God He â—ob 38. 41. feedeth the young ravens when they cry unto Him If God feed the beasts and birds surely He will not suffer the soul Prov. 10. 3. Psal 37. 10. Isai 33. 16. of His people to famish In the days of fumine they shall be satisfied Bread shall be given them their waters shall be sure And as for rayment If God cloath the grass of the field which to day is and to morrow is cast into the oven shall he not much more cloath us Mat. 6. 30 31 32. Therefore take we no thought saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewithall shall we be cloathed for our heavenly father knoweth we have need of all these things Be we diligent and industrious in our places ever using lawful means that is our part for to do But the care of provision and maintenance is God's part which we must leave to Him Who hath promised to bless our lawful and honest endeavours subservient to His holy will and command 2. As for maintenance and provision so also my Expectation from God is that as I have committed all my ways to Him and trust in Him so He will bring them Psal 37. 5. Josh 5. 9. Rom. 8. 28. all to pass for the best That he will rowl away my reproach and cause all things to work together for my good He will plead my cause and execute judgment for me He will bring me forth Micah 7. 9. to the light and I shall behold His righteousness My Redeemer is strong Jer. 50. 34. the Lord of hosts is his name He shall Isai 51. 22. throughly plead my cause for He hath stiled Himself the God that pleadeth the cause of His people The Lord God of recompences will surely requite Jer. 51. 56. My expectation is higher than these temporal things as heroically and Christianly Luther once said Lord I have sworn and am resolved that I will not be put off with these lower things or to esteem them my portion c. 2dly But my expectation is higher my expectation from God is chiefly for spiritual and everlasting mercies That Acts 26. 18. as He hath opened mine eyes and turned me from darkness to light and from the power of Sathan unto God so that I Ephes 5. 8 1â— may walk as a child of light and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them Having respect to all God's Commandments Psal 119. 8. not allowing my sell in any onâ— known sin Denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts to live soberly righteously Godlily in this present word To grow Tit. 2. 12 2 Pet. 3. 18. Joh. 1. 16. 2 Pet. 1. 10. Eph. 3. 19. in Grace and in the knowledge of my Lord Jesus that of His fulness I may receive and Grace for Grace that so may make my calling and election sure being filled with the fulness of God that he will grant me according to the riches of his glory to be strengthned with all might by his Spirit in the inneâ— man that Christ may dwell in my hearâ— by faith c. that as he who hath begun 16. 17. a good work in me will also finish Phill. 1. 6. Heb. 12. 2. it For he is the author and finisher of my faith Who is able to build me up â— Acts 20. 32. and that He will settle strengthen and stablish me in every good word and work to do His will working in mâ— 1 Pet. 5. 10. Heb. 13. 21 that which is well-pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ That I Phill. 1. 10 11. may approve those things which are excellent being sincere and without offence filled with the fruits of righteousness c. Pressing toward the mark Phill. 3. 11 14. for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead that is to such a measure of Grace and Holiness as I shall have 2 Tim. 3. 17. at the resurrection of the dead that I may be perfect throughly furnished unto every good work And for my outward conversation that it may be as it becometh the Gospel Phill. 1. 27. Tit. 2. 3 10. of Christ as becometh holiness that I may adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour in all things so that the Word of Verse 5. God may not be blasphemed nor the way 2 Pet. 2. 2. Jam. 1. 27. of truth evil spoken of through my default and that I may keep my self unspotted of the world walking so as 1 Joh. 2. 6. Christ walked while He was here upon the earth That after I have served my generation by the will of God and shall fall asleep and be gathered to my fathers Acts 13. 36. 2 Tim. 4. 7. and see corruption after I have fought a good fight here finished my course Heb. 12. 28. and kept the faith I may receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that 1 Pet. 1. 4. jude 1. fadeth not away reserved in heaven for me and to which I am preserved in Christ Jesus This is my hope this is my expectation for I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to 2 Tim. 1. 12. keep that which I have committed to Him even the keeping of my soul and the crown of everlasting life against that day The Lord is the portion of my soul I am 3. 24 Prov. 23. 18. therefore will I wait for Him and my expectation shall not be cut off For they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary Isai 40. 31. they shall walk and not saint Now the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God and into the patient 2 Thess 3. 5. waiting for Christ Be not weary in well-doing continue Addition 2 Thess 3. 13. to wait upon God Take heed of impatiency of spirit like Joram that wicked King of Israel in that dreadful man-devouring famine of Samaria who 2 King 6. 33. though he acknowledged this evil is from the Lord yet impatiently and wickedly added wherefore should I wait on the Lord any longer He was convinced of the hand of God in His judgments upon Him so rationally he should have concluded therefore will I wait upon Him and seek to Him for relief Vna eademque manus vulnus opemque feret the same hand that wounds the same hand must bring the cure It had been more rationally inferred this evil is from the Lord therefore upon Him will I wait to Him will I address my self for deliverance But he concludes as in the Hebrew it is Mah Ochil â—adonai Quid expectabo Dominum wherefore should I wait on the Lord why should I fast and pray or carry my self patiently as the Chaldee hath
their faith and troth to every trivial thing which is an evident sign that they have little faith or truth in them or know not the true worth and value of them else they would not so lightly lay such precious Jewels to pawn upon every slight occasion Let all such and every one also remember our blessed Saviour's rule afore-mentioned in all their ordinary speeches and communications Swear not at all but let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more cometh of evil But of this we shall have occasion to speak more anon Now to speak what an oath is the parts of an oath how an oath may be lawfully taken and other things An oath is the craving of God's testimony to confirm the truth of our testimony Men swear by the greater and an Heb. 6. 13. 16. â—ath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife Deservedly is the testimony or witness-bearing of God called to confirm a truth for He is the truth who neither can deceive nor be deceived About an oath consider two things 1. How an oath is to be taken 2. How it is to be performed Q. 1. How to be taken In taking of an oath four circumstances are to be considered 1. The parts of an oath 2. The form of an oath 3. The end of an oath 4. The divers sorts or kinds of an oath 1. The parts of an oath and they are four 1. Confirmation of a truth 2. Invocation of God alone as a witness of a truth and a revenger of a lye 3. Confession that God is a revenger of perjury when He is brought in as a false witness 4. A binding over unto punishment if we use deceit 2. The form of an oath we must swear 1. In truth lest we forswear 2. In righteousness lest we swear to that which is wicked 3. In judgment lest we swear rashly or for a trifle So we must swear truly advisedly and rightly As it is commanded Thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in truth and Jer. 4. 2. in righteousness and in judgment They who do not thus are reproved which swear by the name of the Lord and make Isai 48. 1. mention of the God of Israel but not in truth nor in righteousness 3. The end of an oath which is to confirm some necessary truth in question either for the ending of controversies or for the performing of promises So an oath for confirmation is among men an end of all strife 4. The divers sorts or kinds of an oath 1. Publick 2. Private 1. Publick when the Magistrate doth upon just cause exact a testimony under the reverence of an oath 2. Private which two or more take privately As Jacob to Laban Gen. 31. 53. Bodz to Ruth Ruth 3. 13. and Obadiah to Elijah the Prophet 1 King 18. 12. So also there is an assertory oath and a promissory oath 1. An assertory oath or a confirming oath which is to confirm the truth of a thing either past or present 2. A promissory oath which is about a thing to come So we see that an oath is the calling of the name of God the searcher of the heart to witness a needful truth for the ending of strife and controversies In a lawful oath lawfully taken there is a worshipping of the name of God When Joshua would cause Achan to confess the truth he saith to him My Son Josh 7. 19. give glory to the God of Israel c. meaning thereby that God is highly dishonoured if a man swear falsly by Him For he doth in a manner as much as lies in him prophane and pollute God's holy name with a lye and on the contrary if a man swears truly he honours God False swearing is called prophaning the name of God Ye shall not swear by My name falsly neither â—evâ— 19. 12. shalt thou prophane the name of the Lord thy God I am the Lord. This manner of Joshuah's speech was used among the Jems so often as any was called to take an oath as it appears by the like protestation of the Pharisees used to the blind man whom Christ had restored to sight they said to him Give God the Joh. 9. 24. praise we know this man is a sinner To this heedfulness the forms of oaths used in the Scriptures do advise and instruct us As the Lord liveth God do so 1 Sam. 14. 39. 44. to me and more also 2 Kings 6. 31. And the Lord be witness upon my soul 2 Cor. 1. 23. All which do prove that we cannot call God to witness of our sayings but that we call Him to take witness of our perjury if we speak falsly or deceitfully The name of God is made vile and common when it is used in superfluous speeches as in foolish admirations which is a manifest taking of God's name in vain Swearing was suffered and ordained not for lust or pleasure but for necessitie sake And there can be no necessity pretended but where it is to serve either religion or charity But now it is so licentiously and customarily used that men think it no sin at all But the Commandment of the Lord remaineth still in force the penalty abideth in strength and shall one day have its effect whereby there is a special revenge proclaimed against all those who take God's name in vain though they may here escape for a time the judgment of men The very Heathens will condemn herein those who are outwardly proâ—essed Christians for among the Heathen ex animi sui sententiâ according to the purpose of their mind was to them instead of an oath Did they who had but the glimmering knowledge of God from the book of the Creatures and the Law of Nature written in their hearts do such things and shew such truth and reality in their speeches and dealings How shall this rise up in judgment against us and condemn us who have the written Word of God the knowledge of the true God and the glorious Gospel of his Son shining as a light among us and yet to do such things whereas the Heathen sit in darkness and in the region and shadow of Mat. 14. 16 death Thus far about the taking of an oath now Q. 2. How an oath is to be performed A. If the oath be made about lawful things it must be performed whether it be of much difficulty or great dammage to us or extorted by force from us So it is said he shall dwell in God's tabernacle that sweareth to his Psâ—l 15. 4. own hurt and changeth not Yet the Magistrate hath in his power as may seem right and convenient either to annihilate or moderate such oaths But of this we shall treat farther anon An oath in Scripture sometimes is taken for the whole Worship and Service of God Thou shalt fear the Lord Deut. 10. 20 thy God Him shalt thou serve and swear by His name And five Cities in the Isai 19. 18. land of
Humility towards God and that is a holy submission which is joyned with the fear of God Submit your Jam 4. 7. Prov. 22. 4. selves to God By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life There humility and the fear of the Lord are joyned together Q. By what Arguments may a man be excited to the study of humility towards God A. 1. If he sets before his eyes the Majesty and Power of God 2. If he thinks on the nature of humility which makes the soul of man fit Isa 66. 3. Prov. 11. 2. to be the House and Temple of God and that it may be capable of wisdom that it may be a Sacrifice unto God that it may be the Receptacle of the Psal 51. 19 Prov. 3. 3 5. Grace of God for with the lowly is wisdom This humility is the mother of all other vertues and is also a singular Ornament 1 Pet. 3. 4. of the soul The Ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price 3. If he is mindful of the promises made to the humble the Lord hath a respect unto them To this man will the Isa 66. 2. Lord look that is poor and of a contrite spirit and that trembles at His word The Lord will give grace to the humble Jâ—m 4. 10. and he will lift them up He that Luke 18. 14. humbleth himself shall be exalted 4. If he consider that humility is necessary to seek God and to turnaway His anger And when the Lord â—eph 2. 3. â— Cron. 12. 7. saw that they humbled themselves He said because they have humbled themselves therefore I will not destroy them c. 5. If he understand that humility is required in every duty towards God What doth the Lord require of thee but Mic. 6. 8. to love mercy and do justly and walk humbly with thy God As if the Prophet had said we can never walk with God please Him or be acceptable to Him without humility 2. Of Humility towards Man Out of conscience towards God we must behave our selves humbly towards man yea and the sence and acknowledging of our vileness and unworthiness before God makes us truly submissive and so doth dispose us to true humility in every respect Humility towards man is a vertue Definition whereby a man takes heed that he lift not up himself above his degree nor willingly commend himself as knowing that whosoever exalts himself shall Mat. 23. 12. Luk. 14. 11. 2 Cor. 10. 12. be abased but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted There are Three marks of humility towards men 1. A humble man affecteth not those outward signs of eminency as the uppermost Mat. 2â— 6 7 8 rooms chief seats greetings in the market the cup and knee c. like proud Haman who so stormed and was full of wrath because Mordecai Ester 3. 2 5 bowed not nor did him obeisance But in lowliness of mind let each esteem Phil. 2. 3. others better than himself I speak not to countenance sawcy pride neglect or contempt for we should give honour to whom it belongs Honour is Rom. 13. 7. in the person honouring not in the person honored What if a proud and unmannerly person sleights and neglects me shall I fret my self at it 2. A humble man beareth the contempt of himself so far as belongs to 2 Cor. 5. 12 13. himself So David when Shimei cursed him and slang stones he meekly reply'd let him curse it may be the Lord will look upon my affliction and will requite good for his cursing me this 2 Sam. 16. 7 to 12. day Lastly A humble man will not aspire Psal 131. 2 3. Jer. 14. 5. to high things Jeremy blamed Baruch for this seekest thou great things to thy self seek them not Next as there is humility towards God and towards man So also there is humility in condition and estate when a man is low and mean and poor in the world There is also a voluntary humility and the Popish Vow of Col. 2. 18. Beggery c. which have no warrant in the word of God and who required this at their hands It is humility in heart and spirit which is here meant This humility is the first step to Christianity Our Saviour said whosoever Luâ—e 9. 23. will come after Me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. A man that is not humbled is not sit for any good duty God offereth abundant mercy to us in His Son Christ Jesus even the treasure of heavenly grace an unhumbled and a proud heart is not fit to receive it Satan hath so filled his heart with pride he hath no room to receive it he doth Luke 16. 11. not desire it but to get riches and honour credit and esteem in the world and to be revenged on those whom he apprehends have sleighted him this he desires and seeks after He careth not for the true riches and true honour which is from God alone Tell such a one of the plentiful Redemption wrought out by Christs death what doth he esteem it he hath no such feeling that he is in an undone and lost condition without it As in the Apostles days some were such proud worldly-wise fools who could not see the excellency of heavenly knowledge but esteemed the Preaching of the Gospel foolishness So St. Paul when he was at Athens the 1 Cor. 1. 21. Famousest University in the world was very much sleighted of those great Philosophers and Schollars some mocked Acts 1â— 18 32. and others said what will this babler say Even so it is in our days Others are so wise in their own conceit thinking they know enough already they are too good to be iustructed and too wise to be taught No no God hath promised the meek He will guide in Psal 25. 9. judgment and the meek He will teach His way He silleth the hungry with good Luke 1. 53. things Therefore blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness Mat. 5. 6. for they shall be filled God will satiate the weary soul and replenish every Jer. 31. 25. sorrowful soul that is every contrite and humble soul which is sorrowful and broken for sin and hungreth and thirstest after Christ and His righteousness and the grace of His Spirit God will satiate and replenish them The Word is compared to Seed Mat. 4. 14. Now the seed can take no good root in the ground untill it be broken and turned up with the Plough So neither can the Word take any place in the heart before it be rent and broken for sin and from sin therefore the Prophet Joel bids them to rend their hearts Joâ—l 2. 13. Jer. 4. 3. And Jeremy bids them break up the sallow ground of your heart and sow not among thornes If that men will not thus rent