servants they must not do what they will but be under the rules of the Family they must do nothing but what they can show their Masters hand for 3. A servant is bound there are Covenants and Indentures sealed between him and his Master Thus there are
bury our Talents but trade them this is to put out our mercies to Use a gracious heart is like a peece of good ground that having received the seed of mercy thrusts forth a crop of obedience 6 Then wee are rightly thankful when we can have our hearts more enlarged for spiritual mercies than for temporal Eph. 1. 3. Blessed be God who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings A godly man blesseth God more for a fruitful heart than a full crop hee is more thankful for Christ than for a Kingdome Socrates was wont to say hee loved the Kings smile more than his gold a pious heart is more thankful for a smile of Gods face than hee would bee for the gold of the Indies 7 Then wee are rightly thankful when mercy is a wheâ— to duty it causeth a spirit of activity for God Mercy is not as the Sun to the fire to dull it but as oyl to the wheele to make it run faster David wisely argues from mercy to duty Psal. 116. 8 9. Thou hast delivered my Soul from death I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living It was a saying of Bernard Lord I have two Mites a soul and a body and I give them both to thee 8 Then wee are rightly thankful when we excite others to this Angelical work of praise David would not only bless God himself but calls upon others to do so Praise ye the Lord Psalm 111. 1. That is the sweetest musick which is in consort when many Saints joyn together in consort then they make heaven ring of their praises as one drunkard will bee calling upon another so in an holy sense one Christian must bee stirring up another to the work of thankfulness 9 Then we are rightly thankful when we do not only speak Gods praise but live his praise It is called gratiarum actio then wee give thanks when wee live thanks such as are mirrours of mercy should be patterns of piety Obad. 17. Upon Mount Sion shall be deliverance and there shall be holiness To give God orall praise and dishonour him in our lives is to commit a barbarism in religion and is to be like those Iews who bowed the knee to Christ and then did spit upon him Mark 15. 19. 10 Then wee are rightly thankful when wee do propagate Gods praises to posterity we tell our children what God hath done for us in such a want hee supplyed us in such a sickness he raised us in such a temptation he succoured us Psa. 44. 1. O God our Fathers have told us what work thou didst in their daies in the time of old By transmitting our experiences to our Children Gods name is eternized and his mercies will bring forth a plentiful crop of praise when wee are gone He man puts the question Psal. 88. 10. Shall the dead praise thee Yes in this sense when we are dead we praise God because having left the Chronicle of Gods mercies with our Children we put them upon thankfulness and so make Gods praises live when we are dead dumque aurea voluet astra polus Memori semper celebrabunt cantu Use 3 Let us evidence our godliness by gratefulness Psa. 29. 2. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name 1 It is a good thing to be thankful Psal 147. 1. It is good to sing praises to our God 'T is ill when the tongue that Organ of praise is out of tune and doth jar by murmuring and discontent but it is a good thing to be thankful it is good because this is all the creature can do to lift up Gods name and it is good because it tends to the making us good the more thankful we are the more holy while wee pay this tribute of praise our stock of grace increseth in other debts the more we pay the less wee have but the more wee pay this debt of thankfulness the more grace wee have 2 Thankfulness is the quit-rent wee owe to God Psa. 148. 11 13. King of the earth and all people let them praise the name of the Lord Praise is the tribute or custome to bee paid into the King of heavens Exchequor Surely while God renews our Lease we must renew our rent 3 The great cause we have to be thankful 't is a principle grafted in nature to be thankful for benefits The Heathens praised Iupiter for their victories What full clusters of mercies hang upon us when we go to enumerate Gods mercies we must with David confess our selves to bee nonplussed Psal. 40. 5. Many O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which thou hast done they cannot be reckoned up in Order And as Gods mercies are past numbring so they are past measuring David takes the longest measuring line hee could get hee measures from earth to the clouds nay above the clouds yet this measure would not reach the heighth of Gods mercies Psal. 108. 4. Thy mercy is great above the heavens O how hath God enriched us with his silver showers a whole constellation of mercies hath shined in our Hemisphere 1 What Temporal favours have wee received every day wee see a new tide of mercy coming in the wings of mercy have covered us the breast of mercy hath fed us Gen. 48. 15. The God which hath fed mee all my life long to this day What snares laid for us have been broken what fears blown over the Lord hath made our bed when he hath made others grave he hath taken such care of us as if he had none else to take care for never was the cloud of providence so black but we might see a Rainbow of Love in the cloud we have been made to swim in a sea of mercy and doth not all this call for thankfulness 2 That which may put a string more into the instrument of our praise and make it sound louder is to consider what spiritual blessings God hath conferred upon us he hath given us of the upper-springs he hath opened the Wardrobe of Heaven and fetched us out a better garment than any of the Angels wear he hath given us the best robe and put upon us the Ring of faith whereby wee are married to him These are mercies of the first magnitude which deserve to have an Asterist put upon them and God keeps the best Wine till last here hee gives us mercies but by retail the greatest things are laid up here are some Hony drops and fore-tastes of Gods love the Rivers of pleasure are reserved for Paradise well may we take the harp and viol and triumph in Gods praise who can tread upon these hot coals of Gods love and his heart not burn in thankfulness 4 Thankfulness is the best policy there is nothing lost by it to bee thankful for one mercy is the way to have more 't is like powring water into a Pump which fetcheth out more Musicians love to sound their trumpets where there is the best Eccho and
leaves the heart always in a better tune 2. The danger of doing duties in an unspiritual manner they are as if they had not been done for what the heart doth not do is not done Duties slubbered over turn Ordinances into Judgements Therefore many though they are often in duty they go away worse from duty If Physick be not well made and the ingredients rightly tempered it is as bad as poyson for the body So if duties are not well performed they leave the heart more hard and sinful than before Duties unspiritual oft create Judgements temporal 1 Chron. 15. 13. The Lord our God made a breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order Therefore God makes breaches in Families and Relations because persons worship him not in that manner and due order which he requires 3. If we would have our duties spiritual we must get our hearts spiritual an earthly heart cannot be spiritual in duty Let us beg of God a spiritual pallat to relish a sweetness in holy things for want of spiritual hearts we come to duty without delight and go away without profit If a man would have the wheels of his Watch move regularly he must mend the Spring Christian if thou wouldst move more spiritually in duty get the Spring of thy heart mended SECT XXII 22. A godly man is thorow-paced in Religion he obeys every Command of God Act. 13. 22. I have found David a man after mine own heart which shall fulfill all my will In the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all my wills A godly man labours to walk according to the full bredth and latitude of Gods Law Every Command hath the same stamp of Divine Authority upon it and he who is godly will obey one Command as well as another Psal. 119. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments A godly man goes through all the Body of Religion as the Sun through all the Signs of the Zodiack He that is to play upon a ten-stringed Instrument must strike upon every string or he spoils all the Musick The ten Commandments may be compared to a ten-stringed Instrument we must obey every Commandment strike upon every string or we can make no sweet Musick in Religion True obedience is filâ—al it is fit the Childe should obey the Parent in all just and sober commands Gods Laws are like the Curtains of the Tabernacle which were looped together they are like a Chain of Gold where all the links are coupled A conscientious man will not willingly break one Link of this Chain if one Command be violated the whole Chain is broken Iam. 2. 10. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law yet offend in one point is guilty of all A voluntary breach of one of Gods Laws involves a man in the guilt and exposeth him to the curse of the whole Law True obedience is intire and uniform A good heart like the Needle points that way which the Load-stone draws This is a grand difference between a Childe of God and an hypocrite the hypocrite doth pick and chuse in Religion some duties he will perform which are more facil and do gratifie his pride or interest but other duties he makes no reckoning of Mat. 23. 23. Ye pay tithe of Mint and Annis and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law Iudgment Mercy and Faith To sweat in some duties of Religion and freeze in other is the symptom of a distempered Christian. Iehu was zealous in destroying the Idolatry of Baal but let the golden Calves of Jeroboam stand 2 Kin. 10. 30. This shows men are not good in truth when they are good by halves If your servant should do some of your work you set him about and leave the rest undone how would you like that The Lord saith Walk before me and be perfect Gen. 17. 1. How are our hearts perfect with God when we prevaricate with him Some things we will do and other things we leave undone he is good who is good universally Pater adsum impera quid vis There are ten duties God calls for which a godly man will conscientiously perform and indeed these Duties may serve as so many other Characters and Touch-stones to try our godliness by 1 A godly man will be often calling his heart to account he takes the candle of the word and searcheth his inward parts Psa. 77. 6. I commune with my own heart and my spirit made diligent search a gracious soul searcheth whether there be any duty omitted any sin cherished he examines his evidences for heaven as hee will not take his gold upon trust so neither his grace he is a spiritual Merchant hee casts up the estate of his soul to see what he is worth he sets his house in order often reckonings keep God and conscience friends a carnal person cannot abide this heart-work he is ignorant how the affairs go in 〈◊〉 soul he is like a man who is well acquainted in forraign parts but a stranger in his own country ut nemo insese tentat descendere nemo 2 A godly man is much in closet-prayer he keeps his hours for private devotion Iacob when he was left alone wrestled with God Gen. 32. 24. So when a gracious heart is alone it wrestles in prayer and will not leave God till it hath a blessing a devout Christian exerciseth eyes of faith and knees of prayer Hypocrites who have nothing of religion besides the frontispiece love to bee seen Christ hath Characterized them Mat. 6. 5. They love to pray in the corners of the streets that they may be seen The hypocrite is devout in the Temple there all will gaze on him but he is a stranger to secret communion with God he is in the Church a Saint but in his closet an Atheist a good Christian holds secret intelligence with heaven ille dolet verè qui sine teste dolet Private prayer keeps up the trade of godliness when closet-holiness is laid aside there is a stab given to the hearâ— of religion 3 A godly man is diligent in his calling he takes care to provide for his family the Church must not exclude the shop 'T is a speech of Mr. Perkins though a man be endued with excellent gifts and hear the word with reverence and receive the sacrament yet if he practise not the duties of his calling all is but hypocrisie religion did never grant a pattent for idleness 2 Thess. 2. 11 12. There are some which walk among you disorderly working not at all them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Iesus that with quietness they work and eat their own bread That bread eats most sweet which is got with most sweat a godly man had rather fast than eat the bread of idleness Vain professors talk of living by faith but do not live in a calling they are like the Lillies of the field they toyl not neither do they spin an
upon the soul Hos. 14. 5 6. I will be as the de◠unto Israel he shall grow as the Lilly his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree That God who made the dry rod blossome will make the dry reed flourish So much for the first expression in the Text I proceed to the second The smoaking Flax shall he not quench Quest. What is meant by smoak Answ. By smoak is meant corruption Smoak is offensive to the eye so sin offends the pure eye of God Quest. What is meant by smoaking flax Answ. It is meant Grace mingled with corruption as with a little fire there may be much smoak so with a little grace there may be much corruption Quest. What is Christs not quenching the Smoaking Flax Answ. The meaning is though there be but a spark of grace with much sin Christ will not put out this spark In the words there is a figure He will not quench that is he will encrease Nothing more easie than to quench Smoaking Flax the least touch doth it but Christ will not quench it he will not blow the spark of Grace out but will blow it up he will encrease it into a flame he will make this Smoaking Flax a burning Taper Doct. That a little grace mixed with much corruption shall not be quenched For the illustrating of this I shall show you 1. That often a little grace is mixed with much corruption 2. That this little grace interlined with corruption shall not be quenched 3. The Reasons of the Proposition 1. Often in the godly a little grace is mingled with much corruption Mark 9. 24. Lord I believe there was some Faith help my unbelief there was corruption mixed with it There are in the best Saints interweavings of sin and grace a dark side with the light much pride mixed with humility much earthliness with heavenliness Grace in the godly doth relish of an old Crabtree stock Nay in many of the Regenerate there is more corruption than grace so much smoak that you can scarce discern any fire so much distrust that you can hardly see any Faith so much passion that you can hardly see any meekness Ionah a peevish Prophet he quarrels with God nay he justifies his passion Ionah 4. 9. I do well to be angry to the death Here was so much passion that it was hard to see any grace A Christian in this life is like a glass that hath more froth than wine or like a diseased body that hath more humours than spirits This may humble the best to consider how much corruption is interlarded with their grace 2. This little grace mixed with much corruption shall not be quenched The smoaking flax he will not quench The Disciples Faith was at first but small they forsook Christ and fled Here was smoaking flax but Chirst did not quench that little grace but cherish and animate it their Faith afterwards grew stronger and they did openly confess Christ. Here was the flax flaming 3. The Reasons why Christ will not quench the smoaking flax 1. Because this Scintilla this little light which is in the smoaking flax is of divine production it comes from the Father of Lights and the Lord will not quench the work of 〈◊〉 own grace Every thing by the instinct of Nature will preserve its own The Hen that hatcheth her young will preserve and cherish them she will not destroy them as soon as they are hatched God who hath put this tenderness into the Creature to preserve its young will much more cherish the work of his own spirit in the heart Will he light up the Lamp of Grace in the soul and then put it out This would be neither for his interest nor honor 2. Christ will not quench the beginnings of grace because a little grace is precious as well as more A small Pearl is of value Though the Pearl of Faith be little yet if it be a true Pearl it shines gloriously in Gods eyes A Goldsmith makes reckoning of the least filings of gold and will not throw them away The pupilla oculi the apple of the eye is but little yet of great use it can at once view an huge part of the heavens A little Faith can justifie a weak hand can tye the Nuptial Knot a weak Faith can unite to Christ as well as a strong a little grace makes us like God a silver penny bears the Kings Image upon it as well as a larger piece of Coyn The least dram of grace bears Gods Image on it and will God destroy his own Image When the Temples in Greece were demolished Xerxes caused the Temple of Diana to be preserved for the beauty of its structure When God shall destroy all the glory of the world and set it on fire yet he will not destroy the least grace because it bears a print of his own likeness upon it That little spark in the smoaking flax is a ray and beam of Gods own glory 3. Christ will not quench the smoaking flax because this little light in the flax may grow bigger Grace is resembled to a grain of Mustard-seed of all seeds it is the least but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becometh a Tree Mat. 13. 32. The greatest grace was once little the Oak was once an Acorn the most Renowned Faith in the world was once in its Spiritual Infancy the greatest flame of zeal was once but smoaking flax Grace like the waters of the Sanctuary riseth higher If then the least Embryo and seed of holiness be of a ripening and growing nature the Lord will not suffer it to be abortive 4. Christ will not quench the smoaking flax because when he preserves a little light in a great deal of smoak here the glory of his power shines forth The trembling soul thinks it shall be swallowed up of sin but God by preserving a little quantity of grace in the heart nay by making that spark prevail over corruption as the fire from heaven licked up the water in the trench 1 King 18. 38. Now God gets himself a glorious Name and carries away the Trophies of Honor 2 Cor. 12. 9. My strength is made perfect in weakness 1. See the different dealings of God and men men for a little smoak will quench a great deal of light God for a great deal of smoak will not quench a little light 'T is the manner of the world if they see a little failing in another for that failing they will pass by and quench a great deal of worth This is our nature to aggravate a little fault and diminish a great deal of virtue to see the infirmities and darken the excellencies of others as we take more notice of the twinkling of a Star than the shining of a Star We censure others for their passion but do not admire them for their piety Thus for a little smoak that we see in others we
tender of her 1 Pet. 5. 7. He careth for you Christ hath a debating with himself a consulting and projecting how to carry on the work of our Salvation he transacts all our affairs he minds our business as his own indeed he himself is concerned in it he brings in fresh supplies to his Spouse if she wanders out of the way he guides her if she stumble he holds her by the hand if she falls he raiseth her if she be dull he quickens her by his spirit if she be froward he draws her with cords of love if she be sad he comforts her with promises 2. For ardent affection No Husband like Christ for love The Lord saith to the people I have loved you and they say Wherein hast thou loved us Mal. 1. 2. But we cannot say to Christ wherein hast thou loved us Christ hath given real Demonstrations of his love to his Spouse He hath sent her his Word which is a Love-letter and he hath given her his Spirit which is a Love-token Christ loves more than any other Husband 1. Christ puts upon his Bride a richer Robe Isa. 61. 10. He hath cloathed me with the garments of Salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness In this Robe God looks upon us as if we had not sinned This is as truly ours to justifie as it is Christs to bestow this Robe doth not only cover but adorn Having on this Robe we are reputed righteous not only as Angels but as Christ 2 Cor. 5. 21. That we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2. Christ gives his Bride not only his Golden Garments but his Image He loves her into his own likeness An Husband may bear a dear affection to his Wife but he cannot stamp his own Effigies upon her if she be deformed he may give her a Vail to hide it but he cannot put his beauty upon her But Christ imparts the beauty of holiness to his Spouse Ezek. 16. 14. Thou wert comely through my comeliness When Christ marries a soul he makes it fair Cant. 4. 7. Thou art all fair my Spouse Christ never thinks he hath loved his Spouse enough till he can see his own face in her 3. Christ dischargeth those debts which no other Husband can Our sins are the worst debts we owe if all the Angels should go to make a Purse they could not pay one of these debts but Christ frees us from these he is both an Husband and a Surety he saith to Justice as Paul concerning Onesimus If he ows thee any thing put it upon my score I will repay it Philem. 19. 4. Christ hath suffered more for his Spouse than ever any Husband did for a Wife he suffered poverty and ignominy He who crowned the heavens with stars was himself crowned with thorns He was called a companion of sinners that we might be made companions of Angels he was regardless of his life he leaped into the Sea of his Fathers wrath to save his Spouse from drowning 5. Christs love doth not end with his life He loves his Spouse for ever Hos. 2. 19. I will betroath thee unto me for ever Well may the Apostle call it a love that passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19. 3. See how rich believers are they are matched into the Crown of Heaven and by virtue of the Conjugal Union all Christs riches go to believers Communion is founded in Union Christ communicates his Graces Iohn 1. 16. As long as Christ hath it believers shall not want and he communicates his Priviledges Justification Glorification He settles a Kingdome upon his Spouse for her Joynture Heb. 12. 28. This is a Key to the Apostles Riddle 2 Cor. 6. 10. As having nothing yet possessing all By virtue of the Marriage-Union the Saints are interested in all Christs riches 4 See how fearful a Sin it is to abuse the Saints it is an injury done to Christ for beleevers are mystically one with him Act. 9. 4. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me when the body was wounded the head being in heaven cryed out in this sense men crucifie Christ afresh Heb. 6. 6. because what is done to his members is done to him if Gideon was avenged upon those who slew his brethren Iudg. 8. 21. will not Christ much more bee avenged upon those that wrong his Spouse Will a King endure to have his Treasure rifled his Crown thrown in the dust his Queen beheaded will Christ bear with the affronts and injuries done to his Bride the Saints are the apple of Christs eye Zac. 2. 8. and they that strike at his eye let them answer it Isa. 49. 26. I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine 5 See the reason why the Saints do so rejoyce in the Word and Sacrament because here they meet with their Husband Christ the Wife desires to be in the presence of her Husband The Ordinances are the chariot in which Christ rides the lattice through which he looks forth and shews his smiling face here Christ displaies the banner of love Can. 2. 4. The Lords Supper is nothing else but a pledge and earnest of that eternal communion the Saints shall have with Christ in heaven Then he will take the Spouse into his bosome if Christ be so sweet in an Ordinance when we have but short glances and dark glimpses of him by saith Oh then how delightful and ravishing will his presence be in heaven when we shall see him face to face and be for ever in his loving embraces 4 This mystical union affords much comfort to beleevers in several cases 1 In case of the dis-respects and unkindenesses of the world Psa. 55. 3. In wrath they hate mee but though we live in an unkinde world wee have a kinde Husband Ioh. 15. 9. As the father hath loved me so have I loved you What Angel can tell how God the Father loves Christ yet the Fathers love to Christ is made the copy and pattern of Christs love to his Spouse this love of Christ as far exceeds all created love as the Sun out shines the light of a Torch and is not this matter of comfort what though the world hates me yet Christ loves me 2 It is comfort in case of weakness of grace the beleever cannot lay hold upon Christ but with a trembling hand there is a spirit of infirmity upon him but O weak Christian here is strong consolation there is a conjugal union thou art the Spouse of Christ and hee will bear with thee as the weaker vessel will an Husband divorce his Wife because she is weak and sickly no he will be the more tender of her Christ hates treachery but he will pity infirmity when the spouse is faint and ready to be discouraged Christ puts his left hand under her head Can. 2. 6. this is the spouses comfort when she is weak her Husband can infuse