death Thus 2 Cor. 7.10 But the sorrow of the world worketh death A Sorrow proper to the MEN of the World as was in in Cain and Saul in Achitophel and Judas c. But Sorrow of Heart without Change of Heart is the Portion of Sinners for ever Evangelical As there is a Repentance unto DEATH so there is a Repentance unto LIFE Thus Acts 11.18 Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life Unto life that they may live so Vatablus and Cornelius a Lapide Now Evangelical Sorrow is a Gift of God wrought by the Spirit and Word of God in the Heart and Life of a Sinner confisting in a confessing of Sin in a sorrowing for Sin and in a turning from sin Is not that person happy who is concerned in a Call Cause and Cross not to be repented off Now that Repentance solely is not to be repented off which is a Repentance after a godly manuer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or according to God so the Greek Which is a Repentance unto Salvation 2 Cor. 7.9 10. As it is true the God of Gods and Good of Goods the Being of Beings and Blessing of Blessings hath a BAG for the sins of a beleiving Penitent it is as true this God and Good Being and Blessing hath a BOOK for the Prayers and a BOTTLE for the Tears of a penitent Beleiver Are not Tears potent Orators Doth not God read our Hearts in those Lines which Tears draw on our Faces Are not Tears the truest Rhetorick of a troubled Spirit Have not these a prevailing winning SWADA with God and Man beyond the lowdest and the quaintest Oratory One of the antient Philosophers hath adjudged Weeping unworthy a MAN and tells us that 't is only for Women and Children to weep But as there are TEARS of effeminate and childish Pusillanimity so there are Tears of Heroical and Spiritual Importunity To weep to Man for Fear of Passion from Man is indeed below a MAN in CHRIST But to weep to God when we suffer under the hand of God or Man doth well become the Sons of Men even the Best of them Was not David a Man of Men a good as wel as a great Man Who more if so couragious as He not fearing the Lyon nor the Bear nor the Philistine Who feared not an Host encamping against him Who feared not though he walked in the Valley of the Shadow of Death yet he wept egregiously wept so wept as if he would have drowned himself in his own Tears Thus Psa 6.6 I am weary with my groaning all the night make I my bed to swim I water my couch with my tears I faint with my sighing I make my bed to swim in every night I water my Bed-stead with my tears so Ainsworth Iagangti be-anchati ascheh becol-lailah mittati bedimgnati gnarsi amseh I am wearied in my sighing I wil cause to swim in all the night my bed with my tears my couch I wil dissolve so the HEBREW There are very many things necessary but a sorrowing according to God is of an indispensable Necessity Thus Luke 13.3.5 Except ye repent ye shal all likewise perish Here were some whose blood was mingled with their sacrifices v. 1. And others upon whom a tower fel who were not greater Sinners than others v. 2. From which Verses may be drawn two Meditations That we are not to judge of mens final Cases and Conditions from their fatal Casualties and Calamities Some are slain by the Hand of MAN and some are slain by the Hand of GOD. That an Evangelical Repentance is indispensably necessary unto Salvation Except which except is without any Exception ye repent ye shal all likewise perish Now that which Christ here threatned to the impenitent was forty years after fulfilled for Titus the Emperor of the Romans on the Feast of the Passover beseiged the City and having taken it slew many impenitent Jews as they were sacrificing That aimed Fury and incarnate Devil CALIGULA used to say of Himself that he loved nothing better in Himself then that he could not be ashamed For a Man to be an ISHBOSHETH a man of shame as the word signifieth and not to be ashamed is not this sinful and sad is not this dangerous and damnable Let no man live and die under this Deception and Delusion that Evangelical Repentance is obsolete and antiquated for so long as the Ship springs a Leak we must keep the Pump at work We must repent so long as we sin So long as an Issue of Sin is kept open an Issue of Sorrow must be kept open also When there is a Cessation of Sin then and not til then there is a Cessation of Sorrow also It was the sweet Saying of One I repent all my life D. Donne but that part I spent in Communion with GOD and in doing GOOD 'T is time for things have a sad Aspect and ther 's litle else but prodigious Judgment in Prospect to abhor that godless Proverb Spiritus Calvinisticus Spiritus Melancholicus As if a pure Spirit must needs be a dumpish Spirit The Heart of a Christian is usually fullest of Joy when his Eyes are fullest of Tears Canst thou think him Melancholick that hath so good Company Heaven-ward when and while thou art Jovial among thy dismal Hel-bounded Company but if he weeps mayst not thou tremble If he mourns mayst not thou houl But as there is a State of Sorrow so there is a state of Solace is not then a state of GLORY which is a sorrowless State one of the Depths of God As there is a Wilderness so there is a Canaan as there is a Cross so there is a Crown is not a state of Glory then which is a sorrowless State one of the Depths of God As if there be no Sun there can be no Light so Sublatâ Causâ tollitur Effectus if there be no Cause there can be no Effect If there be no Sin there can be no Sorrow Is not then a state of GLORY which is a sinless and a sorrowless State one of the Depths of God As there is a state militant so there is a state triumphant as there is a state of Misery so there is a state of Glory which is one of the Depths of God This State of Glory is called a CROWN of Glory Thus 1 Pet. 5.4 When the cheif shepheard shal appear When Christ Jesus that great and good Shepheard shal appear the second time without sin unto salvation Ye Not All. Ye Christians not Anti-Christians or Psuedo-Christians Ye Saints not Sinners not Sinners in your Sins Ye Ye shal receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here is not only Glory but also a Crown of Glory which is a Reward of Grace and is not this then one of the Depths of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yea an unsadable crown of glory Each Word hath its weight and may be read thus We shal
Wonders and consequentially one of the Depths of God The INCARNATION of a Christ I find To be a Depth of God unto Mankind In the Beginning was the WORD and This Was with God was God is God unto His. For Him who had Eternity for Mansion And Banners there of LOVE have due Expansion For Him who had Eternity for Measure Who also is a complicated Treasure To be an INFANT of a Moment old For this the Angel unto Shephards told For Him who was the GOD of Joys to be A MAN of Sorrows and from Mortals flee For Him who was of Nations the Desire To be the Object of Almighty Ire For Him who higher than the Heavens is Lower than ANGELS to me made for His For Him who waited was by Angels then To watched be by mercenary Men For Him who crowned was with GLORY thus To crowned be with THORNS for abject Vs Of Wonders 't is a Wonder unto Me And Depth of God may also be to Thee GLORIFICATION Glory that 's one of the Depths of God But before I proceed At quis tantis Ego tantillus Ego I must give my self Check and with the greatest Reflection and Trepidation acknowledg what is a PIGMY to discover this Goshen or Garden this Country or City which hath Foundations this Mount of Beatitudes this Pallace or Paradise this Haven or Heaven A Life of Glory is the Grace of Life is it not then one of the Depths of God If Glorification be a perfect Transformation of the Saints of God into the Image of the Son of God is it not one of the Depths of God If GLORY be the real Transmutation of a Person from Misery or Penalty of Sin into eternal Felicity is it not one of the Depths of God If for this end God made Man that he should eternally live unto his Praise in the eternal Enjoyment of Himself is it not one of the Depths of God If a State of Glory be an eternal STATE Yea a State of ETERNITY and that of Felicity is it not one of the Depths of God That there is a State of Glory is evident Thus 1 Thes 2.12 That ye would walk worthy of God As become the Worshippers and Servants of God so Menochius Who hath called you Efficatiously so Estius But unto what Vnto his Kingdom and Glory Is not a State of Glory now one of the Depths of God Yea that there is a State of eternal Glory is as evident Thus 2 Tim. 2.10 Therefore I endure all things for the Elects sakes that they also may obtain the Salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory Is not a state of Glory now one of the Depths of God But what manner of State is a State of Glory Qu. What Drexelius saith of God that I may say of Glory Sol. but this he saith of God What God is that I know not what God is not that I know Thus I may say of Glory What Glory is I know not what Glory is not that I know Yet this may be asserted with the greatest Confidence and Comfort that a State of Glory is a State which is SINLESS A State of Glory is a sinless state is it not then one of the Depths of God There are Sinners on Earth and in Hel but there are none in Heaven and if no Sinner there then no Sin there Is not a state of Glory now one of the Depths of God If Sin be the Sting the Evil of Evils the Pest of Pests the Poison of Poisons certainly then a state of Glory which is a sinless State must be one of the Depths of God Was that Question Pro. 20.9 ever yet answered Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Is there a Day without Clouds Is there a Moon without Spots Is there a House without Rubbish Is there a Garden without Weeds Is there a Heart without Leaven Is there a Soul without Sin But a state of Glory is a sinless State and one of the Depths of God If what is said of War may be said of SIN that it is a complex Malum complexum and a complicated EVIL is not a state of Glory then which is a sinless State one of the Depths of God Of all men living there are none that look like greater Strangers unto their own Hearts than those who now pretend unto a personal Perfection PAUL was cried up for an earthly Angel yet not without the Plague of the Heart not without Sin within and that as an Inhabitant Thus Rom. 7.17 It is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me But a state of Glory is a sinless State therefore one of the Depths of God The Truth of Grace consisteth in opposing every Sin the Strength of Grace consisteth in mortifying every Sin but the Conquest over every Sin is the Ingression of the Soul into GLORY Is not now a state of Glory which is a sinless State one of the Depths of God SIN is Evil all Evil so bad that we cannot call it worse than it is It s Name is Evil. Thus Rom. 7.13 That sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Greek that sin by the Commandment might appear a SINNER unto an HYPERBOLE But now a state of Glory is a sinless State and is it not then one of the Depths of God If Sin be a darkning of the Glory of God a defacing of the Image of God a crucifying of the Son of God a grieving of the Spirit of God and a wounding of the Soul of Man is not then a state of Glory which is a sinless State one of the Depths of God If SIN be the only thing in all the World that is the Object of Gods Abhorrence if this be the onely thing in all the World that makes Man truly miserable and of Angels made Devils certainly then a state of Glory which is a sinless State is one of the Depths of God If SIN be the only thing in all the World that necessirates Mercy that called for the Action and Passion of Christ and that caused Tears to stand in his sinless Eyes certainly then a State of GLORY which is a sinless State is one of the Depths of God If SIN be the only thing in all the World that God looks upon with a Vendictive Eye that Christ came to destroy that makes a Hel within and that caused the Maker of Man to repent of Man's making certainly then a state of GLORY which is a sinless State must needs be one of the Depths of God Every thing in Nature the higher it is the purer it is The Earth is the lowest and the grossest of the Elements The Water next to the Earth is grosser than the Air. The Air is grosser than the Fire which Philosophers call the highest of the Elements The higher we go the more Purity we find and when we come in a State of
and Peace of Soul then one of the Depths of God Oh pray pray saith Perkins for the Pardon of thy particular and personal Sins The HEATHENS were wont to flie to the Mercy of their Gods by Petitions and purging Sacrifices They imbibed and espoused this Principle that the GODS were propitious and propense to pardon But none of the Gentile-Gods could ever pardon Sin for the Pardoner of Sin is the God of the Gentiles That the God of Gods is the God of the Gentiles is evident Thus Rom. 3.29 Is he the God of the Jews only Is he not also of the Gentiles Yea of the Gentiles also And that this God is the sole Pardoner of Sin is as evident Thus Mark 2.7 Who can forgive sins but God only The sins of believing Penitents and of penitent Beleivers are pardoned though the Tears of Repentance stand in their Eyes and they cannot read their PARDON Is not Remission then one of the Depths of God Lord saith Luther now do what thou wilt with me for thou hast pardoned me Remission of Sin is of more Validity and ought to be of more Value then all the Crowns and Scepters in the World is it not then one of the Depths of God 'T is more Christ-like and consequently more Christian-like to remit than to revenge The Pardon of Sin is a Mercy invaluable incomparable and inconceivable to all below a GOD Declarativè non Authorativè is it not then one of the Depths of God A Man may pardon Ministerially but not Juditially he may pardon Declaratively but not Authoratatively he may pronounce it but God performs it Is not Remission then one of the Depths of God The Form of a Monkish-Absolution I find to be thus God forgive thee my Brother the Merit of the Lord Jesus Christ and of blessed Saint Mary always a Virgin and of all the Saints the Merit of thine Order the Straitness of thy Religion the Humility of thy Confession the good Works which thou hast done or shalt do for the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ be unto thee available for the Remission of thy Sins the Increase of Desert and Grace and the Reward of everlasting Life AMEN Is not this a Linsey-Woolsey Absolution As one therefore said concerning the Writings of Moses Gen. 1.1 c. In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth c. Quomodo probas Domine Moses Quomodo probas Domine Monache Eris mihi magnus Apollo These are great things but Sir Moses how dost thou prove them so I may write concerning the Absolution of the MONK This is a larg and a long Absolution but how dost thou prove it Sir Monk Prove this Absolution from the sacred Scripture the written word of God and thou shalt have my Subscription if it be valuable that thou art a great Apollo This Sacerdotal Absolution among the Papists is the most hideous dangerous and perfidious Cheat of ROME saith Dr More that ever she could light on for the damning of poor credulous Souls that thus superstitiously depend on the vain Breath of their Priest for the Security of their Salvation GOD only can pardon sin The Pardon of Sin is his Act his proper and peculiar act He can do it and none can do it but He. We read Remission among his royal Titles is not this then one of the Depths of God Thus Exo. 34.7 Forgiving iniquity transgression and sin Here are three words about sin As if GOD would not only pardon all Sinners that cordially repent but also all kinds and degrees of sin whatsoever by what names or titles soever they be styled upon cordial Repentance which is virtually included in the Promise of Pardon Is not this manifest beyond all modest contradiction that not one can be a Pardoner of Sin but he who is vested v. 6. with these preceeding glorious Qualifications Jehovah Jehovah God merciful and gracious long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sin Is not this now one of the Depths of God To offer Works for the Pardon of Sin is the worst SIMONY in the World For a trembling and a troubled Soul a doubting and a drooping Soul a desponding and despairing Soul to see and read his Name in an Act of Oblivion and Indempnity and that of Gods own making is not this then one of the Depths of God The Pardon of Pope Alexander the sixth though it was for thirty thousand Years was not worth two Sparrows and yet they were sold for a Farthing 'T is the God of Gods that gives Pardon to those that believe and that gives FAITH to believe that Pardon 'T is the God of Gods that gives Remission of Sin to those that repent and that gives REPENTANCE for Remission of Sins Is not Remission then one of the Depths of God We read of a Servant Mat. 18.24 Who ought to his Soveraign ten thousand Talents A considerable Summ here seems to be If a Talent according to the lowest Computation be three hundred pounds of Money and if ten thousand times three hundred be three Millions then these three MILLLONS are forgiven as a Debt of three MITES Is not Remission then one of the Depths of God For a Person to be mourning til it can mourn no more Yea after that mourn that it hath no more mourned and for Christ then to say to this Person as he did to that City-Sinner Luke 7.48 Thy sins are forgiven Is not this one of the Depths of God For Persons to be afflicted tossed with tempest and not comforted and for Christ then to say to these as he did to them Jo. 16.33 In me ye shall have peace is not this one of the Depths of God For a Person to be days and nights in the Deep and to be crying out there my SINS are not only innumerable but also unpardonable and for God then to say to this Person as he did Isa 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own names sake and wil not remember thy sins is not this one of the Depths of God For a Person to be without Sun-light without Moon-light without Star-light Not only without full Shines and Smiles not only without the lest Glance of a reconciled Eye and Glimpse of a reconciled Face but also without a Commemoration that ever God was gracious that ever God and the Soul in a Promise sweetly and savingly met and for CHRIST then to say to this Person as he did to that Woman Mark 5.34 Go in peace and be whole of thy plague is not this one of the Depths of God A Depth of God REMISSION enters now Where is the Man that will not this allow Who hath been sailing by the Gates of Hel And truly then could not his PARDON spel Sins against Man may all forgiven be By Man Himself as Sages do agree Sins against GOD are All by God alone Forgiven Man that He may change his Tone
Defect makes one sinful but many good Actions cannot make one righteous He is just not only that hath no Sin but He also who is acquitted from his Sin or to whom his Sin is not imputed Is not Justification then one of the Depths of God To justifie our selves that we are righteous is worse than all our Vnrighteousness JAH hath no Respect to our Righteousness in the business of Justification is not this then one of the Depths of God 'T is said of Christ 1 Jo. 5.6 that he came by Water and Blood To intimate and indicate that no more are justified by his MERIT than are sanctified by his SPIRIT It is Christ who takes from Man Vnrighteousness and gives unto Man his own Righteousness Is not Justification now one of the Depths of God Aug. One saith that Marcellina hung the Picture of Christ and the Picture of Pythagoras together Are there not many not only in ITALY but also in ENGLAND who join Christ and their Works together Christ and their Prayers together Christ and their Tears together Christ and their Teachers together Christ and their Alms together In the Law Deu. 22.11 God commands not to wear a garment mingled of linnen and woolen This Law was figurative and teacheth that in the case of our Justification Acceptation and Salvation we are not to join our Services and Sacrifices to the Righteousness of Christ Is not Justification then one the Depths of God The Object of Worship God abominates a LINSEY-WOOLSEY Righteousness The Glosse of the Scoolmen is flagitious who say that Faith adorned with Charity justifieth The Romanists condemned in Councils the Doctrine of Justification by the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ which is not in us but in him The Rhemists call it a fantastical Justice a new-no Justice But Luther saith whosoever rightly esteemeth of the Vtility and Majesty of Justification to him all things should seem vile and worthless For what is Paul what is Peter what is an Angel from Heaven what are all other Creatures to the ARTICLE of Justification Is not this then one of the Depths of God I cannot but mention the Tutissimum of Bellarmine who having written 5 Books against Justification by Faith gives a Defeat to his whole Design in concluding the Controversie with a Confutation of all that he had written of it in these words Tutissimum est Fiduciam totam in Dei sola Misericordia et Benignitate reponere 'T is safest to put the whole Confidence in the Mercy and Benignity of God Is not Justification now one of the Depths of God The Justification of one Sinner is a far greater Work than the Creation of all the WORLD is it not then one of the Depths of God They justifie themselves sinfully who say they are justified by Christ from their Sins and yet continue in their Sins and hold fast their iniquities Is not Justification then one of the Depths of God What Righteousness saith Farnworth Christ performed without Me was not my Justification neither was I saved by it May not this be beleived of this man himself if he died in the same mind Ob. Do men say that Justification is by Grace and not by Works The Scripture saith it is by Works and not by Grace only and who is most authentick God or Man Resp There 's a two-fold Justification before God and before Man Before GOD. Thus Works cannot justifie No righteousness can stand before God but the Righteousness of Christ only Thus Rom. 3.20 Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 No flesh all flesh so the Greek All flesh shall not But the meaning is no flesh shall Metonymia Materiae Flesh by a double Figure is put for a Man 'T is put for the Body it being the Matter of it Synecdoche Membri 'T is also put as a part for the whole man Here the word ALL joyned with the Negative is often according to the Hebrew phrase put for none All flesh that is no flesh All Men that is no Man No man how great soever how good soever can be justified by Works before God So Rom. 4.2 If Abraham were justified by works he hath whereof to glory but not before God If Abraham were justified by the Works of the Law or Nature apart from faith so Estius He hath whereof to glory but not before God Not in Scriptures of God where God speaketh so Vatablus Not before God because such a Righteousness cannot free from Sin nor reconcile to God so Toletus Before MAN Thus Mat. 7.20 By their works ye shall know them So Jam. 2.26 As the body without the Soul is dead so faith without works is dead As the Body is Lifeless if Soul-less so the Soul is Faithless if Workless Though a man be justified without the Righteousness of Works yet that MAN who is without Works of Righteousness is not justified Is not Justification now one of the Depths of God As it is true Grace is ever alone in justifying before God it is as true Grace is never alone in the person justified by God Is not Justification then one of the Depths of God Grace and Works dwell under the same Roof JUSTIFICATION is the Thesis next An Act of Grace according to the Text Most absolute Can ISH in his own Dress Be just with JAH No 't is the Right'ousness Of JESUS intervening with the Flag Mans Right'ousness is but a filthy Rag. God had for Sin with Man a certain Duel Justification is the Christ'ans Jewel Where is the Man but for a BANKRUPT went This is unto his Ear an Ornament Yea Golden-Chain this is unto his Neck And doth indeed a BLACK most rarely deck No more are justified by the Merit Than also sanctified by the Spirit The Spirit of th' Almighty gave me Breath Lord Jesus me acquit from Sin and Death I thorough Grace delight in sacred Story Lord right'ous me account to Life and Glory Oh dearest JESUS is my Sin made Thine Then is thy Right'ousness made also Mine SANCTIFICATION Sanctification that 's one of the Depths of God For the Heart of Enosh that was black with sin to be beautified with Grace and for Him who was a BLACK by Nature to be a BEAUTY by Grace is not this one of the Depths of God That there is such a thing as Sanctification is evident that this according to the Greek is a Sanctification of Spirit and belief of Truth is as evident Thus 2 Thes 2.13 But c because God hath from the beginning chosen you From the beginning of Evangelical preaching so Cajetan From the beginning of your Vocation so Vorstius From Eternity so Beza Before the foundations of the world were laid Et Animae Corporis so Piscator But unto what are these chosen Vnto Salvation Eternal so Grotius Both of Soul and Body so Gomarus Then followeth in sanctification of Spirit Of a divine
Glory or at the HIGHEST In Altissimis ther 's nothing but Purity perfect Purity There is not the least Mixture of Dross nor the least spot of Dirt in a State of Glory This Place and this State is all pure and none shal come there but such as are pure Persons that are pure are fit Yea they only are fit for Heaven and a State of Glory who are pure Persons And HE 1 Jo. 3.3 that hath this hope in him of dwelling there purifieth himself not only as Heaven is pure but as GOD is pure in whose pure eyes Heaven it self is impure Job 15.15 Grace is with Sin in a continual Conflict but Glory makes a total Conquest Is not a state of Glory now which is a sinless State one of the Depths of God SIN as much as in it lies puts God out of the World 'T is therefore called GODMURDER DE ICID IUM as being that which would murder God Sin would not allow him a Being in the World who gave the World its Being Thus Isa 30.11 Get you out of the way turn aside out of the path Steer another Course sail by another Compass Be not so strict and precise in your Preachings But what follows Cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us Talk not so much to us molest us no more with so many Messages from him But He that is the Treasury of Satan for SIN is like to be the Treasury of God for WRATH Is not a state of Glory then which is a sinless State one of the Depths of God If thou killest not thy Sin Aug. but it dies of it self then Sin hath killed thee and thou hast not killed thy Sin One Leak in a Ship wil sink it One Wound kills Goliah though Caesar had Twenty Three before he dyed One DELILAH may be as injurious to Sampson as all the Philistines One broken Wheel makes the whole Clock unserviceable The breaking of the Vein may let out all the Vitals Oue Sin unrepented off is damning in the Act and wil be Damnation in the Issue Is not then a state of Glory which is a sinless State one of the Depths of God It is the Sign of a good Constitution to continue healthful in an infectious Air Thus the Truth of Grace shews it self in its Care not only to evitate the Company of Sinners but also the Contagion of Sinners If nothing be so bitter as Sin in the ACT nor any thing so bitter as Sin in the ISSUE certainly then a state of Glory which is a sinless state is one of the Depths of God As it is true there is no Sin in Grace nor any Grace in Sin It is as true though there be Sin in a State of Grace there is no Sin in a State of Glory Is not then a state of Glory which is a sinless state one of the Depths of God If Sin be the Seed of Trouble and Trouble be all the HARVEST we reap by Sin and if a Non-impugnation of an Inclination to sin makes way to stupefaction by Sin certainly then a state of Glory which is a finless State is one of the Depths of God Posse peccare If a Possibility to sin or a Potentiallity of sinning was in a Paradisical state Posse non peccare Non posse non peccare if a Possibility not to sin as a Christless Person sinneth be in an Evangelical state and if an Impossibility of sinning be in a Caelestial state certainly then a state of Glory which is a sinless State is one of the Depths of God There are sinners upon EARTH many sinners upon Earth very many sinners upon Earth too many sinners 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vot upon Earth who are Workers of Iniquity who are wickedly arrived at an Artificialness in Wickedness The Apostle saith 1 Jo. 5.19 We know that we are of God and that the whole world lieth in wickedness A great part of the World the greater part of the World the greatest part of the World lieth in wickedness They lie in Sin as in a deep Dungeon or in a dead sleep They are under the Power of that wicked one the DEVIL The whole World Mankind so Calvin Worldly Men so Estius Unregenerated Men so Vorstius This is written as it were in Capitals and as it were with a Beam of the Sun that there are Sinners upon Earth but there are no Sinners in Heaven The Apostle Heb. 12.22 23 24. transmits to posterity a NARRATIVE of the Communion if I may so write of Heaven where I find a God a Christ Angels and the Spirits of just men made perfect but not a Sinner And if no Sinner there no Sin there Is not now a state of Glory which is a sinless State one of the Depths of God SORROWLESS A State of Glory is a sorrowless state is it not then one of the Depths of God In a state of Grace there are Tears standing in the Eyes of every Saint but in a State of Glory there shal not be a Tear standing in the Eyes of any Saint Is not a State of Glory then which is a sorrowless state one of the Depths of God Ther 's sighing in a state of Grace ther 's singing in a state of Glory is not this now one of the Depths of God In a State of GRACE the Praises of Saints are noted with Selah but in a state of GLORY the Praises of Saints shal be a Note above Elah Is not then a state of Glory which is a sorrowless state one of the Depths of God There is in a state of Grace the double Vail of Corruption and Affliction but in a state of Glory this double Vail shal be taken off is not a state of Glory then which is a sorrowless state one of the Depths of God It was Tertullian who said it of Himself that he was born for REPENTANCE and who adviseth Persons backward in Thoughts of Repentance Prima Conditio est non peccasse secunda vero penituisse to be forward in Thoughts of Hel. 'T is true he that is born in Sin and so every one is is also born for Repentance 'T is best not to sin but having sinned the next best is to repent They who beleive without repenting shal repent without beleiving They were the words of blessed BRADFORD at the stake Oh England England England repent of thy Sin repent of thy Sin repent of thy Sin Our present life is like Checker-Work we must mourn like Doves and groan like Turtles as wel as sing like Larkes While we are on this side a state of Glory which is a sorrowless State and one of the Depths of God we must mingle Tones of Sorrow with Tunes of Joy Let none so flatter themselves with the fair Weather of of Gods Mercy as not to know that when the Sun and the Wind meet it wil rain Ther 's a twofold Sorrow Legal and Evangelical Legal There is a wordly Sorrow which worketh
say I had been happy if I had not been a Sinner Now if this be the Reason why the Saints in Heaven shal have so much Felicity Faelix si non peccassem bcause all the GOOD in Heaven is a fixed Good certainly then a state of Glory which is a State of Blessednesses is one of the Depths of God The Apostle Eph. 1.3 hath a spiritual and sublime Strain which take as followeth Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings With all spiritual Benediction so the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is in the singular number all and yet but one Benediction Intimating that spiritual Benedictions and Blessings are so concatinated that they all make but one Benediction or Blessing for where God gives one Blessing he gives all Blessings Yea they are spiritual because bestowed upon the Spirit wrought by the Spirit and have a spiritual Tendency But where are these Benedictions The Text saith in heavenly places c. In HEAVENLIES so the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word it self according to the proper Notation of it fignifieth the upper heavenlies Were these blessed in a state of Grace and with a state of Grace what are they in a state of Glory which is one of the Depths of God If Gold and Silver be Happiness then Happiness should be found in the Wildernesses of India and Turkey with such like barbarous and bruitish places But the Philosophers say that Happiness must consist in such a State where there is an Aggregation of all good things Now a State of GLORY which is a state of Beatitude is such a State and consequentially one of the Depths of God When God had given to the World a Being Esse et Bene-esse that he might give it a Wel-Being Gen. 1.22.28 he adds to the Work of Creation a Word of Benediction If it be the Felicity of Saints on Earth that God always beholds Them and their Felicity in Heaven that They always behold God certainly then a State of GLORY which is a state of Beatitude is one of the Depths of God Thus Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord c. If persons are never happy in their Distances from God and nothing can make them unhappy when they are neer to God certainly then a State of Glory when they shal be neerest God is one of the Depths of God CONTAGIONLESS A State of Glory is a contagionless state is it not then one of the Depths of God Omnis Morbus non ad Mortem Though every Disease be not unto Death yet Death may be dressed in a thonsand Shapes and may be in very many things we see in the World Is not now a state of GLORY which is a contagionless State one of the Depths of God It is not for Me if for Galen and Hypocrates critically to enumerate the Varieties and Multiplicities of contagious Diseases while Men are in a State of Grace Is not a state of GLORY then which is a contagionless State one of the Depths of God A Disease is a Malady or evil Disposition of the Body It is in Effect the same with Sickness Now Diseases may be reduced to two Heads Corporal Thus 2 Chro. 21.15 Thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels until thy bowels fal out by reason of thy sickness day by day Spiritual This was a Reprehension to the Shepherds Eze. 34.4 Ye have not strengthned the diseased nor healed that which was sick nor bound up that which was broken c. As there is the PLAGUE of the BODY Thus Ps 106.29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions and the plague brake in upon them The Plague or Pestilence is accounted the greatest Judgment inflicted upon the Bodies of Men. The worst of our corporal Diseases is the Plague of the Body Job speaking of a wicked man Ch. 27.15 saith Those that remain of him shal be buried in death Now is it not to die of the Plague to be buried in Death May not the Plague be justly called DEATH by way of Eminency because it is a Disease so deadly The Chaldeans number not the Plague among Diseases but call it Death May not they who die of the Plague be said in a sense to to be buried in Death Because They so soon as dead are suddenly carried out to Burial lest they should infect the Air and consequentially taint the Bodies of the Living Is not a state of Glory now which is a contagionless State one of the Depths of God This Name DEATH seemeth to be given the Plague Thus Rev. 6.8 Behold a pale horse and his name that sat on him was death Is not this the Plague Then follows And Hel followed with him The Page of Death is Hel to the wicked and the Page of Death is the Grave to the righteous But what then Power was given them to kill with the sword and with hunger and with death c. Post Famem Pestis With Death i. e. The Plague for this is wont to follow Famine This also by Ecclesiastick Writers is called MORTALITY which now hath passed into many Mother Tongues The Plague say some is an immediate Stroak from God If other Diseases slay their Thousands this slayeth its ten thousands Is not now a state of Glory which is a contagionless state one of the Depths of God But as there is the Plague of the Body so there is the Plague of the SOUL which is the Pest of Pests Thus 1 Kings 8 38. When every man shal know the plague of his own heart c. As the worst of our corporal Diseases is the Plague of the BODY so the worst of our spiritual Diseases is the Plague of the HEART Is not now in both these respects a state of Glory which is a contagionless State one of the Depths of God Is not the Soul a far more fruitful Seminary of Sins than the Body is of Diseases There is a thing called a CRISIS which is an unlooked for mutation of a Disease for better or worse unto Life or unto Death It is a physical Axiom that the highest Degree of Health is a Crisis Subita Morbi in melius pejusve ad Vitam aut Mortem mutatio a Prognostick of the Appropinquation of some violent and mortal Distemper and Disease There are Contagions on Earth but there are none in Heaven Is not a state of GLORY then which is a contagionless State one of the Depths of God There is the Plague of the Body in a State of Grace for Sin is the Womb of Plagues but there is no Plague of the Body in a State of Glory is it not then one of the Depths of God There is also the Plague of the Heart which is Sin in the Soul in a State of Grace but ther 's no Plague of the Soul in a State of Glory for he that is dead