who is the best beloved Son of God By whose strength can Satan with all the powers of darknesse bee vanquishâ—d but by his who is stronger then all the Divels Who can overcome death but hee that hath the power of death The good things to bee restored are perfect righteousnesse adoption the image of God the gifts of the Spirit life eternall and the like Now who can make man righteous but hee that is Righteousnesse it selfe Who can make men the sonnes of God by grace but hee that is the Sonne of God by nature Who can restore us to the image of God but hee that is the invisible image of God Who can give us the Spirit but hee from whom the Spirit of God proceedeth And who can give man eternall life but hee that is life it selfe And thus it behoved mans redeemer to be God Secondly the Justice of God which as it leaveth not sinne unpunished so it punisheth it not but in that nature which hath sinned required that hee should bee man And thus hee that knew y 2 Cor. 5.21 no sinne was made sinne for us that wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him And hee must bee God and Man in one person that hee might bee a middle man betweene God and Man and doe the thiâ—gs which were to bee performed with z Heb. 5.1 God and also with men And thus there was a necessitie that the fulnesse of the Godhead should dwell in the humane nature of Christ and that hee should bee God and man in one person Doth Christ dwell in mans flesh Use Hath hee assumed mans nature into the unity of his person The honor and exaltation of mans nature then behold the honour of man how wondrously Christ hath exalted the nature of man Man that by his sinne hath made himselfe extremely base and ignominious is exceedingly honoured by Christ Jesus even above all the residue of the creatures for hee tooke not on him the a Heb. 2.16 nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham Hee often used the Angels as his ministers and instruments but tooke them not into the unity of his person they have indeed a neere and sweet communion with him but the nature of man alone hath the prerogative and glory of being one with Christ personally Ambrose saith * Honorem hunc digniâ—atem humanae naturae Deus Dei filius contribuit ut Deus homo una persona esset God the Sonne of God hath given this honour and dignitie to the humane nature that God and man should bee one person Great is the honour that comes to man by Christs incarnation it is onely the Lord Jesus that makes man honourable and glorious the Sunne is the glory of the world the head is the glory of the body the crowne is the glory of the King the flower is the glory of the garden b Prov. 17 6. Childrens children saith Solomon are the crowne of old men and the glory of children are their fathers but when all is done the glory of a Christian is Christ Jesus hee that commeth neerest unto Christ and is most entirely united to him is of all persons the most honourable and glorious These are a c 1 Pet. 2.9 royall Priesthood a chosen generation a peculiar people called out of darknesse into a marvelous light Women suppose it a great glory to bee taken into wedlocke by rich men and Nobles Men repute it a high honour to be received into the favour and fellowship of Princes Servants have high thoughts of their being made companions of their Lords and Masters but true glory full abiding glory commeth unto man by his being received of Christ by his having union communion with Christ hee alone is truly honourable and everlastingly noble that hath Christ graciously dwelling in him he hath the honour of a d Iohn 1.12 Sonne of God by regeneration and adoption the honour of a e Iohn 15.15 friend of God for Gods familiar and full imparting of his mind and secrets to him the honour of a f Rom. 8.37 Conquerour for the victory which Christ gives him over the Divell the world and his owne corruption the honour of a g Ephes 5.30 Spouse for Christs spirituall wedlock with him the honour of an h Rom. 8.17 heire for his free participation of all the good things of his heavenly Father and the honour of a i Rev. 1.6 King for the spirituall dominion which hee hath over himselfe and the world Were man sensible of the honour that comes by the participation of Christ Jesus hee would never so strive for worldly honours nor entertaine such dishonourable thoughts of the wayes of Christ and his servants The state of that man doth ever at last prove most dishonourable and base that thinkes to enoble himselfe without Christ Joseph brought his brethren and presented them to Pharaoh King of Egypt hee accepted them bad them dwell in the k Gen. 47.6 best of the land and commanded that the men of activity among them should be rulers over his catell through Christ wee come nigh to the great King of heaven and earth hee accepts us hee bestowes his best blessings upon us and makes us spirituall rulers over all worldly vanities and our owne affections Very great is the honour that God dispenseth unto man through Christ his Sonne Mans care to preserve his honor And O how great should the care of man bee that is thus honoured by Christ not to dishonour himselfe by wallowing like a swine in the mire and filth of sinne by bowing downe to the world as Gideons l Iud. 7. thousands to the waters by enthralling himselfe to the Divell and his owne lusts as sometimes Dalila cut off Sampsons m Iud. 16. lockes and made him a slave to the Philistines O man doe not dishonour that nature of thine which Christ hath so honoured doe not debase that which Christ hath exalted doe not unite and joyne thy selfe in communion with the Divell and the dung and drosse of the world Christ having taken mans nature into the unitie of his person as a pledge of thy future exaltation doe not bow downe thy soule and exalt thy lust as Solomon sometimes saw n Eccl. 10.17 servants on horse-backe and Princes walking on foote But as Christ hath honoured thee Manner how man must preserve his honour Non est digâ—um ut inde exigas honorem unde refugis laborem so maintaine thy dignity and spirituall glory by purging thy selfe from sinne as a living spring doth purge it selfe from pollution by contending mightily against all the oppositions of grace as a Souldier in the day of battle by being industrious in the works of holinesse as hee that labours for great wages a Christians labour is his honour by shining as the Sunne with light by being full as the tree with fruit by abounding as the sea with waters As the nature
fire from heaven was to the Captaines which came up against Eliah what the burning fornace was to them that cast in Shadrach Meshec and Abednego the same will be the coming of the L. Jesus to all unholy persons O therfore away with your sins every soul of man reform his wayes Job 11.14 That you may lift up your faces with boldnes that you may with great joy and comfort say Come Lord Iesus Thirdly get it to your hearts the pretious pearle of a lively faith Eph. 6.16 this wil quench all Satans darts silence all the accusâ—tions of conscience make you looke on Christ as on a friend to comfort you Rom. 8.31 an advocate to plead for you and a redeemer to save you and like Eliahs fiery chariot will carry your soules aloft and bring you with gladnesse into the presence of the Lord Jesus Fourthly make a good use of your talent be wise be diligent be faithfull holy humble in the imployment of it and Christ shall come with comfort and he shall entertain you with a sweet and comfortable Euge. Well done thou good and faithfull servant Mat. 25.23 thou hast been faithfull over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into thy masters joy And let us be excited stirred up to work our hearts to this longing for Christs comming considering First the satiety of our estate in heaven Rev. 22.2 there is a Tree bearing twelve sorts of fruit youth without old age health without sicknesse fulness without loathing liberty without bondage beauty without deformitie impassibility without griefe abundance without want peace without trouble security without feare knowledge without ignorance glory without ignominy joy without sorrow Secondly the security of that estate no enemy can reach us it is a Citie never besiegâ—d a haven never disquieted there is no death neither of sin nor of misery Rev. 21.4 Nec culpae nec miseriae nec naturae nor of nature Thirdly the jucundity of it a day without clouds a paradise without thornes fulness of joy true joy without deceit sincere joy free from the mixture of sorrow Psa 16. constant joy a Sun that never sets of which we may say as Augustine doth * O gaudium supergaudium vincens omne gaudium extra quod non est gaudium quando intrabo in te ut videam Deum meum qui habitat in te O joy above joy overcoming all joy without which there is no joy when shall I enter into thee that I may see my God who dwelleth in thee Here is joy above us in the vision of God joy within us in the glorification of our souls and bodies joy about us in our communion with Saints and Angels joy beneath us in our evasion and escapall of hell and everlasting darknesse Here is to the souls of all beleevers Gaudium de Christo joy concerning Christ as the authour of our welfare in Christo in Christ as he is the head and wee the members cum Christo with Christ as coheires with him of the same inheritance post Christum after Christ every soule joying according to proportion per Christum by Christ being reconciled to God by him and beholding God with joy through him propter Christum for Christ he being exalted above all creatures and having purchased all things O let these things sweeten the thought of Christ Jesus to us inflame our soules with longing after him make us all say Come Lord Iesus Thus from the Motion passe wee to the Mover Lord Jesus Two titles of the blessed Sonne of God the one a title of authoritie to command us the other of mercie to comfort us Love and Justice are sweetly knit together in Christ Jesus Note as Lord hee requireth obedience to his precepts as Jesus he calleth for faith in his promises Faith and obedience must never be divided in Gods servants hee that calls him Lord without obedience dishonours him hee that calls him Iesus without faith receives no benefit by him Hee is stiled first Lord and then Jesus Note If Christ bee not our Lord and Master first hee will never bee our Saviour at last He that will not have Christ to be his Lord in his life shall not have him for his Iesus at the houre of his death O therefore serve him honour him obey him as your Lord beleeve him love him rejoyce in him as your Jesus now that you may bee able upon all occasions to say Come Lord Iesus Come Lord Jesus as a Counsellour to guide us as a Rock to support us as a Friend to comfort us as a Fountaine to supply us Come Lord Jesus in the day of fulnesse and make us thankfull in the day of want and make us contented in the day of our sinne and make us penitent in the day of affliction and make us patient in the day of temptation and make us confident in the day of sorrow and make us joyfull in the day of health and make us mindfull of the day of sicknesse in the day of life and make us watchfull against the day of death in the day of sicknesse and assure us of the blessed issue of our earthly pilgrimage in the day of death and translate our soules into a glorious life Even so come LORD JESUS And now touching this spectacle of mortalitie here before us what shall I say unto you wherein shall I from hence instruct you but onely in two things in the genenerall First by way of premonition Secondly by way of commemoration By way of premonition and so you may in this object of death be admonished First of the transitorinesse of mans pilgrimage his life is a vapour soon vanishing a race soone runne Heâ— 13.14 a candle quickly gone out having no continuing Citie here but must seeke one that is to come Secondly of the vanitie of all earthly abundance it is a starting Bow in the day of battle a rotten Anchor in the stormie tempest Wee see that of Solomon ver fied by daily experience Pro. 11.4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death the righteousnesse of Christ imputed the righteousnesse of conversation well ordered giveth comfort deliverance from the second death when soule body are dissolved Thirdly whatsoever extravagancies or aberrations we see in others let us not thereby take occasion to insult over them to passe any rash or finâ—ll sentence upon them this is the worst use of other mens offences this is to thrust God out of his office Rom. 14.4 For every man stands or falls to his owne master but what wee see amisse in others let us correct in our selves by the sight of their spots let us wash our owne garments bee thankfull to God who doth preserve us for no man standeth by his owne strength Let us be watchfull over our selves and desire God to keepe us lest Satan and our owne corruption draw us
a candle of his owne thereunto to helpe him in his travell Such was the fulnesse of light issuing from the fiery Pillar that the Israelites needed not the light of any lamp besides to guide them in their journeyes to the land of Canaan Such a fiery Pillar such a bright and shining Sun is Christ that wee need no other light to guide us in all our doings in all our progresse to the heavenly Canaan but onely Christ shining in the sacred Scriptures and in the labours of his faithfull Ministers Therefore wee are sent to him as to the onely e Mat. 23.9.10 Master having both authoritie and wisedome to command and instruct us This was commanded by the voyce from heaven f Mat. 17.5 Heare him as if the Lord had said I will not that yee depend on any other whether Moses or Elias but on Christ Moses and Elias vanished Christ remained the Ceremonies of the Law were abolished the predictions of the Prophets fulfilled Christ alone remaineth and him wee must heare as a Scholler his Teacher receiving all instruction from him as a Servant his Lord yeelding ful and constant obedience to him Him we must heare in his Word as a King in his Proclamation in his Ministers as a King in his Embassadours as a Bride-groome in his Friends Him wee must heare in his precepts obeying him in his promises beleeving him in his judgements fearing him in his mercies drawing nigh unto him and rejoycing in him every way quieting and contenting our selves with him And for this cause hee is stiled our Prophet a Prophet g Deut. 18.15 18 19. like unto Moses in nature and office being a Man and a Mediatour as Moses was though more excellent and in a more singular sort Moses as a Servant Christ as a h Heb. 3. Sonne and Lord of his Church a Prophet revealing the counsell of his Father concerning our redemption a Prophet giving power to his Word to worke for our conversion As he called Lazarus by his voyce and raised him by his power so hee calleth us by his Word and converteth raiseth us by his grace And as the eyes of Israel were on the fiery Pillar to guide them and as that moved they moved so must our eyes bee on Christ conforming our motion according to Christs prescription all other doctrines are excluded wee are denied to hearken to them to embrace or entertaine them i 2 Epist Ioh. v. 10. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine the doctrine of Christ but his owne doctrine receive him not to house have no acquaintance with him give him no audience shew him no countenance neither bid him God speed salute him not affoord him no speech wish him no successe shut your eares at him withdraw your selves from him Though wee or an Angel from heaven saith Saint Paul whosoever hee bee be he never so famous for his learning or renowned for his sanctity if hee speake or live in externall appearance as an Angell yet if he preach another Gospel another doctrine k Gal. 1.8 then that which wee have preached unto you let him bee accursed let him be vile and execrable in your eye odious and abominable in your apprehension Looke to Christ cleave to Christ turne not aside from him looke for no other Instructer to make thee wise unto salvation Looke saith Chrysostome for no other Master Noli expâ—ctare alium magistrum nemo te potest sic docere Chrys thou hast the words of God no man can so teach thee And I saith our Saviour of himselfe am the way the Truth and the Life Ambulare vis saith Augustine of Christ ego sum via Falli non vis ego sum veritas Mori non vis ego sum vita Wilt thou walke I am the Way Wilt thou not bee deceived I am the Truth Wilt thou not dye I am the life So that in Christ there is such fulnesse that wee have no cause of going to others to joyne other doctrines and observations to Christ Jesus Foure grounds of this truth In regard of the perfection of Christ It l Col. 1.19 pleased God that in him should all fulnesse dwell fulnesse of wisedome to direct fulnesse of power to defend fulnesse of worth to satisfie Gods justice to merit mans salvation fulnesse of righteousnesse to justifie fulnesse of holinesse to sanctifie fulnesse of mercie to pâ—rdon fulness of sufficiencie to satisfi◠〈◊〉 is stiled a Rocke for his strength to support us a Counsellour for his wisedome to guide us a Fountaine opened for his readiness and preparedness to wash away our uncleanness a Tree of life bearing twelve sorts of fruit every moneth for the plenty and perpetuitie of joy and gladness and other fruits of the Spirit which he ministers to true beleevers To a river of living water cleare as Crystall for that ineffable purity perfection comfort and satisfaction which Christ ministreth to the soules of his children To a pretious Pearle for his worth To a Store-house for his fulness of all spirituall treasure Oâ—â—e hâ—ppiness of the soule that enjoyes Christ He that hath the Lord Jesus nâ—eâ— not look elswhere for any perfections Hâ—ving Christ we have all saith Ambrose he may sayâ— Iacob did I have enough The m Rev. 12 1. woman â—ne spouse of Christ is describâ—d cloathed with the Sunne and a Crowne of twelve Stars upon her head the righteousnes of Christ cloathing her as the Sun and his doctrine guiding her as the light of twelve Starres and in him are n Col. 2.3 hidden all the treasures of wisedome Surely the man never knew never saw never apprehended Christs fulness that dotes on forraigne dâ—ctrines that admires humane inventions In regard of the vanity of all humane doctrines and observations They are a o Ezek. 13 7. Lam. 2.14 vaine vision a vision composed of vaine and foolish things they are an emptie Lampe wherein is no light they discover not the sinne of mans heart they doe not reveale God in Christ they shine not into the heart they make not wise unto salvation they are a Schoole wherein men are ever learning and yet p 2 Tim. 3.7 never come to the knowledge of the truth He that is most devoted to humane observations is commonly most ignorant of the mysteries of godliness As long as Saint Paul was a Scholler in this Schoole he remained ignorant of his owne estate hee stâ—ll beheld himselfe in a false glass q Rom. 7.9 I was alive saith Paul once without the Law Hee knowes little of the Law of God that makes mens traditions a law to direct him in the service of God no light discloseth the heavens but that which shineth from heaven no doctrine shewes forth God and the way to heaven but onely that which God himselfe hath given Of all other doctrines we may say as Iob did of his friends r Iob 13.5 They are Physitians of no value they neither
detained by his father in law Iudg. 19.5 that hee lost his Concubine by the way shee came short home thus many of us are so feasted by the world so detained from day to day that wee lose our soules by the way wee come short of heaven and eternall happinesse at last It is marvellous to consider how in all matters of this life wee take the time make use of the opportunitie If the body bee diseased we goe presently to the Physician with the woman of Shunem wee saddle the horse 2 King 4. and ride in all haste if fire bee kindled in the house wee instantly runne for water to quench it if a citie be besieged like the men of Gibeon Ios 10.6 wee speedily send for strength to remove it if wee bee rob'd wee forthwith make hue and cry that the thiefe may be apprehended Husbandmen for the earth Mariners for the sea Merchants for the Mart and every Smith strikes while the iron is hot And is it not a shame that wee whose soules are so dangerously diseased an infernall fire burning within us an armie of unclean spirits laying siege against us many theeves robbing us of the best among all jewels yet wee move not stirre not strive not for deliverance Wee have the best seed to sow the richest voyage to make the chiefest merchandise to buy and yet wee regard not our day esteeme not the time of our visitation entertaine not the proffer which God of his free and abundant mercie doth make O beloved consider First how just it will bee with God not to heare us in our misery if wee refuse to heare him inviting us in the multitude of his mercie shall the master heare the servant requesting if the servant regard not the master requiring Remember the words of a dying man of a dying King a holy a wise King a man after Gods owne heart the words of King David to his sonne Solomon 1 Chron. 28.9 Thou my sonne Solomon know thou the God of thy father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts If thou seeke him hee will bee found of thee but if thou forsake him hee will cast thee off for ever Secondly doth not our refusall of mercie when it is offered cut off all hope of mercie for hereafter Doth not the rejecting of a proffered pardon turn the Kings favour into anger against the malefactor Did not this give Christ occasion to withdraw his mercie from Jerusalem O Jerusalem Mat. 23.37 38. Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered you together even as a Hen doth gather her Chickens under her wing and yee would not Behold your house is left unto you desolate Thirdly will not our continuance in sinne make our repentance if ever we doe repent so much the more grievous full of terrour vexation and anguish Where trees have growne long and the roots are deepe the earth is very much rent and torne before the tree is plucked up Doth not the traveller who hath walked long and farre out of his way goe backe with much sorrow sadness and griefe of heart Fourthly will God be well pleased that we shall spend all the flower and strength of our time in Satans service and when wee are old and can serve sin no longer come crowd and thrust our selves into his service Fifthly doe not wee hereby lose much spirituall riches blessed communion and acquaintance with God comfortable assurance of joy and glory in the heavens that comfort peace pleasure rejoycing contentment which infinitely surpasseth all the contentment in the world O therfore let us not any longer delay our conversion put off our repentance neglect the day of our visitation let us not be like Jerusalem strangers to the things belonging to our peace but let us thinke upon the Lords patheticall and manifold expostulations asking Pro. 1.22 How long yee simple ones will yee love simplicitie and scorners delight in their scorning and fooles hate knowledge Interrogating also with his people Ezek. 18.30 31. Repent and turne your selves from all your transgressions make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will yee dye O house of Israel Call to minde also and thinke seriously upon the Lords free and gracious invitations Ier. 3.22 bidding us by the Prophet Turne O back-sliding children and I will heale your back-slidings Zech. 1.3 And againe Turne yee unto mee Mat. 11.28 and I will turne to you And Come to mee all yee that be heavie loaden and I will refresh you Thinke on this and Remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth Eccles 12.1 Remember him as a Maker to depend upon him as a Father to love him as a Master to feare him as a King to obey him as a Friend to rejoyce in him as a Shield to defend you a Store-house to minister all fulnesse to you And as the Angell charged Lot Gen. 19.17 Escape for thy life looke not behinde thee neither stay in all the plaine escape to the mountaines lest thou bee consumed so let mee charge exhort intreat perswade every person that tenders his owne everlasting peace glory comfort to hasten out of the Sodome of sinne to escape from his uncleannesse not to looke back with love or liking upon any way which God hath forbidden lest his consuming wrath seize upon him but shine more and more like the Sunne unto the perfect day Goe forward like a good traveller bee filled with all goodnesse as the sea with waters and you shall have a resting place in Sion drinke of the rivers which shall fill your soules with the choycest pleasures and bee more glorious then the Sunne for ever in the heavens FINIS THE LORD JESUS THE SOULES LAST REFUGE By Alexander Grosse B. of Divinity at the funerall of Mr. S. H. PSAL. 73.26 My flesh and my heart faileth me but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever PSAL. 141.8 Mine eyes are unto thee O GOD the LORD in thee is my trust leave not my soule destitute PSAL. 142.4 5. I looked on my right hand and beheld but there was no man that would know mee refuge failed me no man cared for my soule I cryed unto the LORD I said Thou art my Refuge and my Portion in the land of the living LONDON Printed by R. Young for John Bartlet at the gilt Cup in Pauls Church-yard 1640. THE LORD JESUS the Soules last Refuge REV. 22.20 Come Lord Jesus THE comming of the Sunne is joyous to him that hath been long in darknesse the comming of the Dove with an Olive branch was comfortable to Noah after he had been tossed divers dayes upon the deluge the re-appearing of the Starre to the Wise men made them exceeding joyfull And such is the comming of the Lord Jesus to the
his testimonies he hath not dealt so with every people he hath not shewed such mercy to every congregation therefore as the tree which hath much soile cast about him brings forth much fruit as the servant which had five talents brought much advantage to his Lord and Master so strive yee to bring a measure of glory to God answerable to the measure of the meanes hee hath affoorded you the Lord hath sowne much and lookes to reap much the harvest must answer the seed bee therefore filled with all heavenly graces as the sea with waters be strong in faith as the tree growes deepe in the rootes bee fervent in love as a fire of much wood abound in all the fruits of the Spirit like the tree which bare Å¿ Rev. 22.2 twelve sorts of fruit The more you abound in grace under the Gospel the longer the Gospel shall be continued the more sweetnesse shall your soules taste in it the neerer shall you draw to God by it the more effectually shall the pardon of your sinne bee sealed up through it and the more comfortable account shall you render to God at last for all the labours of his Ministers whereof God hath made you partakers the more comfortably shall I againe behold your faces at our last generall appearance the more blessed account shall I make to Christ my great Lord and Master of this my Ministeriall service and shall the more joyfully for the present in the words of the Apostle here this day take my last leave of you and say Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect bee of good comfort bee of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you Finally brethren Brethren is a title of compellation the second branch of this tree There are brethren by nature brethren by condition and brethren by profession and participation of one Christ the last of these are the brethren here mentioned whom the Apostle here stileth brethren in respect of Originall having one God for their Father with him in respect of Relation being knit to Christ by one bond of saving faith and one golden chaine of unfained love among themselves with Saint Paul the Apostle and in respect of true and fervent Love the Apostle loving them as his brethren and this the Apostle chiefly intendeth here it being his purpose now to manifest his love unto them And hence we learne That there is in all Gods faithfull Ministers Doct. a very fervent and unfained love to their Hearers A brotherly love a love like that of Jonathan to David t 2 Sam. 1.26 a love surpassing the love of women being deare unto them as the apple of their eye as the signet upon their finger or the Bride unto the Bride-groome therefore are the Ministers stiled Husbandmen Shepheards Watch-men Parents Nurses as the Husband-man loves the vineyard which hee hath planted the Shepheard the flocke which hee keepeth the Watch-man the Citie which hee watcheth the Father the children which he begetteth or the Nurse the child to which shee draweth forth her breast and feedeth so Gods Ministers love their hearers the vineyard which they plant the flock which they keepe the Citie over which they watch the children which they ministerially beget and nurse for thus the people are stiled by names expressing the Ministers high prizing of them great delight in them and singular love unto them as u Isa 8.18 children w 1 Thes 2.19 20. hope joy crown of rejoycing glory and joy the Apostle putting on the indulgent affection of a father and in the strength and passion of his love so stiles them and speakes thus unto them What is our hope or joy or crowne of rejoycing Are not even yee in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his comming for yee are our glory and joy And Saint Paul speaking of his love to the Corinthians calleth it a x 2 Cor. 7.4 more aboundant love that is a high a strong a transcendent love such love that hee saith his y 2 Cor. 6.11 mouth was open to them and his heart was enlarged His whole man was open to them as a Bridegroomes house is opened to the Bride to entertaine them to love them to rejoyce in them to communicate himselfe to the utmost unto them as the open Sunne sendeth forth his light and the open cloud doth power out his raine nay they were in z 2 Cor. 7.3 his heart to live and dye with them And who can doubt of the love of Gods faithfull Ministers towards their hearers that shall but looke Upon their labours to save the soules of Reas 1 their hearers They are a 2 Tim. 4.2 instant in season and out of season taking all opportunities they sow in the morning and with-hold not their hand in the evening they have no rest they hold not their b Isa 62.11 peace day nor night as Naomi said of Boaz The man will not bee c Ruth 3. ult at rest untill hee hath finished the thing this day so such is the love of Gods Ministers that they are at no rest untill they have finished the worke of grace in their hearers consummated the marriage between them and Christ Upon their sorrowes sadnesse sighes Reas 2 and teares to behold the peoples barrennesse under their labours obstinacie against their perswasions and the danger where into they thrust their soules no father is more grieved to see the lewdnesse of his child d Jer. 13.17 Jeremies soule weepes in secret for his people Isaiahs bowels sound like a e Isai 16.11 harpe for Moab Paul had f Rom. 9.2 continuall sorrow for the Iewes he was pained as a g Gal. 4.19 woman in travel for the Galatians and out h 2 Cor. 2.4 of much affliction and anguish of heart he wrote with many teares to the Corinthians that they might know the love which he had more abundantly unto them You may in the teares and sorrowes of Gods Ministers for the peoples disobedience read their love as in lively characters the greatnesse of the Ministers griefe for the peoples misery argues the strength of their desire to make them happy Reas 3 Upon their sufferings for their hearers they suffer reproach in their names being made a i 2 Cor. 4.9 spectacle to Men and Angels they suffer losse of goods losse of peace losse of libertie and losse of life that they may be k Acts 20.24 faithful in their calling finish the course of their Ministery and save the soules committed to them The sufferings of faithfull Ministers are a clear and lively evidence of their love to their hearers Gods Ministers doe often sustaine great temporall losses for other mens everlasting gaine and advantage And whereunto should this love of Gods Ministers move and work our hearts Use but to frequent and diligent attendance on their labours as wee cheerfully hearken to their voyce who love us as children come cheerfully to the banquet
Prov. 23.4 not saith hee to bee rich cease from thine owne wisedome wilt thou set thine eyes on that which is not for riches make themselves wings they flye away as an Eagle towards heaven 6. Deceitfulnesse Sixthly the creature is very fraudulent Laban changed Iacobs wages ten times many are their changes who serve the creatures The Psalmist saith of them that n Psal 107 26. goe downe to the Sea in shippes and doe businesse in great waters They mount up to the heavens they goe downe againe to the depths their soule is melted because of trouble The like may wee say of them that goe downe to the creature and seeke for great things and doe great businesse in the sea of this world They mount up in honor in wealth in favour and they goe down again in povertie disgrace contempt and hatred and their soul doth even melt with trouble never man trusted the creature but was deceived by it his soule smarted for it when the promises thereof are greatest the deceit thereof is most dangerous as Diogenes sometimes stiled flattering speech Melleum laqueum a honey snare such a snare â—re the honey-sweet promises of the creature this like a Delilah sings us asleepe makes us secure shaves off our lockes robbes us of our spirituall strength and delivers us into Satans bondage When Absolom feasted Amnon and Amnons heart was merry with wine then Absoloms servants fell on Amnon and murthered him when the world feasteth man and the heart of man is merry with the worlds wine drunken with the fulnesse of the world then honours riches pleasures the worlds servants fall on man betray man and murther the soule of man frustrate the expectation of man prove a deceitfull Bow and a sandy foundation unto man and the folly of man is made manifest in seeking fulnesse in the creatures wherein without Christ Jesus the soule of man meets with nothing but emptinesse weaknesse bondage changes and deceitfulnesse all is vaine without Christ a thing of nought a very nullitie a non-ens like Iobs friends o Iob 13.5 Physicians of no value they cannot cure us helpe us ease us fill us they can doe nothing for us 2. Folly of seeking fulnesse in our selves Some seeke for fulnesse in themselves they please themselves with themselves they goe not out of themselves they looke not beyond nor above themselves for any thing to fill them to enrich them to make them happy they suppose they have water enough in their owne Well treasure enough in the store-house of their owne soules Goliah supposed hee had fulnesse enough of strength in his owne arme in his owne weapon and looked out for no other fulnesse to assist him in the conflict with David Vaine man corrupt man supposeth hee hath fulnesse enough in himselfe fulnesse enough of wisedome to guide him of libertie to convert himselfe of power to vanquish the adversaries of his soule of righteousnes to justifie himselfe in the sight of God of merit to procure salvation at the hands of God and therefore he goes not out of himself he addresses not himselfe to Christ hee seekes not to be filled with the fulnesse of Christ they trust in themselves that they p Luk. 18.9 are righteous they looke for no righteousnesse but their owne for no garment to cloath them but that which growes at home is spun and woven at home in the house of their own flesh for no Well to refresh them or wash them but what they digge out of their owne earth for no armour to defend them but that which is framed and made at home of their owne metall they are q Rev. 3.17 rich and full and want nothing in their owne opinion they are wise in their owne eye and leane to their owne r Pro. 3.5 understanding and trust not to the Lord looke not unto him regard not to be filled with his knowledge with his power with his goodnesse hee that hath highest thoughts of his owne fulnesse doth ever least regard the fulness of Christ hee is ready to say to Christ tendering to him his fulness as Esau did to Iacob sending him a present I Å¿ Gen. 33.9 have enough my brother keep that thou hast unto thy selfe It is wonderfull to consider how mens ignorance and unsensibleness of their own wants doth cause them to under-value the fulness of Christ O how little doe they who have high thoughts of their owne fulness discerne or taste of Christs fulness And what is man without Christ that hee should seeke for fulness in himselfe but an t Rom. 7.18 Eph. 2. â—2 empty house wherein dwelleth no good a dead man in whom is no life a blind man in whose soule is no light a loathsome leper on whom is no beautie as the world without the Sunne the flocke without a shepheard the members without a head the rush without mire and the flagge without water as sometime Iob spake as the field of the sloathfull without a diligent hand to dress it is over growne with thornes and nettles so and such is the soule of man without Christ Did man see his owne emptiness and vileness without Christ hee would never bee at rest untill he were filled with Christs fulnesse Folly of sâ—eking fulnesse in naked use of ordinances Some seeke for fulness in the naked presence and bare use of Gods ordinances never labouring to see Christ to taste Christ in them to receive Christ and his fulness through them to bee brought to the enjoyment of Christ by them Asa u 2 Chron. 16. promised himselfe a fulness of health from the Physicians he looked not beyond and through them to the Lord hee sought not to the Lord but to the Physicians Gods ordinances are the physicke his Ministers the Physicians Some seeke to them stay in them promise themselves fulnesse of health from them they seeke not they come not home to the Lord by them they partake not of Christ and his fulnesse in them The Jewes w Ier. 7.4 promised themselves fulnesse of defence safety victory salvation from the naked presence of the Temple without amendment of their doings without obedience to the God that dwelled in the Temple Micah perswaded himselfe of the fulnesse of all blessing because hee x Judg. 17.13 had a Levite to his Priest though he still retained his Idol and learned not of his Priest how to serve that God aright from whom commeth all blessing How many men doe turne the meanes of salvation into meanes of destruction not learning God in them not being led home to God by them Questionlesse mans use of Gods Ordinances is fruitlesse untill in them he both see and enjoy Christ and his fulnesse As therefore the Shunamitish woman thought it not enough that Gehazi was sent with his masters staffe but y 2 Kings 4.30 laid hold upon the Prophet and would not goe till hee himselfe went with her so think it not enough that
ye have Christs servant and Christs staffe Christs Minister and Christs Word but lay hold of Christ cleave to Christ and carry Christ with you You come to the Ministery to little purpose if you carry not home with you Christ Jesus if you be not filled with his fulnesse Folly of seeking fulnesse in humane inventions Some seeke for fulnesse in humane observations in serving God after their owne fancies or the doctrines of men z Lev. 10.2 Ier. 2.12 Ier. 23.28 Gen. 11. in offering sacrifice with strange fire in a false worship in a devised religion these seeke for fulnesse of water in a broken cisterne for fulnesse of ight in an empty lamp for fulnesse of bread in a heap of chaffe for fulnesse of figs upon a thistle these like them that builded Babel build to their own confusion these are like men running from the Sun and seeking light in a Glow-worme like the Prodigall that a Luk. 15. ranne from his fathers house where was all fulnesse of bread sought his meat among the swine to whom I may say as sometimes the Angell did to the women Why b Luk. 24.5 seeke yee the living among the dead So why seeke ye life salvation spirituall fulnesse among dead vaine and empty ceremonies The diseased woman c Mark 5. sought in vaine for health among the Physicians untill she came to Christ and man seekes in vaine for fulnesse untill he comes to the Lord Jesus Therefore as Peter sometime said to Christ Lord d Iohn 6.68 whither shall we go thou hast the words of eternall life so brethren let me say to you Brethren whither will ye goe on what rocke will you build what guide will you follow what friend will you chuse what treasure will you seeke Christ and none else hath the fountaine of all fulnesse O therefore leave all and come unto him that he may fill you with his grace first and with his glory last CHAP. VI. Discovering the folly of not comming fully home to Christ in whom is all fulnesse THis layeth open the folly of such as stand aloofe off from Christ continue strangers and come not fully home to Christ in whom all fulnesse is to be found and by whom the Lord hath ordained to minister all fulnesse to the soâ—lâ—s of men and without whom there is an utter emptinesse of grace in them yet as sometime Jephtha his brethren e 〈◊〉 1. rejected him though the Lord had appointed no other to deliver them in like sort many refuse Christ keep a great distance from Christ they will not come unto him receive him lay hold on him though the Lord hath appointed no other helper no other deliverer given no other name whereby f â—ct 4. â—2 they may be saved It is usuall with men to put the lowest price on that which God hath ordained to be the meanes of their greatest good Men are commonly very evill chusers very unhappy refusers in matters concerning their everlasting happinesse Christ saith the Evangelist came among his g Joh. 1.11 owne and his owne received him not He came among his own by incarnation taking our nature upon him appearing in the forme of a servant but they refused his service he came in the ministery of the Gospel as an Ambassadour publishing the tidings of salvation but they stopt their eares and would not hearken to him as a glorious and a shining Sun but they shut their eyes and would not behold him he came as a Physician to heale them but they regarded not his medicine hee came as a Shepheard to gather them home into his Fathers fold but they would not be gathered by him he came as a full and living fountain to fill them but they would neither draw nor drinke of the wells of salvation which hee opened to them they received him not by knowledge as their counsellor to instruct them by faith as their garment of righteousnesse to cloath and cover them as their rocke to support them by love as their bridegroome to marry their soules unto him by feare as their Prince to subject themselves unto him Christs blessed free and gracious tender of eternall happinesse is very slenderly esteemed very ungratefully refused by many persons Ordinarily nothing is more unwelcome then that which most concerns mans salvation h Mat. 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the prophets stonest them that are sent unto thee How often saith Christ wold I have gathered thee together even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings ye would not Christ like a hen to her chickens shewed his love to them his care for them his willingnesse to gather them home unto himselfe his readinesse to hide and protect them under the wings of his power his grace and fulnesse from the Divell and other instruments of cruelty which like kites in the aire sought to make a prey of them but they would not they would not come unto him they would not beleeve in him they would not embrace and receive him The soules of men are great enemies to their owne happinesse very profanely refusing Christs choicest mercies highly valuing the emptinesse of the world basely prizing Christs fulnesse So that as sometime Diogenes taxed the folly of the men of his time quòd res pretiosas minimo emerent venderentque vilissimas plurimo statuam tribus nummûm millibus emunt quum farinae choenix duobus aereis veniret because they would buy precious things cheape and sell base things at a deare rate because they valued a statue at three thousand pieces and sold a measure of corne for two farthings though the life of man had no need of a statue but could not live without corne Thus may we justly taxe the folly of men for under-valuing Christ the most precious of all things for over-valuing the world which is but dung i Phil. 3.8 and drosse in comparison of Christ selling their liberty peace quiet even their very soules for the world unwilling to depart with any thing for the enjoyment of Christ when yet the world is but even a dumb statue a dead idoll which can doe little or no thing for them and Christ is the true Manna the k Ioh. 6.1 bread of life come down from heaven giving life to all that beleevingly come unto him without whom men have no life of God within them for l 1 Ioh. 5.12 he that hath the sonne hath life he that hath not the sonne hath not life And whence is it that men are so backward to come to Christ to entertain Christ Foure grounds of this to receive of Christs fulnesse to m Prov. 9. eate of his bread and drinke of his wine which he hath mingled to partake of all the good things which God the Father hath given him to communicate and bestow upon the soules of men but 1. from their ignorance Ignorance of Christ the n Ioh. 1.10 world doth