l. 13. dele will p. 84. l. 11. r. he is incomprehensible p. 97. l. 2. dele of p. 108. l. 11. dele and p. ibid. l. 20. r. continue p. 111. l. 22. r. alive p. 131. l. 21. r. the poor in spirit p. 139. l. 10. r. walks p. 140. l. 18. r. the. p. 143. l. 26. r. got p. 143. l. 26. r. especial p. 147. l. 3. r. own p. 180. l. 6. r. adultery p. 189. l. 8. r. your p. 196. l. 7. r. and. p. 212. l. 21. r. it p. 213. l. 3. r. suffered p. 224. l. 21. r. wicked p. 233. l. 28. r. Tables p. 234. l. 1. r. not Pilula ad expurgandam Hypocrisin A PILL to Purge FORMALITY 2 Tim. 3.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Habentes formam pictatis sed qui vim ejus abnegarint Istos igitur vel etiam istos aversare Having a forme of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away THis glorious Apostle of the Gentiles by the Spirit of prophesie foreseeing those evils that would abound in the last times writes unto Timothy that it might be made known to the Churches as a warning peece to future ages vers 1 The words have their precedency beginning at the first verse A Catalogue of sinners In the last dayes shall be perillous times soul-dangering and soul-damning times souls shall be in peril of being lost and lost eternally not lost to be found but found to be lost vers 2 They shall be lovers of themselves but properly termed haters of themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Self-love is soul-hatred he that will come to Christ must first deny himself condemn himself yea hate himself self-seeking stands in opposition to soul-saving in a lofty self-admiring soul dwels no love of God vers 3 Yea these men shall be so far from grace as that they shall be void of natural affection besides all the abominations that they are guilty of vers 4 They shall be traitors to God to man and to their own souls in stead of loving the Lord of life and the people of God they shall embrace and fall in love with the pleasures of death that is those pleasures which lead unto eternal death These things by way of explication premised we shall return unto the words which as they stand in reference unto the precedent are the Epitome of the ninteenth abomination and though they are the last in number yet not the least in nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Having a forme of godliness Obser 1 That men notoriously wicked many times take upon them a shew of godliness or form of godliness what greater sinners and sins then these enumerated by the Apostle viz. Pride blasphemy covetousness disobedience to parents traitors heady high minded c and yet at this time when they lie under the guilt of these soul-destroying abominations even then are they said to have a forme of godliness Absalom when he was a traitor to his fathers crown and sought his fathers life even then he craved leave of the King to pay his vowe unto the Lord in Hebron And Absalom said unto the King 2 Sam. 15.7 8. I pray thee let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed unto the Lord in Hebron For thy servant vowed a vow while he abode in Geshur in Sira saying if the Lord shall bring me indeed to Jerusalem then I will serve the Lord. In the next words observe how he sent spies thorow out all Israel saying When ye hear the trumpets blow then say that Absalom reigns in Hebron You may see his pretence was to serve the Lord but his intent was to serve himself by depriving his father of his Crown and life 2 Sam. 17 1 2. for when Ahitophell said that he would go out against David with twelve thousand men and smite the King this saying pleased Absalom well O bloody Absalom that under shew of paying a vow to the Lord would kill his own father one that loved him as his own life Thus the Jews sent forth some faining themselves to be just men Luk. 20.20 that they might intrap Christ himself And they sent forth spies which should feign themselves to be just men that they might take hold of his words and deliver him to the Governor O wicked form of godliness that would betray the Lord of life you see traitors can insinuate and feigne themselves to be Saints Judas betrayes Christ with a kiss Luk. 23.48 Judas betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss Yet how smoothly and seeming innocently did he carry it all the time that he walked with the Disciples in so much that none did suspect him for when Christ said One of you shall betray me Mark 14 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one began to question and search into his own heart questioning amongst themselves Is it I is it I so that they did more suspect themselves then Judas here was a glorious forme when he went to sell and destroy the power and glory of Heaven and earth this was a white seeming Saint Rom. 2.20 21 22 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but a black devil see saith Paul Thou art confident that thou art a teacher of babes an instructer of the foolish who hast a forme of knowledge of the law thou that preachest a man should not steal dost thou steal Thou that teachest a man should not committ adultery dost thou commit adultery Thou that art a Minister in a parish that teachest men should not be proud art thou proud thou that teachest a man should not be covetous art thou covetous thou that teachest that men should be of peaceable humble meek and lowly spirits art thou a kindle-coal and an incendiary art thou he that studies mischief art thou he that teachest men should walk in love and wilt thou make division dost thou teach that men should follow their own callings and wilt thou entermeddle with State affaires and labor to fire a Kingdom thou that wouldest not that any should bear rule and Lordship over thy conscience and yet wilt thou lord it over the conscience of thy brother and have all men undone that see not with thy eyes though otherwise godly O what a shame is this This is the meer forme of godliness but I must take heed of raking too deep into this dunghil least I meet with some ominous Basiliske I shall therefore lay aside this coal and with another pencil shew you what is meant by these words forma c. The next thing is to inquire what is here meant by the words forma pietas forme and godliness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word forme signifies the shape the outside the fashion the beauty the likeness or maner of any thing the bark of the tree cannot be properly called the tree the shadow of a man in the Sun is not the real man so the habit or forme of godliness is not godliness indeed but you must know that
her steps take hold on hell thus the soul by the power of grace being made acquainted with the loathsomness and bitterness of sin begins to be weaned from its brest and forsakes its embraces let God or man say what can be said of sin in respect of the vileness of it the soul can give its free assent and consent unto it yea it s so hateful to the soul that it hates the very name of any thing that doth but tend to sin yea it hates it in its most glorious robes of pleasures profits honors credits or what ever the world can afford it will shake them off as Paul did the Viper from his hand it knows sin to be viperous infective and stinging it looks upon it as its bane its poyson its undoing yea in the souls apprehension its worse then hell then the devil or all or any thing that can be thought upon The next thing is Self-denial that 's a soul that hath no Self no will when any thing comes in competition with God with Christ it owns its being from God it renounceth any self-existency its naked till cloathed from above its barren till made fruitful by Christ it stands in need of all things till supplied by that Fountain that openeth his hand and filleth all things with his blessing this Grace subjecteth the soul and makes it lie down at Christs feet it s alwayes lying under the droppings of Grace that it might receive replenishings from the Spirit this causeth the soul to look out of it self and to be carried out with an expectation hungering and thirsting after Christ and his righteousness this makes the soul to decrease that Christ may increase it debaseth it self that it might advance Christ its willing to part with all that Christ may be all in all it doth not onely make the soul to see emptiness in it self but to see emptiness in every thing besides In a word It s a soul-denying and a Christ-advancing Grace in whatever it doth it will not suffer the soul to aim at any thing which may tend to sinister ends it doth willingly cast off ease profit pleasure honor or what ever can be thought on before God and Christ shall lose their glory this Grace brings the soul into a right temper where this Grace hath its true working the bias of the soul runs from the world and runs heavenward God-ward and Christ-ward Self-denial as its Faith 's concomitant so it worketh with Faith in purifying the heart in mortifying of sin Matth. 12.37 39. and in following of Christ For he that will follow me saith Christ must first deny himself not regarding profits pleasures afflictions or what ever else lies in the way to life and glory For he that loveth any thing whether it be father or mother more then Christ is not worthy of Christ and he that will finde his life shall lose it but he that loseth his life for Christs sake shal finde it Fourthly Love its Gods will to man and it is a grace shed abroad into the hearts of the Saints by the holy Ghost in man it s a certain passion flowing from the Affections which are the souls wheels to carry it to its Object be it either God or man It may be stiled a characterizing grace whereby men may know God for God is love whereby men may know Saints from Reprobates 1 Joh. 4.8.3.14 the children of God from the children of the devil it s a sign that you are departed from death to life because you love the brethren he that loves not his brother is not born of God neither doth he know him to her much is forgiven because she loved much Love is of such an excellent nature that it transcends the tongues of men and Angels it excells the gifts of prophesie all mysteries 1 Cor. 13.1 2. all knowledg nay all faith it is of an enduring nature as Paul saith in the 1 Cor. 13.8 Charity never faileth it out-lives faith and hope 1 Cor. 13.8 for they shall cease but love shall be perfected and endure for ever Quest 2 Secondly how comes godliness into the soul and what are the steps thereof Answ 2 That as godliness is the fruit of grace and grace the cause of godliness as I have shewed before so are they made perfect in the soul at one and the same instant of time that is perfect in parts not in degrees for there are degrees of grace as well as glory one Christian more eminent in grace then another yet the least spark is as true as the greatest flame the whole man is at one and the same time changed and become new all the faculties of the soul all the members of the body are at once transformed and renewed the understanding that 's illuminated the Judgement rectified the will turned to that which is good the affections run after the right object conversion is not in part but in whole the feet cannot be washed alone but the hands and other members must be also cleansed for so said Christ unto Simon Peter one of his Disciples when he said unto him Lord wash not onely my feet Joh. 13.9 10. but also my hands and my head Jesus answering said unto him he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit c. intimating that he that is washt by the blood of Jesus Christ is not onely cleansed from one sin but from all not onely purified in one member of his body but in all he is sanctified throughout both in soul and body but though this grace of sanctification or godliness be thus thorowly operative in it self yet oft times its not so to the souls apprehension that 's in Gods ordinary way of working now to open unto you in a word how to mans apprehension this great work of conversion grace and godliness is wrought First God by the preaching of his word together with the working of his spirit gives a touch to the conscience of an elect vessel which the Scripture cals a prick in the heart that 's in the ministery of the word as those in the Acts were pricked in their hearts saying Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved Act. 2.37 God doth here discover a mans condition to himself whereby he comes to see himself First To be a woful miserable and sinful creature Secondly that there is an exact satisfaction to be given to Divine Justice for those sins that he stands guilty of before God Thirdly that there is nothing in him that can possibly give satisfaction or make up that breach which he hath made by his sin there is no possibility in Angels or men in Heaven or earth that can take of the guilt of one sin And yet that divine justice must be satisfied or he is a lost man he is undone for ever yea he stands at the very brink of hell ready to be swallowed up every moment now these and the like reasonings
the Lord and consider the operation of his hands especially the dealing of God with his Saints in and through Jesus Christ if to know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent into the world be life eternal O then not to know God nor Jesus Christ whom he hath sent into the world is eternal death men think that Ignorance shall Advocate and speak for them another day that want of Knowledg shall be the means of their absolution O vain thoughts O insufficient plea nay rather sufficient to destroy their own souls their main matter of excuse will be the sole matter of accusing them before Almighty God what they build upon for extenuation of their guilt Joh. 3.19 will prove the greatest aggravation For This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light though the Papists stile Ignorance the Mother of Devotion I am sure it is the mother of Perdition it s the devils Vizor it s his muffler with which he hood-winks the men of this world it s his Livery the which he gives unto his own subjects to hold them in bondage and keep them in blindness unto destruction Do but read and well weigh that Scripture that saith 2 Thess 1.8.9 Christ will come in flaming fire rendering vengeance on them that know him not and upon them that obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power It s in vain for men and women to say I am not Book-learned I believe as well as I can I will do what I can to go to heaven and God I hope will do the rest O this shews their ignorance and speaks down-right damnation O know you poor wretches that Christ alwayes gives wisdome and knowledg to all men and women which are called into fellowship with himself which shall live in life and glory with him there is no room in heaven for ignorant souls for they that come there must be conformable to Christ and to his Will who is unto all his Wisdom and Righteousness c. As Christ never sends Fools on his Errand so he never takes Fools for his Companions Wisdom teacheth all her sons to know God and Christ and then by the power of free Grace they come to have fellowship with God and with Jesus Christ Will a Prince make a Fool his companion surely no Mad men and Fools are no companions for Princes Achish the King of Gath could say of David when he feigned himself mad of like a fool What 1 Sam. 21.13 have I need of mad men that you bring this fellow into my presence shall he come into my house O then how think you will Christ indure that ignorant persons shall have communion with him for they are no better then fools or mad men for madness and solly are concomitants they dwell together in ignorant souls therefore know that untill God take away the scales of ignorance from the eyes of men they shall never see nor be in love with the power of godliness you know if a man should cast the finest gold and the most pretious stones in the world before Swine and at the same time cast some dung or stinking carrion the Swine would pass regardless of the gold and pretious stones and would see no worth in them but would run unto and seize upon the noisome carrion as most delightful consentaneous to their nature nor do they see any excellency in the one but they know what to do with the other the carrion is their food and delight the gold their wonder and disregard they know not what to do with that their sensuality cannot fancy it Even such is the condition of all the men of the world for they are but swine the dung and filth of the earth is their treasury on it they dote and pore and feed that is their Summum bonum there is their conversation their contemplation and study their eyes are downward fast fixt on this Treasury here they gaze here they imploy their knowledg their skill and their all disrespecting casting off and contemning the treasures of life and pleasures for evermore unto the attaining whereof they did never once so much as lift up an eye or breathe forth a desire solacing and satisfying themselves in the meer knowledg of Nature shew but these men heaven and heavenly things though it be Christ in an Ordinance so far as worldly men can see him they can discern or taste no sweetness or excellency in him There is no form or beauty in him Isai 53.3 that we should desire him he is despised rejected of men he is a man of sorrows he brings troubles with him which the world is not able to bear and therefore they are offended at him and his wayes and cast his Laws behinde their back and will not that he should raign over them though to the Saints he is the sweetest of ten thousand and his ways are the ways of pleasantness and peace and his Statutes are their delight to them His yoke is easie and his burden light men of the world look on Christ at a distance and then upon his outside too as the Jews did Is not this the Capenters son but the Saints they hug him in their bosomes they see an excellency in Christs poverty they see nothing contemptible in him for by his poverty they are made rich by his low estate they are exalted yea by his very stripes and reproaches are they healed Vse 2 Secondly It s for Examination Is it so That where godliness comes into the soul it comes with power O then consider with thy self how the case stands with thee in relation to godliness hath it been powerful in thy soul or no for where it comes it comes and overcomes it findes a man in the state of Nature and leaves him in the state of Grace it findes a man natural and leaves him spiritual it findes him blinde and a Heathen but it leaves him a seeing and a believing Christian Quest How shall I know whether the power of godliness dwel in me or no Answ 1 First Then we will give you some signs the preparations of it If then thou art convinced in Judgment and Conscience that there was a time in which godliness was far from thee thou art convinced that thou didst not bring it into the world with thee it came not to thee from thy Parents it s not hereditary Ephes 2.2 for all men by nature are the children of wrath Secondly Thou art convinced That men nor Angels were never able to purchase it for thee yea they were so far from it as that they could not open the book no not so much as look thereon which book was the Book of God Revel 5. wherein he is pleased to make himself known to the sons of men Thou art convinced that it s not to be gotten
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God it throwes it self into the armes of Christ on whom it is fixed there it is unremoveable there it lives and there it dies Where godliness dwels there dwels the Spirit of love for God is love and he makes his Saints like to himself as the father is the Father of love so are his children the children of love certainly this grace makes a man love God in the first place and secondly it makes him love his people who are Gods off-spring a man may safely conclude where there is no love there is none of God dwelling in that soul if we do but consider how little love there is among many of those who are called professors in these dayes it would make a man amazed O the inhumane carriages of men to men yea to those that they themselves do confess are truly godly O the bitterness the censoriousness of men against their brethren especially if they do but differ from them but in things circumstantial Away cry they with such a man let him be admonished and then if he will not be of our mindes let him be hanged or banished Witness the late London Remonstrance but if he scape either of these either for want of Law or Power then say they Let us Petition that he may have no place of publike trust yea let us do what we can to weary him out of the Parish where he dwels if he be a Minister he shall not come into the Pulpit to Preach though known not only to be godly but sound in the faith and of long standing yea though it be for the fulfilling of the desire of the dead it shall not be granted but pleaded against even by them which formerly thought all that he said to be Gospel yea and yet these bitter spirits must be looked upon as professors of the Gospel of Christ as if the word of God and his Spirit were of contrary meanings O know that such a spirit as this is none of the spirit of Christ certainly these men have not obeyed that exhortation of the Apostle to the Ephesians Eph. 4.31 32. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice And be kinde one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you and walk in love even as Christ hath loved us and given himself for us O it s very sad to consider what a spirit of bitterness is gone out over this Kingdom yea in this City of London especially if a man ask them the reason they are to seek for an answer but truly it s because they hear with other mens ears and see with other mens * That is with the eyes of the Clergy at least many of them for I at a morning Lecture heard one of them who is famous for rayling say that those rebels meaning the Army had now got all the strong holds of the Kingdom into their hands with an intent to cut our throats now they send forth their Ministers to Preach to us a Sermon of brotherly love And then he said that it was a mark of a deceiver to preach of brotherly love the Spirit of meekness and peace c. but that honest piece called the Pulpit-incendiary hath Characterized them and him I shall not stain my pen with his nomination eyes but at last let them know they must answer for themselves another day and I am confident when these men come to die they shall have as little peace and comfort from this spirit of bitterness as the malefactor hath from the hangman when he comes to the Gallows wherefore remember this that wheresoever godliness dwels there dwels a spirit of love meekness gentleness long-suffering and forbearance there dwels tender-heartedness and bowels of compassion each to the other and therefore never believe mens professions but look on their practices and carriages each to others for the Spirit of Christ is a spirit of love and of a sound minde I have heard of one that hath said he hath trembled to think of giving way to a godly Minister in this City that he should come into his Pulpit and yet I am confident he that spake the words was not worthy to carry the others book after him neither for godliness nor learning Was not this man of that minde that Jeroboam was who would not let Israel go up to worship at Jerusalem under this pretence because it was too far but the truth was it was for fear it would weaken his Kingdom and so his greatness might have been eclipsed so did not this man tremble not for fear of error but for fear he should steal away the hearts of the people its good for men to know their own hearts certainly this is far from the spirit of Love which is the Spirit of Christ Where godliness dwels that soul never findes so much sweetness in any thing as he doth in the wayes of God as David saith Thy Word is sweeter then the honey Psal 119. and the honey comb thy Word is better then thousands of gold and silver As the Hart panteth after the rivers of water so panteth my soul after thee O God and I rejoyced in thy Word as one that findeth great spoil It s a lanthorn to my feet and a light unto my paths c. O with what an eager pursuit will the soul follow after the Ordinances of Christ it will force thorow all contrary ingagements and oppositions to meet with Christ it hath alwayes an eye fixt upon the loveliness and beauty of Christ it breathes after the reflections of his glory its restless thoughts travel with pain untill they be eased and lodged in the bosome of Christ untill when they shall never injoy their chief delight and comfort all its study is for communion with Christ and for the enjoyment of his glory whereever it is whatever its about it s alwayes harping upon eternity the further enjoyment of grace here and glory hereafter Come to a soul who hath tasted of the sweetness of Christ and knows what it is to enjoy communion with God who hath tasted of the flagons of his love ask such a soul What wouldest thou have O saith the soul this I would have that I might never sin against God more that I might be as instrumētal for the glory of God as ever any man was upon the earth then I am sure I should enjoy more of God then now I do When David had tasted how good the Lord was he was ravished with his sweetness and he would have others taste also O come and taste and see how gratious the Lord is O here is the godly mans delight My delight is in thy Law and I will meditate thereon day and night In this he findes all excellencies Psas 1. here he findes profits and pleasures preferments riches honors and whatever his soul can desire what joy
Saints do so often fall and slip is because they trust to their own strength and rest not on this power which they receive from Jesus Christ for he that hath this power in his soul and doth make use of it by Faith it may contend against Sin Corruption Death and Hell it self yea and overcome all as the Apostle saith I am able to do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me In him we are more then conquerors and certainly did we but know what comforts we lose and what foiles we receive in not making use of this power it would put us upon our Watch and Guard and make us careful to keep Centinel by this power in our souls Had David and others made use of this power and stood upon their Watch he had not committed Adultery Peter had not denied his Master Jacob got the Blessing by a lye Abraham denied his wife for fear of Pharoah and so divers others which I could wish might be as Landmarks unto us whilst we sail through the sea of this world Reas 3 Why godliness comes with power into the souls of the Saints is that it might put another frame of spirit into them then they had before as the Lord spake of Caleb Because he had another spirit with him therefore he shall see the Land yea I will bring him into it and his seed shall possess it Yea he followed me fully saith the Text now this Spirit was nothing else but the Spirit of Faith so he fulfilled after me as the Hebrew Word signifieth that is He was constant in obedience to Me or to my Commands Certainly where Grace raigns in the soul sin doth not onely decay but die the man is become another man as Paul when he was converted he was another man then he was before he was of a new mould a new temper before he persecuted the Saints but now he embraceth them and preacheth to them before he knew not who Christ was Who art thou Lord but now he doth not onely know Christ Ego non sum ego but preacheth Christ and suffereth for him yea now he is willing to die for him yea the Saints know this by experience that there is a certain vis a power infused into the soul from God which was not before in them otherwise they could never have had any dominion oversin never have been made new creatures but should have still remained under the power of darkness and in their natural estate they should never have known any difference betwixt themselves and the wickedest man on the earth but should have committed the same abominations with them they should never have been translated from death to life neither should their spot have been differenced or known from the spot of the wicked had not God made them experimentally to know and feel a mighty overawing and sin-conquering power sent and let in unto their souls from the Almighty Spirit of God which doth divide between the marrow and the bone between the Flesh and the Spirit Reas 4 That it may make us to carry on Gods great design in the advancing of the Lord Jesus for in such souls where this power comes Christ is greatly exalted in his Kingdom in his person and in his offices for he that believeth glorifieth the Father who hath sent his Son into the world and the Son who is the glory of the father these souls put to their seals that God is true such a soul gives a testimony unto the world that whatsoever God hath said of his Son in the word is the very truth of God yea it can freely adventure all and lay all upon Christ for life and salvation yea had it ten thousand souls it would cast them all into Christs arms it s resolved there to live and there to die its faith is surely fixt that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it come what will come he is confident that neither life nor death principalities nor powers shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord thus is the soul sustained and upheld by the power of grace and acts couragiously to and for Christ and the exaltation of his glory Reas 5 That such a soul where this power comes may strongly hold its communion with Christ that as Christ gives out of himself and fulness unto the soul by a direct act so the soul may be somewhat enabled to retribute unto Christ of what he hath received by a reflect act as the beams of the Sun are made reflective by the earth unto us which is the cause of the heat we feel so the beams of the Sun of righteousness descending and coming into the soul make it warm vigorous and communicative to and for God and as it hath received mercies so it will be alwayes returning praises whereunto it would be altogether dead for by nature we are dead to every good work had it not first been enlivened and quickened with a power from above for we cannot stir nor move for God until he stirs and moves in us we are altogether senseless till made sensible by him t is in him we live we move and have our being we could not love God had not he loved us first nor could we give out our selves unto Christ did not Christ first breathe into our souls the spirit and power of grace and therefore we may well say that none can hold communion with Christ but those and those onely to whom Christ sends the power of godliness Reas 6 That godliness may predominate and bear rule and sway in the soul that it may be the Queen Regent and sole governess thereof that as sin hath formerly raigned to Gods dishonor so now grace may raigne to Christs glory That as sin hath raigned unto death Rom. 5.21 even so might grace raign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord so that as sin hath mastered and over-powred all the faculties of the soul and members of the body in bringing of them in subjection to Satan so now godliness sitting upon the throne exerciseth them for Christ and brings them into subjection unto him now grace and godliness stand Centinel in the soul and command all so that when any cavalering lust or corruption appears it may take them off or if they should prevaile through frequent assailings that then the soul may flee to Christ for more forces to incounter and cast them out for Christ he hath promised to assist his people against all their enemies who by the power of his death will bury all his and his Saints enemies in his grave so as they shall never prevaile against them here nor hereafter Reas 7 That it may continue a soul in that new nature whereunto it hath been begotten again unto Christ for were it not that there were a certain power in godliness to keep the soul from falling into its old natural condition and a spiritual physick to
reason why the Apostle exhorts to work while it is day the night comes O then no man can work therefore let us work out out salvation with fear and trembling the working soul is the truly godly soul life and action is the true manifestation of godliness without which the soul is said to be dead O Christians as you have the greatest help of any men in the world so you have the greatest work to do First You must live after the spirit not after the flesh and that 's no easie thing to do Rom. 8.13 14. it s a matter of high cōcernment and great difficulty for a man to spiritualize all his actions yea by this power of godliness a man ought to make a spiritual use of all his thoughts words and actions yea of all his objects discourses readings and meditations whatsoever as to the pure all things should be pure so to the spiritual man all things should be spiritual if a man read the book of the creatures and behold all those varieties in nature certainly if he would make a right use of them he must see God through them and admire God in them as for a man to reason with himself If the creature be so excellent O how excellent is the Creator if the creature be so sweet O how good how sweet is that God that gave it that sweetness as the creature is very glorious in its several colours and objects as in flowers c. O then how much more glorious is that God that gave it that beauty as the succession of creature-comforts makes them mercies indeed so Gods various dispensations to the sons of men but especially to his Saints O how excellent are they O how sweet and glorious are they that come into the souls of his Saints Now you know if a man should alwayes eat and drink alwayes lie in bed alwayes be walking up and down if mans life should have no vicissitudes but be spun out in one perpetual act O what a misery would this be it would bring mans dayes to a suddain end therefore God gives in several refreshments in the neck of one another which makes them mercies indeed to man and so it is in things spiritual should a man always be hearing of the word receiving Sacraments or be always at prayer or conference a man would quickly faint under these frequent performances come to nothing the great God knows that the Saints have bodies aswell as souls therefore you see he is pleased to give six dayes to provide for them and only one namely the first day of the week to serve worship him publikely and yet not so tied up but that we may even then take creature comforts for our refreshment so that you see when we are to draw neer to God on his day he is pleased even then to give that liberty to his Saints as that they may call it a delight for he gives us our delights in drawing neer to himself in publike worship in family duties in closet meditations and ejaculations and in the use of all creature enjoyments with moderation so far as they may fit us for our publike and private duties Secondly As we must live after the spirit so we must be in a continual warfare with the flesh the spirit striveth against the flesh and the flesh against the spirit and these two are contrary one to the other there will be continual conflicts and engagements one against the other there is a deadly feud between the flesh and the spirit and not onely for a moment for a day or for a yeer but for the whole term of natural life Now it s no easie imployment for a man day and night to act the part of a souldier without any intermission of relief for as first he ought to be well armed so secondly he ought to have skill to use weapons otherwise his enemie will circumvent him and foil him at his own weapons and so put his life in hazard now this is the condition of all them who have received the power of godliness into their souls they are most obnoxious to the enemy oftenest assailed invaded and besieged with the most ingenious and crafty subtilties and insinuations of Satan none so encountered none so narrowly watched no failings so soon discerned no weakness with so suddain advantage taken hold of them therefore and them in an especially maner it behooveth strictly to stand upon their watch and to maintain their guard and still to be armed with these excellent weapons the Holy Ghost hath given unto the Saints to fight with Ephes 6.13 14 15 16 17. against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places namely the whole armor of God which he exhorts us to take and put on least we be taken unprovided and the enemy prevaile against us yet this enemy is not onely flesh but flesh and spirit world and devil which by us must be opposed wherefore seeing a Saints life is no idle life be informed and exhorted not only to know but to do your duties to stand fast and keep your watches and live as wise and valiant souldiers always fighting the good fight of faith untill you have finished your course and received the Crown of Glory which Jesus Christ the Captain of your Salvation will give unto you in that day Rev. 15.16 when you shall be crowned with victory and have Palms in your hands in token thereof Is it so that where godliness comes into the souls of men it comes with power Then this may inform us that godliness is Gods free gift and his gifts are powerful and operative it s not from men it s from Heaven it comes and it overcomes the gift participates of the giver an Almighty giver and a potent gift Grace is the gift of God saith the Holy Ghost thereby intimating and declaring the excellency and powerfulness of the gift its free grace poured out into those souls who were ordained for vessels of mercy from all eternity its Christ that first makes his Saints temples and then he wil dwell in them and needs must that building be pure holy and strong whose builder maker and inhabiter is God it s an infinite God manifesting himself to and in a nothing creature its mighty power working freely in an empty vessel it s the old of days nourishing a new creature it s an increated power strengthing the feeble loins of a created Being its fulness comprehending emptiness in a word it s the Almighty Creator overshadowing and over-powering the poor creature without the influence of whose grace and mercy it would instantly perish and be reduced to nothing O you Saints of the most high the majesty of Heaven God Christ and the spirit of his grace are all your friends the Father he hath loved you from everlasting and made choice of you to be of his Family in infinite love and mercy and because he loved you he sent his dear Son into this
what consolation can a man have greater then this to finde in the book of God that his name is written in the book of life which the Saints do finde and that often in the Scriptures O what pleasure can a man be capable of more then to enjoy life and health nay an Eternal life free from cares sorrows or sickness a life as durable as the life of God and enjoyed with and in God full of glory full of sweetness full of delight where nothing but pleasures are for evermore Now others see no excellency in things of this nature ask them what they would have to compleat their delight their answer will be gold silver riches lands honors esteem in the world and things of that nature that afford seeming joy and contentment to their carnal sense these are their Jewels these are the objects of their happiness it can never enter into their thoughts much less can they perceive that there is such delight and sweetness in the wayes of God as in the enjoyment of these sublinary treasures they are perswaded that the sweetness that men talk of that is found in the practices of godliness are but meer notions and conceipts in mens brains of such as these the Lord complains by the Prophet Hosea saying I have wrote to them the things concerning the weighty matters of my Law but they were accompted as strange things they have no skill in them they are things that they never heard neither hath it ever entered into their hearts to conceive them it is as impossible for them to understand those hidden mysteries as for a blinde man to Judge of colours an excellency in any thing that tends heaven-ward or savors of the Spirit of grace is not at all to be discerned by the blinde and carnal eye of the world Such a soul wherein godliness dwels is wholly swallowed up with that infinite fulness that it seeth in God when the Queen of Sheba saw the excellency of that wisdom that was in Solomon the text saith that there was no more spirit left in her 1 Kings 10.5 O then how much more is that soul that looks and meditates on the glorious wisdom beauty righteousness excellency and sweetness that is in God and Christ swallowed up lost confounded and utterly undone in it self its beholding Gods fulness maketh it come to see its own emptiness and to say of God O Lord thou art Almighty thou art al-sufficient but I am frail and weak I am nothing yea less then nothing O therefore blessing honor glory and power be unto him that sits upon the throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever It s reported of one that had much communion with God as he was sitting at meat with his friends he was rapt with such a suddain extasie of spirit that he to the amazement of his friends broke out into these words saying O for ever and ever and ever blessed be the great and glorious God and this was his deportment for half an hour together certainly we may well say this man was ravished and swallowed up with that fulness he saw in God and in Jesus Christ our Lord now such a man seeth nothing in himself nor in any creature whatsoever for the brightness of the glory of the Lord maketh all â—â—ings in the world to appear as they are meer emptiness and vanity yea every man in his best estate is altogether vanity that is in his most setled estate wherein he thinketh he stands but let him take heed lest he fall But here men must beware of that error of the Antinomians who deny the performance of all duties to God Certainly these men do not onely deny the Law but the Gospel too for though duties before faith are abominable yet when they flow as the fruits of faith they are not onely accepted and required of the Saints 2 Jam 18. Note that as saith justifies the person so works justifie his faith but they are faiths witnesses also Shew me thy faith without works I will shew thee my faith by my works for faith without works is a dead faith which works are a mans duties to God and which God himself commands how is it possible for a man to manifest to another that he hath grace when there are no fruits of grace appear how can a tree be said to have life without the budding and sprouting of its branches O it s a sad thing for men to boast that Christ dwels in them and yet they alwayes do the devils service because they cannot merit heaven by their duties therefore God shall have none from them but be robbed of his glory but a soul truly gratious will tell you that the love of Christ constrains it it cannot choose but it must draw neer to God in holy duties there is its life it can finde no communion no refreshment no subsistence without its addressing unto Christ in holy duties Now when men by their profession say that they enjoy Christ free grace in a plentiful manner and yet walk loosely carnally and vainly in their conversations saying They trust all unto Christ vainly believing that he will do all their works for them that he will not be onely their Mediator but their Actor they lying in sin alas how short come these of evidencing their Justification and their Interest in Christ by their Sanctification these are no fruits of Christs dwelling in a soul O therefore you that the devil and your own fleshly corruption hath so far blinded as to perswade you that free grace and Christ coming into the soul gives liberty to all licentiousness no no where the Law saith thou shalt not do the Gospel saith thou shalt not will no not think He that lusteth after a woman in his heart hath committed adultered already saith the Gospel know therefore that such a loose doctrine as this is damnable and not fit to be owned by any who would go for Christians O Christians your conversations must be suitable to your profession you must not only profess Christ but act Christ you must now live as that you may honor that great and glorious name of Christ 1 Pet. 15.16 O be you holy for the Lord your God is holy Now this holiness must extend to all manner of conversation towards God and man I shall freely grant that duties Justifie not and to rest in them is sin yea the best that ever man did perform was full of imperfection and when we have done all that we can we are but unprofitable servants for the best of Saints while they are in the Body are clothed with all maner of infirmities but the way to destroy them is to be often with God in the Mount If now thou canst appeal to God that thou hast found these nine particulars in thee and that they are sixed in thy heart and that thou hast the witness of Gods Spirit with thy spirit for the truth thereof then thou mayst safely conclude that
shall be for exhortation and first to you Christians who upon examination have found that godliness dwels in you and that God hath poured his grace into your souls to you I say walk up to your mercies hath God made choice of you for vessels of mercy and given his Son to you himself to you yea an earnest-peny of life and glory into your souls hath God made you to see that you are passed from death to life and made you know that when you enter into the Ocean of Eternity it shall be to be with him forever O stand and admire free grace let not his benefits slip out of your mindes let them provoke you to love and fear him that hath loved you above many thousands that are and shall go into the place of condemnation who were as good as you that were of the same lump with you and had not God took more pity on your souls then he did on theirs you had been in the same condition with them well mayest thou say What was my soul that thou wert so mindful of it that thou wouldest love it so yea when it lay in its blood even then thou didst say unto it Live O what a mercy is this Let it not be said of you as it was of King Hezekiah that he returned not thanks according to the mercies he received O let none have cause to say of you that you walk out of the redeemeds path as you have received mercy above others so let your graces shine in your conversation and walking towards God and towards men above others as you have received much so act much that others seeing your godly conversation may give glory honor and praise to the God of your mercies hath God selected you to be his people and put his graces into your souls hath God taken you for his inheritance O then do you take God to be your portion yea be content with him alone for he is God all-sufficient O then walk before him and be you perfect and upright O Christians what have you to do with this world your imployment is above your treasure is in heaven your glory your excellency your All is in your God and in your Christ O know that you do mightily dishonor your God your selves your calling to be tumbling and turmoiling your selves about things here below O arise and depart for this is not your rest How dishonorable a thing would it be to see a Prince raking in the dunghil and keeping dunghil rakers company taking them for his associates certainly men would say that this man did mightily forget himself and did not minde his Crown his dignity and glory O then you who are of a noble stock who are of the root of Jesse who are all the children of the most High of the King of Kings Rev. 1.7 yea you who are Kings yourselves hath not Christ washed you in his own blood made you Kings and Priests to God yea are not you the heirs of Salvation are not Angels appointed to attend your persons hath not Christ taken you for his companions and redeemed you from the earth O how dishonorable a thing is this to you that your affections and your conversations are so earthly are so low and base seeing you are born to so much dignity stand upon your terms elevate your spirits be proud of your birth-right minde heavenly things live where you should and use the things of this world as if you used them not and hath God poured out himself to you in the face of his Son have the very bowels of heaven been rowled together and turned towards you O then pour out your souls to God live upon that fountain of love and sweetness cast you selves into that bosom of loves which is altogether lovely who is the chiefest often thousands who only can fill your spirits and satisfie your souls at all times even Jesus Christ the Lord of life and glory Rejoyce you the Saints of the most High I say to you Rejoyce and be exceeding glad in your condition let what will come upon you as persecution reproaches revilings and all maner of evil falsly for Christs sake O let not this trouble you let men of the world see that you can live above these Do they hate you saith Christ they hated me also O let no earthly affliction bitter your comforts let no cloud over-cast your heaven let not your Sun admit of any eclipse let not all this world can do sad your spirits let your joy be spiritual and permanent O let him that rejoyceth rejoyce in the Lord let no troubles overwhelm your spirit for the momentany afflictions that can fall upon the Saints here in this world are not worthy thy to be compared to the great and exceeding weight of glory which is laid up for you in heaven O remember it s not onely given to the Saints to believe but also to suffer so that sufferings are as really the gifts of God as faith and therefore you ought to rejoyce in sufferings as in beleevings for it s given you of your Father in which you ought to rejoyce seeing he hath also given you faith patience to carry you thorow your sufferings O remember God might have called you unto sufferings and not have given you faith nor patience to endure but seeing he hath fitted you with supporting power for such a condition rejoyce and clap your hands for joy for herein is your Father glorified that you are obedient children to his will and that you maintain his cause and truth against his enemies Hath God bestowed grace upon you and put godliness with power into your souls and do you perceive so much excellency in it that you would not be in your former unregenerate condition for ten thousand worlds O then do you labor and bestir your selves to make others in love with godliness let your praises and exaltations of free grace excite others to fall in love with that beauty of beauties holiness and sanctity of life you know when David had tasted of that sweetness and excellency that was in God and in his wayes observe his tender invitation O saith he come taste and see how gratious the Lord is O see what the Lord hath done for my soul true godliness is communicative a godly man is no Ingrosser no Patentee no close fisted Miser he is always free his Treasure is open his Riches are distributive he will not let his gold to rust but will be always calling and alluring others to come and taste and participate of what he hath received he will not Monopolize his graces he will always be teaching instructing and imparting his Knowledg unto others he is not born for himself but to do his Country good that is his poor brethren and fellow-members now therefore examine your selves do you in your Families among your associates yea and to the whole world declare by all means that possibly you can by your words and actions
what excellency there is in godliness that so your carriages to others may make them to enquire after it to be in love with it to desire to know it and to be acquainted with it O be sure to carry your self so as that you give no offence to Jew or Gentile nor to the Church of God but let your carriage be such as that all men may be in love or at lest convinced that the way you walk in is just holy and good Pity poor souls that are ignorant of this power of godliness O remember it was once your condition and had been so still had not infinite free grace and tender mercy made a difference O therefore let your bowels yern towards them that are your brethren according to the flesh and let your prayers be to God that they may be endued from above with this power that the Spirit of grace would overshadow them and breathe the breath of life into their souls that they may be saved that they which belong to his eternal election may be speedily called home to partake of that sweetness of that Olive Tree Rom. 11.16 whose root is Jesus Christ stretch forth your helping hand to save poor sinners let your prayers be incessant for them O intreat and beseech them to be reconciled to God O let them know from you that there is sufficiency in the blood of Jesus Christ to save their pretious souls perswade them to come in to Christ and tell them what sweetness you have found in the wayes of God let them know that when you were in their condition that you thought your selves in a good condition but now God having opened your eyes you can tell them the error of your thoughts for you were going to the pit of destruction and knew it not O put them upon the consideration of Eternity let them know that their pretious souls must shortly launch into the ocean of Eternity and if there be not provision made for them if they have not Christ Jesus for their Pilot to steere their course for them they must certainly sinke and perish and be cut off for ever from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his Power and do all that possibly you can in all your addresses to them to perswade them that what you say to them is out of that love and intire affection that you bear to their poor souls Jude ver 23. And others save with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted by the flesh as you ought to use all means to perswade and draw men by the Spirit of Love to forsake their evil wayes and to enquire after Jesus Christ so if that will not prevail you may yea you ought to thunder against them and to rouse them out of their security in denouncing the Judgments of God by the terrors of the Law that you may do as much as in you lieth to terrifie and affright them out of their miserable condition so that if it be possible you may be instrumental to deliver them from eternal fire and from the wrath of an infinite God hereby shall you gain glory to God and testifie to the world your lothing and detestation of sinful wayes and discover unto such leprous souls that those spots wherewith sin hath defiled them are not the spots of Gods people for this the Lord saith of sinners Deut. 32.5 who walk in the imagination of their own hearts Their spot is not the spot of my people This may also exhort you who are the Saints who have received the power of godliness into your souls to pay your tributes of thankfulness unto the Lord. O do you bless praise and magnifie the great and glorious Name of God for ever O let your mouthes be filled with praise and thanksgiving to your God for ever and ever O you have cause to say Blessing and honor and glory and praise be given to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever who hath looked upon you in your low estate and redeemed you from condemnation This is the Lords own work and it ought to be mavellous in your eyes this should cause you to spend the length of your dayes to the honor and service of your God in holiness of life and all manner of godly conversation this the consideration of your deliverance from your spiritual enemies sin death and hell should be a strong engagement upon your spirits to serve the Lord in righteousness and holiness all the dayes of your lives Luk. 1.74.75 for you owe your selves to Christ remember you are bought with a price be not any longer the servants of sin and Satan live not to please men for if you be men-pleasers you cannot be the servants of Christ O dedicate your souls spirits and bodies to Jesus Christ yea and offer them up to God a living sacrifice for this is that Worship that is required at Saints hands by the word of God Rom. 12.1 O know there can be no greater manifestation of your thankfulness to God then your universal obedience to all Gods commands let this be done in the whole course of your lives hereby shall you evidence unto the world that you are those in whom dwels the power of godliness and by this you may draw others to be in love with the wayes of holyness and stop the mouths of all gain-sayers and opposers of it Now there are several motives to incite you Saints to this great duty of thankfulness 1. Praedestino 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.29 praecognovit First From the consideration of your predestination why should God preordain that you should be to the praise of the glory of his grace from all Eternity yea to appoint you to be his adopted children in Christ Jesus Yea you are those whom God acknowledged before nd therefore he was pleased to predestinate you to life glory O now that God was pleased to appoint you for his people pass by so many thousands of the same lump and extend his mercy to you will not this raise up your hearts to thankfulnes shall not this be the theam and subject of your everlasting praises 2. Electio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From the consideration of your Election why should God choose you out of that common mass of mankinde to make you heirs of life and glory yea coheirs with his Son Jesus Christ even as a Potter of a rude mass of clay maketh one vessel to honor and another to dishonor it s the Apostles allusion Rom. 9. Why wert not thou whom he hath made a vessel to life and glory made a vessel of wrath and confusion Why wert not thou passed by from all Eternity and numbered amongst the children of perdition it was only free grace that made the difference it was the good pleasure of the Lord to elect you to Salvation and pass by others leaving them under the curse of sin O remember
his soul so much delights neither is there any affliction misery threats or death it self that can prevail or force his soul to forsake that sweetness that he tasteth in God and Jesus Christ When they threatned Basil with death if he would not forsake his Interest in God His answer was Death is a benefit to me it will send me sooner to God to whom I live and to whom I desire to hasten yea such a man prefers an hours communion with God before ten thousand worlds were they offered unto him he would slight and contemn them and count them as dung in comparison of God and Jesus Christ in whom his soul sees so much excellency and sweetness Now this communion is publike and private publike in the Congregation of the Saints which indeed may be called the greatest witness where the Saints have fellowship with Christ and one with another where their graces are communicable and their sweet injoyments free and common one with another where they jointly gather honey out of one Comb where they refreshed their thirsty spirits out of one Fountain where the members are sweetly compacted and joyned together to their head where they greet each other with reciprocal kisses where Christ is all in all and fully gives out himself unto his members this is a glorious communion the other is a private communion that the soul hath with Christ in its closet which is the best evidence when no eyes see where no ear hears what converse the soul hath with Christ her head what breathings of the Spirit she receives from him who is invisible and for all manner of excellencies beyond expression there the soul engrosseth Christ to its self there are private salutations each to other interchangeable embraces sweet fellowship ineffable communion superlative joyes and refreshments ravishing familiarities infinite soul-satisfying communities if the soul want power to kill any sin strength to withstand any corruption understanding in the mysteries of the Gospel supplies of grace resolutions in doubtings here she may have all in her Christ all is to be found in him in whom all fulness dwels Isa 45.11 the soul can no sooner speak but speed nay with an holy reverence may command and have for there is no good thing that he will with-hold from them that are in him It is not with Christ as with earthly Parents who give portions but once unto their children and then cut them off from any other afterwards here you cannot be welcome you cannot be heard if you come the second or third time but now the oftner you come to your Father to your elder Brother the better you are welcome the repetition of requests is most acceptable with Christ the more you ask the more he gives his Fountain is inexhaustible it is alwayes open for you to wash in for you to replenish your empty buckets if you wait at this Pool you shall be sure to be replenished come as often as you will if thou comest for Understanding to day for more Knowledg to morrow for Wisdom the third day for Meekness Patience Temperance and what other grace soever thou standest in need of thou shalt not onely be welcome but shalt certainly be supplied if these things thou askest be for thy good Psal 84.11 12. For he will give grace and glory and all other good things to them that walk uprightly yea he will be a Sun and a shield that 's the sum of all comforts whatsoever for Christ is the Sun of Righteousness Mal. 4 2. then he will defend his servants from all dangers he will carry them on his wings as the Eagle doth her young ones far above the reach of malice or all revengeful thoughts whatsoever for the Wings of Gods Protection do not onely bear up his Saints but cover them and preserve them from danger they cover them like a shield in the day of battel what injury is done unto the Saints God takes it as done unto himself and he will be their Avenger if they strike them they strike them as it were thorow God himself for he hath made known That they that touch them Zech. 2 8. touch the apple of his Eye It s no small matter to strike at the eye of a Prince but that man that striketh at the Saints strikes at the eye of the King of Kings and shall be sure to answer it another day in another place though for a while he may scape unpunished though God be now silent he will not be alwayes so you know what Christ saith Wo to him that offendeth one of these little ones it were better that a milstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea thus you may see as the Saints do prize God so God doth prize the Saints That man that hath the power of godliness dwelling in him he can trust God yea and rest upon him in the greatest difficulties yea where friends fail of the neerest relation yea where Reason and all outward probabilities are opposite Rom. 4.19 20 21. Thus did Abraham when he was promised a son he believed above Reason yea the text saith Above Hope Secondly against the deadness of his own body he being one hundred years old Thirdly against the deadness of Sarahs womb it was onely Faith and the power of godliness that carried him up far above all doubts being fully perswaded that he which had promised was able to perform it Again you know that the promise to Abraham was that in Isaac his seed should be called and yet in obedience to Gods Command he goes to offer up Isaac his onely son to cut up the root from whence this fruit should grow to destroy the ground-work on which this Fabrick should be built Heb. 11.19 and to blast the hopes of any further seed which in all reason should have made void the promise yet above all he believed that he being dead God was able to raise him up from the dead from whence he received him in a figure thus the three children believed beyond all reason that God would deliver them from the fiery furnace and Daniel from the den of Lyons and divers others O this is that which makes a man cast himself into the arms of God in the midst of the fire or what affliction can possibly come unto him he can enter into his chamber until the indignation be over-past that is into Christ who is a hiding place for and to his Saints at all times And as it makes the soul rest upon God in general so more especially for life and Salvation such a soul can freely venture it self upon a promise with as much confidence as if it did enjoy the performance it can as really live upon any word of God as a natural man can live upon his appointed food O saith the soul hath God said it its enough for me I desire no more you know what Christ said Man lives not by bread only but by every word