Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	john_n	love_v	son_n	10,662	5	6.1615	4	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20536	Ten sermons tending chiefely to the fitting of men for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper VVherein amongst many other holy instructions: the doctrines of sound repentance and humiliation, and of Gods speciall fauours vnto penitent sinners, and worthy communicants are largely and effectually handled. The six first, by I. Dod. The foure last, by R. Cleauer. Whereunto is annexed, a plaine and learned metaphrase on the epistle to the Collossians, written by a godly and iudicious preacher. There is also set before the sermons, a short dialogue of preparation: containing the chiefe points that concerne the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper, taken for the most part, out of the sermons following: and collected into a method for the benefit and ease of those that desire direction in this matter.	Dod, John, 1549?-1645.; Cleaver, Robert, 1561 or 2-ca. 1625. aut; Winston, John, fl. 1614-1634.	1610 (1610)	STC 6945; ESTC S114601	221,900	292

the meat that c. q. d. You cannot doe both together you cannot seeke the things of this life and the things that pertaine to a better life both at once whence this doctrine ariseth that A man cannot bee both a wordling and a Christian Doct. these two are opposed and set one against the other as things that cannot stand together A men cannot be a worldling and a Christian one can not labour for these transitory things that is set his whole desire vpon them and bend his whole indeuour for the obtaining of them and withal labour for better matters and religiously and vnfainedly seeke after them He that persueth after earthly things cannot follow after heauenly things and he that followeth after heauenly things will not persue after earthly things Not but that one may be truly religious and yet enioy the commodities of this life but he cannot set his heart vpon them and vpon matters of godlines also no maÌ„ can be earthly minded and spiritually affected at one the same time nor seek that happines which is aboue that which is beneath at once in which regard the holy Ghost maketh an opposition betwixt them 1. Iohn 2.15.16 saying Loue not the world neither the things that are in the world if any man loue the world the loue of the Father is not in him Whence it is euident that a mans affections cannot be fastened both on the world and on God He may vse the world and yet loue God but he cannot loue the world but it will exclude the loue of God he that maketh it his felicity to enioy the things of this life the loue of the father is not in him neither doth he loue the father nor apprehend the Fathers loue vnto him But what are those things of the world which we must not loue he telleth vs in the verse following The lust of the flesh the lust of the eies and the pride of life Where by the lust of the flesh are all kindes of concupiscence meant as in eating and drinking 2. By the lust of the eyes are meant al such things as content the eyes as faire houses goodly pastures great store of cattell gorgious furniture c. 3. By the pride of life is meant aduancement and dignity c. or great men in the world any way either in place or in estimatioÌ„ for any speciall parts or endowments All the things of the world may be drawne vnto one of these three heads of pleasure profit or credit And concerning all these he saith that they are not of the Father honest delights wealth and preferment are froÌ„ the Father but the loue of these is not froÌ„ the Father but from the world therefore whosoeuer inordinatly affecteth them is a worldling not a Christian Therefore the Apostle exhorteth the Colossians If ye be risen with Christ Col. 3.1.2 seeke those things which are aboue and set your affections on things which are aboue and not on the things which are beneath implying that they could not do both It is as possible for a man to rise and fall to climbe vpward and to descend downeward at the same instant as to be godly and worldly to ascend to heauenwards and to grouell to the earthwards they cannot bee verified of the same person at one and the same time And the reason is taken from that of our Sauiour Reason Mat. 6. No man can serue two maisters for being of contrary dispositions and affections as God and the world or rather the Prince of the world are either of them would be whole maister and requireth the whole man Doth voluptuousnesse take place in the heart it will not endure any matters of religion to bee thought of or spoken of but that must haue the ordering of the cogitations of the mind and of the speeches of the mouth and of the actions of the body Doth worldlinesse or hautinesse beare sway then will they extinguish all the sparkes of goodnesse that are in a man and quite put out the light of religion carying all the meditations and practises of the party towards the obtaining of that which is aymed at On the contrary if religion once get the better and begin to rule in the heart it will root out sinne and make those that were Sathans bondslaues before to become Gods free men it will by degrees kill lust and couetousnesse and pride grace will be stil increasing and corruption decreasing so that they can neuer agree together no more then can fire and water Which is for the confutation and ouerthrow of that dangerous errour that is in the most part of men Vse 1 that take it to be a notable point of wisedome to ioyne these together to be reoters in the earth and yet prosessors of the Gospell so ordering the matter that they will neither be so apparantly prophane as others that notoriously practise impiety and wickednesse neither be so strict as others that exercise sound mortification and holinesse And herein they glory that they can carry the credit both of husbands for the world and of wise dealers for their soules that they can enioy a present happinesse in this life beyond the best and yet liue in hope of blessednesse in the life to come as well as the best and therein they applaud their owne wisedome and haue themselues in admiration and for want of this they censure their betters of folly and haue them in derision But of all silly men these are the silliest that thinke they can serue both GOD and Mammon the Lord and the world Christ had not found out the depth of that wisedome he professeth that his kingdome was not of this world and biddeth vs labour for the foode that endureth to eternall life and not for that which perisheth And therefore howsoeuer these vaine men blesse themselues in the high estimation of their great policy yet they do very palpably bewray their grosse ignorance and simplicity as all shall do that will try conclusions contrary to Christs conclusions whatsoeuer they dreame of in seeking for both they lose both they haue neither found comfort in God nor true contentment in the world Yet how generall is this errour amongst the sonnes of men they make some reckoning that there is a God and therefore they will now and then heare a Sermon sit at it and speake of it but neuer make vse of any thing that crosseth them in their pleasures or profites they will make a shew of keeping the Sabboth by frequenting the publike exercises of religion but when they are ouer they betake them to their sports and recreations But what will be the issue of these things Our Sauiour telleth vs in the Gospell for when men shall say vnto him Lord Lord and bragge of the workes they haue done in his name he will professe vnto them I neuer knew you or acknowledged you for mine depart from me ye that worke iniquity Matth. 7.22.23 Therefore it standeth

must conscionably and continually vse al the meanes of goodnes 3 When we are ouertaken through infirmitie we must presently and hartely lament our fall and seeke a reconciliation 4 If these meanes preuaile not wee must binde our selues by a solemne vowe to striue against our principall sinnes and most dangerous corruptions What other notes are there besides these already spoken of whereby wee may be assured that our repentance is sound and that our hearts doe not deceiue vs therein These following Notes of sound repentance Psalm 119 6. See the Sermon on that place 1 If we be vniuersall in our obedience desiring to practise or forbeare whatsoeuer God would haue vs not giuing a dispensation to our selues for the committing of any sinne or for the omitting of any dutie but disliking all manner of euill both in our selues and others 2 If we increase in goodnes neither waxing worse Doctr. 2 Psal 3.13.14 nor standing at a stay but daily getting ground of our corruptions 3 If in all our intents and actions Iob 31.1 c. 1. Cor. 4.3 we looke vnto the Lord as the searcher of our hearts and the trier and rewarder of our workes not discouraging our selues whatsoeuer men thinke or speake of vs and our doings so that God doe approue of vs and them nor contenting our selues with mens approbation when the testimonie of God is not for vs. 4 If welike best and desire most that companie in priuate and that teaching in publike where our speciall corruptions shall bee roundly and wisely and mercifully reprooued and inueied against and the duties wherein wee come shortest most earnestly pressed and stood vpon Neither falling out with those that admonish vs nor denying cloaking excusing or extenuating our faults What else is required in a worthy receiuer A competent measure of knowledge so that hee be able to discern between the elements Knowledge and the Lords body and blood taking euery thing in it owne nature and kinde not confounding the signe with the thing signified nor putting no difference betweene the Sacramentall and common bread but vsing each of them in the manner appointed by Christ and with such reuerence as is due vnto them and to that end for which they were ordained namely the commemoration of Christ his death and our neerer and fuller communion with him What further examination must wee vse before our communieating at the Lords table Wee must trie whether we haue faith Faith Heb. 11.6 Rom. 14.23 or not without the which it is impossible to please God and whatsoeuer wee doe is sinne What then is to bee beleeued concerning this particular ordinance That it is ordained of God not onely to bee a signe to signifie See the 2. Sermon on Mar. 14. and represent but a seale also to confirme and an instrument to exhibit Christ with al his merits vnto euery beleeuer Why is loue vnto men required in all faithfull receiuers Doct. 7 First Loue. because being destitute of that wee cannot be assured of Gods loue vnto vs nor of our loue vnto him Secondly 1. Iohn 3. we cannot with any confidence expect at the Sacrament crament a generall acquittance from all our debts vnto God Math. 18.35 except we in loue can passe by small offences in our brethren Thirdly the Lords Supper is ordained as a seale of the mutuall felloship and communion of Gods people as with their head Christ so with one another What rules are we to obserue in loue First if any indignitie or iniurie haue beene offered vs See the Sermon on Isa 1. wee must forgiue and forget the same and ouercome euill with goodnesse louing them that hate vs Doct. 2 and praying for them that speake and practise euill against vs Math 18.35 Rom. 12. Math. 5. at least desiring and striuing so to doe Secondly if we haue done wrong vnto others we must vndoe it againe otherwise our sacrifice and seruice cannot bee accepted But what if those whom we haue wronged be farre off that we cannot seeke vnto them or will not yeeld to a reconciliation when it is sought for God will accept of our true and vnfained desire in that behalfe when a reconciliation is desired but occasion denied and if others will not bee pacified towards vs it is their fault and not ours neither must that keepe vs from the Sacrament Thus much concerning examination What is that Premeditation which much be vsed It is a serious consideration of the benefites which we are to receiue by Christ Iesus PremeditatioÌ„ What are those They are set downe in the new couenant whereof the Lords Supper is a seale and they may be reduced to these heads Ezek. 36.21 Ier. 31.31 See the Sermon on Prou. 28. 1 First freedome from all maner of euill whatsoeuer whether of sinne or misery in this life or in that which is to come Doct. 4 2 Secondly the enioyment of all good things and that on psal 119. 1 In this world and that 1 For the inward man 1 Perfect iustification 2 True sanctification a good name estate safety health c. 2 For the outward man 2 In the world to come all manner of happinesse Hauing thus examined our selues concerning our repentance knowledge faith and loue and vsed premeditation of the benefites that are to be expected of allworthy receiuers what remaineth further to be done by vs Wee must before our approaching to the Lords table earnestly beseech his maiestie to giue a blessing to those our indeauours Praier and where we haue come short in fitting our selues we are to intreat him to pardon it to accept of vs in the mediation of his deare sonne and to make a supply of all our wants of his rich mercy and free grace But what if a man finde that he commeth very short of that examination and preparation that is required were hee not better to absent himselfe from the Sacrament till he be bette fitted In no wise See the Sermon on 2. Chron. 30. for if he be vpright-hearted though neuer so weake the Lord will accept of him And if he feele his sickenesse to be greeuous and dangerous Doct. 2.3 he hath the more neede to hasten to the Physition neither is staying from Gods Ordinance a meanes to better his estate but rather to make him worse and to pull Gods heauie iudgements vpon his soule and bodie Num. 9. Thus much concerning the duties tending to Preparation before our receiuing How must we be disposed in the present act of receiuing Wee must present our selues with reuerence before the Lord How wee are to bedisposed in the act of receiuing setting our sences and our faith a worke and heedfullie meditating on these 4. things 1 First when we see the bread broken and the wine powred out we must consider of the bitter passion of Christ Iesus who was wounded for our trangressions Isa 53. and broken for our iniquities who encountred with his

fathers wrath and with Satan death and hell and for our sakes in particular sustained such wofull terrors in his soule and torments in his body that he cried out in the bitternesse of his heart my God my God why hast thou forsaken me and at length shed foorth his most precious blood for the pacifying of his fathers displeasure and the satisfying of his infinite iustice And withall wee should seriously ponder vpon the inconceiuable loue of God the father in giuing his onely and welbeloued sonne to suffer such vnspeakeable tortures for vs who were cursed rebels against him and thence bee drawen to thinke on the hainousnesse and odiousnesse of our sinnes which so farre incensed the Lords wrath and indignation that nothing could quench the flame thereof but onely the precious blood of his deere sonne Secondly when we see the minister distributing the bread and wine we are to consider that as those outward elements are offered vnto vs by man so Christ Iesus with all his benefits is offered vnto vs by the blessed Trinitie Thirdly when we reach foorth our naturall hand to receiue the bread and wine we must withall reach foorth the hand of faith to apprehend and lay hold of Christ Fourthly in eating the bread and drinking the wine we must apply Christ with all his merits particularly vnto our selues and be assured that as that bread and wine are made the nourishment of our bodies so Christ his body and blood are made the nourishment of our soules and as certainly as the bread and wine are made one substance with vs to strengthen our bodies and to refresh our hearts so surely Christ is made one with vs and we with him and than our soules shall bee strengthned and our hearts spiritually reuiued either presently in the very act of receiuing or afterwards in due time when wee shall stand in most neede of comfort And therefore in assurance of faith wee should stirre vp our hearts to expect all the forenamed benefits of remission of sinnes and sanctification of our natures together with the fruition of all necessarie outward blessings and the remoouall of all hurtfull crosses Well were it for vs indeed if wee could looke for these things to be bestowed vpon vs but the greatnes and multitude of our sinnes is such that we iustly feare they will keepe good things from vs. This doubt should not perplexe nor trouble vs See the Sermon on Isa 1. if wee bee truely penitent for all our transgressions for Christ hath paid for many and great sinnes as well as for fewer and lesser Doct. 7 1. Iohn 1.9 Ezek. 36.25 and through him the Lord is ready to pardon all and all manner of iniquities as well the greatest of them as the smallest and if once our sinnes bee done away all the fore named benefites doe of right belong vnto vs. Thus much concerning the meditations that are needefull in the very act of receiuing What is to be done after our receiuing 1 First wee must giue hartie thankes vnto the Lord for this inestimable benefit which we haue receiued in being partakers of the Lords supper What to bee done after our receiuing Secondly wee must carefully marke how wee speed and what successe we finde and if the Lord afford vs present comfort wee must bee much more thankefull and endeauour by all good meanes to nourish and cherish the same and if wee misse of it for that time wee must notwithstanding giue God the glorie of his truth in making good his couenant and euerie part thereof and therefore with confidence and constancie waite and pray for the blessing resoluing with our selues euery one in his owne soule that as sure as God is true and faithfull in his promises wee shall in the fittest season reape fruite and profit by his ordinance which in conscience and obedience vnto him we haue been partakers of In which regard euery particular beleeuer may boldly speake in this or the like manner vnto his owne soule I haue with as great vprightnesse as I could communicated at the Lords table and there receiued the seale of the euerlasting couenant of grace and therefore shall it assuredly bee performed vnto mee and albeit my faith and assurance of Gods fauour bee but weake it shall be strengthned and whatsoeuer Satan or mine owne deluded conscience tell me all mine iniquities are pardoned and couered and I am at this very instant as free from sinne in Gods account Psal 32. as Adam was before his fall and as the Saints and Angels are now in heauen yea as Christ Iesus himselfe is I being a member of his mysticall bodie And so for Sanctification though I be tainted with much ignorance with many errors with bad affections and euill actions yet the Lord according to his couenant will reforme all and giue me a minde to know him and his will and a memory to hold fast what I know hee will giue me a heart to loue him to feare him and to obey his commandements I shall haue Christ his power to strengthen and vphold me his wisdome to instruct and direct me his spirit to work al needful graces in me so that all the powers of hel shal neuer be able to preuaile against mee much lesse shall the affictions of this world be able to separate me froÌ„ Christ Iesus I need not feare any euill For all shall worke together for the best vnto mee Rom. 8. neither can I want any thing that is good for God hauing giuen vs his sonne how shall hee not with him giue vs all things Thirdly wee must determine and endeuour to lead a new life bringing foorth the fruits of repentance faith and loue more abundantly then in former times as hauing renewed our couenant with the Lord for that purpose and therefore when wee finde any sinnefull motions stirring within vs wee should reason thus did I not at the Sacrament vowe and couenant with God to striue against all manner of corruptions and did I not receiue the seale of the couenant in assurance that I should haue power and strength against them why then should I yeelde vnto them why should I bee any longer in bondage vnto them nay I will not serue sinne in the lusts thereof but will resist it and by the power of Christ I shall get victorie ouer it Rom. 6.14 for the Lord hath said that sinne shall not haue dominion ouer vs. So also when we finde wants and imperfections in our best seruices as coldnesse in praier distractions in meditating vnfruitfulnesse in hearing deadnesse in singing of Psalmes c. As also impatiencie or fainte-heartednes vnder crosses disgraces persecutions c. Let vs then relieue our selues with these or the like meditations was I not lately at the Lord table where I receiued a pledge of my ingrafting into Christ who is the true vine and is there not in him sufficient Iuice of all good graces to bee deriued to euery branch that is

seale of the eternall couenant and come to the word to heare the promises of life and yet depart without all comfort and assurance of Gods fauour because they came not with teares for their transgressions and rebellions against the Lord nor with that piercing sorrow which would goe as neere them and bee as effectuall in them as if they shed abundance of teares because wee will not doe the lesser which belongeth to vs God will not doe the greater which pertaineth to him Secondly Vse 2 seeing God would haue all to wash the best as well as the worst let vs be instructed if wee would haue fellowship and communion with God to search our hearts to the intent wee may finde out the hidden corruptions thereof and bewaile the same with a sound and earnest lamentation And then if wee doe but aske mercie wee shall haue it otherwise not For if one of our children haue fallen into some great and grieuous fault wee will not forgiue him till he first humble himselfe as the Prodigall sonne did if there bee in him no remorse for the offence committed but hee continue proud and stubborne still the father should spoile his child if hee should shew him fauour the best course hee can take with him then is to carrie a heauie countenance towards him and a strait hand over him that so hee may recouer him and saue his soule and euen in like sort will God deale with vs where hee loueth most hee will checke and rebuke most till they grow to that reformation which hee requireth and aimeth at in their correction Now to the end wee may the better get this holie affection of sorrow into our hearts Meanes wee must vse all helps needfull for this purpose And first because it is a supernatural worke Pray for it we must intreate the Lord according to his promise Zach. 12. to put his spirit into vs and thereby to mollifie our stonie hearts as hee hath couenanted Ezek. 36. otherwise wee may toile out our selues in vaine and after a long and tedious strife bee as farre nay farther from a tender heart then wee were at the beginning Secondly as wee must craue assistance from heauen so wee must vse the meanes that God hath appointed namely 1 First to call to minde our many and great offences against his maiestie Aggrauate our sinnes and to lay before our eies in as particular manner as we can our corruptions both originall and actuall before and since our callings considering how grieuous they haue beene many of them being commited against our knowledge and consciences yea and couenants made vnto the Lord for the resisting and forsaking of them Further we are to recount with our selues of how long continuance they haue beene how offensiue how pernicious and infectious to others how many we haue poisoned by them of whose recouery wee are altogether vncertaine some of them for ought wee know to the contrarie being already in torments in hell fire for the sinnes whereinto wee haue drawne them and others perchance likely enough to goe the same way after them if the Lord doe not in mercy preuent them by his grace c. These and the like meditations will cause our hearts if they bee not past sense and feeling somwhat to relent Thus did Nehemiah aggrauate their sinnes that liued in his time Neh. 9. and so did Dauid his own corruptions endeuouring in many words to make them odious in his owne eies Psal 51. acknowledging that hee was conceiued in sinne which was the fountaine of all and brought foorth in iniquitie that God requireth truth in the inward parts but hee had beene hypocriticall and false-hearted that God had taught him wisdome in the secrete of his heart but hee had put that out of his consideration and cast it behind his backe when it should haue restrained him from all those ill courses that hee tooke These and many other circumstances are either plainely expressed or by consequent necessarily implied in that 51. Psalme whereby hee labours to set out the hainousnesse of his offences that his own soule might abhorre them and all the world might see his vtter detestation of them Another excellent meanes is not onely with patience to endure Suffer admonition but with earnestnesse to intreate the admonitions and reproofes of those which haue beene and are acquainted with our courses for wee are so full of selfe-loue that others may easily discerne more euill in vs then wee can espie in our selues and those of all other are the best and most faithfull friends that will mercifully and wisely though sharpely and roundly tell vs of our faults as Nathan dealt with Dauid when his heart had beene a long time hardned by lying in sinnes vnrepented 2. Sam. 12. which priuate admonition of his as wee may obserue was a more effectuall meanes for his rousing out of that dead slumber then any or all the publike ordinances of God as the sacrifices of the Law and Sermons of the Prophets c. which all that while hee had frequented And sometime it is found by experience yet still that a wholesome Note and sound and wise reproofe of a Minister of God or some Christian friend in priuate throughly set on and effectually applied hath done that through Gods blessing that many holy and excellent Sermons could not effect and bring to passe for the reclaiming of diuers from the by-paths of iniquitie wherein they had a longtime wandred and gone astray Which is not spoken as if this priuate dealing were to bee preferred before Gods publike ordinances but that wee may haue each of them in due estimation that as we should not despise Prophecying 1 Thes 5.10 Heb. 13.22 but suffer the words of exhortation in the assemblies of the Saints so we should admonish one an other and be admonished one of an other Heb. 3.13 dailie in priuate lest any be hardned through the deceitfulnes of sinne 3 In the next place Meditate of Gods infinite mercy in Christ when wee by our owne searching and examination and by others plaine and faithfull admonition haue found out a great sea of our corruptions then let vs inwardly and seriously ponder vpon the infinite mercie of the Lord our God in giuing vs his dearely beloued sonne and the inconceiuable loue of the sonne in submitting himselfe to become a ransome for vs and that without any intreaty desert or desire on our parte yea euen then when wee were his mortall enemies This was it that caused them in the 12. of Zacherie so to mourne and lament because they considered what Christ had suffered in their behalfe And this should breake and melt our hearts as it did theirs that wee wounded and pierced our deere Sauiour by our transgressions for the Chastisement of our peace was vpon him Isa 53.5 and by his stripes we were healed If he would shedde his precious blood for vs why should we thinke it much to shedde

is that other place of Paul to Timothie Let as many seruants as are vnder the yoke count their masters worthy of all honour 1. Tim. 6.1.2 that the name of God and his doctrine be not euill spoken off And they that haue beleeuing masters let them not despise them because they are brethren but rather doe seruice because they are faithfull and beloued and partakers of the benefit And that was a thing worthy singular commendation in Iacob that hee serued Laban though a couetous Gen. 31.6.40 deceirfull and hard master with all his might Being in the day consumed with heate and with frost in the night his sleepe also departing from his eies And therefore those seruants are much to bee blamed that make religion an occasion of their vnfaithfulnesse which by how much it is more thorowly and deepely rooted and setled in the hearts of any should and will make them more true and trustie more conscionable and fathfull to their rulers and gouernours And the like may bee said of children what gifts of knowledge and speech soeuer they haue they can haue no comfort of the same vnlesse they giue all honour and reuerence and shew all dutie and obedience vnto their parents as the Lord commandeth them This may be an instruction vnto vs. Vse 2 Would wee be Christs scholers then the first letter and lesson that wee must learne is to doe well in our places Are wee children let vs labour by searching of the Scriptures to know our duties and to doe them Are wee seruants let vs get vnderstanding of the things that doe most concerne vs in our places and let our practise bee answerable to our profession and then wee shall shew our selues to bee truely religious indeed And the same exhortation might bee giuen to all others in their seuerall vocations which if wee can follow whatsoeuer our callings be wee serue the Lord Christ in them and shall be sure of full reward from him Oh but my calling is meane and my seruice base Though your worke be base yet it is not a base thing to serue such a master in it Note They are the most worthy seruants whatsoeuer their imploiment bee that do with most conscionable and dutifull hearts and minds serue the Lord where hee hath placed them and in those works which hee hath allotted vnto them Releeue the oppressed Hauing in the former words shewed them that they must doe that which is iust and right hee coÌ„meth now more particularly to declare vnto them wherein that consisteth namely in shewing mercy to such as are in misery and in being meanes of comfort vnto them that are in discomfor tand griefe of heart Whence this doctrine may be collected that It is a most acceptable seruice vnto the Lord Doct. 6 to comfort and releeue his people when they are in miserie and distresse Mercy to the afflicted an excellent seruice Psal 41.1 This is a worke so well pleasing vnto God that hee pronounceth him happy and blessed that considereth wisely and iudgeth charitably of the poore and needy though they haue no abilitie to helpe them nor to direct and counsell them yet if they can but prudently and mercifully consider with themselues surely this man or woman haue caried themselues so holily and blamelesly that this stroke is not fallen vpon them for their wickednesse nor for their foolishnesse but for their good and comfort as in the end it will appeare This merciful iudgement and censure concerning those that haue many and strange and heauy crosses lying vpon them is a thing that God much regardeth and recompenceth in all that are so affected towards his poore distressed seruants This also the Apostle Iames yeeldeth as an vndoubted marke of true religion saying Pure religion Iam. 1.27 and vndefiled before God euen the father is this to visit the fatherlesse and widowes in their aduersitie and to keepe himselfe vnspotted of the world His meaning is not that it is religion it selfe for it is a thing belonging to the first table but a signe of the same when our faith in God and loue vnto God maketh vs pitifull and liberall towards the children and Saints of God and such as he would haue respected and relieued So at the great and generall day of iudgement when all the world shal come to receiue sentence according to their works whether good or euill what is the matter of commendation that is giuen to the elect and the most euident marke of difference betweene the sheepe and the goates euen this Mat. 15.35 that they desired to doe good not in some one or two or in some fewe but in euery worke of mercie and of charitie That they fedde the hungry gaue drinke vnto the thirsty clothed the naked visited he sicke and imprisoned And on the other side the reprobate shall not be charged so much that they did hurt as that they did not the good that they might haue done vnto poore Christians in their wants and miseries And further Reason this sheweth it to be an excellent seruice for one to stretch forth his hand in relieuing the needie and in succouring distressed soules that whatsoeuer kindnesse is done to the least of them Christ sets it on his score and counts it as done vnto himselfe and hee will acknowledge it and reward it both in this present life and in that which is to come Euery one will come to this that if Christ Iesus should repaire vnto their houses hungry or thirstie or cold or naked they would with all their hearts part with any thing they haue to refresh and releeue him let such heare then what Christ himselfe saith to them that shew mercie to the poore Saints In as much therefore as yee haue done it to one of the least of these my brethren yee haue done it vnto mee Which is first for the great condemnation of them that do altogether shut vp their bowels of compassion from Gods children in their sorrowes Vse 1 and temptations and afflictions Whosoeuer hath this worlds good 1. Iohn 3.17 and seeth his brother haue need saith the Apostle Iohn and shutteth vp his compassion from him how dwelleth the loue of God in him This goeth sore against such in not louing his children they proclaime vnto all the world that they loue not God himselfe and therefore are not beloued of him and if it be so with those that doe not make manifest their loue by shewing mercie what shall wee thinke of those that are so farre from pitying and releeuing the distressed that they are readie to adde affliction to the afflicted It 's iust vpon you say they your indiscretion and want of wisedome in that you made more ado then needs and would bee more precise then wise and more forward then your neighbours c. hath brought you to all this woe and miserie This is cruell and vnmercifull dealing if they would do them no good they should do them no hurt Yet this

teadious iourney but may haue it ministred vnto them neerer at hand and that with lesse cost and yet a larger blessing then they could in the daies of the ceremoniall Law surely if they doe neglect so great saluation well they may escape the punishments of men but they shall feele the strokes of God and shall bee cut off from hauing communion with him and with his seruants they shal beare their sinne as in that place the holy Ghost speaketh which otherwise by receiuing the Sacrament they might haue discharged their consciences of and put it ouer vnto Christs accounts Further those that by reason of their infirmities will forgoe that ordinance doe greatly dishonor God and lay an hard imputation vpon him as who should say that hee were such an extreame and rigorous Iudge aswill accept of none but of those that haue attained to a great measure of perfection Besides such kind of persons doe as much as in them lieth proclaime themselues to bee hypocrites for if they bee not such they haue a calling to partake of the Sacrament as appeareth in this text by the praier of Hezekiah who doth in assurance of faith as the effect manifestly proueth make request for all such as prepared their whole hearts that is did their best indeauour with a true and sincere heart to seeke the Lord. Lastly they giue very ill example vnto others and expose themselues to the censures of men as contemners or at least neglecters of Gods ordinance And therefore in these regards let all beware how they withdraw themselues when the Lord inuiteth them to such a banquet Secondly Vse 2 this is for instruction and consolation both together albeit wee perceiue many blemishes and great imperfections in our selues yet let vs take the Lords offer when he calleth vs to his table and come with certaine expectation of good successe as well as those that haue a greater measure of repentance 1. Pet. 2.25 Iohn 21.15 and of faith and loue then wee can attaine vnto For Christ Iesus the great shepheard and Bishop of our soules taketh order that not onely his sheepe but his Lambes also may bee fed All the good grounds bring not foorth a like quantitie of fruit yet all agree in this substantiall point that they bring forth good and ripe fruit Mat. 13.23 though some doe not yeeld the third part so much as others doe yet they are grounds blessed by God and respected of God Note He that gained fiue talents had the commendation of a good and faithfull seruant and so had he likewise that gained but two talents so that euery one shall haue the praise of weldoing according to the gifts and graces that God hath imparted vnto him Indeed those that doe most and best as they bring more glorie to Gods name so shall they haue larger reward from him yet withall those that haue fewer talents and doe him lesse seruice shall not be despised nor reiected but according to their workes be accepted and recompenced for one may bee faithfull in a little as well as in a great deale Therefore let this bee an incouragement vnto vs to draw neere vnto God in his worship if wee cannot come as we would let vs come as well as we can and bring those talents which we haue if wee cannot make a long praier let vs make a short if wee cannot crie feruently vnto the Lord let vs sigh that wee cannot doe better if wee haue but a little faith let vs pray with the man in the Gospel Lord I beleeue helpe mine vnbeliefe Mar. 9.24 which if we can do the Lord will be mercifull vnto vs though wee be not fitted in euery respect according to that which is required of vs. But my wants are such as I am afraid I shall faile Obiect no not onlie in some circumstance but in the substance it selfe and shall not only receiue weakly but altogether vnworthily how then may wee certainly know that our hearts are sincere and vpright before the Lord By these workes that follow Answ First if wee dislike all sinne in our selues and others Markes of sincertitie and desire that all Gods graces might bee wrought in our selues and others Hypocrites will allow foule faults in themselues A general dislike of sinne and liking of goodnesse and yet seeme to dislike them and much exclaime against them in others whereas first they should bee humbled and grieued for them in their owne soules and then proceed to speake against them in others Againe this hypocrisie is in our cursed nature that Hypocrisie whereas wee could wish that we might liue without offence and that our names might bee preserued from reproach yet we shall finde a tickling delight in our selues when wee see the nakednesse of others discouered and their faults ripped vp to their disgrace that so their blacke may the more commend our white And againe wee can bee content to haue many good gifts and graces and would not bee much grieued if we could get all other that we want yet we are ready to bee offended that others should be indued with the like especially that they should goe beyond vs in doing good and in receiuing praise sutable thereunto But this argueth great want of sinceritie and if wee bee not humbled for these corruptions 1. Cor. 13.4 it sheweth palpable and grosse hypocrisie for loue enuieth not but if wee carrie an inward hatred of this euill disposition that is in vs and labour to abhorre and seeke to hinder all manner of sins Note as well in our selues as in others and in others as well as in our selues and on the other side if wee desire to loue and further good motions and good actions both in our brethren and in our owne persons neuer mocking nor deriding nor discouraging the hearts of Gods seruants from goodnes this is a cleere case that wee faile not in the substance of godlinesse but that our hearts are very vpright therein Secondly if wee indeauour still to bee better and to doe better euery day then other Grouth in grace Phil. 3.14.15 neuer standing vpon what wee haue done but pressing hard to the marke this is an infallible note that we are true-hearted Hee that feeleth but a little faith a little loue a little repentance c. and would with all his heart haue them increased and on the contraie findeth much deadnes much impatience much vnfitnesse for death and much vnwillingnesse to heare of the comming of Christ much distraction on the holy Sabbath c. but would most willingly haue these corruptions diminished these very desires if they bring him to the concionable vse of the meanes are euident signes of a faithfull and wel-affected heart A third rule of triall is if from our hearts we can forgiue or at least Forgiuing desire to forgiue those that haue done vs wrong either in word or deede and are greeued at wrathfull and malicious and reuengefull thoughts and motions

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