By Endeavors to please Christ p. 422 5. By Longings after Christ p. 423 6. By laboring against sinking Despondences p. 423 7. By making Deprivements of Grace a Means of Grace p. 423 8. What is wanting in Sense make up by Faith p. 423 2. The Advantages of faith in suffering for Christ p. 424 Directions for a life of faith under the Crosse p. 425 1. Give not way to hard Thoughts of the Crosse p. 425 2. Keep under Lawlesse Self and Soft Nature p. 426 3. Faith must Espouse Christ's Crosse p. 427 4. Faith must Triumph over the Crosse p. 427 5. Faith must Improve every Crosse p. 428 TABLE OF SCRIPTURES EXPLICATED Chap. Ver. Page Genesis 8 21 179 1 Kings 4 29 149 2 Kings 10 16 29 31 62 63 1 Chronicles 4 9 10 164 Jeb 42 5 6 66 Psalmes 16 7 17 45 10 11 38 73 25 404 73 26 358 81 10 11 250 251 254 84 10 105 106 119 2 328 119 45 154 119 57 58 59 60. 22 119 80 324 119 133 33 119 139 375 119 158 375 Proverbs 3 7 8 157 4 23 156 Canticles 1 2 95 96 2 7 365 2 16 96 346 3 3 3â—8 4 8 37 38 4 12 37 5 6 370 5 9 10 334 6 3 96 Esaias 40 9 228 65 1 228 229 Hosea 3 1 2 3 41 3 5 374 4 16 106 10 11 106 107 11 12 152 Zephanie 1 5 47 Matthew 6 24 76 15 22 23 24 25 26 27. 416 417 418 19 11 75 76 Luke 10 40 41 31 32 14 31 32 21 18 13 66 John 1 11 12 86 1 14 183 184 185 1 16 186 187 3 13 225 3 26 30 70 71 5 22 23 181 6 27 175 6 67 396 10 4 92 14 6 93 14 16 17 103 15 14 5 20 15 369 Acts. 2 36 37 177 178 11 23 357 Romans 7 1 4 81 12 1 2 387 1 Corinthians 3 16 17 233 3 21 23 168 169 7 22 150 151 15 10 147 2 Corinthians 3 18 214 218 4 4 212 213 4 6 209 212 5 14 15 144 Ephesians 5 1 380 5 2 178 179 6 2 332 Philippians 2 5 381 Colossians 2 6 347 2 7 355 2 9 191 195 Hebrews 1 3 196 208 2 5 6 7 8 171 175 3 2 176 5 4 5 176 5 6 9 90 91 10 28 29 260 ERRATA PAge 32. line 4. for two read too p. 47. l. 31. for or r. and. p. 96. l. 23. r. Cant. 6 3. p 185. l 15. blot out generation and p. 192. marg l. 8. r plena p. 241. l. ult r. Worldly p. 287. l 3. before Sum insert the. p. 288. Contents l. 4. blot out a before Christ p. 288. l. â— r. Use 3. p. 311. l. 9. blot out the first Soul Memorandum Reader IF thou find in the following Discourse some Words above thy Capacitie to apprehend be pleased to remember that the following word or words do for the most part Interpret and Explain the same THEOPHILIE OR A Discourse of the Saints Amitie with God in Christ PART I. Of CHRISTOLOGIE Or Concerning the right constitution of the Object How Christ is to be Elected by his Friends BOOK I. Of the first Fundamental Law of Friendship with Christ Consisting in a prudent Election of a single complete Christ for Himself CHAP. I. Of Friendship in General with the Explication of Joh. 15.14 Ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I command you SECT 1. Of Friendship in General EVery Good whether natural civil Of Friendship in general or Divine is by so much the better by how much the more Vniversal and Communicative it is and the more universal and communicative any Good is the more amicable or friendly it is There is a kind of natural Friendship amongst Inanimates Natural friendship The Elements of Nature are under such an essential combination of natural friendship as that to preserve the Interest of the whole they oft denie yea move contrary to their proper natural inclinations Amongst the four elements Fire seems the most noble and friendly because most publicly active and communicative of its good Yea the Sun a That the Sun is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a celestial fire is the persuasion of the greatest Philosophers both Pagan and Christian as wel moderne as ancient not to mention many Reverend Divines and learned men of this Age Of which else where which is supposed to be no other than a celestial fire is of al Inanimates most noble and friendly because most universally active and communicative of its heat and influence according to that description of the Psalmist Ps 19.5 6. where the Sun is brought in under the shadow of a friendly Bridegroom rejoycing in his amicable communications to the Creatures yea it s said there is nothing hid from the heat thereof i. e. not only the beautie of the Rose and virtues of al plants but also the perfections of Minerals the lustre of Gold and Silver the sparkling of the Diamond with other precious stones which lie hid in the bowels of the earth owe their original to the Sun 's friendly communications of heat and influence The proper seat of Human Friendship is civil Societie Human friendship either personal domestick or more politick and the more publick-spirited and communicative men are the more noble and friendly Narrow-spirited and selfish persons such as are wholly clung to their own Interests as they are the reproches of al societies so likewise the most unfit to make friends He that cannot denie himself wil soon denie his friend he who is wholly wedded to himself wil not stick to break with his best friends if they stand in the way of self-exaltation It is the generous noble self-denying spirit that makes the best friend in al societies and relations whether conjugal or more commun But of this more anon As for Divine Amitie or friendship Divine friendship God in Christ must necessarily be the best friend because the most b The Philosophers make this one character of their chiefest Good that it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most diffusive or communicative of it self Whence Plato saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that The chief Idea of Good is the productive cause of al Good universal diffusive and communicative Good God is such a Good as is commun to al and yet proper to each of his friends Christ has no Interest of his own Crosse to the main Interest of his friends Sin is therefore the worst evil and that which most obstructs the course of friendship because it most contracts and narrows the heart which in it self is an universal infinite appetite unto private selfish ends and Interests Whereas Grace so far as it is predominant makes men generous publick-spirited and communicative in al designs and actions and therefore it makes the best friends in al relations conditions and stations For Grace being the Ressemblance or Image of God the most universal best good and friend the more it prevails in any soul the
he cannot have your hearts in the fulnes and abundance of al things he wil have them under the want of althings if his Gracious and sweet Visitations wil not allure you his bitter and severe Visitations shall drive you to him O then follow Christ while in waies of mercie draw near to him walk with him day by day in waies of Communion Indeavor after communion with Christ and then dout not but he wil walk with you in waies of Grace and Comfort keep close to him in al Times Conditions and States and he wil keep close to you 1. 1. In al Religious Duties and Ordinances Maintain daily communion with Christ in al Duties and exercices of Religion None live up to their Dignitie and Dutie as friends of Christ but such as eye and enjoy him in their Religious Duties and Exercices whether private or publick It 's good to be much in duties but it is better to be much with Christ in duties Religious duties and Ordinances they are Christs Galleries wherein he is held Cant. 7.5 by his friends that draw nigh to him therein but as for mere formal legal Duties wherein Christ is not minded they are the Devil's Galleries wherein he is held O! if ever you would be found to be real and faithful friends of Christ be sure you satisfie not your selves with duties done unlesse you meet and enjoy Christ therein 2 2. In al Providential occurrences If you would fulfil and walk up to your Relation and Dignity as friends of Christ then maintain communion with him in al Providential Occurrences whether Consolative or Afflictive smiling or frowning Remember that God's Providences are oft a good Comment on his Promises his Works frequently expound and explain his Word unto us and therefore his friends at least such as are wise wil understand the same as also the loving kindnes of God shining therein Psal 107.43 as Psal 107.43 Whoso is wise and wil observe those things even they shal understand the loving kindness of the Lord. He had discoursed here of the Works of God's Providence which his wiser friends would observe The friends of Christ when Providence smiles on them their hearts should be thereby allured to him it sufficeth not them to injoy mercies from Christ unlesse they can injoy Christ in their mercies And then for Afflictive frowning Providences if Christ sees it meet to withdraw comforts from them they must see it their dutie and endeavor to make it their practice to withdraw their Hearts from those comforts The lesse they injoy of the creature the more they should injoy of Christ in al his afflictive Visitations A great part of our communion with Christ consists in the fellowship of his Crosse and none usually prove more loyal friends of Christ than such as have got the Art and skil of communion with him on the Crosse As Christ was most exalted in Spirit when crucified in the flesh so the friends of Christ should endeavor conformitie to him herein To live a sublime high elevated life of faith in their lowest conditions As an humble self-abasing Spirit greatly adornes an high condition so an exalted sublime high Spirit or life of faith greatly adornes a low afflicted condition in the friends of Christ 3. 3. In creature-comforts and Inferior goods The Friends of Christ should make it their work to injoy Christ in al creature-comforts Inferior Relations and Injoyments Christ alone must be the matter of their Fruition and Satisfaction and al other things matter of use subservient to Christ Nothing is good farther than it comes from Christs heart and draws our hearts to him O! what rich and delicious lives might the friends of Christ lead would they but eye and injoy Christ in al their Creature-Comforts I have known one and indeed a great friend of Christ who I verily believe injoyed more of Christ and his Gracious presence in his Civil Employments and Creature-injoyments than many yea may I not say than most Christians do in their most spiritual duties and Ordinances O! What might we injoy of Christ in the visible Book of Nature and Creature-Comforts had we but spiritual hearts SECT 7. The Friends of Christ must make it their main Studie and Endeavor to give al the content that may be to Christ 7. 7. Advice to give Christ al the content that may be THe Friends of Christ should make it their main yea only Studie and Endeavor to give Christ al the Content that may be This is another great Admonition and Advice for the Friends of Christ such as affect to live up to their Relation and Dignitie f Per hoc quod aliquis Amicus consttuitur 〈◊〉 offeasa removetur Amicitia enim affensae contrariatur Aquinas cont Gent. l. 4. c. 21. For certainly none Act and Live and deport themselves as the friends of Christ but such as studie and endeavor to content and please him Disgustful and displeasing Carriages even among equals are very much unbecoming yea sometimes destructive to Friendship But how much more unbeseeming the friends of Christ who are so far inferior to him are all disguiful or ingrateful deportments towards Christ Is there any thing more becoming the friends of Christ than this that they studiously indeavor by al means possible to please and content so good a friend This implies these particulars 1. 1. Christ's friends must do nothing that may grieve Christ or his Spirit The friends of Christ must do nothing that may be disgustful and displeasing to Christ or his Spirit they must not grieve either one or t'other For if the Spirit of Christ be grieved he himself is also grieved So Esa 63.10 But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit therefore he was turned to be their enemie and he fought against them So far as men vexe the Spirit of Christ so far they vexe him and of a friend make him their enemie Thence Ephes 4.30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God c. If the friends of Christ can be so unkind as to grieve his Spirit they must expect that Christ wil be so just and faithful as not to passe by such unkindnesses without grief from them Now Christ and his Spirit are grieved and displeased 1. 1. Avoid visible Relapses or secret Indulgences By Visible Relapses into grosser sins or secret Indulgences in lesser sins For look as natural grief ariseth from the presence of any repugnant or displeasing object so proportionably Christ and his Spirit are grieved at the presence of any prevalent sin or lesser sin approved of Private Dalliances with any darling lusts yea smal omissions of known Duties if allowed of and lived in are great griefs to Christ and his Spirit And the better friend Christ has been to any of us the more he is grieved at the least Dalliances with or Indulgences in sin either of omission or commission 2. 2. Beware of Backslidings By Secret Backslidings of Heart or
Christ than they who suffer most for him Neither are there any pieces of friendship more difficult and rare than such as are attended with most sufferings for Christ Hence it wil easily appear of what a mighty use faith is to the friends of Christ in order to the conserving and improving their friendship with him under the crosse What is there that can bring to the suffering friends of Christ Gain out of Lesses Libertie out of Slaverie Glorie out of Shame a centuple or hundred fold out of al deprivements yea victorie and life out of Death it self but this victorious efficacious life of faith What is it that keeps the suffering friends of Christ from being persecuted out of their professed friendship with Christ but a lively Faith Faith assures the soul it 's better to weep with Christ than to rejoyce with the world to be poor with Christ than to be rich with worldlings to be in prison with Christ than to be at libertie with his enemies to bleed and die with and for Christ than to live and reigne with men Faith knows ful-wel that al the sufferings of Christ's friends are transient and short but their joyes coming and eternal yea that their Ils worke for Good whereas the Goods of worldlings work for their il Faith alters the nature of the Crosse and makes it a great blessing to the friends of Christ it takes out the sting and poison and infuseth a medicinal virtue into every crosse Such with many others are the advantages of faith in al sufferings for Christ But now to get this Divine Art Directions for a life of faith under the Crosse and skil of faith for the right management of the Crosse take these following Directions and Rules 1. 1. Give no way to to hard thoughts of the Crosse Give not way to unbelieving hard thoughts of Christ's Crosse Unbelief fils the mind with many dismal black ugly gastly and hard Apprehensions of Christ's Crosse it looks-upon the Crosse as a bitter sour black fruitlesse Crab-tree and therefore possesseth the heart with deep disgusts and prejudices against it Wherefore one main office of Faith is to remove the scandal and il report that Unbelief brings on the Crosse Now this faith doth by discovering the admirable Benefits and sweet fruits of the Crosse how much libertie of Spirit is gained by bonds for Christ how much peace of conscience by troubles from men how much spiritual gain by temporal losses for Christ how much Christian Glorie by the reproches of men yea faith teacheth the friends of Christ that the worst of temporal Crosses even death it self for Christ is better than the most flourishing Crown or treasures of Aegypt Heb. 11.26 Heb. 11.26 Estiming the reproche of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Aegypt Moses's faith preferred the reproche tears losses bonds sighs and banishment of and for Christ before the Glorie worme-eating joyes gains laughter and delices of Pharaoh's Court. Farther faith sheweth that the evils of the Crosse are but Imaginarie and transient that it's alarming fears and noises are worse than it self Lastly faith shews the blessed fruits of the Crosse how ful of Divine Admonitions and Instructions it is What a friend it is to Grace though an enemie to Nature what a soverain Antidote against sin it is how much it humbles for smal sins how much the scum of sin is drawn off by this furnace of Christ what a great mesure of faith love and other Graces grow on this blessed Tree how much free Grace is enhanced hereby c. 2. 2. Keep under lawlesse self and soft nature Another office of faith in order to the right management of the Crosse is to keep under lawlesse self and soft nature which is very apt to murmur despond or faint under the Crosse Now this faith performes by discovering 1. What wise and infinite reasons there are why Christ's friends should chearfully submit unto and lie level before his Crosse 2. What a brutish blasphemous sin discontent under Christ's Crosse is how much madnes and folie lies wrapt up herein in that it deprives men of themselves and turnes reason out at doors whereas Divine contentement keeps the heart fixed in the greatest storme and makes men masters of themselves which is the greatest securitie 3. Faith keeps down self and soft nature by nailing them to the Crosse of Christ and thence deriving influence for their Destruction 3. 3. Faith must espouse the Crosse Faith must not only submit unto but chearfully espouse the Crosse of Christ There lies an absolute and essential obligation on al Christ's friends to espouse his Crosse as wel as his Person This faith alone enables them to performe and that by discovering the intimate connexion there is between Christ and his Crosse as also by drawing down influence from Christ whereby the heart is enabled readily to embrace delight in and improve his Crosse Thus are Christ's friends maried to the Crosse 4. 4. Faith must triumph over the Crosse Another main office of faith consists in it's triumph over the Crosse Though the Crosse be never so broad and thick and dark yet faith can see thorow it and take a Prospect of coming Glorie Be the burden of sufferings for Christ never so heavie faith can make it as light as a feather Yea faith converts our Crosse into armor of proof whereby we prove victorious it makes our sufferings our garland and Crown yea as Christ by dying overcame death so his friends by faith in him even in and by death overcome death in and by weaknes povertie disgrace slaverie and wants they overcome al these 5. 5. Faith must improve every Crosse The last work of faith is to make a wise and sanctified Improvement of al Crosses or sufferings for Christ Faith in the bloud of Christ has an admirable dexteritie and miraculous Art for the Improvement of Crossesâ— it can melt a Crosse of Lead into a Golden Crosse of Humilitie it can suck the Milk of Medicinal Grace out of the bloudie breasts of persecution it can by the fire of God's furnace transforme an hard iron-heart into an heart of flesh The Crosse of Christ as managed and improved by faith becomes a good Purgatorie of sin and food for Grace Yea faith in Christ can and oft doth make an old Crosse long out of date become as new and green in fruit-bearing and use as at beginning Such are the admirable virtues of faith as to the Management and Improvement of the Crosse which gives us abundant demonstration of what great use this life of Faith is in order to our Improvement of friendship with Christ I have now finisht our Directions for walking with Christ as our friend O that the friends of Christ would resolve in good earnest to set about this work Is it not high time after the Lord has been so long contending with us from Heaven by Pestilence Sword and Fire for our friendship and choicest love to give it to him I pretend not to a Spirit of Prophecie but this I verily believe and dare avouch that it wil never be wel with us til Christ has more of our Thoughts Estime Dependence Intention Friendship and best Affections FINIS