it comes to a Duty by Examination and Ejaculation When the Earth is prepared then it is fit to receive the seed when the Instrument is prepared and tuned it is fit for Musick 2. Watching the heart in a Duty An holy heart labours to be affected and wrought upon his heart burns within him There was no Sacrifice without fire a pure Saint labours to have his heart broken in a duty Psal 51.17 The incense when it was broken did cast the sweetest favour Impure souls care not in what a dead perfunctory manner they serve God Ezek. 33.31 They pray more out of fashion than out of faith They are no more affected with an Ordinance than the Tombs of the Church God complains of offering up the blind Mal. 1.8 And is it not as bad to offer up the dead O Christian say to thy self How can this deadness of heart stand with pureness of heart Do not dead things putrifie 3. Outward reverence Purity of heart will express it self by the reverend gesture of the body the lifting up of the eye and hand the uncovering the head the bending the knee Constantine the Emperour did bear great reverence to the Word When God gave the Law the Mount was on fire and trembled Exod. 19.18 The reason was that the people might prostrate themselves more reverently before the Lord. The Ark wherein the Law was put was carried upon bars that the Levites might not touch it Exod. 25.11 14. To shew what reverence God would have about holy things Sitting in prayer unless in case of weakness and having the Hat half on in prayer is a very undecent irreverent practice let such as are guilty reform it We must not only offer up our souls but our bodies Rom. 12.1 The Lord takes notice what posture and gesture we use in his worship If a man were to deliver a Petition to the King would he deliver it with his Hat half on The careless irreverence of some would make us think they did not much regard whether God heard them or no. We are run from one extream to another from superstition to unmannerliness Let Christians think of the dreadful Majesty of God who is present Gen. 28.17 How dreadful is this place this is none other but the house of God and this is the gate of heaven The blessed Angels cover their faces crying Holy holy Isa 6.1 An holy heart will have an holy gesture 6. A pure heart will have a pure life 2 Cor. 7.1 Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. Where there is a good Conscience there will be a good Conversation Some bless God they have good hearts but their lives are evil Prov. 30.12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes and yet are not washed from their filthiness If the stream be corrupt we may suspect the spring-head to be impure Aaron was called the Saint of the Lord Psal 106.16 He had not only an holy heart but there was a golden plate on his fore-head on which was written holiness to the Lord. Purity must not only be woven into the heart but engraven upon the life Grace is most beautiful when it shines abroad with its golden beams The Clock hath not only its motion within but the finger moves without upon the Dyal Pureness of heart shews it self upon the Dyal of the Conversation 1. A pure soul talks of God Psal 37.30 His heart is seen in his tongue the Latines call the Roof of the mouth Coelum Heaven He that is pure in heart his mouth is full of heaven 2. He walks with God Gen. 6.9 He is still doing Angels work praising God serving God he lives as Christ did upon Earth Holy duties are the Jacobs Ladder by which he is still ascending to heaven Purity of heart and life are in Scripture made Twins Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within them there is purity of heart and they shall walk in my statutes there is purity of life Shall we account them pure whose Conversation is not in heaven * Phil. 3.20 but rather in hell Micah 6.11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances and with the bag of deceitful weights How justly may others reproach Religion when they see it kicked down with our unholy feet a pure heart hath a golden Frontispice grace like new wine will have vent it can be no more conceal'd than lost The Saints are called Jewels Mal. 3. because of that shining lustre they cast in the eyes of others 7. A pure heart is so in love with purity that nothing can draw him off from it 1. Let others reproach purity he loves it as David when he danced before the Ark and Michal scoffed if saith he this he to be vile I will yet be more vile 2 Sam. 6.22 So saith a pure heart If to follow after holiness be to be vile I will yet be more vile Let water be sprinkled upon the fire it burns the more The more others deride holiness the more doth a gracious soul burn in love and zeal to it If a man had an inheritance befallen him would he be laughed out of it what is a Christian the worse for anothers reproach 't is not a blind mans disparaging a Diamond that makes it sparkle the less 2. Let others persecute holiness a pure heart will pursue it Holiness is the Queen every gracious soul is espoused to and he will rather dye than be divorced Paul would be holy though bonds and persecutions did abide him Acts 20.23 The way of Religion is oft thorny and bloody but a gracious heart prefers inward purity before outward peace I have heard of one who having a Jewel he much prized the King sent for his Jewel Tell the King saith he I honour his Majesty but I will rather lose my life than part with my Jewel He who is enriched with the Jewel of holiness will rather dye than part with this Jewel When his honour and riches will do him no good his holiness will stand him instead Rom. 6.22 Ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life SECT 5. Exhorting to heart-purity Use 3 3. LET me perswade Christians to heart-purity the Harlot wipes her mouth Exhort Prov. 30.20 But that is not enough Wash thy heart o Jerusalem Jerem. 4.14 And here I shall lay down some Arguments or Motives to perswade to heart-purity 1. The necessity of heart-purity it is necessary 1. In respect of our selves Till the heart be pure all our holy things are polluted they are splendida peccata Titus 1.15 To the unclean all things are unclean their offering is unclean Under the Law if a man who was unclean by a dead body did carry a piece of holy flesh in his skirt the holy flesh could not cleanse him but he polluted that Hag. 2.12 13. He who had the Leprosie whatever he touched was unclean if he had touched the
I know saith St. Paul whom I have believed 2 Tim. 1.12 there was the applying blood to the Root of the tree and how fruitful was he in zeal love to Christ Heroical courage 2 Cor. 12.15 He that believes Christ dyed for him never thinks he can do or suffer enough for Christ When we read and pray now we do but water the Branches when we believe now we water the Root of the Tree and make it fruitfull 2. Apply the Promises Husbandmen have an art to comfort the spirits of the Root to make the tree bear better Apply the Promises these are for comforting the spirits of a Christian and then he puts forth fruit more vigorously It is an experiment in nature the Root of the Pine tree watered with wine doth cause it to flourish the Promises are as wine to water the Trees of Righteousness whereby they spread and augment more in grace Ever preserve the spirits of the tree if you would have it bear a pensive dejected soul is less fruitful but when through the Promises a Christians heart is cheared and comforted now he is enriched with pleasant fruits Camphire and Spiknard and Frankincense he is like a Tree laden with fruit 5. Another means to fruitfulness is humility The low grounds are most fruitful The Valleys are covered with Corn Psal 65.13 The humble heart is the fruitful heart It is observed in some Countreys as in France that the best and largest Grapes which they make their wine of grow upon the lower sort of Vines The largest and fairest Fruits of the Spirit grow in a lowly Christian 1 Pet. 5.5 God gives grace to the humble St. Paul calls himself the least of Saints yet he was the chief of the Apostles The Virgin Mary was low in her own eyes Luke 1.48 but this lowly Plant did bear that blessed Vine which brought the Fruit of salvation to the world 6. If you would be fruitful in grace be much in good conference Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another There is an observation some have concerning the Sympathy of Plants some plants will bear better near other trees than when they grow alone as is seen in the Myrtle and Olive This holds true in Divinity the trees of righteousness when they associate and grow near together thrive best in godlinesse The communion of Saints is an excellent means for fruitfulness Christians encrease one anothers knowledge strengthen one anothers Faith clear one anothers evidences When the Trees planted in Gods Orchard stand at a distance and grow strange one to another they are less fruitful 7. If you would be fruit-bearing trees be near the waters of the Sanctuary Jer. 17.8 He shall be like a tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth out the roots by the River her leaf shall be green nor shall it cease from yeilding fruit The Word preached will not only make us knowing Christians but growing Christians Ministers are compared to Clouds Isa 5.6 their Doctrine drops as the rain and makes the trees of God fruitful Those that sit under these silver drops the wind of the Spirit blowing are like that flock of sheep Cant. 2.4 whereof every one bears twins and none is barren among them I wonder not that they are barren trees and nigh unto cursing * Heb. 6.8 that are not under the droppings of the Sanctuary a Christian can no more be fruitful without Ordinances than a tree without showres 8. And lastly if you would fructifie apace go to God and desire him to make you fruitful God is call'd the Husband man John 15.1 and he hath an art above all other Husbandmen they can plant and prune trees but if they be dead they cannot make them bear God can make the barren tree bear he can put life into a dead tree Ephes 2.5 It is not Pauls planting but the Spirits watering must give the encrease Pray to God to make you fruitful though it be by affliction oftentimes God makes us grow in grace this way Hebr. 12.11 No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness The bleeding Vine bears best It is an observation that the pulling off some of the blossoms of a tree makes the fruit fairer the reason is because the sap hath the less to nourish some Writers say they have known a tree by having too many blossoms hath blossomed it self dead The notion holds true in a Scriptural sence God by pulling off some of the blossoms of our outward comforts makes us bring forth fairer fruit some have so blossom'd in prosperity that they have blossom'd themselves into hell It is an ancient experiment that the planting of some tender trees near the West sun doth them hurt and parcheth the Fruit the Sun being so extream hot Too much prosperity like the West sun doth Christians much hurt and parcheth all good affection Jer. 22.21 Oh pray to God that he would make you fruitful though it be by bleeding Say as Luther Lord wound where thou wilt prune and cut me till I bleed so that I may have my Fruit unto holiness and my end everlasting life Rom. 6.22 The perfume of Love 1 Pet. 1.22 See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently THE holy Scripture makes the love of the brethren the surest note of a man that shall go to heaven 1 Joh. 3.14 and I find Christ and his Apostles beating much upon this string of love as if this made the sweetest musick and harmony in Religion The consideration whereof hath put me upon this subject All the graces have their beauty but there are some that do more adorn and set off a Christian in the eye of the world like some of the Stars that shine brighter as humility and Charity These two graces like pretious Diamonds cast a sparkling lustre upon Religion I have designed to speak of the last of these at this time See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently Love is a Grace alwayes needful therefore never out of season though too much out of use My Text like the River of Eden * Gen. 2.10 parts it self into four Heads 1. Here is a Commission or charge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See that ye love 2. The Extent of this Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One another 3. The Manner of this Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a pure heart 4. The Degree of this love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fervently 1. Love purely that is opposed to Hypocrisie Love must be with the heart it must not be a complement which is like a painted fire dissembled love is worse than hatred 2. Love fervently that is opposed to Neutrality love must flame forth it must not be as the smoaking flax but as a burning Lamp so much the Hebrew word for love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports an ardent and zelous affection * Ardens vehemens
THE BEATITUDES OR A DISCOURSE Upon part of CHRISTS Famous Sermon ON THE MOUNT Whereunto is added Christs various fulnesse The preciousnesse of the Soul The Souls Malady and Cure The Beauty of Grace The Spiritual Watch. The Heavenly Race The Sacred Anchor The Trees of Righteousnesse The Perfume of Love The good Practitioner By THOMAS WATSON Minister of the Word at Stephens Walbrook in the City of London 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menand LONDON Printed for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange 1660. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE JOHN EARLE of CLARE And his Vertuous and Pious Consort ELIZABETH Countesse of CLARE Right Honorable THE many civilities and favors received from your Honours have laid no small obligations upon me and I knew not wherein I might better testifie my gratitude to you both than by presenting you with something of this kinde as a specimen of that solemne respect and service which I owe to you My Lord the soul being a blossome of eternity what should so preponderate and bear sway with us as those things which help to raise the soul to its full 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of happinesse and set it off in its orient splendor Blood may enoble learning may adorn but Religion puts the Garland of salvation upon a man In this consists true Wisdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My Lord the study of this subject which I here offer to your view will with the blessing of God much expedite and help forward the true progress of Religion For the Author of this Sermon on the Mount behold a greater than Solomon is here Christ himself is the Preacher as his lips did ever drop like an hony-comb so most eminently in these Divine Aphorismes The duties here enjoyned are weighty the rewards annexed glorious Here we may see a Christian clothed in his white linnen of purity and scarlet-robe of Blessednesse Here we may see grace and glory meeting together and kissing each other Let no man ever think to get heaven who doth not ascend this Jacobs ladder * Gratia divina necessario requiritur ad beatitudinem consequendam Aquin. Would he be rich he must be poor in spirit would he enjoy happinesse he must espouse holinesse My Lord I could not be so exact as I desired in discussing this subject having much other work lying on my hands but I know such is your noble candour that you will rather cover than censure what you see amisse I will not farther Preface it but craving your Lordships patrociny and favourable acceptance of these impolite labours of mine I shall continue an earnest Oratour at the throne of grace for the distillation of all heavenly benedictions upon you and your nobly descended family and remaine Your Lordships humble Servant in Christ THOMAS WATSON From my Study at Steph. Walbrook July 6. 1660. Mr. Watson's Beatitudes TO THE Reader Christian Reader I Here present thee with a Subject full of Sweet Variety This Sermon of Christ on the Mount is a piece of Spiritual Needle-work wrought about with divers Colours here is both Utile Dulce In this portion of Holy Scripture thou hast a Breviary of Religion the Bible Epitomized Here is a Garden of Delight set with Curious Knots where thou mayest pluck those Flowers which will deck the Hidden man of thy heart Here is the Golden Key which will open the gate of Paradise Here is the conduit of the Gospel running Wine to cheer such as are Poor in spirit and Pure in heart Here is the Rich Cabinet wherein the Pearl of Blessedness is lock'd up Here is the Golden Pot in which is that Manna which will feed and refocillate the Soul unto Everlasting life In a word here is away Chawlked out to the Holy of Holyes Reader how happy were it if while others take up their time and thoughts about Secular things which Perish in the using thou couldest minde Eternity and be guided by this Scripture-clue which leads thee to the Beatifical vision Hoc patens unum miseris asylum Boetius de Consol If after God hath set life before thee thou shalt indulge thy sensual appetite and still Court thy lusts how inexcusable will be thy neglect and how unexpressible thy misery The Lord grant that while thou hast an opportunity and the wind serves thee thou mayest not lye idle at anchor and when it is too late begin to hoyse up Sailes for Heaven Ob now Christian let thy Loines be girt and thy Lamps burning that when the Lord Jesus thy blessed Bridegroom shall Knock thou mayest be ready to go in with him to the Marriage-supper which shall be the Prayer of him who is Thine in all true affection and devotion Tho. Watson ERRATA Reader be pleased diligently to Correct these mistakes in the Printing else the sense cannot be clear Page 76. margent for plungenda read plangenda p. 84. line 30. for donatus r. Novatus p. 100. l. 17. for that he may be saved r. that thinks he may be saved p. 116. marg for Naturam agens r. naturam agentis p. 127. l. 18. for deny r. envy p. 132. l. 3. for in r. it p. 148. l. 5. for judicial r. juridical p. 215. l. 2. for bemercified r. bemercied p. 223. l. 33. for soil r. soul p. 285. marg for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 238. l. 24. for straine r. stream p. 331. l. 13. for world r. word p. 384. l. 10. for least r. last p. 435. l. 17. for obnoxious r. obvious p. 454. l. 1. for rig r. ring p. 495. l. 9. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 513. l. 24. for of another r. to another p. 553. l. 13. for Hannibal r. Cannibal p. 570. l. 25. for must be saved r. may be saved 580. l. 7. for transforms him r. transforms us p. 584. l. 10. for purifying r. purifieth p. 617. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 615. l. 11. for scriptural r. spiritual p. 625. l. 9. for zeal of the spirit r. seal of the spirit p. 619. marg for charitatum r. charitatem p. 623. l. 26. for should r. would p. 639. l. 11. for laid r. lead THE BEATITVDES Or a Discourse upon Christs Sermon ON THE MOUNT MATTH 5.1 2. And seeing the multitudes he went up into a mountain and when he was set his disciples came unto him And he opened his mouth and taught them CHAP. I. The Introduction into the ensuing Discourse THE blessed Evangelist Saint Matthew the Penman of this Sacred History was at first by profession a Publican or gatherer of Toll * Publicani aut vectigaliarii Cael. Rhod. Antiq. and Christ having called him from the Custom-house made him a gatherer of souls This holy man in the first Chapter sets down Christs birth and Genealogy in the second his dignity a Starre ushers in the Wisemen to him and as a King he is presented with Gold and
it were high-water in the soul 1. When there are indicia irae tokens of Gods Season 1 wrath breaking forth in the Nation England hath been under Gods black Rod these many years the Lord hath drawn the Sword and it is not yet put up O that our tears may blunt the edge of this Sword when it is a time of treading down now is a time of breaking up the fallow ground of our hearts Isa 22.4 5. Therefore said I look away from me I will weep bitterly for it is a time of treading down Joel 2.2 13. A day of darkness and of gloominess a day of cloud c. therefore turn ye even to me with weeping and with mourning Rain follows thunder When God thunders in a Nation by his judgements now the showres of tears must distil When God smites upon our back we must smite upon our thigh Jer. 31.19 When God seems to stand upon the Threshold of the Temple as if he were ready to take his wings and flie * Ezek. 10.4 then is a time to lie weeping between the Porch and the Altar If the Lord seems to be packing up and carrying away his Gospel it is now high time to mourn that by our teares possibly his Repentings may be kindled Season 2 2. Before the performing solemn duties of Gods Worship as Fasting or receiving the Lords Supper Christian Art thou to seek God in an extraordinary manner seek him sorrowing Luk. 2.48 Wouldst thou have the smiles of Gods face the kisses of his lips set open all the springs of Mourning and then God will draw nigh to thee in an Ordinance and say Here I am Isa 58.9 When Jacob wept then he found God in Bethel Hos 12.4 He named the name of the place Peniel for saith he I have seen God face to face Gen. 32.30 Give Christ the Wine of thy tears to drink and in the Sacrament he will give thee the Wine of his blood to drink Season 3 3. After scandalous relapses though I will not say with Donatus there is no mercy for sins of recidivation or relapse yet I say there 's no mercy without bitter Mourning Scandalous sins reflect dishonour upon Religion 2 Sam 12.14 Therefore now our Cheeks should be covered with blushing and our eyes bedewed with tears Peter after his denying Christ wept bitterly Christian hath God given thee over to any enormous sin as a just reward of thy pride and security go into the weeping Bath Sins of infirmity injure the soul but scandalous sins wound the Gospel Lesser sins grieve the Spirit but greater sins vex the Spirit Isa 63.9 And if that blessed Dove weeps shall not we weep When the Aire is dark then the dew falls when we have by scandalous sin darkned the lustre of the Gospel now is the time for the dew of holy tears to fall from our eyes SECT 7. Setting forth the Degrees of Mourning NEXT to the seasons of Mourning let us consider the degree of it the Mourning for sin must be a very great Mourning the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports a great sorrow such as is seen at the Funeral of a dear friend * Gravissima peâ—cata gravissimis lamentis indigent Aug. Zach. 12.10 They shall look on me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one that mourneth for his only son The sorrow for an only child is very great such must be the sorrow for sin Ver. 11. In that day there shall be great Mourning as the Mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon In that Valley Josiah that famous and pious Prince was cut off by an untimely death at whose Funeral there was bitter lamentation thus bitterly must we bewail not the death but the life of our sins Now then to set forth the graduation of sorrow 1. Our Mourning for sin must be so great as to exceed all other grief Elies Mourning for the Ark was such that it swallowed up the loss of his two children spiritual grief must preponderate all other We should mourn more for sin than the loss of friends or estate 2. We should indeavour to have our sorrow rise up to the same heighth and proportion as our sin doth Manasseh was a great sinner and a great Mourner 2 Chron. 33.12 He humbled himself greatly Manasseh made the streets run with blood and he made the prison in Babylon run with tears * Ut scilicet peccatum lachrymis lavaret Ambr. Peter wept bitterly â— A true Mourneâ— labours that his Repentance may be as eminent as his sin is transcendent SECT 8. Shewing the Opposite to holy Mourning HAving shewn the nature of Mourning I shall next shew what is the Opposite to holy Mourning The Opposite to Mourning is hardness of heart which in Scripture is called Cor lapideum an heart of stone Ezek. 36. An heart of stone is far from Mourning and Relenting this heart of stone is known by two symptomes 1. Insensibility A stone is not sensible of any thing lay weight upon it grind it to powder it doth not feel so it is with an hard heart it is insensible of sin or wrath the stone in the Kidneys is felt but not the stone in the heart Ephes 4.19 Who being past feeling 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. An heart of stone is known by its inflexibility A stone will not bend durum est quod non cedit tactui so it is with an hard heart it will not comply with Gods Command it will not stoop to Christs Scepter an heart of stone will sooner break by death than bend by Repentance it is so far from yielding to God that with the Anvil it beats back the Hammer it resists the Holy Ghost Acts 7.51 Oh Christians if you would be spiritual Mourners take heed of this stone of the heart Hebr. 3.7 Harden not your hearts A stony heart is the worst heart if it were brazen it might be melted in the furnace if Iron it might be bowed with the Hammer but a stony heart is such that only the Arme of God can break and the blood of God can soften Oh the misery of an hard heart 1. An hard heart is void of all grace while the Wax is hard it will not take the impression of the seal the heart while it is hard will not take the stamp of grace it must first be made tender and melting the Plow of the Word will not go upon an hard heart 2. An hard heart is good for nothing but to make fuel for hell-fire Rom. 5.2 After thy hardness of heart thou treasurest up wrath Hell is full of hard hearts there is not one soft heart there there is weeping there but no softness We read of Vessels fitted for destruction Rom. 9.22 Impenitency fits these Vessels for hell and makes them like sere Wood which is fit to burn 3. Hardness of heart makes a mans condition worse than all his other sins besides if one be guilty of great sins yet if he can mourn
lax general faith When we believe the truth of all that is revealed in the holy Scriptures this is not the faith which doth priviledge us in sonship the Divels believe all the Articles in the Creed 'T is not the bare knowledge of a medicine or believing the Soveraign vertue of it will cure one that is ill This general faith so much cryed up by some will not save this a man may have and yet not love God He may believe that God will come to judge the quick and the dead and hate him as the prisoner believeth the Judges coming to the Assizes and abhors the thoughts of him Take heed of resting in a general faith you may have this and be no better than Divels 2. There is a special faith fides quâ creditur when we do not only believe the report we hear of Christ but rest upon him embrace him taking hold of the horns of this Altar resolving there to abide In the body there are venae sugentes sucking veins which draw the meat into the stomack and concoct it there So faith is the sucking veine which draws Christ into the heart and applies him there This is the filiating faith by this we are made the children of God and wherever this faith is it is not like physick in a dead mans mouth but is exceeding operative it obligeth to duty it works by love Gal. 5.6 2. Why Faith makes us children why not as well other graces Repentance Love c Answ 1. Because Faith is instituted of God and honoured to this work of making us children Gods institution gives Faith its value and validity it is the Kings stamp makes the Coyne passe currant if he would put his stamp upon brass or leather it would go as currant as silver The great God hath authorized and put the stamp of his institution upon Faith and that makes it pass for currant and gives it a priviledge above all the graces to make us children 2. Faith makes us children as it is the vital principle Hab. 2.4 The just shall live by faith All Gods children are living none of them are still-born now by faith we live As the heart is the primum vivens the fountain of life in the body so Faith is the fountain of life in the soul 3. Faith makes us children as it is the uniting grace it knits us to Christ the other graces cannot do this by faith we are one with Christ and so we are akin to God being united to the Natural Son we become adopted sons The Kindred comes in by Faith God is the Father of Christ Faith makes us Christs Brethren * Hebr. 2.11 and so God comes to be our Father SECT 4. Setting forth the signs of Gods children 4. THE fourth particular to be discussed is To shew the signs of Gods children it concerns us to know whose children we are * Aut filii Dei aut filii Diaboli Aug. Austin saith All mankind are divided into two Ranks either they are the children of God or the children of the Divel †1. The first sign of our heavenly son-ship is tenderness of heart 2 Chron. 34.27 Because thy heart was tender A child-like heart is a render heart he who before had a flinty hath now a fleshy heart A tender heart is like melting wax to God he may set what seal he will upon it this tenderness of heart shews it self three wayes 1. A tender heart grieves for sin a child weeps for offending his father Peter shewed a tender heart when Christ looked upon him and he remembred his sin he wept as a childe Clemens Alexandrinus saith he never heard a Cock crow but he wept * Da mihi Domine in hoc exilio lachrymarum fontem quem super omnem dâ—litiarum copiam â—surio Aug. l. de contrit cord And some learned Writers tell us that by much weeping there seemed to be as it were Channels made in his blessed face The least hair makes the eye weep the least sin makes the heart smite Davids heart smote him when he cut off the Lap of King Sauls garment What would it have done if he had cut off his head 2. A tender heart melts under mercy Though when God thunders by affliction the rain of tears doth fall from a gracious eye yet the heart is never so kindly dissolved as under the Sun-beams of Gods mercy see how Davids heart was melted with Gods kindness 2 Sam. 7.18 Who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto there was a gracious thaw upon his heart So saith a childe of God Lord who am I a piece of dust and sin kneaded together that the orient beams of free-grace should shine upon me Who am I that thou shouldest pity me when I lay in my blood and spread the golden wings of mercy over me The soul is overcome with Gods goodness the tears drop the love flames mercy hath a melting influence upon the soul 3. A tender heart trembles under Gods threatnings Psalm 119.120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee 2 Chron. 34.27 Because thy heart was tender and thou didst humble thy self before God when thou heardst his words against this place and didst rend thy clothes c. If the father be angry the child trembles When Ministers denounce the menaces and threats of God against sin tender souls sit in a trembling posture this frame of heart God delights in Isa 66.2 To this man will I look even to him that trembleth at my word a wicked man like the Leviathan is made without fear Job 41.33 He neither believes the Promises nor dreads the Threatnings let judgement be denounced against sin he laughs at the shaking of a spear he thinks either that God is ignorant and doth not see or impotent and cannot punish the mountains quake before the Lord the hills melt the rocks are thrown down by him Nahum 1.5 But the hearts of sinners are more obdurate than the rocks an hardned sinner like Nebuchadnezzar hath the heart of a beast given to him Dan. 4.16 a child-like heart is a tender heart the stone is taken away 2. The second signe of son-ship is Assimilation Col. 3.10 Ye have put on the new man which is renewed af-the image of him that created him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the child resembles the father Gods children are like their heavenly Father they bear his very image and impresse wicked men say they are the children of God but there is too great a dissimilitude and unlikenesse the Jews brag'd they were Abrahams children but Christ disproves them by this argument because they were not like him John 8.40 Ye seek to kill me a man that have told you the truth which I have heard of God this did not Abraham You Abrahams children and go about to kill me Abraham would not have murdered an innocent you are more like Satan than Abraham ver 44. ye are of your father the Divel Such as are
Object 2 knowledge of God they have no sense of spiritual things nor are they the better for our instructions 1. We read in Scripture of children who by vertue Answ 1 of instruction have had their tender years sanctified Timothies Mother and Grand-mother taught him the Scriptures from his Cradle 2 Tim. 3.15 And that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures Timothy sucked in Religion as it were with his milk we read of young children who cried Hosanna to Christ and did trumpet forth his praises Matth. 21.15 And sure those children of Tyre had some seeds of good wrought in them in that they shewed their love to Paul and would help him on his way to Sea-shoar Acts 21.5 They all brought us on our way with wives and children Saint Paul had a Convoy of young Saints to bring him to take ship Answ 2 2. Suppose our counsel and instruction doth not at present prevail with our children it may afterwards take effect The seed a man sowes in his ground doth not presently spring up but in its season it brings forth a crop he that plants a Wood doth not see the full growth till many years after If we must not instruct our children because at present they reap not the benefit by the same reason we should not baptize our children because at present they have not the sense of baptisme nay by the same reason Ministers should not preach the Word because at present many of their hearers have no benefit Answ 3 3. If our counsels and admonitions prevail not with our children yet we have delivered our own souls There is comfort in the discharge of conscience we must let alone issues and events duty is our work success is Gods All which considered should make parents whet holy instructions upon their children they who are of the Family of God and whom he hath adopted for children will endeavour that their children may be more Gods children than theirs they will travail in birth till Christ be formed in them A true Saint is a load-stone that will be still drawing others to God Let this suffice to have spoken of the signs of Adoption I proceed SECT 5. Discovering Gods love in making us children THE next particular to be discussed is the love of God in making us children 1 John 3.1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God! God shewed power in making us creatures but love in making us sons Plato gave God thanks that he had made him a man and not a beast but what cause have they to adore Gods love who hath made them children the Apostle puts an ecce to it behold * O aeterna vera charitas Aug. That we may the better behold Gods love in making us children consider three things 1. We were deformed Ezek. 16.6 8. When I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine own blood it was the time of love Mordecai adopted Esther because she was fair but we were in our blood and then God adopted us he did not adopt us when we were cloathed with the Robe of innocency in Paradise when we were hung with the jewels of holiness and were white and ruddy but when we were in our blood and had our leprous spots upon us the time of our loathing was the time of Gods loving 2. As we did not deserve to be made children so neither did we desire it No landed man will force another to become his heir against his will if a King should go to adopt a beggar and make him heir of the Crown if the beggar should refuse the Kings favour and say I had rather be as I am I would be a beggar still the King would take it in high contempt of his favour and would not adopt him against his will Thus it was with us we had no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or willingness to be made children we would have been begging still but God out of his infinite mercy and indulgence not only offers to make us children but makes us willing to embrace the offer * Psal 110.3 Behold what manner of love is this 3. Which is the wonder of love that God should adopt us for his children when we were enemies If a man would make another heir of his Land he would adopt one that is near akin to him no man would adopt an enemy but that God should make us children when we were enemies that he should make us heirs to the Crown when we were Traytors to the Crown oh amazing astonishing love Behold what manner of love is this We were not akin to God we had by sin lost and forfeited our Pedigree we had done God all the injury and spight we could defac'd his image violated his Law trampled upon his mercies and when we had angered him he adopted us What stupendious love was this such love was never shewn to the Angels when they fell though they were of a more noble nature and in probability might have done God more service than we can yet God never vouchsafed this priviledge of Adoption to them he did not make them children but prisoners they were heirs only to the treasures of wrath * Rom. 2.5 Use Let all who are thus nearly related to God stand admiring his love when they were like Saul breathing forth enmity against God when their hearts stood out as Garrisons against him the Lord conquered their stubborness with kindness and not only pardoned but adopted them 't is hard to say which is greater the mystery or the mercy this is such amazing love as we shall be searching into and adoring to all eternity the bottom of it cannot be fathomed by any Angel in heaven Gods love in making us children is 1. A rich love it is love in God to feed us but it is rich love to adopt us it is love to give us a Crumb but it is rich love to make us heirs to a Crown 2. It is a distinguishing love that when God hath passed by so many millions he should cast a favourable aspect upon thee most are cut out for fuel and are made Vessels of wrath and that God should say to thee Thou art my son here 's the mirrour of mercy the meridian of love Who O who can tread upon these hot coals and his heart not burn in love to God SECT 6. Declaring the honour of Gods children 6. THE sixth particular is the honour and renown of Gods children for the illustration of this observe two things 1. God makes a precious account of them 2. He looks upon them as persons of honour 1. God makes a precious account of them Isa 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight c. A father prizeth his childe above his Estate How dearly did Jacob prize Benjamin his life was bound up in the life of the Lad Gen. 44.30 God makes a precious valuation of his children
pure conscience A good conscience will abide the fiery trial this made the Martyrs flames beds of Roses good conscience * Murus abaeneus esto Nil conscire sibi is a wall of brass with the Leviathan it laughs at the shaking of a Spear Job 41.29 Let one be in Prison good conscience is a Bird can sing in this Cage Austin calls it the Paradise of a good conscience 5. Make the Scripture familiar to you Psal 119.50 The Scripture well digested by meditation will fit for suffering The Scripture is a Christians Palladium his Magazine and Fort-royal it may be compar'd to the Tower of David on which there hang a thousand Bucklers Cant. 4.3 From these brests of Scripture divine strength flows into the soul Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly Hierom speaks of one who by frequent studying the Scripture made his breast bibliothecam Christi the Library of Christ The blessed Scripture as it is an honycomb for comfort so an armory for strength first the Martyrs hearts did burn within them by reading the Scripture †* Luke 24.32 and then their bodies were fit to burn The Scripture armes a Christian both against tentation and persecution 1. Against Tentation Christ himself when he was tempted by the Divel ran to Scripture for armour it is written Three times he wounds the old Serpent with this sword Hierom saith of Saint Paul he could never have gone through so many tentations but for his Scripture-armour Christian art thou tempted go to Scripture gather a stone hence to sling in the face of a Goliah-temptation art thou tempted to pride read that Scripture 1 Pet. 5.5 God resisteth the proud art thou tempted to lust read James 1.15 when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death 2. Against persecution When the flesh draws back the Scripture will recruit us it will put armour upon us and courage into us Rev. 2.10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Divel shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried and you shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life O saith the Christian I am afraid to suffer Feare none of those things thou shalt suffer But why should I suffer I love God and is not this sufficient nay but God will try your love it is that ye may be tried Gods gold is best tried in the Furnace But this persecution is so long No it is but for ten dayes it may be lasting but not everlasting What are ten dayes put in the ballance with eternity But what am I the better if I suffer what comes of it I will saith God give thee a Crown of life Though thy body be Martyr'd thy soul shall be Crown'd But I shall faint when trials come My grace shall be sufficient 2 Cor. 12.9 The weak Christian hath Omnipotency to under-prop it 6. Get a suffering frame of heart Quest What is that Quest Answ A self-denying frame Answ Matth. 16.24 If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up the Cross Self-denial is the foundation of godliness and if this be not well laid the whole building will fall If there be any lust in our souls which we cannot deny it will turn at length either to scandal or apostasie Self-denial is the thread which must run along through the whole work of Religion the self-denying Christian will be the suffering Christian let him deny himself and take up his Cross For the further Explication of this I shall do two things 1. Shew what is meant by this word deny 2. What is meant by self 1. What is meant by deny the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to deny signifies to lay aside to put off to annihilate ones self Beza renders it abdicet seipsum let him renounce himself 2. What is meant by self Self is taken four wayes 1. Worldly self 2. Relative self 3. Natural self 4. Carnal self 1. A man must deny worldly self that is his estate Matth. 19.27 Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee The gold of Ophir must be denied for the pearle of price Let their money perish with them said that noble Marquess of Vico who esteem all the gold and silver in the world worth one houres communion with Christ 2. A man must deny RELATIVE SELF his dearest Relations if God calls if our nearest alliance father or mother stand in our way and would hinder us from doing our duty we must either leap over them or tread upon them Luke 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not father and mother and wife and children c. he cannot be my Disciple Relations must not weigh heavier than Christ 3. A man must deny natural self he must be willing to become a sacrifice and make Christs Crown flourish though it be in his ashes Luk. 14.26 Rev. 12.11 They loved not their lives unto the death Jesus Christ was dearer to them than their own heart-blood 4. A man must deny carnal self this I take to be the chief sense of the Text. 1. He must deny self-ease the flesh cries out for ease it is loth to put its neck under Christs yoke or stretch it self upon the Cross the flesh cries out there is a Lyon in the way Prov. 22.13 We must deny our self-ease they that lean on the soft pillow of sloath will hardly take up the Cross 2 Tim. 2.3 Thou as a good Souldier of Christ endure hardness We must force a way to heaven through sweat and blood Caesars Souldiers did fight with hunger and cold 2. A man must deny self-opinion every man by nature hath an high opinion of himself he is drunk with spiritual pride and a proud man is unfit for suffering he thinks himself too good to suffer What saith he I that am of such a noble descent such high parts such repute and credit in the world shall I suffer a proud man disdains the Cross oh deny self-opinion how did Christ come to suffer He humbled himself and became obedient unto death Phil. 2.8 Let the Plumes of pride fall 3. A man must deny self-confidence Peters confidence undid him Matth. 26.33 34. Though all men shall be offended because of thee yet will I never be offended though I should dye with thee yet will I not deny thee How did this man presume upon his own strength as if he had more grace than all the Apostles besides his denying Christ was for want of denying himself oh deny thy own strength Sampsons strength was in his locks a Christians strength lies in Christ he who trusts to himself shall be left to himself he who goes out in his own strength comes off to his own shame 4. A man must deny self-wisdom †* Renunciet proprio ingenio Beza We read of the wisdom of the flesh 2 Cor. 1.12 Self-wisdom is carnal
falling away from grace would make a believer wear Cains mark which was a continual shaking and trembling in his flesh they would spill a Christians cordial and break a link of the chain of salvation 2. Let us try whether our grace be true There is something Use 2 looks like grace which is not Chrysostom saith the Divel hath a counterfeit chain to all the graces Trial. and he would deceive us with it Lapidaries have wayes to try their precious stones let us try our grace by a Scripture touchstone the painted Christian shall have a painted Paradise 1. The truth of grace is seen by a displacency and antipathy against sin Psal 119.104 I hate every false way Grace sets it self against complexion-sins Psal 18.23 and against the sins of the Times Rev. 2.2 2. Grace is known by the growth of it growth evidenceth life Dead things grow not a picture will not grow An hypocrite who is but a picture of Religion doth not grow a good Christian grows in love to Christ in humility in good works Psal 92.12 Hos 14.5 He shall grow as the lilly his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree and his smell as Lebanon When the Spirit of God distills as dew upon the soul it makes grace flourish and put forth into maturity 3. True grace will make us willing to suffer for Christ Grace is like gold it will abide the fiery trial 1 Pet. 1.7 And if upon a serious scrutiny and trial we find that we have the right jewel the grace of God in truth Col. 1.6 this will be a death-bed cordial we may with Simeon depart in peace being assured that though we cannot resist death yet we shall overcome it Use 3 3. Let me lay down two or three directions for the attaining of grace Direction 1. If we would be enriched with this jewel of grace let us take pains for it we are bid to make an hue and cry after knowledge and to search for it as a man that searcheth for a vein of gold Prov. 2.2 3. Our salvation cost Christ blood it will cost us sweat 2. Let us go to God for grace * Incassum laborat qui aliunde virtutes sperat quam à Domino virtutum he is called the God of all grace 1 Pet. 5.10 We could lose grace of our selves but we cannot find it of our selves * Domine errare potui redire non potui Austin The Sheep can wander from the Fold but cannot return without the help of the Shepherd Go to the God of all grace God is the first Planter the Promoter the perfecter of grace God is the Father of lights Jam. 1.17 He must light up this candle of grace in the soul grace is in his gift it is not an impropiriation but a donative Oh then go to God in prayer lay thy heart before him Lord I want grace I want an humble believing heart and thou art the God of all grace all my springs are in thee Oh enrich me with grace deny me not this before I dye What is gold in the bag if I have no oyle in the Lamp Give me that anointing of God I read in thy Word of the fruits of the Spirit * Gal. 5.22 Lord my heart is a barren soile plant some of these supernatural fruits in me that I may be more useful and serviceable Lord I cannot be put off with other things Who wilt thou give grace to if not to such as ask and are resolved not to give over asking 3. If you would have grace engage the prayers of others in your behalf he is like to be rich who hath several stocks going he is in the way of spiritual thriving who hath several stocks of prayer going for him If you had a childe that were sick you would beg the prayers of others thou hast a soul that is sick sick of pride lust sick unto death oh beg the prayers of godly friends that God will heal thee with his grace a Moses and Jacob have much power with God Believers can prevail sometimes not only for themselves but for their friends Jam. 5.16 A godly mans prayers may do you more good than if he should bestow upon you all his lands of inheritance 4. If you would have grace frequent the means of grace lie at the pool of Bethesda wait at the posts of wisdoms door Inward grace is wrought by outward means the preaching of the Word is Gods Engine that he useth for working grace it is called the rod of his strength Psal 110.2 and the breath of his lips Isa 11.4 By this he causeth breath to enter out of this golden pipe of the Sanctuary God empties the golden oyle of grace into the soul the Ministry of the Gospel is called the Ministry of the Spirit 2 Cor. 8. because the Spirit of God ordinarily makes use of this to work grace this Ministry of the Spirit is to be preferred before the Ministry of Angels Quest Quest Why is the Word preached the ordinary means to convey grace why not conference or reading Answ Answ The reason is because God hath appointed it to this end and he will grace his own Ordinances 1 Cor. 1.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it pleased God What reason could be given why the waters of Damascus should not have as soveraign vertue to heal Naamans leprosie as the waters of Jordan only this because the Lord did appoint and sanctifie one to this work and not the other if therefore we would have grace let us wait where the Manna falls and there expect the dew of the Spirit to fall with Manna the power of God goes along with his Word How should we delight in Ordinances Sleidan saith there was a Church in France formerly which the Protestants call'd Paradise as if they thought themselves in Paradise while they were in the house of God those Ordinances should be our Paradise which are the power of God is salvation PROV 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life The spiritual watch THIS Book of the Proverbs is full of many Divine Aphorismes other parts of Scripture are like a golden chain the Verses are linked together by Coherence this Book is like an heap of gold Rings many precious sentences lie scattered up and down in it as so many jewels or sparkling Diamonds That title which some have given to Peter Lombard Solomon might justly challenge to be Master of the Sentences Solomon was the wisest of Kings as his Kingdom was a Map of the worlds glory so his Head was an epitome of the worlds wisdom He was endued with a Divine Spirit while he did write the Holy Ghost did dictate and surely among all his golden sentences none is more weighty and important than this Keep thy heart with all keeping for out of it are the issues of life Agitur de vitâ The Text is about matter of life and death the