friend His graces which are like to a most fragrant perfume do in am our the hearts of all them who are truly spiritual Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy Name is as an Cant. 1. 3. ointment powred forth therefore do the Virgins love thee And in the song of conjugal loves this is rendred as the reason of those sparklings Thou art fairer then the children of Psal 45. 2. men As there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person then Saul from the shoulders upwards he was higher 1 Sam. 9. 2. then any of the people So Jesus Christ doth wonderfully over-top and exceed in all rich endowments the most amiable creatures in the world And as in all Israel there was 2 Sam. 14. 25. none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him and this might be some reason of Davids great love towards him So in the Lord Jesus there are perfect beauties without the least blemishes He is altogether lovely No wonder therefore that wise knowing Christians do chuse and value and embrace him with vigorous loves Reason 2 Because of his famous magnanimous undertakings and adventures as Mediator that he might at once advance his Fathers glory and the happinesse of his Elect. We read that Jonathans soul was knit to the soul of David 1 Sam. 18. 1. and that he loved him as his own soul because upon a Duel he had encountered and conquered the Monster Goliah who had blasphemed God and vilified his people Now this service was low and inconsiderable being compared with Christs renowned exploits who hand to hand combated with the devil in the wildernesse for the space of fourty days Luke 4. 2. Col. 2. 15. who spoiled principalities and Powers made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in his crosse Who did beare up bravely against the power of darknesse to be quell'd under the weight of divine justice to be satisfied and under the flames of his Fathers displeasure to be quenched These and the like rare actings of Christ being pondered by Christians do draw forth their hearts in friendship towards him He himself saith Therfore doth my Father love me because I John 10. 17. lay down my life And how can new-born Christians partakers of the divine Nature be otherwise affected upon the same account towards their blessed Master Reason 3 Because of their manifold rich receipts from Christ Davids heart giveth out loves to the Lord because upon his prayers he had delivered his eyes from tears and his feet Psal 116 1 8. from falling Now Christ hath rescued his people from wrath to come and that without respect to their requests yea before they sought him Our Saviour himself giveth this as the reason wherefore the sinful woman loved him Many sins are forgiven her Luk 7. 47. 1 Sam. 19. 5. therefore she loved much And Jonathan by this Argument laboureth to win Sauls heart towards David Because the Lord by him wrought a great salvation to all Israel In this respect the Apostle Paul was rationally under the 2 Cor. 5. 14. constraint of commanding Loves to Christ because of quickning grace received by his death Now if I should here discover our large enjoyments from Christ it would abundantly appear to every ingenuous soule that there is sufficient cause wherefore he should be accounted and affected as an incomparable friend By him we are delivered from sin and hell as is hinted even now from the curse of the Law the hater of God the Gal 3. 13. Eph. 2. 14 16. Gal. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 55. Ephes 1. 3 6. 1 Cor. 1. 30. and 2. 1 20. deadly snares of the world and the poison-sting of death We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places We are accepted in the Beloved He is made unto us Wisdom Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption And all the Promises of God are in him Yea and in him Amen How rationally therefore doth living love to Christ spring out of this root Reason 4 Because of their full expectations from him for the future even unto soul-satisfaction and that to eternity Many chearing cordials are handed to Christians from Christ here upon earth in which regard he doth lie as a bundle of myrrh between their brests but he reserveth the best wine for Cant. 2. 13. the last Whatsoever for kind or for measure the believing John 2 10. Christians comforts are here yet to be with Christ in heaven Phil. 1. 13. will be far better and this this in glory is looked for through Christ This consideration causeth their love unto Christ to break forth in a great flame Let the words of the Apostle be weighed for the evidence hereof who having spoken both of the Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled 1 Pet 1. 3 4. that fadeth not away reserved in heaven as also of the assured Perseverance through Gods Power and all this by Christ he adds Whom having not seen yet ye love Ingenuous 1 Pet. 1. 8. Christians duly weighing the worth of their future happinesse dearly purchased by Christ and undoubtedly to be possessed by them through Christ do hereupon practically conclude that nothing can be imagined more reasonable then this that they should love him as their special friend Thus from confirmation I proceed to the Application of this Truth by way of Use which I will propound under three heads viz. 1. Information 2. Examination 3. Exhortation Vse 1 Sad therefore is their condition who are not loving friends unto Jesus Christ For doubtlesse though they be by profession in the estimation of others true Christians yet they are but only Slips in Christianity As Judas c. Our Saviour speaketh roundly unto such If God were Joh. 8. 42. your Father you would love me And if God be not their Father they are questionlesse the devils children children of the curse How open and expresse are the words of the Apostle to this purpose If any man love not the Lord Jesus let 1 Cor. 16. 22. him be Anathema Maran-atha The heavy and lasting maledictions of God hang over the heads of all them who love not Christ This is the great severity of God against such who are not friends unto Christ and that the righteousnesse of his Majesty herein may be manifested I wish that this may be minded viz. that unfriendliness to the Lord Jesus in Gospel-times wherein his excellencies deservings are so fully laid open doth proceed either from 1. Infidelity Or 2. Contumacy Either people hearing from Scripture of Christs loveliness do give God the lie to his face by not believing him or else their disregard of Christ ariseth from malignity and stubbornnesse of will though they yield to the report of his incomparable worth And 1 Joh. 5. 10. Non à câ—citate mentis sed Ã
pravitatecordis Aug. both these are daring and God-incensing provocations Now if any shall be awakened by these flashes of Gods anger to enquire Who are to be judged persons void of love to Jesus Christ I shall referre them for satisfaction to Christs own words both the parable and his exposition of it The Parable is this The Citizens hated him and sent a message after him saying We will not have this man to reigne Luke 19 14. over us And the Application made is thus expressed Those mine enemies which would not that I should raigne over them bring them hither and slay them before me Therefore all such vers 27. are proclaimed Christs enemies Christ-haters even by Christ himself who refuse to submit unto him as their Lord and King It s no uncharitablenesse but judgment according to the Word of truth to determine those to be no friends unto Christ whose resolutions are rather to order their lives according to customs humane traditions their own humours and the practices of the multitude then according to the commands and counsels of Christ Vse 2 It much concernes us all to examine our friendship unto Christ To quicken this search these things are considerable 1. Because many professe much love outwardly whose hearts affect him not unfainedly As David describeth some counterfeit Courtiers whose words were soft like oyle when there were drawn swords in their bosomes Never was Christ more in mens mouths with smooth language then Psal 55. 21. now when their lives speak treachery against him Thus Judas calleth him Master and giveth him a kisse yet was no friend Have I not chosen twelve saith Christ and yet John 6. 79. one is a devil What Sugered words did the devil use when he designed the ruine of Adam and of all his posterity 2. Because the comforts of the Gospel do appertain to them alone whose love is without dissimulation The Apostles benediction was this Grace be with all them who Eph. 6. 14. love our Lord Jesus in sincerity The rich priviledges of grace are appropriated unto Christs cordial friend 3. Because Christ whose eyes are like unto flames of Rev. 1. 14. fire doth discern clearly all them that are false friends though they pretend fair We read of many who beleeved John 2. 23 24 25. when they saw his miracles but Jesus did not commit himselfe unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man 4 Because we cannot tell how soon we shall be called to the scrutiny The Lord may be awakening our consciences and setting them as upon a rack propound that question unto us which he asked Peter once and again and the third time Lovest thou me But though he should John 27. 15. not deal thus with us in our life time yet be sure we shall be examined upon our departure hence for after death Heb. 9 27. comes judgment infallibly Therefore it will be our wisdom in the ways of self-renuing to say as Job did When God visiteth Job â—â— 14. what shall I answer him 5. Because by serious self-reflections we may attaine such full assurance of our love unto Christ that we may with confidence speak with Peter Lord thou knowest all Joh. 21. 17. things thou knowest that I love thee Having thus moved the examination of your love to Christ I proceed to give in some discoveries of Christs loving friends and the rather because according to Gods institution we Ministers are set up amongst people to try Jer. 6. 29. their wayes And the characters of love being many I shall be the shorter in them all True it is that mens love burning in their bosoms they many times better expresse themselves Amor est inter ea quae melius sentiuntur quaÌ„ definiuntur by sense then Arguments yet God having in his word held forth manifold Signes of sincere love it is our duty to make our use of them 1. Love to Christ is alwayes accompanied with hatred of sinne Ye that love the Lord hate evil And the Apostle Psal 97. 10. his connexion is observable Let love be without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. abhorring that which is evil The ground hereof is manifold First because Christ hateth all sinne he Quomodo amas Christum cùm adhuc amas quod in tâ— odit Christus Berr. suffered death for sinne and is dishonoured by it Therefore it is not possible that love unto Christ and love unto sinne should peaceably lodge together in the same bosom 2 Love to Christ is attended with care to prevent whatsoever might be injurious or displeasing unto him Thus the loving Spouse layeth this command upon all under her Authority I charge you that you awake not my Beloved till be please In like manner Jonathans love pleadeth Cant. 3. with Saul for Davids life Let not the King sin against his servant against David wherefore wilt thou sin against innocent 1 Sam. 19. 4 5. blood to slay David without a cause And Jacobs Gen. 33. affections did project the preservation of his near relation from ruine Hence it appeareth therefore that people of Gallio his temper do not love Christ who care not Acts 18. 17. what wrongs are done to Christ in the liberty or purity of his Ordinances and comfort of his servants if themselves can sleep warm in their own well-feathered nests 3. Love to Christ discovered it self by solicitous enquiries after the minde of Christ fearing least through mistakes he might be provoked How inquisitive were his Apostles to know his pleasure in all particulars relating Mat. 26. 17. to the Passeover The Disciples came unto Jesus saying Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passeover And how tâ—morous was Abraham Gods friend lest he might Cen. 18. Res est soliciti plena timoâ—is amor by overmuch boldnesse incense him when he was mediating for Sodom Shall they therefore be accounted friends to Christ who walk at all adventures without any fears of his frown or enquiries after his will 4. Love causeth flowings forth of thoughts upon its object The beatings of the pulse are according to the heat in the heart In the Song of Loves this is the first Psal 45. 1. clause My heart is inditing of a good matter I speak of the things which I have made concerning the King Sparks do not more naturally arise out of a flaming furnace then musings upon Christ from the soule which is fired with loves towards him With how much intention frequency Amor meus est pondus meum and steddinesse do people think upon the persons and things which are greatly loved This consideration therfore casts them off as no friends to Christ of whom it may be Psal 10. 4. truly said in respect of diligent meditation The Lord is not in all their thoughts 5. Longings after Christ together with satisfactions
most truly be applied unto our loving friend Christ Jesus This the Text suggesteth for Christ did not only love Lazarus while he lived but called him friend even now when he was dead Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Secondly the efficiency of his love is admirably comfortable to all such who enjoy it For first it worketh their deliverance from whasoever may be grievous and dangerous He loved us and washed us from our sins in his blood Rev. 1. 5. Gal. 3. 13. 1 Thes 1. 10. And hence follows deliverance from the curse of the Law and from the wrath to come Secondly it procureth whatsoever may be joyous unto a spiritual heart 1. He hath made us upon this account Kings and Priests unto God and his Father Rev. 1. 6. 2. He feedeth the soul plentifully by the dainties of sacred Ordinances Eat O my friends and drink yea drink Cant. 5. 1. abundantly O my beloved 3. This his love running through all providences maketh blessings the more sweet and supporteth the sinking soule under crosses As Hezekiah's recovery was the Isa 38. 17. Heb. 12. 5 6. more pleasant because God in love to his soul wrought it so the Apostle puts this as a prop under a fainting afflicted Christian that the Lord correcteth with paternal love 4. And his love will prepare his beloved for glory Christ loved the Church that he might sanctifie it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to Eph. 5. 26. himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it might be holy and without blemish If unto all these which I mentioned without enlargement we add the complacency which he taketh in all communications of his love it will be a great addition to their joy The Lord will rejoyce over thee he will rest in his love he will Zeph. 3. 17. joy over thee with singing God seemeth to take such content in his loving transactions them-ward as though he desired nothing more Let the friends of Jesus Christ feed and feast themselves with these expressions and provisions of his love Vse 2 How should the remembrance of such rare refreshings belonging to them who are the beloved friends of Christ quicken endeavours in all sorts to gain a share in his friendship To enforce this exhortation I will cast these few thoughts into your mindes 1. Whereas Solomon telleth us What every dayes experience also speaketh that many seek the Rulers favour Prov. 10. 6. 29. 26. 1 Tim. 6. 15. Mat. 28. 18. Prov. 8. 15 16. Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords the only potentate unto whom all authority in heaven and earth is committed by whom Kings reigne Princes rule and all the Judges of the earth 2. That it will be an high honour to be called Gods friend In holy story Hushai and Zabud have this title of 2 Sam. 15 27. 1 Kings 4. 5. respect put upon them that they were the kings friends And it will be for the everlasting credit of father Abraham that he is recorded in sacred pages to be the friend of God Isa 41. 8. 3. That Christ is and ever will be in favour with God to make and to maintaine our peace with his Majesty though we frequently and fearfully do provoke him every day The inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon made Blastus Acts 12. 20. the Kings chamberlaine their friend when Herod was highly displeased with them because their countrey was nourished by the Kings countrey And is not our dependance more upon God And do not we hourly give the Almighty great occasion to reject us yea to take up arms against us And is there any one either on earth or in heaven that can asswage Gods anger and procure his favour besides Jesus Christ Therefore should meanes be used to make him our friend 4. The people of God conceiving hope that Christ regardeth us they will be encouraged with the more affectionate confidence to pray for us in the times of our need As the sisters of Lazarus making addresse unto him in the behalf of their dear brother pleaded this Lord he whom thou Joh. 11. 3. lovest is sick 5. Hereby we shall be heartned with the more hope to apply our selves unto God by prayer for our selves Our Saviour suggesteth this in the parable of the man who goeth Luk. 11. 5. 6 9. at mid-night to his friend to borrow bread he applieth it to incourage prayer 6. Because all our creature-friends may either fall off by unfaithfulnesse or forsake us by death or be forced from us other wayes This the doleful complaints of sundry dear unto the Lord recorded in Scripture do declare My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore and my Psal 38. 11. and 88. 18. 1 King 16. 11. Luke 16. kinsmen stand aloof off Lover and friend thou hast put far from me and my acquaintance into darknesse Upon this consideration the humane prudence of the unjust Steward is commended in projecting to provide friends against the time of need How far our experience at this day speaketh our losse of creature-friends viz. of some by death and of others by an unfaithful deserting I forbear to speak But I do upon this consideration move your care to gaine the friendship of Christ who will love and live for ever Now if these arguments shall force resolutions in your bosoms to seek Christs love and thereupon means to attain it shall be enquired after I give these short directions 1. Accept of God and of Gospel-righteousnesse with him by a self-outing and a Christ-prizing faith The Scripture saith Abraham beleeved God and it was imputed Jam. 2. 23. unto him for righteousnesse and he was called the friend of God 2. Upon the serious consideration of his worthiness and hopeful expectations of happinesse by him labour to endear Christ unto your hearts Although our love to him doth not merit his love yet it will clearly make manifestation thereof unto our souls I love them saith he who love me Prov. 8. 17. 3. And as an expression of your love submit obediently unto his government studiously conforming unto all his commands This is his own promise which he will perform infallibly He that hath my Commandments and Joh. 14. 21. keepeth them he it is that loveth me and I will love him Vse 3 The third Use is to be directed unto them whom Christ embraceth as friends with love and they are to be perswaded unto real gratitude for his love The Disciple whom Christ loved having touched upon his incomparable love addeth this doxology To him be glory and Rom. 16. dominion for ever and ever Amen From whence might be noted 1. That the glory to be returned unto Christ for his love should not be verbal onely but real also expressed by subjection unto his dominion 2. That this obediential gratitude should not be confined to term of time
while he is abâ—ent are evidences of love unto him The Cant. 3. 5. Amor currit pâ—r desiderium Aug. loving Spouse shakes off sloth gets out of bed in the night and goeth abroad to seek him whom her soul loved Neither ease in a warm bed nor chamber comforts nor City-contentments could satisfie her Her Beloved she must have and her Beloved she will have for she is sick of love Love like the Load-stone is attractive and the needle touched with it will uncessantly move till it stand directly Northward In like manner will the heart which is well warmed with love to Christ this is its language Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none that I desire on earth Psal 73. 25. besides thee Give me Christ or I die 6. Contentation in the enjoyment of Christ doth demonstrate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 valdèacquiesco Amor quiescit per gaudium Aug. Ad Deâ—m apud quâ—m invenies summam tranquillitatem Vatabl. in Ps 116. 7. Cant. 8. 5. Cant. 1. 13. Phil. 3. 3. love Some note this from the Greek word which signifieth Love viz. that wherein the heart taketh rest When any thing cometh to its centre there it is quiet and still So it is with the heart which loveth God This was Davids meaning as some Expositors judge when he having expressed his love to God speaketh thus in an holy Soliloquy Return to thy rest O my soul This rest the loving Christian attaineth in Christ by complacency and dependency The Spouse leaneth resteth her selfe upon her Beloved and he for delight is a bundle of myrrhe between her breasts whereunto the words of the Apostle suit very well We have â—o confidence in the flesh but rejoyce in Christ Iesus For the soul which possesseth Christ and knoweth what it hath in having him will say I have enough I have all I need no more for in him all wants are either supplied or sanctified In him justifying grace will make up all defects in service And what is wanting in the streames of creature enjoyments is given in with more sweetnesse in the full fountain of his Al-sufficiency 7. Communication of secrets speaketh friendship Haman Esther 5. 10. 6. 13. doth unbosome himself to his friends by laying open unto them all his concernments both crosse and comfortable And Christ bids him who was dispossessed of a devil Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things God hath Mark 5. 19. done for thee We can put that into a friends bosom which we would not have blazed abroad in the world Thus Christs friends do tell him of all their troubles fears wants temptations lusts as also of their comforts receipts experiences upon all occasions they step unto him and he knoweth from them by prayer how things go with 1 Sam. 1. 15. Psal 103. 4. them whether by encouragement or discouragement in their course I here remember the speech of Sampsons wife when he concealed what she desired to know How canst thou say I love thee when thy heart is not with me And doubtless Judges 16 15. our estrangement from Christ in not laying open our selves upon all occasions before him doth more then intimate our unfriendliness 8. Readinesse to comply with Christs command will undeniably prove that we are his friends Our Lord is often upon this Argument You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you He that hath my Commandments John 15. 15. 14. 21 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and keepeth them he it is that loveth me If any man love me he will keep my words Thus Abraham made it manifest that he was Gods friend by being ready to offer up Isaac upon his call And the Apostle speaketh of the labour of love because love will not withdrw from any work wherein God seeth cause to imploy his friends The woman who Heb. 9. 10. loved Christ much will wash his feet and wipe them with the haire of her head This is the language of Love I Luke 7. 38. account no work too mean wherein I may serve Christ 9. Love is content to be at any cost for Christ Hearken unto the expressions of the loving Spouse At our gates Cant. 7. 13. are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee O my beloved And I would cause thee to Cant. 8. 2. drink of spiced wine and of the juyce of Pomgranates The best of all kinds and the best of the best is provided for Christ if he be Beloved She who loved much brought a Box of oyntment very costly In like manner whatever Luke 7. 37. with John 12. 1 2 Sam. 24. 24. duties Christs friends discharge or whatever Ordinances they frequent they are wont to say with David I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing They scorn to give him the chaff and bran when others eat the Kidneys of wheat To be warm and vigorous in creature communion and all a-mort chil and cold conversing with Christ is an abomination to Christs friends 10. Love is liberal and free not grudging any kindness laid forth for a friend This is the love of God saith the beloved 1 John 5. 3. Disciple that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous When the most is done and endured for Christ the soul saith How little have I either acted or suffered for Christ Oh that it had been more Oh that it had been more How little is all my service how small are all my disbursments for Christ When Iacob had passed two Apprentiships for Rachel under a sowre Uncle and churlish Master wherein he had been pinched with cold and parched with heat They seemed to him but a few days Gen. 29. 10. for the love he bare unto her And when Ionathan had stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to 1 Sam. 18. 3. David and his garments even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle we read not of any repinings afterward and the reason was because he loved him as his own soul Christs friends look upon him as deserving over and over againe infinitely more then they shall ever be able to requite and therefore are troubled that Christ hath had so little service never repenting that he hath received so much They know that God giveth liberally James 1. 5. and upbraideth not Worthy Doctor Sibs was wont to say Supposing a possibility of sorrow in heaven this would be the grief of the Saints there that they have done so little for Christ upon earth from whom they have received so much 11. Love maketh couragious for Christ Every one knoweth that St. Paul was Christs cordial friend which he expressed by his magnanimity I am ready not to be bound Acts 21. 13. Phil. 3. Discipulus plus amat
but extended unto eternity for ever and ever 3. And all Christians should heartily give in their assent and attestation hereto by annexing their Amen In the amplification of this perswasion I might call you back to the review both of the proof of this doctrine and of the qualities and efficiency of his love spoken unto in the first Use But that I may not tautologize by telling the same things again I wish you to meditate upon these particulars which will yet further commend Christs love and may call you forth in thankfulnesse for it 1. His love was primary to us and ours secundary succeeding it as the effect and consequence thereof we loved 1 Joh 4. 19. him because he loved us first If he had not fired our hearts with the flames of his love we should never have bestowed one spark of spiritual affection upon him 2. His love was free when there was much loathsomnesse and no lovelinesse at all in us When thou wast Ezek. 16. 5 6. 7 8. cast out in the open field to the loathing of thy person in the day that thou wast born And when I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thy blood when thou wast naked and bare Now when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of love 3. His love worketh him unto a familiar conversing with them which himself expresseth by feasting with them He brought me into the banqueting house and his banner over Cant. 1. 4. me was love I will sup with them and the shall sup with me Rev. 3. 20. and by acquainting them with himself I will manifest my Joh. 14 21. self unto them as also by revealing his secrets I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I Joh. 15. 15. have made known unto you As also by conjugal embracings His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth imbrace Cant. 2. 6. me Now if Christs beloved friends thankfully disposed towards him for his love shall demand how their gratitude should be really discovered I answer in the words of Solomon A man that hath friends must shew himselfe friendly Prov. 18. 24. which is done 1. By a cautious declining of whatsoever may be offensive unto him as the returning of evil for good is very sinful and a practise prejudicial to our selves so is it taken very unkindly by the Lord. Thus David complaineth of Achitophel and as some conceive Christ of Judas My friend that did eat of my bread hath lifted up his heel against Psal 41. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me As Caesar was most afflicted with the wound received from his own sons hands And thou my son too Therefore upon remembrance of Christs kindnesse learn to beat back temptations as Joseph did How then shall I do this wickednesse and sin against the Lord Gen. 39 9. 2. By an inseparable adherence unto Christ in dayes of deepest difficulty and danger The servant engaged to his Master by his favours is willing to have his eare bored that he may dwell with him for ever Ruth upon the receipt Exod. 21. 5 6. of lesse love a great deal from Naomi her mother in law taketh up this resolution Nothing shall part thee and me Ruth 1. 16. but death God forbid that ever we by our Apostacy should give Christ occasion to speak by way of reproach to us as Absalon did to Hushai deserting David as he apprehended Is this thy kindnesse to thy friend Why wentest 2 Sam. 16. 17. not thou with thy friend So be you sure that this one circumstance will gripe your hearts with great grief for your backslidings As Peter in this regard wept bitterly because he Mat. 26. 75. had denied and deserted Christ so good a Master so well deserving a friend 3. By unfained love unto all them who are the beloved friends of Christ This is the inference of Saint John from this consideration under discourse that therefore we ought to love one another and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren But of this more in the doctrine 1 Joh 4. 11. and 3. 16. following Doct. 2 That all Christs friends are mutually loving friends unto one another As Christ here saith not my friend but our friend Lazarus thereby intending to declare the friendship which was betwixt Lazarus and his Disciples as betwixt himself and Lazarus In the proof of this doctrine I will point at two particulars which I conceive this instance under hand may hint 1. That there is friendlinesse and love amongst all good Christians In this respect the Apostle Paul in his Eph. 1. 15. Epistle to the Ephesians joyneth their faith in Christ and Philem. 5. their love to all Saints And in his Epistle to Philemon he connexeth his love to Christ and his love to all Saints Yea our Saviour maketh this the livery whereby his servants may be distinguished from others By this shall Joh. 13 35. all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another 2. That there is a peculiarity of friendly respect in Christians unto Christs Ministers as here in Lazarus towards Christ his Apostles This is observable in the Letter sent from Jerusalem to Antioch wherein their expression of special love is recorded viz. Our beloved Barnabas Acts 15. 25. and Paul But I will not deal with the Doctrine in both these branches distinctly The handling of it more generally for brevity sake shall be alone undertaken And the Reasons of the point are foure Reason 1 1. Because of their relation both unto Christ and amongst themselves They stand related unto Christ as his subjects servants children Spouse Members which all will acknowledge and therefore needeth no proof And hence issueth love As David was ready to shew kindnesse to the house of Saul for Jonathans sake 2 Sam. 9. 1. And among themselves they are related many Pâ—ilemon 16. 1 Pet. 3. 8. aâ—d 2. 17. 1 Cor. 12. 25. wayes most nearly They are brethren and the brotherhood is to be loved And they are fellow-members and therefore to have mutual respect one to another Reason 2 2. Because of Christ his expresse command which is repeated and strengthened with his own example This 1 Joh. 4 21. command we have from him that he who loveth God loveth his brother also A new Commandment I give unto you John 13. 34. and 15. 12. That ye love one another as I have loved you that ye love one another And again This is my Commandment That ye love one another as I have loved you Reason 3 3. Because of the image of God engraven upon them 1 Joh. 5. 1. expressed by their holy conversation The Apostle John asserts this That every one who loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him Because the childe is the picture as it were of his
father therefore beloved for his fathers sake I here forbear to discover how Beleevers begotten again 1 Pet. 1. 3. Isa 9. 6. 1 Cor. 15. 49. by Christ as the everlasting Father do bear his image but this I propound as the reason of Christians mutual love As the inward affection of Titus was more abundant towards 2 Cor. 7. 15. the Corinthians whilest he remembred their obedience And as it 's reported of Beucer and Calvin that they loved all them in whom they could espy aliquid Christi any thing of Christ So doubtlesse it is with all others who are friends unto Christ Reas 4 Because of the habitation and operation of Gods Spirit in their hearts The Apostle Paul calleth this love Col. 1. 8. love in the Spirit And the Apostle Saint John discoursing of this Christian affection and consequently of Gods dwelling in us being thereby evidenced giveth in this as the confirmation of both Because he hath given us of his Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 12 13. This I place as the last Argument because it is the true reason which maketh all the former concluding For neither spiritual relation nor divine injunction nor Christs image upon the Christians soul could have any commanding influence to draw forth this holy love amongst Believers if God did not co-operate by the power of the holy Ghost Thus from the confirmation I proceed to the Application of the Doctrine which I shall make in four Uses viz. 1. Conviction 2. Examination 3. Comfort 4. Exhortation Vse 3 Hence two sorts of persons are cashier'd as people who are strangers to friendly fellowship with Jesus Christ First Such who are rather enemies then friends unto the people of God as their own consciences witnesse to themselves and their practices proclaim to the world this being their design and endeavour if they could effect it to ruinate them in their comforts and lives altogether They have said in their desires though not with their lips Come let us cut them off from being a Nation that the Psal 83. 4. name of Israel may be no more in remembrance Whatsoever shew of love unto Christ these persons make among men doubtlesse they are adversaries to him as sundry passages surrounding the last quotation do clearly express Keep not Psal 83. 1 2 5. thou silence O God hold not thy peace and be not still O God Lo thine enemies make a tumult and they that hate thee have lift up the head they are confederate against thee As 2 Sam. 3 17. Joab took Abner aside to speak peaceably but smote him under the fifth rib that he died So these though they smile upon Christs face with a salute yet they stab his body or as one wittily expresseth it they kisse the mouth and tread upon the toes Such unfriendlinesse to godly Christians 1. Argueth an unregenerate estate The upright in his Prov. 29. 27. way is an abomination to the wicked And he that loveth not those who are like God is one of the children of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 10. 2. And is not consistent with meetnesse to be made partakers Col. 1. 1â— of the inheritance of Saints in light For it is not a heaven but a hell rather to be confined to the company of 1 Joh. 3. 14 15. such as are hated He that loveth not his brother abideth in death c. As this doctrine falls thus heavy upon all those who are enemies rather then friends unto ordinary Christians so upon such especially who are professed adversaries to the Ministers of Christ You know how the holy Ghost doth stigmatize Ahab who hated Michaiah that he was a man who sold himself to do wickedness whereas unto true Gospel 1 Kings 21. Rom. 10. 15. Beleevers the very feet of them are beautiful who bring the glad tidings of peace Secondly those much more are by this doctrine set aside as no friends to Christ who are Boutefeuz and Incendiaries seeking to kindle coals of contentions and to increase the flames of discontent and animosities among the people of God This practice proveth them to be Factors for the Devil and exposeth them to the wrath of God It was an evil spirit that made division betwixt Abimelech and the men of Shechem The Devil is pictured with a cloven foot Judg. 9. 27. to signifie that it 's his work to cause and continue divisions in the world And those who sow those seeds of discord are Prov. 6. 16 19. reckoned by Solomon among them whom the Lord hateth and who are an abomination unto him Vse 2 From this open Conviction I proceed unto Examination because there are many who upon trial will not be found real friends unto Gods people though they be not such notorious opposites as were described in the former Use Therefore take those discoveries of them who are right in their loves to real Christians First from the object of love viz. Sanctifâ—ing grace There are many lovely qualifications in Gods faithful servants Mark 6. 20. which an ingenuous moral man may value as Herod reverenced John the Baptist but it 's holiness which is the loadstone to draw the love of the regenerate Christian Because Saints therefore excellent in a gracious eye And hence Psal 16. 2. Eph. 1. 15. 2 Cor. 7 15. followeth universality of Love to all such and the abounding of respect according to the increase of Grace Secondly from the qualities of his friendship It is accompanied 1. With an honourable estimation of them The heirs of heaven do honour such who sear the Lord. Psal 15. 4. Psal 16. 2. 2. And with complacency All my delight saith David is in them Thirdly from the Effects of this love viz. 1. Readiness to perform real offices for their comfort Thus S. Paul proved the sincerity of the Corinthians love by 2 Cor. 8. 8 24. their contribution for the relief of poore Saints 2. And compassionate sympathies when they are in trouble To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his Job 6. 14. friend By this David did demonstrate his real respects unto some who ill deserved them When they were sick my cloathing Psal 35. 13 14. was sackcloth I behaved my self as thoâ—gh he had been my friend These short hints I leave to your amplification and faithful application that your selves may understand whether your love unto godly Christians be such as will evidence your regenerate estate Vse 3 The third Use is for the comfort of all them who can in this grace of Christian love and friendship approve their sincerity unto God not doubting but that Christ himselfe will give the like testimony unto them herein as he did unto Lazarus in the Text. Our friend For 1. It is no small priviledge to partake in the love of all heavens favourites and this love is mutual Those who are cordial friends to Christians are cordially beloved by Christians which is a matter of much joy to
give out their shine and their light make a profitable use of them to Gods honour and your own souls welfare Vse 6. Therefore I hence exhort all the friends of Christ to prepare themselves for death and to maintaine upon their Spirits a prepared posture for natures dissolution Although I know that they being united unto Christ and reconciled to God through him they Rev. 14. 13. shall undoubtedly whensoever they die be translated from earth to heaven yet there is something more to Luke 16. 22. be minded by Christians that they may be ready to die How much might be comprized in Jobs expression All Job 14. 14. the dayes of mine appointed time will I wait until my change shall come I shall not undertake to discover but I desire to leave these foure words of advice in the bosomes of Christians in tendency unto their preparation for death 1. Seek well grounded assurance of your interest in Christ and of undoubted title unto heaven through him This foundation being laid Paul could triumph over death Oh death where is thy sting thanks be to 1 Cor. 15 55. God who hath given us victory through Jesus Christ And Simeon could sing when ready to die Now lettest thou thy Luk. 2. 19 30. servant depart in peace For mine eyes have seen thy salvation Whereas there are sad shiverings upon some gracious hearts when death looketh in at the windows because they question their admission into heaven upon natures dissolution 2. Take heed of all scandalous sinnes sinnes against conscience the commission whereof may blemish Religion and lie as blocks of offence in the wayes of others It is conceived by some Divines that in this regard Saint Paul died with the more confidence because after his conversion he was no way scandalous I have fought the 2 Tim. 4. 7. 8. good fight and I have kept the faith and henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousnesse Whereas Peter having dishonoured Christ disgraced his profession wounded his own conscience and prejudiced others how farre we know not by his fearful threefold denial was so full of perplexity that Christ saw cause before Joh. 21. 15 19 the foretelling of his death to confirme his heart in helping on the discovery of his sincere love notwithstanding that sad offensive Apostacy Broken bones though knit will ake towards change of weather And the remembrance of scandalous miscariages may occasion anguish in the bosomes of dying Saints 3. Settle your outward estate and concernments according to divine prudence and holy principles remembring that you must be accountable unto the Lord whose stewards you are how you dispose of the things of this life Luke 16. 2. with which he hath entrusted you This was Gods own advice unto Hezekiah Thus saith the Lord set thine house i◠Esay 38. 1. order for thou shalt die Many good people deare unto God upon this neglect are lesse comfortable to themselves and lesse serviceabl◠unto others upon their death-beds because they suspe◠the many sad consequences of their not endeavouring t◠prevent sinne and trouble by an orderly setling of all the◠earthly enjoyments 4. Leave with gracious gravity and seriousnesse charges Appropinquante morte multò es divinior and convictions upon the consciences of your nearest relations that Christ heaven and their immortal soules may be principally cared for Warne your friends to beware of the sinnes of the times and of their own inclinations Communicate your experiences for future profit prudently Here I might expatiate upon the examples of Jacob blessing Gen. 49. Deut. 31. 2. 32. 33. Josh 23. 1 2. 24. 1. Joh. 13. 1. 14. 15. 16. 17. his sonnes when on his death-bed of Moses and of Joshua their plaine dealing with Israel when ready to die yea and of Christ himself But I am necessitated to abbreviate these things with this hearty request that my friendly faithfull counsell in these things may not be forgotten And do not I pray you do not deferre these things for death may steale upon you suddenly unexpectedly as a man falls asleep sometimes when he thought not of it This lets in the next point Doct. 2. That Christs friends by death do fall asleep The Protomartyr Stephen his death is thus expressed He Act. 7 60. 1 Co◠15. 16 18 20 51. fell asleep And the Apostle Paul doth often in the fifteenth Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians attest this truth This sleep is not to be applied unto the soule after its Eccles 12. 7. Luke 23. 43. Phil. 1. 23. Heb. 12. 23. departure from the body as some fondly dreame for it goeth to God immediately forth-with enjoyeth fellowship with Christ and becometh perfect But it belongs to the dead body laid in the grave which in this regard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Calamy his Sermon upon Acts 7. 60. is called a sleeping place I shall not dilate upon the resemblance betwixt death and sleep which is fully done by others But I will only touch upon two things which are here intended 1. Death is a sleep unto the godly because thereby they are laid to rest There is a Verse 13. taking of rest by sleep They shall rest in their beds saith the Prophet speaking of the death of righteous ones And Isa 57. 2. they rest from their labours so saith the Spirit who die in the Lord. 2. Because their bodies shall be raised as Rev. 14. 15. men are awakened out of sleep This is expressed in the words which immediately follow the Text Our friend Lazarus sleepeth but I go that I may awake him out of sleep And the Apostle Paul is much upon this Metaphor Cor. 15. in that place where he undertaketh to prove the Resurrection Vse 1. Therefore true beleevers real Saints should not be afraid to die I grant that death unto nature is the King of feares and it hath its poisonous sting with which it will wound the wicked whom it doth usher into hell This with many other useful truths relating unto death is admirably Dr. Tuckney his Sermons upon 1. Cor. 15. 55. laid open of late by a worthy servant of Christ and it would be a digression if I should undertake that discovery But I only move Gods people to arme themselves against the sinking feare of death because unto them it is no worse then falling asleep And indeed there is great need of this counsel among Gods own servants every where who like foolish children are afraid to put off their cloathes and go to bed in a dark chamber As Baxter in his Saints everlasting rest Herein the forementioned Authour and others have administred much good help in which regard I may be silent Vse 2. Neither let us mourne immoderately because of the death of our Christian friends seeing they are only fallen asleep When our Saviour had spoken the Verse 12. words of the
Text Then said his Disciples If he sleep he shall do well And by the argument the Apostle seeks to prevaile with the Thessalonians that they might not mourne excessively upon such occasion For those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him Then he addeth 1 Thes 4. 13 14 17 18. We shall be ever with the Lord wherefore comfort one another with these words Love moveth joy when our weak weary pained diseased friends are fallen into a sound sweet sleep This consideration therefore should cheere our drooping spirits in reference unto godly friends who died in the Lord. Let us minde this the rather because God who propoundeth this ground of comfort observeth both when we have need of this cordial and also what improvement we make thereof as it followeth in the next and last Doctrine which remaines to be handled Doct. 3. The Lord knoweth when his own and his Churches friends do fall asleep by death As Christ though now at a bodily distance from Bethany the place of Lazarus his abode yet told his Disciples of his death Our friend Lazarus sleepeth As God spake this to Joshuah My Josh 1. 2. servant Moses is dead This truth may be concluded strongly by these arguments Reas 1. Because Christ hath the keys of death Rev. 1. 18. in keeping the soule cannot be let out of the body without his leave And he knoweth all his own grants Reas 2. Because he also hath power in heaven keeping as it were the gate hereof into which none can enter without his allowance This is manifest by his promise to the penitent thief This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Therefore he exactly observeth when any persons or person Luke 23. 43. hath admission thither Vse 1. Hence the deity of Christ may be proved undeniably for though there be thousands dying hourely in the several places of the world yet Christ knows particularly 1. Both their qualification whether his friends and his Churches friends or no. 2. And the time when every one of them giveth up the ghost As the instance under discourse doth evince 1. He understood infallibly that Lazarus was a faithful friend both unto himselfe and his servants Our friend Lazarus 2. And though he was not corporeally present with Lazarus in the place where he died yet he knew without any creature-intelligence that now he was fallen asleep by death Vse 2. This truth speaketh manifold comforts unto Gods children For 1. This hints his respect to them Precious in Psal 116. 15. â— the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints He will not suffer any of them to lose life without his special observation thereof together with causes and concomitants therein considerable 2. It suggests his care of every soule when it removeth out of the body the place of its habitation it shall not miscary or be lost through Christs regardlessenesse Though thousands of devils may watch to intercept the soule yet Christ who observeth when it leaveth the body will undoubtedly according to his charge and promise secure its Passages to glory This is a Cordial to the poorest Christian for there is no respect of persons with the Lord. It came to passe that the beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Luk. 16. 22. Abrahams bosome And 3. It may relieve the sad hearts of godly ones mourning for their losse in the death of their dear Christian friends for their God and Saviour is quickly and fully acquainted with this their affliction he saw when our beloved relations breathed out their last gasp Questionlesse it cheered Hagar when she understood that God took notice when the bottle was empty and heard the cry of Ishmael because he wanted water And you may be Gen. 21. 16 17. confident that Christ who understands when your Parents your Pastors your yoakfellows your friends die he doth also consider what counsel what comfort what supports what supplies what encouragements you be deprived of by meanes of their death Is not this a choice Cordial to Gods children that their heavenly Father knoweth they need such things Mat. 6. 32. Vse 3. Lastly this Doctrine yields matter of seasonable and needful admonition Therefore upon the death of Gods servants we should seek after such dispositions as may be pleasing unto his Majesty who observeth together with such providences how we are affected therewith Here then I would advise two particulars wherein I intreat the Lord to make us serious 1. To be rightly affected with such like dispensations laying to heart the publick losse sustained when the friends of Christ and his servants are taken away by death The Lord observeth and complaineth when people do not herein answer his expectation The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart And our love unto Esay 57. 1. the publick together with the consideration of the great use of such persons would help forward our humiliation in such cases You heard before that they are friends to Christ and much befriended by Christ yea that they are lovers of the cause and people of God Now is not the death of such to be bewailed When Elijah went up by a whirlewinde to heaven Elisha 2 King 1. 11 12 saw it and he cryed My father my father the Charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof And when Elisha was 2 Kin. 13. 11 14 sick Joash though not a good man wept over him and said Oh my father my father the Charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof Because they beleeved that the publick safety depended much upon the interest of godly men in God therefore their death was thus lamented And truly such friends of God are the chief stakes in the hedge and maine pillars in the building both of Church and Common-wealth Therefore in such cases it may well become us to imitate the devout men who Acts 8. 2. carryed Stephen to his grave and made great lamentation for him 2. To imitate the deceased Saints in their graces and holy conversation we should lay their lives as so many faire copies before our eyes and labour to write after them by consciencious imitation The Apostle having given in a catalogue of Old-Testament-beleevers who in their several places and ages did worthily he earnestly perswadeth Christians to be followers of them And Heb. 11. compared with Heb. 12. 1. seeing God hath given us to behold the beauty of holinesse and the power of godlinesse in their courses it will much aggravate our sinne if we labour not to be like them This leadeth me to that which you all look for viz to spread before you the exemplary life of Master Jeremiah Whitaker the late Pastor of this place whose Funeral hath occasioned this great Assembly and my Sermon in reference unto whom that I may speak unto your edification I will with the change of one word only undertake my Text again Our friend Whitaker sleepeth And truly I am very confident
viz. 1. Because of the graces with which he was enriched 2. Because of the Comforts with which he was refreshed As for the first Love-tokens are real messengers of his love who sendeth them and what surer signes of divine love then the graces of the holy Ghost Now of these the Lord had given him in measure more then ordinary That which was hinted before in his love to the Lord Jesus expressed by laborious couragious endeavours to advance his praise and to continue communion with him doth manifest that he was very rich in Grace but thereunto I will add five more graces which were very shining in his crown 1. Tendernesse of heart Who ever knew man of a more melting frame before God whether in confessions petitions or thanksgivings Is there any one living that can say I have sometimes joyned with him in Prayer and he shed no teares How did his own sinfulnesse though no more then the ordinary imperfections of the fairest Saints on earth the evils of the times and the testimonies of Gods displeasure breaking out break his heart into pieces Truly I beleeve that for the space of many years he did never come off from the serious consideration of these things with dry eyes And how many thousands would account it a signe of much love from Christ if they could finde such thawings in their frozen breasts 2. Meeknesse of spirit With this precious Jewel he was adorned richly Who ever saw him transported by passion on a fire through foolish anger or disguised by discontent Though he would be warm for God yet he was a man of a cool spirit meek like Moses in all his own concernments Among many other manifestations hereof this one was remarkable that when upon warm disputes with men of dissenting principles and opinions his spirit was so even that unhansome provocations would not discompose him Hereof I could give instances but I must forbear 3. For Patience he may well be called a second Job Many who saw him under his racking pains so frequently reiterated and so long continued are confident that God did put him and keep him in his furnace to be a pattern of patience unto posterity It 's true he did roar many times till his throat was dry but who ever heard him speak one word of murmuring or discontent because of Gods afflicting providence He himself indeed would sometimes through tendernesse charge himself of impatiency because he made a noise whereas that expressed only Natures sensiblenesse not sinful frowardness And when accusing himself in that kinde causelesly he was minded of Christs roarings though free from all sin he would be silent I confesse that in desires to be dissolved he would take up Jobs complaint Wherfore is light given to him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in soul Which long for death but it cometh not and dig for it more then for hid treasures c. for my sighing cometh before I eat and my roarings are poured out like waters Job 3. 20 24. But he always concluded with submission unto the good pleasure of God When he had been asked how he did this was frequently his answer The bush alwayes burning but not consumed and though my paines be above the strength of nature yet they are not above the supports of grace 4. The Lord gave him so much of the Spirit of grace and supplications that his soul was never out of tune for that service Most of his words when under torment were holy complaints and prayers to God some of them I will record that they may not be forgotten O my God help Father of mercies pity Do not contend for ever consider my frame that I am but dust My God that hath made heaven and earth help me O give me patience and inflict what thou wilt If my patience was more my pain would be lesse Dear Saviour where are thy bowels Why doest thou make me an astonishment to my self and others Why doest thou cover thy self with a thick cloud that our prayers cannot passe Blessed is the man that endureth temptation Lord this is a sad temptation stand by me and say It is enough Am I not thy servant Consider Lord that I am thy servant O these bitter waters of Marah Lord drop sweet comfort into these bitter waters of Marah O the blood of sprinkling Lord Lord the blood of sprinkling That blood which extinguisheth the fire of thine anger O that it might allay my burning pains I am in a fiery furnace Lord be with me as thou wast with the three children bring me out refined from sinne When I have sailed through the Ocean of these paines and look back I see none of these can be wanting I flie unto thee O God hide me under the shadow of thy wings till these terrible storms be over-past 5. God added Humility as a crown to all his other Graces which did shine very bright in the eyes of all who were acquainted with him Hence it was that he would converse familiarly with the poorest Christians and with them who were of low parts for knowledge This his ordinary expression of himself before God spake loud Poor worm sinful wretch O pardon my transgressions for they are very great Hereupon he would weep much when he was told how much he was prayed for wondering at Gods goodnesse that so worthless a wretch should have so much interest in the hearts and prayers of the people of the Lord. And his language in his Will reports how little he was in his own eyes The words are there I desire that at my Funeral there may be no pomp but that so poore a worthlesse wretch may be privately laid in the ground Thus from the rare Graces received I proceed to the rich Comforts vouchsafed as manifestations of Christs singular love towards this Saint of the most High God O what kisses of Christs mouth and what embraces from the arms of his love were bestowed upon this man of God! He enjoyed all along his afflâ—cted condition an uninterrupted assurance of Gods fatherly love in Christ In his addresses to God he constantly claimed propriety My God and my Father His inward peace and joy were the support of his heart under all his gâ—inding paines He was confident of mercies mixtures with all his grievous distempers not at all doubting of the Sanctification of them through grace Thus he spake many times in his Applications to God Consider and save me for I am thine How long Lord how long shall I not be remembred yea I am remembred blessed be thy Name This is a fiery chariot but it will carry me to heaven Blessed be God that hath supported me hitherto and he that hath delivered will deliver Thou Lord never forgettest them that put their trust in thee Alwayes when the extremity of pain was over he would with smiles speak of Gods mercies Though trembling took hold upon him when his violent paines began yet he would with confidence say Now in