now as two friends will and nill the same thing Psal 40.6 7. As the Will is a servant it is now chearfully subject to its Master in heaven its voice is Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts 9.6 And speak Lord for thy servant heareth 1 Sam. 3. do but shew it your commission from the King of Kings for what you require and it presently doth obey not dispute your commands As a Master for 't is a Centurion in authority which hath many at its command it saith to one faculty go and it goeth to another come and it cometh to a third do this and it doth it it ruleth now according to Divine Writ and gives Laws to all under it according to the Orders which it receiveth from God its Commander in chief were the Christians power but answerable and equal to his will he would be as holy on earth as he shall be in heaven Psal 119.5 Rom. 7.15 18 19. The iron gate indeed of mans Will is far from opening of its own accord the Will is hardest won of any Faculty it is like the strong fort of Zion in Ierusalem which Joshua himself could not surprise the Son of David alone can do it But the Spirit of God doth powerfully though sweetly incline it to chuse God and for God The Understanding discovering to the Conscience the necessity excellency and benefit of proclaiming and prosecuting an open and eternal war against all sin and of accepting and embracing an everlasting covenant with God in Christ and of submitting to the guidance and government of the Spirit conscience doth in the name of God whose Officer it is charge the will to close with these things the will the spirit striking in yieldeth contentedly and resolveth accordingly God perswades this Japhet to dwell in the tents of Shem. 4 The Affections are likewise renewed The Understanding and Will the superiour Officers being won these like faithfull private Souldiers readily follow their leaders or as dutifull handmaids they obey the commands of their Master and Mistris They are called by some the shapings or formings of the will in severall motions according to the object presented so that the will like the Sun moving heavenward these like Sun-flowers must necessarily follow its motion Before these affections were in severall regards full of corruption but now they are purified for the Masters use Before they were carried out towards wrong objects hatred was set upon God Rom. 1 30. his word Prov. 1.29 Psalm 50.17 and people John 15.19 Love was bestowed on sensual delights Psalm 4.3 Jer. 5.31 2 Tim. 3.2 and 4. and sin Micah 3.2 Prov. 1.22 But now the man loaths what formerly he loved and loves what formerly he loathed though sin were the luscious meat which did so exceedingly please his pallat that his teeth were alwayes watering after it and he roll'd it as a sweet morsel under his tongue yet now he serves it as Amnon did Tamar the hatred wherewith he hates it is far greater then the love wherewith he loved it Psalm 119.104 Rom. 7.15 he cannot see this knife with which he had cut the throat of his precious soul and dearest Saviour but his eye affects his heart with sorrow and anger O 't is a killing look which he now gives his most beloved lust he cannot meet this brat of hell this ugly guest in any room of the house but his heart riseth against it And as hatefull as God was to him before Psalm 14.2 Rom. 8.5 7. yet now he alone is the savoury meat which his soul loveth Psal 18.1 and 73.25 If this dish stand on his table though all others be removed he hath that dish which he loveth best His joy before in the creatures is now in Christ Amos 6.13 Prov. 2.14 Rom. 5.2 3 4. Phil. 4.4 his sorrow was before for sufferings but 't is now for sin 2 Cor. 7.9 10 11. His fear was before lest he should lose his flocks or his friends or outward mercies but now 't is lest by sin he should lose Gods favour Psalm 4 6. Isa 8.12 13. His desire was before enlarged after go'd as hell but now 't is after grace as heaven Hos 7.14 Psalm 42.1 Matth. 5 6. Psal 63.1 The desire of our soul is thy name and to the remembrance of thee Isa 26.8 Before the affections were also carried out inordinately after objects that were lawfull The man was like to be drown'd in the shallows of lawfull enjoyments when he joyed in the creatures he would over-joy and turn thereby his mirth into madnesse when he loved his relations he would over-love them and change thereby his love to them into self or soul-hatred so for his anger Eph. 4.26 it would exceed its limits even where it was lawful For these passions of the mind are like the water of the sea usefull and profitable if kept within their bounds but if they overflow the banks they are very hurtfull and threaten a Deluge but the regenerate person doth moderate and rectifie these affections Col. 3.1 1 John 2.15 1 Cor. 7.29.30 He keepeth his fire so watchfully that it doth not burn his house Besides the affections were corrupt before in regard of the contrariety which is in them They did torture and tear the child of disobedience one drawing him one way another plucking him the contrary way but grace composeth the affections which could never agree one with another before Conversion hope and fear joy and grief humility and resolution were repugnant each to other but regeneration makes them good friends when the new creatures heart leaps with hope of heaven he is then fullest of fear lest he should displease God when he is mourning for sin he can rejoice in his Saviour as the heavens can shine and shown at the same time he can be meek and fiery as Moses Numb 12. humble and resolute as Paul and yet not like Rebeckah have two contrary Nations struggling within him The understanding will and conscience are the chief strings in the soul to which all the rest are tuned now they being by the spirit set up to their due height and holinesse the affections are wound up accordingly and so make a compleat harmony of the whole and yields a gratefull sound in the ears of God 5. The Memory is renewed This master of the Rolls or keeper of the antient Records was formerly as a grate suffering the pure and clear water to go through retaining only the mud and filth but now it is like a fan casting away the chaff and keeping the good corn it was before as a sive letting the fine flower go through and holding still the bran but now it is like the Ark wherein the two Tables are safely laid up The sanctified mans memory is a spirituall Treasury he layeth up the things of God as Mary in his heart Luke 2.19 and as occasion serveth bringeth them forth and layeth them out in his life he remembreth the commandments of God to do them Exod
imagine what a full good this one God is in himself and would be to thee He would be to thee health in sickness strength in weakness light in darkness joy in sadness riches in povery honor in ignominy freedom in slavery ease in pain safety in dangers and life in death This one God would supply all thy need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus Phil. 4.19 God would subdue thy corruptions enable thee to overcome temptations to be a gainer by afflictions to hold out under desertions to improve providences to be the better for ordinances to be filled with holiness and fitted for happiness He would do more for thee then thou couldst ask or think Ephes 3.20 Well might the Psalmist wonder at the riches of his portion who had a propriety in God Psal 144. ult Happy is the people that is in such a case YEA HAPPY IS THE PEOPLE WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD Ainsworth reads those words by way of admiration O happy is the people whose God is the Lord As if the Psalmist Beatus ergo populus cujus Iehova est Deus Tremel considering what he had said before that it was an happiness to enjoy children cattel and outward comforts did from those streams ascend to the fountain and gathered by rational arguing If they are happy that have their sons growing as plants and their daughters as polished stones their barns swelling and their flocks thriving O how happy are they whose God is the Lord If they are so blessed who have the Stars how happy are they that have the Sun For in the presence of this Sun all those Stars must vanish and disappear a Praedicâ— populum beatum oâ— haec bonaâ— Deo conti gâ—rint sed addâ—t mox correctiâ—nem ne qâ—iâ— in hâ—s rebus terrenis fubsistat summan beatitudi nâ—â— ponâ—â— Mollerus in loc Mollerus takes the words by way of correction Yea rather Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord. As if David had recalled himself and with his pen given a dash to all that he had said Did I say that they were happy which abounded with relations possessions and outward comforts I recal my self Alas they are not happy in comparison of their happiness who have the Lord for their God yea rather hapyy is the people whose God is the Lord. By this latter he cuts off the neck of his former expression Some take the words conjunctively as if David had proclaimed them happy indeed for whom the Lord as their God doth so liberally provide The children must needs be happy that have a Father that takes such care of them and bestoweth so many outward good things on them Austin takes the words dis-junctively as if the former part of the verse Happy is the people that is in such a case were the voice of the world and the latter part of it Yea happy is the people whose God is the Lord were the choice of the Saints And that Father explains himself to this purpose O vain and foolish speakers O strange children They have called the people happy that are in such a case But what sayest thou David What sayest thou O Body of Christ What say ye O Members of Christ What say ye O Children of God Because those vain Speakers and strange Children have called them happy that are in such a case What say ye And then he answereth for them as the voice of all O vaniloquâ— O silii alieni Beatum dixerunt populum eui haec sunt Quid tu David Quid tu corâ—us Christi Quâ— vos membra Christi Quid vos non filii alieni sed Dei Quoniam vaniloqui fili alieni Beatum dixerunt populuâ—â— Cui haec sunt Vos â—â—id dicitis Beatus populus cujus Dominus deus ipsius Aug. in Psal 143. Tom. 8. Happy is the people whose God is the Lord. Thus happy Reader shouldst thou be if thou wert once regenerated That God in comparison of whom the whole Creation is as nothing would be thy God O how eminently how infinitely wouldst thou be blessed in having so rich so vast so boundless a good for thy God Thou shouldst be blessed in thy body that should be the temple of the Holy Ghost and part of the mystical body of the Son of God and so nearly and closely united to him that neither death grave nor dust should ever be able to separate it from him 1 Cor. 6.19 1 Thes 4.14 16. Thou shouldst be blessed in thy soul that should be ever fat and flourishing Psal 92.13 14. like a watered Garden abounding in fruit the smell of thy soul would be as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed Thou shouldest be blessed in thy estate that blessing which can turn a Prison into a Palace a Cottage into a Court poverty into plenty would be thy portion thou shouldst be sure of necessaries of enough to bear thy charges till thou comest to thy Fathers house Psal 37.25 26. and 34.11 Having faith thou should not fear a famine but wouldst be assured that he who feeds the birds of the air fodders the beasts of the fields filleth the bellies of his Enemies with hidden treasures would never forget his friends or starve his children The Lord would be thy Shepherd and therefore thou couldst not want Psal 23.1 As they that are well lined within and have much good blood and spirits can endure to go in cold weather with less clothes then others So thou being inwardly strengthened with the grace and love of God shouldst be able to walk in the world comfortably with a less estate then others If thou shouldst be thine own carver thou wouldst cut thy fingers If thy means were small thy stomach should not be great As the sheep can live upon bare Commons and thrive there where the fat Ox would be starved so in the midst of thy straights thy contentedness would give thee a sufficiency when others who are strangers to grace in the midst of their sufficiency are in straights Job 20.22 True piety hath true plenty and is never without a well-contenting sufficiency for t will give him who hath nothing the possession of all things 1 Tim. 6.6 Hab. 3.16.17 2 Cor. 6.11 Thy dinner of herbs with the love and favour of God would be better then a stalled Ox with his anger and frowns Prov. 15.15.16 Thou shouldst be blessed in thy children The just man walketh in his integrity and his children are blessed after him Prov. 20.7 John's Children fared the better for their fathers godlyness thoug it were but counterfeit 2 Kings 10.30 Surely then The generation of the upright shall be blessed Psal 112.2 When thou didst leave them God would find them and require thy children for thy love to him much more faithfully then David did Mephibosheth for Jonathans good will Gen. 17.8 Act. 2.39 Thy whole house would be the happier for thee God blesseth the habitation of the righteous Prov 3.33 Nothing can possibly be
was to make me an oratour not to make me a Christian I am confident many a child bemoans that now he is damned in hell which the Father did when he was converted on earth I cannot condemn the education of children according to the quality of their parents nor their bringing up to particular callings this latter I am sure is a duty but that which is first should be last and that which is last should be first Your greatest care and that in the first place should be to seek the Kingdom of God for your selves and children and then other things shall be added to you Caleb gave his daughter the upper and the neather springs O labour that yours may with Jacob have the dews of heaven as well as the fatness of the earth Elisha wept when he saw Hazael 2 Kings 3.12 13. and foresaw that he would slay young men and dash the children against the wall do nor some of you give far far greater occasion of weeping if possible teares of blood in slaying and murdering the souls of your dear children teaching them by your patterns to live like Heathens and Atheists Believe it God committeth the charge of and will account with you for all the souls in your families Gen. 4.3 10 11. When Cain had flain his brother Abel God called to him Where is thy Brother Abel And Cain said I know not am I my Brothers keeper And the Lord said What hast thou done the voice of thy brothers blood cryeth unto me from the ground And now thou art cursed from the earth which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother blood at thine hand So suppose God should whisper one of you in the eare Cruel Father Careless Master Where is thy child or servant that dyed so many months or years ago You may possibly think what Cain spake Lord I know not whether in heaven or hell Holy Greenham saith that many mens children shall follow them up and down in hell cursing them and crying out of them for neglecting to instruct them Was I their keeper O think of it with speed and reform May not God reply very truly Cursed sinner vile wretch What hast thou done The voice of thy child of thy servants soul-blood cryeth to me from hell And now thou art cursed from hell which hath opened her mouth to receive thy sons thy servants soul at thine hand Friends Friends what will you do when God shall thus deal with you for your neglect of relative duties Possibly ye may think I deal too sharply but truly the reason is because I know that sin will not deal mildly either with you or yours And should I not give you warning the blood of your own and childrens souls would be required at my hands Good Lord that ye did but believe what it is to be guilty of others blood Heathens and Infidels provide for the body and temporall well-being of their children and what do many of you more Bears that bring forth mishapen whelps will by licking them bring them to a better form Your Children are brought forth enemies to God and are by nature children of wrath and heirs of eternal death doth it not behove you to strive that by religious nurture they may become children of the promise and heirs of eternal life Thirdly Make sure of Regeneration be never satisfyed till ye can upon Scripture grounds affirme that your natures are regenerated This this is the one thing necessary Your All hangs upon this hinge If this be not done ye are undone undone eternally All your profession civility priviledges guifts duties are cyphers and signify nothing unless Regeneration be the figure put before them It is Regeneration that will make you the sons of God the members of Christ the temples of the Spirit that will give you an holy improvement of all providences a right to all the promises and at last the purchased possession It is Regeneration that will teach you to live like men like Christians like Angels in the love and fruition of the infinitely blessed God O the price of this pearl is not known in this beggerly world A grave and wise Counsellour of France being desirous in his old age to retire himself was intreated by the King to write down some directions and leave with him for the more prosperous government of his Realm The Counsellour took some paper and wrote on the top Moderation in the middle Moderation at the bottom Moderation Demosthenes being asked what was the chief thing in an Oratour answered Elocution and being demanded the same question three times what made an Oratour he still gave the same answer Aug. â—pist 56. ad Di osc Augustine being demanded what was the greatest requisite of a Christian What was the first second and third still answered Humility Humility Humility Truly what the Counsellour said of Moderation the Grecian of Elocution and the Father of Humility I shall say of Regeneration If you ask me what is the chiefest thing in the world for a man to mind What is that which is worthy of all his time and strength and thoughts and words and actions I answer Regeneration If you demand What is that which is of greatest necessity and excellency that bringeth in the greatest profit delight and happiness I answer Regeneration He that hath this hath all that is worth having the having of this is heaven He that wanteth this hath nothing the whole world cannot make up the want of this the want of this is hell O Sirs your everlasting making or marring dependeth upon your sincerity or hypocrisie in this Of what infinite consequence is it therefore to you in whatsoever ye come short to make sure here Alas when ye come to throw your last cast for eternity how will the stoutest of you do to look death in the face without Regeneration in your hearts God hath in an hundred texts of Scripture devoted all unregenerate ones to the unquenchable fire and can any of you think to make him a lyer Believe it as soon as death landeth you at the other world you will have other thoughts of God and his Truths then now ye have For your help in this work which is of such absolute indispensable necessity unto your never dying souls I commend to you this Treatise beseeching the blessed God to make it serviceable unto your salvations Ignatius when he heard a clock strike would say I have one hour more to answer for I must tell you that ye have eighteen hours eighteen Sermons more to answer for When they were preached they had from some of you a favourable attention now they are printed it is not unknown what providence brought them to the press I wish they may have within you all an effectual operation that both the Author and his labors may appear to your joy at that great and terrible day These things being signified Act. 20.32 I commend you to God and to the word of
others all spiritual children are not brought forth with the same strength and labour I shall mention three or four sorts of persons who are not so soon as others perswaded to real and unfeigned piety and truly my end is that they may be powerfully roused and effectually renewed before they be eternally ruined First The meer civil moral man This man Narcissus like dotes on himself and thereby is hardly brought to deny himself the more the tooth is fast'ned to the gum the harder it is to part them the more the man like a tree is rooted in the earth of self the more difficult to stock him up The civil man looks on himself in the glass of scandalous sinners lives and finding his face so clean and fair in comparison of theirs he falls extraordinarily in love with himself which many times proves his destruction He takes his civility for sanctity that which is less then the shadow for the substance and without question 't is not easie to make him eager after godliness when he is confident he hath it already a profane person is not seldom sooner convinced and converted then this conceited civilian for that man will sooner acknowledge himself sick but this Patient though sick unto death looks on himself as whole and so to have no need of a Physician In this sense I suppose the words of our Lord are spoken That Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdom of God before Scribes and Pharisees Matth. 21.31 As a ship that is under sail though in a contrary course is sooner brought about then one that lieth aground in the Harbor can be lanched forth so he that is in motion though in a sinful conversation is often sooner reduced then he that lieth still in the thoughts of his own good condition As I can sooner overtake a childe that runneth from me then my shadow which tarrieth nigh me so it s easier to recover a gross offender then this shadow of the Civilian for though he run not so far from grace as the other yet he will be sure to keep his distance He useth his outward unblameableness as a shield to fence off the power of godliness he usually compareth himself with them that are very evil as a coward choosing a weak adversary and because he much excelleth them therefore concludeth that he is very good Reader It is far from my thoughts to discourage civility much less to encourage open impiety though the whole will of God must be taught what use soever corrupt hearts will make of it but to make thee watchfull that thy outward harmlesness prove not a hinderance to inward holiness Secondly The Hypocrite is one who is with more difficulty then ordinary converted Hypocrisie is like a fistula which hath a very small orifice but many turnings and windings in the body like coney-burrows so that 't is very hardly discerned and cured this man seems to be what a Saint is indeed and because he is like a godly man performing the same duties and forbearing the same iniquities as to the external part therefore he gathers that he is one indeed but he embraceth a cloud instead of Juno he appeareth to be near the Kingdom of God but never careth to come at it as a parallel line he keeps a scantling with the way of godliness but never meeteth with it There is some particular exception which this man hath taken against Christ and his ways that though he may often cheapen yet he seldom buyeth the pearl of price he escapes storms and Pirats at Sea and makes shiprack in the Haven where destruction is no less sure but much more miserable he escapes the gross lusts of Publicans and Harlots and yet is further then both from eternal life It is harder to convince this man of his sins then others If I tell a drunkard a swearer or an adulterer of his transgressions and the necessity of conversion this mans foul conversation is a forcible conviction to him yea and his own conscience will possibly flye in his face take part with me and give evidence against him but if I tell an Hypocrite of the necessity of sanctification and pursue him with the pieces of the Law he presently betakes himself like the beasts to his den of duties and therein shelters himself nay his naturall conscience being fed and bribed with a few performances may plead for him at least not say a word against him Besides when this man is convinced of his lost estate it s harder to break this mans heart then anothers for his heart hath not onely a naturall hardness but an extrordinary acquired hardness such an hardness as is acquired by duties and ordinances Now as where the Sun is most powerful there are the hardest mettalls so where the Sun-shine of spirituall blessings is most plentifully enjoyed and thus wretchedly abused there are the hardest hearts No softning like Gospel softening no hardening like Gospel hardening Tell a man that never heard of the Gospel or very seldom when he is convinced of his sins and misery of the love of God in sending his onely Son into the world to die that poor sinners might not perish tell him of the infinite love of Christ in giving himself a Sacrifice for his soul how freely Christ invites him how fully he provides for him how willing he is to accept him how welcome he will make him O how this man sometimes falls a weeping wringing his hands and renting his heart that ever he should abuse such love and mercy refuse such incomparable merits walk in the whole course of his heart and life unworthy of such a blessed glorious holy and gracious God the word of God doth wound this man to the soul but say all this and much more to an Hypocrite his heart is like the rock not at all moved The promises of God do not cleanse him from pollutions but they are as physick to which his body hath been much used which stirs him not at all nor purgeth away any ill humours Threatnings do not work with him be they never so dreadful and terrible as a Smiths Dog being accustomed to it he can sleep securely though the sparkes of the Forge flye about him nay though the flames of hell flash in his face Reader if thou shouldst be one of this sort for the Lords sake mind soundness with speed for hypocrisy will harden thine heart insensibly and every day widen the breach betwixt God and thy soul Thirdly The rich man The man that is rich in this world is hardly brought to mind the riches of the other world his heavy load of earth doth much hinder him in his journey to heaven His riches claspe about his affections as the Jvy about the Oake sucking out the heart of it for its own leaves and berries This man taketh up with his present possessions in comparison whereof he disesteemeth the Saints reversions As a Vessel that is exceedingly laden when it meets with storms and tempests
glorious body of his Son and our souls like unto his blessed Majesty in holiness beauty and delight O what are we and what our fathers houses that God should do any thing for us As Perillus when Alexander promised his daughter fifty talents for her portion cryeth 't was too much ten were sufficient And when David sent to take Abigal to wife she wondred at it she counted it an honour to wash the feet of his servants 'T was too much to be his wife So we cannot but count it a favour to wait upon his servants to be his door keepers and stand without 't is too much we think to be marryed to Christ the eternal Son of God and to dwell in the house of the Lord for ever We can hardly be perswaded that God will thus dignifie such worthless worms but then seeing and enjoying will be believing then we shall say It was a true report which I heard in the lower world what God would do for poor creatures in heaven howbeit I believed not till I came and mine eyes have seen it and behold the half was not told me my glory and joy exceedeth the fame which I heard Sixthly Thou shouldst enjoy all the forementioned good things and more then I can speak or thou think without intermission interruption and for ever The good things of this life are intermitted partly by contrary and evil things as our health lost by sickness our wealth by want partly by necessary diversions the body must have sleep and then we lose the comfort of the creatures but there thy day of comfort should never be overcast for all tears will be wiped from thine eyes and thy fruition of God should be without intermission thou shouldst ever stand in his presence and behold his face thou shouldst ever be with the Lord 1 Thes 4.16 Hadst thou here a confluence of all comforts yet because thy life is short thy joy could not be long but there thy life will be an everlasting life and thy joy therefore everlasting joy I wil see you again and your hearts shall rejoyce and your joy shall no man take from you saith Christ Joh. 16. Eternity will perfect thy felicity indeed It is a boundless duration without intermission and end Suppose that all the vast space between heaven and earth were filled with sand and once every ten thousand years a bird came and carried away a crum in her bill what a long while would it be before this vast heap would be carried quite away but suppose after the bird had done that it was to come every ten thousand years and take one drop of water out of the sea what a while would it be before it could empty the Ocean but after all this thou shouldst have as long to continue in thy joy and delights as at thy first entring into heaven If thou shouldst have but one glimpse of God as he was passing by thee as Moses had it were an happiness beyond all that this world can give thee but thou shalt there not have a transient view but a permanent vision of God thy God would not passe by but stand still that thou shouldst never lose the sight of him When the object would be so lovely and the act so lasting would not thy spirit be chearful and lively As the damned shall be without all hope ever to be released of their pains so thou shouldst be without all fear ever to be deprived of thy pleasures O who would not serve such a Master that giveth after poor imperfect works done for him such infinite eternal rewards 'T is bottomless love indeed which giveth such a boundles life Thus Reader I have given thee a taste of that of which thou if regenerated shouldst have a full draught Whilst thou continuest in this world thou shouldst be a blessed soul blessed in thy body in thy soul in thy calling estate relations children and name All the providences of God should be profitable to thee in all thy performances thou shouldst be acceptable to God all the ordinances of God should further thy good The precious promises one of which excels the whole world should all be thy portion When thou enterest into the other world thou shouldst be a glorious Saint Thou shouldst be perfectly holy and infinitely happy in the knowledg of the blessed God in finding the incomparable fruits of Christs blood and in experiencing the extent and certainty of Gods promises and thou shouldst enjoy all this not for a year or an age or for a million of ages but for ever ever ever Now what saist thou to this subject of consideration hast thou not unspeakable cause by an hearty marriage to close with the Son of God and accept him for thy Lord and husband when he offereth such matchless priviledges here and such an heavenly joynture hereafter Good Lord is it possible for man to be such an enemy to his soul as to neglect such great Salvation What an hard stone is the heart of man that neither misery nor mercy can move it Ah Friend thou art bewitched indeed if neither the wonderful woe of the unregenerate nor the unheard of weal of the regenerate can prevail with thee But before thou readest farther make a pause and consider what is included in these two subjects of consideration The Heathen tell us that such as cannot be perswaded by profit or disprofit are unperswadable Think of it here is the greatest advantage imaginable if thou wilt turn to Christ Here is the greatest damage conceivable if thou continuest in thine ungodly course surely thou art resolved upon thine eternal ruine or such reasons as these are will reforme thee Ponder this seriously if thou refusest the Lord Jesus as thy Saviour and Sovereign thou art a cursed damned sinner if thou acceptest him thou art a blessed saved creature in the one scale there is hell in the other scale there is heaven upon the turning of either is the turning of thy precious soul its making or marring for ever if thou wilt not embrace Christ upon his own conditions thy soul is lost O the loss of a soul thy God thy Heaven is lost O the loss of a God! no eye ever saw greater losses all other losses are nothing to these If thou dost thy soul is saved how sweet is that word Saved Thy God thy Heaven is gained O the gain of a God! how savoury is that sentence read it again If thou takeâ— Christ thy God is gained Dost thou know what is included in the gain of a God no nor all the men on earth nor all the Saints and Angels in heaven there never was such a gain before it nor ever shall be after it Ah who would not wade through thick and thin for such a gain What sayst thou shall not things of such concernment as these are stir thee It is reported of Adrianus an Officer under Maximinianus the Tyrant Laurent Sur. in vit that beholding the constancy of the
things exceedingly injure thee Is not God a hard Master to desire such things of thee Ah didst thou but know the worth of them hadst thou ever beheld their excellency or tasted the comforts which is in them thou wouldst scorn this lower world with all its pomp and pride and pleasures for them and befool thy self to purpose for ever refusing or neglecting them I shall endeavour in some few particulars to shew thee the worth and excellency of that to which thou art so unwilling and possibly thou mayest thereby be convinced of thy madness and folly in sticking at that which would be thine honour and felicity Pliny saith that an exact face can never be drawn but with much disadvantage Without doubt Regeneration or the new Creation can neither be admired nor declared by any no nor by all the Saints on earth according to its worth It is the beauty glory and wonder of Saints and Angels in Heaven First Regeneration is the image of God who is an infinite and most perfect good Vide p. 36 37. Here friend at first flight I soar high One would think if I should speak no more in commendation of it here is enough to ravish thine heart with admiring it for ever it is the picture of Gods own perfections Put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Eph 4.24 As it is the same light that shineth forth in the morning which shineth in the body of the Sun in its Meridian so it s the same holiness that shineth in its degrees in the Christian which shineth in perfection in God Regeneration would make thee pure as God is pure Gods will is the rule and his nature the pattern of the Saints holiness Heb. 1.3 Rom. 8. The coin hath the image and impressions of the King Christ is the express image of his fathers person and the Saints are conformable to the image of his Son The Church is Christ unfolded Christ is not a monster Mr Ball of faith p. 285. the head and members are homogeneal like to each other By Reason man excelleth beasts by holiness he excelleth himself inferiour onely to the Angels in degree and made like unto the Lord as far as a creature may be to his creatour Now how excellent is the image of God! the picture of a King is esteemed and valued at an high rate but what is the picture of a God! Some say that the naked body of man was so glorious in his estate of innocency that all the beasts of the field admired it and thereupon did homage to him O how beautiful and glorious is his soul become by Regeneration the image of God that both Saints Angels and Jesus Christ are taken with it and wonder at it He that would not hear when the disciples were speaking and wondring at the buildings of the material temple but contemned it did both hear see and admire at one piece of this spiritual temple when Jesus heard the Centurions words he marvelled and said to them that followed him I have not found so great faith no not in Israel Mat. 8.10 15 and 28. Nay Christ is so taken with it that his heart is ravished and lost with it he he is behearted with it Cant. 4.9 10. It is observable that the blessed God after every days work in the creation of the world Gen. 1. takes a view of what he had made he saw it was good but when he had made man the sixth day after his own image and then took a review of his works and saw every thing that he had made behold it was very good or extream good So good that it caused delight and complacency in God and called for wonder and contemplation from man Behold it was very good no doubt but the making of man so noble and holy did above all the visible creatures so affect the heart of God that he liked the house much the better because of so rare an inhabitant which he had made to dwell in it Therefore when he had made man he made no more man being so fair a peice such curious workmanship that the infinite God resolved to rest and delight in him So when he createth a soul in Christ Jesus unto good works Eph. 2.10 he rejoyceth over his new workmanship with exceeding joy and resteth in his love Eph. 3.17 But when he shall finish his new creation for he will print mans holiness in the second edition in a larger letter and fairer character then it was at first and bring it forth in the other world t will infinitely surpass the stately fabrick of heaven and earth And O how how will it take not onely perfect spirits but even the God of the spirits of all flesh Friend can that be less then eminently excellent which doth thus ravish the heart of God himself with admiration at it and affection to it Would this tend to thy dishonour or disadvantage to be made like unto him who is the foundation and ocean of all excellencies and perfections Secondly Contraria â—uxta se pâ—sita magis cluces cunt Regeneration is the destruction of sin the greatest evil therefore it must needs be excellent Contraries put together will illustrate one another the baseness and loathsomness of sin will be a good foil to set off the beauty and loveliness of Grace For which cause I shall speak the more to the filthiness of sin For as the better any good is the more excellent it is to be full of it So the worse any evil is the more excellent it is to be free from it Besides dying to sin being one essential part of Regeneration I shall not at all digress Now Sin is the greatest evil in the world there was none like it before it nor ever shall be after it This Brat of the Devil is so vile and abominable that it is very hard to finde out a name futable to its ugly nature Those terms by which it is called of leprofie spot plague vomit mire scum ulcers issues dead carkass exhalation from a grave the vessel into which nature emptieth it self filthiness superfluity of naughtiness the pollution of a new born Infant and many more these all come far short of shewing the poysonous evil which is in sin Therefore the Apostle when he christens this child of disobedience calls it by its sirname That sin by the commandment might appear exceeding sinful Rom. 7.13 The Apostle there doth discharge the Law and charge all upon his own lust which by the commandment takes occasion as water at a bridge that stops and hinders it to rage the more or possibly as a foul face by a glass so sin by the commandment appeared to be exceeding sinful Mark the Apostle doth not say that sin by the glass of the Law appeared to be exceeding foul and filthy or exceeding deformed and ugly or exceeding hellish or devilish but exceeding sinful this includes all them and much more
then they needed to do of his justifying himself in his transgressions and taking part with Satan against his own soul he crieth Guilty Guilty when such Bills of indictment are read against him but every word in them is a deep wound to him the wolf in the brest and worms in the belly do not cause half that pain which his wickedness doth by gnawing in his conscience Tell him of the Gospel how infinitely merciful God is and how inconceivably meritorious Christ is and how freely the glad tidings of the Gospel are offered to all O this toucheth him to the quick the sword of the Gospel cuts him more to the heart then the sword of the Law O saith he This this is my death were it not for this I should have some hopes of life but alas I have abused mercy which is the only friend I have left I have despised Christ and neglected the great salvation which was tendred to me in the Gospel Vile creature that I am Mercy Love and Grace came many a time woing me how did Jesus Christ himself with pardon and life come beseeching me begging of me to open my heart and let him in and yet cursed wretch that I was I denied him when the world could lie warm in my bosom all night and sin get a good room in my soul yet my Saviour must stand without and not be thought worthy to be let in I have most unworthily spurned against his bowels of compassion scorned his sweetest and most affectionate perswasions most desperately refused the only means of my recovery and therefore I what shall I do whether shall I go If one man sin against another the judge shall judge him 1 Sam. 2.25 but if a man sin against the Lord who shall entreat for him If I had sinned only against my Creator my Redeemer might have satisfied for me but I wretched I have sinned against my Redeemer and therefore who shall intreat for me O the frights and fears the horrors and terrors which this poor creature suffereth under the sight and sence of his sins and guilt but the fore-thoughts of an everlasting miscarriage in the other world sinks him quite down that he is able to hold up no longer Thus the Spirit first plougheth up the fallow-ground of the heart before he casteth into it the seed of grace he first captivates the sinner and brings him into a spiritual dungeon under chains of guilt and horror that the very irons enter into his soul before he proclaimeth liberty to the captive Isa 61.1 2. and the opening of the prison to them that are bound Some indeed are brought lower then others with legal terror but surely not a few have sailed to Heaven by the very gates of Hell God is resolved that men shall feel sin either here or hereafter Thirdly The Spirit convinceth him of the impotency and weakness of all the things in the world to help him that in the whole garden of Nature there is never an herb which can make a salve to heal his wounded conscience Now the sinner is scorched with the heat of Gods wrath he is like a man in a burning feaver full of pain and he tumbleth and tosseth from one side of the bed to the other trying and hoping for ease he goeth to this carnal comfort or that humane help to have his pain abated and his sores cured but none of them will do as fast as he claps on those carnal plaisters the Spirit causeth his conscience to rub them off It may be first the man useth forreign drugs he being troubled in conscience goeth with Cain to the building of Cities to earthly imployments that the noise of the hammers might drown the voice of conscience that his minde and body being occupied about other things conscience might have no time nor leasure to proceed in preaching its cutting Lectures or else like Saul he runneth to his musick to carnal contentments to merry meetings jovial companions his preferment or pleasures in the world or some carnal diversion if it be possible to turn the water of his thoughts into another channel and so to keep that mill from going which makes such a clacking dreadful noise in his ears and threatneth to grind him to powder Thus sinfully foolish is man as soon as ever a fire is kindled in his soul which would aspire to heaven he runneth with his buckets to earthly springs and fetcheth water thence to quench it the throws of the new birth do no sooner come upon him but he like some simple women takes cooling things which cause his labour to go back again But the Holy Ghost for I am now speaking of one in whom the Spirit goeth through with the work makes all these things empty to him the vertue of those poor cordials is soon spent and now the man is as sick as before Conscience for all these interruptions still followeth him with its Hue and Cry by a warrant from Heaven for the breach of Gods Statutes that the sinner can house nowhere in any of these worldly comforts but conscience is at his heels raising the Town upon him and giveth him no rest the man finds this physick but like hot water to one in a cold fit of an ague which warms a little at present but makes his hot fit the more violent When the sinner findes that his exotical drugs will not cure him he will try in the next place Kitchin physick he will be his own both Doctor and Apothecary he hopeth that his praying and grieving and trouble of minde and resolution to be better will satisfie Gods justice and pacifie his own conscience and heal it throughly O how the man endeavors to lick himself whole man is a proud creature unwilling to beg or borrow of his neighbors very solicitous rather to make a poor shift with what he hath of his own The Mariners will row hard in a storm to get to shore by their own power before they will awake Jesus with Save us Master or we perish But the Spirit convinceth him of the insufficiency of all his prayers and tears and duties to appease God or satisfie his Law the Spirit sheweth him the narrowness and shortness of all his rags how they cannot possibly cover his nakedness conscience telleth him that by his very duties he is so far from paying his old score that he runneth further in debt Alas saith Conscience thy very duties may damn thee He who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity seeth a thousand holes in thy best coat the holy God seeth sins enough in them to send thee into Hell for them Canst thou poor begger with thy counterfeit farthings think to pay an infinite sum Can thy poor finite performances satisfie infinite Justice for the violation of his righteous precepts And for thy resolutions of better obedience canst thou think that future obedience can satisfie for former disobedience No though thou couldst offer thousands of rams and ten
thousands of rivers of oil nay though the first-born of thy body all these could no be a propitiation for one of the least sins of thy soul no no the redemption of a soul is more precious for all these it must cease for ever Thus God ferrits the sinner out of all his Borows and causeth the poor Prodigal while he is wandring from his Father to finde a famine in all the creatures As a General that besiegeth a City doth not onely play in upon it with his Cannons and Granadoes but also secure the several passages stop all provision that no relief can come to it then they will yeild upon his terms So when the Spirit besiegeth the soul it often plyeth it hard with the batteries of the Law and alwayes stoppeth relief from coming in either from the world or a mans own righteousness and then and not till then will the creature yeild upon the terms of the Gospel Fourthly The Spirit convinceth him of the willingness sutableness and al-sufficiency of Jesus Christ to help and heal him The sinner now in his burning fit is very thirsty like Hagar he sits weeping for his bottels are empty and his creature comforts are found by experience to be broken cisterns which can hold no water he knoweth not what to do how can I see the death of my soul thinks he When the sinner is brought to this strait the spirit of God openeth his eyes to see a well of salvation even Jesus who delivereth from the wrath to come The spirit discovereth to the sinner that though his wound be dangerous because the God whom he hath provoked is resolved either to have his law satisfied or his eternal wrath endured yet that it is not desperate for there is Balm in Gilead and a Physitian in Israel that can heal his soul It convinceth him that Christ is a sutable help bread to the hungry water to the thirsty rest to the weary and heavy-laden that he hath a precious salve made of his own blood which is a proper and pecular remedy for his sores It convinceth him that Christ is an alsufficient help that he can supply all the souls wants be they never so many and bear all the souls iniquities be they never so weighty that he is able to save to the uttermost those that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 It presenteth to the soul his fitness and fulness in regard of his natures and offices and the impossibility of his being unfaithful to this great work of saving poor sinners for which he came into the world It sheweth the sinner the infiniteness of Christs merits and his omnipotency to help because he is God the examples of other wounded diseased persons who surrendred themselves to the care of this Physitian and were cured He shall convince the world of righteousness because I go to the father and ye see me no more John 16.9 10. That is the world shall be convinced that there is righteousness enough in me to satisfy both the law and law-giver in that I shall appeare in my fathers presence and that with acceptance he would not send an Angel as his officer to roll away the stone and release the surety out of prison the grave and bring him before the Judge with so much credit and countenance if the law were not satisfied and the debt fully discharged Heaven could never have held me ye would have seen me upon earth again if I had not done that work perfectly which the Father gave me to do He shall convince the world of righteousness because I go to the father It convinceth him that Jesus Christ is exceeding willing to save poor sinners that he is joyful that any will accept him for their Saviour that he came from heaven to earth was born meanly lived miserably and died shamefully meerly upon this errand that he might seek and save them that are lost that he inviteth him to come to him and promiseth that he shall be welcom that he calleth them that go from him but casteth away none that come to him Thus when the prodigal is in a far country and cannot fill his belly so much as with husks that he is ready to perish for hunger he is shewd and convinced that there is bread enough in his Fathers house When the sinner is like the Israelite in the wilderness beholding the curse of the law like the Egyptian behind him and pursuing him hard the red sea of divine wrath before him into which he is hastening his crimson and bloody sins like mountains on each side of him incompassing him round that he knoweth not what to do then the spirit biddeth him look up to Jesus and he shall see the salvation of God The third step which the spirit takes is anhelation to cause the soul of the convinced sinner to breath and pant after Jesus Christ breath is the first effect of life Conviction hath emptied his stomach of creature confidence and self righteousness made him poor in spirit and O how hungry he is after the righteousness of Jesus Christ the bread which came down from heaven As the thirsty ground cleaves and opens for drops as the heart panteth after the water brooks so panteth his soul after Jesus Christ God blessed for ever thinks he O when shall I come and appear before him His voice is like Rachel Give me children or I die Give me the holy child Jesus or I die or like Abraham Lord what wilt thou give me if I go childless Ioh. 12.21 O what wilt thou give me if I go Christiess or like the Jews to Philip Sir we would fain see Jesus Mat. 28.5 If the Angel should meet him he might bespeake the soul as he did the woman I know what thou seekest thou seekest Jesus which was crucified O the ardent desires the vehement longings the unutterable groans which this poor creature hath after his Saviour as David he cryeth out Who will give me to drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem Where is that blessed guide that can leade me and help me to drink of the water of life Methinks I see how Jesus Christ presents himself to the eye of the dejected souls understanding in all his glory and gallantry in his sutableness unto the sinners indigencies and sufficiency for all his necessities with the freeness of his mercy the fullness of his merits and the sweetness of his love how he appeares before the soul with all his retinue and train of graces comforts his blood his spirit the favour of God freedom from sin wrath hell on the one hand of him there stand his gracious promises of pardon peace adoption sanctification heart-chearing love and everlasting life On the other hand of him there stands his precious precepts of self denyal crucifying the flesh walking after the Spirit despising the sensual pleasures honours and profits of this world and delighting in God walking with him having the conversation in heaven and rejoycing
her and how he shall deal with her or else she will not have him but now Christ by his spirit hath prevailed with the soul and 't is heartily willing to take him for better for worse to resign up all to Christ to part with all for Christ to take all from Christ to be disposed in all by Christ in a word it promiseth with the whole heart to be a loving faithful and obedient wife and now the match is made nay the Saviour and the soul are actually married together And O what an happy joyful day is this If Aaron when he met Moses was glad at his heart how glad is this poor soul now he meets with the Messias The Father accepts him for his child the Son accepts him for his spouse the Spirit hath given earnest already to have the Christians heart for his everlasting habitation the Devils in hell are vexing the Angels in heaven are singing the Saints on earth are shouting for it is meet that they should be merry for this son was dead and is alive was lost and is found was a cursed sinner and is become a blessed Saint So I have dispatched the first branch of this second help to regeneration namely an observation of those several steps whereby the wandring sheep is brought home I come now to the second branch of this help which is a pliable submission to the workings and motions of the Spirit when the Spirit at any time maketh his addresses to thy soul Reader I must earnestly beseech thee if thou hast the least spark of love to thy soul and endless good in the other world that thou be more tender of the motions of the Spirit then of the apple of thine eye When the Holy Ghost cometh to thy soul by its motions to good thy kinde entertainment of it may be as much as thine eternal happiness is worth and probably invite the Spirit to stay with thee perfect the work and abide in thee for ever whereas if thou shouldst grieve or quench the Spirit and affront this Ambassador which is sent to treat with thee about terms of peace between God and thy soul he may be called home and thou never hear of him more We read in Genesis 2.2 Incubabat aquis Iun. Gen. That the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters Several read the words The Spirit of God was sitting or hatching upon the waters It is a Metaphor taken from birds or hens they sit and move upon their eggs to hatch them and bring them forth and when they are hatched they still sit and move upon them to cherish and bring them to perfection So the Spirit of God sat or moved upon that face of the deep that by his motion or incubation he might hatch and bring forth out of that vast Chaos the several kindes of creatures Thus the Spirit moveth upon thy heart he sitteth upon he broodeth on thee that he may hatch and bring thee forth a new creature Therefore consider what thou dost and how thou carriest thy self towards him fowls when they have been much disturbed have left their eggs and never hatched them they have come to nothing shouldst thou resist the Spirit in his operations or quench him in his motions when he is brooding on thy soul he may take its eternal flight from thee When the Spirit cometh to thy soul by its motions disswading thee from sin or stirring thee up to holiness Jesus Christ then knocks at the door of thy heart every motion is a knock from the hand of Christ if thou hearkenest and openest he will come in and sup with thee but if notwithstanding his knocking thou wilt not hear though he cometh upon an errand so infinitely for thine advantage he will depart away in a distast as neighbors when they are so uncivilly used and thou mayst never hear of him more Thou art apt to complain that thou wantest help to turn from sin and to turn unto God I tell thee when the Spirit moveth and worketh within thee to minde thy soul and thine eternal estate he offereth thee his help and assistance and if thou hearkenest to and obeyest his motions thou shalt have his help As he was teaching the power of God was present to heal them Luke 5.17 Whilst the Son of man was teaching at that niâ—k of time the power of God was present to heal mens bodies so when the Spirit is moving at that very time the power of God is present to help thy soul now if thou takest that time thou mayst be an happy man for ever If when the windes blow fairly for mens voyage they then hoise up their sails and be going they may through the help of the winde be at their Haven in convenient time but if they neglect the opportunity and will not lanch out whilst the winde offereth its help they may be dead before they have another winde and so never go that voyage Thus if when the gales of the Spirit blow and offer thee their assistance for Regeneration and Salvation thou then presently lanchest out and compliest with its motions through its help thou shouldst be seasonably and safely landed in Christ and at the Haven of Heaven but if thou then liest still and neglectest this oportunity God knoweth but thou mayst be dead before the Spirit blow so favorably for thee again Solomon telleth us that there is a time for every purpose under Heaven and a time to be born Eccles 3.1 2. There is time for every purpose that is an opportunity when the work may be done best and with most advantage yea when it must be done or shall not be done at all now such a time such an opportunity there is for the new birth there is an accepted time 2 Coâ— 6â— Psal 3.6 and 55.6 a time when God may be found when he is near a day of Salvation this is when the Spirit moveth and stirreth and offereth thee his help if thou passest by that time and dost not then strike in thou mayst come as Esau too late for the blessing thou mayst as some idle persons that are tippling and drinking in an Ale-house when they should be in the market let slip thy opportunity and finde it too late to buy the wine and milk in the Gospel It is one great misery of men and women that they observe not neither improve their opportunities The turtle and the stork Ier. 8.7 and the crane and the swallow they all know their opportunity and their time but the generation of mankinde neglect theirs O that thou hadst known in this thy day the things which concern thy peace Opportunity is a transient thing it is quickly gone but it bringeth a lasting treasure along with it which if neglected can never be recovered time is all the while a man liveth on earth but opportunity is onely when the Spirit moveth Me ye have not alwayes saith Christ Friend thou wilt make hay while the Sun shineth
Regeneration First Vse and attend on the means of grace The ordinances of God are the Marts and Faires whereat Christians must trade for grace At them thou mayst buy spiritual commodities without money and without price The ever blessed God hath upon a twofold account enjoyned the use of his ordinances partly out of soveraignty over us that we might thereby acknowledg that homage and fealty which we owe to his Majesty Partly out of mercy to us that we might therein receive of his Spirit and grace By our attendance on ordinances as by a pepper-corn for all that we can do is very little we acknowledg of whom we hold and to whom we are bound and also they are the door at which God giveth his gracious doles The manna of the spirit doth usually fall down in the dews of ordinances Thou hast Gods command for thy warrant Mat. 7.7 8. Isa 55.1 2 3 5. and his promise for thy motive In all places where I record my name there I will come and will bless thee Exod. 20.24 And if thou wouldst know what blessing what alms God giveth at those places There the Lord commandeth his blessing even life for evermore Psal 133.3 God giveth not such blessings anywhere as there there are the mercies of the Throne pardon love peace conversion increase of grace joy in the Holy Ghost the kidneys of the wheat the finest of the flowre and the honey out of the rock of mercy It is said of Constantine that he impoverished all his Empire to enrich Constantinople God doth pass by other parts of the world as waste ground or as a wilderness but the place where he records his Name is his garden that he will dung and dig and dress and take care that it bring forth good fruit there he commands his blessing It is an allusion possibly to great persons to a General or an Emperor Where the word of a King is there is power The Centurion said I say to one Souldier Go and he goeth to another Come and he commeth to a third Do this and he doth it So God commandeth one ordinance Go and build up such a Saint and it goeth he saith to another ordinance Come and call home such a sinner and it doth it Gods word and work goe together Men cannot enable others or give them power to obey them they may bid a lame man walk or a blinde man see but they cannot enable them to walk or see God with his word giveth strength to do the thing commanded as in the old so in the new creation He spake and it was done he commanded and it stood fast Psal 33.9 But there the Lord commands his blessing even life for evermore The stream of Regeneration or a spiritual life which shall never cease but still go forward and increase till it swell to and be swallowed up in the Ocean of eternal life even life for evermore Thou hearest Reader where thy wants may be supplied through what pipes the water of life is conveyed do thou like the impotent man wait at the porch of Solomons Temple begging and expecting some alms God may do more for thee as for him Acts 3.2 8. then thou dost ask or think It was as easie for Boaz and it might have been done with as little charge to have given Ruth as much corn at first as would have yeilded an Epah of barley and so have sent her away without any more ado but he will have her glean it and then break it So God could infuse Grace immediately but he will have men hear read and pray attend on Ordinances though not as masters yet as means of Grace He giveth earthly riches to them that are diligent in their particular callings so he giveth heavenly riches to them that are diligent about their general calling Secondly Observe in this third help a serious constant use of all the means of Grace appointed for this end David in meditation findeth the Spirit kindling that fire which at last broke out into an holy flame Psal 39.3 While I was musing the fire burned The two disciples at godly conference found Jesus Christ to make a third while they were discoursing of him he presents himself to them causeth their hearts to burn within them and openeth their eyes to know him Dead coals are kindled by live ones O 't is good for thee to be among the Saints Thomas by missing one meeting did his soul unspeakable dis-service Cornelius at prayer in his house Acts 10. initiâ— had a messenger from heaven directing him whither to send for one to instruct him in the way of Salvation Prayer hath been a prevalent Orator at the Throne of Grace Many that have gone thither with prayers and petitions have come away with praises and thanksgivings Jacob added tears to his prayes and as a Prince prevailed with God He wept and made supplication and prevailed Hosea 12.4 Musick sounds best upon the waters such water of a sinner mingled with the blood of a Saviour hath melted the very heart of God A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Psal 51.17 When Daniel was fasting his body an angel is sent to feast his soul Dan. 9.21 While some have been casting themselves down God hath been raising them up Papists on their fasting dayes deny themselves flesh but have dainty fare costly sweet-meats Thou mayst Reader if thou humblest thy self under the mighty hand of God expect that he should in his own time lift thee up These duties have helped to increase and also to beget holiness The Eunuch was reading the Scripture when Philip was commanded by commission from the Holy Ghost to joyn himself to his Chariot and to instuct him in the knowledge of Christ Act. 8.33 Junius by reading Joh. 1. Augustine by reading Romans 13. were converted The three thousand Act. 3. by hearing came to love and truly many thousands have found the Gospel of Christ preached to become the power of God unto Salvation Cyprian confesseth that he was converted from idolatry and negromancy by hearing the history of the Prophet Jonas read and expounded by Cecilius whom therefore he calleth the father of his new life Faith and repentance are both wrought by hearing Rom. 10.14 Acts 3.37 The wandring sinner is most frequently reduced by the Scripture either read or heard God cals to him when he is running away saying Return Return O Shulamite Return Return In all Gods great works there is ordinarily a word accompanying it as in the creation God said Let there be light when Christ raised Lazarus Lazarus come forth when he converted Paul Saul Saul why persecutest thou me At the great day Arise ye dead and come to judgment The Devil got in at first into mans heart by his eare The Dragon bites the Elephants eare and thence sucks his blood knowing that to be the onely place which he cannot reach with his trunk to defend The Spirit of God comes in with the word 2
him and the Son of man that thou dost thus visit him Psa 8. Surely thou when thou considerest the work of grace and holiness which God hath wrought within thee and the place of glory and happiness which he hath prepared for thee mayst wel fal down on thy knees and looking up to heaven say What is man that thou art so mindful of him and what am I a poor son of man that thou dost thus visit me thou hast made me but a little lower then the angels and hast crowned me with glory and honour with grace and holiness Who am I O Lord and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto And this was yet a smal thing in thy sight O Lord God but thou hast spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come And is this the manner of men O Lord God 2 Sam. 7.18 19. Friend let free grace have the honour and glory of all the good bestowed on thee or expected by thee Alas who made thee to differ from others wa st not thou in the same lump of clay with them that perish now that the potter should make thee a vessel of honour to be set upon the high shelf of heaven as the martyrs phrase is when others are vessels of dishonour and firebrands of hell hast not thou unspeakable cause to wonder at his mercy and good-will towards thee That thy person should be justified when others are under the guilt of all their transgressions is meerly from mercy Rom. 3.24 Rom. 5.18 19. The free gift came upon all to justification of life That thy nature should be sanctified when others are left in their filth and pollution is altogether from his grace and favour Among whom we all had our conversation in time past in the lusts of our flesh fullfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath even as others But God who is RICH IN MERCY for his GREAT LOVE wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ That in the ages to come he might shew the EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE in his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus Eph 2.1 to 10. That thou shalt be saved with a great and glorious salvation when others shall be damned with a greivous and endless destruction that thou shall enjoy Rivers of pleasures when others must be tormented day and night with intolerable pain is onely from Gods good pleasure Titus 3.3 4. The jewel which inricheth thee is a guift Joh. 4.10 * Faith justifieth not as manus laborantis which earns a peony but as manus mendicantis that receiveth an alms or jeâ—el by which the soul is justified and enriched The hand which receiveth it is a guift Phil. 1.29 It is worthy thy observation how full the Spirit of God is in excluding thee and every thing in thee from having any hand in meriting thine acceptance here or inheritance hereafter Not by works Rom 9.11 Not of works Rom. 11.6 Not according to works 2 Tim. 1.9 without works Rom. 4.6 Now if mercy doth all for thee should not mercy have the honour of all from thee What did God see in thee more then in others that he chose thee to glory What did he foresee in thee more then in others that he called thee by his grace thou wast not onely empty of but contrary to all saving good many a motion of the Spirit didst thou neglect many an invitation from Christ didst thou reject how long did he strive with thine untoward heart before he conquered it how many a time did he call when thou wouldst not hear and knock when thou wast so far from opening that thou didst bolt and bar the door against him How justly might he have sent thee as well as thousands of others to hell what mercies didst thou abuse what means of grace didst thou misimprove Yet who did he wait upon thee by his unwearyed patience woo thee by many a good providence and at last win thee to himself notwithstanding all thy resistance I tell thee It is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9.16 O therefore admire mercy say in thine heart I was a blasphemer I was a persecuter and injurious but I obtained mercy I thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord. 1 Tim. 1.12 13.17 Now to the King immortal invisible eternal be honour and glory blessed be God who hath begotten me again to a lively hope of an inheritance that fades not away 1 Pet. 1.3 Wonder at Gods distinguishing mercy Lord how is it that thou revealest thy self to us and not to the world said the disciple John 14.22 Shouldst not thou think Lord how is it that I unworthy I should be chosen when others are rejected that I should be called when others are neglected that I who came into the world with the same rage against God and godliness and did many a day run with others to the same excess of riot should turn about be in love with holiness and run the wayes of thy commandments when many many others still wallow in their wickedness and are every hour hastning unto hell Lord how is it that thou hast revealed thy self to me and not to the world Plutarch wonders how the fig-tree having that extream bitterness in its leaves branches and stock should yet bring forth sweet fruit Hast thou not more cause to wonder how thou so extreamly polluted being in the very gall of bitterness by nature and having a fountain of poyson in thee shouldst ever come to bear good fruit and send forth pleasant streams truly thou mayst have the same Motto with the Olive which groweth in the craggy clifts without moisture or rooting A Coelo From Heaven Thou couldst never do it unless it were given thee from above therefore as thy piety came down from Heaven so let thy praise go up to Heaven Elizabeth wondred that the mother of the Lord should come unto her house O do thou stand amazed that the Lord of that mother should come into thine heart Give thanks night and day to the Father who hath made thee meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light 1 Col. 12.13 Secondly Give thanks to God in thy life by an holy conversation As thou shouldst see thy dignity and take comfort in it so also consider thy duty and take care about it God hath done singular things for thee what singular thing wilt thou do for him The life of thankfulness consisteth in the thankfulness of thy life O the bonds the infinite obligations by which thou art tied to thy Saviour great things are bestowed on thee and great things are expected from thee thy life should be answerable to thy birth and breeding Thou art born of God hast blood-royal running in thy veins art brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord do not therefore stain