speeches preserve love Iudg. 8.2 3. 6. Sometimes let us lay aside our authority and use entreaty to preserve love The Epistle to Philemon the ninth verse Sect. 5 Fifthly Applications to edifie 1. TO admire the love of God 1 Iohn 3.1 both for the freenesse greatnesse and continuance we admire that we cannot comprehend such is the love of Christ Eph. 3.19 that it passes our knowledge 2. If God hath so loved us we ought to love him againe with all our heart and minde and strength Deut. 6.6 Matth. 22.37 3. Let us endeavour to preserve our love to the Lord. 1. Take heede we looke not on the worlds excellency too much and neglect divine meditations 2. If we will preserve our love we must preserve our acquaintance with him by daily prayer reading hearing Iob 22.21 3. Daily consider the worth of his love 't is better than life it selfe Psal 63.3 and of the effects of his love in giving his Sonne his Spirit his Graces his Promises his consolations this world and the next world this will revive our love to him 4. 'T is great impiety to decline in love to God wee make as if he were not so amiable and love-worthy as once we thought him or that we have found something that deserves our affection more than himselfe If we preserve our love to God we preserve our assurance of his love to us we preserve our strength to performe duties to beare crosses we preserve in our selves a fitnesse to live and a promptnesse to dye preserve this and it will preserve us Fourthly concerning love to men 1. Let us thinke of things that pertaine to love such thoughts are both comfortable and profitable Phil. 4.8 2. Pursue love follow after it as men that hunt doe pursue the hare let us follow hard to catch it not to kill it but enjoy it 1. Cor. 14.1 3. Let our trading and imployments all our businesse and affaires be done in love 1 Cor. 16.14 4. Let us endeavour to be sound in love Tit. 2.2 This duty is 1. Commanded 1. Iohn 3.23 2. Commended 1. Cor. 13.13 3. Approved Rev. 2.19 4. Rewarded Heb. 6.10 And our love should be thus ordered 1. To love God above all as the supreame and chiefe good 2. To love our owne soules next as being more worth than all the world Matth. 16.6 3. To love my neighbours soule for that may partake of God after that manner the body is not capable but by participation with the soule 4. To love my owne body above all other mens 5. The bodies of my brethren among them 1. Those which are most godly 2. Those that are of my owne nation Gal. 6.13 Psalme 122.8 3. Those that are my kindred 4. Especially those of my family 1. Tim. 5.8 5. Above all my wife Gen. 2.24 Sect. 6 Sixthly Questions resolved Quest 1 WHat is the love we owe to wicked and ungodly men Answ A love of compassion but not of approbation Quest 2 May we love our selves We may Answ for wee are to love our neighbour as our selves our selves must be the patterne to love our neighbour by we must love our bodies and nourish them Ephes 5.29 And we must love our soules and labour to save them Acts 16.30 Matth. 16.26 Quest 3 What love owe wee to the children of God that are dead Answ 1. Honourable buriall Acts 8.2 2. Moderate mourning Iohn 11.33 3. Râ—spect to their posterity as David to Ionathan 2. Sam. 9.45 4 To speake of their good workes Acts 9.39 Quest 4 How come Christians to lose their first love Rev. 2.4 Answ 1. They minde new things rather than true things Losse of love to God 2. They take too much worldly contentment 3. They neglect the meanes of grace as reading hearing and prayer 4. They change their company for them that are lesse zealous 5. They looke on the graces of others with envy or discouragement Quest 5 Why is the love of many growne so cold Answ 1. Because in some it was never hot 2. Because they see men perfidious unjust Apostates so abhorre them 3. Some looke onely on the evils of men not their good parts 4. They finde arguments to coole their love but none to kindle it Quest 6 Must wee so love Christ as to hate Father and Mother Luke 14.26 Answ 1. Our love should be so large to Christ that our love to any other creature should seeme hatred to it 2. They should see us so slight them in opposition to Christ that they should thinke we hate them 3. Though we honour and love them simply yet we are to hate them comparatively Quest 7 What is the love we owe to our Reverend Preachers Answ 1. A love of Reverence as they are Embassadors 2. Cor. 5.19 20. 2. A love of maintenance as they are painefull 3. A love of attention as they are teachers 4. A love to stand for them as they are opposed by hereticks and profane men 5. A love of piety to pray for them Colos 4.3 6. A love of courtesie if wee be able to invite them home Acts 16.15 7. A love of complacency to delight in them as the excellent ones Psal 16.3 1. Excellent in their function being the Lords Tribe 2. Excellent in their gifts of holinesse and learning 3. Excellent in their imployment the saving of soules 1. Tim. 4.16 4. Excellent in their reward a great reward Mat. 10.41 Quest 8 How shall we preserve love where we differ in judgement and opinion Answ If we agree in the foundation 1. Observe how godly Ministers doe agree follow them some differ in judgement yet walke in love 2. Let us looke on the good we see one in another 4. If we meete let us conferre of those things wherein we doe not differ 5. Let us pray one for another so love may be preserved Quest 9 How may I gaine more love and grow therein 1. Answ Get the strongest apprehension wee can of Gods love to us in Iesus Christ 2. Looke on the good that wee see in our brethren ponder their vertues cover their infirmities 3. Labour to feele the comfort of love Phil. 2.1 How doth love sweeten our pilgrimage To meete and conferre in love to comfort one another in love makes our presence acceptable it adornes our profession and Religion aboundantly Of Patience 1. What Patience is 2. Of the patience of God 3. Of the patience of man 4. Application to edifie 5. Questions resolved Sect. 1 First What Patience is THE word signifies sufferance or forbearance In patience are three things First a promptnesse or readinesse to beare Secondly the act of patience in bearing Thirdly the duration which is called long-suffering Sect. 2 Secondly Of the patience of God THE patience of God is his slownesse to anger his sparing of sinners and giving them space to repent Rom. 2.4 There is patience and long suffering which flowes from his goodnesse Men dayly doe provoke God yet he forbeares 1. Because he would bring
Ahab hated Michaiah because he reproved him so the Dove hates the Hawke and the Lambe the wolfe because they know them their enemies and come to devoure 3. There is hatred of enmity when we hate the evill and the party wishing him punishment or death so evill men doe hate superiors punishing And there is an hatred of abhomination when wee loving our selves or others hate those evils of sinne or punishment that may be hurtfull to us or them 4. As there is a distinction in persons or causes so in things as 1. Envy and hatred differ in the kind hatred is in a kind in other creatures envy is onely humane 2 Envy arises from some good befalne to our enemy hatred from some ill he doth to us 3. We hate Toads and Serpents but envy not beasts for strength swiftnesse or beauty onely we envy men 4. Some hatred is lawfull but no envy is lawfull So there is a difference betweene hatred and anger 1. Hatred reaches to many but anger to few most usually Anger the older it growes the weaker it is but hatred the older it growes the stronger it is 3. The angry man would have the party hee is angry with to know he is angry but he that hates conceales his hatred often times 4. Anger ceases if we see misery with submission but hatred is often cruell and brutish and unsatisfied unlesse it see the ruine of the party 5. Anger is more painefull for the present because of vehemency but hatred is more quiet yet doth watch an opportunity There is a distinction of degrees there is dislike hatred and abhorring dislike breedes hatred and hatred growes to an abhorring to a deadly hate Sect. 3 Thirdly of Gods hating 1. WHom he hates 2. What he hates First whom he hates 1. He hates them that love sinne Psalme 11.5 2. He hates Lyars Psal 5.6 3. He hates the proud Prov. 16.5 4. Those that deale Hypocritically Isaiah 1. My soule hates your new Moones 6. Those which deale falsly under a pretence to give to God Isaiah 61.8 I hate robberie for burnt Offering Thirdly what God hates 1. He hates iniquity Psalme 45. 2. He hates the prayers of the wicked Proverbs 15. 3. He hates Idolatry Psalme 78.59 4. He hates false weights Prov. 11.1 Sect. 4 Fourthly Applications 1. THis shewes the misery of the wicked the hatred of God is their portion 2. This should stirre us up to doe the best we can to worke our affections to hate sinne and abhorre it 1. Because 't is that dishonours God Rom. 2.23 2. 'T is painfull and grievous Rom. 7.24 3. It separates betweene God and us Isaiah 59.2 4. It makes us captives Isaiah 61.1 5. Sinnes are our debts Matth. 6.12 6. They are our burthens Psal 40.12 7. They pollâ—te us 2. Cor. 7.1 8. They wound us Psal 41.4 And we should manifect our hatred 1. By being censorious of sinne 2. To shunne the places where it is committed 3. By contending with it seeking a divorce 4. By seeking the destruction of it 5. By rejoycing in the ruine and decay of it 6. By being irreconcileable with it Sect. 3 Fifthly Questions answered Quest 1 WHy doe wicked men hate God Answ 1. He curbes them by his law 2. He his contrary to them in his nature 3. They looke on him as a Judge that will puish them Quest 2 Why doe the wicked hate the godly Answ 1. God hath put an enmity betweene them 2. They serve severall Lords 3. They have severall dispositions 4. The Godly by vertue get the credit from them the difference of workes breedes hatred as in Caine and Abel 5. They are provoked by the divell to hate them Quest 3 What persons are hated among men in the world Answ 1. Those which are perfidious where they are betrusted 2. Those that prove Apostates from that they professed 3. Those which are busie-bodies and tale-carriers 4. Those which live idly 5. Those which make no conscience to pay their debts 6. Those which for private gaine doe spoyle a Common-wealth 7. Those which bring in innovations in Religion 8. Those which live basely having great meanes 9. Those which oppresse the poore and vexe the widow and fatherlesse 10. Those which take base courses to enrich themselves Quest 4 How may wee get our affections more vehement against sinne Answ 1. Study the nature of sinne more the danger and filthinesse of it 2. Looke on it in the effects in the end and conclusion 3. The more we love God the more we hate evill and abhorre it 4. Humble confessions of our sins with aggravation encreases hatred 5. Substract from the hatred of poverty of affliction and death and adde to the hatred of sinne Quest 5 How farre may we hate wicked men Answ 1. We must hate their sinnes not their persons 2. Hate them as they are Gods enemies not as they are our enemies 3. Our hatred must bee with hope of their conversion not with despaire 4. We must hate them as they dishonour God and would pollute us but not with a seeking their dâ—struction 5. So hate them as to pray for them not plot against them that are evill men amongst us Of Love 1. What Love is 2. Of Gods love 3. Of Mans love to God 4. Of Mans love to man 5. Applications to edifie 6. Questions resolved Sect. 1 First What Love is LOve is an affection of liking a well-wishing Love seekes union and desires to enjoy the object loved if it obtaines then there is a joy delight and complacency if the object of love be lost or separated then there is a sadnesse and discontent if there be hope of regaining then Love studies inquires labours and is industrious to have former enjoyment and possession Amor vincit omnia Love is a strong affection in us it labours and endures and forgives it will be victorious Sect. 2 Secondly Of Gods love GOds love is essentiall He infinitely loves himselfe his Sonne and Spirit and his love is extended to all his children 1 John 4.8 God is love hee not onely hath love but is love as it is said I am understanding Prov. 18.14 As the Sunne is light so God is love the Fountaine of love Farther consider foure things 1. The objects of his love 2. The liberty of his love 3. The extent of his love 4. The duration of it 1. The objects of Gods love The objects of Gods love are first Christ secondly the Elect. First Christ Isai 42.1 His soule delights in Christ Matth. 3.17 In him he is quieted well pleased he onely pleases him Secondly in Christ he loves the Elect Colos 3.12 They are beloved ones elect and beloved 2. The liberty of Gods love It is free no cause in us no cause out of himselfe Benevolentia Hosea 15.5 I will love them freely 3. The extent of his love It was large and great Iohn 3.16 So God loved the world 1. Iohn 3.1 Behold what love behold it with admiration with acclamation
with his bodily eyes 2. God is a Spirit Iohn 4.24 therefore invisible 3. If God were visible wee should see nothing but God for he fills Heaven and Earth Quest 3 Shall not our eyes see God in the life to come Iob saith With these eies I shal see him And Christ saith The pure in heart shall see God Math. 5. Answ Iob in Heaven with a glorified eye shall see Christ in his Humanity and the pure in heart shall see God with the eye of the body to satisfaction but with the eye of the minde more clearely in neither they shall comprehend his Essence in both they shall have a fulnesse of vision farre beyond that we can conceive in this life He that goes to the Sea may fill his vessell yet leave the Ocean behinde him We shall see so much as wee shall say we have enough our vision shall be so great that it is called the beatificall vision Quest 4 How is Christ married to his Church and yet they never saw each other on both sides Answ There is a consent of both parties Christ gives himselfe to be a Husband the Church gives her selfe to be his Spouse there is the Fathers consent and his giâ—t of her Iohn 17 24. on the Sonnes demand Psal 2.8 There is the pledge of our faith at Baptisme and the Lords Supper and he promises in the Covenant of Grace to bee our God there are reciprocall affections and the conjunction is reall yet spirituall As for sight hee sees us with his all-seeing view wee see him with the eye of faith Heb. 11.27 which sight of faith makes us to rejoyce 1. Pet. 1.8 Our joy proceeds from our Union without the which we had no sound consolation Quest 5 Were it not a great helpe to our devotion to have some Image before us because God is invisible Answ To have an Image of God to helpe our devotion is forbidden Deut. 4.23 2. It is unprofitable Isai 44.10 3. The Image drawes the minde downe for the minde doth much follow the eye 4. â—t is against Gods nature who is a Spirit 5. It is not possible to make an Image of God Object God made man in his image Answ The Image was Knowledge Colos 3.10 and Holinesse and Righteousnesse Ephes 4.24 That was the image not the Substance of the Soule for that is not lost but Gods Image was lost The soules of the wicked are without Gods Image till they be renewed So then the Image are divine qualities which Paâ—â—â—ers and Carvers know not how to cut out or draw Quest 6 Doe divels see each other and doe Angels see them Answ It is likely that they doe it is naturall for each species to know his like and â—ngels have combats with them Revel 12 therefore see each other Quest 7 Can the â—oule see an Angell or devill Answ Not in their owne Nature but in some similitude for their substance is spirituall and not obvious to the bodily eye Quest 8 How may we know when Sathan tempts us because we cannot see him how differ his tentations from our owne corruptions Answ 1. His temptations of that kinde are against the light of nature as that there is no God or that he is not gratious just and merciful c. 2. His temptations are to the ruine of nature as for a man to kill himselfe causelesly 3. The temptations come rushing suddenly our corruptions entice by degrees by mentall contemplation or outward objeâ—ts 4. He resists holy duties by injecting false reasonings in the minde tâ—at God is dreadfull we sinfull unworthy and shall have no assistance nor acceptance 5. He workes discomforts in the heart by hiding the consolations presenting judgements to the minde and threatnings to make us give over a godly course or walke heavily Quest 9 Cannot Sathan appeare visible Answ No not in his owne nature but he may by permission use some of the creatures as a Serpent to Eve or may use the foure Elements to forme and apparition as in the body of Samuel or rather the likenesse of Samuel or he can delude the sences as the Serpent cast downe before Pharaoh Moses Serpent was true the Magitians was but a delusion a deceiving of the sences Quest 7 May not the Heathen object against us Where is your God seeing he is invisible and cannot shew wee him We can answer them thus Answ 1. Their question comes from grosse ignorance 2. We can tell them where our God is He is in heaven Psalme 115.3 3. We retort to them where is your God if they can shew him to the eye he is no true God because he is visible and shall be perishing Ier. 10. Sect. 5 Fifthly Applications to edifie 1. TO praise God as for other excellencies so for his invisibility 1. Tim. 1.17 2. To learne to walke by faith as if wee saw him who is invisible Heb. 11.27 3. To remember him though we see him not to remember him with affection to love him though wee have not seene him and to rejoyce in him as we are beleevers 1. Pet. 1.8 4. Would we see the Invisible God then let us behold his invisible power and God-head in his workes Rom. 1.20 Would we see him hereafter then let us labour for pure hearts that we may be rewarded with the vision of God Matth. 5.8 5. Here is comfort against invisible enemies we have the invisible God and invisible Angels to helpe us wee have promises of invisible things to encourage us we shall have invisible rewards to recompence us 6. Let us minde more invisible things desire more invisible favours send vp invisible desires let the glory of all visible excellency be blasted and let us raise our mindes to things more excellent and invisible 7. Observe Gods workes they are invisible in operation but visible in manifestation they are hid and unseene in operation both the works of nature Eccle. 11.5 thou knâ—wst not the way of the spirit nor how the bones are fashioned in the wombe and the worke of grace Iohn 3.3 These workes done secretly are manifested in mans birth and regeneration If we will follow God let us strive to get the inward worke of grace to be wrought in the secret parts of our hearts and soules to bee inwardly adorned with humility and wisedome and heavenly mindednesse with love zeale patience and contentment Then outwardly to manifest the same by gracious speeches and good workes that the invisible graces of God may have a visible declaration among men thus shall wee resemble the invisible God as the drop doth the Ocean Of Wisedome 1. What Wisedome is 2. Of the wisedome of creatures 3. Of the wisedome of God 4. Applications to edifie 5. Questions answered Sect. 1 First What Wisedome is IT is the better perceived by comparing it with those vertues which are neare to it and like it as Knowledge Prudence and discretion Knowledge is to perceive to comprehend or see Scientia it is gained by the eye or eare or
afflictions allaied our hot tentations quenched Thus the word and raine are fitly compared together Quest 6 How were the hearbes and grasse and trees flourishing without the raine Answ 1. God is not tyed to secondary meanes he can give light without the Sunne and cause grasse and the hearbs to flourish without the raine 2. There was that which was equivalant to the raine Gen. 2.6 vapor ascenderat â— terra a mist * had not ascended from the earth but some read there was not a man to till the earth nor a mist had ascended from the earth then the first answer serves 3. The waters lately had covered the earth and it might yet be without raine Quest 4 What be the fruits a Christian brings forth on whose heart God hath rained gratiously Answ 1. To God he beares the fruits of prayer confidence remembrance love feare and subjection 2. To men he brings forth the fruits of justice and mercy and peace 3. To superiours he beares the fruits of reverence obedience and faithfulnesse 4. To his family his fruit is example and instruction and provision 5. To the godly a desire of them a delight in them a studying their good pleading for them 6. To the poore compassion counsell reliefe 7. To enemies meeknesse forgivenesse praier for them 8. To neighbours like affection kindnes †If it may be without sin sociablenes 9. To friends faithfulnesse gratitude requitall of favours regard to their posterity 10. The fruits concerning our owne good is 1. To be sound in faith and repentance 2. To increase in heavenly mindednesse 3. To get more assurance peace and joy In outward things 1. To use them as things which have no sufficiency eternity 2. To be diligent in the particular calling sufficiency eternity This is a high poynt 3. Out of earthly objects still to be winding the minde to holy things Quest 5 Is there any countrey where it raines not at all Answ The land of Egypt being under Zona Torrida hath no raine unlesse in the Northerne parts some small showers yet the Lord affoords them the river Nilus which waters their Land by the flowing thereof Aegyptus sola inter regiones hyemem ignorat Egypt alone of the regions knowes no winter there Israel sowed their seed and to water it with their feet * That is with their labour as Gen. 30.30 Sicut hâ—rtum olitorium as a garden of hearbes Deut. 11.10 Quest 6 What is the hoarie frost Answ It is the dew that falls in the night so being frozen it is called Canities for whitenesse pruina for coldnesse a hoary frost Psalm 147.16 compared to ashes for likenesse Quest 7 What is the cause of the haile Answ The vapour is carried to the highest place of the aire where the most extreme cold is the drops frozen fall in little round stones Quest 8 Seing there is no raine in Egypt how could it haile so much there Exod. 9.23 Answ It was supernaturall and miraculous 1. It was over all the land whereas it never rained over all the land before * Since Noah's flood 2. It was deadly to them in the field 3. It was mixt with fire yet the fire did not melt the haile-stones nor the hailestones quench the fire three elements were against the Egyptians the fire in the Lightning the thunder in the Aire the water in the Haile Quest 9 What is the naturall cause of the Snow Answ The vapour is exhaled in the lower part of the middle region of the aire not so high as the place of haile and having some heate blended with it that makes it spread so that it is too cold for raine and not high enough nor cold enough for haile it is more hard and dry then water and it falls downe without noyse if it come before a frost it preserves the blade from nipping off and nourisheth the hearbes and by heate it doth melt and descend to the rootes the Snow water is of a binding nature bad to drinke usually for it will cause a botch under the chin and benumbe the members and farther the stone in the bladder Quest 10 What is the commodity of the frost Answ 1. It striketh and forceth the Naturall heate to descend to the rootes 2. It kills the wormes which hurt the earth 3. It brings us store of wild fowle Quest 11 What is the reason such great drops of raine do sometimes fall Answ Then they are from the cloudes neere us the vapour is hot and moist and dissolved before the ascent be farre from us so it falles in some countries in great plashes with us in great drops The clouds doe part that were gathered together so are quickly dissolved usually it is heate comes with these great drops Quest 12 How are waters and afflictions alike the stormes and raine waters I meane 1. Waters come not out of the dust but from above so afflictions come out of the dust Iob 5.6 2. Waters fall on all alike Mat. 5.45 so afflictions come alike to all Ecles 9.2 3. Stormes for the present are grievous so are afflictions for the present Heb. 12.11 4. The showers doe wash not wound us so afflictions doe clense us not hurt us 5. When the storme is past the sunne-shine is welcome so is prosperity after afflictions so much of the Raine Of the Earth 1. Of the divers names given to the earth 2. Of the scituation and place of the earth 3. Of the fashion and forme of it 4. Of the nature and quality of it 5. Of the subsistence and dependance of it 6. Of the quantity and greatnesse of it 7. Of the riches and fruitfulnesse of it 8. Resolves concerning the earth Sect. 1 First Of the names given to the Earth 1. IT is called Terra earth Gen. 1.1 2. It is called Arida dry land Gen. 1.9 3. It is called Tellus earth or ground 4. It is called Humus moist earth the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used for earth with Terra Tellus Humus 5. When earth is spoken with heaven as in Psalm 124.8 then is it the whole globe of earth and waters The first time we doe read of earth is that it was Informis Inanis Without shape and empty a confused Chaos but after it is Arida dry land yet barren lastly at the word of God it doth bud and beare fruit I who am but earth in my naturall estate without beauty (a) Eze. 16.5 being empty of all good a Reflection and though separated from pagans by outward Baptisme yet I am barren in goodnesse O that God would say to me bring forth and increase and multiply in all saving graces then should I not be as the mountaines of Gilboa (b) 2. Sa. 1.21 nor be as one called barren (c) Luk. 2.36 but as a well watered garden (d) Isa 58.11 and as a field the Lord had blessed Gen. 27.27 Sect. 2 Secondly Of the scituation of the Earth IT is farre from heaven and
fire naturall and fire metaphoricall Sect. 2 Secondly of naturall or proper fire 1. Fire is hid and secret 2. Fire appeares alwaies with another thing 3. Fire is alwaies in motion and working 4. The fire it ascending upwards The effects of fire are in the third Section First it gives light Secondly it gives heat Thirdly it consumes Fourthly it changes Fifthly it purifies Againe fire Is not lessened by giving heat it is encreased by adding fuell it pierces by degrees it is never satisfied First fire is hid and secret We see the earth and water distinctly we feele the aire but the earth lyes hid it appeares not of it selfe we must take paines to get it and care to looke to it when we have it Considerations 1. How is naturall corruption like to fire it lies hid Little thought Hazael that there had beene that wickenes in his heart which after manifested it selfe 2. King 8.13 2. As the steele discovers the fire which lay hid in the flint so doe occasions bring forth the corruptions which like fire lay hid For example 1. A mans preferment discovers what was in his heart as we see in Saul and in Vzzia 2. Chron. 26. 2. Affliction discovers a mans heart Isai 8.21 Rev. 3. A mans praises discovers him Prov. 27.21.9.20 21. 4. Heresies discovers a mans corruptions that lay hid he yeeldes when the lovers of truth shew themselves approved ones 1. Cor. 11.19 Quos experientia docuerit esse fidei pietatis sincerae 3. So is grace hid and secret in the heart as faith and love and meeknesse and patience yea occasions manifests the same as Iosephs chastity appeared by his mistresse tentation and Davids loyalty when she cut off the lappe of his masters garment and would not kill him we come to know the good and evill that is in our selves and others by experience and occasions will declare what grace and what sinne is in us Secondly Fire appeares with another thing The sparke stayes not unlesse yee nourish it with tinder or touch-wood then Brimstone or wood or cole or paper or match or straw or turffe or some combustible thing must shew it preserve and continue it Considerations 1. How doth grace manifest it selfe with that it works withall like to the fire it comes from God and is kindled in the heart and then Grace is the fire and thoughts is as the fuell Grace is the fire and words is the fuell Grace appeares with duties of piety workes of righteousnesse and Mercy 2. That which appeares with the fire doth nourish it and continue it so Faith begets prayer and prayer nourishes Faith Ioy begets strength and strength preserves Ioy dilligence it breeds assurance and assurance nourishes dilligence faith begets works and works confirme Faith patience comes from hope and hope prolongs patience as fire breeds ashes and ashes preserves fire 3. So sin appeares as fire in the fuell Jgnorance appeares in pride and pride will not be informed but be ignorant still Thirdly Fire is alwayes in motion ever working like the clock wound up and pulses which alwayes beate the fire ever goes forward working on the fuell to turne it into his owne nature Consideration So is Grace ever operative turning the subject where it is to his owne nature it ever provokes a man to read or pray or fast or worke or exhort or comfort others or reconcile them at oddes A man that hath Grace is never idle he is a busie Creature in his generall calling or his perticular or both hee will endeauour to spread truth and oppose errour and mortifie sinne in himselfe and stop sinne and bewaile it in others he is alwayes in action much in devotion 2. Sinne in the unregenerate is as fire ever in motion In their beds they imagine mischeife being risen they acte it they are resolved to do evill and act sin with a great delight Pharaoh was a plotter against Gods people and Saul breathed out threats and procures letters and takes a journy men will break their sleepe and be at cost and unwearied and unsatisfied in the service of sin In the fourth place Fire ascends upwards it being his natural motion and disposition so it ascends 1. Speedily as soone as t is kindled 2. Strongly because naturall motion is strong 3. Constantly naturall motions are constant 4. Easily without compulsion 5. If the flame be beaten down or kept down it breaks upward assoone as that is remooved that held it down and strives all the time t is opposed and kept downe Considerations 1. What fit resemblance is between fire and true grace Fire the naturall motion is upward so Grace makes the Soule ascend upward to seeke the things aboue Col. 3.1 and to make our Minds heavenly Phil. 3.20 2. Fire hath a strong motion upward so grace carries the soule to God with strength Psal 42.2 the soule thirsteth for God and thirst is the strongest passion In Act. 17.16 St. Pauls spirit was stirred for God non poterat sustinere he could not forbeare so grace stirres the heart upward to minde things above it makes men spiritu ferventes Rom. 12.11 fervent in spirit as Christ was strong in the Spirit Luke 1.80 hence Christians have deepe sighes strong cryes within them earnest groanes and longing strong and fervent prayers Psal 51. Iam. 5.16 3. Fire hath a constant motion upward so grace is alwayes aspiring to the things above when a man breakes off his sleepe he awakes with God Psalme 139.18 grace makes a man trust in God all the day Psal 25.5 to call upon God continually Psal 86.3 to set God alwaies before us Psal 16.8 grace is thinking devising contriving desiring questioning seeking and exercising it selfe about things above things holy heavenly gratious and spirituall 4. Fire ascends easily without compulsion so grace hath a propensity and facillity to heavenly things grace makes a man joyfull to come to the house of God Psal 122.1 and willing to come to the assemblies Ps 110.3 a man comes with gladnesse Philipians 1.4 heare 's with readinesse Acts. 10.33 his praises comes from his joy Psalme 63.5 his almes for a chearefull minde 2. Cor. 8.3 he is easie to be intreated Iames 3.17 he is as ripe fruit soone shaken as ripe corne soone threshed 5. If the flame be kept downe it ascends againe as soone as that kept it downe is removed So grace may be suppressed but take that away which keepes it downe it doth flame up againe presently Sinne quelled grace in David but his sinne being pardoned how did his graces flame upward what sweet prayers did hee make to God what holy Psalâ—s did he indite Tyranny and tentation and reproaches may seeme to extinguish the graces of Gods children but they burne inwardly Psal 39.3 and there is a recourse to God Jer. 20.9.12 and when they doe get victory enlargement and liberty then it is apparant the fire was kept in but by violence and they flame more than they did before as the Smiths
may it be Interpreted The Neck is like a Tower Cant. 4.4 and 7.4 Amsworth Anot. Ans That the Christian united to CHRIST his Neck is strong that is hee will not bow to sinne not become in bondage to Satan but â—ather make warre against Spirituall Enemies Of the Armes and Shoulders 1. Of GODS Worke in the Armes considered 2. Of the usefulnesse of the Armes 3. Resolves concerning the Armes and Shoulders Section 1 First Of Gods Worke in the Armes considered THEY have their fastning to the Shoulders which is strengthned with bones called blades because they bee like a sword blade in Latine Scoptula comming from the Neck to each Arme. The bones of the Soulder bee hollow within and bending outward The Shoulder bones have knots called Eies for defence the Shoulders have speciall Relation to the Neck the Armes and the Breast They doe support the Neck give strength to the Armes and defend the Breast and on the Shoulders Men lay burthens t is the most able part of the Bodie to cary any great weight or heavie thing And Now I come to Gods Worke in the Armes First The bones be in number thirtie in Arme and Hand the Arme alone hath onely two one from the Shoulder to the Elbow the other to the Hand Conclusions applicatorie Conclusion 1. If the bones be thirtie in the Arme and Hand as Anatomists affirme then Iudas stretcht forth as manie bones as hee received pieces of silver 2. If the Arme onely hath two bones then my strongest actions require two things a good Warrant and a good Aime and then things are done to purpose Secondly the bones of the Arme are big for strength hollow for lightnesse full of marrow for moisture strengthned with sinewes covered with flesh and skinne bending nimble fit for action Section 2 Morall Instructions from the Armes In regard of their usefulnesse 1. AS the Armes have relation to the Head the Heart and Liver It minds mee my actions should proceed from Memorie Prudence and Love From Remembrance of what I have beene taught From Wisedome to doe things well circumstantially From Love then I shall be profitable and accepted 2. The Veines about the Heart passe through my Armes and my pulses and shew how it goes with mee So my Actions come from my Intentions and Resolutions and Purposes and are for Manifestation 3. If Diseases befall the Bodie the Arme is let blood to save the whole To teach us a readinesse to suffer for the good of others and in publique calamities some smart though all sinne 4. If one strike at my Head mine Arme will receive the blow To teach mee loyaltie to my King To dy to preserve him 5. The Sinewes and Gristles doe strengthen the Arme To teach the strong not to despise the weake Who art thou despisest small things Zach. 4. 6. The bones of the Arme are ioyned with moisture so they grate not one another nor consume one another To teach those ioyned in nearest bonds a meeke yeelding and unitie so they may performe Duties comfortably together 7. As the Arme hath three Jointes one at the Shoulder another at the Elbow another at the Hand So should mine Actions have a three-fold Respect First to the Glorie of God Secondly the good of my neighbour Thirdly the salvation of mine owne Soule I must seriously respect Duties of Pietie Righteousnesse and Sobrietie Section 3 Resolves concerning the Shoulders and Armes 1. Quest HOW is the Governement on Christs Shoulders Esai 9.6 Answer He hath all Authoritie within his Church and also without it T is as hee will not as wicked men will that things are disposed-of here below 2. Qu. What is meant by the Arme of the Lord Esa 53.1 Ans The power of GOD in converting of Soules 3. Qu. What is meant by Arme of flesh Ier. 17 Ans Weake and feeble is mans helpe without God 4. Qu. What bee the burthens wee must helpe to beare Gal. 6 Ans The burthen of Infirmities and Afflictions 5. Qu. Why have some Rivers the name of an Arme of the Sea Ans Because they issue from the Ocean as the Arme from the Bodie 6. Qu. What is it to have the sword on the right Arme Zach. 13 Ans To be deprived of power and strength to be like an Idole that can doe no good nor helpe others 7. Qu. What is the condition of the wicked whose Armes are broken Psalme 37.17 Ans 1. They are deformed like those without Armes 2. They are in miserie as those whose Armes be broken though they be in a dead sleepe and for the present feele no paine 3. They cannot adorne themselves nor defend themselves 4. They are unserviceable unfit for Dutie 5. They may grinne or curse but the godly will be too hard for them when once GOD breakes their Armes 6. They will never make good Souldiers nor good Artists To conclude when once God takes them in hand they shall be like Vessels in whom is no pleasure So much of the Armes Of the Hands 1. A Consideration of the Nature of the Hands 2. Conclusions from that Consideration 3. Of the employment of the Hands 4. Resolves concerning the Hands Section 1 First A Consideration of the Nature of the Hands I Consider it singly as I am able as it is betweene the Arme and the fingers T is said on the upper part bee nine bones some knottie some hollow some straight The Inside hath hollownesse for receipt and haires grow not within as they doe on the back of the Hand If the Hand bee stretched abroad then t is Palma like a tree spreading out the Branches If the Hand bee clinched t is Pugnus because men clinch the fist to fight The Hand is very sensible and so framed that wee can turne it this way or that speedily and move one part not another This is the Instrument of Instruments The most wise GOD hath framed the Hands to doe many Noble Workes Section 2 Secondly Conclusions from the Consideration 1. AS some bones bee knottie in the Hand so be some Actions that I must doe To doe things against my Naturall Inclination against my Reason against my profit or ease I shall find knots and lets and stops and much adoe Some bones bee hollow so be some Actions seeming more than solid more fained than reall more in shew than substance their hollownesse is filled not with marrow but hypocrisie deceipt and sinne t is good if these were taken out of my Hands for these will bring a mysticall goute and lamenesse Some bones be straight so bee some Actions these be the most perfect that avoid defect and excesse and bee even according to the line straight things be stretched out and the middle agrees with both ends Let mine Actions have a good rise a good aime and good affections 2. The peaceable Hand is stretched out the angrie Hand is clinched How beautifull is the one how terrible the other let my hands bee stretched forth to pray stretched out
with gratulation To love them dead in sinne Ephes 1.2 To love enemies Rom. 5.10 To those that did manifest enmity by evill workes Colos 1.21 4. The duration It is an everlasting Love Ier. 31.3 Troubles deprive us not of his love Psal 91.15 for hee will be with us Infirmities cannot quench his love for he will spare us Mal. 3.17 Death cannot separate us from his love Rom. 8.38 39. Sect. 3 Thirdly Of Mans love to God MAns love is either naturall or sinfull or spirituall Our love to God must be spirituall but before we can thus love God ourselves must be regenerate 1. John 4.19 We love him because he first loved us and gave us grace this love of ours to God is a constrained love 2. Cor. 5.14 not a constraint but by a sweet influence as the Sunne shining on Hearbs and Flowers doth constraine them to grow and smell sweete The love of God to us is love active the love of God in us is love passive he is loved of us 2. From whence love commeth surely the Fountaine is God 1. Iohn 4.7 Love commeth from God The roote is the Spirit the fruite is love Gal. 5.22 Gods love is manifested to us by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 Then We love him which first loved us 1. Iohn 4.19 3. The markes of our love to God First love earnestly desires his presence Psal 42.2 This desire is compared to a thirst wee thirst for God as the chiefe good the onely good This thirst requires 1. A suitâ—ble satisfaction 2. A present satisfaction 3. A large satisfaction 1. A suteable satisfaction To offer a thirsty man a garment or to tell him a â—leasant tale or let him heare Musicke it is not suteable it is drinke that he desires 2. It is a present satisfaction he desires not drinke to morrow or next weeke but presently 3. It is a large satisfaction a drop or a spoonefull satisfies not he desires a large draught Thus love it desires God and none else to enjoy him sweetly and speedily and largely this is the first marke of love Secondly love bewayles the absence of God it is as death to the soule having once enjoyed him to want him Psal 77.10 In the want of all things we want God above all if we truely love him Psal 63.1 Thirdly love rejoyces in his presence by prayer wee draw neare to God Isai 55.6 and then joy increases Psal 43.4 Prayer brings us into his presence with a holy gladnesse Phil. 1.4 Fourthly love makes us obedient to God Iohn 14.15 If yee love me keepe my Commandements The more love the more duty obedience and conformity to his Will Fifthly when we love God wee doe love the children of God If we love him that begat we doe love them begotten 1. Iohn 5.1 4. The promises made to them that love God First they shall have mercy shewed to them and their posterity pardoning mercies relieving mercies Exod. 20.6 Secondly they shall share in Gods affection Ioh. 14.21 The Father will love them the Sonne will love them that love Christ Fourthly all shall worke for the best unto them Rom. 8.28 What can be more comfortable Fourthly they shall have a crowne of life Iames 1.12 and a kingdome Iames 2.5 This is the portion of them that love the Lord. Sect. 4 Fourthly Of Mans love to man THE love of man to man is either naturall or spirituall the naturall love is grounded on naturall Causes either beauty or bounty or consanguinity something we judge to be love-worthy that drawes the naturall affection Spirituall love is a peculiar among the regenerate they love God for his owne sake they love their enemies for his commands sake they love his children for his Image sake The more holy and righteous and heavenly minded men are the more they love them Of this love to the godly consider 1. The necessity of it 2. The excellency of it 3. How it is exercised 4. The markes of true love 5. How 't is preserved First the necessity of this love to our brethren 1. Without this love we can have no sound evidence that we are the children of God 1 Iohn 3.10 2. We can doe no workes that God accepts without this love 1. Cor. 13.1 2 3. 1. Cor. 16.14 All our things must be done in love If love be wanting the work is lost love is as the salt that seasons all Secondly the excellency of love 1. The Divine Essence is love and 't is excellent to resemble God 2. Love is an excellent badge of a servant and scholler of Christ whereby they are manifested and knowne Iohn 13.15 3. 'T is an excellent fruit of faith Eph. 1.15 Faith in Christ is fruitfull in love to all the Saints 4. 'T is an excellent testimony of a sound convert By this we may know wee are changed from sinne to grace 1. Iohn 3.14 5. It is excellent to have God to dwell with us Where love is there God dwells 1. Iohn 4 12. 6. 'T is as the anoynted above the rest for excellency 1. Pet. 4.8 Above all have fervent love Col. 3.14 Above all put on love Thirdly how love is exercised 1. Love seekes to be united as soone as we love Gods children we endeavour to joyne with them Act. 9.26 2. Love enjoying the objects turnes to delight Psal 16.3 3. Love casts the garment of charity to hide our brethrens infirmities 1. Pet. 4.8 4. Love edifies others 1. Cor. 8.1 To edifie is to build Love builds artificially 1. By pulling downe the old wall of naturall corruption 2. I aying a sound foundation of faith and repentance it will conferre with young ones and weake ones to helpe them not puzzel them Rom. 14.1 3. It brings new materials from the word and raises the building higher and higher and strives to adde practice to knowledge wisedome to zeale mercy to justice patience to diligence reverence to assurance 4. Love is excercised in relieving the necessities of our brethren Love ministreth to the necessitie of the Saints Heb. 6.10 Fourthly the markes of love to our brethren 1. True love is unfeigned 2. Cor. 6.6 without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 2. 'T is fervent there is heate in true love and haste to doe them good heate hath motion 1. Pet. 4.8 3. 'T is diligent Love nor hatred will be idle 1. Thes 1.3 Love is laborious for them beloved Heb. 6.10 4. 'T is constant 't is not as carnall lust hot lust is soone cold as Ammon to Tamar but true love continues Heb. 13.1 Fifthly how love is preserved 1. Labour for reall sound effectuall love then it will last and hold out 1 Cor. 13.8 Love doth never fal away 2. Avoyd groundlesse surmises Love thinketh none evill 1. Cor. 13.5 3. Interprete doubtfull things charitably as old Iacob did when he saw Iosephs coate 4. Harken not to every tale and report of the faults of others the words of tale-bearers sinke deepe and embitter our affections 5. Give loving answers for sweete