away Religion that the want may make us more sensible of the worth of it 5. It bringeth a Scandal and ill report on God in the World Therefore he standeth upon his vindication Micah 6.3 4 5. O my People what have I done unto thee And wherein have I wearied thee Testifie against me For I brought thee up out of the Land of Egypt and redeemed thee out of the house of Servants and I sent before thee Moses Aaron and Miriam Oh my People remember now what Balak King of Moab consulted and what Baalam the Son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord. That strangers receive him not is not so bad but that a People acquainted with him should cast him out after trial God calleth upon the Mountains and strong foundations of the Earth who keep still their obediential Subjection to their Creatour to witness against the ingratitude and stupidness of his People What injury have we found in God vers 2. Hear O ye mountains the Lords controversy and ye strong foundations of the Earth for the Lord hath a controversy with his People and he will plead with Israel 1. Vse We must neither build the walls of Iericho again nor as much as in us lyeth suffer others to build them Every one in his place is to hinder the work If Religion were uncertain it were another matter But did Christ come to establish the works of the Devil If Joshua saith cursed be he before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this City Jericho If Paul said Gal. 1.8 If an Angel from Heaven Preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed If others bestir themselves and by clancular and base artifices go to build these Walls again We should be the more Zealous for God Micah 4.5 For all People shall walk in the Name of his God and we will walk in the Name of our God But what must we do 1. Let us not only profess the true Religion but come under the Power of it The heart is best established by Grace The byas of mens corrupt hearts doth easily prevail against the light of their minds Few are corrupted in opinion but that are first false at heart The regenerate have advantages above other men 1 John 2.20 Ye have an unction from the holy one and know all things Most rotten opinions in the World are against the gust and sense of the new Nature But on the other side Men soon lose their zeal for truth that are addicted to a worldly sensual life Therefore see that Christ's Kingdom be set up in our hearts Luk. 17.21 The Kingdom of God is within you And that there we build not again the things we have destroyed Gal. 2.18 After we have devoted our selves to God we must not fall off from him till Christ's Kingdom be set up in our hearts we shall never sincerely care for his interests in the world For all carnal men seek their own things Men may bustle for a while for the Interest of their several Factions and Opinions but have not a true pure zeal for Christ's Kingdom 2. Let us pray That will do much Christ hath taught us to pray for the coming of his Kingdom Matth. 6.10 Thy Kingdom come David in his penitential Psalm could not forget the welfare of the Church when so deeply concerned as to his own particular for the recovering of his own peace Psal. 51.18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion build thou the walls of Jerusalem Walls of Sion not of Iericho or Babylon It is God's interest spread it before him 3. Be thankful to God for these deliverances Prayer gets blessings but thankfulness keepeth them For God is careful to preserve them to such who count it a benefit and are mindful of it We have manifold cause to bless God 1. For former deliverance out of the House of Bondage so early 2. That he hath so often defeated the attempts of those who would bring us back thither 3. For the good we have many years injoyed under the Reformed Religion which God hath blessed to the converting strengthening and comforting many a precious Soul 4. For continuing still the liberty of the Gospel and means of Grace under a Protestant King 5. For the quiet we now injoy when other parts of Christendom are are in a combustion we are untouched and injoy safety We are querulous and apt to complain but all things reckoned we have much more cause to give thanks 4. Let such deliverances as this inkindle our Love and Zeal to that Religion which God hath owned and defended Partly because when men are perswaded of the Truth such Providences as these are so many attestations to it Psal 41.11 By this I know that thou favourest me because mine enemy doth not triumph over me Partly because God will spue those out of his mouth that are neither hot nor cold Partly because Zeal discourageth the Factours and Abettours of the Kingdom of darkness The Fear of the People restrained the Pharisees 5. Prize the means of Grace and incourage them Iericho's Walls fell by the blast of the Rams-horns This Kingdom falleth by the Preaching of the Gospel 2 Thes. 2.8 Whom the Lord will consume with the Spirit of his mouth Whoever hinders that promotes the Devils Kingdom 2 Cor. 4.4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Owls fly in the dark This Kingdom is maintained by Darkness Blindness and Ignorance of the Truth 6. Let us not give incouragement by our Divisions to our adversaries The more we labour for Unity the more we Establish Religion Rom. 16.17 Mark them which cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrin which ye have Learned and avoid them When Passengers in a boat fall a quarreling and pushing one another they endanger the sinking of the boat When Christ's Army is scattered Antichrist will prevail Keep up the common Christianity it may be peaceful endeavours signifie nothing in a factious and divided â— time yet we must Unite every one in the things that are right and owned by God Jam. 3.17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaecable Provided we touch no unclean thing Here we must separate 2 Cor. 6.17 Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you 7 Recommend Religion by an holy Life Partly because gross sins under the Profession of a Reformed Religion provoke God to remove our Candlestick from us Partly because with all understanding Beholders the Fruits of Love Peace and Holiness will justifie your Religion Matth. 11.19 Wisdom is justified of her Children 8. Practise the Vertues contrary to the Vices of the opposite Kingdom Theirs is a Bloody Religion ours a Meâ—k
God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Iesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant Ver. 21. Make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his Sight through Iesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen In 1 Sermon p. 686 2 Chron. 32.25 But Hezekiah rendred not again according to the â—enefit done unto him for his Heart was lifted up therefore there was Wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem In 1 Sermon p. 694 Luke 22.31 And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat Ver. 32. But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren In 1 Sermon p. 703 Heb. 1.9 Thou hast loved Righteousness and hated Iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oil of Gladness above thy Fellows In 1 Sermon p. 711 Acts 24.14 Believe all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets Ver. 15. And have Hope towards God which they themselves also allow that there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Iust and Vnjust Ver. 16. And herein do I exercise my self to have always a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man In 2 Sermons p. 720 Zech. 14.20 In that Day shall there be upon the Bells of the Horses Holiness unto the Lord and the Pots in the Lord's House shall be like the Bowls before the Altar Ver. 21. Yea every Pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be Holiness unto the Lord of Hosts In 1 Sermon p. 737 John 3.14 And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up Ver. 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal Life In 1 Sermon p. 745 1 Thess. 5.16 Rejoice evermore Ver. 17. Pray without ceasing In 3 Sermons p. 756 Mark 2.17 When Iesus heard it he saith unto them They that are whole have no need of the Physician but they that are sick I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance In 1 Sermon p. 782 Psal. 8.2 Out of the Mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained Strength because of thine Enemies that thou mightest still the Enemy and the Avenger In 1 Sermon p. 787 Josh. 6.26 Cursed be the Man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this City Jericho he shall lay the Foundation thereof in his First-born and in his youngest Son shall be set up the Gates thereof In 1 Sermon p. 793 Micah 6.5 O my People remember now what Balak King of Moab consulted and what Balaam the Son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal that ye may know the Righteousness of the Lord. In 1 Sermon p. 801 Isa. 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the Voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and hath no Light Let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God In 1 Sermon p. 809 2 Sam. 7.27 Therefore hath thy Servant found in his Heart to pray this Prayer unto thee In 1 Sermon p. 816 Psal. 51.5 Gather my Saints together unto me those that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice In 1 Sermon p. 825 Psal. 127.3 Lo Children are an Heritage of the Lord and the Fruit of the Womb is his Reward In 1 Sermon p. 833 Philip. 4.8 Finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good Report if there be any Vertue and if there be any Praise think on these things In 1 Sermon p. 840 Luke 19.14 But his Citizens hated him and sent a Message after him saying We will not have this Man to reign over us In 1 Sermon p. 846 Luke 2.52 And Iesus increased in Wisdom and Stature and in Favour with God and Man In 1 Sermon p. 855 Philip. 2.7 But made himself of no Reputation In 1 Sermon p. 860 1 Cor. 8.3 But if any Man love God the same is known of him In 1 Sermon p. 868 Psal. 84.10 For a Day in thy Courts is better than a thousand I had rather be a Door-keeper in the House of my God than to dwell in the Tents of Wickedness In 1 Sermon p. 877 Luke 19.10 For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost In 2 Sermons p. 883 Psal. 90.1 Lord thou hast been our Dwelling-place in all Generations In 2 Sermons p. 895 1 Tim. 6.9 But they that will be rich fall into Temptation and a Snare and many foolish and hurtful Lusts which drown Men in Destruction and Perdition In 1 Sermon p. 908 1 Pet. 1.12 Which things the Angels desire to look into In 1 Sermon p. 917 Gal. 5.5 For we through the Spirit wait for the Hope of Righteousness by Faith In 1 Sermon p. 927 2 Pet. 3.9 The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise as some Men count Slackness but is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance In 1 Sermon p. 934 Rom. 10.5 For Moses describeth the Righteousness which is of the Law that the Man which doth those things shall live by them Ver. 6. But the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above Ver. 7. Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead Ver. 8. But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach Ver. 9. That if thou shalt confess with thy Mouth and shalt believe in thine Heart that God hath raised him from the Dead thou shalt be saved Ver. 10. For with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness and with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation In 2 Sermons p. 942 1 Cor. 8.6 But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him In 1 Sermon p. 958 2 Cor. 4.18 While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal In 2 Sermons p. 969 Luke 16.25 Son remember that thou in thy Life-time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented In 1 Sermon p. 984 1 Cor. 13.4 Charity suffereth long and is kind Charity envieth not Charity vaunteth not it self is not puffed up Ver. 5. Doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no Evil Ver. 6. Rejoiceth
one Be zealous to reduce them from their errours Let there be a hatred of Popery and a Pity to Papists a hatred of Abomination but not a hatred of Enmity Prov. 29.27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the Wicked A Sermon Preached November 5. 1676. Micah 6.5 O my People remember now what Balak King of Moab consulted and what Balaam the Son of Beor Answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal that ye may know the Righteousness of the Lord. THese words are a part of God's Plea against Israel for their ingratitude in departing from their obedience to him Their backsliding had raised an Evil report upon God as if he were harsh and severe and had not dealt well with them Therefore God justifieth his Providence what injury had he done to them wherein had he wearied them What had they to lay to his charge verse 3. Oh my People what have I done to thee and wherein have I wearied thee Testifie against me The matter concerneth us for the General Sin of this Nation is that we are grown weary of God but we have as little reason as they had injuries he had done none to them but on the contrary vouchsafed many rare and singular favours He instanceth first in his redeeming them from Egypt where they were dealt with as Slaves and Bond-men vers 4. For I brought thee up out of the Land of Egypt and redeemed thee out of the House of Servants Surely a deliverance from Spiritual or Temporal Bondage should be an Eternal bond upon us to be for God The Second instance is his Conduct of them in the Wilderness under Moses and Aaron vers 4. And I sent before thee Moses Aaron and Miriam When God giveth a People such Governors both in Church and State who do not only adhere to true Religion but countenance it in others yea set their whole heart to propagate it it is a great mercy not to be forgotten The Third Instance is that in the Text his bringing them into Canaan notwithstanding the designs to root them out by the way O my People remember now what Balak King of Moab consulted c. In which words 1. Observe the matter what is recomended to their remembrance in two things First The Plot betwixt Balak and Balaam Secondly The many good things that fell out between Shittim and Gilgal 2. The End why it is recommended to their remembrance that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord. First For the Matter First The plot between Balak and Balaam 1. What Balak consulted how to ruine Israel and bereave them of God's favour and protection Therefore he sent for Balaam to curse them hoping that by this Wizards Inchantments and Predictions the matter would be easie 2. What Balaam Answered 1. Somewhat by way of Prophesie 2. Somewhat by way of Counsel 1. By way of Prophesie he found that to curse Israel was a fruitless endeavour and God over ruled his Tongue to bless them 2. By way of Counsel he perswaded Balak to feast them to induce them to Idolatry and Fornication 2. The Second part of the matter which is commended to their remembrance is what happened between Shittim and Gilgal Shittim was the place where they went astray after Baal-Paeor Numb 25.1 And the place where they did abide until after Moses his Death And from whence Ioshua removed them to Iordan where they passed over to Gilgal and there the Lord renewed his Covenant with them by Circumcision Iosh. 5.2 Therefore the Lord willeth his People here to remember the things that befel them from Skittim to Gilgal What these things were may be seen by the History following 1. Though many warped and committed such hainous whoredoms with Baal-Paeor the State and Body of the Church was still preserved 2. That God led them on dry foot through Iordan and at length brought them into Canaan the Land of promise And 3. there anew confirmeth his Covenant with them And 4. the slaying of Balaam their pernitious enemy in the intervail between their going from Shittim to Gilgal Numb 31.8 Balaam also the Son of Beor they slew with the Sword Secondly The end That ye may know the righteousness of the Lord. It implyeth here both his Mercy and his Fidelity His Mercy which strove with their wickedness and overcame their evil with his goodness His faithfulness in keeping his Covenant and his Promises for though some of the People did Perish for that they fell into this wickedness with Baal-Poeor yet those that cleaved to the Lord remained alive This was just as they were entring into the promised Land Doct. That old Mercies especially National Mercies should not be forgotten that we may know God's uprightness in keeping his Covenant and Gracious Promises 1. I shall give you an account of this Instance of mercy which the Text offereth 2. What observations may be thence deduced 3. Why such kind of mercies should not be forgotten First To give an account of this Instance of Mercy in the Text 1. What Balak consulted Let us state his design for this Plot that he laid was most dangerous and wicked and the most likely to obtain his desire For if he could have obtained from God a Curse upon Israel he might soon have vanquished them There are many ways which the Devils Instruments take to mischief Religion Sometimes by fomenting and promoting divisions among themselves that they may first ruine one another and then become a Prey to their common Adversaries Gal 5.15 If ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another It beginneth in calumniating and defaming one another And then within a while it breaks out into open fewds and that breedeth mischief and persecution The Devil hath an hand in all this And many times his instruments as Sanballat and Tobiah set up a party among the Iews to weaken their hands in the work Nehem. 6. Sometimes by sowing divisions between them and their rulers The Devil knoweth what an advantage it is to Religion to have the countenance of Princes and on the other side how jealous they are of their Authority and Prerogatives Therefore by his instruments he seeketh to prejudice and prepossess them against those that profess Religion in strictness and Power Thus Amaziah the Priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam the King of Israel saying Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel and the Land is not able to bear all his words Amos 7.10 As if he had inticed the People from their Duty and made them enemies to his Authority And this by clancular insinuation when Amos was neither called nor heard So Saul against David 1 Sam. 24.9 Wherefore hearest thou Mens words saying Behold David seeketh thy hurt So Haman against the Iews Esther 3.8 There is a People scattered abroad and dispersed among the People in all the Provinces of thy Kingdom and their Laws are
Providence in the Wilderness how the People of Israel were led up and down for forty Years and fed and clothed and delivered The New Testament speaks of God's Providence over his Church during the whole State of the present World How he guides us by his Counsel till he brings us to his Glory Psal. 73.14 Thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel and afterwards receive me to Glory They were led into the Land of Canaan by Iordan and we have entrance into Heaven by Death They could speak of Judges and Kings that were glorious and did worthily in their Generations but the New Testament shews all that have an Interest in Christ shall judg the World together with Christ at the last Day 2 Cor. 6.2 Do ye not know that the Saints shall judg the World and as Kings shall reign with Christ for evermore and be far more glorious than Solomon in all his Glory Their Piety was like a Plant that grows in the Shade now the Sun is risen which scattereth his Light Heat and Influences 4. Consider what should be God's Aim in the Designation of his Providence that he hath brought it and laid it before you Acts 13.26 To you is the Word of this Salvation sent The Apostle doth not say we have brought it to you but God sent it God hath a special hand in bringing the Gospel if you accept it it will be God's Token sent to you in Love for the present it is God's Message sent for your trial There 's a mighty Providence that accompanieth the preaching of the Gospel You will find the Journies of the Apostles were ordered by the Spirit as well as their Doctrine as Acts 8.26 The Angel of the Lord said to Philip Arise go towards the South unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza which is desert If they went North or South it was not by their own good Affection or by the Inclination and Judgment of their own Reason but by the Direction of the Spirit So Acts 16.7 They assayed to go into Bithynia but the Spirit suffered them not They were not left to their own Guidance and Direction but still they were carried up and down by the Spirit As Prophecy came not in old time by the Will of Man but Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 So also the delivery of it to what People it should be disclosed was not by the direction of Men but by the Holy Ghost The Apostles had not only their Commission what they should do but where they should preach it If God send a Minister to you to preach this Grace that bringeth Salvation do not look upon it as a thing of Chance The Gospel doth not run by Chance and meerly according to the Intention and Designment of Men nor in an orderly stated Course as the Sun but by the special Direction of God You would stand admiring and think it a special Benefit in a time of Drought if the Rain should fall on your Garden and upon none else as it did upon Gideon's Fleece or if the Sun should be shut up to others and shine in your Horizon as it did in Goshen such a Distinction hath God made in sending of the Gospel it is Darkness to others but a Sun to you God hath a special hand in the progress of the Gospel certainly the preaching of it in Power there is much of God in it the Word goes from Place to Place if you accept it not God will go to another When the Jews refused the Salvation of God it is sent to the Gentiles Acts 28.28 The Salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and they will hear it It is not tendered unto you out of Necessity but by way of Trial out of God's Choice God cannot want Clients when you your selves are thrust out others may get in You may want Salvation but God cannot want Guests at the Feast he hath prepared 5. Consider of the great Judgment that will light upon them that despise an Offer of Salvation That which by its natural tendency is a Grace bringing Salvation by your neglect may bring certain Condemnation and Ruin Observe God did never utterly cast off the People of the Jews for contempt of the Law but when once they came to despise the Gospel God would have no more to do with them Indeed for the contempt of the Law the Jews were punished they went into Captivity but still a Stock did remain and it budded again But when those glorious appearances of Grace were discovered to them and they despised them then the Wrath of God came unto them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the uttermost 1 Thess. 2.16 When Salvation it self cannot save them Condemnation must needs take place and so Persons perish upon a double ground as guilty Sinners and as despisers of the Remedy As a Man that is deadly sick and will not take Physick perisheth both as he is sick and as he will not take Physick Or as a Man condemn'd by the Law and being repriev'd for a short time yet neglects to sue out his Pardon But you will say Who are those Contemners of this Salvation offered in the Gospel The Gospel is the Remedy and contemning the Gospel may be explained by refusing the Counsels of Physicians You know some are utter Enemies to Physick and cannot endure any thing that is bitter and tart and so Carnal Men given up to Pleasure cannot endure the Severities of the Gospel which are God's Counsels and Receipts for sick Souls if a few good Hopes and Wishes will carry them to Heaven that 's all they mind Some see that the Endeavours of Physicians do not always succeed and that there is great uncertainty in that Art therefore slight all Thus do Men slight the Gospel out of pure Unbelief Every one that hears the Word are not saved there are but few to whom it is manifested in Power and so they contemn it having no such high Thoughts of the Word of God Some out of Pride refuse Physick they know as much as the Physician and so they throw away themselves by depending upon their own Counsel So some out of meer Pride and Conceit slight the Gospel they know as much as can be taught them they think themselves alive and need nothing when they are stark dead Others out of negligence they are sick but are not at leisure to take Physick do not mind the Condition of their Body till it proves deadly Thus it is in the sickness of the Soul some are slighters Matth. 22.5 They made light of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others distrust others cannot endure God's Terms others are self-conceited but all neglect this great Salvation and contemn the greatest Gift God ever offered to Men therefore they shall meet with the greatest Judgment 6. Besides the wrong done to God and your selves consider the wrong you do to God's Messengers This is the spiritual Honour God hath put
once The Wages of Sin was eternal Death now something there must be to recompense and countervail the Eternity of the Punishment and nothing could counterpoise this but the Infiniteness and Excellency of Christ's Person therefore we are said to be redeemed by the Blood of God Acts 20.28 Feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood that is with the Blood of that Person that was God It was necessary he should come out of his Sufferings for if he were always suffering we could have no Assurance that God was satisfied If our Surety were not taken from Prison and Judgment how should we know the Debt was paid Isa. 53.8 How shall this be reconciled that he is to suffer but once and but a while and yet to do that which should countervail Eternity It was because of the Value of his Person as a Payment in Gold takes up lesser room than if paid in Silver Then his Aim in all was to expiate Sin and nothing but an Infinite Good could remedy an Infinite Evil. The Person wronged is Infinite so is the Person suffering and then he was not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Ransom to redeem us from Hell but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Price given to God to purchase for us Heaven and eternal Glory An ordinary Surety if he pays the Debt he frees the Debtor from Bonds and hath done his Work but Jesus Christ was no ordinary Surety he was to bring us to Grace and Favour with God and to merit Heaven for us now such a Person as could lay an Obligation upon God must needs be Infinite 2. Then for Intercession the other Act of his Priesthood He that intercedes with God must be God to know our Wants and Necessities as the High Priest had the Names of the twelve Tribes upon his Breast and Shoulders Exod. 20.12 29. so Jesus Christ hath the Names of all the Elect he knows their Desires Wants Conflicts he is to negotiate with God in behalf of all Believers that he may dispatch Blessings sutable to their State Now who can do this but God who knows the Heart and tries the Reins Who could know our Needs our Wants our Thoughts Sins Prayers Groans Desires Purposes throughout all the World Who can wait upon our Business day and night and continually interpose that Wrath do not break out upon us but such an All-sufficient Saviour as he is Secondly That he is God and so fitted for this Work In times of Delusion it is good to settle Foundations and give you Grounds of Faith It may be a Discourse upon the Godhead of Christ Men may think unnecessary 1 Ioh. 5.20 This is the true God and eternal Life Isa. 9.6 The mighty God and here in the Text he is called the great God Rom. 9.5 God blessed for ever These Proofs are so pregnant that they need no Illustration And certainly he is not God by Grant or Courtesy but it doth unavoidably follow if he be God he must be so by Nature for the Lord will not give his Glory to another Nay Col. 2.9 In him dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily that is essentially not only Divine Qualities such as are infused into us but the whole Essence of the Godhead was in him as in its proper Residence Again Phil. 2.6 Who being in the form of God thought it not Robbery to be equal with God It was not a Usurpation of another's Right And you know this Doctrine Christ himself preached Iohn 5.18 Therefore the Iews sought the more to kill him because he said that God was his Father making himself equal with God Certainly when Christ said God was his Father he did not mean it in an ordinary sense as he is our God and Father but as his eternal everlasting Son Thus Christ is the great God Vse 1. Let us observe the Love of Christ in becoming Man and let us improve it 1. Observe it Men shew Love when they have another's Picture about their Necks What Love did Christ show when he took our Natures To see the great God in the form of a Servant hanging upon the Cross this is wonderful Condescension Christ's Incarnation was a glorious Contrivance 1 Tim. 3.16 Great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in the Flesh. If God had not revealed it it would have been Blasphemy for us to think it Angels stoop to see it the Prophets studied it again how should the Saints admire it Among the Friars they count it a mighty Honour done to their Order if a great Prince when he is weary of the World cometh and taketh their Habit and dieth in their Habit. Certainly it is a mighty Honour to Mankind that the Son of God should take upon him the Nature of Man and die in our Nature and that the Word should not only be made Flesh but be made Sin and made a Curse for us 2. Improve it 1. Let us be desirous to be made Partakers of his Nature as he is of our Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these ye may be partakers of the Divine Nature Christ's partaking of our Nature was his Abasement the Sun of Righteousness went backward but our partaking of the Divine Nature is our Preferment 2. Let us use our selves more honourably for Christ's sake The Philistines would no more tread on that Threshold on which their Idol Dagon fell 1 Sam. 5.5 Shall we defile that Nature which the Son of God assumed Certainly every one of you should know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honour 1 Thess. 4.4 Vse 2. Here is an Invitation to press us to come to Christ or by Christ to God Christ is worth a thousand of us We are to seek a Match for our Master's Son Our way to win you is to tell you what he is that those who have given up their Names to him may keep themselves as pure Virgins till his Coming 2 Cor. 11.2 I am jealous over you with godly Iealousy for I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chaste Virgin unto Christ. Now that you may be wrought upon I will tell you what he is he is God-Man in one Person he is Man that you may not be afraid of him and God that he may do you good He is the Lord of Lords the King of Kings the Heir of all things the Saviour of the World a proper Object for your Faith 1 Pet. 1.21 Who by him do believe in God who raised him up from the dead and gave him Glory that your Faith and Hope might be in God He knows your Wants and is able to supply them yea he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 Tho we are unworthy yet he needeth no Portion with us we can bring nothing to him but he hath enough in himself I am God All-sufficient as Esther had all things
therefore cast your selves upon God 3. Carry your selves as a peculiar People to him Wherein 1. You must not be contented with common Mercies Every distinct Society have distinct Privileges Now the Elect are a peculiar People and therefore should look after peculiar Privileges A Man may have outward things and here is nothing peculiar no Argument of God's special Love Cast-aways may have these things Psal. 119.132 Look then upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto them that love thy Name Look not upon me as thou usest to do on the World in general but as thou dost on thy own People You must have renewing Mercies and sanctifying Mercies a holy Heart be kept from Sin and conformed to God Other Mercies a Man may have and go to Hell therefore be not satisfied with them Luther protested to God he would not be put off with Estate and the Favour of the World and with increase of Honour and Esteem Alas the multitude may have these things it is their Happiness Psal. 4.6 There be many that say Who will shew us any Good Lord lift thou up the Light of thy Countenance upon us 2. Be not contented with common Graces Thus far a Man may go and not be saved As for instance There are moral Inclinations in Heathens and they make Conscience of gross Sins It is not enough to keep from Theft Drunkenness Adultery a Heathen would discover those Sins by the Light of Nature and by such Arguments and Reasons as Nature suggests would avoid them And then Hypocrites may have flashes of Comfort Glances Wishes and good Moods though they have no constant Delight in Communion with God yet they have superficial Hopes and are much taken with Evangelical Strains and Tenders of the Gospel they have a desire to keep their Consciences quiet and peaceable but you should labour for Uprightness and special Graces Carnal Men desire to be secure rather than sincere that they may have some Delectations and superficial Tastes but you are to look after things that accompany Salvation Heb. 6.9 In the Original it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things that have Salvation in them you should be contented with no Grace but that which is an undoubted Pledg and Evidence of Heaven not a loose Hope of the Gospel 3. Be not satisfied with a common Conversation How is that Partly thus You must not live according to ordinary Privileges and ordinary Hopes You must discover Self-denial as one trained up in the School of Christ. It is an Accusation the Apostle brings against the Corinthians 1 Cor. 3.3 Are ye not Carnal and walk as Men When Men pretend to be God's peculiar People and have nothing singular but are given to worldly Cares vile Passions and corrupt Affections as other Men are this hardens carnal Men. A Christian should live like a Wonder in his place by discovering much Self-denial and Mortification in his Conversation Mat. 5.4 For if ye love them which love you what Reward have you do not the Publicans the same It is the greatest Hypocrisy that can be in the World to profess to be a peculiar People and to deny your selves in nothing but do as others do we should live at another rate and be more Holy more Charitable more Heavenly 4. Do not live according to ordinary Examples We may not frame and fashion our selves to the Guise of the World because we are the Lord 's peculiar People Deut. 14.1 2. Ye are the Children of the Lord your God ye shall not cut your selves nor make any baldness between your Eyes for the Dead For thou art an holy People unto the Lord thy God and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar People unto himself above all the Nations that are upon the Earth Dead Fishes swim with the Stream A Christian should live in a Counter-motion to the World You cannot do as others do for you profess your selves to be distinct Especially we should consider this in times of general Defection not to run away from God Mich. 4.5 For all People will walk every one in the Name of his God and we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever When every Man sets up a distinct Religion that is the meaning of it then the peculiar People of God should hold together and shew forth special Zeal and special Strictness in the Ways of God in times of Coldness Indifferency and Neutrality in Religion Josh. 24.15 And if it seem Evil unto you to serve the Lord chuse you this Day whom you will serve whether the Gods which your Fathers served that were on the other side of the Flood or the Gods of the Amorites in whose Land ye dwell but as for me and my House we will serve the Lord. SERMON XXII TITUS II. 14 Zealous of Good Works I Come to the last Circumstance the outward Manifestation of Christ's Puririfying that he might make us zealous of good Works I shall consider it partly as the Note of Evidence of God's peculiar People and partly as it falls under the Aim of Christ's Death Doct. Zeal for or in good Works is a Note of God's People and a Fruit of Christ's Purchase Here I shall enquire I. What good Works are II. What it is to be zealous of good Works III. In what Respect and Place we are to put this Zeal or how it stands in order to the Death of Christ. 1. What good Works are I shall shew the Kinds of them and the Requisites to them First The Kinds of good Works Good Works for the Matter of them may be distributed into four Sorts or Ranks Opera Cultûs Acts of Worship Opera Vocationis Works of our own particular Function and Calling Opera Iustitiae Works of Righteousness Opera Charitatis Works of Mercy 1. Opera Cultûs Acts of Worship both Internal and External External to Pray Hear Read Meditate to be much in Communion with God So for Internal Acts as Faith and Repentance and Love All these are good Works and fitly placed in the first Rank of these we must be chiefly zealous because our Happiness lies in Communion with God It is notable Daniel would not omit Prayer for one Day though he was forbidden by the King and in danger of Death Dan. 6.11 Now when Daniel knew that the Writing was signed he went to his House and his Windows being open in his Chamber towards Jerusalem he kneeled upon his Knees three times a Day and prayed and gave Thanks before his God as he did afore-time Certainly they have little Zeal in them that care not to be frequent in Communion with God and call not upon his Name These are the chiefest parts of those good Works we must press and exhort you to where we are to be the more punctual because the Offence is immediately done to God If we do not Works of Mercy and Justice there the Offence is done to Men but neglecting the Works of Piety
and at Christ too little and therefore was full of Fears and began to sink So the Disciples were afraid to perish tho Christ himself were in the Ship Mat. 8.26 Why are ye fearful O ye of little Faith It is Mark 4.40 How is it that ye have no Faith A little Faith is as no Faith in great Trials Well then there is no way to ease our Hearts of Trouble but by exercising Faith To make this more expresly to appear to you I shall consider again what is Trouble the nature of it and what are the causes of it and then you will discern that Faith is the proper Remedy First For the nature of this Trouble It consisteth 1. In a Fear of Danger 2. Sorrow for some Disappointment in the Creature 3. A fretting dislike of God's Dispensations 1. Fear is vanquished by Faith That appeareth by that Opposition Prov. 29.25 The Fear of Man bringeth a Snare but whoso putteth his Trust in the Lord shall be safe Or as it is in the Hebrew shall be set on high There is no conquering either the Allectives or Terrors of Sense till Faith represent something greater to be feared and loved 1 Iohn 5.4 This is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith It much out-weighs all Temptations What is a Prison to Hell a fiery Furnace to everlasting Burnings the Creature to God or the Threatnings of Men to the Lord's Promises Do but shut the Eye of Sense and open that of Faith and you will see that God is only worthy to be feared and trusted and then the Creature will be nothing to you we shall comfortably do our Duty and not fear what Man can do unto us We have more encouragement to be faithful to Christ than the World can present Allurements or Affrightments to the contrary If Man be our Enemy and God be our Help and Second what need we fear Psal. 16.8 I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right Hand I shall not be moved God is set before us either in a way of Reverence or in a way of Dependance either for seeing him in all our ways making him our Witness Approver and Judg so it is an Act of Holy Fear or as looking up to him as our Helper and Deliverer so it is an Act of Faith and Confidence And he that thus often looketh to God is carried through all his Fears and Cares and may easily despise all the frightful things in the World therefore why should your Hearts be troubled Believe in God and believe in Jesus Christ. It is a Fault in Christians to be immoderately fearful in times of Trouble and Danger Faith puts it self under God's special Protection upon a two-fold Perswasion of God's Power and Presence 1. His Power God is greater than the Creature and all the Terrors which Sense can present to us from the Creature Dan. 3.17 18. If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery Furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King But if not be it known to thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the golden Image which thou hast set up If Men bind God can loose if they threaten to kill God can save 2. His Presence Heb. 13.5 6. Let your Conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee So that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what Man shall do unto me The Lord will stand by his People and deliver them when it shall be for his Glory Now till we come to this Courage and Constancy of Mind and fearlesness of Men we never have the Generosity of Christians 2. Sorrow is vanquished by Faith 1. As it diverteth the Heart from present things to future and maketh things absent present and recompenseth Losses and Disappointments in the World with the hope of greater things in the World to come Faith sheweth better things to be enjoyed Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your Goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and an indaring Substance Spoiling of your Goods is either by Violence or by Fire and Confiscation It goeth near to the Hearts of Worldlings to part with their necessary and convenient earthly Comforts But to a Believer it is more easy for Heaven is infinitely better and more precious than all the Wealth of the World If the World be our Darling or any created Comfort be overvalued it will fill our Hearts with sorrow to be deprived of it A Christian that hath Heaven in Hope and Reversion cannot be poor he is richer than all worldly Men though God's Providence hath given him little or left him little 2. The Sting of present Evils is removed by the Pardon of Sins and the Sense of God's Love You are secured from Death and Wrath and God in Christ is your Father Rom. 5.1 2 3. Therefore being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ. By whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the Glory of God And not only so but we glory in Tribulations also If his Love be shed abroad in the Heart it is no great matter what we feel in the Body The Venom of the Affliction is the Curse due for Sin that is gone when we have first made sure of our personal Reconciliation with God and Acceptance with him in Christ. 3. Not only is the Venom gone but every Condition is useful and hath a Blessing in it to the Godly We know this by Faith Rom. 8.28 We know that all things work together for good to them that love God Psal. 119.71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes And ver 25. I know O Lord that thy Iudgments are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me Our wise and faithful God would not bring it upon us if he did not know how to make a good use of it By this we may discern whether God chasten us in Anger yea or no Whether our Crosses be Curses The Cross which maketh thee better than thou wert it cometh with a Blessing and as a Blessing It is not the sharpness of the Affliction that we should look to but the Improvement If it be improved the bitter Waters are made sweet if we are more godly wise and religious All God's Dispensations to his People are good and tend to good Luther hath a saying Qui tribulantur sacras literas melius intelligunt securi fortunati eas legunt sicut Ovidii carmen Those that are in trouble understand the Scriptures better the secure and prosperous read them as a piece of Ovid. It maketh us more serious keepeth us in a relish of spiritual Things While God is striking we feel
Tongue a deaf Ear or a lame Leg certainly you ought much more to bewail the want of Grace We murmure at outward Defects which is a taxing of Providence it being a fruit of the Lord's Dominion belongs to our Care Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22.6 Dye the Cloath in the Wooll and not in the Webb and the Colour is more durable God works strangely in Children and many notable things have been found in them beyond expectation 3 It prevents many Sins which afterwards would be a trouble to us when we are Old O many think that the Tricks of Youth are long since forgotten and forgiven but alas the guilt of them may fly in our Faces afterward nay tho' they be pardoned and the Persons reconciled to God The Sins of Youth trouble many a tender Conscience in Age witness David Psal. 25.7 Remember not the Sins of my Youth And Iob Chap. 13.26 Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the Iniquities of my Youth A Good man may remember old Sins with new fears that they are not pardoned While it is eaâ—ie to Sin it is easie to believe the pardon of Sin marvel not at the Expression while we are Young and Sin freely we think God will forgive those Sins and they will soon be forgotten but as a Man grows up into more tenderness of Conscience and into a greater Awe and Sense and Esteem of God's Holiness what a Holy God he serves he finds it the more difficult to believe the pardon of Sin Good Men have with much bitterness of Soul called to mind the Sins of their Youth when they see the Sins of their younger days are so many and the breaches of God's Law so innumerable whereby they have offended God that either through Ignorance or Inconsideration they have so sinned against God that they have much ado to believe the pardon of the multitude of their youthful Sins New Afflictions may awaken the sense of old Sins as old Bruises may trouble us long after upon every change of Weather There are some that feel the Sins of their Youth in their Bodies when the Pains and Aches of their miserable Age are the Fruits of their youthful Vanities and Intemperance as it is said Iob 20.11 His bones are full of the Sins of his Youth which shall lye down with him in the dust They carry the marks of their youthful Sins their Bones feel them till they lye down in the Dust. Nay God's Children that have repented and God hath been reconciled to them through Christ they have many a bitter remembrance of their youthful Follies and Vanities that make their Hearts ake at the Thoughts of them Ier. 31.19 Surely after that I was turned I repented and after I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my Youth Therefore upon these Considerations certainly it is very good to begin with God betimes that it may not be a disadvantage to us after God shall call us to Grace for though the Lord may bless the Education of Youth with Supernatural Grace yet youthful Vanities may prove very bitter in the remembrance of them when we grow old VSE This is spoken to reprove us because we always think it too soon to begin with God Where is this timely Care and Forwardness Alas we cannot say All these have we kept from our Youth but when we come to look to the Commands of God we may say All these have we broken from our Youth While they are Young most Men live prophane and without all fear of God Certainly there was some Goodness in this Mans Speech and that occasioned me to observe it for Iesus beholding him loved him But was it true All these have I kept from my Youth In a Sence it was true in regard of outward Conformity but not true in regard of that perfect Obedience which was required 1. It was true in regard of outward Conformity Externally he had kept them all thô not in the just extent of the Law yet he was as to Men unreproveable being no Adulterer no Murderer no Extortioner no Thief he did not lye certainly in this Profession he made he spoke as he thought and out of Simplicity and Error rather than Deceit the Man lived blamelesly and did no body harm and therefore saith All these have I kept from my Youth Outward Obedience and Conformity to the Law is a good and commendable thing in it self yea necessary and required of us but we are not to rest in it but to escape the Vices and Pollutions of the World is so far Praise-worthy There are many that are openly prophane and wicked in Life Swearers Drunkards Sabbath-breakers these come short of this Young man who yet came short of the Kingdom of Heaven What will these say for themselves will they pretend that their Heart is good Can a pure Fountain send forth impure Streams If the Heart were good would the Life be so naught If there be light in the Lanthorn will it not shine forth If there be Grace in the Heart it will appear 2. It was not true in regard of that perfect Obedience which the Law requireth and so he ignorantly and falsly supposed that he had kept the Law well enough and done all those things from his Youth The Falsity and presumption of this Answer will appear by considering 1. What the Scripture saith of the State of Man by Nature Gen. 8.21 The Imagination of mans Heart is evil from his Youth And he saith All these have I kept from my Youth O how much do they forget themselves that boast of their own Perfection 2. The Falsity of it appears by the sence of the Commandment produced Thou knowest the Commandment saith Christ Do not commit Adultery c. which will reach the most perfect man upon Earth It was a Command of the Second Table which wrought such Tragical Effects and that stirr'd up those Stings of Conscience and Agonies of Heart in Paul Rom. 7.7 I had nan known lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not Covet and thereupon he groundeth that General Verse 14. The Law is Spiritual but I am Carnal sold under Sin 3. The Falsity will appear by comparing him with other Holy Men of God how differently do they express themselves from this Man that was so full of Confidence Compare him first with Iosiah who when he heard the Law read he rent his Cloaths 2 Kings 22.11 and here Christ recites the Law Thou knowest the Commandment and this Young man saith All these have I kept from my Youth O what a difference is there between a tender Self-judging Heart and a Conceited Justiciary A tender Conscience is all in an Agony when it hears the Law and will smite for the least failing as David's Heart smote him for cutting off the lap of Saul's Garment
Diseases he ascended up into a Mountain or retired into a Ship and leaves the Multitude and when they would have crowned him King he refused it all these were Arguments and Instances of his Humility Hear and wonder at what you read Iohn 13.3 Iesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he was come from God and went to God A magnificent Preface Now one would have thought that some rare act of Empire Soveraignty and Domination should have followed No Verse 4.5 He riseth from Supper and laid aside his Garments and took a towel and girded himself After that he poureth water into a bason and began to wash his Disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded The Disciples did not wash the feet of their Lord but the Lord washed the Disciples feet and what was the meaning of this see Verse 15. For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you 3. In Love to the Saints Iohn 13.34 A new Commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another And Iohn 15.12 This is my Commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you Oh how express are these Injunctions There is nothing in which Christ was more Eminent than in his Love no rancour of Spirit no boyling up of Envy but all Love The Apostle propounds it to Husbands Eph. 2.25 Husbands love your Wives even as Christ loved the Church Now how did Christ love his Church with a great Love so as to dye for his Church The Love of Christ was sincere not for By ends he loved Saints as Saints because of his Interest in them So should we love those in whom we see most of the Image of God It was not a blaze but a constant abiding Love whom he loves he loves unto the end so must we love the Saints It is true Jesus loved some above others Iohn was the beloved Disciple John 21.20 There was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Flower of the Disciples whom he loved most but he loved them all We should Love not in Word but in Deed and in Truth Oh be filled with Love to God and Love to the Saints who have his Image stamped upon them You that are Believers have cause to love one another have we not all the same Father Are we not Children begotten of the same Holy Seed the Word Do we not all suck at the same Breasts of the Promises Do we not all sit at the same Table at the Lords Supper Are we not all cloathed with the same Robe of Christ's Righteousness and do we not all expect the same Glory 4. In his Vsefulness and Profitableness And of this the whole Gospel is a Narrative and History Therefore when the Apostle would summ up the Life of Christ he tells us this Acts 10.38 He went about doing good giving Eyes to the Blind Feet to the Lame Speech to the Dumb healing every sickness and every Disease among the people Matth. 9.35 full of Compassion to the Souls of Men. Jesus Christ was nothing else but Charity covered over with Flesh and Blood he was always either giving of Blessings or forgiving of Sins All his Miracles were not actions of Pomp but of Relief and Succour unless it were blasting the Fig. tree and sending the Herd of Swine into the Sea and the Figg-tree was Barren and the Swine was of little use in the Jewish Countries All the Miracles of Christ were salutary and healing We never read he destroyed one Man by Miracle but saved many Eph. 5.1 2. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Children and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us Oh that we could learn this none is born for himself but for the Community and it is better to give than to receive 5. In his Piety towards God If you consider the History of Christ you will find him much in Acts of Devotion he was Frequent and Fervent and Reverent in Prayer Frequent Mark 1.35 And in the morning rising up a great while before day he went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed And Luke 6.12 He went out into a Mountain to pray and continued all night in Prayer to God Alas we are weary in our ordinary stinted Offices of the day how soon do we grow weary of calling upon God! but Christ spends whole Nights in Prayer He was Fervent Luke 22.44 And being in an Agony he prayed more earnestly And he was Reverent when he was in the Garden he kneeled down and prayed Luke 22.41 And he fell on his face and prayed Mat. 26.39 He was a most diligent Observer of the Sabbath Luke 4.16 As his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day he was diligent in frequenting the Publick Assemblies Oh how doth this confute those that out of height of Spirit and a proud Conceit of themselves are above Ordinances and say they were appointed only for Christians of the lower form He praised God for mean and course fare when he had but five Barley Loaves and two Fishes He took the loaves and when he had given thanks he distributed to the Disciples John 6.11 Alas when our Tables are full furnished we have scarce any serious Thoughts of God that giveth us richly all things to enjoy 6. In his Spirituality and Heavenly-mindedness Christ came from Heaven and he lived in Heaven all the while he was upon the Earth When he was at the Well of Samaria conferring with the Woman there he discourseth of the Well that springs up to Everlasting Life Iohn 4.14 Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life He drew her from a Discourse of ordinary water to a Discourse of the Water of Life When he was at Supper at the Pharisee's House he discourseth of eating Bread in God's Kingdom Luke 14.15 Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God When he had wrought the Miracle of the Loaves he discourseth of the Bread of Life and the Mannah that came down from Heaven Iohn 6.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for the meat which endureth to everlasting Life which the Son of Man shall give unto you When he was at the Feast of Tabernacles where they were wont to pour out water and so to make a Pool near the Temple he discourseth of Rivers of water and of the flowings of the Spirit Iohn 7.38.39 He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water This spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive A rare Pattern for us to follow We should labour as to see all things in God so to see God in all things and to be heavenly minded
next World but to carry us thither with Comfort supplying us in a way most conducible to his Glory and our Welfare Psal. 84.11 The Lord is a Sun and Shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly All things are yours Ordinances Providences 1 Cor. 3.21 For all things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is God's 2. Hereafter That Christ will give us Eternal Glory and Happiness in the other World 1 Tim. 1.16 For this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Iesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe in him to life everlasting And Iohn 20.31 These are written that ye might believe that Iesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name This is the main Blessing which Faith aimeth at 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your Faith even the salvation of your Souls By this all Temptations of Sense are defeated Now if you would know whether your Faith groweth or no you must discover it by the Firmness of your Assent or the Resolvedness of your Consent or the Peace and Confidence of your Relyance 1. For Assent If you believe the Word of Gâ—d especially the Gospel part with an Assent so strong that you can resolve to venture your whole Happiness in this bottom and let go all that you may obtain the Hopes which the Gospel offereth to you certainly he hath a strong Faith who taketh Gods Promises for his whole Felicity and God's Word for his only Security he needeth no more nor no better Thing nor surer Conveyance to engage him to hazard all that he hath when the Enjoyment of it is inconsistent with his Fidelity to Christ. 2. Your Consent A full entire Hearty Consent to resign your Selves to Christ not a feeble Consent such as is contradicted by every foolish and hurtful Lust but a prevalent Consent such as can maintain it self notwithstanding Difficulties Temptations and Oppositions of the Flesh and controll all other Desires and Delights whatsoever 3. For Relyance When you can trust him for deliverance from the Guilt Power and Punishment of Sin and to quicken strengthen and preserve Grace in you to everlasting Life You trust him in all his Offices as a Priest when you believe his Merits and Sacrifice and Comfort your selves with his Gracious Promises and Covenant and come to God with more boldness and Hope of Mercy upon the account of his Intercession especially in all Extremities and Necessities Heb. 4.14 15 16. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens Iesus the Son of God Let us hold fast our Profession for we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need You trust him as a Prophet when you give up your selves as his Disciples to the Conduct of his Word and Spirit being parswaded that he will infallibly teach you the way to true Happiness Ioh. 6.68 Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life You trust him as a King when you become his Subjects and are perswaded that he will Govern you in Truth and Righteousness in order to your Salvation and defend you by his mighty Power from all your Enemies 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day And 2 Tim. 4.18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly Kingdom To whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen SERMON III. ON 2 THESS I. v. 3. Your Faith groweth exceedingly and the Charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth THE Growth and Encrease of Faith may be Judged of 1. By the Nature of Faith 2. The Properties of it 3. The Examples and Instances of great Faith in Scripture We are now upon the Second Thing the Properties 1. A Dependance upon God for something that lyeth out of Sight That this is an Essential Property of Faith appeareth by the Description of it Heb. 11.1 The Evidence of things not seen that is not seen by Sense and Reason Some things are invisible by reason of their Nature as God for no man hath seen God at any time Joh. 1.18 And therefore he is called the Invisible God Col. 1.15 And some things by reason of their Distance because they are Absent and Future as the Glory of the World to come and therefore 't is an Object of Faith and Hope Rom. 8.24 For hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for it Vision and Possession exclude Hope and leave no room and place for it Now without Faith a Man can have no sight of these things 2 Pet. 1.9 He that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off There is a mist upon Eternity and we cannot look beyond the Clouds of this lower World unless we have the Eagle-eye of Faith but by Faith we can see them so as to frame our Lives accordingly 2 Cor. 5.7 For we walk by Faith and not by Sight By Sense we see what is pleasing or displeasing to the Flesh but by Faith what conduceth to the saving or losing of the Soul Faith being very much like Sight and serving us for the Government of the Soul as Sight doth for the Body it may much be explained by it Now to Bodily Sight there must be an Object a Medium to make the Object conspicuous and a Faculty or Organ 1. The Great Object of Faith is Eternal Life as procured by Christ and promised in the Gospel There is no use of Sight where nothing is to be seen therefore the Object is set before us in the view of Faith in the Promises of the Gospel Heb. 6.18 and Heb. 12.2 God's Truth is as certain as Sight it self can be in it we see all things promised as sure and near 2. The Medium As we see Colours in the Light of the Air so these Spiritual and heavenly things in the Light of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.11 12. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God Now we have received not the Spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given us of God 3. The Eye or Visive Power A Blind Man cannot see at Noon-day nor the sharpest Sight at Midnight Now this
great stay to the Souls of true Believers to cause them with Comfort to trust themselves and all their Affairs in the hands of Christ. We have no reason to doubt of his Care Protection and Merciful Disposal of us and if poor sick and desolate you may go to him it is in the power of his hands to help you 1. There is no want but he can easily supply it Psal. 23.1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want 2. There is no pain or suffering but he can easily mitigate or remove it Mat. 8.2 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean 3. There is no danger so great from which he is not able to deliver thee Dan. 3.17 18. If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King But if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the golden Image which thou hast set up 2 Cor. 1.10 Who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us Where can we be so safe as in the Love and Covenant of such an Almighty Saviour Get but this imprinted upon your Hearts and it will beget a strong and stedfast Confidence in him 6. He reasoneth from the strict Discipline observed in the Roman Armies where there was no disputing of Commands or questioning Why and Wherefore I am a man under Authority having Soldiers under me and I say to this man go and he goeth and to another come and he cometh and to my Servant do this and he doth it Verse 9 th Where he compareth Person with Person I am a Man thou a God Condition with Condition a subordinate Officer with Christ the Supream Lord He knew what it was to obey and to have Power over others Power with Power his Power over Soldiers and Servants with Christ's Command over all Events Health and Sickness Life and Death Reasoning for God and his Promises is a great advantage We are Naturally acute in reasoning against Faith but when the Understanding is quick and ready to invent Arguments to encourage Faith it is a good sign VSE Go you and do likewise From the Example of the Centurion let me encourage you 1. To readiness of Believing Iames 3.17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated This is opposite to that slowness of Heart to believe which we read of Luke 24.25 Oh Fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken These are more receptive and easie to entertain a Doctrine than others Iohn 7.17 If any Man do his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God The Sincere and Renewed need less ado to convince them There is a light Credulity Prov. 14.15 The Simple believeth every word and there is the readiness of a Sincere Mind to embrace the Truth We are to captivate our Understandings to the Obedience of Faith but not every Fancy lest we be like Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4.14 No a Christian must not be like a Reed shaken with the Wind nor believe every Spirit but yet where the Truth is sufficiently evidenced we must embrace it Most of our Hesitancy in Religion comes not so much from the Conflict between our Light and the Doubts of our Mind as from the Conflict between our Light and Lusts which maketh us irresolute but a sincere Heart soon overcometh the difficulty 2. To represent our Necessity to Christ and referr the Event to him to commit and submit all to him There is an Alsufficiency of Power and Infinite Pity and Goodness that we need not trouble our selves about the Event Submission before the Event is Faith as after it is Patience This is true Faith in such Cases as the Centurion came about to referr all to Christ. 3. To be Humble In all our Commerce with Christ Faith must produce a real Humility Faith is most high when the Heart is most low Luke 18.11 12 13 14. The Pâ—arisee stood and prayed saying God! I thank thee I am not as other men are c. I fast twice a week I give tithes of all that I possess And the Publican standing afar off would not so much as lift up his eyes to Heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a Sinner I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted The one changelled a Debt the other begged a Favour Humble Supplications to God become us better than proud Expostulations 4. To meditate often on the Soveraign Dominion of Christ and his Power over all things that fall out in the World To keep us from warping and running to unlawful shifts God propoundeth his Alsufficiency to our Faith when we enter into Covenant with him Gen. 17.1 I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect He hath Power enough to help defend and reward us we need not seek elsewhere for a Protector or Paymaster the Word of his Providence is enough he can heal our Diseases supply our Necessities or bless a little as he did the Pulse to the captive Children Dan. 1.15 Their Countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the Children which did eat the portion of the Kings meat A SERMON ON MATTH XV. v. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. Then Iesus went thence and departed into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon And behold a Woman of Canaan came out of the same Coasts and cryed unto him saying Have mercy on me O Lord thou Son of David my Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil But he answered her not a word and his Disciples came and besought him saying Send her away for she cryeth after us But he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost Sheep of the House of Israel Then came she and worshipped him saying Lord help me But he answered and said It is not meet to take the Childrens bread and cast it to Dogs And she saith Truth Lord yet the Dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Masters Table And Iesus answered and said unto her O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt And her Daughter was made whole from that very hour WE come now to the Second Instance of a Great and Grown Faith This ought to be considered by us In the Centurion me had an Instance of a reasoning Faith now of a wrestling Faith Faith wrestling with grievous Temptations but at length obtaining help from God We ought to consider this for these Reasons 1. Because Christ pronounceth it to be great Faith and so proper for our Imitation O Woman great is thy Faith It is the Faith of a Woman a
holding and drawing with the Almighty will not let him go till he bless them The Woman doth not turn her Back upon Christ but draws the nearer to him the more he seemeth to drive her away from him and keepeth arguing with him and beseeching of him till he giveth her Satisfaction But how shall we do to keep up Prayer in the midst of so many Discouragements 1. Our Necessity should quicken us And 2. God's Goodness and Power should support us Faith pressed with need is earnest in Prayer when it is dealing with a God gracious and powerful why should we give over the Suit 2. Her Humility We read of no murmuring and Impatience or Discontent at Christ's Carriage No if we will wrestle with God we must wrestle with Prayers and Tears with humble and broken Hearts there must be no complaining of God but to God The Woman doth not tax Christ as harsh and severe but only maketh Supplication Lord have mercy upon me Son of David help me It is said Matth. 15.25 She worshipped him But in Mark 7.25 it is said She fell at his feet She fell prostrate before him and owneth the Term of Dog that justly she might be accounted so and maketh it her Plea and Claim Humility is contented to be humbled as deeply as the Lord pleaseth but cannot bear this to be excluded from Christ and the Benefit of his Grace In all Faith there is always a deep Humility When Christ rebuketh her as a Dog she doth not make a murmuring Retort but an humble Plea That some of the Mercy provided for Israel might be spared to a poor Canaanite a Crumb at least 3. A resolved Faith under our greatest Pressures Iob 15.14 Tho' he slay me yet I will trust in him As Antisthenes told his Master that taught him Philosophy That he should not find a Club big enough to beat him from him Faith will not quit it's Adherence to God for any Difficulty whatsoever when God seemeth to quit the Believer the Believer will not quit God but take him as a Friend when he seemeth to deal as an Enemy and still put a good Construction upon his Providence This Resolute Adherence is seen in three things 1. An Adherence to his Way how little soever he seemeth to own it Psal. 44.17 18. All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant Our Heart is not turned back neither have our Steps declined from thy way Sharp Afflictions do not discharge us from our Duty in professing the Truth As our Steps must not decline so not our Hearts Dan. 3.17 18. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery Furnace and â—e will deliver us out of thy Hand O King But if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the Golden Image which thou hast set up However God disposes of us we must keep to our Duty 2. In Perseverance in the use of Means Rom. 12.12 Continuing instant in Prayer We are to use the Duty still though we have no Satisfaction as to the Event and as long as there is Life in the Duty it will come to something at the last Luke 5.15 We have toiled all night and have taken nothing nevertheless at thy Word we will let down the Net It is enough that these means are appointed by God and we must use them though hitherto we have gained little Comfort and Success by them 3. In a Dependance upon his Promises and powerful Providence The Woman sticketh to Christ as only able to help her though there was little appearance of any help from him She runneth not away to another Helper but worshippeth him cleaveth to him Better lie dead at Christ's Feet than die in a state of Alienation from him We must resolve to be his though we cannot know that he is ours No Trouble how great soever is a Warrant to quit our Trust and whatever Disappointment saith to us it doth not say Put your Confidence elsewhere or trust no longer in God This resolute Confidence is justifiable upon these Grounds 1. His Providence will never give his Word the Lie Let God do what he will they are approved who are approved by his Word and they are condemned who are condemned by his Word Psal. 73.17 When I went into the Sanctuary of God then understood I their end Job 3.3 I have seen the foolish taking root but suddenly I cursed his Habitation And on the contrary Psal. 4.3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for himself the Lord will hear when I call unto him Isa. 3.10 Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him for they shall eat of the Fruit of their doings 2. There is more good Will in his Heart than is visible in his Dealings The merciful Nature of God should be a support to us though we see nothing of the Effects of it in his Providence Iob 10.13 These things hast thou hid in thine Heart I know that it is with thee He speaketh of his favourable Inclination to shew pity to distressed Creatures We are not able always to reconcile his present Dispensations with his gracious Nature yet Faith must not quit it's Hold fast We must see what is hid in God's Heart and comfort our selves with that Favour and Mercy which we know to be Essential to him Tho' the Mercy and Pity be not visible and obvious to Sense the Disposition and Inclination abideth in God unchangeable and sure God is a merciful God still and Christ a compassionate Saviour though the Effects be suspended to try and sharpen our Faith 3. Because God loveth to bring Light out of Darkness to give the Valley of Achor for a Door of Hope to bring meat out of the Eater and sweetness out of the strong to bring about his Peoples Mercies by means very improbable and contrary that he may train us up to hope against Hope When Deliverance is a coming it is not always in sight Christ at a Wedding calls for Water when he intended to give Wine Iohn 2.7 And here he rebuketh the Woman as a Dog when he meant to treat her as a Daughter of Abraham 4. When he seemeth to resist and be opposite to his People he giveth them secret-Strength to prevail over him When Iacob wrestled with God it was by God's own Strength God in Iacob seemed to overcome God without him or against him Was not the Spirit of Christ at work in the Heart of this Woman all the while he seemed to be struggling with her He never striveth with his Servants but giveth them suitable Strength to the Task he imposeth on them 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it Psal. 138.3 In the day when I
1. What Law-work hath been wrought on you what shakings of Heart and feeling of the Powers of the World to come Have you been roused and startled out of your natural Condition Many will assent to this Truth that all are miserable by Nature But wast thou ever sensible that this was thy Case and accordingly affected Wert thou ever feelingly convinced of thy Misery Otherwise we do but learn these things as a Parrot learneth them by rote What feeling have you of your cursed Estate by Nature Have you had any Experience of the Terrors of the Lord You know the Misery of Man by Nature but have you ever felt it 2. What Gospel-work hath been wrought on you what Taste have you had of the good Word of God what Experience of the Efficacy of the Spirit 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious 3 dly Insensible of the State of the Soul they never look after it If the Body feel but the scratch of a Pin or want but a Night's sleep we complain presently but the poor Soul though oppressed with Lusts and unfit for Duties is never minded nor regarded and they have no heart to pray for a Release out of that spiritual Judgment To own the Plague of our own Hearts argueth Tenderness 1 Kings 8.38 which shall know every Man the Plague of his own Heart When we complain of Lusts more than Fevers and indisposition of Soul more than weakness of Body the languishing of Grace more than an outward Consumption the Stone in the Heart more than the Stone in the Bladder and Kidneys We find Ephraim bemoaning himself being ill at ease for an untoward Heart Ier. 31.18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoke Did you ever complain of the hardness of your Heart and lay it before God Do you not bemoan your spiritual Distempers when lazy and backward Where is your Relish for the Word your Delight in spiritual things Isa. 63.17 O Lord why hast thou made us to err from thy Ways and hardned our Heart from thy Fear Secondly A hard Heart is inflexible That will be known where it is more gross 1. By a refusal of the Word when Men will not give God the hearing Zech. 7.11 12. But they refused to hearken and pulled away the Shoulder and stopped their Ears that they should not hear Yea they made their Hearts as an Adamant Stone lest they should hear the Law and the Words which the Lord of Hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former Prophets They refused to hear either to vouchsafe their Presence or Attention Acts 13.46 Ye put it from you and judg your selves unworthy of eternal Life The Case is clear in these whenas to others it is doubtful what needeth more dispute in the matter 2. By an Unteachableness so as not to apprehend ought that is spiritual To be ignorant is one thing to be unteachable is another Ezek. 12.2 Son of Man thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious House which have Eyes to see and see not they have Ears to hear and hear not for they are a rebellious House Acts 28.26 Go unto this People and say Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive They do not see what they do see they have no spiritual discerning though a grammatical Knowledg Job 5.14 They meet with Darkness in the Day-time and grope in the Noon-day as in the Night They are simple in the midst of rational Advantages as the Disciples Luke 24.16 Their Eyes were bolden that they should not know him They see the general Truth but make no Application When a Man is shewed a thing and he minds it not but his Mind is on another Object that Man may be said to see and not to see because he doth not regard it Or a Man that hath a Matter come before him he heareth it but his Mind being otherwise employed he regardeth it not in which sense he may be said to hear and not to hear Not to apply is not to regard in seeing rationally and literally he doth not see spiritually with any Life and Power There is a literal Knowledg and there is a spiritual Knowledg the literal Knowledg is that which the hard Heart may have It is said 2 Cor. 3.3 Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of Stone but in the fleshly Tables of the Heart It is an Allusion to the Law of Moses consider it in the Letter as separated from the Spirit and only as a Law written in Stone wherein there is a naked Direction of Life but no Power so a stony Heart may see but in seeing they see not But the Spirit of Christ writeth it on the Mind and Heart and maketh the Heart docile and tractible Rom. 7.6 That we should serve in newness of Spirit and not in the oldness of the Letter The Letter of the Law only manifested Duty but gave no Power to perform it it discovered Corruption but gave no Strength to subdue it it was written in Tables of Stone to shew the hardness of Man's Heart But now the Law when it cometh in upon us with a spiritual Light softneth and strengthneth the Heart and maketh it docible and pliable to God's Counsel 3. By an unwillingness to be admonished in publick or private if in publick the greater the Evil. Private Admonition is a kind of Charge a closer Application To storm against private Admonition argueth an ill Spirit when Men are loth to be disturbed in the ways of Sin But much more against publick Admonition where the Application ariseth not so much from a personal Charge as from their own Consciences When Men cannot endure sound Doctrine it is a dangerous Crisis that which the Prophet Ieremiah speaketh of chap. 6.10 To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear Behold their Ear is uncircumcised and they cannot hearken behold the Word of the Lord is unto them a Reproach they have no delight in it Surely Men delight in Satan's Arms when they are loth to be pluck'd from thence Satan hath made his Nest there and is loth to be disturbed 2 Sam. 23.6 7. But the Sons of Belial shall be all of them as Thorns thrust away because they cannot be taken with hands But the Man that shall touch them must be fenced with Iron and the Staff of a Spear The Sons of Belial are compared to Thorns that cannot be touched with hands but rend and tear those that meddle with them Men are angry that they cannot quietly enjoy their Lusts. Plausible Strains are very sutable to a carnal Heart or tame Lectures of contemplative Divinity but sound Doctrine that rendeth and teareth the Conscience is not endured 4. By scoffing at the Word The
the Commandments ver 3. and presently he speaketh of Victory over the World The World is the great Enemy of the Commandments and till it be overcome a Christian can have no Comfort but still be contesting with God as Pharaoh was and slighting every Message 3. This Contest on Pharaoh's part is managed with slightings and contempt of God on God's part with Mercy and Condescension On Pharaoh's part with slightings and contempt of God Exod. 5.2 And Pharaoh said Who is the Lord that I should obey his Voice to let Israel go I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go Words of profane Contempt Who is the Lord as if he should say Am not I King of Egypt Who is my Peer much less my Superiour and my Lord I know not the Lord. Ere God hath done with Pharaoh he shall know him to the purpose Mark the Words I know not and then I will not Hardness is the usual effect of Blindness Errors of Mind go on to Errors of Heart I will not know I will not hear of it I care not for such a Duty nor will I weigh or consider what is God's Will concerning me The Eye affecteth the Heart Pharaoh did not consider what it was to deal with God and then doubleth the Burdens of the Israelites But now on God's part it is managed with Sweetness and Kindness God from the beginning foreknew the Hardness of Pharaoh's Heart and therefore might have swept him away of a sudden but he giveth him frequent Warnings and Convictions He would have Men convinced e're they are punished Foregoing Mercy sheweth the Righteousness of ensuing Wrath. In all the progress of the Story the first Miracles were before him the next upon him And every Judgment is threatned before it be executed God telleth what he would do to warn Pharaoh In one Plague it is notable that God doth not only threaten the Judgment but sendeth a gracious Warning to bid him take his Cattle out of the Fields Exod. 9.19 Send therefore now and gather thy Cattle and all that thou hast in the Field for upon every Man and Beast which shall be found in the Field and shall not be brought home the Hail shall come down upon them and they shall die To shew that God delighteth not in the Ruine and Destruction of the Creature and to make Pharaoh the more liable to Condemnation and to spare such among the Egyptians as had some Fear of God remaining in them but chiefly to harden Pharaoh the more Exod. 10.1 And the Lord said unto Moses Go in unto Pharaoh for I have hardned his Heart and the Heart of his Servants that I might shew these my Signs before him Moses might say Lord therefore let me never go to Pharaoh but saith God Go in unto him for I have hardned his Heart God continueth the Means though he denieth Grace and the Wicked must be admonished though they will not be reformed In the hardning of Sinners God usually observeth this Course by Mercies and the Meâ—ns of Grace they are convinced and hardned at the same time there is still new matter of glorifying God and hardning the Creature 4. The first Plague on Pharaoh's Heart is Delusion Moses worketh Miracles turneth Aaron's Rod into a Serpent Rivers into Blood bringeth Frogs and the Magicians still do the same God permitteth these Magical Impostures to leave Pharaoh in his wilful Error It is probable that what the Magicians did was not real but a mere Delusion of the Senses but the Lord doth not discover the Cheat because his present Aim was not to shame Satan but to harden Pharaoh therefore he suffered the Devil to imitate the true Miracles without Discovery It is sad when Men chuse false Teachers to themselves and God suffereth them to be blinded Hosea 4.17 Ephraim is joined to Idols let him alone They may have some Parts plausible Elocution Gifts of Prayer there may be common Effects wrought by them these things blind Men and their Hearts are set upon Familism and Antinomianism let them alone Exod. 7.22 The Magicians of Egypt did so with their Inchantments and Pharaoh ' s Heart was hardned This was one means of hardning his Heart the Magicians wrought the same Miracles that Moses and Aaron did God suffereth Men to be hardned by their own Choice 5. God was not wanting to give Pharaoh sufficient means of Conviction The Magicians turned their Rods into Serpents but Aaron's Rod swallowed up their Rods Exod. 7.12 Which sheweth God's supereminent Power They could not deliver him from the Frogs though they could bring Frogs God may suffer the Devil to add to the Judgment but to relieve them is an Act of Mercy the Magicians could add to the Plagues but they could not deliver him from them the Devil can sooner bring a Plague than remove it This was warning enough there was Difficulty enough to harden them and Light enough to convince them Again the Magicians were non-plust in their Art Exod. 8.18 And the Magicians did so with their Inchantments to bring forth Lice but they could not They sought to bring forth Lice and could not being hindred by God's Will They that could bring forth Frogs could not bring forth Lice the greater the Possibility the more are the Magicians abashed this was an easy Miracle All Colour of Excuse is taken away from Pharaoh they confess This is the Finger of God Exod. 8.19 and yet Pharaoh's Heart was hardned as many will not be won to the Truth by the Confession of those that led them into the Mistake Nay afterwards the Magicians themselves were smitten with Boils Exod. 9.11 12. And the Magicians could not stand before Moses because of the Boils for the Boil was upon the Magicians and upon all the Egyptians And the Lord hardned the Heart of Pharaoh and he hearkned not unto them If the hard Heart go to Hell it is not for want of Light but Grace We may wonder as much at the Success as at the Plagues To what a Height of Obstinacy will Man come if he be let alone to Plagues for all this while Pharaoh's Heart was hardened 6. Observe in one of the Plagues Israel might have stolen away whether Pharaoh would or no Exod. 10.22 23. And Moses stretched forth his Hand towards Heaven and there was a thick Darkness in all the Land of Egypt three Days They saw not one another neither rose any from his Place for three Days but all the Children of Israel had Light in their Dwellings They were not only deprived of the Light of Heaven but of Candles and Torches the Air was condensed with thick Clouds and the Mists and Vapors so thick that they would easily have damped them and put them out again Now whilst they were under the Power of three Days Darkness the Israelites might have stolen away and have gone three Days Journey in the Wilderness before they could have made any Pursuit but God had more Miracles to be done When he
Faith Some Christians know not all things which are contained in the Prophets and Apostles and yet in a sense they do believe by an implicite Faith As Agrippa believed the Prophets Acts 26.27 King Agrippa Believest thou the prophets I know that thou believest Yet he was ignorant of some things revealed by them So all Christians own the Writings of the Apostles and Prophets as the Rule and Warrant of Faith yet they do not discerne every Truth therein contained They do believe that whatever the Prophets and Apostles say and have written is true and so are ready to believe all things which shall be demonstrated to them to be written or said by them But by an explicite Faith they believe all Fundamental Truths such as are absolutely necessary to Salvation and usually most other Truths which are next to Fundamentals The Fundamentals are set down Iohn 17.3 This is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent That God is to be known loved obeyed worshipped and injoyed and that the Lord Jesus is our Redeemer and Saviour to bring us home to God with his gifts of Pardon and Life to be begun by the Spirit here and perfected in Heaven Thirdly The Act believing It is not enough not to deny or not to contradict but we must actually and positively believe The Reason why the generality of People living in the Christian World feel so little force of their Faith is from their inadvertency they leap into the Christian Faith by the advantage of their Birth but do not consider what they believe nor why they should believe it and how they are concerned in it and so may be rather said not to contradict than to believe But true Faith is a positive firm assent excited in us by the Spirit of God As the Apostle saith of some that were zealous for the Law Vnderstanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm 1 Tim. 1.7 So the Rabble of Common Christians may be zealous for the Gospel yet are not instructed in the Nature and Grounds of it what and why they should believe A sound belief requireth a thorough understanding of what we believe and a deep consideration of the Grounds and Reasons why we are to believe it And then it is such a fixed assent as is not perplexed and haunted with doubts about the truth of it And such a close adherence as is not discouraged with difficulties and oppositions It would be much better with the Christian World if every one that carryeth the name of a Christian could say I believe all that is written in the prophets and the apostles In short To a sound belief there is necessary 1. A Knowledge or full Instruction in the things which we believe for it is said 1 Iohn 4.16 We have known and believed the love that God hath to us first known and then believed 2. A due Conviction of the Certainty of them Luke 1.4 That thou mayest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed And Iohn 6.69 We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God And Iohn 17.8 They have known surely that I came out from thee and they have believed that thou didst send me 3. This Faith doth not only imply a bare intellectual assent but a practical trust and affiance For the Nature of the Object requireth so much Christianity doth not only propound bare Truths to be assented unto but joyful comfortable Truths suitable to our necessity and desires and therefore we must depend upon them seek our Happyness in them in the way appointed by God which is nothing but practical trust and affiance Therefore it is not a bare Opinion but a relyance upon God that he will make good his word to us whilest we continue with Patience in well-doing Therefore we are said to belong to Christ if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end Heb. 3.6 4. Those Truths which are contained in the word are to be considered with application that we may know them for our good Iob 5.27 Hear it and know thou it for thy good Every Doctrine which upon search we find to be sound and good we must make application of it to our selves that it may affect our own Hearts if Threatnings that we may escape the Curse if Comforts or Promises Rom. 8.32 What shall we say to these things The promise of Pardon to all Believers is so universal that it includeth you as well as others Christ is offered to every Creature that he may be yours as well as anothers and the offer of Heaven and Eternal Life is so propounded that you should ingage your Hearts to seek after it and closely to adhere to it till you obtain it But to apply it so as to be perswaded that your own Sins are already pardoned that you are an Heir of Glory that you are Christs as to actual Interest you must have good Evidence for that from a Spiritual Sense of your own Qualifications but it belongeth not to Faith simply taken Thus we have set forth a Christian in his first part as a Believer II. The Apostle asserts his Hope And have hope towards God which they themselves allow that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust 1. Mark that he propoundeth his hope as the immediate effect and product of Faith for when I believe then I must look and long and prepare for the Blessedness offered otherwise my Faith is but a cold Opinion not such a Faith as will subdue the inclinations and Interests of the Flesh nor make the Labours and Sufferings of the Spiritual Life tolerable And that is true Faith which breatheth and longeth after the end of all Religion and looketh for it What will it do me good to believe the Doctrines of the Prophets and Apostles if I expect no good from thence Faith would be vain and Religion vain Only note here that Hope is two-fold 1. One the Fruit of Regeneration or the immediate effect of Conversion to God 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope And this is nothing else but a seeking and looking for an Happiness in another and in an unseen World with a longing desire and diligent care to obtain it It is Faith to place my Happiness so high and so far from sense now when my desires and delights are there and my daily care is to get thither and to live in a continual preparation for it and desirous expectation of it and to deny my self and suffer any loss and pain to get thither this is the work of Hope 2. There is an Hope built upon experience Rom. 5.4 5. And experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost
should be broken off Alas whosoever readeth the carriage of this people in the Wilderness towards God he shall still find Grace striving with sin and the goodness of God overcoming the evil of Man and his fidelity prevailing above their unthankfulness and unfaithfulness And the character of this people in the Wilderness is just our own in travelling to Heaven how often do we forfeit the blessing of God's presence but he is not severe upon every failing and upon repentance he is willing to renew covenant with us and set us in joint again nothing hurteth us more than the sinful provocations of God's people have no hand in them or if you have been accessory to publick guilt bemoan it and humble your selves before God and be more awful and tender for the future and you will find God to be a merciful God III. Why such kind of Mercies should not be forgotten Here I will prove First That Man is apt to forget the great mercies of God especially national Mercies Secondly That yet these Mercies should not be forgotten both because of God's command and the profit of remembring them First That Man is marvellous apt to forget these benefits Therefore there are so many cautions that we forget them not In private mercies Psal. 103.2 Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his benefits Deut. 8.11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God in not keeping his commandments and his judgments and his statutes which I command thee this day and verse 14. That thy heart be lifted up and thou forget the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt from the House of Bondage So we have many Precepts Deut. 8.2 Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years 1 Chron. 16.12 Remember his marvellous works which he hath done his wonders and the judgments of his Mouth And so many charges and complaints Jud. 8.34 The Children of Israel remembred not the Lord their God who had delivered them out of the hands of their Enemies on every side Psal. 78.11 they forgot his works and his wonders that he had shewed them and Psal. 106.13 They soon forgot his works And all this is no more than needeth for Man's memory is a bad friend to benefits Injuries are written in Marble but benefits in the Water Now as these cautions charges and accusations do respect all Mercies so especially more eminent Mercies for it is said He hath made his wonderful works to be remembred Psal. 111.4 The great miraculous works of his Providence should make such impression upon Men as never to be forgotten but recorded and reported for ever As for great deliverances God hath appointed Ordinances for a memorial such as the Passover or the Lord's Supper to remember our Redemption by Christ for by these works God maketh himself a name by doing great things for his people 2 Sam. 7.23 Redemption from the tyranny of Antichrist is not to be forgotten 2. That yet these mercies should not be forgotten partly because God hath commanded the contrary as we have seen It is not only a sin to forget his Word but his Works and partly also because of the profit 1. That we may be more deeply possessed of the goodness of God The Ear doth not affect the Heart so much as the Eye and what is felt leaveth a greater impression upon us than what is talked of for experience giveth us a more intimate perception of things The King of Syria said We have heard that the Kings of the House of Israel are merciful Kings 1 Kings 20.31 A rumour and report giveth incouragement but actual experience silenceth all contradiction when I can say I know God is not unmindful of his people but relieveth them in their great streights and watcheth over their welfare As the Apostle Acts. 10.34 Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons Psal. 140.12 I know that the Lord will maintain the right of the poor and the cause of the afflicted Unquestionably God will undertake the patronage of his distressed Servants when all other hopes fail them meaning when God did signally defend them and watch over them 2. To incourage us to walk in his ways It is our forgetfulness of God's goodness that maketh us so disobedient and unthankful to him Psal. 78.7 That they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his commandments Nothing breedeth a careful uniform obedience to his commands so much as a grateful remembrance of his Mercies Alass as our thankfulness is abated so is our obedience God's authority sways the Conscience but God's love inclines the Heart Therefore mercies should be remembred 3. To fortifie us against all oppositions and temptations Deut. 7.18 Thou shalt not be afraid of them but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh and unto all Egypt It is a great comfort to Faith to look back upon the former manifestations of God's power and good will towards his People We have manifold fears and infirmities upon us when we see the power or suspect the craft of our Enemies but let us remember former experiences and that will be an allay to them When we see the continuance of his judgments so many years and in so many forms frequently varied but still lying upon us we are filled with many sad thoughts and reasonings of unbelief but we may soon suppress and silence them by the thoughts of God's power and love heretofore and the evidences of his love and good will and fidelity to all that depend upon him Former dealings raise our hearts to the expectation of future mercies Vse is to press us to this remembrance 1. Of the great Christian Mercies that concern the whole common-wealth of Believers such as the Birth Death Resurrection and Ascension and Intercession of the Lord Jesus these are the standing Dishes at a Believer's Table the constant food for our Faith Mercies never out of season these are mercies so general and beneficial that they should never be forgotten but remembred before God we should always bless God for Jesus Christ and desire that the knowledge of these things may be perpetuated to after Ages Eph. 3.21 Vnto him be glory in the Church by Iesus Christ throughout all Ages World without end Amen 2. For National Mercies so far as they concern either the first planting or the restoring of Christs Religion or the maintenance of it against the eminent open attempts or secret plots of Antichristian Adversaries These should be remembred by us partly to awaken our zeal that religion thus owned may not die upon our hands partly to shew our esteem both of the Religion and the mercy of God in owning it partly that we may beg the continuance of it for every thanksgiving is an implicite prayer partly that we may embolden our selves against all the difficulties we may be exposed unto in owning the true profession
Chair of the Scorner is a Preferment in Sin Psal. 1.1 Blessed is the Man that walketh not in the Counsel of the Vngodly nor standeth in the Way of Sinners nor sitteth in the Seat of the Scornful Jer. 23.34 to 39. And as for the Prophet and the Priest and the People that shall say The Burden of the Lord I will even punish that Man and his House Thus shall ye say every one to his Neighbour and every one to his Brother What hath the Lord answered and what hath the Lord spoken And the Burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more for every Man's Word shall be his Burden for ye have perverted the Words of the living God of the Lord of Hosts our God c. The Prophets used to begin their Prophecies with the Burden of the Lord and they would in mockery demand What Burden they had from the Lord for them Now shall we hear again of the Burden of the Lord. Saith God Every Man's Word shall be his Burden that is you shall dearly pay for this scoffing Language your Words shall be your Burden But these Marks may not be close enough let me propound other things 1. Did you ever lay down the Buckler before God and say I have done foolishly I will do so no more Were you ever feelingly convinced and your Lusts powerfully subdued Did you ever say as Paul Acts 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to do Every Man carrieth on his Opposition against God till he be brought to yield by a mighty Spirit breaking in upon him When were the Wings broken that you could fly no longer the Will subdued that you said Lord I have too long stouted it out against thee so that you were willing to be at peace with God Isa. 27.5 Let him take hold of my Strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me Were you ever forced to cry Quarter Didst thou ever apprehend God ready to smite and give Fire upon thee and then in a submissive Posture didst intreat him to stay his Hand 2. What Effect hath the Word upon you Isa. 66.2 To this Man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and trembleth at my Word It is a great part of Sensibleness to tremble at the Word What meltings and yieldings of Heart do you express Doth it put you upon recourse to God 2 Chron. 34.27 Because thine Heart was tender and thou didst humble thy self before God when thou heardest his VVords against this Place and against the Inhabitants thereof and humbledst thy self before me and didst rent thy Clothes and weep before me I have even heard thee saith the Lord. Didst thou ever humble thy self before the Lord to clear up Matters between God and thy Soul and to get thy Doubts resolved and thy Lusts mortified 3. What pliableness has there been in thee to the Holy Ghost's Motions A Man that hath a tender Heart yieldeth to the Motions of the Holy Spirit Psal. 27.8 VVhen thou saidst Seek ye my Face my Heart said unto thee Thy Face Lord will I seek There is a quick Eccho to God's Voice Isa. 6.8 I heard the Voice of the Lord saying Whom shall I send and who will go for us Then said I Here I am send me There is not only a readiness to obey but he offers himself to the Work When we grow lazy and backward in holy things and hang off it is a high degree of hardness of Heart Vse 2. Exhortation 1. To press us to beware of hardness of Heart It is a grievous Sin I shall use three Arguments 1. It depriveth you of Grace See before pag. 507. 2. It unfitteth you for Duty while we are under the power of it An hard Heart is forced and superstitious With what Coldness and Formality did David pray during the suspension of God's Grace We come into God's Presence with great Backwardness and Reluctancy while we are under the power of a hard Heart 3. It fitteth for Judgment The Heart groweth harder and harder and the Mind blinder and blinder till it be cast into an utter Indisposition and Impossibility of Repentance Hardness of Heart turns a Man into a Beast nay into a Devil and according to our Sin so is God's Wrath Rom. 3.5 After thy Hardness and impenitent Heart thou treasurest up unto thy self Wrath against the Day of Wrath and Revelation of the righteous Iudgment of God 2. To press us to come out of this evil Frame of Spirit Arguments 1. As long as the Heart is hard you are very remote from the Comforts of the Gospel Christ came to heal the broken-hearted Luke 4.18 So Matth. 9.12 13. They that be whole need not the Physician but they that are sick I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance You are full of Sin but not sick as a Toad is full of Poison but the Toad is not sick because it is natural to him Will a Physician go about to cure a Toad Men lie under a great weight of Sin yet they sleep and eat and drink and trade and look as well as ever feel no Pain nor any thing to trouble them These Men have no Need and Will to be cured and of all Men are most properly said to be dead in Trespasses and Sins they neither break an hour's sleep nor abate one drachm of their carnal Delights but are Heart-whole The Physician hath no desire to meddle with them that will not take what he prescribeth as carnal Men will not submit themselves to God's Directions 2. You are very remote from the Work of the Gospel As God maketh a way for his Anger so he maketh a way for his Mercy and Grace The Heart is fitted and prepared for the Spirit 's Residence It is softned before it is quickned Ezek. 36.26 27. I will take away the stony Heart out of your Flesh and I will give you an Heart of Flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Iudgments and do them The vital Spirit is not infused till the Body be organized and formed God made Adam out of the Dust of the Ground and then breathed into him the Breath of Life The Spirit of Grace coming into the tender Heart maketh way for it self Now for the Cure of it I will recommend unto you two Means two Graces and two Ordinances First Two Means Light and Love 1 st Light Jer. 31.19 Surely after that I turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my Thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the Reproach of my Youth Men that know not the Nature and Danger of Sin are little troubled about it Where there is no Knowledg there is little Conscience When the Troops of Syria were smitten with Blindness they were easily led into the midst of their Enemies 2 Kings 6.18 19. And when they thought themselves
at Dothan they were in Samaria Ignorance because it is not always accompanied with gross Acts is little thought of but it is a bloody Sin If Men did know God and themselves more they could not be satisfied with their Condition Ignorance is the greatest cause of hardning 2 dly Love I do not consider it as a Grace but as an Argument to melt the Soul It is a forcible Argument and a kindly Argument 1. It is a forcible Argument Saul relented when David had an advantage against him and spared him in the Cave 1 Sam. 24.16 17. Saul lift up his Voice and wept and he said to David Thou art more righteous than I for thou hast rewarded me Good whereas I have rewarded thee Evil. To make the Heart relent it is good to study God's Kindness not only how he hath spared us but how he hath blessed us 1. For temporal Mercies Creation and Providence For the Mercies of Creation We all condemn the Rebellion of Absolom for rising against his Father God made us out of nothing none so much a Father as God and yet we rebel against him If we had lost a Limb an Eye a Tooth or an Arm would we injure him that could restore us these things God gave them to us at first how should the Thoughts of this soften our Hearts Then for the Mercies of Providence Nathan mentions God's Mercies to David to humble him 2 Sam. 12.7 8 9. I anointed thee King over Israel and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul And I gave thee thy Master's House and thy Master's Wives into thy Bosom and gave thee the House of Israel and of Judah and if that had been too little I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things Wherefore hast thou despised the Commandment of the Lord to do Evil in his Sight It is God that feedeth and maintaineth you and preserveth you Men stand upon their Honour in the World to be true to their Interest not to be unthankful to their Preservers Now God giveth us Life and Breath and all things You value these things when they are given you by Men much more should you when they are given you by God Is Water the worse because it cometh from the Fountain and not from the Cistern Water is purer in the Fountain We have more Reason to value Mercies when they come from God that so great a Majesty should look after you Psal. 113.6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and in the Earth That God that standeth not in need of you as Man doth of the meanest that God whom you have offended whose Favour you are so much concerned about In a small Gift from a King the Favour is valued we are continually fed and maintained at the Expence and Care of his Providence 2. For spiritual Mercies they melt the Heart What great Love Christ shewed in the Business of our Salvation what he left what he suffered what he purchased 1. What he left That Love that is accompanied with Self-denial is accounted the highest how many Degrees did the Sun of Righteousness go back 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 2.8 He humbled or emptied himself There was a Vail upon his Godhead when he was rich for our sakes he became poor 2 Cor. 8.9 In the Fulness of the Godhead he abstained from the Use of it Did Christ leave Heaven and wilt not thou leave thy Lusts Was he made the Son of Man and wilt not thou be made the Son of God It was his Abasement but it is our Advancement 2. What he suffered We are more affected with what Men suffer for us than with what they do for us Cubitum sin◠manu To shew the Stump of the Arm where the Hand was lost was an effectual Plea Zech. 12.10 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only Son and be in Bitterness for him as one that is in Bitterness for his First-born Sin doth most affect the Heart when we consider the Wrong done to Christ by it Amor doloris causa the more a Man loveth another or apprehends that he is loved of him the more he is grieved that he hath any way injured him Your Sins strike at Christ and have pierced him shall not your Hearts be pierced when his Head was pierced with Thorns his Hands and Feet with Nails his Heart with Sorrows Can you look upon Golgotha with dry Eyes and a careless stupid Heart Think that you heard Christ say Behold is any Sorrow like to my Sorrow Will you still go on in your Rebellion against me Is all nothing all that I have done and suffered for you 3. What he purchased for us He gave himself a Ransom and Price a Ransom to free us from Death and Hell We would love a Man that should get a Pardon for our Lives when we are condemned to die 1 Thess. 1.10 Even Iesus who delivered us from the Wrath to come There was never any such Wrath past or present it is a thing to come when he shall stir up all his Wrath And a Price to purchase for us the Favour of God and our eternal Abode with him in Heaven Heaven is called the purchased Possession Ephes. 1.14 If we were to be annihilated or to spend our time in some obscure Place it were Mercy but to be for ever with the Lord and to be filled up with God who can express the Greatness of this Mercy And all this is freely offered to you in the Gospel Things that concern us affect us and therefore surely this should melt the Heart Rom. 12.1 I beseech you therefore Brethren by the Mercies of God What! shall not Mercy prevail Ioel 2.13 And rent your Heart and not your Garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful slow to Anger and of great Kindness and repenteth him of the Evil. Surely God's Graciousness and Readiness to receive returning Sinners should work upon us An Hammer will easily break an hard Stone against a soft Bed but if it be laid on an hard solid Body that will not give way underneath strike as hard as you will it is kept from breaking so smite thy Soul on the Gospel Hell and Damnation may be the Hammer but then lay thy Soul upon the Gospel and Gospel-Considerations then it breaketh all to shatters Strike thy Soul with the Blows of God's Wrath against the Law and it resists still all doth but make us desperate but now remember the Mercies of the Lord how freely he inviteth returning Sinners and this breaks the Heart to pieces 2. It is a kindly Argument the Heart is not till then kindly humbled for Sin as Sin An apprehension of Wrath is one thing godly Sorrow is another thing the former is necessary but not enough 2 Kings 22.19 Because thine Heart was tender and thou hast humbled thy self before the Lord when thou heardest