5. Comparative in respect of others as Noah Lot Iob David Daniel c. all which is excellently set forth Can. 6.10 The words thus cleared do afford this point Doct. Christs Soldiers that fight against Satan and spiritual enemies must have on the Breast-plate of Righteousness i. e. they must be righteous upright a sincere hearted people keeping a good Conscience c To this point I have lately spoken something viz. March 7. 1659. out of Isa 57.2 at Mr. Warners Funeral I shall therefore only name the heads and methods of things spoken and proceed and this for them that heard me not at that time Doct. Christs Soldiers must keep righteousness uprightness and a good conscience close to their hearts This point for the substance of it I then proved by I. Scripture for God hath oft commanded it as to Abraham Gen. 17.1 To Israel Deut. 18.13 and to them again by Joshua 24.14 and commended it in many as in David Asa Nathauiel c. II. Reasons because in such Gods Image is renewed there is a conformity to Christ and such have received the spirit of Sanctification which heals Hypocrisies and natural unrighteousness to this proof I then added sundry motives and marks 1. Motives this is heart-circumcision the beginning of soundness the Moralist minds the Out-side God only cures the heart This looks out in every action as a Candle in a Lant-horn at every pane All Shwes and Pretences are nothing without this The Prayers of such are acceptable Prov. 15.8 Gods delight God delighteth in such Psalm 51.6 Prov. 11.20 The upright are his delight and this will be their greatest comfort and joy in that God accepteth our works in the quality of them viz. uprightness and when the world reproacheth us as Michael did David 2 Sam. 6.20 and our selves in sickness or distresses as Hezekiah Isa 38.3 said II. Marks whereby to try your selves upon a use of Examination 1. Make Gods Word our Rule this will rectifie us Psalm 19.8 9. And they are blessed that walk by it Psalm 119.1 2. a. Love all good hate all sins as well as some Vprightness hides none Psalm 32.5 11. It bewails secret and avoids great sins Psalm 19. it kills and stifleth beloved sins 2 Sam. 22.24 and dislikes sin in all persons friends or foes as Asa 1 Kings 15.11 to 15. But loving all good in all persons 3. Be good rather then seem so Proverbs 20.6 7. Henoch Abraham 4. Be humble teachable patient as Job 2.3 10. and hold integrity not as Pharaoh or Ahab 2 Chron 28.22 that were worse by affliction Be thankful as well as prayerful not like them Psalm 78.34 to 38. Vow and pay promise and perform as David did Psal 116. 6. Be faithful in your Callings use Talents 2 Chron. 19.8.9 Mat. 25.15 to 28. 7. Be uniform still a like in good at home abroad in the family field in publick private in dangerous times as Dan. 6.1 8. Let the bent of your whole heart be after God Psalm 119 34.80 that all Matter Manner Ends Continuance may be right in you Ap. If we find these Characters of uprightness in our hearts and lives we may then chear our selves in every condition whether God sift us as Amos 9.9 yet we may say as Psalm 139 23 24. or the world as it did Daniel 6 45. or Satan as he did Job 27 5 6 and 3 6 and Peter Luke 22 31 32. Thus far I touched upon the forenamed occasion I now proceed and which may serve for the first Use of Examination Vse 2. The second Use of reproof is to I. all such as boast or dream of I know not what perfection in this life 1 â—harisees Luke 18 19 to 13. 2 Pelagians 3 Papists 4 Humourists Sectarians and other Justitiaries and Perfectists which talk as if they could not sin neither will God take notice of or charge any sin upon them Numb 2321. He sees iniquity c. See the Annotations II. To all such as do grieve and wrong the righteous by 1 vexing their souls with their vile conversation as the Sodomites did righteous Lot 2 Pet 2.7 8. So some will swear c. on purpose to vex a godly person c. Disgracing them for their defects if they can espy any smal motes in them who yet do daily endeavour to purifie themselves not considering that they themselves the while are like a very sink of filthiness and Swine-like do wallow in all uncleanness 3. Opposing and persecnting them for Righteousness sake as Cain who flew his brother because c. 1 John 3.12 There are too many Cainites alive III. To such as put away and make Shipwrack of a good Conscience Conscience that useful faculty which is judicium hominis de seipso prout subjicitur judicio Dei. Est Cordis Scientia Bernard codex in quo omnia conscribuntur It takes notice of and records all It s the Memories Notary a Comforter or Tormentor in the Affections an Accuser or Excuser and a Judge in the understanding and passeth sentence accordingly under God the supreme Judge it should be pure and clear and active to instigate and excite to good and restrain from evil and that by good Arguments as Abigal David Abner Joab 2 Sam. 2.26 And thus the Prophets and Apostles did back their Exhortations and Reproofs with many impregnable Arguments Thus Conscience should do in all but alas for grief How is it put away stifled and shipwrackt in most and become 1. Ignorant so that it cannot nor will not see to distinguish Colours but calls good evil and evil good 2. Forgetful of our faults gives account but of fifty for an hundred like the unjust Steward Luke 16.6 3. Polluted like a foul glass in which you can see nothing 4. It s Secure and smooths men up that they become like them that had made a Covenant with death and an agreement with hell 5. And Seared that its past feeling senseless of any thing Ap. Thus too many are in things of most concernment and have not our covetous ambitious Time-serving self-seeking self-advancing men been sick of this disease in their consciences Quest But will this always serve the turn Answ Surely no Conscience will be awakned and then it will be a woful day to wicked men IV. This Use of Reproof doth extend it self to all wicked unrighteous and unjust persons who though they know that God hath so often commanded Righteousness and commended it as the manifest duty of the second Table in that short abridgement of both the Tables of Gods Commandments Micah 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is Good and what the Lord requires c. That the Lord himself is righteous and hat he loveth the righteous and Righteousness and that his eys of favour are upon them Psalm 34.15 And that better is a little with righteousness then a great deal more they know then I need repeat yet they will adventure upon unjust and unrighteous ways For how many mens Houses
stirreth up her nest fluttereth over her young spreading abroad her wings takes bears about her young upon them so the Lord alone did lead them c. He advanceth them to the high places of the earth fed them with the encrease of the Field with honey and oyl butter and milk with the fat of Lambs and Rams and Goats with the chiefest wheat and they drank of the purest wine And thus would he do by us all did not our sins turn away and withhold good things from us Jer. 5.25 Reasons of this point are in Respect of God our selves others the meanes used 1. God All souls are his Ezek 18.4 and most precious in his sight and in themselves he calls for the heart Prov. 23.26 and what profit is it to win the world and lose his soul Mat. 16 26. His glory is most advanced by winning souls which is a main motive to excite us to use our best art and skil to effect it The question will not be how much credit or profit but how many souls we have gained to God by the Gospel Thus in respect of God 2. Our selves Because it is for our Credit profit Credit see Prov. 11.30 The fruit of righteousnesse is a Tree of life and he that winneth Souls is wise That wins them to God from evil to good whether by councel or example or both the verse is an Allegory made up of familiar Metaphors of a Tree yea of life to which he is resembled a comparison drawn from Hunters Fishers and Fowlers 1. It is for the credit of trees to be like that tree Psalm 1.3 and those Eze. 47.12 Or that tree Dan. 4.10 11 12. which did so flourish were a shadow shelter and yielded so much fruit to many to sustain them and such an One is he that righteous man that winneth Souls such a Man is stiled a Tree of life in allusion to that Tree Gen. 2.9 and 3.22 because God hath planted them blessed them and enabled them to do much good to others 1. As to the similitude or comparison to Hunters Fishers c. Our Saviour when he called his Apostles stiles and makes them fishers of men Mat. 4.19 He taught them the Ministers dutie by their own trade as Psalm 78.71 72. like those fishers upon the holy waters Ezek. 47.10 the world is the Sea Unbelievers fishes Ministers the Fishermen the Gospel the Net Nor are any kind of fish sinners excepted from this fishing Gal. 3.28 See the Annotations on both places cited It is for the credit of the Fisher that he catch much c. Ap. If by Light and Life we gaine men to God Luke 5.5 6 7. John 21.3 like Salt do season the Souls of many This is the highest credit and comfort of a Pastor it is not applause credit or profit which they aim at but to gaine upon good ground this praise Quod artem norint animas ad Deum convertendi T. Cartwright James 5.19 20. For if any do err from the Truth and one convert him Esay 5.19 20. 2. Profit For this makes for the great good of the Teacher Dan. 12.3 They that be thus wise or such Teachers shall shine as the brightnesse of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousnesse as the Stars for ever and ever they shall enjoy an incomprehensible and exceeding and eternal weight of glory a rich Recompence for all their labours 2 Cor. 4.7 3. Others This is the greatest good we can do for them viz. to win them to God for this delivers the captives of Sathan into the liberty of the sons of God that 's woful this a joyful and blessed Liberty 2 Tim. 2.25 26. Restores and revives men from Diseases Death the Graves of corruption unto light and life and perfect health raiseth from the dust and dunghil c. to the new Jerusalem from the lowest station to the highest condition Psalm 113.7 8. Ap. Should men do so by us we should valew the courtesie O be perswaded that he does you the best turn that aimes endeavours most for the good of your Soules 4. The meanes used the more it savors of kindnesser the more like it is to prevail Man should be so ingenious as to be won with Love rather then forced with Rigor Facilius ducimur quam trahemur we are more easily led then drawn and enforced when the hearer cannot but fee Love in the lookes of the Teacher affection in his Face compassion in his countenance and the zeal of his heart in his hearty expressions c. how can it but enter and pierce the heart and rend like Nailes fastened in a sure place and make him be perswaded that all is spoken for his good Sure where the patient is well perswaded of the love an skill of his Physitian the Potion is like to have the better working the physick to be the more prevalent Ap. So it is here all Councel will do the better and have the kinder working if you be but perswaded of the love and good will of the Teacher which indeed is inexpressible and unutterable ☞ For faithfull Pastors I am sure may proportionably make use of that saying of the Apostle Phil. 1.8 God is my Record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. A most affectinate expression conjoin'd with a serious attestation of Record of Almighty God who searcheth the heart and the most exquisite and Excellent Regulation of true Christian affection viz. that it was in the Bowels of Jesus Christ Not a carnal but a spiritual affection it was for Christs sake and because they were in him that he loved them so well and it was according to Christs to his mind and his example in whom are the most tender Bowels of affection and who therein as in all other Excellencies is the most absolute pattern of the utmost perfection see Mat. 9.36 You have heard the Point and the proof of it I do now descend to use Use is of Reproof and that to both sorts viz. To the Agents and Preachers when they are either too dull or diverted to a wrong course To the Patients or Hearers when they are either too hard or disaffected with what is cordially intended for their good 1. The Agents edge is too dull when Minister or others neglect this duty and have no respect to this winning way What opportunities have many upon the souls of their Friends c. and Neighbours which yet neglected and how many Ministers as well as others are as carelesse as Cain or Gallio the Deputy and as ready to ask the question with Cain Am I my brothers keeper Gen. 4.9 Acts 18.17 Ap. The Countrey rues this and many souls lost by this neglect But if you have a Form of publick worship and service of God if that be performed is it not enough and have not Ministers and people done their dutie sufficiently c. Answ I answer and I pray mistake me not for I am
him being abominable disobedient and to every good work Reprobate Tit. 1.16 Ap. Now if we do strictly examine our selves about these things Alass for grief how many are there that do entertain mean thoughts of God and do speak of him too slightly if not Blasphemously yea and do deny him in their practice insolently and impudently If we do consider aright of these things we have much cause of lamentation and who is it that hath not cause to Repent Reform and keep a strict Watch over his own heart in this particular case Thus much of Atheists in heart word and works of which the world is too full and this Age too much inclinable to 2. The next are Sensualists such who live so as their Sences lead them and walk by Sence and not by Faith These are said to live after the flesh Rom. 8.1 6 12 13. to which Death is annexed and not to the Spirit Jude 19. They are meerly Animal and Natural and Bruitish without any true holinesse in them or part in Christ Rom. 8.9 and their sensual wisdom which is not from the Spirit of Grace 1 Cor. 2.14 is also said to be Earthly and Devilish James 3.15 For they mind only earthly things their God is their belly their glory is in their shame and their end destruction Phil. 3.19 which the Devil doth aim at with his utmost wisdom and they by this wisdom do effect If you would have a more particular view of these Sensualists in their condition and practice then do you peruse these ensuing Scriptures in which see an exact description of them Job 21.7 to 16. Men that live are mighty and prosperous and abuse all c. Psalm 73.3 to 12. That are proud violent and talk highly Amos 6.3 to 7. That put away the evil day mind their beds and bellies which you may briefly sum up thus viz. They are men accomplished with all earthly Accommodations have Health and Wealth Honour and Power and what not they abuse all to luxury and vanity are all for mirth and pleasure whilest God is set aside and his Service contemned and because they have no afflictions they are proud and violent and talk highly and loftily against Heaven and Earth they care for none hereupon they put the evil day far from them with those Ezek. 12.27 28. For they have made a covenant with Death and with hell are they at Agreement so that no harm can come nigh them Esay 28.14 15. They scorn the Message of God and his Messengers and make Lies their Refuge the power and purity of Religion is the Object of their Derision the Affliction of Joseph the troubles of the Church are a non-concernment to them as to Haman of old Esther 3.15 But all this while they consider not what 's coming viz. that they are going to the Grave and how soon they know not in a moment The word Sheol signifies also Hell and misery c. see the Annot. that interim thay stand in slippery places as men upon Ice and some cast down into destruction c Psalm 37.17 18 19 20. That an overflowing Scourge shall disanul their League with Death and Hell and they shall be trodden down Esay 28.18 19. and the captivity even of Hell is upon them for the evil day to them is approaching and at hand and the effect of every Vision and the Word of the Lord shall be done Ezek. 12.22 to the End then shall they feel the truth of that Word which they believed not Should we apply these things to our Times Alas how many especially of our Gentry and wealthier sort do live thus as meer Sensualists men given up to pleasures as if they were born to no other purpose then to jovialize and wantonize to eat and drink and play in the World like Leviathan in the Ocean Psalm 104.26 to spend their time in sleep and idlenesse being altogether unprofitable to any good work until they dye and perish and fall into utter perdition and destruction which is the proper end of an unaccountable uselesse and fruitlesse life 3. Timists or Temporizers or if you will men-pleasers and time-servers of all Ages who if they can please men and suit with the times in which they live they think themselves well and safe enough whether the Lord be pleased or not and many such have been and are in every Age and upon every Change of Religion especially if Religion be up and in credit all will honour it but if it be discountenanced every one will trample upon it See all the holy History and Ecclesiastical Writers for this If Jeroboam will set up Calf Idolatry he shall have flattering fools enough who to please him will promote his design and run with the stream of the time If Julian the Apostate seem to favour the Christians many others will do so but if he Apostatize as he did and become a hellish Devilish persecutor of what before he professed all run after to curry favour with him c. Many that believed on Christ did not confesse him for fear of the Pharisees and for the love of their praise and honour from them the fear and favour of men are great stops to Religion but what saith our Saviour How can ye believe that seek honour c. and they loved the praise of men John 5.42 43 44. Consider those two places well viz. John 5.44 Thus it is with Landlords and Tenants Ap. But in these times Alas how many will transgress for a morsell of Bread Pro. 28.21 they do so much respect persons and fawn upon greatnesse a meals meat a Coppy of a great mans Countenance a Complement c. And if a Gardiner or Bower of abhorred memory were now alive how many to please them would persecute the Truth with violence the Apostle did not so who had been a great Time-server Acts 7.58 Gal. 1.10 13 14. For saith he Do I perswade men or God i.e. that you should obey men or God or do I study seek to please men to approve my self and my Ministry to men or God for if I yet please men viz. the Jewes or my own Nation as I did formerly when I was zealous of Traditions c. Gal. 1.13 14. and persecute the Church of God extreamly to gain their favour I should not be the servant of Christ but an abominable Dissembler with God and the World Gal. 1.10 13 14. I speak none of this but that we all stand bound to please one another for their good to Edification Rom. 15.2 i. e. to further their growth in godlinesse which tendeth to Eternal salvation in the Life to come this will please best at last For he that rebuketh c. prov 28.23 But we must take care that we neither please men nor suit with any Times so as to dispease God For if we do let all Temporizers consider that men in Affections saepe in time semper are but for a moment and time will have an End there