maids question at such a time when if ever he should have stood for Christ he cast up all this and traced his heart and so wept Trace thy heart in thy dealings of buying selling c. with men and thou shalt finde much hypocrisie in thy pretences of love to thy friends in thy speaking of thine enemies How often dost thou in thy devotions seem if not what thou art yet more then thou art how oft dost thou among bad men seem worse then thou art and among good men seem better then thou art If thou thus tracest thy heart hypocrisie will not have a quiet abode in thy heart 5 Look upon Gods all-seeing eye Heb. 4.13 Prov. 5.21 He ponders all our goings as well of the inward man as outward man he knows every one of them Ezek. 11.5 Yea every thought Job 42.2 If a man lookt upon us we would not dally with him nor dissemble with him why dost thou deal hypocritically surely because thou more or less questions or forgets Gods omniscience 2 Cor. 2.17 Psalm 44.17 18 compared with v. 21. 6 Practise Godly jealousy from the known slipperiness of thy heart to be jealous over it in every company in every acting especially where there is any credit or profit coming towards you or on the other side any suffering is to be endured A man cannot think the number of the hypocrisies such temptations draw out above all be jealous of the itch of vain glory the heart is deceitfull above all things yea above the devil Jer. 17.10 Thou hast a watchfull eye upon thievish slippery servants have the same of thy theevish slippery heart If we be not jealous of our hearts hypocrisie will set up a throne there before we are aware no man so in danger of being overcome herein as he that is most confident Complain against thy hypocrisie before the Lord when thy heart at any time shall espie it in thee and tell thee of it do it with aggravations and make thy heart to ake therewith Esa 64.7 8. Psalm 51.10 8 Get faith not onely to receive the blood of Christ to wash thee from thy hypocrisie Heb. 10.22 but also to receive the spirit of Christ who leads believers into all truth John 14.17 Psalm 143.10 9 Repent of every known sin if there be one sin in thee unrepented of thou art an hypocrite Rom. 6.2 How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein q. d. How is it possible Such were Ezekiels hearers Ezek. 33.31 See it in Jehu 2 Kings 10.28 10 Consider what dishonour will come to God to thy brethren and to thy self in case thou shouldest be an hypocrite 1 to God Ezek. 36.23 When a Saint falls into a scandalous sin and violates his uprightness but in one particular how do the enemies of God blaspheme 2 Sam. 12.14 Much more if he were unsound in the whole and Gods people are much dishonoured for thy hypocrisie will be imputed to them Psalm 69.6 Such as is one such are they all will carnal men say and for thy self how wilt thou be ashamed shouldest thou be found an hypocrite See Matth. 24.51 Hence David praies Psalm 119.80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes Why that I be not ashamed in the presence of God Angels and men Shall in no wise lose his reward Obs There is a certain gracious reward which Christ hath in store for his people that truly serve him Psalm 58.11 Verily there is a reward for the righteous Prov. 11.18 to him that soweth righteousness there shall be a sure reward Reas 1 For the encouragement of Saints in their obedience Psal 19.11 In keeping of them there is great reward Heb. 6.10 11. 1 Cor. 15.58 Earthly rewards do much draw endeavours how much more should the reward of glory 2 That Gods servants may see that God is a good Master Col. 3.24 Use 1 Reprehension of all merit because the reward is free and gracious When we have done what we can we are unprofitable servants Luk. 17.10 That a work may be meritorious there must be a proportion betwixt the work and the wages but there can be no proportion betwixt our service here and the crown of glory because our work is finite but the crown infinite 2 Exhortation 1 To believe there is such a reward Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God next to the believing that God is must believe that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Psal 58.11 If thou do'st believe this that there is such a reward then cast not away thy confidence which hath great recompence of reward Heb. 10.35 Concerning which reward consider 1 What it is 2 To whom it is given 3 When. 4 What assurance of it 1 What it is A. God himself God tells Abraham that he was his exceeding great reward Gen. 15.1 Besides there is a reward of inheritance Col. 1.24 Knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance Luk. 6.35 Great is your reward in heaven 1 Cor. 2.9 2 To whom it is given A. 1 Negatively not to lazy and slothfull souls Matth. 11.12 The Kingdome of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force 2 Not to Merit-mongers nor to those who trust to their own righteousness Rom. 4.4 To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt 2 Affirmatively It is 1 To those who believe the promise Heb. 10.36 37 38. 2 To those who patiently continue in well doing Rom. 2.7 8. 3 To those who love the appearing of Christ 2 Tim. 4.8 3 Quest When this reward shall be Answ This is in part when we die as to the Thief on the cross the fulness of it at Christs coming Matth. 16.27 When the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with the Angels then he shall reward every man according to his works Rev. 22.12 Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be 2 Tim. 4.8 There 's a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day yea to all that love his appearing This recompence is at the resurrection of the just See Luk. 14.13 14. Rev. 11.18 4 What assurance of this reward Answ Great assurance 1 From Gods promise Prov. 11.18 To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward 1 Pet. 5.4 2 The believers knowledge 1 Cor. 15.58 Ye know your labour will not be in vain Col. 3.24 Knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance 2 Exhort To look upon this reward So did Moses Heb. 11.26 He had respect to the recompence of the reward Though we must not do good onely for reward without conscience to duty and love to God for this were meerly mercinary and to eschew evil meerly for fear of vengeance were slavish yet may we look both to reward to excite us to good and to the punishment to deter us from evil
father is perfect 3 The inference whence it is inforced Therefore Be ye perfect Not in equality but in similitude as Luke 6.36 Be ye mercifull as you father is mercifull Probably it might be taken out of Levit. 11.44.19.2 from whence Peter took it 1 Pet. 1.16 Be holy as I am holy Perfection is taken 1 For the perfection of sinceritie Gen. 17.1 Walk before me and be thou perfect Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just and a perfect man in his generation and Noah walked with God that is his sincerity showed it self by walking with God making God present with him and himself present with God in his actings Now this perfection of sincerity is taken in opposition to hypocrisie in the reign Isa 38.3 Remember how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart Luke 1.76 In holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our life Many have an outward perfection but they are like Apples rotten at the core though they look lovelily Contrary Saints 2 Cor. 2.17 2 Perfection is taken for universality of obedience Psal 119.7 I will praise thee with uprightness when I shall have learned not onely notionally but practically thy Commandements Now when a man lives in a purpose of any sin or in an omission of any known duty or in an unresolvedness against any known evil he is not perfect also if he admit a constant neglect of any duty or an ordinary Commission of any sin he is not perfect but when a man though he be subject to infirmities had rather dye then omit a known duty or live in a known sin he is perfect and will grow out his infirmities in time as a sound man wears out his sickness This perfection is called Sanctification throughout 1 Thes 5.23 and turning to God with the whole heart Joel 2.12 Jer. 3.10 There is not any thing in his soul the bent whereof is not from God Now where men are not thus perfectly universal something or other steals away their heart as riches honour c. that if God and that come in competition they leave the Lord. This universality of obedience is seen in eying every of Gods commands Psal 119.6 as in governing the tongue without which we are not perfect Jam. 1.26 compared with Jam. 3.2 q.d. he is not a perfect man unless he look to this command of governing his tongue as well as other 3 Perfection is taken for singleness of heart Gen. 17.1 which is when a man singles out God from all other objects he will follow God in his ways that neither favours of great ones contempts of multitudes proffers of preferment nor persecutions of enemies shall draw him off from the Lord Josh 24.15 Heb. 11.24 Dan. 6.10 4 Perfection is taken for straightness Psal 37.37 Mark the just and perfect man or as the word is rendred straight man Straightness appears in a mans ayms and ends as when a person shall make Gods glory profitableness to others and his own salvation to be his end Imperfect men go in crooked paths Psal 125.4 Crooked hearts and straight rules to aym at God cannot meet For application try your perfection of heart by four trials suitable to this fourfold acception of perfection 1 Whether are you sincere to eye God in what you do as in alms prayer and fasting Matth. 6.1 2 c. Col. 3.22 23. speaking to Christian servants he saith Servants obey your masters not with eye service as men-pleasers but with singleness of heart fearing God and whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men q.d. in all your services eye God 2 Cor. 2.17 Obj. But if none are perfect with God but those that eye God what will become of me who have so many by-ends in what I do Answ Gods children though by ends creep into them groan under them Rom. 7.16 17. 2 Their earnest desire is to be wholly rid of them and where a man can do no more but will his will is accepted for the deed 2 Cor. 8.12 3 Ordinarily and usually they look at Gods eye in what they do and this is a blessed temper belonging onely to perfect men Rom. 8.1 Thou herein walks after the spirit and so art blessed 2 Whether dost thou look at all Gods commands Herod did many things but would not part with Herodias Mark 6.20 If thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked in integrity of heart and in uprightness to do according to all that I have commanded thee 1 Kings 9.4 As if he should say Thy heart O Solomon cannot be perfect unless thou observe all my commands The young man Mat. 19. proved his unsoundness in that he would not part with all for Christ in something or other unsound men discover themselves if not to the observation of others yet to the conviction of their own hearts if they would not want in the due trial hereof If thy bloud rise when thou hears a stranger swear an oath and thou canst hear thy Apprentice to lye and cheat and never be moved at it this is but a false fire True obedience as it disputes not the comands of God but obeys them cheerfully so doth it not divide the commands of God but obeys them equally Ps 119.6 Joh. 15.14 3 When a man is not onely willing to do but to sufer any thing that God commands Matth. 19 17. If thou wilt be perfect go and sell all as if he should say If there be any enjoyment in the world that a man is not willing to part with as to leave this pleasant dwelling to part with thy country to fall out with thy near friend to lose the favour of this man that could prefer thee to leave such an Office or imployment as brings it in or if there be any evil thou art not ready to suffer as banishment imprisonment reproach and confiscation of goods thy heart is not perfect with God Acts 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to do Let the business be easie or difficult tell me what thou wilt have me to do See in Moses Heb. 11.25 26. Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should rejoyce in any thing save in the cross of Christ that is neither in wealth honour liberty or relations more then in duty to God 4 Whom doest thou make thy end A perfect man makes God his end Rom. 14.7 8. None of us who profess our selves to be Christians lives unto himself c. 1 Cor. 10.31 Joh. 7.18 He that hath no unrighteousness in him that is to say a perfect man seeks the glory of him that sent him The Apostle exhorting servants to uprightness bids them with good will do service as to the Lord Eph. 6.6 7. and bidding masters to be upright in their places v. 9. he urges on this ground Knowing they have a master in heaven Also Col. 3.23 Whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men This consideration that I have to do with God makes a
man act uprightly and the execution hereof declares him to walk perfectly 2 Cor. 4 5. We preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord. That is in our preaching we onely aim that the Lord may be exalted Unsound men have God in admiration for advantage but when they have got what they would and are delivered from what they fear they start aside Contrary sound men have not onely a constant good opinion of God but also make him their end in all things Psal 101.3 4. I will walk with a perfect heart how doth that appear I will set no wicked thing before me that is I will eye God and not iniquity Carnal men eye their credit profit pleasure and herewith are they moved to act but a perfect man is moved with this that God beholds him that this thing he doth is pleasing to God and that God sees and approves it as when he doth alms in secret Matth. 6 c. If it be asked how I shall know whether Gods eye moves me to do what I do or other ends of credit or profit We may know it hereby a perfect man will do duty though other ends be taken away he will suffer for a good conscience though no praise but reproach accompany it Secondary respects may make a perfect man move with more chearfulness but Gods eye moves the soul to act without any of these without whose command the soul stands still as the servant doth at the command of him who is not his master As your Father which is in heaven is perfect Perfection in God is his essential fulness of all goodness and vertues Perfection is two-fold 1 That which is perfect in its kinde so the light is perfect light 2 For self-sufficiency so God is perfect As the Sun hath a self-sufficiency of light in it self standing no need of the Moon or stars so God hath a self-sufficiency in himself not standing need of any creature yea he hath all the perfections of creatures in himself Acts 17.25 Neither is he worshipped as though he needed any thing seeing he gives to all life and breath and all things Perfection in God is an essential property whereby he hath the perfections of all creatures in himself from everlasting to everlasting and nothing is wanting to him but he is the patern and cause of all perfection of nature and grace that is in the creature Properties of the perfection in God 1 It 's independent The creatures may be perfect in their kinde yet they depend on something else as a River though it be a perfect River yet it stands need either of the fountain or of the sea to maintain it He stands not in need of Princes of men or Angels Though he use them as instruments it is not because he cannot act and bring about his ends without them for he that could make the heavens and earth by the word of his mouth Psal 33.6 what cannot he do 2 It 's incomprehensible Canst thou by searching finde out God Canst thou finde out the Almighty unto perfection Job 11.7 It is as high as heaven what canst thou do deeper then hell what canst thou know the measure thereof is longer then the earth and broader then the sea v. 8 9. there is no searching out of Gods perfection but God searcheth out the perfection of every creature Job 28.3 3 It s uncapable of addition there 's nothing can be added to it our righteousness cannot adde any thing to him nor our wickedness derogate any thing from him Job 22.3 Job 35.7 8. if the blasphemer reproach God God is not the worse if we worship him he is not the better 4 It s unspeakable Nehem. 9.5 he is exalted high above all blessing and praise Though we are commanded by our lives Mat. 5.16 and praises to glorifie God yet we do not adde any thing hereby to his essence but onely declare him glorious if we call him holy just righteous c. he is all these in the abstract holiness it self justice and mercy it self so that we cannot flatter him 5 It s an unmixed perfection The creatures have perfections in their kinds but they are mixed with imperfections Saul was a proper man but wicked Absalom beautifull but unhappy Naaman honourable but he was a leper but in God there 's wisdom without folly truth without falshood Tit. 1.2 light without darkness 1 Joh. 1.5 God is light and in him is no darkness at all holiness without sinfulness Psal 5.4 Hab. 1.13 6 Gods perfection is self existing the perfection of his understanding that he conceives things at once and not successively the perfection of his will Rom. 12.2 whereby he wills whatsoever is good at once now the perfection of creatures is a borrowed perfection If a man would be perfect in any thing he propounds unto himself a perfect pattern the perfections of all creatures sun moon stars wine gold pearls are from him Rom. 11.36 of him are all things every creature without his influence is as the aire without the sun a dark and comfortless body Psal 30.7 By thy favour thou madest my mountain strong thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled For Application 1 To magnifie Gods perfection depending servants magnifie bountifull Lords we praise the sun not onely because of its glorious splendor but because we receive of its heat and light Moses saith ascribe ye greatness to our God why because his work is perfect Deut. 32.4 2 Be content with God alone seeing all perfection is in him as we count it day when the sun shines though never a starr appear so should we be content with God alone the heavenly Hierusalem had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it for the glory of God did enlighten it and the lamb was the light thereof Rev. 21.23 though the figg-tree should not blossom and there were no fruit in the field and the herds were cut off from the stall and the vine should not give her increase yet will I rejoyce in the Lord Hab. 3.16 17. yea though thou wert in banishment poverty slavery imprisonment be content with God David 1 Sam. 30.6 when all was gone and the people spoke of stoning him he encouraged himself in God also Paul and Silas Act. 16.25 As death and imprisonment is nothing to those who are filled with the joy of the holy Ghost so all outward comforts are nothing to fill the soul till God come with them 3 To make up all our imperfections we meet withall in this world in God when we loose honours estates liberty relations country How did God make up Josephs name when it was taken from him unjustly and Davids name when it was justly gone so that he dyed full of honour 1 Chron. 29.28 Job lost his estate and children and God doubled them to him Job 42.12 how much more when any enjoyment is forsaken for a good conscience Mat. 19.27 Mar. 10.29 30. 4 Be humbled in sight of thy own imperfections
if there be any long absence of these accustomed meltings 8 Earnest longings after the Lord are wont to accompany saving meltings Mine eye mine eye runneth down with water because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me Lam. 1.16 9 Saving meltings flow from love to God How came Mary to weep in such abundance that she washed Christ's feet why at the same time she loved much Luke 7.38 compared with v. 47. 10 When saving meltings come there is an holy chearfulness wrought in the heart and sadness removed from the countenance as in Hanna her countenance was no more sad why she prayed and wept sore v. 10. compared with v. 18. As God did sometimes accept sacrifices without sending fire from Heaven to burn them up so sometimes he shewed his acceptation by sending fire to consume them 1 Kings 18.38 2 Chron. 7.1 Fire came from Heaven and consumed Solomon's burnt offering and so David's Prayer for the ceasing the Pestilence 1 Chron. 21.26 was answered by fire So though God do sometimes answer his people without meltings yet in holy persons these meltings usually are crowning answers and tokens of acceptation 11 We may know our meltings flow from a saving principle by comparing the meltings we had when we forsook some great enjoyment for God and got victory over some strong lust with those meltings at present when we forsook some great enjoyment as country liberty estate friends and relations how did God come in at those times so that we found an hundred fold with persecutions Mar. 10.29 30. mightily softning the heart and filling the soul with joy and with the holy Ghost Act. 13.51 as Paul was when persecuted so when we overcome some strong lust God gave us hidden Manna white stone new name Rev. 2.17 which were the incomes of God into the soul by softning of it and powring in joy in prayer after the conquest now we finding the meltings and softnings of our hearts at other times sutable to those we found then know them to come from the Spirit or from a saving principle and not from natural passion and softness 12 The meltings that come from God may be something discerned by the time when given as 1 When afflictions are sanctified then the soul powres out it self amain Esther 4.3 when the kings decree came to put the Jews to death there were great weepings and wailings ordinarily wicked men cry not when God binds them their spirits are bound up Job 36.13 2 Upon the remove of some sad desertion and after some foregoing straitnings or some very close walking with God or the bringing home of some word of promise to the heart these meltings use to be given Psal 51.8 12. Make me to hear the voice of joy and gladness restore unto me the joy of thy salvation 3 By the putting forth the strength of the soul in duty Hos 12.3 Jacob wept and made supplication and found the Lord in Bethel how came that why by his strength he prevailed with God that is he put forth all his strength in the duty 4 Fom the time it s oft given even after an holy preparation of heart by meditation Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear Psal 10.17 8 Pray with perseverance not to give over Eph. 6.18 Many use prayer as a medicine which after two or three usings finding no success they leave off God puts off his children with delayes 1 Because souls are not fit for such a mercy as the Physician puts off the patient from such a thing as he desires The ten tribes Judg. â—0 26 cryed for victory against Benjamin but God saw them not fit for it they yet trusted in their multitude being four hundred thousand and their enemies about seven and twenty thousand also they were not humbled enough 2 For trial of our faith whether we will yet depend on God so Christ put off the Woman of Cana Matth. 15.28 and Paul 2 Cor. 12.8 3 That his mercies may be more sweet when we get them things hardly got are prized 4 That we may see our sin in delaying God he called and thou wouldest not hear therefore it 's just that thou shouldest call and he delay thee 5 To inflame our desires the more God purposed not to destroy Israel Exod. 32. yet when Moses prayed he seemed not to regard his Prayers but this was onely to make Moses more earnest for the people 6 For the trial of our Patience David was in an horrible pit in great danger and God let him lye for the tryal of his patience and in the end brought him out Ps 40.1 2. Many are like that king 2 King 6.33 who said Saul 1 Sam. â— 28.15 because he had not present help why should I wait on the Lord any longer Yea Saints have been impatient because their prayers have not been answered at first Lam. 3.8 44. We must not onely have a dependance on God for his promise but for the time when he will fulfill it As the husbandman waâ—s long after seed time for a harvest the corn hath many a sharp blast and nipping frost before he reaps so ought we to wait for our prayers though things seem worse afrer then before Long did the Church wait for Peter before they got him out of prison Act. 12.5 in the end he was given to them neither must we limit God to such means Psal 78.41 7 That we may seek him more importunately so did Christ with-hold himself from the Church for this end Song 3.1 4. As a Beggar when a passenger comes by begs of him the passenger goes on as if he took no notice but the Beggar goes on and followes him till at last he gets his desire 8 For to humble the soul suppose thy servant wrong thee thou sayest thou wilt pardon him but first thou wilt make him humble himself to thee he shall and must know that he hath wrong'd a good master so God is willing to pardon thee and to heal thee but he will make thee know thou hast sin'd against a good God Obj. But God calls me to other duties of my calling how am I then to continue in prayer till God hear me Ans We may give over the words of prayer but we may not give over the suit of prayer A poor Beggar comes to a house-keepers door but none hears him he falls to other employments as mending his clothes c. then anon he begs again though he do not always continue begging yet he always continues his sute Oh that some within would give me an alms so should the soul at the throne of grace Persevering prayer is the building of the soul towards heaven Holy men should pray as builders build first they lay the foundation next day make the walls the next day he sets up timber-work and so goes on till the house be finished so a godly soul reaches higher and higher till at
they may believe and repent 2 Tim. 2.25 26. V. 5. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum there came unto him a Centurion beseeching him V. 6. And saying My servant lyeth at home sick of the Palsey grievously tormented In this story 1 We have 1 The Centurions petition for Christ to restore his servant ver 5 6. 2 Christ his grant ver 7. Jesus saith I will come and heal him 3 The Centurions reply set down 1 From the sence of his own unworthiness Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof 2 From the fixed confidence he had in Christ Speak the Word onely and my servant shall be healed ver 8. Which he amplifies by the inferiority of his own person and power compared with Christ My soldiers obey my word though I am under the authority of another how much more should I believe and obey thy word who art under the power of none 4 Christ his commendation he marvelled at it saying I have not found so great faith no not in Israel v. 10. Amplified from a threefold effect 1 A prophesie of the calling in of the Gentiles of whom this Centurion was as a first fruit v. 11. 2 The rejection of the Jews ver 12. The children of the Kingdom shall be cast out 3 From the success As thou hast believed so be it unto thee and his servant was healed the self same hour And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum there came unto him a Centurion The former miracle was done near to Capernaum this in the city A Centurion was one that had a hundred souldiers under him or sometimes more Came unto him Obj. Luk. 7.3 V. de It s said that he sent unto Christ the Elders of the Jews to beseech him to heal his servant Answ After the Centurion had sent the Jews and his friends to supplicate Christ then lastly himself came to him to meet Christ whether for Honour sake or the danger his servant was in unless we answer that he came and supplicated not by himself but by his messengers for that which is done by the authority of another he himself is said to do it Matth. 11.3 so Christ is said to Baptize and not Baptize to Baptize Joh. 3.22 not to Baptize Joh. 4.2 which may easily be reconciled he Baptized by his Disciples though he did not Baptize in his own person We say such a man built this house though it was not built but by his servants Hence Luk. 7.10 it s said they that were sent returning to the house found the servant whole that had been sick That which Matthew more hastily sets down Luke doth more fully the Spirit intending to make one perfect History out of the four Evangelists So that this is the same story with that in Luke as appears by the agreements in many things and the few diversities In that he was a Centurion see that no mans calling hinders him from being godly This Centurion his faith was seen in acknowledging one God in building the Jews a Synagogue which could not be without much envy and hatred and in his care of his servant and in his believing profession he made to Christ My servant lyeth at home sick of the Palsey The Palsey is the loosening of the sinews one half part of the body is unloosed motion and sense being intercepted from them When this is in one part of the body it 's called a Palsey when it 's in the whole body it is called an Apoplexy My servant A lesson to rich men not to turn away their servants when they are sick but to seek the best way they can for their relief See a judgement of God on the contrary 1 Sam. 30.13 A certain Amalekite turned away his servant because he fell sick and this servant so cast out God made instrumental to discover the Amalekites so that David destroyed them Yea which is more to seek the recovery of their servants By such care Masters show to their servants they will not onely do things just and equal having a Master in heaven for it 's equal that the servant serving his Master sincerely in his health the Master should keep him in his sickness but also they will let their servants see that they do not onely respect their own good but their servants benefit Deut. 15.12 13 14 15. especially if they shall withall have a care of their servants spirituall good whiles they are more offended for their sins against God then for the neglect of duty towards themselves Which care of Masters servants should endeavour to requite 1 By avoiding eye-service Eph. 6.6 Col. 3.22 2 Working for them in the singleness of your hearts as you would do for your selves Ephes 6.5 Gen. 24.33 34 35. 3 By praying for thy Master Gen. 24.12 and giving thanks to God for any blessing and success granted to thy Master so did Eleazar for Abraham Gen. 24.27 48. 4 By having a care of thy Masters goods as if they were thy own Mat. 7.12 5 By showing thy self chearfully tractable and obedient to all their lawfull commands for if they command unlawfull things or endeavour to compel you in matter of Religion they have no such power for they are onely Masters of your flesh not of your consciences Eph. 6.5 Col. 3.22 Onely note that he that pretends conscience must be able to give a reason of his conscience otherwise it is humor prepossession not conscience nor must a servant obey his Master in any sinfull action as lying swearing c. to gratifie a Master 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a price be not the servants of men 6 By having an inward and an outward reverend respect towards their Masters 1 Tim. 6.1 Not despising them because they are brethren 7 By bearing with their Masters infirmities without whispering secretly or blazing openly the same to their reproach As charity covers sin in others so especially in such relations 1 Pet. 4.8 Grievously tormented Ready to dye as Luke 7.2 therefore his Palsey in likelihood was an Apoplexy or a Convulsion or a drawing back of the sinews which cause grievous pains V. 7. And Jesus saith unto him I will come and heal him Here is the humility and condescention of Christ that he disdained not to come to visit a poor servant we should not disdain to visit the meanest John 13.14 V. 8. The Centurion answered and said Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof but speak the word onely and my servant shall be healed V. 9. For I also am a man under authority c. The Centurion spoke this to Christ by his friends Luk. 7.6 after by himself as Matthew sets down for civility required that he should go to meet Christ hearing of his coming The humility of a servant is more dark but when a King a Nobleman a Teacher a Rich man is humble their humility shines as the Sun and Moon Let such a Magistrate say Ah who am I Why should I set
to this I say lay aside passion and then come 1 Tim. 2.8 Lift up holy hands without wrath pray for the party with whom lately thou hast been angry and that is a sign thou comes with a new disposition 8 Take heed of Satans temptations who will be ready to propose businesses then to hinder thee 2 Use furtherances for prayer as 1 when the spirit bespeaks prayer and puts the soul into a frame to long to be alone to vent it self to God when the wind and tide serves its good then to hoyse up sails Psal 27.8 Seek my face thy face will I seek 2 The second furtherance is when the soul is in tribulation Tribulation sets an edge on prayer hence Psal 50.15 we are bid to call on God in the time of trouble no better master to teach a man to pray next to the spirit then necessity In trouble the grace of prayer is much revived Esa 26.17 Lord in trouble they have visited thee they powred out a prayer when thy chastning was upon them Look upon Passengers in a storm and arrived at the haven look upon persons in prison and at banquets compare persons on beds of sickness and the same persons in strength of health and abounding with outward comforts in the one estate they are full of contempt of God and security in the other prone to cry earnestly for mercy Hezekiah when Sennacherib came against him very much given to prayer when he was delivered from his enemy ready to be lifted up David in adversity gave himself to prayer Psal 109.4 in prosperity falls to number the people 3 A third furtherance is calmeness of spirit when the spirit is neither in a hurry of passion nor a hurry of business for unfinished business is apt to run in the mind and to disturb at that time the soul having so many bussings in its ear can neither hear it self speaking to God nor hear God speaking to the soul 4 In Gods approaching to our soul Lam. 3.57 Thou drewest near in the day that I cryed unto thee thou saidest fear not Esa 55.6 call upon him while he is near Noble Princes in their progress are wont to grant petitioners their sutes its wisdom then to petition the Lord when near to us Psal 145.18 one time or other God's near to every holy heart therefore then call on him Psal 34.18 Quicken us and we will call upon thy name Psa 80.18 5 When promises are near fulfilling Psa 102.13 Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Sion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come meaning of seventy years This is some good hope that Christs coming is near because the Saints are stirred up so generally to pray for it The reading of Jeremies prophecy Jer. 29.10 that God would visit his people after seventy years put Daniel upon praying for the accomplishment thereof Dan. 9.2 3 4. Object I would thus pray but I finde I am so straitened that I cannot pray Answ It is so with the best of Saints sometimes that their souls are bound up they are like poor Infants that feel pain but cannot tell where their pain lies hence Psal 51.15 Lord open thou my Lips By grieving the spirit we become straitened for when the spirit is withdrawn we are like Mills that want Winde or Water and cannot grinde In such times it is persons are backward to stir up their souls to take hold of God Isai 64.7 To help us against straitnings 1 Use holy motion Motion is the cause of heat motion brings a benummed member to feeling let us make essays even when deadness is upon us yea when most straitened a gracious heart is to stir up it self 2 Tim. 1.6 Stir up the gift of God which is in thee Exod. 35.21 They came every one whose heart stirred him up and every one whom his spirit made willing to bring the Lords offering 2 Complain of thy straitness say Lord I am in Prison and cannot come forth I would willingly display all my wants to thee but cannot weep over my unbelief but am not able Why withdrawest thou thy self Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring Psal 22.1 2 Isai 63 17. 3 Beg enlargement of God Psalm 119.32 I will run in the way of this Commandment as well as other but when when thou shalt enlarge mine heart Isai 35.6 The tongue of the dumb shall sing when waters break forth in the wilderness 4 Take heed thou straiten not thy self neither for time nor place For time persons often causlesly put themselves into the compass of so little time that they cannot enlarge persons frequently inuring themselves to straitning in the end begin to like it well enough So for straitness of place they do not use their voices because they cannot use them without being heard of others let it be your wisdom to chuse such a place wherein you may not be straitned as to your voice or otherwise 5 Consider what a dangerous thing it is to 〈◊〉 taken with a Palsey in the tongue that a man cannot tell where his pain lies All Imprisonment is comfortless but this the worst in other Imprisonment we may perhaps have much access to God but not in this many men have enlargements of all sorts of blessings upon them as Liberty Estate c. onely as it was said of the Corinthians 2 Cor. 6.12 They are straitened in their own bowels for Prayer and Praise and yet little lay it to their hearts Such kinde of straitnings when they are long they are dangerous for persons that have lain long under straitnings are ready to lay aside endeavours for their liberty because they have often used it to no effect 6 Usually reade the word before thy closet prayer and meditate of it in the use whereof the fire kindles besides those good things which thou diddest reade out of the Word will remain in thy thoughts and conduce to season thine heart 7 Walk humbly under straitnings especially when they are of any long continuance so the Church Song cap. 5. v. 5 6. I sought him but I could not finde him I called unto him but he gave me no answer Job 30.20 Job cries out I cry unto thee but thou dost not hear me I stand up but thou regardest me not Quest But seeing Saints are sometimes straitned in Prayer as well as carnal men wherein is the difference Answ Godly persons though sometimes they have straitnings yet have they also enlargements now and then Lam. 3.44 compared with v. 57. One while the Church saith The Lord compassed himself with a cloud that her Prayer could not pass through anon she saith Thou drewest near in the day that I cried unto thee thou saidst Fear not Psalm 31.22 I said I am cast out of thy sight here was the Prophets straitning nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications here was his enlargement see Psalm 6.1 compared with v. 8. Jon. 2.7 Carnal men they may
duties Nehem. 13.22 are taken away by Christ that they shall never be imputed to thee Such persons also are invited to come to Christ Matth. 11.28 Satan in all weaknesses is wont to present God as a Tyrant or hard Master or a severe Judg but let us in Christ apprehend him as a Father Psalm 103.13 and Christ as a gracious Mediatour And though a cloud of indignation may appear to the soul under a temptation yet tarry a while and the cloud will be over Yea Christ also heals our infirmities and that even by our falls as Poyson is driven out by Poyson for when he sees his fall he is ashamed and confounded crying out O wretched man that I am c. Object But if Christ onely took my infirmities and weakness what will become of my presumptions Answ Christ took both and though the Word onely signifie weakness yet must it be taken in a large sense comprehending all wickedness 5 Terrour to ungodly men that have all their sins lying upon them Christ took not thy sins as the greatest evil done by a childe of God shall not be charged upon them in the day of Christ 1 Cor. 1.8 so the least evil yea every evil wicked men do shall be charged then on them Eccles 12.14 Christ will destroy all such as give not the kiss of love reverence and subjection unto him Psalm 2.12 V. 18. Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him he gave commandment to depart unto the other side Here 's another story of Christ wherein two things 1 His command to make all things ready to carry him to the other side that is over the Lake of Genesareth from Capernaum occasioned by the multitudes that pressed upon him whether to eschew vain-glory or whether which I incline to to preach the Gospel unto other Cities 2 The occurrences that fell out by the way which were 1 A certain Scribe or covetous Lawyer thinking Christ to make a gain of his Miracles follows him upon hope to learn the art of doing Miracles that himself might make a gain or trade thereby as Magus did to whom Christ answers The birds of the air have nests c. v. 20. 2 Another Disciple of Christ desires leave to bury his father to whom Christ saith Let the dead bury their dead v. 21 22. 3 Occurrence a great Tempest v. 24. so that the ship was covered with waves which is set forth from five circumstances 1 From Christ his being asleep in the storm till the Disciples awaked him v. 24 25. 2 From the danger and fear of the Disciples Lord save us we perish v. 25. 3 From Christ his reprehension of them for their unbelief Why are ye fearfull O ye of little faith as to think that a ship wherein I am can be drowned 4 From Christ his reprehending the Winde and Sea and making a great calm v. 26. 5 The admiration of the passengers v. 27. What manner of man is this that even the Windes and Seas obey him V. 19. A certain Scribe came unto him saying Master I will follow thee whither soever thou goest The large profession of this Scribe arises from the mistake of the person many closing in an outward comformity with Christ when they see themselves mistaken in the person they fall off He pretended to be taught of Christ as a Disciple of his Master but his intention was to get Riches by Christ the profession was such as might befit the holiest those Virgins Revel 14.4 Follow the Lamb whither soever he goes And Abraham Heb. 11.8 He went out after God not knowing whither he went But Christ sees what his intention was He that will universally follow Christ must not be mistaken in him he must take Christ and Banishment Reproach Imprisonment as well as Christ and Riches Honour V. 20. The Foxes have holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head Christ lets this Scribe see his mistake q. d. thou thinks one way or other I can make thee rich but thou mayest know I abound not with worldly wealth Men that are brought up in delicacy and Riches are not fit to follow me Christ in not having a certain dwelling place shews what his Disciples should prepare for Obj. But Christ having so many persons whom he cured and did good turns for why doth he say The Son of Man hath not where to lay his head Answ Lest this Scribe should expect some great Reward from him as a rich Master Christ shews that what he had was from the kindness of others and should not enrich him as he expected This should bridle that inordinate desire after Riches whereunto even Professours in this day do incline to learn to see that Christ is Portion enough if there were nothing with him and nothing will satisfie thy soul without him Eccles 5.10 Now Christ being thus poor it was not to commend to us voluntary Poverty as if it were a state of Perfection but to teach us contentment in low conditions if cast thereunto 2 To take off our hearts from seeking great things here to which our hearts are inclining Jer. 45.4 5. 3 To enrich us with his Poverty 2 Cor. 8.9 He became poor that we through his peverty might be made rich The Son of Man That is Man of Man or the Son of the Virgin Man is the Common of Two Gender as the word Homo and the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Besides he is the Son of Man that is of Abraham and David to whom he was promised besides he was descended of the first man Adam and so Ezekiel is called the son of man cap. 2.1 Besides by the Son of Man is meant a man of low condition in opposition to the sons of Nobles and Princes so Ezekiel was called to put him in minde of his frailty Christ his humility is set forth who disdained not to come of so mean and corrupt a sinner as Adam was also his love and familiarity that he disdained not to take our nature upon him besides hereby Christ signifies he was true man and distinguishes his humane nature from the divine And as Ezekiel was called the son of man to distinguish him from Angels with whom he conversed who appeared in the shape of a man so Christ because he was God and the Son of God when he speaks of himself as Man calls himself the Son of Man Where to lay his head He dwelt in Capernaum either in his own hired house or else lodged with some of his Disciples Obs 1 Many profess the following of Christ who when once they come to see the dangers and straits in following of him fall off 2 In pretending to follow Christ we must look to the grounds that move us to follow him that they be right 3 Christ when he was here on earth was exposed to a low and mean condition 1 Learn then to come down from our heights 2 Study condescention to low conditions
Laws set by him in the creation without taking advice of any creature I have oft endeavoured to prescribe to God certain ways which he should use in the government of his Church and other things I said ah Lord I would have it done in this order this event but God did altogether the contrary from that which I had requested then did I think but my counsel is not strange from the glory of God but will conduce much to sanctifie his name It 's well thought but doubtless God laught at this my wisedome and said Go too I know thee to be wise and learned but it was never my manner that Peter or Martin should teach lead form govern me I am not a passive God but an active Luth. Tom. 4. in Gen. fol. 56. 2 Extraordinary when God works against or besides his appointed order as in dividing the waters of the red Sea Reas 1 Because all things yea the most contingent things in the world are ordered by it as the falling of a tyle Exod 21.13 the flying of the head of the ax from the helve and killing a man Deut. 19.5 yea the ordering of a lot Prov. 16.33 2 The order of things in the world prove it 1 Natural order the motions of the heavens the Sun warms the earth the ayr moistens it the earth brings forth the grass the beasts feed on it and man feeds on them Look on the fowls God appoints them their residence Psal 104.17 18. and so doth he for other creatures Yea the fowl knows her appointed time and changes her country according to the season of the year That there 's a place appointed for the waters that they may not overflow the earth Psal 104.7 8 9. that there are springs of waters in the Valleys to give drink to the beasts of the field v. 10. that there should be an intercourse of light and darkness that the wilde beasts should get them to their dens on the day time that man may follow his work that there should be such provisions made for all the inhabitants of the world all this proves to us a providence 2 Politick order In Courts of Justice one Officer depends on another as wheels in a clock and moves not without the first wheel How many thousands are provided for in their several trades one depending upon another How hath God made the City to depend upon the Country and the Country upon the City how do all creatures move at his command as soldiers at the command of the General 3 From the reasonable actions God puts into unreasonable creatures Prov. 6.6 7 8. the Pismire having no guide over-seer nor ruler provideth her meat in the summer Jer. 8.6 7. the Stork Crane Swallow know their appointed time Who hath put wisdome in their inward parts Job 38.36 4 Should God not take care of things below it 's either because he will not or cannot or knowes them not but to affirm any of these were blasphemy 5 In his provision he makes for all creatures Psal 145.15 The eyes of all wait on thee and thou givest them food in due season thou openest thy hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing Psal 104.28 That thou givest them they gather thou openest thy hand they are filled with good v. 30. Every Spring God renues the face of the earth Psal 147.9 He giveth to the Beast his food and to the young Ravens which cry compared vvith Job 38.41 See Job cap. 36 37 38 39. 6 In ordering the sins of men for his own glory and good of his Church The envy of Josephs brethren for the advancement of Joseph and the preservation of Jacobs posterity The treason of Bigthan and Teresh for the advancement of Mordecai Cyrus his ambition for the Churches deliverance Titus Vespasian who persecuted the Christians at Rome God orders his passion that he goes to revenge Christs death at Jerusalem Sennacheribs covetousness and pride to punish the hypocrisie of the Jews Isai 10.5 6 7. the covetousness of Judas and malice of the devil to accomplish the work of our redemption 7 In a special respect to the good of his people Besides a general providence in the world he hath a special providence for their good 1 Cor. 9.9 He is the Savior of all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the preserver of all but specially of them that believe 2 Tim. 4.9 10. 2 Chron. 16.9 The eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of those whose hearts are perfect with him Zach. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye 8 In snaring the wicked in the work of their own hands Psal 9.16 The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands Higgaion Selah a thing to be meditated as Hierom renders it When Nebuchad-nezzar in his boasting is bereft of his wits Herod in his pomp eaten up of Worms the Philistims in their jollity have the house fall on them Judg. 16.30 who will not say they are taken in a snare 9 In making wicked men whether they will or no to do Gods will Acts 4.28 To do whatsoever thy hand and counsel had before determined to be done As in a kennel of hounds every one of them runs according to his natural inclination yet all of them serve the purpose of the Hunter And as in an Army of men one fights for honour another for spite another for pay yet all of them fight for victory for the Prince who sent them into the field so whatsoever wickedness evil men do they do but serve Gods providence and fulfill his will God sometimes changes their will sometimes stops it by offering consideration of good or ill danger or profit so that still he makes their wills serve his decree Use 1 Acknowledg this Providence in all thy undertakings God keeps us not onely waking but sleeping when we know not that we live then he observes our dreams in opposition of that tenent that God considers nothing but himself and is onely delighted in the beholding of himself in thy appointing future businesses James 4.15 16. Go to ye that say We will go to such a City and buy and sell c. Prov. 3.6 In all thy ways acknowledg him and he shall direct thy steps So did Eleazar for his Master Abraham Gen. 24. that he might get a Wife for Isaac but yet Eleazar did not neglect the use of means he that rightly looks to Gods providence is most carefull to use means When thou findest a treasure in digging of a field when thou escapest a fall in walking on a plank was it not God who brought thee to the one and saved thee from the other 2 Not to fear men to the balking of duty seeing Gods provicence takes care of us this stayed Davids heart when at Ziglag his Souldiers were at the point of stoning him 1 Sam. 30.6 He encouraged himself in
unless he finde his heart doing of them as well as his outward man so though his outward carriage be blameless yet is he not satisfied if there be distempers of pride revenge earthliness c. within till he have in some good measure pray'd down these distempers Psalm 19.12 saying Cleanse me Lord from my secret sins Contrary unsound men make clean the outside of the cup and platter Matth. 23.25 But the inside is full of rapine and excess Their chief care is to have a smooth carriage to the world 6 Sincerity is moved by a command Other men are moved by credit profit but sincere men might they have never so much credit or profit yet having a contrary known command they will not move contrary where they have a plain command though they have no secondary motives of favour credit profit yet are they moved to act thereby as we see in Queen Hesters case who went unto the King Abraham Heb. 11.8 Compared with Gen. 12.1 Yea though to tell a Prince of Gods wrath as Micaiah to Ahab John Baptist to Herod Gad and Nathan to David Therefore forasmuch as Saints out of the sight of their indwelling corruption are ready to condemn themselves and so walk heavily and Satan labours if he cannot take their uprightness from them yet to take the comfort of it from them they may by these and such like signs know their uprighness which faithfull Preachers are to declare unto them It is indeed far more dangerous to hope without a cause then to fear without a cause yet when an upright soul counts it self not upright there are many inconveniences thereby as he can neither rejoyce in living nor think comfortably of dying he is backward to prayer he can hardly give thanks for any thing because he knows not but God may be his enemy in time to come and may damn him he cannot long for the coming of Christ nor delight himself in the contemplation of the good things laid up in heaven hence though these fears may be let in by God to beat down our pride yet are they apt to hinder us in our course 7 When a man hath an open heart to receive every truth of God though such a truth may prove prejudicial to his outward advantage When any truth of God whispers to an unsound man something that may be contrary to his temporal being or may bring him to hazard he doth as Herod did with the Baptist first puts it in Prison and after kills it Contrarily sincere men are like Cornelius Acts 10.33 We are here to hear all things that are commanded us from God so far as they can be convinced herein But unsound men apprehending the truth will part them from some lusts they are not willing to leave that it will be a bar to advantage and a companion of persecution especially in such times and places that it will lose them friends and procure them enemies They say to the Seers See not and to the Prophets Prophesie not Isai 30.9 10. Though they perhaps said not so in words they said so in their carriage Unsound men keep at a distance from truth as Travellers do from persons whom they suspect comes to rob them 8 Universal obedience Thou art no better than an Hypocrite till thou findest that every Truth thou readest or hearest in the Word hath an authority and power over thy will let the command be for doing or suffering yet art thou not sincere but shalt one day be ashamed if thou hast not respect thereto Psalm 119.6 Matth. 7.24 In something or other the Hypocrite discovers himself if not to the observation of others yet to the conviction of his own conscience The Prophet proves himself upright that he did not spare his sin Psalm 18.23 which he was most inclined to Psalm 119.3 compared with v. 1. Upright men they do no iniquity that is not wittingly and knowingly Isai 56.2 Acts 23.1 Hebr. 13.18 To do some good things the Master requires doth not argue a good Servant 9 A sincere man makes conscience of small sins No Hypocrite almost but makes conscience of gross and notorious evils but they hate preciseness in smaller matters They count such preciseness hypocrisie which indeed is so if it be in things not commanded of God Matth. 15.5 6. or if it be commanded of God we shall make more conscience of them than we do of the weightier points of the Law When a man makes conscience onely of the great things of the Law it may be a question whether conscience to God or credit to men be a mover herein Hence sincere men set themselves not onely against Murder but also causless anger not onely against Adultery of body but against looking upon a woman to lust after her The sons of Jehonadab did not onely refrain drunkenness but also tasting of Wine Jer. 35.6 not onely they forbear false witness in a Court of Justice but also jeasting Lyes he keeps himself not onely from thieving but from deceiving a penny or two They do not onely refrain from the more abominable and full-mouth'd oaths but from faith and troth not onely from abjuring Gods truth before a Magistrate but from being ashamed thereof 10 A suffering out of conscience towards God Hypocrites may suffer out of praise of men as some think Alexander did Acts 19.33 Ananias and Sapphira parted with their goods but sincere men 1 They do not onely suffer which seldom Hypocrites come to but they suffer out of conscience to God 1 Peter 2.19 This is thank-worthy if a man for conscience towards God endure grief suffering wrongfully As a man will venture the losing of a member for the saving of his life so will a sincere man lose all for the saving of his conscience as we see in Queen Hester John Baptist those Worthies Heb. 11.35 Daniel cap. 6.10 11 An habitual intention to confess the truth of God though with the loss of all Matth. 19.17 Matth. 10.32 Contrarily Hypocrites have an implicite intention to deny Gods truth rather than to own it with sufferings sincere persons will stick to Gods truth notwithstanding mocks and scoffs as David before Michal and Nehemiah notwithstanding the mocks of Tobiah Nehem. 4.1 2 3 4. Hypocrites may sometimes stand for Justice and be a while importunate for it yet be overcome as that King that would fain have delivered Daniel and stood for him to the going down of the Sun Dan. 6.14 16. and Pilate would fain have delivered Christ John 19.12 but when he saw if he stood any further for him that he must be counted an Enemy to Caesar then he delivered up Christ The stony ground entertained the Word with joy but when tribulation and persecution arose for it they were offended Matth. 13 21. Contrarily sincere men they have a purpose to own Christ though to loss of life Heb. 11.35 others were tortured not accepting deliverance they know the danger of the contrary that if they deny Christ he will deny