of all our friends according to the flesh made dumb and silent then our soules will be put upon Christ and there will bee no remedy we must say Come Lord Iesus And therefore this should make Christ very pretious in our eyes now this should inflame our hearts with singular and fervent love unto him for the present getting interest in him above all things and making him our chiefest and choycest our deare and onely friend This should so sweeten unto us the Lord Jesus that wee should say with Bernard Jesus dulcis in voce dulcis in facie dulcis in nomine dulce enim nomen suave Jesus consecratum ab aeterno annunciatum ab Angelo prophetatum Solomonis oraculo qui ait Oleum effusum nomen tuum Psa 73.25 Jesus is sweet in voice sweet in face sweet in name for the name Jesus is sweet being consecrated from eternitie published by the Angel and prophesied by the Oracle of Solomon who saith Thy Name is an oyntment powred forth Wee should so select him so admire him so adhere unto him so set our hearts upon him that wee should say with the Psalmist Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee So glorious so pretious so infinitely transcendent let him be in our thoughts in our judgements in our estimation and affections that wee love and affect him exalt and preferre him as the King above all commanders as the Sunne above all lights as the spring above all cisternes as the pearle above all treasure and as the husband of our soules above all friends as a Paradice of all pleasures a haven of rest from all tempests and the refuge of our soules in all troubles Let our faith bee such in him our hope so settled upon him our love so strong towards him our subjection such under him that we may bee able at all times and seasons in all estates and conditions to say Come Lord Jesus Behold in this the honour and profit the advantage and comfort which a bodily dissolution bringeth to the righteous to all true beleevers they desire the full fruition of Christ and this bringeth them home to Christ Phil. 1.21 to them to dye is gaine gaine of libertie from the burthen of all corruption from all the assaults of Satan from the servitude of the world and all affliction gaine of perfect holinesse in respect of Gods image gain of complete victory in respect of all enemies gaine of most sweet communion in respect of their fellowâ—hip with God Christ the glorious Angels and all the Saints of God gaine of absolute honour in respect of their glorious condition in heaven As death to the righteous is a tree of many fruitfull branches a messenger of many comfortable tidings so the Spirit of God hath given it many denominations Sometimes it is stiled a Sleepe Mat. 9.24 sleep possesseth onely the outward members and senses the soule sleepeth not so in death the body onely dies the soule is carried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.22 â—ev 14.13 Sleep giveth rest unto the body They who dye in the Lord rest from all their labours Sometimes it is called a gathering to our Fathers Gen. 25.8 by death the righteous are separated from the wicked gathered as wheat into Gods garner and their soules bound up in the bundle of life 1 Sam. 25 29. Sometimes it is called a way the way of all flesh by the way wee come to our home to our fathers and to our friends house Ios 23.14 and by death wee come to our heavenly home to God the father and the Lord Jesus Sometimes it is called a going forth As the prisoner goeth forth of the prison 2 Pet. 1.15 and Israel went forth from the bondage of Egypt so when the body dieth the soule goeth forth as out of a prison and entreth into the land of the living Sometimes it is called an end Mat. 10.22 because in death there is an end of all sin of all sorrow of all labour trouble as in the waters of the red Sea the Israelites Egyptian bondage ended Sometimes it is termed a sowing Ioh. 11.24 1 Cor. 15.44 the seed which is sowne doth spring forth again into a blade the body in the resurrection shall flourish like the grasse death like a Physician cures all their diseases like a key opens the prison and restores them to a blessed freedom brings them to the full fruition of Jesus Christ the desire of their soules And this is the sweetest and fullest gaine of a Christian Lucrum est evasisse incrementa peccati Augustine lucrum fugisse deteriora lucrum transire ad meliora Aug. Lucrum maximum computat Christianus Cyprian jam saeculi laqueis non teneri jam nullis peccatis vitiis carnis obnoxium fieri exemptum pressuris angentibus venenatis diaboli faucibus liberatum ad laetitiam salutis aeternae Christo vocante proficisci Cypr. This must perswade move us to work our hearts to a holy longing and earnest desire after the comming of the Lord Jesus to desire it as the husbandman the coÌ„ming of the harvest the sick man the comming of the day of health or the ward the day of his full age to looke for the new heavens 2 Pet. 3.13 2 Tim. 4.8 and the new earth and to love the appearing of the Lord Iesus and for that end there must be First Godly sorrow for sin Christs coming is comfortable to such as are truly sorrowfull he that is weary of his corruptions doth truely long for the coming of Christ Jesus Gen 45.4.5 Ioseph spake to his brethren kindly entertained them courteously when he saw them grieved for the injury offered him Luke 15. The prodigals day of humiliation Isa 61.1 was the day wherein his father graciously received him Christ will bee found a sweet and mercifull Iesus to all Mat. 11.28 truly penitent sinners Secondly there must be a thorough removall of sin an effectuall reformation of all our wayes Gen. 35.2 Jacob went not up to Bethel before he purged his house of Idols It is in vain for man to say Come Lord Jesus if there bee not a conversion of the soule to Jesus To such the Prophet speakes Amos 5.18.19 Woe to you that desire the day of the Lord to what end is it for you the day of the Lord is darknesse and not light as if a man did flye from a Lyon and a Beare met him or went into a house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him Shall not the day of the Lord be darknesse and not light even very darke and no brightnesse in it What the voyce of God was to Adam upon the eating of the forbidden fruit what the comming of the flood was to the profane men of the old world what the waters of the red Sea were to Pharaoh what the
their sinne their profane and evill estate it is a great terrour to them it troubles them as the star did i Mat. 2.2 Herod the men of Ierusalem Man can never take pleasure in that fulnesse of light which shineth from Christ Jesus untill hee hath emptied himselfe of the fulnesse of his corruptions Secondly from the want of love to the truth The woman that wants love to her husband readily prostitutes her selfe to strangers The soule that loves not Christ and his truth doth easily open it selfe to corrupt and deceitfull doctrines because they k 2 Thes 2.9 10. received not the love of the truth that they might bee saved for this cause saith the Apostle God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve a lye Corrupt and carnall doctrine is very welcome where the love of the truth is wanting hee that receives not the truth into his affection as well as into his judgement will soone bee drawne from it Under the Law it was usuall for a man that married a l Deut. 24.1 woman if hee loved her not to give her a bill of divorcement and send her out of his house It is common with men under the Gospel who in regard of externall covenant and profession are married to the truth yet afterwards through the want of love they give the truth a bill of divorce and become strangers to it It is love to the truth that causeth man to continue constant with it m Cant. 8.6 7. Love it and you shall never depart from it Thirdly from a desire of novelty Men naturally desire new things as they desire new fashions of apparrell for their bodies so new doctrines for their soules The eye is little affected with the Sun because it shineth every day it much admires a blazing star because but seldome seene Things of greatest worth because common are little esteemed vaine and empty things because new are much regarded Saint Paul tells Timothy that the time will come when men will not n 2 Tim. 4.3 endure sound doctrine but after their owne lusts shall they heap unto themselves teachers having itching eares Men having the itch delight in scraping men over-spred with the loathsome scab of unclean lusts desire to bee soothed daubed flattered in their sinnes and to have their eares tickled and pleased with some new and strange things with o Isay 30.10 smooth things and deceits with the p 1 Cor. 2.3 enticing words of mens wisedome The Israelites q Numb 11.5 loathed the Manna and lusted after the Onions of Egypt Men of corrupt hearts after a while loath the pure and plaine preaching of Christ and fall a lusting after Philosophicall superstitious and vaine doctrines No man so desires change of new and strange doctrines as he that meanes not to change his conversation were the hearts of men truly changed the true and common doctrine of Christ would bee very pleasant the soule would never grow weary of it Fourthly from their estrangement from Christ they discerne not Christs beauties they taste not Christs sweetnesse they feele not Christs goodnesse there is no sutablenesse between Christ and their hearts they have not r Ephes 4.21 learned Christ as the truth is in him they have not learned the wisedome of Christ to bee guided by him the authoritie of Christ to subject themselves unto him the beauties of Christ to admire him the love of Christ to delight themselves in him the death of Christ to mortifie their lusts the resurrection of Christ quickning them to a new life the power of Christ to depend upon him the holinesse of Christ to imitate him the all-sufficiencie of Christ to content themselves with him Christ is to them a ſ Rev. 2.17 hidden Manna whom they taste not they see t Isay 53.2 nothing in him for which they should desire him It is recorded of Agesilaus comming to help the King of Egypt in his distresse that ob corpus incultum vestis vilitatem venit in contemptum ejus gentis hominibus qui sperarunt se visuros Spartanum regem talem qualis esset rex Persarum corpore decentissimè ornatum for the unhansomnesse of his body basenesse of his garment hee was had in contempt among the men of that nation who hoped to have seene a Spartan King such as the King of the Persians most comely adorned in his body So Christ comming to helpe us in our distresse for the want of externall pompe in his Ordinances and worldly glory in his Ministers and Members the splendor of humane eloquence in his doctrines is despised by the men who frame and forme unto themselves a Christ like to one of the mighty Monarches of the earth Hee that discernes not the spirituall beauty of Christ in his doctrine doth easily degenerate to humane superstition Fifthly from the disagreement betweene them and Christs doctrine There is no proportion no likenesse no answerablenesse betweene their hearts and this doctrine they are darknesse and this is light they are carnall and this is spirituall they are from beneath and this is from above their wayes are contrary to it their hearts are full of enmitie against it they hate it as u 1 King 22.8 Ahab hated Micaiah because hee never prophesied good to him Such is the brightnesse the holinesse the power of it that they cannot endure it they are loath to bee searched to have their sinne discovered as Rahel when shee sate upon her Idoll unwilling to bee reproved to have their lusts mortified as David was to have Absolom put to w 2 Sam. 18.3 death and therefore charged the Captaines of his Army to deale gently with the young man The rough handling of profane mens vices makes them weary of Gods ordinances and moves them to seeke out some more gentle and easie doctrines But brethren The vanity of humane doctrine displayed as Solomon sometime said of Laughter It is mad and of Mirth what doth it so let me say to you of this rotten deceitfull and pleasant doctrine It is mad the words of wisedome and sobernesse are not in it and of all humane observations and Philosophicall dictates in the Schoole of Christ What do they Why surely they doe x Isai 8.20 not discover sinne they search as Laban did not as the Master in Ionah did they are but a key of straw they open not the doore of the heart they leave man ignorant of God and himselfe No doctrine can shew us God but that which is from God Secondly they humble not the soul As Zebah Zalmunna said of Iether y Iudg. 8.21 Such as the man is such is his strength so such as the doctrine is such is its strength The Divell regarded not the sonnes of z Acts 19.15 Sceva's adjuration his holds are never cast downe by a humane doctrine Thirdly they nourish not The a Luke 15. Prodigall was like to starve before hee returned to his
not know Christ As the blind man doth not know the Sun though it shine upon him no more doth the carnall and worldly man know Christ though he shine upon him in the Gospel for the light o Ioh. 1.5 shineth in the darknesse and the darknesse comprehendeth it not Such is mans ignorance that as the light shining in Goshen did not pierce the darknes p Exod. 10. where the Egyptians sate no more doth the light of the Gospel penetrate their soules but they sit in darknesse and the shadow of death at the q Isa 59.10 noone day of the Gospel they are in the midnight of ignorance To such our Saviour saith Ye neither r Ioh. 8.19 Isa 53.2 know me nor my Father They know not the beauties of Christ they see no comelinesse in him for which they should desire him he is no more to them then another beloved They know not the power of Christ in softning their hearts as the ground knowes the power of the dew in suppling it in quickning their soules as Lazarus knew the power of Christ in raising his body in restoring them to spirituall liberty as Peter knew the power of the Angell in smiting off his fetters in setting him free from Herods prison They know not the death of Christ as the members know the death of the head and the branches the death of the root in withering and dying with it they doe not so know his death that their Å¿ Rom. 6.6 old man is crucified with him that the body of sin is destroied and they no more serve sin They know not the resurrection of Christ comming forth of the grave of their sin as the dead knew the resurrection of Christ their bodies comming out of the grave with him They know not the gracious presence and inhabitation of Christ in their soules as Obed-Edom knew the presence and dwelling of the Ark in his house causing all that he had to t 2 Sam. 6.11 prosper making their soules flourish in all saving graces They know not the love of Christ as the Bride in the Bride-chamber knows the love of the Bridegroome as the guests in the banquetting house know the love of the master of the feast as David knew the love of Jonathan Christ is not like Jonathan to David very u 2 Sam. 1.26 pleasant unto their soules his love is not to their sense and feeling wonderfull passing the love of women They know not Christ in his Gospel as a friend in his letters as a King in his Embassadours of peace as a Musician in his musicall instrument making a joyfull sound in their eares as the lame w Iohn 5.4 5. man knew the Angell in Bethesda healing their diseases They know not Christs fulnesse as the seeing eye knowes the fulnesse of light in the Sunne as the thirsty palate knowes the fulnesse of water in the fountaine and because they doe not know him they regard not to come unto him Ignorance is a great impediment of mans comming to Christ Jesus Hagar x Gen. 21. came not unto the Well untill her eyes were opened to see the Well No man embraceth Christ untill his understanding is enlightned to see and discerne Christ aright Men through ignorance have very dishonourable opinions of Christ remaine great strangers to Christ and are very injurious against Christ 2. Unsensiblenesse Unsensiblenesse of the want of Christ It was a law of Plato that no man should draw water out of his neighbours Well untill he had digged to the Potters earth in his own court It is a law in nature Man never commeth unto Christ never endevours to partake of his fulnesse untill hee hath tried and knowes his owne emptinesse untill he discernes his want of Christ The y Ios 10.6 Gibeonites sent not to Iosua untill they saw themselves besieged by the Amoritish Princes Iud. 11. The Elders of Gilead hated Ieptha and expelled him out of their fathers house came no more unto him untill they were in distresse saw their want of him plainly perceived that none else could help them Mans opinion of his owne fulnesse makes him under-value the fulnesse of Christ Christ is never pretious in the eyes of man untill man feele his want of him As man is more or lesse sensible of his want of Christ so hee is more or lesse industrious in approching unto Christ The z Prov. 27.7 full stomacke regards not the hony combe The full soule a Io. 9.41 Matth. 9. Rev. 3.17 loatheth Christ who is sweeter then the hony or the hony combe Christ is ever most pretious with the soule that knowes its owne emptinesse Unwillingnesse to bee at the cost of comming unto Christ 3. Unwillingnesse Though Christ proffer himselfe freely yet man must bee at some cost or hee cannot come to Christ hee cannot enjoy Christ b Gen. 35.2 Iacob cannot come to Bethel unlesse hee put away way his Idols Exod. 3.5 Moses cannot come nigh the burning Bush unlesse hee put off his shooes from his feet Man cannot come nigh unto God and Christ Ia. 4.8 unlesse he purge his heart and cleanse his hands The Merchant in the Parable sold c Mat. 13.44 all that hee had to buy the pretious pearle to make that his owne Man that will come to Christ and make Christ his must sell all that is his owne Man must first come out of himselfe before hee can come to Christ If d Luke 9.23 any man saith Christ will come after mee let him deny himselfe and take up his crosse daily and follow me Hee that will come to Christ must deny his owne wisedome and be as a e 1 Cor. 3.18 Rom. 7.18 foole in his owne apprehension hee must deny his owne fulnesse and be as an empty house in his owne sense and feeling he must deny his owne righteousnesse and bee as a naked man in his owne understanding hee must deny his owne reputation in the eyes of men and bee contented to have his name f Luke 6.22 cast out as abominable to be accounted more vile as David for dancing before the Arke 2 Sam. 6.22 hee must bee willing to bee in the world as nothing who will have Christ and his fulnesse to bee all in all unto him Men are loath to bee at this cost and therefore come not to Christ The young man that came to Christ hearing hee must sell all and follow him g Mat. 19.21 went away sorrowfull Hee that carries the love of the world in his heart will faint by the way and never come to Christ The over-valuing of the world makes the doctrine of the Gospel a sorrowfull doctrine and mans endevour to come to Christ unfruitfull Many h Ioh. 12.42 among the chiefe Rulers beleeved on Christ made some steppes towards him but because of the Pharisees they did not confesse him they came not boldly freely and fully home to Christ lest
fire from heaven was to the Captaines which came up against Eliah what the burning fornace was to them that cast in Shadrach Meshec and Abednego the same will be the coming of the L. Jesus to all unholy persons O therfore away with your sins every soul of man reform his wayes Job 11.14 That you may lift up your faces with boldnes that you may with great joy and comfort say Come Lord Iesus Thirdly get it to your hearts the pretious pearle of a lively faith Eph. 6.16 this wil quench all Satans darts silence all the accusâ—tions of conscience make you looke on Christ as on a friend to comfort you Rom. 8.31 an advocate to plead for you and a redeemer to save you and like Eliahs fiery chariot will carry your soules aloft and bring you with gladnesse into the presence of the Lord Jesus Fourthly make a good use of your talent be wise be diligent be faithfull holy humble in the imployment of it and Christ shall come with comfort and he shall entertain you with a sweet and comfortable Euge. Well done thou good and faithfull servant Mat. 25.23 thou hast been faithfull over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into thy masters joy And let us be excited stirred up to work our hearts to this longing for Christs comming considering First the satiety of our estate in heaven Rev. 22.2 there is a Tree bearing twelve sorts of fruit youth without old age health without sicknesse fulness without loathing liberty without bondage beauty without deformitie impassibility without griefe abundance without want peace without trouble security without feare knowledge without ignorance glory without ignominy joy without sorrow Secondly the security of that estate no enemy can reach us it is a Citie never besiegâ—d a haven never disquieted there is no death neither of sin nor of misery Rev. 21.4 Nec culpae nec miseriae nec naturae nor of nature Thirdly the jucundity of it a day without clouds a paradise without thornes fulness of joy true joy without deceit sincere joy free from the mixture of sorrow Psa 16. constant joy a Sun that never sets of which we may say as Augustine doth * O gaudium supergaudium vincens omne gaudium extra quod non est gaudium quando intrabo in te ut videam Deum meum qui habitat in te O joy above joy overcoming all joy without which there is no joy when shall I enter into thee that I may see my God who dwelleth in thee Here is joy above us in the vision of God joy within us in the glorification of our souls and bodies joy about us in our communion with Saints and Angels joy beneath us in our evasion and escapall of hell and everlasting darknesse Here is to the souls of all beleevers Gaudium de Christo joy concerning Christ as the authour of our welfare in Christo in Christ as he is the head and wee the members cum Christo with Christ as coheires with him of the same inheritance post Christum after Christ every soule joying according to proportion per Christum by Christ being reconciled to God by him and beholding God with joy through him propter Christum for Christ he being exalted above all creatures and having purchased all things O let these things sweeten the thought of Christ Jesus to us inflame our soules with longing after him make us all say Come Lord Iesus Thus from the Motion passe wee to the Mover Lord Jesus Two titles of the blessed Sonne of God the one a title of authoritie to command us the other of mercie to comfort us Love and Justice are sweetly knit together in Christ Jesus Note as Lord hee requireth obedience to his precepts as Jesus he calleth for faith in his promises Faith and obedience must never be divided in Gods servants hee that calls him Lord without obedience dishonours him hee that calls him Iesus without faith receives no benefit by him Hee is stiled first Lord and then Jesus Note If Christ bee not our Lord and Master first hee will never bee our Saviour at last He that will not have Christ to be his Lord in his life shall not have him for his Iesus at the houre of his death O therefore serve him honour him obey him as your Lord beleeve him love him rejoyce in him as your Jesus now that you may bee able upon all occasions to say Come Lord Iesus Come Lord Jesus as a Counsellour to guide us as a Rock to support us as a Friend to comfort us as a Fountaine to supply us Come Lord Jesus in the day of fulnesse and make us thankfull in the day of want and make us contented in the day of our sinne and make us penitent in the day of affliction and make us patient in the day of temptation and make us confident in the day of sorrow and make us joyfull in the day of health and make us mindfull of the day of sicknesse in the day of life and make us watchfull against the day of death in the day of sicknesse and assure us of the blessed issue of our earthly pilgrimage in the day of death and translate our soules into a glorious life Even so come LORD JESUS And now touching this spectacle of mortalitie here before us what shall I say unto you wherein shall I from hence instruct you but onely in two things in the genenerall First by way of premonition Secondly by way of commemoration By way of premonition and so you may in this object of death be admonished First of the transitorinesse of mans pilgrimage his life is a vapour soon vanishing a race soone runne Heâ— 13.14 a candle quickly gone out having no continuing Citie here but must seeke one that is to come Secondly of the vanitie of all earthly abundance it is a starting Bow in the day of battle a rotten Anchor in the stormie tempest Wee see that of Solomon ver fied by daily experience Pro. 11.4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death the righteousnesse of Christ imputed the righteousnesse of conversation well ordered giveth comfort deliverance from the second death when soule body are dissolved Thirdly whatsoever extravagancies or aberrations we see in others let us not thereby take occasion to insult over them to passe any rash or finâ—ll sentence upon them this is the worst use of other mens offences this is to thrust God out of his office Rom. 14.4 For every man stands or falls to his owne master but what wee see amisse in others let us correct in our selves by the sight of their spots let us wash our owne garments bee thankfull to God who doth preserve us for no man standeth by his owne strength Let us be watchfull over our selves and desire God to keepe us lest Satan and our owne corruption draw us
into the same or greater evills The sinne of one man would be the sinne of every man did not God restraine him Secondly by way of commemoration I may tell you First how hee professed much sorrow for his sinnes Mans sin doth ever prove mans sorrow it is the shame of man to commit sin it is the honour of man to confesse and forsake his sin though sorrow constrained and carnall be alwaies unacceptable yet true and godly sorrow is ever availeable to salvation He that sowes in tears shall reap in joy Psa 126.5 Secondly he promised reformation greater strictnesse of life if God were pleased to lengthen his dayes though the vowes of mâ—ns adversitie be often forgotten in the dayes of mans prosperitie yet resolutions truly gracious are with God as the very performance Thirdly he spake of a great change which God of late had wrought in him Hee that is not changed by the gracious hand of God in this life is never received by the merciful hand of God in the next life the procrastinâ—tion of repentance is ever very perillous yet God is free in the dispensations of his mercies not limited to times and seasons Fourthly the rehearsal of Gods mercies upon condition of true repentance seemed much to affect him As hee is cursed that turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse so hee is blessed who by Gods mercies is lead to true repentance And let all this admonish us to labour for timely and true repentance to vow amendment and performe it to feele our hearts truly changed Gods mercies powerfully drawing our soules to obedience by fervent prayer increasing our communion with God enriching our soules more and more with all heavenly gifts and graces that wee may at last with great comfort and much assurance say Come Lord Jesus FINIS SAINT PAULS LEGACIE 2 COR. 13.11 Finally brethren farewell Be perfect be of good comfort bee of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you EVery communion amongst men on earth hath his dissolution be it never so entire never so sinne never so delightfull yet at length there comes a separation the sweetest fellowship the societie which is most intimate hath the cords and chains thereof at length dissolved Communion with God is everlasting communion with man is transitory and temporall The Arke was transportative removing from place to place till it came to Solomons Temple such is mans condition subject to continuall change and motion till he comes to heaven where Gods people shall have an endlesse and unchangeable communion The fellowship betweene Abimelech and the men of Shechem was very strong and intimate they were a Iudg. 9.23 bone of bone and flesh of flesh yet at length there came an evill Spirit between them and they were divided Great is the enmitie of Sathan against mens sweet and comfortable communion Abraham and Lot sweetly conversed and dwelt for divers dayes together yet at length they parted b Gen. 13.6 their substance was so great that they could not dwell together Much sweet communion commerce between Gods people is often hindered by the fulnesse of the world Singular was the friendship pleasant was the fellowship between Jonathan and David their love was c 2 Sam. 1.26 wonderfull passing the love of women yet by an arrow in the battell Jonathan fell and their sweet commerce was ended Death dissolveth all humane fellowship Eliah and Elisha enjoyed many dayes most blessed and gracious communion together yet at length it came to passe that as they d 2 King 2.11 went and talked there appeared a Chariot of fire and Horses of fire and parted them both asuâ—der God doth often remove the dearest friends and comforters of his servants to learne them to depend alone upon Christ Jesus God doth sometimes take away the Guides and Teachers of his people to let them see that the choycest instruments of mans happinesse are not of everlasting continuance Saint Paul had been for divers dayes a preacher to the men of Corinth preaching to them many powerfull and heavenly sermon delivering to them many found and wholsome Doctrine writing also a first and second Epistle yet his ministery was not for perpetuity nor his presence of everlasting continuance a time of separation came and his labours drew to an end and in these words hee takes hiâ— last leave and farewell of them â—â—nally brethren farewell Bee perfect bee of good comfort bee of one minde live iâ— peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you The Apostle Saint Paul had in this whole Epistle sharply rebuked the Corinthians for opposing his doctrine for slighting and despising his admonition and now that they might not thinke he either spake or wrote out of hatred or distemper of spirit many arguments and evidences of his great and singular love are intermixed chiefly in this his conclusion mitigating all the severitie and bitternesse which hee seemed to use towards them concluding and shutting up all in a holy sweet and gracious exoptation or wish of all perfection consolation peace concord and communion with God unto them Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect c. The Lord who giveth e Ephes 4.10 some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ The Lord who f Jerem. 3.15 gives his people Pastors according to his owne heart to feed them with knowledge and understanding hath in the course of his gracious providence made me for more than fifteene yeares an under-overseer of your soules wherein as his weake and fraile feeble and unworthy instrument I have been the Lords and your servant endevouring though neither with such diligence and industry as I should nor with that blessed and plentifull successe which I desire and wish to open Gods counsell to propose and set forth Christ before your eyes to make him glorious in your apprehension to humble your soules to convert your hearts to draw you by faith and love to Christ the complete and onely Authour of your everlasting welfare And now as Saint Paul said sometimes to the men of Ephesus g Acts 20.25 Behold I know that yee all among whom I have here stood preaching the kingdome of God shall after this day in all likelihood behold my face in this place no more being now to you as a dying man whose last breath is going forth as a starre setting and rising no more in this horizon as a lampe going out and shining no more in this your house of sacred meeting As a man dying and loth to dye I shall in the ardencie of my love and great anguish of my spirit in the words wish of S. Paul take my last leave and valediction Finally brethren farewell Be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live iâ— peace and the God of love and peace be with you In
which words wee may take notice 1. Of a particle of conclusion Finally 2. Of a title of compellation Brethren 3. Of a terme of valediction and farewell Farewell 4. of a vote Of exoptation or wishing Be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you Wherein Saint Paul like a Testator or Parent that makes his last Will Testament bequeatheth these five gifts as five Legacies to the Corinthians his children in Christ which are like the h Gen. 45.22 five changes of rayment which Joseph gave to Benjamin for the spirituall warmth and ornament which they minister to the soules of Gods children like the i Judg. 18.7 five men which brought good tidings to their brethren incouraging them to arise and enter into the land for the comfortable newes which they bring to the soules of men encouraging them to enter into Gods service to set their feet into the wayes of peace and holinesse like the k 1 Sam. 21.3 five loaves of bread which David asked of the Priest for the nourishment refection and strength which they minister to the soules of Gods servants and these I shall being now as a dying man to you bequeath unto you as a Legacie of choycest worth to adorne you of greatest strength to support you of best nourishment to feed you of sweetest peace to solace you Finally brethren farewell Be perfect c. The branches growing on this tree are many the streames issuing from this fountain are divers and having but one day to gather the fruit here growing to draw the waters hence arising I shall but briefly touch give you a taste of each of them and first of the particle of conclusion Finally lastly Denique quod superest or as touching that which remaineth that is after that I have done mine office and have instructed you by the word threatned you by the judgements and intreated you by the mercies of God and have used all meanes to move you to repentance and to draw you to Christ Finally or what remaineth more to be done now but that you doe your duty that you beleeve repent reforme bee perfect and draw home to Christ with all your soule and might This is that which now remaineth which is now on your behalfe expected And hence you see Doct. That the Ministers long and frequent preaching must be attended with much perfection in the people After the Ministers long and frequent instruction faith repentance and true conversion must shew it selfe forth in the people When the Minister hath done his dutie towards men men must doe their dutie towards God The l Exod. 17.6 rocke gushed out water after Moses striking it After the Priests seven times compassing the walles of Jericho and m Jos 6.20 blowing of their Rammes horns the walles fell unto the ground After the Prophets n 2 Kings 4.34 spreading himselfe upon the woman of Shunems child the flesh of the child waxed warme hee neesed and opened his eyes After the Ministers often smiting our hearts with the hammer of the word often sounding of the trumpet of the Gospel in our eares and right dividing and applying of the word unto our hearts our stony hearts should be softned and send forth the waters of godly sorrow the strong and mighty holds of sinne should bee cast downe our soules enlivened the eyes of our understandings most clearly and savingly opened After the shining of the Sunne the aire is inlightned after the distilling of the dew and plentifull influence of the heavens the earth fructifieth after the long shining of the light of the Gospel and frequent distilling and dropping down of the dew of heavenly doctrine mens understandings should bee filled with knowledge as the aire with light and their lives replenished with all spirituall and heavenly fruit This the Lord expecteth o Isa 5.4 What could have been done more to my vineyard saith the Lord that I have not done in it in regard of the externall meanes wherefore I looked that it should bring forth grapes that like a vineyard long and well dressed it should bring forth good grapes of knowledge faith repentance and the like this is the property of Gods children as good p Mat. 13.24 ground receiving good seed they bring forth much fruit as living and healthy children sucking their mothers breasts they q 1 Pet. 2.2 grow by the sincere milke of the word of God This fruit hath followed the labours of Gods Ministers Saint Peter r Acts 2.44 testiâ—â—â— and exhorted and his word was glad 〈…〉 and about three thousand soules were 〈◊〉 to the Church Saint Paul preached and as Å¿ Acts 13.48 many as were ordained unto life beleeved The Apostle preached at Ephesus t Acts 19.20 many beleeved came and confessed and shewed forth their deeds so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed u Exod. 17.11 Iosua fought Moses prayed and Israel prevailed over Amalek When the Minister preacheth and prayeth Gods Israel must prevaile over Satan and their corruption Peter w Ioh. 21.11 casteth the net the second time into the sea and a multitude of fishes are taken in it At the Ministers first and second frequent and often preaching many soules should by the net of the Gospel bee drawne out of the gulfe and sea of sinne and the world And that In regard of the end of the Ministers Reason 1 long and frequent preaching The x Psa 104.22 23. Sunne ariseth sayth the Psalmist the wilde beasts gather themselves together and lay them downe in their dennes man goeth forth to his worke and to his labour untill the evening The Gospel like the Sunne ariseth and all the lusts of men which like so many wilde beasts walke forth and make their prey upon the soules of men in the right of their ignorance must now lye themselves downe by humiliation mortification and true repentance and man must arise from the bed of sinne and goe forth out of himselfe as out of his house to his worke and to his labour y Phil. 2.12 working out his salvation with feare and trembling never z 1 Thess 1.3 ceasing from the worke of faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ untill the evening untill the sunne of his life be wholly gone down and set This the Apostle presseth from the end of the appearing of the Gospel a Rom. 13.11 The night is farre spent the time and state of ignorance and blindnesse is farre gone and the light is neere at hand the day of the Gospel breaketh forth and the light of illumination doth appeare Let us therefore cast off the workes of darknesse as men cast off their bed-clothes in the morning and let us put on the armour of light as men put on their day clothes and so let us walke and b Tit. 2.11 the grace of God saith
in mee and my promises with the eyes of godly sorrow mourning for your sinnes and offences with the eyes of love embracing me as the husband of your soules with the eyes of obedience fearing and obeying mee above all commanders Thus looke unto mee and bee yee saved saved from sinne that it sway not over you saved from Satan that hee rule not within you saved from affliction that it shall not swallow you and saved from the Law that it shall not condemne you Christ ministers all salvation to them that by a lively faith come unto him this is the end and fruit of Christs comming by his Word and Spirit to the soules of men My n Cant. 2.10 beloved saith the Spouse spoke unto mee outwardly by his Word and Ministers and inwardly by his Spirit Arise up my Love my faire one and come away Rise up from the death of sinne as sometime the dead rose up from the grave from the disease of sinne ignorance unbeliefe impenitencie as the sicke arise from their disease and returne to health from the sleep and slumber reigne and rule of sinne as Peter arose from his sleepe his fetters the two Souldiers and came forth of Herods prison from communion and fellowship with corrupt and carnall men as Lazarus rose out of his grave from the fellowship of the dead Rise up and come away from the world carnall acquaintance and fleshly delights as the Bride comes away o Psal 45.10 from her owne people and her fathers house unto the Bride-groome as sometime Abraham p Gen. 12.1 came away from his owne countrey and from his kindred and from his fathers house unto a land which the Lord shewed him Arise and come away from all sinfull pleasures as Samson arose from Delilahs lap burst his wit hs asunder and came away from her Rise up and come away from all corrupt and carnall doctrine as the prodigall arose from the huskes and the swine and came to his fathers house to eate his fathers bread Rise up and come away even from thy selfe by selfe-deniall and putting off thy old man as Lazarus rose up put away his grave-clothes and left them behinde him Thus rise up and come away to Christ That man alone comes to Christ Jesus who riseth up from the world himselfe and his own corrupt affections And unto him let us come as the lame man came to Bethesda that we may be healed as the Elders of Gilead came to Jeptha that we may be preserved protected delivered as the thirsty come to the full fountaine that wee may be filled and all our wants supplied Three things perswading to come to Christ And the more effectually to move and perswade you to come to Christ fasten your hearts and thoughts seriously upon these three things 1. Necessitie of Christ Mans necessity of Christ Mans misery without Christ Man is spiritually dead and none but Christ can raise him The life of the soule is hid in Christ as the life of the branch in the root Gehazi q 2 King 4. with Elishah's staffe without Elisha himselfe could not restore the woman of Shunems child to life the Minister with the Word of Christ without Christ concurring and working with him cannot quicken the soule that is dead in sinne all the instruments and meanes of grace leave the soule still gracelesse unlesse Christ the authour and fountaine of grace joyne his blessing to their endevours r Ioh. 5.5 The Sonne quickneth whom he will hee that eates Å¿ Ioh. 6.53 not the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinkes his bloud hee that comes not unto that beleeves not in Christ crucified hath no life in him no life of God no life of grace here no life of glory hereafter The life of man without faith in Christ is as no life but a very death man is dangerously diseased no Balme can heale him no Physician can cure him The art and labour of all Physicians about the diseased woman in the Gospel were fruitlesse Mark 5. untill she came to Christ Jesus The Poole at Bethesda cured no man unlesse the Angell moved in it the ordinance of God cures not unlesse Christ move in it worke together with it hee alone is the Sunne of righteousnesse that hath healing in his wings curing the wounds which are given by sin and Satan Man is possessed by an uncleane Spirit and none but Christ can eject him the soule of man is an uncleane dwelling untill Christ takes possession within him he rebukes the Divell causeth him to depart whom the Disciples cannot t Mat. 17.19 20 21. cast out David overthrew Goliah with whom no Israelite durst enter combate Christ overthrowes the Divell who without the power of Christ is invincible man of himselfe can no more overcome him no more deliver himselfe from him 1 Sam. 17. then the sheep under Davids custody was able to deliver it selfe from the Beare and the Lyon Man is blinde in darknesse and the shadow of death and no Sunne but Christ can enlighten him Man is naked and no garment but Christ can cloath and cover him all other garments are but rotten rags and fading leaves like Adams Figge-leaves a poore and base covering Man is poore and no treasure but Christ can enrich him all is but dung and drosse besides Christ Man is indebted and none but Christ can make satisfaction for him Mich. 6. a thousand Rammes and ten thousand rivers of Oyle nay ten thousand worlds if man were Lord and owner of them were an insufficient price for the least sinne of man None but Christ a price infinite and invaluable is the price of mans redemption Man is empty and none but Christ can fill him the world is a feast the more man feeds upon it the more his hunger is increased like the dropsie man the more hee drinketh the more hee thirsteth Christ alone satisfieth he gives u Joh. 4.1 water whereof whoso drinketh thirsteth no more Not the creature but the Lord Jesus is mans fulnesse Man is distressed perplexed tormented and none but Christ can quiet him hee casteth out the tormenting spirit hee appeaseth the stormy tempest hee calmeth the violent and surging waves and waters he leads him through the sea of affliction to a w Psa 61.2 Rocke that is higher then man to an estate and condition secure and safe from all opposing power Endlesse and easelesse are the soules perplexities which comes not to Christ Jesus As Bernard * Incassum laborat in acquisitione virtuâ—um qui eas alibi quam in Christo quaerit somtime said He labours in vaine in the acquisition of vertues that seeks them elsewhere then in Christ Thus man labours in vaine that seekes peace safety comfort any where except in Christ and what is man that wants Christ but a body without a head a dead and idle a loathsome lump a house without a foundation which cannot stand a field without dew which
withers and a branch without root abiding barren and hastening to the fire Behold then O man thy necessity of Christ thy misery without Christ and give thy soule no rest untill thou art come home to Christ Fasten your thoughts upon the vanitie of all things without Christ 2. Vanitie of all things without Christ What is worldly fulnesse to him that comes not to Christ Jesus but vanity x Eccles 2.11 vexation of spirit a bed of thornes on which hee canâ—ot sleep without terrour * Auruâ—a 〈…〉 pâ—â—◠〈…〉 poâ—◠〈…〉 aurum â—â—â—lus â—â—â—nus pâ—â—â—â—or servus Aug. a way of snares 〈◊〉 â—hich hee cannot walke without stumâ—â—ng â—ruising and hurting himselfe a cup oâ— gâ—ll of which hee cannot drink with any comfort like the waters of Marah to Isâ—ael without the tree burthens oppressing chaine 's fettering arrowes wounding â—â—as tossing and winds shaking are all worldly possessions to them that possâ—sse not Christ Jesus What was Paradise to Adam when hee had deprived hâ—mselfe of the tree of life by eating of the trâ—e of forbidden fruit but as a wildernesse of thornes and briars a place of extreame torture and disquiet The worlds choycest Paradise proves at length full of bitternesse to him that hath deprived himselfe of Christ Jesus Augustine saith * Quid prodest diviti quod habet si Deum qui omnia dedit non habet What doth that profit the rich man which hee hath if hee hath not God which gave all What availes the having of the cisterne without the fountain The having of all things is as nothing if man have not Christ with them Happy is the man that so lookes upon the creatures emptinesse that he is thereby stirred up to seeke Christ and his fulnesse The excellencie the worth of Christ 3. Dignity of Christ As they said of David Hee is better more worthy then all the y 2 Sam. 18. â— thousands of the world As they said of the Centurion Hee is z Luk. 7.4 worthy for whom thou shalt doe this thing Much more may I say of Christ Hee is worthy that you should come unto him in him are all the load-stones of vertue power beauty and whatsoever can be spoken to move and draw the soule of man towards him In him is wisedome surpassing the brightnesse of the Sunne even all the a Col. â— 3 treasures of wisedome hidden In him is power excelling the strength of all Rockes hee is not onely strong but b Psal 18.1 strength it felfe In him is honour transcending all the Kings of the earth for hee is c Rev. 19.16 King of Kings and Lord of Lords hee is d Psa 104 1 2. cloathed with honour and majesty and covered with light as with a garment In him is beauty excelling the e Cant. 2.2 Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the valley hee is the f Cant. 5.10 fairest of ten thousand fairer then all the flowers of the field then all the pretious stones of the earth then all the lights in the firmament then all Saints and Angels in the highest heavens In him is g Ephes 3.8 riches above all the riches of the world as in the Pearle above the drosse All worldly wealth is but poverty to the riches which is in Christ In him are h Psa 16.11 pleasures excelling all earthly pleasures more then ever paradise excelled the barren wildernesse All pleasures are but sorrowes and tortures to the pleasure which the soule doth finde in Christ Surely all wisedome is folly all power weaknesse all honour ignominy all beauty deformity all riches poverty all pleasures anguish and all fulnesse emptinesse in comparison of the wisedome power glory beauty riches pleasures and fulnesse that is in Christ Jesus O therefore come to Christ that you may bee enlightned strengthened honoured enriched protected solaced and your soules every way filled O come as the Queene of the South came from i 1 King 10.1 2. farre to Solomon that you may learne his wisedome O come as the stones in the building to the head k 1 Pet. 2.5 corner stone that hee may support you come as the subjects come the Kings Court that hee may advance and honour you come as poore men to a golden Mine that hee may enrich you come as Naaman came to l 2 King 5. Iordan that hee may sanctifie and cleanse you O come as the Prodigall came to his fathers m Luk. 15. house that Christ may kill the fatted calfe for you feed you with his ordinances with himselfe with his graces and put the robe of his righteousnesse upon you O come as a disconsolate man unto his friend that Christ may comfort you with the sweetnesse of his presence the sense of his love and all the comforts of his Spirit O come as the chicken to the henne that his wings may hide and shadow you Under the wings of Christ saith * Sub Christi scapulis quatuor nohis beneficia conseruntur c. Bernard foure benefites are bestowed upon us Here wee are hidden and protected Here wee are refreshed Here the scorching heat of affliction is repelled And here wee are fed and nourished Christ saith †Christus omnia ut qui omnia propter Christum dimiserit unum inveniat pro omnibus possit libero clamare Pars mea Dominus Ierome is all things that hee who for Christ hath let goe all may find one for all and may freely say The Lord is my portion For as Ambrose sayd * Omnia habemus in Christo omnia in nobis Christus si à vulnere curari defideras medicus est c. We have all in Christ and Christ is all things in us if thou desire to be cured of thy wound hee is a Physician if thou burne with Fevers hee is a Fountaine if thou art burthened with iniquity he is righteousnesse if thou wanttest help hee is strength if thou feare death hee is life if tâ—ou flye from darknesse hee is light if thou desirest heaven hee is the way if thou seekest food hee is nourishment Therefore to him let us come as sheep to their Shepheard as captives to their Ransomer as children to their Father The manner of comming to Christ 1. Speedily To him let us come first speedily without all delay as Eagles to the carcasse As the woman of Shunem n 2 King 4. sadled her Asse and made haste to the man of God for the recovery of her dead childe so let us make haste to Christ for the recovery life health comfort and welfare of our poore soules let us come unto him while hee may bee found and call upon him while hee is neere at hand As the Angell hasted and thrust Lot out of Sodome and bid him o Gen. 19 haste to Zoar and escape thither so let us hasten our soules out of the Sodome of sinne unto Christ O let us with all speed