according to Christs own Doctrine When ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you say we are uprofitable Servants we have done that which was our duty to do Luke 17.10 As the holy Scriptures of the old and new testament hold out to us the whole complex of Christian duties which being so various and collected from so many several Scriptures and for the better attaining to the knowledge thereof are to be reduced in order under the several heads of the duties of the first and second Table shall by the blessing of God be the subject of the ensuing Discourse Before we proceed to examine the particular duties of Christians under this new Covenant we shall by the way consider the great difference between the bounty and goodness of God to Repenting Sinners and the bounty and goodness of man to one another in which we shall find made good that Scripture As the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my thoughts higher than your thoughts and my ways higher than your ways Isa 55.9 We have discovered that the Lord Jesus Christ his bounty is such that man by sin against God having forfeited his first and happy estate in Paradise and being therefore accursed and concluded under wrath is freely restored by the Sacrifice of Christs Blood and that all required of him in return of such mercies is the due observance of Gods Commands in new obedience and that towards mans performance God in Christ Jesus makes with him an everlasting Covenant that he is their God and they his People That he will give them one Heart and one Way that they may fear him for ever for the good of them and their Children after them Jer. 32.38 39 40. and give them a new Spirit Ezek. 11.19 and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Commandments and do them Jer. 36.27 By which we perceive that as the Lord requires duties on mans part he affords to his people Strength and Grace to perform the duties Commanded which other Benefactors neither do nor can do Secondly The Lord gives power and authority to his people to call on him for a supply of such of his Graces as are necessary for them to enable them to walk with him Ezek. 36.37 I will yet for this be inquired of the House of Israel to do it for them seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened c. Mat. 7.7 8. and in that famous place Ask me of things to come concerning my Sons and my Daughters and the works of my hands command ye me Isa 45.11 Thirdly The Lord doth not only afford stock of Grace by his Spirit and gives a command to call for more supply but he also rewards the right improvement of Grace with fresh Grace he will give Grace for Grace and no good thing will he with-hold from those that fear him Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord Hos 6.3 and this is clear by the parable of the Talents to such as improved more was given and Eternal Life as a reward of their well-doing but he that did not improve what he had was taken from him and he himself was thrust into utter darkness Mat. 25. Fourthly The Lord delighteth in mercy and not in the severity of his Justice and rather desires sinners should repent and live than perish under his Wrath and Justice Cast away all your transgressions whereby you have transgressed and make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will you dye O House of Israel for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth wherefore turn your selves and live Ezek. 18.31 32. As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye for why will ye dye O House of Israel Ezek. 33.11 We see in all these foregoing steps the great desire and zeal the Lord Jesus Christ hath for the good and conversion of sinners and aversation to their distruction but on the other hand we shall find the great prejudice oppression and cruelty of men against one another For first consider any man as a benefactor to another either in that case where any man hath raised some to some degree of preferment or profit either of meer good will or favour and on taking a liking to him as his favourite or for some good office done to him by another makes him some grant to himself and his heirs how frequently doth it happen that either the donor looseth his fancy or forgets the good office to the donec in his own time or like Pharaoh to the Posterity of Joseph and thereby rests not till by some means or other he brings his favourite into disgrace and worms from him the grant with Ignominy and leaves him in worse condition than he found him or makes him the continual Butt of his displeasure and exposeth him to the contempt of others or if any condition be performable on the grant makes the Grantee uneasy and never at quiet until the grant be voided Secondly If on the account of Charity or common course of dealing one Neighbour or Friend happen on some pinching exigent to supply the want of another how frequently doth Pride upbraid the necessitous and covetousness take these advantages that what was lent is called and forced back so unseasonably and in such rigid and hard terms that the calling the thing back after such manner is a greater prejudice than the supply could be a service and many are ruined on pretence of friendship in lending when the event is pernicious and the design appears to have been nothing but covetousness let such persons consider the common duty of Charity of lending without expectation of a return according to Christs Doctrine Love ye your Enemies and do good for evil and lend hoping for nothing again and your reward shall be great and ye shall be the Children of the highest for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil be ye therefore merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful Luke 6.34 35 36. It were advisable such persons would consider it 's only Gods bounty which makes one man in a worldly state to differ from another What hast thou O man that thou hast not received Every Good and every Perfect Gift cometh from the Father of Light Jam. 1.17 The Race is not to the Swift nor the Battel to the Strong but God raiseth up one and casteth down another Let man in prosperity consider it is only by the favour of God he standeth and he that thinketh he standeth let him take heed least he fall And remember what the Psalmist saith When thou Lord rebukest man for Iniquity how dost thou make his beauty to consume like a Mothe Let him consider the Parable of Dives and Lazarus Luke 16.19 to the end and the rich Husbandman in the
erred from the Faith and pierced themselves through with many Sorrows 1 Tim. 6.7 8 9 10. Thirdly all Humane Enjoyments are short of Christ the Inheritance of the Saints let us narrowly survey with all the Advantagious Aggravations of Humane Excellency all that can be pretended choice good or desirable in the Creature and we shall find them all short to and far exceeded by the inherent excellencies in Christ the Lord of Glory in these particulars First for that all Created Beings have their rise and being from him and he alone is of himself he is the first and the last all things were made by him and without him was nothing made which was made by him were all things Created that are in Heaven and which are in Earth visible or invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were Created by him and for him Col. 1.16 Secondly he is was and alone subsists of himself â—nd all other things were made by him so by him do they subsist in him we live move and have our being Rev. 1.18 Thirdly he is perfect himself all things were made for him and he not for them all things were Created by him and for him Col. 1.16 Fourthly he excelleth all things in Antiquity he is the Antient of Days the First-born of every Creature and First-born from the Dead tbat in all things he might have the Preheminence Col. 1.19 Fifthly in Wisdom he is Wisdom it self and the Fountain of Wisdom in whom are hid all the Treasures of Knowledee and Wisdom If any Man lack Wisdom let him ask it of God who giveth to all Men liberally and upbraideth not read Isaiah 2.6 Col. 2 3. Isa 1.5 Sixthly in Beauty he is the Morning Star the Rose of Sharon the Image of the invisible God who is the brightness of bis Glory and the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 Seventhly In power he is Omnipotent and all things else but of limited Power he is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth King of Kings and Lord of Lords in him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 15. Who hath measured the Waters in the hollow of his Hand and metted out Heaven with a Span and comprehended the dust of the Earth in a measure who hath weighed the Earth in Scales and the Hills in a balâ—â—nce the Nations are as a drop of a Bucket and are counted as the small dust of a Ballance he taketh up the Isles as a very little thing all Nations before him are as nothing they are accounted to him less than nothing and vanity Psal 90.2 3 4 5 6. Is 40.12 15 17. Fourthly the fourth difference between things Temporal and Eternal is that Temporal things leave a Man at his Grave and in this Life but Spiritual and Eternal continue with the Saints to all Eternity So as when this miserable Life is ended the Saints are happy in their Death and their Spiritual Life of blessed enjoyments then begins Blessed are the Dead which dye in the Lord they cease from their Labour and their works follow them Rev. 14.13 These Spiritual enjoyments are not seen or apprehended by Carnal sense but are spiritually discerned and are eternal While we look not after things that are seen but after things which are not seen for things which are seen are Temporal but things that are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4.18 The Kingdom of Heaven consists not in Eating and Drinking chambering and wantonness Ryotting and Drunkenness but in Peace and Joy of the Holy Ghost This State of Possession of Spiritual things is briefly comprehended under these Heads First it Commenceth when all Humane Enjoyments fail and continueth to all Eternity Secondly it is incorruptible and not subject to changes Thirdly It is a compleat fulness of all Happiness First when Enjoyments of this Mortal Life leaves a Man at his Grave after he hath experienced the uncertainty vanity and vexation of Spirit touching Humane Enjoyments then he enters upon the quiet possession of Eternal Happiness as in the foregoing Scripture all the People of God are Sealed Marked and Secured from after danger and made firm Pillars in the House of God eternally in the Heavens hurt not the Earth neither the Sea until we have sealed the Servants of the Lord in their Fore-Heads Rev. 3.12 which mark is a white Stone and in it a new Name the Name of Christ and the City of God which is their being renewed by the Spirit of Regeneration Rev. 7.3 Chap. 2.17 They are under an everlasting Covenant with God I will make a Covenant of Peace with them and it shall be an everlasting Covenant and I will place my Sanctuary amongst them for evermore Ez. 37.26 There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth who shall condemn it is Christ that dyeth yea rather that is risen again and maketh intercession for us Rom 8.1 31 34. But on the other hand the Lot of the Wicked after they have enjoyed their good things in this Life like the rich glutton they are confined to everlasting wrath and misery Remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things and Lazarus his evil things therefore thou art now Tormented and he Comforted Luke 16.20 to end The Righteous are brought out of great Tribulation and have their Robes washed in the Blood of the Lamb and are Cloathed with the Righteousness and Glory These are they which came out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes and made themselves white in the Blood of the Lamb therefore they are before the Throne of God Day and Night to serve him in his Temple and he that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell amongst them Rev. 7.14 to 18. And on the other hand the wicked are Chained in everlasting Darkness and tormented with inexpressible Torments so that they desire Death rather than Life if any Man Worship the Beast and his Image or receiveth his Mark in his Forehead or in his Hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and shall be Tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb and the smoak of their Torments ascendeth up for ever and ever and they have no Rest Day nor Night Rev. 14.9 Chap. 6.12 to end Chap. 9.4 to end Chap. 21.8 27. Secondly this State and Inheritance of the Godly is incorruptible and therefore not Subject to changes or Alterations Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again into a lively Hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead unto an Inheritance Incorruptible and Undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in the
Righteousness and as a tender hearted Father leaves not the Child altogether unpunished yet he corrects in measure thus the Lords exercising his Peoples Faith Patience and Obedience can never be said to be their Discouragement or contrary to any of his gracious promises to them in Scripture but should rather be atributed to that gracious promise of never leaving or forsaking of them Jer. 30.11 chap. 31.18 19 20. Isa 43.2 And in his chastising of them he distinguisheth between them and Bastards Heb. 12.7 8 9. But on the other hand it is the unhappy Lot of the Wicked to be let run on in all manner of Ryot without punishment and their Eyes to stand out with fatness to be given over to their own Hearts Lusts to their utter destruction and to be given over to a reprobate sense and to take no pains upon them but gives them leave to swallow down the Consolation of their Lusts with the bitter Pill of Eternal wo. Wo to you that are rich for you have received your consolation wo unto you that are full for ye shall be hungry wo to you that laugh now for ye shall weep wo unto you when all men shall speak well of you for so did their Fathers to the false Prophets Luke 6.24 25 26. Job 21.30 Obj. The third Objection is This Doctrine seems to be contrary to and disparageable of the Nature of God who is holy loving just and tender hearted to suffer his own Children who love and serve him best to be hampered with all the ill usage of Mortal Life yea put to Death for his sake and amongst men it would be great ingratitude for a Man to suffer his Children and best Friends to be thus used Answ The Lords suffering his Children to lye for some time under the smart of the Rod can never be imputed to his want of tenderness for them for as a Father can hear the complaints of a Disobedient Child under correction at the same time his Bowels of Compassion turn after him and yet he Corrects the Physitian loves and takes care of the Patient though he will give him no Cordial until the Physick work neither will the Chirurgeon take off the Plaisters though they smart until the wound be clean and whole so the Lord suffereth the Rod of Afflictions to work up the sinner to a Conviction that the Cordials of his Love when reconciled may be more accepted of notwithstanding in the mean time his Compassion faileth not In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them in his love and in his pity be redeemed them and bore them all the Days of Old Isaiah 63.9 How shall I give thee up O Ephraim how shall I deliver thee O Israel how shall I make thee as Zadma how shall I set thee as Zeboim my Heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled Hos 11.8 I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoak is Ephraim my dear Son is he a pleasant Child for since I spoke against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my Bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him nevertheless I will correct thee in measure and not leave thee altogether unpunished Jer. 30.11 chap. 31.18 19 20. Secondly The Lord cannot be counted unkind much less ungrateful to his Children when for a moment he chastiseth them and recompenseth with eternal Salvation I reckon that the sufferings of this present Life which are but for a moment are not worthy to be compared to the Glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 For our light afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory while we look not after these things which are seen but after these things which are not seen things which are seen are temporal but things not seen Eternal 2 Cor. 14.17 18. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great Mercies will I gather thee in a little wrath I hid my self from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee saith the Lord Isa 54.7 8. For his anger endureth but for a moment in his favour is Life weeping may endure for a Night but Joy cometh in the Morning Psal 30.5 Thus then the Lord by his temporary Chastisements cannot be said unkind or ungrateful to the best of Saints when he exchangeth the momentany afflictions with Oceans of his goodness In thy presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Psal 16.11 Besides all this Consider the Godly's stumbling at the Wickeds Prosperity Ye have said it is in vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinance and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts and now we call the Proud happy and they that work Wickedness are set up yea they that tempt God are even delivered Mal. 3.14 15. Job that Pattern of Wisdom Patience and Experience gives also an account of the prosperous state of the Wicked and their arrogancy against God And in the second part he gives an account of their end Job 21. to 16. thus Their Candle is put out destruction cometh on them God distributeth on them sorrows in his anger they are like the Chaff before the Wind his Iniquities are stored up against his Children his Eyes shall see his destruction and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty what pleasure shall he have in his house when his Months are cut off in the midst of them the wicked is reserved to the day of Destruction they shall be he brought forth to the day of wrath Job 21.16 to end See the Issue of the Rich Glutton clothed in Purple and fairing daintily and poor Lazarus begging the Crumbs at his gate and the Dogs licking his Sores remember that thou in thy Life receivedest thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Luke 16.19 to end Hence we may clearly see Gods bounty and gratitude to his People and well may they relye on his promises of rich rewards for their Faith and Patient sufferings for him Verily I say unto you that ye who have followed me in the Regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the Throne of his glory ye shall also sit on Twelve Thrones Judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel and every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters Father Mother or Children or Lands for my sake shall receive one hundred-fold and shall inherit everlasting Life Mat. 19.28 29. The Godly may be persecuted and suffer Death but shall be happy in their Death Blessed are they that dye in the Lord they cease from their Labour and their Works follow them And this is their reward these are they which come out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes
no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him 1 Joh. 3.15 Secondly The second branch of Divine Love approved of God to make up the Union of the Saints with God is that laving out the Bowels of charitable assistance in the supply of the Saints necessities like the good Samaritan in the Gospel not only to see and pity his affliction and condition but to support it God is not only a bare Spectator of our misery and maladies but also a healer of all our wounds and is that only Physitian of Israel and hath and applies that balm of Gilead even the Balsom of his own Blood to cure us hereby know we the love of God for us because he laid down his Life for us and we ought to lay down our life for the Brethren 1 John 3.16 But whoso hath this Worlds good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his Bowels of compassion from him how doth the love of God dwell in him 1 John 4.9 If God so loved us we ought also so to love one another Greater Love hath no man than this that a Man lay down his Life for a Friend Joh. 15.13 to 18. The Duty of Christian charity is recommended and commanded as the evidence of Christian sincerity The blessing is to the liberal the liberal Soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered himself Pr. 11 24 25 26. See the exhortation from Christs own example But ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that tho' he was Rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his Poverty might be Rich and that famous exhortation consider them that are in bonds as being bound with them and such as are in adversity as being your selves in the Body Hebrews 13.3 See how the Apostle James challengeth a naked beholder of the poor naked and indigent If a Brother or Sister be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say depart in Peace and be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not these things which are needful what doth it profit Jam. 2.15 16. So that it is not bare profession which makes Love but the fulfilling of the Commandment love thy Neighbour as thy self as Christ loved his Church and laid down his Life for her so ought we also for whom Christ died Hence we see how great is the Priviledge of Believers for whom Christ both died and is risen again and taken possession of Heaven for them and that the Father will love them with the same love with which he loved his only Son before the World was so Believers should not be affraid for Love admits no fear There is no fear in Love for perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he that feareth is not made perfect in Love 1 John 4.18 What quiet and comfort therefore may Believers have who find that love of God constraining them to wait on him by Faith may with David say we will not fear what man can do unto us and with the Apostle if God be with us who can be against us be of good courage for God will strengthen your Hearts Fourthly As the Saints are one with God and Christ 1. In Spirit 2. In Holiness 3. In Love So 4. In Glory which is the highest priviledge imaginable and is clearly held out in the Text And the glory thou hast given me I have given them that they may be One even as we are One. Father I will that they also which thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me John 17.22 24. And as God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son to dye for Sinners so Christ continues his Love that he will have all for whom he died to share of the same glory with himself and this is the highest exaltation and expectation of the Saints contrived by the Wisdom of God and accomplished by the Death and Resurrection of Christ and his being set down at the right hand of Glory for us This superexcellent state of the Saints Glory and Eternal Happiness is branched out in a fivefold consideration First In their blessed Death Secondly Their Spiritual and Immortal Bodies Thirdly Their being admitted into the Presence of God and Host of Heaven Fourthly Their being continued in that state for ever Fifthly All Sorrow Tears and Mourning to be everlastingly done away First Man in his first Creation was made Lord of all Creatures and tho' after his Fall by the Wisdom of God and infinite Love of Jesus Christ was reconciled to God by a new Covenant of Peace nevertheless was continued in a Prison of Clay subjected not only to all Natural weakness sickness cold hunger thirst and other natural infirmities of the Flesh and uneasiness of Life but also while in the body obnoxious to the Temptations of Sin and grief of Soul through the weakness of the Spirit under the clog and coverture of the Flesh as the experience of all Men Witness that this Life is but Labour and Sorrow therefore the Wisdom and Goodness of God and love of Christ Jesus hath so contrived that the Soul a Prisoner to misery and infirmities should have the Chains of Mortality knocked off by Death and be let free to Eternal Life And this is the first step of Saints effectual Happiness The Holy Apostle clearly testifieth that whilst we are in the Body we are absent from the Lord and therefore not only we but the whole Creation groan under these Infirmities and long for the Liberty of the Sons of God even the Redemption of our Bodies and therefore it 's revealed that Death is as it were the opening of the Prison Door to the Prisoners of Hope to set them at liberty from all the miseries of Mortality and Temptations to sin and gives them a free Pass to the Land of Rest Blessed are the Dead thy dye in the Lord they cease from their Labours and their Works follow them Rev. 14.13 And this is a great Consolation to Believers for as Death is the end of all Fleshly pleasures it 's also the end of all sin and Misery so the way of Death and the Grave ought not to be loathsom or irksom to them for that Christ the Captain of our Salvation hath proved both ways and for us led Captivity Captive O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory and the last Enemy is Death who is led Captive by Jesus Christ he will swallow up Death into Victory he will Ransom them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes Hos 13.14 The Second instance of Eternal Happiness is to have Spiritual Bodies The glory of Heaven and presence of God which is Eternal Happiness being designed for the Saints therefore the Lord in his Eternal Wisdom hath
16. read all Sixthly Does the free Market of Grace Merit no Admiration Thankfulness and Credit Isa 55 1 2 3. Seventhly Are not these words of him that cannot lye Dissemble or Deceive As I live saith the Lord I desire not the Death of sinner but rather that he should repent and live Come and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as Scarlet I will make them as Wooll though they be red as Crimson I will make them as Snow Come unto me all ye that Labour and are heavy Laden and I will give you rest Is 1.18 Mat. 11.28 Eighthly Is not this Christs own Voice Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any Man will open to me I will come in and he shall Sup with me and I with him And to him that overcometh will I give to sit with me in my Throne even as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne Rev. 3.20 21. Now how great was the Stupidity and Folly not to believe these Fatherly Invitations and Comply with them that we may be Eternally Happy Inference Though Man by Nature in the above Description be inexpressibly Miserable yet not without Remedy by Faith in Jesus Christ who dyed for a sinner and Salvation and Eternal Life promised to Believers in him Rom. 5.5 6 7. Jo. 3.16 17 18. wherefore we should take Heart Courage and a patient waiting on him And for our Assistance and Encouragement First Under the deep Sense of Mans Misery in the condition of Natural sin as in the preceding Description of Man with a continual Lowliness and Humility of Mind as a check to Pride Self and Sin looking into Mans Character when any thing of Sin or Temptation offers and with the Apostle cry out O Wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Death Rom. 7.24 Secondly Have deep Admiration of the height and depth of the unsearchable Love of God in Christ Jesus who hath made Christ to Believers all and in all Eph. 3.17 18 19. Col. 3.11 Thirdly Be Reconciled to the Cross of Christ and Affliction as the happy means of Reconciling thee to God before I was Afflicted I went astray but now have I learned to know the Law I will return to my place and hide my Face until they acknowledge their Iniquities seek my Face in their Afflictions they will seek me early Hos 5.15 I have refined thee but not with Silver I have chosen thee in the Furnace of Affliction Is 48.10 I will bring her into the Wilderness and there I will allure her and speak Comfortably unto her Hos 2.14 I reckon that the present Afflictions of this Life which are but for a Moment are not worthy to be compared to that exceeding weight of glory that shall be revealed in us 2 Cor. 4.17 18. Fourthly Ly patiently under the Rod until the time of thy Deliverance come and quarrel not with the Instruments of thy Chastisement hear the Voice of the Rod and who hath appointed wait for the Vision though it tarry it will speak Hab. 2.3 Say with David Lo here am I let him do with me what seemeth good in his sight 2 Sam. 15.25 26. as with the Apostle I have learned in every condition therewith be content I know how to want and how to abound Phil. 4.11 12 13. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord until he plead my Cause and Execute Judgment for me Mic. 7.9 Fifthly Believe it to be a Truth and be Comforted in it that all things work together for good to such as wait for him and that the end is Eternal Life in Jesus Christ Ro. 8.28 Faith and Salvation are inseparable Companions as well from the Covenant of God in Christ Jesus as from the Fidelity Power Promise and good Will of God and this alone is able to answer all the Cavils of Malice and Disquiet or Discouragement which may arise from the Consideration of the meanness or misery by Nature or under the sense of Mans weakness under his sinful Condition in this that he that believeth shall have Eternal Life Jo. 3.16 17 18. for though Man in his best Condition by Nature without grace be a meer Picture Shadow Vapour Bubble and like a Bell upon the Water or dew on the Grass that withereth his whole Life Labour and Sorrow Vanity and lighter than Vanity so as he desireth Death rather than Life and at Death is the end of all his glory and his Misery is endless in Everlasting Destruction as in the foregoing Description hence is the unspeakable Consolation of Believers that the Covenant of God is everlasting not of the things of this Life only but also of the Life t come the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance and herein doth the excellency of the Covenant of grace exceed that of the Covenant of Works with Man in his first Creation First The first state and Condition of Man naturally considered was of the things of this Natural Life only but the New and second Covenant is of things of this Life and also of that which is to come so that the New Covenant which hath the promise of this Life and of that also which is to come is more valuable than the other Godliness is great gain 1 Tim. 4.8 c. Wherefore Christ adviseth us not to store up perishing things but rather the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Mat. 6.19 to 24. Secondly We see in Natural Mans Description what a slippery thing he is and the meanness of his Condition and where all with him ends but the Enjoyments of the New Covenant is the Inheritance of all things which perish not nor change Ro. 11.29 Thirdly To this New Covenant belong Priviledges which make Happiness here and Eternally hereafter by all which the Fellows of this Covenant are endowed with the greatest priviledges and assisted with the Richest promises that infinite Wisdom and Goodness thought fit to make a happy State here and Eternally hereafter Fourthly The excellency of this Covenant is such that the priviledges thereto belonging qualifies and secures the Heirs of this Covenant against all vicissitudes in this Life and fits and moulds them for the Enjoyment of that Eternal State provided and secured by this New Covenant the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of God designing to make Believers Citizens of the New Jerusalem made without Hands eternal in the Heavens alters and changes the whole frame of Man from what it was formerly in Nature and squares him to that Heavenly building Although of Gods free Will and Pleasure for his own glory without the necessity of any further perfection Man was at first Created by God as the free love of God in Christ Jesus is the only Rise of Mans Eternal Happiness nevertheless it is not only compleated by Election but also by Regeneration and newness of Life in Christ Jesus and by being made Holy as God is Holy and therefore the whole frame of
Dan. 3.16 17 18. How did Peter filled with the Holy Ghost being in Prison maintain the Cause of Christ when being forbid to Preach any more in the Name of Christ thus reasoned Whether it be better to obey God or Man judge ye for we cannot but speak the things that we have seen and heard Acts 4.3 9. How joyful and chearful were Paul and Sylas in Prison after they had been soundly whipt for Preaching in the Name of Jesus by Praying and Singing of Psalms in the hearing of other Prisoners how are all the Books of the Histories of the Christians Persecutions as well under Heathenish as Roman Tyranny full of the chearfulness of Christians in their Imprisonment for Truth so as many have been offered their Lives who rather did chuse to suffer Death than to live and be under greater Temptation Secondly By making Enemies Mediators for his People and Instruments of their Deliverance the Lord put it in the Heart of Cyrus King of Babylon whose Ancestours had kept the Israelites Captive seventy years to send them back to Jerusalem with Instructions to rebuild the Temple at his Charge and restored to them the Vessels took out of the Temple Jeremiah was enlarged and delivered by the King of Babylon when he was imprisoned by his own Native Prince Jer. 39.11 12 15. Paul and Sylas were brought out of Prison by the same persons by whom they were shut up and the Jailor washed their wounds and entertained them in Prison Act. 16.26 Thirdly By delivering of his People by his own immediate Hand And the Angel of the Lord opened the Prison Doors and brought them forth and said to them go forth and preach to all People the words of this Life Act. 12.13 The same Apostle also delivered by an Angel the Doors and Iron Gates opening of themselves and his Chains falling off and he and Sylas delivered by an Earth-quake all which shew the Lords special care over his Prisoners of Hope which invites all such to a patient waiting on God Believing the Vision is for an appointed time and he that shall come will come and will not tarry He made them to be pittied of those that carried them captive Ps 106.46 The third case wherein Gods Promises do support his People is Poverty or which the Scriptures abound the Holy Jesus who is truth it self tells us That Man liveth not by Bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God Mat. 4.4 And that his special Providence and care is the only supply of his People as he câ—reth for the Lillies provides for the Ravens and Sparrows so taketh he care of his People however the Lords Promises to his People in Poverty are large When the Poor and needy seeketh Water and there is none and their Tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them the God of Israel will not forsake them I will open Rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of the valleys I will make the Wilderness a Pool of Water and the dry Land springs of Water Isa 41.17 18. I will give thee the Treasures of Darkness and hidden Riches of Secret Places that thou mayest know that I the Lord which call thee by thy name am the God of Israel Isa 45.3 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat without money and without price Isa 55.1 2. The Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy Soul in drouth and make Fat thy Bones and thou shalt be like a Watered Garden and like a Spring of Water whose Waters fail not Isa 58.11 Though Poverty pincheth and Straights are sore Trials yet consider and believe Gods Providence and Care of his People at all times either in supplying their wants in his own time and way or blessing what they have and increasing a little to a great deal First In supplying their wants see the Lords supply of Ishmael when his Mother laid him out of her sight not willing to see him dye for want of Drink Gen. 21.16 to 21. The Lords feeding his People with Manna for Bread and Quales for Flesh from Heaven Exod. 16. The Lords making Water to arise out of the Jaw-bone of an Ass to preserve Sampson's Life Jud. 15.9 The Lords feeding of Elisha by sending of food to him by a Raven 1 Kin. 17. The Lords wonderful relieving the City of Samaria strongly besieged and opprest with Famine when Women did eat their own Children and in one Night brought it great plenty by his wonderful Providence 2 Kin. 7. all Secondly By blessing and encreasing a little to a great deal The little that a Righteous Man hath is better than the Riches of many wicked Psal 37.16 The wonderful encreasing of the Widow of Sarepta's Oil and Barrel of Meal to the feeding her self her Son and the Prophet Elisha many days when she thought to have starved for want 1 Kin. 19. The Lords preserving Elisha forty days and forty nights by two single Meals 1 Kin. 19. The Lords making a small quantity of Oil to encrease to many Barrels and thereby relieved the Widows two Sons who were to have been soâ—d for the payment of their Fathers debt 2 Kin. 4 all The Lord Jesus Christ his feeding of five thousand Men besides Women and Children with five Loaves and two small Fishes and after all were satisfied twelve Baskets full of Fragments were taken up Mark 6.42 43 44. And to conclude this point see what Omnipotency saith Prove me now saith the Lord if I will not open the Windows of Heaven and pour out a Blessing that you shall not have room to receive it Malachy 3.10 Fourthly The fourth Affliction or Trial of Christians in which God assisteth his People by his Promises is the unkindness unnaturality or changeableness of friends as this is a great trial yet it is the frequent Lot of Christians Christ the Lord of Glory was not only forsaken of his Friends but also betrayed by one of his own Disciples Job was charged with Hypocrisy by his three Friends and tempted by his Wife to Curse God David had his Throne Usurped by his own Son and his Wives defiled by him in the sight of the Sun Moses was accused of usurpation by his Brother Aaron and Sister Miriam Numb 11.4 and daily experience proveth that a Mans Enemies are those of his own House however the Lords Promises for Comfort and Support of his People under this Trial are many and almost numberless See that early Mercy of God to the Church as representing the state of all men by Nature in that often repeated place No Eye pittied thee to do any â—f these things to thee nevertheless he proves that kind Samaritan who takes pity and care when the Priest and Levite whose profession was to shew Charity passed by without Pitty or Care and sufficiently provides for the poor wounded Man Luke 10.30 to 39. See the Psalmists Case Thou hast put
of his Heart he hanged himself 2 Sam. 17.23 The fourth difference of Gods dispensations to the Godly and Wicked is That the Godly are directed and assisted of God to level all their actions and apply all that is dispensed to them for the Glory and Honour of God but the Wicked apply all to the gratifying of their Lusts the Godly believe that all things as well in prosperity as in adversity work together for their good therefore they level all their purposes and actions at his glory Romans 8.28 Deborah though by God made eminently instrumental in that great victory over Gods Enemies takes not the glory thereof to her self but ascribes it to God Judg. 5. all The great Steward of Heaven dispenseth the blessings of this Life as the Lord in the Gospel gave forth his Talents to such as did profit by them he trusted them with more and gave them Eternal Life as the reward of their care for their Masters Honour and Profit but the slothful and unprofitable Servants are cast into utter darkness where they shall meet with nothing but weeping and gnashing of Teeth Mat. 25.14 to 31. Having thus cursorily made enquiry into the emptiness of all humane enjoyments and discovered that no happiness can be found therein we come next to inquire into that compleat felicity of Eternal Life which is the fourth thing treasured up in that bank of Mercy for Believers and that under these considerations First The freedom of it Secondly The fulness of it First of the freedom as all temporal Mercies are of God as we have already discovered so also all Spiritual allowances are of him and from him he is the Father of Spirits and of his free will he hath begotten us by regeneration in Christ Jesus who hath purchased us with the price of his Blood God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Eternal Life John 3.17 When we were without strength Christ died for us God commendeth his Love to us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us That as Sin reigned unto Death even so might Grace reign through righteousness unto Eternal Life through Christ Rom. 5.6 to end It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth Mercy Rom. 9.16 For by Grace ye are saved through Faith not of your selves it is the gift of God not of works lest any Man should boast Eph. 2.8 9. In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lye promised before the World began Tit. 1.2 Having Predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ unto himself according to the good pleasure of his Will in whom we have Redemption through his Blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his Grace Ephes 1.5 7. Thus we plainly see the freedom of this gift of Eternal Life though purchased by the Death of Christ yet freely given to us by him The second thing we are to consider of is the fulness of this great gift and for the clearer discovery thereof we shall compare the excellencies of it with the things of this Life in all the advantagious circumstances of the same whereby we shall find the excellencies thereof incomparably excel all that can be pretended desireable in this Life in all their superlative state and condition The glory fulness and excellency of this World is laid down by the Apostle in the foregoing Scripture to consist in the Lust of the Flesh the Lusts of the Eye and the Pride of Life and these things perish in the using but he that doth the Will of God abideth for ever these being put in the Ballance with eternal Life and its excellencies we shall easily find there can be no parrallel when we consider and believe the Testimony of that Evangelical Prophet Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive what great things he hath laid up for such as wait on him Isa 64.4 Hence we may see an inestimable difference seeing all the enjoyments of this Life are only sensual and vanishing and the others are all Spiritual and Lasting to Eternity Secondly If we consider the World as the Apostle describes it and that The Love of the World is not of the Father and by the Apostle James that it is enmity against God and that eternal life is the purchase of Christs Blood how much will this sink the Parrallel 1 Joh. 2.15 16. Jam. 4.4 Thirdly If we compare the Worlds Inventory that in it is only the Lusts of the Eyes the Lusts of the Flesh and the Pride of Life How soon is this cast out of the Scales by the Apostle The Kingdom of God consists not in eating and drinking chambering and wantonness but in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost When all that is said or can be said of the World is summed up First In Eating and Drinking Secondly In Apparel to cloath our nakedness Thirdly In Friends or Relations And Fourthly In Riches or Wealth all which perish in the using as is often demonstrated what Parallel then can be imagined between these two For our better satisfaction we shall examine all these severally by themselves and those things which come in exchange of them First Cloaths of the best Richest or Gordious sort which can be invented afford no cause of glory pride satisfaction or content for at best they are but badges of our Sin and Misery and causes of grief mourning humiliation and repentance for that they were at first upon Adams Transgression invented to cover our nakedness discovered by sin which first brought shame and therefore they are but the cover of our shame and nakedness in which we should neither delight not glory but rather on sight thereof humble our selves in the sense of our original guilt and lost estate in Adam Gen. 3.7 to 12. Secondly The best of Garments have under them infirm Bodies tainted with natural weakness at best and sometimes the Richest cover the frailest Carcase tainted with noisome Distempers the sight of which may make the Garments and what is under them loathsome and abhorrent so that what we have for our necessity to cover our shame and hide our loathsomness should not be our Pride much less our Delight or Glory Thirdly Cloaths are often our Burthen when either by penury we cannot attain to them or the persons are so weak that they cannot bear them in Winter to defend the cold nor in Summer because of heat Fourthly The fashion changeth and frets the Indigent that they cannot have them and draws the richer to excess emulation and prodigality in foppish and unnecessary pomp in the change of fashions to the exciting of Lust and superflous wasting what better may be bestowed on the poor whom God recommends as objects of Charity This being the badge of our shame and sin and the superfluity thereof so much abounding now a days
invade the first agressor to confine him to such limits as he may not for the future be capable of doing further injury and thus of necessity it must be in the Christian Warfare against Satan the World and the Flesh so that this War is founded upon such implacable enmity that it must be continued without hope or expectation of any peace end or terms of accommodation for these three reasons First The Soveraigns of this War are of Interests incompatible so that of necessity the victory must turn to one side before the War can be ended Secondly The Parties and Combatants are under different and incompatible Laws so can never be reconciled Thirdly All terms of Treaty or Capitulation are by command forbid in this War First The Soveraigns of this War are of incompatible Interest and therefore the War must be perpetual until one of the Parties be destroyed Christ is the Generalissimo of the Christians Army Satan the Mammon of this World the Flesh and Lusts thereof makes up the competition how incompatible then must it be with the right glory honour and interest of Christ who in his own right is King of Kings and Lord of Lords to suffer a Rival to his Inheritance though for his wise ends he let Satan loose for a while to tempt and sift the Nations and draw the Children of Darkness into snares and distruction and to try the Faith and Patience of Gods own People in which the wicked Men are Gods servants and instruments however to suffer their power to prevail is altogether inconsistent with the absolute power and Soveraignty of Jesus Christ and although Satan and his Emissaries have fought many Battels against Christ and his Church they have still been overcome in all of them and shall be overcome until Christ bring Judgment into Victory and overcome him who hath the power of Death even the Devil Rev. 12. to 12. chap. 17.14 Oh Death I will be thy Plagues O Grave I will be thy Destruction Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes Hos 13.14 Death is swallowed up into Victory O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy Victory the Sting of Death is Sin and the strength of Sin is the Law but thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.54 to 56. The Lord of Life hath told us we cannot serve God and Mammon we must reject the one if we serve the other so that their Interest being inconsistent we must onely be of one side there is no fellowship between God and Belial So that they cannot divide Interests therefore there is a necessity to be on Christs side The Son of the Bond Woman which is Sin and Satan the World and Lusts thereof cannot Inherit with the Son of the Free Woman which is Christ Jesus Gal. 4.30 Secondly The Combatants of these two Armies have different and inconsistent Laws and these Laws are so relative and in such affinity with the several interests of the Soveraigns that of necessity perpetuates the War so as no end can be expected except by absolute victory of one or other side All Christs Soldiers are new Creatures renewed in the Spirit of their Mind have the same Mind in them which was in Christ Jesus are under Spiritual and Holy Laws subject to his Will according to that Portion of his Spirit which he hath given them spiritually not carnally minded walk and live according to the Law of the Spirit and not of the Law of the Flesh they are not led with malice revenge envyings slanderings back-bitings murmurings and cruelties which are the works of the Flesh Gal. 4.19 20 21. But they are led after the Laws of the Spirit and live in all gentleness meekness holiness charity and kindness as the works of the Spirit Ephes 4.19 Ephes 4.22 to end Gal. 5.22 23. But on the other hand these under Antichrists Banner neither are nor can be subject to the Laws of the Spirit for they are of the Flesh and live after the Flesh To be carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the carnal Mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be so that they which are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.6 7 8. The Flesh Lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary one to the other Gal. 5.17 So we see that the Laws of these pretenders to Dominion are so opposite to one another that it is impossible to reconcile them Thirdly The third thing which perpetuates this War is that no treaty capitulation or agreement can be between these parties this enmity is so laid by God himself that Satan must bruise Mans Heel and the Seed of the Woman must bruise Satans Head to the end of the World Such enmity is between God and Mammon that the love of the one is inconsistent with the service of the other Know ye not that the Friendship of this World is enmity to God whosoever therefore will be a Friend to the World is the Enemy of God Jam. 4.4 Love not the World nor the things of the World if any man love the World the love of the Father is not in him 1 Joh. 2.15 Thus the Interests and Laws of these two parties being so inconsistent there is no Room for any treaty hopes or possibility of accommodation for that the Spiritual Man hath antipathy to the Lusts of the Flesh and the Carnal Man cannot be subject to the Law of holiness because of the enmity of his mind and therefore the holy Apostle is so far from accommodating the matter between Lust and Holiness Flesh and the Spirit that he would not have the Spiritual Man to keep any Communication with the unfruitful works of Darkness What fellowship hath God with Belial a clean thing with an unclean who can touch pitch and not be defiled therewith evil communication corrupts good manners Wherefore he forbids all tampering with the specious pretensions of the World or Earthly things Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the World why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances taste not touch not handle not these things all which perish in the using after the Doctrine and Commandments of Men Col. 2.20 21 22. The Holy Apostle Paul in another place is more severe where he commends the Repentance not to be repented of and in the effects of sorrow and repentance he saith Behold this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a Godly manner what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what revenge yea what zeal 2 Cor. 7.11 In which we see what expressions of vehement zeal against corruption and sin which are the works of the Flesh by these expressions vehement desire indignation and revenge is implied such implacable
This great promise of general and particular assistance and so many great priviledges being the first ground of Christian encouragement The second is That they have the example of Christ his Prophets and Saints in Heaven who have with undaunted courage chearfulness and patience fought that good fight and have received their reward As it is great happiness in any warfare to be under wise able and experienced Commanders and as the fame of the Captain raiseth Courage and hope of Victory so it is much more in this Christian warfare where Christ is General and the Saints in Glory are examples Whose Courage Wisdom or Power can be comparable to Christs who is Wisdom it self Prov. 1.20 chap. 8.1 who is power infinite Col. 1.15 16 17. and for his experience he is the antient of days First He is Wisdom it self wisdom is his stile and name and well it may be so for by his wisdom First He made all things and by himself he upholdeth all things He is the Image of the Invisible God and in whom dwelleth all Power and the Godhead bodily Heb. 1. to 14. Secondly He is infinite in Power and there is no searching of his understanding he hath measured the Waters in the hollow of his hand he metted out the Heaven with his Span and comprehended the Dust of the Earth in a Measure and weighed the Mountains in Scales and the Hills in a Ballance The Nations are before him as a drop of a Bucket and are counted as the small Dust of a Ballance he taketh up the Hills as a very little thing Job 32.8 ch 38. ch 39. Isa 40.12 to 16. Thirdly For Experience he is the Antient of days the First-Born of every Creature the Alpha and Omega see that Discription given him by Solomon the Wisest of Men Prov. 8. all Rev. 1.17 18. Col. 1.17 He is not only Wise and Wisdom himself but he is Wisdom diffusive to others gives them not only the precepts of Wisdom but doth infuse Wisdom into them and maketh them docile and quick in Understanding and in this he exceeds all other Captains and Teachers who may instruct but cannot form the understanding as he doth I will pour my Spirit on you I will make known my words unto you Pro. 1.23 John 1. to 6. Isa 61.1 He is the Spirit of Wisdom inlightning the World he is sent of the Father and hath of him received the Spirit to Communicate Wisdom to others The Spirit of the Almighty giveth him understanding this Wisdom is such as excelleth because it is of Christs own Spirit Pure Truth and tryed pure as Gold yea purer than much fine Gold see the excellent vertue of Gods Precepts and Instructions Converting the Soul Enlightning the eyes Clean True Righteous Sweet Instructing and in keeping of them there is great reward and endure for ever Ps 19.7 to 1. This Wisdom is the fear of God from whence it hath its rise and how excellent and desirous this is see Prov. 1.8 and all ch 8. all James 3.17 in which are made out all advantages both Spiritual and Temporal See what account the Holy Prophet makes of this Wisdom and Knowledge of God above all Human Knowledge or of things Earthly let not the Rich Man glory in his Riches nor the Wise Man in his Wisdom nor the Strong Man in his Strength but let him that glorieth glory in this saith the Lord that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exerciseth loving kindness Judgment and Righteousness in the Earth for in these things I delight saith the Lord Jer. 9.24 The Holy Evangelist testifieth of this Wisdom This is Life Eternal to know thee and whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ Jo. 17.23 24. The Holy Apostle also declares what this Wisdom is even Jesus Christ Who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Secondly The second qualification of this great Christian General in his power joyned with what is already said he is infinite in power He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 17.14 he is the Blessed and only Potentate 1 Tim. 6.15 He is the most High and ruleth in the Kingdom of the Earth and giveth them to whomsoever he pleaseth of his Kingdom there shall be no end Dan. 4.17 25. Luke 1.33 He poureth Contempt on Princes and causeth them to wander in the Wilderness where there is no way yet setteth he the poor on High and maketh him Families like a Flock Ps 107.40 41. He can make Nations as stubble and Kings of the Earth as nothing he makes wast Mountains and Hills and dryeth up all the Rivers he can make Rivers Islands and dry upon the Pools he can lead the Blind the way they know not Is 42.15 16. He can make Darkness Light and Crooked things Straight he can form Light and Create Darkness he can make Peace and Create War Is 45.7 Thirdly The third quality of this great General is his great Experience Conduct and Valour Can the Antient of Days who hath Conquered and Subdued all he ever Encountered with be without Victory on his side had not he the better of the Old Enemy the Devil who beguiled Eve and for his lying and presumption Condemned him to perpetual Enmity and Contempt Did he not Conquer Pharaohs Pride and stubbornness by Plagues and overthrow him wholly at last Did he not signalize his Power Fame and Goodness towards his People of Israel in Destroying their Enemies and appearing for them in all the Exigencies of their afflicted Conditions see the great Series of his Care of them Did not he overthrow the Devil when under Temptation of Hunger and would not work a Miracle for his own Relief but Preached up Faith on the Word and Power of God Man liveth not by Bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God Mat. 4.2.3 4. Did not he when Tempted from Scripture to trust to Gods Protection in throwing of himself headlong reject that Insinuation of Satan by Scripture Thou must not Tempt the Lord thy God Ps 71.11 By which he Magnified the Soveraignty of God and would not Tempt Providence Mat. 4.9 10. And being Tempted to Worship the Devil for the gain of the World he defeated the Tempter from the Duty of Worshipping God only Thou shalt Worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Mat. 4.9 10. And lastly by his Submission to the purpose and Will of God on the Cross he overcame Death the last Enemy Mat. 27.50 ch 28.60 and by his Resurrection Crowned Mans Eternal Happiness O Death I will be thy Plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes Hosea 13 14. Hence is this Admirable Instance of the Power of that Champion of our Salvation who through the vail of his own Flesh hath made Conquest of Eternal Life for us and by his free Love Power and good Will hath given them the Victory over all his
themselves with a Heavenly Harmony and their Sentiments is one amongst themselves Like the pretious Oyntment on the Head which ran down upon the Beard and as the Dew of Hermon and the Dew on the Mount of Zion Ps 133. As they all accord in Sentiments they are guilty neither of Murmuring Rebellion or Mutiny but Holy and Peaceable therefore all their desires are acceptable with God and are written and recorded by him in his Book of Life and they that feared Lord spoke often one to another and a Book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought often upon his Name Mal. 3.10 Then to conclude if it be of a Truth that Believers shall have Eternal Life Jo. 3 16. Are they under an everlasting Covenant with God Hosea 2.19 20 Is 59.20 21. Is 60.20 21. Ro. 11.27 29. Do Remission of Sins of whatsoever degree or quality belong to them Is 1.18 Is 43.26 Mat. 11.28 29 30. Shall they have Comfort in Darkness Is 50.10 Mich. 7.8 Mal 3 16. Shall they be Heirs of all things Rev. 21.7 Ro. 8.32 Gal. 3.29 Eph. 1.11 14. Shall they be one with God in Christ Jesus in Wisdom Spirit and Glory Jo. 17.21 to 25 Shall nothing present or to come separate them from him Ro. 8.35 37 38. Shall they sit on the Throne of God with Christ Rev. 3.21 Shall Christ have Universal Sympathy with them in all their Afflictions Is 63.9 Shall they have Universal Protection by Christ Is 43.2 Ps 91 all Ps 107. all Shall their Chastisement from God be in moderation Is 27.7 8. Jer. 31.20 Shall the end of their chastisement be to take away their sin and for their good Is 27.9 Heb. 12.5 to 11. Shall the Afflictions of the Godly be but for a short time Is 54.7 8. 2 Cor. 4.17 Shall the Afflictions of the Godly be exchanged with greater Mercies 2 Cor. 4.17 18. Hebr. 12.11 Are the Chastisements of the Godly with Reluctance from God Jer. 31.20 Hosea 11.8 9 10 11. Hath he given to his People Promises in Poverty Ps 25.4 Ps 34.9 10. Isa 41 17 to 21. Is 44.2 3. Is 45.3 Have they promises in Captivity Jer. 30.18 ch 31.10 ch 32.37 Have they promises under Reproaches Ps 22.6 to 11. Ps 31.9 to 14. Ez. 36.3 15. Ps 38.10 11 12 15. Pro. 42.10 11. Ps 51.7 8. Have they promises in Sickness Is 38. all ch 40.28 to 32. Jer. 33.6 Ps 41.3 Is 46.3 4. Is 47.18 Have they promises when forsaken of Friends Ps 27.5 to 15. Is 49.15 to 22. Is 54.5 to 11. Is 66.5 ch 6 3 15. Jer. 30.11 to 18. Shall all their Trials and Troubles turn to Everlasting Joy Ps 116.6 10. Ps 91 all Ps 68.13 Have they Christ for their General and Saints their Companions in their Warfare Is Christ Wise and Wisdom it self Pro. 1.2 ch 8. all Is Christ for Experience the Antient of Days Maker and Preserver of all things Col. 1.15 16 17. 1 Cor. 8.6 Heb. 1. to 14. Is his Wisdom unsearchable Job 32.8 ch 38. all ch 39. ch 40. Pro. 8. Is he who furnisheth Wisdom James 1.5 Pro. 1.23 John 1. to 6. Job 38.36 ch 32.8 Is this Wisdom the fear of God Pro. 1.7 ch 9.10 Jere. 9.23 24. Jo. 17.3 7 8. Is Christ all in all to the Saints 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Is he infinitely powerful Omnipotent King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 17.14 Is 12 to 29. Job 38. ch 49. ch 40. ch 41. Dan. 17.25 Jer. 27.5 Is 45.7 Is he experience to fight for his People see the large account of the Victory for his People before Hath he overcome the Devil the Antient and Powerful enemy of Man Mat. 4 to 8. Hath he overcome Death and the Cross by his Death and Resurrection Mat. 27.50 ch 28.6 Hosea 13.14 1 Cor. 15.54 to 57. Hath he in the Signal of his Victories that rare Trophy the Hand-Writing of Ordinances blotted out which was against Man Col. 3.13 14 15. John 3.16 17 18. Ro. 5.5 to 9. Is the Cross of Christ the Standard Royal and Saints Glory Gal. 6.14 And hath he in it the Motto of Saints Salvation Jo. 3.14 to 18 and blotting out of their Sins Col. 2.14 Have all the glorified Saints of Heaven Travelled thither under the Cross of Christ for our Example Is Christs Command for chearful fighting under his Banner Jo. 14 to 5. Col. 3.16 17. 1 Thes 5.18 Phi. 1 to 8. Psa 105. all Heb 12.1 2. Shall Christs Combatants have Victory for them before the fight Is 61. to 5. ch 66.7 8. Heb. 4.15 16. ch 6.9 20. ch 12.4 ch 7.25 to 22. ch 9.12 to 28. Is Christ our Advocate making intercession for us 1. Jo. 2.1 Heb. 7.25 Hath he taken possession of Heaven for us Heb. 6.20 ch 12.1 2. Are the Wounds of Christs Combatants cured by his Blood Is 53.4 5 6. 1 Pet. 2.21 to 25. Are the Combatants of Christ always Conquerors Ro. 8.36 37 2 Cor. 4.14 Mat. 10.32 Are all the Combatants of Christ so framed and armed that they can resist all Attacks Ez. 36.26 27. Eph 6 12 13 14 to 19. Are all Christs Soldiers choice and chosen before the World began Ro. 8.29 30. Tit. 1.2 ch 3.5 6. Are they all Marked and listed in Christs Muster-Roll Isa 5.3 Ez. 8.4 5. Rom. 7.3 ch 2.7 ch 3.5 12. Jo 17.6 Are they all secured by Christ that they shall never be lost Jo. 17.24 Psa 91. all Isa 54.17 ch 59.2 16. Are all Christs Combatants of one mind of one spirit will and harmony Eze. 36.26 27. Joh. 17.21 Ps 133. Mal. 3.16 If these be the undeniable Truths of God and Priviledges of such who fight the good fight of Faith under Christs Banner what should hinder but that they should draw near with full Heart and Assurance and rejoyce in the great Salvation purchased to them by Christ Jesus and chearfully close with the Apostles Exhortation wherefore seeing we are compassed about with such a Cloud of Witnesses let us lay aside every weight that hangeth down and the sin that so easily beset us and let us run with patience the Race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the Joy that was set before him endured the Cross dispising the shame and is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God for consider him that endured such Contradiction of Sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds Heb. 12.1 2 3. And further Let us draw near with a true Heart and full Assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure Water let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering for he is faithful who hath promised Heb. 10.22 23. Let us imitate that Holy Apostle I have fought the good fight of Faith I have finished my Course henceforth for me is laid up a Crown of Righteousness which the Righteous
with-hold the Churches lamentation How hath the Lord covered the Daughter of Sion with a Cloud in his anger and cast down from Heaven to Earth the beauty of Israel and remembred not his foot-stool in the day of his anger what thing shall I take witness for thee what shall I liken unto thee O Daughter of Jerusalem what shall I equal unto thee that I may comfort thee O Virgin Daughter of Zion for thy breach is great like the Sea who can heal it Lam. 2.1 to the end How is the Gold become dim how is the most fine Gold changed the Stones of the Sanctuary are poured out in every Street the pretious Sons of Zion comparable to fine Gold how are they esteemed as Earthern Pitchers the work of the hands of the Potter Lam. 4.1 2 all And with the Holy King and Psalmist heavily lament wo is me that I sojourn in Meseâ—â— and dwell in the Tents of Kedar Psalm 120.5 This being the universal state of Misery to all Mankind as in the place before cited Man is born unto troubles as the sparks fly upward It being no more natural to the Sparks to come out of fire and fly up then to man born in Sin to meet with sorrow and misery and therefore all Men should Copy out the Prophets methods and wish Oh that my head were Waters and mine Eyes a Fountain of Tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of my People Oh that I had in the Wilderness a lodging place of way faring Men that I might leave my People and go from them for they be all Adulterers an assembly of treacherous Men and they bend their Tongues like their bows for lies but they are not valiant for the Truth upon Earth for they proceed from Evil to Evil and know not me saith the Lord take ye heed every one to his Neighbour and trust ye not in any brother for every Brother will utterly supplant and every Neighbour will walk with Slanders they weary themselves to commit Iniquity thine habitation is in the midst of deceit through deceit they refuse to know me saith the Lord Jer. 9.1 to 7. And should also with the Church arise cry out in the night in the beginning of the Watches pour out thy Heart like Water before the Face of the Lord lift up thy Hands towards him for the Life of thy young Children that faint for hunger in the top of every Street Lam. 2.19 And with the same Prophet Jeremiah Rachel weeping for her Children and refused to be comforted because they were not Jer. 31.25 Now if the holy Prophet was thus in an Agony of grief for the Sin and Misery of one Nation and People and the Church for her private state and the holy King for his uneasiness under such Companions how much more reason hath every Son of Adam not only to mourn for and bewail his private guilt and misery but also to lye low in self abasement humiliation repentance and bitter Complaints of the universal misery of all mankind as Sons of Wrath by Nature because of Sin This being the dismal Estate and Condition of Man by Nature in which is too great matter of mourning and lamentation methinks I hear the loud sounding of bitter groaning under the subjection and bondage of the Creation Rom. 8.22 And a voice grievously putting the question Is the plant of renown of Gods Creation utterly cut off Hath the Lord forgot to be gracious will he be favourable no more are his tender Mercies clean gone for ever Psal 77.7 8 9. Psal 85.5 Psal 89.46 In answer to which I was led to that place Thus saith the Lord refrain thy voice from weeping and thine Eyes from tears for thy works shall be rewarded and they shall come again from the Land of the Enemy and there is hope in thine end and thy Children shall come again to their own Land Jer. 31.16 17. And while in deep contemplation of this consolatory voice and plunged with reflections on Mans Incapacity to reconcile himself to God and of the apparent impossibility I was led to that of the Prerogative of God With Man this is impossible but with God all things are possible Mat. 19.26 And to that pretious Truth My Thoughts are not your Thoughts nor my Ways your Ways saith the Lord for as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my Thoughts higher than your Thoughts and my Ways than your Ways Isa 55.8 9. And being further plunged in the deep contemplation of Mans Rebellion and of the Justice of God which requires Attonement for Sin and finding Man had nothing wherewith to come before the Lord to appease the wrath of an Omnipotent Holy and Dishonoured Majesty I was lost between the belief of his Faithfulness who had promised and the apparent impossibility I was carried to that Scripture Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began 2 Tim. 1.9 And to that other Scripture According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundations of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in love Eph. 1.4 In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began Tit. 1.2 And to that other clear truth for as much as ye know that ye are not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the pretious blood of Christ as a Lamb without blemish and without spot who verily was fore-ordained before the Foundations of the World but was manifest in these last times in you 1 Pet. 1.18 19 20. And being also carried to view that Scripture And I will put enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed It shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Gen. 3.15 by all which I was brought to understand that the same Eternal Wisdom and Council of God whereby at first Man was created in the Image of God Gen. 1.26 27. by which the Fall of Man was foreseen the Restoration of Man to the same Image of God was also decreed from all Eternity by Gods Eternal goodness and free bounty and by means above the reach of Man to contrive or his power to accomplish viz. by Jesus Christs taking upon him the Humane Nature and shedding his blood to death to expiate the guilt of Mans Sin as in that of the forecited testimony of the Apostle Peter This then being the unfolding of that great mistery of Mans Redemption and Eternal Salvation by Jesus Christ as by Gods Grace shall be more fully explained in the ensuing Discourse If the reflection upon the miserable Estate of Man in the foregoing Description justly occasioned and called for from all men deep humiliation sorrow and repentance how great Reason have all Men with all adoration humility and thankfulness to cry out with the Holy Apostle Oh
God that justifieth who is he that shall condemn It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the Right Hand of God making intercession for us Rom. 8.1 33 34. Thirdly Is Christ Jesus that triumphant and glorious Champion With dyed Garments from Bozrah having trode the Wine-press of his Fathers wrath alone for sinners Isa 63.1 2 3. Who hath conquered over Hell and Death for sinners 1 Cor. 15.54 55 56 57. Why should a Believer be afraid and doubtful of his Eternal Salvation in Jesus Christ considering he hath his Promise for it who cannot lye I even I am he that comforteth thee who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a Man that shall die and of the Son of Man that shall be made as Grass and forgetteth the Lord thy Maker that hath stretched forth the Heavens and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the Oppressour as if he were ready to destroy and where is the fury of the Oppressour Isa 51.12 13. This one Consideration and Faith in exercise is sufficient to stay the Soul against all discouragements and doubtings Fourthly Is Christ that brightness of the Fathers Glory and express Image of his Person whose Throne is for ever Heb. 1.3 8. Hath he dignified man and abased himself in taking Mans Nature upon him and not the Nature of Angels Heb. 2.16 Art thou amongst men O Christian contemptible as a Worm and no Man looked upon as the abject and of scouring of the Earth as was Christ Psalm 22. Why art thou cast down and disquieted is not Christ thy Eldest Brother hath he taken thy Nature on him for any other end than for thy comfort For that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour those that are tempted Heb. 2.18 Let therefore thy Condition in the World be never so despicable lay thou hold on Christ as thy Sacrifice be comforted in this Though thou hast lien amongst the Pots yet shalt thou be like a Dove whose Wings are covered with Silver and her Feathers with yellow Gold Psal 68.13 Fifthly Is Christ thy King who hath the Keys of Hell and Death who can bind and no man loose and loose and no man bind Rev. 1.18 What Prison Confinement Restraint or Power can keep thee out of his Hands when his appointed time cometh That he will send his word and heal and loose thee Psalm 107.16 20. Rom. 8.35 38 39. Sixthly Is Christ that bountiful Prince who giveth gifts to Men hath he abased himself to Death to make thee a King John 1.12 art thou in Poverty with Lazarus and in thy own sense and humane appearance thy way is hid from God as in the foregoing place nevertheless remember his power and bounty He setteth the poor on high and maketh them families like a Flock the righteous shall see it and rejoice Psalm 1â—7 41 42. Yea remember his Promise believe and be comforted in it I will give thee the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places Isa 45.3 Prove me now saith the Lord if I will not open thee the Windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it Mal. 3.10 But above all whereas the Wicked and Rich of this World receive their Consolation in this Life Wo to you that are Rich for you have received your Consolation Luke 6.24 Believers shall be Eternally happy And they shall be mine in that day when I make up my Jewels and I will spare him as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him then shall ye return and discern between the Righteous and the Wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Mal. 3.17 18. We have seen in the foregoing discourse the happy condition of man in his first Creation and thereafter his unhappy and miserable estate by reason of sin and also and immediately preceeding this discourse the Lords great clemency and free bounty to Man by the Counsel of Heaven from all Eternity in redeeming Man by a Covenant of free Love in Jesus Christ according to that Scripture O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help Hosea 13. and 9. And as this great Salvation is by a Covenant with Jesus Christ wherein he both undertakes for Man and procures Mercies to Man so there are duties incumbent to man on his part of the Covenant Although Man by his first and original sin as hath been already shewn hath disabled himself that he is capable of no performance in himself nevertheless Jesus Christ his surety undertakes for him and he works and accomplisheth all these works in him These Conditions on Mans part are variously expressed in Scripture Moses under the Law tells the People of Israel their duty towards God And now O Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God to walk in all his ways and to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul to keep the Commandments of the Lord and his Statutes which I command thee for thy good Deut. 10.22 23. The holy Prophet Micah much to the same purpose he hath shewed thee O Man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly love mercy and walk humbly with thy God Mic. 6.8 The duty of Christians under the Gospel and Believers under the Law are morally the same the holy Apostle gives us in divers places the account of our duties under the Gospel Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the Flesh and of the Spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord 2 Cor. 7.1 And the same Apostle elsewhere For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Titus 2.11 12. These foregoing and other Scriptures as well in the old as new Testament hold out to us the material and substantial part of our duties or conditions of the new Covenant on mans part although grace and salvation comes freely unto us by the forbearance of God and free love of Jesus Christ as is already shewen nevertheless it is but reasonable and just that such precious mercies should be answered with conditions on Mans part and the rather for that Man hath neither strength power nor capacity in himself to perform But that as the Covenant is free so grace to perform is freely given and obtained by Jesus Christ James 1.17 and all the performances of Christians though never so exact are but the returning to God what we received from him and though we may better our selves by these performances and thereby render our selves more acceptable to God nevertheless we do not at all profit God thereby for what we can do to God in our Service and Worship is but our Duty and brings him no advantage
nothing and vanity He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings And his dominion is without end or limitation of time he is glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders Isa 40.12 to 18. Psalm 68.17 Revelation 17.14 Exod. 15.11 Thirdly He is infinite in Wisdom who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord or being his Cousellour taught him with whom took he Counsel and who instructed him and taught him the Path of Judgments and Knowledge and shewed him the way of understanding he is Prince of Peace wonderful Counsellour the everlasting Father Isa 40.13 14. Isa 9.6 7. chap. 11. to 11. Fourthly He is matchless in Beauty He is the Rose of Sharon White and Ruddy the choicest of ten thousands His Head as the most fine Gold his Locks are bushy and black as a Raven his Mouth is sweet yea he is altogether lovely Cant. 2.1 Cant. 5.10 to 17. Fifthly He is of everlasting continuance all created Beings are either tainted with inherent and natural defects or imperfections Riches canker and consume beauty failes with the complexion friends power and humane glory are Solomons vanities and perish in the using or are cut off with time but he made all things and of his Kingdom there shall be no end he is Alpha and Omega Rev. 1.8 Sixthly He is absolute Soveraign and Conquerour of all Enemies even of Death and the World be of good-Comfort I have overcome the World the Issues of Death belong to him he hath the Keys of the House of David he can shut and no man open he can open and no man shut I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I live for evermore and have the Keys of Hell and Death Rev. 1.8 chap. 5.9 The seventh reason why the Lord Jesus Christ doth afflict and chastise his People is to exercise their Faith and Patience upon his Promises to them in their afflictions It being the Lords way with his People to afflict them to trials and confirmation not to their destruction or overthrow to chastise them in Measure and not to leave them altogether unpunished for I am with thee saith thee Lord to save thee Jer. 30.11 Though I make a full end of all Nations whether I have scattered thee yet will I not make a full end of thee but will correct thee in measure and not leave thee altogether unpunished The Lord knoweth the complexion of his People and therefore deals warily and gently with them by his afflicting hand he intends not their destruction but to frame them for Vessels of Love and Mercy he intending they shall be the Temples of the Holy Ghost he refines them and chuseth them in the Furnace of Afflâ—ction to scoure off the natural and sinful uncleanness And thus he deals in a tenderly and fatherly way Jer. 48.10 chap. 9.7 In measure when it shutteth forth I will debate with it he stayeth the rough wind in the day of his East-wind and all his Billows do not blow at once Jer. 27.7 8 9. He will not overcharge them but proportions the Physick of Affliction to the strength he will give them No temptation hath befallen you but what is common to Men the Lord is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above measure but with every temptation will give an outgate that ye may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10 30. 2 Cor. 4.17 18. And therefore the Wise Physician of Souls who will not break a bruised Reed nor quench a smoaking Flax. Isa 42.3 To prevent the discouragement of the Christian Patient in their afflictions affords them the Cordials of his Infallible Promises to stay support and uphold them against the sourest gripings of Temptations and Trials which is his Fatherly Potion that he measures to them in this Life And these Promises are suited to all the Christians Lot on this side of time as well to their Spiritual State Trials and Difficulties as to that of the Temporary Troubles and Afflictions Isa 11. all Isa 61.1 2 3. And First for their Spiritual state in these three particulars First In Spiritual darkness and desertion of Gods presence for their Cloudiness in the sense of Gods favour Secondly Under the sense or apprehensions of greatest Sins And Thirdly Under repeated Sins or Relapses First In Darkness and Soul Desertion as every throw or gripe to the diseased do discompose and aggravate so much more when afflictions the Arrows of the Almighty are upon any and that their Spiritual state is clouded and they have not the comfortable presence of God so as they are under fears and darkness that the Lord is not their Salvation or cannot be satisfied that these Chastisements are in Mercy and not in Wrath from the Hand of a Father how is the Soul hurried and curdled like a Cheese and roars with David as distracted with terrours a wounded Spirit who can bear this of all conditions is the most anxious and comfortless as on the other hand when the Countenance of a reconciled God in Christ Jesus looks thorough the deepest Cloud of Afflictions the Soul rejoyceth in Tribulation Some will say who will shew us any good but Lord lift thou up the Light of thy Countenance which will make our Soul more joyful and more glad than when their Corn and Wine encrease in great abundance Psal 4.6 7 8. And in this doleful state the Lords Promises are rich and manifold Who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his Servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God Isa 50.10 Unto the Righteous there ariseth light in darkness Psal 112.4 Light is sowed to the Righteous and Joy to the Upright in Heart Psal 97.11 I am sought of them that asked not for me I am found of them that sought me not I said behold me behold me unto a Nation that was not called by my name before they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear saith the Lord Isa 65.1 24. Before she travelled she brought forth before her pain came she was delivered of a Man Child and as soon as Zion Travelled she brought forth her Children shall I bring to the Birth and not cause to bring forth shall I cause to bring forth and shut the Womb saith the Lord Isa 66.7 8 9. The great Physitian of Souls like a just and wise Physitian useth ordinary means in common Distempers but in extremities and dangerous Distempers Cordials and Rich and Choicest Medicines are not with held when all ordinary helps fail his special Love and Power manifests it self when we were helpless yea Enemies he brings succour comfort and relief and makes with us an everlasting Covenant Ezek. 16. to 8. Rom. 5.6 7 8. Thus he sheweth his Prerogative of curing as well as his Love when no other help appears when my Father and my Mother forsake me then the Lord shall take me up Psal 27.10 Isa 49.15 chap.
63.5 The Sheepheard of Israel is that tender hearted Physitian who sympathiseth with his People In all their Afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence sayed them In his Love and his Pity he Redeemed them and bore them all the days of old Isa 63.9 His compassion is great his Bowels yearn and are turned for them how shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I deliver thee Israel how shall I make thee as Adma how shall I set thee as Zeboim my heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled Hos 9.8 Is Ephraim my dear Son is he a pleasant Child for since I spoke against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my Bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord Jer. 31.20 Am I a God at hand and not a God afar off Jer. 22.23 The Lord cannot forget his People though the Cloud of darkest afflictions may hinder their apprehensions of his love and care of them I have even called thee by thy name though thou hast not known me I am the Lord and there is none else besides me I guarded thee though thou hast not known me I Form the Light and Create Darkness I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Isa 45.4 5 7. He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds wherefore although the pale and dark side of the Cross should look grim upon the Christian he is by Faith and Patience to look thorough the Cloud to the Conquerours and lay hold of him in his Promises though the Vision tarry wait for it it will speak at last and he that will come shall come and will not tarry Hab. 2.3 No Man did look thorough a paler Cloud than this Prophet Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the Vine though the labour of the Olive and the Fields shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no Heard in the Stall yet will I rejoice in the Lord and joy in the God of my Salvation the Lord is my strength and he will make my Feet like Hinds Feet and he will make me to walk upon my High Places Hab. 3.17 18 19. The holy Prophet Micah after he had viewed the folly of all humane expectations weakness and deceitfulness of friends relations and all other Men puts his confidence alone in God and thereby takes great courage and resolution and seems to make Inference of Faith upon the view of humane vanities Therefore I will look unto the Lord I will wait for the God of my Salvation my God will hear me rejoyce not against me O mine Enemy when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me He will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his Righteousness Mic. 7.1 to 11. The second branch of Gods Promises to his People is of his great Mercy Love and Reconciliation under the greatest Sins the Lord doth not measure his dispensations as Men do their benevolences by scanty measures and do pardon lesser and not greater offences for that Sins of the deepest dye are no bar to his Mercy He came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance In the Language of his Mercy the whole need no Physitian but the Sick Luke 5.31 32. His Invitation is look unto me and be you saved all the Ends of the Earth Isa 45.22 And come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy loaden and I will give you rest Mat. 11.28 My Thoughts are not as your Thoughts neither your Ways my Way saith the Lord for as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my Thoughts higher than your Thoughts c. Isa 55.8 9. Come now let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be made white as Snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wool If you be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the Land but if ye refuse and rebel ye shall be devoured with fire Isa 1.18 19 20. Christ makes a free Market of Mercy and puts no limitation to his bounty but offers freely upon the Sinners acceptance by Faith and Repentance Ho every one that thirsteth come to the Waters buy Milk and Honey without price c. Isa 55.1 2. his satisfaction is for all and for all manner of Sins upon Faith and Repentance God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever should believe in him should not die but have eternal Life John 3.16 17. Christs love is free and respects not the greatness of Sin but the sincerity of Faith and Repentance yea When we were Enemies and without strength Christ died for us Rom. 5 6 7 8. Davids uncleanness and Murther of Uriah was no bar to Divine Mercy 1 King 21.29 Nebuchadnezzar on Repentance found Mercy Dan. 4. Manasses Idolatry Witchcraft and other great Abominations received Mercy on Repentance and When He was in great affliction he sought the Lord and humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers and Prayed unto him and he was intreated of him and heard his supplication and brought him again to Jerusalem and into his Kingdom Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God 2 Chron. 32.12 13. Thirdly His Promises upon Relapses although it is ill complexion to sin after receipt of Mercies as with the Dog to the Vomit and the Sow to the Mire yet Repentance in its due qualifications gives a rise to Mercy The Lord had to do with the most stubborn People on the whole Earth who revolted from God in most heinous manner And yet how often did he renew his Mercies to them the whole tract of the Israelites Life was Rebellion and Revolts nevertheless he regarded their afflictions when he heard their cry see their backslidings and the Lords wonderfully renewed Mercies towards them Psal 106. Psal 107. all The Lords wonderful free and early Mercies were eminently manifested to Israel nevertheless see their stupid revolt and ingratitude but they rebelled against him and converted all his kindness and mercies to the feeding of their lusts and abominations of Idolatry Ezek. 16. from 15 to 37. Wherefore the Lord in his Justice sends them under severe punishments to verse 60. and then the Lords anger is pacified towards them and he remembers his Covenant with them when they are ashamed of their sins and abominations and return to the Lord by Repentance to the end of the chapter That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord. The Lords Ear is always open to the cry of a Penitent sinner The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him in Truth Psal 145.18 Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity
shall not be your ruine why will you dye O House of Israel for I have no pleasure in the Death of him that dieth saith the Lord wherefore turn your selves and live Ezek. 18.25 to 33. chap. 26. As the Lord doth exercise the Patience of his People in Spiritual Promises for Spiritual things so also to trust his Promises in reference to temporals and these may be branched out in these two First His Promises to the People of God in general without reference to particular cases of suffering and these comprehend God's complex or full purpose to his People Secondly These Promises may relate to the several cases or exigence of Gods People First For Gods Promises in general not relating to particular cases the Scriptures are so full that it 's impossible to collect them however we shall touch some of the most obvious In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them in his Love and in his Pitty he remembred them and carried them all the days of old Isa 63.9 His Anger endureth but for a moment sorrow may be at Evening but Joy cometh in the morning Psal 30.5 For thou Lord wilt bless the Righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a Sheild Psal 5.12 The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in time of trouble for they that know thy name will put their trust in thee for thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee Psal 9.9 10. Though you have lyen among the Pots yet shall ye be live a Dove whose Wings are covered with Silver and their Feathers with yellow Gold Psalm 68.13 For thou Lord wilt save the afflicted People but wilt bring down high looks he is a buckler to all those that trust in him Psal 18.22 30. unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness surely he shall not be moved for ever the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance he shall not be afraid of evil tidings his Heart is fixed trusting in the Lord Psal 112.4 6 7. Alas for that day is great there is none like it it is the day of Jacobs troubles but they shall be delivered out of them all Jer. 30.7 The Prophet Isaiah sets down in many places Gods universal care over his People O Israel fear not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine when thou passest through the Waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thorough the Fire thou shalt not be burned neither shall the flames kindle upon thee Isa 43. all The Lord will be a Sun and a Sheild he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 Psal 86.5 13 15. The holy Psalmist is full of Prophetical Promises of Gods universal good to his People he that dwelleth in the secret of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty I will say of the Lord he is my Refuge and my Fortress my God in him will I trust surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the Fowler and from the noisome Pestilence he shall cover thee with his Feathers and under his Wings shalt thou trust his truth shall be thy shield and buckler Psal 91. all And of the numerous and large Promises of God to his People and of the Halcyon days of Zion all the Prophets abound for the Law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem he shall judge many people and the Nations afar off and they shall beat their Swords into Plough-shears and their Spears into pruning hooks Nation shall not lift up a Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more but they shall set down every man under his own Vine and under his own Fig tree and none shall make them afraid for the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it I will assemble her that halteth and her that is driven out and her that I have afflicted and I will make her that halted a Remnant and her that was cast far off a strong Nation And the Lord shall reign over them in Zion from henceforth and for ever thou shalt go even to Babylon and there thou shalt be delivered there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine Enemies Arise and thresh O Daughter of Zion for I will make thy Horn Iron and thy Hoofs Brass and thou shalt beat in pieces many People and I will consecrate their gain and their substance to the God of the whole Earth Mic. 4. all Awake awake stand up O Jerusalem which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the Cup of his fury thou hast drunk the dregs of the Cup of trembling and thou hast wrung them out there is none to guide her amongst all the Sons whom she hath brought forth neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the Sons whom she hath brought up these two things are come unto thee who shall be sorry for thee desolation and destruction the Famine and the Sword by whom shall I comfort thee thy Sons have fainted they lye at the head of all the Streets they are full of the fury of the Lord thy God therefore now hear this thou afflicted and drunken but not with Wine Thus saith the Lord the God and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his People behold I have taken out of thy hand the cup of trembling even the dregs of the Cup of my fury thou shalt no more drink it again but I will put it into the hands of them that afflicted thee who have said to thy Soul bow down that we may go over and thou hast laid thy body as the ground and as the street to them that went over Isa 51.17 to end Is Ephraim my dear Son is he a pleasant Child for since I spoke against him I do earnestly remember him still my bowels are troubled for him Jer. 31.20 Thus saith the Lord because the Enemy hath said against you a hah made you desolate and swallowed you up for a possession to the Heathen and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers and are in Infamy to the People and are a prey and derision I have spoken in my Jealousie and my fury because ye have born the reproach of the Heathen ye shall shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit for behold I am for you and ye shall be tilled and sown I will multiply you and settle you after your old Estates and I will do better to you than at your beginning and ye shall know that I am the Lord I will take you from among the Heathen whether I have driven you and I will bring you into your own Land then will I sprinkle you with clean Water and you shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idols a new Heart also will I give you and a
new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the Stony Heart out of your Flesh and I will give you a Heart of Flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them Ezek. 36. all He that spared not his own Son but freely gave him up to death for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8 31. to the end I am persuaded that neither Death nor Life things present nor things to come nor Principalities nor Powers nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.31 to the end Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Mat. 7.9 Thou calledst in trouble and I delivered thee I answered thee in the secret place of Thunder I proved thee at the Waters of Meribah Exod. 17.6 The People of God are his Temple and he dwells amongst them therefore he assists comforts and protects them For ye are the Temple of the living God 2 Cor. 6.16 Know ye not your own selves how that Christ is in you except you be reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 And are built upon the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a Holy Temple in the Lord in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God thorough the Spirit Eph. 2.20 21 22. Christ is as a Sun over his House whose House we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing in the hope unto the end Heb. 3.6 Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard neither hath it entered into the Heart of Man to conceive besides thee O Lord what good he hath prepared for those that wait on him 1 Cor. 2.9 The great Physitian of Souls hath not only offered his temporal Mercies in general afflictions but also hath proportionate his Promises to the particular Cases and Conditions of his People in their afflictions which may be chiefly in these First Under Sickness Weakness or Infirmities of Old Age. Secondly In Poverty Want or Oppression Thirdly Under Captivity Restraint or Imprisonment Fourthly Under Revilings Reproaches or Slanders Fifthly Under unkindness or forsaking from Friends or Relations First In Sickness or Weakness As it is Christs own saying in another sense what hath a Man profited if he gain the whole World and loose his own Soul So it may be said what comfort can a Man have of Honour Friends Riches and all other enjoyments of the World when by Sickness Infirmity or natural Decay and Weakness he is not able to find a relish of these Enjoyments his Palate is so out of order that all are insipid and tastless to him And as it s said by Christ What shall a Man give in exchange for his Soul what will not the greatest Misers the Lovers of Honour or Wealth give to ease the gnawing pains of a lingering and loathsome Disease when by sickness or pain all the Channels of Comfort are stopt and a Man can have no breathing but is tortured and racked by fainting fits or tearing pains how cheap would he sell all his pretensions to breath freely and he eased of his Pains and Sickness which drain all the Faculties from the Sensor Use of any other enjoyments And how miserable is the richest wisest most honourable and best related when the Heart is stunned with faintings and the body with torturing pains nevertheless this is the Christians comfort that there is Balm in Gilead and a Physitian in Israel and one who not for filthy lucre but one who of free love hath not only promised to cure them but also never to leave nor forsake them Heb. 13.5 Am I a God at hand and not afar off he is present when trouble is near Jer. 23.23 Behold I will bring it health and cure I will cure them and will reveal unto them the abundance of Peace and Truth I will restore health unto thee I will heal thee of thy wounds because they call thee an outcast saying this is Zion whom no Man seeketh after Jer. 30.17 Which are born by me from the Belly which are carried from the Womb even to your old Age I am he even to your hoar hairs will I carry them I have made and I will bear even I will carry and I will deliver you Isa 46.3 He alone hath that universal Medicine who hath â—hte Keys of Hell and Death and none can rescue out of his Hands of this David in his Affliction and Decay of Strength being sensible applieth himself to the proper Physitian I am a Wonder unto many but thou art my strong refuge cast me not off in time of Old Age forsake me not when Strength faileth now when I am Old and Gray headed forsake me not Psal 71.7 18. I have seen his Ways I will heal him I will restore Comforters unto his Mourners I create the fruit of the Lips Peace Peace to him that is afar off and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heal him Isa 57.18 19. He maketh sore and bindeth up he woundeth and his Hands make whole Job 5.18 Come and let us return unto the Lord he hath torn and he will heal he hath smitten and he will bind us up after two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight Hos 6.1 2. Behold the Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him and hope in his Mercy to deliver the Soul from Death and keep them alive from famine Psal 33. â—8 19. The Lord will strengthen him upon the Bed of languishing thou wilt make all his Bed in Sickness Psal 41.3 They cry unto the Lord in their trouble he saved them out of their distresses he sent his Word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions Psal 107.19 20. Secondly In Imprisonment As all Afflictions for the time are grievous and not joyous Restraint or Imprisonment wants not its aggravations for that it restrains a Man from that freedom of Nature in converse which is most desirable by Man as the Philosopher defines him to be a sociable Creature It restrains him from the Comfort of such in whom he delights Relations Friends and Acquaintance It deprives him of the Improvement of his Talent for Religion or Vertue for God his own Family and Common-wealth It abridgeth his Comfort in other Enjoyments It lessens health creates sickness and oppresseth the vitals often to fatal effects and here in this House of Darkness the Lord appears to support his People by manifold Promises either of deliverance or his strength and presence to comfort and uphold them and often to
both He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and all power is given to him in Heaven and in Earth he hath the Keys of Hell and Death he openeth and no man shuts and he shutteth and no man openeth Rev. 1.18 He executeth Judgment for the oppressed who giveth food to the hungry the Lord looseth the Prisoner Psal 146.7 The Lord upholdeth all that fall and raiseth up all that be bowed down Psal 145.14 He made them to be pittied of those that carried them away Captives Psal 107.10 Then they cried unto the Lord and he delivered them out of their distresses such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of Death being bound in Afflictions Irons he brought them out of Darkness and the Shadow of Death and broke their Bonds asunder he sent his Word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions Psal 107.6 10 14 20. The Lord heareth the Poor and despiseth not the Prisoners Psal 69.33 Thus saith the Lord I will bring again the Captivity of Jacobs Tents and have mercy on his dwelling place and the City shall be built upon her own heap and the Pallace shall remain after the manner thereof Behold I will bring them from the North Country and they shall come with weeping and with supplication will I lead them I will cause them to walk by the Rivers of Waters by a straight way wherein they shall not stumble for I am a Father to Israel and Ephraim is my first born he that scattered Israel will gather him as a Shepherd doth his Flock for the Lord hath redeemed Israel and ransomed him from him that was stronger than he Jer. 30.18 A Voice was heard in Rama Lamentation and bitter weeping Rachel weeping for her Children refusing to be comforted because they were not thus saith the Lord refrain thy Voice from Weeping and thine Eyes from Tears for thy Work shall be rewarded and they shall come again from the Land of the Enemy there is hope in thine end that they shall come again to their own Borders Jer 31 8 to 23. And the Heathen shall know that the House of Israel went into Captivity because they trespassed against me therefore hid I my Face from them therefore thus saith the Lord now will I bring again the Captivity of Jacob and have mercy upon the whole House of Israel I will be jealous for my Holy Name after that they have born their shame and all their trespasses that they have trespassed against me when they dwelt safely in their own Land and none made them afraid And I am Sanctified of them in the sight of many Nations Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God which caused them to be led into Captivity among the Heathen but I have gathered them into their own Land and have left none of them any more there neither will I hide my Face any more from them for I have poured out my Spirit upon the House of Israel Ezekiel 29.23 c. Behold I will gather them out of all Nations and all Countries whether I have driven them in mine anger and in my fury and in great wrath and will bring them again to this place and will cause them to dwell safely and they shall be my People and I will be their God and I will give them one Heart and one Way that they may fear me for the good of them and their Children after them Yea I will rejoice over them to do them good and I will most assuredly plant them in this Land with my whole Heart and with my whole Soul for as I have brought all this great evil upon this People so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them Jer. 32.37 to end Turn ye to the strong hold ye Prisoners of hope even to day do I declare unto you that I will render double unto you they shall be as the Stones of a Crown lifted up as an Ensign upon his Land for how great is his goodness how great is his beauty Corn shall make the Young Men chearful and the new Wine Maids Zach. 9.12 to the end Thus saith the Lord after seventy years be accomplished at Babilon I will visit you and perform my good words towards you and cause you to return to this place for I know the Thoughts that I think towards you Thoughts of Peace and not of Evil to give you an expected end you shall call on me go and pray and I will hearken unto you ye shall seek me and find me when ye seek me with all your Heart I will be found of you and turn away your Captivity and gather you from all the Nations and all places whither I have driven you and bring you again to the place whence I caused you to be driven away Captive Jer. 29.10 to 15. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion with everlasting Songs and Joy upon their Heads they shall obtain Joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall fly away Isa 39.10 That thou may'st say to the Prisoners go forth to them that are in darkness shew your selves the Captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the Prey of the terrible shall be taken away Isa 49.5 25 26. read Isaiah 52. to 7. and Psal 102.19 and Isa 20. God setteth the solitary in Families and bringeth out those that are bound with Chains but rebellious are in a dry Land As we see from the foregoing Scriptures the manifold Promises of God for the delivery of his Prisoners of hope the same instruct us also of the Lords great Power and goodness in his delivering of his People in these respects First By giving to them a more lively appearance and discovery of himself under their confinement than formerly and affords them more patience and courage to bear their Afflictions and Confinements Prisons or places of Retirement and as at all times we should examine our case as to peace with God and seeing all afflictions are from God and Confinements especially for the good of such as wait on him we ought in Prison Houses to search our Hearts and try our Ways and seek out the Causes of Gods so dealing with us and by this means he maketh the darkest Prisons the happiest Lodgings by the effects it works on such as therein walk with God and seek reconciliation with him in Jesus Christ we see what clear revelations Jeremiah had when shut up in closest Prisons and Dungeons and with what undaunted Zeal and Courage for God he delivers the Message of God when he was most severely dealt with being supported by God against all discouragements see Jeremiah 32.2 and 3. chap. 33. and 1. ch 37.16 ch 38.4.5 and 6. chap. 39.16 17 18. ch 42.10 See the constancy of Zeal and Courage of the three Children when they knew the Law against them was irrepealable Be it known to the oh King we will not obey thee nor worship the Image which thou hast set up
My Brethren have dealt deceitfully with me as a Brook John 13.18 This also was the sad Condition of the Church Thou hast heard their reproach O Lord their Imaginations against me the Lips of those that rise up against me their devices against me all the day long behold their sitting down and their rising up I am their Musick Lam. 3.6 62 63. David was as among Lions their Teeth were as Spears against him and their Tongues as sharp Swords they wrested his words Psal 57.4 Psal 56.2 5 6. He was the Song of the Drunkards Reproach hath broken my Heart I am full of heaviness I looked for some to take pity but there was none and for comforters but I found none Psal 69. all Our Soul is exceedingly filled with the scorn of those that dwell at ease and with the contempt of the Proud Psal 123.4 The sixth reason why God thus chastiseth his People is to make them sensible of the different measures by which he deals with his People in their Afflictions and with the wicked by his Judgment upon them and that consists in these six respects First He chastiseth his People in love and for their good but his Judgments on the Wicked are to their Everlasting Loss and Condemnation Secondly He unwillingly and with reluctance corrects his People but taketh pleasure in his Justice upon the Wicked Thirdly He corrects his People in measure and moderation but Rains down the Vials of his displeasure upon his Enemies Fourthly The Chastisements of his People are but for a moment and not to make an end of them but the Wicked are totally cut off without expectation or hope of recovery Fifthly The Godly though afflicted are comforted by Gods presence they have communion and fellowship with the Father and holy Trinity but the Wicked have no hope in their end or punishments Sixthly The Godly by their afflictions are taught to know the difference between Spiritual and Carnal enjoyments Temporal and Eternal Mercies First The Godly's Chastisements are for their good although all Trials Afflictions and Temptations are a dark Cloud and carry a pale Face yet when the Godly do search out the purpose of God in this and are desirous to know his Intentions therein they will see this to be in love when the Godly enjoy all sensual pleasures without any intermission they are apt to surfeit upon Mercies and turn lazy and forget God as the slothful Man by luxuriant feeding ease and gluttony contracts a Lethargy so are the best of men apt to forget the Fountain of Mercies and wax wanton against God as the People of Israel in their quiet and plenteous enjoyments Exod. 15 ch 17. Num. 11. ch 16. Deut. 11. Therefore the Lord visits his People with Rods to rouse them out of their laziness to make them turn to their rock for their good and safety Psal 106. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I learned to keep thy Word blessed is the Man whom thou chastiseth and teacheth out of thy Law Psal 119.67 71. This is the end to the Godly to take away his sin Isa 27.9 Whom the Lord loveth he chastneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth If ye endure chastning God dealeth with you as with Sons for what Son is he whom the Father chastneth not but if ye be without Chastisement whereof all are partakers then are ye Bastards and no Children we had Fathers of the Flesh who chastised us after their own pleasure and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and life for they for a while corrected us according to their own pleasure but he for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness now no chastning for the present seemeth joyous but grievous but afterwards it bringeth forth the perfect fruit of Righteousness to them that are exercised thereby Heb. 12.5 to 12. But see the Issue of the wicked and ungodly they shall be like the chaff which the Wind driveth away Ps 1.4 5 6. Secondly The Lord doth not afflict his People willingly but with great reluctancy How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I deliver thee Israel how shall I make thee as Adma how shall I set thee as Zeboim my Heart is turned within me my repenting is turned together Hos 11.8 Is Ephraim my dear Son is he a pleasant Child for since I spoke against him I remember him still earnestly my Bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord Jer. 31.20 Repent and turn your selves from your transgressions so Iniquity shall not be your ruin cast away all your transgressions and make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will you dye O house of Israel for I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner therefore turn your selves and live See Ezek. 33.11 Luk. 13.34 35. Ezek. 18.30 31 32. Thirdly The Lord corrects his People in measure and not in extremity as he doth the wicked hath he smitten him as he smote those that smote him or is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him in measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it he stayeth his rough Wind in the day of his East-wind Isaiah 27.7 8. Fourthly The Afflictions of the Godly are but for a short time for a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercy will I gather thee in a little wrath I hid my self from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee Isa 5 4.7 8. They shall go into Babilon until I deliver them I will visit them there and restore them to this place Jer. 27.22 Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears for thy work shall be rewarded and they shall come again from the Land of the Enemy and there is hope in thine end and thy Children shall come again in their own border Jer. 31.15 16 17. Thus though the Lord deals severely with his People nevertheless it is but for a time and in moderation and giveth them a happy delivery and eternal rest with himself in the end but he deals otherways with his Enemies never withdrawing his Judgments from them until he hath accomplished their destruction and avenged their malice against his People Wherefore it shall come to pass when the Lord hath performed this whole work upon mount Sion I will punish the stout-heart of the King of Assyria and the glory of his high looks Isa 41.15 16. I was wroth with my People I have polluted mine Inheritance and given them into thy hands thou didst shew them no mercy upon the antient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoak thou saidst I will be a Lady for ever for that thou didst not lay these things to thy Heart neither didst remember the latter end of them therefore hear thou this thou that art given to pleasure that dwellest carelesly that sayest in thy Heart
I am and none else besides me I shall not sit as a Widow neither shall I know the loss of Children but these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day the loss of Children and Widow-hood they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy Sorceries and great abundance of thy Enchantments Therefore all that devour thee shall be devoured and all that prey upon thee wi l I give for a prey for I will restore health unto thee and heal thee of thy Wounds though I make an end of all Nations whether I have scattered thee yet will I not make a full end of thee but will correct thee in measure and not leave thee altogether unpunished Jer. 30.7 11 to 18. And they shall dwell safely therein and build houses and plant vineyards yea they shall dwell with confidence when I shall have executed Judgment on all them that despise them round about and they shall know that I am their God Jer. 50.29 Ezek. 25.26 Thou shalt seek them but not find them that contended with thee they that War against thee shall be as nothing and as a thing of nought Isa 41.12 The Sons of them who afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and they that despised thee shall bow themselves and the soles of thy Feet Isa 64.12 14 15 Behold I have taken out of thy hand the Cup of trembling even the dregs of the Cup of my fury thou shalt no more drink it again but I will put it into the hands of those that afflicted thee which said to thy Soul bow down that we may go over and thou hast laid thy Body as the ground and as the street to them that went over Isa 51.21 22 23. They shall rob them that robbed them and spoil those that spoiled them read Ezekiel 20. all chapter 36. all chapter 39. all Fifthly The People of God in their afflictions have the comfortable presence of God with them but the wicked are wrackt and torn with anxiety and displeasure under Gods Judgmencs In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and bore them all the days of old Isa 63.9 He that dwelleth in the secrets of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty Psal 91. all When thou passest thorough the Waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thorough the Fire thou shalt not be burned neither shall the Flames come upon thee for I am the Lord thy God Fear not for I am with thee be not afraid for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will uphold thee with my right hand of my righteousness for I the Lord will uphold thy right hand saying fear not I will help thee saith thy Redeemer the holy one of Israel Isal 43.2 3. chap 44.10 13 14. The sixth thing God intends in chastising of his People is to teach them to distinguish between Spiritual and Temporal Eternal and Temporary Mercies this being one of the chiefest considerations and proper for Mans direction in his choice of things and useful for Man in his Conversation how to chuse things most desireable we shall consider things Temporal and things Spiritual and Eternal under their several qualities as they are contained in holy Scriptures the holy Evangelist St. John sums up all the things of the World in these three heads The Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and Pride of Life It being usual and natural to all men to seek and affect the enjoyment of what seems best to them wherefore the great point of discretion is to inform our Judgments what things are best which will appear by comparing of things Temporal with thoâ—e that are Eternal The several qualities of Temporal things may be briefly taken up from the foregoing Scripture in these heads First All things Temporal or of this Life are subject to changes and have no certainty or stability in them but things Spiritual or Eternal are parmanent Secondly All enjoyments of this Life are unperfect and cannot make any man happy while he hâ—th them but Spiritual and things Eternal are perfect and make the Possessors happy in tâ—em Thirdly All the excellencies of Creature enjoyments are short of the Eternal Inheritance of the Saints which is Christ and Eternal Life Fourthly All secular or temporary enjoyments leave a Man at his Grave but when this Life is ended then cometh the Saints Eternal rest and continues to all Eternity First Things of this Life are uncertain and changeable the great Saviour of the World Love and Wisdom it self being willing to inform the World and draw them off the uncertainties of perishing things in his great Sermon on the Mount adviseth to Seek Treasure in Heaven where the Moth consumeth not nor the Thief doth purloyn Mat. 6.19 to 34. See what account Solomon the greatest richest and most honourable of all Men giveth of all humane things All his days are sorrow his travel grief his Heart taketh no rest in the Night this also is vanity and vexation of Spirit continually see Eccles 1.2 See the uncertainty of humane things in Nebuchadnezzar Adonibezech Ahithophel Haman Herod and many others see Dan. 4.30 to end 2 Sam. 17. to 24. Esther 7. Act. 12.20 to 24 We find in daily experience a Man to day in Court like a green Bay Tree and next in Disgrace Prison or Misery The Wicked shall perish and the Enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of Lambs they shall consume into Smoak shall they consume away I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green Bay Tree yet he passed away and Lo he was not I sought him but he could not be found but the Lord knoweth the days of the Righteous and his Inheritance shall be for ever Psal 37. Secondly the enjoyments of this Life are all imperfect and cannot make happy The foregoing truth of uncertainty Demonstrate this truth of imperfection and daily experience confirm it the gathering and preserving of Riches acquiring and restlessness in upholding of Honour care to preserve and recover Health do so Cruciate and Oppress Men with such Anxiety that all their Labour and Travel is Sorrow and Trouble Psal 90.9 10. And they have no Pleasure much less Happiness in any Enjoyment the Rich Man in the Gospel went from Christ sorrowful for that he could not hold his Riches and have Life eternal the Scripture tells us we brought nothing into this World with us and it is certain we shall carry nothing out with us and having Food and Rayment let us be therewith content but they that will be Rich fall into Temptation and a Snare and into many foolish and hurtful Lusts which drown'd Men in Distruction and Perdition for the love of Money is the Root of all Evil which while some covered after they have
Heavens for us 1 Pet 1.3 4. This is that Treasure laid up where Moth consumeth not nor Thieves can purloyn this is a State where no change case or Circumstance of time or things can alter for I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.38 39. Thirdly this State is a State of Compleat Happiness we have formerly seen the emptiness of all Human and Temporary Enjoyments That therein Happiness cannot be expected from the uncertainty and vexatiousness even under the Enjoyments thereof but here in this State is fulness of Joy and â—â—easures for evermore he that spared not his own Son but freely gave him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8 32. Violence shall no more be heard in thy Land wasting nor destruction within thy Borders but thou shalt call thy Walls Salvation and thy Gates Praise the Sun shall no more be thy Light by Day neither for Darkness shall the Moon give the light but the Lord shall be to thee an Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory thy Sun shall no more go down nor thy Moon withdraw it self for the Lord shall be thy Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory Is 60.19 20. they shall Hunger no more neither Thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any heat and the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and lead them to living Fountains of Waters and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes Rev. 7.14 15 16 17. Chap. 2 3 4. We are come unto Mount-Sion the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Company of Angels and to the general Assembly of the First-Born which are written in the Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the Blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.22 23 24. Cbap. 3. The Seventh and great end Christ hath in Chastising his People is that which is the great end of the Gospel which is to raise Mens Hearts up to and fix their desires on that great prize of Salvation and Eternal Life as all Actions of Men have their Scope at which they chiefly Level this is the chief thing and ought principally to be driven at for these Reasons First this Great Salvation is for Gods Glory Secondly It is of all things most Profitable therefore most desirable Thirdly It hath the greatest Encouragements attending it Fourthly The Prize contended for is unvaluable First by Mans Salvation ariseth to God great Glory for as Christ is the Alpha and Omega and First-Born of his Brethren and though Originally perfect in himself and Glorious without Addition from Creatures being the express Image of his Person in whom the God-Head dwells bodily by whom all things were made and for him and to his own Glory and all things upheld by him his great goodness is such that he promotes Mans Happiness and sets it before him as his own Glory gave himself to Death for Man and made himself the Captain of that great Salvation by enduring all the Indignities of Human Contempt and his Fathers Wrath by personating Man and taking the Chastisements of his Sins upon him and this he proposeth as his Glory looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the Glory that was set before him endured the Cross dispising the shame and is set down at the Right Hand of God Heb. 12.2 As I live saith the Lord I desire not the Death of a Sinner but rather that he should Repent and live this being not only our Interest but Christs Glory how much and chiefly should we be concerned to promote it Secondly this is Mans most profitable concern all Men Level their Designs and Actions to the most Advantageous Interest and this of Eternal Life according to Christs Advice is most profitable What hath a Man profited if he gain the whole World thou Fool this Night thy Soul shall be taken from thee then whose shall these things be that thou hast wherefore do ye spend Money for that which is not Bread and Labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me and eat that which is good and let your Soul delight in Fatness Luke 12 16. to 21. Is 55.2 Thirdly As this is most Advantagious so it is that in which most encouragement of help and assistance is offered and promised The whole Book of the Holy Writ is full of the great promises of Encouragement and Assistance to the People of God in their pursuit of this great Salvation yea it is Christs great desire that all Men should be saved How often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathereth her Brood under her Wings Luke 13.34 Is it not and hath it not been the Coursâ— and Care of Christ all the Prophets and Apostles to gather and bring Men to the Kingdom of God Christ made a purchase of Sinners but on his own Expences he is that kind Samaritan who Helps Cures Supplies and Recovers when other helps fail when Priests Levites and others pass by without Compassion or Relief he it is who of his own good will brings Deliverance as we see in the often repeated Scriptures Luke 10.10 to 37. Eze. 16. to 9. When we were without strength yea Enemies and Sinners Christ dyed for us so great is Christs Love to Sinners that nothing can stop the Current of his Mercy from them Rom. 5. to 11. First the Multitude of Sins do it not I have blotted out as a Cloud thy Transgressions and as a thick Cloud thy Sins return unto me for I have Redeemed thee Isa 44.22 Secondly the greatness of Sins cannot hinder his Love though your Sins be as Scarlet I will make them white as Snow though they be red like Crimson I will make them as Wooll Is 1.18 Let the Wicked forsake his way and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly Pardon for as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my Thoughts higher than your Thoughts Is 55.7 8 9. Thirdly Cloudiness and Darkness of Condition cannot do it who is amongst you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the Voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and hath no Light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Is 50 10. Come my People enter into your Chambers shut the Doors about thee hide thy self for a Moment until the Indignation be over-past Isa 26.20 I will go and return to my place untill they acknowledge their offences and
seek my Face in their Afflictions they will seek me early Hosea 5.15 by all which we see the Lord in Mercy often clouds his Face from his People not in Anger but to rouse them up to enquire into the cause of his withdrawing and by Afflictions to set them more eagerly on returning to him by Repentance that he may return to them with a healing in his Wings Fourthly No Extremity of Condition can hinder the Love of God to his People he brings back the Captive he raiseth the Dead Bones and causeth them to take flesh and live he unites divided Brethren who are at Enmity and Cements them in Love for all which see Eze. 37. Isa 43.2 25. Ps 91. all Neither Death nor Life Heighth nor Depth things present nor things to come Principalities nor Powers Angels nor Men nor any other Creature can separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.35 to 39. Fourthly The greatness of the Prize to be contended for should raise our great pursuit of that Salvation to our Souls the Holy Scriptures are full in the Enumeration of the many excellencies that attend that great Interest that they are almost infinite and it may be well applyed to that which the Holy Prophet saith That Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive besides thee O Lord what good things The Lord hath laid up for them that fear him Is 64.4 However the great Salvation of Man may be in some measure considered under these Heads First It 's the restoring of lost Man from the deepest State of Misery without power in himself to a State of Happiness in Christ Jesus in the Day thou wast born thy Navel was not cut thou wast in thy Blood no Eye pittyed thee thou wast cast out to the loathing of thy Person but when I passed by it was the time of Love I said to thee â—ive in that often repeated place Eze. 16. to 15. and Rom. 5. to 10. wherein we have the perfect emblem of Mans Misery in Nature and by Sin and the lively Discription of the love of God to lost Man Secondly All in this State are intituled to and are made Heirs of all things and called to an Inheritance Incorruptible as in these foregoing Scriptures Rom. 8.32 and 1 Peter 1.3 and 4. Thirdly They are exempted from all manner of Evil are happy in their Death and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more Death Sorrow nor Crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away Rev. 7.14 to 18. ch 21 4. Fourthly they have all Compleat Happiness and Fulness of Glory are united to God in Christ Jesus and Crowned with his Crown of Glory and admitted into the Inseparable Fellowship of Christ Saints and Angels according to that great Scripture that they all may be one as thou O Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one I will that they may be with me where I am to behold my glory John 17.21 to 25. And for the Fellowship of the Saints with God Christ Jesus Angels and just Men made perfect in the New Jerusalem see that often repeated place Hebrews 12.22 23 24. Thus this great Prize should in the Apostles Exhortation raise our Encouragement to hasten our motion to the New Jerusalem where for being compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses let us lay aside every weight which hang down and the Sin that doth so easily beset us and with patience run the Race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the glory was set before him endured the Cross dispising the shame and is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God Consider him which endured such contradiction of Sinners least ye be wearyed and faint in your Minds Heb. 12.1 Thus as Salvation Eternal Happiness the Incorruptible and Undefiled Inheritance of all things the inseparable fellowship of the Holy Trinity Angels and Saints is the undeniable Prize at the end of our Race the Interest and valuableness thereof ought to raise our constant zealous and patient pursuit thereof for which besides what hath already been said we have these manifold and superexcellent Encouragements First our Salvation is freely of Gods pure Love in Christ Jesus Secondly Christ made and redeemed the World without Mans help Thirdly We have the examples and instances of Christs great humiliation and sufferings on Earth Forthly The different and sure estate of the Redeemed far more excellent and sure than Mans Estate in his first Creation Fifthly The great Priviledges and Excellencies of the Saints in Heaven First God being infinite in Power Wisdom and Holiness absolute and perfect in himself without the help or necessity of any humane Being being to accomplish his Soveraignty of himself of his own free Will and for his Glory he made the World and upholds it Who is the Image of the Invisible God the first born of every Creature by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in the Earth Visible and Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him and by him all things consist And to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 8.6 Secondly As Man The World and all things were freely made by Ood so Man and the World are freely Redeemed by Jesus Christ This of the Redemption of Man by Jesus Christ being one of the most incomprehensible mysteries of free love It may be branched out thus First That it is free without paction or condition of any retribution or satisfaction but meerly by love and good will Secondly That this Salvation is to such who are utterly incapable of helping themselves and in such circumstances as they are in most incapacities and disadvantages Thirdly That it brings with it all means of comfort and suitable supplies Fouthly That it is compleat and full and nothing can lessen the enjoyment or bar the sense of it except obstinate wilfulness and a refusing of the offer Fifthly The Method and Way by which this great Salvation is accomplished to wit by Christs taking on him the humane Nature and in the flesh suffered for Mans Transgressions do much heigthen the mistery of Redemption Sixthly That the Mediator when he hath compleated that great work makes the Redeemed sharers of his own and Fathers glory First That this Salvation is freely of love and good will without paction of any recompence from such as expect and receive the benefit of it appears from these
him that asketh thee and from him that would borrow of the turn thou not away Math. 5.43 Remember them that are in Bonds as being bound with them and them which suffer Adversity as being your selves also in the Body Heb. 13.3 What doth it profit if a Man say he hath Faith and hath not Works can Faith save him if a Brother or Sister be Naked and Destitute of daily Food and one of you say unto him depart in peace be you Clothed and be you Filled notwithstanding you give him nothing James 2.14 15 16. of these things which are needful to the Body what doth it profit 1 John 3.17 Mortification if thy Right Eye or Right Hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee it is better one of thy Members perish than thy whole Body should be cast into Hell Math. 5.29 30. Hence we are taught the Subduing and Mortifying of all Lusts of whatsoever esteem they may be and as dear to us as any of our Members we are to admit no enjoyment of them in Competition with true Holiness and new Obedience He Preacheth up the Doctrine of Love and Charity to all Men even to Enemies you have heard that it hath been said love thy Neighbour and hate thy Enemy but I say to you Love your Enemies Bless him that Curse you do good to them that hate you pray for them that dispightfully use you and persecute you that ye may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven for he maketh his Sun to rise on the Evil and on the Good and the Rain to come down on the Just and the Unjust for if you love them that love you what reward have you do not even the Publicans do the same and if you Salute only your Brethren what more do ye than others but be ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect Math. 5.43 to end See that great Doctrine of Mutual Love and Charity he that saith he is in the Light and hateth his Brother is in Darkness even until now he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light and there is no occasion of stumbling in him but he that Hateth his Brother is in Darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because the Darkness hath blinded his Eyes 1 John 2. to 18. We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren he that loveth not his Brother abideth in Death whosoever hateth his Brother is a Murderer and ye know that no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him hereby perceive we the Love of God because he hath laid down his Life for us and we ought to lay down our Life for the Brethren but whosoever hath this Worlds good and shutteth up his Bowels from the Brother how dwelleth the Love of God in him 1 John 3.14 15 16 17. Let us Love one another for Love is of God and every one that Loveth is born of God and knoweth God he that Loveth not knoweth not God for God is Love in this was manifested the Love of God towards us because God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him herein is the Love of God Manifested not that we loved him but that he Loved us and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our Sins if God so loved us we ought also to love one another if we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us and we have known and believed the love that God hath to us God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him 1 Jo 4.7 to end A New Commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved you that you love one another Jo. 13.34 from all which we are instructed of the Nature and Extent of Charity that it doth not consist only in naked and bare profession of Friendship good wishes and pretended Respects but in the Bowels of Tenderness Compassion Simpathy and suitable Supplies to the necessities of others that Charity is not to be straitned and confined to Relations Friends Benefactors and these in Amity and perswasion with us but is to be extended to Enemies as well as Friends and to all whose Necessities call for our help and assistance in any respect towards their Relief He Preacheth up the Contempt and Denyedness to the World lay not up Treasure on Earth where the Moth Cankereth and Thieves break thorough and steal but seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness then all these things shall be added thereunto and lay up store for your selves in Heaven Math. 6.19 20 32 33. See Christs own Discourse of the Rich Man in the Gospel that it is easier for a Camel to go thorow the Eye of a Needle than for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Math. 19.23 24. See the Parable of Dives who received his good things in this Life and is eternally Tormented and Lazarus who was pinched with Want Hunger Cold and Diseases on Earth was received into everlasting Happiness Luke 16 19. to end See the Parable of the Rich Husband-Man who took anxious care for his Earthly Store but made no Provision for Eternal Life but God said to him thou Fool this Night will I require thy Soul at thy Hands then whose shall all these things be which thou hast provided so is he who layeth up store for himself and is not Rich towards God Luke 12 16. to 22. See the wo the Lord of Life pronounceth against the Rich Wo to you that are Rich for ye have received your Consolation Luke 6 24. And to forward our Mortification to the World let us consider the Advice given by the Holy Apostle Love not the World nor the things of the World for if any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in him for all that is in the World the Lusts of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but of the World 1 Jo. 2.15 16 17. And the World passeth away and the Lusts thereof but he that doth the Will of God abideth for ever 1 Jo. 2.15 16 17. The Holy Apostle James doth eminently discover the danger of loving the World 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 James 4.4 Let us further consider the Apostle Pauls Character of the World we brought nothing into the World with us and it is certain we shall carry nothing out and having Food and Rayment let us be therewith content but they that will be Rich fall into many Temptations and a Snare and many foolish and hurtful Lusts which drown Men in Destruction and Perdition for the Love of Money is the Root of all Evil which while some have coveted after they have erred from the Faith and pierced themselves through with many Sorrows
of his Crown and defiling his Wives in the sight of the Sun when he and all the People went out of the City bare-foot weeping and ashes on their heads when they fled from Absolom If I shall find favour in his sight saith he he will bring me again and shew me both it meaning the Ark of God in which he much delighted and his Habitation but if he say I have no delight in thee lo here am I let him do with me what seemeth good in his sight 2 Sam. 15.25 26. With the like humility and patience he bore the cursings and revilings of Shimei and David said let him curse because the Lord hath said Curse David who then shall say why hast thou done it it may be the Lord will look upon mine affliction and that the Lord will require me good for his cursing this day 2 Sam. 16.7 to 13. How humbly did Hezekiah lay himself and Rabsecahs Railing and Blaspheming Letter before the Lord at the Siege of Samaria and see the event thereof by Gods wonderful delivering of the City by his own immediate hand 2 Kin. 19. How did Holy Job the mirrour of Patience and Innocence in his great affliction abase himself before the Lord when his Eyes were opened when he could justify himself to Man but not before God I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ear but now mine Eyes see thee wherefore I abhor my self in Dust and Ashes Job 42. to 7. How resolutely did the three Children with Faith and Patience submit to the fiery Furnace for the honour of God and his Truth Our God is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thy hand but if not be is known unto thâ—e O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the Image that thou hast set up Dan. 3.16 17 18. how couragiously did Daniel worship the Living God when forbid upon pain of being cast into the Lions Den and we see what glorious deliverance he had Dan. 6. Holy Stephen couragiously and patiently endured Martyrdom and kneeling down prayed for his Enemies Father forgive them they know not what they are doing Act. 7.60 The Holy Apostles were made spectacles of Men and Angels God hath set forth us the Apostles last as spectacles of Men and Angels and to the World 1 Cor. 4.9 The Cross of Christ was the glory of Paul and should be of all Men God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 See the instances of the Apostles sufferings we are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not to despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body for we which live are always delivered to death for Jesus sake that the Life of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh 2 Cor 4.8 9 10 11. See a farther instance of the Apostles suffering but in all things approving our selves as the Ministers of God in much patience in afflictions necessities in distresses in stripes in imprisonments in tumults in labour in watching in fastings in pureness of knowledge by long sufferings by kindness by the Holy Ghost by love unfeigned by honour and dishonour by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true as unknown yet well known as dying and yet behold we live as chastned and yet not killed as sorrowful yet always rejoying as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things 2 Corinthians 6.4 to 11. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one thrice was I beaten with Rods once was I stoned thrice I suffered Shipwrack a Night and a Day I have been in the Deep in peril by Water in perils by Robbers in peril by mine own Countrymen in perils by the Heathen in perils in the City in perils in the Country in danger in the Sea in perils by false Brethren often in weariness painfulness and watching often in hunger and thirst often in cold and nakedness 2 Cor 11.24 to 28. See the Instances of the Churches sufferings and great afflictions almost incredible and by Nature without Grace intollerable her sore runs in the night her friends not only left her but dealt treacherously with her and became her Enemies the Enemy spread his hand on all her pleasant things her people have given their pleasant things for Bread no sore like my sore desolate and faint delivered into their hands from whom she was not able to rise she was trodden as in a Wine press Priests and Elders gave up the Ghost for Famine Children and Sucklings swoun away in the Street and Women eat their Children of a Span long Enemies hiss and wag their Head and say we have swallowed her up this is the day we looked for and yet in all this she can with patience and submission say Why should the living Man complain man suffereth for his Sin all this is less than our iniquities do deserve Lam. 1. all chap. 2. all And thus justifieth the Lord and applieth to him by Prayer and Confession of Sin for Mercy the Holy Apostles also rejoyce in their afflictions that they are counted worthy to suffer for the testimony of Jesus and say in all this through Grace We are more than Conquerours and God forbid that we should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ Thirdly Promises of assistance as the greatest evils are alleviate and greatest extremities are lessened by hope and help of means and relief and as the most diseased persons in the most chronical and malignant Distempers are eased composed and half cured by the sight of a famous and approved Physitian and by his assurance or opinion that the Distemper they labour under is curable or that the Distemper which he can easily cure will not only work it self out but will also cure and cleanse the body of more gross and contagious humours which are more dangerous and infectious of the blood as Agues often cure Hectique and malignant Feavers which more invade and annoy the brain and endanger the Life so the blessed Lord Jesus Christ being the great Shepherd and Physitian of Souls in whom the Godhead dwelleth bodily not only knoweth as being omniscient but also has all power both in Heaven and Earth given to him hath not only the means in his own hand but by his Promises hath engaged himself by his faithfulness that he will heal help and deliver his People therefore faith in the Promises of God doth and should uphold his afflicted and discouraged People and these Promises are sure numerous and by Divine Wisdom and Love suited and proportioned to the exigence of his People in all cases either in Spiritual or Temporal maladies and these Promises answer to the twofold estate or condition of Man as he is
the Soul everlastingly to perish how should not the Soul be wise and condescend to the Divorce and say what have I any more to do with Idols doth not the great Physitian of Souls tell us it is better that one Member perish though never so dear or desirable to the flesh than that the whole Body and Soul should be cast into Hell which will follow inevitably if not divorced from Lust and be renewed in Christ Mat. 5.20 30. A Second preparation is to consider the great advantages will accrew by this Divorce of Lusts such who are thus Divorced shall be made Sons and Heirs of God with Christ John 17.22 23. and shall have all things Rev. 21.7 When lopt off from the World they shall be united unto God in Christ Jesus their short sufferings and parting with the Lusts of the World shall work for them an exceeding and an eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 18. They shall have treasure in Heaven instead of and in exchange of Earthly Riches Their Life shall be saved in losing of it and lost in saving of it Luke 9 23 24 25. Who then would not part with uncertain Riches for Heavenly Treasure with a rotten Member for a sound Body a paltry pleasure for Eternal happiness Thus the Patient being prepared of the necessity of an Incision to preserve Life and with Cordials of promises to prevent faintings he must go on couragiously to cut off all corrupt and festered members of what quality or whatsoever use and for this we have Christs express command if thy right Eye or thy right Hand offend thee cut it off If Father Mother or any of the dearest Relations come in competition all must be forsaken for him Luke 9.23 24 25 26. Thy life must not be preferred to him but a man must take up his Cross and follow Christ so that nothing however so choice or dear to us must stand in the way against or in ballance with Christ but in all these things a man must deny himself and lose all for Christ Mat. 5.29 30. If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are done away and all things are made new mortify therefore your members which are on Earth 2 Cor. 5.17 The fourth Spiritual advantage from Heavenly bounty is Regeneration It is not enough to cut off old withered branches or lop Trees to make them fruitful and propagate new Trees but plashing ingrafting or inoculation is necessary even so in the Christian Musbandry though cutting off the old luxuriant branches of Lust be absolutely necessary by mortification yet this is not all for the Christian must have a new life for that by the impurity of Sin and Concupiscence of our Natures since the Fall the whole Mass of Blood or Nature is corrupted And God saw that the wickedness of Man was great in the Earth and that every Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart was evil continually Gen. 6.5 Therefore he must be ingrafted into Christ the true and living Vine I am crucified to the World and the World to me nevertheless I live but not I but Christ that liveth in me and the Life that I live in the Flesh is by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2.20 That ye put off concerning their former conversation which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts and that ye be renewed in the Spirit of your minds and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in true holiness and righteousness Eph. 4.22 23 24. And be not conformed to this World but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect Will of God Rom. 12.2 Know ye not that Christ is in you except ye be reprobates now we are no more strangers nor forreigners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and with the houshold of God and are built upon the foundations of the Apostles and Prophets Christ Jesus being the chief Corner Stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Ephes 2.19 to end All which Scriptures teach us that the Christian is a new man hath a new â—ife and is built on Christ the foundation and nourisher of his Life and that Christ is the Vine wherein the barren Branches must be cut off and the fruitful nourished This holy Lord Jesus Christ convinceth the great lawyer Nichodemus of the necessity of Regeneration of being born again by the Spirit Unless a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God John 3.3 5. Now in this great concern we are to consider two things First To make a right discovery of the truth of this new Life by Regeneration Secondly We are to consider seriously of the means how this Conquest and new Life may be preserved First As this is the greatest concern to man to be well founded in his claim to Heaven so it is easy to the flesh to be deceived in this thing for as it often falls out among Women that they are deceived by false conceptions and travel long in expectation of the Birth when both they themselves and others are in hopes yet it proves at last a deceit oftentimes to the destruction of the person having nourished Diseases and Corruptions instead of a true Birth so no doubt many may seem to be under conception of this Heavenly Birth have some symptoms and appear to labour under pain to be delivered of the old corruption and bring forth the Spiritual Birth and yet Christ is not formed in them As the desire of issue makes many Women use many uneasy and expensive means so many men for the lucre of Heaven strain far and yet come short because their Hearts are not straight with God Simon Magus offered a large sum for the Holy Ghost the young rich Man in the Gospel kept all the Commandments Annanias and Saphira sold their possessions and brought the Money to be distributed amongst the Saints and yet all fell short of this new Birth and so of the Kingdom of God we are commanded to try the Spirits for every Spirit is not of God wherefore that we may find out the truth and reality of this new birth It is fit to reflect on the actions of the former Life and examine the new life in all its parts and find out whether the suitable effects of the change and new birth be produced for according to the effects of life so must we judge of the Life whether it be renewed or not for the Tree is known by its fruits The effects of life are chiefly three First The Thoughts earliest in the conception of the rational creatures Secondly The Affections Thirdly The Actions These three generally make up the whole Man and as we find these three concurring in the first degeneracy The Thoughts
and even to your Old Age I am he and even to Hoar Hairs I will carry you I have made and will bear I will carry and will deliver you Is 46.3 4. I will defer mine anger I have refined thee but not with Silver I have chosen thee in the Furnace of Affliction Is 48.9 10. A Woman may forget her Sucking Child and not have Compassion on the â—â—uit of her Womb but I cannot forget thee saith the Lord for I have graven thee upon the Palms of my Hand 's thou art mine thy Enemies shall go forth of thee and they shall go far away the Children thou shalt have after thou hast lost the others shall multiply that thou shalt be straitned for room for them and thou shalt say in thy Heart who hath begotten me these seeing the other were lost seeing I am Desolate a Captive and remove to and fro who hath brought me up these where have they been thy Captive Children shall be brought back by the Enemies in their Arms and on their Shoulders Kings shall be their Nursing Fathers and Queens their Nursing Mothers they shall bow down to thee and lick the dust under thy Feet for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh and make them drunk with their own Blood as with sweet Wine and all flesh shall know that I am the Lord thy Saviour Is 49. all Who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the Voice of his Servant that sitteth in darkness and seeth no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Is 50.10 Heaven and Earth shall pass away but my Salvation shall never fail fear not Reproaches and Reviling of Men they shall consume as a Moth and Worms shall eat them up Awake awake O Arm of the Lord art not thou it that cut Rahab that wounded the Dragon that Dryed the Sea and made it a way for thy Ransomed to pass over thy Redeemed shall return with Joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall fly away I am he that comforteth thee be not afraid of a Man or the Son of a Man awake stand up thou that hast drunk and wrung out the Cup of mine Anger there is none to guide her or take her by the Hand of all the Sons that she hath brought forâ—â— Desolation and Destruction Famine and the Sword are come upon thee behold I have taken out of thy Hand the Cup of Trembling and I will put it into the Hands of them that afflict thee who have said to thy Soul bow down that we may go over thee and thou hast laid thy Body on the ground and as the Street to them that went over fear thou not for thou shalt not be ashamed thou shalt forget the the shame of thy Youth and the Reproach of thy Widow-Hood for thy Maker is thy Husband and thy Redeemer the God of the whole Earth Is 51. all For a small Moment have I forsaken thee but with great Mercy will I gather thee in a little wrath have I hid my self from thee for a Moment but with everlasting kindness will I have Mercy upon thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer no Weapon formed against thee shall prosper Is 54.4 to 9. The Lord is the avenger of his People Vengeance is in my Heart and the year of my Redeemed is come and is a Deliverer when all other helps fail I looked and wondred that there was none to help therefore mine own Arm brought Salvation and my fury it upheld me in all their Afflictions he was Afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pitty he Redeemed them and saved them all the days of Old Is 63.3 4 5. The Lord never puts his People to Work but doth furnish them with Assistance shall I bring to the Birth and not cause to bring forth shall I cause to bring forth and shut the Womb Is 66.9 When Christ sends forth his Disciples to Convert the World he forewarns them of the Difficulties and usage they should meet with but assures them of his present support outgate and eternal life are their reward Mat. 10.16 to end Chap. 16.24 to 28. Chap. 19.28 29. the Holy Apostle gives Christian Combatants great Encouragements for their full bearing the Cross for as much as Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death even the Devil and deliver them who all their Lifes were subject to Bondage Heb. 2.14 15. We have an High Priest which cannot be touched with the failing of our Infirmities but was in all things tempted as we are yet without sin let us come therefore boldly to the Throne of grace that we may obtain Mercy and find grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.15 16. No Temptation hath befallen to you but what is common to Men but the Lord is gracious who with every Temptation will give an outgate that ye may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10.13 These Crowning Mercies promised in the Revelations are sufficient encouragements to bear the Cross and fight chearfully under Christs Banner to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God and to eat of the hidden Manna and give him a white stone and in it a new Name and he shall be Clothed with white Rayment and I will confess his Name before my Father and his Angels and he shall sit on my Throne Rev. 2.7 17. Ch. 3.5 21. The Valiant and constant Soldiers of Christ are Sealed in their Forehead and are Clothed with White Robes with Palms in their Hand and these are they which come out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb and are before the Throne of God Day and Night and Jesus Christ dwells with them they shall Hunger no more neither Thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any Heat for the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne of God shall feed them and lead them to living Fountains of Water and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes Rev. 7.29 to end They live in Holiness and are Blessed in their Death Blessed are they which dye in they Lord the cease from their Labour and their Works follow them Rev. 14.4 13 The third thing Remarkable in this Duty of Perseverance is that Christians thrive and grow in the Continuance of their Duty of patient waiting on God as in all Trades Vocations Arts and Sciences the frequent and constant practice begets perfection so we find in the History of the Church Militant in all Ages that the more Persecution the Church met with she did grow in greater Power Zeal and Purity and the professors did more chearfully out-dare Temptations and Embraced the Truth and this is
held forth as a Duty with a promise then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord Hosea 6.3 David was almost tyred out and his Patience worn how long wilt thou forget me for ever how long wilt thou hide thy Face from me how long shall I take Counsel in my Soul having sorrow in my Heart how long shall mine Enemies be exalted over me but whilst he is continuing in his Application to God is strengthned and at last concludes but I have trusted in thy Mercies my Heart will rejoyce in thy Salvation I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me Ps 27.13 14. all This Holy Man continuing in Duty with God was supported by his Confidence in God I had fainted in mine Affliction unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living wait on the Lord and be of good Courage and he will strengthen thy Heart wait I say on the Lord Ps 27.13 14. When he had Experienced great Afflictions in his Family and a long continuance of it he could at last say sing unto the Lord O ye Saints of his and give Thanks at the Remembrance of his Holiness for his Anger endureth but for a Moment in his Favour is Life weeping may endure for a Night but Joy cometh in the Morning Ps 30.4 5. Though he was lashed with Shimei's Tongue yet he could say thou shalt hide him in the Secret of thy Presence from the Pride of Man thou shalt keep them secretly in thy Pavilion from the strife of Tongues Ps 31.21 Though he was forced to sculk and hide and said I shall one Day fall into the Hands of Saul then he could say thou art my hiding place thou shalt compass me about in trouble with Songs of Deliverance Ps 32.8 When this Holy Man takes Breath from his complaining and reflects on Gods Dispensations to him how sweetly doth he set forth the many Advantages and Priviledges of such as wait on God his Eyes are upon them and his Ears open to their Cry The Lord heareth them he delivereth them from all their Troubles he is near to the broken in Heart and loveth the Contrite Spirit he delivereth them out of all their Afflictions not one of their Bones are broken those that hate the Righteous shall be Desolate Ps 34.15 to end The Holy Apostles were never more Thriving and Couragious than under their greatest Sufferings we are troubled on every side yet not distressed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed knowing that he which raised the Lord Jesus shall also raise us and present us with you for which cause we faint not for though our outward Man perish yet our inward Man is renewed Day by Day for our light Afflictions which are but for a Moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and an Eternal Weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.8 to end Ch. 15. to 11. And again that same Apostle testifieth this truth I would have you to understand that the things which have fallen out to me are for the furtherance of the Gospel many of the Brethren in the Lord waxing confident in my Bonds are much more bold to speak the word without fear Phi. 1.12 to 21. and elsewhere he saith for which cause I also suffer these things Nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know in whom I have believed and he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that Day 2 Tim. 1.12 The whole Scriptures and other Histories make mention of the growth and chearfulness of the Saints now in Glory who with great Stability and Patience have run their Course and at the height of their Tragical Sufferings have shewed more Courage and Resolution than when they began their Race Daniel and the three Children Job Jeremiah and the Prophets grew stronger and stronger under their Duties of Continuing in well doing and the Martyr Stephen finished his Course with Joy praising of God and praying for his Enemies Acts 7.59 60. The third thing considerable in this Conflict of Regeneration and Saints Warfare is the Comfort the Saints have in a Sanctified use of all Dispensations and Enjoyments of what they meet with in their Tryals to have any thing and not enjoy it or to want the grace and liberty of right improving of it is a Curse and not a Blessing Experience teacheth that many Worldly Cormorants or Misers have much of the Worlds Wealth Riches and great possessions and yet their Hearts and Affections are so forfeited and glutted with the love and delight thereof that they are slaves to their fancy and delight therein so as they cannot allow to themselves the Comfortable use thereof but either hoard them up as the Idols of their phancy to such as come after them or on the other Hand glut and satiate themselves therewith and have not the Grace or Heart to Communicate them in Charity to the necessity of others as the Rich Glutton in the Gospel who belike did gratifie his Dogs rather than Lazarus in his wants Luke 16.19 to end Although the wise disposer of all things makes his Sun to shine on the Godly and the Wicked and most frequently gives more plentifully of the things of this Life to the Wicked than to the Godly nevertheless his Dispensations thereof is much different First They are given to the Wicked as Snares a Curse and their Portion and with them Eternal Wrath for their mis-improvement Secondly They are given to the Godly only as a means of Subsistance in their Journey Heaven-ward with Contentment and the Sanctified use thereof with a promise of Eternal Life in Jesus Christ as their Portion First It is most certain and Consequential in reason that where the things of this Life are given and the Heart and Delight is fixed on them as their full and sole Satisfaction these things are Curses Snares and Entangle the Soul in Misery and it is certain that such as place not their Content Delight Satisfaction and Happiness in Christ are Wicked and Eternally Accursed and therefore all their Enjoyments are Snares and Curses and they are miserable in the Enjoyment thereof and this is evidently proved First For that as it hath been already shewn that Mans Apostacy by sin hath brought that Curse on the Creature so as the love of the World is Enmity against God and the lawful use of the Creature is only procured by Christs Mediation to such as believe in him So that whatsoever love to the Creature and Enjoyments thereof is not for Christ and founded on him is a Curse and not a Blessing and this is further illustrated from Reason for that First where Contentment cannot be found there is no Happiness Secondly There is no satisfaction to be found in any thing without Christ The first is clear in reason and common opinion which place Happiness in Satisfaction of the Affections and Desires and whatsoever Enjoyment comes not
killing fourscore and ten thousand men in the Camp of Assyria and when Senacherib fled and at his Idolatrous Devotion God raised up his own Sons to Butcher him 2 Chron. 32. to 24. How eminently was the Pride of Herod taking Glory to himself and not giving to God severely punished by his being suddenly struck to Death and consumed by Worms Act 12.20 to 24. Where is now the glory and Honour of Caesar Pompey and Alexander and all the antient Heroes can their History or ours witness any thing to make out happiness farther than that all perish in the using Object It may be objected if contentment be not to be found in the things of this â—ife how come the Apostle to say haviâ—g Food and Raiment let us be therewith content For answer we may take up the word content to signify the placing our sole and full satisfaction on some object without desiring any farther and in that sense it is unlawful to place our contentment in any Creature or content may signify an acquiescence in the use of any Creature Enjoyment in the measure time and towards the end it is given us as being contented with so much of the Creature as God will give us for our use in this Life without murmuring or stinting of him to time or measure and in this sense is the Apostle's meaning as he explains himself I have learned how to want and how to abound and in every condition therein to be content Phil. 4.11 12 And yet he longed for Christ and Eternal Life and gloried in nothing but in the Cross of Christ by whom the World was Crucified to him and he to the World Gal. 6.14 So that though he used the World with contentment that is with acquiescence it was not his full satisfaction and rest but Christ was his end he drove at in that use of the Creature Now as from what hath been said we see the things of this Life though they make no happiness they are given both to the Godly and to the Wicked but with these differences First The Godly have them as owning them from God the Wicked ascribe them to themselves or their own industry or suppose they have them by chance Secondly They are given to the Godly as Instruments in their Journey to Heaven or Travelling expences but the Wicked have them as their Portion Thirdly They are given to the Godly with submission to the Will of God in time manner and quantity but to the Wicked with murmuring repining and covetousness after more Fourthly They are given to the Godly to be improved for Gods Glory but the Wicked spend them on their Lusts First The Godly have the Blessing of owning the dispensation of all things to them as from God that they are all made created and supported by him and that they do all flow from him of his free goodness and pleasure For by him were all things created and for him and all things consist by him and he is before all things Col. 1.16 17. Every good and perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Light with whom is no variableness or shadow of turning Jam. 1.17 Holy David ascribeth all his Power Greatness and Grandure to God He sent from above and took me from many Waters he delivered me from my strong Enemies and from them which hated me for they were too strong for me Psal 18.16 17 18 19 31 to 41. Psal 27. to 4. But on the other hand the Wicked boast of their own strength glory and greatness and ascribe all to themselves as if they were the original of their own glory and greatness Is not this great Babylon saith Nebuchadnezzar which I have built for the honour of my Majesty and Glory of my Kingdom Dan. 4.30 It was Rabsecah's boasting Where are the Gods of Havah and the Gods of the City of Sephervaim Who are they of all the Gods of the Countreys that they should deliver them out of my Hand Thus the Wicked boast themselves and give not the glory to God 2 Kin 19.35 36 37. Secondly The second difference is that the Godly have all allowances as helps and not as their Portions but the Wicked have them as their all and their Portions See what Christ saith to the Rich Glutton he had his Portion in this Life and is chained up in everlasting darkness and misery but poor Lazarus though he was glad of the Crumbs from under the Rich Mans Table is placed in everlasting Paradise of happiness The Arms of the Wicked shall be broken but the Lord upholdeth the Righteous and their Inheritance shall be for ever the Wicked shall perish and be as the fat of Lambs they shall consume away into smoak shall they consume such as be blessed of him shall inherit the Earth and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off Psal 18.16 to 29. Christ himself adviseth his People not to be anxious or make provision for the Flesh for that he will take care of them but against the Wicked whose care is only for this World he pronounceth Curses Wo to you that are Rich for ye have received your consolation wo to you that are full for ye shall hunger wo to you that laugh now for ye shall mourn and weep Luke 6.20 to 26. The third difference is That the Godly receives these things with a humble and thankful mind with submission to the Will of God in giving taking away or continuing but the wicked fret repine and murmur at every eclipse or change whereby his Condition seemeth to be worsted and covetously curseth God in his Heart when he hath not his full desire I create the fruit of the Lips peace to him that is far off and to him that is near saith the Lord but there is no peace to the Wicked saith my God the Wicked are like the raging Sea casting up dirt and mire Isa 57.19 20 21. Hence then see the different complexion of the Godly and Wicked the one patiently submitting the other constantly murmuring how patiently did Job bear the loss of his Children and vast Estate The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken blessed be the name of the Lord in all this Job sinned not neither charged God foolishly in his Heart Job 1.21 22 23. But on the other hand see the restless and implacable malice of Satan to persecute Job Job 2. to 6. How patiently did David submit himself under the revilings cursings and reproaches of Shimei and the King said let him curse for the Lord hath said to him curse David who then shall say why hast thou done it my Son which came out of my Bowels seeketh my Life how much more may this Benjamite do it 2 Sam. 16.10 11 12. See on the other hand the tragical turbulency and murmuring temper of the Wicked in the instance of Achitophel whose Counsel with David and Absolom used to be as of an Angel of Light because his Counsel was rejected in the Pride
the Eye being the more curious and choice Organ of Natural and Sensual Understanding and Delight the right Frame and Complexion thereof affords a Man the greatest Satisfaction of all Sensual Faculties and yet we see how frail and weak it is at best soonest and easiest wounded and diminished by Age or Accidents and must needs have supports by glasses in Old Age or otherwise and at last it wholy fails at Death whereby we find these two defects in it First It is but weak Secondly It altogether fails at Death The Silver Threads are cut and the Golden Bowl broken at the Well Ecl. 12. to 6. read all In these Considerations the godly have much the Advantage for when inlightned they are made of a spiritual Frame strong and vigorous as being built on Christ the Rock of Ages by Faith and when renewed in him and Translated into Glory can admit of no defect nor be subject to any Infirmity you hath he quickened who were once Dead in sin he hath quickened us together in Christ Eph. 2.1 As Christ being once raised from the Dead was reed of all further Natural Infirmities even so renewed Sinners even in this Life have the Cataracts and Scales of Natural Darkness taken off as spiritually enlightned and made partakers of the Divine Nature and are taught to see and understand the Mysteries of God and Godliness which the Natural Man knoweth not nor can understand to be Carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can he the Carnal Man receiveth not the things of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are Spiritually discerned but he that is Spiritual judgeth all things Rom. 8.6 7. for who have known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him but we have the mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2.14 15 16. Thus Christians having the Eyes of their Understanding enlightned they can see and understand distinctly for they walk and see by Faith and not by Sense and being here as to the World Strangers and not minding the World in a Carnal Method as Worldlings do and as dis interessed they do impartially make the more certain observation and judgment of things of this Life therefore we are always confident knowing that while in the Body we are absent from the Lord for we walk by Faith not by Sight we are confident and willing to be absent from the Body and be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5.9 The Saints have yet a further excellency in their sight for when they are Spiritualized in this Life and the natural ignorance taken off by their ingraftment in Christ when these Silver Threads are cut they are enlightned with the knowledge and sight which fails not and united to Christ that first and Original Light and their knowledge is eternal and unextinguishable and augmented to the seeing not only in part as in this Life but to know as they are known and to see as they seen eternally in the Heavens that they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that they may be perfect in one We know in part and we Prophesie in part but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away when I was a Child I spoke as a Child I understood as a Child I thought as a Child but when I became a Man I put away Childish things for now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known 1 Cor. 13.9 10 11 12. In this side of time our Eyes are blurred with Sorrow and Grief and our sight marred but in the Translation all Tears shall be wiped away from our Eyes there shall be no night there they shall need no Candle nor light of Sun or Moon for the Lord giveth them Light Hence plainly may appear the great difference between the Lusts of the Eyes in a Carnal Man and the Transcendent excellencies of the sight of the Saints in glory for that the Carnal Eye of the Body can only reach sensual Objects and that under great Infirmities and Weakness but the Spiritual Light reacheth Heavenly Objects and that in full extent and continues its strength to all Eternity The last thing which makes up the Worlds glory and excellency is the Pride of Life by which may be understood all Worldly Honour Credit Titles and Preferments which do chiefly consist either in naked Titles of Honour or Titles with Preferment and Benefit attending them in both which respects we shall find that of the glorified Saints infinitely excell all that can be pretended from the World Worldly Titles of Honour of the Highest Elevation or Degree as Dukes Kings Emperors and such like are splendid in Carnal Fancy but having no intrinsick value depending only upon the frothy Opinion of others the professors thereof may fall from them into more Contempt than they were in esteem by reason of their Titles Power and Glory as daily experience teacheth but the Saints are Sons and Heirs of God and joynt Heirs with Jesus Christ and their Names Titles and Dignities are entred in the Records of Heaven and they are Sealed with Truth that cannot lye The grace and calling of God is without Repentance To him that overcometh will I give a New Name better than the Name of Sons and Daughters the Name of God and the City of God which cometh down from Heaven this is more Honourable than that of the Order of St. George or St. Andrews or any of the most splendid Dignities on Earth Rev. 3.12 These Titles are not only glorious though not made up of the vain and flattering notions of Carnal fancies and outward gaity and shew but are also accompanyed with the richest Preferments and greatest profit such as are thus dignified with the Name of God on them are in the Presence Chamber continually before the Throne of God Day and Night and he that sitteth on the Throne dwelleth amongst them they shall Hunger no more neither Thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any Heat Rev. 7.15 16 17. Though these be not eminent Titles yet not all and what the richest greatest and most generous Princes on Earth cannot give the Lord gives to the Saints he makes them Sons and Heirs of his Everlasting Glory he that overcometh shall inherit all things and he shall be my Son and I will be his God Rev. 21.7 If ye be risen with Christ then are ye Heirs according to his promise and joynt Heirs with Christ and because ye are Sons God hath sent forth this Spirit of his Son into your Hearts whereby ye cry Abba Father wherefore thou art no more a Servant but a Son and if a Son then
Knowledge and Understanding So to understand things as they are and not only under the dark shadows of humane appearance First of unity of Spirit As God is a Spirit pure holy and undefiled and of purer Eyes than can behold Iniquity and that he must have all his Companions and Citizens of that new Jerusalem like himself and as Christs promise is to prepare a place for his people in that promise Let not your Hearts be troubled in my Fathers House are many Mansions and I have prepared a place for you John 14.1 2 3. And will have them with him so will he have them to be like his Father and him holy as they are holy blessed are the pure in Spirit for they shall see God Mat. 5.8 The natural Man is so cloyed with the liquorish relish of carnal things that he cannot raise his affections to the true contemplation of the things of God and therefore the Children of God must be made spiritually minded The Natural man receiveth not the things of God for they are foolishness unto him neither indeed can he know them because they are spiritually descerned but he that is Spiritual judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.14 15 16. Christians are new Creatures and with them old things are passed away and all things become new they are the Temple of God God dwelleth in them who can have no fellowship with the flesh therefore they must be spirituallized for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit 2 Cor. 5.19 To be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be so then they that are after the flesh cannot please God 2 Cor. 6.15 16 17 18. Secondly Union of the Spirit is to be of one Spirit to mind the same things as God and Christ did before the World began they have and had one and the same purpose intention and mind to do the same things Peace and Unity of Spirit in Counsel and otherwise is the greatest Comfort and Strength of a Society and this is the Harmony of Heaven How doth David magnify this choice blessing How pleasant a thing is it for Brethren to dwell together in unity it is like the precious ointment upon the Head that ran down upon the Beard even Aarons Beard that went down to the Skirts of his Garments as the Dew of Hermon and as the Dew that Descended upon the Mountains of Zion for there the Lord commanded the Blessing even life for evermore Psal 133. all The Lord is a Spirit of Meekness and Peace and by Christs Doctrine the blessing is to the Meek and his Command is to resemble him in the Spirit of meekness I am meek humble and lowly in mind learn of me Mat. 11.28 29. He unites all the Hearts of his People to the unity of glorifying him to have their share of it in constant Hallelujah's see Gods Promise to Christ and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding the Spirit of Counsel and Might and of the fear of the Lord Isa 11. to 10. O the admiration of Gods free love and goodness to the Godly in their elevation to such a state of Glory that he makes them all join in such Elogies of his praises that they prompt one another to their perpetual ecchoings of his everlasting glory see what the Apostle adviseth in this case Keep the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace let the same mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus ye are all called to one hope in Christ Jesus Ephes 4. to 7. To be of the same mind with Christ Jesus is to have the same Will and Purpose which he had as well in doing as in suffering and to do and suffer to the same Ends and Purposes for which he did or suffered any thing Christ did and suffered all things by the joint advice and in obedience of his Father The Father worketh hitherto and I work Lo I come to do thy Will in the volume of thy Book it is written of me Psal 4.6 7 8. Heb. 10.5 In his sufferings and acting in the mystery of Man's Redemption he did all by the resolution of Heaven the Father and Son did agree and join in the Spirit God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Eternal Life Joh. 3.16 17. Here the Father sends and the Son obeys and cometh and both agree in one in the Spirit In the matter of his Passion on the Cross they concur in one Father if thou wilt let this cup pass over but not my Will but thy Will be done Mat. 26.39 42. The Fathers purpose was that Justice should be satisfied by the Death of the Son on the Cross and the Son humbly submits It is finished and yields up the Ghost John 19.30 Rom. 3.25 26. And so in all the course of his Life as well as at his Death all his steps are squared according to the Will and Counsel of the Father as we see in the History of the Gospel From hence in imitation of Christ are taught to us these two great Duties First Submission Secondly A resignation to the absolute Will of God First Submission In all Afflictions Chastisements and Sufferings in all cases we are to exercise the duty of Submission My Son despise not thou the chastning of the Lord nor faint when thou art rebuked Heb. 12.5 to 12. Chearfulness without murmuring and a Patient bearing up under every dispensation is the duty of submission and with the Apostle to glory in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ by whom the World is crucified to me and I to the World And with the Apostle James count it all joy when you fall into divers Temptations Jam. 1.2 The Holy Apostle Paul was a great Proficient in this learning of submission I know how to want and how to abound and in every condition therewith to be content Phil. 4.11 12. And this should be the course and care of all who resolve to follow Christ Jesus to frame their mind and will under all dispensations to submit and acquiesce to the Will of God This was Holy Davids practice under his so severe and great affliction when he had fled from before his Son Absolom who had usurped his Crown and when weeping barefoot and ashes on his head sent back from him the Ark of God the want of which was a great ingredient to his affliction If I shall find favour in the Eyes of the Lord he will shew me both it and his Salvation but if he say I have no pleasure in him lo here I am let him do to me what seemeth good
Dishonour of God and Destruction of Souls by sin nevertheless Knowledge is so choice a thing that it makes some Men eminent in understanding as much differ from others as Man generally differs from a Bruit so that the Schools of understanding are both courted and desirable Now if the knowledge of the things of this World be so desirable and excellent how much more is the knowledge of God things of God and Eternal Excellency which Nature cannot Fathom and tho' we had all the Books Written and attained to all Human Learning and had all the Host of Heaven and Creation under the Sun to instruct us yet thereby can we not be instructed or learn the Mystery of Mans Redemption or know Regeneration and Newness of Life or power of God in the spirit much less be able to find out the Eternal purpose of God to the souls of Believers or to apprehend that fruition of glory that Believers are intituled unto and shall enjoy Eternally in Heaven wherefore if we must be Wise to eternal Life we must be Fools to this World for according to Solomon The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom Prov. 1.7 So that if any Man lack Wisdom he must ask it of God who giveth to all Men liberally and upbraideth not James 1.5 If the Excellency and Advantage of knowing the perishing shadows of Earthly things lead Mens desire so much after that much more may we be Encouraged to seek after the knowledge of God and of spiritual things First For that in Human knowledge there is no perfection we see in all Ages Countries and Nations one Generation exceedeth the other in knowledge and experience and in one and the same Age one Man far exceeds another in so much that the Wisdom of one is ridiculed by the other Secondly All Human knowledge leaves a Man in this life yea a Man often so Declines in his Intellectuals that his own Life is his Burden and he becomes a Child or Bruit Thirdly Mans knowledge is his Burden because he can attain no satisfaction thereby it having no end or perfection so as all his Life is Anxiety Trouble and Sorrow Witness Solomon Ecl. 2. Chap. 3. all Ecl. 12.12 Fourthly The knowledge of Human things puffeth up and driveth a Man often so above his level that many Learned in Discontent have run into Distraction and strangled themselves but the Sanctified knowledge of God and spiritual things have the quite contrary qualities and effects First Divine knowledge is so choice a thing that the more a Man hath of it he becometh the humbler abaseth himself and adores God the more therefore have I uttered that I understood not I have heard of thee by the Ear but now mine Eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in Dust and Ashes Job 42.3 5 6. Secondly As Human knowledge is a Burden Divine knowledge is a Delight because the more a Man knoweth he humbleth himself the more in sense of his own Vanity and is confirmed in his knowledge because by Divine Wisdom he sees all the steps Coherent and tend to his building up in God and so delights in that knowledge then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord Hosea 6.3 here is Assurance of Attainment which is not in Human knowledge witness such who spend their Time Life and Substance in pursuing after that phanciful Foppery commonly called the Philosophers Stone who for most part dye fools or beggers if not both Thirdly As the knowledge of Human things fail and leave a Man in this Life the knowledge of God and spirituals attend a Man here to his Grave and grows and Conducts him not only to his Grave but also to Heaven Blâ—ssed are the Dead that Dye in the Lord they cease from their Labour and their Works follow them Rev. 14.13 Their knowledge of God in Faith is their Guide and Comfort Christ hath promised to send to his People for their Guide and Comfort the Holy Ghost the Comforter Even the Spirit of Truth which the World receiveth not because it knoweth him not but ye know him and he dwelleth in you and shall be in you I will not leave you I will come to you Jo. 14 16 17. Fourthly As the knowledge of Human things is imperfect and therefore Mens burden and the cause of such Imperfection may be First Gods Wisdom to keep Man from boasting of himself so it may be from the changeableness of Human Objects in reference to times and seasons and also from providential Influence on the Speculative part making it more acute in one Age than in another to shew the absolute Dependance of all Creatures on the Influence of Providence as shall best please God so the Wisdom and Knowledge which is from above and dispensed to Christians on this side of time is also clouded and narrow imperfect and but in part not that the Wisdom of God can be dark but the manifestation thereof may be so said to be in relation to that full fruition after enjoyed for that either Wisdom which is God himself Prov. 8.1 all Thought fit to let out no more of himself to Believers then might be necessary to the Discovery of Carnal and Sinful Vanities and be a guide to lead them to Heaven in longing Appetite after the more Glorious knowledge of himself Or Secondly For that our Crazy and Earthy Vessels as old brittle Bottles were uncapable to receive such inexpressible Communications of himself and these Eternal Mansions of Felicity which are Treasured up in Christ Jesus for the Saints and therefore he allows them no more here than is fit with Comfort to waft them in upon Eternity and then for the further Manifestation of his own glory goodness and wisdom doth exchange our Mortal and vile Bodies of Dust not able to receive such glory into immortal Bodies and then doth manifest himself to the full to the Saints who then shall see not in a shadow only but plainly as they are seen that their glory may be full for we know but in part and prophesie but in part but when that which is perfect is come than that which is in part shall be done away for now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as I am known 1 Cor. 13 9 to 13. and this is that Mystical Union of the Spirit by which the Saints are made one with God in Christ Jesus in that inexpressible knowledge and sight of God whereby they shall be able to stand in his presence face to face and behold his glory and rejoyce in it The Second Branch of Union with God is Holiness God is essentially Holy and Holiness it self whose Name is Holy Isa 51.45 and can as well be divided from himself as from Holiness so who are one with God must be Holy and to be Holy is to be partakers of the Divine Nature Christ the only begotten Son of God and