over them And there are two things specified in order to their King His 1. Election 2. Religion 1. His Election v. 15. Thou shalt in any wise set him over thee whom the Lord thy God shall chuse Good reason God should have the choice of their King seeing by him Kings reign Prov. 8.15 2. His Religion v. 18. When he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom he shall write him a Copy of this Law in a Book out of that which is before the Priests * Levitici Sacerdotes in atrio templi volumen legis quod erat primariae authoritatis custodiebant P. Fagius Here was a good beginning of a Kings reign the first thing he did after he sate upon the Throne was to Copy out the Word of God in a Book And in the Text It shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the Words of this Law and these Statutes to do them It shall be with him The Book of the Law shall be his Vade mecum or daily Companion Charles the Great used to set his Crown upon the Bible Indeed THE BIBLE is the best Supporter of the Crown And he shall read * Legere debuit sibi privatim in templo ut sciret populus neminem à lege excipi Grotius therein It is not below the Majesty of a Prince to peruse the Oracles of Heaven in them are comprized sacred Apothegms Prov. 8.6 I will speak of excellent things In the Septuagint it is (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grave things in the Hebrew Princely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b things such as are fit for a God to speak and a King to read Nor must the King only read the Book of the Law at his first instalment into his Kingdom but he shall read in it all the days of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 life He must not leave off reading till he lest off reigning And the reasons why he must be conversant in the Law of God are in the subsequent words 1. That he may learn to fear the Lord his God Reading of the Word is the best means to usher in the fear of the Lord. 2. That he may keep all the words of this Law to do them 3. That he may prolong his days in his Kingdom I shall now confine my self to these words He shall read in it i. e. the Book of the Law all the days of his life The holy Scripture is as Austin saith a (d) Qu d est sacra Scriptuâ—a nisi quaedâ—m episâ—ola Omni potentis Dei ad creaturam iâ— qua verba Dei sâ—nant cor Dei discitur Aug. in Psal Golden Epistle sent to us from God This is to be read diligently ignorance of Scripture is the mother of errour not devotion Matth. 22.29 ye err not knowing the Scriptures We are commanded to search the Scriptures John 5.39 The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to search as for a Vein of Silver How diligently doth a Child read over his Fathers Will and Testament and a Citizen peruse his Charter with the like (e) Quaerit Scriptura lectâ—rem vigilantem desidiâ—sum resiuit Rivet Isag â—d scriptur c. 13. diligence should we read Gods Word which is our Magna Charta for Heaven 'T is a mercy the Bible is not prohibited Trajan the Emperour forbade the Jews to read in the Book of the Law Let us enquire at this sacred Oracle Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 Melancthon (f) Melch. Adam in vita Melancth when he was young suck'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sincere Milk of the Word Alphonsus King of Arragon read over the Bible fourteen times That Roman Lady Cecilia had by much reading of the Word made her Breast Bibliothecam Christi the Library of Christ as (g) Si Alexander Homerum ita amplexus est Scipio Afric Zenophontis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vix è manibus d posuit quid nes in sicro codicâ— agere oportet Quistorp vide Chytraei praelect in Jos Mornaeum Hierom speaks Were the Scriptures only in their Originâ—l Tongue many would plead excuse for not reading but when this sword of the spirit is unsheathed and the Word is made plain to us by being translated what should hinder us from a diligent search into these holy Mysteries Adam was forbid upon pain of death to taste of the Tree of Knowledge Gen. 3.17 In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt sâ—rely dye But there is no danger of touching this Tree of holy Scriptures if we do not eat of this Tree of Knowledge we shall surely dye What will become of them who are strangers to Scripture Hosea 8.12 I have written to him the great things of my Law but they were counted as a strange thing Many lay aside Scripture as rusty Armor Jer. 8.9 they are better read in Romances than in St. Paul they spend many hours inter pectinem speculum between the Comb and the Glass but their eyes begin to be sore when they look upon a Bible The very Turks will rise up in judgment against these Christians they reverence the Books of Moses and if they find but a leaf wherein any thing of the Pentateuch is written they take it up and kiss it They who slight the Word written slight God himself whose stamp it bears To slight the Kings Edict is an affront offered to the Person of the King Scripture-vilifiers (h) Dei eloquia rejicientes multis se exiâ—ialibus lâ—qu is involvunt Calvin are in a damnable state Prov. 13.13 Whoso despiseth the Word shall be destroyed Nor is it enough to read the Word of God but it should be our care to get some spiritual emolument and profit by it that our Souls may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nourished up in the words of faith 1 Tim. 4.6 Why else was the Scripture written but that it might profit us God did not give us his Word only as a Landskip to look upon but he delivered it to us as a Father delivers a stock of Money to his Son to improve 'T is sad not to profit by the Word Quest to be like a body in an atrophy that doth not thrive Men would be loath to trade and get no profit The grand Question I am to speak to is this How we may read the Scriptures with most spiritual profit Resp 'T is a momentous Question and of daily use R. For the resolution of this Question I shall lay down several Rules or Directions about reading of Scripture 1. If you would profit by reading remove those things which will hinder Direct 1 your profiting That the Body may thrive obstructions must be removed There are three obstructions must be removed if you would profit by Scripture 1. Remove the love of every (i) Plaâ—imi peccata radunt
death and the grave and Hell and the Devil in chains after him as conquerors in war were wont to lead their vanquished enemies whom they had taken prisoners in chains of Captivity after them exposing them to the publick scorn of all spectators Thus we are to ascribe the glory of the work of Redemption to Jesus Christ the Son of God and thereby do honour God in our sanctifying of his holy Sabbath Thirdly We likewise glorifie the Holy Ghost when we ascribe to Him the honour of the work of Sanctification Whether we look upon it in that first miraculous effusion of the spirit which our Lord Jesus as the King and Head of his Church did first purchase by the blood of his cross and afterward ascended into heaven and obtained of his Father when he took possession of his Kingdom and lastly did abundantly pour down upon the Apostles and other officers and members of his Evangelical Church in the day of Pentecost Acts 2.1 Which was as it were the Sanctification of the whole Gospel-Church at once in the first-fruits Or whether we understand that work of sanctification which successively is wrought by the Holy Ghost in every individual elect Child of God happily begun in their first conversion and mightily upheld and carried on in the sâ—ul to the dying day This is a glorious work consisting in these two glorious branches of it mortification of corruption which before the Holy Ghost hath done shall end in the total annihilation of the body of sin that blessed priviledge groan'd for so much by the blessed Apostle Rom. 7.24 and the erecting of a beautiful fabrick of grace holiness in the soul which is the very Image of God Heb. 1 3â— an erection of more transcendent wonder and glory than the six days workmanship which the Holy Ghost doth uphold and will perfect unto the day of Christ And this is the great end and design of the Sabbath and of the Ordinances of the Gospel according to the word which the great maker and appointer of Sabbaths speaketh I give them my sabbath to be a sign between me and them that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctifieth them Here then is the third branch of our sanctifying the Sabbath namely the ascribing to God the Holy Ghost the glory of the work of sanctification And this is proper work for Christians in the intervals and void spaces between the publick Ordinances to sit down and first seriously and impartially to examine the work of grace in our souls 1. For the truth of it 2. For the growth of it And then if we can give God and our own Consciences some Scriptural account concerning this matter humbly to fall down and to put the Crown of praise upon the head of Free-grace which hath made a difference where it found none And so much for this Text at this time How we may hear the Word with profit Serm. VII Jam. 1.21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is able to save your souls THese Jews to whom the Apostle writes were guilty of many foul and scandalous sins but their master sin was the love of this world c. 4. ver 4. (a) Ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God and from this sin arose many other Evils wherewith they are charged in this Epistle as 1. Their tickling joy in hopes to get gain ch 4.13 (b) Go to now ye that say To day or to morrow we will go into such a City and continue there a year and buy and sell and get gain 2. Their Hoarding up of riches ch 5.3 (c) Your gold and silver is cankered and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire ye have heaped treasure together for the last daies 3. With-holding the pay of the labouring man chap. 5.4 (d) Behold the hire of the labourers which have reaped down your fields which is of you kept back by fraud cryeth and the cries of them which have reaped are entred into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath 4. Their fightings and Contentions one with the other yea their killing one the other to get their Estates ch 4.1 2. (e) From whence come wars and fightings among you come they not even from your lusts that war in your members ye lust and have not ye kill and desire to have cannot obtain their desiring to have made them kill one the other as Ahab did Naboth 5. Their Admiring the rich and villifying the poor ch 2.3 (f) If there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring in goodly apparel and there come in also a poor man in vile rayment And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing and lastly to name no more Hence arose their unprofitable hearing of the word ch 1.22 (g) But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves They heard they had the best places at meetings but they were hearers only they did nothing for Riches as Christ tells us Choak the word Luke 8.14 (h) And that which fell among thorns are they which when they have heard go forth and are choaked with cares and riches And as they were guilty of these moral vices so erroneous in the Doctrine of faith especially in that main Article of Justification Holding an empty and inefficatious faith sufficient to interest a man in Christ ch 2.14 (i) What doth it profit my brethren though a man say he hath faith have not works can faith save him can such a faith save him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can that faith save him can such a faith save him that Faith that saves is alwaies fruitful and that faith which is not fruitful is no true Faith the Apostle doth not deny that we are justified by Faith by Faith only but he denies that faith without works is a true faith it s only an empty and aiery notion and such a faith cannot justifie nor save a man Well then this being the case and condition of the people it was impossible they should be quiet and patient hearers of the word but must needs fret and fume against it as that which contradicts their Lusts Errors and Delusions The Apostle therefore to take them off from this bitter and untoward spirit in Hearing the word gives them this wholsome counsel and advice from God Wherefore laying apart all filthiness c. All filthiness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 'le not restrain it to covetousness nor to scurrilous and reproachful speeches but take it in its utmost Latitude as denoting sin in the General 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sometimes signifies the filth of the flesh 1 Pet. 3.21
Pearl of price is hid it is a Rock of Diamonds it is a sacred Collyrium or Eye-salve it mends their eyes that look upon it it is a spiritual Optiâ—k-glass in which the glory of God is Resplendent it is the Panaâ—y or (n) Vitae pharmacum Quistorpius universal Medicine for the Soul The leaves of Scripture are like the leaves of the Tree of life for healing of the Nations Rev. 22.2 The Scripture is both the Breeder and (o) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Athanas Feeder of Grace how is the Convert born but by the Word of Truth Jam. 1.18 how doth he grow but by the sincere Milk of the Word 1 Pet. 2.2 The Word written is the Book out of which our Evidences for Heaven are fetched it is the Sea-mark which shows us the Rocks of Sin to avoid it is the Antidote against Error and Apostasie the two-edged Sword which wounds the old Serpent It is our Bulwark to withstand the force of Lust like the Capitol of Rome which was a place of strength and ammunition The Scripture is the (p) Cant. 4.4 Tower of David whereon the Shields of our Faith hang. Take away the Word and you deprive us of the Sun said (q) Si verbum Dei auferas Solem è Mundo sustulisti Luth. Luther The Word written is above an Angelical Embassy or voice from Heaven 2 Pet. 1.18 This voice which came from Heaven we heard we have also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more sure Word O prize the Word written prizing is the way to profiting If Caesar so valued his Commentaries that for preserving them he lost his Purple Robe how should we estimate the Sacred Oracles of God Job 23.12 I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food King Edward the Sixth on the day of his Coronation had presented before him three Swords signifying that he was Monarch of three Kingdoms the King said there was one Sword wanting being asked what Direct 12 that was answered The Holy Bible which is the Sword of the Spirit and is to be preferr'd before these Ensigns of Royalty Robert King of Sicily did so prize God's Word that speaking to his Friend Petrarcha he said I protest the Scriptures are dearer to me than my Kingdom (r) Juro tibi Petrarcha multo mihi chariores esse sacras Scripturas quà m regnum c. Corn. à Lap. and if I must be deprived of one of them I had rather lose my Diadem than the Scriptures 12. Get an ardent love to the Word Prizing relates to the judgment Love to the affections Psal 119.159 Consider how I love thy (s) Rom. 7 22â— precepts He is likely to grow rich who delights in his Trade he who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lover of Learning will be a Scholar St. Austin tells us before his Conversion he took no pleasure in the Scriptures but afterwards they were his chaste (t) Sint castae delitiae mâ—ae scripturae Aug. delights David tasted the Word sweeter than the Honey which drops from the Comb (u) Quod spâ—nte ex favo stillat mellis medulla vocatur plus autem melleae dulcedinis ab uberibus Scripturae sugitur Psal 19.10 Thomas a Kempis used to say He found no content but to be in angulo cum libello in a Corner with the Book of God in his hand Did Alphonsus King of Sicily recover of a fit of Sickness with that great pleasure he took in reading of Quintus Curtius What infinite pleasure should we take in reading the Book of Life There is enough in the Word to breed holy complacency and delight it is a specimen and demonstration of God's Love to us The Spirit is God's Love-Token the Word his Love-Letter How doth one delight to read over his Friend's Letter The Word written is a Divine Treasury or (x) Pietatis gazâ—â— hylacium Quistorp Store-house in it are scattered Truths as Pearls to adorn the hidden man of the heart The Word written is the true Manna which hath all sorts of sweet taste in (z) Manna cujuslibet Saporis it it is a soveraign Elixir it gives wine to them of an heavy heart I have read of an ancient Rabbi who in a great concourse of people made Proclamation of a soveraign Cordial he had to sell many resorting to him and asking him to shew it he opened the Bible and directed them to several places of Comfort in it Holy David drank of this Cordial Psal 119.50 This is my comfort in my affliction thy Word hath quickned me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 St. Chrysostom compares the Scripture to a (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrys Hom. in Psal 44. Garden every line in it is a fragrant Flower which we should wear not in our bosome but our heart Delight in the Word causeth profit and we must not only love the comforts of the Word but the reproofs Myrrh is bitter to the Palate but good for the Stomach Direct 13 Come to the reading of the Word with honest hearts Christ speaks of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the honest heart Luke 8.15 Quest Question What is it to read the Word with an honest Heart Answ 1. Answ 1 To come with an Heart willing to know the whole counsel of God a good Heart would not have any Truth concealed but saith as Job What I see not teach thou (b) Job 34.32 me When men pick and chuse in Religion they will do some things the Word enjoyns them but not others these are unsound Hearts and are not benefited by holy Writ These are like a Patient who having a bitter Pill prescribed and a Julip he will take the Julip but refuseth the Pill 2. To read the Word with an honest Heart is to read it that we may be made better by (c) Cor integrum i. e. quod prorsas desideret proficere Brugensis it The Word is quoad se the Medium and Organ of Sanctity and we come to it not only to Illuminate us but Consecrate us John 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy Truth Some go to the Bible as one goes to the Garden to pick Flowers i. e. fine Notions Austin confesseth that before his Conversion he went to hear Ambrose more for the elegancy of Speech and quaintness of Notion than the spirituality of the Matter This is like a Woman that paints her Face but neglects her health But this is to have an honest Heart when we come to the Scriptures as Naaman to the Waters of Jordan to be healed of our Leprosie Oh! saith the Soul That this Sword of the Spirit may pierce the Rock of my Heart that this blessed Word may have such a virtue in it as the water of jealousie to kill and make (d) Num. 5.27 fruitful that it may kill my Sin and make me fruitful in Grace Direct 14 Learn to apply Scripture take every
is the command of the Lord Jesus to remember him in this Supper is a debt you ow to him your Saviour Lord and head it is a command that bears the superscription of the most supreme Authority in Heaven or Earth and if by the sentence of Christ it was but just to pay the tribute-money to Caesar because it bore his superscription it is much more just for you to pay the tribute of obedience to this command that bears the superscription of an Authority greater than all the Caesars that ever were What 's the name of Caesar in compare to the name and title of the Son of God which is a title that speaks him greater than all Angels or Arch-Angels in Heaven for to which of his Angels said he at any time thou art my Son Heb. 1.5 this day have I begotten thee this is he whom the Prophet Isaiah calleth Wonderful Is 9.6 Counsellor the mighty God the Prince of peace on whose shoulders it hath pleased the Everlasting Father to lay the government this is he whose Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom Dan. 4.3 and of whose dominion there will be no end of whom David speaketh Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever a Scepter of Righteousness is the Scepter of thy Kingdom Psal 45.6 all power my brethren God hath given into his hands and hath given him to bear this royal title King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.16 and it is he only that is head of his Church it is this great Lord that hath said this do in remembrance of me how then dare you disobey him believe it if he hath so great authority to command he hath as great a power to punish if he find you presumptuously disobedient he that could strike some sick and others dead for profaning this Supper he can do as much to you for not observing it and that he doth not is not because he wants power but because he is gracious long suffering not willing you should perish for your neglect but that you may be drawn to repentance and so to obedience but if you be obstinate after you are told throughly of your fault take heed it will be a horrible thing for you to fall into the hands of consuming fire 2. Consider your neglect of this Ordinance is a sin against the command not only of the greatest but of the best Prince in Heaven and Earth he is not only Maximus but Optimus also this is a further aggravation of your sin Who ever thought but that Absalom's taking up arms against David was treason but he that shall consider that the rebellion was against David the man after God's own heart against David the holiest of men and the justest of Princes and besides all this against David his Father cannot but judge it an act of the highest treason imaginable My brethren in your disobeying this command you sin against Jesus the just and Jesus the gracious against him that is by place your head in love your Father in openness of heart your Friend against him that emptied himself that he might fill you that became poor that he might enrich you that became an exile from his Throne and Father's Kingdom that he might bring you home to your Father's house that became a curse that you might be blessed that hung on a tree for you that you might sit on Thrones with him who called you and washed you from your sins in his blood and after all this when he shall leave such a command as this to remember him in this Supper for all this his love how inexcusable must your neglect be let your Conscience be judge with whom I leave it 3. If you consider what relation you that are believers stand in to this Jesus that left this command with you ye are the Elect of the Father who committed you to his Son to Redeem and effectually call you that he might save you from sin wrath the grave Hell and to bring you to everlasting glory Why are you called believers but from that faith whereby you acknowledg this Jesus as your Lord and your God whereby you trust in him and in what he hath done and suffered for you for the making your peace procuring your pardon and opening a new and living way into your Father's Kingdom and glory it is by this faith that you love him cleave to him and are therefore called his friends his children his brethren his subjects servants followers witnesses and shall such as you be found disobedient to him shall you carelesly forget to remember him in a supper appointed by himself for the remembrance of the greatest act of his love that is his dying for you I tell you Christ will take it worse of you than of any others how hainously did David take a contempt from his friend Psal 41.9 Yea mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me ye are those that he hath chosen out of the world brought into his Father's family and for you to turn the heel upon him and refuse to eat at his Table this is a contempt that cannot but grieve and anger him when Christ had been teaching that they who did not eat his flesh and drink his blood had no life in them at this multitudes were offended and forsook him but saith he to his Disciples will ye go also implying that if they should forsake him it would be matter of greater trouble than that of the multitudes leaving him John 6.53.67 That the profane world comes not nigh his Table that comes not so nigh his heart but that ye believers should withdraw this is that which he must needs take ill from you Oh do not as you tender the good pleasure of your Lord do not grieve him by absenting your selves from his table 4. If you consider the command it self as it is easie pleasant honourable your neglect must needs receive further aggravation What is more easie than to eat and drink or more pleasant than to come to a feast or more honourable than to feast with the King of Kings Christ puts you not upon the painful duty of circumcising your flesh nor on the troublesom duty of washing your selves every time you touch a dead carcase or what is ceremonially unclean nor on the costly duties of sacrificing your Lambs Goats or Oxen nor on the costly and toilsom duties of travelling scores of miles every year to feast before the Lord at Jerusalem to which the Church of the Jews were bound he hath eased you of all these burdens and made your task far easier instead of all these he hath instituted but two duties like them the one of Baptism the trouble of which you are to undergo but once in all your lives and the other of this Supper which you may have without travelling far for and which costs you next to nothing But further it is a duty not less
is yet but an Embrio there is not only requisite Prayer which was presupposed with thanksgiving for the sanctifying the fruit of the body (a) 1 Tim. 4.4 5. as Jeremiah and John were (b) Jer. 1.5 Luke 1.15 but also a tender care for the preservation of life Both Parents are concern'd in order to a better observance of the fifth Commandment to have regard to what is imply'd and required in the sixth and seventh Commandment When God hath curiously made the babe in secret in the lower parts of the earth (c) Ps 139.13 15. it is to be regarded even before it see the light Manaoh's wife had a positive order in this case for the safety of her self and child vvhen it was conceiv'd and her good husband was desirous as appears by his enquiry to be assistant to her therein (d) Judg. 13 4 11 12. The Rule given her by the Angel of the Lord r spected temperance forbearance of wine vvas order'd both for her own and the child 's good Upon such an account the Philosopher * Arist. Folitic l. 7. de Rep. l. 8. c. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 determined in his Politick that pregnant women should be careful as to their aliment and elsewhere particularly commends milk and not wine as more fit nourishment for many bodies wherein he conceits the latter may occasion diseases As for nourishment the Mother should be prudently careful and the Father in special case of a real longing appetite should endeavour seasonable supplies so there should be a joynt care for a provision of things necessary and convenient to entertain the Babe into the world when brought forth Though the Virgin Mary was in a low estate and necessitated to travel at the Emperor's command yet she was not unprovided of swadling clothes (e) Luke 2.7 All this gives check to those Mothers who without a call frisk and jantle about any how at their pleasure and are intemperate yea against the Apostle's charge and to the disparagement of their Christian Profession (f) Tit. 2.4.5 for he would have the Matrons by good example to teach the young women to be sober to love their husbands and their children to be discreet chast keepers at home good c. And this is more especially requisite for Child-bearing women sith the Romans observ'd that Coriolanus's Neece miscarried by being too strait lac'd the Sister of Curius by much dancing and the Sister of C. Duilius by immoderate eating of various dainties 'T is indeed granted that carelessness of making provision of necessaries for clothing their new-born Infants is the fault of a few in our Age wherein under the notion of clouts or clothtrenchers things of the greatest value by some of mean quality are found out to such an height of curiosity sometimes as appears not very consonant to the simplicity and humility of the Gospel 'T were I confess Ostrich-like to suffer these sure pledges of nature to be without conveniences or to expose them like some of the ancient Greeks as they are sometimes in this great City at the doors in the street but to make them Peacock-like to surpass in finery above their rank can be no symptome of humility and then too when the Parents would have it thought they engage them to forsake all the pomps and vanities of the vvorld But this may respect the next duty viz. 2. To give the Child nourishment when it appears in the world for the preservation of it's natural life and to seek that it may be spiritually alive Parents should use the best means nature and grace do prompt to them For the former that breast-milk is ordinarily the most proper aliment Nature teacheth as also for the most part that the Mother's is most agreeable likewise that she is oblig'd to nurse her own Babe whatever softnesses many delicate Dames do now cherish the Scriptures as well as Principles of Reason do evince unless she be excus'd in some few instances as in case of necessity or greater charity namely when the impediment to her giving suck is natural disability a really great weakness or an affliction with a disease which might be transmitted with the milk or in case of the publick concerns of a Kingdom for securing of succession in the Royal Throne or c. For natural instinct which is seen in these springing fontinels the breasts (h) Cantic 4.5 unto this end for giving that food better digested unto the child vvhen come out vvith vvhich it vvas fed in the vvomb hath reason super-added in man As marriage to him especially under the Christian constitution becomes an ordinance of God vvhich in the mixture of other creatures is merely natural * Dr. Jer. Taylor 's Great Exempl p. 1. Sect. 3. Now to pervert the end and designation of Nature with the necessities thereof is in effect to violate those reasonable inducements which do oblige conscience in that vvhich is comly and not to correspond with the design of justice charity and sohriety A matter certainly very inaccountable for those who are bound seriously to think on so as to do whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report or if there be any other vertue (i) Phil. 4.8 Certainly the thing can be no disparagement to them of the best quality but a credit only because it agrees not with the modern mode of the Italian and French amongst whom the great ones often suckle their Children upon vile women and sometimes upon Strumpets whose manners are drawn in with their milk Chrysostom * Homil. in Psal thought it a reproach that any women should blush to be Nurses who were become Mothers The Spartan law was that the Noblest even the Kings wives should nurse the first child Historians †Herodotus c. shew Queens have done it The Noblest amongst the ancient Romans and Germans did it And one of the Caesars thought it a prodigie in those days that a Roman Lady refused to suckle her own Infant and yet gave suck to a Puppy that her milk might be more artificially dried up But I fear the wantonness and pride of some Mothers and the ill-nature of some Fathers who love their ease and quiet may render this discourse unpleasing to them yet had I time to enlarge for that reason it would be the more necessary in the cases not excepted However the blessed Virgin giving Jesus milk from the bottles of his own filling may commend it with reputation enough to any Christian Mother who seriously desires to practise the choice lesson of Self-denial For the Scriptures consonant to the common prinicples of right reason do either take this Duty for granted where no just exceptions of Mothers nursing their own Children for a ruled case as in the Father of the faithful's wife Sarah (k) Gen. 21.7 who was a very honourable
known to be really the Saviour of the World and by making his followers better than others that he and his Doctrine and Religion are known to be the best Travellers tell me that nothing so much hindreth the conversion of the Mahometans as their daily Experience that the Lives of the Greek Christians and others that Live among them are too ordinarily worse than theirs More drunkenness and more falshood lying deceit it 's said are among those Christians than among the Turks If that be true those are no true Christians but woe be to them by whom such offence cometh I have oft heard those Souldiers justly censured as profane who turn Churches into Stables without great necessity But how much more hurtfully profane are they who for carnal ends confound the World and the Church and keep the multitude of the most sensual ungodly Persons in their Communion without ever calling them Personally to Repentance and use the Church Keys but to revenge themselves on those that differ from them in some Opinions or that cross their Interest and wills or that seem too smart and zealous in the dislike of their Carnality Sloth and Church-pollutions When the Churches are as full of scandalous sinners as the Assemblies of Infidels and Heathens the World will hardly ever believe that Infidelity and Heathenism is not as good as the Christian Faith It is more by Persons than by Precepts that the World will judge of Christ and Christianity And what Men on Earth do more scandalize the World more expose Christianity to reproach more harden Infidels more injure Christ and serve the Devil than they that fill the Church with impious Carnal Pastors as in the Church of Rome and then with impious Carnal People maintained constantly in her Communion without any open disowning by a distinguishing reforming Discipline When such Pastors are no better than the soberer sort of Heathens save only in their Opinion and formal words and when their ordinary Communicants are no better it 's no thanks to them if all turn not Infidels that know them and if Christianity be contemned and decay out of the World And it 's long of such that disorderly separations attempt that Discipline and distinguishing of the godly and the notoriously wicked which such ungodly Pastors will not attempt See Lev. 19.17 Mat. 18.15 16. 1 Cor. 5. Tit. 3.10 Jer. 15.19 Psal 15. 2 Thes 3. Rom. 16.17 2 Tim. 3.4 5. III. But O how great an honour is it to God and to Religion when Kings Princes and States do zealously devote their Power to God from whom they do receive it and labour to make their Kingdoms Holy When Truth Sobriety and Piety have the countenance of humane powers and Rulers wholly set themselves to further the faithful Preaching and practising of the Holy Faith and to Unite and strengthen the Ministers and Churches and to suppress Iniquity and be a terror to evil doers it taketh Satan's great advantage out of his hand and worketh on carnal Men by such means as they can feel and understand Not that God needs the help of Man but that he hath setled Officers and a Natural Order by which he usually worketh in the World And as it cannot be expected that an unholy Parent and Master should have a Holy Family or an unholy Pastor a Holy Church unless by extraordinary Mercy no more can we expect that ungodly Magistrates should have a godly Kingdom or Common-wealth of which the Sacred History of the Jewish and Israelitish Kings doth give you a full confirmation But this I must now say no more of And thus I have told you in Twenty particulars what are those good Works in which the Light of Christians must shine before Men to the Glorifying of God Object Doth not Mat. 5.10 11 12. Contradict all this Blessed are ye when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Answ No You must here distinguish 1. Of Men. 2. Of Righteousness and Good Works I. The Men that we have to do with are 1. Ordinary Natural Men Corrupted by Original sin but yet not hardened to Serpentine Malignity as some are 2. Or they are Men that by sinning against Nature and common Light are forsaken and given up to malignant minds II. The Good Works which Natural Light and humane Interest can discern and commend do differ from those which are merely Evangelical of Supernatural Revelation 1. Malignant Persons hardened in Enmity will scorn and persecute Holiness it self and even that Good which Reason Justifies and therefore are called unreasonable wicked Men 2 Thes 3.2 Good works with these Men make us odious unless they are such as gratifie their Lusts 2. But there are Natural Men not yet so hardened and forsaken who are usually them that the Gospel doth Convert And these have not yet so blinded Nature nor lost all sense of good and evil but that they honour him that doth good in all the Twenty particulars which I have named and think ill of those that do the contrary though yet they relish not the Christian Righteousness and things of Supernatural Revelation for want of Faith Let us briefly now apply it This informs us what an honourable state Christianity and true Godliness Vse 1 is when God hath made us to be the Lights of the world to shine before Men to the Glory of his Holiness as the Sun and Stars do to the Glory of his Power No wonder if in Glory we shall shine as Stars in the Firmament of our Father if we do so here Dan. 12.3 Mat. 13.43 Phil. 2.15 This must not make us proud but thankful for our Pride is our shame and our Humility is our Glory And what wonder if all the Powers of darkness do bend their endeavours Vse 2 to obscure this Sacred Light The Prince of darkness is the Enemy of the Father of Lights And this is the great war between Christ and Satan in the world Christ is the Light of the World and setteth up Ministerial Lights for the world and for his House his work is to send them forth to teach them and defend them and to send his Spirit to work in and by them to bring Men to the everlasting Light And Satan's work is to stir up all that he can against them high and low learned and unlearned and to put Christ's Lights both Ministers and People under a bushel and to make the world believe that they are their Enemies and come to hurt them that they may be hated as the Scorn and off-scouring of the world and to keep up Ignorance in Ministers themselves that the Churches Eyes being dark the darkness may be great But let us pray that God would forgive our Enemies Persecutors and Slanderers and turn their hearts and that he would open our Lips that our mouths may shew forth his praise and though his Ministers and People have their faulty weaknesses that he would be merciful to our Infirmities
only of the Oil of Grace in their Vessels but of Light also in their Lamps 2. But more miserable is the state of such who are Professors of the Gospell and yet have Grace to seek and get at such an hour yet so will it be as you see in my Text for such are these foolish Virgins who go to purchase Grace when the Bridegroom cometh 3. Very miserable is their case because the Door of the Bride-Chamber is shut against them They profess to the Bridegroom in common with the VVise and now the VVise are admitted and the Foolish excluded For the everlasting Doors of Glory stand open unto saving but never unto common Grace 4. It must needs be then that the state of the VVise is very blessed because they are prepared and their Lights are burning and their loins girded and their Oil of Grace in exercise when Christ is coming to them and therefore they are brought to the King in rayment of Needle work yea with gladness and rejoycing they are brought and enter into the King's Palace where the wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and even as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father But I shall not stand upon this second part of the Doctrine to shew the happiness of the Wise prepared Virgins the Time and Question to be handled will not permit it only something I shall speak to it in the close of this Exercise 1. Therefore in opening of the other part viz. The misery of such as profess to Jesus Christ who have Grace to get and seek at the coming of the Bridegroom let me shew you that there are such as profess at an high rate and yet are no better than foolish Virgins for such are these here in my Text who rise very high in their Professions as excelling the ordinary rank of Pretenders unto Christ How so 1. They are Virgins and what is that 1. They have renounced Antichristian Idolatry and all the false worships of the Mother of Harlots and they will in no wise conform to the Inventions of men as it is said of the hundred forty four thousand which stand with the Lamb on Mount Sion these are they that have not defiled themselves with women for they are Virgins Rev. 14.14 i.e. They have abandoned the spiritual Fornications of the great Whore and kept their garments undefiled in that respect 2. They have also renounced the pollutions of the world through the knowledg of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet 2.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Puddles or Sloughs wherein the Swine of the world do wallow they flee from these as the word doth signifie yea they are not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only such as flee from these Puddles but such as at least seemingly abhor them For these Virgins are too neat to defile themselves with the world's mire and dirt they arise you see and trim their Lamps they are therefore trim Virgins who have not visibly defiled themselves 3. And more especially they are Virgins in professing Espousals to Christ the Bridegroom who as it was prefigured under the Law marrieth a wife in her Virginity Lev 21.13 These Virgins therefore are visibly espoused unto Christ and joyned in the same Communion with the wise for here is a fellowship between the Ten they stand at so great a distance from the world's defilements that they profess Communion visibly with the choicest Saints And indeed the Saints in Gospel Fellowship are Virgins and every Church of Christ is a Virgin Hence saith the Apostle to the Church at Corinth 2 Cor. 11.2 I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you a chaste Virgin unto Christ And therefore the Members of the Churches are to be reputed such Eadem est tatio partis totius seeing they are parts of the same homogeneal Body And thus you see how these Professors are Virgins 2. They have their Lamps as well as the Wise 1. In that they are persons of light and understanding guides to the blind and lights to them that are in darkness instructers of the foolish and yet themselves but fools The Word is also a Lamp to their feet and a Light unto their paths so far that they will conform their Actions to the Rule for the Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is a Light Prov. 6.23 And in these two respects their knowledge and external conformity their Lamps shine as brightly as the wise Virgins do 3. They profess not only their expectation of Christ's coming but make also preparation for it in that they go forth together with the wise to meet the Bridegroom And though at last they are found unready yet they prepare so far that they go forth to meet him as hoping to partake in the blessing and comfort of the Nuptial day whereby it appeareth that they had tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come And though they fell into their midnights-sleep so did the wise Virgins also For it will indeed be such a drowsie time immediately before the coming of Christ that not one of ten that profess unto him will be awaked no nor one in five of such as do truly love him And at the first too they only slumbered and neither slept nor waked but by degrees they fall fast asleep for Security hath its gradual progressions before it be midnight with the Soul But this was not proper to these five but common to all the Ten. 4. They are no less awaked than the Wise with the Midnight-cry of Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him for saith the text Then all those Virgins arose so that they take the Alarm equally with the rest Thus one may be awaked with the Cry of the word of God and yet be void of Grace in his heart 5. They likewise fall to trimming of their Lamps no less than the Wise Virgins do i.e. They fall to furbishing of that Profession which had contracted Scurf and foulness in the time of their midnight-security For now they looked upon themselves as espoused unto Jesus Christ and begin to deck and trim themselves with Ornaments against the Nuptials as conscious that preparation is most necessary for those who desire to be found of Christ in peace at his appearance for there is no meeting him with Lamps untrimmed and Lives unguided by the Word 6. They persevere unto the Bridegroom 's coming they were guilty of security indeed and so were the Wise also but here is neither Apostasie nor discovered Hypocrisie thus far viz. until the Midnight-cry They held out to the last and dye at Heaven's door and like the Levite's Concubine with their hands upon the Threshold Jud. 19.27 Thus they professed far for such a sort I say there is that rise thus high and yet are foolish Virgins 2. In the next place let us consider where the defect is and wherein
and light transient tasts and relishes are no evidences we must have these better things to bear up our hearts against the coming of the Bridegroom It sufficeth â—ot to be enrolled among Professors and to enjoy the charitable thoughts and approbations of the wisest Virgins under Heaven It is singular mercy to be rightly guided in self-esteem and valuation for they that measure themselves by themselves or compare themselves among themselves are not wise The Apostle 2 Cor. 10.12 would not have us to take up with the positive degree of good things but to take our aims by the comparative of better These good things are more light ineffectual and superficial and too often like the Seal that is impressed upon bare Paper whereas these better things are like the Seal's impression on the Wax Yet let no trembling Soul or broken reed be affrighted at the end of these foolish Virgins to see the Door thus shut against them the tender heart of Jesus Christ aimeth not at our consternation but awaking and to prepare and hasten us unto Glory before the Key be turned Nor doth his Apostle in the foresaid place despise the day of small things but his real scope and purpose is to excite Professors to look carefully to their foundations and then to go on unto perfection Heb. 6.1 And blessed for ever be the Lord for the second part of that sixth Chapter to the Hebrews in the close whereof we may see the afflicted heart tossed with tempests and not comforted yet hoping in Mercy and fleeing to Jesus as his Refuge and casting the Anchor of his floating Soul within the Vail whither the Fore-runner is entred for us who himself was once tossed in the Ship of the Militant Church albeit without sin but is now gone ashore to heaven as our fore-runner both to look to our Anchor which is fastned there and to hold all fast and to draw our tossed Ship to shore and to see all safe that where our fore-runner is there may we be also And thus the sweet conclusion of that Chapter doth fully recompence the severity of its beginning Let us comfort our selves and one another with these things Thirdly You have heard the miserable condition of such especially Professors of the Gospel and Pretenders to Christ who have Grace to seek at his coming As for the hapy state of such as are ready to enter in with him into the Bride-chamber of eternal peace and joy I shall speak a little in the Close Now therefore in the remainder of this Exercise it will be expected as seasonable that it be considered What gifts of Grace are chiefly to be in exercise in order to an actual Preparation for the coming of Christ by Death and Judgment For his coming is first by Death and then by Judgment And I say an actual Preparation because there is always a general and habitual preparedness to meet Christ Jesus in hearts that are truly godly but not always a particular actual fitness And this we see here in the five wise Virgins who are found in their midnight-sleep with Lamps that have need of trimming at the coming of Christ Thus Hezekiah was fit to dye as to a general and habitual fitness in that he could assert his sincerity before God when the message of death was brought him but he was to seek of a particular actual fitness in that he begs for longer life with prayers and plenty of tears The Message of Death awaked him and the holy man is startled and hath his Lamp to trim for the tidings of his death at hand was as much in effect as if it had been said unto him by the Prophet Behold the Bridegroom cometh go forth Hezekiah to meet him The nature of his distemper which some by the remedy a lump of Figs applied to the Bile conceive to have been the Pestilence and this considered with the shortness and sharpness of the Message and the Prophet Isaiah's quick abrupt departure from him that the King had then no Heir to succeed him in the Throne and also that he was now at the full strength of Nature being but nine and thirty years of age and his fear also what might become of his Kingdom and of his former Reformation after the grand Apostasie of his Father Ahaz I say these considerations made him to apprehend that there was a rebuke of God in this present Dispensation and therefore he is loth to dye under a temporal frown albeit his a vowed integrity would at the worst have seen him safe at heaven For though a Child of God cannot dye in his debt yet he is unwilling to depart under the sense of his temporal displeasure so as the good Prophet did whom the Lion slew at his return from Bethel to Judah 2 Kings 13.24 When David therefore was under God's rebukes for sin and even almost consumed with the blow of his hand he betakes himself as Hezekiah did to prayers and tears saith he Psal 39.10 11. to the end Hear my prayer O Lord and give ear to my Cry hold not thy peace at my tears for I am a stranger with thee and a Sojourner as all my Fathers were O spare me that I may recover strength before I go hence and be no more Thus you see that the dear Children of God who have a general and habitual fitness to meet Jesus Christ when he is coming to them by Death and Judgment may yet be to seek of a particular actual preparation 2. Before I come to the answer of the Question let me premise this also That though a state of Grace is here supposed seeing Grace cannot be exercised where it is not yet there may be need to have it cleared inasmuch as the want thereof is a great hinderance in the way of this Duty You know that one that feareth God and obeyeth the voice of his Servant Jesus Christ may yet walk in darkness and see no light Isa 50.10 and he may say with Jonah he is cast out of God's sight and his soul is filled with troubles when his life draweth nigh unto the Grave wherefore let your eye be not only on your Lamp but also on your Vessel and examine your Oyl as well as mind your light For though you have received an Vnction from the Holy One and felt the sweet influences of the Spirit and have had the witness in your self yet the Comforter which sometimes relieved your Soul may at the present be far from you and suspend his testimony for Grace inherent is not self-enlightning but like the Moon which holdeth forth Light no longer than the Sun shineth upon it and though the Diall hath its Lines and Figures to declare the time of the day yet you will be to seek if the Sun withdraw hiâ— Light Even thus though the Spirit of God hath drawn the Lines and Figures of his Gifts and Graces in your heart yet if he also do not shine upon them you will not know what