how many have sown pillows under their people making them sleep so securely that they have never waked till they have been in hell 5 A Minister must bee holy in heart and life 1 In heart How sad is it for a Minister to preach that to others which he never felt in his own soul to exhort others to holiness and himself a stranger to it O that it were not thus too often how many blow the Lords Trumpet with a foul breath 2 In Life The Priests under the Law before they served at the Altar washed in the Lavor such as serve in the Lords house must first bee washed from gross sin in the Lavor of repentance The life of a Minister should be a walking Bible Basil said of Nazianzene he did thunder in his doctrine and lighten in his conversation A Minister must imitate Iohn Baptist who was not only a voice crying Isa â— 3. but a light shining Ioh. 5. 35. they disgrace this excellent calling who live in a contradiction to what they preach they turn their codices into calices their books into cups and though they are Angels by office yet are Devils in their lives Ier. 23. 15. 3. Hee is godly who is good as an Husband he fills up that relation with love Eph. 5. 25. Husbands love your Wives The Vine twisting its branches about the Elm and embracing it may be an emblem of that intire love which should be in the conjugal relation a married condition would be sad if it hath cares to imbitter it and not love to sweeten it Love is the best diamond in the marriage Ring Isaac loved Rebeckah Gen. 24. 57. Unkindnesses in this near relation are very unhappy Wee read in Heathen Authors that Clitemnestra the wife of Agamemnon to revenge an injury received from her Husband first rent the Vail of her chastity and afterwards consented to his death The Husband should shew his love to his Wife by covering infirmities by avoiding occasions of strife by sweet endearing expressions by pious counsel by love-tokens by incouraging what he sees amiable and vertuous in her by mutual prayer by associating with her unless detained by urgency of business The Pilot that goes from his ship and quite leaves it to the merciless waves declares that he doth not esteem it or reckon any treasure to be in it The Apostle gives a good reason why there should be mutual love between Husband and Wife 1 Pet. 3. 7. That your prayers bee not hindred where passions prevail there prayer is either intermitted or interrupted 4 He is godly who is good as a Father 1 A Father must drop holy instructions into his Children Eph. 6 4. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Thus did Abraham Gen. 18. 19. I know Abraham that hee will command his children and his houshold and they shall keep the way of the Lord. Children are young plants which must be watered with good education that they may with Obadiah fear the Lord from their youth up 1 Kings 18. 12. Plato saith in vain doth he expect an harvest who hath been negligent in sowing nor can a parent look to reap any good from a childe where he hath not sown the seed of wholesome instruction and though notwithstanding all counsel and admonition the childe should dye in sin yet it is a comfort to a godly Parent to think that before his childe dyed he gave it spiritual physick 2. A parent must pray for his Children Monica the Mother of Austin prayed for his Conversion and one said It was impossible a Son of so many Prayers and Tears should miscarry The soul of thy Childe is in a snare and wilt not thou pray that it may bee recovered out of the snare of the Devil 2 Tim. 2. 26. many Parents are careful to lay up portions for their children but they do not lay up prayers for them 3 A Parent must give his children discipline Prov. 23. 13. Withhold not correction from the childe for if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not dye The rod beats out the dust and moth of sin a childe indulg'd and humoured in wickedness will prove a burden instead of a blessing David cockered Adonijah 1 King 1. 6. His Father had not displeased him at any time saying why hast thou done so and hee afterwards was a grief of heart to his Father and would have put him besides his throne correction is a hedge of thorns to stop Children in their full Carâ—eir to hell 5 He is godly who is good as a Master a godly man promotes religion in his family he sets up piety in his house as well as in his heart Psalm 101. 2. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart Ioshua 24. 15. I and my houshold will serve the Lord. I find it written in the honor of Cranmer his Family was Palaestra Pietatis a Nursery of Piety A godly mans house is a little Church Col. 4. 15. The Church which is in his house 1. A good man makes known the Oracles of God to them who are under his roof he reads the Word perfumes his house with prayer It is recorded of the Iews that they had sacrifices in their Family as well as in the Tabernacle Exod. 12. 3. 2. A godly man provides necessaries he relives his servants in health and Sickness he is not like that Amalakite who shook off his servant when he was sick 1 Sam. 30. 13. But rather like the good Centurion who sought to Christ for the healing of his sick servant Mat. 8. 5. 3. A godly man sets his servants a good example he is sober and heavenly in his deportment his virtuous life is a fair glass for the servants in the family to dress themselves by 6. He is godly who is good in the Relation of a Childe He honours his parents Philo the Jew placed the fifth Commandment in the first Table as if Children had not performed their whole devotion to God till they had given honour to their Parents This honouring of Parents consists in two things 1. In reverencing their persons which reverence is shown both by humility of speech and gesture The contrary to this is when a Childe doth behave himself unseemly and proudly Among the Lacedemonians if a Childe had carried himself imperiously towards his parent it was published by Authority that it was lawful for the Father to appoint whom he would to be his Heir and to dis-inherit that Childe 2. Honoring of Parents lies in obeying their Commands Eph. 6. 1. Children obey your Parents in the Lord. Duty is the Interest money which children pay their Parents for the Principal they have had from them Christ hath set all Children a pattern of obedience to their Parents Luke 2. 51. He was subject unto them The Rechabites were eminent for this Ierem. 35. 5. 1 set before the Rechabites pots full of wine and said to them drink ye wine but they said we will
things that is all things essential to salvation A godly man hath the good knowledge of the Lord 2 Chron. 30. 22. he hath sound wisdom Prov. 3. 21. he knows God in Christ to know God out of Christ is to know him an enemy but to know him in Christ is sweet and delicious A gracious soul hath the savour of knowledge 2 Cor. 2. 14. There is a great difference between one that hath read of a Countrey or viewed it in the Map and another who hath lived in the Countrey and tasted the Fruits and Spices of it The knowledge wherewith a godly man is adorned hath these eight rare Ingredients in it 1 It is a grounded Knowledge Col. 1. 27. If ye continue in the Faith grounded It is not a believing as the Church believes but 〈◊〉 Knowledge rests upon a double basis 〈◊〉 Word and Spirit the one is a 〈…〉 other a witness saving Knowledge is not pendulous or doubtful but hath a certainty in it Iohn 6. 69. We believe and are sure thou art that Christ 2 Cor. 5 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being always confident a godly man holds no more then he will dye for The Martyrs were so confirmed in the knowledge of the Truth that they would seal it with their bloud 2. It is an appretiative knowledge The Lapidary is said to know a Jewel who hath skill to value it He knows God who esteems him above the glory of heaven and the comforts of the earth To compare other things with God is to debase Deity as if you should compare the shining of a Gloworm with the Sun 3. The knowledge of a godly man is quickning Psalm 119. 93. I will never forget thy Precepts for with them thou hast quickned me Knowledge in a natural mans head is like a Torch in a dead mans hand True knowledge animates A godly man is like Iohn Baptist a burning and a shining Lamp He doth not only shine by illumination but burn by affection The Spouses knowledge made her sick of love Cant. 2. 5. Perâ—ulsa sum I am wounded with love I am like a Deer that is struck with a Dart my Soul lies a bleeding and nothing can cure me but a sight of him whom my Soul loves 4. Divine Knowledge is appropriating Ioh 19. 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth A Medicine is best when it is applyed this applicative Knowledge is joyful Christ is called a Surety Hebr. 7. 22. O what joy when I am drowned in debt to know that Christ is my Surety Christ is called an Advocate 1 Ioh. 2. 1. The Greek word for Advocate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Comforter O what comfort is it when I have a bad Cause to know Christ is my Advocate who never lost any Cause he pleaded Quest. But how shall I know that I make a right application of Christ an Hypocrite may think he applyes when he doth not Balaam though a Sorcerer yet said My God Numb 22. 18. Answ. 1. He who rightly applyes Christ puts these two together Iesus and Lord Phil. 3. 8. Christ Iesus my Lord Many take Christ as a Iesus but refuse him as a Lord. Do you joyn Prince and Saviour Act. 5. 31. Would you as well be ruled by Christs Laws as saved by his Bloud Christ is a Priest upon his Throne Zac. 6. 13. He will never be a Priest to intercede unless your hear be the Throne where he sways his Scepter A true applying of Christ is when we so take him for an Husband that we give up our selves to him as a Lord. 2. He who rightly applyes Christ fetcheth virtue from him The Woman in the Gospel having touched Christ felt virtue coming from him and her fountain of bloud was dried up Mar. 5. 29. This is to apply Christ when we feel a sin mortifying virtue flow from him Naturalists tell us there is an Antipathy between the Diamond and the Loadstone insomuch that if a piece of iron be laid by the Diamond the Diamond will not suffer it to be drawn away by the Loadstone So that knowledge which is applicatory hath an antipathy against sin and will not suffer the heart to be drawn away by it 5. The knowledge of a godly man is transforming 2 Cor. 3. 8. We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image As a Painter looking upon a face draws a face like it in the Picture So looking upon Christ in the glass of the Gospel we are changed into his similitude We may look upon other objects that are glorious yet not be made glorious by them A deformed face may look upon beauty and yet not be made beautiful a wounded man may look upon a Chyrurgion and yet not be healed but this is the Excellency of Divine Knowledge it gives us such a sight of Christ as makes us partake of his Nature as Moses when he had seen Gods back-parts his face shined some of the Rays and Beams of Gods glory fell upon him 6. The knowledge of a godly man is self-emptying carnal knowledge makes the head giddy with pride 1 Cor. 8. 2. True knowledge brings a man out of love with himself the more he knows the more he blusheth at his own ignorance David a bright Star in Gods Church yet he thought himself rather a Cloud than a Star Psalm 73. 22. 7. The knowledge of a godly man is growing Col. 1. 10. Encreasing in the knowledge of God True knowledge is like the light of the morning which encreaseth in the Horizon till it comes to the full Meridian So sweet is Spiritual Knowledge that the more a Saint knows the more thirsty he is of knowledge 't is called the Riches of Knowledge 1 Cor. 1. 5. the more riches a man hath the more still he desires though S. Paul knew Christ yet he would know him more Phil. 3. 10. that I may know him and the power of his Resurrection 8. The knowledge of a godly man is practick Iohn 10. 4. The Sheep follow him for they know his voice Though God requires knowledge more than burnt-offering Hos. 6. 6 yet it is a knowledge accompanied with obedience True knowledge doth not only mend a Christians sight but mends his pace 'T is a reproach to a Christian to live in a contradiction to his knowledge to know he should be strict and holy yet to live loosly Not to obey is all one as not to know 1 Sam. 2. 12. The Sons of Eli knew not the Lord they could not but know for they taught others the knowledge of the Lord yet they are said not to know because they did not obey when Knowledge and Practise like Castor and Pollux appear together then they presage much happiness Use 1. Let us try our selves by this Character 1. Are they godly who are still in the Region of darkness Pro. 19. 2. That the Soul be without knowledge it is not
with my Love Christ. The Bird desires to be out of the Cage though it be hung with Pearl Such is the love a gracious Soulbears to God that many waters cannot quench it he loves a frowning God Though I am out of sign and clean forgot Let me not love thee if I love thee not A godly man loves God though he be reduced to straits A Mother and her Childe of nine years old being ready to perish with hunger the Childe looking upon its Mother said Mother do you think God will starve us No Childe said the Mother he will not The Childe replied But if he do we must love him and serve him Use. Let us try our godliness by this Touch-stone Do we love God Is he our Treasure and Center Can we with David call God our Ioy yea our exceeding Ioy Psal. 43. 4. Do we delight in drawing nigh to him and come before him with singing Psal. 100. 2. Do we love him for his Beauty more than his Iewels Do we love him when he seems not to love us If this be sign of a godly man how few will be found in the number Where is the man whose heart is dilated in love to God Many court him but few love him People are for the most part eaten up with self-love they love their ease their worldly profit their lusts but they have not a drop of love to God Did they love God would they be so willing to be rid of him Iob 21. 14. They say to the Almighty depart from us Did they love God would they tear his Name by their Oaths Doth he love his Father who shoots him to the heart Though they worship God they do not love him they are like the Souldiers that bowed the knee to Christ and mocked him Mat. 27. 29. He whose heart is a grave in which the love of God is buried deserves to have that Curse written upon his Tomb-stone 1 Cor. 16. ult Let him be Anathema Maranatha A Soul void of Divine Love is a temper that best suits with damned spirits But I shall wave this and pass to the next SECT IV. 4. A godly man is like God he hath the same judgement with God he thinks of things as God doth he hath a God-like disposition he partakes of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. A godly man doth bear Gods Name and Image godliness is God-likeness 'T is one thing to profess God another thing to resemble him A godly man is like God in Holiness Holiness is the most orient Pearl of the King of Heavens Crown Exod. 15. 11. Glorious in Holiness Gods power makes him Mighty his mercy makes him lovely but his holiness makes him glorious The Holiness of God is the intrinsick purity of his Nature and his abhorrency of sin A godly man bears some kind of Analogy with God in this He hath the Holy Oil of Consecration upon him Psal. 106. 16. Aaron the Saint of the Lord. Holiness is the Badge and Livery of Christs people Isa. 63. 18. The people of thy Holiness The godly are as well an Holy as a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. 9. Nor have they only a Frontispiece of holiness like the Egyptian Temples which were fair without but they are like Solomons Temple which had gold within they have written upon their heart Holiness to the Lord The holiness of the Saints consists in their conformity to Gods Will which is the rule and patern of all Holiness Holiness is a mans glory Aaron put on garments for glory and beauty Exod. 28. 2. So when a person is invested with the embroidered garment of Holiness it is for glory and beauty The goodness of a Christian lies in his Holiness as the goodness of the Air lies in the clearness of it the worth of gold in the pureness Quest. Wherein do the godly discover their holiness Answ. 1. In hating the garment spotted by the flesh Iude 3. The godly do set themselves against evil both in purpose and practise they are fearful of that which looks like sin 1 Thes. 5. 22. The appearance of evil may prejudice a weak Christian If it doth not defile a mans own Conscience it may offend his Brothers Conscience and to sin against him is to sin against Christ 1 Cor. 8. 12. A godly man will not go as far as he may least he go further than he should he will not swallow down all that others bribed with preferment may plead for 'T is easie to put a golden colour upon a rotten stuff 2. The godly discover their holiness in being Advocates for Holiness Psal. 119. 46. I will speak of thy Testimonies before Kings and will not be ashamed When Piety is calumniated in the world the Saints will stand up in the defence of it they will wipe off the dust of a reproach from the face of Religion Holiness defends the godly and they will defend Holiness it defends them from danger and they will defend it from disgrace Use 1. How can those be reputed godly who are unlike God they have nothing of God in them not one shread of holiness They call themselves Christians but blot out the word holiness you may as well call it day at midnight So impudent are some that they boast they are none of the holy ones Is it not the Spirit of Holiness which marks the sheep of Christ from the goats Eph. 1. 13. Ye were sealed or marked with the Holy Spirit And is it a matter for men to boast of that they have none of the Spirits ear-mark upon them Doth not the Apostle say that without holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Such as bless themselves in their unholiness had best go ring the Bells for joy that they shall never see God Others there are that hate holiness sin and holiness never meet but they fight holiness dischargeth its fire of zeal against sin and sin spits its venom of malice at holiness Many pretend to love Christ as a Saviour but hate him as he is the Holy One Act. 3. 14. Use 2. Let us labour to be like God in holiness 1. This is Gods great design he drives on in the world 't is the end of the Word preached the silver drops of the Sanctuary are to water the seed of grace and make a crop of holiness spring up What use is there of the Promises but to bribe us to holiness What are all Gods Providential Dispensations but to excite holiness As the Lord makes use of all the seasons of the year frost and heat to bring on the harvest so all prosperous and adverse providences are for the promoting the work of holiness in the soul. What is the end of the mission of the spirit but to make the heart holy When the ayr is unwholesome by reason of foggy vapours the wind is a fan to winnow and purifie the ayr so the blowing of Gods Spirit upon the heart is
their Dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season So though the Dominion of sin is taken away yet the life of it is prolonged for a season and while sin lives it molests The Persians were daily Enemies to the Râ—mans and would be invading upon their frontiers So sin wars against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. And no cessation of arms till death will not this cause tears 3. A Childe of God weeps that he is sometimes overcome by the prevalency of Corruption Rom. 7. 19. The evil I would not that do I. Paul was like a man carried down the stream How oft is a Saint overpowred with pride and passion When David had sinned he steeped his Soul in the brinish tears of Repentance It cannot but grieve a regenerate person to think he should be so foolish as after he hath felt the smart of sin yet to put this fire in his bosom again 4. A godly heart grieves that he can be no more holy it troubles him that he shoots so short of the Rule and Standard which God hath set I should faith he love the Lord with all my heart But how defective is my love how far short do I come of what I should be nay of what I might have been What can I see in my life but either blanks or blots 5. A godly man weeps sometimes out of the sense of Gods love Gold is the finest and most solid of all the metals yet is soonest melted with the fire Gracious hearts which are golden hearts are the soonest melted into tears by the fire of Gods love I once knew an holy man who walking in his garden and shedding plenty of tears a friend coming to him accidentally asked him why he wept He brake forth into this pathetical expression O the love of Christ the love of Christ Thus have we seen the Cloud melted into water by the Sun-beams 6. A godly person weeps because the sins he commits are in some sense worse than the sins of other men the sin of a justified person is very odious 1. Because he acts contrary to his own principles he doth not only sin against the Rule but against his Principles against his knowledge vows prayers hopes experiences He knows how dear sin will cost him yet he adventures upon the forbidden fruit 2. The sin of a Justified person is odious because it is a sin of unkindness 2 King 11. 9. Peters denying of Christ was a sin against love Christ had enrolled him among the Apostles he had taken him up into the Mount of Transfiguration and showed him the glory of Heaven in a Vision yet after all this signal Mercy that he should deny Christ it was high ingratitude This made him go out and weep bitterly Mat. 26. 75. He baptized himself as it were in his own tears The sins of the godly go neerest to Gods Heart Others sins anger God these grieve him The sins of the wicked pierce Christ sides the sins of the godly wound his heart the unkindness of a Spouse goes neerest the heart of her Husband 3. The sin of a Justified person is odious because it reflects more dishonor upon God 2 Sam. 12. 14. By this deed thou hast given occasion to the Enemies of the Lord to blaspheme The sins of Gods people put black spots in the face of Religion Thus we see what cause there is why a Childe of God should weep even after Conversion Quis talia fando temperet à lachrymis Now this sorrow of a godly man for sin is not a despairing sorrow he doth not mourn without hope Psal. 65. 3. Iniquities prevail against me There is the Holy Soul weeping as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away There is Faith triumphing Divine sorrow is excellent There is as much difference between the sorrow of a godly man and a wicked as between the water of a Spring which is clear and sweet and the water of the Sea which is salt and brackish A godly mans sorrow hath these three qualifications 1. It is internal it is a sorrow of Soul hypocrites disfigure their faces Mat. 6. 16. godly sorrow goes deep it is a pricking at the heart Acts 2. 37. True sorrow is a spiritual Martyrdome therefore called Soul-affliction Lev. 23. 29. 2. Godly sorrow is ingenuous it is more for the evil that is in sin than the evil which follows after it is more for the spot than the sting Hypocrites weep for sin only as it brings affliction I have read of a Fountain that never sends out streams but the Evening before a Famine Hypocrites never send forth the streams of their tears but when Gods Judgements are approaching 3. Godly sorrow is influential it makes the heart better Eccles. 7. 3. By the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better Divine tears do not only wet but wash they purge out the love of sin Use 1. How far are they from being godly who scarce ever shed a tear for sin If they lose a neer Relation they weep but though they are in danger of losing God and their Souls they weep not How few know what it is to be in an Agony for sin or what a broken heart means their eyes are not like the Fish-pools of Heshbon full of water Cant. 7. 4. but rather like the Mountains of Gilboa which had no dew upon them 2 Sam. 1. 21. It was a greater plague for Pharaoh to have his heart turned into stone than to have his Rivers turned into bloud Others if they do sometimes shed a tear yet they are never the better they go on in wickedness and do not drown their sins in their tears Use 2. Let us labour for this Divine Character be weepers This is a repentance not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7. 10. 'T is reported of Mr. Bradford Martyr that he was of a melting spirit he seldome sate down to his meat but some tears trickled down his cheeks There are two Lavors to wash away sin Bloud and Tears The Bloud of Christ washeth away the guilt of sin tears wash away the filth repenting tears are precious God puts them in his bottle Psal. 56. 8. They are beautifying a tear in the eye doth more adorn than a Ring on the finger Oyl makes the face shine Psal. 104. 15. Tears make the heart shine tears are comforting a sinners mirth turns to melancholy a Saints mourning turns to musick Repentance may be compared to Myrrhe which though it be bitter to the taste it is comforting to the spirits Repentance may be bitter to the fleshy part but it is most refreshing to the spiritual Wax that melts is fit for the Seal a melting Soul is fit to take the stamp of all heavenly blessings Let us give Christ the water of our tears and he will give us the Wine of his Bloud SECT IX 9. A godly man is a lover of the Word Psal. 119. 97. O how love I thy Law 1. A
comes from a broken heart Psa. 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit The Incense was to be beaten to typifie the breaking of the heart in Prayer 'T is not the voluble tongue but the melting heart God accepts Oh saith a Christian I cannot pray as others as Moses said to the Lord I am not eloquent But canst thou weep and sigh Doth thy soul melt out at thy eyes God accepts broken expressions when they come from broken hearts I have read of a Plant that bears no fruit but it weeps forth a kind of Gum which is very costly So though thou dost not flourish with those gifts and expressions as others yet if thou canst weep forth tears from a contrite heart these are exceeding precious to God and he will put them in his bottle Iacob wept in prayer and had power ever the Angel Hos. 12. 4. 5. A spiritual Prayer is a believing Prayer Mat. 21. 22. Whatever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive The reason why so many Prayers suffer shipwrack is because they split against the Rock of unbelief Praying without Faith is shooting without bullets When Faith takes Prayer by the hand then we draw neer to God we should come to God in Prayer as the Leper Mat. 8. 2. Lord if thou wilt thou canst heal me 'T is a disparagement to Deity to have such a whisper in the heart that Gods ear is heavy and cannot hear What is said of the people of Israel may be applyed to Prayer It could not enter in because of unbelief 6. A Spiritual Prayer is an holy Prayer 1 Tim. 2. 8. Wherefore lift up pure hands Prayer must be offered upon the Altar of a pure heart sin lived in makes the heart hard and Gods ear deaf sin stops the mouth of Prayer it doth as the Thief to the Traveller puts a Gagg in his mouth that he cannot speak sin poysons and infects prayer A wicked mans prayer is sick of the Plague and will God come neer him The Loadstone loseth its virtue when it is bespread with Garlick so doth prayer when it is polluted with sin Psa 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me 'T is foolish to pray against sin and then to sin against prayer a spiritual prayer like the spirits of Wine must be refined and taken off the Lees and dregs of sin Mal. 3. 3. That they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness If the heart be holy this Altar will sanctifie the gift 7. A spiritual prayer is an humble prayer Psa. 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble Prayer is the asking of an Alms which requires humility Luke 18. 13. The Publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner Gods incomprehensible glory may even amaze us and strike an holy consternation into us when we approach nigh to him Ezra 9. 6. O my God I blush to lift up my face to thee 'T is comely to see a poor nothing lye prostrate at the feet of its Maker Gen. 18. 27. Behold I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes The lower the heart descends the higher the prayer ascends 8. A spiritual prayer is when we pray in the name of Christ To pray in the name of Christ is not only to name Christ in prayer but to pray in the hope and confidence of Christs mediation as a Childe claims his Estate in the right of his Father who purchased it so we come for mercy in Christs Name who hath purchased it for us in his bloud unless we pray thus we do not pray at all nay we rather provoke God as it was with Uzziah when he would offer Incense without a Priest God was angry and struck him with Leprosie 2 Chron. 26. 16. So when we do not come in Christs Name in prayer we offer up Incense without a Priest and what can we expect but to meet with wrath 9. A spiritual prayer is when we pray out of love to prayer A wicked man may pray but he doth not love prayer Iob 27. 10. Will he delight himself in the Almighty A godly man is carried upon the wings of delight he is never so well as when he is praying he is not forced with fear but fired with love Isa. 56. 7. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer 10. A spiritual prayer is when we have spiritual ends in prayer There is a vast difference between a spiritual prayer and a carnal desire the ends of an Hypocrite are secular and carnal he looks asquint in prayer it is not the sense of his spiritual wants that moves him but rather lust Iam. 4. 3. Ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lusts The sinner prays more for food than Grace this God doth not interpret praying but howling Hosea 7. 14. They howled upon their beds they assemble for corn and wine Da modo lucra mihi Prayers which want a good aim want a good answer A godly man hath spiritual ends in prayer he sends out his prayer as a Merchant sends out his Ship that he may have large returns of spiritual blessings his design in prayer is that his heart may be more holy and that he may have more communion with God A godly man drives the Trade of prayer that he may encrease the stock of Grace 11. A spiritual prayer is accompanied with the use of means there must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When Hezekiah was sick he did not only pray for recovery but he laid a lump of figs to the boyl Isa. 38. 21. Thus it is in case of the soul when we pray against sin and avoid temptations when we pray for Grace and improve opportunities this is the laying a fig to the boil which wil make us recover To pray for holiness and neglect the means is like winding up the Clock and pulling off the weights 12. A spiritual prayer is that which leaves a spiritual frame behind upon the heart a Christian is better after prayer he hath gotten more strength over sin as a man by exercise gets strength The heart after prayer keeps a tincture of holiness as the Vessel savours and relisheth of the Wine that is put into it Moses having been with God on the Mount his face shined so having been on the Mount of prayer our Graces shine and our lives shine This is the sign of a godly man he prays in the spirit This is the right kind of praying the gift of prayer is ordinary like Culinary fire but spiritual prayer is more rare and excellent like Elementary fire which comes from heaven Use 1. Is a godly man of a praying spirit then this excludes them from being godly 1. Who pray not at all
him to be silent the Spouse being sick of love her tongue was as the pen of a ready writer Cant. 5. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy his head is of fine gold c. If Wine be in the house the Bush will be hung forth and where there is a principle of godliness in the heart it will vent it self at the lips the Bush will be hung forth How can they be termed godly 1. Who are possessed with a dumb devil They never have any good discourse they are fluent and discoursive enough in secular things they can speak of their wares and drugs they can tell what a good crop they have but in matters of Religion they are as if their tongue did cleave to the roof of their mouth There are many persons if you come into their company you cannot tell what to make of them whether they are Turks or Atheists for they never speak a word of Christ. 2. Whose tongues are set on fire of Hell Their lips do not drop honey but poyson to the defiling of others Plutarch saith speech ought to be like gold which is then of most value when it hath least dross in it O the unclean malicious words that some persons utter What an unsavoury stench comes from these dunghils those lips had need have Davids Bridle that gallop so fast in sin Can the body be healthful when the tongue is black Can the heart be holy when the devil is in the lips A godly man speaks the language of Canaan Mal. 3. 16. They that feared the Lord spake often one to another 4. A godly man is heavenly in his Operation The motions of the Planets are Caelestial A godly man is sublime and sacred in his motions he works out salvation he puts forth all his strength as they did in the Olympicks that he may obtain the Garland made of the Flowers of Paradise he prays fasts watcheth he offers violence to heaven he is divinely acted he carries on Gods Interest in the world he doth Angels work he is in his Operations Seraphical 5. A godly man is heavenly in his Expectation his hopes are above the world Tit. 1. 2. In hope of eternal life A godly man casts Anchor within the vail he hopes to have his fetters of sin filed off he hopes for such things as eye hath not seen he hopes for a Kingdome when he dies a Kingdome promised by the Father purchased by the Son assured by the Holy Ghost as an Heir lives in hope when such a great Estate shall befall him so a Childe of God who is a Co-heir with Christ hopes for glory This hope comforts him in all varieties of condition Rom. 5. 2. We rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God 1. This hope comforts a godly man in affliction hope doth lighten and sweeten the most severe Dispensations A Childe of God can laugh with tears in his eyes the time is shortly coming when the Cross shall be taken off his shoulders and a Crown set upon his head A Saint at present is miserable with a thousand troubles in an instant cloathed with Robes of Immortality and advanced above Seraphims 2. This hope comforts a godly man in death Pro. 14. 32. The righteous hath hope in his death If one should ask a dying Saint when all his earthly comforts were gone what he had left he would say the Helmet of Hope I have read of a Martyr Woman who when the Persecutor commanded that her breasts should be cut off she said Tyrant do thy worst I have two breasts which thou canst not touch the one of Faith the other of Hope A soul that hath this blessed hope is above the desire of life or the fear of death Would one be troubled to exchange a sorry Lease for an Inheritance that will be for him and his Heirs Who would care to part with life which is a Lease will soon be run out to be possessed of a glorious Inheritance in light 6. A godly man is heavenly in his Conversation he casts such a lustre of Holiness as adorns his Profession he lives as if he had seen the Lord with bodily eyes what zeal sanctity humility shines forth in his life A godly person doth emulate not only the Angels but imitate Christ himself 1 Iohn 2. 6. The Macedonians celebrate the Birth-day of Alexander on which day they wear his picture about their necks set with Pearl and rich Jewels so a godly man carries the lively picture of Christ about him in the heavenliness of his deportment Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation is in heaven Use 1. They must needs be cast over the Bar for ungodly who are eaten up with the world godly and earthly is a contradiction Phil. 3. 18 19. For many walk of whom I now tell you even weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ whose god is their belly who mind earthly things We read the earth swallowed up Korah alive Numb 16. 32. This Judgement is on many the earth swallows up their time and thoughts and discourse they are buried twice their hearts are buried in the earth before their bodies How sad is it that the soul that Princely thing which is made for Communion with God and Angels should be put to the Mill to grinde and made Mancipium terrae a slave to the earth How is the soul become like the Prodigal chusing rather to converse with swine and feed upon husks than to aspire after Communion with the blessed Deity Thus doth Satan befool men and keep them from heaven by making them seek an heaven here Use 2. As we would evidence our selves to be born of God let us be of a sublime heavenly temper We shall never go to heaven when we die unless we are in heaven whilest we live That we may be more Noble and raised in our affections let us seriously weigh these four considerations 1. God himself sounds a retreat to us to call us off the world 1 Iohn 2. 15. Love not the world We may use it as a posie of flowers to smell to but it must not lie as a bundle of myrrhe betwixt our breasts Rom. 12. 2. Be ye not conformed to this world do not hunt after the honors and profits of it and as Gods Precepts so his Providences are to beat us off the world Why doth he send War and Pestilence What means the heat of this great anger Surely dying times are to make men die to the world 2. Consider how much below a Christian it is to be earthly-minded We laugh sometimes at Children when we see them busying themselves about toys blowing bubbles in the ayr out of a shell kissing their Babies c. when in the mean time we do the same at death what will all the world be which we so hug and kiss but as a Baby of Clouts it will yield us no more comfort then and to be taken up with these things how far is it
it 2. Patience in bearing This patience is twofold 1. Either in regard of man when we bear injuries without revenging Or 2. In regard of God when we bear his hand without repining A good man will not only do Gods will but bear his will Mica 7. 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord. This patient bearing of Gods will is not 1. A Stoical Apathy Patience is not insensibleness under Gods hand we ought to be sensible 2. It is not patience upon force to bear a thing because we cannot help it which as Erasmus saith is rather necessity than patience But patience is a cheerful submission of our will to God Act. 21. 4. The will of the Lord be done A godly man doth acquiesce in what God doth as being not only good but best for him The great quarrel between God and us is whose will shall stand Now the Regenerate will falls in with the will of God â—here are four things opposite to this patient â—ame of soul. 1. Disquiet of spirit When the soul is discomposed and pulled off the hinges insomuch that it is unfit for holy duties when the strings of a Lute are snarled the Lute is not fit to make Musick so when a Christians spirit is perplexed and disturbed he cannot make melody in his heart to the Lord. 2. Discontent which is a sullen dogged humour When a man is not angry at his sins but at his condition this is different from patience Discontent is the daughter of pride 3. Prejudice which is a dislike of God and his ways and a falling off from Religion Sinners have hard thoughts of God and if he doth but touch them in a tender part they will presently be gone from him and throw off his Livery 4. Self-vindication when instead of being humbled under Gods hand a man justifies himself as if he had not deserved what he suffers A proud sinner stands upon his own defence and is ready to accuse God of unrighteousness which is as if we should tax the Sun with darkness this is far from patience A godly man subscribes to Gods wisdome and submits to his will he saith not only good is the Word of the Lord Isa. 3â—â—8 but good is the Rod of the Lord. Use. As we would demonstrate our selves godly let us be eminent in this grace of patience Eccles. 7. 8. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit There are some Graces which we shall have no need of in heaven we shall have no need of Faith when we have full Vision nor patience when we have perfect joy but in a dark sorrowful night there is need of these stars to shine Let us show our patience in bearing Gods will patience in bearing Gods will is two-fold 1. When God removes any comfort from us 2. When God imposeth any evil upon us 1. We must be patient when God removes any comfort from us Doth God take away any of our Relations Ezek. 24. 16. I will take away the desire of thine eyes with a stroak yet it is our duty patiently to acquiesce in the Will of God The loss of a dear Relation is like the pulling away a Limb from the body Homo toties moritur quoties amittit suos But grace will make our hearts calm and sedate and work us to an holy patience under such a severe dispensation I shall lay down eight considerations which may be as spiritual Physick to kill the worm of impatience under the loss of Relations 1. The Lord never takes away any comfort from his people but he gives them that which is better The Disciples parted with Christs corporal presence and he sent them the Holy Ghost God eclipseth one joy and augments another he doth but make an exchange he takes away a Flower and gives a Diamond 2. Godly friends dying are in a better condition they are taken away from the evil to come Isa. 57. 1. They are out of the storm and are gotten to the Haven Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord Rev. 14. 13. The godly have a portion promised them upon their marriage with Christ but the portion is not paid till the day of their death The Saints at death are preferred to Communion with God they have that they so long hoped for and prayed for why then should we be impatient at our friends preferment 3. Thou that art a Saint hast a friend in heaven which thou canst not lose The Jews have a saying at their Funerals Let thy consolation be in heaven Art thou a close Mourner look up to heaven and fetch comfort thence thy best kindred are above Psa 27. 10 When my Father and Mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up God will be with thee in the hour of death Psa. 23. 4. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death thou art with me Other friends thou canst not keep God is a friend thou canst not lose he will be thy Guide in life thy Hope in death thy Reward after death 4 Perhaps God is correcting thee for a fault and it so it becomes thee to bee patient it may bee thy friend had more of thy love than God and therefore God did take away such a relation that the stream of thy love may run bak to him again A gracious woman having been deprived first of her Children then of her Husband Lord saith she thou hast a plot upon me thou intendest to have all my love God doth not like it to have any Creature set upon the throne of our affections hee will take away that comfort and then he shall lye nearest our heart If an Husband bestow a jewel upon his Wife and she doth so fall in love with that jewel as to forget her Husband hee will take away the jewel that her love may return to him again a dear relation is this jewel if we begin to idolize it God will take away the jewell that our love may return to him â—gain 5 A Godly Relation is parted with but not lost that is lost which wee are out of hope ever of seeing again religious friends are but gone a little before A time will shortly come when there shall bee a meeting without parting 1 Thes. 5. 10. How glad is one friend to see another that hath been long absent Oh what glorious acclamations shall there bee when old relations shall meet together in heaven and be in each others embraces when a great prince lands at the shore the guns go off in token of joy when godly friends shall be all landed at the heavenly shore and shall congratulate one anothers felicity what stupendious joy will there be what musick in the quire of Angels how will heaven ring of their praises and that which is the crown of all they who were here joyned in the flesh shall bee joyned nearer than ever in the mystical body and shall lye together in Christs bosome that bed of
drink no wine for Jonadab the son of Rechab our Father commanded us saying Ye shall drink no wine neither ye nor your sons for ever Solon among the many Laws he made one asked him Why he made no Law against disobedient Children he answered because he thought none would be so wicked God hath punished Children who have refused to pay the tribute of obedience Absalom a disobedient son was hanged in an Oak betwixt Heaven and Earth as being worthy of neither Manlius an old man being reduced to much poverty and having a rich son he entreated him only for an alms but could not obtain it the son disowned him as his Father and gave him reproachful language the poor old man let tears fall as witnesses of his grief and went away God to revenge this disobedience of the son soon after struck him with phrensie he in whose heart godliness lives makes as well Conscience of the fifth Commandment as the first 6. He is godly who is good as a servant Col. 3. 22. Eph. 6. 5. Servants be subject to them who are your Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling The goodness of servants lies 1. In diligence Abrahams servant made haste to dispatch the business his Master intrusted him with Gen. 24. 33. 2. Chearfulness Servants must be Free-willers Thus the Centurions servants Luke 7. 8. If I say to one go he goes 3. Faithfulness which consists in two things 1. In not defrauding Titus 2. 10. Not purloyning 2. In keeping counsel it argues the badness of a stomack when it cannot retain what is put into it and the badness of a servant when he cannot retain those secrets which his Master hath committed to him 4. Silentness Titus 2. 9. Not answering â—â—gain 'T is better to mend a fault than to mince it and that which may quicken a servant in his work is that encouraging Scripture Col. 3. 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the Inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ. If Christ should bid you do a piece of work for him would ye not do it While you serve your Master you serve the Lord Christ If you ask what Salary you shall have Ye shall receive the reward of the Inberitance Use 1. Is this the Grand Sign of a godly man to be relatively holy 〈◊〉 â—hen the Lord be merciful to us how few godly ones are to be found Many put on the Coat of Profession they will pray and discourse of points of Religion but what means the bleating of the sheep They are not good in their Relations How ill doth it sound when Christians are defective in Relative Piety Can we call him godly who is a bad Magistrate He perverts equity Psalm 58. 1. Do ye judge uprightly O ye sons of men You weigh the violence of your hands in the earth Can we call him godly who is a bad Parent He never teacheth his Childe the way to heaven He is like the Ostrich which is cruel to her young Iob 39. 19. Can we call him godly who is a bad Master Many Masters leave their Religion at Church as the Clerk doth his book they have nothing of God at home their houses are not Bethels but Beth-avens not little Temples but little Hells How many Masters at the last day must hold up their hand at the Bar though they have fed their servants bellies they have starved their souls Can we call him godly who is a bad Childe He stops his ear to his Parents counsel you may as well call him a good subject who is disloyal Can we call him godly who is a bad servant He is slothful and wilful he is more ready to spy a fault in another than to mend it in himself To call one godly who is bad in his Relations is a contradiction it is to call evil good Isa. 5. 20. Use 2. As we desire to have God approve us let us show forth godliness in our Relations Not to be good in our relations spoils all our other good things Naaman was an honourable man but hee was a Leaper 2 King 5. 1. That But spoiled all so such an one is a great hearer but he neglects relative duties this stains the beauty of all his other actions as in Printing though the Letter be never so well carved yet if it be not set in the right place it spoils the sense so let a man have many things commendable in him yet if he be not good in his right place making conscience how he walks in his relations he doth hurt to religion There are many to whom Christ will say at last as to the young man Luk. 18. 22. Unum deest yet lackest thou one thing thou hast miscarried in thy relative capacity as therefore we tender our salvation and the honour of religion let us shine forth in that Orb of relation where God hath fixed us SECT XXI 21 A godly man doth spiritual things in a spiritual manner Phil. 3. 3. Wee are the Circumcision which worship God in the spirit Spirit-worship is Virgin-worship 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye are built up a spiritual house an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices not only spiritual for the matter but the quality a wicked man either lives in the total neglect of duty or else dischargeth it in a dull careless manner in stead of using the world as if he used it not hee serves God as if hee served him not a godly man spiritualizeth duty hee is not only for the doing of holy things but for the holy doing of things Quest. What is it to perform spiritual duties spiritually Answ. It consists in three things 1. To do duties from a spiritual principle viz. a renewed principle of grace let a man have gifts to admiration let him have the most melting ravishing expressions let him speak like an Angel dropped out of heaven yet his duties may not be spiritual because he wants the grace of the spirit whatever a moral unregenerate person doth is but nature refined though he may do duties better than a godly man yet not so well better as to the matter and elegancy yet not so well as wanting a renewed principle a Crab-tree may bear as well as a Pippin the fruit may be bigger and fairer to the eye yet it is not so good fruit as the other because it doth not come from so good a stock so an unregenerate person may perform as many duties as a childe of God and these may seem to be more glorious to the outward view but they are harsh and sower because they do not come from the sweet and pleasant root of grace a true Saint gives God that wine which comes from the pure grape of the spirit 2 To perform duties spiritually is to do them with the utmost intention a Christian is very serious and labours to keep his thoughts close to the work in hand 1 Cor. 7. 35. That ye
all by loosing all this the natural man will by no means put in his Creed 3 That a little Religion will serve the turn the life-less form may in policy be kept up but zeal is Frenzy the world thinks that religion to be best which like leaf-gold is spread very thin 4 That way is not good which is exposed to affliction a stick though it be straight yet under water it seems crooked So Religion if it be under affliction appears to a carnal eye crooked 5 That all a mans care should be for the present as that prophane Cardinal said he would leave his part in Paradise to keep his Cardinalship in Paris 6 That Sinning is better than Suffering 't is more discretion to keep the skin whole than the Conscience pure These are such Rules as the Crooked Serpent hath found out which whosoever walk by shall not know Peace 2 They walk after fleshly lusts they do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 turn Caterers for the flesh Rom. 13. 14. such an one was the Emperour Heliogabalus he so indulged the flesh that he never sate but among sweet flowers mixed with Amber and Musk he attired himself with Purple set with precious stones he burned in his Lamps instead of oyle a costly Balsome brought from Arabia very odoriferous he bathed himself in perfumed waters he did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he put his body to no other use but to be a strainer for meat and drink to run thorow Thus Sinners walk after the flesh if a drunken or unclean lust call they gratifie it they brand all for cowards who dare not sin after the same rate as they do These instead of walking with God walk contrary to him Lust is the Compass they sail by Satan is their Pilot and Hell the Port they are bound for Use 2 Let us try whether we have this Character of the godly do we walk with God That may be known 1 By the way we walk in it is a private retired way wherein only some few holy ones walk therefore it is called a Path-way to distinguish it from the common road Pro. 12. 28. In the path-way thereof is no death 2 If we walk with God then we walk in the fear of God Gen. 5. 22. Enoch walked with God The Chalde Version renders it he walked in the fear of the Lord the godly are fearful of that which may displease God Gen. 39. 9. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God this is not a base servile fear but 1 A fear springing from affection Hos. 3. 5. a childe fears to offend his father out of the tender affection he bears to him This made holy Anselm say If Sin were on one side and Hell on the other I would rather leap into Hell than willingly offend my God 2 It is a fear joyned with affiance Heb. 11. 7. By faith Noah moved with fear Faith and fear go hand in hand when the soul looks upon Gods holiness he fears when he looks upon Gods promises he beleeves A godly man doth tremble yet trust fear preserves reverence faith preserves chearfulness fear keeps the soul from lightness faith keeps it from overmuch sadness By this we may know whether we walk with God if we walk in the fear of God we are fearful of infringing his Laws and forfeiting his love It is a brand set upon sinners Rom. 3. 18. They have not the fear of God before their eyes The godly fear and offend not Psa. 4. 4. the wicked offend and fear not Ierem. 5. 23 24. Loose and dissolute walking will soon estrange God from us and make him weary of our company 2 Cor. 6. 4. What communion hath light with darkness Use 2. Let me perswade all who would be accounted godly to get into Noahs walk Though the truth of grace be in the heart yet the beauty of it is seen in the walk 1. Walking with God is very pleasing to God He that walks with God declares to the world what is the company he loves most his fellowship is with the Father he counts those the sweetest hours which are spent with God this is very grateful and acceptable to God Gen. 5. 24. Enock walked with God And see how kindly God took this at Enocks hands Heb. 11. 4. He had this testimony that he pleased God 2. Close walking with God will be a good means to intice and allure others to walk with him The Apostle exhorts Wives to walk so that the Husbands might be won by the Conversation of the Wives 1 Pet. 3. 1. Iustin Martyr confessed he became a Christian by beholding the holy and innocent lives of the Primitive Saints 3. Close walking with God would put to silence the Adversaries of the Truth 1 Pet. 2. 15. A loose carriage puts a Sword into wicked mens hands to wound Religion What a sad thing is it when it shall be said of Professors they are as proud as coverous as unjust as others Will not this expose the ways of God to contempt But holy and close walking would stop the mouths of sinners that they should not be able to speak against Gods people without giving themselves the lye Satan came to Christ and found nothing in him Iohn 14. 30. What a confounding thing will it be to the wicked when they shall have nothing to fasten as a crime upon the godly but their holiness Dan. 6. 5. We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the Law of his God 4. Walking with God is a pleasant walk The ways of Wisdome are called Pleasantness Pro. 3. 17. Is not the light pleasant Psal. 89. 15. They shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance Walking with God is like walking among Beds of Spices which send forth a fragrant perfume This is it which brings peace Act. 9. 31. Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the joys of the Holy Ghost While we walk with God what sweet Musick doth the Bird of Conscience make in our breast Psal. 138. 5. They shall sing in the ways of the Lord. 5. Walking with God is honourable it is a credit for one of an inferiour rank to walk with a King What greater dignity can be put upon a mortal man than to converse with his Maker and to take a turn with God every day 6. Walking with God leads to rest Heb. 4. 9. There remains a rest for the people of God The Philosopher saith Motion tends to rest Indeed there is a motion which doth not tend to rest they who walk with their sins shall never have rest Re. 4. 8. They rest not day night But they that walk with God shal sit down in the Kingdom of God Luk. 13. 29. As a weary traveller when he comes home sits down and rests him Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in
my Throne A Throne denotes Honor sitting denotes rest 7. Walking with God is the most safe walking Walking in the ways of sin is like walking upon the edge of a River The sinner treads upon the banks of the bottomless Pit and if Death gives him a jogg he tumbles in but it is safe going in Gods way Pro. 3. 23. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely He walks safe who walks with a Guard he that walks with God shall have Gods Spirit to guard him from sin and Gods Angels to guard him from danger Psal. 91. 11. 8. Walking with God will make death sweet It was Augustus his wish that he might have an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a quiet easie death without much pain If any thing make our Pillow easie at death it will be this that we have walked with God in our Generation Do we think walking with God can do us any hurt Did we ever hear any cry out upon their Death-bed that they have been too holy that they have prayed too much or walked with God too much No that which hath cut them to the heart hath been this that they have walked no more closely with God they have wrung their hands and torn their hair to think that they have been so bewitched with the pleasures of the World Close walking with God will make our Enemy Death to be at peace with us King Ahashuerus when he could not sleep called for the Book of Records and read in it Esther 6. 1. So when the violence of sickness causeth sleep to depart from our eyes and we can call for Conscience that Book of Records and find written in it such a day we humbled our souls by fasting such a day our hearts melted in prayer such a day we had sweet communion with God what a reviving will this be How may we look death in the face with comfort and say Lord now take us up to thee in Heaven where we have so often been by affection let us now be by fruition 9 Walking with God is the best way to know the minde of God friends who walk together impart their secrets one to another Psa. 25. 14. The secrets of the Lord is with them that fear him Noah walked with God and the Lord revealed a great secret to him of destroying the Old World and saving him in the Ark. Abraham walked with God Gen. 24. 40. and God made him one of his Privy-council Gen. 18. 17. Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do God doth sometimes sweetly unbosome himself to the soul in Prayer and in the holy Supper as Christ made himself known to the Disciples in the breaking of bread Luk. 24. 35 10 They who walk with God shall never be wholly left of God the Lord may retire himself for a time to make his people cry after him the more but he will not quite leave them Isa. 54. 8. I hid my face for a moment but with everlasting kindeness will I have mercy on thee God will not cast off any of his old acquaintance he will not part with one that hath born him company Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him Gen. 5. 24. He took him up to heaven as the Arabick renders it Enoch was lodged in the bosome of divine Love Quest. How may we do to walk with God Answ. 1 Get out of the old road of sin hee that would walk in a pleasant meadow must turn out of the road The way of sin is full of Travellers there are so many travelling in this road that hell though it be of a great circumference is fain to enlarge it self and make room for them Isa. 5. 14. This way of sin seems pleasant but the end is damnable I have saith the Harlot perfumed my bed with Mirrhe Aloes and Cinamon Prov. 7. 17. See how with one sweet the Cinamon there were two bitters Myrrhe and Aloes for that little sweet in sin at present there will be a far greater proportion of bitterness afterwards Therefore get out of these briars you cannot walk with God and sin 2 Cor. 6. 14. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness 2 If you would walk with God get acquaintance with him Iob 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him Know God in his attributes and promises strangers do not walk together 3 Get all differences removed Amos 3. 3. Can two walk together except they are agreed This agreement and reconciliation is made by faith Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood When once we are friends then we shall be called up to the Mount as Moses and have this dignity conferred on us to bee the favourites of heaven and to walk with God 4 If you would walk with God get a liking to the vvaies of God They are adorned vvith beauty Prov. 4. 18. svveetned vvith pleasure Prov. 3. 17. fenced vvith truth Rev. 15. 3. accompanied vvith Life Acts 2. 28. lengthned with eternity Hab. 3. 6. be enamoured with the way of Religion and you will soon walk in it 5 If you would walk with God take hold of his arm such as walk in their own strength will soon grow weary and tire Psal. 71. 16. I will go in the strength of the Lord God We cannot walk with God without God let us press him with his promise Isa. 36. 27. I will cause you to walk in my statutes If God take us by the hand then we shall walk and not faint Isa. 40. 31. SECT XXIV 24 He who is godly labours to be an instrument of making others godly he is not content to go to heaven alone but would bring others thither Spiders work only for themselves but Bees work for others A godly man is both a Diamond and a Load-stone a Diamond for the sparkling lustre of grace and a Load-stone for his attractiveness he is ever drawing others to the embracing of Piety Living things have a propagating virtue where Religion lives in the heart there will be an endeavour to propagate the life of grace in those we converse with Philemon v. 10. My son Onesimus whom I have begotten in my bonds Though God be the fountain of grace yet the Saints are pipes to transmit living streams to others This thirsty endeavour after the conversion of souls proceeds 1 From the nature of Godliness it is like fire which assimilates and turns every thing into its own nature where there is the fire of grace in the heart it will endeavour to inflame others grace is an holy leaven which will be seasoning and leavening others with divine principles Paul would fain have converted Agrippa how did he court him with Rhetorick Act. 26. 27. King Agrippa beleevest thou the Prophets I know that thou beleevest his Zeal and Eloquence had almost captivated the King ver 28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian. 2 A godly man attempts the
grace shine in his soul and the next day his light put out in obscurity This would spill a Christians comfort and break asunder the golden Chain of Salvation but be assured O Christian he who hath begun a good work will ripen it into perfection Christ will send forth judgement unto victory he will make grace victorious over all opposite corruption If grace should finally perish what would become of the smoaking flax And how would that title properly be given to Christ Finisher of the Faith Object No question this is an undoubted priviledge to such as are smoaking flax and have the least beginnings of grace but I fear I am not smoaking flax I cannot see the light of grace in my self Answ. That I may comfort the smoaking flax why dost thou thus dispute against thy self What makes thee think thou hast no grace I believe thou hast more than thou wouldst be willing to part with thou valuest grace above the gold of Ophir How couldst thou see the worth and lustre of this Jewel if Gods Spirit had not opened thy eyes Thou wouldst fain believe and mournest that thou canst not believe are not these tears the Initials of Faith Thou desirest Christ and canst not be satisfied without him this beating of the pulse evidenceth life The iron could not move upward if the Loadstone did not draw it the heart could not ascend in holy breathings after God if some heavenly Loadstone had not been drawing it Christian canst thou say sin is thy burden Christ is thy delight and as Peter once said Lord thou knowest I love thee This is smoaking flax and the Lord will not quench it thy grace shall flourish into glory God will sooner extinguish the light of the Sun than extinguish the dawning light of his spirit in thy heart 2. Let a Christian pursue his duty There are two duties required of believers 1. Love 2. Labour 1. Love Will not the Lord quench the smoaking flax but make it at last victorious over all opposition how should the smoaking flax flame in love to God Psal. 31. 23. love the Lord all ye his Saints The Saints owe much to God and when they have nothing to pay it is hard if they cannot love him O ye Saints it is God who carries on grace progressively in your souls He is like a Father who gives his son a small stock of money to begin with and when he hath traded a little he adds more to the stock So God adds continually to your stock he is every day dropping oyl into the lamp of your grace and so keeps the lamp burning This may inflame your love to God who will not let the work of grace miscarry but will bring it to perfection The smoaking flax he will not quench How should Gods people long for heaven when it will be their constant work to breathe forth love and found forth praise 2. The second duty required of Christians is labour Some may think if Christ will not quench the smoaking flax but make it burn brighter to the Meridian of glory then we need take no pains but leave God to bring his own work about Take heed of drawing so bad a Conclusion from such good premises What I have spoken is to encourage Faith not to indulge sloath Do not think God will do our work for us and we sit still As God will blow up the spark of grace by his spirit so we must be blowing it up by holy endeavours God will not bring us to heaven sleeping but praying The Lord told Paul all in the Ship should come safe to shore but it must be in the use of means Act. 27. 21. Except ye abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved So the Saints shall certainly arrive at Salvation they shall come to shore at last but they must abide in the Ship in the use of Ordinances else they cannot be saved Christ assures his Disciples None shall pluck them out of his hand Ioh. 10. 28. But yet he gives that counsel Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Mat 26. 41. The seed of God shall not die but we must water it with our tears the smoaking flax shall not be quenched but we must blow it up with the breath of our endeavour The second comfort to the godly is that godliness advanceth them into a near and glorious union with Jesus Christ But of this in the next CHAP. XII Shewing the Mystical union between Christ and the Saints CANT 2. 16. My beloved is mine and I am his IN this Book of the Canticles we see the love of Christ and his Church running toward each other in a full torrent The Text contains three general Parts 1 A Symbol of affection my beloved 2 A term of appropriation is mine 3 An holy resignation I am his Doct. That there is a conjugal union between Christ and beleevers The Apostle having treated at large of marriage he windes up the whole chapter thus Eph. 5. 32. This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church what nearer than union what sweeter there is a twofold union with Christ 1 A natural union this all men have Christ having taken their nature upon him and not the Angels Heb. 2. 16. but if there be no more than this natural union it will give little comfort thousands are damned though Christ be united to their nature 2 There is a sacred union whereby we are mystically united to Christ the union with Christ is not personal if Christs essence were transfused into the person of a beleever then it would follow that all which a beleever doth should merit But the union between Christ and a Saint is 1 Faederal my beloved is mine God the Father gives the bride God the Son receives the bride God the Holy ghost tyes the knot in marriage he knits our wills to Christ and Christs love to us 2 This union is vertual Christ unites himself to his spouse by his graces and influences Iohn 1. 16. Of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace Christ makes himself one with the spouse by conveying his Image and stamping the impress of his own holiness upon her This union with Christ may well be called mystical it is hard to describe the manner of it as it is hard to shew the manner how the soul is united to the body so how Christ is united to the soul but though this union be spiritual it is real Things in nature work often insensibly yet really Eccles. 11. 5. we do not see the hand move on the Dial yet it moves the Sun exhales and draws up the vapours of the earth insensibly yet really so the union between Christ and the soul though it be imperceptible to the eye of reason yet is real 1 Cor. 6. 17. Before this union with Christ there must be a separation the heart must be separated from all other lovers as in marriage there is a leaving of
Father and Mother Psa. 45. 10. Forget also thine own people and thy Fathers house So there must be a leaving of our former sins a breaking off the old league with hell before wee can bee united to Christ Hos. 14. 8. Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols or as it is in the Hebrew with sorrows Those sins which before were looked upon as lovers now they are sorrows there must be a divorce before an union The end of our conjugal union with Christ is twofold 1 Co-habitation this is one end of marriage to live together Ephes. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts it is not enough to give Christ a few complemental visits in his ordinances hypocrites may do so but there must be a mutual associating we must dwell upon the thoughts of Christ 1 Iohn 3. 24. he that dwelleth in God married persons should not live asunder 2 Fructification Rom. 7. 4. That ye should 〈◊〉 married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God the Spouse brings forth the fruits of the spirit love joy peace long-suffering gentleness Gal. 5. 22. Barrenness is a shame in Christs spouse This marriage-union with Christ is the most noble and excellent union 1 Christ unites himself to many in other marriages there is but a person taken but here millions are taken alas else poor souls might cry out Christ hath married himself to such an ones person but what is that to me I am left out no Christ marries himself to thousands 't is casta polygamia an holy and chaste polygamy multitudes of persons doth not defile this marriage-bed no poor sinner but bringing an humble beleeving heart may be married to Christ. 2 In this holy marriage is a nearer conjunction than can be in any other in other marriages two make one flesh but Christ and the beleever make one spirit 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit now as the soul is more excellent than the body and admits of far greater joy so this spiritual union brings in more astonishing delights and ravishments than any other marriage-relation is capable of the joy that flows from the mystical union is unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. 3 This union with Christ never ceaseth Foelices ter amplius quos irrupta tenet copula Other marriages are soon at an end Death cuts asunder the marriage-knot but this conjugal union is eternal thou that art once Christs spouse shalt never be a widdow more Hos. 2. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever to speak properly our marriage with Christ begins where other marriages end at death In this life is but the contract the Iews had a time set between their espousals and marriage sometimes a year or more in this life is but the affiancing and contract promises are made on both sides and love passeth secretly between Christ and the soul he gives some smiles of his face and the soul sends up her sighs and drops tears of love But all this is but a praevious work and something tending to the marriage the glorious compleating and solemnizing of the Nuptials is reserved for heaven there is the marriage-supper of the Lamb Rev. 19. 9. and the Bed of glory perfumed with love where the souls of the elect shall be perpetually solacing themselves 1 Thes. 4. 17. then shall we ever be with the Lord so that death doth but begin our marriage with Christ. Use 1 If Christ be the head of the body Mystical Ephes. 1. 22. then this Doctrine doth behead the Pope that man of sin who usurps this prerogative to be Ecclesiae caput the head of the Church and so would defile Christs marriage-bed what blasphemy is this two heads is monstrous Christ is head as he is husband there is no vice-husband no deputy in his room The Pope is the Beast in the Revelation to make him head of the Church what were this but to set the head of a Beast upon the body of a Man Use 2 Is there such a conjugal union let us try whether we are united to Christ. 1 Have we chosen Christ to set our love upon and is this choice founded upon knowledge 2 Have we consented to the match 't is not enough that Christ is willing to have us but are we willing to have him God doth not so force salvation upon us as that wee shall have Christ whether wee will or no we must consent to have him many approve of Christ but do not give their consent and this consent must be 1 Pure and genuine we consent to have him for his own worth and excellency Psa. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the Children of men 2 It must be a present consent 2 Cor. 6. 2. now is the accepted time if we put Christ off with delayes and excuses perhaps he will come no more he will leave off wooing his spirit shall no longer strive and then poor finner what wilt thou do when Gods wooing ends thy woes begin 3 Have we taken Christ faith is vinculum unionis the bond of the union Christ is joyned to us by his spirit and we are joyned to him by faith Faith tyes the marriage-knot 4 Have we given up our selves to Christ thus the spouse in the Text I am his as if she had said all I have is for the use and service of Christ have we made a surrender have wee given up our name and will to Christ when the Devil solicites by a temptation do we say we are not our own we are Christs our tongues are his wee must not defile them with oathes our bodies ar◠his temple we must not pollute them with sin if it be thus it is a sign the Holy ghos◠hath wrought this blessed union between Christ and us Use 3. Is there this Mystical Union then from hence we may draw many Inferences 1. See the dignity of all true believers they are joyned in Marriage with Christ there is not only assimilation but union they are not only like Christ but one with Christ This honor have all the Saints A King marrying a Beggar by virtue of the union she is ennobled and made of the Bloud-Royal 〈◊〉 wicked men are united to the Prince of darkness and he settles Hell upon them for their Jointure So the godly are divinely united to Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. By virtue of this Sacred Union the Saints are dignified above the Angels Christ is their Lord but not their Husband 2. See how happily all the Saints are married they are united to Christ who is the best Husband Cant. 5. 10. The chief of ten thousand Christ is a Husband that cannot be parallel'd 1. For tender care 2. For ardent affection 1. For tender care The Spouse cannot be so tender of her own soul and credit as Christ is
prosperity 183 How wee may know whether wee are rightly thankful 185 Motives to thankfulness 189 How to get a thankful heart 194 Thanksgiving a more noble part of Gods worship 181 Time to be redeemed 297 Tryal of our love to God 33 V Unbeleif a God-dishonouring sin 323 Unworthiness ought not to discourage 325 W What it is to walk with God 251 Walking after the flesh what it imports 253 How we may know whether we walk with God 255 Walking with God excellent 257 How we may come to walk with God 262 Weeper for sin 70 Why weeping after conversion 71 Weeping how qualified 75 Go often into the weeping hath 76 Works of Mercy 248 World an hindrance to godliness 295 Worldly things contemptible 148 Worship of God better in purity than pomp 39 Z Zeal the flame that ascends from an holy heart 155 Zeal fictitious 156 Zeal rightly tempered 157 Zeal to be pursued after 162 FINIS ERRATA Page 76. line 23. For sangui serat read sanguit erat page 64. marg for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 page 131. line 20. for fronte positus read fronte politus page 278. marg for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 page 342. marg for 2 Conclusion read 2 Consolation These Books following are Printed for and sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside over against the great Conduit A Divine Cordial Or the Transcendent Priviledge of those that love God and are savingly Called By Tho. Watson The Holy Eucharist or the Mystery of the Lords Supper briefly explained By Tho. Watson Paramythion or a Word of Comfort for the Church of God By Tho. Watson * Colosâ— 1. 12. * Psal. 2. 4. * Vera est 〈…〉 cam Hebrai eleâ—anter appellant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. esseâ—tiam 〈◊〉 3. â—1 * Isai. 32. 17. †Omni melle dulcior omni luce clarior Aug. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Christus se in cruce Deo oblatus est sacrificium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sic nostra pians peccata Maresius de ver rel lib. 3. * Da Dominâ— poenitentiam postea indulgentiam Fulgentius * Peccata semel remissa nunquam redeunt * Peccatum sic pessundatum est ut non possit nos damnare Luther * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neh. 9. 17. 1. Inquiry Answ. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Qualitates sunt in subjecto intensive †1 Sam. 17. 42. Use of Reproof * Non faciunt justitiam sed fingâ—nt Melancth * Mar 23. †Matth. 23. 27. * Quis pejor an profitens impietatem an mentiens sanctitatem Bern. †Simulata sanctitas duplex iniquitas * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Arietem occidit credens se Vlyssem interemisse * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Judg. 16. 25. * Vivit adhuc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quamdiù aliquae fibrae manent sed agrè admodum languidè * Levit. 13. 6. * Deut. 32 5. 2 Inquiry 1 Character †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. †Nihil agit ultra suam speciem †Spiritus sanctus veluti oleo mentes fidelium perfundit irrigat Estius * Si caelum ruat si orbis illabatur praecept ego in Deum erectus ero Angelus licèt de caelo aliud mihi persuadere enitatur dicam ei Anathema Anton. Marinar †Psal. 73. 25. * Claritas in intellectu parit ardorem in affectu †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Tandem fit surculus arbor Vse of Tryal 1 Bran. 2 Bran. 3 Bran. Use 2. of Exhort Pers. Motive Motive †Lib. 3. Constit. Mon Cap. 33. Vse 3. 2 Character †Fides est Sanctissima humani pectoris gemma * 2 Cor. 4. 18. †Psal. 112. 7. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost. * Jam. 2. 19. †See the Christians Charter in Quarto pag. 103. 3 Character †Herb. Poem * Amor ponit amantem extrase Aquinas * Plurima fier◠〈◊〉 sunt quae speciem habent bonam sed non ex radice amoris proficiscuntur habent spinae flores sit intùs dilectio non potest ex ista radice nisi bonum existere Aug. in Epist. Ioh. Tom. 9. †See Divine Cordial page 123. 4 Character †Summa religio est imitari quem colis Lactant. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deo consecratus à rebus immundis sejunctus River †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Use 1. Use 2. of Exhort Motive Motive * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristot. Motive 5 Character * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Qui Deum ad humani cerebri id aeam ingenii tenuitatem admetiuntur necesse est ut in sua arrogantia confusi jaceant Rivet Vse * Si modo exteriorum rituum pompis luxuriare poterint sperant se Deo glaucoma obduxisse Rivet †Qui curios simulant bacchanalia vivunt 6 Character 1 Bran. †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Psalm 56. 12. * Revel 13. 3. †Revel 14. 4. Vse Motive * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euripides †Psal. 103 9. * Psal. 86. 5. †Pro. 3. 32. Motive * Psa. 51. 12. †Servire est regnare * Nihil regio splendore indignum si ad hanc ingenuam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 invitentur Rivet †Non est onerans sed ornans Dei servitus * In abdito tento riiâ— sui †Mal 4. 2. * Psal. 91. 4. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen Cont. Cels. †Da Domine quod jubes juâ—e quod vis Austin Motive 2 Bran. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Ne adulentur impiis aeliorum cupiditatibus se addicant vetat Apostolus Calv. in 1 Cor. cap. 7. Vse * Omnium scenarum homo Erasm * Esther 8. 17. 7 Character †Plin. * Cant. 3. 6. †John 1. 18. * Gal. 6. 1◠†1. Cor. 1. 5. * Rev. 21. 23. †Eph. 1. 6. * Luke 2. 25. †Col. 1. 16 17. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen Cont Cels. * Hic est in cujus typo immolabatur agnus qui non solum suo sanguine nos redemit sed lanis overâ—it Hierom. †Per has â—â—mas laterâ—â— Christi licet 〈◊〉 sugere meâ— de Petra â—ern Accinges Arias Mont. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophilact * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Communio fundatur in unione Vse 1. * Evangelium vocant avengelaion * Pro. â— 12. Vse 2. of Tryal * Naz. †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. †Isaiah 30. 22. * Godw. Iew. Antiq. Use 3. of Exhort †Si tanti vitreum quanti verum Margaritum Tertull. * Isa 53. 2. †â—sa 81. 11. 8 Character * Motus primo primi Aquin. â€