women of whom the Apostle speakes that were alwayes learning 2 Tim. 3.7 and never came to the knowledge of the truth Story relates of Augustus how in his solemne feasts hee gave gifts giving to some gold to others trifles So God in his banqueting house in the use of his ordinances with which hee feasts and feeds the soules of his servants giveth to some gold the saving graces of his Spirit which are more pretious then gold to others hee gives trifles common knowledge historicall faith c. and with this they rest content Fourthly how great is the number of profane carnall and ignorant people Are they not in respect of them that shew forth the power of godlinesse in their conversations as the Midianitish Armie to Gideons three hundred souldiers as the tares over-topping the wheat the people that truly feare God are to the rest but as Lot among the Sodomites Ier. 2.14 Mat. 7.13 one of a Citie two of a Tribe saith the Prophet Straight is the way narrow is the gate which leadeth unto life few saith Christ few comparatively are they that find it and among the great number of impenitent transgressours there is no one swearer drunkard adulterer idolater c. but his sinne becommeth the sinne of the kingdome congregation place family where hee lives hee being a member thereof Ios 7.12 as the sinne of Achan became the sin of the whole Army And thus it continueth unlesse wee humble our selves for it seeke the pardon stop the course and labour the removall thereof as the mariners removed Ionah Jona 1. that the stormy tempest might be appeased Fifthly what entertainment finde such as doe truely make conscience of their wayes and refuse to runne with others into the same excesse of ryot Do not the hearts of men rise against them their tongues reproach them their hands oppresse them Isa 59.15 Doth not hee that departeth from iniquity make himselfe a prey as the Sheep to the Lyon the Dove to the Raven Hath not our Saviour foretold us Luke 6.22 that for this their names shall bee cast out as abominable Sixthly what wearinesse of holy duties religious exercises as in the dayes of the Prophet they complained of the length of the Sabbaths Amos 8.5 How untoothsome to many persons is the doctrine of the Gospel it is become like the Manna to Israel Num. 11.5.7 a light bread they finde no relish in it Gods Ordinances are to many as Sauls armour unto David they cannot walke in them Seventhly what reformation have the punishments inflicted on us wrought Have we come forth of these as gold out of the fire Naaman out of Iordan Nay may not the Lord say of many of us as hee did of Israel Isa 1.5 They revolt more and more What effect have the punishments inflicted on other nations taken in us Have wee feared by the sight of their strokes Have wee learned to beware by their harmes Are we not still secure tread wee not the same path runne wee not our wonted race hath not the Lord lost his labour in regard of any reformation on the behalfe of the greatest number of people O let us thinke on these things lay them to our hearts be affected with them Ja. 4.9 10. turne our laughter into mourning humble our selves in the sight of the Lord Humble your selves and mourne inwardly in your soules by grieving as the Church did Lam. 1. Lament 1. Humble your selves outwardly by unfained confession of the sinnes of your owne soules and the sinnes of the Church Dan. 9. Kingdome Congregation Towne Family where you live Humble your selves publickly in the Congregation as Ezra did Ezra 10.1 Humble your selves privatly let your soules mourne in secret weep as Christ over Jerusalem Weep O Ministers over your congregations weep O Rulers over your people weepe O Masters of families over your wives sonnes daughters servants that the Lord may have mercie upon you pardon your barrennesse and for the time to come make you more fruitfull in all goodnesse This must cause us to strive under the Use 2 meanes and in the use of the meanes to bee fruitfull in all holinesse rich in all grace as the sea is full of waters and the starres in the firmament are full of light This the Lord who by his power created us by his hand supporteth us the Lord who hath all jurisdiction over us all interest in us before whose dreadfull and glorious tribunall every soule must shortly make his appearance requireth 2 Pet. 3.18 Grow saith the Lord by the Apostle in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ Grow in knowledge as Schollers in learning Tradesmen in skilfulnesse in the mysteries of their Trade grow in all grace as Willowes by the water courses Isa 44.4 as children by the milke suckt from their Nurses 1 Pet. 2.2 This is one speciall end of our Saviours incarnation passion resurrection to purifie us to himselfe Tit. 2.14 a peculiar people Zealous of good workes This is a prime and singular fruit of the Ministery the clouds are appointed for the watering and making of the earth fruitfull the builders for the perfecting of the house and the Ministers for the making of us rich in grace Eph. 4.11 13. and perfect to every good work This is the fervent prayer and ardent desire of Gods faithfull Ministers As the husbandman desires the field may be fruitfull and the nurse that the childe may grow So doth the spirituall husbandmen of Gods vineyard the nurses of Gods children pray that they may bee fruitfull in every good work Col. 1.10 This is the proper and gracious operation of the Word in the hearts of the Lords people Mat. 13. and therefore I beseech you give all diligence to make your calling and election sure and to abound in all goodnesse make the inward and the outward man like the tree bearing twelve sorts of fruit every moneth Rev. 22.2 be yee furnished with all sorts of spirituall fruits and that at all seasons Bee fruitfull in your Understandings enriched in all knowledge 1 Cor. 1.5 know the efficacie of the word of God discovering thy sinne Heb. 4.12 as a two edged sword dividing between the bone and marrow know the power of it awakening thy conscience Acts 2.37 as a Trumpet awakeneth the sleepy know the vertue of it healing the wounds of thy soule as a patient knowes the vertue of the medicine as Naaman knew by experience the vertue of the river Iordan washing him as hee that is cold knowes the heat of the fire warming him Know the Lord as a servant his master in regard of reverence and subjection as a friend in regard of communion as a father in regard of affiance and child-like affection Bee fruitfull in your Memories by treasuring up the testimonies of the Lord as gold silver pretious jewels in a rich store-house by carrying
Psa 63.3 above wine which maketh glad the heart above the increase of corne and wine the joy of the rich above life the choycest pearle and deerest treasure in natures closet If the dawning of the day bee so joyous how much more pleasant is the Sunne rising If the first fruits be so acceptable how much more abundantly joyfulâ— is the full vintage If the glimpse of Gods face bee so much desired how much more desireable is the fulnesse of Gods countenance reserved for us in the heavens which the Psalmist doth illustrate by a similitude taken from the chased Hart Psa 42.1 2. As the Hart the Hart chased heated affrighted and vexed by the hounds and hunters doth pant after the water brookes so doth my soule pant after thee O God my soule thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appeare before God before God in his holy Temple in the assembly of his Saints and servants in the use of his ordinances in the sense of his loving kindnesse and in the full fruition of his face in the highest heavens And this the Apostle expresseth by a Metaphor taken from the naked 2 Cor. 5.2 who have no garment to cover them no house to hide them as they with great diligence seeke and much earnestnesse long for a covering so doe the faithfull servants of God long for heaven their house and habitation and for the full fruition of Jesus Christ whose righteousnesse is their rich and royall robe their pure and spotlesse garment to cover them In this saith the Apostle wee groane â—arnestly desiring to bee clothed upon with our house which is from heaven As he that is in darkness longeth for the light so the soules of Gods children in the darknesse of this world doe long for Jesus Christ and heaven the Sunne of righteousnesse and that heavenly Citie which God hath provided for them Rev. 21.23 Where there is no need neither of the Sunne nor of the Moone to shine in it because the glory of God doth lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof As the Bride doth long for the comming of the Bridegroome so the spirituall Bride longeth for the comming of the heavenly Bridegroome Christ Jesus being sicke of love Cant. 5.6 8. and full of longings after him As the mother of Sisera looked out through the window and cried through the lattesse Iudg. 5.28 Why is his Chariot so long in comming why tarry the wheeles of his Chariots so doth the Spouse of Christ here in this life looke forth through the window of Gods ordinances and through the lattesse of her faith and cry How long Lord Jesus Rev. 6.10 how long Thou art my helpe and my deliverer make no tarrying O my God And the Apostle for the mitigating of their sorrowes asswaging of their troubles quieting of their consciences and the better staying of their soules perswades them to waite assures them of the speedy comming of Christ saying Psa 40.17 Cast not away your confidence which hath great recompence of reward for yee have need of patience that after yee have done the will of God yee might receive the promise For yet a little while and hee that shall come will come Heb. 10.35 36 37. and will not tarry And thus have Gods servants expressed their desires Phil. 1.23 I desire saith Saint Paul to be dissolved as a prisoner from his fetters as a captive from his bondage and to bee with Christ which is farre better And wee groane saith hee speaking in the name of all the faithfull to be cloathed upon 2 Cor. 5.4 8. that mortality might bee swallowed up of immortality And wee are willing to bee absent from the body and present with the Lord And this the Apostle commended in the Thessalonians 1 Thess 1.9 10. that they were turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Sonne from heaven as servants wait for the comming of their Lord and Master And this Saint Peter termes a looking for 2 Pet. 3.12 and hastening unto the comming of the day of God The reason whereof is In regard of their remaining sinne and Reason 1 corruption This is to them as a disease to the sicke as fetters to the prisoner as a burthen to the traveller as a mote to the eye as manacles to the hands as chaines to the feet as aches to the bones as the sons of Zervia unto David they were adversaries to him too strong for him 2 Sam 19.22 so are their corruptions adversaries to their soules to their peace to their communion with God to their present and everlasting welfare Somtimes they are too strong for them leading them captive Rom. 7.23 as a tyrant the souldier whom he hath taken in the battle 1 Pet. 2.11 2 Sam. 3.1 making continuall warre against them as the house of Saul did against the house of David being as prickes in their eyes and thornes in their sides Iudg. 2.2 as the Canaanites were to Israel as heavie burthens to their backes Psa 38.4 burthens too heavie for them to beare as dead members in their body Rom. 7.24 very cumbersome and occasions of great trouble And therefore as the noble man went unto Christ and besought him Ioh. 4.47 that he would come downe and heale his sonne because hee was at the poynt of death so doe the faithfull servants of God go to Christ and say Come Lord Iesus that there may bee a thorough healing of all their infirmities In regard of Satans subtile assiduous and violent temptations Ios 10. As the Amoritish Princes besieged Gibeon so doth the prince of darknesse besiege the soules of Gods people As Pharaoh imposed heavie burthens upon the children of Israel set cruell task-masters over them and when they were going forth of Egypt raised an army and pursued them so doth Satan lay heavie burthens upon great and grievous things to the charge of Gods people set many mercilesse and bloudy minded man against them and raiseth an armie of evill thoughts within to distract them and an army of afflictions without to molest them being as a roaring Lyon to Gods flocke 1 Pet. 5.8 as a man of warre to the Citie of their soules making their passage very stormy and tempestuous Luk. 11.21 and therefore as the woman of Canaan came to our Saviour and cryed to him Mat. 15.22 25. saying Have mercie on mee O Lord thou Sonne of David my daughter is grievously vexed with a Divell Lord helpe mee so doe Gods children addresse themselves to Christ and cry Have mercie upon us thou Sonne of David for our soules are sore vexed with the Divell Lord helpe us O come Lord Jesus and bring us a full and finall deliverance from all infernall adversaries In regard of the evill and offensive conversation of ungracious men their language their practice their profanenesse their troublesomnesse is to
foole but hee hath no heart to use it There is a transcendent fulnesse in Christ and hee is the choycest of all prices and is even put into the hands of men but many have no heart to make use of him and therefore hee doth not profit them What is the fulnesse of the Sunne to the blinde that doth not see by it the fulnesse of the fountaine to him that doth not drinke of it the fulnesse of the feast to him that doth not feed upon it and what is the fulnesse of Christ to him that makes no use of Christ What is a man the better for a locke if hee hath not a key to use it withall It is not a trade but a trade well followed it is not land but land well tilled that maintaines men that makes men rich It is not Christ but Christ well used that maintaines the soule that makes the soule rich a Eccles 5.18 19. Behold saith Solomon that which I have seene it is good and comely for one to eate and drinke and to enjoy the good of all his labour that hee taketh under the Sunne all the dayes of his life which God giveth him for it is his portion Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth and hath given him power to eate thereof and to take his portion and to rejoyce in his labour this is the gift of God Christ is a rarer portion then all wealth then all meat and drinke it is a rarer gift of God to make use of Christ and to enjoy the good of Christ all the dayes of his life this is the portion of a Christian of a gracious and sanctified soule indeed As therefore the healthy man makes use of his meat and is strengthened the sick man makes use of his physicke and is healed the Souldier maketh use of his weapon and overcommeth the Merchant maketh use of his trade and growes rich by it Thus let us make use of Christ that our soules may bee healed strengthened made victorious and spiritually enriched Some men live by their wits some by their lands and some by their trades the Christian lives by his Christ Of Christ therefore let us make use in our Understandings to fill us with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisedome to receive all our direction from him as the traveller maketh use of the Sunne to guide him Of him let us make use in our Meditations thinke upon him as the Bride in her thoughts maketh use of the Bride-groome let the thought of Christ bee frequent and pretious and the meditation of Christ b Ps 104.34 sweet unto us Of him let us make use by our Faith depending upon him as the house upon the rocke casting our selves our care and burthen upon him as the childe upon the parent hiding our selves under the shadow of his wings as the chicken under the wings of the hen resting upon him for a supply in all our wants for a deliverance in all distresses making him in stead of all in the absence of all helpers deriving and drawing more and more from his fulnesse as the thirsty draw waters out of the Well by the bucket and as the branches draw nourishment from the roots Of him let us make use by our Love loving him as the Father begetting the Ransomer redeeming the Physician healing the Husband marrying and Treasure enriching our soules Of him let us make use in our Ioy rejoycing in him as the wise men in the Starre with an c Mat. 2.10 exceeding great joy Of him let us make use in our peace and prosperity looking on him as the authour of all our happinesse as the Sunne that puts a fulnesse into all the lights of our comforts as the Sunne puts a fulnesse into the starres without Christ all is empty as a withered branch without the root all is bitter as the waters of Marah without the tree Of him let us make use in our hearing preaching prayer conference him let us heare him let us learne of him let us speake him let us set forth * Aridus est omnis animae cibus fi non oleo isto insunditur insipidus est si non hoc sale conditur si scribas non sapit mihi nisi legero ibi Iesum si disputes aut confâ—ras non sapit mihi nâ—si sonuerit ibi Jesus Bernard saith All the food of the soule is dry if it bee not put into this oyle it is unsavory if it bee not seasoned with this salt if thou writest it doth not relish with mee unlesse I read JESUS there if thou doest dispute or conferre it doth not relish wel with me unlesse JESUS found there if we make not use of Christ Jesus our use of Gods ordinance is fruitlesse Of Christ let us make use in our distresses as Noah made use of the Arke in the deluge to support us as the Gibeonites made use of Josua in the siege to helpe us to deliver us as Hagar made use of the Well when her bottle was empty to fill us O let not Christ bee to us as Iethers sword to him which hee drew not used not as wealth to many to whom God gives not power to eate as a cordiall to him that doth not receive it or a garment to him that doth not put it on but let us every way make use of Christ make use of his wisedome to guide us of his power to uphold us of his dominion to awe us of his majesty to humble us of his puritie to make us vile in our owne eyes to shame us for our uncleannesse to worke us to holinesse of his justice to drive us from sinne of his righteousnesse to cloath us and cover our sinnes of his mercie to pardon us of his love to comfort us of his presence to encourage us of his fulnesse to satisfie us of his Word to feed us of his Sacraments to confirme us of his death to mortifie our lusts of his resurrection to quicken our soules of his sufferings to suffer with patience of his intercession to settle us in the assurance of the pardon of our sinnes and establishment of the love of God on our soules of his commandements as of a spurre to quicken us in his service and as of a bridle to restraine us from what is forbidden of his promises as of a rocke to sustaine us as of a load-stone to draw us as of a light in darknesse to comfort us and as of a spring in the day of drought to refresh and fill us Excellent is the use of Christ Jesus to the soules of all true Christians it extirpates all cares dispelleth all feares evacuates the minde of distracting thoughts and disturbing passions sweetens all estates mitigates all sorrowes facilitateth all burdens and exhilerates the whole man Very great is the soules happinesse which makes a true full and constant use of Christ Jesus CHAP. X. Perswading to full and constant acquiescence in Christ AS there is all
in the flesh assumed personally so that Christ in our flesh is true God and true man and he that hath the Sonne of God hath the Father hee that enjoyes Christ enjoyes God because the Godhead dwels in the humane nature personally and by this we see that Doct. Christ dwelling in our flesh is true God Christ the Sonne of God dwelling in our flesh is truely and essentially God nothing is wanting to Christ that belongs to God that appertaines to the divinity whatsoever the father doth the Sonne doth in our flesh though not by the power of the flesh but by his Godhead dwelling in the flesh the names of nature and of imposition the titles of honour love office and labour which are given unto Christ the attributes of eternity of immutability immortallity omnipresence omnisciency and omnipotency ascribed unto Christ together with the miraculous and mighty workes wrought by Christ doe give an ample cleare and invincible testimony of Christs Godhead Applic. Let us therefore looke upon the Godhead of Christ in our flesh and admire his goodness in comming so neare unto us strive by faith and love to come to him and through him to God Christ reconciling God and man as Jacobs ladder joyned heaven and earth together God dispensing all to men by Christ accepting men through Christ as the Angels descended and ascended by the ladder in Jacobs vision Let us againe contemplate Christ as God dwelling in our flesh and feare him and obey him above all commanders exalt him above all men and Angels love him above all creatures stay upon him in all distresses consecrate our selves to his service celebrate him as the Author and worker of all our welfare and happinesse and quiet and content our selves in and with him as the fountain of all fulnesse VERSE 10. And yee are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power CHAP. XVI Ascribing perfection in Christ to such alone as are truely gracious IN the precedent verse is the fulnesse of Christ opened in this verse is the fulnesse of his members proposed Christ is very free full and gracious in his ministrations to his servants As there is a fulnesse in the Vine so there is a fulness in the Branches as there is a fulnesse in the Sea so there is a fulnesse in the Rivers as there is a fulnesse in Christ so there is a fulnesse in his Members they are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power Scope of the Apostle These words contain a third argument used by the Apostle to dehort and disswade men from having recourse to humane traditions philosophicall doctrines vaine and needlesse ceremonies from seeking perfection or fulnesse in such empty lamps broken cisternes and barren trees considering they have perfection nearer home and in themselves being in Christ members of Christ incorporate into Christ in whom is all fulnesse they need not looke else where for perfection for they are complete in him In the words wee have two things in the generall 1. The Saints perfection 2 Parts 1 Saints perfection 2. Christs exaltation and yee are complete in him 2. Christs exaltation which is the head of all principality and power First of the Saints perfection and ye are complete in him wherein we may take notice 1. Of the subject yee not all but yee Yee who are effectually called from the death of sinne to the life of grace Ioh. 11.44 as Christ called Lazarus from the death of the grave to the life of nature Yee that are savingly enlightned Ioh. 9 as the eies of him that was borne blind were opened Yee that are spiritually purged and cleansed from sin 2 King 5. as Naaman was washed from his Leprosie in Iordan Yee that have put off the old man Eph. 2.4 and put on the new Gen. 41.14 42. 2 Cor. 5.17 as Ioseph had his prison garments taken off and vestures of fine linnen put upon him and a golden chaine about his necke yee from whom all old things are put away and to whom all things are become new yee are complete in him Note Such alone as are truely holy and gracious are complete and perfect in Christ Iesus Such alone are living branches in this vine a spirituall Bride to this husband endowed with Gods image interested in Gods promise separated from worldly vanities and the power of uncleannesse clothed with Christs righteousnesse and filled with Christs fulnesse Use 1 Prophane and carnall people are farre from all spirituall perfection as the dead are farre from life the blinde farre from eye-sight and bondmen farre from freedome Unregenerate and ungracious persons have no saving knowledge of Christ Jesus no participation of his fulnesse no interest in his benefits no taste of the sweetnesse of his mercies Christ to them is a hidden Manna whom they taste not an eclipsed Sunne whom they see not a sealed Well of whom they drinke not like the Tree of Life to Adam expelled out of the garden of Eden Gen. 3. one to whom they come not of whose fruit they feed not Reigning prophanenesse deprives the soule of all the benefits and comforts of the Lord Jesus Such alone as are truly gracious are Use 2 filled with Christs fulnesse discern Christs excellencies and are refreshed with the sweetnesse of his mercies They alone that live to Christ enjoy Christ and are made perfect by Christ and have the promise of eternall life in and through Christ Dignus planè est morte qui tibi Christe recuset vivere qui tibi non sapit desipit qui curat esse nisi propter te pro nihilo est nihil est propter teipsum Deus fecisti omnia qui esse vult sibi non tibi nihil esse incipit inter omnia O Christ saith Bernard hee is plainly worthy of death who refuseth to live to thee and hee that is not wise for thee is foolish and hee that cares to bee unlesse for thee goes for nothing and is nothing O God saith hee thou hast made all things for thy selfe and hee that will bee for himselfe and not for thee beginnes in the midst of all things to bee nothing Without Christ mans greatest fulnesse is nothing else but emptinesse hee that seeks himselfe and not Christ loseth both himselfe and Christ hee that strives without Christ to be happy involves himselfe in the snare casts himselfe into the gulfe of the greatest misery To live to the Lord Jesus in true holinesse is the onely way to everlasting happinesse Hee that for Christ can make himselfe nothing shall in Christ finde the perfection of all things Labour then to bee of their number who are truly holy and gracious that you may bee complete and perfect in Christ Jesus Secondly here is the benefite complete full entire perfect complete in the imputation of Christs righteousnesse in the inchoation of all saving gifts and graces
detained by his father in law Iudg. 19.5 that hee lost his Concubine by the way shee came short home thus many of us are so feasted by the world so detained from day to day that wee lose our soules by the way wee come short of heaven and eternall happinesse at last It is marvellous to consider how in all matters of this life wee take the time make use of the opportunitie If the body bee diseased we goe presently to the Physician with the woman of Shunem wee saddle the horse 2 King 4. and ride in all haste if fire bee kindled in the house wee instantly runne for water to quench it if a citie be besieged like the men of Gibeon Ios 10.6 wee speedily send for strength to remove it if wee bee rob'd wee forthwith make hue and cry that the thiefe may be apprehended Husbandmen for the earth Mariners for the sea Merchants for the Mart and every Smith strikes while the iron is hot And is it not a shame that wee whose soules are so dangerously diseased an infernall fire burning within us an armie of unclean spirits laying siege against us many theeves robbing us of the best among all jewels yet wee move not stirre not strive not for deliverance Wee have the best seed to sow the richest voyage to make the chiefest merchandise to buy and yet wee regard not our day esteeme not the time of our visitation entertaine not the proffer which God of his free and abundant mercie doth make O beloved consider First how just it will bee with God not to heare us in our misery if wee refuse to heare him inviting us in the multitude of his mercie shall the master heare the servant requesting if the servant regard not the master requiring Remember the words of a dying man of a dying King a holy a wise King a man after Gods owne heart the words of King David to his sonne Solomon 1 Chron. 28.9 Thou my sonne Solomon know thou the God of thy father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts If thou seeke him hee will bee found of thee but if thou forsake him hee will cast thee off for ever Secondly doth not our refusall of mercie when it is offered cut off all hope of mercie for hereafter Doth not the rejecting of a proffered pardon turn the Kings favour into anger against the malefactor Did not this give Christ occasion to withdraw his mercie from Jerusalem O Jerusalem Mat. 23.37 38. Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered you together even as a Hen doth gather her Chickens under her wing and yee would not Behold your house is left unto you desolate Thirdly will not our continuance in sinne make our repentance if ever we doe repent so much the more grievous full of terrour vexation and anguish Where trees have growne long and the roots are deepe the earth is very much rent and torne before the tree is plucked up Doth not the traveller who hath walked long and farre out of his way goe backe with much sorrow sadness and griefe of heart Fourthly will God be well pleased that we shall spend all the flower and strength of our time in Satans service and when wee are old and can serve sin no longer come crowd and thrust our selves into his service Fifthly doe not wee hereby lose much spirituall riches blessed communion and acquaintance with God comfortable assurance of joy and glory in the heavens that comfort peace pleasure rejoycing contentment which infinitely surpasseth all the contentment in the world O therfore let us not any longer delay our conversion put off our repentance neglect the day of our visitation let us not be like Jerusalem strangers to the things belonging to our peace but let us thinke upon the Lords patheticall and manifold expostulations asking Pro. 1.22 How long yee simple ones will yee love simplicitie and scorners delight in their scorning and fooles hate knowledge Interrogating also with his people Ezek. 18.30 31. Repent and turne your selves from all your transgressions make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will yee dye O house of Israel Call to minde also and thinke seriously upon the Lords free and gracious invitations Ier. 3.22 bidding us by the Prophet Turne O back-sliding children and I will heale your back-slidings Zech. 1.3 And againe Turne yee unto mee Mat. 11.28 and I will turne to you And Come to mee all yee that be heavie loaden and I will refresh you Thinke on this and Remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth Eccles 12.1 Remember him as a Maker to depend upon him as a Father to love him as a Master to feare him as a King to obey him as a Friend to rejoyce in him as a Shield to defend you a Store-house to minister all fulnesse to you And as the Angell charged Lot Gen. 19.17 Escape for thy life looke not behinde thee neither stay in all the plaine escape to the mountaines lest thou bee consumed so let mee charge exhort intreat perswade every person that tenders his owne everlasting peace glory comfort to hasten out of the Sodome of sinne to escape from his uncleannesse not to looke back with love or liking upon any way which God hath forbidden lest his consuming wrath seize upon him but shine more and more like the Sunne unto the perfect day Goe forward like a good traveller bee filled with all goodnesse as the sea with waters and you shall have a resting place in Sion drinke of the rivers which shall fill your soules with the choycest pleasures and bee more glorious then the Sunne for ever in the heavens FINIS THE LORD JESUS THE SOULES LAST REFUGE By Alexander Grosse B. of Divinity at the funerall of Mr. S. H. PSAL. 73.26 My flesh and my heart faileth me but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever PSAL. 141.8 Mine eyes are unto thee O GOD the LORD in thee is my trust leave not my soule destitute PSAL. 142.4 5. I looked on my right hand and beheld but there was no man that would know mee refuge failed me no man cared for my soule I cryed unto the LORD I said Thou art my Refuge and my Portion in the land of the living LONDON Printed by R. Young for John Bartlet at the gilt Cup in Pauls Church-yard 1640. THE LORD JESUS the Soules last Refuge REV. 22.20 Come Lord Jesus THE comming of the Sunne is joyous to him that hath been long in darknesse the comming of the Dove with an Olive branch was comfortable to Noah after he had been tossed divers dayes upon the deluge the re-appearing of the Starre to the Wise men made them exceeding joyfull And such is the comming of the Lord Jesus to the
fire from heaven was to the Captaines which came up against Eliah what the burning fornace was to them that cast in Shadrach Meshec and Abednego the same will be the coming of the L. Jesus to all unholy persons O therfore away with your sins every soul of man reform his wayes Job 11.14 That you may lift up your faces with boldnes that you may with great joy and comfort say Come Lord Iesus Thirdly get it to your hearts the pretious pearle of a lively faith Eph. 6.16 this wil quench all Satans darts silence all the accusâ—tions of conscience make you looke on Christ as on a friend to comfort you Rom. 8.31 an advocate to plead for you and a redeemer to save you and like Eliahs fiery chariot will carry your soules aloft and bring you with gladnesse into the presence of the Lord Jesus Fourthly make a good use of your talent be wise be diligent be faithfull holy humble in the imployment of it and Christ shall come with comfort and he shall entertain you with a sweet and comfortable Euge. Well done thou good and faithfull servant Mat. 25.23 thou hast been faithfull over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into thy masters joy And let us be excited stirred up to work our hearts to this longing for Christs comming considering First the satiety of our estate in heaven Rev. 22.2 there is a Tree bearing twelve sorts of fruit youth without old age health without sicknesse fulness without loathing liberty without bondage beauty without deformitie impassibility without griefe abundance without want peace without trouble security without feare knowledge without ignorance glory without ignominy joy without sorrow Secondly the security of that estate no enemy can reach us it is a Citie never besiegâ—d a haven never disquieted there is no death neither of sin nor of misery Rev. 21.4 Nec culpae nec miseriae nec naturae nor of nature Thirdly the jucundity of it a day without clouds a paradise without thornes fulness of joy true joy without deceit sincere joy free from the mixture of sorrow Psa 16. constant joy a Sun that never sets of which we may say as Augustine doth * O gaudium supergaudium vincens omne gaudium extra quod non est gaudium quando intrabo in te ut videam Deum meum qui habitat in te O joy above joy overcoming all joy without which there is no joy when shall I enter into thee that I may see my God who dwelleth in thee Here is joy above us in the vision of God joy within us in the glorification of our souls and bodies joy about us in our communion with Saints and Angels joy beneath us in our evasion and escapall of hell and everlasting darknesse Here is to the souls of all beleevers Gaudium de Christo joy concerning Christ as the authour of our welfare in Christo in Christ as he is the head and wee the members cum Christo with Christ as coheires with him of the same inheritance post Christum after Christ every soule joying according to proportion per Christum by Christ being reconciled to God by him and beholding God with joy through him propter Christum for Christ he being exalted above all creatures and having purchased all things O let these things sweeten the thought of Christ Jesus to us inflame our soules with longing after him make us all say Come Lord Iesus Thus from the Motion passe wee to the Mover Lord Jesus Two titles of the blessed Sonne of God the one a title of authoritie to command us the other of mercie to comfort us Love and Justice are sweetly knit together in Christ Jesus Note as Lord hee requireth obedience to his precepts as Jesus he calleth for faith in his promises Faith and obedience must never be divided in Gods servants hee that calls him Lord without obedience dishonours him hee that calls him Iesus without faith receives no benefit by him Hee is stiled first Lord and then Jesus Note If Christ bee not our Lord and Master first hee will never bee our Saviour at last He that will not have Christ to be his Lord in his life shall not have him for his Iesus at the houre of his death O therefore serve him honour him obey him as your Lord beleeve him love him rejoyce in him as your Jesus now that you may bee able upon all occasions to say Come Lord Iesus Come Lord Jesus as a Counsellour to guide us as a Rock to support us as a Friend to comfort us as a Fountaine to supply us Come Lord Jesus in the day of fulnesse and make us thankfull in the day of want and make us contented in the day of our sinne and make us penitent in the day of affliction and make us patient in the day of temptation and make us confident in the day of sorrow and make us joyfull in the day of health and make us mindfull of the day of sicknesse in the day of life and make us watchfull against the day of death in the day of sicknesse and assure us of the blessed issue of our earthly pilgrimage in the day of death and translate our soules into a glorious life Even so come LORD JESUS And now touching this spectacle of mortalitie here before us what shall I say unto you wherein shall I from hence instruct you but onely in two things in the genenerall First by way of premonition Secondly by way of commemoration By way of premonition and so you may in this object of death be admonished First of the transitorinesse of mans pilgrimage his life is a vapour soon vanishing a race soone runne Heâ— 13.14 a candle quickly gone out having no continuing Citie here but must seeke one that is to come Secondly of the vanitie of all earthly abundance it is a starting Bow in the day of battle a rotten Anchor in the stormie tempest Wee see that of Solomon ver fied by daily experience Pro. 11.4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death the righteousnesse of Christ imputed the righteousnesse of conversation well ordered giveth comfort deliverance from the second death when soule body are dissolved Thirdly whatsoever extravagancies or aberrations we see in others let us not thereby take occasion to insult over them to passe any rash or finâ—ll sentence upon them this is the worst use of other mens offences this is to thrust God out of his office Rom. 14.4 For every man stands or falls to his owne master but what wee see amisse in others let us correct in our selves by the sight of their spots let us wash our owne garments bee thankfull to God who doth preserve us for no man standeth by his owne strength Let us be watchfull over our selves and desire God to keepe us lest Satan and our owne corruption draw us
into the same or greater evills The sinne of one man would be the sinne of every man did not God restraine him Secondly by way of commemoration I may tell you First how hee professed much sorrow for his sinnes Mans sin doth ever prove mans sorrow it is the shame of man to commit sin it is the honour of man to confesse and forsake his sin though sorrow constrained and carnall be alwaies unacceptable yet true and godly sorrow is ever availeable to salvation He that sowes in tears shall reap in joy Psa 126.5 Secondly he promised reformation greater strictnesse of life if God were pleased to lengthen his dayes though the vowes of mâ—ns adversitie be often forgotten in the dayes of mans prosperitie yet resolutions truly gracious are with God as the very performance Thirdly he spake of a great change which God of late had wrought in him Hee that is not changed by the gracious hand of God in this life is never received by the merciful hand of God in the next life the procrastinâ—tion of repentance is ever very perillous yet God is free in the dispensations of his mercies not limited to times and seasons Fourthly the rehearsal of Gods mercies upon condition of true repentance seemed much to affect him As hee is cursed that turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse so hee is blessed who by Gods mercies is lead to true repentance And let all this admonish us to labour for timely and true repentance to vow amendment and performe it to feele our hearts truly changed Gods mercies powerfully drawing our soules to obedience by fervent prayer increasing our communion with God enriching our soules more and more with all heavenly gifts and graces that wee may at last with great comfort and much assurance say Come Lord Jesus FINIS SAINT PAULS LEGACIE 2 COR. 13.11 Finally brethren farewell Be perfect be of good comfort bee of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you EVery communion amongst men on earth hath his dissolution be it never so entire never so sinne never so delightfull yet at length there comes a separation the sweetest fellowship the societie which is most intimate hath the cords and chains thereof at length dissolved Communion with God is everlasting communion with man is transitory and temporall The Arke was transportative removing from place to place till it came to Solomons Temple such is mans condition subject to continuall change and motion till he comes to heaven where Gods people shall have an endlesse and unchangeable communion The fellowship betweene Abimelech and the men of Shechem was very strong and intimate they were a Iudg. 9.23 bone of bone and flesh of flesh yet at length there came an evill Spirit between them and they were divided Great is the enmitie of Sathan against mens sweet and comfortable communion Abraham and Lot sweetly conversed and dwelt for divers dayes together yet at length they parted b Gen. 13.6 their substance was so great that they could not dwell together Much sweet communion commerce between Gods people is often hindered by the fulnesse of the world Singular was the friendship pleasant was the fellowship between Jonathan and David their love was c 2 Sam. 1.26 wonderfull passing the love of women yet by an arrow in the battell Jonathan fell and their sweet commerce was ended Death dissolveth all humane fellowship Eliah and Elisha enjoyed many dayes most blessed and gracious communion together yet at length it came to passe that as they d 2 King 2.11 went and talked there appeared a Chariot of fire and Horses of fire and parted them both asuâ—der God doth often remove the dearest friends and comforters of his servants to learne them to depend alone upon Christ Jesus God doth sometimes take away the Guides and Teachers of his people to let them see that the choycest instruments of mans happinesse are not of everlasting continuance Saint Paul had been for divers dayes a preacher to the men of Corinth preaching to them many powerfull and heavenly sermon delivering to them many found and wholsome Doctrine writing also a first and second Epistle yet his ministery was not for perpetuity nor his presence of everlasting continuance a time of separation came and his labours drew to an end and in these words hee takes hiâ— last leave and farewell of them â—â—nally brethren farewell Bee perfect bee of good comfort bee of one minde live iâ— peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you The Apostle Saint Paul had in this whole Epistle sharply rebuked the Corinthians for opposing his doctrine for slighting and despising his admonition and now that they might not thinke he either spake or wrote out of hatred or distemper of spirit many arguments and evidences of his great and singular love are intermixed chiefly in this his conclusion mitigating all the severitie and bitternesse which hee seemed to use towards them concluding and shutting up all in a holy sweet and gracious exoptation or wish of all perfection consolation peace concord and communion with God unto them Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect c. The Lord who giveth e Ephes 4.10 some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ The Lord who f Jerem. 3.15 gives his people Pastors according to his owne heart to feed them with knowledge and understanding hath in the course of his gracious providence made me for more than fifteene yeares an under-overseer of your soules wherein as his weake and fraile feeble and unworthy instrument I have been the Lords and your servant endevouring though neither with such diligence and industry as I should nor with that blessed and plentifull successe which I desire and wish to open Gods counsell to propose and set forth Christ before your eyes to make him glorious in your apprehension to humble your soules to convert your hearts to draw you by faith and love to Christ the complete and onely Authour of your everlasting welfare And now as Saint Paul said sometimes to the men of Ephesus g Acts 20.25 Behold I know that yee all among whom I have here stood preaching the kingdome of God shall after this day in all likelihood behold my face in this place no more being now to you as a dying man whose last breath is going forth as a starre setting and rising no more in this horizon as a lampe going out and shining no more in this your house of sacred meeting As a man dying and loth to dye I shall in the ardencie of my love and great anguish of my spirit in the words wish of S. Paul take my last leave and valediction Finally brethren farewell Be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live iâ— peace and the God of love and peace be with you In
which words wee may take notice 1. Of a particle of conclusion Finally 2. Of a title of compellation Brethren 3. Of a terme of valediction and farewell Farewell 4. of a vote Of exoptation or wishing Be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you Wherein Saint Paul like a Testator or Parent that makes his last Will Testament bequeatheth these five gifts as five Legacies to the Corinthians his children in Christ which are like the h Gen. 45.22 five changes of rayment which Joseph gave to Benjamin for the spirituall warmth and ornament which they minister to the soules of Gods children like the i Judg. 18.7 five men which brought good tidings to their brethren incouraging them to arise and enter into the land for the comfortable newes which they bring to the soules of men encouraging them to enter into Gods service to set their feet into the wayes of peace and holinesse like the k 1 Sam. 21.3 five loaves of bread which David asked of the Priest for the nourishment refection and strength which they minister to the soules of Gods servants and these I shall being now as a dying man to you bequeath unto you as a Legacie of choycest worth to adorne you of greatest strength to support you of best nourishment to feed you of sweetest peace to solace you Finally brethren farewell Be perfect c. The branches growing on this tree are many the streames issuing from this fountain are divers and having but one day to gather the fruit here growing to draw the waters hence arising I shall but briefly touch give you a taste of each of them and first of the particle of conclusion Finally lastly Denique quod superest or as touching that which remaineth that is after that I have done mine office and have instructed you by the word threatned you by the judgements and intreated you by the mercies of God and have used all meanes to move you to repentance and to draw you to Christ Finally or what remaineth more to be done now but that you doe your duty that you beleeve repent reforme bee perfect and draw home to Christ with all your soule and might This is that which now remaineth which is now on your behalfe expected And hence you see Doct. That the Ministers long and frequent preaching must be attended with much perfection in the people After the Ministers long and frequent instruction faith repentance and true conversion must shew it selfe forth in the people When the Minister hath done his dutie towards men men must doe their dutie towards God The l Exod. 17.6 rocke gushed out water after Moses striking it After the Priests seven times compassing the walles of Jericho and m Jos 6.20 blowing of their Rammes horns the walles fell unto the ground After the Prophets n 2 Kings 4.34 spreading himselfe upon the woman of Shunems child the flesh of the child waxed warme hee neesed and opened his eyes After the Ministers often smiting our hearts with the hammer of the word often sounding of the trumpet of the Gospel in our eares and right dividing and applying of the word unto our hearts our stony hearts should be softned and send forth the waters of godly sorrow the strong and mighty holds of sinne should bee cast downe our soules enlivened the eyes of our understandings most clearly and savingly opened After the shining of the Sunne the aire is inlightned after the distilling of the dew and plentifull influence of the heavens the earth fructifieth after the long shining of the light of the Gospel and frequent distilling and dropping down of the dew of heavenly doctrine mens understandings should bee filled with knowledge as the aire with light and their lives replenished with all spirituall and heavenly fruit This the Lord expecteth o Isa 5.4 What could have been done more to my vineyard saith the Lord that I have not done in it in regard of the externall meanes wherefore I looked that it should bring forth grapes that like a vineyard long and well dressed it should bring forth good grapes of knowledge faith repentance and the like this is the property of Gods children as good p Mat. 13.24 ground receiving good seed they bring forth much fruit as living and healthy children sucking their mothers breasts they q 1 Pet. 2.2 grow by the sincere milke of the word of God This fruit hath followed the labours of Gods Ministers Saint Peter r Acts 2.44 testiâ—â—â— and exhorted and his word was glad 〈…〉 and about three thousand soules were 〈◊〉 to the Church Saint Paul preached and as Å¿ Acts 13.48 many as were ordained unto life beleeved The Apostle preached at Ephesus t Acts 19.20 many beleeved came and confessed and shewed forth their deeds so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed u Exod. 17.11 Iosua fought Moses prayed and Israel prevailed over Amalek When the Minister preacheth and prayeth Gods Israel must prevaile over Satan and their corruption Peter w Ioh. 21.11 casteth the net the second time into the sea and a multitude of fishes are taken in it At the Ministers first and second frequent and often preaching many soules should by the net of the Gospel bee drawne out of the gulfe and sea of sinne and the world And that In regard of the end of the Ministers Reason 1 long and frequent preaching The x Psa 104.22 23. Sunne ariseth sayth the Psalmist the wilde beasts gather themselves together and lay them downe in their dennes man goeth forth to his worke and to his labour untill the evening The Gospel like the Sunne ariseth and all the lusts of men which like so many wilde beasts walke forth and make their prey upon the soules of men in the right of their ignorance must now lye themselves downe by humiliation mortification and true repentance and man must arise from the bed of sinne and goe forth out of himselfe as out of his house to his worke and to his labour y Phil. 2.12 working out his salvation with feare and trembling never z 1 Thess 1.3 ceasing from the worke of faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ untill the evening untill the sunne of his life be wholly gone down and set This the Apostle presseth from the end of the appearing of the Gospel a Rom. 13.11 The night is farre spent the time and state of ignorance and blindnesse is farre gone and the light is neere at hand the day of the Gospel breaketh forth and the light of illumination doth appeare Let us therefore cast off the workes of darknesse as men cast off their bed-clothes in the morning and let us put on the armour of light as men put on their day clothes and so let us walke and b Tit. 2.11 the grace of God saith
Saint Paul to Titus hath appeared teaching men to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously c Acts 26.16 and goâ—â—â—â— in this present evill world And 〈…〉 Christ to Paul have appeared 〈…〉 â—â—is purpose to make thee a Miâ—â—ster 〈◊〉 witnesse both of these things which thou hast seene and of those things in the which I will appeare unto thee delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee to open their eyes and to turne them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God In regard of Gods expectation The husband-man after the long manuring of the field lookes for fruit from the field Who is the d Mat. 21. housholder in the parable that planted a vineyard but the Lord What is the vineyard but the Church and what are the vines but the several meÌ„bers of the Church Who are the servants but the Ministers whom God sends to dresse his vineyard what is the fruit which God there expects but knowledge faith repentance the fruit of his Ministers labours in the soules of his servants The shepheard lookes for increase from the flocke which he watcheth feedeth conducteth and defendeth the husband lookes for children from the wife whom he espouseth the fruit of his wedlocke and God the husband and shepheard of our soules lookes for fruit from us over whom by his Ministers hee watcheth whom by their labours he feedeth conducteth and defendeth and espouseth to himselfe The Teacher expecteth learning from his scholer and herein saith Christ is my Father glorified e Joh. 15.8 that ye beare much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples In regard of honouring and glorifying the Word and Ministers thereof The fruitfulnesse of the field is the glory of the seed sowne in it and of the husband-man which sowed it f Psa 128.3 the wife which is as the vine by the sides of the house and the children standing like Olive plants round about the Table are the glory of the house and husband g Psal 127.5 happy is he that hath his quiver full of them sayth the Psalmist he shall not be ashamed The fruitfulnesse of the people when the Congregation is full of spirituall fruit like a vine growing by the house side and the severall members thereof fat and flourishing in grace like Olive plants then the Word is glorified then the Minister is honoured happy is that Messenger of God that hath his quiver the house of his Ministery full of them It is sayd of the Gentiles h Acts 13.48 that they heard and glorified the Word of God and as many as were ordained unto life beleeved They glorified the word of God by acknowledging the truth of it by beleeving the promises of salvation proposed in it by submitting themselves to the power and authoritie of it by walking answerably to it Mans obedience is the glory of Gods ordinance the fruitfulnesse of the hearers is the crowne of Gods Messengers In regard of peace and consolation to their owne soules The good effects of Physicke make the patient joyfull the fructification of the word in the heart of man makes the soule of man comfortable When the Gospel commeth not in i 1 Thess 1.5 word onely but in power also in power in lightning in power converting and changing the heart of man working and perfecting grace in the inward man then the soule of man is filled with joy in the holy Ghost then the Word is the joy and rejoycing of the heart then the k Isai 5.7.19 fruit of the lippe is peace spirituall inward universall plentifull and perpetuall peace peace with God peace with man peace with the conscience a paradise of heavenly comforts a river of peace which no humane understanding can fathome And therefore it must bee the care of men to see that they grow to much spirituall perfection after the Ministers long and frequent preaching This therefore reproveth such as after the long and frequent preaching of the Gospel continue barren and unfruitfull Use like the grounds about l 2 King 2.19 Iericho which were not made fertile but rather barren by the waters which did flow upon them to whom the waters drawne out of the wells of salvation are as waters powred upon the rocke which bringeth forth no fruit from whom the sounding of the trumpet of the Gospel and the constant cry of Gods watchmen like the m 1 King 18 26. call and cry of Baals worshippers from the morning to the evening upon Baal hath no voyce nor answer of faith in Gods promises of obedience to Gods precepts nor of godly sorrow for mens transgressions ministring matter of complaint to God provoking the site of Gods indignation against their soules I n Isa 64.2 have spred out my hands all the day long saith the Lord unto a rebellious people which walketh in a way that is not good after their owne thoughts a people that provoketh me to anger continually 〈…〉 face ministring cause of great complaint to Gods Messengers causing them to say with the Prophet Esay o Isa 53.1 Who hath beleeved our report and to whom hath the arme of the Lord been revealed to mourne wish with Jeremy O p Jer. 9.1 that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people O that I had in the wildernesse a lodging of way-faring men that I might leave my people and goe from them for they are all adulterers an assembly of treacherous men Great is the griefe arising in the soules of Gods Ministers when men continue barren under their labours And when men thrive not ascend not to perfection in grace by the care industry of Gods watch-men they lose that q Pro. 2.10 knowledge the presence whereof is more pleasant then the sun that r 1 Pet. 1.6 faith the enioyment whereof is more pretious then all gold that peace which is more comfortable and delightfull then any paradise then the garden of Eden it self and that communion with God in coÌ„parison wherof the sweetest communion with men is but an exilement continuing their soules under the dominion of sin which is more loathsome full of torment then any sicknes under that bondage of Satan which is infinitely worse then captivity under any mortall tyrant provoking God at length to leave them and making their last account for all the Sermons which they have heard most dreadfull and most uncomfortable Therefore let it bee our care after the long and frequent preaching of the Gospel after the due and faithfull discharge of the Ministers dutie towards us to discharge our dutie also towards God the Lord hath caused the Starre of his Gospel a long time to shine amongst you and hath made the dew of his doctrine to drop for divers years upon you he hath shewed you his statutes and
his testimonies he hath not dealt so with every people he hath not shewed such mercy to every congregation therefore as the tree which hath much soile cast about him brings forth much fruit as the servant which had five talents brought much advantage to his Lord and Master so strive yee to bring a measure of glory to God answerable to the measure of the meanes hee hath affoorded you the Lord hath sowne much and lookes to reap much the harvest must answer the seed bee therefore filled with all heavenly graces as the sea with waters be strong in faith as the tree growes deepe in the rootes bee fervent in love as a fire of much wood abound in all the fruits of the Spirit like the tree which bare Å¿ Rev. 22.2 twelve sorts of fruit The more you abound in grace under the Gospel the longer the Gospel shall be continued the more sweetnesse shall your soules taste in it the neerer shall you draw to God by it the more effectually shall the pardon of your sinne bee sealed up through it and the more comfortable account shall you render to God at last for all the labours of his Ministers whereof God hath made you partakers the more comfortably shall I againe behold your faces at our last generall appearance the more blessed account shall I make to Christ my great Lord and Master of this my Ministeriall service and shall the more joyfully for the present in the words of the Apostle here this day take my last leave of you and say Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect bee of good comfort bee of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you Finally brethren Brethren is a title of compellation the second branch of this tree There are brethren by nature brethren by condition and brethren by profession and participation of one Christ the last of these are the brethren here mentioned whom the Apostle here stileth brethren in respect of Originall having one God for their Father with him in respect of Relation being knit to Christ by one bond of saving faith and one golden chaine of unfained love among themselves with Saint Paul the Apostle and in respect of true and fervent Love the Apostle loving them as his brethren and this the Apostle chiefly intendeth here it being his purpose now to manifest his love unto them And hence we learne That there is in all Gods faithfull Ministers Doct. a very fervent and unfained love to their Hearers A brotherly love a love like that of Jonathan to David t 2 Sam. 1.26 a love surpassing the love of women being deare unto them as the apple of their eye as the signet upon their finger or the Bride unto the Bride-groome therefore are the Ministers stiled Husbandmen Shepheards Watch-men Parents Nurses as the Husband-man loves the vineyard which hee hath planted the Shepheard the flocke which hee keepeth the Watch-man the Citie which hee watcheth the Father the children which he begetteth or the Nurse the child to which shee draweth forth her breast and feedeth so Gods Ministers love their hearers the vineyard which they plant the flock which they keepe the Citie over which they watch the children which they ministerially beget and nurse for thus the people are stiled by names expressing the Ministers high prizing of them great delight in them and singular love unto them as u Isa 8.18 children w 1 Thes 2.19 20. hope joy crown of rejoycing glory and joy the Apostle putting on the indulgent affection of a father and in the strength and passion of his love so stiles them and speakes thus unto them What is our hope or joy or crowne of rejoycing Are not even yee in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his comming for yee are our glory and joy And Saint Paul speaking of his love to the Corinthians calleth it a x 2 Cor. 7.4 more aboundant love that is a high a strong a transcendent love such love that hee saith his y 2 Cor. 6.11 mouth was open to them and his heart was enlarged His whole man was open to them as a Bridegroomes house is opened to the Bride to entertaine them to love them to rejoyce in them to communicate himselfe to the utmost unto them as the open Sunne sendeth forth his light and the open cloud doth power out his raine nay they were in z 2 Cor. 7.3 his heart to live and dye with them And who can doubt of the love of Gods faithfull Ministers towards their hearers that shall but looke Upon their labours to save the soules of Reas 1 their hearers They are a 2 Tim. 4.2 instant in season and out of season taking all opportunities they sow in the morning and with-hold not their hand in the evening they have no rest they hold not their b Isa 62.11 peace day nor night as Naomi said of Boaz The man will not bee c Ruth 3. ult at rest untill hee hath finished the thing this day so such is the love of Gods Ministers that they are at no rest untill they have finished the worke of grace in their hearers consummated the marriage between them and Christ Upon their sorrowes sadnesse sighes Reas 2 and teares to behold the peoples barrennesse under their labours obstinacie against their perswasions and the danger where into they thrust their soules no father is more grieved to see the lewdnesse of his child d Jer. 13.17 Jeremies soule weepes in secret for his people Isaiahs bowels sound like a e Isai 16.11 harpe for Moab Paul had f Rom. 9.2 continuall sorrow for the Iewes he was pained as a g Gal. 4.19 woman in travel for the Galatians and out h 2 Cor. 2.4 of much affliction and anguish of heart he wrote with many teares to the Corinthians that they might know the love which he had more abundantly unto them You may in the teares and sorrowes of Gods Ministers for the peoples disobedience read their love as in lively characters the greatnesse of the Ministers griefe for the peoples misery argues the strength of their desire to make them happy Reas 3 Upon their sufferings for their hearers they suffer reproach in their names being made a i 2 Cor. 4.9 spectacle to Men and Angels they suffer losse of goods losse of peace losse of libertie and losse of life that they may be k Acts 20.24 faithful in their calling finish the course of their Ministery and save the soules committed to them The sufferings of faithfull Ministers are a clear and lively evidence of their love to their hearers Gods Ministers doe often sustaine great temporall losses for other mens everlasting gaine and advantage And whereunto should this love of Gods Ministers move and work our hearts Use but to frequent and diligent attendance on their labours as wee cheerfully hearken to their voyce who love us as children come cheerfully to the banquet