but will bee ruled partly by carnall wisedome and partly by the Spirit it leaves them at last altogether 3. But some there are who give up themselves wholly to the government of Christ to be ruled in all things by his blessd Spirit highly esteeming the treasures of heaven and comforts of a better life above all the fading outward felicities which this world can afford who would not to gaine any earthly thing hurt their consciences or once defile themselves with unfruitfull workes of darknesse fearing lest they should in any thing dishonour Christ or grive his good Spirit and to such only hath the Gospell come in power Therefore I beseech you seriously coÌ„nsider of this truth if you would not disobey the Gospell disobey not the Spirit accompanying the same deale faithfully with your owne soules Which of you al hath not some time or other had his heart warmed with the sweet motions of Gods Spirit Oh doe not resist these holy stirrings within you give way to the motions of the blessed Spirit of God second them with holy resolutions to practise the same let them sinke deepe into your hearts roote them there and never give over the holy meditation of them till you make them your owne till you come to see Grace and the state of Christianity to be the most amiable and excellent thing in the world sin carnall courses to bee the most accursed thing in the world worse than any misery than any beggery tormeÌ„t or disgrace whatsoever Beloved til we have our spirits wrought upon to this high esteeme of good things to a base undervaluing of all things else we shal rebell against Christ first or last for untill such time as the heart of maÌ„ is overpowred with Grace hee cannot but disobey the Gospel either by shutting it out altogether or by making an evill use of what he knoweth thereby turning the grace of God into wantonnesse or else by revolting from the truth received altogether When times of temptation come unfound Christians wil do one of these three either despise refuse or revolt from the truth Therefore I beseech you let your hearts be cast into the mould and fashion of the Gospell of Christ let it bee soundly bottomed and ingrasted in you that so you may grow more and more obedient to the truth revealed and so your end shal not be theirs here which obey not the Gospell of Iesus Christ. But how may I come to obey the Gospell Begge earnestly of God in the use of the meanes else prayer is but a tempting of God that thy soule may bee convinced of what evill is in thee and what evill is towards thee unlesse thou repent Labour for sound conviction for you shall not need to stirre up a man that is condemned to seeke out for a pardon or a man that seeles the smart of his wound to get balme to cure it oh no when our hearts are once truly humb'â—d and pearced with a sight of our sinnes then Christ will bee Christ indeed unto us mercy is sweet at such a time any thing for a Saviour then and not before Therefore labour every day to see more and more into the venemous filthy nature of sin make it as odious to thy soule as possibly thou canst hearken to the voyce of conscience give it full scope to speake what it can that so thou maist fly to Christ. Consider how God plagueth us in this world for sinne how it fils us with feares and horrors causing our consciences to torment us and fly in our faces consider what threatnings are denounced against sinne and sinners for the time to come Consider the fearfull judgements of God upon others for sinne how it cast Adam out of Paradise the Angels out of heaven being so offensive to God that it could no otherwise bee expiated then by the death and blood shedding of the Lord Jesus I beseech you let your hearts dwel upon these things and consider with your selves how bitter you have found it to offend God though now it be a time of mercy Secondly coÌ„sider how the Gospell layes open Christ unto us this is his coÌ„mandement that we beleeve in the Lord Iesus he that coÌ„mands us to doe no murther not to â—teale c. commands us likewise to beleeve in Christ Hee commands us to love our owne soules so much as to take the remedy which may cure them so that now it is our duty to be good to our poore soules and wee offend God if wee bee not mercifull to our owne soules Oh what a favour is this that God should lay a charge upon me noâ—â—o reject my owne mercy as it is in Ionah They who follow lying vanities forsake their owne mercies If I doe not love my owne soule and accept of mercy offered I make God a lyar and offend his Majesty Againe consider how God allures those that might except against mercy Alas I am laden with sinne will some poore soule say why Come unto mee all you that are heavy â—aden and I will case you But I have offended God I have broken my peace c. yet I beseech you be reconciled to God though you have offended yet there is hope do but consider how ready God is to helpe you how continuall his mercies are and how he stretcheth out his hands to receive us Consider further what a sweet regiment it is to be under Christ as a King and as an Husband will hee not provide for his owne family for his owne Subjects Beloved it is not meere dominion that Christ stands upon he aymes at a Fatherly and Husband like soveraignty for the good of his children and Spouse it is their welfare he lookes after therefore I beseech you be in love with the government of Jesus Christ and his blessed Spirit oh it is a sweet regiment the Spirit of God leades us quietly inlightning our understandings upon judicious grounds what to doe by strength of reason altering our natures and bettering us every way both in our inward and outward man it never leaves teaching and guiding of us till it hath brought us to heaven and happinesse To conclude marke what the Apostle saith here What shall bee the end of those that obey not the Gospell he cares not what they know Many say we have heard the Word and wee have received the Sacrament c. it is no matter for that how stands the bent of your soules what hath your obedience beene this is that God lookes after every man can talke of religion but where is the practice a little obedience is worth all the discourse and contemplation in the world for that serves but to justifie Gods damning of us if we live not answerably value not your selves therefore by your outward profess oÌ„ neither judge of your estate in grace by the knowledge of good things nothing but the power of godlinesse expressed in our lives will yeeld reall comfort
will deliver him To glorisie God here is the end of all ends to praise God happy wee when Gods end and our end meet together Hee hath made all for his owne glory and when wee with a single eye can ayme at that too what a sweet harmony is there To direct us in this duty in praising God let us with Paul for I goe no surther than the text leads me seriously meditate on Gods mercies both past and to come nothing moves thankfulnesse more than this A Christian when hee lookes backwards hath comfort and when he lookes forward he sees comfort still for preservation and Kingdomes and Crownes abide for him If a man would praise God therefore let him consider how graciously God hath dealt with him Hee hath delivered me already by Jesus Christ from sinne and eternall wrath and he will deliver mee from every evill worke to come that may indanger my salvation Thinke of these things and see whether your hearts can bee cold and dead or no see if your spirits can be streightned Certainely both heart and mouth will be full thou canst not but say in the apprehension of Gods mercies To him bee glory for ever 2. Consider the kindes of favours thou receivest they are either positive or privative spirituall or temporall Positive the Lord will preserve me privative the Lord will deliver mee from every evill worke Temporall the Lord in this life will keepe me spirituall he will deliver me from the power of sin Eternall Hee will preserve mee to his heavenly Kingdome Thinke forward or backwards outward or inward spirituall or temporall where ever you looke tell me if you can doe otherwise then breake out with the holy Apostle in the praises of so good a God And 3. Thinke of the greatnesse of all these the greatnesse of the deliverance from sinne and damnation The Apostle to make himselfe the more thankfull saith he was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion he had large apprehensions of Gods goodnesse So should we beloved consider the greatnesse of the misery we are in by nature being slaves of Satan in danger to slip into Hell every moment and when God hath secured us from this thinke of the greatnesse of the benefit a heavenly kingdome When we think not only of the benefits but of the greatnesse of them it is a wondrous incouragement to bee thankfull Labour then to have a due and high esteeme of every mercy God hath brought us out of darknesse into marvellous light saith the Apostle Great is the mystery of godlinesse and the unsearchable riches of his grace he had not words bigge enough to expresse Gods goodnes Oh the heighth and bredth and depth and length of his love When we consider these dimensions our thankfulnesse must be answerable Againe if you would bee thankfull Labour to have humble spirits to see God in all things and then you will sacrifice to him alone not to thy parts and graces friends abilities c. the meeke are fit to pray to God Seeke the Lord yee meeke of the earth and an humbled meeke soule is the fittest to praise God of any other he that knowes he is worthy of nothing will blesse God for any thing he that knowes he hath nothing in himselfe will be thankfull for the least measure of grace an humble soule is a thankfull soule We see it was Pauls disposition here he gives all to God which makes him so breake out in praising his name Againe if wee would bee thankfull as Paul here and beginne Heaven upon Earth Labour to be assured of salvation and perseverance in thy Christian course The Papists that speake against Assurance and Perseverance kill prayer and praising of God Shall a man praise God for that which he doubts of I cannot tell whether God will damne me or not perhaps I am but fitted as a sheepe to the slaughter c. how shall a man praise God for any blessing hee enjoyes when these thoughts are still with him how shall a man praise God for salvation when perhaps he shall not come to it how shall a man praise God for that which perhaps he may fall from before hee die when perhaps hee is Gods to day and may be the Devills to morrow How can there bee a hearty thankes but when a man can say The Lord will deliver me from every evill work that by mine owne weaknesse and Satans malice I may occasionally fall into betwixt this and Heaven Therefore if we would praise God as we should let us worke our hearts to labour after assurance of Gods favour let us redeeme our precious time and every day set some time apart to strengthen our evidences for heaven which will set us in a continuall frame to every good worke Thus wee see out of Pauls example how we should be disposed here to be in heaven before our time For undoubtedly he who praiseth God is so much in Heaven as he is given to thankfulnesse for hee is in that imployment now which shall be there altogether But how long doth he desire that God should have glory For ever and ever A Christian should have the extent of his desires of Gods glory carried to eternity Upon what ground because God intends him glory for ever and ever a Christian that is assured of his salvation is assured that God will eternally glorisie him He knowes that Christ is King for ever He knowes that Christ is a Priest for ever He knowes that the state and condition that he is kept for is everlasting It is an inheritance immortal and undeâ—iled that fadeth not away and therefore he saith Hath God eternall thoughts of my good and is Christ an eternall head an eternall King to rule me both in lise and in death Surely I will extend my desires of his glory as farre as hee extends his purpose to doe me good Now his purpose to doe mee good is for eternity and my desire that he may have glory shall be â—or eternity world withont end This is the disposition of a gracious soule not that God may be honoured by him alone but of all To whom be praise not by me but by all I am not sufficient enough to praise him To him be praises in the Churches throughout all ages for ever David had not largenesse enough in himselfe to blesse God and therefore hee stirres up his spirits and all within him to praise his holy name as if all were too little to set out the glory of Gods infinite goodnesse mercy wisedome and power those gracious attributes that shew themselves glorious in bringing man to salvation and in governing the Church Learne this duty therefore If we will make good to our owne soules that we are in the state of grace we must plot for eternity and indeavour to lay a ground and foundation that the Church may flourish for eternitie No man can warrant himselfe to be a good Christian but he that labours to
away thee and take away Christ if I should despaire I should make thee no GOD and make Christ no Christ if I should not accept of mercy for Christ is given to me and I labour to make him mine owne by laying hold of him Faith hath a power to make every thing it s owne that it toucheth particular faith which is the only true coÌ„fortable faith makes generall things mine when the soule can lay a particular claime to God as his GOD by giving himselfe to him onely then wee may plead in Christ better satisfaction to Gods justice than if hee should cast us into hell What a stay is this for a distressed soule to make use of Beloved the Church of God the mysticall body of Christ is thus forsaken in other Countries besides many particular humble broken-hearted Christians at home who finde no beames of Gods love and mercy what shall we doe Let the body imitate the head even goe to GOD in their behalfe and powre out your complaintâ— before him Lord where are thy mercies of old where are thy ancient bowels to thy Church why should the enemy triumph c. GOD delights when wee lay open the miseries of his people and our owne particular grievances before him If there be a spirit of faith in it oh it workes upon his bowels If a Child can but say Oh father oh mother though hee can say not a word more the bowels are touched there is elâ—quence enough so when wee can lay open the pittifull state of Gods poore Church what a blessing may we obtaine for them It is thy CHVRCH Lord thine owne people thy name is called upon them and they call upon thy name though they have sinned yet thou deservest to bee like thy selfe and Christ hath deserved mercy for them Thus if wee contend with GOD and keepe not silence and give GOD no rest faith would work wonders The state of the Church would not be long as it is if wee would all improve our interest in heaven in their behalfe Beloved Christ strugled with the powers of darknesse and the wrath of his father a while but presently after all was finished so let us contend boldly Fight the good fight of faith and not yeeld to desperate suggestions let faith stirre up prayer and prayer goe to GOD and ere long it shall be said of the CHVRCH and of all particular troubles All is finished then wee shall enjoy the sweet presence of GOD Where is fulness of joy and that for evermore the presence of GOD is that the Child of GOD desires above all things in the world it quickens and strengthens him it puts zeale and fire into him it doth all What will not the presence of GOD doe when a man enjoyes his face Therefore let us bee content to conflict here to bee exercised a while in faith and prayer wee shall surely say ere long I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me a Crowne of righteousnesse I beseech you learne these lessons and instructions from our blessed Saviour wee cannot have a better pattern than to be like him by whom wee all hope to bee saved another day So much for this time FINIS THE CHVRCHES VISITATION 1 PET. 4. 17 18 19. For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God and if it begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospell c. OUR nature as it is very backeward to doe good so likewise to suffer evill therefore the Blessed Apostle exhorts us at the latter end of this Chapter Not to thinke it strange concerning the fiery tryall but to rejoyce in as much as wee are made partakers of Christs sufferings wherein are many grounds of patience and comfort to the children of God 1. That the thought of troubles should not be strange but familiar to them Acquainting our thoughts with them taketh away offence at them though it bee a fiery tryall yet it shall consume nothing but drosse 2. Then Christ joyneth with us in suffering better to be in trouble with Christ then in peace without him 3. The issue will be glorious for the spirit of glory will not only support us with his presence but rest still upon us To other grounds of comfort hee addeth some in the words of my text as First that the Church is Gods house and therefore he will have a care of it 2. That he will doe it in the fittest season Such is the exigence of the Church and people of God that they require a sharp visitation and therefore such is Gods love that he appoints out a certaine time for them 3. From the different condition of the godly and ungodly in suffering both suffer but differ much 1. in order God begins with his owne house 2 in measure where shall the ungodly appeare their judgmeÌ„t shall be most terrible certaine it is set downe by way of interrogation and admiration What shall their end beâ— And as Pharaohs dreames weâ—â— doubled for more certainty 〈◊〉 here is a double question to make the matter more out of question 1. What shall their end be that obey not the Gospell 2. Where shall the ungodly and sinners appeare Here is no unnecessary waste of words and arguments for the spirit of God knowes that all is little enough to fortifie the soule against the evill day unlesse the soule be well ballaced it will soon be overturned when stormes arise Therefore the Apostle in these three verses sets downe 1. some foundations of comfort and 2. an incouragement to build upon them wherefore let them that suffer c. The points considerable in the 17. verse are these 1. That Gods Church is his house 2. That this house of his will neede purging it will gather soyle 3. When God sees the exigent of it that it must be so he will be sure to visite and judge his owne house 4. That there is a certaine time when he will doe it which those that are wise may easily gather for God comes not upon his Church on the suddaine as a storm or tempest c. but he gives them faire warning there is a season when God begins judgment with his owne house Lastly Why God begins with his owne Church and people Of these in order First The Church of God is Gods house God hath two houses the Heavens which are called his house because hee manifests his glory there and the Church here below wherein he manifests his grace yea the whole world in a sort is his house because he manifests his power and wisedome in it but Heaven and his Church in a more peculiar manner and that in these respects 1. Because God by his grace hath residence in his Church 2. Because by the meanes of salvation the word and Sacramets there administred he doth seede his Church as in a house 3. A man rests and takes contentment
failed them So when a man sets up a righteousnesse of his owne neglecting the righteousnes of Christ it is impossible he should ever be saved living and dying in that errour Therefore I beseech you take heed of disobeying the Gospell of Jesus Christ in any kinde whatsoever for of all sinnes this is the greatest as shall appeare by these reasons First bâ—cause sins against the Gospel are sins against those Attribâ—tes wherin God wil glorifie himself most as his grace mercy loving kindnes c. Therfore the Gospel is called grace because it publisheth offers and applies grace Now sinnes against â—â—rcy are greater then sins against justice for God hath made all things for the glory of his mercy Even among men are not sinnes against favours the greatest sinnes To wrong a man whether hee deserves well or ill is an offence But what man will have his courtesies rejected though never so meane Love deserves love Favour deserves respect againe But now when weâ— obey not the Gospell wee neglect and dispise the goodnesse and mercy of God Oh what excelleÌ„t blessings doth the Gospell reveale if wee had hearts to value them Doth not the Gospell bring salvation Is it not the word of grace the word of life the word of the Kingdome Beloved I beseech you lay these things to heart for whensoever your refuse the Gospell of Christ you refuse with it the word of grace of the Kingdome of Heaven and eternall life and all therefore the sinnes of the Gospell must needs bee the greatest sinnes Againe sinnes against the greatest light are most sinnefull What makes sinne out of measure sinfull but this when it is committed against a great measure of light What makes a man fall foule It is not when he falls in a mist or in a darke night every one will pitty him then alas he wanted light but when hee falls at noone day Beloved had we lived in former times when the light was not powred forth so abundantly as now it is our sinne had beene the lesse but now in this cleare Sunshine of the Gospell for us to live in sinnes condemned by so great a light either in our judgmeÌ„t or practice it must needs make our sinne the greater If I had not come and spoke to them saith our Saviour they had had some pretence for their sinnes but when Christ had once spokeÌ„ all excuse was takeÌ„ away they could not theÌ„ say they knew not the will of God and this is the reason of that speech of the Apostle Now you are in the light walke as children of light And This is the condemnation that men hate light not that men for want of light stumble but that men love darknesse more then light It is not the sinne it selfe but the love liking of sinne which aggravates mens wickednesse when as the malice poison of their hearts rebells against the discovery of Gods good pleasure in Christ. No people oâ—t of the Church are capable of this sin for how can they sinne by infidelity and unthankfulnesse for the Gospell that never had it And therfore Negative infidelity is as it were no sin in comparison If I had not come among them they had had no sin saith Christ. Negative I call that when as men beleeve not having no meanes as infidells and Heathens c. And therefore as they sinne without the Gospell so they shal be damned without the Gospel the rule of their daÌ„nation shal be the law of Nature writteÌ„ in their hearts for this is an undoubted truth No man ever lived answerable to his Rule therefore God hath just ground of daÌ„nation to any man even from this that hee hath not lived answerable to the rule of his owne conscience so that we need not flie to reprobation c. Againe an other aggravation of sinnes against the Gospell is that they are against the better covenant The first covenant was Dâ—e this and live â—gainst which wee all sinned and were uâ—der the curse But now wee are under a more gracious covenant a covenant of mercy Beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ and wee shall be saved therefore sinnes now must needs bee more heinous for if we sinne against the Gospell either by presumption or despaire or els by prophanenes professing the Gospell but denying the power of it c. there is no remedy left for us If a man sinne against the Laâ— against Morall honesty and Civill Righteousnesse there is a remedy in the Gospell for him but when a man sinnes against the sweet love and goodnesse of God in rejecting the Gospel of his deare Sonne Mercy it selfe shall not save such an one That must needs bee a strange sinne that makes a man worse then a sodomite yet wee reade it shall bee easier for Sodome and Goâ—â—rrha in that day then for those that heare the Gospell the blessed allurements and invitations to beleeve and to lead an holy life answerable to our faith and calling and yet live in sins against conscience despising the precious bloud of Christ. Herod was a wretched man yet notwithstanding it was said hee added this to all he put Iohn in prison a Preacher of the Gospell sinnes against the Gospell in a loose malignant Professor are many times worse then all the rest Oh therefore take heed of sinning against the favour and goodnesse of God for this will confound us aâ— the day of judgment when we shal think What was so great mercy offered me did I slight it in this manner Have I lost the favour of God eternall life and the glorious company of the Saints in Heaven for a base pleasure of sinne for a seasâ—n to gratifie a bruitish lust Have I lost Christ and all the Good by him for ever only to satisfie my sinfull disposition to please a carnall friend c. Oh how will this lie heavy upon the soule another day we shall not need accusâ—rs our owne hearts shall justifie the sentence of God against us bee it never so sharpe that we have resused mercy so often tendred to us in the bloud of Christ. Marke what Saint Paul saith The Lord Iesus shall bee revealed from heaven in flaming fire taking vengeance upon those that know not God and obey not his glorious Gospell he saith not only on those that are swearers and prophane persons but ignorant sots that care not to know God though they bee not open sinners Hâ— saith not those that persecute the Gospel or oppose it shall bee punished with eternall destruction froÌ„ the presence of God which is true but those that sin in a lesse degree sâ—ch as obey not the Gospell that value not this inestimable jewell that sell not all to buy this pearle unto whom all the world is not drosse and doung in respect of the glorious Gospell of Christ Jesus how shall they escape which neglect so great salvation Oh say some this concernes
businesse God hath a key to open the closet of their hearts let them bee never so close locked up Oh that men would more feare this al-seeing eye of God be wise for themselves and not against themselves It is a miserable wisedome when men are wise to worke their owne ruine Beloved when men have had all their plots God hath a plot still beyond them he takes them failing in something or other their devices are like a curious clock if the least thing be out of frame all is marred God suffers them to spinne a â—ine thread a great while and at length cuts the webb and there is an end And they may thanke themselves for all this for they carry a justification of God in their owne breasts they perish because they will perish and this will be the torment of all torments to gracelesse persons that they polled destruction upon themselves Malice blindes the understanding in Satan and his instruments for if their malice were not above their wit would they to gratifie their ill affections knowingly rush into the displeasure of God and into such courses as will unavoidably bring their ruine malice drinks up the greatest part of its owne poyson His owne iniquity shall take the wicked himselfe saith Solomon and he shall be holden with the cords of his owne sinne This may bee inlarged to all sinfull courses every sinner worketh a deceitfull worke and bringeth forth a lye Austin saith well Every sinne is a lye Men would be happy yet they will not live so as they may be happy what more deceitfull than this It will be the complaint of every sinner at length that was Fvah's The Serpent hath deceived me It was S. Pauls complaint and it will be the complaint of all sinfull wretches at the last day What hath pride profited us What can the favour of men upon whom wee beare our selves doe us good now Sinne promiseth us contentment continuance secrecie full satisfaction c. but doth it make good this Were ever any when the beginning and ending was laid together established by wickednesse Take it from God himselfe we have a commission to speake it Say it shall not goe well with the wicked though they escape an hundred times yet it is but a reprivall for some further service which God hath to doe by them Be not deceived God is not mocked When wee can bee more subtile than the Devill or more strong than God we may thinke to thrive by sinne Can wee thinke God will alter the course of divine justice for us Had we not better beleeve this than finde it so hereafter Beloved hell is for those to feele that will not beleeve Certaine it is that those who will sinne notwithstanding Gods justice shal be severely punished notwithstanding his mercy God is not more peremptory in any one thing than in this If any man blesse himselfe in an ill way my wrath shall smoake against him therefore it is a good prayer Lord give mee not over to lying that is not to trust in that which will lye and deceive me This is the unhappinesse of us Ministers all other professions are beleeved when they discover danger but who beleeveth our report Wee are mens enemies because we tell them the truth Wee labour to take away the sweet morsells from men their Herodians and to divide betwixt men and their sins which they love better than their soules No creature but man loves that which will bee its owne bane Onely wretched man seek os happinesse in the way to misery and heaven in the way to hell I beseech you therefore as you would not bee deceived as indeed who would take heede of the deceitfull workes of darknesse Satan that tempts us is but a lying spirit which hee is not ashamed to confesse and sinne is like unto him What got Ahab by his vineyard Iudas by his thirty peeces of silver What god Haman and so of the rest by their sinnes at the last Men are usually ashamed of an ill bargain because the very thought thereof upbraids them with weaknesse and folly What ever we get by sinne for the present it will prove the worst bargaine that ever we made Oh therefore let us use our wits and parts to better purpose if wee will needs bee plotting let us plot for eternity that is worth the plotting for Let us plot how to avoide Satans plot Our time is short Opportunity the flower of time shorter Our talents are many our accounts strict our Iudge unpartiall Let us be sowing to the spirit Let us labour to be like our judge who went about doing his Fathers worke and came to destroy the workes of the Devill Oh beloved shall we build up that which Christ came to destroy All his miracles tended to goods he wrought the salvation of those that wrought his destruction hee shed his blood for those that shed his blood Satan is all for mischiefe and rather than he will not doe hurt he is content to be set about drowning of swine And such are all those that are led with his spirit men witty to destroy and acute to malice others who take a great deale of paines to goe to hell and carry others with them Those that are skilfull in the story of nature write of the Scorpion that hee whets his taile often upon stones that so it may bee sharpe and ready for a mischiefe some crooked wits there are which make it their exercise to vexe the quiet of the land it is as naturall to them as poyson to a Scorpion But our happinesse is how to be like the Idea the patterne of all grace and the glory of our nature by whom we hope to bee saved Our happinesse is to bring forth fruit and our owne fruit in due season to have opportunity ability and a heart to doe good how comfortable is death when it takes men so doing The time will be ere long when it will comfort us above all things in the world besides that wee have beene honoured to be instruments of doing good and stood in the gappe to hinder evill Beloved we serve a good master we shall not lose a good word for a good cause there is a booke of remembrance for every good word and worke we doe When wicked men have beaten their braines spent their spirits and wasted their strength what becomes of them at length A conscience often wounded will receive no comfort but take Gods part against it selfe When the other powers are wearied then Conscience comes and doth its office then the eyes of the soule are opened to see what it would not see before then sinne that lay at the doore at the going out of this life flyeth in our faces pleasure and profit for which wicked men project and contrive so much comes all to nothing but sinne it selfe and the punishment of it abides for ever Men like Popes will dispence with themselves and
past recovery abroad when they are at the worst then are they nearest mending When the taske of brick was doubled by Pharaoh upon Israel then came Moses to worke out their deliverance when the Iewes heard newes of their liberty to returne from captivity they were as those that dreamed they could not suddenly beleeve it it seemed so strange a thing in that their hopelesse estate Learne wo then from this dealing of God with his people in the midst of all extremities to alleage unto God the extremitie we are in Helpe Lord for vaine is the helpe of man is a prevailing argument Alledge the pride of enemies the presumption of those that feare not God c. and that hee onely can give issue from death when he will And as God brings us to heaven by contraries so let us in one contrary beleeve another hope against hope In misery looke for mercy in death for life in guiltinesse for forgivenesse Learne to wrastle with God when he seemeth thy enemy oppose unto God his former dealings his nature his Promise c. Iob had learned this Though he kill me yet will I trust in him Be of Iacobs resolution I will not leave hold of thee untill I get a blessing whatsoever wee are stript of let us never forsake our owne mercy This one word I despaire takes a â—ay God and Christ all at once We must remember Our sinnes are the sinnes of men but mercy is the mercy of God God will never leave us but be with us whilst we are with him The world and all comforts in it leave a man when they can have no more use of him nor hee of them Satan leaves his sworne vassals at their wits end when he hath brought them into danger But blessed be for ever our gracious God then of all other times he is nearest to helpe us when we stand most in need of him He was never nearer Moses than when Moses seemed furthest from comfort never nearer Iacob than when heaven was his Canopie and a Stone his pillow never nearer Ioseph than when in prison Ionas then in the belly of the Whale for God went downe with him never nearer Paul than when in the Dungeon A Christian is not alone when left alone not forsaken when forsaken God and his Angells supply them the want of other comforts Is it not a greater comfort that a Prince should come in Person to a subject and cheare him up than send a meaner man And whence is this to me said Elizabeth that the mother of my Lord should come unto me Is it not the greatest comfort to a Christian soule when God in want of meanes comes immediately himselfe unto us and comforts us by his Spirit for in defects of second causes comforts are ever sweetest therefore in all extremities let us wait and hope still for mercy If the vision stay saith Habakkuk wait for it will come This is a maine difference betwixt the Child of God and a person destitute of sound grace for the Child of God in extremitie recovers himselfe as David after a great conflict gets still the upper hand Yet my soule keepe thou silence unto God for God is yet good to Israel as if hee should say Though when I look upon my present outward condition I stagger yet when I consider more deepely of his dealing I am resolved God is good to Israel thus after much tossing they get up upon that rock which is higher than they But those who are not upright-hearted in any great extremity sinke downe with despaire as heavy bodies to the Center of the Earth without stop The reason is in their best estate they never were acquainted with relying upon God but bore themselves up with fleshly helpes which being taken away they must needs fall down right But a sincere Christian in midst of his flourishing estate acquainteth himself with God and sets not his heart upon present things Iob sayes that which he feared in his best case that â—efell unto him Therefore they can rest upon Gods mercy when other props are taken away Yet there be divers degrees of upholding us when we are at a spirituall losse for usually in what measure we in the times of our peace and liberty inordinately let loose our affections in that measure are wee cast downe or more deeply in discomfort when our adulterous hearts cleave to outward things more than becomes chasâ— hearts it makes the crosse more sharpe and extreame For That which is not enjoyed with overmuch pleasure is parted withall without overmuch griefe But for spirituall extremities oftentimes the strongest feele them with quickest sense for God herein respects not alwayes sinnes past or more or lesse measure of grace as in Iobs case who could without much distemper of soule endure extremities of body and estate but when God wrote bitter things against him presently he begins to sinke and but begins onely for when hee was at worst he stayes himselfe upon his Redeemer to the glory of Gods Grace and shame of the devill Thus sometimes God makes his Children triumph whom he sets as Champions in defiance of Satar They in weaknesse thinke they shall utterly faile and perish but their standing our in greatest conflicts shewes the contrary But to come to that which I intend chiefly to insist on The Lord shall deliver me from every evill worke c. wherein we may see 1. The Author of his safety 2. The deliverance it selfe The Author is the Lord No lesse then an almighty power is necessary to deliver from any evill worke For such is our inclinablenesse to joyne with temptation such the malice and strength of our enemy so many bee the snares and so cunningly spread in every thing we deale withall that whatsoever delivereth us must bee above Satan and our owne evill hearts more wise more powerfull more gracious to preserve us than any adverse power can be to draw us unto evill workes In which case well said Moses when God in his wonted glorious presence refused to goe along with them O saith Moses if thou goâ— not with us carry us not hence Deliver supposeth danger possible or present Beloved Our lives are such as stand in need of perpetuall deliverance Our estate here is waving The Church lives alwayes in tents hath never any hope of rest untill the day of triumph therefore after forgivenesse of sinnes followes lead us not into temptation because though sins past be forgiven yet we are in danger to be led into temptation let none promise a truce to himselfe which God promiseth not if Satan and our corruptions joyne we cannot be quiet after sinnes of youth we are in danger of sinnes of riper age for though by grace in some sort sinne be subdued yet untill it be wholly mortified there will be some stirring up untill that which is imperfect in us be abolished But I hasten to that
Though I walke in the valley of the shadow of death yet will I fear no ill why because thou art with mee my God and my shepheard Though wee be in the valley of the shadow of death yet notwithstanding if God bee with us if wee bee in covenant with him and can lay just claime to his promise by giving up our selves to him we shall not feare one beame of Gods countenance when wee are in covenant with him will scatter all Clouds whatsoever I beseech you therefore labour more and more for this precious grace of faith and increase it by all saâ—ctified means hearing the Word reading the Scriptures and treasuring up promises considering what speciall use wee have of this above all other graces But to proceed Christ here doth not onely beleleeve but He vents his faith by prayer Good workes are but faith inincarnate faith working they differ not much from it so prayer is but faith flaming the breath of faith as it were for when troubles possesse the soule it sends out its Ambassadour presently it speeds prayer forth and prayer stayes not till it come to heaven and there takes hold upon GOD and gets a message and answer from him backe to comfort the soule faith and prayer are all one in a manner when the soule hath any great desire of grace or is in griefe apprehending the displeasure of GOD faith would if it could worke to heaven but we are on earth and cannot till wee dye therefore when it cannot goe to heaven it sends prayer and that mounts the soule aloft and wrastles with God and wil give him no rest till the petition bee granted and it can say My God Therefore if you have any faith at all exercise it and make it bright by often prayer The prayer of faith prevailes much How shall they call on him in whom they have not beleeved Indeed it is no prayer at all without faith great faith great prayer weake faith weake prayer no faith no prayer they both goe on in an even strength Christ here prayes to God under this complaint Why hast thou for saken me There is a hidden prayer in it oh doe not forsake mee deliver me out c. I beseech you even as you would have comfort from the â—ountaine of comfort that usually conveyes all grace and comfort to us by a spirit of prayer labour to be much in communion w th God in this blessed exercise especially in troubles Call upoÌ„ me in the day of trouble the evil day is a day of prayer of all daâ—es in the day of trouble especially Make your request knowne to God But perhaps GOD will not heare mee Yes this fruit followes The peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keepe your hearts and mindes When you have eased your soules into the bosome of God by prayer you may goe securely and know that he will leâ— you reape the fruit of your prayers in the best time Yea but 〈◊〉 prayed long and have had no answer Wait in prayer Gods time is the best time The Physition keepes his owne time he turnes the glasse and though the paâ—iâ—◠〈◊〉 ouâ— that he tormeÌ„ts him it is no matter he knows his time The Gold-smith will not take the metall out of the fire till it bee refined so God knowes what to doe waite his good leasure In the meane time because wee must have all from God by prayer I beseech you derive all from him this way pray for every thing and then we shall have it as a blessing indeed But put the case I cannot pray as sometimes wee are in such a case that we cannot make a large prayer to God Then doe as Christ did Crie If thou canst not pray groane and sigh for they are the groans and sighes of Gods Spirit in thee there is a great deal of oratorâ— in these words What is the use of eloquence but to perswadeâ— and what could perswade God more than when Christ shewed how he esteemed his love and how he was now In the absence of it environed with griefe before him Here was Rhetorick if Christ had not spoken his wounds had said enough and his pittifull ease spake sufficiently every thing hath a voyce to 〈◊〉 for mercy 〈◊〉 â—hee adds his voyce to all and cries vocally aloud My God my god why hast thou forsaken me Beloved if you acquaint your selves with GOD in prayer then you may goe readily to him in any extremity therefore in time of health and prosperity cherish communion with his blessed Majesty make him your friend and upon every good occasion improve this plea Oh my God If wee have riches if we have a friend in the Court wee will improve them if wee have any thing we will make use of it have we a GOD and will we not improve him have wee a God that is our GOD and doe wee want grace doe wee want comfort and strength and assistance and have wee a God the Fountaine of all to goe to Shall we have such a prerogative as this to have Jesus Christ to 〈◊〉 be our great peace-maker that we may go boldly to the Thron of grace through him and shall we not improve the same Wee may goe boldly to God and welcome because GOD is infinite and the more wee goe and beg the more he gives wee cannot exhaust that Fountaine oh let us improve this blessed prerogative then wee shall live the life of heaven upon earth especially when the Conscience is troubled with sinne as Christ was now with the displeasure of his Father then let us go to God plead with his Majesty and we may plead lawfully with him Lord thy Iustice is better satified in Christ than if thou shouldest send me to hell if thou wilt thou maist destroy me for conscience must come to a great resignation it cannot desire mercy but it must see its own misery Lord 〈◊〉 maist justly cast me to hell but it would not bee so much for thy glory thou art more glorious in satifying thy justice in Christ than if thou shouldest damne mee to hell Why Because Gods justice is better satisfied in Christ. Man sinned but God-man satisfied for sinne man would be like God in pride God becomes man in humilitie the expiation of God is greater than the sinne of man He prayed for his persecutors and gave his life for them doth not this proportion more the justice of God than the sinne of man The Law doth but require a nocent person a guilty person to suffer Christ was innocent The Law requires that man should suffer Christ was GOD therefore Christ hath done more than satisfied the Law the satisfaction of Christ is more than if we had suffered Wee are poore men creatures that was the satisfaction of God-man our sinnes are the sinnes of finite persons but he is infinite therefore the soule may plead Lord I am a wretched sinner but I should take
in his house so God takes his best contentment in his Church and people they are the most beloved of all mankinde 4. As in a house we use to lay up our jewels precious things so God layes up in his Church whatsoever is precious his prayses his graces yea whatsoever is good and of high esteeme that hee bestowes upon his Church and people For the further clearing of this wee must know that the Church and children of God are said to be his house either 1. As a family is said to be house or 2. As the fabrick or building is said to be the house First a man provides for his family and hee that neglects it is worse then an insidell so doth God provide for his Church the very Dragons and Ostriges the worst of the creatures al have some respect to their yong ones much more will God provide for his owne And as a man protects his house from all enemies so will God protect his Church and people and be a wall of fire and a defence round about them Now there is a mixture in the Church as in a house of good and bad vessels but the godly are especially Gods house as for hypocrites and false professors they are no more in the house then the excrements are in the body they are in the body but not of the body and therefore as Ishmael they must be cast out at length And as in every house or building there are some open places and some private closets c. So is it here God hath his private chamber and his retyring place which is the heart of every true Christian Hee counts it not sufficient to dwell in his house at large but hee will dwell in the best part of it the heart and the affections therefore he knocks at the doores of our hearts for entrance and his best children are glad he will reside in them they set him up in the highest place of their soules and set a Crowne upon him their desire is that God may governe and rule their whole conversation they have no Idoll above God in their hearts What a wonderfull mercy is this that wee are Gods house that hee will vouchsafe to dwell and take up his lodging in such desiled houses as our soules are It is no meane favour that God should single out us poore wretches to have his residence and abiding place in our soules considering there is so much â—ickednesse in the hearts of the best of us Oh what comfort ariseth to a christian soule from the due meditation of this point If wee are Gods house then God wil be our house Thou art our habitation saith Moses from generation to generation Howsoever we shuffle in the world as they did in the wildernesse now here and now there having no certaine place of abode but are here to day and gone to morrow yet in God wee have an house thou art our habitation he is ours and we are his And what a comfort is this that wee are Gods house Certainly God will provide for his owne house hee that layes this charge upon others and hath put that affection and care of provision into others for their families will he neglect his own hee that makes us love and puts that naturall affection into us of those that belong unto us hath hee not infinitely more in himselfe when as that which wee have is but a beame or ray from his infinite brightnesse This should then instruct us to labour that God may dwell largely and comfortably in us to deliver up all to this keeper of our house and suffer him to rule and raigne in us The Romish Church is become the habitation of Devils that which was Bethel is now become Bethaven Why because they would not suffer God to rule in his owne house but would have coadjutors with Christ as if he were not a sufficient head of the Church to govern it but he must have a Vicar the Pope who as if Christ were too weak will not suffer him to exercise his Kingly office unlesse hee may support help him thus they set up the abomination of desolation in the temple of God Oh beloved it much concerns us to cleanse and purifie our hearts that so wee may entertaine Christ and he may delight to abide and dwell with us you know how hainously hee tooke it when his house was made a den of theeves and will hee not take it much worse that our hearts should be made the very sinks and cages of all manner of uncleannes How should wee begge and cry to God that he would whip out these noysome lusts corruptions out of the temple of our hearts by any sharp correcction or terrour of conscience whatsoever rather then suffer them to reside there still to grieve his good Spirit Wee should take a holy State upon us as being temples of the holy Ghost and therefore too good to be desiled with sinne Our hearts should be as the Holy of Holies And therefore the Apostle exhorts us to abstaine from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit for this cause that God may dwell amongst us for What communion â—â—th light with darknes Are Gods people his house Then let the enemies of the Church take heed how they deale with them for God will have a speciall care of his owne house howsoever he may seem for a time to neglect his children yet remember this they are his house still and no ordinary house but a temple whereon on sacrifice is offered to him continually hee that destroyeth the temple of God him will God destroy Here a question would bee answered which some uncharitable spirits make and that is this Whether England bee the house of God or no I answer The whole Catholike militant Church is but one house of God though there bee divers branches of the same As there is but one maine Ocean of the Sea yet as it washeth upon the British coast it is called the Brittish Sea and as it washeth on the Germans the German Sea c. It hath divers names of the divers Countries which it passeth thorow neverthelesse there is still but one maine Sea So it is with the house of God God hath but one true Church in the whole world which spreads it selfe into divers Nations and Countries upon the face of the earth One branch wherof is among us at this day How prove you that Doth not Christ dwell amongst us by his Ordinances by his Spirit working effectually in the same If a house be not in perfect repaire is it not still a house I beseech you let us rather give God cause to delight to dwell still with us then call in question whether hee dwelleth amongst us or no. But to proceed Hence further wee see that the house of God after some time will need visiting and purging seeing it will soone gather soyle
in the day of tryall And wee should labour that our obedience bee free and cheerfull alwayes upon the wing as we say for that is Euangelicall obedience Gods people under the Gospell are a voluntary ready people zealoâ—s of good workes Oh beloved did we but consider what GOD hath done for us here and what hee meanes to doe for us in another world how would our hearts be inlarged in duty to his Majesty did wee but consider of his inestimable love in the Lord Christ pardoning such wretches as wee are and not onely so but accepting our service and us to life everlasting taking us from the lowest misery to the highest happinesse from the lowest hell to the highest heaven of traytors to be Sonnes of slaveâ— to bee heires of the Kingdome c Oh did wee but seriously consider and beleeve these things how would they warme our hearts and make us plyable and constant to every good worke and way The Apostle having tasted the sweet favour of GOD in Christ might well use it as a motive to quicken others I beseech you by the tender mercies of Christ c. He knew this was a powerfull argument and if that wrought not upon mens hearts nothing would Let our obedience therefore be cheerefull for now wee are not in the oldnesse of the letter we have not a Legall Covenant since Christs comming but wee serve God in the newnesse of the Spirit that is coÌ„sidering that the Spirit is given in more plenty since his ascention wee should bee more spirituall and heavenly in our service of God considering that our Head is already entred into that high and holy place and wee ere long shall bee present with him having but a spot of time to passe here below how ready and zealous should wee bee in obedience to Gods will and not suffer a heavy lumpishnesse and deadnesse of spirit to cease upon us in holy performances but I hasten to the second Amplification THE DIFFICVLTY OF SALVATION SERMON III. If the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the wicked and ungodly appeare BY righteous here is meant that Euangelicall righteousnesse which wee have in the state of the Gospell namely the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to us for Christ himselfe being ours his obedience and all that hee hath becomes ouâ—s also and whosoever partaketh of this righteousnesse which is by faith hath also a righteousnesse of sanctification accoÌ„panying the same wrought in his soule by the Spirit of God whereby his sâ—nfull nature is changed and made holy for if any man be in Christ hee is a new creature The same Spirit that assures us of our interest in Christ purifies and clenseth our hearts and worketh a new life in us opposite to our life in the first Adam from whence flowes new workes of holinesse and obedience throughout our whole conversation There must bee an inward inherent righteousnesse before there can bee any workes of righteousnesse an Instrument must bee set in tune before it will make musicke so the Spirit of God must first worke a holy frame and disposition of heart in us before we can bring forth any fruits of holinesse in our lives for we commend not the works of grace as we doe the workes of Art but referre them to the worker all that flowes from the Spirit of righteousnesse are workes of righteousnesse When the soule submits it selfe to the spirit and the body to the soule then things come off kindly Take a man that is righteous by the spirit of God hee is righteous in all relations he gives every one his due he gives God his due spirituall worship is set up in his heart above all hee gives Christ his due by affiance in him hee gives the holy Angels their due by considering hee is alwayes in their presence that their eye is upon him in every action he doth and every duty hee performes the poore have their due from him those that are in authority have their due if he be under any hee gives theÌ„ reverence and obedience c. He will owe nothing to any man but love hee is righteous in all his conversation he is a vessell prepared for every good worke I deny not but hee may erre in some particular that is nothing to the purpose I speake of a man as hee is in the disposition and bent of his heart to GOD and goodnesse and so there is a thread of a righteous course that runs along through his whole conversation the constant tenure of his life is righteous he hungers and thirsts after righteousnesse and labors to be more and more righteous still every way both in justification that he may have a clearer evidence of that as also in sanctification that he may have more of the new creature formed in him that so hee may serve God better and better all his dayes Now if this man shall scarcely bee saved where shall the sinner and ungodly appeare where you have two branches 1. The righteous shall scarcely be saved 2. The terrible end of sinners and ungodly Where shall they appeare c. Now in that the righteous man thus described by me shall scarcely be saved consider two things 1. That the righteous shall be saved 2. That they shall scarcely bee saved What doe I say the Righteous shall be saved he is saved already This day is salvation come to thine house Iaith Christ to Zacheus Wee are saved by faith and are now set in heavenly places together with him wee have a title interest to happinesse already there remaines onely a passage to the Crowne by good workes We doe not as the Papists doe worke to merit that wee have not but wee doe that wee doe in thankfulnesse for what we have because we know we are in the state of salvation therefore wee will shew our thankfulnesse to God in the course of our lives How can we misse of salvation when we are saved already Christ our Head being in heaven will draw his body after him What should hinder us the world Alas wee have that faith in us which overcometh the world as for the flesh you know what the Apostle saith Wee are not under the law but under grace the spirit in us alwayes lusteth against the flesh and subdues it by little and little neither can Sathan or the gates of hell prevaile against us for the grace we have is stronger then all enemies against us GOD the Father is our Father in Christ and his love and gifts are without repentance when once we are in the state of salvation Hee will preserve us by faith to salvation and wee are knit to God the Sonne who will lose none of his members the marriage with Christ is an everlasting union whom he loves he loves to the end As for God the Holy Ghost saith Christ I will send the Comforter and hee shall bee with you to the end The blessed Spirit
free us from the hands of Sathan and bring us to an eternall estate of communion with himselfe in heaven for all the old heaven and the old earth shall passe away and the old condition of creatures and a new life shall bee given them God that made the new heaven and the new earth hath made us for them Considering therefore that God gave us our first being and when we were worse thaÌ„ naught gave us a second being in regard of our new creation how should it stirre us up to coÌ„mit our soules unto him especially if we consider that in him wee live and move and have our being that there is not the least thought and affection to goodnesse in us but it comes from God wee are what wee are by his grace What is the reason that love descends so much Because a man lookes upon that which is his owne and loves it now God lookes upon us as upon those into whom hee hath infused mercy and goodnesse and hee loves his owne worke upon us and therefore having begun a good worke will perfect the same Doe not men delight to polish their owne worke As in the first creation God never tooke off his hand till hee had finished his worke so in the second creation of our soules he will never remove his hand from the blessed worke of grace till hee hath perfected the same therefore wee may well commit our soules to him But suppose a man be in a desperate estate and hath no way of escaping Remember that God is the same still he hath not forgot his old Art of creating but is as able to helpe now as ever and can create comforts for thee in thy greatest troubles As in the first creation hee made light out of darknesse order out of confusion so still hee is able out of thy confused and perplexed estate to create peace and comfort Thou knowest not what to doe perhaps thy minde is so troubled and disquieted why commit thy soule to God hee can raise an excellent frame out of the Chaos of thy thoughts therefore be not dismayed consider thou hast God in covenant with thee and hast to deale with an Almighty Creator who can send present helpe in time of need Doest thou want any grace doest thou want spirituall life goe to this Creator hee will put a new life into thee he that made all things of nothing can raise light out of thy darke minde and can make fleshy thy sâ—ony heart though it be as hard as a rocke Therefore never despaire but frequent the meanes of grace and still thinke of God under this relation of a Creator and when hee hath begun any good worke of grace in thee goe confidently to his Majesty and desire him to promote and increase the same in thy heart and life Lord I am thy poore creature thou hast in mercy begun a blessed worke in mee and where thou hast begun thou hast said thou wilt make an end When thou createdst the world thou didst not leave it till all was done and when thou createdst man thou madest an end Now I beseech thee perfect the new creature in my soule as thou hast begun to inlighten mine understanding and to direct my affections to the best things so I commit my soule unto thee for further guidance and direction to full happinesse THE SAINTS SAFETY IN EVILL TIMES SERMON V. 1 PET. 4. 19. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit their soules to him in well doing as to a faithfull Creator I Am now to treate of that other Attribute of GOD which should move us to trust in him namely as hee is a faithfull Creator Now God is faithfull 1. In his nature Hee is I AM alwayes like himselfe immutable and unchangeable 2. In his word Hee expresseth himselfe as he is the word that comes from God is an expression of the faithfulnesse of his nature 3. In his workes Thou art good and doest good as the Psalâ—ist saith God being faithfull in himselfe all must needs bee so that proceeds from him whatsoever Relation God takes upon him hee is faithfull therein As hee is a Creator so hee preserves and maintains his owne worke as hee is a Father hee is faithfull in discharging that duty to the full for his childrens good as bee is our friend hee likewise performes all the duties of that Relâ—â—ion c. And why doth God stoope so low to take these Relations upon him but onely to shew that hee will certainly accomplish the same to the utmost Whence is it that men are faithfull in their Relations one towards another that the father is faithfull to his childe is it not from God the chiefe Father That a friend should bee faithfull to his friend is it not from God the great friend All his wayes are mercy and truth they are not onely mercifull and good and gracious but Mercy and Truth it selfe If he shew himselfe to bee a father hee is a true father a true friend a true Creator and Protector as one saith Shall I cause others to feare and bee a Tyrant my selfe All other faithfulnesse is but a Beame of that which is in God Shall not hee bee most faithful that makes other things faithfull Now this faithfulnesse of God is here a ground of this duty of committing our selves to him and wee may well trust him whose word hath beene seven times tryed in the fire there is no drosse in it Every word of God is a sure word his truth is a Shield and Buckler wee may well trust in it therfore wheÌ„ you read of any singular promise in the New Testament it is said This is a faithfull saying c. that is this is such a speech as wee may trust to it is the speech of a faithfull Creator Considering therefore that God is so faithfull every way in his promises and in his deeds let us make especiall use of it Treasure up all the promises we can of the forgivenesse of sinnes of protection and preservation that hee will never leave us but be our God to death c. and then consider withall that hee is faithful in performing the same when we are affrighted by his Majesty and his justice and other Attributes then thinke of his mercy and truth He hath cloathed himselfe with faithfulnesse as the Psalmist saith In all the unfaithfulnesse of men whom thou trustest depend upon this that God is still the same and will not deceive thee When we have mans word wee have his sufficiency in minde for mens words are as themselves are What will not the word of a King doe If a man bee mighty and great his word is answerable This is the reason why wee should make so much of the word of God because it is the word of Ieâ—ovah a mighty Creatour who gives a being to all things and can onely bee Lord and Master of his word we know Gods meaning
feete carry me to such and such filthy places and abominable courses mine owne heart tels mee that I fight against thee my Creator with those very limbes and weapons which thou hast given me Beloved the conscience of this so stifles the voyce of a wilfull sinner that not withstanding he acknowledgeth himselfe to bee Gods creature yet hee cannot with any comfort plead for mercy at his hand in times of distresse But to a right godly man this is an argument of speciall use and consequence in the midst of troubles he may alleage this and it binds God to helpe him Wee see great ones when they raise any though perhaps there is little merit in them yet they call them their Creatures and this is a moving argument with such to polish their owne worke still and not to desert them Will it not be a prevailing argument with God then for a Christian to pleade with him Lord thou hast raised mee out of nothing yea out of a state worse than nothing I am thy poore Creature forsake not the work of thine owne hands We may see what a fearefull thing sinne is in Gods eye that the works of our hands should make God depart from the worke of his hands as hee will certainely doe at the day of judgement Depart you cursed c. though we bee his creatures yet because wee have not used those gifts and abilities which hee hath given us to serve his Majesty hee will not indure the sight of us in that day But that you may the better practise this duty of committing your soules to God take these directions First see that thou bee thy owne man it is an act of persons free to covenant our soules must bee ours before wee can commit them to God Naturally wee are all slaves to Sathan the Strong man hath possession of us and therefore our first care must bee to get out of his bondage to which purpose we should much eye the sweet promises and invitations of the Gospell alluring us to accept of mercy and deliverance from sinne and death as Come unto mee all you that are weary and heavy laden c. and so cast the guilt of our soules upon God to pardon first and then to sanctifie and cleanse that we may no more returne to folly but lead an unspotted life before him for the time to come It is therefore a silly course and dangerous which poore worldly wretches take who think Lord have mercy upon them will serve their turne and that God will certainly save their soules when as they were never yet in the state of grace or reconciliation with him nor never had any divorce made betweene them and their sinnes and consequently never any league betweene God and their soules to this day Beloved when once a man hath alienated his soule from God by sinne hee hath then no more command of it for the present it is quite out of his power Now when wee would commit our soules to God aright wee must first commit them to him to pardon the guilt of sinne in them when this is done God wil give us our soules againe and then they may truly bee said to bee our owne and not before It is the happinesse of a Christian that hee is not his owne but that whether hee live or die he is the Lords In the second place Wee must labour to finde our selves in Covenant with God that is to finde him making good his promises to us and our selves making good our promises to him For a man cannot commit himselfe to God unlesse hee finde a disposition in his heart to bee faithfull to him There is a passive fidelity and an active 1. Passive faithfulnesse is in the things that wee give trust unto as such a one is a sure trusty man therefore I will relye upon him 2. Active faithfulnesse in the soule is when we cast our selves upon a man that is trusty and depend upon him the more a man knowes another to be faithfull the more faithful hee will bee in trusting of him and thus wee must trust God if ever wee expect any good at his hands and our dependance on him bindes him to bee the more faithfull to us He is counted a wicked man indeed that will deceive the trust committed to him Trust begets sidelity it makes a good man the more faithfull when hee knowes hee is trusted Learne therefore to know thy selfe to be in covenant with God and to trust him with all thou hast traine up thy selfe in a continuall dependance upon him Hee that trusts God with his soule will trust him every day in every thing hee hath or doth hee knowes well that whatsoever he enjoyes is not his owne but Gods and this stirres him up to commit all his waies and doings to his protection esteeming nothing safe but what the Lord keeps He sees it is not in sinfull man to direct his owne steps and therefore resignes up his estate his calling his family whatsoever is neare and deare unto him to the blessed guidance and direction of the Almighty Oh thinkes he that I were in covenant with GOD that hee would owne mee for his and take the care of mee how happy should my condition then be He will likewise commit the Church and State wherein hee lives to God and strengthens his faith daily by observing Gods faithfull dealing with his people in every kinde How behovefull it is for Christians thus to inure themselves to bee acquainted with God by little and little first trusting him with smaller matters and then with greater how can a man trust God with his soule that distrusts him for the petty things of this life They that give to the poore are said to lend unto the Lord and if wee cast our bread upon the waters wee shall finde it againe Beloved hee that parts with any thing to relieve a poore Saint and will not trust God with his promise to recompence it againe but thinkes all is gone and hee shall never see it more c. exceedingly derogates from the truth and goodnesse of the Almighty who hath promised to returne with advantage whatsoever wee give that way Hee hath secret wayes of his owne to doe us good that wee know not of A man is never the poorer for that which hee discretly gives It is hard to beleeve this but it is much harder for a man to commit his soule to God when he dyes with assurance that he shall partake of mercy and bee saved at the last day Againe Take heed of these evill and cursed dispositions that hinder us from the performance of this duty as namely carnall wit and policy and carnall will and affection c. There is a great deale of selfe-denyall to be learned before wee can goe out of our selves and commit all to God ere we can cast our selves into his armes and lay our selves at his feet therefore take heed that wee be not ruled either by our owne