spiritual the spiritual revives the natural Observe how the spiritual life distils sweetnesse into the natural in three cases 1. In case of Poverty This oft eclipses the comfort of life But what though poverty hath clipped the wings Poore in the world yet rich in faith Jam. 2.5 The one humbles the other revives 2. In case of Reproach This is an heart-breaking Psal. 69.20 Reproach hath broken my heart Yet a Christianhath his Cordial by him 2 Cor. 1.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For this is our rejoycing the testimony of our conscience Who would desire a better Jury to acquit him then God and his own conscience 3. In case of losses 'T is in it selfe sad to have an interposition between us and our dear relations A limb as it were pull'd from our body and sometimes our estates strangely melted away yet a believer hath some gleanings of comfort left and such gleanings as are better then the worlds vintage Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 knowing in your selves that you have in heaven a better and an induring substance Heb. 10.34 They had lost their estate but not their God Here is you see the drie rod blossoming The spiritual life distils comfort into the natural Take the sourest part of a Christians life and there is comfort in it When you heare him sighing bitterly it is for sin and such a sigh though it may break the heart yet it revives it The tears of the godly are sweeter then the triumph of the wicked The comfort that a wicked man hath is only imaginary it is but a pleasant fancy as rejoycing yet alwayes sorrowing He hath that within spoiles his musick But life is yours When a believers life is at the lowest ebbe yet he hath aspringtide of comfort CHAP. IV. The Augmentation of the Charter AMong these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Things present There are yet three other priviledges which are in the beleevers Charter 1. Remission of his sin 2. Regeneration of his nature 3. Adoption of his person §. 1. Shewing That remission of sin is a jewel of the Believers Crown 1. The Remission of his sin This is 1. A costly mercy 2. A choice mercy 1. It is a costly mercy That which inhanceth the price of it is 't is the great fruit of Christs blood Without shedding of blood is no remission Christ did bleed out our pardon he was not onely a Lamb without spot but a Lamb slaine Every pardon a sinner hath is written in Christs blood 2. It is a choice mercy This jewel God hangs upon none but his Elect. 'T is put into the Charter I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more This is an enriching mercy it entitles us to blessednesse Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not his sinne Of all the debts we owe our sinnes are the worst now to have the booke cancelled and God appeased to heare God whisper by his Spirit Sonne be of good chear thy sinnes are forgiven I will not blot thy name out of my book but I will blot thy sinnes out of my book This is a mercy of the first magnitude Biessed is that man in the Originall it is in the plurall Blessednesses Hast thou but one blessing my father saith Esau lo here a plurality a whole chain of blessings Pardon of sin is a voluminous mercy there are many mercies bound up with it You may name it Gad for behold a troop comes When God pardons a sinner◠now he puts on if I may so speak his brightest robe Therefore when he would proclaim himselfe in his glory to Moses it was after this manner The Lord the Lord mercifull His mercy is his glory and if you read a little further you shall see it was no other then pardoning mercy Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin c. 'T is an high act of indulgence God seals the sinners pardon with a kisse This made David put on his best cloathes and anoint himselfe It was strange his childe newly dead and God had told him that the sword should not depart from his house yet now he falls anointing himselfe the reason was David had heard good news God sent him his pardon by Nathan the Prophet The Lord hath put away thy sin This oile of gladnesse which God had now poured into his heart made way for the anointing oile Quest. How shall I know that this priviledge is mine Answ. He whose sins are pardoned hath something to shew for it There are two Scripture-evidences 1. The pardoned sinner is a weeping sinner Never did any man read his pardon with drie eyes Look upon that weeping penitent She stood behinde Christ weeping Her heart was a sacred limbeck out of which those teares were distilled Quest. But to what purpose is all this cost what needs weeping after pardon Answ. Because now sinne and mercy are drawne forth in more lively colours then ever The Spirit comes thus to a sinner Thou hast sinned against God who never intended thee evill thou hast abused that mercy that saves thee all this thou hast done yet behold here is thy pardon I will set up my mercy above thy sin nay in spight of it The sinner being sensible of this falls a weeping and wisheth himselfe even dissolved into teares He looks upon a bleeding Christ with a bleeding heart Nothing can so melt the heart of a sinner as the love of God and the blood of Christ. 2. He whose sins are pardoned his heart burnes in love to God thus we reade of Mary Magdalene as her eyes were broached with tears so her heart was fired with love to Christ For she loved much Gods love in pardoning a sinner is attractive The Law hath a driving power but love hath a drawing power §. 2. Shewing That Regeneration goes along with Remission and is a branch of the Charter 2d. Priviledge The Regeneration of his nature which is nothing else but the transforming the heart and casting it into a new mould you have a pregnant place for this Be ye transformed by the renewing of your minde In the Incarnation Christ did assume our humane nature and in Regeneration we partake of his divine nature This blessed work of Regeneration is in Scripture called sometimes the new birth because it is begotten of a new seed the Word Iam. 1.18 And sometimes the new creature new not in substance but in quality This is the great promise Ezek. 36.26 A new heart also will I give you Observe Remission and Regeneration are two twins When God pardons he takes away the Rebels heart Where this work of Regeneration is wrought the heart hath a new Byas and the life a new Edition How great a priviledge this is will appear two wayes Till this blessed work of Regeneration we are in a spiritual sense 1.
shall see clearly whether Iezabel had more minde to keep a fast or to get Naboths Vineyard then we shall see whether Herod had more minde to worship Christ or to worry him all the secrets of mens hearts shall be laid open Me thinks it would be worth dying to see this sight We shall then see who is the Achan who the Iudas the womens paint falls off from their faces when they come neere the fire before the scorching heat of Gods justice the hypocrites paint will drop off and the Treason hid in the heart will be visible These mysteries will God reveal to us our knowledge shall be clear CHAP. XI The sixth Prerogative Royal. THE next priviledge is Our Love shall be perfect Love is the Jewell with which Christ's Bride is adorned in one sense it is more excellent then Faith for Love never ceaseth 1 Cor. 13.8 The Spouse shall put off her Jewel of Faith when she goes to heaven but she shall never put off her Jewel of Love Love shall be perfect 1. Our love to God shall be perfect The Saints love shall be joyned with Reverence for a filial disposition shall remaine but there shall be no servile feare in Heaven Horrour and trembling is proper to the damned in hell though in Heaven there shall be a reverencing fear yet a rejoycing fear we shall see that in God which will work such a delight that we cannot but love him And this love to God shall be 1. A fervent love we love him here secundùm studium there secundùm actum as the Schoolmen speak Our love to God in this life is rather a desire but in Heaven the smoak of desire shall be blown up into a flame of love we shall love God with an intensenesse of love here our love is lukewarme and sometimes frozen a childe of God weeps that he can love God no more but there is a time shortly coming when our love to God shall be fervent it shall burn as hot as it can the damned shall be in a flame of fire the elect in a flame of love 2. A fixed-love Alas how soon is our love taken off from God! other objects presenting themselves steal away our love Your goodnesse is like a morning cloud and as the early dew it goeth away In the morning you shall see the grasse covered with drops of dew as so many pearls but before noon all is vanished so is it with our love to God perhaps at a Sermon when our affections are stirred the heart melts in love and at a Sacrament when we see Christs blood as it were trickling downe upon the crosse some love-drops fall from the heart but within a few dayes all is vanished and we have lost our first love this is matter of humiliation while we live But O ye Saints comfort your selves in Heaven your love shall be fixed as well as fervent it shall never be taken off from God any more such beauty and excellency shall shine in God that as a divine loadstone it will be alwayes drawing our eyes and hearts after him 2. Our love to the Saints shall be perfect Love is a sweet harmony a tuning and chiming together of affections It is our duty to love the Saints 1. Though they are of bad dispositions sometimes their nature is so rugged unhewn that grace doth not cast forth such a lustre it is like a gold ring on a leprous hand or a Diamond set in iron yet if there be any thing of Christ it is our duty to love it 2. Though they in some things differ from us yet if we see Christ's image and portraiture drawn upon their hearts we are to separate the precious from the vile But alas how defective is this grace how little love is there among Gods people Herod and Pilate can agree wicked men unite when Saints divide For the divisions of England there are great thoughts of heart Contentions were never more hot love never more cold Many there are whose musick consists all in discords whose harp is the Crosse that pretend to love truth but hate peace Divisions are Satans Powder-plot to blow up Religion Sin brought forth separation and this daughter of separation hath brought forth the grand-childe of division For these things there are great searchings of heart It were not strange to hear the harlot say Let the childe be divided but to heare the mother of the child say so this is sad If Pope Cardinall Jesuite all conspire against the Church of God it were not strange but for one Saint to persecute another this is strange For a Wolfe to worry a Lamb is usuall but for a Lamb to worry a Lamb is unnatural For Christs Lily to be among the thorns is ordinary but for this Lily to become a thorne to teare and fetch blood of it self this is strange How will Christ take this at our hands Would he not have his Coat rent and will he have his Body rent Oh that I could speak here weeping Well this will be a foyl to set off heaven the more there is a time shortly coming when our love shall be perfect there shall be no difference of judgement in heaven there the Saints shall be all of a piece Though we fall out by the way and about the way we shall all agree in the journies end When once the blessed Harp of Christs voice hath sounded in the ears of the Saints the evill spirit shall be quite driven away When our strings shall be wound up to the highest peg of glory you shall never hear any more discord in the Saints Musick In Heaven there shall be a perfect Harmony CHAP. XII The seventh Prerogative Royal. THe next glorious priviledge to come is the Resurrection of our bodies This is an Article of our faith Now for the illustration of this there are three things considerable 1. That there â—s such a thing as the Resurrection 2. That this is not yet past 3. That the same body that dies shall rise again 1. I shall prove the Proposition that there is a Resurrection of the body There are some of the Sadduces opinion that there is no resurrection then let us eat and drink for to morrow we die 1 Cor. 15.32 To what purpose are all our prayers and tears and indeed it were well for them who are in their life-time as bruit beasts if it might be with them as beasts after death but there is a resurrection of the body as well as an ascension of the soul which I shall prove by two Arguments 1. Because Christ is risen therefore we must rise the head being raised the rest of the body shal not alwayes lye in the grave for then it would be an head without a body his rising is a pledge of our resurrection 1 Thes. 4.14 2. Ex AEquo in regard of justice and equity the bodies of the wicked have been weapons of unrighteousnesse and have joyned with the
see the miscarriages of many their Covetousnesse their Licentiousnesse had hee no other Bible to read in but the lives of some Professors hee would turne back again and resolve never to be made a Christian. Pudet haec opprobria nobis What a shame is this Did Christ walk thus when hee was upon earth His life was a pattern of Sanctity You that are Professors your sinnes are sinnes of unkindnesse they go nearest to Christs heart Do you live as those who have hope of things to come is Christ preparing Heaven for you and are you preparing Warre against him Is this your kindnesse to your friend O consider how you wound Religion Your sinnes are worse then others A staine in a black cloth is not so easily seen or taken notice of but a spot in a piece of Scarlet every ones eye is upon it The sinnes of wicked men are not so much wondred at they can do no other theirs is a spot in black but a sinne in a Professor this is like a spot in a bright Scarlet every ones eye is upon it this wounds the honour of Religion The deviation of the godly is as odious as the devotion of the prophane Oh that there were such a lustre and majesty of holinesse in the lives of Professors that others might say These look as if they had been with Jesus they live as if they were in Heaven already Aaron must not onely have Bels but Pomegranates which were for savour as the other were for sound It is not enough to discourse of godlinesse or to make a noise by a Profession What are these Bels without the Pomegranates viz. a life that casts a savour in the Church of God 2. Walk as Christ did in Humility His life was a pattern of Humility He was the Heir of Heaven the God-head was in him yet he washeth his Disciples feet Iohn 13.6 He poured water into a Bason and began to wash his Disciples feet and to wipe them with the Towel No wonder it is said that he came in the form of a servant he stands here with his Bason of water and a Towel nay he did not onely humble himself to the Disciples feet but he humbled himself to the death even the death of the cross Phil. 2.8 Tread in this step of Christ be humble the humble Saint looks like a Citizen of heaven Humility is the vail of a Christian Christs Bride never looks more beautifull in his eye than when she hath on this vail Be ye clothed with humility Humility as it hides anothers error so it hides its own graces grace shines brightest thorow the Mask of humility Moses face shined but he wist not that it shined What are all our duties without humility Incense smells sweetest when it is beaten small when the Incense of our duties is beaten small then it sends forth its most fragrant perfume Humility studies its own unworthinesse it looks with one eye upon grace to keep the heart chearful and with the other eye upon sinne to keep it humble Better is that sinne which humbles me then that duty which makes me proud Humility gives all to Christ as Ioab when he had gotten a victory sends for King David that he might carry away the Crown of it So doth the humble Christian when he hath gotten the victory over a corruption he sets the Crown upon the head of Christ if he hath strength to go thorow duties he writes Christ and free grace upon all I laboured more abundantly then they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me 1 Cor. 15.10 You that look for things above let me tell you the way to ascend is to descend the lower the tree roots the higher it shoots up would you shoot up in glory would you be tall Cedars in the Kingdome of God be deeply rooted in Humility Humility is compar'd by some of the Fathers to a Valley we must walk to heaven thorow this valley of Humility Humility is such a precious Herb as growes not in the garden of Philosophy that is rather Humanity then Humility Humility distinguisheth Christs Spouse from harlots Hypocrites grow in knowledge but not in humility Knowledge puffs up 1 Cor. 8.1 'T is a Metaphor taken from a pair of Bellowes that are blown up and fill'd with winde He that is proud of his knowledge the Devil cares not how much he knows It is observable in the old law that God hated the very resemblance of the sinne of pride he would have no honey mingled in their offering Ye shall burne no leaven nor any honey in any offering of the Lord made by fire Indeed leaven is soure but what is there in honey that should offend why no honey because honey when it is mingled with meale or flower maketh it to rise and swell therefore the people of Israel must mingle no honey in their offering This was to let us see how God hated the resemblance of this sinne of pride Be humble 3. Be like Christ in Charity Christs life was a life of charity he breath'd nothing but love he was full of this sweet perfume as his Person was lovely so was his Disposition he was compos'd all of love his lips dropp'd honey his side dropp'd blood his heart dropp'd love You that expect these glorious things to come live as Christ did live in love Oh that this spice might send out its fragrant smell among Christians We know we are passed from death to life because we love the brethren Dost thou love the Person of Christ and hate the picture He that loves him who doth beget loves him also that is begotten There are two Devils which are not fully cast out of Gods own people The devil of vaine glory and the devil of uncharitablenesse Are we not Fellow-Citizens Doe wee not all expect the same Heaven Nay are we not Brethren which should be a sufficient bond to knit us together in amity We have all the same Father God We are borne of the same Mother the Church we are begotten of the same seed the Word We suck the same brests the Promises Wee feed at the same Board the Table of the Lord We wear the same cloathing the Robe of Christ's Righteousnesse We are partners in the same glory the inheritance of the Saints in light And shall we not love There is indeed a blessed strife when the Saints strive for the faith but this is a strife that consists of unity Striving together for the faith of the Gospel Phil. 1.27 You that look for things to come live suitably to your hopes Walke as Christ did that some of his beams may shine in you and his life may be as it were copied out in yours 3. The third duty is If things to come are a Beleevers be content though you have the lesse of things present Having food and rayment let us be therewith content Oh what a rich estate hath a
abroad into the world but the importunity of some friends and principally the many favours received from your Honour when I was in your noble Family and which have been since continued did press upon me yet not without some reluctancy in my own thoughts to commit it to the publick I hope the discourse may be seasonable and doubt not but it will take some impression if it be as a naile fastned by the great Master of Assemblies I have drawn but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or dark lineaments of that blessed condition which the Saints shall arrive at expect not to see it in its orient colours till God himself give you the Pattern and you shall both see and enjoy it at once The Lord preserve your Ladyship and all those Noble Branches descended from you which is the prayer of From my Study at Stephens Walbrook Feb. 5. 1651. MADAM Your honours most humble and faithful servant THOMAS WATSON THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. THe preface and entring into the words p. 1 2 An Objection answered pag. 3. All things in heaven and earth are a Beleevers p. 6 CHAP. II. Reasons shewing how the Beleever comes to have this rich Charter 1. Because he is an heire of the Covenant p. 7. 2. Because he is so nearly related to Christ who is heire of all p. 10. CHAP. III. The unsealing of the Charter p. 11. Things present are a Beleevers p. 12. Section 1. That Paul and Apollo are his p. 12 13. The first inference p. 15. The second inference p. 17. The third inference p. 18. Section 2. That the world is his p. 24. Section 3. That life is his p. 31. CHAP. IV. The enlarging of the Charter p. 36. Section 1. That remission is a Beleevers priviledge p. 37 How we may know whether this be our priviledge p. 39 40. Section 2. That Regeneration is a beleevers priviledge p. 41. Section 3. That Adoption is a Beleevers priviledge p. 45. Section 4. The inferences drawn from Adoption p. 51. Section 5. The signes of Adoption p. 59. CHAP. V. The second part of the Charter That things to come are a Beleevers p. 63. CHAP. VI. The 12. Priviledges in reversion 1. Death is a Beleevers p. 66. Though death in it self be a privation yet to a childe of God it is a Priviledge p. 67. To whom death is a priviledge p 78 81 CHAP. VII The second Prerogative Royal of a Beleever he shall be carried up by the Angels p. 84. CHAP. VIII The third Prerogative Royal the Beleever shall be with Christ. p. 89 Six priviledges growing out of this 1. Vision p. 92. 2. Union p. 97. 3. Nobility p. 99. 4. Ioy. p. 103. 5. Rest. p. 114. 6. Security p. 118. CHAP. IX The fourth Prerogative Royal the glorious inheritance p. 122. Which hath six Properties 1. Sublimenesse p. 124. 2. Magnificence p. 125. 3. Purity p. 126. 4. Amplitude p. 128. 5. Light p. 130. 6. Permanency p. 131. Concerning the glory of this inheritance foure things superadded 1. It is ponderous p. 135. 2. It is satisfying p. 135 136. 3. Though others have their portion paid out there is never the lesse for us p. 137. 4. The soules of the Elect enter upon possession immediately after death p. 138. That the New creature only is the heir of this new Hierusalem p. 149. CHAP. X. The fifth Prerogative Royal our knowledge shall be cleare p. 153. Five Mysteries God will clear up to us in heaven so far as our humane nature is capable p. 154. 1. The Mystery of the Trinity ibid. 2. The Mystery of the Incarnation p. 155. 3. The Mystery of Scripture p. 159. 4. The Mystery of Providence p. 160. 5. The Mystery of Hearts p 163. CHAP. XI The sixth Prerogative Royal our love shall be perfect p. 165. CHAP. XII The seventh Prerogative Royal the Resurrection of our bodies p. 171. Several Corolaries our Uses drawn from the Resurrection 1. Use. p. 182. 2. Use. p 185. 3. Use. ibid. CHAP. XIII The eighth Prerogative Royal the bodies of the Saints shall be richly enameld with glory p. 187. Five properties of glorified bodies 1. Agility p. 188. 2. Clarity p. 189. 3. Beauty p. 190. 4. Impassibility p. 192. 5. Immortality ibid. CHAP. XIV The ninth Prerogative Royal we shall be as the Angels in heaven p. 194. CHAP. XV. The tenth Prerogative Royal the Vindication of names p. 199. CHAP. XVI The eleventh Prerogative Royal the Saints absolution p. 203. Where is observable 1. The Book of life opened ibid. 2. The blessed sentence p. 204. CHAP. XVII The twelfth Prerogative Royal a publick and honourahle mention of all the good the Saints have done p. 205. CHAP. XVIII Use. 1. Inform. 1. Branch The first inference drawn from the proposition p. 210. CHAP. XIX Inform. 2. Branch The second inference shewing the difference between the godly and the wicked the wicked have all their worst things to come p. 212. The Reprobates black Charter p. 213. CHAP. XX. Use. 2. Tryal Second Use of Tryal shewing how a Christian may know whether he hath any right to the Beleevers priviledges p. 227. That faith gives a title p. 229. The nature of faith opened In its Essentials p. 230. The nature of faith opened In its Consequentials p. 244. A reply to the sinners Objections p. 256. CHAP. XXI The Beleevers Objections answered p. 259. CHAP. XXII The third Use Exhortation 1. Branch Shewing the duties of a Beleever by way of Retaliation 1. Duty Thankfulnesse p. 270. 2. Duty Exemplarinesse of life p. 274. Walk as Christ did upon earth 1. In Sanctity p. 275. 2. In Humility p. 279. 3. In Charity p. 283. 3. Duty Contentation p. 285. 4. Duty Anticipation of heaven p. 288. 5. Duty Chearfulnesse p. 292. 6 Duty Envy not them who have only things present p. 297. 7 Duty Comfort in the want of spiritual comfort p. 299. 8. Duty All our things must be Christs p. 303. 9. Duty Wait for these great things in Reversion p. 306. Use. Exhortation 2. Branch To such as have only things here that they would labour for things to come p. 312 Sublunary things are but 1. Vain p. 313. 2. Uncertaine ibid. 3. Vexing p. 314. 4. Dangerous ibid. Our pursuit should be rather after the portion â—hen a few gifts p. 317. THE CHRISTIANS Charter 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. For all things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods CHAP. I. The Porch or Entrance into the words together with the Proposition HAppinesse is the mark and centre which every man aimes at The next thing that is sought after being is being happy and surely the neerer the soul comes to God who is the fountain of life and peace the nearer it approacheth to happinesse and who so near to God as the Beleever who is mystically one with him he must needs be the happy man And if you
Mal. 3.17 The world is the shrine or Cabinet where God locks up these jewels for a time The world is yours it was made for you The creation is but a theatre to act the great work of Redemption upon The world is the field the Saints are the corn the ordinances are the showers the mercies of God are the Sunshine that ripens this corn death is the sickle that cuts it down the Angels are the harvesters that carry it into the barn The world is yours God would never have made this field were it not for the corn growing in it What use then is there of the wicked They are as an hedge to keep the corn from forrain invasions though oft-times they are a thorn-hedge Quest. But alas a childe of God hath oft the least share in the world how then is the world his Answ. If thou art a believer that little thou hast though it be but an handfull of the world it is blest to thee If there be any consecrated ground in the world that is a believers The world is yours Esau had the venison but Iacob got the blessing a little blest is sweet A little of the world with a great deal of peace is better then the revenues of unrighteousnesse Every mercy a childe of God hath swims to him in Christs blood and this sauce makes it relish the sweeter Whatever he tastes is seasoned with Gods love he hath not only the mercy but the blessing So that the World is a Believers An Unbeliever that hath the World at will yet the World is not his he doth not taste the quintessence of it Thornes and thistles doth the ground bring forth to him He feeds upon the fruit of the curse I will curse your blessings he eats with bitter herbs So that properly the World is a Believers He only hath a Scripture-tenure and that little he hath turnes to creame Every mercy is a present sent him from heaven 2. All things that fall out in the World are for your good 1. The want of the World all is for your good 2. The hatred of the World all is for your good 1. The want of the World is for your good By wanting the honours and revenues of the World you want the temptations that others have Physicians observe that men die sooner by the abundance of blood then the scarcity 't is hard to say which kills most the sword or surfet A glutton with his teeth digs his own grave The world is a silken net the prosperity of fools shall destroy them Him whom I shall kisse saith Judas take him so whom the world kisseth it often betrayes The want of the world is a mercy 2. The Hatred of the world is for your good Wicked men are instruments in Gods hand for good albeit they mean not so they are flails to thresh off our husks files to brighten our graces leeches to suck out the noxious blood Out of the most poisonful drug God distils his glory and our salvation A childe of God is beholding even to his enemies The ploughers ploughed upon my back if they did not plough and harrow us we should bear but a very thin crop After a man hath planted a tree he prunes and dresseth it Persecutors are Gods pruning-hook to cut off the excrescencies of sin and evermore the bleeding vine is most fruitful the envy and malice of the wicked shall do us good God stirred up the people of Egypt to hate the Israelites and that was a meanes to usher in their deliverance The frownes of the wicked make us the more ambitious of Gods smile their incensed rage as it shall carry on Gods decree for while they sit backward to his command they shall row forward to his decree so it shall have a subserviency to our good Every crosse winde of providence shal blow a believer neerer to the port of glory What a blessed condition is a child of God in kill him or save him alive it is all one The opposition of the world is for his good The world is yours §. 3. Shewing That life is a believers 3. The next thing is Life is yours Hierome understands it of the life of Christ. It is true Christs life is ours the life which he lived on earth and the life which he now lives in heaven his satisfaction and his intercession both are ours and they are of unspeakable comfort to us But I conceive by life in the text is meant Natural life that which is contradistinguished to death So Ambrose But how is life a Beleevers Two wayes 1. The priviledge of life is his 2 The comfort of life is his 1. The priviledge of life is a believers that is life to a childe of God is an advantage for heaven this life is given him to make provision for a better life Life is the porch of Eternity here the Believer dresseth himself that he may be fit to enter in with the Bridegroome We cannot say of a wicked man unlesse catachrestically that life is his Though he lives yet life is not his he is dead while he lives He doth not improve the life of nature to get the life of grace he is like a man that takes the lease of a farm and makes no benefit of it Diu fuit in mundo non vixit he hath been so long in the world as Seneca speaks but he hath not lived He was borne in the Reigne of such a King his father left him such an estate he was of such an age and then he died there 's an end of him his life was not worth a prayer nor his death worth a tear But life is yours 't is a priviledge to a Believer while he hath natural life he layes hold upon eternal life how doth he work out his salvation what a do is there to get his evidences sealed what weeping what wrastling how doth he even take heaven by storme So that life is yours It is to a childe of God a season of grace the seed-time for eternity the longer he lives the riper he grows for heaven The life of a believer spends as a lamp he doth good to himselfe and others the life of a sinner runs out as the sand it doth little good The life of the one is as a figure ingraven in marble the life of the other as letters written in dust 2. The â—â—â—fort of life is a beleevers rejoycingâ—ake â—ake a childe of God at the 〈◊〉 disadvantage let his life be â—ver-cast with clouds yet if there be any comfort in life the believer hath it Our life is oft imbecill and weake but the spiritual life doth administer comfort to the natural Homo componitur ex mortali rationali Man saith Augustine is compounded of the mortal part and the rational part the rational serves to comfort the mortal So I may say a Christian consists of a natural life and a
necessary inferences from adoption This blessed state of adoption doth strongly infer two things 1. Gods love 2. Gods care 1. Adoption sets forth Gods complacency or love to the Saints Adoption is enriched with love For a King to take a galley-slave and adopt him for his son what is this but love When we were galley-slaves to the devil then did God invest us with the priviledge of son-ship 1 Ioh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love hath the Father bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God It is mercy that feeds a sinner but it is rich mercy that adopts him If the Saints are children all Gods transactions toward them are love Let him do what he will with them yet he loves them they are adopted Object But God is angry with them Answ. Gods love and his anger towards his children are not opposita but diversa they may stand together he is angry in love As many as I love I rebuke and chasten A bitter pill may be as needfull for preserving health as a julip or cordial God afflicts with the same love he adopts Deus irascitur cùm non irascitur God is most angry when he is not angry Affliction is an argument of son-ship If you endure chastnings God dealeth with you as with sonnes God had one Sonne without sinne but no sonne without stripes Afflictions are refining Prov. 17.3 The fining pot is for silver and the furnace for Gold Fiery trials make golden Christians Afflictions are purifying Dan. 12.10 Many shall be tried and made white We think God is going to destroy us but he only layes us a whitening God will make us at last bless him for our sufferings Oculos quos peccatum claudit poena aperit The eyes that sin shuts affliction opens When Manasseh was in chaines then he knew the Lord was God Every Christian must go to heaven upon the crosse First the stones in Solomons Temple were hewn and polished and then set up into a building first the Saints who are called lively stones must be hewen and carved by sufferings as the corner-stone was and so made meet for the celestiall building Object 2. But sometimes those that are adopted are under the black clouds of desertion How doth this consist with love Answ. 1. Yet God leaves a seed of comfort He that believes hath the seed of God in him Gods children when they want the Sun yet they have a day-sâ—ar in their heart They have the work of sanctification when they want the wine of consolation Grace is better then comfort 2. I answer God may forsake his children in regard of vision but not in regard of union Thus it was with Jesus Christ when he cried out My God my God There was not a separation of the union between him and his Father only a suspension of the vision When the Moon doth intervene between us and the Sun there follows an eclipse Gods love through the interposition of our sins may be darkned and eclipsed but still he is a Father The Sun may be hid in a cloud but it is not out of the Firmament The promises in time of desertion may be as it were sequestred we have not that comfort from them as formerly but still the believers title holds good in law 3. Wheâ— God hides his face from his childe his heart may be towards him God may change his countenance but not his heart It is one thing for God to desert another thing to dis-inherit How shall I give thee up O Ephraim Hos. 8.11 This is a Metaphor taken from a father going to dis-inherit his son and while he is going to set his hand to the deed his bowels begin to melt and to yearn over him though he be a prodigal childe yet he is a childe I will not cut off the entail So saith God How shall I give thee up though Ephraim hath been a rebellious son yet he is a son I will not dis-inherit him Gods heart may be full of love when there is a vaile upon his face The Lord may change his dispensation towards his children but not his disposition The believer may say I am adopted and let God do what he will with me let him take the rod or the staffe 't is all one he loves me 2. Adoption sets forth Gods tender care Will not a father take care for his child This care of God shines forth in two things 1. Prevention 2. Provision 1. In Prevention God ever lies sentinell to keep off evill from us 1. Temporal evill There are many casualties and contingencies to which we are incident God shields them off he keeps watch and ward for his people Psal. 121.4 He that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep The eye of providence is ever awake and God gives his Angels charge over us Psal. 91.11 A believer hath a guard of Angels for his life-guard There is an elegant expression to set this out He bare you as upon Eagles wings an emblem of Gods providendentiall care to his adopted The Eagle fears no bird from above to hurt her young only the arrow from beneath therefore she carries them upon her wings that the Arrow must first hit her before it can come at her young ones Thus God carries his children upon the wings of providence and they are such that there is no clipping these wings not can any Arrow hurt them 2. Spirituall evils Psalm 91.10 There shall no evill befall thee God doth not say No afflictions shall befall us but no evil Question But sometimes evil in this sense befals the godly viz. sin they spot their garments Answer 1. But that evill shall not be mortall As quick-silver is in it selfe dangerous but by oyntments it is so tempered that it is killed so sinne is in it self deadly but being tempered with repentance and mixed with the sacred ointment of Christs blood the venemous damning nature of it is taken away 2. Though sinne in it selfe be evil yet to believers God will bring good out of that evil he will humble them and every trip shall make them the more watchful Poison is in it selfe evil but the wise Physician can turne it to a sovereign medicine 2. In Provision Hath God adopted us for children and will he not provide for us Behold the fowls of the aire c Doth a man feed his bird and will he not feed his childe Consider the lilies of the field Doth God cloath the lilies and will he not cloath his lambs The Lord careth for us 1 Peter 5.7 As long as his heart is full of love so long his head will be full of care §. 5. Shewing The signes of adoption Quest. But how shall I know that I am adopted Answ. If thou hast in thee a child-like heart which is 1. A tender heart 2 Chr. 34.27 Because thy heart was tender The heart that was before
the sea he doth not complaine that he wants his Cisterne of water Though thou didst suck some comfort from thy relations yet when thou comest to the Ocean and art with Christ thou shalt never complaine that thou hast left thy cistern behinde There will be nothing to breed sorrow in heaven there shall be joy and nothing but joy Heaven is set out by that phrase Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord Here joy enters into us there we enter into joy the joyes we have here are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These are from heaven those are in heaven the joyes that we shall have with Christ are without measure and without mixture In thy presence is fulness of joy 1. The heart shall be filled Nothing but Christ can replenish the heart with joy the understanding will affections are such a triangle that none can fill but the Trinity As Christs beauty shall amaze the eye so his love shall ravish the heart of a glorified Saint must it not needs be joy to be with Christ what joy when a Christian shall see the great gulfe shot between heaven and hell What joy when Christ shall take us into the Wine-celler and kisse us with the kisses of his lips What joy when the match shall be at once made up and solemnized between Christ and a believer these are the more noble and generous delights 2. All the senses shall be filled with joy and at once The eye shall be filled What joy to see that Orient brightnesse in the face of Christ there you may see the Lily and the Rose mixed white and ruddy Cant. 5.10 The Eare shall be filled What joy to the Spouse to heare Christs voice The voice of God was dreadful to Adam after he had listened to the Serpents voice I heard thy voice in the garden and was afraid Gen. 3.10 But how sweet will the Bridegrooms voice be What joy to hear him say My Love my Dove my undefiled What joy to heare the musick of Angels even the heavenly hoast praysing God If the eloquence of Origen the golden mouth of Chrysostome did so affect and charme the eares of their auditours Oh then what will it be to heare the glorious tongues of Saints and Angels as so many divine Trumpets sounding forth the excellencies of God and singing Hallelujahs to the Lamb The smell shall be filled What joy to smell that fragrancy and perfume that comes from Christ All his garments smell of myrrhe aloes and Cassia The sweet breath of his Spirit blowing upon the soule shall give forth its sent as the wine of Lebanon The taste shall be filled Christ will bring his Spouse into the banqueting house and she shall be inebriated with his love O what joy to be drinking in this heavenly nectar This is the water of life This is the wine on the lees well refined The touch shall be filled the Saints shall be ever in the embraces of Christ Behold my hands and my feet handle me and see me Luk. 24.39 That will be our work in heaven we shall be ever handling the Lord of life Thus all the senses shall be filled Yet though there be a fulnesse of joy there shall be no surfeit the soule shall not be so full but it shall desire nor shall it so desire but it shall be full That which prevents a surfeit in heaven is that there shall be every moment new and fresh delights springing forth from God into the glorified soul Well might the Apostle say to be with Christ is farre better Great is the joy that faith breeds Whom not seeing yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory If the joy of Faith be such what will the joy of fruition be There is ioy when we fall into temptations Jam. 1.2 If Christs sufferings are full of joy what then are his embraces If the dew of Hermon hill be so sweet the first fruits of Christs love what will the full crop be In short there will be nothing in heaven but what shall adde infinitely to the joy of the Saints The very torments of the damned shall create matter of joy and triumph I may allude to that of the Psalmist The righteous shall rejoyce when he sees the vengeance the elect shall rejoyce upon a double account to see Gods justice magnificently exalted and to see themselves miraculously delivered There shall be no unpleasant object represented nothing but joy Such will that joy be when we are with Christ that as it is not possible so neither is it fit for a man to speake 2 Cor. 12.4 We read that Ioseph gave his brethren money and provision for the way But the full sacks were kept till they came at their fathers house God gives us something by the way some of the hidden-manna some taste of his heavenly joy in this life but the full sacks of corne are kept for heaven O what joy to be with Christ surely if there were such joy and triumph at Solomons coronation That all the earth rang with the sound of it What joy will be on the Saints coronation-day when they shall be eternally united to Jesus Christ This shall inhance the joy of heaven It is for ever 1 Thes. 4.17 Then shall we ever be with the Lord. If this joy should after many years have a period it would much abate the sweetnesse But certainly if we could by our Arithmetick reckon up more millions of ages then there have been minutes since the Creation after all this time which were a short eternity the joy of the Saints shall be as farre from ending as it was at the beginning SECT V. The fifth Priviledge of being with Christ. I Proceed to the next priviledge which is Rest A Christian in this life is like Quick-silver which hath a principle of motion in it self but not of rest We are never quiet but as the Ball upon the Racket or the ship upon the waves· As long as we have sinne this is like the quick-silver A childe of God is full of motion and disquiet I have no rest in my bones by reason of my sinne Psal. 38.3 While there are wicked men in the world never look for rest If a man be poor he is thrust away by the rich if he be rich he is envied by the poore sometimes losses disquiet sometimes law-suits vex 'T is onely the prisoner lives in such a Tenement as he may be sure none will go about to take from him one trouble doth succeed another Velut unda supervenit undae sometimes the flood-gates of persecution are opened sometimes the Tombstone of disgrace is laid upon the Saints either the body is in trouble or the minde or both The Saints in this life are in a pilgrim-condition the Apostles had no certaine dwelling place 1 Cor. 4.11 We are here in a perpetual hurry in a constant fluctuation our life is like the Tyde
of him for joy O what trembling now among the devils what triumph among the Angels CHAP. XVII The last Prerogative Royal. THE last Priviledge to come is God will make a publick and honourable mention of all the good which the Saints have done This I ground upon three Scriptures Matth. 25.21 Euge bone serve Well done thou good and faithful servant The world maligns and censures when we discharge our conscience they say ill done but God will say well done thou good and faithful servant he will set a trophy of honour upon his people Matth. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was a thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me c. King Ahashuerus had his book of Records and when he did read in his book he took notice of Mordecai's good service and caused him to have publick honour Be assured God hath his book of Records and will openly take notice of all the good service you have done and he himselfe will be the Herald to proclaim your praises 2 Cor. 4.5 Then shall every man have praise of God I speak this the rather to encourage you in Gods service Perhaps thou hast laid out thy selfe for the Cause of God and thou seest Providence blows upon it and thou beginnest to think it was a desperate venture all is lost No thy Faith and Zeal is recorded thy Name is taken in Heaven and God will shortly give thee a publick testimonial of honour Well done thou good and faithful servant What a whetstone is this to duty how should it adde oyl to the flame of our devotion thou perhaps hast prayed a great while and watered this seed with thy teares be of good comfort thy tears are not lost God bottles them as precious wine and it is not long before he will open his bottle and this wine which came from the winepresse of thy eyes shall sparkle forth in the sight of men and Angels Nay God will not only take notice of what we have done for him but what we would have done David had an intention to build God an house and the Lord did interpret it as if he had done it 1 King 8.18 Whereas it was in thy heart to build an house unto my Name thou didst well that it was in thine heart Intentional goodness is recorded and it shall adde to our Crown What a good God do we serve who would ever change such a Master it were one would think enough that God should give us wages for our work especially seeing he gave us ability to work but that God should applaud us Well done Think how sweet it will be to heare such a word from God how amazing and ravishing when he shall say openly These are the servants of the most high God these are they that have feared an Oath that have wept in secret for that which it was not in their power to reform these are they that have kept their garments pure that have valued my favour above life that did rather choose to honour me then humour men These are they that were willing to wash off the staines from the face of Religion with their blood and to make my Crown flourish though it were in their ashes Well done good and faithful servants enter into the joy of your Lord. Thus shall it be done to them whom God delights to honour These are those glorious things which are to come I have led you up to the top of the mount and given you a prospect of Heaven I have shewn it you at the little end of the Perspective I shall say of this glory of heaven as once the Queen of Sheba of Solomons pomp and magnificence The half of it hath not been told the Angels here must be silent CHAP. XVIII The first Inference drawn from the Proposition IT shews us what an high valuation and esteeme we should set upon the godly They are we see men greatly in favour with God as the Angel once proclaimed to Daniel and they are invested with glorious Priviledges they are of an heavenly descent borne of the Spirit and they are very 〈◊〉 for they are Heires of the Kingdome God hath not onely laid out some parcels of land or divided heaven to them as Canaan was divided to Israel by lot The Tribe of Iudah to inhabit in one Countrey the Tribe of Reuben another c. God I say doth not parcel out heaven thus to the Saints no heaven is theirs with all its Perquisites with all its Royalties There are no enclosures or Land-marks in heaven There can be no confinement where every thing is infinite Oh what an high value and estimate then should be put upon the Saints they are heirs How doth the world respect great heirs What honour then should we give to the godly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They are adopted into all the stately priviledges of heaven It is true an heir in his young age may be kept short but how rich is he when he is possessed of the inheritance how rich shall the Saints be when God shall poure out of his love and shall empty all the treasures of glory into them The Saints are jewels but their worth and riches is not known therefore they are trampled upon by the world It doth not yet appeare what they shall be all things are theirs CHAP. XIX The second Inference drawn from the Proposition IT shews us a maine difference between the godly and the wicked the godly man hath all his best things to come the wicked man hath all his worst things to come as their way is different so their end Thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things The wicked have all their good things here they have not only what heart can wish but They have more then heart can wish their worst things are to come Why what is to come the Apostle answers 1 Thes. 1.10 wrath to come And here I shall briefly shew you the wicked mans Charter which consists in five things §. I. 1. The awakening of Conscience this is to come Conscience is Gods deputy in the soul his viceroy a wicked man doth what he can to unthrone conscience and put it out of office Conscience is Gods Echo and sometimes it is so shrill and clamourous that the sinner cannot endure the noise but silenceth conscience and at last by often sinning conscience begins to be sleepy and seared having their conscience seared with an hot iron 1 Tim. 4.2 this conscience is quiet but not good for the dumbnesse of conscience proceeds from the numbnesse of it It is with him as with a sick patient who having a confluence of diseases upon him yet being asleep is insensible of the pain The conscience of many a man is like the body of Dionysius so grosse and corpulent that though they did thrust needles into his flesh he
which as the Primum mobile or master-wheel carries the whole soul with it 4. The believer consents to have Christ pro termino interminabili never to part more he desires an uninterrupted communion with him he will part with life but not with Christ indeed death when it slips the knot between the soul and the body it ties it faster between the soul and Christ. 5. The Believer doth so consent to have Christ as he makes a deed of gift resigning up all the interest in himself to Christ he is willing to lose his own Name and sirname himselfe by the Name of Christ to lose his own will and be wholly at Christs dispose Ye are not your own he resigns up his love to Christ. In this sense the Spouse is said to be a spring shut up She hath love for Relations but the best of her love is kept for Christ The world hath the Milke of her love but Christ hath the Cream of it the choisest and purest of her love is a Spring shut up it is broached onely for Christ to drink This is the second Act of faith §. III. Opening the nature of Recumbency The third thing is Recumbency The soul having given its consent that the match should be made up and done it out of choice now it casts it selfe upon Christ as a man that casts himselfe upon the stream to swim it makes an holy adventure it clasps about Christ and saith My Lord my Jesus which is as it were the joyning of hands This Act of Recumbency is sometimes in Scripture call'd a coming to Christ sometimes a leaning upon Christ This is that faith which justifies Now concerning this faith I shall lay down two Rules 1. That faith justifies not as a formal cause but purely as an instrument viz. as it lays hold on Christ the blessed object and fetcheth in his fulnesse and in this sense it is call'd a precious faith the worth lies not in faith but in Christ on which it doth centre and terminate Faith in it selfe considered is not more excellent than other graces Take a piece of Wax and a piece of Gold of the same Magnitude the Wax is not valuable with the Gold but as this Wax hangs at the lavell of some Will by vertue of which a great Estate is confirmed and conveighed so it may be worth many hundred pounds So faith considered purely in it self doth challenge nothing more than other graces nay in some sense it is inferiour it being an empty hand But as this hand receives the precious Almes of Christs Merits and is an instrument or channell thorow which the blessed streams of life flow to us from him so it doth challenge a superiority above other graces Indeed some affirme that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the very Act of believing without reference to the Merits of Christ justifies To which I shall say but this 1. Faith cannot justifie as it is an Act for it must have an object we cannot if we make good sense separate between the Act and the Object What is faith if it do not fix upon Christ but fancy It was not the people of Israels looking up that cured them but the fixing their eye upon the Brazen Serpent 2. Faith doth not justifie as it is a Grace This were to substitute faith in Christs roome it were to make a Christ of Faith Faith is a good Grace but a bad Christ. 3. Not as a Work which must needs be if as some affirme it be in lieu of obedience to the Moral Law Then we should be justified by Works contrary to that Ephes. 2.9 where the Apostle speaks expresly Not of works So that it is clear faith's excellency lies in the apprehending and applying the object Christ therefore in Scripture we are said to be justified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through faith as an Instrument deputed not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for faith as a formall cause The second Rule is that Faith doth not justifie as it doth exercise grace It cannot be denied but faith hath an influence upon the graces it is like a silver thred that runnes thorow a Chain of Pearl it puts strength and vivacity into all the vertues but it doth not justifie under this Notion Faith begets obedience By faith Abraham obeyed But Abraham was not justified as he obeyed but as he beleeved Faith works by love but it doth not justifie as it works by love For as the Sun shines by its brightnesse not by its heat though both are inseparably joyned so faith and love are tyed together by an indissoluble knot yet faith doth not justifie as it works by love but as it layes hold on Christ. Though faith be accompanied with all the graces yet in point of justification it is alone and hath nothing to do with any of the graces Hence that speech of Luther in the justification of a sinner Christ and faith are alone Tanquam sponsus spomsa in thalamo As the Bridegroom and Bride in the Bed-chamber Faith is never separated from the graces yet sometimes it is alone And thus I have shewn you the Essentials of faith §. IV. Shewing what are the fruits and products of faith I proceede to the Consequentials of faith There are many rare and supernatural fruits of faith 1. Faith is an heart-quickning grace it is the vitall Artery of the soul The just shall live by his faith Hab. 2.4 When we begin to believe we begin to live Faith grafts the soule into Christ as the cion into the stock and fetcheth all its sap and juyce from that blessed Vine Faith is the great quickner it quickens our graces and our duties 1. Faith quickens our graces the Spirit of God infuseth all the seeds and habits but faith is the fountain of all the acts of grace it is as the Spring in the Watch that moves the Wheels not a grace stirs till faith set it a work How doth love work By faith When I apprehend Christs love this doth pullize and draw up my love to him again How doth humility work By faith Faith humbles the soul it hath a double aspect it looks upon sin and a sight of sin humbles it looks upon Free-grace and a sight of mercy humbles How doth patience work By faith If I believe God is a wise God who knowes what is best for me and can deliver not onely from affliction but by affliction This spins out patience Thus faith is not only viva but vivifica it puts forth a divine Energy and operation into all the graces 2. Faith animates and quickens our duties What was the blood of Bulls and Goats to take away sin It was their faith in the Messiah that made their dead Sacrifices become living Services What are Ordinances but a dumb shew without the breathings of faith in them therefore in Scripture it is called the prayer of faith the hearing of faith and the obedience of
faith dead things have no beauty in them it is faith that quickens and beautifies 2. Faith is an heart-purifying grace Having purified their hearts by faith Acts 15.9 Faith is a Virgin-grace of a pure and heavenly nature Faith is in the soule as lightning in the Air which purgeth as fire in the Metals which refines as Physick in the Body which works out the disease Faith works out pride self-self-love hypocrisie it consecrates the heart That which was before the Devils Thorow-fare is now made Gods Enclosure 1 Tim. 3.9 Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience Faith is an heavenly plant which will not grow in an impure soile Faith doth not only justifie but sanctifie as it hath one work in heaven so it hath another work in the heart He that before was under the power of some hereditary corruption as soone as faith is wrought there is a sacred vertue coming from Christ for the enervating and weakening that sin the waters are abated The woman that did but touch the hemme of Christs Garment felt vertue coming out of him The touch of faith hath an healing power Faith casts the Devil out of the Castle of the heart though still he keeps the Out-works Satan hath a party in a Beleever but there 's a Duel fought every day and faith will never give over till as a Prince it prevails This is the faith of Gods Elect Thou that say'st thou believest hath thy faith removed the Mountain of sin and cast it into the Sea What a beleever and a drunkard a beleever and a swearer a beleever and an Apostate for shame either leave thy sins or leave thy profession Faith and the love of sin can no more stand together then two contraries in the same part of the Subject gradu intensivo as light and darknesse Faith is an heart-pacifying grace Peace is the daughter of faith Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God Faith is the Dove that brings an Olive-branch of peace in its mouth Faith presents God reconciled and that gives peace What is it makes Heaven but the smile of God Faith puts the soul into Christ and there 's peace Iohn 16. ult That in me ye may have peace When the Conscience is in a Fever and burns as hell faith opens the Orifice in Christs sides and sucks in his blood which hath a cooling and pacifying vertue in it Faith gives us peace in Trouble nay out of Trouble 1. It gives Peace in Trouble Faith is an heart-pacifying because an heart-securing grace When Noah was in the Ark he did not fear the Deluge he could sing in the Ark. Faith shuts a beleever into the Ark Christ Lead me to the Rock which is higher than I was Davids prayer Faith plants the soul upon this Rock The West-Indians built their Palaces upon the tops of hills in the Flood the waters covered the hills but a beleever is built higher Isa. 33.16 His place of defence shall be the munition of Rocks but a man may starve upon a Rock therefore it follows Bread shall be given him c. Faith builds a Christian upon the power wisdome faithfulnesse of God This is the munition of Rocks and it feeds him with the hidden Manna of Gods love here is bread given him The way to be safe in evil times is to get faith this ushers in peace and it is such a peace as doth garrison the heart Phil. 4.7 The peace of God shall keep your heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It shall keep it as in a Tower or Garrison 2. Faith gathers peace out of trouble joy out of sorrow glory out of reproach This is the key to Samsons Riddle Out of the eater came meat this explaines that Paradox Can a man gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles Yes of Trials and Persecutions faith gathers joy and peace here are Figs of Thistles How were the Martyrs ravished in the Flames The Apostles were whipt in prison but it was with Sweet Briar O how sweet is that peace which faith Breeds it is a Plant of the Heavenly Paradise it is a Christians Festival it is his Musick it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Chrysostome speaks the anticipation of Heaven 4. Faith is an heart-strengthening grace a beleever is heart of oke he is strong to resist tentations to bear afflictions to foil Corruptions he gives check to them though not full mate An unbeliever is like Reuben unstable as water he shall not excell A state of infidelity is a state of impotency A Beleever is as Ioseph who though the Archers shot at him his bowe abode in strength If a Christian be to do any thing he consults with faith this is the sinew which if it be cut all his strength goes from him When he is call'd out to suffering he harnesseth himself with Faith he puts on this coat of maile Faith layes in suffering strength furnisheth the soul with suffering Promises musters together suffering graces propounds suffering rewards But how comes Faith to be so strong Answ. 1. Because it is a piece of Gods Armour it is a shield he puts into our hand Eph. 6.16 Above all taking the shield of Faith a shield will serve for a brest-plate a sword if need be an helmet it defends the head it guards the vitals such a shield is Faith 2. Faith brings the strength of Christ into the soul Phil. 4.13 I can do all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through Christ that strengthens me The strength of faith lies out of it self it grafts upon another stock When it would have wisdome it consults with Christ whose Name is wonderful Counsellour when it would have strength it goes to Christ who is call'd the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah Christ is a Christians Armory Faith is the key that unlocks it Faith hangs upon the lock of Christ all its strength lyes here cut it off from this lock and it is weaker then any other grace Christ may be compared to that tower of David on which there hang a thousand bucklers all shields of mighty men The faith of all the Elect these shields hang upon Christ. Faith is an Heroicall grace the Crown of Martyrdom is set upon the head of faith By faith they quenched the violence of the fire the fire overcame their bodies but their faith overcamr the flame 5. Faith is a life-fructifying grace it is fruitfull Iulian upbraiding the Christians said that their Motto was Only beleeve and the Papists call us solifidians Indeed when faith is alone and views all the rare beauties in Christ then faith sets a low value and esteem upon works but when faith goes abroad in the world good works are the handmaids that wait on this Queen Though we place faith in the highest Orb in matter of Justification yet good works are in conjunction with it in matter of Sanctification 'T is no wrong to good works to give faith the
made to true faith and for the most part to weak What is a grain of mustard-seed what is a bruised reed but the emblem of a weak faith yet the Promise is made to these A bruised reed he will not break The words are a miosis where the lesser is put for the greater He will not break that is hee will bind up Though Christ chides a weak faith yet that it may not be discouraged he makes a Promise to it Hierom observes upon the Beatitudes there are many of the Promises made to weak grace Matth. 5.3 Blessed are the poor in spirit Blessed are they that mourn ver 4. Blessed are they that hunger ver 5. 4. A weak faith may be fruitfull weakest things do multiply most The Vine is a weak tree it is born up and underpropt but it is fruitfull it is made in Scripture the Emblem of fruitfulnesse The Thiefe on the Crosse when he was newly converted he had but a weak faith but how many precious clusters grew upon that vine Luk. 23.40 he chides his fellow-thief Dost thou not fear God he falls to self-judging we indeed suffer justly he believes in Christ when he said Lord he makes an heavenly prayer remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome here was a young plant but very fruitful Weak Christians oft are more fruitful in affections how strong is the first love which is after the first planting of faith 5. A Christian may mistake and think he is weak in faith because he is weak in assurance whereas faith may be strongest when assurance is weakest assurance is rather the fruit of faith The woman of Canaan was weak in assurance but was strong in Faith Christ gives her three repulses but her faith stands the shot she pursues Christ with an holy obstinacy of faith insomuch that Christ sets a trophy of honour upon her faith O woman great is thy faith it may be a strong faith though it doth not see the print of the nailes it is an heroicall faith that can swim against winde and tyde believe against hope Christ sets the crown upon the head of faith not of assurance Ioh. 20.29 Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed 6. God hath most care of weak believers the mother tends the weak child most God will gather the lambs with his armes and carry them in his bosome The Lord had a great care of his weak Tribes when Israel march'd towards Canaan the Tribes were divided into several companies or Brigades now it is observable all the weak Tribes were not put together lest haply they should discourage one another and so have fainted in their march but God puts a strong Tribe to two weak Tribes as Issachar Zebulon two weak Tribes and Iudah a victorious Tribe therefore he gives the Lion in his standard surely this was not without a mystery to shew what care God hath of his weak children CHRIST the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah shall be joyned to them 7. Weak faith is a growing Faith 'T is resembled by the grain of Mustard-seed of all seeds the least but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becometh a Tree so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the Branches thereof Faith must have a growing time The seed springs up by degrees First the Blade and then the Eare and then the full Corn in the Eare the strongest faith hath sometimes been weak The faith that hath been renowned in the world was once in its infancy and minority Grace is like the waters of the Sanctuary which did rise higher and higher Wait on the Ordinances these are the brests to nourish faith be not discouraged at thy weak faith though it be now in the blossome and bud it will come to the full flower Object 3. But saith a childe of God I fear I am not elected Answ. What a Beleever and not elected Who told thee thou wert not elected Hast thou any skill in the black Book of Reprobation The Angels cannot unclasp this Book and wilt thou meddle with it Which is our duty to study Gods Secret will or his Revealed 'T is a sin for any man to say he is a Reprobate That which keeps him in sinne must needs be a sinne but this Opinion keeps him in sinne it cuts the sinews of endeavour Who will take paines for heaven that gives up himselfe for lost O Beleever be of good comfort thou needest not look into the Book of Gods Decree but look into the Book of thy heart see what is written there he that findes the Bible copied out into his heart his nature transformed the byasse of his will changed the signature and engravings of the Holy Ghost upon him he doth not look like a Reprobate When you see the fruits of the earth spring up you conclude the Sun hath been there 'T is hard to climb up into Election but if we finde the fruits of holinesse springing up in our hearts we may conclude the Sun of Righteousnesse hath risen there 2 Thes. 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation by the Sanctification of the Spirit By our Sanctification we must calculate our Election Indeed God in saving us begins at the highest Link in the Chaine Election but we must begin at the lowest Link of the Chaine Sanctification and so ascend higher Therefore laying aside all disputes let me poure in of the Wine of consolation Thou who art a Beleever and though thou wilt not affirm it yet thou darest not deny it without sin let me do two things shew you your happinesse then your duty 1. Behold your happinesse all the things which you have heard of present and to come are your portion and prerogative What shall I say to you All my apprehensions fall short When I speak of things to come I know not how to expresse my selfe but by a deep silence and astonishment O the Magnitude and Magnificence of the Saints glory The ascent to it is so high that it is too high for any mans thoughts to climb The most sublime spirit would here be too low and jejune How happy art thou O Beleever if God himselfe can make thee blessed thou shalt be so If being invested with Christs Robes enamell'd with his beauty replenished with his love If all the dimensions of glory will make thee blessed thou shalt be so O the infinite superlative happinesse of a Beleever All things to come are his What To have the same Joynture with the Angels those blessed Spirits Nay to speake with reverence to have a partnership with God himself to share in the same love to be enriched with the same glory which did sparkle forth in the humane nature of Christ How amazing is this the thoughts of it are enough to swallow us up O what an inheritance is he born to who is new borne Suppose he is poore in the world and despised
rejoyce if not a Christian he hath never so much cause to be sad as he hath to bee chearfull Object 1. But my sinnes trouble me Answ. 'T is true That sinne will not forsake thee is matter of sadnesse but that thou hast forsaken sinne is matter of joy Sinne is a talent of lead That thou canst not runne so fast as thou would'st in the wayes of God is matter of sadnesse but that thou goest without halting in regard of uprightnesse this is matter of joy and for your comfort remember shortly you shall sinne no more all things shall be yours but sinne Object 2. But we are bid to mourn Answ. I would not speak against holy mourning while we carry fire about us we must carry water as long as the fire of sinne burns in our brests we must carry tears to quench it But consider 1. Spirituall joy and mourning may stand together sometimes it rains and shines at once when there is a shower in the eyes there may be sunshine in the heart in religion mourning and musick are not inconsistent 2. The end why God makes us sad is to make us rejoyce he doth not require sorrow for sorrow but it is ordain'd to be sal condimentum as sauce to make our joy relish the better we sowe in tears that we may reap in joy 3. The swetest joy is from the sourest tears Christ made the best wine of water the purest and most excellent joy is made of the waters of true repentance the Bee gathers the best honey off the bitterest herbs Tears are the breeders of spirituall joy When Hannah had wept she went away and was no more sad Those clouds are very uncomfortable that never have any sunshine That mourning which dies the soul all in sable viz. that hath no place for rejoycing I shall rather think it despair then true remorse The same God who hath bid us mourn hath also bid us rejoyce Phil 4.4 'T is an excellent temper to be serious yet chearfull Jesus Christ loves the sanguine complexion joy puts liveliness and activity into a Christian it oyls the wheels of the affections an heavy mind makes a dull action the joy of the Lord is your strength The pensive melancholy Christian doth disparage the glory of Heaven What will others say Here is one that speaks of things to come and of a Crown laid up but sure he doth not believe it see how sad he is what ado is here to make a child of God chearfull shall we need bid an Heire rejoyce in the Estate befallen him let me tell you You who refuse consolation are not fit persons to praise God 'T is a kind of Solecisme to praise God with a sad heart I will sing praises Psal 108. v. 1. 'T is more proper to sing praises then to weep them Rejoyce O Christian lift up thy crest triumph in the hope of these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things to come it is not enough that there be joy within the firmament of a Christians heart but it must shine out in his countenance Sixth Duty If all things to come are a believers let him not envy them who have only things present God often wrings out the waters of a full cup to wicked men but there are dregs at the bottom Indeed the prosperity of sinners is a great temptation David stumbled at it and had almost fallen Psal. 73. My feet had well nigh slipt It is not matter of envy but pity to see men thrive in a way of sinne a fool is in gay cloaths but do you envy him a man under a sentence going up the ladder do you envy him They that will be rich fall into temptations and a snare 1 Tim. 6.9 Do you envy a man who is fallen into a snare wicked men have that guilt which imbitters their comforts so that they may be said to want what they have as a man who hath great possessions yet having a fit of the Stone or Gout while he is in that torment he may be said not to have them because the comfort of them is taken away A believer hath better things then these things to come Wicked men have a Crowne of unrighteousness he hath a Crown of righteousness they have robes and perhaps stained with the blood of innocents he hath the bright robe of glory Envy not the oppressour and choose none of his wayes better is sanctified adversity then successefull impiety Seventh Duty Be supported in want of spirituall comfort spiriâ—uall joy is a sweet thing 〈◊〉 is the spiced wine that 〈…〉 lips of them who are asleep to speak this is the hidden Mannah the bunch of grapes that growes upon the true vine this is the Saints banqueting stuffe how sweet is it to have Word and Spirit and Conscience speaking peace in the mouth of these three witnesses faith is confirmed But saith the poor soul that goes mourning It is not so with me I have not the Privy Seale of Heaven I want assurance Well do not give over waiting We read Iohn 6.19 the Disciples were in the ship and there arose a great storm And when they had rowed about twenty five or thirty furlongs they see Iesus This O Christian may bee thy case there is a tempest of sorrow risen in thy heart and thou hast rowed from one Ordinance to another and hast no comfort Well bee not discouraged do not give over rowing thou hast rowed but three or foure furlongs perhaps when thou hast rowed twenty five or thirty furlongs thou may'st see Jesus and have a comfortable evidence of his love but suppose thou shouldest row all thy life long and not have assurance there are twâ— things should support the heart in want of spirituall joy 1. God denies comfort to exercise grace We are impatient if we have not comfort presently and truly did we carve for our selves we should often cut the worst piece a Christian would ever bee upon Mount Tabor looking into Canaan he is loath to come downe into the valley and be in trials agonies temptations as if God could not love us except hee had us in his armes God will have us without comfort sometimes to make us row against tyde beleeve against hope Of what use were the Starres if the Sunne did alwayes shine how could patience have it's perfect work how could repentance ' if we were alwayes upon the Mount of joy Rachel is more fair but Leah is more fruitfull comfort is fair to look upon but grace is better then comfort A Christian should rather pray for a fruitfull heart then fair weather oftentimes when God lets downe comfort into the heart wee begin to let down care As it is with Musicians before they have money they will play you many a sweet lesson but as soone as you throw them down money they are gone you heare no more of them Before joy assurance oh the sweet musick of Prayer
bee with Christ yet hee was content to live a while longer that he might build up souls and make the Crown flourish upon the head of Christ 'T is self-self-love saith Who will shew us any good divine love saith How may I do good The prodigal son could say Father give me my portion he thought more of his portion then his duty A gracious spirit is content to stay out of Heaven a while that he may be a means to bring others thither He whose heart hath been divinely touched with the love of God his care is not so much for receiving the talents of gold as for improving the talents of grace Oh wait a while learne of the Saints of old they waited if we cannot wait now what would we have done in the times of the long-liv'd Patriarchs look upon worldly men they wait for preferment shall they wait for earth and cannot we wait for Heaven If a man hath the reversion of a Lordship or Manor when such a Lease is out will he not wait for it We have the reversion of Heaven when the lease of life is run out and shall we not wait Look upon wicked men they wait for an opportunity to sin the adulterer waits for the twilight sinners lye in wait for their own blood Prov. 1.18 Shall men wait for their damnation and shall not we be content to wait for our salvation Wait without murmuring wait without fainting the things we expect are infinitly more then we can hope for And let me adde one caution wait on the Lord and keep his waies Psal. 37.34 while we are waiting let us take heed of wavering Go not a step out of Gods way though a Lyon be in the way avoid not duty to meet with safety keep Gods high-way the good old way Jer. 6.16 the way which is paved with holiness Isa. 35.8 and an high-way shall be there and it shall be called the way of holiness avoid crooked pathes take heed of turning to the left hand lest you be set on the left hand Sin doth crosse our hopes it barracadoes up our way a man may as well expect to find Heaven in hell as in a sinful way My last Use is to such as have only things present that they would labour for things to come You have seen the blessed condition of a man in Christ never rest till this be yours Alas what are the great possessions of the earth the world hath vanity written upon the frontispiece there 's a transiency and a deficiency in these things What is Honour ' but a rattle to still mens ambition it is like the Meteor which lives in the ayr so doth this in the breath of other men it 's like a gale of wind which carries the ship sometimes this wind is down a man hath lost his Honor and lives to see himself intombed somâ—â—mes this wind is too high how many have been blown to hell while they have been sailing with the wind of popular applause Honor is but magnum nihil a glorious fancy Acts 25.23 It doth not make a man really the better but often the worse a man swell'd with honour wanting grace is like a dropsy-man whose bigness is his disease And for riches the silver goddess which men a dore what are they 1. They are vain I gathered me silver and gold and the peculiar treasure of Kings and of the Provinces Eccl. 2.8 and behold all was vanity vers 11. That must needs bee vain which cannot fill the heart Covetousness is a drie drunkenness the more men have the more they thirst like the fire the more fuell is thrown into it the more it is inflamed 2. They are uncertain 1 Timothy 6.17 they are ever upon the wing Outward comforts as one saith are Dei ludibria quae sursum ac deorsum suo coelo feruntur like Tennis-bals which are bandied up and downe from one to another 3. They are vexing It was a fruit of the curse Genesis 3.18 Thorns and thistles shall the earth brinâ— forth The comforts of this life have more or lesse of the Thorn in them They are sweet-briar Riches may well be called Thorns they pierce both head and heart the one with care of getting the other with griefe in parting with them 4. They are dangerous they oft turn to the hurt of the owner Ecclesiastes 5.13 they are dulce venenum a sweet poison how many have pull'd down their soules to build up an estate A ship may bee so loaded with gold and silver that it sinks A gift blindes the eye the same may bee said of riches the golden dust of the world puts out the eye of the soule that men neither know God nor themselves Iudas as Tertullian thinks was pretty honest till he carried the bag It 's hard to bee in office and not put conscience out of office oh what are these present things in comparison of things to come Christ who had all riches scorn'd these earthly riches hee was borne poore the Manger was his cradle the Cobwebs his curtaines hee lived poore Hee had not where to lay his head hee died poore for as Austin observes when Christ died hee made no Will hee had no Crown-lands only his coate was left and that the Souldiers parted among them and his Funeral was suitable for as he was borne in another mans house so hee was buried in another mans Tombe To shew how hee did contemne earthly dignities and possessions His Kingdome was not of this world Suppose an houre of adversity come can these present things quiet the minde in trouble riches are call'd thick clay which will sooner breake the backe then lighten the heart When pangs of Conscience and pangs of Death come and no hope of things to come what peace can the world give at such a time surely it can yield no more comfort then a silken stockin to a man whose legge is out of joynt a fresh colour delights the eye but if the eye be sore this colour will not heale it Riches availe not in the day of wrath Thou canst not hold thy wedge of gold as a Screene to keepe off the fire of Gods justice Let this sound a retreate to call us off from the immoderate pursuite of present things to labour for things to come what are these neather springs to the upper springs As Abraham said Lord what wilt thou give me seeing I go childless So say Lord what wilt thou give mee seeing I go Christlesse Luther did solemnly protest God should not put him off with these things Valde protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab eo Oh labour for those blessings in heavenly places Things present are pleasing but not permanent be not content with a few gifts Abraham gave unto the sons of the Concubines gifts and sent them away but unto Isaac Abraham gave all that he had Reprobates may have a
and Repentance but wheÌ„ God throws down the comforts of his Spirit we either begin to leave off duty or at least slacken the strings of our Vial grow remiss in it thou art taken with the mony but God is taken with the musick thou art taken with comfort but God is more taken with thy faith when there is too much sunshine oftentimes there follows a drought in our graces 2. The second thing to support the heart is Things to come are yours it is but staying a while and you shall be brim-full of comfort now a beleever is an heir of this joy let him stay but while he is of age and hee shall bee fully possessed of the joyes of Heaven For the present God leaves a seed of comfort in the heart the seed of God there 's a time shortly coming when we shall have the full flower We shall drink of the fruit of the vine in the Kingdome of Heaven As Paul said of Onesimus Philem. v. 15. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season that thou mightest receive him for ever so I say of the comforts of Gods Spirit they may bee withdrawn for a season that we may have them for ever there 's a time coming when we shall bathe our selves in the rivers of divine pleasure 8. The next duty is If all Christs things are ours then all our things must be Christs this is Lex Talionis justice and equity require it There 's a joynt interest between Christ and a believer Christ saith All mine are thine things present and things to come then the heart of a believer must echo back to Christ Lord whatsoever I have is for thee my parts my estate it was the saying of a reverend Father Lord thou art my all and my all is thine Oh be willing to spend and be spent do and suffer for Christ. 1. Let us to our power advance the Honour and Interest of Jesus Christ Alas what is all that we can do If a King should bestow upon another a Million per annum with this proviso that in lieu of his acknowledgement he should pay a Peppercorn every year to the King what proportion were there between this mans rent and his revenue Alas we are but unprofitable servants all that we can do for Christ is not so much as this peppercorn yet up and be doing Christ hates complements we must not only bow the knee to him but with the Wise men present him with gifts gold frankincense and myrrhe Be not like the sonnes of Belial who brought their King no presents But saith the Christian I am poor and can do little for Christ. Canst thou not make a Deed of gift and bestow thy love upon Christ In the Law he that could not bring a Lamb for an offering if he brought but two Turtle-doves it was sufficient The woman in the Gospel that threw in but her two mites yet it was accepted God is not angry with any man because he hath but one Talent but because he doth not trade it 2. Suffer for Christ be willing to sell all nay to lose all for Christ we may be losers for him we shall never be losers by him if he calls him for our blood let us not deny it we have no such blood to shed for Christ as he hath shed for us It was Luthers saying That in the cause of God he was contâ—nt totius mundi odium impetum sustinere to indure the odium and fury of the whole world Basil affirmes of the Primitive Saints they had so much courage in their sufferings that many of the Heathens seeing their Heroick zeal turned Christians they snatched up torments as so many Crowns Oh think nothing too dear for Christ. We that look for things to come should be wiling to part with things present for Christ. 9. Lastly If all things to come are ours be content to wait for these Great Priviledges it is not incongruous to long for Christs appearing and yet to wait for it you see the glory a beleever shall be invested with but though the Lord gives a great portion he may set a long day for the paiment David had the promise of a Crown but it was long before he came to weare it God will not deny yet he may delay his promise to teach us to wait 't is but a short-spirited faith that cannot waite The husbandman waites for the seed there is a seed of Glory sowne in a beleevers heart waite till it spring up into a harvest Truly it is an hard thing to waite for these things to come so many discouragements from without so many distempers from within that the Christian is willing to be at home therefore we need patience Heb. 10 36. For yee have need of patience But how shall we get it nourish faith ver 35. Cast not away your confidence Patience is nothing else but faith spun out if you would lengthen patience be sure to strengthen faith There 's a great deale of reason why a beleever should be content to wait for Heaven 1. God is faithfull who promiseth Gods Word is security enough to venture upon his Bond is as good as ready money all the world hangs upon the word of his power and cannot our faith hang upon the word of his promise we have his hand and seal nay his Oath 2. While we are waiting God is tuning and fitting us for glory Giving thanks to the Father who hath made us meet for the inheritance Col. 1.12 we must be made meet Perhaps our hearts are not humble enough not patient enough our faith is but in its swadling bands we should be content to wait a while till we have gotten such a vigorous faith as will carry us full-sail to Heaven As there is a fitting of vessels for hell Rom. 9.22 so there is a ripening and a preparing of the vessels of mercy ver 23. A Christian should be willing to wait for glory till he be fit to take his degree 3. While we are waiting our glory is encreasing while wee are laying out for God he is laying up for us 2 Tim. 4.8 If we suffer for God the heavier our Crosse the heavier shall bee our Crown Would a Christian be in the Meridian of glory would he have his robes shine bright let him stay here and do service God will reward us though not for our works yet according to our works the longer We stay for the principall the greater will the interest be 4. Wait for these things to come out of ingenuity The longer a Christian lives the more glory he may bring to God Faith is an ingenuous grace as it hath one eye at the reward so it hath another eye at duty The time of life is the only time we have to work for God Heaven is a place of receiving this of doing Hence the Apostle being enflamed with divine love though he could with all his heart