Pâ—nem vides praeterea nihil sed audis tesseram esse corporis Christi ne dubita impleri à Domino quod verba sonant corpus quod nequaquà m cernis spirituale esse tibi alimentum Calv. in Mat. 26.26 This is my Body and this is my Blood q. d. These outward Signes and Seales are most sure and certain pledges of my Body and Blood which I doe as truly give to be spirituall food as I give the Bread and Wine to be bodily food to every beleever 1 Cor. 10.16 This was long since promised Isai 25.6 The Lord will make a feast of fat things of wine on the Lees well refined So Prov. 9.5 Here Christ as the Master of the Feast bids us welcome saying Eat O friends yea drink abundantly my beloved Here the the hungring and thirsting Soule hath refreshment and strength from heaven here it is put in mind of Christ and all that he hath done and endured for us Here it hath heavings and violent liftings of heart towards God And Christ saith Open your mouthes wide and I will fill them with good things Here the Soule hath meetings with God and is convinc'd of his love and the truth of his promises For this is a Seale of the righteousnesse of Faith Rom. 4.11 It confirmes the covenant of grace to us You see how we taste the goodnesse of God in the Lords Supper 4. Conference 4. In Society and Communion and Christian conference with the Saints and speaking often to one another of the things of Heaven Mal. 3.16 For thereby we taste of others gifts which are given them for others to profit withall and they will be ready to comfort us with the comforts wherewith they have been comforted of God as 2 Cor. 1.4 Indeed much of God may be seen and tasted in communion with the Saints 'T is a piece of heaven upon earth 't is the joy of Christians All my delight saith David is in them that excell in vertue Communion with the Saints is often made a step to fellowship with Christ as 1 Iohn 1.4 c Haec itaque socletas cujus meminit Johannes est Ecclesia Christi quae in symbolo dicitur sanctorum communio habet auteÌ„ maxima bona spiritualia c. Thomas Naogeorgus in 1 Johan 1.4 That yee may have communion with us and that also our communion may be with the father Throw a dead Charcoale among the living and it will soon sparkle and kindle Simile First indeed sparkle viz. Thou wilt dislike their wayes principles but afterwards kindle and glow with love to God and his truth when you have lookt better into them and tasted Gods goodnesse among them 5. Meditation 5. In f Gustare est cogitare Erhard Schueptius Comment in Psal 34.6 Meditation This is a Saints pastime it recreates and perfumes the tyred spirits 't is a Ladder by which the Soul-clambers up to heaven 't is a duty is ever at hand Prov. 6.22 When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou awakest it shall talk with thee When thou art alone nay in the darke when travelling c. On all occasions you may let out your soul in meditation when other duties cannot be performed Nay when you sleep you may be medling with this duty For having communion with God in the day and closing thy eyes with some meditation even thy dreames may be of the love of God and the glory of heaven as the experiences of the Saints can witnesse Meditation it enterâ— us into the first degrees of those heavenly joyes and imparts to us some beginnings of the vision and fruition of God It enables us with Moses to discerne as we are able some glimpses of God that our faces shine with purity and divine splendor By this we are ravished with Paul and are catcht up into paradise and in the twinkling of an eye are driven as in a fiery Chariot into heaven By this with holy g Soli Stephano conspicua fuit Dei gloria impiis enim qui eodem loco stabanc hoc spectaculum latebat undè sequitur non in coelis sed potius in Stephano editum fuisse miraculum Calvin in Acts 7.56 Stephen we see the heavens opened and Jesus sitting at the right hand of God Indeed admirable are the effects of divine meditation It confirms our knowledge Psal 119.99 It strengthens our memory Ps 63.6 It enflames our love as bellows the cynders Psal 119.97 and Psal 39.3 It cherishes affiance in God as Psal 119.147 148. It maintains a true and son-like feare of God Psal 4.4 It hushes and quiets the soule in afflictions Psal 119.23 1 Pet. 4.12 Thinke it not strange q. d. It matters much what our thoughts and meditations are in trouble It promotes prayer Psal 143.5 6. Eccles 5.2 and praising God This tunes the harp Psal 63.5 6. It weanes and sequesters the heart from the world It spiritualizes our discourse Psal 77.12 Mat. 12.34 If there be fire on the hearth some sparks will flie out at the chimney In a word it casts a secret influence on the life Josh 1.8 Psal 1.3 and 119.15 Purge the fountaine and the streames will run pure The life is easily transformed when the heart is new moulded What shall I say h Cogitare est vivere Tull. Acad. Quaest lib. 1. Meditation is the very life of our life as a Heathen could say and see by the light of nature It is the food of our soules the fuell of our zeale the spur of our devotion The soule that can meditate on God is never lesse i Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus alone then when alone for his fellowship is then with the Father and his Sonne Jesus Christ It delights to walke in these groves and fold the armes in these shadie bowers of solitary but divine meditation where it heares the Nightingale of a good conscience warble melodiouslâ— k Psal 104.34 My meditation of thee shall be sweet saith David and in the multitude of my thoughts thy comforts delight my soule q. d. I caste much of God in this duty and it feeds me with many sweet morsells of contentment Psal 104.34 But now doe beleeverâ— taste the goodnesse of God in divine medication Quest Ans I answer 1. By meditating of all his glorious perfections especially the boundlesse dimensions of his sweetest attribute which is his mercy So l Hic locus hortatur omnes homines ut velint cogitare de bonitate Domini Erhard Schnepfius in Psal 34.6 Pag. 204. taste and see viz. consider a little with me saith David here how good the Lord is q. d. By meditating dive into the Ocean of divine sweetnesse and contemplate of him that is beauty and goodnesse it selfe 2. By meditating m Nolite omnia beneficia Dei sine gustu deglutire aut maligne perpetuâ oblivione sepelire sicut faciunt impii Sed adbibete palatum videte
Lulla by Lulla's watch to smother grace in the cradle they seek by all meanes to coole ensnare divert and discourage such as begin to hanker after God and cast a favourable eye on Religion saying Touch not taste not handle not such precise and factious doings But the hottest place in hell is kept for such seducing discouragers See what Christ saith Matth. 23.13 Woe unto you that shut up the Kingdome of heaven for ye neither go in your selves nor suffer others that are entring to goe in These are compared in a Latin p Canis in praesept Proverb to a Dog in the Manger that will not himselfe taste the hay or provender nor suffer the Cattell to come neere it that have a mind to it but lies snarling at them This is the lively picture of Seducers and Discouragers they will not taste the goodnesse of God themselves nor yet permit others to doe it These are the Devils Factors and he will pay them their wages Paul describing the Revelations of Christ to his soule saith and immediatly I conferred not with flesh and blood Gal. 1.16 that is with carnall reason say some which is an evill counsellour for the soule Rom. 8.7 But I rather think that by flesh and blood is meant evill men as divers q Martin Luber and Perkins on the place Expofitors conclude So then in that nick of time when he began to taste God in converting love he would not consult with such at Damascus as might rather hinder then forward him in the worke For this doe all wicked men lest the goodnesse of others should discover or molest their wickenesse 2. Vse To inform us in the true reason of all that rage and fury Vse 2 that boyles up in the spirits of men and women against God and his wayes They r Scientia non habet inimicum praeter ignorantem speak evill of things they know not nor ever tasted Jude 10. This made them crucifie Christ Acts 3.17 They are sortishly ignorant of that reall worth and sweetnesse that is in God and Religion and heâ—ce comes all their rage and foame against such things If men that are now as furious as Lyons and Tygers did but make triall of holinesse and understand things aright they 'd be as tame as lambs as Isai 11.6 When Christ offers to wash men from their sinnes they cry out with Peter Thou shalt never wash my feet but when they begin to see his love and taste his goodnesse then Lord not my feet onely but my hands and my head Joh. 13.9 In a word men are not so averse before tasting as they are greedy afterwards 3. Vse Somwhat by way of triall and examination Vse 3 whether you have tasted divine goodnesse and sweetnesse yea or no. The effects of this taste are three Regeneration Estimation and Exultation 1. Regeneration and vivification of the soule and infusions of celestiall quicknings This taste will frame thee to be a new creature producing an unfained change in the heart and bringing the spirit to a continuall care of pleasing God Thus the word is called the savour of life unto life 2 Cor. 2.15 16. A man cannot taste God and remain in a dead condition Some boast of Revelations but have they a principle of life are they purged from their filth doe they walk close with God 2. Estimation of God above all earthly thing preferring celestiall before sublunary sweetnesse All will be counted dirt and dung to Christ Phil. 3.8 or as some render it dogs meat to Christ viz. course and contemptible food after such junkets The soule will esteeme Christ as the people did David more worth then Å¿ 2 Sam. 18.3 ten thousand or as t Ruth 4.15 Naomi did Ruth better then seven sons u Acts Monuments None but Christ none but Christ said Lambert lifting up such hands as he had and his fingers ends flaming A good heart prizes God in Christ above all the world For as the shining of the Sun drownes the Starres so the unconceivable sweetnesse of Christ turns other sweets which the soule admired before into w As the Priests of Mercury eating their figgs and honey cryed out Sweet is truthâ— so here c. bitternesse And if the soule meet with any sweetnesse any content in earthly things it still admires God and cannot but infer If the creature be so sweet how sweet is the Creator If the viaticum be so pleasant in my journey how glorious will the feast be at home Have you such thoughts of Christ You indeed have tasted the goodnesse of God 3. x Ab illis qui gustaruÌ„t mirâ cum dulcedme percipitur vita nova Mar. Luther in 1 Pet. 2.3 Exultation and delight springing from the love of complacency as the schools call it when the soule is lost in a desired labyrinth of spirituall enjoyments and the longings of the soule are shuffled with the breathings of the Spirit When the soule doth acquiesce repose feast and solace it self in the sweet fruition of Christ in whom fullnesse dwells and all that the sinner desires now is that he may be able to y Beatitudo hominis est gustus bonitatis Dei Scultetus Id. Typ Psal 3 Pag. 272. manage his joyes and that his heart may not be too little for his comfort and so breake with the longing it hath after God but that it may be content to live a while in banishment and wait with patience till the marriage day in heaven Oh here 's a soule that is crowded with glorious thoughts of Christ and many times knows not whether it be in the body or out of the body Psal 36.8 They shall be satisfied with the fatnesse of his house and in thy light shall they see light This tasting is an earnest of heaven and the first fruits of z Bona conscientia maximuÌ„ semper praestat solatium Euthym 'T is a continuall feast glory and therefore well may such sing and leap for joy and then say Returne to your rest for the Lord bath dealt bountifully with you Psal 116.7 scil They joyfully take their a Gustus doni coelestis totum hominem refocillat Christo Hosman in Heb. 6.4 recumbency in the bosome of Christ Were you ever acquainted with these joyes for no Christian hath them continually and hath the God of hope fill'd you with joy and peace in beleeving thou hast tasted how good how sweet the Lord is Heare what b Acts Monu fol. 1361. Lawrence Saunders the Martyr said unto his wife before his death Deare wife riches I have none to leave behinde wherewith to endow you after the worldly manner but that treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry consciences whereof I thank my Christ I doe feele part and would feele more loe that I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ to retain the same in sense of heart alwayes Pray pray I am merry and I
I will give health and cure and I will cure them and reveale unto them the abundance of Peace and Truth and I will clense them from their iniquities which I will pardon c. x Cicer. Tusc Sanabilibus aegrotamus malis Seneca de Irâ lib. 2. cap. 13. Even Heathens have acknowledged the sick soul of man may be cured well Christ is that great y Interna vulnera BalsamuÌ„ internum internall Physician Ministers z 1 Cor. 3.9 Rom. 10.14 15. who are said to co-work with him are the externall 2 Tim. 2.24 25 26. The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle to all apt to teach patient in meeknesse instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the Truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill who are taken captive by him at his will a 1 Cor. 3.6 But all this while wee can doe nothing without Christ wee may thrust cripples into the Poole 't is he stirres the water Not wee but Jesus of Nazareth cures sinners But how doth Christ heal them Quest I answer By his bloud Ans 1 Behold the Physician bleeds to death for the Patient StilomuÌ„s Pourâ—â—ossiâ—â—ing p. 302 and the bloud of the Physician saith b Sanguis medici medicameÌ„tum aegri Aug. Austin is the medicine of the Patient Heare the Apostle Peter in his 1 Epistle 2 Chapter 24. vers By his stripes wee are healed The application of that to the Conscience cureth us for the bloud of Christ clenseth from all sin and without the shedding of bloud there could be no remission no curing of us oh this was a powerfull and precious medicine indeed it c Clemens Alexandrinus calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viz. The remedyagainst all the venome of corruption cures all our maladies Alchermes Bezoar Dust of Pearls or Aurum Potabile are not so comfortable or restorative to the weak body as this bloud to the sick soule d 1 Pet. 1. 18. Acts 20.28 This is such a medicine that Heaven and Earth had not the like or another You see how he cures soules chiefly by his bloud other secondary means he useth For 2. As Christ cures souls by his bloud Answ 2d so also by his Word Psal 107.20 He sent out his word and healed them And this was the reason why the Syr. and Arab. read the Text thus He shall arise with healing upon his Tongue For Peace is the fruit of his lippes promising pronouncing interceding Till he speake peace by his f Sicut corpori Deus praeparavit medicameÌ„ta ex herbis it a animae praeparavit medicamenta ex his sermonibus Origen Word there 's no healing for us Next Christ heales by his rod he sends sicknesses into our flesh Answ 3d to convey health into our minde g God afflicts us non studio nocendi sed desiderio sanandi Aug. Epist 48. He wounds us to cure us The fruit of afflictions to Beleevers is the taking away of sinne Isa 27. Now fin is the soules sicknesse The rod is a Teaching rod David found it good for him viz. his soule that he had been afflicted Lastly Answ 4 Christ heales us by his Spirit I will send the Comforter to you saith Christ Joh. 14.26 He will helpe our infirmities Rom. 8.26 This is that h 1 Joh. 2.20.27 2 Cor. 1.21 22 oyle which Christ the good Samaritan poures into a wounded Conscience to asswage the griefe of soules and administer ease and refreshment to such as groane for mercy Rom. 8.16 In our greatest spirituall distempers his e Heb. 4.12 i Sumus quideÌ„ nos valde infirmi at spiritus saÌ„ctus adjuvare non desinit Chrystoph Hosmon Grace is sufficient for us he stayes us with flaggons and comforts us with apples when we are sicke of Love You see Christ heales the soule spiritually and how 3. Christ heales Politically be comes with healing in his wings when he pleaseth to divided and distempered Nations that are at the brinke of desolation The deadly wounds of Nations may be cured Rev. 13.3 When wee thinke a Nation is so full of wounds and botches that it must needs perish Christ can heale it And 't is his imployment to heale Nations as well as bodies or soules Jer. 30.17 They that spoyle thee shall be a spoyle for I will restore health unto thee and heale thee of thy wounds Oh that God would say thus to these distemper'd and distracted Kingdomes and oh that he would k Dolorem medicinae spes salutis mitigat make us willing to be healed No differences are too great for Christ to compose ours are intricatâ— l Ann. Dom. 1648. Julii our severall opinions and factions and fractions what are they but so many diseases upon our Mother the Church of England A whole Colledge of State-Physicians have been long in Consultation many veines have been opened c. Yet still shee is sick sick almost unto Death Well no Nation so desperately sick but Christ can cure it and that easily speedily he can rebuke the madnesse of the people give our Senators wisdome unite head and members hush the Nations and make warres to cease m Sanitas gentium est agnitis Redemptionis beneficiis c. Pignetus in Apoc. 22.2 The leaves of that Tree of life that hath twelve manner of fruits are for the healing of the Nations Rev. 22.2 n Tho Brightman on the Rev. Pag. 882. This tree of life with his variety of fruit and medicinall leaves is Jesus Christ 't is he that will nourish and heale the Nations professing the Gospel o Ezek. 47.12 Thus it hath been proved to you Quest there is healing in Christ now let us see wherefore it is thus or how it comes to passe and on what grounds that Beleevers finde healing from these blessed wings of their Redeemer Reason 1 1. All 's to be laid down at the p Mihi meritum dâ—est non illi misericordia Bernard Serm. 14. 61. feete of free grace Answ Reason 1 He will have mercy because he will have mercy 't is your Saviours good will to heale you wee have merited nothing can challenge nothing when he might thinke of hell he thinks of healing should he for ever leave us rotting in our sinnes Christ were just 2. Beleevers finde healing from Christ Reason 2 because they are related and united to him are made one with him being in Christ wee have new natures and are new creatures q Porro foliis fides coÌ„fertur in Rev. 22.2 Pignetus in Locum He tooke our nature saith Austin that he might heale it of all diseases and then takes the Elect and unites them to himselfe that they all may partake of the Cure 3. 'T is his office to heale them Reason 3 and Christ was sent for this end Isa 61.1 He hath sent mee to binde up the
Page 8 9 Angels guard us whilst in our wayes Page 9 Angels are present at our solemne Assemblies Page 9 10 Saints after death like Angels Page 10 Fali'n Angels lye unpittied unredeemed Page 11 Elect Angels 〈◊〉 joyce at our conversion Page 10 18 Antichrist assumes the Titles of Christ and calls himselfe the Sun among the Starres Page 213. to 216 Rejoyce in the Appearances of Christ Page 260 Christ hath his times of arising Page 247. to 265 To the world 247. to 252. To the soule Page 252. to 254 The manifestations of Christ like the Suns arising and wherein unlike with the Vses of all Page 154. to 165 When Christ doth arise hee comes with healing in his wings Page 165. ad finem Of Christs Ascension Page 250 Christ good by Aspect and conjunction Page 210 211 In solemne Assemblies Angels eye us Page 9. 10 True knowledge hath full assurance Page 112 Astronomers say the Sun is good by aspect and evill by conjunction this false of Christ Page 210 211 Of attention under the Word Page 34 Light is awakening Page 200 201 B. Backslidings are curable Page 286 In Baptisme we may taste divine goodnesse Page 40 Christ sheds his Beames like the Sun freely suddenly impartially and abundantly Page 181. to 185 The Beauty of Christ is unconceiveable and indeed unutterable Page 190. to 194 Small beginnings in grace should not discourage us Page 93 to 95 Beleevers estate in Christ hetter then Adams Page 243 True knowledge betters us Page 114 Birds sing at Sun rising so beleevers rejoyce at the appearance of Christ Page 257 Of the bird of the Sunne and how Christ is like the Phoenix Page 296 to 271 Of the birth of Christ Page 247 248 True Blessednesse consists in tasting Gods love Page 22 Blind devotion abominable Page 116. 117 Most men blockish in spirituall things Page 30 The blood of Christ heals us Page 275 276 Christ heales Bodies as well as soules Page 273 274 How the born of God sin not Page 89 Childrens bread not for whelps Page 158 Of bringing others into Christ Page 12. to 21 C. Many calumnies fastned on God Christ and all that are godly Page 140 141 142 We are not capable of much grace here Page 77. to 100 Christ a most carefull Physician Page 273 Christ changes us 253 Childrens bread Page 158 Christ an inexhaustible fountain of divine sweetnesse Page 16. 17 Christ teacheth onely his friends Page 104 Christ like the Sun in 21. respects unlike in five The Vses of that Allegory Page 180. to 223 Christ is of a communicative nature 180. 181. How Christ communicates his beams 181. to 185. Christ at his Fathers command 187 188. Christ is exceeding great in power 188. to 190. Christ is of a dazeling splendor matchless beauty 190. to 194. Christ is the ornament of Soules Nations and Heaven it selfe Page 194. to 196 Christs motions are admirable Page 197 to 200 Christ is seen by his own light Page 203 Christs influences may be felt when his face is hid Page 204 Christ melts some and hardens others Page 206 Christ cheares up Saints with his beams Page 206 207 Nothing makes day if Christ be wanting and if Christ shine all other glories are drowned Page 207 208 Christ gives sight as well as light Page 209 210 Our happinesse stands in union with Christ Page 210 211 How Christ shall deliver up his Kingdome to the Father and yet reigne for ever Page 211 212 An old heresie that Christ dwels in the circle of the Sun refuted Page 216. to 218 Christ a Sun or Fountain of righteousnesse inherent imparted imputed Remunerative Page 223. to 246 Christ hath his times of rising and discovering himselfe and his beauty Page 247. to 265 When Christ doth arise he comes with healing in his wings Page 265. ad finem Of Christs birth Page 247 248 Of Christs crucifixion Page 248 249 Of Christs resurrection Page 249 250 Of Christs ascension Page 250 Christ a carefull Physician Page 272. ad finem Christ the true Phoenix Page 269. to 271 The happinesse of Christians since Christ above those that lived under the Law in five respects Page 172 to 176 What it is to be cloathed with the Sun Page 220 Commission from God inables Angels to help us Page 7 A positive command to win others Page 14 Bad company a snare Page 62 63 God a communicative good Page 180 to 185 True knowledge communicative Page 110 111 Christ knowes not how to conceale his love from us here as Joseph could not from his brethren Page 81 We conceale nothing from the Physician Page 290 Conference helps us to remember experiences Page 25 41 Confession the way to absolution Page 290 In contemplation we taste Gods goodnesse Page 42. to 45 We should contemplate of all Gods perfections and out-goings Page 44 We must continue in Gods goodnesse Page 148 149 Of converting others Page 12. to 21 Of corporall taste its pleasure short Page 37. and 74 Christ can heale corporally Page 273 274 We co-work with God Page 90 91 Men greedy to taste the creature not the creator Page 63 64 Creep under the healing wings of Christ Page 288. ad finem Some will not be cured Page 282 283 Great cures wrought by Christ Page 272 ad finem D The Damned do not tast one drop of divine goodnesse Page 75 76 Thickest darknesse expeld by Christs shinings Page 202 203 David his great streights 2. His flying so Gath to save his life 2. His policy there and the successe 2 3. His thankfulnesse there for that deliverance Page 5 Death destroyed in an overcomming Christ Page 249 Death makes Saints like Angels 10. yea like Christ Page 223 Christ heales us and adornes us because he would fain take delight in us Page 279 280 In blackest desertions some strength from Christ to upbold us 204 205. Christs designe in giving us grace is that we should invite others and enlarge his dominions Page 14 15 Christ a most desirable good who is able to give full content to the soule and rich delight 132 133. To hinder Despaire we get here some tastes of Gods goodnesse Page 81 82 The very Devils and damned in hell partake of Gods goodnes although they cannot taste or perceive it This is prov'd Page 121. to 123 Blind Devotion abominable to God Page 116 117 True knowledge is diffusive Page 110 111 Jesus Christ a diffusive good Page 180. to 184 Directions how to win others to Christ Page 21. and 31 In experimentall discoveries of divine sweetnesse God is best tasted Page 48 Christ hath his times of discovering himselfe and his beauties to the world and to the soule Page 247. to 265 We must not be discouraged at small beginnings Kome was not reared in a day Page 93 94 Discouraging others is a fearfull sin Page 67 Christs motions are distinguishing Page 200 Christ workes diversly on divers objects Page 206 As Dogges must not catch the childrens bread so children
Mihi meritum deest non illi misericordia Bernard Serm. 14. Nisi gratuita non est gratia Aug. de grat Chr. cap. 23. and when I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thy blood I said unto thee Live Live q. d. when thou wast in that wofull pickle like Job on the Dunghill full of the botches of sinne loathsome to thy selfe and all others that were good then was my time of love then did I wash anoint and adorne thee A sweet Scripture and sutable thereunto is that place Psa 27.10 When father and mother and all forsake mee then the Lord will take me up 7. O but when he doth come Object 7 he will expect large fees and what have I that am poore blind naked and miserable I answer Remember that place Sol. Hosea 14.4 I will heale your rebellions freely Luke 8.43 One that spent all on Physicians and found no ease came to Christ and was cured for nothing So here Free Grace is not Fee Grace Å¿ Ascensus gratiarum est descensus gratiae Bernard it exspects no recompence but requires thankfulnesse What doth Christ else require of thee David therefore was full of praises Psa 103.1 2 3. Blesse the Lord O my soule and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefites who forgives thine iniquities and heales thy diseases Extoll your Physician to the Clouds tell others what hee hath done for your soules and send all your sick friends and neighbours to him This is all the fee he expects from thee To conclude all Vse 4 Suffer now the word of exhortation to come and creep under the healing power of Christs wings by faith what will it profit you to t Labour ut sit mens sana in corpore sano have healthy bodies and diseased souls And how will you do when both body and soule are sick together and one cannot help nor serve the other One that hath spirituall life and is void of spirituall health may and will get to heaven But Lord what murmuring what groaning what complaining will proceed from such a soule tending to Gods dishonour the soules discomfort and others disheartning God requires Cheerfulnesse and Rejoycing c. This cannot bee done till health is procured u Ipsa vita morbus est ipsa immortalitas vera santitas Aug. de Temp. 74. if the cure bee begun here it shall be perfected in heaven for death will put an end to all diseases and such shall cease from sin w Vltimus optimus medicus morboruÌ„ etiaÌ„ immedicabilium mors These are the Motives Now for the Meanes and I have done Frequent the Ordinances especially the Word and Prayer 1. The Word stand in Gods way goe into his Garden among his beds of Spices where he is gathering medicinall herbs for thee lie at the beautifull Gates of the Temple There is a searching healing and quickning power conveyed by the preaching of the Word Prov. 27.18 The tongue of the wise is health hee sent out his Word and so healed them Psalm 107.20 w Prima pars sanitatis velle sanari Seneca 2. Prayer grovell in the dust at his feet pant for mercy lay open your sores and spread all your infirmities and grievances before him and then intreat him to cure you Say with David x Psal 41.4 Lord bee mercifull unto me and heale my Soul for I have sinned against thee y Luke 7.7 And what the Centurion desired for his servant doe thou begge for thy Soule Speak but the word and my soule is healed i. z Nam qui cor pore aegrotus est absque rubore morbum suum medico revelat qui autem animo aegrotat vitia sua studiose celat nonnunquam virtutis specie palliat Musculus in Matth. 5.24 Be large and free in confession When you goe to a Physician you hide nothing you are ashamed of nothing c. So it must be here To confesse sinne is the way to finde ease and mercy a Prov. 28.13 Psal 32.3 4. Strangulat in clusus dolor atque exaestuat intus Ovid Trist 5.1 Whilst I kept silence saith David my bones consumed in my roaring all the day long Cry out therfore with the blind man after Christ Thou Sonne of David have mercy upon me and say with the Leper a Lord if thou wilt thou caâ—st cure me Never did poorer creature begge thy pitty and behold mercy is thy delight yea thou hast commanded me to come unto thee and promised I shall find ease and rest in thee I have nothing to plead for my selfe but misery is the proper object of mercy Lord I am Misery it selfe amd thou art Mercy it selfe yea thou hast power in thy hands immediatly to doe me good doe it for thy Names sake So shall my mouth bee filled with praises and my heart with joy Doe thus and then wait upon God For there is nothing to bee done in this cure without b Subsidium fidei est patientia Bullingerus in Heb. 10.36 Deus non exandit ad voluntatem ut exaudiat ad salutem Augustin in Psalm 80. Patientia nos Deo commendat servat iram temperat linguam fraenat mentem gubernat c. Ita Cecil Cypr. Serm. 30. de bono patientiae patience and doubt not but the Sunne of RIGHTEOVSNESSE will arise upon thee with Healing in his Wings Amen FINIS Septemb. 9º 1648. Imprimatur JOSEPH CARYL An Alphabeticall Index of the speciall points contained in both parts A IN Christs Abasements the Deity appeared Page 248 249 We must abide in Gods goodnesse Page 148 149 Christ sheds his beams abundantly Page 184 185 God an absolute and perfect good Page 130 131 132 The two Adams much different Page 126 127 Adams estate in innocency neither so good nor so sure as a beleevers estate in the righteousnesse of Christ Page 243 We should admire the goodnesse of Gods Nature Page 142 143 Carnall ones shall admire glorified Saints at the last day though now they undervalue despise them so much Page 92 93 Adoration not due to Angels elect Page 8 9 Great advantages let slip by enemies when the Lord doth infatuate them and their counsels Page 4 5 Affections will appeare in expressions Page 29 Affections requisite in such as would win others for divers reasons Page 29 30 How to kindle affections in others Page 31. 32 33 How to have affections kindled in our bosomes under the Gospel-wooings Six helps Page 34 35 36 We must allure others to Christ Page 12. to 21 Sad to allure men to sin Page 19 20 The encamping of Angels round about us should make us sensible of divine care and goodnesse Page 6. to 12 Angels are numerous Page 6 'T is the office of Angels to guard us Page 6 7 No guard like a guard of Angels Page 7 Angels can do nothing without a commission 7 Angels must be imitated not worshipped
servants in our families Civill powers and Martiall in kingdomes here 's the goodnesse of God but that all the Host of Heaven should be abased to so low a work this especially invites us to taste and see Divine goodnesse Lord what is Man that thou art thus mindfull of him Tygers and Devils might deservedly be our companions and lo Angels are sent to minister unto us Angels encamp about us who have often encamped against thee 3. Aguard of Angels is a b Optimè ergò infirmitati nostrae consulit Deus cum tales dat nobis adjutores qui Satanae nobâ—scum resistaÌ„t suâ—mque operam moais omnibus impendant ad nos tuendos Calv. in Heb. 1.14 Dan. 8.16 9.21.23 suitable reliefe to the Saints in tentations and inward assaults from Satan and his evill Angels they are not more ready to tempt and divert then good Angels to revive and counsell us Indeed this is properly the worke of the Spirit to come with inward strengthenings and yet good Angels may be his instruments or agents Oh admire the goodnesse of God in making such a suitable provision for our security And so much for that poynt Secondly in that David is not content to taste Gods goodnesse himselfe unlesse he call upon others to joyne with him Observe Such as by sweetest experience have once tasted Divine goodnesse themselves Note 2 cannot but stirre up others to be sharers with them O taste and see with me how good c. As if David should have said I for my part have seen and tasted much of God and his goodnesse which may seem strange never more then in my greatest straights For the golden conduit pipes of solemne Ordinances and creature enjoyments being cut off I have been driven to goe to Gods fulnesse and drink more immediatly and plentifully at the well head I am loath to eat these heavenly viands and soule ravishing morsels of contentment alone Come hither all you that feare God and love God Psal 66.16 and I will tell you what God hath dâ—ne for my soule O come fellow-sinners taste and see with me how good the Lord is how comfortable the embraces of Christ are and how sweet communion with heaven is c. I shall now lay you down the grounds and arguments The first shall be drawn from Scripture-examples of Saints that have been carefull to doe this Reason 1 1. Paul c Acts 26.29 wish'd heartily that both Agrippa and all that heard him were altogether such as he was excepting his bonds He that had received the five Talents went and traded with them d Matth. 25.16 'T is said e Malach. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often to one another in Malachi So soon as f Luke 5.29 Matthew was converted he called together an huge multitude of Publicans and others to meet at his house Philip had no sooner tasted communion with Christ but he runs to Nathanael to invite him to Christ saying O come and see g John 1.45 Above all The woman of Samaria had no sooner tasted Christs living waters h John 4.28 but in post haste leaving her water-pot she runs into the Citie to call out her friends and neighbours to see and taste how good the Messiah was And so David here in this Psalm c. and elsewhere Psa 51.12 13. where he vowes that if God will restore to him the joyes of his salvation that then he will teach transgressors Gods wayes that sinners might be converted unto him Now all these examples are written for our instruction 2 Thess 3.9 1 Chron. 11.1 and we must imitate Saints in wel-doing God hath strictly commanded this Reason 2 If those that have received the wealth of the world Luke 22.13 Ezek. 18.32 1 Pet. 4.10 then much more those that have obtained the Heavenly Riches of Gods grace are warned to doe good therewith to others and to be ready in poynt of distribution and communication 3. 'T is Gods end in bestowing his graces and comforts on us Reason 3 not that we should keep them to our selves but benefit others by them and so bee serviceable to the publique to the Body and for that is every member made and furnished with abilities i Injuriam facit acceptis Christi bonis qui illa tenaciter sibi soli usurpat Musculus in Johan 1.16 2 Cor 1.4 Men doe not light a Candle to thrust it under a Bushel but to set it up in a Candlestick that it may give light to all Matth. 5.15 The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall and God comforts us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort them which be in trouble Let not God faile of his end O deceive not his expectation 4. Next Reason 4 't is the nature of true Grace to be diffusive and communicative k Acts 4 20. Grace cannot long be conceal'd they that have tasted divine sweetnesse cannot chuse but speak of it to others their hearts would burst if they should be silent Jerem. 20. â— Grace is like fire in the bones they that have it cannot hide it 't is compared to new wine and it must have vent the blind men that were cured were charged to be silent but they could not hold their peace c. 5. The love which beleevers beare to Christ Reason 5 provokes them to doe all they can for the enlarging of his kingdome it fills mens heads with many projects and defignes of that nature and it makes them restlesse in this particular 2 Cor. 5.11 See v. 14. Knowing the terrour of the Lord we perswade men saith Paul The love of Christ that constraines us The soule never thinkes it can doe enough for Christ who formerly did so much against him c. 6. Love and pitty to the pretious souls of men puts them on it Reason 6 The l Gal. 5.6 first and chief work of Faith is love and there is no love in him to his neighbour that loves not his soule Levit. 19.17 2 Thess 3 15. Having found grace and comfort our selves let us pitie others that are as yet strangers to Christ unacquainted with that divine sweetnesse that is in him and say to them Why will ye dye If there be any love to thy brothers soule any pitie for his spirituall condition allure him to taste the mercy and goodnesse of God to all that come by Christ to him 7. Themselves have not the lesse Reason 7 but the more by prevailing with others m Rom. 1.11 12. 2 Cor. 9.6 to partake with them I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spirituall gift that I may be comforted with you n Nihil periculi est si intelligamus Paulum verè sperasse à Romanorum fide suam quoque instaurandam So here For 1. Christ Jesus is an inexhaustible fountaine there is an unfathomable Ocean of sweetnes in God enough
Graduum 1. A fullnesse of parts when no member is lacking Joh. 6.39 2. Of degrees when no measure of growth is wanting in every part Every member must grow according to its fit proportion O therefore be not contented with a small taste of God when larger tasts and portions of grace are to be had here especially in these times of larger Gospel discoveries and all plenty of meanes Luke 12.48 Finally consider how you are affected in inferiour things how men resolve to be rich and so fall into many snares and tentations Will a competency a taste of outward things content you that yet perish in the using We never think our grounds orchards and gardens fruitfull enough When wee come to a feast wee thinke it not enough that we taste of any dainties unlesse we are satisfied it should be thus in spiritualls Wicked men never think they have enough of sin 'T is their character to grow m 2 Tim. 3.13 worse and worse they drink deep of the cup of pleasure they heap sin upon sin till their iniquities reach up to heaven They draw the threds so big so long till they make cords of vanity and then wreath and twist those cords till they become n Isa 5.18 cartropes of iniquity why so beleevers likewise must aym at a perfection and goe on from o 2 Cor. 3.18 vertue to vertue from glory to glory As the light that increaseth to the perfect day Prov. 4.18 2. Is it so that the Saints have but a taste here in comparison of what they shall have hereafter Oh then let beleevers be perswaded to be even weary sick of this world and say Woe is us that we must live in the tents of Mesech Our soules break with longing after God O you children of promise and heires of heaven why desire some of you to p Quid est diu vivere nisi diu tor queri Aug. de temp 113. live so long upon q Et mundus carcer est et cor pus carcer est Aug. in Psal 141. Mors est quae efficit ut nasci non sit supplicium Seneca ad Marc. cap. 20. Prunum honuÌ„ non nasci secuÌ„duÌ„ citius mori It a Silenus apud Lact. Lactant in Instit li. 3. c. 18. earth where you must drinke down continually the bitter potions of care and sorrow and can get but now and then a taste of divine sweetnesse and joy Why love ye not the appearance of Christ Why long you not to enjoy and swim in those rivers of pleasure where you may have your fill and will of God You may guesse at the joyes of heaven by those tasts of God and ravishings of spirit you have sometimes on earth Speak you joynt-heires with Christ have you not sometimes in prayer meditation when your hearts are enlarged your soules upon the wing holy extasies and transportations of spirit in so much that whether you are in the body or out of the body you cannot well tell Call in your sweet experiences and see if they will not witnesse to this truth and have you not esteemed such a moment above all the world what would you give to have more of them and to have them more lasting Why now my Brethren if there be such unspeakable joy at tasting the sweetnesse of God for a little moment how unconceivable will that happinesse be when you shall be filled with those joyes for evermore If our viaticum be so good how great is that r 2 Cor. 4.17 The same word in the Hebrew signifieth glory and weight Glory such a weight that if we were not upheld by the power of God we could never beare it Joy so big that it cannot enter into us 1 Cor. 2.9 but wee must enter into it Matth. 25.21 John Trapp Com. weight of glory which God hath prepared for them that feare him The Lord give you heaved hearts winged affections in the consideration of these things Amen 4. Doct. They onely that taste can see how good the Lord is They onely that taste communion with God and have enjoyments of God in a holy life are able rightly to see and discover and know his goodnesse A good understanding have all they that doe his commandements saith David Psal 111.10 When God turnes men Å¿ Acts 26.18 from darknesse to light hee turnes them likewise from the power of Satan unto God A man may seem to know much and yet know nothing a right no not the least or easiest principle of Religion till this be done 1 Corinth 12.3 No man can see nor say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost They know nothing yet as they ought to know and t Eph. 4.21 as the truth is in Jesus till they have the Spirit and by him have tasted how good the Lord is till they have warm affections in heavenly things and the bent and purpose of their hearts is to please God and work by rule Let me lay down the grounds or arguments which will open and illustrate the truth 1. True knowledge is not bare speculation Arg. 1 't is heart-work as well as brain-work See 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to u Duplicem illuminationeus ponit unam Evangelii alteram arcanam quae fit in cordibus Calv. give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Where you see 1. That Jehovah is a very glorious Being he is clothed with light as with a garment 2. We are not able with w Non nisi in Christi facie cognoscitur Deus qui viva est at que 〈◊〉 pressa ejâ—s mago Col. 1.15 Idem comfort to behold this glory but in the smiling face of Christ God out of Christ a consuming fire 3. Till God shine we are not able to see him in Christ the Gospel is a sealed book till he unclasp it by his Spirit 4. Illumination of a darke soule is as great a wonder as the creation and illumination of the world But then 5. And lastly that which I quote the Text for is this That when God shines in upon men he doth not onely shine into their heads to illuminate them but into their hearts to affect and transform and new x Renovamur in imaginem Dei per cognitionem Col. 3.10 Idem mould them 'T is said John 17.3 This is life eternall to know Thee and Christ whom Thou hast sent Gospel knowledge therefore is more then a Metaphysicall speculation and sticking in the notion for thousands with such kinde of knowledge perish saving knowledge is a very glorious and comprehensive grace Again Arg. 2 God is at once a Fountaine of Light and Life as the y Semper in Sole sita est Rhodos qui calorem colorem nobis impertit Aeneas Sylv. y Talpis auscultationis gloria damnatur oculis And usually say
cannot but speake the things that they have heard and seen They beleeve and therefore speak Socrates an Heathen knowing there was but one God said in his Apology for his life that if they would give him his life on condition to keep that truth to himselfe and not to teach it to others he was resolved rather to dye for he would not promise that viz. silence which hee knew himselfe unable to perform for hee could not bury such a truth by sealing up his lips much lesse can they that see truth by a clearer light keep it to themselves like new wine it must have a vent Fourthly Charact. 4 Rom. 14.5 is thy knowledge backt with full assurance and strong confidence I say not in all things at all times This seeing hath tasting joyned with it 1 Joh. 2.3 Hereby we know that we know him if we keepe his commandements q. d. If we taste communion and take delight in him his wayes then our knowledge will be backt with full assurance Though an u Paulus meras flammas loquicur tamque vehemeatèr ardet ut incipiat etiam quasi angelu maledâ—ere P. Martyr in Gal. 1.8 Angel from heaven preach any other doctrine let him be accursed said zealous Paul that knew whom and what he had beleeved and resolved not to be cheated of truth But now an hypocrite may know and take up many things on trust and at last begin to beleeve them but yet notwithstanding they are cleare and stedfast and fully resolved in nothing but w Deus enim verbum suumdedit in quo actis radicibus maneamus immoti homines autem huc illuc suis figmentis nos abducunt Calvinus in Eph. 4.14 Circumferri ergo omni vento doctrinae est ad quamvis doctrinam oblatam de sincerâ ac verâ doctrinâ addubitare est seduci nunc his nunc aliis doctrinis Erasmus Sarcerius are driven about with every winde of doctrine and dance after any pipe that playeth saith holy * P. Bayn on Eph. 4.14 Bayn See Prov. 14.15 Heb. 13.9 We may justly feare these never received truths in the love of them they never tasted Gods goodnesse Fiftly Charact. 5 art thou x Altissima flumina minimo sono labuntur Q. Curtius l. 7. humble in the midst of light and gifts Doth thy knowledge beat down pride and conceitedness and frowardnesse and make thee patient humble and teacheable in heavenly things These are celestiall visions James 3.17 The wisdome that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated full of mercy c. q. d. There is a wisdome or vision that is not from above and that is earthly sensuall and devillish full of envy strife and unquietnesse Pride is a vayle before their eyes that they cannot see God But the wisdome that comes from above a sparke falling from the father of lights that 's accompanied with meeknesse and y Vide Titelmannum in locum humility See Job 42.6 Now mine eyes see thee therefore I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes q. d. Lord now I begin as through a crevice to discover thy purity and beauty I cannot but abhorre my selfe for all the unsutablenesse and defirement that cleaves to me when I see how unlike I am unto thee c. But now if men vapour and count themselves above ordinances and begin to despise prophesying these never tasted neither doe they rightly see God or any thing of God 1 Cor. 8.2 If any man think he knows any thing alas poore heart I pity him for he knows nothing as he ought to know but if any man love God the same is knowne of him z. Epicurus said that he was the first man that ever discovered truth who yet in many things was blinder then a beetle But Socrates cryed this one thing I know that I know nothing Trap. on 1 Cor. 8.2 Intimating that such as boast of their knowledge know nothing aright and never loved God nor tasted his goodnesse Sixtly and lastly Charact. 6 doth thy knowledge better thee and make thee still more holy and more heavenly This knowledge is right thou hast at once tasted and seene God a Nam evangelii doctrina vivum est speculum in quo Christi effigiem contemplantes in eam transfigurantur ubi non adest pura conscientia non nisi inane scieÌ„tiae spectrum esse potest Calvin in 1 Joh. 2.3 See 2 Cor. 3.18 But we with open face beholding in a glasse the glory of the Lord Jesus are changed into the same image from glory to glory When the soule begins to spy Christ and views his beauty in the cleare crystall glasse of the Word by a strange metamorphosis 't is suddenly turned into the same image whilst certain sparkles of his glory are shed in upon the heart You see the right visions of God are transforming bettering beautifying visions as the pearie by the often beating of the Sun-beames upon it becomes radiant An orient splendor shiues on that soule that hath seen Christ 4. Can they onely clearely see that have tasted God and his goodnesse Vse 4 then it concerns us all to labour for such discoveries of God as may have a witnesse within us even for experimentall knowledge in the things of heaven Others may fill their heads with metaphysicall notions in divinitie as the Schoolmen that weave it into cobwebs but a little sanctified knowledge will goe a great way b Non omnes qui divina eloquia leguÌ„t quae in ill is admiraÌ„da sunt considerant nisi qui coelesti spleÌ„dore gratiâ potiuntur Basil The Sun is not seen but by his own beames Say with David In thy light we shall see light What said Father Methinks I see great Doctors and profound Rabbies with all their speculations crowding into hell to be beaten with many stripes whilst silly old women with a little sanctified knowledg of God in Christ drop in at heavens gate and are crowned with Diadems Oh that all of you could say to me as the Woman of Samaria her friends whom she called out to Christ said to her c Isla non ideò dicuÌ„tur ut ministeriuÌ„ mulieris hujus quo benè sueraÌ„t usi contemptum fuisse intelligamus absit sed ut extollaÌ„tur ea quae ex ipso Christo audierant supra testimoniuÌ„ mulier is Ita Musculus in Joh. 4.42 q. d Parcius tu quidem praedicasti de Jesu quam ipsa habet res Bullingerus in Loc. Joh. 4.42 Now we beleeve not because of thy saying for we have heard and seene him our selves and know that this indeed is the Christ the Saviour of the world Mark when they had once tasted communion with the Messiah they clearely saw and knew him no longer now by hearesay but sweet experience We may rise up early and goe to bed late to unfold divine mysteries for you and wee may open the glorious things of eternity to you but till
cloathed with the Sun i.e. Jesus Christ uxor fulget radiis mariti even the Spouse shines out in the beames of her Husbands beauty Matth. 13.43 They shall shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father A Christian is never so araied as then Gracious child what wantst that thy Father hath not laid up for thee in this righteous Sun Psal 136.8 Psal 19.5 The Sun in 24 houres turns round the celestiall globe so God and Christ come riding on the clouds the swistest movers in nature Christ can encompasse all Saints i' th world â—stu oculi in a moment Jer. 31.35 He can and will adorn the with immense glory rule thee and speed thee in every performance He will attract thee to himselfe exhale draw and dry up all thy empty vapours and sinful bloody issues make thy dark aire light and fill thy obscure intellectuals with an huge masse of visions Eclipse not then this Sun What! shall fleshly delights and carnall pleasures intervene interpose and chop in 'twixt sweet Christ and thine own soule Will not this veile his beauty from thee Luna ingerens inter solem obtuituÌ„ nostruÌ„ ohumbrat soleÌ„ This moon of earth earthly trash should be under foot Rev. 12.1 Chrysost hom ad Pap. Antioch and cause that thou thy selfe shalt lie downe in sorrow 'T is a wonder to the wise that sith all fire ascends the version of the Sun-beames should be towards the earth and that the light thereof should stream downward But behold a greater viz. Jesus Christ laying out himselfe on sinners to make them Saints the Maker cloathing himself with the person made After Paul came from Paradise 2 Cor. 12.4 Nee Christus nee coelum pacitur hyperbolen A man cannot hyperbolize in speaking of Christ and Heaven Trap. in loc Oecolampadius on his death-bed spake thus Hic sat â—â—is Here 〈◊〉 hin me is divine light in pâ—enty where CHRIST dwells he affirm'd that he saw such things there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is not possible for a man to utter for words are to weak to expresse its worth are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word lesse words And if such be the glory of his mansions what is he and what mortall can behold his face and live Excellens sensibile destruit sensum the object is to strong for the seeing faculty James 1.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a man without Jesus Christ is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vuâ—gus fictilis He is but an Earthen pot Isa 64.8 the eye is little whilst here and therefore takes not in much of such light light and brightnes makes one stone excel another stars themselves to our-shine each other but this Sun excels them all having no parallax no variablenesse hee 's alwayes one and the same to his be not thou then wholly void of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a tacite consent and seed-plot of grace for Christ Vae mundo à l scandalis vae vae vae ab exemplis bonis Bernard and walk not unworthy of him Finally this pious Author ha's painfully anatomiz'd Christ unto thee as a glorious Sun a Righteous Rising and Healing Sun Doe thou blesse God for such an instrument of Sions good Gratiae cessat decursus ubi non est gratiarum recursus who hath spoken these things from his owne heart to correct and comfort the hearts of others lest the same Sun harden thy heart which is wont to soften others Thus speakes he who prayes that the followers of the Lamb may be many and subscribes himself a lover of the meanest of the Members of Christ From my Study in Brides Church-yard Novemb. 5. 1648. SAMUEL MOORE A Table of the Principall Heads contained in this Discourse viz. this 2d Part. OF the Book of Malachy Page 151 Of this 4th Chapter and its parts Page 152. to 155 The Text divided and Poynts raised Page 155 156 Two Poynts raised from the Coherence 1. Christ is at once a scorching Oven to sinners and a refreshing Sunne to Saints Page 156 Three Grounds Page 157 1 Use Let not dogges catch childrens bread Page 157. to 160 2 Use Let not children feare the dogges whip Page 160 2. Christ a reviving Sun to such as feare the Lord. Page 161 162 c. What this feare of God is and why Christ will shine on such Page 161 162 Three Vses of the Poynt ubi motives and helps to feare God evangelically Page 162. to 165 1 Doct. from the Text in generall is this There were many cleare predictions of the coming of Christ in the old Testament Page 165. to 180 1 Reason to prepare the people for the coming of Christ and quiet them in the expectation of a Messiah Page 168 169 2. Reason to manifest the truth wisdome and power of God in their punctuall fullfilling in all the circumstances Page 169 170 3 Reason To silence and convince the Jewes Page 170 1 Use Against those that thinke hardly of those under the old Testament aâ— though they were not redeemed by Christ Page 171 172 2 Use See our happinesse and duty that see most of those prophesies fulfilled 1. Our happinesse in five respects Page 172. to 176 2. Our duty in five things Page 176. to 180 2. Doct. Jesus Christ is that glorious Sun that shines upon the Church Page 180. to 223 The shell crackt and the kernell commended in 21. particulars 1. The Sunne is of a communicative nature Page 180. 181 2. The manner of the communication observable Page 181. to 185 3. There is but one Sunne although the Starres are innumerable Page 185. to 187 4. The Sunne is at the Lords commandement Page 187 188 5. 'T is a body of an unconceivable magnitude Page 189 190 6. Iâ— hath a dazeling splendor Page 190. to 194 7. The Sunne is the beauty and ornament of the world and discovers the worlds beauty Page 194 So Christ is the beauty 1. Of soules Page 194 2. Of Nations Page 195 196 3. Of Heaven Page 196 197 8. The Sun by situation is in the midst of the Planets Page 196 197 9. The Sunne is very admirable and wonderfull in its motion Page 197. to 200 10. The Sunne by his light is expergefactive or awakening so Christ Page 200 201 11. The Sun pierces and penetrates into the bowells of the earth Page 201 202 12. It easily expells the thickest darknesse Page 202 203 13. The Sun is seene by its own light Page 203 14. It exhales the thick and muddy vapours Page 203 15. The Sunne abides pure in his beames when the ayre is corrupted Page 203 204 16. The Sunnes heat is felt when his face is maskt with clouds Page 204 205 17. The Sunne is usefull to generation and production of fruits Page 205 206 18. It works diversly on different objects as butter clay Page 206 19. The Sunne comforts and cheares up the creatures Page 206 207 20. Neither Moon-light Starre-light nor Torch-light can make day if the Sun
be wanting Page 207 208 21. Wee are not greatly troubled when the Sunne sets or is eclipst Page 208 209 Wherein Christ and the Sunne differ 1. The Sunne is but a creature Page 209 2. It can discover things obvious but not give sight to the blind Page 209 210 3. Countries in the torrid Zone have too much of the Sunne Page 210 4. The Sunne is good by aspect but evill by conjunction Page 210 211 5. The Sunne must one day be blown out viz. at the end of world Page 211. to 213 Where 't is shew'd in what sense Christ shall deliver up the Kingdome to his Father Page 212 1 Use See the audacious impudence of the Pope that stiles himselfe the Sunne of the Church and the Sun among the Starres Page 213. to 216 2 Use To confute an old heresie new drest that Christ dwells in the orb and circle of the Sunne Page 216 to 218 3 Use See the happinesse of our condition that enjoy this Sun in the Gospel Page 218 4 Use It opens their misery that have no interest in Christ they are as People neere the Artick Pole without the Sun Page 219 5 Use To check those that seek to cloud and eclipse our Sunne but in vaine Page 219 6. Exhortation to many duties viz. 1. To admire the beauty and amazing splendor of Christ Page 220 2. Open your hearts to receive this light down with the shutts of wilfull ignorance and this Sun shines in thee Page 220 3. Be clothed with this Sunne and have the Moone under your feet Page 220 4. Set the Watches of your lives not by the clock of example but the Sun-Diall of the Word Page 221 5. Delight in Christs day commonly call'd Sunday or a day dedicated to this Sunne Page 221 222 6. Labour to be and doe like Christ Page 222 7. Let Pilgrims be comforted Page 222 223 3. Doct. A Sun of righteousnesse Page 223 c. The Point opened at large He is a Sunne of righteousnesse 1. Inherent 2. Imparted 3. Imputed 4. Remunerative 1. He is a Sunne of righteousnesse inherent in himselfe he is holy and pure as the Sunne without spot Foure Questions answered Page 224. to 226 1 Inference Then a vast difference between the first and second Adam Page 226 227 2 Inference Erberies doctrine dangerous Page 227. to 230 3 Inference See the desperate madnesse of this world to condemne such a one as a malefactor Page 230 231 4 Inference Adore the matchlesse love of Christ in that having no sinne he took ours Page 231 5 Inference Hence 't is manifest impenitent sinners shall not be spar'd of God Page 231 232 6. Lay Christ as a pattern before you Page 232 2. Christ the Sunne or fountaine of imparted or infused righteousnesse even all those rayes of beauty and holinesse shed on beleevers Page 232 233 c. Three Questions answered Page 233. to 236 1 Inference See the dangerous condition of profane Gospellers and subtle Libertines Page 236 2 Inference Labour to finde and feele this work in you ubi motives to get it done Page 236 237 3 Inference See whence all your infused righteousnesse must come not from Ordinances Angells or God himselfe out of Christ Page 237. to 239 3. Christ is the Sunne and fountaine of imputed righteousnesse Page 239. to 240 c. The Poynt opened and three Questions answered Page 240 to 243 1 Inference See the folly and madnesse of Justitiaries Page 242 2 Inf. Here 's comfort for beleevers Page 243 4. Christ is the Sunne of righteousnesse remunerative and that 1. in remembring and rewarding his followers Page 244 And 2. in administring Justice with an equall and impartiall hand Page 245 1 Inf. Let not beleevers mourn under the non-accomplishment of promises Page 246 2 Inf. Nor sinners presume because God is slow to wrath and patient Page 246 4. Doct. There is a time of Christs arising and discovering himselfe and beauty to the world and to the soule Page 247 to 265 1. Enq. When Christ may be said to arise in the world 1. Properly and literally 1. in his incarnation 2. Crucifixion 3. Resurrection and Ascension into heaven Page 247 to 250 2. Spiritually or mystically 1. when the Gospel is preached 2. when his Church is defended 3. when he comes in glory at the last day Page 251 252 2. Enqu When in a soule When he comes 1. to enlighten 2. Renew 3. to quicken the soule Page 252. to 254 3. Enqu Wherein Christs revealing and discovering himselfe is like the Sunnes rising 1-'Tis by degrees 2. it scatters mists and dewes 3. 'T is the rising of millions 4. not alwayes visible 5. It s visible rising attended with the singing of birds and welcome to all but whoremongers and robbers 6. in the East 7. All the world cannot hinder it Page 254. to 258 4. Enqu Touching the disparity in foure things Page 259 260 1. Use Rejoyce in Christs appearances Page 260 2. Use Worship this rising Sun Page 260 261 3. Use Reckon on the rising of others with but against Christ Page 261 262 4. Use Prepare for Christs settings first on the land 1. in temporals 2. in spirituals Secondly on your soules three staying thoughts then to quiet the heart Page 262 to 265 5. Doct. When Christ thus arises then hee comes with healing in his wings Page 265. ad finem 1. The expression opened at large Page 265. to 272 2. The poynt proved by two Arguments 1. Arg. Christ a most skilfull carefull and faithfull Physician Page 272 273 2. Arg. Hee heales corporally spiritually and politically Page 273. to 278 Quest What are the grounds and reasons why Christ heales our soules Ans 1. 'T is his goodnesse so to doe 2. His office 3. Beleevers are one with him 4. No other eyes can pitie them 5. Christ would marry and receive them into his bosom Page 278. to 280 Caution Wee are not perfectly healed here but still lie under the Physicians hands Page 280 1 Use Hence see your naturall condition sick and full of botches and sores Page 280 281 2 Use Terror to all that will not be healed by Christ Page 282 283 3 Use Marveilous comfort for all beleevers let them rejoyce in Christ Page 283 Seven great objections answered Page 283. to 288 1. Object My sins are great and my spirituall diseases grievous Page 283 284 2. Object Green wounds may bee cured but mine are old festred sores 285 3. Object My diseases are relapses 285 286 4. Object If Christ were but sensible of my pain hee would cure me 286. 5. Object Or if he were at hand be might doe somwhat but he is in heaven 287 6. Object Others neglect me why should Christ regard such a wormâ—s I am 287 288 7. Object When hee doth come and cure me hee will expect large fees and I have nothing to return him 288 4. Creep under the healing power of Christs wings Some motives 288 289 The meanes to fâ—â—quent the Ordinances especially
and so hee is visible and yet therein most lovely For he is the expresse image of the Father and the brightnesse of his glory Heb. 1.3 And thus the light of the knowledge of the l Dum igitur audimus filium esse splendorem gloriae pa paternae sic apud nos cogitemus-gloriam patris esse nobis invisibilem donec in Christo refulgeat Calv. in Heb. 1.3 glory of God is given us in the face of Christ that face that is white and ruddie in whose cheeks are beds of spices his eyes like Doves eyes his looks bushy and his lips like Lillies fairer then the sonnes or daughters of men the chiefest of ten thousand O his countenance is as Lebanon he is altogether lovely Heaven 's in his smiles This is our beloved and this is our friend O daughters of Jerusalem Cant. 5. When Christ gives the soule a glimpse of himselfe it cannot but say that the beautie of Creatures is uglinesse and deformity to Christ and the best and highest comparisons and expressions are created shadows which come infinitely short of Christ If I had the tongue of men and Angels to describe him it would be as deep silence to Christs shewing of himselfe to you And when you have viewed and gazed upon Christ with all greedinesse to eternitie beleeve this There will remaine unseene treasures of lovelinesse and glory in Christ m In his transfiguration very glorious Matth. 17.2 much more in Heaven Plato speaking of God could say He was the horne of plenty and the Ocean of Beauty He is like the lovely Rose of Sharon O 't is a ravishing sight to see this King in his Beauty n Isa 33.17 Isa 33.17 'T is a changing transforming sight is casts down certain rayes and sparkles of glory on them that view it o 2 Cor. 3.18 Rev. 4.6 2 Cor. 3.18 Angels have eyes within and without Rev. 4.6 But here 's fewell enough to feed them all they cannot get their eyes pulled off from Christ Sinners no sooner see him but they are sicke of love and ready to fall into a swound cry Stay us with Flaggons and comfort us with Apples Cant. 2.5 Tully tells us of Zeuxis that being to draw the Picture of Helena I think for the Temple of the Crotonians he caused divers comely Virgins to stand before him that as a Garland out of severall flowers from all their features and complexions he might draw one perfect Beauty and thus the industrious Chymick extracts a little Gold out of much course mettle should I imitate that Painter or this Chymick set all the delights and glories of the world before mee and put them all together or extract somewhat amiable and excellent out of all the drosse and dung here below as Paul calls it all would not be able to coyne in your hearts an Idea of Christ you 'd still rest unsatisfied and walke in darknesse unlesse the Spirit would reveale Christ unto you as he did unto Paul Gal. 1.16 To conclude this q Gen. 39.6 Joseph was herein a Type of Christ it is said he was a goodly Person and wâ—â—â— favoured r Gratior est pulchro veniens è corpore virtus and though bodily beauty is a gift of God yet saith Austin he was fairer within then without Well herein he was a type of Christ as well as in the other things For Joseph was set p Gloria Christi ineffabilis et exactè in bujus vitae infirmit ate sciri nequit sed quando videbimus Christum a sacie ad Faciem Gerhard Tom. 9. De vitâ aeternâ Å¿ Pulchrior in luce cordis quaÌ„ facie corporis Aug. over the whole Land in generall the Kings house in speciall so Christ is Lord over the whole world but chiefly of his Church which is called Gods Family t Eph. 3.15 Galat. 16.10 Joseph had the custody of the Kings Garner therewith fed all Aegypt and other Nations and Christ hath all the fullnesse of God wherewith he spiritually feeds Jewes Gentiles Beleevers of all Nations that come with empty sacks and hearts to him 7. As the Sunne is bright in it selfe so it is the Beauty and Ornament of the world viz. It discovers the worlds beauty it is that makes all things appeare so lovely and amiable the fairest and most lovely objects is Pictures c. if set in the darke afford no pleasure no delight nor contentment u Christus omnia nâ—vâ luce rovâ vità noâ—apu Châ—â—â—udiue exornat Cornelius A Lapide in Mat. 4.2 Pag. 355. Christ also is the Beauty and Ornament both of soules Nations I and Heaven it selfe 1. Of soules Christ is the beauty of your soules and mine Jeremy's dungeon dark and miery and so are your soules ignorant and deformed till Christ shines in upon you All outward comforts or naturall parts or secular learning or Scripture-knowledge cannot make a soule appeare beautifull to God or good men till Christ shines unlesse the Apostles had been illuminated by this Sun within they had been darknesse it selfe saith w Nisi Apostoli pâ—r hane lucem illuminatisuâ—ssent prorsus Tenâ—brae essent Muse in Joh. 1.9 Musculus 2. As Christ is the beauty and ornament of soules so of Nations Where pure Ordinances are administred there is the beauty of Holinesse and on all such Glory Lament 4.1 God will be a Defence When Christ sits upon his Throne then is a Nation happy Though a Land should abound with mines of gold mountains of Pearle and Rivers of Nectar and were another Paradise yet if Christ and Gospel and Ordinances were not there the Inhabitants might cry Ichabod for the glory is departed But then if Christ is there what can be wanting Haggai prophesied that the second Temple should be far more glorious then the first not that it should be so adorned as the former but that Christ was to be and preach there God hath given Christ and the Word to us he hath given to other Nations other blessings To the Muscovites hides and precious skinnes to the Moores of Barbary Sugar and sweet spices to the Spaniards Wine and fruits to the Indians gold and silver to them of Cathai Pearles and precious Stones to the Persians silk and Margarites to them of Finland Greenland fish and fowls but to us he hath given Christ and his Gospel and all other things needfull for us Oh blessed be the day and happy be the houre wherein they came to us Let that day be as the day wherein Israel came out of Aegypt if wee had more tongues then Argus had eyes if every haire of our heads saith x Sam. Otes on Jude one were a life every life longer then Methuselah's all were too little to praise God for this mercy 3. y Ibi verus Sol justitiae mira suae pulchritudinis visione omnes reficiet it a universos coelestis patriae cives illuminat ultra omneÌ„ solis nostri splendorem
August in Manuali cap. 7. Visio Christi est tota vita aeterna si mali Dei faciem viderent poenis carerent Idem lib. de Spiritu Animâ in cap. 55. As Christ is the beauty and ornament of soules and Nations so of Heaven it selfe As you see Rev. 21.23 The glory of the Lord doth lighten it and the Lamb is the Sun there Now when Christ shines out in his full splendor and hath a constellation of lesser Suns round about him This makes those streets paved with Diamonds to sparkle gloriously by reflection Indeed the brightnesse of this place is unconceivable saith Chrysostome wee that sleepe in darke holes cannot apprehend it But all this amazing light and glory flowes from the face of Christ the Sun of righteousnesse Brethren Heaven it selfe would be an obscure place if God and Christ were not there He is the Crowne of Crowns the Glory of Glories and the Heaven of Heaven z Luther in Genes Luther said he had rather be in Hell with Christ then in Heaven without him and Paul desired to be dissolved and be with Christ He well knew to be with Christ was Heaven 8. a Sol cor coeli dicitur quia in medio In medio ponitur ul vim suaÌ„ undequaque diffundat sic Alstedius The Sun by situation is in the midst of the Planets three above him and three below him Nature and the God of Nature hath placed him in the middle for which many reasons are given why so Christ was and is still in the midst When his parents sought him they found him in the Temple In medio Doctorum in the midst of the Doctors disputing with them Luk. 2.46 When he was crucified they hung him between two theeves and he was in the midst Joh. 19.18 After his resurrection when the Disciples were assembled Jesus came and stood in the midst and said Peace be unto you Joh. 20.19 b Virtus in medio consistit Christus in medio stat And still he is In medio Candelabrorum In the midst of the Golden Candlesticks viz. The Assembly of Saints Rev. 1.13 Now who this is that walks there and how described you reade afterwards His countenance shines as the Sun and it is the Son of Man vers 13. 16. And now in glory he fits upon a Throne of Gold Angels and Saints innumerable are round about him Revel 5.11 So that still Christ is in medio in the midst The centre of all our desires and joyes 9. The Sun is very admirable and wonderfull in its Motion c Sutable to the 12. signes of the Zodiack are the â—2 Articles of the Creed through which he passeâ—h There was somewhat in Christ and his motions to answer all the signes Pro Ariete est illa Mansueta Ovis quae ad Occistonem ducitur Pro Tauro continuus labor defatigatio Pro Geminis duae Naturae admirâ—bilitèr conjunctae ubi Leo etiam è Triba judah Casâ— imonia Virgmis Libra Justitiae c. Cresollius in Mystagogo lib. 3. pag. 481. which is Strong Swift Constant and Distinguishing Strong for it is a Giant-like motion Psal 19.5 He rejoyceth as a strong man to run his race and he goeth forth in his might saith Deborah Judg. 2.21 The motions of Christ are strong and powerfull especially when he comes to convert soules to helpe his people and avenge himselfe on his enemies Isa 63.1 He travails in the greatnesse of his strength and is mighty to save This is plainly spoken of Christ and his motions towards his church he travails in his strength and who shall let or hinder him Now Sampson was herein a Type of Christ and that both in his Name and Arme. 1. In his Name Sampson whether with Jersome d And so it is interpreted in that old Rithme Sampson dictus Sol corum Christus lux est electorum Quos illustrat gratia you interpret it Their Sun or with Mercerius A little Sunne Sampson cheared the hearts of men in those darke and sad times of Idolatry and oppression yet he was but a little Sun in respect of Christ whom he did typifie The Sunne of righteousnesse who is so exceeding great and glorious that God thought fit to inure the peoples eyes by looking first on a lesser light John the Baptist who is presently foretold after my Text and was before Christ arose a burning and shining light 2. As Sampsâ—â— was a type of Christ in his Name so in hiâ— Arme in his Strength for Samson grew and the Spirit waxed strong in him so as he became a Saviour of incomparable strength Thus Jesus Christ grew in stature and in favour with God and man and the Spirit was so strong in him because unmeasured that he became a Saviour too strong for Infernall Powers he slew that roaring Lyon the Devill e Et Christianorum processit examen instar apum August de Temp. Serm. 107. and subdues our lusts he laid heaps upon heaps and destroyed more enemies by his death then life f Vide Dr. Taylors Types Pa. 55. to 59. In these and many other things was Sampson a type of Christ Againe As the Sunnes motion is strong so it is g Sol tam velox est ut 24 horis conficiat milionem milliarium insuper 140 milliacorundeÌ„ Musculus swift he makes hast saith Solomon Eccles 1.5 As one that runnes a race for a wager Psal 19.5 And indeed wee may well wonder that so vast a Globe of fire should be hurried round the heavens in a day and not set the whole world afire with the swiftness of its motion and yet if you behold it it seemes to stand still c. The motions of Christ the Sun of righteousnesse are swift speedy he flyes with healing in his wings The word saith elsewhere that he flies on the wings of the winde and skips like a young Roe But Christ never makes more hast then when he comes to the reliefe of his people Though it may be led by sence we thinke he stands still and hath forgotten to be gracious Next The Suns motion is h Solem hunc intueamur videamus num quid defor mitatis aut debilitatis ex toto seculorum senio contraxerit Idem in Psal 93. Pag. 706. constant and unwearied Psal 89.36 His seed shall endure for ever and his Throne as the Sun before me The Sun is ever in motion once he stood still not to ease himselfe but for his Creators pleasure The Sun doth not tyre nor spend himselfe by his motions 'T is so here Christs motions are continuall he is ever in motion for his peoples good by Providence and Grace He is indefatigable and unwearied in doing of us good for all his layings out doe not spend him he is the same yesterday to day and for ever Once more The Suns motion is distinguishing Differencing times and seasons day and night winter and summer spring and autumne are
o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod prolicitur canibus Beza Not to dwell here Lastly we are not much troubled when we see the Sun set because wee expect it shall arise the next morning And the Sunne cannot bee totally p Sol nunquam totus obscuratur quod luna minor sit Arist eclipsed as the Moon may because the Moon which interposes is farre lesse then the Sunne 'T is so here let 's not be over-much dismayed when this Sun of righteousnesse sets q Psal 30.5 For though sorrow indure for a night yet joy may return the next morning Jesus Christ may be eclipsed but never totally as the worlds comforts may for though his face be hidden in great part yet some crevice of light remains to cheare and sustain the soule r Si impius es cogita Publicanum si immundus attende meretricem si homicida prospice latronem si iniquus cogita blasphemuÌ„ Peccasti poenitere millies peccasti millies poenitere Chrysost Hom. 2. in Psal 50. Wherein Christ and the Sun differ because sinne which interposes between Christ and us is farre lesse then Christ if sinne abound his grace will much more abound for his mercy is broader then our sinne or misery Thus you have seen at large the resemblance opened betweene Christ and the Sun yet know that in some things they are unlike especally five First the Sunne is but a creature when all is done but by Christ God made the Sun and world and all things in it Christ is from everlasting Prov. 8.25 Job 17.5 Secondly the Sunne can discover things obvious to the eye but cannot give sight a blind man may grope for the doore at noon-day Å¿ Rev. 3.8 Psal 36.9 whereas Christ inlightens the hidden man of the heart and gives t Deus qui lux est interioris hominis plus illi praestat quam Sol oculo nam Sol oculum ad se conversum illuminat aversum a se clausum deserit Deus vero non solum mentem ad se conversum illuminat sed etiam mentem ad se convertit quod lux oculo non praestat Augustin contra Pelag. lib. 2. cap. 5. eyes as well as light this Sunne hath healing under his wings and among other things hee cures our blindnesse Psalm 146.8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind 3ly some countries have too much of the Sun as they that lye in the torrid Zone and the Moore lookes black with it But no soule nor people can have too much of Christ nor can be tan'd and sunne-burnt here but the more we behold Christ the fairer and clearer we shal be So 2 Cor. 3.8 Indeed the Spouse saith I am black because the Sun hath lookt upon me Cant. 1.6 But She there speakes of the scortching Sunne of affliction not the refreshing Sunne of righteousnesse 4ly Astronomers tell us that whereas all other planets conjunction is the perfectest amity the Sunne contrariwise is good by u Agglutinaâ—â—r Domino 〈◊〉 6 1â— ut â—â—â—â—â—et arctioâ—â—â— esse coniunâ—â—â—onem Christi â—â—biscum quam viri cum uxore Cal. Non tamen eo proficit haec conjunctio ut illi efficiamur aequales P. Mart. Aspect but evill by conjunction Christ is good by aspect but then the sweetnesse and perfection of our amity consists in conjunction w Heb. 2.11 Joh 15.5 Eph. 5.30 31 32. Rom. 12.5 union and communion we are made one with x 1 Sam. 18.1 John 4.16 Joh. 17.23 Christ by love y Joh. 6.56 Eph. 3.17 Rom. 11.20 Gal. 2.20 faith and the z Rom. 8.11 Gal. 4.6.1 Joh. 3.24 4.13 Spirit being joyned to him we are one with a John 14.20 the Father b Phil. 3.9 1 Cor. 1.30 John 7.22.24 all that Christ is hath is ours and all our sinnes and miseries are his by c 1 Cor. 5.21 imputation and d Heb. 4.15 Isai 63.9 sympathy And being once joyned to him we can never be e Rom. 8.1.35 separated from him This is a glorious union and love-knot indeed neither men nor Devils can unty or dissolve it Lastly that lovely Candle must shortly be blown out for the Heavens shall passe away with a noyse the world and all in it shall be burnt up with fire f Vbi lumen immensum lumen incorporeum lumen incorruptibile lumen incomprehensibile lumen indeficiens lumen inextinguibile quod es tu Domine Deus meus Augustin in Soliloq cap. 36. But Christ shall endure for ever Both mentioned Rev. 22.5 And there shall be no night there and they need no candle neither any light of the Sun for the Lord God gives them light and they shall reigne for ever and ever Christ the Mediator shall bee King and shine among the Saints to all eternity Object But is it not said at the end of the world Christ shall deliver the Kingdome up to the Father 1 Corinth 15.24.28 g Nonnulli offenduntur cum Christum audiunt Regnum traditurum Deo Patri-fingunt enim propter haec illum esse longe minorem num existimant ita filium traditurum esse regnum ut illud fibi non retineat si hoc velint cogentur eadem ratione statuere Patrem se abdicasse universa potestate quando tradidit regnum filio Mat. 11.27 P. Martyr in 1 Cor. 15.24 how then shall he continue to shine in his wonted splendor for ever Sol. Distinguish between the substance of Christs Kingdome and the form or manner of administration in the former respect it is absolutely eternall Christ shall be a Head and a Husband and a Rewarder of his members for ever and an Everlasting Father for so Christ is called Isa 9.6 In the latter way the Lord Christ shall keep his Kingdome as Mediator till the last soule belonging to the Election come into Heaven and the doores are shut and then having no farther worke to doe as Mediator he shall surrender up the kingdome to his Father i I. Diodati in his Pâ—ous Annotations on the Bible opening that place and then the Father Son and Spirit in unity of Essence shall begin immediately to reigne over his Church and fill all his with Light Love Life and Glory But think not saith Peter Martyr 't will disanull Christs greatnesse to give up the Kingdome to the Father for the Fathers Greatnesse was not eclipst when he first gave the Kingdome to Christ Mat. 11.27 But onely the office of Mediatorship will now be shut up and God will change the meaner forme of Christs Kingdome into more perfection and beauty which Christ long'd for Job 17.5 Glorifie thou mee with thine own selfe with the Glory which I bad with thee before the world was So that you see Christ hath a double Kingdome Oeconomicall and Essentiall the former as Mediator which he resigns at the worlds end the latter as God which he possesseth with the Father and the Spirit for
things to this point to shew how ridiculous and absurd this opinion is 1. If the body of Christ be still a true body as they grant then if it be in the circle of the Sun he hath a solitary hot and uneasie habitation so far above the sublunary world and below the seat of God and blessed soules Hot for the Sun is the fountaine of heat and warmes the whole universe uneasie and restlesse for the Sun is driven round the heavens in a day But how a glorified Christ can be in such an habitation with such inconveniences I see not 2. If this were so and beleeved 't were the way to make us all Persians 't would soone create reverence towards such a glorious Creature having such a Guest But God who gave his people such a charge to beware of worshipping the Sunne Deut. 4.19 And was so offended when 25. of them did it Ezek. 8.16 He would never put such a jewell there as might draw the hearn and eyes of the people to admire it above measure 3. They wilfully mistake the Psalmist for 't is not He hath set his Tabernacle in the Sun but in them hath he set a Tabernacle for the Sun as your Translation and u Ex quo soli disposuit tentorium in eis scil quarto Creationis die Gen. 1.16 Jun. Trem. in Psal 19.4 Junius renders it viz. In the fourth day of the Creation 4. 'T is expresly said Christ is ascended for above all Heavens Eph. 4.10 Therefore above the Orbe of the Sun which hath many Orbs and Heavens above that And Christ told the penitent Theife that that day he should be with him in Pâ—radise and be sits downe at â—he right hand of the Father c. Therefore Christ is not cannot be in the Orbe and circle of the Sun any otherwise then he is every where namely by his Divinitie Vse 3 3. Is Christ the Sunne of the Church then see the happinesse of our condition in this Land never did the Sun of righteousnesse shine brighter upon a Nation 't is a mercy to enjoy the light of the Sun much more the light of the Gospel a mercy to injoy the light of Reason much more the light of Grace This light shines round about you pull downe the shutts of wilfull ignorance and 't will shine in you Vse 4 4. This opens their misery that have no interest in Christ they are as a people without the Sunne Wee reade of some Countries that are w Those that live neare the Articke Pole six moneths without the Sun thousans are without Christ many are exceeding dark and cold as if they had never heard of Christ x Plus ethnicis prosecit vitiorum ignoratio quam in nobis cognitio vâ—rtutis Just the twy-light of Nature hath prevailed more with some Heathens then the Noon-tide of the Gospel with many nominall Christians But if the light of Nature be enough to damne Heathens and Typicall light enough to damne Jewes then you 'l be damn'd with a witnesse that trade in sinne and ignorance * Non crimen Phoebus noctua crimen habet in these dayes of dismantled light and under this glorious Sun of righteousnesse you 'l be worse tormented then filthy Sodomites and fearfully beaten with many stripes Vse 5 5. It serves to check those that continually strive to cloud and eclipse this Sunne that would faine carry us back to y Est taliuÌ„ poena Christus lux enim est quid talibus tam invisum Bernard de confid lib. 5. Aegypt Light is troublesome to such but stand for the Gospel and Ordinances and they 'l stand for you Christ is refreshed as a Gyant to run his race 't is not all the barking of dogges can hinder it all the smoake that comes out of the bottomlesse pit shall not darken him long Next Vse 6 be exhorted hence to many duties viz. 1. Admire the beauty and splendor of this Sunne if the Persians were driven to worship the Sunne how much more should wee adore Christ when all the Angells of Heaven admire him and worship him 2. Open your hearts to receive his light and glory in it the birds chirp and all the Creatures men and beasts seeme to smile together when the Sun shines z Oecolampadius when he lay a dying laid his hand on his heart saying Hic sat lucis here is light enough Oh le ts rejoyce in the light of Christs countenance kisse and embrace Christ and leap for joy when Christ shines 3. Get your selves cloathed with Christ righteousnesse covered with his rober for then you will be a Certe ecciesia quae Christum ejus justitiam induit multo clarius illustratur quam aer à sole Marlorat cloathed with the Sun and have the Moon under your feete Rev. 12.1 Where you have a lofty Poeticall Description of Christs imputed righteousnesse imagine a garment were cut out of the Suâ—â— and put upon you how glorious woulâ— you be Well the righteousnesse of Chriâ—â— is yours and much more glorious See Gâ—â— 3.27 2 Cor. 4.21 b Haec vera est servaruÌ„ Christiâ—ota si unius Christi gloriae intenti coel ciâ— despicient tanquam suâ— pâ—â— bus habeaâ—t 1 Cor. 7.21 And being thus arayeâ— behold the Moon is under your feete i. e. yâ—â— trample on all sublunary things you pâ—â—â—â—rthly things in their right place not aâ—â— Crowne on your heads but as dirt undeâ—â—â—our feete because uncertaine and 〈◊〉 charâ—cable as the Moon and all their light anâ— comfort is borrowed from Christ 4. Set the Watches of your lives by this Sunne not by the world and ill examples but the light and life of Christ 'T is folly it selfe to set the Watches of your lives by the filly clocks of other mens Inventions opinions and practises and not by the unerring Sun-diall of the Word To the Law to the Testimony Search the Scriptures 5. Delight in Christs Day 't is commonly called c Dies sols Christs Day Dies Solis Sun-day or a day dedicated to the Sun of righteousnesse otherwise in the Institution for all the seaven dayes were dedicated to the heathenish Gods Dies Solis Sun-day to the Sunne in the Heavens Dies Lunae Moonday to the Moon Dies Martis Tuesday to Mars Dies Mercurij Wednesday to Mercury Dies Jovis Thursday to Jupiter Dies Veneris Friday to Venus and Dies Saturni Saturday to Saturne Thus all the dayes are dedicated to severall Gods among the Pagans and though I will not conclude it flatly unlawfull to use these names because it is the practice of Christian Churches and the Apostle stucke not to call a Ship d The names of other Gods not to be meÌ„tioned in coÌ„mon talke Exod. 23.13 Josh 23.7 Psal 16.4 Zach. 13.2 Hos 2.17 Castor and Pollux Acts 28.11 Which the Painims feigned to be Gods of the Sea yet many could wish such names were abolisht among the Christians because God saith Thou shalt make no
spotlesse and innocent which hath not met with some o See of slanders before p. 140 141 142. slanders and godly Ministers especially are besmeared herewith to blast the fruits of their Ministery a main engine of Satans But I remember a saying of Austin He that willingly takes from my good name unwillingly addes to my reward p Quisquis volens detrahit famae meae nolens addit mercedi meae August Matth. 5.11 12. And thus we have a little opened this truth That Christ is a Sun of Righteousnesse inherent in himselfe he was Righteousnesse and Holinesse it selfe Let mee inferre six things from hence First Inference 1 we see then a vast difference between the two q Adam Christus sunt tanquam duo principia vel duae radices generis humani hoc vult Paulus conditioneÌ„ quam per ChristuÌ„ consequimur longe potiorem esse quam fuerit sors primi hominis Calv. in 1 Cor. 15.45 Adams The first Adam who was the head of Mankinde was made a living Soule the last Adam who was the head of all the Elect was made a quickning Spirit The first man is of the earth earthly the second man is the Lord from heaven So Paul 1 Cor. 15. The first Adam had a posse non peccare and posse non mori the second Adam had a non posse peccare and a non posse mori The first Adam and all his children that lay then in his loynes had before the fall a possibility of standing the second Adam and all his seed according to the Spirit had an impossibility of falling our condition in the first Adam was very glorious innocent and free from all sinne had he stood our condition in the second Adam is very sure and certain though pester'd with some corruption In a word the first Adam by his folly infected all the world with sinne the second Adam by his power redeemed the world from r If the Reader would see this point described to the life see a Book cald Sparkles of Glory writ by John Saltmarsh which Book though dangerously erroneous in many things yet handles the point of the two Adams very clearly onely derogating a little from the first Adam in innocence Pag. 1 2 3 c. to the 15. Try all things c. sin Secondly what shall we thinke of Erberies doctrine Inference 2 that blasphemously speakeâ— of Christ as a meere man Å¿ Vide the account given to the ParliameÌ„t by the Ministers sent to Oxford p. 30.38.41 saying Why did Christ take some Disciples to pray with him Because he was afraid to pray alone Why did he pray the same words over and over Because hee could not goe forward but had the spirit of bondage as I have had I dare not say any more for the time is not yet come to speak the truth c. t Erberies relation p. 8. ad finem And he laid down this Thesis at a conference in Oxford that the Saints have the same fulnesse of the Godhead as Christ hath dwelling in them in the same measure though not in the same manifestation This likewise he endeavoured to prove at a publick meeting But his Disciple Robert u Robert Wastfield â—n his blaâ—phemons booke called Christ coming in the clouds pag. 17.18 Wastfield saith plainly God Christ and the Saints shall bee all one the fulnesse of the Godhead shall dwell in us bodily and God shall bee as fully and as really manifest in the flesh of the Saints here in this life as ever he was in the flesh of our elder brother which was crucified at Jerusalem c. Paul Best likewise saith Paul Best in his wicked book called Mysteries discovered pag. 4.6.11.14 'T is high blasphemy to equalize Christ with God w O sweet Jesus art thou thus requited for all thy love Thy patience is infinite for all judgement is committed unto thee thou couldst grapple with such blasphemers as once with Julian and dash them in pieces as potters vessels and destroy them with hot thunderbolts from heaven But forbearance is no quittance nor yet any Argument why such should bee tolerated Well the Sun of Righteousnesse shall breake through all these clouds and shine gloriously I will lay downe two positions then which nothing is clearer in the Word 1. Beleevers in this life doe finde and feele many Reliques of corruption and that Saint that hath received most grace comes short of perfection x This point proved before pag. 77. all objections answered 1 Cor 13.12 Rom. 7.23 Gal. 5.17 1 Cor. 15.19 1 John 3.2 Phil. 3.12 13. 2. Jesus Christ is true and perfect God The Deity of Christ proved for time coeternall for nature coessentiall for dignity coequall with the Father and Spirit y Doctor Gr. Williams his third Golden Candlestick part 1. cap. 3.4 c. pag. 777. to 779. 1. Coeternall Isai 9.6 Titus 2.13 1 John 5.20 See also Prov. 8.25 Job 38.4 Rev. 1.8 2. Coessentiall John 10.30 1 John 5.7 3. Coequall For 1. All the Divine properties are ascribed to Christ Matth. 28.20 Phil. 3.21 Matth. 9.4 Heb. 13.8 and so of the rest 2. The peculiar operations of the Deity are ascribed to Christ John 13.18 Col. 1.16 Heb. 1.3 John 1.9 16.7 14.13 Matth. 9.6 1 Cor. 11.13 Rev. 1.18 John 5.24 3. Divine honour and worship is due unto him and exhibited of all the Saints Phil. 2.10 John 17.5 and Rev. 5.13 And indeed Reason tels us that Christ the Mediator must be perfect God z Lombard li. 3 dist 5. Bellarm. lib. 1. cap. 4. de Christo pag. 62. ad 77. Athanasius in lib. de exposition Fidei Fulgentius in resp ad object Aâ—râ—â—norum Dionysius de divin nom For none can satisfie for sinnes nor be a a Psal 49.7 Saviour of soules but God onely No b Heb. 2.14 finite creature was able to vanquish all our enemies Sin Satan Death c. much lesse abide and overcome the infinite wrath of God and the sufferings due unto us for our sinnes Finally his Divinity made his sufferings of an infinite value and as Mediator he was to undertake for our good behaviour for the future and send his Spirit to apply the benefits of his death c. All this shewes he must be God And thus you see the dangerous madnesse of those that make him a meere man Acts 20.28 Heb. 9.14 or not perfect God that is the Sunne of righteousnesse and of unspotted purity and glory Next Inference 3 see the desperate madnesse of this evil world to condemn such a man as a malefactor that never had sin that never offeÌ„ded any in all his life but shone out before God Angels and Men in such immaculate innocency that from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there was no spot on him all places fared the better for him he healed their sick fed the hungry in soule and body d Christus
are Physicians of no value Remember this there is a Time of healing see Eccles 3.3 Beware of dallying with God and letting it slip Be not so cruelly injurious to your precious soules as to let it slip unimproved for then e Qui aegrotaÌ„t animo quo gravius aegrotant hoc magis abhorrent á quiete et à medico Plutarch I tremble to utter it you 'l be judicially blinded and hardned of God least or for feare you should be converted and Christ should heale you Joh. 12.40 A sad place And a f Plorante medico ridet phreneticus plorantibus amicis August sad case to be past healing and yet on this side Hell To laugh at the Physician that shews you your danger and weeps over you To spit out divine Physick and fling away those Plaisters that are spread with the goare bloud of Christ how can they escape that neglect so great salvation 3. Here is marvellous comfort Vse 3 and glad tidings for poore sicke sinners that long to be healed for all pained and afflicted consciences that see * Dolores animae sunt animae dolorum and a wounded spirit who can beare no meanes of helpe in themselves but looke after Christ for ease Many doubts and Tentations are ready to perplex your hearts I would faine stifle your objections 1. Object Object 1 O but my sinnes are no ordinary sinnes my diseases are grievous my sins are heightned and aggravated sinnes as being committed against light and against love against meanes and against mercies c. Can or will Christ cure such evills I answer Solutio Surely yea for all sinners without exception are invited to come unto him and he undertakes to cure them Mat. 11.28 Come unto mee I le give you ease and rest saith Christ See Psal 103.3 He forgives all thine Iniquities great and small and heales all thy diseases g Verbum Dei Panacea vocatur à sanandis Omnibus Morbis It is a wicked distinction of Rome that divides sinnes into veniall and mortall because though some sinnes comparatively are greater then others yet no h Non leve quo Deus laeditur Salvian de Provid lib. 2. sinne is truely little or triviall because committed against a righteous Law and Infinite Justice nor any sinne mortall if by Faith and Repentance you close in with Christ Banish therefore all despaire say not with Cain My sinne is greater then I can beare my disease too dangerous to be cured Thou lyest Cain saith i Gen. 4.13 Mentirâ—s Cam. August Austin Where sinne abounds his Grace will much more abound The more dangerous thy disease the more glorious the Cure Now Christ will get him a name The sinne against the Holy Ghost is not too hard for Christ to heale but t is ever accompanied with malicious willfulnesse and all such will not be healed Suppose that sinne capable of Repentance and you must needs say 't is also capable of pardon k Sanantur nullo vulnera cordis ope not true in Divinitie God ean make Scarlet and Crimson sinnes whiter then Snow 2. Green wounds may be cured Object 2 but mine are old sores I have lived thirty fourty yeares in my sins is there any help for me I feare not Yes For God hath said it Sol. Ezek. 18.22 Isai 65.20 at what time soever you come hee will cure you The sinner of an hundred yeares old shall be accursed that is if hee continue in his sinne l Let not the oldest sinner despaire of mercy yet beware of customary sinning Consuetudo peccandi tollit sensum peccati Aug. Repent with the Thiefe in thy last houre and thou art safe when death is killing thy body Christ may bee healing thy soule however presume not remember that common but true saying True repentance is never too late but late repentance is seldome true and know the purchasing of heaven is like the buying the Sybils prophesie the longer we stand off the dearer 't will cost us the more teares harder repentance deeper sorrow the sooner thy bones are set the lesse pain c. m Qui promi sit poenitenti veniam non promisit pecconâ—â— crastinum Aug. He that promised mercy to the penitent never promised a morrow to the sinner saith Austin 3. The next objection is this Object 3 Mine are relapses and of all diseases those are the most dangerous I have recovered out of sin and have fallen again and again into the same sinne This I confesse is sad Sol. veâ—y sad but yet Christ can heale you and cure you Hosea 14.4 I will heale your back slidings and love you freely n Quoties ce cidit peccando toties resurgit poenitendo Solomon saith The righteous man falleth seven times a day if that bee spoken of sin and the same sin yet it includes his repentance o Peccasti poenitere Millies peccasti Millies poenitere Chrysostom Homil. 2. in Psal 50. for how could he fall seven times unlesse he had euen six Only sin not that grace may abound try not experiments with your poore souls 4. Object 4 Oh if Christ were but sensible of my spirituall diseases I make no question but he would heale me I answer Christ was a man of p Christ was Homo doloris say to him Non ignare mali miseris succurrito Christe sorrows Sol. and was in all points tempted as we are yet without sinne Hee is touch't withe feeling of our infirmities and in all our afflictions he also as our head and husband is offlicted he condoles and sympathizes with us Christ beares our sicknes saith Isaiah God hath fitted him as with a Body to be a Saviour so with a heart to be a pitifull Physician q Amarum peculum prius â—ivit Mâ—dicus 〈◊〉 vibâ—â— eâ—â—erâ—t 〈◊〉 rotus Ita Christus c. Augustin in Psal 98. he hath tasted every bitter cup before us and his very bowels yearn over us 5. Oh but if Christ were at hand Object 5 it were somewhat but he is gone into Heaven 'T is true his Body is there Sol. but his Divinity is every where John 14.18 Heb. 13.5 I will not leave you comfortlesse I will come unto you saith Christ Psalm 34.18 He is neere unto the afflicted in spirit their eye-lids may be glewed up that they cannot see him yet hee it neer them even at hand and his presence is a little Heaven 6. But others neglect me Object 6 few pity me why should I thinke CHRIST regards me You all remember the Parable Sol. Luke 10.34 Christ was that good Samaritan Hee therefore heales thee and helps thee because no heart will pitie thee no hand can help thee but his Hee wants neither love nor power to doe thee good Ezek. 16.5 6. When thou layest rotting in thy sinnes none eye pitied thee nor had compassion upon thee but thou wast cast out in the open field to the loathing of thy person in that day r
must not feare the Dogges whip Page 157. to 161 Of drawing others to Christ Page 12. to 21. and 29. to 34 Drooping Saints cheared Page 72 73 The sweet presence of Christ drownes other comforts as the Sun the Starres Page 207 208 Drunkennesse a beastly sin Page 65 Naturally all are dull of hearing Page 30 A duty to invite others to Christ Page 12. to 21. and 29. to 34 Long to die for here is but a taste of God Page 85. to 99 E. Christ never totally Eclipst Page 209 Eja-culations under the Word usefull Page 35 36 Some leave Christ and run to Empericks Page 282 Angels encamping about us a sign of the Lords care Page 6. to 12 Encouragement to Droopers Page 72 73 Gods end in giving us grace what Page 14 15 God can infatuate his enemies let all such be warn'd in time Page 4 Reigning envy and sincerity cannot dwell together Page 17 Christ equall with the Father Page 188. 212 Erberies doctrine damnable Page 227. to 230 Esteem nothing sweet or good any further then you can enjoy God in it Page 148 Estimation followeth tasting divine goodnesse Page 69 70 God an eternall good two wayes Page 134 135 How to evidence truth of grace Page 20 21. Examine if God bee good to you 144 145. Examine your feare of God 163. Examine your tastes of God Page 69 Examples of many Saints that have invited others to holinesse Page 13 14 Light is expergefactive Page 200 201 Experiences husbanded and revived beget trust how to remember experiences Page 22. to 25 True knowledge is experimentall Page 109 110 Wounding expressions flow from violent affections Page 29 31 Exultation a fruit of fasting divine goodnesse Page 70 F. When Christs Face is hid his power is felt Page 204 By faith Christ is tasted and applied 45 46. Of the righteousnes of faith 239. to 244. Christ a faithful Physician Page 173 Of the feare of God the kinds marks motives and helps of and to the filiall fear of God Page 161. to 164 If once we have tasted how good the Lord is we shall feare to forfeit him or grieve him Page 25 26 They that feare God shall be taught of him Page 104 105 Christ a reviving Sun to such as feare him Page 162 Christ will not expect large fees when he hath cured us Page 288 Christian felicity stands in getting tastes of God Page 22 Not our fill of God here we get but a taste of his goodnesse This truth handled at large and objections scattered Page 77 to 100 Your fill hereafter if you taste now Page 56 57 In what sense we are said to bee filled here Page 87 88 Follow God in goodnesse learn of him Page 147 The folly of Justiciaries Page 242 Formes of godlinesse Page 61 62 Christ a Fountain of light and life Page 102 103 God a free good Page 129 130 Christ shoots his beams freely Page 181 182 All the fruits and graces of the Spirit are excited and drawn forth by Christs shinings Page 205 206 Such as will not taste the Lords goodnesse must taste of his fury Page 55 56 The reason of mens fury against the wayes of God is that they never tasted nor tried them Page 68 and 69 G. Of Gaining others to Christ 12. to 21. and 29. to 34. Christ tâ—sted gall for thee do thou taste Nectar for him Page 76 77 Christ cluckes and gathers beleevers into sweet communion with himselfe and one another Page 267 268 God a generall good to all Page 120. to 124. and 183 A decent gesture becomes an Orator Page 33 The holy Ghost is not in us as a man in his shop for then our failings would be his Page 90. 91 In the common gifts of the Spirit some taste of GOD. Page 46. and 59 The glory of God is infinitely beyond the glory of elect Angels Page 8 9 Christ the crowne of our crowns the glory of glory the heaven of heaven Page 196 Christ is true and perfect God Page 229 230 Godliness of life the best engine to worke on others affections Page 32. The unparalleld Goodness of God treated of at large Page 118 to 149 The goodnesse of God is seen in his Angels attendance on us Page 10 11 12 The Lord as a Creator a generall good to all Page 120. to 124. God in Christ a peculiar good to the Elect. Page 124 125 The Lord an Independent good Page 125. to 128 The Lord a free good Page 129 130 God an absolute sutable and compleat good Page 130. to 132 The Lord is a most desireable and delectable good Page 132 133 God is an eternall good a lasting and everlasting good both absolutely and relatively Page 134 135 11. Things inferred hence that God is good Page 136. to 149 Christ ariseth when the Gospel is preached Page 251 Grace hath this nature to becken others to Christ and the end of Gods giving Grace is this Page 14 15 Grace and envie cannot sleepe in one bed Page 17 18 Wee taste God in the sweet Graces of his Spirit Page 46 47 The Sunne is very great Page 188 189 Great sinnes are pardonable and curable Page 284 Grieve not your good Father Page 143 Grovell in the dust before God Page 290 Rest not in Truth of Grace but grow in Grace daily Page 95. to 99 No Guard like a Guard of Angels Page 7 8 You may guesse at Heaven by your joyes here Ex pede Herculem 99 100 H. Hainous sinnes curable Page 283. to 286 Christ at hand he is neare unto beleevers Page 287 True happinesse consists in Tasts of God Page 22 Christ hardens some in their sinnes Page 206 Christ comes with healing in his wings he can heale corporally spiritually and politically Page 272. to 278 Why Christ heales soules The Vses of all Page 278. ad finem What Heathens have said of the goodnesse of God Page 118 119 Christ is Heavens beauty Page 196 â—uesse what Heaven is by your comforts here Page 99. 100 Heaven sweetned by the miseries and combates of this life that cloud our joyes here Page 86 87 Heaven full of joy at the conversion of one sinner Page 18 Why it is not perfect Hell with beleevers in this life Page 80 81 82 In Hell it selfe some footsteps of Gods goodnesse proved Page 121 to 123 And yet 't is as true in Hell no tasting or perceiving the least drop of Gods goodnesse Page 75 76 Helps to retaine experiences Page 24 25 God knows not how to hide his love utterly from the Elect in this life such is his love Page 81 Nothing can hinder Christs workings either in soules or Nations Page 257 258 Some strive to hinder others from Tasting the wayes of holinesse Page 67 68 True knowledge ingenders Holinesse Page 114 Holy men may use some Policy Page 3 4 Honourable sinners shall be abased Page 188 159 True knowledge is meek and Humble Page 112 113 The Lord gives us but a taste of his goodnesse to
make and keep us Humble Page 84 Hypocrites may climbe many rounds in Jacobs ladder and tumble down at last Page 49. to 51 The most glorious Hypocrite comes far short of the weakest beleever in many things Page 51. to 53 I Elect Jews under the Law saved by Christ as well as we Page 171 172 Pity the unbeleeving Jews Page 177 178 Christ Illuminates the soul Page 252 253 True Illumination a fruit of Christs Ascension Page 103 Imitate God in goodnesse Page 147 Imitate Angels Page 10 Impenitent sinners shall not be spared Page 231 Imperfections in the best here The point proved reasons added inferences urged and objections answered Page 77. to 100 Of Imputed righteousnesse Page 233. to 244 Of Christs Incarnation Page 247 248 Incredulous Jews to be pitied Page 177 178 God an Independent good indeed there is no Independent being besides him Page 125. to 128 Inexhaustible fountains in Christ Page 16 17 Infatuation of Gods enemies makes way for his peoples escape Page 4 In divine Influences of the Spirit God is tasted and enjoyed Page 46 47 Inherent righteousnesse 1. in Christ 2. in us Page 24. to 39 Innocency condemn'd by the world Page 230. 231 Comfort may come in an instant Page 182 183 Invitation of others unto holinesse Page 12. to 21 Joseph was a Type of Christ Page 193 194 Joy in heaven at the conversion of one soule Page 18 Glorious discoveries of Christ at the day of Judgement Page 252 How Saints shall Judge the world Page 82 Judge not of Christians by their possessions but by their reversions Page 92 Christ will administer Justice to evill deers Page 245 The folly and danger of Justiciaties is great Page 242 How wee are justified by works Page 242 K. Behold the King Jesus in his beauty Page 190. to 194 Christ the King of Saints he is exceeding great and glorious as the Sunne among the Starres Page 188. to 190 Gospel Knowledge is not bare speculation Page 101 102 Knowledge a fruit of Christs Ascension Page 103 Saving Knowledge is communicated to the friends of Christ and such as filially feare and obey him Page 104 105 The true reason of our small Knowledge is our little practice little love to Christ Page 105 106 Some have much superficiall knowledge and are filled with cleare notions and bright speculations and yet are voyde of Divine Light Page 106 107 Six infallible marks of saving knowledge and the visions of Heaven Page 108 to 114 A little experimentall knowledge will goe farther then a sea of notionall Page 114. to 116 Without a competency of knowledge there can be no holinesse no Grace Page 116 117 L Of lazy sluggishnesse in spirituall things Page 60 How God is said to lead into Temptation Page 139 140 Learne of God who is Goodnesse it selfe Page 147 Where there is a spirituall life there are all the spirituall senses Page 102 103 Get a holy wearinesse of this life for here is but a taste of God Page 85. 99 Christ is the glorious fountaine of Light filling the lesser vessels with his glory Page 180. to 223 Christ is seene by his own Light Page 203 Inward light examined Page 108. to 114 There is but a little taste of God here the full meale is in Heaven Page 77. to 100 Why so little knowledge in the world in comparison of what may he had and is obtained by many Page 105 106 The Lords day to be strictly observed as a day dedicated to Christ and set apart for spirituall enjoyments and improvements Page 221 222 Christs love is matchlesse Page 231 The love of God is not utterly concealed from Saints in their Pilgrimage Page 81 Such as have low thoughts of beleevers now shall one day admire them Page 92 93 M. The worlds madnesse in condemning Christ Page 230 Christs magnitude unmeasurable Page 189 190 Malachy what it signifies and who it was Page 151 The makings forth of God are not perfect in this Administration Page 78 79 Erberie makes Christ a meere Man Page 227 God doth manifest his wisdome and power in our preservation for wee have here but a sparke of Grace in an Ocean of corruption Page 83 84 There is a time of Christ manifesting himselfe to Nations and soules Page 247. to 265 Christ heales us to marry us Page 279 280 The matchlesse love of Christ to be admired Page 231 There is but one Mediator Page 185. to 187 Meditation helps us to retaine and improve our experiences Page 25 By Meditation the goodnesse of God is tasted Page 42. to 45. Wee must meditate of his Perfections and out-goings Page 44 How memory is helpt to conserve experiences by prizing writing them conference meditation and Prayer Page 24 25 Christ ever in the midst Page 196 197 Christians are here in their minority Page 92 Their misery unutterable that are without Christ Page 219 The Church is governed by a Monarchy for they have but one King which is Christ Page 185. to 187 The Moon-light of reason cannot make day Page 207 208 Rest not in sincerity but get more Grace Page 95. to 99 He that would get more of Christ must freely communicate of what he hath received Page 17 The motions of Christ wonderfull Page 197. to 200 A multitude of Angells to guard us Page 6 N. Christ the Ornament of Nations Page 195 196 Christ can heale Nations Page 277 278 Of Christs Nativity Page 247 248 Neglect of winning others a sinne Page 19 When others neglect us Christ pittieth us Page 287 288 Our happinesse under the New Testament above theirs under the old in five respects Page 172. to 176 Christ nigh unto the broken in heart Page 287 O. The promise of knowledge is to such as obey God Page 105 Observation of Gods dealings will make us trust in God for ever Page 24 25 The occasion of the 24th Psalme Page 2. to 5 Occurrences tending to our deliverance should beget thankfulnesse Page 5 It is the office of Angells to guard beleevers Page 6 It is Christs office to cure us Page 279 Oh! an Interjection paints out four Affections viz. Joy Griese Love and Desire Page 28 29 Old sinnes curable Page 285 Saints under the old Testament saved by Christ as well as wee Page 171 172 There is but one Saviour Page 185. to 187 Oppression a great sinne Page 66 How an Orator may work on the Affections Page 31 That Christ dwells in the Orbe or circle of the Sunne an old heresie refuted Page 216. to 218 Christ orders sinne and yet abides pure Page 203 204 In Ordinances God is tasted Page 38. to 45 Many want Ordinances a sad case Page 59 Christ the Ornament of soules Nations and Heaven it selfe Page 194. to 196 The same Christ is a flaming Oven to the wicked and a reviving Sunne to such as feare him Page 156. to 161 P. Dally not with Gods Patience Page 246 Patience requisite to a cure Page 192 How People may profit by the Word Page