Fear not In peace Mal. 2.6 and Equity and turn many from iniquity and Truth 3 John 4. i. e. Sincerely in Religion prescrib'd in the Gospel and shall walk with Christ in white Revel 3.4 for they are worthy Dignatione divinâ as those good ones in dead Sardis To conclude this answer to the grand Inquiry before Those that thus walk to please God are such as have the Image of God instamped upon them and do answer the Relations betwixt God and them viz. Of a King Husband Father Master and of a Friend 1. Only a few words of the first of these touching the Image of God The Image of God is said to be in Christ Angels and Men. 1. In Christ above all Angels Men or any other and that as God Infinitely or Incomprehensibly Identically or Essentially as Man and that unutterably by the prefence of the divine Nature bodily Mightily by Works Wonders and Miracles Eminently by Qualifications of Knowledge purity c. and most admirably viz. As God the invisible As man the visible Image of God 2. In Angels above men in respect of their Excellency in Nature Freedom from humane necessities and present fruition of beatifical vision in the presence of God 3. In men the Image of God is said to be 1 Cor. 11.7 Col. 3.10 accidentally respecting qualities spiritual and heavenly Gen. 1.26 27. Not in any bodily shape as some Hereticks and others too easily believe and which Popish pictures of God do marvelously nourish which yet is against that Deut. 4.15 16. to 20. for you saw no similitude but 1. In Creation in the nature of the soul as it is a spiritual and immortal substance endued with three faculties viz. Understanding Will and Memory as the Deity hath three persons by which man is in a capacity to know God which others have not 2. In Regeneration in the supernatural endowments of divine knowledge righteousness and true holiness For as Eccles 7.29 Ephes 4.24 God made man upright and the new man c. 3. In the Authority and Dominion over the Creatures which God did confer upon man Gen. 1.28 Over fish and fowl c. Ap. The first and last of these are much impaired by the fall of man in Paradise viz. Our natural parts and dominion over the Creatures But the second of these viz. Gods image upon us in our regeneration is ever upon the improvement and by this we do daily become like unto the Lord Jesus more and more And where this Image of God is instamped there the body of sin dies daily Rom. 8.10 This Image and that body are inconsistent and incompatible It makes us fruitful in good This stock cannot be barren c. It s universal in its cure not partial to some particulars but it overpowers the whole man which is acted by this Image Christ becomes our life then we live the life of Christ c. And thus beautified we are accepted of God and as Jacob and Stephen We may see Angels ready to serve us Psalm 34.7 Heb. 1.14 And Christ himself ready to receive and save us Acts 7.55 56. Thus those that walk and please God are accepted of him Of the second particular viz. In answering our Relations as to a King c. I may not here speak at large only consider That whatsoever subjection is due to any is much more due to God Thus those that walk to please God do walk with and before God in the Laws Name and Spirit of God in the old and good way and in the way of good men In faith Love circumspectly in the Truth by Rule c. worthy of their vocation the Lord in Wisdom and inregry And for manner they walk as you have heard These bear the Image of Christ ut supra in Creation Regeneration and Dominion Or by 1. Idea 2. Descent Acts 17.28 Non corpor is mole sed animae respectu Beza 3. Qualities of Soul Sanctity of actions 5. Soveraignty over the Creatures And 6. Conformity in glory And these do endeavour to answer the Relations betwixt God and them as He is their King Husband Father Master and as he is their Friend But for these you may see my Notes upon those several Relations Use I. Let it be our Glory to bear the Image of Christ the visible God since he bears the Image of the invisible God God is to us like the Sun which is but one none can behold it in its brightness All Sublunaries are refreshed by it and nothing hid from the light thereof So is God Be we then as the fruits to the Sun that grow upward and ripen by it that so we may grow like to Christ in qualities though we cannot in Might and Miracles Get this Image present your selves to his Mint and Printing-House to receive his stamp and Character upon you and when you have it do not deface but improve this Image of Christ in you daily ☞ Motives to walk at supra are from God His love and delight is in them Psalm 51.6 And his promises abundantly to them Ps 84.11 Could we but see and rightly apprehend this it were enough besides the Liberty Security Safety Peace and final felicity with Christ Rev. 3.4 all such are great Motives And yet the great things God hath done for such as to Enoch Noah Abraham David Elijah Elisha Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Their comfort at death Isa 38.3 conquest over hell and the Devil They stand in the Judgement and enter into glory Thus much shall suffice for Answer to the great Inquiry how we may know when we walk so as to please God This being known we may easily discern who they be that do not please God in their walk or course of life 1. Such as set God aside such there were in Davids time Psalm 54.3 and 86.14 They have not set God before them they may well be called Strangers proud and violent persons For they were of a strange condition and have we not many such That set not God before them These say to God Depart from us c. Job 21.14 15. What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit c. if we pray to him Ap. Now is it any marvel that such as these who seclude God from their company do run into all manner of enormities and walk contrary to God as Lev. 26.21 c. The apprehension of Gods presence would produce better fruits as you have heard but this they cannot endure to think of The thought of Gods presence is as the shadow of death to them 2. Such as walk after the flesh Rom. 8.1 2 Pet. 2.10 i.e. according to that carnal state of sin in which we were born and do order our lives as our corrupt reason and evil affections do lead us after our own lusts Note That the words Fleshly Carnal and Sensual are opposed in Scripture to Spiritual because they are so led they look not after the things that are not seen as Faith doth and faithful
See Jer. 22.13 to 20. How King Jeboiakim lived died and was ignomi iously buried Lands like Nahoths vineyard in Ahabs possession Estates Isa 10.13 14. See the Treasury of the Tyrants of Assyria and Provisions How many mens words and works do testifie to mens faces their unrighteousness Ap Of all which the Prophet hath spoken abundantly and we also now can testifie and evidence the unrighteousness of mens hearts and hands in their under takings and proceedings ☞ Sure they consider not that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against it Rom. 1.18 And that such shall not inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 And in the end shall perish and receive the reward of unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.12 13. In a word there is so much spoken in Scripture against those eminent Trees in the Garden of God that did so flourish and overspread and caused so much terrour in the land of the living Assyria and Egypt i.e. Unrighteousness and cruel men in places of Eminency and Authority that have caused so much Fear and Sorrow amongst the people of God that such may not only see cause to tremble but also foresee that they shall wither and fall and perish for ever Thus concerning this second piece of Armour viz. the Breast-plate of Righteousness you have heard the kinds of Breast-plates 1. Military 2. Mystical 4. Sacred 5. Spiritual and that righteousness is either Natural Legal Civil or Evangelical and what Righteousness is most applyable to this piece of Armour in the Text. Doct. Then you had the point propounded proved by Scripture thre reasons promoted further by six motives and demonstrated by evident signes or marks of Uprightness all which did conduce contribute to and complete the first Use of Exhortation The second Use of Reproof to such as dream of perfection in this life as grieve and wrong the righteous for Righteousness-sake as put away and make shipwrack of a good Conscience as practise unrighteousness in their stations and conversations these may expect the righteous judgement of God against them Now to close this part of Armour with a word of comfort the third Vse is of Consolation to all righteous persons observe that 1 God is righteous and loveth righteousness 2 His eys are upon the righteous for their good 3 His promises made to such are innumerable 4 His performance is sure 5 Their peace of Conscience is unspeakable 6 Their life is comfortable 7 Such can attend their great account with confidence 8 And their death-bed pangs are tolerable and do revive in them the hope of Heaven 9 They die in expectation of a glorious Resurrection 10 And after death there is a reward from them Psalm 58.11 A voice from heaven shall say Open the gates c and it shall be with them as with the wise Virgins Mat. 25.10 Then shall the righteous shine as the Sun in the kingdom of their Father for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 Touching this Christian Warfare which doth so much concern all you you know the Apostles Counsel in this Chapter Ver. 10. to 19. in nine Verses doth consist 1. Of an Exhortation ver 10. to 14. to put on our armour 2. An Information of the parts of our spiritual armour consisting of an enumeration of the several particular pieces necessary for us Ap. The former of these I have dismissed with the thirteenth Use I am now upon the second and have already spoken of two pieces of our spiritual Armour viz. the Belt or Girdle and 2. Breast-plate which I dismissed with the former verse This Verse doth present us with a third piece of Armour viz. And their feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace For the better understanding whereof take a view of the words The Apostle doth proceed with elegant Metaphors Allusions and Simitudes taken from Soldiers preparations for War I. Feet in the natural sense and use you are well acquainted with that they are the lowest members of the body by which it is carried about from place to place and are the Instruments of motion Gen. 18 4. Angels John 1.35 Disciples Numb 20.19 Deut. 2.28 Israel passed on their feet c. And hence it was so usual with them to wash their feet after travail c. II. But sigurative Feet are usually put in Scripture for 1. The whole man Rom. 3.15 and 10.15 Swift to shed blood c. Psalm 119.101 105. My feet from every evil way 2. The Will and Affections Desires Care Purposes Endeavours and Actions Prov 4.26 Ponder the path of thy feet that thou slip not Eccles 5.1 Keep they foot when thou goest to the house of God c. 3. Our slips and sins of infirmity in which sense our Saviour saith John 13.10 He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet Ap. In the first sense the word Feet is used for the feet and legs up to the knees and in this sense we know it was and is usual for men to arm their feet and legs with greaves of brass as Goliah did 1 Sam. 17.6 to ward his Shins from darts blows and thrusts or or else with Boots or Shooes according to the kind of imployment Military or Civil that men are usually exercised in on horseback or on foot in their business In the three figurative senses named the phrase is properly applyable to the words of the Text and the matter in hand 1. If the Will and Affections as Feet the beginners of motion and action 2. And the whole man be thus furnished and shod as here 3. Then they will be the better able to withstand the mighty enemies before named yea and their own failings slips and infirmities and to stand in this Warfare till they become victorious over all The phrase of the Feet is sometimes othewise used and applyed as to 1. Pupillage as the Saints to God Deut. 3.33 and Paul at the feet of Gamaliel Acts 22.3 2. Subjection Psalm 8.6 As the Creatures are put under our feet 3. Meanness as of servants John 13.14 and of servile condition 4. Weak and contemptible means Isa 2.66 The feet of the poor shall tread down the high and lofty ones c. being just and upright persons But in these the phrase it is not so pertinent to this Text as the former three figurative senses though otherwise very useful II. Shod this is done corporally when shooes are put upon the feet as 2 Chron. 28.15 Ezek. 16.10 Mark 16.6 Or spiritually when the affections of the heart are strengthned with the preparation of the Gospel as in the Text to go through all difficulties in their way to Heaven which are many and sharp Can. 7.1 How c. i.e. her walking in holiness her Ornament defence III. With the preparation of the Gospel of Peace i.e. with a due preparation and readiness tum ad confessionem ad praedicationem Evangelii 1. Being ever ready to confess the Faith Rom. 10.10 with the mouth c. And to give an account
Heresies Know but acknowledge not the Truth of it as Atheists Epicures Know and acknowledge but appy not Threatnings Precepts Promises c. to themselves nor do conform to it Men are moved with nothing to be and do as they should Men are apt to except against the Preacher who must speak by Rule but are not so apt to submit to the Word which will find out mens faults and discover their obliquities do what they can Rep. This piece of Armour is usher'd in with a Preface and put off with singular praise of the admirable effects 1. Above all in our esteem principally in reference to the whole man All our other Armour of all which it is defensive and comprehensive 2. The Shield a shield is either artificial political spiritual or divine viz. God himself 3. Quench i.e. extinguish and utterly destroy 4. All the fiery darts i.e. Temptations Lusts Incentives c. 5. Of the wicked i.e. of Satan and all his Instruments Doct. Faith is the Christians Shield to repel the darts of the Devil Reasons from Promises and in it self by which we have Son-ship Union Justification Assurance Sanctification and Evidence of Heaven and all future good Ap. Apply these to every dart Use I. The first Use of Reproof is to Unbelievers who want this Shield these either know not or acknowledge not or apply not the word nor conform to it Many are guilty of this and this is a grievous sin for it 1. Hinders the Word of God and works of Christ c. Heb. 4.1 2. Defiles all in us and to us Titus 1.15 3. Makes that we cannot please God Heb. 11.6 4. But depart from God Infidelity is the ground and fountain of all disobedience bedience Heb. 3.12 5. And persecute his servants as Acts 14.2 the Jews did God taxeth it in the Jews that believed not his Word Psalm 106.24 Christ upbraideth it Mat. 8.26 And as the Jews entred into Canaan but were broken off so God will punish it with his absence and with torments John 3.18 Luke 12.46 Eve and the old World Lots sons Egyptians Israelites were all undone by it ☞ If we were but almost perswaded as Acts 26.28 he to be Christian and did we thereupon cry as he Mark 9.24 Help mine unbelief there were hope of us that we might become Believers but whilst the Thief and three thousand were so soon converted we do still remain in unbelief Gutta cavat lapidem vel vi vel saepe cadendo Ap. But neither force nor frequency of the Word prevail with us and hardness of heart through unbelief will bring destruction Thus you know who are Unbelievers what Unbelief is how hainous a sin it is in the fruits and effects thereof and how dreadful in the end and punishment of it II. This Use doth also reprove all presumptuous persons that think they have a Buckler when all proves to be but a shield of painted paper or fig leaf which can do us no good in a storm of Temptation no more than Adam and Eves clothing of fig-leaves could shelter them from the injury of a cold Winter-season Gen. 3.7 And here likewise we are to consider What it is whence it springs how sinful it is the fruits of it and the end of it I do now proceed to the last piece of the defensive Armour which is the fifth in order viz. The Helmet Exp. The words are few and plain only observe that an Helmet is a piece of Armour fitted for the defence and safery of the head which we commonly call an Head-piece Now a Helmet or Head-piece of Armour is either 1. Artificial wrought by the hands some skilfulful Work-man and fitted for the heads defence They were made antiently of Brass or Copper since of steel and iron and that for the hardness soundness and durableness of the mettal Aes enimest maxime durabile it will abide blows without yieldance and with such do soldiers use to arm their heads as Goliah did and David assaied 1 Sam. 7.5 38. 2. Spiritual and this is the Helmet in the Text and this is ascribed to Almighty God by the Prophet He put on Righteousness as a Breast-plate and an Helmet of Salvation upon his head c. Isa 59.7 Though these things are to be understood far otherwise of God then of us though the Apostle here doth allude unto these terms for the Prophet there doth describe God as a man of Arms putting on his Armour and fitting himself for the performance of some notable Exploits and great atchievments and the meaning is That God doth undertake the care of his peoples Warfare in their deliverance from miseries temporal and eternal and in the subversion and destruction of their enemies that his power justice regard of his own glory and tender affection to his people shall as evidently appear and be seen as goodly raiment and glistring armour upon the body of one that weareth it Psalm 93.1 and 94.1 2. and 98.2 Ap. And have we no experience of this in our deliverances from the Rump Lambert and Sectarian party and Restitution of Government But as this Text is applyable to us so this Helmet doth point and direct us to some particular grace singularly useful for us in our Way and War to salvation and this grace is hope of salvation 1 Thes 5.8 ☞ And this hope of salvation purchased by Christ by whose merits we are saved and may lift up our selves heads as being already victorious in the combate which we are to fight is as an Helmet of defence and glory to us Ap. And in this sense Hope is stiled the Helmet of salvation both here in the Text and also in that place 1 Thes 5.8 and thus you have the meaning of the words which being thus understood gives us this Doctrine viz. that A Christians hope is to him an helmet of Salvation so that as a Soldier doth arm his head with an helmet against cuts and knocks and other hurts which it may else meet with so doth a true Christian arm and fence his heart and mind the principal Essential part of man against the manifold furibundos insultus Diaboli piscator in Isa 59.7 furious assaults of the devil This hope we must take up and make use of in this Warfare ☞ Now concerning this Grace of hope something must be spokon for Explication Confirmation and Application of the point Now 1. for Explication Defin. Spes est extensio appetitus in appetibile Aquin. Hope is an extension or inlarging of the desire after something desireable thus say the Schoolmen This reacheth hope in the general and this hope is varied and may be either good or bad according to the nature of the appetite and object of the same Divines come nearer and says as Augustine Hope is a desire after something which we do believe we may attain to or of some excellent good thing cum fiducia obtinendi with confidence of obtaining it and this Object of our Hope is attended with four
is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a punctum temporis a point of time upon the Confines of Eternity When suiting our selves with Men or Times otherwise then in well-doing will stand us in no stead nor do us any good at all But then they that please the Lord shall find that his Favour and mercy endureth to Eternity Mal. 3.18 which the good Lord grant unto us This walk of a Christian is his whole Life and the End of his Life is to please God This is the main Duty of a Christian The great and good Lesson which he is to learn And hence the Doctrine which you have heard before is viz. Doct. A Christians life is to be ordered so that he may please God This is every mans work in his Generation and Conversation Quest How can this be done and who do perform it you may soon see viz. Answ Such as walk with and before God as Enoch Noah Abraham David Elijah and the Prophets have done These being known you may easily discern and know who they be that do not please God in their way of Life viz. Such as set not God before them but set him aside from their way Such as walk after the flesh and follow their sensual Lusts Such as walk in the way of the people the men of the World generally Such as walk after their own devices and imaginations These four things do answer the Question who do not please God and these do reach all the wicked of the World whom you may divide into four Ranks viz. Atheists Sensualists Timists Fanaticks Of the three first hath been spoken I do now descend to the fourth sort of persons that do not please God 4. Fanaticks the Word is but lately taken up amongst us and made of common use and I believe not very well understood by every one I shall therefore explain it to you for we must break the Ice before we can drink the Water and break open the shell before we can eat of the Kernel This being done we shall the better discern how that oft-times Conveniunt Rebus Nomina saepe suis Names do suit with the nature of the things to which they are designed The Name Fanaticks was first used be Heathens and by them in a better and in a worser sence 1. In a good Sence and honest esteem with them the Gentiles did apply it to those Qui in fanis sacra curabant c. who did attend the holy Services in their Temples and did frequent their Churches and consecrated places to consult the Heathen gods and to receive Answers from them touching their Affairs and in this better sence such persons were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sacris usibus destinatus sacris inserviens Men appointed to holy Uses and attending holy Services Thus in the best Sence 2. Afterwards the same Word became to be used for Insanus furiosus which signifies Witlesse and Furious and accordingly it was applyed to people that were besides themselves that were Rapt Ravished or inspired with some Fury possessed with a Spirit Or to such as were Foolish Mad or Frantick And this change of the use of the Word began upon this occasion The Sybels or Bellonas Priests who were called and indignitated by that Name In the time of their predictions and prophesyings and performances of their Devotions and holy Services did use to turn about their heads to dishevel and tosse their Hair c. like Bedlams with many other strange postures and gestures Erantick like to cut lance and wound their Armes and shoulders that they might sacrifice their Blood to their beloved Goddesse just like Baals Priests 1 Kings 18.28 Or those Nazarenes or Samaritans that are said to have Devils Or those superstitious Romish Flagellants that have learned of the former and do act the same things For they are the Apish imitators of Heathens Jewes ancient Hereticks in their holy Services to conform Ap. Now from these strange postures gestures and actings in their Devotions it is manifest why the word Eanatick was first used for a frantick person Fanaticus insanus dicitur quoniam Sacerdotes cùm Responsa dabant furore pleni insanire videbantur prout hinc patet quare Fanaticus pro infano dici caeperit Thus one describes him Another describes him thus Fanaticus Numine Afflatus Bacchabundus Hadr. Jun. one raging ripe with a Fury A third thus Fanatum quod in Fanis consulentes oraculum Sacerdotes Laureum tenentes termitemspiritum conciperent baccharenturque all to the same purpose in effect Hence it befel that by reason of such strange behaviour of the men thus inspired and possessed with this Fury and Rage this humour was accounted as well a Disease as an Errour Ap. So that as the Hebrews of old and the Romans afterwards did avoid and abominate the Leprosie Scab Morphew and other the like deforming diseases which infect deface and hurt the skin c. Ap. So did the Antients fly from and avoid this Fanatick disease or errour and from those that were taken with it Vt mala quae scabies morbus regius urget aut Fanaticus Error Hor. and that for the fierceness and terribleness of the disease as in some Quakers Fear of the mischief hurt blows or stripes that the Enthusiast may do or give in the fit of his fury And for that it was a Disease Errour or Misery inflicted upon them whom God was very angry with and marvellously displeased or else who had greatly offended or wronged Almighty God himself or his Attributes in his Soveraignty divine power Majesty and Authority his Will Might and Vertue ☞ The Greek Poets c. do give us in divers Names very suitable with their postures and practises in divine Worship 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Qui captus tenetur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peculiariter dicuntur Afflati Instincti Numine Scap. l. p. 550 551. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In quo Deus est seu Afftatus aut Instinctus Dei Divinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fanaticus Furor c. Impetus numine afflatorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 More eorum qui furoris Fanatici instinctu aguntur Scap. l. p. 627. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deum ferens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui divino monitu fertur numine afflatus Scap. p. 1735. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lauri Comestor Epitheton Vaticinantium quoniam Comestor lauro numen haurire credebantur unde fatidica laurus dicitur a Lat. The Bay that foretells things to come 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui ab Oestro ictus in gyrum se agit qui Oestro agitante quasi rotatur Scap. p. 407. such as are wheel'd about with a fury a Fly a Gadbee the Bees c. as the word doth signifie Ap. All which Descriptions Names and Properties of these persons do reduce us to this conclusion and inference Hinc jam liquet cur Fanaticos Enthusiasticas eos
dicamus qui fingunt se divino afflatu regi quique posthabitis divinis literis ad Revelationes commentitias aut Diabolicos suggestus convolant Hence it is manifest why we call those men Fanaticks and Enthusiasts who fain they are guided by a divine inspiration and setting aside the Holy Scriptures that Holy Divine and Heavenly inspired Writ and Rule they all fly together and have a unanimous recourse to feigned and counterfeit revelations and diabolical suggestions Mat. Mart. lex p. 775 776. Thus the name Fanatick was first used by the Gentiles in several senses viz. 1. In good sense to them that were more serious in the service of God 2. In bad sense to them that were more furious and frantick in the Worship of God In both senses the word doth reflect upon this Object viz. The Worship or Worshippers of God The first soberly and seriously and these bear the name in the best sense The second madly and furiously and these gave the word the worser sense even among them for which you have a full Jewry of witnesses of Poets Orators Comedians Tragedians Historians and Etymologists c. and some of them of great antiquity viz. of above 1800. years standing From them the name is transferred to Christians by whom it is used only in the worser sense in reference to them who are somewhat wild Worshippers we have better words for better Worshippers and the name name doth fix most and soonest upon them who do act something like heathens in their divine worship and service leaving the Oracles of God and learning to their own fancies and imaginations or other inspirations The Authors for the proof of these things are cited by Mat. Mart. Cicero and Livius c. Thus much for the Explanation of the the word Fanatick and this being premised you may easily understand whom I do mean by Fanaticks viz. 1. Negatively Not in any person in whom appears the power of godliness though he may be of another opinion or perswasion in some things from my self But 2. Affirmatively By Fanatick I do mean those persons who setting the Rule of Gods Holy Word aside do follow their own fancies the devices and imaginations of their own heads and hearts in the service visions and inspirations c. as a new rule besides the Word of God And here you may take a view of all the Will-worship and Worshippers in the world Col. 2.20.21 c. 1. If you look abroad into the world and take a view of both the Indies and all the adjoyning Countries What a world of strange Worship shall you find amongst those Pagan-Infidels and Heathens and all for want of a Rule the direction of Gods Holy Word which we have Some adore one sole God whom they paint with three heads but can give you no reason for it Others worshipping the Sun Moon and Stars in America Others adoring Nature as the Canary Islands And others the Devil himself as in Puana Japan c. Somewhat they meet first in a morning as the Tartarians Should you look into Arabia China Africa Ethiopia Egypt and Babylon c. you shall find as many strange gods and strange worships as men have fancies faces and strange imaginations in their heads and hearts Some worshipping a Toad or a Serpent a Dog or black Sheep an Ox or a Calf and what not Ap. All these follow their own Imaginations and perish for want of a Rule But I leave these to be pitied most See Acts 17.30 This God regarded not so as to destroy them presently 2. If you look into Asia and the parts adjacent once the glory of the world where now that Flagellum Christianorum the great Turk doth tyrannize and domineer and in their Mahometan worship what a world of strange fancies minnick gestures and childish not to say Apish and Monkish-like fooleries may you observe They reject the Law and Gospel the Word of God for Mahomets Alcaron 3. To come nearer if you look into the Holy History and take a view of the Jews Scribes and Pharisees c. None could pretend to more devotion then they did Their Alms Prayers Fastings Phylacteries and Borders of their garments all specious yet our Saviour tells them That they had rejected the Commandment of God and made his Word of none effect that they might keep their own Traditions See Mat. 15.1 2 to 10. Mark 7.1 2 3 to 14. Here was a great deal of verbal and seeming Sanctity amongst these men but the main was wanting the Life and power of Godliness in as little set by or esteemed and so our Saviour told them plainly but this was strange Doctrine to them and they regarded it not And therefore Though he the Son and Heir were sent unto them who taught as having authority who spake as never man spake and did what none ever did or could do yet this Christ could never gain credit with the Priests c. but ever and anon they are quarrelling with him about the observation of the Sabbath according to their Rule and the neglect of their own Traditions And in the end they violently persecuted and put him to death Thus they crucified the Heir and Prince of Life Acts 3.15 For which how heavy is the Judgement of God upon them till this day 4. Come we nearer home yet and look we next amongst Christians and see if we have no Fanaticks here as well as amongst Pagans Turks and Jews Scribes Pharisees And here I presume those of the Romish profession will claim the first place as the most numerous and unanimous Christians And the first of these Western parts converted to the Christian Faith yet with their leave or without it England received the Christian Faith some years before them whilest Rome remained Heathen of which we have a seven-fold testimony of very good credit and Authority and better then such as they usually produce to us in like cases Nevertheless we shall easily grant them what they would have so that they will but grant us a reasonable demand 1. For we yield that they were a very famous Church when the Apostle wrote unto them and testifies of them That their Faith was spoken of throughout the world Rom. 1.8 2. Our Demand is only this to them Let them but reduce their Church to the same state of Doctrine Faith and Life which then they had when the Apostle wrote and so testified of them and the contention betwixt us is at an end all is well But now that they have swarved from the Rule forfeited the Apostles praise and lost the faith But they will say When did we loose the faith swarve from the rule c. I retort and ask when did every gray hair begin with an antient head and every infirmity with an aged man When did all the flowers fruits or weeds in a field appear in one day When did the Stars all appear in an instant or your own sins to your selves in a moment Things of this
which our good works are directed must be good else spoil all The end crowns or shames the work Now the end of our works that they may be justified must be the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine c. The edification of our neighbour the discharge of our Obedience testification of our Faith 2 Pet. 11.10 answering of our calling in Jesus Christ Ephes 4.1 Escaping the punishment or sin and the destruction of the wicked obtaining the Glory of Heaven with many other subservient ends Ap. These things considered do clearly evidence to us That Works without warrant from the word of God how speciou soever they be in pretence and outward appearance as were the Ceremonies of the Jews so of Papists and superstitious persons to this day yet they are rejected for God is not pleased but with what himself prescribes We may not devise new things in Gods Worship as we please Where the Agents are Unbelievers and not accepted of God If the Tree remain uncorrupt so is the fruit and Ergo both are unacceptable Where there is no purging of our selves nor preparation to good works there cannot but be very many miscarriages When good works are not our business but fall in by accident or are inforced by some extremity as by sickness or death or when we begin too late when it is with us as with them Prov. 1.27 28 c. and Mat. 25.10 But we ne glect our opportunity whilest we may and lose all when we never make them our delight as we do other matters of natural concernment such as to eat and drink c. When our good works are for sinister base or bad ends As to be seen of men Pharisee-like Mat. 25.5 To devour widowes houses Mat. 23.14 or to act mischief To suit with the multitude and please the world as they did John 7.7 That hated Christ and persecuted the Apostles John 16.2 who thought it well done And some real good work may be done to this end To purchase our own pardon and peace with God as Papists and Patrons of Merit think they do though thereby they do frustrate the merits of the Lord Jesus for us In a word The ends of our works are many and that both good and bad as they are directed by the Agents and Workers of them But if they be not suitable with the Rules before expressed and that our works will not endure the tryal of the light as John 3.20 21. Whether they be of God or no. We have great reafon to suspect yea and to reject our own works as unacceptable and displeasing to Almighty God Thus much touching the Rules concerning our good works II. But now if any should say You have given us Rules for our works Quest But what are the works in particular in which we are so to abound Answ Good works are such as are performed by the grace of the holy Spirit out of a true faith according to the prescribt Rule of the Law to the Glory of God the certainty and assurance of our own salvation and the Edification of our Neighbour Wolleb p. 192. Polan p. 256. And these good works must be performed out of such a true faith by which we are sure that they are commanded of God and that both we and our works are pleasing to God through Christ Pol. 258. And for the names conferred upon good works They are called the fruits of the Spirit from their efficient cause Gal. 5.22 Ephes 5.9 The fruits of Faith from the instrumental cause The works of the Law from the form because suitable to it and from their quality good works and good fruits For their number for they are numberless extending to all the affections and actions of a regenerate man Wall p. 293. and to all those things prescribed by the moral Law of God about which such actions and works are conversant Bucan 334. So that for this I must only say as the Apostle doth conclude Phil. 4.8 Finally brethren saith he whatsoever things are true honest just pure lovely and of good report every vertue And every praise-worthy action enters into the list and helps to make up the number and measure of works that be good in the sight of God Bucan p. 333 334. As to the causes of good works they are many especially these 1. The principal efficient cause it God his Grace and holy Spirit who doth begin continue and perfect all our good works in us Phil. 1.6 2.13 He that begins will perform to the utmost And it is God which worketh in us both to will and to do c. For without him we can do nothing John 15.5 So then our good works are not the fruits of our own free-will as Pelagians Papists and too many others think 2. The instrumental cause is Faith which is the Root whence all good works do spring Gal. 5.6 For it worketh by love 3. The matter of our good works is our affections and our actions and all things about which they are conversant 4. The formal cause of them is their conformity to and agreement with the Word of God Psal 119 1.2 c. Deut. 4.2 Ezek. 20.18 19. Mat. 15.9 Else all is vain worship 5. The final cause or end of our good works is manifold and may be distributed into things referring to 1. God 2. Ourselves And 3. Our Neighbour In reference to 1. God His glory is the main end our due obedience to his Will and Command and our thankfulness for our Redemption and all other benefits are hereby testified 2. Our selves We do good works to evidence the life of our faith which else is dead being alone Jam. 2.17 Solitaria To get sure that we are justified before God for Bona opera sequuntur justificatos non praecedunt justificandos To make sure our Election to eternal life 2 Pet. 1.10 To exercise nourish and strengthen our Faith to adorn our Vocation to avoid temporal and eternal punishment that we may receive the Reward of well-doing freely promised by Almighty God Mat. 25.21 23. Well done good c. 3. Our Neighbour That we may be hurtful to none but useful and profitable to all to our power Thereby to edifie the faithful and to win unbelievers Wal. p. 260 261. As for the Species or particular kinds or forms of good works The particular actions so styled are very many yet you may distinguish or distribute them into three Channels viz. As works referring 1. To God 2. Our selves And 3. Our Neighbour 1. To God and so the whole worship of God and every particular branch of the same are good works whether they refer to the inward Worship of God as a right and true acknowledgement of God Love towards him Trust and Confidence in him by a lively saving faith and assured hope in him as also by Humility and Patience in the sence of his greatnesse and goodness to us even in our Afflictions The inward and outward worship of
people do 2 Cor. 4.18 But only after the things obvious to sense The things of this world as worldly minded men only do These are so far from being new Creatures and walking in newness of life that they disdain to be Changelings are acted by the old Adam in all things he hath dominion over them and are as ignorant of a new birth as Nichodemus was John 3.3 4. Who asketh a strange question c. so simple was he And as for the ways of good men they abhor and scorn them as ways too precise and strict for them to walk in 3. Such as walk in the way of the people after the manner of men that are not guided by the Spirit of God but by their own corrupt reason and affection Now Isa 8.11 1 Cor. 3.3 We are not to walk in the way of the people But mark how the Lord warned the Prophet there to avoid this viz. By a strong hand i. e. by such a forcible ingestion or motion of his spirit as made a strong impression upon the Prophet to yield obedience and by such a hand as was able to confirm him in his resolution and to strengthen him to effect and perform it the same hand no donbt warned the Martyrs and Confessors of God Ap. Thus was the Prophet charged Not to walk in the way of the people Neither may any of us follow a multitude to do evil Exod. 23.2 For they that sin with the multitude shall perish with the multitude as those of the old world and the men of Sodom did True it is Examples have a great influence upon many Scilicet in Vulgus manatant exempla Regentum Regis ad exemplū totus componitur orbis And in this case the examples of great men are very prevalent In the Holy History as wel as in others we read how people usually followed the pattern of the Princes as when David Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Josiah c. reigned the people did well lived godly but when Rehoboam forsook the Law of the Lord All Israel went with him 2 Cro. 12.1 and when Jeroboam advanced Idolatry He caused all Israel to sin 1 Kin. 14. which is fourteen times repeated to his everlasting infamy The very natural infirmities of Princes have been imitated a Mole Wart Wen or Wry-neck c. Much more their moral qualities whether good or bad the Drunken Gor-bellied Emperours made the whole Empire so England hath had experience of these things for how did the people follow after in King Hen. 8. King Edward 6. Q. Mary Queen Elizabeth's times To do as the most do is the safest course with many though not the best This is a great yet usual disease in these times Those that imitate the greatest and run along with the most think themselves safest and past peradventure for any danger That Principle of some Noblemen of this Nation of old Factus sum ex salice non ex quercu whom Powlet Martyr of Winchester Mill. p. 969. is very appliable to multitudes of this time They wear Religion as many do their Apparrel to turn and shift and lay aside as they think best for their own security and advancement in the world Ap. But how safe this course is in the sight of God and how pleasing to him I leave to all wise men to judge Had the Prophets Apostles and holy Martyrs done so they had never bee renowned to After-Ages as they are Religion is no longer Religion then whilest it doth bind us to God and to his Rule not to mens example The dispensation is general It is better to obey God then man Acts 4.19.5.29 if it once come to the point If Gods Laws and mens cross one another it s no Question in that case who is to be obeyed As our King whom God long preserve hath excellently expressed in his Declaration A Matchless piece Beloved For the Rule of your Religion pitch upon the Holy Canonical Scriptures as you heard worthily of late on Tuesday by Mr. Dingly of Haseley And for examples pitch upon the best Christ is the unparalled pattern of all others and many Renowned Men there are which are Imitators of him and do you follow them as they follow Christ as the Apostle perswades 1 Cor. 11.1 You must not ask and then depend upon Pope or Emperor the Civil State or Ecclesiastical what Religion you should be of The Turks depend most upon the Emperours and Rome upon the Pope yet both far wide of the way to please God It is not what the Church or State say simply but you must enquire of the Oracles of God by which all Kings and Kingdoms all the Churches in the world are to be framed ordered and governed and so follow them ☞ And when the ways of Princes please the Lord And that they become nursing Fathers to the Church Isa 49.23 as it is now with us blessed be God how great is the blessing of such a Kingdom or Nation and how do the faithful people rejoyce therein When we have such as now how much do we owe unto them viz. To honour them in our hearts and to have a reverend esteem of their persons and authority Sure Davids carriage to Saul and Daniels to Nebuchadnezzar and Bathsheba and Nathans to David may be fi◠Presidents for our practise in this particular 1 King 1.23 31. ☞ Non tamnere Divos is as good Rule in Policy as in Divinity See Exod. 22.28 Eccles 10.20 2. To obey them in all lawful things as the Israelites to Joshua Josh 1.16 17. Davids servants him 2 Sam. 15.15 The Centurions Soldiers him Mat 8.9 Else the Exception lies Acts 5.29 3. Love them which makes duty easie and acceptable to God and man 4. To imitate them in good as the Israelites did Joshua and that good King Josiah in their generations Josh 24.15 2 Chron. 34.33 Here that of Solomon takes place Prov. 24.21 Meddle not with them c. Follow not a multitude as many did Korah in his conspiracy and perished with him Numb 16. And so they followed Absolom in his Rebellion But he being destroyed the people were scattered from him and vanished to nothing 2 Sam. 15.12 and 18. Ergo Let us fear God and honour the King as 1 Pet. 2.17 4. Those persons do not please God in their walk and way Who do walk after their own devices and after the imaginations of their own hearts Jer. 18.12 These are said to walk in their own Councels Psalm 81.12 And in their own ways Acts 14.16 Their own idle fantasies in the ways and imagination of the heart Eccles 11.9 Jer. 13.10 To walk in lyes Jer. 23.14 In pride Dan. 4.37 Isa 3.16 After the eyes Job 31.7 viz. To covet others goods After vanity Jer. 2.5 i.e. Idols which are Devils or nothing And after ungodly lusts Jude 18. The corrupt motions of the flesh In all which They walk after things that profit not Jer. 2.8 For Idols and Vanity and Sin can never do us any good no