separate betweene God and us Your iniquities not your povertie have separated between you and your God onely beware of sinne and then assure thy selfe that povertie can never separate betweene thee and God Thirdly Consider that God is as readie to heare the prayers of a godly poore man as any rich man whatsoever not riches but grace onely is prevalent on this behalfe Ioh. 9. 31. We know sayth the blind man that God heareth not sinners sc. how rich soever they be but if any man be a worshipper of God and a doer of his will him he heareth how poore soever he be for outward things See a direct proofe for this Psal. 10. 14. The poore committeth himselfe to thee for thou art the helper of the friendlesse yea this should encourage others when they consider this Psal. 34. 6. This poore man cryed and the Lord heard him sayth the Text. Not povertie but sinne and iniquitie is that alone that stoppeth up the eare of God against our prayers The Lord of his speciall goodnes prepareth for the poore Psal. 68. 10. yea The Lord heareth the poore sayth the Text Psal. 69. 33. The Lord will fulfill the desire of such as feare him though they be poore he will heare their cry and will helpe them Here is another speciall priviledge wherein Gods poore ones have as much interest as any the richest persons in the world yea the promises of being heard Mat. 7. 7. Isa. 65. 24. doe belong to Gods poore people as much as to the richest or wealthiest persons under heaven Here is the third ground Fourthly and lastly Consider that a godly poore man may goe to heaven at his death as soone as the richest person in the world It is grace onely and not riches that will bring a man to heaven at the last and therefore be of good comfort O thou godly poore man for thou mayest goe to heaven as soone as the richest miser in the world yea and sooner too and with far lesse difficultie How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdome of heaven sayth our blessed Saviour It is marvellous hard and difficult for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of heaven for rich men are apt to trust in riches and depart from the living God 1. Tim. 6. 17. or else they are apt to be proud of their wealth and riches and so deny God This made holy Agur even afraid of riches Pro. 30. 8 9. Give me not povertie nor riches c. Why not riches What hurt could there be of being rich Yes sayes he not riches least I be full and deny thee and say Who is the Lord Like unto proud wealthy Pharoah Exod. 5. 5. Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel goe I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel goe loe here the fruit of unsanctified wealth and riches yea rich men are most apt to forget God Deut. 8. But now a godly poore man is free from temptations of this kinde a godly poore man is in no such danger runneth no such hazzard either to be proud or deny God or forget God or the like c. But on the contrary his povertie being sanctified is a speciall meanes to subdue and beate downe these lusts and to mortifie these unruly corruptions povertie in his outward estate through the good hand of God is a meanes to make him poore in spirit and so to dispose and fit him for heaven for blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdome of heaven sayth our Saviour Mat. 5. 3. yea God for the most part doth usually passe â—y the rich and wealthy and maketh choice â—f the poore and needy for the heires of â—eaven 1 Cor. 1. 26. for Brethren yee see our calling how that not many wise men after he flesh not many mighty not many noble are â—alled Who then doth the Lord most orâ—inarily and usually call Surely the poore â—nd needy Hath not God chosen the poore â—f the world saith the Apostle Iames 1. 5. â—ich in faith and heires of the kingdome which God hath promised to them that love him â—ere we see that povertie doth not indisâ—ose nor unqualifie a man for heaven but â—t him rather such a man when he dyâ—th goeth hungry to God or fasting that â—he joyes of heaven may relish the better with him or he goeth naked to GOD â—hat the garment of glory and happinesse â—ay be more welcome to him Yea see an experiment of this in that Parable of the â—ich man and Lazarus Luk. 16. It was â—ot Lazarus his povertie nor his sores â—or his despicable condition that could â—eepe him out of heaven see what the Text sayth of him Ver. 22. And it came to â—asse that the beggar died and was caried by â—he Angels into Abrahams bosome Neither â—ould the rich mans wealth eyther helpe â—im to heaven or keepe him out of â—orments of hell The rich man also dyed â—nd was buried and being in hell in torments â—e lift up his eyes c. Oh the vanitie of wealth and riches that can neither helpe a man to heaven nor keepe him out of the torments of hell And let no man be any way discouraged or out of heart in regard of his povertie because it is no barre nor impediment to keepe him out of the kingdome of heaven onely let a man be sure that he is poore in spirit as well as poore in estate and labour to be as rich in faith and as abundant in grace as he is poore and destitute of outward wealth and riches and then let him never doubt but that the kingdome of heaven is as wide open for him as for any the most wealthy person in the world Yea consider farther for thy comfort that the Sonne of God himselfe the Lord Iesus Christ became poore to this very end and purpose that hee might enrich thee with his povertie 2 Cor. 8. 9. For yee know the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ who though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poore that yee through his povertie might become rich Let no man therefore thinke or feare that God will reject or cast him off for his outward povertie if hee be otherwise well stored with spirituall wealth and riches CHAP. VI. Containing the third Vse of the second poynt THirdly Seeing godly persons onely are truely and spiritually rich This serveth to exhort us unto sundry duties and the exhortation is directed unto two sorts of people First Such as have some measure of this spirituall wealth and riches Secondly Such as for the present are utterly destitute of this precious gold here set out in the Text. First This doctrine serveth to exhort such as have true grace and are truely religious unto a two-fold dutie First Vnto thankfulnesse to God for such a favour Hath God given his Sonne to enrich thee and furnished thee with the graces of his Spirit to make thee truely and spiritually
for this purpose 2 Pet. 1. 5. 11. Wherefore giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to your vertue knowledge c. adde one grace to another grow in the number of graces and grow in their measure too If these things be in you and abound sayth the Apostle Ver. 9. see the benefit of this Ver. 11. For so an entrance shall be made unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ here is an entrance into the kingdome of grace which also assureth us of our interest in the kingdome of glorie Rom. 6. 22. Having your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life True holinesse and growth in grace is the plaine and direct way to true happines and everlasting life Fourthly and lastly The more grace and holines we attaine unto here the more glory and happinesse is reserved in heaven for us for though God doe not reward us for our workes yet he will certainly reward us according to our workes so that the more diligence in Gods service the more glory hereafter This seemeth most clearely intimated in that Parable of the Talents Mat. 25. he that gained most had best reward Vnto him that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance Ver. 29. He that is most abundant in the worke of the Lord shall be sure to have abundance of wages Let this also perswade us to grow in grace that our reward in heaven may be the greater They that doe much in Gods service and suffer much in the good cause of God shall have the greater reward in heaven Rejoyce and be exceeding glad sayth our Saviour to his Disciples for great is your reward in heaven Mat. 5. 12. They that take great paines in Gods service shall have an eternall and an exceeding weight of glory for their reward 2 Cor. 4. 7. This encouraged Moses Heb. 11. 26. He esteemed the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Aegypt for he had respect to the recompence of reward sayth the Text. Now the meanes that we must use that we may grow in grace are especially these two first The right use of Gods Ordinances and secondly Holy meditations First The right and conscionable use of Gods ordinances The Word and Sacraments and Prayer Loe here the best way and meanes to grow rich in grace and full of spirituall wealth First The Ministery of the Word read and faithfully preached it is the Word of eternall life Ioh. 6. 68. the meanes to quicken a dead soule at first and the chiefe meanes to preserve the same spirituall life and to helpe us to grow and increase in grace Two singular and most pertinent testimonies wee have for this purpose The one 1 Pet. 2. 1. As new borne Babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that you may grow thereby The ministery of the Word is not onely the meanes of our regeneration at first 1 Pet. 1. 23. Iam. 1. 18. but is the meanes also to helpe us grow up unto perfection Desire the sincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby sayth the Apostle The other testimony to this purpose is that of the Apostle Paul in his valediction to the Church of Ephesus Acts 20. when he was to depart from them and foresaw that they should see his face no more never enjoy his bodily presence or heare him preach againe see what he especially commendeth to their daily use and constant practise Ver. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you farther and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified i. e. give daily attendance to this ply this taske follow this worke close for the Word of his grace will build you up still farther and farther and will never cease working in you untill it bring you to heaven and translate you from grace to glory Secondly The right and religious use of the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper these seales of righteousnesse will exceedingly further our progresse in pietie and growth in grace How can a man that is of a good constitution feed on dainties and wholesome food and not grow strong and well liking by that meanes so how can a man eat the very body of Christ and drinke his very blood in the Sacrament as every worthy receiver doth spiritually but he must needs grow strong in the grace of Christ Iesus For my flesh is meate indeede and my blood is drinke indeede sayth our blessed Saviour Ioh. 6. 35. And hereupon he inferreth Ver. 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him that is such an one hath speciall communion with Christ and interest in all his merits and the benefit of his obedience active and passive which how can he enjoy but he must needs grow in grace Thirdly Prayer is a chiefe Ordinance of God by no meanes to be neglected nay which must be used as a meanes to bring Gods blessing upon the former this is the way and meanes to make the Word and Sacraments effectuall unto us so that in the neglect of this meanes little benefit is to be expected from the diligent use of the former so that he that would grow in grace must be a daily petitioner at the Throne of grace and direct his course to the God of all grace by prayer for the increase of the graces of Gods Spirit in him For as every good and perfect gift cometh from aboue at the first Iam. 1. 17. So the increase of those gifts must needs also proceede from above He onely that beginneth the good worke of grace in his Elect at the first is onely able to perfect that worke which he hath begunne Phil. 1. 6. And therefore as the Apostle was confident concerning them so let us be fervent and importunate in our requests to him for our selves that as he hath begunne the good worke of grace in us so he would encrease it in us daily and bring it unto perfection Thus the Apostles direct their course unto Christ by prayer for the increase of their faith Luk. 17. 5. The Disciples sayd unto the Lord Lord increase our faith Thus Paul for the Philippians Phil. 1. 9. 11. And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and in all judgement and that yee might be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse Encrease of grace as well as grace it selfe must needs be the gift of God For of him and through him and from him are all things sayth the Apostle Rom. 11. 36. Secondly The second generall meanes that we must use to grow in grace is holy Meditations This hath furthered the growth of grace in Gods Saints heretofore they have beene abundant and constant in pious and holy meditations Psal. 1. 4. A godly mans delight is in the Law of the Lord and it is his meditation
for the wicked it is not so with them they may have a faire golden shew untill they come to the melting but no hypocrite can abide this fiery tryall herein the true Christian out-strippeth the temporarie as our Saviour sheweth evidently Luk. 8. with Mat. 13. 21. Yet hath he no roote in himselfe but endureth for a season Why so He answereth For when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word by and by he is offended He is not able to abide the scorching heate of persecution in and for the good cause of God So that this fire of persecution is fit to try every mans worke whether it be gold and silver or hay and straw or stubble Pertinent is that of the Apostle to this purpose in 1 Cor. 3. 12 13. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold silver c. or wood hay or stubble every mans worke shall be made manifest How Because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every mans worke of what sort it is That is true grace indeed that abideth the fiery tryall But a question may here not unfitly be moved sc. Whether an hypocrite may not hold out even unto death and abide the tryall of the fire Yes He may stifly hold out and persist in some course that he hath begunne and rather give his body to be burned then forsake it This the Apostle seemeth to intimate 1 Cor. 13. 3. Though I give my body to be burned and have not charitie it profiteth me nothing But yet first it is not in or properly for the good Word of God that he thus suffereth but as a busie body out of some odde humour or proud factious disposition Now it is properly the cause and not the punishment that maketh a martyr and therefore sayth our Saviour Mat. 13. 21. When tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word he is offended A Christians suffering is and must be well grounded upon the Word else he suffereth not as a Christian but as a busie body 1 Pet. 4. 15 16. Secondly If his cause in which he snffereth be good yet he suffereth without charitie not out of love either to God or his truth but out of selfe-love and so is worth nothing So that he that will hold out in a good cause even unto death and that in obedience to God and out of love to his truth the graces of such a man are pure gold indeed CHAP. IV. Containing the use of Consolation THirdly This Doctrine serveth for comfort and consolation to such as are truely godly and religious whatsoever thy condition be for outward things yet it is splendid and glorious within thou art truely rich rich towards God an heart full of saving grace is more worth then a purse full of gold Put case that in respect of any temporall wealth thou canst truely say with the Apostle Acts 3. 6. Silver and gold have I none yet if thou hast plentie of true saving grace thou art a rich man in Gods account full of spirituall wealth thou art rich towards God Luk. 12. 22. which is the best riches in the world God esteemeth thee more highly for thy inward wealth sc. that thou art truely golden and religious then men can despise thee for thy outward povertie and know this also for thy comfort that though the foolish blind world doe despise thee for thy povertie yet God thinketh never a whit the worse of thee in that regard for he regardeth not the rich more then the poore Iob 34. 19. Yea he thinketh better of every godly poore man then he doth of any ungodly rich man whatsoever Pro. 28. 6. Better is the poore that walketh in his integritie then he that is perverse in his wayes though he be rich A godly poore man is able to say with the Apostle in some measure 2 Cor. 5. 1. Wee know that when the earthly house of this Tabernacle shall be dissolved we have a building of God not made with hands eternall in the heavens But the wicked though never so rich yet if he be impenitent shall be turned into hell and all that forget God Yea every godly poore man that is rich in grace and endued with the true feare of God findeth better acceptance with God then any ungodly rich man whatsoever Acts 10. 35. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him sayth the Apostle Oh how this should comfort us against the reproaches and aspersions of the world sc. that in the meane time God himselfe doth kindly accept of us and hath us in singular love for his Sonnes sake yea will manifest this love one day before men and Angels in bestowing no lesse then a Kingdome upon us Luk. 12. 32. Feare not little flocke for it is my Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdome yea the great and glorious Kingdome of Heaven is provided as well for godly poore men as for the richest persons in the world Jam. 2. 5. Hearken my beloved brethren sayth the Apostle hath not God chosen the poore of the world rich in faith and heires of the kingdome which he hath promised to them that love him Oh how this may comfort us in regard of outward poverty It will keepe no man out of heaven that hath an heart full of the golden graces of Gods Spirit no more then outward wealth of it selfe can keepe a man out of hell Luk. 16. The rich man there notwithstanding all his wealth was deeply plunged into hell and Lazarus even poore Lazarus was caried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome Onely be sure that the gold which thou hast is true and right gold and not counterfeit And therefore againe and againe I exhort every one that desireth to have interest in the comfort now propounded that he be sure he be not deluded nor gulled in this case with feigned gold and counterfeit metall in stead of true saving grace indeed Now because it is on the one side so easie a thing to be deceived withall so exceeding hard and difficult for a man to be well assured that his graces are sincere besides what you have already heard in the former use I will give you two or three other signes by which you may understand that the golden graces of Gods Spirit in you are sound and not counterfeit First He that hath true grace right gold indeed will be carefull to use it to Gods glory and the good of others he is no niggard of it nor layeth it up in a Napkin but is very free and liberall in communicating what he hath for the benefit of others he is not content to be religious himselfe alone but doth earnestly desire carefully endeavour that others may have true grace and become religious as well as himselfe and his very speeches and whole cariage will manifest no lesse Psal. 37. 30 31. The mouth of
seales of righteousnesse In what esteeme have we the Word faithfully read and preached which is called The Word of Gods grace Acts 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther c. He that is carelesse and disregardfull of this can have little assurance of the worke of true grace being wrought in his heart They are scarce new borne that love not the meanes and instruments of their new birth or regeneration Looke upon all those golden persons recorded in Scripture and you shall finde what a singular affection they have ever borne to the Word read and preached Iob esteemed it more then his necessary foode Iob 23. 12. Ieremiah saith It was to him the very joy and rejoycing of his heart Ier. 15. 16. and David's affection in this case was admirable and extraordinary Oh how I love thy law It is my meditation continually Psalme 119. 97. It was dearer to him then thousands of gold and silver sweeter then honey and the honey combe c. So that hee that despiseth God's holy Ordinances and the meanes which God hath appointed for the begetting and increasing of true grace in the hearts of his people out of doubt he hath not the spirit of David in him hee is rather empty and destitute of the golden graces of Gods Spirit then filled with the fruits of righteousnesse Let us therefore try our selves impartially and faithfully by these signes that wee have heard that we may be assured the gold of grace which we have or seeme to have is true gold and not counterfeit and such as will deceive us You that finde your selves stored with this precious commodity blesse God for it and bee thankefull for true saving grace is like Gold tryed in the fire pure and precious And thus much shall serve for the first point CHAP. V. Containing tâ—e second generall point ANd so I come to the second point which is to be observed in these words sc. this That the gold of true saving grace is the onely way and meanes to make us truly and spiritually rich Buy of me gold that thou mayest be rich saith our Saviour Loe here the chiefe way and meanes to become truly and spiritually rich this is durable riches and righteousnesse saith the Wise man Proverbs 3. 15. Yea true grace is the meanes to make a man rich towards God it is the speech of our Saviour Luke 12. 21. So is he that gathereth riches for himselfe and is not rich towards God where we see that it is possible for a man to be plentifully furnished with worldly riches and yet bee a poore man in the Lords account 2. That true saving grace is a Iewell of such excellent and precious worth that it is able to make a man rich towards God truly and spiritually rich indeed And there is also great reason for it For 1. Because true saving grace doth entitle a man to the Lord Iesus Christ with all his inestimable wealth and riches 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. where speaking to such as were religious and had true grace he saith All is yours whether it bee Paul or Apollos or Cephas c. All is yours and yee are Christ's and Christ is God's Yea the very unsearchable riches of Christ doe belong to such as have true saving grace Ephes. 3. 8. Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ ô the infinite fulnesse of grace that is in Christ In him dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily yea there is all fulnesse in Christ for ever in him it dwelleth Colos. 1. 19. Now all this belongeth directly to such as feare God and are truly religious Of his fulnesse wee have all received and grace for grace Iohn 1. 14. Yea the Lord Iesus Christ became poore on purpose to make us truly rich 2 Cor. 8. 9. Yee know the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ who though he was rich yet for your sakes hee became poore that wee through his poverty might become rich saith the Apostle He that hath speciall interest in Christ with all his riches must needs be most truly and spiritually rich but he that hath true saving grace hath this speciall interest in the unsearchable riches of Christ and therefore such an one must needs be most truly and spiritually rich 2. He that hath true saving grace hath the God of heaven for his portion Now how can he be poore that hath such a portion This is the very case of every man that hath true saving grace sc. that hee hath the God of heaven for his portion Lament 3. 24. The Lord is my portion saith my soule therefore will I hope in him So Psalme 16. 5. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup where we see that such as have true grace have the Lord himselfe for their portion yea they may be assured that he is so Psal. 142. 5. I cryed unto the Lord and said thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living He that is assured in his soule that he hath the God of heaven and earth for his portion is most truely and spiritually rich even towards God But he that hath true saving grace may be assured that hee hath the God of heaven and earth for this portion and such a man is most truly and spiritually rich Thirdly this precious gold of true saving grace doth entitle a man to heaven for his inheritance Hee that hath true grace may be sure when he dyeth he shall goe to heaven 2 Cor. 5. 1. We know that when this earthly house of this tabernacle shall bee dissolved we have a building of God not made with hands eternall in the heavens Hence is that speech of the Apostle 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ c. which hath begotten us againe to an inheritance immortall and undefiled that fadeth not away c. To the same purpose is that speech of our Saviour Matth. 25. 34. Come yee blessed children of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world This is the very case of every man that truly feareth God and hath true saving grace they are the members of Christ the children of God and inheritors of the kingdome of heaven observe it Psalm 24. 3 4. Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord and who shall dwell in his holy place who shall bee a member of the Church militant on earth and also a member of the Church Triumphant in heaven He that hath cleane hands and a pure heart c. See here the description of that man that hath interest in heaven for his inheritance So also Revel 22. 14. Blessed are they that doe his Commandements for they shall enter in through the gates into the City sc. of the New Jerusalem c. Yea how poore or despicable soever their condition and outward estate may
confessed his owne guiltinesse and the justice of God 2. Vindicated the innocency of Christ. 3. Was affected with the judgement and brought to feare God 4. Earnestly desired to worke upon his fellow servant Doest thou not feare God c. i.e. ô feare God consider what a wofull estate thou art plunged into Reasons or Motives io perswade us hereunto are foure 1. In regard of God 2. In regard of our selves 3. In regard of others 4. In regard of the excellency of Gods Ordinances 1. In regard of God because the Lord is much honoured and his Name is highly magnified and therefore hereby we shall shew our zeale for Gods glory and our â—ove unto his Majesty Gods glory in all things should be respected in the first place Whether ye eate or drinke or whatsoever ye doe doe all to the glory of God saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 10. 31. Now surely the more people and the greater the company is that joyne together in the duties of Gods service the more glory must needs hereby redound to God for the enlarging of Christs kingdome is a chiefe meanes of advancing Gods glory This our Saviour teacheth in the very mould and course of the Lords Prayer it appeareth in the very order of the petitions 1. Hallowed be thy Name to shew that in all things in the first place Gods glory must be respected 2. Thy kingdome come there is the chiefe meanes to shew that the comming of Gods kingdome is one chiefe meanes for the hallowing of his Name and the enlarging of Christ's kingdome is a chiefe meanes for the advancing of Gods glory Matth. 6. 10 11. certainely much glory must needs hereby redound to God when we are not content only to serve God our selves but also exhort and excite and stirre up others hereunto Secondly There is another Motive to perswade us which is drawne from our selves Hereby we shall manifest the work of grace wrought in our own hearts This is a good testimony that we are truely religious indeed when wee are not content to serve God our selves but are ready to provoke and stirre up others hereunto for goodnesse is a spreader of it selfe it is ready to disperse and communicate it selfe for the good of others Yee heard what the Holy Ghost said of Barnabas Acts 11. 23. That he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord ver 24. for he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost A good man and one that is full of the Holy Ghost is and will be ready to excite and stirre up others unto that which is good When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren said our Saviour Luk. 22. 32. He that is truly converted himselfe will be ready to be a meanes to convert and turne others to God See it in David Psalme 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee Where there is abundance of grace in the heart it will manifest it selfe in our gracious speeches and holy communication Psal. 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisedome his tongue will bee talking of judgement the Law of his God is in his heart c. for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh saith our Saviour Matth. 12. 34. I have hid thy Word in my heart saith David Psalme 119. 11. See the fruit of this Psalm 95. 6. O come let us worship and fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker c. True grace maketh a man ready to doe good offices for others especially to perswade them to serve God and be religious Thirdly In regard of others For hereby we shall best manifest our love and respect to others yea we doe not know how much good we may doe them this way for by this we may come to save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Iam. 5. 20. Hereby we may come to be acquainted with the wayes of God our selves and others whom we perswade may be hereby converted to walke in his pathes for Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule c. See how confidently David assureth himselfe of the conversion of others upon his best endeavour to teach them Gods wayes Psal. 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee How much more if we come to the house and Ordinances of God and bring others with us This argument Gods people have used to perswade others to goe with them to Gods house Come let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord for he will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his pathes Isa. 2. 2 3. This is the way to bring others to the true feare of GOD as well as our selves if we can perswade them to accompany us in the constant and frequent use of Gods Ordinances Observe an excellent place to this purpose Deut. 31. 11 12. When all Israel is come to appeare before the Lord in the place that he shall choose thou shalt reade this Law before all Israel in their hearing Gather the people together men women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates Why so What good will they get this That they may heare and that they may learne and feare the Lord your God to doe all the words of this Law Where we see that the house or place of Gods worship and service must be constantly frequented and that it is not enough for us to come thither our selves but we must also bring our whole families men women and children yea the very stranger that doth but occasionally come unto us we must bring all to Gods Ordinances And lastly that hereby we are likely to be instruments of working the feare of God in the hearts of those whom we bring and so to bring them to obedience Let no man say What neede we trouble our selves with others Is it not enough for every man to looke to himselfe and to have a care that he spend time himselfe in Gods service though he doe not meddle with others For though Christian charitie begin at home yet it doth not end there but he that is truely carefull to serve God himselfe will be readie to exhort and admonish others especially those of his familie and such as are committed to his charge And if any thinke much at this yet let him know that it is no more then his dutie Heb. 3. 13. But exhort one another dayly while it is called to day Nay no man can have any good assurance that he draweth nigh to God with a true heart himselfe if he doe not doe his best endeavour to excite and stirre up others to doe so too See an excellent passage to this purpose Heb. 10. 22. 24. c. Let us draw neare with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation v. 5. Loe here a most precious inheritance 3. Gods people have a farre better portion then the wicked for they have the Lord himselfe their portion Lam. 3. 24. The Lord is my portion sayth my soule therefore will I hope in him I have sayd unto the Lord thou art my portion sayth David Psal. 142. 5. Psal. 16. 5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and my cup but the wicked and impenitent have no interest in this portion at best they have their portion in this life Psal. 17. 14. a portion of wealth a portion of land or gold and silver there is the outside of their portion but besides this they have a wofull portion Psal. 11. 6. Vpon the wicked God shall raine snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup a woull portion whereas the godly have the God of heaven and earth for their portion Fourthly and lastly Gods people have far better attendance then the wicked they may have a company of brave men to attend them at the best but the godly have the glorious Angels to attend and waite upon them they are all sent forth for the good of those that shall be heires of salvation Heb. 1 14. So Psal. 34. 7. The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that feare him and delivereth them They have a charge from God to that purpose Psal. 91. 11. For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes here is golden and glorious attendance indeed when they have the holy Angels Gods most glorious creatures and servants to attend them Thus ye see that Gods people are golden people and farre more glorious then the wicked Thirdly Is true grace fitly resembled unto gold This serveth to justifie the paines and care and diligence of all such as labour earnestly to get saving graces sc. because it is so precious It is fitly compared unto gold in respect of the worth of it yea it is more precious then the most fine gold and therefore justifiable and commendable is the course of all those that take paines to get true grace yea that preferre it before gold for it is far more precious as you have heard they that choose this have with Mary chosen the better part which shall never be taken from them Luk. 10. 42. Let no man say therefore what need so much teaching and preaching and such running after Sermons c. For it is necessary that the Word of God should be preached Act. 13. 47. for it is the meanes both to beget and increase saving grace which is of a golden qualitie and therefore sayth the Apostle in his valediction to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Acts 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther and give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified It will never leave a man untill it have brought a man into the new Jerusalem Goe on therefore O all ye Saints of God Take fast hold of Instruction let her not goe keepe her for she is your life Pro. 4. 13. Cleave to the possession and practise of Gods truth be not ashamed of it it will make you happie for ever Blessed is the man that findeth me sayth Wisedome watching dayly at my gates and giving attendance at the postes of my doores Pro. 8. 34 35. and marke what an excellent reason shee giveth for this for who so findeth me findeth life and shall obtaine favour of the Lord. Be not ashamed then of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God through faith unto salvation sayth the Apostle Rom. 1. 16. O therefore let the kingdome of heaven suffer violence and let the violent take it by force Mat. 11. 11. Let men strive to enter into the strait gate it is the advise of our blessed Saviour Luk. 13. 24. Yea let us give all diligence 2 Pet. 1. 5. Wherein should we give all diligence if not in this that is worth gold yea farre better then gold They and their money perish with thom that thinke all the gold and silver in the world worth one dayes fellowship with Jesus Christ sayd that rare Italian Convert Happy is the man that seeth so cleerely the worth of true grace that he doth preferre it infinitely before all the treasures under heaven yea that looketh at the whole world as a lumpe of vanitie in comparison of saving grace Such an one was Paul Phil. 3. 8. yea doubtlesse I account all things but drosse and doe judge them to be dung that I may winne Christ. Such a rare sparke was Moses that esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Aegypt Heb. 11. 26. He looked upon things with a spirituall and a judicious eye preferring gold before all the drosse in the world Let not the Saints of God be discouraged by the scoffes and outcryes of the wicked nor for the opposition of unreasonable men Who will let slip an opportunitie to get gold because dogges will barke In nothing be terrified by your adversaries sayth the Apostle which is to them a token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God Phil. 1. 28. Goe on still and the blessing of Heaven goe with you for Blessed are all that heare the Word of God and keepe it sayth our Saviour Luk. 11. 28. This is that one thing needfull which sball never be taken from you this will goe along with you to the grave when the worldling must leave all behinde him he knoweth not to whom this that you have laboured for saving grace shall affoord you comfort in death and matter of rejoycing in the day of the Lord Iesus Observe that excellent speech of the Apostle 2 Cor. 1. 12. For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicitie and godly sinceritie not with fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God wee have had our conversation in the world this will affoord comfort and helpe in time of need when all worldly hopes and helpes doe utterly perish and come to nought an excellent place to this purpose in Heb. 4. 16. Let us goe boldly to the throne of grace c. that we may obtaine mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of need It is not gold but grace that is able to helpe in time of neede O let us neither be strangers to the throne of grace nor the Word of grace but daily converse with both this is the way to be happie both here and hereafter He that giveth all diligence to get grace shall not loose his labour therefore sayth the Apostle giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue c. for so an entrance
shall bee made unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of Iesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 5. 11. It is the advise and counsell of our blessed Saviour in this place I counsell thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich and so other where Labour not for the meate that perisheth but for the meate that endureth unto everlasting life Ioh. 6. 27. and first seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse that is labour by getting entrance into the estate of grace to get assurance of interest in the kingdome of glory Matth. 6. 33. O never thinke it in vaine to serve God for in due time yee shall reape if yee faint not Observe that speech of David Psalm 24. 5. Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord and who shall dwell in his holy place even Hee that hath cleane hands and a pure heart c. Let no man say then I have laboured in vaine for God is not unrighteous to forget your godly labour in this kinde Hebr. 6. 10. Let me therefore encourage and presse you in the words of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 58. Therefore my beloved brethren be stedfast and unmoveable alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Secondly Is true saving grace like gold tryed in the fire This serveth to reprove all such as will take no paines to get it but doe utterly reject and scorne it as the most idle and unnecessary thing in the world Carnall men and women are not of the opinion of our blessed Saviour they doe not see any such worth or golden vertue or excellency in saving grace there are a thousand things which they preferre before it for the naturall man receiveth or perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him he thinketh it a foolish thing to be so religious and so diligent to get grace neither can hee know them for they are spiritually discerned saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 2. 14. yea the wisest and most discreete naturall man is directly of this opinion The learned Grecians did account preaching foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1. 21. although indeed it be the wisdome of God and power of God and that unto salvation Thus when Moses telleth Pharaoh that hee must needs let them goe three dayes journey into the Wildernesse Yee are idle ye are idle saith he Exod. 5. 8. He thought Idlenesse the occasion of their desire yea that is the opinion of every naturall man he thinketh and saith at least in his heart that it is in vaine to serve God Your words have beene stout against me saith the Lord what have we spoken so much against thee say they Mal. 3. 13. Now observe the Lords answer Ver. 14. You have said it is in vaine to serve God So those in Job 21. 14. were even directly of that opinion Now ô the monstrous folly and madnesse of these men they preferre drosse before Gold tryed in the fire What would you say if you saw a man have an heape of gold laid before him of the one side and an heape of Chaffe or Feathers c. on the other and should see him neglect the gold and set his mind only upon the chaffe and feathers It would make a man cry out with the Apostle O foolish Galathians Gal. 3. 1. Here is the very picture of all such as preferre sinne and wealth and the trash of this world before saving grace and the power of godlinesse looke upon the prophane worldlings that were bidden to the mariage feast of the Kings Sonne Luk. 14. 18. They all with one consent began to make excuse they were all just of one minde they were resolved not one of them to come at the feast the first said I have bought a peece of ground and I must needs goe and see it I pray thee have me excused Ver. 19. and another said I have bought five yoke of Oxen and I must goe and prove them I pray thee have me excused Ver. 20. and the third said I have maryed a Wife and therefore I cannot come there was no looking for him O the folly of these men to preferre such vaine and triviall things before such a rare and heavenly banquet Here is even our very case there are a thousand things that we preferre before Christ and grace and therefore are unworthy of either Matth. 10. 37. Alas we are all mightily to blame this way we are carefull and cumbred about many things when the one thing needfull is wholly neglected one is for pleasure another for profit another for revenge another for his lusts and the golden wedge of true saving grace in the meane time is wholly neglected What would you thinke of that man that is all for the present and nothing for the future all for Summer nothing for Winter Here is the case of all such as are wholly for the body but not at all for the soule looke into the glasse of the Gospell and there yee shall see the picture of such a foole set out to the full by our blessed Saviour Luk. 12. There was a rich man and therefore perhaps a wise man in his owne and the worlds account yea he did not thinke to spend all his time in getting but at last when he thought he had enough he resolved to bee merry with it and sucke the sweete of it ver 19. He said unto his soule soule thou hast goods layed up for many yeares eate drinke and be merry here was 1. Wit to get wealth 2. Wit to enjoy it and sucke the sweete of it and yet marke what the Lords opinion was of this man ver 20. But God said unto him Thou foole this night shall thy soule be required of thee and then what shall become of the goods which thou hast provided where was his folly surely in this that he had spent all his time to get wealth in the neglect of his soule in the neglect and contempt of true and saving grace and therefore he was a most notorious foole in the Lords account Nay what shall we say of such then as are so farre from seeking grace in the use of the meanes that they doe reject the meanes of grace when it is offered and thrust it from them and doe utterly despise and hate it mark the condition of these men Pro. 13. 13. He that despiseth the Word shall be destroyed yea Pro. 29. 1. He that having beene often reproved and yet hardeneth his heart that man shall be destroyed without remedy In the meane time they are farre from salvation Psalm 119. 155. Salvation is farre from the wicked Why so for they regard not thy Statutes So that he that regardeth not the Statutes of God is farre from salvation a wofull thing if it be but duely considered Oh the wofull estate of all such They doe judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life A strange
be assured that he shall spend his time with God in heaven in eternall glory must first spend his time in Gods service here on earth Grace on earth is the way to glory in heaven And thus you see also that time spent in Gods service is the best not onely in regard of God but also in respect of our selves Thirdly and lastly I told you that time spent in Gods service is best spent in regard of others it redoundeth not only to Gods glory and our owne good but it also extendeth to the good of others especially those that are in any kind of distresse Time spent in Gods service is the best way both to prevent danger and to remove it Consider the danger and misery of GODS Church both at home and abroad danger of famine danger of sword danger of pestilence Now what better remedy to prevent these dangers then time spent in Gods service in prayer and fasting c See this in the practise of the Niâ—ivites Ioâ—â—h 3. The danger was great for Yet fortie dayes and Niniveh shall be destroyed saith the Lord ver 4. Well see how they prevented this fearefull danger How did they spend their time That you may see Ver 5. 6. They believed God and pâ—oclaimed 〈…〉 and put on sackâ—loth from the greatest 〈◊〉 them to the least of them Yea and word â—â—me to the King himselfe who arose from his Throne and layd his Robe from him and sate in Ashes and made proclamation throughout the Citie that neither man nor beast should drinke water nor taste any fooâ—e but bee covered with sackâ—loth and cry mightily unto God c. Who can tell whether God will turne and repent c. that wee perish not i. e. If any thing will prevent our destruction this will doe it Now see the event Ver. 10. And God saw their workes c. He saw how they spent their time and God repented of the evill that he had said that he would doe unto them and he did it not so that time spent in Gods service is the best way to prevent danger Yea and secondly It is the best way also to remove it oh the miseries of Gods people in Germany and in this land also some by famine some by pestilence our wit is too shallow our strength too weake our purse too empty to relieve them if any thing we have can doe them good it must be our prayers and the right and religious spending of our time Alas time spent in sinning in swearing in drunkennesse this provoketh the eyes of Gods glory and incenseth his wrath against us but time spent in Gods service is the way to helpe them and our selves in this case And for the farther help of our unbeleeving hearts in this high point consider 1. Gods owne direction 2. The Churches practise 3. Our owne experience 1. We have the Testimony of God himselfe See an excellent place to this purpose 2 Chron. 7. 13 14. Where the Lord himselfe putteth a case of danger and prescribeth the remedy 1. If I shut up heaven that there bee no raine and this you know was our very case lately or if I send pestilence among my people and this is our case even for the present there have beene and still are sundry places in this kingdome infected with the pestilence here is the danger Well what is the best course that Gods people can take to remove such a judgement how should we doe to helpe those that are in this wofull estate That the Lord himselfe sheweth plainely v. 14. If the people that are called by my Name shall humble themselves and pray and seeke my face c. that is spend time in my service then see the admirable fruit of this then will I heare from heaven and forgive their sinnes and heale their land Time spent in Gods service is the best way to remove a judgement from our selves or others This is a course of Gods owne prescribing 2. This is the judgement and opinion of the Church and State wherein we live and our Religious Governours and such as are in authority Hereupon it was that in the last great Plague there was a generall Fast proclaimed and appointed to bee celebrated throughout the whole kingdome that we might seeke God by prayer and fasting for the cessation of that sore judgement of the Pestilence And why this but only to shew that even our gracious Soveraigne and such as are in authority in our Church and State are verily perswaded that time spent in Gods service is very effectuall and availeable to take away the Pestilence 3. It appeareth by experience what admirable successe we have had in this case wee have found by experience often the worth of this course either for preventing or removing a judgment as in that yeare 1625. and sundry other times both before and since the Lord hath made good unto us that precious promise Isa. 65. 24. It shall come to passe that when ye call I will answer and while yee are yet speaking I will heare for while we were yet praying and fasting the Lord was intreated of us So that even in this regard also time spent in Gods service is absolutely the best spent time So that a godly religious man that spendeth much time in Gods service shall prevaile more either for preventing or removing a judgement from the land then an hundred others he is the only man that must deliver the Ileland according to that in Iob 22. 30. He shall deliver the Iland of the Innocent or as is well noted in the Margent The Innocent shall deliver the Iland and it is delivered by the purenesse of thine hands It is the purity of hearts and hands and time spent in Gods service that must helpe in this case for otherwise we know that God heareth not sinners but if any man bee a worshiper of God and a doer of his will if any delight to spend time in GODS service him he heareth saith the blind man Ioh. 9. 31. CHAP. III. Contaâ—ning the first Vse of the point viz. for Instruction 1. IS it so That time spent in Gods service is absolutely the best spent time The knowledge of this truth doth lead us on to the knowledge of other precious truths to this purpose for our instruction 1. Hence then it followeth that time spent in sinning or in the Devils service must needs bee the worst spent time time spent in swearing lying stealing wantonnesse drunkennesse yea in covetous carking and caring c. is the worst spent time that can bee it is quite opposite and contrary to that which is spent in Gods service and therefore as that is the best so on the contrary this must needs bee the worst spent time that can bee It is the worst in every respect 1. In respect of God 2. In regard of our selves 3. In respect of others 1. Time spent in sinfull courses is the worst spent time in
impossible The further a man goeth out of his way the longer journey he hath to goe at his returne and then it is possible for him to stay too long Fourthly But admit that at last he desireth to returne to God and spend time in his service Yet how just is it with God to reject him in that case What a base thing for a man to spend all the best of his time and strength in the service of sinne and Sathan and then to beginne to serve God when he is fit for nothing but to feede wormes What would you thinke of that servant whom you should hyre to serve you for a yeare and yet he never would doe you dayes worke untill the last moneth or weeke or houre immediately before hee should receive his wages Or what would you conceive of that Souldier that should spend all his youth and strength in the warres against his King and Soveraigne and then offereth his old age to his Prince when he is scarce able to cary his weapon Here is the very case of all those that spend all the best of their health and strength in the service of sinne and offer their poore despicable old age to God What is this but to offer the Lame and Torne and the Sicke Mal. 1. O how justly may God reject us in that case Consider that fearefull place Pro. 1. 28 29. Then shall they call but I will not answer they shall seeke me early but shall not finde me because they hated knowledge c. They that despise Gods service in their youth may justly expect that God should despise them in their age Fourthly This serveth to reprove such as spend some time in Gods service but not enough seeme to make conscience of some duties but not of others If time spent in Gods service be the best spent time then they are to blame that deale niggardly with God in this regard that doe serve God by the halves with the lippes but not with the heart have prayer in the morning but not in the evening both these perhaps but no reading nor godly conference nor catechising some also come to Church sometimes once a moneth or in the morning but not in the evening Well consider that time spent in Gods service is absolutely the best spent time Therefore they are too blame that are sparing in this behalfe God is abundant in goodnesse to us and therefore we should be abundant in dutie to him Alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord as the Apostle speaketh 1 Cor. 15. 58. Oh for shame let us not be niggardly with him that is so bountifull to us He giveth to all men liberally sayth the Apostle Iam. 1. 6. O let us be liberall in our dutie to God seeing no time is so well spent as that which is spent in Gods service O let us therefore be chearefull and heartie in it Now for Remedies in this case Let us consider these foure particulars First The more time we spend and the more paines we take in Gods service the more glorie redoundeth to God Herein is my father glorified that yee bring forth much fruit sayth our Saviour Ioh. 15. 8. Secondly The more paines we take and the more time we spend in Gods service the greater reward is reserved for us For God is not unrighteous to forget your patience and labour of love Heb. 6. 10. But will both surely and fully reward it in the end These small paines of ours which are but for a moment they cause unto us or worke for us a farre more exceeding and an eternall weight of glorie as the Apostle speakes 2 Cor. 4. 17. Abundance of time sincerely spent in Gods service will procure abundance of glorie Thirdly The more time wee spend in Gods service and the more paines we take still to get grace the stronger will be our assurance that when we die we shall goe to heaven Having your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life sayth the Apostle Rom. 6. 22. The more fruitfull wee are in holinesse the faster we lay hold on eternall life Hence is that excellent place of the Apostle 2 Pet. 1. 5. And besides this giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge c. and so one grace unto another as if he should have said spend much time in Gods service take much paines to abound in grace Why so What is the Apostles Reason That you shall see vers 11. For so an entrance shall be made unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdome of Jesus Christ. Loe here the excellent benefit of paines and diligence in Gods service This will fill a man full of joy and peace in beleeving Fourthly and lastly Hereby wee shall bring credit to our profession and adorne and beautifie our Religion and doe good to others Mat. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes sayth our Saviour A good conversation prevaileth where the Word sometimes prevailes not That if any obey not the Word they may be wonne by the good conversation of the wives saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 3. 1. Fifthly This serveth to reprove such as spend more time in the Devils service then in Gods yea and the number of these is exceeding great that spend more time in swearing in rayling in drunkennesse in wantonnesse c. then in hearing or praying and such like exercises of piety and godlinesse Nay what shall we thinke of such as spend that very time in the devils service that is appointed for Gods service Such as spend that very time in swearing and gaming and drinking drunke in the Ale-house which should be spent in the exercises of Religion in Gods house when men are so wearie of Gods service that they are even tyred out with an houre or two spent therein and yet can without wearinesse spend twise as much in vicious courses and not bee weary Oh fearefull height of impiety that men should take more delight in the devils service then in Gods Yea that are so earnestly bent upon it that they doe even imagine mischiefe upon their beds that when the morning light is they may practise it Mich. 2. 1. Yea some are so sharp set in this case that it doth even breake their sleepe according to that in Proverbs 4. 16. They sleepe not except they doe evill and their sleepe departeth from them except they cause some to fall Oh how foolishly and desperately doe such spend their time even in cutting and wounding and stabbing their soules and doe daily treasure up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgement of God Rom. 2. 4 5. Now for the perfecting of this branch give me leave to shew you the remedies of this dangerous mischiefe and the helpes which we must use to this purpose are principally these foure 1. Consider that all the while we spend our time
it tâ— serve thee then live in a prison a dungeâ—â—on all my dayes he was strongly engaged to that mans service Here is our very caseâ— we are all prisoners by nature and Sathan is ready every moment to cary us to the prison of hell where we should rot and burne for ever now the Lord redeemeth us and setteth us at liberty from the service of sinne and Sathan and the bondage oâ— corruption Deliver him from going downe to the pit saith the Lord his Ransome is paid according to that in Iob 33. 28. Oh then how strongly doth this binde us to be constant in Gods service that we should have a care never to depart from him Ye are not your owne saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 6. 19. 20. but ye are bought with a price and therefore glorifie God in your bodies and soules for they are Gods Ye are redeemed with a great price not with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vaine conversation but with the precious bloud of Christ as of a Lambe without spot saith the Apostle 1 Peter 1. 17 18. Excellent to this purpose is that in the song of Zachary Luk. 1. 68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people But to what end hath he done this That he sheweth plainely ver 74. That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse beâ—â—re him all the dayes of our life So that the â—onsideration of our redemption should â—ake us constant in Gods service because â—e were redeemed and bought to that end â—nd purpose Thus Moses expostulateth the â—se with those revolting Israelites Deut. â—â— 6. Doe ye thus requite the Lord O ye â—oolish people and unwise Is not he thy faâ—her that hath bought thee Hath he not â—ade thee and established thee The sinne of backsliding is fearefully aggravated from 〈◊〉 consideration of the Lords singular goodnesse in our creation and redemption Now the very end of God in the great worke of our redemption is to purge us to himselfe a peculiar people that we might be â—ealous of good workes Fifthly Wee are the Lords hyred servants and doe daily receive our wages from him yea in him it is that we live and move and have our being After the Lord hath made us and sent us into the world alas we all stand idle and doe him no service at all untill the Lord be pleased to hire us and set us a worke Matth. 20. 7. Why stand yee here all the day idle saith the Lord of the Vineyard goe ye into the Vineyard and worke c. Loe wee are the Lords hired servants who is a most excellent paymaster and very bountifull besides our wages he is very kinde unto us in many speciall gifts and vailes Isa. 65. 13 14. Behold my servants shall eat and ye shall be hungry my servants shall drinke and ye shall be thirstie Yea he is such a Master as daily loadeth us with gifts and benefits Psalme 68. 9. Blessed be God even the God of our salvation who daily loadeth uâ— with his benefits and all to this end and purpose that we might be faithfull and constant in his service that we might observe his statutes and keepe his lawes that is even the very right use of all his mercies When Ioshua had reckoned up Gods singular mercies towards the Iewes in Ioshuah 24. See the use of all verse 14. Now therefore feare the Lord and serve him And now Israel what doth the Lord require of thee but only to love the Lord thy God and feare and serve him Deut. 10. 12. This was godly Samuels argument to the revolting and offending Israelites God forbid that I should sinne against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you but I will shew you the good and the right way 2 Samuel 12. 24. c. as if he had said I will not only pray for you but I will also further teach and instruct you in the right way onely feare the Lord and serve him for consider what great things he hath done for you else a man in this case is worse then the very Oxe or Asse as the Lord himselfe speaketh Isa. 1. 2 3. Heare ô heavens c. the Oxe knowes his owner and the Asse his Masters Crib but Israel hath not knowne my people have not understood And thus yee have seene the first Motive that may perswade us to be constant in Gods service sc. In regard of the equity of it Secondly The second Motive that may perswade us to be constant in Gods service is drawne from the consideration of the Vtilitie of it It is commodious and profitable that we should be constant and persevere in Gods service There be many that say Who will shew us any good Psal. 4. meaning profit And it is the Question of those prophane ones in Job 21. 15. What is the Almightie that we should serve him Or what profit should we have if we pray unto him say they Now to this I answer That constancy and perseverance in Gods service is exceeding usefull and profitable and that in many respects First Constancie in Gods service will assure a man that when he dyeth he shall goe to heaven What an admirable and desireable thing it is that a man should be able to say with the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 1. Wee know that when the earthly house of our tabernacle shall be dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heavens But how came the Apostle by this assurance Vpon what ground did he thus confidently assure himselfe That we shall see Ver. 9. Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him This was the ground of his rejoycing The testimonie of our conscience that in simplicitie and godly sinceritie not with fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world 2 Cor. 1. 12. Vpon this ground he expecteth a crowne of Righteousnesse 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. Constancie and perseverance is the very condition required and expressed in the Lords gracious promise He that endureth to the end shall be saved sayth our Saviour Mat. 24. 13. Be thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the crowne of life Rev. 2. 10. In due time wee shall reape if wee faint not sayth the Apostle Gal. 6. 9. Yea this diligence and constancie in Gods service is that which will give a man abundant assurance of entrance into the Kingdome of Iesus Christ. Excellent to this purpose is that of the Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 1. 5. 11. Wherefore giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to your vertue knowledge c. i. e. be abundant and constant in Gods service now marke the reason Ver 11. For so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of Iesus Christ. Oh what a precious thing is this
the Lord be magnified which hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants He loveth to have them merry at meate and at worke and sing for joy of heart Isa. 65. 14. And withall he is constant in his love towards them if he be angry it is but for a moment but his love and mercie is everlasting towards them See a singular place for this purpose in Isa. 54. 7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee and ver 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercie on thee sayth the Lord thy Redeemer If he be wroth if he seeme to forsake or hide himselfe from his servants it is but for a moment but his love and kindnesse is everlasting his mercy endureth for ever having loved his owne which were in the world he loved them unto the end sayth our Saviour Ioh. 13. 1. not for a time but for ever his love like himselfe is constant and unchangeable it is an everlasting love Ier. 31. 3. With an everlasting love have I loved thee therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawne thee sayth the Lord. Yea his love to his servants is so constant that nothing shall be able to diprive them of it nothing can finally doe it and for ever Rom. 8. 37 38. For I am perswaded sayth the Apostle that neither death nor life nor Angells nor height nor depth nor things present nor things to come nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yea sinne it selfe that is the most dangerous enemy of all for your iniquities have separated between you and your God Isa. 59. 1. cannot doe it yea rather then so your sinnes shall be pardoned and that for his owne sake Isa. 43. 25. for I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake will not remember thy sinnes Here is a gracious and a constant loving Master Tenthly and lastly This heavenly Master of ours is readie dayly to manifest and expresse his love towards his servants in hearing their prayers and revenging all such wrongs as are offered unto them See the proofe of this priviledge in both the branches of it First For his hearing prayers it is one of his titles of honour to heare prayers Psal. 65. 2. Especially the prayers of his servants and such as feare him Joh. 9. 31. If any man be a worshipper of God and a doer of his Will him he heareth Yea he will fulfill the desires of them that feare him he will heare their cry and save them Psalm 145. 18. And if any man delight in Gods service he shall have his hearts desire Psal. 37. 4. Delight thy selfe in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart What greater priviledge Yea he is many times found of them when they doe not seeke him Isa. 65. 24. It shall come to passe that when they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will heare O how open is his eare unto their complaints when they are wronged by their adversaries and how readie is the Lord even speedily to avenge their wrongs Heare what the unjust Iudge sayth sayth our Saviour Luk. 18. 7. And shall not God avenge his owne Elect which cry day and night unto him I tell you that he will avenge them speedily True it is he will not allow his servants to be their own carvers and avenge themselves But what need they when he is ready to doe it for them Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Ro. 12. 19. He that toucheth Gods servants to hurt them doth touch the aple of his eye Zach. 2. 8 Hee taketh all their wrongs and injuries as done to himselfe and he will certainely and wisely avenge their wrongs 2 Kings 9. 7. Iehu shall smite Ahab and Iezabel but to what end Iehu's end was to get the kingdome but what was the Lords end that yee shall see in the place forenamed That I may avenge the bloud of my servants the Prophets and the bloud of all the servants of the Lord at the hands of Iezabell they must pay deare that shed the bloud of Gods servants the Lord himselfe will bee avenged of them Another place to this purpose is that we have Deut. 32. 41. If I whet my glistering sword and my hand takes hold on judgement I will render vengeance to mine enemies c. and I will make my arrowes drunke with bloud and my sword shall devoure flesh c. But whose bloud and flesh shall thus goe to wracke That ye shall see verse 43. Surely they that have shed the bloud of his servants for hee will avenge the bloud of his servants saith the Text. Who would not be abundant in his service that will not suffer his servants bloud to be unavenged CHAP. VIII Containing the three first Directions or meanes how to spend much time in Gods service FIrst If wee would spend much time in Gods service we must labour to have our hearts rightly fitted and prepared for that purpose There is a price in the hand of many a foole to get wisdome but he wanteth an heart to get wisdome saith Salomon Pro. 17. 16. How many blessed opportunities have we of spending time in Gods service which are let slip because wee want hearts rightly prepared for that purpose Hereupon it is that in the first place God requireth our hearts Proverbs 23. 26. My son give me thy heart and Ier. 14. 4. O Ierusalem wash thy heart from wickednesse A prophane heart can never endure to spend much time in God service but straight cryeth out behold what a wearinesse is it Mal. 1. 13. Hence it is that the Lord cryeth out most of all for want of a right and fit disposition of heart in the duties of his service Isaiah 29. 13. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouthes and honour me with their lips but their hearts are farre from me Here was the defects of Ezechiels hearers Ezech. 33. 31. ver They come unto thee as my people commeth and they also sit before thee as my people and they heare my words but they will not doe them where was the chiefe fault Surely in the heart for with their mouthes they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse A covetous and a vicious heart will soone make a man weary of time spent in Gods service and therefore when any man setteth himselfe to doe God any service the Lord looketh directly with what heart he doth it It is an excellent speech of God to Samuel when hee was to choose Israel a King 1 Sam. 16. 7. the Lord said to Samuel Looke not on his countenance nor on the height of his stature c. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord
looketh on the heart For the Lord knoweth full well that if the heart be not right set for God he will never walke uprightly before God how great a semblance or shew of pietâ— soever a man may make therefore God in his wisedome looketh on the heart Deut. 32. 46. Set your hearts unto all these words saith Moses It is not setting of the eare to heare only or the mouth to speake no nor the hands to worke nor feete to walke that will serve the turne unlesse the heart in the meane time be right set for that purpose therefore saith David Psalme 119. 11. I have hid thy Word in my heart that I might not sinne against thee Lo the chiefe antidote against sinne is to hide and ponder the Word of God within our hearts An excellent direction to this purpose is that of the Apostle Saint Iames 4. 8. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you if wee desire that God should draw nigh to us in mercy we must strive to draw nigh to him in service and obedience But what is required that wee may bee fit to draw nigh to God Wash your hands or cleanse your hands yee sinners and purifie your hearts ye double minded It is only a cleane and a true heart that will make a man fit to draw nigh to God Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw nigh to God with a true heart c. Hereupon David prayeth so earnestly for such an heart Psalme 119. 80. O let my heart be upright in thy Statutes that I be not ashamed For indeed God loveth truth of heart or truth in the inward affections above all other things whatsoever this is the maine thing that he desireth Psalme 51. 6. He that ever meaneth to be religious indeed must of necessity begin with the heart that is the chiefe great wheele of the clocke that moveth all the rest Psalme 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous will speake wisedome his tongue will be talking of judgement How commeth this to passe that yee shall see in the words following The Law of God is in his heart and none of his steps shall slide It is the heart that setteth both the tongue and hands a worke for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh saith our blessed Saviour in Matthew 12. 34. Oh therefore all that would spend much time in Gods service which as we have heard is absolutely and incomparably the best spent time labour to have your hearts rightly fitted and prepared for that purpose even such an heart as I have formerly described unto you namely a beleeving heart a loving heart a sincere and an upright heart full of truth and sincerity and an heart also fraught with the true feare of God hee that hath such an heart is right set for Gods service It is just such an heart as God would have us to have sc. an heart fraught and furnished with the true feare of GOD Deut. 5. 29. They have well said all that they have spoken saith the Lord ver 28. Oh that there were such an heart in them Good words without a good heart are little worth Well what kinde of heart would God have them to have That yee shall see in the words following O that there were such an heart in them that they would feare me and keepe my Commandements alwayes that it might be well with them An heart fraught with the true feare of God is that which GOD especially desireth should be in his children and which he doth exceedingly delight in when hee findeth in it them 2. We must be constant and conscionable in the private exercises of Religion this is the way to bring the heart to a right frame for the publike Ordinances this is like the tuneing of the instrument so that he that careth not for spending any time at all in private duties careth not how little time he spendeth that way in publike Oh that wee would lay this to heart and bee carefull to spend time in private prayer and reading and holy meditations Even Princes are not exempted in this case See that Direction in Deut. 17. 18 19. See the King of Israels duty when he sitteth on the Throne of his kingdome Hee shall write him a Copie of Gods Law in a booke out of that which is before the Priests and Levites and it shall be with him and hee shall reade therein all the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare the Lord his God c. where we see 1. That it is the duty even of Kings themselves to feare GOD as well as others 2. That to the end he may feare God hee must be acquainted with Gods Word for the feare of God must be learned out of the booke of God 3. Hee was to get him a copie of Gods Booke that which wee now call a Bible Kings must get them Bibles as well as Priests and Levites 4. Hee must reade in it all the dayes of his life and if Kings then much more all subjects and private persons must spend some part of every day in the duties of Gods service in private Who need thinke himselfe too good for private duties when Kings themselves are not exempted Yea it is the duty of all Gods people to search the Scriptures Iohn 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them yee thinke yee have eternall life and they are they that testifie of me saith our Saviour Yea wee should all study to be well acquainted with the Scriptures by private reading that we may be the more delighted with the publike heareing Colossians 3. 16. Let the Word of CHRIST dwell in you richly in all wisedome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spiritiuall songs c. Lo how Gods people should spend their time in private O how this would fit us for exercises of Religion in publike What made those Noble Boereans Acts 17. 11. willing to spend so much time in hearing Paul preach in publike Surely this was one cause amongst the rest sc. the care which they had to spend their time well even in private They searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so and so finding how sweetely Pauls Doctrine accorded with that which they found written in Gods Booke they received the Word with all readinesse of minde and tooke delight to spend much time in the duties of Gods publike worship and service Deut. 6. 6 7. These words which I command thee shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy Children and loe this would make us love to spend much time in Gods service publikely c. Thirdly Hee that would have an heart rightly prepared that he may bee fit and willing to spend much time in the duties of Gods solemne worship and service must have a care to beginne the day with religious exercises and holy meditations godly cogitations let into the heart in the morning will season the heart of a man
appeare that a man shall love a faire Virgin better than we love God Now if we loved Gods Ordinances as wee should all the time that wee spend in his service would seeme but a few dayes even nothing in comparison if we could once come to serve God out of love to himselfe and his Ordinances Now surely this must needs follow upon the three former directions for if we 1 get an heart right set for God and bee constant in the private duties of religion and especially be carefull to season our hearts with religious cogitations early each morning then we cannot choose but love the duties of Gods publike worship and service and where this true love to Gods Ordinances is there will be a care to spend much time in Gods worship and service both publike and private See the description of David's blessed man Psalm 1. 1 2. where he is described first Negatively by what he doth not and secondly Affirmatively by that which he doth v. 2. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in that Law doth hee meditate day and right See the connection of these two If ye aske Why he spendeth so much time in Gods service even day and night It is answered because his delight is in the Law of the Lord ergo he spendeth much time in it Yea see this in David himselfe Why did he spend so much time in the duties of Gods worship and service but in regard of his singular love and affection towards them as that one speech of his doth plainly and fully intimate Psal. 119. 97. Oh how I love thy Law it is my meditation continually A man will never continually thinke and meditate on that which he loveth not David could never have sayd truely out of his experience A day in thy Courts is better then a thousand if he could not have truely sayd first My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord Psal. 84. 2. No it was his extraordinarie love to Gods house and Ordinances that made him value time spent there at so high a rate The Booke of Psalmes giveth plentifull and abundant testimony to this purpose Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house the place where thine honour dwelleth Psal. 26. 8. And againe often in Psal. 119. Oh how I love thy Law How much David Surely more then thousands of gold and silver Ver. 72. Yea more then great spoyles ver 102. yea it was sweeter then honey and the honey-combe Psal. 119. 103. No marvell if such a man as he spent much time in the duties of Gods service that loved Gods house and Ordinances so exceedingly Yea such was his love to the duties of Religion that by his good will he would spend all his dayes in that holy imployment yea and he maketh it his grand request the very onely Boone that he would beg at Gods hands that he might doe so An excellent place to this purpose is that which wee have Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seeke after But one thing David Surely that is some great matter indeed it may be some great Kingdome bigger then that of Ierusalem No Davids ayme was at another kinde of matter see how he doth expresse it That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life This is Davids one thing that he would beg at Gods hand yea the meanest office or imployment in Gods house would give him more content then the highest place in the tents of the ungodly as is sweetly expressed in this very Verse Psal. 84. 10. in the words immediately following the words of our Text I had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of God then to dwell in the Tents of wickednesse Yea this is not Davids case onely but all that are regenerate indeed and truely godly and religious they are all of the same minde as well as David The little childe loveth nothing so well as the mothers brest that is the onely still-babe that giveth content for the most part when all other devices faile if this doe not quiet the childe scarce any thing will doe it so it is with all the new borne babes of Christ if they once be regenerate and borne againe they love nothing so well as to sucke the milke of Religion out of the breasts of Gods Ordinances It is the comparison that the holy Ghost himselfe useth 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new borne Babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby See the affection of Gods Saints this way Ieremiah and Ezechiel and Iob and Paul First for Ieremiah Chap. 15. 16. Thy Words were found and I did eate them And how did they taste Ieremiah Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoycing of my heart Loe what sweetnesse the Babes of Christ finde in Gods Ordinances The like wee finde of Ezech. 3. 3. Sonne of man cause thy belly to eate and fill thy bowells with this rowle Here was Gods charge to the Prophet now see what sweetnesse he found in it Then did I eate the rowle and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetnesse Then for holy Job the sweetnesse that he found in Gods Ordinances was that which affoorded him a great deale of comfort in his greatest afflictions Job 23. 12. His way that is the Lords way have I kept and not declined neither have I gone back from the Commandement of his lippes I have esteemed the words of his lippes more then my necessarie food that made him so religious and spend so much time in Gods service because he was so farre in love with Gods Ordinances Then consider the example of Paul Rom. 7. 22. What made him spend so much time in Gods service in prayer and preaching to all the world but because he loved the Word exceedingly I delight in the Law of God according to the inner man so farre as he was regenerate he tooke great delight in Gods Ordinances But above all consider the example of our blessed Saviour none comparable to him for his unwearied painfulnesse in Gods service He went about doing good continually Act. 10. 38. Yea observe it Mat. 9. 35. Iesus went about all the Cities and Villages teaching in their Synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the kingdome and healing every sicknesse and every disease amongst the people And why so Surely because his love to Gods Ordinances and his Fathers will was extraordinarie This is the reason that he himselfe giveth in this very case It is an excellent Storie that we finde Ioh. 4. the effect and substance whereof is this That our Saviour comming to Sychar to Iacobs Well and being hungry and thirstie He sendeth his Disciples into the Citie to buy meate sayth the Text ver 8. In the meane time commeth a woman of Samaria to draw water and our Saviour taketh that opportunitie in their absence to convert the heart of this poore Samaritan wherein the Disciples finde