his testimonies he hath not dealt so with every people he hath not shewed such mercy to every congregation therefore as the tree which hath much soile cast about him brings forth much fruit as the servant which had five talents brought much advantage to his Lord and Master so strive yee to bring a measure of glory to God answerable to the measure of the meanes hee hath affoorded you the Lord hath sowne much and lookes to reap much the harvest must answer the seed bee therefore filled with all heavenly graces as the sea with waters be strong in faith as the tree growes deepe in the rootes bee fervent in love as a fire of much wood abound in all the fruits of the Spirit like the tree which bare Å¿ Rev. 22.2 twelve sorts of fruit The more you abound in grace under the Gospel the longer the Gospel shall be continued the more sweetnesse shall your soules taste in it the neerer shall you draw to God by it the more effectually shall the pardon of your sinne bee sealed up through it and the more comfortable account shall you render to God at last for all the labours of his Ministers whereof God hath made you partakers the more comfortably shall I againe behold your faces at our last generall appearance the more blessed account shall I make to Christ my great Lord and Master of this my Ministeriall service and shall the more joyfully for the present in the words of the Apostle here this day take my last leave of you and say Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect bee of good comfort bee of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you Finally brethren Brethren is a title of compellation the second branch of this tree There are brethren by nature brethren by condition and brethren by profession and participation of one Christ the last of these are the brethren here mentioned whom the Apostle here stileth brethren in respect of Originall having one God for their Father with him in respect of Relation being knit to Christ by one bond of saving faith and one golden chaine of unfained love among themselves with Saint Paul the Apostle and in respect of true and fervent Love the Apostle loving them as his brethren and this the Apostle chiefly intendeth here it being his purpose now to manifest his love unto them And hence we learne That there is in all Gods faithfull Ministers Doct. a very fervent and unfained love to their Hearers A brotherly love a love like that of Jonathan to David t 2 Sam. 1.26 a love surpassing the love of women being deare unto them as the apple of their eye as the signet upon their finger or the Bride unto the Bride-groome therefore are the Ministers stiled Husbandmen Shepheards Watch-men Parents Nurses as the Husband-man loves the vineyard which hee hath planted the Shepheard the flocke which hee keepeth the Watch-man the Citie which hee watcheth the Father the children which he begetteth or the Nurse the child to which shee draweth forth her breast and feedeth so Gods Ministers love their hearers the vineyard which they plant the flock which they keepe the Citie over which they watch the children which they ministerially beget and nurse for thus the people are stiled by names expressing the Ministers high prizing of them great delight in them and singular love unto them as u Isa 8.18 children w 1 Thes 2.19 20. hope joy crown of rejoycing glory and joy the Apostle putting on the indulgent affection of a father and in the strength and passion of his love so stiles them and speakes thus unto them What is our hope or joy or crowne of rejoycing Are not even yee in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his comming for yee are our glory and joy And Saint Paul speaking of his love to the Corinthians calleth it a x 2 Cor. 7.4 more aboundant love that is a high a strong a transcendent love such love that hee saith his y 2 Cor. 6.11 mouth was open to them and his heart was enlarged His whole man was open to them as a Bridegroomes house is opened to the Bride to entertaine them to love them to rejoyce in them to communicate himselfe to the utmost unto them as the open Sunne sendeth forth his light and the open cloud doth power out his raine nay they were in z 2 Cor. 7.3 his heart to live and dye with them And who can doubt of the love of Gods faithfull Ministers towards their hearers that shall but looke Upon their labours to save the soules of Reas 1 their hearers They are a 2 Tim. 4.2 instant in season and out of season taking all opportunities they sow in the morning and with-hold not their hand in the evening they have no rest they hold not their b Isa 62.11 peace day nor night as Naomi said of Boaz The man will not bee c Ruth 3. ult at rest untill hee hath finished the thing this day so such is the love of Gods Ministers that they are at no rest untill they have finished the worke of grace in their hearers consummated the marriage between them and Christ Upon their sorrowes sadnesse sighes Reas 2 and teares to behold the peoples barrennesse under their labours obstinacie against their perswasions and the danger where into they thrust their soules no father is more grieved to see the lewdnesse of his child d Jer. 13.17 Jeremies soule weepes in secret for his people Isaiahs bowels sound like a e Isai 16.11 harpe for Moab Paul had f Rom. 9.2 continuall sorrow for the Iewes he was pained as a g Gal. 4.19 woman in travel for the Galatians and out h 2 Cor. 2.4 of much affliction and anguish of heart he wrote with many teares to the Corinthians that they might know the love which he had more abundantly unto them You may in the teares and sorrowes of Gods Ministers for the peoples disobedience read their love as in lively characters the greatnesse of the Ministers griefe for the peoples misery argues the strength of their desire to make them happy Reas 3 Upon their sufferings for their hearers they suffer reproach in their names being made a i 2 Cor. 4.9 spectacle to Men and Angels they suffer losse of goods losse of peace losse of libertie and losse of life that they may be k Acts 20.24 faithful in their calling finish the course of their Ministery and save the soules committed to them The sufferings of faithfull Ministers are a clear and lively evidence of their love to their hearers Gods Ministers doe often sustaine great temporall losses for other mens everlasting gaine and advantage And whereunto should this love of Gods Ministers move and work our hearts Use but to frequent and diligent attendance on their labours as wee cheerfully hearken to their voyce who love us as children come cheerfully to the banquet
percipiuntur Good saith he is the way of humility whereby truth is searched out charity is obtained and the generations of wisdome are perceived Humility exalteth he that is most humble is and shal be most honourable Moses was the meekest man on earth and God made him the most honourable calling him up unto himselfe in the mount and making him the Leader of his people Gedeon was very little in his own eyes the least of his fathers house in his owne apprehension and God marvellously exalted him making him the deliverer of Israel As mans pride is attended with infamy so is mans meeknesse waited on with glory Vis magnus esse incipe ab imo Wilt thou be great begin from below saith the Father As the roots of the tree descend so the branches ascend this makes the soule capable of grace as the low grounds of water and the broken earth of seed God gives grace to the humble as men poure liquor into an empty vessell The Altar under the Law was hollow to receive the fire the wood and the sacrifice the heart of man under the Gospel must be humble empty of all spirituall pride and selfe-conceit to receive the fire of the spirit and Jesus Christ who offered himselfe a sacrifice for our sinnes this keeps the soule free from many darts of Satans casting and snares of his spreading as the low shrubs are free from many violent gusts and blasts of wind which shake and rent the taller trees I have read of one that seeing in a vision many snares of the devill spread upon earth he sate downe and mourned and said within himselfe Quis pertransiet ista Who shall passe through these whereunto he heard a voice answering Humilitas pertransiet Humility shall passe through them The Divell hath least power to fasten a temptation on him that is most humble hee that hath a gracious measure of meeknesse is neither affected with Satans proffers nor terrified with his threatnings This makes man peaceable in conversing with his brethren fruitfull in well-doing cheerfull in suffering comfortable in every condition constant in holy walking this makes a man precious in the eyes of God as a humble servant in the eyes of his Master Qui parvus est in reputatione propriâ magnus est in reputatione divinâ saith Gregory He that is little in his owne account is great in Gods esteeme This makes the way and worke of man acceptable unto God and also sweetens and encreaseth mans communion with God If ever therefore you entend to enjoy Gods glorious and blessed presence labour for this humility and meeknesse Fourthly Bee servent and unfained in your love to God his truth and his children this will make your language very gracious Amantium mos est saith Chrysostome ut amorem suum silentio tegere nequeunt Lovers know not how to keepe silence lovers of God are very full of gracious expressions this will make you liberal you shall give your selves to God and the service of his Saints as the men of Macedonia did this will make you patient in suffering as Jacob in his service for Rachel this will make you frequent the house of God with all alacrity frequency and diligence as children their fathers house and table this will make you joyfull in hearing the word of God as the Bride in hearing the voice of the Bridegroome this will make you carefull free and full in the observation of Gods statutes as loving children in the observation of their fathers precepts this will make you diligent and rich in all good workes the more man loves God the more he strives in all well-doing to glorifie God Love like fire is not idle but operative Amor Dei saith Gregory nunquam otiosus est operatur enim magna si est si verò operari renuit amor non est The love of God saith he is never idle for if it is it worketh great things but if it refuse to work it is not love Love makes the yoke of God easie and his worke delightfull it is only want of love that makes the commandement a burden Tantò magis delectat opus bonum quantò magis diligitur Deus summum incommutabile bonum saith Augustine A good work so much the more delighteth by how much the more God the chiefest and unchangable good is loved Love among some of the Ancients was resembled to and represented by the Sun the Sunne inlightens the world the more love the more light Knowledge and love like the water and the ice beget each other man loves God by knowing and knows God by loving God dwels in love and where God is there is light that mans light is darknesse which is not attended with the love of God and his testimonies the Sunne makes the earth fertile he that loves God cannot be barren his love makes him fruitfull in all well-doing the Sunne is swift and constant in his motion love makes man cheerfull speedy and unwearied in running the race which God hath set before him the Sunne is impassible love is patient and invincible it endureth all things no floods can drown it no waters can quench it Want of love and affection is the maine cause of mans apostacy and back-sliding the Sunne casteth his beames upward and downward to the East and to the West to the North and to the South Christian love causeth its beames to ascend to God above and to descend to man beneath to our friends on the right hand to our enemies on the left hand to them that are in the state or grace before us to them thâ—t are in the state of corruption behind us love which is not in this sense universall is corrupt and carnall The Sun beginning to ascend in his circle never goes back uâ—till he comes to the highest degree thereof true love abhorres apostacy ascends to more perfection and ceaseth not untill like Eliahs fiery chariot it hath carried the soule to heaven If ever you meane to see and enjoy the God of love labour for this love Fiftly Be very serious studious circumspect and carefull in all your walkings ponder the path of your feet like carefull travellers consider and weigh all your doings let all your waies of the heart within and worke without be ordered aright according the rule of Gods word every motion of the soule is a step to life or a step to death a step towards heaven or toward hell Mans labour and service is temporall his wages and recompence eternall therfore as Zeuxes that famous Lymner being demanded why he was so exact and serious so long so careful and curious in his workmanship answered Diu pingo quia aeternitati pingo I am long in painting because I paint unto eternity We all paint unto eternity every one of our actions tends to an eternity of joyes or sorrowes all our temporall actions are as seeds of eternity sowne by us a temporall seed an eternall harvest we speak we heare we write we read we
not know Christ As the blind man doth not know the Sun though it shine upon him no more doth the carnall and worldly man know Christ though he shine upon him in the Gospel for the light o Ioh. 1.5 shineth in the darknesse and the darknesse comprehendeth it not Such is mans ignorance that as the light shining in Goshen did not pierce the darknes p Exod. 10. where the Egyptians sate no more doth the light of the Gospel penetrate their soules but they sit in darknesse and the shadow of death at the q Isa 59.10 noone day of the Gospel they are in the midnight of ignorance To such our Saviour saith Ye neither r Ioh. 8.19 Isa 53.2 know me nor my Father They know not the beauties of Christ they see no comelinesse in him for which they should desire him he is no more to them then another beloved They know not the power of Christ in softning their hearts as the ground knowes the power of the dew in suppling it in quickning their soules as Lazarus knew the power of Christ in raising his body in restoring them to spirituall liberty as Peter knew the power of the Angell in smiting off his fetters in setting him free from Herods prison They know not the death of Christ as the members know the death of the head and the branches the death of the root in withering and dying with it they doe not so know his death that their Å¿ Rom. 6.6 old man is crucified with him that the body of sin is destroied and they no more serve sin They know not the resurrection of Christ comming forth of the grave of their sin as the dead knew the resurrection of Christ their bodies comming out of the grave with him They know not the gracious presence and inhabitation of Christ in their soules as Obed-Edom knew the presence and dwelling of the Ark in his house causing all that he had to t 2 Sam. 6.11 prosper making their soules flourish in all saving graces They know not the love of Christ as the Bride in the Bride-chamber knows the love of the Bridegroome as the guests in the banquetting house know the love of the master of the feast as David knew the love of Jonathan Christ is not like Jonathan to David very u 2 Sam. 1.26 pleasant unto their soules his love is not to their sense and feeling wonderfull passing the love of women They know not Christ in his Gospel as a friend in his letters as a King in his Embassadours of peace as a Musician in his musicall instrument making a joyfull sound in their eares as the lame w Iohn 5.4 5. man knew the Angell in Bethesda healing their diseases They know not Christs fulnesse as the seeing eye knowes the fulnesse of light in the Sunne as the thirsty palate knowes the fulnesse of water in the fountaine and because they doe not know him they regard not to come unto him Ignorance is a great impediment of mans comming to Christ Jesus Hagar x Gen. 21. came not unto the Well untill her eyes were opened to see the Well No man embraceth Christ untill his understanding is enlightned to see and discerne Christ aright Men through ignorance have very dishonourable opinions of Christ remaine great strangers to Christ and are very injurious against Christ 2. Unsensiblenesse Unsensiblenesse of the want of Christ It was a law of Plato that no man should draw water out of his neighbours Well untill he had digged to the Potters earth in his own court It is a law in nature Man never commeth unto Christ never endevours to partake of his fulnesse untill hee hath tried and knowes his owne emptinesse untill he discernes his want of Christ The y Ios 10.6 Gibeonites sent not to Iosua untill they saw themselves besieged by the Amoritish Princes Iud. 11. The Elders of Gilead hated Ieptha and expelled him out of their fathers house came no more unto him untill they were in distresse saw their want of him plainly perceived that none else could help them Mans opinion of his owne fulnesse makes him under-value the fulnesse of Christ Christ is never pretious in the eyes of man untill man feele his want of him As man is more or lesse sensible of his want of Christ so hee is more or lesse industrious in approching unto Christ The z Prov. 27.7 full stomacke regards not the hony combe The full soule a Io. 9.41 Matth. 9. Rev. 3.17 loatheth Christ who is sweeter then the hony or the hony combe Christ is ever most pretious with the soule that knowes its owne emptinesse Unwillingnesse to bee at the cost of comming unto Christ 3. Unwillingnesse Though Christ proffer himselfe freely yet man must bee at some cost or hee cannot come to Christ hee cannot enjoy Christ b Gen. 35.2 Iacob cannot come to Bethel unlesse hee put away way his Idols Exod. 3.5 Moses cannot come nigh the burning Bush unlesse hee put off his shooes from his feet Man cannot come nigh unto God and Christ Ia. 4.8 unlesse he purge his heart and cleanse his hands The Merchant in the Parable sold c Mat. 13.44 all that hee had to buy the pretious pearle to make that his owne Man that will come to Christ and make Christ his must sell all that is his owne Man must first come out of himselfe before hee can come to Christ If d Luke 9.23 any man saith Christ will come after mee let him deny himselfe and take up his crosse daily and follow me Hee that will come to Christ must deny his owne wisedome and be as a e 1 Cor. 3.18 Rom. 7.18 foole in his owne apprehension hee must deny his owne fulnesse and be as an empty house in his owne sense and feeling he must deny his owne righteousnesse and bee as a naked man in his owne understanding hee must deny his owne reputation in the eyes of men and bee contented to have his name f Luke 6.22 cast out as abominable to be accounted more vile as David for dancing before the Arke 2 Sam. 6.22 hee must bee willing to bee in the world as nothing who will have Christ and his fulnesse to bee all in all unto him Men are loath to bee at this cost and therefore come not to Christ The young man that came to Christ hearing hee must sell all and follow him g Mat. 19.21 went away sorrowfull Hee that carries the love of the world in his heart will faint by the way and never come to Christ The over-valuing of the world makes the doctrine of the Gospel a sorrowfull doctrine and mans endevour to come to Christ unfruitfull Many h Ioh. 12.42 among the chiefe Rulers beleeved on Christ made some steppes towards him but because of the Pharisees they did not confesse him they came not boldly freely and fully home to Christ lest
it saving knowledge Joh. 17.3 Secondly wee should highly prize the love of CHRIST JESUS 2. Love of Christ it is better then b Cant. 1.3 wine nothing so solaceth reviveth and cherisheth the soule nothing is sweet nothing is satisfactory without it It could not c 2 Sam. 14.32 content Absolon that he was recalled from his exilement and had his dwelling at Ierusalem unlesse hee might also see the Kings face the presence of all things is as nothing unlesse man see the Kings face feele the love of Christ this is the life of a good mans life as Solomon saith of the light of the Kings d Pro. 16.15 countenance In the light of the Kings countenance is life and his favour is as a cloud of the latter raine Christs love is life quickning a cloud watering and abundantly refreshing the soules of all that enjoy him Therefore esteeme the love of Christ above the love of the creature as men esteeme the love of the King above the love of the begger Thirdly wee should highly value the communion and ministration of Christ 3. The communication and ministration of Christ The Sunne filleth the aire with light the head filleth the body with sense and motion the Schoole filleth the braine with Art and Learning the golden Mine filleth the store-house with treasure the seast filleth the hungry with meat and the clouds fill the earth with fruit all these are esteemed for their ministration and filling But Christ hath a more excellent ministration hee filleth with better light then the Sun with better Art Learning then the Schoole with better sense motion then the head with better meat then the feast with better fruit then the cloud He filleth the hungry with e Luke 1.53 good things with spiritual and heavenly good things saving knowledge lively faith fervent love Christian patience true humility and meekness even with the whole treasury of all spirituall good things even such good things as f 1 Cor. 2.9 carnall eye hath not seene uncircumcised eare hath not heard nor have entred into the unregenerate heart of man these doth Christ reveale and communicate by his Spirit and in this ministration stands the happinesse glory and comfort of man Christ becomming their fulnesse and g Ephes 1.23 filling all in all by being the fulnesse of their knowledge of their faith of their love of their peace of their possession without whom all knowledge faith love and whatsoever else is but an empty thing Give then preheminence to Christs ministration above the ministration of the creature as to the ministration of corne above chaffe of gold above drosse Oh prize the gift of Christ above all the gifts of the world 4. The sweet blessed presence of Christ Fourthly wee should highly prize the blessed sweet and gracious presence of Christ as a good subject doth the presence of his King in his house above all other friends as a wife the presence of her husband above all neighbours Wee must not so esteeme the presence of riches honours friends or any other endowments as wee doe the presence of Christ This Christ hath promised to his children as their staffe and stay crowne and glory prerogative and comfort h Mat. 28.20 Isa 43.2 Lo saith hee I am with you to the end of the world with you as a King among his people as a Father among his children as a Shepheard with his flocke as a Teacher among his Schollers This was shadowed by the fierie Pillar that was present with Israel as a guide which they followed in their severall campings as a defence between the Campes of Israel and the Egyptians so is Christ present with us as a guide to direct us in our journies as a protector to defend us from all our enemies The Pillar was a cloud by day and a fire by night to Israel so is Christ a cooling refreshment to his children in the scorching day of trouble and a comfortable Lampe of light to direct them in the night of this world In the fire and in the cloud God was seene by Israel in Christ God is seene and knowne as a Father of mercies by his children and this presence of Christ with us should wee highly esteeme as the Traveller doth the presence of the Sunne This encourageth comforteth strengtheneth satisfieth and should accordingly bee highly prized And thus let us value prize and preferre Christ according to his fulnesse that Christ may value us as Schollers of his Schoole as Subjects of his Kingdome as Lovers of his Truth as Members of his Body and daily more and more fill us with his divine and heavenly fulnesse CHAP. VIII Perswading to come unto and get interest in Christ AS all divine and heavenly fulnesse is in Christ so it should move and perswade all men to come to Christ to get interest in Christ to seeke for all fulnesse in him As Hagar went to the full Well and filled her emptie Bottle so let us come to Christ the true and living fountaine and fill our empty soules with the fulnesse of his grace Fulnesse is the common desire of all persons the ambitious desires fulnesse of honours the covetous fulnesse of riches the voluptuous fulnesse of pleasures they are very greedy and can never have i Isa 56.10 enough of this fulnesse Much more should Christians desire the fulnesse of Christ the onely true and desirable fulnesse As Davids Worthies in the day of Davids thirst brake through the Philistian Army and drew water out of the well at Bethel so let us in the day of our Christ in the time of our want breake through all impediments all armies of trouble and opposition raised against us and come to Christ the Well whence come the waters of salvation To this Christ himself invites us k Mat. 11.28 Come unto mee Come unto me as the sick unto the Physician to heale you of all your sinfull maladies Come unto me as the Traveller to the Sunne to fill you with all divine and heavenly light to guide you in all your goings Come unto mee as the thirsty to the living fountaine to supply all your wants to fill all your desires Come unto me as the Sheepe to the Shepheard to lead you beside the still waters and to feed you in the greene pastures Come unto mee as the Chicken to the Hen to hide you under the wings of my protection Come unto me as the poore unto the rich as the Buyer to the Merchants shop and buy of mee * Non precio sed prece not for price but by prayer l Rev. 3.18 gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich and white rayment that thou mayest bee cloathed and eye-salve that thou mayest see And thus runnes the charge of the Lord by the Prophet m Isa 45.22 Look unto mee and bee yee saved all yee ends of the earth Looke unto mee with the eyes of faith beleeving
escape to Christ from the world and our corruption Of all undertakings man must use most speed and diligence to come to Christ Jesus Secondly 2. Fully to Christ let us come fully in respect of the terme from whence wee come from the world and all the vanities thereof As Abraham p Gen. 22 5. left his Asse and all his servants at the foot of the hill behinde him and went up to offer his sonne Isaac to the Lord so let us leave all the vanities of the world behinde us and come and offer our selves to Christ let us come from all sinne When a captive woman joynes herselfe in wedlocke to an Israelitish Souldier she must q Deut. 21.12 change her apparell shave her head and pare her nailes and so come to bee joyned in wedlock to her husband hee that will come to Christ must change his apparell put off the old man shave his head remove the ignorance and errour of his understanding and pare his nailes reforme all his outward wayes and so come to Christ To Christ let us come fully in respect of the affection with which wee come with all our hearts and with all our soules with our understanding to know him with our wills to chuse him with our imaginations to thinke upon him with our affections to feare trust love and rejoyce in him To Christ let us come fully in respect of the Medium by which we come even in the use of all the ordinances of God and in respect of the terme whereunto we come even unto whole Christ unto the wisedome of Christ to bee guided by it unto the power of Christ to depend upon it unto the righteousnesse of Christ to bee justified by it unto the merit of Christ to receive all good things through it unto the promises of Christ to beleeve them unto the commandements of Christ to obey them Hee that comes not fully comes deceitfully to Christ departs unprofitably from Christ He alone enjoyes Christ who comes universally to Christ Thirdly 3. Holily to Christ let us come holily The stranger under the Law that came to the Passeover was first r Exo. 12.48 circumcised He that comes to Christ must circumcise the foreskin of his heart There is no acceptable appropinquation to Christ Iesus without true holinesse 4. Hungrily Fourthly to Christ let us come Å¿ Isa 55.1 hungrily as a thirsty man to the waters no man is welcome to Christ but hee that comes with a holy hunger and thirst Hee sends the rich empty away and t Luke 1.53 5. Humbly sills the hungry with good things Fifthly to Christ let us come humbly with a lively sense and feeling of our wants in godly sorrow and true repentance as the servants of Benhadad came to the King of Israel with u 1 Kings 20. ropes about their neckes and sack-cloth about their loines Sixthly 6. Lovingly to Christ let us come lovingly as the Bride unto the Bride-groome Strongly 7. Strongly as the waters to the Sea Joyfully 8. Ioyfully as the rich man to his treasure And constantly 9. Constantly comming more and more daily drawing neerer and neerer unto Christ to a more full and perfect participation and fruition of Christ and his fulnesse And to the end wee may all come to Christ and for the better disposing and fitting of our hearts thus to come to Christ Foure meanes disposing men to come to Christ 1. Sense of emptinesse wee must first bee sensible of our emptinesse without Christ feele our soules as an empty stomacke wherein is no meat as an empty lamp wherein is no light as an empty or withered arme wherein is no strength The people in the famine being sensible of the emptinesse and want of corne at home came to Ioseph with whom was all the fulnesse of Egypt Hee alone doth truly prize Christs fulnesse that feeles his owne emptinesse The sonnes of Iacob went not out of their owne countrey downe to Egypt for bread untill they found the want thereof at home Man never goes out of himselfe to Christ till hee knowes the vanity and emptinesse of his owne heart hee that knowes this will hasten his soule to Christ as Iacob hasted his sonnes to Egypt 2. Consideration of Satans Siege Secondly wee must see and consider how Satan doth besiege and assault us How like a man of warre hee sets upon us how like a roaring Lyon hee goes up and downe seeking to devoure us The Gibeonites seeing themselves besieged by the Amoritish Princes sent to Iosua to helpe them Paul being sensible of the buffetings of Satan addressed himselfe to God by w 2 Cor. 12.7 8. fervent and frequent supplication the soule of man that feeles Satans buffetings is even restlesse untill he comes fully home to Christ Iesus hee flies to Christ as a sheep to the Shepheard driven by the Dogge and as a x Ps 42.2 chased and wounded Hart to the water brookes Thirdly 3. Experience of insufficiencie of the creature wee must bee experienced in the insufficiencie and inabilitie of the creature to helpe us to satisfie us to make us happy Noah knowing that the y Gen. 7. waters would overflow the earth and that there would bee no resting place thereupon for his foot betooke himselfe unto the Arke and entred into it Mans experience of the vanitie and insufficiencie of the creature feeling that there is no rest nor stay for his foot thereon betakes himselfe to Christ lookes to him seekes for interest in him expects all safety from him Fourthly wee must have anguish in our hearts for sinne 4. Anguish for sinne bee out of love with our selves discontent with the naughtinesse of our hearts The people that were in debt z 1 Sam. 22.1 in distresse in discontent came to David and made him their captaine Man takes no pleasure in Christ till hee is displeased with himselfe Spirituall distresse and anguish makes Christ pretious hee that knowes the greatnesse of his soules debt comes to Christ to make payment the more bitternesse man doth taste in sinne the more sweetnesse hee doth finde in Christ this makes Christ very amiable and pretious very satisfactory and joyous and fills the soule with such longing after him that as Naomi said of Boaz The man will not bee in rest untill hee hath finished the thing this day no more is man in any rest untill hee hath finished this thing untill hee hath wrought home his soule to Christ as a Mariner the ship unto the Haven of all peace and safety of all satisfaction and tranquillity CHAP. IX Teaching how to make use of Christ IS all divine and heavenly fulnesse in Christ is it all placed there Then wee must make use of Christ as the child of full breasts as the thirsty of a full vessell Christs fulnesse is nothing to him that makes not use of Christ There is a price saith Solomon in the hand of a
which Christ hath assumed abides unchangeably united to the person of the Sonne so o Ioh. 15.7 abide with Christ in attendance on his ordinances in faith in his promises in love to his truth and in obedience to his precepts As the assumed nature is ascended from the earth to heaven so raise thy thoughts and affections p Col. 3.2 from the things below to the things above ascend continually by meditation by faith by love and longing to the things which are spirituall As the assumed nature hath no subsistence but in the person of the Sonne so have thou no dependance upon any thing but on Christ alone let him q Psal 73.15 bee all in all And as the assumed nature is filled with the fulnesse of the Godhead so labour more and more to bee filled with the fulnesse of all grace and holinesse so shalt thou maintaine that honour to which Christ hath exalted thy nature CHAP. XII Shewing that mans choycest excellencie consisteth in union with God THis sheweth us wherein the choycest excellencie of man consisteth even in being united unto God in having God dwelling in his heart Wherein stands the excellencie of Christ as Man but in having the Godhead dwelling in his flesh in being assumed into the unity of the second person And wherein stands the excellencie the glory and the happinesse of man but in being reconciled and brought nigh to God in being entred into a sweet and gracious communion with God Is it not the excellencie of the branches to bee united to the Vine of the members to bee united to the head of the wife to have communion with the husband and of the children to have communion with the parent And what is the excellencie the joy and comfort of the soule but sweet and gracious communion with God in Christ Jerusalem though the joy of the whole earth pleased not Absolom unlesse hee might r 2 Sam. 14.32 see the face of his father David The paradise of the world is but a wilderness to to the childe of God unlesse hee see the face enjoy the comfortable presence of God his Father Whom doth the Psalmist pronounce blessed Him that hath communion with Princes in their Courts with Nobles in their honours with valiant men in their victories with rich men in their wealth voluptuous men in their pleasures or him that hath communion with his God in his ordinances in his spirituall comforts Å¿ Psal 65.4 Blessed saith he is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approch unto thee whom thou chusest embracing him with thy love adopting him for thy sonne and making him a member of thy Church and causest him to approch unto thee as a Scholler to thy Schoole as a friend to thy house as a childe to thy table as a bride into the bosome of thy love to know thy will to beleeve thy truth to receive thy grace and to feele thy love and to bee satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house even of thy holy Temple What is the fruit and end of all the labours of Gods Ministers but to worke and draw home the soules of men to God to the fruition enjoyment of God to union and communion with God All the labour of Eleazar was to bring home Rebecca unto Isaac to espouse her to Isaac and all the labour of Gods Ministers his servants is to bring men home to Christ to espouse them to Christ as Paul saith I t 2 Cor. 11.2 have espoused you to one husband This is the summe of all to gather men home to God and Christ as Chicken to the Henne as Sheep unto the Shepheard as Children to the Parent that they may bee u 2 Cor. 5.19 reconciled unto God made one with God and have the blessed enjoyment of God as their highest excellency chiefest good And what are the longings of the soules of holy men who have discerned Gods beauties who have tasted Gods loving kindnesse but the fruition of God in his ordinances and in his graces w Ps 42.2 My soul saith David thirsteth for God O when shall I come appeare before God! And againe My soule x Ps 119.20 breaketh for the longings which it hath unto thy judgements at all times Very vehement and laborious are the desires of Gods servants after him and his testimonies desires which doe even consume and weare out the strength and vigour of their soules desires of perseverance longing at all times in prosperitie and adversitie The soule of a good man is restlesse untill it hath the enjoyment of God and Jesus Christ nothing else can content and answere it Herein stands the excellencie the glory and comfort of it untill it attaine this it is unquiet Union and communion with God makes the soule flourish Benefits of union and communion with God as the branches by union with the vine They y Ps 92.12 that are planted in the house of the Lord that draw nigh to God conscionably frequent his word and are ingrafted into Christ they shall flourish in the courts of our God as a watered garden or a tree planted by the waters side this fils the soule with spirituall life with heavenly sense and motion as the members which are united to the head z 1 Ioh. 5.12 Hee that hath the sonne hath life power strength a blessed fulnesse of holy and heavenly life hee spiritually moves and eates and walkes and workes and rejoyceth like a living man this makes him strong as the a Mat. 7. house that was united to the rocke no windes nor waves of trouble can beate him downe this makes him strong as Christ is strong to beare afflictions and to runne like a strong man the race of Gods commandements this sustaines him in all worldly desertions this is in stead of light when he is in darknesse in stead of b Psa 4.6 wealth when he is poore c. Union and communion with God answers all things O be assured then that the top and flower of the soules happinesse consists in union with God and Christ Jesus And as the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth in the humane nature of Christ bodily substantially so labour to feele God in Christ dwelling in thy soule spiritually feele him dwelling there by illumination as the sun dwelleth in the aire by ministration as the vine to the branches by powerfull and gracious gubernation as a centurion in the army a master in the house and a king in his courts by spirituall and holy inclination bowing bending and framing the heart to doe the will of God As the pilot at the sterne workes the ship towards the haven as the spirit of the living creatures in Ezekiels vision being in the wheeles Wheresoever the Spirit moved c Ezek. 1.20 they moved so feele the Spirit of Christ in thy soule so possessing sanctifying and framing it that there be a disposition and readinesse within thee to move as God in his word
ignorance and ingratitude speaking out of the ardencie of his affection in a patheticall manner to them If thou hadst knowne thou that art the head Citie of Judah the habitation of God in respect of his Temple a holy Citie in respect of thy profession the lampe and light of the Church in respect of the residence of the Priests and Prophets in that place and yet shee knew not the things belonging to her peace Much common knowledge is often attended with damnable and damning ignorance they had been often punished wasted embondaged againe restored Christ came preached proffered salvation but they knew not Christ as the Sonne of God Isa 53.2 as the Prince of peace to reverence him but despised him as one that had no forme nor comelinesse they knew him not as the Way Ioh. 14.6 the Truth the Life by a lively faith to lay hold upon him as the Prophet from whom they were to receive instruction as their husband in regard of love and affection as their Lord and Master in regard of subjection And because they did not so know acknowledge receive him the things belonging to their peace were hidden from them Many things might here bee noted but their unprofitablenesse ingratitude rebellion under so great meanes afforded them being that for which our Saviour Christ did chiefly lament and weepe over them and for which especially hee did upbraid them you may see that The estate of that person or people is very dolefull Doct. which continueth barren and unprofitable under the plentifull and powerfull meanes of salvation whether it bee a publicke nation a private congregation or particular person which thrives not under the meanes of life their estate is much to be bewailed This is manifest by our Saviours commination c Math. 11.20 21. Woe bee unto thee Chorazin woe bee unto thee Bethsaida if the mighty workes which have been done in thee had been done in Tyre and Sydon they would have repented long agoe in sackcloth and ashes therefore it shall bee easier for Sodome and Gomorrah in the day of judgement then for thee Where God hath most abounded in his goodness he will be most severe in his punishments if the people remaine unfruitfull abused mercie is the forerunner of the greatest misery the impure conversation of the people the heavy judgements ready to surprize them for their barrennesse disobedience and prosligate kinde of life under the plentifull meanes of grace ministred to them caused the Prophet to wish Ier. 9.1 that his head were teares and his eyes a fountaine to weep day and night for the daughter of his people And for this another Prophet crieth out Woe is me Mic. 7.1 2 for I am as when they have gathered Summer fruit as the grape gleanings of the vintage there is no cluster to eate The good man is perished out of the earth there is none upright among men c. And thus the Lord expressed as in a type by a girdle bought Ier. 23.1 girt about the Prophets loines and afterwards rotten by the river Euphrates and so cast away as good for nought that Israel might see how God had brought them out of Egypt exalted them above all nations joyned them neere unto himselfe as a girdle about his loynes but in the multitude of their prerogatives and priviledges they corrupted themselves grew obstinate and were rejected of the Lord and the estate of such people is very dolefull First in regard of Frustration they having frustrated the labours of Gods faithfull Ministers all the work of their Ministery in regard of any saving good to their soules hath been as the powring of water upon the rocke the sowing of seed upon the sand the lighting of a candle to the blinde As David said of his labour and care about Nabal 1 Sam. 25.21 In vaine have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wildernesse So may the Lord say In vaine have I set my Ministers as watchmen upon their walls in vaine have they like husbandmen planted manured watered the soules of the people and there is no fruit Thus the flower of the Prophets in the person of Christ Jesus complained of old Isâ— 49.4 I have laboured in vaine I have spent my strength for nought Secondly in regard of Inexcusablenesse they have no cloake for their sinne they cannot say as Abimilech did in another case to Saul 1 Sam 22.15 Thy servant knew noâ—hing of all this lesse or more The presence of the meanes of grace amongst them is a great aggravation of their corruption their sin without the means is not simply but comparatively no sinne Ioh. 15.22 2 Cor. 3.10 As the glory of the Law though very glorious had no glory as the Apostle speaketh in this respect by reason of the glory of the Gospel which excelleth so that which was sinne before though very great sinne yet was no sinne in comparison of their sinne now joyning malice and wilfull obstinacie to their ignorance Thirdly in regard of Perversion They are by accident made the worse by the meanes of life As some diseased eyes are made the more blinde through the brightnesse of the light some stomackes are made more sicke by good physicke So accidentally through the great strength and power of their corruption the Word is made the savour of death to death to some Plutarch relates of the Tygers Si quis tympanis circumsonet in rabiem aguntur adeo ut seipsas denique discerpant And thus many people of a savage disposition are disquieted perplexed inraged to heare the sweet and heavenly musicke which the Word maketh Fourthly in regard of Desertion The Lord will leave such a people as a Physician doth the Sick Ier. 51.9 Isa 5.3 4. which are incurable the Husbandman the Field which after much cost paine care labour remaineth still barren the Lord will leave such to Satan to blinde and harden them to deceivers to seduce to the allurements of the world to ensnare them to their owne lusts to rule over them to hell at last to swallow them Fifthly in regard of Condemnation These shall have the greatest condemnation the more favours the more torments Capernaum that was exalted to heaven temporally Mat. 11.25 excelling all the cities of Galilee in greatnesse noblenesse worldly fulnesse exalted to heaven spiritually in regard of Christs bodily presence preaching miracles which hee wrought there for her ingratitude obstinacie plenitude of all profanenesse is brought downe to hell in regard of temporall devastation and everlasting destruction This by way of humiliation Use must teach every one of us to acknowledge and bewaile our barrennesse obstinacie disobedience under that plentifull meanes of grace which God doth minister to us and to humble our selves under the mighty hand of God for it 1 Sam. 1.10 Hanna was much grieved in great b tternesse of soule considering the barrennesse of her womb and shee prayed and wept sore let us in like
of all our friends according to the flesh made dumb and silent then our soules will be put upon Christ and there will bee no remedy we must say Come Lord Iesus And therefore this should make Christ very pretious in our eyes now this should inflame our hearts with singular and fervent love unto him for the present getting interest in him above all things and making him our chiefest and choycest our deare and onely friend This should so sweeten unto us the Lord Jesus that wee should say with Bernard Jesus dulcis in voce dulcis in facie dulcis in nomine dulce enim nomen suave Jesus consecratum ab aeterno annunciatum ab Angelo prophetatum Solomonis oraculo qui ait Oleum effusum nomen tuum Psa 73.25 Jesus is sweet in voice sweet in face sweet in name for the name Jesus is sweet being consecrated from eternitie published by the Angel and prophesied by the Oracle of Solomon who saith Thy Name is an oyntment powred forth Wee should so select him so admire him so adhere unto him so set our hearts upon him that wee should say with the Psalmist Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee So glorious so pretious so infinitely transcendent let him be in our thoughts in our judgements in our estimation and affections that wee love and affect him exalt and preferre him as the King above all commanders as the Sunne above all lights as the spring above all cisternes as the pearle above all treasure and as the husband of our soules above all friends as a Paradice of all pleasures a haven of rest from all tempests and the refuge of our soules in all troubles Let our faith bee such in him our hope so settled upon him our love so strong towards him our subjection such under him that we may bee able at all times and seasons in all estates and conditions to say Come Lord Jesus Behold in this the honour and profit the advantage and comfort which a bodily dissolution bringeth to the righteous to all true beleevers they desire the full fruition of Christ and this bringeth them home to Christ Phil. 1.21 to them to dye is gaine gaine of libertie from the burthen of all corruption from all the assaults of Satan from the servitude of the world and all affliction gaine of perfect holinesse in respect of Gods image gain of complete victory in respect of all enemies gaine of most sweet communion in respect of their fellowâ—hip with God Christ the glorious Angels and all the Saints of God gaine of absolute honour in respect of their glorious condition in heaven As death to the righteous is a tree of many fruitfull branches a messenger of many comfortable tidings so the Spirit of God hath given it many denominations Sometimes it is stiled a Sleepe Mat. 9.24 sleep possesseth onely the outward members and senses the soule sleepeth not so in death the body onely dies the soule is carried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.22 â—ev 14.13 Sleep giveth rest unto the body They who dye in the Lord rest from all their labours Sometimes it is called a gathering to our Fathers Gen. 25.8 by death the righteous are separated from the wicked gathered as wheat into Gods garner and their soules bound up in the bundle of life 1 Sam. 25 29. Sometimes it is called a way the way of all flesh by the way wee come to our home to our fathers and to our friends house Ios 23.14 and by death wee come to our heavenly home to God the father and the Lord Jesus Sometimes it is called a going forth As the prisoner goeth forth of the prison 2 Pet. 1.15 and Israel went forth from the bondage of Egypt so when the body dieth the soule goeth forth as out of a prison and entreth into the land of the living Sometimes it is called an end Mat. 10.22 because in death there is an end of all sin of all sorrow of all labour trouble as in the waters of the red Sea the Israelites Egyptian bondage ended Sometimes it is termed a sowing Ioh. 11.24 1 Cor. 15.44 the seed which is sowne doth spring forth again into a blade the body in the resurrection shall flourish like the grasse death like a Physician cures all their diseases like a key opens the prison and restores them to a blessed freedom brings them to the full fruition of Jesus Christ the desire of their soules And this is the sweetest and fullest gaine of a Christian Lucrum est evasisse incrementa peccati Augustine lucrum fugisse deteriora lucrum transire ad meliora Aug. Lucrum maximum computat Christianus Cyprian jam saeculi laqueis non teneri jam nullis peccatis vitiis carnis obnoxium fieri exemptum pressuris angentibus venenatis diaboli faucibus liberatum ad laetitiam salutis aeternae Christo vocante proficisci Cypr. This must perswade move us to work our hearts to a holy longing and earnest desire after the comming of the Lord Jesus to desire it as the husbandman the coÌ„ming of the harvest the sick man the comming of the day of health or the ward the day of his full age to looke for the new heavens 2 Pet. 3.13 2 Tim. 4.8 and the new earth and to love the appearing of the Lord Iesus and for that end there must be First Godly sorrow for sin Christs coming is comfortable to such as are truly sorrowfull he that is weary of his corruptions doth truely long for the coming of Christ Jesus Gen 45.4.5 Ioseph spake to his brethren kindly entertained them courteously when he saw them grieved for the injury offered him Luke 15. The prodigals day of humiliation Isa 61.1 was the day wherein his father graciously received him Christ will bee found a sweet and mercifull Iesus to all Mat. 11.28 truly penitent sinners Secondly there must be a thorough removall of sin an effectuall reformation of all our wayes Gen. 35.2 Jacob went not up to Bethel before he purged his house of Idols It is in vain for man to say Come Lord Jesus if there bee not a conversion of the soule to Jesus To such the Prophet speakes Amos 5.18.19 Woe to you that desire the day of the Lord to what end is it for you the day of the Lord is darknesse and not light as if a man did flye from a Lyon and a Beare met him or went into a house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him Shall not the day of the Lord be darknesse and not light even very darke and no brightnesse in it What the voyce of God was to Adam upon the eating of the forbidden fruit what the comming of the flood was to the profane men of the old world what the waters of the red Sea were to Pharaoh what the
him as r 2 Sam. 1. Ionathan loved David with a love surpassing the love of women as Iacob loved Rahel with love making us cheerfull in serving patient in suffering for him hee alone is the friend of Christ Jesus 4. In our trust that loves him above himselfe and all creatures 4. Him let us preferre in our trust as the builder doth the rocke above all other foundations as the chickens doe the wings of the hen above all other places of refuge to him let us addresse our selves as they who were in distresse Å¿ 2 Sam. 1.21 in debt in discontent did sometimes addresse themselves to David Him let us make our Captain to fight for us our Shepheard to defend us our Rocke to support us our Shield to cover us let us wait on him t Psa 62.5 solely and on no other on him let us trust fully with all our heart with all our soule let us rest on whole Christ on his power to sustaine us on his wisedome to guide us on his merit to justifie and procure all good things for us on his mercy to forgive us on his love to solace us on his fulnesse to satisfie us on him let us trust constantly in our prosperity as being the strength of all our fulness in our adversity as being all-sufficient in the absence of all helpers On him let us stay when wee are in darknesse u Isa 50.10 and have no light in sicknesse and have no health in heavinesse and have no joy in desertion and have no friend in want and have no supply Mans firme dependance upon Christ in all conditions in all changes argues the truth and strength of mans confidence 5. Him let us preferre in our feare above all commanders 5. In our feare as the Subject his Soveraigne above all Beggers as the Servant his Master above his fellow-servants As his authoritie is highest to command his power greatest to protect and his goodnesse fullest to recompence so let him have preheminence in our obedience and service As the w Gen. 37.9 Sunne Moon and eleven Starres in Iosephs vision did obeysance unto him so let all the faculties of our soules all the members of our bodies all our temporall naturall morall and spirituall abilities do obeysance to Christ be made subject and serviceable unto him 6. In our Ioy. 6. Him let us preferre in our Joy As David preferred Ierusalem above x Psa 137 his chiefest joy making it and the welfare thereof the top head and flower of his joy so let us make Christ our chiefest joy the head and crowne of our joy in him let us rejoyce as the wise men in the Starre which guided them Mat. 2.10 Gen. 45.28 1 Sam. 4.5 as old Iacob in the Waggons which carried him to Egypt where was fulnesse of bread in the famine as the Israelites in the Arke from whose presence they promised themselves victory over the Philistins in him let us rejoyce as the traveller in the Sunne which guides him as the sick in the Physician which heales him as the captive in the ransomer which frees him as the poore in the rich which feeds and cloathes him As Christ is the originall and spring of all our comforts so let him be the supreme object of all our rejoycings all joy besides this is but sadness Bernard saith * Illud est verum ac summum gaudium quod non de crâ—atura sed de creatore concipitur quod quum acceperis nemo tollet à te cui aliunde comparata omnis jucunditas moeror est omnis suavitas dolor est omne dulce amarum est omne decorum foedum est omne posâ—reâ—â—ó quod delâ—â—â—â—i poâ—â—â—t mo◠〈…〉 That is true and high joy which is not conceived of the creature but of the Creator which when thou shalt receive no man shall take it from thee whereunto compared all other joy is sorrow all sweetnesse griefe all that is sweet is bitter every comely thing is filthy and lastly whatsoever may delight is troublesome all joy in comparison of joy in Christ is but a cloud to this Sunne a midnight to this morning a bramble to this Vine gall and vinegar to this pretious Nectar Therefore in all things value Christ and give him preheminence above all others according to his fulnesse Let not the plainnesse of his doctrine the meannesse of his messengers the simplicitie and want of externall pompe in his religion and service nor the poverty of many of his followers cause us to under-value and slight Christ as it was sometime disputed among the Romanes in their Councell using to deifie great men Whether Christ having done many wonderfull workes should bee received into the number of Gods The Historian saith * Et tande desinitum est quòd non deberet recipi inter deos pro eo quòd non habeâ—et cultores propâ—er hoc quòd paupertatem praedicarit elegit quam mundus contemnit It was at last concluded that he should not be received among the Gods because hee had no worshippers and because hee preached poverty which the world despiseth How many stumble and take offence at Christ slight and under-value Christ for the small number and low estate of his followers and for that humility meeknesse spirituall poverty which the Gospel teacheth But let not us under-value Christ for this but rather admire the fulnesse of Christ in putting such power into the plaine preaching of his Word and such efficacie into the labours of his despised Messengers as thereby to convince and convert the hearts and raise the soules of men and by weake things poore things and things which are not to confound the things that are The weaknesse of the instrument commends the power of the supreme agent the more wee looke upon the emptinesse of the instruments which Christ useth the more cause we shall have to admire the fulnesse which he communicateth Foure things there are among many Foure things in Christ to be highly prized in Christ which wee should very highly prize First the knowledge of Christ The wisedome of Solomon was so great that the Queene of the South accounted his men happy 1. Knowledge of Christ that they might daily stand before him to heare his wisedome As Christ is greater then Solomon so is their happinesse greater that may stâ—nd before him and heare his wisedome It is Christ that puts a fulnesse into our knowledge as the shining of the Sunne in the aire puts a fulnesse of light into the eye therefore Paul made Christ crucified the center and circumference of his knowledge determining to know y 1 Cor. 2.2 nothing among them but Christ crucified this hee made the z Ephes 3. bredth and length depth and height of his knowledge this was the full latitude of his knowledge to know Christ and this is a Phil. 3.8 excellent knowledge for the instrument authour matter subject fruits and effects of