thou growest upon Christ's root therefore thy Grace shall flourish into Perseverance Though thou wert but as a bough that hangs half on the Tree thou shouldst never drop off because Christ holds thee It is not thy holding Christ but Christ's holding thee preserves thee He repells the force of Temptation over-pours the rellicks of corruption encreaseth the spark of Grace 1 Pet. 1. 5. Kept by the power of God The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kept as in a Garrison 4. It is comfort in case of the World's hatred Hieroni blessed God that he was counted worthy to be one whom the World hated What though thou art maligned and hated God loves all the Branches of the True Vine nay he loveth them as he loves the Root Joh. 17. 23. That the World may know that thou hast loved Them as thou hast loved Me. It is the same love for kind though not degree 1. God the Father loved Christ ab aeterno from eternity Joh. 17. 34. Thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World And so he loves Believers Eyhes 1. 4. He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world Our love to God began but late We may remember the time when we had no love in our hearts sparkling towards the Deity but God's love to us bears date from Eternity 2. God's love to Christ is a love of immutability and so it is to Believers The Sun of electing love having risen upon them never sets Death may take away their life but not God's love Isa. 54. 10. The Hills shall be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee The Lord may change his love into a frown but he will never change his love into hatred God can no more hate a Believer then he can Christ for a Believer is part of Christ he is Christ-mystical What a comfort is this God loves the Branches as he loves the root and the fruit of God's love to the Elect-branches appears in two things 1. In pruning of them He prunes them by affliction We are apt to think when God afflicts us he doth not love us an Husbandman loves his Vine never a whit the less because he prunes it Affliction is God's Pruning-Hook he prunes us to make us bring forth the peaceable fruits af Righteousness Hebr. 12. 11. God had rather have the Branches bleed then be barren Joh. 15. 2. Every branch in me that beareth fruit he purgetb it that it may bring forth more fruit All this is Love It is God's love that he will rather lopp and prune the Branches then let them grow wild 2. In Transplanting them into Heaven The Branches of Christ will thrive best when they are transplanted and good reason because then they will grow in a better soil Christ desires to have all his Branches which are scattered up and down in the World to be with him Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that those which thou hast given me be with me The Elect will never be happy till they are transplanted Then they will grow quietly In Heaven there will be no Bramble to tear the Vine-Branches none of the Red Dragon's Race Then all the Branches will be sweetly united in love Then they shall grow in the Sun-shine God's Countenance will be ever shining upon them In this life they partake of Christ's Grace and hereafter they shall partake of his Glory FINIS ERRATA Pag. 2. marg for re read rei p. 9. mâ—…rg for myeris r. mysteriis p. 21. marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 111. marg r. mortis Books to be sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Golden Bible on London-Bridg 1. AN Exposition of Temptation on Mat. 4. vers 1. to the end of the eleventh 2. A Commentary on Titus 3. Davids Learning A Comment upon Psal. 32. 4. The Parable of the Sower and of the Seed upon Luk. 8. 4. A Learned Commentary or Exposition on the first Chapter of the second Epistle to the Corinthians by Richard Sibbs D. D. fol. The view of the Holy Scriptures By Hugh Broughton Fol. Christianographia or a Description of the multitude and sundry sorts of Christians in the world not subject to the Pope By Ephr. Pagitt Fol. A Learned Commentary on the fourth Chapter of the second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians to which is added First A conference between Christ and Mary Second the Spiritual Mans Aim Third Emanuel or Miracle of Miracles by Richard Sibbs D D. 40 An Exposition on the five first Chapters of Ezekiel with useful observations thereupon by W. Greenhil 4to The Gospel Covenant or the Covenant of Grace opened Preached in New-England bp Peter Bulkeley 4to Gods Holy Mind touching Matters Moral which himself uttered in Ten Words or Ten Commandments Also an Exposition on the Lords Prayer by Edward Elton B. D. 4to Fiery Jesuite or an Historical Collection of the Rise Increase Doctrines and Deeds of the Jesuites Exposed to view for the sake of London 4to Horologiographia Optica Dialing Universal and Particular Speculative and Practical together with the Description of the Court of Arts by a new Method by Sylvonus Morgan 4to Praxis Medicinae or the Physicians Practice wherein are contained all inward Diseases from the head to the foot by Walter Bruel Regimen Sanitatis Salerni or the School of Salerns Regiment of Health containing Directions and Instructions for the guide and government of Mans Life 4to Heart-treasure or a Treatise tending to fill and furnish the head and heart of every Christian with soul-inriching treasure of truths graces experiences and comforts A Glimpse of Eternity by A. Calcy The Re-building of London encouraged and improved in several Meditations by Sam. Rolles Moses unvailed by William Guild Little Books for little Children with Manuels for Parents by Thomas White Closet-Prayer a Christians Duty by Oliver Heywood Old Man's Memento and Young Man's Monitor by J. Mayuard D. D. FINIS * Nobilitas cujusque rei est sibi secundum â—…sse * Cant. 1. 13. * Cant. 7. 5. * Dapes sa'iares Hor. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cant. 3. 4. * Isa. 28. 13. * Hoss 11. 12. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost * 1 Chron. 15 13. * Sacramentum 〈◊〉 Sacrae 〈◊〉 figura qua sub specie Visibilium spiritualis gratia adumbratur confâ—…rtur * It sensus fovetur fides firmatur * Quia externis ducimur Hisce Symbolis sidem in nobisadauget Deus Gualter 1. * Phil. 2. 9. 2. 3 1. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. * Benedictione Christi panis com munis in sacrum mâ—…usest Gualt * â—…onsecratio vocabulum est solenne significans id quo sit ut haec signa Visibilia quae per se aliena sunt à myâ—…eris religiosis siut Sacramenta corporis sanguinis Christi Chamier de Eucharist * Moris sâ—…mper judaeis fuit â—…tex halmudicis Scriptoribus apparet Ante cibum aut vinum sumptum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
So carnal persons see the external Elements but Christ is not known to them in his saving Vertues There is honey in this spiritual Rock which they never taste They feed upon the bread but not Christ in the bread Isaac eat the Kid when he thought it had been Venison Gen. 27. 25. Unbelievers go away with the shadow of the Sacrament they have the Rind and the Husk not the Marrow They eat the Kid not the Venison 3. See in this Text as in a Glass infinite Love display'd 1. Behold the love of God the Father in giving Christ to be broken for us that God should lay such a Jewel to pawn is the Wonderment of Angels John 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son It is a pattern of Love without a Parallel it was a far greater expression of Love in God to give his Son to dye for us than if he had voluntarily acquitted us of the Debt without any satisfaction at all If a Subject be disloyal to his Soveraign it argues more love in the King to give his own Son to dye for that Subject than to forgive him the wrong freely 2. Behold the amazing Love of Christ His body was broken The Cross saith St. Austin was a Pulpit in which Christ preached his Love to the World Let us see an holy Climax or Gradation of the Love of Christ 1. It was wonderful Love that Christ who never had the Viper of sin fastened on him should be reputed a sinner That he who hated sin should be made sin That he who is numbred among the Persons of the Trinity should be numbred among transgressours Isa. 53. 12. 2 That Christ should suffer peath Lord saith Bernard thou hast loved me more than thy self for thou didst lay down thy life for me The Emperour Trajan rent off a piece of his own Robe to bind up one of his Souldiers Wounds Christ rent off his own Flesh for us Nay that Christ should dye as the greatest sinner †having the weight of all mens sins laid upon him here was Love usque ad stuporem dulcis It sets all the Angels in Heaven a wondring 3. That Christ should dye freely John 10. 17. I lay down my Life There was no Law to enjoin him no Force to compel him It is called the Offering of the Body of Jesus Heb. 10. 10. What could fasten him to the Cross but the Golden Link of Love 4. That Christ should dye for such as we are What are we Not only Vanity but Enmity When we were fighting he was dying when we had the Weapons in our hands then had he the Spear in his Sides Rom. 5. 8. 5. That Christ dyed â—…or us when he could not expect to be at all bettered by us We were reduced to penury we were in such a condition that we could neither Merit Christ's Love nor Râ—…quite it for Christ to dye for us when we were at such a low Ebb was the very Quintessence of Love One Man will extend kindness to another so long as he is able to requite him but if he be fallen to decay then love begins to slacken and cool But when we were ingulphed in misery and were fallen to decay we had lost our Beauty stained our Blood spent our Portion then Christ dyed for us O amazing love which may swallow up all our thoughts 6. That Christ should not repent of his sufferings Isa. 53 11. He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied It is a Metaphor that alludes to a Mother who though she hath had hard Labour yet doth not repent â—…it when she sees a Child brought forth so though Christ had hard Travel upon the Cross yet he doth not repent of it but thinks all his Sweat and Blood well bestowed because he sees the Man-child of redemption is brought forth into the World He shall be satisfied the Hebrew Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies such a satiating as a man hath at some sweet repast or banquet 7. That Christ should rather dye for us than the Angels that fell They were creatures of a more noble Extract and in all probability might have brought greater Revenues of glory to God yet that Christ should pass by those Golden Vessels and make us Clods of Earth into Stars of Glory O the Hyperbole of Christ's Love 8. Yet another Step of Christ's Love for like the waters of the Sanctuary it riseth higher That Christ's Love should not cease at the hour of Death We write in our Letters Your Friend till Death But Christ wrote in another Style Your Friend after Death Christ dyed once 〈◊〉 loves ever He is now testify 〈◊〉 his Affection to us he is making the Mansions ready for us John 14. 2. He is interceding for us Heb. 9. 27. He appears in the Court as the Advocate for the Clyent When he hath done dying yet he hath not done loving what a stupendious love was here Who can meditate upon this and not be in an Extasie Well may the Apostle call it A love that passeth knowledg Eph. 3. 19. When you see Christ broken in the Sacrament think of this Love 4. See then what dear and intire affections we should bear to Christ who gives us his body and blood in the Eucharist If he had had any thing to part with of more worth he would have bestowed it upon us O let Christ lie nearest our Hearts Let him be our Tree of Life and let us desire no other Fruit â—…et him be our Morning Star â—…nd let us rejoice in no other Light As Christs Beauty so his Bounty should make him loved by us he hath given us his Blood as the Price and his Spirit as the Witness of our Pardon In the Sacrament Christ bestows all good things He both imputes his Righteousness and imparts his Loving-kindness He gives a Fore-taste of that Supper which shall be celebrated in the Paradise of God To sum up all In the blessed Supper Christ gives himself to Believers and what can he give more Dear Saviour how should thy Name be as Oyntment poured forth The Persians worship the Sun for their God let us worship the Sun of Righteousness Though Judas sold Christ for Thirty Pieces let us rather part with all than this Pearl Christ is that Golden Pipe through which the Golden Oyl of Salvation is transmitted to us 5. Was Christ's Body broken then we may behold Sin odious in the Red Glass of Christ's Sufferings It is true Sin is to be abominated as it turn'd Adam out of Paradise and threw the Angels down to Hell Sin is the Peace-breaker it is like an Incendiary in the Family that sets Husband and Wife at variance it makes God fall out with us Sin is the Womb of our Sorrows and the Grave of our Comforts But that which may most of all disfigure the Face of
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or foret ast of that Marriage-Supper of the Lamb Rev. 19. 9. which made Damascen pray Lord let me receive this Supper as an Earnest of my future Heaven But into what a degenerate age are we fallen when the most weighty tremendous Points of Religion are called in question To such a Climax of impudency are some risen as to vilifie Ordinances oppugn Christ's Divinity deride the in-habitation of God's Spirit and deny praying by the Spirit These are they who would cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before them Isa. 30. 11. They would turn all Religion into a Romance and leaven the World with Atheism I wish they have not sinned the sin unto death If once the Truths of God iose their authority in Peoples hearts then is a fatal stop put to all solid Practical Piety God grant that the more others decry the Sanctity of the Gospel the more we may reverence it They have made void thy Law therefore I love thy Commandments Psal. 119. 126. Such as have experienced the sweetness of Truth in their own Souls know how to estimate it I should be glad if this short ensuing Discourse might render the Lord Jesus more precious and eligible in our eyes and add one cubit to our faith O happy Ordinance of the Supper that causeth such endearments of love between Christ and the Soul and begins those sacred Nuptials which shall be for ever solemnized in the Kingdom of God But I avoâ—…d Prolixness hoping for a blessing from on high upon these endeavours I rest Yours affectionately in the service of the Gospel Thomas Watson Feb. 19. 1668. The Fiery Serpents Numb 21 6 7 8 9. And the Lord sent Fiery Serpents among the People and they bit the people and much people of Israel dyed Therefore the people came to Moses and said We have sinned for we have spoken against the Lord and against thee pray unto the Lord that he take away the Serpents from us And Moses prayed for the People And the Lord said unto Moses Make thee a Fiery Serpent and set it upon a Pole and it shall come to pass that every one that is bitten when he looketh upon it shall live And Moses made a Serpent of Brass and put it upon a Pole and it came to pass that if a Serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the Serpent of Brass hâ—… lived IN this Portion of Holy Scripture there are two things considerable The people of Israels being stung and the manner of their Cure 1. Their being stung with the Fiery Serpents where observe 1. The occasion of God's sending these Fiery Serpents There were two Sins provoked the Lord to inflict this Punishment 1. Their Murmuring ver 5. The People spake against God and against Moses Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the Wilderness for there is no bread neither is there any water Speaking against God and his Prophets go together They spake against God and against Moses The Chaldee reads it They murmured before the Lord. Murmuring is a speaking against God and it proceeds from distrust Psal. 106. 24. They believed not his Word but murmured So in the Text There is no bread or water they thought they should die in the Wilderness and then they spake against God Murmuring is the daughter of Unbelief And observe the Time when they murmured it was immediately after an eminent and glorious deliverance ver 3. The Lord harkned to Israel and delivered up the Canaanites and they utterly destroid them and their Cities And behold the requital they make God for this signal mercy They murmur against him What to find fault with God! and just after a Deliverance the Lord being highly provoked sent Fiery Serpents among them and much people of Israel dyed ver 6. Oh how suitable to their Sin was this Punishment Israel did burn in heat of Passion and God made their Flesh burn with extream heat Their Speeches were venemous and they were punished with venemous Serpents Hence observe Doctrine 1. Of all Sins God can least bear the sin of Ingratitude To be delivered yet murmur God presently sent Fiery Serpents to avenge his quarrel Israel did not only forget God's Mercies Psal. 106. 13. but abuse them To be ungrateful for mercy is like Absalom who assoon as David kissed him and took him into favour plotted Treason against him 2 Sam. 15. 10. Like the Athenians who in lieu of the good Service Aristides had done them banished him out of their City Like the Mule who kicks the Damm after she hath given it milk Ingratitude saith Cicero hath nothing of evil wanting in it It is a sin that leaves a People without excuse if God let loose his Judgments and send Fiery Serpents they have nothing to say Ezra 9. 10. And now O our God what shall we say after this after what ver 9. Mercy hath been extended to us in the sight of the Kings of Persia yet we have forsaken thy Commandments What shall we say after this Use. Let our Ingratitude be deeply laid to heart This puts an accent upon sin and makes it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of measure sinful How many are the worse for mercy They make a dart of God's Mercies and shoot at him he gives them Wit and they serve the Devil with it he gives them an Estate and they feast their Lusts with it Are these worthy to be Guests at the Lords-Table who lift up the heel against him Will God welcome such into his presence as know not how to use kindness Oh that this sin may fill our faces with blushing Take we heed for the future of following this bad example in the Text. Let us turn all our Murmurings into Hosanâ—…ahs Let us praise God for his Mercies and serve God with his Mercies 2. The second cause of God's sending the Fiery Serpents was Their slighting of Manna ver 5. Our soul loatheth this light bread The Septuagint renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this empty bread It is spoken in contempt Israel counted Manna vile in respect of other meat Manna is called Angels Food but they call it in disdain light bread This Manna was miraculous it came from Heaven in an extraordinary way and mystical It was a type and figure of the Lord Jesus who is called the bread of Life Joh. 6. 98. and the Hidden Manna Rev. 2. 17. The contempt therefore of Manna was a contempt of Christ for this God sent Fiery Serpents Doct 2. The slighting and despising the Lord Jesus is a God-provoking sin This was Israels Crime the despising of Manna which was not only corporal food but a Type of Christ their spiritual food this greatly incensed the Lord and made him send Fiery Serpents among them Thus when we despise Christ and prefer our lusts before him as Israel did Leeks and Onyons before Manna then come the Fiery Serpents
Use. Let us take heed of growing weary of Christ this blessed Manna At first Israel did highly esteem Manna they ran out to gather it Happy was he that could get Manna But this Food from Heaven which at first was so sweet to their Palat within a while was loathed and contemned Our nature is such that we are apt to disesteem the richest blessings when they are common If Pearls and Diamonds were plentiful none would value them If the Sun did shine but once a year how would it be prized but because it shines every day few admire this Lamp of Heaven Take heed of despising Jesus Christ Mat. 22. 5. If God was so angry with Israel for slighting of Christ when he was hid under a Type how angry will he be with those who slight Christ after he hath been visibly revealed Hebr. 10. 29. Of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy who have trod under foot the Son of God Jesus Christ is a super-eminent blessing a magazine and storehouse of all good Things And the love of God was never so much seen as in giving of Christ therefore to slight Christ is to slight the love of God Quest. But who dares slight Christ Resp. It is a slighting of Christ to slight his Gospel and offer of Grace and hath not this been England's Sin have not we formerly nauseated Manna did not we grow curious and wanton and esteem'd the Manna of the Gospel light-bread and was not the Lord provoked with us Did not he send though not Fiery Serpents yet a Fiery Rod among us in this City that hath burnt down our Dwellings Christians I beseech you take heed of this for the future If God indulge you with Manna again beware of surfeiting on the bread of life The loathing of Manna is the next way to the losing of Manna God will take away his Mercies if they are undervalued If you play with the light God will put out the light 2. The Punishment it self which was Fiery Serpents These may be understood 1. Literally they were called Fiery Serpents 1. Because they were of a fiery colour 2. From the effect They were Seraphims Burners For when they did bite the people they did burn with extream heat and thirst The Septuagint translates them Killing Serpents Many of the people died ver 6. 2. These Fiery Serpents may be understood mystically So these Serpents were first a Type of Satan called the old Serpent Rev. 12. 9. He is indeed a Serpent for his subtilty The Hebrew word for Serpent comes of a Verb that signifies to use subtilty Gen. 3. 1. So Satan is a Serpent very subtil in his temptations he hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his depths Rev. 2. 24. and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his devices 2 Cor. 2. 11. The Devil doth with his artificial varnish put a fine gloss upon his Temptations that he may the better draw men to his lure he either hides his malicious designs or colours them 2 These Fiery Serpents were a Type of Sin Doct. 3. Sin is a Fiery Serpent This Serpent is bred in our nature it is within us We would think it sad to have Spiders and Serpents in our bodies as it is said of Maximinus the Emperor his body bred vermin But it is worse to have the Serpent of Sin in our Souls Sin is a Serpent 1. For its Poyson Sin hath invenomed us and that is the reason we swell Why doth one man swell with Pride another with Passion another with Lust he is poysoned If one had achild whom he dearly loved mortally poyson'd how would he grieve for it Our Souls are poysoned yet we grieve not How oft do sinners poyson the Sacramental Cup 2. Sin is a Serpent for the sting of it 'T is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sin at first shows its colour in the glass afterwards it bites as a Serpent Prov. 23. 32. Sin is a Serpent with four stings 1. It stings with guilt Rom. 3 19. 2. With horror of Conscience which is Limen inferni Judas and Spira felt this all the racks strappadoes and tortures in the world are but Ludibria risus a sport in comparison of this deadly sting no outward comforts can ease a Conscience stung with sin no more than a Crown of Gold can cure the Head-ach 3. Sin stings with death Rom. 5. 12. and death by Sin Sin is the wild Gourd that Adam gathered and eat and the next news was There is death in the pot 4. Sin without Repentance stings the Soul with damnation This Fiery Serpent brings to the Fiery Furnace I have rcad of the City Amycle in Italy destroy'd by Serpents Such a destroying Serpent is sin Use 1. See the sad condition of wicked men They make light of sin but sin is a Fiery Serpent crept into their bosom When the Serpent hath bitten one saith Pliny the venome and contagion of it spreads all over his body Sin hath invenomed men all over their hearts are full of poyson Rom. 1. 29. Being fill'd with all unrighteousness Their Tongues spit forth the poyson of the Serpent in Oaths and Curses Psal. 58. 2. The poison of Asps is under their Tongue This may serve to humble God's own people though they have the meekness of the Dove yet they have aliquid serpentis something of the evil evil of Serpent in them Though the curse due to sin is taken away yet the venome of this Serpent doth in part remain They have much love of the World much Unbelief much unmortified Passion Among Christ's Disciples there was Pride and Emulation Tho Christians have something of God's Spirit in them yet they have something which is Serpentine This Viper of sin will not be shaked off till death Oh how may this humble the best of God's Saints The Bishop of Alexandria when Egypt was converted to the Faith destroyed all their Idols but one that so looking upon that they might see their folly and abhor themselves for their Idolatry So God suffers not sin to be perfectly abolished in this life he leaves some corruption in the heart Something of the Serpent that his people may loath themselves in the dust What need have Believers to drink Christ's Blood in the Sacrament which is the best antidote against the poyson of the Soul 3. See that which may raise in us abhorring thoughts of sin It is a venemous Fiery Serpent will any man hug a Serpent Oh look not on the sine coat of the Serpent but the sting It stings with the wrath of God Pursue sin with an holy malice Mortifie the deeds of the flesh Rom. 8. 13. It is an happy thing when a Christian can say Though the Serpent be not dead yet iâ—… is dying Kill this Serpent or it will kill you 4. If sin be a Fiery Serpent then be sensible of the malignity and virulency of this Serpent feel your selves stung Feel your Hypocrisie