percipiuntur Good saith he is the way of humility whereby truth is searched out charity is obtained and the generations of wisdome are perceived Humility exalteth he that is most humble is and shal be most honourable Moses was the meekest man on earth and God made him the most honourable calling him up unto himselfe in the mount and making him the Leader of his people Gedeon was very little in his own eyes the least of his fathers house in his owne apprehension and God marvellously exalted him making him the deliverer of Israel As mans pride is attended with infamy so is mans meeknesse waited on with glory Vis magnus esse incipe ab imo Wilt thou be great begin from below saith the Father As the roots of the tree descend so the branches ascend this makes the soule capable of grace as the low grounds of water and the broken earth of seed God gives grace to the humble as men poure liquor into an empty vessell The Altar under the Law was hollow to receive the fire the wood and the sacrifice the heart of man under the Gospel must be humble empty of all spirituall pride and selfe-conceit to receive the fire of the spirit and Jesus Christ who offered himselfe a sacrifice for our sinnes this keeps the soule free from many darts of Satans casting and snares of his spreading as the low shrubs are free from many violent gusts and blasts of wind which shake and rent the taller trees I have read of one that seeing in a vision many snares of the devill spread upon earth he sate downe and mourned and said within himselfe Quis pertransiet ista Who shall passe through these whereunto he heard a voice answering Humilitas pertransiet Humility shall passe through them The Divell hath least power to fasten a temptation on him that is most humble hee that hath a gracious measure of meeknesse is neither affected with Satans proffers nor terrified with his threatnings This makes man peaceable in conversing with his brethren fruitfull in well-doing cheerfull in suffering comfortable in every condition constant in holy walking this makes a man precious in the eyes of God as a humble servant in the eyes of his Master Qui parvus est in reputatione propriâ magnus est in reputatione divinâ saith Gregory He that is little in his owne account is great in Gods esteeme This makes the way and worke of man acceptable unto God and also sweetens and encreaseth mans communion with God If ever therefore you entend to enjoy Gods glorious and blessed presence labour for this humility and meeknesse Fourthly Bee servent and unfained in your love to God his truth and his children this will make your language very gracious Amantium mos est saith Chrysostome ut amorem suum silentio tegere nequeunt Lovers know not how to keepe silence lovers of God are very full of gracious expressions this will make you liberal you shall give your selves to God and the service of his Saints as the men of Macedonia did this will make you patient in suffering as Jacob in his service for Rachel this will make you frequent the house of God with all alacrity frequency and diligence as children their fathers house and table this will make you joyfull in hearing the word of God as the Bride in hearing the voice of the Bridegroome this will make you carefull free and full in the observation of Gods statutes as loving children in the observation of their fathers precepts this will make you diligent and rich in all good workes the more man loves God the more he strives in all well-doing to glorifie God Love like fire is not idle but operative Amor Dei saith Gregory nunquam otiosus est operatur enim magna si est si verò operari renuit amor non est The love of God saith he is never idle for if it is it worketh great things but if it refuse to work it is not love Love makes the yoke of God easie and his worke delightfull it is only want of love that makes the commandement a burden Tantò magis delectat opus bonum quantò magis diligitur Deus summum incommutabile bonum saith Augustine A good work so much the more delighteth by how much the more God the chiefest and unchangable good is loved Love among some of the Ancients was resembled to and represented by the Sun the Sunne inlightens the world the more love the more light Knowledge and love like the water and the ice beget each other man loves God by knowing and knows God by loving God dwels in love and where God is there is light that mans light is darknesse which is not attended with the love of God and his testimonies the Sunne makes the earth fertile he that loves God cannot be barren his love makes him fruitfull in all well-doing the Sunne is swift and constant in his motion love makes man cheerfull speedy and unwearied in running the race which God hath set before him the Sunne is impassible love is patient and invincible it endureth all things no floods can drown it no waters can quench it Want of love and affection is the maine cause of mans apostacy and back-sliding the Sunne casteth his beames upward and downward to the East and to the West to the North and to the South Christian love causeth its beames to ascend to God above and to descend to man beneath to our friends on the right hand to our enemies on the left hand to them that are in the state or grace before us to them thâ—t are in the state of corruption behind us love which is not in this sense universall is corrupt and carnall The Sun beginning to ascend in his circle never goes back uâ—till he comes to the highest degree thereof true love abhorres apostacy ascends to more perfection and ceaseth not untill like Eliahs fiery chariot it hath carried the soule to heaven If ever you meane to see and enjoy the God of love labour for this love Fiftly Be very serious studious circumspect and carefull in all your walkings ponder the path of your feet like carefull travellers consider and weigh all your doings let all your waies of the heart within and worke without be ordered aright according the rule of Gods word every motion of the soule is a step to life or a step to death a step towards heaven or toward hell Mans labour and service is temporall his wages and recompence eternall therfore as Zeuxes that famous Lymner being demanded why he was so exact and serious so long so careful and curious in his workmanship answered Diu pingo quia aeternitati pingo I am long in painting because I paint unto eternity We all paint unto eternity every one of our actions tends to an eternity of joyes or sorrowes all our temporall actions are as seeds of eternity sowne by us a temporall seed an eternall harvest we speak we heare we write we read we
his testimonies he hath not dealt so with every people he hath not shewed such mercy to every congregation therefore as the tree which hath much soile cast about him brings forth much fruit as the servant which had five talents brought much advantage to his Lord and Master so strive yee to bring a measure of glory to God answerable to the measure of the meanes hee hath affoorded you the Lord hath sowne much and lookes to reap much the harvest must answer the seed bee therefore filled with all heavenly graces as the sea with waters be strong in faith as the tree growes deepe in the rootes bee fervent in love as a fire of much wood abound in all the fruits of the Spirit like the tree which bare Å¿ Rev. 22.2 twelve sorts of fruit The more you abound in grace under the Gospel the longer the Gospel shall be continued the more sweetnesse shall your soules taste in it the neerer shall you draw to God by it the more effectually shall the pardon of your sinne bee sealed up through it and the more comfortable account shall you render to God at last for all the labours of his Ministers whereof God hath made you partakers the more comfortably shall I againe behold your faces at our last generall appearance the more blessed account shall I make to Christ my great Lord and Master of this my Ministeriall service and shall the more joyfully for the present in the words of the Apostle here this day take my last leave of you and say Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect bee of good comfort bee of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you Finally brethren Brethren is a title of compellation the second branch of this tree There are brethren by nature brethren by condition and brethren by profession and participation of one Christ the last of these are the brethren here mentioned whom the Apostle here stileth brethren in respect of Originall having one God for their Father with him in respect of Relation being knit to Christ by one bond of saving faith and one golden chaine of unfained love among themselves with Saint Paul the Apostle and in respect of true and fervent Love the Apostle loving them as his brethren and this the Apostle chiefly intendeth here it being his purpose now to manifest his love unto them And hence we learne That there is in all Gods faithfull Ministers Doct. a very fervent and unfained love to their Hearers A brotherly love a love like that of Jonathan to David t 2 Sam. 1.26 a love surpassing the love of women being deare unto them as the apple of their eye as the signet upon their finger or the Bride unto the Bride-groome therefore are the Ministers stiled Husbandmen Shepheards Watch-men Parents Nurses as the Husband-man loves the vineyard which hee hath planted the Shepheard the flocke which hee keepeth the Watch-man the Citie which hee watcheth the Father the children which he begetteth or the Nurse the child to which shee draweth forth her breast and feedeth so Gods Ministers love their hearers the vineyard which they plant the flock which they keepe the Citie over which they watch the children which they ministerially beget and nurse for thus the people are stiled by names expressing the Ministers high prizing of them great delight in them and singular love unto them as u Isa 8.18 children w 1 Thes 2.19 20. hope joy crown of rejoycing glory and joy the Apostle putting on the indulgent affection of a father and in the strength and passion of his love so stiles them and speakes thus unto them What is our hope or joy or crowne of rejoycing Are not even yee in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his comming for yee are our glory and joy And Saint Paul speaking of his love to the Corinthians calleth it a x 2 Cor. 7.4 more aboundant love that is a high a strong a transcendent love such love that hee saith his y 2 Cor. 6.11 mouth was open to them and his heart was enlarged His whole man was open to them as a Bridegroomes house is opened to the Bride to entertaine them to love them to rejoyce in them to communicate himselfe to the utmost unto them as the open Sunne sendeth forth his light and the open cloud doth power out his raine nay they were in z 2 Cor. 7.3 his heart to live and dye with them And who can doubt of the love of Gods faithfull Ministers towards their hearers that shall but looke Upon their labours to save the soules of Reas 1 their hearers They are a 2 Tim. 4.2 instant in season and out of season taking all opportunities they sow in the morning and with-hold not their hand in the evening they have no rest they hold not their b Isa 62.11 peace day nor night as Naomi said of Boaz The man will not bee c Ruth 3. ult at rest untill hee hath finished the thing this day so such is the love of Gods Ministers that they are at no rest untill they have finished the worke of grace in their hearers consummated the marriage between them and Christ Upon their sorrowes sadnesse sighes Reas 2 and teares to behold the peoples barrennesse under their labours obstinacie against their perswasions and the danger where into they thrust their soules no father is more grieved to see the lewdnesse of his child d Jer. 13.17 Jeremies soule weepes in secret for his people Isaiahs bowels sound like a e Isai 16.11 harpe for Moab Paul had f Rom. 9.2 continuall sorrow for the Iewes he was pained as a g Gal. 4.19 woman in travel for the Galatians and out h 2 Cor. 2.4 of much affliction and anguish of heart he wrote with many teares to the Corinthians that they might know the love which he had more abundantly unto them You may in the teares and sorrowes of Gods Ministers for the peoples disobedience read their love as in lively characters the greatnesse of the Ministers griefe for the peoples misery argues the strength of their desire to make them happy Reas 3 Upon their sufferings for their hearers they suffer reproach in their names being made a i 2 Cor. 4.9 spectacle to Men and Angels they suffer losse of goods losse of peace losse of libertie and losse of life that they may be k Acts 20.24 faithful in their calling finish the course of their Ministery and save the soules committed to them The sufferings of faithfull Ministers are a clear and lively evidence of their love to their hearers Gods Ministers doe often sustaine great temporall losses for other mens everlasting gaine and advantage And whereunto should this love of Gods Ministers move and work our hearts Use but to frequent and diligent attendance on their labours as wee cheerfully hearken to their voyce who love us as children come cheerfully to the banquet
which their parents provide for them 2. To humble submission and obedience to their doctrines seeing they doe all in singular love for the salvation of our soules these wee should follow as Israel the fiery pillar these wee should readily put in practice as Ahimaas l 2 Sam. 18. ran as soon as Ioab gave him a commission The love of Gods Ministers should worke the hearers to a ready and singular observance of their doctrines 3. This should breed in us reverence to their persons as obedient children to their loving parents receiving and honouring their doctrines as the word m 1 Thes 2.13 of God and not of man Men must make their reverence proportionable to the love and labour of Gods Messengers the more they endevour our salvation the more honourably we should thinke of them 4. This should make us unwilling to be deprived of them as children of a loving nurse the wife of a kinde and carefull husband or the n 1 Sam. 4.22 wife of Phineas of the Arke it should lesse grieve us to bee deprived of all earthly abilities then of Gods faithfull Ministers the gaine of the world cannot recompence the losse of the Gospel He never clearly discerned nor truly tasted Christ in the doctrine of Gods Messengers that is not exceedingly grieved at the losse of their labours 5. This should draw love from us againe to them causing us to have them in o 1 Thes 5.13 singular love for their workes sake the more wee love them the more readily we shall receive their instructions the more fully shall wee subject our selves to their admonitions the more beauty shall wee see in their doctrines the more sweetnesse shall we taste in their labours and the more feelingly and effectually shall the Minister wish and endevour our peace and everlasting welfare speaking peace to us and praying for all good things at the hands of God for us and saying at last with Saint Paul Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace bee with you The third thing in these words is a word of valediction Farewell a word commonly used in the conclusion and upshot of Epistles wherein the Apostle wisheth to them all happinesse joy tranquillity comfort even all manner welfare He had been long their Teacher Watchman and Monitor yet at length hee bids them farewell and takes his leave of them The labours of Gods choycest Ministers are not everlasting but of a short continuance Note After a while the p 1 King 17.7 brooke Cherith of which Eliah dranke was dried up and he was commanded to goe to Zarepha to looke out for another place of supportment After a while the Minister whose doctrine hath been as a river to refresh and water us is taken from us the brooke of his doctrine is dried up and we must looke out some other brook whereof to drinke or else our soules must starve and perish It should bee therefore mens wisedome to keepe and continue the faithfull Minister of God with them while they have him and not delight in change of Ministers as men doe in change of horses lest they bee deceived at last q Prov. 27.10 Thine owne friend and thy fathers friend saith Solomon forsake not As friends so Ministers are not like houses and garments commendable and to bee desired for their newnesse but like Wiues for their long continuance and experience wee have of their faithfulnesse and labours And since the continuance of able Ministers is so uncertaine it should bee our care to make our best use of them while wee doe enjoy them men buy while the Mart lasteth men walke while the light shineth men enter while the gate is open and every man should strive to furnish his soule to draw nigh to God to enter in to Christ while God affoords an able Minister to guide and bring us home to Christ Jesus But this word Valete is commonly expounded by another word gaudete rejoyce yee and then the meaning is this If so bee that yee follow the counsell which hath beene given you beleeve the doctrine which hath been taught you and conforme your selves to the rules which have been prescribed to you then you shall have matter and cause of great joy And hence note Doct. That the full and thorough conforming of our selves to the doctrine of Gods Messengers ministers great joy and gladnesse though they depart from us The Israelites had great joy in that they had followed the fiery pillar though at length it left them because before it left them it brought them into the land of Canaan The r Mat. 2.10 wise men had matter of great joy in the starre though at length it was no more a light unto them because before it left them it brought them unto Christ The traveller hath great joy in the guide though at length hee cease to bee any more a guide unto him because before hee forsooke him hee brought him unto his home at least led him farre in his way and shewed him how to walke aright unto his journeyes end Man that throughly conformes himselfe to the doctrine of Gods faithfull Minister hath matter of great joy within him though the Minister of God at length leave him because before he leaves him hee hath presented and opened Christ unto him and brought him home to Christ by working faith and love in him brought him into the state of grace sowen a seed in his heart which shall never dye kindled a light in his soule which shall never goe out and set his feet in that way from which hee shall never wander but walke on untill hee come unto his blessed and everlasting home And this is that which indeed gives cause of joy and gladnesse to the people even their full and effectuall conforming themselves to the Ministers doctrine their observing his counsell their obeying his admonition their feeling the power of his ministery in working a blessed and gracious change in them The Eunuch feeling faith wrought in him by Philips Sermon and being baptized by him having his incorporation into Christ sealed up unto him it is said Å¿ Act. 8.39 Hee went on his way rejoycing though the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip that hee saw him no more It is said of them that beleeved upon Paul and Barnabas his preaching though the people raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their coasts yet the Disciples such as were converted by their ministery were t Acts 13.48 32. filled with joy and with the holy Ghost And though the departure of Gods faithfull Embassadours minister matter of great griefe and sorrow to the soules of true beleevers as sometimes the men of Ephesus u Acts 20 37 38. wept sore and fell on Pauls necke and kissed him sorrowing most of all for the words which hee spake that they should see his face no
THE HAPPINES OF ENJOYING AND MAKING A TRUE AND SPEEDIE USE OF CHRIST SETTING FORTH FIRST THE FULNESSE OF CHRIST SECONDLY The danger of neglecting Christ and the opportunity of grace THIRDLY The LORD JESUS the soules last Refuge Whereunto is added St. PAULS LEGACIE or FAREWELL to the men of Corinth ALEXANDER GROSSE B. D. Minister of the Gospel and Pastour of Bridford That their hearts may be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ And whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Col. 2.2 3. And of his fulnesse have we all received and grace for grace Joh. 1.16 Omniae habemus in Christo omnia nobis Christus Ambros LONDON Printed by Robert Young for John Bartlet at the signe of the gilt-cup neere Saint Austens Gate 1640. TO MY MOST DEARELY Beloved and much honoured friends howsoever dignified or distinguished the Inhabitants of Plympton St. Mary the increase of all saving grace and everlasting blisse LOve among the Ancients was pourtrayed and shadowed out by and under the image of a woman cloathed in a greene garment having written in her forehead Procul Propè afarre off and neere at hand in her breast Mors vita life and death in the hemme of her garment Hyems aestas winter and summer in her side Vulnus apertum an open wound thorough which her heart within might be seen My love to you farre from me be all base flattery and selfe-commendation hath beene very fervent like the love of women greene and never withering alwayes fresh and flourishing not only while I was present with you but since I have been absent from you the sense at least of my love hath beene more abundant towards you such hath been my love to you that you were in my heart to live and to dye with you I could willingly in winter and in summer in all changes have continued your servant as Jacob served Labans flock in the heat and in the cold My heart is open to you as a Bridegroomes heart and house is open to receive the Bride and had your former beene like the last manifestations of your love towards me I am assured all the proffers and perswasions of the world should never have drawne me from you Great is the power and strength of affection with which faithfull Ministers love the Lords people as grace is more powerfull then nature so is their love stronger then the love of nature Non minus vos diligo saith Ambrose quos genui ex Evangelio quà m si suscepissem conjugio gratia quippe vehementior est ad diligendum quà m natura I love you no lesse whom I have begotten by the Gospel then if I had begotten you in matrimoniall conjunction because grace hath more energy and vehemency in the way and worke of love then nature And in my unfained love and as a pledge and testimony of my never-dying love I have sent you these papers part of which is the last Legacy I had to bestow upon you at the time of my departure from you It is very usefull for all Christians to renew the memory of the past labours of Gods messengers Every good child desires a copy of his Fathers will to see his Fathers love to know his Fathers gift to remember and observe his Fathers charge and counsell Children within some few dayes after their Fathers death expect the receipt of their parents Legacie and bequeath and loving children are ever very glad to accept and very carefull to keep their parents last gift though of slender worth the last words of Gods Ministers our spirituall parents doe commonly like the words of dying men take the deepest impression in their hearers True Christians thinke often and put great price upon the last labours of Gods Ministers I therefore here present unto you that which I published as my last ministeriall Will and Testament among you with some part of my poore labours since bestowed on others desiring you like loving children to accept it like provident and carefull children to make the humble true and best use of it A small gift well used proves many times an instrument of great inrichment Though I cease to be your Minister and am now no more your Instructer yet I cannot cease to bee your true though weake and unworthy perhaps despised friend and as ointment and perfume according to Solomon rejoice the heart so would I gladly by hearty counsell distill on you the drops of some friendly some Christian and spirituall sweetnesse to the rejoicing and revivement of your soules and as iron sharpens iron so am I willing by some words of admonition exhortation and excitation to sharpen and quicken your affections Let me therefore as a constant lover of your soules and a carefull remembrancer of your welfare intreat and perswade you all 1. To grow in the sight and sense of your sinne Beware of hardnesse keepe your hearts soft and contrite nourish and maintaine all tendernesse in your consciences sense of misery sweetens mercy the feeling of sin breeds both the loathing and leaving of sinne mans sight of his owne vilenesse makes Christ very precious and breeds a low opinion of all worldly excellencies The Hart feeling within him the operation of the serpents poyson goes from the thornes and thickets and passeth over the greene and pleasant pastures desires nothing but the fountaine sense of the venome of sinne and uncleannesse makes man go from the thornes and thickets of worldly cares and riches and passe from the greene medowes of carnall pleasures the soule being restlesse untill it comes to Christ Jesus the fountain of all spirituall refreshments Secondly take heed deceive not your selves with shewes and shadowes in stead of substance with a forme in stead of the power of godlinesse As the Poets fable it of Ixion imbracing a cloud in stead of Juno or as mothers in haste somtimes catch at the swadling clothes and leave the child behind them It is very dangerous to stay and applaud our selves in the ceremony of Religion and godliness not taking with us the Lord Jesus as sometimes Mary and Joseph went on with the multitude for company and left Christ behind them all religious observations prove complementall frivolous and fruitlesse if in them we see not taste not receive not enjoy not Christ religious exercises are lost labours to the soule that gaines not the Lord Jesus Thirdly Be truely meeke and humble bee emptied of all opinion of your owne worth and wisedome this will make you wise unto salvation He that is in the low pits and caves of the earth sees the starres in the firmament when they who are on the tops of the mountaines discerne them not Hee that is most humble sees most of heaven Bona est via humilitatis saith Bernard quâ veritas inquiritur charitas acquiritur generationes sapientiae
Christ. Fol. 113 CHAP. XI Doct. 3. Christ is God and man in one person by an inseparable union Fol. 116 Two grounds hereof Fol. 119 Mans honour and the exaltation of mans nature is opened Fol. 123 Man is charged not to debase himselfe but maintain the honor to which Christ hath exalted him with the manner how to doe it Fol. 126 127 CHAP. XII Mans choicest excellency consisteth in union with God Fol. 128 The benefits thereof Fol. 131 CHAP. XIII Doct. 4. Christs perfection and fulnesse doth infinitely surpasse the fulnesse of all creatures Fol. 134 Three grounds of this Fol. 135 Such as are filled with fulnesse of God are filled with choicest fulnesse Fol. 139 CHAP. XIIII The superlative excellency of Christ above all creatures is declared Fol. 142 Foure excellencies in Christ on which men must fasten the eyes of their faith Fol. 148 CHAP. XV. The happy and blessed condition of them that are partakers of Christ is set forth Fol. 157 Illustrated in 5. particulars Fol. 160 Doct. 5. Christ dwelling in our flesh is true God his names attributes and workes prove it meditation whereof tends to admire embrace feare exalt and stay on Christ. Fol. 168 CHAP. XVI Doct. 6. Such alone as are truely holy and gracious are complete and perfect in Christ Jesus Fol. 172 Profane men strangers to perfection ib. Such alone as are gracious partake of Christs fulnesse Fol. 173 Doct. 7. There is a spirituall and heavenly perfection and fulnesse in Gods faithfull servants Fol. 174 Severall sorts of fulnesse ibid. CHAP. XVII Foure grounds of the Saints fulnesse Fol. 180 Two sorts of men strangers to Christ Fol. 185 CHAP. XVIII Foure markes or characters of spirituall and heavenly fulnesse Fol. 189 An exhortation to spirituall and heavenly fulnesse Fol. 193 Foure meditations inducing thereunto Fol. 195 The dolefulnesse and danger of neglecting Christ and the opportunity of Grace Doct. 1. The state of that person or people is very dolefull which continueth barren under the plentifull and powerfull meanes of salvation Fol. 207 Doct. 2. It t s very dangerous and fearfull for any people or person to neglect the meanes and times of grace which God doth offer them Fol. 242 The souls last refuge a Sermon on Revel 22.20 Note By how much the neerer communion we have now with Christ by grace and holiness by so much the more his second comming is desired by us Fol. 259 Note No man rightly desires Christs comming but he that hath assurance of the good and benefit of his comming Fol. 260 Doct. It is the unfained desire of Gods faithfull servants to have the full fruition of Christ Jesus Fol. 263 Note Love and mercy are sweetly knit together in Christ Jesus Fol. 282 Note If Christ be not our Lord and Master first he will never be our Saviour at last ib. St. Pauls Legacie A Sermon on 2 Cor. 13.11 Doct. 1. The Ministers long and frequent preaching must be attended with much perfection in the people Fol. 8 Doct. 2. There is in all Gods faithfull Ministers a very servent and unfained love to their hearers Fol. 19 Note The labours of Gods choicest Ministers are not everlasting but of a short continuance Fol. 25 Doct. 3. The full and thorough conforming of our selves to the doctrine of Gods Messengers ministers great joy and gladnesse though they depart from us Fol. 26 Doct. 4. It is the duty and must bee the care of Gods children to strive to more spirituall perfection Fol. 34 Doct. 5. Gods children ought to be very comfortable though many changes and afflictions doe attend them Fol. 38 Doct. 6. There must be unanimity and consent betweene Gods children in matters of doctrine and religion Fol. 41 ERRATA Pag. 82. line 24. reade communication p. 86. l. 25. reade thirst p. 185. l 8. r. just p. 197. l. 10. r. sincere FINIS A HEAVENLY DISCOURSE OF CHRISTS FULNES TENDING TO The making of Christ most amiable and glorious in the eyes and most joyous and pleasant sweet and satisfactory to the Soules of all beleeving CHRISTIANS That their hearts may be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Col. 2.2 3. And of his fulnesse have we all received and grace for grace Ioh. 1.16 Omnia habemus in Christo omnia nobis Christus Ambros By A. G. B. D. LONDON Printed by R. Young for John Bartlet at the gilt Cup neere Saint Austins gate 1640. CHRISTS FULNES TRANSCENDENT COLOS. 2.9 10. For in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily and yee are complete in him who is head of all principality and power CHAP. I. Shewing the transcendencie of Christs fulnesse above all created fulnesse and opening the scope of the words OF all Fulnesse Divine and Heavenly fulnesse is the choycest The nearer any creature commeth unto God and the more it doth participate of the fulnesse of God the greater is the perfection the more excellent is the fulnesse thereof There is a fulnesse of light in the Sunne a fulnesse of waters in the sea a fulnesse of strength in the rockes a fulnesse of riches in the earth a Psa 104.24 The earth saith the Psalmist is full of thy riches so is the great and wide sea wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great beasts Yet of all this fulnesse in comparison of their fulnesse who are filled with the fulnesse of Christ may wee say as Gideon sometime said of the vintage of Abiezer b Iudg. 8.2 The gleanings of Ephraim are better then the vintage of Abiezer so the gleaning the smallest gatherings of the fulnesse of Christ are better more excellent more satisfactory more permanent then the full and greatest vintage of the world this is a fulnesse making like God endearing to God leading to heavenly and sweet communion with God the least of Christ is better then the greatest abundance of the earth There is a fulnesse of wisedome and puritie a fulnesse of strength and sagacity in the Angels there is a fulnesse of holinesse and righteousnesse in the Lords faithfull servants yet is their fulnesse in respect of Christs fulnesse as no fulnesse as the fulnesse of the Starre is as no fulness in respect of the fulnesse of the Sunne and the fulnesse of the vessell as no fulnesse in comparison of the fulnesse of the fountaine their fulnesse is a derivative a borrowed fulnesse it is in them by participation as the Moone hath her light from the Sunne rivers their waters from the fountaine and the eye her sight from the soule but it is in Christ originally naturally and of himselfe their fulnesse is in them by measure according to the gift of God in Christ it is c Eph. 4.7 Job 4.33 Ioh. 1.16 infinite and above measure The Moone is full of
him as r 2 Sam. 1. Ionathan loved David with a love surpassing the love of women as Iacob loved Rahel with love making us cheerfull in serving patient in suffering for him hee alone is the friend of Christ Jesus 4. In our trust that loves him above himselfe and all creatures 4. Him let us preferre in our trust as the builder doth the rocke above all other foundations as the chickens doe the wings of the hen above all other places of refuge to him let us addresse our selves as they who were in distresse Å¿ 2 Sam. 1.21 in debt in discontent did sometimes addresse themselves to David Him let us make our Captain to fight for us our Shepheard to defend us our Rocke to support us our Shield to cover us let us wait on him t Psa 62.5 solely and on no other on him let us trust fully with all our heart with all our soule let us rest on whole Christ on his power to sustaine us on his wisedome to guide us on his merit to justifie and procure all good things for us on his mercy to forgive us on his love to solace us on his fulnesse to satisfie us on him let us trust constantly in our prosperity as being the strength of all our fulness in our adversity as being all-sufficient in the absence of all helpers On him let us stay when wee are in darknesse u Isa 50.10 and have no light in sicknesse and have no health in heavinesse and have no joy in desertion and have no friend in want and have no supply Mans firme dependance upon Christ in all conditions in all changes argues the truth and strength of mans confidence 5. Him let us preferre in our feare above all commanders 5. In our feare as the Subject his Soveraigne above all Beggers as the Servant his Master above his fellow-servants As his authoritie is highest to command his power greatest to protect and his goodnesse fullest to recompence so let him have preheminence in our obedience and service As the w Gen. 37.9 Sunne Moon and eleven Starres in Iosephs vision did obeysance unto him so let all the faculties of our soules all the members of our bodies all our temporall naturall morall and spirituall abilities do obeysance to Christ be made subject and serviceable unto him 6. In our Ioy. 6. Him let us preferre in our Joy As David preferred Ierusalem above x Psa 137 his chiefest joy making it and the welfare thereof the top head and flower of his joy so let us make Christ our chiefest joy the head and crowne of our joy in him let us rejoyce as the wise men in the Starre which guided them Mat. 2.10 Gen. 45.28 1 Sam. 4.5 as old Iacob in the Waggons which carried him to Egypt where was fulnesse of bread in the famine as the Israelites in the Arke from whose presence they promised themselves victory over the Philistins in him let us rejoyce as the traveller in the Sunne which guides him as the sick in the Physician which heales him as the captive in the ransomer which frees him as the poore in the rich which feeds and cloathes him As Christ is the originall and spring of all our comforts so let him be the supreme object of all our rejoycings all joy besides this is but sadness Bernard saith * Illud est verum ac summum gaudium quod non de crâ—atura sed de creatore concipitur quod quum acceperis nemo tollet à te cui aliunde comparata omnis jucunditas moeror est omnis suavitas dolor est omne dulce amarum est omne decorum foedum est omne posâ—reâ—â—ó quod delâ—â—â—â—i poâ—â—â—t mo◠〈…〉 That is true and high joy which is not conceived of the creature but of the Creator which when thou shalt receive no man shall take it from thee whereunto compared all other joy is sorrow all sweetnesse griefe all that is sweet is bitter every comely thing is filthy and lastly whatsoever may delight is troublesome all joy in comparison of joy in Christ is but a cloud to this Sunne a midnight to this morning a bramble to this Vine gall and vinegar to this pretious Nectar Therefore in all things value Christ and give him preheminence above all others according to his fulnesse Let not the plainnesse of his doctrine the meannesse of his messengers the simplicitie and want of externall pompe in his religion and service nor the poverty of many of his followers cause us to under-value and slight Christ as it was sometime disputed among the Romanes in their Councell using to deifie great men Whether Christ having done many wonderfull workes should bee received into the number of Gods The Historian saith * Et tande desinitum est quòd non deberet recipi inter deos pro eo quòd non habeâ—et cultores propâ—er hoc quòd paupertatem praedicarit elegit quam mundus contemnit It was at last concluded that he should not be received among the Gods because hee had no worshippers and because hee preached poverty which the world despiseth How many stumble and take offence at Christ slight and under-value Christ for the small number and low estate of his followers and for that humility meeknesse spirituall poverty which the Gospel teacheth But let not us under-value Christ for this but rather admire the fulnesse of Christ in putting such power into the plaine preaching of his Word and such efficacie into the labours of his despised Messengers as thereby to convince and convert the hearts and raise the soules of men and by weake things poore things and things which are not to confound the things that are The weaknesse of the instrument commends the power of the supreme agent the more wee looke upon the emptinesse of the instruments which Christ useth the more cause we shall have to admire the fulnesse which he communicateth Foure things there are among many Foure things in Christ to be highly prized in Christ which wee should very highly prize First the knowledge of Christ The wisedome of Solomon was so great that the Queene of the South accounted his men happy 1. Knowledge of Christ that they might daily stand before him to heare his wisedome As Christ is greater then Solomon so is their happinesse greater that may stâ—nd before him and heare his wisedome It is Christ that puts a fulnesse into our knowledge as the shining of the Sunne in the aire puts a fulnesse of light into the eye therefore Paul made Christ crucified the center and circumference of his knowledge determining to know y 1 Cor. 2.2 nothing among them but Christ crucified this hee made the z Ephes 3. bredth and length depth and height of his knowledge this was the full latitude of his knowledge to know Christ and this is a Phil. 3.8 excellent knowledge for the instrument authour matter subject fruits and effects of
it saving knowledge Joh. 17.3 Secondly wee should highly prize the love of CHRIST JESUS 2. Love of Christ it is better then b Cant. 1.3 wine nothing so solaceth reviveth and cherisheth the soule nothing is sweet nothing is satisfactory without it It could not c 2 Sam. 14.32 content Absolon that he was recalled from his exilement and had his dwelling at Ierusalem unlesse hee might also see the Kings face the presence of all things is as nothing unlesse man see the Kings face feele the love of Christ this is the life of a good mans life as Solomon saith of the light of the Kings d Pro. 16.15 countenance In the light of the Kings countenance is life and his favour is as a cloud of the latter raine Christs love is life quickning a cloud watering and abundantly refreshing the soules of all that enjoy him Therefore esteeme the love of Christ above the love of the creature as men esteeme the love of the King above the love of the begger Thirdly wee should highly value the communion and ministration of Christ 3. The communication and ministration of Christ The Sunne filleth the aire with light the head filleth the body with sense and motion the Schoole filleth the braine with Art and Learning the golden Mine filleth the store-house with treasure the seast filleth the hungry with meat and the clouds fill the earth with fruit all these are esteemed for their ministration and filling But Christ hath a more excellent ministration hee filleth with better light then the Sun with better Art Learning then the Schoole with better sense motion then the head with better meat then the feast with better fruit then the cloud He filleth the hungry with e Luke 1.53 good things with spiritual and heavenly good things saving knowledge lively faith fervent love Christian patience true humility and meekness even with the whole treasury of all spirituall good things even such good things as f 1 Cor. 2.9 carnall eye hath not seene uncircumcised eare hath not heard nor have entred into the unregenerate heart of man these doth Christ reveale and communicate by his Spirit and in this ministration stands the happinesse glory and comfort of man Christ becomming their fulnesse and g Ephes 1.23 filling all in all by being the fulnesse of their knowledge of their faith of their love of their peace of their possession without whom all knowledge faith love and whatsoever else is but an empty thing Give then preheminence to Christs ministration above the ministration of the creature as to the ministration of corne above chaffe of gold above drosse Oh prize the gift of Christ above all the gifts of the world 4. The sweet blessed presence of Christ Fourthly wee should highly prize the blessed sweet and gracious presence of Christ as a good subject doth the presence of his King in his house above all other friends as a wife the presence of her husband above all neighbours Wee must not so esteeme the presence of riches honours friends or any other endowments as wee doe the presence of Christ This Christ hath promised to his children as their staffe and stay crowne and glory prerogative and comfort h Mat. 28.20 Isa 43.2 Lo saith hee I am with you to the end of the world with you as a King among his people as a Father among his children as a Shepheard with his flocke as a Teacher among his Schollers This was shadowed by the fierie Pillar that was present with Israel as a guide which they followed in their severall campings as a defence between the Campes of Israel and the Egyptians so is Christ present with us as a guide to direct us in our journies as a protector to defend us from all our enemies The Pillar was a cloud by day and a fire by night to Israel so is Christ a cooling refreshment to his children in the scorching day of trouble and a comfortable Lampe of light to direct them in the night of this world In the fire and in the cloud God was seene by Israel in Christ God is seene and knowne as a Father of mercies by his children and this presence of Christ with us should wee highly esteeme as the Traveller doth the presence of the Sunne This encourageth comforteth strengtheneth satisfieth and should accordingly bee highly prized And thus let us value prize and preferre Christ according to his fulnesse that Christ may value us as Schollers of his Schoole as Subjects of his Kingdome as Lovers of his Truth as Members of his Body and daily more and more fill us with his divine and heavenly fulnesse CHAP. VIII Perswading to come unto and get interest in Christ AS all divine and heavenly fulnesse is in Christ so it should move and perswade all men to come to Christ to get interest in Christ to seeke for all fulnesse in him As Hagar went to the full Well and filled her emptie Bottle so let us come to Christ the true and living fountaine and fill our empty soules with the fulnesse of his grace Fulnesse is the common desire of all persons the ambitious desires fulnesse of honours the covetous fulnesse of riches the voluptuous fulnesse of pleasures they are very greedy and can never have i Isa 56.10 enough of this fulnesse Much more should Christians desire the fulnesse of Christ the onely true and desirable fulnesse As Davids Worthies in the day of Davids thirst brake through the Philistian Army and drew water out of the well at Bethel so let us in the day of our Christ in the time of our want breake through all impediments all armies of trouble and opposition raised against us and come to Christ the Well whence come the waters of salvation To this Christ himself invites us k Mat. 11.28 Come unto mee Come unto me as the sick unto the Physician to heale you of all your sinfull maladies Come unto me as the Traveller to the Sunne to fill you with all divine and heavenly light to guide you in all your goings Come unto mee as the thirsty to the living fountaine to supply all your wants to fill all your desires Come unto me as the Sheepe to the Shepheard to lead you beside the still waters and to feed you in the greene pastures Come unto mee as the Chicken to the Hen to hide you under the wings of my protection Come unto me as the poore unto the rich as the Buyer to the Merchants shop and buy of mee * Non precio sed prece not for price but by prayer l Rev. 3.18 gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich and white rayment that thou mayest bee cloathed and eye-salve that thou mayest see And thus runnes the charge of the Lord by the Prophet m Isa 45.22 Look unto mee and bee yee saved all yee ends of the earth Looke unto mee with the eyes of faith beleeving
which Christ hath assumed abides unchangeably united to the person of the Sonne so o Ioh. 15.7 abide with Christ in attendance on his ordinances in faith in his promises in love to his truth and in obedience to his precepts As the assumed nature is ascended from the earth to heaven so raise thy thoughts and affections p Col. 3.2 from the things below to the things above ascend continually by meditation by faith by love and longing to the things which are spirituall As the assumed nature hath no subsistence but in the person of the Sonne so have thou no dependance upon any thing but on Christ alone let him q Psal 73.15 bee all in all And as the assumed nature is filled with the fulnesse of the Godhead so labour more and more to bee filled with the fulnesse of all grace and holinesse so shalt thou maintaine that honour to which Christ hath exalted thy nature CHAP. XII Shewing that mans choycest excellencie consisteth in union with God THis sheweth us wherein the choycest excellencie of man consisteth even in being united unto God in having God dwelling in his heart Wherein stands the excellencie of Christ as Man but in having the Godhead dwelling in his flesh in being assumed into the unity of the second person And wherein stands the excellencie the glory and the happinesse of man but in being reconciled and brought nigh to God in being entred into a sweet and gracious communion with God Is it not the excellencie of the branches to bee united to the Vine of the members to bee united to the head of the wife to have communion with the husband and of the children to have communion with the parent And what is the excellencie the joy and comfort of the soule but sweet and gracious communion with God in Christ Jerusalem though the joy of the whole earth pleased not Absolom unlesse hee might r 2 Sam. 14.32 see the face of his father David The paradise of the world is but a wilderness to to the childe of God unlesse hee see the face enjoy the comfortable presence of God his Father Whom doth the Psalmist pronounce blessed Him that hath communion with Princes in their Courts with Nobles in their honours with valiant men in their victories with rich men in their wealth voluptuous men in their pleasures or him that hath communion with his God in his ordinances in his spirituall comforts Å¿ Psal 65.4 Blessed saith he is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approch unto thee whom thou chusest embracing him with thy love adopting him for thy sonne and making him a member of thy Church and causest him to approch unto thee as a Scholler to thy Schoole as a friend to thy house as a childe to thy table as a bride into the bosome of thy love to know thy will to beleeve thy truth to receive thy grace and to feele thy love and to bee satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house even of thy holy Temple What is the fruit and end of all the labours of Gods Ministers but to worke and draw home the soules of men to God to the fruition enjoyment of God to union and communion with God All the labour of Eleazar was to bring home Rebecca unto Isaac to espouse her to Isaac and all the labour of Gods Ministers his servants is to bring men home to Christ to espouse them to Christ as Paul saith I t 2 Cor. 11.2 have espoused you to one husband This is the summe of all to gather men home to God and Christ as Chicken to the Henne as Sheep unto the Shepheard as Children to the Parent that they may bee u 2 Cor. 5.19 reconciled unto God made one with God and have the blessed enjoyment of God as their highest excellency chiefest good And what are the longings of the soules of holy men who have discerned Gods beauties who have tasted Gods loving kindnesse but the fruition of God in his ordinances and in his graces w Ps 42.2 My soul saith David thirsteth for God O when shall I come appeare before God! And againe My soule x Ps 119.20 breaketh for the longings which it hath unto thy judgements at all times Very vehement and laborious are the desires of Gods servants after him and his testimonies desires which doe even consume and weare out the strength and vigour of their soules desires of perseverance longing at all times in prosperitie and adversitie The soule of a good man is restlesse untill it hath the enjoyment of God and Jesus Christ nothing else can content and answere it Herein stands the excellencie the glory and comfort of it untill it attaine this it is unquiet Union and communion with God makes the soule flourish Benefits of union and communion with God as the branches by union with the vine They y Ps 92.12 that are planted in the house of the Lord that draw nigh to God conscionably frequent his word and are ingrafted into Christ they shall flourish in the courts of our God as a watered garden or a tree planted by the waters side this fils the soule with spirituall life with heavenly sense and motion as the members which are united to the head z 1 Ioh. 5.12 Hee that hath the sonne hath life power strength a blessed fulnesse of holy and heavenly life hee spiritually moves and eates and walkes and workes and rejoyceth like a living man this makes him strong as the a Mat. 7. house that was united to the rocke no windes nor waves of trouble can beate him downe this makes him strong as Christ is strong to beare afflictions and to runne like a strong man the race of Gods commandements this sustaines him in all worldly desertions this is in stead of light when he is in darknesse in stead of b Psa 4.6 wealth when he is poore c. Union and communion with God answers all things O be assured then that the top and flower of the soules happinesse consists in union with God and Christ Jesus And as the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth in the humane nature of Christ bodily substantially so labour to feele God in Christ dwelling in thy soule spiritually feele him dwelling there by illumination as the sun dwelleth in the aire by ministration as the vine to the branches by powerfull and gracious gubernation as a centurion in the army a master in the house and a king in his courts by spirituall and holy inclination bowing bending and framing the heart to doe the will of God As the pilot at the sterne workes the ship towards the haven as the spirit of the living creatures in Ezekiels vision being in the wheeles Wheresoever the Spirit moved c Ezek. 1.20 they moved so feele the Spirit of Christ in thy soule so possessing sanctifying and framing it that there be a disposition and readinesse within thee to move as God in his word
into the same or greater evills The sinne of one man would be the sinne of every man did not God restraine him Secondly by way of commemoration I may tell you First how hee professed much sorrow for his sinnes Mans sin doth ever prove mans sorrow it is the shame of man to commit sin it is the honour of man to confesse and forsake his sin though sorrow constrained and carnall be alwaies unacceptable yet true and godly sorrow is ever availeable to salvation He that sowes in tears shall reap in joy Psa 126.5 Secondly he promised reformation greater strictnesse of life if God were pleased to lengthen his dayes though the vowes of mâ—ns adversitie be often forgotten in the dayes of mans prosperitie yet resolutions truly gracious are with God as the very performance Thirdly he spake of a great change which God of late had wrought in him Hee that is not changed by the gracious hand of God in this life is never received by the merciful hand of God in the next life the procrastinâ—tion of repentance is ever very perillous yet God is free in the dispensations of his mercies not limited to times and seasons Fourthly the rehearsal of Gods mercies upon condition of true repentance seemed much to affect him As hee is cursed that turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse so hee is blessed who by Gods mercies is lead to true repentance And let all this admonish us to labour for timely and true repentance to vow amendment and performe it to feele our hearts truly changed Gods mercies powerfully drawing our soules to obedience by fervent prayer increasing our communion with God enriching our soules more and more with all heavenly gifts and graces that wee may at last with great comfort and much assurance say Come Lord Jesus FINIS SAINT PAULS LEGACIE 2 COR. 13.11 Finally brethren farewell Be perfect be of good comfort bee of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you EVery communion amongst men on earth hath his dissolution be it never so entire never so sinne never so delightfull yet at length there comes a separation the sweetest fellowship the societie which is most intimate hath the cords and chains thereof at length dissolved Communion with God is everlasting communion with man is transitory and temporall The Arke was transportative removing from place to place till it came to Solomons Temple such is mans condition subject to continuall change and motion till he comes to heaven where Gods people shall have an endlesse and unchangeable communion The fellowship betweene Abimelech and the men of Shechem was very strong and intimate they were a Iudg. 9.23 bone of bone and flesh of flesh yet at length there came an evill Spirit between them and they were divided Great is the enmitie of Sathan against mens sweet and comfortable communion Abraham and Lot sweetly conversed and dwelt for divers dayes together yet at length they parted b Gen. 13.6 their substance was so great that they could not dwell together Much sweet communion commerce between Gods people is often hindered by the fulnesse of the world Singular was the friendship pleasant was the fellowship between Jonathan and David their love was c 2 Sam. 1.26 wonderfull passing the love of women yet by an arrow in the battell Jonathan fell and their sweet commerce was ended Death dissolveth all humane fellowship Eliah and Elisha enjoyed many dayes most blessed and gracious communion together yet at length it came to passe that as they d 2 King 2.11 went and talked there appeared a Chariot of fire and Horses of fire and parted them both asuâ—der God doth often remove the dearest friends and comforters of his servants to learne them to depend alone upon Christ Jesus God doth sometimes take away the Guides and Teachers of his people to let them see that the choycest instruments of mans happinesse are not of everlasting continuance Saint Paul had been for divers dayes a preacher to the men of Corinth preaching to them many powerfull and heavenly sermon delivering to them many found and wholsome Doctrine writing also a first and second Epistle yet his ministery was not for perpetuity nor his presence of everlasting continuance a time of separation came and his labours drew to an end and in these words hee takes hiâ— last leave and farewell of them â—â—nally brethren farewell Bee perfect bee of good comfort bee of one minde live iâ— peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you The Apostle Saint Paul had in this whole Epistle sharply rebuked the Corinthians for opposing his doctrine for slighting and despising his admonition and now that they might not thinke he either spake or wrote out of hatred or distemper of spirit many arguments and evidences of his great and singular love are intermixed chiefly in this his conclusion mitigating all the severitie and bitternesse which hee seemed to use towards them concluding and shutting up all in a holy sweet and gracious exoptation or wish of all perfection consolation peace concord and communion with God unto them Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect c. The Lord who giveth e Ephes 4.10 some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ The Lord who f Jerem. 3.15 gives his people Pastors according to his owne heart to feed them with knowledge and understanding hath in the course of his gracious providence made me for more than fifteene yeares an under-overseer of your soules wherein as his weake and fraile feeble and unworthy instrument I have been the Lords and your servant endevouring though neither with such diligence and industry as I should nor with that blessed and plentifull successe which I desire and wish to open Gods counsell to propose and set forth Christ before your eyes to make him glorious in your apprehension to humble your soules to convert your hearts to draw you by faith and love to Christ the complete and onely Authour of your everlasting welfare And now as Saint Paul said sometimes to the men of Ephesus g Acts 20.25 Behold I know that yee all among whom I have here stood preaching the kingdome of God shall after this day in all likelihood behold my face in this place no more being now to you as a dying man whose last breath is going forth as a starre setting and rising no more in this horizon as a lampe going out and shining no more in this your house of sacred meeting As a man dying and loth to dye I shall in the ardencie of my love and great anguish of my spirit in the words wish of S. Paul take my last leave and valediction Finally brethren farewell Be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live iâ— peace and the God of love and peace be with you In
which words wee may take notice 1. Of a particle of conclusion Finally 2. Of a title of compellation Brethren 3. Of a terme of valediction and farewell Farewell 4. of a vote Of exoptation or wishing Be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you Wherein Saint Paul like a Testator or Parent that makes his last Will Testament bequeatheth these five gifts as five Legacies to the Corinthians his children in Christ which are like the h Gen. 45.22 five changes of rayment which Joseph gave to Benjamin for the spirituall warmth and ornament which they minister to the soules of Gods children like the i Judg. 18.7 five men which brought good tidings to their brethren incouraging them to arise and enter into the land for the comfortable newes which they bring to the soules of men encouraging them to enter into Gods service to set their feet into the wayes of peace and holinesse like the k 1 Sam. 21.3 five loaves of bread which David asked of the Priest for the nourishment refection and strength which they minister to the soules of Gods servants and these I shall being now as a dying man to you bequeath unto you as a Legacie of choycest worth to adorne you of greatest strength to support you of best nourishment to feed you of sweetest peace to solace you Finally brethren farewell Be perfect c. The branches growing on this tree are many the streames issuing from this fountain are divers and having but one day to gather the fruit here growing to draw the waters hence arising I shall but briefly touch give you a taste of each of them and first of the particle of conclusion Finally lastly Denique quod superest or as touching that which remaineth that is after that I have done mine office and have instructed you by the word threatned you by the judgements and intreated you by the mercies of God and have used all meanes to move you to repentance and to draw you to Christ Finally or what remaineth more to be done now but that you doe your duty that you beleeve repent reforme bee perfect and draw home to Christ with all your soule and might This is that which now remaineth which is now on your behalfe expected And hence you see Doct. That the Ministers long and frequent preaching must be attended with much perfection in the people After the Ministers long and frequent instruction faith repentance and true conversion must shew it selfe forth in the people When the Minister hath done his dutie towards men men must doe their dutie towards God The l Exod. 17.6 rocke gushed out water after Moses striking it After the Priests seven times compassing the walles of Jericho and m Jos 6.20 blowing of their Rammes horns the walles fell unto the ground After the Prophets n 2 Kings 4.34 spreading himselfe upon the woman of Shunems child the flesh of the child waxed warme hee neesed and opened his eyes After the Ministers often smiting our hearts with the hammer of the word often sounding of the trumpet of the Gospel in our eares and right dividing and applying of the word unto our hearts our stony hearts should be softned and send forth the waters of godly sorrow the strong and mighty holds of sinne should bee cast downe our soules enlivened the eyes of our understandings most clearly and savingly opened After the shining of the Sunne the aire is inlightned after the distilling of the dew and plentifull influence of the heavens the earth fructifieth after the long shining of the light of the Gospel and frequent distilling and dropping down of the dew of heavenly doctrine mens understandings should bee filled with knowledge as the aire with light and their lives replenished with all spirituall and heavenly fruit This the Lord expecteth o Isa 5.4 What could have been done more to my vineyard saith the Lord that I have not done in it in regard of the externall meanes wherefore I looked that it should bring forth grapes that like a vineyard long and well dressed it should bring forth good grapes of knowledge faith repentance and the like this is the property of Gods children as good p Mat. 13.24 ground receiving good seed they bring forth much fruit as living and healthy children sucking their mothers breasts they q 1 Pet. 2.2 grow by the sincere milke of the word of God This fruit hath followed the labours of Gods Ministers Saint Peter r Acts 2.44 testiâ—â—â— and exhorted and his word was glad 〈…〉 and about three thousand soules were 〈◊〉 to the Church Saint Paul preached and as Å¿ Acts 13.48 many as were ordained unto life beleeved The Apostle preached at Ephesus t Acts 19.20 many beleeved came and confessed and shewed forth their deeds so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed u Exod. 17.11 Iosua fought Moses prayed and Israel prevailed over Amalek When the Minister preacheth and prayeth Gods Israel must prevaile over Satan and their corruption Peter w Ioh. 21.11 casteth the net the second time into the sea and a multitude of fishes are taken in it At the Ministers first and second frequent and often preaching many soules should by the net of the Gospel bee drawne out of the gulfe and sea of sinne and the world And that In regard of the end of the Ministers Reason 1 long and frequent preaching The x Psa 104.22 23. Sunne ariseth sayth the Psalmist the wilde beasts gather themselves together and lay them downe in their dennes man goeth forth to his worke and to his labour untill the evening The Gospel like the Sunne ariseth and all the lusts of men which like so many wilde beasts walke forth and make their prey upon the soules of men in the right of their ignorance must now lye themselves downe by humiliation mortification and true repentance and man must arise from the bed of sinne and goe forth out of himselfe as out of his house to his worke and to his labour y Phil. 2.12 working out his salvation with feare and trembling never z 1 Thess 1.3 ceasing from the worke of faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ untill the evening untill the sunne of his life be wholly gone down and set This the Apostle presseth from the end of the appearing of the Gospel a Rom. 13.11 The night is farre spent the time and state of ignorance and blindnesse is farre gone and the light is neere at hand the day of the Gospel breaketh forth and the light of illumination doth appeare Let us therefore cast off the workes of darknesse as men cast off their bed-clothes in the morning and let us put on the armour of light as men put on their day clothes and so let us walke and b Tit. 2.11 the grace of God saith
more yet the fruit of their ministery remaining and the presence or succession of other able Ministers to edifie and bring them unto further perfection affoords them matter of much and sweet rejoycing though Paul departed from Jerusalem to Tarsus yet the Churches w Acts 9.31 were edified and walking in the feare of the Lord and comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplied Gods hand is not shortned if one helper faile hee can raise a second if all faile the Lord himselfe is all-sufficient he that truly profiteth by the Word when the Lord affoords it shall never be destitute of all spirituall comfort whether the ministery faile or be continued hee hath a Day-starre of grace risen within him which shall give him some glimpse of sweet and heavenly consolation the soule of him that conformes himselfe to the doctrine of Gods faithfull Ministers shall ever meet with some matter of true joy and gladnesse In regard of the blessed presence of Reas 1 Gods grace and Spirit within them there appeares a x 2 Pet. 1.19 Day-starre of regeneration which makes them joyfull as the Starre did the wise men they feele in their hearts that y Rom. 14.17 kingdome of God that worke of righteousnesse and peace which is attended with joy in the holy Ghost they discerne that presence and operation of faith which filleth them with z Rom. 15.13 all joy in beleeving and they behold that Spirit of God dwelling in them which is the a Joh. 14.16 true Comforter the authour and fountaine of all consolation Reas 2 In regard of subjugation of Satan and their owne corruption They perceive by the effect and fruit of the ministerie which they have enjoyed how Satan is b Rom. 16.20 troden under their feet as Josua c Jos 10.24 trode upon the neckes of the Kings of Canaan how their corruption is subdued as d 2 Cor. 10.4 strong holds are cast downe by warlike instruments how the Minister of the Lord hath put the Divell and all his workes to flight as David sometime overthrew e 1 Sam. 17. Goliah and made all the Philistian army flye And as Israel had great f Exod. 15.1 joy to see Pharaoh and his hoast drowned in the waters of the sea so have they matter of great joy to see Satan and all their lusts cast downe Reas 3 3. In regard of communion with God Whatsoever be taken from them yet their communion with God is not dissolved walking in the light conforming themselves to the doctrine of Gods Messengers they g 1 Joh. 1.6 have fellowship with God by prayer as Petitioners with the great master of Requests By faith and love as the Bride with the Bride-groome By subjection as the subjects with their Soveraigne By meditation as the rich men with their treasure By desire as Pilgrimes with their owne countrey And this is the joy of all joyes to Gods servants even communion with God their Father and with Christ their Husband and Saviour O then whiles you enjoy Gods Ministers Use conforme your selves to their doctrines observe their counsels embrace and follow their instructions bee renewed and become new creatures and then whether they goe or stay live or dye you shall have matter of joy and gladnesse you shall have the word of God dwelling in you to direct and guide you to strengthen and sustaine you to comfort and encourage you you shall have the grace of the Spirit shining like a lampe in the house of your soules when others are in darknesse as Israel had the light shining in h Exod. 10.23 Goshen when the Egyptians had no light to shine upon them but thick darknesse covered them you shall have faith embracing Christ filling you with Christs fulnesse when others are strangers and have no acquaintance with Christ Jesus you shall have the i Rom. 5.5 love of God shed abroad into your hearts which shall rejoyce you more then k Cant. 1.3 wine the thirsty more then l Psa 4.6 corne and oyle rejoyce the rich or m Psal 63.3 life it selfe the living though the dearest earthly possession you shall have the n Col. 3.16 peace of God even that peace which passeth all understanding reigning within you And whensoever the Minister of God departeth from you he shall be able with confidence to commend you to God bestow a blessed Legacie upon you and with Saint Pauls heart and words joy and gladnesse take his last leave of you and say Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect bee of good comfort be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you And thus are wee come to the fourth branch of this Text Saint Pauls Exoptation or Wish Bee perfect bee of good comfort Hee doth not wish them earthly honours worldly riches carnall pleasures but perfection of grace spirituall comfort mutuall love unanimity and concord among themselves and sweet and sure communion with God Note Heavenly and saving graces are the best gifts which any man can wish or desire for others These are the surest pledge of Gods love the choycest ornament of mans soule the sweetest Embassadours of peace to mans heart the treasure of greatest worth to enrich man the gift of highest honour to enoble man the staffe of greatest strength to sustaine man the companion of most pleasant communion to solace and delight man and the well spring of most plentifull and lasting waters to fill and to content man a starre of everlasting brightnesse which will never set nor leave us And therefore these Saint Paul wisheth to the Corinthians these he commendeth to them wisheth for them bestoweth on them as the best Legacie he had to give them the best possession he could thinke on to leave behind among them And these gifts or Legacies of his you have heard are five the full opening and handling of which requires no lesse then five dayes discourse buâ— because my glasse is almost run and my ministeriall breath is now expiring and going out I shall lâ—â—â— briefly open them and leave them to â—our long and lasting consideration The first is a Legacie of perfection Bee yee perfect fill yee up that which is wanting encrease abound goe forward bee good proficienâ—â— in Christs Schoole thriving trees in Gods Orchard be more and more perfect And hence observe that Doct. It is the dutie and must bee the câ—â—â— of Gods children to strive to more spirituall perfection As the house of David grew o 2 Sam. 3.1 stronger and stronger in victory over the house of Saul and full possession of the kingdome so must they grow stronger and stronger in victory over their corruption and in the full possession of Christ and his kingdome It is Gods charge p 2 Pet. 3.18 Grow in grace as rich men in wealth as trees in height q Eph. 5 18. Bee yee filled with the Spirit as the Sea with waters and as the aire with light
give you comfort God will comfort you as a King his subjects dispensing all for your good by his gracious providence as a Father his Children by making all provision for you Christ shall comfort you as a friend by his presence as a Bridegroome by his love The Spirit shall comfort you as a witnesse by his evidence The Word shall comfort you as a Light guiding as a Feast feeding you The Minister shall comfort you as an Interpreter an Angell of God one of a thousand bringing the tidings of peace to you The Creature shall comfort yâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—â—vant ministring all his 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 Servants of God shall comsort yâ—u as â—â—mpanions with you Your Conscience shall comfort you as a blessed Inmate dwelling under the same roofe with you as a chaste and loving wife that lodgeth in your bosome day and night You shall have comfort and be of one minde The third Legacie bequeathed by Saint Paul to the Corinthians a Legacie of consent and unanimitie in matter of doctrine religion study and practice of all godlinesse Teaching â—s that â—â—ere must be unanimitie and consent between Gods children Doct. in matter of Doctrine and Religion All that builded Noahs Arke builded by one paterne all Israel travelled to the land of Canaan by the light of one fiery Pillar all the passengers in a ship row by one Compasse all that intend to build themselves a spirituall house to God must build by one Rule of Gods word all that will travell to the Heavenly Canaaâ— must make one Word of God the ligâ—â—â—f them feet and the lanterne of thei◠〈◊〉 to guide â—hem all that will come to the â—â—â—en of eâ—â—â—nall peace must have one testimony of the Lord to direct them Let us walke saith the Apostle by the o Phil. 3.16 same rule let us minde the same thing And againe Bee p Phil. 2.2 yee of one accord and of one minde Wee have one spirituall and heavenly King and must observe one Law we have one God and must worship by one Rule we have one Shepheard and must be commanded by one voyce we have one head and must follow one direction Hee that dissents from true doctrine makes his religion an abomination hee that rends himselfe from the Church of Christ in Christs worship and service here will bee rent from Christ and the Church for ever hereafter As wee therefore are members of one body and Schollers in one Schoole let us learne one lesson follow one guide that wee may know aright beleeve aright walke aright and preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace living both with God and amongst our selves in a sweet and blessed peace The fourth Legacie which S. Paul here bequeatheth a Legacie of mutuall unitie peace and concord betweene themselves thereby teaching us that Doct. There must bee a mutuall sweet an entire peace and affection between Gods people As there was a concord between the stones in Solomons Temple they were so fitted and disposed that there was no noyse heard in the building thereof such a sweet conjunction of affections should there bee betweene the people of God that no noyse no clamour nor cries should bee heard among them Peace is a jewell which wee are charged to seeke q Psa 34.14 Seeke peace and ensue it saith the Psalmist r 1 Thes 5.14 Bee at peace amongst your selves and Å¿ Heb. 13.1 let brotherly love continue saith the Apostle This is an honour crowne and t Col. 3.12 ornament unto man as the garment to the body as the flower to the garden This is a necessarie u 1 Cor. 16.14 ingredient in all our services a salt seasoning all our actions This sweetens all our possessions and all our afflictions as the w Exod. 15.25 tree sweetned the waters of Marah Without this the fulnesse of the world is uncomfortable with this the greatest affliction is made very tolerable this qualifies and fits us for Communion with God as communion with the children prepares a man for communion with the parent Remember then your God is the God of peace your Jesus the Prince of peace your Gospel the Gospel of peace your calling the calling of peace your way the way of peace And therefore so live in peace that the God of love and peace may bee with you The fifth and last Legacie here bequeathed Sweet and gracious communion with God whom hee stiles The God of Love Peace because hee is the Authour and fountaine of love and peace Hee desires and promiseth their communion with God as a thing wherein consisted their supreme and choycest good For Doct. Sweet and comfortable communion with God is mans choycest good Wherein stands the happinesse of a childe but in communion with his father x 2 Sam. 14.32 Absoloms life was but a burthen when hee might not see his fathers face Wherein stands the comfort of a wife but in communion with her husband And wherein consists the happinesse and comfort of the soule of man but in having fellowship and communion with God his heavenly Father and Husband For this the soules of Gods people have most vehemently longed this they have most highly prized in the fruition of this they have pronounced themselves most blessed and for this have Christs Apostles prayed in the behalfe of others as for that gift and blessing which of all others is most desirable O therefore humble your soules remove your sinnes returne to God speedily fully unchangeably attend his ordinances beleeve his promises walke in the wayes of his commandements grow up in Christ Jesus and you shall have that communion with God which shall encourage you against all feares comfort you in the midst of all sorrowes sustain you in all distresses satisfie you in the absence of all abilities and bee an abundant recompence for all losses and an inchoation of that eternity of communion which you shall have for ever with God in heaven And now Brethren the starre of my Ministery is here set and the candle of my labours is gone out no more to be lighted as I conceive in this place I am now no more no longer a Watchman to admonish you a Guide to conduct you or a Shepheard to feed you the God that sent mee and set mee here amongst you hath now againe called me from you and placed another over you to be I trust an instrument of greater good then I have been unto you Of my selfe Brethren I can say nothing but as sometime Gideon said of himselfe y Iudg. 6.15 My thousand is the meanest in Manasseh and I am the least in my fathers house So may I say My talent is of many the meanest and I am the least the weakest and unworthiest of many thousand Ministers in God my Fathers house I am but a woodden vessell the treasure is the Lords I am but as a worme no man I am nothing it is the Lord hath done all that little good
which hath beene done by me in this function let mee therefore for the time to come be reputed as nothing forgotten like a dead man out of minde and like a broken vessell And if any soule hath benefited under my labours let all the glory be given to Christ Jesus For my selfe I have somewhat to say but not much I have now served you more than two Apprentiships wherein I trust I have so served you that I may say as Paul did to the men of Ephesus I am z Acts 20.26 27. pure from the bloud of all amongst you for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsell of God all that I meane which God hath made knowne to mee according to my weake and poore abilities I have disclosed all I have kept backe nothing from you In the worke of my Ministery I have had no respect of persons I never shunned the declaration of any truth nor spared the reprehension of any vice for feare of any mans greatnesse neither favour nor feare ever made mee false in the discharge of my office As Elihu sometimes said I a Job 32.21 have not accepted any mans person nor given flattering titles unto any man For I knew not to give flattering titles because in so doing my Maker would take me away I have truely desired the salvation of your soules and that is my câ—â—â—fors I should have done more then I have done and that is my shame more labour hath been bestowed then profit yet appeareth and that is your sinne and my discomfort My service hath been long amongst you the longer I served you the more I loved you the more unwilling I was to leave you I can truly say to you what Paul did to the Corinthians You were in my heart to live to dye with you my mouth was open to you my heart was enlarged yee were not straitned in me but yee were straitned in your owne bowels Had your hearts at least according to your present outward expression been towards me as mine was towards you I am perswaded nothing but death had parted us as sometime Ruth said to Naomi I should have valued your love your societie the enjoyment of your presence above the chiefest and most abundant worldly abilities I should have chosen rather to have lived with you in the lowest outward condition then elsewhere in the greatest fulnesse of the world so unwilling was I to leave you that if occasion had required I would have relinquished all rather then any prejudice should have come unto you by my departure from you But God hath so disposed and framed it that no impediment to my departure hence hath been offered it is the hand of God hath done it whether in judgement unto me or in mercie unto you ensuing time will manifest Three things there are very memorable touching Gods goodnesse in this place towards mee which I cannot passe in silence 1. In all this time of my service I was never hindered one Lords day by sicknesse from my Ministeriall labours the Lord that set me over you gave mee health and strength to doe his worke among you 2. I was never suppressed not restrained from the liberty and use of my ministery by any opposition though there have been adversaries both politicke and powerfull 3. Though in this place I have had neither certainty nor competencie to sustaine mee and my family yet the Lord hath from elsewhere raised meanes to uphold mee and to enable mee to continue the labours of my Ministery amongst you I can truly speake to you in Saint Pauls language to the men of Ephesus b Acts 20.33 34. I have coveted no mans silver or gold or apparrell Yea your selves doe at least may know how these hands have after a sort ministred unto my necessities and to them that were with me I speake not this to disparage you or to under-value the kindnesse which I have received from you I am very mindfull and very sensible of your favours from the highest to the lowest and though I am not complementall yet bee yee assured your courtesie and kindnesse shall rest with mee as a strong and inviolable obligation to binde mee to your everlasting service even to the very utmost of my slender abilities to my power and beyond my power if ever and as often as occasion shall require it or you manifest your desire of it And what shall I say of these things or how shall I expresse my selfe towards my God for these his great mercies towards mee but in the words of the Psalmist c Psal 31.19 O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid up for them that feare thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sonnes of men And now Brethren having no more time nor place nor calling to instruct and teach you to admonish and warne you O let me as a lover of your soules a helper of your joy a promoter of your peace and a well-wisher of your everlasting well-fare O let me I say with burning love in my heart with melting sorrow in my soule with teares of griefe in mine eyes and with the language of a faithfull friend in my tongue intreat you perswade and beseech you to remember what you have heard to practise what you have learned and to bring forth the fruits of the seed which hath been here sowne And before I goe let mee blesse you as Moses blessed the twelve tribes before he died d Deut. 33.6 7. Let the men of this place O Lord live and not dye let them live the life of grace and not dye the second death and let not the men thereof bee few Heare Lord the voyce of Plympton when they pray and bring them in peace and holinesse to thine owne people Let their hands bee sufficient for them teach thou their hands to warre and their fingers to fight and gird thou them with strength to battell against sinne Satan the world and all the enemies of their salvation be thou their helper in all dangers their strength against all oppositions Let thy Thummim and thy Urim thy perfections and thy lights bee with thy holy one whom thou shalt set over this Congregation Let him preferre his dutie and function above all naturall affection and have no respect of persons Let him teach this people thy Judgements and thy Law by his Doctrine Let him appease thy wrath and procure thy favour and blessing for them by his prayer and supplication Blesse Lord his substance furnish and fill him with all inward and outward endowments and prosper all his godly labours Let this people Lord as thy beloved dwell in safety by thee and cover them under the wings of thy protection all the day long and for ever dwell O Lord between their shoulders stablish settle with them thine ordinance make this place thy habitation and thy rest for ever The Lord blesse your Land with the pretious things of heaven with the influence moisture from above and make it fertile the Lord blesse your soules with all heavenly graces make you spiritually fruitfull For the good will of him that dwelt in the busts Let the blessing even all good things speedily fully sweetly and constantly come upon your heads that all may see and observe it and learne how good it is to serve the Lord through the observation of it The Lord make your glory like the Firstling of a Bullocke for your joy and gladnesse for your excellencie and amiablenesse in the eyes of all beholders and for your growth in all spirituall gifts and graces and your hornes like the hornes of an Unicorne for your strength and prevailing over all opposing powers The Lord make you to rejoyce in your going out and in your tents The Lord bring you to his holy mountaine and make you there to offer the sacrifice of righteousnesse The Lord enlarge you in dissolving all your sinnes in despelling all your sorrowes in removing all your troubles in filling you with all temporall and heavenly fulnesse and make you like a Lyon for your victory over all your adversaries for your vigilancy and watchfulnesse and for your resolution and courage in all godly undertakings The Lord satisfie you with his favour the Lord fill you with his blessing and make you acceptable in his eyes and in the eyes of your brethren And let me charge you now Brethren before my ministeriall breath expire as David a little before his death charged his sonne Solomon e 1 Chro. 28.9 And you my brethren know yee the God of your fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts If you seeke him hee will be found of you but if you forsake him hee will cast you off for ever Let me now before I leave you and in the conclusion of my Ministerie pray for you as Saint Peter did for the people in the conclusion of his Epistle f 1 Pet. 5.10 The God of all grace who hath called us into his eternall glory by Christ Jesus after that yee have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you And being now to leave you as sometimes Saint Paul left Ephesus let me commend you to God in the words of Saint Paul g Act. 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified And as I this day begun so let me this day for ever conclude Finally brethren farewell Be perfect bee of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of Love and Peace be with you