12.15 Act. 7.57 Summa mundi ingratitudo the more a Saints spirit in pitty is for their good the more are their spirits in rage against Saints to their hurt 3. They have yearnings of soule after such that deviate from truth that goe astray in the wildernes of sin striving to reclaime them and to bring them into the way of the Lord to walke towards holynes Act. 17.23 Paul was employ'd in such a busines as this at Athens amonst a people that were wandering after an unknowne God that went they knew not whither Luk. 15.4 that worshipped they knew not what As a man lookes after a wandering beast to bring it home so doth Christ a wandering soul and this is part of the employment of such that can say As he is so are we in this world Ezech. 34.6 7 8 9. Christ is highly displeased with such that should looke after scattered soules and are negligent they walke contrary to him but such please him that are painfull in preserving those are his that undertake any employment for the recovery of soules from error to truth from out of the Devils common to Christs sold They are deare friends to Christ that to their utmost are helpful to the purchased possession of Christ you that are good servants to Christ you shall find him a good Master to you be like him in action and he will make you like himselfe in the reward he that works in his vineyard shall have faire wages Blessed are you that now serve not your selves but the Lord Jesus Christ this busines will make Christ honour you your striving to reclaime such that wander from the commandements of the Lord Dan. 12.3 They that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turne many to righteousnesse as the starres for ever and ever God will honour them that strive to save others Jam. 5.20 How like Christ are they that strive to convert a sinner from the error of his way and to save a soul from death Is not such work Christs worke do not they follow him that works thus When Christ works in us for making us like him we will worke abroad to bring soules unto him 3. They loath sinne they that are like Christ they detest and abominate what Christ detests Sin is a devil and who can abid him unlesse wretches that are like him Sin will eat up a soul can any unlesse a mad-man love that which will utterly undoe him Sinne brings plagues upon a mans selfe and all he hath entertain not a guest that hath such ill attendants thou canst not embrace sin but thou must wound Christ wilt thou shew so much hard-heartednes as to wound him that hath suffered so much already Isa 52.14 yea such sufferings as never any suffered besides him besides you cannot sinne against Christ but you must hurt your selves yea your best part Pro. 8.36 your souls but to cast such weeds aside and to speak of men and practises fiting the place and time and that is Saints their behaviour in this particular towards sin they abhorre sin upon the same reasons and grounds that Jesus Christ abhorres it 't is indeed Christ in them that makes them dislike it if their dislike be such as it should be there are soules that may have some dislike of sin yet they may not with a Saints spirit loath it 1. Some there are that stand aloofe from sin when it allures because should they yeeld it may cause some disgrace to them it may make some cast them off that now they have favour withall and whose favour it may be is more beneficial for present then their sin can be they are sollicited unto These deserve no thankes from God for love to God makes them not dislike sin 't is the upholding of some reputation and credit amongst men that for present restrains them They say not I have receiv'd mercy from Christ how can I sin against him that hath been so good to me but I have a reason of mine own saith the carnal soule and therefore I may doe this or that not but that he loves the sin but it stands not with his end for present to meddle with it 2. Some are kept off from sin as the dog from the bone with the cudgel the feare of the Law deters them faine they would be doing but then they feare suffering they thinke it might be beneficiall to steale but they like not hanging the money might help them but the halter would hurt them Christ is not beholding to these nor to any such for love to him prevailes not with them Mat. 14.5 these are kept from evil as Herod at first from killing John for feare of the people Luk. 22.2 as the Chief Priests Scribes from killing Jesus or the Captain and Officers from offering violence to the Apostles Act. 5.26 That many are not more vile wee may thanke their feare of the Law not their love nor likenesse to Christ 3. Some are kept from some sins for fear of hell Hell is not seen and therefore not much feard men think strangly of hell take heed you never know it this place of Torments is not much considered of now or if it be men think they are far enough from it and may escape If love to Christ keepe not from sin fear of hell will not 't is the mercies of Christ that Paul presents as a bait to allure to holinesse and drawe men off from the world Rom. 12.1 Significans cogitionem miserecordiae Dei debere nobis esse stimulum ad vitam Deo placentem transigendam mercies are very invitive especially the mercies of Christ that are such sweet precious mercies mercies that had never any like them the world had never such another in it for mercy as Christ Mercies drawe Saints to abhorre evill and as God shall call you to be Saints you will do likewise Sin is offence to Christ and goodnesse is pleasing to him Saints are acquainted with him and know it and strive it should be so to them Christ and inside Christians have but one object of their love but one of their hatred viz good and all good and that they effect together evill and all evill and that they reject a like you may conceive of such to be Saints that go so right with Christ 4. Saints indeed soules like Christ they are such that aime at the glory of God in all their undertakings it was Christs meat and drinke to do the will of his father so 't is theirs that are Christs if men will be pleas'd seeing them in Gods businesse they rejoyce but if they will not they neverthelesse continue doing There was a Gallant courage in Christ to glorify his Father so is there in Saints they will honour God if they die in the action Act. 5.19 they if oppos'd durst bidt heir opposers judge whether it be better to obey
compelled to serve one of the most abject and base of his own servants to whom the King of Persia gave the said noblemans wife that by this meanes he might cause him to deny the faith But he not at all moved kept his faith See Burroughs in Moses self deniall where you have many examples stuck close to Christ willingly did he undergo all this wrong and indignity for Christ Many such precious soules have been in the world many there are and if persecution should arise even to death it would be seen that there are Gallant-spirited men now that would suffer any torments rather then forsake the Lord Jesus They would not harken to what flesh and bloud should say Verus Christi-discipulus propriae voluntati renunciat et divinam voluntatem sequi desiderat c. but to what the spirit should say and they would strive against what is evill in themselves and search what the wil of the Lord is and obey that 'T is the part of a good steward that is intrusted with much of his masters substance to laie out al for his master when his master requires it the best of us all are but Stewards and what we have of life parts beautie riches honour libertie any thing 't is lent us of God if God cal for it we ought to give it all up for his service and honour You that have truth of grace wil be ready so to do saying Lord all I have I received from thee it came of thee Io here I am ready to returne all to thee My deare friends consider what you do now for Christ what heart you have to what is good now what delight in Christs services now you are likeliest to hold out in suffering that are diligent in the businesse of the Lord and in the work of your God now Some men thinke they can suffer for Christ yet now they have no heart to the present service of Christ which God cals unto they are negligent and loose in present duties Suerely such soules who faile thus in present service and duty are not like to hold out in suffering times whatsoever they may say He that in summer and fair weather is a slothfull carelesse idle servant is not likely to be a diligent laborious paines-taker in the cold pinching wet stormy time of winter They that are bred up in labour are best able to endure it 1 Tim. 4.7 Non ocio indulgendum sed totis viribus eonnitendum Christians excercise your selves unto Godlinesse do what God now sets before you do it faithfuly do it with your might you wil the better endure harder businesse if your God cal you to it They are men endued with a precious blessing that use their al to the glory of God that let not a hough be idle or unserviceable Reas 5 There are some that are clensed and made free from all unrighteousnes and uncleannes Ps 32.1.2 that have no wickednes imputed unto them these are blessed soules these are precious souls Christ paid a ful price for their deliverance from sin making peace through the bloud of the crosse they are by Christ brought home to Christ their life is hid with Christ in God they are rais'd up with Christ and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus even already Indeed in themselves there is a body of lust corruption and sin and there is a law revealing sin accusing and condemning so as it beleevers live onely by sense reason and experience of themselves and as they live to men they live both under the power and feeling of sin and the Law but if they live by faith in Christ beleeving in the life righteousnesse obedience satisfaction and glory of Christ they live out of the power of all condemnation and unrighteousnesse This is a precious life and they are pretious souls that live this life of faith that have all their assurance confidence comforts flowing into them through a channel of faith believing themselves happy for what another even Christ hath done for them and not what they have done or can do for themselves In brief they are precious for take them as in Christ as justified they are as pure in the sight of God as the righteousness of Christ can make them because God sees his onely in Christ not in themselves he loves them not in the glory and excellencie of Christ these appear glorious to God and in his sight because they have put on Christ that is glorious There are as many precious souls now as there are souls cloath'd with the righteousnesse of Christ they that were precious formerly and could say As he is so are we in this world they were such by having Christ by being perfect in his perfection they were chosen in Christ lov'd in Christ they that are in Christ are precious now and may say As he is so are we in this world All believers are very like one another and also like Christ Reas 6 There are some that are the Sister Spouse Wife of Christ that have ravished his heart that he rejoyceth over as the Bridegroom over his Bride these doubtlesse are precious A precious Christ wil have a precious Consort He is an excellent one and wil have his Wife his Love his other-self to be precious also Christ glorious his Spouse glorious Christ beautiful his Love beautiful they are alike Bridegroom and Bride alike their trimming is of one piece and fashion the righteousnesse of God It may be a word of comfort and consolation Vse 1 to such that live in places where they can find no good people none that they can take comfort in none that are lovers of truth none that delight in the things of Christ 'T is sad to Saints spirits to live in such places 't is irkesome to a man as a man to live in a place where he can have no society no company fellowship with none so with Saints to live where they can have none to confer with none to discourse withal none to joyn with them in prayer and fasting and holy communion To such let me speak it may be you can find none for society none that are gracious yet be assured God hath some When the Prophet cried out he was alone and that he could see none but Idolaters none but what went on in wickednesse yet God saw some that were free some that were haters and loathers of Baal that had never bowed the knee to him The Lord hath here there some that are precious souls Be not disheartned christians be not dismai'd there are I acknowledge many briars and thornes yet there are some Lillies many weeds yet some though but a few precious flowers you may find none in great houses there may be some in cottages none in silken garments there may be some in rags none on the high places of the earth yet there may be some in the vallies 'T is indeed a thing to be bewail'd that there should be
such multitudes of men and women in the world and so few of them good so few gracious 'T is sad to see a throng in the way to hel men pressing forwards to destruction and to everlasting perdition and to see but now and then one going towards glory towards everlasting salvation Wickednesse hath many that owne it and wicked waies are ful of footsteps but for goodnesse 't is not look'd upon nor the waies of goodnesse travel'd in holinesse is become like a poor man Cognatus pauperi nullus Diviti cognatus est quilibet none cares for being of his kindred or acquaintance but wickednesse like the great men of the world have many followers This is a trouble to Saints to behold yet as there may be by a Traveller some Englishmen found in a remote country though but a very few in comparison of the Natives so some heavenly souls some new-born christians here in the world though but a few in respect of what are are earthly and born onely after the flesh As a man may rejoyce much in finding one piece of gold or some one pretious stone so if you find but some one that is Godly yet be comforted in hopes that there are more though you for present know them not And rest assured that there are precioos Saints in this age in the world as wel as in former ages and that you shal meet them all in glory It may give you some hint who they Vse 2 are that are such precious souls such rare Creatures such jewels souls like Christ holy as Christ is holy pure as Christ is pure that are excellent here upon earth that are Kings and raigne in life by one even Jesus Christ 1. They are such that enjoy a Christ within that have Christ himself dweling in them many dwel where Christ dwelleth and so content themselves never considering whether Christ dwel in them we have nothing nor are worth nothing if Christ be not in us all that a man hath perish and faile and come to nothing if he hath not Christ 'T is Christ that is the souls all he is the onely good and the onely lasting good and such soules may be said to have some thing that have him yea al things but they that enjoy him not have nothing they have no oyle in their lamps and being so wil be shut out and not enter with the bridegroome into joy But now all are ready to say they have Christ in them have you so examine your souls are they delighted with Christ is Christ that which delights you doth Christ give peace doth Christ drawe your hearts heaven-wards lovers whose hearts are delighted with one they love how are they drawn towards such places where they may enjoy their love Love is a loadstone drawing souls to Christ We cannot forbeare we cannot abstaine from longing to be in more ful enjoyments of Christ if so be that Christ be in us Christ is the great the infinit good that is given out to men they rejoyce infinitly that have this infinit good their portion they that have Christ have him that is good beyond compare and this is he that makes souls precious There are as many precious souls in this congregation as there be soules enjoying Christ And there are so many enjoyers of Christ as there are lovers of Christ that love him as their owne souls as their owne lives nay much better then either There are many that talke of loving Christ but their love to Christ is but such as the hosts to his guest he is bid welcome more for his money sake then for any desire of communion and fellowship If they may gain by Christ they wil waite on him if not they wil be strange to him you that talke of loving Christ what doe you know of Christ Ex aspectu nascitur amor love riseth from knowledge what have you seene of him have you seene his beauty seen his glory seen his comlines He is altogeather lovely have you seen this lovelines have you tasted of his love love is mighty in ' its operation love the love of Christ coming in Socrates putat animam immersam corpori velut expergisci amoris stimulis c. stirs the soul wonderfully it rouseth it up it sets it a worke for Christ Love produceth action it sets men upon difficulties and makes them go through hardships doth Christs love do so with you try you may know if you deal faithfully in this thing you know who dwels in your house much more in your hearts you know why you do this and that what is it of all you do that you do for Christ and that from the life of Christ Paul was precious in his actings and precious in himself and all was by Christ that liv'd in him as many of you as have receiv'd Christ are happy Consider wel of it whatsoever you are outwardly in appearance in forme in possessions in friends c. I speak not of 't is nothing you are precious if you have Christ within precious children precious souls precious Saints all of you precious all of you jewels that have Christ 2. They that are precious are such whose iniquities are hid and whose sins are done away such in whom the Lord sees no guile such that are holy such that are nourished and carried in the bosome of the mercy and goodnesse of God Obj. But is not every soul a sinner do not all complain of their corruptions weaknesses failings errors c Ans A Christian man is both righteous and a sinner holy and profane an enemy of God and yet a child of God for a christian man by the force of his natural coruption may doe such things as the word of God forbids and as he himself as spiritual abhorres Paul himselfe did many things which were repugnant to the law of God therefore he had cause to say he was not already perfect Phil. 3.12 Scriptures are not altogether silent as concerning Abraham Jacob Rebeccah Sara Moses Job David Hezekiah All good and godly souls take them as Saints and walking after the Spirit yet take them as in the body and sometimes they did not alone doe good things unperfectly and leave some good things undone but also do some evil actions See Rom. 7 c. which were directly repugnant to the rule of Gods law and to their own renewed minde thus may they be stil sinners unholy in respect of their failings weaknesses imperfect sanctification or sanctification in part but take them as justified believers and in Christ they are righteous holy just the sin which they slip into is not laid to their charge but is done away for Christs sake in whom they believe whose righteousnesse is their righteousnesse and their sin Christs sin Vt Christus fuit peccator ita nos justâ— sumus His by imputation who is most just and innocent of himself yet was the curse and punishment imposed upon Christ to whome sin
absence of grace Oh precious souls These shal be preserv'd Christ hath been at much cost about such souls at more cost then about any thing at more cost then about all the world besides he made the world and lost never a drop of bloud it caus'd him never a groane but to make souls such as they ought to be holy it cost him many a sad suffering he spent his heart bloud in the work he took a great deal of paines to perfect them happy you that are the workmanship of Christ his workmanship as a Redeemer that have your souls fashioned by him to be like himself but are made new creatures holy souls blessed Saints 6. Christians you that heare me consider part of your duty as Christians as men of God as Saints you should labour for a Spirit of discerning to be able to judge between men and men to know the holy and profane asunder to know a Saint and a Devil a gracious soule and a carnal wretch a jewel from a common stone a true Diamond from a counterfeit God laid this as a necessary thing to be acted by Jeremiah Jer. 15.19 to know yea to separate the precious and the vile asunder the not doing this was charg'd as a sin upon the Priests in Ezekiel Ezek. 22.26 Her Priests have violated my law and have profaned mine holy things they have put no difference between the holy and profane neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean this may be laid at the doores of the ministers of the Gospel also that put no difference between sheep and goats lambs and wolves Saints and sinners are they parishioners let them be drunkards swearers gamesters whoremasters all are admitted to the Sacrament never considering whether the word warrants it and whether within the list of Christ 't is enough their houses stand within such a bundary of ground Looke to it you that must give account to God take heed what you doe how you cast Pearls before swine give the childrens bread to dogs admit them to your Masters table that are not of his family it concerns you much all of you that are Godly to know men rightly that so you may not associate your selves with the enemies of God but with the Saints of God not joyne your selves with the assembly of mockers but with such that praise God not go in company with such that are Traitors to the heavenly King but with his obedient subjects not frequent the society of enemies of truth but with the friends of truth skil is required in all worke especially in Gospel work 'T is needful for men to know the mistery of their trade to know what ware is good what bad so is it needful to be such experienc'd Christians as to know what is for the good of our souls what for their hurt to know their friends and foes asunder We strive to know good money and bad asunder a true jewel from a counterfeit gold from drosse why then should we not strive to know precious souls from sinful wretches lillies from thornes hearbs from weeds Christians 't is your duty to looke to what may tend to the welfare of your souls let it appeare in this that you are careful by having no fellowship with the workers of iniquity but as much as may be with the precious sons of Zion with such that are precious Saints I might speake more of this Use shewing how you ought to labour for a spirit able to discern between tares and wheat between the children of Christ and the children of Satan between them that feare God and them that feare him not and all this In respect of God In respect of Good men In respect of Wicked men In respect of Your selves God guide you into all knowledge by that spirit that searcheth all things and is able to reveale all things I have now but one Doctrine more to present to you and I have finished what I shal at this time speak from the Text in hand it is this Let the places and times be never so bad Doct. yet they that are Christs are like Christ wheresoever truly gracious Saints shal come what times soever they may meet withal whatsoever shal befal them yet they loose not their vertue they are Saints still take a jewel weare it upon your finger or in your bosome 't is a jewel lay it up in a box it remaines a jewel let it lie in the dust 't is a jewel nay if it should be cast ouâ—â—o the dunghil it would be a jewel there thogh covered with neis ver so much filth So may I say of a wherein Christian a blessed Saint one that the Image of Christ A little tablet Christ is drawn if it be set on high 't is a Saint there if imprison'd a Saint if cast out as the ofscouring of al things 't is as vertuous then as at any time Non abiicit aminum 't is the same for vertue for worth for excellency when t is abas'd as when it was exalted it looseth nothing by evill times by sufferings or disgraces or any thing befalls it Non cedendum malis Acts 14. Glod wil be gold in the fire in drosse amongst counters Paul is Paul when at Lystra they would have honoured him as one of their Gods he is the same when in prison the same in his bands and fetters as when free and at libertie the same before the Magistrates as with mean men in every place gracious and striving to magnifie the Lord. Daniel is as holy as excellent in the court as in the Lions den and in the Lions den as in the court Mordecay is not altered within though his habit be changed without he had the same grace within when he walked a foot and was cloth'd in sackcloth as when he rode upon the Kings horâ—… cloth'd with Royall apparell and the Crown Royall on his head and had his enemy that wicked Haman his herauld The three children were the same in the furnace as when they were over the affaires of Babylon Moses in the court and Jethros sheapheard when he was reverenc'd as Pharaobs Grandchild and when he was Jethros sonne in law was faithful though inwardly chang'd yet not outwardly he was the same Saint in the field and in the court The time would faile me to bring out what might be shewne unto you from the word of truth in the Scriptures and also from many unquestionable Histories concerning souls that have manifested their sincerity in all conditions both in exaltation and in abasement in honour and dishonour in good report and bad report when they have flourished in the world and when they have been at the place of execution fire and faggot hath not dismaied them the fire hath consumed the drosse the flesh not the pure part the soul Christ was Christ in them both in life and death There are some trees are greene all the year in summer and winter in heat and