holy Apostle hath expressions sutable a full heart breeds full expressions As no man went beyond S. Paul in the deepe conceit of his owne unworthinesse and of his state by nature so there was no man reached higher in large and rich thoughts and expressions of the excellencie of Christ and the good things we have by him as we see here setting forth the excellencie of the Ministeriall Calling being to deale with Gods Truth towards Gods people he sets forth Evangelicall Truth gloriously here Without controversie great is the Mysterie of Godâ—linesse God manifest in the flesh c. In these words then there is a Preface and then a particular explication there is the Fountaine or Spring and the streames issuing from it the Root and the Branches there is as it were a Porch to this great House Great Buildings have faire entrances so this glorious description of the Mysteries of the Gospel it hath a faire Porch and entry to it Without controversie great is the Mysterie of Godlinesse Then the Fabrick it selfe is parcelled out in six particulars God manifest in the flesh Iustified in the Spirit Seene of Angels Preached unto the Gentiles Beleeved on in the World Received up to Glorie First for the Preface whereby he makes way to rayse up the spirit of Timothie and in him us unto a reverent and holy attending to the blessed Mysteries that follow Without controversie great is the Mysterie of Godlinesse In this Preface there is first the thing it selfe Godlinesse Then the description of it it is a Mysterie And the adjunct it is a great Mysterie And then the seale of it it is a great Mysterie without all controversie by the confession of all as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies there are none that ever felt the power of godlinesse but they have confessed it to be a great Mysterie Godlinesse is a Mysterie and a great Mysterie and it is so under the seale of publike confession to observe somewhat from each of these Godlinesse Godlinesse is either the Principles of Christian Religion or the inward disposition of the soule towards them the inward holy affection of the soule the word implyeth both for Godlinesse is not onely the naked Principles of Religion but likewise the Christian affection the inward bent of the soule sutable to Divine Principles there must be a godly disposition carrying us to godly Truths That Godlinesse includes the Truths themselves I need goe no further then the connexion In the last words of the former Verse The Church is the Pillar and ground of Truth and then it followes Without controversie great is the Mysterie he doth not say of Truth but of Godlinesse in stead of Truth he sayth Godlinesse The same word implyes the Truths themselves and the affection and disposition of the soule toward them Truths to shew that both must alway goe together Wheresoever Christian Truth is knowne as it should be there is a supernaturall Light it is not onely a godly Truth in it selfe but it is embraced with godly affections These blessed Truths of the Gospel they require and breed a godly disposition the end of them is godlinesse they frame the soule to godlinesse Thus we see the Truths themselves are godlinesse carrying us to God and holinesse that I need not much stand on But that there must be an affection answerable and that this Truth breeds this is a little to be considered Why is Religion it selfe called Faith and the grace in the soule also called Faith To shew that Faith that is the Truth revealed as we say the Apostles Faith it breeds Faith and must be apprehended by Faith therefore one word includes both the object the thing beleeved and likewise the disposition of the soule to that object So here godlinesse is the thing it selfe the Principles of Religion and likewise the disposition of the soule that those Truths worke where they are entertained as they should be Hence followes these other Truths briefely First of all that no Truth breeds godlinesse and pietie of life but Divine Truths for that is called godlinesse because it breeds godlinesse all the devices of men in the world cannot breed godlinesse all is superstition and not godlinesse that is not bred by a Divine Truth Againe hence in that Divine Truth is called Godlinesse it shewes us if we would be godly we must be so from reasons of Christianitie not as I said by framing devices of our owne as gracelesse foolish men doe as we see in Poperie it is full of Ceremonies of their owne devising but if we will be godly it must be by reasons and motives from Divine Truth that breeds godlinesse It is but a bastard godlinesse a bastard Religion that is from a good intention without a good ground therefore the word implyes both the Tenent the Doctrine and the frame of Soule answerable to that Doctrine Good Principles without an impression of it on the soule is nothing it 〈◊〉 but helpe us to be damned and godlinesse without a frame of doctrine is nothing but superstition godlinesse in doctrine frames the soule to godlinesse in conversation There are many that out of a naturall superstition which is alway accompanied with a poysonfull malicious disposition against the Truth of God they will have devices of their owne and those they will force with all their power but if we will be godly it must be from reasons fetched from Divine Truth Againe hence we may fetch a rule of discerning when we are godly what makes a true Christian When he nakedly beleeves the grounds of Divine Truth the Articles of the Faith when he can patter them over doth that make a true Christian No but when these Truths breed and worke godlinesse for Religion is a Truth according to godlinesse not according to speculation onely and notion Wheresoever these fundamentall Truths are embraced there is godlinesse with them a man cannot embrace Religion in truth but he must be godly A man knowes no more of Christ and divine things then he values and esteemes and affects and brings the whole inward man into a frame to be like the things if these things worke not godlinesse a man hath but a humane knowledge of divine things if they carry not the Soule to trust in God to hope in God to feare God to embrace him to obey him that man is not yet a true Christian for Christianitie is not a naked knowledge of the Truth but Godlinesse Religious Evangelicall Truth is Wisedome and Wisedome is a knowledge of things directing to practise A man is a wise man when he knowes so as to practise what he knowes the Gospel is a Divine Wisedome teaching practise as well as knowledge it workes godlinesse or else a man hath but a humane knowledge of divine things Therefore he that is godly he beleeves aright and practiseth aright he that beleeves ill can never live well for he hath no foundation he makes an Idoll
of wonder 1 65 To learne of the Angels to wonder 1 97 World What meant by world 1 144 For whose sake the world stands 2 85 Wrath. How to oppose Christ to the wrath of God 1 62 FINIS Ephes 3.8 Eccles. 12.11 Heb. 5.12 The scope of the words The words divided Godlinesse what Divine Truth onely breedâ— goodnesse From what reasons we must be godly True Christian who Divine Truth Wisedome Mysterie what 1 1 That that was secret 2 2 That the reason of it is hid 3 3 That is conveyed by outward things Ephes. 5. Christian Religion a Mysterie Bâ—anches of Religion Mysteries Ephes. 5. Mark 4. The Gospel a Mysterie 1 1 Because it was hidden Gen. 3. 1 Cor. 2. 2 2 Revealed to few 3 3 Hid from carnall men 4 4 It is revealed but in part 5 5 In regard of what we shall know Question Answer Every Grace a Mysterie Faith Reformation All in Christ Mysteries The Church mysticall Simile Coloss. 3. Vse 1. Religion why persecuted Simile Vse 2. How to carry our selves in Religion Rom. 11. At the Sacrament In hearing the Word 1 Cor. 11. Application to the Feast of Christs Nativitie Vse 3. To blesse God for these Mysteries Vse 4. Not to set on Mysteries with humane parts Simile Vse 5. Mysterie of Religion aboâ—â— Reason Question Answer What use Reason hath in Religion Simile Reason must sâ—oupe to Faith Vse 6. Not to despaire of learning Religion Matt. 11. Psal. 19. Vse 7. To take heed of slighting Divine Truths Question How to know this Mysterie Answer 1 1 By Prayer Tit. 2. Necessitie oâ— depending on Gods Spirit Psal. 119. Ephes. 1. Ephes. 3. 1 Cor. 2. The Spirit teacheth to apply Truths Necessitie of Prayer Revel 5. Difference in mens dispositions to Gods Mysteries 2 2 Humilitie Psal. 25. 3 3 Purpose to know and obey 4 4 To avoyd passion and prejudice Simile Luke 16. Act. 23. Mysterie of iniquitie Question Answer Poperie a mysterie why Rev. 7. â—â—lius secund Question Answer How it is a Mysterie of iniquitie Why God sufâ—ers the Mysterie of iniquitie Godlinesse a great Mystery 1 1 In regard of the originall 2 2 The end 3 3 The manner of publishing 4 4 The worke of it 5 5 The parts of it 6 6 Those that knew it not 1 Cor. 2. 7 7 Because it makes us great What makes Times and persons great To prize Religion 8 8 Comparatively great Vse 1. How to be affected with this great Mysterie How to have large apprehensions of this Mysterie 1 1 To see the depth of our coâ—â—uptionâ— 2 2 Meditation of this great mysterie How to â—â—â—se to wonder at worldly things Esay 9.6 Rev. 7. Vse 2. Love and endeavour to learne it The mysterie of Godlinesse without controversie Object Answer Religion a Mysterie because opposed The Gospel without controversie 1 1 In it selâ—e 2 2 To Gods children Question Answer Whence staggering comes Thucydides Livie Vse 1. Men live as if Gospell were no Truth Simile Simile Vse 2. What Truths to be accounted Catholike Vse Of our affections and carriage to the Gospel Affâ—ctions why planted in man All knowledge not saving condemnes God manifest in the flesh Christ the scope of the Scriptures Why the Iewes understood not the Scriptures What meant by God here Question Answer Second Person incarnate why What meant here by flesh What infirmâ—tâ—es Christ tooke Question Answer Heb. 2. Heb. 4. Obâ—ect Answer Christ pitties our miseries from experience In that Christ tooke our nature thence comes 1 1 The enriching of it Coloss. 2. 2 2 The ennobling of it 3 3 The enabling of it 4 4 That what Christ did in our natuâ—e God did it 5 5 Our union with Christ. Three unions 6 6 The sympathie betweene Christ and us 7 7 The efficacie of what Christ did Vse 1. Christ tooke our flesh for great purpose Greatnesse of Christs abasement Comfort against despaire Rom. 3. All objections how answered How Satan presents God in temptation Comfort when Conscience is awaked What to doe in trouble of Conscience Coloss. 2.16 Oppose Christ to the wrath of God Whence we have communion with the Trinitie Satan transformes God and Christ to men Esay 9.6 Ground of boldnesse to God Simile Exod 33. Christs incarnation matter of wonder Vse 2 Ground noâ— to defile our nature Vse 3. To stoupe to serve Christ and our brethren Grounds against pride Vse 4. Not to envie Angels Question Answer How Christ may be manifest in us Object Answer When Christ is conceived in the heart Iustified in the Spirit Mis-conceits of Christ in the World Iustified what it is God a Spirit 1 1 For puritie 2 2 Strength Spirit how taken in Scripture 1 1 For the nature of God Iohn 4. 2 2 For the Divine Nature of Christ. Rom. 1.4 1. Pet. 3.18 3 3 For the third Person in Trinitie God-head appeared in Christs abasement Christ at the lowest did the greatest works Christ justified 1 1 In regard of God 2 2 In regard of men By overcomming the Devill By healing the outward and inward man Object Answer To whom Christ is justified Iohn 1.14 Matth. 16. Christ justified himselfe 1 1 To strengthen our Faith 2 2 To stop the mouthes of gaine-sayers Vse 1. Christ will justifie himself at length Simile Comfort in disgraces Simile Object Answer Afflâ—ctions conforme us to Christ. Psal. 37. Not to take scandall at the Churches afflictions Christs worke in the aflâ—ctions of the Church Vse 2 Christ by his Spirit will overcome in his Church We shall be justified of God Iustification double Vse 3. To justifie Christ. Question Answer How we justifie Christ. 1 1 As God Psal. 2. 2 2 As a Prophet 3 3 As a Priest 4 4 As a King In his Resurrection Question Answer How to justifie our profession Christians doe things above other men Some Christians worse then Pagans Meere civill men who 2 Tim. 3. Great power to make a Christian. Ephes. 1. Faith in temptation Seene of Angels what Sight put for 1 1 Wonderment 2 2 Attendance 3 3 Witnesse Angels knew Christs Incarnation before hand Knowledge of Angels Matth. 4. Psal. 8. Angels office 1.12 3.10 Vse 1 Angels wonderment should teach us Vse 2. Of Comfort Cherubins what they signified Exod. 25. Exod. 26. Mercie-Seat a Type of Christ. 1 Pet. 1.12 Exod. 16. Heb. 1. Iacobs Ladder what it figured Ground of Angels attendance on us Why Angels appeare not now Comfort in affliction Angels care in our infancie In danger Ioy at our conversion They carry our soules to Heaven Heb. 12.22 Communion with Angels Psal. 91. Object Answer Conflict betweene good and evill Angels Guard of Angels Not to grieve the good Angâ—ls To blesse God for their protection Wherein we are advanced above Angels Benefit of Angâ—ls by Christ. Object Answer Why God useth service of Angels Object Answer Good motions stirred in us by good Angels
a wise Master-builder yet according to the grace that was given unto him which was indeed like that of Elisha in regard of the other Prophets 2 King 2.9 the elder Brothers Priviledge a double portion he was still taking all occasions to lay well the foundation and that in one of the most eminent Auditories for Learning and Pietie that are in the Kingdome They that were his constant Hearers know this well they that were not may see it by these his Sermons now published reduced as was deemed most fit into four severall Treatises wherein as the season required he still tooke the opportunitie of instructing his Hearers in this great Mysterie of our Religion The Incarnation of the Sonne of God one of the chiefe Fundamentals of our Faith one of the chiefe of those Wonders in the Mercy-Seat which the Cherubins gaze at which the Angels desire to prie into 1 Pet. 1.12 And indeed by reason he spake at severall times and by occasion of so many severall Texts of Scripture concerning this subject there is scarce any one of those incomparable benefits which accrew to us thereby nor any of those holy impressions which the meditation hereof ought to worke in our hearts which is not in some place or other sweetly unfolded In the first Treatise the Mysterie it selfe is indeed chiefely opened and is therefore called The Fountaine unsealed the rest as in so many streaâ—es convey to us that Water of Life which issueth from thence teaching us how to improve the knowledge hereof to the glory of God and the spirituall enriching of our owne soules The noted Humilitie of the Author I now the lesse wonder at finding how often his thoughts dwelt on the Humiliation of Christ. If we that now reade them be not changed into the same image from glory to glory it will be our owne fault This take from me the Treatises following are published by Copies of his Sermons which himselfe approoved and appointed and that by subscribing his owne hand purposely to prevent imperfect Copies Embrace them therefore as truly his and the Lord so raise up thy heart in the carefull perusall hereof that thy profiting may be seene of all Thine in the Lord Jesus A. JACKSON Lond. Woodstreet April 18. 1638. THE CONTENTS OF THESE ENSVING TREATISES THE SUMME OF THE first TREATISE GOdlinesse what page 4 The Gospel a Mysterie why 10 Religion why persecuted 14 How to carry our selves in Religion 15 To blesse God for Mysteries 19 Not to set on them with humane parts 20 Mysteries of Religion above reason 22 Not to despaire of learning Religion 23 Not to slight Divine Truths 24 Godlinesse a great Mysterie why 34 How to be affected with it 38 To endevour to learne it 42 Godlinesse a Mysterie without controversie ibid. Men live not worthy these Mysteries 45 What Truth to account Catholike 47 Of God manifest in the flesh 50 Christ justified in the Spirit 70 Christ seene of Angels 93 Christ preached to the Gentiles 114 Christ beleeved on in the World 137 Christ received up in glory 164 THE SUMME OF THE second TREATISE ANgels an Host why 205 Of glorifying God 216 The greatnesse of the glory of Redemption 222 How to know whether we glorifie God 232 Hindrance of Gods glory 238 How to come to glorifie God 243 Whence peace comes 252 Peace wrought by Christ why 258. How to know our peace with God 262 How to maintaine Peace with God 269 Motives to stirre up to this peace 273 Gods good will the ground of all good 282 Why God loves us in Christ 286 How to know Gods love to us 288 THE SUMME OF THE third TREATISE CHrist was rich 5 Christ God why 9 Christ became poore 10 Particulars of Christs poverty 13 Christs poverty our riches 16 What riches we have by Christ. 18. Why we are enriched by Christs poverty 22 Riches by Christ what 26 Abasement of out ward riches 35 How to iâ— prove the riches of Christ. 41 How to know we are in Gods favour 53 Grace may be knowne 55 Example of Christ should move us to good workes 62 How to profit by Christs example 63 Motive to follow Christs example 66 Manner of doing good 70 THE SUMME OF THE fourth TREATISE THEre is difference of people 83 God will have some in the worst times why ibid. Comfort that God will have a Church when we are gone 85 Gods children but few 86 God hath a speciall care of those few 88 Gods Church and children afflicted in the world and why 94 Outward povertie a helpe to povertie of spirit 98 Providence serviceable to predestination 105 Spirituall poverty what it is not 106 What it is 107 Degrees of this povertie ibid. Before conversion 108 After conversion 113 Signes of spirituall povertie 120 How to come to spirituall povertie 128 God trusted as he is knowne 134 Evidences of trust in God 137 How to come to trust in God 148 FINIS THE FOVNTAINE OPENED OR THE MYSTERIE OF GODLINESSE REVEALED BY The late learned reverend Divine RICH. SIBS Doctor in Divinitie Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge and sometimes Preacher at GRAYES-INNE JOEL 3.18 And a Fountaine shall come forth of the House of the Lord and shall water the valley of Shittim EPHES. 3.3 He hath made knowne the Mysterie unto me which in other ages was not made known unto the sonnes of men LONDON Printed by E. Purslow for N. Bourne at the Royall Exchange and R. Harford at the gilt Bible in Queenes-head Alley in Pater-noster-Row 1638. THE FOUNTAINE OPENED OR The Mysterie of Godlinesse REVEALED 1 TIMOTHY 3.16 And without Controversie Great is the Mysterie of Godlinesse God manifest in the flesh Iustified in the Spirit Seene of Angels Preached unto the Gentiles Releeved on in the World Received up to Glorie THERE are two things that God values more then all the World besides the Church and the Truth the Church that is the Pillar and ground of Truth as it is in the former Verse the Truth of Religion that is the Seed of the Church Now the blessed Apostle S. Paul being to furnish his Schollar Timothie to the Ministeriall Office he doth it from two grounds especially from the dignitie of the Church which he was to instruct and converse in and from the excellencie of the Mysteries of the Gospel that excellent Soule-saving Truth hereupon he doth seriously exhort Timothie to take heed how he conversed in the Church of God in teaching the Truth of God The Church of God it is the House of God a companie of people that God cares for more then for all mankind besides for whom the World stands for whom all things are It is the Church of the living God the Pillar and ground of Truth And for the Truth of God that must be taught in this Church that is so excellent a thing that we see the blessed Apostle here useth great words high stiles loftie expressions concerning it As the matter is high and great so the
we looke forward it is a sight as it were in a Mysterie even that little that we doe know wee doe not know it as we shall know it in Heaven But is the Doctrine of the Gospel it selfe onely a Mysterie No All the Graces are Mysteries every Grace Let a man once know it and hee shall find that there is a Mysterie in Faith that the earthly soule of man should be carryed above it selfe to beleeve supernaturall Truths and to depend upon that he sees not to sway the life by reasons spirituall That the heart of man should beleeve that a man in trouble should carry himselfe quietly and patiently from supernaturall supports and grounds it is a Mysterie That a man should be as a Rocke in the middest of a storme to stand unmoveable it is a Mysterie That the carriage of the soule should be turned universally another way that the judgement and affections should be turned backward as it were that hee that was proud before should now be humble that hee that was ambitious before should now despise the vaine World that hee that was given to his lusts and vanities before should now on the contrary be serious and heavenly minded here is a Mysterie indeed when all is turned backward Therefore wee see how Nicodemus as wise as hee was it was a Riddle to him when our blessed Saviour spake to him of the New-Birth that a man should be wholly changed and new-molded that a man should be the same and not the same the same man for soule and body yet not the same in regard of a supernaturall life and being put into him carrying him another way leading him in another manner by other rules and respects as much different from other men as a man differs from a beast A strange Mysterie that rayseth a man above other men as much as another man is above other creatures For a man to be content with his condition in all changes and varieties when he is cast and tossed up and downe in the world to have a mind unmoveable it is a Mysterie Therefore S. Paul saith Philip 4. I have entred into Religion as it were I have consecrated my selfe the word is wondrous significant I have learned this Mysterie to be content It is a Mysterie for a man to be tossed up and downe and yet to have a contented mind I can want and I can abound I can doe all through Christ that strengtheneth me Why I have consecrate my selfe to Christ and Religion and from them I have learned this point to be content Therefore in the Text here as we shall see afterwards not onely Divine Truths are a Mysterie Great is the Mysterie of Godlinesse but he insists in particular Graces Preached to the Gentiles Beleeved on in the World these are Mysteries In Christ all is Mysteries two natures God and man in one person mortall and immortall greatnesse and basenesse infinitenesse and finitenesse in one person The Church it selfe is a mysticall thing For under basenesse under the scorne of the world what is hid A glorious people The state of the Church in this world it is like a Tree that is weather-beaten the leaves and fruit are gone but there is life in the root So what is the Church A companie of men that are in the world without glory without comelinesse and beautie yet notwithstanding they have life in the root a hidden life Our life is hid with Christ in God Coloss. 3. The Church hath a life but it is a hidden mysticall life a life under death they seeme to die to the world but they are alive This is excellently and rhetorically followed by S. Paul As dying and yet we live as poore yet making many rich A strange kind of people poore and rich living and dying glorious and base yet this is the state of the Church here in this world they are an excellent people but they are veiled under infirmities of their owne and the disgraces and persecutions of the world So we see both the Doctrine it selfe and the Graces and the Head of the Church and the Church it selfe are nothing but Mysteries Is it so that Religion is a Mysterie Then first of all doe not wonder that it is not knowne in the world and that it is not onely not knowne but persecuted and hated Alas it is a hidden thing men know not the excellencie of it As great mens sonnes in a forraine Countrey they find not entertainment answerable to their worth but as they are apprehended to be by strangers so these Divine Truths they find little acceptance in the world because they are mysteries not onely Mysteries in the Tenent but in the practise therefore the practise finds such opposition in the world Father forgive them saith our blessed Saviour they know not what they doe The world knowes not what they doe when they hate and persecute Religion and religious persons The Church is a mysticall thing and Religion is a Mysterie it is hid from them Shall we be mooved with the disgracefull speeches of carnall men They speake they know not what the thing they speake against is a Mysterie Therefore what should we regard the speeches of the world or follow the example of the world in embracing Religion Religion is a Mysterie Let the world be never so great it is not the knowledge of great men or of rich men it is the knowledge of godly men it is a Mysterie of Godlinesse Shall we follow the example of the world in Religion when it is a Mysterie and a Mysterie of Godlinesse that onely godly men know and embrace Looke not therefore to the greatnesse of place or parts c. it is a Mysterie Againe if it be a Mysterie then it should teach us to carry our selves sutable to it Nature taught even the Heathens to carry themselves reverently in their Mysteries procul este profani away be gone all prophane Let us carry our selves therefore reverently toward the Truth of God towards all Truths though they be never so contrarie to our reason they are Mysteries altogether above Nature There are some seeds of the Law in Nature but there are no seeds in Nature of the Gospel therfore we should come to it with a great deale of reverence S. Paul teacheth us an excellent Lesson Rom. 11. When he entred into a depth that he could not fathome doth he cavill at it No Oh the depth Oh the depth So in all the Truths of God when we cannot comprehend them let us with silence reverence them and say with him Oh the depth Divine things are Mysteries the Sacraments are Mysteries let us carry our selves towards them with reverence What is the reason that there is one word in the Greeke and in other Languages to signifie both common and prophane Because those that come with common affections and common carriage to holy things they prophane them
will be the Lord Iesus Christs Are they not now so They are but truly they appeare not to be so but at length they will appeare to be so at the conversion of the Iewes and the confusion of Antichrist then it will appeare more and more that he is King of the World indeed Now as it were his Offices are darkened his Kingly Office is darkned and his Propheticall Office is darkned but at length it will appeare that he is King of the Church and all Kingdâ—mes will be Christs There are glorious times comming especially the glorious Day of the Resurrection Christ at leâ—gth will be cleared he will be justified The Sunne at length will scatter all the clouds In the morning they gather about the Sunne as if they would cover it oh but the Sunnâ— breakes thorow all and gloriously appeares at length so Christ will scatter all clouds and gloriously appeare to be that which the Word sets him forth to be Againe as Christ will justifie himselfe so he will justifie his Church and children first or last by his Spirit His children are now accounted the off-scouring of the World they are trampled and trod upon they are the objects of scorne and hatred and who accounted so base Will Christ endure this No he that justified himselfe that is that declared himselfe and will more and more declare himselfe to be as he is will he not justifie his Church his Mysticall Body to be as they are indeed Certainely it shall appeare to the World that he will justifie them to be Kings and Priests to be Heires to be glorious to be so neere and deare to him as the Scripture sets them forth to be Whatsoever the Scripture hath spoken of the Saincts and children of God the time will come that all this shall be justified and made good by that Spirit of Christ whereby he made good whatsoever he had said of himselfe Therefore in our eclipses and disgraces let us all comfort our selves in this Let the World esteeme us for the present as the reffuse of the World as persons not worthy to be acquainted with not worthy to be regarded we shall be justified and cleared and glorified especially at that day when Christ shall come to be glorious in his Saints There is a hidden life of the Church and every Christian they have a life in Christ but that life is hid in Christ in Heaven As the Flowers in Winter they have a life but it is hidden in the root When Christ shall appeare as blessed S. Paul and S. Iohn say then it shall appeare who we are Then our glorious life that now is in our Head shall appeare then we shall be justified to be so glorious as the Scripture sets us forth to be the Church shall be glorious within and without too at that Day Therefore let us comfort our selves this hidden life though it appeare not now yet we shall be justified And hence we may answer some objections likewise Some may say How doth it appeare that Christ is King of the Church We see how the Church is trampled on at this day Where is the life and glory of the Church What! his Spouse and thus used What! his Turtle and thus pulled and plucked by the Birds of prey I answer Looke with other Spectacles with the eye of Faith and then you shall see a Spring in the Winter of the Church how-ever she be now abased and eclipsed yet she shall be justified and it will appeare that Christ regards his Church and people and children more then all the World besides onely there must be a conformitie It was fit there should be a time of Christs abasement how should he have suffred else the World would never have crucified God they could not have done it Therefore he was abased he veiled his God-head under his manhood under a base condition so he passed thorow suffering to glory So it must be in the Body of Christ it must passe thorow the veile of infirmities of weakenesse affliction and disgrace how else should it be conformable to Christ If Christ had justified himselfe at all times in his humiliation he could not have suffered if we should be justified now and appeare to all the World who we are who would persecute us how could we be conformable to Christ Therefore let us quietly and meekely a while endure these things that are nothing but to conforme us to our Head knowing this that as he was justified by little and little till he was perfectly justified when he was raysed from the dead so we shall be perfectly justified and freed from all imputations at the last day when by the same Spirit that raysed him wee shall be raysed up too Nay in this World when it is for his glory and for our good he will bring our righteousnesse to light as the Noone-day he will free us from the imputations that the World layes on us he will have a care of our credit For as Christ was mightily declared to be the Sonne of God in a fit time so shall we when we are fit Then the World shall see that we are not the men that prophane bitter malicious persons led with the spirit of the Devill charged us to be Let us take no scandall at the present afflictions of the Church Christ will justifie his mysticall Body by his glorious power in good time Antichrist shall not alway ruffle in the World Christ will be justified to be the King and Ruler of the World All power is committed to him But we see it now Antichrist rages in the World and the Church seemes to be under Hatches So it is with particular Christians those that belong to God and indeed are truly such as they professe themselves to be though with much weaknesse we see in what respect and esteeme they are had Let us comfort our selves beloved Christ justified himselfe by his Spirit and will he not justifie his poore Church and free it from the tyrannie of Antichrist Will he not advance those that are troden on now and made as the dirt in the street that they shall shine as the Sunne Therefore when you heare of the dejected state of the Churches abroade be not dismayed Consider there is a glorious King that rules the World and he will make it appeare ere long he will justifie himselfe and his Church for he suffers in his Church He is wise he sees cause to doe this he is working his owne worke he corrects and rules and purgeth his Church in the furnace of affliction but be sure the time will come that he will bring the cause of Religion to light and he will shew what side hee ownes he will justifie his Truth and tread Satan and all his members under feet this frame of things will not hold long As verily as Christ is in Heaven as verily as he is justified in his owne person by his Spirit by his
Divine Power so he will justifie his Mysticall Body and as he hath conquered in his owne person so he will by his Spirit conquer for his Church And as he will overcome for his Church so he will overcome in his Church stronger is he that is in the Church in you then he that is in the World and Gods children will be triumphant though they may be discouraged in respect of the present carriage of things yet the Spirit that is in them above the World will gather strength by little and little and it will appeare at length notwithstanding present discouragements undoubtedly the best things will have a true lustre and glory at length how-ever they seeme to be carryed for the present You see as Christ hath justified himselfe to be the true Messias and as he hath justified himselfe so he will justifie all his there is the same reason for both For our further instruction and comfort let us consider that in regard of God likewise we shall be justified from our sinnes in our consciences here and at the Day of Judgement before Angels and Devils and men As Christ was justified from our sinnes himselfe and he will justifie every one of us by his Spirit his Spirit shall witnesse to our Soules that we are justified and likewise his Spirit shall declare it at the Day of Judgement it shall be openly declared that we are so indeed There is a double degree of justification one in our conscience now another at the Day of Judgement Then it shall appeare that we have beleeved in Christ and are cleansed from our sinnes when we shall stand on the right hand of Christ â—s all that cleave to Christ by faith then it shall appeare that by him we are justified from all our sinnes whatsoever Againe Christ was justified in the Spirit Then hence we may learne our dutie we ought all of us to justifie Christ. To whom is Christ justified by the Spirit onely to his owne Church and Children not to the reprobate World We may know that we are members of Christ if wee be of the number of those that justifie Christ. How doe we justifie Christ We justifie Christ when from an inward worke of the Spirit we feele and acknowledge him to be such an one as he is Christ is God Now when we relie upon him as our Rock in all temptations we justifie Christ to be so when we kisse the Sonne with the kisses of faith of subjection of obedience of reverence and love this is to justifie Christ to be the Sonne of God as it is Psal. 2. Kisse the Sonne lest he be angry Those that in temptation are to seeke for their comfort they doe not justifie Christ they doe not live as if he were a Saviour not as if he were a God in temptations to despaire they justifie not Christ. Those that have Christ illuminating their understandings to conceive the Mysteries of Religion they justifie Christ to be the Prophet of his Church because they feele him enlightning their understandings Those that find their consciences pacified by the obedience and sacrifice of Christ they justifie him to be their Priest for they can oppose the bloud of Christ sprinkled on their hearts to all the temptations of Satan and to the risings of their owne doubting conscience their hearts being sprinkled with the bloud of Christ they can goe to God and the bloud of Christ speakes for them Peace it pleads Mercie Mercie Thus we justifie Christ as a Priest when we rest in his Sacrifice and doe not with Papists runne to other Sacrifices this is not to justifie Christ To justifie Christ God-man is to make him a perfect Mediator of intercession and redemption to make him all in all They doe not justifie Christ that thinke God was made man to patch up a salvation that he must doe a part and we must merit the rest oh no take heed of that account all our obedience and all that is from us as menstruous clothes not able to stand with the Justice of God In a word we justifie and declare and make good that he is our King and put a Kingly Crowne upon his head when we suffer him to rule us and to subdue our spirits and our rebellions when we cherish no contrarie motions to his Spirit when we rest in this World and not traditions but stoupe to the Seepter of Christs Word this is to justifie him as a King Thus we should labour to justifie and declare to the World the excellencie and power of Christ in our hearts that we may make Religion lovely and make it be entertained in the World because we shew it to be an excellent powerfull thing Let us examine our hearts whether we thus justifie Christ or no that by our carriage towards him we make it good that he is such an one as the Scripture sets him forth to be In particular we justifie him that he rose from the dead when we beleeve that we are freed from our sinnes our Suretie being out of Prison We justifie him as ascended into Heaven when we have heavenly affections and when we consider him as a publike person gone to Heaven in our name We justifie him as sitting at the right hand of God when we mind the things that are above and not that are here below or else we denie these things wee beleeve them not we justifie them not when our conversations are not answerable to the things we beleeve If we be the children of Wisedome undoubtedly we shall justifie Wisedome If we be the members of Christ we shall justifie our Head if wee be his Spouse we shall justifie our Husband Let us examine our selves that we doe in this kind and never thinke our state good till we can justifie Christ. In the next place for our direction as Christ justified himselfe by his Spirit by his Divine Power so let us know that it is our dutie to justifie our selves to justifie our profession justifie all Divine Truth Let us make it good that we are the Sonnes of God that we are Christians indeed not onely to have the name but the annointing of Christ that we may cleare our Religion from false imputations or else instead of justifying our profession we justifie the slanders that are against it The World is readie to say None are worse then Christians and their Religion is all but words and shewes and formes Shall wee justifie these slanders No let us by the Spirit of God justifie our Religion let us shew that Religion is a powerfull thing and so indeed it is For Divine Truth when it is imbraced and knowne it alters and changeth the manners and dispositions it makes of Lions Lambes it makes our natures mild and tractable and sweet it rayseth a man from Earth to Heaven Let us justifie this our Religion and profession against all gainesayers whatsoever Wisedome is justified
to the Truth it selfe he would have men regard the things spoken not for the person that speaks them but for the excellencie of the things If some glorious creatures as the Angels should preach to us we should regard the excellencie of the Preachers more then the Truth it selfe we should beleeve the Truth for the Messengers sake And then God would knit man to man by bonds of love now there is a relation betweene Pastor and people by this ordinance of God And then it is more sutable to our condition we could not heare God speake or any more excellent creature God magnifies his power the more in blessing these weake meanes And it is more proportionable to our weakenesse to have men that speake out of experience from themselves that preach the Gospel that they have felt the comfort of themselves it works the more upon us Therefore those that first preached the Gospel they were such as had felt the sweetnesse of it themselves first S. Paul a great sinner out of the Church and S. Peter in the Church he fell after he was in the state of Grace that these great Apostles might shew to all people that there is no ground of despaire if we humble our selves if they be sinnes out of the Church if they be sinnes against the first Table as Paul he was a blasphemer or against the second he was a persecutor yet he found mercy notwithstanding and for this end he found mercy he sayth that he might teach the mercy of God to others that he might be an example of the mercy of God to others And so if we relapse and fall let none despaire Peter a great Teacher in the Church an Apostle see how foulely he fell Now when men subject to the same infirmities shall discover the mercie of God out of the Booke of God it workes the more upon us It is good for us to have a right esteeme of the Ordinances of God because the prophane heart of man doth thinke it a needlesse matter Some are ready to say Cannot I as well reade privatly at home Yes but the use of private Exercises with contempt of the publike they have a Curse upon them instead of a Blessing It is with such men as with those that gathered Mannah when they should not it stanke Hath God set up an Ordinance for nothing for us to despise Is not he wiser to know what is good for us better then we doe for our selves God accompanies his Ordinance with the presence of his blessed Spirit The Truth read at home hath an efficacy but the Truth unfolded hath more efficacy As we say of Milke warmed it is fitter for nourishment and the raine from Heaven hath a fatnesse with it and a speciall influence more then other standing waters so there is not that life and operation and blessing that accompanies other means that doth Preaching being the ordinarie meanes where it may be had I but this Ordinance of God Preaching it is only for the laying the foundation of a Church it is not for a Church when it is built then other helpes or Prayer and the like without this may suffice Those that have such conceits they make themselves wiser then the Spirit of God in S. Paul we see in Ephes. 4. Christ when he ascended on high he led captivitie captive he gave gifts to men some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists for the edifying and building up of the Church So that this Ordinance it is necessarie for building up still and for the knitting of the members of Christ together still Therefore that is a vaine excuse Oh but what need much lesse would fere he turne Thus people grow to contemne and despise this heavenly Mannah but those that are acquainted with their own infirmities they thinke it a happinesse to have plentie for naturally we are dull we are forgetfull we are unmindfull though we know we doe not remember and though we remember yet we doe not minde things we are naturally weake and therefore we need all spirituall supports and helpes that may be to keep the vessell of our soules in perpetuall good case the more we heare and know the fitter we are for doing and suffering our soules are fitter for communion with God for all passages both of life and death therefore we cannot have too much care this way Oh let us therefore chuse Maries part the better part that will never depart from us and take heed of prophane conceits in this kind it is to the prejudice of our soules We must know that whensoever God sets up an Ordinance he accompanies it with a speciall blessing And wee are not so much to consider men in it but consider the Ordinance which is his and being his there is a speciall blessing goes with the dispensation of the Word by the Ministerie Others object they know it well enough and therefore they need not to be taught The Word of God preached it is not altogether to teach us but the Spirit going with it to worke grace necessarie to strengthen us in the inward man And those that say they know it enough deceive themselves they know it not Religion is a Mysterie and can it be learned at the first There is no Mysterie but it requires many yeeres to learne if it be but a handy-craft men are six or seven yeeres learning it and is Religion and the Mysteries and depths of it learned so soone thinke we There is a Mysterie in every Grace in Repentance in Faith in Patience that no man knowes but those that have the Graces what belongs to those Graces Religion consists not in some parts and abilities to speake and conceive of these things and yet that is hardly learned being contrarie to our nature having no seedes of these things even the outside of Religion that is the preparative to the inward there is somewhat to doe to bring our hearts to these things But then Religion it selfe it is a deepe Mysterie it requires a great deale of learning Let us therefore set a price upon Gods Ordinance there must be this dispensation Christ must be preached Preaching is the Chariot that carryes Christ up and downe the world Christ doth not profit but as he is preached For supernaturall benefits if they be not discovered they are lost as we say of Jewels if they be not discovered what is the glory of them Therefore there must be a discoverie by Preaching which is the Ordinance of God for that end Whereupon God stirred up the Apostles before that were the maine converters of the world they had some Prerogatives above all other Preachers they had an immediate Calling extraordinarie Gifts and a generall Commission in them was established a Ministerie to the end of the world Christ when he ascended on high and led captivitie captive he would give no meane Gift then
Truth is such that if it be mingled over-much with Heterogeneall stuffe it over-throwes it and Christ will not endure this indignitie Therefore let us take heed that we keepe Christ and his Truth with us exactly and let us take heed of sinning against the Gospel if we would have it stay with us especially of sinnes immediatly against the Gospel as for instance Take heed of joyning Superstition and Popish trash with it or the like that will cat out the very heart of the Gospel and sets up man in the place of Christ. Againe take heed of decaying in our first love We see God threatneth the Church of Ephesus for not cherishing and maintaining her first love that he would remoove not onely the Gospel but the Candlestick the Church it selfe for securitie in abundance and plentie and decay in her first love God threatneth that he will scatter the Candlestick the Church it selfe into forraine places Againe a sinne against the Gospel is unfruitfulnesse under it When men shall have the blessed influence of the Gospel the Soule-saving Truth the good Word to be long among them and to be as barren under it as if they were Pagans For the Gospel to have no more power over our soules then if we had no Gospel at all That there is no difference betweene us and Heathens in regard of our conversations To goe no further then they nay not so farre in honestie and justice and sobrietie Let us take heed of these and the like sinnes against the Gospel And I say it should be a ground of labouring the conversion of those that be Savages be they never so barbarous to labour to gaine them to Christ. There are indeed some hinderances there be Iannes and Iambres among them instruments of the Devil to keepe them in blindnesse and ignorance and then custome that they are bred in which prevailes most with the sorriest people for ignorant people that have their wits determined to one way they are so strong in it as they are not to be untaught as it is hard to teach a Beast because he is taught to goe one way for want of varietie of conceptions being void of reason now people by nature are little better then Beasts therefore they are so fixed and determined in that way they are brought up in and are so settled by the Devill and those Priests among them and by the tyrannie of those that have come among them the Spaniards c. that hath hindred their conversion much yet take them as bad as they can be God hath a time for them What were wee of this Nation sixteene hundred yeeres agone There is a fulnesse of the Gentiles to come in and certainely it is not yet come fully For it is probable nay more then probable that there are some people that never had the Gospel and the fulnesse of the Gentiles must come in before the other Mysterie of the calling of the Iewes I speake it to encourage those that have interest that way not to take violent courses with them There is nothing so voluntarie as Faith it must be wrought by perswasions not by violence and there is a ground of encouragement hence that since the comming of Christ there is a libertie for all Nations to come in Christ must be preached to the Gentiles To conclude this point let us consider that we are those Gentiles that have enjoyed this preaching of Christ and it is the glorie of our Nation it is not our strength or riches or any ornament above others that sets us forth so much as this that we have the Gospel preached among us that these blessed streames runne so plentifully every where among us Let us labour to value this inestimable benefit Where the Gospel is not preached there the places are Salt-pits despicable places whatsoever they are else as it is in Ezechiel they are under the Kingdome of Satan it is the glory of a Nation to have the Truth among them The glory of Israel was gone when the Arke was taken the Religion and Truth we enjoy it is our Arke our glory is gone if we part with that Therefore whatsoever God takes from us let us desire that he would still continue the Gospel of Truth that he would still vouchsafe to dwell among us and not leave us What were all things in the world besides if we had not the blessed Truth of God we must leave all ere long Therefore let us labour to have the eyes of our understanding enlightened to conceive aright of the difference of things and to value our selves by this that Christ is manifested to us and thereby we have interest in Christ more then by any interest and part and portion in the world besides for then Christ will delight to be with us still when we make much of him and esteeme and prize and value him Beleeved on in the world After preached to the Gentiles he joynes Beleeved on in the World to shew that Faith comes by hearing Indeed preaching is the Ordinance of God sanctified for the begetting of Faith for the opening of the understanding for the drawing of the wil and affections to Christ. Faith is the marriage of the Soule to Christ now in marriage there must not be a mistake and error in the person for then it is a kind of nullitie Now that the person to whom we are to be marryed by Faith may be knowne to us there is an Ordinance of Preaching set up to lay open our owne beggery and necessitie what we are without him and to open the Riches of our Husband the Nobility and Priviledges and whatsoever is glorious in Christ that the Church may know what a kind of Husband she is like to have In Rom. 10. you have the Scala-Coeli the Ladder of Heaven as a good old Martyr called it and we must not presume to alter the Staves of that Ladder How can they call upon him in whom they have not beâ—eeved and how shall they beleeve without a Preacher and how shall they preach unlesse they be sent Here is Preaching and Beleeving and then Prayer There are some that are bitter against this Ordinance of Preaching and advance aâ—other excellent Ordinance of Prayer to the disparagement of this if they would joyne them both together it were well You see what the Apostle sayth How shall they call upon him in whom they have not beleeved and how shall they beleeve without a Preacher without this Ordinance of Preaching Shewing that we cannot have the Spirit of Prayer without Faith nor Faith without Preaching And the Wise man saith He that turns his eare from hearing the Law under what pretence soever his prayer shall be abominable The prayers of such men that would crie downe this Ordinance how are they like to be accepted they are abominable We see here the Apostle sets them downe in this degree Hearing and Beleeving and Prayer and here
meerely with the Word and with suffering their weapons were nothing but patience and Preaching offering the Word of Christ to them and suffering indignities as S. Austin sayth the World was not overcome by fighting but by suffering So the Lambes overcame the Lyons the Doves overcame the Birds of prey the Sheep overcame the Wolves I send you sayth Christ as Sheepe among Wolves and how by nothing but by carrying a Message and suffering constantly and undauntedly for going with their Message for they had cruell bloody Lawes made against them that were executed to the utmost yet by these meanes they overcame by Preaching and sealing the Truth that they taught by suffering a strange kind of conquest The Turks conquer to their Religion but it is by violent meanes it is a Religion of blood but here as I sayd meanenesse overcame greatnesse ignorance overcame learning simplicity overcame pride basenesse overcame glory a Mysterie in this respect Againe if wee consider the Truth that they taught being contrarie to the nature of man contrarie to his affections to enforce selfe-denyall to men that naturally are full of selfe-love that make an Idoll of their wit and will for them to come to be taught to be fooles in respect of wit and to resigne up their wills to the will of another for these men to beleeve things that are above beleefe to carnall men as St. Austin observes it was the wonder of the world what a kind of doctrine was this to win such entertainment in the world as it did yet it did make men denie themselves denie their wits their wills their goods their lives Therefore in this respect it was a great Mysterie that Christ should be beleeved on in the World Againe if we consider another circumstance it addes to the Mysterie that is the suddennesse of the conquest the world was conquered to the Faith and obedience of Christ. In a short time after Christ one man S. Paul spread the Gospel almost all the world over he conquered almost all the world he spread the savour of the Gospel like Lightning suddenly and strongly because there was an Almighty Power and Spirit accompanying the glorious Gospel and thereupon it came to be thus effectuall with the world Againe it is a wonder in respect of Christ whom the world beleeved on What was Christ Indeed he was the Sonne of God but he appeared in abased flesh in the forme of a servant he was crucified and for the proud world to beleeve in a crucified Saviour it was a Mysterie Lastly it is a great mysterie especially in respect of Faith it selfe Faith being so contrarie to the nature of man For the heart of man where Faith is wrought to go out of it selfe and to embrace a beginning and Principle and rising of life from another to seeke justification and salvation by the righteousnesse and obedience of another for the proud heart of man to stoupe to this to acknowledge no righteousnesse of its owne to stand before the Tribunall of God but to have all derived from Jesus Christ to fetch forgivenesse of sins out of the death of another to wrap it selfe in the righteousnesse and obedience of Christ given of God for it the heart of man without a supernaturall worke of the Spirit to subdue it will never yeeld to this because proud flesh and bloud will alway have somewhat in it selfe to dote upon and to set it out before God and when it finds nothing in it selfe then it despaires for the heart of man thus to goe out of it selfe and rely onely upon the righteousnesse of Christ not having its owne righteousnesse this is the greatest Mysterie Especially for a guiltie Soule that hath its eyes opened to discerne of its owne estate for a conscience awakened to trust in God being a holy God a just God for these two to meet together God and a doubting galled misgiving conscience fore-casting the worst for such a conscience to find peace by this act of Faith casting it selfe upon Christ this is more then can be done by any power of nature There is somewhat in nature for all legall obedience man naturally hath some seedes to love his Parents to hate Murther and the like but to go out of himselfe and cast himselfe upon Gods love and mercy in Christ there is no seeds of this in nature but all against Faith in Christ oft times when a man is cast downe all in the world seemes to make against him and then for a man to have his heart raysed up by an Almightie power to beleeve certainely this must be a Mysterie I say when all makes against him his Conscience makes against him and the Judgement of God against him and Satans temptations against him all the frame of things present seemes to be against him God himselfe oft times seemes to be against him to be an offended God justly offended with his sinnes for the soule in this case to cast it selfe upon God in Christ there must needs be a hidden and excellent deepe worke on the soule This is the greatest Mysterie the greatest difficultie is in this branch considering how contrarie to the heart of man Faith is Let us take heed of shallow conceits of Faith as if it were an easie common universall grace to beleeve No beloved it is a supernaturall powerfull worke Saint Paul sets it out divinely and largely in Ephes. 1.18 Hee calls it the Mightie power of God it requires not onely a Power but an Almighty Power to rayse the heart of man to beleeve For even as the worke of Redemption by Christ is a greater worke in it selfe then the worke of Creation so also the worke of Conversion though they be all one to an infinite Power yet the thing it selfe is more difficult to make the heart of man to beleeve then to make a world of nothing for when God made the world there was nothing to oppose there he had to doe with simple nothing but when God comes to make the heart beleeve he findes opposition and rebellion he finds man against himselfe he finds the heart and conscience against it selfe he finds opposition from Satan that helps mans distrustfull heart then all meet together afflictions the sense of Gods anger and mans guiltie conscience now to make such a man beleeve is more then to create a world And as God shewed more power so he shewed more mercy in the worke of Redemption then in the Creation In the Creation there he did good to a good man Adam was created good and he should had he stood have continued in a good condition but in the worke of Redemption God doth good to evill men God transcends in his love because the glory of his mercie reignes in the worke of Redemption so that the power and wisedome and mercie being greater in the worke of Redemption it requires a more super-natural power in the soule to apprehend this
that have dispositions like them will study how this blessed truth may be promoted and propagated and spread even over the world therefore wee should labour every one to spread the glorious Gospell of Christ especially those that are Ministers whose office it is to unfold and open the unsearchable riches of Christ. Againe we glorifie God in Christ when wee see such glory and mercy of Christ as it doth transforme us and change us and from an inward change we have alway a blessed disposition to glorifie God as I shewed out of 1 Cor. 3. This is the difference betweene the glasse of the Gospell and the glasse of the Law and of the creatures In the Law we see the beames of the Justice of God Cursed is every one that continueth not in all c. and the beames of his power and goodnesse in the creature but it doth not change and transforme us to be good and gracious but when wee see the glory of God of his goodnesse and infinite mercy shining in the face of Iesus Christ for wee dare not looke upon God immediatly it changeth the soule to be gracious like unto Christ therefore if wee find that the knowledge of God in Christ hath changed our dispositions it is a signe then we give glory to God indeed for to glorifie God is an action that cannot proceed but from a disposition of nature that is altered and changed the instrument must be set in tune before it can yeeld this excellent Musicke to glorifie God as the Angels doe that is all the powers of the soule must be set in order with grace by the Spirit of God if the meditations and thoughts of the Gospell have altered our dispositions to love God and that that pleaseth God to doe good to men to delight in goodnesse it is a signe we are instruments in tune to glorifie God and that we have an apprehension of the love and mercy of God in Christ as we should for it hath a transforming power to worke this The grace of God will teach us to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live holily When the grace of God that is the free love of God in Christ in the forgiving our sinnes and advancing us to heaven hath this effect in our soules it is a signe wee have a true notion and apprehension of the excellency and eminency of Gods grace otherwise if we turne the grace of God into wantonnesse to make the benefits by Christ a pretence and covering for our wicked and loose lives we know not what it is to glorifie God but though in words we say Glory be to God yet in our lives we denie it as the Apostle saith The Hypocrites in Isay 66.5 they had good speeches in their mouthes saith God heare the Word of the Lord ye that tremble at his Word your brethren that hated you and cast you out for my name sake said Let the Lord be glorified so you shall find those that are opposers and persecutors and haters of sinceritie will sing Gloria Patri God be glorified but what good will this doe them if they have diabolicall satanicall dispositions if they be like the Devill in opposing the truth and hating that that is good The Devils in the Gospell could glorifie God for their owne ends We know that thou art the Sonne of God so Devils incarnate can come to Church and receive the Sacraments and seeme to praise God oh but there must be a change for to glorifie God is a work of the whole man especially of the Spirit All that is within me praise his holy name It came from the heart roote of a sanctified judgement out of grounds why we doe it The wish of the Angels here Glory to God on high it came from a good ground because they knew God is to be glorified in Christ for judicious phrases are founded upon truths so there must be a sanctified judgement to be the ground of it and the affections must be in tune answerable to those truths then we are sit to glorifie God and all this is by the power of the Gospell transforming us Againe we glorifie God when we take to heart any thing that may hinder or stoppe or eclipse Gods truth and obscure it when it workes zeale in us in our places as farre as we can when it affects us deepely to see the cause of Religion hindred any way if there be any desire of glorifying God there will be zeale the heart will move with a kind of indignation when God is dishonoured and his truth eclipsed with false doctrine or by ill practice it cannot be otherwise it is out of the nature of the thing it selfe therefore those that either are instruments of stopping or obscuring the truth or causing it to be reproached by their wicked lives or if they be not instruments yet they doe not take it to heart when they see God dishonoured surely they can speake little comfort to themselves they have neither Angelicall nor Evangelicall dispositions for if they had the knowledge of the Gospell it would worke this is in them Againe if we apprehend this glorious Mysterie of Christ in the Gospel aright it will work in us a glorious joy for joy is a disposition especially that fits us to glorifie God then we are fit to glorifie God when our hearts are enlarged with joy when we thinke of God in Christ when we thinke of the Day of Judgement when we thinke of heaven when we can thinke of hell with joy as being subdued and blesse God for Christ when we can thinke of all that is opposite as conquered in Christ so that our joy is enlarged in the apprehension of our owne blessed condition it is a good signe we are in a disposition to glorifie God but I will not enlarge my selfe further in this point This being so excellent a duty to which wee are stirred by the Angels Glory to God on high c. what are the maine hindrances of it that we give not God more Glory The maine hindrances are a double vayle of Ignorance and Unbeleefe that we doe not see the glorious light of God shining in Iesus Christ or else if we doe know it we doe not beleeve it and thereupon instead of that blessed disposition that should be in the soule there comes an admiration of carnall excellencies a delighting in base things This Ignorance is partly from the darknesse of our owne hearts being overcast sometimes that such great things are too good to be true our hearts have a hell of unbeleefe in them And sometimes the policy of Satan who casts dust in our eyes and labours that wee may not see the glory of God in the Gospell 2 Cor. 4. The God of this world hath blinded their eyes c. Ignorance arising from within or without is a great cause why we do not see the excellencies of God therefore no wonder if where the Gospell is not
293 Mystery Mystery what 1 8 Mystery in Scripture what 1 9 The Gospell a mystery how 1 10 Every grace a mystery 1 12 All in Christ mysteries 1 13 To blesse God for mysteries 1 19 How to come to these mysteries 1 20 Who teacheth these mysteries 1 23 How to know these mysteries 1 24 Different carriage of men toward these mysteries 1 27 Mystery of iniquity 1 32 Popery a mystery of iniquity how 1 33 Why that mystery is suffered Ibid. Godlinesse a great mystery how 1 34 How to be affected with this great mystery 1 38 Believing in Christ a mystery how 1 146 See Controversie and Ascension Mysticall The Church mysticall 1 14 Moses See Glory Mortification Mortification the ground of it 1 193 N Nativity NAtivity of Christ how to be celebrated 1 228 Nature Benefit of Christs taking our nature 1 54 Not to defile our nature why 1 66 Faith altogether above nature 1 150 Necessity See All. O Obedience HOw God tries our obedience 1 120 Objection How to answer all objections 1 59 Offer Danger of neglecting Gods offer 1 293 Owne We must do good to others of our owne 2 71 Others See Speedy Chearefull Inwardly Seasonably Constantly P Pagans PAgans conversion hindred 1 135 Passion Passion to be avoided in Gods mysteries 1 30 Patience Ground of patience in suffering 1 188 Pawne Christians have a rich pawne 2 29 Peace Peace with God necessary that we may glorifie him 1 251 Peace whence it comes 1 252 Peace what 1 253 Christ our peace 1 255 Peace founded in Christ 1 256 Peace wrought by Christ why 1 257 How to know we are at peace with God 1 262 Peace with God workes peace with others 1 267 False peace dangerous 1 268 Peace how maintained 1 269 Motives to peace 1 272 Danger of men without peace 1 273 Happinesse of men that have peace with God 1 276 See Earth and Grace Persecute Religion why persecuted 1 14 Person Faith lookes to Christs person 1 143 See Incarnate Posterity How to provide for posteritie 2 76 Power Great power to make a Christian 1 91 Prayer Necessity of prayer 1 26 Prayer necessary to maintaine peace 1 270 Prayer for benefactors 2 72 Preach To preach what 1 116 Necessity of application in preaching 1 117 Vse of preaching 1 123 Christ profits not but as preached 1 125 Christ the object of preaching 1 126 Christ preached how 1 127 See Law Pride Grounds against pride 1 66 Pride the cause of our fall 1 22 What takes away the fuell of pride 2 99 Predestination Providence serves predestination 1 105 Private Private exercise with contempt of publike condemned 1 122 Priviledges Priviledges whence to esteeme them 2 43 Proclamation Proclamations of God and men differ 1 139 Profession See Iustifie Promises Christians rich in promises 2 28 Promises performed by degrees 2 92 Prosperity Prosperity the danger of it 2 96 Poore Poverty Christ became poore 2 10 Particulars of Christs poverty 2 10 Aggravation of Christs poverty 2 15 Our owne poverty a part of our riches 2 29 Not to despise men for poverty 2 34 103 Poverty of spirit how helped 2 98 Spirituall poverty what 2 107 Degrees of spirituall poverty Ibid. Evidences of this poverty 2 109 Necessity of it 2 111 Spirituall poverty after conversion 2 113 Signes of spirituall poverty 2 120 To labour for spirituall poverty 2 127 How to get spirituall poverty 2 This poverty makes us trust in God 2 153 See Grace Providence See Predestination Q Quiet HOw faith quiets the soule 2 139 Quicken Love quickens to duty 2 139 R Reason MYsteries of religion above reason 1 22 Vse oâ— reason in religion Ibid. See Faith Recreation Recreations to be made good use of 2 42 Redemption Redemption greater than creation 1 151 223 Religion How to carrie our selves in religion 1 15 Religion not easily learned 1 124 See Persecute Repentance Repentance what 1 229 Revelation The spirit of revelation to be begged 1 246 295 Rich. Riches Christ was rich 2 5 Riches what 2 6 Christ became poore to make us rich 2 18 What riches wee have by Christ Ibid. Abasement of outward riches 2 35 Why we want spirituall riches 2 38 Christians sometimes know not their riches 2 39 How to improve our riches by Christ 2 41 S Sacrament CHrist not bodily present in the Sacrament 1 174 How to conceive of Christ in the Sacrament 1 198 Salvation Degrees of dispensation of salvation 1 133 Christ a joynt cause of our salvation 2 44 Satisfaction Satisfaction required in our restoring 2 23 Sanctification Spirituall poverty in sanctification 2 114 Sanctification makes us trust in God 2 154 Seasonable The good we do to others must be seasonable 2 72 Scripture Scriptures why not understood of Iewes 1 50 See Christ. Separation There is a separation out of Christ 1 253 Sight What meant by sight 1 93 Sinne. I Sinne the greatnesse of it hinders not Gods love 1 292 How farre Christ tooke our sinnes 2 12 Soule Outward things not proportionable to the soule 2 36 Speed Our good we doe to others must bee with speed 2 70 Spirit Spirituall Necessity of depending on the Spirit 1 24 The Spirit teacheth to applie truths 1 25 Christ by his Spirit overcomes in his Church 1 84 Christs bodily absence supplied by the Spirit 1 181 Spirit how obtained 2 24 Riches of Christians Spirituall 2 27 To converse with those that have the Spirit 2 65 Spring See Gospell Staggering Staggering in religion whence 1 44 Strictnesse Strictnesse of life forced from the Gospell 2 61 Studie To studie Christ daily 1 294 Suffering Spirituall poverty in suffering 2 119 T Temptation HOw Satan represents God in temptation 1 59 62 Terrible God out of Christ terrible 1 227 Thankefulnesse Thankefulnesse ground of it 2 87 Thankefulnesse whence it is 2 112 Times Why God hath some people in the worst times 2 83 Comfort against evill times 2 91 Trinity Whence we have communion with the Trinity 1 61 How to thinke of the persons in Trinity 2 46 Trouble Comfort in trouble whence 1 179 Difference of men in trouble 1 276 Trust. God must be trusted in 2 135 Trust what meant by it 2 1â—6 God how the object of trust 2 137 Evidences of trust in God Ibid. How to come to trust in God 2 148 Trust to be exercised upon all occasions 2 152 Truth Truths divine not to be slighted 1 24 V VAlue See Blessings Vnbeliefe Vnbeliefe hinders Gods glory 1 239 Vnfruitfulnesse Vnfrâ—â—â—fulnesse a sinne against the Gospell 1 135 Vnion Vnion threefold 1 56 Vnion with Christ necessarie 2 24 Voluntarie Christs abasement voluntarie 2 47 W Want COmfort in want 1 179 Outward want supplied by Christ 2 28 Watchfulnesse Watchfulnesse necessary to maintaine peace with God 1 269 Weake Whence to respect the weake 1 101 Wisdome Divine truth wisdome 1 7 Wonder How to cease wondring at worldly things 1 40 Christs incarnation a matter