wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God whereby he being convinced of his sin and misery and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition not only assents to the truth of the promise of the Gospel but receives and rests upon Christ and his Righteousness therein held forth for pardon of sin and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation I 'm sure the Scripture makes this to be our accepting of Christ 1 Ioh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed on him might not perish c. 1 Joh. 1.12 But as many as received him to them he gave power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name We come to him and feed on him by faith Ioh. 6.35 And he dwells in our hearts by faith Ephes. 3.17 The Woman consenting to take the man for her Husband upon that the Matrimonial union follows he is hers and she his so the sinner consenting to the receiving and obeying of Christ which is one main act of faith upon which he is made his This is one of faiths royal excellencies nothing puts a greater worth and glory upon it than this great effect Well then see that you make sure of it put forth this hand of faith and take Christ are ye without it in the sad state of unbelief you have no share in nor can make no claim to this gift so long as it is thus with you you must be put into another state and become true believers then 't will be well But do not content your selves with a Dogmatical Historical faith an easie common presumptuous false faith which is in the generality of men Be sincere and sound believers flatter not your selves with an idle inoperative faith have such a faith as purifies the heart works by love overcomes the world you must heartily close with whole Christ according to the Gospel-offer let your trust relyance confidence for pardon life and salvation be grounded upon him and him only You must cast your selves upon his alone merits renouncing every thing in your selves holding forth the two hands of faith with the one to lay hold on Christ and with the other to resign up your selves to Christ. You must be throughly convinced of sin and misery that you have undone and destroyed your selves and in the sense of nakedness wretchedness and perishing see an absolute necessity of Christ that unless he justifie you you must â—e condemned unless he save you you must burn in hell for ever and so cry give me Christ or else I die and have restless importunate desires of the soul towards him as a condemned man for pardon a hungry man for meat O that Christ were mine Oh that I might enjoy him I cannot live without him I know not whether Christ will own me and smile on me or no I know not whether Christ will come to me and bestow himself on so mean and vile a creature But I 'le go out to him I 'le venture all if I perish I perish my desire is towards him and I 'le cast my self and all upon him and with tears and crys say Lord I believe help my unbelief 2. Pray go unto God for this gift for it is his you can never deserve therefore beg it and ask grace to receive and apply it No man cometh unto the Son except the Father which hath sent him draw him Iohn 6.44 All things are of God 2 Cor. 5 18. Creating is his work Eph. 2 10. Go then and lye and wait at the throne of Grace and earnestly intreat God to give Châ—â—st to thee and make him thine though thou have no promise to urge God with yet put him in remembrance how he hath said in â—cripture that he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that he should turn aâ—â— live Tell him that thou art a sinner yet God commends his love in that Christ dyed for men while they were yet sinners He came to reconcile even ememies to give giâ—ts even to the rebellious His business was to seek and save lost Sheep of whom thou art one tell him you have no whither to go but unto him be earnest and importunate and then wait though he hide his face and answer not yet continue praying and knocking at the gate of mercy cry aloud Lord give me Christ O give me Christ or else I dye and perish Good Lord what ever thou deniest me deny me not Christ. Lord upon my bended knees I ask him of thee O shut not out my Prayer if I have not Christ I am undone Remember his carriage towards the woman of Canaan Matt. 15.26 he puts her off either no answer or that which was worse than none yet her importunity in crying still Lord help me at last prevailed and she got a gracious and comfortable answer obtained what she asked and more remember for your incouragement you are calling on him that 's calling on you and seeking him that first loves and seeks you Pray for faith even that also is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 Christ is the author and finisher of faith Heb. 12.2 Fall down before the throne of Grace before and after the hearing of the word and beg earnestly of God that as he hath given you hands to take your meat so he would also give you the hand of Faith wherewith to apprehend Jesus Christ pray and wait 3 That you may the better do thus and be inabled to believe and pray attend diligently the Word and Ordinances which are the ordinary means to convey this gift to the Children of men 'T is by these golden pipes that golden oyl is carryed to men Zech. 4.12 The Word must be read heard and meditated on Ioh. 6.44 45. 'T is by hearing the Father and learning of him that we come to Christ 't is not without his drawing but he draws by these means The Scriptures do testifie of him and by them we may come to the knowledg of him and if we know him we shall desire him and if so we shall have him as in the Text. The Word I say Read or Preached but especially the latter for he hath said Matt. 18.20 Where two or three are come together in my name there am I in the midst of them q. d. If you want me and would know where to find me study both the Law and Gospel that is the School-master to shew you the need of him to shake the Soul out of security and to humble you through convictions And this is that whereby he offers himself to you expresly calls and invites you to him Come to me poor weary sinners c. He is vailed in the Law revealed in the Gospel there held forth in Types here in Truth in all Christ is the substance to be found in every page frequent
thine eyes a crucified bleeding Saviour Hence that saying of Bernard Cui fons forte sicul es lanynam invocat Iesum non fluxit uberius What hardness of heart could ever stand before Jesus Christ or what Soul ever went to Christ and came away with a hard heart and was not melted as wax before the Sun If Christ do but strike upon the heart though it were a Rock he can make it gush out with a torrent of brinish tears 4. Barrenness Thou complainest of unfruitfulness thou receivest much and returnest little thou art dry and unprofitable make use of Christ in this case the water is not more effectual to make fruitful the barren ground than the dew of Christs Grace to fructifie a barren heart I the Lord can turn a barren wilderness into a fruitful garden Isa. 51.3 He hath promised to make the Wilderness like Eden and the Desert like the Garden of the Lord. He hath said Isa. 35.1 2 6 7 That the desert shall blossom as the rose yea it shall blossom abundantly for in the wilderness shall water break out and streams in the desert and the parched ground shall become a pool and the thirsty land springs of water Go to Christ for the fulfilling of those great and precious promises say Cant. 4. ult Lord send out thy spirit to breathe upon my Soul to blow upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out c. Christ saith Except ye abide in me and I in you ye cannot bear fruit Under the term abiding is implyed making use of Christ drawing sap and nourishment from him Ioh. 15.4 5. 5. Despondency when thou art disquieted with melancholly Psal. 27.13 doubting and distrustful thoughts arising from the weakness of Grace power of Corruption and malice of Satan have recourse to Christ who hath an incomparable faculty of dispelling all these perplexed and pensive conceits that do torture thy mind He himself suffered and was tempted was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and therefore is able to succour us in all our temptations and troubles Heb. 2.18 and 4.15 16. Now if a man be in any trouble in outward estate or body what will he do in such a case He will go and consult with one that hath been in the like condition Do thus make use of Christ for help who hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 which words of his being spoken home to the heart of a distrustful perplexed person by his own Spirit must needs be of refreshing vertue and reviving power as that light will ever spring up out of darkness and scatter those mists that darken the mind and disturb our peace 't is he that forgiveth all thy sins and healeth all thy diseases Psal. 103.3 3. Improve this gift of God as a sweet and forcible attractive and help to draw your hearts to the performance of all those duties that are required of you and to assist in the exercise of those graces that are to be found in you As 1. Faith In the want or weakness of Faith make use of Christ who must needs be very helpful for he is the author and finisher of your faith Heb. 12.2 he is infinitely able to begin increase and perfect your faith so as that it can have no other vertue or power but such as is derived only from him 'T is he by whom we believe in God who raised him from the dead his own Disciples finding their faith infirm and weak did repair to him for more strength and for a larger measure of it acknowledging him to be able and themselves impotent and unable to do it saying Luke 17.5 Lord increase our faith 2. Repentance Does any lye and groan under the guilt and burden of impenitency O let him address himself to Christ in this sad case who came into the world to call sinners to repentance not as we in the Ministry to call outwardly but to call with an effectual voice and to cause to repent Mat. 11.13 God not only gave him to the world to be a Saviour but hath exalted him to be a Prince to give repentance and remission of sins Act. 5.31 If thy heart be secure and senseless go to Christ who will freely give not sell and work in thee godly sorrow that leads to repentance unto salvation not to be repented of That repentance you frame in your selves will miserably deceive you so that Austin said that repentance doth drown more than sin when you think you can sufficiently do it your selves whereas Christ alone doth give true and acceptable repentance 3. Love Christ is the best teacher of Love that ever the world had who taught it not only by his words but by his blood by his life and by his death Wouldest thou learn to love Go to Christ if thou canst not learn it of him thou canst never learn it Love is the greatest commander of love and the most effectual argument that can insuperably constrain us to it and none ever loved at the rate and measure that Christ hath loved to stand by such a fire is the way for a congealed heart to melt and the coldest affections to grow warm A lively Faith still holding Christ the glass of infinite love and goodness before our faces is the greatest lesson in the art of love A believing view of the nature undertaking love obedience doctrine example sufferings intercession and Kingdom of Jesus Christ must needs inflame believers hearts with an answerable degree of love O steep that stiff and hardned heart in the blood of Christ and it will melt and it will change thy unkind unthankful heart in the very nature of love to come over with Thomas and by the passage of his wounds wind thy self into his heart 4. Obedience both active and passive to which Christ is both an incomparable motive and admirable pattern He fulfilled all righteousness and became obedient to the death of the Cross Lo I come to do thy will O God was his resolution when he came into the world and not my will but thine be done when he went out of it He hath said he will write his Laws in your hearts and cause you to walk in his statutes and give you one heart and one way that ye may serve him for ever Ezek. 36.27 Christs obedience is thine walking in Christ all the acts of it are exerted and performed in the strength of Christ. 5. Prayer would you know how to pray as to have your Prayer accepted and answered let Christ be made use of who is the alone Mediator that by the vail of his flesh hath made a new and living way into the holy place and sits at Gods right hand making request for you So that by him you may have free access with boldness to the throne of grace Heb. 10.19 20. Have you a friend in the Court that will plead your cause and speak a good word to the King and will you not make use of
fulness fulness of the Godhead not in shadows types representations as Gods presence filled the Temple Camp Mount but bodily that is essentialiter presentialiter potentialiter in regard of essence presence and power the expression is yet more Emphatical fulness dwells in Christ not sometimes but always there there 's a fulnes in the Sea but 't is ebbing and flowing a fulness of the Moon but it is growing and decreasing a fulness in the creature but it is going and coming up and down but in Christ is not only but dwells fulness yea in Christ dwells all fulness there was a fulness of beauty in Absalom but not a fulness of truth and sincerity a fulness of wisdom in Solomon but not of constancy and stedfastness he gave his heart to pleasure and folly A fulness of Policy in Achitophel but not of holiness and faithfulness to his Prince yea it proved fulness of folly to hang himself A fulness of strength in Sampson but not of faith and courage of mind he was strong in body but soft and impotent in mind and was overcome by a woman There 's Ahiatus and some emptiness in every creature yea an Angels fulness sits neighbour to pure nothing But in Christ is all fulness The Ark or holy Chest in the Tabernacle did typifie Christ in whom God hath treasured up all perfection of wisdom grace power goodness and mercy for by this fulness beza understands the accumulation or heaping up of all divine gifts in a most copious and plentiful manner which the Schoolmen call habitual grace distinct from the grace of union God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him He anointed him with the oyl of gladness above his fellows But this riâ—h treasure is not hid this full ark not locked up for from the fulness overflowing in Christ all Believers receive their sufficiency and fulness Ioh. 2.16 Of his fulness we all receive and grace for grace that is grace answerable to every communicable grace in Christ. If there be light in the Sun the air cannot be dark if there be sap in the stock the branches cannot be dry If there be fulness in the fountain the streams cannot be empty Therefore the Apostle prays Eph. 3 19 That they might be filled with all the fulness of God that is the Divine fulness which is diffusive and communicable that Christ in whom dwells all fulness may dwell in their hearts by faith that they may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadâ—h and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg and might receive abundance of grace and that his grace may more than over abound towards them 3. Christ is a most â—ind gift a gift of love there is a wonderful and astonishing Philanthropy kindness and love of God towards man appearing in his giving Christ Tit. 3.5 It is not the gift many times but the love and good will of the giver that makes it excellent in the eye of the receiver Now Christ is a most excellent incomparable gift flowing out of a bottomless boundless fountain of pure and dear love Ioh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son c. He so loved that is so admirable was his love that it cannot be expressed nay it far exceeds our highest conceptions Gods love was herein as himself infinite incomprehensible and everlasting in the womb of this love Christ was conceived and thence brought forth When God made the world he intended to give an evidence of his Power in ordering and governing all Creatures even the most ungovernable He manifests his infinite Wisdom he appointed the Lake of fire and brimstone to declare the severity of his Justice but he gave his Son to be by his own death the Redeemer of lost sinners and herein his purpose was to demonstrate to the world the transcendency of his love This is the highest expression and fullest demonstration of his love to the Creature not only that ever was but that ever can be for in this love God only acts to the uttermost he never shewed so much of his Power Wisdom and Wrath but he could have shewed more But he hath no greater instance of his love than Christ to give such a Son for such sinners O the superlative matchless unlimited love and grace of God transcending the reach of the highest finite capacity He had done exceeding well for man as he made him at first for he put him into a very good estate stampt his own Image upon him made him above all other Creatures to be his favourite but he foolishly sinned and fell and lost all his happiness Well what did God now do did he let man alone shut up his bowels against him fall upon him with his utmost wrath Did he say Nay since it is thus let him even rise as he hath fallen since he would be so foolish as for a trifle to break with me let him die and rot and perish for ever I 'le do no more for him c. O no! not such a word or thought did pass from the gracious God towards his miserable Creature But will he pardon him without satisfaction no sin shall be punished but the punishment shall be laid on his Son O the height of Justice and so the sinner shall be acquitted O the depth of mercy There is more of mercy in pardoning this way than in absolute pardoning Meer pardon and salvation it self had not so much of mercy and love in them as what was in giving Christ. 'T is more for a King to put his Son in the Traytors stead and take the Malefactors chains and suffer than just to pardon c. God might have redeemed us another way but he could not shew so much love another way God gives many rich gifts and royal favours to his people together with Christ as so many tokens and pledges of his love But herein is the very top and zenith of love the greatest evidence imaginable of Gods bounty and goodness God commendeth his love towards us as unparallel'd in that when we were sinners Christ died for us Rom. 5.8 Herein he lays open and naked to us the tenderest bowels of mercy and love infinite goodness here makes free love swell without it self like a boundless River impatient of its banks 't is a love that could not flow within its own channel O! the boundless breadth the bottomless depth of the love of God in Christ a Sea of love is nothing it hath a bottom a Heaven of love is nothing it hath a brim but infinite love hath no bounds 't is unfathomable unsearchable and incomprehensible 4. Christ is a most rich gift in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom knowledg Col. 2.3 he is the pearl in the field 〈…〉 ine of pure gold and therefore he cour 〈…〉 poor Church of Laodicea to buy of him tryed gold that she may be rich Rev. 3.18 He is
my husband my lot my portion Who will give me to drink of this Well of water springing up to eternal life this fountain of living waters this pure river that flows from the Throne from the heart of God Canst thou hear so much though infinitely short of his worth and not desire him Dost thou indeed believe that all this is true and yet thy soul not hunger and thirst after him Are these faithful sayings and is not he worthy of all acceptation Is it possible for a rational creature to hear of such a bottomless treasure of such a boundless pleasure and not covet the enjoyment of it O man where are thy wits What 's become of thy reason Art thou a man or a bruit If thou knewest the gift of God and what it is that is offered thee thou wouldest scorn the highest honours the sweetest pleasures the greatest riches yea trample upon all the Crowns and Kingdoms of this world for it It 's an inestimable priviledg that thou art a creature capable of so vast a happiness it 's the astonishing wonder of Heaven and Earth that God would give a Son such a Son to be thy Saviour what could he give more or better and it 's a special favour that the Gospel hath been sent to thee to reveal this great mystery to offer this excellent gift to thee and now when it is tendered wilt thou refuse it Wilt thou neglect and undervalue Christ or wilt thou not rather give it all humble and thankful acceptance Reflect upon those twelve incomparable properties and characters of this gift methinks though I have spoken but little yet I have said enough to one that will let his reason judg to draw out thy most vehement desires after this gift Yet I will add these Considerations more 1. Consider who it is that offers this gift to thee Christ is the gift of God in a peculiar and eminent manner so therefore were there no other reason thou must take it The worth greatness and excellency of the Donor is an argument to move us to take the gift we regard not so much what it is as from whom it is If thy Father or thy Prince offer a gift to thee would'st thou durst thou deny it If thy dearest Friend should send thee a token wouldest thou slight it Now look on the best of men in all his Excellencies in himself relations to thee and thy dependance on him consider in him all that faithfulness goodness greatness or any thing else that would most move thee to take a gift from his hands and there is infinitely more cause to accept this gift at the hands of God The great and glorious God the King of kings Lord of lords and God of gods the blessed Majesty of Heaven the first Cause the original Being self-sufficient all-sufficient absolutely perfect uncapable of any addition or diminution humbles himself to offer this gift to thee 'T is the high and lofty One that inhabits Eternity to whom millions of ages are but as one day who is boundless in his Being Omnipotent in his Power unsearchable in his Wisdom unconceivable in his Grace and infinite in all his Perfections He who dwells in that light inaccessible before whom the Angels the highest of Creatures vail their faces to whom the whole Creation is nothing less than nothing and vanity This God is he that made thee and all things of nothing supports all things influences all things and is all things and infinitely more than all things He is the God in whose hands thy life is and who is acquainted with all thy ways who is of infinite holiness and perfectly hates all wickedness of unlimited power able to avenge himself on thee every moment and turn thy soul and body into Hell Of infinite justice a jealous God who will by no means clear the guilty against whom thou hast sinned and been an offence and provocation to him all thy days and is thine enemy according to strict justice 't is he whose favour is life and whose frown is death and hell c. The height of a person that bestows a favour and the meanness and unworthiness of the object on whom it is bestowed as it doth exceedingly advance and heighten the Grace and goodness of him that doth it so it mightily aggravates the sin and danger of him that despiseth and refuseth it See that ye refuse not him that speaketh from heaven for if they escaped not c. Heb. 12.25 O what infinite grace and goodness is it for this great God to take so much notice of man and do so much for him What admirable wonderful condescension is it for the most High the God of Heaven and Earth that God whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain to manifest such respect to vile polluted dust and ashes yea to them that are rebels and traytors against his Majesty and thereby worthy of hell as once to offer his blessed only begotten Son to us as a Saviour Well may we with David be amazed at it and cry with admiration Psal. 8.14 O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth who hast set thy glory above the heavens And adds What is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that thou visitest him That so glorious a Lord should mind poor silly weak frail dying man sinful filthy polluted wretched miserable man could not but affect his heart with admiration and astonishment If a friend or neighbour thy equal do offer thee a kindness though but small how ill does he take it if thou accept it not O what horrid indignity dost thou offer to God what dishonour is it to all his Attributes if thou refuse this transcendent gift 2. Consider what it is that is offered to thee when this gift of God Jesus Christ is offered to thee To explain this fully would require the tongue nay exceed the skill of an Angel none can tell what Christ is but Christ himself all those particulars I mentioned speak somewhat of him but not the thousand thousandth part of that excellency that is in him This let me tell thee when Christ is offered to thee the greatest good that ever was that ever will be that ever can be is offered thee There never was nor can be the like offered thee 't is the best gift that ever was received or given in the world more than Heaven and Earth more than the whole world more than millions of worlds is offered thee He who is offered to thee is the Well of Salvation the Lord of Life the Author of all Consolation an Hive of sweetness a Paradise of pleasure an Heaven of joy He is the richest grace the dearest love the surest friend the highest honour the vastest treasure the exactest beauty the chiefest good the fullest felicity He is a comprehensive and universal good not one but all good riches honours pleasures friends relations health life earth heaven the world the other world all
use of him here and hath now taken him home to himself His afflictions temptations oppositions were above the ordinary rate which as they assimilated him to his Master so they promoted his greater usefulness here and fittednes for heaven the lintel-stones and pillars of the new Ierusalem suffer more knocks of Gods hammer and tool than the common side-wall stones God wearied him out of this world and made heaven welcome wish him not here again but labour to improve this dreadful breach by remembring his Doctrine imitating his exemplary practice and understanding Gods design in this so amazing stroke search out that Achan that hath troubled your camp lay to heart sin reform your lives live up to the Doctrines you have been taught and do these in particular which are here presented to your view and I am confident will be acceptable to you though wanting the warming-accent of his lively voice which was full of sparkling spirits you must see his face hear his voice no more in your solemn assemblies but yet this Elijah as he mounted up to heaven in a chariot of fire dropped down this paper-mantle amongst us which by the spirit of grace concurring may divide the swelling-waves of Jordan I mean separate betwixt precious souls and those abominations which at this day overflow all banks and bounds Oh that Gods Spirit may by these conduits convey spiritual life and marrow into your souls that you may live though Ministers die they die civilly naturally may you live spiritually eternally This servant of God spent himself as a candle to give you light if ever it might be said of a mortal man as of our Saviour The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up it may be said so of this choice servant of God who spent and was spent for souls who counted not his life dear unto him that he might finish his course with joy in labours more abundant But I purposely wave what concerns his person at present leaving a rough draught of his smooth life to a fitter season All I shall add is to give a brief account of these ensuing Treatises As to the printing of them though Solomon caution his Son against making and reading many Books Eccles. 12.12 yet that only sounds a retreat to luxuriant wits in a scribling age as to writing upon some subjects or for vain glory but doth not simply condemn writing Books which hath been the key of discipline an Herauld of the Gospel and a notable mean to propagate true Religion As for these discourses upon common subjects I pickt them out of a vast bundle of variety of excellent discourses upon such accounts as these 1. Because I do not remember any such full Treatises upon these heads 2. Yet they are needful and useful pleasant and profitable 3. They are handed out in a taking-method and manner 4. His heart was much carried out in preaching Christ to sinners he professed most delight in it these Sermons then are the lively idea of his Gospel spirit 5. God made them savoury and delectable in their first verbal delivery and why not upon a second review 6. This servant of God is likely to preach no more but hereby being dead he yet speaketh 7. The importunity of such friends as deserved to be gratified extorted this labour of love to the souls of sinners nor shall it repent us to expose it naked to the worlds censures so it may by Gods blessing profit any For Treatises themselves though carried on by way of similitude and resemblance yet are not therefore to be despised or rejected the Prophets used similitudes Lumen supernum nunquam desendit sine indumento Rab. Cup. in Synt. Apost p. 177 178. Christ preacht much in Parables and this way sweetly instills Truths with delight and clearness into the mind and affection so that Cyprian's caution be well regarded that they be not stretcht too far He instanceth in leaven I may instance in this gift of God Iesus Christ is not so a gift but that he is also a Lord not to be ruled by us but to rule us To us a Son is given Isa. 9.6 but how that yet the government might be upon his shoulder As he is the Lords Christ so he is Christ the Lord who will rule where he rests and reign where ever he is received he will be Lord as well as Life a Master as well as a Treasure he will sway his righteous scepter over us as well as vouchsafe his glorious benefits to us he expects we should be his servants as well as his friends we must be the Lords Nethinims given to God yea by our selves as we expect this blessed Donative from God he that will not be ruled by his golden scepter shall be crushed by his iron rod. And as Iesus Christ is a gift so he is food bread of life heavenly manna yet this must not be stretcht too far for in this he is contrary to ordinary corporal food for though he feed souls he turns them not they him into his holy heavenly nature Christ as the gift of God is the matter of this feast Christ as Lord is the master and maker of this feast All this must be understood suitable to the majesty of the Son of God and according to the nature of Metaphors otherwise saith Cyprian If they were the same they were not examples but the things rather which they illustrate But all these similitudes fall infinitely short of the perfection of him who is above finite excellencies Nec similitudinem substantiae in facturis suis habere potest ille qui factor est omnium All I shall add further on this account is that caution of his in a like case Et jam hoc loco mundior auditus requiritur purior sensus Let your senses be raised to spiritual objects Having hinted a few words concerning the Author and Treatises give me leave having this fair opportunity to be speak the once constant attenders upon this good mans Ministry and those are either sinners or Saints As for unconverted sinners that attended such powerful awakening preaching and have sitten out these loud calls and pathetical intreaties and rational Interrogatories Perswasives Expostulations I may now say Lord have mercy upon you your case is miserable hath your Minister killed himself to save your souls and yet will you not be saved have you worn him to the stumps and quenched his natural light with your spiritual deadness Have you stifled all those convictions you have had under his Ministry And have you not reason to fear that Gods Spirit will strive with you no more Where will you find such another upright Nathaneel such a rouzing Boanerges such a melting Barnabas Shall he that studied travelled sweat wept sigh'd and suffered be brought in as a testimony against you He was mighty in prayer were you stupid when he wrestled with God for you and was loath to be put off without a soul at a Sermon Did you look about
right which he saith not to avoid death but to shew that he was unjustly accused 4. He is an eternal Lord Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even for ever Isa 9.7 Luke 1.33 He is the King immortal 1 Tim. 1.17 Death the King of terrors and terror of Kings is subdued by this Lord not only so as never to touch him but also never to hurt any of his Servants Other Rulers though they be called gods and lords yet shall dye like men earthly Monarchs either by some Poison or Treason are brought to untimely deaths at least some disease or other will lay their glory in the dust but Jesus Christ is yesterday today and the same for ever 5. He is a mighty Lord most able to do what is good for his Servant and to subdue all persons and things to himself Psal. 3.21 He can kill the Soul and throw both the Body and Soul into Hell he can subdue the hearts of men even of the deadliest enemies unto his love and obedience he can protect and shelter his Servants from all evil and bestow all good things on them for the world is his and the fulness thereof He hath under his command the forces of all creatures in Heaven and Earth which he rules as he pleases to his own purpose he can at ease frustrate the harmful intentions and noisom qualities of the worst of them he can turn their malice into mercy their hatred into love yea can bring forth glory to himself and profit to his Servants not only against but even out of their mischievous designments as in Daniel and the three Children c. 6. He is a most just Lord his is a Scepter of righteousness Heb. 1.8 his right hand is full of righteousness The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works Psal. 145.17 In him is exact and perfect integrity and equity of all his counsels words and actions and there is no unrighteousness in him His will is the rule and standard of justice and whatever he commands is most equal and right because he wills and commands it 7. He is a most glorious Lord and Master The glory of Kings and Emperours is but a borrowed ray or spark from his Majesty the glory of all the Caesars c. is but a black coal in comparison of his splendor and when he shall appear in his glory the glow-worms of worldly splendor and majesty shall disappear and be extinguished the poorest Servant he hath shall then appear with him in such glory that the combined-excellency of Kings shall not be so much as a shadow to it 8. He is a most gracious Lord he puts them upon none but safe honourable and comfortable employments He puts no more upon them than they can go through and lays no more upon them than they are able to bear he knows their mould and frame remembers they are but dust he is Jesus as well as Lord a Shepherd as well as a Master he joins his glory and their happiness together he never requireth brick from his people without giving them straw he will either multiply grace or diminish the temptation his Grace is always sufficient for them 9. He is a wise judicious Master A man that serves a fickle and unconstant Master who often changes his mind has a hard task and endless labour but a prudent man who orders his affairs with discretion and deliberation his commands are but once obeyed his work is soon done what he doth now anon he must undo and so Sysiphus like he is ever doing and hath never done he never knows an end of his work But the Servant of Christ is at a good certainty and knows before-hand what his work must be and what his wages as his Master himself is so his Commandments are immutable and invariable without so much as a shadow of change Iam. 1.17 That was a needless cavil and meer peevishness and selfishness in Ionah Ionah 4.2 10. He is a most knowing and discerning Lord. He observes the ways and works of his Servants so narrowly that the closest and subtillest among them cannot deceive him he spies them in every corner nay every corner of their hearts in them all things are open and naked before him though now in some sort he be absent yet he needs no informer he knows what every Servant doth in his absence and will manifest every ones work to all the world his eyes are as a flame of fire clearer than ten thousand suns he takes notice of all their services and hearts Rev. 2.19 I know thy works and charity and service and faith and thy patience and thy works and the last to be more than the first 11. He is a pitiful and merciful Lord and Master He hath an eye as pitying as it is piercing he doth no less observe the wants and troubles than the ways and works of his Servants he is a Father as well as a Master and As a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him Psal. 103.13 14 And spareth them as a father his son that serveth him Mal. 3.17 hath more tender bowels than a mother Isa. 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking-child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Christ is not as the slothful man thought a cruel and hard Master Matt. 25.24 that looks for much work and gives little encouragement but is moved with compassion towards his Servants Matt. 18.27 he will not have his Servants complain that they serve an hard Master 12. He is a meek and lowly Master condescending to serve his Servants here and hereafter 1. Hereâ— Matt. 20.28 He came not to be ministred unto but to minister Luke 22.27 Whether is greater he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth is not he that sitteth at meat but I am among you as he that serveth He stoopt so low as to wash his Disciples feet 2. Hereafter Luke 12.37 Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Verily I say unto you That he shall gird himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them Study but yet expect not to understand either the comfort or condescention of this promise made to the faithful Servants of Christ He shall gird himself c. Lord saith one did I not think that the cheer and the attendance were both one I should say the attendance were infinitely better than the meat Think what it is for Christ himself to serve at the Table what is it but infinite delight for the guests to have him set himself to solace them who is infinite as in sweetness so in knowledg to make his sweetness please them Nor will the dignity of these