Riches and Honours could not prevail with Learned Basil that Worthy Father he bad offer such things to Children such things were beneath his Cognizance How frequently doth the Holy Scriptures note this Sin of Covetousness with a Brand of Infamy Covetousness is the Root of all Evil. It 's called there the 1 Tim â— 10. Love of Mony Two Words the Scripture useth to express Covetousness by one is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the other is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and both are in Name and Nature stark naught for Covetousness is Idolatry Col. 3. 5. it 's a Fruit of a naughty Heart and Mark 7. 22. joyn'd with bad Company as Theft Malice and what not It 's so abominable a Sin as not worthy of naming Nothing saith a Heathen argueth Niâ—â—â— est tam angusti tamque parvi animi quam â—mare divitias Cic. more a narrow and low Spirit than Covetousness When Men are fast Glued and Riverted to the World they believe not the Omnipotency and the All-Sufficiency of God because they have made choice of another God even Mammon And whither will not Covetousness drive a Man and to what will not Covetousness tempt a Man A Man that alloweth himself in this Sin will Spin a Thred thinner and thinner till it and his Conscience break both together he will find out new coyn'd Distinctions Apologies Subterfuges Evasions and what not to baffle the Truth and his own Conscience It 's Christ's Caution Luke 12. 15. Take heed and beware of Covetousness And Bishop Latimer that Eminent Martyr would frequently Inculcate this Caution Beware of Covetousness For when the Devil and a Man 's own Corruptions meet with a Heart greedy of Gain What Wickedness will be left Unattempted Hence it comes to pass that Multitudes will not believe God nor rely upon His All-Sufficiency because they Love the World too well and the Love of the World justles out the Love of God It was an excellent saying of an antient Experimental Divine Where Sin Mr. Greenham Cujus anima in oculis ejus est pretiosa in ejus oculis Mundus est parvus Buxtor Floril sits light the World sits heavy and where the World sits light Sin sits heavy Wherefore let the Apostles Charge leave deep Impressions upon our Consciences 1 Joh. 2. 15. Love not the World neither the things that are in the World If any Man Love the World the Love of the Father is not in him A Second Impediment is Hypocrisie 2. Impediment Hypocrisy and this is a Reason why so many distrust God because they deal Hypocritically and have divided Hearts partly for God and partly for Mammon The Heart is Naught and keeps Reserves for that Profit the other Interest and Carnal Advantage Many braid of the Strumpet who would have the Child divided So they will divide in Duties and Commands This Hypocritical Deceitful Spirit keeps multitudes from Trusting and Depending on God's All-sufficiency Ananias and Saphira would not Trust God they feared that some Poverty might befal them And therefore they made a Defalcation from the Price Act. 5. 3. and used Hypocritical Jugglings No Hypocrite can trust God for he acts all for Self-Interest and turns like a Weather-Cock with the Wind and strives to swim with the Stream It 's a Sincere Heart alone that can cast it self upon God and can venture all upon his Promises He it is who alone will trust God with all that he hath for he knoweth that God is infinitely nearer and dearer to him than all the World besides This Consideration comforted Hezekiah upon his Bed of Sickness 2 King 20. 3. I beseech thee Lord remember now how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a perfect Heart and have done that which is Good in thy Sight A Heart divided between God and the World between Christ and Anti-christ will never stick close to God in a Time of Adversity A Rotten Hypocritial Heart will not Suffer for Christ A Hypocrite will not willingly bear a Scorn or Word of Reproach for Christ much less will he Fry at a Stake The Lord thus expostulateth the Case Jer. 12. 5. If thou hast run with the Foot-Men and they have wearyed thee then How canst thou contend with Horses And if in the Land of Peace wherein thou trustedst they have wearyed thee then How wilt thou do in the Swelling of Jordan Bilney the Martyr made Assay first Acts Mon. in Q. Mar. Dayes Vol. 3. to try how he could bear the Burning of his Finger because he expected which came to pass afterwards that his whole Body should be Burned But an Hypocrite Timeo ne animam perdas qui capillum non perdes Aug. in Psal 96. will lose neither Finger nor Body neither Life nor Limbs for Christ So far he will pretend for Christ as his Interest is concerned for the Loaves as many follow Christ for Preferment and Promotion in Halcyon-Dayes of Peace and Tranquillity But when Religion is Contemned and the Professors are Persecuted a Hypocrite takes Offence he makes the worst Choice To | Video te post hujus plâ—goe tuae horrendâ—m miseriam ad interitum tuum hanc impietatis sequi velle perniciem Hieronym in Loc. choose Sin Job 36. 21. rather than Affliction and rather to sleep in a whole Skin than a whole Conscience None more Odious to God and Man than a Hypocrite for God and Good Men hate him because he is no better and is not so good as he seems to be And Wicked Men hate him because he pretends to any Goodness at all Notwithstanding many Failings Sincerity is that which will stand us in stead when we come to dye A Reverend Minister when he came to dye said I have a Mr. Giles Workman a Minister in Glocestershire 2 Chron. 15. 17. little Sincerity and that 's all that comforts me Asa had many Failings yet it 's said of him * i. e. Affirmo optimâ conscientiâ me nec corrumpere Doctrinam nec â—â—tâ—te flectere ad cujusque affectus neâ—â—e privatâ— ulli cupiditati servire Melancthon in loc Nevertheless the Heart of Asa was Perfect all his Dayes This is the Cause of the Saint's Rejoycing 2 Cor. 1. 12. For our Rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Consciences That in Simplicity and Godly Sincerity not with Fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World A Heathen could commend Plainness and Simple-Dealing as most agreeing â—o the Nature of Man So saith Tully Quod verum simplex sincerumque sit id est naturae Hominis aptissimum Much more should a Christian embrace Sincerity as knowing it to be that which God requireth and so highly esteemeth of If then we desire to trust God in all Conditions let 's labour for a Sincere and Single Heart and abhor and hate Hypocrisy with a perfect Hatred For a Hypocrite will never hold out in any Duty he will not
keep my Words It 's not the verbal Profession of Love to Christ that will serve the turn but a practical Conformity to the Commands of Christ which will obtain acceptance Pretences of Love are like the barren Fig-tree which had Leaves without Fruits or like the Apples of Sodom which seemed beautiful to the Eye but as soon as they were touched they dissolved into Cinders and Ashes We must not be Christians only in Name but in Deed and in Truth We must not only name the Name of Christ but we must depart from Iniquity And we must not only say that we love Christ but we must express our Love by our Obedience unto his Commandments And we must not Deus non vult cum exceptone coli Le◠Dei est una tota copulutiva Illeric make any exceptions but we must take in all It 's commonly observed that the Love which descends is greater than that which ascends as the Love of the Father to his Child is greater than the love of the Son to the Father I am sure God's Love to us is infinitely greater than our Love can be to him However we must endeavour after a sincere chearful and universal Love God's Love to us is his Bounty and Beneficence our Love to him must be a Love of Duty and Service And though we can never equalize and match the Love of Christ to us Yet we must endeavour by our Obedience to study to please him and walk in the ways of his Word and hereby we giue Testimony of our Love to Jesus Christ 2. Our Love to Christ must be a supream 2. Our Love to Christ must be a supream principal Love and principal Love Inferiour and secondary sorts of Love are due to Relations provided they be in subordination to the Love of Christ and neither stand in competition with him nor opposition to him We may and ought to love our Relations and love our Lives and Creature-Comforts always provided that the primacy of our Affections be given to Christ Though things of this World be dear and near unto us yet Christ must be esteemed dearer and nearer than all Christ must be preferred above all and before all The Parents of our Bodies the Children of our Flesh the Wives of our Bosom the Blood in our Veins the Heart in our Breast even all the dearest things in this World must be laid down and foregone if they stand in comparison and competition with Jesus Christ That Man that hath had experience of the Love of Christ in his own Soul and hath tasted how good and gracious Christ is he cannot but acknowledg that there is ten thousand times more Beauty and amiableness more Honours and Riches and more solid Satisfaction in Christ than all the choicest admirable things which the World can afford in its greatest Estate and Confluence Christ therefore must have the chiefest Love more than superlative even our Love to him must be beyond all degrees of comparison It 's to be observed that the high Priest might not marry a Widdow Why not a Widdow Because Lev. 21. 14. her first Love was given to a former Husband The high Priest was a Type of Christ He will not be contented with a second Love He must be loved supreamly and principally His Services must be the best A Lamb without blemish a Male in the Flock and the best of the Substance was to be offered unto God in the Levitical Law And under the Gospel the Worship must be pure pure Hands must be lifted up and purifyed Hearts are required by Christ Fervent Jam. 5. 16. 2 Cor. 1 12. Mal. 1. 8. Prayer Sincere Love Simplicity and Godly Sincerity are required God rejects the lame and the blind and curseth the Deceiver Mal. 1. 14. that hath in his Flock a Male and voweth and offers unto the Lord a corrupt thing God's Mat. 6. 23. Kingdom and his Righteousness must be sought in the first place That Figure called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must be abhorred in God's Worship God must have the prime of our Strength the Marrow of our Bones the Vigour of our Soul the Activity of our whole Body dedicated to his Service Whatever is lovely and desireable under the Sun must strike Sail and yeild Homage unto Jesus Christ The supream and primary the highest and the dearest Love must be given unto Christ alone 3. This Love must be a whole entire 3. Our Love must be whole and undivided and undivided Love It must not be shared with any Corrivals Christ will not admit any Competitors or Corrivals with him He will either have all our Love or none Christ allows not Partnership nor will have his love to be let to halves Christ is all in all unto us and our Affection must be all in all unto him When the Sun ariseth in its Brightness the lesser Stars appear not upon the appearance of our Love to Christ all other sorts of love vanish and disappear I haue read that in a Battel between Alexander and Darius a Motion was made that there should be made an equal devision between them so that by giving each a part a farther tryal by the Sword might be laid aside But Alexander refused the Motion No saith he there can be but one Sun in the Firmament meaning that his aim was to be sole Lord and Master of all To Christ this may be much more applyed He is our sole Redeemer He hath conquered the World Satan and our own corrupt Selves He hath wrought a perfect Redemption for us He hath merited our whole Love and requires it wholly and undividedly It was the Language of that notorious Strumpet Let it be neither thine nor mine but let it be devided A divided Heart is faulty Hos 10. 2. Their Heart is divided now they shall be found faulty David professed with my whole Ps 119. 10. Heart have I sought thee And our Love must be with the whole Man many All 's are reckoned together Deut. 6. 45. Hear O Israel The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Strength Christ expects from us a total not a partial Love He will not have his Love parted between him and Anti-christ between him and Mammon between him and a Lust Christ will not be so unequally yoaked The Ark and Dagon the Ephod and Teraphim cannot stand together A Mungril Religion partly for Popery and partly for Protestantism is abominable in the fight of God When Men as Water-men look one way and Row another pretend in visage and shew to be for the Interest of Christ but in reallity drive Designs for Anti-christ When Men as Sanballat and Tobiah offered to build for the Jews but intended to destroy them pretend in publick to propagate the true Religion but in private undermine and seek the extirpation thereof such as these God will discover and
their Sins will find them out and they shall appear not only odious to God but to Men also We read of Redwald King of the West Saxons that after he had professed himself converted to Christianity he â—rected in the same Church one Altar for the Worship of the God of the Christians and another for the Worship of his Heathen Gods And this way of worshipping God was no worshipping and worse than no worshipping at all We have an Instance in that mixture of the Samaritans Religion Several Nations and Cities amongst them according to their own devised Intentions chose several Gods And it is said 2 Kings 17. 33. They feared the Lord and served their own Gods But what a Judgment the Lord passeth on them Psal 34. Vnto this day they do after their former manner they fear not the Lord. If then we pretend to love Christ and love other things in competition with him we do not love him at all It was the great Sin of the Jews to make mixt Marriages and to be unequally yoaked with Heathens Insomuch as their Language betrayed them not to be a genuine sort of the Jews not of the right breed of the Jews For they speak in the Language of the Jews and in the Language of Ashdod So it 's their Sin and a far greater to join Christ with Harlots I mean to yoak Christ and Anti-christ as far as in them lies together And such there are who would reconcile England and Rome Protestantism and Popery But they may as soon reconcile the Artick and Antartick Poles considering that there are between us fundamental differences both in Principles and Practices Christ will say one day as Elias doth to the Worshippers of Baal How long halt ye between two 2 King 18. 21. Opinions If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then follow him So it may be said why do People hanker between Christ and Antichrist Why do they not plainly declare themselves what they design that so we may know where to find them But be assured that if Men neglect Christ and seek after other Lovers If they leave the true Worship and betake themselves to false Worship they will pay dear for it Let Men pretend what they will if they have a Heart and a Heart a double and a divided Heart partly between Christ and any other Christ will not accept of their Love as genuine and right but account it false and spurious 4. Our Love to Christ must be sincere 4. Our Love to Christ must be sincere and incorrupt without Hypocrisy abstracted from all self-Interests and sinister Respects He that loves Christ must love him with a single sincere and incorrupted Spirit Incorrupted I name because I have the Apostle for my Warrant Grace be unto all them that love our Lord Jesus Eph. 6. 24. Christ in Sincerity The Word rendred for Sincerity signifies Incorruption Such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Significatur is qui nulla vi nullis precibus nullis illecebris i. e. a recto abduci patitur Grot. who are sincere and incorrupt abhor all mercenary Love and all verbal Complements Between true Love and complemental Love there 's as wide and vast a difference as there is between Courtship and Friendship Christ ought to be loved for Himself for his Beauty Goodness and Excellency There 's enough in Christ to enamour a Soul and ravish it with Delights notwithstanding all the hardships and sufferings which come by Christ For one Beam of Christ's reconciled countenance and one glimpse of his Love will superabundantly recompence the greatest sufferings for his sake Wherefore let us lay aside altogether all oblique aims and collateral Interests and in the simplicity and singleness of our Hearts love Christ with the most ardent Affection The Shecemites embraced Circumcision upon a Politick Design to compass in all the Cattel and Substance of the Israelites The People Gen. 34. 23. followed Christ for the Loaves And therefore the Gadarens petitioned for Christ's departute because they were so affected with the loss of their Swine insomuch that they preferred their Swine before a Jesus A Man mentioned in the Gospel pretended such respect to Christ as he offered to follow him whether ever he went But Christ who knew his Heart discovered that he only aimed at his own accommodations for a dwelling place as may appear by Christ's Answer Mat. 8. 20. And Jesus saith unto him The Foxes have holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not whereon to lay his Head Herein consists the high commendation of Love when self is abandoned and the Beloved is entirely embraced and when we renounce all self Love and in Sincerity set our Affection on Jesus Christ then our Love is genuine and of the right stamp For to love Christ for Himself and Holiness for its self is a constitutive difference of a Child of God a divisive difference to distinguish a true from a counterfeit Lover and one that loveth in shew and semblance from him that loveth in reallity and in Truth 5. Love to Christ must be constant and 5. Love to Christ must be constant lasting we must not love him by fits and starts as humors take us and as may serve most for our particular Interests Both in Prosperity and Adversity in a Storm as well as in a Calm in days of Afflictions and Troubles when Wars and Oppositions are multiplyed as well as in Halcionian Days of Peace and Tranquillity our love must be one and the same fixed on Jesus Christ The Church was of such an excellent frame of Spirit as to give thanks in a time of God's displeasure Isa 12. 1. O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me Both in Prosperity and Adversity David had a fixed and an established Spirit For when his Soul was amongst Lyons and when their Teeth was as Spears and Arrows and their Tâ—nguâ—â—a Psal 57. 7. sharp Sword When his Enemies prepared Nets and digged Pits for him yet then he professeth My Heart is fixed O God my Heart is fixed I will sing and give praise And when he was in Prosperity he shews Ps 108. 1. the same excellent temper O God my Heart is fixed I will sing and give praise even with my Glory Love is that grand lasting Grace It lasts unto Eternity Faith and Hope carry us as I may say to Heaven Doors and there leave us for when we enter into Heaven our Faith is turn'd into Vision and our Hope is turn'd into Fruition there we shall enjoy the blessed Presence of the Holy Trinity But Love abideth for ever We shall always love God Our Love is here begun on Earth and shall never be consummated till we pertake of Eternal Glory Wherefore then whilst we live here in this World let us not abate a jot of our Love but dayly endeavour after Augmentations Notwithstanding Hardships and Oppositions from the World let our Love
take these following First There 's an Insufficiency and Mot. 1. There 's Insufficiency in all Creatures utter Impotency in all the Creatures in the Universe If you make an Extract of the choisest and most admired Creature-Comforts they cannot give any reaâ— and solid Satisfaction They are in their best Estate Vanity and Vexatiâ— Eccles 2. 11. Isa 55. 2. Eccles 1. 8. on of Spirit and no way able to satisfy an Immortal Soul The Eye is not satisfied with Seeing nor the Ear filled with Hearing The Heart of Man is Triangular and the World is a Circle and it 's imposible for a Circle to fill a Triangle Take all the Melodious Musick to tickle the Ear and all the gaudy Pageants to please the Eye and all the admirable Fancies Contrivances and Imaginations to affect the Heart yet upon a serious deliberate Review there 's Vanity Insufficiency and Dissatisfaction in them all The desire is Insatiate crying out with the Horse-leeches Daughter Give give When Men are upon their Sick-beds and Tormented with great Pains What help can Riches afford When Men are troubled in Conscience the Guilt of Sin flies in the Sinners Face | Multo difficilius est conscientean afflictum consolari quam Mortuos texcitare Luth. in Gen. What can the Pomp and Riches of the World do to quiet and settle the Spirit A Man may as soon hoard up the Graces of Faith Love Patience and such like in his Coffer as satisfy his Soul with Gold and Silver The Soul is Immaterial and Infinite the things of the World are Material and Finite and between Material and Immaterial Finite and Infinite there holds no Rule of Proportion Secondly Confider whatsoever is Mot. 2. All that 's Good is derivative from God Good Amiable and Desirable in any of the best Creatures it is derivative and borrowed from the Creator Creatures are when compared to God not so much as the Dust to the Ballance nor so much as a Ray to the Sun or a Drop to the Ocean God is not only Eminently Good and All-Sufficient but Exclusively for he admits no Competitors nor Corrivals with him God is a Fountain opened Zach. 13. 1. Jer. 2. 13. and a Fountain of Living Waters An inexhausted Fountain which never fails nor can be drawn dry Creatures are oftimes Pits without Water and what Water they have at any time it 's borrowed elsewhere But the Spring never fails The Fountain of Grace and Mercy is a Well of living Water Springing up unto Eternal Life Thirdly God is infinitely Excellent Mot. 3. God is infinitely Excellent absolutely perfect and what he doth is Compleat and every way Perfect Eccles 3. 14. I know that whatsoever God doth it shall be for Ever nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it and God doth it that Men should fear before him It 's ordinary amongst Creatures for one Artificer to mend the Work of another because one Man hath more Dexterity and Sagacity in managing his Trade than another Every one hath not Arrived to the Skill of Bezaliel and Aholiab who were filled with Wisdom from God Nothing more common than for one to find fault with anothers Work And many Eyes may See Plus vident oculi quam oculus more than one It 's not unusual for the self-same Man to mend his own Work for One day may learn of another But all Posterior dies est prioris discipuâ—uâ— God's Ways are absolutely Perfect And God alone is able to perswade the Heart to Acquiesce and rest satisfied in him alone Whereas no Creature-comfort can quiet the Heart and remove all discontents The want of a bended Knee more vexed and displeased Haman than all his Court-Favours and Promotions pleased him | Omnia haec non habent pretium valorem dignitatem apud me Lud. de Dieu Esth 5. 13. Yet all this availeth me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King's Gate Fourthly God is an Universal Good Mot. 4. God is an Universal Good at all times in all Cases Places and in all Conditions Creatures at the best are but particular Goods and serve for use only in some particular Cases and in others are not useful nor helpful at all For Instance Fire and Cloaths warm the Body but cannot satisfy Hunger nor quench the Thirst Friends may be willing to help but are absent and cannot convey help or if they be present they may not be able They cannot help a Man to Health in Sickness nor to Riches in Poverty nor to Peace in a time of War But God is every where by the Ubiquity of his Presence and alwayes able to help All Creatures are at God's Command All Cattle on a Thousand Mountains are at God's Disposal In all Conditions Wants and Distresses Supplies Helps and Relief come from God It hath pleased the Father that in Christ should all Fulness dwell Col. 1. 19. There 's Fulness of Wisdom to Counsel of Power to Defend of Mercy to Pardon of Righteousness to Justify of Habet omnia qui habet possidentem omnia August Holiness to Sanctify of Grace here and of Glory hereafter Now He hath all who hath Interest in him who Possesseth all Fifthly God is an Eternal Good His Mot. 5. God is an Eternal Good Jer. 31. 3. Ps 130. â— 2 Sam. 23. 5. Inter peritura vivimus Sen. Love is Everlasting his Mercy Endureth for Ever his Covenant Everlasting No Creature in the Universe is of any long Continuance Time is short and Riches are but for a short time Health Peace Friendship Relations dearest and nearest are Transient and of short Continuance It 's to be Observed when Solomon Breve est quod delectat aeternum quod cruciat Bellar de Contemptu munâ—i reckons a time for several Purposes and Conditions Eccles 3. 1 2 3. c. He Mentions no time to Live Orimur morimur From our Cradle to our Gravâ— there 's one continued progressive Motion There 's something cutting at the Root and hastening us each Moment to our Grave Where then shall we Rest and confidently Secure our â—elves We must Ascend from Earth to Heaven from Transient and Fading Creatures to an Eternal and Unchangeable God No rest for Noah's Dove till She was took into the Ark no rest nor acquiescence for a Christian but In omnibus quae percurro non invenio tutum locum animae meae nisi in te quo colligantur sparsa mea nec a te quicquam recedat ex me Aug. confes l. 10. in God Whereever I go saith Augustin I find no Safety but in Thee Let 's then have continual Recourse unto God In his Presence there is fulness of Joy and at his Right Hand there are Pleasures for Evermore Withal Holy Greediness and unwearied Pains let us pursue the Wayes of Wisdom There 's a great Incouragement Prov. 8. 18. Riches and Honours are with me yea durable Riches
and Righteousness Other Riches which the World injoyes if God be not there amongst them what are they else but Poverty | Omnis mihi copia quae Deus meus non est egestas est Aug. Confes l. 13. Col. 3. 2. A Painter said Pingo Aeternitati I am sure a Christian ought to have Eternity in his frequent and deliberate Thoughts and to Labour to get his Heart weaned from things Transient and fixt upon things Permanent to Set his Affections on things above and not on things below Sixthly and Lastly Consider If we believe Mot. 6. We shall Speed the worse if we do not depend upon God's All Sufficiency not God's All Sufficiency nor depend upon his Power and Goodness and Wisdom for Provision Supplies and Assistances but betake our selves to any Creature we shall speed the worse To our Peril be it For to leave God's Way and to follow a devised Way of our own to leave a Fountain and to repair to a Cystern is the High-Way that leadeth to our own Ruin and utter Destruction Who ever Prospered by any indirect irregular Way For any to make haste out of a Trouble and through Impatience betake themselves to wrong Remedies as by lying dissembling and rendring Evil for Evil this is a Remedy worse than the Disease this is to throw away the Plaister before the Soâ—e be Healed and a ready means to cause the Wound to Bleed afresh and renew the Pain For Instance Abraham and Isaac both Sinned greatly in Denying their Wives and thereby they exposed themselves to great Temptations Jacob compassed a Blessing by indirect means though now he obtained the Blessing yet he met with variety of Afflictions he was an Exile Twenty Years for fear of his Brother Esau he endured a rigorous Servitude under his Uncle Laban and many Domestick Crosses he met with amongst his own Children Some in their Straights betake themselves to a broken Refuge of Lyes But observe the Judgment Isa 28. 17. The Hail shall sweep away the Refuge of Lyes and the Waters shall overflow the hiding Place Others in Extremity betake themselves to Carnal Compliance with Men they even commit Idolatry with them like the Antient Persians who Worshipped the Rising Sun The Charge of the Apostle is 1 Cor. 7. 23. Mentes veâ—tras libeâ—â—maâ— habete neque eas unquam aut beris vestris aut ullis hominibus subijcite sed soli Christo a quo empti estis câ—r quum servipis ne existimate vos hominun sed scitote vos solius Christi esse servos Luâ— de Dieâ— Ye are bought with a Price be not ye the Servants of Men. And the Apostle Professeth his Integrity and Resolution against Men pleasing Gal. 1. 10. Do I seek to Please Men For if I pleased Men I should not be the Servant of Christ And such as trust in Men are under a dreadful Curse Jer. 17. 5. Thus saith the Lord Cursed be the Man that trusteth in Man and maketh Flesh his Arm and whose Heart departeth from the Living God What said Saul to the Benjamites Will the Son of Jesse give you Fields and Vineyards and make you Captains of Thousands So say I Will any thing under the Sun give you any real lasting Comfort Will any Earthly thing help you in a Day of God's Wrath then especially when a Guilty Conscience flies in thy Face Will thy Riches and Greatness carry thee beyond this Life and lead thee to Eternity Upon Experience we shall find that we are disappointed and crost most when we expect most How was David crost in his Beautiful Son Absolom And how was he crost in his Darling Adonijah whom he never once reproved When Judas had most need of a Word of Counsel and Comfort then he was Answered by the High Priests after a slight and careless manner Ad modum Caini loquuntur vera progenies Caini Grot. Mat. 27. 4. And they said What is that to us See thou to that Absolom had never so much need of his Mule as when his Head was caught under the Thickets of an Oak but then his Mule went from under him and left him Hanging between Heaven and Earth a ready Mark for the next Enemy that came to thrust him through as Joab did Mephibosheth had never more need of Ziba's Service than at that time when David fled from Absolom and Mephibosheth that true Hearted Loyal Subject had a willing mind to wait on the King but could not for want of Legs yet then Ziba raised a notorious Lye against Mephibosheth and accused him falsly who was a faithfuller Subject than his Accuser Let all these Considerations ingage us to trust God and distrust Creatures and to this purpose I shall remove some Impediments or Obstacles which hinder our trusting and depending on God CHAP. XIIII Wherein are Two grand Impediments discovered viz. Covetousness and Hypocrisy which hinder us from Believing and Depending on God's All-Sufficiency FOr Discovering of those Impediments which hinder us from trusting in God and Believing his All-Sufficiency and staying thereon there are several Sins which might be named Impatience Murmuring Unbelief c. But these having been mentioned before I shall mention Two grand Impediments or Obstacles viz. Covetousness and Hypocrisy That I name Covetousness none will wonder but that I name Hypocrisy may be more Scrupled The Reason is because a deceitful false Heart is ready to trust any thing or person sooner than God First Then Covetousness is a great 1. Impediment is Covetousness hinderance of trusting in God This Sin of Covetousness as far as I observe is no where in Scripture charged upon any of the Saints though many other Sins are charged on them yet I find not this Sin in particular charged on them though none can say his Heart is clear more or less from this Sin Judas betrayed Christ for Thirty Pieces of Silver The Covetousâ—ess of the Gadâ—rens caused them to prefer their Swine Mark 10. 22. before a Saviour The Young Rich Ruler preferred Treasures on Earth before 2 Tim. 4. 10. Treasures in Heaven Too much Love of the World caused Demas to turn Apostate Lather had a Spirit above the Hem Germana ista bestia non curat â—urum valde protestatus sum â—e â—â—lle sic satiari ab â—o Melch. Adam in vita Lutheri World he profest that he never found his Heart inclined to Covetousness Insomuch as when Preferment was to be offered to him to stop his Mouth his very Enemies confest that he loved not Gold And he profest That he would not be put off with outward things That Noble Italian Marquess Galeaâ—ius Caracciolus left his Marquessdom his Relations and Honours for Christ and left this Heroical Speech upon Record to Posterity worthy to be Wrote with a Pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond viz. Cursed be that Man that prefers all the Gold and Silver in the World before one days Communion with Jesus Christ Preferments
32. Things For one to have the Good Things of this Life as Riches and Honours and to have Christ with them to have them Sanctifyed this is the Mercy indeed And Fourthly and Lastly Here is the 4 Ground of Comfort is Hope of Eternal Glory greatest Ground of Comfort even the Hope of Eternal Glory Whatever be the Sorrow in Seed-Time the Harvest will make amends for all Whatever be the Losses the Riches of Christ will make abundant Compensation The Kingdom of Heaven the Glory to be revealed the Eternal Sabbath the Beatifical Vision these are in the Eye Heart and Meditation of the Saints of God Wherefore with Moses they look unto the Recompence of Reward with Stephen Heb. 11. 26. they see Christ amidst their Sufferings and with Moses see him who is Heb. 11. 27. Invisible Compare the Outward Sufferings with Inward Comforts and especially Transient Sorrows with Eternal Joyes and there will be abundant Cause of Comfort notwithstanding the greatest Afflictions that are on us or may befal us in this present World Heaven will make amends for all and the Consolations of God are sufficient for us Amidst Fears and Perplexities for real or imaginary Losses let us Comfort our selves with the Text and take Counsel from the Man of God his Answer to Amaziah viz. The Lord is Able to Give us much More than This. And upon this Consideration our Spirits will be Revived and Supported in the Times of Jacob's Troubles FINIS THE CONTENTS OF THE First Treatise Chap. I. Containing the Coherence and Exposition of the Words the Division of them and a Doctrine inferr'd from them page 1 unto page 12. Chap. II. Contains the Method of Proceeding therein the First Argument took from God ' s Attributes pag. 12 unto pag. 32. Chap. III. Contains a Second Argument drawn from God ' s Promises p. 32 unto p. 37. Chap. IV. A Third Argument is took from God ' s Providences p. 37 unto p. 52. Chap. V. Contains a Fourth Argument took from the Saints Experiences p. 52 unto p. 59. Chap. VI. Contains the Demonstration of the Doctrine by Reasons and first from Necessity of Precept p. 59 unto p. 65. Chap. VII Proves the Doctrine from the Necessity of Means in Four Particulars p. 66 unto p. 77. Chap. VIII Contains a Second Reason which is took from the Excellency of a Quiet and Submissive Frame of Spirit p. 77 unto p. 89. Chap. IX Contains a Third Reason drawn from the Vtility and Benefit accruâ—ng from this yielding submissive Spirit p. 89 unto p. 99. Chap. X. Contains a Fourth Reason concerning the sad and mischievous Consequences of Striving Strugling and Repining against God p. 99 unto p. 102. Chap. XI Contains a Resolution of Particular Cases p. 102 unto p. 130. Chap. XII Contains an Vse of Reprehension to Vnbelievers Murmurers and rash Censurers p. 130 unto p. 143. Chap. XIII Contains an Vse of Exhortation with several Motives to depend on God's All-Sufficiency p. 143. p. 153. Chap. XIV Discovers Two Grand Impediments viz. Covetousness and Hypocrisie p. 153. unto p. 160. Chap. XV. Directs to Three special Duties viz. To live by Faith To set the Spirit of Prayer a working and To get a meek and quiet Spirit p. 160 unto p. 180. Chap. XVI Containing a Third Vse for Examination in Five Queries p. 181 unto p. 195. Chap. XVII Containing the Fourth and Last Vse for Consolation p. 196 unto the End p. 207. ERRATA In the First Treatise PAge 3. in the Margent r. aegre velli potest p. 27. Marg. r. Paterculus p. 35. Marg. r. restaurare and naufragio p. 39. Marg. r. Benefacit p. 43. liâ—e 5. r. Thirst p. 53. lin 5. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 64. Marg. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 79. Marg. r. Salv. and punimur p. 92. Marg. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 117. Marg. r. Exemptus p. 127. lin 19. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 144. Marg. r. conscientiam afflictam and excitare p. 167. lin 26. r. Jam. 4. p. 170. Marg. r. profectae p. 173. Marg. r. vos p. 193. Marg. r. amittere p. 197. lin 3. r. none THE Second TREATISE Concerning the PRECIOUSNESS OF CHRIST Preach'd long since for the substance thereof but since much inlarged at St. MARIES OXON By Henry Wilkinson D. D. Then Principal of Magdalen-Hall Matth. 13. 45 46. Again the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Merchant-Man seeking goodly Pearls who when he had found one Pearl of great Price went and sold all that he had and bought it LONDON Printed for John Kidgel at the Great-Atlas in Cornhill 1681. TO THE Candid READER WHAT here Reader I present to thy View and as I hope to thy Candid Interpretation I Preach'd many Years agoe at St. Maries in Oxford Since I have form'd it a Treatise with Inlargements The Subject Discoursed on is The Preciousness infinite Dignity and Value of our Blessed Lord and only Saviour Jesus Christ The Wise Merchant in the Parable Sold all and Bought this Pearl of great price It 's Chrysostomes Observation Matth. 13. 45 46. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysoft in loc Christ is the Pearl of infinite Value if you sell not all you cannot purchase it It 's worth our best Inquiry to ask who are they that put the highest price and estimation upon our Holy Lord Jesus The Text gives a full Answer Unto you which believe he is precious Only true Believers value Christ above all others The Vnbelieving Gadarens preferred their Swine before a Saviour and Demas valued the World above Christ and his Apostles It 's Recorded in History that a Profane Duke of Bâ—â—â—on proâ—est That he would not leave his part in Paris for his part in Paradice It 's no new thing for Swine and such who though they are in Meâ—s shape who have Brutish Qualities to trample precious Pearls under their Feet they resemble the Dung-hill Cock in the Fable who would rather have a Grain of Barley than all the Jewels in the World But a True Believer who hath Experimental Knowledge of the Superlative worth of Christ values him at a higher Price than all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them It 's evident how highly the Love-sick-Spouse valued Christ Câ—â—â—t 4. 10 11 12. A Holy Martyr when the Flames were about his Ears Cryed out None but Christ None but Christ And John Lambert Mr. Bradford that eminently precious Martyr often poured out abundance of Tears upon his Trencher as he sate at Table and being asked the reason why he Wept he Answered because he could not bring his dull Heart to love Christ more than he did Mr. Calamy late Pastor of Aldermanbury an Eminent and Faithful Minister of the Gospel who though Dead speaks in choice Works and Exemplary Conversation amongst many other excellent Writings of his in Print put forth a very â—seful Book well worth the reading over and over again call'd The Godly Mans Ark in the
Cant. 5. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers 70. white and Ruddy the chiefest of ten Thousands Christ is white for his innocency and purity ruddy for his Sufferings as his bloody Sweat Agony and Passion upon the Cross Now because it infinitely exceeds the capacity of Men or Angels to represent Christs Dignity Honour and excellencies to the full in positive expressions therefore by way of negation we express the Price Dignity Valuation of Christ to be infinite unparrallell'd and inestimable and when we have said inestimable it 's beyond the sphere of our activity as an ancient * Nobis ad intellectum pectus angustum est ideâ— sic Deum digne estimamus dum inâ—stimabilem dicimus Min. Felix Father observes to reach any higher in our expressions 2. Here 's another word 2. What is meant by Believers to be explained viz. Believers It s sayd * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sola est â—des quae pretium ac excellentiam Christi nobis patefacit Calv. in loc Vnto you therefore which believe For as judicious Calvin observes it's faith alone which lays open to us the price and excellency of Christ Such then as believe unto Salvation are such whose hearts are k Act. 15. purified by faith l Rom. 5. 1. and justified by Faith and have such a faith as m Gal. 5. 6. works by love Called n Tit. 1. 1. the faith of Gods Elect. * They are chosen saith the Apostle unto Salvatioâ— through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 2 Thes 2. 3. Quia electi sunt elegerunt non quiâ— ellegerunt electi sunt elligentium meritum nullum esset nisi â—os eligentis gratiâ— Dei preveniret Aug. These have their Robes washt and made white in the Blood of the Lamb. Rev. 7. 14. They are begotten again to a lively hope 1 Pet. 1. 3. and made Partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. These and these alone discern the Excellency and Dignity of Christ and they set the highest estimate and valuation upon him From the Premises thus divided and expounded there results this Doctrinal Conclusion That Christ is of inestimable Dignity and Honour Doctrine and infinitely Pretious in the accompt of all true Believers For the Methodical inlargment of this Method propounded Excellent Doctrine my work in the ensuing Treatise shall be first to give in the clear proof of the Doctrin and afterwards to infer an useful improvement thereof The Assertion to be proved is That Christ is of inestimable Dignity This shall constitute the Doctrinal part That which shall be intended by way of improvement is That as Christ is thus pretious and highly to be valued as in himself or so he ought to be by all true Believers This shall constitute the particular Use and Application of all 1. That Christ is of inesâ—imablâ— Dignity Honour and this is proved in 5 several Particulars In handling of the former Assertion I shall confine my self to these ensuing Heads of discourse 1. To reckon up several excellent Names of Honour and Dignity appropriated unto Christ in Scripture 2. To unfold the grand Mystery of the Divine and Humane Nature of Christ Hypostatically united in one Person 3. To represent the invaluable worth of those threefold Offices of Christ viz. Sacerdotal Prophetical and Regall 4. To set down several Metaphors and Resemblances in Scripture which applied to Christ declare his singular Dignity 5 To consider those great Purchases which Christ hath made for his People which are Justification Sanctification and Glorification These Heads of discourse I shall endeavour through Christ that strengthens me to inlarge in so many distinct Chapters Which as I hope and desire will abundantly satisfy confirm and establish us in this Fundamental Truth That Christ is pretious and estimable for Dignity and Honour Of these I shall treat in order in the following Chapters CHAP. II. Chap. 2. Containing an enumeration of several choice and honourable Names in Scripture ascribed unto Christ AMongst variety of Names in Scripture appropriated unto Christ I shall select these following not naming all that might be named and explain them as I go along The first I shall mention is Shiloh Gen. 1. Name Shiloh 49. 10. Which name the whole current of Orthodox Interpreters unanimously apply unto Christ The name signifies safe happy and blessed as * Est nomen verbale Salvus beatus faelix unde Shiloh derivatur Servator felicitetor hoc est faelices reddere Pet. Mart. in Gen. 49. 10. Peter Martyr observes some render Shiloh as learned Jerome and others He that is to be sent * Quasi tranquillatorem dicas qui tranquillitatis nostrae spiritualis Authâ—r sit futurus Scultet Exercit. Evangel Scultetus after he had mentioned variety of Interpretations acquiesceth in this That Shiloh signifies to cease and be quiet Ludovicus de Dieu understands Shiloh to be the promised Seed which was to spring from Judah The version of the 70 is emphatical and plainly declares Christ to be * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers 70. Interpretum a Saviour That Jacob's Prophesy was fulfill'd and that the Scepter did not depart from Judah till the coming of Christ may thus be convinced For the Politick state amongst the Jews was not changed but still the * Non auferetur Sceptrum Regium dicet regnum permansurum esse in Judausque ad Christum quantumvis affligeretur propecollapsum videretur Vaâ—abl in loc â— Name a Star 1 The Star of Jacob. Regal Dignity and Politick Government continued in Judah Maugre all Persecutions and Oppositions whatsoever Judah was the Law-giveing Tribe And those Laws continued till the coming of Christ But at Christs comeing the Scepter departed from Judah and was translated to an Heathen King 2. Another Name attributed to Christ is a Star He is called the Star of Jacob and a bright Morning Star 1. He is called by Balaam the Star of Jacob Numb 24. 17. although Balaam was a Mercenary Prophet who as he is branded by the Apostle a 2 Pet. 2. 15. loved the Wages of unrighteousness Yet he gives this true attestation There shall saith he come a Star out of Jacob and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel This is a clear Prophecy concerning * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers 70. Surget Princeps ex Israel Vers Syr. Ungetur Christus de domâ— Israel Paraphr Chald. Christ Christ is that Star that lightneth and Shineth and what light we have is borrowed and derived from him who is that great light b Joh. 1. 9. which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World Malachy calls him c Mal 4. 2. the Sun of righteousness Zachary calls him d Luk. 1. 78. The Day spring from on high St. Peter calls him e 2 Pet. 1. 19. The Day Star For Christ shines gloriously in the Gospel He inlightens guides and directs He scatters Clouds and
Strength stability and solidity Two Scriptures I shall fix on and by the Exposition of them clear the Analogy The first Scripture is Gen. 49. v. 24. Jacob giving the Blessing to his beloved Son Joseph saith But his Bow abode in Sub 〈◊〉 typo depicta est nobis imagâ— Christi qui antequam emergerat Victor mâ—rtis Author vitae positus 〈◊〉 Calvin Strength and the Arms of his Hands were made strong by the Hands of the mighty God of Jacob from thence is the Shepherd the Stone of Israel By this Shepherd and Stone Jacob endowed with a Prophetick Spirit look'd with the Eye of Faith upon Christ for Joseph was a Type of Christ who is the Shepherd of Israel the Foundation Stone and the Corner Stone of his Church Joseph as a Shepherd fed his Father and Brethren and was a helpful Instrument to save much People alive in the time of Famine So Christ is the Shepherd and Preserver of his People to provide for them and supply them Joseph was as a Rock or Stone for defence as an hiding place in providing for his Father and Brethren in Egypt So Christ is a Rock and Refuge and Shelter unto his People Without question that Prophecy of a King that shall reign in Righteousness is to be applied to Christ Isa 32. 1. Jerome one of the Learnedst of all the Fathers applyeth this Prophecy to Christ and the safety of God's People by Christ mentioned ver 2. And a Man shall be a 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 Rock in a weary Land * Quicuâ—que sub ejus umbraculo fuerit sic tutus â—rit in tribulationibus angustiis in mundi istius tempestate 〈◊〉 qui ventâ—m turbinem fugiens se tuto abscondit loco Hieron in loc Another Scripture which is more clear I shall mention out of Isa 28. 16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold I lay in Zion for a Foundation a Stone a tried Stone a precious Corner Stone a sure Foundation These are rare excellencies of a Stone and this Stone is laid in Zion i. e. the Church of God Let 's review all these excellencies of a Stone and it will evidently appear that they all meet in Christ in an eminent manner 1. This Stone is laid for a Foundation 1. A Foundation Stone A Foundation Stone must be strong and firm whereon the Superstructure may depend for if the Foundation fail the Building either sinks or falls down Now Christ is the Foundation of our Faith He hath founded and setled his Church and if we rely and hold fast on Christ we cannot miscarry The Doctrine of the Gospel is built on Christ Other Foundation can no Man lay than that that is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3. 11. The Foundation which will hold is neither Gold nor Silver Hay nor Stubble no Merits no devised Will-Worship these are rotten Foundations and will fail But the Foundation which will hold is that of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone Eph. 2. 20. 2. This Stone is a tryed Stone Some 2. A Tried Stone Stones are tryed and they moulder and are unfit for a Building but Christ is every way tried by Buffeting Scourgings Crucifixion and by the highest Malice that Men or Devils could put forth against him Many try their Armour before they venture into Battel whether it be Shot-proof Now Christ is Bullet proof as we say and Armour of Proof the whole Quiver of God's Arrows were shot against him and yet he endured it and came off Conqueror 3. This Stone is a precious Stone So 3. A precious Stone Christ is precious in himself He is the Pearl of Price and Plant of Renown the chiefest of ten thousands Christ is precious in the estimation of the Father he is the beloved Son the brightness of the Father's Glory the express Image of his Heb. 1. 3. Person And he is precious in the account of all true Believers they know how to value him they admire his Beauty and are ravished with his Love They have interest in the Blood of Christ and this is more precious than Millions of Worlds If the Soul be precious as we all acknowledg how much more must he be precious who redeems the Soul and Christ alone is the Redeemer of the Soul 4. This Stone is a Corner Stone Other 4. A Corner Stone Stones are knit and cemented to the Corner Stone so all true Believers are cemented in one Body and knit to Christ their Head He is the Corner Stone and the Head of the Corner 'T is true that the Builders rejected this Stone The Jews reviled persecuted and crucified Christ yet he is the Person of whom the Prophecy Psal 118. 22. was fulfilled And so the Apostle expounds that Prophecy in his Sermon Acts 4. 11. This is the Stone which was set at nought of you Builders which is become the Head of the Corner 5. This is a sure Foundation Stone 5. A sure Foundation Stones may and are oftentimes laid for a Foundation but they are not firm and stable and no ways able to support the Building but Christ is a sure firm and strong Foundation To build on this Foundation there 's Strength and Security I might further add 6. That which 6. A living Stone is beyond humane Sence Christ is a living Stone And yet it is evident from the Word of God 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. To whom coming as unto a living Stone disallowed indeed of Men but chosen of God and precious Ye also as lively Stones are built up a Spiritual House Now Christ is a living Stone and he communicates Life unto his Members and by vertue of his Life they live The Dead were raised by the Voice of Christ and those that are dead in Trespasses and Sins are quickned by Christ Eph. 2. 1. Dry Bones take Flesh and Sinews and become an Army when the Spirit breaths Life into them so the Ezek. 37. dead sleepy drowsy never so unlikely in the Eye of Man may be quickned by the Life of Christ But this comparison I need inlarge no farther SECT II. Shewing that Christ is resembled to a Fountain A Second Resemblance of Christ is to a Fountain There are choise Words spoken by the Church as is conceived resigning all the praise of Beauty and Dignity unto Christ who gave it to her The Words are Cant. 4. 15. * Significat populum hunc habuisse foecunditatem copiam donorum spiritualium Clarius A Fountain of Gardens a Well of Living Waters and Streams from Lebanon Gardens that are of the greatest Note have Fountains to water them Standing Pools are not valued here 's mention made of Streams and Living Waters and these Streams come from Lebanon The Head of the Streams of Jordan riseth from Lebanon and makes the Land
Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him the Eyes of your understanding being inlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints 2. A true Believer hath a spiritual tasâ— 2. A true Believer hath a spiritual tast â— ph 1. 14. and relish of Christ's Goodness He hath tasted that the Lord is gracious he hath received the earnest of his Inheritance viz The first Fruits of Glory even some glimpses of a beautiful and Transcendently excellent Saviour Now having experimental knowledge of Christs Mercy in pardoning and purging of him and making particular Application of Christ as St. Paul did Gal. 2. 20. who loved me and gave himself for me Upon these considerations I say how can it be otherwise but Christ must be Precious to such an one Christ hath preheminence in a Believers estimation for in his doubts he hath experimented Christ to be his Counsellor and in his distress his Comforter a Refuge in storm Riches in Poverty Health in Sickness Life in Death Christ is all in all to those who have experienced of his goodness All true Believers put the highest appretiation upon Jesus Christ both for what they already have and whatever they shall have 1. They already have part of payment 1. Believers receive in this Life part of payment earnest given in this Life of his love They have Influences from the Spirit of Christ They are endowed with the Graces of his Spirit They injoy a Sacred Communion with him They tast sweetness in his Ordinances by his Gracious Presence and by the Gracious Operations of his Spirit For it 's Christ's presence and the effectual working of his Spirit that makes an Ordinance effectual to the Soul Of this all the Adopted Sons and Daughters of God are Partakers more or less in this Life Now for what they now enjoy they have cause and accordingly endeavour to extol the Dignity and Honour of Jesus Christ 2. For what Believers shall have hereafter they account Christ pretious Though 2. Believers shall have Glory Heb. 11. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It importeth a removing of the lâ—ye from one Object to another Moses turned his Eyes from the Pleasures of Egypt and fix'd them on Heaven Dr. Gouge Col. 1. 27. â—ui Christus dulcescit mundus amarescit they are not mercenary yet with Moses they have an Eye unto the reward The Israelites in their tedious Pilgrimage had Canaan in their eye and the Thoughts of Canaan sweetned their present hardship and Sufferings Observe the order mentioned Rom. 12. 12. Rejoycing in hope patient in Tribulation The hope of Glory is cause of rejoycing and will make us more chearful to undergo Afflictions in this present World Christ the hope of Glory when he hath the preheminence in all things and we account him all in all then all things are but loss and dung when compared with Christ All things are accounted bitter where Christ is sweet Now the Crown of Glory the purchased Possession and the price of the high calling and Eternal Life all these are the gift of God through Jesus Christ having then these things in our deliberate and serious Meditation O! how infinitely shall we esteem of Jesus Christ more then our Hearts can conceive or our Tongues can express 3. A true Believer hath Spiritual Affections 3. A true Believer hath spiritual Affections and sets them all on work to magnifie the excellency of Christ For Instance 1. His Love is swallowed up with the 1. The Love of a Believer is on Christ Love of Christ He is with the Spouse sick of Love for Christ The Love of Christ constrains him 2 Cor. 5. 14. to do and suffer what Christ would have him 2. His Joy is fixed on Christ Christ is 2. His Joy is fix'd on Christ the Believers Joy he cannot rejoice in Corn and Wine and affluence of earthly things for there is Vanity and vexation in them all But he rejoyceth in Christ He delights hearing Christ speak to him in his Word and in his speaking to Christ in Prayer and Supplication We read of the Joy of Espousals and of the Joy of Harvest and Vintage but no Joy like to the Joy in God and to Joy in the Holy Ghost which is Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Senica would have Joy Volâ— laetitiam tibi esse Domi. Sen. Vis nunquam esse tristis bene vive Bona vita semper Gaudium habet conscientia rei semper in poena est Beza de inter Dom. to be at home Inward Joy Joy of the Heart is better than an outward flashly Joy and that is Joy wherein the Mind is quieted Now Christ alone can quiet the Mind and rejoyce the Spirit For other Joys Men may be seemingly Merry and force an outward Mirth when there 's a damp upon their Spirits and they are inwardly sad but the Joy of Christ causeth a serious solid Mirth so that a Believer may be full of inward Joy though he may seem outwardly sad i. e. or rather serious having a sedate and composed Spirit Now to rejoice in Christ shews how much we prize him 3. Our desire is on him That which 3. His desire is on Christ we desire above all and are most eager in pursuit of it plainly evidenceth that it 's in our highest estimation It 's Christ whom the Believer desires above all and as Rachel cryed out Give me Children or else I dye So a Believer cries Give me Christ or else I dye So did the Martyr in J. Lambert Fox Act. and Mon. Vol. 3. the Flames None but Christ none but Christ Christ is the Love Joy Delight and Desire of every true Believer The Hunted Hart doth not more earnestly thirst after Water then a Believer thirsts after Christ Nothing but Christ can satisfie his desire Cicero's works could not please Austin because Christ was not mentioned Aug. Con. l. 3. c. 4. Valde protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab â—o Ad in vita Lutheri in them Luther would not be put off with outward things he lookt for Christ and his Riches He preferred them before all Preferments They would not satisfie Bazil nor Caracciolus nor other Heroick Spirited Christians Their Desires and Longings were after Christ and Christ alone could satisfie their Desires No satisfying or quietting a Believers Heart without Christ SECT IV. Containing an Vse of Reproof to alâ—Vnbelievers Of Reproof THE second Use is for Reproof unto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non credentibus Vulg. Ed. all Unbelievers These are call'd disobedient in the next words following my Text Christ is the Stone which the â—uilders disallowed yet it 's made the head of the Corner Now as Christ is to Believers Pretious and esteemed the chief Corner Stone so unto Unbelieves he is a
to Christ be like the Love of Jonathan that abode in its Strength Love which holds out to the end which passeth through good report and bad report both through fair and foul Weather that 's the Love which will obtain Acceptance Love will conquer Difficulties as Jacob's did to Rachel who thought many years but a few days because he loved her Love to Christ will make us willing to pass through Fire and Water and encounter Sons of Anach and Beasts of Ephesus Love will cause a Christian to be willing to bear and suffer any thing for Christ Persecutions Oppositions and variety of Sufferings try the Sincerity and Constancy of a Christian's Love to Christ There 's a constraining Power in the Love of Christ which engageth all Christ's adopted Children to hold fast their Profession to be faithful to Death to account Christ All in all and persevere in their Faith so that Difficulties are as Whet-stones to sharpen a Believers Fortitude And the Snuffers of Persecution makes the Saints Candles burn brighter And thus in these five mentioned particular Tryals I have represented our Love to Christ CHAP. XI Containing an Vse of Exhortation to labour for the excellent Grace of Faith and an Vse of Direction THe foorth Use is for Exhortation Use 4 For Exhortation to labour for Faith Is it so that Christ is only precious to Believers then let 's hence infer one grand Duty to labour for the excellent Grace of Faith Hereby we shall set the highest value on Christ Faith is an instrumental means to help us to know the excellency of Christ For Faith is an Eye to â—ehold Christ Faith is a Hand to receive Christ a Mouth to feed on him an Heart to believe on him But we must interpose this caution that Faith receives all of Grace and Mercy and nothing of Merit Faith embraces Christ but Christ first gives Faith to embrace him Faith rests and relies on Christ but Christ supports our Faith If we believe he works it in us we must be thankful for what we receive and give God the Praise and Glory of all The Apostle gives an absolute determination Eph. 2. 8. For by Grace are ye saved through Faith it is the gift of God That our Endeavours Affections even the whole Man may be quickned to get this choice and excellent Grace of Faith I shall lay down these ensuing persuasive Arguments in the following Section SECT I. Containing persuasive Arguments to get Faith THat I may use all the prevailing Arguments as far as I apprehend to get Faith I shall insist on these following 1. Faith is a condition of the Covenant of Grace The Covenant of Works was Arg. 1 Faith is the condition of the Covenant of Grace do this and live none but Christ who is God and Man could perform this Covenant The Covenant of Works will not abate us a Transgression in the least title It exacts perfect Obedience and curseth the Transgressor Who continues not in all Gal. 3. 10. things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them But the Covenant of Grace runs Believe and thou shalt be saved The Law sheweth us our Sores and Wounds the Gospel applyeth Soveraign healing Plasters The Law like a Serjeant arrests and shuts us up and so hampers us that we cannot possibly escape The Gospel sets us at Liberty Gal. 3. 22. But the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lex veluti sit complexa concluserit que omnes in peccatum peccaturum virsus ostendit Oecum Rom. 9. 20. Scripture hath concluded all Men under Sin that the promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe Who then can lay any claim to this Covenant but the true Believer God accepts the Faith of a Believer through Chtist's Merits instead of legal Obedience Where fore we read of that Righteousness which was of Faith which is a Righteousness imputed by Christ's Righteousness even a Righteousness without us which is our Justification And here 's the great priviledg of a Believer That he is justified by the Righteousness of another and not by any Righteousness of his own but only by the Righteousness of Christ by imputation By Christ's Merits of Unrighteous we are made Righteous For saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 21. For he hath made him to be Sin for us who knew no Sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him So that hence it 's evident that He was accounted a Sinner by Imputation for he imputed our Sins unto himself and we are accounted Righteous by Imputation for he imputes his Righteousness unto us Here then appears Riches of Mercies that Evanglical Righteousness is accepted instead of Legal Righteousness Christ's Wisdom makes amends for our Folly Christ's Obedience for our Disobedience and Christ's absolute Perfection for our manifold Imperfections Now the Believer only hath interest in the Covenant of Grace Covenants essentially include Conditions The Covenant is a free Covenant a free Gift and of free Grace The Condition on our part is Faith but the Condition as well as the Covenant are given of God Take heed therefore O Christian that thou Sacrifice not to thine own Net and Dragge O do not trust to thy own Strength and Ability as if thou wert able to perform this Condition For the best of Believers by rheir own Strength are no more able to believe than to perform the Commandments Both to will and to do are the work Phil. 2. 13. Ki 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys of God And as Chrysostome observes God gives the very propension and inclination to will Faith indeed is the Believers Act and it 's his duty to believe but it 's God's Gift Faith is a lively Motion working upon a Believers Heart but this Motion is powerfully wrought by the Assistance of God's Spirit Whoever thou art if thou believest give God the praise of working this Belief in thee For God enables thee to perform what he requires and thou couldst not do any thing acceptably unto God unless he first gave to thee what he commandeth of thee Hence the Apostle tells us that We are buried with Col. 2. 12. him in Baptism through the Faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead The self-same Power that raised up Christ from the Dead must raise us up to believe in Christ 2. Faith is an instrumental means of our Arg. 2 Faith is an Instrumental Means of our Union unto Jesus Christ Union unto Christ Between Christ and us there must be an Union before there can be an Imputation of Righteousness We believe before we are Justified How Justification may be as some suppose ab Aeterno I can no more conceive than Glorification is such is in the secret Decree of God That Faith goeth before Justification is evident from Gal. 3. 24. The Law was our School-master to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by Faith We believe
Spirit of Christ asswage and bring down all proud swelling thoughts High Inclinations are cast down by the Spirit of God The hard Heart is molified and of insensible it becomes sensible and of seared it becomes tender and apprehensive of Sin 2. Ointment hath a penetrating Power to pass through the Pores and diffuse it self through every Pore of the ill affected part So where there is the Unction of the Spirit it openeth the Eyes subdues the Will raiseth the Affections enlargeth the Heart Hence saith the Apostle 1 Joh. 2. 20. But ye have an Vnction from the Holy One and ye know all things i. e. All things needful for Salvation And this Unction is an abiding Unction ver 27. But the annointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you that is they need not that any should teach them any new Opinion Let them retain those Principles wherein they have been taught and stick close unto them 3. Ointment hath a refreshing and comforting Vertue Ointments as they make way for the emission of all noxious Humors so likewise for the free passage of all Vital Spirits which do enliven refresh and comfort the Heart Hence we Ps 104. 15. â—sal 4â— 7. Isa â—1 3. Joh. 14. 25 Joh. 14. 16 read that Oil makes the Face to shine And it 's called the Oil of Gladness and the Oil of Joy So the Spirit of God is a Spirit of Consolation call'd the Comforter A Comforter that may abide with us for ever In all our Troubles if we can get God's Spirit for our Comforter we shall chearfully rejoice in Tribulation The Question was Job 15. 1. â— propounded to Job Are the Consolations of God small with thee So it may be ask'd Are the Consolation of God's Spirit small with thee No questionless for they abound in Comfort The Illapses Influences and Communications of the Spirit of God in comforting the Afflicted binding up the Broken-hearted refreshing the Languishing raising up those that are Fallen strengthning the Weak all these set forth abundantly the singular benefit of Divine Consolations flowing from the Spirit of God A fourth Demonstration that Believers Demon. 4. Believers have a Pâ—eâ—ions Inheritance are Precious in the sight of Christ is because that Christ assures them of a Precious Inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven Heaven is Christs Purchase and by vertue of Christs Purchase it becomes the Saints Inheritance The Tenure where by the Saints hold is in capite in their Head Christ Now for their full assurance there 's a threefold Title whereby true Believers lay claim to Heaven viz. By Promise Donation and Possession 1. By Promise Christ hath promised 1 Title by Promise Heaven unto his Children Amongst many I shall select a few excellent Promises one is Joh. 14. 23. In my Fathers House aâ—e many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Another nother Promise is Matth. 19. 28. Verily I say unto you that ye which have follow'd me in the Regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the Throne of his Glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thronis Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel A third Promise is Matth. 19. 29. And every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother shall receive an hundred fold and shall Inherit Everlasting Life The meaning is not that all these things should be made up in kind that he should receive so many Fathers Mothers and Sisters in the room of them but the meaning is that he shall receive Christ and Everlasting Life which is his Purchase and is infinitely more worth than all the World A second Title which Believers have to 2. Title by Donation Heaven is a Title of Donation Eternal Life is the gift of Christ as may appear Joh. 10. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand Further Christs Donation is evident John 17. 22. And the Glory which thou hast given me I have given them Heaven is Christs Gift and there is no merit nor any thing in the Creature to procure God to bestow his great Gift for saith our Saviour Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little Flock for it is your Fathers good Pleasure to give you the Kingdome But though we cannot merit Heaven yet we must be constant and conscientious in the performance of our Duties we must repent believe and be zealous to do good works and to such as are faithful unto Death the promise will be made good unto them Rev. 2 10. I will give thee a Crown of Life It 's true that Salvation is a free Gift and Heaven is the purchase of Christs Blood yet our Duty is to work out our own Salvation with Fear and Trembling Phil. 2. 12. A third Title to Heaven is that of Possession 3. Title by Possession Joh. 3. 36. He that Believes in the Son hath Everlasting Life A Believer hath such an assurance as present Possession can give him For the Word of God is his assurance He hath a Witness 1 John 5. 10. He that believes on the Son of God hath the Witness in himself And he hath both Sealing and Earnest Eph. 1. 13 14. Ye were Sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise which is the Earnest of our Inheritance The Sealing of the Spirit is Assurance the Earnest is part of Payment or some first fruits of the Harvest so than to have a Title of Promise Donation and Possession must needs be a strong Title Quest But the Question hence will be moved whether any can be assured of their Salvation in this Life Answ To this I Answer That some have been assured and others may be assured 1. Some have been assured as Job c. 19. v. 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth and Paul Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me and gave himself for me And 2. Why others may be assured of their Salvation in this Life For in those Beautitudes mentioned Math. 5. If upon serious search and Examination a Believer can conclude that he is poor in Spirit pure in Heart c. Thence he may infer that he is in a state of Blessedness Likewise the Scriptures give several distinguishing Characters whence we may evidence the assurance of Salvation One is love to the Brethren 1 Joh. 4. 14. We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren Another Character is the loving of Christs appearing The Apostle speaks not only in his own name but also in the name of all Saints Henceforth there is 2 Tim. â—8 laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that Day and not to me only