paratam lo â—è toculentissimam ampâ—â—ssimam bonis omnibâ—â—â— instraâ—ctissimam Jac. Capellus Ostendit hoc nomine Apostolos Deo fiâ—ere debere quod in domo Patris sui variae sint paratae mansiones A transsugis sumpta Metaphora quibus magno solatio èst habere varia Asyla ad consugièndu quae promittit Christus sive praesentem vitam spectes sive futuram Zegerius moment if compared unto the 3 Mansions in my Fathers House Fifthly Imagine these afflictions I which for the present seen so grievous were worthy to be compared unto the Joyes that are set before us yet [1] Deur 4.29 believe in God God is [2] Psal 47.7 King of all the earth Again I say believe in God Faithfull are the [3] Prov. 27.6 3.11 Job 5.17 Heb. 12.6 Revel 3.19 wounds of a Friend I know O Lord that thy Judgements are true and that thou in 4 very faithfulnesse hast afflicted me Sixthly Believe also in Christ In Him thou mayest find peace He [1] John 14.29 foretelleth thee that he hath [2] John 16.33 overcome the world for thee He hath [3] John 13.15 given thee an Example of [4] Luke 21.29 possessing thy Soul in patience His peace he [5] John 14.27 giveth unto thee and what he giveth that he [6] ibid. leaveth with thee He putteth that into thine eye which will make thee see the better soweth that in thy [7] Psalm 126.5 Heb. 12.11 tears which will bring forth fruit to thine accompt even the peaceable fruits of Righteousnesse Once Jesus Christ doth in thy sufferings give thee the [8] Phil. 1.29.3.10 2 Cor. 4.11 Credit the Reputation the honour of having a fellowship in his sufferings A second Life of Comfort here is Against the death of our Friends namely [1] Videbat eos commotos antecedentibus de suâ morte Sermonibus it áque eos erigit Grotius in John 14.1 against the [2] 2 Sam. 1.26 18.33 John 11.3.33 Phil. 2.27 Death of our Friends Thou who art a follower of God art thou troubled on every side So were these Disciples Art thou disappointed of worldly hopes So were these Disciples Is some dear Friend deceased Loe these Disciples were [3] John 13.33 16.6 fain to part with their dearest Jesus What it was to be bereaved of so good a Master you have [4] viz. p. 235. already seen but This was not all When Jesus had escaped death was [5] Luke 24.21 beyond all hopes raised from the Grave was beyond all hopes restored unto them again for his Disciples then again to lose Him to lose Him whom [6] Cant. 3.4 their Soul had found Him who [7] Revel 1.18 was dead and is alive and behold he liveth for evermore This this is much very much One would think if at Christ his death his Disciples hearts were troubled they would have been at his [8] Acts 1.6,11 ascension troubled much more Did I not say unto my Lord [9] 2 Kings 4.28 Do not deceive me If when Christ dyed all their hopes [10] Luke 24.21 dyed with him then much more when he arose their hopes [11] Luke 33.34 Acts 1.11 revived also Consider now For Jesus after that he had overcome death to depart from his Disciples again to depart from them now no more by a necessity of death but during health and life to ascend from them [12] Luke 24.9 just then when they [13] Luke 24.6 expected the issue of his [14] Matth. 21.7 8 riding in triumph of his [15] Matth. v. 9 15 accumulated Hosanna's of his declaring and owning of himself to be the [16] Matth. 2.2 27.11 King of the Jewes the long expected [17] Matth. 21.15 Luke 2.11 Son of David yea the [18] Matth. 3.17 17.5 Rom. 1.4 Son the only Son of the great and only God Loe ye here a tryal yet see when this dear this potent friend thus unexpectedly ascended I say when the most loving Jesus most unexpectedly departed his Disciples which had formerly drooped were now so far from being at all troubled that they were [19] Luke 24.52 filled with great joy Consider consider my Beloved When the God of all flesh taketh away from us our best our nearest friends he can and if we trust in him he will leave a greater comfort [20] John 14.16 16.17 behind them This for the death of others Against our fear of death Is now thlne own death thy [1] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist terrour I say is the darknesse of the shadow of death thy discomfort Fear thou [2] Psal 23.4 none evil He who hath [3] Joh. 16.8.5.4 taught thee to live will [4] Phil. 4.13 help thee to dye Women bring forth in sorrow but it is to their comfort for their repeated pains in Child-bearing [5] 1 Tim. 2.15 teach that fearful Sex how to overlook a lesser pain namely that of death As when the Moon so when the soul is in the change she is then nearest unto the [6] Psalm 84.11 Sun When Christ came from Bozrah his dyed [7] Esay 63.1 Garments drew the [8] 1 Cor. 15.56 Fiducia Christianorum resurrectio mortuorum Tertul. de carnis resur sting out of Death and as of the flesh of Adders are made Antidotes against poyson so of that sting is now made a Cordial for the deceasing Party The Grave seemeth to [9] Prov. 30.16 Rom. 3.13 gape like the red Sea mean while it maketh way for our more speedy coming unto the promised Rest Christ was placed within the Grave that we [10] 2 Cor. 4.10 Col. 3.4 See Bishop Reynolds his Churches Triumph over Death might step over it with ease The Believer now a dying is onely passing from death to life nay more from the death of sin unto him who is [11] John 14.6 1 John 3.2 Col. 3.3 4 The Life The Earth provideth a Rest for our Bodies the Heavens contain a Rest so our souls but Jesus Christ will be a Rest unto them both True Death [12] Rom. 5.12 passed upon all these Disciples This [13] John 21 19 spake Christ signifying by what death he should glorifie God viz. Peter was to put off his earthly Tabernacle [14] 2 Pet. 1.14 shortly As for St. James he was [15] Acts 12.2 killed with the Sword Great very great [16] Gal. 2.9 Matth. 19.28 were these Apostles but notwithstanding their greatnesse as (17) Psal 82.7 Princes so THEY must dye like men A Believers Comfort is [18] Job 30.23 not that he shall not dye but that he shall not dye the everlasting death of common men Of the beloved Disciple himself the Lord Jesus never said [19] John 21.23 he shall not dye but Unto him he said [20] John 14.2 In my Fathers House are many Mansions The least child of God can now [21] Revel 1.18 fetch a stride
such a one as by Valerius Maximus lib. 7. Pythagoras was caâ—â—ed Peafectissimum sapientiae opus and as Socrates Humanae sapientiae quasi terresire oraculum and as the same Socrates by Eunapius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A living Image of wisdom Blessed were 1 Kings 10.8 Solomons Servaats behold a greater then Solomon is here an Author of those heavenly instructions by which we learn to lead a heavenly conversation while we are here upon earth we who walk by Scripture Rules are followers not of men but of God we are the Disciples not of Zeno or of Plato but of the person speaking in my Text. But Sixthly Godlinesse hath [1] 1 Tim. 4.8 the promise of this life St. John hath some encouragement then to wish the [2] John 2.3 health and wealth of Gajus his body and estate when the soul of Gajus prospereth The earth is [3] Psal 24.1 the Lords and the fulnesse thereof But what doth He with it Answ The precious things of the earth and the fulnesse thereof he giveth unto [4] Deut. 33.16 Josephs seed even unto the seed of them that delight [5] Psal 112.1 2 3 4 greatly in his Commandements Truth it is a mans life consisteth not in [6] Luke 12.15 Psalm 37.16 the abundance of things which he possesseth Rather feed me with food convenient for me then give me Riches saith [7] Pro. 30.8 Agur. But presupposing a plentiful estate of all conditions the best for a true member of the Church a plentifull estate [8] Psal 84.11 1 Cor. 3.22 he shall have Have it he shall but shall not be bound to it I mean he shall be unto it not a [1] Tit. 3.5 James 4.3 Eccles 4.8 servant but a Master Have it he shall and shall also have a [2] Tit. 2.24 5.18 19 power to use it moderately as if he [3] 1 Cor. 7.31 used it not viz. not [4] Psal 52 7 trusting in it neither [5] Psal 49.6 boasting of it nor [6] Psal 62.10 setting his heart upon it Indeed herein is one signal difference betwixt a man that is and a man that is not a faithful subject of the Kingdome of grace He that is not a subject unto the scepter of this Kingdome of grace is so full of usurpation that like one ill-bred he applyeth himself unto Creature-comforts neither [7] and yet Matth. 7.7 8 Leave is light asking leave nor [8] See 1 Thess 5.18 Quis enim non eâ—ubescat gratiam beae de se merentibus non referre cum videat etiam Tobit 6. 1 Sam. 1.3 bestias refugâ—re crimen ingrati D. Ambros lib. 6. Exam c. 4. rendring thanks whereas a man truly gracious enjoyeth the same the very same creatures and comforts which the wicked person doth but he enjoyeth them with (9) Rom. 8.28 Heb. 13.5 1 Tim. 4.4 better security and in greater [10] Rom. 11.36 1 Cor. 10.31 measure then doth the wicked person For instance The sound Believer hath in him so much good manners that he will not once meddle with the Creature unlesse he first obtain the (11) See ver 27.28 leave and good liking of the blessed Creatour Again he hath the wit to make the most and the â—est of this worlds goods namely while he useth these worldly Comforts not according unto his own shallow imagination but accordingly as the good Word of his God (12) Phil. 4.8 instructeth him Furthermore He is so humbly (13) Gen. 18.27 32.10 thankful that in whatsoever he possesseth he seeketh to observe please and credit not (14) Psal 145.11 115.1 1 Chro. 29.11 Jer. 9.23 24 Matth. 16.24 himself but his Lord and Saviour so much duty so much affection oweth he unto his most bountiful God that whether the (15) Job â— 21 22 Lord giveth or the Lord taketh away still he patiently and most contentedly blesseth the name of the Lord. To wit his care is not to (16) Matth. 6.19 lay up for himself treasures here upon earth but how to (17) 1 Pet. 4.11 1 Tim. 4.5 make the best and the most sanctifies use that he possibly can of every present (18) Heb. 13.5 portion wherewith he is already entrusted Mean while as the more he is entrusted the more he endeavoureth to be (19) 1 Cor. 4.2 Luke 16.10 11 12 found faithful so the more faithful he is found the (20) Mat. 25.23 more he is entrusted whereupon it followeth that wealth and riches shall be (21) Psalm 112.3 in his house It is said Riches and honour (1) Pro. 8.18 are with wisdome and justly for no person is so well able to make the best of either riches or honour as is he who is (2) Pro. 9.10 Tit. 1.15 spiritually wise The same Ark which made (3) 1 Sam. 5.6 the hand of God so heavy upon the men of Ashdod was a (4) 2 Sam. 6.12 blessing unto the house of Obed Edom. That Bishop who is a (5) Heb. 13.17 spiritual Over-feer of soules the greater (6) 1 Sam. 1.15 26 1 Kings 18.13 Lord he is the greater (7) 1 Sam. 1.40 2 Chron. 23 11-21 24.2 Prov. 11.10 good he doth and He is most worthy to be a Magistrate who is as (8) Miâ—aâ— 6.8 holy as powerful If when Solomon petitioneth for Wisdome what Wisdome he seeketh he seeketh wot for his own but (9) 1 Kings 3 8-13 for his Gods sake Solomon shall have wealth at will once let it appear that Joseph refuseth to (10) Gen. 39.9 10 sin against God and whatsover Joseph doth (11) Gen. 23. shall prosper Make Abraham a (12) Rom. 4.11 Father of the faithful and Abraham shall (13) Gen. 23.6 fare like a Prince He and Elisha understood what they did when the one would not (14) Gen. 14.23 accept spoiles from the King of Sodom nor the other a (15) 2 Kings 5.15 26 blessing from Naaman I wisse The Possessor of (16) Gen. 14.22 heaven and earth doth (17) Compare Gen. 15.1 with Psa 23.1 118.9 more for us every minute of the day then all the Princes of Syria and Kings of Sodom can do for us in an age Philosophers conclude that wheresoever there is light there is heat Sure I am wheresoever the Gospel shineth as the Sun there (18) Compare Matth. 21.9 with Psal 118.25 See also Psalm 36.8 31.19 1.3 the earth it self will be the warmer The operations of the soul are (1) Eph. 4.23 requisite for the exercise of grace the health of the body (2) Psal 51.8 is subservient unto the operations of the soul food and raiment (3) Matth. 6.25 1 Tim. 6.8 conduce unto the health of the body no marvail then if (4) Deut. 8.4 Nehem. 9.21 all things pertaining unto life are made subordinate unto the things (5) 2 Pet. 1.3 appertaining unto godlinesse See saith Isaac (6) Gen. 27.27 28 The smell
Rom. 6.23 Wages of sin is death Answ Answer But the (1) Rom. 6.23 gift of God is eternall life Object Object I have [1] Heb. 6.6 crucified to my self him who is that life Answ Answer So did they who (1] Act. 2.37 were pricked at the heart Object Object But I am [1] Ephes 2.3 by nature a child of wrath Answ Answer So were those [1] Ephes 8. Ephesians which were saved Object Object But I am to this day [1] Ephes 1.1 dead in trespasses and sin Answ Answer So were they [1] Ibid. whom the person speaking in my Text quickned Oject Object But I have not repented though I have had [1] Rev. 2.21 space to repent Answ Answer Gods long-suffering which thou hast all this while abused may now at length lead thee [1] Rom. 2.4 thereunto Object Object It should have caused me to repent but I have delayed [1] Prov. 1.27 28. even to this very last hour of my life Answ Answer So did the Thief which is [1] Luk. 23.43 now with Christ in Paradise Object Object But I have in effect chosen [1] Isa 66.4 death Answ Answer Why [1] Ezek. 18.31 wilt thou die Object Object Since I believe not I am [1] Joh. 3.36 condemned already Answ Answer The sentence thus pronounced is not as yet executed as yet I say breath is in thy Nostrils though but in thy nostrils how soon it may be the God of [1] Psal 42 8. 31.15 Job 7.1 thy life foreknoweth but hitherto thy weak-spun thy slender thread of frail life is not utterly cut off this life how frail soever while it lasteth with-holdeth [2] Heb. 9.27 Eccles 11.3 John 8.21 Ex hoc momento aeternitas the revenging sword of eternal Justice from dropping upon thy head I confess if ever we will be born again it must be before we enter a second time into [3] Gen. 3.19 our mothers womb I acknowledge that shouldst thou depart this world before thou art prepared for the next should thy body die before thy Soul liveth unto God shouldst thou be found in thy grave and not found in Christ Jesus I tremble to mention it thou wert then damned for ever but such such is the forbearance of thy patient God that [4] Psal 95.7 while he continueth life unto thee he continueth unto thee a possibility of escaping Object Object How shall I [1] Heb. 2.3 escape if I despise so great salvation Answ Answer Salvation great salvation so great salvation is freely [1] Hos 14.4 offered that I trust thou canst no longer despise it if thou wouldest Object Object To me any offers of salvation are bat the savour of death unto death [1] 2 Cor. 2.16 Answ Answer To thee they may be the (1) 2 Cor 2.16 savour of life unto life Object Object But I have (1) 1. John 3.19 loved darkness Answ Answer The person speaking in my Text calleth thee out of that darkness into his (1) 1 Pet. 2 9. marvellous light Object Object But I as a deaf man hear him not Answ Answer He (1) Mat. 11.5 Isa 29.18.35.5 maketh the deaf to hear and he openeth the blind eye Object Object But I am at the best of a weak (1) Prov. 1.32 capacity Answ Answer His Word giveth Wisdom to the (1) Psal 119.130 simple Object Object It is the (1) Prov. 9.10 knowledge of the holy that is understanding Answ Answer Then (1) Hos 6.3 shalt thou thus know if thou follow on to know the Lord. Object Object I am so far from following after God [1] Isa 21.12 that I run further from him Object Answ Answer If (1) Rom. 4.25 thou wilt enquire enquire return come Object Object An Offender so notorious as I am [1] 1 Pet. 4.18 Answ Answer The person speaking in my Text was (1) Rom. 4.5 delivered for our Offences Object Object Ah but I am a most 1 ungodly wretch Answ Answer Christ is one that (1) 1 Tim. 1.15 justifieth the ungodly Object Object Never doth he such a sinner as I am Answ Yes the very [1] Ezek. 18.31 chief of sinners Object When they 1 unfeignedly repent Answ Answer He would therefore have thee [1] 2 Pet. 3.9 come to Repentance Object Object That is more then (1) Jer. 10.23 I can do Answ Answer It is not more then Christ can (1) Act. 5.31 give Object Object But I though I am vile (1) Ezek. 16.63 am insensible of my vileness Answ Answer Thou art so much the fitter for the manifestation of [1] Rev. 3.18 Christs free grace Object Object But I am [1] 2 Tim. 2.26 led captive at Satans pleasure Answ Answer The person here speaking in my Text proclaimeth liberty [1] Isa 61.1 unto such Captives Object Object Liberty unto Gods [1] Rom. 8.21 Sons not unto Gods enemies Answ Answer If thou [1] Joh. 1.12 receive Christ thou hast power to be no longer an enemy but a Son Object Object I can neither receive Christ nor that power nor that [1] 2 Cor. 3.17 liberty without the spirit Answ Answer Nor will God [1] Luk. 11.13 with-hold his [2] Isa 44 3. spirit if thou thirst for it Object Object I must first sincerely [1] Act. 5.32 obey God before I can effectually expect Gods spirit Answ Answer Nay first thou must partake of his [1] Rom. 8.9 2 Cor. 3.5 Spirit before thou canst obey him acceptably Object Object By what means can so wretched an Vnbeliever as I am ever come to partake of that spirit which I have so much grieved Answ Answer By ordering thy self according to Gods revealed [1] Mat. 7.7 Will Ask seek knock in asking seeking and knocking rest not upon thy performance make not means Mediators but upon Gods [2] Isa 40.27 64 5.50.10 Psal 27.14.37.34 goodness Wait I say [3] Isa 30.18.40.23 upon the Lord His wind bloweth when and where [4] John 3.8 Prov. 13.12 it listeth There is in thee no sufficiency no propensity no will but there is in God [5] Psal 130.7.9.10 plenteous Redemption if he [6] Isa 43.13 will work who can [7] Mic. 7.18 hinder him Look not for any thing from within [8] Job 14.4 Jer. 10.23 John 15.5 Rom. 9.16 thy self but from him to whom God [9] Mat. 17.5 upon all occasions sendeth thee The same God which giveth thee more means of knowledge then have (10) Psal 22.28 Jonah 4.11 Mark 8.1 2. those brutish Indians who worship black and white Devils the same God who giveth unto thee more means
prerogative peculiar unto Gods Image we read of one only bruite that (5) 2 Pet. 2.16 spake reason but Angels yea and God himself them we often (6) Gen. 3.8 18.20 21 c. hear speaking like us reasonable creatures and verily so excellent a faculty as speech is is not so much below an Angel as it is above a beast With an artiticulate voyce men on earth like (7) Revel 5.11 12 Angels in Heaven blesse the God of all blessings In four several Psalmes the sweet singer of Israel calleth his tongue (8) Psalm 16.9 30.12 57.8 108.1 his glory and of those four Psalmes two are like the verses of Pythagoras (9) Psalm 16. Psalm 57. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 entituled golden so great a value hath the Holy Ghost set upon those Psalmes which enform us wherein our glory lyeth viz. in instructing exhorting and edifying one another in calling upon God (10) Psal 5 3 64.1 66.19 71.1 with our voyce that is 11 in glorifying of him with the best member that we have We shall (12) Psal 31.17 115.17 keep silence in the grave but the (13) Esay 38 19 living the living they shall praise thee O God Guilt (14) Job 7.20 and (15) Job 40.4 5 fear (16) Lam. 3.28 2 9 and extremity of grief may indeed silence our thoughts but the Believers guilt is rolled in the blood of Jesus his fearfulnesse is removed by a trust in his God and his griefs are swallowed up in spiritual consolations So long as Hannah was in bitternesse of soul she (17) 1 Sam. 1.13 15 2.1 prayed silently but so soon as God answered her prayers presently Her mouth was enlarged Happy he who while he maketh his requests known unto God hath (18) recti custos imitator honesti Et nihil arcano qui rogat ore Deos. Martial Qui aperto vivit voto nec Labra movet metuens audiri Seneca Epist 10. no need to conceal them from men And as it is one thing to pray another thing to pray with the voyce so to praise is one thing to sing praise another With the mouth (19) Rom. 10.10 confession is made unto God In his Temple doth every man (20) Psalm 29.9 speak of his honour I will speak of thy Testimonies also before Kings and (21) Psalm 119.46 will not be ashamed With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulnesse (22) Psalm 89.1 compared with Esay 38.19 to all generations I have not hid thy Commandements within my heart His praise shall be continually (23) Psalm 34.1 in my mouth In God we boast (24) Psalm 44.8 all the day long These and the like Scriptures shew us how comely and pleasant a Duty it is not to stifle our holy thoughts within our breasts but to glorifie God in our words In our words our God is glorified First When we so speak as they that must (1) Matth. 12.36 give an account of every idle word Secondly When in a due manner we (1) 1 Tim. 5.20 2 Tim. 4.2 Heb. 3.13 Rom. 15.14 rebuke reprove instruct exhort admonish comfort c. Object Am I my Brothers keeper Answ Who except (1) Gen. 4.9 Cain would have (2) Levit. 19.17 asked that Question Verily since we are all members of one mystical body we must (3) Rom. 14.19 Heb. 10.24 build up one another in our most holy faith Iron (4) Pro. 27.17 sharpeneth iron In living water face answereth to face and a (5) Pro. 27.9 faithful Counsellour is life Where is our delight if not [6] Psal 16.3 upon the Saints that are on the earth In religious Conference we do not so much (7) 1 Thes 5.14 Heb. 12.12 remove the doubts of others as resolve our own we seem unto our selves as if unto us it were (8) Luke 12.12 20.14 15 given in that hour both what we should speak and what we should answer There is that (9) Prov. 11.24 encreaseth knowledge by scattering it and he that (10) Prov. 11.25 watereth shall be watered again I exhort therefore that in our (11) Deut. 11.19 household businesses in the (12) Deut. 18.20 several works of our Callings in our mutual Visits in our Journeys yea in (13) Deut. 6.6 7 8 9 all our Affairs our speech may be seasoned with salt I mean with (14) Col. 4.6 white salt And that it may be good (15) Eph. 4.25 unto the use of edifying that good words may (16) 1 Cor. 15.33 confirm good manners I more especially entreat of you two things The one that you would know and make known good Books Meet upon the Road (17) As Philip Acts 9.29 30 met the Eunuch See Luk. 24.15 c. a Passenger whom never before thou didst never again thon shalt see in this world if he learn from thee the Title of some Treatise (18) v. 27 apposite to the welfare of his thirsting soul he may speed the better for thy sake to life everlasting Holy Books are (19) Good books well read do make young men sober old men happy poor men rich and rich men honourable as Diogenes spake of Literature Legendi semper occasio est audiendi non semper Plin. lib. 2. ep 3. abiding helps daily Counsellors ready Physitians Manna in a golden pot especially in our Gilead where Balm excelleth Beloved the garden of Eden wherein we dwell is a Paradise of all healing herbs of exquisite spiritual flowers and of most angelical Roots Knew we how to sort them to our use there abound among us almost as many divine Medicines as natural infirmities My second request is that ye would acquaint one another not only with other mens works but with (20) Rom. 15.14 your own experiences being converted your selves help (21) Luke 22.32 your Brethren comfort them with the comforts wherewith ye your selves are (22) 2 Cor. 1.4 comforted of God How do you How doth such or such a friend is the form of salutation most usual among us yea and most Christian too It doth or should argue in us not only a (23) Phil. 1.5 fellowship but a (24) 1 Pet. 3.8 fellow-feeling not only a fellow-feeling but our (25) 1 Cor. 13.5 2 Cor. 13.9 3 John 2. well-wishes not only our well-wishes but our (26) Gal. 6.1 Phil. 2.4 1 Thes 5.11 earnest desire to remedy wherein we may what we can Beloved sincere friendship is inquisitive after the health of the body but (27) Phil. 1.19 more far more after the health of the soul You that ask me How I do if my (28) 3 Joh. 2.4 2 John 4 soul prospereth ye are glad of it Oh then what (29) Eph. 6.18 sins ye would have most prayed against enform me as likewise what (30) Eph. 6.19 graces you have most need of What devices of Satan you (31) 2 Cor. 2.11 have found out what back-doors ye have
for it p. 80. 81 342 Self-denial tryeth the truth of graces p. 350 Sin why remainders of it in the elect p. 266-269 Spirit Sow to it p. 326. joy in it p. 431. 435 Talents may not be un-improved p. 317. 323 336 Tapers their use in Cathedrals not insignificant p. 122 Time an exceeding precious talent p. 96 Unbelievers in effect drudges for true believers p. 240. 331. shaken from their shifts p. 56-61 guilty of troubling their own hearts p. 62. of distrusting God and his Christ p. 62. 63 of despising heavenly mansions p. 63. of death spiritual p. 65-71 of death eternal p. 71 72. awakened to a holy fear p. 73 74. answered their manifold objections p. 76-80 called to the life of faith p. 80 84 253-257 to peace of conscience p. 85. 86. to perseverance p. 88. 89. by several motives p. 90-108 Unbelief a sin most inexcusable p. 319. most accursed p. 318. 320 Ungodlinesse aggravateth guilt p. 312. 313 Unthankfulnesse an argument of unbelief p. 320 White Vestments suit with a Gospel-purity p. 369 Worldly blessings accompany the peace of the Gospel p. 28. 397 406-413 and oblige us to glorifie our God ibid. Zeal why so strictly required in Believers p. 310. 311 314. MARK 16.4 And when they looked they saw that the stone was rolled away for it was great Imprimatur Ex. Aed Sab. Decemb. 20. 1662. Geo. Stradling S. T. P. Rev. in Christo Patri Gilb. Episc Lond. à S. Domest THE STONE ROLLED AWAY AND LIFE more ABVNDANT JOHN 14.1 2. Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me In my Fathers house are many Mansions ROM 10.17 Faith cometh by hearing The Introduction I dare not therefore distrust your attention So your heavenly Redeemer prepare for each of you a Mansion in his Fathers house as ever ye believe that where His Gospel is preached there the Power of his Spirit is present to heal Even so Lord Jesus Time was when the (1) Deut. 32.8 Dew the (2) Pro. 16.21 Sweetness of (3) Pro. 10.32 thy blessed lips once (4) Can. 4.11 dropped once (5) Psal 45.2 graced as well this Text of mine as other thy Gospels Oh that now while it is called to day the Inspirations the Breathings of thy Holy Spirit would vouchsafe to sanctifie would vouchsafe to bless unto us as well this Discourse of mine as other thine Ordinances Beloved The Method that the Sun of Righteousness may at this time delight to arise upon us with healing in his wings it is at this time my Duty therefore to explain these words that I may profitably apply them First 1. The Explication of the Text. then Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me In my Fathers house are many Mansions The manner how delivered Words all Gospel and all Epistle I mean full of Doctrines and full of Vses too Words full of Passion and as full of Compassion spoken to the heart yea and from the heart too unexpectedly ushered in and as abruptly uttered forth Let not your heart be troubled A Reproof smiting friendly a Reproof pouring out excellent (1) Psal 1â—1 5 Oyl though soft smooth yet fetcheth out the poyson which lieth in the stomack B. Reyâ—o'ds in his Rich Mans Charge p. 7. oyl Ye believe in God believe also in me An Exhortation cloathed with Instruction cloathed with Evangelical Instructions In my Fathers house are many Mansions A Consolation a strong consolation a strong consolation far fetched fetched even from the highest heavens Beloved The Party speaking ye may know the man from his manner of Communication Surely the Hand nay the Heart of Jesus is in all this It is so Compare this verse with that next above The same Jesus which answereth there Thou shalt deny me thrice the same Jesus answereth here Let not your heart be troubled The Party speaking we know Jesus we know The Persons spoken to but Who are ye your heart Answ Some Greek Copies prefix 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He saith unto his Disciples Imagine that Varia lectio Apocryphal admit it not the Dictate of the Holy Ghost but the Annotation of some busie Transcriber Nevertheless more then manifest it is (1) c. 13.22 35. who The persons here spoken unto are They prove themselves to be Disciples Disciples of Christ the chief of the Disciples of Christ all twelve of them excepting (2) c. 13 30. Judas one not worthy the looking after The Disciples spoken to we see Jesus speaking The occasion of Christs speaking here we hear But Vpon what occasion speaketh he Answ S. Chrysostom and from him Theophylact they therefore repute these former words one Argument of Christs divine nature for that then when his Disciples here stood silent He of Himself perfectly knew the secret troubles of their heart But saving the esteem due unto so great Fathers that Jesus Christ was as well God as man the latter clause of this verse (1) Plscator in locum better proveth and that Jesus knew all things other Scriptures sufficiently declare we need not to discompose this Text. Were no other causes manifest yet one plain and visible reason wherefore the hearts of the Disciples should be the less troubled may be (2) Maldonat in locum derived from Christs approaching Resurrection or rather from his approaching Ascension That our Redeemer here looketh quite thorough his Resurrection unto the hour of his ascending I demonstrate from c. 13.33 from c. 13.1 and from this c. 14.1 2. 1. From 1 Proof from c. 13.33 Whether I go ye cannot come They could drink (1) Mat. 20.23 of Christs bitter cup could be baptized could be plunged into a (2) Phil. 3.10 fellowship of his sufferings but unto the Heavens whither he now went they could not now come neither their souls while they abode in the flesh nor their bodies until the general resurrection 2. 2 Proof from c. 13.1 The hour was come wherein Jesus should go not only out of the world but to the Father All Divines own a difference between that measure of joy which departed souls now receive and that consummation of bliss which they shall finally participate together with their glorified bodies But some very learned Interpreters critically distinguish between that (1) Vide sis Grotium in Lucae 23.43 part of Heaven wherein blessed souls do now abide and that whereunto say they the same souls shall at the time of the Restitution of all things be everlastingly exalted They tell us That S. Paul's (2) 2 Cor. 12.24 Paradise was inferiour to his third heaven they affirm That during Christs death Christs soul was only as the Jews call it in (3) Luke 23 43. Paradise and as others phrase it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (4) Fuit dives quidem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed sait 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 etiam Lazarus nam
First Shaketh This Scripture shaketh Unbelieuers from their vain Delusions Subterfuges and Shifts Thou who Iudas-like From their Shifts gaddest so much about to change thy way from bad to worse if worse may be Methinketh I know thy thoughts which come into thy mind every one of them but shall (1) Jer. 16.20 a man make gods unto himself and they are no gods or wilt thon (2) Jer. 51.26 25 24. hew unto thy self a stone for a corner or a stone for a foundation out of a burnt a destroying a Babylonish mountain Now that thou art within thine own view numbred among the enemies of Christ thou wouldest but they are but vain thoughts thou wouldest as one (3) Jer. 17.9 desperately wicked sear thy conscience with a hot Iron thou wouldest give thy self over unto thine own hearts lust one nay peradventure each of these three evils thou wilt flee unto who shall be sorry for thee thou wilt with the Adder stop thine ear against God or if thou give him the hearing thou wilt with the serpent open thy mouth against God or if thon bite in thy lips thou wilt with Lucifer exalt thy heart against God Lest they should tingle at the hearing of all those evils which menace thine unregenerate estate 1. Subterfuge shaken thou foolishly stopest thine ears like the Adder a vermine already like thy self sentenced (1) Gen. 3.14 to the dust and laden with curses I say lest thou shouldest see thine own loathsomness thou turnest away thine eyes thou dost (2) Andabatarum more Job 15.12 Mat. 13.15 wink and fight against God wicked thou hast been and to drown the clamour of thy conscience wicked wilt thou be even forcing thy self upon (3) Jer. 8.6 thine unwarrantable practices as the horse turning his course rusheth into battle but shalt thou (4) Psal 56.7 escape by thine iniquity No no rash soul this is nothing else but to leap from the checks of a frying conscience into the flames of everlasting burnings as the guilty soul of Judas did forlorn wretch Who (5) Job 9.4 hath hardened his heart against God and hath prospered Thereafter as a man feareth so is (6) Psal 90.11 Gods displeasure a heart that (7) Isa 66.5 trembleth moveth pity and the heart of (8) Ezek. 11.19 flesh may (9) Psal 51.17 receive a healing wound but where the heart continueth stony there Christ that (10) Dan. 2.34 mountanous stone falleth with his full weight he (11) Mat. 21.44 grindeth such a heart to mere pouder if thou set briers and thorns in (12) Isa 27.4 against him he will be unto thee a consuming fire I hope thou wilt take watning by Judas he (13) Mat. 26.24 John 6.70.13.21 27. neglected many a fair hint which Christ gave him Oh imitate not the stupidity of him the deafness of him whose (14) Prov. 28.9 end thou darest not think of do not (15) 1 Cor. 10.22 provoke the Lord to anger as he did If a servant if a slave spake unto thee thou wouldest vouchsafe an ear even unto him and darest thou (16) Jer. 5.22 stop thine ear darest thou (17) Jer. 32.33 turn thy back when the God of heaven calleth Be not another Judas give ear and hearken unto Christs words (18) Mat. 4.17 for the mouth of this Lord hath (19) Prov. 1.24 c. 2. Subterfuge shaken spoken 2. A meer (1) Marcus Aurelius heathen could pronounce it equal and just That who so is willingly led into sin should be against his will drawn unto punishment and Truth (2) 2 King 7.9 revealeth That every sin is a vengeance unto it self while one and the same word therefore signifieth the evil of punishment because it (3) Gen. 4.7.19.15 2 Sam. 12.13 Isa 6.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the evil of sin and fitly for as the disunion of the (4) James 2 26 soul from the body is the death of the body so the disunion of good from the soul is the (5) Gen. 2.17 death of the soul wherefore impossible it is that a reasonable Creature should (6) Pro 8.36.14.14 Gen. 20.3 Deut. 30 15. Numb 32.23 chuse sin and refuse death yet thou who (7) Joh. 8.24 1 Cor. 2.14 continuest a very natural fain thou wouldest lay the blame of thy unbelief not upon thine own unregenerate heart but upon the permission of the holy God even of that God who not only (8) Josh 24.15 leaveth thee unto thy free choice but doth also by way of (9) Prov. 8.1 c. prevention (10) Joh. 15.5 instruct nay (11) Neh 9.13 Psal 119.86 Hos 8.12 Act. 17.30 1 Tim 2.4 faithfully command thee for thy good Thou such is thine ignorance standest upon terms Who may say unto a King what dost thou yea no servant is allowed to (12) Tit. 2.9 gainsay his Master yet hast thou the face to (13) Rom. 9.20 reply against thy Lord the King thy King and thy God! whereas it is thy (14) Deut. 4.6 wisdom not to contest but to obey thou instead of fulfilling his good pleasure murmurest and disputest why sayst thou why (15) Rom. 9.19 doth he yet complain Unadvised wreth for shame leave the great God (16) Deut. 29.29 unto the counsel of his own will However know Caitiffe thou canst not ask Who hath resisted his Will for thou hast Rom. 3.23 The Will of God was (17) Gen. 2.17 that thou shouldest not destroy thy self by trying conclusions with the forbidden fruit but even (18) Gens humana ruit per vetitum nifas Rom 7.9 Psalm 58.3 Deut. 29.4 unto this day taste of it thou wilt God for his part (19) Ezek. 33.11 desireth not thy death but thou wo wo unto thee saith the Lord God thou hast (20) Isa 63 3 4 chosen death rather then life He earnesty endeavouring thy preservation vehemently calleth out Why (21) Ezek 18 31 wilt thou die for thy part answer (22) Rom 13 9 thou him if thou canst Judas was indeed a son of perdition but his (23) Hos 13 9 3 Subterfuge shaken perdition was from himself 3. Now that the worm gnawing thine evil conscience hath smitten this gourd also guilt seemeth to turn bank-rupt and so whispereth unto thee as if thy sinfulness were now so beyond all pardon that it were now to no purpose to serve the Lord Well I will not extenuate thy guilt for what (1) Joh 27 8 is the bope of the Hypocrite and what is tby strength that thou (2) Joh 6 11 9 2 3 shouldest hope yet say not thy sins are more then God can pardon but speak truth say thy sins are more then thou wilt part with When Israel (3) Jer 2 25 exclamed There is no hope God drew aside his Vizard and called unto him With-hold thy foot from being unshod and thy throat from thirst just so thou if
holy fear thy slumbering conscience is thorough mercie a little awakened hath at length a little feeling dreameth now at last what an evil thou cherishest by maintaining enmities against the great God for (1) Esa 59 18 he will repay fury to his adversaries and recompence to his enemies Possibly thou beginnest to perceive what a desperate presumption it hath been to make it thy sport to crucifie (2) Heb. 6 6 Christ for had (3) 2 Kings 9.31 Zimri peace who slew his Master Possibly a fore-sight of judgement to come hath affected thy soul with present horrour for the (4) James 2.19 Devils themselves beleeve and tremble Which if thou according to thy wonted impenitencie canst not doe be confounded and astonished at the sense of thy (5) Esa 1.2 Jude 15. crying guilt Except thou repent and believe loe vengeance is at hand lieth ready in store (6) Mat. 3 10 Esa 65.6 and will in an hour which thou art not aware of swallow thee up for ever and ever Alas thou hast foolishly and childishly (7) Jer. 4.22 5.21 25 like one stupid or Starke madd with all contempt and heedlesnesse in the most unthankfull manner that malice it self can suggest from thy youth up despised thy (8) 2 Sam. 12.9 Num. 25.31 1 Sam. 2.30 Lords pleasure and thine own peace No marvell then if wrath already smoaketh against thee alas (9) Deut. 29.19 20. it already breaketh out and as it flasheth first into thy (10) Rom. 2.15 1 John 3.20 conscience scorching that so it will hereafter flash upon thy soul (11) Gen. 2.17 Rom. 6.23 Ezek. 18.4 affrighting that from thy body and will in the end seize again upon thine unclean body (12) John 5.29 forcing that lump of sin to accompany thy lost soul as well in suffering torments as in contracting guilt Now if the Lord hath a mind to destroy thee (13) Esa 63.17 2 Chron. 25.20 Mat. 13.14 15. Deut. 29.4 he will go on to hide from thee these sore evils but possibly the power of the Word hath wrought upon thee possibly thou art afraid of Gods judgements I trust the Lord hath caused thee to tremble at his threats I hope thy heart smiteth thee I hope thou seekest for Jesus If so then but not until then be of good cheer The Master calleth thee I beseech thee therefore whosoever thou art ponder thy life past the hours dayes weeks moneths years which thou hast spent not in service to but in rebellion against a God patient indeed but just and (1) Nahum 1.2 jealous Consider again and again that thou canst not be at the same time in a state of unbelief and in the state of salvation too it will cost more then so to work out thy salvation wouldest thou know in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace thou wouldest what pains soever it shall cost thee watch and pray and strive and strive to make thy calling and election sure Hell flames are about thine ears wilt thou lye still and be burnt in thy bed Art thou so foolish a Coward that thou wilt wink while the Devil stabbeth thee Is it more tolerable to endure torments in hell then to exercise repentance upon earth Are unquenchable flames more to be desired then the Mansions in heaven Is it safer to continue a Judas then to approve thy self a sincere convert and a sound beleever Wilt thou still refuse eternal life rather then accept of it upon Gods terms I deal plainly with thee unless thou canst truly say I (1) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Milesius Thales am not I except thou canst say I my self was (2) Joh. 3.7 Tit. 3.3 such another Judas as is here secluded from these Disciples here spoken unto in this Text except thou canst say such (3) 1 Cor. 6.11 a one was I but I am washed but I am sanctified but I am justified Until thou canst say I was (4) Ephes 2.1.2.3 a child of disobedience I was dead in Trespasses and sin but am now quickned am now a (5) 2 Cor. 5.17 Gal. 6.15 new Creature except thou canst say (6) Rom. 7.25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord this stone of unbelief presseth thee for a mute if thou persist in this stubborness thy hard heart may well be called stony for it shall be nothing (7) Pro. 10.20 worth unless to make a fearful (8) Gen. 19.26 monument of inexcusable guilt and of ineffable Justice There is a (9) 1 Kin. 8.38 Plague in thy heart wilt thou not be made whole when (10) Si non modo quando shall it once be Jer. 13.27 Thou With Joy of whom I travail in birth until Christ be formed in thee the Prophet raised up (1) Deu. 18.15 like (2) Deu. 30.15 unto Moses hath set before thee this day Life and Death viz. Life that thou mayest escape death Death that thou mayest seek life I have heard of one in a Swoon who was mistaken for dead layed out for dead wrapped in a Winding sheet coffined A familiar but sad story related applyed and buried too for dead the same person awaking out of his Trance and finding himself coffined by struggling for life bruised his body to death Shall I apply this He when people thought him quite dead was alive thou O unbeliever hast a name that thou livest but art dead He when he found his body buried bruised it to death couldst thou complain that thou art dead there were hopes of thy life true thy body of sin hath indeed been hitherto merely a black Coffin for thy departed soul the worser Grave-stone of the two remaineth fixed on thy heart of unbelief as immoveably as ever the dust of death lay upon that interred friend nevertheless the good Angel in my Text can (3) Mat. 28.2 roll away this stone He who (4) Joh. 11.44 called Lazarus forth of his grave can speak to thee the dead (5) Joh. 5.25 have heard his voice and thou mayest the Author of this Gospel hath (6) 2 Tim. 1.10 abolished death and brought immortality and Life to light werefore he saith Awake (7) Eph. 5.14 thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee life Set thy soul in order for thou mayest live and not dye Object Object I am fitted for destruction and therefore (1) Rom. 9.22 for ought that I know am a vessel of wrath Answ Answer Though thou art fitted for destruction thou art for ought that thou knowest (1) Eph. 1.4 chosen in Christ Object Object I have in me all the signs of a (1) 2 Cor. 13.5 Reprobate Answ Answer Thou hast the more need to (1) Phil. 2.12 work out thy salvation for God (2) 2 Pet. 3.9 would not have thee perish he would have thee (3) 1 Tim. 2.4 saved Object Object The (1)
* Septemb. 1662. Psal 148.7 9 doth again take root downward and bear fruit upward if not it can be but (3) Ezek. 15.3 cast into the fire for fuel In like manner be it that (4) Isa 5.24 thy blossom go up as dust and thy root as rottenness yet still the fire can but devour thee as stubble the flame can but consume thee as chaff I say conclude it altogether impossible to escape Everlasting burnings it is but trying though Even then when (5) Eccles 8.11 sentence of death hath been passed irrevocably passed I have at our Assizes seen a condemned Malefactor begging for his life Yet (6) Jonah 3.4 forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed but (7) Jonah 3.5 who can tell that God may be better then his word Behold now (8) 1 Kin. 20.31 we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful kings peradventure the now king of Israel may pardon a provoking enemy O Lord thine inexcusable Offendor saith I pray thee let me live Why (9) 2 Kin. 7.3 sit we here until we die if we sit down content with that small pittance of provision which Adam left the Famine will consume us now therefore let us fall into the hands of the all-sufficient God if he save us alive we shall live if he kill us we can but die MOTIVE IV. Gods forbearance Motive 4. Ere we can bury our dead out of our sight such is our affection we rub we rouze we stir we (1) Conclamatum est chafe the breathless body to wit if by any means our friend may recover life before he go hence and be no more seen just thus dealeth thy merciful God with thy soul thou (2) Psal 7.11 hast provoked him every day and every day he hath waited (3) Isa 30.18 65.2 to be gracious his sentence though (4) Jer. 4.12 Eccles 8.11 pronounced is not executed between thee and death there is scarcely one step nevertheless God hath not given thee over to that death I mean that which enumerateth all the curses due unto thy sins death eternal True thy life is as (5) Gen. 47.9 1 Cor. 7.29 short as evil and although short far spent yet quite spent it is not Thoroughout the whole year the Malva horaria hath but one single hour wherein to blossom and from the beginning of ages unto all eternity thou hast no more space wherein to bring forth the fruits of saving faith then is the short remainder of (6) Psal 95.7 6.5 88.11 Eccles 11.3 9.10 John 11.9 9.4 1 Thes 5.5 thine uncertain hour the fag end of thy fleeting days should this last scantling of thy mis-spent life bring forth no blossom confess I must there would then remain no way for thine escape then indeed thy sad soul would be troubled perpetually troubled everlastingly troubled troubled so long as conscience and horror and darkness and brimstone and torments and hell and devils and an avenging God shall endure The patient God he fore-knows all this and fore-knowing all these Judgements to come such is his goodness he hath inched out thy (7) Job 21.17 wasted candle unto this very minute on purpose that from this instant forward thou mayest (8) 2 Pet. 3.9 redeem thy time and thy self I say God giveth unto thee (9) Rev. 2.21 space to repent though but a little space Before thou return again unto the womb of the earth thou Zarah like dost but just (10) James 4.14 Gen. 38.28 29 thrust out thine hand yet rather then this breach should be upon thee thy Mediator imparteth unto thee his scarlet thread He (11) Rom. 2 4â— spareth unto thee life natural that thou mayest receive life supernatural even the life of grace and of glory Redeem (12) Ephes 5.16 the time for thy days have been evil While it is called today let the goodness of thy God lead thee now at last unto repentance Others make the continuance of their life and health an occasion of delays until their delayes on earth become lamentation in hell but what [13] Eccl. 9.10 thy soul findeth to do that do thou presently One moment now is worth [14] Psal 83.11 a thousand ages in the grave Hell is full of good [15] Luk. 13.24 1 Cor. 9.24 intentions while foolish Virgins go to fetch oyl the Bride-grooms [16] Mat. 25.25.10 door is shut God will not be [17] Isa 55.6 found in thy time but in his own present seasons [18] Gal. 6.10 are golden seasons and seldom [19] Rom. 13.11 cometh a better God hath put into thy hands an opportunity to do good unto thy soul improve this [20] Mat 25.27 Talent and thy soul shall live The eldest daughter of unbelief is [21] Ezek. 16.49 Rom. 11.8 Isa 56.10 Prov. 6.10 Mat. 25.26 Heb. 6.12 Amos 6.3 sloath and her grand children are delayes on the other side Faith taketh up her bed and walketh faith useth [22] 2 Pet. 1.5 all diligence and diligence is the chiefest vertue which [23] Heb. 6.9 accompanieth salvation it seeth night [24] John 9.4 at hand it [25] Ibid. worketh so long as day-light lasteth it considereth there is no labouring after we are [26] Eccles 9.10 gone to bed it perceiveth no difference between Time and Opportunity how [27] Rom. 13.11 much time of present life so much opportunity for future salvation the servant which would be found [28] Mat. 24.45 faithful the Steward who would give up [29] Lur. 16.2 a true accompt the debtour that would honestly pay [30] Mat. 18.26 all he oweth interpreteth Gods forbearance [31] Rom. 2.4 as a very great kindness What would Dives [32] Luk. 16.28 what would Judas give for the benefit of one only of those few hours which thy long-suffering God denieth unto them but vouchsafeth unto thee Time [33] Rev. 10.6 shall be no more is an alarm of whch any one that hath ears to hear cannot chuse but take notice it is a dooms-day alarm Of all those talents wherewith we sons of Adam are entrusted there it none of so great moment (34) Mat. 25.24 27 as is this talent of time It is the purse without which (35) Eph. 5.16 we can carry no money about us every dust of this (36) Eccl. 12.1 brittle hour-glass is precious they are dust not of sand but of gold of these what foolish we let fall to the ground God himself [37] Rev. 2.21 picketh up I shall then manifest that I know the things which [38] Luk. 19.42 belong unto my peace when I so compose so deliver a Sermon as the last for ought that I know that ever I shall [39] 2 Tim. 4.2 be suffered to preach I then make a sanctified use of divine patience when I read hear meditate pray c. [40] Eph. 6.18 as watchfully as if I should be never allowed to read hear meditate
or put up petitions any more If any Mercy can melt thy stony heart [41] Rom. 2 4 Gods forbearance will it will melt it into fervent duties The sincere Convert husbandeth hours unto the best advantage and maketh length of days life [42] Rom. 2.7 more abundant MOTIVE V. Motive V. Gods Sentence As sure as death in the grave there is as I just now told thee no Redemption when once sentence is passed [1] Eccle. 11.3 Mat. 25.46 upon examination had there is then no repealing so soon as ever thy farthing [2] Prov. 20.27 24 20 candle is burnt out thy soul if it savoureth not sweet in heaven it is cast into the fire of hell and all this in a moment in (3) 1 Cor. 15.52 the twinkling of an eye sooner then thou canst think of it At this very instant how immediately canst thou the image of Gods Omnipresence how immediately canst thou think of hell although hell be so great a distance off how immediately can thy thoughts ascend even the highest heavens Swift was that last thought of thine but thy souls flight shall be swifter then was thy last thought Man for want of consideration wasteth hours and minutes the (4) Dau. 7.9 ancient of days doth not so Unto him who inhabiteth eternity every little time is so precious that in less space then the space of one moment he dispatcheth the soul from this prison of flesh unto his high Court of Justice and again from his high Court of Justice unto the place of execution or of glory as Justice shall give sentence I say thy breath of life once expired thy winged soul is allowed no time at all to look back no it forthwith appeareth before the judgement (5) 2 Cor. 5.10 seat of God and from thence forthwith unto the joys or miseries by order appointed Thy flesh indeed that is dispensed with until the general (6) John 6.40 Assizes but her Proxie thy spirit that giveth her appearance upon the very first day of the Term. While thy breathless bosom is yet warm either for thee or against thee sentence is pronounced I therefore again exhort that thou wouldest make thy peace with thy God while life nay while health continueth for with thy dying body dyeth all hopes of future repentance When death is once come opportunity is gone Opportunity is therefore gone because Judgement is come Motive 6. MOTIVE VI. Death approaching it stealeth upon thee while thou sleepest Couldest thou return into thy first Infancy and thence begin (1) 1 Cor. 9.24 the race that is set before us thine advantage were little enough either for the running of a race so long or for the obtaining of a prize so high but alas a great part of thy life is already consumed and already consumed in vanity thou art almost out of breath before thou hast at all buckled (2) Luke 12.35 thy self to thy work The Affairs which thou in this thy pilgrimage must of necessity perform are exceeding great but exceeding (3) Gen. 47.9 small is that space of time wherein thou must disspach them although thy duties are not easily compassed thy life is quickly (4) Psal 39.5 spanned thy life is at longest but a winters day thine employment is the business of a whole age of this thine employment an accompt thou must give but how soon (5) Act. 1.7 it is not for thee to know Thou seest on every side many much younger then thy self called away to give up their accompts and of them none so unexpectedly as those who were the healthiest persons Such as least look for him meet their (6) Mat. 24.44 Lord first if ever he (7) Rev. 3.3 come upon thee as a thief it is then when time stealeth from thee to thy disprofit rather then death should overtake (8) 1 Thes 5.4 thee meet it die daily if thou wouldest live for ever if thou wouldest not forget thy self (9) Deut. 32.29 remember thy last end if at any time thou art more unprepared to give up thy last accompt then other at that time above all others look for and hasten unto the coming (10) 2 Pet. 3 12 of the day of thy God if in that day thou wouldest be found faithful in this thy day abide watchful persevere in well doing if thou wouldest endure unto the end redeem thy time if thou wouldest enjoy thy Redeemer and if thou wouldest not fear death fear God MOTIVE 7. Motive 7. A seventh Motive inviteing thy soul to hold fast that which is good is thy natural insufficiency At thy first Creation there was in thee the spirit (1) Gen. 1.26 of a God the light of that spirit Adam quenched and in Adam thou In baptism the same spirit entered into a Covenant with thee the same spirit thou hast again grieved and quenched none of all his mighty workings have prevailed upon thy heart carnally minded thou hast been spiritually minded thou wouldest not be Of all those graces which the holy Spirit of God may justy call for thou canst not produce one Consider now thou hast failed of (2) Furor est post omnia perdere naulum his saving gifts wilt thou render the common gifts of that bountiful spirit useless too the more ungrateful thou hast been in rejecting the one the more thankful thou shouldest be in making a benefit of the other the greater want thou findest of that sufficiency which thou mightest have had from God the greater reason thou hast to plow up the fallow ground of thy heart that thou mayest sow to the spirit if thou hast been so unfaithful that God would not adventure with thee his ten talents be so trusty that God may not repent him of that one talent now in thy hands or if thou hast embesled that Talent yet at least restore unto God his napkin having robbed thy Master of his moneys do not keep from him his purses too thou hast cut off thy (3) Jer. 10.23 legs therefore use (4) Psal 25.12 Hos 6.3 crutches the more thou hast dulled thine (5) Eccl. 10.10 axe the more pains thou must take in hewing thou hast blunted the edge of the spirit it concerneth thee to make the best use thou canst of thine affections thy memory and thine understanding the more graceless thou appearest the more thou art obliged to use all means of grace the Word of God is two-edged as I cannot hope for salvation without the help of Gods Spirit so neither can I (6) Pro. 1.23 Luke 11.13 Rom. 10.17 expect the help of Gods Spirit unless I wait for it in the use of means I (7) Luk 16.11 12 Mat. 25.23 28 must be faithful in my natural abilities if I would be entrusted with spiritual Beside God (8) Luk. 1.53.29 filleth the hungry with good things the more empty thy vessel the more capacious it is to receive the (9) 2 Kin. 4.6 ointment
Tit. 1.16 no such custom neither the Churches of God for our learned Fathers receive these practices from Primitive Antiquity Answ 4. Suppose Genu-flection first arose from a mis-interpreting of Phil. 2.10 Suppose bowing toward the East proceeded from as gross a mistake of Zech. 6.12 Suppose wax candles were originally placed upon the Lords Table in imitation of Jewish yea of heathenish Rites This notwithstanding these customes being now received may each of them have at least a blameless continuance for First what evil is it if a Christian if a sincere Christian bow (1) Eph. 3.14 his knees to the Lord Jesus so often as he pleaseth [2] A Similitude used by way of illustration solemnly in words at length to petition God for a blessing every time throughout the day wherein thou occasionally drinkest would probably not well consist with the duties of thy Calling thou art therefore the more to be pardoned nay the more to be commended if as a pledge of thy Thankfulness throughout the whole following day thou address thy self to the God of thy blessings at the first time every day wherein thou drinkest Just so sincere Christians which bow at the name of Jesus have an equal reverence for [3] See learned Mede upon Mat. 6.9 viz. his Sanctification of Gods name ever Attribute of God but seeing they cannot so conveniently express this reverence every time any divine Attribute of God is mentioned Look what reverence they would shew unto every name of their gracious God that they signifie so often as the holy Jesus is named For the second Where lieth the evil if he who [1] Psal 95.6 worshippeth before the Lord his Maker bow in the most [2] See Gr gory his Notes upon Zech. 6.12.3.8 convenient and usual manner which Antiquity hath prescribed If while he boweth thou wouldest stoop we should have no occasion of complaints that stone would be rolled away For the third Why (1) Tit. 1.15 1 Cor. 9.19 21 Rom. 12.18.14.22 Litigandi pruritus pessima Ecclesiae scabies And by how much the more one affecteth to wrangle by so much the lels he is a Christian Bp. Nicholsons Apology p. 4. art thou more set on fire then are those Tapers They wax not enflamed why dost thou So long as these continue unlighted do not thou burn thy fingers ends rather busie them about this young fancy [2] When I thought as a Child at Westminster-School upon [3] Mat. 1.18 19. Maria Hymenaeo Vxorem statuit Joseph me ducere jussit Afferri taedas O Hymenaee tuas Praegnantem metuit Joseph me ducere latas Accendi (4) We may receive most excellent light for these Tapers from the learned Notes and Observations of Mr. John Gregory of Ch. Ch. Oxon. Cap. XXII a Chapter justly entituled Light taedas O Hymenaee vetat Josephus Hymenaeo Uxorem statui praegnantem ducere nolo Auferri taedas O Hymenaee tuas Uxoris metui zonam dissolvere nolo Accendi taedas O Hymenaee tuas Hymenaeus utrÃque Joseph mox conjux vir nunquam credo futurus Uxor erit virgo virgo Maria parens Inde feram taedas sed has accendere nolim Mirac'lum tantum velâ—ibi lumen erit Answ 5. First What our Church speaketh (1) Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical 1603. Canon XXX of the use of the Cross that may be applied to bowing at the name of Jesus Secondly Daniel (1) Dan. 6.10 from Babylon and Jonah (2) Jonah 2.7 from the belly of the Whale worshipped as near as they could toward the Temple wherein (3) 1 Kin. 8.42 10 God appeared Take therefore no scandal if some Christians worship as near as they can toward that part of the heavens wherein they (4) Act. 1.11 1 Thes 4.17 expect that Christ at his next coming shall appear Custome from hence (5) See Gregory ubi supra viz. cap. XVIII obtaineth that thy Church thy grave digged within that Church and thy body when placed within that grave do all face the East and why nor a (6) Gen. 2.7 living soul as well as a dead body The same Jesus whom Malachi compareth to a Sun and (7) Mal. 4.2 others to a rising Sun is (8) The Chinois Jaâ—i Schiller praefat in Uranograph Christian p 6. col 2. the bright morning Star Worship him all ye Saints (9) Rev. 22.16 Thirdly The Tapers prepared upon the Lords Table tell us that we Gentiles who sat in darkness (1) Luk. 1.79 see great light saith S. Jerom. Answ 6. To the pure these are not only blameless but profitable Doth some one bow toward the Altar Look thou (1) Eccles 5.1 to thy feet when thou enterest the house of God Do others bow at the name of Jesus At the name of Jesus depart (2) 2 Tim. 2 19 thou from iniquity Are there Tapers on the Altar thou (3) Psal 18.28 shalt light my candle for me O Lord my God yea except Cathedral Clergy men be as well burning as shining lights Take they heed lest God remove their (4) Rev. 2.5 Candlestick out of his place once more Answ 7. These are rather practised then enjoyned Wherefore if yet thou deem these or the like Ceremonies neither expedient nor comely be (1) Jade 16. silent be (2) Rom. 12.18 Phil. 3.16 peaceable Let not thy heart be troubled these are no afflictions if they were 1. Reason from the troubles themselves even great afflictions may not trouble thy heart for these Reasons Reason 1. From the nature of the troubles Let not you heart be troubled for your grievances are but (1) 1 Pet. 1.7.4.12 tryals Afflictions arise (2) Job 5.6 not out of the dust they are (3) 1 Chron. 29 14 Psal 39.9 Amos 3.6 ordered from above and their use is (4) 1 Cor. 3.21 Rom. 8.28 heavenly A heaviness I (5) 1 Pet. 1.6 grant they have and may in that regard be truly compared (6) 1 Sam. 25.37 unto stones so apt they are to [7] Ibid. astonish but loe these stones how great soever are not [8] Rev. 6.16 mountains to fall upon us and [9] Rev. 9.6 hide us from God rather they are marble stairs to [10] Molleri praelect in Psal 120. lift us up by steps and by degrees while we approach the [11] Heb. 13.10 Altar So is it with our tryals as it is with our grave-stones in the grave there is [12] Psal 6.5 no remembrance upon the grave there [13] Memoriae sacrum is Double is the use of a tomb-stone the corruption of the body that it [14] Mat. 23.27 burieth but the memory of the person that it [15] Pro. 10.7 keepeth alive Much after the same manner these great stones these heavy afflictione are cast upon us for two distinct purposes they should [16] Psal 119.67.71 75 compared with 1 Cor. 9.27 keep under our corruptions but
horse then toward the benefit of others Souls shall I say nay of your own Souls What comfort can a beleiver have to see many talents entrusted in a rich mans custody and scarce one of all those talents disbursed according unto the Doners good intentions Right Worshipfull yet a little while and eternity will swallow up your souls wherefore I beseech you I beseech you make not your recreations your consumptions Passe your time not in vanities but in (12) 1 Pet. 1.17 fear preferre the (13) Matt 3 16 Dove before the hawke Love not a Dogg more then a God forsake your sports to follow Jesus do not exalt the stables in your back-sides above the Mansions in your fathers house Right Worshipful ye are persons as well of great Understandings as of great Estates Heavenly mansions a dear Redeemer a Gracious God THESE THESE are subjects worthy the affections of a Generous soul Make sure of these and those (14) Rom. 6 14 16 17 will no longer command but serve you They shall be yours more (15) 1 Cor. 3 22 then ever when you are Gods Once beleive in God and (16) Rom. 8.1 ever after let not your heart be troubled 6. To Principia To the Vertuous Ladies of this Island Paula Eustochium Marcella Sophronia S. Jerom sent Epistles not a few The (1) 3 John 1. beloved Disciple St. John wrote as well to the Elect Lady as unto the (2) 3 John 1. noble Gaius wherefore It is but good manners if while I am amongst the Gentrie I salute the Ladies Not because they love to be courted by themselves but because the Bridegroom of souls hath no lesse affection for them (3) Act. 10.34 Gal. 3.28 then he hath for their Fathers or Husbands unto whom they owe obedience Right worshipful as soon may I be induced to commend a Preaching Ministers (1) See Man transformed or The artificial Changling by John Bulwer M. D. of the Hair and of the face See also 1 Tim. 3 8 powderd hair or the (2) Bulwer ubi supra black spots on his (3) 1 Tim. 3 11 Wiâ—es face as to condemn either your [4] 1 Tim. 2.9 broiderd hair or your rich apparel If Modesty be the vail Decency be the fashion and Discretion be the handmaid which attireth you where you aime at the glory of your God in the comelinesse of your persons there dresse your selves as handsomly as ye can the more lovely your complexions are the more you help a sanctified eye Tit. 1.15 to admire that aimiable God from whom ye borrow your native beauties But let not Righi Worshipful let not what provision ye make for the flesh [5] Rom. 13 14 fullfil the lusts thereof Should I go into one of your Kitchens [6] Ostenditur nobis non semper in eos qui peccaverint vindicandum quia nonnuquam amplius prodest Clementia Ambros super Lucae 6.55 and observe there your dresser-board made not of common-Oake but of Cedar-wood your spits made not of ordinary Iron but of the costliest Steel which Spaine affordeth your Cauldrons made not of Brasse but of refined Silver and your pots pots not of bell-metal but of purest Gold I would undoubtedly expect to finde upon your Dining-room or Parlour Cup-boards Plate of no usual value yea I should think you mad if your Withdrawing-Room were not very richly furnished Ladies I have plainly told you my thoughts now I beseech you what will you think of your selves if it appear once that any of you do just thus mis-place your pains and your cost Right worshipfull How tender how delicate how choice soever your curious limbs be your body is still but the Kitchen erected in service unto your Souls (7) Dura reprehensio interdu ne reprehensi animus magis obduretur omittenda Fran. de Mendoza in 1 Sam. 2 36. So apt is flesh to wait on flesh the face soon steals away the heart from minding grace But could you see Graces true riches you would wear these Pearls and let your other go The Body is Souls Cabinet â—f then 〈◊〉 prize the Casket much more prize the Gem. Right Worshipfull A well dressed-dressed-body cloathing an undressed soul is like an exquisite costly mantle covering a tottered beggarly Gown if therefore ye can bestow (1) Dum parantur tomuntur annus est Teren one two three hours in attiring your head it is requisite that you allow three four or five hours in (2) 1 Pet. 1.22 purifying your heart by (3) Acts 15.9 faith Faith faith alone is that which secureth hearts from troubles O Our most Gracious Queen Queen KATHERINE In purity in meeknesse and in all other vertues your SERENE MAJESTIE excelleth Therefore Kneeling down and falling prostrate at your SACRED Feet I am bold to appeal to your ROYAL Experience whether many of those Ladies whom your Majesty hath seen at COURT be not in some measure beside themselves Three Instances I give why I suspect this First They procure Habits and Ornaments of too great a value for their Qualities Next as costly as they be These Habits these Ornaments they [1] That shining star Fulgentius so overlooked the fashion of this world that winter and summer he ware the self-same Cloaths for said he Christians should change not their apparel but their hearts but some vain Ladies would imitate not Fulgentius but Nero who would never wear one raiment twice lavish upon their waiting-Gentlewomen Thirdly how gay soever their Trim-servants are They themselves approach your Sacred Presence carelesly and rudely attired MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY I do therefore conclude that their Habits and Ornaments are of too great value because these if payed for cost much more then what Revenues the Nobles their Husbands possesse can prudently expend I complain that these costly vanities are wasted upon their Attendants because Flesh and Blood are at best but the Souls hand-maidens I likewise affirm that they themselves abide carelesly and rudely attired because these Ladies how unreasonable soever are (2) Gen. 2.7 1 Cor. 15.45 living souls I say living souls although alas poor souls some of them are but sluttishly [3] Me thinketh A Jewel sparkling in Pro. 11.22 a bosome destitute of grace discovereth a delicate fair skin spread over a leprous conscience 1 Pet. 3.3 4. Luke 16.15 apparelled and as slenderly provided for By them no Mansions above no faith in God no [4] No garment like unto the garment of Salvation nor is any beauty like unto the beauty of Holinesse Righteousnesse from Christ inwardly and spiritually thirsted after Good God! Do these Court-Ladies ever dream of keeping Court in Heaven Except they at length imitate the good example of their most Gracious Queen surely their carelesse hearts cannot long continue untroubled A Reverend Father of our Church gravely [1] Bishop Morley Serm. at his Majesties Coronation p. 55. adviseth that once a week Princes should peruse the
hundred and first Psalm Would some of our Ladies once a week read over the third Chapter of Esay it would be both their benefit and their wisdom I professe for my share I smell no harm in your perfumes and other your sweetnesses if they be not too luxurious Rather then put any Countesse to the blush I will not once mention forraign paints or home-made [2] Licitis perimus onns Wherefore let me advise you not to be too presumptuous upon the lawfulness of these but consider expedience that so all may be done that God may be glorified and your selves more and more edified in Christ if you look not to this that which is lawfull in it self will be found unlawfull in you Golden Topaz p. 133. Patches I will make the best construction I can of naked breasts provided the Soul be not naked too But I fear lest as Trajan was indulgent unto all his people saving only unto such of his Subjects as were Christians so some Ladies are tender of every part about them excepting their Souls Ladies were you once so wise as to maintain but not exceed your Quality no Christians under Heaven would have lesse cause to trouble their heart then you your selves would have True A woman and a glasse are ever in danger but a woman and a Bible are ever in safety It is said of that holy Martyr Polycarpus that while his body was burning his scorched flesh sent forth a smell fragrant as Frankinsence it self just so the exemplarinesse of that Lady who is crucified unto the world hath a sweet winning influence upon all about Her while the comlinesse of her body [3] Gratiorest pulch-oveniens de corpore virtus adorneth the lovelinesse of her duties Moreover what the Christian Lady reserveth from excesse that she improveth unto spiritual advantages Shee upon [4] Reade if my Pen be more copious in this then in other places Know I am so ready a writer here because here I fall upon a Description of a Lady now with God viz. the Lady Anne Overbury of a Lady now with us the Lady Hester Overbury of Mrs. Mary Whitlock of Mrs. Hester Cressewick and of others among us unto every of whom quod dedisti Viventi decus atque sentienti Rarae post cineres habent beatae Yet as they themselves seek the praise which is not of men but of God So neither seek I to slatter but to admonish My scope is to have Their sight so shine among men that they seeing their good works and imitating their good examples may together with them glorifie Him from whom alone cometh every good and perfect gift and to whom alone belongeth the glory and the praise all opportunities maketh friends of unrighteous Mammon Shee disperseth to the poor visiteth the sick countenanceth the Gospel and furnisheth her Closet rather with religious Books then with fancy-full Toyes Her very Sex maketh her tender-hearted Hence it is that shee is more zealous in love of the truth in love toward Christians and in love toward God then holy persons of a masculine judgement are Now as she buyeth the truth so she redeemeth the time shee weareth her watch on purpose because she would not confer more hours upon that body which must be covered with wormes then upon that Soul which is a companion for Angels Chambering she loveth but it is for meditation-sake Her Chamber is her Chappel and herein she getteth the start of Students themselves for as she delighteth to improve her spare-hours so she hath more hours to spart then any of any other profession whatsoever she is so meek so obliging so courteous so commanding over all her affections that if she were no Lady you would call her one It is not by chance that while we super-scribe Lords Honourable and Knights Right-Worshipfull we write their Ladies Vertuous That person which walketh worthy the Lord leadeth a life like a Lady so naturally do a Ladies Vertues adorn the Gospel of Jesus Christ If afflictions be the trials of a sanctified Lady her sorrows exercise a godlinesse if prosperity be her trial she remaineth as good as prosperous Such is her moderation in worldly affairs that you will not find she aboundeth with Coin otherwise then from her works of charity of liberality of hospitality of bounty of piety and of munificence So full of leasure she is that you find her ever busied but it is in encreasing a spiritual knowledge in conversing with Believers in instructing Heir Families and to speak at once in rejoycing in Heir God Multitudes of Believers was St. Jerome throughly acquainted with but among all his Acquaintance he found no Christians so nearly resemble the Saints in heaven as Elect Ladies did In the holy Gospels more Women then Men are noted for ministring of their substance unto the Lord And if the wisest of Kings King Lemuel do at the last undertake to recommend a vertuous woman he runneth on in her praises unto the end of the Chapter I had almost said unto the end of the Book I conclude then that wise Ladies like the wise Virgins therefore keep their hearts from needlesse troubles that they may take oyl in their Lamps They resort so often to their Fathers house that they are perfect Courtiers for they have their conversation in Heaven they do with so much perseverance believe in God that they are ever cloathed if I may so speak with inherent Humility and imputed Righteousnesse Lastly while they study muâ—â— to please most THE man Christ Jesus Saints they seem and Saints they are 6. To have respect of persons is not good To men of low degree much lesse to have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons Wherefore redeeming my time from persons of high degree in duty [1] Rom. 12.16 I apply my self unto men of low estate Beloved Once contrive ye to [1] Josh 9.5 dwell in the promised Land I shall then yield There is no craft unto the clouted shoes Let Dives [2] 1 Cor. 1.26 thrive in his [3] 1 Tim. 6.9 10. own grease As for you you know It is grace [4] 2 Cor. 1.12 not money that warmeth the man The Bustard cannot flee farre by reason of his [5] 1 John 2.15 great Wings but the wings of a [6] Rom. 8.6 Dove flee away and be at rest The lesse ye are laden with the [7] 2 Tim. 2.4 lumber of this World the [8] 1 Tim. 6.9 10. more easie is your pilgrimage toward Canaan Many a Merchant had [9] Luke 8.14 21 34. saved his life had he flung his goods Eccl. 11.1 into the Sea Beloved ye have no such [10] Jam. 1.9 temptation to ship wrack your faith as great Personages have Again should ye sow among [11] Jer. 4.3 thornes ye were but [12] Mat. 13.22 ill Husbands if ye plow not up the [13] Gal. 6.7 fallow ground of your hearts the thistles which grow up in
Laurels as for you beloved ye may be fed with (7) Revel 2.7 the Tree of Life Make Religion your (8) As Mr. Herbert Palmer in structeth businesse exercise your busie Soules in a lively faith and that knowing the season Brethren It is now your seed-time lose not such fair-weather in due season ye shall reap if ye sow unto the Spirit Ye are now in the flower of your age your month is the month of May if ye have not overcome many a (9) 1 John 2.14 spiritual wickednesse it is your sloth and no pity ye deserve if in you the Word of God (10) ibid. abideth not it is your indiscretion and ye may thank your selves He among you that is fullest of complaint were he well aware of it hath the (11) 2 Pet. 1.9 10 remedy from within himself If with (12) 2 Tim. 3.15 Timothy with (13) 1 Sam. 2.18 Samuel with (14) 2 Kings 22.19 Josiah c. ye have not been tender-hearted from your Child-hood yet at least with (15) 1 Kings 18.3 12 Obadiah fear the Lord with (16) Psal 71.5 David trust in the Lord from thy youth up Yea let God remember thy (17) Jer. 2.2 early Kindnesses Whom the Gentiles fancied to be (18) Apollo their God of wisdom Him they resembled unto a young man a truth it is wisdom in a young man seemeth somewhat divine Unto this reputed God of wisdom these Gentiles consecrated as the Emblemes of their manhood and prudence their first shaved beards the moral is good Sacrifice unto the Lord thy God Sacrifice the (19) Nihil videbant suum quoniam Dei totum Salvian de Dei guber lib. 8. first and the best of thine abilities While thou art now in the beginnings of thy strength follow him (20) Semper in amore cautela est Nemo enim melius diligit quam qui maxime veretur offendere Salvian Epist fully Serve him with all thy might Prepare thy Soul and thy Spirit as an (21) Rom. 12.1 offering in a clean Vessel and so (22) Esay 66.20 bring them into the house of the Lord In all thy wayes (23) Psalm 37.4 5. acknowledge him A young mans glory is his (24) Pro. 20.29 strength I have therefore written unto you young men because ye are strong strong I hope in [25] 1 John 2.14 Eph. 6.10 2 Tim. 2.1 Jer. 9.24 the Lord. To middle-aged men A Child is (1) Pro 22.6 ready to learn all things a young person is (2) 2 Sam. 18.22 ready to prove all things but neither of them is so apt to hold fast his profession as are ye ye who measure the midst of your age for ye have (3) He who is about the middle of his age may Janus-like at once look both behind him and before him climbed unto the height of the Hill of the Hill of Zion I hope Ye do or may perceive whither your travails bend He that is not setled in his estate not setled in his judgement not setled in his resolution at forty when will he be setled A wise man will provide rather for Children then for Orphanes and late Marriages are seldom proserous Therefore I presume thou art by this time constant unto thy self If a single life be thy choice and that choice thou canst (4) Matth 19.12 well bear I trust thou art (5) 1 Cor. 7.32 wedded unto thy Devotion I trust thou joynest thy self (6) 1 Cor. 6.17 unto that Lord who will give thee a Name (7) Esay 56.4 5 better then of Sons and of Daughters Neverthelesse in as much as God is the God of the married as well as of the unmarried If in a single life you find no joy If in a single life you find no joy Marriage (1) Sir Thomas Overbury his Wife your lust as 't were with fewel fire Will with a Medicine of (2) 1 Cor. 7 9 At contra hunc ignem Veneris si non Venus ipsa nu'la est quae possit vis alia opprin ere Val. Aedituus the same allay And not forbid but rectifie desire Where brash flames threaten Chimneys lay on wood That spends the flame and keeps the fabrique good Nor doth my marriage order lust alone A second self may (3) Gen 2.18 Eccles 4 9 Sir Thomas Overbury ubi supra help me ev'ry way And ' gainst my failings make me two for one My self 4 I cannot chuse my Wife I may And in the choice of her it much doth lie To 'mend my self in my Posterity Venus was Saturn is The heat of thy blood cooleth but thy love of this world waxeth feverish youthfull (1) 2 Tim. 2.22 lusts are pretty well spent but (2) 1 John 2.16 pride of life cometh on apace alas the lusts of thy flesh are (3) ibid. crept into thine eyes Thy disease removeth from thy (4) Psal 16.7 reines into thy (5) James 4.4 head from thy (6) Pro. 7.23 liver into thy (7) 1 Tim. 6.9 heart The Enemy who hitherto battered thy soul with (8) 1 Pet. 2.11 thine own flâ—sh doth now cast up Bulwarks against thee upon (9) Psalm 62.10 thine own ground That unclean Spirit which (10) 2 Tim. 2.22 haunted thee in thy youth doth now transform himself into a (11) 2 Cor. 4.4 God of this world The trouble of thy heart was (12) Rom 8.6 a carnall mind once the trouble of thy heart is (13) Phil. 3.19 an earthly mind now Wherefore the Holy Ghost proceedeth from adulteries and fornications (14) Mat. 15.19 unto theft and false witnesse from fornication and uncleannesse (15) Gal. 5.19.20 unto hatred variance emulations yea (16) Eph. 5.3 unto down-right covetousnesse For which cause having warned us that Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge He (17) Heb. 13.4 5 presently addeth Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with what ye have Thus having endeared our Souls and bodies (1) Rom. 12.1 as a reasonable sacrifice unto our God the Apostle immediately forewarneth us against another of Satans stratagems Be not saith he (2) Rom. 12.2 be not conformed unto this world Beloved whether our life past hath been or hath not been consumed in a state of unbelief this Exhortation of St. Pauls remaineth very pertinent and seasonable First If from the womb (1) Esay 48.8 unto our infancy if from the dayes of our (2) Esay 65.20 infancy unto the yeares of our youth if from our youth up unto present maturity we have drank in iniquity as if it [3] Job 15.16 were wholsome water now that we are of a ripe understanding it doth so much the more (4) Jer. 13.27 concern us to provide for the health of our Souls after so long so many provocations we are I say the more neerly concerned now at length (5) 1 Pet. 4 2 3 to believe in God and
Sed ad pervidendâ—m quid sit quod ad beatam vitam essiciat calig mt Seneca de vi â beata Sapiens autem nihil facit quod non debet nihil praetermittit quod debet Idem de Clementiâ l. 2. perish in the using upon the vain diversions of pleasures profits and honours or upon the removing of these unnecessary troubles from our hearts Surely the best of our life is then best husbanded when eying Death Judgement Hell Heaven and Eternity we prepare our selves for these The Holy Ghost calleth unto children as children unto [13] Psalm 148.12 1 John 2.12 13 14 young men as young men unto old men as old men but he nowhere singleth out middle aged men as middle-aged viz. He that is now about the midst of his age hath the vigour of his youth seconded with the gravity and experience of an aged person it were therefore a notorious shame for him to be negligent of believing his God of trusting upon his Saviour and of hastening to his Fathers House Some [14] Apothegms by Mr. George Herbert p. 189 190. would have it the praise of Bellarmine that he is ever as constant to himself as if he had written all his Works in two hours Oh that Believers would be thus constant unto [15] Urbemâ— produnt dum castella defâ—ndunt Cicero de divin lib. 2. their spiritual peace especially in this midst of their age [16] Psalm 102 24 Suave illud facile fecit consuetudo which maketh constancy facile and almost natural It was [17] Eph. 5.16 a good practice of Ignatius Loyola in that when he heard the Clock strike he would say to himself and unto others I have now one more hour of my life to answer for Beloved of all the hours of our life the hours for which we shall be most accomptable are these of our best estate because in these we have most ability to refuse the evil [18] 1 Cor. 14.20 and chuse the good In these we best understand what a [19] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tha'es trouble of heart every thing is that doth not forward our Salvation In these we may best goe from strength [20] Psal 84.7 2 Pet. 3.18 to strength from an earthly poverty to a spiritual from [21] 1 Tim. 6.17 trusting in Riches to a trusting in the living God from [22] Psalm 16.11 empty pleasures to heavenly expectations Of all the ages of a mans life this is the age which draweth nearest unto that perfection wherein Adam [23] Eph. 4.13 was created and which [24] Luke 3. Christ sanctified by his Administration of the Gospel of our peace If ever we can be so wife [25] See Mr. George Herberts Poem entituled Elixar as to make Gold of Copper to make a spiritual benefit of all that is before us it is now that we are in our full strength still fisheth he that [26] 1 Pet. 2.2 3 hath catched one fish he that hath found in his Child-hood what (27) Psalm 119.165 Phil. 1.10 3.12 Luke 10.27 peace they have who love Gods law he that in his youthfull dayes walked with God will now in the excellency of his life believe in God rejoyce in Christ and make sure of the Mansions in his Fathers House 4. If Wisdom be expected from full age Unto aged persons much more is it expected from you that are full of dayes Plutarch relateth of Alcibiades (1) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. Alcib that he rendred his Infancy his youth and his manly stature exquisitely amiable and pleasant may what was attributed unto his limbs be due unto the vertues of a believers soul yet we shall not conclude such a one perfect untill he hath also crowned his gray hairs with spiritual wisdom Alas so doth time (2) Psalm 144.4 undermine us that half our life is spent before we begin to live unto our God and if we are alive unto God (3) 2 Pet. 1.8 it is a holy conversation which preserveth us as we are Yeares know more (4) No wisdom like the wisdom of experience then Books and tell us by experience that what abideth in vanity endeth in vexation Therefore I said (5) Job 32.7 Dayes should speak and multitude of Yeares should teach wisdom But although it becometh me to keep silence before the gray hairs here is one in my Text who hath a right to speak Verily When the evill dayes are (6) Eccl 21.1 come when the yeares are drawn nigh wherein ye complain ye have no pleasure it is then our Duty to beseech you Let not your heart be troubled Hours are spent since your Sun was in the Zenith yea your Sun O my Fathers is not farre from setting now the long shadow (7) Eccl. 6.12 which it doth now cast wanteth but a little of the shadowes of Death You have numbred twice as many dayes upon earth as our Saviour Jesus Christ himself did If ye know not (8) Hos 7.9 gray hairs are here and there upon you these are Messengers which of his loving kindnesse the Ancient of Dayes sendeth unto you The staves in your hand rap at Deaths door rather at the Mansions in your Fathers House you will therefore call upon your God who is eares to the deaf eyes to the dim-sighted health unto broken-bones and a staffe of life unto all such as lean upon him He that hath taught you from your youth (9) Psalm 71.17 18 will not forsake you when old and gray-headed especially if ye declare the works which he hath done and shew your Childrens Children what the Lord hath wrought for you and yours (10) Psal 44.1 in your dayes The observations of aged Christians are Treasures layed up (11) Psal 102.18 for Generations to come more precious then those prepared by the Chinois against two or three hundred yeares hence while our Fathers tell us what was done in their dayes the troubles which arrest their age they feel not Their (12) Prov. 16.31 hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousnesse They can convince us how insipid (13) Gal. 6.14 Creature-comforts are unto him that savoureth the things that are of God They will accompt so many of their years lost utterly lost as have not been exercised unto (14) Eph. 5.16 godlinesse They will professe they never were (15) Deut. 32.29 truly wise untill they at last began in all their actions to consult not the world but the holy Scriptures not their own inclinations but the pleasure and praises of their (16) 1 Cor. 10.31 God So much and no more they have lived as they have believed in God as they have believed in Christ and as they have surveighed the Mansions in their Fathers House Thus much they know and thus much they will tell us when we (17) Eccl. 7.4 Keep company with good men and thou shalt be of
Christ hath (4) Gen. 3.15 1 Pet. 5.8 Rom. 5.12 21 no such occasions of complaint we have indeed received a mortal over-throw in the fall of Adam great is the misery great is the reproach many are the troubles which that old Serpent hath maliciously brought upon us all But our comfort is that (5) 1 John 4 4.2.13 14 5.4 5 as our shame dieth not so neither dieth our Adversary the Devil No He is so full of his stratagems so good at tempting that he daily appeareth in his likenesse daily giveth us fresh opportunities of (6) 1 Pet. 5.9 James 4.7 avenging our selves upon his pride while through Christ who (7) Phil. 4.11 strengtheneth us we daily (8) Eph 6.13 withstand him (9) James 4.7 resist him wound (10) Gen. 3.15 Psalm 68.21 118.7.41.11 his head and put (11) 1 John 2 14 him to flight He who resisteth stedfast in the faith shall see his desire upon his enemy By this we know that God favoureth us because our enemy doth not (12) Psalm 41 11 triumph over us Seventhly The wise Virgin will not then (1) Mat. 25.4 be to seek for oyl when the bridegroom is comeing Neither will the experienced believer want a (2) Psalm 23.4 staffe while he either [3] Gen. 32.10 foardeth Jordane or climbeth the wearisom top of [4] Deut. 34.1 Pisgah He knoweth that every [5] Eccles 12.1 Jer. 12.5 mile is two in winter He is so thriving that he [6] John 12.35 layeth up a penny against Christmas He walked [7] Eph 5.16 while he had light [8] 1 Tim. 6.19 and made provision for a dear day He cannot say So many years I have lost the [9] Psalm 90 12 more years he numbreth the more he applieth his heart unto a spiritual wisdom He expecteth the [10] 1 Peâ— 5.8 assaults of Sathan and therefore armeth himself with [11] Ephes 6 14 16 17 sheild and helmet He is not now to make his last will at least his Soul he hath [12] Psalm 86 2 bequeathed unto God Ere ever [13] Revel 2 22 he be layed upon his bed of languishing he hath set his soul in order so doing He valueth a [14] Psalm 95 7 8 Luk. 19.42 2 Cor. 6.2 John 7.34 feather in hand more then a bird in the aire and esteemeth one [15] 2 Tim. 3.5 Eph. 6.6 7 Josh 24.14 ounce of sanctified goodnesse before a whole bushel of fruitlesse ostentation He furnisheth his heart [16] Psal 119 11 with spiritual knowledge exerteth [17] Esa 64.7 2 Peâ—â—â— 3 18 his knowledge into faith his faith into strong assurance his assurance into a love unfeined when chill age [18] Eccles 12 1 benummeth and palsieth as well his understanding as his head he then [19] 2 Tim 4.7 knoweth in whom he hath believed He can then live [20] Col 3 16 upon the quick stock When his sight and Hearing utterly fail then [21] Psal 71 18 Heb 13 5 John 13 1 Phil 1 6 Jude 24 Revel 1.18 then as in winter Swallows and summer birds subsist upon a vital heat and are of themselves a nourishment unto themselves the spirit of God that [22] Phil. 119 4.19 sustaineth him and so richly doth Gods word dwell in his retired memory that his meditation [23] Psal 1.2.63 6.104.34.119 97 99. 1 Tim. 4.15 Josh 1 8. knoweth no night Eightly He who [1] Deut. 28.66 Esa 33 18. feareth death enjoyes not life He therefore [2] 1 Cor. 15.31 Ipsa consuetudine matus exolescit Plin. lib. 1 Ep. 4. dieth daily The consumed candle while it winketh and winketh untill it catcheth after [3] Psal 18.28 Job 21.17 her vanished flame night by night reneweth unto him the future [4] James 4.14 expiration of his deceasing Soul Nor is it any new thing with one of his age [5] Job 17.13 to go to bed in the dark His Lords leisure he [6] Psal 27.14 tarrieth His masters [7] Job 14.14 call he attendeth but can most chearefully [8] Revel 14 13 rest from his labours so soon as ever his God shall allow him [9] John 11.12 Job 3.13 to sleep He sleepeth sweetly who [10] 1 Thess 4 14 sleepeth in Jesus Ninthly A necessity is layed upon the long-lived Christian His old age hath no time to dally in He hath received (1) Charon me momordit Demonax in Eras Apo. l 8. his praestomoney and must march If to Heaven (2) John 5.29 he will not to Hell he shall Other (3) Gen. 27 2 people may die but he must Wherefore he of this necessity [4] Nihil neque meum est ne jue cujasquam quod auferri quod cripi quod amitti potest M. T. Ciceronis Paradoxa maketh a vertue so great a vertue that the nearer he cometh to the shoare the more he prepareth for rocks If at any time Nature beginneth to shrink Grace upbraideth it or if through melanchosly his dejected soul draweth a little back she recoileth [5] Phil. 1.23 with a more vigorous resolution Nay if the God of his life should freely put it unto his choice whether he would be [6] Gen. 5.24 translated like Enoch caught up [7] 2 Kings 2.11 like Elijah or dye the death like their and his Master He would refuse Elijahs fiery Chariot and Enochs milder assumption for one dust of his Redeemers [8] Compare Job 30.23 with Luk. 7.6 7 and 1 Cor. 15.55 57 John 11.16 Grave I say he would with a holy ambition desire to taste of that Cup which his dearest God did [9] Heb. 2 9 drink off and sweeten From a transitory life to an everlasting life passe he would but upon no easier terms then [10] St. Peter thought himself so unworthy to be crucified as Christ was that he obtained leave to be crucified with his heels upwards what his Lord and Master accepted before him and for his sake Lastly Of all the Romane Souldiers none no not the Principes themselves were so great a stay unto the Empire as [1] For Ad Triarios ventum est if once the stresse of the Battel came unto them were the Veterani and among all the Souldiers of Jesus Christ none are more exemplary unto the Churches of God then are they who are aged [2] Psalm 71.18 as well in the practice of piety as in the multitude of days Polycarpus gave us an instance of this said he [3] Enseh Eccles Hist Eighty five years have I served God neither hath he ever offended me at all how then can I to escape Martyrdom revile my King who hath hitherto kept me 1 Therefore reverence your gray hairs O aged [1] Qu bus nihil opis est in i sis ad bene bia qu vivendum iis omais gravis est aetas qui autem omnia bena â seipsis petunt iis nihil potest
doest (22) Psalm 119.104 hate every false way but thou doest hate thy false heart more viz. for being so unwilling to have any evil way whatsoever So often as sin brancheth out and that isperpetually thou shouldest strike at the root I mean at the original sin which [23] Rom. 7.18 20 dwelleth in thee If the world is crucified to thee [24] Gal. 6.14 thou wouldest be crucified to the world that is if thou couldest Thy stiffe neck is ever [25] Rom. 7.24 painfull to thee the back-slidings of thy heart cast thee down while thou keepest it even with the greatest diligence that thou canst Long it was before thou couldst crucifie this [26] Gal. 5.24 affection or the other lust but the flesh that body of sin that doth to this hour keep thee wretched and low in thine own eyes Let not sin reign [27] Rom. 6.12 in your mortal body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof This obedience is the outward actings of sin these lusts are the inward breathings of sin the sin it self which is so forward to reign is not some one partscular vanity but that [28] John 3.6 flesh of thine that [29] Rom. 7.23 Law in thy members that corrupt bent of thy soul and body and spirit which maketh [30] Rom. 7.21 25 thee so subject to revolt from God and his Christ Now if we would not have this sin [31] Rom. 6.12 14 reign in our mortal bodies we [32] Pro. 13.5 Job 42.6 Psalm 32.5.51.3.73.22 Ezek. 16.61 63 must loath it as that which aggravateth whatsoever evil thoughts words or deeds we are guilty of unlesse we be [33] Job 40.4 vile in our own eyes let us never expect to be precious in [34] Isa 1.18 43.4 Gods sight The [35] Jer. 8.22 Matth 11 28 balm of Gilead is not for us unlesse we complain of our wounds and bruises and putrified soares In that Fountain [36] Zech. 13 1 which is opened unto the house of David we see our Leopards spots and the heart is therefore troubled because it is not [37] Nahum 2.7 Psalm 31.10 Rom. 7.15 24 troubled enough The more the Holy Spirit delivereth it from the power of darknesse the more darknesse it [38] Psalm 19.12 25.4.26.2.31.3.139.2 3 4 23 24 complaineth of The more he beateth down Satan the more jealous we (39) 2 Cor. 2.11 are of Satans stratagems Heathen Moralists could lop off the (40) Rom. 2.14 branches of sin but we Christians must (41) Jer. 3.10 Col. 3.15 Rom. 8.1 lay the axe to the root of the Tree sin reigned in their hearts the Spirit of God must rule in ours We then bethink our selves of the Mansions in our Fathers House when we begin to believe in Christ we then begin to believe in Christ when we are turned (42) Acts 26.18 from the power of Satan unto God we are then turned from the power of Satan unto God when the sinfulnesse of our corrupt mind is (43) John 14.1 2. Rom. 8 11 14.7.24 25 so the trouble of our heart that it quickneth us to believe in God through Jesus Christ our Lord. To conclude If the Twins do not struggle in the womb it is a manifest Symptom of miscarriage for the (44) Gal. 5.17 Rom. 7.8 14 17 19 Heb. 12.1 4 Psalm 19.12.25 11 20 21 Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that you cannot do the things that ye would But if ye (45) Rom. 8.15 allow not of your evils if your sin doth not (46) Rom. 6.12 get dominion over you if you be (47) Rom. 8.1 13 14 led by the Spirit if you (48) Gal. 5.25 16.18 walk after the Spirit if your (49) 2 Cor. 4.16 renewed minds seeke (50) 1 John 3.3 Heb. 12.14 holinesse strive (51) Col. 4.12 after perfection chuse (52) Esay 66.4 whatsoever your Lord delighteth in making the Glory of your God the (53) 1 Cor. 10.31 Deut. 16.15 26.11.12.12 18. Psalm 119.14 Esay 61.10 Deut. 28.58 27.9 10. Phil. 4.4 Col. 3.17 businesse and joy of your Souls then though troubled it be let not your heart be troubled believe in God believe also in Christ In my Fathers House are many Mansions The Stone thus rolled away from every heart we all of us are raised unto life more abundant IN what sort the person here speaking In particular Uses applyeth himself [1] Page 11. unto Gospel Ministers restrictively and unto [2] Page 53 Gospel-Professours universally we have long since perceived We have heard him speak [3] Page 55 privatively to None of you Unbelievers [4] Page 109 positively to All of you that believe I shall now proceed from the persons spoken unto to the matter spoken of and that I [5] Page 2. 14 told you was matter of Reproof matter of Instruction and matter of Comfort And I beseech you Brethren [6] Heb. 13.22 suffer a word of Exhortation lest the Stone rolled away tumble back upon us again let us let us passe from the Duty here enjoin'd unto the means here recommended let us to say no more make application of our Text. Beloved Hitherto we have heard a Voyce [7] Matth. 3.3 crying in the Wildernesse we now more fully prepare the way of the Lord Hitherto we have examined to whom we would apply this Gospel we now enquire what this Gospel is which we would apply Hitherto we have beheld the [8] Mar. 16.4 Stone rolled away now rolleth [9] Esay 48.18 in upon us Life more abundant namely First The [10] Pro. 15.21.6.23 Life of Reproof Next The [11] Pro. 10.17.16.22 Life of Instruction Thirdly The [12] Pro. 3.18 22 Life of Consolation Lastly that which [13] Psalm 145.1 2 3 7 146.2.147.1 crowneth all our Consolations to wit a Thankful Life A Life thankfull while we overcome the troubles of the heart thankfull while we exercise Faith in God through Jesus Christ our Lord thankfull while we expect the Mansions in my Fathers House Uses 1 Of Reproof When you read how the Angels of the Lord [1] Mar. 28.2 came and rolled back the Stone from the door of the Sepulchre you will not imagine that this Augel heaved it lifted it and shouldered it as men shouldered away that other stone from [2] John 11.38 39 41 the Grave of Lazarus No who art thou [3] Zec 1.4.7 O great Mountain which standest before Zerubbable The very presence of an Angel of the Lord caused [4] Mat. 28.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great shaking viz. of that part where the Grave was Hammoad Annot on Matth. 27.51 the Earth to quake now beyond all peradventure the earth so quaked that the stone unsetled shook joggled tottered and could not choose but roll yea [5] Mar. 16.4 the more weighty it was the
14.32 sullen silence and edifying [79] Eph. 4.16 of Christs Church in love If otherwise It will be no [80] Luke 16.2 Heb. 13.17 sufficient answer at the great and last Day when [81] Mat. 10.36 the thoughts of all hearts shall be revealed that we might [82] 1 Cor. 7.24 have abode in our holy Galling might have [83] 1 Cor. 9.16.22 won many of those Souls for whom [84] Act. 20.28 Christ dyed could have preached the Gospel could have traded [85] Mat. 25.28 with our ten Talents but we were so high-minded that we therefore would not because [86] James 3.16 we might not have forsooth our own wills and wayes Would we confesse a truth the [87] See Mr. Calamy upon this subject Percz Uzzi upon that Sermon of Mr. Calamies glory is not departed from Israel but we our selves are departed from the glory The garment [88] Isa 61.10 of Salvation is the same now which formerly it was but unthankfull we pick quarrels about the fringe if we would but touch the hem [89] Mat. 9.21 of our Saviours garment we might all of us be healed We have I say the [90] Ephes 4.4 5 6 same Lord still but the strife is [91] Luke 22.24 who among us shall be uppermost I had rather be [92] Psalm 84.10 a Door-keeper in the Tabernacles of my God then [93] Rom. 14.15 shut any of the Mansions in my Fathers House from any of the Disciples of Jesus Christ The Lord roll away from us his Ministers every stone of Offence the Lord preserve the Lord continue by us his Ministers abundance of life in the peace of his Gospel 2. Others there are of a long Robe too Unto some Lawyers who will not altogether escape reproof Wo unto you Lawyers if ye trouble your Clients hearts by rendring their defensive causes (1) Esay 1.17 58.6 burdensome and destructive Wo unto you Lawyers if ye plead so long for your Glients Mansions that ye your selves (2) Many a Lawyers house is built upon a foâ—ls bead get into their Fathers house I might add Wo unto you Lawyers if while ye gain Wealth by the Law ye lose the (3) Mat. 6.33 16.26.13.22 benefit of the Gospel I mean if ye covet so much the honours and profits of this world that ye allow (4) Luke 8.14 1 Tim. 6.17 nor leisure unto your neglected souls to effectually believe in God the righteous (5) Heb 12.23 judge of all men and in Jesus Christ your only (6) 1 Joh. 2.1 Mediator and Advocate The Trumpet soundeth (7) 1 Cor. 15.25 2 Cor. 5.10 in your eares Thirdly These words of my Text speak Reproof unto some Practitioners of Physick Unto some Physitians not for studying Galen or Hippocrates but for not studying the Word of Life viz. First The house of (1) Eccl. 7.2 mourning readeth frequent Divinity-Lectures especially against the flesh and the world Let Religio medici flatter her self how she pleaseth He is not far from an Atheist who while (2) Eccl. 7.4 he administreth Cordials unto dying bodies receiveth no experience for living Souls Secondly Although Theology be indeed no [1] Col. 3.16 part of the Physitians profession yet it is a very requisite accomplishment Be the other Ingredients what Physick shall see cause to direct godlinesse [2] 1 Tim. 4.8 should be ever be one of the prescriptions True it is not the Physitians errand to ease the heart from trouble but it [3] Heb 10.24 lyeth in his way though He hath a constant opportunity to shew some spiritual kindnesse unto persons sick at the very heart and having [4] Gal 9.10 opportunity he should do as [5] 1 Sam. 10. occasion shall serve he should lead his Patient from the chastisement [6] Heb. 12.11 of the body unto the comforts of the soul Thirdly It is not the Practitioner of Physick but the great God who disposeth of (1) 1 Chron. 16.12 King Asa the sick bed is a (2) Rev. 2.22 summons to Repentance We are chastened of the (3) 1 Cor 11.32 Lord that we may not dye in our sins the Herb can bring no healing Vertue which she doth not first (4) Mat. 4.4 borrow from her Creatour in short God is professedly the God both of our (5) Psalm 103 3 health and of (6) 1 Sam. 2.6 our life every of which particulars sufficiently convince us that the speediest mean to cure the body is to (7) 1 Sam. 41.4 Matth. 9 5. begin with the Soul so speedy so effectual a course is this that every one who is a good practitioner in Physick either is or should be like Saint Luke (8) Col. 4.14 not only a Physitian but an Evangelist To conclude By many Patients the Physitian (1) 2 Chron. 16.12 is sooner thought off then the Parson yea full often the Doctor of physick is admitted while the Doctor of Divinity (2) Jam. 5.14 is shut out Consider now a word spoken in season (3) Prov. 15.23 how good is it Pity pity it is that the heart of him who gaspeth for life should (4) Psalm 73.26 be almost spent through want of Balm from Gilead If the Minister cannot be may not be or is not in presence care (5) Jam. 5.15 must neverthelesse be timely had that for him who is just now giving up the ghost prayer and intercession be tendered unto the Father of Spirits Alas no Medicines (6) Psalm 94.19 116.8.119.81.42.1 2 84.1.62.5 are healing unto a Soul thus troubled There is no trusting unto Physick at any time a God a Jesus Christ may yea must be trusted in The merit of the person (7) 1 Joh. 2.1 here speaking in my Text drank off blood-warm transcendeth all other Receipts that can possibly be thought upon Where the Physitian feareth God there (8) Gen. 21.22 39.5 Psalm 1.3 God giveth a blessing for the Physitians sake Be it that the death of the Patient (9) Job 7.1 Psalm 31.15 seem to upbraid if not a want of skill yet a want of successe in the Artist yet O Death (10) 1 Cor. 15.55 where is thy sting the good Physitian findeth no reason at all why he should absent himself from his deceasing Patient he rather abideth and conducteth the departing soul toward the many Mansions in my Fathers House Fourthly The Mansions in my Fathers House a faith in God Unto Tradesmen and such as buy and sell yea and these troubles of heart do reprove innumerable followers not of Christ but of the world who most contentedly exchange godlinesse for gain In Queen Maries dayes so strong had nature made Sark-Island that [1] Sir Walter Raleighs History of the World lib. 4. cap. 2. sect 18. thirty Frenchmen could maintain it against all the Flemings in the world This stratagem was used Near unto the Isle with one ship
of a small burden anchoreth a Netherlander pretendeth the death of a Merchant in that Vessel beseecheth the thirty Frenchmen that the dead body of their Merchant might be buried in hallowed ground namely in Sark-Chappel unto a Request so charitable the secure Frenchmen yield The Flemings bring into the Isle a Coffin filled not with a dead body but with murdering Harquebusses then entring the Chappel they shut the door upon themselves take their Weapons from out of the Coffin slay every Frenchman in Sark and immediately possesse themselves of the whole Island Many many a covetous Tradesman receiveth just such [2] Prov. 1.19 5.22.11.1.22.23.23.4.13.11 Exck. 7.13 a Coffin into his shop from out of a gracelesse good will unto himself he welcometh false measures false weights false wares false accompts with all the security that may be But note the event Wherewith this Shop-keeper deceiveth his Customers therewith [3] Acts 5.3 the Devil [4] 1 Tim. 3.6 7 surprizeth this Shop-keeper taketh [5] 2 Tim. 2.26 possession of his captived heart and [6] 1 Pet. 5.8 slayeth his deluded soul Alas ill fareth the owner whose shop is the Devils [7] Pro. 1.32 ware-house When once the Prince of darknesse playeth at Sark a Soul may soon [8] Eph. 5.5 acquit her self of the Mansions in my Fathers House Every unjust gain [9] Luk. 12.21 1 Tim. 6.9 Prov. 28.20 Jer. 7.19 selleth heart and body body and soul grace and Glory Heaven and the God of Heaven for a messe of the Supplanters pottage When it is too late you will then be able to resolve your selves who findeth least trouble of heart the [10] Prov. 15 16 16.8 poor man that is righteous or the rich man [11] Psalm 4.3 that is fraudulent And yet mercy God! What do most of our Markets and Faires signifie other then [12] 1 Thes 4.6 Hos 4.2 lying and cheating Ah how is the Prince of this world pleased to see many who vote themselves [13] Tit. 1.16 Christians as very lyars as [14] John 8.44 himself Judas is not the [15] Heb. 13.5 2 Pet. 2.3 only Disciple who selleth Jesus Christ for a piece of money But had Judas peace who sold his Master neither shall ye Full well are divers Faires among us kept upon Holy-dayes for pray all we can you that turn and wind moneys will hardly keep [16] James 1.27 Esay 8.13 65.16 your selves unspotted of the world your covetous practises witnesse to your face that ye doom [17] Amos 9.10 Prov. 12.3 your hearts to trouble Alas alas how can ye lay claim to the [18] John 14.1 2 5.44 Mansions in my Fathers House so long as ye distrust God and his Christ Beloved rather make the fear [19] Prov. 8.1 3 of your God your wisdom esteem the Spirit of Jesus Christ your [20] Luke 16.11 only Riches set a high value [21] 1 Pet. 1.4 upon the Mansions in my Fathers House then [22] Acts 24.16 shall you be at peace with your own consciences then shall you find that Godlinesse hath the [23] 1 Tim. 4.8 promise of this life then shall this Gospel [24] Esay 26.3 say unto you Let not your heart be troubled Fifthly This Let not condemneth every Soul Of all Christistians which at any time [1] Rom. 8.1 2 Cor. 1.12 omitteth any Duty every person who in performing any Duty maketh not [2] Psalm 52.7 his God his Rest every Christian which [3) Esay 50.10 rolleth not But as easily may I cramb all Homers Iliads into a nut shell as [4] Eccl. 1.8 repeat all the troubles of a neglected heart in one breath Yea as soon may I force a Camels [5] Mat. 19.24 back through the eye of a Needle as remove [6] Gal 6.1 offences meerly by finding fault The end of rebuke is [7] 2 Tim. 4.2 Ezek. 3.26 to correct I passe therefore from these [8] Joh. 14.1 troubles of heart unto a faith in the living God I proceed from what our Saviour here prohibiteth unto what he next enjoyneth Dearly beloved you will now at the last escape reproofs if [9] Pro. 10.17 15.31.12.1 without further troubles of heart you receive instruction I told you Matter of instruction from the (1) Page 2. beginning that this seasonable Precept Believe in God believe also in me was cloathed with Evangelical instructions It is so Take the words 2 absolutely and they are our instruction they teach us that believe in God believe in Christ we must but consider them as opposed against the distractions of the Disciples hearts you will then learn that This (2) 1 Joh. 5.4 is the victory which overcometh all our troubles even our faith How great a comfort faith is against the greatest troubles of mind will appear from the (1) See page 6 various occasions of this Text. Occasion One was (1) Luke 22.24 ambition disappointed The hearts of these Disciples hab been troubled with worldly interests They had (2) Luke 24.21 Acts 1.6 dreamed hitherto of glorious preferments upon earth they had been (3) Luke 22.24 striving which of them should sit nearest unto their enthroned Lord I say these Disciples although they (4) Mat. 16.16 John 6.69 knew Jesus as the Son of God yet not [5] Mat. 20.9 knowing the Scriptures they aimed at worldly greatnesse they as yet fancied that (6) Matth. 20.21 Mark 9.34 Acts 1.6 Surely Christ would in good time reign gloriously upon earth To follow this to them [7] Mat. 2.2 known to others [8] Mat. 27.11 unknown King of the Jews they had (9) Mark 10.28 30 forsaken all and in so doing they had (10) Mat. 20.21 Luke 22.29 promised unto themselves no small advancement Now when they (11) John 13.31 learn that God would straightway glorifie their long attended Master not with Thrones but with Thornes not with a royal Diadem but by 12 sufferings when they in stead of seeing Christ restore the Kingdom unto Israel hear him (12) Mat. 16.21 John 13.1.33 14.2 contriving his departure out of this world when instead of being exalted by their Lord they must by him be (13) Mat. 13.36 37 shortly left at a losse this was unto them a consternation of spirit the failing of this their long expectation made their (14) Pro. 13.12 heart sick this this was one reason why our Saviour mindeth them to their comfort ye believe in God Secondly Whereas these were they which Occasion of all men had (1) Luke 22.28 continued with Christ in his Temptations Christ now twitteth them how of them one should (2) John 13.21 betray him another should (3) John 13.38 deny him all should (4) Mat. 36.31 forsake him These were (5) Mar. 8.38 Rev. 21.8 hard sayings Their meek Master had deserved no such uncomely neglects from them And now long at last
proprium Deipoteatis ac veri inexorata benesicia praebere Amobius advers Gentes lib. 3. henceforward affect and melt Chyrurgeans first purge the body and that done salve the lanced Ulcer Before I was afflicted I (11) Psalm 119.67 went astray If thou Lord sayest AMEN when thy judgements are in the earth the (12) Isa 26 9 Inhabitants of the world learn Righteousnesse Where thou ordainest peace there (13) Eccl. 7 3 by the sadnesse of the countenance the heart is made better By providence high winds blow up (14) 1 Cor. 11.32 seasonable rains and waters of affliction soften (15) Hos 5 15.10.12 fallow grounds Whirl-winds Earthquakes and fire these these may be the immediate Trumpeters (16) 1 Kings 19.12 of a small still voyce If mighty rushings astonish anon may follow a (17) Acts 2 2 4 manifestation of the holy Ghost Jonah had cause to blesse God that ever the Seas were (18) Jonah 4 so unquiet and before the Law came came (19) Exod. 19.16 Thunder True vexation of Spirit doth (20) Pro. 1.26 Psalm 107.17 in no wise presage grace a forerunner of it it (21) Pro. 119.71 may be First that which is natural afterward that which is (22) 2 Cor. 15.46 spiritual Where worldly sorrow worketh death there (23) 2 Cor. 7.10 godly sorrow may work repentance unto salvation Pinch a man soundly in this sleep it is a marvail if he (24) Psalm 50.15 awaken not from his hypocrisies unto Righteousnesse Would we understand it the language of every trouble doth most plainly tell us that This is the (25) Compare 1 Thes 4.3 with Prov. 3.11.12 Lament 3.33 Hos 11.10 Gal. 6.8 1 Pet. 5.10 2 Cor. 9.8 will of God even our Sanctification Ah my Beloved instead of quarrelling at the trouble of your hearts examine (26) Compare 13.5 your selves whether ye be in the faith Know one main cause why multitudes who snatch up a form of godlinesse have no victory at all over their troubles is They have (27) Psalm 42.5 no trust in God no trust in Christ a dead faith (28) Such as Mr. Eaton describeth they swallow down a (29) Such as Mr. Baxter requireth See also his Saints Rest. Part. 3. Cap. 3. Sect. 2. lively faith they never yet obtained Sorry sorry I am to pronounce it Of them who (30) 2 Tim. 2.19 name the Name of Christ exceeding few depart (31) Acts 26.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Damascen from themselves to Him They are most of them saplesse branches Christlesse Christians nor is it any marvail at all if every one who accepteth seeming faith instead of saving faith gain no victory at all over the troubles of his heart Answ 3. Answ 3. As seeming faith gaineth no victory over real troubles so true faith is then only [1] Esay 64.7 Quid penna quae caret usu prevalent when stirred up and exercised Faith must [2] 2 Tim. 4.7 fight a good fight if it will be victorious Be Sampson never so stout eft-soon shall the Philistims over-match him if he betray his strength David was strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and yet even Davids soul was disquieted within him until he [3] Psalm 42.5 See Dr. Sibs Souls Conflict Mr. Scudders Christian daily Walk and Mr. Symonds his Case and Cure of a deserted Soul Mr. Youngs Victory of Patience and Joy in tribulation by Phinees Fletcher renewed his trust in God These Disciples in my Text believed neverthelesse because they did not as David did encourage themselves in the Lord their God you see how their heart was troubled Had they foreseen the Mansions in my Fathert House had they believed in Jesus Christ as in their mighty Redeemer had they believed in God as their [4] Psal 46.1 present help they had in all their troubles been more then Conquerers A good sure friend is a better help at a pinch then [5] Psal 62.1 5 Francis L. Verulam all the stratagems and policies of a mans own wit Your half-faced Christians lean upon Honor Riches Greatnesse Friends c. as if these could succour them against distresses but it is better to [6] Psalm 52.7 118.8 9 Prov 10.15 14.26 Jerem. 9.24 17.5 trust in the Lord then to put confidence in all these together Many were the Titles of the Emperour but this one Title [7] Franc. L. Verulam Psalm 34.2 King of France distinctly answered unto all them and more saving faith alone affordeth more and more solid comforts against all sorts of troubles at once then all the advantages of this world can be able to supply against any one trouble Jehovah [8] Judg. 6.24 Shallom a faith [9] See Triumph of faith by Tho. Goodwin and Capels Temptations Luke 12.15 springing from Christ and ascending to Christ overcometh all temptations whether darted upon us by Satan or heaped upon us from our own ignorances sloath and corruptions or brought upon us more immediatly from the good Hand of our God Brethren a mans life consisteth [10] Omnia cum seipso contulit Deus omaâ—a cum eo perdit avarus Beda Exhort 3.7 not in the things which he possesseth but [11] See None but Christ by Mr. Wall in the life of faith Dearly Beloved and longed for my Joy and Crown would ye find comfort would you find strong consolation Loe ye here Taste and see Sirs here is life life more abundant O all-sufficienr God O God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord In the multitude of my thought within me thy [12] Psalm 94.19 comforts delight my Soul I find here Comfort for the most desperate Caitiffe and comfort for the broken Spirit Comfort I say for the heart of unbelief but for the sound Believer the Life of Comfort First Comfort even for the heart of unbelief Of Comfort He that believeth not Even for Unbelievers viz. against their Unbelief is [1] John 3.18 condemned already because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God yea but as desperate a sinner as thou art this is thy comfort that the very circumstances of this one Text alone mind thee invite thee nay urge and constrain thee to believe in Jesus Christ as in [2] Esay 55.7 8 9 Ezek. 18.21 22 a Mediatour ready to seek and save even thy lost Soul Here are four circumstances within the compasse of my Text which do in Christ his stead beseech thee to be reconciled unto Him 1 Circumstance The main occasion of all these troubles Circumstance which thou seest thus tumbling in here upon these Disciples viz. Jesus Christs [1] John 13.1 being made an offering for sin His hour was come and it was [2] Mat. 16.21 compared with John 13.21 and 14.1 against the sad sight of his ineffable sufferings that He here engageth his Disciples Let not your heart be
troubled Sinner Bethink thy self Jesus Christ his sufferings [3] 1 John 22 are thy pardon Come unto him thou that art heavy laden [4] Mar. 11.28 Christ will ease thee Hate sin that Christ [5] Act. 26.18 may pardon it Did the Lord Christ suffer the death of his body and the fierce wrath of his own Father all to keep thee from Hell and wilt thou again pawn thy Soul unto the Devil [6] 1 Pet. 5.1 for some trifling sin Are fire and brimstone [7] Matth. 25.30 Jude 15. Esay 30.33 2.19 and everlasting darknesse such flea-bitings Are Peace and Glory and [8] Rev. 21.7 everlasting Joy so contemptible that whatsoever the Son of God hath suffered should not at all concern thy soul Cast off thy [9] Dan 4.27 Esay 30.22 sins thine unprofitable sins for for Thee Christ dyed Thy Thy Soul the Mercifull Jesus would pardon Thirst [10] Dan 55.1 Revel 22.17 thirst after Righteousnesse that Christ may impute it Jesus Christ hath [11] Isa 53.4 born thine iniquities and wilt thou pluck them from off His shoulders to again place them upon thine own Oh rather set thy face toward Heaven and look look up upon [12] Zech. 12 10 Him whom Thou hast pierced Let Christ but see once [13] Esay 53.11 of the travel of his Soul and He shall be satisfied and thou too The Son of God dyed and dyed to save thee from thy sins That is one Inducement to force [14] Foelix est periculum ad Deum consuge e. thine heart of unbelief to seek the Lord while he may be found 2. Circumstance Although this was or was near upon Circumstance the same night wherein he was betrayed from the beginning of Chap. 13. unto the end of Chap. 17. Christ taketh much thought not for his dying self but for his sinfull Disciples Sinner it will not repent him that He layed down his life for thy sake if where He hath layed it down there thou wouldest take it up for thy preservation he is solicitous for his own he was not 3. A third Circumstance Three other Evangelists Circumstance three other faithfull Pen-men Jesus Christ had of his most holy Gospel but such a subject as this This the turning of his bowels the unbosoming of his loving Kindnesses so choyce a portion of the Gospel as is this He peculiarly reserveth for his fittest Pen man His bosome Evangelist his beloved Disciple his darling JOHN shall be the Author of this Evangelical Scripture and this purposely that such a desperate Caitiffe as thou hast been may [1] John 20.31 believe and conceive hopes 4 Circumstance The tender compassion of Christ Jesus over the present troubles of these Disciples hearts Circumstance Sinner The heart which melteth to see a wound lanced will never have the power to see a Sword ripping up thine entrails What troubles these Disciples here met with were but only the troubles of this world yet see here the swooning of Christs bowels Tell me Would not Jesus Christ endure that these should perplex their hearts and will he take any pleasure in the eternal torments of thy lost Soul Believe it the merciful Jesus doth not willingly afflict To be gracious he waiteth at thy death he aimeth not Thy Spirit had long since failed before him had not He forborn to strike I tell thee Thy case thy state of unbelief is so desperate that God deferreth his just anger unto the very last minute He knoweth shouldest Thou to Hell once thou art then a lost man for ever After death no redemption Thy sins are so great that Christ would if possible forgive them although thou imaginest not so He would if thou wouldest assent heal all thy back-slidings lest otherwise thy Soul thy wretched Soul should unto all eternity be tormented miserably tormented in Hell in the nethermost Hell If the Disciples afflictions move Christ unto compassion know the vengeance due unto thy sins pierceth his heart Shouldest thou to Goale once thou wouldest be sure to be condemned and executed wherefore ere ever thou art questioned for thy life Thy Jesus would procure for thee the Kings pardon nay He hath procured it and willeth thee to accept it upon the Kings terms Sinner if thou hast grace to believe any one of these Circumstances these Circumstances will be unto thee Life from the dead Secondly Life of comfort for Believers For Believers First against all worldly distresses Against worldly distresses viz. Although the afflictions of the Righteous are [1] Psalm 34.19 many yet [2] 1 Pet. 4.12 think not that strange True as A Child of God in the anguish of her spirit [3] Mr. G. C. in his Epistle before his Sermon at the Funerals of Mrs. A. Childe of Northwick Worcestershire replyed unto her Minister A sharp Visitation seemeth to signifie displeasure but Let not your heart be troubled For First The very same afftictions are [1] Pet. 51 9 accomplished in your Brethren No temptation can take you but such as is [2] 1 Cor. 10.13 Bonus quicquid accidit ei aequo animo feret Sen. Epist 7. common unto men nay unto Saints Art thou afflicted Answ So were Christs chosen Disciples yea so was Jesus Christ Himself even in the compassions of this very Text His heart was troubled then when he said Let not your heart be troubled I say Secondly So kind a Master so loving a Brother is Jesus Christ that he is [1] Heb. 4.15 touched with a sense of our infirmities Who is afflicted and he [2] 2 Cor. 11.29 burneth not I say In all thine afflictions thy dearest Bridegroom is [3] Esay 63.9 afflicted with thee He in this Text forgat his own sufferings although so near at hand that he might [4] Dr. Sibs Sermon on John 14.1 comfort his Disciples in these their troubles Thirdly The same Redeemer who bringeth the trouble layeth this command Let not your heart be troubled Be ye sure now He who [1] John 14.1 Esay 54.5 7 8 40.1 2 Jerem. 31.20 Hos 11.8 9 will not give way that thy heart should be any whit troubled at all will in due time remove what He Himself dis-liketh If thy Plaister [2] Rom. 8.28 Phil. 3.21 hurt it shall be taken off and that quickly Or ever he find out a temptation for thee he will out a way for thy [3] 1 Cor. 10.13 temptations escape rather then thy heart should be over-much troubled What thou canst not [4] Heb. 7.25 Matth. 11.30 12.20 well bear shall never burden thy feeble shoulders Fourthly Suppose thy distresse burdensome I reckon that the sufferings of this [1] Rom. 8.18 present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us What yea what are these light afflictions which are but for a [2] 2 Cor. 4.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Domum apud Patiâ—â—n habéo camque vòbis
quite over Hell There is now but a step [22] 1 Sam. 20.3 between us and Death and [23] 1 Thes 4.14 1 Cor. 15.52 1 John 3.14 not a step between Death and Heaven Death is swallowed up into [24] 1 Cor. 15.54 52 Victory that is as the phrase importeth into Eternity Could we not step beyond Death the foresight of Death would sting us unto the very heart but Jehovah [25] Judges 6.24 Shallom Faith vieweth every thing in the words of Jehovah who giveth being unto every Promise The mighty Jesus is ascended nor is it possible to [26] Christus etsi solus resurrexit tamen non totus Bernard detain the [27] John 6.39 54 56 11.25 26 14.19 20 17.23.24 redeemed from [28] Esay 43.1 49.24 their Redeemer a Christian from Christ his Lord a member on earth from [29] Esay 43.21 The Head in Heaven Wherefore unlesse thy heart be a heart of Vnbelief Let not thy heart be troubled Believe in God believe also in Christ Is thy desire toward thy Saviour thy Saviour reacheth forth his hand It shall be unto thee no trouble at all to [30] Rom. 7.24 compared with Job 19.27 passe from death which of an old enemy is made a new Friend unto life now no more mortal but everlasting Is thy [31] Matth. 25.6 24.44 midnight soul upon departure Let her go forth to meet him whom her soul loveth Behold her Bridegroom cometh yea rather is [32] John 14.8 already gone gone [33] John 14.3 to prepare a place for thee I say for thee In my Fathers house are many Mansions and because many one [34] Ibid. for Thee Verily there remaineth a [35] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Similitudo sumpta ab uno comitum qui in itinere praegressus ad diversorium ibi caeteris cubicula assignat efficitque ut venientibus parata sint v. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hic ut c. 12.32 valet postquam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Continuatur similitudo nam solent qui primi in diversorium venerunt caeteris jam adventantibus obviam procedere eos inlroducere idem quod Christus Act. 1.11 redâ—â—â—s effecturus erit Grotius in Joan. 14.2 3 35. Heb. 4.9 See Mr. Baxter his Saints everlasting Rest. Rest for thy soul into thy Fathers bosome resign thy spirit 4. Thy greater trouble is Against the corruption of our sinful Nature not that thou shalt dye in the Lord but that thou dost live in the flesh I say not the shadow of death but the [1] Rom. 7.13 14 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 23 body of sin dishearreneth a gracious soul Give me any death but the death of sin To do evil is to [2] Compare Isa 59 2. with Psalm 125.5 depart from God and this is indeed a [3] Compare Psal 28.3 with Luke 13.27 sad departure for this Let your heart be troubled provided your trouble be a sanctified trouble such a sorrow shall be turned into joy into a spiritual joy inasmuch as from this Gospel you who believe may [4] Isa 66.11 such strong consolations Thou broken and contrite heart as assuredly as thou mournest thou [5] Isa v. 2.57.15 Luke 6.20 21 shalt be comforted Watch over thine [6] Isa 21.36 Psalm 18.23 own sin Give thy self [7] 1 Thess 5.17 unto prayer Be ever [8] 2 Pet. 1.10 upon Duty Exercise thy self unto (9) 1 Tim. 4.7 godlinesse Giving all (10) 2 Pet. 1.5 3.18 diligence strive to grow in grace and in the delightfull knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord so doing Let not thy heart be dismayed Know Sin was a (11) Videbat eos commo'os de antccedentibus de abnegatione sermonibus Grotius in Joan. 14.1 chief trouble of these Disciples hearts To forsake Him who hath loved and chosen us To love our selves more then we do love him in whom the great God is so well-pleased This you will yield is a very great defection He (†) Luke 9.23 Mark 8.38 that taketh not up His Crosse his daily crosse neither followeth Christ crucified into whatsoever perils this his crucified Lord shall conduct him such a one is unworthy of so great so good a Master Whoso is ashamed of Jesus Christ of him Jesus Christ hath just reason to be more much more ashamed Meek he is yet the wrath of this Lamb hath as justly as mercifully threatened that Whosoever denyeth Him before (12) Matth. 10.33 2 Tim. 2.12 frail men here upon earth him will He deny before his dread Father in heaven In one word (13) Rev. 21.8 Hell is a portion for the fearfull and fearfull were these Disciples neverthelesse so far was Christ Jesus from not forgiving them their trespasses that he most compassionately preventeth them Let not your heart be troubled Wherefore all ye who (14) Ezek. 6.9 20.43 36.31 loath your selves for your iniquities loath your selves and them more and more Alas no (15) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Toad is so ugly in mans sight as mans venomous nature is in the holy eyes of the most pure God A sinfull condition is an (16) Psalm 51.5 Job 25.6 odious condition wicked deeds are shamefull deeds gracelesse practices are wretched practices practices better becoming the Devils who are accursed of God then the Disciples who were blessed of the Lord Mean while Give God the glory (17) Haec alia adduxerunt Gregorium ut clamaret O Faelix culpa quae talem meruit habere redemptorem Quae verba ego non facilè dicerem siquidem in illâ causâ nihil video quod non sit miserum flebile Pet. Martyr ubi infra 27. His arm is not shortened that it cannot save He can remove from us as well all our staines as all our guilt He who delivered us from so great a death could had he seen cause so to do have quite warded off the lesser wounds The Lord Christ could have strengthened his Disciples every whit as much before his Ascension as after his Ascension he did and would he so please He could since Adams fall make us every way as perfect as before that fall of Adam we were yea he is able to make us both as unspotted of sin and as gloriously gracious in this present evil world as we shall be in the next This he is able to do but he according to His wisdom seeth cause to the contrary this this alone may comfort us against our sinfull nature that God the infinite God is wise His wisdome is a Believers comfort And yet Why hast thou made us to err [1] Esay 63.17 from thy wayes Wretched men that we are whence is it that the sanctifying Spirit [2] Relictae quidem suat animi vires actiones verum destitutae suâ rectitudine atque idcirco pravae corruptae Pet. Martyr Lo. Com. Classis secnad cap. 1. sect 25. leaveth in our vile hearts the remainders the dregs
Kingdomes within my Text since travail through them I can not Beloved These three generals are the particular limits of my remaining Discourse the which our God the God of all grace and glory so sanctifie unto us all that his most blessed Name may be by every one among us more and more abundantly glorified GOD is said to be glorified both by Himself and by his Creatures 1. In what sense God is said to be glorified By Himself If we cast into the Ocean one only spoonful of water nay By himself one only drop of a bucket we thereunto add because although the Sea be great and wide infinite it is not but unto Gods essential glory none can add for his glory is like [1] Acquaint thy self with God as be is described by B. ushers folio Christian Religon Bishop Baily his Practice of Piety Mo nay his Truâ—nesse of Christian Religion Balls larger Catechism or such others for It is life eternal to know God viz. Veluntas sequitur intellectum every other of his Attributes every way infinite It is more impossible infinitely more impossible for any yea for all the Creatures in the world to add either glory or blessednesse that I may not say delight or content unto the most infinite God then it is for the darkest Dungeon to augment the brightnesse or for the blackest coal to multiply the beams of the mid day Sun There can be no accession unto his essential blessednesse because he is for ever most infinitely blessed There can be no accession unto his glory because His glory is eternally the same In the soul of man the power of the Understanding of the Imagination 1 Non est necesse Deum velle aliquid nisi seipsum Non est ergo necessarium Deum velle quòd mundus fuerit semper Sed eatenus mundus est quà tenus Deus vult illum essè cum esse mundi ex voluntate Dei dependeat Tho. Aquinas 1 â. q. 46.3 c. and of the Memory abideth equally the same whether what is undestood conceived and remembred be or be not produced in word or writing so after a most incomprehensible manner in the divine nature the glory of the Father the glory of the Son the glory of the Holy Ghost was equally the same before all worlds as ever since the Creation it hath been and for ever hereafter will be The great God who from all never-begun Eternity unto the beginning of time took pleasure in forbearing to make any Creature at all did not at last [1] Gen. 1.1 John 1.1 Heb. 1.2 11.2 make the Heavens and the Earth as repenting himself of his eternity of leisure before neither did his then Creation proceed [2] St. August de civitate Dei lib. 12. cap. 17. With men animae quiescendo fiunt sapientiores it is not so with God from any new intent neither may we conceive that his Rest affecteth him one way and his Work another I neither was his Vacation idle or his working painful for as before the Creation he rested working so since the Creation he worketh resting again as at first in creating so afterward in redeeming preserving ruling sanctifying c. neither encreaseth he his essential glory neither changeth he his eternal purpose He in all these only applyeth his eternal Will unto new workings As [3] Rom 11.36 of him and through him so to him are all things yet of all those things which he hath made and doth govern it is His Glory that he [4] Psalm 50.12 Job 12.2 3 needeth none Wherefore as it was of his free goodnesse that he in the beginning created the world so [5] Deus suam gloriam quaerit non propter se sed propter nos Tho. Aquin. 22. ae q. 32. art 1. ad 1. mum of his free goodnesse it is that he ever since glorifieth Himself in them Then is God said to glorifie himself when he vouchsafeth to manifest any of his excellencies whether [1] Esay 6.3 Hab. 3.3 1 Pet. 4.13 universally by way of Redemption Creation c. or [2] Esay 60.7 Ezek. 43.2 Numb 14.21 John 13.31 particularly upon distinct ages places or persons 2. By his Creatures God is also glorified for By this crehtures while they glorifie although all the Creatures in the world could not 〈◊〉 they would resist the [1] Voluntati benâ—placuâ— Will or diminish the [2] Job 22.2 3 35.6 7 Psalm 16.2 50.8 12 Prov. 16.26 Rom. 11 35 self-glory of the most high God yet on the other side such several prints and degrees of his goodnesse hath the most high God [3] Acts 14 17 Rom. 1.20 communicated unto all his works that all his works glorifie him as they concur with the good pleasure of either his revealed or his secret Will thus all of them more remarleably set forth the wisdome c. of his providence some of them the power and severity of his Justice others the Riches of his free grace and mercies First His Providence To say nothing of [1] Psalm 77.19 135.6 unsearchable co-operations harmonious contextures regulated contingencies sim Every creature as it existeth and worketh after its kind setteth forth Gods Providence whether Rivers as they [2] Eccles 1.7 run into the Sea or the Sun as he knoweth his [3] Psalm 104 19 148.3 9 going down whether the Stars as they keep their due motions or the Trees bearing fruit in their season yea Angels whether good or evil while they reserve the nature of spirits and men whether regenerate or unregenerate as they partake of body and of spirit too For although Devils have [4] Jude 6. corrupted themselves with envy malice pride c. and although man hath [5] Eccl. 7.29 fallen from his integrity yet the nature of Devils as it continueth the distinct nature of intelligent spirits the body of man as it speaketh the flesh neither of beasts nor of birds nor of fishes but of men likewise mans spirit as it produceth the operations of the soul not of a brute but of a reasonable Creature do all of them after the same manner as all other Creatures do [6] In quantum sunt res quaedam Deus est in daemonibus Tho. Aquin. 1 a. q. 8. 1. c. 4. m. Uâ—â—co simplicissimo actu omnia in suâ bonitate vult Deus licet ejusdem suae divinae voluntatis nulla prorsus sit causa Idem 1 a. q. 19. art 5. c. bring glory unto the Providence of the great God I say whether Physically or Metaphysically considered the worst of men and the worst of Angels by performing that whereunto their nature was ordained and in observing after their kinds the ocult lawes of their Creatour glorifie Gods Providence that is they expose an open view of it unto [7] Psalm 148. per totum Psalm 139.14 Revel 14.7 Creatures reasonable and intelligent Secondly Creatures His Justice as creatures shew forth Gods Providence
sort of praise [15] Psalm 50.23 glorifieth God Thirdly Nor canst thou thus order thy conversation In heart until thou keep thy heart (1) Pro. 4 23 first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all diligence True he that doeth righteousnesse is righteous even as he [2] 1 Joh. 3 7 3 John 11. is righteous but loe such a Righteousnesse must be the work of the sanctifying Spirt upon thine inward parts Then will David sing and give praise when his heart is [3] Psal 57.7 prepared and fixed The God of [4] Psal 109.1 thy praise is a God not of the dead but [5] Luke 20.38 of the living He is not for [6] Heb. 6.1 dead works He accepteth of no duty which is not [7] Heb. 11.6 the fruit of faith and of no faith which is not the [8] Rom. 8.9 fruit of the Spirit The carcasses of good works take not at all [9] Esay 1 11-19 with God Therefore whensoever thou wouldest honour him with thy lips or in thy deeds let not then thy [10] Esay 29.13 heart be far from him They must be well affected that glorifie the [11] Esay 1.19 Victo que volentes Per populos dal jura God of love wherefore he saith I will make them 12 joyfull in my house of prayer Ye then who would glorifie him [13] Psal 31.23 love him Ye who would love him be [14] Psal 5.11 Ephes 5.1 Psalm 63.8 joyfull in him Thou who as becometh a dear child followest hard after God that thy mouth may praise him with [15] Psal 5. ◠joyfull lips let thy soul I say let thy [16] Psal 35.9 soul be joyfull in thy God What thou dost do it in [17] Eph. 6.5 singlenesse of heart as unto Christ do it [18] Col. 3.17 heartily as unto the Lord Fear the Lord and [19] Hos 3 5 his goodnesse When thou with thy whole heart [20] Hos 5.4 framest thy doings to seek after thy God When thou with all thy might [21] Esay 64 7 stirrest up thy self to lay hold of him When thou walkest with God [22] Num. 14.24 Deut. 28.47 fully When for the abundance of all things and for all the goodnesse and for all the prosperity which the Lord thy God procureth unto thee thou doest [23] Jer. 33.9 fear and tremble least a Vessel so brim full should spill somewhat When thou wrappest thy [24] Mat 6.10 26.42 Psalm 119 35 47 Deut. 4.2 will in Gods secret Will and thy desires close with Gods revealed pleasure When thou placest thy happinesse in [25] Acts 21.13 Phil. 1.18 the glory of thy dearest Father thy dearest Redeemer thy dearest Preserver thy dearest Bridgeroom making Him thy [26] Esay 60.10 stay thy [27] Gen. 15.1 Psalm 62.5 6 7 8 73.27 28. 119.51 Jer. 17.14 17 Deut. 10.20 21 reward thy [28] Eph. 3.16 Col. 1.10 11 1 Pet. 4.11 praise when thy soul boasteth of him and cleaveth unto him When in all things appertaining unto life and godlinesse thou doest serve the Lord thy God in the strength of his Spirit and through the righteousnesse of his Son with [29] Deut. 28.47 joyfulnesse and gladnesse of heart thou doest then glorifie God Thus thus O Christian let us let us daily give thanks unto that God who [30] Psal 68.19 daily loadeth us with his Benefits [31) Psal 148.13 let us daily praise that God whose Name alone is [32] Psal 104.1 excellent over all the world let us daily honour that God who is 33 cloathed with Majestie and Honour and let us daily daily let us bless that God whom the Angels in heaven joy and delight to [33] Psal 103.20 Revel 5.11 15.2 reverence and adore Thus yea thus O Christian let us now and ever glorifie our God thy God and mine He that is Our God is the [34] Psalm 68.20 God of salvation Who is so great a God as is [35] Psalm 77.13 Our God Let the Lord in whose hand is our breath and whose are [36] Dan. 5.23 all our wayes let the [37] Psalm 70.4 Lord be glorified Blesse the Lord all ye his works in all places of his Dominion [38] Psalm 103.22 blesse thou the Lord O my soul How the Lord must be by us glorified we have seen The next is why Wherefore God must be by us glorified Beloved To produce many Arguments wherefore we should all of us make it the whole businesse of our whole lives to glorifie this great and dreadfull Name The Lord our God were to question whether we are indued with reason or no To produce none were to deny our affections a few then First Seeing he Reason 1. who is the Father of us all is a God the only God Why may he not be by us glorified Might all men From no reason to the contrary and with them all Angels evil and good lay all their forces together they could not if they would produce one piece of an argument why the Lord our God may not be by us glorified Seriously then let this be our first motive Therefore therefore let us glorifie our God because there is (1) Esay 41.21 no reason in the world to the contrary A second reason Reason 2. why the Father of all things must be by us glotified From creatures void of reason I deduce from all creatures void of reason Reason is entrusted not with them but with us neither can they but by us (1) Sola prosecto actio Deum in hac vitâ glorificandi gloriosa nobis esse poterat corona quâ meritum nostrum cumulatissimè remuneratum esse credere possemus Citharistae citharizaadi pretium à rege exigenti sertur respondisse Rex satis amplum retulisse citharizaido Anius respoaderi potest laudanti Deum meritum lau dandi solá laudatione satis superque remuneratum Mendeza in 1 Sam. 2.30 speak the praises of their Creator They are the leaves the blossoms the fruit which prepare a sweetnesse we alone are those Bees which ought to collect the honey Large Volumns they are and very learned in the ineffable Name of the Great JEHOVAH but as every other Volumn so this Book of the Creature is serviceable not unto it self but unto us a very fair Edition it is an Edition published for the Authors immediate glory but this glory the Author expecteth not from the Book but from the Reader if from so incomparable a Work as this is we for whose sake alone it is published will derive no glory unto the Author the incensed Author will burn first the Reader then the Book I say the Sense Life Motion and being of every Creature whatsoever are only the materials of Gods praise and glory the praise and glory which God deserveth from them he demandeth from us for it not they but we are accomptable it is a fearfull sin to defraud God of that which
YOUR day sanctifying the Lord of hosts in your heart exalt him not only as a Diadem of beauty unto the residue of your people but as a crown of glory unto your Royal head And you the happy subjects of a (1) Ezra 7.27 serene Monarch why are ye the last (2) 2 Sam. 19 11 to defend the glory of your God Knowledge covereth our Island as waters cover the Sea the late Rod of Gods wrath we (3) Mic. 6.9 could not chuse but hear the present plenty peace and prosperity we (4) Psal 34.8 both see and taste neverthelesse multitudes multitudes from among us have (5) 1 Tim. 5.15 turned aside after Satan Beloved what wickednesse may we expect from forreign Dominions if in this Kingdom a Kingdom so (6) Esay 26.9 schooled by late judgements so (7) Psalm 144.14 endeared with preseut benefits so (8) Acts. 17.30 enlightened with the truth of the Gospel so small a remnant give glory to the Lord their God More knowledge then any beside us we have but we have likewise lesse grace then any beside us else what others have is excedeing little lesse then is a grain of Mustard seed for that brancheth forth Surely the fear of God is in very few places I had almost said in very few persons Ye then who fear the Lord (9) Matth. 3.16 speak often one to another Let not the Royal Standard fall to the ground since (10) 1 Joh. 5.19 the whole world lyeth in wickednesse see that ye (11) Phil 2.15 shine as lights in the world When other of Christs Disciples went back and walked no more with Jesus Jesus called unto these in my Text (12) John 6.66 67 Will ye also go away Brethren the more universal the defection the greater the alarm Wherefore take unto you the whole (13) Eph. 6.11 armour of God The Lord looketh out of his Chariot (14) 2 Kings 9.32 Who is on my side Who by this will he finde whether we be for him or against him if (15) 1 John 2.29 3.7 3 John 11. we seek after holinesse as he is holy should so small a remnant as list themselves under his Banner neglect to fight a good fight (16) Acts 1.8 of faith What will God do unto his great Name True His (17) Psalm 62.11 is the power but it more becometh the Majesty of the Emperour to look on then to fight or if fight he do let the Adversary know that the Generals Souldiers love their Commander The (18) Heb. 2.10 Captain of our salvation must have glory from his followers as well as from his own Prowesse The Lord subdueth our Canaanitish affections but (19) Josh 23.10 1.7 Phil. 2.12 31 Joshus must fight the Lords battel the sword of the Spirit is the Lords but (20) Judg. 7.18 Gideon must draw it God winneth the Victory but (21) 2 Sam. 23.12 Shammah must stand his ground too accursed are we if when God is ready to work in us and by us we our selves (22) Judg. 5.23 come not in unto the help of the Lord If we hold our peace His glory (23) Esther 4.14 Eph. 5.16 will not he give unto another but who knoweth whether we are born in this backsliding generation for such a time as is this if as Saint Paul did Christ should complain No man (24) 2 Tim. 4.16 stood with me but all were against me the Lord would lay this to your charge and mine But the (25) 2 Cor. 5.14 love of Christ and not a fear for our selves should constrain us to stand upon our guards Let us draw out our affections Have we a King and (26) 1 Pet. 1.17 18 Heb. 12.4 such a King let us then resist our corruptions unto blood let us (27) Judg. 5.18 jeopard our lives that is (28) Matth. 10.39 save them let us jeopard our lives unto the death that is (29) Mark 10.30 exchange the for an everlasting life If the conspiracy be strong if Achitophel be in the conspiracy of his own accord Hushai the Archite will (30) 2 Sam. 15.32 both rent his coat and cover his head with earth If David be in a strait Abishai the son of Zerviah (31) 2 Sam. 21.17 will succour him Christians stand to your Armes keep to your Colours follow your Leader even the Captain of your salvation for Legions of Devils and a world of men are risen up against him O be not ye like unto them whose damnation is just but resist (32) 1 Pet. 5.9 stedfast in the faith Though ten (33) 1 Kings 12.20 Hos 4.15 Tribes revolt let Judah walk with God and if nine Lepers neglect their duty let not the (34) Luke 17.15 17 tenth fail to testifie his thankfulness Let God instance in us as he did (35) Job 1.8 in his servant Job Let the Devil know that (36) 1 John 4.5 6 all are not of the world that are in the world Let not the Lord of our hosts want a Souldier to fight his spiritual battels so long as (37) Psalm 104.33 you and I have any breath in our bodies although all men should forsake him let us perfectly cleave unto him By how much the more he is dishonoured by others by so much the more let him be by us glorified Creatures void of reason cannot those void of grace should but will not but God give us grace that as well as we can we may zealously bring glory unto the Throne of his Holinesse Prophanesse spreadeth from one corner of the Land unto the other it is therefore high time for us to bestir (38) See Mr. Baxters Now or Never our selves it now concerneth us that our God be by us glorified more then ever Again Naturally a right understanding will no lesse desire to cleave unto the living God then a dying creature would struggle to prolong life Nor is it possible there can be invented a greater Doom then to be for ever justly separated from the only God When at length the last the just the terrible the avenging day is fully come Depart from me ye cursed will then [1] Matth. 7.23 21.41 be the last the blackest sentence The foreknowledge of this one truth makes [2] James 2.19 even the proudest of the Devils stoop and tremble yet is this sentence this dismal sentence the unadvised choyce of every gracelesse person Fight against God the ungodly will although they dye for it in the place they will rather [3] Jonah 2.8 2 Chron. 15.2 Ezra 8.22 Esay 1.28 Psalm 9.17 hazard rather damn body and soul then not depart from the presence of their holy God thus unadvised wicked men are but why they are thus unadvised they themselves can in no wise pretend a reason No [4] Matth 27.23 evil hath Christ done that the Jewes should all of them be thus maliciously bent against him nor is there iniquity
just sicabitur omnis case coâ—am illo accipentes quippe mandatum seatientes defectum clamabimus in coelum miserebitur nostri Deus S. Bernardus Serm. 50 in Contic seek Gods face in vain Object Where then lyeth the Controversie Answ In mans pronesse to [1] Rom. 9.20 We are like him in Seneca Dic aliquid ut simus duo dispute against God Sirs Truth [2] John 8.32 would free us from extreams would we receive a love of the truth For instance Them that are without the pales of the Church God [3] 1 Cor. 5.13 judgeth therefore What have we to do to [4] 1 Cor. 5.12 judge them that are without Next since we of this Kindom are a people near [5] Psal 148 14 unto the Lord let every man mind his own Duty [6] Phil. 2.12 2 Pet. 1.10 If the Lord will that John should tarry in the flesh until Jesus [7] John 21.21 22 come in his fury against Jerusalem what hath Cephas to do with that Let Peter follow Jesus and leave John unto his Masters pleasure Thitdly The good Angel in my Text would quickly roll away the stone would we cease to interpose our thoughts [8] Esay 55.8 9 against Gods thoughts Had the woman of Samaria known the [9] John 4.10 gift of God instead of urging [10] John 4.12 Art thou greater then our Father Jacob she would have asked [11] John 4.15 Sir give me of this water that I thirst not On the other side While Naaman is wroth [12] 2 Kings 5.10 11 12 13 14 Omnis fessinatio caecaest Seneca de Renefic l. 3. c. 3. Lukc 16.15 to see his opinion crossed he continueth as leprous as ever The Question was not whether had been the better manners in home-bred Elisha to send his messenger or to come out himself unto Prince Naaman Nor whether was a more probable course like our Princes which heal the Kings Evil to move the hand over the place affected or meerly to wash it with cold water no nor yet what was most seemly in a Prophet whether to send a stranger unto an unheard of practice or to stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God no nor whether were to be preferred Abana and Pharpar or the Rivers of Israel nor lastly whether the waters of Jordan were cleansing waters No The state of the question was Whether [13] 1 Cor. 1.20 25 27 28 29 How brâ—â—ish and below our thoughts is the manner of mans generation and yet God is pleased from that brutishnesse of humane nature to raise unto himself his own Image even a nature exalted above the nature of Angels Water in Baptism how common an element Bread Wine are ordinary food and yet by these God vouchsaseth to convey his Spirit â—rby Answ The more inconsiderable the meanes of any mercy or grace the more plainly God is seen to be the Author of that mercy and grace 1 Cor. 3.7 Jordan could cleanse from the Leprosie then when the Lord said Wash in Jordan and Jordan shall cleanse Just so The Question is not whether a natural man can discern the things of God for we are all of us born spiritually blind no nor yet whether the Lords Christ can give sight unto the blind for unto God all things are possible but whether clay and spittle even earthen Vessels may not then help men to their sight when Christ so ordaineth Sure I am in every Ordinance of His the power of his [14] Luke 5.17 Spirit is ready to heal A leprosie we all bring with us into the world and let Gehazi reprobate as he is accompt upon it that he shall dye leprous but if Christ bid a man shew himself unto the Priest though that man were a Samaritane I would not [15] Luke 17.16 question his recovery Except a man be born ugain drawn of God endued with Christs Spirit c. there can be no entring into the Kingdom of Heaven It is confessedly true And of this truth both the Jewes were frequently animadvertized and the Gentiles throughly informed and herein great was the loving kindnesse of God unto both Jew and Gentile but Christian in the mean space what signifieth the ministery of the Gospel Is not the ministration of the Gospel the [16] 2 Cor. 3.8 administration of the Spirit Verily it is Unto them who are without [17] 2 Cor. 4.3 the pales of the Church our Gospel is hid unto them within hid it need not be It is I say the savour of death unto death [18] 2 Cor. 2.16 only unto such as chuse death rather then life Object Without me ye [1] John 15.5 can do nothing Answ By God thou [1] Acts. 17.28 movest Tell me is that a pretence for thee that thou canst not stir Rather as I have already answered it is [2] Phil. 2.13 an argument that thou mayest stir if thou wilt That which thou sowest thou sowest not [3] 1 Cor. 15.37 that body that shall be but bare grain yet be not deceived [4] Gal. 6.7 God is not mocked What thou sowest that thou [5] Gal. 6.8 therefore reapest because unto [6] 1 Cor. 15.38 every seed God giveth his [7] Matth. 7.7 Luke 11.13 sim own body The same God which [8] Matth. 16.27 maketh our obedience the measure of his heavenly gifts the same God which maketh our mortal life the beginning of life everlasting the same God which useth the blood in our veines to conveigh animal spirits the same God which frameth the body for the benefit of the soul the same God blessed for ever maketh use of our natural senses while he infuseth into us spiritual graces If we desire that God should [9] Heb. 2.3 12.25 Hos 2.15 Psalm 126.5 Phil. 2.12 Despice ne parùm sit providum sperare ex aliis quod tibi ipse non praestes Plin. lib. 2. Epist. 10. Neverthelelse Ille facit ut nos faciamus quae praecipit nos non facimus ut ille faciat que-promisit Aug. Epist 143. see Psalm 57.3 Inspirat Charitatem ut quae discende novimus diligendo faciamus Therefore Phil. 2.12 13. Take the ball at the bound not be wanting unto us let not us be wanting unto our selves Unto your finest and smallest white thred tye that thred which you call brown tye unto that pack-threds unto that the smallest Twist unto the Twist a small cord to that a threefold cord to a threefold cord a Cart-roap to a Cart-roap a strong Cable and although the weaknesse of the first thred could not yet the strength of the Cable may wind up an Anchor of hope at the last Object But certainly it is non in mans power to come unto Christ Answ Where [1] Matth. 11.28 compared with Mat. 14.27 28 Christ calleth there is hope given that he will [2] John 6.37 give a power Samuel knew not the Lord at the first and
remisnesse of yours would prefer [2] Mater omnium haereticorum superbia Aug de Gen. Cont. Manich. l 2. c. 8. Bonae res neminem scandalizant nisi malam mentem Tertul. de veland virg cap. 3. Nullum scelus rationem habet Liv. lib. 28. Vuâ—tures uâ—guenâ—o fugantur scarabaeirosâ Aelian Maximum judicium est mâ—lae mentis stuctuatio Seneca Epist 120. Nemo Deo displicet nisi qui sibi placet Bernard de miser Hom. your selves before your God We assent that as the Scripture publickly and distinctly read so the Word preached and applyed glorifieth that Father of Lights who [3] Psalm 94.10 teacheth man knowledge We allow that as set forms so our Pulpit devotions are Ordinances of God who [4] 2 Cor. 2.16 Linguâ mente cogitatione horresco quoties de Deo sermenem habeo who is sufficient for these things But give God his due These are but the least part of divine worship If we hear we hear for our selves we [5] Esay 55.3 Rom. 10.13 hear that our souls may live so if we pray we pray for our selves we ask that [6] Matth. 7.7 1 John 5.15 we may have Whereas a chief part of our publique Service is the same with the chief part of Gods Worship which is not meerly to hear Gods most holy Word but in hearing to obey it and not so much to pray for more benefits as to give thanks for the benefits which we have already received from Gods hands For pure and undefiled Religion before God even the Father is this to seek him more for his own sake then [7] Esay 26.8 Non mihâ— sussicit quod semel donavit nisi semper donaverit Peto ut accipiam cum accepero rursus peto Hierom. Epist Tua me non satiant nisi tecum S. Bernard Ipse sihi omnia ipse mihi omnia Qui curat esse nisi prapter te pro nihilo est nihit est Bernard Serm. 20. in Cantic for our own Dearly Beloved when we [8] Sacerdos parat fratrum mentes dicendo Sursum corda Cyprian de Orat. solemnly meâ— together give thanks at [9] Psalm 30.4 1 Chron. 16 3. the remembrance of His holinesse then do we principally worship our God Wherefore although Catechising or Homily or Sermon we have none so many of you as desire as well the glory of your God as the good of your soules see to it Turn away your feet from [1] Licita prohibentur ne si permitterentur corum occasione perveniatur ad illicita Justin prohibited Conventicles but [2] Heb. 10.25 forsake not the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is But let us openly publiquely solemnly and obediently meet together as to have Gods most holy Word as to ask those things which are requisite and necessary as well for the body as for the soul so chiefly and most frequently to speak good of Gods name to render thanks for the benefits which we have received at his hands to set forth his most worthy prayse and to reverence blesse worship adore and glorifie him as God O come come often let us often sing unto the Lord let us [3] Animadverto etiam Deos ipsos non tam accuratis adorantium precibus quà m innocentiâ sanctitate laetari Plin. Panegyr Cultus deorum optimus idémque castissimus ut eos semper purâ integrâ incorruptâ mente voce venereris Cicero de nat Deorum lib. 2. Sicut neo in victimis quidem licet optimae sint auroque praefulgeant deorum honos est sed piâ ac rectâ volunt ate venerantium Seneca de Benef. lib. 1. cap. 6. ut Epist 95. Hitherto there never yet fell upon the Church a tempestaous storm the vapours whereof were not first noted to arise from coldnesse in affection Hooker Eccles Polit. lib. 5. sect 76. heartily rejoyce in the strength of our salvation Let us come before his presence with thanksgivings and shew our selves glad in him with Psalmes for so we should magnifie him day by day and so let us glorifie the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen In the day (1) Title of Psalm 18th that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul David the servant of the Lord spake unto the Lord the words of this (2) 2 Sam. 22.1 Song Beloved We as well as David are (3) Luke 1.74 delivered out of the hand of our enemies And for us Not to seek to glorifie our God would many wayes reprove us First Of grosse (1) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Ethic. l. 6. c. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rhet. lib. 1. c. 37. ignorance So impossible it is for any who truly know God (2) John 17.3 Hominis sapientia est pietas Aug Enchirid. cap. 2. Nullum bonum perfectè noscitur quod non perfectè amatur Idem Ea petrssimùm juberis quae te deceat vel sponte fecisse Plin. lib. 6. Epist 39. see Psalm 119.161 not to glorifie him as God Secondly Of inexcusable (1) Bonus animus pura mens sincera conscientia haec nostra sacrificia Minut. Faelix in Octavio undutifulnesse for this is the whole (2) Eccles 12.13 duty of man even to set forth the prayses of his God Thirdly Of stupid (1) Psal 10.4 Pertinax sit memoria debentium forgetfulnesse On this only accompt it was that we came into the world We have forgotten our errand if we neglect to glorifie our God Fourthly Of spiritual (1] Quare verbis parcam gratuita sunt unthriftinesse The prayer of a righteous man availeth much but no part of it more then his Thanksgivings Great is the (2) See Tho. Goodwins Return of Prayer but (3) Psalm 50.15 greater is that of Prayses To commend what we receive from another is (4) Rogat quidem essicacissimè qui reddit causas rogandi Plin. lib. 2. Ep. 13. to beg more of the same Blesse we God and God (5) Sibbs Souls Conslict cap. 26. and Bishop Halls Sermon of Thanksgiving and Bishop Reynolds his Sions Prayses will blesse us no gain no usury no Merchandise like this of glorifying God Fifthly Of high [1] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ingratitude Rivers pay all their fresh waters into the salt sea and most [2] Qui beneficiis non intelligitur vel plagis intelligatur Cyprian de Demetr notoriously unthankful are we if from whom we receive all things to him we do not in all things ascribe the prayse and the glory [3] Rom. 11.36 For Affectus omantis laudabit munera dantis Sixthly Of rude [1] Qui meminit sine impendio gratus est Seneca de Beneficiis folly Wise was Araunah when he [2] 2 Sam. 24.23 would have given his threshing floor unto David Should the King
well knew the excellency of her gracious spirit that he aimeth to have our spirits like unto Hers His cost is your benefit His Liberal soul deviseth liberal things and by liberal things may He stand But may you and I glorifie our God [6] Gal. 1 24 in Him And as in Him so in his other Self whose untimely [7] Like Rachels Gen. 35.16 19. untimely not to her but unto us as Phil ip of Macedon spake of his friend Hipparchus Plutarch Apotheg death first gave life unto what you now read One especial matter which setteth forth the prayses of our God consisteth in [1] Psalm 66 16 Veritatem celare est aurum sepelire S. Aug. confess l. 12. what the Lord hath done for his chosen servants Our God is glorified in those divine Histories which tell us how great mercies the Lord poured upon Abraham Moses Joshua Samuel David Solomon c. He is glorified in such Scriptures as mention the prayses of Sarah Rebeccah Deborah Ruth Hannah Abigail and those other Matrons whose good examples are recorded for our learning There were that [2] Mat. 26.8 had indignation at Mary for pouring so precious ointment upon the Head of our Saviour neverthelesse it is the glory of our Saviour that Her prayse is [3] Mat. 26.13 in the Gospel May it likewise be interpreted unto the glory of our God if wheresoever this small Treatise shall finde acceptance there some of those blessings which the Lord vouchsafed unto this religious Gentlewoman be told for a memorial of her To the Right Worshipfull Sir JOHN HALES Baronet Encrease of favour with God and man SIR AMong those affectionate Kinsfolk so uncomfortably withheld from the solemn burial of your pious Aunt YOU her Dearest Nephew were a Chief Her embalmed Corps you did not see her spiced and perfumed Grave you could not attend I am bold therefore to place before you this Specimen of [1] [1] Illa quidem anima in societatem sidelium recepta landes nec curat nec quaerit humanas imitationem quaerit non laudem S. Aug. Epist 125. her Funerals A rough unpolished unhewn Tomb-stone it is a Stone worthy to be rolled away by the same hand which erecteth it Vouchsafe neverthelesse to approach unto it as [2] [2] Tumulum intuens pius esio unto her lively Monument For if the memory of this good Gentlewoman shall remain dear unto you you by delighting to imitate her vertues will partake of Her happinesse past and present You will during life obtain peace and after death life more abundant Dominae Dorotheae Rutter Vera Effigies Martij 21 mo 1661 2 Anno Aetatis suae ult et 31 mo Life more abundant in her lookes you see Picture her Soule a Heav'nly Saint is Shee Sir I willingly promise my self this blessing because it farreth with those good Christians who bury their Friends as it doth with us Ministers when we are crucified with Christ Espy us in the Town you see us in black mourning for the sinfulnesse of the World but meet us in the Temple you finde us in white rejoycing at the purity of the Gospel just so when good Christians have buried their dead if their thoughts reach no further then this World well may they cloath themselves in mourning but let their thoughts follow their dead unto their Fathers House and then their grief and sorrowes are swallowed up in Joy and Rejoycings From my Study April 3d. 1662. COnsider this dear and worthy Gentlewoman first as She was a part of this world next as She was a Member of the Church and thirdly as She is present with the Lord within the mansions in her Fathers House In every of these you will see plentiful matter layed before you for the prayses of Our God First In the things of this Life It is the glory of our God that while he [1] Psalm 17.14 giveth unto the wicked their portion only in this life He is also in the things of this life sometimes bountiful as well unto the [2] Matth. 5.45 just as unto the unjust thus he was unto [3] Gen. 13.2 6 Abraham and thus he was unto this [4] Gal. 3.7 Daughter of Abraham From the Cradle which first danced at the voyce of her cryes unto the grave which now bewaileth her silence little very little cause there was why Her heart should be troubled For instance The more loyal our affections be toward our most gracious Soveraign Lord the King the more honour we have for that Sexe which gave conception and birth unto his sacred Majesties sacred Person Adam he [1] Gen. 3.20 calleth his wives name Evah Why Answ Because she was the Grandmother of Christ in whom all are made alive Beloved Let not the community of a Blessing bury that Blessing in oblivion The Friend of whom we now speak was a Daughter in Israel to wit One of that Sexe which had both the Happinesse and the Honour to bring the Great Redeemer of all mankind into the World As for her lineage I am no Herald yet this I can say as by wedlock she matched into a [1] For she was married unto Michael Rutter of Burton on the Hill in the County of Glou. Esquire worthy Family a Family of a just esteem a Family of a good and [2] See page 117. of the Vale Royal of England viz. The County Palatine of Chester illustrated by Dan. King long descent so She her Self was no Filia terrae It is of God that while one Family is low and obscure another is superiour and exalted This Gentlewoman was of the later and superiour sort She was the branch the off-spring of a very Generous Stock I shall utter more then in other words I can so well expresse if I tell you she was a [3] Of which Family see Dugdals Surveigh of Warwicksh HALES a HALES no way over-reached by any specious pretences of hypocritical Rebels Whereas the honesty of some great Ones is rugged and the seed of their goodnesse unformed for want of an early education it was not so with this Friend she was highly civilized Indeed Her education was as well became Her Eminent birth very singular Furthermore it was as successeful-as exquisite Her wealth was suitable unto her birth The blessing of the Lord made her rich and he added no sorrow with it Her body that body which now sleepeth in Jesus was herein a picture of her soul upright and graceful In the natural endowments of her mind she surpassed many of her equals She had a tenacious memory an elegant fancy a piercing judgement and a deep understanding Her acquired parts were no lesse remarkable She read much and much unto her benefit witnesse her language alwayes apposite witnesse her habitual transcendent elocution and from that again the law of kindnesse which was ever in her lips together with that charity and that piety which so often perfumed her familiar Discourse Although she could not
be born but she must be [1] Job 14.1 born to know sorrow surely goodnesse and mercy followed her all the dayes of her life Even in all his Dispensations toward her so favourable unto her were the providences of her God that most usually her sorrowes and mourning were recompenced with joy and gladnesse True She knew the losse of Children but she never [1] Esay 47.8 sat as a Widow Bury some Kinred she did bury some Kinred if she her self would live she must but the God of our life which removed from her some Friends exalted other of her Kinred as surviving blessings The same God which suffered her to close the eyes of her dearest Parents instead of her Parents hath given unto her [1] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip. in Oreste children hopeful Children She lived to see the captivity * During our late Wars of our Zion but as Moses from Mount Nebo did before his death behold the promised Canaan so neither did she depart this life until having with [1] Heb. 2.1 the Prophet watched to see what the Lord would say She did with [2] Psal 85.8 the Psalmist hear him speak peace unto his people and to his Saints As she prayed for the peace of our Jerusalem so she saw her prayers answered She left not this transitory world until she had first seen that Deliverance which the great God hath most mercifully and most miraculously brought unto us his most unworthy people Hitherto you have chiefly seen what praises we owe unto the divine Majesty in the behalf of this dear Friend for common mercies Beloved although the bountiful God scattereth these blessings of his left hand as well upon the evil as upon the good yet when these worldly favours are placed in and imparted unto an elect Vessel they then begin to be spiritual Blessings Wherefore as God hath had the glory of his Benefits unto this singular Friend of ours in the things of this life so blesse we the Name of the Lord for that large portion of true Riches which she received in things appertaining unto a better life Concerning things appertaining unto the Gospel God was very gracious unto this singular Gentlewoman for she was exceeding happy in [1] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prudent and religious Parents By them not out of custome but out of a religious choyce she was consecrated in Baptism unto their God By them she was brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord By them she was trained up in the way she should walk in which way of holinesse she kept unto the end Hence it was that she was so great a lover of good Books of good [1] Scias ipsum plurimis virtutibus abundare qui alienas sic amat Plin. lib. 1. Ep. 17. men of Lords dayes of holy Festivals and of holy Ordinances But over and above these outward priviledges of the Gospel as she walked uprightly so the Lord God Her Sun and Shield had [1] Psalm 84.11 vouchsafed unto her his free grace I say over and above these outward priviledges she had that one blessing which maketh all the rest such for the holy God withheld not from her his holy his blessed Spirit The most merciful and most gracious Father of Lights did by his good Spirit lead her in the way that she should walk in He guided her obedient soul by His Counsel and hath now received her unto his glory That is the last In the life of Glory Of this what shall I report Might her blessed soul descend hither unto us She would now tell us things which cannot be by me uttered What Our eyes have not seen what Our eares have not heard what our hearts cannot conceive that would Her glorified Soul reveal unto us We I trust shall go to Her She you know shall not come to us only This This is our Comfort that As Solomon removed the Ark from the Tabernacle unto the Temple so the Son of David even the person speaking in my Text He hath translated the soul of this Saint from her earthly Tabernacle unto the mansions in his Fathers house For this also it is our Duty to give much thanks unto our God Quest But how shall we best expresse this our thankfulnesse Answ By endeavouring as she endeavoured after a sanctified enjoyment of every of Gods blessings This Gentlewoman whose whole life was a continued thankfulnesse unto the God of her mercies may be unto us both a Motive unto religious thanksgivings and an Example A Motive for [1] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that this righteous Gentlewoman shall be had in everlasting remembrance assuring us that the prayse of a Gospel-Conversation endureth for ever An Example because she could and did shew us Her faith by Her works viz. She made the Blessings of this World serviceable unto the blessings of the Gospel and When at any time troubles arose in her heart she believed in God she believed also in Christ The greatest part of her Conversation I say the greatest part of it was not only a Practice but a Pattern of Piety Look upon her self-denyals She was as I told you very well descended But did any of you ever hear her boasting her Ancesters She had Wealth at will but Did she make it an occasion unto pride With plenty she possessed the right the humble the spiritual enjoyment of plenty Others make it their businesse to be not Christian but vainly Gentile but she instead of drowning a Christian in a Gentlewoman taught Gentility to adorn Christianity Others are more for the broidering of the hair then for the Ornament of a meek Spirit Was she so Others are more for the pride of life then for the beauty of holinesse Was she so She was none of that sort of Gentry which like S. Chrysostomes Schoolmaster [1] When Liban us who had tought Chrysostome in Philoâ—o by was asked who should succeed him in teaching Libanius answered No one but Chrysostom had not the Christians won him to them Platina in vita Zosomi repute Christs Ministers therefore contemptible because Christs Ministers She was very well educated but was she more a Courtier then a Saint Could any prophane Esau keep her by her Chimney-side then when health allowed her to attend Gods Ordinances in Gods House She had good elocution But was guile found in her mouth I speak this to her praise She detested hypocrisie in another much in her self more On the other side She was a lover of good persons because [1] Ut de pictore aut de sculptore nisi artisex judicare non possit ita nisi sapiens non possit perspiccre sapientem Plin. lib. 1. Ep. 10. good Not long since [1] viz. Octob. 15. 1660. my very good Lady [2] The Lady Ann Overbury late widow of Sir Giles Overbury Knight went comfortably from her own house unto the mansions in her Fathers House Friends You never heard this Gentlewoman
20 deserved a Pillar much more doth Hers. That Rachel followed after [5] Gen. 31.35 35.2 Justly might Rachel be buried Esay 1.29 nader an Oak idol fancies this after true godlinesse after the God of holinesse she followed not after false Gods Seeing now her steps followed God her works follow her Her name is [6] Eccles 7.1 precious among us and as [7] Mrs. Rutters body was embalmed her body so her [8] Nee doleas quod talem amiseris sed gaudeas quòd talem habueris Hieron in Epitaph Nepotian page 23. Memory is embalmed She hath travailed [1] Qaid invidetis bonam mortem cui dare vitam non potestis Plin. lib. 2. Epist. 20. quite thorow all that this world can [2] Eccles 1.2 7.1 afford viz. Troubles of heart She went farre into the Kingdome of Grace viz. she believed in God she believed in Christ And hath already entred the Kingdome of Glory possessing mansions in her Fathers house While she abode on earth she delighted in Saints now with [3] Illum non emori sed emigrare mutare amicos non relinquere intelligeres Saints she abideth Complain not then that she departed hence in the midst of her age for a vertuous life is a [4] Wisdom 4 7 8 9 Placita erat Deo anima illius in brevi spatio multa complevit S. Hieron Fitaph Lucinij long life Untimely her death was but as the Father of Alexander said [5] Plutarch Apothig in Philippo of his Friend Hipparchus the untimelinesse was not unto her self but unto us Not unto her self for God [6] Gen. 5.24 took her no nor yet unto us for The [7] Matth. 6.20 Acts 21.24 good will of our God be done Life may by no meanes be neglected great is the blessing of long life especially there where it is found in [1] Whereas green fruit and a young man want their true taste Old age is the vessel of prudeace the way of wisdome Yet compare the long life of common persons with the short life of this singular Christian In looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God many a One is so dull so slow that after the irksome labours and sorrowes of fourscore yeares his unprepared soul beginneth to cry O spare me a little before I go hence But this Christian began early in the Morning and loe she hath finished her course betimes She [2] Nos dolendi magis qui quotidiè stamns in praetio peccatoruâ— vitiis sordidamis vulaera accipimus de â—â—oso verbo sumus reddituri ratâ—â—em Idem ib.d. found favour with the Lord in the [3] Esay 57.1 We may say coâ—ceming Mrs. Rutter as our said of S. Anselm Hoâ— tempus ci datum est ut majus boaum ci in aeternitate daretur midst of her age The Race which was set before her she run as well with good speed as with patience She ran and so ran that at the one half of her yeares she obtained mercy Call to mind her dayes which she hath passed you will acknowledge them [1] aetarem ultra putet L. Florus lib. 1. Prolog worthy your imitation yea and worthy your thanksgivings too Think upon her present life you will finde in it Life more abundant Life most worthy your more abundant thanks most worthy your more abundant rejoycings too True WE cannot roll away the Stone from her grave but in due time the good Angel in my Text [2] Hos 6.2 will Yea She her self being [1] 1 Cor. 15.32 dead yet [2] Fiducia Christianorum resurrectio mortuorum Tertul. speaketh while her first Resurrection is an earnest of her second Wherefore Let not your heart be troubled Or if for a season troubled it be imitate Her for whom ye mourn As she did so do you Believe in God believe in Christ then as she doth so shall ye ye shall enjoy mansions in my Fathers House rather as she doth so shall ye ye shall glorifie your God as God Time it self [3] Rev. 10.6 must dye ye Death it self [4] Rev. 21.4 must dye but every soul which rejoyceth to glorifie God [5] Quamdiu hic moramur peregrinamur à Dommo Ad hoc anti sumus ut mâ—â—eamus aterni Hi ron ad Paul super Blesillae filae obitum Therefore as She in her Funeral Rings Posie saith I am not lost but gone before So we Non amâ—simus sed praemisimus August ad Iralicam viduam Epist 6. Non moeremus quod talem amisimus sed gratias agimus quòd habâ—â—mus imó quòd habemus Deo enim Matth. 22.32 vivuâ—t omtia quicquid revâ—titur ad Dominum in Eph. 3.15 Familiae numero computatur S. Hieron ad Eustoch in Epicaph Paul endureth for ever for which everlasting mercy and for every other mercy of his both to our bodies and to our souls ever for ever blessed be the Name of the Lord. Amen THE Jewes when they build a House are [1] J. G. out of Leon Moden digit Rili Hebraia Part. 1. bound to leave some part of it unfinished in remembrance of the destruction of Jerusalem By the same Rule in memory of this Friends dissolution I should break off here I should here leave my Discourse dying [2] John 11.16 at the Gentlewomans Grave unperfected Beloved compasse all that is before me I cannot yet neither am I inconstant unto [3] See the method proposed p. 272. my self neither dare I be forgetful of my God even of your God and mine viz. What prayses I bring I sacrifice not unto the dead but unto [4] Rev. 1.18 Him who is alive and liveth for evermore Wherefore By these few and slender instances which both I have newly given and you have patiently received I say by these few and slender instances of those many and large favours wherewith the Lord richly [1] That may be truly said of this Mrs. Dorothy Rutter which was said of Socrates Whosoever knew him loved him and honoured him and they that did not so it was because they did not know him enamelled the perfections of this One single short-lived Friend Judge I pray you between Our God and Us concerning the whole multitude of his mercies toward Vs toward Ours toward all believers from common mercies not excluding unbelievers and reprobates Concerning life past present future day by day hour by hour doth this God vouchsafe renew accumulate upon these sinful soules and bodies of ours mercies multifarious numberlesse unsearchable Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gifts Utter them we cannot Point toward them [1] Quia ipsa sibi obstat magnitudo rerumque diversitas aciem intentionis abrumpit faciam quòd solent qui terrarum situs piagunt in brevi quasi tabellà tolam ejus magnitudinem amplectar L. Florus l. 1. Prolog we may Revise a little those three great Kingdomes upon which we were entring having a little viewed them
had they not (5) Eccl. 7.29 Hos 13.9 Job 34 11 fallen from that perfection wherein they were created To them who live in a state of Vnbelief It is the Lords mercy First That they are not (1) Lam. 3.22 already hopelesse and helplesse in Hell Secondly That the present troubles of their heart are not (2) John 3.18 Gal. 3.10 worthy to be compared unto the severe judgements which they deserve Thirdly That though they deserve no mercy at all they have (3) Psalm 17.14 Eccles 9.1 2 Matth. 5.45 Psalm 73.3 -7 so large a portion in this life Fourthly For that the long-suffering and (4) Rev. 2.21 Rom. 2.4 1 Pet. 3.19 forbearance and goodnesse of their God daily inviteth them to repentance As for the persons spoken unto in my Text they finde Matter of thankfulnesse First For the Kingdom of this World First For their very being for that they were are any part of the Vniverse Friends It was it is the Lords mercy that ever there were such creatures in the world as were these Disciples in my Text. There is one flesh (1) 1 Cor. 15.39 of men And that is wonder if we call to mind how and against whom Adam transgressed Be it that rather then lessen the number of his several kinds of creatures mankind God will continue One would think He would sooner raise up Children (2) as Mat. 3 9 out of these stones under our feet then from out of the loines of our first Father These stones never offended God as Adam once the (3) Gen. 1.27 perfect image of his God! did That the determinate Counsel of God should before time was decree his own Image that at the beginning of time he should say (4) Gen. 1.26 After our own Image let us make man that Having made man after his Image God should (5) Psal 8.6 put all things under his feet that Having put all things under his feet God should (6) Gen. 2.17 Nehem. 9.6 Job 7.20 Psalm 36.6 preserve the nature of man who (7) Gen. 3.17 as 2 Sam. 12.8 9. and Psalm 50.17 slighted all things Verily there is no motive no ground at all for this but meerly the perpetual prayse of his great Name Next For their not being in Hell It is the Lords mercy that these Disciples for as much as they also were the Sons of Adam did not only just live to dye in Hell that instead of having their heart troubled in their body their soul was not flaming in Tophet But (1) Rom. 9.15 God will have mercy upon whom he will have mercy Although man unto this day disregardeth his God Unto this day God (2) Psalm 8.4 regardeth man Man quickly destroyed himself God patiently continueth (3) Job 7.20 mans Preserver Thirdly For being under no more troubles of heart You have heard of the calamity of Job But what was Jobs misery in comparison of those (1) See Deut. 28 15-68 bitter curses and fearful judgements unto which mans sinful nature is most justly exposed Horrible was the anguish of Francis Spira but was His anguish equal unto that of damned soules The fires which (2) Anno Dom. 1662. Decemb. 26. consumed de Launes House in Louthbury London Oh how amazing yet were not to be complained of if we call to mind Hell-flames Feed a condemned person with bread of affliction and water of affliction all the yeares of his life he will acknowledge it a favour that the hour of his execution is deferred Sirs the saddest and most forlorn condition upon earth is a merciful estate unto him who deserveth everlasting burnings Deliver me not over unto the will of mine (3) Psal 27.12 Matth. 13.39 enemy O God Fourthly For temporal mercies Nicanor had as hard thoughts of his Prince as natural men have of their God even and anon like many unthankful English Subjects he would be detracting (1) Pâ—uâ—arch Apotheg ubi supra from his Soveraign This his Soveraign knew yet took occasion to relieve his wants now that he had received Relief (2) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ib. Nicanor was never so well as then when he was speaking well of this King at which the King See said he It is in my power if I please to hear or evil or well Christians the Lord doth not only deliver us from execution but furnish us with food and raiment Yea (3) Videas Bellarminum De Ascensionâ— mentis in delum per Scalas A Book so useful that I am translating it into English he frâ—ely giveth us all things appertaining unto life Oh set it (4) Psal 107.4 be in His power to make us speak well of him The same Sun which stood still at the (5) Josh 10.13 command of Joshua runneth a daily Race to give us light That Moon which stood still (6) â— 14 over the Valley of Ajalon night by night attendeâ—h us while we steep God calleth all (7) Psalm 147.4 the starres by their names and accompteth them all few enough to do us service He hath placed us in the very middest of whole multitudes of blessings His blessings do crowd upon us as living creatures did upon Noah at the door (8) Gen. 7.9 of the Arâ— they throng upon us as they did upon Adam at his (9) Gen. 2.19 first creation they swarm about us like Bees like Beeâ— all honey and (10) See Psal 118.12 no sting Solomon did well to write of Herbs from the Hysop to the (11) 1 Kings 4.33 Cedar We want more Aristotles more Plinies more Philosophers and more Secretaries of Nature to number up the good works of our God With what plenty of water woods grasse Cattle fish fowl c. doth God accomodate divers unknown Regions (12) Psal 50.10 11 104.30 Acts 17.26 Job 24.5 38.26 27 of the World as if his bounty would prepare a Table in the Wildernesse against man come thither to inhabite his mercies We upon whom the latter (13) as Jer. 23.20 and Hos 3.5 ends of the world are come enjoy to our ease the help the benefit the studies the arts the experience and the labours (14) See Gen. 4.20 Josh 24.13 Prov. 8.12 Esay 28 23-29 Exod. 35 30-35 of all ages from the beginning of the Creation unto this more then fiâ—â— thousandth year of the World For which of all these common mercies can we neglect to give especial prayses unto our God It is usual with persons great and Childlesse to sttle their Inheritance upon some adopted Kinsman that so their Lands may be called after their name but (1) See Gen. 21.12 14 seldom do they give their goods and chattels too unto the same person whom they make their Heir these they distribute as Legacies unto other of their Kinred Beloved that we may not want matter for our thanksgivings the (2) See Gen. 25.5 6 Father of mercies bestoweth upon us (3) Rom. 8.32 land and goods
house Compare 2 Sam. 13.6 with Psa 41.3 Cant. 1.13.2.6 make my bed Let my Beloved stay me with flagons or comfort me with apples and I 'le most willingly be (34) A weck together at Sir Thomas Overburies house Compare 2 Sam. 13.5 sick of love Let Saul encrease his fury it mattereth not so long as Jonathans heart is knit to David the more (35) 1 Sam. 20.4 Davids troubles encrease the more Jonathans loving (36) crescent illae crescetis amores kindnesses appear Good God In all our afflictions thou [37] Isa 63.9 art afflicted Can Heaven it self yield unto us many larger matters of thankfulnesse then this Blessed are they that [38] Rev. 14.13 rest from their labours I deny it not mean while I add Blessed are they who lead a [39] Mat. 5.4 heavy life viz. They shall still be praysing thy Spirit the [40] Joh. 14.16 Comforter thy Son saying in my Text Let not your heart be troubled and thy Self the [41] 2 Cor. 1.3 father of mercies Who hath none to still him may weep his eyes out but we know [42] 2 Tim 1.12 in whom we have believed The Rabbins [43] Elias Thisbites in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reckon twenty sorts of thorns mentioned in the old Testament were those twenty and twenty more in our sides the blood of the new Testament would [44] 2 Cor. 12.9 draw them forth unto the prayse and glory of the Testator Thorough our thanksgiving for many deliverances the [45] 2 Cor. 4.15 Christus Dominus veluti medicus anima rum summus ad curandum grav's ani ni morbos permittit electos suos morbis corporum graviter affligi Eâ— quod plus est ad curandum majora crimina permittit in cidere in minora etiam mortalia D. Tho. in 2 Cor. 12. lect 3. abundant grace will redound to the glory of God Ye who mourn in Zion seven-fold are your opportunities of glorifying God as God and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way We shall in Heaven [1] Rom. 8 17 2 Tim. 2.12 reign with Christ true but that which is on our part the [2] Acts 20.35 more blessed is this We here in this Kingdom of grace have the honour not only to [3] Rom. 5.17 rule with Christ but also to [4] Rom. 8.17 Acts 5.41 Phil. 3.10 Col. 1.24 suffer with Christ said Thomas [5] John 11.16 Let us also go that we may dye with him Brethren I protest by our rejoycing which we have in Christ Jesus our Lord we may with him [6] 1 Cor. 15.31 Non decent sub spinoso capite membra esse delicata dye daily There is an Elixar in ever godly mans sorrow This Kingdome of grace hath a Chimique power it extracteth Oyl out of Flints Silver out of Lead Gold out of Brass it sweeteneth the bitterest [7] Aâ—deo dicere superhis esse utile cadere in aliquod apertum manisestumque peccatum unde sibi displiceant quijam sibi placeddo ceciderant sâ—abrias eniâ— Petrus sibi displicuit quandâ— sleviâ— quam sibi placuit quandâ— praesumpsit August de civitate Dei l. 14 c. 13. Wormwood consecrateth every cross spiritualizeth every tribulation maketh whatsoever we suffer a suffering with Christ Ignatius his love was crucified and so is [8] Gal. 2.20 6.14 ours Beloved this is a matter worthy our thanksgiving a happinesse peculiar unto this present life that to us it is [9] Phil. 1.29 GIVEN to suffer with Christ a Talent which into the future Kingdom of glory we may in no wise carry with us Once more There is [1] Esay 45.3 a promise of Treasures of darknesse Oh Sirs The dark grief for the [2] Eph. 4.18 darknesse of ignorance the darknesse of [3] Jer. 13.16 sorrow for sin and every other darknesse of [4] Lom 3.6 affliction doth in This kingdome of Heaven bring forth Treasures which Treasures the holy Angels cannot but we sinners [5] Psalm 51.3 17 32.5 2 Cor. 7.10 12 Esay 57.15 66.20 Rom. 10.10 Dan. 9.10 Ezra 10.1 may and do dedicate unto our God Although they have in Heaven no such passions as anger indignation hatred fear sim of these Priviledges We partake In our [6] Eph. 6.12 warfare against sin and Satan these passions these spiritual [7] 2 Cor. 10.4 weapons we use and for them blessed be our God It is matter well worthy our most unfeigned thanksgivings that we have by these our [8] Heb. 5.14 senses (9) 1 Tim. 4.7 exercised unto godliness Worldly and carnally minded persons have such passions but no [10] 1 John 2.15 Rom. 8.9 godlinesse the Saints departed have a godliness but no [11] 1 Cor. 15.52 such passions whereas we of the kingdome of grace participate of both esteeming the exercise of godlinesse a [12] Acts 24.16 1 Tim. 4.7 8 Psalm 119.47 great refreshment a delightful recreation a ravishing delight After death it will be too too late to [13] Isa 25.8 attempt humiliation contrition sorrow self-denial repentance c. Let not your heart be troubled taketh no place within the mansions in my Fathers house we cannot [14] Revel 7.17 21.4 shed teares in Heaven we cannot sacrifice [15] Joel 2.13 Psalm 51.17 a sorrowful spirit in Heaven Friends this matter for our thanksgiving which here we in the Kingdome of grace daily rejoyce in they in the kingdome of glory have not Christians Let us [16] Joel 56.8 42.3 Jeb 16.20 Esay 38.5 Jerem. 9.1 Lam. 2.18 Mal. 2.13 Luke 7.38.44 Acts 20.19.31 2 Tim. 1.4 bottle up teares for Heaven while we may let us weep for our sins committed let us mourn for him whom [17] Zech 12.10 we have pierced while we yet may Teares and blood these are the white and red colours the [18] Gal. 6.14 Rom. 1.16 Matth. 16.24 Domine hic da mihi poenitentiam postea indulgentiam Fulgentius flourishing trophies peculiar not unto the Church triumphant but unto the Church militant oh that with religious sighs and loving teares we could daily glorifie our God as God! Hitherto of the Moon [1] Revel 12.1 under our feet now of the [2] Revel 1.16 Sun over our heads hitherto of the [3] Jer. 32.27 God of all flesh now of the Father of [4] Heb. 12.9 Spirits hitherto of the body which is [5] Matth. 6.24 more then raiment now of what the Lord hath [6] Psalm 66.16 done for our soules for in the kingdome of grace duly considered these are the [7] 2 Cor. 4.18 non inferiora secutus most principal points worthy our thanksgiving in these distinctly we glorifie God as God If from that consolation Let not your heart be troubled we have found so plentiful matter of thanksgivings what may we expect from the reason and ground of that consolation Ye believe in God believe also in me Few there are who [1] Rari
suat qui Phâ—losophantur Ulpian de excus leg 5. finde the promise of this life neverthelesse be it that Ahab speedeth the better for humbling his heart or that Israel procure corn and wine by howling [2] Hos 7.14 Uxor dicitur quae dotem habet concubina vero quae non habet upon their bed or that every hypocrite hath the whole reward which he looketh after yet still while he preferreth things temporal before things eternal his soul is more like a* concubine then a spouse Yea let a man suck out the [3] Disce gaudere caetera bilares levitates sunt mihi crede res severa est verum gaudium Quid sit islu l interrogas Dicam ex bonâ consciâ—nt á ex honest's consiliis ex rectis actionibus Seneca lib. 3. Ep. 13. ad Lucil. sweets of Vertue let his soul delude her self with the common works of the Spirit and mistake counterfeit grace for true grace I confesse no heathen Philosopher could ever attain so near no not unto this lifes happinesse I say the soul that perisheth cannot finde a more self-pleasing practice wherewith to feed empty hopes yet still this happinesse is only in this life it is but a perishing happinesse As young as he was that dying Prince of Loraine could say [4] O Domine Jesu quem meritò praecepisti muâ—di contemptum O Lord Jesu most deservedly hast thou required our contempt of this world And Philip the third of Spain [5] Nihil confert regemesse nisi ut in morte cruciet suisse Mendoza in 1 Sam. Tom. 1. Page ult protested All the sweet which I have found in being a King only serves to embitter my death Beloved it fareth not so with the Kingdome of grace To believe in God to believe in his Christ does as well in death as in life raise for us Matter of Thankfulnesse unto God viz. First For [1] Psalm 19.11 giving us to [2] Gen. 2.17 understand our [3] Rom. 7 8 9 lost condition Who [4] Gen. 3.11 told us that we were naked Children of wrath we [5] Ephes 2.3 are by nature but who hath warned us to [6] Matth. 3.7 flee from wrath If God say unto Abimelech Thou art [7] Ephes 2.1 Gen. 20.3 a dead man there is mercy [8] Ephes 2.7 intended for Abimelech Whether we heed it or heed it not Guilt dwelleth in us It is therefore of thy free mercy O our God that the Scripture hath [9] Gal. 3.22 concluded us all under sin Secondly For delivering us from so great a death Gnashing of teeth weeping wailing This was our portion for ever Ah who among us can abide darknesse which may be felt perpetual darknesse perpetual darknesse in a bottomlesse pit in a bottomlesse pit streaming with brimstone even with everlasting burnings With everlasting burnings kindled by the breath of the Lord by the breath of Him [1] Horresco resereas unto whom vengeance belongeth even of a provoked Judge of an enraged Father in short of a jealous angry furious God! O give thanks unto the Lord for his mercy endureth for ever Thirdly For redeeming us not only from torment but from damnation Friends though we must all appear before the judgement seat of God yet there is [1] Rom. 8.1 no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus A Malefactor reprieved at the place of Execution escapeth death yet was he in a peck of cares in a bodily fright he trembled every joint of him then when he held up his hand at the Bar he looked as pale as that death which he feared at what time sentence was pronouncing against him But ye Beloved give glory to the Father of mercies Although the ungodly [2] Psalm 1.5 cannot the righteous shall [3] Psalm 37.33 stand in judgement That great and last day terrible to unbelievers to you shall be a day of [4] Revel 12.10 absolution a day of [5] Ephes 4.30 redemption a day of [6] Acts 3.21 restitution a day of [7] Luke 21.28 exaltation yea of exultation rejoycing and triumph Christians you shall be so far from dreading judgement that you your selves shall [8] 1 Cor. 6.2 judge the Angels Fourthly For preserving us as in Judgement so in death Unto us death shall be not our fear but our hope not our sting but our gain When we shall like the Priests [1] Luke 1.8 in the Temple have sinished our course we shall then [2] Revel 14.13 Heb. 4.9 rest from our labours We shall not only rest but [3] Psalm 127.2 sleep sleep we [4] Dan. 12.2 shall and shall sleep [5] 1 Thes 4.14 in Jesus Thanks be unto God for our life in death Fifthly For begetting us unto a [1] 1 Pet. 3.1 lively hope We who [2] Esay 48.8 from the tombe unto [3] John 3.3 our new birth have [4] Esay 1.2 Jerem. 5.23 Ezek 2.7 fought against [5] Psalm 2.6 10.16 our King had high cause to despair of obtaining mercy Against our dread Soveraign even then when He Himself stood at at the door [6] Rev. 3.20 and knocked we have shut the door of our Imagination which should ever conceive of him not evil but good the door of our Memory which should never let him go the door of our Vnderstanding which should in all our wayes acknowledge him the door of our Affections which should rejoyce in him above all that can be desired the door of our Conscience which should ever admit him a witnesse unto all our deeds words and thoughts These [7] Psalm 24.7 everlasting doores have we bolted against him wherefore most equal it is that he should shut against us every [8] Hos 2.15 Matth. 25.10 Prov. 1.26 28 door of hope yet lo before we call He answereth yea He expostulateth [9] Ezek. 18.31 Why will ye dye He saith unto us [10] Ezek. 16.6 Live What compassions he bare unto his Brethren Joseph [11] Gen. 42.17 concealed How Esau would deal [12] Gen. 32.7 by Jacob Jacob was not worthy to foreknow but for the righteous light is [13] Psalm 97.11 sown Our life which is given us for a prey is [14] 2 Tim. 1.10 brought to light doth not hang in doubt before us Sixthly For the exercise of godlinesse When the (1) Saper King of Persia led about the Roman (2) Valeriames Emperour captive so often as he took Horse he trod upon the back of this Emperour the late Emperour of Rome was now made an Upping stock Beloved the King of Heaven doth not like that King of Persia Upon us he trampleth not His enemies he (3) Psalm 110.1 Esay 63.3 doth his redeemed ones he doth not make his footstool VVe are not handled we are not (4) Judges 1.7 thumbed as were those seventy Kings whom Adoni-bezek used worse then dogs God neither fettereth nor cageth us as Tamerlan did Bajazet
Angels Him who did once give himself for us and doth ever since give himself to us Him unto whom God hath given (1) Nec patior me quicquam nescire de co quem amew Plin. Epist a name above every name Him we shall worship blesse admire and adore in my Fathers house But That which putteth so great a value upon my Fathers house is (1) Bonum mihi Domine in camino habere te â—â—â—cum quam esse sine â—e vel iâ— caelo Bernard principally my father himself The Refuge the Rest the Reward the Riches the Inheritance the Crown The Mansions the many Mansion the many Mansions in my Fathers house The eternal peace the infinite love the everlasting joy there set before us neither these nor the fellowship of the Saints nor the society of Angels shall be able to (2) Rom. 8.39 divert us from gloryfying our God as God For as all things appertaining unto life are therefore bestowed upon us here that here we may in body in soul and in spirit be (3) Testimonium credibile nimis gustatae sapientiae est esuries ipsa tam vehemens Idem Serm. 2. de duab mensis Oportebat quidem si fiâ—ri posset revivere me ut ita loquar denuo quod malè vixi srá saciam cogitaado quod reoperando non possum Idem Cant. de Serm. Hezekiae wholly taken up in obeying trusting loving honouring worshiping blessing and gloryfying our God as God so all the peace pleasures mansions joyes and glories which are treasured up for us in our Fathers house are therefore freely and everlastingly vouchsafed unto us that we may with a perfect love joy thankfulnesse and delight both admire and adore our everlasting Father Lastly as here upon earth no one mercy can so much require our thankfulnesse as the communion betwixt (1) Deus tuus totum tihi crit S. Aug. in Psalm 26. Et quem scmper habeat semper habere volunt our spirit and the sanctifying spirit of our most holy God so neither can any thing in heaven more excite our prayses and thanksgiving unto him who sitteth upon the Throne then the blessed Vision of our most glorious God even of God the Father of God the Son and of God the Holy Ghost ever for ever blessed and glorifyed In His presence is fulnesse of everlasting joy To him be the Kingdome the power and the glory ever ascribed Amen Dear Christians hear the [1] Eccles 12.13 conclusion of the whole Fear God and keep his Commandements love God and cleave unto him with your whole heart esteem [2] Solicitus incipit ambulare cum Deo suo ex omni parte scrutatur ne vel in le vissimà re tiemeadae illius maj statis offendatur aspectus Bernard Serm 3. in vigil nativ every thought word and deed misplaced which is not ordered to glorifie your God as God Oh let not your heart be troubled saving that it cannot be troubled enough for neglecting so merciful a God stretch out daily hourly stretch out and stir up your faith believe in God he hath [3] Esay 54.8 an everlasting love for you believe in his Son he is [4] 1 Cor. 1.30 made unto you wisdome and sanctification and redemption and righteousnesse believe in his Spirit he is [5] Jude 24. able to keep you from falling and to present you to your Bridegroom and to his Father with exceeding joy Look for and [6] 2 Pet. 3.12 hasten unto these mansions in my Fathers house Beloved this is life eternal this will be joy eternal to see God! Without holinesse it is [7] Heb 12.14 impossible to see God the Lord [8] Heb 13.21 perswade the Lord allure the Lord ravish your hearts Blessed for ever blessed are the pure in heart they shall possesse these mansions in my Fathers house they shall see God! Oh then for your own sakes yea for your Redeemers sake for your Gods sake improve [1] Luke 19.13 every talent of his which he in this your day putteth into your hands [2] Ephes 5.16 redeem [3] Cajus unius avâ—â—tia hotesta est Seneca time value time husband time do not oh do not content your selves with the lowest of these mansions in my Fathers house make you hearts more and more obedient more and more watchful humble faithful loving and thankful hearts the [4] Matth. 6.19 20 2 Pet. 3.18 1 Tim. 6.6 1 Cor. 15.58 Gal. 6.7 8 Mark 10.29 30 Revel 3.5.12 2.17 more grace the more glory you do treasure up for your selves the more you glorifie your God as God Be holy as the Spirit your Preserver is holy put on the Lord Jesus finde it [5] Consilium futuri ex praeterito venit Seneca Epist 83.9 your duty make it your businesse to glorifie the God and father of your Lord Jesus Christ so doing let not your heart be troubled believe in God believe in his Christ in my Fathers house are many mansions Oh thou who speakest in my Text speak [1] Psal 33.4 the word and our heart shall not be troubled Lord we believe help thou [2] Psal 33.2 our unbelief in Thy Fathers house are many mansions Brethren Unto these mansions after that we have [3] 1 Pet. 5.10 hoped trusted obeyed waited and suffered a while the God of all grace who hath called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus will receive first our soules then our bodyes To him be [4] 11 Pet. 5.11 glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen D. Bernardus Epist 341. Erubescat anima conversa ad Dominum minori affectu sectari justitiam quà m iniquitatem antea sectaretur pudeat negligentius nunc in vitam quam prius in mortem ire minori studio salutis acquirere quam perditionis augmentum PSALM 105. v. 4.3 Seek ye the Lord and his strength seek his face evermore Glory ye in his holy Name Let the heart of them rejoyce that seek the Lord. FINIS Venial escapes the Reader is desired to impute unto the Authors absence from the Presse and to correct these or the like ERRATA Read P. 12. l. 31. our days p. 42. l. 13. a King p. 44. l. 9. this stone p. 47. l. 3. Aegyptians had p. 121. l. 5. sibi p. 123. l. 18. flatten p. 128. l. 28. I cleared p. 138. l. 12. affections p. 143. l. 5. Arnon p. 151. l. 19. to ply p. 152. for Tertullian r. Cyprian for Cyprian r. Tertullian p. 156. l. 18 19. Let them Who p. 122. l. 26. Three particulars p. 201. l. 31. This he considereth p. 240. l. 11. reprieve p. 245. l. 3 5. dele I say p. 319. l. 6. smutty-faced p. 356. l. 14. mett p. 401. l. 7. not ease p. 405. l. 3. deign p. 423. l. 2. womb The margin is referred to the Reader
of my Son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven and the fatnesse of the earth and plenty of corn and wine Why all this Answ Jacob have (7) Mal. 1.2 Rom. 9.13 I thosen Religious persons like perfumed garments carry with them a (8) Gen. 26.28 39.23 1 Sam. 18.5 Psalm 1.3 Jer. 17.8 blessing whithersoever they go Pharaoh Abimelech Laban Saul c. shall speed the better for their acquaintance with Joseph Isaac Jacob David c. It is not in vain that where the Prophets foretel Gospel-times there (9) Joel 2 23-28 Zech. 9.9 17 Esay 66.12 65 20-25 62 1-5 60.14 61.6 11 Revel 21.24 they promise temporal blessings The (10) hos 2.22.21 corn and the wine and the oyle shall hear Jezreel And the earth shall hear the corn and the wine and the oyle And the heavens shall hear the earth and I will hear the heavens saith the Lord But how shall Jezreel be assured of all this Answ I will (11) hos 2.20 even betroth thee unto me in faithfulnesse and thou shalt know the Lord. May Elijah prevaile with Ahab to cry down Baal he will soon prevail (12) 1 Kings 18 19-45 with God to pour down Rain Bring ye all your tithes and prove me now herewith saith the (13) Mal. 3.10 Lord of Hosts if I will not open for you the windowes of Heaven and empty out a blessing until I fill your Barns so full that you shall want room Wrest and misapply the Scriptures never so much yet from the Scritures (14) Mat. 5.5 Mark 10.30 1 Tim. 4.8 6.17 Psalm 144.15 122.5 7 128.5 125.4 35.27 1.3 119.165 81.16.147.14 148.14 36.7 8 Esay 60.6 7 9 10 11 12 13 16 17 18 61.4 5 6 62.7 8 9 65 20-25 66.10 11 12 clear it is that worldly riches are ordained not as a snare but as a promised blessing and that wheresoever Jesus Christ reigneth in the Gospel there he leadeth people from barbarism unto civility from civility to peace and from peace to the fruits of peace plenty The holy Spirit teacheth man to (15) Jam. 3.18 Hos 10.12 sow the fruits of righteousnesse the good Spirit to (16) Esay 28.24 29 Prov. 8.12 Exod. 31.3 6 cast abroad the sitches the cummin and principal wheat We mis-employ the encrease of the earth if we (17) Luke 16.9 12 Gal. 6.6 1 Tim. 6.18 19. spend it not upon the kingdome of heaven and the glory of this World [18] 1 Cor. 7.31 Esay 40.8 passeth away unlesse it may adorn the glory of the Gospel True where the Gospel is but yet in [19] Acts 14.22 planting or under [20] 2 Tim. 3.12 James 4.4 persecution or the like there if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of [21] 1 Cor. 15.19 all men most miserable but I shall ever crave leave to think that where the Gospel flourisheth there the meek shall be sure to [22] Mat. 5.5 inherite the earth to be [23] Psa 149.4 beautified with salvation and to [24] Psa 22.26 eat and be satisfied The reason why I so think is this The meek on earth will [25] Zeph. 2.3 seek the Lord and the Lord will guide them [26] Psal 25.9 Esay 29.19 in judgement yea their meek and quiet Spirit is [27] 1 Pet. 3.4 in the sight of God of great price Hence The children of Israel never better bestowed their wealth then when they brought of it [1] Exod. 25.2 35.5 36 3 5 6 1 Chron. 29 2-13 willing Offerings for the service of the work of the Lord in his Sanctuary yea the followers of Christ even then when Jesus Christ was dead and buried would [2] Luke 8.3 John 8.40 Mark 16.1 2 3 See Learned Bishop Andrews his third Serm. on the Resurrection have ministred unto him of their substance And reason good for since the [3] Psal 24.1 earth is the Lords just it is that we [4] 1 Chro. 29.14 16 should give unto him of his own But this know God will not be behindhand with us in any [5] 2 Cor. 9.12 1 Cor. 15.58 Rom. 11.35 Hos 12.2 expressions of loving kindnesses whatsoever Though David did no more then [6] 2 Sam. 7.2 design to build a house for the Lord in requital the Lord built for David a [7] 2 Sam. 7. 11. sure House so far he is from desisting to [8] 1 Sam. 2.30 honour them who heartily [9] Prov. 3.9 honour him with their substance Christian remember thou that Temple of the Lord and forget the [10] Mat. 6.29 glory of Solomon if thou canst Recollect how zealous that Emperour Constantine [11] Enseb in vit Constantin was and then tell me whether he were not very deservedly stiled Constantine the [12] viz. The more good the more great Therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith to the Prince of Wales I had rather you should be Charles le Bon then Charles le Grand cap. 27. GREAT Yea whosoever sincerely loveth the peace of Jerusalem [13] Psalm 122.6 prospereth and if I once discern a person unfeignedly seeking the kingdome of heaven and the righteousnesse thereof then am I sure [14] Mat. 5.33 all other things shall be added unto him For although the [15] Pro. 3.18 Tree of life is like [16] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. other Trees best planted in winter although the children of the [17] Mat. 5.45 kingdome are like the gold of the Temple best purified [18] Mal. 3.3 by fire yet the peace of the Gospel most flourisheth [19] 1 Kings 10.7 Psalm 45.4 21.5 31.9 Eccles 7.14 Jerem. 33.9 Job 8.6 Zech. 1.17 7.7 8.12 13 in the midst of prosperity and where the purity of the Gospel aboundeth it aboundeth in the fulnesse as well of earthly [20] 1 Tim. 4.8 Phil. 4.19 2 Cor. 9.8 Esay 32.18 as of heavenly mercies I lay the foundations of the earth saith the Lord and I therefore lay them that I may say [21] 1 Tim. 51.16 unto Zion Thou art my people Are we Jesus Christ's If so all things are [22] 1 Cor. 3.22 ours to the prayse of our God be it spoken all things are ours Thus much of the sixth Revenue of the holy Catholick Church namely that secular happinesse which like the heat at noon-day accompanieth the light of the Gospel a matter worthy out perpetual thanksgiving unto him whom we gladly desire ever to glorifie as God The Seventh is a fellowship (1) Phil. 3.10 with Christs sufferings When in one and the same day message upon message brought several tidings of several Victories at once unto Philip King of Macedon Philip brake forth (2) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch Apotheg O Fortune among such and so great good tidings bestow upon me some ill newes Beloved although the World is not aware