the lesse in this case in regard of that which I have already said as also in respect of a Treatise written to this purpose called The Redemption of time Yet because I would not leave the point imperfect I will briefly insist upon some few particulars 1. Therefore all men must very carefully and watchfully subdue and suppresse all those great mispenders of time which like so many gracelesse spend-thrifts doe wast and consume many precious houres and much golden time that was farre better spent in Gods worship and service which are especially sixe 1. Sinning 2. Sleeping 3. Carking and caring 4. Sporting or recreations with immoderate feasting 5. Foolish thinking 6. And lastly idle speaking which is usually a fruit of the former because Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh whereof some of these must bee mortified and put to death and others againe restrained and regulated or bound as it were to the good behaviour 1. The first and the worst and chiefe mispender of precious time is Sinning when we spend time in doing that which is directly naught as lying swearing drunkennesse wantonnesse and such like works of the flesh and of the Devill this is the worst spent time of all as being directly contrary to that which is spent in Gods service as I have already shewed in the first use of the point Now this thiefe is utterly to be mortified and put to death imprisoning or binding to the good behaviour will not serve the turne for indeed this is a desperate ruffian or swaggerer that is not capable of any good behaviour and therefore must needs be put to death and wholly suppressed We must endeavour as much as in us lyeth that wee spend no time in sinning but carefully mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirit this is the Apostles rule Colossians 3. 1 2 5. If ye then be risen with Christ seeke those things which are above be heavenly minded set your affections upon things above Let your conversation be in heaven Phil. â— 30. But what course must wee take to this end That the Apostle sheweth verse 5. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth Where wee see this truth most clearely manifested that all that would spend much time in Gods service and holy performances must carefully mortifie their members here on earth and put sinfull lusts to death For this horrible thiefe and great mispender of precious time is like some mischievous person or desperate ruffian that flyeth in a mans face and will either kill or bee killed and therefore must needs be killed that hee doth not kill us for the wages of sinne is death Romans 6. 23. So that wee must either kill our corruptions or they will bring our sonles to death Rom. 8. 13. For if yee live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit doe mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Where you see that our precious soules cannot live but by the death of our corruptions the life of the one is the death of the other as Ahab lost his owne life for preserving Benhadads Thy life shall goe for the life of him in 1 Kings 20. 42. so our soules must eternally perish if we suffer our corruptions to survive But how should we so mortifie our lusts that we may spend little or no time time in vicious courses and so consequently more time in Gods service An. 1. Let us diligently search that we may plainly discover and finde out that speciall sinne wherewith we have beene formerly most pestered It is impossible to execute a malefactor untill he be found out and apprehended diligent search is first made and Hue and cry sent after him to finde him out so wee must deale with those lusts wherein formerly wee have spent too much time Lamentations 3. 40. Let us search and try our wayes and turne to the Lord our God This was Davids practise Psalme 119. 59. I examined or considered or thought on mine owne wayes and turned my feete unto thy Testimonies yea because he knew his heart was deceitfull and fraudulent Ier. 17. 9. Hee doth beseech God to assist him in it and to doe it for him Psalme 26. 2. Examine me O Lord and prove me try my reines and my heart Like a man that heareth proclamation for the apprehension of such and such a Traytor hee not only searcheth his owne house himselfe but he setteth open the doore and intreateth the officer to enter and make what diligent search he can that if there be any traytor lurking there hee may bee found out and executed so David search me ô Lord examine my heart and house and see if there bee any sinfull lust there and let them bee all mortified To the same purpose is that we have Psal. 139. 23 24. Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting Loe here was sincerity and this was the best way to finde out our most secret lusts and hidden corruptions O therefore let us not be strangers at home but examine our owne hearts as the Psalmiâ—â— speaketh Psalme 4. 4. A sweet place for this purpose is that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whither yee bee in the faith or no prove your owne selves know you not your owne selves i. e. what an absurd thing is it for you to bee skilfull in others affaires and neglect your owne to know other men and not your owne selves what greater hypocrisie The Hypocrite is sharpe sighted abroad but blinde at home He can see a mote in the eye of another but doth not discerne the beame that is in his owne it is our Saviours character of an hypocrite Matthew 7. 5. But on the contrary the advise of the Apostle is excellent Galathians 6. 4. But let every owne prove his owne worke seeke to finde out his owne lusts then shall hee have rejoycing in himselfe and not in another Secondly When we have found out this waster and apprehended this Traytor then let us directly smite it with the two edged sword of the Spirit upon the head which is the Word of God a speciall part of a Christians armour and so much the more excellent in this case because it is a weapon both defensive and offensive Ephesians 6. 16. And take the Helmet of salvation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Woâ—d of God See what admirable worke our Saviour made with this spirituall weapon in the single combate that he had with Sathan hand to hand Matthew 4. Scriptum est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 4. And againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 6. And see the event of this combate v. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then the Devill left him c. This put him utterly to flight And no marvell for the Word of God is quicke and powerfull
and the betrothed Damosell cryed and there was none to save her So in this case when the Devill findeth us at some advantage and doth force us to some sinne yet if we struggle and cry out against him though he doe prevaile with us for the act yet in the Lords great mercy it is not imputed Let this encourage us to confesse our sins to God and cry out against our corruptions and judgâ— our selves for them Excellent to this purpose is that direction of one A man saith he must ever and anon be saying thus with himselfe Ah vile sinfull wretch and hate worthy creature that I am have I not sinâ—ned against God and mine owne soule iâ— such a passionatenesse in such wantonnesse in such injustice and the like Oh that I could even detest my selfe for this Who but a very beast or a foole would have beene so often and so grossely overtaken It is not possible to imagine unlesse one doe take experience of his owne practice how much the renewing of this holy anger against a mans selfe for his sinnes past will strengthen him against the same and abate the power of his corruptions And therefore saith hee put thy selfe often in minde of thy former sins being out of love and conceit with thy selfe saying Ah vile creature How could I finde in my heart to doe such things would any man have thought it possible for any creature from whom all reason and piety both were not â—anished to runne out into such words such deeds c. Thus hee piously and sweetely And surely if we would thus â—udge and condemne our selves we should not be judged of the Lord saith the Apoâ—tle 1 Cor. 11. â—2 An excellent direction and a most sure and speedy may to prevaile against our strongest lusts and most prevaâ—ent corruptions if we can thus pray and â—ry out against them As the Loâ—â—â—â—â—sisteth â—he pâ—ouâ— so He givetâ— grace to the humble The more we see and discerne our want of grace the more fit are wee to receive it Excellent to this purpose is that of another Gods grace is free hee looketh not at any â—hing in us in the bestowing of it What Doest thou thinke that thou art uncapable of grace because thou art unworthy of it This is a meere fallacy Doe not cast away thy confidence because thou seest not in thee that goodnesse which thou desirest It is some goodnes in thee to be bad enough in thine owne esteeme be but vile enough base enough bad enough and then thou art good enough to partake of grace thine emptinesse will make some way to fulnesse Thus he sweetely For this will make a man cry out for Gods gracious aide and assistance Helpe Lord for these lusts of mine like the sonnes of Zerviah are too hard for me This is the way to breake the heart of our lusts and to mortifie our earthly members that we shall never spend so much time in vicious courses as we have done Thus David cryed out against covetousnesse Psalme 119. 35. Encline my heart to thy Testimonies and not to covetousnesse He beggeth the Lord Chiefe Iustice his warrant to apprehend it as one doth wittily observe in that case And this is the third Remedy Fourthly and lastly If we would prevaile against sinne that we may not spend any time at all at least much lesse time in the service of it wee â—ust daily possesse and furnish our soulas with holy meditations 1. Consider the odious loathsome and filthy nature of sinne which in the booke of God is not only called filthy and that excrementally but it is even filthinesse it selfe 2 Cor. 7. 1. Having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from the filthinesse of the flesh and Spirit Yea Iames 1. 21. Let us lay aside all filthinesse and superfluitie of maliciousnesse and receive with meeknesse the ingrafted Word which is able to save your soules the word signifieth properly the filth that is under a mans naile Yea to shew the filthy nature of it it is compared to the Sowes wallowing in the mire and the vomit of a Dogge it is even the metaphor of the Holy Ghost 2 Peter 2. 22. How could we finde in our hearts to live in sinne and spend our time this way if we consider this 2. Not onely filthy but dangerous in many respects It bringeth body and soule and name and estate and all to ruine It is the losse of our very soules if we continue in it without repentance Luk. 12. 19. Thou fooâ—e this night shall they fetch away thy soule and then see what our Saviour inferreth from heaven Matthew 16. 26. For what is a man profited if hee shall gaine the whole world and loose his owne soule Thirdly Consider how odious to God his very soule abhorreth it as the greatest evill in the world It is the breach of his Law most contrary to his holy and purest nature It was the death of the Lord Iesus for he was delivered up for our sins Rom. 4. 25. It killed the Prince of life and pierced the heart and shed the bloud of Gods onely Sonne and therefore must needs be mortified and put to death Yea nothing will sooner doe it then these and such like meditations Now if we thus subdue and mortifie yea crucifie this notorious thiefe that thus robbeth God of his glory and man of Gods favour we shall be able to spend much time in Gods service This is the first mispender of precious time that must of necessitie be mortified and put to death Secondly Another great let or impediment that must be removed another great waster of time that must be speedily suppressed is immoderate or excessive sleeping and sluggishnesse This also is a most dangerous mispender of precious time although not so bad as the former Thus the Prophet Ionah mispent his time as he was in a Ship sayling to Tarshish when hee should have gone to Ninevâ—h He was fast asleepe in a very dangerous storme when he stood in more need to have been wrestleing with God by humble earnest and heartie prayer Ionah 1. 6. See how pathetically the Heathen Mariners awake him and rouse him up The Ship-master came to him saith the Text and said unto him What meanest thou ô sleeper Arise and call upon thy God if so bee that God will thinke upon us that we perish not i.e. Is this a fit time to sleepe when we are all ready to perish and be ready even every moment to bee swallowed up of the waves Oh therefore arise and bestirre thy selfe and call upon thy God and for shame learne to spend the time better then in sleeping especially in such and so great and apparent danger their being as it were but even a step betweene us and death Thus Salomon awaketh his fluggard Proverbs 6. 9 10. How long wilt thou sleepe ô sluggard When wilt thou arise out of thy sleepe Marke now the sluggards drousie slumbring senselesse answer
our spirit that wee are the children of God And if a man may be assured he is Gods childe why should it not be possible for him to be sure that the gold of his saving graces is sincere and will not deceive him Fourthly It is possible for a man to be assured of his redemption that even his soule is washed in the blood of Christ and of his interest in the great worke of Christs Redemption Iob was assured of his Redemption that Christ was his living Redeemer Iob 19. 25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the later day upon the earth So Paul was assured that Christ was his Redeemer and that he gave himselfe for him in particular Gal. 2. 20. The life that I now live I live by the faith of the Sonne of God who loved me and gave himselfe for me sayth the Apostle If a man may be assured of his redemption much more that his graces are sincere c. Fifthly A man may be assured that when he dieth he shall goe to heaven see what the Apostle sayth 2. Cor. 5. 1. We know that when this earthly house of our Tabernacle shall be dissolved we have an house of God not made with hands eternall in the heavens i. e. We know that when these bodies of ours which are made of earth shall turne to dust the soule shall goe to heaven to that place which Christ hath prepared for us So the Apostle S. Iohn 1 Ioh. 3. 14. We know that we are translated from death to life wee are as sure when we die we shall goe to heaven But how What by revelation No sure but because we love the brethren He that is assured that he loveth the brethren may be sure when he dieth he shall goe to heaven much more that he hath true grace Sixthly A man may be sure that the goodnesse and mercy of God shall follow him all the dayes of his life and consequently of his continuance in the state of grace much more that his graces are sound and sincere Psal. 23. 6. Surely Goodnesse and Mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life He that can be assured of this may be much more sure that the gold of his graces are not counterfeit And so I come to the fourth and the last Motive that may perswade us to this tryall sc. the comfort that will hereby redound unto our soules when the worke is once throughly performed Gal. 6. 4. Let every one prove his owne worke sayth the Apostle and then shall he have rejoycing in himselfe sc. that his graces are sincere and not in another A man that hath had his gold called in question and yet proveth sound and currant oh it filleth him full of joy and rejoycing Let this perswade us to try our graces that wee may partake of that joy and comfort which will hereby redound unto us which is as the Apostle speakes 1 Pet. 1. 8. A joy unspeakable and full of glory A peace that passeth all understanding Phil. 4. 7. Let the expectation of this sweet fruit of joy which will accompany our endeavours this way make us fall to this worke of searching our selves with all diligence O what a comfort to Hezechiah in that extremitie that he was assured and durst appeale to God that his heart was upright Isay 38. 3. Remember Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart So this also supported Iob Iob 23. 10. He knoweth the way that I take and when he hath tryed me I shall come out like gold there was his comfort that his graces were of a right golden metall though his friends conceived otherwise of him and charged him deeply with hypocrisie yet he knew that God knew his graces were sound and upright oh let us in time make the like search and tryall of our graces that he did that we may have the like comfort and ground of rejoycing that he had So this was the Apostles comfort at all times whatsoever befell him yet he knew that he was truely gracious 2 Cor. 1. 12. Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicitie and godly sinceritie not with fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world A man that is assured that he hath an heart full of true saving grace will have more true comfort in it and more solid joy then if he had a great chest full of gold An heart full of grace will affoord farre more joy and comfort then a purse full of gold And this is the last Motive that may perswade us to this tryall and diligent examination whether our grace be sincere and such as will not deceive us Now for the second generall poynt that I propounded for the perfecting of this poynt sc. the Markes and Signes of true grace they are indeede many but I will keepe close to the Metaphor which wee have in hand and give you some few for your satisfaction in this case First true and pure gold gold tryed in the fire will shew the lustre and brightnesse both in the fire and water so true grace will teach a man how to cary himselfe in every estate and condition Here was the tryall of Pauls grace golden Paul after his conversion in all estates Philippians 4. 11. I have learnd in what estate soever I am therewith to be content both to bee full and to be hungry to abound and to suffer need Though it bee a more blessed thing to give rather then to receive yet hee that hath true grace is skilfull in both his face will shine in every condition He that hath true grace will manifest it by his gracious cariage in every condition both in prosperity and adversity if he be rich hee is bountifull and liberall he is Rich in good workes and layeth up for himselfe a good foundation 1 Tim. 6. 17. If he be poore he sheweth his golden nature in another kinde in humble submitting to the will of God It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good said golden Ely 1 Sam. 3. 18. In his patience and thankfulnesse he kisseth the rod and thankes his father even for his love in correcting He is like a well cut Dye every way square which way soever ye cast it cast it easily it will be square cast it violently it remaineth square still so will a gracious heart shew its puritie in all estates and conditions Looke upon Job in his twofold condition and yee shall finde him pure gold in both looke upon his demeanour in the water of prosperity when hee even swome in Rivers of prosperity oh how bountifull was hee how full of good workes Job 30. Chap. 31. By the Lords owne testimony A man that feared God and eschewed evill none like him in all the earth Iob 1. 1. 7. What a gracious testimony from God himselfe
grace because wee maâ— be assured of our vocation election 2. Reason 2. Of our justification Certitudo spei 3. Reason Because we may be assured of our Adoption 4. Reason Because we may be assured of our Redemption We may be assured of our Redemption 5. Reason That when wee die wee shall goe to heaven 6. Reason That Gods goodnesse and mercy shall follow us all our dayes 4. Motive The comfort that will redound to the soule when the worke is once throughly performed The Nature and Markes of true grace 1. Marke True grace will make a mans face to shine in every condition 2. Marke True grace gotten by Gods Ordinances 3. Marke True grace is full weight and will make a man universall in his obedience 4. Marke True grace will abide the fiery tryall will make a man hold out in time of persecution Quest. Answ. Causa non poena facit Martyrâ—â—â— S. August 3. Vse Of consolation to such as have true grace 1. Signe He that hath true grace will use it to Gods glory the good of others 2. Signe Hee that hath true grace is still desirous of more 3. Signe Hee that hath true grace 〈◊〉 the Word â—f grace 〈…〉 begotten eâ—creased Doctrine 1. All that have true grace are most truly and spiritually rich 1. Reason Because it doth entitle a man to Christ all hâ—s riches 2. Reason Hee that hath true grace hath the God of heaven for his portion 3. Reason Hath a true right and title to heaven 4. Reason Hee that hath a comfortable right and title to the things of this life * Theophyl in loc Gal. 4. 15. Vse Instruction Hence see how much the world is deceived in judging of the estate of Gods people Vse 2. Comfort Gods people in respect of the disgrace that is cast upon them 1. Ground Truely rich in Gods esteeme 2. Ground God regardeth no maâ— simply for his outward wealth and riches 3. Ground God is ready to heare the prayers of godly poore men as soone as those that are râ—ch 4. Ground A godly poore 〈◊〉 may goe to heaven as soone as the rich Vse 3. Exhortation to the first sort Such as have true grace must labour to be thankfull for it 2. Dutie To grow in grace 1. Motive To perswade us to labour to grow in grace 1. Because God commandeth it 2. Motive Because the Lord expecteth it 3. Motive Because the Lord commends it 4. Motive Because the Lord is much honoured by it 5. Motive Because the Lord will most freely and fully reward it 1. Benefits of growing in grace 1. It will assure us of our election 2. Benefit The better able to doe good to others 3 Benefit Assurance of interest in the kingdome of glorie 4. Benefit Non propter sed secundum opera The more grace here the more glorie in heaven Meanes of growth in grace 1. Meanes 1. The word preached the maanes to grow in grace 2. The Sacraments 3. Prayer 2. Meanes Meditations 1. Meditation Of the worth of true grace 2. Meditation The necessitie of it 3. Motive 3. The equitie of it 4. Motive To consider the admirable growth of grace that hath beene in the Saints of old 2. Sort. Such as have no grace must labour for it 3. Poynt 3. Doct. All that would have true grace must buy it of Christ. 1. Confirmation 1. Testimonies Reasons The excellency of the Chapman of whom wee must buy it who is 1. Reason 1. A Chapman of a most sweet disposition â— Reason Exceeding faithfull and one in whom is no guile 3. Reason Rich and wealthy and therefore hath great choice 4. Reason Because he hath no respect of persons but regards the poore more then the rich 5. Reason Free and kinde affoording good wares exceeding cheape Vse 1. Instruction To teach us how to bargain with Christ. All that would bargaine with Christ must be 1 Direction sensible of theiâ— want of true grace and poore in spirit 2. Direction See the worth of true grace 3. Direction An earnest desire or an hunger and thirst after it 4. Direction Diligence in frequenting the place of sale Davids love to Gods house and Ordinances 5. Direction Pay the full price 6 Direction Prepare a fit vessell to put it in 7. Direction A care to keepe it from loosing 8. Direction 2. Branches Make use of it for our selves Branch 2. Dispose of it for the good of others Vse 2. 1. Sort. Such as doe despite the place of sale or come not to the market 2. Sort. Such as mispend their i me there Sleeping at market dangerous 3. Sort. Some aske the price onely but bâ—d nothing 4. Sort. Some bid fairely but not the full price 5. Sort. Some promise the full price but doe after revoke it 6. Sort. Some want hearts to receive it 7. Sort. Loose their commoditie 8. Sort. Some are robbed of their commoditie as they returne home 9. Sort. Some are quarrelling Chapmen that fall out with the partie that felleth it 10. 〈…〉 Vse 3. For comfort to such as carnestly desire true saving grace It is Christ that felleth it who is so rare a Chapman as you have heard 4. Vse Exhortation and Direction to get grace for our selves And for others 1 Direction generall Bring them to the market 2. Direction In speciall prepare them before hand 3. Direction Bring them with thee left they trifle away their tâ—â—e 4 Direction See that they ply their businesse and minde their markets 5. Direction Examine them when they come home what markets they have made 6. DirectioÌ„ Praâ—er unto God for his blessing upon the bargaine Division and parts of the Psalme The Coherence Doctrine 1. That time spent in Gods service is the best spent 1. Proofe By the practise of Gods people Davids piety Psalm 22. 2. Daniel Mary Magdaleâ— Pauls diligence Lastly our blessed Saviour Reason In respect of God â— Wayes 〈…〉 spent with God To Gods pleasure For hâ—s glory 1 Cor. 15. â—ast Eccles. 2. Reason In respect of our selves Most for our credit For our pleasure Mâ—ch sweetâ—nesse in Gods service Most profitable And safe for body Safety in Gods service example of it And Soule Most full of comfort in life and death c. In regard of others hereby wee may doe good to others Threefold proofe of it 1. The Testimony of God himselfe 2. The Testimony of the Church and State 3. Experience Vse 1. For Instruction The worst spent time 1. In respeâ—t of God 1. Without God 2. To his dishonour 3. Not to his pleasure but to his griefe 2. In regard of our selves 1. No profit but losse 2. No pleasure nor credit nor comfort Nor safety 2. Instruct. For Humiliation that wee have spent so little time in Gods service and so much in the service of sin and Sathan Not onely before our conversion 2. Consider But also even since our calling Seneca Epist 1. Nihil agendo aliud agendo male agendo Simile Vse 2. For Reprehension
every Nation not he that is rich and full of gold and silver but he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him See here that righteousnesse and the true feare of God are farre better then gold and silver in this respect Indeed among men riches prevaile much gold and silver are in great esteeme for men looke onely upon the outward appearance but the Lord seeth not as man seeth but beholdeth the heart if that be well qualified there is hope of acceptance with God but otherwise all the gold and silver in the world will not doe it 1 Sam. 16. 6. 7. Lastly A man may have great store of gold and silver and yet perish eternally and loose his soule for ever but so cannot he doe that hath true saving grace as faith and such like and persevereth therein unto the end He that beleeveth shall never perish but have everlasting life Ioh. 3. 16. As he that beleeveth not is condemned alreadie so he that truely beleeveth shall never be condemned but hath alreadie passed from death to life Oh the precious excellency of saving grace in this regard it saveth the soule Heb. 10. last We are not of them that draw backe to perdition but of them that beleeve to the saving of the soule What were a man better if he had all the gold and silver in the world if he loose his soule according to that of our Saviour Mat. 16. 26. What is a man profited if he should gaine the whole world and loose his own soule as the rich Glutton Luk. 16. and the Churle Luk. 12. 19 20. but God sayd unto him Thou foole this night shall they fetch away thy soule and then what art thou the better for all thy gold and silver c But rather giving all diligence adde to thy faith vertue and to thy vertue knowledge c. for so an entrance shall be made unto thee exceeding abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 5. with v. 11. Grace therefore is farre better then gold also in this respect it is able to save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Jam. 5. 20. Secondly Is true saving grace so fitly resembled unto gold This sheweth the worth and excellency of all true Christians such as have store of true saving grace they are the excellent upon earth Psal. 16. 3. In a word they are golden persons they weare cloth of gold for their apparell their cloathing is of wrought gold Psal. 45. 13. they are even golden persons Job 23. 10. He knoweth the way that I take and when he hath tryed me I shall come forth like gold golden Job So that in these cases most true is that of Salomon Prov 12. 26. The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour I tell you there is as much difference as betweene gold and drosse Psal. 119. 119. Thou shalt cast away the wicked like drosse Drosse is scarce good enough for the dunghill when the gold is layd up in the chest So that in this case it is evident that every godly poore man is better then any ungodly rich man whatsoever See upon what ground and warrant I speake it Pro. 28. 6. Better is the poore that walketh in his integritie then he that is perverse in his wayes although he be rich there is as much difference betweene them as betweene the chaffe and the wheat Psal. 1. 3. and what is the chaffe to the wheat sayth the Prophet Ier. 23. 20. Yea as betweene gold tryed in the fire and drosse golden David though in the poore barren wildernesse but drossie Nabal though in rich and plenteous Carmel drossie Dives but golden because godly Lazarus By this we see who are the noblest and richest persons in the world even they that are most godly and religious Grace maâ—eth a man more precious then gold even more precious then the golden wedge of Ophir Isa. 13. 12. Gods people are precious persons they are even the Lords jewels Mal. 3. 17. And they shall be mine sayth the Lord in the day that I make up my Jewels Seest thou a man that feareth God that hath true saving grace thou mayest say oh there goeth a jewell of God a golden person there is a soule worth gold yea farre more precious So that the estate of Gods people is farre more glorious if well considered then the estate of the wicked how full of pompe and bravery soever they may seeme to be Give me leave to shew you this briefly in foure particulars 1. They come of farre more glorious and golden parentage they have the God of heaven and earth for their Father Matth. 6. 9. they can truely say as Isa. 63. 16. Doubtlesse thâ—u art our Father though Abraham know us not and Israel be ignorant of us yet thou art our Father But as for the wicked it is not so with them they come of base and unworthy parentage their Father is an Amorite and their mother is an Hittite yea worse then so they are children of wrath yea children of Sathan the Devill is their father see how expresly Christ himselfe doth avouch this to the Jewes Ioh. 8. 44. Ye are of your father the Devill and the lusts of your father ye will doe But oh the golden parentage of such as are religious and beleeve in Christ To them he giveth power to become the Sonnes of God which are borne not of flesh and blood nor of the will of man but of God Joh. 1. 11 12 13. Even Christ himselfe and all true beleevers have all but one Father the father of our Lord Iesus Christ is also the father of all true beleevers Marke that sweet speech of our Saviour immediately before his ascension But goe and tell my brethren behold I ascend unto my Father and your Father and unto my God and your God Ioh. 20. 17. So that Gods people are most noble persons because they come of most noble parentage 2. They are borne to a farre better inheritance then any ungodly person whatsoever they have a golden inheritance they are the members of Christ and children of God and inheritours of the kingdome of heaven whereas all ungodly persons they have but worldly and earthly houses and inheritances unlesse they repent they can never inherite the kingdome of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. But oh the blessed inheritance that is reserved for such as are godly and religious they inherite no lesse then a kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Feare not little flocke for it is my Fathers pleasure to give you a kingdome yea a kingdome which they have by inheritance as being the co-heires with Christ Mat. 25. 34. Come ye blessed children of my Father inherite the kingdome which was prepared for you from the beginning of the world It is a most excellent inheritance 1 Pet. 1. 3. 4. Blessed be God c. which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us againe unto a lively hope c.
shall bee made unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of Iesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 5. 11. It is the advise and counsell of our blessed Saviour in this place I counsell thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich and so other where Labour not for the meate that perisheth but for the meate that endureth unto everlasting life Ioh. 6. 27. and first seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse that is labour by getting entrance into the estate of grace to get assurance of interest in the kingdome of glory Matth. 6. 33. O never thinke it in vaine to serve God for in due time yee shall reape if yee faint not Observe that speech of David Psalm 24. 5. Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord and who shall dwell in his holy place even Hee that hath cleane hands and a pure heart c. Let no man say then I have laboured in vaine for God is not unrighteous to forget your godly labour in this kinde Hebr. 6. 10. Let me therefore encourage and presse you in the words of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 58. Therefore my beloved brethren be stedfast and unmoveable alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Secondly Is true saving grace like gold tryed in the fire This serveth to reprove all such as will take no paines to get it but doe utterly reject and scorne it as the most idle and unnecessary thing in the world Carnall men and women are not of the opinion of our blessed Saviour they doe not see any such worth or golden vertue or excellency in saving grace there are a thousand things which they preferre before it for the naturall man receiveth or perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him he thinketh it a foolish thing to be so religious and so diligent to get grace neither can hee know them for they are spiritually discerned saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 2. 14. yea the wisest and most discreete naturall man is directly of this opinion The learned Grecians did account preaching foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1. 21. although indeed it be the wisdome of God and power of God and that unto salvation Thus when Moses telleth Pharaoh that hee must needs let them goe three dayes journey into the Wildernesse Yee are idle ye are idle saith he Exod. 5. 8. He thought Idlenesse the occasion of their desire yea that is the opinion of every naturall man he thinketh and saith at least in his heart that it is in vaine to serve God Your words have beene stout against me saith the Lord what have we spoken so much against thee say they Mal. 3. 13. Now observe the Lords answer Ver. 14. You have said it is in vaine to serve God So those in Job 21. 14. were even directly of that opinion Now ô the monstrous folly and madnesse of these men they preferre drosse before Gold tryed in the fire What would you say if you saw a man have an heape of gold laid before him of the one side and an heape of Chaffe or Feathers c. on the other and should see him neglect the gold and set his mind only upon the chaffe and feathers It would make a man cry out with the Apostle O foolish Galathians Gal. 3. 1. Here is the very picture of all such as preferre sinne and wealth and the trash of this world before saving grace and the power of godlinesse looke upon the prophane worldlings that were bidden to the mariage feast of the Kings Sonne Luk. 14. 18. They all with one consent began to make excuse they were all just of one minde they were resolved not one of them to come at the feast the first said I have bought a peece of ground and I must needs goe and see it I pray thee have me excused Ver. 19. and another said I have bought five yoke of Oxen and I must goe and prove them I pray thee have me excused Ver. 20. and the third said I have maryed a Wife and therefore I cannot come there was no looking for him O the folly of these men to preferre such vaine and triviall things before such a rare and heavenly banquet Here is even our very case there are a thousand things that we preferre before Christ and grace and therefore are unworthy of either Matth. 10. 37. Alas we are all mightily to blame this way we are carefull and cumbred about many things when the one thing needfull is wholly neglected one is for pleasure another for profit another for revenge another for his lusts and the golden wedge of true saving grace in the meane time is wholly neglected What would you thinke of that man that is all for the present and nothing for the future all for Summer nothing for Winter Here is the case of all such as are wholly for the body but not at all for the soule looke into the glasse of the Gospell and there yee shall see the picture of such a foole set out to the full by our blessed Saviour Luk. 12. There was a rich man and therefore perhaps a wise man in his owne and the worlds account yea he did not thinke to spend all his time in getting but at last when he thought he had enough he resolved to bee merry with it and sucke the sweete of it ver 19. He said unto his soule soule thou hast goods layed up for many yeares eate drinke and be merry here was 1. Wit to get wealth 2. Wit to enjoy it and sucke the sweete of it and yet marke what the Lords opinion was of this man ver 20. But God said unto him Thou foole this night shall thy soule be required of thee and then what shall become of the goods which thou hast provided where was his folly surely in this that he had spent all his time to get wealth in the neglect of his soule in the neglect and contempt of true and saving grace and therefore he was a most notorious foole in the Lords account Nay what shall we say of such then as are so farre from seeking grace in the use of the meanes that they doe reject the meanes of grace when it is offered and thrust it from them and doe utterly despise and hate it mark the condition of these men Pro. 13. 13. He that despiseth the Word shall be destroyed yea Pro. 29. 1. He that having beene often reproved and yet hardeneth his heart that man shall be destroyed without remedy In the meane time they are farre from salvation Psalm 119. 155. Salvation is farre from the wicked Why so for they regard not thy Statutes So that he that regardeth not the Statutes of God is farre from salvation a wofull thing if it be but duely considered Oh the wofull estate of all such They doe judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life A strange
make good his promise 1 Sam. 2. â—0 Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed See what the Holy Ghost saith of those Boâ—reans that received the Word with all readinesse of minde and searched the Scriptures daily Acts 17. 11. These were more noble then those in Thessalonica saith the text And why so Wherein did their chiefe Nobility appeare sc. in their outward quality they had this spirituall excellency to regulate their hearing by the Word In that they received the Word with all readinesse of minde as appeareth in the words following and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Every religious godly person that spendeth much time in Gods service is a noble person in Gods account It was one of Solomons titles of honour to be called The Preacher one that spent much time in Gods service and in teaching others Eccles. 1. Yea and see how David glorieth in this that he was Gods servant one that spent much time in Gods service Psal. 116. 16. O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant and the son of thy handmaid Lo a mans greatest honour sc. to bee Gods servant to shew that time spent in â—ods service is the most for a mans credit and therefore the best 2. Time so spent affordeth the most sound solid pleasure all other pleasures are but vaine and mad mirth in comparison of this This will satisfie a mans soule as with marrow and 〈◊〉 as David speakes See what pleasure Gods servants have taken in this I â—steemed â—he words of his mouth more thâ—n my necessary foâ—de saith Job Iob 23. 12. O what pleasure and sweetnesse did Iob finde in the Word of Gods mouth it was sweeter and more pleasant in taste then his appointed or necessary foode It did him more good then his meate and drinke So likewise see it in David Oh how I love thy law it is my meditation continually Psalm 119. 97. How sweet are thy words unto my taste sweeter then honey unto my mâ—uth Ver. 103. So likewise to Ieremiah chap. 15. 16. Thy words were found and I did eate them and how did they taste They were unto me the very joy and rejoycing of my heart saith the Prophet Yea so it was to Paul Rom. 7. 24. I delight in the Law of God according to the inner man But above all observe that speech of our Saviour Joh. 4. 34. There you shall finde that our Saviour at that time was hungry and thirstie and the Disciples were gone to the City to buy meate in the meane time commeth a woman to draw water and our Saviour tooke that opportunity to instruct her and convert her to God yea and was so serious in it and so much delighted with it that when the Disciples come with meate they say unto him M. eate Ver. 33. See what he answereth I have meate to eate which yee know not of and then explaineth the meaning Verse 34. My meate is to doe the will of Him that sent mee and finish his worke Lo this was his very meate it did him more good Hee found more sweetnesse in it and so farre preferred it before his meate and drinke so that if our mouth be not out of taste time spent in Gods service hath the most pleasure in it and therefore in that regard is the best spent time Thirdly Time spent in Gods service is the most full of profit every way both for body and soule Godlinesse is profitable unto all things saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 4. 8. having the promise of the life that now is and also of that to come This is the good and the right way as Samuel calleth it 1 Sam. 12. 24. It is that one thing needfull as our Saviour himselfe calleth it Luk. 10. 42. This is the only thing the very boone that David would begge at Gods hands Psalm 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seeke after But one thing David surely it is some rare thing some extraordinary profitable matter What is it That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life and behold the beautie of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple This is Davids one thing sc. that hee might spend all the greatest part of his life in Gods service he knew the benefit and the profit of it He might well say then as Psalm 23. 6. Surely goodnesse and mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life Time spent in Gods service is the only way to procure safety and profit both for body and soule 1. There is safety in this course even when their seemeth to be most danger Hee that looseth his life for Christ's sake shall be sure to finde it Mat. 16. Yea see that excellent promise v. 11. of this Psalme The Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly Let no man think that Religion is the High-way to danger and beggery No no It is the only safe way and the most profitable An excellent place to this purpose is that we have Exo. 34. 24. Where the Lord enjoyneth that all the Males should appeare before him thrise in the yeare at Ierusalem as if all the Males in England were to appeare thrise in the yeere before God at London Now whereas a man would think that this was very dangerous in regard of invasion from their cruell neighbours that might take the opportunity to set upon their borders in the absence of all the Males Now mark what the Lord promiseth in that case No man shall desire thy land such an envious covetous malicious thought shall not once enter into their heart as to thinke Now we have a fit opportunity to invade Israel So the equity of this promise remaineth still Time sincerely spent in Gods service bringeth safety with it or if any danger or outward hurt come in this case God will dispose it for our good Rather then Daniel shall loose by his time spent in Gods service the Lord will keepe him in safety in the Lions denne and send his Angels to shut the Lions mouthes that they may not hurt him as wee see Dan. 6. Marke that speech of the King to him Verse 20. O Daniel servant of the living God Is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee from the Lions Is there safety in the service of thy God See how Daniel answereth according to the event of it Ver. 22. My God hath sent his Angell and shut the Lions mouthes that they have not hurt me Lo what impregnable safety in Gods service So Daniel 3. What danger were the three noble Iewes in But see how God made good that promise Isa. 43. 2. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee c. when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee
Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us say they Dan. 3. 17. and the event shewed as much Ver. 25. saith the King I see foure men walking in the midst and they have no hurt and the forme of the fourth is like the Sonne of God God is able to keepe the fire from hurting if he please even those that walke in the midst of it And mark what is said of these men Verse 27. That they were such upon whose bodies the fire had no power nor was an haire of their head singed neither were their coates changed nor the smell of fire had passed on them Oh admirable fruit of faith Oh strange effects of piety who would not confes that time spent in Gods service is the best spent time when he seeth and considereth that there is such admirable profit and safety in it Nay he that doth conscionably spend time in Gods service may be sure he shall want nothing that is good Psal 34. 10. So that such a man may boldly say with David Psalm 23. 1. The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want The greatest Monarch under heaven without piety cannot say so much yea Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and spendeth much time in his service for riches and plentiousnesse shall be in his house if God see it to be good for him Psal. 112. 1 2. Thus for the body Then for the soule Hee that spendeth time in Gods service Shall never perish but have everlasting life Ioh. 3. 16. Yea hee that spendeth time in Gods service doth follow the advise of our Saviour Ioh. 6. 27. sc. To labour for that meate that perisheth not but endureth unto everlasting life and with Mary chooseth the better part which shall never be taken from him Luk. 10. 42. Yea this is chiefely and especially beneficiall for the soule See an excellent promise to this purpose Isa. 55. 3. Encline your eare and come unto me heare and your soule shall live And I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Ver. 4. This is the maine thing to be regarded in point of profit For What is a man profited if he shall gaine the whole world and loose his owne soule saith our Saviour Matth. 16. 26. See an experiment of this in that rich man Luk. 12. 19 20. that had goods laid up for many yeares but could not secure his soule no not for a night but God said unto him thou foole this night shall they fetch away thy soule and then whose shall these goods bee which thou hast provided And this is the case of every man that spendeth his time to get riches instead of Gods service Ver. 21. So is every one that gathereth riches for himselfe and is not rich towards God For What hope hath the Hypocrite though hee hath gained when God shall fetch away his soule Iob 27. 8. When such are ready to call to the mountaines to fall upon them and the hills to cover them from the presence of the Lambe Revel 6. 16. Then shall the godly lift up their heads with joy because their redemption draweth nigh So that by this it appeareth evidently that time spent in Gods service hath the most profit in it every way both for body and soule Oh the difference betweene time spent in Gods service and in the neglect of it Give mee leave to conclude this branch of the Reason with that excellent place in Isa. 65. 13 14. Thus saith the Lord Behold my servant shall eate and yee shall bee hungry behold my servant shall drinke but yee shall be thirsty behold my servant shall rejoyce but yee shall bee ashamed Verse foureteene behold my servant shall sing for joy of heart and yee shall cry for sorrow of heart and shall howle for vexation of spirit c. A sweete cordiall for GODS servants but terrible to the wicked that neglect his service Fourthly and lastly I told you that time spent in Gods service hath the most comfort in it the very time it selfe so spent is full of comfort the very joy and rejoycing of a mans heart But especially this will afford us comfort at our death and at the day of judgment 1. For our death bed nothing will afford us so much comfort then as this if a man can say with the Apostle 2 Cor. 1. 12. Our rejoycing is this the Testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world Time sincerely spent in Gods service wil assure a man that when he dyeth he shall goe to heaven 2 Cor. 5. 1. Wee know that if this earthly house of this tabernacle shall be dissolved we have a building of God not made with hands eternall in the heavens Three singular examples I will give you for this 1. That of Hezekiah Isa. 38. 3. When the Prophet greeteth him with that heavie tydings saying put thy house in order for thou shalt dye and not live What was it that did afford him comfort in that case That you shall see was the consideration of his well spent time Remember Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight Lo the chiefe ground of comfort in death is the conscience of a well led life So that of the Apostle 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand saith the Apostle v. 6. Now see what it was that did afford him comfort in that case Surely consideration of the right and religious spending of his time I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a crowne of righteousnesse Hee that would have the like comfort in his death must have a care to spend much time in Gods service in his life time Oh let me dye the death of the righteous saith wicked Baalam and let my last end be like his he meaneth in regard of sweetnesse and comfort Num. 23. 10. This is the desire of many Now the way to obtaine this is to live the life of the Righteous This appeareth lastly by the example of our blessed Saviour when hee had finished his course how sweetely doth hee conclude Iohn 17. 4 5. I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the worke which thou gavest me to doe i. e. I have spent my whole life in thy service it hath beene my meate to doe the will of thee my heavenly Father Yea see the sweet fruit of this And now ô Father glorifie thou me with thine own selfe with the glory which I had with thee before the world was See here the way to have hope and comfort in death Hee that would have glory with God in heaven must glorifie God here on earth Hee that would
respect of God Himselfe 1. Not with God but without God in the world and without Christ according to that of the Apostle Eph. 2. 12. That at that time yee were without Christ being Aliens from the common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world where the Apostle speaketh of the time that they had spent in the state of nature according to the Prince of the aire after the lusts of the flesh c. Ver. 2. 3. Now see how wofully and fearefully hee concludeth as touching all that time that is so spent namely That it is time spent without Christ without the Pale of the Church wirhout promise without hope and lastly without God in the world no time better spent then that time which is spent with God and therefore no worse time then that which is spent without God Thus Cain spent his time after hee had slaine his brother Abel He went out from the presence of the Lord saith the Text Gen. 4. 16. and this is a chiefe branch of the eternall punishment of the wicked in hell They shall bee punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of God saith the Apostle 2 Thes. 1. 9. Hereupon was that earnest and importunate sute of David Psa. 51. 11. Cast me not Lord out of thy presence to intimate untous what a woful thing it is to be without God or to be cast out of his presence 2. Time spent in the devils service in vicious courses is it not spent for God but against him not for his glory but to his dishonour Thou that boastest of the Law through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God saith the Apostle Rom. 2. 23. Time spent in the breach of Gods Law is spent unto Gods dishonour robbeth God of his honour and glory that is due unto him and therefore the worst spent time that can be Thirdly Time spent in sinning is not spent to Gods pleasure but the contrary it doth even provoke the eyes of his glory Isa. 3. 6. Their tongue and their doings are against the Lord to provoke the eyes of his glory yea the Lord is not only offended at it but even grieved and wearied with time so spent How can a child spend his time worse then in grieving and breaking the hearts of his loving Parents This is the very case of all those that spend time in vicious courses Observe it Isa. 7. 13. Is it a small thing for you to wearie men but yee will weary my God also O wofull thing to weary and grieve God with our sinfull courses Fortie yeares long was I grieved with this generation saith the Lord Psalm 95. 11. I am broken with their whorish heart which is departed from me Ezec. 6. 9. Yea his very heart is broken with the griefe of it as the Prophet speakes Ier. 23. 9. Yea the Lord is oppressed with our sinnes as a cart is pressed with sheaves it is the Holy Ghosts expression Amos 2. 13. Yea the Lord is so farre from being well pleased or delighted with it that on the contrary hee hateth and abhorreth it yea he smiteth his hands together in detestation of it I have smitten my hands at thy dishonest gaine saith the Lord Ezec. â—2 1â— the Lord will not spare that man which so spendeth his time but his wrath and jealousie shall smoke against him to blot his name out from under heaven Deut. 29. 20. 1. It is the worst spent time that can be in regard of ourselves for there is neither profit nor credit nor safety nor pleasure nor comfort in it but the contrary to all these as is easie to manifest in sundry particulars 1. Time spent in the devils service is the worst spent because there is no profit in it a man is alwayes on the loosing hand now this is most evident that all sinfull courses are unfruitfull and unprofitable courses Have no fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of darknesse Ephesians 5. 8. All sinfull workes are both workes of darkenesse and unfruitfull workes hence that of the Apostle Rom. 6. 21. What fruite had ye in those things whereof yee are now ashamed Observe the confession and expression of every true penitent according to that wee reade Iob 33. 37. God looketh upon men and if any say I have sinned and perverted that which is right and it profited me not Every true convert is able to tell you out of his experience that all sinfull courses are unprofitable courses in conclusion for they loose Gods favour they loose their interest in Christ they loose the comfort of a good conscience they looâ—e their soules Matth. 16. 26. and in a word they loose heaven these are the fruits of time spent in sinning Iudge then if all such bee not damned loosers in the end unlesse they repent speedily and turne to God Againe there is no true pleasure but vanity and vexation of spirit Take the sinne of uncleannesse which seemeth to have the most pleasure in it and you shall finde at last there is no pleasure in it but the gall of bitternesse In the end it biteth like a Serpent and â—urteth like a Cochatrice See a notable place for this purpose Pro. 5. where the Wiseman disswading from the sinne of uncleannesse Ver. 8. Remove thy way farre from her and come not nigh the doore of her house and then see what excellent arguments He useth to this purpose Verse 9. 10 11. Lest thou give thy honour to others and thy yeeres to the cruell there is losse of credit Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth c. there is losse of goods and outward estate Thus sinne bringeth beggery And thou mourne at last when thy flesh and thy body is consumed there is losse of pleasure and comfort and say How have I Oh how have I mispent my time in the service of sinne and Sathan Oh let us strive to see this in time and labour to prevent it Lastly there is no safety but death and danger in it for the wages of sinne is death Rom. 6. 2â— The like I might say in regard of others but this is enough to prove that time spent in sinning is absolutely the worst spent time for body and soule Secondly For Humiliation Seeing time spent in Gods service is the best spent time This serveth to teach us what cause wee have even the best of us to be humbled that we have spent so little time in the duties of Gods service and have beene so lavish and prodigall of our precious time in other things For. 1. What a great deale of most precious time have we spent before our conversion before we spent in effect any time at all in Gods service All the time of our unregeneration hath beene utterly spent in the service of sin and Sathan wee were vassalls to the Prince that ruleth iâ— the ayre the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes. 2.
towards God What greater folly then to be all for the present nothing for the future All for the Summer nothing for the Winter All for the body nothing for the soule And yet alas there are thousands that are thus besotted Martha-like and worse cumbred about many things when the one thing needfull the better part is wholly neglected Now for the remedie of this give me leave to commend unto your consideration that golden place of our Saviour Mat. 16. 26. What is a man profited if he gaine the whole world and loose his own soule Take heed brethren a man cannot looke upward and downward both at once or upward with one eye and downe with the other for we cannot set our affections upon things above if we set them too much upon things here below we cannot serve God and Mammon Mat. 6. 24. We cannot love God and the world If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him sayth the Apostle 1 Joh. 2. 15. We cannot be both earthly and heavenly minded as we ought wee cannot be a friend of the world and Gods friend too but Whosoever maketh himselfe the friend of the world is the enemy of God It is an excellent place of the Apostle Jam. 4. 4. later end Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmitie against God Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God They are too blame that spend more time in the worlds service then in the Lords Secondly This serveth to reprove such as spend more time in sinfull pleasures and recreation then in Gods service These are lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God as the Apostle speakes 2 Tim. 3. 4. As if men were made onely for themselves and their owne pleasures and not for GOD. How farre are these from the disposition of faithfull Moses Who refused to be called the sonne of Pharoahs daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season Heb. 11. 24 25. Now for the meanes to prevent or reforme this grosse abuse in thus mis-spending of our time Let us consider these two particulars First That time spent in Gods service is absolutely the most full of pleasure yea there is no true solid pleasure in the world without it it is to a spirituall man the very joy and rejoycing of his heart Secondly The more pleasure we have in any thing in the neglect of Gods worship and service the more torment and sorrow will follow afterward The better the wine is the sharper and more sowre will it be when it is turned to vinegar It is most true of all such delights which Abner sayd to Joab They will be bitternesse in the later end See the fruit of the rich mans carnall pleasures Luk. 16. 25. In that speech of Father Abraham to the rich man in hell Sonne remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things or thy pleasures and likewise Lazarus evill things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented O the everlasting bitter panges of hell which follow the pleasures of sinne for a season Who would dote upon such sweet meat that is attended with such bitter and sowre sauce So mark what is sayd of Babylon that had glutted her selfe with pleasures and made her selfe Drunke with the bloud of the Saints Revel 18. 7. How much she hath glorified her selfe and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her The more pleasures of sinne here on earth the more torment in hell If our carnal mirth-mungers would consider this it would be a meanes to perswade them to spend more time in Gods service and lesse in the pleasures of sinne which are but for a season Thirdly This serveth to reprove all such as stay long before they spend any time at all in Gods service How ordinary a thing is it for men to mispend their best strength and flower of their youth and reserve the decrepit old age for God Tell many of repentance of Gods service of the power of godlinesse oh say they it is too soone I am too young hereafter is better when I am old This is the usuall practise of the world If time spent in Gods service be the best spent woe be to those that stay long before they begin to serve God at all Like a man that goeth to London about some businesse of great importance and when he commeth there spendeth all his time in saluting here and complementing there and seeing this and that rare sight and then hath all his 〈◊〉 to dispatch when he should goe home Here is the very case of many that come into the Citie of this world they spend the greatest part of their time in other things and never so much as dreame or thinke of Religion which is the maine end for which they were sent into the world What a woefull account will these make at the last day Now for prevention or remedie hereof let us consider these foure particulars First The expresse command of God To Remember our Creator in the dayes of our youth before those dayes come wherein wee shall say I have no pleasure in them A woefull thing for a man even then to bethinke himselfe how to live when he is readie to die Eccles. 12. 1. Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth Secondly Consider the time which we have here to spend on earth is very uncertaine a man resolveth to serve God when he is old yea but what if he dye in the meane time while he is young and never live untill he be olde How many Lambe-skinnes come to the Market as well as the skinnes of elder sheepe How many dye young and drop away even in the middest as they thought of their best strength No man knoweth the day of his death and therefore Job to make sure worke would beginne and prepare for it every day Iob 14. 14. All the dayes of my appointed time will I waite untill my change come Death many times commeth suddenly when it is the least thought on of all When they shall say peace peace then shall sudden destruction fall upon them sayth the Apostle 1 Thes. 5. 3. They spend their dayes in wealth and in a moment goe downe to hell Iob 21. 13. Therefore they say unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes c. A woefull estate Thirdly The longer it is before we returne to God the more difficult we shall finde it to turne at last Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit Continuance in sinne breedeth custome in sinne and how hard is it for men to overcome evill customes Ier. 13. 21. Can the Aethiopian change his skinne or the Leopard his spots then may yee also doe good that are accustomed to doe evill So that it is exceeding difficult if not
such as love and make lyes These must stand without c. goe to hell with the devill and his Angels according to the prediction of Christ himselfe in Matthew 25. 41. Goe ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels Consider this all you that have spent more time in the devils service then in Gods yea all or the greatest part of thy life in the service of sinne and Sathan and little or no time at all in the service of God Almighty you that could finde in your hearts to say unto God Depart from us for wee desire no acquaintance with thy wayes He will pay you home one day in your owne coyne unlesse yee repent and send you packing to hell with a depart from me c. I know ye not ye workers of iniquity Matthew 7. 23. Yea when ye shall begin to claime acquaintance with God and cry Lord Lord c. Even then will Hee professe unto you I never knew you Depart from me ye that worke iniquity The sixth and the last sort are those that will neither spend time in Gods service themselves nor suffer others such as not only mispend their owne time but also hinder and discourage others from the well spending of theirs such as cry out what need so much preaching such running after Sermons c. like waggish and unhappy Schollers that will neither apply their bookes themselves nor suffer their fellowes but hinder and disturbe them by all meanes possible Here is just the Dogge in the manger These are Sathans Vicegerents even his Standard-bearers and Captaines chiefe factors for Hell These are they that will neither enter into the kingdome of heaven themselves nor suffer others but shut up the kingdome of God against them Matth. 23. 13. Consider now Is time spent in Gods service absolutely the best spent time How grosly and grievously are they to blame that not only despise the duties of Gods service themselves but also discourage others For the perfecting of this point give mee leave to shew you the wofull and fearefull estate of all such 1. They are guiltie of the bloud of their soules that perish by this meanes Now what a wofull estate is this that whereas a man is not able to answer one of a thousand in respect of his owne sinnes he should yet bee chargeable with the sinnes of others when he shall heare those poore soules curse him in hell and say O woe be to thee for thou art the cause of my damnation I had spent my time in Gods service had it not beene for thee O how this will gall thee and torment thee at that day such and such might have gone to heaven but for thy discouragements He verily dyeth in his iniquitie but his bloud will the Lord require at thy hands thou hast helped forward a soule to death and so art guilty of the bloud of soules 2. Consider the extent of this grievous sinne it reacheth up to the very heavens Every such person doth even become a fighter against God and taketh the devils part against Christ this soule is mine saith the LORD and I will save it nay saith the Devill this soule is mine and I will damne it Thus they strive and wrestle for the poore soule Christ by the meanes of grace to save it and Sathan by his temptations to damne it now the prophane person hee taketh Satans part and helpeth him against Christ and therefore is a direct fighter against God Excellent to this purpose is that speech of Gamaleel Acts 5. 39. when they were consulting how to suppresse the Apostles preaching of the Gospell Abstaine from these men and let them alone for if this counsell or this worke bee of men it will come to nought but if it be of God yee cannot overthrow it lest happily yee become even to fight against God He that fighteth against Gods ordinances doth even fight against God yea he that doth but murmure against these things his murmurings are against the Lord Exod. 16. 8. yea and he that doth set himselfe to persecute Gods people for this doth even persecute Christ himselfe as appeareth by that speech of Christ to Paul as he was going to Damascus with a Commission to persecute those Primitive Christians Iesus Christ strikes him downe to the earth and salutes him in these termes Acts 9. 4. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me I am Iesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest Christ taketh that as done to him which is done to his members in this case yea he that doth but touch them in any kinde to hurt them toucheth the very Apple of GODS eye Oh that men would seriously consider the extent of their sin and how farre their rebellions doe reach in this case And therefore in the third place it must needs follow that the wrath of God is readie to seaze upon them to the uttermost yea the wrath of God already abideth on them although they perceive it not See a fearefull and terrible place of the Apostle to this purpose 1 Thes. 2. 14. Ye have suffered like things of your owne Country-men as they of the Iewes Why what had the Iewes done That the Apostle sheweth verse 15. Who both killed the Lord Iesus and their owne Prophets and have persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary to all men verse 16. forbidding us to speake to the Gentiles that they might be saved there is the very case that we have in hand they doe hinder as much as in them lyeth the salvation of others Now what is the fruit of all this that yee shall see in the later end of that verse To fill up their sinnes alway for the wrath of God is come upon them to the uttermost Oh the wofull estate of such the wrath of God is ready to seize upon them to the uttermost This is enough even to shake the hearts of all such as are guilty in this kinde Fourthly Because this is a fearefull signe of reprobation it is the very brand of a reprobate and hee that goeth on in this case without repentance hath great cause to feare this of himselfe That God hath forsaken him and given him up to his owne hearts lusts and into the hands of Sathan Two singular places of Scripture I will give you for this the one 2 Timothy 3. 8. As Iannes and Iambres withstoode Moses so doe these men resist the truth they will neither embrace it themselves nor suffer others what is the state of these men men of corrupt mindes reprobate concerning the faith The other place which I will commend to your consideration in this case is that of the Apostle Philippians 1. 28. And in nothing be terrifyed by your adversaries which is to them a token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God Where wee may plainely see that as it is a token of salvation to be persecuted for righteousnesse sake so it is a
it tâ— serve thee then live in a prison a dungeâ—â—on all my dayes he was strongly engaged to that mans service Here is our very caseâ— we are all prisoners by nature and Sathan is ready every moment to cary us to the prison of hell where we should rot and burne for ever now the Lord redeemeth us and setteth us at liberty from the service of sinne and Sathan and the bondage oâ— corruption Deliver him from going downe to the pit saith the Lord his Ransome is paid according to that in Iob 33. 28. Oh then how strongly doth this binde us to be constant in Gods service that we should have a care never to depart from him Ye are not your owne saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 6. 19. 20. but ye are bought with a price and therefore glorifie God in your bodies and soules for they are Gods Ye are redeemed with a great price not with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vaine conversation but with the precious bloud of Christ as of a Lambe without spot saith the Apostle 1 Peter 1. 17 18. Excellent to this purpose is that in the song of Zachary Luk. 1. 68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people But to what end hath he done this That he sheweth plainely ver 74. That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse beâ—â—re him all the dayes of our life So that the â—onsideration of our redemption should â—ake us constant in Gods service because â—e were redeemed and bought to that end â—nd purpose Thus Moses expostulateth the â—se with those revolting Israelites Deut. â—â— 6. Doe ye thus requite the Lord O ye â—oolish people and unwise Is not he thy faâ—her that hath bought thee Hath he not â—ade thee and established thee The sinne of backsliding is fearefully aggravated from 〈◊〉 consideration of the Lords singular goodnesse in our creation and redemption Now the very end of God in the great worke of our redemption is to purge us to himselfe a peculiar people that we might be â—ealous of good workes Fifthly Wee are the Lords hyred servants and doe daily receive our wages from him yea in him it is that we live and move and have our being After the Lord hath made us and sent us into the world alas we all stand idle and doe him no service at all untill the Lord be pleased to hire us and set us a worke Matth. 20. 7. Why stand yee here all the day idle saith the Lord of the Vineyard goe ye into the Vineyard and worke c. Loe wee are the Lords hired servants who is a most excellent paymaster and very bountifull besides our wages he is very kinde unto us in many speciall gifts and vailes Isa. 65. 13 14. Behold my servants shall eat and ye shall be hungry my servants shall drinke and ye shall be thirstie Yea he is such a Master as daily loadeth us with gifts and benefits Psalme 68. 9. Blessed be God even the God of our salvation who daily loadeth uâ— with his benefits and all to this end and purpose that we might be faithfull and constant in his service that we might observe his statutes and keepe his lawes that is even the very right use of all his mercies When Ioshua had reckoned up Gods singular mercies towards the Iewes in Ioshuah 24. See the use of all verse 14. Now therefore feare the Lord and serve him And now Israel what doth the Lord require of thee but only to love the Lord thy God and feare and serve him Deut. 10. 12. This was godly Samuels argument to the revolting and offending Israelites God forbid that I should sinne against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you but I will shew you the good and the right way 2 Samuel 12. 24. c. as if he had said I will not only pray for you but I will also further teach and instruct you in the right way onely feare the Lord and serve him for consider what great things he hath done for you else a man in this case is worse then the very Oxe or Asse as the Lord himselfe speaketh Isa. 1. 2 3. Heare ô heavens c. the Oxe knowes his owner and the Asse his Masters Crib but Israel hath not knowne my people have not understood And thus yee have seene the first Motive that may perswade us to be constant in Gods service sc. In regard of the equity of it Secondly The second Motive that may perswade us to be constant in Gods service is drawne from the consideration of the Vtilitie of it It is commodious and profitable that we should be constant and persevere in Gods service There be many that say Who will shew us any good Psal. 4. meaning profit And it is the Question of those prophane ones in Job 21. 15. What is the Almightie that we should serve him Or what profit should we have if we pray unto him say they Now to this I answer That constancy and perseverance in Gods service is exceeding usefull and profitable and that in many respects First Constancie in Gods service will assure a man that when he dyeth he shall goe to heaven What an admirable and desireable thing it is that a man should be able to say with the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 1. Wee know that when the earthly house of our tabernacle shall be dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heavens But how came the Apostle by this assurance Vpon what ground did he thus confidently assure himselfe That we shall see Ver. 9. Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him This was the ground of his rejoycing The testimonie of our conscience that in simplicitie and godly sinceritie not with fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world 2 Cor. 1. 12. Vpon this ground he expecteth a crowne of Righteousnesse 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. Constancie and perseverance is the very condition required and expressed in the Lords gracious promise He that endureth to the end shall be saved sayth our Saviour Mat. 24. 13. Be thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the crowne of life Rev. 2. 10. In due time wee shall reape if wee faint not sayth the Apostle Gal. 6. 9. Yea this diligence and constancie in Gods service is that which will give a man abundant assurance of entrance into the Kingdome of Iesus Christ. Excellent to this purpose is that of the Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 1. 5. 11. Wherefore giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to your vertue knowledge c. i. e. be abundant and constant in Gods service now marke the reason Ver 11. For so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of Iesus Christ. Oh what a precious thing is this
that he is of the true Religion among all the religions that are in the world Hence is that speech of our Saviour Ioh. 7. 16 17. My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent mee yea but how should a man know that that our Saviour sheweth Ver. 17. If any man will doe his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speake of my selfe A most sweet and admirable benefit a constant and conscionable care to yeeld obedience to what we know is the best meanes to perfect and increase our knowledge This made David wiser then his enemies yea then the Ancient yea then his teachers because he was a constant practitioner of what he knew Psal. 119. 98 99. c. He that would be assured of the truth of his Religion let him be constant in the duties of Gods worship and service for this alone will doe it Hereupon it was that many poore silly men and women in Queene Mary's dayes sealed the truth with their blood when many great Schollers fell away Sixthly and lastly Constancy in the duties of Gods worship and service will affoord a man comfort in time of trouble yea in the houre of death this will make a man able to lift up his head with joy in that case as if his redemption drew nigh Psal. â—7 37. Marke the upright man and behold the just that is he that is constantly just and upright for the end of that man shall be peace sayth the Psalmist See an experiment of this in diverse examples 1. The example of Gods Church in great affliction and persecution Psal. 44. see their woefull miserie Ver. 13 14. c. Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours a by-word a shaking of the head amongst the people My confusion is continually before me Ver. 15. All this is come upon us Ver. 17. Well what was it now that did affoord them comfort in this their extremitie Surely their constancie in Religion Ver. 17 18. Yet have wee not forgotten thee nor have dealt falsely in thy Covenant our heart is not turned backe neither have our steppes declined from thy way Yea though thou hast â—ore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadow of death Ver. 19. So what was it that affoorded Iob such comfort in his extremities but his sinceritie and constancie Two excellent places we have for this the one in Job 27. 5. God forbid that I should justifie you sayth he to his friends Why not Were they not honest and religious men Yes surely they were gracious men and full of wisedome but yet Iob would not justifie them in that particular wherein they condemned him for an hypocrite they charged him with inconstancie and hypocrisie and that he would never yeeld unto Till I dye I will not remove my integritie from me my righteousnesse I hold fast and will not let it goe my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live This was the onely thing that did affoord him comfort in his great extremities and calamities and unjust censures of his friends he knew that he had beene sincere and constant in Gods service The other place for this purpose is Iob 23. when God hid himselfe from him that he could not see him Ver. 8 9. whether he went forward or backward on the right hand or on the left yet he could not finde God What was his comfort Yet when he hath tryed me I shall come out like gold I shall be the better for all this at last Ver. 10. Well how came he to be assured of this That yee shall see Ver. 11 12. My foote hath held his steps his way have I kept and not declined neither have I gone backe from the Commandement of his lippes I have esteemed the words of his lippes more then my necessary food Here was his comfort that he had beene constant in Gods service it was grounded upon the consideration of his perseverance The second particular example is that of David Psal. 18. when he was in many waters readie to be drowned environed with strong enemies Ver. 16 17. Now what was his comfort in these cases That yee shall see Ver. 21. For I have kept the wayes of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God Loe here what will affoord us comfort in our greatest miseries and extremities sc. Constancie in cleaving to God and a vigilant watchfull care not to depart from him All his judgements were before me and I did not put away his Statutes from me Ver. 22. I have beene constant in his service So that of Psal. 119. see what dangerous straites that good man was in Ver. 107. I am afflicted very much How much David My soule is continually in my hand I doe even daily cary my life in my hand there is but even a step betweene me and death Well how came that to passe The wicked have layd a snare for me sayth he Ver. 110. Well what was his comfort in all this his Staffe to uphold him in all these dangers Surely his constancie in Gods service I have sworne and will performe it that I will keepe thy righteous judgements V. 106. and Ver. 111 112. Thy Testimonies have I claimed as my heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart and I have inclined my heart to performe thy Statutes alwayes even unto the end Loe this will affoord us comfort in the greatest troubles that can befall us Yea this will affoord comfort and confidence even in death Though he kill me yet will I trust in him sayth Iob upon this ground Iob 13. 15. See an example of this in that good King Hezekiah What was his comfort when the Prophet brought him the message of death from the Lord Isa. 38. 3 Surely his constancie and sinceritie in the duties of Gods worship and service Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which hath beene good in thy sight i.e. here is my chiefe comfort in this case So this made Paul thinke on death with comfort and rejoycing 2 Cor. 1. 12. So 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. The time of my departure is at hand and I am now readie to be offered sc. in sacrifice to God by death Now see the grounds of the Apostles comfort and confidence in that case I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith I have spent time in Gods service constantly henceforth there is layd up for me a crowne of Righteousnesse And thus you see at large the Vtilitie of the dutie which is the second Motive that may perswade us to be constant in the duties of Gods worship and service Thirdly The third and last Motive that may perswade us hereunto is drawne from the consideration of the necessitie of it It is not onely equall and profitable but exceeding necessary that we should be
multitude of their riches these seeme to be very powerfull Masters yet marke what the holy Ghost sayth of such Psal. 49. 6 7 8. None of them can by any meanes redeeme his brother nor give to God a ransome for him for the Redemption of the soule is precious and ceaseth for ever All the men in the world with all the wealth in the world are not able to save one soule And what is a man profited if he could winne the whole world if he loose his soule sayth our Saviour Mat. 16. 26. But now this our heavenly Master is able to save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Thou hast delivered my soule from death sayth David Psal. 116. 8. Yea he is the author of eternall salvation to them that doe obey him Heb. 5. 9. Here is a Master worth serving that is able to save the soules of his servants with an everlasting salvation Psal. 3. 8. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord i. e. it is his peculiar Sixthly He is readie to accept and take in good part the poore endeavours of his servants yea their desires if sincere and fervent doe finde acceptance with him God doth indeed set his servants hard taskes many times such as they are never able to performe of themselves He commandeth us to love him with all our hearts and keep all his Commandements but his meaning is according to the mitigation of the Gospell onely that we should earnestly desire and doe our best endeavour to doe so and then it is sufficient in Gods account A loving Father that would try the willingnesse of his childe biddeth him goe sirrah runne and fetch me such a great piece of wood which it may be is as much as five or six men could carry but if he finde him willing and readie to doe his best endeavour it contenteth the Father so dealeth God with his servants He spareth them as a man spareth his owne sonne that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. Yea if there be but first of all a willing minde it is accepted according to that we have and not according to that we have not sayth the Apostle 2 Cor. 8. 12. Yea sincere desires are graciously accepted See how Nehemiah propoundeth his case Neh. 1. 11. O Lord I beseech thee let thine eares be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayers of thy servants that desire to feare thy Name especially if these be seconded and accompanied with earnest and sincere endeavours Thus Abrahams resolution to offer his Sonne Gen. 22. 12. was accepted as if he had actually done it and therefore by faith Abraham when he was tryed offered up Isaac sayth the Holy Ghost Heb. 11. 17. and yet we see in the Storie that actually and really he did it not no the Lord himselfe withheld him by a voyce from heaven and yet in this place yee see it is said that he did offer Isaac when he was tryed that is he was readie to have done it it was his purpose if God himselfe had not granted him a dispensation and therefore in Gods account it was done Yea sayth the Lord himselfe Gen. 22. 13. Because thou hast done this though indeede he did it not yet because he was willing to have done it it was done in Gods account and in his gracious acceptance Oh who would not be constant and abundant in the service of such a Master Seventhly This gracious disposition of our Master doth farther shew it selfe in that he is readie to helpe and assist his servants in doing that worke which he requireth of them he affoordeth them helpe and strength to doe their worke and therefore though Paul when he looketh upon his own weaknesse and inabilitie is readie to cry out 2 Cor. 2. 26. Who is sufficient for these things yet when he considereth the helping hand of God then he can say I am able to doe all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. And indeed most true is that of our Saviour Joh. 15. 5. Without me yee can doe nothing so by his assistance we can doe all things that he commandeth so as he is pleased to accept of them for the Lord himselfe putteth to his helping hand Psal. 37. 24. Isa. 41. 10. Feare not Iacob I am with thee c. I will helpe thee He will helpe us pray his Spirit shall helpe our infirmities Rom. 8. 26. and helpe us preach and heare and in a word is readie to worke all our workes for us As we deale with a young Scholler that beginneth to write his hand is guided so doth the Lord deale with us Isa. 26. 12. Thou hast wrought all our workes for us Eighthly Let us be abundant and spend much time in Gods service for he is a good pay-master we are not onely sure of our wages because he is constant and faithfull in keeping Covenant as yee heard before but also he is exceeding bountifull and liberall See one expression of his bounty in this Psalm 84. 11. He will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly As he himselfe loveth a bountifull giver so he is such a one himselfe sc. bountifull and liberall He giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not sayth the Apostle Iam. 1. 5. He doth even daily load his servants with benefits Psalm 68. 19. Blessed be God even the God of our salvation who doth dayly loade us with his benefits Oh who would not be diligent in the service of such a bountifull Master Yea he rewardeth all his Servants with no lesse then a Kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdome So Mat. 25. 34. Come yee blessed children of my Father inherit the Kingdome provided for you from the beginning of the world Yea such a kingdome that consisteth of an eternall and exceeding weight of glory 2 Co. 4. 17 Even such as eye hath not seen neither hath eare heard nor hath ever entred into the heart of man to conceive the worth of 2 Co. 2. 9. O how can we thinke all our time sufficient to spend in the service of such a Master that is thus beneficiall unto his servants Consider also his bounty in giving raine from heaven Act. 14. 17 with Ier. 5. 24. Let us now feare the Lord c. I omit to shew further how slow he is to anger how ready to forgive to be reconciled He doth even beseech us to be reconciled unto him as the Apostle speaks 2 Co. 5. 20 Ninthly He is such a Master that taketh pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants and is constant in his love towards them earthly Masters are changeable and fickle and doe often envie the prosperitie of their servants but the Lord hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his seruants and his love towards them is constant and unchangeable For the first observe it Psal. 35. 27. Let them say continually let
Yet a little sleepe a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleepe Thus still he keepeth his bed and there he delighteth to spend his time and there the Wiseman letteth him alone and bestoweth no more paines to call him up but even passeth sentence upon as he lyeth in his bed So thy poverty commeth as an armed man This will bring both temporall poverty and spirituall misery upon a man such a man shall surely come to poverty Proverbs 20. 13. for this stealeth away not only much time that was better spent in Gods service but it robbeth us of two speciall seasons and opportunities of doing GOD service and getting good to our soules sc. the morning season and the Sermon time or the time for the exercises of religion which is the very harvest of our soules Is not he likely to bee a poore man that will keepe his bed in harvest time and like to reape shame and penurie Prov. 10. 5. Well What shall wee doe with this unruly person Put him to death O no What Not sleepe at all Rather binde him to the good behaviour send him to the house of correction for sleepe in it selfe is a refreshing mercy of God which he conferreth upon those whom he loveth Psalme 127. 4. For so he giveth his beloved sleepe What then Deale thus with this companion cut shorter this prodigall allow him lesse liberty Hee that mispendeth his meanes it is pity but he should want let some of his meanes be taken from him he doth but wast and mispend it And therefore the best way is to observe these two rules which I will prescribe on purpose in this case for our Direction 1. Let us habituate or accustome our selves to early or timely rising Let us even forcably breake off our sleepe for religious and godly meditations and that which at first will seeme even impossible will by a little use and custome prove not only be possible but also most facile easie even as the Cocke clappeth his wings early in the morning thereby to shake off drousinesse and to stirre up himselfe to crow so let us shake off our sluggish humour by degrees and even stirre up our selves to holy duties in the morning Thus David stirreth himselfe and endeavoureth to shake off his drousie temper Psalme 103. 1 2. Blesse the Lord ô my soule and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord ô my soule forget not all his benefits Yea this he would doe early or betimes in the morning Psalme 5. 3. Early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will looke up Yea this was not all but sometimes he would breake his sleepe even at midnight to doe God service Psalme 119. 62. At midnight will I arise to give thankes unto thee because of thy righteous judgements Thus by degrees in time we should prevaile exceedingly against that sluggish humour that will else keepe us from embracing many blessed opportunities of doing God service Thirdly Wee must beware of excessive eating and drinking The immoderate use of the good creatures of God doth very much dispose to sleepe but indispose us to any holy and religious imployment When the belly is full c. saith the homely Proverbe a man in that case is fitter to serve the Devill in sinning or the flesh by sleeping then God in any religious duty whatsoever Put a knife to thy threat if thou be a man given to appetite Wisely doe thou refraine from the immoderate use of that which will altogether indispose thee to Gods service and make thee a very prey to lust and unto the Devill Hee that in this case maketh his belly his god is then ready for sleepe almost at any time but will scarce bee fit to serve GOD at any time Consider the place of the Apostle Romans 13. 13. Not in ryotting or gluttony and drunkennesse and what followeth Nor in chambering and wantonnesse where we see that ryot and excesse in the use of Gods good creatures disposeth strongly to lust and filthinesse When I fed them to the full then they committed adultery against me and assembled themselves by troopes in the Harlots houses saith God Ieremy 5. 7. It was Sodoms fulnesse that made them so filthy But of this hereafter when I come to speake of feasting and recreations which is another great mispender of precious time and a great impediment to keepe us from spending time in Gods service And so much therefore as touching this second great mispender of precious time and that is excessive sleeping CHAP. XI Wherein other chiefe Le ts are removed containing the other part of the fifth Direction THirdly All that would spend much time in GODS service must very carefully take heede and beware of another great mis-spender of precious time and that is immoderate carking and caring for earthly things all inordinate and covetous thought taking for outward things must needs be carefully shunned and avoyed How many precious houres doe men usually spend in taking thought saying What shall we eat and what shall we drinke What shall I doe when I am old and past my worke Or how shall I doe in a deare yeare c and such like terrible dreames Thus many an houre is mis-spent in such worldly distrustfull cogitations that were farre better spent in Gods service Not but that an honest moderate care is lawfull and necessary but all distracting distrustfull care is forbidden as a great usurper of precious time It is the Apostles direction Phil. 4. 6. In nothing be carefull but in every thing let your requests be made knowne to God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where the Apostle prohibiteth only a distrustfull distracting or heart-dividing carefulnesse as the word signifieth and sheweth That time spent in covetous carking and caring and religious prayer and invocation cannot well stand together according to that of our Saviour Mat. 6. 24. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon no more then a man can looke upwards and downwards both at once Let us a little consider of the great hurt that this usurper will doe us in this case This covetous carking will eyther keepe us from or distract us in profiting by the performance of holy duties and therefore is a great enemy in this case and must needs be mortified 1. It many times keepeth us from the performance of holy duties Where covetous carking reigneth there is no roome for pietie godlinesse is quite put downe there is no leasure for private prayer in the Closet and familie nor many times there is no time for the publike duties of Religion See how the world kept men from the great Supper whereof our Saviour speaketh in the Gospell Luk. 14. 16. A certaine man made a great Supper and bad many and sent his servant at Supper time to say to them that were bidden come for all things are now readie How could they finde in their hearts to slight or reject such a loving invitation
the stall Ver. 6. That drinke wine in Bowles c. but are not grieved for the afflictions of Ioseph Isa. 5. 11. ver 12. Woe to them that rise up early to follow strong drinke c. And the Tabret and the Pipe are in their feasts but they regard not the worke of the Lord nor the operation of his hands Where we see that time spent in inordinate and excessive feasting and time spent in Gods service cannot well stand together it is a great Let and impediment in this case This was one thing that made the rich man that he could finde no time for Gods service nor for the good of his soule Luk. 16. 19. Because as he was cloathed with purple and fine linnen so he fared deliciously every day sayth the Text. Every day was a day of feasting and therefore there was no time left for the exercises of Religion they feede the bodie but starve and pine the soule Therefore we must have a care to spend lesse time in feasting that we may spend more in the duties of Gods worship and service And to this end let us consider these five Remedies First Immoderate feasting is seldome or never without the abuse of Gods good creatures and so we fight against God and strike him with those blessings which he hath graciously given us for our delight yea hereby we commit Idolatrie in making our belly our God Phil. 3. 19. Secondly Seldome without brabbles and quarrells many times betweene persons of neare relation one to another See the fruit of that great feast made by Ahashuerus that lasted so long What was the event of it but a woefull breach betweene him and his wife Hest. 1. 19. Thirdly A man in that case is most apt to deny God This made Agur pray against wealth and riches Give me not povertie nor riches sayth the Text Pro. 30. 8. And theâ— see the reason that he giveth for it Ver. 9. Lest I be full and deny thee and say Who is the Lord Thus full-fed Pharoah cryed out Exod. 5. 3. Who is the Lord that I should obey his voyce to let Israel goe I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel goe Excessive fulnes will make a man even to kick against God Jesurun is waxed fat and kicked sayth the Text Deut 32. 15. Thou are covered with fatnesse Then he forsooke God that made him and lightly esteemed the rocke of his Salvation Loe the fruit of excessive fulnesse Yea this was one of the sinnes of Sodome Idlenesse and fulnesse of bread made them so intolerably filthy that they fell to that uncleanenesse which was unnaturall as the Prophet sheweth Ezeck 16. 49. Fourthly This excessive use or rather abuse of Gods creatures are great meanes to make us forget God True it is that even then we have most cause to remember him with all love and thankfulnesse but such is the corruption of our nature that even then above all other times wee are most apt to forget him according to the admonition of the Lord himselfe by Moses Deut. 8. 11 12. When thou hast eaten and art full then thou shalt blesse the Lord thy God for the good Land that he hath given thee There is the right use of fulnesse and plentie But what followeth Ver. 12. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God and Ver. 13 14. Lest when thou hast eaten and art full c. then they heart be lifted up and thou forget the Lord thy God c. Here is a dangerous mischiefe indeed Psal. 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell and all that forget God O consider this yee that forget God and feast your selves without feare least he teare you in pieces and there be none to deliver you When I fed them to the full they then committed adulterie against me and assembled themselves by troopes in the harlots houses Iere. 5. 7. Fifthly The more that wee have mis-spent our time in feasting and carnall pleasures the more torment we are like to have hereafter All such immoderate carnall pleasures end in torments without repentance What became of him that was cloathed in purple and fine Linnen and fared deliciously every day Luk. 16. 19. What is the next newes we heare of this Belly-god this mirth-munger The rich man dyed and was buried and in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham afarre off and Lazarus in his bosome ver 23. yea and see there what Abraham especially objecteth against him Ver. 25. Sonne Remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things c. therefore he is comforted and thou art tormented See a direct testimony concerning the woefull estate of such Phil. 3. 18 19. For many walke of whom I told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Crosse of Christ whose end is destruction Well What are their courses Whose God is their belly whose glorie is their shame who minde earthly things See here the end of excessive feasting And thus you see the fourth Impediment and the Remedies against it Fift let or impediment that keepeth men from spending time in Gods service is the inordinate pursuite and excessive use of carnall pleasures and delights vaine mirth and merriment This doth follow to be handled after the former as being for the most part an inseparable companion of it Exod. 32. 6. The people sate downe to eat and to drinke and they rose up to play So in Isaiahs time this was an adjunct of their feasting Isaiah 5. 12. The Harpe and the Violl the Tabret and Pipe are in their feasts therefore they had no time to serve God therefore it followeth But they regard not the worke of the Lord c. certainely these vaine pleasures if eagerly followed will doe us a great deale of hurt in usurping a great part of precious time which was better spent in Gods service Recreations if moderately used are very usefull and refreshing but if inordinate they spoyle all As it is fitly said of fire and water that they are very good servants but evill Masters fire on the hearth is usefull but in the thatch of the house fatall and dangerous so pleasures and recreations are very convenient if used moderately but very hurtfull if they be abused by excesse Yea even the most innocent and harmelesse pleasures that can be are very hurtfull if followed immoderately as the best wine maketh the sharpest and the quickest Vinegar To bee lovers of pleasures more then of God 2. Tim. 3. 4. or to spend that time in pleasures which we should spend in Gods service will poyson the most innocent and harmelesse pleasures in the world Now the Remedies that we must use against this great usurper of precious time are principally these 1. Let us be sure that the matters of our pleasures and delights be just and lawfull To take pleasure in sinning against God It is a sport for
confessed his owne guiltinesse and the justice of God 2. Vindicated the innocency of Christ. 3. Was affected with the judgement and brought to feare God 4. Earnestly desired to worke upon his fellow servant Doest thou not feare God c. i.e. ô feare God consider what a wofull estate thou art plunged into Reasons or Motives io perswade us hereunto are foure 1. In regard of God 2. In regard of our selves 3. In regard of others 4. In regard of the excellency of Gods Ordinances 1. In regard of God because the Lord is much honoured and his Name is highly magnified and therefore hereby we shall shew our zeale for Gods glory and our â—ove unto his Majesty Gods glory in all things should be respected in the first place Whether ye eate or drinke or whatsoever ye doe doe all to the glory of God saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 10. 31. Now surely the more people and the greater the company is that joyne together in the duties of Gods service the more glory must needs hereby redound to God for the enlarging of Christs kingdome is a chiefe meanes of advancing Gods glory This our Saviour teacheth in the very mould and course of the Lords Prayer it appeareth in the very order of the petitions 1. Hallowed be thy Name to shew that in all things in the first place Gods glory must be respected 2. Thy kingdome come there is the chiefe meanes to shew that the comming of Gods kingdome is one chiefe meanes for the hallowing of his Name and the enlarging of Christ's kingdome is a chiefe meanes for the advancing of Gods glory Matth. 6. 10 11. certainely much glory must needs hereby redound to God when we are not content only to serve God our selves but also exhort and excite and stirre up others hereunto Secondly There is another Motive to perswade us which is drawne from our selves Hereby we shall manifest the work of grace wrought in our own hearts This is a good testimony that we are truely religious indeed when wee are not content to serve God our selves but are ready to provoke and stirre up others hereunto for goodnesse is a spreader of it selfe it is ready to disperse and communicate it selfe for the good of others Yee heard what the Holy Ghost said of Barnabas Acts 11. 23. That he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord ver 24. for he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost A good man and one that is full of the Holy Ghost is and will be ready to excite and stirre up others unto that which is good When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren said our Saviour Luk. 22. 32. He that is truly converted himselfe will be ready to be a meanes to convert and turne others to God See it in David Psalme 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee Where there is abundance of grace in the heart it will manifest it selfe in our gracious speeches and holy communication Psal. 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisedome his tongue will bee talking of judgement the Law of his God is in his heart c. for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh saith our Saviour Matth. 12. 34. I have hid thy Word in my heart saith David Psalme 119. 11. See the fruit of this Psalm 95. 6. O come let us worship and fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker c. True grace maketh a man ready to doe good offices for others especially to perswade them to serve God and be religious Thirdly In regard of others For hereby we shall best manifest our love and respect to others yea we doe not know how much good we may doe them this way for by this we may come to save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Iam. 5. 20. Hereby we may come to be acquainted with the wayes of God our selves and others whom we perswade may be hereby converted to walke in his pathes for Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule c. See how confidently David assureth himselfe of the conversion of others upon his best endeavour to teach them Gods wayes Psal. 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee How much more if we come to the house and Ordinances of God and bring others with us This argument Gods people have used to perswade others to goe with them to Gods house Come let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord for he will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his pathes Isa. 2. 2 3. This is the way to bring others to the true feare of GOD as well as our selves if we can perswade them to accompany us in the constant and frequent use of Gods Ordinances Observe an excellent place to this purpose Deut. 31. 11 12. When all Israel is come to appeare before the Lord in the place that he shall choose thou shalt reade this Law before all Israel in their hearing Gather the people together men women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates Why so What good will they get this That they may heare and that they may learne and feare the Lord your God to doe all the words of this Law Where we see that the house or place of Gods worship and service must be constantly frequented and that it is not enough for us to come thither our selves but we must also bring our whole families men women and children yea the very stranger that doth but occasionally come unto us we must bring all to Gods Ordinances And lastly that hereby we are likely to be instruments of working the feare of God in the hearts of those whom we bring and so to bring them to obedience Let no man say What neede we trouble our selves with others Is it not enough for every man to looke to himselfe and to have a care that he spend time himselfe in Gods service though he doe not meddle with others For though Christian charitie begin at home yet it doth not end there but he that is truely carefull to serve God himselfe will be readie to exhort and admonish others especially those of his familie and such as are committed to his charge And if any thinke much at this yet let him know that it is no more then his dutie Heb. 3. 13. But exhort one another dayly while it is called to day Nay no man can have any good assurance that he draweth nigh to God with a true heart himselfe if he doe not doe his best endeavour to excite and stirre up others to doe so too See an excellent passage to this purpose Heb. 10. 22. 24. c. Let us draw neare with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our
Sacrament is meant the very Body and Bloud of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received of the faithfull in the Lords Supper And for the proofe of this we have the expresse words of our Saviour Take eate this is my Body So that herein Christ Iesus with all the merits of his Body and Bloud are offered unto us and bestowed really and effectually on all worthy receivers 2. By receiving of this Sacrament we joyntly professe our common interest in Christ and our communion with him and one with another and hereupon this Sacrament is fitly called the communion 1 Cor. 10. 16. 3. Hereby the promises of God and the merits of Christ are sealed up unto us So that hereby we come to have both Gods Hand Seale to assure us of the pardon of our sins and of eternall happinesse in which respect the Sacraments are called the Seales of righteousnesse Rom. 4. 11. Fourthly Hereby our corruptions are mortified and the graces of Gods Spirit greately augmented and confirmed in us These Ordinances through the speciall blessing of God doe nourish and feede our soules unto life eternall So that most true we shall finde that speech of our Saviour Ioh. 6. 55. For my Flesh is meate indeed and my Bloud is drinke indeed Yea ver 51. I am the living Bread which came downe from heaven if any man eat of this bread hee shall live for ever and the bread which I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the life of the world Only remember that all this must bee understood of spirituall eating as our Saviour Himselfe in the same place giveth us expresly to understand for when his grosse hearers made that carnall question saying How can this Man give us his flesh to eate verse 52. Our Saviour doth earnestly confirme it still ver 53. Except ye eate the Flesh of the Sonne of Man and drinke his Bloud you have no life in you c. Yea when many of the Disciples were offended and murmured at it see how he giveth them satisfaction ver 63. It is the Spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words which I speake unto you they are Spirit and they are life to shew that all this must be spiritually understood for the foode is spirituall and so of necessitie the eating and drinking must needs be So that this is enough to perswade us to value and highly to esteeme this Ordinance because therein Christ Iesus is verily and indeed taken and received to the eternall benefit and comfort of all worthy receivers an argument sufficient not only to perswade us to take all opportunities of receiving this Sacrament our selves but also to perswade others hereunto in regard of the great benefits that are here offered and exhibited to the soules of all worthy receivers Fifthly Hereby we have the commemoration of Christs death most lively and effectually represented unto us So that we may in this case use the benefit of our eyes to see the Bread broken and the Wine powred out to signifie the death of Christ and the shedding of his Bloud so that our hands do as it were handle the Word of life Christ as 1 Iohn 1. 1. The Word foundeth in our eare but in the Sacrament the same is most lively represented unto our eyes sc. the death of Christ So that as often as wee eate that bread and drinke that cup we shew the Lords death till he come faith the Apostle 1 Cor. 11. 26. Yea and this is a speciall end for which this Sacrament was ordained at the first Doe this in remembrance of me saith our Saviour Matth. 26. Yea the Sacraments are most lively representations of the sufferings of Christ as if therein Christ was really againe crucified before our eyes according to that speech of the Apostle to the Galathians chap. 3. 1. O foolish Galatians Who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Iesus Christ was evidently set forth even crucified amongst you How was he crucified among them but only in the Word and Sacraments So that where the Word is faithfully preached and the Sacraments duly celebrated there is Iesus Christ so evidently set forth as if he was even crucified among that people Oh how this also should perswade us not only to serve God our selves but also to doe our best to perswade others to spend time in Gods service especially if we remember the Doctrine which is the ground of this whole discourse namely this that time spent in the duties of Gods service is absolutely and incomparably the best spent time then certainely we would easily be perswaded not only to spend much time in Gods service our selves but also earnestly to doe our best endeavour to cause others to doe the like especially 〈◊〉 â—amilies and those which are more especially committed unto our charge that so we may not only save our selves but also them that belong unto us 1 Tim. 4. 16. FINIS The context and coherence Division parts of the Text. Explication 3. Doct. 1. Doct. 2. Doct. 3. Doct. Doctrine 1. That Christ and the saving graces of his Spirit are fitly compared unto Gold tried in the fire Reason Precious like gold 2. Reason Fit to pay debts or keepe out of prison 3. Reason Because pure like gold 4. Reason Because fit for purchase 5. Reason In respect of beautie and ornament 6. Reason Of sweet smell Dulcis odor luâ—â—â—â—e re qualibet 7. Reason Vses 1. Instruction The worth and excellency of true grace Grace better then gold 1. Gold is fading and perishing but grace is permanent and lasting 2. Grace is able to help in the day of wrath Grace leadeth to glory 2. Instruct. Gracious Religious people most excellent 1. They come of excellent parentage The wicked children of wrath Are borne to a most excellent inheritance A most rare and excellent portion Have most excellent attendance 3. Instruct. To justifie the care paine to get grace Diligence to get true grace Be not discouraged by the opposition of wicked men Grace will bring joy comfort in death Vse 2. For Reprehension of such as neglect and despise the meanes to get grace Folly of such as neglect to get grace 2 Cor. 4. 3. Contempt of the means of grace a fearefull signe of perdition or reprobation 3. Vse Examination whether wee have true grace yea or no. Motive 1. Toperswade us to examine whether we have true grace sc. the difficulty All sorts of men apt to be deceived in judging in this case The wicked deceived Godly deceived in thinking he hath no grace when indeed hee hath Grace a Treasure hid in the field Much counterfeit grace in the world Melting the chiefe meanes to discerne which is the true gold Some kinde of Innocency without true grace 2. Motive The danger of being mistaken 3. Motive The possibilitie of prevailing notwithstanding the difficultie Reason Of the possibility of being assured that wee have true