Jesus surely he is farre from the life of Christ that doth not live to Christ that mans life is of a base corrupt and earthly originall the energy operation and intendment of whose living is not to exalt and make Christ glorious he alone truly understands the end of Christs death that makes Christs glory the end of his life and thus runs the charge of the Apostle to the Romanes Yeeld your selves unto God as those that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousnesse unto God Yeeld your selves to God as souldiers to their Captaine as servants to their Master to fight for God to worke for God to doe all for Gods glory let every faculty of the soule and member of the body even whatsoever belongs unto you be dedicated unto God and imployed in the worke and service of God that service which is not universall is hypocriticall he alone is a perfect servant that puts the whole man upon the service of the Lord as all the rivers come from the sea and returne and empty themselves into the sea Thus must we returne to God and empty our selves and all that we have into God prostrate it all under Gods feet and put it all upon the service of the Lord as Moses lest not a hoose behind him in Egypt but carried all out that he might sacrifice to the Lord of whatsoever the Lord would have thus we must not love a hoofe of our hearts thoughts loves desires behind us upon sinne and the world but take of all and sacrifice all to God and his service we must with the Baptist be willing to decrease that Christ may increase to become vile and of no esteeme with men that Christ may be exalted we must with the Macedonians give our selves to the Lord. We must give our understandings to know God our wils to chuse God our imaginations to thinke upon God our memories to remember God our affections to feare trust love and rejoyce in God our eares to heare Gods word our tongues to speake God praise our hands to worke for God and all our substance to the honour of God CHAP. III. ANd a holy and gracious Christian doth thus deny himselfe and put himselfe and all that he hath under Christ 1. In regard of that carnality vanity basenesse earthlinesse unworthinesse corruption and uncleannesse which he sees and feeles in his owne flesh in his owne affections ends and counsels He sees there is an emptinesse in himselfe that his owne flesh is an empty house wherein dwelleth no good and wherein is no sufficiency to the performance of any good duty he sees that his owne heart is a City full of treason deceitfull above measure and not to be trusted he feeles a law in his members rebelling against the law of his mind as Rebeckah felt the twinnes in her wombe striving the one against the other he discernes that his owne wisedome is foolish an empty lamp a bleare-eye a false light he discernes that he is brutish and hath not the knowledge of the holy he sees much uncleannesse within himselfe many spots in his soule he sees that he is like Jacobs flocke spotty coloured like Noahs Arke wherein are many uncleane beasts among the cleane like the field in the parable wherein are many teares among the wheat he sees how he is yet in part carnall and sold under sin not fully freed and discharged from the strength and working of sinne he discernes an unhappy pronenesse in his heart to consult with flesh and bloud and to propose bie and sinister low and base ends and having the sight sence and sorrowfull experience of all this he denyes himselfe as Jacob having experience of the deceitfulnesse of Laban grew weary of him denyed him his service and went forth from him Thus a gracious man having experience of the corruption and deceitfulnesse of his owne heart and flesh growes weary of himselfe denyes himselfe goes out of himselfe commeth unto Christ and puts himselfe wholly under Christ and as the Evangelist said of Christ that knowing what was in man he would not commit himselfe unto man so sanctified man knowing what is in himselfe he will not commit himselfe unto himselfe he will not trust himselfe with himselfe he denyes his owne wisedome he becomes a foole in his owne apprehension and seeks to Christ to be made wise unto salvation he looks upon his owne righteousnesse as rotten ragges and comes to Christ for justification he considers his owne weaknesse and comes to Christ as the Gibeonites came to Joshuah to rescue him from his enemies he is experienced in the vanity of all other helpers and therefore comes to Christ as the diseased woman whom the Physitians could not cure that Christ may heale his spirituall maladies Man is ever so much the more strong and powerfull in the worke of self-denyall by how much the more clearly he discernes the carnality and basenesse of his owne heart and counsell He that knowes how subject he is to miscarry when he leanes upon himselfe will readily put himselfe and all that he hath under Christ 2. In regard of the holy strong and constant bent and inclination of the heart of a gracious Christian unto Christ As every thing moves towards its proper centre and is at no rest untill it comes to that so doth the sanctified soule incline and move to Christ the true centre of the soule and resteth not untill it comes to Christ and hath the fruition of Christ there is in a gracious soule such a principle of grace such a communication of Christ such a sutablenesse between the soule and Christ such a fervent and operative love towards Christ such a vehement longing after Christ that it mightily moves to Christ as the rivers to the sea that nothing but Christ can answer it quiet and content it there is in the soule such a blessed residence such a powerfull and gracious energy and operation of the Spirit of Christ that as the wheeles in Ezekiels vision moved wheresoever the living creatures moved because the Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheeles so the soule moves after Christ because the Spirit of Christ is in the soule this makes it pant after Christ as the Hart after the water brookes this makes it thirst for Christ as the dry ground for waters this makes it follow hard after Christ as the childe with cryes and teares after the father going from it this makes it cry for Christ as sometimes Rachel did for children O give me Christ or else I dye and as David thirsted and his worthies burst through the army of the Philistines for water out of the wels of Bethel so the soule thirsting for Christ breakes through all the armies of opposition to come to Christ to refresh it selfe with Christ now it denies all leaves all passeth through
as a dweller by his generall and common influence as a root in the branches ministring preservation to all creatures and by his Ordinances and Prophets as a teacher in his Schoole yea he came among his owne among the Iewes by incarnation in the visible â—orme of a man but the world neither knew him nor his own received him they know not the necessity of Christ the men of the old world knew not the necessity of the Arke untill it was too late and therefore they entred not into it The Elders of Gilead at first knew not their necessity of Iepâ—ta and therefore expelled him out of his Fathers House Mens ignorance of the necessity of Christ makes them regardlesse of getting interest in Christ and causeth them profanely to reject Christ they know not the worth and excellency of Christ and therefore they set the empty things of the world above Christ as the Philistines set Dagon above the Arke and Esau preferred a messe of pottage above his birth-right they know not the holy and gracious dispensations of Christ and therefore they preferre the ministrations of the Earth above the ministrations of Christ as the men of Shechem prefâ—rred the bramble above the Vine They know not the Alsufficiency and fullnesse of Christ and therefore they exalt the creature a vaine and empty thing above Christ as Israel in the Prophet preferred the broken cisterne above the living fountaine They know not the sweetnesse and pleasantnesse of the face and love of Christ and therfore they prize the love and favour of the world above the love of Christ as Harlots sometimes doe the love of base and deformed strangers above the love of their owne honourable and comely Husbands Christ is never precious in the eyes of such persons as are under the power of spirituall blindnesse 2. Men being without Christ doe not taste the sweetnesse and goodnesse of Christ he doth not relish well with their palates He is not sweet and savoury to their soules they have not tasted how good Christ is there is a goodnesse of illumination of regeneration sanctification spirituall freedome consolation contentation and pacification flowing from Christ to the soules of men which to carnall men is a sealed well whose waters their palates never tasted an ecclipsed Starre with whose light their eye was never affected they taste not the sweetnesse of Christ in the illumination of their understandings as the eye tastes the sweetnesse of the light Christ is not sweet to them in his ordinances as the Master of the Feast to the guest in his dainties these are not to them a feast of marrow of fat things and of wine well refined upon the lees for the delight and refreshment comfort and contentment which they minister Christ is not sweet to them in his Ministers as a mercifull King in his Embassadours bringing tidings of peace to the people Christ is not sweet to them in his gracious distillations as the cloud in the raine is sweet unto the dry earth They cannot say of Christ as the Spouse did As the Apple-tree among the Trees of the wood so is my Beloved among the sonnes I sate downe under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my tast Nothing savours well with their palates but things carnall and worldly to them the bread of deceit and stolne waters are sweet but they savour not the things of God Barzillai excused himselfe from going to Davids house from eating of Davids meat because he could not tast what he did eat or what he did drinke nor could heare any more the voyce of singing men or of singing women Carnall men decline the House of God and the Feast which Christ there maketh because they cannot tast the things of God nor heare the spirituall melody which Christ there makes to the soules of his servants Mens not tasting of Christ in his ordinances and in his graces makes him of no esteem with their soules 3. Men being without Christ have no love to Christ he is not the fairest of ten thousand in their eyes they love not the Lord Jesus as the Bridegroome to whom their soules are married as the choisest pearle by whom they are enriched as the son of consolation with whose beames their soules are comforted as the fountain by whom their hearts are refreshed and their desires every way satisfied Their love to Christ is not like the love of Jonathan to David a love wonderfull and passing the love of women there is no sutablenesse betweene Christ and their soules as between the hearts of lovers they meditate not upon Christ as lovers upon their love they delight not themselves in Christ as the rich-man in the treasure and the bride in the bridegroome which they love their hearts and their thoughts are upon the world and not upon Christ they love the world and the love of Christ is not in them and where love to Christ is wanting Christ is of no estimation he will put himselfe upon no service nor undergoe no difficulties for Christ who is destitute of love to Christ Mans prizing of Christ is ever sutable to the love of man towards Christ hee that hath great love to Christ will doe great things for Christ he that hath no love to him will give every base thing preheminence above him 4. Men being without Christ take no pleasure in Christ they doe not delight themselves in Christ diseased eyes have no pleasure in the Sun distempered palates have no pleasure in the choysest wine Christ is a trouble to men that are corrupt and carnall as the Starre was to Herod and the men of Hierusalem Christ is a very great crosse and trouble to their corruptions he fals heavy upon them they cannot stand before him no more then Dagon before the Arke and therfore Christ is a great offence to them as the Ark to the Philistines Christ is not to them a plaine and pleasant way they cannot according to the Apostles phrase walke in Christ by believing Christs Promises by obeying Christs Precepts by conforming themselves to Christs Example with fulnesse and chearfulnesse as a Travellor walks fully and joyfully in a plain and pleasant path they cannot walk in the light of Christ as a man walks joyfully in the light of the Sun in the strength of Christ as the Rider moves speedily in the strength of the Horse which carries him as the Ship rows in the strength of the wind which drives him and the Prophet walked to Mount Horeb in the strength of the Barly cake which fed him they cannot walk in the love of Christ as Jacob walked thorough his service in the love of Rachel Christ and his way and worke is not thus pleasant to them they can no more walk in Christ then David could in Sauls armour they doe no sooner try it but they are presently weary of it We cannot say of them and
the Israelites rejoyced in the Arke not in the Lord and vaine men rejoyce in man in the presence of man in the ability favour power and helpe of man and not in Christ Thus among the men of Corinth One said J am of Paul and another I am of Apollo looking with a humane eye upon and glorying after a carnall manner in those holy Messengers of God even idolizing and abusing the appointed instruments of their salvation robbing Christ of his glory by an inordinate dependance upon and glorying in the Messengers of Christ ascribing that to them which was proper unto Christ exalting them into the very roome of Christ so glorying in them that Christ was not glorious in their apprehension the carnall overvaluing of the instruments is a shamefull undervaluing of the Lord Jesus Hee that doth not according to the expression of the Prophet cease from man from the wisdome and counsell devise and invention art and ability of man sees little or nothing of Christ hath no comfort nor joy in Christ he that doth not cease from dependance upon man from glorying and pleasing himselfe in man from resting upon the authority of man in matter of spirituall instruction is very ignorant of Christ a meere stranger to Christ Christ ever proves uncomfortable to them whose rejoycings are in man 4. There is a fullnesse of the world which argueth an emptinesse of Christ in the soule of man The Inne where Christ was borne was so full of guests that there was no roome for Christ but in a manger a dishonourable lodging for such a glorious guest in the heart which is filled with the world there is no roome for Christ Worldly minded men give a very unworthy entertainment unto Christ the world so blinds them that they cannot discerne the beauty worth and excellency of Christ any more then an eye full of dust can discerne the brightnesse and beauty of the Sunne they see no comelinesse in Christ for which they should desire him this so fils their hearts that they are uncapable of spirituall instruction as thorns and bryars make the field uncapable of seed this beares such authority and dominion within them that they cannot vaile and bow to Christ they cannot take Christs yoake upon them they cannot set themselves about Christs worke any more then a servant can put himselfe from his Masters service into another mans worke No man saith Christ can serve two Masters no man can be the servant of God and Mammon this so alienates the heart of a man from Christ drawes the soule of man into such spirituall fornication that man can no more love Christ then a harlot can love her husband for if any man saith Saint John love the world the love of the Father is not in that man And the love of the world saith St. James is enmity with God This doth so take up the thought care study delight strength labour time and the very whole of man and doth so fetter and bind him fasten and encline him to things here below that with the invited guests in the Parable he cannot come to Christ he cannot imbrace Christ he cannot attend on Christ he cannot marry his soule to Christ this doth so distemper their palates that they cannot relish Christ The flesh-pots of Aegypt were so savoury to the Israelites that they could not long relish their Manna Christ is a distastfull dish where the world is a sweet feast this fils the heart of man with dishonourable thoughts of Christ The over-prizing of the world is the under-prizing of Christ Hee can never apprehend Christ as all in all that doth not apprehend the world as nothing the young mans over-prizing the world caused his departure from Christ the lovers of the world are very inconstant in their following of Christ if Christ and the world will not stand together Christ is soone forsaken the world alone hath their attendance service and affection So that Christ hath no spirituall and gracious being where the world hath such full possession And these foure sorts of fulnesse in man are so many cleare demonstrations of Christs estrangement from man 5. By mans spirituall emptinesse He that is empty of Christ is without Christ the Cisterne which is empty of water is without the fountaine hee that is empty of grace is without Christ the authour and fountain of grace he that is without the life of Christ who hath not Christ living in him as the root in the branches graciously enlivening him as the soule doth naturally enliven the body endowing him with spirituall principles of holy and gracious life enabling him like a living man to feele his sin as a living man his disease to rise up from the world as a living man ariseth from the Earth to feed upon the Ordinances of God as a living man upon the food which is set before him to walke in the wayes of God as a living man doth move and walke in an earthly way to follow Christ in attending his Ordinances in beleeving his Promises in obeying his precepts as Lazarus followed Christ when he had raised him from death to life he that hath not Christ thus living in him thus framing and disposing him to live to God to consecrate himselfe to Gods service to conforme himselfe to Gods precepts to intend God and his glory To live as the Apostle saith godly in Christ Jesus in Christ enlivenining him and according to Christs prescription He that doth not thus live is without Christ 2. He that is empty of the knowledge of Christ is without Christ the eye which is empty of the light of the Sun is without the Sun the soule which is empty of spirituall and heavenly light is without the Sun of Righteousnesse he that doth not know Christ as a Prophet instructing him and making him wise unto salvation as a Priest sanctifying and purging him from his corruption as a King bearing spirituall dominion within him bringing his whole man into a holy and humble subjection he that doth not know the death of Christ in the crucifying of his affections the resurrection of Christ in the rising of his soule to seeke the things which are above the power of Christ in working his heart from obstinacy and hardnesse from captivity and bondage from pride and haughtinesse to softnesse and tendernesse to liberty and freedome and to humility and meeknesse He that doth not know the beauties of Christ ravishing his soule with joy and delight in him the love of Christ in being espoused to Christ the worth and excellency of Christ in accounting all but dung and drosse in comparison of Christ and the fullnesse of Christ in feeling and finding all contentation in Christ he that doth not thus know Christ is without Christ in Christ are hidden all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom and he that hath Christ is full of spirituall knowledge as
the Sea of waters 3. He that is empty of the power of Christ is without Christ When the body is empty of the power of the soule the soule is departed from it become a stranger to it thus when man is altogether empty of the spirituall and heavenly power of Christ then is man without Christ a meere stranger to Christ all they that are partakers of Christ have experience of the power of Christ in casting downe the strong and mighty holds of sin in their soules in humbling their hearts in bringing the thoughts of their hearts into the obedience of Christ in overcomming and casting Satâ—n out of their hearts in sanctifying and cleansing their soules in perswading them to beleeve and lay hold upon the promise of life in pacifying and quieting their perplexed consciences in making them able to endure afflictions and in causing them to grow and encrease in all heavenly graces He therefore that hath not experience of this power of Christ in the casting down of the holds of sinne as Israel had experience of the power of the Lord in casting down the wals of Jericho at the blowing of the trumpets he that feeles not this power of Christ in making him victorious over Satan as the man in the Gospell had experience of Christs power in casting the uncleane spirit out of him He that doth not discerne Christ powerfull in sanctifying him as Naaman disâ—rned the vertue of Jordan in purging his Leprosie from him and the lame man discerned the power of the Angell in Bethesda healing him He that knowes not the efficacy of Christ in perswading him to beleeve in reconciling him to God as Josephs brethren discerned the esticacy of his Intercession with the King of Aegypt for them Hee that perceives not Christ pacifying his troubled spirit binding up his broken heart and healing his wounded conscience as the Disciples felt the power of Christ calming the stormy tempest and the wounded man in the Parable felt the Samaritan powring wine and oyle into his wounds and binding up the same He that discerns not Christ strengthning and sustaining him in temptations and tryals as the Arke bare up Noah in the deluge he that feeles not Christ comming downe upon his soule like raine upon the mowen grasse and as showers that water the Earth making him fruitfull in every good gift and grace he that is empty of these powerfull and mighty ministrations of Christ is without Christ under the power of his corruption in his naturall and carnall condition 4. He that is empty of the Liberty which Christ ministreth is without Christ he that doth not feele Christ freeing him from the death of sin as the woman of Shunems son felt the Prophet freeing him from bodily death his flesh waxing warme and his eyes opening freeing him from the thraldome and imbondagement of sin as Peter felt the Angell freeing him from his fetters and Herods prison freeing him from the servitude of the world as Israel discerned Moses freeing them from the servitude of Aegypt freeing their understandings from ignorance as the Sun freeth the ayre from darknesse freeing their wils from perversenesse their thoughts from vanity and their aâ—fections from coldnesse and deadnesse as the fire freeth the house from cold and filleth it with heat making the whole man free to know beleeve love and rejoyce in God as the cleare eye is free to see the Brides heart is free to love the Bridegroome and the Sun free to run the race which is set him Hee that is a stranger to this freedome remaining a captive under the power of his lusts and the world is farre from Christ an empty house in whom Christ hath no dwelling 5. He that is empty of the love of Christ is without Christ He that doth not discerne the love of Christ as the Bride discernes the love of the Bridegroome Hee that perceives not Christ kissing him with the kisses of his mouth it is the Churches expression in Salomons Song applying the doctrines of his Love Mercy and Peace to his conscience making him sensible of his love in the use of his Ordinances as the Bridegroomâ— makes the Bride sensible of his love in his banquetting house making him joyfull in the House of Prayer inabling him to pray with confidence returning a gracious answer to his holy and humble petitions He that perceives not the love of Christ in the cleare and comfortable revelation of his secrets to his understanding in his holy and sanctified working upon his soule in sealing up the pardon and forgivenesse of his sin in the free and plentifull communication of himselfe his gifts graces and benefits unto his heart in the sanctifying and sweetning of all his tryals in making all to worke for the best unto him in giving him water out of the rocke meat out of the eater and sweet out of the sowre He that is thus empty of the love of Christ is without Christ Where Christ is there his love is and his love is not idle but operative manifesting it selfe in the divâ—ne and heavenly fruits and effects thereof to the soule And thus by these marks and characters mans being without Christ mans abiding in his corrupt estate and carnall condition is plainly discernable CHAP. VI. Exhorting to come out of our naturall and corrupt estate 5. THe consideration of mans misery in being without Christ in continuing still in his corrupt and wreched estate should set every man on worke with all diligence with all assiduity and carefullnesse to labour his deliverance and freedome out of that condition the estate of corruption is of all estates the most miserable better live in any servitude misery poverty disgrace or trouble then under the power of sin without Christ better live in ignominy without honour in prison without freedome in hatred without the love of man in poverty without riches in exilement without humane fellowship in famine without bread in darknesse without light in trouble without peace in paine without ease enjoying Christ then to live in all the fullnesse of the world under the dominion of corruption without the Lord Jesus Therefore out of this estate doth the Lord call us Turne you even unto me saith the Lord with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning and rent your hearts and not your garments and turne to the Lord your God Turne from your sin as a Traveller from his wandring path and walke in the wayes of God turne from the service of sin as Rebels from the service of a forrain Prince and serve the Lord your great and highest Soveraigne turne from the love of sin as a Harlot from the love of strangers and love the Lord Jesus your spirituall Bridegroome with all your hearts with all your souls and with all your might This is the labour of all Gods Ministers the fruit and honour of all their
as sometime the men of Judah clave to David they doe not single out Christ and take him to themselves as their Rocke as their glory as their strength and refuge they doe not betake themselves to Christ as the chickens betake themselves to the Hen the Bees to the hive the Conies to the Rock and as the men that were in debt distresse and discontent betooke themselves to David and made him their Captaine they doe not stay on Christ put on and apply Christ unto themselves and themselves to Christ as the Church and children of God doe as the Spouse of Christ doth their faith is a temporary and vanishing faith a Tree without roots that soone withers a dead faith there is no life and power in it no saving fruit growes upon it 4. They are estranged from the liberty of the Church Christs Church and children are Gods freemen and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty Liberty from the power of sinne tyranny of Satan and servitude of the world liberty to know God as the open eye is free to see to move and incline to God as the River is free to move and slow toward the Sea to beleeve in Gods promise to receive Christ as the sound hand is free to receive the gift and free to love Christ as the heart of the Bride is free to love the Bridegroome All carnall men are great strangers to this freedome they are captives to Satan servants to the world prisoners to their owne lusts bowed downe to the world like the woman in the Gospell that had a spirit of infirmity as unable to looke up to God or to the things which are above as unable to discerne the things of God as the blind to discerne colours as unable to walke in the wayes of God as the dead are unable to walke upon the earth as fast shut up in the prison of Satan and their owne corruption as ever Peter was in Herods prison 5. They are estranged from the wedlocke of the Church with Christ True beleevers are Christs Spouse betrothed unto Christ bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh one mysticall Christ as man and wife are one matrimoniall flesh but carnall men are farre from this wedlocke they take not Christ unto themselves as the husband of their soules they have not the love and joy of a Spouse in Christ they keep not their soules chaste and pure to Christ they commit fornication and adultery with Idols and the world and are divorced from Christ they shamefully deâ—ile themselves and make themselves an abomination in the eyes of Christ 6. They are estranged from the Churches receivings from Christ True beleevers receive of Christs fulnesse they receive life and light and power from Christ as the eye receiveth light from the Sun the branch life from the root and the body power from the soule they receive the Spirit of Christ and are quickened they receive the word of Christ and are edefied they receive the promise of Christ and are established they receive the forgivenesse of sins by Christ and are comforted but carnall men like a company of broken cisternes and withered branches receive nothing from Christ Jesus Christ commeth among them in his Gospell but they receive him not he commeth to them by his Ministers but they receive not their witnesse they shut the doores of their hearts against Christ he stands without and knocks but they open not they give him no entertainment Christ spends his strength in vaine and his labour for nought amongst them and by all these things they make manifest their Alienation from the Church of Christ and all the speciall priviledges and prerogatives thereof CHAP. XIII Discoursing of the unhappy condition and impossibility of their salvation who are strangers to the true Church THis discovers the unhappy condition of all carnall and unholy people though they live within the pale of the Church yet they are all aliens to the Church though they be in the Church yet they are not of the Church as nasty humours are in the body yet no member no part nor parcell of the body though they be within the Schoole of Christ yet they are no true Disciples of Christ they are like them of whom Saint Paul speakes who are alwayes learning and never come to the knowleege of the truth Though they are within the pale of Christs Orchard yet they are but false slips no Trees of Righteousnesse of Christs planting Though they be in Christ Sacramentally yet they are but as dead members or woodden legs in a body or withered branches in a vine wanting the Spirit of Christ they have no spirituall life sence or motion in them Though they take upon them the name of Christ yet they doe not partake of the nature of Christ as blazing Starres have the name but not the nature of Starres Though they verbally professe Christ yet they actually deny Christ in works saith the Apostle they deny him they are seeming but no true Christians they doe but with Jeroboams wife disguise and faine themselves to be others then they are As they in the Church of Smyrna said they were Iewes and yet were not so but a Synagogue of Satan Thus many say they are Christians who indeed are not in Christ Jesus but are the Synagogue of Satan a cage of uncleane birds and though they be ecclesiastically holy by vertue of their naturall generation of Christian parents yet they are not spiritually and truly holy because they want that regeneration which is the worke of Gods Spirit and though they enjoy some outward priviledges by their being within the Church yet they enjoy not Christ and his benefits because they are not truly living members of the Church And this is a great misery to be an alien to the true Church of Christ he that is an alien to this Church of Christ is an alien to Christ Christ doth not enliven nor enlighten him Christ doth not profit him A member separated from the body is separated from the head hath no influence from the head hee that is a stranger to the Church is a stranger to the promise for the promise is to them whom God cals outwardly by his Word and inwardly by his Spirit he is a stranger to the love of Christ Christs Church is the object of Christs love Christ loved the Church saith Saint Paul and gave himselfe for it he is a stranger to the blessed and gracious presence of Christ Christs presence is with his Church he delights to walke among the candlestickes sanctified soules are his Temple his dwelling his glorious rest he is a stranger to the comfortable communications of Christ Christ reveales and opens himselfe to his Church and children as a glorious Sun as a loving Bridegroome to them he communicates himselfe as the dew upon the ground and as the raine upon the grasse he gives
terriblenesse of God without Christ Iesus Christs comming in the Gospell would be unspeakably joyfull 4. Looke upon the frustration of all the Ordinances of God and labours of Gods Ministers by mens not receiving of Christ in the Gospell He that doth not receive and embrace Christ preached in the Gospell annihilates all the labour of Gods messenger had not Rebeckah received Isaac to husband she had frustrated all the labour of Eleazar the servant of Abraham If we receive not Christ to husband we frustrate the labour of the Ministers the Lords servants Should not Abner have brought about Israel unto David he had lost his labour his communication with the Elders of Israel and his speaking in the eares of Benjamin had been in vaine Thus all our preaching all our speaking in the cares of men is in vaine if they be not brought about to Christ if they doe not truly subject themselves to Christ if they receive not Christ as their spirituall King for what is the end of our preaching but to espouse you to Christ to worke you to the receiving and embracing of Christ as the husband of your soules and to present you as a chaste virgin unto Christ besides all your hearing all your attendance upon the word is vaine it is all hypocrisie and vaine ostentation if you receive not Christ Iacobs sonnes had gone to Egypt in vaine if they had returned empty handed and not carried home provision with them You come to the Well in vaine if you drinke not if you carry home no water with you you come to Gods house to Gods treasury to the wels of salvation in vaine if you returne empty hearted if you receive not if you carry not home Christ with you in your hearts all your labour is lost The temporall curse denounced on the people by the Prophet Haggai is in a spirituall sence fulfilled in such Ye have sowne much and bring in little ye eat but ye have not enough ye drinke but ye are not filled with drinke ye cloath you but there is none warme and he that earneth wages earneth to put it in a broken bag with holes Thus in this case much is heard much spirituall seed is sowne but little or no fruit is reaped they eat much they heare much but there is no spirituall filling their worldly thirst is not quenched their soule is not satisfied in Christ there is no warmth no love no zeale for Christ no burning of heart in hearing no fervency in supplication all that the Minister hath provided and dispensed for the soules enrichment it is all put in a broken bag with holes it is all lost it runnes out as fast as it is powred in if we recive not Christ in the Gospell all our hearing is worth nothing 5. Meditate upon the dignity excellency utility and comfort of receiving and embracing Christ in the Gospell 1. Christ received in the Gospell giveth life unto the soule Hee quickned Lazarus by his corporall voice accompanied with the power of his God-head he quickeneth the soule by his Evangelicall voice attended with the lively operation of his Spirit the Gospell is the externall instrument and meanes by which Christ liveth in the soule therefore is the Gospell called the word of life revealing and effecting life in Gods chosen Christ hath in himselfe all life our life is hid in Christ as the life of the branch is hidden in the roote and he that hath the sonne hath life hee that hath the Son in the Gospell as in the seed of his regeneration as in the instrument of his conversion as in the warlike weapon by which are throwne downe all the strong and mighty holds of Satan as in the Scepter by which Christ doth sway within him and bind and bow his heart unto subjection He that hath Christ in his heart by faith and love as a root of life living in him as a fountaine filling him with his fulnesse as a King sitting up his throne within him as a bridegroome betrothing himselfe unto him he hath life but he that hath not the sonne hath not life The evill of neglecting Christ in the Gospell is no lesse then eternall death and destruction 2. Christ received in the Gospell giveth light spirituall heavenly and comfortable light the receiving of the Sunne giveth light to the body the receiving of the Sun of Righteousnesse giveth light to the soule he that doth not embrace Christ in the Gospell hath no light but all darknesse within him 3. Christ received in the Gospell giveth health health of soule Here he commeth with healing in his wings the Angell in Bethesda cured the bodily impotent in the Gospell Christ cureth them that are spiritually diseased here he openeth the eyes of the understandings which are blinded strengthens the hand of faith which is withered rectifies the feet of the affections which are crooked purgeth away the leprosie of the soule which is defiled Christ by the Gospell as by a spirituall Iordan works many blessed cures upon the soules of Gods people 4. Christ received in the Gospell giveth honour He makes them that receive him in the Gospell the sonnes of God by adoption the friends of God by revelation of the will and mind of God unto them heires of God for that incorruptible inheritance whereof he makes them partakers the Lords free-men free from the guilt and punishment of sinne free from the power and dominion of sinne free from the tyranny and captivity of Satan free from the curse and rigour of the Law and free to serve God with an ingenuous and free spirit Kings and Priests to God for their dignity and dominion and for their holy and gracious consecration unto God high and excellent is the honour which Christ communicates to them that truly receive him in the ministery of the Gospell 5. Christ received in the Gospell giveth riches unsearchable riches riches which the wit of man cannot find out incomparable riches to which all the riches of the earth is not to be compared that knowledge faith and love which is farre more excellent then the gold that perisheth The poorest Lazar receiving Christ in the Gospell is endowed with greater riches then the wealthiest Dives in the world not embracing him 6. Christ received in the Gospell giveth prosperity the Arke received into Obed-Edoms house caused all that he had to prosper Crist received into the soule maketh the whole man prosperous he makes him prosper in hearing in prayer in meditation in the use of all Gods Ordinances as the tree prospers that is planted by the waters side he makes him prosper in all his undertakings whatsoever he doth shall prosper all the affaires of soule and body are made successefull and prosperous through the blessed presence of Christ Iesus He makes him prosper in the inward man making him victorious over all his corruptions replenishing him with all heavenly
blessed interest in Christ but he that regards not the word of the Lord will stay in the field abide in the service way and practise of the prophane world and be for ever destroyed for there is no salvation out of Christ He is the resurrection and the life and our life is hid with him in God therefore let us say with Augustine let all these things perish let us let passe all these vaine and empty things and let us betake our selves to the onely inquisition of those things which have no end let us betake our selves to Christ who is the same yesterday to day and for ever He like Noahs Dove will bring us an Olive branch of peace when all the comforts of the creature are drowned he will stand by us and defend us as Shamma one of Davids worthies stood and defended the field when all the residue fled from it When all worldly staffes and stayes pillars and supporters leave us and stay behind us then as Isaac went up to the Mount with Abraham so will Christ goe up with us and present us with acceptance with great joy and gladnesse in God his fathers presence and let the remembrance and thought of these things sweeten and make exceedingly joyous Christs comming among us CHAP. VII ANd let us declare and manifest the truth of Christs welcome and our joy at Christs comming by our prepared humble and hearty receiving of Christ according to the charge of the Psalmist Let us lift up the gates and doores of our hearts from the creature and all things here below let us remove the bolts and bars of infidelity obstinacy pride security and self-selfe-love and let us by faith love repentance and humble obedience open the doors of our hearts that Christ the King of glory may come in As the Minstrels and other people were put forth out of the Rulers house and Christ received that his dead daughter might be raised to life Thus let us put out of the doores of our hearts all carnall joyes and fleshly lusts that Christ may enter into and minister the life of grace to our soules let all give place to Christ that Christ may have the full possession of us and worke effectually within us 2 Let it appeare that Christ is welcome by our garnishing our hearts with all spirituall ornaments sutable and fit for the entertaining of Christ putting our hearts into such a gracious frame and temper that Christ may take pleasure in us The gate of the Tabernacle was very costly and glorious having a hanging made for it of blew purple skarlet and fine twined linnen wrought with needle-worke the pillars for the hangings being overlaid with gold and their hookes of gold to shadow out and signifie the making glorious of the hearts of Gods elect by faith and other gifts of the Spirit to entertaine Christ the glorious King 3. Make Christs welcome apparant by offering your selves to Christ the wise men rejoyced in Christs comming and they fell downe and worshipped him opened their treasures and presented to him gifts gold frankincense and myrrh Thus let us rejoyce in Christ comming in the Gospell fall downe before him make the whole man vaile and stoop to Christ and to him let us offer the gold of a pure heart the frankincense of holy and humble prayer and the myrrh of patient suffering and bearing Christs crosse to him let us yeeld our bodies soules and all our substance as a holy and acceptable sacrifice 4. Manifest every man Christs welcome by exalting Christ above every thing in your heart doe not set him as Jesse did David behinde the ewes but set him as Pharaoh did Joseph above all his Nobles and over all his land allow him universall and absolute jurisdiction over the whole man cut off whatsoever doth rebell against him 5. Declare Christs welcome by your love to him as to the bridegroome of your soules by your faith and dependance upon him as upon your onely rocke and sure foundation by your full and through-conforming your selves to his statutes and testimonies as to that which is the light of your feet the lanthorne of your paths and the delight of your soules and by a holy and gracious acquiescence in Christ as in the Counsellor in whom is all wisedome to direct as in the King in whom is all authority to command as in the rocke in whom is all strength to support as in the fountaine in whom is all fulnesse to satisfie us Christ will not be pleased with a verball he will have a reall entertainment with Judas to kisse Christ with our lips outwardly to give him faire words and secretly to nourish treason and rebellion in our hearts against him is a cursed welcome With Joab to salute Christ with one hand and stab him with another hand as Joab at once saluted and slew Abner to salute Christ by an outward and open profession and to stab him by a corrupt and dissolute conversation is very unseemly shamefull and dishonourable for any Christian Let therefore our spirituall universall cheerfull and constant subjection unto Christ declare the truth and joy of Christs welcome unto us If we rejoyce not in Christ if Christ comming in the Gospell be not welcome Where is our knowledge of Christ if we rejoyce not in Christ comming in the Gospell the blind eye hath no joy in the Sunne but to the seeing eye the light is sweet and It is a pleasant thing to behold the Sunne to the ignorant Christ is nothing joyfull but to them that have the eyes of their understanding opened Christ is very pleasant he is in their eye the fairest of ten thousand to them the knowledge of Christ is pleasant to him that knowes the Wisedome of Christ shining into his heart and making him wise unto salvation to him that knowes the death of Christ mortifying his lusts and corrupt affections the resurrection of Christ spiritually reviving and quickning him to him that knowes the righteosnesse of Christs cloathing and justifying him to him that knowes the blessed presence of Christ encouraging him to him that knowes the Al-sufficiency of Christ satisfying him to him that knowes the gracious dispensation of Christ ministring the sence of his love and peace to him to that man Christ is welcome in the Gospell Mans ignorance deprives him of all Christs comforts 2. Where is our love to Christ if Christ be not welcome David loved Jonathan and Jonathan was very pleasant to him Old Jacob loved Joseph and his spirit revived when he saw the waggons which Joseph had sent he was very glad that Joseph was alive I will goe saith he and see him before I dye Christ is very pleasant to him that loves him it is a reviving of heart to such a man to heare of Christ he will surely goe and see Christ in the Gospell Love to Christ and joy in Christ are inseparable companions in all
exaltation of Christ to have his name cast out as abominable among men and to be accounted as the filth and obscuring of all things He that hath the highest esteeme of Christ hath the least and lowest esteeme of himselfe Self-denyall makes a man not only to undervalue himselfe but all other things in comparison of Christ to esteeme all the glory of the earth as dung and drosse in comparison of Christ to repute all learning but ignorance in comparison of the knowledge of Christ all honour but ignominy in comparison of the crowne which Christ gives all riches but poverty in comparison of that treasure which is in Christ all joyes but sorrowes in comparison of the joy which commeth from Christ all friends and friendship but dumbe idols in comparison of Christs love and all worldly fulnesse but empty vessels in comparison of the al-sufficiency of Christ The world is crucified to him that is crucified with Christ and hath denyed himselfe as men have no commerce with put no price upon have no love unto no pleasure in a crucified man so he that denyes himselfe hath no intimate and entire communion with the world any more then the living with the dead is free from the creature from the power and command of the creature as a woman is free from her dead husband his thoughts and joy are not taken up with the creature no more then Abrahams thoughts and delights were taken up with dead Sarah whom he desired to be removed out of his sight he puts no price upon the creature in comparison of Christ he prizeth all as straw and stubble in comparison of Christ the true treasure he esteemeth all things in respect of Christ but as a bramble in respect of the vine as Jotham to another purpose speaks in his parable He that over values either himselfe or any thing else of the world is far from holy self-denyall CHAP. IX VOluntary and cheerfull desertion and leaving of all for Christ He that denyes himselfe will deny all things else for Christ Ruth in love to Naomi left her father and mother and the land of her nativity and came unto a people which she knew not theretofore The man that denies himselfe will for the love he hath to Christ leave father and mother and the land of his nativity whatsoever is most neare and deare unto him and come to Christ whom before this worke of self-denyall he knew not he that denyes himselfe seeth so much worth in Christ and finds in him so much love to Christ that he will leave all to enjoy Christ he leaves all for the present in respect of affection his love to the creature in comparison of his love to Christ is a comparative hatred he leaves all in respect of price and estimation Christ in his eye the fairest of ten thousand A vine a lilley a glorious Prince a bright and shining Sunne The creature a thorne a weed a beggar a very glo-worme a thing of nought he leaves all in respect of service and subjection he is not under the power of the creature he is not the servant of the creature he possesseth as if he possessed not and he is ready actually to leave all whensoever he shall be called to it as a woman leaves her Fathers house and her owne people to cohabite with her husband he that denyes himselfe leaves his friends with Levi leaves his countrey with Abraham leaves his place of dignity with the blinde man leaves his possessions with the Disciples and is ready with Paul to leave his life for the testimony honour and service of Christ he chuseth rather to enjoy Christ with the losse of all then to lose Christ with the gaine of all the world can affoord him Where self-denyall dwels and beares dominion Christ is infinitely more deare then all the treasure of the world he that denyes himselfe chuseth rather to be the servant of Christ in the lowest worldly emptinesse then to serve himselfe and be a stranger to Christ in the greatest earthly fulnesse 7. Mans pleasing and delighting himselfe in Christ under the crosse and hatred of the world He that denyes himselfe is well pleased and fully satisfied with Christ though the world hate him rise up against him poure great contempt upon him and minister much trouble to him the bride pleaseth her selfe in the bridegroome though her other friends become strangers to her or turne enemies against her though many troubles and disasters attend her yet the enjoyment of her husband mitigates and sweetens all and comfortably answers all The soule that is married unto Christ pleaseth and delighteth it selfe in Christ though all friends according to the flesh become strangers or prove enemies yet Christ is in stead of all friends though many clouds of sorrow and stormes of trouble arise and no star of worldly comfort appeares yet Christ is a Sunne in stead of all lights a rocke in stead of all supporters and a haven in stead of all hiding places Christ to him that denyes himselfe is an hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest as rivers of water in a dry place as the shadow of a great rocke in a weary land Christ is in stead of all and much more then all to him that for Christs sake denyes all and is denyed of all Christ is a recompence answering all losses to his holy and humble servants whom have I in haven saith the Psalmist but thee and there is none upon the earth that I desire beside thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever The world never brings a gracious and humbled man so low but he sees power enough in Christ to raise him up never makes him so empty but he sees fulnesse enough in Christ to replenish him never so hates him but he sees love enough in Christ to comfort him never so filleth him with trouble but he sees peace enough in Christ to quiet him and this makes him that denyes himselfe when he walks in darknesse and hath no light to trust in the name of the Lord and to stay himselfe upon his God This makes him account it all ioy to fall into manifold temptations for Christs sake all temptations and troubles being to him that denyes himselfe arguments of his separation from the world pledges of his effectuall calling testimonies of the Devils and the sinfull worlds hatred against him physicke to cure and purge out many unhappy diseases of sinne trumpets to awaken him preservatives against security conflicts to try his faith and love to Christ and meanes of the endearement of his soule to Christ Christ sweetning them unto him Christ being to him in the midst of them as the honey in the belly of the Lyon unto Sampson as the Arke to Noah in the deluge apprehending tasting and pleasing himselfe in
Self-seekers never put themselves upon the profession of godlinesse but under the promise of some worldly advantage did they not perswade themselves that some honour favour or other earthly benefit would therby accrew unto them they would never put their foot within the lists of Religion Abimelech was kind to Abraham not for Abrahams but for Sarah's sake self-seekers sometimes pretend much kindnesse to Christ but it is not for Christs but for the worlds sake they cloake and colour their earthly purposes with religious pretences and this is the cursed Hypocrisie of self-seeking to make God Christ Religion and Christian profession as servants and slaves to mans carnall lusts and purposes most shamefully injurious are all such selfe-seekers to the Lord Jesus 3. Selfe-seeking is a polluting and defiling evill termed by S. James Adultery Yee adulterers and adulteresses saith he to such self-seekers know you not that the love of the world is enmity with God and that he that is a friend of the world is an enemy to God and it is stiled by Moses a going a whooring adultery and whooredome defile the body and self-seeking defiles the soule the Iewes by their covetous practises and self-seeking polluted the Temple and made it a Den of theeves and men by their self-seeking pollute their souls which should be a holy Temple to Gods Spirit this they make a den of theeves a very cage of uncleannesse Gehezi sought himselfe in running after Naoman for a talent of silver and two changes of garments and what was the issue of it a loathsome leprosie clave unto him all self-seekers are in the sight of God as loathsome lepers self-seeking defiles their understanding with ignorance as dust defiles the eyes disabling them to discerne the things of God the Pharisees were covetous and because they sought themselves they derided Christs Doctrine with self-seekers the Doctrine which crosseth their carnall projects is reputed a Doctrine of no knowledge this defiles the thoughts of men with worldlinesse injustice carnall plots and imaginations this filled Saul with thoughts to make David fall This filled Haman with thoughts to destroy all the Iewes throughout the whole Kingdome of Ahaâ—huerus this defiles the affections of men with base feare carnall confidence self-love and fleshly joy this made the Rulers afraid to confesse Christ they were self-seekers they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God and therfore did not confesse Christ this makes men ambitious of a name with men for this they seeke to perpetuate their memory upon earth their inward thought is saith the Psalmist that their houses shall continue for ever and their dwelling places to all generations they call their Lands after their owne names this makes them leane upon an arme of flesh and to trust some in their workes some in their treasures some in their falsehood selfe-seekers ever build their confidence upon false foundations and cast their souls into many shamefull pollutions 4. Self-seeking alienates the soule of man from God and from all interest in and communion with Christ the men of Israel following Sheba alienated themselves from David they had no part in David self-seekers following their own lusts walking after their owne imaginations alienate themselves from God they have no part in Christ a wife that goes a whoring from her husband dissolves the wedlocke and alienates herselfe from her husband the soule by self-seeking goes a whooring and commits fornication with the creature and altogether estrangeth it selfe from Christ of such the Lord saith they are estranged they are revolted and gone Self-seeking alienates a man from God in his understanding Self-seekers have no knowledge They eate up my people saith the Lord as bread there is their selfe-seeking they have no knowledge no true no cleare no saving knowledge there is their ignorance of God this alienates man from the thought of God of such the Psalmist saith God is not in all his thoughts he thinks not of God as of his Counsellour to advise him as of his rock to build upon him as of his fountaine to replenish him as of his King to glorifie him this alienates man from the love of God If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in that man from attendance upon the Ordinances of God the invited guests in the Parable were so eager in the pursute of the world that they could not come from tasting and relishing the sweetnesse of Christ in the ministry of the Word the fruit of Christ the fruit of his Doctrine the fruit of his death and resurrection communicated by the Gospell are not sweet unto them as to the Spouse in Salomons Song but as Iob sometime said of Eliphaz his speech Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt or is there any taste in the white of an egge The things which my soule refuseth to touch are as my sorrowfull meat Such is the Ministers speech and preaching of Christ to self-Seekers altogether unsavâ—ry having no sweet rellish or comfortable taste to their palates their soule refuseth it as sorrowfull meat troubling rather then comforting grieving rather then rejoycing them Christ ever proves very troublesome to the soule that is addicted to self-Seeking Man spoyles himselfe of many sweet and heavenly comforts in Christ Jesus by seeking himselfe and the satisfaction of his owne corrupt affections This alienates man from the faith of Christ He that seeks himselfe cannot beleeve in Christ he cannot take unto himselfe Christ for his husband to love him for his King to honour him for his Counsellor to be guided by him for his rocke to build upon him and for his precious pearle to rest himselfe contented with him The foolish man in the parable who built upon the sand did not also build upon the rocke He that leanes upon the creature leanes not upon Christ He that seeks himselfe trusts in himselfe and not in Christ True faith and self-seeking like the Arke and Dagon cannot stand together How can ye beleeve saith our Saviour which receive honour one of another and seeke not the honour that commeth from God onely You seeke the praise and applause of men to exalt and magnifie your selves in the eyes of men you seeke not the testimony and approbation of God you labour not to approve your selves unto God and therefore you cannot beleeve you cannot receive and embrace me you cannot rest and relye upon me you cannot quiet and content your selves with me Doubtlesse all worldly and ambitious self-seekers are miserable and wretched unbeleevers all inordinate self-lovers are very great strangers to Christ Jesus Cursed and shamefull is that fruit of self-seeking which turnes off the soule of man from Christ and spoyles him of all interest in Christ This alienates man from the service of Christ all self-seekers serve themselves they serve not our Lord Jesus Christ saith Saint Paul but their owne
rare 4. In regard of the sweetnes and pleasantnesse of this life Christ living in the soule of man is the choysest joy of man The light saith Salomon is sweet and it is a pleasant thing to the eye to behold the Sun the light of Christ is sweet to the soule the beholding of the Sun of righteousnesse living in man is very pleasant unto man the heart of old Jacob revived hearing that his son Joseph lived the sence and feeling of Christ living in man is a sweet and powerfull reviving of the heart of man Christ is the Prince of peace and where he lives there is sweet and sure peace Christ is the Paradise of all comforts he that enjoyes Christ hath strong consolation where Christ liveth the wounds of the soule are healed the adversaries of the soule are vanquished the sinnes of the soule are purged the stormy tempest of the conscience is appeased the clouds of sorrow which darkned the soule are dispelled spirituall liberty is restored forgivenesse of sin is sealed sence of Gods love communicated and the soule graciously reconciled unto God all other life is bitter and unsavoury as death in comparison of a holy and gracious life 5. In regard of that estate and condition whereinto this life doth exalt and advance man Christ living in man makes man a childe of God by adoption a spirituall freeman a glorious Conquerour over Satan himselfe and the world a living member of that mysticall body whereof Christ is the head a King and Priest to God and an heyre of an inheritance incorruptible reserved in the Heavens no crowne doth so honour man as his Sanctification man is more to be esteemed for his holy walking then for the highest honour the Earth is able to conferre upon him it is not mans naturall but his new-birth that makes him truly noble though holinesse thorough mens ignorance and profanenesse be of no esteeme with men yet is this the prime advancer of man 6. In regard of that lownesse and basenesse of spirit from which this life doth free man man in his naturall estate is very basely minded very dishonourably disposed like the decreped woman in the Gospell he is altogether bowed down and wholy bent to the things which are here below minding only things earthly wallowing like a Swine in the dirt and mire of the world and fleshly lusts but when Christ lives in man when he puts the life of grace into man he ennobles the heart of man communicates a heavenly disposition to him and puts the whole man into a heavenly frame and sets his heart to seeke the things which are above he rayseth his heart his thoughts his desires to the love meditation and seeking of things spirituall as he raysed the body of Lazarus from the grave hee makes man to looke upon the world as upon a thing of nought to repute all the fullnesse of the Earth as dung and drosse in comparison of Christ to leave all and follow Christ as Elisha left his yoakes of Oxen and followed Elijah having Christ living in him he minds Christ adheres to Christ pursues and followes after Christ makes Christ his crown and portion he hath an excellent Spirit like the Spirit of Christ contemning the glory of the world as Christ contemned it with Moses reputing the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Aegypt despising all the profers and perswasions of the Earth not regarding all the cominations of the world hee chooseth rather with the three children to walke with Christ in the fiery fornace then to live without Christ in the choysest earthly pallace He had rather be nayled with Christ to the crosse then set with Herod upon the throne He saith to the men of the world as Abraham in another case to the King of Sodome give me the persons take thou the substance give me Christ take ye the world give me things heavenly and eternall take ye things earthly and temporall He that hath Christ living in him reputes the world as nothing Christ is both his crowne joy and portion 7. In regard of their honourable walking who have Christ living in them they c walke in the Spirit saith the Apostle the Spirit moves and guides them to walke according to that rule which the Spirit hath in the word proposed to them the Spirit makes their hearts within and lives without sutable to that holinesse which the law prescribeth they walk in the power of the Spirit quickning and assisting them in the light of the Spirit directing them in the motion of the Spirit exciting them and in the operation of the Spirit enlarging their hearts with the knowledge of God faith in God love to God and with the sence and feeling of Gods goodnesse towards them and in the testimony and evidence of the Spirit sealing up the forgivenes of their sins unto them as the soule is not idle but operative in the body distributing sence and motion to every member of the body So the Spirit of Christ in them in whom Christ lives is not idle but operative manifesting it selfe in the fruits and effects thereof the soule inables man to humane works and services the Spirit of Christ living in man inables man to spirituall duties and exercises to shine as a light in the midst of the froward generation among whom hee lives to walke as a childe of light with Zachary and Elizabeth to walke in all the Commandements of God and be blamelesse and this is the honour and crowne of a Christians life to walke as beseemeth the Gospell to walk worthy of God and his Christian and holy calling he is most honourable who expresseth most holinesse in his conversation 8. In regard of the terme whereunto they live who have Christ living in them carnall men who are aliens to the life of God and Christ live to a very low ignoble and base terme they live to the world minding and intending the world conforming themselves to the example custome and fashion of the world they serve Mammon and not God to this they live as servants to the Master whom they serve they live unto themselves and their owne lusts walking after their owne imaginations proposing their owne by and base ends doing all things for themselves for their owne profit pleasure and applause they serve their owne belly and not the Lord Jesus they live to Satan not doing the will of God but the lust of the Divell as Christ speakes and this is the shame and dishouour of the life of man to live to live to such low by and base ends as these but they who have Christ living in them doe live unto God intending God making God and his prayse the supreame end of their living as a wife liveth to her husband bringing forth children to her husband a vine liveth to the Master of the vineyard bringing forth his fruite to him and a flocke liveth to him that is the Master
So let us bee earnest with the Lord to deliver us from this estate of barrennesse and make us fruitfull from this estate of exilement and bring us to the enjoyment of the heavenly Kings face and countenance Let us make Christ our Friend that there may be an end put to the enmity betweene God and us and that we may be set at peace againe with God let us sigh and groane under our sinfull bondage and labour for spirituall freedome Let us labour to have true and saving grace powred into the pot of our soules that all our possessions and undertakings may be sanctified unto us and that the Word which our sinne hath made the savour of death unto death may thorow grace become the savour of life to life to every one of us And to the end we may be translated out of the state of corruption into the state of grace let us 1. Attend upon and hide the word of God in our hearts This is the Word of life by which our soules are quickned this is the Seed of Regeneration by which wee are new born this is the voyce by which wee are called out of the Kingdome of darkenesse into marvellous light this is the warlike weapon by which the holds of sinne are cast downe as the walls of Jericho were cast flat to the ground at the â—ounding of the Trumpets this is the fire by which the drosse of sin is purged out of our souls this is the word of Reconciliation by which wee are set at peace with God On this therfore let us wait this let us treasure up in our souls that therby a gracious change may be wrought in us 2. Let us labour for the sence and feeling of our sinne as of a loathsome disease as of a heavy burthen Complaine of sinne as Sarah did of the daughters of Heth be weary of sinne as a sick man of his disease Cry to the Lord as Paul did O miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death the more sence and feeling wee have of sinne the more assurance of a discharge from sin When Israel sighed and groaned then their deliverance from Pharaohs bondage drew nigh when sin is a trouble and man growes weary of it as of a hard servitude then the houre of the soules spirituall deliverance approacheth therefore to such our Saviour speaketh Come unto me all yee that travell and are heavy laden and yee shall finde ease unto your soules 3. Let us get our hearts filled with godly sorrow for sin turne all your sorrow into sorrow for sinne Mourne for this as for the death of your first-borne Mourne secretly without ostentation mourne unfainedly without dissimulation mourne universally without the reservation of any sin as the deluge overflowed and drowned all the Earth hill and valley so let your sorrow drowne all sinne they that sow in teares shall reape in ioy Godly sorrow is ever attended with the joy of conversion remission and spirituall consolation They that mourne shall be comforted 4. Be very frequent and serious in the view and examination of your naturall and corrupt estate consider the basenesse the loathsomnesse the unprofitablenesse the cursednesse and the perilousnesse thereof men could never quiet themselves in this estate were they not inconsiderate of the evill thereof A Travellor that is out of his way would never goe on therein did hee consider that every step he treades is one step further from his home did carnall man consider that every action of his removes him one step farther from God and Heaven and brings him one step nearer to Satan and damnation hee would never please himselfe in this estate inconsideration makes way to all evill the Lord having mentioned the great impieties of Israel layeth downe this as the ground therof They are a Nation saith the Lord void of counsell neither is there any understanding in them O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end they doe not consider how they are in the gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity in the thraldome of Satan under the wrath of God in the state of damnation subject to a thousand easelesse and endlesse woes and miseries did men consider this they would awake out of their sleepe and stand up from the dead that Christ might give them light They would with David consider their waies and turne unto the testimonies of the Lord. 5. Addresse your selves to Christ by faithfull and fervent Prayer the Gibeonites sent to Joshua and he rescued them from the Amoritish Princes We must send by prayer to Christ to rescue us from the Prince of darkenesse the woman of Shunâ—m came to the Prophet cast her selfe downe tooke hold of his feet would not let him goe and hee went with her and raised her dead child thus must we come to Christ cast our selves downe humble our selves under the hand of Christ lay hold on Christ and never let him goe that he may raise us from the death of sin to the life of grace CHAP. VII Perswading to thanksgiving for deliverance out of our naturall and corrupt estate LAstly this ministers matter and occasion of great praise and thanksgiving to all them whom Christ hath delivered out of their corrupt and carnall estate and translated into the state of grace and holinesse Of all deliverances deliverance from sinne is the greatest the sweetest the choisest A deliverance of the greatest cost other deliverances are wrought by the power of God this is a deliverance wrought not onely by the power of God but also by the bloud of God by the bloud of Christ who is God and Man in one person Feed saith Saint Paul to the Bishops the Ministers of Ephesus the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne bloud Give thanks saith the Apostle unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light who hath delivered us from the power of darknes and translated us into the Kingdom of his deare Son in whom we have redemption through his bloud the deliverance of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt and the captivity of Babylon the deliverance of Ieremy out of the dungâ—on of Peter out of Herods prison of Ionah out of the belly of the Whale or the three children out of the fiery furnace or whatsoever deliverance else you can mention cost not God so much as the deliverance of man from sinne for this God gave his owne his onely Sonne This is a deliverance which argues more of Gods love to man then all the deliverances which God hath wrought besides for man Therefore of this the Evangelist saith God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne And Christ saith Saint Paul loved the Church and gave himselfe for it This is a deliverance from greater evils
adulterated my worship with many novell and strange inventions these have drawne thy love from me and my truth and thou hast committed adultery with them When humane devices are made ingredients and compounding parts of Gods service they are in Gods account very shamefull pollutions and doubtlesse he that in Gods worship is an admirer of humane inventions is no lover of the Lord Jesus Oile will not mixe it selfe with water nor iron with clay no more will true Religion be mixed with that which is corrupt the Arke and Dagon cannot stand together Religion is not like lead you cannot bow it but like glasse breake it you may bow it you cannot mingle it and you destroy it it is no more Religion but superstition as silver mixt with drosse is no more accounted silver but drosse though it hath some silver in it Besides it is treason in a common-wealth for any man to mingle the Lawes of a forraine Prince with the Lawes of his owne Prince no King will endure it and what is this but spirituall treason against Christ to mingle humane devices and forraine traditions with Christs precepts the Lord will never endure it therefore marke what Christ saith If any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this booke Therefore as we are a spirituall common-wealth so let us observe the Lawes of Christ the spirituall King of this Kingdome Let us walke according to his rule And peace shall be upon us as upon the Israel of God 3. This also teacheth the Church and children of God unity between themselves A common-wealth must be at unity as one body they must joyne as one man Thus the Church the spirituall common-wealth of Christ must be as a City that is compact together that is at unity within itselfe First they must be at unity in judgement of one mind as Saint Paul speaks in all fundamentall and necessary truths as they have one word informing and instructing them one Spirit of God enlightening them so they must be of one mind of one judgement and understanding in things belonging to salvation having as Saint John saith the same anointing teaching them all things the same Spirit though not all in the same measure enlightening them to judge and to discerne aright of the mind and will of God Unity in judgement is very effectuall to breed unity in affection discord and difference in the apprehension of the truths of Christ proposed in the Gospell doth ordinarily make an unhappy breach in mens affections therefore let us all strive for one and the same cleare and through understanding of Gods revealed will as Schollers learning one lesson by one and the same rule Let us as many saith Paul as be perfect as have a true and cleare knowledge of God in Christ be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveale even this unto you God by degrees so enlightens his children that he makes them at length men of the same understanding in things profitable to their salvation 2. Labour for unity in affection let the sacred fire of Christian and mutuall love be alwayes burning upon the altar of your hearts See saith Saint Peter that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently This is an ointment of a sweet savour in the nostrils of God and men like the ointment which the woman powred on our Saviour that made the whole house where she was to cast a sweet smell Love makes both the persons and services of Gods servants very sweet and odoriferous This argues Gods gracious inhabitation in us regeneration of us and holy workmanship upon us for God is love and he that loveth dwelleth in God and God in him This is the character and cognizance of our being Christs Disciples By this shall all men know saith Christ that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another and as the heate of the body is a Symptome of life in the body and as the light of the Sun assures us of the rising of the Sun so this light and heate of love gives cleare and comfortable evidence of our spirituall quickning and interest in the first resurrection By this saith the Apostle we know that we are passed from death to life because we love the brethren As therefore our spirituall common-wealth is a common-wealth of peace our Prince a Prince of peace our Law of faith and love a Law of peace our Calling a Calling of peace and all our fellow Subjects the Subjects of peace Let us love each other and be at peace amongst our selves 3. Labour for unity in Religion As the whole common-wealth obey the King by one Law so let us worship and serve Christ by one Rule the word of God let us all walked by one Light the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles let us all build upon one rocke Jesus Christ other foundation then this can no man lay Let us all hearken to the voice of one shepheard Jesus Christ speaking to us in his word Let us all feed in one pasture the Ordinances of God Let us all be cloathed with one royal roabe of Christ his Righteousnesse for the justification of our soules Let us all invocate and call on one God in the name of one Mediator Jesus Christ Let us all worship God after one manner in truth and sincerity according to Christs owne prescription not having our minds corrupted and hearts adulterated and alienated from the simplicity that is in Christ by carnall doctrines and humane observations Let us receive all our direction from Christ as the traveller receiveth all his light from the Sun Let us yeeld all our Subiection unto Christ as the souldiers were fully subject unto the Centurion Let us have our full and sole dependance upon Christ as the house in the Parable was wholly built upon the rocke Let us seeke for all perfection in Christ as the people in the famine came all to Joseph to supply their wants and let us referre all our services to the honour and glory of Christ and so shall we give testimony of our happy union in Christs Religion 4. Strive for unity in opposing sinne and Satans Kingdome A common-wealth is united against a publike and common adversary Satan and sinne are the common adversaries of our soules against these let us unite our forces by mutuall watchfulnesse one over another fervent prayer each for other and by the ministration of holy instruction gracious admonition and Christian encouragement one towards another considering one another and provoking one another according to the Apostles rule to love and to good works The children of Israel arose as one man and went up against Gibeah The Lords people should arise as one man against the powers of ungodlinesse to suppresse the Kingdome and works of the Prince of darknesse Joab and Abishai made a Covenant to help one another against the Syrians and
King Whence observe That All Prophane and carnall persons are aliens to the true Church of Christ and all the spirituall priviledges therof The Lepers under the Law were excluded the camp separated from the society of cleane persons shewing the effect of the Law in sinners which driveth them from the communion of God and his people till by repentance and faith they come unto Christ and also figuring the putting and excluding of all uncleane sinners from the Church of Christ and the priviledges thereof according to the charge of the Apostle put away from among your selves that wicked person Adam eating the forbidden fruit was debarr'd from the Tree of Life and shut out of the Garden of Eden The posterity of Adam feedâ—ng upon the forbidden fruit of sinne making a trade and practise of sinne are excluded from Christ the true Tree of Life and shut out of the Church of Christ the inclosed Garden of which Christ is the Keeper and dresser Hence prophane men living within the pale of the Church are likened to chaffe mingled among the wheate in the floore which though it be among the wheate yet it is not of the wheate To a man at the wedding feast without a wedding garment who though he was among the guests yet he was not of the number of the true and welcome guests and therefore was cast out as having of right no place there and to thornes and bryars which thouâ—h they sometime grow within the Orchard yet are not Trees of the Orchard not planted watered and manured by the Keeper of the Orchard as other Trees are And for this the Church is stiled a Garden inclosed in respect of Gods protection and preservation of her in respect of her separation from them that are prophane and carnall by grace and holy calling and for the Churches care and vigilancy that no enemies invade her that no uncleane thing or vitious persons pollute and defile her And for this cause the Church is tearmed a chaste virgin for her internall and externall purity for her holy chastity for her fidelity and fervent love to her husband Christ for her alienation from the world from all idolatry and false worship and for her separation and distinction from all that pollute and defile themselves with Idols the world or any carnall lusts And the Church is charged to preserve and keep her selfe from all intimate and familiar communion with them that are openly scandalous and uncleane I have written unto you saith Saint Paul not to keep company If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous or an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with such a one no not to eat not familiarly and friendly to converse He forbids not the exercise of the necessary offices of humanity and charity towards them but the having of intimate communion with them And if any man saith the Apostle to the Thessalonians obey not our Word by this Epistle but be rebellious and obstinate against the holy and wholsome Doctrine delivered note that man and have no company with him Whereby we see that the Lord denyes them that are obstinate and carnall communion with such as are truly holy and spirituall there can be no sweet and seemly fellowship between common harlots and chaste virgins What fellowship saith Paul hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse and what communion hath light with darknesse Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sonnes and daughters Carnall men are not spirituall brethren to them that are Gods children they are not begotten of the same heavenly parent they are not united to the same spirituall head they are not endowed with the same gracious qualities and therefore are aliens to Gods sonnes and daughters And without saith Christ are doggs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murtherers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lye these are without without the number of Gods holy and sanctified Church and people without the Prerogatives granted to Gods gracious children without the company of the Citizens of the new Jerusalem here and without glory and happinesse hereafter and of such S. John saith expresly however they have a place within the Church yet they are not of the Church They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had beene of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us CHAP. XII Laying downe the grounds of carnall mans alienation from the true church of Christ THe alienation of profane men from the true Church of Christ is manifest 1. By their alienation from the Head of the Church they are strangers to Christ they hold not the Head saith the Apostle from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the encrease of God they hold not Christ but are strangers to the life of Christ as withered branches are strangers to the life of the root Christ doth not live in them they are strangers to the knowledge of Christ as blind men are strangers to the light of the Sunne the light shineth in the darknesse but the darknesse comprehendeth it not the Gospell is hidden to them they are strangers to the dominion of Christ he doth not reigne spiritually within them though they professe they know Christ yet they be reprobate and disobedient to every good worke they are strangers to the holy and gracious presence of Christ Christ doth not dwell in their hearts by Faith possessing protecting aâ—d beautifying then soules as a dweller his house directing and guiding their goings to the haven of peace as a Pilot his Ship they are strangers to the love of Christ they are not espoused to him as a chast Virgin to the operation of Christ he is not unto them as a Refiners fire and Fullers sope purifying them as gold and silver to offer unto the Lord an offering of Righteousnesse and also to the fullnesse of Christ he is a sealed well of whose waters their soules drinke not though they live within the pale of the Church and come to the ordinaâ—ces of Christ yet as Salomon spake in another case Of the way of a Ship in the Sea of an Eagle in the Ayre and of a Serpent upon a stone so â—â—â—y we say of the way of Christ in his ordinances with the soules of carnall men it leaveth no track behind it worketh no change imprints no character of holinesse they still continue strangers to Christ and having no communion with the Head they are farre from fellowship with the Members 2. By their being dâ—stitute of the Seed of the Church the Church of Christ is begotten of a holy Seed the word of God and vertue of
thou live within the pale of the Church yet if thou live under the power of any prophane lust thou art 1. An unbeleever thou receivest not Christ into thy soule thou buildest not upon the rocke but upon the sand and thou wilt sinke at the last for faith where it is is victorious it overcomes Satan the world and every lust it purifies the heart and makes man a holy Temple to the Lord it overturnes all the holds of sinne it drives all base lusts out of the heart as Christ overturned the Tables and drove the buyers and sellers out of his Fathers house 2. Thou art a very hypocrite a cursed counterfeit a whited sepulchre full of dead mens bones within like the Locusts which had the face of a man and the haire of a woman without but the teeth of a Lyon within and the taile of a Scorpion behind Thus though thou hast the face of a Christian without yet thou hast the rapine of a Lyon and the poison of a Scorpion the venome of all sinne within and wilt have the portion of an hypocrite at last 3. Thou art a defiler of things sacred an abuser of Gods Ordinances one that turnest the meanes of life into an occasion of death the evill herbe turned the Prophets pot into a pot of death the evill of sinne swaying in thy soule turnes the word of life into the savour of death Like the spider thou suckest poison out of the flower of that Word and Sacrament which in it selfe is sweeter then the honey or the honey-combe 4. Thou art a scandall to the Church of Christ where thou livest thou art a blemish to the Christian name as an ulcer to the face as a dead member to the body for through such as the Apostle saith is the name of God blasphemed misliving Christians are of all persons the greatest dishonour to Christ Jesus Lastly be assured thy condemnation will be greatest thy torment the severest They that come nearest to Heaven by their outward calling and profession and yet are strangers to the life and power of godlinesse shall sinke lowest into hell and drinke deepest of the cup of Gods vengeance To such therefore our Saviour saith it shall be easier for Sodome and Gomorrah in the day of iudgement then for them 4. Are all prophane men aliens to the Church of Christ though they live within the pale thereof Then let all such as live within the Church learne by this to purge out and put away all prophanenesse to search and seeke for and furnish themselves with all saving gifts and graces the proper characters of the living members of the true Church of Christ knowing as the Apostle saith that he is not a Iew who is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the flesh but he is a Iew which is one inwardly whose Circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose praise is not of men but of God It is not mans naked profession of Christ but his inward sanctification that makes him a true Christian and holinesse is the honourable and inseparable Adiunct of Christs Church called by the Apostle a Church of Saints because Christ who is the head of this Church is holy and makes them partakers of his holinesse separates them from the world by a holy calling commits his holy word unto them causeth it to dwell in them and bestowes his holy Spirit upon them and works holinesse within them and as Christ who is the head of the Church was according to the flesh conceived of the Holy-Ghost so is the Church the mysticall body of Christ sanctified by the holy Spirit and as the fulnesse of the God-head dwelleth personally in the personall body of Christ so dwell the three Persons of the Trinity mystically and spiritually in the mysticall body of Christ and all the living members of the same therefore as we professe our selves to be the children of God a God absolutely and infinitely holy so let us be holy in all manner of conversation as he that hath called us is holy as we professe our selves to be the members of Christ who is a holy head so let us conforme our selves to Christ as the members in the body naturall are conformed to the head and as we are stiled the Bride of Christ so let us feele in our hearts the sweet and heavenly motion of the holy Spirit the pledge of Christs love and as the Bridegroome loveth cloatheth adorneth and defendeth his Bride thus let us labour to discerne Christs shedding abroad his love into our hearts cloathing us with his righteousnesse adorning us with his graces and defending us by his blessed power and presence and as we are called children of light so let the light of grace in us like the light in the firmament shine more and more unto the perfect day the more we shine in holinesse the more sweetnesse shall we find in Gods Ordinances the greater tranquillity shall we have in our owne consciences the more amiable shall we be in the eyes of Christ Jesus the more shall we beautifie the Church of Christ whereof we are members and as the vessels of the transportative Tabernacle were at length translated into Solomons Temple so shall we after our ambulatory and mutable condition in the Church militant be translated to rest and reigne for ever in the Church triumphant CHAP. XV. Handling carnall Mans estrangement from the Covenant THe third Alienation declaring the misery of carnall and sinfull man is an Alienation from the Covenants of God termed strangers from the Covenants of promise Mans happinesse is built upon his interest in Gods gracious promise the strangers to this promise are the most unhappy of all persons Carnall men are aliens to Christ to the members of Christ to Christs common-wealth and to all the prerogatives and priviledges thereof strangers to the Covenants of promise made in and through Christ God made and often renewed and repeated his Covenants and promises with the Israelitish people concerning their salvation in and by Christ In the beginning the Lord made this Covenant with our first Parents promising that the seed of the woman which is Christ should breake the serpents head the Lord renewed it with Abraham and his seed saying I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and thy seed after thee and of the Israelitish people in this respect speaks Moses What Nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for and what Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day Now to these Statutes Oracles and Promises the Gentiles before the comming of Christ were strangers they no way appertained
promising him that a woman should compasse a man contrite and broken hearted sinners are the proper subject of Gods sweetest mercies 3. We must relinquish the world Abner fell out with the house of Saul and then hee entred into Covenant with David Man must first fall out with the world take off his heart from the earth before he can enter into covenant with God because the love of the world as S. James speakes is enmity with God and he that is a friend of the world is an enemy to God the first husband must be dead before the woman can joyne her selfe in wedlocke with a second man man must be crucified to the world and the world unto him before he can be married unto Christ enter into Covenant with Christ when Zacheus received Christ into his house he gave the halfe of his goods to the poore and restored foure-fold to them from whom he had wrongfully taken The world is much slighted where Christ is truely received The soule is never filled with Christ unlesse it be emptied of the earth Dagon fals where the Arke is erected the exaltation of Christ is the prostration of the world Mans communion with Christ is sutable to his separation from the world He that will enter this Covenant and associate himselfe with Christ must with Matthew leave the receipt of custome hee must with Salomon looke upon the world as upon a thing of nought he must according to the Apostles rule use the world as if hee did not use it He must forget his owne people and forsake his Fathers house that will have consortship with Christ 4. We must renounce all intimate communion with corrupt and carnall people come out from among them saith the Lord there is the separation and I will be your Father and ye shall be unto me for sonnes and daughters there is Gods receiving them into covenant and communion with him the Prodigall deserted and repented of his fellowship with Harlots and riotous persons and then his Father lovingly received and imbraced him God is very propitious to such as repent of their sinfull fellowship with his enemies God ministers many comfortable expressions of his love to them who withdraw themselves from such as doe not love him when Moses left Pharaohs Court the Lord appeared to him in the wildernesse saying I am the God of thy Fathers the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob the declination of fellowship with profane persons is usually attended with a sweet enjoyment of Gods presence and the ministration of many spirituall comforts were we more thoroughly alienated from vaine men wee should be more fully and sweetly acquainted with God could we give a bill of divorce to profane persons we should have a blessed and honourable wedlocke with Christ Jesus 5. We must with all diligence attend the Ministry of the word Encline your eare Come unto me saith the Lord Heare and your soule shall live and J will make an everlasting Covenant with you God by the labours of his Ministers brings men into covenant with himselfe by their labours hee opens the beauties and perfections of Christ he makes them see their necessity of Christ their misery without Christ and their happinesse in the enjoyment of Christ by their labours hee woes and perswades them to come to Christ fils their hearts with earnest longings after Christ with fervent and unfained love to Christ and so espouseth them unto him as Abraham by his Servant brought Rebecca to his son Isaac Thus doth God by his Ministers bring men to his Sonne Christ Jesus Did wee not shamefully undervalue and profanely estrange our selves from the labours of Gods Ministers wee could not be such strangers to Gods Covenant nor so empty of those blessings which Christ ministers to true beleevers Attend therefore Gods Word if ever you meane to enjoy the benefit of Gods Covenant 6. We must readily and fully receive Christ Christ is the foundation of the Covenant the promise is in Christ Josephs Bretheren came nigh to Pharaoh by Joseph man comes nigh to God by Christ findes favour with God and partakes of all the mercies of God through Christ through him we are made the Sonnes of God thorough him wee are accepted of God thorough him we receive of Gods fullnesse grace for grace the receiving of the Lord Jesus is the receipt of all mercies in him we are blessed with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places without Christ wee are strangers to all Gods mercies in Christ wee have title to all Gods blessings Iosephs bretheren were lovingly entertained of him bringing Beniamin with them without whom they might not looke him in the face bringing Christ with us God will graciously receive us without Christ God will be a consuming fire to us And therefore let us all labour thus to interest our selves in Gods Covenant for hereby shall we have interest in all Gods Promises as in so many pillars to support us as in so many wel-springs to refresh us in all the creatures as in so many Servants to minister their assistance to us in all the Ordinances of God as in so many Starres to enlighten us as in so many dishes of spirituall dainties to feed us as in so many heavenly Bethesda's to heale us and in all the attributes of God as in so many branches of the tree of life to shelter and shadow us interest in the power of God to uphold us in the wisedome of God to guide us in the mercy of God to pardon us in the presence of God to encourage us in the love of God to solace us and in the All-sufficiency of God every way to satisfie and content us Sweet and sure full and everlasting joyous and honourable are the Prerogatives and comforts which are obtained by interest in Gods Covenant CHAP. XVIII Declaring the misery of naturall Man without Hope THe fourth Alienation declaring naturall and carnall mans misery is an Alienation from Hope Without hope The hope of salvation by Christ from this hope man in his corrupt and carnall estate is estranged Hope is a grace inclining and disposing a regenerate and beleeving soule with assurance and patience to expect and wait for the accomplishment of such good things as God in Christ hath promised and faith apprehendeth Gird up saith Saint Peter the loynes of your minds be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ all grace is dispensed through Christ the full communication hereof is reserved till Christs second comming and hope waits for the receiving of it in and through Christ The cause efficient of this hope is God the Author and giver of all good it is not a worke of nature but of grace not of man but of God Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us againe to a lively hope
undertakings who strives not to make Christ glorious Christ being by the Disciples set upon this colt a great multitude spread their garments in the way and others cut downe branches from the trees and strawed them in the way When Christ is by his Ministers exalted and lifted up in the preaching of the Gospell many soules vaile and bow to him embrace and reverence him as their spirituall King and Soveraigne prostrating themselves and all that is theirs under him The multitude did not only straw the way with their garments and branches but they also cryed Hosanna to the sonne of David Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest Humble and beleeving soules receive and entertaine the Lord Iesus with very great ioy and gladnesse The blessed presence of Christ in the Gospell ministers matter of very great rejoycing here is such a sunne of heavenly light shining such a streame of consolations flowing such a store-house of spirituall treasure set open and such dewes of grace mercy and peace distilling that every man that hath an eye of wisedome to discerne Christ a hand of faith to lay hold on Christ and a heart of love to embrace Christs comming in the Gospell must needs say with the Psalmist Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. We are blessed out of the house of the Lord. The words are an Acclamation of the people declaring and setting forth the welcome of Christ to all beleeving soules their ioy and rejoycing conceived upon the comming of Christ among them their gratulation and thanksgiving for Christs appropinquation and comming nigh unto them their vote and exoptation of all prosperity blessed and happy successe to Christ in his kingdome Christs comming proves most ioyfull to them that lovingly receive and entertaine him All true beleevers are holy and hearty welwishers to the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ Iesus all manner of blessings attend and wait on the Lord Iesus in the humble and gracious use of his ordinances True Christians have such experience of the benefits and blessings mercies and comforts flowing from Christ in the ministery of his Gospell that with great joy and thanksgiving they cry out Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. In the words we have in the generall two things considerable 1. A Gratulation uttered by the people Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. 2. A Benediction pronounced by the Ministers of the Lord We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. In the gratulation there is 1. the Agent the people they blesse they rejoyce they are thankfull for Christs comming Man hath greatest cause of all creatures to reioyce in and for the comming of Christ Jesus 2. there is the Act Blessed praised exalted magnified be Christ Christ is worthy to be celebrated with all praises for his comming to us 3. there is the manner of their gratulation Blessed expressed 1. by way of thanksgiving and rejoycing and 2. by way of exoptation and wishing Whosoever truly reioyceth in Christ doth also wish well to the cause and kingdome of Christ 4. there is Movens or the party comming He who is the sonne of God by eternall generation and by grace of hypostaticall union the Prince of the Kings of the earth by authority and dominion He who is the head of the Church by spirituall Jurisdiction He who is the Redeemer of man by the merit of his obedience and passion He who is the Conquerour over hell death sinne and Satan by his Resurrection He who by his office is the Prophet instructing us the King commanding and defending us and the Priest offering himselfe a sacrifice for us He who is the Mediator between God and us by his intercession the fountaine of all mercy grace and peace unto us by divine ordination Blessed be he welcome be he in him let our soules rejoyce his comming let us entertaine with the chiefest and strength of our rejoycing The Lord Jesus ought to be the prime and compleat obiect of mans joyfulnesse 5. Here is his Motion Commeth Christ as God is every where and neither goes nor comes but fils all places yet he commeth by his Lawes and ordinances as a Prince by his Proclamations He commeth by his Ministers as a King by his Embassadours He commeth by his Incarnation as a brother taking our nature upon him He commeth by his gifts and graces best owed on us as a friend commeth by his love-tokens He commeth by his Word and Gospell as the Sun commeth by his light enlightening us as a King commeth by his Scepter binding bowing and inclining our hearts unto obedience as a Generall commeth by his military weapons casting downe the strong holds of sinne within us as the Cloud commeth by his dew watering refreshing and fructifying us as the Master of a feast commeth by his dainties feeding and feasting us as a Bridegroome commeth by his voice solacing and comforting us He commeth by his Sacrament as the King by his Broad Seale sealing to us the remission of our sinnes and justification of our soules through his righteousnesse he commeth by his holy and gracious operation upon our soules as the Sunne by casting a sweet and heavenly influence into our hearts as a King setting up his throne within us as a heavenly and Almighty Work-man new moulding new framing and fashioning us all these wayes comes the Lord Iesus to the soules of his servants Blessed is that person that knowes the way and manner of Christs spirituall and gracious comming Here is the terme from whence he commeth from God in the name of the Lord by the ordination and appointment of God with authority and commission from God every way fitted and furnished for the administration of his kingdome and accomplishment of the worke undertaken by him CHAP. II. I Will not insist on all these particulars but onely upon the peoples gratulation and Christs authority or commission First the peoples gratulation Blessed be he that commeth expressing their rejoycing and thanksgiving for Christs comming in his Gospell and spirituall kingdome Man blesseth man by making prayer and supplication for him God blesseth man by bestowing good things upon him by removing evill things from him and by turning all for good unto him and man blesseth God and Christ by thanksgiving to God and Christ well speaking of God and Christ holy and hearty rejoycing in God and Christ gracious and unfained wel-wishing unto the cause of God and Christ and thus the people in this place blesse Christs comming in the name of the Lord and hence we learne That Christ comming in his Gospell spiritual kingdome ought to be received and entertained with much thanksgiving reioycing The Arke was a type of Christ David at the comming of the Arke into the Tabernacle danced with all
them in the waters this gives them occasion in a holy and triumphant manner to say the Lord hath triumphed gloriously the horse and the rider hath he throwne downe together He cannot but rejoyce in Christs comming that partakes of the victory comming by him In regard of the spirituall and heavenly peace hence arising to the soule Christs comming to the soules of men in the Gospell is like the comming of the Dove to Noah with an Olive branch in her mouth certifying the soule of the abatement and removall of Gods wrath of the speedy departure of the deluge of present sorrowes and the happy returne and re-appearance of spirituall and heavenly comforts Here Christ as a bright and shining Sunne dispels the clouds of sorrow from the soule Here Christ as a valiant Captaine removes the siege which the infernall Princes lay against the soules of his servants as Joshuah drove the Amoritist Princes from the Gibeonites Here Christ as a Physitian heales the wounded consciences and binds up the broken hearts of his children as he sometime healed the diseased woman whom no Physitian could cure Here Christ as an absolute Commander appeaseth the inward stormy troubles of the heart as by his voice he appeased the stormy tempest and gave a calme to his Disciples Here Christ as a King of mercies assures the soules of men of the pardon of their sinnes and gives them the sence of his love and so fils them with sweet and blessed peace therefore Christ is stiled a Sunne of Righteousnesse appearing with healing in his wings in the wings of his ordinances without and in the wings of his grace within and it was prophecyed of him that he should preach good tidings to the meeke bind up the broken-hearted proclaime liberty to the captive and open the prison to them that are bound to comfort all that mourne and God hath created the fruit of the lips to be peace to be the instrument of peace and the Gospell is called the Gospell of peace for the Author of it the God of peace for the Subject of it Christ the Prince of peace for the parties receiving it the children of peace and for the fruit of it spirituall and heavenly grace In regard of that blessed and soule-refreshing Communion which wee attaine with God through Christ comming in the Gospell Josephs brethren were brought nigh to the King of Egypt by Ioseph Man is brought nigh to God by Christ Christ preached in the Gospell is like Iacobs ladder by him God descendeth unto us and through him we ascend unto God the Arke was an assurance of Gods presence among the people and God dwelled there Where Christ is preached in the Gospell there God is in mercy present with his people there is the Lords dwelling in Salem is his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Zion In the Gospell men are regenerate and made the children of God men are humbled and made loyall Subjects to God men are endowed with faith wrought into Gods Covenant and made the friends of God Men are separated from the world and gathered home to God and made the sheep of his pasture so that now they have communion with him as children with a father as favourites with a King as schollers with a teacher as the members of a house with the master of the house Now they are made nigh through Christ nigh in knowledge nigh in faith nigh in love nigh in likenesse nigh in conformity and obedience nigh in the participations of spirituall comforts and in the enjoyment of the light of Gods countenance very pleasant and comfortable is a gracious soules communion with God in the Gospell Christ is most worthy of all acceptation for that communion which we have with God through him CHAP. 3. THis discovers their sinne their miserable and wretched condition who are not thankfull for who rejoyce not in the comming of Christ in his Gospell and in the kingdome of his grace among them There were children of Belial that said of Saul when he was set up King over Israel How shall this man save us they despised him and brought him no present There are many children of Belial in the world that say of Christ comming in the Gospell comming in his word to reigne and rule over them how shall Christ save us by this preaching of the Gospell the preaching of Christ seemes foolishnesse unto them a darke doctrine wherein is no light no wisedome no excellency of learning an empty doctrine wherein is no fulnesse no worth a very babling a weake doctrine wherein is no power The false Apostles said of Paul his bodily presence is weake and his speech contemptible Many false and counterfeit Christians say of Christ in the closet of their owne hearts Christs presence in the Gospell is weake and his speech in the Gospell is contemptible and thus they despise Christ in his offices in his Ministers in his Ordinances in his members they bring him no present they present not themselves in Christs schoole as schollers to learne Christ they present not themselves in Christs house as children to feed on those dainties which Christ hath there prepared for them they present not themselves in Christs Courts as Subjects to receive his Lawes and doe his will they present not their soules and bodies as a living holy and acceptable sacrifice unto Christ But as the men of the old world said in the Atheisme of their hearts unto God so say these in the ignorance infidelitie pride and prophanenesse of their soules unto Christ Depart from us we care not for the knowledge of thy wayes What is Christ that we should serve him and what profit shall we have if we pray unto him if we attend him preached in the Gospell surely Christ preached in the Gospell is very strangely and shamefully undervalued by many people In stead of rejoycing they grieve at the preaching of Christ among them as Herod and all the men of Ierusalem were troubled to heare of Christs being borne King of the Jewes and of the appearing of a starre declaring the comming of Christ the true light of the world the cleare and full opening of Christ and the setting up of Christ to reigne and rule over the hearts and wayes of men is very troublesome to many people like those evill citizens in the parable they will not have this man Christ to raigne over them they will not have him reigne over their understandings as a light guiding them over their wils as a Prince commanding them over their affections as a Lord and Master ruling and ordering them over their lusts as a Physitian lancing purging mortifying and taking them off Many men delight to talke much of Christs salvation but they have no pleasure to heare of his kingdome it is acceptable to them to be saved by Christ but very troublesome to serve Christ But what a shame what an abomination what
foule hypocrisie is this that wee should professe Christ and yet deny him in his Gospell in his Kingdome Is it not a shame for a wife to professe such a man to be her husband and yet deny him her presence her hand her heart her body her love dwell with a stranger love a stranger delight in a stranger and bring forth children to a stranger what is this but shamefull disloyalty and odious adultery What a shame for a man to professe such a man to be his Master and yet deny him all service and shut the doores of the house against him and what a shame is it for us to professe Christ to be our husband our Master and yet deny him our service breaking his bands and casting away his cords from us shutting the doores of our hearts against him denying him our presence in his house denying him our heart to love him our affections to rejoyce in him our hand to worke for him denying him our soules and bodies to be a holy Temple for him to dwell in bringing forth all our fruit to the flesh and to the world and none to Christ what disloyalty what hypocrisie what spirituall adultery is this certainly such men like the Angell of the Church of Sardis though he had a name that he lived yet he was dead so these though they have the name of Christians yet they are none of Christs This is an evill of which Christ is very sensible whereof he much complaines If saith he a man come unto you in his owne name bring a corrupt and carnall doctrine seeke himselfe exalt and magnifie himselfe him ye will receive his person you will reverence his doctrine you will receive his sayings you will beleeve to his dictates you will vaile and stoop but saith Christ I am come in my Fathers name and ye receive me not I am come from God I have my calling and commission from God I bring no humane but a heavenly doctrine I seeke not mine owne but my Fathers glory and ye receive me not ye regard not my person ye beleeve not my doctrine ye obey not my precepts you love not me you rejoyce not you delight not in me Generally men are more addicted to and delighted in corrupt and carnall inventions then in the spirituall and heavenly doctrine of Christ and his Gospell Christs comming in the power and brightnesse of his Gospell is very unwelcome to many people as the comming of the King to a Rebell the comming of an officer to a theefe or the comming of the husband to his wife that playes the harlot and what is this but the shame of all shames and dishonour of all dishonours to a Christian to deny his Christ to refuse his Christ not to rejoyce and delight in his Christ comming to him in the glad tydings of his Gospell We all conclude it a foule dishonour to a subject a servant a wife to deny their King their Master their Husband not to rejoyce in their comming in their presence but to shut the doores of their houses against them to deny them entrance and entertainment And is not a foule staine so to deale with Christ so to exclude Christ comming to us by his Word and Ministers If you aske me whence it is that Christ is so unwelcome that many of us are so farre from rejoycing in his comming I answer there are these 5. grounds of this Ignorance Men doe not know Christ they doe not discerne Christ in the Gospell Christ in the Gospell is hidden from them as the light is hidden from the blind the God of this world hath blinded their eyes that the light of the Gospell of the glory of Christ may not shine into them they doe not discerne Christ in his Gospell shining like the Sunne for the excellency of his knowledge there appearing they doe not discerne Christ there triumphing like a conquerour in the subjugation of Satan and their corruptions they doe not discerne Christ there as a Prince of peace sweetly and graciously ruling in their hearts by the Scepter of his Word they doe not discerne Christ there as a Physitian healing their sinfull maladies as the impotent discerned the Angell moving in the poole of Bethesda and healing their bodily infirmities they see not these beauties of Christ which David desired to see in the Temple of the Lord they see not that power and glory of Christ in the Gospell which the Psalmist saw in the Sanctuary and therefore as a blind man rejoyceth not in the appearance and comming of the Sunne because he sees not the Sunne no more doe these in the comming of Christ in the Gospell because they doe not there discerne him 2 Earthly mindednesse Their hearts are glued to the world this is the Master whom they serve this is the rocke on which they build this is the wife or harlot rather whom they marry this is the object of their joy they rejoyce in the creature in a thing of nought saith the Prophet and therefore having another Master whom they serve they cannot receive and rejoyce in Christs Lawes having another rocke on which they build they cannot beleeve and delight in Christs promises having another husband to whom they are wedded they cannot embrace and rejoyce in Christ as the Bride rejoyceth in the Bridegroome when the people rejoyced in Rezin Remalials son they refused the waters of Shiloah When man rejoyceth in the creature he refuseth Christ his soule takes no pleasure in Christ 3. Vnsensiblenesse of Christ they have no feeling of Christ within them the Apostle saith they are past feeling they are past the feeling of their sinne as a dead body is past the feeling of the disease they are past the feeling of the shame of sin as a common harlot hath cast of all modesty is even degenerated from her sexe and takes no shame of her whoredomes they have no feeling of the iudgements of God denounced against them they sleep in the midst of these as Ionah did in the storme they take no notice of them they have no feeling of the workings bitings and convulsions of an accusing and condemning conscience their consciences are like a mastive fallen asleep after long and much barking like flesh seared with a hot yron their sence and feeling is gone they are alienated from the life of God dead and have no feeling of the life of Christ Christ doth not live in them they are blind and have no feeling of the wisedome and knowledge which commeth from Christ as a blind man hath no feeling of the light which commeth from the Sunne they are deafe and have no feeling of the sweet and comfortable voice of Christ in the Gospell any more then a deafe man feeles the sweet sound of a musicall instrument their pallates are distempered and they cannot taste the sweetnesse of Christ they loath him as the full stomacke the honey-combe he
will sup with him I will accept and delight in his knowledge faith repentance and new obedience and he shall sup with me I will communicate unto him justification sanctification peace the joy of the Holy-Ghost the heavenly treasure of all saving grace their blisse and happinesse is very great and comfortable who give a full and speedy entertainment to Christ comming in the Gospell It is a point of Christian and choisest wisedome according to the charge of the Prophet to seeke the Lord while he may be found and to call upon him while he is neare at hand The Sunne of heavenly light which now shineth may set and we be left in darknesse the Well of salvation now opened may be sealed up and we perish with want of spirituall water to refresh us the gate of mercy now opened to us may be shut against us Christ may withdraw himselfe and refuse to be found of us the things belonging to our peace may be hidden from us It is just with Christ to withdraw himselfe from them that delay to receive him Christ will be to them as a deafe man that heares not in the day of their trouble and afflictions who are deafe to Christ and will not heare him in his Gospell in the day of his mercifull visitation O therefore to day if ye will heare his voice harden not your hearts behold now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation Now while Christ is preached in the Gospell salvation pardonall mercy is offered now if ever is the time to accept it therefore as Zaccheus made haste and came downe from the Sycamine tree and received Christ into his house joyfully So let us make haste and come downe every man from all high thoughts of our owne worth and joyfully receive Christ into the house of our heart When Christ appeared unto Abraham in the plaine of Mamre in the forme of an Angell and two other Angels with him it is said that Abraham ranne to meet them from the tent doore and hasted to his tent to make provision for them he used all speed in their entertainment Thus when Christ appeares in the Gospell and comes to us by his Ministers we should run from our tent doores from our selves by Christian denyall from the world by desertion from our sinnes by mortification Thus we should run to meet Christ comming in the Gospell and hasten every man into his tent into his heart and there make all spirituall provision to entertaine him The use of hast and speed in the entertaining of Christ comming in his Gospell is more necessary and commendable then in any other undertaking 3. Cordially With much and fervent affection the heart is Christs house where he must dwell Christs throne where he must raigne and the pallace whereinto he must be received the place of the Arke was not in a corner but in the midst of the Tabernacle Christ must not be thrust into a corner of the soule his dwelling must be in the midst thereof in the heart of man he must have the best and choisest roome of mans affection this Christ requires My sonne give me thy heart not thy head barely to know me nor thy memory nakedly to remember me nor thy tongue formally to speake of me nor thy foot onely to come outwardly unto me but thy heart to love and embrace me to surrender and yeeld up all unto me This was the Apostles prayer in the behalfe of the Ephesians that Christ might dwell not onely in their care or in the tongue the outward roomes of the body nor in the head or memory the upper roomes of the soule but in their heart the middle and choisest roome of the soule of man Our prayers are but empty and fruitlesse untill wee have prayed Christ into our hearts and affections Christ commeth in the Gospell as a King of mercies to pardon us as a bridegroome to marry us and we must entertaine him with love much strong and fervent love as a malefactor his King comming to him with a pardon or the bride the bridegroome our love to Christ must be like the love of Ionathan to David a love passing the love of women our soule must be knit to Christ as Ionathan seeing what David had done for Israel in the overthrow of Goliah his soule was knit to David so we seeing what Christ hath done for us in the overthrow of Satan our soules must be knit to Christ our soules must long for Christ as the soule of Shechem longed for Dinah our soule must delight in Christ as the soule of the rich in his treasure and the soule of the bride in the bridegroome thus the Spouse expresseth her selfe shew me O thou whom my soule loveth whom I love fervently unfainedly and with a longing desire to enjoy and in the banqueting house in the ministery of the word she found her selfe sicke of love ravished with love to Christ The entertainment of Christ into the heart is the glory of a Christian as the entertainment of the King to a house is the glory of a Subject This is the fulnesse of the soule as the entertainment of the Sunne into the eye is the fulnesse of the eye the heart is an empty vessell untill Christ hath the possession of it this is the defence and safety of the soule as the being of the Pilate in the ship is of the safety of the ship the being of the keeper in the Castle is the safety of the Castle the being of Christ in the ship in the stormy tempest was the safety of the Disciples the being of Christ in the soule is the safeguard of the soule in all the stormy tempests of trouble the soule where Christ hath no dwelling lyeth open to all the assaults of Satan This brings the soule to a sweet communion with Christ in the Gospell as Iehu said unto Iehonadab comming to meet him Is thy heart right as my heart is with thy heart if it be give me thine hand and he gave him his hand and he tooke him up to him into the charet Thus when we come to meet Christ in the Gospell Christ looketh to the integrity of our hearts if our hearts be right with Christ and we give him the hand of faith and the hand of love then he takes us up into his charet then he takes us to himselfe then he brings us into a neare a sweet and comfortable communion with himselfe the soule which doth not love Christ hath neither cleare discerning of Christ nor gracious fellowship with Christ 4. Cheerfully Old Jacob seeing the waggons which Joseph had sent to carry him to Egypt to bring him to himselfe it is said his heart revived Man seeing Christ in the Gospell comming by the labours of his Ministers as by a charet to take and carry him of from the world to bring him nigh unto himselfe and to the
participation of his fulnesse should have his heart revived and his soule made cheerfull Christ in the Gospell ministers all matter of rejoycing to his children in the Gospell Christ commeth as a shining Sunne and here we should rejoyce in him as the eye rejoyceth in the light Here Christ commeth as a King in his armies and we should rejoyce in him as the captive rejoyceth in him that commeth with warlike weapons to beat downe the prison and set him free here Christ commeth as a Physitian with healing in his wings and we should rejoyce in him as the sicke in the Physitian that comes to cure him here Christ commeth as Joshuah came to the Gibeonites to rescue them from the Amoritish Princes and in him we should rejoyce as the besieged City in him that comes to drive away their enemies Here Christ commeth as a Master of the feast in his banquetting house and in him we should rejoyce as the hungry stomacke in a feast of all varieties Here Christ commeth as a bridegroome in his letters in his friend in his voice to wooe and betroth us and in him wee should rejoyce as the bride in the letters voice and presence of the bridegroome superlatively sweet and soule-ravishing are the comforts which Christ dispenseth by his word and doctrine he is altogether unworthy the name of a Christian that doth not joyfully entertaine Christ comming in the Gospell 5. Humbly Abraham entertaining the Angels bowed himselfe to the ground Man must entertaine the Lord Iesus in the Gospell with all humility meeknesse lowly and reverent submission Hee must prostrate himselfe and all that is his at the feet of Christ he must be low and base in his owne eye and apprehension he must looke on himselfe as dust and ashes he that is most sensible of his owne vilenesse is most capable of Christ Iesus he must captivate his owne wisedome and carnall reason he hath the most cleare and comfortable discerning of Christ in the Gospell that is most apprehensive of the vanity of his owne wisedome He that will be made wise unto salvation by the Gospell must become as a foole in his owne opinion he must deny himselfe that will acknowledge and embrace Christ abase himselfe that will exalt and set up Christ and be out of love with himselfe that will be in love with Christ he must discerne and feele his owne sicknesse his owne poverty his owne bondage and emptinesse that will receive Christ in the Gospell as a Physitian to cure him as a surety to make satisfaction for him as a conquerour to free him and as a fountaine to fill him When David sent his servants and communed by them with Abigail to take her to wife she arose and bowed her selfe on her face to the earth and said behold let thy handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord. When Christ communeth with us by his servants the Ministers in the preaching of the Gospell to take our soules to him to wife We must rise up with all lowly reverence entertaine their message receiving it as the Word of God and not of man wee must bow our selves to the earth humble and abase our selves very low shewing all obedience to their doctrine and ready to minister any service to their persons as Saint Paul testifies of the Galathians My temptation saith he which was in my flesh ye despised not nor reiected but received me as an Angell of God even as Christ Iesus I beare you record that if it had been possible ye would have plucked out your owne eyes and have given them to me Great is the love and reverence shewed by Gods children towards Christ and his Ministers in the Gospell Christ is ever so much the more precious unto men by how much the more they are abased in their owne sence and feeling Christs favour dwelling and communion is onely with the soule which is truly humble 6. Chiefly Christ is the highest King and must have the chiefest roome in the heart of man Christ excels all creatures and must have preheminence above all others in the hearts of his receivers Dagon in the Philistines Temple fals before the Arke the creature and whatsoever else in the heart of man must fall before Christ all must be base and vile in comparison of Christ the Elders of Gilead bringing home againe Ieptha to fight for them against the children of Ammon made him their head Man bringing home and receiving Christ into his heart to fight for him against Satan and his corruption must make him his head exalt him and give him preheminence above all creatures Christ is King of Kings and must have preheminence in our obedience as Kings have in the hearts of their loyall Subjects Christ is the husband of his Church and must have preheminence in our love as husbands have in the hearts of their chaste and loving wifes Christ is the pearle of choisest worth and must have preheminence in our choise and estimation as the pearle with the Merchant above the drosse Christ is the Sun of clearest and sweetest light and must have preheminence in our understanding as the Sun in the eye above other lights Christ is the surest the most constant and loving friend and must have preheminence in our delight and joy as a friend hath preheminence in the joy of his friend above all strangers He is farre from the true receiving of Christ that doth not thus exalt Christ he doth very shamefully abase Christ that sets up any thing above Christ hee neither discernes the worth nor tastes the sweetnesse of Christ in the Gospell who makes not himselfe and all things to vaile and stoop to him 7. Fully Whole Christ must be received we must entertaine Christ according to all his Latitudes as all the points and lines are received in one Center whole Christ must meet in mans heart as in a Center We must receive Christ in his person as God and man in one person as our onely Mediator the only Jacobs ladder by whom God and all blessings come downe to us and by whom we ascend againe to God We must receive Christ in his Attributes in his wisedome as a light to guide us in his power as a rocke to support us in his truth as a faithfull witnesse that never deceives us in his justice as a righteous Judge to awe us in his mercy as a King of mercies to forgive us in his holinesse as a fountaine of grace to sanctifie us in his righteousnesse as a royall roabe to cloathe and cover us and in his love as a bridegroome to marry us and in his All-sufficiency as a fountaine to fill us We must receive Christ in all his Offices as a Prophet to instruct us making Christs doctrine the compleat and only rule of our faith and obedience as a King to reigne
and rule over us wholly subjecting our selves to the Scepter of Christ Jesus as a Priest to sanctifie us to expiate our offences and make atonement for us relying solely on Christs merits We must receive him in all his Ordinances in his word regenerating renewing reforming us in his Sacrament feasting strengthening sealing up his love and the forgivenesse of our sin unto us We must receive him in his Ministers as a Prince in his Embassadors as a Bridegroome in his friends in his members as a father in his children as a husband in his wife in his precepts as a King in all his Lawes obeying them in his promises as a faithfull friend in all his words beleeving them in his gifts and dispensations as a giver in his gifts as a workman in his workmanship as the eye receiveth the Sunne in his light and the ground the cloud in the raine and dew distilling thereupon Wee must receive him in our understandings as a light in our wils as a Prince in our thoughts as a treasure in our affections as a Lord and Master fearing him as a sure foundation building upon him as a bridegroome being full of love towards him The full receiving of Christ in the Gospell fils the soule with fulnesse of grace and consolation He that doth not universally receive Christ doth not at all receive Christ He that doth not surrender all truly surrenders none to Christ He that shuts Christ out of one roome of his soule leaves his whole man to the possession of sinne Satan and the world 8. Perpetually Christ must be received once and forever the Covenant between the soule and Christ is an everlasting Covenant a Covenant of wedlocke the Covenant between the husband and the wife is for ever untill death the husband is the guide delight and object the wifes love for ever so long as life lasteth Christ must be received as the soules guide and love for ever Christ must shine in the understanding as an everlasting Sunne rule in the will as an everlasting Prince possesse the soule as an everlasting dweller and abide in the affections as an everlasting husband The soule which truly receives Christ in the Gospell is an everlasting lover of Christ as Hyram loved David ever an everlasting servant to Christ as the servant under the Law which had his eare boared abode a servant in the house for ever as the land of Canaan was to Jacob and his seed an everlasting possession so must Christ be our everlasting portion we may not receive Christ and thrust him out againe as sicke men receive a Physitian and put him off againe as soone as the disease is put away as a besieged City receiveth souldiers and turnes them off againe as soone as the siedge is removed as the Philistines received the Arke and sent him away againe when Dagon could not stand before him as Amnon received Thamar and thrust her out of doores againe hating her more then ever he loved her Such are very base receivers of Christ as receive him either for fancy novelty or constraining necessity He is a very Philistine that will rather thrust Christ from him then suffer the fall of his Dagon his base lust or corrupt affection their love to Christ when at the best was but fained and counterfeit which afterwards turnes to hatred He is no sonne but a slave no Spouse but a harlot which abides not with Christ to the end Having therefore once received Christ to seweth Christ retaine Christ in every estate abide with Christ Man changes as Ittai with David in life and in death CHAP. V. THus of the manner of receiving Christ in the Gospell the second thing is the medium or meanes disposing and inabling us to receive Christ with rejoycing and thanksgiving The meanes are these 1. A full and through deposition and putting aside of all that is contrary to Christ 1. there must be a deposition of sinne all motes distempers and blindnesse being put away out of the eye the eye joyfully receives the Sunne ignorance and errour being put out of the understanding Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse is joyfully received in our knowledge the knowledge of Christ becommeth cleare and pleasant to the soule witherednesse and infirmity being removed from the hand the hand readily receives the gift Unbeleefe which wounds and withers the hand of faith being removed from the heart man cheerFully entertaines Christ and is filled with all ioy in beleeving rebellious proud and mutinous persons being put out of the kingdome the King is joyfully entertained by the people pride imaginations and every high thing which doth exalt it selfe against the knowledge of God being cast downe and brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ Christ is gladly received strange love and strange lovers being put farre from the wife the husband is cheerfully received by the wife the removall of strange lusts and corrupt affections prepares the heart to a joyfull entertainment of Christ He that doth not sorrow for his sinne cannot rejoyce in Christ He that doth not hate the former can never love the latter He that doth not empty himselfe of the one can never be filled with the other The Jebusites told David unlesse he tooke away the blind and the lame hee should not enter into the fort of Syon Unlesse wee take away the blind and the lame ignorance infidelity and all uncleannesse out of our soules Christ will never enter into our hearts we cannot receive Christ into our soules the keeping in of sin is the keeping out of Christ the holding fast of corrupt affections is the loosing of Christ Jesus as the Philistines keeping up of their Dagon wrought a removall of the Arke 2. There must be a deposition of the world in affection We must not love it in cogitation we must have no distracting thoughts about it in estimation we must not overprize but esteeme it as a thing which is not in c inquisition we must not seeke the things which are here below as if our happinesse consisted in the finding of these things in subjection we must not be the servants of the world in affiance we must not build upon them in rejoycing we may not rejoyce in them He that is married to the creature is divorced from Christ he that loves this hath no love to Christ he that is the servant of this cannot serve Christ therefore as Christ overthrew the tables of the money-changers and whipt the buyers and sellers out of his fathers house so must we whip the love thought command and delight of the world out of our hearts that we may receive Christ it is a great unhappinesse to lose Christ for the gaine of the world it were strange folly in a woman to refuse a wise a potent beautifull victorious and noble Prince and marry her selfe to a foolish impotent base beggerly and deformed captive
soule and what found she in these chambers how was she affected with this worke of Christ We will saith she be glad and rejoyce in thee we will remember thy love more then wine Experience of Christs gracious operation upon man makes the soule of man joyfull the more we feele the blessed working of Christ within us the greater are our rejoycings Mans unsensiblenesse of Christ and his gracious dispensations deprives man of Christs sweet and blessed comforts CHAP. VI. THe third thing is Motivum The inducements perswading to a ready and joyfull embracement and receiving of Christ comming in his Gospell and spirituall kingdome and to move our selves to this let us wisely consider and seriously looke upon 1. The condition of the creature without Christ To him that receives not Christ the creature all earthly perfection and fulnesse is 1. an empty thing it never filleth never satisfieth never contenteth him that hath it the more man drinks of this brooke not drinking of Christ the full and everliving fountaine the more hee thirsteth the more he feeds on this not feeding on Christ the true bread of life the more his hunger increaseth The soule which receives not Christ like the horsleaches daughters in Solomon is ever crying give give and can never have enough The fulnesse of the world without Christ is but a dry bone without marrow an empty pit without water a barren tree without fruit like that in the Gospell which had leafe but no fruit promising much to him that beholds it afarre off but ministring no satisfaction to them that draw neare unto it emptinesse ever attends their greatest possessions who are strangers to Christ Iesus the soule is a vessell of that largenesse that none can fill it but Christ in whom is all fulnesse the barren eares in Pharaohs dreame eat up the full and the leane kine eat up the fat and when they had eaten them up it could not be knowne they had eaten them but they were still ill-favoured Man that stayes upon the creature and comes not to Christ that entertaines the creature and not Christ eats up the full and fat of the earth and yet it cannot be knowne that he hath eaten his desires and his hunger after it are as great as ever he is nothing at all filled with it his desires grow as his possessessions grow the creature hath a power to inflame but not to satisfie mans desire ordinarily the greatest worldly possessors are vexed with most insatiable desires of such the Lord saith they shall not be satisfied and their desire is enlarged as hell and they can never have enough The emptinesse of the creatures must make Christ the more precious in our apprehensions Hagar seeing the emptinesse of her bottle came readily for water to the fountaine the emptinesse of the creature should make us ready in comming unto and cheerfull in the entertainment of Christ Iesus the gracious and through receiving of the Lord Iesus is the only way to satisfaction and fulnesse 2. The creature to him that receives not Christ is an uncomfortable thing The world without the Sunne is an uncomfortable dwelling the fulnesse of the world without Christ is an unquiet possession the waters of Marah without the tree were bitter the children of Israel could not drinke of them the greatest rivers the deepest flouds and most pleasant things of earthly abundance are very bitter and distastefull without Christ Christ is the sweetner of mans earthly possession as the honey-combe sweetned the Lyon unto Sampson the man that receives not Christ is in straights in perplexities feares doubtings and great distractions in the fulnesse of his sufficiency in the plenitude and presence of his greatest worldly abundance his path is a way of snares and his bed is a bed of thornes his abundance will not suffer him to sleep that doth not repose his soule on Christ his bread is bread of sorrowes that doth not feast and feed his soule upon Christ Worldly abundance is a snare entangling an arrow piercing a sword wounding a tempestuous sea tossing shaking drowning them that possesse it and possesse not Christ with it the greater possession the greater trouble to him that receives not Christ in the Gospell It is not the having of the creature in the house but the having of Christ in the heart that ministers true peace and comfort 3. The creature to him that receives not Christ is an inthralling and inbondaging thing it takes away the liberty and freedome of the soule it fetters and imprisons it it makes a slave and servant of it Sampson doting upon and inordinately applying himselfe to Dalilah she cut off t his locks delivered him into the hand of the Philistines and made him their slave Man that neglecteth Christ that receives not Christ that is not ravished with his beauties is so enamoured with the creature and so gives himselfe to the creature that the creature â—obs him of the strength of faith and spirituall love and makes him a slave to himselfe and his owne lusts the creature ever swayes in that soule like a tyrant where Christ is not he that refuseth to be Christs Subject makes himselfe the creatures slave therefore are they termed the servants of Mammon for their alienation from Christ and spirituall freedome for their subjection and slavery under the world and they are said to serve their owne belly and not Christ Most miserable and wretched is the soules bondage which receives not the Lord Iesus 4. The creature to him that receives not Christ is a polluting and defiling thing it makes the soule a very sinke and cage of uncleannesse a very den and dungeon of filthinesse as the Temple before Christ entred into it was made a den of theeves Exclude the housewife out of the house and all the residue of goers and commers and implements brought into the house make a foule house exclude Christ out of the house of the soule and their going and comming and travell of the creature will quickly make a very uncleane and filthy soule Dinah went out from her fathers house to see the daughters of the land and Shechem tooke her and defiled her Man steps aside goes out from Christ neglects and leaves Christ abides not close with Christ but sets his eye his thought his heart upon the creature and the creature takes him ensnares him and shamefully defiles him it defiles his understanding with errour dust blinds the eye of the body the creature the dust of the world duls and blinds the eye of the mind The love of money saith Paul is the root of all evill which while some have coveted after they have erred from the faith It defiles his thought his thoughts are thoughts of iniquity wasting and destruction thoughts of injustice and oppression thoughts of fraud and treason thoughts of pride and selfe-admiration thoughts of carnall confidence and fleshly contentments it
defiles the heart of man with covetousnesse Thine eyes and thy heart saith the Lord to Jehoiakim are not but for thy covetousnesse and for to shed innocent bloud and for oppression and for violence to doe it it defiles the affections with idolatry and with spirituall fornication and adultery the covetous man is an idolater saith Saint Paul and the adulterers and adulteresses saith Saint Iames to such as embrace not Christ but the creature know you not that the love of the world is enmity with God and that he that is a friend to the world is an enemy to God The world fils that mans soule with most shamefull uncleannesse that embraceth not the Lord Iesus therefore as Hagar seeing the emptinesse of her bottle came readily to the fountaine as the mariner feeling the tempest and troublesomnesse of the seas comes willingly to the haven as the Israelites feeling the cruelty of Pharaohs task-masters and the insupportablenesse of his burthens willingly embraced Moses and as the diseased woman feeling the loathsomnesse of her bloudy issue and having experience of the vanity of all Physitians came gladly unto Christ so we seeing the emptinesse feeling the uncomfortablenesse and knowing the inthralling and defiling nature of the creature without Christ let us readily willingly joyfully and thankfully receive and embrace Christ that our soules may be freed sanctified and filled with all saving graces and heavenly comforts Experience of the vanity trouble bondage and evils which attend the naked having of the creatures should marvellously endeare unto us the Lord Iesus and make his comming in the Gospell surpassingly sweet and welcome 2. Let us throughly view and consider the state of man without Christ Man not receiving Christ in the Gospell hath no spirituall life but is dead in sinnes as the body is dead without the soule he hath no saving knowledge but is in spirituall blindnesse as he that is without the Sunne is in darknesse he hath no heavenly gift or grace but is empty of all the fruits of the Spirit as the branch which is separated from the vine hath neither juice nor fruit he hath no Christian liberty or freedome but is a bondman to sin Satan and the world as Peter lay in Herods prison in fetters and under the custody of the souldiers before the Angell came and freed him he hath no interest in Gods promises but as Adam was shut out of the garden of Eden so is man shut out of Gods Covenant Gods promises are a sealed well whereof his soule drinks not he hath no garment of righteousnesse to cover him no jewell of grace to adorne him no spirituall treasure to enrich him but is poore blind naked miserable and wretched As the Egyptians were led away by the King of Assyria prisoners captives naked barefoot with their buttocks uncovered to the shame of Egypt so man without Christ is led away by the prince of darknesse a spirituall prisoner and captive his soule bare naked uncovered to the shame of mankind he hath no holy and heavenly peace but as the Disciples were tossed upon the tempest till Christ calmed the waters so is man like the troubled sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt untill Christ ministers comfort Man without Christ is like a blind traveller that hath no guide to leade him like a dead man in the grave putrifying in sinne having none to raise him like an empty cisterne having no fountaine to fill him like a bondman having no ransomer to free him like a woman in travell having no midwife to help her lik a sheep in the midst of wolves having no shepheard to conduct and defend it and like a besieged City in the midst of many enemies having no wall to protect it no captaine to fight for it Miserable is mans condition that receives not Christ in the Gospell did man know and feele his unhappinesse without Christ he would never be so regardlesse of Christ never so carelesly let Christ passe but would meet Christ where he commeth in his word as the blind men went out and stood by the high-way side where Christ was to passe and cry after Christ as they did as the woman of Shunem hasted to the Prophet for the raising of her dead son and laid hold upon the Prophets feet and would not let him goe untill he came with her and raised her sonne againe to life so would man hasten unto Christ lay hold upon Christ in the Gospell and bring Christ home into his heart he would be at no rest untill Christ had raised freed purged and comforted his dead captived polluted and comfortlesse soule He would as joyfully entertaine Christs comming in his Gospell to free him from the power of his corruptions as ever the Gibeonites gladly entertained Ioshuah comming to rescue them from the Amoritish Princes it is mans unsensiblenesse of the misery of his owne condition that causeth Christs comming to bee unwelcome 3. Meditate the soules apprehension of God without Christ God who to the soules of them that savingly embrace Christ is looked on rejoyced and delighted in as a father for his love as a gracious King for his mercies as a sure and sweet friend for his comforts as a loving husband for his amiable and soule-refreshing presence as a shield for the defence as a rocke for the supportment and as a full fountaine for the satisfaction which he ministreth This thrice blessed and gracious God is apprehended considered and lookt upon by him that doth not embrace Christ in the Gospell as a severe Iudge to condemne him as an enemy full of displeasure against him as a man of warre bending his bow and whetting his sword to destroy him as a rocke ready to fall upon him and grinde him to pouder as a tempestuous sea ready to swallow him and as consuming fire and everlasting burning ready for ever to consume and to destroy him Very dreadfull and soule-amasing and frightening is mans meditation and apprehension of God that doth not savingly apprehend him in Christ such a man flies from the thought of God the voice of God and the presence of God as Adam fled into the thicket as a silly sheep flies before the Lyon a guilty malefactor before the hue and cry or a Partridge before the Hawke This makes them cry to the hils to cover them and to the rocks and the mountaines to fall upon them to hide them from the day of the Lord and the wrath of the Lambe God lookt upon without Christ Iesus is the terrour of all terrours to a guilty soule and accusing conscience Were men truly apprehensive and sensible of the wrath of God without Christ their soules would be at no rest untill they had assured interest in Christ the fiercenesse and terrour of God against sinners doth exceedingly endeare and sweeten the Lord Iesus to the soules of his faithfull servants had we frequent and right consideration of the
Church and children in the dissipation of all adversary powers victorious be he in the subjugation and conquest of his enemies glorious be he in the conversion of sinners in the multiplication and increase of his holy and loyall subjects beautifull and amiable be he in the eyes of all persons Let his Gospell shine like the Sun from the one end of heaven unto the other Let his name be as an oyntment powred out casting a sweet smell throughout this great house of the world to him let all the Kings and kingdomes of the earth vaile and stoop become truly obedient and subject This is the prayer desire and endeavour of all that rejoyce in Christ aright teaching us That It is the duty of all people unfainedly to desire and earnestly to endeavour the welfare promotion and advancement of Christ his spirituall kingdome and Gospell David and all the house of Israel joyned together in erecting and setting up the Arke in the Tabernacle Kings and Subjects Masters and servants parents and children the people of every calling and condition should unite their forces their hearts and hands their counsels and tongues their affections and endeavours to set up Christ to advance his Gospell to honour and enlarge his kingdome This was shadowed in the building of the Temple to the building thereof concurred Solomon and his servants Hyram of Tyrus and the Sydonians who did hew the timber for it to the building of the Church of Christ to the setting up of Christ and his Gospell there should be an universall unanimous full and sweet concurrence of men of all nations of Kings and subjects of Lords and servants of Ministers and people every man in the place and calling wherein God hath set him according to the gift and endowment which God hath bestowed on him must concurre in his prayers and endeavours to advance the honour and kingdome of Christ Jesus This was also figured in the neighbouring Kings payment of tribute unto Solomon desiring his friendship and by variety of gifts and presents making their peace with him All people comming from all the Kings of the earth to heare his wisedome the whole as in a shadow presignifying mens payment of the spirituall tribute of feare and reverence faith and obedience love and thankfulnesse unto Christ their entring into a Covenant of peace with Christ their seeking of the love and friendship of Christ their attendance upon the Gospell to heare and learne Christs wisedome their dedication of themselves and their substance to the service of Christ their spirituall subjection unto Christ and their holy and gracious endeavours to make the name of Christ glorious This was foretold by the Psalmist they that dwell in the wildernesse shall bow before him and his enemies shall licke the dust they shall humble themselves under the mighty hand of Christ they shall acknowledge and receive him as their Lord they shall feare and reverence him as their King they shall vaile and bow to his scepter they shall put themselves and all that is theirs under Christ they shall give themselves to the exaltation and setting up of Christ The Kings of Tharsis and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts they shall consecrate their abilities to Christs service they shall communicate of their substance to the maintenanne of Christs Church and Ministers to the preservation and increase of Christs kingdome All Kings shall fall downe before him all nations shall serve him All shall adore and serve him as their King all shall exalt and honour him as loyall subjects their heavenly Soveraigne all persons from the highest to the lowest must serve the Lord Jesus and study to make him glorious grace works obedience in the hearts of Princes as well as in the hearts of beggars The Sun as well as the stars did obeysance unto Joseph in his vision Kings as well as inferiour persons doe obâ—â—â—ance unto Christ under his kingdome and Gospell The foure and twenty Elders in Saint Johns vision fell downe before him that sate on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crownes before the throne Godly Kings and Governours cast their crownes their dominion dignity power honour and jurisdiction and all that they have before Christ they make all serviceable to the exaltation of Christ and his kingdome This was like prophecyed by the Prophet Esay the abundance of the sea multitudes of men dwelling in Islands shall be converted unto thee shall be gathered unto the Church and kingdome of Christ and the forces great troupes and companies of the Gentiles shall come to thee shall be joyned to the people of God embrace their Religion and enter into a sweet and gracious fellowship with them They shall bring gold and incense they shall contribute liberally to the maintenance of the Gospell and Christs poore members they shall dedicate their earthly abundance to Christs service and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord they shall be very industrious and studious to make the name of the Lord Jesus glorious The sonnes of strangers shall build up thy wals become members in thy house and fellow-helpers in thy worke and their Kings shall minister unto thee shall serve Christ and labour the welfare of his Church and kingdome The glory of Lebanon shall come to thee there is nothing so excellent which shall not put it selfe under Christ and be made serviceable to his Gospell and kingdome and thus our Saviour taught his Disciples to pray that Gods kingdome might come that the Gospell might be preached and men filled with the light thereof As the aire is filled with light upon the comming of the Sunne that the Holy-Ghost might be powred out and the hearts of men inspired with the knowledge love and obedience of the truth that all the lusts of men the impediments of Gods gracious kingdome in the soule of man might be crucified and utterly extinct and that God might universally spiritually and fully reigne in the hearts of men all the weapons of their rebellion laid aside and their soules brought into a gracious subjection and it is the Apostles charge pray that the word of the Lord may run have a free and a speedie passage running as the Sun shining to all the corners of the world and running as the rivers to water the earth and be glorified by the pure and powerfull preaching of it by the holy and gracious working of it by the ready and cheerfull entertainment of it and by the holy and humble subjection of the soules of men under it Mans obedience makes the word very glorious and the free and speedy passage and powerfull working of the Gospell should be earnestly prayed for by the Lords people this is the charet on which Christ rideth in spirituall triumph this is the scepter by which he swayeth in the soules of his chosen and the welfare of this doe all the
honour dignity and glory of Gods Church and people who labours not the exaltation of Christ and his Gospell CHAP. IX IN this as in a glasse we may with open face behold the great impiety and shamefull prophanenesse of three sorts of men 1. Such as have no regard nor desire unto no pleasure nor delight in the prosperity and welfare of Christs Kingdome and Gospell Like Gallio they care for none of these things it is a matter indifferent unto them whether the Gospell sinke or swim whither Christs Kingdome stand or fall flourish or wither the Lord saith of the wilde Asse I have made the wildernesse his house and the barren land his dwelling Heâ— scorneth the multitude of the City neither regardeth he the crying of the driver the range of the mountaines is his pasture and he seareheth after every greene thing Such wilde Asses are these men the wildernesse of the world is their habitation they regard not they desire nor with David to dwell in the house of the Lord they delight in a barren land where are no waters and wels of salvation they regard not the greene pastures of holy and heavenly doctrine in which the Lord feeds the soules of his people They thirst not after the still waters of the Gospell and sweet consolations of the Spirit with which God refresheth the soules of his children they scorne the multitude of the citizens of the new Jerusalem the holy assemblies of Gods people They goe not to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with the multitude that keeps it holy day neither regard they the voice of the spirituall driver they esteeme not the voice of Gods Minister endeavouring to drive them from the world unto Gods Church from sinne to holinesse and from Satan unto Christ the range of the mountaines is their pasture they seeke no food for their soules but worldly vanities they looke after no treasure but earthly substance they care not what become of Christ and his Gospell if it goe well with them according to the world The Harp and the Violl the Tabret and pipe saith the Lord by the Prophet and the wine are in their feasts but they regard not the works of the Lord neither consider they the operation of his hands Such men are blind and see not the beauties of Christ and his Gospell and therefore as it is a thing indifferent to the blind whether the Sun rise or set shine or be eclipsed so it is all one to these men whether the Sunne of Righteousnesse in the Gospell rise or set shine or shine not they neither rejoyce at Christs comming or grieve at Christs departing Such men are unsensible of the want of Christ and therefore doe no more regard Christs presence in the Gospell then a diseased man that feeles not his sicknesse regards the presence of a Physitian Such men are earthly minded altogether taken up with the world and therefore are uncapable of Christ unable to rellish any sweetnesse in Christ or to give him any audience in his Gospell Eliah spake mockingly of Baal to his worshippers Cry aloud for he is a God neither he is a talking or he is a pursuing or he is in a journey or peradventure he sleepeth and must be awaked and they cryed aloud from the morning to the evening but there was neither voice nor any to answer nor any that regarded We may truly say of these they are men but they are either a talking of the world or pursuing of the world with such earnestnesse or fallen into such a sinfull sleep and slumber that they cannot heare and though the Minister lift up his voice like a trumpet and cry aloud yet there is no voice nor answer of faith and obedience nor any regard shewed by them to Christ and his Gospell Such men are halting Israelites and luke-warme Laodiceans void of all true love to Christ and far from all Christian zeale for Christ Solon reputed him no good citizen who in a civill dissension risen in the City did adhere to neither party Such as cleave not to Christ and the Gospell in the dissention and opposition of the world are no true citizens of the new Jerusalem He that is not with me is against me saith Christ he that stands not on Christs side stands on Satans side he that serves not God serves Mammon he that hath not communion with Christ hath communion with the world Christ lookes upon all such as are not zealous for him as on enemies against him and he will spew them out of his mouth at last as foule abomination 2. A second sort are such as oppose Christs Gospell and Kingdome The house of Saul made long war against the house of David There is a family of prophane Saulites that make continuall opposition against the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ they will not have Christ rule over them they take counsell against the Lord and his Christ and say come let us breake their bonds asunder and cast away their cords from us Some are superstitious and as the Philistines would not suffer the Arke to stand upon the right hand of their Dagon no more will they suffer Christ and the Gospell to have preheminence above their traditions and devises some are covetous and as Jesse set David behind the ewes so doe these men set Christ and his word behind the world below their earthly imployments and undertakings some are ambitious and as Josephs brethren conspired against him because they were loth to vaile and bow to him Thus proud men conspire and combine against Christ and the Gospell being loth to deny and humble themselves and put their necks under Christs yoke some are under the power of prophanenesse with Ahab they sell themselves to commit wickednesse they are impatient of reproofe and therefore imprison the Prophet of the Lord Christ comming in the power of his Gospell is very uncomfortable and terrible to such as are under the power of their corruption some are prophanely iealous least the setting up of Christ and his Kingdome will crosse their profit and eclipse their honour and credit amongst men and therefore they seeke to suppresse the Gospell as Saul sought to suppresse David This moved Demetrius to accuse Paul and this caused Herod secretly to plot the death of Christ Christ and his Gospell have ever met with many oppositions from the world 3. A third sort are such as grieve at the prosperity and welfare of the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ When Nehemiah came to repaire the wals of Jerusalem Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite grieved exceedingly that there was a man come to seeke the welfare of the children of Israel It is a great griefe to many ill affected men that beare evill will to Sion to heare that God raiseth up any to repaire and build up Christs Church and Kingdome to seeke the
the Gospell the whole man is a very den of theeves untill Christ comes and by the ministery of his word scourge and drive them out The ministery of the Gospell is the outward instrument and meanes of the soules cleansing Every foule estranging it selfe from Gods ordinance is under the power of uncleannesse 6. An estate of continuall and remedilesse sorrowes straights and perplexities If God begin to waken the conscience and make man a little sensible of his wrath then without the Gospell his estate like the waters of Marah without the tree is very bitter he cannot drinke of it he cannot meditate upon it without any comfort then he is in straights in the midst of his sufficiency then he is in the green meadow of his worldly plenty as a chased Hart without the water brooke then he is full of blessings and agitations like the Disciples in the storme and nothing but the voice of Christ in the Gospell can minister peace or comfort to him Better be deprived of all worldly possessions then of the Gospell and Gods Ministers O that such men would consider and study the misery of their condition as are left without the Gospell and a faithfull Minister to instruct them All our blessings will prove at last as curses if we have not the Gospell to sweeten and sanctifie them to us the waters about Jericho were naught untill the Prophet powred salt into them the deepest rivers and fullest flouds of mans worldly abundance prove naught an instrument of death and condemnation to him that hath not the Gospell to season them not the estate of him that wants earthly abilities but the estate of him that wants the labours of Gods Ministers is an estate of woes miseries and curses Doth God dispense his greatest his heavenly his choisest blessings by his Ministers Then in this as in a plaine and open character may we read their folly and their impiety who estrange themselves from the house of God who sleight and undervalue the labours of Gods Ministers these men estrange themselves from the place and from the meanes of blessing The soule which is regardlesse of the ministery of the Gospell is far from blessing such as come not to the light abide in darknesse such as reject the Physitian perish in their diseases such as cast away their weapon fall in the battell such as refuse the ministery of the word the light the physicke and armour of their soules abide in ignorance perish in their impieties and fall before their spirituall adversaries Such as came not to the Arke the place and instrument of preservation in the deluge were drowned in the waters such as refuse the ministery of the Gospell the instrument of the soules preservation are swallowed in the deluge of Gods vengeance Corah Dathan and Abiram refusing to come up at Moses call the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them the earth will prove the occasion and instrument of their ruine who through their earthly mindednesse despise the Gospell and sleight the call of Gods Ministers inviting them Such men are blind and see not the worth of the Gospell dead in sinne and taste not the sweetnesse of Christ in the Gospell unsensible of their owne misery and know not the necessity of Christ as of a Physician to heale them as of a ransomer to redeeme them and as of a fountaine to wash and cleanse them Such men are selfe-conceited self-admirers puffed up with an opinion of their owne fulnesse and consider not the need they have of Christ his Ministers and Gospell as of a guide to direct them as of a jewell to adorne them as of a pearle to enrich them and as of a living spring to fill them Such as have least sence of their owne misery and emptinesse are the greatest despisers and undervaluers of the meanes of their eternall happinesse And such as are most exalted with an opinion of their owne wisedome doe ever prove the most foolish of all others neither doth man ever declare greater folly and madnesse then in sleighting the Gospell and worke of Gods Ministers for every such man is blind and will not be guided leprous and will not be cleansed in thraldome and will not be freed empty and will not be filled naked and will not be cloathed condemned and will not receive a pardon were it is tendred Such men refuse Gods sweetest mercies and expose themselves to Gods bitterest curses they cast aside the Seales and pledges of Gods greatest loving kindnesse and thrust themselves upon Gods severest judgements and God will at last be farre from them in the withdrawment of the light of his countenance who are now far from him by their absence from his ordinances God will at last sleight their prayers who now sleight the voice of his Ministers As the Lord dispenseth many sweet and heavenly blessings by his Ministers so it should be our care and wisedome 1. Not to estrange our selves from their labours not to withdraw our selves from Gods house as the Prodigall in the parable withdrew himselfe from his fathers house Forget not saith the Apostle the assembling of your selves together absence from the sacred assemblies proves uncomfortable and perillous The proffer of Gods mercy is refused the tender of Gods sweetest love is rejected the choisest comforts of the soule are despised the estate of the men of the old world despising the Arke the only instrument of preservation from the waters proved dangerous the estate of such as refuse the Gospell the meanes of salvation proves ruinous everlasting perdition proves their last portion the Scholler estranging himselfe from the Schoole remaines void of learning the sicke man estranging himselfe from the Physician continues diseased the souldier withdrawing himselfe from the Artillery house remaines unarmed the diseased woman in the Gospell could not get her bloudy issue cured untill she came to Christ Man estranging himself from the house of God remaines ignorant his soule unarmed his whole man mortally diseased Sinne ever proves an incurable and mortall sicknesse to him that absents himselfe from Christ in his ordinances absence from the house of God spoyles the soule of all gracious and comfortable communion and acquaintance with God he that refraines the Kings Court loseth all communion with the King Gods house is Gods Court his Gospell the voice by which he speaketh the glasse in which he shineth and shewes himselfe the banquetting house wherein he communicates himselfe as the Master of the feast unto his guests He that neglecteth this neglects the medium of his soules communion with God estrangement from the house of God brings poverty upon the soule the Prodigall forsaking his fathers house became very poore and base he made himselfe a companion of Swine and would have eaten of the huskes if any man would have given to him great is their basenesse swinish are their dispositions shamefull is their spirituall poverty and emptinesse who forsake the
the ewes many set Christ behind the oxe and the asse the farme and the wife their merchandise and worldly trafficke they prize the world above Christ they love this more then they love Christ the love of the world carries their heart farre from Christ when their bodies draw neare to Christ the overvaluing of the earth is an undervaluing of Christ when the world is over sweet and savoury to mens palates their soules disrellish Christ and his ordinances whon the earth is pleasant like a Paradise Christ and all the meanes of grace are apprehended as a very wildernesse Some deny not their owne pleasures but value them above Christ as Esau did a few pottage above his birthright some deny not their pride but as Absalom sought to raigne though it were to the dishonour and deposall of his father David from his throne so they seeke to magnifie themselves though to the dishonour of God and deposall of Christ from his Throne in their hearts some deny not their owne worth and goodnesse they are rich and full in their owne opinions as the man in the Prophet which dreamed he had eaten and was full some deny not their owne superstitions they receive for doctrines the commandements of men they will see Christ in a glasse of their owne framing learne Christ in a schoole of their owne erecting and draw the waters of salvation out of a cisterne of their owne digging doubtlesse they are a very small number that have learned the lesson of self-denyall questionlesse Christ hath spirituall and heavenly dominion in the soules of few men Very full of base respects and purposes are the hearts of many that professe Iesus Christ The Prophet speaks of a day wherein seven women should take hold of one man saying we will eat our owne bread and weare our owne apparell onely let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach There is a day now wherein seven a very great number take hold of one man Christ by an outward profession but they will eat their owne bread and weare their owne apparell they will find their owne pleasures walke in their owne wayes keep themselves apparelled with the old man they will not deny themselves they will not put away their old things and make all things new they will only be called by the name of Christ to take away their reproach of being reputed Atheists and Infidels among men Many men that professe themselves Christians doe shamefully deny the Lord Iesus and are far from the denyall of themselves their owne counsels and affections CHAP. V. IF you demand whence it is and how it comes to passe that men are so backward in denying themselves and their owne ends and in subjecting themselves and all that they have unto Christ I answer of this there are seven grounds 1. Mans overvaluing of himselfe Man is very prone to thinke of himselfe above that which is convenient to pride himselfe in his endowments abilities to thinke of himselfe as the Queene of Babylon did that he is a Queene and no widow wise and not ignorant rich and not poore full and not empty holy and not prophane free and not bound as Goliah prided himselfe in the talnesse of his stature and bignesse of his armour so doth man pride himselfe in his naturall morall and temporall habiliments and furniture contrary to the charge of the Apostle Man is wise in his conceit and will not stoop to wholsome instruction he thinks himselfe sufficient for himselfe to guide himselfe to sustaine himselfe to make himselfe acceptable unto God Esau thought he had enough and refused his brothers present vaine man thinks he hath enough wisedome faith love holinesse enough and therefore refuseth the spirituall and heavenly presence of Christ his ordinances benefits graces and all helps to happinesse he dreams that he is wise when he is foolish spirituall when he is carnal full when he is empty like the Laodicean and this disables him to deny himselfe and subject himselfe to Christ he that supposeth he hath water enough at home in his owne cisterne will not goe to his neighbours well Thoughts of self-sufficiency hinder men from going out of themselves and comming unto Christ The Pharisees conceited so highly of their owne wisedome that they refused Christ and his doctrine the whole puts not himselfe under the hands of the Physitian to be dieted lanced and purged by him 2. The overswaying of corrupt and carnall lusts These oversway man as a Master doth his servant or a King his subject they rule and reigne within man and make man their servant the servant as S. Peter saith of corruption and as a servant is not his own man but his Masters is guided by his Master minds and intends his Master seekes the pleasing and profiting of his Master is bound and cannot enter into the service of another Thus these men are not their owne men but the servants of their lusts moved led and guided by their lusts minding and intending their lusts seeking to please and profit their lusts making provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof To these they are bound and cannot put themselves into Christs service they cannot take upon them Christs yoake these oversway man as a lover is overswayed by his love Man is very indulgent to them as David to Absalom and as he charged the Captaines of his armies to deale gently with the young man Absalom so man is very loath to have his lusts roughly handled he wishes that all the Prophets would prophesie smooth things and deceits and as the haâ—lot in Solomon caused the young man with her much faire speech to yeeld and forced him with the slattering of her lips so that he went after her as an oxe goeth to the slaughter Thus these lusts with their flatteries and fleshly-seeming sweetnesse and bewitching eloquence doe make the soule yeeld and follow them and as strange love in a wife takes away her matrimoniall love from her husband and makes her regardlesse of him and disobedient to him Thus the indulgency and love of man to his lusts takes away his love from Christ makes him regardlesse of Christ and rebellious against Christ These lusts oversway man as a disease overswayes the body distempers the palate destroyes the appetite and makes the meat distastefull and irksome Thus doe these lusts distemper the foule and make Christ and his word the bread of life and food of the soule unpleasant the very savour of death unto death There is no possibility of self-denyall and subjection unto Christ as long as the soule is overswayed by any carnall lusts the dominion of sinne and subjection unto Christ are incompatable and inconsistent Abner could not serve David untill he denied his service and obedience to the house of Saul 3. An inordinate disposition of the heart toward the Creature The heart of man is inordinate towards
the creature in his opinion and judgement of the creature judging it to be strong as a mountaine when it is weake as the sand to be full as the Sea when it is empty as a broken â—â—sterne to be noble and honourable when it is base and full of thraldome to be permanent as the Sunne when it vanisheth like a meteor The heart of man is inordinate about the creature in his thoughts of its filling it selfe with distracting and perplexing thoughts about it making his bed a bed of thornes whereon he cannot sleep the heart of man is inordinate about the creature in his pursuit of it pursuing it as the choisest and most desirable object in his trust in it building on it as a rocke that never sinketh in his love to it his heart going after it as the heart of the adulterer after the harlot in the price he puts upon it prizing it above Christ as the men of Shechem did the bramble above the vine in his sorrow for the losse of it as Micah grieved as a man undone for the losse of his Idoll and in the promises he makes unto himselfe from it promising himselfe like the rich man in the parable fulnesse of all peace and contentment from his worldly abundance and judging of Gods love towards him according to that outward abundance which God bestowes upon him the heart of man being thus inordinately disposed towards the creature he cannot deny the creature he cannot come fully and freely off from the creature and submit himselfe to Christs Scepter the Elders of Gilead came not to Jeptha made him not their head untill they saw their owne and Israels weaknesse Man never comes to Christ never makes Christ his head never truly and throughly subjects himselfe to Christ untill he sees both his owne and the creatures weaknesse emptinesse and unworthinesse 4. An over-piercing of man Man is very prone to over-prize man the favour and countenance of man the society and fellowship of man the praise and applause of man These are chaines and fetters which bind and imbondage man to man and make man the servant of man flatterers and admirers of vaine man companions in evill with sinfull man inordinate haunters after the approbation and applause of idle man doing many things contrary to Christ for the winning and retention of this he that is ambitious of the favour fellowship and praise of men can never solace and satisfie himselfe with the favour and approbation of Christ he cannot subject himselfe to Christ and make him in stead of all friends companions applauders and approvers to his soule What hindered the parents of the blind man from professing Christ from making mention of Christ having done such a miraculous curtesie to their childe but their overprizing of man they feared the Jewes they were loth to displease the Jewes unwilling to lose their place in the Synagogue among the Jewes Why did not the Rulers which with a dogmaticall and historicall faith beleeved in Christ confesse Christ why did they not deny all for Christ why did they not openly professe and exalt Christ because of the Pharisees they did not confesse him least they should be put out of the Synagogue for they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God We can never rightly value Christ till we have learned to sleight and undervalue man the vaine and empty favour and applause of man How can ye beleeve saith Christ how can ye embrace me dedicate your selves to me and partake of me Which receive honour one of another and seeke not the honour which commeth from God onely the soule never gaines sweet and gracious communion with Christ which esteemeth and doats on the fellowship of sinfull men He that cannot hate father and mother with a comparative hatred that cannot reject the fellowship friendship and applause of carnall men for Christ can never come to Christ never be a true Disciple of Christ never have the sweet enjoyment of Christ 5. A carnall iudging and mistaking of Christ Men doe not discerne nor conceive of Christ aright they learne not Christ as the truth is in him they misjudge the knowledge of Christ esteeming it foolishnesse vaine idle unprofitable knowledge whereas this is excellent and superlative knowledge transcending all the knowledge and wisedome of the world as the Sunne the gloe-worme they discerne not the love of Christ any more then the dead doe the warmth of the Sunne being alienated from the life of God and past feeling they taste not any sweetnesse they feele not any comfort in Christs love whereas his love is sweeter then wine and better then life their soules are not married to Christ Christ is not brought into the chamber of their hearts as the bridegroome into the chamber of the bride but stands afarre off as a stranger whose love they know not they discerne not the beauties of Christ they see no comelinesse in him they doe not see him in his ordinances shining as a Sunne sweetly and gloriously triumphing as a King his beauties are hidden from their eyes they judge of Christ as Samuel did of the sonnes of Jesse according to the outward appearance they discerne not the fulnesse of Christ he seemes to them a dry tree their soules never found any satisfaction in him he is a sealed well whereof they never dranke and a hidden Manna of whom they did never eat they discerne not the dispensations of Christ they suppose that he dispenseth nothing but sorrowes feares terrours and anguish to the soules of men whereas he dispenseth love peace comfort making for them a feast of fat things of marrow and of wine well refined upon the lees filling them with all ioy in beleeving they discerne not Christs purpose in humbling the soules of his servants they perceive not how he gives them light in darknesse how he makes them rejoyce with ioy glorious and unspeakable when they suppose them to be of all men most miserable they discerne not the contentments which Christ giveth to them that lose and leave all for him they perceive not that hundred fold more which Christ giveth them in bestowing himselfe upon them being infinitely more to them then all friends honours riches and whatsoever worldly comforts as the pearle in the parable was much more to the Merchant then all that he gave though he gave all that he had for it Men thus mistaking and misjudging Christ thinke dishonourably of Christ esteeme him no better then another beloved no better then gold silver honour the covetous and ambitious mans beloved and man will never leave much for that wherein he discerneth little or no worth we shall never be able to subject our selves to Christ untill we have rightly learned the worth of Christ he that knowes the comfortable dispensations of Christ in the time of Christian suffering will chuse to live with Christ
and heavenly comforts arising to the soule from a through self-denyall and full subiection unto Christ Hence ariseth the comfort of liberty and freedome from the servitude of the creature and of every sinfull lust ministring matter of greater joy to the soule then Israel had to see themselves freed from Pharaoh and the burthens of Eâ—ypt Hence ariseth the comfort of the evidence of grace by this man knowes the holy and gracious worke of God Now he can give thanks to God the Father for that he hath made him meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light and hath delivered him from the power of darknesse and translated him into the kingdome of his deare Sonne Now he can with joy say with the Psalmist come and I will shew what the Lord hath done for my soule Hence ariseth the comfort of alacrity and cheerfulnesse in the service now the heart is enlarged and man can runne the way of Gods commandements now he commeth forth like the Sun and rejoyceth like a mighty man to run his race Hence springeth the joy of love to Christ now the objects of all corrupt and base love are removed and Christ is become the sole object of the soules love and now it delights it selfe in Christ as the bride in the bride-groome Hence commeth the comfort of Christs power and presence now he is discerned reigning in the soule as a Prince of peace in his Throne subduing all corrupt and carnall lusts as Joshuah subdued the Amalekites driving Satan from the soule of man as the Gibeonites discerned Joshuah driving away the Amoritish Princes now he is discerned dispelling all blindnesse and errour from the understanding as the Sunne dispelleth darknesse from the eye now he is discerned binding up the broken heart and healing the wounded conscience as the sicke discerneth the Physitian healing his disease now he is discerned pacifying and quieting the troubled and perplexed soule as the Disciples discerned him appeasing and calming the stormy tempest now he is discerned powring in the spirituall oyle of heavenly consolation into the soule as the wounded man in the parable discerned the Samaritan powring oyle into his wounds now he is discerned feasting cheering and ministring the sence of his love to the heart as the Spouse in Solomon discerned the bridegroome in the banquetting house spreading his love over her as a banner and this ministers matter of sweet and singular comfort and hence ariseth the comfort of sweet and gracious communion with God the Lord dwels with the humble The more man goes out of himselfe the nearer he commeth unto God the more man is emptied of himselfe the more he enjoyes of God Very sweet and manifold is the consolation which the soule derives from holy and gracious selfe-denyall 6. The mitigation and sweetning of all disasters Self-denyall in all troubles tryals losses and temptations is to the soule like the honey-combe in the belly of the Lyon unto Sampson a blessed sweetner of them affliction is ever so much the lesse burthensome by how much the more perfect man is in the worke of self-denyall He that truly and throughly denyes himselfe puts a low price upon all outward abilities and can take the spoyling of his goods ioyfully he sees and feeles the good of afflictions and can readily receive them as a wise patient a bitter purgation and quietly beare them as an Oxe the yoake that is accustomed thereunto he can sing with Paul in the prison he can walke comfortably in them as the three children in the fiery furnace he can rejoyce with ioy glorious and unspeakable that he is accounted worthy to suffer for the cause of Christ The want of self-denyall makes affliction a most insupportable burthen 7. The Contentation which Self-denyall ministers with the least earthly portion and possession He that can deny himselfe knowes how to want and how to abound and to be content in every state the humble man possesseth Christ and in possessing him possesseth all things there is more in a holy mans little then in a carnall mans great abundance God proportions his thirst accordingly CHAP. VIII SEeing this self-denyall is a worke so necessary so excellent of such great profit so rare and few partakers of it it may be demanded how a man may discerne it and assuredly know himselfe to have attained to it Whereunto I answer that Christian gracious and true selfe-denyall may bee discerned by these ensuing market or characters 1. Captivation of a mans owne reason wisedome and will Self-denyall emptieth man of self-wisedome and self-wil He that denyes himself is not wise in his owne eyes or wise in himselfe but all his wisedome is in Christ he hath a very low opinion of his owne understanding he reputes his owne wisedome to be folly his owne knowledge to be ignorance his owne reason to be blind and carnall he complaines abaseth and shames himselfe before the Lord for his ignorance he confesseth and saith with Agur surely I am more brutish then any man and have not the understanding of a man I neither learned wisedome nor have the knowledge of the holy He that abounds most in saving knowledge is most sensible of his ignorance and hath the lowest opinion of his owne wisedome The more a man is taught of God the more he sees his ignorance of God he that hath high thoughts of his owne understanding is far from the least and weakest beginnings of Christian learning he never truly learned Christ in the Gospell that hath not denyed his owne humane reason When the Sun appeareth and sends his light into the house the light of the candle which lightened the house before the dawning of the day goeth out and appeares as no light when Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse shineth into the heart then mans humane reason and the wisedome of the flesh the only light of the soule before the dawning and appearance of Christ these goeth out and is lookt upon as darknesse it selfe and Christ is made the only guide and counsellor of the soule the eye thereof receiveth all its light from Christ shining in the Gospell Carnall wisedome pusseth up saving knowledge humbleth In much wisedome saith Solomon is much griefe and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow because the more man knows the more he sees amisse Thus the more a man increaseth in the knowledge of Christ the more he sees amisse in himselfe the more he is grieved for his owne ignorance and corruption true wisedome is ever accompanied with godly sorrow and self-denyall and self-denyall casteth downe imaginations or carnall reasonings and every high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God and bringeth into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ Self-denyall makes him that formerly seemed to be wise in this world according to the opinion of the world dreaming of a sufficiency of wisedome in himselfe to guide himselfe making himselfe his owne
also to apply himselfe againe wholly to Christ to the wisedome of Christ to be guided by it to the authority of Christ to obey him to the truth of Christ to beleeve in him to the al-sufficiency of Christ to be filled with all spirituall and heavenly fulnesse He applyes himselfe to Christ in his understanding to know Christ in his will to chuse and embrace Christ in his thoughts to meditate upon Christ in his feare to serve and honour Christ in his faith to trust and depend upon Christ in his love to affect Christ in his ioy to delight in Christ in his desires to long after Christ in his endeavours to exalt Christ in all his possessions abilities and endowments to make them serviceable unto Christ he applyes himselfe to the ordinances of Christ as to a light guiding food feeding and physicke healing his soule to the precepts of Christ as to the rule directing him and to the promises of Christ as to the staffe sustaining him Mans full application of himselfe to Christ doth minister cleare and comfortable evidence of mans denyall of himselfe for Christ 4. The humble and hearty ascribing of all the good which is in man or done by man unto the grace of God He that denyes himselfe translates the doing of all that good which he doth from himselfe unto God as the proper Authour thereof he puts all from himselfe as being nothing in himselfe and ascribes all to God as to the fountaine whence all grace flowes as to the almighty hand by which all good is accomplished He acknowledgeth his owne insufficiency without God as the cisterne is insufficient to minister water without the fountaine and the branch to beare any fruit without the root or the toole to worke without the hand Self-denyall abaseth man and the abilities of man and exalteth God and his grace A humble man will not endure the glory of any thing to be ascribed to himselfe but referres all to God and Christ and strives to raise the eyes and hearts of men to God and his grace Paul and Barnabas perceiving the men of Lystra had too high thoughts of them reputing them as Gods when they were but the Lords instruments they rent their cloathes and ran in among the people crying out and saying why doe ye these things we also are men of like passions with you and preach that ye should turne from these vanities to the living God The immoderate honouring of men is a great dishonouring of God a humble and gracious man is not so much displeased to heare himselfe unjustly traduced as to see himselfe inordinately magnified he that doth deny himselfe that he may exalt God cannot but much grieve to see himselfe by the applause of vaine men set in the roome of God and made a dishonourer of God It is questionlesse the study of him who sees his owne vilenesse emptinesse and unworthinesse to make the name of God glorious he is very willing and ready to be abased that God may be the more glorified When God hath made him the instrument of any excellent worke he is jealous of being deified and idolized and therefore saith with Peter why marvell ye at this or why looke ye so earnestly on us as though by our owne power or holinesse we had done this The God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob hath glorified his sonne Jesus and his name through faith in his name hath done this thing Be he never so well qualified and fitted for the worke of the Lord yet as the Lord said of Israel so he conceives of himself that without the Lord his strength is to sit still He that is most fully furnished with spirituall abilities is most sensible of his owne emptinesse most free and ready in the magnifying of God and his grace Who more eminent then Paul for his gracious and ministeriall endowments yet who more effectuall in self-denyall and in the exaltation of the grace of God Are ye not carnall saith he and walke as men for while one saith I am Paul and another I am of Apollo are ye not carnall who then is Paul and who is Apollo but Ministers servants and not Lords instruments and not supreame agents by whom ye beleeved as God gave to every man I have planted Apollo watered but God gave the increase so then neither is he that planteth anything neither he that watereth not any thing of no ability of no efficacy of themselves but God that giveth the increase The choisest instruments prove unprofitable without the hand of God assisting The soule which knowes and feeles its dependancy upon God cannot but referre the fruit and worth of all its labours to the grace of God There was not a greater borne of woman then the Baptist he farre surpassed all the Prophets yet how low doth he abase himselfe to exalt Christ how freely doth he referre the whole efficacy of his ministery to the grace of Christ I indeed saith he baptize with water unto repentance but there is one that commeth after me is mightier then I whose shooes I am not worthy to beare he shall baptize you with the Holy-Ghost and with fire He that hath low thoughts of the grace of God and high thoughts of his owne abilities is far from the self-denyall which is proper to Gods children 5. A low prizing and Christian undervaluing of mans selfe and all things else in comparison of Christ He that denyes himselfe looks upon himselfe as a crucified man In a crucified man there is no beauty no dignity no excellency to be seene no pleasure to be taken He that denyes himselfe sees no beauty no worth no excellency in himselfe he taketh no pleasure no delight in himselfe he looks on his owne flesh as on an empty house wherein dwelleth no good thing he is dead with Christ for the mortification of his flesh for his low opinion and denyall of himselfe he is crucified to the world willingly contented for Christs sake to have no honour no favour no esteeme among the men of the world as a crucified man hath no place no authority no esteeme in the world he is willing to be traduced reproached and rejected of the world for the love he hath to Christ as a crucified man is despised and accounted odious in the world David being vile in the eyes of Michal for dauncing before the Arke said I will yet be more vile then thus and will be base in mine owne sight He that denyes himselfe being vile in the eyes of men for his profession of Christ for his subjection and obedience to Christ for his zeale and earnestnesse for Christ is willing and ready to be more vile to be more reproached more traduced more despised and will be base in his owne sight neglect himselfe abase himselfe and make himselfe as nothing that he may exalt and honour Christ True self-denyall makes a man neglect and abase himselfe below the very dust for the
the admiration of Christ his soule doth so please and delight it selfe in Christ that he esteemes Christs service a Paradise for the pleasures of it a rich store-house for the treasures of it a wall of fire for the safety of it and a high preferment a singular crowne for the glory which it ministreth and this indeed is the summe of that which our Saviour proposeth as an inducement encouragement and wages to his servants If any man saith he serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be if any man serve me him will my father honour Christs service is a good mans crowne and comfort and therefore he that denyes himselfe referres all to the glory of God and Christ and this is his glory joy and rejoycing to be the servant of Christ to approve himselfe to Christ by having his conversation not in fleshly wisedome but in simplicity and in godly sincerity Lastly sincerity humility piety and plainnesse of heart accompanies and argues self-denyall in Gods children He that denyes himselfe hath 1. a sincere heart his heart like Christs coat is without seame he is a true Nathaniell in whom is no guile self-denyall abhorres and abandons hypocrisie farre from the heart it puts it selfe upon the tryall search me O Lord and try me if there be any evill way within me and lead me in the way that is everlasting it searcheth it selfe as the Master in Jonah searched the ship if there be any disobedience any lust any carnall or sinister respect there it casts it out it drownes it in the teares of godly sorrow as the Master of the ship cast Jonah into the sea he is very severe against sinne not onely in others but chiefly in himselfe his owne sinne is most odious in his eye as a man is most sensible of and most troubled with a moate in his owne eye or a disease in his owne flesh he is most jealous and suspitious of his owne heart as best acquainted with the deceitfulnesse thereof he is the worst of sinners in his owne eye he will not spare nor suffer sinne upon himselfe as a man will not suffer a spot upon his owne flesh but speedily wash it away nor a disease in his owne body but hastens the purging of it out as a traveller will not knowingly walke in a false path but hastens himselfe into his right way so he considereth his wayes maketh haste and turneth unto the testimonies of the Lord As Asa spared not his owne mother but deposed her being an Idolatresse so this man spares not his owne sinne though a mother sinne be it never so deare or pleasant he will depose it as God is a God of pure eyes and cannot behold iniquity so is such a man a man of a pure heart and he cannot behold iniquity with allowance in himselfe 2 He hath a humble heart the proud man the self-lover who hath not denyed himselfe doth all for the praise of men his lamp will not burne without this oyle his mill will not turne unlesse it hath this wind or water to drive it but he that hath denyed himselfe is humble he aymes at the glory of God he seeks not himselfe but God in what he doth he leanes not upon himselfe but upon God in whatsoever he doth he leanes on Gods wisedome to guide him on Gods power to support him on Gods blessing to make all successefull and when the worke is done and men would deifie him he continues humble hee putteth all the glory from himselfe unto God his rejoycing is not in himselfe but in the Lord. 3. He hath a pious heart a heart cherishing an universall hatred of all sinne universally bent and inclined to observe the whole will of God having a disposition and frame of soule answerable to the whole Law of God resolved in nothing willingly to offend God endeavouring to the utmost to walke in all well-pleasing towards God All sinne is as gravell to his teeth gall to his palate snares to his feet and a heavy burthen on his backe his sinne is more troublesome to him then all affliction as bad or worse then death it selfe but the worke of righteousnesse is his joy this is the seed he sowes the race he runs to this he gives himselfe this is his meat and drinke this is the joy and rejoycing of his heart this is the element in which he desires to live and wherein he pleaseth and delighteth himselfe as the fish in the water he delighteth greatly in Gods commandements to know them to meditate upon them to receive direction from them to doe all things in obedience to them 4. He hath a plaine and open heart he will not smother nor conceale his sinne as Achan hid his golden wedge and Babylonish garment as Rachel sate upon and covered her Idols he will not disguise and faine himselfe to be another then he is as Jeroboams wife disguised her selfe and faigned her selfe to be another then she was He doth not desire that the Prophets should prophesie smooth things and deceits unto him he will not with Ahab have the messengers of the Lord bid him prosper in a way which the Lord allowes not but his desire is to have his heart ransacked his sinne opened the estate of his soule truly discovered he saith with the Psalmist let the righteous smite me by discovering my sinne by reproving me for what is amisse by wounding my conscience and humbling my soule for my corruption he is a most welcome messenger to him that most clearly and fully sets his sin before him he rejoyceth in the detection of his sinne as a rich man in the detection of a theefe that lyes in ambush to rob him as a sicke man in the finding out and purging away of the disease which would bring death upon him 5. He hath a heart grieving at evill and reioycing in goodnesse and good things He grieveth for his owne and other mens sinnes for the dishonour done to God he that grieves for his owne and not for other mens sins grieves rather out of self-self-love fearing some plague which will fall upon him for sinne then out of any true love to God for the dishonour which sinne is unto God for God is dishonoured by other mens sinnes as well as ours he therefore that denyes himselfe mournes with David because other men keep not the Law of God Gods dishonour is the prime motive of true and godly sorrow the more a man denyes himselfe the more his soule is humbled and grieved because Gods name is dishonoured He likewise that denyes himselfe rejoyceth when God is honoured whosoever be the instrument Many can rejoyce when God hath been glorified by some act of their owne but are not joyfully affected but rather grieved when God is honoured by some worke of others wherein themselves have been no sharers
Men are often very dangerous self-lovers in their holiest and most honourable performances It argues a humble sweet and gracious disposition of mens affections to be able to rejoyce in the godly service of others a humble soule is joyfull and thankfull that God is honoured the Church benefited the Gospell preached the cause and kingdome of Christ promoted by others as if himselfe had been the instrument Gods glory is a humble mans maine desire and intendment and is much joyed to see the same accomplished and in these characters as in plaine letters may all men reade the truth and power of their self-denyall and accordingly judge of their condition CHAP. X. BUt it may be here demanded how many wayes a man may deceive himselfe in the point and matter of self-denyall The heart of man is deceitfull above measure and man is very prone to deceive himselfe as in other necessary points and parts of salvation so in this of self-denyall To this therefore I answer that man is apt to deceive himselfe in this behalfe eight wayes 1. By denying himselfe superstitiously Thus many deny rest food and liberty necessary lawfull and allowed whipping scourging macerating pinching and even starving their owne flesh denying themselves the use of such creatures as God hath ordained and provided for the comfort and supportment of his servants God hath made man subordinate Lord over the works of his hands and hath put all things under his feet all sheep and oxen and the beasts of the field the fowles of the ayre and the fishes of the sea Every creature of God saith the Apostle is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer yet many in their superstition deny themselves the free and Christian use of the creature placing their Religion and self-denyall in abstinence from some sorts of creatures This is a law of Antichrist mentioned by Saint Paul forbidding to marry and commanding to abstaine from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving Such self-deniers are none of Christs but Antichrists subjects Men placing their self-denyall in the observation of humane inventions are farre from denying their owne corrupt and carnall lusts and affections they that make tradition the rule of their Religion are farre from spirituall and true mortification zealous observers of humane devises in stead of denying themselves deny the Lord Jesus Of such therefore the Apostle testifies that they are vainly puft up in their fleshly mind and not holding the head which is Christ and rebuking their superstition as repugnant to Christs death he saith wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world why as though living in the world are ye subject to ordinances touch not taste not handle not which all are to perish with the using after the commandements and doctrines of men This is the superstitious mans self-denyall 2. By denying himselfe covetously Many out of an immoderate desire after earthly riches and inordinate love to the world deny themselves bodily rest rising up early and sitting up late and eating the bread of sorrowes they deny themselves necessary food and rayment they travell under their worldly abundance as a galled horse under a heavy burthen they want nothing of all their soules desire yet God gives them not power to eat thereof This is the miserable worldlings humility and self-denyall and in this he is ready to please and applaude himselfe this man indeed abaseth himselfe below the dust but he doth not humble himselfe under Christ he makes himselfe the drudge and slave of worldly dung and drosse he makes not himselfe the servant of Christ 3. By denying himselfe partially He denyes some but not all his lusts he walks in some but not in all the ordinances of God Jehu denyed Baals Priests he put them to death but he allowed the calves in Dan and Bethel Saul denyed himselfe in the refuse of the Amalekitish stuffe he destroyed the refuse but he denyed not himselfe in the bleating sheep and lowing oxen he spared them Herod denyed himselfe in many things he heard the Baptist gladly and did many things but he denyed not himselfe in Herodias he continued his incest He that denyes not himselfe in all things truly denyes himselfe in nothing he that allowes himselfe under the power of one sinne is farre from Christ farre from the knowledge of Christ as he that allowes one moate in his eye is farre from the cleare and comfortable sight of the Sunne far from the life of Christ and health of grace as he that allowes himselfe in one disease is farre from health of body farre from the love of Christ as the woman which allowes one strange lover in her bosome is farre from the love of her husband he is farre from the way to life as he that keeps himselfe and travels on in one false way is farre from his right path farre from all interest in Gods promises as he that breakes one Covenant and condition of his Lease hath forfeited his whole Lease and farre from spirituall liberty and freedome as he that is fettered with one strong chaine is farre from bodily freedome he that denyes not all sinne denyes none as it is sinne hypocriticall miserable deceitfull is their self-denyall which is partiall and halt like Israel between God and Baal between vertue and vice between the earth and heaven still abiding under the power of sin without either truth or perfection in grace 4. By denying himselfe Constrainedly Not for love but for feare not for the hatred of sinne but for the sence of misery attending sinne as the dog denyes himselfe his meat when he is sicke and the Sow denyes her wallowing in the mire by reason of the coldnesse of the weather Lord saith the Prophet in trouble have they visited thee they powred out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them When the hand of God is heavy upon them they walke humbly they deny themselves their former carnall contentments with the Mariners they cast out Jonah in the storme This is the afflicted mans self-denyall a denyall not springing from any principle of grace but forc't upon the soule not arising from any hatred of sinne but from the punishment of sinne As Mariners cease from the Sea and lye fast in the haven while the stormes last but as soone as the weather is calme they put themselves forth againe Thus many when the storme is up when their soules are tossed with the tempest of trouble they cease from their worldly and carnall wayes but as soone as their estate is cleare and calme againe they returne to their former trade and practise of sin Constrained deny all is neither cordiall nor perpetuall 5. By denying himselfe hypocritically seeming to others to deny himselfe when yet indeed he doth not as Ahab put off his Kings roabes and
By the trouble which remaining and rebelling lusts are unto the soule of man If they be troublesome to the soule as the Canaanites to Israel as thornes in our sides and prickles in our eyes as diseases in our flesh and burthens on our backs as rebels and mutinous persons in a common-weale are a trouble to the common-weale Though we are not fully freed from yet we have truly denyed them when sinne is not sweet as wine but bitter as gall to our palate not pleasant as bread but troublesome as gravell to our teeth not pleasing as the wife of a mans bosom but offensive as a contentious and quarrelsome inmate there the lusts of a man are denyed they doe not raigne and beare dominion they have not the full and peaceable possession where they are a trouble Paul was one that had in a very high measure denyed himselfe yet he complaines of sinne as of a law in his members rebelling against the law of his mind and sometimes leading him captive yet this being a trouble to him as a dead member to the body as a mote to the eye as a thorne to the foot the Lord comforts him with the sufficiency of his grace My grace is sufficient for thee 2. By the godly griefe and sorrow of the heart of man for the lusts yet remaining and making warre within him When the presence and opposition of corruption makes man to sorrow as a woman in travell untill his soule is delivered and discharged of them to mourne as the Israelites lift up their voice and wept because the Canaanites continued among them and to grieve for the presence of sinfull lusts in his heart as Sarah was grieved for the presence of the daughters of Heth in her house When a mans sorrow is continually before him because sinne is continually within him such a man may assure himselfe of his self-denyall He that hath a continuall godly sorrow for his sinne is not under the dominion of sinne true repentance argues an infallible denyall of corrupt and carnall affections 3. By a holy gracious and constant Contestation against the lusts which remaine within him He that feeles the Spirit the regenerate part striving against the flesh as Rebeckah felt Jacob striving against Esau in her wombe He that fights against his lusts as Joshuah against the Amalekites he that makes warre against his corruptions as the house of David against the house of Saul and prevailes and increaseth his strength as the house of David did may ascertaine himselfe of freedome from the Lordship and power of his corruptions He that warres against sinne makes no provision for sinne any more then a man doth for the enemy against whom he wages warre He that warres a good warfare against Satan the world and his owne lusts holding faith and a good conscience is a blessed conquerour hath won the conquest though much assaulted by Satan and his owne corruptions It is not mans being assaulted by his lusts but mans yeelding to his lusts which argues absence of self-denyall 4 By mans humbling himselfe for his want of humility and tendernesse and softnesse of heart freely confessing the pride self-self-love and high thoughts which he discerneth in himselfe shaming and loathing himselfe for the obstinacy haughtinesse and deceitfulnesse of his heart as David considering and feeling the pride and rebellion of Absalon went weeping with his head covered and his feet bare So man that feeles the pride and rebellion of his heart must mourne humble and abase himselfe before the Lord for it the hypocrite is proud of his humility the sincere man is abased and ashamed for the remainders of pride which he discerneth in himselfe The state of him that is exalted with his gifts is very dangerous the state of him that is made vile in his owne eyes with the sence of his corruptions is hopefull and gracious It is a blessed argument of self-denyall when the sence of a mans secret self-love and lurking corruption doth abase him in his owne apprehension pride and self-love have no dominion as long as the soule is moved to humiliation by the sight and sence of them He that abhorres abases and humbles himselfe because his heart is not more humble is undoubtedly truly humbled though his humility want some perfection 5. By mans frequent and fervent prayer to be freed and throughly purged from all pride self-self-love and sinister respects He cannot be a lover and servant of sinne that prayes feelingly fervently and constantly against his sinne If Moses hands be lifted up the Amalekites will fall If the heart be constantly lifted up in holy and gracious prayer unto God proud lusts and self-respects will fall prayer will surely bring them downe and worke the heart to a very humble and gracious frame The Church prayed and Peter was set free from his fetters from the souldiers and Herods prison holy and earnest prayer hath a very forcible operation to worke the soule to spirituall freedome from all sorts of evill to make it truly sincere and humble both in the inward disposition secret intention and outward execution of every action Certainly mans prayer is but lip-labour no cordiall prayer but vaine babling words of custome or of ostentation if they make not the heart sincere and humble He that knowes the holy humble constant and earnest way of his heart in secret prayer with God may assure himselfe of his self-denyall before God CHAP. XII AS Self-denyall is a holy and gracious worke of Gods Spirit a lively and honourable character of a true Christian the prostrating of mans selfe and all that he hath under Christ The seeking and exalting of Christ above all is the crowne and glory of a Christian so self-seeking and self-exaltation is a very shamefull and dangerous evill an evill indeed very common Most men sowing to the flesh and not to the Spirit to themselves and not to Christ Men generally moving and tending in their understandings wils thoughts and affections to themselves as rivers to the sea levelling the arrowes of their endeavours to some carnall marke of their owne and not to the honour of Christ All saith the Apostle seeke their owne all comparatively in respect of the paucity of others seeke their owne their owne profit their owne ease their owne pleasure their owne honour they confine themselves within themselves they seeke themselves and not the things which are Jesus Christs The honour of Christ the edification of the Church of Christ the propagation and welfare of the Gospell they seeke not this they mind not this they intend not they are all given said the Prophet of old to their covetousnesse to the minding and seeking of themselves their owne low base and unworthy ends from the highest of them to the lowest and from the Priest unto the people Self-seeking like the deluge overslowes the whole world few then addressed themselves unto the Arke few
of the cause contempt of God the cause of sin being found in every sin and in regard of Originall all other vices springing either mediately or immediately from this the more a man exalts himselfe the more he dishonours God the more a man doth lift himself up in his own conceit and opinion the more he doth cast plung himself into the gulf and mire of spirituall pollution fulnes of pride and fulnesse of uncleannesse are inseparable companions 2. Self-exaltation is the patron and protector of all other vices this blinds men that they cannot see their sinnes this hardens men that they will not confesse their sinnes this makes men such admirers of themselves and their owne wayes that they apprehend their very vices to be virtues this makes men studious and artificiall to cloake and colour and hide their sins this makes instruction and admonition the meanes of suppressing sin contemptible and causeth man with impudency and shamelesse boldnesse to maintaine and plead for his profanenesse the soule which learnes not to be humble cannot cease from transgression pride among other vices is like Goliah among the Philistines the Philistines were invincible untill Goliah was overthrowne other lusts in the soule of man are impugnable untill pride and self-exaltation is cast downe mans labour in the worke of mortification is vain and fruitles untill his pride is mortified the spirituall conquest is never gotten as long as pride beares the dominion He that overcomes not this overcomes no lust Selfe-exaltation in the soule of man is like a Castle or Fort and other vices like houses built under the Castle which cannot easily be assaulted and beaten downe because the Fort defends them the overthrow of other vices is impossible untill the Castle of pride is beaten downe in the heart of man the Pharisees being given to self-exaltation to the seeking and lifting up of themselves were under the power of every base lust erronious superstitious covetous malicious their very piety was nothing but hypocrisie he that doth not cease from himself will cease from no sinne if he be but once put upon the temptation therefore be not wise saith Solomon in thine owne eyes feare the Lord and depart from evill implying that where there is not a cessation from self-wisdome and self-exaltation there is no feare of God no keeping of Gods precepts no disposition no care to please God no cessation from sin for conscience sake therfore take away this vice saith Chrysostome that men would not appeare to men this vice of self-exaltation and all vices are cut off without labour Vpon the death of the first-borne of Pharaoh the children of Israel were delivered upon the mortification of pride the first-borne of the spirituall Pharaoh the soules of men obtain a gracious freedome Goliahs head being cut off all the Philistines fled the death of pride is the slight of all sinne he that exalts himselfe remaines both a stranger to the life power and comfort of all godlinesse and a nurse and patron to all unclean and base affections 3. Self-exaltation is the most invincible of all vices the roots thereof are so deepe and strong and so largely spread in the heart of man it puts the soule at such a great distance from God makes man so uncapable of Christ and heavenly wisdome so weds man unto himselfe and causeth man so to please and delight himselfe in himselfe so to prize the applause of man and to slight the approbation of God that there is no disease in the soul of man so uneasily cured no weed in the garden of mans heart so uneasily plucked up no enemy in the common-weale of mans soul so difficultly overcome as self-exaltation it is the hardest taske that ever man undertooke truly to deny himselfe and fully to prostrate and put himselfe under God and Christs yoake Pharaoh did many things in the way of love and honour to Joseph he put his ring upon his hand and arrayed him in vestures of fine linnen and set him over his house but yet he reserved this unto himselfe to be greater in the throne then Joseph man may doe much in the way of outward zeale for God he may exalt God very farre above his profit above his pleasure above his peace yea above his life and yet still reserve to himselfe a preheminence above God he may cloath the naked feed the hungry and give his body to be burned in the cause of God and yet doe all this for himselfe more then for his God for his owne applause more then for the praise of God for the having of a name with men more then for the glorifying of the name of God Of all conquests selfe-conquest is the most difficult most excellent most noble and glorious he that can rule his spirit saith Solomon his proud his self-seeking and self-exalting spirit is better then he that taketh a City Man hath no greater enemy then himself he never doth more excellently then when he overcomes himselfe the overcoming of a Kingdome is nothing in comparison of mans conquest of his owne corruption pride is the first evill in mans departure from God and the last evill which is overcome in man returning unto God Shamma stood it out and defended the field when the people fled Self-exaltation stands it out like a mighty champion in the heart of man when all other lusts seeme to fly when other lusts goe out like fire that wants fewell yet this lust of self-exaltation as long as any thing of the old-man remaines in man will put it self forth and strive to soare aloft and climbe up in the thron of God Man hath most cause to watch pray against self-exaltation of all the evils which are within him 4. Self-exaltation corrupteth and destroyeth all the gifts and graces bestowed on man the evill herbe in the Prophets pot made the pot a pot of death ambition and self-exaltation in the soule of man marres all the excellencies of man turns all his gifts into a pot of death poysons all the endowments of man the more he hath received the lesse mindfull he is of God the higher thoughts he conceiveth of himselfe the more able and active he sheweth himself in evill and the more he sleights and scornes all instruction That man of all others is the fittest instrument to doe the worke of the prince of darknesse in whom abilities and a proud spirit are concurrent this like leaven sowrs the whole lump of mans vertues the tree sweetned the waters of Marah which were bitter but this like gall and wormwood sowres and imbitters those gifts and abilities which in themselves are very sweet and of singular use making vertue and the duties of piety subject and serviceable to mans vain-glory it is Gregories observation that as humility cuts the sinews of all vices and strengthens all vertues so pride destroyes all vertues and strengthens all vices pride is a very pernicious and venimous
comfortable discerning of the mysteries of Gods Kingdome He is free from perversenesse and frowardnesse in his will to will that which is good is present with him ready at hand his soule is very strongly bent and inclined thereunto as the rivers to flow downe the channell Holy and religious duties suite with him as the Sunne with the eye and the path with the foot he is free from much vanity in his thoughts vaine thoughts doe not lodge with him his thoughts of God are high and honourable his thoughts of himselfe are low and humble his thoughts of Christ are sweet and full of admiration his thoughts of sinne are sorrowfull and full of detestation his thoughts of the world are sleight and contemptible his thoughts of the word and worke of God are pleasant and delightfull He is free in his heart from obstinacy and hardnesse his heart is soft and tender trembling at the word of God The Law of God is in his heart and he delights to doe the will of God he is free from base and servile feare carnall confidence and fleshly ioy and worldly love in his affections he is free from impatience and murmurings in his afflictions free from discontentment in his low and empty estate free from high and exalting thoughts in his greatest earthly fulnesse free from limiting and prescribing unto God in his hardest conflicts and greatest tryals free from being daunted with the worlds threatenings inticed with the worlds perswasions corrupted with the worlds proffers seduced by the worlds example or intangled in the snares of Satan very sweet and comfortable very pleasant and delightfull is the humble mans freedome all are slaves and bondmen in respect of them in whom God hath wrought the great and gracious work of Self-denyall 6. This makes men very peaceable The measure of mans peace is according to the measure of mans humility and self-denyall The humble man doth not grieve but rejoyceth at the prosperity of others doth not hinder but delighteth in the furtherance of other mens welfare doth not willingly minister any offâ—â—ce but patiently endureth injuries puts the best interpretation upon things doubtfull humility and self-denyall as the Apostle saith of Love suffereth long and is kind envieth not vaunteth not it selfe is not puffed up doth not behave it selfe unseemely seeketh not it's owne is not easily provoked thinketh no evill reioyceth not in iniquity but reioyceth in the truth beareth all things beleeveth all things hopeth all things endureth all things Pride is the bellowes kindling the fire of contention humility and self denyall prevents strife and preserves peace among men there is no hope of his living in peace with any man who is at variance with the humble It is a rule among the Geometricians Quod corpora Spherica quae quasi tumiâ—a sunt non possunt se tangere nisi solo puncto c. that Sphericall or round bodies which are a swelling kind of bodies cannot touch one another be applyed one to another but onely at the very point but the hollow body can receive the round within it selfe Thus pride dissolves communion between man and man Men are never at a sweet agreement where pride and self-conceit reigneth humility disposeth openeth and prepareth the heart to the unfained embracement of others to the patient toleration of other mens pride injustice and vaine boastings The wisedome saith S. James which is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle easie to be intreated full of mercy and good fruits The low shrub is little or nothing moved with the winds which shake and shatter many tall Cedars The humble man is little or nothing dâ—squieted with the gusts and blasts of opposition losse and disgrace which doe even vexe and utterly distract the man of a proud spirit The soule which is spiritually and throughly humble is an inhabitant residing in a very sweet and quiet dwelling a ship rowing in a very calme and peaceable haven 7. This makes fruitfull in all gifts and graces Like the low valleyes cheerfull in every tryall and trouble able to count it all ioy to fall into manifold temptations Profitable under affliction as the vine under the hand of the Pruner dressing it capable of the word of God as the broken ground of the seed and the empty vessell of water Every word of God is a Star of some light a flower of some comfortable smell and a cloud of some refreshment to the humble This fils the soule with very cleare and ioyfull high and honourable apprehensions of God He that hath the lowest thoughts of himselfe hath the highest thoughts of God This makes Christ very welcome very amiable in the eye of the soule the fairest of ten thousand As the Sunne to him that is in darkenesse as the river to him that thirsteth or the Physitian to him that is extreamely pained mans sence of self-emptinesse makes Christ very precious This sweetens the word of God as the famine sweetens bread and makes the messenger of God as an Angell of God or one of a thousand This disposeth man to every good duty this makes the yoake of Christ easie the service of Christ pleasant and suffering for Christ comfortable This makes the inward man very joyfull when the outward man is loaden with much affliction the whole man heavenly minded graciously disposed holily exercised abundantly thriving in all well-doing and incessant in the way tending to the heavenly Kingdome And thus you have seene the mysterie the worth and dignitie the fruit and excellencie of Selfe-denyall Most sweet and blessed is that mans Condition who is truly humble happy is the soule in which God hath wrought a through Self-denyall CHAP. XVIII The second generall Part. Spirituall Vivification THe seed first dies and then is quickened and springeth up into a greene and flourishing blade Man first dyes to sinne and then lives to God The Syens is first removed out of the old and naturall stocke and then he is grafted into another stocke becomes a living branch in another Tree Man first denyes himselfe goes out of himselfe ceaseth from himselfe and then he is ingrafted into Christ Christ lives in him and he lives in Christ according to this of the Apostle here I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me The second generall thing observed in these words is spirituall vivification Christ living in all them that live the life of grace The life of a Christian is a borrowed life he hath it not of himselfe but from another it is no naturall but a spirituall life a life not springing originally from man but derivative and flowing from Christ Every Christian though wondrously enriched by Christ yet is very poore of himselfe his very spirituall life is a borrowed thing Sinne hath made man extreamely poore it hath not onely robbed him but also slaine him it hath utterly taken the life of grace from him and none but Christ can quicken him The Christian hath no cause of glorying
awakened him out of his spirituall sleep and slumber he made him see himselfe I was alive once saith he without the Law I was once ignorant of the Law I was blind and knew not the meaning of the law I thought my selfe to be a living man in Gods family a shining starre in the firmament of Gods Church and a fruitfull vine in the Lords vineyard but when the commandement came sinne revived and I dyed when Christ awakened me opened my eyes and inabled me to discerne a right of the commandement then I saw I was under the dominion of sinne as a dead man is under the dominion of death wholly possessed by sinne as the dead by death Man hath first the sence of his being dead in sinne before he hath the sence of Christ living in him Christ makes man to know his misery by sinne before he knowes his happinesse by Christ Christ lives not where the soule is not awakened where the eyes of the understanding are not opened therefore awake saith the Apostle thou that sleepest and stand up from the dead and Christ shall give thee light 2. Christ intending to live in man doth humble man and causeth man to dye to sinne Saul first dyed before David reigned in Israel The death of sinne in order of divine operation precedes the life of Christ and his grace in the soule of man first we are buried with Christ and then we are raised with Christ to walke in newnesse of life first we are planted into the likenesse of Christs death and then into the likenesse of his resurrection Christ therefore in the dispensation of spirituall life doth first kill and then make alive first wound and then heale he makes man sensible of his sinne as of a heavy burthen before he doth ease him as of a body of death before he doth raise him as of a mortall disease before he doth cure him he chargeth sinne upon the conscience of man he sets it upon him to pursue and follow him as the avenger of bloud under the Law pursued the malefactor The Lord let loose Pharaoh and the Egyptians upon Israel to impose heavy burthens upon them to deale hardly with them to beat and scourge them to pursue and follow them when he intended to set them free from Egypt Christ lets loose Satan and corruption upon man to tempt and vexe to accuse and torment man when he intends to free man to restore spirituall life and liberty unto man The Israelites were first led into the red Sea and the Egyptians there drowned before Israel triumphed Man is led into a sea of griefe and sorrow for sinne and his sinne there drowned and then he triumpheth in Christ then Christ lives in him and he in Christ When Christ therefore doth humble man as he cast Paul to the earth emptieth man of all thought of his owne worth and makes man abhorre himselfe below the dust causeth man with the Jewes at Peters Sermon to cry out men and brethren what shall we doe to accuse and condemne themselves to loath that sinne as a menstruous clout which was formerly worne by them as a garment of great choise to vomit up that sinne it is Jobs expression as the gall of Aspes which he formerly kept in his mouth and swallowed downe like sweet meat to hate his sinne more then ever he loved it and to thrust it out of the doores of his heart as Amnon hated Thamar more then ever he loved her and thrust her out of his house When Christ doth thus humble man thus set the heart of man against sin and mortifie sinne in man then Christ begins to live in man When a man puls downe a house that is ruinous and unhabitable and begins to lay a new foundation then we know he usually intends to dwell and live there Thus when Christ puls downe the old man a ruinous and unhabitable dwelling unfit to entertaine Christ when Christ puls downe our pride when our old man as S. Paul speaks is crucified with Christ when all high thoughts are cast downe and Christ hath laid another a new foundation of self-denyall and true humility then Christ meanes to dwell there then undoubtedly Christ begins to live there 3. Christ beginning to live in man puts a restlesnesse into the heart of man in his naturall and corrupt estate makes him out of love with himselfe fils him with dislike of his owne wayes and works alienates and takes him off from creature and works him to an earnest longing after Christ as the chased Hart panteth after the water-brookes being chased and frighted with the sence of his sinne and the hideous noise of his guilty accusing and tormenting conscience he begins to thinke of Christ to betake himselfe to Christ for comfort pardon and salvation as the guilty malefactor under the Law being pursued by the avenger of bloud betooke himselfe to the City of Refuge for shelter and defence now his soulâ— followeth hard after Christ now he prizeth interest in Christ farre above interest in the creature now he would take Christ upon any termes he would gladly leave all for Christ he sees there is no other Physitian can heale him no other surety can make satisfaction for him no other shield and buckler can protect him no other friend can comfort him and therefore he flies to Christ as Joah to the hornes of the Altar he presseth after Christ labours to lay hold on Christ as the diseased woman did whom no Physitian could cure and as there went a vertue out from Christ that healed her bloudy issue when she touched the hemme of Christs garment so there goes a vertue out from Christ healing and enlivening the soule longing after Christ and touching Christ by faith though it may seem to be but weakly and afar off For as when the iron comes neare the loadstone there goes a virtue from the loadstone that moves and drawes the iron to it so when man comes neare Christ in hearing in prayer in humiliation and earnest longing there goes a vertue from Christ which moves enlivens and drawes the soule of man home to Christ and Christ begins to live in man to sustaine and strengthen the soule of man 4. Christ beginning to live in man there is a revelation of Jesus Christ in the soule of man The Sonne of God as S. Paul speaks is revealed in man There goes a light forth from the Sunne in the Firmament which reveales the Sunne to the eye of man and there goes forth a spirituall and heavenly light from the Sunne of Righteousnesse into the soule of man which reveales Christ unto man which the Apostle cals a shining of Christ into our hearts Christ revealing himselfe unto the soule as the only Saviour ministring salvation to the soule as the only Prophet instructing man and filling him with heavenly knowledge as the only Jordan bathing and cleansing the soule from
sinne as the only Prince of Peace sweetly and powerfully ruling in the heart of man and graciously reconciling God and man as the only beloved Husband marrying himselfe to man as the only precious pearle in whom is all the treasure of the soul of man as the only rocke in whom is all the strength of man and by whom man is supported as the only rich and royall roabe by whom mans sinne is covered and the soule of man justified and as the onely fountaine in whom man meets with fulnesse of satisfaction and where Christ is thus revealed there he liveth This Revelation of Christ in man ministers life and comfort unto man 5. Christ beginning to live in man doth very powerfully and graciously change and reforme man he doth cause his Gospell to come to man not in word only but in power also humbling man breaking and bruising the stony heart plowing up the fallow ground of mans heart making it of barren to become good ground causing the choisest plants of his grace and fruits of righteousnesse to grow there Christ doth not onely proffer his grace and stirre up good desires and purposes but he infuseth supernaturall qualities of holinesse into the soule of man he makes him a new creature causing old things to passe away and making all things become new he puts not a forme but a power of godlinesse into man he dyes the heart in graine with grace and holinesse he makes him a living man indeed for his life and power of grace for his unfained love to God for his burning zeale for God for his gracious progresse in the wayes of God for his sweet and blessed delight in God and for his full and through conformity to the will of God Christ causeth his Spirit to come upon him mightily as it came upon Sampson inabling him to overcome the Devill the world and his owne corruption as the Spirit inabled Sampson to overcome the Lyon transforming man into the Image and likenesse of God not as the Devill transformed himselfe into the Image and likenesse of Samuel remaining a Devill still but as Christ turned water into wine graciously changing the qualities of man making him of a dead a living man of proud humble of ignorant wise of obstinate soft and tender hearted of prophane holy of cold fervent of barren fruitfull of weake and impotent untoward and indisposed he makes him strong and able apt and ready to every good duty and this is the manner of Christs living in man CHAP. XXIII DOth Christ live in man Then the life of a Christian is the most noble and honourable life of all others the life of sensible creatures is more excellent then the life of vegitive creatures the life of reasonable creatures is more excellent then the life of sensible the life of man is more noble then the life of beasts but the life of spirituall and sanctified persons is more excellent then the life of reasonable creatures the life of a true Christian surpasseth the life of man as farre as the life of man surpasseth the life of beasts Saul was in stature head and shoulders above the residue of the people The life of grace is head and shoulders in dignity worth and excellency above all other lives this is the life of Christ a living of Christ in man and as Christ is infinitely more excellent then man so doth this life exceedingly transcend the life of man called the life of God in regard of the cause efficient God working it by his holy Spirit in regard of precept God commanding it in regard of approbation God accepting and approving it in regard of noblenesse and dignity as the life of God is more excellent then the life of the creature so is this life the most honourable sweetest and choysest life communicable to any creature and in regard of likenesse with God holy and gracious resemblance of God he that lives the life of man is like man participates of the nature of man he that lives the life of grace is like God is made partaker as S. Peter speaks of the divine nature not in respect of essence but in respect of holy and gracious qualities hee that lives the life of grace commeth nighest unto God participates most of Gods fulnesse and hath nearest and sweetest communion with God of all persons And this life is indeed a very honourable and noble life 1. For the Originall of it it is not from nature but from grace not from man but from the Spirit it is the Spirit that quickneth It is a beame from the brightest Sun even Christ Jesus the Son of Righteousnesse I saith Christ am the bread of life come downe from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever It is a streame from the highest and purest fountaine the Spirit of grace becoming in the soule of man a well of water springing up into everlasting life 2. In regard of the nature of it a spirituall life a life of holinesse and righteousnesse a life surpassing the life of nature as the Sun the Glo-worme as the Vine the bramble and they that live this life are said to walke in newnesse of life Having a new-birth being borne againe and having new principles and qualities put into them by the Spirit of God the Lord according to his promise putting a new heart into them their soules being renewed and changed not in substance but in qualities framed a new after God in knowledge righteousnesse and true holinesse made new creatures and leading a conversation pure and unblameable in the sight of God and that life which is most full of grace and holines is of all lives the most noble and glorious 3. In regard of the rarity of it few men live this life the whole world as S. John saith lies in wickednesse dead in sins and trespasses as the old world lay drowned in the deluge only Noah and his Family a few persons lived in the Arke it is but a little remnant one of a city and two of a Tribe as the Prophet speakes that live this life Strait is the gate and narrow is the way saith Christ which leadeth unto life and few there be that finde it A godly person is a rare jewell God dispenceth the life of grace only to his chosen Christ in the dayes of his flesh raysed not all the dead to life but onely a few one now and another then thus Christ in the day of the Gospell doth not quicken all but a few one here and another there the number of them that professe themselves Christians is indeed very great but the number of them in whom Christ lives is very small the greatest part like the Angell of the Church of Sardis having a name that they live and yet are dead the outward forme and shew of Christianity is very frequent but the life power and practise very
warmth and heavenly heate which man hath within him Heate is an evidence of life Christ warmes the soule where he lives they that have Christ living in them are not like David in another case having many cloathes and no heate much meanes of grace and no spirituall warmth they are not like Hoseah's Cake halfe baked nor like the Laodicean Angell neither hot nor cold but as the flesh of the Shunamites childe waxed warme when the Prophet spread himselfe upon him Thus their hearts in whom Christ liveth are heated and warmed by the labour of the Prophet by the Ministers opening and applying the word of life unto them their hearts burne within them with indignation against sinne with love to God and with zeale for God The word is like fire in their bones the whole man is set in a holy flame they are baptized with the Holy-Ghost and with fire The Holy-Ghost like fire enlightening and purging their soules and warming them with holy and fervent love making them fervent in prayer and burning in spirit serving the Lord. All the duties they performe have a sacred fire mixed with them a holy heate put into them as the sacrifice under the Law was offâ—red up with fire Thus their whole service is no dead carkasse without fire but a burnt offering unto the Lord they doe all in love to God and in zeale for God holy men like Eliah in their hearing prayer meditation are carried in a fiery chariot their religious exercises kindle a fire in them which burnes up their corruption like stubble purifies their soules like silver and puts their heart into a very sweet and gracious temper lukewarmnesse is farre from them that are enlivened by Christ Jesus Man 's deadnesse in the duties of godlinesse argues mans alienation from the life of Christ Man 's zeale for Christ is proportionable to the measure of life received from Christ he doth in vaine assume the name of a Christian who joynes not zeale to his profession For as to him that desired to know what manner of man Basill was there was presented in a dreame a pillar of fire with this Motto talis est Basilius such a one is Basill and such in deed in some measure may be the Motto of every true Christian because he that is enlivened by Christ and hath his whole dependance upon Christ and graciously filled by Christs ministrations he must of necessity have his thoughts taken up with Christ and his heart burning with zeale for Christ 9. By the price which man doth put upon Christ Life is valued at a high rate above all the residue of mans temporall possessions The Devill could say skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life Christ to them in whom he lives is more deare then temporall life he is the choisest of all their possessions as the people esteemed David so they esteeme Christ better then all their thousands whether honours riches liberty life or whatsoever else he is to them in respect of all things else as the Apple Tree among the Trees of the wood as the Prince among the beggars as the Sunne among the gloe-wormes as the jewell among the drosse Man that hath Christ living in him so prizeth him that he will sell all to enjoy him as the Merchant did for the precious pearle he will leave all to keep communion with him as the bride to keep her fellowship with the bridegroome Christ is to his apprehension the fairest of ten thousand the Paradise wherein he is delighted the crowne with which he is honoured and the fountaine in whom his soule finds all satisfaction 10. By mans care to keepe Christ Man is very carefull to preserve his life he contendeth much to maintaine this he will part with any thing rather then with his life In like manner a man that hath Christ living in him is very carefull to keep Christ he will endure any hardnesse rather thâ—n be deprived of Christ he will lose his goods his credit his liberty and his life rather then lose Christ because Christ is the life of his life Christ is the rocke on whom he builds the root by whom he lives the royall Roabe with which he is cloathed the precious pearle in which lies all his riches the Paradise wherein grow all his comforts the friend in whom he chiefly delighteth and the husband with whom his soule is joyned in everlasting wedlocke and therefore his greatest care is to keep Christ he layes hold on Christ as the woman of Shunem upon the Prophet and will not be thrust away as Joah on the Hornes of the Altar and will rather dye then leave his holdfast on Christ he resolves to be with Christ as Ittai with David whether in life or in death whatsoever be his estate Nothing is sweet and deare to him as Christ is and therefore strives by prayer hearing conference meditation holy and humble walking and the use of all holy meanes to keep Christ neither losse nor gaine threatnings nor perswasions peace nor trouble life nor death can worke him to a desertion of Christ And in these particulars as in so many lively characters may we discerne the living of Christ in us CHAP. XXVII AS Christ lives in all Gods children so let all that professe Christ and call God Father see and discerne Christ living in them This is the crowne and comfort of a Christian to have Christ living in him and without this he hath but the naked and empty name of a Christian like an Idoll that hath the name of a man and is no man a name that he lives and yet is dead Feele Christ therefore living in your understanding by prizing the knowledge of Christ above all learning by determining to know nothing in comparison of knowing Christ and him crucified by learning Christ as the truth is in him being filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall understanding Feele Christ living in your will in making your will free to chuse and embrace him and the things of God to intend and will him and the glory of God above every thing making his will the rule of your will and fashioning and framing you to be a willing people in and about his worke and service Feele him living in your imaginations by thinking upon him with more frequency and delight then of any other thing by having more high honourable and sweeter apprehensions of Christ then of all the creatures Feele Christ living in your affections by being rooted in Christ by a lively faith as a Tree in the Earth by fearing Christ above all earthly powers as the Subject his Soveraigne above all Civill Rulers by loving him as the Bride the Bridegroome above all other persons by rejoycing in him as the rich man in his jewell above all the residue of his Substance Feele him living in your members by circumcising and preparing your eares to heare with meeknesse
and reverence by returning to your tongues a pure language that your speech may minister grace to the hearers by restraining your eyes from beholding vanitie by disposing your hands to worke that which is good and by making your feet swift to every good duty as you discerne your soule living in your humane body moving all the members to humane services so discerne Christ living in your bodily members disposing and framing them to religious duties Feele Christ living in all your services as the chiefe worker of them and inabler of you to them doing all in his name by his assistance and for his glory Feele Christ living in the Prayer which you make praying by the Spirit of Christ in the name of Christ and for the honour of Christ Feele Christ living in the Word which you heare making it an immortall seed to regenerate you a sacred Fire to purge you a heavenly Light to guide you and a message of peace to comfort you Feele Christ living in the Sacrament which you receive making it a Coelestiall Manna feeding you a Seale of Righteousnesse assuring you of your Justification an obligation binding you to new obedience and a pledge of Gods unchangeable love towards you All holy Ordinances if Christ live not in them shew not himselfe powerfull by them are but an empty shell without kernell and a dry breast without milke ministring no nourishment All the Religious Duties wee performe if Christ live not in them are but a Sacrifice without Fire a dead Carkasse of no esteeme with God Our affections if Christ live not in us are a charet without wheeles they sinke and fall unto the earth they cannot encline nor move towards the Lord All our best abilities if Christ live not in them are as standing Waters without a living Spring they putrifie and rot and prove unprofitable If Christ live not in us our knowledge is ignorance our wisedome foolishnesse our faith presumption our love dissimulation and our obedience no better then rebellion If Christ live not in us our understandings are blinded and wee cannot savingly know God our will is inthralled and wee cannot intend God our faith like Jeroboams arme is withered and wee cannot lay hold upon the promise of God The whole sufficiencie of a Christian is from Christs living in him Christs living in man makes him wise in discerning the things of God sincere in intending the glory of God powerfull in withstanding what doth oppose him in the wayes of God fruitfull in the worke of God meeke and humble in submitting to the hand of God faithfull in keeping the Covenant of God joyfull in hearing the Word of God fervent in invocation upon the Name of God patient in waiting for the Comforts of the Lord contented with the portion God giveth constant in running the race which God hath set before him and graciously perswaded of living the life of Glory for ever in Heaven * ⎠* MANS MISERY WITHOVT CHRIST OPENING The sinfull perplexed dishonourable and Soul destroying Condition of Man without CHRIST tending to the driving and drawing of every man out of himselfe unto CHRIST By Alexander Grosse B. D. Minister of the Gospell and Pastor of Bridford near Exon in Devon-shire Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2. Epist Ioh. ver 9. If ye beleeve not that I am he ye shall dye in your sins Ioh. 8.24 If any man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned LONDON Printed by G. M. for John Bartlet at the Signe of the Gilt Cup near Saint Austins Gate 1642. MANS MISERY WITHOVT CHRIST OPENED EPHES 2.12 At that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world CHAP. I. Shewing mans alienation from CHRIST misery without CHRIST and opening the scope of the words ADam after his eating the forbidden fruit was without the Garden of Eden disabled to come to the tree of life man feeding on the forbidden fruit of sinne is a stranger to the Paradise of all spirituall and heavenly comforts wholy excluded from the true tree of life Christ Jesus There is no sweet and gracious communion betweene the Lord Jesus and carnall persons The men of the old world were without the Arke and perished in the deluge of waters men who are in their old corrupt estate who have not put off that old man which is corrupt according to divers lusts are without Christ and shall certainly perish in the deluge of their impieties and the Lords vengeance the fruition of Christ is mans happinesse mans crowne and comfort alienation from Christ is mans misery mans shame and the soules great distraction and trouble of all estates on Earth mans naturall and corrupt condition is most wretched and miserable a condition of death without spirituall life of darknesse without divine and heavenly light of bondage without Christian freedome of uncleanenesse without sanctification of emptinesse without all celestiall fulnesse of alienation without all comfortable communion with Christ without all interest in Christ and his benefits without either claime or title to Gods Promise to Heaven or eternall happinesse an estate of exclusion from all holy and gracious society with Gods children an estate of profanenesse without God without the knowledge of God without faith in God without love to God and without zeale for God for at that time in that estate and condition We are without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world The Apostle in these words declares and amplifies the miserable and wretched estate of man the uncomfortable and dishonourable condition of the soule of man without Christ without the knowledge of Christ without faith in Christ without incorporation into Christ without participation of Christ and his benefits And this misery and wretchednesse of man the Apostle doth open set forth and amplifie by a five-fold alienation 1. An alienation from Christ at that time yee were without Christ Christ was not preached to you Christ was not knowne of you Christ was not imbraced nor beleeved in by you this is the first alienation and the ground of all the rest Hee that is an alien to the Lord Iesus is a stranger to all things appertaining to life and happinesse mans interest in Christ gives him interest in God and in all good things of God there is no way for man to come to God and eternall happinesse but only by and thorough Christ Jesus the neglect of Christ is the lesse of all 2. An alienation from the Common-wealth of Israel from that forme of Religion and divine worship which God had prescribed to the Israelitish people they alone at that time having the oracles of God among them Very miserable
no mixture or glimpse of spirituall light Very sad and sorrowfull is that soules darkenesse which is estranged from the Sunne of Righteousnesse 3. Man that is without Christ is without grace without holinesse Naaman without Jordan was overspread with a lothsome leprosie there is a very filthy leprosie of uncleannesse upon them that partake not of Christ For Christ as the Apostle saith is our Sanctification effectively as the worker of it originally as the head and spring from whence it is derived without whom our soules are as empty of grace as the cisterne of water without the fountaine as full of errour superstition pride and prophanenesse as Baals house of Idolaters as full of earthly mindednesse and covetous practises as the sluggards field of thornes and bryars as full of hypocrisie deceitfulnesse and unrighteousnesse as the Pharisees Sepulchers of dead mens bones or the Temple of money-changers before Christ whipt them out Our soules are indeed a very sinke of uncleannesse untill Christ doth possesse us 4. Man that is without Christ is without Liberty Peter without the Angell continued in Herods prison without the Lord Jesus man remaines the prisoner of Satan the world and his owne corrupt affections Every unregenerate man is a miserable bond-man led away captive at the will of Satan unable to make any resistance against him a voluntary slave refusing liberty tendred to him loving darkenesse more then light and Satans prison better then Christs Palace having no liberty in his understanding to discerne the things of God in his imagination to meditate and thinke upon them in his will to chuse them or in his affections to love prize and delight himselfe in them The Liberty of the soule estranged from Christ Jesus is nothing else but bondage He that is most free to sinne is the greatest slave to Satan where Christ is not there is no Life quickning there is no Sunne enlightening there is no Conquerour dissolving the holds of Satan there is no dew suppling and softening the hard and fallow ground of mans heart There is no fire warming the cold and frozen affections and therefore no liberty from corruption no inclination to the wayes and works of sanctification It is only Christ Jesus that ministers to the soules of Gods servants freedome from uncleannesse and liberty to true holinesse 5. Man that is without Christ is without acceptation with God Christ is Gods beloved in whom man is accepted Man that is out of Christ beares not Gods Image is not Gods gracious workmanship is estranged from Gods Covenant hath no love of God within him is the slave of Satan the servant of the world and a very sinke of corruption He is no Tree of Righteousnesse of Gods planting no childe of Gods begetting no loyall Subject of Gods Kingdome no vessell of Gods gracious filling no partaker of Christs Righteousnesse to cloath and cover him he brings forth no fruit to God but all to himselfe to the flesh and to the world and therefore can have no aceptation with God Joseph his brethren might not looke him in the face unlesse they brought their brother Benjamin with them Man cannot looke God in the face with my confidence or acceptance unlesse he bring Christ with him in the armes of his faith Mans person and service finds acceptance with God only in and through Christ Jesus without Christ man is stubble and God a consuming fire to destroy him Man is a guilty malefactor and God a severe Judge to condemne him the whole of man without Christ Jesus is a very abomination in Gods presence 6. Man that is without Christ is without Contentation In Christ the soule meets with all satisfaction and fulnesse He is a Sun in whom the beleeving soule beholds all fulnesse of light a precious Iewell in whom he finds all fulnesse of worth a rocke in whom he feeles all fulnesse of strength a fountaine from whom he drawes all fulnesse of satisfaction and a Paradise in whom he enjoyes all fulnesse of pleasures but without Christ the soule finds vanity and emptinesse in the greatest abundance the wife findeth an emptinesse in a rich and full house the husband being absent Christ wanting the soule meets with vanity in the largest possession Christ is the marrow and the fâ—tnesse the fulnesse and the sweetnesse of all our endowments separate Christ from them and they are bitter and doe not please us weake and doe not sustaine us empty and doe not fill us dumbe and doe not comfort us It is not the abundance of any thing but Christ comming with it that gives contentation whether the thing be much or little Without Christ the desire is enlarged as hell and never satisfied the Lord Jesus is the choise and onely fulnesse of all Christians 7. Man without Christ is without all spirituall splendor and beauty The Sunne is the glory of the world the eye is the glory of the head the soule of the body the jewell is the glory of the Ring the Flowers Herbs Trees and Fruit are the glory of the Garden and the Field the Arke was the glory of Israel and Christ is the glory of the Christian stiled the light of the Gentiles and the glory of Israel being both the Author and the matter of their glory Their glory in respect of instruction as the teacher is the glory of the Schoole in respect of vivification as the soule is the glory of the body in respect of Redemption as the ransomer is the glory of the captive in respect of Conquest as David was the glory of Israel overcomming the great Goliah in respect of Justification as the garment is the glory of him that weares it in respect of Sanctification as Jordan was the glory of Naaman cleansing him from his leprosie in respect of repletion as the fountaine is the glory of the cisterne and in respect of wise and powerfull gubernation gracious and plentifull ministration as the King is the glory of the Kingdome the shepheard of the flocke and as Joseph was the glory of the Land of Egypt ministring provision to it He that partakes most of Christ Jesus is the most beautifull and glorious of all others but man without Christ is without all spirituall beauty in regard of ignorance as a darke house without light even darkenesse it selfe in regard of nakednesse as a man without a garment naked miserable and wretched having no other cloathing then a menstrous clout to cover him led by Satan like Egypt by the Assyrians naked barefoot his buttockes yea the whole man uncovered in regard of spirituall contagion and foul-sicknes his soule like the body of Lazarus full of sores or like the body of Job full of sore boiles from the sole of his foot unto his crowne loathsome and incurable are the soules-maladies which hath not Christ as a Physitian to heale him in regard of the plenitude and fulnesse of all sinne like the sluggards field in Salomon full of
an Idoll an imaginary God to the losse of the true God The want of all things is as nothing in comparison of the want of Christ man that hath Christ hath great matter of rejoycing in the want of every other thing man that wants Christ hath great cause of humiliation in the presence of all worldly fullnesse And every man in his naturall estate is as empty of Christ as the foolish Virgins lampes were of Oyle or the tree which Christ cursed was of fruit even wholly and altogether without Christ Without the life of Christ Christ liveth not in them any more then the root doth live in a dead and withered branch Without the knowledge of Christ the mystery of Christ is a sealed Booke which they cannot open or a booke written in a strange language which they cannot reade the treasures of wisdome hidden in Christ are hidden from their understanding as the light of the Sunne is hidden from the eyes of the blind without the fruit of Christs death it doth not mortifie their lusts their old man is not crucified with Christ their lusts are not dead with Christ as the Philistines dyed with Sampson Without the benefit of Christs resurrection they are not planted into the likenesse of Christs resurrection they rise not from sinne and from the world as Christ rose from the grave Sampson rose at midnight and carried away the gates of Gaza but the Gazites were quiet all night they rose not Christ is risen and hath made an open way for us to passe from death to life but carnall men continue their sleepe and slumber in sin they rise not to newnesse of life and conversation they are without the fruit and benefit of Christs offices Christ is not to them a Prophet revealing Gods will and enlightning their understandings a Priest expiating their sinnes and reconciling them to God a King subduing Satan and their corruptions and reigning graciously within them and making them truly subject and obedient unto God They are without the apprehension of Christs beauties and taste of Christs sweetnesse Christ is to them like the Manna to Israel a light bread they see no beauty nor comlinesse in Christ he is no more to them then another Beloved then gold and silver the covetous mans beloved then honours and high places the ambitious mans beloved then idols and humane rites and ceremonies the superstitious mans beloved they are without the righteousnesse of Christ he doth not justifie them he doth not cloath them with the garments of salvation Without the presence of Christ as an empty house without the dweller Christ dwelleth not in their hearts by faith Without the love of Christ as a Harlot without the love of her husband without the dispensation of Christ he doth not communicate himselfe and his saving gifts unto them any more then the head communicates it selfe to the members which are dead Christ suspends his gracious influence from their soules There is not the least character or cognizance of Christ upon them they are without the power of Christ strengthening them without the holinesse of Christ sanctifying them without the fullnesse of Christ satisfying them and without the goodnesse of Christ sweetning their troubles and turning all for the best unto them and man thus being without Christ is matter and occasion of great abasement and humiliation to the soule of man man that is without Christ hath nothing whereof he may truly glory The want of all things is nothing to the want of Christ If Moses want a guide in the wildernesse Hobah may be instead of eyes to him if Noah have not where to rest his foot upon the Earth the Arke may beare him up in the waters If Hagar have no water in her bottle her eyes may be opened to see a well If there be no corne in the Land of Canaan Aegypt may supply them If the Gibeonites be besieged Joshua may rescue them If Peter be in prison the Angell may free him If the woman of Shunems sonne be dead the Prophet may raise him There is a supply in Christ Jesus for all mans necessities a helpe for all mans distresses a comfort for all mans sorrowes but if man want Christ there is none to quicken and restore him to the first resurrection there is none to free him from the bondage of Satan there is none to guide him in the way to Heaven there is none to replenish him with grace and sanctification there is none to rescue him from the spirituall enemies which doe besiege him In the absence of the Lord Jesus there is no redresse for soul-distresses no helpe against soul-discomforts the having of all things is as nothing if man have not Christ with them what if thou hast the stature and armour of Goliah yet without Christ thou wilt fall in the battell what if thou hast the favour and honour of Haman yet without Christ all this will availe thee nothing and at length shame will be thy portion what if thou hast the riches of him in the Parable yet not having Christ thou wilt eat the bread of sorrowes be in straights in the midst of thy sufficiency and at last the evill spirits will take thy soule from thee What if thou hast the wisdome of Achitophell yet not having Christ thy wisdome will be turned into foolishnesse and thou mayest faile of wisdome in thy head to restraine thy hands from being thine owne executioners What if thou hast all the Ordinances of God to feed thee all the Ministers of God to instruct thee all naturall and morall indowments and common illuminations to adorne thee and all Ecclesiasticall priviledges to honour thee and yet hast not Christ all these like Pharaohs Chariots without wheeles will suffer thee to sinke and perish in the red Sea of Gods vengeance the presence of all worldly abilities is very frivolous in Christs absence and man should never so abase and humble himselfe for the want of any thing as for the want of Christ and his communication of himselfe unto him all that can be said to demonstrate mans being miserable or to move man to humiliation is briefly comprehended in this that he is without Christ 3. Mans alienation from Christ in his naturall and corrupt estate doth discover and lay open the cause why Christ is of no more esteeme with the men of the world no more precious in the eyes of carnall men here is the ground of it they are without Christ they are strangers to Christ and Christ is a stranger unto them For this cause 1. They have no cleare and comfortable knowledge no true and gracious discerning of Christ Christ is hidden from them as light from the blinde He was in the world saith the Evangelist and the world was made by him and the world knew him not He was in the world by his great and mighty workes of Creation and Providence as a maker and a ruler by his universall presence
Christ as David did of Saul and Jonathan They were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their death they were not divided they were swifter then the Eagles they were stronger then Lyons No they take no pleasure in Christ in their lives and they are divided from Christ in their deaths the way of Christ is to them a way of thornes they move slowly in Christs service like Pharaohs Chariots without wheels the waters of Gods wrath overwhelming them at the last Christ is to them a rocke of offence and a stone of stumbling to beleevers he is an elect and precious stone for his great worth in himsâ—lfe the price they put upon him the enrichment they receive from him a living stone quickning them a stone of strength supporting them but to other men thorough their infidelity pride and profane refusall he is a stone of offence they have no delight in his Doctrine they are offended in him they guash their teeth at him they thinke dishonourably of him in his offices in his ordinances in his Ministers and in his attendants Under the Law if a man delighted not in his wife he gave her a bill of divorce The man under the Gospell that takes no delight in Christ divorceth himselfe from Christ observes not his Covenant with-draws himselfe from Christ puts no more price upon him hath no better esteeme of him then a hard hearted Israelite of his divorced wife Man doth ever evidence his high esteeme of Christ by his pleasure delight and joy in Christ He that doth not rejoyce in him puts a very unworthy price upon him 5. Men being without Christ have no longing after Christ it is the having of Christ in measure and in truth that breeds fervent and unfained longings after Christ no man more desires Christ then he that enjoyes most of Christ No man so contents himselfe without Christ as he that never savingly enjoyed any thing of Christ he that never knew what liberty was is well pleased with a servile estate he that never saw the Sun pleases himselfe in darknesse man that never discerned the beauty and brightnesse of the Son of Righteousnesse that never knew the liberty and comforts which Christ ministers pleaseth himself in his spirituall bondage applauds himselfe in his blindnesse and ignorance and saith with them in Job Depart from us we care not for the knowledge of thy wayes He doth not long after Christ as David after the waters of Bethell he doth not cry for Christ as Rachel did for children he thinkes like Esau in another case that he hath enough already he imagineth that he is rich and full and wants nothing the soul that is wholy estranged from Christ is farre from longing after Christ the Disciples did first eat of the bread which Christ gave them and then they cryed Lord give us evermore of this bread It is mans tast of Christ mans feeding upon Christ that makes him long after Christ The experience which the Spouse in Salomon had of the bridegroomes love moved her to intreat the kisses of his mouth Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better then wine Christians are first Passive and then Active in their love to Christ-ward love like the heat of the Sun first descends and then it ascends Christs love to us begets our love to him Christs love was first over the Spouse as a Banner and then she was sicke of love to him Lazarus lay fast in the grave the Earth was his bed his palace his resting place and all in all till Christ raysed him Man lyes fast in the grave of sin the world the Earth the things here below are his bed his palace his Paradise he minds nothing els till Christ doth quicken him The strange woman in Salomons Song marvelled what Christ the Churches Beloved was they mused why she should be sick of love toward him why she made such great inquiry after him Carnall men thinke Gods people besides themselves in being so earnest after Christ so zealous for Christ they marvell why they are so inquisitive in their hearings prayers fastings meditations and conferences after Christ Jesus they wonder what Christ is more then any other Beloved as gold silver honours pleasures having no love nor longings in themselves after Christ they muse at the love and longings of others and as they long not after him they put no price upon him shew no respect to him but set him with David behind the Ewes give him the least and lowest yea even no roome at all in their hearts Christ is of no esteem with man untill he comes within man and makes the soul of man his gracious habitation CHAP. V. Opening the folly of man in retaining his sinne and contenting himselfe without Christ. 4. THe meditation of mans estrangement from Christ in his naturall and corrupt estate opens the exceeding great folly of man in being loath to change his corrupt estate to put off the old man as unwilling to forsake his carnall condition as Micah his Idoll though this separate and keepe him from Christ make him uncapable of Christ exclude him from all claime and title to Christ and this is the folly of all follies to retaine any thing which may exclude man from Christ or hinder mans fruition and enjoyment of Christ he that by retaining his sin keeps himself from Christ abides in darknes and chooseth darknes rather then light sicknesse rather then health bondage rather then liberty famin rather than fulnes woes and miseries rather than joyes and comforts curses rather than blessings basenes rather than honour the leprosie rather then beauty what shall I say death rather than life hell rather than heaven and evelasting consortship with the Divell in endlesse burnings rather than communion with God and Christ in everlasting rejoycings Men are easily perswaded to leave sicknes for health darknes for light straw for pearls thraldome for liberty the tempest for a calme c. But men are uneasily perswaded to leave their sin for Christ to deny themselves and forsake the world for Christ as Elisha left his friends and his yoakes of Oxen to follow Elijah This is a perswasion beyond the Rhetorick Art and Eloquence of man and Angell yea of Christ himselfe as he was man and a Minister of the Gospell for thus may you here him in the dayes of his flesh expostulating and pleading with reproving and upbraiding the men of Jerusalem O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered you together even as a Hen doth gather her Chickens under her wings and you would not and again you may behold him weeping over that City and saying O that thou hadst known in this thy day the things belonging to thy peace but now they are hidden from thine eyes And of old also may you heare him complayning in the
mouth of the Prophet I have laboured in vaine I have spent my strength for nought and in vain None but God can perswade Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Shem. Such is mans aversenesse from Christ that God alone can worke man into Christ But perhaps some will say What is this to us We are all borne within the pale of Christs-Church we are all baptized into Christ we have all put on Christ therefore no such folly no such estrangement in us and our soules from Christ To this I answer It is one thing to be in Christ by an Ecclesiasticall Generation and birth within the Church Another thing to be in Christ by spirituall Regeneration and new-birth being borne againe of Christ it is one thing to be in Christ Sacramentally by participation of the outward ordinance and element another thing to be in Christ spiritually by participation of the inward grace it is one thing to be in Christ by an outward and formall profession another thing to be in Christ by an internall and gracious incorporation They are not all Israel which are of Israel neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children If you demand therefore how a man may discerne his being without Christ I answer a mans being out of Christ may among many be discerned by these Characters or marks therof 1. By being without the Spirit and Grace of Christ He that is without the light of the Sun is without the Sun If any man saith S. Paul have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his He is without Christ he that hath not the Spirit of Christ enlightning him savingly to know God as a childe his father with an affective knowledge regenerating and endowing him with a child-like affection to God and Christ reviving and quickning him to live to God and Christ Jesus in true holinesse incorporating him into Christ and making him partaker of Christs fullnesse Sanctifying and cleansing him from his sin as the water doth wash the spots from the flesh directing and guiding him to walke aright in the waies of God and to doe the things pleasing to God as the hand of the teacher guides the hand of the learner to write according to the copy He that hath not the Spirit thus working upon him thus framing and disposing his heart hath not Christ for he that is in Christ as a living member by spirituall union as a son by adoption he is a new creature old things are passed away and all things are become new When Christ came into the Temple he purged his Fathers house he overturned the mony-tables he drove out the buyers and the sellers When Christ cometh into man takes his holy habitation in the soule of man he throwes downe the holds of sinne he drives out all corrupt and carnall lusts he purgeth the heart of man and makes it a holy house when Naaman put himselfe into Jordan his Leprosie departed from him Man that is put into Christ by Faith is cleansed from the Leprosie of his sin Faith purifieth his heart and every man that hath this hope purifieth himselfe even as Christ is pure his thoughts of being in Christ Jesus who remaines under the power of prophanenesse are meere delusions Reigning ungodlinesse disanâ—ls all communion with Christ Jesus He that walks not in Christ is a stranger to Christ Where there is no expression of true and saving grace there is no evidence of being in Christ 2. By being in Subjection under any lust one raigning sin destroyes the life of the soule an evill Herbe made the Prophets pot a pot of death one ruling lust makes the soule the Subject of spirituall death the breach of one Covenant forfets the whole Lease allowance of the soule in the breach of one Commandement makes forfeture of whole Christ One Sheba blew the Trumpet and drew all Israel into Rebellion against David One ruling sin makes the whole man a Rebell against Christ One raigning sin so blinds the understanding that it cannot savingly discerne Christ as one moat so blinds the eye that it cannot comfortably behold the Sun one allowed sin so distempers the soule that it cannot receive any benefit by the ordinances of God as one strong disease so disaffecteth the body that it frustrates the use of the food One swaying corruption so alienates the heart that it cannot love Christ as one stranger in the bosome of the wife so takes up her affection that she cannot love the husband One person in the house so keepes the possession that another can take no possession One domineering sin so possesseth the soule that Christ hath no possession there One chain disables the prisoner to come forth and returne to his owne house One fettering and binding lust holds man fast in Satans prison and disables him to come to Christ though a woman have but one husband yet she cannot marry a second untill that husband is dead the soule married though but to one lust cannot marry it selfe to Christ untill that lust is mortified and dead One covetous lust in Judas one incestnous lust in Herod one ambitious lust in many of the chiefe Rulers one worldly lust in the young-man was of strength enough to with-hold each of them from Christ to continue them all without Christ mans thoughts of interest in Christ remaining under the power of any one lust are but vaine and idle dreames He that comes not universally from the world from himselfe and every sinfull lust never comes truly unto Christ Israel came not to Canaan untill they forsooke Aegypt renounced the service of Pharaoh saw the Aegyptians drowned in the waters and left not a hoofe in Aegypt behind them Man cometh not to Christ untill he forsakes the world renounceth the service of Satan drowns every lust in the tears of true Repentance and leaves not a hoof not one affection of his soule behind him under the jurisdiction and command of the world the love of the world is enmity with God the service of any sin is Rebellion against God 3. By mans terminating and confining himselfe within himselfe not going out of himselfe nor looking beyond himselfe to Christ but doing all things for himselfe and referring all unto himselfe That saith our Saviour which is of the flesh is flesh he that is altogether fleshly and hath nothing of Christ in him he is fleshly in his disposition in his affection in his intention in his undertaking hee minds himselfe and his owne fleshly ends and nothing els he cannot looke beyond himselfe his owne flesh is the circumference within which he moves and the Center wherin he terminates his motion Nothing in the course of Nature works beyond the Spheare of its owne activity a thorne beares not grapes a Sparrow begets not an Eagle the corrupt Tree brings forth corrupt fruit the waters move no higher in the cisterne then they are in
then all other deliverances a deliverance from Satan the worst of all Tyrants a deliverance from Hell of all prisons the most loathsome of all places of torment the most painefull a deliverance from sinne of all fetters the strongest of all burthens the heaviest of all spots the fowlest and of all diseases the most mortall and dangerous a deliverance from the curse of the Law of all condemning sentences the most terrible and full of soul-anguish a deliverance from death of all the Kings of terrour the most dreadfull all other deliverances are but slender shadowes and representations of this deliverance This is a deliverance restoring man to greater felicity then all the deliverances beside which God ever wrought for man a deliverance by which man is made a living member in Christs body a loyall Subiect in Christs Kingdome a spirituall Free-man of the new Ierusalem a childe of God by Adoption the Spouse of Christ by holy wedlocke a glorious Conquerour over all the enemies of his salvation and an heire to a heavenly and incorruptible Kingdome Mans deliverance out of the estate of corruption comprehends matter and cause of all joy and thanksgiving Looke therefore every gracious and sanctified soule upon this blessed worke of Gods power love and mercy and say with the Psalmist Blesse the Lord O my soule and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies The woman of Shunom receiving her dead sonne restored unto life fell downe at the Prophets feet and bowed her selfe unto the ground Thus receiving thy soule that was dead in sinne restored to the life of grace fall thou downe at the feet of Christ adore and worship him laude and magnifie him prostitute thy selfe and all that is thine by way of gratitude under him The blinde man whose eyes Christ opened beleeved and worshipped him Christ having opened the eyes of thy understanding to know the hope of thy calling the riches of Christ inheritance and the exceeding greatnesse of his power towards thy soule beleeve thou in Christ embrace him cast thy selfe on him have thy whole dependance upon him and worship him by an honourable apprehension of his perfections a sincere and fervent love unto his person a humble submission to his precepts and thankfull celebration of his great and glorious Name for all his mercies The lame mans feet and ankle bones receiving strength he leaped up stood and walked and entred into the Temple walking leaping and praising God Christ having healed thy affections having strengthened thee with all spirituall might rise up from the earth walke in the wayes of holinesse enter into the Temple attend Christ in his Ordinances let thy soule rejoyce in Christ and praise him for thy spirituall abilities Naaman being cleansed from his leprosie returned unto the Prophet and intreated him to take a blessing from him Christ having cleansed thee from the leprosie of thy sinne returne to Christ and render to him the blessing of spirituall and hearty thanksgiving The woman in the Gospell who had a spirit of infirmity bowing her downe being made straight glorified God Christ having raised and rectified thy heart which was altogether bowed downe to the world and the things here below Christ having inabled thee to looke up to seeke the things which are above to mind God to love his truth to hunger and thirst after the gifts and graces of his Spirit glorifie Christ for this his gracious worke The Israelites seeing the Egyptians drowned and themselves delivered from their servitude sang and triumphed Man seeing his sinnes drowned in the teares of godly sorrow and buried in the grave of Christ his soule set free by Christ from the servitude of Satan the world and his owne corruption should sing and triumph in Christ and say the Lord hath triumphed gloriously the horse and the rider Satan and my corruption hath he throwne downe together The Lord having of barren made Hanna fruitfull she said my heart reioyceth in the Lord my horne is exalted in the Lord my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies because I reioyce in thy salvation Christ having opened our hearts and of barren made our soules fruitfull in all heavenly graces our hearts should rejoyce in Christ our mouthes should be enlarged with his praises and our soules should rejoyce in that salvation which Christ hath brought unto us Man hath not greater cause of thanksgiving for any thing then for his Sanctification this worke of Christ makes him a living man puts such a life into him that the second death shall never have power over him This makes him an honourable man one of the royall seed a King and Priest to God This makes him a beautifull and comely man as the Lilly among the thornes as the Sunne Moone and Morning among the clouds This makes him a victorious man a superabundant conquerour over all temptations and afflictions This makes him a rich man the least mite of this grace is better then all the abundance of the earth as the gleanings of Ephraim were better then the vintage of Abiezer This makes him a ioyfull man regeneration is the matter and ground of the soules fullest surest and sweetest rejoycing The Kingdome of God the worke of grace the spirituall reigne of Christ in the heart is righteousnesse peace and ioy in the Holy-Ghost Therfore praise Christ for this above all his favours as Theodosius gave God greater thanks that he had made him a member of the Church then head of the Empire warme thy heart therefore with the frequent and serious thoughts of this worke of Christ and praise him for this as for the brightest Starre shining in the Firmament of thy soule as for the most rich and orient pearle in the store-house of thy heart as for the most beautifull and comely slower adorning the garden of thy inner-man O praise him for this as for the sweetest freedome the noblest crowne the choisest workmanship and liveliest evidence of his love communicable to the soule of man As this is the best and most soule-reviving influence of Christ into the heart of man so for this pursue and follow Christ Jesus with free and frequent cordiall and joyous gracious and everlasting praises for without this we are strangers to Christ to the number of his faithfull servants to all the Prerogatives and priviledges which God ministers to his children even aliens to the common-wealth of Israel CHAP. VIII Shewing how all Gods people are but one THe second Alienation expressing the misery of men in their corrupt and carnall estate an Alienation from the Common-wealth of Israel Israel were once the peculiar people of God set apart by a holy Covenant unto God to be his people above all the people of the
other people have besides them 7. In respect of unity A common-wealth consisting of many particular persons makes but one politicke body All true beleevers are but one mysticall body in Christ therefore the Church is called One. My beloved saith Christ is one and there is one body and one spirit saith the Apostle one Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and Father of us all The Church is of one Lord by one Baptisme into one mysticall body under one head ruled by one spirit bound with one bond of hope and love professing one faith and called with one Calling to one heavenly Kingdome built upon the foundation of one Doctrine As one soule doth quicken the many members of the body so the Spirit doth animate and enliven the whole Church As in one Pomegranate there are many kernels within one rinde so doth one Church containe innumerable people through the unity of faith having one Father regenerating them one spirit enlivening them one light guiding them one spirituall food nourishing them one Law binding them and one Head ruling the in they are most sweetly and entirely one among themselves CHAP. IX Perswading Subiection under one Head Submission to one Law and unity between our selves THe Church and faithfull people of Christ must learne from hence Subjection under one Head Submission under one Law and unity between themselves 1. Subiection under one Head Christ To Christ is all power given both in Heaven and in Earth and to him must all be Subject His dominion is from sea to sea an I from the river to the ends of the earth all Kings must fall downe before him and all Nations must serve him To him the Church must be subject spiritually their obedience must arise from a principle of grace they must worship him in spirit and in truth To him they must be subject heartily not in shew but in truth obeying from the heart root that forme of Doctrine which Christ hath delivered to them To him they must be subject voluntarily without compulsion they must be a willing people his Law must be in their hearts and they must delight to doe his will To him they must subject themselves universally in respect of the rule they must have respect unto all the Commandements as Noah in building the Arke had an eye to the whole patterne which was set before him and in respect of the whole man all the faculties of the soule and all the members of the body must be obedient to him as the Sun Moone and eleven Starres did obeysance to Joseph in his vision Christ must be glorified both in our body and in our spirit To Christ we must be constantly subject our hearts must be inclined to performe his statutes alway even unto the end Christ is the Head and we the members Christ is the shepheard and we the slocke Christ is the husband and we the Spouse and as all the members are fully subject to the head the slocke readily follows the voice of the shepheard and the Spouse is lovingly subject to the Bridegroome so must we be fully freely and lovingly obedient unto Christ 2. This teacheth Submission unto one Law The Church is one mysticall common-wealth and must be subject unto one Law of Christ All that builded the Arke built by one patterne The whole Church of Christ hath one patterne according to which they must build their faith and their love even the whole Fabricke of their worship and service The ship hath one compasse by which it roweth and one Pilate by which it is guided The Church is the ship the Word the Compasse and Christ the Pilate by Christ and his Word must the whole Church of God be ordered and ruled The Word of God is a sure word to which we must give heed as to a light that shineth in a darke place The Law of the Lord is perfect it needs no addition as the Sun needs not the help of any candle to increase his light in shining on them that travell The Scriptures are a compleate and perfect Schoole profitable for Doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works God gave Moses a perfect patterne for the building of the Tabernacle without addition or dimunution Gods word is a perfect patterne comprising the whole frame of mans conversation It is Gods prerogative to prescribe and mans duty to conforme Ye shall not adde unto the word Which I command you saith the Lord neither shall you diminish ought from it that you may keep the Commandements of the Lord your God which I command All other Doctrines are darknesse and not light they cannot guide us they are false plants of mans and not of Gods planting they beare no good fruit to feed us and God the great Husbandman of the vineyard will plucke them up they are sand he that builds upon them sinks they corrupt and adulterate the Doctrine and Religion of Christ as the tares the wheate as the evill herbe the Prophets pot Mans service is no service of Christ if it receive not it's rule from Christ in vaine saith Christ doe ye worship me teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men He that mingles humane devices with his religious duties makes it a humane and no divine service As the Elements once mingled in a compound body doe lose their proper formes so Religions mingled with humane traditions and made compounding parts of a mixed worship and service doe lose their formes and cease to be religious in Gods account As silver mingled with brasse doth lose the nature and name of silver and currant coyne and will not passe with men the touchstone discovers it and the skilfull Goldsmith rejects it Thus the worship of God mixed with the dresse of mans invention loseth both the name and nature of true worship The word discovers it to be counterfeit and God doth not regard it nor the performers of it Of such therefore the Prophet saith reprobate silver shall men call them because the Lord hath reiected them This alienates from Christ it divides the heart and places the feare trust love and joy of the soule upon some forraine thing some Idoll of mans devising A woman that embrace a stranger with her husband in her bosome and mingles strangers with her husband is no more a chaste and loving wife her heart is divided and she is become an adulteresse The mingling of forraine inventions with Christs precepts in his services is in Gods interpretation spirituall fornication their hearts are gone from Christ their husband they are taken up with strange lovers To this purpose is that of the Prophet Esay the faithfull City is become an harlot and what other but this was Judah's whoredome for which the Lord upbraideth her by the Prophet saying thou hast played the harlot with many Lovers thou hast embraced many forreigne doctrines thou hast
them his love and all the comforts of his Spirit but to prophane men Christ is as a sealed fountaine of whom they drinke not a hidden Manna of whom they taste not he that is an alien to the Church is without the protection and salvation of Christ they that were without the Arke had no safety from the waters and surely they that are without the Church I meane without that faith holinesse love and gracious communion which is proper to Gods children are without salvation And this is the misery of carnall men living in the Church and not living the life of them that are the true Church of Christ indeed and such men indeed are a great dishonour to the Church as spots in the face spots and blemishes as Saint Peter termes them a burthen to the Church as dead members to the body a trouble to the Church as Ionah to the ship raising the stormy tempest of Gods wrath against it and therefore should be wiped away cut off and cast out by the censures of the Church not for everlasting condemnation but for their humiliation and reformation for the destruction of the flesh that their spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus according to the Apostles rule This opens the impossibility of the salvation of corrupt and carnall men as such and as long as they continue such for being such they are aliens to the Church of Christ to the spirituall common-wealth of Christs Israel As all that were out of the Arke perished in the deluge of waters so all that are out of the Church not living members of this common-wealth doe perish in the deluge of Gods wrath Such as are by the power of their prophanenesse alienated from the Church of Christ the company of them that are effectually called and sanctified they are 1. Without God He that hath not the Church for his Mother hath not God for his Father he that is not of the new Jerusalem whom the Apostle termes the Mother of us all for her bringing forth children spiritually unto God he that is not of her is not of God he that is not a childe in this spirituall and heavenly family is not borne of God therefore the Apostle saith of them that are the true members of this Church Ye are no more strangers and forrainers but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God 2. He that is by his prophanenesse an alien to the Church of Christ is an alien to Christ he that is an alien to the common-wealth is an alien to the King he that is not one of Christs flocke cannot have Christ for his Shepheard and without Christ there is no salvation 3. He that is an alien to the Church of Christ is estranged from regeneration renovation illumination sanctification remission donation of the Spirit and the promise of the eternall inheritance Effects and fruits of the Word and Spirit in them that are effectually called properties and prerogatives belonging onely to Christs holy and gracious people and without these there is no salvation These saith Chemnitius God the Word Faith the Church salvation and life eternall are very intimously knit and ioyned together and accordingly the Apostle there is one Body and one Spirit one Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all To him therefore that is not of this sacred company and Church of Christ the Spirit is no Sanctifier Christ no Redeemer God no Father Baptisme no Seale and Faith no Instrument of Justification and therefore unlesse man be of this sacred company there is no salvation they that leap out of the ship into the Sea perish they that forsake the ship of Christs Church and hold not communion by faith and love with Gods Saints perish in the Sea of this world all the Citizens of Iericho who were out of Rahabs house perished with fire and the sword All that are out of Gods house or to speake in the Apostles words who are not built up a spirituall house to God are liable to the fire and sword of Gods wrath CHAP. XIV Discovering the vanity of carnall mans applauding and pleasing himselfe with being borne within the Church HEre may we likewise see how vaine nay how dangerous it is for man to applaud and please himselfe in being borne within the pale of the Church and having the externall use of Gods Ordinances continuing under the power of sinfull lusts because remaining under the command and power of sinne he is an alien to the Church even whiles he lives within the Church blesse not therefore your selves in this build not your salvation upon such sandy ground There was in Abrahams house a childe of the bond-woman as well as of the free they are not all children saith Saint Paul because they are Abrahams seed There are within the house of the visible Church children of Hagar as well as of Sarah they who are the bondmen of corruption as well as they who are the Lords free-men Mans outward participation of Gods Ordinances is no assured evidence of his inward participation of Christ Jesus The hearts of Ezekiels hearers went after their covetousnesse Herod lived in incest when he attended the ministery of the Baptist the Sadduces were a very generation of vipers when they came to the Baptisme of Iohn the very City of Jerusalem even whiles it had the glorious name and title of Gods Church was become an harlot her silver was become drosse and her wine mixt with water It is an easier thing to wait on Gods Ordinances then it is to lay aside our corruptions Mens outward profession is not alwayes seconded with a spirituall change and reformation Iether had a sword but he had no strength no courage to draw it to slay Zeba and Zalmunna with it Many have the Word and Sacrament the Oracles of God the Sword of the Spirit but they have no heart to use them they doe not apply them to the mortification of their corruptions It is not the having but the gracious working of the word of God which proves a man to be the childe of God The lame man lay many yeares at Bethesda his lameship not cured many live many yeares within the pale of the Church under the powerfull ministery of the word and yet no spirituall cure wrought upon their soules the disease of sinne still continues and increases upon them Doe not therefore boast and glory that you are the children of the Church as the Pharisees sometimes boasted that they were the children of Abraham for as Christ said to them if you were the children of Abraham you would doe the workes of Abraham Thus if you were the genuine and naturall children of the Church you would doe the works of them that are the Church and children of God and be assured of this though
him to love and rejoyce in him in their tongues to speake of him and plead for him in their hands to work that which is good and honourable unto God and in all their abilities therewith to honour him prostrating all under the feet of God referring and using all to the glory of God living and dying as the Apostle saith unto the Lord living as Gods servants framing the whole way and order of their life according to Gods prescription referring their whole life to the glory of God and resting in all the labours and troubles of their life upon God with a firme confidence being assured that God takes care for them and dying as Gods peculiar people patiently submitting to the hand of God in the time of their dissolution firmly depending upon God in the houre of their change heartily desiring that God may be glorified by their death and resting fully assured that their temporall death shall be an entrance into eternall life he who thus fully applies himself to God may assure himself of his being in covenant with God 3. By mans participation of the spirituall and heavenly benefits which the covenant comprehendeth as 1. The donation of the Spirit it is the Lords promise to powre out his Spirit upon all flesh to put his Spirit within us and to cause us to walke in his wayes so that he who is within the Covenant of God hath the Spirit of God quickning and enlivening him as the soule doth enliven the body enlightning and teaching him guiding and leading him into the cleare and comfortable knowledge of all truth as the guide leades the Traveller into the knowledge of the way wherein he is to walke regenerating and renewing him sanctifying and cleansing him as the water doth the flesh and the fire the mettall revealing Christ in him and making Christ appeare very glorious and amiable in his apprehension as the most glorious Sun the choysest pearle and most renowned Prince even the fairest of ten thousand making the soule full of longings after him and sick of love towards him uniting and joyning him unto Christ as the branch to the vine as a member to the head to be enlivened by Christ and to participate of all the benefits which flow from Christ ruling and guiding him as a Pilot his Ship framing and working his heart to an universall holy and humble submission to the will of God as the hand of the learner is guided by the teacher to write according to the whole copy set before him To him that is within the Covenant the Spirit of God is a Spirit of life mortifying the old and quickning the new man Water washing refreshing and making his soule spiritually fruitfull Fire purging and consuming his remaining lusts and making his heart to burne with love to God and man oyle of gladnesse filling his soule with spirituall alacrity and cheerfulnesse and a seale and earnest penny assuring him of his future blisse and peace in Heaven and this communication of the Spirit is an undoubted pledge of mans being within the Covenant 2. A second benefit comprised under the Covenant is Communion with the Saints all that are within the Covenant have a mutuall sweet and gracious fellowship with God and among themselves That which we have seen and heard saith S. John declare we unto you that you may have fellowship with us and that our fellowship may be with the Father and his Sonne Jesus Christ He that is within the Covenant hath communion with God the Father by adoption as a childe with the Parent by participation receiving of the Fathers fulnesse and bearing his Image by holy walking having his conversation in Heaven walking with God as Enoch and Noah did by invocation as a Petitioner with the King being a daily earnest suter to the throne of grace by Faith living and walking by faith and not by sight and also by Love God dwelling in love as the Apostle speakes Hee that is within the Covenant hath communion with Christ by participation of Christ and his benefits by dwelling in Christ and Christ in him being joyned with Christ in a spirituall wedlocke Christ assuming him into his grace and making him a member of his body bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh as S. Paul speakes expressing their neare union and sweet communion with Christ who are within the covenant of God He that is within this covenant hath also communion with the Holy Ghost the Spirit of God dwelling in him regenerating and renewing him witnessing his adoption helping his infirmity sealing up the pardon of his sin and restoring him to more spirituall liberty and freedome and hee hath likewise communion with all the Saints and faithfull Servants of the Lord being partakers of one Spirit living members under one Head having the same love being of one mind and of one accord their prayers meeting mutually each for other at one and the same throne of grace all building by one rule all travelling by one light all acting and moving by one Spirit all feeding upon one word all fighting under one Banner all running one race and all serving one Prince of peace they have fervent love one to another singular delight each in other and a very sweet and gracious communion one with another and this holy and joyfull communion with the Saints of God abundantly argues mans being within the Covenant of God 3. A third benefit comprised under the Covenant is Regeneration the sanctifying and restoring our corrupt nature to the image of God a worke of God in all that are within the Covenant a parcell of Gods promise to put his law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts to make a sutablenesse betweene them and his Law to worke such holines in their hearts as should in some good proportion answer that holinesse which the Law prescribeth and this is requisite to mans being within the Covenant because without this he cannot know God he cannot be the friend of God hee cannot please God nor have any communion with God he that is farre from holinesse is farre from interest in Gods Promise The captive woman under the Law had her apparell changed before an Israelitish Souldier could assume her into a covenant of wedlock man under the Gospell must put off the old-man and put on the new ere he can have interest in Gods Covenant the more fully freely and constantly man conformes himselfe to Gods precepts the surer is his evidence of title to Gods promise He whose obedience to the Law of God is voluntary without compulsion cordiall without dissimulation universall without the allowance of any evill humble without all ostentation cheerfull free from all repining sincere without any by or sinister intention and constant without back-sliding may rest assured of being received into Gods Covenant 4. A fourth benefit comprised under the Covenant by which man may discerne his being within the Covenant is
spirituall liberty and freedome a liberty of grace whereby the whole man is set free from the command and servitude of all sin the understanding is free from ignorance able to know God as a Father with a cleare and comfortable submissive and affective knowledge the will is free from perversenesse able readily and freely fully and sincerely to intend God and his glory the imagination is free from vanity able with much joy to meditate and thinke upon God the affections are free from base feare carnall confidence worldly love and fleshly joy able to scare God filially to trust on God soly to love God unfainedly and to rejoyce in God spiritually the whole man bent and disposed to run the way of Gods commandements as the Sun rejoyceth to run his race and as the Rivers flow towards the Sea this the Psalmist cals an inlargement of the heart to run the way of Gods Commandements and this he mentions as a fruit of the inscription of the Law in his heart Thy Law ô Lord saith he is in my heart and I delight to doe thy will Mans assurance of being within Gods Covenant is sutable to his free and ready disposition in observing Gods precept 5. A fift benefit comprised under the Covenant ministring assurance of mans interest in it is perseverance in the state of grace daily growth in the gifts of the Spirit and a stedfast striving to more perfection I will make an everlasting Covenant with them saith God and I will put my feare in their hearts that they shall not depart from me they shall not depart from the knowledge of my truth to errour from the faith of my promises to infidelity from the wayes of my Commandements to by and wandring paths from the love of me and my testimonies to the love of earthly vanities God ever preserves in the state of grace whom he receives into the Covenant of grace he that is in covenant with God abides with God as the wife with the husband he follows the Lord fully with Caleb he is with God in every estate in all changes as Ittai resolved to be with David both in life and in death the longer he is in Gods Covenant the more beauty he discernes in God the more sweetnesse he finds in the Word of God the more pleasure he takes in the service of God the more comfortable communion he gaines with God and the more plentifull and soule-ravishing receivings of grace love and peace he hath from God and therefore shines more and more like the light unto the perfect day growes stronger and stronger like the house of David He waits upon the Lord and renewes his strength he mounts up as the Eagles hee runnes and is not weary hee walkes on and doth not faint he goes from strength to strength untill he doth appeare before the Lord in Zion The carnall mans estrangement from the Covenant and his misery in being out of the Covenant ministers matter and occasion of labour and industry to every man to get into the Covenant to be partaker of it and to have assured interest in the benefits flowing from it as Noah entred into the Arke to be preserved from the deluge of waters so should wee enter into the Covenant of God that we may be preserved from the deluge of those miseries which attend and wait upon the breach of Gods precepts The men of Aegypt hearing of the fall of a grievous haile such as would destroy both man and beast Hee that feared the word of the Lord amongst them made his servants and his cattell flee into the house Men hearing of the hayle fire brimstone and horrible tempest which God will raine downe upon the wicked should hasten into this Covenant have sure interest in Gods free and gracious Promise that they may be hid from the Lords wrath And to the end we may have part in Gods Covenant 1. We must forsake our sinnes there must be warre against sin or there can be no peace with God Moses might not come nigh the burning bush untill hee had put off his shoes from his feet Because the ground where hee stood was holy ground Man cannot come nigh God enter into covenant with God unlesse the old-man his old lusts be put off because the Covenant of God is a holy Covenant a Covenant belonging onely to the godly Godlinesse having the promise of this life and of the life to come Joseph shaved himselfe and changed his raiment and then he came to Pharaoh and Pharaoh tooke him to himselfe and made many honourable Promises to him man must shave himself remove the ignorance and errour of his understanding and change his raiment Put off the old-man which is corrupt according to divers lusts and put on the new man which is renewed in holinesse and true righteousnesse according to Gods image and then come nigh tâ—ed and partake of all Gods gracious promises according to that of the Lord by the Prophet wash you make you cleane put away the evill of your wayes cease to doe evill learne to doe well and then come ye and we will reckon together and though your sinnes were as red as scarlet yet will I make you white as snow I will deale mercifully with you be reconciled to you forgive your sinnes and receive you into my Covenant of peace The more the soule is emptied of sin the more capable it is of Gods Covenant the more assured of interest in it Hee that holds fast his sinne cannot lay hold upon the Covenant of God hee that gives not a bill of divorce to his lusts is uncapable of weddlocke with Christ 2. We must forsake our selves we must deny our selves cease from our owne wisdome as from a blind guide from our owne strength as from a withered reed from our owne righteousnesse as from a rotten ragg and from our owne ends as from low and base marks Thus must wee deny our selves or we can be no Disciples of Christ no partakers of the mercies of God in him Such as entered into Covenant with David were in debt in distresse and discontent He that will enter into Covenant with God must see his debt bee sensible of his sinne feele the distresse and anguish of his soule and be very much discontented with his corrupt and carnall estate God communicates his mercies to them that are sensible of their miseries the Lord loves them that are out of love with themselves he esteemes them that loath their own wayes whom doth Christ invite and call but the heavy laden Such as are sensible and weary of their sins as of a heavy burthen to whom is Christ sent with tydings of comfort but to the broken hearted When Ephraim repented smote upon his thigh and was confounded then the Lord remembered him then he was deare and pleasant to him then hee said I will surely have mercy upon him then he proposed and set before him the Covenant of Salvation in Christ
the word of God they were without God as Israel being without a preaching Priest and without Law is said to have been without the true God He that is without the word is also without God 2. They were without the knowledge of God as the blinde is without the Sun they walked in the vanity of their minde having their understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them 3. They had false opinions of God their apprehensions of God were corrupt and carnall that which they apprehended was not the true God but an Idoll their foolish heart was darkened and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible man And as an Idoll is nothing of no divine power and vertue so the Apostle reputeth their opinions and adorations of God as nothing and saith they were without God Not God but an Idoll is the object of superstitious odoration 4. They knew not beleeved not loved not adored not God in Christ God is no where rightly and truly knowne and served but in Christ whatsoever is adored out of Christ is an Idoll and not God He that is without Christ is without God no man comes to God that makes not Christ the way no man knowes God that beholds him not in the face of Christ He that denyes the Sonne hath not the Father saith Saint John And thus they were without God in the world and hence observe That Man in his corrupt and carnall estate is altogether estranged from God he hath nothing of God within him God doth not shine into his heart God lives not graciously in his soule God works not powerfully and savingly upon him He hath no spirituall commerce and communion with God he is estranged from the thought of God God saith the Psalmist is not in all his thoughts he thinks not upon God as upon the Creator that formed him as upon the rocke that supporteth him as upon the King commanding him as upon the Moderator dispensing and ordering him and all things else as upon the Judge rendring to every man according to his works but all his thoughts are that there is no God no God beholding observing registring and judging the wayes and works of man The soule of every carnall man is overwhelmed with Atheisme running headlong into all impiety as if there were no God to punish him he is alienated from the feare of God he is full of dishonourable low and unworthy apprehensions of God ready to say with Pharaoh Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice I know not the Lord. He thought the God of Israel inferiour to the Idols of Egypt he was so puffed up with his worldly fulnesse that he thought himselfe sufficient of himselfe without God Corrupt and carnall man through his ignorance pride and prophanenesse hath a very base opinion of God and most shamefully sleights and undervalues God He sets his mouth against the Heavens he speaks reproachfully against the Law and Doctrine of God delivered from Heaven against the authority and dominion of God whose Throne is in Heaven against the Saints and faithfull servants of God whose spirituall originall is from Heaven against Gods worship and Religion which is of a heavenly institution Of all this he speaks basely and presumptuously this he treads and tramples under feet and inthrals it to his proud and sinfull lust he is alienated from the knowledge and beliefe of God either he hath an opinion that there is no God as the foole in the Psalmist hath said in his heart there is no God The foole the man in whom the light of grace shineth not in the lamp of whose soule the oyle of saving knowledge burneth not he hath said in his heart resolved and concluded with himselfe that there is no God of wisedome discerning the wayes of men no God of Justice taking vengeance upon men for their impieties Or if he thinke there is a God he beleeves not that he is such a God as indeed he is so glorious in his Essence in his Attributes in his Persons and in his works so holy in his wayes so faithfull in his promises so gracious to his servants and so severe against his enemies and therefore such men say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes what is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit shall we have if we pray unto him God the chiefest good is of no esteeme with them that are empty of all spirituall good Holy and religious services are in their opinion the most frivolous and fruitlesse undertaking who are altogether corrupt and carnall Mans prophane and base sleighting and undervaluing of God and the wayes worship and service of God openly proclaime mans miserable and cursed ignorance of God mans unhappy and sinfull Alienation and estrangement from God Carnall mans wretched and soule-destroying estrangement from God is moreover manifest described in such characters that he that runs may reade it As 1. By carnall mans enmity and opposition against God and his contrariety to God as contrary as death to life darkenesse to light evill to good bitter to sweet The carnall minde saith Saint Paul is enmity against God opposing God sighting against God It is not subiect to the Law of God neither indeed can be It breakes the bands and casts away the cords of Gods Law as Sampson sometimes burst his withes as the man in the Gospell possessed with an uncleane spirit plucked in sunder the chaines and breake in peeces the fetters which tyed him neither could any man tame him Thus the carnall man possessed by Satan and his owne uncleane and prophane spirit breaks all the chaines and fetters of Gods Law no Minister no friend no counsell no perswasion no comination can tame him and make him humble and subject to the Law of God but he rebelleth against the light he shutteth his eyes and will not see he stoppeth his eares and will not heare and is altogether contrary unto God God is light but he is darknesse God is holy perfectly absolutely infinitely holy but he is corrupt and altogether filthy God is good the fountaine of all goodnesse but he is evill a root of bitternesse all the thoughts and imaginations of his heart are only and altogether evill God is a God of knowledge perfectly knowing himselfe and all things else but carnall man neither knowes God nor himselfe God is a God of love he loves himselfe and them that beare his Image but the carnall man hates God and all them that are like God he loves evill and hates good God is a God of truth a true and faithfull God the carnall man is full of hypocrisie and deceit his heart is deceitfull above measure God delighteth himselfe he taketh pleasure in them that feare him he delighteth in them that are upright in the way To the
carnall man the thought of God is terrible he taketh pleasure in unrighteousnes and delighteth in the frowardnes of the wicked and thus his contrariety to God proclaims his alienation from God 2. By carnall mans estrangement from the life of God alienated as Paul saith from the life of God without the life of grace God lives not in him by his Spirit regenerating and quickning him The body alienated from the soule without the soule living in it is dead unprofitable unsavoury an uncomfortable spectacle Man alienated from the life of God is dead in sinne unprofitable to God to his Church to his owne soule unsensible of his sinne uncapable of the word unsavoury and abominable in the nostrils of God a very monster in the eyes of God more ugly then any leper toad or lothsome creature the dead body is earthy inclining to the earth fit only for the grave The carnall man is earthly minded inclining onely to things here below and is ready to be cast into the grave of Hell fit for an infernall funerall with the damned in outer darkenesse He that wants the life of grace is far from the God of grace whosoever is not spiritually quickened by God is miserably estranged from God 3. By the carnall mans estrangement from the knowledge of God Of such the Psalmist saith they have no knowledge no knowledge of God as a Father of Christ as a Husband of the Spirit as a Sanctifier and comforter of the word as of a light guiding and food feeding and nourishing them to life eternall they have no spirituall knowledge no principle of spirituall light to perceive the things of God which are spiritually discerned no experimentall knowledge of Gods worke upon their souls in the vivification illumination sanctification and gracious change of their hearts no affective knowledge they know not God as a child knows his father as a wife knows her husband with fervent love hearty affection no submissive knowledge they know not God as a Subject his Soveraigne a souldier his Centurion yeelding hearty free cheerfull obedience unto him no appretiative knowledge they know not God as the rich man knowes his jewell esteeming it farre above all his straw and common lumber in his house as the people knew David accounting him better then many thousands of themselves they doe not prize God above the creature and themselves they doe not repute all base and vile as nothing in respect of God no appropriative knowledge they know not God as the wife the husband selecting and taking God unto themselves and making him their God as the wife doth the husband they take not God unto them as their King Crowne portion and as all in all to their soules no consolative and delightfull knowledge they know not God as the 〈◊〉 the Sun rejoycing in the light of the Sun they delight â—n God their soules take not up their sweet repose in the botome of God the meditation of God is not sweet unto them no satiative knowledge they know not God as the thirsty the full fountaine they are not filled with God they meet not with contentation in God their desires are not terminated in God and satisfied with God they know not Gods All-sufficiency they take not up their full and eternall rest with God they are still stepping out from God with Judas they are not content with Christ but they must have the bag too and as the blinde is a stranger to the Sun so is the blinde soule a stranger to God 3. By the carnall mans estrangement from the love of God he is a stranger to the love of God Passively it is a Sun with whose beames his soule was never warmed a wine which his palate never tasted a banner under which he was never covered God never communicated the sweet sence and feeling of his love unto him none but the Bride hath the sence of the Bridegroomes love he is a stranger to the love of God actively he is a stranger to the love of union with God he declines not the things which separate from God he delights not in the meanes which unite the soule to God he desires not spirituall conjunction and communion with the Church and people of God he grieves not at the absence of the efficacy of the Spirit he longs not after the full fruition of the blessed and gracious presence of God he is a stranger to the love of Complacency in God he neither abhorres the things which are adverse to the will of God nor highly prizeth the Society of the Saints of God nor is sensible of that joy and sweetnesse which is found in the exercises of godlinesse nor knowes that delight which a gracious soule meets with by holy walking and maintaining a sweet communion with God he is not comforted and well-pleased in and with God as the eye with the Sun and the thirsty pallate with the cleare and full fountaine but hath more pleasure in the creature then in the Creator he is also a stranger to the love of benevolence and welwishing towards God having no zeale for Gods glory nor yeelding any filiall and sincere obedience to Gods precepts Whatsoever be the pretences of a carnall mans loveâ— God he loves himselfe more then God his love is the lovâ— harlots whose love is more to strangers then to their husbands Want of free full and fervent love to God ever argues an unhappy estrangement from God 4. By the carnall mans estrangement from the spirituall soule-sanctifying and soule-saving ministrations of God The carnall man is an empty house there is nothing of God dwelling there he is a Tree twice dead and plucked up by the roots there is no ministration of spirituall life Christ doth not live in him he sits in darknesse and the shadow of death the God of this world hath blinded the eyes of his understanding as the Philistines put out the eyes of Sampson there is no ministration of spirituall and saving knowledge God hath not shined into his heart he hath not the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ he lyes in the prison of the prince of darknesse like Peter in Herods prison his lusts fettering him Satan on his right hand the world on his left hand like two strong and vigilant souldiers keeping him There is no ministration of spirituall freedome he is led captive by sin the Devill and the world he is full of sinne as Naamans flesh of leprosie there is no ministration of grace and sanctification God hath not powred out his Spirit like cleane water upon him he is like the troubled Sea which cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and durt his conscience accusing his heart condemning him there is no ministration of spirituall peace no seale of the pardon of sinne no attonement between God and his soule where there is no light the Sun appeares not where there is no ministration of grace God dwels
Note 4. The Lord Jesus ought to be the prime and compleate Obiect of mans ioyfulnesse ib. Note 5. Blessed is that person that knoweth the way and manner of Christs spirituall and gracious comming p. 6. CHAP. II. Declaring the ioyfull receiving of Christ p. 6. Doct. Christ comming in his Gospell and spirituall Kingdome ought to be received with much thanksgiving and reioycing ib. 5. Grounds hereof p. 9. 1. Cleare and comfortable Revelation of God in Christ 2. Spirituall Liberty by Christs comming 3. Heavenly Victory 4. Spirituall peace 5. Soule-refreshing Communion with God obtained by Christs comming p. 9 10 11 12 13 14. CHAP. III. Relating their miserable Condition to whom Christ is unwelcome p. 15. 5. Grounds of Christs unwelcomnesse 1. Ignorance 2 Earthly mindednesse 3. Vnsensiblenesse 4. Contrariety to Christ 5. Infidelity p. 18 19 20. CHAP. IV. Perswading to a ioyfull entertainment of Christ p. 22. Manner how Christ must be entertained 1. Spiritually 2. Speedily 3. Cordially 4 Cheerfully 5. Humbly 6. Chiefly 7. Fully 8. perpetually p. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30. CHAP. V. Prescribing meanes disposing and inabling man to receive Christ ioyfully p. 31. The meanes 1. Full deposition of what is contrary to Christ as sin the world our selfe 2. Holy preparation to heare Christ in the Gospell 3. Gracious interest in Christ 4. Cleare discernement of Christs worth 5. Holy making use of Christ in the Gospell 6. Heavenly sence and experience of Christs worke upon our soules p. 34 to 39. CHAP. VI. Inducements to a ioyfull entertainment of Christ p. 39 6. Inducements 1. The Condition of the Creature without Christ being empty uncomfortable inthralling and polluting 2. A through view of mans estate without Christ 3. The terrible apprehension of God without Christ 4. Frustration of all Gods Ordinances Christ not entertained 5. Excellency and utility of Christ received giving life light health honour riches prosperity sweetnesse comfort satisfaction and abiding substance 6. Fastening thoughts on brevity of life p. 39. to 51. CHAP. VII Manifestations of Christs welcome p. 52. Christs welcome manifested 1. By opening the heart to him 2. By garnishing the heart for him 3. By offering our selves to Christ 4. By exalting Christ 5. By faith and love to Christ conformity with Christ and acquiescence in Christ p. 52 53. Want of ioyfull receiving of Christ shewes want 1. of knowledge 2. Of Love 3. Of Faith 4. Of prizing Christ 5. Of relishing Christ p. 54 55 56. Joy in Christs comming perswaded p. 57. CHAP. VIII The necessity and excellency of advancing Christs Gospel and Kingdome is demonstrated p. 58. Doct. It is the duty of all people unfainedly to desire and earnestly to endeavour the welfare promotion and advancement of Christ his spirituall Kingdome and Gospell ib. 5. Grounds hereof 1. The Covenant between Man and Christ 2. The Relationâ— 3. Christs interest in Man 4. The Subversion of Satan 5. The glory and crowne of the Church p. 62 63 64 65 66 67. CHAP. IX The impiety of three sorts of men is opened p. 68. 1. Non reâ—arders of the welfare of the Gospell 2. Opposers of the Gospell 3. Grievers at the prosperity of the Gospell p. 68 69 70. Grounds of not regarding the welfare of the Gospell p. 69. Grounds of opposing the Gospell p. 70 71. CHAP. X. The setting up of Christs Kingdome and Gospell is perswaded p. 72. Parties by whom Christs Kingdome and Gospell is to be exalted Magistrates Ministers Masters of families private persons p. 73 74. Inducements to the exaltation of Christs Kingdome and Gospell 1. The honour of a Christian 2. Love to Christ 3. The perill of not endeavouring the welfare of Christs Gospel 4 Christs withholding of nothing which makes for the exaltation of man 5. The blessing which attends the exaltation of the Gospell CHAP. XI Proposing meanes to frame and worke the heart of man to advance Christ and his Gospell p. 79. 4. Meanes hereof 1. Distaste of sin 2. Holy feare 3. Sence of the necessity of Christ 4. Inabling and raising the heart to a spirituall temper p. 80 81 82 83. CHAP. XII Christs being furnished with authority and ability to minister salvation is handled p. 84. Doct. Christ is furnished with authority and all divine abilities to minister all peace and salvation to Gods servants p. 85. 4. Grounds hereof 1. Christs power 2. Christs exaltation above all 3. Christs repletion of all 4. Christs proposing his Fathers glory p. 88 89 90. CHAP. XIII The dispensation of salvation by Christ is shewed p. 91. 4. Evils of leaving Christ and betaking our selves to humane traditions 1. A derogation from Christs authority 2. Self-exaltation and Presumption 3. Disparagement of Christs wisedome 4. Perill of the soule p. 93. 94. Christs authority and ability presseth to 4. Duties 1 Subiection 2. Dependence 3. Love 4. Acquiescence in Christ p. 95 96 97 98. CHAP. XIV Gods dispensing of blessings by his Ministers is fully evidenced p. 99. Note Holy and saithfull Ministers are the instrumentall Causes of great blessings to Gods Church and servants p. 99. Note It must be the care of Ministers so to demeane themselves in their function that they prove a blessing to the people p 100. Note The labours of Gods Ministers prove a blessing onely to such people as rejoyce in and endeavour the advancement of the Gospell ib. Doct. God by his holy and faithfull Ministers dispenseth very great sweet and heavenly blessings to his Church and servants ib. 3. Grounds hereof 1. Gods communication of Christ to the soules of men by the labours of his Ministers 2. The evils from which God delivers man by the labours of his Ministers 3. The blessed estate whereinto God puts man by the Labours of his Ministers p. 104. 6. Communications of Christ by the Labours of Gods Ministers 1. The Knowledge of Christ 2. The Faith of Christ 3. The Life of Christ. 4. The Love of Christ 5. The Peace of Christ 6. The whole treasury of Christ p. 104 105. Deliverance from 5. evils dispensed by Gods Ministers 1. From spirituall death 2. From blindnesse 3. From bondage 4. From uncleannesse 5. From soule-tortures p. 106. Man put into a condition of 6. Excellencies by the industry of Gods Ministers 1. Of Wisedome 2. Of Sanctification 3. Of Freedome 4. Of Exaltation 5. Of Satisfaction 6. Of Duration p. 107 108. CHAP. XV. Opening mans unhappines not enioying Gods Ministers p. 109. Mans estate without the Gospell an estate 1. Of Death 2. Of Darknesse 3. Of Servitude 4 Of Emptinesse 5. Of Vncleannesse 6. Of Sorrowes p. 110 111. The folly of Estrangement from the Gospell with the grounds and evils of it p. 112. Cure of Non-estrangement from the Gospell urged Evils of Estrangement opened p. 113 114 113. Gospell not to be â—leighted worthy of full and honourable embracement p. 115. A TABLE of the chiefe things contained in this Treatise on Galathians CHAPTER 2. VERSE 20. CHAP. I. Illustrating the state of man by
Sin and by Christ and opening the scope of the Apostle p. 117 118. Christ mans comforter helper happinesse and the Author of mans welfare p. 119 120. Note Such alone as are truly sanctified and gracious pâ—ople are the compleate and proper Subject of that life which is heavenly and spirituall p. 121. Note All life is as no life yea as a very death in comparison of a holy and gracious life ib. CHAP. II. Declaring the holy mans prostration of himselfe and all that he hath under Christ p. 122. Doct. 1. He who lives the life of grace and true holinesse doth wholly deny himselfe his owne counsels and affections and altogether prostrates himselfe and all that is his under Christ Jesus p. 123. CHAP. III. Laying downe the grounds of Self-deny all and putting all under the feet of Christ p. 125. 6. Grounds hereof 1. The carnality vanity and basenesse which a man sees and feeles in his owne flesh affections ends and counsels 2. The holy inclination of a gracious heart unto Christ 3. The vanity and nothingnesse which a gracious man sees in himselfe and in all things without Christ 4. The holy powerfull and universall reigne of Christ in a gracious soule 5. The holy and fervent desire of a gracious soule to exalt and set up Christ 6. A gracious soules acquiescence and contentation in and with the approbation of Christ p. 126 127 128 129 131. CHAP. IV. Discovering the danger of the want of Self-denyall p. 132. 5. Sorts of Non-denyers of themselves 1. Self-Wise 2. Self-willed 3. Self-lusted 4 Worldly minded 5. Voluptuously and ambitiously affected and superstitiously devoted p. 133 134. CHAP. V. Proposing the grounds or causes of mens backwardnesse in denying themselves and putting all under Christ p. 135. 7. Grounds hereof 1. Self-prizing 2. Overswaying lusts 3. Inordinate disposition towards the creature 4. Over-prizing of man 5. Carnall judging and mistaking of Christ 6. Corrupt framing and devising of false Christs and false wayes to life 7. Ignorance of the nature and sweetnesse of Christs yoake p. 136 137 138 139. CHAP. VI. Relating certaine very great evils and inconveniences arising from the want of Self-denyall p. 142. 9. Evils issuing hence 1. Vncapablenesse of Christ 2. Alienation from the benefits and comforts of Christ 3. Vanity emptinesse and hollownesse of profession 4. Subiection and abasement under the creature 5. Annihilation of the fruit and benefit of Christs death 6. Deprivation of the heavenly fruit and soule-refreshing comforts of Gods Ordinances 7. Great and manifold losses attending the want of Self-denyall and Subiection under Christ 8. Apostacy from Christ 9. Christs denyall and relaction of such as will not deny themselves for him and his sake p. 14â— 143 144 145. CHAP. VII Perswading man to worke his heart to a full and through Self-denyall p. 147. Qualifications of Self-denyall 1 Spirituall 2. Voluntary 3. Vniversall 4. Continuall p. 148. Subiection unto Christ accompanies Self-denyall p. 149. Qualifications of Subiection 1. Holy 2. Cordiall 3. Full. 4. Perpetuall p. 149. 7. Inducements to Self-denyall 1. Christs interest in a Christian 2. The relation between Christ and Christians 3. Gods subiecting and putting all things under Christ 4. The abuse of all things which are not made subiect and serviceable unto Christ 5. Sweet and heavenly comforts arising from Self-denyall to the soule 6. The mitigation and sweetning of all disasters 8. The Contentation which Self-denyall ministers with the least earthly portion p. 150 151 152. CHAP. VIII Propounding certaine cleare and apparant characters of true and Christian Self-denyall p 153. 5. Marks or characters hereof 1. Captivation of Self-reason 2. Cessation from Mans owne Selfe 3. Full and free application of Mans Selfe to Christ 4. Humble and hearty ascribing of all Mans good to God 5. A low prizing and Christian undervaluing of Mans Selfe and all things else in comparison of Christ p. 150. CHAP. IX Setting down other marks and characters of Christian Self-denyal p. 161. 5. Other marks 1. Voluntary and cheerfull desertion and leaving off all for Christ 2. Mans pleasing and delighting himselfe in Christ under the Crosse 3. The prizing of Christs Crosse above the worlds Crowne 4. Man making it his greatest honour to honour Christ 5. A heart sincere humble pious plaine grieving at evill and reioycing in good p. 162 163 164 165 166 167. CHAP. X. Detecting divers deceits in and about the worke of Self-denyall p. 170. Man is apt to deceive himselfe in this worke of Self-denyall 8. wayes by denying himselfe 1. Superstitiously 2. Covetously 3. Partially 4. Constrainedly 5. Hypocritically 6. Sinisterly and politickely 7. Vaine-gloriously 8. Temporarily p. 171 172 173 174 175. CHAP. XI Shewing how a Christian may comfort himselfe in this worke of Self-denyall against remaining and rebelling lusts p. 176. 1. By the troublesomnesse of them to his soule 2. By the godly griefe of his heart for them 3. By his holy and constant contestation against them 4. By his being humbled for the want of humility 5. By his frequent and fervent prayer to be purged and emptied of all pride and self-self-love p. 178 179. CHAP. XII Laying open the shamefull and dangerous evill of Self-seeking p. 180. Self-seeking a root of 12. bitter branches being 1. Insatiable 2. Hypocriticall 3. Polluting 4. Alienating 5. Full of unlawfull meanes 6. Vnthankefull and discontented p. 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 181 182 184 185 188 189. CHAP. XIII Repeating other evils of Self-seeking p. 191. Self-seeking is 7. Attentive to evill counsell 8. Servile and abasing 9. Idolatrous 10. Self-loosing 11. Vndervaluing holy things and 12. the cursed mother of many unhappy children as 1. Imbondagement 2. Enmity 3. Cruelty 4. Causelesse Jealousie 5. Soule-torturing griefe 6. Vnsuccessefulnesse and 7. Loosing the comfort of present havings p. 192 193 194 197 198 199 200 201. Self-seeking how to be handled p. 201. CHAP. XIV Mentioning the danger of Self-admiration p. 202. 6. Evils of Self-admiration 1. Self-ignorance 2. Non-apprehensivenesse of the perfections of God and beauties of Christ 3. Ingratitude and Sacriledge 4. Vncapablenesse of Christ 5. Alienation from God 6. Shame and confusion Cure of Self-admiration prescribed p. 203 204 205. 206. CHAP. XV. Handling the danger of Self-exaltation p. 207. 9. Evils of Self-exaltation being 1. The root of many fowle impieties 2. The Patron and protector of all other vices 3. The most invincible of all vices 4. The corrupter and destroyer of all other gifts 5. Keeping the soule barren 6. Abusing God 7. Self-deceiving 8. Shamefully abasing man 9. Alienating from Heaven p. 208 209 210 211 212 213. 214 215. CHAP. XVI Opening the grounds of mans pronenesse to exalt himselfe and backwardnesse to exalt and set up Christ p. 215. 5. Grounds hereof 1. Mans ignorance of his owne corrupt and base estate 2. Mans inconsideratenesse of his receivings 3. Forgetfulnesse of mans place and station 4 Misprision of the true glory of man 5. Vnsensiblenesse of the unhappy fruits of
4. By a fourefold fulnesse 1. Self-fulnesse 2. Fulnesse of sin 3. Fulnesse of man 4. Fulnesse of the world 5. Mans spirituall emptinesse of Christ as of the life knowledge power liberty and love which Christ dispenseth 326 327 328 332 333. CHAP. VI. Exhorting to come out of our naturall and corrupt estate p. 337. Evils of mars corrupt estate barrennesse exilement from God enmity against God slavery to Satan the world and corruption curses and woes p. 339. Meanes of freedome from this corrupt estate attendance on the word godly sorrow for sin frequent and serious view of the evill of this corrupt estate and addressement to Christ by faithfull and fervent prayer p. 341. CHAP. VII Perswading to thanksgiving for deliverance out of our naturall and corrupt estate p. 344. Deliverance from the state of corruption is the choisest of all deliverances being a deliverance of the greatest cost arguing the sweetest and surest love freeing from the greatest evils and restoring to the choisest happinesse p. 346. CHAP. VIII Shewing how all Gods people are but one p 348. Doct. All Gods faithfull are a spirituall and mysticall Common-wealth p. 348. Gods Church a mysticall Common-wealth in 7. respects In respect of multitude In respect of obligation In respect of subjection In respect of common interest In respect of constitution and composition In respect of separation and distinction and in respect of unity p. 349. CHAP. IX Perswading Subjection under one head Submission to one Law and unity between our selves p. 352. Qualifications of Subjection spirituall cordiall voluntary universall and constant p. 352. The word of God a sure a perfect a profitable word ib. Mixing of humane inventions with Gods word and worship perillous ib. Vnity in iudgement in affection in Religion and in opposing sin and Satans Kingdome ib. CHAP. X. Pressing the seeking of the welfare of Christs Church p. 358. Inducements to seeke the welfare of Christs Church Gods iniunction relation fellow-feeling attendant blessing dependance of ours upon the Churches welfare our subiection to changes and the acceptablenesse of this worke with God ib. CHAP. XI Treating of carnall mans alienation from Christs Church p. 360. Doct. 3. All prophane and carnall persons are aliens to the true Church of Christ and all the spirituall priviledges thereof p. 50 51. Communion with carnall men to be shunned p. 361. Carnall men aliens to Gods children having neither the same parent the same head nor the same gracious qualities ib. CHAP. XII Laying downe the grounds of carnall mans alienation from the true Church of Christ p. 161. 5. Grounds hereof 1. Alienation from the head of the Church 2. Want of the seed of the Church 3. Privation of the qualities of the Church 4. Exclusion from the covenant of the Church 5. Estrangement from the life light faith liberty wedlocke and receivings of the Church p. 364 365 366. CHAP. XIII Discoursing of the unhappy condition and impossibility of their salvation who are strangers to the true Church p. 369. He that is a stranger to the true Church is a stranger 1. To Christ 2. To the promise of grace 3. To the love of Christ 4. To the presence of Christ. 5. To the communication of Christ and 6. To the protection of Christ p. 370. A stranger to the Church a stranger to salvation being without God without Christ and without regeneration p. 371. CHAP. XIV Discovering the vanity of carnall mans applauding and pleasing himselfe with being borne within the Church and exhorting to sanctification p. 372. Man living within the Church in prophanenesse is 1. An unbeleever 2. A very hypocrite 3 A defiler of things sacred 4. A scandall to the Church 5. Lyable to the severest condemnation p. 374. Comfortable fruits of holinesse ib. CHAP. XV. Handling corrupt and carnall mans estrangement from the covenant of grace p. 376. Doct. 4. All corrupt and carnall persons are strangers to Gods covenant of Grace and salvation by Christ ib. 6. Grounds of carnall mans alienation from the covenant of Grace 1 Ignorance 2. Alienation from Christ 3. Enmity against God 4. Agreement with sin 5. Absence of the Spirit 6. Want of faith and obedience p. 377. CHAP. XVI Displaying the misery and uncomfortablenesse of mans estate without the covenant p. â—85 Man without the covenant is 1. A stranger to Christ 2. Empty of heavenly gifts 3. Without Gods gracious protection 4. Without spirituall title to any good thing 5. Without the blessing of God and 6. Without peace CHAP. XVII Proposing certaine marks and characters of mans being within the covenant p. 388. Mans boing in the covenant evidenced 1. By Gods being all in all unto man 2. By mans full application of himselfe to God 3. By mans participation of the benefits comprised under the covenant as 1. The donation of the Spirit 2. Communion with the Saints 3 Regeneration 4. Spirituall Liberty 5. Perseverance p. 389. Exhortation to get interest in the covenant p. 394. Meanes interesting in the covenant 1. Forsaking of sin 2. Forsaking of our selves 3. Relinquishment of the world 4 Reiection of intimate communion with carnall people 5. Attendance on the Word 6. Ready and full receiving of Christ p. 395. CHAP. XVIII Declaring the misery of naturall Man without hope p. 399. Doct. Corrupt and carnall man hath no true and assured hope of salvation p 400. Grounds hereof 1. His uncapablenesse of Christian Hope 2. His want of the instrumentall cause of Hope 3. His alienation from the pillars of Hope 4. His estrangement from the way to salvation p. 400 401 402. CHAP. XIX Shewing the false props upon which carnall men build their hopes p. 403. 1. Superstitious observations 2. A formall profession 3. Elymosinaâ—y duties 4. Not being so bad as others 5. The mercies of God and merits of Christ 6. Humiliation and Repentance 7. Their reformations 8. Their duties p. 404 405 406 407 408 409. CHAP. XX. Shewing how a man may discerne the soundnesse of his hope p. 411. 1. By preparation to Christ 2. By a constant study and practise of holinesse 3. By a holy patience towards God 4. By a delight in God and Christ 5 By a holy security 6 By thinking lowly of our selves and highly of Christ p. 411 412 413 414. CHAP. XXI Declaring mans estrangement from God p. 415. Doct. Man in his carnall estate is altogether estranged from God p. 416. Grounds hereof 1. His opposition and contrariety to God 2. His estrangement from the life of God 3. His estrangement from the knowledge of God 4. His estrangement from the love of God 5. His estrangement from the spirituall ministrations of God 6. His estrangement from Christ 7. His estrangement from the remembrance of God p. 417 418 419 420 421 422. CHAP. XXII Opening the Atheisme of man and the hainousnesse thereof p. 423. Atheists in opinion ib. Atheists in practise p. 424. Atheisme in practise demonstrated 1. By Loose living 2. Secret sinning 3. Fearlesnesse of judgements 4. Seldome and
Christ worth i Isa 53.1 2. k Cant. 5. l Mat. 8. 5. Holy making use of Christ 6. Experience of Christs saving worth m Cant. 1.4 Inducements to entertaine Christ joyfully 1 Condition of creature 1. Empty n Gen 41.20 21 2. Uncomfortable o Exod. 15.25 p Ioh. 20.22 q Ecel 5.12 r Psal 127.2 Å¿ 1 Tim. 6.9 10 3. Enthralling Gloria regnoruÌ„ splendida servitus est Antigonus Rex Macedonum Iust 16. u Mat. 6.24 w Rom. 16.18 4. Polluting Gen. 34 2. Laâ—ro spiritualium honorum Basil x 1 Tim 6 10. y Isa 59.7 Psal 10.6 Fallax suavitas infructuosus labor perpetuus timor periculosa sublimitas initium sine providentia finis cum paenitentia Aug. 2 Throgh view of mans estate without Christ 2 Cor 1.20 Rev. 3 17. z Isa 20.4 a Isa 57.20 Mans apprehension of God without Christ terrible b Rev. 6.16 4. Frustration of Gods Ordinances not entertaining Christ c 2 Sam. 3.17 d 2 Cor. 11 2. e Gen. 42. f Hag. 1.6 5. Excellency of receiving Christ Christ received giveth 1. Life g Phil. 2.16 h 1 Ioh. 5.11 1â— Isa 9.3 2 Light 3 Health i Mal. 4.2 k 1 Ioh. 5.5 4. Honour l Ioh. 1.1 5. Riches m Eph. 3.8 6. Prosperity Ioh. 3.2 n Gen. â—9 2 7. Sweetnesse Exod. 15.25 8. Comfort o Isa 25.6 p Heb. 6.15 2. Thes 2.16 9. Satisfaction 10. Abiding substance q Isa 9.6 r Hos 2.19 Å¿ Ioh. 13.1 Rom. 11.19 Ioh. 3.9 Ioh. 4.14 6. Fastening thoughts upon brevity of life u Exod 9.19 Christs welcoÌ„e manifested w Psa 24.7 By opening and elevating the heart x Mat. 9.24 2. By garnishing the heart y Exod 26.36 37. 3. By offering our selves to Christ z Mat. 2.10 11. a Rom. 12.1 4. By exalting Christ b 1 Sam. 16 1â— 5 By Love Faith conformity and acquiescence Want of joyful receiving Christ shewes 1 Want of knowledge o Prov. 2.10 2. Want of Love d Psal 122.1 e Psal 71.23 f Psal 42.4 g Psal 119.14 h Iudg. 16.15 3. Want of fâ—ith 4 Want of pricing Christ 5. Want of relishing Christ k Gen. 27.4 l Cant. 1.3 m Mar. 14.3 Ioh. 12.3 Ioy in Christs comming perswaded n 2 Sam 16.17 Welfare and exaltation of Christ and his kingdome desired Doct. o 2 Saâ— 6.15 p 1 King 6. q Psal 72 9. r Rev 4.10 Å¿ Isa 60.5 t Mat. 6.10 u 2 Thess 3.1 w Psal 45.3 x Psal 122.9 1. Grounds of this truth 1. Covenant y Mat 28.19 z Ier. 37.39 a 2 Sam. 3. 2. Relation b 1 Sam. 11.12 c 2 Sam. 18.3 d 2 Sam. 15.15 3. Christs interest in us e 1 King 20.3 4 f Isa 43.1 g Deut. 32 9. h Ioh. 17.7 i Rev. 19.8 k 1 Chr. 12.8 l 1 Cor. 6.20 2 Cor. 5.15 4. Subversion of Satan m Luk. 10.18 n Act. 26.18 Acts â— o Rev. 16.20 p Rev. 12.8 q Ioh. 12 3â— r 1 Sam. 4.23 Å¿ Psal 26 8. t Isa 11.10 u Isa 60.7 15. Impiety of three sorts opened 1. Non-regarders of welfare of Gospell w Iob 39.6 7 8. x Psal 24.4 y Psal 23.2 z Psal 41.4 a Isa 5.12 Grounds of this evill b 1 Kin. 18.27 c Mat. 12.30 d Rev. â— 16 2. Opposers of Gospell 2 Sam. 3.1 d Luk. 19.14 e Psal 2.2 Grounds of opposing the Gospell f 1 Sam. 18.29 19.1 g Act. 19 24. h Mat. 2. 3 Grievers at prosperity of the Gospell i Neh. 2.10 k Psal 112.10 l Hâ—st 5 13. m 1 Sam. 5.4.5 n Act. 4.1.2 o Rev. 10.10 Admonition to set up Christs Kingdome and Gospell p 1 King 1.44 45 46 47. Magistrates q Psal 82.1 r Isa 44 28. Å¿ Isa 49.23 t Psal 49 7. u Psal 1.12 Ministers Masters of Families Private persons w Mic. 4 1. Isa 60. x Eph. 1 23. Inducements to exalt Christ 1 Honour of a Christian 2. Love to Christ 3. Perill of not endeavouring welfare of Christs Gospel y Prov. 18.9 z Iud 5.23 4. Christ withholding nothing to exalt man a 2 Cor. 8 9. b Phil. 2 7. Nil debemus Christo preponere quia nec nobli ille quicquam praeposuit 2 King 4.13 c Eph. 5 1. d Rom. 12.1 e Psal 22.6 f Eph. 1. 5. Blessing attends the exaltation of the Gospell g 2 Sam. 6.11 h Luk 10.23 i Psal 33.11 k 1 Sam. 6.12 Meanes disposing man to advance the Gospell 1 Distaste of Sin 1 Sam. 5. l Mar. 6. m 2 Sam 3.8 10 2. Holy feare n Hest 9.5 w Psal 2.11 12. x Ier. 32.40 y Act. 2.43 3. Feeling of the necessity of Christ z Iudg. 11.11 Mar 5. 4 Elevation of the heart to a spirituall temper a Ier. 22. b Luk. 15. c Dan 2. d Mal. 3. e Ezra 1.5 f Ioh. 11. g Ezek. 1. h 1 Sam. 10.24 i 2 Cor. 5.17 18 Rom. 12.2 k Heb. 5.4 Christ commeth in the name of the Lord in 6. respects 1. Ordination l 1 Pet. 1.20 Rev. 13.8 2. Preparation m Col. 1.19 Ioh. 3.34 3. Calling n Isa 49.1 o Mat 3 17. 4. Doctrine p Ioh. 5 43. q Ioh. 12.49 50. 5. Benediction r Act. 3.25 26. Eph 1.3 6 End Å¿ Ioh. 8 50 54. Doct. t Gen. 37.13 Mat. 9 15. u Zach. 14 9. w Psal 2 6. x Col. 2 3. y Ioh 10. z Heb. 2 14. a Psal 72. b Isa 42 6. c Isa 6â— 1 d Isa 42. â— e Mal. 3.1 f Isa 28 16. g Ier 30.21 h Zach. 13.1 i Mal. 4.3 k Mat. 15. â—4 Mar. 9 37. Luk. 4.18 43. l Gal. 4.4 5. Col. 2.9 4. Grounds of Christs authority and ability to minister salvation 1. Power 2. Exaltation m Eph. 4.21 n Heb 1.3 o Heb. 7 1â— 3 Impletion p Eph. 4.10 4. Proposing Gods glory q Ioh. 5.30 Ioh. 7.18 r Ioh. 17.4 Salvation dispensed by Christ Å¿ Heb. 7.25 t Mat. 4.12 Danger of stepping our from Christ to humane traditions Evils hereof 1. Derogatory to Christs Authority 2. Argues great pride and presumption 3. Dispaâ—agement of Christs wisedome 4 Perillous to the soule u Isa 8.20 w 1 Cor. 10.10 21. x Deut 31.21 22. Christs Authority and ability pressing to â— duties 1. Of SubjectioÌ„ Properties of Subjection 1. Spirituall 2. Filiall y Luk. 1.74 75 3 Universall 4 Speedy z Psal 119 60. a 2 Sam. 18. 5. Free 6. Steadfast 2. Of Dependance b Isa 50.10 c Isa 32.2 3. Of Love 4. Of Acquiescence and contentation Note Note Note Note Doct. d Gen 39.5 c Isa 19.19 f Iudg. 17.13 g 1 Kin. 10.8 h Psal 65. â— l Isa 30.19 GrouÌ„ds hereof 6. Communication of Christ by Gods Ministers 1. Knowledge of Christ k 2 Cor. 4.6 l 2 Cor. 3.18 m Col. 2.3 2. Faith of Christ n 1 King 13. o Rom. 10.17 1 Cor. 3. 3. Life of Christ p Ioh. 11.44 q Ioh. 5.25 4. Love of Christ r Cant. 7.12 Å¿ 2 Cor. 11.3 t 2 Cant. 2 4. 5. Peace of Christ Isa 9 6. u Act. 10 30. 6. Whole