Gods enemies Now there be two sorts of enemies that we are especially to have nothing to do withall if we side with God enemies within us and enemies without us Sin within us we must take part against our sins take Gods part and the spirits part against corrupt motions and affections Divinity must begin from within else it is faction without It is not Religion but faction if the Religion begin not in our hearts and if we hate not sin in our selves Where there is true antipathy the nearer any thing is that is opposite to our nature the more hateful it is He that hateth a Toad hateth it in his bosom most of all And he that hates sin as sin hates it in his own heart most of all And therefore they that will pretend Religion and be naught in their own particular it cometh not from a true principle for they that will side with God side with God in their own hearts and be good men in their own particulars therefore I beseech you try your selves by this Likewise 〈◊〉 men estâ—em sinne Gods enemy wâ—â—â—esoever they see it and so far as their authority and power reacheth they will take Gods part in themselves against themselves and in the world too I will not inlarge the point because it cometh in by way of tryal and I cannot but touch it as a tryal Thus you see how we may know whether we be Gods or no by owning his cause and siding with him you have some expressions in Scripture to this purpose Micah 4. 5. All people will walk every one in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Every man will walk and converse in the name of his God they will own their God and take part with him and we will walk in the name of our God for ever and ever and own his cause at all times and constantly for ever and ever And likewise in Esay 44. speaking of gratious times there when men shall be bold for the Lord as in all times some men will One shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord and tearm himself Israel God shall have his tongue his hand and all He shall say I am the Lords he shall call himself by the name of God he shall subscribe to it and own the cause 4. Again if we would know whether God be our God we must know whether we may lay just claim to our God as a peculiar God to us or no and that way in which God sheweth himself to be a God in peculiar respect to us Now how doth God shew himself a God in a peculiar respect to his Children He sheweth himself to have a peculiar respect to them 1. By peculiar gifts when he gives to them that which he giveth to none else shall we imagine God to be our God by common gifts and common graces no for thou comest to hear the word so Herod did Thou receivest the Sacrament so did Judas so did Simon Magus Thou hearest the truth with some joy so did the third ground Thou hast excellent partâ— so hath the Devil himself But thou art in such a place of the Church teachest others so did Judas Are these evidences to try whether we be Gods or no what then is the peculiar gift and love-token that God bestowes upon his favorites they be the graces of his spirit especially in regard of God an humble broken heart and a believing heart and a lowly heart that goeth out of it self that goeth unto God by faith and towards man full of love which argueth a great deal of self-denyal when a man can love others with denyal of his own profit and ease He that hath a humble believing lowly heart hath more then all the world besides for he hath Gods peculiar gift Many poor souls complain as if God had no regard to them and yet in the mean time they have humble broken hearts which is more then if they had all the wealth and worâ—h that the world hath which have proud hearts never broken The return of these favours will be comfort in death and glory in Heaven What will the fruit of a believing heart be he hath God and Christ if he hath a lowly large heart to do good he doth that which in the issue shall further his accompt at the day of judgement and there is the love of God shewed in his special favour 2. So the love of God especially shall be a special peculiar comfort that the world is ignorant of especially in times of extremity Inward peace of conscience inward joy and inward comforts these are signs of love that God bestoweth upon a man when he will own him in the worst times and speak peace to his soul when nothing in the world will speak peace When the Lyons roar the great Lyons of the world roar in extremity he hath inward peace and joy and comforts of the holy Ghost that inward intercourse of God with the soul is a sign of Gods peculiar love when God speaketh peace to the soul when he sheweth the light of his countenance which David in the 4th Psalm prefers before all outward comforts whatsoever Gods revealing of himself as the Scripture calleth it When God revealeth himself to his to be theirs with peace and joy and comfort accompanying it this is peculiar 3. Again a peculiar favour and love-token of God as to have seasonable and sanctifying correction To have corrections when they be seasonable when we be in a way of straying and God will bring us home by correction and when we have sanctifying correction we find by experience that all is turned to our good If I find any thing turn me to my God I know I am his if my Crosse be seasonable and sanctified he is my God for he takes that course with me which he takes with his own people These be singular signs of Gods love when he bestoweth the graces of his spirit his comforts peace and joy though not largely yet so much as shall sustain the soul And then when he seasonably meeteth us and will not suffer us to thrive in an evil couâ—se Oh it is a judgment of judgements to be hardned in sinful courses of life how can it but end in desperation at length and therefore it is a great favour to be chastized it sheweth we are Sons and not Bastardâ— Thus we see how we may lay just claim to this that God is our God in a peculiar manner 5. To name but one more to distinguish a spirit of presumption from a spirit of faith and truth that God is our God is this 1. If we have grace to answer his dealings towards us When we can eccho to Gods dealings God hath chosen us if we have grace to chuse him for our God We may know
ever it is fit for him he will come If he should come sooner he would come too soon if afterward it would be too late He is the best discerner of times and seasons that can be and therefore wait his leasure If thou want comfort humble soul whatsoever thou art wait his leasure certainly he knoweth the best time and when the time is come he will come He that will come shall come there is no question of that Now as he sent her in all hast preferring it before any Complement to his own person so it is a constant love as it is a quick love that God bears to his Children so it is a constant invincible love They had dealt most unbrotherly with him for every one had forsaken him and Peter had denyed him yet go tell my Brethren One would think this water would have quenched this fire this unkind and unbrotherly dealing would have quenched this love in Christs breast It is true if it had been the meer love of man it had been something but it was the love of an infinite person that took our nature out of love and therefore it was a constant and invincible love nothing could conquer it not the thoughts of their unkind dealings no not their denying and forsaking of him But still go tell my Brethren Love is strong as death Death could not hold Christ in the grave but love held him on the Crosse When he came to the work of our Redemption love then held him on earth but when he was in the grave it brake through all there Indeed it was stronger then death in Christ Why is Christs love so constant so invincible that nothing can alter it The ground of it is it is free love He fetcheth the ground of his love from his own heart not from our worthiness or unworthiness but from his own freedom and Gods eternal purpose God hath purposed to save so many and those and no more he giveth to Christ to save And God looketh on his own purpose and Christs free love and that is the ground of all And therefore whom he loveth he loveth to the end because he looked on us in his election The Lord knoweth who are his the foundation is so sure if once we be Gods we are ever Gods For Christ looks on us in Gods election therefore if ever he sheweth his love to us once his love and for ever his love If any thing in man could hinder it it would have hindered it at our first conversion when we were at worst even enemies if nothing could hinder it then what can hinder it afterwards as the Apostle reasoneth strongly Rom. 5. 10. If we be reconciled by his death much more will he save us by his life If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son now much more being reconciled shall we be saved by his life If when we had no goodness but opposition and rebellion in us we were saved by his death Christ is much more able to save us now by his life triumphing over death and being glorious in the Heavens Oh but saith the poor soul I am a poor weak Creature and ready to fall away every day I but Christs love is constant whom he loveth he loveth to the end What saith the Apostle Rom. 8. neither things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from the love of Christ and therefore be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might do not trust to your selves nor trouble your selves for things to come If thou be free from guilt of former sins never question time to come God is unchangeable in his nature unchangeable in his love He is Jehovah I am alwayes not I was or will be but I am alwayes If ever he loved thee he will love thee for ever You see the constancy of Christs love go tell my Brethren now when they had most deeply offended him they were Renegadoes having all left him and then when he had most need of their comfort being in greatest extremity and yet go tell my Brethren Beloved let us not lose the comfort of the constancy and immutability of Christs love Let us conceive that all the sweet links of salvation are held on Gods part strong not on ours the firmness is on Gods part not on ours Election is firm on Gods part not on ours We chuse indeed as he chuseth us but the firmness is of his chusing so he calleth us we answer but the firmness is of his action He justifieth we are made righteous but the firmness is of his imputation Will he forgive sins to day and bring us into Court and damn us to morrow no the firmnesse is of his action We are ready to run into new debts every day but whom he justifieth he will glorifie The whole chain so holdeth that all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth cannot break a link of it whom he calleth he will justifie and glorifie therefore never doubt of continuance for it holds firm on Gods part not thine God imbraceth us in the arms of his everlasting love not that we imbraced him first When the Child falleth not it is from the Mothers holding the Child and not from the Childs holding the Mother So it is Gods holding of us knowing of us imbracing of us and justifying of us that maketh the state firm and not ours for ours is but a reflexion and result of his which is unvariable The sight of the Sun varieth but the Sun in the Firmament keepeth alwayes his constant course so Gods love is as the Sun invariable and for ever the same I only touch it as the foundation of wonderful comfort which they undermine that hold the contrary The next point is that Christ chose Mary to go tell his Brethren and under the sweet title of Brethren to deliver this sweet message I am going to my Father and your Father to my God and your God He telleth them the sweetest words in the worst times This point differeth from the former thus The former was that Christs love is constant and alwayes the same but now Christ most sheweth his love when we are most cast down in the worst times if our casting down be with repentance He never said Brethren before but reserved the tearm of Brethren for the worst time of all The sweetest discoveries of Christ are in the worst times of all to his Children Mothers will bring out any thing to their Children that is sweet comfortable to them in their sicknesse though they frowned on them before yet the exigency of the Child requires it when there is need any thing cometh out that may please the Child The poor Disciples were not only in affliction being the scorn of the world the Shepheard being smitten and the sheep scattered but their inward grief was greater they were inwardly confounded and
up in believers reverence and obedience Let us sin because grace abounds is the Devils application of Christs Doctrine These and several other particulars are with much brevity spirituality and perspicuity handled in this Treatise and with that liveliness that they shew they come from one whose own heart savored what he taught to others The largest part of this Book is spent upon that sweet Doctrine viz. A Believers interest in God as a Father and the comforts that flowe from that sweet relation The foundation of our relation to God is here handled and how God is first a Father to Christ and in him to us What can be more comfortable in this earthly interest shaking disjoynting confounding age then to clear up to our souls an interest in God Tolle meum tolle Deum as he said it were better for me there were no God then that he should not be my God this will be thy comfort that when thou canst not say my state my liberty my House my Land my friend my Trade thou may'st be able to say my Father my God If therefore thou savorest the things of God this subject will be acceptable and grateful to thee and if this Treatise may be any wayes instrumental for putting thee upon study how to get it or upon practice how to improve it or in casethy soulsits in darknes how to endeare and clear thy interest the publishers shal have much of their aim and thou wilt have no cause to repent thy cost in buying or thy pains in reading We shall adde no more but this Blessed is that man or woman that hath an interest in him who is the Father of Jesus Christ by eternal Generation and of all believers in Christ by adoption and regeneration in which inheritance and portion that thou may'st have a share shall be the prayer of Thy souls and thy faiths Servants in the work of the Ministery for Jesus sake Simeon Ash James Nalton Joseph Church A heavenly Discourse between Christ and Mary after his Resurrection JOHN 20. 16. Jesus said unto her Mary she turned her self and said to him Rabboni that is to say Master And Jesus said to her touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father but go to my Brethren and say to them I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God THe same love of Christ that drew him from Heaven to the womb of the Virgin from the womb of the Virgin to the Crosse and from the Crosse to the grave the same love of Christ moved him to discover himself after he was risen from the grave to them that he knew did intirely and wonderfully love him And therefore before he would ascend to Heaven he did vouchsafe many apparitions and discoveries of himself partly to instruct them in the certainty of his Resurrection and partly but especially to comfort them Those that he knew did love him His first apparition of all was made to Mary the woman out of whom he had cast seven Devils She was much beholding to him and therefore loved much No Sex may discourage any sinner from Christ She expresseth her love to Christ by her desire of finding him by her seeking weeping notwithstanding all impediments before she found him As she wept she stooped down and looked into the Sepulchre and there saw two Angels in white a colour of glory purity and joy because it was a time of joy they were one at the head and the other at the feet As in the Law when the Mercy-Seat was made two Cherubims were also fram'd and placed one at the one end and the other at the other end thereof with their faces looking one towards another And when Christ was risen there were two Angels one at the head another at the feet to shew that peace was to be expected in the true propitiatory Jesus Christ One at the head the other at the feet of the body of Jesus And they sate there it was a time of peace peace was made between Heaven and Earth God and man and here is a posture of peace They sate quietly In Christ Angels and we are at one God and we and all There is a recapitulation and gathering of all things in Heaven and Earth The Angels they attended on Christ in all the passages of his life death till they brought him to heaven They brought news of his birth comforted him in his agony they were at his resurrection and you see here they attend At his ascension they accompany him And as they did to the head so they will to the Members In our Infancy they take charge of our tender years in our dangers they pitch their tents about us in our deaths they carry our souls to Abrahams bosome a place of happiness At our Resurrection their Office is to gather our bodies together That service and attendance they afforded the head they afford to the Members to mysticall Christ as well as naturall Therefore let us comfort our selves in the service they did to Christ Now besides the apparition of the Angells here is the speech of the Angels Woman why weepest thou they knew she had no cause of weeping for Christ whom she sought was ris n again She answereth because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid him If it had been as she supposed there had been cause enough of her weeping if her Lord had been taken away for when the Lord is taken away what remaineth that is comfortable And if the Lord be not taken away it matters not what is taken away for he is all in all Carnall people so they have their wealth and friends and comforts in the world they care not what is taken away But she is of another mind They have taken away my Lord and what comfort can I have if my Lord be taken away But it was but the speech of an opinion she did but think it And there were two things might lead her truth and probability which is the foundation of opinion Probability he is not here therefore he is taken away Truth Christ promised he would rise again therefore he would take away himself There was certain truth to ground faith and weak probability to ground opinion yet such is the nature of weak persons in distress if there be probability certain truth yet they will be sure to cleave to their probabilities Oh their 's be great sins I but there is greater mercy for faith to lay hold upon So the presumptuous sinner faith God is mercifull I but God hath excluded thee from Heaven thou art an adulterer a swearer a filthy person thy opinion is grounded scarce upon probability God is mercifull but not to such sinners as live in sins against reconciliation as thou dost Therefore when one hath but probability to ground opinion and the other certain truth to ground faith be so wise for our souls
presently 4. But to go on you see here again that Christ must begin to us before we can answer him He began to Mary and then she said Rabbony all the passages of salvation are done by way of Covenant by way of commerce and entercourse between God and man but God begins first In election indeed we choose him but he chuseth us first And he knoweth who are his and we know him but he knows us first And in calling we answer I but he calleth first and we do but eccho to his call in justification forgivness of sins we accept of justification and submit to the righteousness of Christ and Gods purpose of saving man that way but he giveth faith first for faith is the gift of God We glorifie him here on earth but it is from a result of Gods glorifying us in Heaven some earnests we have but they are of Gods giving All we do is but reflexion of his love first or his knowledge first The Christian soul saith thou art my God I but he saith first I am thy salvation As Augustine saith non frustra dicit anima Deus salus tua when God saith I am thy salvation it is eaâ—ie for the soul to say thou art my God And this may teach us in our devotions when we are to deal with God when we are to bring to him any request to desire him first to reveal himself to us desire Christ to reveal himsâ—lf by his spirit to us It is an errour in he case of mens devotions they think to bring something of their own strength and to break in as it were upon God without his discovery first But Paul saith Gal. 4. 9. We know God or rather are known of him We must desire that he would make known his heart to us first and then we shall know him again that the would speak to us by his spirit and then we shall answer to him again That he would say to our souls he is our salvation and then we may lay claim to him he is our God Desire the spirit of revelation to reveal his bowels and love to us in Christ by his holy spirit for certainly in every return of ours to Christ God begins to us all in all though not so sensibly but we ought to pray every day more and more for a sensible revelation that God would reveal his love to us in Christ And we cannot but answer if Christ saith Mary Mary cannot but answer Rabboni But you will say then it is not our fault but Christs fault if he must begin If God begins we shall answer I answer briefly That God doth alwayes begin to us and is before-hand with us in all dealings with our selves He giveth us many motions and never withdraweth himself from us but when he is despised and slighted first therefore let us take heed that we labour to answer Christs call vvhen he doth call If vve slight it then in a judicious course he ceaseth to speak further to us if vve slight his beginnings of revelations There be many degrees and passages to faith and assurance if vve do not observe the beginning hovv God begins to reveal himself to us by little and little speaking to us by his spirit in our hearts vvhen he begins then in a spirituall judgement sometimes he leaves us to our selves And therefore let us regard all the motions of the spirit and all the speeches of the spirit of Christ for he begins by little and little else our consciences will say afterward we are not saved because we would not be saved We would not yield to all the passages of salvation but when he was beforehand with us and offered many sweet motions yet we loved our sins better then our souls and so repelled all Therefore I beseech you do not refuse the sweet messages from Heaven the gracious and sweet motions of the spirit of Christ make much of them God hath begun to you be sure to answer Learn it of Mary when Christ began she set not her heart and infidelity against it but she opened her heart and said Rabboni learn therefore the duty of spirituall obedience when God speaks speak Lord for thy Servant heareth Do not shut your eares to the motions of Gods blessed spirit do not harden your hearts against his voice but open your hearts as she did Rabboni Our Saviour Christ here saith Mary but when after he had concealed himself from her a long time It is not presently Mary nor Rabboni He had coÌ„cealed himself a great while Christ doth not usually open himself fully at first though at first he doth in some degree but he observeth degrees as in the church in generall You see how that he discovers himself in his gracious promises by little and little darkly at first and at last the Sun of righteousness ariseth clearly So the day-Starre ariseth in our hearts by degrees It is a great while before Mary heareth the satisfying speech of Christ Mary But why doth Christ thus conceal himself in regard of his fuller manifestation It is partly to try and exercise our faith and other graces and therefore God doth seem to withdraw himself in the sence of his love 1. To see whether we can live by faith or whether we be all together addicted to sense as the world is who live altogether by sense and not by faith 2. He would have our patience tryed to the utmost he would have patience have its perfect work she had much patience to indure all this but her patience had not a perfect work till Christ spake 3. Christ will stir up and quicken zeal and fervency in his Children and therefore he seemed to deny the woman of Cnnaan first he giveth no answer but a harsh answer A Dogge And she works upon it though I am a Dogge yet Dogs have crumbs All which denyal was only to stir up zeal and earnestness And therefore though Christ doth not manifest himself to us at first yet it is to stir up zeal and affection to seek after him more earnestly A notable passage there is of this Cant. 3. 16. The soul sought Christ and sought long and sought in the use of all means but at length she waited and in waiting she found him 4. Christ doth this for to set a greater price upon his presence when he comes to make his presence highly valued when he doth discover himsâ—lf Desiderata diu magis placent Things long desired please more sweetly And things when wanted are ingratiated to us as warmth after cold and meat after hunger and so in every particular of this life And therefore God to set a greater price on his presence and that he would be held more strongly when he doth reveal himself he defers a long time That is one reason why he did defer revealing himself to Mary that she might have the more sweet contentment in him when he did reveal
himself as indeed she had Long deferring of a thing doth but inlarge the soule Want inlargeth the desire and capacity of the soul so doth love Now when we want that we love that emptieth the soul marvellously much it mortifieth affection When God keeps off a long time and we see it is God only must do it then the affection is taken off from earthly things and the heart inlarged to God by love and the want of the thing we love And therefore we set a price on the thing so that we are wonderfully pleasing to God It is very beneficiall to our selves What lost Mary by it so shall we lose nothing We have it at last more abundantly We have it as a mighty favour Mary taketh this as a new blessing all together When things are kept long from us God only must discover When the heart is kept from second causes the heart is inlarged Certainly this comes from God and God should have all the glory of it God is wise and therefore makes us to stay a long time for that we do desire We all of us are in Maries case in a spirituall sense sometimes or other we misse Christ I mean the sweet sense of Christ Lay this down for a râ—le that Christians ought to walk in sweet communion with God and Christ that it ought to be the life of a Christian to maintain the CoÌ„munion that Christ hath vouchsafed between us and himself Then certainly we lose Christ wonderfully and not against our minds but willingly by our own slighting of him and by our own undervaluing of him or by our negligence and presumption Christ though he be low yet he is great and he will have us to know his greatness There must be communion with due respect One way or other we deprive our selves of the sense sweetnesse of communion with Christ What must we do then we must do as this woman did turn over every stone use all kind of means leave not one till we find him and when all means are used wait still Persevere in waiting as Peter speaks Believers wait hold out in waiting for Christ in his time will come he cannot hold long As Joseph did suppresse his love and affection for politick ends a great while but his pitty towards his Brethren was such that his bowels would not suffer him to conceal himself longer his passion was above his policy I am Joseph And so let us in the use of all things seek Christ and the sweet sense of his love which is better then life it self And indeed what is all without Christ Christ is so full of compassion he will not long suffer us to be prolonged but will at length satisfie the hungry soul how many promises have vve to this end Take heed of such a temper of soul as cares not vvhether vve find Christ or no. Oh take heed of that if vve vvill seek him seek him as Mary she sought him early in the morning she brake her sleep and sought him vvith tears If any thing be to be sought vvith tears it is Christ and communion vvith him she sought him instantly and constantly she sought him so that no impediment could hinder her she vvas so full of grief and love She sought him vvith her vvhole heart she vvaited in seeking that is the vvay to find Christ Seek him early in our younger times in the morning of our years Oh that we could seek Christ as we seek our pleasures we should find more pleasure in Christ then in all the pleasures of the world if we could perswade our base hearts so much Seek him above all other things Awake with this resolution in our hearts to find Christ never to be quiet till we may say with some comfort I am Christs and Christ is mine When we have him we have all seek him with tears at length we are sure to find him He hath bound himself that if we knock he will open And if we seek we shall find If we seek wisdom early with our whole hearts intirely sincerely seek Christ for Christ and then we shall be sure to find him as she did Thus seek him in the word Sacraments wherein he discovers himself familiarly Seek him in the Temple Christ was found in the Temple and then we shall be sure to find him both here and hereafter Specially we shall find him in our hearts You see how familiarly he comes to us in the word speaks to us by a man like our selves And how familiarly by the Sacrament by common bread and common wine sanctified to do great matters above nature to strengthen faith He cometh to us through our faces into our souls in the Sacrament He cometh to us through our ears in hearing the word through our sight in seeing the bread broken He comes by familiar things and by a familiar manner of conveying as if he should name every one I come to thee and give thee my body Think with our selvs now Christ cometh to me when the Minister reacheth the bread and come to me think of heavenly bread of the gift of Christ to me by means can he do it more familiarly Is it not as if he should say Mary and that is the excellency of the Sacrament It conveyeth Christ to all the Saints and to every one in particular as if he named every one And what an incouragement is this to answer again to open our hearts to receive him together with the Elements to imbrace Christ joyn with Christ and then to keep him when we have him do not lose him he will not be so dealt withall remember the Covenant we have made to him I beseech you let these sweet considerations of Christ dwell in us and work on every one of our hearts If they do good on us here on earth if we by faith lay hold on him and have intercourse with him what will it be in the day of judgement How comfortable will it be to hear him say to every one in particular Come thou and thou stand on my right hand sit and judge the world with me Doth he know our names now on earth and giveth to every one particularly by himself if we come worthily and will not he know us then oh that is far more worth then the worlds good to know us then and to call us by our names Therefore I beseech you be acquainted with Christ Have intercourse all we can with him in the word and Sacraments and never rest till we find this sweet result in the use of the means That he is ours and we are his Take heed therefore in these times desperately addicted to formality and Popery I say take heed we do depend not upon any outward thing but look to Christ in all his Ordinances look to the spirit all Gods children the church of the first born they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such
offer thy sacrifice As if he would have his own sacrifice neglected rather then we should not be reconciled to others And so a work of charity and love is preferred before an officium and complement to himself Let us shew our love to the first Table in the second our love to God by our love to man Every thing hath its measure and time Away therefore with this over-much imbracing and touching Go thy way thou hast another work to do Go to my Brethren And so you see as I take it the full meaning of the words Observe the circumstances Who must go Here is a Commission and command And to whom To the Disciples of Christ And when doth Christ bid her go when he was risen and in the first estate of glory What is the Message Tell my Brethren I am ascending to my Fathâ—â— and your Father to my God and your God It is worth your considering a little 1. Who is sent A woman a woman to be the Apostle of the Apostles to bethe Teacher of the great Teachers of the world Mary Magdalen vvas sent to instruct the Apostles in the great Articles of Christs Resurrection and Ascension to Heaven By a Woman death came into the vvorld and by a woman life was preached to the Apostles because indeed she was more affectionate and affection taketh all And that makes that sex more addicted to Religion by the advantage of their affection for Religion is meerly a matter of affection though it must have judgement shine before it yet it is especially in the heart and affections And she had shewed a great deal of affection she stood out when the rest went away John 19. 25. She was constant and broke through all difficulties and then God honoured her to be the first preacher of his Resurrection Gods course is to trust secrets in earthen Vessels that earthen Vessels should carry heavenly treasure and therefore stick not at the Vessel but look to the Treasure A woman may teach the greatest Apostle Look not to the man but to the Message Elias will not refuse the meat because the Raven brought it And a condemned man will not refuse a pardon because a mean man bringeth it Take off pride in spirituall respects When God honours any man to bring news of reconciliation stoop to him of what condition soever he be 2. To whom must she go Go tell my Brethren the Apostles Go to the Apostles that are disconsolate men now Orphans deprived of their Master and Lord. Disconsolate men and not in vain so not without cause for they had reason to be discomforted not only for their want of Christ but for their own ill carriage towards Christ One of them denyeth him and the rest forsake him and yet my Brethren go tell my Brethren When did he speak this after his Resurrection in the state of glory in the beginning of it and when he is ascending to Heaven and yet he owneth them as Brethren though such Brethren as had dealt most unbrotherly with him But how came they to be his Brethren And how come we to be Christs Brother Christ is the first born of many Brethren He is the Son of God by Nature and all others now by grace and adoption Christ is the Primo-genitus amongst many brethren and in Christ we have one Father with Christ We have one honour we shall be all Kings and Heirs of Heaven as he is If Sons then Heirs the Apostle makes the coherence Now we are all in Christ Sons of God Heirs with him To go to the condition of nature that he took our nature and therefore having our flesh he is our Brother The â—â—ry Reprobate may say so Yet that is a ground of comfort that he is a man as we are but that is not the main thing considerable He is our Brother in a spirituall respect in regard of adoption He is the first Son of God and we in him Sonnes He is the first Heir of God and we in him are Heirs And therefore go to my Brethren Beloved It is a point of marvellous comfort that Christ was not ashamed to call them Brethren Psal 22. 22. I will declare thy name amongst by brethren saith Christ Our Saviour Christ alludeth to that Psalm in this passage and so it is read 2 Heb. out of that Psalm Christ hath taken all relations that are comfortable upon him towards us He is the everlasting Father Isai 9. The Prince of peace He is a second Adam and therefore a Father in that regard The first Adam is the Father of all that perish The second Adam is the Father of all that shall be saved As he is our Brother so our Husband He could not be our Husband except he were our Brother He must take our nature and be one with us before we can be one with him He is our friend before this time he called them friends As you see in John I will call you friends But here is a sweeter tearm Brethren There is no relation that hath any comfort in it but Christ hath taken it on him He is our head Husband friend Father Brother and whatsoever can convey comfort to us And the truth of it is he is these things more truly then any Relation is made true on earth For these Relations of Husband and Wife and Brother and Sister and Father and Child are but shadows of that everlasting relation that Christ hath taken upon him the reality and truth it self is in Christ We think there is no Brother but the Brother in flesh no Father but Father in flesh Alas these are but shadows and quickly cease the fashion of the world passeth away Brother is another Relation whereof these are but shadows These do but represent the best things that are in Heaven Christ is the Father Brother Friend and whatsoever is comfortable in Heaven therefore go tell my brethren I but saith the poor soul I that have been so sinfull and so unworthy a wretch shall I have comfort in this that Christ is my Brother and I am Christs I cannot do it I profess thou canst not do it flesh and blood must not teach it thee thou must be taught by the spirit of Christ but consider how the Apostles used Christ Thou canst not call Christ Brother because thou hast been a sinner and hast carried thy self unkindly to Christ And did not the Disciples so did not they leave him and one of them deny him and that with Oaths Therefore whatsoever our sins have been deny not our relation to Christ The poor Prodigal said I am not worthy to be called a Sonne I am not worthy to be called a Servant He denyed not that he was a Sonne but he was unworthy of it And so I aâ— unworthy to be a spouse and brother of Christ yet do not our unfaithfull hearts to much pleasure as to deny our relation The Apostles were
so dignified as to be called the Pillars of the world but these left him and yet for all that in this time of their desertion of him go tell my brethren Therefore be not discouraged go to Christ in our worst condition in our greatest temptations when our hearts misgive us most that we have used God most unkindly and Satan ply'd us most with desperate temptations yet own him for our brother who owned his Disciples when they dealt most unkindly with him I beseech you count it a comfort unvaluable which no tongue is able to express that Christ after his Resurrection should call brethren He might well call them brethren after the Resurrection because then all debts were discharged by his death He had paid their debts and now the acquittance was due to them because Christ as surety had payd all Now I am risen go and tell my brethren so If we can make use of the death and Resurrection of Christ and say Christ hath dyed for my sins and rose again for my justification I will interest my self in his death I will claim the vertue of his Resurrection then take the comfort of this In Popery they had much comfort in those dark times when a Company of proud carnall beastly men ruled the roast according to their own lusts these Clergymen made a great pother with fraternity and brotherhood And if they were of such a fraternity of Dominick or Francis or meerly in a Fryars Coule it was not only satisfactory but meritorious they could not do amisse away with these shadows Here is the brotherhood that must comfort Christians that Christ owned us for brethren after his Resurrection He payd dear for it alas are we worth so much that God should become man to die for us to rise again for us to justifie us and make us brethren That infinite love that God became man and dyed for us and rose again to own us for his brethren will satisfie all doubts Shall we doubt any thing of that love when he out of his free love will own us as brethren shall not we own him I confesse it is a marvellous thing in times of temptation it is difficult to make use of it Oh but pray with the good Apostle Lord increase our faith with the poor man in the Gospel I believe Lord help my unbelief So when any temptation cometh for our unworthiness and our undeserving then think Christ after his Resurrection call'd his Apostles brethren and he will be content to be my brother if I will believe he dy'd for me and I will cast my self upon him therefore away with all doubts There be many other observations out of the words Will you have the first words in estate of glory his first words after death go and tell my brethren Think in a desperate extremity think of the sweet message he sent by Mary Magdalen to his unworthy brethren that he had dy'd for and given his blood to make them his brethren Think of his free love to you it is not for your worthiness or unworthiness but of his own free love that he came from Heaven to take your nature it is his own free love that he came to die and therefore conceive not of worthiness nor unworthiness but consider the command of God to believe and if we perish perish there Cast our selves on our brother that will own us in our worst condition that is the grand use 2. Again if God owns us in his glorious condition shall we be ashamed of the Doctrine of Christ of the Children of God to own them what saith Christ It is a terrible Thunderbolt He that is ashamed of me and of my word before men I will be ashamed of him before my heavenly Father Take heed of being ashamed to stand out a good cause in matters of Religion Christ was not ashamed to call us brethren when we were at the worst and he himself in a glorious condition he was in glory and the Disciples drooping in consideratiof their guilt that they had forsaken him and yet brethren still And shall not we own him that owneth us in state of glory how shall we look that he will own us hereafter when he truâ—teth us with his cause and glory and we betray all to pleasure such and such Can we look Christ in the face with comfort if we neglect his cause his truth and his Church 3. Again make this use of it Christ is our Brother and will not he take our parts Absolon was a disobedient Son yet Absolon would not let his Sister Tamar be abused he would be revenged of that And will Christ suffer his sister his spouse his Church to be abused long nay will he leave his Dove his love his undefiled one where he hath placed all his joy and contentment to the malice and fury of the enemy long certainly he will not Certainly he will be avenged on his enemies If nature that he hath put into the wicked sinfull men teach them to revenge indignities offered to their kindred will Christ suffer his Brethren his sister to be abused Saul Saul why persecutest thou me now he is in Heaven the Churches case is his own And therefore comfort our selves with that sweet Relation Christ hath undertaken to be our brother in state of glory what a comfort is it that we have a brother in Heaven what a comfort was it to the poor Patriarks when they thought with themselves we have a brother Joseph that is the second man in the Kingdom And so what a great comfort is it for poor Christians to think that the second in Heaven that sitteth at Gods right hand that is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and that ruleth all is our brother Is not this a main comfort yea beyond all expression if we could make use of it by faith answerable to our trouble Therefore go to Joseph that hath laid up comfort for us he hath comfort enough for us he hath treasures of comfort whatsoever is necessary for us we may have in Christ our elder brother And therefore go to my brethren I beseech you let us make a use of exhortation to be stirred up to labor by faith to be one with Christ and then he will be our head our Husband our brother our friend our all Say what you can Christ will be all in all to all his He hath enough in him of his fulnesse we shall receive and grace for grace Oh labour to be one with Christ Do not lose such a comfort as is offered He offereth himself first to be our Saviour and Redeemer and then our brother never rest therefore till we have part in Christ And then labour to make use of in all temptations catch fast hold of every thing that is usefull as it is the nature of faith to do like Benhadads Servants who made use of that word brother He is my
should have been in the grave to this day And then think of our dignity to be Brother to him that is King of Heaven Lord of Lords Ruler of the whole world that hath all things subject to him O that our hearts were inlarged to conceive the wonderful comfort that every Christian hath in this Relation Go tell my Apostles under the sweet tearm of Brethren Who art thou will Satan say flesh and blood a peece of earth wretched Sot wilt thou claim kindred of Christ I saith the Christian-believing soul It is true if it were my own worthiness it were another matter but shall I give him the lie when he owned me for his Brother after his Resurrection shall I deny the Relation therefore never believe Satans tempting words and sinful flesh for Satan cometh to us in our own flesh and maketh us think God and Christ to be such and such I but what saith Christ himself believe him and not Satan that cometh to thee in thy own despairing dark doubting flesh Believe the word of Christ who calleth thee Brother if thou believest in him and castest thy self upon him This sheweth the dignity of a christian when he is once in Christ the excellent super-excellent transcendent glory of a christian When they told our Saviour Christ that his Mother and Brethren were to speak with him saith he they that hear my word and do it they are my Brother and Sister and my Mother This is the excellency of a christian that he is of so near a kin to Christ When we believe Christ it is all one as if we conceived Christ as if we were Brothers to Christ as if we were of the nearest kindred to him Nay it is more he preferreth Mother before Mother Brother before Brother ther Mother in spirit before Mother in the flesh and Brother in spirit before all other Brothers Therefore an excellent thing to be a christian When once a Christian giveth himself to Christ and denyeth his own doubting despairing heart which is the greatest enemy he hath 1. Then what belongeth to him then God is his and Christ is his he must have an inheritance he is fellow Heir without all are his 2. What carrieth he in him He carrieth in him the spirit of the Father and the Son and the graces of of the spirit which make him lovely to God 3. What cometh from him Having the pretious graces of the Holy Ghost in him what can come from him as a christian but grace and comfort to others He is a Tree of righteousness and what can come from a good Tree but good fruit so far he is so So if you regard what belongeth to them what is in them the inheritance they shall have or what cometh from a christian that is Brother of Christ he is an excellent person more excellent then his Neighbour there is no man in the world never so great but is a base person in comparison of a christian What will all be ere long if a man be not in Christ these things will add to our vexation It will be a misery to have had happiness the greater will be the misery when they must be parted withall And therefore raise your hearts to consider of the excellent condition of a christian when he is once the Brother of Christ I confess it is an hidden dignity as Paul saith our life is hid with Christ in God We have a life a glorious life but it is hid It is dark sometimes under melancholy sometimes under temptations sometimes under the afflictions of the world and disgrace and so it is an hidden excellency but it is a true excellency The world knoweth us not more then they know God and Christ but it is no matter God knoweth us by name He knew Mary by name as it is said in Isaiah I have called thee by name He is a Shepheard that knoweth his sheep by name and is known of them He knoweth thee and thee and thee by name yea and the hairs of thy head are numbred and therefore it matters not though thy dignities be hid with the world yet God knoweth them he hath written all thy members in a book and he hath a book of remembrance of thee And therefore it is no matter though it be an hidden dignity it is a true dignity to be a brother of Christ Let us oppose this to the disgrace of the world and to all temptations of discouragement whatsoever What are all discouragements to this they fall all before this that we are the Sons of God and Brethren of Christ What can discourage a man that is thus apprehensive of this Excellency upon good tearms I will inlarge the point no further but leave it to your own meditations and the spirit of God work with it Go to my Brethren When doth he bid her go now after his Resurrection when he was to ascend to Heaven The first degree of his glory was his Resurrection after his lowest abasement in the grave You see that honour doth not change Christs disposition as it doth amongst men when they be advanced to great places they will not look on their old friends and acquaintance but Christ had no such disposition he owneth his poor Disciples in their greatest abasements Go tell my Brethren Now when he was in state of glory ready to go to Heaven and he giveth them a more comfortable title now then ever before In the Gospel he called them Servants and friends and Apostles and Disciples but now Brethren a word of all sweetness and nothing but sweetness Go tell my brethren presently Christ would have no delay for he saw they had present need Christs love is a quickening love and the fruits of it are very speedy There is more then angelicall swiftness in Christ when there is need of him God helpeth at need in the most seasonable time and he knoweth the time best of all He did but rise in the morning and the very same day Go tell my Brethren ye have Cant. 2. that Christ cometh leaping upon the Mountains when he was to help his Church he leaped over the Mountains as in the eight verse The voice of my Beloved behold he cometh leaping upon the Mountains skipping upon the Hills He cometh from Heaven to Earth from the Earth to the Grave and now he is risen he is all in hast he maketh no stay because his manner of dispatch is to help and comfort by the Ministry of others God quickly do not stand imbracing of me but go and tell my Brethren But why then do not we find comfort sooner that are afflicted Answ Beloved where is the fault Is it in Christ you stand out at staves end with Christ you will not imbrace comforts when they be offered or else you be not sufficiently humbled for he is wise as he is swift he knoweth which be the best times You see then that Christ as soon as
ashamed to see Christ come to such an end they were full of unbelief though Christ had told them he would rise again they could not believe and so what with fear and what with doubt and what with grief for their using of Christ so unkindly and leaving him certainly they were in a perplexed and disconsolate condition yet now go and tell my Brethren We see then that after relapses when we be in state of grace to deal unkindly with Christ must needs be matter of grief and shame yet if we be humbled for it and cast down even then Christ hath a sweet message for us by his holy spirit Go tell my Brethren In the Canticles The Church the spouse of Christ had dealt unkindly with Christ by losing him and forsaking him Chap. 3. 5. In the third Chapter she had lost him and sought him on her bed but found him not she rose and went to the watchmen and then went through the City but found him not at length she found him whom her soul loved Then Christ speaks most sweetly and comfortably to her in the beginning of the fourth Chapter but especially in the sixth Chapter after she had dealt most unkindly with Christ He standeth at the door knocking and waiting till his locks dropt with rain in resemblance of a Lover that standeth at the door and is not suffered to come in Afterward he leaveth her for this unkindnesse yet not so but that there was some sweet relish left upon the door God alwayes leaveth something in his Children to long after him and at length after much longing Christ manifesteth himself sweetly to her Chap. 6. 4. and breaketh out Thou art beautiful O my love as Tirzah comely as Jerusalem terrible as an Army with banners turn away thine eyes from me for they have overcome me thy hair is as a flock of Goats c. and so goeth on my Love my Dove my undefiled one He could not satisfie himself in the commendations of his Church being as it were overcome with love And this sheweth that after we have dealt unkindly with Christ and our consciences are ashamed and abashed with it as it is fit they should yet if we will wait awhile and be content not be desperate nor yield to temptation if we stay but a while Christ will manifest himself to us and shew that he valueth and prizeth the hidden graces we cannot see he can see gold in oare He can see hidden love and hidden faith and grace that we cannot see in temptations and he will manifest all at length and shew his love when we stand most in need of it We see it in David who was deeply humbled for his folly with Bathsheba for there was not one but many fins as murder and adultery c. yet being now humbled God sent him and Bathshebah wise Solomon to succeed him in his Kingdom He forgetteth all and so you see our Saviour Christ forgetteth all their unkindness he biddeth her not go tell my Renegate Disciples that owned not me they care not for me I care not for them I am above death and all and now will use them as they did me oh no but go tell my brethren without mentioning any thing that they have done unkindly What is the reason it is sufficient to a gracious soul that it is thus It is the course of God but there be reasons to give satisfaction First the love of Christ to a poor disconsolate afflicted soul is most seasonable when they have relaps'd and dealt unkindly with Christ then Christ not only forgiveth but forgets all nay and calleth them under the tearm of Brethren which is more then forgiving and forgetting Oh now it is seasonable for there is a wonderful dejection of spirit after unkind usage of Christ in a soul that knowes what Christ means It is as a shower of rain after great drought it falleth weighty upon the soul Secondly The freedom of Christs love most appeareth then when no desert of ours can move it for is not that love free when we have dealt unkindly with him and joyned with the world and with the flesh and dealt slipperily with him that then he will speak kindly to us and make love to us Lord if I had had my due what would have become of me If he had sent them word according to their deserts he might have said go tell the Apostate base people that have dealt unworthily with me whom I will send to Hell Oh no but tell my Brethren his free love appeareth most at such times when our souls are most dejected Thirdly Satan roareth then most then he most of all sheweth his horns when we are relapsed oh saith he if thou hadst never found kindness it had been something but thou hast dealt unworthily that hast had so many favours and dost thou so requite the Lord of glory Now this love of Christ doth exceedingly confound Satan and trouble his plots he knoweth then that God leaveth men and he joyneth with a guilty conscience and a guilty conscience maketh them to fear all they have deserved shall I look God in the face Christ in the face when I have used them thus shall I receive the Sacrament and joyn with Gods people now Satan doth joyn with guilt of conscience and carrieth it further and when God seeth them dejected and humbled for this he speaketh more comfort to them then ever before There is none of us all I can except none but had need of this have we dealt so unkindly with Christ since our conversion have not we dealt proudly and unkindly and carlesly with him and if we have the love of Christ in our brests it will shame and abash us Now if we have joyned with a temptation Satan will say will you go to God and to prayer that have served God thus shall I yield to this temptation if we can shame our selves and say Lord I take all shame to my self I have dealt most unworthily with thee we shall hear a voice of comfort presently And therefore whatsoever our condition be be invited to repentance though thou hast fallen and fallen again I have dealt unkindly did not Peter so and yet go tell my Disciples and tell Peter The Pope will have him head of the Church I am sure he was head in forsaking of Christ and indeed Christ ever upbraided Peter with forsaking of him now only he biddeth him feed feed feed that he might take more notice of it but he was so kind that he never cast it into his teeth Obj. But saith the poor drooping soul if I had never tasted of mercy it had been something Answ But object not that for though Peters offence was great yet his offence was great and though thy sins be great yet if thy repentance and humiliation be answerable thou shalt have most comfort of all And therefore let no man be discouraged If we
go on in sinful desperate courses as the fashion of the world is speak what we can if we speak out our lungs many will not leave an oath nor their prophane base courses and filthy wayes ill they have been already and ill they will be till they come to Hell Some such there be but better we are to speak to whosoever thou art that are weary of thy prophane base godless courses be humbled for them When thou art humbled and broken-hearted then think of Christ as he offers himself think of nothing but love nothing but mercy Satan will picture him thus and thus but when thou beâ—st humbled and broken hearted he is readier to entertain thee then thou art to fly to him And therefore at such times consider how Christ offereth himself to thee He that dyed for his enemies and seeks them that never sought him that is found of them that sought him not will he refuse them that seek him If thou hast an heart humbled and hast a desire of favour will he refuse thee that receiveth many in the world therefore do not despair We as Ambassadors beseech you saith the Apostle Thou desirest Gods savour and Christs love thou desirest them and Christ intreateth thee and then thou art well met Thou wouldst fain have pardon and mercy so would Christ fain bestow it upon thee therefore joine not to Satan take heed of temptations in such a case as this is take heed of refusing our own mercies when God offers mercy in the bowels of his compassion râ—fuse it not Christ is ready to shew great kindnesse in our greatest unkindnesse if we be humbled for it But this belongeth to them that be broken hearted that can prize and value Christ They that go on in presumptuous courses shall find Christ in another manner of Majesty they shall find him as a Judge whom they despised as a Brother and they that will not come in and subject themselves to his mercy they shall find his justice If they will not come under this Scepter they shall find his rod of Iron to crush them to pieces And therefore let no corrupt carelesse person that will go on fortifie their presumption from hence It belongeth only to them that be humbled and abased with the sight of sin and consideration of their unkindness and unworthy dealings with Christ I know such are not subject to discouragement and Satan is most ready to close with them in strong temptations above all Oh but let them never despair but consider what the Apostle saith while sin aboundeth grace aboundeth much more If there be height depth and breadth of sin in us there is now more height and depth and breadth of mercy in Christ yea more then we can receive I have fallen from God saith the soul what if thou hast but God is not fallen from thee Peter denyed Christ but did Christ deny Pete no Christ hath not denyed thee What saith the Lord in Jeremy VVill the Husband take the VVife when she hath been naught no yet return to me O Israel But say thou hast been false and committed such and such sins whatsoever they be though Adultery yet return to me Quest Oh but is it possible God should do it Resol Yea it is possible with him His thoughts are not as thy thoughts his thoughts are as far above thine as Heaven is above Earth Obj. Why no man will do it Answ I but here is the mercy of a God I am God and not man therefore his comforts fail not If he were so he would not regard one that hath been so unkind but he is God and not man Go to my Brethren I come now to the matter of the Commission tell them I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God which is all included in Brethren for if we be Gods in Christ then God is our Father But we must not deal in few words with disconsolate souls but come again and again with the same words As how many times have you the comfort of the Mâ—ssiah in Isaiah and the rest of the Prophets again and again Our hearts are so prone to doubt of Gods mercy of Christs love especially after guilt that all is little enough and therefore our Saviour studieth to speak sweetly to the heart Go tell my Brethren that which a carnall heart and curious head would count Tautologie and superfluity of words a gracious heart thinks to be scantness oh more of that still I have not enough This is the pride of men that will have all things to satisfie a curious ear but a gracious heart hath never enough And therefore Christ addeth comfort to comfort Go tell my Brethren I ascend to my Father and their Father to my God and their God The Message it self is Christs ascension The place whither is to the Father a common Father to him and them every word hath comfort I ascend I ascend to the Father and to my Father and your Father too now I have quitted my self of death and sin imputed to me as a surety I am going to Heaven to make an end of all there I ascend to God to my God and to your God We have all one common Father and one common God First for his ascension he did not yet ascend Why then doth he speak for the present I ascend that is I am shortly so to do And it was in his mind it was certainly so to be and therefore he speaks of it in present It is the phrase of faith to speak of things to come as if they were present faith makes them so to the soul for it looketh on the word and all things as they are in that word who will make good whatsoever he saith And therefore it is the evidence of things that are not yet yet they be evident to a faithfull soul If we could learn this aright to make things to come present what kind of people should we be could we think of our Resurrection and ascension and glory to come as present they would be present to our faith the things present or sense could not withdraw us If we could set Hell before us could the pleasures of Hell bewitch us if the time to come were present could any thing in the world withdraw us it could not be And therefore it is an excellent skill of faith to set things to come before us as present He ascendeth he implyeth that he was risen that was past and therefore he nameth it not All Christs mind was on ascending Those that are risen together with Christ their mind is all on ascension all on Heaven And this is one main reason because where any thing is imperfect there the spirit resteth not till it attaineth to that perfection that it is destinated unto When any thing hath a proper element and place where it must rest it resteth not till it be in its proper
of reverence for it includeth a mixt affection of fear and love And it is an affection of an inferior to a superior He is great therefore we ought to fear him He is good therefore we ought to love him There is with him beams of Majesty and bowels of compassion As there is beams of Majesty we ought to fear him as bowels of compassion we ought to love him so that fear and love mixt together is the affection we owe to God as our Father If we tremble and are afraid to go to him we know not he is loving If we go to him over boldly and sawcily we forget that he is great therefore we must think of his greatness that we forget not his goodness We must so think of his goodness that we forget not his greatness therefore go boldly to him with reverence to the Throne of Christ In the word Father there is more saving power then in ten thousand it toucheth his very bowels when a Child wanteth any thing and is in distress let it but say Father or Mother and the bowels of the Parents yearn upon him If God be our Father go to him boldly but with reverence go with affyance to his bowels Oh it is a perswasive word What cannot we look for from that Majesty that hath condescended to be called Father and to be a Father to us in all our necessities either we shall have what we want and lack or else we shall have that which is better he is a wise Father he answereth not alwayes according to our wills but alwayes according to our good He seeth it is for our good that we are not presently cōforted The Physitian giveth a sharp potion O I cannot indure the Chyrurgion lanceth oh I cannot indure it but the Chyrurgion knoweth it is not healing time even so we would be presently taken off from under crosses but God is a wise Father knoweth how long it is fit for us to continue under the Crosse Come to him boldly therefore under the name of a Father that he may move his bowels and surely will hear us For as in Psalm 27. when all forsook me my Father and Mother forsook me but the Lord took me up Fathers in the flesh and Mothers die but the Lord taketh us up he is an eternal Father and therefore a ground of eternal boldnesse with God and of everlasting comfort He was our Father before we had a Father in the world and he will be our Father when we shall cease to be in the world They be but Instruments under God to bring us into the world God is our true Father Our other Fathers are but under God to give us a being to fit us for Heaven He provideth the best inheritance and paternity for us in Heaven And therefore never be disconsolate but remember I go to my Father and your Father which is a word of eternal comfort He was our Father from eternity in election he will be our Father to eternity in glorification Can a Mother forget her Child yea though she should yet can I not forget thee thou art written in the palm of my hand God hath us alwayes in his eye A mother cannot alwayes think of her Child she sleepeth sometimes but God is a Father that never sleepeth The Keeper of Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth And this is our comfort in all times and for eternity And therefore we ought to carry our selves to God reverently and go boldly to him and alwayes make use of him And this we should learn likewise to maintain a sweet frame between God and us shall God open such an advantage to us shall God be our Father and bear the gracious eternal affection of a Father and shall not we by prayer and faith fetch from our Father all we stand in need of As our Saviour saith you that be earthly Fathers when your Children ask such a thing will you deny And have we a Father so rich so loving and shall not we have intercourse with him in all our daily necessities What a Trade is open to us if we know what a comfort is laid up in the sweet relation of a Father Your Father knoweth what we stand in need of and he will give thee the spring of all graces not only a broken heart a spirit of life and vigor in his service but go to God and he will give thee his holy spirit which is the best thing next Christ that can be And therefore be incouraged to make intercourse between thee and God considering we have a Brother in Heaven our nature is there and our spirit is below we have the best things in Heaven next Christ on earth and God hath our flesh in Heaven by Christ and therefore why should we not be much in prayer and much in prayses in all our necessities Beloved it is a comfort of that largeness that I cannot express it I rather leave it to your admiration that you may see what use to make of this sweet relation of Father 1. But we must know that every one cannot say my Father for there are a company of men in the world that may say in some respects our Father but in other respects they cannot As our Saviour Christ saith peremptorily John 8. 44. You be of your Father the Devil They bragged of God their Father and they were of their Father the Devil Therefore consider who is fit to take this name into their mouths My Father mark the disposition of the Scribes and Pharisees and then you shall see who be fit to bragg of God as their Father They be very formal men look to their outward devotion who so devout as they They studied it but what were they for the inside they were malitious men they were satanical men men opposite to the power of Religion arrant Hypocrites painted Sepulchres It is no matter for Complement or formality an Hypocrite may have much of that in the eys of the world yet may be a Child of the Devil for all that and a Pharisee for all that Thou maist be malitious against the truth as the Pharisees sought Christs blood A man may be like Herod seeking the blood of Christ in his Members persecuting Christ as all cruel men do They seek to devour Christ in his professors what they can they disparage and dishearten them they are enemies to the power of Religion and to the Ordinances of God they be the Children of the Devil and therefore have no reason at all to bragg that God is their Father Indeed an inward bitter disposition against the power of Religion though under any formality is a Character of a satanical spirit such cannot say Our Father If they do it is an usurpation for their true Father is the Devil ◠Who then can say our Father those that by the spirit of the Father and the Son by the Holy Ghost are ingraffed
Comfort in that Christ is our Brother Christ in glory owns his Churches Cause Use of exhortation by faith to labor to be one with Christ John 1. 16 Faiths usual work Christs calling his Disciples brethren adds much to our comfort Faith presents things to come as present Love teacheth what it knowes Humility will be instructed in what it knowes not Christ ascended into glory forgets not his people in debasement It is the highâ—st honor to be a member of Christ By faith in Christ both sin death and hell are overcome The freedom of a Christian The Christians dignity Satans Objection The Christians Reply Christ to be believed and not Satan Mother and brother in spirit is preferred before mother and brother in the flesh Christians are fruitful Trees of righteousnesse The world knowes not the excellency of Gods people and therefore regards them not The constancy and humility of Christ Christ speedy in comforting Object Christ takes his owâ— time to comfort the humble soul Christs love constant Question Resol Gods love is constant because grounded on his own eternall purpose Fuâ—damenta taâ—en stant inconcussâ— Syoâ—is Christ by death reconciles us by his life he saves us Obj. Answ Trusting in Christ takes off trouble The links of salvation hold firm on Gods part Gods love â—n Iterable In darkest times Christ is near to comfort Simile Note The Churches care to find her beloved Christs sweet and comfortab e spâ—ech â—o his beloved Christs high commendations of his spouâ—e Note Reason 1 Kindnesse shewed after dejection is very seasonable Reason 2. Christ deals not with us after our deserts Reason 3 Satan by laying guilt to our charge labors to carry us further fâ—om God Comfort to those that sh me themselves John 2â— 15 16 17 We are not so ready to come as Christ is to receive Well mâ— when Christ and the soul mâ—et together Presumptuous sinners The most humble Christian most subject to be discouraged Rom. 5. 20. Object Answ Jer. â— 1. Comforts against great sins Our comforts fail not because he is God and not man Note Difference between a carnal and a gratious heart Sin imputed to Christ as our surety Faith makes things absent present Saints look forward as Christ did Till we come to Heaven our desires are unsatisfied Simile Notes of our spiritual Resurrection Heavenly mindednesse Converse with the world be not defiled with the world Heaven injoyed on earth Quaere Reasons of Christs ascension Our enemies conquered and God appeased by Christs resurrection Victory triumph Heb. 9. 24 Christs blood speaks mercy and pardon The spirit hâ—râ— and Christ in Heaven here together His Resurrection ascension declares the Father to be satisfied to the utmost Rom. 10 6. 7. Christs intercession Apoc. 12. 9 Christ more skilful to save then Satan is to destroy The super excellent advantage of Gods people above the world 1 Joh. 21. Rom. 8. All Scriptures are for consolation The flighting of the Ministry is the havock of conscience Faith makes all present Fath the Christians priviledge Think on Christ as ascended with him Ephes 5. 20. 1 Joh. 2. 1. Mat. 6. 12. Go to God for pardon of sinners in the name of Christ To rely on Christ is to feed upon him God is first Christs God and Father and then our God Father How God is the Father of Christ Christ coequal with his Father Joh. 20. 28 1 Col. 20. God a Father All comfort is from God reconciled to us in Christ Mal. 3. 17. Father is a tearm of indulgence Luk. 15. 18 Gods infinite love to a sinful man Heb. 12. 6. A name of provision Luk. 12. 32 Luk 12 30 Father is a name of protection Pro. 18. 20 What we owe to God as a Father Fear God for his greatness love him for his goodness Gods wisdom and love God keeps the best things till the last Esay 49. 15 16. Psal 121. 4. Faith and prayer fetcheth all from God Mat. 7. 9. 10. Mat. 6. 8. God not a Father in Christ to the wicked The Hypocrite disposition To whom God is a Father Christs disposition The Character of a gratious Christian Quaere Solution No sin should hinder us from going to God as our Father The name of Father speaks no comfort to the malitious enemies of Christ Simile Rom. 1. 4. Heb. 1. 5. Gods unexpressible and wonderful love to mankind Psal 113. 6. Our nature advanced in Christ as high as can be God a Father to his discâ—nsolate Disciples Psal 117. 11. Job 42. 6. 8 Gods love to us is from his own bowels not from our goodnesâ— If mercy were not shewed to sinners none could be saved Comfort in afflictions Mat. 27. 46 God Christs Father in all his persecâ—tions The Law necessary to be teached Contentation in all conditions to be laboured for Humility a lesson to be learned from Brotherhood 2 Cor. 5. 16. Love to the Saints the highest mark of sincerity Notes of adoption God may be our God though we cannot alwayes make it Even sighs groans pierce through thick Clouds get to God Good things connatural to good men How to go to God in prayer Ephes 1. 3. 1 John 17 Mans insinite happiness by Christ Clay and dust taken into unity of the person of God Ephes 2 6. All we have or can expect to have must be obtained through Christ Use Blesse God for Christ as well as for our selves Luk. â— â—8 Christ as man the object of Gods love and predestination as well as we 1 Pet. 1. 4. How God is Christs God God our God in the state of grace 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. The Covenant of grace founded on Christ By vertue of Christs resurrection God is not only our Father but our God God our God in covenant with Christ Interest in God great comfort Even afflictions Satan himself conspires to make us happy Eccles 1. 2. Eccles 2. 17. Never rest till God be made our portion God our joy our comfort our Rock our all Examine our hearts what we make our God It is of eternalconcernment to make God our God Exo. 20. 2. Do all for God in obedience God gives us our being and wel being and doth all for us till we come to Heaven Humane nature nearer to Christ then the nature of the Angels Doct. What God is whâ—t he is able to do what he hath all is ours Answ Want it self is for the good of Gods people God all in all immediatly in Heaven Use Simile Pro. 18. 20 Go to God in things of extremity by faith and prayer Exo. 9. 28. The wicked outwardly make a shew to feaâ— God but hate him in their hearts A carnal man professes hiâ— own safety before the advancement of Religion Rom. 7. 8. The fearful condition of a wicked man at the hour of death Who are Gods enemiâ—t A Christian is a good man in his own particular Quest Answ The humble man more excellent then the proud Peace of conscience inward joy and comfort signs of love Mark 9. 24 Psal 73. 25. Arguments of Gods shining upon the soul Caution To call God our God when he is not so is an usurpation full of danger Psal 50. 16 17. Simile Propriety by â—itting our natures for communion with God Heb. 12. 29 Esa 33. 14 Comfort in our interest in God Particular exigencie supplyed by his all-sufficiency Religion is to know God â—nd to make use of him for good to honor him and to be thankful Sacrament seals God to be ours Man by some sins worse then the Devil Gods spirit both a severing spirit and an uniting spirit Friendship in mutual office of duty Doct. God to be apprehended as he offers himself Particular application of Christ how grounded Sacraments seal a particular faith Failings do not cut uâ— off from Christ If Christ hath satisfied for us notwithstanding our infirmities we may call God our God Heb. 12. 24. Mercy part of our mariage portion Object Answ Use Assurance Joy springs from knowledg Luk. 10. 20 Gods service must be performed with chearfulnesse No worldly comforts can satisfie the soul Assurance earnestly to be labored for 3 Col. 12. Grounds of assurance Assurance maintained to us on Gods part John 13. 1. Heb. 13. 20 Hos 2. 18. Ruleâ— to know how God is our God Simile God and Christ the Objects of faiâ—h and love Interest in God an argument against sin The flesh a Devil within us That God is our God â—nd our Father is ground of infinite comfort Assurance that God is our God wrought by the sealing of the spirit and the spirits sanctifying Conscience is a little God within us 1 Joh. 3. Respect with God preserved with much industry holiness 2 Pet. 1. 20 Psal 2. 11. The fearful condition of those that have not God to be their God The office of the Ministry is to prâ—ach life to all repentant sinners God preventeth us by his mercies God our comfort in the losse of all things 1. Glorie under hope of glory 2. Glory in affl ctions 3. Glory in God 2 Pet. 1. 10