confessed his owne guiltinesse and the justice of God 2. Vindicated the innocency of Christ. 3. Was affected with the judgement and brought to feare God 4. Earnestly desired to worke upon his fellow servant Doest thou not feare God c. i.e. ô feare God consider what a wofull estate thou art plunged into Reasons or Motives io perswade us hereunto are foure 1. In regard of God 2. In regard of our selves 3. In regard of others 4. In regard of the excellency of Gods Ordinances 1. In regard of God because the Lord is much honoured and his Name is highly magnified and therefore hereby we shall shew our zeale for Gods glory and our â—ove unto his Majesty Gods glory in all things should be respected in the first place Whether ye eate or drinke or whatsoever ye doe doe all to the glory of God saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 10. 31. Now surely the more people and the greater the company is that joyne together in the duties of Gods service the more glory must needs hereby redound to God for the enlarging of Christs kingdome is a chiefe meanes of advancing Gods glory This our Saviour teacheth in the very mould and course of the Lords Prayer it appeareth in the very order of the petitions 1. Hallowed be thy Name to shew that in all things in the first place Gods glory must be respected 2. Thy kingdome come there is the chiefe meanes to shew that the comming of Gods kingdome is one chiefe meanes for the hallowing of his Name and the enlarging of Christ's kingdome is a chiefe meanes for the advancing of Gods glory Matth. 6. 10 11. certainely much glory must needs hereby redound to God when we are not content only to serve God our selves but also exhort and excite and stirre up others hereunto Secondly There is another Motive to perswade us which is drawne from our selves Hereby we shall manifest the work of grace wrought in our own hearts This is a good testimony that we are truely religious indeed when wee are not content to serve God our selves but are ready to provoke and stirre up others hereunto for goodnesse is a spreader of it selfe it is ready to disperse and communicate it selfe for the good of others Yee heard what the Holy Ghost said of Barnabas Acts 11. 23. That he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord ver 24. for he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost A good man and one that is full of the Holy Ghost is and will be ready to excite and stirre up others unto that which is good When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren said our Saviour Luk. 22. 32. He that is truly converted himselfe will be ready to be a meanes to convert and turne others to God See it in David Psalme 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee Where there is abundance of grace in the heart it will manifest it selfe in our gracious speeches and holy communication Psal. 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisedome his tongue will bee talking of judgement the Law of his God is in his heart c. for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh saith our Saviour Matth. 12. 34. I have hid thy Word in my heart saith David Psalme 119. 11. See the fruit of this Psalm 95. 6. O come let us worship and fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker c. True grace maketh a man ready to doe good offices for others especially to perswade them to serve God and be religious Thirdly In regard of others For hereby we shall best manifest our love and respect to others yea we doe not know how much good we may doe them this way for by this we may come to save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Iam. 5. 20. Hereby we may come to be acquainted with the wayes of God our selves and others whom we perswade may be hereby converted to walke in his pathes for Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule c. See how confidently David assureth himselfe of the conversion of others upon his best endeavour to teach them Gods wayes Psal. 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee How much more if we come to the house and Ordinances of God and bring others with us This argument Gods people have used to perswade others to goe with them to Gods house Come let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord for he will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his pathes Isa. 2. 2 3. This is the way to bring others to the true feare of GOD as well as our selves if we can perswade them to accompany us in the constant and frequent use of Gods Ordinances Observe an excellent place to this purpose Deut. 31. 11 12. When all Israel is come to appeare before the Lord in the place that he shall choose thou shalt reade this Law before all Israel in their hearing Gather the people together men women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates Why so What good will they get this That they may heare and that they may learne and feare the Lord your God to doe all the words of this Law Where we see that the house or place of Gods worship and service must be constantly frequented and that it is not enough for us to come thither our selves but we must also bring our whole families men women and children yea the very stranger that doth but occasionally come unto us we must bring all to Gods Ordinances And lastly that hereby we are likely to be instruments of working the feare of God in the hearts of those whom we bring and so to bring them to obedience Let no man say What neede we trouble our selves with others Is it not enough for every man to looke to himselfe and to have a care that he spend time himselfe in Gods service though he doe not meddle with others For though Christian charitie begin at home yet it doth not end there but he that is truely carefull to serve God himselfe will be readie to exhort and admonish others especially those of his familie and such as are committed to his charge And if any thinke much at this yet let him know that it is no more then his dutie Heb. 3. 13. But exhort one another dayly while it is called to day Nay no man can have any good assurance that he draweth nigh to God with a true heart himselfe if he doe not doe his best endeavour to excite and stirre up others to doe so too See an excellent passage to this purpose Heb. 10. 22. 24. c. Let us draw neare with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our
our spirit that wee are the children of God And if a man may be assured he is Gods childe why should it not be possible for him to be sure that the gold of his saving graces is sincere and will not deceive him Fourthly It is possible for a man to be assured of his redemption that even his soule is washed in the blood of Christ and of his interest in the great worke of Christs Redemption Iob was assured of his Redemption that Christ was his living Redeemer Iob 19. 25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the later day upon the earth So Paul was assured that Christ was his Redeemer and that he gave himselfe for him in particular Gal. 2. 20. The life that I now live I live by the faith of the Sonne of God who loved me and gave himselfe for me sayth the Apostle If a man may be assured of his redemption much more that his graces are sincere c. Fifthly A man may be assured that when he dieth he shall goe to heaven see what the Apostle sayth 2. Cor. 5. 1. We know that when this earthly house of our Tabernacle shall be dissolved we have an house of God not made with hands eternall in the heavens i. e. We know that when these bodies of ours which are made of earth shall turne to dust the soule shall goe to heaven to that place which Christ hath prepared for us So the Apostle S. Iohn 1 Ioh. 3. 14. We know that we are translated from death to life wee are as sure when we die we shall goe to heaven But how What by revelation No sure but because we love the brethren He that is assured that he loveth the brethren may be sure when he dieth he shall goe to heaven much more that he hath true grace Sixthly A man may be sure that the goodnesse and mercy of God shall follow him all the dayes of his life and consequently of his continuance in the state of grace much more that his graces are sound and sincere Psal. 23. 6. Surely Goodnesse and Mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life He that can be assured of this may be much more sure that the gold of his graces are not counterfeit And so I come to the fourth and the last Motive that may perswade us to this tryall sc. the comfort that will hereby redound unto our soules when the worke is once throughly performed Gal. 6. 4. Let every one prove his owne worke sayth the Apostle and then shall he have rejoycing in himselfe sc. that his graces are sincere and not in another A man that hath had his gold called in question and yet proveth sound and currant oh it filleth him full of joy and rejoycing Let this perswade us to try our graces that wee may partake of that joy and comfort which will hereby redound unto us which is as the Apostle speakes 1 Pet. 1. 8. A joy unspeakable and full of glory A peace that passeth all understanding Phil. 4. 7. Let the expectation of this sweet fruit of joy which will accompany our endeavours this way make us fall to this worke of searching our selves with all diligence O what a comfort to Hezechiah in that extremitie that he was assured and durst appeale to God that his heart was upright Isay 38. 3. Remember Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart So this also supported Iob Iob 23. 10. He knoweth the way that I take and when he hath tryed me I shall come out like gold there was his comfort that his graces were of a right golden metall though his friends conceived otherwise of him and charged him deeply with hypocrisie yet he knew that God knew his graces were sound and upright oh let us in time make the like search and tryall of our graces that he did that we may have the like comfort and ground of rejoycing that he had So this was the Apostles comfort at all times whatsoever befell him yet he knew that he was truely gracious 2 Cor. 1. 12. Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicitie and godly sinceritie not with fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world A man that is assured that he hath an heart full of true saving grace will have more true comfort in it and more solid joy then if he had a great chest full of gold An heart full of grace will affoord farre more joy and comfort then a purse full of gold And this is the last Motive that may perswade us to this tryall and diligent examination whether our grace be sincere and such as will not deceive us Now for the second generall poynt that I propounded for the perfecting of this poynt sc. the Markes and Signes of true grace they are indeede many but I will keepe close to the Metaphor which wee have in hand and give you some few for your satisfaction in this case First true and pure gold gold tryed in the fire will shew the lustre and brightnesse both in the fire and water so true grace will teach a man how to cary himselfe in every estate and condition Here was the tryall of Pauls grace golden Paul after his conversion in all estates Philippians 4. 11. I have learnd in what estate soever I am therewith to be content both to bee full and to be hungry to abound and to suffer need Though it bee a more blessed thing to give rather then to receive yet hee that hath true grace is skilfull in both his face will shine in every condition He that hath true grace will manifest it by his gracious cariage in every condition both in prosperity and adversity if he be rich hee is bountifull and liberall he is Rich in good workes and layeth up for himselfe a good foundation 1 Tim. 6. 17. If he be poore he sheweth his golden nature in another kinde in humble submitting to the will of God It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good said golden Ely 1 Sam. 3. 18. In his patience and thankfulnesse he kisseth the rod and thankes his father even for his love in correcting He is like a well cut Dye every way square which way soever ye cast it cast it easily it will be square cast it violently it remaineth square still so will a gracious heart shew its puritie in all estates and conditions Looke upon Job in his twofold condition and yee shall finde him pure gold in both looke upon his demeanour in the water of prosperity when hee even swome in Rivers of prosperity oh how bountifull was hee how full of good workes Job 30. Chap. 31. By the Lords owne testimony A man that feared God and eschewed evill none like him in all the earth Iob 1. 1. 7. What a gracious testimony from God himselfe
24. It shall come to passe that when they call I will answere and while they are yet speaking I will heare Doest thou see Luk. 15. how readie the old man was to cloath the tattered Prodigall God is so readie to helpe his children Christ is so readie to cloath and refresh his poore members Yea for thy farther comfort consider the fidelitie of this Chapman assure thy selfe he will not deceive thee he cannot deny himselfe thou mayest safely repose thy confidence in him for matter and measure and time assure thy selfe he will deale kindly and faithfully with thee yea he will never faile thee nor forsake thee This for Comfort and Consolation Fourthly and lastly For Exhortation and Direction If any lacke wisedome let him aske it of God sayth the Apostle Iam. 1. 5. so say I If any lacke true saving grace let him buy it of Christ goe to Christ for grace at the first yea and goe to Christ for a farther increase of true grace see thy want of grace labour to know the worth of grace hunger and thirst after it frequent the Ordinances c. and assure thy selfe the God of all grace shall be with thee But of this in the first use But that which I especially desire to presse at this present is to exhort and direct such as desire grace not onely for themselves but also even for others godly neighbours that would have others religious as well as themselves godly masters and parents that would put away iniquitie from their tabernacles and desire to have saving grace wrought in the hearts of their children and servants This was godly Iosuah's care and pious resolution Iosh. 24. 15. I and my house will serve the Lord. Now for Direction to such as are thus graciously affected and lovingly disposed towards others in generall I say Let such consider that they must buy it of Christ for themselves and their families What they should doe for themselves I have alreadie shewed and what they should doe for their families I will now endeavour to manifest Thus then First In the generall you must have a care to bring them to the market When some of your familie want new things you usually take them to the market that they may be fitted for the purpose This is the generall Direction bring them to the market see that thy children and servants doe constantly frequent the Church assemblies Isa. 55. 1. Hoe every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters Doest thou thirst after the salvation of thy wife or children or servants O then bring them to the waters pray earnestly to God for them but withall bring them to the publike Ordinance It is the safest buying things eyther for our selves or our families in the publike Market place Bring thy children and servants to Gods house and Ordinances It is not enough to be constantly there our selves unlesse we bring our children and servants with us See upon what proofe I speake it Deut. 31. 11 12. When all Israel shall come to appeare before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose Thou shalt reade this Law before all Israel Gather the people together men women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates that they may heare and learne to feare the Lord thy God c. So then this is the first thing in the generall doe not content thy selfe to come alone to Gods Ordinances but also bring thy children and servants with thee for God will not say unto thee in that case as he did to Adam Where art thou but as unto Cain Gen. 4. Where is thy Brother So where is thy wife and where are thy children and servants What make they abroad about foolish vanities when they should be present here in the Church assemblies When they should be making markets for their soules Command them to keepe the way of the Lord as Abraham did Gen. 18. 19. When thou commest out of thine owne house with a purpose to goe to Gods house say unto thy familie as Isa. 2. 3. Come let us goe up to the house of the Lord and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his pathes This is sweet musicke in the eares of God Almightie when we thus stirre up one another to love and unto good workes Thus in the generall Secondly Doe thy best endeavour to fit and prepare them before they come to Gods publike Ordinances labour to plow up the fallow ground of their hearts Jer. 4. 3. When you have a purpose to take your children abroad to market you cause them to make preparation and to put on faire cloathes and not to come abroad in nastie or filthie apparell Doe so in this case helpe them to put on the wedding garment of due preparation have a care to pray with them and for them Thus Paul Rom. 10. 1. My hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved Doe thy best to prepare and fit them for according to the measure of our preparation will be for the most part our profit Oh therefore take paines with them in private by godly advise and counsell catechise and instruct them teach them before they come to the market how to lay out their money especially forget not to pray with them and for them that they may speed well and prosper in making holy markets for their soules Thirdly bring them along with thee and neither send them before nor let them stay behind thee For alas children and youth being sent to the market alone will play by the way and trifle away their time untill the market be done And therefore saith David Psal. 42. 4. When I went with the multitude I led them to the House of God Not as the practise of some is that say well I will goe to Church wife make haste and come away she stayeth a great while before she be ready and the children and servants as long after her that the market is almost done ere the whole family come in No thou shouldest rather say Isa. 2. 3. Come let us goe up to the house of the Lord and labour to see that thy children and servants may be ready as soone as thy selfe that they may say unto thee as some did to David Come Sirs let us goe up to the House of the Lord Psalm 122. I was glad when they said unto mee let us goe up to the house of the Lord this did him good at heart to bee so excited and exhorted Fourthly See that they minde their businesse and ply their markets when they are come let them not stand and looke about them or laugh or talke as too many doe sleepe as some doe have an eye to your children and servants while they are present in the Church assemblies that their cariage may bee such as becommeth those that are in the speciall presence of God Almighty You know children are apt to trifle away their time
multitude of their riches these seeme to be very powerfull Masters yet marke what the holy Ghost sayth of such Psal. 49. 6 7 8. None of them can by any meanes redeeme his brother nor give to God a ransome for him for the Redemption of the soule is precious and ceaseth for ever All the men in the world with all the wealth in the world are not able to save one soule And what is a man profited if he could winne the whole world if he loose his soule sayth our Saviour Mat. 16. 26. But now this our heavenly Master is able to save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Thou hast delivered my soule from death sayth David Psal. 116. 8. Yea he is the author of eternall salvation to them that doe obey him Heb. 5. 9. Here is a Master worth serving that is able to save the soules of his servants with an everlasting salvation Psal. 3. 8. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord i. e. it is his peculiar Sixthly He is readie to accept and take in good part the poore endeavours of his servants yea their desires if sincere and fervent doe finde acceptance with him God doth indeed set his servants hard taskes many times such as they are never able to performe of themselves He commandeth us to love him with all our hearts and keep all his Commandements but his meaning is according to the mitigation of the Gospell onely that we should earnestly desire and doe our best endeavour to doe so and then it is sufficient in Gods account A loving Father that would try the willingnesse of his childe biddeth him goe sirrah runne and fetch me such a great piece of wood which it may be is as much as five or six men could carry but if he finde him willing and readie to doe his best endeavour it contenteth the Father so dealeth God with his servants He spareth them as a man spareth his owne sonne that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. Yea if there be but first of all a willing minde it is accepted according to that we have and not according to that we have not sayth the Apostle 2 Cor. 8. 12. Yea sincere desires are graciously accepted See how Nehemiah propoundeth his case Neh. 1. 11. O Lord I beseech thee let thine eares be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayers of thy servants that desire to feare thy Name especially if these be seconded and accompanied with earnest and sincere endeavours Thus Abrahams resolution to offer his Sonne Gen. 22. 12. was accepted as if he had actually done it and therefore by faith Abraham when he was tryed offered up Isaac sayth the Holy Ghost Heb. 11. 17. and yet we see in the Storie that actually and really he did it not no the Lord himselfe withheld him by a voyce from heaven and yet in this place yee see it is said that he did offer Isaac when he was tryed that is he was readie to have done it it was his purpose if God himselfe had not granted him a dispensation and therefore in Gods account it was done Yea sayth the Lord himselfe Gen. 22. 13. Because thou hast done this though indeede he did it not yet because he was willing to have done it it was done in Gods account and in his gracious acceptance Oh who would not be constant and abundant in the service of such a Master Seventhly This gracious disposition of our Master doth farther shew it selfe in that he is readie to helpe and assist his servants in doing that worke which he requireth of them he affoordeth them helpe and strength to doe their worke and therefore though Paul when he looketh upon his own weaknesse and inabilitie is readie to cry out 2 Cor. 2. 26. Who is sufficient for these things yet when he considereth the helping hand of God then he can say I am able to doe all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. And indeed most true is that of our Saviour Joh. 15. 5. Without me yee can doe nothing so by his assistance we can doe all things that he commandeth so as he is pleased to accept of them for the Lord himselfe putteth to his helping hand Psal. 37. 24. Isa. 41. 10. Feare not Iacob I am with thee c. I will helpe thee He will helpe us pray his Spirit shall helpe our infirmities Rom. 8. 26. and helpe us preach and heare and in a word is readie to worke all our workes for us As we deale with a young Scholler that beginneth to write his hand is guided so doth the Lord deale with us Isa. 26. 12. Thou hast wrought all our workes for us Eighthly Let us be abundant and spend much time in Gods service for he is a good pay-master we are not onely sure of our wages because he is constant and faithfull in keeping Covenant as yee heard before but also he is exceeding bountifull and liberall See one expression of his bounty in this Psalm 84. 11. He will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly As he himselfe loveth a bountifull giver so he is such a one himselfe sc. bountifull and liberall He giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not sayth the Apostle Iam. 1. 5. He doth even daily load his servants with benefits Psalm 68. 19. Blessed be God even the God of our salvation who doth dayly loade us with his benefits Oh who would not be diligent in the service of such a bountifull Master Yea he rewardeth all his Servants with no lesse then a Kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdome So Mat. 25. 34. Come yee blessed children of my Father inherit the Kingdome provided for you from the beginning of the world Yea such a kingdome that consisteth of an eternall and exceeding weight of glory 2 Co. 4. 17 Even such as eye hath not seen neither hath eare heard nor hath ever entred into the heart of man to conceive the worth of 2 Co. 2. 9. O how can we thinke all our time sufficient to spend in the service of such a Master that is thus beneficiall unto his servants Consider also his bounty in giving raine from heaven Act. 14. 17 with Ier. 5. 24. Let us now feare the Lord c. I omit to shew further how slow he is to anger how ready to forgive to be reconciled He doth even beseech us to be reconciled unto him as the Apostle speaks 2 Co. 5. 20 Ninthly He is such a Master that taketh pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants and is constant in his love towards them earthly Masters are changeable and fickle and doe often envie the prosperitie of their servants but the Lord hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his seruants and his love towards them is constant and unchangeable For the first observe it Psal. 35. 27. Let them say continually let
the Lord be magnified which hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants He loveth to have them merry at meate and at worke and sing for joy of heart Isa. 65. 14. And withall he is constant in his love towards them if he be angry it is but for a moment but his love and mercie is everlasting towards them See a singular place for this purpose in Isa. 54. 7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee and ver 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercie on thee sayth the Lord thy Redeemer If he be wroth if he seeme to forsake or hide himselfe from his servants it is but for a moment but his love and kindnesse is everlasting his mercy endureth for ever having loved his owne which were in the world he loved them unto the end sayth our Saviour Ioh. 13. 1. not for a time but for ever his love like himselfe is constant and unchangeable it is an everlasting love Ier. 31. 3. With an everlasting love have I loved thee therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawne thee sayth the Lord. Yea his love to his servants is so constant that nothing shall be able to diprive them of it nothing can finally doe it and for ever Rom. 8. 37 38. For I am perswaded sayth the Apostle that neither death nor life nor Angells nor height nor depth nor things present nor things to come nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yea sinne it selfe that is the most dangerous enemy of all for your iniquities have separated between you and your God Isa. 59. 1. cannot doe it yea rather then so your sinnes shall be pardoned and that for his owne sake Isa. 43. 25. for I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake will not remember thy sinnes Here is a gracious and a constant loving Master Tenthly and lastly This heavenly Master of ours is readie dayly to manifest and expresse his love towards his servants in hearing their prayers and revenging all such wrongs as are offered unto them See the proofe of this priviledge in both the branches of it First For his hearing prayers it is one of his titles of honour to heare prayers Psal. 65. 2. Especially the prayers of his servants and such as feare him Joh. 9. 31. If any man be a worshipper of God and a doer of his Will him he heareth Yea he will fulfill the desires of them that feare him he will heare their cry and save them Psalm 145. 18. And if any man delight in Gods service he shall have his hearts desire Psal. 37. 4. Delight thy selfe in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart What greater priviledge Yea he is many times found of them when they doe not seeke him Isa. 65. 24. It shall come to passe that when they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will heare O how open is his eare unto their complaints when they are wronged by their adversaries and how readie is the Lord even speedily to avenge their wrongs Heare what the unjust Iudge sayth sayth our Saviour Luk. 18. 7. And shall not God avenge his owne Elect which cry day and night unto him I tell you that he will avenge them speedily True it is he will not allow his servants to be their own carvers and avenge themselves But what need they when he is ready to doe it for them Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Ro. 12. 19. He that toucheth Gods servants to hurt them doth touch the aple of his eye Zach. 2. 8 Hee taketh all their wrongs and injuries as done to himselfe and he will certainely and wisely avenge their wrongs 2 Kings 9. 7. Iehu shall smite Ahab and Iezabel but to what end Iehu's end was to get the kingdome but what was the Lords end that yee shall see in the place forenamed That I may avenge the bloud of my servants the Prophets and the bloud of all the servants of the Lord at the hands of Iezabell they must pay deare that shed the bloud of Gods servants the Lord himselfe will bee avenged of them Another place to this purpose is that we have Deut. 32. 41. If I whet my glistering sword and my hand takes hold on judgement I will render vengeance to mine enemies c. and I will make my arrowes drunke with bloud and my sword shall devoure flesh c. But whose bloud and flesh shall thus goe to wracke That ye shall see verse 43. Surely they that have shed the bloud of his servants for hee will avenge the bloud of his servants saith the Text. Who would not be abundant in his service that will not suffer his servants bloud to be unavenged CHAP. VIII Containing the three first Directions or meanes how to spend much time in Gods service FIrst If wee would spend much time in Gods service we must labour to have our hearts rightly fitted and prepared for that purpose There is a price in the hand of many a foole to get wisdome but he wanteth an heart to get wisdome saith Salomon Pro. 17. 16. How many blessed opportunities have we of spending time in Gods service which are let slip because wee want hearts rightly prepared for that purpose Hereupon it is that in the first place God requireth our hearts Proverbs 23. 26. My son give me thy heart and Ier. 14. 4. O Ierusalem wash thy heart from wickednesse A prophane heart can never endure to spend much time in God service but straight cryeth out behold what a wearinesse is it Mal. 1. 13. Hence it is that the Lord cryeth out most of all for want of a right and fit disposition of heart in the duties of his service Isaiah 29. 13. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouthes and honour me with their lips but their hearts are farre from me Here was the defects of Ezechiels hearers Ezech. 33. 31. ver They come unto thee as my people commeth and they also sit before thee as my people and they heare my words but they will not doe them where was the chiefe fault Surely in the heart for with their mouthes they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse A covetous and a vicious heart will soone make a man weary of time spent in Gods service and therefore when any man setteth himselfe to doe God any service the Lord looketh directly with what heart he doth it It is an excellent speech of God to Samuel when hee was to choose Israel a King 1 Sam. 16. 7. the Lord said to Samuel Looke not on his countenance nor on the height of his stature c. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord
him so busie at their returne that he had forgotten both his hunger and thirst in so much that they were enforced to urge him saying Master eate ver 31. Now marke the sweet answer of our blessed Saviour I have meate to eate that yee know not of ver 32. And see how he doth farther expresse his full meaning Ver. 34. Iesus sayd unto them my meate is to doe the will of him that sent me and to finish his worke Oh admirable patterne Oh heavenly example such was his delight in doing Gods will that hee preferreth it before his meate and drinke in the time of his greatest hunger and thirst Now for the perfecting of this point to quicken our affections and to set the better edge upon our appetites let us consider these three particulars First That we may love Gods Ordinances the better and delight to spend more time in the exercises of Religion let us consider whose Ordinances they are They are the Lords Ordinances of divine authoritie they come from above they are tokens of love sent from our heavenly Father the Word preached is Gods Word the Sacraments are his broad Seales of Righteousnesse and prayer is a dutie expresly required by God himselfe and therefore they are worthy of all due regard and esteeme for his sake that hath sent them Now a token sent from a deare friend O how welcome a Letter a Booke a Ring c. these finde speciall regard with us And shall the Lords Word that gracious Epistle sent from the King of heaven to us shall that be accounted as a strange thing God forbid Oh let us love the Word faithfully preached because it is the Lords Word It is the Gospel of Iesus Christ. This is the Apostles Argument Rom. 1. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation Yea it is the very Word of Gods grace Act. 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther and to give you an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Yea the Word preached is a speciall fruit of his favour peculiar to those that are Gods people so that wheresoever he sendeth it he hath a purpose to save some there See how this is mentioned as a speciall priviledge to the Iewes which were then the onely people of God under heaven Psal. 147. 19 20. He sheweth his Word unto Iacob his Statutes and Ordinances unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation Oh how we should value the Lords goodnesse herein to us if this were rightly and throughly considered This was the Iewes chiefe priviledge that they had the Lords Word in speciall for their direction when all Nations besides were left in darknesse Deut. 4. 8. For what Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which I have set before you this day So marke how the Apostle setteth out the Iewes priviledge above all other Nations which he sheweth consisted in this that they had the Lords lively Oracles for their Direction Rom. 3. 1 2. What advantage then hath the Jew and what profit is there of Circumcision Much every way chiefely because unto them were committed the Oracles of God They were the Lords Oracles and therefore the more to be esteemed and their priviledge was so much the greater that did enjoy them So againe setting out the Iewish priviledges see how the Apostle reports the matter Rom. 9. 4. To whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the promises The Lords Covenants the Lords Law the service of God and his promises this should make us esteeme them Yea it is the Lord that sendeth Prophets and Apostles and Pastors to teach and instruct his people in this Word that he hath given us Ier. 3. 15. I will give you Pastors according to mine owne heart that shall feede you with knowledge and understanding It was the Lord Jesus Christ himselfe that sent the Apostles to preach the Gospel Mat. 28. 20. Goe and teach all Nations c. teaching them to observe all things that I command you and loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Yea and this sending of Ministers to preach the Word unto us is a fruit of Gods singular love towards us it argueth the Lords fatherly pitie and compassion towards us according to that we reade in 2 Chron. 36. 15. And the Lord God of their fathers sent unto them by his Messengers rising early and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place Now lay up all these together If the Word preached be an Ordinance of Gods appointing if he send the Ministers to preach it if their comâ—â—â— to doe this be a fruit of his love yea 〈◊〉 compassion towards us then surely if this 〈◊〉 rightly considered wee cannot choose â—ut love it it is the Lords doings and therefore it is marvellous in our eyes The like may be said of prayer and the Sacraments they are also of Gods ordaining Secondly Consider the worth excellency of these Ordinances in themselves The Word of God faithfully preached is an excellent Ordinance of God and so is prayer and so are the Sacraments matters of speciall and exceeding worth now yee know men love and delight in things that are most excellent This is one reason that David giveth why he delights in the societie of Gods Saints sc. because they were excellent persons Psal. 16. 2. My goodnesse extendeth not unto thee sayth he to God v. 3. but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Doest thou delight in those things that are excellent O then delight thy selfe in Gods Ordinances which are most excellent The Word of God faithfully preached is a most sweet and excellent Ordinance of GOD. See how highly David that man of GOD commends and extolleth it Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple and ver 10. More to be desired are they then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then honey and the honey-combe Oh the transcendent excellency of the Word of God faithfully preached Had I the tongue of men and Angells I could not expresse it to the full Take notice of a Testimony or two to this purpose in the new Testament 2 Cor. 10. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mightie through God to the pulling downe of strong holds yea it is able to make Sathan fall downe from heaven like lightening This is the Lords great Ordinance to batter the strong holds of sinne and Sathan they are excellent things for the demolition of Sathans Ammunition this casteth out the strong man armed and taketh away his armour wherein
Christ. First of the first of these sc. this That Christ Iesus and his merits together with the saving graces of his Spirit are fitly resembled unto gold yea gold tryed in the fire Hereupon it is that the Tabernacle and the Temple were both so adorned with gold because they were the Types of our Saviour and the graces of his Spirit Exod. 37. 6. 1 King 7. 48. There was the Table of gold and the Altar of gold and the Bowles and the Tongs and the Snuffers all of pure gold c. And why all this but to teach us that Christ and the graces of his Spirit are fitly resembled to gold Marke the answer of Christ's Spouse to the daughters of Jerusalem Cant. 5. when they asked What is thy beloved more than another beloved observe her answer Ver. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest of tenne thousand Ver. 11. His head is as the most fine gold He is like unto most fine gold yea gold tryed in the fire So the Church cloathed with the merits of Christ and adorned with the graces of his Spirit is covered as it were with cloth of gold Vpon thy right hand did stand the Queene in gold of Ophyr saith the Text Psal. 45. 9. that is cloathed with Christ and the graces of his Spirit which are pure and precious like the gold of Ophyr And so againe Ver. 13. The Kings Daughter is all glorious within that is the Church is glorious in Gods account Her cloathing is of wrought gold this is very direct Now the Reasons of the poynt might be many I will but instance in some few of many Gold tryed in the fire is very precious of great worth and value so is Christ even in his lowest estate when he seemeth most despicable and worthles yet is he even then most precious disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious sayth the Apostle 1 Pet. 2. 4. and v. 6. Behold I lay in Sion a chiefe corner stone elect and precious though the Jewish builders rejected this Stone yet was he exceeding precious in Gods account And as Christ himselfe is precious so are the graces of his Spirit such as wisdome and knowledge and faith and love c. these are precious jewels and therefore fitly resembled unto gold See what the holy Ghost sayth of Wisedome Pro. 3. 13 14. Happie is the man that findeth Wisdome and the man that getteth understanding for the merchandise thereof is better then the merchandise of silver and the gaine thereof is better then fine gold shee is more precious then Rubies c. See here the precious nature of spirituall and heavenly Wisdome The like may be said of faith and other graces Hence that phrase of precious faith To all that have obtained like precious faith with us sayth the Apostle 2 Pet. 1. 1. If you aske how precious this grace is He answereth That the tryall of our faith is much more precious then of gold that perisheth 1 Pet. 1. 7. Secondly Gold is of especiall use to pay debts to keepe or redeeme out of prison so are the merits and blood of Christ they redeeme us from hell and death yee are bought with a price sayth the Apostle 2 Cor. 6. 19 20. What price not silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lambe without spot 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Of him are yee in Christ Jesus sayth the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 30. Who of God is made unto us wisdome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption O golden Christ by the helpe of whose merits we pay the Debts which we owe to our heavenly Father yea by this gold are we redeemed and set at libertie from the prison of hell and from the bondage and slavery of sinne and Sathan Thirdly Gold tryed in the fire is very pure and cleane there is no drosse left in it so is Christ pure as well as precious so are the graces of Gods Spirit true grace is pure grace pure faith or faith unfained pure love without dissembling sincere or pure truth without hypocrisie 1 Tim. 1. 5. Now the end of the Commandement is charitie or love out of a pure heart and a good or pure conscience and faith unfained faith without mixture that is pure faith such faith and love are golden graces indeed Let love be without dissimulation sayth the Apostle Rom. 12. 9. there is pure love indeed it is an excellent place 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing that yee have purified your soules in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfained love of the brethren see that yee love one another with a pure heart fervently here is pure gold indeed wrought by the pure Spirit of God there is the Authour of it in obeying the truth there is the instrumentall meanes of it pure and unfained loue out of a pure heart there is the fruit of it Fourthly Gold tryed in the fire is fit for purchase it commandeth what the earth can affoord so doe Christ and his merits and graces they doe purchase Heaven for us Heaven is an inheritance and given freely in respect of any merits of ours but merited and purchased for us by Christ He is our great purchaser He purchaseth Heaven for us and in our name and is gone to take possession for us and to prepare a place for us there He purchased it for us by his merits hence that phrase Ephes. 1. 14. Vntill the Redemption of the purchased pessession sayth the Apostle And when he had purchased it for us He went to possesse it and prepare a place for us Joh. 16. 3. I goe to prepare a place for you So that a man interested in Christs merits and adorned with his graces is fit to make a purchase of Heaven So that Christ and his merits are in this respect also fitly resembled unto gold they make a golden purchase or purchase a golden place in Heaven for us Fifthly Gold is of an excellent use for ornament and beautie as well as for purchase and profit thus the Tabernacle and Temple were adorned with gold to make them glorious and beautifull so is the Church by the merits and graces of Christ become a glorious Church Psal. 45. 13. The Kings daughter is all glorious within How cometh that to passe Surely by the gold of Christs merits and graces for it followeth Her cloathing is of wrought gold there is her chiefe ornament so doe the graces of Gods Spirit they doe even adorne us in Gods account faith and love and meeknesse O woman great is thy faith Mat. 15. 28. there is her ornament I have not found so great faith no not in Israel sayth our Saviour Mat. 8. 10. there is the Centurions ornament so of Abraham faithfull Abraham a man strong in the faith and gave glory to God Rom. 4. 20. Golden Abraham there is his ornament Moses the meekest man upon earth Numb 12. 3. Now the man Moses was very meeke
place we have to this purpose Acts 13. 47. It was necessary that the Word of God should be first preached unto you but since yee thrust it from you and doe judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life behold we turne to the Gentiles So that here we see plainely that they that have the Word of God preached and the meanes of grace offered and yet reject it and thrust it from them they doe judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life and at last the meanes shall be taken from them yea the estate of these men is so fearefull and lamentable that had I the tongue of men and Angels or the penne of an Apostle I could never set it out to the full see the inexpressible wofulnesse of their condition that despise the Gospell 1 Pet. 4. 17. The time is come that judgement must beginne at the house of God and if it beginne at us what shall the end be of those that obey not thâ— Gospell of God No marvell if I cannot tell yee see the Apostle Peter could not tell or would not take in hand to expresse it as if the estate of such was miserable above all that a man can speake or imagine Nay at the last day when they looke for the most comfort they shall finde most horror and bitternesse In stead of a Saviour Christ shall come at the last day with his holy Angels in flaming fire to render vengeance on all them that know not God and obey not the Gospell saith the Apostle 2 Thes. 1. 8 9. ô wofull thing to consider when instead of Come ye blessed they shall heare the wofull and thundring voyce of Christ denouncing this terrible Doome against them Matth. 25. 41. Goe yee cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill aâ—d his Angels and no marvell neither if they be thus punished and doe bring such swift damnation upon themselves for it is a fearefull signe that all such are lost and reprobates for whom the blacknesse of darknesse is reserved for ever Iude Ver. 4. for if our Gospell be hid it is hid to them that are lâ—st saith the Apostle whom the god of this world hath blinded yea a fearefull signe of reprobation in this case as doth appeare by that place of the Apostle 2 Tim. 3. 8. As Iannes and Iambres with-stood Moses so doe these men resist the truth men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the faith the expresse words of the Holy Ghost yea they are such of whom the Lord hath sworne in his wrath that they shall never unlesse they repent enter into his rest as we may see Psalm 95. 9 10. c. O the foolish and franticke madnesse of all those that neglect and despise such a precious Iewell as true saving grace which for the worth of it is fitly compared to gold yea gold tryed in the fire yea much more precious then the finest gold in the world CHAP. III. Containing the use of examination THirdly seeing true grace is fitly resembled unto gold this should teach us diligently to try and examine our selves whether wee have any true grace in us yea or no for true grace is of a right golden nature Now that wee may not deceive our selves let us try what metall our graces are made on let us deale with our graces as knowledge and faith and love and obedience as men use to deale with their gold let us try them throughly whether they prove right currant gold yea or no 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether yee be in the faith or no whether your faith be a right saving faith yea or no That the tryall of your faith being much more precious then gold that perisheth 1 Pet. 1. 7 As if he had said try your faith whether it be of the right precious metall of a saving metall which is indeed much more precious then gold Yea not only our faith but every other worke of grace in us must bee examined and proved Gal. 6. 4. But let every one prove his owne worke the worke of grace in his owne heart and then shall he have rejoycing in himselfe alone and not in another What good will it doe us to know that another man's gold is weight and currant gold if we bee ignorant of our owne Let us therefore try our graces whether they be of the right stampe pure currant gold yea or no. Now for the perfecting of this use give me leave to shew you 1. Some Motives to perswade us to 2. Some markes to direct us in this tryall 1. The Motives that may perswade us to this exact tryall and examination of our graces are principally these foure 1. The difficulty of the worke 2. The danger of being mistaken 3. The possibility of prevaileing 4. The comfort that will redound to a man when the worke is once throughly performed And first for the difficultie of the worke wee had need to use all diligence to make sure worke in this case because it is a worke of great difficulty for a man to be assured in his soule that the graces which he hath and the gold he possesseth are saving graces and pure gold yea or no for if we looke into experience we shall finde some men utterly deceived in judging of the estates and condition of their owne hearts some judging better of themselves then there is cause and some againe thinking worse of themselves then they need to doe so that of both these that of the Proverbe may be fitly verified Prov. 13. 7. There is that maketh himselfe rich as if he had a whole purse full of gold and yet hath nothing and there is againe that maketh himselfe poore as if hee had no gold at all and yet hath great riches the one fearefull and timorous without cause and the other bold and confident upon a false ground according to that of the Wiseman Prov. 14. 16. A wiseman that is a godly man and one that truely feareth God feareth and departeth from evill Hee feareth and hee doubteth that his estate is not so good as all this while hee hath taken it to bee and thereupon hee like a wise man taketh occasion more and more to depart from evill he walketh and maketh straight steps to his feet Hebrewes 12. 13. But the foole that is the prophane person the beggar that is utterly destitute of true â—aving grace that hath not so much as one peece of true gold in his heart rageth and is confident he rageth and hee rayleth and hee swaggereth and yet hee is confident hee shall goe to heaven as soone as the best of them all for thus hee reasoneth for himselfe I confesse I speake amisse many times I speake idlely and wantonly and prophanely and sweare sometimes when I am angry and now and then I doe that which is naught but I thanke God I have as good an heart towards God as the best of them all therein I am confident so this man is utterly deceived in
in a few things I will make thee ruler over many things c. Oh what an encouragement in this sc. that though when we have done all that we can we doe but our dutie neither can we doe that perfectly yet the Lord in mercie is readie to encourage and commend us if we doe our best endeavour Here is the commendation of a right tree of Righteousnesse that they are such as flourish and increase still more and more Psal. 92. 12 13. The righteous shall flourish like a Palme tree and grow like a Cedar in Lebanon Such as be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of the house of our God They shall bring forth fruit in their age and they shall be fat and flourishing Here was the commendation of the Church of Thyatyra Revel 2. 19. I know thy workes and thy love and thy faith and patience and thy workes that they are more at last then at first Thou doest still grow in grace and art every day better and better The Lord taketh notice of our growth in grace and doth most highly commend and prize it Fourthly As the Lord commends it so he is much honoured by it It is the glory of the Master of the Vineyard that the Vine flourisheth and is fruitfull It is the glory of the husbandman that the earth bringeth forth fruit in abundance It is the glory of the chiefe Shepheard when the sheepe bring forth thousands and ten thousands Hereupon is that speech of our Saviour Ioh. 15. 8. Herein is my Father glorified that yee bring forth much fruit The more fruitfull wee are in grace and pietie the more glory redoundeth to God Mat. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Hence is that prayer of the Apostle Phil. 1. 9. 11. And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and in all judgement Why so see that Ver. 11. And that yee may be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ to the prayse and glory of God Oh this above all other considerations should perswade us to labour to grow rich in grace because it tendeth so expresly to Gods glory which is the chiefe end of God himselfe in all his actions and that which we should ayme at especially in all our proceedings 1 Cor. 10. 31. Whether yee eate or drinke or whatsoever yee doe doe all to the glory of God sayth the Apostle and therefore wee should in all equitie ply that worke most that tendeth most to his glory Fifthly The Lord will most surely reward it Let no man ever thinke that it is in vaine to serve God but if wee be faithfull in doing God service let us never doubt of his fidelitie and bountie in paying our wages Alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord for as much as yee know how that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord sayth the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. last He that is faithfull in Gods service unto death may be sure of the Crowne of life Revel 2. 10. God is absolutely the best Master and pietie the best Mistresse that a man can possibly serve Godlinesse is profitable unto all things sayth the Apostle having the promise of the life that now is and of that to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. Let us but see the reward of pietie in some few particulars First An earnest endeavour to grow in grace and thrive in godlinesse will assure a man of his election It is the advise of the Apostle 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure no better meanes to doe it then by an earnest desire and carefull endeavour to grow in grace our growth in grace is not onely an argument of the truth of our grace but also a good pledge and token of our election faith and holinesse is a fruit of our eternall election Hence it is that true saving faith is called The faith of Gods elect Titus 1. 1. This should make us earnestly to cry out with the Disciples Luk. 17. 5. Lord increase our faith because it is such a pledge of our election for As many as were ordained to eternall life beleeved Acts 13. 48. Holines is the very end of our election Wee are chosen in Christ Iesus before the world that wee might be holy and without blame before him in love Ephes. 1. 4. Hence is that sweet and excellent parenthesis of the Apostle Col. 3. 12. Put upon you therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercie c. So that the more faith the more pietie the more bowels of mercie c. the more evident pledges and tokens of our election Oh how this should perswade us to grow in grace that wee may thereby make our calling and election sure unto our selves an admirable and most desireable benefit Secondly The richer we are in grace the better able shall we be to doe good to others and also to discharge the duties belonging to the places wherein God hath set us Wisedome is good with an inheritance sayth Salomon so no doubt it is without an inheritance but yet he that hath wisedome with an inheritance is the best able to expresse and make use of his wisedome so 1 Tim. 6. 17. Charge those that be rich in this world c. that they be rich in good workes as if they had the best opportunitie so much more they that are spiritually rich that are full of the golden graces of Gods Spirit they have an opportunitie to be rich in good workes and are or may be the better fitted and enabled to doe good to others This made our Saviour himselfe so rich in good workes so plentifull in workes of pietie and charitie He went about continually doing good teaching and preaching the Gospell of the kingdome and healing every sicknesse and every disease amongst the people Mat. 9. 35. And why so Surely because he was full of grace Ioh. 1. 14. This made Barnabas such an admirable instrument of Gods glorie in doing so much good at Antioch see how the Text reports it Acts 11. 23. Who when he was come and saw the grace of God he was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord Why so what made him so zealous and ready to do good That you may see Ver. 24. For he was a good man and full of the holy Ghost and of faith and much people joyned themselves unto the Lord. He that is truely and really good himselfe is the fittest and best able to doe good to others See here another benefit that may perswade us to grow in grace Thirdly An earnest desire and carefull endeavour to grow in grace will give us not onely entrance into the kingdome of grace but also assurance of interest in the kingdome of glorie See a direct place
day and night So this was Davids constant practice Psal. 119. 97. Oh how I love thy Law it is my meditation continually But what are the speciall things whereof wee must meditate if wee desire to further our growth in grace I answere they are especially these foure First Let us seriously consider the worth and excellency of true saving grace which appeareth in the Text it is like gold tryed in the fire the most pure and most precious jewell that is in the whole world all earthly things in the want of this are but drosse and dung Phil. 3. 8. But for your more full satisfaction as touching the worth of true grace consider the second Chapter of this Treatise being the first Vse of the poynt And surely if men did but once see the beautie and truely understand the worth of true grace they could not choose but bee exceeding desirous of it They would covet after it if they were once perswaded that it is the best and rarest jewell in the world Secondly The necessitie of true grace it is absolutely necessary to the very being of a Christian and not to his well-being onely Oh then let us labour for grace and growth in grace because it it so necessary that a man is no Christian that is without it and it is also so necessary that it is impossible to be saved without it They must have their fruit unto holinesse that will have the end everlasting life Rom. 6. 22. Holinesse must needs goe before if happinesse follow after grace and glorie are inseparable yea they are the same as some Divines observe for grace is glorie inchoate and glorie is grace consummate It is so necessary that it is impossible to see God without it Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which it is impossible to see God Blessed are the pure in heart for they and they alone shall see God sayth our blessed Saviour see Psal. 24. 4 5. Revel 22. 14 15. c. Thirdly Consider the equitie of it it is very fit and equall that we that doe professe our selves to be Gods children shall labour to become like unto our heavenly Father He is the God of all grace oh let us therefore labour to grow in grace that we may be like him Ephes. 5. 1. Be yee followers of God as deare children and walke in love c. 2 Pet. 1. 17. As he that hath called you is holy so be yee holy in all manner of conversation for it is written be yee holy for I am holy Yea we should labour to be perfect in holinesse 2 Cor. 7. 1. Perfecting holinesse in the feare of God that herein especially wee may resemble our heavenly Father who is the God of all grace and holinesse Be yee perfect as your Father which is in heaven is perfect sayth our Saviour Mat. 5. last So that the more holinesse the more like to God and the better evidence and assurance that we are his children Fourthly Let us meditate and seriously consider of that great measure of grace that hath beene in Gods Saints of old and how farre we come short of them There is Abraham renowmed for his faith yea he was even strong in the faith Rom. 4. 20. Samuel for integritie Moses for meeknesse the meekest man upon the earth Numb 12. 3. Iacob for wrestling with God in prayer Hos. 12. 4. Iob for his patience Iames 5. 11. David for sinceritie A man after Gods own heart in all things save onely in the matter of Vriah and Paul for courage and all the graces of Gods Spirit whatsoever c. Now alas how farre short doe wee come of these Saints of God in all these What a small measure of faith have we in respect of Abraham How farre short are wee of Jacob for a gift in prayer and a spirit of supplication How farre doe wee come behinde Iob for his patience David for sinceritie and Paul for every thing Oh how this would whet us on to labour for more grace when wee see how farre the Saints of God have out-stripped us and gone before us Oh how this would increase our diligent endeavour to grow in grace if wee would forget such as are behinde us and looke earnestly at those that have gone before us it would make us to presse earnestly for the price of the marke of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Phil. 3. 13 13. These are the chiefe meanes that wee must use that we may be rich in the golden graces of Gods Spirit Thus now for the first sort to whom the Exhortation is directed sc. such as have true grace in some measure alreadie Let such first be thankfull and blesse God for it that hath given them the graces of his Spirit to enrich them secondly let them labour to grow in grace and thrive more and more in this spirituall wealth and riches Secondly For such as have no grace for the present let such be exhorted to labour for it let them see the worth of it is like gold tryed in the fire that it is the onely meanes to make them truely and spiritually rich onely such as are truely godly are truely rich rich indeede rich towards God wicked rich men are wretched that are in the middest of all their wealth and riches Oh therefore you that want true grace labour for it Ioh. 6. 27. Labour not for the meate that perisheth but for durable riches Pro. 3. 16. which that you may attaine unto attend with reverence unto the next poynt which is to buy it of Christ Buy of me c. CHAP. VII Containing the third generall point I Counsell thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich And so I come to the third and last lesson that we are to learne from hence which is That all those that would have the precious gold of true saving grace must buy it of Christ. Buy of me sayth our Saviour this gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich In handling this point I will run this course First I will speake some thing by way of confirmation that wee may beleeve it Secondly By way of explication and application that wee may understand and make a right use of it First For confirmation observe a double proofe for this purpose first Testimonies secondly Reasons and Arguments to enforce the Doctrine First For Testimonies observe it in these few particulars first Pro. 23. v. 23. Buy the truth and sell it not sayth the Wise man Truth of grace must be bought at any rate but sold at no rate True saving grace is a precious commoditie to bee bought by all those that desire to enjoy it To the like purpose is that we have Isa. 55. 1. Hoe every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters buy wine and milke without money and without price the water and wine and milke of true saving grace must come
by purchase true it is in regard of it selfe it is the free gift of God but in regard of our owne endeavour to get it it must be bought and to shew the truth of this the price it selfe is declared to be without money and without price so Mat. 13. 44. The kingdome of heaven is like unto a treasure hid in the field which when a man hath found c. he goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field which also doth evidently confirme the poynt that we have in hand To the same purpose is that speech of the five wise Virgins Mat. 25. 9. But goe yee rather to them that sell and buy for your selves where we see that they that want the oyle of true saving grace must not borrow of others but goe unto such as sell and buy for themselves which is very direct for the purpose Now if any shall aske further who is the chiefe-chapman of whom we must buy this precious commoditie I answere in the words of the Doctrine That all that would have the gold of true saving grace must buy it of Christ He is the chiefe Chapman in this case And so I come to the second proofe which was propounded at first for the confirmation of this poynt sc. Reasons grounded upon Scriptures Now the Reasons are especially these five which are all drawne from the consideration of the excellencie of the Chapman that is most fit and readie to sell this precious commoditie to such as want and desire it so that as the excellencie and necessitie of it should perswade us to buy the commoditie so the excellencie of the Chapman should perswade us to buy it of Christ which is absolutely the rarest chapman in the world This I will endeavour to describe and manifest in these five particulars First Christ is a Chapman of a most loving and sweet disposition He is even in this respect The chiefest of ten thousand Cant. 5. 10. Men usually love to buy of such Chapmen as are of the best disposition a wise meeke and loving disposition in a Chapman will perswade many at least to cheapen a commoditie If we would buy of such an one let us bargaine with Christ for he is a Chapman of a most sweet disposition for wisdome for meeknesse for love c. Wee may all goe to schoole to him yea he himselfe inviteth us to learne Mat. 11. 29. Learne of mee for I am meeke and lowly in heart and yee shall finde rest to your soules He is such a Chapman as is readie to lay downe his life for his customers Ioh. 13. Let this rare disposition of his perswade us to bargaine with Christ Secondly If any man want true saving grace let him buy it of Christ because he is an exceeding faithfull Chapman to all that shall deale with him Some men drive away their customers by churlish speeches but Christ doth beseech us to buy his commoditie 2 Cor. 5. 20. Some againe loose their custome for want of fidelitie they are apt to cheat and cozen such as relie upon them and want skill to discerne the worth of the commoditie but Christ is faithfull if he once passe his word that the commoditie is good and such as will serve thy turne thou mayest safely relie upon him for he is faithfull and will not deceive thee there was never any guile to bee found in his mouth he never deceived any Salomon cryeth out of the want of such chapmen Pro. 20. 6. But a faithfull man who can finde it is a rare thing to finde such a man that will not deceive us but see here a chapman indeed in whom there is no guile nothing but fidelitie and truth it selfe God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able 1 Cor. 10. 13. So faithfull is he that hath called you to buy this precious commoditie and will not deceive you 1 Thes. 5. 24. He is such an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile Ioh. 1. 47. Neither is there any guile to be found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2. 22. Let this also perswade us to bargaine with Christ. Thirdly Christ is a very rich Chapman and full of wealth so that hee hath great choice for his customers He hath a shop so furnished that we can desire or want nothing but he is well furnished with it He is full of grace and truth Joh. 1. 14. Yea it hath pleased the Father that in him all fulnesse should dwell Col. 1. 19. Yea in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Col. 2. 9. there is a fulnesse of all kinde of commodities that we can stand in need of fulnesse of wisedome and knowledge fulnesse of faith and love c. in a word all fulnesse dwelleth in him doth constantly abide in him for ever here is a shop stored with precious commodities of all sorts whatsoever Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ Ephes. 3. 8. Let this also perswade us that if we want true saving grace in whole or in part to goe to Christ for it and buy it of him If any lacke wisedome let him aske it of God Jam. 1. 5. So if any want true saving grace let him buy it of Christ that is excellently furnished abundantly to supply our wants for all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge and all other saving graces of Gods Spirit are layd up in him Fourthly If any want true saving grace let him buy it of Christ because he is no respecter of persons he regardeth not the rich more then the poore Worldly chapmen that have great dealings in the world they shew most respect unto those that are great ones Lords and Ladies c. a poore man is forced many times to stay long before he can be served neither doe I simply condemne this among men but it is not so with Christ Acts 10. 35. Of a truth I perceive that there is no respect of persons with God but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him Yea he regardeth not the rich more then the poore Job 34. 19. Wealth and riches are of no validitie in this respect nay which is most strange he regardeth the poore more then the rich in some cases he maketh choice especially of them Iam. 2. 5. He bargaineth rarely with such as are great and wealthy 1 Cor. 1. 26. Not many noble not many wise men after the flesh are called He passeth by the wise and prudent and great persons of the world and bestoweth his best commodities on those that in the worlds account are very babes Mat. 11. You would wonder to heare of such a man that having his shop full of great persons and spying some poore man stand waiting at doore should neglect all the great persons present and speake to the poore man and say What would'st thou have ô thou poore creature I will dispatch and serve thee first of all yet thus
let him come unto me and drinke You see that onely the thirstie soules are invited to Christ a man without this spirituall thirst after grace is likely to be sent emptie away it is hunger and thirst then that fitteth us for the graces of Christ Luk. 1. 53. He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent emptie away such onely are likely to prize it such onely will be thankfull for it such onely are likely to make a right use of it such onely will take paines to procure and be at great cost to obtaine it and therefore they that would bargaine with Christ for true saving grace must hunger and thirst after it yea such an one will be earnest in prayer to God for it he will pray with fervencie and therefore is sure to speed in his request Pro. 2. 2. 3. If thou cryest after knowledge and lifâ—est up thy voyce after understanding if thou seekest for her as for silver and searchest for her as for hid treasure then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God Fourthly Diligence and constancie in frequenting the place of sale this also must needs follow upon the three former directions For he that is first sensible of the want of grace secondly knoweth the right worth of grace thirdly and hungreth and thirsteth after it cannot but in the fourth place with all possible diligence and readinesse frequent the place of sale Buying presupposeth going to the market He that would have true saving grace must diligently and constantly frequent Gods house and Ordinances He is worthy to goe without his commoditie that will not frequent the place of sale A wise man will watch for an opportunitie to procure that commoditie that will serve his turne he will come one market day after another untill he be furnished and he is a blessed man that doth thus and that in the judgement and opinion of wisedome her selfe observe it Pro. 8. 33. Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my gates and giving attendance at the postes of my doores Happie is that man that daily frequents Wisedomes markets and diligently attendeth in Gods house and Ordinances Thus was Paul's direction to the Elders of Ephesus he sendeth them still to the market Acts 20. 32. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther c. Here is the meanes both to get and increase grace This made Gods Saints love Gods house and Ordinances so exceeding dearely Let me instance in David in stead of all the rest oh his admirable love to Gods house and Ordiâ—ances Psal. 26. 8. Lord I have loved the habitation of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth he was a constant frequenter of this spirituall market yea see how he manifested his wonderfull affection that way he was even sicke when he was kept from the market Give me leave to informe you of one singular passage of his to this purpose Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord and that I will require and seeke after but one thing David surely then that is a matter of some speciall importance It may be another kingdome or such another crown as that which was taken from the King of Rabbah No surely it was no such matter but onely this sc. libertie to enjoy the benefit of Gods house and Ordinances he desired onely to keepe the market sc. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life and enquire in his Temple As if he had sayd Lord what a doe is here in the world with many one would be rich and another would be honourable this man is for pleasure and that for profit well let them take all so that I may enjoy the libertie of Gods house and Ordinances the meanes of grace the pledges of Gods favour let me have but this one thing alone and let them take all the rest This is Davids one thing And no marvell if he was thus earnest in this case for Davids one thing is the one thing needfull and that in the judgement and opinion of our blessed Saviour Luk. 10. 42. One Thing is needfull Mary hath chosen the good part which shall not be taken from her And surely there is good reason for this here is the place of Gods speciall presence this is as it were the shop of Christ here he walketh and talketh with his customers and here he selleth his precious commodities Revel 2. 1. we there finde him walking in the middest of the golden Candlestickes still present in the Church assemblies yea there he hath promised to be present in a most speciall manner Mat. 18. 20. Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I even in the middest amongst them there he standeth looking for customers and calling in such as are readie to passe his shop and never so much as once thinking to cheapen his commoditie untill they heare him cry What doe yee lacke O yee poore soules Why will yee not come unto me that yee might have grace here and glorie hereafter See how he proclaimeth open market and describeth his commodities Isa. 55. 1. Hoe every one that thirsts come yee to the waters buy wine and milke without money I will sell the best ware very cheape yea if thou be a poore needie soule and hast no money I will either trust thee and take thy word or give it freely without price yea see how he chideth them for not frequenting his shop Ioh. 5. 40. But yee will not come unto me that yee might have life Why doe you lay out your money for that which is not bread and spend your labour for that which satisfieth not Isa. 55. 2. Why doe yee goe where you are cheated and cozened with drosse in stead of gold and will not come at me where you shall be faithfully and kindly dealt withall And therefore againe he inviteth them Ver. 3. Encline your eare and come unto me heare and your soule shall live They that neglect the market are likely to starve and perish for want of grace and glorie Salvation is farre from the wicked for they regard not thy Statutes sayth David Psal. 119. 155. He that despiseth Gods Ordinances is farre from salvation This is the fourth thing requisite for the making of this bargaine with Christ sc. Diligence and constancie in frequenting the house of sale Fifthly He that would bargaine with Christ must pay the price of it to the worth of the commoditie though it cost him all that he hath Now we come to the very price of the Iewell A naturall man will thinke it too much but the truth is it is an excellent peni-worth for he must part with nothing but what he hath of his owne and what he may well spare He goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field sayth
the danger of backsliding see the remedy which the Apostle prescribeth or intimateth at least in that case If any man draw backe my soule shall have no pleasure in him We are not of them that draw backâ— unto perdition there is the danger but of them that beleeve or follow faith to the saving of the soule there is the remedy Hebrewes 10. 38 39. If any thing make us hold out against Sathan in that dangerous conflict it must be the shield of faith whereby we may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Ephesians 6. 16. Above all take unto you the shield of faith if any thing at all can doe you good this is it 2. It must be such a faith as worketh by love Galath 5. 6. And therefore in the second place we must labour for a loving heart if we would be constant Let us serve God for love and that will make us persevere in it Men will bee constant in the workes they love the Epicure is constant in pleasures and recreations the covetous in toyleing for the world the Student is constant at his booke And why so Because they love these things Charity will make a man hold out it hopeth all things and endureth all things saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 13. It never faileth ver 8. They that serve God for love resemble the Sunne that shineth more and more till the perfect day or like Mount Sion that standeth fast for ever and cannot be removed Psalm 125. 1. See how constant is Iacob in serving for Rachel Genesis 29. 20. He served seven yeares for her and they seemed but a few dayes in regard of the love that he had to her saith the Text Love set him a worke and that made him constant in it Now what a shame for us if Iacob should love Rachel better than we love God If ye love me keepe my Commandements saith our Saviour Iohn 15. 14. As if hee had said If yee love me ye will doe it Labour of love will be constant He whose bountie and charity is grounded upon true love to God will be constant in it It is an excellent place to this purpose Hebr. 6. 10. God is not unrighteous to forget your worke and labour of love which yâ— have shewed towards his Name But how did that appeare Surely by the constancy of it In that ye have ministred unto the Saints and doe minister i. e. this is a true signe that your charity and workes of mercy proceed from love to the Name of GOD because yee are constant in them this argueth evidently that they are labours of love Thirdly if wee would bee constant in Gods service we must labour to have our hearts fraught with the true feare of God This is one of the gifts of God that are without repentance Romans 11. 29. The feare of the Lord is cleane and endureth for ever Psalme 19. 8. Blessed is the man that feareth alwayes Proverbs 28. 14. Hee that truly feareth God will feare him alwayes this will make him constant in Gods service Ier. 32. 40. I will put my feare in their hearts that they shall never depart from me saith the Lord. The true feare of God will make us constant and therefore it is a chiefe point of wisdome to serve God with feare as is intimated in Psalme 2. 10 11. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Iudges of the earth Well wherein should they chiefely shew their wisdome Verse 11. Serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with trembling Why so Surely because then they would bee constant and keepe in the right way or else they would soone perish from it as is intimated in the next verse 12. Kisse the Sonne lest be be angry and yee perish from the right way Fourthly If we would bee constant in Gods service we must labour for a sound and an honest heart It is onely the good and the honest heart that holdeth out and bringeth forth fruit with patience Luk. 8. 15. Behold thou desirest truth in the inward affections saith David Psalme 51. 6. Because the Lord knoweth such an heart will be constant A little before the Apostle â—hewing the danger of backsliding and inconstancy in GODS service hee prescribeth this as it were a remedy to prevent that danger Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw nigh â—o God with a true heart c. Such an heart will make a man constant and firme â—ndeed therefore saith David Psaâ— 119. â—0 Let my heart be sound in thy staâ—utes â—hat I be not ashamed A true ridden horse will hold out to the end of the journey but a tainted jade will faint at last This made the Israelites so fickle and inconstant in Gods service Psalme 78. 34. When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early afteâ— God Was not this well Yea so farre as man could judge it was excellent that they should so readily returne to him that smote them and so indeed it had beene if it had come form the heart but alasâ— there they failed Ver. 36. Neverthelesse they did but flatter him with their mouth and lyed unto him with their tongue for their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his covenant This was abominable So that if wee would bee constant in GODS service wee must see that our hearts bee sound and upright else they will start aside like a broken or a deceitfull bow verse 57. Fifthly If we would bee constant in the maine duties of Gods worship and service we must take heed that wee take not liberty wilfully to offend in lesser matters I know speciall respect must bee had to the maine duties of Religion and the weighty things of the Law Matth. 23. 23 but yet we must take heede of taking liberty to offend in smaller matters againsâ— knowledge and conscience He that breaketh one of the least of Gods Commandements and teacheth men so the same shaâ— be called and accounted least in the kingdomâ— of heaven saith our Saviour Matthew 5 19. How great a Scholler or how strict soever he may seeme to be in other things this will lessen them in the hearts of Gods people Yea and he that at first taketh liberty wilfully to offend in trifles will at last fall away in greater matters First petty oathes then greater c. It is an excellent place to this purpose and excellently urged by a late Divine in this case Gal. 1. 7. There be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospell of Christ No might they say they retained the Gospell onely they would have brought in a Iewish riâ—e or two Circumcision which was a thing of nothing What saith the Apostle to these Galathians 2. 5. To whom we gave place by subjection no not for an houre Not for an houre Why Paul what hurt can there be in a circumstance a Ceremony or a trifle Yes if it bee urged as necessary to salvation it would soone
bodies washed with cleane water c. But how shall we come to be assured that we doe so That you shall see Ver. 24. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and unto good workes c. Yea but what good worke are we principally to bring others unto Surely to frequent the Church assemblies v. 25. Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is So that you see we have great warrant for this Yea we must needs doe it necessitie is layd upon us and woe be unto us if we doe it not It is the voyce of a Cain Am I my Brothers keeper Gen. 4. Art thou not bound to love thy neighbour as thy selfe But I will tell thee that thou doest not love but hate him in thy heart if thou suffer him to goe on in any sinfull way and doe not doe thy best endeavour to convert him See an evident place for this purpose in Levit. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart Yea it is the second maine dutie of the Law Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe But it may be thou art readie to say Alas I doe not hate him but wish him well and love him as my selfe I doe not trouble him nor make nor meddle with him c. Nay but this is not enough thou mayest hate him in thy heart notwithstanding all this if thou goe no farther and therefore see what followeth Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sinne upon him else thou doest but hate him in thy heart So that if we see our brother neglect the Church assembles or heare him sweare and blaspheme the Name of God or live in any other sinne and doe not plainely rebuke him thou doest not love thy brother but hate him in thy heart and art a murtherer in Gods account Hereby we testifie the truth of our love towards them especially thy familie and those that are committed to thy charge thou doest not love them truely but hate them in thy heart if thou neglect the good of their soules See the concurrent practise of such as have beene once truely converted themselves that their families have beene soone wrought on even immediately after Act. 16. 34. It is sayd of the converted Iayler that he beleeved in God with all his house And the like is sayd of others This was Abrahams care to instruct and reforme his familie Gen. 18. 19. I know Abraham that he will command his children servants to keepe the way of the Lord to doe judgement and justice i.e. I know Abraham will not be content to serve God himselfe alone but he will have a speciall care to see that his houshold doe so as well as he Yea this was the resolution and godly pietie of holy Ioshua Chap. 24. 14 15. Having reckoned up the singular varietie of Gods mercies towards them he endeavoureth hereupon to perswade all the people of God unto a religious obedience saying Ver. 14. Now therefore feare the Lord and serve him in uprightnesse and truth But then see ver 15. if he could not prevaile with all the rest yet he would be sure to prevaile with his owne familie he durst undertake for them As for me I and my house will serve the Lord. No man can have assurance that he is truely converted to God himselfe if he doe not put away iniquitie from his Tabernacle See Iob 22. 23. If thou returne to the Almightie thou shalt be built up thou shalt put away iniquitie from thy tabernacles Oh how this would quicken our desire and endeavour to reforme our familie if this was layd to heart and rightly considered this would make a man resolve with David not to keepe such servants in his familie as are prophane and irreligious Psal. 101. 4. A froward heart shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person Ver. 7. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my house and he that telleth liâ—s shall not tarry in my sight O therefore let us have a care not onely to serve God our selves but let us doe our best to perswade others especially let us have a care to reforme our families and put away iniquitie from our Tabernacle this is the way to bring the blessing of God both upon our selves and upon our families The power of Religion where it once cometh doth ever leave a blessing behinde it As the Arke of God brought a blessing with it to the house of O bed Edom 2 Sam. 6. 11. Yea if there be but one person in a familie that truely feareth God the whole familie and houshold shall fare the better for their sakes Thus God blessed Labans house for Jacobs sake as Laban himselfe confessed and therefore was lothe to part with him Gen. 30. 27. I pray thee tarry sayth he for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake And so the Lord blessed Putiphar's house for Ioseph's sake that idolatrous family sped a great deale the better for such a servant The Lord blessed the Aegyptians house for Ioseph's sake sayth the Text Gen. 39. 5. But how much more would it be a speciall meanes to bring Gods blessing upon our houses and families if all the whole familie would delight to spend time in GODS service and be religious Doubtlesse the Lord would make good that gracious promise Psal. 84. 11. That he will be Sunne and Shield unto them that he would give grace and glory and no good thing would hâ— withhold from such a familie c. Thus you see strong Motives and Arguments to perswade us not onely to serve God our selves but also to exhort and perswade our families to doe the like Here are the three first Motives CHAP. XIII Wherein the fourth Motive to the third and last Dutie is propounded and prosecuted FOurthly The last Motive to perswade us not onely to serve GOD our selves but also to perswade others thereunto is drawn from the consideration of the worth and excellency of the exercises of Religion especially the duties of his publike and solemne worship How can any of us spend our time better then in such holy and excellent performances It is even a little heaven upon earth to be so employed there have we the Word faithfully read preached both the Old and New Testament yea there we have the Ordinance of Catechising wherein we have milke for babes as well as meate for strong men But as touching the worth and excellency of this Ordinance I have already spoken Chap. 9. But besides the Ministery of the Word we have 1. the publike and solemne prayers and Lyturgie of our Church wherin all Gods people joyne together as one man in that solemne dutie and service 2. We have the holy and blessed Sacraments rightly and duely administred both Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord which were both of them clearely instituted by Christ himselfe and are