strength into her Isaiah 49. 5. My God shall bee my strength 3 It is comfort in case of death when beleevers dye they go to their Husband who would not bee willing to shoot the Gulf o◠death that they might meet with their Husband Christ Phi. 1. 23. I desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to loose Anchor and be with Christ what thoug◠the way be dirty seeing we are going to ou◠friend when a woman is contracted she longs for the day of marriage after th◠Saints funeral begins their marriage the body is ergastulum animae a Prison to the soul who would not desire to exchange a Priso◠for a Marriage bed How glad was Iosep◠to go out of Prison to the Kings court God is wise he lets us meet with changes an◠troubles here that he may we an us from the world and make us long for death when the soul is divorced from the body it is married to Christ. 4 It is comfort in case of passing the sentence at the day of Judgement There is a marriage union and O Christian thy Husband shall be thy Judge a Wife would not fear to bee cast at Bar if her Husband sat Judge what though the Devil bring in many indictments against thee Christ will expunge thy sins in his blood he will say shall I condemn my spouse O what a comfort is this the Husband is Judge Christ cannot pass the sentence against his spouse but hee must pass it against himself for Christ and beleevers are one 5 It is comfort in case of the Saints sufferings The Church of God is exposed in this life to many injuries but she hath an Husband in heaven that is mindeful of her and will turn her waters into wine now it is a time of mourning with the Spouse because the Bride-groom is absent Mat. 9. 15. But shortly she shall put off her mourning Christ will wipe off the tears of blood from the cheeks of his Spouse Isa. 25. 8. The Lord God will wipe off tears from off all faces Christ will comfort his spouse after the time wherein she hath been afflicted he will solace her with his love he will take away the cup of trembling and give her the cup of consolation and now she shall forget all her sorrows being called into the banqueting house of heaven and having the banner of Christs love displayed over her 5. Let me press several duties upon such as have this Marriage-Union with Christ. 1. Make use of this Relation in two cases 1. When the Law brings in its Indictments against you here are saith the Law so many debts to be paid and it demands satisfaction acknowledge the debt but turn over all to your Husband Christ 'T is a Maxim in Law that the suit must not go against the wife as long as the Husband is living Tell Satan when he accuseth thee 't is true the debt is mine but go to my Husband Christ he will discharge it Would we take this course we might ease our selves of much trouble by Faith we turn over the debt to our Husband Believers are not in a state of Widdow-hood but Marriage Satan will never go to Christ he knows Justice is satisfied and the Debt-book cancell'd but he comes to us for the debt that he may perplex us we should send him to Christ and then all Law-suits would cease This is a believers Triumph when he is in himself guilty in Christ he is worthy when he is spotted in himself he is pure in his head 2. In case of desertion Christ may for ends best known to himself step aside for a time Cant. 5. 6. My beloved had withdrawn himself say not therefore Christ is quite gone 'T is a fruit of jealousie in a Wife when her Husband hath left her a while to think he is quite gone from her Upon every removal out of sight for us to say as Sion The Lord hath forsaken me Isa. 49. 14. This is jealousie and it is a wrong done to the love of Christ and the sweetness of this Marriage-Relation Christ may forsake his Spouse in regard of comfort but he will not forsake her in regard of union An Husband may be a thousand miles distant from his Wife but still he is an Husband Christ may leave his Spouse but still the Marriage Knot holds 2. Love your Husband Christ Cant. 2. 5. love him though he be reproached and persecuted A Wife loves her Husband when in prison To inflame your love towards Christ consider 1. Nothing else is fit for you to love If Christ be your Husband it is not fit to have other Lovers that would make Christ grow jealous 2. He is worthy of your love he is of unparallel'd beauty Cant. 5. 10. altogether lovely 3. How pregnant is Christs love towards you he loves you in your worst condition he loves you in affliction The Goldsmith loves his gold in the Furnace he loves you notwithstanding your scars and blemishes The Saints infirmities cannot wholly take off Christs love from them Ier. 3. 1. Oh then how should the Spouse be endeared in her love to Christ This will be the excellency of Heaven our love will then be as the Sun in its full strength 3. Rejoyce in your Husband Christ hath Christ honoured you to take you into the Marriage-Relation and make you one with himself this calls for joy By virtue of the Union believers go sharers with Christ in his riches It was a custome among the Romans when the Wife was brought home she received the Keys of her husbands house intimating that the treasure and custody of the house was now committed to her When Christ shall bring his Bride home to those glorious Mansions which he is gone before to Prepare for her Iohn 14. 2. He will deliver up the keys of his treasure to her and she shall be as rich as heaven can make her and shall not the Spouse rejoyce and sing aloud upon her bed Psal. 149. 5. Christians let the times be never so sad you may rejoyce in your spiritual Espousals Hab. 3. 17. Let me tell you it is a sin not to rejoyce you disparage your Husband Christ. When a wife is always sighing and weeping what will others say This woman hath a bad husband Is this the fruit of Christs love to you to reflect dishonor upon him A melancholly spouse sads Christs heart I deny not but a Christian should grieve for sins of daily incursion but to be always weeping as if he mourned without hope is dishonourable to the Marriage-Relation Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce in the Lord always Rejoycing doth credit your husband Christ loves a chearful Bride and indeed the very end of Gods making us sad is to make us rejoyce we sow in tears that we may reap in joy The excessive sadness and contristation of the godly will make others afraid to imbrace Christ they will begin to question whether there be that satisfactory joy in Religion
THE Godly Mans Picture Drawn with a Scripture-Pensil OR Some Characteristical Notes of a Man that shall go to Heaven By THOMAS WATSON Minister of the GOSPEL But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for himself Psalm 4. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clâ—m Alex. LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the three Crowns over against the great Conduâ—t at the lower end of Cheap-side 1666. To the Reader Christian Reader THe Soul being so precious and Salvation so glorious it is the highest point of Prudence to make preparations for another world That there is an Inheritance in Light 〈◊〉 beyond all dispute and that there must be an Idoneity and meetness for it 〈◊〉 in Sacred Writ most strenuously asâ—â—rted If any shall ask who shall â—scend into the hill of the Lord The â—nswer is He that hath clean hands 〈◊〉 a pure heart To describe such 〈◊〉 person is the work of this ensuing â—â—reatise Here you have the godly â—ans Effigies and see him pourtrayed 〈◊〉 his full Lineaments What a rare â—â—ing is godliness 't is not airy and flatulent but solid and such as will take up the heart and spirits Godliness consists in an exact harmony between holy Principles and Practises 〈◊〉 that all into whose hands this Book shall providentially come may be 〈◊〉 enamoured with Piety as to fall 〈◊〉 the hearty imbracing of it So sublimâ— is Godliness that it cannot be delâ—â—neated in its perfect radiancy and lustre though an Angel should take 〈◊〉 Pensil Godliness is our wisdomâ— Job 28. 28. The fear of the Lord thâ—â— is wisdome Policy without Piety profound madness Godliness is a Spâ—ritual Queen which whosoever Maâ—ries is sure of a large Dowry with 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness hath the prâ—mise of the life that now is and that which is to come Godliness givâ— assurance yea holy triumph in Goâ— and how sweet is that It was 〈◊〉 Latimers Speech when sometimes I sit alone and have a setled assurance of the state of my Soul and know that God is my God I can laugh at all troubles and nothing can daunt me Godliness puts a man in heaven before his time Christian aspire after Piety it is a lawful Ambition Look upon the Saints Characters here and never leave till thou hast gotten them instamped upon thy own Soul This is the grand business that should swallow up your time and thoughts Other Speculations and Quaint Notions are nothing to the Soul They are like Wafers which have fine works printed upon them and are curiously damasked to the eye but are thin and yield little nourishment But I will not stay you longer in the Porch should I have inlarged upon any one Character of the Godly Man it would have required a Volume but designing to go over many I have contracted my Sails and given you only a brief Summary of things If this Piece how indigested soever may conduce to the good of Souls I have my Option which that the God of Grace will effectually accomplish shall be the Prayer of him who is Thine in all Christian affection Thomas Watson Feb. 26. 1666. THE Character of a Godly Man drawn with a SCRIPTURE-PENSIL PSAL. 32. 6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee CHAP. I. Containing the Preface or Introduction HOly David in the front of this Psalm shews us wherein true happiness consists not in beauty honour riches the Worlds Trinity but in the forgiveness of sin Vers. 1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven The Hebrew word to forgive signifies to carry out of sight which well agrees with that Ierem. 50. 20. In those dayes saith the Lord the sins of Judah shall be sought for and they shall not be found This is an incomprehensible blessing and such as layes a foundation for all other mercies I shall but glance at it and lay down these five Assertions about it 1. Forgiveness of sin is an act of Gods Free Grace The Greek word to forgive deciphers the Original of pardon it ariseth not from any thing inherent in us but is the pure result of Free Grace Isa. 43. 25. I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake When a Creditor forgives a Debtor he doth it freely Pardon of sin is a fine thread spun out of the bowels of Free Grace Paul cries out I obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was be-mercied he who is pardoned is all bestrewed with mercy When the Lord pardons a sinner he doth not pay a Debt but give a Legacy 2. God in forgiving sin remits the guilt and penalty Guilt cries for justice no sooner had Adam eaten the Apple but he saw the flaming sword and heard the Curse but in remission God doth indulge the sinner he seems to say thus to him Though thou art fallen into the hands of my Justice and deservest to die yet I will absolve thee and whatever is charged upon thee shall be discharged 3. Forgiveness of sin is through the blood of Christ. Free grace is the impulsive cause Christs blood is the meritorious Heb. 9. 22 Without shedding of blood is no remission Justice would be revenged either on the sinner or the surety Every pardon is the price of blood 4. Before sin is forgiven it must be repented of Therefore repentance and remission are linked together Luk. 24. 47. That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name Not that repentance doth in a Popish sense merit forgiveness Christs blood must wash our Tears but repentance is a qualification though not a cause He who is humbled for sin will the more value pardoning mercy When there is nothing in the soul but clouds of sorrow and now God brings a pardon which is a setting up a Rainbow in the Cloud to tell the sinner that the flood of wrath shall not overflow him O what joy is there at the sight of this Rainbow The soul that before was steeped in tears now melts in love to God Luk. 7. 38. 47. 5. God having forgiven sin he will call it no more into remembrance Ier. 31. 34. the Lord will make an act of Indempnity he will not upbraid us with former unkindnesses or sue us with a cancelled Bond. Micah 7. 19. he will cast our sins into the depth of the sea Sin shall not be cast in as Cork which riseth up again but as Lead which sinks to the bottom How should we all labour for this Covenant-blessing 1. How sad is it to want it It must needs be ill with the Malefactor who wants his pardon all the Curses of God stand in full force against the unpardoned sinner his very blessings are cursed Mal. 2. 2. Caesar wondred at one of his Souldiers that was so merry when he was in debt Can the sinner be merry who is heir to all Gods Curses and knows not how soon he may take up his Lodgings
godly man loves the Word written Chrysostom compares the Scripture to a garden set with knots and flowers A godly man delights to walk in this garden and sweetly solace himself he loves every branch and parcel of the Word 1. He loves the counselling part of the Word as it is a Directory and Rule of life The Word is the Mercurial Statue which points us to our duty it contains in it credendae and facâ—enda things to be believed and practised A godly man loves the Aphorismes of the Word 2. A godly man loves the Minatory part of the Word The Scripture like the Garden of Eden as it hath a Tree of Life in it so it hath a Flaming Sword at the Gates of it this is the threatning of the Word it flasheth fire in the face of every person that goes on obstinately in wickedness Psal. 68. 21. God shall wound the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses The Word gives no indulgence to evil it will not let a man halt between God and Sin The true Mother would not let the Childe be divided and God will not have the heart divided The Word thunders out threatnings against the very appearance of evil it is like that flying Roll full of curses Zac. 5. 1. A godly man loves the menaces of the Word he knows there is love in every threatning God would not have us perish therefore doth mercifully threaten us that he may scare us from sin Gods threatnings are as the Sea-mark which shows the Rocks in the Sea and threatneth death to such as come neer the threatning is a curbing bit to check us that we may not run in a full careir to hell there is mercy in every threatning 3. A godly man loves the consolatory part of the Word the Promises he goes feeding upon these as Sampson went on his way eating the honey-comb Iudg. 14. 8. The Promises are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all marrow and sweetness they are our Bezar-stone when we are fainting they are the conduits of the Water of Life Psal. 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my Soul The Promises were Davids Harp to drive away sad thoughts they were the breast which milked out Divine Consolation to him A godly man shows his love to the Word written 1. By diligent reading of it The Noble Bereans did search the Scriptures daily Act. 17. 11. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures Act. 18. 24. The Word is our Magna Charta for heaven we should be daily reading over this Charter The Word is index sui obliqui it shows what is truth and what is error it is the field where the Pearl of Price is hid How should we dig for this Pearl A godly mans heart is the Library to hold the Word of God it dwells richly in him Col. 3. 16. It is reported of Melancthon that when he was young he carried the Bible always about him and did greedily read in it The Word hath a double work to teach us and to judge us They that will not be taught by the Word shall be judged by the Word Oh let us make the Scripture familiar to us What if it should be as in the â—imes of Dioclesian who commanded by Proclamation the Bible to be burned or as in Queen Maries daies wherein it was death to have a Bible in English by diligent conversing with Scripture we may carry a Bible in our head 2. A godly man shows his love to the Word by frequent meditating in it Psalm 119. 97. It is my meditation all the day A pious Soul meditates of the Verity and Sanctity of the Word he hath not only a few transient thoughts but lays his mind a steeping in the Scripture by meditation he suckâ— from this sweet flower and concocts holy truths in his mind 3. He shows his love to the Word by delighting in it it is his recreation Ier. 15. 16. Thy wordâ— were found and I did eat them and thy Word waâ— unto me the Ioy and rejoycing of my heart Never did a man take such delight in a dish that he loved as the Prophet did in the Word And indeed how can a Saint chuse but take great complacency in the Word because all that ever he hopes to be worth is contained in it Doth not a son take pleasure in reading over his Fathers Will and Testament where he makes a conveyance of his Estate to him 4. He shows his love to the Word by hiding it Psal. 119. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my heart As one hides a treasure that it should not be stoln away The Word is the Jewel the heart is the Cabinet where it must be locked up Many hide the Word in their memory but not in their heart And why would David inclose the Word in his heart That I might be kept from sinning against thee As one would carry an Antidote about him when he comes neer an infected place so a godly man carries the Word in his heart as a spiritual antidote to preserve him from the infection of sin Why have so many been poysoned with error others with moral vice but because they have not hid the Word as an holy antidote in their heart 5. He shows his love to the Word by desending it A wise man will not let his Land be taken from him but will defend his Title David looked upon the Word as his Land of Inheritance Psal. 119. 111. Thy Testimonies have I taken as an Heritage for ever And do you think he would let his Inheritance be wrested out of his hands A godly man will not only dispute for the Word but die for it Rev. 6. 9. I saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God 6. He shows his love to the Word by preferring it above things most precious 1. Above food Iob 23. 12. I have â—esteemed the words of his mouth above my necessary food â— Above riches Psal. 119. 72. The Law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver 3. Above worldly honor Memorable is the story of King Edward the Sixth who upon the day of his Coronation when they presented before him three Swords signifying to him that he was Monarch of three Kingdomes the King said there is yet one Sword wanting being asked what that was he answered the Holy Bible which is the sword of the Spirit and is to be preferred before these Ensigns of Royalty 7. He shows his love to the Word by talking of it Psal. 119. 172. My tongue shall speak of thy Word As a covetous man is talking of his rich purchase so a godly man is speaking of the Word what a treasure it is how full of beauty and suavity they whose mouths the Devil hath gagg'd who never speak of Gods Word it is a sign they never reaped any good by it 8. He shows his
allow himself in rash censuring Some think this a small matter they will not swear but they will slander this is very evil thou woundest a man in that which is dearest to him He who is godly turns all his censures upon himself he judgeth himself for his own sins but is very chary and tender of the good name of another Use. As you would be numbred among the Genealogies of the Saints do not indulge your selves in any sin consider the mischief that one sin lived in will do 1. One sin gives Satan as much advantage against thee as more The Fowler can hold the Bird by one wing Satan held Iudas fast by one sin 2. One sin lived in argues the heart is not sound he who hides one Rebel in his house is a Traytor to the Crown that person who indulgeth one sin is a trayterous hypocrite 3. One sin will make way for more as a little Thief can open the door to more Sin is linked and chained together one sin will draw on more Davids adultery made way for murder One sin never goes alone if there be but one Nest-egg the Devil can brood upon it 4. One sin is as well a breach of Gods Law as more Iam. 2. 10. He that shall offend in one point is guilty of all If the King make a Law against Felony Treason Murder if a man be guilty but of one of these he is as well a Transgressor of the Law as if he were guilty of all 5. One sin lived in keeps out Christ from entring one stone in the Pipe keeps out the water one sin indulg'd obstructs the soul and keeps the streams of Christs Bloud from running into it 6. One sin lived in will spoil all thy good duties A drop of poyson will spoil a glass of Wine Abimeleck a Bastard destroyed threescore and ten of his Brethren Iudg. 9. 5. One Bastard-sin will destroy threescore and ten prayers One dead fly will corrupt the box of oyntment 7. One sin lived in will be a Canker-worm to eat out the peace of Conscience it takes away the Manna out of the Ark and leaves only a Rod. Eheu quis intus scorpio One sin is a Pyrate to rob a Christian of his comfort one jarring string brings all the Musick out of tune one sin countenanced will spoil the Musick of Conscience 8. One sin allowed will damn as well as more one disease is enough to kill If a Fence be made never so strong leave open but one gap the wilde Beast may enter and tread down the corn If there be but one sin allowed in the soul you set open a gap for the Devil to enter 'T is a simile of Chrysostom a Souldier that hath his Head-piece on and Breast-plate if in but one place he wants Armour the bullet may enter there and he may as well be shot as if he had no Armour on So if thou favourest but one sin thou leavest a part of thy soul unarmed and the Bullet of Gods Wrath may enter there and â—hoot thee One sin may shut thee out of heaven and as Hierom faith What difference is there in being shut out for more sins or for one Therefore take heed of cherishâ—ng one sin One Milstone will sink a man into the Sea as well as an hundred 9. One sin harboured in the soul will unfit for suffering How soon may an hour of Tryal come he who hath an hurt in his shoulder cannot carry an heavy burden and he who hath any guilt in his Conscience cannot carry the Cross of Christ Will he deny his life for Christ that cannot deny his lust for Christ One sin in the soul unmortified will bring forth the bitter fruit of Apostasie Would you then show your selves godly give a Bill of Divorce to every sin kill the Goliah-sin Rom. 6. 12. Let not sin reign In the Original it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let not sin King it over you Grace and Sin may be together but Grace and the love of Sin cannot Therefore parley with sin no longer but with the Spear of Mortification let out the heart-bloud of every sin SECT XX. 20. A godly man is good in his Relations To be good in general is not enough but we must show forth Piety in our Relations 1. He is godly who is good as a Magistrate The Magistrate is Gods Representative a godly Magistrate holds the ballance of Justice and gives to every one his right Deut. 16. 19. Thou shalt not respect persons neither take a gift for a gift doth blind the eyes A Magistrate must judge the Cause not the person He who suffers himself to be corrupted with bribes is not a Iudge but a Party A Magistrate must do that which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to Law Act. 23. 3. And that he may do Justice he must examine the Cause Tâ—e Archer that will shoot right must first see the mark 2. He is godly who is good as a Minister A Minister must be 1. Painful 2 Tim. 4. 1 2. Preach the Word be instant in season out of season The Minister must not be idle sloath is as inexcusable in a Minister as sleep in a Centinel Iohn Baptist was a voice crying Mat. 3. 3. A dumb Minister is of no more use than a dead Physitian A man of God must work in the Lords Vineyard It was Austins wish that Christ might find him at his coming either praying or preaching 2. A Minister must be knowing Mal. 2. 7. The Priests lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth It was said in the honour of Nazianzene that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Ocean of Divinity The Prophets of old were called Seers 1 Sam. 9. 9. 'T is absurd to have our Seers blind Christ said to Peter Feed my sheep Ioh. 21. 16. But how sad is it when the Shepherds need to be fed Ignorance in a Minister is like blindness in an Oculist Under the Law he who had the plague in his head was unclean Levit. 13. 44. 3. A Minister must preach plain suiting his matter and stile to the capacity of his Auditory 1 Cor. 14. 19. Some Ministers like Eagles love to soar aloft in abstruse Metaphyfical notions thinking they are most admired when they are least understood they who preach in the Clouds instead of hitting their peoples Conscience shoot over their heads 4 A Minister must be zealous in reprooving sin Tit. 1. 13. Rebuke them sharply Epiphanius saith of Eliah he sucked fire out of his Mother breasts a man of God must suck the fire of zeal out of the breasts of Scripture Zeal in a Minister is as proper as fire on the Altar some are afraid to reprove like the Sword-fish which hath a sword in his head but is without an heart so they carry the sword of the spirit about them but have no heart to draw it out in a reproof against sin
High Priest Heb. 2. 17. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmity every bruise of the soul goes to his heart none refuse Christ but such as do not know him He is nothing but love incarnated He himself was bruised to heal them that are bruised 3. See then what encouragement here is for Faith Had Christ said he would break the bruised reed then indeed there were ground for despair but when Christ saith he will not break a bruised reed this opens a door of hope for humble bruised souls Can we say we have been bruised for sin why do we not believe Why do we go drooping under our fears and discouragements as if there were no mercy for us Christ saith He will heal the broken in heart Psal. 147. 3. No saith Unbelief he will not heal me Christ saith he will cure the bruised soul No saith Unbelief he will kill it Unbelief as it makes our comforts void so it goes about to make the Word void as if all Gods Promises were but forgeries or like Blanks in a Lottery Hath the Lord said he will not break a bruised reed can Truth lie O what a sin is unbelief Some think it dreadful to be among the number of drunkards swearers whoremongers let me tell you it is no less dreadful to be among the number of Unbelievers Unbelief is worse than any other sin because it brings God into suspition with the Creature it robs him of the richest Jewel of his Crown and that is his truth 1 Ioh. 5. 10. He that believeth not hath made God a lyar Oh then let all humbled sinners go to Jesus Christ Christ was bruised with desertion to heal them who are bruised with sin If you can show Christ your sores and touch him by faith you shall be healed of all your soul-bruises Will not Christ break thee then do not undo thy self by despair Use 2. Will not Jesus Christ break a bruised reed then it reproves those who do what in them lies to break the bruised reed and they are such as go about to hinder the work of Conversion in others when they see them wounded and troubled for sin they dishearâ—en them telling them that Religion is a sowre melancholly thing they had better return to their former pleasures when an Arrow of Conviction is shot into their Conscience these pull it out again and will not suffer the work of Conviction to go forward Thus when the soul is almost bruised they hinder it from a thorow bruise This is for men to be Devils to others If to shed the bloud of another makes a man guilty what is it to damn anothers soul Use 3. This Text is a spiritual hony-comb dropping consolation into all bruised hearts as in the body when there is a Lipothimy or fainting of the vital spirits we apply cordials so when sinners are bruised for their sins I shall give them some cordial-water to revive them This text is comfortable to a poor soul who sits with Iob among the Ashes and is dejected in the sense of its unworthiness Ah! saith the soul I am unworthy of mercy what am I that ever God should look upon me those who have greater parts and Graces perhaps may obtain a look from God but alas I am unworthy doth thy unworthiness trouble thee what more unworthy than a bruised reed yet there is a promise made to that a bruised reed he will not break the promise is not made to the Fig-tree or Olive which are fertile plants but to the Bruised reed Though thou art despicable in thy own eyes a poor shattered reed yet thou mayest be glorious in the eyes of the Lord let not thy unworthiness discourage thee if thou seest thy self vile and Christ pretious this promise is thine Christ will not break thee but will binde up thy wounds Quest. But how shall I know that I am savingly bruised Answ. Did God ever bring thee upon thy knees hath thy proud heart been humbled didst thou ever see thy self a sinner and nothing but a sinner didst thou ever with a weeping eye look upon Christ and did those tears drop from the eye of faith This is a Gospel-bruising canst thou say Lord though I do not see thee yet I love thee though I am in the dark yet I cast Anchor this is to be a bruised reed Object 1 But I fear I am not bruised enough Answ. 'T is hard to prescribe a just measure of humiliation it is in the new birth as in the natural some bring forth with more pangs some with fewer but would you know when you are bruised enough when your spirit is so troubled that you are willing to let go those lusts which did bring in the greatest income of pleasure and delight when sin is not only discarded but disgusted then you have been bruised enough then the Physick is strong enough when it hath purged out the disease then the soul is bruised enough when the love of sin is purged out Object 2 But I fear I am not bruised as I should be I finde my heart so hard Answ. 1 Wee must distinguish between hardness of heart and an hardâ—heart the best heart may have some hardness but though there be some hardnesse in it it is not an hard heart denominations are from the better part if we come into a field that hath Tares and Wheat in it we do not call it a field of Tares but a Wheat-field so though there be hardnesse in the heart as well as softnesse yet God who judgeth by that part which is more excellent looks upon it as a soft heart 2 There is a great difference between the hardnesse in the godly and the wicked the one is natural the other is only accidental the hardnesse in a wicked man is like the hardnesse of a stone which is an innate continued hardnesse the hardnesse in a childe of God is like the hardnesse of Ice which is soon melted with the Sun-beams perhaps God hath at present withdrawn his spirit whereupon the heart is congeal'd as Ice but let Gods spirit as the Sun return and shine upon the heart now it hath a gracious thaw upon it and it melts in love 3 Dost not thou grieve under thy hardnesse thou sighest for want of groans thou weepest for want of tears the hard reed cannot weep if â—hou wert not a bruised reed all this moisture could not come from thee Object 3 But I am a barren reed I bring forth no fruit therefore I fear I shall bee broken Answ. Gracious hearts are apt to overlook the good that is in them they can spye the worm in the leaf but not the fruit Why dost thou say thou art barren if thou art a bruised reed thou art not barren The spiritual reed ingrafted into the true Vine is fruitful there is so much sap in Christ as makes all who are inoculated into him bear fruit Christ distils grace as drops of dew
grace shine in his soul and the next day his light put out in obscurity This would spill a Christians comfort and break asunder the golden Chain of Salvation but be assured O Christian he who hath begun a good work will ripen it into perfection Christ will send forth judgement unto victory he will make grace victorious over all opposite corruption If grace should finally perish what would become of the smoaking flax And how would that title properly be given to Christ Finisher of the Faith Object No question this is an undoubted priviledge to such as are smoaking flax and have the least beginnings of grace but I fear I am not smoaking flax I cannot see the light of grace in my self Answ. That I may comfort the smoaking flax why dost thou thus dispute against thy self What makes thee think thou hast no grace I believe thou hast more than thou wouldst be willing to part with thou valuest grace above the gold of Ophir How couldst thou see the worth and lustre of this Jewel if Gods Spirit had not opened thy eyes Thou wouldst fain believe and mournest that thou canst not believe are not these tears the Initials of Faith Thou desirest Christ and canst not be satisfied without him this beating of the pulse evidenceth life The iron could not move upward if the Loadstone did not draw it the heart could not ascend in holy breathings after God if some heavenly Loadstone had not been drawing it Christian canst thou say sin is thy burden Christ is thy delight and as Peter once said Lord thou knowest I love thee This is smoaking flax and the Lord will not quench it thy grace shall flourish into glory God will sooner extinguish the light of the Sun than extinguish the dawning light of his spirit in thy heart 2. Let a Christian pursue his duty There are two duties required of believers 1. Love 2. Labour 1. Love Will not the Lord quench the smoaking flax but make it at last victorious over all opposition how should the smoaking flax flame in love to God Psal. 31. 23. love the Lord all ye his Saints The Saints owe much to God and when they have nothing to pay it is hard if they cannot love him O ye Saints it is God who carries on grace progressively in your souls He is like a Father who gives his son a small stock of money to begin with and when he hath traded a little he adds more to the stock So God adds continually to your stock he is every day dropping oyl into the lamp of your grace and so keeps the lamp burning This may inflame your love to God who will not let the work of grace miscarry but will bring it to perfection The smoaking flax he will not quench How should Gods people long for heaven when it will be their constant work to breathe forth love and found forth praise 2. The second duty required of Christians is labour Some may think if Christ will not quench the smoaking flax but make it burn brighter to the Meridian of glory then we need take no pains but leave God to bring his own work about Take heed of drawing so bad a Conclusion from such good premises What I have spoken is to encourage Faith not to indulge sloath Do not think God will do our work for us and we sit still As God will blow up the spark of grace by his spirit so we must be blowing it up by holy endeavours God will not bring us to heaven sleeping but praying The Lord told Paul all in the Ship should come safe to shore but it must be in the use of means Act. 27. 21. Except ye abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved So the Saints shall certainly arrive at Salvation they shall come to shore at last but they must abide in the Ship in the use of Ordinances else they cannot be saved Christ assures his Disciples None shall pluck them out of his hand Ioh. 10. 28. But yet he gives that counsel Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Mat 26. 41. The seed of God shall not die but we must water it with our tears the smoaking flax shall not be quenched but we must blow it up with the breath of our endeavour The second comfort to the godly is that godliness advanceth them into a near and glorious union with Jesus Christ But of this in the next CHAP. XII Shewing the Mystical union between Christ and the Saints CANT 2. 16. My beloved is mine and I am his IN this Book of the Canticles we see the love of Christ and his Church running toward each other in a full torrent The Text contains three general Parts 1 A Symbol of affection my beloved 2 A term of appropriation is mine 3 An holy resignation I am his Doct. That there is a conjugal union between Christ and beleevers The Apostle having treated at large of marriage he windes up the whole chapter thus Eph. 5. 32. This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church what nearer than union what sweeter there is a twofold union with Christ 1 A natural union this all men have Christ having taken their nature upon him and not the Angels Heb. 2. 16. but if there be no more than this natural union it will give little comfort thousands are damned though Christ be united to their nature 2 There is a sacred union whereby we are mystically united to Christ the union with Christ is not personal if Christs essence were transfused into the person of a beleever then it would follow that all which a beleever doth should merit But the union between Christ and a Saint is 1 Faederal my beloved is mine God the Father gives the bride God the Son receives the bride God the Holy ghost tyes the knot in marriage he knits our wills to Christ and Christs love to us 2 This union is vertual Christ unites himself to his spouse by his graces and influences Iohn 1. 16. Of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace Christ makes himself one with the spouse by conveying his Image and stamping the impress of his own holiness upon her This union with Christ may well be called mystical it is hard to describe the manner of it as it is hard to shew the manner how the soul is united to the body so how Christ is united to the soul but though this union be spiritual it is real Things in nature work often insensibly yet really Eccles. 11. 5. we do not see the hand move on the Dial yet it moves the Sun exhales and draws up the vapours of the earth insensibly yet really so the union between Christ and the soul though it be imperceptible to the eye of reason yet is real 1 Cor. 6. 17. Before this union with Christ there must be a separation the heart must be separated from all other lovers as in marriage there is a leaving of
with my Love Christ. The Bird desires to be out of the Cage though it be hung with Pearl Such is the love a gracious Soulbears to God that many waters cannot quench it he loves a frowning God Though I am out of sign and clean forgot Let me not love thee if I love thee not A godly man loves God though he be reduced to straits A Mother and her Childe of nine years old being ready to perish with hunger the Childe looking upon its Mother said Mother do you think God will starve us No Childe said the Mother he will not The Childe replied But if he do we must love him and serve him Use. Let us try our godliness by this Touch-stone Do we love God Is he our Treasure and Center Can we with David call God our Ioy yea our exceeding Ioy Psal. 43. 4. Do we delight in drawing nigh to him and come before him with singing Psal. 100. 2. Do we love him for his Beauty more than his Iewels Do we love him when he seems not to love us If this be sign of a godly man how few will be found in the number Where is the man whose heart is dilated in love to God Many court him but few love him People are for the most part eaten up with self-love they love their ease their worldly profit their lusts but they have not a drop of love to God Did they love God would they be so willing to be rid of him Iob 21. 14. They say to the Almighty depart from us Did they love God would they tear his Name by their Oaths Doth he love his Father who shoots him to the heart Though they worship God they do not love him they are like the Souldiers that bowed the knee to Christ and mocked him Mat. 27. 29. He whose heart is a grave in which the love of God is buried deserves to have that Curse written upon his Tomb-stone 1 Cor. 16. ult Let him be Anathema Maranatha A Soul void of Divine Love is a temper that best suits with damned spirits But I shall wave this and pass to the next SECT IV. 4. A godly man is like God he hath the same judgement with God he thinks of things as God doth he hath a God-like disposition he partakes of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. A godly man doth bear Gods Name and Image godliness is God-likeness 'T is one thing to profess God another thing to resemble him A godly man is like God in Holiness Holiness is the most orient Pearl of the King of Heavens Crown Exod. 15. 11. Glorious in Holiness Gods power makes him Mighty his mercy makes him lovely but his holiness makes him glorious The Holiness of God is the intrinsick purity of his Nature and his abhorrency of sin A godly man bears some kind of Analogy with God in this He hath the Holy Oil of Consecration upon him Psal. 106. 16. Aaron the Saint of the Lord. Holiness is the Badge and Livery of Christs people Isa. 63. 18. The people of thy Holiness The godly are as well an Holy as a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. 9. Nor have they only a Frontispiece of holiness like the Egyptian Temples which were fair without but they are like Solomons Temple which had gold within they have written upon their heart Holiness to the Lord The holiness of the Saints consists in their conformity to Gods Will which is the rule and patern of all Holiness Holiness is a mans glory Aaron put on garments for glory and beauty Exod. 28. 2. So when a person is invested with the embroidered garment of Holiness it is for glory and beauty The goodness of a Christian lies in his Holiness as the goodness of the Air lies in the clearness of it the worth of gold in the pureness Quest. Wherein do the godly discover their holiness Answ. 1. In hating the garment spotted by the flesh Iude 3. The godly do set themselves against evil both in purpose and practise they are fearful of that which looks like sin 1 Thes. 5. 22. The appearance of evil may prejudice a weak Christian If it doth not defile a mans own Conscience it may offend his Brothers Conscience and to sin against him is to sin against Christ 1 Cor. 8. 12. A godly man will not go as far as he may least he go further than he should he will not swallow down all that others bribed with preferment may plead for 'T is easie to put a golden colour upon a rotten stuff 2. The godly discover their holiness in being Advocates for Holiness Psal. 119. 46. I will speak of thy Testimonies before Kings and will not be ashamed When Piety is calumniated in the world the Saints will stand up in the defence of it they will wipe off the dust of a reproach from the face of Religion Holiness defends the godly and they will defend Holiness it defends them from danger and they will defend it from disgrace Use 1. How can those be reputed godly who are unlike God they have nothing of God in them not one shread of holiness They call themselves Christians but blot out the word holiness you may as well call it day at midnight So impudent are some that they boast they are none of the holy ones Is it not the Spirit of Holiness which marks the sheep of Christ from the goats Eph. 1. 13. Ye were sealed or marked with the Holy Spirit And is it a matter for men to boast of that they have none of the Spirits ear-mark upon them Doth not the Apostle say that without holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Such as bless themselves in their unholiness had best go ring the Bells for joy that they shall never see God Others there are that hate holiness sin and holiness never meet but they fight holiness dischargeth its fire of zeal against sin and sin spits its venom of malice at holiness Many pretend to love Christ as a Saviour but hate him as he is the Holy One Act. 3. 14. Use 2. Let us labour to be like God in holiness 1. This is Gods great design he drives on in the world 't is the end of the Word preached the silver drops of the Sanctuary are to water the seed of grace and make a crop of holiness spring up What use is there of the Promises but to bribe us to holiness What are all Gods Providential Dispensations but to excite holiness As the Lord makes use of all the seasons of the year frost and heat to bring on the harvest so all prosperous and adverse providences are for the promoting the work of holiness in the soul. What is the end of the mission of the spirit but to make the heart holy When the ayr is unwholesome by reason of foggy vapours the wind is a fan to winnow and purifie the ayr so the blowing of Gods Spirit upon the heart is
their Dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season So though the Dominion of sin is taken away yet the life of it is prolonged for a season and while sin lives it molests The Persians were daily Enemies to the Râ—mans and would be invading upon their frontiers So sin wars against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. And no cessation of arms till death will not this cause tears 3. A Childe of God weeps that he is sometimes overcome by the prevalency of Corruption Rom. 7. 19. The evil I would not that do I. Paul was like a man carried down the stream How oft is a Saint overpowred with pride and passion When David had sinned he steeped his Soul in the brinish tears of Repentance It cannot but grieve a regenerate person to think he should be so foolish as after he hath felt the smart of sin yet to put this fire in his bosom again 4. A godly heart grieves that he can be no more holy it troubles him that he shoots so short of the Rule and Standard which God hath set I should faith he love the Lord with all my heart But how defective is my love how far short do I come of what I should be nay of what I might have been What can I see in my life but either blanks or blots 5. A godly man weeps sometimes out of the sense of Gods love Gold is the finest and most solid of all the metals yet is soonest melted with the fire Gracious hearts which are golden hearts are the soonest melted into tears by the fire of Gods love I once knew an holy man who walking in his garden and shedding plenty of tears a friend coming to him accidentally asked him why he wept He brake forth into this pathetical expression O the love of Christ the love of Christ Thus have we seen the Cloud melted into water by the Sun-beams 6. A godly person weeps because the sins he commits are in some sense worse than the sins of other men the sin of a justified person is very odious 1. Because he acts contrary to his own principles he doth not only sin against the Rule but against his Principles against his knowledge vows prayers hopes experiences He knows how dear sin will cost him yet he adventures upon the forbidden fruit 2. The sin of a Justified person is odious because it is a sin of unkindness 2 King 11. 9. Peters denying of Christ was a sin against love Christ had enrolled him among the Apostles he had taken him up into the Mount of Transfiguration and showed him the glory of Heaven in a Vision yet after all this signal Mercy that he should deny Christ it was high ingratitude This made him go out and weep bitterly Mat. 26. 75. He baptized himself as it were in his own tears The sins of the godly go neerest to Gods Heart Others sins anger God these grieve him The sins of the wicked pierce Christ sides the sins of the godly wound his heart the unkindness of a Spouse goes neerest the heart of her Husband 3. The sin of a Justified person is odious because it reflects more dishonor upon God 2 Sam. 12. 14. By this deed thou hast given occasion to the Enemies of the Lord to blaspheme The sins of Gods people put black spots in the face of Religion Thus we see what cause there is why a Childe of God should weep even after Conversion Quis talia fando temperet à lachrymis Now this sorrow of a godly man for sin is not a despairing sorrow he doth not mourn without hope Psal. 65. 3. Iniquities prevail against me There is the Holy Soul weeping as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away There is Faith triumphing Divine sorrow is excellent There is as much difference between the sorrow of a godly man and a wicked as between the water of a Spring which is clear and sweet and the water of the Sea which is salt and brackish A godly mans sorrow hath these three qualifications 1. It is internal it is a sorrow of Soul hypocrites disfigure their faces Mat. 6. 16. godly sorrow goes deep it is a pricking at the heart Acts 2. 37. True sorrow is a spiritual Martyrdome therefore called Soul-affliction Lev. 23. 29. 2. Godly sorrow is ingenuous it is more for the evil that is in sin than the evil which follows after it is more for the spot than the sting Hypocrites weep for sin only as it brings affliction I have read of a Fountain that never sends out streams but the Evening before a Famine Hypocrites never send forth the streams of their tears but when Gods Judgements are approaching 3. Godly sorrow is influential it makes the heart better Eccles. 7. 3. By the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better Divine tears do not only wet but wash they purge out the love of sin Use 1. How far are they from being godly who scarce ever shed a tear for sin If they lose a neer Relation they weep but though they are in danger of losing God and their Souls they weep not How few know what it is to be in an Agony for sin or what a broken heart means their eyes are not like the Fish-pools of Heshbon full of water Cant. 7. 4. but rather like the Mountains of Gilboa which had no dew upon them 2 Sam. 1. 21. It was a greater plague for Pharaoh to have his heart turned into stone than to have his Rivers turned into bloud Others if they do sometimes shed a tear yet they are never the better they go on in wickedness and do not drown their sins in their tears Use 2. Let us labour for this Divine Character be weepers This is a repentance not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7. 10. 'T is reported of Mr. Bradford Martyr that he was of a melting spirit he seldome sate down to his meat but some tears trickled down his cheeks There are two Lavors to wash away sin Bloud and Tears The Bloud of Christ washeth away the guilt of sin tears wash away the filth repenting tears are precious God puts them in his bottle Psal. 56. 8. They are beautifying a tear in the eye doth more adorn than a Ring on the finger Oyl makes the face shine Psal. 104. 15. Tears make the heart shine tears are comforting a sinners mirth turns to melancholy a Saints mourning turns to musick Repentance may be compared to Myrrhe which though it be bitter to the taste it is comforting to the spirits Repentance may be bitter to the fleshy part but it is most refreshing to the spiritual Wax that melts is fit for the Seal a melting Soul is fit to take the stamp of all heavenly blessings Let us give Christ the water of our tears and he will give us the Wine of his Bloud SECT IX 9. A godly man is a lover of the Word Psal. 119. 97. O how love I thy Law 1. A
love to the Word by conforming to it the Word is his Sun-Dial by which he sets his life the balance in which he weighs his actions he copies out the Word in his daily walk 2 Tim. 4. 7. I have kept the Faith St. Paul kept the Doctrine of Faith and lived the life of Faith Quest Why is a godly man a lover of the Word Answ. 1. Because of the excellency of the Word 1. The word written is our pillar of fire to guide us It shows us what Rocks we are to avoid it is the card by which we sail to the new Hierusalem 2. The word is a Spiritual Optick Glass through which we may see our own hearts The Glass of Nature which the Heathen had discovered spots in their Conversation but this Glass discovers spots in the Imagination that Glass discovered the spots of their unrighteousness this discovers the spots of our righteousness Rom. 7. 9. When the Commandment came sin revived and I died when the word came as a Glass all my opinion of self-righteousness died 3. The word of God is a Soveraign comfort in distress while we follow this Cloud the Rock follows us Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickned me Christ is the Fountain of Living water the word is the Golden Pipe through which it runs what can revive at the hour of death but the Word of Life 2. A godly man loves the word because of the efficacy it hath had upon him this day-star hath risen in his heart and usher'd â—n the Sun of Righteousness 2. A godly man loves the Word Preached which is a Commentary upon the word written The Scriptures are the Soveraign oyls and balsoms the preaching of the word is the powring of them out The Scriptures are the precious spices the preaching of the word is the beating of these spices which causeth a wonderful fragrancy and delight The word preached is the Rod of Gods strength Psal. 110. 2. and the breath of his lips Isa. 11. 4. What was once said of the City Thebes that it was built by the sound of Amphius his Harp is much more true of Soul-Conversion it is built by the sound of the Gospel Harp therefore the preaching of the Word is called the power of God to Salvation 1 Cor. 1. 24. By this Christ is said now to speak to us from Heaven Heb. 12. 5. This Ministery of the word is to be preferred before the Ministry of Angels A godly man loves the word preached partly from the good he hath found by it he hath felt the dew fall with this Manna and partly because of Gods Institution the Lord hath appointed this Ordinance to save him the Kings Image makes the Coyn go currant the stamp of Divine Authority upon the word preached makes it an Engine conducible to mens Salvation Use. Let us try by this Character whether we are godly Are we lovers of the word 1. Do we love the word written What sums of money did the Martyrs give for a few leaves of the Bible Do we make the word our familiar As Moses had often the Rod of God in his hand so should we have the Book of God in our hand when we want direction do we consult with this sacred Oracle when we find corruptions strong do we make use of this Sword of the Spirit to hew them down when we are disconsolate do we go to this Aqua vitae bottle for comfort then we are lovers of the word But alas how can they say they love the Scriptures who are seldome conversant in them their eyes begin to be sore when they look upon a Bible The two Testaments are hung by like rusty Armour which is seldome or never made use of The Lord wrote the Law with his own finger but though God took pains to write men will not take pains to read they had rather look upon a pair of Cards then upon a Bible 2. Do we love the word preached Do we prize it in our judgements Do we receive it into our hearts Do we fear the loss of the word preached more than the loss of peace and trading Is it the removal of the Ark that troubles us Again do we attend the Word with Reverential Devotion when the Judge is giving his Charge upon the Bench all attend when the word is preached the great God is giving us his Charge do we listen to it as to a matter of life and death this is a good sign we love the word Again do we love the Sanctity of the word Psal. 119. 140. The word preached is to beat down sin and advance holiness Do we love it for its spirituality and purity Many love the word preached only for its eloquence and notion they come to a Sermon as to a Musick-lecture Ezek. 33. 31. or as to a garden to pick flowers but not to have their lusts subdued or their hearts bettered These are like a foolish woman which paints her face but neglects her health Again do we love the convictions of the word Do we love the word when it comes home to our Conscience and shoots its arrows of reproof at our sins 'T is the Ministers duty sometimes to reprove He that can give smooth words in the Pulpit but knows not how to reprove is like a sword with a fine hilt without an edge Titus 2. 15. Rebuke them sharply Dip the nail in oyl reprove in love but strike the nail home Now Christian when the word toucheth upon thy sin and saith Thou art the man dost thou love the reproof Canst thou bless God that the sword of the Spirit hath divided between thee and thy lusts This is indeed a sign of grace and shows thou art a lover of the word A corrupt heart loves the comforts of the word but not the reproofs Amos 5. 10. They hate him that rebuketh in the gate Igne micant oculi Like venomous creatures that upon the least touch spit poyson Act. 7. 54. When they heard these things they were cut to the heart and gnashed upon him with their teeth When Stephen touched them to the quick they were mad and could not endure it Quest. How shall we know that we love the reproofs of the word Ans. 1. When we desire to sit under an heart-searching Ministry who cares for Physick that will not work A godly man chuseth not to sit under such a Ministry as will not work upon his Conscience 2. When we pray that the word may meet with our sins if there be any traiterous lust got into our heart we would have it found out and Execution done upon it we would not have sin covered but cured we can open our breast to the bullet of the word and say Lord smite this sin 3. When we are thankful for a reproof Psa. 141. 5. Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness and let him reprove me it shall be an excellent oyl which
have his approbation who was the Judge and Umpire of the Race There is a time shortly coming when a smile from Gods face will be infinitely better than all the applauses of men How sweet will that word be Euge bone serve Well done thou good and faithful servant Mat. 25. 21. A godly man is ambitious of Gods Letters-Testimonial the hypocrite desires to carry it fair with men Saul was for the vogue of the people 1 Sam. 15. 30. A godly man approves his heart to God who is both the Spectator and the Judge 3. The godly man is ingenuous in laying open of his sins Psa. 32. 5. 1 confessed my sin to thee and my iniquity have I not hid The hypocrite doth vail and smother his sin he doth not abscindere peccatum but abscondere like a Patient that hath some loathsome disease in his body he will rather die than confess his disease But a godly mans sincerity is seen in this he will confess and shame himself for sin 2 Sam. 24. 17. Lo I have sinned and I have done wickedly Nay a Childe of God will confess sin in particular an unsound Christian will confess sin by wholesale he will acknowledge he is a sinner in general whereas David doth as it were point with his finger to the sore Psal. 51. 4. I have done this evil He doth not say I have done evil but this evil he points at his bloud-guiltiness 4. The godly man hath blessed designs in all he doth he propounds this end in every Ordinance that he may have more acquaintance with God and bring more glory to God as the herb Heliotropium turns about according to the motion of the Sun so a godly mans actions do all move towards the glory of God It is an axiom in Phylosophy The means are in order to the end A godly mans praying and worshipping is that he may honor God though he shoots short yet he takes a right aim the hypocrite minds nothing but self-interest the sails of his Mill move not but when the wind of preferment blows he never dives into the waters of the Sanctuary but to fetch up a piece of gold at the bottom 5. The godly man abhors dissimulation towards men his heart goes along with his tongue he cannot flatter and hate commend and censure Rom. 12. 9. Let love be without dissimulation Dissembled love is worse than hatred counterfeiting of friendship is no better than a lye for there is a pretence of that which is not Many are like Ioab 2 Sam. 20. 9. He took Amasa by the beard to kiss him and smote him with his sword in the fifth rib and he died Impia sub dulci melle venena latent There is a River in Spain where the fish seem to be of a golden colour but take them out of the water and they are like other fish All is not gold that glisters there are some pretend much kindness but they are like great veins which have little bloud if you lean upon them they are as a Leg out of joynt For my part I much question his truth towards God that will flatter and lie to his friend Pro. 10. 18. He that hideth hatred with lying lips is a fool By all that hath been said we may try whether we have this note of a godly man to be sincere Sincerity as I conceive is not properly â— grace but rather the ingredient into every grace Sincerity is that which doth qualifie grace and without which grace is not true Eph. 6. ult Grace be with them which love our Lord Iesus Christ in sincerity Sincerity qualifies our love sincerity is to grace as the bloud and spirits are to the body there can be no life without the bloud so no grace without sincerity Use. As we would be reputed godly let us labour for this Character of sincerity 1. Sincerity renders us lovely in Gods eyes God saith of the sincere soul as of Sion Psal. 132. 14. This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it A sincere heart is Gods Paradise of delight Noah found grace in Gods eyes Why what did God see in Noah he was girt with the girdle of sincerity Gen. 6. 9. Noah was perfect in his Generation Truth resembles God and when God sees a sincere heart he sees his own Image and he cannot chuse but fall in love with it Pro. 11. 20. He that is upright in his way is Gods delight 2. Sincerity makes our services find acceptance with God the Church of Philadelphia had but a little strength her grace was weak her services slender yet of all the Churches Christ wrote to he found the least fault with her What was the reason because she was most sincere Rev. 3. 8. Thou hast kept fast my word and hast not denied my Name Though we cannot pay God all we owe yet a little in currant Coyn is accepted God takes sincerity for full payment A little gold though rusty is better than Alchimy be it never so bright a little sincerity though rusted over with many infirmities is of more value with God than all the glorious flourishes of hypocrites 3. Sincerity is our safety false hearts that will step out of Gods way and use carnal policy when they think to be most safe they are least secure he that walketh purely walketh surely Pro. 10. 9. A sincere Christian will do nothing but what the word warrants and that is safe as to the Conscience Nay oftentimes such as are upright in their way the Lord takes care of their outward safety Psal. 4. I laid me down and slept David was now beleaguer'd with Enemies yet God did so incamp about him by his Providence that he could sleep securely as in a Garrison Ver. 5. The Lord sustained me The only way to be safe is to be sincere 4. Sincerity is Gospel perfection Iob 1. 8. Hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and an upright man Though a Christian be full of infirmities and like a Childe that is put out to Nurse weak and feeble yet God looks upon him as if he were compleatly righteous Every true Saint hath the Thummim of perfection upon his breast-plate 5. Sincerity is that which the Devil strikes most at Satans spite was not so much at Iobs Estate as his integrity he would have wrested the Shield of Sincerity from him but Iob held that fast Iob 27. 6. A Thief doth not fight for an empty purse but for money The devil would have robbed Iob of the Jewel of a good Conscience and then he had been poor Iob indeed Satan doth not oppose Profession but Sincerity Let men go to Church and make glorious pretences of holiness Satan doth not oppose this this doth him no hurt nor them no good but if men will be sincerely pious then Satan musters up all his forces against them Now that which
we are here we are complaining of our wants weeping over our sins but there we shall be praising God How will the Birds of Paradise chirp when they are in that Caelestial Country There the Morning Stars will sing together and all the Saints of God shout for joy O what should we aspire after but this Country above Such as have their eyes opened will see that it doth infinitely excel An ignorant man looks upon a Star and it appears to him as a little silver spot but the Astronomer who hath his Instrument to judge of the dimension of a Star knows it to be many degrees bigger than the earth So a natural man hears of the heavenly Country that it is very glorious but it is at a great distance and because he hath not a spirit of discerning the world looks bigger in his eye but such as are Spiritual Artists who have the Instrument of Faith to judge of Heaven will say it is far the better Country and thither will they hasten with the Sails of desire SECT XV. 15. A godly man is a zealous man grace turns a Saint into a Seraphim it makes him burn in holy zeal zeal is a mixed affection a compound of love and anger it carries forth our love to God and anger against sin in the most intense manner Zeal is the flame of the affections a godly man hath a double baptism of water and fire he is baptized with a spirit of zeal hee is zealous for Gods honour truth worship Psal. 119. 139. my zeal hath consumed me it was a crown set on Phineas his head hee was zealous for his God Numb 25. 13. Moses being touched with a coal from Gods altar in his zeal hee breaks the Tables Exod. 32. 19. our blessed Saviour in his zeal whips the buyers and sellers out of the Temple Ioh. 2. 17. the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up But there is a Praeternatural heat something looking like zeal which is not a Comet looks like a Star I shall therefore show some differences between a true and a false zeal 1 A false zeal is a blinde zeal Rom. 10. 2. They have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge this is not the fire of the spirit but wild-fire The Athenians were very devout and zealous but they knew not for what Acts 17. 23. I found an Altar with this Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the unknown God Thus the Papists are zealous in their way but they have taken away the key of knowledge 2 A false zeal is a self-seeking zeal Iehu cries come see my zeal for the Lord 2 King 10. 16. but it was not zeal but ambition he was fishing for a Crown Demetrius pleads for the Goddess Diana but it was not her Temple but her Silver shrines he was zealous for Such zealots Ignatius complains of in his time that they made a Trade of Christ and Religion thereby to enrich themselves 'T is probable many in King Henry the eights time were forward to pull down the Abbies not out of any zeal against Popery but that they might build their own houses upon the ruines of those Abbies like Eagles which fly aloft but their eyes are down upon their prey If blind zeal be punished seven fold hypocritical zeal shall bee punished seventy and seven fold 3 A false praeposterous zeal is a misguided zeal it runs out most in things which are not commanded It is the sign of an hypocrite to be zealous for traditions and careless of institutions The Pharisees were more zealous about washing of their cups than their hearts 4 A false zeal is fired with passion Iames and Iohn when they would call for fire from heaven were rebuked by our Saviour Luk. 9. 54. Yee know not what spirit yee are off it was not zeal but choller many have espoused the cause of Religion rather out of faction and humour than out of zeal to the truth But the zeal of a godly man is a true and holy zeal which evidenceth it self in the effects of it 1 True zeal cannot bear an injury done to God zeal makes the blood rise when Gods honour is impeached Rev. 2. 2. I know thy works and thy labour and patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil hee who zealously affects his friend cannot hear him spoken against and be silent 2 True zeal will encounter with the greatest difficulties when the world holds out a Gorgons head of danger to discourage us zeal casts out fear it is quickned by opposition Zeal doth not say there is a Lyon in the way zeal will charge through an Army of dangers it will march in the face of death Let news be brought to Paul that he was way-laid in every City bonds and imprisonment did abide him this sets a keener edge upon his zeal Acts 21. 13. I am ready not only to bee bound but to dye for the name of the Lord Iesus as sharp frosts do by an antiparistasis make the fire burn hotter so sharp oppositions do but inflame zeal the more 3 True zeal as it hath knowledge to go before it so it hath sanctity to follow after it Wisdome leads the van of zeal and holiness brings up the rear an hypocrite seems to be zealous but he is vitious the godly man is white and ruddy white in purity as well as ruddy in zeal Christs zeal was hotter than the fire and his holiness purer than the sun 4 Zeal that is genuine loves truth when it is despised and opposed Psal. 119. 126. They have made void thy law therefore I love thy commandements above gold the more others deride holiness the more we love it what is Religion the worse for others disgracing it doth a Diamond sparkle the less because a blinde man disparageth it the more outragious the wicked are against the truth the more couragious the godly are for it When Mical scoffed at Davids religious dancing before the Ark if saith he this be to be vile I will yet be more vile 2 Sam. 6. 22. 5 True zeal causeth fervency in duty Rom. 12. 11. fervent in spirit Zeal makes us hear with reverence pray with affection love with ardency God kindled Moses his sacrifice from heaven Lev. 9. 24. There came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed upon the Altar the burnt offering when we are zealous in devotion and our heart waxeth hot within us here is a fire from heaven kindling our sacrifice how odious is it for a man to be all fire when he is sinning and all yâ—e when he is praying A pious heart like water seething hot boils over in holy affections 6. True zeal is never out of breath though it be violent 't is perpetual no waters can quench the flame of zeal it is torrid in the frigid zone The heat of zeal is like the natural heat coming from the heart which lasts as long as life That zeal which is not constant was
God loves to bestow his mercies where there is the best Eccho of thankfulness 5 Thankfulness is a frame of heart God delights in if repentance bee the joy of heaven praise is the musick Bernard calls thankfulness the sweet Balm that drops from a Christian. Four Sacrifices God is much pleased with the sacrifice of Christs blood the sacrifice of a broken heart the sacrifice of Alms and the sacrifice of thanksgiving Praise and Thanksgiving saith Mr. Greenham is the most excellent part of Gods worship for this shall continue in the heavenly quire when all other exercises of Religion shall cease 6 What an horrid thing ingratitude is it gives a dye and tincture to every other sin and makes it Crimson ingratitude is the spirits of baseness Obad. v. 7. They that eat thy bread have laid a Wound under thee Ingratitude is worse than bruitish Isa. 1. 3. 'T is reported of Iulius Caesar that he would never forgive an ungrateful person though God be a sin-pardoning God he scarce knows not how to pardon for this Ier. 5. 7. How shall I pardon thee for this thy children have forsaken me when I had fed them to the full they then committed adultery Draco whose Laws were written in blood published and edict that if any man had received a benefit from another and it could bee proved against him that hee had not been grateful for it hee should be put to death an unthankful person is a monster in nature a Pardox in Christianity he is the scorn of heaven and the plague of earth an ungrateful man never doth well but in one thing that is when hee dies 7 The not being thankful is the cause of all the Judgements which have lain upon us our unthankfulness for health hath been the cause of so much Mortality our Gospel-unthankful thankfulness and Sermon-surfeiting hath been the reason why God hath put so many Lights under a Bushel as Bradford said my unthankfulness was the death of King Edward the sixth Who will bestow cost on a peece of ground that brings forth nothing but briars unthankfulness stops the golden Vial of Gods bounty that it will not drop Quest. How shall we do to be thankful Answ. 1. If you would be thankful get an heart deeply humbled in the sense of your own vileness a broken heart is the best pipe to sound forth Gods praise hee who studies his sins wonders that he hath any thing and that God should shine upon such a dunghill 1 Tim. 1. 13. Who was before a Blasphemer and a Persecuter but I obtained mercy How thankful was he how did he Trumpet forth free-grace A proud man will never bee thankful he looks upon all his mercies to bee either of his own procuring or deserving if he hath an Estate this he hath gotten by his wit and industry not considering that Scripture Deut. 8. 18. Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is he that gives thee power to get Riches Pride stops the Current of gratitude O Christian think of thy unworthiness see thy self the least of Saints and the chief of Sinners and then thou wilt be thankful 2 Labour for sound evidences of Gods love to you read Gods love in the impress of holiness upon your hearts Gods love powred in will make the Vessels of Mercy run over with thankfulness Rev. 1. 5 6. Unto him that loved us be glory and dominion for ever The deepest Springs yeeld the sweetest water hearts deeply sensible of Gods love yeeld the sweetest praises SECT XVIII 18 A godly man is a lover of the Saints the best way to discern grace in ones self is to love grace in others 1 Ioh. 3. 14. Wee know we have passed from death to life because we love the Brethren What is religion but religation a knitting together of hearts Faith knits us to God and love knits us one to another There is a two-fold love to others 1 A civil love a godly man hath a love of civility to all Gen. 23. 7. Abraham stood up and bewed to the children of Heth Though they were extraneous and not within the pale of the Covenant yet Abraham was affable to them grace doth sweeten and refine nature 1 Pet. 3. 8. be courteous wee are to have a love of civility to all 1 As they are ex eodem luto of the same lump and mould with our selves and are a peece of Gods curious needle-work 2 Because our sweet deportment towards them may bee a means to win upon them and make them in love with the waies of God a morose ruggid carriage often alienates the hearts of others and hardens them the more against holiness whereas a loving behaviour is very obliging and may bee as a load-stone to draw them to religion 2 There is a pious and an holy love and this a godly man doth bear chiefly to them who are of the houshold of faith the other was a love of courtesie this of complacency Our love to the Saints saith Austin should bee more than to our natural relations because the bond of the spirit is nearer than that of blood This love to the Saints which evidenceth a man godly must have seven ingredients in it 1 Love to the Saints must bee sincere 1 Ioh. 3. 18. Let us not love in word or in tongue but in deed and in truth The hony that drops from the comb is pure so must love be pure without deceit Many are like Naphtali Gen. 49. 21. he giveth goodly words Pretended love is like a painted fire which hath no heat in it Some hide malice under a false veil of love I have read of Antoninus the Emperour where he made a shew of Friendship there he intended the most mischief 2 Love to the Saints must be spiritual we must love them because they are Saints not out of self-respects because they are affable or have been kinde to us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hesh but we must love them under a spiritual notion because of the good that is in them we are to reverence their holiness else it is a carnal love 3 Love to the Saints must be extensive we must love all that bear Gods image 1 Though they have many infirmities a Christian in this life is like a good face full of Freckles thou that canst not love another because of his imperfections didst never yet see thy own face in the glass thy brothers infirmities may make thee pity him his graces must make thee love him 2 Wee must love the Saints though in some things they do not coalesce and agree with us another Christian may differ from me in less matters either because hee hath more light than I or because hee hath lesse light if he differs from me because he hath more light then I have no reason to censure him if because hee hath less light than I ought to bear with him as the weaker Vessel in things of an indifferent nature
there ought to be Christian connivance 3 We must love the Saints though their graces out-vye and surpass ours we ought to bless God for the eminency of anothers grace because hereby religion is honoured Pride is not quite slain in a believer Saints themselves are apt to grudge and repine at each others excellencies is it not strange that the same person should hate one man for his sin and envy another for his vertue Christians had need look to their hearts then is love right and genuine when we can rejoyce in the graces of others though they seem to eclipse ours 4 Love to the Saints must be appretiating we must esteem their persons above others Psa. 15. 4. He honours them that fear the Lord we are to look upon the wicked as lumber but upon the Saints as jewels these must bee had in high veneration 5 Love to the Saints must bee Social wee should delight in their company Psal. 119. 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee 'T is a kind of hell to be in the company of the wicked where we cannot choose but hear Gods name dishonoured It was a capital crime to have carried the Image of Tiberius engraven upon a Ring or Coyn into any fordid place They who have the Image of God engraven upon them should not go into any sinful fordid company Never but two that I read of who were living did desire to keep company with the dead and they were possessed with the Devil what comfort can a living Christian have to converse with the dead Iude 2. but the society of Saints is eligible this is not to walk among the Tombs but among beds of spices Beleevers are Christs garden their graces are the flowers their savory discourse is the fragrant smell of these flowers 6 Love to the Saints must be demonstrative we should be ready to do all offices of love to them vindicate their names contribute to their necessities and like the good Samaritan pour Oyl and Wine into their wounds Luk. 0. 34. 35. Love cannot be concealed but is active in its sphere and will lay out it self for the good of others 7 Love to the Saints must be constant 1 Iohn 4. 16. He that dwelleth in love Our love must not only lodge for a night but we must dwell in love Heb. 13. 1. Let Brotherly love continue as love must bee sincere without hypocrisie so constant without deficiency love must be like the pulse alwaies beating not like those Galathians who at one time were ready to pull out their eyes for Paul Gal. 4. 15. and afterwards were ready to pluck out his eyes love should not expire but with our life and surely if our love to the Saints be thus divinely qualified we may hopefully conclude that we are enrolled among the godly Ioh. 13. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another That which induceth a godly man to love the Saints is because he is nearly related to them there ought to be love among relations there is a spiritual consanguinity among beleevers they have all one head therefore should all have one heart they are stones of the same building 1 Pet. 2. 5. and shall not these stones bee cemented together with Love Use 1. Is this the distinguishing Mark of a godly man to be a lover of the Saints then how sad is it to see this grace of love in an eclipse this Character of godliness is almost blotted out among Christians England was once a fair garden where the flower of love did grow but sure now this flower is either plucked or withered where is that amity and unity as should be among Christians I appeal to you would there bee that censuring and despising that reproaching and undermining one another if there were love instead of bitter Tears there are bitter spirits a sign iniquity abounds because the love of many waxeth cold there is that distance among some professours as if they had not received the same spirit or as if they did not hope for the same heaven In the Primitive times there was so much love among the godly as set the heathens a wondring and now there is so little as may set Christians a blushing Use 2 As we would be written down for Saints in Gods Kalender let us love the Brotherhood they who shall one day live together should love together what is it makes a disciple but love Iohn 13. 35. The Devil hath knowledge but that which makes him a Devil is that hee wants love To perswade Christians to love consider 1 The Saints have that in them which may make us love them they are the curious embroidery and workmanship of the Holy ghost Eph. 2. 10. they have those rare lineaments of grace as none but a pensil from heaven could draw their eyes sparkle forth beauty Cant. 4 9. their breasts are like clusters of grapes Cant 7. 7. This makes Christ himself delight in his spouse The King is held in the galleries The Church is the daughter of a Prince Cant. 7. 1. she is waited on by Angels Heb 1. ult she hath a Pallace of glory reserved for her Ioh. 14. 2. and may not all this draw forth our love 2 Consider how evil it is for the Saints not to love 1 It is Unnatural the Saints are Christs Lambs Ioh. 21. 15. for a dog to worry a Lamb is usual but for one Lamb to worry another is unnatural The Saints are brethren 1 Pet. 3. 8. how barbarous is it for brethren not to love 2 Not to love is a foolish thing have not Gods people enemies enough that they should flye in the faces one of another the wicked confederate against the godly Psal. 83. 3. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people though there may fall out a private grudge betwixt such as are wicked yet they will all agree and unite against the Saints if two Gray-hounds are snarling at a bone yet put up an Hare between them and they will leave the bone and follow after the Hare so if wicked men have private differences amongst themselves yet if the godly be near them they will leave snarling at one another and will pursue after the godly now when Gods people have so many enemies abroad who watch for their halting and are glad when they can do them a mischief shall the Saints fall out and divide into parties among themselves 3 Not to love is very unseasonable Gods people are in a common calamity they suffer in one cause and for them to disagree is altogether unseasonable why doth the Lord bring his people together in affliction but to bring them together in affection Mettals will unite in a furnace if ever Christians unite it should bee in the furnace of affliction Chrysostome compares affliction to a shepherds Dog which makes all the sheep run together Gods Rod hath this loud voice
bait with which Satan fisheth for souls dulcis odor lucri This was the last temptation hee used to Christ Mat. 4. 9. All this will I give thee But Christ saw the hook under the bait Many who have escaped gross sins yet are caught in a golden Net To gain the world they will use indirect courses A godly man dares not travel for riches thorow the Devils high-way Those are sad gains that make a man lose peace of conscience and heaven at last He who getteth an estate by injustice stuffs his pillow with thorns and his head will lye very uneasie when he comes to dye 3 A godly man will not allow himself in a beloved sin there is usually one sin that is the favorite the sin which the heart is most fond of A beloved Sin lies in a mans bosome as the Disciple whom Iesus loved leaned on his bosome Ioh. 13. 23. A godly man will not indulge a darling sin Psa. 18. 23. I have kept my self from mine iniquity The Sin of my constitution to which the byas of my heart doth more naturally incline 1 Kings 22. 31. Fight neither with small nor great save only with the King a godly man fights with this King-sin The Oracle of Apollo answered the people of Cyrrha that if they would live in peace among themselves they must make continual war with those strangers which were upon their confines If wee would have peace in our souls wee must maintain a war against our complexion-sin and never leave till it be subdued Quest. How shall we know the beloved sin Answ. 1 That sin which a man doth not love to have reproved is the darling Sin Herod could not endure to have his incest spoken against if the Prophet medles with that sin it shall cost him his head men can be content to have other sins declaimed against but if the Minister put his finger upon the sore and toucheth this sin their hearts begin to burn in malice against him a shrewd sign that is the Herodias 2 That sin the thoughts run most upon is the darling sin which way the thoughts go the heart goes he that is in love with a person cannot keep his thoughts off the object examine what sin runs most in your minde what sin is first in your thoughts and salutes you in the morning that is the praedominant 〈◊〉 3 That sin which hath most power over us and doth most easily lead us captive that is the beloved of the soul there â—re some sins a man can make better resistance against if they come for entertainment he can more easily put them off but there is one sin if that comes to be a suitor hee cannot deny it but is overcome by it this is the bosome sin The young man in the Gospel had given a repulse to many sins but there was one sin foiled him that was covetousness Christians mark what sins you are soonest led captive by that is the Harlot in your bosome 'T is a sad thing that a man should bee so bewitched by lust that if it ask to part with not only half the Kingdome but the whole Kingdome of heaven hee must part with it to gratifie that lust 4 That sin which men use arguments to defend is the beloved sin he that hath a jewâ—l in his bosome will defend it as his life so when there is any sin in the bosome men will defend it the sin we are advocates and disputants for is the complexion-sin if the sin be passion and we plead for it Ioâ— 4. 9. I do well to be angry if the sin be covetousness and we vindicate it and perhaps wrest Scripture to justifie it that is the sin which lies neerest the heart 5. That sin which doth most trouble us and flies most in our face in an hour of sickness and distress that is the Dalilah-sin When Iosephs Brethren were distressed their sin came to remembrance in selling their Brother Gen. 42. 21. We are verily guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of our brother when he be sought us and we would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us So when a man is upon his Sick-bed and Conscience shall say thou hast been guilty of such a sin thou didst go on in it and roul it as honey under thy tongue Conscience reads a sad Lecture sure that was the beloved sin 6. That sin which a man doth most hardly let go his hold of is the endeared sin Iacob could of all his sons most hardly part with Benjamin Gen. 42. 36. Joseph is not and Simeon is not and ye will take Benjamin away So saith the sinner this and that sin I have parted with but must Benjamin go must I part with this delightful sin that goes to the heart As it is with a Castle that hath several Forts about it the first and second Fort are taken but when it comes to the Castle the Governour will rather fight and die than yield that So a man may suffer some of his sins to be demolished but when it comes to one sin that is the taking of the Castle he will never yield to part with that surely that is the Master-sin The complexion-sin is a God-provoking sin The wise men of Troy counselled Priame to send back Helena to the Grecians not suffering himself to be any longer abused by the Charms of her beauty because the keeping her within the City would lay the foundation of a fatal war So should we put away our Dalilah-sin least it incense the God of heaven and make him commence a war against us The complexion-sin is of all other most dangerous As Sampsons strength lay in his hair so the strength of sin lies in this beloved sin This is like an humour striking to the heart which brings death A godly man will lay the Axe of Repentance to this sin and hew it down he sets this sin as Uriah in the fore-front of the battel that it may be slain He will sacrifice this Isaack he will pluck out this right eye that he may see the better to go to heaven 4. A godly man will not allow himself in those which the world counts lesser sins There is no such thing as little sin yet some may be deemed less comparatively but a good man will not indulge himself in these As 〈◊〉 Sins of Omission Some think it no great matter to omit Family or Closet-prayer they can go several moneths and God never hear of them A godly man will as soon live without food as without prayer He knows every creature of God is sanctified by prayer 1 Tim. 4. 5. The Bird may shâ—me many Christians it never takes a drop but the eye is lift up towards heaven 2. A godly man daâ—es not allow himself in vain frothy discourse much less in that which looks like an oath If God will reckon for idle words will he not much more for idle oaths 3. A godly man dares not
my Throne A Throne denotes Honor sitting denotes rest 7. Walking with God is the most safe walking Walking in the ways of sin is like walking upon the edge of a River The sinner treads upon the banks of the bottomless Pit and if Death gives him a jogg he tumbles in but it is safe going in Gods way Pro. 3. 23. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely He walks safe who walks with a Guard he that walks with God shall have Gods Spirit to guard him from sin and Gods Angels to guard him from danger Psal. 91. 11. 8. Walking with God will make death sweet It was Augustus his wish that he might have an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a quiet easie death without much pain If any thing make our Pillow easie at death it will be this that we have walked with God in our Generation Do we think walking with God can do us any hurt Did we ever hear any cry out upon their Death-bed that they have been too holy that they have prayed too much or walked with God too much No that which hath cut them to the heart hath been this that they have walked no more closely with God they have wrung their hands and torn their hair to think that they have been so bewitched with the pleasures of the World Close walking with God will make our Enemy Death to be at peace with us King Ahashuerus when he could not sleep called for the Book of Records and read in it Esther 6. 1. So when the violence of sickness causeth sleep to depart from our eyes and we can call for Conscience that Book of Records and find written in it such a day we humbled our souls by fasting such a day our hearts melted in prayer such a day we had sweet communion with God what a reviving will this be How may we look death in the face with comfort and say Lord now take us up to thee in Heaven where we have so often been by affection let us now be by fruition 9 Walking with God is the best way to know the minde of God friends who walk together impart their secrets one to another Psa. 25. 14. The secrets of the Lord is with them that fear him Noah walked with God and the Lord revealed a great secret to him of destroying the Old World and saving him in the Ark. Abraham walked with God Gen. 24. 40. and God made him one of his Privy-council Gen. 18. 17. Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do God doth sometimes sweetly unbosome himself to the soul in Prayer and in the holy Supper as Christ made himself known to the Disciples in the breaking of bread Luk. 24. 35 10 They who walk with God shall never be wholly left of God the Lord may retire himself for a time to make his people cry after him the more but he will not quite leave them Isa. 54. 8. I hid my face for a moment but with everlasting kindeness will I have mercy on thee God will not cast off any of his old acquaintance he will not part with one that hath born him company Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him Gen. 5. 24. He took him up to heaven as the Arabick renders it Enoch was lodged in the bosome of divine Love Quest. How may we do to walk with God Answ. 1 Get out of the old road of sin hee that would walk in a pleasant meadow must turn out of the road The way of sin is full of Travellers there are so many travelling in this road that hell though it be of a great circumference is fain to enlarge it self and make room for them Isa. 5. 14. This way of sin seems pleasant but the end is damnable I have saith the Harlot perfumed my bed with Mirrhe Aloes and Cinamon Prov. 7. 17. See how with one sweet the Cinamon there were two bitters Myrrhe and Aloes for that little sweet in sin at present there will be a far greater proportion of bitterness afterwards Therefore get out of these briars you cannot walk with God and sin 2 Cor. 6. 14. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness 2 If you would walk with God get acquaintance with him Iob 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him Know God in his attributes and promises strangers do not walk together 3 Get all differences removed Amos 3. 3. Can two walk together except they are agreed This agreement and reconciliation is made by faith Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood When once we are friends then we shall be called up to the Mount as Moses and have this dignity conferred on us to bee the favourites of heaven and to walk with God 4 If you would walk with God get a liking to the vvaies of God They are adorned vvith beauty Prov. 4. 18. svveetned vvith pleasure Prov. 3. 17. fenced vvith truth Rev. 15. 3. accompanied vvith Life Acts 2. 28. lengthned with eternity Hab. 3. 6. be enamoured with the way of Religion and you will soon walk in it 5 If you would walk with God take hold of his arm such as walk in their own strength will soon grow weary and tire Psal. 71. 16. I will go in the strength of the Lord God We cannot walk with God without God let us press him with his promise Isa. 36. 27. I will cause you to walk in my statutes If God take us by the hand then we shall walk and not faint Isa. 40. 31. SECT XXIV 24 He who is godly labours to be an instrument of making others godly he is not content to go to heaven alone but would bring others thither Spiders work only for themselves but Bees work for others A godly man is both a Diamond and a Load-stone a Diamond for the sparkling lustre of grace and a Load-stone for his attractiveness he is ever drawing others to the embracing of Piety Living things have a propagating virtue where Religion lives in the heart there will be an endeavour to propagate the life of grace in those we converse with Philemon v. 10. My son Onesimus whom I have begotten in my bonds Though God be the fountain of grace yet the Saints are pipes to transmit living streams to others This thirsty endeavour after the conversion of souls proceeds 1 From the nature of Godliness it is like fire which assimilates and turns every thing into its own nature where there is the fire of grace in the heart it will endeavour to inflame others grace is an holy leaven which will be seasoning and leavening others with divine principles Paul would fain have converted Agrippa how did he court him with Rhetorick Act. 26. 27. King Agrippa beleevest thou the Prophets I know that thou beleevest his Zeal and Eloquence had almost captivated the King ver 28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian. 2 A godly man attempts the
so desirable at death why should we not pursue after it now godliness is as needful now and would bee more feasible 5 There are but few godly they are as the gleanings after vintage most receive the Mark of the Beast Rev. 13. 17. The Devil keeps open house for all comers and hee is never without ghuests this may prevail with us to be godly if the number of the Saints be so small how should we labour to be found among these pearls Rom. 9. 27. but a remnant shall be saved it is better going to Heaven with a few than to Hell in the crowd 6 Consider how vain and contemptible other things are about which persons void of godliness busie themselves men are taken up about the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things of this life and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind Eccles. 5. 16. can the winde fill what is gold but dust Amos 2. 8. which will sooner choak than satisfie pull off the mask of the most beautiful thing under the Sun and look what is within there is care and vexation and the greatest care is yet behinde and that is account The things of the world are but as a bubble in the water or a Meteor in the air But godliness hath a real worth in it if you speak of true honour it is to be born of God if of true valour it is to fight the good fight of faith if of true delight it is to have joy in the Holy ghost Oh then espouse godliness here is reallity to be had of other things we may say as Zac. 10. 2. They comfort in vain CHAP. VII Prescribing some helps to Godliness Quest. But what shall we do that we may be godly Answ. I shall briefly lay down some rules or helps to godliness 1 Be diligent in the use of all means that may promote godliness Luke 13. 24. strive to enter in at the straight gate what is purpose without pursuit when you have made your estimate of godliness prosecute those mediums which are most expedient for obtaining it 2 If you would be godly take heed of the world 't is hard for a clod of dust to become a star 1 Ioh. 2. 15. love not the world many would be godly but the honours and profits of the world divert them where the world fills both head and heart there is no room for Christ he whose minde is rooted in the earth is likely enough to deride godliness when our Saviour was preaching against sin the Pharisees who were covetous derided him Luk. 16. 14. The world eats out the heart of godliness as the lvy eats out the heart of the Oak the world kills with her silver darts 3 Inure your selves to holy thoughts serious meditation represents every thing in its native colour it shews an evil in sin and a lustre in grace By holy thoughts the head grows clearer and the heart better Psa. 119. 59. I thought on my waies and turned my feet unto thy testimonies Did men step aside a little out of the noise and hurry of business and spend but half an hour every day in thinking upon their souls and eternity it would produce a wonderful alteration in them and tend very much to a real and blessed conversion 4 Watch your hearts it was Christs watch-word to his Disciples Mat. 24. 42. Watch therefore the heart will praecipitate us to sin before we are aware a subtil heart needs a watchful eye watch your thoughts your affections the heart hath a thousand doors to run out at O keep close sentinel in your souls stand continually upon your Watch-tower Hab. 2. 1. when you have prayed against sin watch against tentation most wickedness in the world is committed for want of watchfulness watchfulness maintains godliness it is the selvedge which keeps religion from ravelling out 5 Make Conscience of spending your time Eph. 5. 16. redeeming the time Many persons fool away their time some in idle visits others in recreations and pleasures which secretly bewitch the heart and take it off from better things What are our golden hours for but to mind our souls Time mis-improved is not time lived but time lost Time is a precious commodity a peece of wax in it self is not much worth but as it is affixed to the label of a Will and conveyes an estate so it is of great value Thus time simply in it self is not so considerable but as salvation is to be wrought out in it and a conveyance of heaven depends upon the well improvement of it so it is of infinite concernment 6 Think of your short stay in the world 1 Chron. 29. 15. Our daies on the Earth are as a shaddow and there is none abiding There is but a span between the Cradle and the Grave Solomon saith there is a time to bee born and a time to dye Eccles. 3. 2. but mentions no time of living as if that were so short it were not worth naming and time when it is once gone cannot be recalled the Scripture compares time to a flying Eagle Io◠9. 6. yet herein time differs from the Eagle the Eagle flies forward and then back again but time hath wings only to fly forward it never returns back fugit irrevocabile tempus The serious thoughts of our short abode here would be a great means to promote godliness what if death should come before we are ready what if our life should breathe out before Gods spirit hath breathed in he that considers how flitting and winged his life is will hasten his repentance when God is about to make a short work he will not make a long work 7 Possess your selves with this maxim that godliness is the end of your Creation God never sent men into the world only to eat and drink and put on fine cloathes but that they might serve him in righteousness and holiness Luk. 1. 75. God made the world only as an attiring room to dress our souls in he sent us hither upon the grand errand of godliness should nothing but the body the bruitish part bee looked after this were basely to degenerate yea to invert and frustrate the very end of our being 8. Be often among the godly they are the salt of the earth and will help to season you Their counsels may direct their prayers may quicken Such holy sparks may be thrown into your breasts as may inkindle devotion in you It is good to be among the Saints to learn the trade of godliness Pro. 13. 20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise CHAP. VIII Exhorting such as have made a Profession of Godliness to persevere Use 2. MY next Use is to exhort those who wear the Mantle and in the judgement of others are looked upon as godly that they would persevere Heb. 10. 23. Let us hold fast the profession of our Faith This is a seasonable Exhortation in these times
profession The Samaritans sometimes sided with the Iews when they were in favour afterwards they disclaimed all kindred with the Iews when they were persecuted by Antiochus and no wonder they did shuffle so in their religion if you consider what Christ saith of the Samaritans Ioh. 4. 22. Ye worship ye know not what they were inveloped with ignorance blinde men are apt to fall so are they who are blinded in their mindes 4 If you would persist in godliness enter upon it purely out of choice Psa. 119. 30. I have chosen the way of truth espouse godliness for its own worth he that would persevere must rather choose godliness with reproach than sin with all its worldly pomp he who takes up religion for fear will lay it down again for fear he who imbraceth godliness for gain will desert it when the â—ewels of preferment are pulled off be not godly out of a wordly design but a religious choice 5 If you would persevere in godliness labour after integrity this will be a golden pillar to support you a tree that is hollow must needs be blown down the hypocrite sets up in the trade of religion but he will soon break Psa. 78. 37. Their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast Iudas was first a sly hypocrite and then a Traitor if a peece of copper be guilded the guilding will wash off nothing will hold out but sincerity Psa. 25. 21. Let integrity preserve me How many storms was Iob in not only Satan but God himself set against him Iob 7. 20. which was enough to have made him desist from being godly yet Iob stood fast because he stood upright Iob 27. 6. My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live those colours hold best which are laid in oyle if we would have our profession hold its colour it must be laid in the oyl of sincerity 6 If you would hold out in godliness hold up the life and fervour of duty Rom. 12. 1. 1. Fervent in spirit serving the Lord We put coals to the fire to keep it from going out when Christians grow into a dull formality they begin to be dis-spirited and by degrees abate in their godliness none so fit to make an Apostate as a lukewarm professour 7 If you would persevere in godliness be much in the exercise of self-denial Mat. 16. 24. let him deny himself self-ease self-ends whatever comes in competition with or stands in opposition to Christs glory and interest must be denied Self is the great snare self-self-love undermines the power of godliness The young man in the Gospel might have followed Christ but that something of self hindered Mat. 19. 20 22. Self-love is self hatred he will never get to heaven that cannot get beyond himself 8 If you would hold on in godliness preserve an holy jealousie over your hearts Rom. 11. 20. Be not high-minded but fear he that hath Gun powder in his house fears lest it should catch fire sin in the heart is like Gun-powder it may make us fear lest a sparkle of temptation falling upon us should blow us up There are two things may make us alwaies jealous of our hearts the deceits of our hearts and the lusts of our hearts When Peter was afraid hee should sink and cried to Christ Lord save me then Christ took him by the hand and helped him Mat. 14. 31. but when Peter grew confident and thought he could stand alone then Christ suffered him to fall Oh let us be suspitious of our selves and in an holy sense cloathe our selves with trembling Eze. 26. 16. 9 If you would continue your progress in godliness labour for assurance 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure He who is sure God is his God is like a Castle built upon a rock all the powers of Hell cannot shake him How can he be constant in religion who is at a loss about his spiritual estate and knows not whether he hath grace or no it will be a difficult matter for him to dye for Christ who doth not know that Christ hath died for him assurance establisheth a Christian in shaking times he is the likeliest to bear witness to the truth who hath the spirit of God bearing witness to his heart Rom. 8. 16. Oh give diligence be much in prayer reading holy conference these are the oyle without which the lamp of assurance will not shine 10 If you would hold out in godliness lay hold of Gods strength God is called the strength of Israel 1 Sam. 15. 29. It is in his strength we stand more than our own the childe is safest in the Nurses hands it is not our holding God but his holding us preserves us a little pinnace tyed fast to a rock is safe so are we when we are tyed to the rock of ages CHAP. IX Motives to persevere in Godliness THat I may excite Christians to persevere in the profession of Godliness I shall propose these four considerations 1 It is the glory and Crown of a Christian to be gray-headed in godliness Act. 21. 16. Mnason of Cyprus an old Disciple What an honour is it to see a Christians garments red with blood yet his conscience puâ—e white and his graces green and flourishing 2 How do sinners persevere in their sins they are setled on their lees Zeph. 1. 12. The judgements of God will not deter or remove them they say to their sin as Ruth to Naomi Ruth 1. 16. Where thou goest I will go the Lord do so to me and more if ought but death part thee and me so nothing shall part between men and their sins Oh! what a shame is it that the wicked should be fixed in evil and we unfixed in good that they should be more constant in the Devils service than we are in Christs 3 Our perseverance in godliness may be a means to confirm others Cyprians hearers followed him to the place of his suffering and seeing his stedfastness in the faith cryed out Let us also dye with our holy Pastor Phil. 4. 14. Many of the Brethren waxing confident by my Bonds are much more bold to speak the Word St. Paul's zeal and constancy did animate the beholders his Prison-chain made converts in Neroes Court and two of those Converts were afterwards Martyrs as History relates 4 Wee shall lose nothing by our perseverance in Godliness There are eight glorious Promises which God hath intailed upon the persevering Saints The first is Rev. 2. 10. Be thou constant to the death and I will give thee a Crown of life Christian thou mayest lose the breath of life but not the Crown of life The second promise is Revel 2. 7. To him that â—vercometh will I give to eat of the tree of life This Tree of life is the Lord Jesus This tree infuseth life and prevents death in the day we eat of this tree
Father and Mother Psa. 45. 10. Forget also thine own people and thy Fathers house So there must be a leaving of our former sins a breaking off the old league with hell before wee can bee united to Christ Hos. 14. 8. Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols or as it is in the Hebrew with sorrows Those sins which before were looked upon as lovers now they are sorrows there must be a divorce before an union The end of our conjugal union with Christ is twofold 1 Co-habitation this is one end of marriage to live together Ephes. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts it is not enough to give Christ a few complemental visits in his ordinances hypocrites may do so but there must be a mutual associating we must dwell upon the thoughts of Christ 1 Iohn 3. 24. he that dwelleth in God married persons should not live asunder 2 Fructification Rom. 7. 4. That ye should 〈◊〉 married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God the Spouse brings forth the fruits of the spirit love joy peace long-suffering gentleness Gal. 5. 22. Barrenness is a shame in Christs spouse This marriage-union with Christ is the most noble and excellent union 1 Christ unites himself to many in other marriages there is but a person taken but here millions are taken alas else poor souls might cry out Christ hath married himself to such an ones person but what is that to me I am left out no Christ marries himself to thousands 't is casta polygamia an holy and chaste polygamy multitudes of persons doth not defile this marriage-bed no poor sinner but bringing an humble beleeving heart may be married to Christ. 2 In this holy marriage is a nearer conjunction than can be in any other in other marriages two make one flesh but Christ and the beleever make one spirit 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit now as the soul is more excellent than the body and admits of far greater joy so this spiritual union brings in more astonishing delights and ravishments than any other marriage-relation is capable of the joy that flows from the mystical union is unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. 3 This union with Christ never ceaseth Foelices ter amplius quos irrupta tenet copula Other marriages are soon at an end Death cuts asunder the marriage-knot but this conjugal union is eternal thou that art once Christs spouse shalt never be a widdow more Hos. 2. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever to speak properly our marriage with Christ begins where other marriages end at death In this life is but the contract the Iews had a time set between their espousals and marriage sometimes a year or more in this life is but the affiancing and contract promises are made on both sides and love passeth secretly between Christ and the soul he gives some smiles of his face and the soul sends up her sighs and drops tears of love But all this is but a praevious work and something tending to the marriage the glorious compleating and solemnizing of the Nuptials is reserved for heaven there is the marriage-supper of the Lamb Rev. 19. 9. and the Bed of glory perfumed with love where the souls of the elect shall be perpetually solacing themselves 1 Thes. 4. 17. then shall we ever be with the Lord so that death doth but begin our marriage with Christ. Use 1 If Christ be the head of the body Mystical Ephes. 1. 22. then this Doctrine doth behead the Pope that man of sin who usurps this prerogative to be Ecclesiae caput the head of the Church and so would defile Christs marriage-bed what blasphemy is this two heads is monstrous Christ is head as he is husband there is no vice-husband no deputy in his room The Pope is the Beast in the Revelation to make him head of the Church what were this but to set the head of a Beast upon the body of a Man Use 2 Is there such a conjugal union let us try whether we are united to Christ. 1 Have we chosen Christ to set our love upon and is this choice founded upon knowledge 2 Have we consented to the match 't is not enough that Christ is willing to have us but are we willing to have him God doth not so force salvation upon us as that wee shall have Christ whether wee will or no we must consent to have him many approve of Christ but do not give their consent and this consent must be 1 Pure and genuine we consent to have him for his own worth and excellency Psa. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the Children of men 2 It must be a present consent 2 Cor. 6. 2. now is the accepted time if we put Christ off with delayes and excuses perhaps he will come no more he will leave off wooing his spirit shall no longer strive and then poor finner what wilt thou do when Gods wooing ends thy woes begin 3 Have we taken Christ faith is vinculum unionis the bond of the union Christ is joyned to us by his spirit and we are joyned to him by faith Faith tyes the marriage-knot 4 Have we given up our selves to Christ thus the spouse in the Text I am his as if she had said all I have is for the use and service of Christ have we made a surrender have wee given up our name and will to Christ when the Devil solicites by a temptation do we say we are not our own we are Christs our tongues are his wee must not defile them with oathes our bodies ar◠his temple we must not pollute them with sin if it be thus it is a sign the Holy ghos◠hath wrought this blessed union between Christ and us Use 3. Is there this Mystical Union then from hence we may draw many Inferences 1. See the dignity of all true believers they are joyned in Marriage with Christ there is not only assimilation but union they are not only like Christ but one with Christ This honor have all the Saints A King marrying a Beggar by virtue of the union she is ennobled and made of the Bloud-Royal 〈◊〉 wicked men are united to the Prince of darkness and he settles Hell upon them for their Jointure So the godly are divinely united to Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. By virtue of this Sacred Union the Saints are dignified above the Angels Christ is their Lord but not their Husband 2. See how happily all the Saints are married they are united to Christ who is the best Husband Cant. 5. 10. The chief of ten thousand Christ is a Husband that cannot be parallel'd 1. For tender care 2. For ardent affection 1. For tender care The Spouse cannot be so tender of her own soul and credit as Christ is
prosperity 183 How wee may know whether wee are rightly thankful 185 Motives to thankfulness 189 How to get a thankful heart 194 Thanksgiving a more noble part of Gods worship 181 Time to be redeemed 297 Tryal of our love to God 33 V Unbeleif a God-dishonouring sin 323 Unworthiness ought not to discourage 325 W What it is to walk with God 251 Walking after the flesh what it imports 253 How we may know whether we walk with God 255 Walking with God excellent 257 How we may come to walk with God 262 Weeper for sin 70 Why weeping after conversion 71 Weeping how qualified 75 Go often into the weeping hath 76 Works of Mercy 248 World an hindrance to godliness 295 Worldly things contemptible 148 Worship of God better in purity than pomp 39 Z Zeal the flame that ascends from an holy heart 155 Zeal fictitious 156 Zeal rightly tempered 157 Zeal to be pursued after 162 FINIS ERRATA Page 76. line 23. For sangui serat read sanguit erat page 64. marg for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 page 131. line 20. for fronte positus read fronte politus page 278. marg for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 page 342. marg for 2 Conclusion read 2 Consolation These Books following are Printed for and sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside over against the great Conduit A Divine Cordial Or the Transcendent Priviledge of those that love God and are savingly Called By Tho. Watson The Holy Eucharist or the Mystery of the Lords Supper briefly explained By Tho. Watson Paramythion or a Word of Comfort for the Church of God By Tho. Watson * Colosâ— 1. 12. * Psal. 2. 4. * Vera est 〈…〉 cam Hebrai eleâ—anter appellant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. esseâ—tiam 〈◊〉 3. â—1 * Isai. 32. 17. †Omni melle dulcior omni luce clarior Aug. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Christus se in cruce Deo oblatus est sacrificium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sic nostra pians peccata Maresius de ver rel lib. 3. * Da Dominâ— poenitentiam postea indulgentiam Fulgentius * Peccata semel remissa nunquam redeunt * Peccatum sic pessundatum est ut non possit nos damnare Luther * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neh. 9. 17. 1. Inquiry Answ. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Qualitates sunt in subjecto intensive †1 Sam. 17. 42. Use of Reproof * Non faciunt justitiam sed fingâ—nt Melancth * Mar 23. †Matth. 23. 27. * Quis pejor an profitens impietatem an mentiens sanctitatem Bern. †Simulata sanctitas duplex iniquitas * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Arietem occidit credens se Vlyssem interemisse * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Judg. 16. 25. * Vivit adhuc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quamdiù aliquae fibrae manent sed agrè admodum languidè * Levit. 13. 6. * Deut. 32 5. 2 Inquiry 1 Character †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. †Nihil agit ultra suam speciem †Spiritus sanctus veluti oleo mentes fidelium perfundit irrigat Estius * Si caelum ruat si orbis illabatur praecept ego in Deum erectus ero Angelus licèt de caelo aliud mihi persuadere enitatur dicam ei Anathema Anton. Marinar †Psal. 73. 25. * Claritas in intellectu parit ardorem in affectu †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Tandem fit surculus arbor Vse of Tryal 1 Bran. 2 Bran. 3 Bran. Use 2. of Exhort Pers. Motive Motive †Lib. 3. Constit. Mon Cap. 33. Vse 3. 2 Character †Fides est Sanctissima humani pectoris gemma * 2 Cor. 4. 18. †Psal. 112. 7. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost. * Jam. 2. 19. †See the Christians Charter in Quarto pag. 103. 3 Character †Herb. Poem * Amor ponit amantem extrase Aquinas * Plurima fier◠〈◊〉 sunt quae speciem habent bonam sed non ex radice amoris proficiscuntur habent spinae flores sit intùs dilectio non potest ex ista radice nisi bonum existere Aug. in Epist. Ioh. Tom. 9. †See Divine Cordial page 123. 4 Character †Summa religio est imitari quem colis Lactant. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deo consecratus à rebus immundis sejunctus River †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Use 1. Use 2. of Exhort Motive Motive * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristot. Motive 5 Character * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Qui Deum ad humani cerebri id aeam ingenii tenuitatem admetiuntur necesse est ut in sua arrogantia confusi jaceant Rivet Vse * Si modo exteriorum rituum pompis luxuriare poterint sperant se Deo glaucoma obduxisse Rivet †Qui curios simulant bacchanalia vivunt 6 Character 1 Bran. †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Psalm 56. 12. * Revel 13. 3. †Revel 14. 4. Vse Motive * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euripides †Psal. 103 9. * Psal. 86. 5. †Pro. 3. 32. Motive * Psa. 51. 12. †Servire est regnare * Nihil regio splendore indignum si ad hanc ingenuam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 invitentur Rivet †Non est onerans sed ornans Dei servitus * In abdito tento riiâ— sui †Mal 4. 2. * Psal. 91. 4. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen Cont. Cels. †Da Domine quod jubes juâ—e quod vis Austin Motive 2 Bran. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Ne adulentur impiis aeliorum cupiditatibus se addicant vetat Apostolus Calv. in 1 Cor. cap. 7. Vse * Omnium scenarum homo Erasm * Esther 8. 17. 7 Character †Plin. * Cant. 3. 6. †John 1. 18. * Gal. 6. 1◠†1. Cor. 1. 5. * Rev. 21. 23. †Eph. 1. 6. * Luke 2. 25. †Col. 1. 16 17. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen Cont Cels. * Hic est in cujus typo immolabatur agnus qui non solum suo sanguine nos redemit sed lanis overâ—it Hierom. †Per has â—â—mas laterâ—â— Christi licet 〈◊〉 sugere meâ— de Petra â—ern Accinges Arias Mont. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophilact * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Communio fundatur in unione Vse 1. * Evangelium vocant avengelaion * Pro. â— 12. Vse 2. of Tryal * Naz. †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. †Isaiah 30. 22. * Godw. Iew. Antiq. Use 3. of Exhort †Si tanti vitreum quanti verum Margaritum Tertull. * Isa 53. 2. †â—sa 81. 11. 8 Character * Motus primo primi Aquin. â€