spirituall welfare of his children The Psalmist having mentioned and set forth the felicity and prosperity of the faithfull servants of God In the multiplication of their seed in the increase of their wealth in the Lords dispensation of joy in heavinesse of safety in dangers of deliverance in distresses of exaltation after all oppositions to Gods Church and children concludes thus The wicked shall see it and be grieved he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away the desire of the wicked shall perish Wicked men are more grieved at good mens prosperity then at their owne misery It is a sure argument of raigning prophanenesse to sorrow for the welfare of the righteous All Hamans honours and preferments availe him nothing while he sees Mordecai sitting in the gate Wicked men often lose the comfort of all their owne earthly fulnesse whiles they behold the prosperity and welfare of Gods Church and righteous servants The exaltation of Christs Kingdome and flourishing of the Gospell doth fill some men with such vexation that all their wealth honours and high places seeme to them as nothing No doubt it much troubled the Philistines to see the Arke of the Lord stand upright and Dagon broken to a stump It is a great trouble to many people to see the Kingdome of Christ stand and the Gospell to flourish and the Dagon of superstition usury drunkennesse c. disgraced shamed and cast to ground the Priests the Captaine of the Temple and the Sadduces were grieved that the Disciples taught the people and preached through Iesus the resurrection from the dead and the two Prophets in the Revelation are said to torment them that dwell on the earth The glorious shining of the Sunne is a trouble to diseased eyes the bright and cleare shining of the truth is a torment to prophane and ungracious soules such as grieve not for their sin grieve at the Gospell the meanes of mortifying sin such as most rejoyce in superstition prophanenesse and the vanities of the world are most grieved and troubled at the powerfull preaching of the Gospell O how great is mans blindnesse how strange is mans perversenesse that he should be most grieved and troubled at the presence of that which God hath ordained to be the instrument of mans greatest honour profit and comfort CHAP. X. ALl men should learne by this to worke their hearts to imploy their thoughts and to give themselves to the utmost of their abilities to the advancement of Christs Kingdome and Gospell to the setting up of Christ upon his throne in his Church here on the face of the earth Zadok the Priest Nathan the Prophet Benaiah the sonne of Jehoiada and the Cherethites and the Pelithites caused Solomon to ride upon the Kings mule they anointed him King in Gihon and all the servants of King David came and said God make the name of Solomon better then thy name and his throne greater then thy throne All Kings and rulers all Ministers and teachers should set up Christ and cause him to ride in spirituall triumph upon Gods Church and all the servants of the Lord from the highest to the lowest should pray for the prosperity successe honour and enlargement of Christs Kingdome All Magistrates as representative gods should be in stead of God to Christs Church as shepheards they should see that spirituall pastures be provided for Christs flocke and that all wolves beares and foxes all instruments of annoyance be kept far from them as nursing fathers and nursing mothers they should be carefull that provision be made for Christs family and as they are stiled the shields of the earth so they should be carefull to minister defence to Christs Church and people against the power and fury of all that offer any injury to them Thus they must kisse the sonne with the kisse of love and affection with the kisse of honour and exaltation with the kisse of reverence and subjection with the kisse of congratulation and rejoycing with the kisse of prayer and wel-wishing endeavouring to the utmost of their power the propagation of Christ and his Gospell All Ministers as builders in Christs house as stewards in Christs family as teachers in Christs schoole as labourers in Christs vineyard as under-rowers in Christs ship as burning lamps in Christs Temple as watchmen in Christs City should by their frequent preaching wholsome doctrine sharp reprehension wise admonition seasonable and gracious consolation and holy walking propagate the Gospell advance the Kingdome and increase the number of Christs people and make the Lord Jesus every day more and more glorious in the eyes of all beholders All Masters and rulers of families should strive the exaltation of Christs Kingdome by being as Kings Prophets and Priests within their domesticall wals by their godly government Christian instruction and holy prayer and supplication with and for them that are under their jurisdiction teaching them with Abraham to know the Lord bringing them with Cornelius to the ministery of the word and making their houses with Philemon a Church of God All private persons should likewise put their hands to this worke and labour the setting up of Christs Kingdome and Gospell by flowing to the house of God as rivers to the ocean by comming speedily and unanimously as the doves unto the windowes as the Eagles to the carkasse or the lame unto Bethesda by growing in all spirituall gifts and graces as children grow in stature as trees in fruitfulnesse and as the light shineth more and more unto the perfect day by consecrating themselves to Christ and his service as souldiers to their Generall as servants to their Lord and Master and as a Spouse to their husband to fight Christs battels to doe Christs worke to love Christs name and to bring forth all their fruit to Christ as a wife brings forth all her children to her husband and by holy exhortation and gracious counsell perswading and drawing others to Christ to the knowledge faith love and obedience of Christ leaving other imployments at convenient seasons as the woman of Samaria left her water pot to bring other men to Christ as she brought her fellow citizens Considering as the Apostle saith one another and provoking one another to love and to good works being to their fellow brethren as spurres quickning them and as loadstones drawing them daily nearer and nearer unto Christ labouring to make Christ appeare more amiable and glorious in the eyes of all their fellow-servants As all the rivers great and small empty themselves into the sea to the filling up of the sea so let us all high and low young and old rich and poore bond and free empty our selves and all our abilities and endeavours into Christ to the filling up of Christ his Church his Kingdome his mysticall body which is the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all As all the people who were willing hearted both men
the Friends of Christ David was a man of love to God a man of sweet and strong affections He useth many feeling and lively expressions hereof and his joy was sutable to his love he was glad to goe up to the house of the Lord he rejoyced in praysing God My lips shall greatly reioyce when I sing unto thee He rejoyced in visiting the house of God he went to the house of God with the voice of ioy and praise with the multitude that kept holy day He rejoyced in the understanding meditation and service of God he rejoyced in the Way of Gods testimonies as much as in all riches He is no friend of Christ that doth not rejoyce in Christ he is no lover that is not a joyfull receiver of Christ in the Gospell His pretence and profession of love is not reall but counterfeit and hypocriticall How canst thou say thou lovest me said Dalilah once to Sampson when thy heart is not with me Thus how can man say he loves Christ when his heart the joy and delight of his heart is not with Christ how is it possible man can love Christ and yet Christ be unwelcome Christs unwelcomnesse to man in his Gospell proclaimes the enmity of mans heart against him Where is our faith in Christ if Christ be not welcome doe we chuse and single out Christ to our selves to be our Mediatour and Saviour Doe we build on Christ as on a sure rocke Doe we apprehend and take Christ by the hand of faith into a spirituall wedlâ—cke as the husband of our soules Doe we make Christ our treasure our crowne our royall roabe of righteousnesse Doe we by the bucket of faith draw waters of salvation out of Christ as out of a living fountaine and yet not rejoyce in Christ not bid him joyfully welcome it is impossible A beleeving apprehension is comfortable an unbeleeving apprehension ministers no rejoycing It is recorded of Jacob that his sons telling him Joseph is yet alive and he is Governour over all the land of Egypt Jacobs heart fainted for he â— beleeved them not afterwards beleeving he much rejoyced but now not beleeving his heart fainted Thus man hearing of Christs life and kingdome hearing him preached in the Gospell as the Author of life and King of Kings and Lord of Lords hearing great and glorious things spoken of Christ and his heart fainting his soule sad dull troubled and not solaced with it that man beleeves not for the soule is filled with all ioy in beleeving Where is our pricing of Christ He that doth not rejoyce in Christ comming in the Gospell hath a very low esteeme of Christ The Spouse had a high esteeme of Christ surpassing all creatures and her soule was ravished with love to him and with joy in him The Merchant in the parable prized the pearle above all that he had and as he highly prized it so he was glad when he found it Did we prize Christ as the hungry prizeth food the sicke health the captive liberty the rich his treasure the King his crowne we could not but rejoyce in Christs comming as people in a famine rejoyce in the comming of the harvest sicke men in restoration of health captives in a Jubilee and the rich in his treasure the true valuing of Christ makes his comming in the Gospell matter of more rejoycing then the comming of all the fulnesse of the world Where is our taste and rellish our sence and feeling of Christ if we rejoyce not in Christ comming in the Gospell the taste of wine rejoyceth the thirsty the taste of meat rejoyceth the hungry He that hath no joy in Christ hath no taste of Christ Christ is not unto him as Isaacks venison was to him savoury meat which his soule loved The things of God are unsavoury unto such but the soule which doth rellish Christ which tasteth how good Christ is doth abundantly rejoyce in Christ to him Christs good oyntments his saving gifts and graces are savory are tasted perceived felt like good oyntments with great joy and revivement of heart and his name is as an oyntment powred forth the doctrine of his grace the name of his wisedome in opening his fathers counsell the name of his merit in purchasing mans salvation the name of his mercy in pardoning mans sinne the name of his righteousnesse in justifying mans soule the name of his love in embracing and solacing mans heart this is an oyntment powred out this in the preaching of the Gospell casteth a sweet savour as oyntment doth in the powring forth as the breaking of the boxe of oyntment in the Gospell and powring it upon Christs head filled the house with the savour thereof so the opening of Christ in the Gospell giveth a sweet savour to the hearts of all Christians The true receivers of Christ find a very sweet and blessed a very gracious and soule-refreshing taste in Christ And as we professe our selves to be schollers in Christs schoole servants in Christs family members in Christs body subjects friends and Spouse of Christ so let us rejoyce in the comming of Christ in his Gospell as a traveller rejoyceth in the comming of the Sunne to guide him as the subject rejoyceth in the comming of the King to honour him as the captive rejoyceth in the comming of the ransomer to free him as the sicke rejoyceth in the comming of the Physitian to cure him as the childe rejoyceth in the comming of the nurse to feed him and as the bride rejoyceth in the comming of the bridegroome to marry her In him let us rejoyce as in the Sun enlightening us as in the friend solacing us as in the shield defending us as in the King honouring us as in the treasure enriching us as in the jewell adorning us as in the fountaine filling us and as in the paradise of our most choise and everlasting pleasures and in the joy of our soules let us say Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. CHAP. VIII DAvid did not onely rejoyce in the Arke and dance before it in testimony of his joy but did also erect and set it up in the midst of the Tabernacle Every man that doth indeed rejoyce in Christ every man to whom Christ is truly welcome doth desire and endeavour the exaltation of Christ the setting up of Christs kingdome the welfare of Christ and his Gospell therefore the people here say Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord not only by way of exaltation and rejoycing in Christs comming but also by way of exoptation and wel-wishing heartily desiring the welfare and prosperity of Christ his kingdome and Gospell Blessed be he furnished be he with the greatest and choisest wisedome righteousnesse prudence mercy power fortitude and courage for the administration of his kingdome and people successefull be he in the promulgation and preaching of his Gospell in the gubernation of his
Church and children in the dissipation of all adversary powers victorious be he in the subjugation and conquest of his enemies glorious be he in the conversion of sinners in the multiplication and increase of his holy and loyall subjects beautifull and amiable be he in the eyes of all persons Let his Gospell shine like the Sun from the one end of heaven unto the other Let his name be as an oyntment powred out casting a sweet smell throughout this great house of the world to him let all the Kings and kingdomes of the earth vaile and stoop become truly obedient and subject This is the prayer desire and endeavour of all that rejoyce in Christ aright teaching us That It is the duty of all people unfainedly to desire and earnestly to endeavour the welfare promotion and advancement of Christ his spirituall kingdome and Gospell David and all the house of Israel joyned together in erecting and setting up the Arke in the Tabernacle Kings and Subjects Masters and servants parents and children the people of every calling and condition should unite their forces their hearts and hands their counsels and tongues their affections and endeavours to set up Christ to advance his Gospell to honour and enlarge his kingdome This was shadowed in the building of the Temple to the building thereof concurred Solomon and his servants Hyram of Tyrus and the Sydonians who did hew the timber for it to the building of the Church of Christ to the setting up of Christ and his Gospell there should be an universall unanimous full and sweet concurrence of men of all nations of Kings and subjects of Lords and servants of Ministers and people every man in the place and calling wherein God hath set him according to the gift and endowment which God hath bestowed on him must concurre in his prayers and endeavours to advance the honour and kingdome of Christ Jesus This was also figured in the neighbouring Kings payment of tribute unto Solomon desiring his friendship and by variety of gifts and presents making their peace with him All people comming from all the Kings of the earth to heare his wisedome the whole as in a shadow presignifying mens payment of the spirituall tribute of feare and reverence faith and obedience love and thankfulnesse unto Christ their entring into a Covenant of peace with Christ their seeking of the love and friendship of Christ their attendance upon the Gospell to heare and learne Christs wisedome their dedication of themselves and their substance to the service of Christ their spirituall subjection unto Christ and their holy and gracious endeavours to make the name of Christ glorious This was foretold by the Psalmist they that dwell in the wildernesse shall bow before him and his enemies shall licke the dust they shall humble themselves under the mighty hand of Christ they shall acknowledge and receive him as their Lord they shall feare and reverence him as their King they shall vaile and bow to his scepter they shall put themselves and all that is theirs under Christ they shall give themselves to the exaltation and setting up of Christ The Kings of Tharsis and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts they shall consecrate their abilities to Christs service they shall communicate of their substance to the maintenanne of Christs Church and Ministers to the preservation and increase of Christs kingdome All Kings shall fall downe before him all nations shall serve him All shall adore and serve him as their King all shall exalt and honour him as loyall subjects their heavenly Soveraigne all persons from the highest to the lowest must serve the Lord Jesus and study to make him glorious grace works obedience in the hearts of Princes as well as in the hearts of beggars The Sun as well as the stars did obeysance unto Joseph in his vision Kings as well as inferiour persons doe obâ—â—â—ance unto Christ under his kingdome and Gospell The foure and twenty Elders in Saint Johns vision fell downe before him that sate on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crownes before the throne Godly Kings and Governours cast their crownes their dominion dignity power honour and jurisdiction and all that they have before Christ they make all serviceable to the exaltation of Christ and his kingdome This was like prophecyed by the Prophet Esay the abundance of the sea multitudes of men dwelling in Islands shall be converted unto thee shall be gathered unto the Church and kingdome of Christ and the forces great troupes and companies of the Gentiles shall come to thee shall be joyned to the people of God embrace their Religion and enter into a sweet and gracious fellowship with them They shall bring gold and incense they shall contribute liberally to the maintenance of the Gospell and Christs poore members they shall dedicate their earthly abundance to Christs service and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord they shall be very industrious and studious to make the name of the Lord Jesus glorious The sonnes of strangers shall build up thy wals become members in thy house and fellow-helpers in thy worke and their Kings shall minister unto thee shall serve Christ and labour the welfare of his Church and kingdome The glory of Lebanon shall come to thee there is nothing so excellent which shall not put it selfe under Christ and be made serviceable to his Gospell and kingdome and thus our Saviour taught his Disciples to pray that Gods kingdome might come that the Gospell might be preached and men filled with the light thereof As the aire is filled with light upon the comming of the Sunne that the Holy-Ghost might be powred out and the hearts of men inspired with the knowledge love and obedience of the truth that all the lusts of men the impediments of Gods gracious kingdome in the soule of man might be crucified and utterly extinct and that God might universally spiritually and fully reigne in the hearts of men all the weapons of their rebellion laid aside and their soules brought into a gracious subjection and it is the Apostles charge pray that the word of the Lord may run have a free and a speedie passage running as the Sun shining to all the corners of the world and running as the rivers to water the earth and be glorified by the pure and powerfull preaching of it by the holy and gracious working of it by the ready and cheerfull entertainment of it and by the holy and humble subjection of the soules of men under it Mans obedience makes the word very glorious and the free and speedy passage and powerfull working of the Gospell should be earnestly prayed for by the Lords people this is the charet on which Christ rideth in spirituall triumph this is the scepter by which he swayeth in the soules of his chosen and the welfare of this doe all the
friends and welwishers of Christ much desire and with great earnestnesse endeavour gird thy sword upon thy thigh saith the Psalmist in the person of the faithfull unto Christ O most mighty shew thy selfe in thy word and Gospell like a mighty man of warre fully armed to mortifie the lusts to humble the soules and to bring into subjection all the thoughts of thy servants and doe this in thy glory and in thy maiesty make thy selfe appeare dreadfull and glorious by the powerfull and gracious effects of thy Gospell and in thy majesty ride upon the word of truth the Gospell of salvation prosperously Be thou successefull in the preaching of the Gospell for the speedy and universall manifestation of it to all people for the profligating and putting to flight of all false doctrines and corrupt worship as the Sunne doth dispell the clouds and Aarons rod devoured the Magitians serpents for the reclaiming and gathering home the soules of men as the shepheard gathereth home the sheep by his voice for the healing of the diseased soules of men as Bethesda healed the diseased bodies for the setting up of thy throne in their hearts to raigne and rule within them as a King reigneth in his Throne Christs blessed successe in the ministery of the Gospell is both the wish and prayer joy and labour of all that love him He is a very stranger to Christs kingdome that seekes not Christs exaltation The true members of Christ preferre the welfare of Christs Church kingdome and Gospell above the welfare of their owne estate and person As the arme lifteth up it selfe to receive the blow rather then it shall fall upon the head such as clearly discerne and truly taste Christ in the Gospell are very solicitous to uphold Christs kingdome and propagate his Gospell Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seeke thy good saith David to Jerusalem because the doctrine of salvation is there published the worship of God there erected and God there manifested and made knowne I will seeke thy good I will endeavour thy safety I will doe what in me lies to uphold the doctrine there taught and the worship there established I will seeke the good thereof by prayer and supplication by advice and counsell by communicating whatsoever is behoofull either for the supportation honour or comfort of it A good man will not willingly keep backe any thing which may tend to the advancement of Christ his Gospell and kingdome and thus it ought to be 1. In regard of the Covenant between us and Christ we are baptized into the name of Christ into the faith of Christ to beleeve in him as the authour of our salvation into the religion of Christ to adore and worship him as our spirituall and heavenly Soveraigne into the doctrine of Christ to learne him as the truth is in him to heare him as the great Prophet and Doctor of his Church into the profession of Christ openly declaring our hope and expectation of salvation by Christ our subjection under Christ and our dependance upon Christ into the service of Christ being dedicate and set apart by Baptisme unto Christ as his peculiar people to adore and serve him to honour and exalt him and into the death of Christ receiving Baptisme as a testimony of mortification and as an instrument of the Holy-Ghost for the extinguishing and killing of sinne by the death and for the quickning of our soules by the resurrection of Christ to the end that we who live should live no more unto our selves but unto Christ This is the tenour of the Covenant which the Lord himselfe uttered by the mouth of the Prophet I will be their God I will be their King to command them their counsellor to guide them their shield to defend them their Saviour to minister salvation to them their father to make provision for them to communicate the sence of my love unto them and their portion to satisfie them and they shall be my people the schollers of my schoole to learne my will the subjects of my kingdome to honour and exalt me the servants of my family to obey and serve me and the bride of my delight to love me and to bring forth fruit to me By vertue of the Covenant between us and Christ our names are given unto Christ as souldiers to their Captaine to fight for Christ as subjects to their Soveraigne to exalt and magnifie the name of Christ to labour the welfare and honour of the kingdome of Christ Abner entring into Covenant with David went forth to bring about all Israel unto David to exalt and set up David and to increase the kingdome of David Thus man being entred into Covenant with Christ must bring himselfe and all that is his and all other people so much as in him lies into subjection unto Christ he must to the utmost of his power labour the exaltation of Christ and his kingdome such men are very regardlesse of their holy covenant and sacred promise as labour not the exaltation of Christs kingdome and Gosple 2. In regard of the Relation betwixt us and Christ Christ is the King and we the Subjects Christ is the Lord and we the Servants Christ is the Head and wee the members Christ is the Bridegroome and we the Bride true Subjects endeavour the honour of their King and Kingdome Sauls Subjects would put to death all them who would not have Saul to reigne over them Davids Subjects preferred him above themselvs endeavoured his safety put themselves in hazard to safegard him accounted him worth ten thousand of themselves the members support and beare up the head imploy all their strength in the defence and honour of the head good servants labour their Masters honour and welfare Thy servants said Davids men to him are ready to doe whatsoever my Lord the King shall appoint and the Centurian could say of his servant Doe this and he doth it And the faithfull Spouse brings forth children to her husband she was a fruitefull Vine by the sides of his house and her children like Olive plants round about his Table a great honour a crowne as Salomon saith to her husband thus must we by vertue of that Relation which is betwixt us and Christ as loyall subjects mortifie and put to death whatsoever doth in us oppose Christs honour and dominion exalt Christ and his Gosple above our selves our ease profit or credit expose our selves to all difficulties dangers and inconveniences amongst men for the magnifying of Christs name and the welfare of Christs Gosple as good servants be ready to doe whatsoever Christ shall appoint us for the making of him glorious as true and living members of Christs mysticall body we must put our selves under Christ beare up Christ and make him conspicuous in the eyes of others and like a chaste Spouse bring forth all our fruite unto Christ endeavouring to the utmost of our power the
undertakings who strives not to make Christ glorious Christ being by the Disciples set upon this colt a great multitude spread their garments in the way and others cut downe branches from the trees and strawed them in the way When Christ is by his Ministers exalted and lifted up in the preaching of the Gospell many soules vaile and bow to him embrace and reverence him as their spirituall King and Soveraigne prostrating themselves and all that is theirs under him The multitude did not only straw the way with their garments and branches but they also cryed Hosanna to the sonne of David Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest Humble and beleeving soules receive and entertaine the Lord Iesus with very great ioy and gladnesse The blessed presence of Christ in the Gospell ministers matter of very great rejoycing here is such a sunne of heavenly light shining such a streame of consolations flowing such a store-house of spirituall treasure set open and such dewes of grace mercy and peace distilling that every man that hath an eye of wisedome to discerne Christ a hand of faith to lay hold on Christ and a heart of love to embrace Christs comming in the Gospell must needs say with the Psalmist Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. We are blessed out of the house of the Lord. The words are an Acclamation of the people declaring and setting forth the welcome of Christ to all beleeving soules their ioy and rejoycing conceived upon the comming of Christ among them their gratulation and thanksgiving for Christs appropinquation and comming nigh unto them their vote and exoptation of all prosperity blessed and happy successe to Christ in his kingdome Christs comming proves most ioyfull to them that lovingly receive and entertaine him All true beleevers are holy and hearty welwishers to the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ Iesus all manner of blessings attend and wait on the Lord Iesus in the humble and gracious use of his ordinances True Christians have such experience of the benefits and blessings mercies and comforts flowing from Christ in the ministery of his Gospell that with great joy and thanksgiving they cry out Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. In the words we have in the generall two things considerable 1. A Gratulation uttered by the people Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. 2. A Benediction pronounced by the Ministers of the Lord We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. In the gratulation there is 1. the Agent the people they blesse they rejoyce they are thankfull for Christs comming Man hath greatest cause of all creatures to reioyce in and for the comming of Christ Jesus 2. there is the Act Blessed praised exalted magnified be Christ Christ is worthy to be celebrated with all praises for his comming to us 3. there is the manner of their gratulation Blessed expressed 1. by way of thanksgiving and rejoycing and 2. by way of exoptation and wishing Whosoever truly reioyceth in Christ doth also wish well to the cause and kingdome of Christ 4. there is Movens or the party comming He who is the sonne of God by eternall generation and by grace of hypostaticall union the Prince of the Kings of the earth by authority and dominion He who is the head of the Church by spirituall Jurisdiction He who is the Redeemer of man by the merit of his obedience and passion He who is the Conquerour over hell death sinne and Satan by his Resurrection He who by his office is the Prophet instructing us the King commanding and defending us and the Priest offering himselfe a sacrifice for us He who is the Mediator between God and us by his intercession the fountaine of all mercy grace and peace unto us by divine ordination Blessed be he welcome be he in him let our soules rejoyce his comming let us entertaine with the chiefest and strength of our rejoycing The Lord Jesus ought to be the prime and compleat obiect of mans joyfulnesse 5. Here is his Motion Commeth Christ as God is every where and neither goes nor comes but fils all places yet he commeth by his Lawes and ordinances as a Prince by his Proclamations He commeth by his Ministers as a King by his Embassadours He commeth by his Incarnation as a brother taking our nature upon him He commeth by his gifts and graces best owed on us as a friend commeth by his love-tokens He commeth by his Word and Gospell as the Sun commeth by his light enlightening us as a King commeth by his Scepter binding bowing and inclining our hearts unto obedience as a Generall commeth by his military weapons casting downe the strong holds of sinne within us as the Cloud commeth by his dew watering refreshing and fructifying us as the Master of a feast commeth by his dainties feeding and feasting us as a Bridegroome commeth by his voice solacing and comforting us He commeth by his Sacrament as the King by his Broad Seale sealing to us the remission of our sinnes and justification of our soules through his righteousnesse he commeth by his holy and gracious operation upon our soules as the Sunne by casting a sweet and heavenly influence into our hearts as a King setting up his throne within us as a heavenly and Almighty Work-man new moulding new framing and fashioning us all these wayes comes the Lord Iesus to the soules of his servants Blessed is that person that knowes the way and manner of Christs spirituall and gracious comming Here is the terme from whence he commeth from God in the name of the Lord by the ordination and appointment of God with authority and commission from God every way fitted and furnished for the administration of his kingdome and accomplishment of the worke undertaken by him CHAP. II. I Will not insist on all these particulars but onely upon the peoples gratulation and Christs authority or commission First the peoples gratulation Blessed be he that commeth expressing their rejoycing and thanksgiving for Christs comming in his Gospell and spirituall kingdome Man blesseth man by making prayer and supplication for him God blesseth man by bestowing good things upon him by removing evill things from him and by turning all for good unto him and man blesseth God and Christ by thanksgiving to God and Christ well speaking of God and Christ holy and hearty rejoycing in God and Christ gracious and unfained wel-wishing unto the cause of God and Christ and thus the people in this place blesse Christs comming in the name of the Lord and hence we learne That Christ comming in his Gospell spiritual kingdome ought to be received and entertained with much thanksgiving reioycing The Arke was a type of Christ David at the comming of the Arke into the Tabernacle danced with all
his might and all the house of Israel brought up the Arke with shouting and with the sound of a Trumpet Thus should the soules of men be filled with very great thanksgiving and rejoycing at the comming of Christ among them this was prophecyed also and also given in charge long before the comming of Christ in the flesh Reioyce greatly O daughter of Zion shout O daughter of Ierusalem behold thy King commeth unto thee he is iust and having salvation lowly and riding upon an asse and upon a colt the fole of an asse As men rejoyce at an earthly Kings comming in love and mercy unto them so and much more should we rejoyce at Christs the spiritual and heavenly Kings comming in grace and mercy unto us the people piped with pipes and were exceedingly joyfull in the day of Salomons coronation when he was set up to raigne over them much greater should be our rejoycing in the day when Christ commeth to us by his Gospell and setteth up his spirituall kingdome in the hearts of his people This joy and rejoycing is promised by the Prophet in that day in the day of the Gospell in the day of Christs gracious and mercifull comming in the day of Christs erecting his spirituall and heavenly kingdome thou shalt say Lord I will praise thee I will be thankfull to thee I will exalt and magnifie thee I will confesse and acknowledge thy power to be a rocke that never sinketh thy truth to be a word that never faileth thy mercy to be a river whose water never decayeth and thy love to be a Sunne that never setteth and with ioy shall ye draw waters out of the Wells of salvation then shall we draw by the bucket of a lively faith spirituall and sweet strong and plentifull consolations from Christ who is a fountaine opened for sinne and for uncleannesse and out of the doctrine of the Gospell which like a river refresheth and maketh glad the hearts of the Lords people This joy and rejoycing is illustrated by a similitude taken from the light They that walked in darknesse have seene a great light they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death to them hath the light shined As the comming of the light is very joyfull to them that are in darknesse so is the comming of Christ in the Gospell very joyfull bringing spirituall and heavenly light to them that sate in darkenesse and the shadow of death all light is but darknesse and all joy but heavinesse in respect of that light and joy which ariseth from the comming of Christ Iesus and with great joy and gladnesse hath this comming of Christ been celebrated by the Angels Feare not saith the Angell to the Shepheards behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is borne this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and suddenly there was with the Angell a multitude of the heavenly hoast praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and in the earth peace good will towards men Thus likewise the multitude of Disciples beholding and seeing Christ come observing his miracles and embracing his doctrine they began to reioyce and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen saying Blessed be the King that commeth in the name of the Lord grace in heaven and glory to the highest The true and saving discerning of Christs comming and mighty operation in the Gospell ever makes the soule joyfull It is said of the Gentiles hearing Saint Paul to cite that prophecye of our Saviour I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles that thou shouldest be for salvation to the ends of the world that they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord they were glad as a man that sits in darknesse is glad of a light as a man that is arrested is glad of a surety to pay his debt as a man that is mortally sicke is glad of a Physitian to heale his disease as a man that is condemned is glad to heare of his comming that brings him a pardon very sweet and strong is that soules joy and gladnesse which hath a lively taste of the comforts and benefits springing from the comming of Christ in the Gospell They were not onely glad but they also glorified the word of God by understanding it as a word of wisedome by beleeving it as a word of truth by obeying it as a word of power by loving it as a word of goodnesse and by delighting in it as a word of surpassing and comfortable sweetnesse the soule that looks on Christ with joyfull apprehensions is very active and ready to glorifie Christ by faith and obedience Zacheus was very industrious to see Christ joyfull in his entertainment of Christ he made haste and came downe and received him joyfully Questionlesse every soule that truly desires to know Christ receives Christ comming in the Gospell with much thanksgiving and rejoycing Thus it is and thus it must be In regard of the cleare and comfortable revelation of God in Christ God is truly and savingly knowne only in and through his son God indeed is obscurely darkly known in his works as a God of power in his providence as a God of authority wisedome order in his common mercies as a God of bounty and in his punishments and judgements as a God of justice but in Christ opened preached in the Gospell God is known with a cleare a comfortable and saving knowledge as a father of grace and singular mercy and loving kindnes In Judah saith the Psalmist is God known his name is great in Israel in Iudah in his Church where his Word and Ordinances are where Christ is preached and the mystery of mans salvation is opened there God is knowne truly without errour perspicuously without obscurities and savingly without uncertainties there he is knowne as a King in his Courts for the glory and beauty which he there manifesteth as a teacher in his schoole for the wisedome and knowledge which he there dispenseth as a dweller in his house for the holy orders he there prescribeth and gracious rule and dominion he there erecteth and beareth in the soules of his servants as a bridegroome in the banqueting house for the spirituall dainties he there maketh for the cleare and open manifestations of himselfe and love and comforts hee there ministreth to his spirituall friends and guests and his name is great in Israell His power wisedome truth love and goodnesse is much magnified and very glorious in their apprehensions who know him in Christ Jesus Mans knowledge of God out of the Lord Jesus is nothing else but blindnesse nothing but miserable and uncomfortable ignorance for no man saith Christ knowes the Father but the Sonne and he to whom the Sonne will reveale him Christ is the lively image of the
welfare of Christs kingdome and Gospell Such men are altogether unmindfull of their relation unto Christ who desire not who labour not the prosperity of the Gospell and kingdome of Christ 3. In regard of Christs interest in us We are not our owne but Christs as sometimes the King of Syria said to the King of Israel thy silver and thy gold is mine thy wives also and thy children even the goodliest are mine Thus may Christ say to us thy body and thy soule thy wife and thy children thy gold and thy silver thy lands and thy livings and whatsoeuer thou hast is mine and we must answer as the King of Israel did My Lord O King I am thine and all that I have This the Lord claimeth by the mouth of the Prophet Now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and that formed thee O Israel I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine my chosen vessell my redeemer and sanctified one my childe my servant my jewell and the Lords portion saith Moses is his people Jacob is the Lot of his inheritance He hath separated and taken us unto himselfe to be his peculiar people whom he loves in whom he delights and to whom we must bring forth all our fruit and be unto him whatsoever we are as a portion or inheritance is all that it is to him that ownes it and Christs we are indeed by donation We are given unto him from eternity in the decree of Gods election by redemption he hath bought us with a price by vocation he called us out of darknesse into a marvellous light and hath made us a peculiar people to himselfe and also by way of spirituall Conjunction and wedlocke We are espoused unto Christ and are stiled his wife And as we are Christs so we must be for Christ so we must seeke the prosperity of Christs kingdome and advancement of his Gospell Thine are we O David and on thy side thou sonne of Jesse said Amasai to David peace peace be unto thee and peace be unto thine helpers Thus must we say unto Christ thine are we O Christ and on thy side O Sonne of God peace peace all welfare and prosperity be to thee and thy kingdome successefull be the labours and undertakings of all them that are thy ministeriall and underhelpers This is urged as a fruit and effect of Christs interest in us We are bought saith the Apostle with a price therefore let us glorifie God in our bodies and in our spirits and againe Christ hath died that wee who live should not henceforth live unto our selves but to him who died for us and rose againe That man doth not well consider Christs interest in him who puts not himselfe and all that is his upon Christs service He is doubtlesse a stranger to the efficacy and fruit of the worke of Christs redemption who doth not throughly apply himselfe to the setting up of Christ and his Gospell 4. In regard of the Subversion of Satan and his kingdome The setting up of the Arke was the fall of Dagon the setting up of the house of David was the overthrow of the house of Saul the setting up of Christ his Kingdome and Gospell is the overthrow of Satan Where the Gospell is preached and Christ set up Satan fals like lightning from heaven his holds of sin are overturned like the wals of Jericho at the blowing of the rammes hornes There is no competition between the Devils kingdome and the powerfull preaching of the Gospell When David was once set upon the throne all Israel by degrees came about left the house of Saul and bowed unto Davids scepter When Christ is set upon his Throne exalted and lifted up in the preaching of the Gospell all that are ordained unto life come about and stoop to Christ they leave the service of sinne Satan and the world and vaile to Christs scepter they turne from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God When Philip preached in Samaria the Devils went out of many that were possessed by them The Lord hath ordained the ministery of the Gospell to be the instrument and meanes of the ruine of Satans kingdome and for this cause we should come our selves to Christ and labour the welfare and increase of Christs Kingdome that Satan the grand adversary of our soules of our peace of our salvation may be overthrowne and troden under foot and have no more place in heaven in the Church of God in the hearts of the people of God but be cast out as a strong man bound is put out of his house and a King vanquished and overcome is cast out of his Kingdome He is no true subject unto Christ that endeavours not the subversion of Satan and his kingdome that Christ alone may raigne and have compleat dominion over Gods Church and people 5. In regard of the Glory Crowne and dignity of Gods Church and people The setting up of Christ his Gospell and Kingdome is the glory of the Church of God the appearance and shining of the Sunne in the fulnesse of his beauty is the glory of the world the presence of the Arke was the glory of Israel being a witnesse of Gods glorious presence among them the Lord there giving forth his oracles and hearing the prayers of his people Thus the presence appearance and bright shining of Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse in the Gospell is the glory of the Church Where Christ is in the Gospell there God is graciously present clearly manifesting himselfe to mens understanding and mercifully hearing and answering the prayers of his people and the place where the ordinances of God are where the Gospell is published and the mysteries of Gods Kingdome opened is called the habitation of his house and the place where his honor dwelleth The Lord doth ever shew himselfe very glorious to the soules of his servants in the use of his ordinances and vouchsafes great honour to the people in setting up his Gospell and Kingdome among them and therefore the Church of God is called the glorious rest of Christ because Christ by his Gospell and by his love and grace doth rest there that place is of all places most glorious which is the Evangelicall resting place of Christ and the Lord foretelling the multiplication of his Church the increase of his faithfull people and augmentation of his sonnes Kingdome saith he will glorifie the house of his glory and make his Church an eternall excellency and therefore we should mightily endeavour the exaltation of Christ and his Gospell because this is the honour crowne and glory of the Church The cleare full and open enjoyment of Christ in the Gospell is the prime glory of any place or people Such people are very base and ignominious whatsoever be their outward abundance who enjoy not Christ in his ordinance that man is altogether regardlesse of the
honour dignity and glory of Gods Church and people who labours not the exaltation of Christ and his Gospell CHAP. IX IN this as in a glasse we may with open face behold the great impiety and shamefull prophanenesse of three sorts of men 1. Such as have no regard nor desire unto no pleasure nor delight in the prosperity and welfare of Christs Kingdome and Gospell Like Gallio they care for none of these things it is a matter indifferent unto them whether the Gospell sinke or swim whither Christs Kingdome stand or fall flourish or wither the Lord saith of the wilde Asse I have made the wildernesse his house and the barren land his dwelling Heâ— scorneth the multitude of the City neither regardeth he the crying of the driver the range of the mountaines is his pasture and he seareheth after every greene thing Such wilde Asses are these men the wildernesse of the world is their habitation they regard not they desire nor with David to dwell in the house of the Lord they delight in a barren land where are no waters and wels of salvation they regard not the greene pastures of holy and heavenly doctrine in which the Lord feeds the soules of his people They thirst not after the still waters of the Gospell and sweet consolations of the Spirit with which God refresheth the soules of his children they scorne the multitude of the citizens of the new Jerusalem the holy assemblies of Gods people They goe not to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with the multitude that keeps it holy day neither regard they the voice of the spirituall driver they esteeme not the voice of Gods Minister endeavouring to drive them from the world unto Gods Church from sinne to holinesse and from Satan unto Christ the range of the mountaines is their pasture they seeke no food for their soules but worldly vanities they looke after no treasure but earthly substance they care not what become of Christ and his Gospell if it goe well with them according to the world The Harp and the Violl the Tabret and pipe saith the Lord by the Prophet and the wine are in their feasts but they regard not the works of the Lord neither consider they the operation of his hands Such men are blind and see not the beauties of Christ and his Gospell and therefore as it is a thing indifferent to the blind whether the Sun rise or set shine or be eclipsed so it is all one to these men whether the Sunne of Righteousnesse in the Gospell rise or set shine or shine not they neither rejoyce at Christs comming or grieve at Christs departing Such men are unsensible of the want of Christ and therefore doe no more regard Christs presence in the Gospell then a diseased man that feeles not his sicknesse regards the presence of a Physitian Such men are earthly minded altogether taken up with the world and therefore are uncapable of Christ unable to rellish any sweetnesse in Christ or to give him any audience in his Gospell Eliah spake mockingly of Baal to his worshippers Cry aloud for he is a God neither he is a talking or he is a pursuing or he is in a journey or peradventure he sleepeth and must be awaked and they cryed aloud from the morning to the evening but there was neither voice nor any to answer nor any that regarded We may truly say of these they are men but they are either a talking of the world or pursuing of the world with such earnestnesse or fallen into such a sinfull sleep and slumber that they cannot heare and though the Minister lift up his voice like a trumpet and cry aloud yet there is no voice nor answer of faith and obedience nor any regard shewed by them to Christ and his Gospell Such men are halting Israelites and luke-warme Laodiceans void of all true love to Christ and far from all Christian zeale for Christ Solon reputed him no good citizen who in a civill dissension risen in the City did adhere to neither party Such as cleave not to Christ and the Gospell in the dissention and opposition of the world are no true citizens of the new Jerusalem He that is not with me is against me saith Christ he that stands not on Christs side stands on Satans side he that serves not God serves Mammon he that hath not communion with Christ hath communion with the world Christ lookes upon all such as are not zealous for him as on enemies against him and he will spew them out of his mouth at last as foule abomination 2. A second sort are such as oppose Christs Gospell and Kingdome The house of Saul made long war against the house of David There is a family of prophane Saulites that make continuall opposition against the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ they will not have Christ rule over them they take counsell against the Lord and his Christ and say come let us breake their bonds asunder and cast away their cords from us Some are superstitious and as the Philistines would not suffer the Arke to stand upon the right hand of their Dagon no more will they suffer Christ and the Gospell to have preheminence above their traditions and devises some are covetous and as Jesse set David behind the ewes so doe these men set Christ and his word behind the world below their earthly imployments and undertakings some are ambitious and as Josephs brethren conspired against him because they were loth to vaile and bow to him Thus proud men conspire and combine against Christ and the Gospell being loth to deny and humble themselves and put their necks under Christs yoke some are under the power of prophanenesse with Ahab they sell themselves to commit wickednesse they are impatient of reproofe and therefore imprison the Prophet of the Lord Christ comming in the power of his Gospell is very uncomfortable and terrible to such as are under the power of their corruption some are prophanely iealous least the setting up of Christ and his Kingdome will crosse their profit and eclipse their honour and credit amongst men and therefore they seeke to suppresse the Gospell as Saul sought to suppresse David This moved Demetrius to accuse Paul and this caused Herod secretly to plot the death of Christ Christ and his Gospell have ever met with many oppositions from the world 3. A third sort are such as grieve at the prosperity and welfare of the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ When Nehemiah came to repaire the wals of Jerusalem Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite grieved exceedingly that there was a man come to seeke the welfare of the children of Israel It is a great griefe to many ill affected men that beare evill will to Sion to heare that God raiseth up any to repaire and build up Christs Church and Kingdome to seeke the
and women came and offered freely to the building of the Tabernacle so let us both men and women all that have a willing and a loving heart to Christ come and offer our selves and all that we have to Christ for the building up of the Church and Kingdome of Christ for the advancement of the Gospell of Christ And to excite and move our selves hereunto doe but consider how the exaltation of Christ his Gospell and Kingdome is the honour and glory of a Christian what is the glory of a servant but the enrichment of his Master by his industry what is the honour of a Subject but his loyalty to his King his exalting the name crowne kingdome and jurisdiction of his Prince what is the honour of a wife but her fidelity to her husband her cleaving close to her husband her bringing forth of many children to her husband and what is the crowne and dignity of all Christians but their serviceablenesse to Christ their exaltation of the name of Christ their cleaving close to Christ their bringing forth of much fruit to Christ their enlarging the territories of Christs kingdome Alphonsus had written on his Symboll as a character of his greatest honour these words Pro Lege pro Grege for the Law and for the people and this is the most honourable character of a Christian to make his heart and tongue his thoughts within and his works without to carry this inscription for Christ and for his Kingdome for his Church and for his Gospell He is every way of all persons the most honourable and glorious who is every way most for Christ Jesus 2. The argument and evidence of our love to Christ Where is our love to Christ as to our Lord and Master as to our King and Captaine as to our head and husband if we seeke not Christs honour if we doe not endeavour the exaltation of Christs kingdome Ionathan loved David as his owne soule and he stript himselfe of the roabe that was upon him and gave it to David and his garments even to his sword He that loves Christ will keep backe nothing from Christ he will disroabe himselfe to honour Christ to exalt his kingdome and beautifie his Gospell Jacob loved Rachel and he served for her twice seven yeares He that loves Christ will put himselfe upon any hardnesse for Christ Christian love reputes the honouring and exaltation of Christ Jesus a sufficient recompence to its greatest losses and hardest service Love will make a man even holily prodigall in his layings out for the exaltation of Christs Gospell and kingdome 3. Observe the perill of not endeavouring the welfare of Christs Church and Gospell He that is not a friend of Christ is an enemy against Christ he that doth not help to set up Christs kingdome is by interpretation and in Gods construction an overthrower of Christs kingdome He that is not with me is against me saith Christ and he that doth not gather doth scatter He that is not a labourer is a scatterer in Christs vineyard He that fights not under Christs ensigne is a souldier under Satans banner He that is slothfull in his worke is brother saith Solomon to a great waster Thus he who doth not labour for Christ is a brother to them that are great wasters of the kingdome of Christ and fearefull is the curse pronounced on them that stand still and put not their helping hand to Christs Kingdome Cause and Gospell Curse ye Meros said the Angell of the Lord Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof because they came not to the help of the Lord to the help of the Lord against the mighty 4. Looke upon Christs sparing and withholding of nothing for our exaltation Christ humbled himselfe to the lowest degree of humiliation and abasement for our elevation and advancement He emptied himselfe to fill us he abased himselfe to honour us he stript himselfe to apparell us he made himselfe a man of sorrowes to fill us with spirituall and soule-refreshing consolations Ye know saith Saint Paul the grace the love the bounty the rich liberality of our Lord Jesus Christ that though be was rich rich in the glory of his divine Essence in his absolute dominion over all creatures in his plenary possession of heaven and earth Yet for your sakes he became poore vailing his Diety Majesty and glory under the poore and unworthy garment of humane flesh being borne of poore parents and appearing in the forme of a servant humbling and abasing himselfe to the death the shamefull death of the crosse that ye through his poverty might be rich rich in the participation of the divine nature rich in the fruition of the fulnesse of Christ Christs humiliation is the meritorious cause spring and fountaine of mans exaltation Christ was very free and full in his exinaition and abasement for our honour and advancement The condition of man was so extreamely base and shamefull that nothing but the humiliation of the Sonne of God was able to restore honour to him And how ready should we be to put all under the feet of Christ to imploy all to the honour of Christ who hath done so much to honour us We should saith Chrysostome preferre nothing above Christ because he preferred nothing above us As he vailed and bowed downe himselfe and all that was his for our salvation so should we vaile and bow our selves and all that is ours for the exaltation of his Gospell and kingdome The meditation of Christs abasing himselfe for us should make us studious and inquisitive how to honour Christ Thou hast been carefull for us with all this care said the Prophet to the woman of Shunem what is to be done for thee Thus should we say to Christ thou hast been humbled and abased thou hast suffered a great suffering for us what is now to be done for thee what shall we doe to honour thee to exalt and magnifie thy name who hast undergone so great disgrace and shame for us The more Christ humbled himselfe for us the more he should be exalted by us Christ made himselfe a sacrifice for us and we should sacrifice our selves and all that is ours to him and his service Christ gave himselfe for our salvation and we should give our selves to him and the exaltation of his kingdome Christ was contented to be made low and as a very nothing as a worme and no man that we might be made the fulnesse of him who filleth all in all and we should be content to abase our selves and to be reputed vile and as nothing in the eyes of men to set up Christ to make him and his Gospell glorious in the eyes of the people He doth neither wisely nor graciously consider Christs humiliation that doth not give himselfe to the exaltation of Christs name and kingdome 5. Meditate the sweet the great and wonderfull blessing that commeth unto men by the
exaltation of Christs Gospell The setting up of the Arke in the house of Obed-Edom caused all that he had to prosper The setting up of the Gospell brings great and singular prosperity to the people Christs Gospell the revelation of Christ and the mysteries of his kingdome is a great blessing Blessed saith our Saviour are the eyes which see the things which ye see having the Gospell preached to them the tydings of salvation published among them Christ revealing and opening himselfe unto them These are blessed in the illumination of their understandings having the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ communicated to them Blessed in the vivification of their soules having the word of life quickning them Blessed in the sanctification of their hearts the Gospell cleansing their sinne as Jordan cleansed the leprosie of Naaman Blessed in their Conquest over sin Satan and the world the Gospell overturning all the holds of Satan as the sounding of the rammes hornes overthrew the wals of Jericho Blessed in 〈◊〉 pacification of their consciences the Evangelicall voice of Christ quieting their perplexed consciences as his personall voice quieted the stormy tempest and blessed in the sweetning of their afflictions the Gospell sweetens all tryals and troubles to Gods children as the tree sweetned the waters of Marah to Israel Blessed in their very temporall possessions and bodily undertakings Where God gives his Gospell the food of the soule he will also give the staffe of bread the food of the body Christ did not onely feed the soules of them who followed him with his doctrine but he also miraculously fed their bodies with corporall provision the Gospell is indeed even the choisest of all blessings where this goes all goes that is behoofull for the welfare of Gods children therefore blessed saith the Psalmist is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom he hath chosen for his owne inheritance God is the God of all by creation by absolute dominion by common preservation but he is their God to whom he gives his Gospell by gracious manifestation heavenly instruction spirituall regeneration familiar and comfortable habitation sweet and celestiall dispensation of heavenly fulnesse to them God is there alone sweetly and spiritually knowne and enjoyed where his Gospell is erected and for this cause we should mightily endeavour the advancement of the Gospell King David being told how the Lord had blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that pertained to him because of the Arke of the Lord went and brought the Arke into the City of David with gladnesse Men hearing of the prosperity and blessing which doth attend the Gospell should with great care and diligence with much alacrity and cheerfulnesse endeavour the erection of the Gospell among them He is altogether unsensible of the manifold and singular benefits and mercies accompanying the Gospell that doth not heartily desire and effectually labour the welfare thereof As the Gospell excels all temporall endowments so should we endeavour the successe and stability of the Gospell more then of any or all other possessions CHAP. XI ANd for the disposing framing and working our hearts thus to advance the Gospell and kingdome of Christ there must be 1. A distasting disrellishing and being weary of sinne The Gospell never seemes sweet untill that sinne seemes bitter he will never effectually endeavour the setting up of Christ and the Gospell that desires not the deposition of sinne the Philistines having a desire to maintaine and uphold Dagon set the Arke below Dagon on the left hand of Dagon Man having a desire to uphold sinne abaseth Christ and his Gospell puts them below his lusts gives preheminence to his lust above the Gospell and above Christ Herod not disrellishing his incestuous sinne not being weary of it but intending the maintenance thereof cut off the head of the Baptist the forerunner of Christ Man can neither truly desire nor faithfully endeavour the advancement of Christ and his Gospell that is not weary of his sinne as of a heavy burthen Man to whom sinne is pleasant and delightfull is very impatient and weary of the presence and power of the Gospell he alone consecrates himselfe to Christ and the advancement of his kingdome to whom sinne is distastefull as gall to his palate gravell to his teeth a disease to his flesh or fetters to his feet When Abner was wroth with Ishbesheth the sonne of Saul then he came to David to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan even to Beersheba When man is wroth with sinne full of indignation against sinne then he comes to Christ then he joynes himselfe in a holy and solemne Covenant with Christ then he labours to set up the throne of Christ over his soule and body then he prayes and strives that Christ may raigne from Dan to Beersheba from the highest to the lowest faculty of his soule and from the greatest to the smallest undertaking of his life Man is ever so much the more industrious to set up Christ and his kingdome by how much the more his corruption doth grieve and trouble him 2. A holy and filiall feare towards Christ making loath to offend Christ willing in every thing to please Christ All the Rulers of the Provinces the Lievtenants Deputies and Officers of the King helped the Iewes when the feare of Mordecai fell upon them When the holy and gracious feare of Christ doth fall upon the soules of men enter into and take possession of the hearts of men then they joyne themselves to the help of Christ to the help of the Gospell and Church of Christ then they study and endeavour the advancement of Christ and his kingdome therefore serve the Lord with feare saith the Psalmist rejoyce before him with trembling and kisse the sonne embrace the son rest and relye upon the son acknowledge exalt and magnifie the son put your selves with all readinesse and fulnesse upon the service of the sonne true feare ever makes the Lords servants subject and serviceable to Christ Iesus I will put my feare into their hearts saith the Lord and they shall not depart from me they shall not depart from my knowledge by ignorance from my promises by unbeliefe from my precepts by disobedience from my covenant by unfaithfulnesse nor from my worship by prophanenesse Such as doe not truly and throughly apply themselves to Christs service are prophanely fearelesse A servants true and ingenuous feare makes him labour his Masters welfare the matrimoniall feare of a wife moves her to desire and endeavour her husbands honour feare came upon every soule saith S. Luke and what followed thereupon All they that beleeved were together there is their unity in affection in divine invocation They sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had need There is their communication to Christs members their putting of themselves and their
abilities upon Christs service He that truly feares Christ will withhold nothing which may tend to the exaltation of Christ his Church and Gospell 3. Lively sence and feeling of the necessity of Christ and his Gospell Mens exaltation of Christ is according to their apprehension of the necessity of Christ When the Elders of Gilead saw the necessity they had of Jeptha then they made him head and Captaine over them When men see and feele the want of Christ the perill of their estate without Christ then they put themselves under Christ then they exalt and magnifie Christ then they labour the setting up of Christ and his Gospell Sence of sicknesse famine siege bondage makes physicke food an army a ransomer very precious Physitians were of great esteeme with the woman troubled with a fluxe of bloud she spent all her substance upon them Christ and his Gospell are of great price with the man to whom sinne is a torment a griefe a trouble he will withhold nothing which may tend to the exaltation of Christ and his Gospell to the working out and removing of the sinne which doth molest him When Josephs brethren were in want and had no bread to sustaine them then they came and bowed themselves before Joseph and when they called to mind their great trespasse against him then they besought his favour and were very submissive to him Mans sence of his owne emptinesse drives him to Christ and causeth him to vaile and stoop to Christ to put himselfe under the feet of Christ and readily to exalt and set up Christ selfe-opinion ignorance of mans want of Christ and the Gospell is a great impediment to our setting up of Christ and his kingdome 4. Elevation and raising of the heart of man to a holy spirituall and noble frame and temper The heart of man naturally is very base carnall and earthly delighting like the swine in the mire and mud of the world rellishing and savouring nothing but that which is worldly and fleshly his spirit is very low and ignoble and his highest aime is but to ascend some mole-hill or mountaine of the earth like the prodigall he is a companion of swine and feeds on the huskes of worldly vanities his longings like the besotted Israelites is after the onyons and flesh-pots of Egypt poore things unworthy and empty things of the earth Man like Nebuchadnezzars image how ever deckt with gold and silver authority and dominion and glorious in outward appearance to the world yet his feet are yron and clay his thoughts his affections the motions and goings of his heart are very base and dishonourable The spirit of man must be therefore sublimated and refined by Christ the great refiner of the soule Mans drosse and tin must be purged out the earthinesse and basenesse of his spirit must be taken away and man endowed with a more spirituall sublime and noble disposition and temper of soule or he can never intend Christ exalt Christ and his Gospell It is recorded in Ezra that the chiefe of the fathers rose up with all them whose spirits God had raised to goe up to build the house of God in Ierusalem First God raised their hearts put willingnesse alacrity enlargement opennesse and courage into their hearts to doe the worke and then they went to build Thus God must raise our hearts innoble our spirits make us spiritually heroicall or we shall never build Ierusalem never labour the advancement of Christ and his â—ospell Christ raised Lazarus out of the grave and then he followed him Christ must raise our spirits from their earthlinesse and basenesse or they will never be serviceable to him The Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheeles and they moved where the living creatures moved Christ must put his Spirit into us or we shall never follow him never seeke his honour and the welfare of his Gospell It is said of Saul when the Lord had made him King that he went home to Gibeah and there went with him a band of men whose heart God had touched God hath set Christ his King upon his holy hill of Sion but there is no man followes him no man exalts and honours him as a King but such whose hearts the Lord doth touch with the gracious finger of his Spirit the basenesse cowardlinesse and earthlinesse of our spirits must be put away and our hearts throughly refined otherwise we cannot discerne Christ we cannot rellish Christ we cannot love Christ we cannot prize Christ we can never put our selves upon the exaltation of Christ his Kingdome and Gospell but when old things are past away and all become new when we are renewed in the spirit of our mind when the Spirit of God like Eliahs fiery charet hath taken us up from the earth and hath raised our hearts thoughts desires and affections to the things which are above then shall we rejoyce in Christ and his Gospell then shall we put our selves and all that we have upon the service of Christ and the Gospell then shall we pray for the prosperity welfare and advancement of Christs Gospell and kingdome then shall we say Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. CHAP. XII CHrist came not as the false prophets of old in his owne name he had his calling and commission from above No man saith the Apostle speaking of Christ taketh this honour to himselfe but such an one as is called of God as Aaron was and this is the second particular in the first generall part of these words Christs Calling and Commission He came in the name of the Lord Christ is said to come in the name of the Lord. 1. In respect of Ordination Christ as Mediator was appointed of old to minister salvation to Gods chosen fore-ordained saith Saint Peter before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times A lambe slaine from the foundation of the world saith Saint John slaine from the foundation of the world in the eternall preordination of God in the promise of the seed of woman to breake the serpents head in the legall sacrifices in the faith of the fathers and in the sufferings of his members in whose sufferings Christ suffered their sufferings then shadowing Christs suffering to come 2. In respect of preparation Christ as Man and Mediator is prepared and furnished with all abilities to execute and accomplish his office it pleased the Father saith Paul that in him should all fulnesse dwell fulnesse of wisedome power grace righteousnesse and worth to minister to his Church whatsoever appertained to the salvation welfare or peace thereof he having the Spirit poured out upon him above measure 3. In respect of Calling designation and investiture into his office The Lord saith Christ as Mediator hath called me from the wombe from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name and I
saith God the Father unto Christ will preserve thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people to establish the earth and when Christ was baptized and solemnly entred upon his calling He was confirmed by a voice from heaven saying This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 4. In respect of the doctrine which he taught no private nor humane doctrine but the doctrine of God his Father I am come saith Christ in my Fathers name declaring his truth and seeking his glory and ye receive me not if another shall come in his owne name preaching his owne invention exalting and magnifying himselfe him ye will receive to him ye will adhere him you will admire and adore And againe elsewhere I have not spoken of my selfe saith Christ but the Father which sent me he gave me a commandement what I should say and what I should speake and I know that his commandement is life everlasting whatsoever I speake therefore even as the Father said unto me so speake I. 5. In respect of benediction Christ is come in the name of the Lord accompanied with the fulnesse of all blessing from God In thy seed said God to Abraham speaking of Christ shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed unto you first saith Peter God having raised up his son Jesus sent him to blesse you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities and God saith Saint Paul hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ 6. In respect of the end which Christ proposed to himselfe his Fathers glory he came in the name of the Lord not seeking his owne but his glory who sent him I seeke not mine owne glory saith Christ I honour my Father if I honour my selfe my honour is nothing And thus Christ came in the name of the Lord ordained prepared called of the Lord declaring his Fathers will accompanied with the fulnesse of his Fathers blessing intending and seeking his Fathers glory The whole shewing That Christ is furnished with authority and all divine abilities to minister all peace and salvation to Gods servants This was tipyfied in Joseph Joseph was sent of his father to visit his brethren in the wildernesse Christ was sent of God his Father to visit mankinde sinfully straying in the wildernesse of the world Joseph was set over the whole land of Egypt and over the Kings house by Pharaoh King of Egypt Joseph was furnished with wisedome understanding and the Spirit of God to rule the people and with all the store and fulnesse of Egypt to minister to the necessities of the people Christ is set by God his father the King of Kings over the whole world in generall over the Church of God in speciall Christ is furnished with treasures of all wisedome to guide the people and with all divine and heavenly fulnesse to minister to the severall necessities of Gods servants to fill them with all spirituall fulnesse This was also figured in Josuah Josuah was confirmed in his calling by the dividing of the waters in Iordan at the presence of the Arke standing therein Christ was confirmed in his calling by the opening of the heavens and the Spirit descending in the forme of a Dove upon him when he was baptized in Iordan Moses being dead Joshuah was made the Captaine of Gods people Moses leading them to the land Joshuah entring them in the land the Law ceasing and the Ceremonies thereof vanishing Christ is appointed the Captaine of Gods Church and people the Law leading to Christ Christ by his death and conquest giving men entrance into the heavens Joshuah overcame the enemies of Israel and going before them brought them into the land of Canaan allotting to each one their portion Christ hath overcome the enemies of his Church and is ascended into heaven before us there to prepare for all the Lords servants It is not the Law but Christ that ministers salvation to the Lords people Christ Iesus is the authour of our spirituall conquest there is no way for man to heaven but onely by Christ who came from heaven Christ is the Iacobs ladder by whom God descends to us in his grace and through whom we ascend to God by our faith This was likewise typified in David David was anointed King and Ruler over Israel Christ is anointed King and Ruler over Gods Church David delivered Israell from the great Goliah he slew him with his owne weapon Christ overcame the infernall Goliah the Devill and brought deliverance to Gods chosen Christ by death Satans weapon destroyed him that had the power of death The power of all opposers is meere weaknesse to the power of Christ Jesus Such is the transcendent fulnesse of Christs abilities that he turnes the instruments of mans destruction to further mans salvation this calling preparation and mission of Christ was prophecyed by the Psalmist His dominion shall be from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth There is Christs universall jurisdiction and kingdome over men of every nation I will give thee saith the Lord by the Prophet for a Covenant of the people a light of the Gentiles There is Christs ordination to be the publisher of the Covenant of peace the Author of reconciliation between God and man the revealer of the mystery of mans salvation and the Spirit of the Lord saith the Prophet in the person of Christ is upon me and he hath anointed me to preach glad tidings to the meeke There is the calling the preparation unction and full furnishing of Christ with all abilities to execute his Mediatory office and in this respect Christ is sometimes termed by the Prophets a servant for his calling and obedience to his fathers will an Angell for his mission being sent of God and for his publication of the tydings of salvation a stone a tryed stone a precious corner stone a sure foundation for his strength to sustaine them that are built upon him a noble Ruler for his sacred prescription and gracious administration of Gods Church and kingdome a fountaine for his efficacy to purge out sinne and for his fulnesse to satisfie the thirsty soules of all beleevers a Sun of righteousnesse for the fulnesse of the light of knowledge and comfort which he dispenseth and for his blessed influence into the soules of his servants The Sunne doth not shine more clearly in the starres then the authority and ability of the Sunne of righteousnesse to save us doth shine in these Propheticall predictions and this calling mission full and through preparation of Christ to this office of mediation between God and man is plainly declared by the Evangelists and Apostles Saint Mathew speaks of Christ as of a Shepheard sent to gather the sheep which are lost Saint Marke as of an Embassador sent with tydings of peace as of an heire sent to rule
of Christs authority and divine abilities doth presse upon us is a duty of Dependance Christ is no withered reed no sandy foundation no weake poore and empty person but one endowed with all power and authority with all abilities therefore depend upon him cleave to him when you are in darknesse and have no light Trust in the name in the power truth faithfulnesse and al-sufficiency of the Lord Christ is a hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest as rivers of waters in a dry place as the shadow of a great rocke in a weary land Christ is a comforter in all sorrowes a helper at all needs a deliverer in all distresses a counsellor in all doubts and a supply in all wants therefore stay upon the Lord He can command a deliverance for Jacob when there is no deliverer as he commanded the stormy tempest and restored a calme to the Disciples He can support man when he is ready to sinke as he supported Peter sinking in the water he can provide as he made provision for the Disciples attending him and having nothing to eat as he prepared a Well for Hagar when her bottle was empty he can comfort when all the starres of consolation are set he can give light in darknesse as he gave Sampson honey out of the Lyon therefore looke unto Christ fasten the eyes of your faith upon him commit your selves to him trust your selves with him and you shall see in due season a ministration of whatsoever is behovefull A third duty whereunto this presseth us is a duty of Love to Christ In Christ is the fulnes of all abilities whatsoever is worthy of love is in Christ in the highest perfection therefore this should much endeare Christ to man and make him very amiable and glorious in the eyes of man He indeed is worthy of all love he is the King that rules over us the guide that leads us the shepheard which watcheth over and feeds us the ransomer that redeemes us the builder which new makes us the Captaine that overcomes for us the teacher that instructeth us the treasury that enricheth us and the husband who betrotheth himselfe unto us therefore he should be in our eye the fairest of ten thousand our soules should be sicke of love towards him and in our love we should prostrate our selves and all that is ours under him A fourth duty whereunto this doth presse us is a duty of Acquiescence in Christ and contentation with Christ in Christ are all divine abilities he that hath Christ hath all he that hath the Sunne hath all light he that hath the fountaine hath all water he that hath Christ may say as Jacob did I have enough Elkanâ—h gave to Hanna a worthy portion he hath the choisest portion to whom God gives Christ he that possesseth most of Christ hath the richest the sweetest the most noble and sure possession he hath no cause to complaine of want who hath the fruition of Christ the soule which enjoyeth Christ as his King as his counsellor as his friend as his treasure as his bridegroome as his shield and fountaine hath the highest honour the choisest wisedome the sweetest comfort the best riches the most heart-reviving love the surest defence and the chiefest and most abiding and soule-contenting fulnesse Of all the gifts of God Christ is the worthiest of all the estates of men theirs is the sweetest and most comfortable who have Christ for their possession CHAP. XIV THe second generall part in these words is a benediction uttered by the Ministers of the Lord We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord wherein we have 1. the parties blessing the Ministers of the Lord we who are called of God to this sacred function who are appointed to make prayer and supplication for you to pronounce a blessing upon you Holy and faithfull Ministers are the instrumentall causes of great blessings to Gods Church and servants 2. here is their Act an act of blessing We have blessed Ministers blesse the people sometime by way of vote and exoptation prayer and supplication sometime by way of vocall pronunciation pronouncing good things in the name of God upon them sometime by way of prophecye and prediction foretelling great blessings to come sometime by way of doctrine and instruction They declare and open the blessings which God hath prepared for them and the Lord by them as by his ministeriall instruments communicates his grace and blessing to the people It must be the care of Ministers so to demeane themselves in their function that they prove a blessing to the people 3. Here is the Obiect or parties blessed You you to whom Christs comming is acceptable you who wish well to Christs kingdome you who readily endeavour the exaltation of Christs name and Gospell we have blessed you The labours of Gods Ministers prove a blessing onely to such people as reioyce in and endeavour the advancement of the Gospell 4 Here is the place from whence they blessed the people out of the house of the Lord the place of Gods publike worship where his Saints are assembled his ordinances sincerely handled his name invocated his word preached and religious duties celebrated God useth to dispense his spirituall blessings in the publike and sacred assemblies From all these particulars knit together we may gather That God by his holy and faithfull Ministers dispenseth every great sweet and heavenly blessing to his Church and servants The Lord by Joseph brought great prosperity to the house of Pharaoh he blessed the Egyptians house for Josephs sake the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and in the field the Lord by the presence and labours of his Ministers blesseth his Church and servants his blessing is upon their soules and upon their bodies upon all their labours and upon all their possessions the estate and persons the undertaking and possessions of men are made very prosperous through the prayer and labours of Gods Ministers This was prophecyed by the mouth of Esay in that day in the day of the Gospell when salvation shall be preached and published in and through Christ There shall be an Altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord an Altar and a pillar the worship of God shall be erected the word preached the Sacraments administred Christ the true Christians Altar and pillar shall be clearly manifested his name published his kingdome established his truth propagated among the people of Israel Egypt and Assyria whom the Lord of Hosts shall blesse saying blessed be Egypt my people and Assyria the worke of my hands and Israel mine inheritance There is the blessing attendant on the Ministery of the Gospell a blessing of regeneration renovation remission and sweet reconciliation with God in Christ they are the choisest and best blessings which God communicates
all prostrates it selfe and all that it hath under Christ that it may enjoy Christ it hates all that hinders its comming to Christ and embraceth all that may further its communion with Christ sutablenesse between the soule and Christ readily denyes and rejects all that hinders the fruition of Christ 3. In regard of the vanity nullity and nothingnesse which a gracious man discernes in himselfe and in all things else without and beside Christ he looks upon himselfe as on dust and ashes he is vile in his owne apprehension as a worme and no man he humbles and abhorres himselfe below the dust and ashes he looks on all other things as dung and drosse and a thing of naught in comparison of Christ he reputes all things in respect of Christ as Jothan did Abimelech in respect of the Sonnes of Jerubbaal but as a bramble in respect of the vine fig-tree and olive-tree and having such a low opinion of himselfe and all things else he readily denyes himselfe and all things else and makes all to vaile and stoop to Christ with Simon and Andrew they are ready to leave their nets their ship and their father to deny their possessions and their friends to put all under Christ to leave whatsoever is most profitable and deare according to the flesh for Christs sake with Paul to esteeme their very life as nothing that they may glorifie Christ and finish Christs worke The more any man doth undervalue himselfe and the creature the more he exalteth Christ the more freely fully and readily he prostrates all at the feet of Christ 4. In regard of the holy powerfull and universall raigne rule and dominion of Christ in a gracious and sanctified soule Here Christ reignes as a King in his Throne as Solomon reigned over the land of Canaan from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth so doth Christ raigne in a regenerate and gracious soule from the highest to the lowest faculty thereof and from the head to the feet and from the highest to the lowest undertaking of a Christian Here Christ reignes as a dweller in his house the dweller rules over all the roomes members and goods of his house and disposeth all to his service Christ rules over all the faculties of the soule members of the body and disposeth all the endowments and doings of a Christian to his owne service and for his owne honour Here Christ rules as the head over the body acting moving guiding and framing the whole man to a holy humble and free subjection Here Christ reignes as a Centurion in his army and as the servants of the Centurion did goe and come at his command and doe whatsoever he bad them Thus all the faculties of the soule and members of the body of a true Christian are at the command of Christ receiving their direction and commission from Christ doing every thing in subjection and obedience to Christ Thus the Psalmist speaking of Christs kingdome saith in the day of thy power when Christ should reigne by his Gospell and Spirit in the soules of men the people should be willing free ready and full in their subjection unto Christ and his enemies should bow before him and licke the dust such as were enemies rebellious and disobedient in their unregeneration should after their conversion bow themselves and licke the dust acknowledge and receive Christ as their Lord and King and in very great humility subject and prostrate both themselves and all theirs to him and his service for as Abner entring into Covenant with David and taking David for his King undertooke to bring about all Israelite to David Thus the soule entring into Covenant with Christ and taking Christ for its King brings about all to Christ and puts all in subjection under Christ 5. In regard of the holy and fervent desire of a gracious soule to exalt and set up Christ This is the prime â—â—â—our joy and comfort of a godly soule to see and feele Christs kingdome within him to set up Christ in his heart and to discerne him ruling and commanding there as a King in his Throne as a Pilate in the ship this is his suite and supplication unto God that Christs kingdâ—mâ— may come that Christ may reigne and rule within him as David sometimes thirsted and longed to see the power and glory of God in the Sanctuary so doth a godly man long to see the power and glory of Christ in his soule to behold him raigning in his heart In the day of Solomons coronation the people piped with pipes and rejoyced with great joy so that the earth rung with the sound thereof In the day of Christs coronation and reigne in the soule of man the heart of man rejoyceth with exceeding great joy Christs dominion is a holy soules rejoycing the kingdome of God is righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy-Ghost It was the care labour and joy of David to bring the Arke of the Lord into the Tabernacle in that day David danced before the Lord with all his might and all the house of Israel brought up the Arke of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of a trumpet and set it in the midst of the Tabernacle Thus it is the care labour and comfort of the whole man that is godly to set up Christ in the midst of his soule to see him reigning in his understanding as the Sun in the eye guiding in his will as a Prince commanding it in his imagination as the obiect on which he thinketh with most frequency delight and comfort in his trust as the onely rocke whereon he buildeth in his feare as the King of Kings whom he chiefly reverenceth and in his love as an husband in the love of the wife so powerfull and operative is this desire labour and joy of a gracious soule touching the exaltation reigne and rule of Christ within it that as the people would have all the men put to death which would not have Saul reigne over them so doth such a man mortifie all his lusts which oppose Christs kingdome remove whatsoever may hinder Christs spirituall dominion and makes all vaile and stoop for Christs exaltation within him 6. In regard of a gracious soules acquiescence and contentation with the approbation of Christ In this it pleaseth in this it blesseth delighteth and satisfieth it selfe whatsoever it hath besides it this is in stead of all as the Sun is to the eye in stead of all lights and the fountaine to the thirsty in stead of all bottles the approbation of Christ is of very great price with a true Christian his praise is not the praise of men but of God not to have the approbation of men to his doings but of God not to have his eare tickled with the empty breath of vaine mans applause but with the solide and
sweet inspiration and breathing of Gods Spirit assuring him of Gods acceptation of him as our Saviour sought not himselfe nor his owne praise but the praise of his Father made it his meat and drinke to doe his Fathers will and contented himselfe with his Fathers approbation how unworthily soever men thought of him Thus all the members of Christ in proportion seeke not themselves nor the applause of men but the testimony of Christ in this they rejoyce and solace themselves in all things approving themselves to God as good servants in all estates in all changes in all their undertakings and this is the holy glorying rejoycing and comfort of the soule to glory as the Apostle saith in the Lord to glory in the dominion of God subjecting himselfe unto him to glory in the power of God resting upon him to glory in the testimony of God blessing and pleasing himselfe in Gods approbation for not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but whom the Lord commendeth Gods approbation is the crowne and comfort of a Christian and therefore as the wife seeks and rejoyceth in the approbation of her husband though she displease her selfe and all the family to enjoy it Thus the soule which is wedded to Christ seeks the approbation of Christ pleaseth himselfe herein and for the enjoyment whereof will displease his owne flesh and all the world he denies whatsoever is a hinderance hereunto he subjects himselfe wholly unto Christ to gaine and keep the testimony of Christ for as he said of Plato unius Platonis calculum inter mille the approbation of Plato alone was in stead of a thousand so the testimony and approbation of one Christ of Christ alone is more to a gracious soule then the applause of the world or whatsoever the earth can affoord and for these and such like causes doth a man endued with true holinesse deny himselfe his owne ends and counsels and prostrates all under Christ Jesus CHAP. IV. COnsider this then and see the dangerous estate of men not denying themselves and their owne ends and thoughts not subjecting themselves and all that they have to Christ and his service as the Sodomites would not have Lot to be a Judge among them no more will many men have Christ to reigne over them the sonnes of Belial despised Saul and brought him no presents Many like sonnes of Belial despise Christ in his person they see no beauty nor comlinesse in him they despise him in his Gospell they will not vaile to his Scepter they despise him in his Embassadors they deny audience and reverence to their message they despise him in his offices they doe not heare him as their Prophet obey him as their King they doe not beleeve in him as the Priest who hath offered himselfe to God an al-sufficient sacrifice for them they despise him in his lawes they burst them asunder as Sampson burst his wit hs strange and shamefull is the contempt offered by prophane persons to the Lord Jesus and though they professe Christ and pretend Christ will have Christ to be preached and spoken of among them yet as the Philistines though they entertained the Arke yet they set Dagon above and would not endure the presence therof when Dagon fell before it so these men though they outwardly entertaine Christ and give him some place amongst them yet they will set their Dagon their lusts their pride pleasures profits inventions above Christ and if their Dagon fall if Christ begin to shew his power and worke upon their Dagon discover reprove shame and offer to cast downe their lusts and will not suffer these to raigne they grow very weary of Christ his presence is uncomfortable Christ preached in his power ever proves a burthen to the soule where sinne is pleasant and delightfull he that doth not deny himselfe denies Christ he that allowes not Christ a full and universall dominion is a great stranger to selfe-deniall Some deny not their owne wisedome Christ reignes not in their understanding they are wise in their owne eyes they embrace not Christs direction Christ is not in stead of eyes unto them as Hobab was to Moses and Israel in their journeyes through the wildernesse they aske not counsell of Christ but walke after their owne counsell they make not their wisedome to stoop to Christs wisedome and therefore folly dwels with them Christ is not knowne to them he of all men sees least of Christ and continues most foolish that most exalts and magnifies his owne knowledge Some deny not their owne wils they make not Christs will the rule of their will but set up their owne wils to be the rule of Christs will and make their owne will the Law by which they walke as it was foretold of the King of Greece that he should stand up and rule with great dominion and doe according to his will so it is true of these men they stand up against Christ and they rule and sway over Christs Lawes Ministers Ordinances and Offices and doe all things according to their owne will In the dayes of Micah the Idolater there was no King in Israel and every man did that which was right in his owne eyes Thus these men are without a spirituall King Christ doth not reigne in their soules but they doe what is right in their owne eyes they are rebellious people lying children children that will not heare the Law of the Lord which say to the Seer see not and to the Prophets prophesie not unto us right things speake unto us smooth things prophesie to us deceits Christ hath no kingdome in the soule which is swayed by vaine delusion and carnall counsell Some will not deny their owne affections they will not put them under but suffer them to Lord it over Christ Christ hath not the preheminence in their feare trust love joy but as the Lord said to Ely thou honourest thy sons above me so these men honour their affections and lusts above Christ Solomon observed in his time servants riding on horsebacke and Princes walking on foot Euery man may see in these times mens naturall lusts and affections which should like servants be kept under and suppressed humbled brought low and made to walke on foot yet these are set on horsebacke exalted honoured preferred and Christ the Prince of peace and all his ordinances statutes and testimonies which should reigne and rule like Princes in the soule of man these are made like servants to travell on foot these are of no esteeme and price with men these have no rule and sway in the hearts of men Herodias hath preheminence in the heart of Herod above the Baptist a Swine is of more esteeme then Christ with the Gaderine Mans exaltation of his corrupt affections is a foule and shamefull abasement of Christ and his ordinances Some deny not their worldly profits Jesse set David behind
and heavenly comforts arising to the soule from a through self-denyall and full subiection unto Christ Hence ariseth the comfort of liberty and freedome from the servitude of the creature and of every sinfull lust ministring matter of greater joy to the soule then Israel had to see themselves freed from Pharaoh and the burthens of Eâ—ypt Hence ariseth the comfort of the evidence of grace by this man knowes the holy and gracious worke of God Now he can give thanks to God the Father for that he hath made him meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light and hath delivered him from the power of darknesse and translated him into the kingdome of his deare Sonne Now he can with joy say with the Psalmist come and I will shew what the Lord hath done for my soule Hence ariseth the comfort of alacrity and cheerfulnesse in the service now the heart is enlarged and man can runne the way of Gods commandements now he commeth forth like the Sun and rejoyceth like a mighty man to run his race Hence springeth the joy of love to Christ now the objects of all corrupt and base love are removed and Christ is become the sole object of the soules love and now it delights it selfe in Christ as the bride in the bride-groome Hence commeth the comfort of Christs power and presence now he is discerned reigning in the soule as a Prince of peace in his Throne subduing all corrupt and carnall lusts as Joshuah subdued the Amalekites driving Satan from the soule of man as the Gibeonites discerned Joshuah driving away the Amoritish Princes now he is discerned dispelling all blindnesse and errour from the understanding as the Sunne dispelleth darknesse from the eye now he is discerned binding up the broken heart and healing the wounded conscience as the sicke discerneth the Physitian healing his disease now he is discerned pacifying and quieting the troubled and perplexed soule as the Disciples discerned him appeasing and calming the stormy tempest now he is discerned powring in the spirituall oyle of heavenly consolation into the soule as the wounded man in the parable discerned the Samaritan powring oyle into his wounds now he is discerned feasting cheering and ministring the sence of his love to the heart as the Spouse in Solomon discerned the bridegroome in the banquetting house spreading his love over her as a banner and this ministers matter of sweet and singular comfort and hence ariseth the comfort of sweet and gracious communion with God the Lord dwels with the humble The more man goes out of himselfe the nearer he commeth unto God the more man is emptied of himselfe the more he enjoyes of God Very sweet and manifold is the consolation which the soule derives from holy and gracious selfe-denyall 6. The mitigation and sweetning of all disasters Self-denyall in all troubles tryals losses and temptations is to the soule like the honey-combe in the belly of the Lyon unto Sampson a blessed sweetner of them affliction is ever so much the lesse burthensome by how much the more perfect man is in the worke of self-denyall He that truly and throughly denyes himselfe puts a low price upon all outward abilities and can take the spoyling of his goods ioyfully he sees and feeles the good of afflictions and can readily receive them as a wise patient a bitter purgation and quietly beare them as an Oxe the yoake that is accustomed thereunto he can sing with Paul in the prison he can walke comfortably in them as the three children in the fiery furnace he can rejoyce with ioy glorious and unspeakable that he is accounted worthy to suffer for the cause of Christ The want of self-denyall makes affliction a most insupportable burthen 7. The Contentation which Self-denyall ministers with the least earthly portion and possession He that can deny himselfe knowes how to want and how to abound and to be content in every state the humble man possesseth Christ and in possessing him possesseth all things there is more in a holy mans little then in a carnall mans great abundance God proportions his thirst accordingly CHAP. VIII SEeing this self-denyall is a worke so necessary so excellent of such great profit so rare and few partakers of it it may be demanded how a man may discerne it and assuredly know himselfe to have attained to it Whereunto I answer that Christian gracious and true selfe-denyall may bee discerned by these ensuing market or characters 1. Captivation of a mans owne reason wisedome and will Self-denyall emptieth man of self-wisedome and self-wil He that denyes himself is not wise in his owne eyes or wise in himselfe but all his wisedome is in Christ he hath a very low opinion of his owne understanding he reputes his owne wisedome to be folly his owne knowledge to be ignorance his owne reason to be blind and carnall he complaines abaseth and shames himselfe before the Lord for his ignorance he confesseth and saith with Agur surely I am more brutish then any man and have not the understanding of a man I neither learned wisedome nor have the knowledge of the holy He that abounds most in saving knowledge is most sensible of his ignorance and hath the lowest opinion of his owne wisedome The more a man is taught of God the more he sees his ignorance of God he that hath high thoughts of his owne understanding is far from the least and weakest beginnings of Christian learning he never truly learned Christ in the Gospell that hath not denyed his owne humane reason When the Sun appeareth and sends his light into the house the light of the candle which lightened the house before the dawning of the day goeth out and appeares as no light when Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse shineth into the heart then mans humane reason and the wisedome of the flesh the only light of the soule before the dawning and appearance of Christ these goeth out and is lookt upon as darknesse it selfe and Christ is made the only guide and counsellor of the soule the eye thereof receiveth all its light from Christ shining in the Gospell Carnall wisedome pusseth up saving knowledge humbleth In much wisedome saith Solomon is much griefe and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow because the more man knows the more he sees amisse Thus the more a man increaseth in the knowledge of Christ the more he sees amisse in himselfe the more he is grieved for his owne ignorance and corruption true wisedome is ever accompanied with godly sorrow and self-denyall and self-denyall casteth downe imaginations or carnall reasonings and every high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God and bringeth into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ Self-denyall makes him that formerly seemed to be wise in this world according to the opinion of the world dreaming of a sufficiency of wisedome in himselfe to guide himselfe making himselfe his owne
the love of Christ he doth glory in tribulation and though he is in heavinesse through manifold temptations yet beleeving in Christ he reioyceth with ioy unspeakable and full of glory Christ to him that denyes himselfe is a crowne in disgrace to honour him a friend in heavinesse to solace him a Sunne in darknesse to enlighten him a precious pearle in poverty to enrich him a helper in all desertions to sustaine him and a fountaine in all wants to supply him sweet and pleasant satisfactory and soule-ravishing are Christs ministrations to mortified and humble soules in their Christian sufferings 8. The prizing and valuing of Christs Crosse above the worlds Crowne He that indeed denyes himselfe esteemes it more happy more excellent and more honourable to partake of Christs sufferings then of the worlds rejoycings to be conformed unto Christ in holy sorrowes and afflictions then to be conformed to the world in carnall pleasures and fleshly exaltations he preferres the poverty reproach exilement bondage and death which doth usually attend Christ in the Gospell above the riches honour favour liberty and life which the world ministers to her followers Thus Moses denying himselfe esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt The reproach of Christ the disgrace losse trouble and persecutions with which the world doth pursue Christ truly preached and sincerely professed in the Gospell was of more esteeme with Moses then all the treasures of Egypt then all the honours riches favours and contentments which the world can affoord without Christ Christs poverty prison contempt hatred persecution is of greater price with him that denyes himselfe then the riches liberty crowne favour and peace which the world bestowes upon her choisest favourites and followers There is more dignity in the contempt of a Christian then in the crowne of a worldling there is more joy in Christian sufferings then in worldly pleasures The losse which man sustaines for Christ is greater gaine then the winning of the whole world without Christ the Devill and the world are much mistaken in their offering of violence wrongs and injuries to Christs members the poverty sorrow shame trouble bondage which they impose upon them prove riches joy honour peace and freedome to them Men are much deceived in their judgements supposing Christian sufferings miserable and contumelious the wife subject souldier servant repute it an honour to suffer for their Husband Soveraigne Generall Lord and Master and doubtlesse he that denyes himselfe cannot but account it as an honour to suffer for his spirituall Husband King Captaine Lord and Saviour He that denyes himselfe will chuse with David to be a door-keeper in the house of God rather then dwell in the tents of wickednesse to live in any low poor contemptible and despised condition enjoying communion with Christ rather then partake of all worldly fulnesse without Christ The Lord Jesus is a humble souls fulnesse whether it hath much or little of the world a little with Christ is honourable and full of contentation the greatest abundance without Christ is shamefull and attended with much distraction therefore the Apostle saith of himselfe and such as he was men denying themselves and enjoying Christ that they were as unknown and yet well known as dying and behold we live as chastened and not killed as sorrowfull yet alway reioycing as poore yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things God is wonderfull in honouring protecting delivering rejoycing and satisfying the soules of the humble in sanctifying and sweetning their low poore and sad condition The Lord makes them see such glory springing out of their ignominy and such light shining out of their darknesse that they reioyce they are accounted worthy that they are vouchsafed this honour to suffer for Christs name they rejoyce in filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ suffering for Christ being thereby made conformable to Christ and having thereby communion with Christ and Christ taking their sufferings as his sufferings Christ suffering in them and they for him they are very joyfull in suffering the more a man denyes himselfe the more he rejoyceth in the crosse of Christ in Christ crucified for his sake and in his owne sufferings for Christs sake 9. Man making it his greatest honour to honour Christ He that denyes himselfe is 1. so inflamed with love to Christ that as a wife reputes it her choisest matrimoniall honour to advance her husbands honour to be according to Solomons phrase a crowne to her husband by her subjection under him by her choise sober and pious carriage towards him by her fidelity to him and by her industry and labour for him so the man that denyes himselfe reputes it his highest honour to honour Christ to be a crowne to Christ his spirituall husband by his gracious subjection under Christ by his holy walking towards Christ by his godly labour and industry for Christ 2. He that denyes himselfe hath his heart put into such a holy and humble frame made so graciously subject unto Christ and is so strongly and fully devoted to the service of Christ that as a good servant takes it as his prime glory to honour his Master to advance his Masters credit and profit so he that denyes himselfe like the good servant of Christ taketh it for a speciall honour to serve Christ to have his fruit unto holinesse to please Christ and not himselfe or others 3. He that denyes himselfe is so so sensible of so experienced in the vanity emptinesse basenesse and fugitivenesse of the honour that comes from men so out of love and liking with and so low prizing and esteeming the applause and praise of men that he accounts all other honour as no honour to that which ariseth from the honouring of Christ He esteemes it a greater honour to serve Christ in true holinesse in the lowest and poorest condition then to command nations and rule kingdomes remaining a stranger to Christs Scepter and service for he that in these things saith the Apostle in holinesse and true righteousnesse serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men Gods acceptation and good mens testimony is a crowne of much honour to them that serve the Lord Jesus in true righteousnesse 4. He that denyes himselfe is so wrought out of himselfe so taken off from himselfe from minding intending and seeking himselfe that he reputes all his labour lost if it doth not bring some glory to Christ it is in his eye an arrow below the marke a casting of seed upon the sand a sowing to the flesh he reputes it a base and unworthy service which terminates in himselfe and not in Christ it is an abomination to him to be of their number who serve their owne belly their owne lust of pride pleasure or covetousnesse and not Christ 5. He that denyes himselfe is so taken up with the thought of Christ with
of the cause contempt of God the cause of sin being found in every sin and in regard of Originall all other vices springing either mediately or immediately from this the more a man exalts himselfe the more he dishonours God the more a man doth lift himself up in his own conceit and opinion the more he doth cast plung himself into the gulf and mire of spirituall pollution fulnes of pride and fulnesse of uncleannesse are inseparable companions 2. Self-exaltation is the patron and protector of all other vices this blinds men that they cannot see their sinnes this hardens men that they will not confesse their sinnes this makes men such admirers of themselves and their owne wayes that they apprehend their very vices to be virtues this makes men studious and artificiall to cloake and colour and hide their sins this makes instruction and admonition the meanes of suppressing sin contemptible and causeth man with impudency and shamelesse boldnesse to maintaine and plead for his profanenesse the soule which learnes not to be humble cannot cease from transgression pride among other vices is like Goliah among the Philistines the Philistines were invincible untill Goliah was overthrowne other lusts in the soule of man are impugnable untill pride and self-exaltation is cast downe mans labour in the worke of mortification is vain and fruitles untill his pride is mortified the spirituall conquest is never gotten as long as pride beares the dominion He that overcomes not this overcomes no lust Selfe-exaltation in the soule of man is like a Castle or Fort and other vices like houses built under the Castle which cannot easily be assaulted and beaten downe because the Fort defends them the overthrow of other vices is impossible untill the Castle of pride is beaten downe in the heart of man the Pharisees being given to self-exaltation to the seeking and lifting up of themselves were under the power of every base lust erronious superstitious covetous malicious their very piety was nothing but hypocrisie he that doth not cease from himself will cease from no sinne if he be but once put upon the temptation therefore be not wise saith Solomon in thine owne eyes feare the Lord and depart from evill implying that where there is not a cessation from self-wisdome and self-exaltation there is no feare of God no keeping of Gods precepts no disposition no care to please God no cessation from sin for conscience sake therfore take away this vice saith Chrysostome that men would not appeare to men this vice of self-exaltation and all vices are cut off without labour Vpon the death of the first-borne of Pharaoh the children of Israel were delivered upon the mortification of pride the first-borne of the spirituall Pharaoh the soules of men obtain a gracious freedome Goliahs head being cut off all the Philistines fled the death of pride is the slight of all sinne he that exalts himselfe remaines both a stranger to the life power and comfort of all godlinesse and a nurse and patron to all unclean and base affections 3. Self-exaltation is the most invincible of all vices the roots thereof are so deepe and strong and so largely spread in the heart of man it puts the soule at such a great distance from God makes man so uncapable of Christ and heavenly wisdome so weds man unto himselfe and causeth man so to please and delight himselfe in himselfe so to prize the applause of man and to slight the approbation of God that there is no disease in the soul of man so uneasily cured no weed in the garden of mans heart so uneasily plucked up no enemy in the common-weale of mans soul so difficultly overcome as self-exaltation it is the hardest taske that ever man undertooke truly to deny himselfe and fully to prostrate and put himselfe under God and Christs yoake Pharaoh did many things in the way of love and honour to Joseph he put his ring upon his hand and arrayed him in vestures of fine linnen and set him over his house but yet he reserved this unto himselfe to be greater in the throne then Joseph man may doe much in the way of outward zeale for God he may exalt God very farre above his profit above his pleasure above his peace yea above his life and yet still reserve to himselfe a preheminence above God he may cloath the naked feed the hungry and give his body to be burned in the cause of God and yet doe all this for himselfe more then for his God for his owne applause more then for the praise of God for the having of a name with men more then for the glorifying of the name of God Of all conquests selfe-conquest is the most difficult most excellent most noble and glorious he that can rule his spirit saith Solomon his proud his self-seeking and self-exalting spirit is better then he that taketh a City Man hath no greater enemy then himself he never doth more excellently then when he overcomes himselfe the overcoming of a Kingdome is nothing in comparison of mans conquest of his owne corruption pride is the first evill in mans departure from God and the last evill which is overcome in man returning unto God Shamma stood it out and defended the field when the people fled Self-exaltation stands it out like a mighty champion in the heart of man when all other lusts seeme to fly when other lusts goe out like fire that wants fewell yet this lust of self-exaltation as long as any thing of the old-man remaines in man will put it self forth and strive to soare aloft and climbe up in the thron of God Man hath most cause to watch pray against self-exaltation of all the evils which are within him 4. Self-exaltation corrupteth and destroyeth all the gifts and graces bestowed on man the evill herbe in the Prophets pot made the pot a pot of death ambition and self-exaltation in the soule of man marres all the excellencies of man turns all his gifts into a pot of death poysons all the endowments of man the more he hath received the lesse mindfull he is of God the higher thoughts he conceiveth of himselfe the more able and active he sheweth himself in evill and the more he sleights and scornes all instruction That man of all others is the fittest instrument to doe the worke of the prince of darknesse in whom abilities and a proud spirit are concurrent this like leaven sowrs the whole lump of mans vertues the tree sweetned the waters of Marah which were bitter but this like gall and wormwood sowres and imbitters those gifts and abilities which in themselves are very sweet and of singular use making vertue and the duties of piety subject and serviceable to mans vain-glory it is Gregories observation that as humility cuts the sinews of all vices and strengthens all vertues so pride destroyes all vertues and strengthens all vices pride is a very pernicious and venimous
it lasteth and as the joy of the Merchant in his rich treasure ceaseth while the violent storme continueth Though Gods children have a rich treasure of grace a blessed portion of spirituall wealth within them yet the joy hereof is much abated for the present by reason of Satans violent temptation Gods children through the force and fury of the assault of Satan are somtimes disabled to make a comfortable use of the gifts they have received 4. This ariseth from the sinfulnesse and great impieties which they see in others among whom they live The Lords people have matter of sorrow and humiliation ministred to them not onely from their owne sinnes but also from the sins of other people they see the name of God is dishonoured the Christian profession is disgraced the mouth of the common adversary is opened the welfare of the Church is hazarded the removall of the Gospell is threatened and many punishments are inflicted by the exorbitancies of many living within the Pale of the Church and for this they are much grieved and very deeply humbled their righteous soule with Lot is vexed from day to day with their unlawfull deeds in seeing and hearing and their eyes with David gush out with rivers of teares because men keep not the Law of God and with the marked ones in Ezekiel they sigh and cry for all the abominations which are done in the Family City Congregation and Kingdome whereof they are members they are unworthy the name of Christians who sorrow not for other mens impieties 5. This ariseth from their prevision preconsideration and foresight of future calamities Noah foresaw the comming of the floud and prepared an Arke Joseph foresaw the comming of the famine and accordingly made preparation the skilfull Mariners foresee the storme and betake themselves unto the haven The wise man saith Solomon foreseeth the evill and hideth himselfe humbleth himselfe addresseth himselfe to God makes his peace with God and hides himselfe with the Lord Be mercifull unto me O God be mercifull unto me saith the Psalmist for my soule trusteth in thee yea in the shadow of thy wings will I hide my selfe untill these calamities be over-past He saw the rage of the adversary against him their intendment of evill to him their conspiracy and determination to take his life from him he saw the absence of all humane help to assist him and therefore he makes his petition unto God humbles himselfe before him and as the chickens betake themselves to the wings of the Hen to hide them from the tempest raine wind and cold comming upon them So did the Psalmist betake himselfe to the Lord to the wisedome power truth and goodnesse of God as to the wings of protection the clearer discerning men have of incumbent evils the more effectually they apply themselves to God for future refuge Mens ignorance and inconsideratenesse of future judgements makes them obstinate in present impieties taking no notice of the evill of sinne untill the evill of punishment come upon them The simple saith Solomon passe on and are punished but good men whose soules are sanctified whose eyes are opened see the raine of Gods displeasure afar off in the clouds and hide themselves from it Elijah seeing a little cloud arising out of the Sea like a mans hand bid his servant goe up and say to Ahab prepare thy charet and get thee downe that the raine stop thee not and Ahab rode and went to Jezreel The children of God discerning the wrath of God afar off when it is but a little even in the first appearance prepare themselves by prayers and teares confession contrition and humiliation and make all hast to draw nigh to God that they may be safe with the Lord when the cloud of Gods anger shall raine upon the earth When I heard saith Habakuk the threatenings of the Lord the dreadfull judgements the great destruction and grievous desolation which God had appointed to bring upon the people what then how was he affected with the hearing of this My belly saith he trembled my lips quivered at the voice rottennesse entred into my bones and I trembled in my selfe that I might rest in the day of trouble when he commeth up unto the people he will invade them with his troupes Here is a declaration of his great sorrow and humiliation at the hearing and foreseeing of a judgement yet to come and here is the reason why he did it and the fruit arising from it even rest in the day of trouble sweet and sure acquiescence in God gracious and mighty protection under God when the trouble foreseene should come Although the fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the vines the labour of the Olive shall faile and the fields shall yeeld no meat the flocke shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no heard in the stals There is the great desolation and devastation of the land all this notwithstanding the Prophet having humbled himselfe is confident of comfort in this great distresse Yet saith he I will reioyce in the Lord I will ioy in the God of my salvation the Lord is my strength my helper my shield my comforter he shall make my feet like Hinds feet and he will make me to walke upon mine high places making me secure and safe comfortable and cheerfull in the day of trouble Unfained humiliation in the dayes of peace ministers great comfort and confidence in the houre of distresse He that sees the evill afar off and is humbled shall have comfort when the evill commeth 6. This ariseth from the distresse which Gods children see upon the Church of Christ they say not of the Church as Cain did of Abâ— am I my brothers am I the Churches Keeper they answer not the Church complaining in her afflictions as sometimes the Priests and Elders answered Judas in his anguish what is that to us see thou to that but Gods children have a sympathy and fellow-feeling of the troubles of their brethren they are not of their number who are at ease in Sion eating the Calfes of the stall drinking their wine in bowles c. but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph But they like the members in the body naturall if one member suffer all the members suffer with it weeping with them that weep remembring them that are in bonds us bound with them and them which suffer adversity as being themselves in the body Such is their love to the Church of Christ such is their desire after and pleasure in the Churches welfare such is their coniunction with the Church and their apprehension of the estate of the Church that the Churches miseries are their sorrowes CHAP. XXVI THe consideration of Christs living in all Gods children may give us just occasion to examine our selves and to get good and cleare evidence of Christs living in our soules This is the crowne and comfort of
endeavours To open the eyes of men and to turne them from darkenesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith which is in Christ The translation of the soules of men out of their naturall and corrupt estate into Christs Kingdome is the most sweet and blessed fruite of the Gospell To this also the Lord perswadeth by the proposall of many favours and mercies Turne you unto me saith the Lord and I will turn unto you saith the Lord of Hoasts Turne you unto me as Schollars to your teacher to learne my lawes as children to your Father to reverence my name as Subiects to your Soveraigne to obey my Statutes as Servants to your Lord and Master to do my will turne you unto me by repentance sorrowing for your sins by faith beleeving my Promises by love imbracing me and my testimonies and by obedience keeping my Commandements and I will turne unto you as a King of mercies pardoning you as a loving Father receiving you as a kind and gracious Husband imbracing you as a glorious and shining Sun dispelling all the clouds of sorrow from you as a powerfull and mighty Redeemer delivering you from all them that doe conspire against you God doth ever manifest himselfe very good and gracious to them that turne from their impieties To move men to this the Lord likewise useth very sweet and powerfull expostulations Repent and turne your selves saith the Lord God from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine cast away from you all your transgressions whereby yee have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will yee die ô house of Israel for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God wherfore turne your selves and live The forsaking of sin is the obtaining of life Sin is the cause of mans ruine repentance the way to peace and eternall happinesse though the ability to repent be Gods gift yet it is the duty of every man to repent and the changing of the heart from sin to holinesse is ever attended with sweet and sure mercies All blessings attend them that come from their naturall and corrupt estate to walke with God in newnesse of life and for this saith St. Peter God having raised up his Son sent him to blesse us in turning away every one of us from our iniquities the translation of man from the state of sin into the state of grace is one of the choysest benefits that cometh by Christ and they are the most blessed and happy among all people whom Christ delivers and turnes from the power and service of their corruption therefore as Sampson burst his wit hs and came away from Dalila so let us burst asunder the wit hs and fetters of our sin and come forth of our naturall and corrupt estate Of all estates to live under the power of sin and to continue a stranger to Christ is the most miserable and unhappy estate 1. An estate of Barrennesse the carnall man is a bad tree and can beare no good fruit a loathsome fountaine and can send forth no cleane water Michals wombe was shut up and she had no child till the day of her death the heart of a carnall man is shut up and continuing in that estate hee brings forth no good fruit all the dayes of his life he is saith Jude a tree twice dead and plucked up by the roots voyd of all the fruits of grace 2. His estate is an estate of exilement from God Adam was exiled Paradise for eating the forbidden fruit the carnall man is exiled Gods presence shut out from all communion with God for feeding and feasting his soule upon sin because stolne waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant unto him such men have no gracious relation unto God no claime nor title to the covenant of God no unfained love to God no likenesse with God and therefore God disclaimes all communion with them he will not acknowledge them 3. It is an estate of enmity the carnall mind is enmity against God man opposeth God and God opposeth man corrupt men are haters of God they hate the very being of God and wish there were no God they hate him in his attributes because he is a wife God and beholds all their impieties because he is a holy God and abhorres their ungodlinesse because he is a just God threatning destruction to their wayes because he is a powerfull God able to dash them in peeces as a Potters vessell with a rod of yron they hate him in his Ordinances in his Ministers in his Servants in all that beare his Image of holinesse and true righteousnesse and God hates them in their qualities in their services in their prayers their best Sacrifice is a loathsome carkasse in Gods nostrils a very abomination before the Lord. 4. It is an estate of slavery to Satan to the world to corruption he that is most sinfull is the veryest slave in the world as many lusts so many Lords and Masters yea cruell tyrants over him leading him captive at the will of Satan Peters being fettered in Herods prison Jeremies lying in the Dungeon Israels servitude under Pharaoh and the Aegyptians being led captive by the Assyrians naked and bare-foot to the reproach of Aegypt is but a slender shadow and weake representation of this thraldome 5. It is an estate of curses the whole pot was a pot of death where the evill herbe was all is a pot of death a pot of curses where sin rules very blessings are turned into curses to them that turne not from their impieties the table is a snare and what should have bin mans welfare becomes his ruine all the meanes of grace are perverted all the labours of Gods Ministers frustrated Jonahs being in the ship disabled the Marriners to bring the Ship unto the shore the dominion of sin in the soule disables the Minister to bring it to the haven of peace we row in vaine all our labour is lost if you forsake not your sin we cannot profit you the holding fast of your impieties turnes the ministry of salvation into an increase of condemnation working death instead of life the very best things proving evill to them that continue without change in their corrupt estate therfore as Hannah prayed to bee delivered from her barrennesse as Absolom longed to see an end of his exilement and to behold the Kings face againe as Israel sighed and groaned to bee eased of their bondage as the men of Tyre and Sidon made Blastus the Kings Chamberlaine their friend and desired peace with Herod and as the Prophet powred meale into the pot and there was no harme in the pot but the pot of death was made a pot of wholesome food a meanes to preserve life
then all other deliverances a deliverance from Satan the worst of all Tyrants a deliverance from Hell of all prisons the most loathsome of all places of torment the most painefull a deliverance from sinne of all fetters the strongest of all burthens the heaviest of all spots the fowlest and of all diseases the most mortall and dangerous a deliverance from the curse of the Law of all condemning sentences the most terrible and full of soul-anguish a deliverance from death of all the Kings of terrour the most dreadfull all other deliverances are but slender shadowes and representations of this deliverance This is a deliverance restoring man to greater felicity then all the deliverances beside which God ever wrought for man a deliverance by which man is made a living member in Christs body a loyall Subiect in Christs Kingdome a spirituall Free-man of the new Ierusalem a childe of God by Adoption the Spouse of Christ by holy wedlocke a glorious Conquerour over all the enemies of his salvation and an heire to a heavenly and incorruptible Kingdome Mans deliverance out of the estate of corruption comprehends matter and cause of all joy and thanksgiving Looke therefore every gracious and sanctified soule upon this blessed worke of Gods power love and mercy and say with the Psalmist Blesse the Lord O my soule and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies The woman of Shunom receiving her dead sonne restored unto life fell downe at the Prophets feet and bowed her selfe unto the ground Thus receiving thy soule that was dead in sinne restored to the life of grace fall thou downe at the feet of Christ adore and worship him laude and magnifie him prostitute thy selfe and all that is thine by way of gratitude under him The blinde man whose eyes Christ opened beleeved and worshipped him Christ having opened the eyes of thy understanding to know the hope of thy calling the riches of Christ inheritance and the exceeding greatnesse of his power towards thy soule beleeve thou in Christ embrace him cast thy selfe on him have thy whole dependance upon him and worship him by an honourable apprehension of his perfections a sincere and fervent love unto his person a humble submission to his precepts and thankfull celebration of his great and glorious Name for all his mercies The lame mans feet and ankle bones receiving strength he leaped up stood and walked and entred into the Temple walking leaping and praising God Christ having healed thy affections having strengthened thee with all spirituall might rise up from the earth walke in the wayes of holinesse enter into the Temple attend Christ in his Ordinances let thy soule rejoyce in Christ and praise him for thy spirituall abilities Naaman being cleansed from his leprosie returned unto the Prophet and intreated him to take a blessing from him Christ having cleansed thee from the leprosie of thy sinne returne to Christ and render to him the blessing of spirituall and hearty thanksgiving The woman in the Gospell who had a spirit of infirmity bowing her downe being made straight glorified God Christ having raised and rectified thy heart which was altogether bowed downe to the world and the things here below Christ having inabled thee to looke up to seeke the things which are above to mind God to love his truth to hunger and thirst after the gifts and graces of his Spirit glorifie Christ for this his gracious worke The Israelites seeing the Egyptians drowned and themselves delivered from their servitude sang and triumphed Man seeing his sinnes drowned in the teares of godly sorrow and buried in the grave of Christ his soule set free by Christ from the servitude of Satan the world and his owne corruption should sing and triumph in Christ and say the Lord hath triumphed gloriously the horse and the rider Satan and my corruption hath he throwne downe together The Lord having of barren made Hanna fruitfull she said my heart reioyceth in the Lord my horne is exalted in the Lord my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies because I reioyce in thy salvation Christ having opened our hearts and of barren made our soules fruitfull in all heavenly graces our hearts should rejoyce in Christ our mouthes should be enlarged with his praises and our soules should rejoyce in that salvation which Christ hath brought unto us Man hath not greater cause of thanksgiving for any thing then for his Sanctification this worke of Christ makes him a living man puts such a life into him that the second death shall never have power over him This makes him an honourable man one of the royall seed a King and Priest to God This makes him a beautifull and comely man as the Lilly among the thornes as the Sunne Moone and Morning among the clouds This makes him a victorious man a superabundant conquerour over all temptations and afflictions This makes him a rich man the least mite of this grace is better then all the abundance of the earth as the gleanings of Ephraim were better then the vintage of Abiezer This makes him a ioyfull man regeneration is the matter and ground of the soules fullest surest and sweetest rejoycing The Kingdome of God the worke of grace the spirituall reigne of Christ in the heart is righteousnesse peace and ioy in the Holy-Ghost Therfore praise Christ for this above all his favours as Theodosius gave God greater thanks that he had made him a member of the Church then head of the Empire warme thy heart therefore with the frequent and serious thoughts of this worke of Christ and praise him for this as for the brightest Starre shining in the Firmament of thy soule as for the most rich and orient pearle in the store-house of thy heart as for the most beautifull and comely slower adorning the garden of thy inner-man O praise him for this as for the sweetest freedome the noblest crowne the choisest workmanship and liveliest evidence of his love communicable to the soule of man As this is the best and most soule-reviving influence of Christ into the heart of man so for this pursue and follow Christ Jesus with free and frequent cordiall and joyous gracious and everlasting praises for without this we are strangers to Christ to the number of his faithfull servants to all the Prerogatives and priviledges which God ministers to his children even aliens to the common-wealth of Israel CHAP. VIII Shewing how all Gods people are but one THe second Alienation expressing the misery of men in their corrupt and carnall estate an Alienation from the Common-wealth of Israel Israel were once the peculiar people of God set apart by a holy Covenant unto God to be his people above all the people of the
abased shall you be in your owne eye able to say with the Prophet Woe is me J am undone I am a man of uncleane lips for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hoasts 2. The more ashamed shall you be of your former loosenes smiting with Ephraim upon your thigh ashamed and confounded for the reproach of your youth the more ashamed shall you be of your present uncleannesse abhorring your selfe with Iob below the dust and ashes 3. The more powerfull shall you be in the suppression of all sinne in the repelling of every temptation able to say with Joseph how shall I doe this evill and sinne against God 4. The more fervent and reverent shall you be in your hearing prayer and supplication standing with Cornelius as before the Lord in hearing his messenger and praying like Paul with the understanding and with the spirit 5. The more diligent and industrious shall you be in Gods service knowing the terrour of the Lord running like the Sunne the race which God hath set before you serving the Lord with feare and trembling doing the will of God from the heart 6. The more gracious shall you be in all your speeches speaking the words of God and as in the fight of God 7. The more circumspect shall you be in your carriage being all the day long in the feare of God and walking with God as Enoch and Noah did 8. The more couragious and undaunted shall you be in all difficulties and oppositions made against you not afraid of the many thousands that set themselves against you remembring and apprehending as Ezekiah did that God is with you a present help in trouble for you 9. The more shall you in a holy manner sleight and undervalue all the glory dignity wealth and fulnesse of the world having with you and within you that God who in your eye and apprehension transcends the world more then the most orient pearle the bafest drosse the choisest Paradise the most loathsome prison or the brightest Sunne the rotten glocworme 10. The more easily fully freely joyfully and permanently shall your hearts and thoughts come off from the creature from your selfe and from every thing here below as the eye comes gladly from the candle to the Sun upon the appearing and apprehension of the same as the Bride comes gladly from her owne people and her fathers house to her most honourable amiable and lovely Bridegroome or as the Prodigall came readily from the Swine and the huskes to his Fathers house where he apprehended fulnesse of bread 11. The more patient shall you be in all trouble apprehending God as a Father in love chastising you as a Physician launcing you and as a Refiner purging you you shall say with old Eli It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good 12. The more content shall you be in every condition contentedly able with Job to receive the evill of affliction as well as the good of peace at the hands of the Lord the apprehension of Gods presence with you shall satisfie and quiet you when every other thing is taken from you the apprehension of this shall powerfully and sweetly dispose you to quiet your selfe in the will of God humbly and readily to submit your selfe to the hand of God thankfully to take that portion which God giveth you assuring your selfe it is that which God in his wisedome seeth best for you Thrice blessed is that person who hath this apprehension of God still ruling and affecting him setledly dwelling and working within him there is nothing more availeable to keep the soule of man in a holy frame and disposition then the sence and feeling of Gods ever being present with him Secondly this should also move man to labour for infallible and sure interest in God It is the misery of man to be without God the happinesse of man to have God for his God to be able to say with Thomas My God and my Lord and in all estates to cry with David O Lord thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living It is mans having of God that makes the meditation of God sweet and comfortable to man What doth the shining of the Sunne advantage man if his eye receive not the light thereof What doth plenty of water in the well benefit the thirsty if he neither draw nor drinke of it What did fulnesse of bread in his Fathers house profit the prodigall sonne living among the swine and ready to starve with lacke of broad What doth it availe the soule that God is an eternall an Almighty an Al-seeing an alsufficient God if he live like the swine and feed upon the huskes of the world and come not unto God have no interest in God no taste no sence no feeling of the goodnesse of this God he must starve dye perish and be damned without God The charge therefore given to the children in Salomon concerning wisedome let me give to you concerning God Get God get the Lord forget him not neither decline from the words of his mouth forsake him not and he shall preserve thee love him and he shall keep thee God is the principall thing therfore got God and withall thy getting get the Lord. The gaine of all is losse without God the losse of all is gaine with God have all the power of the world without God thou art weake have all the wealth of the earth without God thou art poore have all the learning art and policye of men and Devils without God thou art foolish blinde and ignorant have all the honours of Nobles Kings and Emperours without God thou art base have all the beauty of the comeliest creatures without God thou art ugly loathsome and monstrous have all worldly and fleshly joyes and pleasures without God thy soule is in a condition of torments have all the liberties immunities and prerogatives of the freest Cities States and Kingdomes yet without God thou art in the most dishonourable slavish and basest bondage have God and though thou hast nothing else thou hast the strongest rocke to support thee the brightest Sun to guide thee the noblest crowne to honour thee the choisest pearle to enrich thee the fullest fountaine to fill thee the sweetest Paradise to solace and delight thee even God himself to be all in all in stead of all and ten thousand times more then all for ever unto thee * ⎠* FINIS A Table of the chiefe things contained in this Treatise on Psal 118. v 26. CHAP. I. AN Illustration of Christs comming and entertainment and opening the words Pag. 1. Note 1. Christ comming proves most ioyfull to them that savingly receive and entertaine him p. 4. Note 2. Man hath greatest cause of all creatures to reioyce in and for the comming of Christ Jesus ibid. Note 3. Whosoever truly reioyceth in Christ doth also wish well to the Cause and Kingdome of Christ p. 5.
Note 4. The Lord Jesus ought to be the prime and compleate Obiect of mans ioyfulnesse ib. Note 5. Blessed is that person that knoweth the way and manner of Christs spirituall and gracious comming p. 6. CHAP. II. Declaring the ioyfull receiving of Christ p. 6. Doct. Christ comming in his Gospell and spirituall Kingdome ought to be received with much thanksgiving and reioycing ib. 5. Grounds hereof p. 9. 1. Cleare and comfortable Revelation of God in Christ 2. Spirituall Liberty by Christs comming 3. Heavenly Victory 4. Spirituall peace 5. Soule-refreshing Communion with God obtained by Christs comming p. 9 10 11 12 13 14. CHAP. III. Relating their miserable Condition to whom Christ is unwelcome p. 15. 5. Grounds of Christs unwelcomnesse 1. Ignorance 2 Earthly mindednesse 3. Vnsensiblenesse 4. Contrariety to Christ 5. Infidelity p. 18 19 20. CHAP. IV. Perswading to a ioyfull entertainment of Christ p. 22. Manner how Christ must be entertained 1. Spiritually 2. Speedily 3. Cordially 4 Cheerfully 5. Humbly 6. Chiefly 7. Fully 8. perpetually p. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30. CHAP. V. Prescribing meanes disposing and inabling man to receive Christ ioyfully p. 31. The meanes 1. Full deposition of what is contrary to Christ as sin the world our selfe 2. Holy preparation to heare Christ in the Gospell 3. Gracious interest in Christ 4. Cleare discernement of Christs worth 5. Holy making use of Christ in the Gospell 6. Heavenly sence and experience of Christs worke upon our soules p. 34 to 39. CHAP. VI. Inducements to a ioyfull entertainment of Christ p. 39 6. Inducements 1. The Condition of the Creature without Christ being empty uncomfortable inthralling and polluting 2. A through view of mans estate without Christ 3. The terrible apprehension of God without Christ 4. Frustration of all Gods Ordinances Christ not entertained 5. Excellency and utility of Christ received giving life light health honour riches prosperity sweetnesse comfort satisfaction and abiding substance 6. Fastening thoughts on brevity of life p. 39. to 51. CHAP. VII Manifestations of Christs welcome p. 52. Christs welcome manifested 1. By opening the heart to him 2. By garnishing the heart for him 3. By offering our selves to Christ 4. By exalting Christ 5. By faith and love to Christ conformity with Christ and acquiescence in Christ p. 52 53. Want of ioyfull receiving of Christ shewes want 1. of knowledge 2. Of Love 3. Of Faith 4. Of prizing Christ 5. Of relishing Christ p. 54 55 56. Joy in Christs comming perswaded p. 57. CHAP. VIII The necessity and excellency of advancing Christs Gospel and Kingdome is demonstrated p. 58. Doct. It is the duty of all people unfainedly to desire and earnestly to endeavour the welfare promotion and advancement of Christ his spirituall Kingdome and Gospell ib. 5. Grounds hereof 1. The Covenant between Man and Christ 2. The Relationâ— 3. Christs interest in Man 4. The Subversion of Satan 5. The glory and crowne of the Church p. 62 63 64 65 66 67. CHAP. IX The impiety of three sorts of men is opened p. 68. 1. Non reâ—arders of the welfare of the Gospell 2. Opposers of the Gospell 3. Grievers at the prosperity of the Gospell p. 68 69 70. Grounds of not regarding the welfare of the Gospell p. 69. Grounds of opposing the Gospell p. 70 71. CHAP. X. The setting up of Christs Kingdome and Gospell is perswaded p. 72. Parties by whom Christs Kingdome and Gospell is to be exalted Magistrates Ministers Masters of families private persons p. 73 74. Inducements to the exaltation of Christs Kingdome and Gospell 1. The honour of a Christian 2. Love to Christ 3. The perill of not endeavouring the welfare of Christs Gospel 4 Christs withholding of nothing which makes for the exaltation of man 5. The blessing which attends the exaltation of the Gospell CHAP. XI Proposing meanes to frame and worke the heart of man to advance Christ and his Gospell p. 79. 4. Meanes hereof 1. Distaste of sin 2. Holy feare 3. Sence of the necessity of Christ 4. Inabling and raising the heart to a spirituall temper p. 80 81 82 83. CHAP. XII Christs being furnished with authority and ability to minister salvation is handled p. 84. Doct. Christ is furnished with authority and all divine abilities to minister all peace and salvation to Gods servants p. 85. 4. Grounds hereof 1. Christs power 2. Christs exaltation above all 3. Christs repletion of all 4. Christs proposing his Fathers glory p. 88 89 90. CHAP. XIII The dispensation of salvation by Christ is shewed p. 91. 4. Evils of leaving Christ and betaking our selves to humane traditions 1. A derogation from Christs authority 2. Self-exaltation and Presumption 3. Disparagement of Christs wisedome 4. Perill of the soule p. 93. 94. Christs authority and ability presseth to 4. Duties 1 Subiection 2. Dependence 3. Love 4. Acquiescence in Christ p. 95 96 97 98. CHAP. XIV Gods dispensing of blessings by his Ministers is fully evidenced p. 99. Note Holy and saithfull Ministers are the instrumentall Causes of great blessings to Gods Church and servants p. 99. Note It must be the care of Ministers so to demeane themselves in their function that they prove a blessing to the people p 100. Note The labours of Gods Ministers prove a blessing onely to such people as rejoyce in and endeavour the advancement of the Gospell ib. Doct. God by his holy and faithfull Ministers dispenseth very great sweet and heavenly blessings to his Church and servants ib. 3. Grounds hereof 1. Gods communication of Christ to the soules of men by the labours of his Ministers 2. The evils from which God delivers man by the labours of his Ministers 3. The blessed estate whereinto God puts man by the Labours of his Ministers p. 104. 6. Communications of Christ by the Labours of Gods Ministers 1. The Knowledge of Christ 2. The Faith of Christ 3. The Life of Christ. 4. The Love of Christ 5. The Peace of Christ 6. The whole treasury of Christ p. 104 105. Deliverance from 5. evils dispensed by Gods Ministers 1. From spirituall death 2. From blindnesse 3. From bondage 4. From uncleannesse 5. From soule-tortures p. 106. Man put into a condition of 6. Excellencies by the industry of Gods Ministers 1. Of Wisedome 2. Of Sanctification 3. Of Freedome 4. Of Exaltation 5. Of Satisfaction 6. Of Duration p. 107 108. CHAP. XV. Opening mans unhappines not enioying Gods Ministers p. 109. Mans estate without the Gospell an estate 1. Of Death 2. Of Darknesse 3. Of Servitude 4 Of Emptinesse 5. Of Vncleannesse 6. Of Sorrowes p. 110 111. The folly of Estrangement from the Gospell with the grounds and evils of it p. 112. Cure of Non-estrangement from the Gospell urged Evils of Estrangement opened p. 113 114 113. Gospell not to be â—leighted worthy of full and honourable embracement p. 115. A TABLE of the chiefe things contained in this Treatise on Galathians CHAPTER 2. VERSE 20. CHAP. I. Illustrating the state of man by