his being power goodness c. 5. To incite us to a more love and thankfulness to him as we have more acquaintance and familiarity with him and experience of his kindness to us and so also to forgive and doe good to one another as knowing that we do often need and receive forgiveness from him and manifold benefits and favours upon our asking yea oft-times above what we either ask or think 6. To provoke us to more humble and lowly demeanour of our selves before him and towards one another while we are always as beggars acknowledging our own wants and weaknesses and insufficiencie of our selves and our dependance for all good things upon him and have often experience of the distempers of our own hearts occasion of confessing and bewailing them that we might not bear up our selves as Lords that need to be beholding to God in nothing 7. That we might have more proof and experience of the vertuousness of Christs Sacrifice and Mediation for us in making our prayers acceptable and procuring Grace and blessing for us and gracious answers to us for these and the like reasons God will be sought unto by us which was the third thing implied in that phrase 4. Here is also further implied and signified to us that of and by our selves though we have need to pray to God continually yet we know not how to pray as we ought but are apt to offend and goe wrong therein to vent forth our passions or our corrupt and carnal desires and affections ambition pride revenge covetousness distrustfulness murmurings or the like and therefore need the directions and helpfulness of another wiser and holier than our selves even the Holy Ghost the breath and Spirit of God to infuse light and truth into us and direct and guide us thereby and frame our hearts aright therein that we may pray acceptably to God by Jesus Christ our Lord and noâ— loose our labour in praying or procure a curse to our selves in stead of a blessing 5. That God hath not left us nor doth leave us unto our own wisdom parts and abilities to guide us in our prayers and frame our prayers and desires for us nor yet leave us to prescribed formes and external directions and impositions of others to supply our weaknesses and inabilities to pray but gives his holy Spirit to those that believe in him and obey him to help them in their prayers to him that they may offer up spiritual Sacrifices in him acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Act. 5.31 32. Joh. 7.37 38. Rom. 8.26 27. 1 Pet. 2.5 which Holy Spirit being in and with God in Christ and proceeding thence is acquainted with the minde of God Rom. 8 26 27. 1 Cor. 2.10 and discovers to the believer what the minde and will of God is in those things that concern him to pray for so far at least as to direct to pray acceptably thereabout to him he being a Spirit of wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Christ Ephes 1.17 18. and frames the heart according to the minde and will of God in praying and begets longing desires and groans that cannot be uttered in them So that he that hath blessings to bestow on us and hath revealed it to be his mind that we should seek them of him and hath opened a way for us in and by his Son for approaching to him and pouring out our hearts before him pitying our ignorances and inabilities hath provided promised and faithfully affords his own holy Spirit in the teachings operations and efficacie of it to inable us to pray to him in that way and for those things that he hath prepared for us and set before us and for such spiritual Sacrifices or prayers Christ is appointed also the High-Priest to take away the iniquities that cleave to them as there is in them any thing of our ignorance error and mistake and to make them acceptable to him 1 Pet. 2.5 6. That God having done all this for us and affording such help to us as is suitable to his holiness and our needs requires of us not to neglect this his Grace not to worship in the oldness of the Letter in form and fashion and outside onely or in our own wit parts and wills c. but in Spirit and truth in all things watching unto and in prayer that we pray in and according to the light and direction that he gives us in the Gospel asking onely such things and in such way and manner as the Gospel instructs us and in such a frame of Spirit as the Holy Ghost therein begets and nourishes in us in attending to the Grace of Christ as therein set before us and keeping that which is the ministration of the holy Spirit the very air as it were in which it breaths in our hearts and mindes to direct and lead us They therefore do evilly that neglect the Gospel and the holy Ghost as breathing therethrough in us and take up other ways and helps in stead thereof and especially such as would tie up men to other helps as forms and impositions of words frames as if God gave not his holy Spirit now to help his servants And it may be observed that since the giving of the holy Spirit to those that believe in Christ we finde no formes of prayer invented proposed or imposed by Christ or his Apostles upon men as there were before he was given so to them and received by them Though in case of the ignorance and insufficiencie of the Ministry which yet the Bishops ought not to suffer but provide and put in such as are sufficient and well qualified according to those rules in 1 Tim. 3. and Tit. 1 or to prevent mens disorderly prayings that some good and unexceptionable forms may be prescribed for publike Assemblies I do not utterly deny that in Matth. 6. â— upon some such accounts it may seem that Christ prescribed 7. That possibly men may yea believers also and too often doe neglect the help of the Holy Spirit yea and may too often neglect prayer it self restraining prayer before God and not pouring out their hearts therein to him but seek by other means to defend and keep themselves against the assaults of enemies and that if they do pray yet they may not pray in the holy Ghost in what light and instruction he gives them in and by the Doctrine of Christ and in his operations therethrough in their hearts and so in such faith love charity humility resignation of themselves to the will of God earnestness and for vencie as becomes them and as the Grace of God and his Gospel instructs to and his holy Spirit therethrough believed and minded uses to work in men and frame their hearts to but may possibly as too often they doe rest in some forms or if not so yet pray in their own selfish ignorant carnal spirit asking those things that suite their wills and humours and lusts their own advancement glory ease c
strengthens the wise more than weapons of war Eccles 7.19 Thence the being rooted and built up in Christ and his mystery is the way to be preserved from such as would intice us Coloss 2.2 3 4 7. As also thence we shall be more filled with love to God and Christ and Love is strong as death Cant. 8.6 yea and therein we may warn one another of and arm one another against our enemies and coolers and instruct and encourage one another and provoke to love and good works and so strengthen one another 1 Thess 5.11 14. Heb. 10.23 24. Two are better than one to keep from falling or help up again Cant. 4.10 3. In the fellowship of holy men also is spiritual heat Thence also Solomon tells us Two is better than one for if two lie together they will be hot fervent in spirit and in love to God and one another Cant. 4.11 For there God commands the blâ—ssing and life for ever Psal 133.4 4. And then praying in the Holy Ghost the Spirit of Faith and Love is the way to obtain more Spirit and Grace from God Matth. 7.7 11. Luke 11.13 and thereby we may have more experience of him answering our prayers which engages to love him the more and so tends to encrease in us and keep us in the love to him infused by him Psal 18.1.3.4 116.2 I love the Lord because he hath heard my prayer c. But though these things might have been more largely handled in the Treatise yet it being sent up to the press before I thought of doing so and in the Press before I thought it was And what is there said about keeping our selves in the love of God in the other sense of it which I look upon as the more proper and genuine sense including and leading to this it shall suffice to have given these hints of them here Which having done I shall detain thee no longer from the Treatise it self But wishing and praying for Gods blessing on and with both it and thee that my cost and pains therein be not lost and with desire of thy prayers for meâ—â— and thanks to God if thou meetest with blessing in and benefit by it I leave thee to God and rest Lyn March 17. 1670 1 Thy Friend and Servant in the Gospel of Christ John Horne Books sold by Thomas Passenger at the Three Bibles on London-Bridge ROyal and Practical Chymistry by Oswaldus Crollius and John Hartman faithfully rendred into English folio price 10 s Gods Revenge against Murther by John Reynolds containing Thirty Tragical stories digested into six Books newly reprinted folio price 10 s. Lord Bacons Natural History folio price 8 s. Sandy's Travels containing a description of the Turkish Empire of Egypt and the Holy Land of the remote parts of Italy and Islands adjoyning folio price 8 s. Markbams Master-piece Roman Antiquities by Tho. Godwin quarto price 2 s. 6 d. Dod upon the Commandments quarto price 2 s. 6 d. The famous History of the Destruction of Troy in three Books quarto price 3 s. Valentine and Orson price 18 d. Etymologicum Parvum by Francis Gregory octavo price 3 s. Chymical Essays by John Begumis price 18 s. Spiritual Antidotes against sinful Contagion by Tho. Dolittle price 18 d. Pools Dialogue betwixt a Papist and a Protestant twelves price bound 1 s. Monasticon Fevershamiense or A description of the Abby of Feversham octavo price bound 18 d. The Christians Crown of glory or Holiness the way to happiness octavo price bound 8 d. The Path way to Health price bound 18 d. The Compleat Academy or Nursery of Complements bound 1 s. THE CONTENTS 1. THe Epistle of Jude analized and paraphrased to Verse 20. which is the Text page 1. The Text propounds a serious counsel to unfeigned Believers page 10. Wherein is I. The title or compellation of them Beloved Whence is observed Observ 1. That they that abide in the faith when others turn aside or endeavour to corrupt it are more worthy than others p. 11. II. The note of distinction But ye Whence it is observed Observ 2. That there is a great difference between hearty Believers and others especially between them and Backsliders or Corrupters and that difference is to be noted by Christs Ministers p. 13. III. The mattâ—â— mainly exhorted to To keep themselves in the love of God Observ 3. That Believers are in Gods love p. 16. Which is 1. General or a love of pity p. 17. 2. Special A love of owning and delight p. 20. Believers are in the general love both as all others p. 23. Believers are in the general love both and so as others are not p. 26 And they are in the special love p. 24. The streams fruits thereof in 12 particulars p. 25 to p. 39. Which is applied by way of use 1. To unbelievers by way of Exhortation p. 40 Reproof p. 43 Instruction p. 45. 2. To believers by way of 1. Comfort p. 46 2. Exhortation and that to Love and hope in God p. 50 To rejoyce in and give thanks to God p. 51 To moderation in griefs fears c. p. 52 To obedience to him p. 53 To abide in him p. 54 Which leads to Observ 4. That it 's the believers greatest concernment to keep themselves and one another in the love of God p. 56 Whence four points and noted as included Point 1. That possibly â—ey may go out of Gods love which is explicated and proved p. 60 to 68 An Objection is there answered Point 2. That there is not onely possibility but danger also p. 71 Danger 1. Of it from 1. The many enemies endeavouring it p. 73 1 Satan ib. 2. The flesh p. 44 3. The world p. 75 4. False Teachers p. 76 2. The believers weakness to defend himself p. 81. Or rather aptness to conceit himself strong p. 85 3. The holiness and severity of God against withdrawers p. 87 2. In it shewed in four particulars p. 92 93. Point 3. That there is no necessity of it Believers may keep themselves in Gods love p. 94 Not of themselves p. 95 But by the Grace of God p. 96 Which is considered in seven particulars p. 97 The Armour of defence given them briefly explicated p. 106 Point 4. That it 's expected from the believer and is put upon him in some sort as his work to keep himself in the love of God p. 111 Which is considered 1. As to its act what is implied in it p. 112 2. As to its reaâ—â—ns p. 115 The fourth Observation with its several points applied 1. By way of Reproof several ways p. 120 2. By way of Exhortation to care and watchfulness p. 124 IV. The way and means of this preservation Edifying your selves c. Thence Observe That the way for believers to keep themselves in the love of God is to edifie themselves in their most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost p. 128 In which are two branches viz. I. To edifie themselves
your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus 3. To rejoyce in God and give thanks and praise unto him continually for his great love favour to us may they not well joy that are in so good a plight as to have so great a Friend so mighty a Father and Saviour as God is That have such a fountain to supply them with living water â— such a Castle and Fortress to defend them Yea upon this account it is that it is said Let them that love thy Name be joyful in thee for thou Lord wilt bless the Righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield Psal 5.11 12. and that exhortation of the Apostle is to the same purpose Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always and again I say rejoyce and so for thanksgiving they are put together Psal 97.11 Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness And so in 1 Thess 5.16 17 18. Rejoyce evermore pray without ceasing in all things give thanks for so is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus Joy in his love and bless him for it 4. To moderation in griefs fears cares and to contentation with what God gives us here and submission to what he lays upon us I put them together for brevity sake his love to us might perswade us also thereto For as Elkanah said to Hanna too eagerly desiring desiring after and too sadly bearing the want of Children Am not I better to thee than ten Sons 1 Sam. 1.8 So may God say to his servants and people Am not I better to you than all those things that you are so careful and sollicitous about so mournful after or covetous for Should they be covetous for the world that have God to inrich them Is not God a portion sufficient to content and satisfie our Souls Should we be covetous of the honors riches pleasures injoyments of the world if we have God at hand to give us better things than the world can and who loving us will not withhold from us any thing that is good for us in the world or delay us of any thing that he hath promised to us and is needful for us beyond the due season wherein it may be best for us to this purpose are those sayings Let your moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand In nothing be careful c. Philip. 4.5.6 And Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things either for maintenance or protection as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me Hebr. 13 5 6. As also the contrary to these sayings be reprovable hence as upon this ground David reproves checks his distrustful immoderately sorrowing thoughts Psal 42.5 Why art thou so cast down O my Soul and why art thou so disquieted within me hope still in God c. So our Saviour upon like ground checks the fears and distrusts of his Disciples about food and rayment Mat. 6.25 26 28 30 32. Take no thought for your life what ye shall eat or drink or for your body what ye shall put on Consider the fowls are ye not much better than they Consider the Lillies c. If God so cloath the grass will he not much more cloath you being your Heavenly Father O ye of little faith c. 5. To obedience to God for his love and favour to them and to a chearful yielding up themselves to serve him with all their Talents and abilities received from him as persons that owe themselves and utmost service to him so Rom. 12.1 I beseech you Brethren by the mercies of God in which namely he hath given his Son for you called you to his Son and justifies and owns you in his Son as the former Chapters had shewed Offer up your body a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service See the like Rom. 6.11 12 c. and 1 Cor. 6.18 19 20. Your bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which ye have of God and ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price therefore Glorifie God with your bodies and with your Spirits which are God's peculiarly owned and possessed by him as also in order to their retaining and abiding in the love of God and Christ towards them as in John 15.9.10 As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love If ye keep my Commandments ye shall continue in my love as I have kept my Fathers Commandments and continue in his love which is another thing it instructs too namely 6. To abide in Christ and so keep our selves in the love of God both in the views and injoyments of it seeing his love is so precious inriching and every way advantageous to the Soul seeing it is the portion of the believers in and cleavers to Christ it is folly to turn away from believing in and obeying Christ to forfeit God's love and favour and a point of greatest wisdome to abide in Christ that we may abide also in the love of God yea and as that was one great engine and trick of the Devil and his messengers for drawing men out of Christ or from the simplicity of him into some corruptions from the faith preached and urged by the true Apostles to insinuate to them that they were not in a justified estate with God not owned loved and approved of him by their believing in Christ but that to obtain that they must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses or receive some Traditions and Commandments of men worshipping of Angels or the like So it was the great motive and argument used by the true Apostles with them for preserving them in Christ and perswading them to abide in him namely that in him they were compleat were justified loved known and accepted of God and had everlasting life and that out of him or in departing adulterously from him in joyning some other ground of hope and trust in him they deprived themselves thereof as in Col. 2.2 3 8 9 10. Gal. 3.7 9 29. with 4.6 7 8 9 11 30. and 5.2 3 4. John 2.24 and 5.11.12 13. In Christ are bid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge this I say least any man should beguile you with inticing words And Let no man spoil you with Philosophy vain deceit for in Christ dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in him ye are compleat They they that are of the faith are blessed with faithful Abraham They that are baptized into Christ have put on Christ and are the Sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ and so heirs according to promise known of God c. But turning aside to the Law to be or seek to be justified thereby they are abolished from Christ and fallen from Grace that is
render them acceptable to him making intercession for those that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 and 10.19 20 21 22 and 1â— 15. whence our prayers are to be in Christs Name as in John 14 13 14. and 16.23 26. though this may be more properly referred to the manner of praying here required the praying in the Holy Ghost Lastly I added the needs of or its desires for others to signifie that this praying required is not to be limited or confined to our selves and our own needs and wants and desires for our selves but extended to the praying for others also here being no limitation of the subject to our selves in the Text but it is only said praying in the Holy Ghost and it is praying as well when we pray for others as when we pray for our selves whether it be for all men as 1 Tim. 2.1 or for some sorts of men onely as for Kings and all in Authority ver 2. or for some particular Cities and people as Abraham prayed for the Sodomites or as Samuel prayed for Israel as Moses also and David and Solomon and others did Gen. 18.23 Exod. 32.11 12 13 14. 1 Sam. 12.23 2 Sam. 24.10 17. or for some particular persons as Moses prayed for Pharaoh Exod. 8.8 9 12 29 30. Elias for the widow of Sarephath and her child 1 King 17.20 21. the Church for Peter Act. 12.5 and the Churches for Paul Rom. 15.30 Eph. 6.19 Col. 4.3 or for enemies as Moses for Pharaoh and as Christ commands us in Mat. 5.44 or for brethren the Saints and Churches as Ephes 6.17 supplication for all Saints Such is prayer as more strictly taken for Petition and request unto God and so as it is distinguished from thanksgiving as oft they are distinctly mentiond as pray without ceasing in every thing give thanks 1 Thes 5.17 18. So by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God Philip. 4.6 And so distinctly taken it includes supplications prayers or petitions and intercessions in 1 Tim. 2.1 Supplications humble confessions of our sins and earnest deprecations of wrath and judgments prayers or petitions requests for favours blessings and good things intercessions interposings of our prayers for others standing between them and judgement and pleading humbly with God for them as Moses for Israel Abraham for the Sodomites c. but when thanksgiving is not distinctly mentioned the word prayer may include thanksgiving too and so sure the word praying here may include thanksgiving also and in such a large sense of the word to pray may take in somewhat more than in the description above given namely an exercise of the heart or of the man speaking unto God by way of request and supplication and by way of confession or thanksgiving in behalf of himself or others but this consideration of thanksgiving in prayer may also be taken in under the manner of praying here expressed viz. praying in the Holy Ghost of which next And so 2. To pray in the Holy Ghost or in the Holy Spirit the Spirit of God and Christ which is a Spirit of Holiness dwelling and resting fully on Christ and from him and God in him breathed forth in and with the most holy faith unto the heart of the believer or breathing forth witnessing and speaking of and glorifying Christ to the Soul taking the things of him and shewing them thereto and therewith guiding it into Christ and the truth of Christ sanctifying it to God and framing it to his minde in all things doth signifie 1. To pray or utter our desires and needs or the needs of others in the light direction or guidance of the Holy Spirit Not as our own natural hearts imaginations or affections would lead or as men by their wisdom and will might suggest unto us but as he the Holy Ghost instructs us and that both 1. As to the things to be prayed for not such as the flesh and the wisdom and affections of it affâ—ct and move after or the Spirit of this world such as be riches honours pleasures of the flesh fewel for our corruptions evil to our enemies c. as the Gentiles seek after and the carnal uncircumcised hearts of men delight in such as Solomon requested not 1 King 3. But 1. Such things as Gods Name and Glory are concerned in or that conduce to are necessary for the manifesting and magnifying thereof that the Gospel may have a free passage the word of God run and be glorified 2 Thes 3.1 that his way may be known upon the earth and his saving health amongst the Nations Psal 67.1 2 3. and to that purpose that God would send forth labourers into his harvest Matth. 9.38 and bless and prosper those he sends giving them utterance so to speak the word and mystery of Christ as they ought and deliverance from the hands of unreasonable and wicked men a Col. 4.3 4. Eph. 6.18 2 Thess 3.1 2. that he would bless and help his people and make them blessings in the world Joh. 17. Psa 67. and 28.10 and 132.8 9. giving them boldness and courage c. Act. 4.29 2. Such as the coming and Kingdom of Christ is and includes as Come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22.20 Thy Kingdom come Matth. 6.10 Oh that the salvation of Israel was come out of Sion Psal 14.8 Remember the Children of Edom O Lord c. Psal 137.7 and so for Babylons fall and ruine c. the hastening of the day of God performance of his promises that the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord and his will be done in earth as it is in Heaven Matth 6.10 11. 3. Such as the Kingdom of God and his righteousness â— now consists in to be granted to us or others as wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of God and Christ Prov. 2 1 2 3 4. If thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding Jam. 1.3 If any man want wisdom let him ask it of God c. So the forgiveness of sins Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us Matth. 6.12 Cleanse me from my secret sins Psal 19.12 Deliver me from all my transgressions and make me not a reproaâ—h to the foolish Psal 39.8 9. The Spirit of God as a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ the guide into all truth the Comforter strengthner and sanctifier of the Soul as Luc. 11.13 Ephes 1.17 18. John 14 15 16 17. Ephes 3.16 c. Mercy Grace and peace from God and our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 1.2 1 Tim. 1.2 and 2 Tim. 1.2 Psal 85 7 victory over and deliverance from corruption and from Sathan and his temptations Psal 19.13 Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins c. order my footsteps in thy word and let no iniquity have dominion over me Psal 119.133 Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Matth. 6.13 4. Such supplies for the necessities of
this life support and help under or freedom and deliverance from the troubles of it and from the plots and malice of wicked men in the world against us as be necessary for us for our subsistence while here continued or for our serving and glorifying God and usefulness amongst men as Prov. 30.8 Feed me with food convenient for me Matth. 6.11 Give us this day our dayly bread O deliver me not into the will of mine enemies Psal 27.14 Deliver me O Lord from the evil man and preserve me from the wicked man which imagine michief in their hearts c. Psal 140.1 2. Pray that your flight be not in the winter nor on the Sabbath-day Matth 24.20 and the like for others as for our selves 2 Thess 3.1 2. 5. In particular wants exercises and temptations for such things as the Holy Spirit knows to be most profitable for us and others and most agreeable with Gods will in which we know not usually what to pray for but the Holy Spirit that God gives to his servants and worshippers doth and that helps their infirmities and makes intercession for them with groans that cannot be uttered Rom. 8.26 and leads his people in such cases to pray according to Gods will as Abraham for Ishmaels life O that Ishmael might live before thee Gen. 17.18 20. Isaac for children Gen. 25.21 Elijah for the life of the widow of Sarephaths child be restored 1 King 17. and so Elisha for the Shunamite 2 King 4 and many the like obvious in the Scriptures In a word the Holy Ghost shews what things are agreeable to the will and holiness of God and conduces to the promoting his Glory and our own and others good and directs us to pray for them as they be wanting and blesseâ— God for them as granted to us 2. As to the manner of praying both 1. As to the way of approaching to God that it be not in our own righteousness name or goodness as if we deserved any mercy of him to our selves or were worthy upon the account of our righteousness to obtain any thing but in the name and upon the account of Christ and so through and by him his Sacrifice and Priestly intercession for us the new and living way to God Heb. 10.19 20. and so in Gods goodness mercy and righteousness through him So David praying to God goes not in his goodness but in Gods Psal 5.7 As for me I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercies c. and in Psal 25.6 According to thy mercy think thou upon me for thy goodness-sake O Lord and Daniel Chap. 9.17 18. For the Lords sake and we do not present our supplications before thee for our own righteousness but for thy great mercies So the Holy Spirit instructs and directs us to come unto God by Christ as in Heb. 7.25 and in his Name to make our prayers and petitions John 14.12 13 14. and 16.23 27. 2. As to the expressions not studying quaint and elegant words and expressions as if God delighted in them but to utter our needs and desires in such words and expressions as the Holy Spirit leading us to minde the greatness and goodness of God the declarations of his â—inde and and will our own vileness and meanness and wants helps us with as knowing it is the faith and fervencie of the heart and the rightness of the frame of Spirit in our prayers that sounds best in Gods eare A braken or contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise He that studies quaint words to please men prays rather to men for their applause than to God for his Grace and blessing and so it leads not to use vain repetitions as placing holiness goodnes or the acceptableness of our prayers in such so often reiterated expressions or as thinking to be heard for or in our much speaking Mat. 6 7. though the Holy Spirit lets us see sometime ground and need for praying longer and sometime shorter as our cases may be as Christ was in prayer all night sometime Luc. 6.12 before he chose his Apostles and yet sometime was very short as when he raised up Lazarus John 11.41.42 3. As to the earnestness in praying The Holy Spirit leads to be chiefly earnest for those things that are of greatest concernment more earnest for what tends to promote Gods Kingdom and righteousness and to his Glory than for things in which our libâ—rty ease health or the like are onely concerned and to be most indifferent for those things in which Gods Name Kingdom or Glory are least concerned â— As to the incouragements and motives to pray To pray in the Holy Ghost is to pray in the incouragements motives and motions which the Holy Spirit giveth And they be such as the Gospel and Doctrine of Christ presents unto us as 1. The gracious goodness of God testified towards us in Christ Jesus in whom he hath declared and manifested himself a lover of us as his Creatures as mankinde yea though sinners and while so in that he was pleased to appoint and send him even his onely begotten Son into the world for us that we might live through him even through him as made and become the propitiation for our sins as in 1 John 4.9 10. Having not spared his Son but delivered him up to the Death for us all the Holy Spirit incourages us thereupon to hope and in that hope to expect that he will also with him freely give us all things and in such incouragement and upon such ground moves us to ask of him what is needful and good for us Rom. 8.26 27 28. 2. The compleatness of Christ as our Mediator and High Priest with God for obtaining Grace and mercy of him for us and to that purpose making intercession and of his Authority with God to dispense and hand unto us as well as of wisdom to discern and see whatever may be good and needful for us Heb. 4.14 Having such a great High Priest Jesus the Son of God passed into the Heavens for us let us go boldly to the Throne of Grace So Heb. 10.19 20 21 22 Seeing we have boldness or liberty to the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus that is by such a compleat full and perfect Sacrifice as that he hath offered for us such as infinitely goeth beyond all the Sacrifices under the Law as the foregoing part of that Chapter had largely shewed such as in which is perfection for the sanctified for ever ver 14. plenteousnes of Redemption forgivenes of sins and a powerful voice to speak for our acceptance Col. 1.14 Heb. 12.24 by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail his flesh and having an High Priest over the House of God such a one namely as Christ is who is holy harmless undefiled separated from sinners made higher than the Heavens a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck a King and Priest and that too the
so long as I live 8. The experience of Gods goodness and mercy to other in former or present ages the cloud of witnesses that have gone before us and found God gracious to them in their crying to him as in Psal 22.4 5. Our father 's trusted in thee they trusted in thee and thou didst deliver them They cryed unto thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not confounded To that puâ—â—se also the examples of Gods goodness to others are propounded by him to move men to taste and see by their trusting in and calling upon God how gracious God is Psal 34.4 5 6. I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears they looked unto him and were inlightned and their faces were not ashamed This poor man cried and the Lord heard him c. Whatsoever things were written before-hand being written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 God being one and so the same for us in through his Son as he was for and to any others before us and there is no respect of persons with him He is rich to all that call upon him Rom. 10.12.13 Such the incouragements which the holy Ghost gives for praying he that prays in the holy Ghost prays not in the incouragement of his own parts wisdom works or the like but in such incouragements as these above-mentioned as to such purpose that fore-quoted from Dan. 9.18 is pertinent We doe not present our Supplications before for our righteousness but for thy great mercies So that in Psal 5.7 and 143.1 2. 4. To pray in the holy Ghost is to pray in the operation of the holy Ghost and so in such a frame and temper of Spirit as the holy Ghost being minded and yielded up to in his testimony frames the heart unto And so 1. Not in pride as the Pharisee despising his neighbour and lifâ—ing up himself in Gods presence 2. Nor in self-confidence and reliance on a mans own righteousness as he also did Luk. 18.10 11. 3. Nor in wrath and anger as the Disciples that would have called for fire from Heaven upon the Samaritanâ— that would not receive Christ pretending Elias for a warrant to them therein Luk. 9 54. for that was not in the holy Spirit of Christ for all that pretence for our Saviour tellâ— them They knew not what manner of Spirit they were of ver 55. 4. Nor in vain-glory as the Pharisees that prayed to be seen of men that they might have glory of them Matth 6.5 6. 5. Nor in ambition seeking great things to themselves and to be lifted up above their Brethren as the two Sons of Zebedee and their Mother did not knowing what they asked when they requested that they might sit the one at Christs right hand and the other at his left in his Kingdom Matth. 20 20 21 22. 6. Nor in strife and contention as those in Isa 58 2 3. who fasted and prayed for strife and debate ver 4. 7. Nor to establish to themselves a righteousness in their praying and so not submitting to the righteousness of God in Christ as the Jews that had a zeal of God and instantly served God day and night hoping by their works of that nature to attain the righteousness of the Law Act. 26 7. with Rom. 9.30 31. and 10.2 3. 8. Nor in Covetousness as they that howled upon their beds for corn and wine Hos 7.14 9. Nor in a doubtful distrustful frame of Spirit that is not fixed in Gods goodness and perswaded of his truth for such a man is like the wave of the Sea tossed to and fro double-minded and inconstant in all his ways and let not such an one think to receive any thing at Gods hands Jam. 1.6 7. 1 Tim. 2.8 10. Nor in an impatient unsubmmitted frame of Spirit to Gods Government frowardly hasting out of affliction such as Jonah was in when he having prophesied the destruction of Niniveh and God seeing their repentance spared it he was exceedingly displeased and very angry and prayed God to take away his life from him Jonas 4.1 2 3. 11. Nor in a flat cold formal temper of Spirit as they that draw nigh to God with their mouth and honor him with the lips but the heart is far away Isa 29 17. or the like but 1. In a believing frame of heart minding and giving credit to Gods word and testimony the Gospel of Christ and from the belief of that calling upon God and in that sense prayer in the Holy Ghost is the prayer of Faith Jam. 5.15 and prayer proceeding out of the belief of Gods sayings believing and not doubting about them as Jam. 1.6 But let him ask in faith nothing doubting speaking to God because they believe his word as in Psal 116.10 I believed therefore have I spoken which may have reference to speaking by prayer aswel as to speaking by preaching or confession thus David from a belief of Gods word to him by Nathan found it in his heart to pray unto him that prayer in 2 Sam. 7.18 27. for the holy Ghost is a Spirit of Faith as 2 Cor. 4.13 and therefore breaths faith into the heart where he hath the rule and makes it breath in faith yea in a full assurance of faith as believing verily the truth of God concerning Christ yea and Gods hearing and granting its petitions that he helps the Soul to breath forth Heb. 10.22 Mark 11.24 1 John 5. â—4 15. and a cleaving adhering frame of Spirit cleaving to and trusting in God for his hearing and helping it according to his will and the Souls needs as resolved and fixed to depend upon trust in and wait for God as Mic. 7.7 I will look to the Lord I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will hear me as Jacob of old wrestling with God and resolved not to leave him till he had blessed him Gen. 32.26 So our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted in thee and were delivered they cried to thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not confounded Psal 22.4 5. such a frame of Spirit the holy Ghost leads to pray in a believing trusting frame And 2. With a fervent desire and frame of heart the Holy Ghost is compared to fire He sat on the Apostles like cloven tongues of fire Thence Quench not the Spirit and therefore when men pray in it it puts heat and life into them an earnest desire after those things which it directs absolutely to seek of God Thence it is said The effectual or operative fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Jam. 5.16 They that onely say over prayers or pray luke-warmly coldly and formally pray not in the Holy Ghost though this fervour of Spirit in prayer stands not in the loud speaking and straining the voice or in much repetitions but in the earnestness of the Souls desires and ardencie of affection to the
things prayed for begetting importunity in asking like that of Jacob in which was both faith and fervencie I will not let thee go unless thou bless me or that of the widow to the unjust Judge and the Elect crying day and night unto God Luc. 18.1 7. or of the Syrophaenician woman that followed after Christ against all discouragements till he granted her Petition Matth. 15 22 28. 3. With love and charity without wrath as well as without doubting 1 Tim. 2.8 the Holy Ghost being a Spirit of love 2 Tim. 1.7 and discovering the love of God in Christ to us and therefore not despising others as the Pharisee the Publicane in our Prayers nor being quick to take notice of mens offences to seek revenge for them or aggravate them to God against them but making intercession for the passing of them by yet exercising goodness and mercy towards them to overcome their evils and bring them to repent of them as Christ did even for his crucifiers Luc. 23.34 and Stephen for his persecutors Act. 7.60 praying for them that hate us and despiteâ—â—lly use us as our Saviour teaches in Matth. 5.44 45. yet especially exercising love in our prayers to those that are beloved of God and when other mens welfare cannot consist with their safety and welfare then praying for the peace of Jerusalem with confusion to their enemies yea preferring the welfare of the Church of God before our own private concernments yea and the good of the world before any advantages of ours in the world 4. In a holy pure heart and Spirit breathing after holiness and after those things conducing thereto rather than what conduces to the ease and liberty of the flesh not making provision for that in our prayers to fulfil the lusts thereof nor seeking any where or in dependance on any thing but only God and Christ making him and his Glory the end of what we ask all which may be included in that phrase Heb. 10.22 Let us draw nigh with a true heart not double or guileful in the object of our trust or running out from the designs of God and Christ and what may conduce to his Glory and praise nor with a heart set toward or for something besides God Christ so as to be set in competition with him The Spirit of God is the Holy Ghost an Holy breath in and from God discovering in the Gospel Gods perfect hatred and abhorrencie of sin and therefore breaths after and for God and what may be for Gods Glory and in an holy pure and chaste disposition of heart 5. In an humble lowly frame of spirit for the spirit of God is not proud nor lofty nor loves pride haughtiness It s one of the seven things that are an abomination to God Prov. 6 17. and 16.7 He resists the proud but gives Grace to the humble Pro. 3.32 therefore a proud haughty heart or frame of Spirit is not of him and they that pray therein vaunting themselves of their excellencies pray not in the holy Ghost The holy Ghost in glorifying Christ setting forth to us his great love towards us discovers the great humility of Christ yea and of God in Christ to humble himself to take notice of the things in Heaven and in earth to raise up the poor from the dust and the needy from the dung-hill to set them on the Throne with Princes Psal 113.5 6 7 8. especially as manifested in the person of Christ who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but emptied himself humbled himself and made himself of no reputation but took upon him the forme of a servant and was made in the likeness of man and being found in fashion as a man humbled himself to the death the death of the Cross in which he also discovered the great cause we have to be humbled low and little in our own eyes for in testifying the love of Christ to us that he died for all he testifies also of us all that we were dead dead at Law and such as deserved to have died and were thereto condemned so that had not Christ died for us we should have perished Our misery was such that no lesser price could ransome us therefrom no lesser Sacrifice could make an expiation for us He that prays in the mindefulness sense of these things will be abased and laid low in the presence of God as knowing not only the great disproportion between God and him as his creature dust ashes as Abraham had the sense of that with him in his speaking to God when he said Behold now I have taken upon me to speak to the Lord who am but dust ashes Gen. 18.27 but also the wretchednes and sinfulness of our natures and that what we are or have that is good we are and have it only and wholly of his Grace In us in our flesh there dwells no good thing nothing worthy of Gods acceptance yea that all our righteousnesses are but as filthy rags Isa 64.6 And so he that prays in the Holy Ghost prays in all lowliness of minde and such reverence of the outward man as becomes God's height and goodness and his own vileness confessing his own sins and sinfulness though yet with confidence in Gods mercy through Christ Jesus as above 6. Yea He that prays in the Holy Ghost prays in an acknowledgment of the Grace and goodness of God towards mankinde and towards himself in particular with thankfulness and so joyns thanksgiving for his mercies and benefits with his prayers and Petitions for further mercies that he wants and doth not so pore upon his wants and troubles and desire freedom from them as to set nothing by all Gods benefits before conferred So the Apostles as was also noted above exhort to joyn thanksgiving with our prayers as most clear to that purpose is that in Philip. 4 6 7. In nothing be careful but in all things by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God An unthankful murmuring complaining temper is not of the Holy Ghost 7. In a submissive frame of Spirit which also also is a fruit of humility before spoken of in which though the heart be filled with earnestness and confidence in God for what he sees needful and good for it self and others yet it resignes it self to Gods will as for time and way yea and in things not absolutely needful for Gods granting or withholding them even as Christ though earnest in praying that the Cup might pass from him yet submitted his will to his Fathers Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me yet not my will but thy will be done Matth. 26 39. to which we may also refers a patient tarrying the Lords leasure and not making haste or turning away from God or ceasing to pray to him if we have not presently granted the thing that we ask For as the Spirit of God is a spirit
and not those things that tend to the glory of Christ and furtherance of his Name praise and Kingdom in the world and in such an evil selfish peevish uncharitable proud passionate distemper of spirit as the wisdom or will of the flesh begets or produces in men and not in such a frame and efficacie as is of Gods spirit which kinde of praying is displeasing to God who being a Spirit will be worshipped by men in spirit and truth and cannot accept or like of that that is not of his holy spirit and therefore also is unprofitable to men and tends not to build them up in the most holy faith whence need for exhorting believers and for believers to accept the exhortation both to pray and to see that they doe it aright not in any spiritless formal way or in any carnal and unholy Spirit but in the holy Ghost 8. That this praying in the holy Ghost is a good means to edifie the believers in their most most holy Faith and so for keeping them in the love of God for therefore this clause is joyned with them and joyned with them in such a manner of speaking as clearly denotes and implies it to be a means to them For in saying Building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost he shews that the building up themselves on their most holy faith would not goe well on if trusting to their own power and skill therein they should neglect Gods help or neglect to pray and call upon God for it in such a way as he might accept them and send them help Therefore they were to doe that with the former action as a means to it and then in coupling the counsel to both those and that absolutely by a Verb or word of command or counsel Keep your selves in the love of God and mentioning both of those by a Participle as having reference to some further end namely that expressed in that following counsel he implies that they be both of them means to that great end or that such a building themselves on their most holy Faith as is exercised with praying in the Holy Ghost will much conduce to or is the means to preserve and keep themselves in the love of God Which leads us to the next enquiry namely 4. How the praying in the Holy Ghost conduces to the keeping our selves in the love of God To which it is to be minded as was noted above that the love or peculiar favour of God and his blessing is fixed upon the foundation or most holy faith in the first place It firstly fastens upon and imbraces Christ his beloved delightful one who is the great subject of the Gospel Doctrine and for his sake it is upon or with that Doctrine also as it sets forth and contains his name and is the means to glorifie him to men and to draw in men to him so as his eye and heart is thereupon as a most holy thing to him the slighters of which he will slight and punish with more intolerable judgements than those upon Sodom and Gomorrah as in Matth. 10.15 and those that receive and embrace that are imbraced and beloved of him so as to be rewarded with life everlasting John 5.24 He that heareth my words which he gave to his Apostles and they preached in his name and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life c. and Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized namely into Christ shall be saved c. Thence it follows that that which furthers mens being edified and built up on that most holy faith doth also further their being and abiding in that love and favour of God which he bears toward those that are thereupon for the sake thereof And so praying in the Holy Ghost conduces to the keeping men in the love of God as it is a means to keep them on their most holy Faith And a means thereto it is both 1. As there is no praying in the Holy Ghost but by and from the most holy Faith Jesus Christ and the Doctrineâ— of him taken heed unto and minded by men Praying in the H. Gh. then argues a being on the most holy Faith and exercises men to it even to the holding to and minding of it because the Holy Spirit is not otherwise to be met with to breath in us and frame our hearts to spiritual and right desires and prayers but on that most holy Faith for the Holy Spirit is onely that way ministred namely By the hearing of Faith and not by the works of the Law much less by any inventions and works in obedience to other Laws or in any lawless courses Gal 33.3 The Holy Spirit dwells and rests upon Christ and is sent forth in his name unto men Isa 42.1 6â— 1 11.12 John 14.26 and that to witness to Christ lead them to and unite them with him John 15.26 16.13 14. 1 Cor. 6. â—7 for he is so dwelling in Christ as not to be separated from him and therefore all that he dwells in must be one with Christ also for it is by vertue of Christ and in union with him that he that dwells and rests on Christ the head dwells in them as his members also And it is in the Name and Doctrine of Christ as Christ is therein named and set forth that the Holy Spirit breathes unto and in men therein and makes it a Ministration of Spirit or a means of conveying the light power presence and influence of the Spirit which is therefore no further abiding in men and leading and framing them than that Word and Doctrine of Christ in which he is ministred and Christ as held forth therein is received by and abides in men and they in them Whence that in 2 John 9. Whoso transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God to wit by his Holy Spirit in and with them for so God dwells in Believers namely by his Spirit as in Ephes 2.21 Whoso abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son namely in and by the influence and presence of the Spirit of both in and with them as well as in other considerations for them So then he that prayeth in the Holy Ghost being on the most holy Faith and so in Christ in whom and for whose sake God so loveth and favoureth men as we have shewed must needs be in the love of God and the praying in the Holy Ghost a means to keep men in the love of God because it is a way to keep men in Christ and a fruit of their keeping in him 2. Again it must needs be a means to preserve Believers in the love of God as it is a means to obtain further grace from God for more building up themselves on their most holy Faith where the love of God runs and is certainly enjoyed for what men ask of God believing in Christ and in the name of Christ as the Holy
by whom they come the Lord preserve and keep us that we be not of them in any thing but that in all our carriages and conversations we may be blameless and harmless the children of God in the midst of those amongst whom he sets us building to our selves on our most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost Vse 2. It may exhort and provoke us to take this course to keep our selves in the love and Grace of God where we are in it to build up our selves as hath been before shewed on our most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost to which what hath been noted affords both motive and incouragement 1 Motive From the consideration of the end of so building up our selves and the fruit and consequents of it 1. The end is that we may be habitations for God by his Spirit for that 's the end as hath been noted of Gods building and therefore the end both of his having laid such a foundation as the most holy Faith to be built upon and of his calling drawing and as it were laying the Souls of men to and upon it and of his bidding us to builâ— up one another and giving gifts and advantages to those purposes It is that we being built up he might dwell in us by his holy Spirit Ephes 2.21 22. and so fill us with his presence blessing and Glory as he did the Temple of old a Type hereof and the more we grow up into and are built up upon Christ the more he will inhabit and dwell in and with us by his Spirit and afford us his presence 2. A second and further end is our being kept in the love of God under his special care and protection for as God said of old of the Temple built up and dedicated to him the like will he say of and perform toward this his spiritual building yea and so much the more and the rather by how much he being a Spirit is more delighted in spiritual things than in bodily and carnal as that old Temple was whereas his people built upon Christ are a spiritual house 1 Pet. 2.5 with John 4.24 and by how much the truth and substance is beyond the type and figure or shadow Now he said of that material Temple in 2 Chron. 7.16 Now have I chosen and sanctified this house that my Name may be there for ever and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually and then 3. The fruits and consequents hereof must needs be excellent and glorious such as may move us to minde this work and business of self edification with cheerfulness and diligence as 1. Gods dwelling and delighting in a people will be their safety and defence so as no harm or mischief shall befal them from all that are enemies to them and seek to harm them for he is mighty to save and will surely be as good or better an inhabitant of his house than other men are or can be of theirs He will put forth his power and greatness for the defence of it thence that in Isai 12.6 Cry out and shout thou inhabitant of Sion for great is the Holy One in the midst of thee and that in Zeph. 3.14 15 16 17. Sing O Daughter of Sion shout O Israel be glad and rejoyce with all thy heart O Daughter of Jerusalem the Lord hath taken away thy Judgement he hath cast out thine enemy The King of Israel even the Lord is in the midst of thee thou shalt not see evil any more In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem fear thou not and to Zion let not thine hand be sâ—ack The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy c. It is true that those things are spoken of the Church and people of God when they shall be fully built up and gloriously inhabited of God in the last times or in the Kingdom of his Glory but yet there is a measure of it a first fruits now to be met within Gods dwelling by his Spirit in his people built up in a measure for him whence the like rejoycings or gloryings in his presence with his people now in the days of trial or rejoycings neare of him at least thereto in Psal 46.1.6 God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Seas though the waves thereof roar c. and then in vers 4 5. shewing the ground of this fearlesness he adds There is a River the streams whereof make glad the City of God the holy place of the Tabernacles of the most High God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and that right early and as a proof of his helpfulness he adds The Heathen raged the Kingdoms were moved he uttered his voice the earth melted The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Selah And Psal 48.3 God is known in her Palaces for a refuge speaking of Gods Church as his City as Gods people are called in the Scripture both his House and City as Ephes 2.19 20 21 22. His presence in his House and City is their safety nothing can harm them unless their defilements of his House or of their Hearts and Societies causing him to abhor and loath them as in the Type Psal 78.58 59 60 61 c. 2. Gods dwelling with and in his people as his house and delighting in them will afford them all fulness of supply and satisfaction his House and houshold for they are both Ephes 2.19 20. shall want nothing good and needful for them for their maintenance upholding and abundant rejoycing Whence David preferred the being in any the lowest place in Gods house though but at the threshold before the most settled dwelling he might have in the most sumptuous Palaces of the wicked called by him to signifie the flittingness of them the Tents of the ungodly because the Lord God is a Sun and shield and will give Grace and Glory and withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly with him Thence also partly it is that his City or dwelling place is called upon so much to rejoyce for his presence with it in the places above cited He makes a feast in his house and satisfactions to their desires 9.1 2 3. Psal 36.8 9 10. He will fill his house with all all materials and provisions good for it and 3. He will adorn and beautifiâ— his habitation that he loves as well as fill and satisfie those particular Souls that are therein He will beautifie the place of his Sanctuary and make the place of his feet glorious Isa 60.13 He will beautifie the meek with his Salvation because he takes pleasure in them Psal 149.4 He will have his House and habitation glorious answerable in some sort to his own glory and greatness that
be easily abused circumvented and overthrown by our spiritual enemies in their attempts upon us to that purpose indeed as it is with Children â—hat have wise and able Parents or Guardians however weak they are of themselves yet if they will not listen to their subtle enemies in their â—rafty suggestions but first advise with their said Parents and Guardians that are wiser then they â—r if they will not venture to come near them but in their hands they are and may be safe enough notwithstanding the strength or subtlety of those that would either cheat or hurt them so it is here the weakest Believer calling upon God and cleaving to the instruction and counsel of Christ and his Spirit is safe enough and shall be preserved from falling but as the Child neglecting the Fathers hand and counsel may be undone so is it here whence Wisdom so frequently advises Hear O ye Children the instruction of a Father â—d attend to know understanding and keep my Commandement and live and my Law as the apple of thine eye and depart not from the words of my mouth and many the like Prov. 4.1 4 5.6 and 5.1 2 6. and 7.21 Whence we may further note that the Believers danger lyes not simply or so much in his own weakness as in his being liable to think himself wise or strong and so to be puffed up with pride and so to trust to and in himself and his own righteousness as in Ezek. 33.13 or beauty as Ezek. 16.17 or that he is Christs as in 2 Cor. 10.7 that he is rich and increased with goods and needs nothing and so grow luke-warm and carelesly indifferent whether he look to Christ or not yea neglect to buy of him what is necessary for him as Revel 3.14 18. or say he is now become a Lord himself an owner of much in himself to live upon and so matter not to come to Christ like them in Jeremiah 2.3 that said They were Lords they would come no more at God This this is that which mostly indangers those especially that are more abundantly gifted inlarged and exalted above others even as the Child that conceits its self strong while it is not so vâ—â—â—ring to go alone gets a fall and many presuming on their own sufficiency of wit and parts to neglect their Fathers and Friends advice are over reached by subtler heads Thence Solomon observes that there is more hope of a fool than of one that 's wise in his own conceit Prov. 26.12 Peter conceiting himself strong enough to follow Christ whithersoever he was to go and thereupon following him unwarrantably into the High Priests Hall got a sore fall in his denying him thrice Yea is most probably if not assuredly believed that â—â—e fallen Angels fell through reflecting upon their own created excellencies and lifting up themselves thereby above their places and from that subjection to God and dependance on him in which he set them but certain it is that the Church of Jerusalem this way fâ—ll to play the harlot from him that had espoused her to himself and provoked upon her self such judgments from him as the Law and usage of the Countries allot to Harlots Ezek. 16. so true it is that Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty mind before a fall Prov. 16.18 Whence the Wiseman adds that it is better to be of an humble spirit with the lowly with those that stand below that are mean in parts gifts esteem and are content with their low conditions then to divide the spoils do great exploits atchieve great victories and successes and get the honour and respect of men for their gifts graces actings c. with the proud verse 19. Now that Believers also may possibly be puffed up with pride not only the cautions given by Moses to Israel Deut. 6. and 8. and his fore-prophecy of him Deut. 32.15 and the Apostles warning Beleivers to take heed of it and not be high-minded but fear Rom. 11.22 and the Lords giving to Paul a thorn in the flesh a messenger of Satan to buffet him to prevent it in him 2 Cor. 12.8 9. but also the Instances above hinted in Jerem. 2. Ezek. 16. Revel 3. do plainly evince it Therefore blessed is he that fears alwayes with a fear opposed to high-mindedness Prov. 28.13 and good to say with good Jehosaphat We know not what to do O Lord but our eyes are up to thee for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us 2 Chron. 20.12 3. And then the holiness and severity of the Lord who resists the proud against those who neglect and withdraw from Christ compleats the danger for were our enemies never so many and mighty and we never so weak or through conceit and pride liable to fall yet if God would alwayes forgive and continue to own us there were yet no danger but the case is not so but as in the Son of God is life and as in abiding in him there is abiding and continuing favour from God unto everlasting happiness to be met with out of that infinite respect that God shews to him namely to Christ and the delight he hath in him so on the other side out of the same respect to and delight in him he will be provoked to wrath though slow to it and give up men to their own lusts and delusions for slighting and turning from him and there is no respect of persons with God The just now shall live by faith but if any man or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is in the Greek if he the just man draw back my soul sayâ—s God shall have no pleasure in him Heb. 10.39 If ye walk after the flesh says Paul Rom. 8.13 â—e dye but if by the Spirit ye mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Thence the Apostle couples in himself of whose right believing there can be no doubt and sayes How can we escape if we neglect so great salvation Heb. 2.3 And if we sin wilfully after the knowledge of the truth received there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation c. Heb. 10.26 27. And so generally the Gospel tells us as well of indignation and wrath towards men upon their departures from God as of his special favour and grace in their cleaving to him And as the Grace and Mercy of God is more abundant towards us under this clearest dispensation of the Gospel by the personal appearance and ministration of Christ than it was under the Law so also the terrors of God and his wrath is answerable to the Rejectors of it or Apostates from it to that purpose is that in Heb. 10.29 If they that despised Moses Law dyed without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy who hath trod under foot the Son of God and counted the blood wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done
of God and Christ and of his unspeakable glory and glorious joys and satisfactions that shall be injoyed by all that are counted worthy thereof in the world to come according to that distinction or distribution of rewards promised by Christ to those that forsake all to follow him Mark 10.30 he shall receive an hundred fold in this time houses Brethren and Sisters Mothers and Children and fields with persecution and in the world to come everlasting life that is the full and perfect injoyment of God and Christ and all happiness without persecution for ever till when they are to wait for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ therein This is the great hope of the Believers as in Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie hath promised and Chap. 3.7 That being justified by his Grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life and therefore the great things hoped for are included therein because therein is contained all the fulness of the injoyment of God and Christ and their favour and blessing and so all happiness yea it is the great thing promised in Christ as 1 Iohn 2.25 and therefore it is to be waited for by the Believer all his time till he attain the injoyment of it yea even the Souls of those that have suffered death for the testimony of Christ and that be under the Altar though they rest quiet from all further sufferings and persecutions from men or temptations and oppressions from Sathan or whatever here annoyed theâ— yet they also still wait for the full accomplishment of that great promise the full injoyment of life everlasting yea and the mercy of the Lord Iesus Christ is that that is exercised toward and over them even his free Grace goodness and compassion until that be attained by them Rev. 6.11 3. And as all his Mercy tends unto the Believer so this also being waited for shall be the certain and sure issue of his Mercy they shall not fail of it but shall have and injoy eternal life when fully built up and fiâ—ted for it As they have his love and favour toward them here in which is life so their patienâ— expectation of the utmost Salvation and full recompence of reward shall in it's time also namely in the World to come without fail be given them for 1. It was the end and design of God in giving his only begotten Son into the World that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life as also it was of his exalting and lifting him up both to the Cross in his Death and out of the Grave being dead for us unto his own right hand and in the Doctrine of the Gospel by his Holy Spirit commending and glorifying him unto the hearts and consciences of men that so he might be and be represented as a fit and compleat Object of faith and hope for them and that so many as should believe and hope in him might live for ever John 3.14 15 16. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that so whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the World through him might be saved c. 2. It is the will and pleasure of God that Jesus Christ came down from Heaven to doe and is gone up to Heaven again to prosecute the thing to which he hath anointed and appointed him the work or pleasure of the Lord that lyes upon his hand to see done that whoso seeth and believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life John 6 40. And he is both alsufficient for accomplishing it having offered up himself a perfect and infinitely virtuous and precious Sacrifice and being filled with all the fulness of God and so able to doe all things and to subdue all things to himself and he is also faithful in all things to God who appointed him and therefore will not fail nor be discouraged till he bring forth judgment into victory and accomplish what he is ingaged in and hath undertaken to doe and accomplish Col. 2.9 10. Heb. 7.25 and 9.15 and 10.14 and 3.1 2. Isa 42.3 4. 3. It is the promise of God and his Covevenant made and ratified with mankinde in Jesus Christ that he will give eternal life to as many as do believe in and are subject to him 1 John 2.24 25 Tit. 1.2 and God that hath promised is true and faithful and cannot lye or break Covenant yea he hath also confirmed his promise and Covenant by an Oath that by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye they might have strong consolation who flee for refuge to Christ the hope set before them Heb. 6.18 19. 4. Yea whereas we are too prone to sin and break ouâ— Covenant with God or fail in what he requires of us to the injoyment of eternal life Christ hath undertaken as the surety and Mediator of it to see it performed to us and to that purpose to fit us for the performance of it to us taking away our sins imperfections and forfeitures by the vertue of his blood and Sacrifice pleaded with his Father for us so as with reference thereto God keeps Covenant and mercy with them that fear him and Christ effects in us by his Grace and Spirit what is required of us and necessary for us Writing the Law in our heart and putting his fear in our inward parts Heb. 2.17 18. and 7.22 25 and 8.2 3 9 10 11. and 9.15 and 10.15 16 17 18. 5. Yea Christ as the great King of Saints and Nations Shepheard and Bishop of the soul hath undertaken it to lead guide protect and keep his sheep or his Disciples that hear his voice and follow him to the injoyment of everlasting life and he hath the Presence and Oneness of the Father with him therein and so power wisdom and love to guide and keep them so as none can pluck them away from him as he saith John 10.27.28 29 30. My sheep hear my voice and I know or own them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand My Father that gave me them is greater than all and none can pull them ouâ— of my Fathers hand I and my Father are one So that the Believer hath the greatest certainty of eternal life that may be in believing and cleaving unto Christ and so in building up himself and being built up on that most holy faith and foundation and praying in the Holy Ghost and so keeping himself in the love of God and waiting for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ having God and Christ so ingaged for his having it given to him and conferred upon himâ— to which we may also yet add 6. The earnest helpfulness