Doth holinesse fit a man to love God above all and wouldest thou know whether thou hast an holy heart Try it from the former truth Where ever holinesse is it fits the heart to love God above all Canst thou doe this which holinesse enables a man to doe then if there be holinesse in heaven it is also in thine heart I doe not meane that any man should have the exactnesse that Adam had in creation but what hee had in perfection wee must have in desire Thou must have an heart enlarged to love God above all though thou hast many weaknesses with it Many for want of this are cast out as not being partakers of this saving worke Namely Those that never had any readinesse to this saving work of God further then shame or disgrace provokes them for most that live upon the face of the earth must have some constraining power to force them to the performance of Gods service they say as those in Malachi What a wearinesse is it Mal. 1.13 The word of God and his ordinances are a burden the sabbaths are tedious men come to Gods worship as a Beare to a stake or a captive to prison how willing are they to bee freed from these duties whereas holinesse ever brings willingnesse with it Ob. But doe not the Saints finde a great deale of awkwardnesse Ans I confesse it is true but there is a great deale of difference between these and the other The Saints willingly oppose their corruptions that clog them but a carnall heart joynes sides with the flesh hee desires means and occasions to withdraw him from the love of God hee is glad to finde a pretence to travell on the Lords day or to neglect prayer in his private family But the Saints are weary of their untowardnesse and awkwardnesse to holy duties Matth. 26.41 the Disciples were overcharged with wearinesse and fell asleepe Christ addes the reason The spirit is willing but the flesh is weake Rom. 7. The law is holy and the commandement holy but sinne tooke occasion by the commandement c. It is not I but sinne that dwelleth in me as if hee should say It is good to please God and I will labour after it but I confesse I have a wilfull wretched heart within mee which opposeth this yet there is a sparke of holinesse in this heart and with that I love thee though my flesh oppose thee §. 5. Quest WHat is righteousnesse Righteousnesse what it is Answ The second part of the spirituall image put into Adam whereby hee could love himselfe as hee ought and his neighbour as himselfe In the description there are three things 1. It is the second part of Gods image in the will Holinesse fitted Adam to goe to God yet of it selfe it could not fit him to love his brother therefore hee must have another frame that is of righteousnesse Againe it is beyond the power of the soule to performe spirituall love to his brother therefore it must have this part of Gods image in it 1 Joh. 4.7 Love is of God to love another holily is beyond the power and faculty of nature Indeed a man may love another carnally as adulterers and naturally as creatures but to love another spiritually hee must have power from God There is a double cunning of the hand as David useth the word a cunning to play on an instrument Psa 137. and a cunning to write now the cunning of the one will not make a man skilfull in the other so there is a double cunning put into the heart of Adam the first Of holinesse whereby hee could love God above all the second Of righteousnesse whereby he could love himselfe as hee ought and his neighbour as himselfe 2. The second part of the description was By this he was fitted to love himselfe as he ought The ground of all lawfull love comes from self-love if it be pure There is a selfe-love required nay if it be right it is the standard of all love to another He that loveth himselfe as he should will be disposed to love another Love lookes first at that which is most good to me as to my honour which is a greater good to me before the honour of another man It is true what was said of David 2 Sam. 21. Thou art better then ten thousand of us that was in regard of his place and office but take a man as a particular person and my good is better to me then another mans Quest How should a man love himselfe Ans This love is bounded by three things Selfe-love how to be bounded by a right Order Measure Manner 1. A man must love himselfe in a right order and that you must understand in three rules Rule 1. He must love himselfe in the second place God in the first Pro. 3.9 Honour the Lord with the first fruits of thy increase Mat. 6.33 First seeke the kingdome of heaven all else must be served after God In the old law it was required that God should have the first fruits of a mans vintage We must bestow the chiefest of our love and delight on God we must love Gods honour in the first place our owne in the second Mat. 22.38 This is the first and greatest commandement To love God with all our heart The second is like unto this Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe 2. He must love himselfe with a subordinate degree of love but in the love of God he must put forth the utmost of his strength In the old law hee that brought a sacrifice was to bring a male Mal. 1. ult Cursed be the man that hath a male in his flocke and offereth a female to the Lord The male is the stronger the female the weaker All our prayers and services unto God must bee male but female love and desire will serve our selves God required in the old law that the sacrifices should not be shorn our sacrifices are our duties to God they are the males we must offer we may not sheare our joy and delight but let them go with their fleeces on that is in their full strength to God but when we come to our selves we may sheare our love 3. A man is to love himselfe in God and for God Adam was to love Gods image in himselfe as a step to conveigh him more speedily to the love of God What wouldest thou love in thy selfe thine honour Get thee to a wise and glorious God and love his glory more Dost thou love thy life Oh love the life of God who is a living God Rom. 9.3 I could wish to bee Anathema for my brethren c. Seeing that the Jewes would fall to the dishonour of God hee did so prize the honour of God that he could wish himselfe to be accursed that they might stand This was the cause hee loved the glory of God above all Adam had power to love himselfe in a right measure This I referre to all those
so should it be with thee as thou desirest that that which is good for thee should be continued so shouldest thou desire that all good should bee given to thy brother Wert thou in disgrace thou wouldest desire reputation have the like desire for the credit of thy brother Act. 26.29 I would saith S. Paul that all that hear me this day were altogether as I am altogether holy altogether assured of Gods love Here is an heart such an one as Adam had in perfection it was as if hee should have said I would to God that all that heare me this day had the like evidence of Gods goodnesse We ought to desire that what good befals us might happen to our brethren also Num. 11.29 I would to God that all the people of the Lord were Prophets So hast thou honour say I would to God all Gods servants had honour too Is thy soul comforted say Oh that all Gods servants were so we thinke our candles burne the worse because others burne bright This was not in Adam and ought not to be in us wee should rejoice in the good of others Luk. 15.8 They rejoiced with her we must rejoice in the prosperity of others Adam had the heart to rejoice in the good of his brother and wee ought to doe the like 2. We must be painefull to promote the good of our fellow-brethren as our own Love is solicitous and full of care to provide for what is beloved Looke what care thou wouldest bestow to promote thine owne honour or welfare the same diligence must thou use in due time and place though not in the same measure to procure the honour or welfare of thy brother 1 Cor. 13.5 Love seekes not her owne Gal. 5.13 Serve one another in love Thou shouldst in this case be a servant to thy brother it should be one part of thy taske to promote his good We all ought to take speciall care of our brothers credit for we are tearmed our brothers keepers Gen. 4.9 yea we should take the honour life safety of our brother as our charge we must keep evil from him and not suffer it to lye upon him Lev. 19.17 the evill of sinne especially so farre as God puts occasion into our hands God enjoynes not man this duty towards Scorners Ephraim is joyned to his idols Hos 4.17 let him alone wee must not cast pearles before swine Lev. 19.17 yet thou shalt not suffer thy brother to lye in sinne This is love in truth to rebuke another plainely and not to suffer sinne to lye upon him Ezek. 13. To sow pillowes under mens elbowes this love came from hell it never came from righteousnesse Quest Why was Adam thus furnished with righteousness Ans Because he was made a sociable creature for the maintaining of society and propagating the Church Love is the sinewes of society In a building all the parts must bee pinned together otherwise one part will not uphold another so it is in society there must be inlets of love to uphold it wee must bee souldred together with loving affections else there is no continuing of society The desolation of kingdoms the ruine of nations whence comes it but from want of love Saint Paul makes love a matter of excellency 1 Cor. 12.31 I shew to you a more excellent way Adam therefore being made for society must bee furnished with this love which was a speciall meanes to helpe him therein The use is threefold 1. It falls heavie upon many wicked and ungodly men Malicious men have not Gods image on them the vilenesse of whose hearts is such that in stead of having in them righteousnesse and love they have hearts full of rancour within and tongues full of railing without The sting of the serpent is in their hearts and the poison of asps is under their lips they regard not what they say against those that feare Gods name If righteousnesse bee the image of God then envie and malice is an argument of a man whose heart God never wrought upon it is a blacke brand of a childe of the Devill In this the children of God are manifest from the children of the Devill 1 Joh. 3.10 The children of God are the children of love the children of Satan are the children of hatred Hee that hateth his brother is a childe of the Devill it is manifest thou maist conclude it undoubtedly 1 Joh. 4.8 He that loveth not knoweth not God as if hee should say Thou that hast no love hast no interest in God Hatred is that wherein the kingdome of Satan consists Joh. 8.41 as for all other sins they are practised among men but this is the trade of the Devils in hell The Pharisees bragged that they were Abrahams children You seeke to kill me saith Christ which Abraham did not if you were of your father Abraham you would doe the workes of Abraham but marke the 44. verse You are of your father the Devill for hee was a murtherer from the beginning You have never heard that Sathan stabbed a man but his murther was Hee maligned Adam in his innocency this therefore is a devillish sinne Sathan doth not steale neither is he drunke but he is envious as hell If this bee expressed in your conversation know what ever your stocke may be yet you are of your father the Devill Those that set themselves against the life and honour of their fellow brethren for we may set our selves against the sinnes of others those I say whose hearts sinke at the good of their brethren and rejoice if their goods and estates bee overthrowne doe by that shew whence they draw their pedegree This is the very brand of a wretch Gal. 4.19 Ishmael was a cast away as the text plainly speaks what was his guise He persecuted the sonne of Promise he persecuted him with a railing tongue for this the Scripture often calls persecution and this is the note of a man born after the flesh who shall never see Gods face for the Text saith Cast him out Envie and malice is the sinne of the Devill and it is the note of a reprobate the Lord therefore looke upon us that wee seeing our owne misery may strive for power against it and get love from God that we may be possessed of happinesse with him Use 2. The second use is of Instruction Expect no friendship from the wicked From the former truth we may learn what to expect at the hands of the ungodly There is no friendship to bee expected from a wicked man Love is another matter then men make of it it is a grace above nature which no man can expresse unlesse God put this image into the soule Love comes from righteousnesse We had as good look for honey in an hornets nest or in a serpents den or sweet fruit from a crab-stocke as love from an unrighteous man unlesse the root of righteousnesse bee within love cannot bee without 1 Pet. 1.22 You that have purified your
that might overwhelme him but hee that hath his eyes in his head can foresee them so wisedome is able to descry inconveniences and helpe us against them Let therefore our owne profit be a meanes to provoke our hearts to get understanding §. 4. Quest WHat was the image of God in the will Ans How ever we see not our soule Of Gods image in the will yet there is a spirituall substance in every man which is immortall and hath two faculties Understanding and Will. Now the faculty of the Will is like the hand that puts away or takes any thing The will is like an unruly horse that casts his rider I will do what I will though reason crosse it This will whereof we now speake was graciously regulated when it came out of the hands of God Now for the Answer Holinesse and righteousnesse were imprinted in the will of Adam Eph. 4.24 The Apostle to the Colossians made knowledge a part of the spirituall image of Adam and now he addes holinesse and righteousnesse which were seated in the will Luk. 1.75 Christ hath redeemed us that we might walke before him in holinesse and righteousnesse all our dayes In the answer are 2. things 1. That holinesse and 2. That righteousness were there Of these in order Quest What is holinesse An. A spirituall power Holinesse what or frame put into the nature of Adam inabling him to doe Gods will and fitting him to love God above all Three things are in this description 1. It is a spirituall power It is not the very nature of the faculty of the will but a frame put into the will that sets it on and carries it out to God for the will of it selfe is not able to close with God but onely so farre as it is carried out to him As it is in the body the tongue is the instrument of tasting of it self it cannot taste but there is a moisture there that makes it taste hence if it be evilly affected it tasteth evill sweet things seeme soure and soure things seeme sweet or as it is with the hand it cannot worke about any thing barely as it is an hand unlesse it receive strength and motion from the vitall faculty for a dead hand or a benummed hand can exercise it selfe about nothing so it is with the will that power of it self cannot rellish the things of life and happinesse but it must be an holy will that can close with an holy God it is not barely the will but there must bee an wholesome constitution put into it and then it can close with an heavenly God having this heavenly frame Hence it is death to the wicked to bee under the ordinances of God The devils have a naturall faculty of will but corruption possesseth it and therefore they abhorre the holinesse of God because they themselves are unholy but Adams will had a spirituall frame of holinesse put into it whereby it was able perfectly to please God 2. There was a readinesse and promptnesse put into his will whereby hee was able easily to bestow himselfe upon and comfortably to bee carried unto the doing of the will of God When the wheels of a clock are rightly ordered they go on speedily Adam was the clocke of God and the maine wheele was the will when the rust of sturdinesse hangs on the will the motion to God-wards is hindered but had our wills this oyle of holinesse they would runne on chearily in the service of God Men slight the means of grace and cannot close with the ordinances of God because their wills are unholy As it is with sin Rom. 7.23 it leads a man captive to the commission of evill it puts a promptnesse into the heart to incline it to evill so holinesse puts a quicknesse into the will which carries it on joyfully to performe the will of God 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man will purge himselfe he shall be a vessell of honour fit for the Masters use and prepared for every good worke While a mans heart is like an uncleane vessell he is not prepared for any good work but when his heart is purged he is fit for every good work Deut. 28.47 Thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulnesse and gladnesse of heart God will be served but with what heart with a joyfull and a merry heart This gladnesse comes from the holinesse that was in Adam 3. He was by this able to love God above all and this was the performance of the first Table and this above all implies three things To love God above all hath three things 1. He did prize God more then what ever God could doe for him nay more then salvation it selfe Psal 73.26 When he was dazeled with the prosperity of the wicked mark what he sayes The Lord is my strength and my portion for ever as if hee should say I esteeme of God above all A man makes an high account of his patrimony so doth David esteeme of God Psa 73.26 If a man love father or mother more then mee Mat. 10.37 hee is not worthy of mee nay a man must love God-better then his life Psal 63.3 Thy loving kindnesse is better then life then the life of my wife then the life of my child nay it it is better then mine owne life 2. He made choice of God above all As a man prizeth a thing so hee will make choice of it When we come into a shop look what commodity wee prize wee will take so was Adams choice of God Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee The renewed soule counts all things dung and drosse in comparison of Christ Adam had by vertue of this frame that power that if all the world were offered him yet hee would chuse God above all 3. Hee was able to have his heart carryed with great intention of soule to bestow his minde upon the Lord. When Adam did chuse God above all then hee had power to have his heart carried with greatest extent of strength to him for thus it is commanded by our Saviour to the Lawyer in the Gospel Matth. 22.37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy might with all thy strength so was Adam carried with the utmost of his strength to close with God If God should have threatned Adam would have trembled if hee should have revealed his goodnesse Adam would have been inlarged in love thereof if hee should have revealed his name Adam would have honoured it This frame of his will made him carry himselfe proportionably to Gods will to the utmost of his strength A man must love his neighbour with his whole heart not with some of it yet not with his whole strength A man may love his neighbour too much but when hee comes to the love of God he must love him as much as he can Adam ought to have loved his neighbour with his whole heart yet it was not required of Adam to love his neighbour as
things which concerne Adam in comparison with his fellow brethren In this right measure two rules are to be attended 1. Adam was to love all things belonging to himself with a love proportionable to them He was to proportion his love sutable to the nature of the things As one exceeded another in goodnesse so hee was to exceed in love towards them Those things that were of the choicest nature on them he was to bestow the choicest affections as for example Adam was to love his life honour and good name according to their nature A man must love his life above his wealth and the good of his soule above his life As in a paire of scales the heavier the waight is in the one the more weight we put into the other if wee would have them even so answerable to the love that was in any thing Adam was to weigh out an agreeable proportion of love The happinesse of the soule is everlasting therefore he was to bestow unchangeable love upon it but wealth and riches are mutable therefore mutable affections wil serve them we must so love them as to be content to leave them Thy wife is dearer then thy kinsman weigh out the affections of matrimony to thy wife of friendship to thy kinsman The credit of the world is good but it is but a small good weigh out but a little measure of love to it The woman sicke of a bloudy issue spent all she had to save her life and shall not a man spend his life to save his soule Rule 2. We ought to love our owne personall good more then the good of another All true love begins at home I must love mine own honour more then the honour of another For the right understanding of this Rule take notice of two cautions Caut. 1. I must alwayes compare my good with the good of another in the same kind I must compare my life and his life my soule and his soule My owne soule is dearer to me then anothers But if you take them not in the like quality the rule bindes not I must love the soule of my brother more then mine owne life If a man might undoubtedly set forward the salvation of his brother by laying downe his life he must be content to dye so likewise I must love the life of my brother better then mine owne riches But compare them in the same kind and the rule holds Caut. 2. There must be no overpowring circumstance to oversway mee if the publicke good may bee promoted or God may be honoured more by him then by me in regard of his parts and place 1 Joh. 3.16 We ought to lay downe our lives for our brethren When God may receive more honour from another man then from me I must lay downe my life to save his It was requisite a private Christian should die rather then Paul the Apostle because hee was chiefe if therefore a private man should rescue Paul he must lay downe his life for him 1 Sam. 18.3 The life of king David is better then the life of a thousand subjects Gods honour may be more promoted by it The arme will loose it selfe to save the head Rule 3. We must love our selves in a right manner The manner of loving our selves namely in that manner that is comely and beseeming This makes knowne it selfe in these thre particulars It must be Really Fervently Purely 1. Really not in complement but with love unfained and hearty 1. Joh. 3.18 Let us not love in tongue or in word but in deed and in truth so it was with Adam hee was able to do good to himselfe whereas wee that are corrupt are most enemies to our selves when wee seeme most to love our selves Pro. 8. ult He that despiseth wisedome * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 layeth violent hands upon himselfe so the word in the originall is Out of self-selfe-love and pride you must not have your base courses condemned but you hate your soules in despising the means God is Jehovah a Being God therefore requires that mans love should be reall 2. Adam loved himselfe fervently 1 Pet. 1.22 as Saint Peter calls it There was namely a pressenesse in Adams spirit whereby the whole man was carried to improve any meanes for the good of himselfe Adam was free from weaknesse within from impediment without As in Heb. 6.10 it is called The labour of love so was Adam painfull to use all meanes for his good Ephes 5.29 No man ever hated his owne flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it that is hee imployes all meanes to helpe himselfe whereas wee that are corrupt cannot inlarge our hearts in duties of love We are so distracted that we cannot go on freely in our occasions both in things that concerne God and in things that concerne our selves Rom. 7. The good we would do we doe not 3. Adam loved himselfe purely not with carnall nor sensuall love He loved onely that which was good in himselfe he loved his excellency that so he might get more of it and be fitted by it in the performance of his service There are sixe good things belonging to a man Honour Life Chastity Goods Good name Prosperity now Adam loved these that hee might get more of them and be fitted the better for Gods service These two things Adam got by obedience 1. more ability 2. more dexterity in the performance of Gods command Adam loved his honour that he might receive more honour from others and be more enabled to performe his duty to them whereas we love good things for naughty ends The covetous churle loveth his scraping humour and growes more covetous we love sin which we ought to abhorre and we doe good oftentimes for bad ends but Adam loved that which was good in himselfe for that good end to get more of it Gods people are followers after righteousnesse Isa 51.11 More of that Lord more chastity and meeknesse As the beast that hunts his prey pursues it still with more and more eagernesse so doth the gracious man follow after righteousnesse Adam was patient c. but yet he desired more wee love good things wel but many times use them ill when wee have them A man perhaps craves honour with moderation but he lifts up his heart when hee hath gotten it Part 3. The third thing in the description is He loved his brother as himselfe for quality not for quantity The love of himselfe was a patern to imitate not to equall or exceed Quest How may we know how Adam was to love his brother as himselfe Ans The rules are two How to love our brother as our selves 1. He was to weigh out love respecting as well his brothers good as his owne In 2 Kin. 1.13 the poore man was afraid that Elias would have slaine him therefore he prayeth him that his life might he precious in his eyes as Adam was able to set an high price on the honour and life of his brother
promises of God in Christ when thou art in any straight or temptation as wel for thy present provision and preservation in this life as for thy salvation in the life to come abstaining from the use of any unlawfull or unwarrantable practices Gen. 22.8 And Abraham said My son God will provide himselfe a Lambe for a burnt offering so they went both of them together Exod. 14.13 And Moses said unto the people Feare ye not stand still and see the salvation of the Lord what he will shew to you to day for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day yee shall see them againe no more for ever Mar. XI If thou canst find in thy heart that thou dost love God sincerely although thou couldst never love him but that hee loved thee first Joh. 21.17 And hee said unto him the third time Simon son of Jonas lovest thou mee Peter was grieved because hee said unto him the third time Lovest thou me And hee said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee 1 Joh. 4.19 Wee love him because hee first loved us Rom. 5.5 And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us Mar. XII If thou canst heartily love good Christians and others that have helped thee on to heaven and on the contrarie doest hate and avoid wicked and dissolute men but most of all such as withdraw others from the faith or by scandalous lives have caused the faith to bee blasphemed and evill spoken of 1 Joh 3.14 Wee know wee have passed from death to life because wee love the brethren Mat. 10.41 He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall receive a Prophets reward and hee that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous mans reward Rom. 16.4 Who for my life laid down their own necks unto whom not only I give thanks but also all the Churches of the Gentiles Gal. 4.14 And my temptation which was in my flesh you despised not nor rejected but received me as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus Ps 15.4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned but hee honoureth them that fear the Lord. 1 Tim. 3.3 Without naturall affection truce breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good Mar. XIII The fight between the flesh and the spirit Rom. 7.23 But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my minde and bringing mee into captivity to the law of sinne which is in my members Gal. 5.17 For the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that you cannot doe the things you would Mar. XIV If wee long for the appearing of Christ Revel 22.20 He which testifies these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen even so come Lord Jesus 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth there is laid up for mee a crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give mee at that day and not to mee onely but unto them also that love his appearing Mar. XV. If thou makest conscience of secret sinnes which none eye sees as a hard heart a secure proud heart if thou lookest not so much to the matter of good duties as to the manner if they bee done in truth and sincerity also if thou dost apply both the promises and the threatnings to thee in the Word of God and lovest and admirest grace more in others then in thy selfe and hatest sin in all but most in thy selfe Thou mayest take comfort from these if thou canst doe them in a holy manner namely 1. With uprightnesse of heart 2. With continuance 3. With daily growth in the practice of them And to this end two things must be practised 1. Use often to examine and try and search thy heart and all thy actions 2. Take an often account of thy life concerning thy progresse in the course of godlinesse for want of this examination many live and die hypocrites and know it not but suppose their case is good 1 Chro. 29.17 I know also my God that thou tryest the heart and hast pleasure in uprightnesse as for me in the uprightnesse of mine heart I have offered all these things 1 Joh. 3.18 My little children let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth Rev. 2.19 I know thy workes and charity and service and faith and thy patience and thy works and the last bee more then the first 2 Tim. 3.7 Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth Psal 119.59 I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate upon these things give thy selfe wholly to them that thy profiting may appeare to all Gal. 1.14 And profited in the Jewes religion above many my equals in mine owne nation being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my Fathers Heb. 5.12 For when for the time yee ought to be teachers yee have need that one teach you againe which bee the first principles of the oracles of God and are become such as have need of milke and not of strong meat Mar. XVI If thou dost desire to keepe no corruption or if thy endeavours bee constant in the use of all meanes against every corruption Mar. XVII If thou desirest Christ for his holinesse-sake which if thou dost then thou wilt take all that comes with holinesse whether it bee shame or disgrace or persecution c. FINIS
Will imbraced that and the Affections yeelded serviceably to the command of Reason and Holinesse Herein appeared the difference between these affections in Adam and in other creatures The creature is carried by the rule of appetite the horse rusheth into the battell the wild asse snuffeth up the winde The Psalmist saith Psal 32. Bee not like the horse and mule which have no understanding Psal 32. Here was the excellency of Adam that wisdome that God had imprinted in his understanding that holinesse that hee had implanted in his will commanded his affections and they did sweetly yeeld thereto Adams soule was like a well-tuned instrument all the strings the affections being rightly tuned make a sweet harmony In a well governed common-wealth the Councel directs the King enacts lawes and the subjects obey so there was wisdome in Adams understanding and that counselled there was holinesse in the will and that commanded and all the affections were like loyall subjects imbracing what reason and holy will commanded In this common-wealth there were no traitors no in Adams heart there were no tumultuous disorders as now we finde but what the reason said and the will chused that the affections embraced Quest Wherein doth this subjection discover it selfe How shall wee see Adams affections submitting to reason Ans In foure particulars Wherein the affections submitted to reason 1. The affections of Adam were willing to entertaine every command which wisedome and holinesse gave The affections are but so many servants that attend on the understanding 1 Pet. 5.9 Bee sober and watch There is a sobriety required in the soul namely a man should not lavish out his affections on other things and so unfit himself to be under the subjection of the Truth This sobriety was abundant in Adam he had a sweet easinesse and softnesse of affection like waxe to take the print of Gods Seale whereas it is with our affections as with drunken servants who when their Masters call them are not themselves for there is a drunkennesse in mans heart when it is inordinately carried with too eager a pursuit after vaine things though reason commands yet it obeyeth not Adams affections were in a sweete frame for if God revealed any command love embraced it Ephes 6.15 Having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace The feet are the affections the shooing of the feet is the preparing of the affections to entertaine all the conditions of the Gospel of peace A man that is shod is fit to goe a journey so when the affections are thus shod they are fit to walke in any way that God requires Since Adam lost this sobriety of affections what awkardnesse doe wee finde to duty when a man should love an enemy how hardly is hee brought to it when a man ought to reforme a sinne what a difficulty is there in it 2. They were speedy in the performance of what was injoyned them A wise understanding could no sooner reveale a duty to be done but they ecchoed answerably This all of us would have Psalm 40. mark how speedy Christ was in performing of duty Behold I come thy law is within mine heart And Psal 27.8 The Lord saith seek yee my face and his affections answered Thy face Lord will I seeke Also in Psal 119.4 5. Gods voice saith I charge you diligently keepe my Commandements and they eccho again Oh that our wayes were made so direct that we might keep thy Statutes 1 Pet. 1.13 Gird up the loyns of your mind And in Luk. 12.35 it is said Let your loynes bee girded about and your lights burning The loynes of our mindes are our affections They are compared to loose garments such as they wore in the East Countries which they girded up when they went on a journey Our affections hang like loose garments about us wee must gird them up that we may with more speed goe in the pathes of Gods Statutes Thus David prayeth Set mine heart at liberty that I may runne the wayes of thy commandements But we find the contrary for though many times the minde so yeelds that the course is holy yet what a base wearinesse hangs on the heart what slow hearts have we how doe we draw our loyns after us We feele this and the ground of it is the want of Gods image 3. They continued in the speed they made Adams affections were to hold themselves in an holy bent without warping Wee finde the contrary In Gal. 6. the Apostle saith Bee not weary in well doing Sometimes a man is hot at first and then his affections coole this is the bane of Religion Hee was holy so they may say of a man-devill 2 Cor. 11.14 an Angell of light But Adam was able to hold himselfe in a right pitch This David prayed for Psal 51.12 when he had wounded his affections Oh stablish mee with thy free spirit as if he should say Time was when I did love thy Word mine heart did feare evill and I did hate uncleannesse but now how unstedfast are my affections therefore stablish mee with thy free spirit If you finde your hearts giving way to any base lusts you shall finde them easily giving back from holy duties Rev. 2.31 Thou hast forsaken thy first love O woe to that declining condition that those who heretofore expressed forwardnesse in a good course and could cry for mercy as for life are now key-cold But Adams affections were able to keep themselves in full strength and so did the Saints of God Num. 14.24 Caleb followed God fully Psalm 63.9 My soule followes hard after thee Hee pursued God with eagernesse as the creature the prey David stands not still nor delayes but pursueth and as the phrase is Esa 51.1 follows after righteousnesse Thou that hast a stubborne heart by nature if thou beest once righteous thou wilt then follow after meeknesse 4. His affections were in an orderly tractablenesse to the rule of reason and holinesse Reason and holinesse gave not only direction to the affections but moderation in all things and upon all occasions The affections would not bee carried out of order nor measure upon any thing nor stay longer then they should upon any object An Embassador goes no farther then his Commission stayes no longer then his Commission gives leave so reason and holinesse were the commanders of Adams affections they received a command therefrom and went no further then reason and holinesse allowed them It is lawfull for a man to love the world but no more then reason and holinesse allowes if God should say I will take away these things from thee love and joy should willingly part with them The souldier if he be loyall when the Commander biddeth battell hee goes when hee soundeth a retrait he returnes home againe so the reason and will sanctified were the commanders of Adams course When reason and holinesse saith it a man may delight in the things of this life but when they say grieve no
is this because God requires that I should come alwaies to a Congregation when according to the order of the Church it is appointed or celebrated for all but here it is celebrated at severall times for severall persons by reason of the greatnesse of the Congregation And now these cautions premised it is a sin for a man not to take all the occasions in the place where hee lives to partake of Gods ordinance that hee hath appointed for his good Now the grounds of the Point are these 1. Our own necessity might justly require this our sinnes many wee want strength and power against them our abilities small weakenesse of grace great and therefore we had need of all the helps that may encourage us of all the means that might strengthen us of all Gods ordinances that might carry us on with more chearfulnesse and comfort and sufficiency in a Christian course 2. Look wee here to the mercy of God and the richnesse of Gods goodnesse and the bounty and the large provision that God makes for us hee also requires our care and christian attendance unto the enjoyment of the meanes for our good the Lord is the Master of the Feast it is his mercy to provide these means and his free grace to give us liberty to enjoy them then to turn our back unto these ordinances is to cast his kindenesse into the kennell it is an high dishonour to God and an high contempt unto his ordinances Quest. 2. But what if a man bee not prepared for the Sacrament is hee then bound to come Answ No he ought not to come unto the Supper of the Lord but this hee must know His sin is desperate his offence is hainous and high that he is thus unworthy and sinfull and unprepared for to come and therefore he must not rest here in this estate but take it as a marvellous hainous and miserable condition wherein hee must never give himselfe rest untill he get out thereof There is such a peevishnes of distemper in a mans spirit such an idleness in his nature that because he cannot have and do what he would therefore he will neither have nor doe what he should and because his heart is not humbled and the like therefore he will be content to continue in his corruptions and keepe his sinne and cast Gods kindnesse behind him for in effect he saith he will not doe what hee should unlesse the Lord will doe for him what he list A gaine there is also an idle distemper in the heart when a man thinks thus If I should come to the Sacrament I must walke thus strictly and exactly and I must part with my corruption and that is the reason we will not receive the Sacrament Quest 3. But you will say What great sinne is there in this that a man should abstain from comming to the Sacrament wherein appeares it Answ It appeares in this in that the soule loveth his sinne and harboureth his corruption more tenderly and imbraceth it more neerly and prizeth it more highly then he doth the bloud of Christ or the mercy and favour of God in Christ this every man that will not prepare for the Sacrament nor come to the Sacrament shewes by his practice and proclaims in the course of his life The second thing to bee handled was After what maner or how he should be prepared There bee two things here considerable 1. How a man should bee prepared for the Sacrament 2. How he may partake of the benefit and fruit of the Sacrament For the former that a man may bee prepared for the Sacrament two things are required 1. He must have these graces Faith Repentance Knowledge and Love for without these no man can receive good from the Sacrament Ob. But here may some object and say If a man cannot find or feel that he hath grace must he therefore abstaine Ans A mans sense and feeling and the judgement that he passeth upon himselfe out of his weaknesse is no rule to go by in this case The reason is because many times the best Saints are most suspicious and hee that hath most grace in temptation hath least sense and feeling of his grace Qu. Why how then what course must hee take and by what rule must he be judged An. He must openly nakedly plainly and to the full lay open his estate unto some faithfull judicious and holy-hearted Minister and if upon sincere relation of his estate the Minister out of the Word shall answer all the objections that he can make against himselfe and is able to give out of his owne relation arguments to convince him then is hee bound to submit unto the Word and to addresse himselfe unto the partaking of the Sacrament 2. For preparation to the Sacrament it is not enough for a man to have these graces but he must renew them and put fresh colours upon all those spirituall abilities that God hath bestowed upon him hee must not only have faith repentance knowledge and love but hee must renew all these For the renewing of repentance observe this Look what sin thy soule hath over-loved look what staines and blots thy heart hath taken since thou hast received the Sacrament and get thy heart more loosened from every sin then ever it was before the committing of it and never leave it untill it bee come to a right set and frame and as ready to entertaine the grace that is in Christ and to submit thereto as formerly thou hast been nay more then ever thou wast before Also renew thy faith thus Looke what doubtings and staggerings thou hast had since the last Sacrament how thy faith hath been weakned and clouded and renew this grace afresh and to this purpose remember this rule See a greater insufficiencie in thy selfe then ever thou didst formerly and come with greater boldnesse and confidently expect more mercy and favour from the Lord by his ordinances then ever thou didst before And so likewise for renewing of thy love observe this rule See a greater need of the Sacrament then formerly thou hast done and then see a greater strength assistance to be received from the Sacrament every day more and more Now for the second thing which is the way to partake of the good of the Sacrament that is done these waies 1. You must rightly inform your selves of what you must expect from and what you may have in the Sacrament what you come for and what is there to be gotten All spiritual good that your hearts can desire is to be had here The soul can want nothing can desire nothing God hath promised nothing can bestow nothing but it is here to be received The ground is this because Christ is there and all his merits and he that hath the Sonne hath life and in him all things In a word all that the sinner can desire as the pardon of what is amisse in him power for the subduing of all corruptions for him and the quickning