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A66610 Totum hominis, or, The whole duty of a Christian, consisting in faith and good life abridged in certain sermons expounding Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians, Epist. 2, Chap. 1, Vers. 11, 12 / by the late reverend and worthy Mr. Samuel Wales ... Wales, Samuel.; Wharton, Philip Wharton, Baron, 1613-1696.; Wharton, Thomas, Sir. 1681 (1681) Wing W296; ESTC R41158 76,673 232

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heartily desires their welfare temporal eternal now he knows that this task of glorifying God is both at tended with much present sweetness and comfort and will certainly bring a most glorious reward life everlasting Wherefore that Christian love of others which the Holy Ghost hath kindled in his heart makes him seriously desire that they may be sharers in so excellent and matchless a gain and consequently join with him in the means leading to it namely the study and care of honouring the Lord. First then this reproves two sorts 1. Those that hinder and deter men from glorifying God such I mean who discerning in others holy forwardness in religion love of godliness and godly persons tenderness of conscience care to depart from evil and shun the society of sinners snub ad discourage them by threatnings reproaches commandments punishments This is a fearful thing though men see it not it s manifest fighting against God and playing the part of Elymas who is therefore called the child of the Devil and an enemy to all righteousness Judge in your selves can he be the child of God who neither gives him his due honour nor suffers them that would As we stand affected to the glouy of God and the means of it so are we affected towards God himself He that cannot endure the light of piety in the life of his child servant kinsman neighbour by which God is glorified would banish God out of the world if it were in his power He that destroys the Temple of God 1 Co. 3.17 him shall God destroy he that quencheth the fire of Gods grace in others shall burn in the fire nevar to be quenched 2. Those that draw or thrust others forward to such courses as dishonour God provoke and perswade them to swearing riot drunkenness wantonness revenge c. for shame let not such men any longer call themselves sons and servants of the living God Should I hear a man in secret conference with another command or councel him to set a fire on his neighbours Corn Barn or Dwelling house might I not safely conclude this is no friend but a very dangerous and bitter enemy of his neighbour Is it not enough that by thy personal sins thou frettest yea breakest the very heart of God every hour except also thou hire and procure helpers as if thou couldst not easily satisfie thy self in heaping injuries upon him and loading him with contumelies Tell me vile hell-hound do men thus to their friends Go now and if thou hast lost all forehead deny thy self to be the Lords enemy I tell thee thou art a flat hater of the holy One of Israel or the Devil is none Secondly Vse 2 by this doctrine we may examine our selves and judge what manner of Christians we are Doth it sting yea cut thee to the heart to see Christ so slenderly known and honoured in the world so many professing him who in their works deny him calling him Lord Lord when by their lives he is blasphemed Doth it grieve thee to see that in every place where thou commest the most are no better than walking tombs moving sepulchers unmeet for the Lords use and service Do these things lye nearer thy heart than thy personal crosses and injuries Canst thou pour out prayers even as for thine own foul for those who belonging to God run forward in wickedness that they may be reclaimed to glorifie him in the day of visitation and for the called that they may be made more zealous of his glory shew forth the vertues of him who hath brought them out of darkness into his marvellous light Answer me is it thus with thee no doubt a portion of Pauls spirit rests upon thee But if the spiritual condition of others affect thee not if thy spirit be not stirred when the Lord Jesus is crucified afresh by Oaths and blasphemies his Sabbaths polluted his word despised if thy heart tells thee thou carest but little what become of Gods glory how often or by whom he be wronged so thy self be not touched what become of other mens souls whether they sink or swim if these things wring no sighs no prayers from thee in secret though thou hast a name to live thou art dead Thirdly Vse 3 here is matter of instruction We see here what 's the reason why the godly desire and seek the Reformation of sinners You shall sometimes hear a wicked fellow if a servant of God but reach him the helping hand of Christian admonition to pull him out of his sin fall a fuming and exclaiming what hath he to do with use let him look to himself he is more busie than needs he shall not answer for me c. But stay a little as David said to Eliab Is there not a cause Thy brother hath received mercy from the Lord and therefore cannot but shew mercy to thy soul grace hath kindled in his bosom a desire of thy good forbid him not to speak when the Lord hath bidden him He knows that as God is by thy sin dishonoured so by thy repentance he would be greatly honoured and that if Christ have not glory now by thy conversion and obedience he will get himself glory in thy confusion Hence it is that he calleth upon thee to renounce the works of the flesh Canst thou blame him Is it not a bruitish part to be angry with him that would gladly have thy company to heaven if thou stormest against those who wish thee in as happy a case as their own souls what wilt thou do to thine enemies This serveth lastly for exhortation Vse 4 to stir us all up as we would prove our selves right Christians by all good means within our power to endeavour that others may set forth the Lords glory Let us begin with those that are under our charge or nearest unto us and then extend our care to such as occasionally we converse and meet with teaching them who and what a one God is and what he requireth of us that we may honour him warning them of such things by which he is or might be dishonoured in them labouring their conversion and translation into Christs Kingdom because till they be truly turned they can never rightly glorifie him and multitude of subjects is a Kings glory at least restraining them from open profanation of his name How do the followers of noble Personages bestir themselves that their Lords may have honourable respect in every place where they come What child desires not to see his father very wealthy The Lord give us such minds and hearts toward our heavenly father The second end respecting the Thessalonians followeth which is 1 propounded 2 amplified from the cause of it propounded thus and ye in him that is and ye thus living to his glory may be glorified in and through the Lord Jesus Observe hence only one instruction that They which glory in Christ Doct. shall he glorified by and with Christ Rom. 8 17 2 Tim. 2.12 For first God
observing and taking heed of this thief this murtherer Thirdly not to insult over Vse 3 nor to be censorious in judging Christians for their falls Seest thou one that calls on the name of Christ do this or that unbeseeming his profession do not presently condemn him for an hypocrite nor cease to acknowledge him for a brother but rather support him in love and the spirit of meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted remembring that thy self though as famous for faith and sanctitie as any of these Thessalonians art in danger to do as much yea more if the Lord do not lead thee in his truth and righteousness But let no man mistake me or deceive himself I speak of one who failing in some particular act is for the main undefiled in his way not of a man that follows sin as a trade and after illumination and admonition purposeth to go on still in his trespasses We may as lawfully and certainly judge such an one to be de presenti a slave of the Devil one far off the kingdom of God as call that a crab-tree which beareth crabs or a thorn which bringeth the fruits of a thorn The second instruction is Doct. 2 The godly must by all means grace their calling Christians must so demean themselves both in peace and trouble as they may honour and credit the Christian-name and profession For Paul's prayer includes the Thessalonians duty as if he should say we knowing and considering that this is a main thing chiefly to be looked unto by you that are believers worthy the labour of your lives do constantly beg for you at the hands of God this grace that he would make you worthy of this calling The Ephesians are exhorted to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called Timothy must teach women to carry themselves as becommeth those that profess godliness And good reason For First Reason 41 in so doing they honour the holy name of God by causing the doctrine and religion of God to be well-thought and well-spoken of Whereas by staining their profession they blemish the glorious name of God For they open the mouths of the prophane to blame and blaspheme religion to rail against and curse the Gospel which things must needs redound to his dishonour Hence the Lord complaineth of the Jews that by their idolatrous mariages they had prophaned his holiness and again for that they had made his name to be prophaned among the Gentiles by their wicked lives Indeed the doctrine is holy and good and no way to be charged with the faults of the persons yet the men of the world judge of the doctrine the worth and sweetness whereof they know not by the works and fruits which they see and know and conclude there is no such holiness goodness power in Gods School because no more appears in their lives Therefore the Apostle would have young women obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not blasphemed and servants faithful to their masters that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour See Tit. 2.5 10. 1 Tim. 6.1 Secondly Reason 2 hereby they may further the conversion of the uncalled How is that may some say I answer when they shall evidently see what a broad difference there is betwixt their own lives and the lives of the godly they may by Gods blessing be convinced that they are out of the way of life When their experience shall teach them that in those whom they have often reviled and condemned nothing is found worthy to be blamed they may be brought to feel shame and self-condemning accusation in their own consciences when they behold such worthy fruits of religion in the lives of others as even they that will not be good cannot but commend and admire they be drawn to some liking of religion allured to look into it to enquire and hearken after it to be acquainted with those that teach and profess it till at length they be taken in Gods net Whereas by blemishing their profession they hinder the salvation of others hearten and harden the wicked in rebellious courses in hatred or dislike of Gods truth who think they have good cause to hate it seeing it produceth no better effects in those that follow it and so drives them further from grace and Gods kingdome Thirdly Reson 3 justice and gratitude requires it For this calling is honourable and honoureth us it makes us of Gods houshold children of God and the Church members of the Son of God setteth before us a kingdome a crown of erernal glory as the prize for which the goal to which we must runne Is not this a great dignity Is not this so worthy a calling worthy honouring are we not guilty of horrible unthankfulness unrighteousness if we do not honour it all we are able Before we come to application Quest it shall not be amiss for further explication of the point to answer one question how do Christians honour or dishonour their calling Sundry waies Answ but these are the principal 1. They honour it by growing up to an holy dexterity and skilfulness in the trade of Christianity when they so receine the word as they encrease in knowledge and holiness labour still more and more to abound and excell in spiritual understanding maturity of judgement power and ability to subdue evil and do good Contrariwise they disgrace Christianity by non-proficiency when after much teaching they continue silly punies babish ignorant sticking and stumbling in the very grounds and easiest points of religion ever learning and never attaining to any solid distinct orderly knowledge of Diuinity 2. They honour it by stedfast persisting in the holy doctrine they have received against all contrary blasts of vain mouths when they are so rooted and grounded in the truth that they are able to stand firme and unmoveable against the enticing words of corrupt Teachers yea to trie their spirits discover and avoid them On the contrary they dishonour it by being reeds and weathercocks in religion when they hearken unto and suffer themselves to be seduced by the subtilties of impostors and glorious shews of counterfeit Angels of light vomit up again the wholesom doctrine they have taken down and drink in the lying words of deceitful workmen 3. They honour it by an unspotted conversation when like Zachary and Elizabeth They walk in all the commandments of the Lord blameless and are as the Philippians are exhorted to be unblameable sincere harmless without rebuke shining as lights in the world that is so frame their lives as they cannot justly be accused of any open and gross sin after their calling They dishonour it by falling into reproachful and scandalous evils 4. They honour it by abounding in fruits of righteousnefs when they labour to be full of good works holy just profitable actions ever to be speaking and doing that which is agreeable to the word of grace and may honour God edefie the inward or help the
children bodily strength and activity friends gifts of nature graces of the spirit say with Jacob these are the riches the children the gifts which God hath graciously given me If thou feelest at any time such thoughts as these arising in thy heart Because of my sincerity obedience hearty and constant praying I have better children better success in the world than others I am preserved and delivered out of dangers wherein others perish judge them to be the issue of Satan that father of pride who perswaded our first parents and still would all his posterity to affectate the Divinity and therefore serve these cockatrice eggs as they deserve trample upon them crush them east them in the Devils face know that our obedience is not a cause of Gods kindness and benignity but a way or path leading to the taste and feeling of it God who is faithful having promised that whosoever walk in that way shall find him gracious and bountiful or a condition pre-required in those that shall taste the fruits of his goodness which condition not man by his own power performeth but the grace of God worketh and produceth Thirdly Vse 3 This should stir us up to magnifie and extol this goodness of God which giveth us all good things not onely abundantly but freely If all the rivelets of blessings wherewith we are watered flow from the Sea of his mercy its meet they should reflow thither by thanksgiving We should imitate the Marigold vvhich continually turneth it self to the Sun from whom it receiveth juyce If we have received great kindness from one at whose hands vve could never have expected or deserved any such thing how are vve affected with it vve cannot easily make an end of commending him nor satisfie our selves in thanking him Oh say we such a man is a mirrour of good nature When I was a meer stranger to him had none to mediate for me could give him nothing nor any way pleasure him of his own accord out of his own free disposition he thus and thus befriended me Oh how am I bound to him I shall never forget it while I live How much more brethren should the praises of the goodness of our God be ever in our hearts in our mouths who loved us when we were enemies sought us when we strayed like lost sheep sound us when we sought him not called us when we resisted him remembreth us when we forget him keepeth promise with us most faithfully when we are unfaithful to him followeth and ladeth us with his benefits when we have forfeited all by unthankfulness undutifulness how should we awaken our dead hearts to admire and glorifie this so free mercy of the Lord 2 Sam. 7.21 and say for thine own sake and according to thine own heart O God hast thou shewed me unworthy wretch Neh. 9.5 less than the least of all thy mercies all this grace and truth blessed be thou for ever and ever and blessed be thy glorious name which is exalted above all blessing and praise Let this suffice to have been spoken of the first lesson Now secondly vvhenas the Apostle prays in this manner for a people excelling many in grace and goodness in the next place we set down this conclusion Doct. 2 Fulness of grace is not given at once but by degrees God is able enough to replenish his children with all holiness and lift them from the hell of misery wherein he finds them to a state of perfect happiness in a moment yet he pleaeth to proceed step by step in opening and displaying to them the treasures of his goodness and not in an instant to powre out upon them all his spiritual riches Therefore Salomon compares a just mans path to the shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day Pro. 4.18 Hence are these Exhortations as ye have received of us 1 Thes 4.1 how ye ought to walk and please God so abound more and more grow in grace put on the new man cleanse your selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit and these promises the righteous shall grow like a Caedar in Lebanon ye shall grow up as the calves of the stall and the like For First Reason 1 the Lord stoopeth to our infirmity We are dull in conceiving slow of heart to belieue like infants or narrow-mouthed vessels which receive liquor but by drops As therefore the loving nurse or mother in feeding the wise father or school-master in teaching accommodate themselves to childrens vveakness rather considering vvhat and how they are able to take than striving to powre in all themselves are able to give whereby life or memory may be over-whelmed so the Lord in dispensing of his graces attempers himself and his dealing to the infirm capacity of his servants imparting them by degrees because they are not fit to receive them otherwise Secondly Reason 2 as God in the first creation made and adorned this spacious and specious world not in a moment which to him had been as easie but successively in six days space partly that man might learn by his example to take more time leisurely and distinctly to meditate of his works partly to help man the better to conceive of his workmanship and in what order the parts of the building were joyned together whence many profitable considerations arise whereof this is not the least the admirable power of the builder appears in causing light and day before there was any Sun grass before rain and the like which we should not have seen if all had been dispatcht in an instant so in the reparation of the world he perfects sanctification in his children gradually by little and little that he may lead them to a more distinct and punctual notice-taking of all his graces in themselves and the foot-steps of the worker that is the sundry wonderful waies and passages of his providence and administration in the perfecting of them Whence they gather much sweet experimental knowledge that he may give occasion more fully to observe deeply ponder and highly praise his wisdom and power which shine forth more conspicuous and illustrious in his making a small grain of grace to prevail against a world of corruption and bringing them thorow so many weaknesses battels seas of troubles and temptations falls and foiles every of them threatning death to compleat holiness and happiness than if he had made them perfect at their conversion Thirdly Reason 3 the Lord will have his children wrestle for a time in a state of imperfection that he may train them up in humility Let them see their own impotency and that all their strength is in him and from him quicken them to pray and earnestly desire the coming of the kingdom of glory teach them to ascribe their salvation wholly to him duly to value and esteem his graces the want whereof hath so pinched them the keeping and increase whereof costs them no small care strugling and contention Our first father received all his
is a bountiful rewarder of all diligent and faithful servants of his most beloved Son Secondly the members must follow and be conformed to the head Now Christ the head of believers first glorified his father upon earth and was afterward glorified with that glory which he had with the father before the world Therefore the faithful shall go the same way that is after they have finished their course of obedience in doing and suffering to the glory of Christ they shall be received into the glory of Christ and the Father Thirdly in glorifying the godly Christ glorifieth himself Relatives mutually give and receive honour The nobility beauty bravery discretion of a wife is an honour to the husband and the glory of the spouse of Christ shall fet forth and illustrate the glory of Christ If any ask Quest what is this glory which the Lord bestows upon his Saints that honour him I answer Answ It s either present or future Present in this world a preamble to that which shall follow in the next is either more open and manifest or more hidden and secret More manifest is when God gives them some great and famous deliverance or lifts them from a base and mean condition to places of dignity or makes them to be highly reverenced and had in precious esteem even amongst those who are of a different religion and contrary disposition Joseph had great glory in the Egyptian Court Ge. 45.13 Moses was very great in the sight of Pharoahs servants and the people of Egypt David honourable in Sauls house 1 Sa. 22.14 Mordecai in the Court of Ahasuerus Est 8.15 More secret is when the wicked who openly despise vilifie condemn the godly are forced inwardly to justify them and to feel their own consciences telling them that they or no people in the world are in an happy estate and in the way of life Whence it is that sometimes we have known Mockers and professed Enemies of Gods Servants Puritans Men call them now adays in cold bloud or in the evil day desire their prayer wish to dy their death and commit to their trust most important businesses For the spirit of glory rests upon them which causeth the face to shine and imprints that Majesty in the countenance or conversation which makes their persons no less venerable and terrible to those that hate them than amiable to those that love them Future is that wherewith they shall be crowned in the life to come when every faithful person shall be cloathed in soul and body from top to toe with such glory as shall cause admiration in men and Angels and dwell for ever with most glorious company in a most glorious Mansion of which particulars I think it not fit to treat largely in this place it shall suffice briefly to have named them because I hasten to an end First Then it follows hence Vse 1 by the rule of contraries that the end of all such as either oppugne the glory of Christ or wholly neglecting it hunt and hawk after the glory of the World shall be shame and confusion Think on this ye proud vain-glorious men who leave no stone unmoved that you may magnifie your selves whose only study and strife is to climb to the height of earthly greatness but if the name of Christ lie inglorious in the dust will not wag a tongue stir a hand or foot to lift it up Think on this ye persecutors of Christs truth ways sincere servants ponder it betimes and believe before you feel Though your excellency mount up to Heaven and your fame reach unto the ends of the Earth though all mouths should bless you all tongues extol you to the skies and all knees bow unto you yet shall you perish like your own dung leave your names as a curse which religious posterity shall abhor and detest as the smoke of a dunghil or stink of a carcase and in the day of the Lord if not in this life be brought to a shameful ruine and clothed with ignominy never to be removed Secondly Vse 2 This must comfort us against the shame of the world and encourage us patiently to bear the reproach of Christ Are we scoffed at reviled slandered by wicked tongues overwhelmed with calumnies and indignities because we are zealous for the Lord Jesus and do the things are pleasing in his sight remember the time will come when Christ shall abolish our shame and deck us with his own glory when both our persons names shall shine as the Sun in his brightness Do the children of this world disgrace us Christ will honour us Do we lose our credit with men for submitting to Christs Laws We shall recover it with advantage when Christ shall admit us to society in his own happiness to eat to drink and reign with him in his kingdom Lastly Vse 3 this should admonish and provoke us if we desire never-fading glory to be studious and zealous of Christs glory He that will neglect himself and all things for honouring Christ shall neuer want true honour tho the world think this the high way to shame and dishonour Here is a lesson for all ambitious spirits thirsting after renown Lo this is the path leading to the temple of honour O ye sons of the mighty the way to be famous and glorious is doing homage to the Son of God Exalt him in your hearts houses dominions and he shall promote you to greatest dignity Advance him by your Councils swords Authority and he shall advance you yea make you an eternal excellency Honour him in his ordinances ministers members and he shall make you high in name in grace and in honour 1 Sam. 7.9 The zeal of Gods house consumed David and God made him a great name like unto the name of the greatest men of the earth Do not think that pomp and Bravery Wit and Policy Worldly wealth preferment and power of commanding many sumptuous buildings stately tombes and monuments much less cruelty and tyranny shall immortalize your names no no its blessed conformity to Christ in true spiritual purity hearty subjection to his government and down-right resolution for his cause which shall embalm and emblemish your memorials that children unborn may admire the fragrancy and splendor of them and at last set upon your head an immarescible crown of glory Be strong therefore and do it for if you despise and pollute the Name of the Lord Jesus know for a certain that he will expose your names to contempt and make your memory not De● 9.20 If you transgress against the Lord it shall not be for your honour the seed of evil doers shall never be renowned the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it The cause of this glory remaineth in the last words according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ the meaning is the which glory cometh and shall be bestowed upon you O Thessalonians and all other believers from the free favour and