he kept from presently falling into the Hands others he rescued from the Jaws and Power of Death And they thought surely he that was so kind to others would much more be prompted and induced by Self-love to save himself if he could and because he did not deliver himself they conclude he could not How do they exult and triumph as if his Power were dried up and gone his mighty Arm withered or broken as if his Relief and Help were confined to others but he could extend no Salvation to himself And why did not Christ then save himself Surely it was in wonderful pity and kindness to Sinners that he would not save himself till he had suffered and satisfied for them and so could not onely save himself but also save them too O how was Christ wholly swallowed up in Love to his Father and perishing Sinners when he prayed thus Father glorifie thy own Name John 12.27 28. As if he should say Father whatever become of me whatever I suffer and endure glorifie thy own Name glorifie thy Justice in punishing Sin and so make way to glorifie thy Mercy in pardoning Sinners Meditate of these great Truths of the Gospel use them as a Spiritual Burning-glass till thy Heart be enflamed towards Jesus Christ Direction 5. We must have an high Esteem and Value for Jesus Christ and our Hearts must burn with Love towards him 1. We must have an high Esteem of Jesus Christ Cant. 5.10 My beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousands White as to the Purity of his Life and Ruddy in his Bloody Passion and Death Psal 45.2 Thou art fairer than the children of men Grace is poured out into thy lips Thy Name saith the Church Cant. 1.3 is as an Ointment poured out All his garments smell of Myrrh Aloes and Cassia Psalm 45.8 We must account Christ better than our People and our Fathers House That it is our Interest to please him though we disgust and displease the whole World and that it will be our advantage to cleave to him though all men should frown on us be imbittered towards us and inraged against us His Love is better than Wine and his Kindness better than Life Cant. 1.4 Ps 63.3 Let all the world be put into the Ballance to weigh against Christ it will be found to be lighter than Vanity what is all we have to be esteemed in regard of Christ We must sell all to buy the Pearl of Price but we must not sell this Pearl to buy Peace Liberty or a quiet enjoyment of our Estates in the World If we come out from Wicked Men God and Christ will receive us 2 Cor. 6. 2 last Verses We should little regard the Worlds rejecting of us if Christ will receive us Should a Man be grieved if he be turned out of the Cottage of a Beggar and received into the Palace of a King As the King of Sodom said to Abraham give me the Persons and take thou the Goods to thy self So we should say to Carnal men take you the Goods of this world to your selves but leave me the Person of Christ and I shall account my Lines are fallen to me in Pleasant Places and I have a goodly Heritage 2ly Our Hearts must Burn with love towards Jesus Christ Cant. 8.6 7. Many Waters cannot quench love neither can the Floods drown it O such a divine Flame of love should be kindled in our Hearts that if the World lets in upon and turns over us Rivers of afflictions Floods of sufferings yet all may not be able to quench it If we thus love Jesus Christ we shall follow him As Ruth said to Naomi Intreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after thee For whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodgest I will lodge thy People shall be my People and thy God shall be my God Ruth 1.16 So those that love Christ will say to the World Allure me not to leave Jesus Christ or to return from following of him where he is there will I be his God shall be my God his People shall be my People As Peter was so in love with Christ that he cast himself into the Sea that he might swim and come to Christ standing on the Shoar John 21.7 So Christians that highly prize and dearly love him will be willing not only to come to Christ by a Natural death as other Disciples came to Christ by their Boat or little Ship John 21.8 but to be cast into a Sea of sufferings and so come to Christ by a violent Death As Ignatius an ancient Father in his Epistle to the Romans expresses himself thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Fire the Cross the Wild Beasts and other Instruments of Cruelty come on me onely that I may obtain and enjoy Christ He cared not what he suffered or endured so that he might come to Christ Love is said to be stronger than Death and Jealousie is cruel as the Grave Cant. 8.6 As Death kills the strongest and the Grave swallows up all the bodies put into it and turns them into Dust so true servent love to Christ will subdue all opposition Conquer all resistance and is Cruel to what would tempt or draw it from Christ So did Paul love Christ that he desired to be dissolved to be taken to pieces so that his Soul might be with Christ Phil. 1.23 6. Direct We must eye and frequently think upon the Examples of suffering Saints who through Faith and Patience have inherited the promised Kingdom and inheritance Heb. 11.36 37 38. there is a short account of the various sufferings of several of the Lords Worthies what losses they sustained what tortures they endured that they might obtain a better Resurrection Heb. 11.35 yet the World to come was not so much Unvailed and Revealed then as it is now well may the duty of self-denial and bearing the Cross be more explicitely required and more often pressed in the Gospel Matth. 16.23 24. when the motives and incouragements to it are more clearly and abundantly revealed We see Death foiled and abolished a new Life obtained and Heaven possessed by Christ as a fore-runner Yet Saints of old supported their Hearts with the hope of a glorious Resurrection and this carried them through the greatest losses and the most exquisite torments and their Example is improved in Hebr. 12.1 Being compassed with such a cloud of Witnesses let us run the Race that is set before us There may perhaps be an allusion to the Cloud that went before and guided the Israelites in the Wilderness and directed them in the way to the Earthly Canaan So we have a great Cloud of Spiritual Witnesses that have testified God's Truth and their own Love and Loyalty to him with their Blood and shall not their Examples both guide and animate us to the same Faith and Patience as they practised Their sufferings teach us that the way to
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken by the Grecian Lawyers vid. Zauch in Locum for a Mulct and Fine It is always a Crime in the Eye of the wicked World to separate from their corrupt ways and cleave to Christs Truth and pure Worship When the world are restrained when the Hands of Wicked men are bound then the Fine runs lower the men of this Earth only reproach and revile the People of God for this reputed Crime of forsaking Satans Camp and Tents and following Christ the Captain of Salvation But there are Times when Satan is loosed when the Dams are broken down and the restraints are taken off from his Instruments then a Flood of Temporal Evils pours in upon the People of God Now the Fine is increased they are threatned with spoiling of Goods loss of Liberty and Life if they will not deny Christ and comply with the inventions and corruptions of men There are Seasons when Sailing towards Heaven seems very dangerous in the Eye of Flesh and Blood As Paul Acts 27.9 10. When Sailing began to be dangerous towards Winter saith Sirs I perceive this Voyage will be with hurt and much dammage of the Lading of the Ship and of our Lives Even so men may perceive and discern such Times when the Voyage to Heaven is like to be with much Dammage of all the Wealth and Riches that they have laded themselves with yea their very Lives may be lost Have you thought of such cloudy times of dark hours of temptation of the gloomy Valley of the Shadow of Death that God may try you whether you will cast all over-board to keep the purity and peace of your Consciences suffer shipwrack of your Estates and Honours rather than suffer shipwrack of Faith and your Integrity You may lay the Foundation of your Spiritual building in a peaceable time in Halcyon days but great storms and fights of Affliction may arise and surprize you before you have finished your Building As the Foundation of the Temple of Jerusalem was laid in Peace without opposition or contradiction from the World but before they could finish it their Enemies bestirred themselves procured an Authority and Order from the King of Persia against them and speedily put it in Execution causing the Jews to cease by force from prosecuting of this Building Compute the 3. of Ezra the 8 9 10 11. with 4. of Ezra 21.23 Thus it may be with you Consider therefore whether your Hearts are fired and your purposess fixed for Christ Can you say with Paul You are ready to be bound and to die for the Name of the Lord Jesus Acts 21.13 Are you not rather resolved against standing any brunt bearing any hardship suffering any loss for that Profession as Henry the 4th of France is said to have spoken that he would venture no further into the Sea of Religion but that he might still see the Shoar and retreat at his pleasure to it Have you not such secret resolutions as these that you will not interest your selves too deeply and ingage too far in any matter of Religion but that you may make a fair and safe retreat if you see need Or have you reckoned up all the troubles and losses that you may be exposed to for Christ and are come to this resolution with Paul Acts 20.24 None of these things move me neither do I account my life dear to me that I may finish my Course with joy Do you judge of all Losses and Afflictions as Paul that said I count the Sufferings of the present time not to be worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 Are you resolved to go forth to a Despised Hated and Persecuted Jesus and with Peter to count your selves safer with Christ on the Waves than in the Worlds Ship without him Matt. 14.26 28 29. Quest 2. Have you sold all for Christ Matt. 13.44 45. He that found the hidden Treasures for joy went and sold all that he had that he might buy the Field and assure the Treasure to himself Christ is a Rich Treasure a Pearl of inestimable Price O! have you found this Treasure this Pearl Do you discern espy and know the Worth and Riches of Jesus Christ Are you so affected with him as to sell all for him And what is it to sell all for Christ Surely it is to part with the esteem to relinquish the inordinate love of this world or any thing in it When the Market is faln the Price of these things beaten down as it were to nothing buy those Spiritual Goods that are imported by Christ the heavenly Merchant from another World O! have your Souls such a sight of Christ and his Excellent Commodities that you are weaned from your Estates and Lives that you little value any thing here below yea count all things but Dung that you may gain Christ Phil. 3.8 If you have indeed thus sold all things it will not be very difficult to yield possession to quit the use and enjoyment of that which your Hearts are dead to That which is truly put and turned out of your Hearts will certainly be cast out of your Hands in the day of Trial and Adversity Quest 3. Are you indeed Married to Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 I have espoused you to one Husband even to Christ Rom. 7.4 that you may be Married to him that is raised from the dead Hath he spoken and gained your Hearts Hath he allured and drawn your Souls to himself In Jer. 2.2 God speaks of the love of Israels Espousals That she went up after him and followed him in a Wilderness in a Land that was not sown where they might fear want and feel Penury without a miraculous and extraordinary Provision If you are truly espoused to Christ you will follow him in a Wilderness I have read an History concerning the Mogul a Great Prince in the East Indies that grew jealous of his Son lest he should aspire to his Kingdom and dethrone him in his absence from his Imperial City And therefore caused a Tower to be built without any Gate or Door yet well stored with all necessary Provisions in it to shut up his Son during the time of his absence When this was understood the Wife of this Young Prince desired to be shut up with her Husband in this Tower such was the great love that she did bear to him Thus if you love Christ as a Husband you will go out to him you will not be separated and parted from him but will say as Ittai to David 2 Sam. 15.21 As the Lord liveth where my Lord the King is there will thy Servant be whether in Life or in Death As Rachel and Leah were ready to leave and forsake their Fathers House and to follow Jacob their Husband into his Country and Fathers House Gen. 31.13 14 15 16. Even so wilt thou determine to go forth to and follow Christ to his Heavenly Country if he be thy Husband and the
not to enjoy their Happiness in the old life of the first but in the new life of the second Adam 7. Mot. By going out to Jesus Christ without the Camp we defend the Gospel strengthen the Faith and inflame the Hearts of others with love to and zeal for Christ and have the comfort of our own tryed and approved Graces First We defend and confirm the Gospel Phil. 1.7 the Apostle speaks of his Bonds as his defence and confirmation of the Gospel O! What an Honour is this to be Christs Champions and by our Sufferings to defend and confirm the Truth of the Gospel This is a rational Argument and Evidence offered to the Spectators of Saints Sufferings that surely this is truth and these men are fully satisfied and assured that it is so else they would not thus spend their Blood and lay down their lives for it Secondly This strengthens the Faith of others and incourages them to take up the Cross and daunts the Hearts of Adversaries Hereby the Faith of the Saints is fortified Phil. 2.17 Paul speaks of his being offered upon the Sacrifice and Service of the Phillipians Faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is If my Blood be poured out as a Drink-Offering to shadow the Sacrifice of your Faith He alludes to the Drink-Offerings of Wine that were of Old added to Sacrifices according to the Law of Moses Levit. 23.13 18. The Sacrifice and Service of the Saints Faith would be much advantaged by Pauls Martyrdom how would his Blood water those heavenly Truths that he had sown among them and make them take deeper root and fructifie more abundantly And Pauls Bonds incouraged and imboldened others without fear to publish the Gospel while they beheld his resolution and constancy Phil. 1.12 13 14. The sparks that have flown from the Flames of Suffering and Martyred Saints have taken hold of the hearts of Spectators and have fired them with love to Christ and Zeal for his Glory Justin Martyr professes that he was much influenced and wrought upon by the courage and joy of suffering and dying Christians And hereby often the Hearts of Enemies are quailed and discouraged from proceeding in their Cruelty Austin tells that when Julian the Apostate commanded the Christians at Antioch to remove the Body of Babylas they fell a singing the 114th Psalm at which the Emperour being inraged he commanded Salustius his Captain to apprehend some of them Who accordingly took several Christians and among them one Theodorus a Young man whom he caused to be Tormented for several Hours yet he still continued singing the 114th Psalm At which Salustius was so dismaid that he caused the Tormentors to cease and went to the Emperour and desired him that no more might be Tormented for all the Christian Suffering did but tend to their Glory By whom the Emperour was perswaded to torture no more of the Christians at Antioch whom he had seized upon And hereby Christians have the comfort of their tried and approved Graces The Apostle salutes Apelles as one approved in Christ Rom. 16.10 O! what a mark of Honour is it for a man in signal services and eminent sufferings to be approved as sincere in Christ A tryed Faith is a precious Faith 1 Pet. 1.7 O! how comfortable is it for a Christian to say This Faith hath been in the Furnace this Love hath passed through a Fiery Tryal and hath not sailed or abated Christ hath been evidenced to be dearer to me than all the world 8. Mot. If we go forth to Jesus we shall be no losers by it A visit from Christ will make a Prison better than a Palace He will not leave you comfortless he will come to you John 14.18 When you are thrust out of the worlds Camp and seem as naked men in the open field yet then the Power of Christ shall rest upon you and as a Tent overshadow you as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used by the Apostle doth import 2 Cor. 12.9 If your sufferings do abound your consolations by Christ shall abound much more 2 Cor. 1.4 When all men forsake you the Lord will stand with you and for you 2 Tim. 4.17 Whatever you leave and forsake for Christ and the Gospel's sake shall be recompensed to you an hundred fold Matth. 19.28 29. and that now in this time as it is expressed Mark 10.30 and that with Persecutions as is further intimated though the world rage and persecute the people of God yet these Persecutions shall not frustrate or obstruct the performance of the Promise But how shall the Promise be fulfilled I answer In a double sense it is made good 1. Those that forsake their Relations according to the Flesh shall have the Favour and Friendship of a new Kindred according to the Spirit and there is nothing like to Love in the Spirit Col. 1.8 Love on a Spiritual account is the Purest and Noblest Flame an Eternal Fire that shall never be extinguished You that leave Parents Brethren Sisters Kinsmen that are related to you in the first Adam you shall have a new Stock of Kindred related to you in the second Adam Elder Christians shall express the kindness of Fathers and Mothers and younger Saints shall manifest the love of Brethren and Sisters and so you shall have a hundred Spiritual Kinsmen for one Natural Kinsman that you lose Christ designs to joyn and link Men of several Nations in the nearest best and strongest Bonds and to gather some of all Nations into one Family and houshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 Ephes 2.19 and thereby to kindle the most admirable and excellent Love among the Members of this New Family And those that forsake House and Lands shall have the Hearts Houses and Purses of their Spiritual Kindred opened to them to receive their Persons and supply their Necessities and this will the more incline and sway them to extend such Kindness because they account they exercise Hospitality to Christ they take him in feed and cloath him in his Members 2. Suffering Saints receive a hundred-fold now in the present time as they experience the smallest Portion and Pittance of outward things that they enjoy to be a hundred-fold better than the greater Plenty and Abundance of the Wicked Psal 37.16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked And why is it better Surely this is that which enhances and advances the value and worth of what the Righteous have that it flows from the Love of God as a Father that it is cast in as an Addition to the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Matth. 6.33 that Godliness hath not onely the promises of this Life but of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 that as God's First-born Heb. 12.23 they have the double Portion Provision on their way and the Eternal Inheritance at the Journeys end God breeds feeds and maintains them in their Minority and hath laid up great Portions for them in Heaven there
Exod. 16.3 And in the 11. of Numb the 5. Verse We remember the Fish which we did eat in Egypt freely the Cucumbers the Melons the Leeks the Onions and the Garlick There they accounted they had their Varieties Fish and Flesh several sorts of Sallets and Fruits but now they reckoned they were at short Commons and confined to one Dish ver 6. There is nothing but this Manna before our Eyes And their Soul was dried away with it And Numb 16.13 Some of them chid with Moses and challenge him for bringing them up out of Egypt which they call a Land flowing with Milk and Honey O! how excellent pleasant a Land is Egypt in their Eye The Epithetes God gave to Canaan they transfer and apply to Egypt as if the Country they were called from did better deserve this Name than the Land that they were called to And they seemed so far to be transported with the love of Egypt and to repent of their leaving of it that they stirred up one another to make a Captain and to return thither again And Stephen asserts that they returned to Egypt again in their Hearts Acts 7.39 Thus too many pretend a separation from the World yet the World is still in their Hearts And while it is thus they will never go forth without the Camp to Jesus But Christians should strive to imitate Abraham Isaac and Jacob The Scripture saith that if they had been mindful of the Country from whence they came out they might have had opportunity to have returned Heb. 11.15 Hereby the Divine Pen-man sufficiently intimates that they were not mindful of Vr of the Chaldees the Country from whence Abraham came They did not confess themselves Pilgrims and Strangers because drawn from Vr but because they were yet on Earth and not arrived in Heaven They were quite weaned from and dead to Vr and all other Countries on Earth Thus the world should be rooted and banished out of our Minds and Hearts Christ hath chosen his people out of the World John 15.19 and therefore they should not remember or be enticed by it but leave this Camp and go forth to Jesus 4. Direct Labour to get a clear sight and deep sense of the love of Christ to perishing Sinners and particularly to your own Souls How wonderful is it that He that made all things should be made Flesh 1 John 1.2.14 that the Creator should become a Creature That the Fountain and Ocean of Being should take a Humane Nature and so become a drop of Being A Diamond or Ruby is debased when set in Iron or Lead what a wonderful condescention is it then that the Divine Nature should be joyned with a Humane Nature in the Person of the Son How did he that was in the Form of God and thought it no Robbery to be equal with God empty and humble himself by becoming man They are very Excellent and Emphatical Words that the Apostle uses Phil. 2.6 7 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he emptied himself of all Majesty State and Divine Glory in the Eye of Man which the Apostle admirably expresses thus He was found in Fashion like a Man That is he looked but like an ordinary and common Man as if there were nothing extraordinary or supernatural in him as if he were no more than a Man Thus he vailed his Eternity Omnipotency Immensity and infinite Wisdom by becoming an Infant of Days a Weak Child confined to a Manger or a Cradle and not able for the present to speak and express the inward Sentiments of his Soul The Ancient of Days yea he that was Ancienter than Days whose goings forth were from Everlasting came forth of Bethlem but yesterday Mic. 5.2 All Temporal Benefits are compared by Parisiensis to sparks of Fire But when Jesus Christ came into the World this he saith was a Mountain of Fire cast into the Earth How should the Hearts of the Sons of Men be inflamed by this wonderful and astonishing kindness of God in sending his Son And Christ did not stop here but he stooped yet lower when he was he found in fashion of an ordinary common Man he humbled himself to death and that not an ordinary or common one but to the death of the Cross A death that Servants Thieves and the worst of Malefactors were adjudged to A painful lingring and most shameful death it was and this he did undergo that Sinners might not Perish Everlastingly He that was the Judge and might have destroyed Offenders O! that he should stand and suffer as an Offender He that might have Executed Vengeance on us did endure it for us He to whose Justice we might have been offered up as whole burnt-Offerings in Everlasting Flames became a Sacrifice himself Needed the Father or the Son to have valued the loss and ruine of a world of Sinners What are all Nations to God but as the drop of a Bucket and as the small Dust that cleaves to the Ballance Is 40.15 And who values the loss of a drop of Water or of a mote of Dust And as unconcerned might God have been at the loss of the whole World but the Bowels of the Son of God yearned towards a perishing World and rather than the Sheep should go to the Slaughter the Shepherd offers himself to be their Ransom and Exchange And how resolved was Jesus Christ to perfect this work Is 50.6 7. He gave his Back to the Smiters his Cheeks to those that plucked off the Hair He hid not his Face from Shame and Spitting he set his Face as a Flint This expression may be illustrated and commented on by the words of Luke Luke 9.51 In Isaiah we have the Prophesie in Luke the History of Christ He stedfastly set his Face to go up to Jerusalem saith Luke He set his Face as a Flint saith Isaiah Christ was resolved to go through the Storm he knew what a dreadful Tempest did abide him at Jerusalem yet he would not recoil draw back or turn his Face from it He was as stedfast as resolved as if his Face had been a Flint and without sense or feeling of Pain and anguish of Blows and Wounds Again it is said he poured out his Soul to the death Is 53.12 How much love is implyed and imported in this Expression That Christ had as low and vile thoughts of his Life and was as freely and willingly ready to part with it as if he had but poured out so much Water on the ground O! how bounteous and large Hearted was Christ that he did not spare his very Blood Love made him yet wisely and holily prodigal of his Life he poured out his Soul to the death Christ's Adversaries upbraided him thus Matth. 27.42 He saved others but himself he cannot save These very Words of Christ's Enemies signifie and set out to us the wonderful Love and excellent Self-denial of Jesus Christ He wrought Miracles to heal the Diseases of some and he raised up others from the Dead some
dark hours of Temptation that have passed through Fiery Tryals and have endured great Fights of Affliction have taken joyfully the Spoiling of their Goods that have rejoyced they were accounted worthy to suffer for my Namessake that have not loved their Lives to the Death How will such a Confession of their Names by Christ put Eternal Honour on the Saints O! look beyond this gloomy Valley of the Shadow of Death to an Inheritance in Light Col. 1.12 Look beyond this short Night of Sorrows and Sufferings to the bright and glorious Morning of the Resurrection Ps 49.14 Though Saints now bow down and are laid as the Mire of the Streets Is 51. last Yet the upright shall have Dominion in the Morning they shall tread down the Wicked they shall be as Ashes under the soles of their Feet Ps 45.14 Mal. 2.3 Abigal went forth to David in his Afflicted State 1 Sam. 25.4 14 40 42. Married and followed him in a Wilderness and afterwards did partake of his Honour and Prosperity We read that after Sauls Death he led her out of this Wilderness-state into the Royal City of Hebron 2 Sam. 2.2 Even so if you now go out to Christ while his People are in a Wilderness Afflicted and Persecuted in the world Jesus Christ will make you partakers of his Honour Felicity and Glory The time will come when this Spiritual King David will lead his Afflicted Spouse to his Royal City above will place her at his Right Hand and delight in her as his Hephzibah for ever 8. Direct We must be filled with the Spirit Eph. 5.18 As there is such a strong and swift Current that always runs in at the Straits Mouth into the Mediterranean Sea that a Ship cannot come out at the Straits Mouth if it hath not a good stiff Gale of Wind So truly there is such a strong Torrent of self-Self-love and Carnal Affections that runs into the Camp of this World that a Soul can never come out to Jesus through the Streights of Afflictions and Sufferings and cross this violent Stream of sinful self-love and worldly lusts if the Sails of our Souls be not mightily filled with the Gales of the Spirit The Hebrews after they were enlightned endured a great fight of Afflictions Heb. 10.32 And who is it that doth enlighten but the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Eph. 1.17.18 Our sight is cleared and recovered by the Spirits Eye-Salve Rev. 3.18 so that we can see more and further than the rest of the World Hence Saints are called Children of Light Luke 16.8 because they look into and take hold of another world As Stephens Eye was extraordinarily fortified and improved that he could see up into Heaven and behold Jesus at the Right Hand of God Acts 7.55 56. So the Spirit doth so renew and enlighten the Eyes of Saints Minds that they can see Invisible Heavenly and Eternal things And it is this sight that establishes the Heart against the threatnings and terrors of the World That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit John 3.6 that is Such are Spiritual Creatures and are also called Heavenly 1 Cor. 15.48 If you are Spirit you will not lust after and be captivated by Carnal things If you are heavenly Creatures you will not stoop and bow down to this Earth for your Happiness It is by the Spirit that we must mortifie the Deeds of the Body and Members upon Earth Rom. 8.13 Col. 3.5 These lusts that are fixed on fed and filled by Objects on Earth are tempting and drawing down Souls to a Center and Portion here below and it is by the Power of the Spirit only that we can repress and subdue them The Apostle bids Timothy to partake of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the Power of God 2. Tim. 1.8 If we are to bear them our selves and were left to the frailty of Nature how soon should we be foiled and overcome But Saints by the Spirit and its power are enabled to deny themselves to conquer the Flesh and tread the world under their Feet Christ hath promised not to leave his People comfortless John 14.16 18. but that he would send them the Comforter What the Spirit shews John 16.13.8 Rom. 16.17 Eph. 1.13 testifies seals to the Souls of Believers is sufficient to buoy up the Hearts of Christians against all Temporal Evils If the Spirit could make supply instead of Christs Bodily Presence with his people if it could chear them in the absence and withdrawing of Christs Humane Nature can it not much more comfort us in the absence or loss of outward Enjoyments As a Tree that hath a River at its Root can retain its Verdure and Flourishing Sate though there be a great Drought and no Showers come upon it Jer. 17.8 Ps 5.2 So if we have the Comforter within if we are watered by the Rivers of its Consolations may we not be satisfied from our selves Prov. 14.14 though we have no Showers of worldly comforts or enjoyments If men would stir and labour and thereby excite their Natural Heat they would not absolutely need Fire in the coldest Weather to warm them So if Christians did more stir up Faith and walk in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost Acts 9.31 they would little need or regard the worlds consolations If you be led by the Spirit of Christ it will in some measure work in you as in him it will raise in you such apprehensions and kindle in you such Affections as were found in Jesus He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 That is He is of the same Spirit of the same Temper of the same Disposition and Inclinations with Jesus Christ As if the same Soul did animate many Bodies these several Persons would be of the same Will and have the same Affections So the Spirit of Christ dwelling in his People the same will be in them as was found in Jesus Rom. 8.9 Phil. 2.5 O! how freely did Jesus Christ yield himself to sufferings and death Ps 40.7 8. Lo I come I delight to do thy will O God yea thy Law is within my Heart And what was the Will of God that Jesus Christ did delight to do We are told what this Will was in Heb. 10.10 viz. that Jesus Christ should offer his Body once for all How difficult and hard was this Service yet such a Law of Love to the Father and perishing sinners was written in the Heart of Christ that he was straitned till this Bloody Baptism was fulfilled Luke 12.50 Though his Cup of Sufferings was so deep so large tempered with so many bitter Ingredients yet he resigned himself and said Father if this Cup may not pass except I drink of it thy Will be done Matt. 26.42 When Peter tempted him to favour spare and indulge himself he sharply rebuked him and said Get thou behind me Satan thou art an offence to me Matt. 16.22 23. How did Christ deny himself and subject his Will to the Will of God And when Christ was raised from the Dead how did he despise and disdain to be tempted to stay here below by the best things of this World Would the Riches Honours Pleasures of this world then have allured the Eye captivated or chained the Heart of Christ here below Could such things stay or stop detain or six him here below Was he not exceedingly raised in his Mind and Affections above the best things of this world This was his Request and Prayer to the Father Now glorifie me with thy own self with the glory that I had with thee before the Foundations of the World John 17.5 His Mind did soar upwards his Heart did aspire to a heavenly Kingdom and Glory Now if this Spirit of the Lord Jesus do dwell in our Hearts will it not fix our hearts and fortifie our resolutions to go through Fire and Water Floods and Storms for the Honour of God and for the Glory of Christ Shall we be of timerous base dastardly Spirits if the blessed Spirit of Jesus do dwell in us And shall we not slight also and contemn turn our Eyes from and our Backs upon all the Beauty and Excellency of this world if the Spirit hath given us a sight of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Shall we not cry out to God as the Psalmist Ps 73.25 26. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee How will such a Soul rate away and rebuke tempting Objects and say Get you gone I have fatness and sweetness I have fulness and satisfaction in my Lord Jesus my Eyes are closed against your Beauty my Ears are stopt against your Charms Christ I have chosen and I see no cause to repent of my choice to him therefore will I cleave and stick for ever And that you may obtain this blessed Spirit and all Spiritual good things as flowing from him Bow your Knees to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ And if Parents that are evil do yet know how to give good gifts to their Children much more shall our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11.13 FINIS
cast away outward things When they tempt us from Christ to stay with and cleave to them we must grow jealous of them and our jealousie must be cruel as the Grave Cant. 8.6 Then we must hate and forsake whatever is sweet and dear to the Natural Man and is like to prove a fatal snare to our souls a bribe from Satan to buy off our love from Christ and to tempt us from our Loyalty to this glorious King and from our Chastity to our heavenly Husband in this case we must turn the world out of our hearts cast it out of our hands throw all things below behind our backs and follow Christ Thus Moses may be said go without the Camp when he renounced and relinquished the Honours of Pharaoh's Court all the Pleasures and Treasures of Egypt joining himself to his Brethren that were the Servants Worshippers and People of God He might have kept himself in Pharaoh's Court and Palace and been unconcerned at the burdens and bondage of the Israelites he might have lived as in a strong and safe Camp But he refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh 's Daughter and chose rather to suffer afflictions with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin that were but for a season esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures of Egypt Heb. 11.24 25 26. So those eminent Saints and Worthies that we read of Heb. 11.37 38. did go forth without the Camp when they left Cities and Towns forsook their Houses and wandred up and down in Desarts and Wildernesses were clothed but with Sheep-skins and Goats and had no other Chambers or Beds to lodge in but Caves and Dens of the earth they had hard Fare vile Rayment and bad Lodging while others had delicious Feasts costly and gorgeous Garments warm Chambers and soft Beds Object But how may it bee said that Christians go forth without the Camp or that it is their own voluntary and free act when indeed the world casts and drives them out as Isa 66.5 Your Brethren hated you and cast you out for my Names sake John 9.34 it is said the Pharisees and Jews cast out the man that spake honourably of and gave glory to Christ So Luke 6.22 They shall separate you from their Company and cast out your Names as evil In these words Christ seems to allude to the Custom of the Jews that when they excommunicated a man did blot out his Name from their Publick Registers and Records as a man that was spiritually dead and no longer to be reputed as a Member of their Church or Synagogue So that it seems the world obtrudes and imposes sufferings on the People of God how then are they exhorted or said to go out of the Camp Answ These things may well consist together and do not justle or contradict each other as 2 Chron. 26. â—0 the Priests are said to thrust Vzziah out of the Temple and yet he himself is said to haste to be gone as he was willing to withdraw in the sense of Gods hand stretched out against him so the World casts out and yet Saints go out without the Camp The Men of this Earth are bent and rage against the Saints of the Most High yet if they would recede from the Truth and decline from the pure Worship of Jesus Christ if they would send an Ambassy to the World pray for conditions of Peace Luke 14.32 be brought to their Lure and stoop to their Wills they might be reconciled to their Enemies and gain their Favour Heb. 11.35 They were tortured and accepted not of deliverance after they had some taste of Torments some sence and feeling of Anguish and Pain their Enemies ceased a little time from their cruelty gave them some respite and interval of Ease and then fell to colloguing with them and alluring of them and making them fair Promises of Life and Preferment if they would desert Gods Truth and Worship and comply with their Will but these Spiritual Champions disdain such Offers and Terms They accepted not of deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection So Christs sincere Disciples do in Christs Language take up their Cross Matth. 16.24 as they chuse rather to suffer than to sin to go without the Camp and please God than to stay in it and displease him there needs no other Cords but their own fervent Love to Christ and their fixed purposes to be faithful to him to bind these voluntary Sacrifices to the Altar of sufferings Psal 118.27 3. How and in what sense may Christians be said to go forth to Jesus without the Camp Answ When we own Christs Truth avow his Ways adhere to his sure and spiritual Worship join our selves to him by a firm and lively Faith and cleave to him with full purpose of Heart forsaking all things for him then we go to Jesus hereby we declare whose we are to whom we belong and whom we will follow even to the Death We go forth to Jesus when we are ready to be bound and to die for his sake when we are conformed to him in Sufferings and submit to be used and treated by the World as Jesus Christ was He was no Citizen Darling or Favourite of this World as soon as Born he experimented what the courtesie he tasted what the kindness of the World was to him there was no room for him in the Inn he was thrust out into the Stable and laid in a Manger Afterwards the Worlds enmity did more ripen and rise to a greater height he was filled with Sorrows loaded with Sufferings crowned with Throns bathed in his own Blood These were the Fruits that Heavenly Husband-man received from his own ungrateful Vineyard and when we consent to have Fellowship with Christ in his Tribulations then we go forth to him when we are contented to bear reproaches and disgraceful Sufferings from the World for his sake to be cut off from the Esteem Favour and Society of the World to be excluded from their Company Dainties and Delights to be removed from Men as Lepers and condemn'd Malefactors for such were disgracefully turned out of the Camp of Israel of old Numb 12.10.14 Lev. 24. v. 23. as Christ was carried without the Gate being condemned to Death as if he had been a Blasphemer against God and a Traytor against Caesar Object But here it may be questioned how Christians can be said to go forth to Jesus without the Camp Doth he still stand without the Camp is he yet Suffering without the Gate or hanging on the Infamous Cross on the Fatal Tree Answ It is true that the Personal Sufferings of Christ are at an end God hath taken him from Prison and Judgment He hath raised him from the Grave and exalted him at his Right Hand Tears are wiped from his Eyes and a Massy Glittering Crown is set on his Head He is entred into his Royal City and Palace placed in his Throne and Feasted with all the delights
of the Heavenly Paradise but yet Christ suffers and is Persecuted in his Members Acts 9.4 Saul Saul why Persecutest thou me His Gospel his Interest his People are discountenanced and frowned upon by the World they are not entertained but are rejected of the Men of this Earth and in this respect Christ may still be said to stand without the Gate and to be put without the Camp his Truth his Worship his People are disgraced and disdained by the World Luke 19.14 His Citizens hated him after he was gone into a far Country even into Heaven and sent a Message after him to express they held the same fixed resolution that he should not Reign over them Mark this Expression they sent a Message after him they did not only declare their contempt and enmity to his Face when he was yet present as to his Humane Nature in the World but they continue their disloyalty they persist in their Rebellion against him They do not repent of their former rejection of him and Cruelty practised on him they are no better Natured towards him now he is in his Exaltation then they were in his state of Humiliation they are as sierce against and injurious to his People as they were to him in his own Person so many Saints as they slay so many Martyrs as they cut off so many Messengers they send to Heaven to relate to Jesus Christ their obstinate Malice and Rebellion against him As Stephen soon after Christ so many thousands of Saints that have suffered since have been sent on this Message to Heaven to declare that the World will not have Jesus Christ to Reign over them And in this respect we may be said still in our Sufferings to go forth to Jesus without the Gate This I take to be the Sense principal scope and intendment of this Divine Writer in this Verse and therefore I shall suit my subsequent Discourse to this as the main design of the words and shall proceed to give Reasons why Christians must go forth to Jesus enduring contempt and Reproachful Sufferings for his sake 1. Reason Christians must go forth without the Camp to Jesus because they are not of this World Christ twice in that Excellent Prayer in the 17th of John mentions and insists upon this John 17. v. 14.16 they are not of the World as I am not of the World and the same words are repeated in the 16th Verse his People much needing the Care Protection and Comforts of the Father on this account Believers are said to be Redeemed from the Earth from among Men and out of every Kindred Tongue People and Nation Rev. 14.3 4. Rev. 5.9 Christ gave himself for their sins to deliver them from this present Evil World Gal. 1.4 And he hath chosen them out of the World John 15.19 that they may not continue be condemned and perish for ever with the World and shall not Saints by an Overt-act own and avow this Truth that they are not of the World and be ready and willing to go without the Camp and by this declare they are not of the same Piece are not of the same Spirit with the World that though they have lived and conversed among the Men of the World yet they are not of their Body and Fraternity but being Redeemed from their vain Conversation and translated into the Kingdom of Gods Dear Son they are Related to him as Members to a Head as Subjects to a King When Saints leave their Habitations Estates and all converse with the Men of the World for Christs sake they manifest they are not of the World and that their Hearts Hopes and Treasure is not here below 2. Reas All the Happiness of Christians is laid up in Christ He is their life Col. 3.4 The Lord their Righteousness Jer. 23.6 He is their Peace Eph. 2.14 He is their hope 1 Tim. 1.1 He dwells in them as the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 Yea he is said to be all Col 3.11 Christ is all and Christians are said to be compleat in him Col. 2.10 they have all that is necessary excellent and truly desirable in him and therefore well may they be required to forget their People and their Fathers House to leave and forsake all for him Psalm 45.10 O! shall we not go forth to him that is our Life Righteousness Peace and hope of Glory 3. Reas Christ for our sakes was led without the Gate of the Earthly Jerusalem Jesus that he might Sanctisie the People Suffered without the Gate If he had not carried our sins and exposed himself to endure our Curse he could not have faln into the Hands of his Enemies and been Nailed to the Cross it was our Iniquities and his own love that made him so weak otherwise all the Power of the World could not have imposed Sufferings on the Son of God or have bound this Lamb of God to the Horns of the Altar But he put in his own Name into our Bond he became our Surety and thereby cast a Vail on his own Holiness and Righteousness and was not dealt withal by God as he was in himself Holy 2 Cor. 5. last Is 53.6 harmless undefiled but as made sin for us our guilt being transferr'd our Iniquities being laid on him Thus he that knew no sin in himself became a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief Is 53.3 he was as a Worm for the World to tread on Ps 22.6 a mark for Men to shoot at Gen. 7.11 12. the true Ark of Salvation not only assaulted with Waves below but beat on with Storms from above the Windows of Heaven were opened as well as the Fountains of the great Deep below were broken up For it pleased the Lord to bruise him he did put him to grief Is 53.10 he had not only a Baptism in a Sea of Sufferings without but he drank in a Cup of unexpressible Sorrows The Waters came into his Soul Ps 69.1 2. He complained in his Agony in the Garden that his Soul was sorrowful to the Death Mat. 26.38 his Soul was troubled John 12.27 And his Holiness was thus Vailed by our sins that our sins might be Vailed by his Obedience and covered by his Righteousness he was the slain Goat as he was delivered for our sins and he was the scape Goat as he carried them quite away and was raised again for our Justification Rom. 4. last The Sacrifices that were slain and burnt on the Day of Atonement Figured Christs as I have already intimated These Sacrifices were so charged and loaded with the sins of the People of Israel in a Type that he that carried them forth and burnt them without the Camp was to wash his Cloaths and bathe his Flesh in Water and then be admitted into the Camp so he that led forth the scape Goat on whom the Iniquities of Israel were laid was to wash his Cloaths and bathe his Flesh in Water before he could be received into the Camp they seemed so to
be defiled by touching Sacrifices on whom the sins of Men were laid and so Christ was Condemned and cast out of the Gates of Jerusalem as if he were a very unclean loathsome and abominable Person having yet no sin of his own but being burthened with the sins of his People O! what reproach was this for Jesus to be separated and thrust out from among the Citizens of Jerusalem and then as a Sacrifice to be burned in the Fire of the Vengeance and Wrath of God without the Camp as those Sacrifices for sin were burnt in Material Fire without the Gate on the Day of Atonement And this is further to be observed that the Blood of these Beasts so charged with sin was yet brought into the most Holy Place in the Temple to sprinkle the Mercy Seat and to make Atonement by it in a Type even so though Christ died as an Infamous Person in the Eye of the World and as one charged with the sins of his People in the account of God yet his Blood as most precious is brought into the true Heavenly Sanctuary cries in the Ears of God and is pleaded before his Glorious Throne for the blotting out our sins and the making our Peace with God Thus our Transgressions which are our true and real shame and Reproaches are covered and wiped away before the Lord O! did Jesus Christ die to take away those sins that would have been our Eternal Infamy and Reproach and shall not we willingly go forth to Jesus without the Camp bearing the just and undeserved Reproaches from the World 4. Reas The World still banishes Christ thrusts and keeps him out from among them This is their Language against God and his Son Christ Come let us break their Bonds in sunder and cast their Cords from us Psalm 2.1 2 3. Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us Is 30.11 We will not have this Man to Reign over us Luke 19.14 his word hath no place in them John 5.38.42 and the love of God and Christ dwells not in their Souls and may I not here apply the words of the Prophet Jeremiah They have saith he rejected the Law of the Lord and what Wisdom is in them Jer. 8.9 so I may say the World rejects the Lord of this Law and what Wisdom or Excellency is there in them O! shall we value the Favour Esteem the Friendship or Communion of such a World as rejects Jesus Christ Fox Martyr It is related of Bishop Ridley that it repented him that he had Eaten and Drank that he had accepted any Meat or Entertainment in the House of a Princess that refused to hear the Gospel Preached when it was by him offered to her and shall we Magnifie the kindness of a World that is unkind to Jesus Christ will not yield to his Authority entertain his Kingdom submit to his Laws or accept of his Salvation O! should we not call that Place and those Persons Ichabod 1 Sam. 4. two last Verses that thrust away Christ will not suffer him to dwell and reign among them Where is Glory if Christ be excluded and kept out what is Trade Honour Riches if Christ be absent O! how desolate how solitary how uncomfortable should that place and people be to us here we may not protess Christ may not Worship him and enjoy Communion with him in his Ordinances 2 Chron. 11.14.16 as the Levites and Israelites came away to Jerusalem If the World rage against us would separate us from Christ and obstruct our Converse with him how freely and readily should we go out from such a World When the Israelites by their Idolatry had highly provoked God and done much to drive him away and to berave themselves of his Gracious Presence among them Moses took the Tabernacle and Pitched it without the Camp far off from the Camp and those that sought the Lord went out of the Camp unto the Tabernacle to Worship God Exo. 33.7 So truly the World sets up so many Idols of jealousie in their Hearts and so put the stumbling Block of their Iniquity before their Faces that Christ cannot delight in them or dwell among them his Tabernacle is as I may so speak Pitched without this Camp and shall we not go forth to the Tabernacle of Christ and enjoy Communion with him though by this we lose a place in the Worlds Camp O! will you not follow Christ and resort to him will you prize their Favour or court their Friendship that slight and reject Jesus Christ As Amos 7.10 the Idolatrous Priest accuseth Amos the Prophet of the Lord to the King of Israel and saith the Land was not able to bear his words And Ezek. 3.7 the House of Israel will not harken unto thee for saith God they will not harken to me Jer. 12.8 Mine Heritage is unto me as a Lion in the Forrest it crieth out against me therefore he hated and forsook it And shall we linger and stay in such a Camp where God and Christ are not listened too where the Word will not cannot be born where Sinners indeed cry out against God when they pretend only to declaim against and revile Men O Righteous Father saith Christ the World doth not know thee John 17.25 As for Christ he was in the World and the World was made by him and yet it knew him not John 1.10 and the Spirit of Truth the World cannot receive because it knoweth him not John 14.17 And should we be much concerned or dejected if such a World doth not know us 1 John 3.1 but reproaches and casts us out 5. Reas We cannot be Faithful to Christ or enjoy Communion with him for ever if we do not go out to him without the Camp if we do not venture and Sacrifice all for Christ if we be ashamed of him before Men he will be ashamed of us before his Father and his Holy Angels if we deny him Mat. 10.32 33. he will deny us but if we confess him he will confess us before his Father in the Great Day of Judgment We cannot serve two Masters Mat. 6.24 especially when those are contrary to each other and each of them demands our whole Heart and Service we cannot please God Christ and the World too Know you not that the Friendship of this World is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a Friend of the World is the Enemy of God Jam. 4.4 You cannot keep in with the World but you must break with God you cannot gratifie and oblige the World to you except you will fashion your selves according to its Pattern and Example you must drink in its Corruptions stain your selves with its Filth and run with them to the same excess of Riot else they will exclaim against you and speak Evil of you 1. Pet. 4.4 If you have not ductile Consciences flexible and compliant Spirits and Tempers if you cannot change say and unsay the World will not care for you it will be
Enemies and the Trophies of his Victory Is he not entred gloriously into his Royal City above Hath not Gods Salvation set him up on high Ps 69.29 And may we not with comfort look up to Jesus Christ Exalted at the Right Hand of God as Joshua and the Israelites fighting in the Valley might with hope look up to the lifted Hands and elevated Rod of Moses in the Mount Exod. 17.8 9 10 11 12. As God did not desert the Head Christ so he will not forsake his Members May we not see the Event of all our troubles in the issue of Christs Sufferings May we not from his Victory gather matter of hope as to our success Those that go forth to Jesus will he not lead them unto Glory Heb. 2.10 Hath he not pray'd that they may be with him John 17.24 and promised that he will come again and receive them to himself that where he is they may be also John 14.23 Suffering Saints shall not always stand without the Gate or be hurried up and down in this Wilderness Jesus Christ will lead them to a blessed City of Habitations Ps 107.7 He will carry his Flock into delicions Pastures in the Paradise of God he will lodge his Bretheren in his Fathers House he will conduct his Spouse into that Royal Bride-Chamber that is furnished and gloriously adorned above Saints shall come out of their great Tribulations and be before the Throne for ever Rev. 7.14 15. Crying Pain and Sorrow and all Afflictions will pass away Death shall be swallowed up into Victory All Tears shall be wiped from their Eyes and their reproach and rebuke shall be taken away and cease from all the Earth Is 25.8 The next words to the Text do mention an abiding City that Believers do look for Heb. 13.14 Jesus was reproachfully led without the Gate of the earthly Jerusalem that he might with Honour and Glory lead his Saints within the Gates of the heavenly Jerusalem O! will you not prize this goodly and glorious City whose Walls are Salvation and whose Gates are Praise Is 60.19 Will you prefer a being in an uncertain and momentary Camp before a place in an Eternal City Do you dread the loss of your Camp And will you not much more fear exclusion out of this Blessed City John 12.42 They feared to confess Christ lest they should be put out of the Synagogue But should we not much more dread to deny Christ lest we should be shut out of the City of God Would you have a place of Rest of Honour of Eternal Pleasures after your Days of Vanity and Sorrow O! then go out to Jesus and this Captain of Salvation will convey you safe to this desirable and glorious City where your Heads shall be Crowned with Honour and your Hearts be filled with Triumphant joy for ever The Vse of the Doctrine Vse 1. This may reprove those that are unwilling to own and confess Christ to go forth to him or to appear for him How many Formal Christians think they may tarry in the Camp they may retain the friendship of the world they may preserve their Honour Profits and Civil-Interests and yet keep in with Jesus Christ too As Nazianzen speaks of some that judged they might as in a Dance go in the middle leading Christ in one and the World in the other hand And God complains of the Idolatrous Jews that they enlarged their Bed Isa 57.8 as if they would make room for a lawful Husband and an Adulterer too Are not too many thus affected that as double-minded men waver fluctuate and stagger between God and the World Christ and their own Carnal Interests These account it harsh Doctrine to be told they must go without the Camp to Jesus that they must lose their Friends cast off and detest their nearest Relations and turn their backs on all that is sweet and dear to them in the World O how do they find fault with and cry out against these things as very unmeet and unreasonable to be imposed on them What shall they be ruined and undone in the World for an Opinion or Practice of Religion This is very hard and bitter to flesh and blood they would have Christ to come within the Camp to them they would not go without the Camp to him They would have the Son of God to indulge them and dispense with them so far as may save their stake and comply with their carnal interest They would reconcile God and the World and so serve two Masters reap two Crops and enjoy two Portions have the beams of the Worlds favour and the Light of Gods Countenance too But how grievous and unpleasant is it to hear that they must strip themselves of all seen things for love to an invisible Lord and in expectation of a future and Spiritual Happiness How doth the Flesh murmur and repine at the leaving and loss of all its present Possessions and Enjoyments When men have laboured and toiled in the World to get an Estate what shall they cast all away in a moment and not enjoy the Fruits of their labours Yet thus Christs Disciples did they had toiled all Night at last by Christs direction casting of their Nets they had inclosed a great number of Fishes yet they were not so pleased and delighted with this large and rich draught but that when they came to the Shoar they forsook all to follow Christ Luke 5.6 7.11 How contrary are those then to this Doctrine and Duty that would indent and compound with Christ that he should bring them a smoother and easier way to Heaven than those have gone who through many Tribulations have entred into the Kingdom of God and who will vary their Course as the Winds do shift and change and follow Christ but as the Young-man did who left his Garment and fled away naked when Christs Enemies endeavoured to take hold of him by it Mark 13.51 52. So when the world takes hold of them by the Garment of their Profession they leave it and fly away shamefully naked as to their Souls Vse 2. This Doctrine should put us on the Tryal and Examination of our selves are we willing and ready to go forth to Jesus without the Camp bearing of his Reproach In order to the discovering of the frame of your Hearts and the truth of your Spiritual State let me propound a few serious Questions to you Quest 1. Have you set down and counted the cost what it will stand you in to be Christians indeed Are you furnished with Spiritual Money in your Hearts to go through with this Building and to bring it to perfection Luke 14.28 29. Have you well considered and weighed all the hazards losses and sufferings that do attend the Profession of Christianity that the Fine may rise very high the Furnace may be heated very hot Phil. 3.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For whom I have been Fine at all or as our Translation I have suffered the loss of all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
dearly beloved of thy Soul Quest 4. Have you cast the Anchor of your hope within the Vail Heb. 6.19 20. Is your Treasure and hope laid up in Heaven Matt. 6.20 Col. 1.5 That way which our Anchor is cast our Souls will move This is wonderful that a Christian at the beginning of this Voyage casts his Anchor into the Haven and his whole Voyage is but Sailing to the end of his Cable and to the Possession of that firm Land which his Anchor doth take hold of Nothing will or can establish you in the Storms that you you may meet with but the hope of everlasting life to be enjoyed in the invisible World This present world is as a rough Sea Wicked Men hate and rage against the People of God As some Seas are still rough and the Waves rise and roul continually Vid. Scalig. Exercit. 58. because of subterraneous Winds that rise into the Bowels of those Seas So the Men of this world are as a Sea that hath a Wind within it self viz. Their Malice and Enmity against the People of God and therefore though no wind of injury or provocation blow on them from without yet they cannot cease Maligning and Persecuting the people of God with their Hands or with their Tongues And we shall never venture out on this rough and rouling Sea if we have not cast the Anchor of our hope within the Vail and by it taken hold of Jesus as our forerunner into Glory Sinful self-self-love will lay an Imbargo on us and keep us within the Port and Camp of the worlds friendship if we do not foresee and fasten on something in another World which will countervail all the Dammage and recompense all the Losses that we sustain here If our All lay here below we shall never go out from our Treasure our Portion and our Feast Men will never consent to be totally destroy'd if they have not a new Interest in and Title to another world they will cleave to this present World Have you therefore provided Bread that the world knows not of Bags they cannot risle or take away an Inheritance they cannot reach or rob you of Heb. 10.34 They took joyfully the spoiling of their Goods knowing within themselves that in Heaven they had a more enduring substance The third Vse is for Exhortation Vse 3. Is it the Duty of Christians to go forth without the Camp to Jesus Then I would press you to a compliance with and the Practice of this Duty O! go forth to Jesus own confess and adhere unto him This Exhortation I would urge and inforce with several Motives And then Secondly lay down several Directions how you may be enabled thus to go forth to Jesus First I shall lay down Motives to this Duty 1. Motive Consider who Jesus is how great and Glorious a Person he is He is Styled Jesus the Son of God Heb. 4.14 Having a great high Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our Profession Shall we draw back from or be ashamed of the Son of God Shall the vain shews and passing Pageantry of this World out-shine in our Eyes and darken the Glory of the Son of God He is the self-existent and self-sufficient Eternal Jehovah his Name is I am Exod. 3.14 And this I am should annihilate all the things of this World in our esteem and account Prov. 23.5 Wilt thou set thy Eyes on that which is not Shall that which is not allure and draw our Hearts from I am As the Sun obscures and hides the Stars so this Son of Righteousness which is the brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 should vail and darken all Creature-Beauty and Excellency Shall such vile Worms as the Sons of men be dreaded or loved more than the Almighty and blessed Son of God Will you withdraw from him and cast him off to ingratiate your selves with poor and beggarly Creatures This is as if a man should turn his back on the full Exchequer of a Rich and mighty King and betake himself to an Alms-House God the Father possessed this Son of his that is called Wisdom from everlasting Prov. 8.22 He Possessed him as a Rich Treasure and a Spring of Eternal Delights And this seems by far a more Glorious Title That he is the Possessour of such a Son than that he is the Possessour of Heaven and Earth Gen. 14.22 And doth the Father Glory in such a Possession and shall not we to cleave to and hold fast this blessed Son of God Is he not able to do more for us and will he not be better to us than the whole World However Men revile and abhor him he is glorious in the Eyes of God Is 49.5.7 And shall he not be precious in our Eyes To you that believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2.7 2. Motive You cannot be sincere Christians if you go not out to Jesuâ— Christ and prefer him not before the whole World The very truth of saving grace lies in this to wit in our esteeming and regarding Christ more than all things else We must remember him and his Love so as to forget all things else in comparison of him Cant. 1.4 We will remember thy love more than Wine we will be glad and rejoyce in thee And how is Christ to be remembred We do not rightly remember him if we do not forget our People and Fathers House for him Ps 45.10 And so seek all our comfort contentment and satisfaction in him We must so esteem Christ as utterly to despise whatever comes in competition with him Cant. 8.7 If a Man would give all the substance of his House for Love it would be utterly despised O! how should we disdain whatever is offered to buy our love off from Christ or would substitute it self as a beloved in his room and stead all things should be accounted but Dung for Christ Phil. 3.8 And so must we love Jesus Christ as to hate other things in comparison of our transcendent love to Christ Luke 14.25 26. So Christ teaches us that if any Man will come after him he must hate Father and Mother Wife and Children House and Lands yea and his own life too or else he cannot be his Disciple As Jacob is said to hate Leah and to love Rachel Gen. 29.30 31. because Leah had but a little pittance in comparison of Rachels greater Portion of love So we must love Relations and Life so little in respect of Christ that we may truly be said to hate them and love him and in an hour of temptation we must as readily part with them as with hated things He that loveth Father or Mother Son or Daughter more than Christ is not worthy of him We must so cleave to the Lord Acts 11.23 as to forsake and cast away all other things for him Luke 14.33 Whosoever he be he that forsaketh not all that he hath cannot be my Disciple Self-denial