it was God that chose thee thou didst nor couldst not choose him O that an incomprehensible God should be comprehended by a poor wretched creature that he should bestow himself upon him and give him the riches of his grace O let the Saints for ever breath out thanks and praise to this gratious God and begin that work on earth which shall be their work for ever in the highest Heavens From the consideration of your redemption 3. Redemptio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is no less then a glorious redemption as being bought with a glorious price not with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the pretious blood of Jesus Christ of more worth and excellency then all the created powers in heaven and earth Consider what you are Redeemed from First From the curse of the Law Secondly From the wrath of an infinite God Thirdly From the power of sin Fourthly From a vain conversation Fifthly from the second death Sixthly Out of the jaws of Satan that great red dragon even from hell and condemnation What you are Redeemed to First To be in an estate of Son-ship to be the Sons of God Secondly To be heirs and joynt heirs with Jesus Christ Thirdly To have a sweet communion with God Christ and the Spirit of grace Fourthly To have communion with Saints Fifthly To enjoy life glory for ever where you shall sin no more where all teares shall be wiped from your eyes where you shall reign with God Christ Saints and Angels to all Eternity O this cals for thankfulness render unto him therefore the praises due unto his name 4. Justificatio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Est propria ipsa judicis de innocente reo pronunciatio significatione nimirum activa The consideration of your justification which is done by the merits of Christ that is to be fully acquitted of all sin as if a man had never sinned to stand right and just in the sight of God Christ having paid the debt to Divine Justice and blotted out the hand-writing against you so as now it s with the Saints as if they had never been defiled with sin you and onely you are they which stand justified in his sight in that fift to the Romans are these three words used viz. Justifying Justification Justice and they are thus distinguished The first Signifieth the merit of Christs Justice whereby the Saints are Justified The second The action it self of Justification whereby Christs Justice is communicated to the Saints The third the Justice it self which is imparted and communicated to the Saints you know by sin every man is bound over to the Judgment Seat there to answer before God for all things done against him in the flesh and to pay that debt that the Law requires now Christ is the Saints surety and in their behalf hath taken this debt upon himself and hath paid the utmost farthing that can be exacted by the Law he hath loosed the chains of darkness broken the strong holds and hath enlarged and set free the Saints in the sight of God so that neither the Law sin nor the devil can lay any charge or accusation against them they have their pardon written on their breast declaring there is no condemnation unto us because we are in Christ Jesus let the Saints therefore never cease to magnifie and praise the name of the God of their Salvation From the consideration of your vocation 5. Vocatio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your calling out of darkness into the marvellous light whereby you can rejoyce in God your Saviour whereby your soul enjoyes the manifestation of all its comforts yea of its communion with God and Christ while its in the body God might have called his Saints at the last hour of their departure out of this life and so they might have lived without God in this world as every man doth before his calling and so without comfort and joy in the Holy Ghost now then if one hours communion with God be more worth then thousands of worlds O how are the Saints bound to bless God for so great a mercy as their enjoyment of communion with him here in this life for many days and yeers after they are called praise God therefore for your Vocation 6. Sanctificatio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From the consideration of your Sanctification and holiness a godly man ought to be as truly and really thankful that his sins are purged as that his sins are pardoned it is one of the greatest mercies that a soul can partake of to be purified washed and cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit to receive of Christs communicated holiness to be imputed holy for Christs sake so that he who hath this robe of righteousness is made pure yea so pure and holy as if he had never sinned the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin and this holiness and purity of spirit is a soul invested with by vertue of the blood of Christ flowing to it in the Covenant of Grace O this must needs be a strong motive to inlarge your hearts with gratitudes for so inestimable a mercy to be made pure as Christ is pure and holy as he is holy and for that this your holiness and Sanctification is not only universal but its perfect in its parts in every part of soul and body God doth not sanctifie one part now and another part at another time but he sanctifieth the soul thorowly at one the same time Therefore know that if thy heart be sanctified then thy judgment thy will thy understanding thy affections yea all the members of thy body and all the faculties of thy soul are sanctified also Yet you must know likewise that no man is perfect in the degrees of holiness on this side heaven yet bless God who ever thou art who knowest that sanctifying grace doth rest upon thy spirit here for though now it be in part yet it shall be made perfect in heaven for ever The seventh and last motive to stir up the Saints to thankfulness is this that thou who art a partaker of the power of godliness shalt be preserved to Eternal Life in spight of sin devil hell or any thing that can gainsay thou mayest slip and fail but never totally fall thou hast the spirit of God to guide and sustain thee thou art already passed from death to live with God eternally thou shalt never miscarry concerning thy eternal being thy trips and slidings shall but set thee forwarder on thy journey God will be thy God for evermore thou art safe for eternity and thy soul lieth in the bosome of Christ thou art given to Christ of the Father and those the Father hath given him he hath promised that none shall take them from him O bless the God of Gods whose mercy endureth for ever whose love is permanent whose purpose immutable and whose power All-sufficient to preserve thy soul and body unto eternal life Vse 6
it set you down safe in the midst of a most glorious and ever-induring kingdom of heaven and having finished her blessed task resign you up leave you for ever in the bosome of Christ the Author and finisher of your course there to remain everlastingly blessed in the injoyment of fullness of joy and pleasures at his right hand even to all Eternity Your hearty wel-wisher in Christ Tho. Hubbert To the READER Christian Reader I Fear I may take up that complaint of the Prophet Isaiah in his time Isa 53.1 Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed If this Prophet had cause to complain in his dayes O what cause have Christians to complain in these dayes wherein error and profaneness shake hands together and are at union and band themselves against the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Who is sufficient for this complaint What deep contentions about Trifles Forms and Shadows when pretious Things and real Truths are accounted circumstantial of no value So that the life of Christ the power of godliness and communion with God the Summum bonum of mortal man is generally neglected if not made a scorn and reproach and how many men which heretofore have made large professions of the Gospel of Christ do now by their base looseness on the one hand and by their gross errors on the other bid defiance to the very face of Christ and so become a shame to Religion and as so many goades and thorns to the Saints and all real professors of it Certainly I may say of these men as a Heathen Philosopher said of his gods Deos non naturae ratione sed honoris causâ nominamus we call them gods not that they are so by nature but for honors sake so these men are called Christians not that they are so by nature but it s a name of honor that they take upon them which will do them no good nor stand them in any stead another day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for though Christ be the end of the Law to his Saints yet these men without Repentance shal find Christ the terror of the Law to them most men in these erronious days make Religion to be like a nose of Wax they can turn it which way it may serve their own turn best that is called truth that corresponds best with private gain advantage what profession soever it be that answers not the gaping mouth of profit is cried down for erronious unsound now adays the objects of most mens choice are according to the dictates of their covetous hearts it is not godliness but gain that sways their affections These things I having seen and felt in my spirit did consider with my self whether that Scripture was not now fulfilled 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. I concluded on the affirmative and he that runneth may read it for its most clear that a form of Religion is now in fashion and all the other sins in the first four Verses bound up in it Christ in his dayes on earth cried out Wo unto you Hypocrites but we have just cause to ingeminate this cry Wo wo wo for our age is over-grown with a kinde of profane hypocrisie our Religion is become formal and extrinsecal when the intrinsecal part thereof to wit the power and life of it is not regarded O there was never more strife contention and disputes about Opinions yea meer circumstantials not deserving the least consumption of pretious time nor ever was there less practice in the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the sense whereof deeply affecting my spirits caused me in discharge of my conscience to publish this ensuing Treatise the scope whereof is not here intended to be delivered but having respect unto the welfare of thy soul that thou maist more fully discover it read and ruminate upon it at thy convenient times I have caused it to be more amply set forth and published in this following Book Which if thou wilt but read thorowly read love and practise it may be to the conducement of thy good here and eternal happiness hereafter Read it not with a censorious eye let not a supercilious brow be cast upon it but let love sobriety patience wisdom and willingness to be instructed be thy Guides and Schoolmasters to teach thee to read and peruse it and the blessing of the eternal Spirit of Grace the grand Schoolmaster and edifier of thy soul rest upon thee directing thee humbling thee and throughly instructing thee in the right and constant practice and performance of it till it hath conducted thee unto the full end and enjoyment of thy hopes eternal life and glory the accomplishment whereof unto thy soul Is the Prayer and delight of Thy Soul-pittying Friend Tho. Hubbert From my House in More-Fields this 6th of June 1649. Pilula REcipe tantum verae fidei quantum Christum tenaeciter comprehendat cujus fructus cor mundificat tantum amoris quantum te ad fingulis Christi mandatis obediendum cogat tantum resipiscentiae quantum te ab operibus carnalibus resuscitet in te timorem Domini viventis figat tantum vitae integritatis quantum te Deum ipsum de amoris tui simplicitate approbandâ audacter appellare faciat tantum sinceritatis quantum cum eo in sanctâ communione te integram agere vitam provocet Haec componantur in massam pietatis tantum capiaes quolibet mane quantum animam tuam ab omni impuritate tum carnis tum spiritus intactam reddat conservetque haec Pilula per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum usque ad vitam aeternam te salvum custodiet Probatum est Si Deus pro nobis quis contra nos The Pill TAke as much true Faith as will lay sted fast hold upon Christ the fruits of which purifie the heart as much love as may constrain thee to obedience to all the commands of Christ as much Repentance as will raise thee from dead works and make thee fear the living God as much Sincerity as may make thee boldly appeal to God for the truth of thy love unto him as much Uprightness as may make thee walk perfectly with him in holy communion all thy days Make these up into a mass of godliness and every morning take as much as may keep thy soul from the infection of all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit And this Pill shall preserve thee to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. If thou wilt reade nothing but what was intended by the Author amend these misprintings The rest are but small PAge 2. In the Margent pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 13. l. 8. r. most p. 18 l. 22. r. God p. 22. in the Mar. r. devenerunt p. ibid. l. 12. r. Spirit p. 52. l. 17. r. O self sanctity p. 60. l. 9. r. commune p. ibid. l. 23. r. eating p 67. l. 16. r. low p. 77.
superficial profession from the discerning eye of God when thou shalt make thy approaches unto Christ then even then shall thy paint appear and be discovered like the paintings of an harlot before the heat that which passeth for solidity in the eyes of man will be found vanity in the sight of God for though men judg according to the outward appearance yet Christ judgeth according to what 's within so that though thou mayest carry things close and covered for a time yet a discovering time will come when Christ will say Mat. 25.29 Go take from him that hath not even that he hath that is that he seemeth to have O then thy godliness will prove but a form Revel 3.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy riches poverty thy glorious garments nakedness thy conceit of wanting nothing will be the want of all things Yea thou wilt be poor blinde and naked wretched and miserable O you that have been professors of the Gospel these twenty thirty or forty yeers who have followed Sermons as much as any who have performed duties in your families yea in your closets tell me did you ever meet with Christ in a Sermon in a family or closet-duty have you not gone on in a formal way resting upon duties done what are you reformed in your families or in your persons are you not as covetous now as twenty yeers since as uncharitable as proud as lukwarme as self-seeking yea and hast thou not taken content and blessed thy self in this condition O be now informed that all this time thy Religion is but a form of godliness thou art but a rotten hypocritical professor one that hast all this time lived upon thy self thy duties thy parts thy gifts but to this day never upon Christ never had one hours sweet communion with God never seen the rayes of his love in the face of Christ never been with God in the mount never been ravished with his presence nor seen his glory yea heaven and earth shall witness against thee this day that thou hast only a form of godliness thou takest that for Gold that is but dross and tin it will not pass for currant coin another day your garment will be moth-eaten your nakedness will appear your faith will prove but historical and temporary you have spent your time to small purpose you are like the horse in the mill you are now where you were twenty yeers ago not one step neerer heaven you have not had one glimpse of glory from above not one supper with Christ nor one Feast of fat things to this very day thou hast spun a fair thread but not a sure one thy glass hath run for vanity not for eternity thou shalt have the full aime of thy performances accomplished into thy bosom the applause and pleasing of men thou mayest expire thy last breath in the praise and admiration of man thy name may be had in continual remembrance for thy good deeds and Saint like conversation with them which indeed was the sum of thy expectation but in stead of thy approbation before God thou shalt receive a curse and the dismal and woful doom of horror and destruction unto all eternity in that lake which burneth for ever where thy good works before men shall be thy accusers and tormenters before God for thy trusting to them for life and salvation Those that under a form of godliness oppose the power of it let such know that they strive against that stream that will swallow them up for great is truth and it shall prevaile truth may be opposed and opprest but never supprest it will couragiously bear up that soul that shall imbrace it in all trials and afflictions O take heed though you are cunning yet it is but to deceive your selves look but upon Judas how did he oppose truth yea the Lord of truth but how soon did the power of truth convince his spirit Mat. 27.5 and caused such a horror of conscience within him that he went out and hanged himself how soon tumbled he into hell what damnable hypocrisie is it for a man to profess to love that which he hateth in words to profess he knows God and in works to deny him Tit. 1.16 to love the body and hate the soul of godliness O know that the time is at hand that thy own conscience will fly in thy face thy own profession will witness against thee that thou didst but palliate and counterfeit the sincerity of Religion and how thou didst abhor in thy heart the purity of that godliness that thou pretendedst with thy mouth and actions O this is a soul-damning sin indeed this is to be in the power of darkness Joh. 3.19 Light is come into the world Zach. 2.8 Qui enim tangit vos tangit pupillum oculi sui Heb. 12.29 but these men love darkness more then light and it is because their deeds are evil These men fight against God yea cast dirt in the very face of God that man that opposeth the truth of God opposeth God himself he that strikes and stands in opposition against the power of godliness strikes at the Saints of God and he that toucheth them toucheth the apple of Gods eye He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me little doth a man know what and whom he opposeth when he opposeth truth He opposeth all power in heaven and earth for God is a God of Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isai 40.15 Is a dry reed able to stand against a consuming fire surely no yet this God whom thou opposest is a consuming fire is a Worm able to overcome a Lyon thou art much less able to fight with God who can contend with the Almighty unto whom all the Nations of the earth are but as one drop of a bucket and all the world but as the dust of the ballance God is so infinite in himself as that he weigheth the Mountains in a ballance and taketh up the Iles as a very small thing Job 38.2 O what art thou that darkness counsel by words without knowledg did ever any man oppose God and prosper lo this is the condition of them that oppose the power of godliness He opposeth that whereby God communicates himself to the souls of his people in and through Jesus Christ O wretched man thou dost as much as in thee lieth cut thy self off from heaven life and glory dost thou think it nothing to shut the door against Christ and stand at defiance against God himself though thou maist deceive men yet thou canst not deceive God who searcheth the heart Jer. 17.10 Ego Jehovah scrutator cordes probator renum c. and trieth the reines and knows poor sinful mans thoughts afar of whatsoever designs thou plottest and projectest against the Truth and so against God himself though they be never so covert yet they shall be manifested and made known for none can hide from his
Salomons the King of Kings estimate the greatest things in the world nay the power of the whole world to be nothing yea less then nothing who of nothing raised the world and all created Beings therein and to the same nothing can reduce them at his will and pleasure This I say is that God which sendeth godliness with a power into the soul of his Saints The next thing that we must consider is The ends why God sends godliness into the souls of his people with such power By the way taking notice of godliness as it is observable in its Cause and Effect for godliness in this place is Metonimically spoken the Effect for the Cause now Grace is the cause of godliness and godliness is the effect of Grace for Grace is that which makes a man a godly man and its Grace that comes with power into the soul whereby the life of man is acted and carried on in the wayes of godliness These things thus premised we shall proceed to the aforesaid Ends or Reasons Reas 1 The first End or Reason that God hath in sending godliness into the soul with power is because of the great opposition it must encounter withall and that is from the devil the world the flesh and spirit of men The devil he is the strong man and hath taken possession of the soul and alwayes stand upon his guard to keep his ground with all the powers of hell and all the strength that he can possibly make yea he bids defiance against Heaven Satans plea. Men and Angels and maketh this or the like plea for himself This soul is mine it was born mine We were by nature the children of wrath Ephes 2.2 3. c. yea it hath lived mine I have had the possession of it these twenty or thirty years yea it may be forty or fifty years what power now shall snatch him out of my hands he is my bounden servant he is my ancient souldier he hath covenanted to fight under my banner he is a loyal subject of my Kingdom he is true to his trust he will oppose my opposers he will defend my right and interest he will not have me lose any footing he will rather perish then have me dispossessed why then should not I actuate all my power and force for him to keep him still my faithful servant rather die then part with him Now Christ he comes and laies claim to this soul and saith This soul is mine Christs plea. and it was given me of my Father yea Joh. 17.6.9.29 24. I have loved him more then mine own life I have shed my pretious blood for him that I might redeem him out of the jaws of hell and deliver him from the power of Satan I am the Captain of his deliverance yea Heb. 2.10 I have bought him at a dear rate and paid more for him then heaven and earth it self yea 1 Pet. 1.18 then all the createed power in both and I will have him and Christ enters this Fort binds the strong man and doth cast him out by the strength of those weapons which are not carnal but spiritual yea mighty through God to cast down strong holds this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Saviour that can that will ransom and deliver his People maugre all oppositions whatsoever this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Anointed one Ephes 4.8 that victorious King of Kings that leads captivity captive and gives gifts to men of whose power the Saints receive power 1 Joh. 2.13 and grace for grace whereby they are inabled to wrestle against pincipalities and powers Ephes 6.12 against the Rulers of the darkness of this world yea against spiritual wickednesses in high places As it must be powerful to stand in opposition against Satan so against the world for if Grace and Godliness were not powerful the world would soon repel and overcome it it would exclude and bar the door of the soul against them for the world doth as really fight against the soul as the devil doth now what is the world certainly all that is in the world that is the lust of the flesh 1 Joh. 2.16 the lust of the eyes and the pride of life the first and strong invaders of our first Parents that did invade and overcome that laid siege unto took possession of the strong-fortified and enabled-to-resist faculties of the soul of Adam and in him do still smite his loyns and ensnare and seize upon the power and strength of all his seed they plead a right and possession by antiquity and they will keep their hold until they be evinced and cast out by the power of Grace which is the onely weapon we have to ward off the assaults of these spiritual wickednesses 1 Joh. 5.4 Rev. 15.2 this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith and by the power that God put into those glorious Martyrs they overcame the world in all its persecutions imprisonments yea and death it self It comes with power that it might beat down the corruptions of flesh and spirit that daily rebel and rise up against the Saints and that made Paul say I beat down my body I club it down 1 Cor 9.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vi subjicio corpus meum I beat it black and blue as the Original word signifies and all yet all was little enough for Naturam expellas furcâ licet usque recurrit there are such imperfections in the perfectest Christians such reliques of Nature that there will be still continual buffetings and conflicts between the Spirit and the Flesh though the Spirit doth oppose and sometimes get ground yet the Flesh will be returning and getting head again so long as we are in the body little doth the world know what ado Grace hath with the Flesh and Spirit of the Saints there will be such reluctances such combates such heavy burthens upon the soul that oft times it makes the Saints go very heavy and sad most part of their dayes And therefore the Apostle exhorts us To cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 Rom. 7.23 24. and this makes him cry out Who shall deliver me from the body of this death well I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord that is by that power of Christ that he sends into his soul he was delivered and by that power alone are all the Saints delivered from these three great capital Enemies Reas 2 That it may make us stand strong against all our enemies that oppose whatsoever Stand fast saith Paul in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free Gal. 5.1 1 Cor. 16.13.15.57 Watch you stand fast in the faith and quit you like men and be strong for God he hath given us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord and ye are kept by the power of God through faith to eternal salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 Now the reason why the
Saints do so often fall and slip is because they trust to their own strength and rest not on this power which they receive from Jesus Christ for he that hath this power in his soul and doth make use of it by Faith it may contend against Sin Corruption Death and Hell it self yea and overcome all as the Apostle saith I am able to do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me In him we are more then conquerors and certainly did we but know what comforts we lose and what foiles we receive in not making use of this power it would put us upon our Watch and Guard and make us careful to keep Centinel by this power in our souls Had David and others made use of this power and stood upon their Watch he had not committed Adultery Peter had not denied his Master Jacob got the Blessing by a lye Abraham denied his wife for fear of Pharoah and so divers others which I could wish might be as Landmarks unto us whilst we sail through the sea of this world Reas 3 Why godliness comes with power into the souls of the Saints is that it might put another frame of spirit into them then they had before as the Lord spake of Caleb Because he had another spirit with him therefore he shall see the Land yea I will bring him into it and his seed shall possess it Yea he followed me fully saith the Text now this Spirit was nothing else but the Spirit of Faith so he fulfilled after me as the Hebrew Word signifieth that is He was constant in obedience to Me or to my Commands Certainly where Grace raigns in the soul sin doth not onely decay but die the man is become another man as Paul when he was converted he was another man then he was before he was of a new mould a new temper before he persecuted the Saints but now he embraceth them and preacheth to them before he knew not who Christ was Who art thou Lord but now he doth not onely know Christ Ego non sum ego but preacheth Christ and suffereth for him yea now he is willing to die for him yea the Saints know this by experience that there is a certain vis a power infused into the soul from God which was not before in them otherwise they could never have had any dominion oversin never have been made new creatures but should have still remained under the power of darkness and in their natural estate they should never have known any difference betwixt themselves and the wickedest man on the earth but should have committed the same abominations with them they should never have been translated from death to life neither should their spot have been differenced or known from the spot of the wicked had not God made them experimentally to know and feel a mighty overawing and sin-conquering power sent and let in unto their souls from the Almighty Spirit of God which doth divide between the marrow and the bone between the Flesh and the Spirit Reas 4 That it may make us to carry on Gods great design in the advancing of the Lord Jesus for in such souls where this power comes Christ is greatly exalted in his Kingdom in his person and in his offices for he that believeth glorifieth the Father who hath sent his Son into the world and the Son who is the glory of the father these souls put to their seals that God is true such a soul gives a testimony unto the world that whatsoever God hath said of his Son in the word is the very truth of God yea it can freely adventure all and lay all upon Christ for life and salvation yea had it ten thousand souls it would cast them all into Christs arms it s resolved there to live and there to die its faith is surely fixt that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it come what will come he is confident that neither life nor death principalities nor powers shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord thus is the soul sustained and upheld by the power of grace and acts couragiously to and for Christ and the exaltation of his glory Reas 5 That such a soul where this power comes may strongly hold its communion with Christ that as Christ gives out of himself and fulness unto the soul by a direct act so the soul may be somewhat enabled to retribute unto Christ of what he hath received by a reflect act as the beams of the Sun are made reflective by the earth unto us which is the cause of the heat we feel so the beams of the Sun of righteousness descending and coming into the soul make it warm vigorous and communicative to and for God and as it hath received mercies so it will be alwayes returning praises whereunto it would be altogether dead for by nature we are dead to every good work had it not first been enlivened and quickened with a power from above for we cannot stir nor move for God until he stirs and moves in us we are altogether senseless till made sensible by him t is in him we live we move and have our being we could not love God had not he loved us first nor could we give out our selves unto Christ did not Christ first breathe into our souls the spirit and power of grace and therefore we may well say that none can hold communion with Christ but those and those onely to whom Christ sends the power of godliness Reas 6 That godliness may predominate and bear rule and sway in the soul that it may be the Queen Regent and sole governess thereof that as sin hath formerly raigned to Gods dishonor so now grace may raigne to Christs glory That as sin hath raigned unto death Rom. 5.21 even so might grace raign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord so that as sin hath mastered and over-powred all the faculties of the soul and members of the body in bringing of them in subjection to Satan so now godliness sitting upon the throne exerciseth them for Christ and brings them into subjection unto him now grace and godliness stand Centinel in the soul and command all so that when any cavalering lust or corruption appears it may take them off or if they should prevaile through frequent assailings that then the soul may flee to Christ for more forces to incounter and cast them out for Christ he hath promised to assist his people against all their enemies who by the power of his death will bury all his and his Saints enemies in his grave so as they shall never prevaile against them here nor hereafter Reas 7 That it may continue a soul in that new nature whereunto it hath been begotten again unto Christ for were it not that there were a certain power in godliness to keep the soul from falling into its old natural condition and a spiritual physick to
sustaine and keep it from relapsing into its former fits it would soon be reduced into its former station and be visited with its old disease wherein it was seated and wherewith it was infected before grace entered into it and the ground is because of the abundance of strong corruptions inherent and accompanying the best regenerate for the flesh is still warring against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh for there was ever a strong antipathy between these two Now Christ who is the Captain of our Salvation make his graces powerful in his Saints that so they may not give ground but stand fast in that condition whereunto he hath called them for the Saints are kept through faith unto salvation by that power of grace which is given unto them of God the Father and and our Lord Jesus Christ otherwise were it not powerful all the grace the Saints had received was but in vain and so Christs death and resurrection had been to little purpose for one end of Christs death was to kill sin and so of his resurrection to raise us up to newness of life and so to keep us there that we should never be surprised and conquered by the old man but contiue in the new and walk as a people ransomed by the Lord. Reas 8 That by this power the soul might act for God for Christ the Gospel and the Saints in the performance of its duty to all that it might honor the Father with that honor that is due unto his name that it might suffer with and for Christ and that it might love embrace and defend the Gospel and the Saints against all oppositions whatsoever for had not the graces of the Spirit of Christ come into the soul with power the soul could never have performed any duty acceptable to God for God accepts of nothing unless it come first from his Spirit for its the voice of his own spirit whereby the Saints cry Abba Father for as on the one hand every good and perfect gift cometh from God who is the Father of lights so on the other hand no man of himself without this power is able to think a good thought or speak a good word much less do any good action man through his lost ability in Adam is spiritually dead but carnally living nothing that he can own or lay claim unto as his act but sin but when godliness comes into a soul with power O then the faculties of the soul are resuscitated and made alive again and the members of the body are regulated brought into conformity unto the spirit and made by it to act for God who before acted against God that before were the weapons of unrighteousness unto sin are now become the weapons of righteousness unto the glory of that God who by his power cast into the soul did change that vile and sinful body and made it glorious and instrumental for his praise hereby the understanding is unvailed it s now brought unto new discoveries its carnal foolishness is sanctified wisdom it 's now able to discern and know the wonderful mysteries of godliness this power of godliness is the Eye-salve of the soul which takes off the condense film of ignorance and works a sensible illumination in that faculty of the understanding also this is the restorer of the will it brings it from nature to grace from willing the things of the flesh to will the things of God it disingageth the affections it stops their pursuit after the world and causeth them to run after God and the things of God nay further this power of God is a new Heaven created in the soul it s the new birth it s the regneration it s the new nature it s the death of the first and the life of the second Adam it s the extirpation of nature and sin and the renovation and transplanting of grace and life in the soul hereby the eyes can see for God the ears hear for God the tongue speak for God and the feet walk for God in a word the whole man by vertue of this power is made serviceable for God which it could never have been had not this godliness come into the soul with power Reas 9 That the Saints might be made fit for a suffering condition Phil. 1.29 for it s not onely given to Saints to beleeve but also to suffer for his names sake The Saints they are Christs witnesses on earth against the world Act. 5.32 Rev. 11.3 how have the people of God stood as a wall of brass in witnessing for the truth of Christ in the times of those ten persecutions what wicked cruel and barbarous dealing did they finde and receive from this world was not all maner of cruelty exercised against them that hell and men could invent and yet by this power of godliness they were enabled to indure all yea and with rejoycing also that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ O ineffable support O glorious conquest the sense of pain was swallowed up of the sense of joy the torments of hell vanquished and slighted by the thoughts of Heaven whilest burning burnishing while extinguishing reviving whilest crucifying enjoying Paradise Do but look into the book of Martyrs and see what sawing asunder roasting ailve putting into boiling oil eyes burning out and what not and yet by this power God made them stand strong and oppose his and their enemies to their own shame and confusion so that the Saints slaughterings at length became their persecutors sufferings they were wearyed and tired out with afflicting and butchering of the Saints and as God by his Power did then make them couragiously to stand so is he still the same God nor is his hand shortned that he cannot help but still will continue this power unto his people that they shall stand for Christ and undergo any kinde of suffering with joy for we fight against principalities and powers yea against spirituall wickedness in high places and this is another end why godliness comes into the soul with power That it might make the Saints live above the world that is might elevate their affections and make them live in Heaven where Christ their head is that it might dispossess worldliness and enthrone heavenly-mindedness that it might glorifie the soul and take it off from poring on this dunghil the world and the seeming glory thereof and fix it upon a Kingdom Pecuniam quae permaneat ac continuo duret gloriam quae semper floreat Basil and the real and permanent glory thereof to be enamored of the ravishing beauties of God the King of that glory that so the temptations allurements of the world being slighted and the glory and excellency thereof counted as dirt and dung the eternal glory of God may be advanced and onely aimed at in that soul for it is the glory of the Church here to have the Sun upon her head and to be crowned with a crown of
her steps take hold on hell thus the soul by the power of grace being made acquainted with the loathsomness and bitterness of sin begins to be weaned from its brest and forsakes its embraces let God or man say what can be said of sin in respect of the vileness of it the soul can give its free assent and consent unto it yea it s so hateful to the soul that it hates the very name of any thing that doth but tend to sin yea it hates it in its most glorious robes of pleasures profits honors credits or what ever the world can afford it will shake them off as Paul did the Viper from his hand it knows sin to be viperous infective and stinging it looks upon it as its bane its poyson its undoing yea in the souls apprehension its worse then hell then the devil or all or any thing that can be thought upon The next thing is Self-denial that 's a soul that hath no Self no will when any thing comes in competition with God with Christ it owns its being from God it renounceth any self-existency its naked till cloathed from above its barren till made fruitful by Christ it stands in need of all things till supplied by that Fountain that openeth his hand and filleth all things with his blessing this Grace subjecteth the soul and makes it lie down at Christs feet it s alwayes lying under the droppings of Grace that it might receive replenishings from the Spirit this causeth the soul to look out of it self and to be carried out with an expectation hungering and thirsting after Christ and his righteousness this makes the soul to decrease that Christ may increase it debaseth it self that it might advance Christ its willing to part with all that Christ may be all in all it doth not onely make the soul to see emptiness in it self but to see emptiness in every thing besides In a word It s a soul-denying and a Christ-advancing Grace in whatever it doth it will not suffer the soul to aim at any thing which may tend to sinister ends it doth willingly cast off ease profit pleasure honor or what ever can be thought on before God and Christ shall lose their glory this Grace brings the soul into a right temper where this Grace hath its true working the bias of the soul runs from the world and runs heavenward God-ward and Christ-ward Self-denial as its Faith 's concomitant so it worketh with Faith in purifying the heart in mortifying of sin Matth. 12.37 39. and in following of Christ For he that will follow me saith Christ must first deny himself not regarding profits pleasures afflictions or what ever else lies in the way to life and glory For he that loveth any thing whether it be father or mother more then Christ is not worthy of Christ and he that will finde his life shall lose it but he that loseth his life for Christs sake shal finde it Fourthly Love its Gods will to man and it is a grace shed abroad into the hearts of the Saints by the holy Ghost in man it s a certain passion flowing from the Affections which are the souls wheels to carry it to its Object be it either God or man It may be stiled a characterizing grace whereby men may know God for God is love whereby men may know Saints from Reprobates 1 Joh. 4.8.3.14 the children of God from the children of the devil it s a sign that you are departed from death to life because you love the brethren he that loves not his brother is not born of God neither doth he know him to her much is forgiven because she loved much Love is of such an excellent nature that it transcends the tongues of men and Angels it excells the gifts of prophesie all mysteries 1 Cor. 13.1 2. all knowledg nay all faith it is of an enduring nature as Paul saith in the 1 Cor. 13.8 Charity never faileth it out-lives faith and hope 1 Cor. 13.8 for they shall cease but love shall be perfected and endure for ever Quest 2 Secondly how comes godliness into the soul and what are the steps thereof Answ 2 That as godliness is the fruit of grace and grace the cause of godliness as I have shewed before so are they made perfect in the soul at one and the same instant of time that is perfect in parts not in degrees for there are degrees of grace as well as glory one Christian more eminent in grace then another yet the least spark is as true as the greatest flame the whole man is at one and the same time changed and become new all the faculties of the soul all the members of the body are at once transformed and renewed the understanding that 's illuminated the Judgement rectified the will turned to that which is good the affections run after the right object conversion is not in part but in whole the feet cannot be washed alone but the hands and other members must be also cleansed for so said Christ unto Simon Peter one of his Disciples when he said unto him Lord wash not onely my feet Joh. 13.9 10. but also my hands and my head Jesus answering said unto him he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit c. intimating that he that is washt by the blood of Jesus Christ is not onely cleansed from one sin but from all not onely purified in one member of his body but in all he is sanctified throughout both in soul and body but though this grace of sanctification or godliness be thus thorowly operative in it self yet oft times its not so to the souls apprehension that 's in Gods ordinary way of working now to open unto you in a word how to mans apprehension this great work of conversion grace and godliness is wrought First God by the preaching of his word together with the working of his spirit gives a touch to the conscience of an elect vessel which the Scripture cals a prick in the heart that 's in the ministery of the word as those in the Acts were pricked in their hearts saying Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved Act. 2.37 God doth here discover a mans condition to himself whereby he comes to see himself First To be a woful miserable and sinful creature Secondly that there is an exact satisfaction to be given to Divine Justice for those sins that he stands guilty of before God Thirdly that there is nothing in him that can possibly give satisfaction or make up that breach which he hath made by his sin there is no possibility in Angels or men in Heaven or earth that can take of the guilt of one sin And yet that divine justice must be satisfied or he is a lost man he is undone for ever yea he stands at the very brink of hell ready to be swallowed up every moment now these and the like reasonings
reason why the Apostle exhorts to work while it is day the night comes O then no man can work therefore let us work out out salvation with fear and trembling the working soul is the truly godly soul life and action is the true manifestation of godliness without which the soul is said to be dead O Christians as you have the greatest help of any men in the world so you have the greatest work to do First You must live after the spirit not after the flesh and that 's no easie thing to do Rom. 8.13 14. it s a matter of high cōcernment and great difficulty for a man to spiritualize all his actions yea by this power of godliness a man ought to make a spiritual use of all his thoughts words and actions yea of all his objects discourses readings and meditations whatsoever as to the pure all things should be pure so to the spiritual man all things should be spiritual if a man read the book of the creatures and behold all those varieties in nature certainly if he would make a right use of them he must see God through them and admire God in them as for a man to reason with himself If the creature be so excellent O how excellent is the Creator if the creature be so sweet O how good how sweet is that God that gave it that sweetness as the creature is very glorious in its several colours and objects as in flowers c. O then how much more glorious is that God that gave it that beauty as the succession of creature-comforts makes them mercies indeed so Gods various dispensations to the sons of men but especially to his Saints O how excellent are they O how sweet and glorious are they that come into the souls of his Saints Now you know if a man should alwayes eat and drink alwayes lie in bed alwayes be walking up and down if mans life should have no vicissitudes but be spun out in one perpetual act O what a misery would this be it would bring mans dayes to a suddain end therefore God gives in several refreshments in the neck of one another which makes them mercies indeed to man and so it is in things spiritual should a man always be hearing of the word receiving Sacraments or be always at prayer or conference a man would quickly faint under these frequent performances come to nothing the great God knows that the Saints have bodies aswell as souls therefore you see he is pleased to give six dayes to provide for them and only one namely the first day of the week to serve worship him publikely and yet not so tied up but that we may even then take creature comforts for our refreshment so that you see when we are to draw neer to God on his day he is pleased even then to give that liberty to his Saints as that they may call it a delight for he gives us our delights in drawing neer to himself in publike worship in family duties in closet meditations and ejaculations and in the use of all creature enjoyments with moderation so far as they may fit us for our publike and private duties Secondly As we must live after the spirit so we must be in a continual warfare with the flesh the spirit striveth against the flesh and the flesh against the spirit and these two are contrary one to the other there will be continual conflicts and engagements one against the other there is a deadly feud between the flesh and the spirit and not onely for a moment for a day or for a yeer but for the whole term of natural life Now it s no easie imployment for a man day and night to act the part of a souldier without any intermission of relief for as first he ought to be well armed so secondly he ought to have skill to use weapons otherwise his enemie will circumvent him and foil him at his own weapons and so put his life in hazard now this is the condition of all them who have received the power of godliness into their souls they are most obnoxious to the enemy oftenest assailed invaded and besieged with the most ingenious and crafty subtilties and insinuations of Satan none so encountered none so narrowly watched no failings so soon discerned no weakness with so suddain advantage taken hold of them therefore and them in an especially maner it behooveth strictly to stand upon their watch and to maintain their guard and still to be armed with these excellent weapons the Holy Ghost hath given unto the Saints to fight with Ephes 6.13 14 15 16 17. against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places namely the whole armor of God which he exhorts us to take and put on least we be taken unprovided and the enemy prevaile against us yet this enemy is not onely flesh but flesh and spirit world and devil which by us must be opposed wherefore seeing a Saints life is no idle life be informed and exhorted not only to know but to do your duties to stand fast and keep your watches and live as wise and valiant souldiers always fighting the good fight of faith untill you have finished your course and received the Crown of Glory which Jesus Christ the Captain of your Salvation will give unto you in that day Rev. 15.16 when you shall be crowned with victory and have Palms in your hands in token thereof Is it so that where godliness comes into the souls of men it comes with power Then this may inform us that godliness is Gods free gift and his gifts are powerful and operative it s not from men it s from Heaven it comes and it overcomes the gift participates of the giver an Almighty giver and a potent gift Grace is the gift of God saith the Holy Ghost thereby intimating and declaring the excellency and powerfulness of the gift its free grace poured out into those souls who were ordained for vessels of mercy from all eternity its Christ that first makes his Saints temples and then he wil dwell in them and needs must that building be pure holy and strong whose builder maker and inhabiter is God it s an infinite God manifesting himself to and in a nothing creature its mighty power working freely in an empty vessel it s the old of days nourishing a new creature it s an increated power strengthing the feeble loins of a created Being its fulness comprehending emptiness in a word it s the Almighty Creator overshadowing and over-powering the poor creature without the influence of whose grace and mercy it would instantly perish and be reduced to nothing O you Saints of the most high the majesty of Heaven God Christ and the spirit of his grace are all your friends the Father he hath loved you from everlasting and made choice of you to be of his Family in infinite love and mercy and because he loved you he sent his dear Son into this
godliness dwels in thee and thy estate to be good and that thou art walking in the way to Eternal life O give God the glory of the riches of his grace and mercy in his Son for ever but on the contrary if none of these be found in thee but rather their contraries then there can be no godliness dwelling in thee and so thou remaining in a miserable estate and condition As first if thou art in that estate of nature wherein thou wert born and that thou never sawest any change or alteration from that conditionn or never endeavouredst after any but restedst contented and thoughtest thy self to be in a good and happy estate let men say what they will or can yea let God Christ and the Scriptures testifie the contrary as is most cleer they do as you may see in these ensuing places of Scripture John 3.3 Verse 5. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God now what birth is this but the new birth of the water and of the spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we must understand the water of Regeneration and the Spirit working effectually in us for our conversion as water doth cleanse the filth of mens bodies so the water of regeneration the souls of men from sin now the Spirit of God is that whereby we live to God through grace 1 Cor. 15.4 5. The first Adam was made a living soul but the last which was Christ was made a quickning Spirit that is such a man that is regenerate lives supernaturally above the sphear of nature that is another maner of life then a natural man can live now this word Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spiro ut spiritus à spirando 2 Cor. 13.5 both in the Greek and Latine properly signifieth Breath and therefore Christ compareth the working of the Spirit to the Winde That bloweth where it listeth no man knoweth whence it cometh nor whither it goeth so is every one which is born of the Spirit Joh. 3.8 Again Know you not if Christ be not in you ye are reprobates now Christ lives in no soul but where godliness dwels if Christ be in a soul there will be a conversation suitable to Jesus Christ now no natural man can know or partake of Christ or of his Spirit Rom. 8. For he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his If sin raign in thee that thou obeyest it in the lust thereof if thou art a Drunkard a Swearer a profane Person an enemy to the Saints and the wayes of God and that thou takest delight in all maner of sinning O know that thou art far from godliness thou art still in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity If thou livest suitable and conformable unto this world unholily and unsanctifiedly in thy conversation so as thou canst like and approve of any thing better or as well as holiness thou hast no power of godliness in thee If thou art ignorant what communion with God is and canst not speak by experience what sweetness is in Christ nor canst prize it at an high rate because thou knowest not what it is nor the worth thereof If thou canst not rest upon God in a streight but fleest to the creature and usest any indirect means to deliver thy self or else thou sinkest under thy affliction when thou placest confidence in outward means and forsakest the God of life If thou have no love to God Gospel the wayes of God and the Saints nor seest no excellency in them and yet hast an eye to see and admire an excellency in the things of the world as in profits pleasures riches honors good bargains and such in which indeed no excellency is it is to be feared that there is not the least spark of godliness in thee If thou couldest be content to live and enjoy the world for ever with all that it can afford and in thy thoughts couldest wish that all things in the world were at thy command and that thou wouldest willingly take them for thy heaven and for thy portion that thou hadst rather have thy Tabernacle here on earth then to enjoy the mansions of heaven that thou hadst rather associate and hold fellowship with the men of this world then be a companion to and with the blessed Saints and Angels in heaven O this speaks thee carnal this renders thee worldly if men would but examine their hearts and awake their benummed consciences it would be found to be the condition of millions of men and women in this world and it is for that they are of the earth and have nothing to do with any acquaintance or familiarity with God or the things of God For the natural man knoweth not the things of God for they are spiritually discerned If thy thoughts and affections be set upon the things of this world in the general course of thy life so that the god of this world hath taken the whole possession of thy heart and hath blinded thy eyes do but ask thy conscience what thy affections run after and what thy soul is most taken up with if thou art a carnal wretch then it will speak pure world The first thing wherewith thy minde is agitated in the night when thou awakest and in the morning when thou arisest is What must I do this day where shall I first pitch upon my imployment where shall I light upon a good bargain how shall I put off such and such a bad commodity what wile shall I use what stratagem shall I invent what way shall I go to work to pull a thorn out of my own foot and put it into my neighbors to advantage my self and over-reach my friends to ease my self and burden others such as these will be thy Soliloquies these will be thy reasonings and machinations and having through these night-studies accomplished thine ends O how will thy heart rejoyce O what a perfect man art thou in thine own wisdom thy onely joy is in the increase of thy Corn Wine and Oyl but as for God Christ and his wayes and for the graces of his Spirit they are not at all in thy thoughts O this is a lamentable sign that thy portion is in this world and that thou hast no part of that Inheritance which is given to the Saints If thou findest a certain antipathy or opposition in thy spirit against those Scriptures or Ministers that meet with thy sin couldst thou wish that the Scriptures were all compliances to thy will wouldst thou that God himself were not so holy as in his Word he is held forth to be and that there were less preaching more recreation then now there is on the Lords Day other dayes would one Sermon in a day yea in moneth please thee better if thou mightest have but Common Prayer with it well know that these things demonstrate a deadness to grace and godliness in the soul Vse 3 A third use
London and thou a whoremaster a swearer a drunkard a prophane person what at London and yet in thy natuall estate not one dram of Grace not one grain of godliness I tell thee it shall be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment then for such a man as thou art tell me O sinner what thou hast to say for thy self O thou wilt be like that man at the Feast which had not on the wedding garment the Text saith He was speechless he had not one word to say for himself no more shalt thou O thy condition will be woful thy estate most miserable if thou lookest before thee the dreadful Judg is ready to pronounce the irrevocable sentence against thee if on the Judges right hand there the Saints are to joyn with Christ in thy Sentence if on his left hand there are a company of wicked wretches in the same condition with thy self if thou lookest behinde thee there is Hell and Satan ready to receive thee as soon as Judgment is given O then thou shalt be banished from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power and that for ever Remember these things all you that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you O what do you think of a soul in this estate that is thus cast eternally into the sea of the wrath of God every man will say this is a lost soul indeed it s undone for ever Now what aggravations of misery will be multiplied upon thy soul by these subsequent considerations First for a soul to think with himself and know and say O I am undone I am undone O I am now in a worse condition then any creature that ever God made for God did never create any creature so miserable as man makes himself to be he having plunged himself into it by sin O now thy body is made miserable as well as thy soul for the body was that instrument by which the soul acted so much to Gods dishonor O did God curse the Serpent for being the devils instrument so will God curse thy body as thy soul is cursed to all eternity Secondly Thy torments shall be such as no tongue can express If the wrath of God against Christ onely when sin was but imputed was so heavy that it made him to sweat clods of blood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Original word signifies what dost thou think will be the wrath of God to thee who hast acted sin and that all thy life time who hast done nothing else but sinned and thrown dirt in the very face of a pure God giving God the lye by thine unbelief O if the Saints did apprehend the displeasure of God to be so terrible as Job when he complained that the poyson of Gods arrows did drink up his spirits Job 6.4 Psal 38.2 and David that his arrows did stick fast in him so that there was no soundness in his flesh nor rest in his bones O what will thy complaint be thou undone soul None shall pity thee in this condition which makes it the more comfortless it s some ease to a man in misery to have some to pity and condole with him in his affliction sympathy in affliction is as a cordial to a fainting spirit it recreates the wearied soul and intermits the fits of its distresses but here is no fellow-feeling no recreation no intermission which addeth weight to weight to the utter depression of thy soul into restless torments God himself he shall laugh at thee for he saith That he will laugh at their destruction Pro. 2.24 and mock when their fear cometh upon them Angels and Saints they shal not regard thee the father shal not pity the son nor the son the father the husband the wife nor the wife the husband nor the mother him that drew her breast all relations shall be forgotten and all pitty banished The misery will prove an unexpected misery and so the sadder what greater pricking to the heart then for a man to miss of his end and to be frustrated of his hopes it may be thou thoughtest thou wert going to heaven and now thou art dropt into hell thou expectedst mercy and reapest fury thou expectedst reward and gatherest revenge this is the condition of most men in the world they would take it as a mighty injury and disgrace unto them if you do but question them of their latter end and if they were certain of the place whither they should go if a man should deal plainly with them and tell them they were going to hell and condemnation O they would be ready to fly in such a mans face and brand him for a censorious person and an uncharitable man so that men in this condition lose their expectation and so become out of measure miserable When a man shall consider with himself in this woful condition that he hath not only damned his soul for the world profits pleasures or profaness but also that now he is deprived of these too for which he brought this estate upon himself what to have a soul to perish for nothing not to enjoy these things for which it hath paid so dear a price to pay for profits and pleasures and not to possess them to carry them to the Lands end and then to leave them behinde O what flouds of tears what ejulations what inexpressible mournings would this cause in a poor soul O poor soul know that there is a greater loss then all these for now thou being in hell thou hast lost God Christ the company of Saints and Angels for ever now thou hast nothing in lieu for this great and infinite loss if any 't is onely this thou hast exchanged pleasures for pain happiness for misery life for death thou hast sold thy God Christ heaven and glory and hast purchased Satan hell and confusion O this is a most dreadful aggravation this is a loss unvaluable If it be the highest happiness of man in heaven and the glory of the Angels to behold the presence of the Lord and to partake of the beams of his glory O then it must needs be the depth of all misery to be deprived of such excellency and glory by being banished from the presence of the Lord 2. Sam. 14.32 Absolon thought if worse then death to be kept from the presence of his Father when he had killed his brother Ammon you know it s said Matt. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God O then cursed are the defiled and wicked in heart for they shall not see him For without holiness no man shall see God saith the Apostle but there is no holiness in hell therefore none in hell shall see the Lord. Lastly That as thy torments are unexpressible so they are endless when a man hath suftred ten thousand years in hell under the stroke of divine Justice then is he as far from deliverance as at
yet it may be just with God to give them a denial O know that every one that saith Lord Lord shall not enter into the Kingdom of God but Christ shall say Depart from me you workers of iniquity I know you not and remember what the Lord saith to such a man as this Psal 50.16 What hast thou to do to take my word into thy mouth and hatest to be reformed Fourthly See and read that dreadful Scripture against ignorant and rebellious sinners 2 Thess 1.7 8 9. 2 Thess 1.7 8 9. When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Read also these Scriptures Jer. 3.7 the 7.24 the 9.14 the 11.8 the 16.12 the 18.12 the 23.17 Heb. 12.25 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12. Revel 20.12 the 22.15 c. O lay these Scriptures to heart and then consider how thy estate stands with God and what thou shalt be able to say another day when God shall call thee to an account now when thou hast taken a serious view of these Scriptures and hast considered of what hath been formerly said against thy company-keeping and thy disobedience certainly if thy natural conscience hath but its eyes opened thou wilt confess thy estate to be very sad Object But some may say It s true I am convinced that its very bad to keep company I would leave it but I cannot dispense with the many occasions that draw me to it but I hope I shal leave it ere it be long Answ Alas poor wretch art thou convinced of the evil of thy company-keeping then know that every time thou keepest evil company that thou sinnest against Conscience and know that one sin against Conscience is worse then ten thousand sins of ignorance It was Belshazars sin that he knew but did not reform Dan. 5.23 For if thy conscience condemn thee God is greater then thy conscience and he will condemn thee Conscience is Gods Vicegerent here on earth it s all in a natural man that takes Gods part O doth thy conscience flie in thy face here what dost thou think it will do hereafter when thou shall stand at the Bar of Jesus Christ when it shall bring all its Items before God there registred against thee As Item Such a day so many hours spent in such an Alehouse so many hours spent in such a Tavern Item So much wine spent that might have been well spared and given to the necessity of the Saints Item Such a day spent so much in such a place when thy wife and children were in want at home Item Such a day thou wert the occasion of such and such a mans keeping company wherein so many oaths were sworn against God and both Families neglected both for soul and body O how ever thou thinkest of it now let me tell thee that when thou shalt come to give answer to these Items it will be a dismall and woful time unto thee thou wilt wish the mountains to fall on thee and the hills to cover thee to hide thee from the face of the Lamb and his wrath Whereas thou saist that thou hopest to leave it before it be long To this I answer according to the Proverb Though true Repenntace be never too late yet late Repentance is seldom true O it s a dangerous thing for a man to defer and put off his returning from the evil of his wayes Thou that dost now delay thy returning from a course of sin saying thou wilt return a year hence or six moneths hence know that it is not in thy power to repent when thou pleasest for repentance and turning from sin is the gift of God The longer a man staies and procrastinates his Repentance the more sin lies upon his soul you know if a man go to a yong tree that hath been planted but a year or two and endeavors to pluck it up but cannot and saith that he will stay two or three years longer before he will attempt to root it up again certainly all men will judg this man to be void of Reason to attempt the harder and let slip the easier so wilt thou finde it in the case of sin Know that thou hast no assurance of the time of the life thou maist be cut off this night as the rich Glutton was in the Gospel who said Soul take thy ease there are goods laid up for thee for many years but with what an unexpected answer did he meet withall This night shall thy soul be taken from thee and then whose goods shall these be O this may be thy case and know that Eternity depends upon this short moment of time in this world if thou return not now thou shalt never return O it s just with God that that man which abuseth his time should be deprived of time and cut short of his hopes Know that there is a time in which God hath appointed men to return to him if they return not in that time they shall never return O Jerusalem Jerusalem if thou hadst known in this thy day those things that did belong to thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes God he hangs forth a flag of mercy to the sons of men in which time is their day if in that time they come in and return to him and make their peace then is he exorable and to be found of them but if not then is displaied the red Flag of his Justice which is Gods day O then thy day is gone Gods Day is come and thou art undone for ever and who knoweth but his Day may be accomplished this very night and upon this thy Eternity depends how mad then is that man that will enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season though he lose his soul for ever Men say It s bad jesting with edge Tools but this is the maddest jesting in the world for a man to dally with his soul to hazard the loss of a Jewel for the enjoyment of a Pebble should God call unto thee this very hour and say What provision hast thou made for Eternity now art thou lanching into that Ocean how is thy soul rigg'd and trim'd for that Voyage are thy Sails full blown with the gales of the spirit of Grace then maist thou safely sail unto that Haven of eternal Life and Rest O how many men would the consideration of this astonish and yet no man knows how neeer that hour is and yet regards it not O turn you from your evil ways Why will you die O house of Israel why will you die eternally ye sons of men O know thou that wilt take no warning by Gods calling to thee and threatning his Judgments against thee but wilt still go on in thy rebellions and in the perversness of
thine own heart that God will not alwayes wait upon thee as he testifies my spirit shal not always strive with man for that he is flesh no God may come in an hour when thou thinkest not of it and cut thee off in a moment in the midst of thy security then thou shalt receive the fruit of thy own doings O consider this all you that forget God that walk and will walk in the by-pathes of sin lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you out of his hand but you must undergo his wrath to all eternity I have now a word or two more to you that will still keep profane wicked and ungodly company and that shall be by way of advice and counsel Endeavor to break off thy course of life take hold of all advantages to refrain their society thou knowest not what a blessing God may give in to thy endeavors First meditate upon Eternity in the morning when thou dost awake after this maner Lord I am now one day neerer to Eternity then I was yesterday O how stands the case with my soul am I a day neerer heaven or a day neerer hell Conscience speak am I the same man walking in my sinful courses as formerly I have been O then certainly I am neerer destruction neerer the stroke of divine Justice then I was yesterday neerer my coming to give an account for my sin and wickedness then ever I was my glass is neerer run my soul is neerer leaving this sinful body then ever it was be sure to spend some time in the morning upon such thoughts as these yea say to thy soul O remember Eternity When thou art going out of thy doors think with thy self whether am I now going every step I take this day is toward Eternity what am I going to my companions to the Tavern or Alehouse O certainly these paths lead to the chambers of death what am I going to poison my soul yet more and more to bring more guilt upon my spirit to wound my conscience yet more O this is not the way to take off that guilt that lies upon my spirit this is not the way to give thanks to God who hath kept me this night from danger who hath yet saved my soul from hell O thus far natural men may easily go who have not one dram of grace then covenant with thy self and say Well is it so I will not keep company this day I am resolved to gainsay all occasions to draw me to it This resolution being taken and kept for two dayes then for three dayes for a week then for a moneth so by degrees thou maist get the victory Then at night examine thy self Have I more peace now I keep not these sinful societies or no certainly if thy conscience be not dead and if the devil hath not blinded thy judgment thou wilt say thou hast more peace in turning from a way of sin then in walking in it thus I say compare a day spent in the company of sinful men in a way of prophaneness with a day wherein thou dost forbear and cast off such sinful companions and I am confident thou wilt have peace in the one but none in the other Rom. 2.14 15 16. see that Rom. 2.14 15 16. c. For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained by the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shewes the Law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another so by this thou mayest see if thou are not worse then a Heathen and if thy conscience be not seared with an hot Iron it will do its office in excusing thee when thou dost well and accusing thee when thou dost evil I wish thee well and my desire is that thou mightest think of these things and what ever else may do thee good and follow and embrace them that so thou mayest be one not having a form of godliness and denying the power thereof but having the power of godliness professing and evidencing the same in thy life and conversation turning thy back upon the counsels and fellowship of the ungodly and thirsting after and delighting in the Law of the Lord and in the company of the Saints FINIS
though there may be a form of godliness without the power yet there cannot be the power without the forme I mean not a bare speculative and seeming forme such as is spoken of before but a practicall and active forme represented in the whole life and conversation a man cannot carry coals in his bosome and not be burnt So no man can carry grace in his heart but it will spread forth and appear in his life it s in vain for that man to say I have a good and upright heart whose life and conversation is altogether loose and licentious the tree must first be made good and then its fruit will be good let there be soundness in thy heart and there will be no rottenness in thy life thy conversation will be suitable to thy heart and thy heart correspondent to thy conversation let the fountaine be pure and the streams will issue pure The other word is Godliness 2 Gal. 20. 2 Cor. 4. â—1 Godliness is sometimes called the life of God the Image of God the new creature a man born again Its godliness for a man to have a good conscience and love towards God man and to be void of offence 2 Cor. 5.17 John 3.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It s spoken Metonymically in such a man dwels godliness Godliness is in that soul where God acteth so as it unites the soul to God as by his power it lives to God it walks with God it hath God communicating himself to it in Christ where the soul by a reflex act gives out it self to God it acts as God acts it follows the foot-steps of God this is true godliness in the soul of which more anon Habentes formam Pietatis Having a forme of godliness Quest It will be worth inquiry to see how it comes to pass that wicked men take upon them the forme of Religion or of godliness And that generally they do upon this accompt Ans 1 Men do it oft times to please their friends Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the dayes of Jehojadah the Priest what is the reason 2 Reg. 12.2 was it not for that Jehojadah had saved his life and made him King when all his brethren were slain by Athaliah the Queen 2 Reg 11.1 for she arose and destroyed all the seed Royal. So Absalom would draw his father into a belief that he was very godly and made conscience in paying of his vows and that at Hebron he knew this would please his father well Ans 2 Others do it to stop the mouth of conscience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 2.14 15. I mean of a natural conscience for by nature men will be worshipping in one kinde or other All men having the law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing them witness and their thoughts the mean while excusing or accusing one another that made Saul to offer a burnt offering in Samuels absence the text saith he forced himself to offer a burnt offering because he had not made supplication to the Lord for the Philistines were drawing neer but Samuel tells him he had done foolishly in what he had done 1 Sam. 13.12 Ans 3 Others take up a forme of Religion that they may be gainers by it Judas by his forme carried the bag and the text saith he was a thief thus grew he into credit and trust by a notional and colourable forme of Religion yea how many in these days purchase unto themselves vast estates out of formal professions to Religion Religion not the cause of sin but the want of Religion whereby they profess nothing more then the delusion cozenage and over-reaching of others who are simply and really godly which Hypocritical actions the prying and curious worldling glories to bewray and thereby takes occasion though scandalously to inveigh against Religion it self in the purity of its profession Surely such men in their abundance have want and in their want abundance that is they in the midst of their abundance of their outward and formal performances have the absence and want of the soul-solacing testimony of an upright and sincere conscience towards God and the inward consciousness of this want will at length work in the soul abundance of horror and confusion of spirit whereby their souls without the infinite mercy of God are swallowed up into the abysse of despair and then woe will be the lot of such by whom offences shall come such men may deceive poor weak infant Christians but alas their deceit will retort into their own bosomes and heavy and sad will be their condition Ans 4 Others have a forme onely in relation unto the present and temporary credit and fashion of Religion it may be the State favors it or the current of the times runs that way so that many men choose their Religion more out of fear of men then love of God for they think they shall be looked on with an evil aspect if they do not forme and fashion themselves unto the government of the times whether it be Ecclesiasticall or Civil Ans 5 A form of Religion doth not displease the world but the power makes them mad for a man to keep his parish Church to live peaceably amongst his neighbors to live civilly and to pay every man his own to be indifferent in matters of Religion not daring to professe too much nor being zealous in it this is the godly man in the eye and esteem of the world this man shall be honoured and live at quiet and rest though all this while he be but a meer formalist when in the mean time the power of Religion living and acting in a poor despicable and unminded godly soul is trampled under foot yea scorned and vilified Ans 6 The devil likes a form well he is the grand Formalist he is that Proteus that can assume variety of formes and no wonder if his servants affect the same You know the devil could plead Scripture again and again to Christ himself a form doth not oppose the devils Kingdom when the power beats it down a man in a form may go on long enough the devil will not disturbe him he knowes he hath him fast enough this man saith Satan will do us no hurt we are sure of him he will not disrellish any thing all things are alike with him if any be unsavory or distastful it will be the good he can swallow down any thing do as men will have him do he will make no disturbance in the parish where he lives nor question or scruple any false or ceremonious dispensation of ordinances but wormwood will be as sweet to his unsound palate as hony he will do as the most do his suffrage shall be ecchoed forth after the general vote the major conformity shall be the rule for his life he will be fair to them that will be fair to him his affections are steered by popularity he will keep
none in his family that shall out of tenderness of conscience start disputations concerning matters of Religion nay there must be no reasonings no disputings no fightings nor contendings for the truth but as much as you will for the maintenance and defence of outward and formal Ceremonies this man is resolved to love quietness and ease he will not break his sleep nor trouble his thoughts with the mystery of the power of godliness yet let such as these know that this is a damnable security and that they will drop into hell before they are aware Quest .. 2 But those sins of pride blasphemy c. mentioned in the former Verses are such sons of the Gyant that the garment of hypocrisie though it be to the heels will hardly hide or cover them from the eyes of men how then can these great sins stand with a form of Religion Answ 1 A form of Religion serves for a Canopie to cover all these abominations it is one of the Fig-leaves to cover poor sinful mans nakedness it s made up by Satan and mans own base heart and it s of a crimson colour died in grain Isai 1.16.18 it s a crimson sin and double died Wo unto you Hypocrites Answ 2 A form of godliness is the Commander in Chief of all other sins other sins march after its Colours it s the devils Master-piece to make a man a grand hypocrite for he knows that an hypocrite is his principal Agent his Advocate his Apologist he shall have more service done by this man in one year then by open common profane persons which have not this form in many you know that which oft times cannot be obtained by force is gained by policy hypocrisie is the devils Fort-Royal it makes all other sins stoop to it Answ 3 It so blindes a mans eyes that it will not let him see that guilt that lies upon his spirit though his abominations be never so great and never so many yet this will keep all close from his eyes yea it will make a man believe he is in a good condition and walking in a good way when there is no such matter those wounds and sores which are fairly filmed over and have specious and visible appearances of sound and perfect cures are must desperate and incurable alas within they are full of festering and poysonous putrifections which will secretly exulcerate the flesh and corrode and eat into the bones and cause and precipitate a lingering death Answ 4 Hypocrisie or a form of godliness keeps the soul from self-inquisition and examination and so makes it insensible of its deplorable condition your formal professors eyes are alwayes abroad judging censuring and condemning others but never questioning themselves Luke 6.41 the Hypocrite in Lukes Gospel had two eyes to spy the Mote that was in his brothers eye but had not one eye to discern the Beam in his own eye they always lay heavy burthens on others Mat. 23.4 but will not touch them themselves with one of their fingers Answ 5 Fifthly Those that have onely a form of godliness walk in the broad way to condemnation and are in the same Center with all other damned sinners Hypocritae pierumque severissimi sunt eorum exactores quae ipsi maximè negligunt 1 Tim. 5.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onely the ones sins go before to Judgment and the others follow after but the end of both is destruction and condemnation is their portion therefore he that is an hypocrite is not to be looked on to be in a better condition then open profane persons but in a worse for he that seems to others to be sound and yet within is nothing but rottenness eternal wretchedness will be his end so that thesâ— men are not onely guilty of all those greâ—â— abominations before mentioned but they take up this form to cover all their other sins withall so that they are both guilty of profaneness and hypocrisie for at the same time when the Apostle saith they are guilty of these sins he joyns this to the rest and that in the Present Tense Having a form of godliness they being guilty of that sin as of the former A form of godliness without the power of it may well be called the Devels Sin-Mould wherein he doth cast many sins at once do but read the former Verses and besides those the other sins that they are guilty of are innumerable If now we will suffer this Truth to speak to us it informs us of the deceitfulness and treachery of the hearts of men O take heed of your own hearts it is a dangerous thing to harbor a Traytor within your brest if thy heart be deceitful all thy actions wherein thou pretendest godliness will be so can ye expect good fruit of an evill Tree do men use to gather Grapes of Thorns or Lillies of Thistles can ye expect crystall Streames from impure and muddy Fountains a good heart produceth a good conversation and a bad heart an evill conversation there is nothing sooner discovers the heart then the life it is not that which goeth into the man defileth the man but that which cometh from within For out of the heart cometh blasphemies c. If thy heart be wicked so will all thy duties be thy Prayers thy Reading thy Conference about heavenly things all thy duties whatsoever to God and man will be abominable defiled corrupted and sinful A deceitful heart renders a man uncapable of receiving good and this is a most desperate condition that a man is not onely made unfit for doing any good but for receiving any good all the means of grace are inavailable to do him good the Word cannot reach him Prayer cannot fasten upon him the Spirit of God can finde no entertainment with him Mercies Judgments Corrections all are lost and he himself is lost so long as a deceitful heart dwels in him thus doth this leaven in the heart sowre and imbitter all good things to the soul Object If any question how if a deceitful heart be uncapable of receiving good from God and all men by nature have a deceitful heart then can any man be converted and saved Answ God did never nor ever will convert a deceitful heart for when God works upon any soul to conversion then and not till then doth he take away the decitfulness and uncleanness of the heart and immediatly gives a new heart and a new spirit Ezek. 36.26 A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit also I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes c He that hath onely a form of godliness doth not onely deceive others but himself his Saint seeming is his soul-damning his possessing of others with a false belief bereaves himself of true belief whilst he appears glorious to the worlds eye he remains most deformed and loathsome in the
there be in every godly soul against the lest temptation of sin and this inward disturbance and disquietness of spirit the hypocrites and men of the world cannot bear Is not Zoar a little one and my soul shall live what cannot I give a little liberty to the flesh make use of a small lust what not a little liberty for company keeping for covetousness for pride revenge for wrongs done me must I keep so close and exact to the rule O this makes mens actions speak that they are no friends to the power of godliness though in words they will not confess it for shame the truth is that in all ages there have been underminers of the power of godliness in a secret way pretending to truth and godliness when their intents were quite contrary witness the high Commission Court of late yeers yea witness all the faction of the conformable Clergy yea and thousands of professors at this very day and especially those that so much vindicate and plead for forms in the Worship of God also those loud out-cries against all men that side not with nor approve of Zion-Colledg-Presbytery being not content with what the Parliament appoints but are grasping and thirsting after more power that it might be in their own hands to tyrannize over mens consciences more then in truth either the Bishops or their Courts did ever exercise for they generally assented to conformity to such Ceremonies as made for the establishing of their pomp and glory and in those days a man for a little money might make means and friends to enjoy the liberty of his conscience but now nothing will serve but submission or exile as some Presbyterians have said to my face that such ought to be the condition of all those that were of a contrary judgment and that after admonition would not submit they were not fit to live in a Kingdom though at the same time they have confessed that they have been honest men setting their judgments aside O this is unexpressible madness for men to subjugate Christians consciences unto a formal government their very words argue them formalists and their inward malice and predomination over tender consciences demonstrates the want of the power of godliness therefore take this for a rule that whosoever in all his discourses or actions shall so contend for any form whatsoever in matters of Religion more then power such a man denyeth the strength and power of godliness for godliness is of a more excellent nature it tyeth a man to a strictness of life wherein power will appear as well as form the heart is the thing that God requireth for he will be sainctified of all them that draw neer unto him and he will be worshipped in spirit and truth and not in outward forms onely Do men that profess the form of godliness oppose the power of it O then it doth highly concern men to look into their own ways examine their own hearts dost thou profess Religion because the laws of the Land injoyn thee to it or is it from a principle of thine own or by the power of Jesus Christ O know whatsoever flowes from man as he is man is carnal earthly and sensuall therefore as the cause is such is the effect as the principle such the act art thou guided and principled by the Spirit of God in thy profession is the word of God the pattern and rubrick of thy life doth thy conversation speak thee Christian and spiritual doth thy blossom sprout from the tree of life art thou rudimented and disciplined from thy School-master Christ then thou mayest without prejudice conclude thy qualifications to be truly sanctified and thy profession truly godly it is not the outward profession but the inward intention and cordial affection that God accepts My son saith God give me thy heart walk before me and be thou upright and perfect it is the close and inward walking of the heart with God that God accompts uprightness and perfection its impossible for a man to be upright with God unless his heart be for him there can be no soundness in Religion springing from a rotten heart away then with these outside services abandon all thy goodly flourishes cease to seem learn to be let not thy profession be superficial but supernatural be less glorious in the eyes of men and more of God sore not too high with thy artificial plumes lest the vigorous heat of the Sun of righteousness scorch thy wings and thy soul and body be precipitated into the infernal lake Take heed then unto thy heart labor for integrity in that and thy conversation will be godly it is the madness of many men when they are reproved for their sinful lives to reply and say Why what man is there that liveth and sinneth not though I sometimes fall into error and sin against God yet my heart is good my wishes are to and for God O foolish men who hath bewitched you is it possible for vertue and vice to co-inhabite for a bad life to issue from a good heart can spirit and flesh can light and darkness can Christ and Belial be co-inthroned O vain conceptions O foolish imaginations A good and sincere heart maketh an identity and conformity in the whole man it spiritualizeth his understanding will and affections It puts a spirit of illumination into the Understanding and Judgment of that man whose heart is truly sanctified and upright towards God whereby he is able to discern and judg of things that differ between things that are good and evil It purifies his Will and puts it upon the choice of the best things it makes it aspire after heaven and heavenly things it will labor and act after nothing but Christ and him crucified It regulates and placeth the Affections upon their right Object thus the heart being made spiritual the Understanding the Will and the Affections will be all subservient to the dictates of the Heart the Understanding thereby comes to a knowledg of the things that are of God the Will that approves of that knowledg and acts for God then the Affections which are the wheels of the soul carrie the whole man after that which is good Col. 3.1 If you be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ your Head is Set not your affections on things of the earth for you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God that is you are or ought to be dead in your affections to the things of this world O let your conversation be where your life is hid Now to draw a period to this Point and to wind up this Particular on which I have dwelt something long Is it so that men that content themselves with a form of godliness do thereby deny the power of it and so contract unto their souls the guilt of an hainous sin Yet let me offer one word of comfort unto such men and not leave them as men without hope though
indeed their case be very miserable as they stand at defiance with heaven yet I will not seal them up to condemnation nor give them all for lost let me yet set the Gospel before their eyes If yet you can beleeve you shall be saved If yet you return Though your sins be as crimson they shall be made as white as snow though they be as scarlet they shall be as wooll there is efficacy enough in the blood of Christ to wash you from all your filthiness add not then impenitency and unbelief to the rest of your abominations take heed of that soul-damning sin look upon the blood of Christ as that Fountain that stands open for Judah and Jerusalem to wash in for sin and for uncleaness remember that Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance O this is a true saying and worthy of all acceptation saith Paul that Christ came into the world to save sinners whereof I am chief Thou that hast sinned against free Grace against the tenders of Love and Mercy against the very bowels of Christ yea against the blood of the Covenant know that thou hast cause to bless God that yet thou art not in Hell that yet thou art not quite without hope its possible yet for the breath of Life to be breathed into thy soul thy salvation is yet attainable if God do but yet inspire his Grace and Power into thy soul to make use of present means and opportunities of mercy O remember that God is in Christ reconciling the world unto himself yea the world indefinitely why maist not thou that hast been a formal professor all thy dayes that hast been an opposer of the power of godliness have a part in that great mercy of reconciliation God he intreats thee to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5.20 hear what Paul saith We are Embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead that you would be reconciled to God for he hath made him to be sin for us which knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him In which places of Scripture you may take notice that there is nothing required on thy part but to be willing to receive a pardon and to be reconciled to God yea and God himself will work both the will and the deed tell me thou desperate sinner wilt thou be saved or no art thou willing to be made partaker of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ art thou willing to be transplanted out of the wilderness of the world into the Eden of God art thou willing to be snatcht from a Dunghill unto a Paradise to be cured of a loathsome Leprosie and to enjoy perfection of health and beauty what sinner so impudent what sinner so vile as to deny a consent and willingness to this yet to lay open a little further the rich Treasury of the Mercies of God unto any such obdurate soul that will harden his heart and refuse to be willing to receive pardon let him know that Christ will save him whether he will or no if he belong to the election of Grace God will will not lose any of his Elect ones nor suffer any to pluck them from him long may Satan bear rule and sway in the soul of a chosen Vessel of God from all eternity and such a one may seem in the eyes of the Saints to be a reprobate and lost creature to be a vessel of wrath destined for destruction yet may God at length come with the tender whisperings and breathings of his Spirit which breatheth and bloweth when and where it listeth upon such a miserable soul and calm the storms thereof and poure in fresh oyl into its wounds and put in marrow strength and vigor into its dry bones and say to such a soul Come out of thy bloud and live for he hath given a greater price for the redemption of his people then heaven or earth then Angels or men for he hath given his own blood for his Church Acts 20.28 and for his Elect and why maist not thou then be one of them for as great sinners as ever thou wert have been saved Where sin abounds there Grace aboundeth much more yet sin not that Grace may abound take heed of that there 's an absit a God forbid put to that But now though a man hath sinned with never so high an hand and never so high a nature against God the commission of the sin against the holy Ghost excepted yet for such a man to receive pardon of his sin and to be made holy through the righteousness of Christ this shews an abundance of Grace and infinite Mercy yea it makes for the greater exaltation of the glory and riches of free Grace to pardon the greatest sinners it sets forth more the glory of Gods rich Grace to pardon a Mary Magdalen to be reconciled to a persecuting Saul to free a Thief from the guilt of his misled life and carry him immediatly from a Cross the deserved end of his wretched life unto an everlasting crown to snatch him from the power of sin and bring him unto the freedom and fellowship of Saints to receive him into his own bosome whom the world loathed and spued out O the heighth and depth of the Love of God in Christ There is more advancement of the Glory of God in this then in the saving of an Abraham an Isaac or a Jacob who were never guilty of such sins as they were It s a greater honor for a Prince to pardon one that hath been a Traytor against his Crown Dignity and Life then to pardon one for stealing a trifle or for picking a pocket and so more honor redounds unto the Lord in his being reconciled to an old sinner to one that hath stood out against him all his dayes who hath been a Traytor against God and Christ the Gospel and the Saints then in his pardoning one that hath onely sinned against him of infirmity now there cannot be a worse Traytor against God then that man that hath onely a form of godliness and opposeth the power thereof yet let not this man nor any other in the like condition cast away the strong Anchor of Hope so long as he breathes on this side Hell for there is salvation purchased for such as well as for lesser sinners if they will but lay hold of the proffers of Mercy in the Gospel let them look upon Christ as a full Object of salvation for the greatest sinners and is not this incouragement enough for the vilest sinners to come in to God and to Christ nay especially when Christ will do all their works in them and for them and reacheth forth such strong and free invitations as so many cables for the supportation of any sinking soul when he calls in general unto every one that thirsteth Isai 55.1 To come and buy Wine and Milk without money and without price Come unto
me all ye that labor and are heavy laden Matth. 11.28 29. and I will give you rest and you shall find rest unto your souls Joh. 7.37 Jesus stood and cried saying If any man be athirst let him come to me and drink of the waters of Life freely So again in the Revelation of John Revel 22.27 The Spirit and the Bride said come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst say come and whosoever will let him take the water of Life freely Many more places of Scripture might be instanced and brought for this purpose but these are sufficient to set forth the free invitation of all sinnners both by God by Christ and the Spirit of Grace the Lord looks for nothing at thy hand but to receive pardon and to be reconciled unto himself therefore why will you perish O sons of men your condemnation is of your selves Let this then take off those that do refrain to come unto Christ because they have nothing to come withall such a soul is best welcome unto Christ that is emptiest in himself thy approaches and addresses unto Christ are not to be measured with those unto great Personages here on earth there needs no rich presentations to usher in or plead thy acceptance nor purchasing of Mediators by clandestine and close-fisted bribes the dearest and highest Saint in heaven cannot so soon procure thy access unto and acceptance with Jesus Christ in heaven as the fauning Parasite and Saint-seeming Devil can with man on earth nor doth Christ accept of any creature or worthiness in creature either in heaven or earth on the behalf of a poor soul to ingratiate it into his favor and embraces but of his own breathings in a contrite spirit O then if sin be a burthen to thee come unto Christ and he will take it off he will deliver thee from that weight God he hath laid help upon one that is mighty by his Stripes we are healed by his Merits saved by his Wounds cured and by his Power preserved unto everlasting life and to press more home unto the souls of poor sinners the consideration of the free offer of Grace and Salvation of Christ let them but read the ingeminated invitation of the Spirit of God in that one Text before cited Revel 22.17 Come come come The free Word Come is no less then three times reiterated in that one Verse O then do not wilfully refuse and cast off the free offers of Life Grace and Salvation for know it is tendred as freely to thee as ever it was to any creature under heaven and know that to reject this mercy is to reject the greatest mercy that ever was tendered to any soul upon the face of the earth it is to reject not onely thine own good thine own life thine own salvation and thy sweet communion with and enjoyment of Christ and the blessed Saints for ever hereafter but also of the free Love of God and Christ the loss whereof is worse then ten thousand hells yea it shall be an aggravation of all thy sins that ever thou didst commit in thy whole life for he that will not believe is damned already there is no hope of such a man take heed therefore of Unbelief for it is worse then Hell it self as being the cause of all miseries that a soul can be afflicted with Hell that 's an Ordinance of God but sin is from the devil and mans own corruption Hell is the fruit of sin as sin is the cause of punishment by sin came death into the world yet that man that believes shall be preserved from sin death hell and what ever else is miserable yea not onely so but he shall have that sweet enjoyment of God Christ his Spirit Saints Angels Heaven Life Glory yea more then his desire or thoughts can comprehend for no eye hath seen ear heard or heart conceived what is laid up in life and glory for all them that believe there the soul shall see God as he is yea it shall be filled with the fulness of God and ravished with his presence yea more the soul shall hold communion with Christ and with the father in a more excellent measure then any creature can be capable of in this life yea there the soul shall be in union with God and Christ God will be giving out himself unto his Saints they shall partake of his glory they shall be in him and he in them this is the excellency and preeminency of faâ—th that doth instrumentally and mediatly through Christ alone act and carry the soul above the pitch of earth and conveighs and lodgeth it in the bosom of Christ O then who would be destitute of this Armor of proof Who would not be shrouded under this helmet as sufficient to defend the soul against all worldly and spiritual conflicts who would not get this wing to elevate and mount his soul into the Heaven of Heavens where the act of faith shall cease then shall believers live no more by faith but by sight there expectation shall be swallowed up of fruition invisible things become visible glimmerings of light become flames and ravishments of glory Saints here can better tell what God is not then what he is we can here say he incomprehensible and immutable but then we shall see God in his essence in his nature and excellency as he is a spirit so far as a soul can be made capable of so glorious an object O then of what happiness and bliss do unbeleevers deprive themselves that will not believe though everlasting life depends upon it O sinners remember how often hath the Gospel been preached unto you how often have you been invited unto the marriage Feast and you would not come How often have you preferred the wedding of your souls unto the profits and lusts of this world rather then unto Christ Consider Christ hath invited you your own wicked wills have refused to comply with his call he would have gathered you together under his wings but ye would be dispersed separated from him certaintly it shall be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment then for you and thus I have dispatched the first branch Having a form of godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sed qui vim ejus abnegarint But denying the power thereof THe Apostle still continues his complaint of what should come to pass in the last and evil times which are accomplished in these days wherein we live which we have shewed you in the precedent part of this Treatise these men in the text retain the form of godliness at the same time when they deny the power of it things of least value most set by and those of the greatest concernment most slighted contemned and despised darkness before light vanity before verity shadows before substance weakness before power here you may see men acting much outwardly and intending nothing less inwardly men contending for
and satisfying themselves in types forms and denegating substance and reality types and representations are good if the power and body typified and represented be joyned with them but when there comes a disjunctive particle but between form and power then all is lost Religion lost profession lost and the professor also the fabrick of that soul being built upon such a formal and sandy foundation must needs perish and fall to ruine Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof This monosyllable but includes many syllables of truth and high concernment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed it is very authoritative and significant and though it be but short in it self yet oft times it reacheth as far as hell it self as here in this place where it parts the power of godliness from the form you know that it is many times said of the Kings of Israel that they reigned such and such a time and did such and such acts but they did evil in the sight of the Lord now this but spoiles all all seems well untill this exception or reservation comes in it s a common thing for men to say such a man is a good Preacher endued with admirable gifts but he is covetous but he is proud but he will be conformable to the times this interpositive but eclipseth the brightness and glory that mens actions did before seem to carry with them it is such a separative that it divorceth the pre-reputation of all thy actions and bringeth in and entailes a lasting disreputation and dishonor upon thee and thy actions how inconsistent is sin with goodness read of all the failings of the Saints and you shall never read that a godly man was a covetous man at one and the same time for of all sins this hath a black brand of hell set upon it he that loves the world is an enemy to God that man hath not the love of God dwelling in him the truth is that grace and covetousness are inconsistent they are light and darkness you know though it be never so dark yet if light appear the darkness is expelled so the absence of light causeth darkness so when grace comes into the soul covetousness vanisheth Wherefore whosoever delighteth in covetousness and maketh money his chiefest aime let this man profess what he will he is an Idolater a denyer of the power and life of godliness and remains in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity So others will say such a man is a good Christian but he will defraud and over-reach his neighbors but he will tell a lie for his own advantage they might as well have said he is an honest man but he is a very knave but he is a cheater and a lyar so such a man beareth the outward cognizance of a Christian his profession is very specious and Saint like but his heart is hypocricall and diabolical he hath no faculty or power of profession but fair symptomes and shewes he bids fair for heaven he outstrips many a godly man in the eye of the world but at length his vanishing prop will fall him and he inevitably drop into hell Denying or having denied that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui abnegârint earnestly and stifly to reject to refuse forsake or turn the back upon to cast off or gainsay its the same word with that to Titus 2.12 Tit. 2.12 teaching us that denying ungodliness so 2 Pet. 2.1 2 Pet. 2.1 Even denying the Lord that bought them so in that fourth of Jude even denying the onely Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ thus you have the explication and signification of the word denying thus they are said to deny the power of godliness who do make but a bare profession of it The next word is power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vis potestas sufficientia and it signifieth strength authority ability or sufficiency of godliness and this shews the excellency of it which is not looked upon nor apprehended by the men of the world which makes it to be so vilified and contemned Thus much for the etymology of the words But denying the power thereof Acquaint us with this truth That when godliness comes into the soul it comes with power and life in its operation it s very powerful it s like a violent rushing wind that carrieth all before it or a devouring flame that consums all combustible matters it s like the piercing Sun in the Element that with its radiant beams at noon day doth dimm and dead the hottest fire and dissipate the foggy mists of the earth so doth godliness in the soul allay and extinguish the heat of lust and banisheth and dispels the noysome mists of corruption where it comes it overcomes like an irresistible torrent that depels and drives back every opposing thing yet it hath its degrees and divers effects of operation in some more in some less according to the measure of grace received yet very powerful in all thus it came to the Jailor in that Acts 16.29 Act. 16.29 Then he called for a light and sprang in among them and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas saying What must I do to be saved It did so powerfully seize on him that it made him to tremble and quake it rowsed him out of his security it enlivened and raised up his dead and benummed affections it quickned his faculties and enlightned his understanding it made him now to enquire that ere while was without sense it made him look after salvation that before never thought of it neither knew what it meant he that a little before did imprison the Saints and put them in the stocks verse 24. Vers 24. O now who more ready to act for the Saints liberty then he now he leads them out now he fals down before them ready to be their servant that was before their tyrant O wonderful change O invincible power of grace His eyes were now opened his understanding enlightned his Judgment informed his affections turned another way he is not now the man he was a little before an Infidel now a Believer even now a captive now leading captivity captive late bound up in the fetters of darkness and now translated into the marvailous light heretofore a persecutor of Paul and Silas and all the Saints and now a refresher and comforter of them quantum mutatus ab illo O happy conviction O blessed change Again do but consider that of Paul in the act of his conversion how he was beaten from his horse to the ground the text saith he fell to the earth and he trembled and was astonished and said Lord Acts 9.3 4 5 6. what wilt thou have me to do yea and he was struck with blindness and continued so for three dayes and nights yea and they that were with him were speechless now could any thing be more powerful then this the Lord was working a great work upon Paul and he works
like himself he comes with power and authority he darts his grace into the soul like his thunderbolts into the world that cleave asunder divide and shake the very frame and condition of created Beings and so in the Acts 2.2 Act. 2.2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting What was this but the Spirit of God that fell upon the Apostles and gave them other tongues to declare the mysteries of the Gospel to the Sons of men it came from heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it came with power yea strengthned with all might to work powerfully prevailingly upon the hearts of men and that 's the reason why Christ compares the new birth to a wind that blowes John 3.8 and blowes where it listeth and no man knowes whence it comes nor whether it goes now what 's more powerful yet what 's more invisible then the wind even such is the working of the Spirit on them that God cals home to himself this is that white stone that no man knows Rev. 2.18 but he that receives it I will give him a white stone saith God and in the stone a new name that no man knows but he that receiveth it its thought that the Holy Ghost alludes here unto the custom of the Grecians in their Courts of Judicature when they were to condemn a man to death then the Judg sent him a black stone if he were to be freed and delivered then he sent him a white stone but yet it was so made up that he that carried it knew not what it was none but the Judg and the man that received it had knowledg of it so none but Christ and the soul that receiveth him knowes of the maner of conveyance or of the gift of eternal life There are two things in this point to be unfolded What 's meant by godliness What 's meant by the coming of it into the soul We have spoken somewhat of the first in the former part in the explicating of the words and now we will somewhat enlarge upon it Godliness is the right exercising and acting of those graces which the soul hath received of the Spirit of God Godliness what it is both to the glory of God and good of man or the bringing forth of the fruits of grace in holiness of life and conversation that is when a man improves all his graces given unto him to the advantage of his Master Christ to be glad of every occasion whereby he may advance the glory of that God that hath advanced him by the glory of his grace as God is pleased to shew the glory of his grace to a soul and that to the utmost so godliness in that soul desires to improve and actuate all that grace and mercy to its utmost power to and for God Christ the Gospel and the Saints And this is the very life and soul of godliness and this is the continual course that godliness acts this is its full scope and aime the perfection of this is that which it doth aspire after for this is the souls breathings from the time that the soul received it unto the end of life and so godliness becomes the souls witness here and hereafter 1 Tim. 4.8 for it hath the promise of this life and that which is to come Secondly This godliness comes I say it comes into the soul of man it is not attracted or by industry atchieved nor is it inherent in any soul but it is grace poured out from God and freely given and breathed into the soul of man by the Spirit of grace I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh Joel 2.28 Act. 2.16 Isa 44.3 Math. 13.11 c. Vnto you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom c. Yea Christ communicates himself unto his people and makes them partake of his fulness freely it s not attained by skill art wisdom learning riches or any created power whatsoever yea all the created power in heaven or earth is not able to attain unto one scruple or grain of godliness it s not from men nor from the word of God or dispensation of the Ordinances in themselves but from Heaven and that by the breathings of the Spirit of Jesus Christ I shall but onely touch upon this point in this place We have now seen that godliness where it comes it comes freely and comes with power the next thing to be considered is how it comes to pass that godliness comes with so much power into the soul Answ The Author of all godliness is the Essence of all Power which is God blessed for evermore It s a rule in Philosophy That as the Cause is so is the Effect if the Cause be powerful the Effect must needs be so as in Fire the greater the fire is the greater is the heat in making other things hot which is its effect so the earth being in it self naturally cold causeth a frigidity and numness in all creatures so man naturally springing from his principle earth is nothing but a heavy mass and lump of Clay dead and fruitless untill heat and life be inspired in him from a principle and fountain of life Thus the Almighty being infinite in power causeth those things which come from himself to be very full of power Now that God is powerfull is clear by those names given to him in Scripture Nomen Elohim est personarū 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is called Elohim Elohim signifies the mighty Judges it s a Word of the Plural Number and expresseth the Trinity of Persons in Unity of Essence so Jehovah which signifies the eternal Being of himself then I am Exod. 3.14 I am that I am I will be what I will be a most significant expression of the absolute and uncontroulable power of God yea this name is attributed to Christ I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then he is called Lord and so a Lord that he is absolute of himself and can do whatever he pleaseth in heaven and earth then he is called God which commonly signifieth a burning fire one that runs through all things Again He is called the strong God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 12 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Esai 40.17 Shaddai the Almighty God all which denotate and set forth the Almighty power of God and so in his Works For he is the God that weigheth the Mountains in a Balance and taketh up the Iles as a very little thing yea that counteth all things less then nothing what an expression is this what Soveraignty what Omnipotency is this what debasement of of all power in competition with his If it were the thoughts of Solomon an earthly King after his fruition of all sublunary pleasure and power to account them but vanity nay less then vanity well may then the Salomon of
twelve Stars and to have the Moon under her feet that is the earth and the glory thereof in its most glorious Robes must be stamped upon by Saints even as Samuel stamped upon Agag the King of the Amalekites 1 Sam. 15. when a temptation comes and offers it self to Saints they ought to be higer minded then to embrace it In this point Saints should be like unto Themistocles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who having gotten a great victory by war would not stoop to take the spoil it would not stand with his state and honor to do it and when others did it his answer was you may you are not Themistocles for when the world having received a foil by this power of godliness offers its glory and pomp to such a soul which indeed is but the spoil of grace that soul should refuse them and leave them to be taken up of the worldlings and say Such as you may entertain and hug the embraces of the world but for my part I am born higher I am of a nobler blood then to minde such off all such contemptible things Saints should be like Antipater 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King of Macedon who being offered a book to read said I have no leasure so when the Saints have the glorious book of the whole world and the pleasures thereof laid open unto their eyes and tendered to them to be read they should answer we have no leisure to contemplate upon such follies nor to receive such vanishing delights our spirits soar aloft we must follow our Fathers business which is in heaven it must be our delight and our meat and drink to do our Fathers will for he hath taught us that we are crucified to the world and the world to us And as Saints by this power live above the world in its glory and pomp so they must live above the world in its scorns reproachings and persecutions and say in plain tearms Quo tendit non quid passura sit cogitat World and Devil do your worst for true Vertue doth not so much consider what it suffers but whether it tends whether its going and what 's its end Virtus dum patitur vincit Vertues sufferings are its overcomings the world and all its reproaches are thereby conquered so that Saints should not look what share they have in the Whip Noli attendere quam poenam habeas in stagello sed quem locum in Testamento but what portion they have in the Word of God what interest they have in Christ Jesus what crown of glory is laid up for all them that love the appearing of Jesus Christ who shall change our vile bodies and make them like his glorious body For when Christ who is our light shall appear then shall we appear with him in glory then shall all tears be wiped from our eyes then shall the worlds scoffs be turned to our glory the worlds despight to our rejoycing the worlds cursings to our Hallelujahs and praising of that God that did so powerfully deliver us from them and hath now cloathed our despicable and loathed bodies with immortality and our souls with the Robes of Jesus Christ That by it Saints may see what emptiness there is in themselves and what fulness there is in the author of this power it s through Grace that a man sees that nothingness yea less then nothing that 's in himself that all his duties performances and abilities whatsoever are empty bubbles and meer nothing you know where light comes there darkness is discovered yea banished so where power comes weakness is made known and discovered so that a man may see it for where this power comes not men do and can trust in themselves and not in him who is all Power God blessed for evermore by this Self comes to be debased by this conceited riches become naked poverty all creature-fulness becomes emptiness by this the soul desireth to decrease that Christ may increase Reas 12 Lastly That it might keep and preserve the Saints to eternal life and glory Ye are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 O how soon would Saints turn their backs upon Christ and go back to imbrace their former sins lusts and corruptions and quite fall away from what they do now profess were it not that God did hold them in the hollow of his hand O whither was David going whither was Peter going and Lot Noah and divers other of the Saints had not God by a mighty power given a turn to their spirits its his Promise to his Saints that when they go astray they shal be made to hear a voyce behind them saying This is the way walk in it thus God by this power of Grace doth carry his Saints from grace to grace till he brings them to life and glory were it not for this they would with Demas forsake Christ and imbrace this present world the strongest Saint on earth left to himself would quickly fall and miscarry in his way to salvation its impossible for any man to be saved if he should be left to stand upon his own legs what infinite need then do we stand in of this preserving power it is not the beginning but the end that crowneth the work Finis coronat opus Luke 9.62 No man having put his hand to the Plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God it was the complaint of God against the Church of Ephesus Revel 2.4 That she had left her first Love in Revel 2.4 Therefore he saith again in Verse 7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God And again in Revel 21.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God c. Rev. 21.7 If then perseverance obtain the Crown and onely he that overcometh shall inherit eternal Life What will become of poor miserable creatures that are not able to stand one moment nor to resist the least temptation if the merciful power of an Almighty God doth not aid them and carry them on through this boisterous and troublesome world and conduct them safe unto the Haven of Rest had it not been for this 2 Tim. 4.7 8. Paul could never have said I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness c. It is therefore by the power of grace that we are kept and preserved faithful unto the end Quest You say that godliness comes into the soul and that it comes with power but after what manner or what are the footsteps of it Answ You may call to minde how I told you that the words were Metonymical the Effect is here put for the Cause Godliness in its highest excellency is but the fruit of Grace the improvement or exercise of Grace Grace is the cause
of Godliness as fire is the cause of heat and yet as the cause is such is the effect for powerful causes make powerful effects that 's an undeniable truth in Philosophy and that 's the very reason why godliness is so powerful in the souls of men Now wouldst thou know the working of Grace or of the Graces of the Spirit of God in the soul First then I will set down some of these fundamental Graces which cause godliness and secondly how they are wrought in and upon the spirits of men First then Take these four Graces Faith Repentance Self-denial and Love not that I intend to speak of the Doctrine of Faith or the rest of the graces here mentioned but onely to speak a word or two to each and so proceed To shew how they are wrought and their footsteps in the souls of Believers And first to begin with Faith not to trouble you with that which is Historical Temporary or Legal but to speak of that True Evangelical Saving and Justifying Faith Faith then is a certain grace wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God Fides est actus intellectus and by the Word preached and its an act of the Understanding also now I put the Word and the Spirit together as they ordinarily are appointed to work together to make a man a Believer for I dare boldly say that the Word of it self never yet to this day wrought faith in any man without the Spirit of God working with it but I am confident that the Spirit may and doth where the Word preached is not to be had work this faith in the souls of the Elect 1 Cor. 3.6 Paul may plant Apollo may water but it is God that giveth the increase a man may live all dayes of his life under a powerful Ministry and stand by Christ and hear the joyful sound of the Gospel and yet never the neerer they shall count it but as thunder as those did in John 12.29 Joh. 12.29 unless the Spirit of God boreth the ears and sanctifieth their hearts to understand and believe the things of God and though Faith be the gift of God yet as God puts forth an hand in giving of Faith so he gives a hand to his Elect to receive Faith otherwise they could never have it thus God illuminates the Understanding whereby it comes to know that there is such a thing as Christ is Christ the object of Faith and then he convinceth the Judgment that this Christ is very excellent and that of necessity he must be had or else the soul is undone then comes the Will saying If Christ be so good and that of necessity I must have him O then I will receive him thus at length is faith begotten in the soul yet we must take heed of attributing any thing to man in this for all this is Gods own work and none of mans Now the other three graces may be stiled Faiths subsequents or concomitants Faiths companions or the fruits of Faith yet I shall speak a word to each of them and first to Repentance I say of the working of this grace in the souls of Gods Elect as I have said of Faith and in this work of Repentance we must note these four steps or degrees True Repentance There is a sight of the nature of sin A convinced judgment of the guilt of sin There is a cordial and hearty sorrow for sin There is a dislike of or an abhorring and forsaking of sin For the first of these namely The sight of sin in its own nature and proper colours now sins vail begins to be pluckt off before sin was pleasurable and delightful now it is odious and loathsom now the soul discovers sin to be a Scorpion a Serpent whose sting would have caused eternal death that which seemed to be the pleasantest and delightfullest companion is now the ugliest basest and contemptiblest thing that ever the soul beheld since it had a being that which formerly was embraced and hugged as a Dalilah is now thrown out of the windows as a Jezabel Gods enemie now the soul looks on sin as Gods greatest enemy yea as that whereby the soul hath cast dirt in the very face of God and hath grieved and done despight unto his holy Spirit and crucified the Lord of life and glory Again The souls greatest enemie the soul looks upon it as its own greatest enemy it did unparadise it it hath ever since blindfolded it and fettered it up amongst a legion of devils and hath made a separation between God and it it hath made it at emnity with God and hath brought it into a state of condemnation and was able to sink it into the very bottom of hell The soul is convinced of the guilt of sin and that by the same it s bound over to the Judgment Seat of Christ Rom. 3.19 there to answer the breach of all the Laws of God James 2.10 Moral and Evangelical yea and that this guilt lies so heavy on the soul that its able to press it down into destruction 2 Thess 1.8 and to banish it from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power for ever sin now is become a burden to purpose yea such a burden as David complaineth of in Psalm 38 4. Psal 38.4 saith he there Mine iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me that which once was so light that the soul could not feel it O now it is so heavy that its like to break the very heart of it now conscience is wakened and sin stands as a brasen wall in its order before the soul I will set his sin in order before him Psal 50.21 there is a Scripture to that purpose in the Psalmist There is a cordial and hearty sorrow for sin O saith the soul that I that such a wretch as I should sin against so great so good and so gratious a God now the soul begins to be cautious of sinning now its ready to say with Joseph Gen. 39.9 How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God Now the soul is sensible of its indignity to God now it can grieve and rent its very heart for its unkinde dealing with God who hath dealt so kindely with it and by this means the soul is brought into contrition and godly sorrow never to be repented of Upon this the soul is brought into a dislike of sin yea to an abhorring hating and detesting of sin yea it hates the very thoughts of it not onely in others but much more in it self it s now more ugly then a Toade more bitter then Gall and Wormwood now the soul knows the fruits of sin how it leads unto destruction now it can say of it as Salomon said of the Harlot Pro 5.4 5. Her end is bitter as Wormwood sharp as a two edged sword her feet go down to death and
and arguings of the soul I may call the spirit of bondage under which the soul sinks and sees no way of hope of recovery but now Christ intervenes and darts the raies of his glory into such a lost soul resolves its doubtings calmes its frettings and disputings and come and makes his abode in that soul and takes it by the hand and saith Is there no deliverer for thee I will deliver thee I have satisfied divine justice I am thy surety and the propitiation for thy sin At this the soul begins to startle it s recovered from its lethargy now it ariseth from death to life and saith What voice is that I here What mercy for me A Christ for me for such a sinfull wretch as I am O how sweet is this voice how welcome is this Gospel How excellent is this Christ O the sweetest of ten thousand now the soul is humbled to purpose its fit to receive any impression to do to suffer any thing that Christ cals for now the soul flies to Christ as to a rock hangs about him like a burre closeth with him in what ever Christ commands Christs voice is a soul-humbling and a soul-melting voice more excellent then the law Object But some may say that surely many have believed that never came in such a legal way to Christ as Matthew Lydia and others Answ I answer that though it be not recorded of the grief and spirit of bondage that these underwent yet it s not safe to conclude they did not come to Christ that way seeing others came that way as the Jews at Peters Sermon Act. 2.37 the Jailor the woman that washed Christs feet with her tears and many others as David Peter c. Look upon that to the Romans where the Apostle saith ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear Rom. 8.15 which shewes cleerly that once they had received it before they came to Christ in their preparation to conversion And again Christ comes to call sinners to repentance yea those that finde sin to be a burden to them and such as are weary and heavy laden and prest down to hell in their own apprehensions by reason of their sins that they are guilty of The whole needeth not the Physitian but such as are sick saith Christ such as are sick at the heart of sin as are sensible of the pain and horror of sin I am somewhat the larger in this point because there is a generation of men in these days that deny the use of the moral law to be any means of driving the soul to Christ yea or so much as the use of it in any sense to the Saints that are brought to Christ let these remember that the Apostle saith the Law is a Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ not onely the Law Ceremonial but moral also See Rom. 3.31 Where he saith Do we make void the Law behold we establish the Law Rom. 3.31 And I suppose none dares say but he speaks there of the moral Law and again the Law is Just holy and good what then is there no use to be made of that which is just holy and good by beleevers under the Gospel surely yes and then Christ himself justifies maintains the Law moral in that of Matthew Mat. 5.17 18 19. Think not that I am come to destroy the Law no no I am come to fulfil it Therefore whosoever shall break one of the least of these commandments and teach men to do so shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven The Law first breaks and kills us with the fight of sin before Christ cures us and binds us up The Holy Ghost worketh and maketh faith effectuall by these three acts It puts a power and authority in the Law whereby it makes a man poor in spirit Now blessed are poor in spirit What 's the reason Mat. 5. O it makes the soul in a fit temper to receive Jesus Christ in the Gospel preached for the spirit of bondage doth make the law effectual as the spirit of adoption maketh the Gospel The second work in the soul is to receive Christ being revealed in the Gospel O here he shewes the unsearchable riches of Gods love in Christ to poor creatures yea here he shews what is the hope of his calling and the glorious inheritance of the Saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to them that believe certainly the Saints of God need the Spirit of God to shew these glorious mysteries Thirdly The Spirit testifies with the Spirits of the Saints First that these are true Secondly that they belong to them O when the Spirit of Christ shall say These things are thine Christ is thine God is thy father that thou art now an heir and joynt-heir with Christ and hast right to life and glory by vertue of free grace then is the soul brought into a sweet and happy condition But I would not here be mistaken I do not say that the spirit of bondage works alike upon and in all that come to Christ but in some more and in some less neither dare I limit the Holy one of Israel who is tyed to no means or wayes to call home his Saints to himself But this I say that first its Gods ordinary way of working in and with his Saints Secondly it s a safe way for the Saints to know their estates by it being that way in which the Saints have been called home to Christ in general This may inform us if that godliness have such a power in it then there are but few in the world that are acquainted with it for godliness cannot lie hid but it will break forth wheresoever it cometh there is no fire but there will be some smoak there can be no moving or acting without life its impossible for a godly soul to be a liveless soul but the generality of men are ignorant of it because they are naturally dead godliness is an herb that grows not in every mans Garden a flower not in every mans garland a Crown not set upon every mans head a garment not fit for every mans wearing No no it s that which is onely given to Saints that are redeemed from the earth by the bloud of the Lamb Christ Jesus yea it s for those that are called and chosen and faithful O how few great men and rich men in this world participate of these high priviledges or are made possessors of these riches these onely true riches which neither Moth nor Rust can corrupt Mat. 6.19 nor theeves break thorow and steal How few come to have a taste or to meddle with the Saints joy which is communicable to none but them in Christ Where is the Wise 1 Cor. 1.20 21 22 26. where is the Scribe where is the Disputer of this world Not many wise men after the flesh not many noble not many mighty are called hath not God made foolish the wisdom
world to die for you yea and to rise again that you should not perish and Christ he came freely out of the bosom of his Father that he might manifest his love unto you in laying down his pretious life and shedding his pretious blood for your sakes then the Spirit of God is sent unto you that he might lead you into all truth and give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ Act. 16.18 O therefore poor creatures know that you have nothing but what you have received of his fulness have ye received and grace for grace O then see that your glory and happiness lies not in doing but in receiving in the Law men did bear their own charges as we may say but now in the Gospel Christ bears the Saints charges to Heaven at his own proper cost our condition of our selves is worse then the meanest beggars condition in the world for he can put forth his hand to receive an almes but when God offers a man grace let him offer it never so freely never so long if he give him not withall a power and an hand to receive it he will go without it for ever and this hand that God doth extend and give out unto the soul to receive and take hold of his gracious offers is lively faith whereby Christ the promises and the Gospel are made over and enjoyed by that soul so empty in himself is man that he is not able to think a good thought or to speak a good word muchless to perform any good action O then what cause hath poor man to admire free grace and to look into and consider his one nothingness and to make his addresses unto the fulness and all sufficiency that is Christ Jesus then should a man behold Christ in the riches of his grace love bounty and tender mercy then would the soul be ravished with the glory of his presence and be taken with that sweetness which is so incomparably excellent and delightful there may he lye down and consolate his soul on a bed of Roses and refresh his fainting spirit with spices and rich perfumes O then by one glimpse of Christs glory would a soul be made to see it self as it is in it self altogether ugly defiled and loathsome then shall it see it self in its blood and foul deformity to the loathing of its spirit even as a man that comes into a dark room with a candle in his hand sees things amiss and out of order which were not discovered when they lay in the dark so is it with the soul when Christ shines into it then onely are the thick mists of darkness dispelled and the noysome corners of the soul purified and made clean he is the bright morning Star he is the Sun of righteousness he is given for a light to the Gentiles that though they were in the very shadow of death yet when he came among them they presently saw a great light wheresoever Christ comes he brings a light with him yea glory wisdom and all excellencies attend him for it s he that is made to his Saints Wisdom 1 Cor. 1.30 righteousness sanctification and redemption he that is the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God Rev. 22.2 whose very leaves are for the healing of the Nations and therefore it s our duties to apply our selves onely to Christ resting on him and not on any created power or excellency whatsoever for man the chief of all the creation of God Angels excepted in his most setled estate is altogether vanity give him all the advantages you can as he is man truly he is miserable to purpose and therefore its cleer that there is nothing in man nor any other creature under heaven that can help man to the least dram of the power of godliness Rom. 6.23 its true That the wages of sin that is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Fifthly This may inform us that mens Ignorance of the power and excellency of godliness is the very reason why it s so ill relished and slighted amongst men and why it is looked upon with such an evil aspect and held in so small an esteem in the world did but men know the worth of it then the professors and practisers of it would be more accounted of had the woman of Samaria known who it was that asked her water she would never have made a denyall or had she but known Christ the gift of God John 4.9 10. she would have asked of him and he could have given to her water of life every creature is for its element stones cannot have their habitation in the aire no more then Stars dwel upon the earth fishes cannot live in flames nor moles in clouds it s beyond the sphere of the men of this world to be conversant in the affairs of the world to come they can look no further then after the things of this world their knowledgment is bounded here they are aliens and strangers to any thing beyond their own center they are of the earth and so earthly-minded their knowledge study and endeavors tend earthward ther 's their complacency and delight the natural man discerneth not the things that are of the spirit of God and what is the reason its because they are spiritually discerned his light his knowledg his discerning is all carnal tell him of the workings of the Spirit of God of conversion from an estate of nature to an estate of grace of meeting with God in a duty of having communion with Christ of the Saints union with him their head of resting on God where reason and means faile c. these are strange things to him they are meer riddles to him but now speak to a Merchant or Shop-keeper of buying selling or trading either here or beyond the Seas or to a country Farmer of Corn Cattle Plowing Sowing or any thing in matter of Husbandry herein now they are expert here they know what you mean now you deal with them in their own element herein they are onely wise cunning and skilful Merchants masters of their science none shall over-reach them they will not oversee or let slip the advancement of a bargain for want of experience here and onely here they are their own crafts-masters so that the truth is these men come into this world and so go out they make not their returns to Heaven so good and beneficial as their returns from Sea to Land indeed the whole scope and tendency of their life is circumscribed within the earth and the confines thereof they never knew of any other end for which they came into the world nor never will look after or expect any further knowledg or Interest but in and unto this present being and so remain securely wise untill they drop into hell and see their own misery and their neglect and want of true knowledg O that men would fear
his soul so much delights neither is there any affliction misery threats or death it self that can prevail or force his soul to forsake that sweetness that he tasteth in God and Jesus Christ When they threatned Basil with death if he would not forsake his Interest in God His answer was Death is a benefit to me it will send me sooner to God to whom I live and to whom I desire to hasten yea such a man prefers an hours communion with God before ten thousand worlds were they offered unto him he would slight and contemn them and count them as dung in comparison of God and Jesus Christ in whom his soul sees so much excellency and sweetness Now this communion is publike and private publike in the Congregation of the Saints which indeed may be called the greatest witness where the Saints have fellowship with Christ and one with another where their graces are communicable and their sweet injoyments free and common one with another where they jointly gather honey out of one Comb where they refreshed their thirsty spirits out of one Fountain where the members are sweetly compacted and joyned together to their head where they greet each other with reciprocal kisses where Christ is all in all and fully gives out himself unto his members this is a glorious communion the other is a private communion that the soul hath with Christ in its closet which is the best evidence when no eyes see where no ear hears what converse the soul hath with Christ her head what breathings of the Spirit she receives from him who is invisible and for all manner of excellencies beyond expression there the soul engrosseth Christ to its self there are private salutations each to other interchangeable embraces sweet fellowship ineffable communion superlative joyes and refreshments ravishing familiarities infinite soul-satisfying communities if the soul want power to kill any sin strength to withstand any corruption understanding in the mysteries of the Gospel supplies of grace resolutions in doubtings here she may have all in her Christ all is to be found in him in whom all fulness dwels Isa 45.11 the soul can no sooner speak but speed nay with an holy reverence may command and have for there is no good thing that he will with-hold from them that are in him It is not with Christ as with earthly Parents who give portions but once unto their children and then cut them off from any other afterwards here you cannot be welcome you cannot be heard if you come the second or third time but now the oftner you come to your Father to your elder Brother the better you are welcome the repetition of requests is most acceptable with Christ the more you ask the more he gives his Fountain is inexhaustible it is alwayes open for you to wash in for you to replenish your empty buckets if you wait at this Pool you shall be sure to be replenished come as often as you will if thou comest for Understanding to day for more Knowledg to morrow for Wisdom the third day for Meekness Patience Temperance and what other grace soever thou standest in need of thou shalt not onely be welcome but shalt certainly be supplied if these things thou askest be for thy good Psal 84.11 12. For he will give grace and glory and all other good things to them that walk uprightly yea he will be a Sun and a shield that 's the sum of all comforts whatsoever for Christ is the Sun of Righteousness Mal. 4 2. then he will defend his servants from all dangers he will carry them on his wings as the Eagle doth her young ones far above the reach of malice or all revengeful thoughts whatsoever for the Wings of Gods Protection do not onely bear up his Saints but cover them and preserve them from danger they cover them like a shield in the day of battel what injury is done unto the Saints God takes it as done unto himself and he will be their Avenger if they strike them they strike them as it were thorow God himself for he hath made known That they that touch them Zech. 2 8. touch the apple of his Eye It s no small matter to strike at the eye of a Prince but that man that striketh at the Saints strikes at the eye of the King of Kings and shall be sure to answer it another day in another place though for a while he may scape unpunished though God be now silent he will not be alwayes so you know what Christ saith Wo to him that offendeth one of these little ones it were better that a milstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea thus you may see as the Saints do prize God so God doth prize the Saints That man that hath the power of godliness dwelling in him he can trust God yea and rest upon him in the greatest difficulties yea where friends fail of the neerest relation yea where Reason and all outward probabilities are opposite Rom. 4.19 20 21. Thus did Abraham when he was promised a son he believed above Reason yea the text saith Above Hope Secondly against the deadness of his own body he being one hundred years old Thirdly against the deadness of Sarahs womb it was onely Faith and the power of godliness that carried him up far above all doubts being fully perswaded that he which had promised was able to perform it Again you know that the promise to Abraham was that in Isaac his seed should be called and yet in obedience to Gods Command he goes to offer up Isaac his onely son to cut up the root from whence this fruit should grow to destroy the ground-work on which this Fabrick should be built Heb. 11.19 and to blast the hopes of any further seed which in all reason should have made void the promise yet above all he believed that he being dead God was able to raise him up from the dead from whence he received him in a figure thus the three children believed beyond all reason that God would deliver them from the fiery furnace and Daniel from the den of Lyons and divers others O this is that which makes a man cast himself into the arms of God in the midst of the fire or what affliction can possibly come unto him he can enter into his chamber until the indignation be over-past that is into Christ who is a hiding place for and to his Saints at all times And as it makes the soul rest upon God in general so more especially for life and Salvation such a soul can freely venture it self upon a promise with as much confidence as if it did enjoy the performance it can as really live upon any word of God as a natural man can live upon his appointed food O saith the soul hath God said it its enough for me I desire no more you know what Christ said Man lives not by bread only but by every word
what consolation can a man have greater then this to finde in the book of God that his name is written in the book of life which the Saints do finde and that often in the Scriptures O what pleasure can a man be capable of more then to enjoy life and health nay an Eternal life free from cares sorrows or sickness a life as durable as the life of God and enjoyed with and in God full of glory full of sweetness full of delight where nothing but pleasures are for evermore Now others see no excellency in things of this nature ask them what they would have to compleat their delight their answer will be gold silver riches lands honors esteem in the world and things of that nature that afford seeming joy and contentment to their carnal sense these are their Jewels these are the objects of their happiness it can never enter into their thoughts much less can they perceive that there is such delight and sweetness in the wayes of God as in the enjoyment of these sublinary treasures they are perswaded that the sweetness that men talk of that is found in the practices of godliness are but meer notions and conceipts in mens brains of such as these the Lord complains by the Prophet Hosea saying I have wrote to them the things concerning the weighty matters of my Law but they were accompted as strange things they have no skill in them they are things that they never heard neither hath it ever entered into their hearts to conceive them it is as impossible for them to understand those hidden mysteries as for a blinde man to Judge of colours an excellency in any thing that tends heaven-ward or savors of the Spirit of grace is not at all to be discerned by the blinde and carnal eye of the world Such a soul wherein godliness dwels is wholly swallowed up with that infinite fulness that it seeth in God when the Queen of Sheba saw the excellency of that wisdom that was in Solomon the text saith that there was no more spirit left in her 1 Kings 10.5 O then how much more is that soul that looks and meditates on the glorious wisdom beauty righteousness excellency and sweetness that is in God and Christ swallowed up lost confounded and utterly undone in it self its beholding Gods fulness maketh it come to see its own emptiness and to say of God O Lord thou art Almighty thou art al-sufficient but I am frail and weak I am nothing yea less then nothing O therefore blessing honor glory and power be unto him that sits upon the throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever It s reported of one that had much communion with God as he was sitting at meat with his friends he was rapt with such a suddain extasie of spirit that he to the amazement of his friends broke out into these words saying O for ever and ever and ever blessed be the great and glorious God and this was his deportment for half an hour together certainly we may well say this man was ravished and swallowed up with that fulness he saw in God and in Jesus Christ our Lord now such a man seeth nothing in himself nor in any creature whatsoever for the brightness of the glory of the Lord maketh all â—â—ings in the world to appear as they are meer emptiness and vanity yea every man in his best estate is altogether vanity that is in his most setled estate wherein he thinketh he stands but let him take heed lest he fall But here men must beware of that error of the Antinomians who deny the performance of all duties to God Certainly these men do not onely deny the Law but the Gospel too for though duties before faith are abominable yet when they flow as the fruits of faith they are not onely accepted and required of the Saints 2 Jam 18. Note that as saith justifies the person so works justifie his faith but they are faiths witnesses also Shew me thy faith without works I will shew thee my faith by my works for faith without works is a dead faith which works are a mans duties to God and which God himself commands how is it possible for a man to manifest to another that he hath grace when there are no fruits of grace appear how can a tree be said to have life without the budding and sprouting of its branches O it s a sad thing for men to boast that Christ dwels in them and yet they alwayes do the devils service because they cannot merit heaven by their duties therefore God shall have none from them but be robbed of his glory but a soul truly gratious will tell you that the love of Christ constrains it it cannot choose but it must draw neer to God in holy duties there is its life it can finde no communion no refreshment no subsistence without its addressing unto Christ in holy duties Now when men by their profession say that they enjoy Christ free grace in a plentiful manner and yet walk loosely carnally and vainly in their conversations saying They trust all unto Christ vainly believing that he will do all their works for them that he will not be onely their Mediator but their Actor they lying in sin alas how short come these of evidencing their Justification and their Interest in Christ by their Sanctification these are no fruits of Christs dwelling in a soul O therefore you that the devil and your own fleshly corruption hath so far blinded as to perswade you that free grace and Christ coming into the soul gives liberty to all licentiousness no no where the Law saith thou shalt not do the Gospel saith thou shalt not will no not think He that lusteth after a woman in his heart hath committed adultered already saith the Gospel know therefore that such a loose doctrine as this is damnable and not fit to be owned by any who would go for Christians O Christians your conversations must be suitable to your profession you must not only profess Christ but act Christ you must now live as that you may honor that great and glorious name of Christ 1 Pet. 15.16 O be you holy for the Lord your God is holy Now this holiness must extend to all manner of conversation towards God and man I shall freely grant that duties Justifie not and to rest in them is sin yea the best that ever man did perform was full of imperfection and when we have done all that we can we are but unprofitable servants for the best of Saints while they are in the Body are clothed with all maner of infirmities but the way to destroy them is to be often with God in the Mount If now thou canst appeal to God that thou hast found these nine particulars in thee and that they are sixed in thy heart and that thou hast the witness of Gods Spirit with thy spirit for the truth thereof then thou mayst safely conclude that
shall be for exhortation and first to you Christians who upon examination have found that godliness dwels in you and that God hath poured his grace into your souls to you I say walk up to your mercies hath God made choice of you for vessels of mercy and given his Son to you himself to you yea an earnest-peny of life and glory into your souls hath God made you to see that you are passed from death to life and made you know that when you enter into the Ocean of Eternity it shall be to be with him forever O stand and admire free grace let not his benefits slip out of your mindes let them provoke you to love and fear him that hath loved you above many thousands that are and shall go into the place of condemnation who were as good as you that were of the same lump with you and had not God took more pity on your souls then he did on theirs you had been in the same condition with them well mayest thou say What was my soul that thou wert so mindful of it that thou wouldest love it so yea when it lay in its blood even then thou didst say unto it Live O what a mercy is this Let it not be said of you as it was of King Hezekiah that he returned not thanks according to the mercies he received O let none have cause to say of you that you walk out of the redeemeds path as you have received mercy above others so let your graces shine in your conversation and walking towards God and towards men above others as you have received much so act much that others seeing your godly conversation may give glory honor and praise to the God of your mercies hath God selected you to be his people and put his graces into your souls hath God taken you for his inheritance O then do you take God to be your portion yea be content with him alone for he is God all-sufficient O then walk before him and be you perfect and upright O Christians what have you to do with this world your imployment is above your treasure is in heaven your glory your excellency your All is in your God and in your Christ O know that you do mightily dishonor your God your selves your calling to be tumbling and turmoiling your selves about things here below O arise and depart for this is not your rest How dishonorable a thing would it be to see a Prince raking in the dunghil and keeping dunghil rakers company taking them for his associates certainly men would say that this man did mightily forget himself and did not minde his Crown his dignity and glory O then you who are of a noble stock who are of the root of Jesse who are all the children of the most High of the King of Kings Rev. 1.7 yea you who are Kings yourselves hath not Christ washed you in his own blood made you Kings and Priests to God yea are not you the heirs of Salvation are not Angels appointed to attend your persons hath not Christ taken you for his companions and redeemed you from the earth O how dishonorable a thing is this to you that your affections and your conversations are so earthly are so low and base seeing you are born to so much dignity stand upon your terms elevate your spirits be proud of your birth-right minde heavenly things live where you should and use the things of this world as if you used them not and hath God poured out himself to you in the face of his Son have the very bowels of heaven been rowled together and turned towards you O then pour out your souls to God live upon that fountain of love and sweetness cast you selves into that bosom of loves which is altogether lovely who is the chiefest often thousands who only can fill your spirits and satisfie your souls at all times even Jesus Christ the Lord of life and glory Rejoyce you the Saints of the most High I say to you Rejoyce and be exceeding glad in your condition let what will come upon you as persecution reproaches revilings and all maner of evil falsly for Christs sake O let not this trouble you let men of the world see that you can live above these Do they hate you saith Christ they hated me also O let no earthly affliction bitter your comforts let no cloud over-cast your heaven let not your Sun admit of any eclipse let not all this world can do sad your spirits let your joy be spiritual and permanent O let him that rejoyceth rejoyce in the Lord let no troubles overwhelm your spirit for the momentany afflictions that can fall upon the Saints here in this world are not worthy thy to be compared to the great and exceeding weight of glory which is laid up for you in heaven O remember it s not onely given to the Saints to believe but also to suffer so that sufferings are as really the gifts of God as faith and therefore you ought to rejoyce in sufferings as in beleevings for it s given you of your Father in which you ought to rejoyce seeing he hath also given you faith patience to carry you thorow your sufferings O remember God might have called you unto sufferings and not have given you faith nor patience to endure but seeing he hath fitted you with supporting power for such a condition rejoyce and clap your hands for joy for herein is your Father glorified that you are obedient children to his will and that you maintain his cause and truth against his enemies Hath God bestowed grace upon you and put godliness with power into your souls and do you perceive so much excellency in it that you would not be in your former unregenerate condition for ten thousand worlds O then do you labor and bestir your selves to make others in love with godliness let your praises and exaltations of free grace excite others to fall in love with that beauty of beauties holiness and sanctity of life you know when David had tasted of that sweetness and excellency that was in God and in his wayes observe his tender invitation O saith he come taste and see how gratious the Lord is O see what the Lord hath done for my soul true godliness is communicative a godly man is no Ingrosser no Patentee no close fisted Miser he is always free his Treasure is open his Riches are distributive he will not let his gold to rust but will be always calling and alluring others to come and taste and participate of what he hath received he will not Monopolize his graces he will always be teaching instructing and imparting his Knowledg unto others he is not born for himself but to do his Country good that is his poor brethren and fellow-members now therefore examine your selves do you in your Families among your associates yea and to the whole world declare by all means that possibly you can by your words and actions
what excellency there is in godliness that so your carriages to others may make them to enquire after it to be in love with it to desire to know it and to be acquainted with it O be sure to carry your self so as that you give no offence to Jew or Gentile nor to the Church of God but let your carriage be such as that all men may be in love or at lest convinced that the way you walk in is just holy and good Pity poor souls that are ignorant of this power of godliness O remember it was once your condition and had been so still had not infinite free grace and tender mercy made a difference O therefore let your bowels yern towards them that are your brethren according to the flesh and let your prayers be to God that they may be endued from above with this power that the Spirit of grace would overshadow them and breathe the breath of life into their souls that they may be saved that they which belong to his eternal election may be speedily called home to partake of that sweetness of that Olive Tree Rom. 11.16 whose root is Jesus Christ stretch forth your helping hand to save poor sinners let your prayers be incessant for them O intreat and beseech them to be reconciled to God O let them know from you that there is sufficiency in the blood of Jesus Christ to save their pretious souls perswade them to come in to Christ and tell them what sweetness you have found in the wayes of God let them know that when you were in their condition that you thought your selves in a good condition but now God having opened your eyes you can tell them the error of your thoughts for you were going to the pit of destruction and knew it not O put them upon the consideration of Eternity let them know that their pretious souls must shortly launch into the ocean of Eternity and if there be not provision made for them if they have not Christ Jesus for their Pilot to steere their course for them they must certainly sinke and perish and be cut off for ever from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his Power and do all that possibly you can in all your addresses to them to perswade them that what you say to them is out of that love and intire affection that you bear to their poor souls Jude ver 23. And others save with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted by the flesh as you ought to use all means to perswade and draw men by the Spirit of Love to forsake their evil wayes and to enquire after Jesus Christ so if that will not prevail you may yea you ought to thunder against them and to rouse them out of their security in denouncing the Judgments of God by the terrors of the Law that you may do as much as in you lieth to terrifie and affright them out of their miserable condition so that if it be possible you may be instrumental to deliver them from eternal fire and from the wrath of an infinite God hereby shall you gain glory to God and testifie to the world your lothing and detestation of sinful wayes and discover unto such leprous souls that those spots wherewith sin hath defiled them are not the spots of Gods people for this the Lord saith of sinners Deut. 32.5 who walk in the imagination of their own hearts Their spot is not the spot of my people This may also exhort you who are the Saints who have received the power of godliness into your souls to pay your tributes of thankfulness unto the Lord. O do you bless praise and magnifie the great and glorious Name of God for ever O let your mouthes be filled with praise and thanksgiving to your God for ever and ever O you have cause to say Blessing and honor and glory and praise be given to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever who hath looked upon you in your low estate and redeemed you from condemnation This is the Lords own work and it ought to be mavellous in your eyes this should cause you to spend the length of your dayes to the honor and service of your God in holiness of life and all manner of godly conversation this the consideration of your deliverance from your spiritual enemies sin death and hell should be a strong engagement upon your spirits to serve the Lord in righteousness and holiness all the dayes of your lives Luk. 1.74.75 for you owe your selves to Christ remember you are bought with a price be not any longer the servants of sin and Satan live not to please men for if you be men-pleasers you cannot be the servants of Christ O dedicate your souls spirits and bodies to Jesus Christ yea and offer them up to God a living sacrifice for this is that Worship that is required at Saints hands by the word of God Rom. 12.1 O know there can be no greater manifestation of your thankfulness to God then your universal obedience to all Gods commands let this be done in the whole course of your lives hereby shall you evidence unto the world that you are those in whom dwels the power of godliness and by this you may draw others to be in love with the wayes of holyness and stop the mouths of all gain-sayers and opposers of it Now there are several motives to incite you Saints to this great duty of thankfulness 1. Praedestino 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.29 praecognovit First From the consideration of your predestination why should God preordain that you should be to the praise of the glory of his grace from all Eternity yea to appoint you to be his adopted children in Christ Jesus Yea you are those whom God acknowledged before nd therefore he was pleased to predestinate you to life glory O now that God was pleased to appoint you for his people pass by so many thousands of the same lump and extend his mercy to you will not this raise up your hearts to thankfulnes shall not this be the theam and subject of your everlasting praises 2. Electio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From the consideration of your Election why should God choose you out of that common mass of mankinde to make you heirs of life and glory yea coheirs with his Son Jesus Christ even as a Potter of a rude mass of clay maketh one vessel to honor and another to dishonor it s the Apostles allusion Rom. 9. Why wert not thou whom he hath made a vessel to life and glory made a vessel of wrath and confusion Why wert not thou passed by from all Eternity and numbered amongst the children of perdition it was only free grace that made the difference it was the good pleasure of the Lord to elect you to Salvation and pass by others leaving them under the curse of sin O remember
Sixthly Let this be also of terror to all wicked and ungodly men who are so far from having this power of godliness wrought in their heart that they resist the offers of it and quench the motions of the Spirit of Grace who are bound up under the power of sin in whose mortal bodies sin reigneth such as these are ruled by the Prince of this world Satan is their Lord they are his Slaves and Vassals they do his work they follow his imployment By this they may know they are of their Father the Devil for his children they are to whom they obey they fight for his Kingdom and are the subjects thereof O tell me you sinners what will become of your souls another day your end of dayes hastens on and the day of account is at hand when you must stand at the Bar of Jesus Christ to answer for things done in the flesh what answer will you make what plea can you have 1 Pet. 4.18 If the righteous shall scarcely be saved who then dares plead your cause And this will not onely be the condition of notorious wicked and ungodly sinners but of all such as have not the power of godliness wrought in their hearts let them carry themselves never so upright and holy in the eyes of men O the civil honest man though never so well qualified and gifted with natural endowments with Moral vertues with loving and affable carriages this man is in that condition which will prove woful to his own soul for ever for where no power of godliness is there is no Christ and where there is no Christ there must needs be a devil do but consider you must shortly come to lie on your death-beds thou dost not know how soon O then it may be thou art tormented in thy body in thy spirit and in thy conscience thy conscience then comes to be awakened which in thy prosperity was asleep and stupified now it opens her mouth wide which before was dumb now it flashes the very flames of hell into thy face now thy sins come into thy minde which thou hast committed twenty thirty nay fourty years ago now they stand in array before thee now they strike horror and amazement into thy wounded soul there is no cessation of Assaults no parle to be admitted there is none come to thy relief thy friends forsake thee thy God forsakes thee that is thy unrighteous Mammon thy riches thy gold thy silver thy lands nay thy wife thy children and all things in the world cannot administer one drop of comfort unto thee but on the contrary they are as fuel to thy torments thy sight of the want of help in them aggravates thy woes at length thou sendest for Physitians to prolong thy days well they come to thee and tell thee there is no hope thou art a dead man all the means in the world are inavaileable what sad tidings is this what duplication of thy pain is here well maist thou truly say My sins are become a burthen too heavy for me to bear and cry out Was ever sorrow like unto my sorrows what must I die O that I had never been born O that I had been abortive from the Womb that I had never drawn the first breath of life now thy soul sits on thy trembling lips ready to take her flight for Eternity then comes the devil to claim his Interest Give me thy soul I am sent for thee thou art mine thus he sets upon thee like an armed man he will weary thee like a mastive Dog and will not leave thee whilest thou hast breath do but consider what a woful time this will be whilest thou art here and do but weigh these several aggravations First When thou comest to Judgment as thou shalt stand at Christs left hand when on his right hand thou shalt see many that were inferior to thee for breeding and education for estate and for parts yea them whom thou didst despise as fools and silly men men of no account or esteem in the world O I say when thou shalt see these on Christs right hand whom he doth own and embrace for his people and thou left to misery and destruction will not this be an aggravation to thy misery When thou shalt see them which lived in the same parish with thee under the same Ministery and thou hadst the same means of grace preached to thee as they had and yet they are saved and thou art damned will not this cut thee to the very heart yea it may be thou mayest see some of thy servants there whom thou hast checked and rebuked nay whom thou hast despised and hated for their forwardness in Religion and following the means of grace calling them Fools Sectaries and Separatists O how wilt thou be amazed astonished and confounded how will this terrifie thy soul when thou shalt see them united and joyned to Christ their Saviour and accompanied with holy and blessed Spirits and thou separated and cast out into utter darkness amongst the devil and his cursed angels When thou shalt see those who have told thee from the Lord that thou shouldest not come to life and glory but that thou wert a castaway and couldst not be saved for that thou rebelledst against God Christ Gospel and the light of thine own conscience yea thou that wouldst trust to thy morality and good dealings with men thou that lookest for some excellency in thy self but didst see none in Christ nor his ways O now these men are come to witness against thee to thy wo and it may be thou wilt think and say with thy self of such a man as Ahab said of Elijah Hast thou found me O mine enemy O this will heighten thy misery this will heap coals of fire upon thy head When thou shalt be convinced that hadst thou made as good use of the mercies that were offered thee had God given thee an heart so to have done as those that stand before thee did thou mightest have been as happy as any of them thou mightest have enjoyed the like sweetness of God excellency of Jesus Christ with them but when it shal be said unto thee thou enjoyedst thy good things in this world thou rejectedst the proffers of grace thou wouldst none of the counsels of God but didst cast his Laws behind thy back therefore art thou punished and they blessed now do thy repentings come too late now are thy thoughts fruitless O into what a gulf of horrors will this plunge thy soul When Christ now shall call thee by thy name and say Soul in what place of the earth didst thou dwel peradventure thou mayst say Lord I lived in London now why may not Christ say in a place where my word was as powerfully preached as in any place of the world where the Sun-shine of the Gospel shined as bright as any where under heaven where my mercy was extended as largely my goodness flowed as abundantly as in no place more what at