doe yet let us doe it since wee have to deal with so good a Lord and the more strife we meet withall the more acceptance Christ loveth to tast of the good fruits that come from us although they will alwaies rellish of the old stock A Christian complaineth hee cannot pray Oâ—… am troubled with so many distracting thoughts and never more than now But hath he put into thine heart a desire to pray he will heare the desires of his owne Spirit in thee Rom. 8. 26. Wee know not what to pray as we ought nor doe any thing else as wee ought but the Spirit helpeth our infirmities with unexpressible sighes and grones which are not hid from GOD. My groanings are not hid from thee GOD can picke sense out of a confused prayer These desires cry louder in his eares than thy sinnes Sometimes a Christian hath such confused thoughts hee can say nothing but as a childe cryeth O Father not able to shew what it needs as Moses at the Red sea These stirrings of spirit touch the bowels of GOD and melt him into compassion towards us when they come from the spirit of adoption and from a striving to be better Oh but is it possible thinketh the misgiving heart that so holy a GOD shold accept such a praier Yes hee will accept that which is his owne and pardon that which is ours Ionas prayed in the Whales belly being burdened with the guilt of sin yet GOD heareth him Let not therefore infirmities discourage us Saint Iames taketh away this objection Cap. 5. 17. Some might object If I were as holy as Elias then my prayers might be regarded But saith he Elias was a man of like passions to us he had his passions as well as we For doe we think that GOD heard him because he was without fault No surely But looke we to the promises Psal. 50. 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will heare thee Matt. 7. 7. Aske and ye shall receive and such like GOD accepteth our prayers though weake first because wee are his owne children they come from his owne Spirit Secondly because they are according to his owne will Thirdly because they are offered in Christs mediation and hee takes them and mingleth them with his own odours There is never a holy sigh never a teare we shed lost And as every Grace increaseth by exercise of it selfe so doth the grace of prayer by prayer wee learne to pray So likewise wee should take heed of a spirit of discouragement in all other holy duties since we have so gracious a Saviour Pray as wee are able heare as we are able strive as we are able doâ—… as we are able according to the measure of Gracâ—… received GOD iâ—… CHRIST will cast a gracious eye upon that which is his owne Would S. Paul doe nothing because he could not doe the good hee would Yes hee pressed to the marke Let us not bee cruell to our selves when CHRIST is thus gracious There is a certain meeknesse of spirit whereby we yeeld thankes to God for any ability at all and rest quiet with the measure of Grace received seeing it is GODS good pleasure it should bee so who giveth the will and the deed yet so as we rest not from further endeavours But when upon faithfull endeavor we come short of that we would be and short of that others are then know for our comfort CHRIST will noâ—… quench the smoaking flax and that sincerity truth as before was said with endeavour of growth is our perfection It is comfortable what GOD saith 1 King 14. 13. He only shall goe to his grave in peace because there is some goodnesse though but some goodnesse Lord I beleeve with a weake faith yet with â—…aith love thee with a faint love yet with love endeavor in a feeble manner yet indeavour a little fire is fire though it smoaketh Since thou hast taken mee into thy Covenant to be thine of an enemie wilt thou cast me off for these infirmities which as they displease thee so are they the griefe of my owne heart FroÌ„ what hath bin spokeÌ„ with some little additioÌ„ it wil not be difficult to resolve that case which some require helpe in namely whether we ought to performe duties our hearts being altogether indisposed For satisfaction we must know I our hearts of themselves doe linger after liberty are hardly brought under the yoake of duty the more spirituall the duty is the more is their unto wardnes CorruptioÌ„ getteth ground for the most part in every neglect it is as in rowing against the tyde one stroke neglected will not be gained in three and therefore it is good to keepe our hearts close to duty and not to he a rken unto the excuses they are ready to frame In the setting upoÌ„ dutie God strengthneth his owne partie that hee hath in us wee finde a warmenesse of heart and increase of strength the Spirit going along with us and raising us up by degrees untill it leaveth us as it were in heaven God often delighteth to take the aduantage of our indisposition that hee may manifest his worke the more clearely and all the glory of the worke may be his whose all the strength is Obedience is most direct when there is nothing else to sweeten the action although the sacrifice bee imperfect yet the obedience with which it is offred hath acceptance 4. That which is wonne as a spoile from our corruptions will have such a degree of comfort afterwards as for the present it hath of comber Feeling and freenesse of spirit is oft reserued untill duty be discharged reward followeth worke In and after dutie wee finde that experience of Gods presence which without obedience wee may long wait for and yet go without This hindreth not the Spirits freedome in blowing upon our soules when it listeth For wee speake onely of such a state of soule as is becalmed and must row as it were against the streame As in sailing the hand must bee to the sterne and the eye to the starre so here put forth that little strength we have to dutie looke up for assistance Yet in these duties that require as well the body as the soule there may bee a cessation till streÌ„gth be repaired whetting doth not lett but fit 〈◊〉 In sudden passions there should be a time to compose and calme the soule and to put the strings in tune The Prophet would haue a Minstrell to bring his soule into frame So likewise we are subject to discouragements in sufferings by reason of impatiency in us Alas I shal never get through such a crosse But if God bring us into the crosse hee will be with us in the crosse and at length bring us out more refined Wee shall lose nothing but drosse as in Zach. 13. 9. Of our own strength wee cannot beare the least trouble and by the Spirits assistance
no helpe in himselfe is carried with restlesse desire to have supplie from another with some hope which a little raiseth him out of himselfe to Christ though hee dareth not claime any present interest of mercy This sparke of hope being opposed by doubtings and feares rising from Corruption maketh him as smoaking flax so that both these together A bruised reed and smoaking flax make up the state of a poore distressed man such an one our Saviour Christ termeth Poore in spirit Math. 5. who seeth a want withall seeth himselfe indebted to divine Iustice no meanes of ◅uppie frō himselfe or the Creature and thereupon mournes and upon some hope of mercy from the promise exāples of those that have obtained mercy is stirred up to hunger thirst after it This bruising is required before conuersion that so the spirit may make way for it selfe into the heart by levelling all proud high thoughts and that wee may understand our selves to be what indeed we are by nature we love to wander from our selves and to be strangers at home till GOD bruiseth us by one Crosse or other and then wee bethinke our selves and come home to our selves with the Prodigall A marvellous hard thing it is to bring a dull and a shifting heart to cry with feeling for mercy Our hearts like malefactors untill they be beaten from all shifts never cry for the mercy of the Iudge Againe this bruising maketh us set a high price upon CHRIST the Gospell is the Gospell indeed then then the fig-leaves of morality will doe us no good and it maketh us more thankefull and from thankefulnesse more fruitfull in our lives For what maketh many so cold and barren but that bruising for sinne never indeered Gods Grace unto them Likewise this dealing of God doth establish us the more in his wayes having had knockes and bruisings in our owne wayes This is the cause oft of relapses apostasies because men never smarted for sinne at the first they were not long enough under the lash of the Law Hence this inferiour work of the Spirit in bringing downe high thoughts is necessary before conversion And for the most part the Holy Spirit to further the worke of conviction ioyneth some afflictiō which sanctified hath a healing purging power Nay after Conversion wee neede bruising that reedes may know themselves to be reedes not Oakes Even Reedes need bruising by reason of the remainder of pride in our nature and to let us see that we live by mercy and that weaker Christians may not be too much discouraged when they see stronger shaken and bruised Thus Peter was bruised when he wept bitterly This Reed til he met with this bruise had more wind in him then pith Though all forsake thee I will not c. The people of God cannot be without these examples The Heroicall deeds of those great worthies comfort the Church not so much as their falls and bruises doe Thus David was bruised until he came to a free confession without guile of spirit nay his sorrowes did rise in his owne feeling unto the exquisite paine of breaking of bones Psalm 51. Thus Hezekiah complaines that God had broken his bones as a Lion Thus the Chosen vessell S. Paul needed the messenger of Satan to buffet him lest hee should bee lifted up above measure Hence wee learne that wee must not passe too harsh judgment upon our selves or others when God doth exercise us with bruising upon bruising There must bee a conformitie to our head Christ who was bruised for us that wee may know how much wee are bound unto him Profane spirits ignorant of Gods wayes in bringing his children to Heaven censure broken hearted Christians for desperate persons when as GOD is about a gratious good worke with them It is no easie matter to bring a man from Nature to Grace and from Grace to Glory so unyeelding and untractable are our hearts The second point is That Christ will not breake the bruised Reed Physitians though they put their Patients to much paine yet they will not destroy nature but raise it up by degrees Surgeons will launce and cut but not dismember A mother that hath a sicke and froward Child will not therfore cast it away and shall there bee more mercy in the streame then in the spring shall wee thinke there is more mercy in our selves then in GOD who planteth the affection of mercy in us But for further declaration of Christs mercy to all bruised Reedes Consider the comfortable relations hee hath taken upon him of Husband Shepherd Brother c. which hee will discharge to the utmost for shall others by his grace fulfill what hee calleth them unto and not he that out of his love hath taken upon him these relations so throughly founded upon his fathers assignement and his owne voluntary undertaking Consider his borrowed Names from the mildest Creatures as Lambe Henne c. to shew his tender care Consider his very name Iesus a Saviour givē him by GOD himselfe Consider his Office answerable to his name which is that he should heale the broken hearted Esay 61. 1. At his Baptisme the Holy Ghost sate on him in the shape of a Dove to shew that he should be a Dove-like gentle Mediator See the gracious manner of executing his Offices as a Prophet he came with blessing in his mouth Blessed be the poore in spirit c. and invited those to come to him whose hearts suggested most exceptions against themselves Come unto me all yee that are weary and heavy laden how did his boweis yearne when hee saw the people as sheepe without a Sheepherd he never turned any backe againe that came unto him though some went away of themselves Hee came to dye as a Priest for his enemies In the dayes of his flesh hee dictated a forme of prayer unto his Disciples and put Petitions unto GOD into their mouthes and his Spirit to intercede in their hearts and now makes intercession in heaven for weake Christians standing betweene Gods anger and them and shed teares for those that shed his blood so he is a meeke King he will admit mourners into his presence a King of poore and afflicted persons as hee hath beames of Majesty so hee hath bowels of mercies compassion A Prince of peace Why was hee tempted but that hee might succour those that are tempted What mercy may we not expect from so gracious a Mediatour that tooke our nature vpon him that hee might bee gracious hee is a Phisitian good at all diseases especially at the binding up of a broken heart that hee might heale our soules with a plaster of his owne blood and by that death save us which we were the procurers of our selves by our owne sinnes and hath he not the same bowels in heaven Saul Saul why persecutest thou me cryed the Head in heaven when the foot
burthen before they be raised up againe Therfore it is good in mixt assemblies to mingle comforts that every soule may have its due portion But if wee lay this for a ground that there is more mercy in CHRIST than sinne in us there can be no danger in through dealing It is better to goe bruised to heaven than sound to Hell Therefore let us not take off our selves too soone nor pull off the plaister before the cure be wrought but keep our selves under this work till sinne bee the sowrest and CHRIST the sweetest of all things And when GODS hand is upon us in any kinde it is good to divert our sorrow for other things to the root of all which is sin let our griefe runne most in that channell that as sin bred griefe so griefe may consume sinne But are we not bruised unlesse wee grieve more for sinne than we doe for punishment Sometimes our griefe from outward grievances may lye heavier upon the soule than griefe for Gods displeasure because in such cases the griefe workes upon the whole man both outward and inward and hath nothing to stay it but a little sparke of faith which by reason of the violent impression of the grievance is suspended in the exercises of it and this is most felt in sudden distresses which come upon the soule as a torrent or land flood and especially in bodily distempers which by reason of the sympathy betweene the soule and the body worke upon the soule so farre as they hinder not onely the spirituall but often the naturall acts Hereupon S. Iames wisheth in affliction to pray our selves but in case of sicknesse to send for the Elders that may as those in the Gospell offer up the sick person to GOD in their prayers being unable to present their owne case Hereupon GOD admitteth of such a plea froÌ„ the sharpnesse and bitternesse of the grievance as in David Psal. 6. c. the Lord knoweth whereof we are made Psal. 103. he remembreth wee are but dust that our strength is not the strength of steele It is a branch of his faithfulnesse unto us as his creatures whence he is called a faithfull Creator God is faithfull who will not suffer us to bee tempted above that wee are able There were certain Commandements which the Iewes called the hedges of the Law as to fence men off from cruelty hee commanded they should not take the damâ—… with the young nor seeth the Kid in the mothers milke nor muzzle the mouth of the Oxe Hath GOD care of beasts and not of his more noble creature and therefore we ought to judge charitably of the complaints of Gods people which are wrung from them in such cases Iob had the esteeme with GOD of a patient man notwithstanding those passionate complaints faith overborne for the present will get ground againe and griefe for sin although it come short of griefe for misery in violence yet it goeth beyond it in constancy as 〈◊〉 running stream fed with 〈◊〉 spring holdeth out when a sudden swelling brooke faileth For the concluding of this point and our incouragement to a thorow worke of bruising and patience under Gods bruising of us let all know that none are fitter for comfort than those that thinke themselves furthest off Men for the most part are not lost enough in their owne feeling for a Saviour A holy despaire sin our selves is the ground of true hope In GOD the fatherlesse finde mercie if men were more fatherless they should feele more Gods fatherly affection from heaven For GOD that dwelleth in highest heavens dwelleth likewise in the lowest soule Christs sheepe are weake Sheepe and wanting in something or other hee therefore applyeth himselfe to the necessities of every Sheepe Ez. 34. he seeks that which was lost and brings againe than which was driven out of the way and bindes up that which was broken and strengthens the weakâ—… his teÌ„derst care is over the weakest The Lambs he caâ—…ieth in his bosome Peter â—…eed my Lambs Hee was most familiar and open to â—…he troubled soules How carefull was he that Peter the rest of the Apostles should not bee too much dejected after his resurrection Goe tell the Disciples and tell Peter Christ knew that guilt of their unkindnesse in leaving of him had dejected their spirits How gently did hee indure Thomas his unbeleefe stooped so far into his weaknesse as to suffer him to thrust his â—…and into his side For the second branch GOD will not quench the smoaking flax or wieke but will blow it up till it flameth In smoaking flax there is but a little light that weake as being not able to flame and this little mixed with smoake The observations hence are first That in GODS Children especially in their first conversioÌ„ there is but a little measure of grace and that little mixt with much corruption which as smoake is offensive Secondly that Christ will not quench this smoaking Flax. For the first Grace is little at the first There are severall Ages in Christians some Babes some young men Grace is as a graine of Mustard-seed Nothing so little as grace at first and nothing more glorious afterward things of greatest perfection are longest in comming to their growth Man the perfectest creature comes to perfection by little and little Worthlesse things as Mushromes and the like like Ionas Gourd soon spring up and soone vanish A new creature is the most excellent frame in all the world therefore it groweth up by degrees Wosee in Nature that a mighty Oake riseth of an Akorne It is with a Christian as it was with Christ who sprang out of the dead stocke of Iesse out of Davids family when it was at the lowest but hee grew up higher than the heavens It is not with the trees of righteousnesse as it was with the trees of Paradise which were created all perfect at the first The seeds of all the creatures in this goodly frame of the world were hid in the Chaos in that confused Mass at the first out of which GOD did command all creatures to arise in the small seeds of plants lye hid both bulke and branches bud and fruit In a few principles lye hid all comfortable conclusions of holy truth All those glorious fire-workes of zeale and holinesse in the Saints had their beginning from a few sparkes Let us not therefore be discouraged at the small beginnings of Grace but looke on our selves as elected to bee blamelesse and without spot Let us onely look on our imperfect beginning to inforce further strife to perfection and to keepe us in a low conceit Otherwise in case of discouragement we must consider our selves as CHRIST doth who looks on us as such as he intendeth to fit for himselfe CHRIST valueth us by what we shall bee and by that we are elected unto Wee call a little Plant a Tree because it is growing up
way wardnesse and harsh censures herein disparaging and discouraging the endeavours of Superiours for publike good In so great weaknesse of mans nature and especially in this crazie age of the world wee ought to take in good part any moderate happinesse wee injoy by government and not be altogether as a nayle in the wound exasperating things by misconstruction Here Love should have a mantle to cast upon lesser errors of those above us Oft-times the poore man is the oppressor by unjust clamours we should labour to give the best interpretations to the actions of Governours that the nature of the actions will possibly beare In the last place there is some thing for private Christians even for all of us in our common relations to take notice of we are debtors to the weake in many things 1. Let us be watchfull in the use of our libertie and labour to be in offensive in our cariage that our example compell them not There is a commanding force in an example as Peter Gal. 2. A loosnesse of life is crueltie to our selves and to the soules of others though wee cannot keepe them frō perishing which will perish in regard of the event yet if wee doe that which is apt of it selfe to destroy the soules of others their ruine is imputable to us 2 Let men take heede of taking up Sathans office in deprauing the good actions of others as he did Iobs Doth hee serve God for nought or slandering their persons judging of them according to the wickednes that is in their owne hearts The Devill getteth more by such discouragements and these reproaches that are east upon religion then by fire and faggot These as unseasonable frosts nip all gratious offers in the bud and as much as in them lyeth with Herod labour to kill Christ in yong professors A Christian is a hallowed and a sacred thing CHRISTS Temple and hee that destroyeth his Temple him will CHRIST destroy 3 Amongst the things that are to be taken heede of there is amongst private Christians a bold usurpation of censure not considering their temptations Some will vnchurch unbrother in a passion But distempers do not alter true relations though the child in a fit shold disclaime the mother yet the mother will not disclaime the child There is therefore in these iudging times good ground of S. Iames his Caveat that there should not be too many masters that we should not smite one another by hasty censures especially in things of an indifferent nature some things are as the minde of him is that doth them or doth them not for both may be unto the Lord. A holy ayme in things of a middle nature makes the judgements of men although seemingly contrary yet not so much blameable Christ for the good aymes hee seeth in us over-looketh any ill in them so farre as not to lay it to our charge Men must not bee too curious in prying into the weaknesses of others we should labor rather to see what they have that is for eternitie to incline our heart to love them then into that weaknesse which the Spirit of GOD will in time consume to estrange us some thinke it strength of grace to endure nothing in the weaker wheras the strongest are readiest to beare with the infirmities of the weake Where most holinesse is there is most moderation where it may be without prejudice of pietie to God and the good of others wee see in Christ a marvellous temper of absolute holinesse with great moderation in this Text. What had become of our Salvation if he had stood upon termes and not stooped thus low unto us We need not affect to be more holy then Christ it is no flatterie to doe as he doth so it bee to edification The Holy Ghost is content to dwell in smoakie offensive soules Oh that that spirit would breath into our Spirits the like mercifull disposition We indure the bitternesse of Wormwood and other distastfull plants herbs onely because wee have some experience of some wholsome qualitie in thē and why should we reject men of usefull parts and graces onely for some harshnesse of disposition which as it is offensive to us so grieveth themselves Grace whilest wee live here is in soules which as they are unperfectly renewed so they dwell in bodies subject to severall humours which will incline the soule sometimes to excesse in one passion sometimes to excesse in another Bucer was a deepe and a moderate Divine Vpon long experience resolved to refuse none in whom hee saw aliquid Christi something of Christ. The best Christians in this state of imperfection are like Gold that is a little too light which needs some graines of allowance to make it passe You must grant the best their allowance We must supply out of our love mercy that which wee see wanting in them The Church of Christ is a common Hospitall in all are in some measure sicke of some spirituall disease or other that we should all have ground of exercising mutually the spirit of wisedome and meeknesse This that wee may the better doe let us put upon our selves the spirit of CHRIST The spirit of GOD caryeth a majestie with it Corruption will hardly yeeld to eorruption In another Pride is intolerable to pride The weapons of this warfare must not bee carnall The great Apostles would not set upon the worke of the Ministerie untill they were cloathed as it were with power from on high The Spirit will only work with his owne tooles And we should think what affection Christ would cary to the party in this case That great Physitian as he had a quicke eie and a healing tongue so had he a gentle hand and a tender heart And secondly put upon us the cōdition of him whom wee deale withall wee are or have beene or may bee such make the case our owne and withall consider in what neere relation a Christian standeth unto us even as a brother a fellow-member heire of the same salvation And therefore let us take upon our selves a tender care of them every way and especially in cherishing the peace of their consciences Conscience is a tender and delicate thing and so must be used It is like a Locke if the Wards bee troubled it will be troublesome to open For tryall to let vs see whether wee be this smoking Flax which Christ will not quench In this Tryall remember these Rules 1 Wee must have two eyes one to see imperfections in our selves and others the other to see what is good I am blacke saith the Church but yet comely Those ever want comfort that are much in quarrelling with themselves and through their infirmities are prone to feede upon such bitter things as will most nourish that distemper they are sicke of These delight to be looking on the dark side of the cloud onely 2. We must not judge of our selves
love Hence desires are counted a part of the thing desired in some measure but then they must bee First constant for constancy shews that they are supernaturally naturall and not inforced Secondly they must bee caried to spirituall things as to beleeve to love GOD c. not out of a speciall exigent because if now they had grace they thinke they might escape some danger but as a loving heart is caried to the thing loved for some-excellency in it selfe And thirdly with desire there is griefe when it is hindred which stirres up to prayer Oh that my wayes were so directed that I might keepe thy Statutes Psal. 119. 5. O miserable man that I am who shall deliver c. Fourthly desires put us onward still O that I might serve GOD with more liberty O that I were more free from these offensive unsavoury noysome lusts Fire worketh it selfe if it hath any matter to feed on into a larger compass and mounteth higher and higher and the higher it riseth the purer is the flame So where true grace is it groweth in measure and purity Smoking flax will grow to a flame and as it encreaseth so it worketh out the contrary and refineth it selfe more more Therefore it argueth a false hart to set our selves a measure in grace and to rest in beginnings alledging that CHRIST will not quench the smoaking flax But this mercifull disposition in CHRIST is joyned with perfect holinesse shewed in perfect hatred to sinne for rather than sin should not have its deserved punishment himselfe became a sacrifice for sinne wherein his Fathers holinesse and his owne mo◅ of all shined And besides this in the worke of sanctification though hee favours his worke in us yet favours he not sin in us for he will never take his hand from his worke untill hee hath taken away sin even in its very being from our natures the same Spirit that purified that blessed Masse whereof hee was made clenseth us by degrees to bee sutable to so holy a Head and frameth the judgement and affection of all to whom hee sheweth mercy to concur with his owne in labouring to further his ends in abolishing of sinne out of our nature From the meditations of these rules and signes much comfort may bee brought into the soules of the weakest which that it may bee in the more abundance let mee adde something for the helping them over some few ordinary objections and secret thoughts against thēselves which getting within the heart oftentimes keepeth them under Some thinke they have no faith at all because they have no full assurance when as the fairest fire that can be will have some smoake The best actions will smell of the smoak The morter wherin Garlicke hath beene stamped will alwayes smell of it So all our actions will savour something of the old man In weaknesse of body some thinke grace dyeth because their performances are feeble their spirits being the instruments of the soules actions being wasted not considering that GOD regards those hidden sighes of those that want abilities to expresse them outwardly he that pronounceth them blessed that consider the poore will have a mercifull consideration of such himselfe Some againe are haunted with hideous representations to their fantasies and with vile and unworthy thoughts of GOD of CHRIST of the word c. which as busie flyes disquiet and molest their peace these are cast in like wilde-fire by Satan as may be discerned by the 1 strangenesse 2 strength and violence 3 horriblenesse of them even unto nature corrupt A pious soule is no more guilty of them than Benjamin of Iosephs cup put into his sack Amongst other helps prescribed by godly Writers as abomination of them and diversion from them to other things c. let this be one to complaine unto CHRIST against them and to flye under the wings of his protection and to desire him to take our part against his and our enemie Shall every sinne and blasphemy of man be forgiven and not these blasphemous thoughts which have the Devill for their father When CHRIST himselfe was therefore molested in this kinde that he might succour all poore soules in the like case Some thinke when they beginne once to bee troubled with the smoake of corruption more than they were before therefore they are worse than they were It is true that corruptions appeare now more than before but they are lesse For first sinne the more it is seene the more it is hated and thereupon is the lesse Moats are in a roome before the Sun shines but they then onely appeare Secondly Contraries the nearer they are one to another the sharper is the conflict betwixt them now of all enemies the spirit and the flesh are nearest one to another being both in the soule of a regenerate man and in all faculties of the soule and in every action that springeth from those faculties and therefore it is no marvell the soule the seat of this battell thus divided in it selfe be as smoaking Flax. Thirdly the more grace the more spirituall life and the more spirituall life the more antipathy to the contrary whence none are so sensible of corruption as those that have the most living soules And fourthly when men give themselves to carnall liberties their corruptions trouble thē not as not being bounded and tyed up But when once grace suppresseth their extravagant and licentious excesses then the flesh boyleth as disdaining to be confined yet they are better now than they were before That matter which yeelds smoake was in the Torch before it was lighted but it is not offensive till the Torch beginnes to burne Let such know that if the smoake bee once offensive to them it is a signe that there is light It is better to injoy the benefit of light though with smoake than to be altogether in the darke Neither is smoake so offensive as light is comfortable to us it yeelding an evidence of truth of grace in the heart therefore though it be combersome in the conflict yet it is comfortable in the evidence It is better corruption should offend us now than by giving way to it to redeeme a little peace with losse of comfort afterwards Let such therefore as are at variance and oddes with their corruptions looke upon this Text as their portion of comfort Here is an use of incouragement to duty That CHRIST will not quench the smoaking flax but blow it up Some are loath to performe good duties because they feele their hearts rebelling and duties come off untowardly Wee should not avoid good actions for the infirmities cleaving unto them CHRIST looketh more at the good in them that hee meaneth to cherish than the ill in them that he meaneth to abolish A sicke man though in eating he something increaseth the disease yet he will eate that nature may get strength against the disease So though sin cleaveth to what we
whatsoever the judgement shall say to the contrary there is no connaturall proportion betwixt an unsanctified hart and a sanctified judgment For the heart unaltered will not give leave to the judgement coldly and so berly to conclude what is best as the sick man whilst his aguish distemper corrupteth his taste he is rather desirous to please that then to hearken what the Physitian shall speake judgment hath not power over it selfe where the wil is unsubdued for the will and affections bribe it to give sentence for them when any profit or pleasure shall come in competition with that which the judgement in generall only shall thinke to be good and therefore it is for the most part in the power of the heart what the understanding shall judge and determine in particular things Where grace hath brought the heart under there unruly passions doe not cast such a mist before the understanding but that in particular it seeth that which is best and base respects springing from selfe-love doe not alter the case and byas the judgment into a contrary way but that which is good in it selfe shall be good unto us although it crosse our particular worldly interests The right conceiving of this hath an influence into practice which hath drawne me to a more full explanation this will teach us the right method of godlinesse to begin with judgement and then to begge of GOD together with illumination holy inclinations of our will and affections that so a perfect government may be set up in our hearts and that our knowledge may bee with al judgment that is w th experience and feeling when the judgement of CHRIST is set up in our judgements and thence by the Spirit of CHRIST brought into our hearts then it is in its proper place and throne and untill then truth doth us no good but helpeth to condemne us The life of a◅ Christiā is a regular life he that walketh by the rule of the new creature peace shall be upon him he that despiseth his way loveth to live at large seeking all liberty to the flesh shall dye And it is made good by Saint Paul If we live after the flesh we shall dye VVe learne likewise that men of an ill governed life have no true judgement no wicked man can bee a wise man And that without CHRISTS Spirit the soule is in confusion without beauty and form as all things were in the Chaos before the creatiō The whole soule is out of joynt till it be set in againe by him whose office is to restore all things The baser part of the soule which should bee subject ruleth all and keepeth under that little truth that is in the understanding holding it captive to base affections and Sathan by corruption getteth al the holds of the soule till CHRIST stronger then he commeth and driveth him out and taketh possession of all the powers and parts of soule and body to be weapons of righteousnes to serve him and then new Lords new Lawes CHRIST as a new Conquerour changeth the fundamentall lawes of old Adam and establisheth a government of his owne The second Conclusion is that this government is victorious The reasons are 1 Because CHRIST hath conquered all in his owne person first and hee is GOD over all blessed for evermore and therefore over Sinne Death Hell Sathan the world c. And as he hath overcome them in himselfe so he overcomes them in our hearts and consciences Wee use to say Conscience maketh a man a King or a caitife because it is planted in us to judge for GOD either with us or against us Now if naturall conscience bee so forcible what will it be when besides it owne light it hath the light of divine truth put into it It will undoubtedly prevaile either to make us hold up our heads with boldnesse or abase us beneath our selves If it subject it selfe by grace to CHRISTS truth then it boldly overlookes Death Hell Iudgement and all spirituall enemies because then Christ sets up his Kingdome in the conscience and makes it a kind of Paradise The sharpest conflict which the soule hath is betweene the conscience and GODS Iustice now if the conscience sprinkled with the blood of Christ hath prevailed over assaults fetcht from the justice of GOD as now satisfied by CHRIST it will prevaile over al other opposition whatsoever 2 We are to encounter with accursed and damned enemies therefore if they begin to fall before the spirit in us they shall fall if they rise up againe it is to have the greater fall 3 The spirit of truth to whose tuition CHRIST hath cōmitted his Church and the truth of the spirit which is the Scepter of CHRIST abide for ever therefore the soule begotten by the immortal feed of this spirit and this truth must not onely live for ever but likewise prevaile over all that oppose it for both the word and spirit are mighty in operation and if the ill spirit be never idle in those whom GOD delivereth up to him we cannot thinke that the Holy Spirit will bee idle in those whose leading and government is committed to him No as he dwelleth in them so he will drive out all that rise up against him untill hee be all in all What is spirituall is eternall truth is a beame of CHRISTS Spirit both in it selfe and as it is ingrafted into the soule there fore it and the grace though little wrought by it will prevaile a little thing in the hand of a Gyant will do great matters A little faith strengthned by CHRIST will worke wonders 4 To him that hath shall be given the victory over any corruption or temptation is a pledge of finall victory As Ioshua said when he set his foot upon the five Kings which hee conquered Thus God shall doe with all our enemies heaven is ours already onely we strive till we have full possession 5 CHRIST as King brings in a commanding light into the soule and bowes the necke and softens the Iron sinew of the inner man and where he begins to rule he rules for ever his Kingdome hath no end 6 The end of CHRISTS comming was to destroy the workes of the Devill both for us and in us And the end of the resurrection was as to seale unto us the assurance of his victorie So I to quicken our soules from death in sinne 2 to free our soules from such snares and sorrowes of spirituall death as accompany the guilt of sin 3 to raise them up more comfortable as the Sunne breakes forth more gloriously out of a thick cloud 4 to raise us out of particular slippes and failings stronger 5 to raise us out of all troublesome and darke conditions of this life And 6 at length to raise our bodies out of the dust For the same power that the Spirit shewed in raising CHRIST our Head from the sorrowes of
them all and CHRIST prevailes and then hee backes his owne graces in us Grace conquers us first and we by it conquer all things else whether it be corruptions within us or temptations without us The Church of CHRIST begotten by the word of truth hath the doctrine of the Apostles for her crowne and tramples the Moone that is the world and all worldly things under her feet Every one that is borne of God overcomes the world Faith whereby especially CHRIST rules sets the soule so high that it overlookes all other things as farre below as having represented to it by the Spirit of CHRIST riches honour beauty pleasures of a higher nature Now that we may not come short of the comfort intended there are two things especially to bee taken notice of by us I whether there bee such a judgement or government set up in us to which this promise of victory is made 2 Some rules or directions how we are to cary our selves that the judgement of Christ in us may indeed bee victorious The evidences whereby wee may come to know that CHRISTS judgement in us is such as will be victorious are 1 If we bee able from experience to justifie all CHRISTS wayes let flesh and bloud say what it can to the contrary and can willingly subscribe to that course which GOD hath taken in CHRIST to bring us to heaven and still approve a further measure of grace then we have attained unto and project and forecast for it No other men can justifie their courses when their conscience is awaked 2 When reasons of religion be the strongest reasons with us and prevaile more then rea sons fetcht from worldly policy 3. When wee are so true to our ends and fast to our rule as no hopes or feares can sway us anotheâ—… way but still we are looking what agrees or differs from our rule 4 When wee can doe nothing against the truth but for the truth as being dearer to us then our lives truth hath not this soveraignty in the heart of any carnall man 5 When if we had libertie to choose under whose Government wee would live yet out of a delight in the inner man to Christs government wee would make choyce of him only to rule us before any other for this argues that wee are like minded to CHRIST A free and a voluntarie people and not compelled unto Christs service otherwise then by the sweet constraint of love When we are so far in liking with the government of CHRISTS Spirit that wee are willing to resigne up our selves to him in all things for then his kingdome is come into us when our wills are brought to his will it is the bent of our wils that maketh us good or ill 6 A well ordered uniforme life not by sits or starts shewes a well ordered heart as in a clocke when the hammer strikes well and the hand of the Dyall points well it is a signe that the wheeles are right set 7 When Christs will commeth in competition with any earthly losse or gaine yet if then in that particular case the heart will stoope to CHRIST it is a true signe forâ—… the truest tryall of the power of grace is in such particular cases which â—…ch us neerest for there our corruption maketh the greatest head when CHRIST came neere home to the yong man in the Gospell hee lost a disciple of him 8 When we can practise duties pleasing to Christ though contrary to flesh and the course of the world And when we can overcome our selves in that evill to which our nature is proane and standeth so much inclined unto and which agreeth to the sway of the times and which others lie inthralled under as desire of revenge hatred of enemies private ends c. then it appeares that grace is in us above nature heaven above earth and will have the victory For the further clearing of this and helping of us in our tryall wee must know there bee three degrees of victory 1 When we resist though we bee foyled 2 When Grace gets the better though with conflict 3 When all corruption is perfectly subdued Now when wee have strength but onely to resist yet wee may know CHRISTS government in us will bee victorious because what is said of the Devill is said of all our spirituall enemies If we resist they shall in time flye from us because stronger is hee that is in us that taketh part with his owne Grace than hee that is in the world And if wee may hope for victory upon bare resistance what may wee not hope for when the Spirit hath gotten the upper hand For the second that is directions Wee must know though Christ hath under-taken this victorie yet hee accomplisheth it by training us up to fight his battells hee overcommeth in us by making us wise to salvation and in what degree we beleeve Christ will conquer in that degree wee will endevour by his grace that wee may conquer for Faith is an obedient and a wise grace Christ maketh us wise to ponder weigh things and thereupon to ranke and order them so as we may make the fitter choise of what is best Some Rules to helpe us in judging are these To judge of things as they help or hinder the maine as they surther or hinder our reckoning as they make us more or lesse spirituall and so bring us neerer to the fountaine of Goodnes GOD himselfe as they bring us peace or sorrow at the last as they commend us more or lesse to GOD and wherein we shall approve our selves to him most Likewise to judge of things now as we shall doe hereafter when the soule shall be best able to judge as when wee are under any publike calamitie or at the houre of death when the soule gathereth it selfe from all other things to it self Looke backe to former experience see what is most agreeable unto it what was best in our worst times If Grace is or was best then it is best now And labour to judge of things as hee doth who must judge us as holy men judge who are led by his Spirit more particularly what those judge that have no interest in any benefit that may come by the thing which is in question for outward things blinde the eies even of the wise we see Papists are most corrupt in those things where their honor ease or profit is ingaged but in the doctrine of the Trinitie which doth not touch upon these things they are found But it is not sufficient that judgment be right but likewise readie and strong Where Christ establisheth this government he inspireth care to keepe the Iudgement cleare fresh for whilst the Iudgement standeth straight firme the whole frame of the soule continueth strong impregnable True Iudgement in us advancetâ—… Christ and Christ will advance it All sinne
prevaile against CHRIST or those that relye upon his power therefore his study is how to keepe us in our selves and in the creature but we must cary alwayes in our minds that that which is begun in self-confidence will end in shame The manner of Christs bringing forth judgement to victory is by letting us see a necessity of dependance upon him hence proceed those spirituall desertions wherein he often leaveth us to our selves both in regard of grace and comfort that we may know the Spring-head of these to be out of our selves Hence it is that in the Mount that is in extremities God is most seen Hence it is that we are saved by the grace of faith that carieth us out of our selves to relye upon another and that faith worketh best alone when it hath least outward support Hence it is that wee often faile in lesser conflicts and stand out in greater because in lesse we rest more in our selves in greater wee fly to the rock of our salvation which is higher then we Hence likewise it is that wee are stronger after foyles because hidden corruption undiscerned before is now discovered and thence wee are brought to make use of mercy pardoning and power supporting One maine ground of this dispensation is that wee should know it is Christ that giveth both the will and the deed and that as a voluntary worker according to his owne good pleasure And therefore we should workout our salvation in a jealous feare and trembling lost by unreverent and presumptuous walking wee give him cause to suspend his gracious influence and to leave us to the darknesse of our owne heart Those that are under CHRISTS governmēt have the spirit of Revelation whereby they see and feel a divine power sweetly strongly inabling thē for to preserve faith when they feele the contrary hope in a state hopelesse and love to GOD under signes of his displeasure and heavenly mindedness in the midst of worldly affaires alluremets drawing a contrary way they feel a power preserving patience nay joy in the midst of causes of mourning inward peace in the midst of assaults To make so little grace so victorious over so great a masse of corruption this requireth a spirit more then humane this is as to preserve fire in the sea and a part of heaven even as it were in hell Here wee know where to have this power and to whom to returne the praise of it And it is our happinesse that it is so safely hid in CHRIST for us in one so neere unto GOD and us Since the fall GOD will not trust us with our owne salvation but it is both purchased and kept by CHRIST for us we for it through faith wrought by the power of GOD and laying hold of the same which power is gloriously set forth by Saint Paul I to be a great power 2 an exceeding power 3 a working and a mighty power 4 such a power as was wrought in raising Christ from the dead That grace which is but a perswasive offer and in our pleasure to receive or refuse is not that grace which brings us to heaven but Gods people feel a powerfull work of the Spirit not onely revealing unto us our misery and deliverance through Christ but emptying us of our selves as being redeemed from our selves and infusing new life into us and after strengthning us and quickning of us when we droop and hang the wing and never leaving us till perfect conquest The fift conclusion is that this prevailing Government shall not bee without fighting there can be no victory where there is no combate in Esay it is said hee shall bring judgment in truth here it is said he shall send forth judgment into victory The word send forth hath a stronger sense in the originall to send forth with force to shew that where his government is in truth it will be opposed untill he getteth the upper hand Nothing is so opposed as CHRIST and his government both with in us and without us And within us most in our first conversion though corruptiō prevailes not so farre as to make voyd the powerfull worke of grace yet there is not onely a possibility of opposing but a proannesse to oppose and not onely a proanness but an actuall withstanding the working of CHRISTS Spirit and that in every action but yet no prevailing resistance so far as to make void the worke of grace but corruption in the issue yeelds to grace There is much adoc to bring CHRIST into the heart and to settle a Tribunall for him to judge there there is an army of lusts mutiny against him The utmost strength of most mens indeavours and parts is to keepe CHRIST from ruling in the soule the flesh still laboureth to maintaine its owne regency and therefore it cryes downe the credit of whatsoever crosseth it as Gods blessed ordinances c. and highly prizeth any thing though never so dead and empty if it give way to the liberty of the flesh And no marvaile if the spirituall government of CHRIST be so opposed 1 because it is governmēt that limits the course of the will and casteth a bridle upon its wanderings every thing naturally resists what opposeth it so corrupt will labours to beare downe all Lawes and counteth it a generous thing not to be awed and an argument of a low spirit to feare any even GOD himselfe untill unavoydable danger seizeth on men and then those that feared least out of danger feare most in danger as we see in Balthazar 2 It is spiritual government and therefore the lesse will flesh indure it Christs government bringeth the very thoughts desires which are the most immediate and free issue of the soule into obedience though a man were of so composed a cariage that his whole life were free from outward offensive breaches yet with Christ to bee carnally or worldly mindeded is death he looketh on a worldly mind with greater detestation then any one particular offence But Christs Spirit is in those who are in some degree earthly minded True it is but not as an allower and maintainer but as an opposer subduer and in the end as a Conquerour Carnall men would faine bring Christ and the flesh together and could bee content with some reservation to submit to Christ but Christ will be no underling to any base affection and therfore where there is allowance of our selves in any sinsull lust it is a signe the Keyes were never given up to Christ to rule us 3 Because it is judgement and men love not to be judged and censured Now Christ in his truth arraigneth them giveth sentence against them and bindeth them over to the latter judgement of the great day And therefore they take upon them to judge that truth that must judge them but truth will bee too good for them Man hath a day now which Saint Paul calls mans day
wherein hee getteth upon his bench and usurpeth a judgement over Christ and his wayes but GOD hath a day wherein he will set all straight and his judgement shall stand And the Saints shall have their time when they shall sit in judgment upon them that judge them now In the meane time CHRIST will rule in the middest of his enemies in the midst of our hearts It is therefore no signe of a good condition to ◅nde all quiet and nothing at oddes For can we think that corruption which is the elder in us and sathan the strong man that keepeth many holds in us will yeeld possession quietly No there is not so much as a thought of goodnesse discovered by him but he joyneth with corruption to kill it in the birth And as Pharaohs cruelty was especially against the male children so Sathans malice is especially against the most religious and manly resolutions This then wee are alwayes to expect that wheresoever Christ commeth there will be opposition when Christ was borne all Ierusalem was troubled so when Christ is borne in any man the soule is in an uproare and all because the heart is unwilling to yeeld up it selfe to Christ to rule it Wheresoever Christ commeth he breedeth division not only I between man and himselfe but 2 betweene man and man and 3 betweene Church and Church Of which disturbance Christ is no more the cause they Physicke is of trouble in a distempered body of which noysome humors are the proper cause for the end of Physicke is the peace of humors But Christ thinketh it fit that the thoughts of mens hearts should bee discovered and hee is as well for the falling as the rising of many in Israel Thus the desperate madnesse of men is layd open that they had rather bee under the guidance of their owne lusts and by consequent of Satan himselfe to their endlesse destruction then put their feet into Christs setters and their neckes under his yoake whereas indeed Christs service is the only true libertie his yoake an easie yoake his burden but as the burden of wings to a bird that maketh her flie the higher Sathans government is rather a bondage then a government unto which Christ giveth up those that shake off his owne for then hee giveth Sathan and his factors power over them since they will not receive the truth in love take him Iesuite take him Sathan blind him and binde him lead him to perdition Those that take the most liberty to sinne are the most perfect slaves because most voluntarie slaves the will in everie thing is either the best or the worst the further men goe on in a wilfull course the deeper they sincke in rebellion and the more they crosse CHRIST doing what they will the more they shall one day suffer what they would not In the meane time they are prisoners in their owne soules bound over in their consciences to the judgement of him after death whose judgement they would none of in their lives And is it not equall that they should feele him a severe Iudge to condemne them whom they would not have a milde Iudge to rule them For Conclusion and generall application of all that hath beene spoken unto our selves We see the conflicting but yet sure and hopefull state of Gods people The victory lyeth not upon us but upon CHRIST who hath taken upon him as to conquer for us so to conquer in us The victory lyeth neither in our own strēgth to get nor in our enemies to defeat it If it lay upon us wee might justly feare But CHRIST will maintaine his owne government in us and take our part against our corruptions they are his Enemies as well as ours Let us therefore bee strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Let us not looke so much who are our enemies as who is our Iudge and Captaine not what they threaten but what he promiseth wee have more for us then against us What coward would not fight when he is sure of victory none are here overcome but he that will not sight Therefore when any base fainting seizeth upon us let us lay the blame where it is to bee layd Wee see here what wee may looke for from heaven O beloved it is a comfortable thing to conceive of CHRIST aright to know what love mercy strength we have layed up for us in the brest of CHRIST A good conceit of the Physitian we say is halfe the cure Let us not suffer Sathan to transforme Christ unto us to bee otherwise then he is to those that are his Let us make use of this his mercy and power everie day in our daily combats CHRIST will not leave us till he hath made us like himselfe all glorious within and without and presented us blamelesse before his Father What a comfort is this in our conflicts with our unruly hearts that it shall not alwaies be thus let us strive a little while and we shall bee happy for ever Let us thinke when wee are troubled with our sinnes that CHRIST hath this in charge of his Father That he shall not quench the smoaking slaxe untill hee hath subdued all This putteth a sheild into our hands to beat backe all the fiery darts of Sathan he will object thou art a great sinner we may answer CHRIST is a strong Saviour but he will object thou hast no faith no love Yes a sparke of faith and love but CHRIST will not regard that Yes he will not quench the smoaking flaxe But this is so little and weake that it will vanish and come to nought Nay but CHRIST will cherish it untill hee hath brought judgment to victory And thus much for our comfort we have already that even when we first beleeved we overcame God himself as it were by beleeving the pardon of all our sinnes notwithstanding the guilt of our owne consciences and his absolute justice Now having beene prevailers with GOD what shall stand against us if we can learne to make use of our faith O what a confusion is this to Sathan that hee should labour to blow out a poore sparke and yet should not bee able to quench it that a graine of Mustard seed should bee stronger then the gates of Hell that it should be able to remove mountaines of oppositions and temptations cast up by Sathan and our rebellious hearts between GOD and us Abimelech could not indure that it should bee said a Woman had slaine him and it must needs be a Torment to Sathan that a weake childe a woman and decrepit old man should by a spirit of faith put him to flight Since there is such comfort where there is a little truth of grace that it will be so victorious Let us oft try what GOD hath wrought in us search our good as well as our ill and be thankfull to GOD for the least measure of grace more then for any outward