63.5 The Sheepheard of Israel is that tender hearted Physitian who sympathiseth with his People In all their Afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence sayed them In his Love and his Pity he Redeemed them and bore them all the days of old Isa 63.9 His compassion is great his Bowels yearn and are turned for them how shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I deliver thee Israel how shall I make thee as Adma how shall I set thee as Zeboim my heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled Hos 9.8 Is Ephraim my dear Son is he a pleasant Child for since I spoke against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my Bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord Jer. 31.20 Am I a God at hand and not a God afar off Jer. 22.23 The Lord cannot forget his People though the Cloud of darkest afflictions may hinder their apprehensions of his love and care of them I have even called thee by thy name though thou hast not known me I am the Lord and there is none else besides me I guarded thee though thou hast not known me I Form the Light and Create Darkness I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Isa 45.4 5 7. He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds wherefore although the pale and dark side of the Cross should look grim upon the Christian he is by Faith and Patience to look thorough the Cloud to the Conquerours and lay hold of him in his Promises though the Vision tarry wait for it it will speak at last and he that will come shall come and will not tarry Hab. 2.3 No Man did look thorough a paler Cloud than this Prophet Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the Vine though the labour of the Olive and the Fields shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no Heard in the Stall yet will I rejoice in the Lord and joy in the God of my Salvation the Lord is my strength and he will make my Feet like Hinds Feet and he will make me to walk upon my High Places Hab. 3.17 18 19. The holy Prophet Micah after he had viewed the folly of all humane expectations weakness and deceitfulness of friends relations and all other Men puts his confidence alone in God and thereby takes great courage and resolution and seems to make Inference of Faith upon the view of humane vanities Therefore I will look unto the Lord I will wait for the God of my Salvation my God will hear me rejoyce not against me O mine Enemy when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me He will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his Righteousness Mic. 7.1 to 11. The second branch of Gods Promises to his People is of his great Mercy Love and Reconciliation under the greatest Sins the Lord doth not measure his dispensations as Men do their benevolences by scanty measures and do pardon lesser and not greater offences for that Sins of the deepest dye are no bar to his Mercy He came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance In the Language of his Mercy the whole need no Physitian but the Sick Luke 5.31 32. His Invitation is look unto me and be you saved all the Ends of the Earth Isa 45.22 And come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy loaden and I will give you rest Mat. 11.28 My Thoughts are not as your Thoughts neither your Ways my Way saith the Lord for as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my Thoughts higher than your Thoughts c. Isa 55.8 9. Come now let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be made white as Snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wool If you be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the Land but if ye refuse and rebel ye shall be devoured with fire Isa 1.18 19 20. Christ makes a free Market of Mercy and puts no limitation to his bounty but offers freely upon the Sinners acceptance by Faith and Repentance Ho every one that thirsteth come to the Waters buy Milk and Honey without price c. Isa 55.1 2. his satisfaction is for all and for all manner of Sins upon Faith and Repentance God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever should believe in him should not die but have eternal Life John 3.16 17. Christs love is free and respects not the greatness of Sin but the sincerity of Faith and Repentance yea When we were Enemies and without strength Christ died for us Rom. 5 6 7 8. Davids uncleanness and Murther of Uriah was no bar to Divine Mercy 1 King 21.29 Nebuchadnezzar on Repentance found Mercy Dan. 4. Manasses Idolatry Witchcraft and other great Abominations received Mercy on Repentance and When He was in great affliction he sought the Lord and humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers and Prayed unto him and he was intreated of him and heard his supplication and brought him again to Jerusalem and into his Kingdom Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God 2 Chron. 32.12 13. Thirdly His Promises upon Relapses although it is ill complexion to sin after receipt of Mercies as with the Dog to the Vomit and the Sow to the Mire yet Repentance in its due qualifications gives a rise to Mercy The Lord had to do with the most stubborn People on the whole Earth who revolted from God in most heinous manner And yet how often did he renew his Mercies to them the whole tract of the Israelites Life was Rebellion and Revolts nevertheless he regarded their afflictions when he heard their cry see their backslidings and the Lords wonderfully renewed Mercies towards them Psal 106. Psal 107. all The Lords wonderful free and early Mercies were eminently manifested to Israel nevertheless see their stupid revolt and ingratitude but they rebelled against him and converted all his kindness and mercies to the feeding of their lusts and abominations of Idolatry Ezek. 16. from 15 to 37. Wherefore the Lord in his Justice sends them under severe punishments to verse 60. and then the Lords anger is pacified towards them and he remembers his Covenant with them when they are ashamed of their sins and abominations and return to the Lord by Repentance to the end of the chapter That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord. The Lords Ear is always open to the cry of a Penitent sinner The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him in Truth Psal 145.18 Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity
away my acquaintance far from me thou hast made me an abomination to them I am shut up I cannot come forth I am afflicted from my Youth and ready to dye while I suffer thy Terrours I am distracted Psal 88.8 15 18. We are become a reproach to our Neighbours a scorn and a derision to them that are about us I am become a stranger to my Brethren an alien to my Mothers Children Psal 69.8 See the Apostles Case At my first answer no man stood by me but all Men forsook me nevertheless the Lord stood with me and strengthned me 2 Tim. 4.16 17. Consider the Churches state there is none to plead thy cause all thy lovers have forgotten thee they seek thee not in which we see the height of unkindness of unnaturality of Relations but consider in that same and often repeated place The Lords wonderful kindness therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured and all thy Adversaries every one of them shall go into Captivity for I will restore health unto thee and heal thee of thy wounds Jer. 30.11 to 18. One shall say unto him what are these wounds in thy hands and he shall answer those which I have received in the house of my Friend Zech. 13.6 See the Churches state and what advice the Prophet giveth unto her upon the consideration of the unfaithfulness of Friends Trust not in a Friend put no confidence in a Guide keep the Doors of thy Mouth from the Wife that lieth in thy Bosom for the Son dishonoureth the Father and the Daughter riseth up against the Mother and the Daughter in Law against the Mother in Law and a Mans Enemies are those of his own House Mic. 7.5 6 7. The Church in the Prophet Isaiah's time was under contempt reproach and forsaken of friends but yet he comforts her with great assurances of Gods everlasting favour fear not for thou shalt not be ashamed thou shalt forget the shame of thy Youth and not remember the reproach of thy Widow-hood any more for thy Maker is thy Husband the Lord of Hosts is his Name and thy Redeemer the holy one of Israel for the Lord hath called thee as a Woman forsaken and grieved in Spirit a Wife of Youth when thou wast refused for a little moment have I forsaken thee but with great Mercy will I gather thee in a little wrath I hid my Face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee saith the Lord Isa 54.5 6 7 8 And farther when all help failes and no appearance of any hope then the Lord Interposeth I looked and there was none to help I wondered that there was none to uphold therefore mine own arm brought Salvation and my Fury it upheld me Isa 63.5 This also was Davids case I looked on my Right Hand and beheld but there was no man would know me refuge failed me no man careth for my Soul Psal 142.4 This also was the great case of the Church wherein the Lord interposeth with his great deliverance but Sion said the Lord hath forsaken me my God hath forgotten me but behold the Lords Fatherly answer exceeding all the compassion of Women Can a Woman forsake her suckling Child that she should not have compassion on the Son of her Womb she may forget but I cannot forget thee saith the Lord I have graven thee upon the Palms of my hands thy Walls are continually before me thy Children shall make haste thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee Isa 49.14 to 18. Behold the lamentable state of the Church wherein she complains all her friends have dealt treacherously with her and not only forsaken her but become her Enemies Lam. 1. all The fifth instance of Gods kindness to his People is when under great reproaches as a good name is better than Gold and Pretious ointment nevertheless the holiest and most innocent of Gods People have been exposed unto and are obnoxious to slanders revilings and reproaches from the worst of Men. Christ the Lord of Glory was called a Wine-bibber a Drunkard a Friend to Publicanes and Sinners and charged with having a Devil and being a Charmer by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils and at his Death was reviled as a deceiver and they that passed by railed on him thou that savest others come down from the Cross and save thy self he that saved others himself he cannot save Mat. 15.29 30 31. Luke 7.33 34. ch 11.15 The Apostles were called rebellious turners of the World upside down stirrers up of the People and Inventers of new doctrine How was David reviled and reproached by Shimei Come out thou bloody Man the Lord hath returned on thee all the blood of the House of Saul and thou art taken in thy mischief because thou art a bloody Man 2 Sam. 16.6 7 8. I was a reproach amongst all mine Enemies especially to my Neighbours and a fear to mine acquantance they that did see me fled from me I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind I am like a broken Vessel I have heard the slanders of many fear was on every side while they took Council together against me they devised to take away my Life but I trusted to thee O Lord and said thou art my God Psal 31.11 12 13 14 20. False Witnesses rose up against me they laid to my charge things I knew not they rewarded me evil for my good to the spoiling of my Soul in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered themselves together yea the Abjects gathered themselves together against me and I knew it not they did tear me and ceased not with Hypocritical mockers at Feasts they gnashed upon me with their Teeth yea they opened their mouth wide against me and said a ha a ha our eyes have seen it Psal 35.11 to 22. My lovers and my friends stood aloof from my sore my kinsmen stood afar off they also that seek after my Soul lay Snares for me and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things against me and imagine deceit all the day long but my Enemies are lively and they are strong and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied they also that render evil for good are mine Adversaries Psal 38.11 to 21. Mine Enemies speak evil of me when shall he die if he come to see me he speaketh vanity he gathereth iniquity to it self and when he goeth away he telleth it all that hate me whisper together against me they did devise my hurt now that he lieth down he shall rise no more yea mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted who did eat of my bread did lift up his heel against me Psal 41.5 to 9. Moses the humble and meekest of Men was charged with ambition and assuming of Arbitrary Power even by his Brother Aaron and Sister Miriam Thou takest too much upon thee hath the Lord spoken by Moses only hath he not spoken by us also Numb 12.1.2 This also was Christs Lot
what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ Ephes 3.9 Rom. 8.28 29 30. Secondly By his greatest and almost incredible humiliation in abasing himself to descend from the highest pitch of glory to the lowest step of humane miseries temptations ignominies and sufferings that humane nature could be exposed unto and to make himself a Servant in his sojourning in the World to teach the Gospel and the mystery of this great Salvation Thirdly His further condescention of abasement to the Wrath of God and suffer death for Mans Sin though he knew no sin that by his Suffering Death and Resurrection he might not only by satisfaction of Justice for Man redeem him from wrath to come and procure him eternal happiness but also to be a patern of patience and obedience to all for whom he suffered and both these last heads are contained or expressed in that of Isaiah he shall grow up before him as aâ— tender plant and as a Root out of dry ground he hath no form nor comliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we shall desire him he is despised and rejected of Men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our faces from him and we esteem him not surely he hath born our grief and yet we esteemed him stricken smitten of God and afflicted he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all he was oppressed and afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he was brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before the Shearers is dumb he opened not his Mouth he was taken from Prison and from Judgment he made his Grave with the Wicked and with the Rich in his Death because he had done no violence neither was deceit found in his Mouth he poured out his Soul unto death and was numbred with the Transgressors Isa 53. to 11. This further instance of Christs Humiliation Abasement for Mans Salvation is further expressed by the Psalmist My God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring I am a worm and no man a reproach of men and despised of the People all men that see me laugh me to scorn they shoot out the Lip and shake the Head Ps 22. to 18. This sheweth in a Type what indignity reproach and misery the Saviour of the World should be exposed unto in the accomplishing of Mans Salvation and this was actually performed and brought about at Christs Suffering he was mocked reviled and flouted at when apprehended and brought to the Cross He trusted in the Lord let him deliver him seeing he delighted in him Mar. 15.27 28. Mat. 27.35 43. Because Christ suffered leaving us an example that we should follow his steps who did not sin neither was guile found in his Mouth who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. Fourthly This mystery of love and redemption of Man is magnified by Christs unparallelled indulgence and goodness that he did not only abase himself unto the greatest indignities in the flesh but he doth good for evil he doth not only make an Attonement by his death for the sins of Enemies but he also exalteth them from the greatest depth of misery to the highest form of glory an union with himself Father Angels and Saints as it is more fully expressed elsewhere This Doctrine and Truth of Mans Eternal Salvation so accomplished by Jesus Christ is not only given to us for our everlasting consolation but also for our instruction and direction in Faith Patience and new obedience in our sojourning state for although eternal Life our Redemption and Salvation is freely given and procured by his alone merit nevertheless he makes every man by a blessing on his Graces given to him instrumental of his own Salvation we are commanded To work out our Salvation with fear and trembling and as the Lord waits to be gracious so he commands and expects to be called upon for all his Mercies which he intends to bestow upon his People in that famous Scripture where he makes a new Covenant and Promises new and clean heart and to pour out his Spirit though he doth it freely and for his own name and glory yet he doth not intend his People should be bare Spectators and only passive in the receipt of mercies but that they should be active and solicitous in the duties of Faith Patience New Obedience and Prayer I will yet for this saith tbe Lord be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them and seeing all the days of our sojourning here we must wait until our change come and that as our duties are still incumbent upon us so we are obnoxious unto temptations and difficulties and for our help and directions steddily to steer our course we cannot have a more proper mean than to set Christ before us as a Patern who is the Captain and Author of our Salvation and that in his Doctrine and Practice First in his Doctrine his Doctrine is Preaching up Holiness Patience in Sufferings Mutual forbearance Peaceableness in Losses Contempt of the World Zeal for the Kingdom of God and Faith in the Providences of God and under all Despensations Mutual Love and Charity and Relief to the Distressed as a Duty even to Enemies His Doctrine is all for Holiness be ye Holy as your Heavenly Father is Holy Math. 5.48 Patience in sufferings Blessed are ye when Men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of Evil against you for my sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your Reward in Heaven for so Persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Math. 5.11 12. If ye be Reproached for the Name of Christ Happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God are on you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified 1 Pet 4.14 to end He teacheth mutual forbearance and not to return evil but to do good for evil ye have heard it said an Eye for an Eye c. but I say unto you that you resist not evil with evil but whosoever shall smite thee on thy Right Cheek turn to him the other also if any Man sue thee at Law to take away thy Coat let him have thy Cloak also if a Man will compel thee to go with him a Mile go with him two hence we are taught the great Spirit of Meekness whereof Christ was the Pattern and are commanded to bridle our Passionate Resentments of Injuries done us Math. 5.38 39. He Preacheth up the Duty of Charity and Charitable supplying of the Indigent give to
becomes Mans Surety to God to perform for him the Conditions on Mans part which he doth by offering himself up to Justice for Sin Rom. 4.25 And by his Spirit of Grace enabling Man to do spiritual homage and obedience to God and by so much was Jesus made the Surety of a better Testament Heb. 2.22 Secondly Christ doth not onely become Mans Surety but actually clears and discharges them from the debt of Sin to Justice and frees Sinners from the penalty of eternal wrath for Sin for he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 Herein doth the Suretyship of Christ for Man differ from the suretyship amongst Men for that amongst Men when one becometh Surety for another he contracts for relief from him whose security he is and only lends his Credit for a time but will not pay the debt for him if he can by Law avoid it and if he be constrained to pay it he will force relief from the other if he be able and if not able will treat him with all severity for his own relief but Christ Jesus neither expects or desires any satisfaction or relief but freely of his own good Will pays the Debt and expects no return but the humble and thankful acknowledgment and improvement of the mercy of forgiveness and priviledges obtained by him to the debtor Thirdly He becomes a Curse for sinners and frees them from the Curse due for their sins Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us Gal. 3.13 For it is Written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree Deut. 21.23 Fourthly He doth not only free us from the Curse for Sin and Punishment of Justice but also frees them from all Imputation of guilt for Sin and obtains the condemnatory Sentence of Justice against them to be cancelled and nailed to his Cross of Satisfaction to Justice that the same shall never retort upon them to their prejudice And you being dead in your Sins and the Uncircumcision of the Flesh hath he quickned together with him having forgiven you all Trespasses blotting out the Hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross Colossians 2.13 14. Herein also is a second difference between Christs love to me above that amongst men for when a surety is obliged to pay the Debt of another he taketh Assigments to the Creditors Debt and keeps it on foot against his Friend either to force satisfaction from him or to keep him in constant trouble fear danger and disquiet of mind but Christ doth not only early chearfully and willingly pay the debt but also cancels all the instruments of payment and puts the debt in utter oblivion And remembers their sins no more Isa 43.25 and quiets their Thoughts from the fear of their danger or after trouble for their Debts Fifthly He doth not only satisfie Justice take off the Curse and procure them Indemnity but also procures the Imputation of Righteousness to them as he was made sin for sinner though he knew no sin so he makes them righteous through him though they were altogether unrighteous in themselves And he received the Sign of Circumcision a sign of the Righteousness of Faith which he had yet being uncircumcised that he might be the Father of all them that believe though they be not circumcised that the righteousness might be imputed to them also now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our Justification Rom. 4.11 24 25. Herein is manifest the excellency of Christs love to sinners above any thing amongst men for men commonly upbraid others with their good offices done and if one man suffer the least injury from another especially in paying a debt for him the same is not only a continual reproach but prejudice so far prevails that they never afterwards assist them in any good office but rather defame and lessen their reputation than advance them to any good though it may be in their power but Christ glorieth in the good Office done and is so far from upbraiding his poor friends Jam. 1.5 That he will not only have all names of reproach from their former transgressions taken off Isa 54.4 but he will have them farther advanced and though they were in themselves unrighteous he will have his own righteousness imputed to them as in the foregoing Scripture 2 Cor. 5.21 and is so tender of their reputation that he will have all their deformities covered and washed away in his own blood Rev. 7.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purify to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2.23 24. Who gave himself for us that he might deliver us from this present evil World according to the Will of God and our Father Gal. 1.4 We do not read in Scripture that Christ upbraids any Repenting Sinner with their Sins committed before their Conversion Mary Magdalen after her Conversion was not reproached with uncleanness Peter with denial of Christ nor Paul for his vehement persecuting of him This of upbraiding or reproaching the Penitent with their former transgressions is clear contrary to the Method God takes with his People for in that famous Scripture Eze. 33 The Spirit of God tells us the Righteousness of the Sinner shall not justify him without Repentance and new Obedience When I shall say to the Righteous he shall surely live if he trust to his own Righteousness and commit Iniquity all his Righteousness shall not be remembred but for his Iniquity that he hath commited he shall dye for it verse 13. And on the other hand the Sins of the Penitent shall not be remembred against them If the wicked restore the pledge give again that which he hath robbed and walk in the Statutes of Life without committing Iniquity he shall surely live he shall not dye none of his Sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him he hath done that which is lawful and right he shall surely live ver 15 16. The Lord is a Spirit of meekness tender hearted and compassionate and he knoweth that the regenerate are a people afflicted and broken in Heart for their Sins and under a continual sense of being under a body of death and that they often want the Oil of Joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness Isa 61.3 To support them under their fainting fits a wounded Spirit who can bear therefore in his gracious condescension he ministers consolation to his People Thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth Eternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and
according to Christs own Doctrine When ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you say we are uprofitable Servants we have done that which was our duty to do Luke 17.10 As the holy Scriptures of the old and new testament hold out to us the whole complex of Christian duties which being so various and collected from so many several Scriptures and for the better attaining to the knowledge thereof are to be reduced in order under the several heads of the duties of the first and second Table shall by the blessing of God be the subject of the ensuing Discourse Before we proceed to examine the particular duties of Christians under this new Covenant we shall by the way consider the great difference between the bounty and goodness of God to Repenting Sinners and the bounty and goodness of man to one another in which we shall find made good that Scripture As the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my thoughts higher than your thoughts and my ways higher than your ways Isa 55.9 We have discovered that the Lord Jesus Christ his bounty is such that man by sin against God having forfeited his first and happy estate in Paradise and being therefore accursed and concluded under wrath is freely restored by the Sacrifice of Christs Blood and that all required of him in return of such mercies is the due observance of Gods Commands in new obedience and that towards mans performance God in Christ Jesus makes with him an everlasting Covenant that he is their God and they his People That he will give them one Heart and one Way that they may fear him for ever for the good of them and their Children after them Jer. 32.38 39 40. and give them a new Spirit Ezek. 11.19 and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Commandments and do them Jer. 36.27 By which we perceive that as the Lord requires duties on mans part he affords to his people Strength and Grace to perform the duties Commanded which other Benefactors neither do nor can do Secondly The Lord gives power and authority to his people to call on him for a supply of such of his Graces as are necessary for them to enable them to walk with him Ezek. 36.37 I will yet for this be inquired of the House of Israel to do it for them seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened c. Mat. 7.7 8. and in that famous place Ask me of things to come concerning my Sons and my Daughters and the works of my hands command ye me Isa 45.11 Thirdly The Lord doth not only afford stock of Grace by his Spirit and gives a command to call for more supply but he also rewards the right improvement of Grace with fresh Grace he will give Grace for Grace and no good thing will he with-hold from those that fear him Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord Hos 6.3 and this is clear by the parable of the Talents to such as improved more was given and Eternal Life as a reward of their well-doing but he that did not improve what he had was taken from him and he himself was thrust into utter darkness Mat. 25. Fourthly The Lord delighteth in mercy and not in the severity of his Justice and rather desires sinners should repent and live than perish under his Wrath and Justice Cast away all your transgressions whereby you have transgressed and make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will you dye O House of Israel for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth wherefore turn your selves and live Ezek. 18.31 32. As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye for why will ye dye O House of Israel Ezek. 33.11 We see in all these foregoing steps the great desire and zeal the Lord Jesus Christ hath for the good and conversion of sinners and aversation to their distruction but on the other hand we shall find the great prejudice oppression and cruelty of men against one another For first consider any man as a benefactor to another either in that case where any man hath raised some to some degree of preferment or profit either of meer good will or favour and on taking a liking to him as his favourite or for some good office done to him by another makes him some grant to himself and his heirs how frequently doth it happen that either the donor looseth his fancy or forgets the good office to the donec in his own time or like Pharaoh to the Posterity of Joseph and thereby rests not till by some means or other he brings his favourite into disgrace and worms from him the grant with Ignominy and leaves him in worse condition than he found him or makes him the continual Butt of his displeasure and exposeth him to the contempt of others or if any condition be performable on the grant makes the Grantee uneasy and never at quiet until the grant be voided Secondly If on the account of Charity or common course of dealing one Neighbour or Friend happen on some pinching exigent to supply the want of another how frequently doth Pride upbraid the necessitous and covetousness take these advantages that what was lent is called and forced back so unseasonably and in such rigid and hard terms that the calling the thing back after such manner is a greater prejudice than the supply could be a service and many are ruined on pretence of friendship in lending when the event is pernicious and the design appears to have been nothing but covetousness let such persons consider the common duty of Charity of lending without expectation of a return according to Christs Doctrine Love ye your Enemies and do good for evil and lend hoping for nothing again and your reward shall be great and ye shall be the Children of the highest for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil be ye therefore merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful Luke 6.34 35 36. It were advisable such persons would consider it 's only Gods bounty which makes one man in a worldly state to differ from another What hast thou O man that thou hast not received Every Good and every Perfect Gift cometh from the Father of Light Jam. 1.17 The Race is not to the Swift nor the Battel to the Strong but God raiseth up one and casteth down another Let man in prosperity consider it is only by the favour of God he standeth and he that thinketh he standeth let him take heed least he fall And remember what the Psalmist saith When thou Lord rebukest man for Iniquity how dost thou make his beauty to consume like a Mothe Let him consider the Parable of Dives and Lazarus Luke 16.19 to the end and the rich Husbandman in the
Gospel Luke 12.16 to 22. Let him consider Nebuchadnezzar's Fall from the height of Glory to a Brutal State Dan. 4. Let such men remember they are of the same Family and extraction with the poorest that they owe their Life Being and what they have to God and are eternally lost unless reconciled to God in Jesus Christ and that all men by Nature are under Wrath and Debtors to Gods Justice and if he should prove a rigorous exactor who could stand before him therefore they ought equally to have compassion on their Brethren Remember them that are in Bonds as bound with them and them which suffer adversity as being your selves in the Body Hebrews 13.3 Let such remember the Parable of that cruel servant whose Lord forgave to him his debt but he dealing cruelly with his fellow Servant his Lord fell on him and made him irrecoverably miserable Mat. 18.23 to end and these are Christs own words so likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you if ye from your Hearts forgive not every one his Brother their Trespasses Mat. 18.35 It being so known a Truth and fatal to Mankind that all Men in Adam were concluded under Sin and Wrath and that woful experience as well as Scripture teach us That all men except Christ are frequently defiled with actual Transgressions And that no man acquainted with himself can be ignorant of this truth Psal 51.5 Eph. 2.3 Eecles 7.20 And that as all men in Adam are under the condemnation of Wrath and Justice so the only way of Salvation is by Faith in Jesus Christ Romans 5.18 19. Now that all naturally are under the state of Sin let us consider the duties incumbent for our recovery out of this condition and these are chiefly five First Trace Man what he is in his Estate of Nature Secondly Let us set Original Sin before us as a Beacon Thirdly Study Mortification Fourthly Study Repentance Fifthly Search into the promises of God and believe them The first Duty is to trace Man from his beginning of whom if we take a view we will find him soon after his Creation to fall from his Original Righteousness by breaking the command and eating the forbidden fruit And the Lord saw that the wickedness of Man was great in the Earth and that every Imagination of his Heart was evil and only evil continually Gen. 6.5 7. And see how he is described by the Prophet The Heart of Man is deceitful and desperately wicked above all things who can know it Jeremiah 17.9 See how Man is painted out in his natural defilement Thy Father was an Amorite and thy Mother a Hittite as for thy Nativity in the day that thou wast born thy Navel was not cut neither wast thou washed in Water to supple thee thou wast not washed at all nor salted at all no Eye pittied thee to do any of these things to thee to have compassion on thee but thou wast cast out on the open fields to the loathing of thy person in the day thou wast born Ezek. 16.3 4 5 c. See more of this under the head of original sin We are all as an unclean thing all our unrighteousnesses are as filthy-Rags we do all fade away as a Leaf and our Iniquities like a Wind have taken us away Isa 64.6 Behold I was shapen in Iniquity and in Sin did my Mother conceive me Psal 51.5 He is accursed of God for as many as are under the Law are under the Curse For it is written cursed is every Man which continueth not in every thing which is written in the Book of the Law to do them Gal. 3.10 Deut. 27.26 Secondly Set Original Sin as a Beacon before us The use of a Beacon is to take directions how to steer a right Course to avoid splitting on a Rock or danger or upon Invasion to avoid surprizal by Enemies how great reason hath Man in remembring his lost happiness by sin to avoid splitting on that Rock again Remember Lots Wife struck up into a Pillar of Salt for looking back to sinful Sodom Gen. 19.26 The Passover was appointed to remember the Israelites that the Lord by his Power had rescued them from their Bondage in Egypt Exod. 13.3 The Prophet Hosea in 7 8 9 10 11 12 and 13. chapters of his Prophecies holds forth to us the natural and rebellious frame of Mans Spirit which we should always have under our Eyes The third Duty incumbent is Mortification of all sins and corruptions actual and habitual of whatever quality or degree And that First by applying our selves to Christ by Prayer Wash me and I shall be clean purge me and I shall be whiter than Snow create in me a clean Heart and renew a right Spirit within me Isa 51.7 10. We being naturally defiled must be cleansed by him For he is made to us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 of this more at large hereafter Secondly Get a self loathing for sin we are all as an unclean thing from the sole of the foot to the top of the head and with holy Job abhor thy self and repent in Dust and Ashes Isa 1.6 ch 64.6 Job 42.6 Thirdly Get deep apprehensions of the Infinite and free love of God in Christ And that first in his early Mercy of Mans Redemption and Promise after Mans Fall it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel Gen. 3.15 And admire his infinite goodness of free Mercy When we were without strength Christ in due time died for the ungodly God so loved the World that while we were yet Sinners and Enemies Christ died for us Rom. 8.5 6 9. This is that Emmanuel which was promised for Redemption of Sinners Isa 7.14 ch 11.1 ch 53. all The fourth Duty is Repentance which is a Godly sorrow for sin not to be repented of which according to the Apostles description hath these seven qualifications in it 2 Cor. 7.11 First Carefulness which is an Impartial discovery and searching into all the Thoughts and Actions concealing none nor conniving at any thing of Sin though as dear as right Eye or right Hand If thy right Hand offend cut it off if the right Eye offend pull it out it is profitable that one member perish rather than the whole Body He that loveth Father Brother or Child better than me is not worthy of me he that loseth his Life shall find it and he that saveth his Life shall loose it and he that taketh not up his Cross and followeth not me is not worthy of me Mat. 5.29 30. Mark 9.44 Secondly Clearing your selves That is not only to part with what Lusts we please and confessing what sins we are indifferent to part with but searching and condemning our selves according to the ballance of the Sanctuary To the Law and to the Testimony not by the level of affection and interest Isa 8.20 A Third is Indignation To hate every sin with an implacable prejudice even to hearing seeing touching handling or any