experimentally see and therefore we confidently conclude that he will still deliver So Isay 51.2 3. One Blessing is a pledge of another he that hath subdued such a lust for me will do it still he that helped me in such a strait will do so still he that hath been with us in six troubles in the seventh he will not leave us Job 5.19 20. We should therefore treasure up our deliverances and record and file up our former experiences that they may be as Mannah for us to seed upon when we come into the Wilderness of New troubles Psal. 74.14 He smote the head of the Leviathan .i. He broke the power and policy of Pharaoh and his army and drowned them in the Sea and why so That he might be meat for his people in the Wilderness .i. That he might be food for their Faith to feed upon they were to pass through many difficulties in the Wilderness but God gave them this mercy as a pledge to assure them that he would also cast out the Canaanite and bring them to the possession of that good Land How quietly and comfortably might we live did we but take this course The Victories of old Souldiers encourageth them for a new conquest By this resting on God we ingage him to help us still if a man will not â—â—ceive his trust much less will the God of Heaven hence David useth this as an Argument to move the Lord Our fathers trusted in thee and thâ—u didst deliver them we also trust in thee and therefore deliver us also Psal. 22.4 5. hereby we bring much honour to God then indeed we make him our God when we make him our onely stay and trust God knowes and acknowledgeth such for his Nahum 1.7 From every evil work 2. Observation 2. Though God doth not save his people from suffering yet he will save them from sin and though he leave in them infirmities yet he will free them from enormities and from total Apostasy He will keep them from evil from every evil work that may any way be scandalous or a reproach to their profession He convinceth them of the Vileness of sin and discovers to them the snares of Satan he plants his fear in their hearts that they may not sin against him and inclines their hearts to an Holy Observation of all his Precepts And he will preserve me to his heavenly Kingdom 3. Observation 3. God is the Preserver of his people He doth not onely preserve their lives and estates with a general preservation and so is stiled the Preserver of men Job 7.20 But especially he keeps their Souls in an Holy Frame till he bring them to glory All Beleevers are preserved and kept as in a Garrison by the mighty power of God through faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 And this is called special preservation peculiar to the Godly 1 Sam. 2.9 Psal. 41.12 Iude 1. It is not sufficient that we light a Lamp but there must be a continual supply of Oil else the light will go out So it is not sufficient that we have Preventing Preparing Renewing grace but we must also have Subsequent Conserving Perfecting Persevering grace daily given in to preserve us from Apostasy We have alwaies need of a Divine manu-tenency till we have finisht our course Psal. 73.23 As he calls us out of sin so he must keep us from sin and confirm us to the end 1 Cor. 1.8 And this he will do in despite of all our enemies if any thing destroy us it is sin and for that we have Gods hand here that he will deliver us from every evil work that might any way ruine us and so preserve us till he have brought us to Heaven He keeps Heaven for the Saints and the Saints for Heaven 4. Observation Gods Goodness to his people is wholly free All his dispensations to his are free-grace and pure mercy 1. By his Preventing Grace he keeps us from evil works 2. By his subsequent grace he preserves us to his Kingdom Where then is our Merit if all be grace But of this before on V. 8. 4. Observation 5. God is a good and bountiful Master to his people None like him for 1. He delivers them from sin which is the greatest evil 2. He preserves them maugre the malice of all their enemies till he have brought them home to himself who is the chiefest good Who would not serve such a Master who first enables us to do our work and then payes us for it Can the son of Iesse give you Olive-yards and Vine-yard said Saâ—l to the followers of David So say I can the World the Devil and Sin give you grace and glory They cannot do it they can bewitch you and deceive you in promising pleasure and giving pain in promising liberty and bringing you into bondage in promising you life yet bringing you to death Come away then from the Garlick and Onions of this Egypt ascend out of the wilderness of this world and like spiritual Eagles soare aloft in your Meditations and desires after things above .i. Grace and glory Colos. 3.2 6. Observation 6. In our deepest distress we should have an eye to this Heavenly Kingdom So doth Paul here What ever thy sorrows or sufferings be here yet remember there is a Heavenly Kingdom will pay for all This will raise our spirit and uphold our heart in the midst of the greatest troubles Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 Heb. 10.34 and 11.35 But of this see more on V. 8. Obs. 3. 7. Observation 7. God will bring his people to a Kingdom to an Heavenly Kingdom It is not a Millenarian earthly kingdom that fancy was not heard of in St. Pauls time yet Paul was an eminent Martyr and Piscator and Alsteed make this Millenarian raign most proper if not peculiar to the Martyrs But the Scripture generally makes the Reward of the Saints and Martyrs to be in Heaven and not on earth Psal. 73.24 Matth. 5.12 Philip. 3.20 1 Pet. 1.4 The Godly long to be with Christ in Heaven 2 Cor. 5.1 Philip. 1.23 In this heavenly Kingdom we shall enjoy everlasting Communion with God and shall be for ever with the Lord which is the heaven of Heaven 1 Thes. 4.17 God himself will there be all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 Rev. 21.3 There we shall keep an Everlasting Sabbath Heb. 4.9 and shall be for ever free from sin and from the very possibility of sinning There we shall have light without darkness health without sickness peace without war joy without sorrow strength without weakness and life without death This should set our Souls a longing to be there As S. Austins Mother said when she heard of the Joyes of Heaven What then make â— here Onely we should labour to be fitted and qualified for this heavenly Kingdom Heaven is a Pure place and none but pure ones can come there all unclean dogs are shut out 1 Cor. 6.9 Rev. 21. ult there is
Devils at the great and glorious day of the Lord is the honour of our honours Christ will not onely be thy Compurgator but thy Enchomiast at that day Alexander admired the happiness of Achilles because when he lived he had Patroclus for his friend and after he was dead he had Homer for his Encomiast But O the happiness of a Christian who hath God for his friend and Christ for his Encomiast He hath a Book of Remembrance wherein he registers all the good we do with all the circumstances which may any way illustrate our goodness Mal. 3.16 All thy good works shall be brought forth not as meritorious causes but as signes and evidences of thy faith Christ instanceth in works of mercy because they are most manifest to the world and more visible then faith Matth. 25.35 And this should make us to abound in the work of the Lord since our labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15. ult Ob. The Godly have had their failings shall not those be publisht in that day A. I conceive not all their sins are forgiven and forgotten and nothing shall be remembred in that day but their goodness 1. This is most agreable to the promises which God hath made of pardoning our sins and remembring them no more of blotting them out and casting them into the depths of the Sea Psal. 32.1 Esay 33. ult and 43.25 Ieremy 31.34 Micah 7.18 2. God hath oft confirmed these promises both by his Spirit inwardly and by the Word Sacraments and Prayer 3. The godly are said not to come into judgement viz. of condemnation but of absolution Iohn 3.18 And there is no condemnation to them Rom. 8.1 they are already perfectly justified and absolved from all their sins Rom. 3.24 25. and 8.33 4. The godly confess and forsake their sins they daily repent of them and judge themselves for them and therefore God will not judge them but according to his promise he must and will forgive them Prov. 28.13 1 Iohn 1.9 and by consequence forget them as if they had never been Ier. 31.34 If men must forgive and forget shall not God much more Levit. 19.18 3. Is Christ the Judge of all the World then this speaks terrour to all ungodly men who would not have Christ to raign over them but grieved his Spirit abused his Ministers contemned the Gospel persecuted his Saints and trod under foot the Son of God These will not be able to stand in the judgement of that day Psal. 1.5 1 Pet. 4.18 Rom. 2.5 This will be a comfortable yet terrible day a day of the greatest comfort to the godly and of the greatest discomfort to the ungodly that ever was The good mans best and the bad mans worst are both to come Now God executes some judgements on wicked men but these are but praeludia futuri judicii tokens and fore-runners of that great judgement Some are now punisht as Sodom Old World Egypt Ierusalem the Jews c. that we may know there is a providence taking notice of all yet all are not punisht that we may know there is a judgement to come to which the wicked are reserved 2 Pet. 2.10 Here Gods way is in the clouds and we see not the reason of many things but then his Justice and Righteousness shall be gloriously apparent to all the world Rev. 2.5 The judgement of God righteous now but 't is not so manifest to the world but at the great day there will be a publick revelation of the righteous judgement of God Here wicked men have their day of sinning and God beares I but the day of the Lord will come 2 Pet. 3.10 when the wicked must answer for their abuse of his patience and God will bear no longer Who can conceive much less express the horrour of that great and terrible day of the Lord when the Sun shall be turned into darkness and the Moon into bloud Ioel 2.31 Acts 2.20 which shall burn as an Oven and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble Mal. 4.1 when the Heaven shall passe away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth and all that is therein shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 3.10 When Christ shall come in his glory and ten thousand times ten thousand of Angels shall attend him Dan. 7.9.10 when he shall come in flaming fire to take vengeance on such as disobeyed him When all the kindreds of the Eearth shall weep and wail before him Rev. 1.7 And shall at last hear that fearful sentence passed on them Depart ye cursed c. When Kings and Captains and mighty men of the earth shall cry to the Rocks and Mountains to hide them Rev. 6.15 16 17. They that made others fly into Caves and Dens shall cry themselves to be hid in Caves and 't will not be Then Alexander Caesar and others that made the World to tremble shall themselves tremble and cry for fear If we hear but a crack of Thunder in a Cloud we are ready to tremble and with Caligula seek a place where we may hide our selves What then shall we do when the whole frame of Heaven and Earth shall break in pieces and all the World shall be on a flame about us Oh who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appears Mal. 3.2 If Felix a Heathen trembled when he heard of a judgement what will Infelix Felix do when he shall feel it This was one meanes to convert S. Austin and if thou be not past grace it may be a meanes to work on thee And if Moses in the Mount did so exceedingly fear and quake at a glimpse of Gods presence Heb. 12.21 and Daniel and Iohn were so affrighted at the sight of an Angel tho he came with good tidings and they were men of good consciences oh then how dreadful will the sight of all those thousand thousand of holy Angels be to the wicked with their guilty consciences It will be a terrible day especially to all Ignorant impenitent sinners who know not God nor obey his Gospel 2 Thes. 1.8 Isai. 27.11 They would not hear his soft Voyce in the Ministery and now they must hear his terrible Voyce in Judgment They say unto him depart for we desire not the knowledge of the wayes Iob 21.14 and therefore Christ will say to them Depart from me I know you not 2. To the Persecutors of Gods People 2 Thes. 1.7 3. To all cruel mercyless rich men Iames 2.13 and 5.1 to 6. Matth. 25.41 42. 4. To all whoremongers and adulters those sins are ofttimes so secretly committed that the Magistrate cannot punish them and therefore God himself will judge them Heb. 13.4 Iude 7. 5. To all gross offenders at the day of judgment he 'l be a swift witness against sorcerers murderers c. Mark 3.5 Revelat. 22.15 6. At that day will Christ reveal all the secret abominations which have been
and so thou art rich Rev. 2.9 In him we are Lords of all all is yours 1 Cor. 3.21 22. though we have little in possession for present yet we have much in reversion Onely it behoves us to walk as Spiritual Kings leading Holy Heavenly Spiritual lives It is a debasement to a Christian who looks for a Crown of Glory to mind earth and to pursue these low things this is as if a King should leave his throne and go rake in a kennel or fight for bones We may well trust God for crusts who hath promised us a Crown he that hath given us his Son which is a greater gift then ten thousand worlds with him will much more give us all things Rom. 8.32 Observation 5. 5. Christians may have an eye to the recompence of reward In our race we may eye the crown which is set before us to quicken and encourage us in our course Though our work be hard yet our wages is great We shall have a sure Reward Prov. 11.18 a full Reward 2 John 8. an everlasting Reward 2 Cor. 4.17 1. That which God himself hath used as an Incentive and Motive to Obedience that we may use as a Motive and by consequence have an eye to it But God hath used Heaven and Happiness as a Motive to quicken us to obedience as appears 2 Tim. 2.12 Iames 1.12 and 5.7 Rev. 2.10 God will not be served by his creatures for nought all his precepts are backt with promises he never saies to the house of Iacob seek my face in vain Isay 45.19 2. The Servants of God have practised it Moses had an eye to the recompence of Reward yet was no mercenary man Heb. 11.26 and so had Christ who was greater then Moses Heb. 12.2 Paul had a most free and ingenuous Spirit yet he had an eye to the price of the high calling of God in Christ Philip. 3.13 14. Colos. 1.5 and David comforted himself in the midst of his conflicts with this that God would yet bring him to glory Psal. 73.24 Onely this Caution must be remembred that in all we do or suffer Gods glory must be the ultimate and primary end we look at 1 Cor. 10.31 Colos. 3.17 We must love Christ for himself and for his own excellencies and not for loaves or self-respects We are never sincere till we can serve Christ simply out of love to himself purely in obedience to his Commands onely because he requires it The Lord. Observation 6. 6. Christ is the Lord. He is God coeternal and coequal with his Father See this largely proved V. 1. Observation 7. 7. Christ is a righteous Iudge Yea righteousness it self He will give to every one according to his works His Judgment is the Judgment of God and so must needs be true and just Rom. 2.2 He is the Iudge of all the world and cannot act unrighteously Rom. 3.5 6. He may as soon cease to be as cease to be just with him is no respect of persons no power kindred gifts or greatness hath influence upon him Rom. 2.11 1 Pet. 2.17 He judgeth not according to the outward appearance and colours of things Isay 11.3 but according to the truth of every case cause Rom. 2.6 His judgment is true without errour or mistaking Rev. 19.11 Then poor afflicted oppressed ones shall be relieved Psal. 72.24 and the wicked shall not be able to stand in Judgment Psal. 1. ult God smites his hands in anger against unrighteous persons here Ezek. 22.6 7.12 13. And bars them out of his Kingdom hereafter 2 Cor. 6.9 Be Patient then my Brethren till the coming of the Lord and let the remembrance of this righteous Judge comfort thee against all unrighteous judgments which shall here pass against thee Eccles. 3.16 17. and 5.8 1 Cor. 4.3 Iames 5.7 2. Labour to resemble Christ in Righteousness As we must be perfect as he is perfect so we must be righteous as he is righteous by way of similitude though we cannot by way of equality yet in our degree and according to our measure we must resemble him having righteous Habits righteous Principles and righteous Practices God loves to meet those in wayes of mercy who are not onely Praisers but Practisers of righteousness Isay 64.5 The eye of Gods special Providence is on such Psal. 11.7 and 34.15 He will so openly and visibly reward them that even the wicked shall say Verily there is a reward for the Righteous Psal. 58.11 When Families be habitations of righteousness then they are blessed habitations and prosper Ier. 22.15 and 31. 23. This exalts a Nation Prov. 14.34 and brings peace to people Psal. 72.1 2. Isay 26.2 and 32.17 To such God will reveal his secrets Prov. 3.32 Their memorial shall be precious here Prov. 10.7 Psal. 112.6 2 Cor. 8.18 and they shall have Heaven hereafter Psal. 15.1 2. Ier. 33.15 16. The Crown of righteousness belongs to such righteous ones Matth. 11.43 and 25.46 Though the wicked may kill them yet they cannot hurt them for the righteous have hope even in death Prov. 14.32 Magistrates especially must do Justice impartially to all like Levi in this case they must know neither father nor mother Deut. 33.9 they must resemble Christ for whom they Judge who is no respecter of persons Iohn 2.4 No Star so beautiful as Justice It pleaseth God above all Sacrifices Prov. 21.3 It is a mean to stay plagues Numb 25.17 18. When Achab was stoned there was peace in Israel Iosh. 7. When Sauls sons were hanged the famine ceased 2 Sam. 21.24 It is not Cruelty but Mercy to cut off incorrigible evil doers from a land with such Sacrifices God is well pleased Shall give me Observation 8. 8. Eternal blessedness is the free gift of God Here is no fore-seen faith works merit desert but from our Election to our Salvation all free grace love and mercy Grace is the spring-head of all our mercies it is the Title page of the book of Life 1. Our Election is wholly free It is but a remnant through the Election of grace that are saved and if it be of grace then not of works else grace were no grace Rom. 11.5 6. and 9.11 18. 2. Our Vocation is of free Grace When we were dead in trespasses and sins he quickened us Ezek. 16. Ephes. 2.1 he called Abraham when he was an Idolater Iosh. 24.2 Manasses a blood-sucker Paul a persecutor it is not for any merit of ours but of his own meer goodness that he calls us 2 Thes. 1.11 2 Tim 1.9 God freely called and quickned the Ephesians 2.5 when they were dead in sins .i. Insensible Impotent and odious to God and good men by reason of their Idolatry Acts 19. And hatred of piety there is but one good man amongst them and it is said they banisht him out of their city Magick and witch-craft abounded amongst them witness those Magick books which they burnt at their conversion Acts 19.19
Hence that Proverb Ephesiae literae Ephesian words or writings .i. their charms and spells yet these Idolaters and Sorcerers God was pleased at his own free grace to call here he planted a famous Church and Christ himself writes an Epistle to them Rev. 3.1 2 3. and commends those that sometimes were the worst in the world 3. Our Adoption is free of Canaanites he hath made us Israelites of sinners sons of foes friends and of heirs of hell heirs of Heaven before we were born he did predestinate us to be his Adopted ones Eph. 1.5 4. Our Redemption is free God freely sent his Son into the world to save us Iohn 3.16 it was grace the riches of grace that redeemed us Eph. 1.7 5. Our Iustification is of free-grace Christs righteousness is freely imputed to us for righteousness and faith is freely given Rom. 3.24 Ephes. 2.8 Philip. 1.29 6. Our Sanctification is free He heals our back-slidings and loves us freely Hos. 14.4 Ephes. 2.4 5. to extract sweet out of sweet nature and Art can do it but to bring light out of darkness good out of evil and sweet out of bitter is a work of Omnipotency it is no less then the change of nature 7. Our Salvation and Glorification is free Luk. 12.32 Rom. 6. ult This then overthrowes the doctrine of the Papist Arminians and Semipelagians who cry up fore-seen faith preparations good works and an improvement of the means of grace as causes of Election whereas God chose us not because we were Holy but that we might be Holy Ephes 1.4 and 2.10 we are created to good works not for them He did predestinate us not because we were conformable but that we might be conformable to his Son in Sanctification Rom. 8.29 30. Predestination is the cause Vocation and Faith which comes by hearing is but the effect of it and so cannot be before its cause hence the Scripture so oft tells us that we are chosen to Obedience not for Obedience 1 Pet. 1. 2. and that as many as were ordained to eternal life believed they did not first believe that they might be ordained but they were first ordained that they might believe Acts 13.47 2 Thes. 2.13 Paul obtained mercy not because he was faithful but that he might be faithful 1 Cor. 7.25 So that in order of nature faith is after the decree of Election for God first decrees the end and the means conducing to that end so that it is not by works of righteousness which we have done either before conversion or after the Apostle excludes them all from meriting Salvation but by mercy we are saved Tit. 3.4 5. this grace unexpectedly appeared when we were dead in sin and so were meerly Passive in respect of the habit of grace though in other respects we are partly Active and partly Passive when we did not once dream of such a mercy yet then did it shine upon us and if God should chuse men for their fore-seen goodness he must chuse none for we are all by nature alike ther 's no difference by nature between Iacob and Esau Peter and Iudas Rom. 3.9 22. and 4.9 what did God see in Abraham Rahab Manasses Paul why he should chuse them There was much in them why he should refuse them Let us then renounce all confidence in our selves or any thing that we have done for if we merit any thing it is destruction for sin is our own and perfectly evil but good is not our own nor perfectly good The Apostle excludes all distinctions and ascribes all to grace Ephes. 1.4 to 11. So that as they at the building of the material Temple from the laying the foundation to the laying on of the top-stone cryed grace grace Zach. 4.6 So must we from our Election to our Glorification cry grace grace How doth Paul in all his Epistles exalt grace and ascribe all to it By the grace of God I am that I am 1 Cor. 15.20 Let the wise man glory in his wisdom and the rich man in his riches as for me I will glory in the Grace of God for by the Grace of God I am that I am All is grace abounding superabounding grace Rom. 5.8 1. It is God that gives preventing and preparing grace Psal. 10.17 Phil. 2.13 whereby he drawes us to himself and makes us willing to believe and obey 2. He followes us with his subsequent Grace whereby he upholds us in Grace begun and enables us to persevere there is a Divine manutenency which keeps us from falling Psal. 73.23 Hence the Scripture takes all from man and gives all to God It is he that works all our works in us and for us Isay 26.12 Every good gift comes from him Jam. 1.17 It is by mercy and truth and not by our merit that our sins are pardoned Prov. 16.6 As Iacob said of his riches and children Gen. 33.5 11. God hath shewed mercy to me and hath given me all this and these are the children which the Lord hath given me So the Lord hath shewed us mercy in giving us Faith Repentance Obedience and these are the Graces which the Lord hath given us and therefore as all rivers come secretly and silently from the Sea but return openly thither again So those Graces which God hath secretly wrought in our hearts must openly appear in our lives to his praise We must not kiss our own hand Iob 31.27 nor sacrifice to our own nets but with the Church give all to God Psal. 115.1 So did Christ Matth. 11.25 26. 2. This may comfort us in the sight and sence of our wants and weaknesses that we are not now under a Covenant of works but under a Covenant of free-Grace now we may buy without money Isay 55.1 God is gracious and loves freely he loves us because he loves us it is his good pleasure so to do the moving and impulsive cause is in himself Deut. 7.7 8. he is gracious and will not contend for ever Psal. 1.3 8 9 but though he see our wayes how evil they be yet he will heal them freely Isay 57.18 I have seen his wayes and I will heal him a strange expression one would think he should have said I have seen his wayes and I will destroy him but such is his pitty to the sons of men that though he see their rebellions and perverse wayes yet for his own Name sake he freely heals and pardons them 2. It may comfort us against final Apostasy if our Salvation were grounded on our selves if it were conditional depending on our free will we might justly fear but since it is grounded on the unchangeable purpose and good will of God we are safe for his purpose is sure Rom. 9.11 And his foundation firm 2 Tim. 2.19 His counsels shall stand in despight of all opposition Isay 14.27 and 46.10 We stand not now by our own power or will our Salvation is not now in our own keeping but in
15 30 388 10 7 300 16 18 160   162  1 Corinthians  1 5 83 1 9 24 391 1 27 28 205 4 3 45 46 6 2 312 6 10 95 6 14 to 20 102 7 23 68 8 4 206 9 27 153 13 5 19   46.85 15 20 402 15 32 376  2 Cor.  4 17 217 10 10 163  Galathians  3 26 68  Ephesians  2 15 401 4 14 166   225 4 18 345 5 18 97 6 12 422  Philippians  1 23 364 2 3 85 2 6 7 57 2 12 340 2 17 364 4 6 7 41 4 11. 43  12   Colossians  1 11 448 3 16 291  1 Thessalonians  5 14 386  2 Thessalonians  2 5 28  1 Timothy  1 17 37 4 10 209 5 4 66 5 6 119 6 1 2 68 6 4 185 6 6 41.   42 6 8 42 6 10 23.   25  2 Timothy  2 22 250  Titus  3 2 58 3 4 401  Hebrewes  3 12.13 230 10 38 102   415 13 5 42  Iames.  1 2 220 2 10 21 5 11 86  1 Peter  2 5 344.   345 2 11 104 2 21 190   191 4 3 43 4 14 87 5 5 51.   54 5 8 366  2 Peter  1 5 6 21 1 5 10 497 2 2 59 2 10 59 2 14 29 2 8 333 2 9 209  1 Iohn  4 1 171 5 18 397  Iude.  3  243   343 3  388  Revelations  12 10 82.83 12 12 9.335 21 8 102 A TABLE Of the Principal things contained in this VOLUME A. ADjuration when lawful Page 304 Affections good in themselves p. 76 Anti-scripturists confuted p. 276 277 Apocrypha false p. 288. Apostates their miserable ends page 240 Application Vseful p. 339 Armies cannot save p. 207. Armour spiritual must be put on page 389 Atheisme the root of all sin p. 306. Adam in the state of Innocency not so safe as believers p. 403 Aggravations of sinne p. 419 420 Alone we must oft go p. 442 Anger vanisheth in good men p. 426 Apologies when to be used p. 442 Apostate how dangerous p. 415 Application necessary p. 413 Assurance attainable p. 395 B. BAd times must make us better Page 10 Beginnings of sinne dangerous Page 165 Blasphemy how many wayes committed p. 58. Aggravations of Englands blasphemy P. 60.61 We must mourn for it p. 62. Eight Considerations against it p. 63. Blasphemers must die for it p. 64.169 Gods Iudgements on them p. 65. Boasting four sorts of it p. 46.47 Considerations against it p. 48 Bribes base p. 26 27 Butts are blemishes p. 290 Body have a moderate care of it p. 432 Books needful p. 433 Burden of sin p. 444 Burdensome good men are not p. 431 C. CAll extraordinary what it is Page 202 Carnal Policy folly p. 207 Children must be taught Goodness betimes p. 246. Christ is the Lord. p. 306 307. Christ is All in All to a Believer Page 270 Church mixt here p. 11 Constancy commended p. 239 Conscience good a Feast p. 385 386 an erronious Conscience bindeth not p. 287. Consideration its excellencies p. 118 Contentment how necessary p. 42 A Corrupt Head breeds a corrupâ— Heart p. 155. Covenant-breaking Englands great sinne page 77 78. How punished page 78. Covenant-keeping the way to blessednesse page 79. Rules for it p. 80 Covetousness how base p. 22. Breakes all the Commandements p. 23. Saints most free from it p. 24. Cavils for it answered p. 33. Odious in a Minister p. 27 28. Rules against it Page 35 c. Such unfit for imployment p. 25. Worse then a Prodigall p. 25. D. DAncing mixt condemned Page 106 107 Day of Iudgement comfortable to the the Godly Page 317. Terrible to the wicked p. 309.310 Prepare for it p. 314 Death comfortable to the godly p. 370 Saints sing most sweetly then page 385 Delay in Repenting dangerous Page 222 Deliverance from trouble comes from God p. 204. Devils subtle p. 166. Chained page 187 Discipline how necessarie p. 172 Discontent dangerous p. 35. Reasons against it p. 35 36 Disputations Vain condemned p. 149 Dogs seducers like them in fourteen Particulars p. 157 Drunkenness a great sin p. 92. Especially in Ministers p. 92. Signs of it p. 93. Directions against it Page 99 Duels unlawful p. 109 Day of Iudgement desired by the godly Page 406 Degrees of Glory p. 405 Discipline set forth in the word p. 431 E. EArth the wicked mans Hell Page 28 Mans Extremitie is Gods Opportunitie p. 447 Ear to be watched p. 356 Envie evil p. 85 Error begetteth error p. 230. It is punished by giving up to false Teachers p. 353.357 Error in judgement worse in some re-respects then Error in Practice Page 153 154. Six Reasons why we are so easily drawn to Error p. 232 Examples of good men how farre to be followed p. 190 191.192 Mans Extremitie Gods Opportunitie p. 182. Eye to be watcht p. 106 F. FAith its Excellencie Page 270 Faith Motives to keep it p. 139 Faithful few in all Ages p. 424 Falls of the Saints what use to be made of them p. 191 False Prophets have been in all Ages Page 154.352 God hath ever had some to oppose them p. 155. it s very dangerous to follow them page 156.120 Markes of false Prophets p. 161 162 Famâ—ly-duties commended V. Epist. Dedic Familiaritie with wicked men to be avoyded p. 138 139 Fathers how to be esteemed p. 259 Fierceness how vile p. 108. Helps against it p. 108 Feasting when lawfull p. 58. Rules for it p. 61 Formality dangerous page 340. many Reasons against it p. 123.125 Helps against it p. 1â—3 Fornication a great sin p. 101. Reasons against it page 123 125. Helps against it p. 133 Fore-runners of Gods leaving England Page 135 136 Foxes seducers like to Foxes in 10. particulars p. 139 Friends cannot help p. 207 Fighters many wicked ones p. 387. Three Reasons why all must fight p. 387. Christ fights for his people p. 387. A Christian fight is a good fight p. 388 Free Grace the foundation of all our mercies p. 400 Friends we may love one more then another p. 410 Friends will forsake us Page 414 G. GAthering of Churches out of Churches unlawfull Epist. Ded. p. 166 167 Gifts when lawful to take them page 27 God knoweth all things p. 350. A sixfold comfort from it p. 351 God bringeth light out of darknesse Page 188 God is an Omnipotent Omniscient Omnipresent Help p. 208. Four Reasons why God doth not presently help his people Page 208. Gods eye must quicken us p. 306 Godliness is great gain p. 41 Good men hated and why Page 111 112 Goodness of others to be observed Page 86 Gold thy Word is better then Gold Page 284 Gospel must be Preacht p. 330 H. HEaring ten Rules for right hearing Page 356 Heady who
Application is easie Take heed of that Rock of offence and Roote of division The gathering of Churches out of Churches which is indeed the destruction of Churches 'T is an uncharitable and an unscriptural Practice There is no Precept nor President for it in all the Book of God The Dissenting Brethren were not able to produce one example out of Gods Word for the gathering of Churches out of Churches though they were pressed to it by the Reverend Assembly of Divines We read in Scripture of Gathering Churches from amongst Heathens but never of gathering Churches out of constituted Churches Were England a land of Heathens and no Church planted amongst us it might be proper enough to gather Churches here but to put a planted constituted setled Church into the condition of Heathens savours strongly of Pride and Censoriousness Parochial Assemblies if the Parishes were but regulated and made more uniform and compact are the best both for Pastor and People when this gathering of Churches breedeth as many Divisions in Families almost as there are persons e g. The husband is a Presbyterian and goeth to his Church the Wife an Independent and goeth to her meetings the Sonne an Anabaptist and goeth to his meetings the Daughter a Quaker and she hath her meetings c. What Rents this kind of gathering maketh let the Reader judge Besides the great inconvenience of having Church-members at such a distance one at London another at Dover a third at West-Chester a fourth at Yorke I know some that dwell nigh an hundred miles off him whom they call their Pastor such sheep are like to be well fed and looked to that are at such a distance from the Shepherd Moreover it is a kinde of Sacriledge to rob godly Ministeres of the first-born of their Prayers and pains of the creame of their flockes and the Crowne of their Ministery If they will gather Churches out of the world as they call it let them first plow the world and sow it and then let them reap with Gods blessing else he is but a hard man that reaps where he hath not sowen There is superstition on the right hand as well as on the left and the Devil cares not on which hand we miscarry so he can but get us out of the right way Be not over-righteous in making the Gate of the Church narrower then God hath made it shut not out those whom God admitteth Better be too Charitable then too censorious Pitty the many hundreds of poore ignorant profane uncatechized souls that are in your City the great I had almost said the greatest part of a Ministers worke lieth out of the Pulpit I have experimentally found more good by week-dayes Catechising then by many yeares Preaching condescend to the Capacities of the weakest by workes of mercy and by all good means labour to win them to Christ Be not high nor supercilious be not harsh and censorious in casting off the greatest part of your flocke as dogs and swine if they be ignorant you should instruct them if scandalous by all wise means you should labour to reclaim them This rigorous casting off them and their Infants doth but harden them and make them out of love with Religion when a tender and compassionate carriage towards them might have brought them into better order 4. You that are Tradesmen be just in all your dealings Plain honesty is the best Policie though it gain but little yet it keepeth the credit and the custome when he that over-reacheth and cozens me once shall never cozen me a second time Much of religion is seen in our dealings with men Psalm 15.2 3 4 Let a man professe like an Angel yet if he be faulty here all his religion is vain Piety towards God and Righteousnesse towards man are the best Walls and Bulwarks of a City It is true your walls are razed but it is not the want of walls but the wickednesse of the Citizens that ruines a City If Piety be within God himselfe will be a wall of fire round about you to defend you and offend your Enemies and your glory in the middest of you Zacharie 2.5 Isay 26.1 Good Citizens are the best fortifications God hath blest you with the Nether-springs and given you a South-land you have a rich and fruitful Soile a River that bringeth you Treasure from farre doe you as Achsah the Daughter of Caleb did begg for a better blessing even the Upper-springs also for Grace and Glory which will refresh you to Eternity Ioshua 15.19 The Riches of your City lieth much in cloathing Oh get your Soules cloathed with the robes of Christ his Righteousnesse for your justification and the White Robes of Innocency Integrity and Sanctification these are the onely true riches of a Christian which can never be taken from him 5. You that are young lay your foundations low if ever you would build high with Timothy give up your selves to God betimes fly the lusts of youth mortifie the flesh with its affection and lusts Redeem the seasons of Grace know the day of your Visitation and improve it remember your Creator betimes the sooner the better since the seasoning of our youth hath a great influence upon the remaining part of our dayes God hath blest you with many able laborious Ministers who are ready on all occasions in season and out of season to dispense the Mysteries of salvation to you so that you cannot sin at so cheap a rate as formerly happy are you if you have hearts to improve the mercy storing up in these dayes of Spiritual plenty Truths against times of Errour Light against times of darkness and comforts against times of discomfort If Philip King of Macedon rejoyced that his son Alexander was born in that time when Aristotle lived that so he might be instructed by him how should we then rejoyce who are born in such a time when the Gospel is so fully and freely publisht to the world which is able to make us wise unto salvation Lastly you that are Governours of Families set up Religion in the Power of it there let them be Bethels Houses of God and not Beth-avens houses of Vanity iniquity lest God make them Beth-anys houses of sorrow and affliction Lay injunctions on your Children and Servants that they keep the way of the Lord So did Abraham Genesis 18.19 as you would partake with him in blessednesse so follow him in Obedience Let not the greatnesse of your Families make you neglect the Dutie Abraham had a great Family above three hundred that could bear Arms yet he Catechized them and instructed them in the wayes of God Genesis 13.14 The houses of the Primtive Christians were as so many little Churches Romans 16.5 1 Corinthian 16.19 Câ—los 4.15 Philem 2. Solomon in all probability had thousands in his Court for he had seven hundred Wives which were Princesses and their retinue must needs be great he had fourtie
they may live desired and dye lamented that so when you are dead it may be said We misse such a man he was zealous against Sabbath-Prophaners Drunkards Swearers Sectaries c. He was forward to works of Piety and Mercy and ready to every good work 'T was Davids commendation Acts 13.36 that he served God in his Generation he did not seek himself nor serve God for a day or two but he served him his whole Generation as Noah did Gen. 6.9 God hath abundance of dishonour done him by profane persons and Religion suffers much by them now we should labour to repair the dishonours done to his name by being blamelesse and harmlesse shining like lights before a perverse nation The worse the times we live in are the greater will our honour be if we be faithfull 'T was Lots commendation that he was good in Sodom and Job in an Heathenish Vz. The more Sinne abounds the more our Grace should abound and the more Sin appears in the World the more should we appear against it The Lord hath done more for us of this last age of the World then ever he did for our fore-fathers and therefore he expects more from us then he did from them where he bestowes much he looks for much again where we bestow double cost we look for a double crop Christ is now more clearly preached to us and we enjoy the helps and advantages of former times A Pigmy set upon a Gyants shoulders may see further then the Gyant himself It 's a shame for us if we do not our work better by Sun-light then others that have had but Twy-light God takes it very ill to be wounded in the house of his children and friends for when he hath done so much Isai 1.2 3. Zach. 13.6 Will ye also forsake me said Christ to his disciples will you whom I have redeemed and loved above all the people of the World you whom I have brought forth in dayes of greatest Light and Love when 't was free with me to have brought you forth in Mid-night of Popery and Superstition will you also rebell against me There is nothing renews the Gospel so soon as this contempt it makes the Lord repent of all the kindnesse he hath shewed us 2. Note We must not look for a Church in this World without its imperfections and corruptions if ever the Church on Earth shall be pure and glorious it shall be in the last dayes yet we see the spirit of God tells us here expresly that these last dayes shall be perilous times by reason of the swarms of wicked men which shall be in the very bosome of the Church who shall indeed pretend to much Piety yet shall be full of Impiety and Hypocrisy they shall have a form of godlinesse but they will deny its power v. 5. There will be to the end of the World a mixture in the Church of God there will be Tares and Wheat good and bad in the Church alwayes Mat. 13.25 One told the Emperour Frederick that he would go to a place where no Hypocrites were then said he you must go beyond the frozen Ocean where there are no Inhabitants and yet thou wilt find an Hyprocrite there if thou find thy self there He that looks for a perfect Church in this World or for such a Church wherein there shall be none but Reall Saints may look till his eyes rot in his head before he see that day Christ had but twelve and one of them was a Devill and the rest that were sincere yet had their failings The Apostle tells us that in the bosome of the Church there shall be seducers Acts 20.29 30. from amongst your selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them All the Churches we read of in the Scripture have had their failings and blots as the Church of Ierusalem Corinth Galatia and the seven Churches of Asia yet Christ owned them and communicated with them still and sent his disciples to them and therefore be not offended when you see defects corruptions and disorders in the Church perfection indeed is to be wisht for but it is reserved for Heaven No Church ever was is or shall be perfectly free from sin on Earth Let us not then forsake the Lords Floore because there is some Chaffe in it nor run from Sion instead of Babylon as many in our dayes do that cry out against the Church of England as a false Church though all the Churches of God in the World own her for a true one and run from her as from Babylon and so run into Babylon from a supposed into a Reall Babylon Babylon signifieth Confusion now amongst those that separate what sad confusion is there Division upon division separation upon separation c. till they have broken themselves all to pieces and at last are faine to sit like Owles alone These are they that abhorre a mixt company yet flye from Reall Saints This they call new Light when it is nothing but an old Error of the Catharists and Donatists who out of a conceit of their own exceeding holinesse did separate themselves Perfectionem justitiae Angelicam sanctitatem hic ab hominibus requirunt Donatistae quam etiam se suosque illos impuros coetus habere jactant profitentur tam sunt arrogantes coeci à vero suae infirmitatis rebellionis sensu alieni Danaeus loco citato ubi plura Causelesse Separation saith a learned Divine from established Churches walking according to the Order of the Gospel though perhaps failing in some small things is yet no small sin Let such consider 1. That the Root of this separation is bad and therefore the fruit cannot be good It springs from Pride and Censoriousnesse as we see in the Pharisees who were great Separatists and have their name from thence 2. Such are Schismaticks and in a short time they will he Hereticks for Schisme is the way to Heresy they make a Rent in the Church whose Peace should be very dear to us for though Peace be not the Esse and being of a Church yet it tends very much to its bene esse and well-being for as a Kingdom so a Church divided cannot long endure 3. The Pretences made for Separation are now removed there 's no Bishop Surplesse Cross Common-prayer c. for them to stumble at and yet separation was unlawfull then but now it s farre more vile and therefore the Lord punisheth the Separatists of this age more severely by giving them up to viler opinions than formerly 4. 'T is a scandall and wrong to a Church 't is ill to forsake the society of one good man without a cause but to un-church a whole Church causelesly now great is that sin 5. They cannot escape the revenging hand of God Though men may suffer them yet God will not one of the saddest judgements that we read of in the Scripture befell schismaticall Corah
not derogating ought from their obedience because themselves are called to the knowledge and profession of Christ yea they must the rather be carefull to walk honestly and uprightly that they may credit the Gospel and winne their Masters to Christ. However it be yet servants must not faile in their duty because Masters are carelesse of theirs Object The Anabaptists of our time object That in Christ all are equall Gal. 3.28 and therefore there should be no difference between Master and Servant for Christ hath purchased Liberty for uâ— and hath made us free from Subjection Gal. 5.2 Answ. Subordinata non sunt contraria Our Spirituall priviledges do not abrogate our civill respects to our Superiours And though beleevers as they are in Christ are all one and equall yet considered as they are members of a Politick body and in civill respects so there is an inequality and though Christ hath freed us from the curse of the Law and from the Tyranny of sin and Satan yet he hath not freed us from subjection to men according to those ranks and callings he hath set us in Hence even in Gospell-times we read of Master and Servants Superiours and Inferiours with directions how Inferiours should walk towards Superiours Rom. 13. and Servants toward their Masters Ephes. 6.5 6 7. with promises to reward such as conscienciously perform the duties of their place V. 8. Object But my Master is harsh and cruell Answ. Yet you must obey and so be subject not only to good Masters but also to the froward 1 Pet. 2.18 Sarah dealt hardly with Hagar yet the Angell bids her return and submit her self to her Mistris Genesis 16.6 'T is a crosse and affliction which the most wise God hath allotted to you and you must bear it patiently 7 Vnthankefull 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ingrati The sin of Ingratitude is one of those sins which do more especially render these last times so perilous Men will be unthankfull to their Benefactours for favours received and how can it be otherwise since they that are Blasphemers of God the great Benefactor of all the world and disobedient to Parents who are the Instruments of their being must needs be ungratefull to inferiour Benefactours who have deserved better at their hands Quest. What kind of unthankefull persons doth the Apostle here speak of whether such as are unthankefull to God or man Answ. To both In the last dayes men shall be ungratefull to God for peace and the Gospel of Peace and to Parents Natural Politicall Spirituall and to other their Benefactors Those that bred them bare them and defended them those that fed them with the bread of life and spent themselves like Lamps to give light to them such is and will be the ingratitude of the last times that men will seek their lives who endeavoured to bring them to life and will labour to cast them into prison and darknesse who laboured to bring them to light and liberty and will tread them under feet whose feet they shuld esteem pretious and as for the God of their mercies either they forget him and his wondrous works Psal. 106.21.24 25 26. or else they ascribe all to themselves as if if they had merited and deserved them Hab. 1.16 2. They do not once think of the God of their mercies they forget him dayes without number he is seldom in their thought like swine they eat the Mast but look not to the Tree from whence it comes like the Lepers â—en cleansed and but one in ten that returnes to give thanks Luke 17.17.18 Like Patients when once cured they forget the Physician Like Mariners when landed on the shore forget what they promised in the storme Psal. 78.34.36 37. 2. Instead of acknowledging his favours they fret and murmur at the least afflictions if God bestow a thousand curtesies and lay but one crosse on them they forget their mercies to think on the present misery 3. In their works they render evill unto God for all the good which he hath shewed them which is the highest ingratitude no favours can win them but if God had been their deadly enemy they could not have acted more violently and virulently against him This makes men like the Devill To render good for evill is Divine To render Good for Good is Humane To render evill for evill is Brutish But to render evill for Good is Devillish This brings ruine to a man and his house Ier. 18.20 21 22. We know what befell Sauls family for his ingratitude to David So true is that of Solomon Prov. 17.13 Who so rewardeth evill for good evill shall not depart from his house Though such may escape the lash of mens Lawes yet the revenging hand of God will find them out This we see in the Jewes who for their Ingratitude to Christ in cursing and crucifying him who by his doctrine labours and miracles would have converted and saved them are to this day the people of Gods curse dispersed and despised over the face of the whole earth And if he deserve punishment who renders evill for evill but to man what shall be done to him who renders evill for good and to his God who never did him hurt This is not onely notorious ingratitude but perfidious violating the very Law of Nature which the God of Nature will not suffer to passe unpunisht 1. Let such consider that Ingratitude is a sin against the very Light of Nature It 's naturally ingraven in the hearts of men to do good to those that do good to them Mat. 6.46 Hence Heathens have condemned it as one of the vilest sins call a man an ungratefull man say they and you need to call him no more Some vices are pleasing to Nature and applauded by it but Ingratitude is generally abhorred of all 3. It debaseth men and sets them below the beasts that perish all sinne doth so but this especially Hence the Lord complaines of ungratefull Israel that they were worse then the Oxe and Asse two creatures the most dull and heavy of all the rest yet these have some expression of affection to those that feed them they know and acknowledge them they be ready to serve and obey them Isay 1.3 The kindnesse of the Lion to the man which pulled the thorn out of his foot who lists may read in Aul. Gellius Noct. At. lib. 5. cap. 14. 4. The Scripture sets a blot and a brand on such Thus Laban is branded for his ingratitude to Iacob Gen. 31.2 c. and Saul and Nabal to David 1 Sam. 19.10 and 25.10 and Pharaoh's butler who when he was promoted forgot Ioseph Gen. 40.22 and Ioash who slew Zechariah that had been loyall to him 2 Chr. 24.22 23. the Lord suddenly punisht him for it 2 Chr. 24.25 Especially the Scripture sets a black mark upon those sordid unrighteous disingenious spirits who fight against God with his own blessings and bestow his silver and gold
cap. This Text I may call the Drunkards Looking-glasse wherein they may see the woe and sorrow that attends them To whom is woe to whom is sorrow i. e. who draw all manner of sorrow upon soul and body but drunkards They meet to be merry but the end of such mirth is heavinesse It 's dear bought that hath so many curses attending it What madness is it for a few moments of pleasures here to endure eternity of sorrow hereafter Fur the enjoyment of a little wine here to drink the Vialls of Gods wrath and lye in Seas of misery for ever 2. To whom is strife and wounds without a cause q. d. Drunkenness breeds contention quarrelling and needless wounds 3. It hurts the Body and brings Diseases Rheumes Dropsies Apoplexies and Redness of eyes by reason of abundance of hot humours How many have shortned their dayes and extinguisht the Radicall moysture much water poured on a little flame doth soon extinguish it This makes even Kings sick Hos. 7.5.2 Verse 30. Solomon tells us how we may know a Drunkard 1. He loves to tarry at the wine he spends houres dayes and years at it 't is his Trade and Calling 2. He goes and seeks mixt wine q. d. He goes from house to house to inquire after the strongest Liquor 3. But how may we shun Drunkenness V. 31. look not on the wine when 't is red i. e. Shun the occasions and allurements to this sin set a watch over your eye and stay the beginnings of it 4. What hurt will it bring upon us V. 32. In the end 't will bite like a Serpent q. d. Though for a time it may seem pleasant yet at last 't will sting thee very sore it will bring upon thee troubles Internall Externall Eternall Wherefore fly from it as from a Serpent 2. 'T will hurt the soul and fill it full of noysome Lusts. The soul is the best and noblest part which if corrupted becomes the worst V. 33. It breeds adultery and lust Thine eyes shall behold strange women i. e. Harlots Drunkenness and Whoring oft go together A belly filled with wine foameth out filthiness Rom 13.13 Lot though a holy man yet addes Incest to his Drunkenness And though Adulterers are not Drunkards yet there are few Drunkards but are Adulterers V. 33. It breeds evill speeches Thy heart shall utter perverse things i. e. preposterous foolish filthy matters V 34. It makes men stupid and fearless secure and careless in the greatest dangers He 's as one that sleeps on the top of a Mast in the midst of the Sea Though he be in great and continuall danger yet he 's insensible of it He 's in great danger that sleeps in the midst of the Sea for he 's soon overwhelmed with waves and he 's like to fall suddenly that sleeps in the top of a Mast yet such is the Drunkards Lethargy that he cannot feel when he is stricken nor know when he is beaten V. 35. which is the height of misery it makes men desperate incorrigible and incurable They become impudent in sin those sins which men tremble to commit when sober yet they 'l venture on when drunk I will seek it yet again saith the habituated Drunkard q. d. Notwithstanding all these dangers and mischiefs I will not leave my drunkenness As perseverance in goodness in despight of all opposition is the height of goodness so perseverance in wickedness in despight of Judgements is the height of wickedness That 's our misery which attends on drunkenness that it 's usually accompanied with impenitency Hos. 4.11 4. It robs men of their good name Call a man drunkard you need say no more Hence when the Pharises would accuse Christ as a great sinner they call him a Wine bibber Mat. 11.19 of old they were accounted sons of Belial 1 Sam. 1.14 15 16. when Eli thought Hannah mas drunk count not said she thine hand-maid for a daughter of Belial i. e. for a lawless loose disordered person It takes away the man and lays a beast in his room yea it makes a man worse then the Beasts that perish for you cannot force them to drink more then will do them good 5. It wastes and weakens the Estate and so disables men for works of Piety and Mercy Prov. 21.17 He that loveth wine shall not be rich Not he that drinketh wine but he that loves it so as to set his heart upon it such lose both Temporal and Eternal Riches 6. It layes Kingdomes waste Isay 5.11.13 14 15. as a good man is a publick good so such a wicked man especially is a publick evill 7. The loveliness and beauty of Temperance and sobriety should make us loath excess luxury How sweetly doth the sober holy man enjoy himself his soul 's in Peace his house is in Peace his goods are preserved his family is the better for him he 's a blessing and ornament to the place where he dwells His judgement is clear his memory strong his affections regulated he 's fit to pray read hear meditate c. He hath a healthfull body and a comely countenance wise discourse In a word he enjoyes himself and sees God in all the blessings he enjoyes There 's no sin but hath some pretences and so hath this 1. Object Ioseph made his Brethren drunke Answ. That 's false for Ioseph was a holy man and one that feared God and therefore durst not do such a thing for a world God puts a Spirit of ingenuity in the hearts of his people and writes the Law of love there which constraines them to be pure and sober in all their actings and undertakings they are born of God and cannot sin viz. deliberately wilfully and habitually 2. The word Shacar is taken in Scripture in a good sense for a free and liberall use of the creature ad hilaritatem non ad ebrietatem for mirth and not for madness for chearfulness and not for drunkenness So the word is used Hag. 1.6 they shall drink but not to drunkenness i. e. not plentifully So Cant. 5.1 drink ye drink abundantly to an holy inebriation So Ephes. 5.18 be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit q. d. If ye will be drunk let it not be with a bodily carnall divellish drunkenness but let it be with a spiritual holy ebriety do not sip or taste of the Graces of the Spirit but be filled with the spirit of Joy Love Peace Temperance Patience Acts 2.13.15 compared with V. 4. spiritual joy is there likened to wine which revives and quickens dead and drooping spirits So Cant. 1.2 thy love is better then wine This is Crapula sacra The word is likewise used in the New Testament Iohn 2.10 for a more free and liberal use of the Creature for mirth and comfort not for excess and riot God hath given wine to make glad the heart of man Psal. 104.15 and so far as
c. Nemo adeò ferus est qui non mitescere possit Si modo culturae patientem accommodet aurem Hor. 4. Labour for that Gracefull Grace of Meeknesse which is opposite to this fierceness Do not only praise it but practise it Put it on as your Garment yea as your Ornament Colos. 3.12 13. 1 Pet. 3.4 It 's an honour to Religion when the Profesâ—ors of it are gentle placable clement ready to forget and forgive injuries None so mild as the meekened man Numb 12.3 Gal. 4.20 1 Sam. 10. ult 2 Sam. 16.10 11. 1 Thes. 2.7 Gen. 50.19 20. Levit. 10.3 and 13.8 they seek not revenge nor do they study how to render evill for evill but what was said flatteringly of Caesar is really true of them Nihil oblivisci solet praeter injurias They forget injuries and remember nothing but kindnesses To incourage you to labour for this Grace 1. Consider that Meeknesse is the Path-way to Peace and Joy Isay 29.19 Psal. 37.11 it brings rest to the Soul Mat. 11.29 There 's no possibility of living Peaceably in this world without it we shall meet with so many oppositions Tentations Injuries Crosses Losses that an unmortified unmeekned Spirit will never endure them We live not amongst Angells and perfect persons but amongst Lions Dogs Devills froward wayward knotty stubborn surly sullen peeces yea the best have their Passions so that without great meeknesse and moderation no Family City Society or Kingdom can long endure 2. 'T is an Evidence of our Election Colos. 3.12 3. 'T is the way to win the most obstinate sinners the way to break a flint is to lay it on a soft bed 't is the soft wooll that dulls the Canon shot Rom. 12. ult as we must constantly and resolutely oppose the sins of such as belong to us so if ever we would winne them and do them good it must be done with a spirit of meeknesse and of mercy Gal. 6.1 the reproofes that come from spleen and malice never profit 't is love and pity that winnes men Caut. Yet beware of stupidity for it's Moppishnesse and not meekness to be silent when God is dishonoured A holy Anger against sin is usefull in its Place As there is a vitious inordinate Anger so there is a Vertuous well-ordered Anger which is an excellent gift of God 4. The promises of the Gospell belong to such Isa 61.2 3. 5. They shall have protection in troublous times Zeph. 2.3 Psal. 76.9 God loves to beautify such with salvation Psal. 149.4 and to raise them to honour Psal. 147.6 6. Instructoin God will teach them and make them profit by his Ordinances Psal. 25.8 Iames 1.21 and 3.13.17 7. They have best Title to the Earth the meek shall inherit the earth Psal. 37.11 Matth. 5.5 their meeknesse shall in no wise prejudice their Temporall Estate he dwells at home where ever he is he 's never off his Masters ground as the fierce unmortified turbulent man runs out of all and loseth the Possession of himself and all that he hath so meekness keeps a man in possession of himself his understanding's cleare his judgement 's right his Affections composed and setled so that he can live in any soyle be content with any condition and endure any hardship Lastly since in the last dayes men will be fierce and cruell 1. Let us pray the Lord to deliver us from cruell and unreasonable men 2 Thes. 3.2 beseech him to correct us himself and not to sell us into the hands of wicked men whose mercies are cruelties 2 Sam. 24.14 Proverbs 12.10 2. Admire the Goodness of the Lord who preserves his Lambs in the midst of so many fierce Lions Did not the great Lord Keeper of the world watch his Vine-yard night and day the Boar out of the wood would soon lay it waste The Thornes would soon over-top this Lilly and the Birds of Prey devoure Gods Turtle Object We see wicked men are quiet and Gentle Answ. So is a Lion in his Grate but let him out and you will find him a Lion still 'T is not for want of malice but for want of power that they are so quiet God chaines them and restraines them Psal. 76.10 But if the Lord should let out their chain we should find the Atheists and Papists of the world as cruell as ever As is apparent at this day in the barbarous bloody perfidious dealing of the Papists towards the Poor Innocent Protestants in Savoy 3. Walk wisely towards those that be without Colos. 4.5 be exact in your walking give them no just cause of offence Be wise as a Serpent that you be not deceived be Innocent as a Dove that you prove not a Deceiver A man that lives in the midst of Wolves Lions wild Boares and Beares had need to look about him 14. Despisers of those that are good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bonorum osores hostes This is the fourteenth sin which renders the last Times so Perilous Men will be no Lovers i. e. they will be Haters and Despisers of good men yea and of goodness it self 't is a Meiosis where less is spoken then is meant and that not with a light or toothless Hatred but with a deadly deep intolerate hatred Hence they are called Lions which greedily tear and devoure the flock of Christ. 2 Tim. 4.17 as you may see in the preceding Character This must needs be so 1. If we consider that strong Antipathy and Enmity which is between the righteous and the wicked there 's an irreconcileable Warre and Hatred between them Gen. 3.15 the righteons man hates not the Person but the Practices of the wicked but the wicked hate both the person and the Piety of the just because by their upright walking they condemn them and witness against their sinfull Practises their purity condemnes the worlds impurity their Loveliness the worlds maliciousness their humility the worlds pride their Self-deniall condemnes the worlds Self-seeking and their forwardness the worlds Luke-warmness Hinc illae lacrymae This is the ground of the grudge The godly are the light of the world Phil. 2.15 and the Judges of it 1 Cor. 6.2 Now the lewd man hates the light which discovers him Iohn 3.20 and the Judge which condemnes him This made Cain to slay his Brother 1 Iohn 3.12 and the world to hate Christ because he testified against its evill deeds Iohn 7.7 2. In respect of the dissimilitude of their manners They have contrary Principles Practises Ends and Aymes The men of the world savour only the things of the world being filled with Covetousness Pride Idleness Intemperance Lust. But the godly savour the things of God being Holy Heavenly Humble Chaste Temperate c. now as similitude is the ground of Love so dissimilitude is the ground of Hatred Prov. 29. ult The righteons is an abomination to the wicked and the wicked is an abomination to the just So that there is no communion between this light
of sins But the truly godly man doth all with Life Spirit and Power as David when he danced before the Ark did it with all his might 2 Sam. 6.14 so what ever he doth for God he doth it with all his might Eccles. 9.11 As they that love the Lord so they that serve the Lord are like the Sun when it goes forth in its strength which consumes dispells those mists and clouds which hinder its light Iudg. 5. ult This Power of Godlinesse doth infinitely transcend all Forms for what is the shadow to the substance what is the Husk to the Kernell the Chaffe to the Wheat or the box to the Jewell what is darknesse to light deadnesse to life the picture to a man the counter to gold or Earth to Heaven 3. He comes short in all Ordinances if he Read Pray Hear or frequent the Sacrament 't is all pro forma God is nigh to their mouthes but far from their reines Ier. 12.2 they perform all the duties of Godliness without Godliness they do externally what the good man doth and yet like Iudas they are but Devills Ordinances may be frequented and yet no change wrought Let us therefore labour for the Life and Power of Religion in our souls Let 's not be slothfull in business but fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Rom. 12.11 Let us Hear the word attentively receive it beleevingly Practice it conscientiously Pray with Power communicate with sincere and earnest desires after Christ rest not in the outward baptizing with water but get the inward baptizing with the holy Ghost which may be like fire to refine and purify the soul. Rouse up your selves end shake off that spiritual dulness and drousiness which clogs you in duties le ts break through all those difficulties and dangers which lye in the way of Grace Like so many spiritual Sampsons we should break all those cords of Sin and Satan which would hinder us in our Christian course To this end consider 1. That formality and spirituall sloth is very displeasing to God it being directly opposite to his nature who is a spirit infinitely active and stirring and cannot endure dead services Seee how contemptibly he speaks of outward services which separated from inward obedience Isay 1.11 to 16. To what purpose is your Sacrifices I delight not in them who required this at your hands your Oblations are vaâ—n your Incense are abomination I caunot away with your Assemblies my soule hates them they are a trouble to me I am weary of them Scarce any sin hath harder terms given it in Scripture then this of formality 't is compared to Idolatry and Murder two crying sins to the offering of a dog or a swine in sacrifice which in the time of the Law had been a hainous offence Isay 66.3 4. A bare performance of duties is cheap and easie and is praised in the vvorld but inward obedience is hard and hateful to corrupt men Hence like Ephraim Hos. 10.11 men love to tread out the corn where they may eat at pleasure but they love not plowing that 's hard and hungry work 2. Consider formality and spiritual sloth loseth all a man may go a great way in Religion and yet for vvant of a little more paines lose all Prov. 12.27 The sluggard roasts not what he took in hunting he took some paines to hunt for it but for vvant of a little more paines he lost all The wicked and slothfull servant had his Talent taken from him Matth. 25.26 he lost not his Talent but because he did not improve it to his Masters advantage he lost all 't is not sufficient we do no hurt but we must do good else we are but like painted fire which as 't is heatlesse so 't is uselesse 3. He layes himself open to Satans Temptations by his carelessnesse he Tempts the Tempter and gives him great advantage against his soul like secure Laish which became a booty to its enemies Iudg. 18.10 we are like men upon a river if we row not against the stream we go down like the Smiths forge no blowing no burnig 'T is the seething pot which keeps off flyes as for the field of the sluggard it s growen over with nettles and the stone-wall thereof is broken down Prov. 24.30 4. Consider that formality and spiritual sloth is alwayes a fore-runner of ruine to a person or Nation where this sin raignâ—s destruction is at the heeles of it Isay 64.7 as soon as ever the Prophet had complained There is none that stirres up himself to call on God he presently addes Thou hast consumed us because of our iniquities There 's nothing hastens judgement and provokes the Lord to remove the Gospel like this Rev. 2.5 and 3.15 16. This ruined the Prelacy they were of late all for outward pomp and formall service in bowing to Altars setting up Images reading of Service c. but deadly enemies to the Power of Religion and for this God spued them out As zeal and favour is a meanes to turn away wrath Numb 25.10 11. So formality and coldnesse increaseth it Certainly if England go on to contemn Gods Ordinances despise his Ministers prophane his holy things and to slight the tenders of grace made in the Gospel God will slight us and give his Gospel to a people that shall yeeld him better obedience And since we will not awaken our selves God will awaken us by some dreadfull judgements and since we will not strip our selves of our sins he vvill strip us of his blessings Hos. 2.3 and consume us after all the good vvhich he hath shevved us Iosh. 24.20 that as vve have been famous for Priviledges Victories and Successe so novv vve shall become infamous to the Nations round about us for our abuse of these mercies If any sinne ruine Eugland ' t vvill be the Formality Hypocrisy and unfruitfulnesse under those rich meanes vvhich wee enjoy which will certainly doe it Now if the state of those that have but a form of Godlinesse be â—o dangerous how sad is their condition that have not so much as a form that have neither shadow nor substance but are open Godlesse Gracelesse worthlesse men that are hardned habituated desperate sinners such as from top to toe inwardly and outwardly are nothing but sin as 't is said of Antichrist that he 's a man of sin 2 Thes. 2 3. So are these men composed anâ— compounded of it they draw on iniquity with the cords of vanity Isay 5.18 and are so set on sin that they use all means and provocation to draw theâ—selves to a violent acting of it and continuance in it He that hath but a form of godlinesse is an Hypocrite but he that hath not a form is an Atheist An Hypocrâ—â—e is a masked Devill and an Atheist is a Devill unmasked such are our Quakers an Atheisticall generation of prophane men that neither fear God nor Reverence man Gods Sabbaths they profane they neglect their callings contemn the
scriptures vilify Prayer and all Ordinances never give Thanks at their meales Rayle on Magistrates and Ministers dishonour their Parents out-run their wives neglect their families being full of Lying Rayling Idlenesâ— and all unrighteousnesse If these be Saints who are Scythyans These sin not through weakness but through wilfulness not through Passion or precipitation but deliberately electively resolutely they tell the Magistrate to his face that they will seal their high and horrid blasphemies with their blood 't is time such corrupt blood were let out of the body they devise mischiefe and set themselves in a way that is not good Psal. 36.4 as the liberall man deviseth liberall things and by them is establisht Isay 32.8 so the wicked man deviseth wicked things and by them is ruined V. 7. Though favour be shewed to the wicked yet are they so wedded to their sin that they will not learn Righteousness Isay 26.16 'T is the height of misery when men have sinned so long that they have brought themselves into a necessity of sinning These are not only in a dangerous but in a damnable condition what Solomon saith of the Harlots guests is true of them they are in the depths of hell Prov. 9. ult all such for present are far from salvation such as frequent the Ordinances and live soberly though they be not yet alive yet they sit in the winds way and there 's more hope of them as Christ said of the discreet Scribe thou art not far from the Kingdom of Heaven Mark 12.34 Now if a man may live civilly soberly religiously confess his sinnes Fast Pray frequent Ordinances give Almes and reform many things and yet come short of Heaven where then shall the wicked and ungodly appear who come short of those that come short of Heaven 2. Let us shake off this foul murthering sin and awaken our selves that we may awaken God if ever there were a time to cry aloud 't is now when the Lord seems to be asleep the work of Reformation seems to go backward children are come to the birth and there wants strength to bring forth By our Prayer let us play the Midwife and help the Man-child of Reformation into the world let us give the Lord no rest till he make Ierusalem the praise of the world Isay 62.1 See how the Church expostulates the case with God and by an holy violence doubles and trebles her suit the better to awaken God Isay 51.9 10. Awake O Arme of the Lord awake awake and put on strength God by his judgements hath made many gaps in the Nation let us humble our selves and lye in the gap and make up the breach when the Sea hath made a breach so long as the breach continues the water overflowes the land but the way to stop it is not to murmur or quarrell one with another but we must fall every one to his work and so make up the breach Remember our time is short our work is great and our wages unspeakable we serve a Master who will not let any man serve him for nought He 'l reward every man according to his works such as sow liberally shall reap liberally and the more active we have been for God the greater our reward shall be Let us not then give Satan occasion to insult and say Lord my slaves and servants are more active for me then thine are for thee mine can spend their Time their Estates and their Lives for me and in my service but thine grudge at every thing they do or suffer for thee Let us by our selfe-denying lives confute this slander let the zeale for Gods honour consume us and all that we have And if ever there were a time to rowse up our selves out of our formality 't is now when sin is grown so impudent and insolent 1. Let us sweep before our own dores and stirre up our selves against our own personall sinnes against that Atheisme Hypocrisy and Formality that sticks so close unto us Let 's know the Plague of our own hearts and arm against the sins of our complexion constitution vocations So did David Psal. 18.23 2. Let 's stirre up our selves against the sins of the age we live in The Apostasies Heresies Blasphemies that we daily hear of should be as a sword in our bones we should be deeply affected with them and shew our dislike of them Neh. 13.11.17 Ier. 13.17 Ezek. 9.4 Rev. 2.2 We must out of an holy singularity witnesse against the sinfull courses of the world Rom. 12.2 we must do more then others Matth. 5.47 the way of the righteous is on high above the reach of carnall men Prov. 15.24 and therefore when we Pray it should not be pro forma but with life and quickening Hence David prayes Psal. 80.18 quicken us O Lord that we may call upon thy Name We should stirre up our affections in this duty fire not stirred dyes but stirred gives heat 2 Tim. 1.7 there 's no stirring in formality and so no heat Hence Christ baptizeth all his not only with water but with fire Matth. 3.11 which makes them full of activity and zeale 2. Take heed of Formality in Hearing attend as for your lives with Life Faith Obedience come to these lively Oracles with lively affections Acts 7.38 be transformed into the Image of the word Rom. 6.17 act the Graces of the spirit in Hearing when you hear of Judgements tremble of the Promise believe of the Commandements obey 3. In observing the Lords-day we must not barely do the duties of it in a flat and formall way but we must make them our delight Isay 58.13 we should rejoyce that we have such a day wherein to glorifie God and to meditate on his word and works we should esteem it as an Honourable day it 's one thing to keep a Sabbath another to keep it as an high day a day of honour laying aside all worldly thoughts words and works as too base and meane for so high a day 4. In works of Mercy we should not barely shew mercy but Love mercy Micah 6.8 God loves a chearfull giver Wee should be glad of an opportunity to expresse our Love and Thankfullnesse to God We should think nothing too good for God who hath thought nothing too dear for us Bring costly services put him not off with light aud slight duties which cost you nothing David would not offer to the Lord of that which cost him nothing 2 Sam. 24.24 The fat and best must be given to him Levit. 3.9 Numb 13.12 Learn of worldly men see how active they be in Seed-time and Harvest for a little temporall gain consider how active and stirring the devill is to do mischiefe Iob 1. 1 Pet 5.8 and if Heathens have been so resolute to walk in the name of their Dung-hill-Gods Micah 45. we should much more resolve to walke in the name of our God for ever who is a better Master hath better work and better wages 2.
presseth it upon Parents Deuteronomy 6.6 7 8. and 11.19 20. Psalm 78.4 5. Prov. 22.7 Ephesians 6.4 by Catechising and instruction by Discipline and discreet Correction they must labour to work out that sin and folly which is riveted in their Natures Proverbs 13.15.24 and 23.13 and 29.15 Hebrewes 12.9 As in the Arke there was the Rod and Manna so in every well-ordered family there must be the Manna of Instruction and the Rod of Correction They must goe together we will not beat a dog but we will put it into his sences as well as we can and shew him what it is that we beat him for The primary cause of so much prophaneness in youth lies much in Parents either they do not instruct them or they do not pray for them or they be too indulgent and do not correct them 1 Samuel 2.23 or they breed them idly and profanely or they be evil examples to them themselves some way or other they fail which makes so many children miscarry When Diogenes saw a child offend he ran and beat the Father You that are Parents deserve to be beaten for the disorders of your children because you do not teach them better 'T was a crying sin in the Israelites to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Devils Psalm 106.37 Ezekiel 16.20 yet in a Spiritual sense negligent profane Parents do worse for they sacrifice not onely the bodies but their souls to Satan and so bring forth children to that great murderer the Devil Hos. 9.13 See ten very quickning Considerations to stir up Parents to this Duty in Master Baxsters Saints rest Part. 3. cap. 14. Sect. 11. to 18. and Master Woodwards Childs Portion an excellent piece Charron of Wisedome l. 3. c. 14. Robinsons Essayes Observat. 50. Master Philip Goodwin Domestick Duties on Deuteronomy 6.6 p. 358 c. and Eccles. 12.1 Doctor Cheynels Sermon on Genesis 18.19 Master Gatakers Sermon 1. page 8. 2. It must stir up young persons to devote the flower and best of their dayes unto God who is the best of beings He is our Creator who hath made us the best of beings next the Angels when 't was free for him to have made us the basest of beings we should thâ—â—efore remember him Eccles. 12.1 i. Love fear honour obey him for words of Knowledge imply affection and practise Deut. 8.18 Psalm 9.17 and 106.21 Iohn 17.3 we should remember him betimes in the morning of our dayes as the words are rendred by some in the choicest time of our life in the dayes of our Elections in our most flourishing time when the best of things are to be chosen by us from 16. to 40. is flos aetatis the cream and flower of our dayes wherein we are most strong active and so most fit for the service of God Shew me any that can shew better Title to thy youth then God can doe and let him take it From God we have our being and well-being our creation and preservation as we receive our mercies from him so there is great reason we should serve and observe the God of those mercies and as we expect eternal life from him so its great reason we should spend our temporall life to his praise He gives the best wages and so deserves the best work Godlinesse hath the promise Proverbs 22.4 Matthew 6.33 1 Timothie 4.8 and though we cannot see the profit presently yet light and joy is sowen for the Righteous Psal. 97.11 Yea his worke is his wages and such employment is our high preferments which made Paul to blesse God who counted him faithfull and set him in the Ministery 1 Timothy 1.12 besides the obedience of our youth is the most free Obedience and so more acceptable to God Ieremiah 2.2 He remembereth the kindenesse of our youth especially when we can follow him through a Wildernesse of Temptations and tryals and a Land that is not sowen with profits and delights This made him to call for the first-born the first-fruites for young and fat Sacrifices Exodus 12.5 Leviticus 4.3 Now our bodies are most strong our wit most sharp our memories most capable and retentive 1 Iohn 2.13 14. And if we serve him in our good dayes he 'll help us in our evill ones if we spend our Youth in his service he will support us and supply us in our Old Age Isay 46.3.4 But if you dishonour God now and prefer his profest Enemy before him giving the Dregs to God and the Wine to the Devil he will give you up to spiritual judgements which are the sorest judgements he will hide his face from you and take no pleasure in you Isay 9.17 I will not joy in your young men implying that when young people walke in Gods way they are Gods joy and delight When young people are proud profane idle wanton unclean c. Then come Feavers Sword Pestilence and cut them off When Israel fell to Idolatry then a fire consumed their young men Psalm 78.63 and when they grew obstinate and incorrigible then he gave their young men to the sword Amos 4.10 that age which is most prone to sin is nearest to judgement when God shall awaken Conscience and set the sinnes of thy Youth in Order before thee the end of thy mirth will be bitternesse Eccles 11.9 Be therefore perswaded not onely to creep or goe but to fly from the lusts of Youth 2 Timothy 2.22 every Age hath its sinnes old Age is pronâ—â—o security and Covetousnesse and Youth to six sinnes especially 1. To Pride and Selfe-conceitednesse they are prone to Pride in heart Habit Haire and New-found-Opinions Hence the Apostle would not have a Minister to be a Novice lest he should be puft up with Pride 1 Tim. 3.6 2. To sensual Pleasures as Gameing Feasting Hunting Drinking Danceing Eccles. 11.9 Iudg. 14.10 Iob 1.14 and especially to Wine and Women which steale away their hearts Hoseah 4.11 It was a young man that followed the Harlot to her House Proverbs 7.7 And therefore Solomons Mother counsels young Solomon not to give his strength to Women Proverbs 31.3 4. Oh how many persons hath the Devill destroyed by Women How many drown themselves in cares and sorrows by marrying too soon As soon as ever they are out of the shell yea like Lapwings they run with the shell on their heads they must have a Wife forsooth before they know how to govern themselves much less a Family when they are fitter to be the Heeles then the Heads fitter to be commanded then to be commanders of others Question But when would you have young people to marry Answer I would have them observe Gods Method First get Grace first Spirituals and then Temporals follow Matthew 6.33 Secondly 'T is impossible to prescribe a set time when every one should marry there is so much difference in mens Constitutions Callings Conditions c. Yet if I might advise young people I should scarce advise a
understanding Ieremy 6.16 Psal. 78 10. Isay 30 9.15 and 42.24 Ieremy 5.3 and 8.5 Zach. 7.11 Rom. 8.7 12. Gods Spirit will not alwayes strive with sinfull rebellious man Geâ— 6.3 but when he hath used all means to reclaim them and they will not be reclaimed he will give them up in judgement to their own hearts lusts so that he who is filthy shall be filthy still Revel 22.11 and since they would not be purged they shall not be purged from their sin till they dye Ezek. 24.13 13. Such sin against the Attributes of God 1. They sin against his Wisdome as if God knew not which were the fittect time for them to repent in 2. They sin against his Iustice whilest they say in their hearts God will not punish though they be impenitent Deut. 29.19 20. 3. They abuse his Goodnesse and Patience which should lead them to Repentance Rom. 2.5 Hence those that have favour shewed them and yet will not learn righteousnesse are charged with this that they will not behold the Majesty of the Lord Isay 26.10 14. Such sin against equity and common Reason Reason it self bids us speedily obey such as counsel us for our good especially if they be our superiours If a Prince should send a Pardon to a Rebel provided he humbled himself and submit Reason it self tels us that such a one were very unwise if he would not accept of mercy upon such easie terms 15. Consider what an exceeding hard thing it is to Repent 'T is no less then the change of nature old customs and habits which are very hardly broken Ier. 13.23 To change a Lion into a Lamb fire into water darkness into light is a work of omnipotency and such is Repentance 't is not in our power 't is Gods free gift and must be accepted of when he offers it 2 Tim. 2.25 16. Consider the vile nature of sin 1. 'T is the Poyson of the soul. Rom. 3.13 now the sooner we vomit up this poyson by a free and full confession of it the better 2. Sin is the souls sickness it stabs and wounds the conscience now diseases and wounds the longer they go undrest the â—â—rdlier are they cured 3. It 's a Thief to us and a Traytour to God It robs us of our strength Peace and comfort now the longer a Thief keeps possession the harder 't is to cast him out and to entertain a Traytor to our Soveraign is Treason 4. 'T is a Debt Matth. 6.12 Psal. 51.1 now the further a man runs in debt the harder it is to get out again 3. 'T is Folly madnesse darknesse blindnesse filth c. and therefore with all speed to be opposed and purged out 17. We would have God to hear us speedily Psal. 131.2 and 77.7 then 't is but Reason that we should hear him speedily and if we may not say to our Neighbour Go and come again to morrow much lesse to God Prov. 3.28 18. We shall cause joy in Heaven Luke 15.7 1. God himself rejoyceth that he hath a new son he esteems more of one poor humbled repentant sinner then of ten thousand proud Pharises who in their own conceits need no Repentance 2. Christ rejoyceth to see of the travel of his soul and that he hath a new member added to his mystical body 3. The Holy Ghost rejoyceth that he hath a new Temple to dwell in 4. The Angels in Heaven rejoyce that they have a New Fellow-servant to sing praises to their Lord. 5. The Church rejoyceth that one more is added unto their number 19. 'T is a point of the highest wisdom to know and improve the day of our Visitation 'T is only the wise mans heart that discerneth times and seasons Prov. 22.3 Eccles. 8.5 â—phes 5.15 16. he is wise to redeem the Time past with repentance the time present with diligence and the time to come with providence He observes the fit time of doing Gods commads 'T was the high commendations of the men of Issacher that they were men that had understanding of the times and knew what ought to be done 1 Chron. 12.32 'T is one of the highest acts of Practical wisdom rightly to improve the seasons of Grace 20. Lastly the neglecting and squandring away these seasons of grace brings Ruine to a person or Nation God hath appointed a season wherein to call and convert men and those that slight these seasons undo themselves when the harvest of grace is past and the summer ended no wonder if men be not saved This very sin ruined Ierusalem the not knowing the day of her Visitation Luke 19.42 44. when God gives people space to repent and they will not repent then he casts them into a bed of sorrow Rev. 2.21 22. Upon the well or ill spending of these seasons of Grace depends our eternal Weal or Woe Let then these Considerations Quicken thee to a speedy improvement of them that thou mayest have cause to blesse God that ever thou readest these lines and they may never be a witnesse against thee for thy negligence in that great day of the Lord. God records every Sermon he sets down the day and year when 't was preacht Isay 1.1 Ier. 1.2 3. Hag. 1.1 and he will one day reckon with us for them and therefore we had need to live up to our Means and Mercies and to answer them with an holy and obedient conversation that our Sermons may rise for our Justification and not for our Confusion Let us sow to the Spirit betimes for as men sow so shall they reap he that in the Seed-time of his youth sowes nothing but Tares and wild Oates in the harvest of his age must not expect a crop of corn But he that sowes to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting See more Reasons Madens Ser. on Luke 19.42 c. 14 15 16. D. Prideaux Ser. on Mat. 5.23 p. 20 21. Fenner on Prov. 1.28 Gen. 6.3 Luke 23.42 Dyke on Repent c. 16. p. 150. c. Mr. Ier. Dyke's select Ser. on Prov. 23.23 p. 359. and on 1 Thes. 5.19 p. 27. D. Preston on Sacram. Ser. 3. p. 326. Tayler on Titus p. 47. c. Mr. Obad. Sedgwick Rev. 3.20 Mr. Grosse Ser. on Luke 19.41 p. 242. Mr. Wheatly's Redemption of Time Mr. Ant. Burgesse Spi. Refining 1. Part. Ser. 75. and Mr. Iohn Downams Warfar l. 2. c. 29 c. p. 184. Fol. Mr. Sangars Morning Lect. Rev. 2.21 p. 211. Mr. Froysel his Gale of opportunity Mr. Beesly Ser. 8. on Eccles. 12.1 Mr. Chishull on Luke 19.42 From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures 2. Observe Young Timothies should read the Scriptures betimes Those that are devoted to the work of the Ministery should bee seasoned betimes with Scripture-Learning they must even suck it in with their Mothers milk 1 Tim. 4.6 They must not give themselves to the Reading of Tristlers as many young men that first begin with School-men Controversialists
Saviour what in us lieth to all the world this is to do the work of an Evangelist viz. soundly and sincerely to publish the Gospel True Ministers must preach the Law but then it must be preparatory to the Gospel to convince them of their sin and misery and so fit them for mercy and after their conversion as a Rule for direction c. This work is so that Christ tells us it was the primary end of his coming into the world viz. to preach the glad tidings of the Gospel Isai. 61.2 3. Luke 4.18 'T is true the four Apostles which wrote the Gospel are properly or rather appropriately called Evangelists but in a large sense he 's an Evangelist that teacheth the Gospel Observation 8. Timothy was no Diocesan Bishop He was an Evangelist and so not fixt as Bishops were to any particular Congregation City of Diocess but he was to go up and down pro re natâ as occasion required and to preach the Gospel as other Evangelists did Objection In the Post-script 't is said that Timothy was Bishop of Ephesus Answer These Post-scripts are no part of Canonical Scripture but were added by the Scribes who wrot out the Epistles 2. It contradicts the Text which expresly calls him an Evangelist which was a distinct Officer from a Pastor or Bishop Ephes. 4.11 3. It may help to take up the Cavel of Sectaries who would have us live as Timothy and others did without Tythes or fit Maintenance when the case is not the same For 1. They were not tyed to any particular charge as we are 2. The Magistrate was an Heathen and an Enemy 3. They had all things common and they sold all and brought the money to the Apostles 4. The Apostles had their learning by inspiration and they could work miracles and so could not want maintenance Observation 9. Make full proof of thy Ministry Observe Ministers must fully and faithfully discharge all the duties of their callings They must so behave themselves in their office that they may be charged justly with nothing Thus Barnabas and Saul fulfilled their Ministry Acts 12. ult and 14.26 so did Paul 2 Cor. 4.1 2. Archippus Colos. 4.17 must not do his duty to halves but he must perform it in every respect as it ought to be done and accomplish all the parts of his Ministry strengthning the weak comforting the afflicted raising the lapsed reproving the wicked convincing the erronious and confirming the strong adorning our pure doctrine with a pure conversation This is to fulfil our Ministry Verse 6. OBSERVATIONS 1. When God takes away faithful and laborious Ministers those that survive them must stand up in their stead supply their loss and be so much the more active careful and vigilant in the discharge of their office When Paul dyes then Timothy must double his diligence If Eliah be taken away Elisha must pray for a double portion of his spirit to carry on the work Eleazer succeeds Aaron Haggai and Zachary supply thâ— loss of Daniel and Christ ariseth in Iohn Baptists stead Observation 2. 2. The godly by a spiritual instinct and sagacity foresee their ends so did Iacob Gen. 48.21 and Ioshua 23.14 and Christ Iohn 17.2 and Peter 2.14 They alwayes watch and wait for their Masters coming Their acts diseases and disquietments which they meet withall from the world are as so many petty deaths unto them A man that dwells in an old crazy house where the walls fall down the foundation sinks the pillars bend and the whole building craks concludes such a house cannot long stand As for the wicked they are insensible and secure and though gray hairs which are signes of old age and death approaching be here and there upon them yet they know it not Hos. 7.9 Observation 3. 3. Death is not dreadful to good men The Apostle speaks of it here not by way of Lamentation but of Exultation and in an holy triumph tells us that he had fought a good fight and finisht his course and now the time of his departure was at hand when he should receive a crown of glory Death to him was but a departing from one room to another from a lower room to an higher from earth to Heaven from troubles to rest from mortality to immortality They are long since dead to the world and so can part with it more easily Paul died daily he was sending more and more of his heart out of the world so that by that time he came to dye he was fully weaned from the world and desirous to be gone Phil. 1.23 When Moses had finisht his course God bids him go up and dye that 's all Deut. 32.49 50. Death which to wicked men is the King of terrours and makes them fear and tremble Iob 18.14 That to a good man is the King of comforts and like the Valley of Achor a door of hope In an holy security at death and destruction they can laugh Iob 5.21 22. The wicked look on death as a dreadful dismal thing but Gods people looking on it through the Spectacles of the Gospel sâ—e it to be a conquered enemy having its sting taken out Hos. 13.15 so that what Agag said vainly and vauntingly Christian may speak truly and seriously The bitterness of death is past 1 Sam. 15.32 As Christ said of Lazarus this sickness is not to death but unto life so may we now say this death is not unto death but unto life So that now the Saints can embrace it go forth to meet it and bid it welcome They know 't is but winking and they are presently in Heaven This made the Martyrs go as cheerfully to their Stakes as others do to a Feast or Marriage when Basils enemies threatned to kill him if he would not turn he boldy answered Oh that I might dye for the truth Hilarion chides himself for his backwardness why dost thou fear Oh my Soul to dye thou hast served thy God these seventy years and art thou now afraid to dye Egredere anima egredere Even Seneca makes it the property of a wise man to desire death We must not judge of death or of any other thing as Sin Riches Afflictions c. as the world judgeth of them but as Scripture speaks Now the Spirit of God in Scripture cloaths death with very lovely and pleasing expressions 1. It calls it a going to our Fathers Gen. 15.15 A going to the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. A going to God to Christ and to the blessed Angels Phil. 1.23 2. It is called an Exaltation or lifting up Iohn 3.14 3. A sowing which will rise in glory 1 Cor. 15.43 4. An undressing and uncloathing of our selves a putting off our rags that we may put on immortal Robes 2 Cor. 5.2 2 Peter 1.14 5. A going to sleep when men are wearied with labour they desire their beds The grave is a bed of rest Isay 57.2 Iob 3.13 Dan. 12.2 Rev. 14.13
in Prayer for their Ministers warriours had need of Prayers and if I must pray for mine enemy then sure much more for my Minister and if Christ prayed for them shall not we Iohn 16.26 and 17. 1. Consider we are men and so subject to like Passions as other men and therefore we have need of your Prayers 2. We are Brethren and in respect of this Relation we may justly challenge your prayers Whom will you pray for if you will not pray for your Brethren This made the Apostle so earnest with the Romans 15.30 I beeseech you Brethren for the Lord Iesus Christs sake and for the love of the Spirit that ye strive together with me in your Prayers to God for me See with what earnestness this great Apostle begs for Prayers So Ephes. 6.19 2 Cor. 1.11 1 Thess. 5.15 He doth not say Brethren commend us or Brethren maintain us but Brethren Pray for us In this the poorest may be helpful to us Pray that our number may be increased Matthew 9.35 Atheists cry it was never good world since there was so much Preaching I say the world would be better if there were more Pray that they may be continued it s a special mercy when our eyes can see our Teachers and they be not removed into corners Isay 30.20 Pray that we may be restored Hebrewes 13.18 19. Prayer hath a Vertue in it to bring back those banisht ones Pray for us in our Temptations and Afflictions that God would sweeten and sanctifie them and uphold us under them The Devil winnowes all but he sifts Christs Peters as men do wheat which they sift most accurately he shooteth his sharpest arrowes and chooseth out the smoothest stones to throw at these Leaders of Gods Host. Pray that God would give us abilities and hearts to improve these abilities that he would give success to our labours and enable us to persevere in despight of all discouragement whatsoever 3. Consider we are your spiritual Fathers 2 Kings 2.12 Nature teacheth men to pray for natural Fathers and grace for spiritual 4. They pray for you great reason then that you should pray for them Yea in praying for them you pray for your selves for they are your servants in Christ. Now if we must pray for those to whom we are related but as men how much more should we pray for our Ministers in whom all these Relations concenter and meet who are Men Brethren Fathers Watchmen Shepherds Nurses Warriours 1 Timothy 1.18 and 2.4 that fight for the Churches safety Woe to those that in stead of Praying for us they Carp at us and Curse us and cry they are covetous proud graceless giftless c. vain man when thou seest such thou shouldest pitty them and pray for them that God would give them free humble gracious spirits and thou revilest them because they cross thy sin and errours as if Meroz should curse the Angel because the Angel cursed him for his neutrality These shew what spirit leads them Now the life of man is compared to a warfare in eleven respects 1. In war there is watching souldiers must stand on their guard continually for fear of a surprisal to the loss of all So every Christian being surrounded with spiritual enemies must watch and pray continually Matthew 26.41 It is the way to blessedness Matthew 24.46 2. In warring there must be arming another man may go unarmed but he that is a souldier must be armed Capape as they say from top to toe if any part be unarmed it may cost him his life as it did Ahab who was wounded between the joynts of the harness 1 Kings ult 34. So a Christian must gird on his spiritual armour for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal such as swords staves crosses pictures c. but spiritual and mighty to throw down the Devils strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4 that is armour of darkness this is armour of light Romans 13.12 such as shineth to the glory of God and the good of our Brethren We must not content our selves with one or two pieces of this armour but we must put on the whole Armour of God which consisteth of six pieces Ephes. 6.11 c. 1. We must get the girdle of truth we must be all Nathaniels not onely Israelites in name and profession but Israelites in deed and truth There must be sincerity and truth in our judgement affections words and actions He that is thus ungirt is unblest and will never endure in a day of trial painted armour is good for little 2. The Breast-plate of Righteousness Get a gracious life and a good conscience this is armour of proof against all the assaults of the Devil 3. Patience V. 15. We must pass through many thorny temptations and persecutions so that unless we be well shod with patience we shall tire and faint in our warfar there is no running our heavenly race without it Heb. 10.36 and 12.1 4. The shield of faith V. 16. This grace leads us out of our selves to Christ whose righteousness covers all our unrighteousness and whose perfection covers all our imperfections and so defends us against all the fierce assaults and fiery darts of Satan 5. The Helmet of Hope This expects what faith beleeves and keeps the soul from fainting a head without an helmet is exposed to danger 6. The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God of all the peeces of armour this must not be forgotten no sword like this 't is two-edged 't is both offensive and defensive with this Christ cut off Satans temptaions thrice together Matth. 4. These are those weapons of righteousness on the right hand and the left with which we must war against all the enemies of our Salvation 2 Cor. 6.7 See more in Dr. Gâ—wge on Ephes. 6. Mr. Gournall Mr. Râ—binson and Dr. Arrowsmith Tactica Sacra l. 2.1 to 11. 3. He must have Skill and knowledg how to manage his weapons his hands must be taught to war and his fingers to fight 'T was the commendation of Davids Champions that they were men of might fit for the Battle that could handle shield and buckler whose faces were like the faces of Lions and they were swift as Roes 1 Chron. 12.8 Here were men fitted and accomplisht with skill and courage for their work they were apti nati as we say cut out for Souldiers Raw untaught untrained men will either fly before the enemy or dy by his sword Solomon therefore would have us with counsel and good advice to make war Prov. 20.18 For wisdom is better then strength Eccles. 9.18 He must have the Art of fighting as there is an Art of Holy living and an Art of Holy dying so there is an Art of Holy fighting which every Christian must learn he must have skill to know the Methode depths and periods of that old serpent the Devil and his Agents the Jesuits and Sectaries who are as subtle as the Devil can make them their
friends of the Bridegroom and therefore they long for his coming 6. The blessings which we shall receive at that day are very desireable blessings It will be to us a day of Iubilee when we shall for ever be set free from all our enemies It will be a day of rest when we shall enter upon our everlasting inheritance a day of receiving wages for all our service A day which will free us from all our miseries and supply us with all mercies No wonder then that the Saints so earnestly long for it and if all the creatures groan and vehemently desire that day Romans 8.21 23. shall not the Spouse of Christ much more 2 Cor. 5.2 Wicked men have their portions in this life and rest content with present enjoyment and so desire not that day besides they are men of evil consciences and are condemned already in the word and in their own consciences Iohn 3.18 which maketh them fear and not desire that day they could wish that Christ would never come But the Godly who have faith and a good Conscience do with joy long for this day of their full redemption when Christ shall appear to their everlasting comfort So that to love and long for Christs appearing is the Character and almost the definition of all true believers None can love it but they and they cannot but love it VERSE 9 10. Doe thy diligence to come shortly to me VERSE 10. For Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present World and is departed to Thessalonica Crescens to Galatia Titus to Dalmatia WE are now come to the second part of this Chapter wherein the Apostle treateth of many private and personal affairs 1. He desireth Timothy to come speedily to him to Rome the Apostle had once some thoughts of going to Timothy 1 Tim. 3.14 but since he was shut up in prison and deprived of that liberty he now sendeth for him to come to him having many things to impart to him before he died probably touching the weighty affaires of the Church or else that he might be helpful in promoting the Gospel in Rome Italy and in the places adjacent since he wanted other helpers What ever it was it was no mean matter which made the Apostle send for Timothy beyond Sea from his charge at Ephesus in Asia minor to come to him at Rome Doe thy diligence or hasten to come to me he was near his end and therefore he biddeth him hasten and come speedily before winter Verse 21. q. d. defer not thy coming till another year but come speedily before I die 1. Observation 1. Personall presence is to be preferred writing The Apostle doth not say Write unto me but come unto me Letters we say doe not blush yet they cannot expresse the lively affections of our breasts as when men are present face to face with us Writing is more general and flat but the lively voyce and quickening presence of a friend worketh more effectually upon us Proverbs 27.17 Acts 18.5 When the Apostle would comfort the Romanes he telleth them that he will come to them Romanes 1.11 12. and 15.24 28.29 that he might be comforted by them and might comfort them So Iohn will not write to his friends but that he might the more effectually comfort them he promiseth to come and speake with them face to face that their Ioy might be full 2 Iohn 12. and 3. Iohn 13.14 Paul will not write but he will see the Thessalonians 1.2 17 18. There is more Vigour in the Voyce then in dead Letters Writing doth well but lively conference doth much better The speech of good men doth whet and excite men to love and good workes Hebrewes 10.24 it doth Minister Grace to such as keepe company with them Proverbs 10.11 and 15.4 Ephesians 4.29 2. Observation 2. The society and help of good men is much to be desired There is much comfort and good to be gained thereby Paul would never have sent so many hundred miles for a Timothy if there had not been more then ordinary sweetnesse in his society Man is a sociable Creature and God hath ordained mutual society for the quickning and increasing of his Graces in us We want much of our comfort in the want of a good friend which made David so sadly to lament the death of Ionathan and to complaine that he was desolate Psalm 25.16 and this made Paul to rejoyce in the recovery of Epaphroditus his Friend and fellow Souldier as a great mercy Philippians 2.25 26 27. Solomon telleth us that two are better then one Ecclesiasticus 4.9 As Oyntments and perfumes delight the senses refresh the Heart and quicken the Spirits so the faithful Counsel of a loving friend is very precious Prov. 27.9 Hence this communion amongst friends is called sweet Counsel Psalm 55. 15. We are subject in this World to many Tryals Now God hath ordained the society of his People as one speciall means to comfort us in them Malachi 3.16 Iames 5.16 This made Christ to send his Disciples out by two and two that they might have mutual Comfort and Confirmation of their Doctrine Luke 10.1 Unsociable men are like blunt and rusty iron unfit for service Solitarinesse and strangenesse is not good Solitary Birds are Birds of Prey Communion is a means to breede and increase brotherly love and to inlarge the Church Acts 2.46.47 They were all together with one accord and then it followeth The Lord added to the Church dayly such as should be saved This is an Article of our Faith we beleeve a Communion of Saints and oh that we did live as a People that beleeve our Principles T is Communion with the Saints on Earth is a glimspe of thy Eternal society which we shall have with them in Heaven when we shall all be gathered together into one Body 2 Tessalonians 2.1 as the society of wicked men in their wickednesse is a glimpse of Hell 3. Observation 3. The strongest Christians sometime may be helped by weaker A Paul may stand in need of a Timothy There is not a member in the body but is some way serviceable to the head 4. Observation 4. A Minister upon weightie and just occasions may lawfully be absent from his flock for a time 1. It must be but for a time 2. The cause must be weighty Timothy cometh from his charge to Paul yet Tychicus supplies the place the while who had great things to impart to him for the Churches good 't is noted as an act of cruelty in the Ostrich that she leaveth her Egges Lam. 4.9 Bishop Latimer wondred how men could goe quietly to bed who had great cures and many of them and yet peradventure never preached in any of them constantly It were easie to confute and confound these by Scripture Reasons Fathers Councills c. But 't is so fully done already by Master Blaxston in his Remonstrance against Non-Residents and blessed be God 't is so well purged out
thy friend So may we say to sinners Is this your kindness to your Saviour for all his sorrow and sufferings Do ye thus requite the Lord o foolish and unwise Deut. 32.6 God keepeth a Catalogue of all his favours to us and when we sinne against them he is much displeased at it as we see in Davids case where the love aggravates his sinnes by the mercies which he had shewed him 2 Samuel 12.7 8. Fire mingled with Oyle or Wine burneth more fiercely so sinnes against great mercies are great provocations The injuries of a friend goe nearer to us then the injuries of a profest enemy when God shall nourish and bring up children and they shall rebel against him he calleth upon the very inanimate creatures to be astonished at this Isay 1.2 3. He sinned against the light of good Example Paul went before him in doing and suffering and glories in all as comfortable and Honourable yet Demas deserts him and is not this our sinne How many examples of Zeal Piety Chastity Temperance constancy hath God set before us in the Old and New Testament and in our own dayes and yet men will not follow Such must know that they must one day answer not onely for sinning against the light of the Word but also for sinning against the Light and good Example of those who walked according to the Word Hebrewes 11.7 Noahs Faith condemned the Old Worlds unbelief c. 4. To sinne upon a light Temptation aggravateth a sinne Now Demas had no just ground for flinching If he feared suffering for Christ he knew the promise That he who forsaketh Father or Mother or Lands or Life for Christ shall have a hundred-fold in this present world and could he have brought his Life and Estate to a better market 2 If he loved the World and found sweetnesse in that Is there not more sweetnesse in him that made the World Is not that which maketh a thing so much more so it self And is not all the excellency that is in the Creature in the Creator by way of Eminency transcendency and Causality And is not this our Case upon with small and light Temptations doe we sinne What a slight matter maketh many men to curse lye sweare profane the Sabbath c. How many doe not stay for a Temptation but doe even tempt the Tempter and willingly chuse sinne rather then affliction they are not Passively sold under sinne as Paul was against his will Romans 7. But they Actively sell themselves as Ahab did to doe wickedly They make provision for the flesh they seek occasion and company to sin withall This Elective deliberate sinning is very dangerous and cometh near the Devils sinne he rebelled against God of his own accord and sinned without a Tempter and therefore perisheth without a Mediatour 5. To draw others into sinne aggravateth sin Demas by his evil Example brought an evil report on the Gospel and did tacitely and interpretatively say there is much more sweetnesse in the world then in Christ and so drew others from the truth This hightned Manasses sin that he made Iudah sin with him 2 King 21.16 So Ier. 2.33 We have too many sins of our own we need not make our selves guilty of the sins of others When conscience shall be awakned and fly in thy face it will tell thee that thou hast not onely undone thy self but thy children thy servants thy neighbours have been the worse for thee yea and that many are now in Hell whom thy wickedness hath been a means to bring thither This helpt to humble Paul and therefore he oft tells us how he persecuted others and compelled them to blaspheme Acts 26.10 11. Many by their loose walking put a stumbling block in the way of their brother to the breaking of his bones If a man should be the cause of the breaking a leg an arm or bone of another it could not but afflict him if he had any humanity left but to destroy the Soul of thy brother the most noble and precious part and so ruine him for ever this may humble thee to the dust and afflict thee all thy dayes and make thee go with sorrow to thy grave 6. The greater the person that sins the greater is his sin Theft in a Judge is worse then in an Inferiour person for Demas a Teacher of others to teach Apostasy drawes many into sin Such Cedars fall not alone but crush the shrubs that be under them 7. To sin against the Motions of Gods Spirit and against checks of conscience When they shall cry to thee Oh do not this abominable thing which I hate Ier. 44.4 Yet thou wilt strangle these motions and drive and drink away these pangs of the New birth this aggravates sin Ier. 3.7 8. To be Incorrigible and sin against corrections and under the rod heightens sin Ier. 2.30 and 5.3 Amos 4.6 to 12. 9. To continue long in sin increaseth sin When a man shall have been a Trader of sin from his youth Ier. 3.25 As it is a glory to be an old Mnason an old disciple whom no storms could drive from Christ so it is a great dishonour to be an old sinner whom no admonitions no corrections could bring in to Christ. 10. Consider that Infinite and glorious Majesty against whom all thy sins are committed The greater the person we offend the greater is the offence It is a more dangerous thing to strike a Prince then to strike an Inferiour man This makes all our sins Objectively infinite there is no sin in it self small because there is no small God that we sin against Sin is a despising and despighting of God and his Law 2 Sam. 12.9 It doth what in it lyes to Murder God the sinner wisheth that there were no God to punish him no Judge to sentence him Atheism lyes at the bottom of every sin To abuse some eminent good man that never did us wrong but every day should be shewing us favour and kindness is great baseness but for base sinful dust and ashes to Rebel and lift up himself against his Maker whom all the Angels adore to abuse the God of Goodness who renews his mercies to us every morning is the highth of villany 11. Consider the Multitude of thy sins how they are for number numberless and our backslidings have been increased Ier. 5.6 It was an aggravation of Israels sin that they oft provoked him in the wilderness Psal. 74.40 The Angels sinned but once and they were cast out of Heaven Adam sinned but once and he was cast out of Paradise but to multiply transgressions and relapse again and again and again into sin argues an habit and custom of sin which is very dangerous 12. It aggravates sin when it is committed against Vowes and Resolutions of better obedience The more bonds are broken in sin the greater is the sin To sin after a Vow against sin increaseth sin though the Act may be the same for
Friends anst Brethren but our foes also that we may excel Publicans Matth. 5.47 2. We have the Example of Christ using them he oft used this Salutation Peace be to you Luke 24.36 John 20.19 3. The Angels have used them an Angel salutes Gedeon Iudg. 6.12 and the blessed Virgin Luke 1.28 3. The Saints have used them the Apostle in the beginning and ending of his Epistles salutes the Churches Rom. 16. Colos. 4.10 c. Moses made obeisance to Iethro and kissed him and asked him of his welfare Exod. 18.7 and this they used not onely to Saints but even to wicked men Iacob salutes Pharaoh Gen. 47.7 David sends greeting even to a profane Nabal 1 Sam. 25.5 5. Not onely Saints but even Heathens by the light of nature used them They had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and their Ave God save you and God speed you And there is great Reason for them for they do not onely express but they help to increase that mutual love which ought to be amongst Christians and as they are fruits of faith and love so they are very pleasing to God and to our Brethren and are Testimonies of our love aud respect to them and the omission of them argueth either that there is some grudge in our hearts against our Brother or that our love is but cold and little towards him By our amiable affable walking we may win men when by a soure surly self-conceited carriage we bring a reproach upon Religion and discourage men Objection Christ forbiddeth his Disciples to salute any man by the way Luke 10.4 Answer 1. If you stick to the Letter of the Text you must not salute Saints for the words are general Salute no man nor must you take shoes or purses with you when you travel 2. 'T is an Hyperbolical speech and such as the Hebrewes use when they would have a man doe any thing speedily and without delay as 2 Kings 4.29 3. 'T was a Temporary command which Christ gave to the seventy at that time onely he doth not simply and absolutely forbid them for then Christ should contradict himself Luke 10.4 but comparatively viz. so for as they might hinder them in the speedy dispatch of their weighty affairs they must omit them else when they came to remain at a place Christ bids them then salute Luke 10.5 Object We know not the man nor what he is going about Answ. Nor doth he know thee nor what thou goest about and yet thou lookest to be saluted why then wilt not thou salute thy Brother Object Mordecai is commended for not bowing the knee nor shewing any respect to Haman Answ. The Answer is easie 1. The Persian Princes exacted more then Civil reverence they had a kind of divine honour given them now Mordecai seeing more honour was required then was fit for a man bowed not 2. He knew that Haman was an Amalekite and one of that race which was exposed to the hatred and revenge of Israel they must have no Peace with Amalek for ever It is true if we meet an obstinate Heretick or one that we know is a blasphemer and a broacher of false doctrine we must shun him and not bid him God speed Rom. 16.17 2 Iohn 10. .i. we must not be familiar with him so as to give the least approbation to his wicked opinions We may salute our own private enemies but not the profest enemies of God Polycarp meeting Marcion the Heretick refused to salute him Marcion askt him whether he knew him I saith he I know thee to be the Devils first born yet this doth not follow that therefore we may salute no man for till we know them to be such open offenders we may salute them Matth. 10.13 for there is a common salutation and civil respect which is due from every man to every man Piety is no enemy to curtesie Religion doth not abolish but rectify civil behaviour It doth not make men rude and clownish inhumane and hoggish but teacheth men to give honour to whom honour is due and to salute heartily not hollowly knowing that an hand full of love is better then an arm full of flattery The wisdom that is from above is gentle peaceable and full of good fruits Iames 3.13 teaching us to practice the things which are of good report and tend to love Phil. 4.8 and to make conscience of small duties as well as great ones Good conscience and good manners go together Acts 23.5 2. Observation 2. Good men forget not their absent friends The Proverb is Out of sight and out of mind it is not so with Paul though himself were in Prison and far distant from many of the Saints yet was he present in Spirit with them and shews that he hath not forgotten them by sending Salutations of health and happiness to them Prisca and Aquila This Prisca in other places is called Priscilla which is a diminutive of Prisca Acts 18.2 she was wife to Aquila they were both Jewes very tender and hospitable to Paul they ventured their lives for him probably in rescuing him out of some tumults as Acts 19.22 besides such was their zeal for Christ that they assisted Paul in their own Sphear in spreading the Gospel and instructed Apollos in the way of God more perfectly This makes the Apostle so oft to salute them and to mention their names with some additional Encomiums Rom. 16.3 1 Cor. 16.19 And to take them with him as his bosom companions when he sailed into Syria Acts 18.18 Though they were Tent-makers by profession yet having so good an houshold guest as Saint Paul for he sojourned with them at Corinth and probably at Rome and Ephesus Acts 18.2 3.18 19. they profited very much in the Christian Religion 3. Observation 3. It is a singular mercy to enjoy good company By their Prayers counsel and good example they will exceedingly quicken us in the way of the Lord. Aquila and Priscilla by familiarity with Paul come at last to instruct an eloquent Apollos and shew him somewhat that he had not seen before Acts 18.26 They had a Family so well ordered and taught that the Apostle calls it a Church Rom. 16.5 1 Cor. 16.19 and Paul honours them with the Title of his Coadjutors and Helpers in their places in the work of the Lord and for such as the whole Church was bound to bless God for them in making them the Instruments of his preservation Rom. 16.4 Thus we see to what a heigth of Piety Knowledge Fame and Excellency inferiour persons may come by being acquainted with some Holy and Zealous Paul Quest. But why is the wife set before her husband both here and Rom. 16.3 Answ. The Reason is uncertain but it is conceived to be this because the wife excelled the husband in Piety and Zeal 2. Lyranus gives this Reason viz. because she was first converted and the order of Grace is to be preferred before the order of
p. 117 Healths unhealthful p. 94 Hereticks compounded must die p. 169 Preservatives against their poyson p. 170.171 They are limited Page 180 181. See Gods judgements on them p. 168 High-minded who p. 118 House-creepers condemned p. 146 147 Humility 11. Motives to it p. 54. with means p. 57 I. IDleness breeds sin p. 98 Idleness how dangerous P. 385 393 Idols cannot help p. 206 Ignorance breeds Pride p. 53 Imprecations when lawful p. 439 Infirmities how they differ from enormities p. 131 132 Ingratitude eight Reasons against it Page 69 70 Interpret doubtfull things in the best sense p. 85 Ioy in tribulation p. 220 Iudge Christ is a righteous Judge Page 399. Judges must be just p. 313. Christ is Judge of all the world p. 311 Itch sevenfold p 353 K. KIngs believers are such Page 398 L. LAst dayes perilous p. 3 4 Law must be Preacht p. 329 Lectures on week dayes lawfull p. 326 Liberty sinneful not to be suffered p. 103 Life short p. 37 Light within darkness p. 278. Eight Reasons against resting in it page 278 Love to Christ properties of it p. 309. Reasons for it p. 309 310 Love strong p. 81. It s Excellencie Page 196 Love must extend to All the Saints Page 113 Long-suffering how needful p. 195 Luke-warmness condemned p. 334 342 M. MAd-men who p. 183 184 Magistrates useful p. 33. to be honoured p. 67. they must be zealous p. 340 Maintenance due to Ministers Page 296 Marriage when young people should marry p. 250 Memory helps for it p. 292 Masters though carnal to be respected Page 67 68 Meditation how needful p. 293 Meekness its Excellency p. 110. Seven motives to it p. 110 Men we must not build on them page 161 Mercies must be carefully marked p. 203 204. No merit p. 381 382 Ministers must Preach Gods Word onely p. 329. They must be frequent in Preaching p. 338. They must be hardy men p. 366 367. Pray for them p. 388 Ministers must see to their flock p. 468. They must be studious Page 433 The Ministry is a work p. 368 The Millenarian fancy condemned Page 12 Mourn for the sinnes of others Page 13 14 Musick when lawful p 90 Millenarian reign a fancy p. 455 N. WAnt of Naturall-Affection condemned p. 75 Now-light condemned p. 165 O. OBedience commanded p. 359 Old Testament Authentick p. 261. Cavils against it answered Page 263 Oppressors wo to them p. 31 Ordinances to continue to the end page 138 139 Order its excellency p. 171 172 Our spirits to be carefully looked to Page 471 P. PArents to be obeyed page 65 66. they must teach their children betimes Six Reasons for it Page 247 248 Parliaments their Excellency p. 32 Patience how needful p. 191 Perfection what p. 299 Persecutors have misenable ends page 218 Persecution spreads the Gospel p. 201 Whether we may flie from it p. 201 It s the lot of all the godly p. 210 211. Comforts against it p. 217. Rules how to bear it rightly Page 219 Pilgrimes we are in this World Page 392 Piety brings Praise Page 465 Pleasures carnal how dangerous Page 119 120. Seven disswasives from them p. 121 Pleasures spiritual most excellent Page 120 Poore shew mercy to them p. 129 Popery its vileness p. 14 15 Poverty in some respect better then riches p. 44 45 Practice of Piety excellent Page 289 290 Prayer must be sincere p. 456 Precipitation dangerous p. 117 Preparation required before Hearing Page 356 Preaching belongeth to men Ordained Page 328 Preaching is no adding Page 280 281 Presbyterial Government its excellency Page 173 174. it excells Episcopacie and Independencie in many Particulars Page 176 177 178 Pride dangerous p. 49. it s the root of Heresie Page 50. Remedies against it p. 51 52 Profane whom p. 74 Prosperity more dangerous then adversitie p. 234 Prophesies to be observed p. 51 Providence and success no Rules to goe by p. 287 Parents good a mercy p. 427 Peter not at Rome p. 425 Professors may become Apostates p. 417 and Persecutors p. 437 Publick spirits in good men p. 424 Q. QVakers exceeding profane p. 128 296. They deny the Scripture Page 269 Quakers their blasphemy p. 392. and folly 410 R. RAke-hels who Page 83 Reason must keep its due place Page 279 Reward we may have an eye to it p. 399. Full reward of the Godly-is at the last day p. 404 Relations must not be forsaken Page 141 Remember what we hear Page 357 358 Repetition when and how to be practised p. 462 c. Repentance must be speedy p. 223. Twentie Reasons for it Page 224 c. Reprobates how farre they may goe Page 128 Reproofes not to be sleighted Page 359 Riches Vanity p. 41. False Notions about them p. 38. They cannot help in trouble p. 206 Resolution how necessary p. 242 Revelations dangerous p. 165 S. SAints God loves them dearly p. 113 Sacramental Oath what p. 378 Schoolmen how vain p. 259. Salutations lawfull p 458 Scepticks in Religion odious to God p. 149 166 241 Scriptures are the Word of God p. 276. They are to be read of all p. 260 They are Holy p. 267. See 16. Royalties of them p. 280. They are a perfect Rule p. 286.297 Nine false Rules p. 287. They are the Iudge of Controversies p. 287. We must read them p. 291. Love them p. 288. Remember them p. 292. Be thankeful for them p. 294. Their Excellency p. 294. Self-denial how necessarie p. 20 Self-love dangerous P. 16.17 20. Separation condemned P. 11 12.141 142 Sincerity our Glory P. 194. Its Excellencies P. 134 135 Singularity that is Holy commended Page 239 Sins seldome go alone P. 21. Sinne how hainous P. 308 Slandering vile P. 82 83. comforts against it P. 86 87 Soldiers must be free from Covetousness P. 23. All Christians are souldiers Page 387 Soul Immortal P. 371 383. The Cavils of the Mortalists answered P. 372. Have a special care of your Souls P. 373 Spiritual-Pride dangerous P. 49 50 Spirit and Word go together p. 279. Seducers boast much of the Spirit Page 165. Try them p. 171 Stoicks condemned p. 76 Stratagem lawful p. 116 Swearing when lawful p. 305 Speaking more powerful then writing Page 403 Sin blots mens names p. 418 Society of good men helpful Page 409 Sordid Mechannicks oft oppose Gods Ministers p. 437 Strengthening grace needful Page 448 Sickness may befal good men Page 446 Our Spirits to be carefully looked to Page 471 T. TAxes and Dues to be paid cheer-cheerfully p. 31 Temporal felicity no mark of a true Church p. 215 Thankesgiving Motives to it p. 71. Rules for it p. 72 Theft in some cases it may be punished with death p. 227 Thorns Riches are Thorns p. 39 Thoughts to be specially watched page 28 29 Titles of Honour may be given to men Page 296 Tithes convenient in Gospel times Page 369 Tobocco much abused Page â—9 102. Toleration when unlawful page 168 169 233.340 Tongue our Glory p. 63 Thoughts how dangerous p.