use for salvation A second instance is this that the Gospel holds forth to sinners all the wrong wayes that they goe and all the wrong meanes that they use to save their soules this is by the light of the Gospel Man naturally is either dead in sin or asleep or if he be a little awaked he takes a thousand wayes to goe to heaven and none of them Gods way none of them the right way Every carnall man sometime or other hath some designe in his head to save his soule one man thinks to doe it by his equity and justice in his dealing and trading another by his hospitality and charity to the poore another by hearing of Sermons and performing of duties as in the time of Poperie how many yeares did they spend spent their strength and time and their money and when all came to all all was lost all their ways were the wrong way to Heaven Now the light of the Gospel discovers all these false wayes and shewes that you will come short of the glory of God and the salvation of your soules and will convince you that There is no Name under heaven by which you can be saved but only the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ Consider is not this good newes that God should come first by the Ministery of the Gospel and shew thee thy wretched condition and then when thou hast spent thy time and strength in false wayes to be reconciled to God and to save thy soule the Gospel comes and discovers all these that thou maiest go seek the true way 3. It holds forth Gods love to sinners Thridly the Gospel holds forth to poore sinners that there is a love an eternall love an infinite love in Gods breast to poore sinners before ever the world was made You know in reason a man would think that God should hate such a one as I am God foresaw what a creature I would be when I was borne and how I have lived and reason would think that love should proceed from something amiable in the object that should produce love some beautie or bountie as wee say but God sees me to be wicked and sinfull and therefore reason would think God must damne me world without end Now the Gospel comes to such a sinner and tells him the case is otherwise it is not so poore sinfull man or woman and though God hate sin above all things in heaven or hell yet God loved thee knowing what thou wouldest be God knows the reason of it we doe not it is as it is said in Deutrenomie I loved thee because I loved thee God hath an infinite speciall love to thy poore soule yet hates thy fin from before the world was made and the Mountaines were brought forth So God loved the world that he gave his Son c. There was a love in God out of which he gave his Son Jesus Christ to die for us This the Gospel and the Spirit of God in it reveales to the poore soule that when I was an enemie to God hee was my friend when I hated him he loved me nay before I was God had thoughts of an infinite eternall love to me 4. Gods love fruitful Then fourthly the Gospel holds forth to a sinner that as God had an infinite love towards him so it was not a cold love that ended in nothing but out of this love God would send his Son Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners This is one maine principle of the Gospel that the Father out of his love sent his own Son that was the Image of his person the Son of his love and delight into this world to lay downe his life and to die for sinners Were it not for the Ministery of the Gospel we could never know this how could we know but by the Gospel that the Lord Jesus Christ did come to die to save sinners So God loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that hee that believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life Fiftly 5. Christ came to work redemption breifly for I doe but give you a few touches of instances it holds out to us that as the Father out of his love seat his Son so that Jesus Christ actually and really is come into the world and took our nature upon him soule and body and the infirmities of both and sanctified our nature that he took and in that nature became our Surety a Publick person for us our Advocate a second Adam That he was conceived and born of the Virgen and that he lived here and so did the will of God and fulfilled his Law and conversed many yeares among men and that therein while he did so he gave us many blessed experiments of his love and mercy to poore sinners in healing the sick in giving sight to the blinde in raising the dead And while he conversed among men he taught and discovered in a great measure the mysteryes of his Fathers counsells to us that else we could never have known and gave us a holy patterne and example of life in humility and patience and delligence and prayer and thankfulnesse All these things are good newes and glad tidings to poore sinners every part of them Then the Gospel tells us that this Lord Jesus Christ after he had walked among men for many yeares together that then as a Publicke person 6. Christ died for us and second Adam and our Surety he did lay downe his life and die for our sins But you will say Where is the good newes from that Hence it is that poore sinners are reconciled to God they are made friends with God Hence it is that poore sinners are redeemed from all their enemies sin and death and wrath and curse and hell all these by the death of the Lord Jesus are removed Then the Gospel tells you that Jesus Christ as hee died for our sins so he rose againe for our justification he rose againe from the dead the third day 7. He roase from death whereby poor sinners are assured that they are justified and freed from all their sins and whereby they shall rise to grace here and their soules and bodies shall rise to glory hereafter with Christ and whereby they shall rise out of all afflictions also in due time For the resurrection of Christ is the ground of our resurrection out of afflictions in this world and every tittle of this is glad tidings and good newes to poore sinners Then the Gospel tells you that after his resurrection he conversed with his Disciples 8. Conversed with his discipls and not with the world and that he met with his Disciples from one mountaine to another from one Towne to another for a few dayes after and there he made many precious Prayers to his Father for them and for all that should believe in him and there he gave them instructions and directions how they should order the Churches of God
have warrant we agree in all the maine things let us walk so till we come to that one that they differ in and a hundred to one if ever we come to it the strife among Gods people of Presbytery and Independencie would cease take away those that strive to make bate It is as if you and I should strive who should goe into the gates of Venice first and a hundred to one if any of us come there Let us goe along in the substantiall things wherein we agree And what shall we doe then I tell you as for the matter of appeale the Presbytery truly called as they cannot fully prove that there is an absolute rule that they should doe so so the other cannot prove that they may not What is to be done then This that when all things come to that that they cannot agree in a Church it may be expedient and convenient that we appeale to others to end our busines if this were done downe would goe the difference between Presbytery and Independents This is the way to peace and union and agreement among the Saints But you will say Sir this is the way to confusion for there being but a few things lawfull and abundance of things that are not expedient now who shall judge what is expedient and what is not shall every particular man determine of his owne head then there will be a confusion worse than ever for so many men so many minds therefore surely this is not the way to peace To answer that to take in some obiections as I passe to cleare the truth I must tell you foure or five things The first is 1. Take heed of vaine feares in Gods wayes that if this be the way of God which I hope I have proved to you then take heed of your wisedome that runns and sees inconveniences in Gods wayes Feare it not if it be Gods way God can perserve it and blesse it feare not inconveniences in your vaine thoughts leave the event to the Lord. As you know that unhappie man Uzzah when he saw the Arke shake he must goe and hold it When you are sure that this is the will of God set not your wits on work as people doe they reason from intricacies and absurdities and this and that that may follow It is good to be sober and not to be curious when we see clearly that this is the will of God leave it to the Lord to direct them and guide them and blesse them as he pleaseth That is one answer 2. Christ hath done the maine already concerning worship Secondly you say it will be all confusion who shall judge shall every particular man This is the second answer It is very probable if every man shall goe and set up what government he will and worship God as he pleaseth if all the worship of God were to be determined according to every mans humour or every nation and custome and fashion then it would breed confusion but Christ hath done that for the maine the substance is done and the matter nay the manner and forme in a great measure nay it may be some circumstances But if all were to be done againe that we were to shape a Religion and customes and lawes wholly and as a Godly Ancient saith if we were to frame the house to the curtaine and not the curtaine to the house If we were to frame Religion to every countrie where we come this would breed confusion But Christ hath done the maine only there are somethings that fall out in Worship and Doctrine and Discipline that must be mannaged by the rules of expediency that I gave you before I answer 3. To study spirituall things it is probable that in case wee should goe on thus according to the rules agreeing in the cleare generall rules and goe accordingly in particulars as is expedient yet it is to be doubted that according to the spirit we have now and our temper wee shall goe to greater confusion and so wee shall as long as wee have carnall sleight spirits as generally Christians have they will lead us to confusion What shall wee doe then Every one set his soule about the studie of spirituall things The more carnal the more busie about outward things endeavour to see the beautie and excellency of them and to feed more upon them that will avoide that stir and contention 1 Cor. 3. Are yee not carnal Why so one said I am for Paul another I am for Peter I am for Presbytery and I am for Jndependency are yee not carnall as if he had said I warrant you spirituall things grow not in your soules I never saw a spirituall excellent Christian following curiosities about externall things I will tell you a mystery from your experience you observe sometimes your soules are in better temper than at others sometimes you see the things of the Kingdome of God the riches of Christ and the opperations of the Holy Ghost more clearly and you shall finde that according as your soules are screwed up in the sweetness and contemplation of spirituall things so you are lesse and lesse disposed to make chrotchets knots in outward things therefore the way is labour to be spirituall If wee were full of faith and peace and joy in believing and full of the Holy Ghost there would be no confusion about these things Especially get love in your soules 4. To get love for that is the reason wee are in a lovelesse condition therefore wee run to confusion and so we shall goe which way we will unlesse wee get love in our soules John hath a cleare place for it 1. Jo. 2.9 He that saith he is in the light and hates his brother he is in darknes untill now he that loves his brother abides in the light and there is no occasion of stumbling in him A man that loves his brother and is full of love there is no occasion of stumbling in him Mark those people take a man that is full of love he hath not crotchets and fancies to make bate and strife between men there is no occasion of stumbling in him But hee that hates his brother is in darknesse he walks in darknesse and knows not whether he goes because the darknesse hath blinded his eyes When people hate their brethren and doe not love them as they should they are in darknesse and goe they know not whether and so love growes lesse and lesse and darknes more and more among us and we are groping daily and going to confusion Therefore the Saints and the Ministers should joyne to get spirituall things especially love and then there would be no such confusion In 1 Cor. 13. Love doth nothing unseemly the word is dirived from the Latine word indecore Love doth nothing amisse but doth every thing seemly if we were full of love we should be able to answer a hundred questions that now wee are not able to doe But we want love
shall have the Lord knows I know not but only thus much I say that what ever it will be if it be according to these straines that have been heretofore than I confesse there will be a great deale of heavie tidings and hard newes even in the Gospel of Jesus Christ if men call it Gospel or any thing belonging to it For my part as I am wholly ignorant what Government men will set up and call it Christs right or wrong So I am not ignorant of the feares and jealousies that are in the hearts of godly people of this and that thing but be sure if it be the government of Jesus Christ and his discipline there will be nothing but good newes and glad tidings to the honestest heart and tenderest conscience and if it be not such a government it is not of God for I have proved plainly that there is nothing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ but good newes and glad tidings to the worst of sinners But if it be a government that I shall be compelled against conscience and my goods confiscated for this or that trifle this is not according to the Gospel for there are none of these terrible things in the Gospel of Christ it is all sweet The two worst things in the Gospel good newes I will give you but one instance and passe it over In the government of Christ according to the Scriptures the two worst and harshest things that you shall finde there you shall see clearely that they are good things and good newes for a poore Christian to have them set up over his soule As first of all you know that in the Gospel 1. Reproofe the government or discipline call it which may you will We finde in some cases that the Lord Jesus will have us not only comfort and exhort and teach one another but in some cases he will have us reprove one another Benefit of Gospel reproofe and have our Ministers reprove us also but in love and tendernes This is one of the harshest things and this if you look right on it with a spirituall eye truly it is glad tidings for a poore Saint when he hath forgot himself by the violence of some lust Then for a sincere hearted Brother or Sister in the spirit of meeknes and love to reprove him and set his bones in joynt You have some of you found in experience that a sweet and wise reproofe hath been as pleasing to you as any Sermon of consolation that ever you heard And therefore you see in Scripture how the Lord sets downe reproofe that you may not be affraid of it Levit. 19.17 he tells you that reproofe is an argument of love Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart but rather reprove him It is an argument of love A man that reproves another wisely and meekly he loves him for otherwise his poore soule is going in the way towards hell from God and fellowship with God going on in sin Now a man that reproves him he brings him backe againe from sin and that strangnes from God that he was in a course to run into therefore I say there is no such evil in reproofe Besides the Scripture saith it is a precious thing Ps 14â— 5 David saith Let the righteous smite me and it shall be as balme it shall be a kindness let him reprove me and it shall be an excellent oile it shall not breake my head It shall be as excellent oile or balme to heale his soule Reproofe is called a profitable thing also 2 Tim. 3. The Scripture is profitable for instruction and reproofe c. If reproofe were an evil thing one could not say that the Scripture were profitable for such an end It is a great judgment of God when God casts a man into such a condition that no body will reprove him It is a thing that I am many times affraid of truly almost to trembling least a man should so carrie himselfe to the Saints and so estrange himselfe that they will not reprove him O it is fearefull when a man stands on his owne bottome and on his owne leggs that men shall say there is a Professor he is so proud and so foolish that none will reprove him Saith God to Ezkiel Thou shalt not be a reprover to this peaple and in Hosea 3. Let no man strive or reprove another Why so saith the Lord in the end of the Chapter Let him be as a backsliding heifer Ephraim is joyned to Idols let him alone It is a pitifull thing when God shall leave a man as a heifer that is turned into the meddow to grasse let him alone They used to plow with heifers in those dayes as we doe with horses and Oxen and the horses and Oxen are called from the house to the Plow and are driven and beaten but when the Oxe is turned to grasse to be fatted let him alone he lies downe and riseth when he will so these people were so wicked that no man should reprove his brother but he should be as a lambe in a fat Pasture So that reproofe that is one of the harshest things in the government of Christ in the Gospel it is a good a precious and profitable thing It is a great judgment to be without it therefore though that be used the doctrine holds true that there is nothing but good newes glad tidings in the Gospel of Jesus Christ There is another thing that is Excommunication 2 Excomunication cutting a man off from the people of God or delivering him up to Satan A man may say that is a terrible thing It is terrible as I said before when there is secular punishment with it confiscation of goods and losse of estate and freedome but according to the Gospel of Christ you shall see that even the delivering men up to Satan Christ Jesus intends it in love for the good and salvation of their soules It is harsh but it is good newes 2 Cor. 5. saith the Apostle In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ when yee are gathered together and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus speaking of the incestuous person If men will be so wretched as to sin grosly the Lord Jesus hath ordered that such a man shall be delivered to Satan for what that he may be damned and to bring him to hell No for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus And truly Beloved I have seen more than one that have blessed God for that Ordinance that have been brought to humble their soules and sweetly and closely to walk with God againe by the blessing of God on that Ordinance Now I have told you the worst in the Gospel either reproofe and that but upon great occasion or else delivering to Satan
make the way wider than Christ hath Page 40 2. Those that abolish the Morall Law Page 42 3. Those that allow outward prophanesse Page 43 2. Those that erre on the right hand of two sorts 1. Such as make lawes to tie themselves Page 46 2. Such as make lawes to binde others Page 47 Use 3. Exhortation to Duties 1. To understand our Christian liberty Page 51 Ignorance of Christian liberty dangerous Page 52 2. Not to infringe our Christian liberty Page 55 3. Not to abuse our Christian liberty Page 59 4. To holdfast our Christian liberty Page 60 SERMON IIII. Doct. 2. Though divers things be lawfull to the Saints under the New Testament yet there are but a few things expedient Page 61 Three sorts of things inexpedient Page 62 1. Things simply evil Ibid 2. Things simply good in three cases 1. When a greater good comes in Page 63 2. When wee cannot come at the good without doing of evil Ibid 3. When a greater evil followes Page 64 3. Things indifferent Ibid Expediency what Page 66 Things expedient must bring profit Page 68 1. To advance the glory of God Page 69 2. The good of our brethren three wayes Page 70 1. To increase love between us and them Ibid 2. To conduce to the peace of the Saints Page 71 3. It must tend to edification Page 73 3. To win those without Ibid 4. To our owne souls Page 74. SERMON V. Conveniencie or Decency what Page 77 1. In respect of a mans person Page 78 2. In respect of his relation Page 79 3. In respect of his profession Page 80 4. In respect of sex Ibid 5. In regard of age Page 82 6. In regard of the season Ibid Christians must walk laudably Page 83 Christians must walk orderly Page 86 Things done disorderly 1. When the end is missed Page 87 2. When one dutie hinders another Ibid. Use 1. To have an eye to that which is expedient Page 88 Use 2 Reproofe of those that eye onely lawful things Page 89 1. It is a signe of an hypocrite Page 90 2. Of an Old Testament spirit Page 91 3. It may damne a man Page 92 Vse 3. The way of the Gospel a strict way Page 94 Liberty of the Gospel wherein it is Page 95 SERMON VI. Vse 4. To be strict in point of expediency Page 98 1. It would end controversies among Saints Page 99 To take heed of vaine feares in Gods wayes Page 104 2. The maine is done by Christ already Ibid 3. To studie spirituall things Page 105 4. To get love Page 106 Things to be determined 1. By Magistrates Page 107 2. By the Church Page 109 3. By Masters of Families Ibid 4. By particular persons Ibid Cautions for Magistrates and Churches in determining Ibid 1. It must be in necessarie indifferent things Ibid 2. Things that relate to the Kingdome Page 110 3. Saints to be deals with as rationall men Ibid 4. To take heed of making lawes for the future Ibid 5. Not co impose things on mens consciences Page 111 6. Not to use rigour in determining Ibid Examples of the old Saints be looked to Page 112 Customs of the saints and Churches to be looked to Page 113 Right reason to be looked to Page 117 Reason of three sorts Ibid The law of nature to be looked unto Page 118 SERMON VII Motives to eye that which is expedient Page 123 Motive 1. It is the right way to peace Ibid No reason of strife between Presbyterians and Independents Page 125 1. There are Godly men on both sides Ibid 2. There difference is small Ibid 3. They differ about that which is never like to be Page 126 4. Neither side can prove what they would have Page 127 The present cortentions from five sorts of men Page 128 1. Weak Christians Page 129 2. Carnal Presbyterians Ibid 3. Malignants Page 132 4. The godly moderate party Page 133 5. The common multitude Page 134 SERMON VIII Motive 2. To eye things expedient the way to peace in a mans self Page 138 Guik in Christians whence Page 139 Motive 3. He that eyes not expediency cannot doe much for God Page 142 1. He presents Religion to others as an endlesse thing Page 143 2. As burthensome Page 145 3. As ridiculous Page 146 4. Hee deprives himselfe of opportunities of doing good Page 147 5. Hee can doe good but by accident Page 148 6. Hee intends good but to a few Page 149 7. Hee leads others to destraction Page 150 Motive 4. Without eyeing expediency a man cannot be an excellent Christian Page 152 1. Because an excellent Christian hath the minde of Christ Page 153 2. Hee is busied about high things Page 154 3. He relisheth spirituall things Page 155 4. He hath stock enough within Page 156 Motive 5. To looke to our Principles against suffering times Ibid Motive 6. To make lawes where God hath not offends him Page 158 SERMON IX Stumbling-blocks removed Page 162 Objections answered Page 166 Hindrances from walking according to expediency 1. Engagements beyond mens principles Page 171 2. Looking on things with prejudice Page 172 3. Devout jealousie of truth and Error Page 173 4. Carnall wisdome Page 176 5. Selfe Page 177 6. Hypocrisie Ibid Helps to walk expediently 1. Spirituall wisdome Ibid 2. Sobriety in two things 1. To subject our fancies to the word Page 178 2. To follow notions no farther than they agree with the word Ibid 3. Watchfulnesse Page 179 4. Love Ibid. GOSPEL LIBERTY EXPLAINED 1 COR. 10.23 ALL thing are LAWFULL for me but ALL things are not EXPEDIENT ALL things are LAWFULL for me but ALL things EDIFIE not The scope of the words THese words that I have read to you they are the conclusion of Pauls answer to certaine Questions that the Corinthians it seems in writing had proposed to him What those Questions were you may read from the beginning of the 7th Chapter to part of this 10th Chapter I shall onely touch them a little In the beginning of the seventh Chapter they had written to Paul and asked him this question Whether it were lawfull for a man under the Gospel to marrie Because it seems they thought the profession of the Gospel such a holy thing in old time otherwise than Professors do now that they thought it a kind of defilement to that spirituall and glorious profession to marrie That was one question Another was Chapter 7.4 Whether being married they might live with there husbands and wives as before Paul answers that They aske him againe whether a Believer being matched to an unbeliever might turne away his wife and leave his house He answers that Then the servants that were believers and their masters unbelievers they wrote and asked whether they in conscience should seek their freedom He answers that also So there are divers questions from that place to the end of the Chapter as whether it were lawfull for people to marrie in the time of persecution
Compare it with 1. Cor. 11. where the Apostle speaks concerning women being covered or uncovered and he shewes what he thought was fit in those countries but saith he if any be contentious we have no such custome nor the Churches of God That is if you wrangle and strive and keep a coile I will not beare you out we have no such custome nor the Churches of God to breake the peace and to make strife and contention As in the outward common-wealth so in the spirituall common-wealth of Israel let him look to it that first breaks the peace It must not be opinions and crotchets of yesterdayes making that must break the peace of the Churches day by day it is a dangerous thing therefore in 2 Thes 3.15 I beseech God by all meanes to keep peace among you the Lord of peace himself give you peace alwayes by all meanes It is three times repeated therefore surely you must eye that Thirdly look whether it tend to edification 3. To edification for all things edifie not That is doth this conduce to doe my brother good will his soul be the better for it As it must increase love between thee and him or else do it not if it break love or break peace So see if it edifie him whether it build up his soule or no will his soule be the better for it It may be thy brother is a weak Saint and thou maiest hinder his soule from growing in grace by doing a lawfull thing for saith the Apostl all things are not expedient all things edifie not Therefore see that it tend to edification But here is your religion what doe I care let it trouble him or no or better him or no Is it not lawful to do this Is it not lawfull to play at cards and dice and such things O see if it edifie or else abhorr it as if it were forbidden as the tree in Eden avoyd lawfull things if they edifie not Thirdly 3. To win those without see whether it conduce to the winning of the souls of others that are without The Lord hath put us into the world to win the Elect out of the world and wee must have an eye to that few Christians observe that the more is the miserie we onely raile and speak evil of them but wee should walk as lights in the middest of a crooked generation As Paul saith concerning marrying and taking money for his preaching I could saith he marrie as well as Peter and make you pay for every Sermon I preach for thou shalt not muzzel the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne but God forbid though these things be lawfull I become all things to all men that I might win some I caught you by guile saith he What was Pauls guile Not a sinfull thing it was no jesting with them nor it was not so much in necessarie duties but in lawfull things there being a latitude in the Gospel Paul did so walk and carrie himselfe as that he might win poore sinners to the Lord Jews or Gentiles But you onely looke if it be lawfull O you should look whether you offend your brethren whether you break the peace whether you doe not harden others you must walk decently to them that are without In our walking we must do nothing that may harden others There are a world more hardened by the indiscreet doing of good and the careless indecent doing of lawfull things than by the sinfull actions of the Saints as I shall shew after Fourthly and lastly thou must look whether it bring any gaine 4. To our own souls or advantage to thy own peace to thy conscience to thy self for though it be a lawfull thing yet if it trouble and gravell thy conscience thou must not doe it saith Paul I have endeavoured to keep a good conscience towards God and towards men And generally among the Saints they have more guilt in their consciences Why Christians are most troubled about the use of lawful things and more trouble in their soules about the use of lawfull things than about sinfull it is partly from their ignorance not knowing their liberty and partly indiscretion and the strength of their lusts that many times they eat when they should not or they eat more than they should or they sleep when they should not therefore you shall have poore people complaine Sir I am readie to starve my self I am such a glutton I eat so oft and I eat so many bits and of so many dishes and I cannot eat but my conscience saith it is too much whereas I should eat but one dish and so many cuts they make lawes and they break them after and make themselves guilty and then conscience checks them I confesse there is much ignorance in weak Christians not knowing their Christian liberty in meats and drinks but much is for want of discretion and because there is a great deale of unsanctifiedness in the heart in the directing and managing of lawful things for the glory of God and for their own peace and quiet for they follow their lusts and abuse lawful things that another man might doe without sin Therefore whatsoever it is say not the Minister saith it is lawfull though it be yet it may be poyson to thee for it may be inexpedient doth it trouble thy conscience get knowledge to see the lawfulnes of it or abstaine from it gall not thy conscience So then to end that you see according to the signification of the word expedient taken in the proper signification the first rule that all lawfull things are not expedient Though many things be allowed that God hath not restrained nor determined they are neither commanded nor forbidden by the word of God yet every thing is not expedient that is every thing doth not advance the glory of God and love among the Saints and peace and edification Every thing doth not conduce to win others out of the world and every thing doth not help the peace of our own conscience Decency what 1 COR. 10.23 All things are lawfull for me but all things are not expedient c. I Have observed to you from these words three things The first was this That There are divers things that are now lawfull to the Saints under the new Testament that were not to the Saints under the Old I have finished that Doctrine The second is this Though divers things be lawfull to the Saints under the new Testament yet but a few of those things are expedient and fit for a Saint to doe For the opening of it I propounded two things First what I mean by lawfull things I instanced in three sorts Secondly what is meant by EXPEDIENT The word comprehends all the rules that are to order and guide us in the use of things that are not determined that are not commanded nor forbidden It is a large word All things are not expedient That is all things are not fit all things are not
know not what to doe for salvation and they say come be of our Church and you shall be saved take such a Religion on you confesse your sins to the Preist and doe this and that and then you shail be saved It is the same principle you place salvation and heaven in externall things and most of your owne making and then poore soules that would goe to heaven and goe the nearest way they could finde they come and they will observe those externall things and then what is the end of it After all this adoe there will be a carnall prophane heart that was never changed that Christ was never in I have seen more than one that have been asked what evidence have you that Christ is in you I have walked in such a way this twenty or two and twenty yeares or so long and I am come out from Antichrist A man may doe so and be a damned creature when all is done I have seen some though I think there be scarse any Christians in the world besides that have done it that have invented a world of tricks and quâ—rks out of the Scripture and have made them absolute lawes and none must be held but they and besides I have seen such boasting and such blindnesse in spirituall things that with charity a man may say there is not grace in such souls Therefore poore carnall souls are gulled when such tricks are put on them carnall hearts run there and think to be safe and crow over others in the end they prove carnal This is not the way to win others or do good to others So you have three motives The fourth Motive that should move you to hearken to this truth Mot. 4. Without looking to expediency a man cannot be an excellent Christian to labour to understand it and receive it and to walk by it for otherwise you will never be excellent Christians remember that word spirituall excellent Christians never make such tricks you shall alway observe that the Eagle lookes not after flies I have never seen and I have considered with my self I have scarsly ever if ever seen a spirituall Christian goe that way you shall observe in your selves if I be not deceived that when your soules are in a spirituall temper full of the love of God and communion with Christ and in a holy spirituall frame you shall not finde such a disposition in you to make such a glorious business of little externall things neither that God hath commanded though wee must not neglect that much lesse those that God never commanded So the excellency in Christianity or the beauty of holiness I would set it out as a godly man in another case by the naturall beauty of a man or a woman VVhat makes a man or a woman beautifull It is not onely the having of so many limbes another man may have as many leggs and fingers and toes as a beautifull man hath and yet not be beautifull but what is the beauty of a man a sumety or harmony and proportion between the humours of the bodie with in and the members without as a man is not beautiful that hath a great head and a little hand that is no proportion So a Christian that walks by the rule of lawfulnesse and unlawfulnesse only by what is lawfull and commanded and what is forbidden hee will not be a beautiful Christian that is but a limbe of Christianity but excellent Christianity ariseth from proportion between our actions when an action is not only good but it is done expediently it is done decently and orderly As a Lute or a paire of Virginals that have as many strings as they need yet there may be no musicke So there is no beautie in a Christian that saith what is truth and what is falshood and what is lawful and what unlawful But the beauty is when a man ordereth his wayes as that he doth things for the honour of God and for the good of others and of his own soule this makes an excellent Christian the other cannot be excellent Christians The reasons and grounds of it that I may touch them breifly Reason 1 An excellent Christian hath the minde of Christ The first is this I spake a little before of it because an excellent Saint or a happy Saint hee hath the minde of Christ Jesus we have the minde of Christ saith the Apostle VVhat is that Thus he hath the law and will of God in the New-Testament written in his heart there is just the same finger as was in penning this blessed book with the same letters and characters and the same order thence it comes to passe as wee see among lambes and sheep put a lambe among a thousand he will goe to his own dam You are not able to give a reason much lesse the poore creature so the will of God is written in the heart of a Christian one comes and tells him of a nick of outward sanctity though hee be not able to give an answer against it yet there is a kind of sagacity in him the law of God is written in his heart and therefore he will not obey that he knowes not why but he cannot touch it So though a Christian have reason in most of his wayes yet the maine principle that leads him is somewhat above that Those Saints that have not their hearts touched with this landstone will be carried about to any nick till they be undone 2. Hee is busied about high things Another ground is because an excellent Saint is busie and imployed about higher things and therefore he cannot finde time to take up all his thoughts to studie externalls As some people all their preaching and praying and discourse is about such things in externalls A Saint may look upon it and talk respectively but he is so taken up about knowing of Christ and his love and bringing his sovl into communion with him and conformity to him that he hath not while to doe it That a man may say and say truly that there are divers people that trade in externall things as Pharaoh the people are idle So it is a hundred to one but thou hast an idle soule within that is left at randome thou knowest not what termes God and thy soule are in And therefore you shall finde in severall places in Timothy there was a stir about Genealogies they might have said it is Scripture and truth Take heed of them saith Paul How shall Timothy take heed of them see the rule 1 Tim. 4.8 he calls him to other busines he takes him and puts him upon another work Bodily exercise profiteth little What shall he doe then exercise thy self to godlines Why this is godlinesse might they say No it is a hundred to one saith Paul but they are people that are remisse in godlinesse that are taken up with fables So in v. 12. Let no man despise thy youth but be an example to the believers in word in conversation in
life as those under the Law for the Law is a voyce of words it bids me doe this or that or I shal be damned and if I went a little awrie I should lose all my labour no I see my salvation is safe hell and damnation are shut out of doores God is my Father and I am his childe I am in an everlasting Covenant there is nothing in Heaven or Hell shall be able to separate me from the love of God Now I am redeemed from my enemies and without feare as the Scripture saith why should I not serve him and studie to doe what he commands me Besides admit the Gospel bids thee doe many things the Gospel also gives thee power to doe them 2. The Gospel gives power to do what it requireth It is not a voice of words as that on Mount Sinai Heb. 12. that is words that had a voice but no power thou shalt doe this and not that but it gave no strength and the people were not able to beare the word for they were bid not to commit adultery not to sweare not to steale and there was no strength but a voyce But the voyce of the Gospel is a voyce of power it is called The day of Gods power the power of God to salvation The Arme of God the strength of God Therefore whatsoever the Gospel commands it gives a sweet power to the heart to doe the same and then it is no bad newes If a man bid me pay a thousand pounds for my neighbour and give me a thousand pounds in my hand it is easie to doe it The Gospel bids me deny myselfe and subdue my lusts if it did give no power it were a terrible thing but if withall the Gospel carry the Spirit of Christ into the heart and kill sin and make me able to deny my selfe then it is good newes 3. Gospel duties few and easie Besides the duties that the Gospel bids me doe they are few for number and easie for nature and for the end of them it is not for life and salvation that is safe there is no danger of that and there is a Spirit to them And also there is a sweetnesse in Gospel obedience that there is nothing on this side glory so Pleasing to the soule that hath believed as obeying of Jesus Christ Ro. 6. You have your reward in holines Godly men say that this is the meaning of it that holiness is a reward to it selfe the doing of good things is a reward to it selfe To say nothing of the reward hereafter that there is a Crowne of glory 1. Cor. 15. your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. You that work for him but the very doing of Gospel dutie with a Gospel spirit it is no other than meate and drink Our Lord Christ Job 4. when he was hungrie and thirstie when hee was wearie one would have thought he might have done many things more pleasing than to be teaching a sillie woman when they came with meate hee would not leave that that he was doing I have meate saith he that you know not off who gave it thee said they Saith he It is my meate and drink to doe the will of him that sent me So when wee have the heart and the nature and the spirit of Christ it will be sweeter than meate and drink out of love to do any thing that Jesus Christ commands us Againe Object The Gospel requires Faith it may be some man will say the Gospel for the most part brings good newes but there is one thing in the Gospel that me thinks is no good newes to poore sinners saith a poore soule the Ministers use to preach and to tell me that the Law saith doe this and live and the Minister tells me that the Gospel saith believe and live he saith that there shall be all happinesse and good to me if I believe and saith the poor soule for my part it is as possible for me to keep the ten Commandments as to believe and the Ministers say that there is no good thing in the Gospel that I can partake of except I believe I would like it well but for that one thing I would but I cannot believe To answer this if the Gospel held forth Christ Answ The Gospel breeds faith and salvation upon believing as many oft preach it were little better tidings than the Law for it is as easie for a man of himselfe to keep the ten Comandments by obeying as to believe of himself to have faith to receive Christ Therefore that is a misunderstanding of the Gospel the Gospel saith not bring faith with thee and then here is all grace salvation No for whence should I have faith Whatsoever is of the flesh is flesh and what is of me is flesh and abominable to God therefore the Gospel expects not that any sinner should bring faith for he hath it not nay it is a sin to endeavour to have it of himselfe But the Gospel as it brings salvation so it breeds faith in the heart of a sinner The same word that makes known salvation the same word breeds and begets faith in the heart to receive it That God that gives his almes to us gives a purse to carry it that God that gives Physick to a poore soule will give a hand to receive it It were strange if God should expect faith from a poore sinner whereas for ought I know and learned men hold that Adam in innocencie had not the faith that we are justified by and for ought I know the Angels in heaven have it not and whence should a poore sinner have it It is God that gives repentance to Israel and God is the author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12. And in Philip. 1. It is given to you to believe Therefore when I heare of grace and glory and salvation by Jesus Christ I must not consider where I shall have a vessell to carry iâ— home where I shall have faith to receive it but it carries the vessel with it and I goe and take the promise and by the holy Spirit that same Gospel that brought the grace will work faith or else it were as harsh as the Law Therefore never stand off about faith for he that gives grace and salvation will work faith Againe Object Discipline and government in the Gospel it may be objected by some wee confesse that the Gospel is good newes and blessed be God it is performed also But it seemes that there is in the Gospel or annexed to it a discipline or a government whereby wee shall be ruled thus saith one thus saith another and if we receive the Gospel of Christ we must receive the Government of Christ say the Ministers and wee feare that will be no good newes to our poor soules Ans Two wrong governments since Christ As for that in few words as I am able I confesse Beloved that in or with the Gospel of
hearted sinners or mortified sinners as soone as ever temptation tells you that you are not humbled enough you will be gone againe the bone will be out of joynt againe and so you will be as a reed tossed of the winde you will never be fastened to Christ whosoever holds Christ upon any qualifications on his side must let him goe one time or other As for instance if he thinke the Gospel be directed to broken heartednes and he can weep at a sermon to morrow his heart may be hard and then hee thinks he is a devill that was but now a Saint Therefore many Christians after many yeares Profession of Religion never felt their souls knit till God rightly and truly taught them this lesson but then they were knit to Christ and their soules were never in and out they were never loose more because they were able in all temptations to retreat to this truth as a refuge For let the devil tell a man he is no Saint the soule can say I am a sinner if the devill say thou art an hypocrite I but an hypocrite is but a sinner I am a sinner still though I be not a broken hearted sinner so let the devill and hell say what they will they shall never beat him from that refuge And saith the soul being a sinner I am the proper object of grace and life and salvation in the Gospel and though I have no comfort as a Saint that I am in the Kingdome of Heaven yet at least I have comfort that I am a sinner and I may be there though I have no comfort that I am in yet I have comfort that I am neare and the doore is open though I be not a Siant I am a sinner and if I have no reall interest in Christ as a Saint yet I have interest in the promises of Christ as a sinner and though I cannot serve God chearfully as a Saint yet I will serve God as comfortably as I can as one that may be a Saint In Matth. 13. It is said of the Merchant man he found the feild wherein was the treasure he rejoiced I remember a worthy man of this countrie he saith hee rejoyced not that he had found the pearle the treasure but he rejoyced that he was come neare a good bargaine he was come to the feild where it was so though I be not assured that I am a Saint yet a sinner may rightly receive this truth with joy as a sinner because he is neare a good bargaine Many doe little for God why This is the reason that you have many Professors that mislearne the first principles of religion of which this is the greatest they will never doe any thing for God but when they are assured of their salvation if there be the least doubt that the work of grace is not right they mope and will doe nothing for God but vex and fret and tug and when their qualifications are gone that they builded on then they think they are hypocrites and damned creatures and God shall have no service from them when other people that it may be have not fully assurance they are Saints not one day of three in the whole yeare yet there is a current and streame of obedience and love and delight in God in some measure and they goe on constantly though not so strongly doing and suffering his holy will Why because they have learned the Gospel aright they obey God in the notion of sinners saith the soule I see a great deale of love in God to poore sinners and the Gospel containes nothing but glad tidings to sinners and though I have nothing in me that may make me the childe of Christ yet the way is open therefore I will goe on with the work let him doe what he will Thus the soule is knit to Christ that come what will it will never be beaten off from Christ I never knew my owne soule knit to Christ till God had taught me this but it was off and on as a bone in and out a Saint to day and an Hypocrite to morrow to call God Father to day and Enemy to morrow The Gospel is directed to a sinner quasi a sinner not as this or that sinner but as a sinner there is the object of salvation This makes a Saint I say go with constancie if I cannot goe to Christ as a Saint yet I can as a sinner so he hath something that kâ—epes him that he is not as many Professors that are ready to kill and hang and drowne themselves because they see the Gospel is made to Saints and they see they are not Saints then they are in a worse condition than sinners Learne this you that are Professors of Religion that are in and out that have spent ten or twentie or thirtie yeares and your soules are not knit to Christ begg of the Lord to teach you this lesson The next Lesson that I would teach you from the Lord is Use 2 To labour for a perfect spirit of adoption that this being so that in the administration of the New Testament or the Ministery of the Gospel there is nothing but glad tidings no object but what is amiable and good then all you that have received Jesus Christ let me exhort you to this labour to get up in you a perfect spirit of adoption my meaning is this you know there is a spirit of adoption and a spirit of bondage the spirit of adoption is a frame of heart a temper of spirit like that of a childe to his father And you know it is ordinary with the Saints that they have a little adoption they can cry Abba father a little and low and at sometimes but there is a great deale of the spirit of bondage mingled with it there are sometimes feares secret whisperings in the heart O thou art not right Christ is not in thee if he were it is impossible thou shouldest be so weak and so easily overcome and there will be some flaw in the heart and soakings in of guilt that wâ— eat out a mans peace that sometimes he shall call God father another while he will look strangely upon God and be afraid to come to God and be loath to goe upon his knees before him and be glad when he is got out of his presence there is a spirit of bondage mingled with the spirit of adoption Now in the New Testament wee should labour for a full spirit of adoption Full spirit of adoption what What is that that is that there may be nothing in my heart towards God but pure love because in his dealing to me there is not a sillable but love and grace and glad tidings to me and my heart and life should be answerable Feares horrours whence For the reason of all the horrour that you finde in your hearts and all your feares and troubles that arise there they are from this error in your mindes this opinion that is
not quite rooted out that there is in the Gospel administration some ill and bad tidings there is some love and some hatred some mercy and some wrath you think that it may be God is your father and it may be he is your enemie and that because you have sinned he will damne you to hell This is naturall and ordinary Now if you were convinced that there were nothing in the Gospel since our Lord Jesus is gone to heaven and is at the right hand of his Father there is nothing in his dispensation but love and mercy and no wrath hell and damnation and sin c. are all thrown away and if I be perfectly righteous and perfectly justified from all my sins if I have the spirit of Christ given me and am one with God for ever by an everlasting Covenant and shall have life and a Crowne of glory for ever and my sins shall not be laid to my charge O what a cleare and sweet spirit should I have in Gods service and not a muddie and dogged and froward spirit that ariseth from guilt soaking into the soule When I view this truth over and pull it by peice-meale and see that there is no gall nothing in the Gospel first or last but what is amiable and beautifull and blessed newes to sinners then there should follow this consideration why should there be any thing in my heart and spirit towards God but amiable thoughts and love c why should there be any of those coares of unbeliefe and distruct and feare and horrour Those mixtures of adoption and bondage Why should there be hellish feares or guilt in me since there is no wrath not anger at all in God Why should not the carriage of my heart be clear towards him as his is in his Sonne by the administration of the Gospel towards me Labour for a perfect spirit of adoption that you may not have any of those bublings of bondage in your spirits that now over take you and are twisted and woven with that little adoption that you have For who is there among us to this houre but when he comes before the Lord and hath a little smiling in his soule to see his favour and a little joy and delight to come at him and yet there is some feare and trembling as Peter when he was on the waves and what if God will not receive me c. Therefore studie to keep up the spirit of adoption It is a hard thing to keep up the temper of a childe in the soule especially when God lets a man fall into temptations and folly and weaknesse c. But though it be hard labour to keep up that temper at least thus much that thou never come to so low a condition which was the prayer of one that was a good man wherein thou canst not with a full mouth and with a cleare heart call God father and thee his childe though the unhappiest and unworthiest childe If thou come below this if thou call on God with feare and canst not cry abba abba that is as much as daddie daddie as our babes use to say if thou doe not come so high thou art spoiled and undone desire God to teach you this Lesson also The damnation of them that refuse the Gospel just Thirdly if this be so that the Ministery of the Gospel is all glad tidings to the worst of sinners then I appeale to you all and let every man put his hand upon his owne breast and if this be a truth as I hope it hath been cleared you shall all be your own judges how just will the damnation of that sinner be that will not receive the Gospel If there were in the Gospel ridged tidings sad newes as people are apt to fancie to themselves then it were no wonder if one persecuted it and another despised it and another neglected it and another turned it into wantoness But when it comes in such a â—reame that there is nothing but love and light and salvation and grace and all freely laid down at the feet of a sinner for his receiving nay he shall have power and grace to receive it he shall have salvation and a vessell to carry it in judge how justly thy damnation will be in the last day man or woman whosoever thou art that settest thy selfe against the Gospel and wilt not receive salvation Damnation mentioned frequently in the new-Testament why This is the reason why damnation comes out so rife in the new Testament it is scars ever mentioned in the old Testament that I know of damnation is not mentioned in the old Testament nor hell but as it is taken for the grave c. But when grace and the Gospel and life comes damnation comes at the heeles of it How can yee escape the damnation of hell Then comes the worme that never dieth and the fire that never goeth out The reason is because then damnation is proper Then when a man will not receive salvation not because he cannot no man is damned because he cannot receive Christ but because he will not receive this salvation and grace Therefore saith Christ Mat. 28. Goe preach the Gospel he that believeth shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned That is saith that godly Dr Preston go tell every wicked man this good newes that Christ hath brought salvation But it may be they will not believe what we say to them there is no more in the long and short but in a word tell them they shall be damned That is the reason in Mat. 22. where the Ministery of the Gospel is compared to a feast of dainties and one slights it and another despiseth it and another rejecteth it and when the Master of the feast came it is said he found one without a wedding garment and that the man was speechlesse he was as a man saith Beza with a halter about his neck saith hee goe Binde him hand and foot and cast him into utter darknesse there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth He was speechlesse he had nothing to say and truly I have had more experience lately than ever I had in my life I saw a man that was accounted all his life a professed Athiest and I was with him in the roome when one in the company opened the Gospel from one end to the other as I have endeavoured in my poore abilitie to doe now and all the riches and the salvation of it how free it is how there is no core nor nothing but what is amiable Saith the man when he had done judge yee will yee not think it just if yee be damned if ye will not receive and obey this Saith he it is so I deserve to be damned without mercy Consider this you will say so too you will be made to confesse how just your damnation will be for refusing it If there were any thing in all this that were harsh and cruell and rough
and ridged it were somewhat but when God hath cast the Gospel into such a mold and way that every thing smiles and all is roses and yet a wretch shall go and persecute it and slight it and neglect and despise it I leave such a man let him judge himselfe at the last day worthy of damnation for he shall have judgment without mercy that rejecteth this mercy When men have this mercy without mixture of judgment it is fit that those men should have pure judgment without mixture of mercy Whose destruction God laughs at This is the reason that the Lord laughs at mens destruction Pro. 1. when it comes as a whirlwinde Now wee must understand that God doth not laugh at any mans destruction as a transgressor of the Law for he hath cast himself into a necessity of sininng and hath damned himself and he cannot help it And God will not laugh at the destruction of the Gentiles and heathens that have not heard of the Gospel but when God comes by his Ministers and opens and unbowels all the mysteries of the Gospel to people and hath laid all before them clearly yet then for people to love darknesse rather than light and to continue drunkards and whoremongers and swearers and villanes and jearers of Gods people and laugh at his Ordinances this makes the Lord laugh at their destruction I beseech you therefore all you that yet never received the Gospel of Jesus Christ Vse 2 Gospel Ministers to be imbraced consider what I have said In the fourth place if the Gospel and the Ministery of it be good tidings and glad newes to the worst of sinners Then Beloved you should me thinks imbrace with all affection the true and sincere Ministers of this Gospel these Messengers that bring you these glad tidings we are as the Apostle saith the offscouring of the world a spectacle to men and Angels Truly there are no Ministers in the world that are more persecuted and hated and despised than the humble sincere Ministers of the new Testament of the Gospel of Jesus Christ nor never were This is a sore and a strange thing if we did bring one word that were sad and greivous and harsh to you it were no wonder but if all that wee speake be the voyce of the dove doves language all sweet come to the Gospel Ministery if there come a poore man full of sadnesse the Ministery of the Gospel speaks a word of comfort to him if he be in darkness and he knowes not which way to goe waiting on a Gospel Ministery there is light to finde his way If he be in feare and know not his estate what he is a Gospel Ministery will give him assurance of Gods love so it brings glad tidings to some souls every houre Is not this than madnesse in men that of all creatures in the world they hate that man and those Messengers that bring these blessed glad tidings There is a Prophesie in Isaiah 52.7 How beautifull upon the mountaines are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace that bringeth good tidings of good things that publisheth salvation that saith to the righteous thy God reigneth How beautifull are their feet much more their lips you doe not in this as you doe in naturall things if a man come and bring glad tidings of taking of such a Towne or of such a victory though it may be there is losse and little good in it we all welcome it and he is rewarded presently and hath all wayes of encouragment and yet when people shall come and by the Spirit of God make known all the love of God in Jesus Christ and all the riches of the Gospel in Jesus Christ that your hearts should so rise against it that you should receive and entertain so many prejudices against it it is a strange and wonderous thing Therefore you should doe well me thinks as you read in the booke of God 2 Sam. 18.27 of two men that did bring tidings to David of the warrs and the watchman said Me thinks the runing of the formost is like the runing of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok and the King said he is a good man and comes with good tidings He would have the watchman open the eate quickly why because he was a good man and did bring good tidings So wee should especially if men be good and holy and humble and feele the power of that they speake and expresse it in their lives say as David that is a good man and bringeth good tidings he will teach me if I be ignorant hee will comfort me if I be sad he will direct me if I have lost my way hee will build me up if I thrive not in grace The consideration of this truth me thinks should bannish all those strange thoughts and prejudices that wee have against the Ministers of the Gospel In the first place another lesson is this Use 5 To hearken to and inquire after the Gospel if the Gospel be such good newes such glad tidings then you should hearken much after it and inquire much into it We all you know are naturally greedie to heare newes and we know how much time is spent here in the City especially in reading Diurnalls inquiring after tidings and how much money is cast away that way Wee should doe so much more about these glorious tidings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ It is not enough to heare a Sermon or to read a Chapter once or twice a day as it is the manner of some that will not bring us to know the mysteryes of the Gospel but we must search the Scripture and compare spirituall things with spirituall things As in earthly tidings if a man tell of such a victorie one way and another after him another way and a third a third way you compare what they say and their letters and newes to finde out the truth So you should be earnest in seeking God and begg his Spirit compare Scriptures together see what the Scripture saith in such a place and how in another place and this is the way to find out the mystery of the Gospel Gospel tidings great and true These tidings are great therefore inquire into them and they are true tidings they are not fables and tidings of common concernment to every Saint therefore let this be the use that thou and I should make of it to desire the Lord to lead us into the depth of those mysteryes and to set our selves to studie it more and more for the further we goe the more wee shall finde as in a myne It is not as in your newes many times you have a great deale of good newes in a day or two it vanisheth to nothing But here you shall finde first the feild and then the pearle Professors are grown carelesse they were wont to read Chapters morning and evening that was ordinary but thou must doe more if thou wilt understand the mysteryes