20. not so much for crucifying the Lord of life the Gospel was tendred to them after Christ was slain 't was for not believing or refusing the Gospel If you will know what company there is in hell that Catalogue will inform you Fearful and Vnbelievers c. Rev. 21. 8. if you look to temporal Judgements that Nobleman was trodden to death for distrusting Gods power 2 Kings 8. 2. and could only see the plenty but not taste of it Nay 't is such a sin as God hath not spared in his own children Moses and Aaron could not enter into the land of promise because of their unbelief Numb 20 12. So Luke â— Zechary was struck dumb for not believing what God had revealed Christ did never chide his Disciples so much for any thing as for their unbelief Luke 24. 25. O ye fools and slow of heart to believe and Why doubt ye O ye of little Faith Matth. 8. 26. he chideth them before he chideth the wind the storm first began in their own hearts 3. 'T is the mother of all sin the first sin was the fruit of unbelief we may plainly observe a â—aultring of assent Gen. 3. 3 4 5. and still 't is the ground of all miscarriages of hardness of heart and Apostasie Heb. 3. 12 13. He that believeth not the judgements and threatnings of the word will not stick to do any evil and he that doth not believe the promises will not be forward to any good All our neglect and coldness in holy duties cometh from the weakness of our faith there is a decay at the 〈…〉 did we believe heaven and things to come we should be more earnest and zealous Many are ashamed of Adultery Theft Murder but not of Vnbelief which is the mother of all these 4. Final Vnbelief is an undoubted evidence of Reprobation See John 10. 26. Ye believe not because ye are not of my sheep And Acts 1â— 48. Unbelief is God's prison wherein he keepeth the reprobate world Rom. 11. 32. He hath shut them up under unbelief c. And shall I continue such a black note upon my self I know not how soon God may cut me off and if I die in this estate I am miserable for ever Lord I desire to believe help my unbelief 5. 'T is a sin that depriveth us of much good of the comforts of providence Nothing doth ponere obicem bar and shut out God's operation in order to our relief so much as this sin Mark 6 5. He could do no mighty work c. So John 11. 40. Said I not unto thee if thou would'st believe thou shouldst see the glory of God So also of the comfort of Ordinances Heb. 4. 2. The Word profited not because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it So for Prayer James 1. 7 8 9. Nay it barreth heaven gates it excluded Adam out of Paradise the Israelites out of Canaan and us out of the Kingdom of heaven Heb. 3. 17 18. Well then Let us see if we be guilty of this sin Take heed saith the Apostle Heb. 3. 12. lest there be in any of you an evil heart of Vnbelief Many have an unbelieving heart when they least think of it 'T is easie to declaim against it but hard to convince men of it either of the sin or of lying in a state of Vnbelief 't is the Spirit 's work The Spirit shall convince of sin because they believe not in me There are many pretenses by which men excuse themselves some more gross others more subtile Many think that all Insidels are without the pale among Turks and Heathens alas many too many are to be found in the very bosome of the Church The Israelites were God's own people and yet destroyed because they believed not Others think none are unbelievers but those that are given up to the violences and horrors of despair and do grosly reject or refuse the comforts of the Gospel but they are mistaken the wholl word is the object of Faith the commandments and threatnings as well as the promises and carelesness and neglect of the comforts of the Gospel is unbelief as well as doubts and despairing fears Matth. 22. 5. But they made light of it He is the worst unbeliever that scorns and slighteth the tenders of Gods grace in Christ as things wherein he is not concerned Briefly then Men may make a general profession of the name of Christ as the Turks do of Mahomet because 't is the Religion professed there where they are born a man may take up the opinions of a Christian Country and not be a whit better then Turks Jews or Infidels as he is not the taller of stature that walketh in an higher Walk then others do They may understand their Religion and be able to give a reason of the hope that is in them and yet lie under the power of unbelief for all that as many may see Countries in a Map which they never enter into The Divel hath knowledge Jesus I know and Paul I know c. And those that pretend to knowledge without answerable practise do but give themselves the lye 1 John 2. 29. Besides Knowledge there may be assent and yet unbelief still the Divels assent as well as know they believe there is one God James 2. and 't is not a naked and inefficacious assent but such as causeth horrors and tremblings They believe and tremble and they do not only believe that one article that there is one God but other articles also Jesus thou Son of God Art thou come to torment me before my time was the Divel's speech where there is an acknowledging of Christ and him as the Son of God and Judge of the world and increase of their torment at the last day upon his sentence Assent is necessary but not sufficient Laws are not sufficiently owned when they are believed to be the Kings Laws there is somthing to be done as well as believed In the primitive times Assent was more then it is now and yet then an unactive assent was never allowed to pass for faith Confident resting on Christ for salvation if it be not a resting according to the word will not serve the turn there were some that leaned upon the Lord Micah 3. 11. whom he disclaimeth 't is a mistaken Christ they rest upon and upon him by a mistaken Faith 'T is a mistaken Christ for the true Christ is the eternal Son of God that was born of a Virgin and died at Jerusalem Bearing our sins in his Body upon a Tree that we being dead unto sin might be alive unto righteousness 1 Pet 2. 24. the true Christ is one that gave himself for us that he might purifie us to be a peculiar people zealous of good works and is now gone into heaven there to make Intercession for us and will come again from heaven in a glorious manner to take an account of our works Tit. 2. 13 14. But now when men lie
of Christ How durst thou that art a sinner look him in the face lay hold of Christ hope for glory Still the Call is our Warrant and Title If it should be asked of the guests that came in a wedding garment Friends how durst ye come hither and approach the presence chamber of the Kings son they might answer We were bidden to the wedding Mat. 22. So in Mat. 20. Why do not you go into the Vineyard their answer was No man hath hired us they had no calling Partly to give us encouragement We need not only leave to come to God by Christ but also quickening and encouragement for we are backward In other preferments there needeth nothing but leave for there men are forward enough but here guilt maketh us shy of God and God is forced to call and hollow after us By nature we are not only exiles but fugitives Before God banished Adam he first ran away from him he ran to the bushes and then God called him Adam where art thou Gen. 3. 9. How often doth God hollow after us in the Word before we return and come out of the bushes He maketh proclamation Isa 55. 1. Ho every one that thirsteth c. We are under spiritual bondage as the Israelites were in Egypt under corporal bondage and God sendeth again and again and out of very anguish of heart we will not beleeve him therefore he calleth and cryeth Sinners where are you why will you not return unto me Gods outward Call is managed by men and therefore it is very hard to perswade them to discern the voyce of God as Samuel would not be perswaded but that it was Eli called him when it was the Lord We think it to be the charity of the Minister and will not easily acknowledg a call from God and therefore do not only need leave but encouragement Partly because God will work in a way suitable to his own nature and ours fortiter suaviter strongly like himself and sweetly with respect to us and therefore he doth not only draw but call not only put forth the power of his Spirit but exhort and invite by the Word the efficacy of divine grace is conveyed this way more suitably to the nature of man There is grace offered in the Gospel and the Spirit compelleth to come in In all the Works of God there is some word by which his Power is educed and exercised In the Creation Let there be light c. At the Resurrection there is a Trump and the voyce of an Archangel Arise ye dead and come to Judgment In all Christs miraculous cures there are some words used Be thou clean and Be thou whole and Be thou opened and to Lazarus in the grave Christ useth words of ministerial excitation Lazarus come forth So in converting a sinner there is not only a secret power but a sweet call and invitation some word by which this power is conveyed and represented in a way suitable to our capacity For all these Reasons doth God work grace by calling Again Gods people are well stiled a called people because they are so many ways called from self to Christ from sin to holiness from misery to happiness and glory They are called from self to Christ Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden The main end of a call is to bring Christ and the Soul together every dispensation of God hath a voyce and God speaketh to us by Conscience by his Works by benefits by crosses but chiefly by his Word the application of which by the Spirit is as it were an awakening call but the chief call of God is by the voyce of the Gospel wherein the offers of grace are discovered to us Câ—me poor wearied Soul come to Christ and thou shalt find ease and comfort Again they are called from sin to holiness 1 Thes 4. 7. God hath not called us to uncleanness but to holiness though the immediate end of divine calling be faith yet the intermediate end is holiness as the ultimate end is glory Thus we are called out of Babylon into Sion from the Tents of Kedar into the Tents of Shem from nature to grace and the power of Satan into the Kingdom of God in short this call is a separation from uncleanness and all common and vile uses Again they are called from misery to happiness and glory from aliens to be friends from darkness to light 1 Pet. 2. 9. from being enemies to be reconciled from bastards to become sons from vessels of wrath to be heirs of Glory With respect to all these sorts of calling it is termed sometimes an high calling Phil. 3. 14. sometimes an holy calling 2 Tim. 1. 9. and sometimes an heavenly calling Heb. 3. 1. It is an high calling because of the honour and dignity of it it is no small matter to be children of God coheirs with Christ Kings and Priests to God Many are lifted up because they have born Offices and are called to high places in the world a Christian hath a calling more excellent he is called to be a Saint a spiritual King an holy Priest to God It is an holy calling because of the effect and purpose of it Mans calling may put dignity and honour upon us but it cannot infuse grace it may change our condition but not our hearts It is an heavenly calling because of the Author of it God by his Spirit and because of the aym of it the grace whereby we are called came from Heaven and its aym and tendency is to bring us thither see 1 Thes 2. 14. 2 Pet. 1. 3. Called us to glory and virtue c. We are first called to grace and then to Heaven first the sweet voyce saith Come unto me and then the great voyce Come up hither from self sin and the world we are called off that we may enjoy God in Christ for evermore You see the Reasons let us apply it now First It serveth to press us to harken to the Lords call Many are kept off by vanity and pleasures others by their own fears To the first sort I shall only represent the danger of neglecting Gods invitation and slighting a call Prov. 1. 25 26. Ye have set at nought my counsel therefore I will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh Gods wrath is never more terrible then when it is stirred up to avenge the quarrel of abused Mercy Men cannot endure that two things should be despised their anger or their kindness Nebuchadnezzar when he thought his anger despised he biddeth them heat the furnace seven times hotter and David when he thought his kindness despised threatened to cut off from Nabal every one that pissed against the wall Certainly the Lord taketh it ill when the renewed messages of his love are not regarded and that is the reason why where mercy is most free God is most quick and severe upon the refusal of it The Lambs wrath is most
be cleansed as to sanctifie signifieth to separate so there is a difference between them and others and as it signifieth to cleanse so there is a difference between them and themselves They differ from others because they are a people set apart to act and live for God they trade for God eat for God drink for God more or less all is for Gods glory and so are a distinct company from the men of the world who are meerly swayed by their own interests a company that meerly act for themselves in all that they do And then there is a difference between them and themselves for Sanctification is the cleansing of a thing that was once filthy 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were some of you but now ye are washed but now ye are sanctified in the Name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God they are not the same men they were before We all come into the world polluted with the stain of sin which is purged and done away by degrees and at death wholly and never before When Christ cometh to bring us to God as the fruits of his Purchase then we are without spot and blemish Ephes 5. 26. The Papists cavil â—â—â— trifle when they argue from that place that either we must grant a perfection in this life or a purgation after death or how else cometh the Soul to be without spot and blemish I answer That place asserts the thing to the comfort of the Elect that once they shall get rid of the filthy spots of sin but for the time most probably in the moment of expiring As the Soul in the very moment wherein it is joyned to the body becometh sinful so in the moment wherein it leaveth the body 't is sanctified and presented by Christ to God as many pious Souls breathe out their last with the profession of this hope Then we shall be cleansed indeed now the work is in fieri 't is a doing The work of grace for the present consists in rubbing away the old filth and weakening original corruption more and more as also in washing off the new defilement which we contract every day by conversing in the world See Iohn 13. 10. where our Saviour alludeth to a man that hath been bathing himself but after his return by treading on the ground again staineth his feet and needeth another washing of his feet at least So by conversing in the world there are stains and spots contracted which must always be washed off by dayly repentance besides our general bathing at first conversion or regeneration I have no more to say to this cleansing work but only this That it is not meerly like the washing off of spots but like the purging of sick matter or ill humors out of the body it is a work done with much reluctation of corrupt nature and therefore it is expressed by subduing our iniquities Micab 7. 19. In outward filthiness there is no actual resistance as there is in sin But to speak now of the positive work or the decking and adorning the Soul with grace As the Priests under the Law when they came to minister before the Lord were not only washed in the great Lavor but adorned with gorgeous apparel So to be sanctified is more then to be purified for besides the expulsion of sin there is an infusion of grace a disposition wrought clean contrary to what we had before therefore called a new heart and a new spirit see Ezek. 36. 25 26 27. from whence also there sloweth newness of life and conversation there is a new heart or conformity to Gods Nature and a new life or conformity to Gods Will The pattern of that Sanctification which is wrought in the heart is Gods Nature or Image 2 Pet. 1. 4. Ephes 4. 24. and the pattern of that Sanctification which is wrought in the life is Gods Law or revealed Will 1 Thef 4. 3. the one is our haâ—iâ—â—al holiness and the other our actual 1. For habitual Sanctification or that which is wrought in the heart I observe that it is through but not full there must be all grace and every faculty must be adorned with grace â—â— Thes 5. 23. The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly I pray God your whole spirit soul and body be preserved blameless until the coming of Iesus Christ All of man is made up of spirit soul and body that is the Theological distinction of the faculties the spirit that is the more rational and Angelical part of the soul understanding conscience will â—â—â—â—d then there is soul the lower part the more brutish and sensual affections and desires and then body the outward man the instrument of soul which needeth to be sanctified that is kept in a good order and frame that it may not rebel or disobey the motions of the better part You see then every faculty must be seasoned with the new nature this leaven must get into the whole lump the mind memory conscience will desires delights all must be brought into conformity to the Image of God And as every faculty must be sanctified so there must be every grace In Conversion there is introduced into the Soul a stock of truth and a frame of grace called in other terms the anointing 1 Iohn 2. 27. and the seed of God 1. Iohn 3. 1â— There is a stock of truth brought into the understanding to season that not that every one that is regenerate doth actually know all truths but there is a saving light and knowledg of things necessary they see enough to avoyd courses of damnation and to cleave to the ways of God and there is an inquisitiveness after truths and a suitableness to them when they are revealed they are teachable though actually ignorant there is something in their hearts that carryeth a cognation and proportion to every truth and claimeth kin of it when ever it is revealed And then there is a frame of grace for the mind is not only inlightened but the will and affections are sanctified and the heart inclined to choose the ways of God and to obey him when ever occasion is offered The habits of all grace are brought into the heart by Regeneration as original â—in containeth the seeds and habits of all sin though there be not explicite workings of all graces at that time yet they are introduced and make up one sincere bent of the Soul towards God called holiness in truth Eph. 4. 24. Thus you see the new creature doth not come out maimed the person sanctified hath all the parts of a new man not one member is wanting But now though this Sanctification be through yet it is not full and compleat for degrees every part is sanctified but every part is not wholly sanctified In the most gracious there is a double principle Hell and Heaven Adam and Iesus the flesh and the spirit the Law of the members and the Law of the mind such a medley and composition
their spring and rise nor the glory of God their aim If they pray there is no intention beyond Self and the welfare of their own natures the matter is but the outward work of the Law and their aim is but the freedom and welfare of nature 3. There are legal ends When wicked men are most devout it is but to quiet conscience to satisfie God for their sins by their duties they would fain buy out their peace with Heaven at any rate Micah 6. 6 7 8. Wherewith shall I come before him what shall I give for the sins of my Soul They are devout charitable that by diligence in worship and exceeding in charity they may expiate the offences of a carnal life If peace of conscience were to be purchased with money they would not spare they would rather part with any thing then their corruptions because nothing is so dear to a carnal heart as sin So that you see devout nature is very corrupt and perverse and therefore all its actions are justly hated of God Prov. 21. 27. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination how much more when he offereth it with an evil mind that is to buy an indulgence in other sins that he may sin them freely and with leave from Heaven In short all their duties of worship and charity are performed as a sin-offering and not as a thank-offering to satisfie God not to glorifie him usually they are extorted from him in a pang of conscience as a Mariner casts out his goods in a storm or a traveller yieldeth his money when beset with theeves there is no true delight in God or in obedience And thus I have shewed you what it is to be sanctified in heart and life which was the first thing propounded Secondly Let me now shew why Gods called people must be sanctified and that briesly and in few words 1. For the honour of God of every Person in the Trinity Father Son and Spirit For the honour of the Father that his choyce may not be disparaged Ephes 1. 4. He hath elected us to be holy There is some conscience in the world that maketh them adore strictness meer morality hath some majesty with it in the eye of Nature but especially Gospel holiness whereas looseness is looked upon with scorn and contempt so that his chosen people would be a dishonour to him if they were not sanctified therefore God the Father aimeth at it in all his dispensations he chooseth us that we may be of a choyce spirit as when Esther was chosen out among the Virgins she was purified and decked with ornaments and had garments given her out of the Kings Wardrobe so we are made holy being chosen of God And then he calleth us that he may put this honour upon us in the eye of the world to make us like himself Be ye holy as he that hath called us is hâ—ly 1 Pet. 1. 15. It were monstrous that God should set his affections upon a people altogether unlike him that he should call them to be so near himself that continue corrupt and carnal It is the aim of his Providences as well as his special grace we are afflicted that we may be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 10. threshed that our husk may fly off God certainly delighteth not in the afflictions of his people no he loveth the prosperity of the Saints but he had rather see them in any condition then see them sinful Again It is for the honour of God the Son whose members we are Head and members must be all of a piece like one another It were monstrous that Christ should have such a body as Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream where the head was of pure Gold and the thighs Brass and the feet Iron c. and it were an odd sight that a face of Europe should be put upon the body of a Negro or Ethiopian and as strange and odd it is that Christ should have a disproportioned body quite unlike himself yea it is little for his honour that he should be the head of an ulcerous body as well as a monstrous body so much of sin as you continue so much you disparage your Redeemer and put him to shame therefore all Christs aim is to make us holy for that end he redeemed us that he might sanctifie us and make us a glorious Church without spot and wrinkle Ephes 5. 26 27. When Christ was upon the Cross in the height of his love he was devising what he should do for his Church to make her honorable and glorious and he pitched upon Sanctification as the fittest blessing that he could bestow upon us Every distinct Society must have some distinct honour and priviledg Now Christ had set apart the Church as a distinct Society to himself and therefore he would not bestow upon her pomp and worldly greatness other Societies had enough of that but holiness grace which is our splendor and ornament And indeed this was a far better gift then any outward greatness and excellency could be for moral excellencies are far better then civil and natural It is Gods own honour to be holy therefore it is said that he is glorious in Holiness Exod. 15. 11. He is elsewhere said to be rich in mercy but here glorious in holiness his treasure in his goodness but that which he accounts his honour is his holiness or immaculate purity as you know among men their wealth is distinguished from their honour But in this gift Christ had not only respect to the excellency of it but to our need and want Christ was then repairing and making up the ruines of the Fall now we lost in Adam the purity of our natures as well as the favour of God therefore that the plaister might be as broad as the sore he would not only reconcile us to God but sanctifie us his Blood was not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Price but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lavor wherein to wash us and make us clean as under the Law there was in the Tabernacle a great Lavor as well as an Altar to shew we must be washed and sanctified as well as reconciled to God and Christ came not only to abolish the guilt of sin which is against our interest our peace and comfort but also to destroy the power of sin which is against Gods glory And as this was Christs aim in Redemption so also in the Gospel and all the precious Promises of it he dyed that Ordinances might be under a blessing and conduce to the promotion of holiness for so it is there in Ephes 5. 26. That he might sanctifie us by the washing of water through the Word There is a treasure of grace purchased and left in the Church to be conveyed to us by the use of these Ordinances So John 17. 19. I sanctifie my self for their sakes that they may be sanctified through the truth When ever we come to the Word
protection over Christ Thou art sure not to fall therefore neglect means cast thy self upon danger Mat. 4. 9 10. You learn this Doctrine from the Devil Thou mayst do what thou lift thou art sure to be safe 't is the Devils Divinity Again 'T is against the nature of this assurance he that hath tasted Gods love in Gods way cannot reason so A child that hath a good father that will not see him perish shall he waste and embezzle his estate he careth not how A wicked child may presume thus of his father though it be very disingenuous because of his natural interest and relation to his father the kindness which he expecteth is not built upon moral choyce but nature but a child of God cannot because he cannot grow up to this certainty but in the exercise of grace 't is begoten and nourished by godly exercises and the thing it self implyeth a contradiction this were to fall away because we cannot fall away You may as soon say that the fire should make a man freeze with cold as that certainty of perseverance in grace should make us do actions contrary to grace Again We do not say that a Beleever is so sure of his conservation in a state of grace as that he needeth not to be wary and jealous of himself 1 Cor. 10. 12. Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall There is a fear of Caution as well as a fear of diffidence and distrust and there is a great deal of difference between weakening the security of the flesh and our confidence in Christ None more apt to suspect themselves then they that are most sure in God lest by improvidence and unwatchfulness they should yeild to corruption Christ had prayed that Peters faith might not fail yet together with the other Apostles he biddeth him Watch Luke 22. 40 and 46. The fear of God is a preserving grace and taken into the Covenant Jer. 32. 40. I will put my fear into their hearts and they shall not depart from me This is a fear which will stand with faith and certainty 't is a fruit of the same spirit and doth not hinder assurance but guard it 't is a fear that maketh us watchful against all occasions to sin and spiritual distempers that we may not give offence to God as an ingenuous man that hath an inheritance passed over to him by his friend in Court is careful not to offend him Again This certainty of our standing in grace doth not exclude prayer Luke 22. 46. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Perseverance is Gods gift and it must be sought in Gods way by Christs intercession to preserve the Majesty of God and by our prayers that we may constantly profess our dependance upon God and renew our acquaintance with him besides by asking blessings in prayer we are the more warned of our duty 't is a means to keep us gracious and holy As those that converse often with Kings had need be decently clad and go neat in their apparel so he that speaketh often to God is bound to be more holy that he may be the more acceptable to him Again 'T is not a discontinued but a constant perseverance that we plead for not as if an elect person could be quite driven out of the state of grace though he be saved at length he cannot fall totus a toto in totum the whole man with full consent from all grace and godliness he may sin foully but not fall off totally no more then finally there is something that remaineth a seed an unction a root in a dry ground that will bud and scent again Briefly true grace shall never utterly be lost though it be much weakened but in the use of means it shall constantly be preserved to eternal life Once more and I have done with the state of the Question God doth not only require the condition of standing or continuing in the exercise of grace but give it infallibly The Precepts of the Covenant of Grace are also Promises Heb. 8. 10. This is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel c. where all the Articles carry the form of Promises God undertaketh to fulfil our part in us when we submit to the Covenant So Jer. 32. 40. I will put my fear into their hearts c. If there be any breach it must be from our departing from God or Gods departing from us Now God never departeth his Love never permitteth him to repent of giving his fear and putting his grace into our hearts but all the fear is of our departing from God So some say God will not depart from us if we be not wanting to our selves And Bernard observed that our own flesh is not mentioned Rom. 8. What shall separate us from God c. Soli eum deserere possumus propriâ voluntate our own will may separate us and withdraw us from God And the Remonstrants Though God doth not repent doni dati of what he hath given yet we may repent doni accepti retenti of what we have received and grow weary of the service of God But all is answered by Gods undertaking in the Covenant I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me He will give faith and love and fear bestow and continue such Graces as dispose the Soul to Perseverance Secondly The Grounds of Certainty by which it may appear that we shall be preserved in that state of grace unto which we are called in Jesus Christ The Grounds are many put them all together and you may easily spell out of them the Perseverance of the Saints 1. There are some grounds on God the Fathers part there is his everlasting Love and alsufficient Power His everlasting Love God doth not love for a fit but for ever From everlasting to everlasting Psal 103. 17. before the world was and when the world is no more Gods Love is not founded upon any temporal accident but on his own Counsel in which there can be no change because the same reasons that moved him to choose at first continue for ever God never repented in time of what he purposed before all time Rom. 11. 29. His gifts and calling are without repentance By gifts he meaneth such as are proper to the Elect and by calling effectual calling such is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to his eternal Purpose of these he never repents The fruits of repentance in men are shame and sorrow now God is never ashamed of his choyce nor sorry for his choyce so as to wish it undone And then the other ground is his alsufficient Power Almightiness is engaged in the preservation of grace by his eternal Love and Will John 10. 28 29. Can they pluck Christ from the Throne are they stronger then Christs Father 2. There are grounds on Christs part his everlasting Merit and close Vnion between him and us and constant Intercession For his
doth not exclude the ordinary natural means Marriage is necessary for the propagation of mankind though the rational Soul is from God yea more care is had of women with child then of brute beasts because the fruit of the womb is the immediate work and blessing of the Lord so faith is of Gods planting and therefore we should be the more careful in the use of means 2. This faith is said to be once given This will also hold concerning grace for Where 't is once planted it cannot be totally and finally destroyed rather 't is continually supplyed by the care and faithfulness of God see 1 Cor. 1. 8. and 1 Thes 5. 24. and Phil. 1. 6. And those hypocrites that fall off after a long profession seldom recover themselves by repentance Heb. 6. 6. 2 Pet. 2. 21. Well then here is Comfort to the people of God that find so many lusts and so many temptations they think they shall never hold out faith is but once given where 't is really given there needeth not a second gift Again here is Caution Faith is a precious Jewel if once lost wilfully after the knowledg of the truth 't is not easily regained 3. Consider the persons to whom 't is given * 't is not given to every one for all men have not faith and the Gospel is hidden to those that are lost but 't is given to the Saints to those who were chosen that they might be Saints which sheweth 1. The excellency of Faith 't is a privilegiate and peculiar mercy 2. That Beleevers are Saints Faith giveth an interest in Christ and therefore they must needs be holy His Blood cleanseth 1 Joh. 1. 7. His Spirit sanctifieth 1 Cor. 6. 11. Again Faith it self hath a cleansing purisying virtue Hearts purified by faith Acts 15. 9. Faith applyeth the Blood of Christ and the hand of the Laundress is as necessary to cleanse the clothes as the soap wherewith they are cleansed Faith waiteth for the Spirit it argueth from the love of God Faith and sin are like the poyson and the antidote always working one upon another till faith hath gotten the mastery Well then Is your faith sanctifying Strong perswasions of an interest in grace and a loose life will not suit we are not perfectly clean and holy but there will be strong desires and earnest groans after more holiness as Psal 51. 10. and Rom. 7. 24. Who shall deliver me c. that is Oh that I were questions are put for wishes so Psal 119. 5. Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy Statutes Yea there will be not only groans under but struglings against sin A child of God may fall into sin but he cannot rest in it and lie down with ease as mud may be cast into a pure fountain or stirred up in it but the fountain never ceaseth till it work it self clean again Peter and David stepped aside but they could find no peace till they were reconciled to God I will return to my first husband then it was better then it is now Hosea 2. Again you may know it by the drift and disposition of the heart Which way lieth the bent of your spirits and what are your constant motions and operations A man that is travelling another way may now and then look back How is your heart inclined Psal 119. 112. I have inclined my heart to perform thy Statutes always unto the end Is there a constant inclination towards God 1 Chron. 22. 19. Now set your hearts to seek the Lord Is the heart set what is your constant course and walk Rom. 8. 1. But so much for this Digression occasioned by the suitaableness of words to the grace of faith Let us now come to the other acception which is more proper in this place namely as faith is put for the doctrine of faith now this was 1. Delivered 2. Once delivered 3. To the Saints 1. Delivered not invented 't is not the fruit of fancy or humane devising but hath its original from God 't was delivered by him to holy men chosen for that purpose and by them delivered by word of mouth to the men of that age wherein they lived and by writing for the use of after ages and delivered to be kept 't is a sacred Depositum which God hath put into the hands of the Church Keep that which is committed to thy trust 1 Tim. 6. 20. and to them were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. I shall observe 1. The Mercy of God in delivering this Faith or Rule of Salvation 2. The Duty of the Church concerning it 1. The Mercy of God in delivering this faith to chosen men that by their means the world might come to the knowledge of it The doctrine of Salvation first came out from God and then was conveyed to us by the hands of holy men we are not sensible enough of the priviledg Psal 147. 19 20. He sheweth his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and Judgmeâ—ts unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any Nation c. 'T is not a common mercy for many Nations want it nor no casual thing in the primitive times not only the doctrine of the Apostles was directed and ordered by the Holy Ghost but also their journeys the Gospel came not to them by chance but as a special gift from Heaven But that we may be more sensible of the Priviledg I shall shew you 1. The Benefit of the Word By it Gods heart is opened to us and our own hearts to our selves by it we are acquainted with the way of Salvaâ—ioâ— and come to understand the courses of the Lords Justice and Mercy and in what manner he will govern and rule the World which are altogether unknown to them that have not such a Revelation delivered to them We should never have known the cause of our misery our fall in Adam nor the means of our Recovery Redemption by Jesus Christ if they had not been delivered to us in this doctrine and rule of faith we should never have known how to worship God or enjoy God If carnal men should have a liberty to let Nature work and set down a Divinity of their own what a goodly Religion should we have in the World a very comely Chymaera no doubt For practicals it would be large enough I am sure for natural conscience hateth fetters and restraints in doctrinals it would be absurd enough Man can never take a right draught and image of God Who can empty an Ocean with a Cocklesh ll And since the Fall we are grown quite brutish our conceits are not so monstrous in any thing as in the Worship of God The Pagan Philosophers that were most profound in the researches and enquiries of Reason they sate abrood and thought of hatching an excellent Religion but what was the issue Professing themselves to be wise they became fools Rom. 1. 22. All that they produced was fables and high strains
are so tender of wordly interests do little value an interest in God Wisdom is justified of her children Mat. 11. 19. they are Bastards and not Children that are afraid or ashamed to own their mothers defence or can hug those in their bosoms that are enemies to God and his grace Psal 139. 21. Doe not I hate them O Lord that hate thee am not I greved with them that rise up against thee 'T is an Argument of his sincerity that God and he had the same enemies that he could finde no room in his heart for affection to them that he had no affection to God when we came into covenant with God we made a League with him offensive and defensive to count his friends ours and his enemies ours to hate what he hateth and to love what he loveth therefore without breach of covenant we cannot be silent in Gods cause and friends to the enemies and abusers of his grace 2. The next Branch is That their zeal who have an inteest in God is the best zeal now 't is the best partly because 't is hotest they that contest meerly for an opinion are not so earnest as they that contend out of affection as a stranger seeing a man oppressed may chide him that did the wrong but a meet relation he will interpose and venture himself in the quarrel So will one that loveth God sacrifice all his interests for Gods sake partly because 't is purest carnal men may ingage in Religious controversies out of passion they may stikle for their own opinion but this fire is taken from a Common heart not from the Altar it doth not arise from any love to God from any inward relish and taste of the sweetness of grace but onely from humour and obstinacy and wordly iâ—terest we may as well be afraid of some mens zeal against errour as of other proneness to it Carnal persons keep a great coyle and fill the world with clamour and rage but their hearts do not flame with zeal upon a proper interest and do not carry on things in Gods way The Use is to inform us of the reason why the spirits of godly men are so keen against such errours as intrench upon the grace of God why errours about Christ are horrible to them a very abomination to their thoughts because thereupon are built all their hopes and in such matters they have most experiences therefore their hearts sparkle within them others feel a cold indifferency but they a mighty pressure upon their spirits I now come to the last part of their discription And denying the onely Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ observe their sin denying The Object the Lord Jesus Christ who is here described three ways 1. By his absolute rule and supremacy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the onely Lord. 2. By his Essence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God 3. By his Headship over the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Lord Jesus Christ I shall first vindicate and then open the words divers take words disjunctively applying the first clause to the father the second to the Son So Erasmus translateth it God who is that onely Lord and our Lord Jesus Christ But as Beza observeth this is not the first time that he is taken tripping in those places which seem manifestly to assert the Godhead of Christ briefly then that the whole clause is to be understood of Christ may be proved by these arguments 1. Because the paralel place in Peter from whence this seemeth to be taken maketh mention onely of Jesus Christ where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word of absolute Sovereignty is ascribed to him denying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Master that bought them 2 Pet. 2. 1. 2. Because to me it seemeth that Jude would lay down all the prorogatives of Christ in his Natures as God as man In his relation to the world so a Master to the Church so a Lord 3. By the tennor of the words in the Original where there is no new Article to divide them and therefore all these Titles belong to the same person 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. Many old Coppies as Calvin saith read thus denying Christ who is onely God and onely Lord. 5. Because the heresie of these times struck at Christ more then God the Father and onely at the Father for Christs sake and therefore John in his Epistles speaketh often of those that denyed Christ See 1 John 2. 22. and 1 John 4. 3. 't is true the School of Symon and some other Sex held forth many fabulous things of God and introduced multitude of Rulers by whom the world was governed but this was to exclude Christ and to make voyde that Soveraignty which the Scriptures assert to be committed into his hands The most ancient Heresies were those of the Simonians Menandrians Saturninians who denyed the person of Christ affirming Simon Magus to be Christ And the Valentinians who denyed his humane Nature affirming that he brought his substance from Heaven and onely passed through the Virgin Mary like water through a Conduite there is but one Objection against this exposition and that is if it be meant of Christ then the Father will be excluded from being God for Christ according to the sense alledged is said to be onely Master onely God and onely Lord I Answer The expression doth not exclude either of the Persons of the Godhead the Father or the Son but onely the Creatures and foigned Gods especially those feigned Rulers and Gâ—vornors of the world which the School of Simon and the Nicholaitans introduced under the horrid names of Barbel Abrakan and Kavlakan c. and indeed such kinde of expressions are frequent in Scripture as Isa 44. 8. Is there a God beside me yea there is no God I know not any So Isa 45. 5. I am the Lord there is none else there is none besides me All which expressions are meant of Christ as appeareth not onely by the Titles of Saviour and Redeemer given to the God that there speaketh but also by divers passages therein proper to him yea by a quotation of the Apostles Compare Isa 45. 22. 23. with Rom. 14. 11. and Phil. 2. 2. Again you shall finde like passages of God the Father where â—e is said to be onely true God Joh. 7. 3. This is life eternal to know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent which is not exclusive of other persons but of other Gods and the Scriptures speak thus because of the unity of the Divine Essence which all the persons communicate one with another The Exposition of the words now they are vindicated will be easie And denying this is done either openly or covertly Openly when Christ is cleerly renounced and opposed Covertly Christ is denyed either by the filthy conversation of Christians or else by Heretical insinuations striking at his person and natures at a distance both are intended for these seducers though they denyed Christ yet they had
that lieth within the compass of a natural cause where God permitteth Again they may possess the bodies of men hinder the Godly in the execution of their duty over rule the spirits of wicked men and act and stir them up to wrath lust filthiness Eph. 2. 3. besot them with error c. it would require a distinct discourse to open this power to you they cannot create new beings nor raise dead bodies nor compel the will of man they can do mira but not miracula c. Let me now come to observe somewhat of practical concernment from what hath been spoken 1. That God hath proper places where the Creatures shall perform their duty and injoy their happinesse as the Angels had Heaven which was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their proper place so Adam had Paradise and the Saints the Church 't is misery enough to be thrown out of that place where God manifesteth himself he that was cast out of the Church was given up to Sathan 1 Cor. 5. 5. in the Church Christ ruleth in the World Sathan 't is good to keep to the Shepheards Tents Cant. 1. 8. the Angels left their first estate at the same time that they lost their own habitation 't is dangerous to leave our own place to be cast out of the Congregations of the Faithfull where God dwelleth and is glorified he inhabiteth the praises of Israel Psalm 22. 3. that is in the Church where he hath praise and we have benefit the Church is the Gate of Heaven Gen. 28 17. where God is there Heaven is Cain himself could bewail his misery in being turned out from the Church he had the whole earth before him but saith he I shall be hid from thy face Gen. 4. 14. that is I am turned out from the place of thy worship and where thy name is called upon 't is sad to be banished from the Lords gracious presence 2. Sin depriveth us of Gods presence this is the Wall of separation between us and God Isa 59. 2. Your sins have separated c. it not onely provoketh God to stand at a distance from us but worketh a strangenesse in us and maketh us shie of his presence it cast the Angels out of Heaven Adam out of Paradise Cain out of the Church well then when you are tempted to folly bethink with your selves God could not indure the sight of Angels when once they were defiled with sin if I should yeeld to this temptation I should never indure God nor he me this will either cause the spirit to leave me or me to leave the Throne of Grace guilty souls cannot sustain the presence of God and God doth not own the presence of guilty sinners Peter said Luke 5. 8. Depart from me for I am a sinfull man And God saith Depart from me into everlasting torments Mat. 25. 3. Observe again Jude maketh it their act and Peter Gods Act Jude saith they left their own habitation and Peter God cast them down and punishments are voluntarily contracted founded upon some act of ours God may passe by a creature out of his meer will but he damneth not till we provoke him first there is a voluntary aversion from God and then God turneth away from us Hosea 13. 9. O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self our ruine is caused by the free motion of our own wils God punisheth not willingly and as delighting in our destruction we sin and so freely depart from our own happiness we leave and then he casteth down 4. God casteth Sathan out of Heaven Do you imitate your heavenly Father cast Sathan out of your hearts Who would entertain him whom Heaven hath spued out 't is said Rev. 12. 8. That Sathan and his Angels found no more place in Heaven Oh then give him not place to dwell in your hearts Eph. 4. 17. do not entertain wrathful or lustful motions God decreed that the evil Angels should be cast out of Heaven and Christ died that they might be cast out of your hearts Joh. 12. 21. Now shall the Prince of this world be cast out Oh let him not erect a new Heaven and Empire in your soules his great aim is now he cannot get into Heaven to dwell in the hearts of men 5. Angels Creatures of the highest exeellency are not spared when they sin 2 Pet. 2. 4. God spared not the Angels c. wonder at the patience of the great God to us sinners if a King be angry with his offending Nobles should not the skullions tremble how come we to be of this side Hell Go home and adore that Grace that hath kept you out of the chains of darkness Lam. 3. 23. It is of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed not swallowed up quick not cast down to Hell if the Angels in the very Infancy of their Creation were so soon punished for the first offence Lord what didst thou see in us that after so many offences we should be yet alive t is mercy pardoning mercy that giveth us our beings we fail not because compassions fail not 6. Angels were forced to leave their habitation when they changed their nature they changed their estate let all sinners tremble consider the instance and you wil see that no dignity and worth of the Creature is of any avail nothing can keep off the stroakes of vengeance but the blood of Jesus Christ they were Angels glorious Creatures their sin but one and probably that in thought yet how dreadful is their punishment cast out of Heaven kept in chains of darkness for a severer vengeance Oh then how should we tremble that have drunk in iniquity like water surely God is the same he doth no less hatâ— pride obstinacy and contempt of his grace now then he did in times past God is but one Gal. 3. 20. he acteth according to the same tenour of justice now as heretofore c. 7. From the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their own place observe the true dwelling place and rest is Heaven 't was the habitation of the Angels and the rest of the Saints Oh long for your home let your hearts and your hopes be there enter upon your eternal inheritance by degrees the Angels left their habitations do you be always travelling thither let your hearts be in Heaven your conversations be in Heaven ere your persons there are good Angels still blessed companions Heb. 12. 22. 23. an innumerable company of Angels and Spirits of just men perfect An Heathen could see out of a glimpâ—e of the soules immortality O preclamor illum diem cum ad illud animorum concilium atumque proficiscar There you shall see the vacant rooms of the Apostate Angels occupied by the Saints Say wo is me that my pilgrimage is prolonged Psal 20. 5. 8. They were cast from Heaven into this world do but look-upon the World in a right notion Sathan that was not fie for Heaven is cast out into the Earth as a meet place for misery
Angels are for ever and ever now ad custodium â—o keep them and hold them in their lost estate hereafter ad poenam they are continued upon them as a part of their final punishment when much of the liberty which now they have shall be abridged From hence observe these practical Inferences 1. That sins are as it were bonds and chains a wicked man is in bondage here and hereafter now in snares and then in chains here taken captive by Sathan in his snares 2 Tim. 2. 26. and hereafter bound up with him in chains Sin it selfe is a bondage and Hell a prison were there nothing in sin but the presonâ— slavery 't is enough to disswade us but alas this is not all there are not only snares but chains in the fall of the Angels how many notions are there offered to us to discover the evil of sin they left their beginning and lost their habitation and then chains of darkness he that hath a mind to be a beast or a divel let him be a sinner If you mean to quench your reason to eclipse the glory of your Creation to disturb the quiet of your spirits and instead of calmenesse and serenity of conscience to bring in horror and confusion if you mean to enthral and captivaâ—e your soules to every base affection and to be at the command of every corrupt desire then go on freely as you do in sinning against God but alas the present thraldome is nothing to what is future all the sins that you commit will be as so many Chains binding you over to an eternal and just damnation The good Angels are at liberty to serve God when the evil Angels are shut up in the prison of their own obstinacy and wickedness remember this when you are convinced of a sin which you cannot leave and fear lest it prove a chaine of everlasting darknesse Secondly those chains bonds can never be broken by us the Angels cannot break them themselves and Christ will not for their day of grace is past every ones chains would be eternal if Christ did not loose them and open the prison door to poor Captives Isa 61. 1. this is our advantage above the Angels that an year of liberty is proclaimed to us and an opening of the prison to them that are bound Christ himselfe was bound with our chains the Prophet saith Isa 53. 8. he was taken from prison and from judgement he was in prison that we might go freeâ— If the â—edge had given us up to the Officer and the Officer had cast us into prâ—soâ— how long would it have been â—re we had payed the ulmost farthing Luk. 12. 58. others that reject the mercy offered in Christ can never wrest themselves out of the hands of justice but do for ever remain under the power and wrath of the living God Hebr. 10. 30. Thirdly The Divel is in chains a cruel spirit but under bonds his power is lesse then his will and malice he is wrathful that we may not be secure he is chained that we may not despair he hath no power but what is given him from above and when God putteth any of his servants into Sathans hands he keepeth Sathan in his own hands if you be in Sathans hands for your exercise remember Sathan is in Gods hands for your comfort and safety He had not power over the herd of Swine without leave Matth. 8. 31. suffer me c. so Luk. 22. 31. he could not sift Peter till he had a commission Sathan hath desired c. Ioh. 1. 12 Job 2. 7. Sathan could not so much as touch Jobs estate or skin till leave obtained nay he could not deceive Ahab a wicked man till God said Go 1 King 22. 21 22. he is but Gods executioner he sent his evil Angels among them Psal 78. 49. God gave commission for the plagues of Egypt and then the evil Angels had power to execute them the godly need not fear Sathan as a disobedient Angel he is cast into the chains of Gods justice and power and as head of the Kingdome of darknesse his power is more restrained by the death of Christ John 12. 29. Fourthly Observe how weak the Creatures are when God marcheth in judgement against them guilt of conscience is one of the fallen Angels chains if God will but arm our own thoughts against us he needeth not bring forces from without there is enough in that to sink us into Hell The Law needeth not bring Brimstone from Heaven to burn sinners nor open the mouth of the great deep to drown them nor shatter the frame of nature about our heads alas we cannot bear up under the burden of our own consciences or the weight of our own grief when he layeth his finger upon the conscience who can bear it The Angels excel in strength and yet the impressions of honour laid upon them are too hard for them to grapple with all Prov. 18. 14. a wounded spirit who can bear as if he had said I challenge all the world to bring me a man that is able to deal with his own conscience when God armeth it against him Fifthly That spiritual judgements of all others are most secure to have sin punished with obstinacy and hardnesse in sinning This is nothing but to have the Divels chains layed upon us a sad intimation that we are given up to chains of darknesse frogs and lice and hailstones were but soft judgements to Pharaoh's hard heart unlesse God should send us quick into Hell there cannot an heavier judgement befal us nay certainly it were better to be given up to Hell torments if there could be any expectation of deliverance then to be given up to a spirit of sinning for there is no end of that say then Lord what ever judgement thou bringest upon me bring not thy heavy judgement of an hard heart 't is better by far that you should live miserably then sin freely without remorse But what sins bring on this spiritual judgement I answer 1. an unthankful abuse of Gods gifts The Divels had a glorious and excellent nature but they were not thankful observe it when you will you will find it true that no man was ever punished with hardness of heart but some former merciful dispensation was abused the Heathens were not thankful for the light of nature and therefore God gave them up to vile affections Rom. 1. 22 24. Others received not the love of a truth and therefore God gave them up to believe a lye that they might be damned 2 Thess 2. 11 12. the very sin against the Holy Ghost is so called because 't is a despighting grace received or a divellish opposing of the grace and supernatural work of the spirit by which the mind is convinced of the truth 2. Sinning against the light that was Sathans sin who was full of light and sinned in the very face of God and 't is his sin still malice having onely put out the light of
way and gifts of healing into skill in physickâ— so straying with the spirit into readiness of utterance and freedom of speech Now though we we are to covet the best gifts and strive after them yet we must be contented with our measures Sometimes this gift is given to carnal men because of their service in the Church gifts are for the body they may have great abilities to pray and preach and may be carried on with full gales of outward assistance Usually 't is given unto men according to their constitution and natural receptivity all cannot expect a like quickness and inlargement of speech in the Pen-men of Scripture you may observe a difference of character and stile according to their temper and education though there assistance as to words was also infallible Isâ—y writeth in a courtly stile and Jeremiah in a priestly and Amos his manner of speech relisheth of his calling in the new Testament John is Seraphical Paul argumentative and Peter writeth in a milky sweet middle-way c. 2. There is the gracious assistance of the holy Ghost now this is either Habitual or Actual 1. Habitual grace is necessary to prayer Zech. 12. 10. I will pour upon them a spirit of grace and supplications where there is grace there will be supplications as soon as we are new born we fall a crying Behold he prayeth Acts. 9. 11. is the first news we hear of Paul after his conversion prayer is a kindly duty to the new creature things of â—n airy and fiery nature a little thing will carry them upward 〈…〉 their natural motion and tendency the regenerate are easily drawn into Gods presence 't is the vent and utterance by which we discover the impression that is upon us the Priests were to wash in the great lâ—vour before they went to thâ— Altar we are wâ—shed in the lavor of regeneration and renewed by the holy Ghost and so made fit to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 2. There is actual help and assistance which we have from the spirit though a man be regenerate yet he cannot pray as he ought unless we be still moved and assisted by the holy Ghost this is continual for we soon work out the strength which we have received Now these actual motions do either concern the time of prayer or the matter and the manner of it 1. The time of pâ—ayer the spirit suggesteth the fittest seasons he that searcheth out the deep things of God knoweth the acceptable times Psal 32. 6. and accordingly giveth notice to the heart by setting it a work in serious addresses to God Psal 27. 8. Thou saidst seek ye my face and my heart said thy face Lord will I seek god speaketh to us by holy motions and the impulsions of his grace and we answer God by a ready obedience 't is the worst scorn we can put upon one whom we hate when we deny to speak with him when he sendeth for us by these motions we are invited to come and confer with God do not say I am not at leasure I would not have this interpreted as if every motion to prayer were from the spirit 't is possible Satan may oppress an anxious soul with the tyranny of unreasonable impulsions to duty I only understand such motions as are regular and according to the word neither would I again be so understood as if God were never to be called upon or we were never to pray but when the spirit moveth us that 's one of the carnal fancies of many wretches now no no God must have his dayly acknowledgment give us this day our dayly bread but my meaning is that such a season when we are so strongly moved by the spirit of God should not be neglected 2. Thy matter of prayer is suggested by the holy Ghost let a man alone and he will soon run into a temptation and cry for that which it were cruelty in God to give him therefore the direction of the holy Ghost is necessary that we may not ask a scorpion instead of a fish and a stone instead of bread Rom. 8. 27 He maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God We take counsel of our lusts and interests when we are left to our own private spirit and so would have God to be a Minister of our carnal desires and would engage him in our quarrels and private revenges or else ask meat for our lusts now the holy Ghost teacheth us to ask not only what is lawful but what is expedient for us that so the will of God may take place before our inclinations 3. For the manner in every moral action the manner of working is a chief circumstance a man may sin in doing good but not in doing well now in prayer where we have immediately to do with God we should take great heed in what manner we come to him the right manner is when we come with affection with confidence with reverence 1. With affection 't is the holy Ghost set us a groaning Rom. 8. 26. He maketh intercession for the Saints with such sighs and groans as cannot be uttered words are but the outside of prayer sighs and groans are the language which God will understand and these are the prayers which the holy Ghost maketh for us and in us we learn to mourn from the Turtle from him that descended in the form of a Dove he draweth sighs from the heart and tears from the eyes parts may furnish us with eloquence but the spirit giveth affection that earnest reaching forth of soul that holy importunity that spiritual violence 't is all of his working many a prayer is neatly ordered and tunably delivered but this artifice of words smelleth of the man then it savoreth of the holy Ghost when there is life and power in it and the poor supplicant sets himself to wrestle with God as if he would overcome him by his own strength 2. With confidence when we come in a child-like manner and call God father Rom. 8. 16. We have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Usually we do not minde this part of the Spirits help in Prayer we look to gifts and inlargements but not to this child-like confidence that we maybe able to cal God father without blasphemy and reproach t is an easie matter to language it with our mouths but to have the sense of our adoption in our hearts is a difficult thing sometimes the Spirit witnesseth it more explicetly by expressions as if it were said when we go to prayer Be of good cheer thy sins are pardoned God is thy God at other times by impressions or more secret instincts if not by working child like confidence yet child like affection optando si non affirmando that we may call God Father by option and choise if not by direct affirmation or a clear sense of our adoption 2. With reverence that we may be serious and awful God is
best seen in the light of his own Spirit the Heathens could say non loquendum de Deo sine lumine we need light from God when we come to speak of or to God That sense of the Lords greatness and those fresh and awful thoughts that we have of his Majesty in prayer they are stirred up in us by the Holy Ghost he uniteth and gathereth our hearts together that they may not be ravelled and flittered abroad by impertinent and vain thoughts Psal 86. 11. Leave men to themselves and they will do as foolishly as a man that is to gather a posie for his friend and filleth it fuller of stinking weeds than flowers we shall mingle many unfavoury worldly thoughts or deal as basely and affrontingly with God as if a man under the Law should mingle Sulphure and Brimstone with the sweet perfumes that were in the Censer lust will be interposing in prayer and out-talking grace therefore that we may be reverend and heedful we must use the help of the Spirit praying in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance Eph. 6. 18. Well then when thou goest to prayer look upon the Holy Ghost as appointed by the Father and purchased by the Son to help thee in this sweet and comfortable service Rom. 8. 26. the Spirit helpeth our infirmities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 goeth to the other end of the staff and beareth a part of the burden we are tugging and wrestling at it and can make no work of it but the Spirit cometh and puts under his shoulder and then it cometh off kindly 2. It informeth us how much they sin that are so far from praying with the Holy Ghost that they do not pray with their own spirit alas this is but babling when the heart doth not go along with the lips 3. It informeth us of the priviledges of the Saints God is their Father willing to hear prayers Christ is their advocate willing to present their requests in Court and the Spirit a Notary to indite and draw up their requests for them oh what incouragement have we to go to the throne of Grace Surely we do not improve our priviledges or else we might have more comfortable access to the Father through Christ by the Spirit Eph. 2. 18. Verse 21. Keep your selves in the Love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life THe Apostle goeth on directing to the means of perseverance as before he mentioned two duties Conference and Prayer so here two graces â—ove and Hope Keep your selves that is use the means we are kept by the power of God unto Salvation but because of the concurrence of ouâ— endeavours 't is ascribed to us your selves Some interpret it as before alii alios keep one another In the Love of God it may be taken for that love which God beareth to us or else for the Love wherewith we love God which is fitly called the Love of God partly because God is the object of it partly because the Author of it be commandeth or begetteth it increaseth it perfecteth it in the Soul in this second sense I take the Love of God here namely for that grace wrought in us and the great work committed to our care is to keep it encrease it and discover it in all the operations of it looking the formal act of hope for the mâ—rcy the cause is put for the effect for all that good which we shall receive at Christs coming 't is called mercy because his proceeding with the Elect at the last day will be upon terms of grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 'T is so called because 't is purchased by Christ and dispâ—nsed by him John 17 2 he hâ—th power to give eternal lifâ— and at his coming he introduceth his people into their happy estate John 14 3 unto everlasting lifâ— our happiness in Heaven is sometimes called everlasting life at other times everlasting glory Observe hence 1. In perseverance there is a concurrence of our care and diligence Phâ—l 2. 12 13 Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling for c. The main work is Gods he that hath begun a good work must perfect it Phil. 1. 6. and the same Jesus that iâ— author is also finisher Heb. 12. 2. the deeper radication of the habit the defence of it the growth and perfection of it the ability to act is all from God 1 Pet. 5. 10. The God of all grace make you perfect stablish strengthen and settle you but yet a concurrence there is of our care and endeavours a child in the womb is nourished by the mother liveth by the life of the mother feedeth by the food of the mother but a child born liveth a more distinct and separate life of its own though it still be under the mothers care and provision so 't is with us after grace received we have a power to act and do what is necessary for the preservation of the spiritual life Well then let us not neglect the means you must not lye upon the bed of ease and think that God must do all he doth all indeed but in us and by us Idle wishes will do us no good as long as our hands refuse to labour Again Men that have grace had need look to the keeping of it Why first we our selves are prone to revolt this people loveth to wander and they erre in their hearts though under the immediate conduct of God 'T is noteable in Scripture that we read of a decay both of faith love and obedience which are the three main graces some that left their first faith 1 Tim. 5. 12. Others that left their first love Rev. 2. 4. and as to obedience we read of the first wayes of David aâ— distinguished from his latter 2 Câ—ron 17. 3. he walked in the first wayes of his father David David in his latter time fell into scandalous crimes 2. We are assaulted with continual temptations an importunate suiter by perseverance in his suit may at length prevail Sathan will lose nothing for want of asking those that refused at first may yield afterward Long conversing with the world may taine the Spirit a deformed object when we are used to it seemeth less deformed in dwelling lust though long restrained breaketh out afterward with the more violence Rose trees sâ—ipt in June bear in the winter many that in youth have held an hard hand over sin in their very old age have found their lusts more violent 3. A man of long standing is apt to grow secure and negligent as if he were now past danger when his condition was doubtful he seemed to be more diligent and serious but when the labours and difficulties of our first entering into favour with God are well over and a man hath gotten some freedom from the terrors of the Law and some peace and confidence he is in danger of security by which all runneth to waste in the Soul see Rev. 3.
ever came to Christ without a load upon his back though every one be not ready with the Jaylor to kill himself for anguish You will be at a loss sometimes it is easie security that goeth on from the cradle to the grave in the same tenor of hope without variation There will be a time when you will smite upon the thigh and cry What shall I do And as there will be some trouble found in them so some change all are not converted from prophaneness to Religion some from civility to Religion from profession to sincerity from servility to ingenuity Time was when they were careless of communion with God prayed now and then out of custom had no delight in the Almighty but now it is otherwise Partly because there is a constant calling so that first or last we shall be sensible of the motions of the Spirit and the hearts answer to some God speaketh in thunder to others in a still voyce but to all he speaketh therefore did you ever discern Gods calling and your answering Psal 27. 8. The Lord said Seek ye my face my heart said Thy face Lord will I seek There is no gracious heart but they are often sensible of such a dialogue between God and the Soul this discourse is constant he speaketh to us by the injection of holy motions and the actual excitations of his grace and we speak to him by serious promises and resolutions of obedience God calleth us into his presence often and the heart ecchoeth Lo I come Well now upon all these Considerations labour to get your calling evidenced that will clear up your title to the great priviledges of grace by it you may rebuke your doubts and fears When Conscience asketh What have you to do with these comforts to look upon your selves as objects of Gods Election as heirs of Glory you may answer I did not take this honour upon me I was called of God But you will say What are the infallible Notes and Marks of effectual calling I answer These I shall contract larger discourses You may know your effectual calling Partly by the preparations made for it though the work it self be done in an instant and many times when we least think of it yet usually God maketh way for his mighty Work As the husbandman harroweth and breaketh the clods before he throweth in the seed so by some preparative conviction God breaketh the heart and maketh it meet to receive grace Redemption needed no preparation but Conversion doth Look as Moses brought them to the Borders but Joshua led them into the Land of Canaan so usually there is some foregoing Law work though we are called properly by the Gospel 1 Thes 2. 14. Called by my Gospel The Law driveth us out of our selves but the Gospel pulleth in the heart to Christ Look as in outward generation the matter is gradually prepared and disposed so is the Soul for the new birth A man is awakened by the sight of his own wretchedness convinced of sin and the evil consequences of it and then the work is done by the milde voyce of the Gospel as Manna came down in sweet dews It is Gods way to speak terror before he speak comfort Christ sheweth the method Joh. 16. 8. The Spirit shall convince of sin The word is notable to convince is to shew a thing to be impossible to be otherwise then we represent it so the Spirit convinceth and maketh the person yield and say Certainly I am a sinner an unbeleever a very wretch that hath no interest in Christ This is Gods method We come to some certain issue about our being in the state of nature before we come to some certain issue about our being in the state of grace The Soul saith Surely I am stark naught in a deplored lost condition Well then if you had always good thoughts of your selves or only a slight and general knowledg We are all sinners c. You are not prepared The blind man Joh. 9. could say I was blind Were you ever brought to say I was a wretch a miserable forlorn creature out of Christ This feedeth presumption and security because we never bring the debate to an issue concerning our being in either of the states but content our selves with blind guesses and loose acknowledgments that we are all sinners and Christ must save us c. This is not enough there must be a particular and humbling sense of sin Unworthiness and wretchedness felt is the first occasion to bring us to Christ Never a poor Soul that taketh sanctuary at the throne of grace but he standeth guilty there and in danger of damnation 2. Again The next Note or occasion of discovery may be taken from the instrument or means by which God hath called us namely the Word 2 Thes 2. 14. By my Gospel Oracles and audible voyces are not his usual course some Christians talk of such things but to say the least of the mistake they are but the suppositions of an over-troubled fancy delusions which God who bringeth light out of darkness may at length order for good and in the wisdom of his Providence make use of them to bring off his people from their discouragements But usually Gods way of calling is by the Word and most usually by the Word preached seldom otherwise for God loveth to own and honour the means of his own appointing with a blessing I suppose scarce an instance can be given of any converted by reading or meditation that neglected prophecying where it was to be had I confess the Word may not work always in time of hearing There is a notable instance My Soul failed when he spake or rather it may be rendered because of his speech Now compare it with the time of Christs visit vers 2 3. Open my Sister my Dove c. while Christ was speaking she is careless and sluggish I have put off my coâ—â— how shall I put it on you see her heart was far from failing then but when she remembered it afterward then her bowels were troubled as Peter also was wrought upon by the remembrance of Christs words a great while after they were spoken Mat. 26. last verse Thus many times God reviveth old truths and maketh them effectual long after the time of delivery The Word worketh then either in the hearing or in the remembrance or deep meditation upon it Well now Can you remember such an experience when God called you by his Word and spake comfortably to your hearts Did he ever move you to go aside into the Closer that you might be solitary and serious and consider of your condition Usually at our first call we are moved to go aside that God and we may confer in private as Hosea 2. 14. God calleth into the wilderness that he may speak to the heart and Ezekiel was called into the field that God might more freely talk with him Ezek. 3. 22. Arise go forth into the
plain that there I may talk with thee So Cant. 7. 11. Come my Beloved let us go forth into the fields c. Usually his first motions are to go aside and consider Christ is bashful before acquaintance and doth not speak to us in company but in private Did he ever thus invite you into secret places did he ever call thee by name speak so expresly to thy case as if he had said Here is mercy for thee comfort for thee here is thy portion First or last Gods children have such experiences There is a time of loves which they cannot forget at least a time wherein the Master of the Assemblies fastened a nail in their hearts Gods people are wont to talk how seasonably and yet how strangely Providence cast them upon such opportunities as David Psal 119. 93. I shall never forget thy Precepts for by them thou hast quickened me Oh I shall never forget such an Ordinance such a Sermon wherein the Lord was pleased to take notice of me and to speak to my heart Weak impressions are soon razed out but powerful effects of the Word leave a durable mark and character that cannot be defaced 3. The next Mark may be taken from the formal answer or correspondent act of the creature to the call of God for that is it which sealeth our Election for otherwise many be called but they are not chosen unless the heart be prevailed with to obey the call Yea the notion of Vocation in its full latitude implyeth not only Gods act but ours our answer to his call Christs sheep hear his voyce When Christ saith Mary she answereth Rabboni my Lord. Gods call is the offer of grace our answer is the accepting of grace offered there must be receiving as well as offering Vocation is not effectual unless it end in Vnion it is receiving that giveth us interest Joh. 1. 12. The Scriptures do every where imply and signifie this answerable act of the creature to the call of God God saith Seek ye my face and the Soul like a quick eccho Thy face Lord will I seek Psal 27. 8. So Ier. 3. 22. Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal you and then Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God The Soul is enabled to do that which it is exhorted to do God saith Come to Christ and the Soul saith Lord I come Well then is the call obeyed do you receive Christ for your Lord and Saviour The proper answer of the call is the consent and full purpose of the heart to take Christ for offering is the call and receiving is the answer Have you subscribed and consented to take Christ upon his own terms as the Prophet when he was to take a wife maketh an offer Hosea 3. I will be for thee and thou shalt be for me Are you content Christ will be for you in all his graces merits benefits if you will be for him in all your motions tendencies aims alas your hearts know that you are for your selves lusts interests c. 4. Again You may know your calling by the concomitant dispositions of the Soul that go along with such a return and answer Where ever Christ is received he is received with worthy and suitable affections these are most notable 1. Godly sorrow Ier. 31. 9. They shall come with weeping and supplication and I will lead them It is spoken of the Jews conversion when God cometh to lead them they shall bewail their hardness of heart and unbelief Such kind of workings there are in the heart of every returning sinner as that God should look upon such a worthloss creature as I am that have all this while gainsayed and stood out many an invitation that ever God should care for such a vile and stubborn wretch seek to reclaim such a wayward heart Usually there are such mournful and self-humbling reflections that get the start of faith and comfort and do more sensibly bewray themselves Never did any child of God get home to him but smiting on the thigh Ier. 31. 18. and complaining of themselves before they could take comfort in God 2. Holy wonder which ariseth from comparing their own wretchedness with Gods rich mercy in Christ and therefore the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 2. 9. Who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light implying that Gods grace is most wonderful at first conversion as light is to a man that cometh out of a dungeon woful darkness maketh it marvelous light In this change there is nothing but what is wonderful both the sweetness and the power of that grace by which it is wrought The sweetness of grace When God came to offer Abraham the grace of the Covenant he fell upon his face Gen. 17. 3. in an humble adoration and reverence The power of grace If Peter wondered at his deliverance by the Angel out of that strong Prison we have much more cause to wonder that the yoke is broken and that we are set free by Christ the sweet effects of this grace cause wonder The peace of God which passeth all understanding c. 3. A free resolution and confidence come what ever cometh they will obey God As Abraham being called obeyed God not knowing whither he went Heb. 11. 8. So when they have a warrant they will make adventures of faith though they know not the success as Peter would cast out the net at Christs command though there were little likelyhood of taking fish Howbeit at thy command c. Luke 5. 5. So it is unlikely God will receive me to grace yet I will adventure I know not what will come of it Where Faith is sensible of a Command it doth not dispute a duty but accomplish it The Spirit speaketh to the Soul as the Disciples did to the blind man Mark 10. 49. Be of good comfort rise because the Master calleth thee I instance in these dispositions because they are most sensible 5. It may be evidenced by the fruits and effects of a call the call inferreth a change of the former estate both in heart and life 1. There will be a change in the whole heart In the mind and judgment there the activity of the new nature is first discovered Ephes 4. 23. Renewed in the spirit of the mind in that which is most intimate and excellent there In our discourse and reason all the discourses debates purposes and cares of the Soul will be to please God The mind is made a forge for holy uses wherein to debate and contrive how to carry on the work of grace how to glorifie God in our relations concernments certainly this will be found in all those that are called and converted So in the will and affections there will be a constant inclination towards God as the chiefest good Psal 19. 57. Thou art my portion O Lord I have said that I w'll keep thy Words The Soul is resolved there is a decree issued forth in that behalf to
are we during the present state We know but in part and we are sanctified but in part and there being such a mixture in the principâ—â—â— of operation every action is mixt It is notable that there is no commendable act in Scripture recorded but there is some mixture of corruption in it even in the most Heroical exercises and discoveries of Faith Moses beleeveth and therefore smiteth the rock but he smiteth twice Sarah beleeveth the promise but giveth her maid to Abraham Rebâ—â—â—â— was told that the elder should serve the younger and beleeveth it but yet she sets Iacob awork to get the blessing by a wile Rahab saveth the Spies but maketh a lye c. Thus is our wine mingled with water our honey with wax and our silver with tin All the tryal is that the better part prevaileth and that we are still growing and halting on to perfection as the morning Sun doth to high noon Prov. 4. 18. 2. For actual Sanctification which standeth in a conformity to Gods Will when the heart is changed so as the life thoughts words actions all are sanctified there is a spirit of holiness working within and breathing without in sanctified discourse and holy exercises all the actions savour of grace Now our actions are sanctified and savour of grace when they are performed upon new Principles and new Ends. 1. New Principles Duty swayeth the conscience and love inclineth the heart 1 Tim. 1. 5. The end of the Commandment is charity out of a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfeigned No act is gracious and an act of pure obedience unless it have these qualifications It is not the matter that maketh the work good but the principles all that we do must come from a principle of faith love and obedience obedience respects the Command love the kindness and merit of the Lawgiver and faith his bounty and reward the first swayeth the Conscience the second inclineth the heart and the third giveth encouragement This is to do duties with a Gospel frame of spirit obedience takes notice of the Laws of God love of the kindness of God and faith of the rewards of God and so obedience sheweth us the matter of the duty and faith the encouragement so that what ever is done as an act of the new nature or sanctified estate it is an act of obedience out of gratitude upon the encouragement of our glorious hopes and advantages in Christ As if it be asked Why do I do it God hath commanded it Why with such strength of affection and earnestness God hath deserved it because of his love and bounty in Christ Conscience is sensible of the obligation and love and hope sweetens the duty There is a natural conscience of good and evil which is known by legal ayms and carnal motives what is done out of natural conscience is not done out of obedience and thankefulness but out of bondage and with a servile frame of spirit like fruits that are ripened by art and force not naturally nor kindly 2. New Ends here indeed the discovery is most sensible Principles are more hidden and discovered mostly by ends Now the only end must be Gods glory All that is done in the spiritual life be it an act of piety justice temperance or charity it must be done with this aym that God may be glorified by our obedience to his Will I owe this duty to God and I must do it for Gods sake be it a duty of worship or in your civil relation and traffique as if I pray the last end of prayer must be Gods glory whither I seek grace and pardon or the conveniences and supports of the present life Grace still sublimateth the intention of the creature therefore carnal men are taxed for praying out of self-interests Hosea 7. 14. They have not cryed unto me when they howled upon their beds they assemble themselves for corn and wine and oyl It is but a brutish cry when men seek only their own commodity and welfare as beasts will howl when they are sensible of any smart and injury dogs or any brute beasts may do the same there is no act of grace in it So in charity many men make it a kind of bargain and traffique they do it to be seen of men Mat. 6. 2. to gratifie their worldly interests not to please God or honour God for their credit and repute to be well thought of and there Christ saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is they have that which they look for for other things they give God a discharge and acquitance Briefly the aims of men not regenerate or sanctified are either carnal or natural or legal 1. Carnal when men make a market of Religion their worship righteousness and charity is set to sale and by a vile submission made to stoop to their own private interests as the Pharisees made long prayers to devour widows houses that is to beget a fame and repute of honesty that they might be entrusted with the management of their estates So some may pray to shew parts preach out of envy and to rival others in esteem Phil. 1. 15. Often is this vile scorn put upon God that his worship is made a cover and pretence to unclean intents which is as if a cup of gold made for a King to drink of should be filled with excrements or as if we did set up another god beside him for that which we make our utmost end we make it our God as false Teachers are said to make their belly their God Phil. 3. 19. because all that they did was for belly chear to flow in abundance of wealth and worldly pleasures by this means setting up the belly and the concernments of the belly in Gods stead 2. There are natural ends It is grace as I said that sublimateth the intention of the creature A carnal man can go no higher then Self as water cannot ascend beyond its spring Now all natural men are not hypocrites to put on a pretence of strictness out of design the Apostle saith They do by nature the things contained in the Law Rom. 2. 14. that is upon the impulses of natural conscience they avoyd such sins as Nature discovereth upon such arguments and reasons as Nature suggesteth If they worship it is to satisfie their own consciences if they be strict and temperate it is not out of reasons of obedience but because the matter of carnal pleasure is gross and burdensom and hindereth the free contemplation of the mind or because these pleasures emasculate and quench their natural bravery and so hinder their reputation in the world if they be just it is to maintain commerce between man and man if they be kind in their relations it is for their own peace and quiet nothing is done as in and to the Lord as the Apostle enjoyneth Ephes 5. God is neither at the beginning nor at the end of any of these actions the love of God is not
know my heart c. No doubt but David was sensible that God could find enough in him but Lord search see if any thing be allowed with full leave of conscience Again False grace doth not grow unless it be worse and worse Pretences wither rather then thrive God complaineth Ier. 7. 24. that they went backward rather then forward False grace is always declining till it be wholly lost like bad salt that loseth of its acrimony and smartness every day till it be cast to the dunghil But now true grace from a grain it groweth into a tree Matth. 13. from a morning glimpse to a perfect noon Prov. 4. 18. from smoaking flax it is blown up into a flame The least meal in the Barrel and oyl in the Cruse when it is fed with a supply from Heaven shall prosper into abundance Nicodemus that at first came to Christ by night after boldly declareth himself for him Iohn 19. 30. Grace gets ground upon the flesh and holiness by degrees advanceth into a triumph Examine then whether you increase or decrease if you go backward from zeal to coldness from strictness to looseness if you lose you care of duty and choyceness of spirit and there be no complaining it is a sign grace was never wrought in truth Once more False grace is not accompanyed with humility When men the more they profess the prouder they grow and more self-conceited there is cause of suspicion With true grace there always goeth along a spiritual poverty or a sense of our spiritual wants the more knowledg the more they discern their ignorance compare 1 Cor. 8. 2. with Prov. 30. 2 3. the more faith the more they bewail unbelief and see a need of increase and further growth Mark 9. 24. Lord I beleeve help mine unbelief Oh I want faith what shall I do still I am haunted with prejudicial and lessening thoughts of Gods alsufficiency and goodness It is excellent when the Soul is thus kept hungry and humble under our enjoyments and we forget the things that are behind because the things that are before us or not yet attained are much more 3. The next thing is restraining grace which is nothing else but an awe upon the Conscience inclining men to forbear sin though they do not hate it Now you may discern it partly because love is of little use and force with such kind of spirits they are chained up by their own fears The great Evangelick motive is mercy Rom. 12. 1. I beseech you by the mercies of God The heart is most ingenuous when it yeildeth to such intreaties It is good to serve God with reverence but a servile awe hath little of grace in it It is true indeed it is better to have a slavish fear then none at all therefore David saith to them that would be held in with no other restraints Psal 4. 4. Stand in awe and sin not to cool and charm their fury he maketh use of the argument of Gods vengeance though this is also the fault of slavish spirits that carnal respects and thoughts of outward inconvenience do equally sway them as a servile fear of Gods Iudgments Again you may know it because it doth not destroy sin but only prohibit the exercise of it Abimelechs lust was not quenched yet God withheld him from sinning against Sarah Gen. 20. 6. The heart is not renewed though the action be checked as Israel had an adulterous heart towards God when her way was hedged up with thorns Hosea 2. 6. Again it is their trouble that they are held in the stocks of Conscience they would fain be enlarged and find out their own paths 4. The next thing that looketh like Sanctification but is not is common grace This is a distinct thing from all the rest yet I call it common grace because it may be in them that fall away and depart from God It differeth from Civility because it is more Christian and Evangelical from Formality because that is only in pretence and shew whereas this is a real work upon the Soul from restraining grace because that is only conversant about sins and duties out of a servile awe of God but this seemeth to carry out the Soul with some affection to Christ it is a common work good in its self which God ordaineth in some to be a preparation and begining of the work of grace Of this the Apostle speaketh Heb. 6. 4 5. where he calleth it an enlightening a taste of Christ and of the powers of the world to come and a partaking of the Holy Ghost meaning of the gifts of the Spirit abilities for holy duties c. of all which elsewhere only now let me note three things 1. That the light there spoken of is not humbling 2. The taste is not ravishing and drawing out the Soul after more of Christ 3. Their gifts are not renewing and sanctifying 1. That light is not humbling He saith they are enlightened but he doth not say they are humbled Foundations totter that are not layed deep enough The more true light a man hath the more cause of self-abasement will he find in himself You can never magnifie Christ enough and you can never debase self enough and certainly Christ is most exalted when you are most abased Isai 2. 19. Dagon must fall upon his face if you mean to set up the Ark and if Christ shall be precious to you you must be vile in your own eyes none have such true revivings as the humble Isai 57. 15 16. True humiliation is far from weakening your comforts it maketh them more full and sure therefore a main thing that was wanting in those spoken of in Heb. 6. was humiliation and their fault was a rash closing with Christ in the pride of their hearts 2. Their taste was not ravishing and affecting the heart so as to engage it to seek after Christ they had but loose and slight desires of happiness glances upon the glory of Heaven and the comforts of the Gospel which possibly might stir up a wish Oh that I might dye the death of the righteous c. they were not serious and holy desires after Christ after grace and strength to serve him The Saints that have a taste groan after a fuller communion in his graces as well as comforts that experience which they have had of Christ maketh them long for more But now in Temporaries there is a loose asseâ—t and slight affection a taste enough to prevail with them to make some profession for a while a rejoycing for a season c. 3. Their gifts are not renewing and sanctifying such possibly as may make them useful to the Church but do not change the heart the Apostle saith they were made partakers of the Holy Ghost that is had some share it may be a plentiful share of Church gifts so as to be able to carry on duties to the edification and comfort of others but alas what is a man the better if the
heart be opprest with sins in the mean time and be not upright with God 1 Cor. 13. 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and Angels and have not charity I am become but as a sounding Brass and tinkling Cymbal Though you can speak of the things of God with much enlargement and affection pray sweetly all is but as tinkling with God if there be not saving grace It is a great evidence that we are such as the Apostle speaketh of when the affection doth not answer the expression of a duty nor the life our knowledg and gifts have not a proportionable influence upon practise So much for that Point Having spoken of the State I come now to speak of the Author of it God the Father But why is it so distinctly attributed to the Father is not Christ our Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30. and is it not called the Sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thes 2. 14. The Answer shall draw out the strength of the phrase in these Propositions 1. It is true that the whole Trinity one way or other concurreth to the work of holiness those works ad extra are indivisa common to all the Persons the Father sanctifieth the Son sanctifieth and the Holy Ghost sanctifieth the same may be said of preserving and calling 2. Though all work joyntly yet there are distinct personal operations by which they make way for the glory of each other the love of the Father for the glory of the Son and the glory of the Son for the power of the Spirit See how the Scripture followeth these things You shall find first that no man cometh to the Son but from the Father by Election Iohn 6. 37. All that the Father giveth shall come to me so vers 65. No man cometh unto me unless it be given him of my Father Look again and you shall find that no man cometh to the Father from the bondage of sin and Satan but by the Son through his Redemption and Mediation John 14. 6. I am the Way the Truth and the Life no man cometh unto the Father but by me Again you shall see no man is united to the Son but by the Holy Ghost who worketh in those whom the Father did choose and the Son redeem and therefore the Sanctification of the Spirit is as necessary as the Blood of Jesus 1 Pet. 1. 2. So that you see all have their distinct work the Inchoation is from the Father the Dispensation by the Son and the Consummation by the Spirit from the Father in the Son and through the Spirit there is Gods choyce Christs purchase and the Spirits application all are joyned in one Verse for indeed they must not be severed even in the place last alledged 1 Pet. 1. 2. 3. Because the first distinct operation is the Fathers therefore the whole work in Scripture is often ascribed to him he is said to justifie The Iustifier of them that beleeve in Iesus Rom. 3. 26. So he is said elsewhere to purge Iohn 15. 1 2. I am the Vine and my Father is the Husbandman he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit All dependeth upon the decree of his love Christ doth not work upon a person unless he be given to him by the Father and therefore he being first in order and operation the whole work is made his work Sanctified in God the Father Observe That Sanctification is Gods work wrought in us by the Father To cleanse the heart is beyond the power of the creature it can no more make it self holy then make its self to be We could defile our selves but we cannot cleanse our selves as the sheep can go astray of its self but it can never return to the fold without the shepherds care and help Lusts are too hard for us and so are the duties of obedience God that gave us his Image at first must again plant it in the Soul Who can repair Nature depraved but the Author of Nature When a Watch is out of order we send it to the Workman We are his workmanship in Christ Ephes 2. 10. God taketh it to be his Prerogative Levit. 21. 8. I am the Lord that sanctifieth thee Grace is his immediate creature Mans will contributeth nothing to the work but resistance and rebellion and outward means work not unless God put in with them else why should the same Word preached by the same Minister work in some and harden others all the difference ariseth from Gods grace which acteth according to pleasure Well then 1. Let us wait upon God till the work be accomplished Our wills are obstinate and perverse but God never made a creature too hard for himself he is able to do this thing for us and 't is our comfort we have such a God to go to The Heathens that groped and felt after God were to seek of a power to quell their lusts and therefore were put upon sad remedies whereas all is made easie to you in the power of God through Christ Crates gave this advice to one that came to him to know how he should subdue the lust of uncleanness he answered that he should either famish himself or hang himself they knew no remedy but offering violence to Nature or else death and despair Democritus blinded himself because he could not look upon women without lusting after them Now God teacheth us to put out the eye of our lust not of our bodies Bless God that you know whose work it is and to whom to go for Sanctification 2 Vse Praise the Lord when ever this work is accomplished Not I but grace it must not be ascribed to our works or to any power that is in our selves but to Gods mercy Christs merits and the Spirits efficacy There is Gods grant To her it was granted to be covered with fine linnen the righteousness of the Saints Rev. 19. 18. God the Father giveth leave or issueth forth an Authentick Act and Decree in the Court of Heaven as Esther by the grant of the King was supplyed out of the Kings Wardrobe Then there is Christs merit the stream wherein we are washed floweth out of Christs own heart 1 John 1. 7. The Blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin Then there is the Spirits efficacy no less power will vanquish the proud heart of man 'T is notable that grace is expressed not only by the notion of Creation which is a making things out of nothing but also by Victory or a powerful overcoming of opposition In Creation as there was nothing to help so there was nothing to resist and hinder but in man there is besides a death of sin a life of resistance against grace therefore Sanctification must entirely be ascribed to God we deserve it not it cometh from the Fathers good-will and Christs merit we work iâ— not 't is accomplished by the power of the Holy Ghost Again observe That though the work of grace be immediately
Merit see Heb. 9. 12. He is entered into the holy place having obtained an eternal Redemption for us Legal expiations did but last from year to year but Christs merit for ever and ever his Redemption is eternal not only as 't is of use in all ages of the Church but in respect of every particular Saint those who are once redeemed by Christ they are not redeemed for a time so as to fall away again that would argue that the virtue of Christs Blood were spent and could preserve them no longer but they are for ever kept to Salvation So Heb. 10. 14. By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified He hath not only purchased a possibility of Salvation but all that we need to our full perfection 't is not for a certain time but for ever Then there is a close Vnion between him and us this is the notion of the Text preserved in Christ Look as 't is impossible to sever the leaven and the dough when they are once mingled and kneaded together so Christ and a Beleever when they are united together there is no parting more Can Christs mystical Body be maimed or lose a joynt Then his constant Intercession that 's another ground a Copy of which we have in the 17 of John where he saith Keep them through thy Name c. and Keep them from the evil c. See Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save to the uttermost those that come to God by him for he liveth for ever to make Intercession for them He is interceding with God that the merit of his death may be applyed to us and what 's that Salvation to the uttermost or to the end The heirs of Salvation need not fear miscarrying Jesus Christ who is the Testator who by Will and Testament made over the heritage to them he also is the Executor he liveth for ever to see his own Will executed he dyed once to make the Testament and he liveth for ever to see it made good when ever we are in danger he is intreating his Father for supports and assistances of grace 3. On the Spirits part there is a continued influence so as to maintain the essence and seed of grace The Fathers love is continued by the merit of Christ that he may not depart from us and we are preserved by the Spirit of Christ that we may not depart from him He doth not only put into our hearts faith fear love and other graces at first but he maintaineth and keepeth them that the fire may never go out Our hearts are his temple and he doth not love to leave his dwelling place And besides in the Oeconomy of Salvation 't is his Office to glorifie Christ as his Vicegerent and to be our Comforter therefore with respect to the honour of Christ and the comfort of Beleevers he preserveth and maintaineth that grace that is once really wrought in our hearts To preserve the glory of Christ thus Christ you know hath received a Charge from the Father to lose nothing John 6. 39. neither body nor soul nothing that belongeth to an elect person Now that he may be true to his trust he sendeth the Spirit as his Deputy or Executor that his Merit may be fully applyed 'T is for the honour of Christ that where ever the work is begun where ever he hath been an Author there he may be a Finisher also 'T was said of the foolish Builder that he began and was not able to make an end this dishonor can never be cast upon Christ because of the power and faithfulness of the Spirit he doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 1. 6. go through with the work which he hath begun the Spirit is to fit vessels for glory he doth not use to leave them half carved he is faithful to Christ as Christ is to his Father the Father chooseth the vessel Christ buyeth them and the Spirit carveth and fitteth them that they may be vessels of praise and honour But this is not all He preserveth and continueth us in the state of grace as our Comforter by working grace he puts us into an expectation of glory and happiness and to make it good he carryeth on the work without failing therefore grace is called the first fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8. 24. and the earnest of the Spirit 2 Cor. 1. 22. and 5. 6. for it hath a double use to be a taste and a pledg 't is a taste to shew us how good eternal life is and a pledg to shew us how sure it is The first degree of Regeneration is of this nature 't is an earnest or gage assuring us of a more perfect enjoyment the livery and seisin of glory to come As soon as a real change is wrought the Spirit of God doth give us earnest and will God lose his earnest will he give us a pledg and fail our expectation Surely no. Let us now come to Application It presseth us to persevere with the more care 't is no unreasonable inference see 1 John 2. 27 28. Ye shall abide in him And now little children abide in him Since we have so many advantages of standing let not us fall away Oh how great will your sin be if you should miscarry and dishonor God! We pity a child that falleth when 't is not looked after but when a froward child wresteth and forceth it self out of the arms of the Nurse we are angry with it You have more reason to stand then others being brought into an unchangeable state of grace being held in the arms of Christ God will be very angry with your slips and failings Mercy holdeth you fast and you seek to wrest your selves out of Mercy 's arms None can sin as you do with such frowardness with such dishonor to God you disparage the Spirits custody the merit of Christ and the mercy of the Father See Heb. 4. 1. Let us therefore fear a promise being left to us of entering into his Rest lest any should seem to come short of it Look as some seem to stand that do not so some seem to fall utterly that do not A child of God indeed cannot come short but he should not seem that is give any appearance of coming short When our religious course is interrupted and we give way to sin and folly that 's a seeming to come short and so you bring a scandal upon the love of God as if it were changeable upon the merit of Christ as if it were not a perfect Merit Scandalous Professors make Arminians in an age of defection no wonder if men plead for the Apostacy of the Saints If you fall through weakness be not utterly dismayed As the Spinster leaveth a lock of wool to draw on the next thread so there is somewhat left when you are departed from God you have more hold-fast upon him then another sinner a child though a prodigal go to him and say Father David pleadeth
the glory of a man is meant what ever excellency we have by Nature wit knowledg strength of natural parts as well as wealth and riches Many times we like the dry stalk remaineth when the flower is gone nothing but the gracious work of the Spirit will last for ever 3. Seeming and unsound grace as false faith such as beginneth in joy will end in trouble it easeth you for the present but you shall lie down in sorrow General probabilities loose hopes uncertain conjectures vanishing apprehensions of comfort all these things soon come to nothing The planting of true faith is troublesom at first but it leadeth to true comfort otherwise you may look upon the Gospel with some kind of delectation for a while as thorns may blaze under the pot though they cannot keep in the fire therefore do not rest in tasting the good Word Heb. 6. 5. in some slight and transitory comfort Again there is formal profession Many may begin in the Spirit and end in the flesh Gal. 3. 3. A man may seem to himself and to the Church of God to have true grace he may profess the truth escape the pollutions of the world that is foul gross sins yea and all this not out of a carnal aim but out of a slight and insufficient touch of the truth upon the Conscience and yet fall away like the corn in the stony ground that grew up but had no root But much more Christians will that form which is taken up out of private aims fail and miscarry God delighteth to take off the mark and disguise of an hypocrite by letting them fall into some scandalous sin or by changing the times and posture of affairs or by sending a storm Paint is soon washed of therefore rest not in these outward and superficial changes till solid and substantial grace be wrought in you Is Comfort to Gods children Grace is sure and the priviledges of it are sure Grace it self is sure through your folly it may be nigh unto death but cannot dye This is the advantage of spiritual comforts that they do not only satisfie our desires but secure us against our fears The redeemed of the Lord have an everlasting joy Isai 35. 10. Once in Christ and for ever preserved in Christ Grace would be little better then temporal things if it did yeild but a temporary refreshing They weaken Christian comfort that make Beleevers walk with Christ like Dancers upon a rope every moment in fear of breaking their necks This is the comfort of a gracious heart that as nothing shall altogether cut him off from enjoying God so nothing shall utterly make him cease to love God The children of God would be troubled if grace should fail though their priviledges should not be cut off you are sure of both For as grace is sure so are also the priviledges of grace This was figured under the Law an Israelite could never wholly alienate his inheritance and title to the Land Levit. 25. 23. His title to the Land shall not be cut off nor sold for ever This was a type of our spiritual inheritance in Christ which cannot be alienated from us he might for a while pass it away but it was to return again so those that are made coheirs with Christ are never dis-inherited 'T is true we forfeit it by the merit of our actions but God doth not take the advantage of every offence 'T is true we lose the evidences that are in our keeping peace of Conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost but the estate it self is undefeasible and cannot be made away from us Sometimes we are under a king of sequestration and there is a suspension of comfort and grace as the Israelite might make away his inheritance for a time but we shall recover possession again though not by our selves yet by our Goel our kinsman or him that is next of blood As under the Law if a person were not able to redeem the inheritance the kinsman was to redeem it so Jesus Christ our kinsman after the flesh he is our Goel he interposeth by his merit and reconcileth us to God Well then You see grace is kept and the priviledges of grace are kept in Christ But now because comforts are never prized but in their season and men that have not been exercised in spiritual conflicts nauseate these sweet truths they know not what it is to be left to uncertainty when troubles come like waves one in the neck of another therefore let us see when this truth will be most sweet and seasonable 1. In great troubles when God seemeth to hide his face Oh how sweet is it to hear him say I will not forsake thee till I have performed all that I promised thee Gen. 28. 15. all this shall better thy heart and hasten thy glory In times of distress we are apt to think that God hath cast us off and will never look after us more though formerly we have had real experiences of his grace What a foolish creature is man to weaken his assurance when he should come to use it to unravel all his hope and experiences in times of trouble which is the only season to make use of them 2. In the hour of temptation and hard conflicts with doubts and corruptions when we are sensible of the power of sin and how difficult it is to remove it out of the heart we are apt to say as David after all his experiences I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul 1 Sam. 27. 1. and many times out of distrust give over the combate Oh then remember now you are preserved in Christ and that nothing shall separate as Sarcerius came to Camerarius his wife when she had been exercised with a long and tedious conflict and read to her the latter end of the eighth of the Romans she brake out in triumph using Pauls words Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors Oh Christians neither sin nor Devil nor world can divide you from Christ for he did not only tread down Satan but under your feet 3. In times of great danger and defection either through error and persecution as Saunders trembled to think of the fire especially when others fall fearfully who were before us in knowledg and profession of zeal and piety when the first become last when glorious Luminaries are eclipsed and leave their orb and station as the Martyrs were troubled to hear of the revolt of some great Scholars that had appeared for the Gospel When Hymeneus and Philetus two eminent Professors fell there was a great shaking 2 Tim. 2. 18. But the foundation of the Lord standeth sure c. that 's the comfort the Apostle opposeth in such a case 4. In times of disheartening because of the difficulties of Religion when the use of means groweth troublesom to quicken you in your Christian course think of the unchangeableness of Gods love all graces rise according to the proportion and
presumption that God will not be rigorous he wrongeth Grace exceedingly I say if he grow more careless secure negligent not so constant in duty not so watchful and strict in conversation or abateth ought of his humiliation for sin he is a spider that sucketh poyson out of this flower Lastly We wrong Grace by slighting it after a taste At first coming to Christ we make an essay and tryal and usually then God giveth us a taste to engage us to look for more Now after tryal you are not satisfied but return to your sinful courses again and so do as it were proclaim to the World that you found carnal comforts and pleasures to be better then communion with God This is but the interpretation of your Apostacy The whole aim of the Word is to perswade us to make tryal of the sweetness of Grace Now you that have once tasted of it and grow weary do by your practise tell the World that there is no sweetness in it at all which is a great wrong to Grace and Mercy 'T is high time now to speak of the second thing prayed for which is Peace Whence observe That Peace is a great Blessing one of the main Priviledges of the Gospel I shall first Shew you what it is Secondly Give you some Observations concerning it and thirdly Come to Application 1. What it is 'T is a tranquillity of mind arising from the sense of a sure estate with God To this Peace two things concur First A sure estate or terms of amity with God this is called in Scripture peace with God and is the immediate effect and fruit of actual Justification Rom. 5. 1. And then secondly There is a sense of this sure estate or the reflex of this amity upon the Conscience and is usually called peace of Conscience and is a special priviledg of Christs spiritual Kingdom see Rom. 14. 17. the Apostle speaketh there of a peace which is ranked with joy in the Holy Ghost But it will be better opened to you in the ensuing Propositions 1. Man by Nature is at enmity with God and upon ill terms with him When we lost Gods Image we lost his favour This enmity is mutual Man is an enemy to God and God is an enemy to man On Gods part there is wrath which is all that we are born to by Nature Ephes 2. 3. and on mans part there is hatred we hate God because we love sin Col. 1. 21. Gods enmity is suspended in the day of his patience Now and then Wrath breaketh out but 't is not executed to the full sentence is past but not executed nay it may be reversed if we take sanctuary at Grace for God is now upon a treaty with us or offer of peace therefore 't is said Peace on Earth Luke 2. 14. The next World is a time of vengeance and recompence but during our earthly state God woeth us and enviteth us to lay down the weapons of our defiance and accept of terms of Peace Thus matters stand on Gods part But now on our part this enmity is carryed on with a great deal of spight We seek to destroy God and to deface all the memorials of him that are impressed upon the Conscience we ungod him in our thoughts and affections 't is a pleasing thought to us to suppose if there were no God as guilty prisoners wish there were no Judg no Assizes that they may not be called to account 2. Man being at enmity with God all Gods creatures are at enmity with him Angels men fire ayr water they are all at Gods beck and are ready to destroy man when ever the Lord biddeth them as good Subjects take part with their Prince against Rebels The Angels harken for the voyce of his Word Psal 103. If he do but hiss for the fly of Egypt Isa 7 't is ready presently 'T is ill contesting with him that can command Legions The fire saith Let me burn his house or dwelling place the water saith Let me drown his ships the Earth Let me swallow him up quick as I did Corah and his complices Certainly the Lord cannot want instruments of Vengeance Man as Gods creature is his own enemy God needeth not fetch forces from without there is enough within the humors of the body the passions of the mind all these are willing to serve God as creatures for our punishment so that if God should but arm our own thoughts our own affections against us man is soon overwhelmed Who can bear the wounds given him by his own Conscience 3. We being in this estate can only be reconciled by Jesus Christ He obtaineth it by his Merit and conferreth it by his Power For his Merit see Col. 1. 20. and Isai 53. 5. The chastisement of our Peace was upon him It will not stand with the Majesty of God to make Peace with us without satisfaction That there might be no wrong done to his Soveraignty his Law his Truth his Justice his Holiness it was meet that we should be chastised either in our own persons or in our Surety and also all the notions of the Godhead are kept inviolable Then for his Power He worketh it at first and then maintaineth and keepeth it afoot between God and us He worketh it at first and bringeth it about thus by opening the Gospel wherein God is revealed as pacified in Christ which is the only doctrine that can calm the Conscience and establish the Soul in peace and hope All false Religions are accompanied with scruples and jealousies Jer. 6. 16. there is no rest for the Soul And then he applyeth the Gospel by his Spirit The Gospel is a soveraign Plaister but Christs own hand must make it stick There is a double ground of enmity in mans heart the guilt and power of sin Christ wipeth guilt out of the conscience by the application of his own blood and weakeneth the power of sin more and more Sin is the Makebate and Christ is the Prince of Peace Isa 9. 6. The great end for which God set him up was to plant grace in our hearts and so to work a friendship between God and us But Christ is not only the Author but the great Conservator of the Peace between us and Heaven Partly by his Intercession as forreign States have their Agents in Princes Courts to preserve a mutual Correspondence so Christ taketh up all differences that fall out between us and God that no breach may ensue Heb. 9. 24. Partly by a further declaration of Gods love to the conscience Isai 26. 3. Partly by stirring us up to watchfulness that no occasion may be given on our part by returning to folly Psal 85. 8. Thus you see what Christ doth all is briefly summed up by the Apostle in 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the World Where note that our peace with God is a reconciliation or a peace after a breach and this reconciliation is mutual God appeareth in a form
of grace and mercy to us and we lay down cur enmity against God he is gracious to us and we love and serve him only observe that God beginneth first though he the wronged party he was reconciling And mark again 't is in Christ to shew 't is sure Those that are reconciled to men are still in â—mbrage and suspition with them they that have once been enemies they may be again therefore they do not return to perfect grace When the wound is cured the scars remain But our reconciliation with God 't is like the sodering of a vessel which is strongest in the crack or as a leg broken if well set it is the stronger so are vve upon firmer terms then vve vvere in innocency there vvas a possibility of being at odds vvith God vvhich is novv taken avvay 4. God being reconciled in Christ all things else are at peace with us For his League vvith us is offensive and defensive My horses are as thy horses and my chariots as thy chariots God and all his Confederates are in the League or rather God and all his Subjects as a Prince doth not only contract for his person but his subjects and estates Angels are at peace vvith us in stead of being Instruments of Vengeance they become ministring Spirits Heb. 1. 14. A Christian hath an invisible guard Satan is sensible of it though vve be not he saith of Job Thou hast hedged him round about Gods heirs are vvell attended Angels vvait upon them at Christs direction Other creatures serve us as if they vvere in League and Covenant vvith us Stars Winds Seas Beasts Job 5. 23. Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field and the beasts shall be at peace with thee They are included in Gods League vvhich is as much as if there vvere an express Covenant betvveen us and them that they shall not do us harm they are at the beck of Providence and therefore so far as it conduceth to our good at our service So Hosea 2. 18. I will make a Covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the fowls of the Heaven c. So for men they are wolves one to another yet God can change them The Gospel civillizeth and pulleth the beast out of mens bosoms vvhere it vvorketh least see Isai 11. 7 8 9. The hearts of men are in Gods hands he can either destroy their persons or restrain their rage or turn out their respects to you When a mans ways please the Lord he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him Prov. 16. 17. We think to carry all by force and violence many times but obedience to God is the best vvay to gain the respects of men as a key openeth a door sooner then an Iron bar If you be in vvith God you stop enmity and strife at the Fountain head So for peace with the Saints Jesus Christ breaketh down the partition wall Ephes 2. 16 17 18. removeth prejudices and jealousies changeth interests cleareth up truths and by his Spirit meekeneth their hearts that they be at one Surely his Blood is the best cement and bond of friendship Christ hath called us into a Body that there might be peace in the Church Col. 3. 15. Brothers have defaced the feelings of Nature but fellow-members are wont to care one for another Peace with fellow Saints was his dying charge his legacy John 14. 27. his prayer John 17. and his constant care now he is in Heaven Then for peace with our selves Sin rendeth and teereth a ma from himself it maketh a mutiny in his own heart Rom. 2. 15. thoughts accusing and excusing by turns 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A man and his conscience are at odds and a man and his affections Now we being reconciled to God the foundation is layd for peace of Conscience that we and our hearts may talk together as loving friends without scolding without reproaching And then Grace giveth us a calm and contented spirit which easeth us of a great deal of trouble for a discontented man is his own burden We need the peace of God not only in our consciences but to bear rule in our hearts Col. 3. 16. that we may refer all matters to Gods disposal Psal 4. 8. 5. Though all things are at peace with us yet some troubles are left for our exercise but not for our hurt and destruction The peace of God 't is a very riddle Phil. 4. 7. It passeth all understanding To sense who more wretched then Gods children hated reviled persecuted afflicted How are they are at peace with God and all his creatures I answer The priviledges of Christs Kingdom are spiritual what ever troubleth the Saints nothing can harm them 1 Pet. 3. 13. they may harm the man but not the Christian All things are at peace vvith them because they are at the disposal of a wise and gracious Providence and cannot do hurt to the better part they vvork for good Death is at peace vvith them vvhich doth the greatest hurt to the body Ask old Simeon and he 'l tell you so Luke 2. 29. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace c. They are sent for by their friend the King of fears is a grim messenger but they knovv his errand and therefore are not afraid 6. In Heaven there is a perfect Peace In the nevv Jerusalem all is quiet 'T is just with God to give you that are troubled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rest 2 Thes 1. 7. And there is a rest that remaineth for the children of God Heb. 4. 9. there vve rest both from our sorrows and our labours there is no trouble nor affliction more all priviledges are at the height no more apprehensions of Gods Wrath fears of death there vve are not only free from hurt but danger our exercise is at end there vve do immediately behold the Kings face vvhich is not granted us here novv vve are in Absaloms condition pardoned reconciled but cannot see the Kings face So much for the nature of this Peace and the Observations that open it to you Let us novv apply all If Peace be such an excellent Blessing and a main priviledg of the Gospel then it puts us upon tryal Are vve at peace vvith God through Christ If it be so then 1. Enmity is layd aside Gods enemies vvill be yours and yours vvill be Gods otherwise what peace What do we talk of peace with God as long as we are in league with Gods enemy What peace as long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezabel are so many Our League with God is defensive and offensive There is a war with Satan if we be at peace with God The spiritual conflict is the best evidence we have of our unity with God With the wicked God is at open war There is no peace c. Isai 57. 20. The Devil may be at a secret peace with them but God is at distance and abhorreth all communion
with them Christ is called the Prince of Peace Isai 9. 6. but 't is to those that submit to his Government to his Subjects he saith Take my yoke upon you and ye shall find rest Mat. 11. 29. We are not in a capacity to receive this Blessing till we take an oath of allegiance to Christ and continue in obedience to him 2. The next Note is delight in communion with God Job 22. Acquaint thy self with him and be at peace A man that is at peace with God will be often in his company Bondage and servile awe keepeth us out of Gods presence We cannot come to him because we cannot come in peace A man never delighteth in duties of commerce with God when either he hath a false peace or no peace Duties disturb a false peace and when we are raw and sour we are unfit for work When a Peace is concluded between Nations that were before at War Trading is revived so will it be between God and you commerce will be revived and you will be trading into Heaven that you may bring avvay rich treasures of grace and comfort It presseth us to make peace vvith God by Christ We speak to tvvo sorts the careless and the distressed 1. To the careless Consider you are born enemies to God They that loved him from their cradle upvvard never loved him You must make peace vvith God for you cannot maintain war against him Are you stronger then he What vvill you arm lusts against Angels And do you knovv the terror of his wrath one spark of it is enough to drink up all your blood and spirits Job 6. 4. The present life is but a vapor soon gone If God be angry he can arm the least creature to kill you The vvhole Creation taketh part vvith God Adrian vvas strangled with a Gnat. But death vvill not end your sorrovvs none can punish their enemies as God can he can ruine your body and soul for ever and for ever Hovv vvill you screech and howl like Dragons But your torments are vvithout end and vvithout ease Be vvise then and do not sleep vvhen your damnation sleepeth not novv is the time to make your peace vvith God Ah that you knew in this your day the things that belong to your peace Luk. 19. 41. Peace must be had novv or else it can never be had hereafter the day of patience vvill not alvvays last therefore let us get into the Ark before the Flood cometh T is a dreadful thing to be under the Wrath of God and you knovv not hovv soon it vvill light our care should be to be found of him in peace 2 Pet. 3. 14. Christ is novv a Saviour then a Judg You vvill yell and howl for mercy vvhen 't is too late 2. I am to speak to distressed Consciences Lift up your heads God offereth you peace he sent Angels from Heaven to proclaim it Luke 2. 14. The ground of the offer is good-will and the end of the offer is only his own glory God hath no other reasons to move him to it but his own good-will and no other aim then to glorifie his grace see Ephes 1. 6. and therefore take hold of his Covenant of Peace as 't is called Isai 54. 10. He is content we shall have peace upon these terms and peace assured us by Covenant Certainly 't is not a duty to doubt nor a thing acceptable to God that we should always be upon terms of perplexity and keep Conscience raw with a sense of wrath and sin Wherefore did Christ bear the chastisement of our Peace God is more pleased with a chearful confidence then a servile spirit full of bondage and fear 'T is Caution If Peace be a priviledg of the Gospel let us take care that we settle upon a right Peace lest we mistake a Judgment for a Blessing 'T is the greatest Judgment that can be to be given up to our own secure presumptions and to be lulled asleep with a false peace When the pulse doth not beat the body is in a dangerous estate so when Conscience is benummed and suiteth not 't is very sad The Grounds of a false and carnal Peace are 1. Ignorance of our condition Many go hoodwink'd to Hell a little light breaking in would trouble all Rom. 7. 9. Sluttish corners are not seen in the dark Things are naught that cannot brook a tryal So you may know that 't is very bad with men when they will not come to the light John 3. 20. or cannot endure to be alone lest Conscience should return up it self and they be forced to look inward their confidence is supported by meer ignorance 2. Sensuality Some mens lives are nothing else but a diversion from one pleasure to another that they may put off that which they cannot put away there is bondage in their Consciences and they are loth to take notice of it Amos 6. 3. They drink wine in bowls and put far away the evil day This is to quench the spirit without a metaphor All their pleasures are but stoln waters and bread eaten in secret frisks of mirth when they can get Conscience asleep Caâ—ns heart was a trouble to him therefore he falleth a building of Cities Saul to cure the evil spirit ran to his Musick and so usually men choak Conscience either with business or pleasures 3. From formality and slightness in the spiritual life First Either they do not seriously perform duty that will make men see what carnal unsavory sapless spirits they have He that never stirreth doth not feel the lameness of his joynts Formal duties make men the more secure as the Pharisee thought himself in a good case because c. Luke 18. 11. but spiritual duties search us to the purpose as new wine doth old bottles Or else secondly They do not exasperate their lusts and seriously resist sin Tumult is made by opposition When a man yeildeth to Satan no wonder that Satan lets him alone Luke 11. 21. The goods are in peace because the Devils possession is not disturbed he rageth most when his Kingdom is tottering Rev. 12. 12. Please the worst natures and they will not trouble you There is no tempest where wind and tyde go together You let Satan alone and he lets you alone this is a peace that will end in trouble I now come to speak of the third thing prayed for and that is Love which being taken here not for Gods love to us but our love to God may be thus defined 'T is a gracious and holy affection which the Soul upon the apprehension of Gods love in Christ returneth back to God again by his own grace The Grounds and Causes of it are two the one worketh by way of argument and swasion the other by way of efficacy and power 1. It ariseth from the sense and apprehensions of Gods love in Christ Love is like a Diamond that is not wrought upon but by its own dust
Faith was closed up there was nothing to be added further as a part of the authentick and infallible Rule though the dayly necessities of the Church do call for a further Explication But you will say You told us but now how the Word was many times delivered how then once I answer The Apostle speaketh not of the successive manifestations of Gods Will to Prophet after Prophet till the Old Testament was perfected but of that common doctrine which the Apostles and Evangelists by one consent had published to the world and which was now to settle into a Rule and so to remain without change till the coming of the Lord. Observe That the doctrine of Salvation was but once delivered to remain for ever without variation Paul chideth them for being withdrawn to another Gospel Gal. 1. 6. and Peter telleth them to prevent the reception of feigned Oracles that they had a surer Word of Prophecy 2 Pet. 1. 19. a safe rule to trust to and Paul biddeth Timothy Continue in the things which he had learned and our Lord saith Mat. 24. This Word of the Kingdom shall be preaâ—hed to all Nations Now the doctrine of Salvation is but once delivered 1. Because all is done so fully and perfectly that nothing can be added there is enough to make us wise to Salvation and what should Christians desire more There is enough to make the man of God perfect that is to furnish him with all kind of knowledg for the discharge of his office there needeth no more there is enough to make us wise to preach and you wise to practise and 't is certain enough that you need not spend your time in doubting and disputing and 't is full enough you need nothing more to satisfie the desires of Nature or to repair the defects of Nature here is sufficient instruction to decide all Controversies and assoil all doubts and to give us a sure conduct to everlasting glory 2. Because this Rule can never be destroyed The Word hath often been in danger of being lost but the miracle of its prâ—servation is so much the greater In Josiahs time there was but one Copy of the Law in Dioclesians time there was an Edict to burn their Bibles and Copies were then scarce and chargeable yet still they were kept and so shall be to the end of the world for the Sacraments must continue till Christ come Mat. 28. 20. and 1 Cor. 11. 26. and the Word must be preached till we all grow into a perfect body in Jesus Christ Ephes 4. 12 13. not only de jure but de facto not only it must be so but it shall be so Well then expect not new revelations or discoveries of nâ—w truths beside the Word which is the immutable Rule of Salvation Again it checketh them that expect new Apostles endued with a Spirit of infallibility to resolve all doubts and questions We must give heed to the Scriptures till the day star arise in your hearts that is till we have full communion with Christ for our reward in Heaven is expressed by the morning star Rev. 2. 28. To him that overcometh I will give the morning star Again it confuteth the Familists that dream of some days of the Spirit wherein we shall have a greater light then is in the Scriptures they fancy the time of the Law to be the days of the Father the time of the Gospel to be the days of the Son and the latter end of the world to be saeculum Spiritus Sancti as the Weigelians phrase it the age of the Holy Ghost but foolishly for these are the last times and the holy Ghost was never more gloriously poured out then at Christs Ascension and greater things cannot be revealed to us then God in Christ reconciling the world Lastly 't is for the comfort of the Saints that their Salvation is put into a stated course and God hath shewed you what you must do if you would inherit eternal life The next circumstance is the persons to whom it was delivered to the Saints it may be understood of the Apostles to whom it was delivered to be propagated oâ— of the Church to whom it was delivered to be kept and who in the constant use of Scripture are called Saints Observe That Saints are most interested in the acknowledgment propagation and defence of Truth The Christian faith was delivered to Saints and by Saints and none receive it so willingly and defend it so zealously and keep it so charily and faithfully as they do 1. The men that the Spirit of God made use of as Penmen were holy men specially purified and sanctified for this work 2 Pet. 1. 21. Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost And Ephes 3. 5. Revealed unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit These men were the fittest instruments to beget an external repute to the Word Surely they would not do any thing for their own ends and obtrude their own inventions upon the world as Oracles from God A carnal mans testimony is liable to suspition Who would count that wholesom that cometh from a leprous hand Yea those that were not of eminent sanctity were not fit for such an employment a novel doctrine such as the Gospel seemed to be in the world needed all the advantages that might be to gain a title and interest in their belief therefore did the Lord make use of such holy and self-denying persons who expected to gain nothing but ignominy poverty afflictions bonds death these things did abide for them in every City 2. Holy persons are only fit to preach the Faith sancta sanctis holy men for holy things 't is an holy faith and therefore fit to be managed by holy persons that their hearts may carry a proportion with their work Isai 52. 11. Be ye clean that bear the Vessels of the Lord The Officers that carryed the Vessels and Utensils of the Temple out of Babylon were to take care of their cleanness God purified Isaiah when he sent him to reprove Isai 6. 7. and the Priests under the Law that ministred before the Lord were to wash in the great Lavor Regeneration is the best preparation for the Ministry Others disparage their testimony and bring a reproach upon the Gospel People think we must say somewhat for our living and so give us the hearing but that 's all Oh think of it the credit of Christ lieth at stake and since Miracles are ceased all the external confirmation that we can add to the Word is by holiness of conversation The Levites first cleansed themselves and then cleansed the people Nehem. 12. 30. The life of a Minister is much either to edification or destruction they take the lesson rather from your lives then your mouths and by your levity or vanity sin cometh to be authorized in short either your doctrine will make your life blush or your life will make your doctrine blush and
eternity to the everlasting enjoyment of the same inheritance those obligations which last onely for this world cannot be so firme a tye 3. The next Objection is How can God call upon them to beleeve whom he hath passed by in the Counsels of his Will and intendeth never to give them grace without which they cannot beleeve I Answer God may require men to beleeve though he never intended to give them faith for there is a great deal of difference between his Decree and his Law his Law sheweth what must be his Decree what shall be God never said all shall beleeve but he hath said the contrary 2 Thes 3. 2. but all must beleeve that he hath said again and again the Gospel doth not signifie this or that man shall be saved but Whosoever beleeveth shall be saved as truly as it can be said to John or Thomas or any elect person If you do not beleeve you shall be damned so surely may it be said to a Reprobate to Judas or any other If you beleeve you shall be saved if the Reprobate have a like favour with the Elect in the general offer of grace they are left without excuse the tender being so great and so far the same unto both though the Elects receiving be the effect of specia grace yet the Reprobates rejecting is without excause he voluntarily turnig back upon his own mercies So much briefly for the vindication of this Doctrine 4. Let me now apply it 1. Let the Elect so much the more admire Gods love to them because that some are passed by your mercies are not every ones mercies Gods ayme herein was to commend his mercy to the Vessels of mercy Rom. 9. 23. If he had passed us by we could not have blamed his love if he had punished us eternally we could not have blamed his justice consider God hath as much interest in them as in you All souls are mine saith the Lord Ezek. 18. 4. he was their Creator as well as yours and we are all in our blood involved in the same condemnation he saw as much of original sin in you as in them we lay in the same polluted Mass Oh that free grace should make such a difference He had as much reason to chuse Judas and Simon Magus as you was not Esau Jacobs Brother Mal. 1. 2. in all points alike but only in Gods choise when men chuse 't is for worth who would chuse crooked timber to make Vessels of honour yet thus doth the Lord single out the worst and most depraved natures to form them into a people for himself how sensibly many times did God make a distinction between you and others in the same Ordinance One is taken and another left and one is taken to grace and another left to perish in his own ways others it may be were hardened by the same Sermon by which you were converted Oh how ravishing is the sight of Gods love in election and the distinct courses of his providence 2. To press us to diligence To make our Election sure that we may be out of the fear of being in the number of Reprobates the great question that concerneth the comfort of thy soul is Whether thou be ordained to eternal Life or no Now if thou beest negligent and careless and refuseth to use the means of salvation the case is decided though little to thy comfort thou judgest thy self to be unworthy of eternal life Acts 13. 48. A lazy carnal careless man doth but provide matter of despair for himself there are some steps to the accomplishment of the Decree of Reprobation As sottish obstinacy against the counsels of the word a being given up to the spirit of error a constant neglect of means an hardening of our selves in the abuse of grace c. all these are black marks a man may recover but your soul is nigh to death therefore beware lest thou be found one of them who by sin are ordained to come to judgement Elyes Sons hearkened not to the Counsel of their Father because the Lord had a mind to slay them 3. We are now come to that part of the description ungodly men The word signifyeth without worship and is sometimes applyed to Heathens and men that live without the knowledge and worship of the true God at other times to wicked men that acknowledge the true God but walke unsuitably to their knowledge and profession that we may find out who are these men let us see what is ungodliness a sin much spoken of but little known the word as I said signifyeth without worship Worship is the chiefest and most solemn respect of the creature to God and therefore 't is put for the whole subjection and obedience that we owe to him and when any part of that service respect or honour is denyed or withheld we are guilty of ungodlyness That Pagans and men out of the Church are signifyed by the term ungodly appeareth by 1 Pet. 4. 18. If judgement begin at the House of God where shall the wicked and ungodly appear where the ungodly are plainly opposed to the House of God Again the unjustifyed estate is expressed by ungodlyness as the Apostle when he speaketh of the justifying of Abraham and David he gave the Lord his Title Rom 4. 5. God that justifyeth the ungodly and so Christ is said to dye for the ungodly Rom. 5. 9. The reason of which expression is because the people of the Jews were divided into three ranks or sorts there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ungodly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the just and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the good or to keep their own terms there were Reshagnim the wicked or violent and Tsidikim the just and Chasidim the good or the bountiful now saith the Apostle scarcely for a righteous man would one dye that is for a man of a rigid innocency but for the good man that is the bountiful the useful a man would even dare to dye but Christ dyed for us when we were Reshagnim sinners enemies c. Again more especially ungodliness implyeth the transgression of the first Table as Rom. 1. 18. where all sin is distinguished into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ungodliness and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unrighteousness ungodliness in respect of duty to God and unrighteousness in respect of the duty to men and also where sin is distinguished into ungodliness and wordly lusts Tit. 2. 12. So that it chiefly signifyeth that part of sin whereby we rob God of his honour respect and service established by the first Table and it may be described to be a not giving God his right or due honour To clear it further let me tell you that there are four Notions which are the ground of all Religion 1. That God is and is One. 2. That God is none of those things that are seen but something more excellent 3. That God hath a care of humane affairs and judgeth with equity 4. That the same God is
fore-head 4. Because we all naturally desire liberty carnall liberty to be left to our own sway and bent and therefore we catch at any thing that tendeth that way we would be as Gods Lords of our own actions and so are very apt to dream of an exemption from all kind of Law but our own lusts the Seducers bait was a promise of liberty 2 Pet. 2. 19. We would all be above check and controle and have scope and roomth from our lusts Psal 12. 4. Our lips are our own who is Lord over us We would fain bring it to that to be at our own dispose to be answerable to none that should call us to an account The tumult of the Nation against Christ was about bonds and yokes Psal 2. 3. The pale or the yoke is grievous to us see Job 11. 12. Jer. 31. 18. Now being so resolved to be free we are willing to hear of liberty and apt to abuse whatever sounds to that purpose But now let us see how many wayes the grace of God may be turned into wantonness a right knowledge of the evil may be a means to prevent it There is a Grace dispensed in the way of Gods providence which may be called the Grace of God and is very lyable to abuse a word of that before I come to the main thing here intended Thus we finde the patience of God often abused when the Lord keepeth silence in heaven and doth not presently thunder down vengeance on the heads of sinners we wallow in ease and fleshly delights and dream of a perpetual happiness and think we shall doe as well as the precisest of them all Eccles 8. 11. Because vengeance is not executed speedily therefore the heart is set in them to do evil Thus doth mans venemous nature suck poyson out of so sweet an Attribute as Gods patience And as Gods patience is abused so is also his goodness and Bounty When we are full and enjoy plenty we grow wanton and either despise our mercies Mal. 1. 2. Wherein hast thou loved us or which is worse despise God himself turn back upon the Mercie-seat grow very negligent cold and careless in the Worship of God nay many times the minde is efferated and grown bruitish and insolent both towards God and man Hos 13. 6. According to their Pasture so were they filled they were filled and their heart was exalted they have forgotten me Men have large Pastures and strong lusts and then God is forgotten there is not that care of God that sense of duty that meeknesse of spirit this is growing wanton with Gods goodness Once more there is another Grace of Providence which is apt to be abused and that is the vouchsafement of Ordinances or the meanes of Grace in great plenty a Mercy prized when it first cometh among a people but within a little while they grow wanton 1 Sam 3. 11. The Word of God was precious in those dayes for there was no open vision whilst Visions are scarce they are higly prized but when they are open aud publick men begin to grow giddy cannot be contented with the simplicity of Gods Ordinances but must be fed with ungrounded subtleties and quintessential extracts when spiritual appetite groweth wanton it is an ill sign when plain truths will not down and all things must be carried in an airie subtile and notional way God will have a scourge for such a wanton people But let us come closer to the matter in hand This Text speaketh of Doctrinal discoveries of grace of the abuse of the Gospel and the principles thereof now 't were an hard task to give you an account of all the paralogisms and corrupt inferences which men draw from the Gospel there is no Doctrine but one way or another a carnal heart is apt to abuse it the most usual abuses are these 1. The Doctrine of Election is abused men say they may live as they list If God hath elected them they shall be saved and so allow themselves in their careless neglect of the means of salvation be not deceived God that decreeth the end decreeth the means God hath predestinated us to be conformed to the Image of his Son Rom. 8. 29. in grace here as well as in glory hereafter 2. The Doctrine of the Attribut's of Gods mercy and long suffering Men will say they are sinners and so are others but God is merciful and so poor ignorant drunkards Adulterers and swearers as they are they dye with this principle in their mouths God is merciful but be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Adulterers c. shall enter into the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. So Eph. 5. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain words for because of these things commeth the wrath of God Both these places shew there were divers which had such deceitful thoughts as if living and dying drunkards Adulterres c. they should go to Heaven others abuse the long suffering of God to their delaying and putting off their repentance as if after a long vitious life provided they could be devote at the last gasp they should at length be saved and of a suddain from Swine become Saints as many delayed their Baptism heretofore because they would have longer time to sin in and to walk after their own lusts and when they were warned of their licentious course their answer was Tunc demum a peccatis deâ—stam cum baptizatus ero When I am baptized I will live otherwise Thou fool besides the uncertainty of thy having time or grace to repent this is a manifest abuse of Gods patience and will turn to thy greater ruine Romans 2. 4. 5. 3. The Doctrine of Gospel grace is abused many wayes Sometimes to exclude the fear and reverence of God as if fear were an antiquated grace suiting onely with a legal dispensation whereas the children of God think the more grace the more fear Psal 130. 4. There is mercy with thee therefore thou shouldst be feared and Hos 3. 5. They shall fear the Lord and his goodness the goodness of God doth not make them presumptious but is the greater matter of reverence and holy trembling fear is so far from being abolished in the Gospel that it continueth in Heaven it being an essential and necessary respect from the Creature to the Creator Again 't is abused to deny all humiliation and sorrow for sins yea all confession of sins as if to be humbled for sins were legal whereas repentance and all the acts of it is a meer Gospel duty the Law knew no such thing and the truest and most genuine sorrow ariseth from a sense of pardon Zek. 12. 10. They shall look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn So Luk. 7. 47. that Christian Niobi loved much and wept much and all because much was forgiven John speaketh to beleevers to them that walked in the light to confess their sins 1 Joh 1 9. we cannot have pardon in Gods way till this be done if
their pretences and illusions this Christ whom they denied is described by his relation in the World the onely Master or Ruler this word is opposed to their doting conceit of many Rulers between whom the Regiment of the World was divided the next Title is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God so Christ is called because of his divine nature and then our Lord he saith our partly to shew that this was the Title that he bore in relation to the Church they being his peculiar people by his fathers gift and his own perchase partly to awaken their zeal by a consideration of the interest which they had in this Lord thus denied and then the other word Lord is proper to Christs Mediator-ship see 1 Cor. 8. 5. there remaineth but Christs name Jesus Christ the word Jesus is opened Math. 1. 21. Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins and it implieth here that Christs Lordship shal be administred for the salvation of the Church the other word Christ signifieth anointed which noteth his designation from God to be King Priest and Prophet I do thus particularly open the terms because I suppose the Apostles scope is to give us a sum of the Christian Doctrine concerning the person natures and Offices of Jesus Christ all which were one way or other impugned by the seducers of that age The points that might be drawn hence are many for a tast take these That Jesus Christ is Mâ—ster and Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King of nations Jer. 10. 7. and King of Saints Rev. 15. 3. or as the Apostle in one place Head over all things to the Church Eph. 1. 22. he is over all things Supream and absolute but the Churches head from whom they receive all manner of influence he hath a rod of Iron to rule the Nations and a golden Scepter to guide the Church in the World he ruleth by his Providences in the Church by his Testimonies Psal 93. per totum In the World the attribute manifested is Power in the Church Grace well then here is comfort to Gods people your Lord is the Worlds Master let the waves wave the Lord reigneth Psal 93. You need not fear he is not onely Lord to protect you but Master of them that rise up against you Again who would not chuse him to be a Lord when whether we will or no he is our Master and bow the knee to him that will else break the back and touch his gâ—lden Scepter least we be broken with his Rod of Iron and take hold of his strength by faith least we feel it in displeasure Lord let me feel the efficacy of thy grace rather then the power of thine anger Observe again That Christ is Lord and Jesus he came to rule and he came to save I shall handle these two Titles 1. Conjunctly and then 2. Singly and apart 1. Conjunctly Let all Israel know that God hath made this Jesus whom ye have crucified Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. 'T is usual to observe in Christs stile and Title a mixture of words of power and words of goodness and mercy See Isa 9. 6. a tibi passim now for what end partly to shew that he is a desireable friend and a dreadful adversary partly to set forth the mystery of his person in whom the two Natures did meet partly to shew that he is not good out of impotency and weakness if we pardon and do good 't is out of need God is strong enough to revenge but gracious enough to save and pardon Power maketh us cruel Who findeth his enemy and slayeth him not if we forbear 't is out of policy not out of pitty the sonnes of Zerviah may be too hard for us but Christ who is the great Lord he is also Jesus he hath the greatest power and the greatest mercy mighty but yet a Saviour Partly to shew how we should receive him we should not onely come to him for ease but take his yoke Mat. 11. 28 29. Give him your hearts as well as your consciences if Christ save let not sin Lord it What a pittifull thing is it when men would have Christ to redeem them and Sathan to rule and govâ—rn them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we will not have this man to reign over us Luke 19. 14. There the businesse sticks the carnal mind is enmity to the Law Rom. 8. Lusts cannot endure to hear of a restraint and therefore we oppose most Christs Nomothetick power like angry Dogs we gnaw the chain the language of every cardal heart is our lips are our own who is Lord over us Psal 12. 4. To be controled for every word every thought every action we cannot endure it Oh consider Christ hath many enemies but they are his chief enemies that doe withstand his reigning Luke 14. 29. Those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them c. Secondly Let us handle these two titles singly and apart 1. He is Lord Acts 10. 36. Jesus Christ he is Lord of all As he is God he hath the same glory with the Father as Mediatour there is a dominion that results from his Office for so he is the heir of all things the head of all creatures and King of the Church and at the last day the Judge of all men But he is chiefly a Lord because of his heritage in the Church a Lord over his own people who are given to him for a possession by God the Father Psal 2. 8. and bought with his own blood Acts 20. 28. and taken into a Marriage-covenant with him Eph. 5. 25 26 27. And as Sarah called her husband Lord so must the Church own Christ for Lord and Husband Well then let us acknowledge the dominion of Christ let him be Lord alone in his own house let us yeeld subjection and obedience to him let us beware of depriving him of that honour to which he hath so good a right You will say who are those that deny Christ his Lordship I answer 1. They that will not hear his voice that slight his calls he inviteth them and prayeth them that they will look into their hearts consider their eternal condition but they quench the Spirit smother light resist all these motions these will not hear Christs voyce he intreateth prayeth that we will come and put our souls under his Government and we in effect say we are Lords and will not come at thee Jer. 2. 31. We are well enough and shall doe well enough without any such care and strictness 2. They that cannot endure his restraints Jer. 31. 18 Thou art as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke They cannot endure to hear of denying their fashions their lusts their pleasures their vain thoughts when every thought and every desire must be under a Law so much time spent in duties such gravity in the conversation such awe in their speechs they break off like a wanton heifer vain and
a Priest sinfull creatures therefore sanctification miserable creatures liable to deach and hell therefore redempâ—ion and both these as a King 't was necessary that the way of our salvation should be opened effected and applyed therefore did Christ first come from heaven as a Prophet to preach the Gospel and then offer up himself through the eternal Spirit as a Priest and last of all seise upon the Mediatorial throne as King of the Church Well then if our blindnesse and ignorance troubleth us let us make use of Christs Prophetical Office that he may teach us the whole counsel of God if we are haunted by troubles and the accusations of our own conscience let us sprinkle our hearts with the blood of our high Priest that they may be pacified if we have any desire to be granted let us make use of his intercession if we be discouraged by our own weaknesse and the power of our spiritual enemies let us run for protection to our King through whom the Saints are more then Conquerors 2. It noteth the Authority upon which his Office is founded he was annointed thereto by God the Father who in the work of Redemption is represented as the offended party and supream Judge and so 't is a great comfort to us that Christ is a Mediatour of Gods chusing when Moses interposed of his own accord he was refused blot me out of thy book no saith the Lord The soul that sinneth him will I blot out of my Book but now Jesus Christ took not this honour upon him but was called of God thereunto 't was the will of the Father so that when we come to God though we cannot say he is mine yet we can say Lord he is thine a Saviour of thy setting up thou hast Authorized him and wilt own thine own way c. Once more observe which indeed is a point that lyeth full in the eye of the Text That Jesus Christ the master of the world and Lord of the Church is true God For 't is said here denying the onely Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ It would seem a strange thing that I should go about to prove the God head of Christ were not blasphemy grown so common and appearing abroad with so bold a forehead heretofore it was a grievous abhominaâ—ion to the children of God when such a thought rushed into their minds but now some promote it as a settled oppinion 't is Satans policy to loosen a corner stone though he cannot wholly pull it out he striveth all that he can to make the main Articles of Religion seem at least questionable But Christians be not shaken in minde the foundation of the Lord standeth sure I confess I should wholly omit such disputes in fundamental Articles we shouldnot allow a scruple Thou shalt not enquire after their Gods Deut. 12. 30. But when such conceits are not onely Sathanical injections but mens settled opinions 't is good to establish the heart in such principles as this is that Christ is God appeareth by express Scripture where he is called thâ— true God 1 John 5. 20. the great God Tit. 2. 13. to shew that he is not a God Inferiour to the Father but equal in power and glory and that not by courtesie and grant but by Nature So he is called the Mighty God the everlasting father Isa 9. 6. and God over all Rom. 9. 6. proofs so evident and pregnant that they need no illustration and that he is a God equal to the Father appeareth also by express Texts of Scripture Phil. 2. 6. He was in the form of God and thought it no robbery to be equal with God and Col. 2. 9. in him dwelleth the fulness of the God-head bodily the Saints are made partakers of the Divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 5. but in him the whole God-head dwelt personally and all this was no usurpation of a mothers right the Jews would have stoned him because he said God was his Father making himself equal with God therefore he meant it not in an ordinary sense and indeed if he be a God he is a God by Nature for God will not give his glory to another Again God he must needs be if you consider the work he ought to do the work of the Mediator could be dispatched by no inferiour agent as Prophet he was to be greater then all other Prophets and Apostles for the great Doctor of the Church ought to be Authentick a Law-giver from whose sentence there is no appeal A Lord in his own house Heb. 3 6 one to whom Moses was but a servant for to him he gave the Law Heb. 12. 29. One that is to be a Founâ—ain of wisdom to all the Elect 1 Cor. 1. 30. One that must not onely teach but give eyes to see and ears to hear and an heart to learn consider him as a King a finite power cannot break the force of enemies pour out the spirit raise the dead bestow grace and glory and become an original fountain of life to all the Elect all these things are proper to God the glory which he will not give to another Consider him as a Priest and there is two Acts Oblation and Intercession and still you will finde that he must be God for his Oblation he must be one that could offer up himself Heb. 9. 14. and therefore must have power over his own life Iohn 10. 18. to lay it down and take it up which no creature hath And he must offer himself one for all 2 Cor. 5. 15. the person that suffered was to be infinite as good and better then all theirs that should have suffered as they said to David thou art better then a thousand of us and this suffering was to be but once now the wages of sin are eternal death something there must be to compensate the eternity of the punishment and nothing could counterpose eternity but the infiniteness and excellency of Christs person as a payment in Gold taketh up less room then a payment in silver but the value is aâ— much 't was necessary that he should overcome the punishment for if he were always suffering we could have no assureance that God were satisfied and the end was to expiate sin nothing but an infinite Good could remedy so great an evil the person wronged is infinite so is the person suffering and then his death was not only to be a ransome but a price not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a surety to an ordinary creditor payeth the debt and freeth the debtor from bonds Christ was to bring us into grace and favour with God and to merit Heaven for us now for the other act of his Priesthood his Intercession so he was to know our persons and our wants and necessities as the high Priest had the names of the twelve Tribes on his Breast and shoulders Exod. 28. 12 29. and then he is to negotiate with God in the behalf of all
holy and just then he is strict and holy and just now He that struck Anâ—nias and Saphyra dead in the place for a lie that made Zâ—chary dumb for unbelief that kept Moses out of the land of Promise for a few unadvised wâ—rds that turned Lot's wiâ—e into a Pillar of Salt for looking back is the same God still not a jot altered his judgements may be more spiritual but then more terrible Again Answerable practises make us partakers of their guilt and therefore involve us in their punishmentâ— Imitation is an evidence of approbation A man may have more sins charged upon him then those committed in his own person you are partakers of their evil deeds that lived before you if you do as they did it may be the memory of those that formerly fell under the weight of Gods displeasure is execrable to you yet your walking in the same course is a signe that you like their practises and therefore you must expect their judgements with advantage and usury Matth. 23. 35. That upon you may come all the righteous blood that was shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiaâ— whom ye slew between the Temple and the Altar Why upon them And how did they slay him No doubt the memory of Cum was accursed among the Jews but they walked in the way of Cain and so were to receive Cain's judgement with advantage No doubt the memory of the murtherers of Zechariah the Prophet was hateful to them but they continued Prophet-killing and Prophet-huting and therefore did implicitely approve his murder and so are said to slay him Jude 1â— 't is said These perished in the gain saying of Koraâ— How can that be when they were not as yet born These Seducers lived long after but following them in their sin in their ruiâ—e they had a sure pledge of their own destruction when we see others fall into a deep pit and yet will adventure the same way as we sin the worse so our judgement will be the greater Well then Let us make every instance of the word à warning and apply it for our Use 't is excellent when we read the Scriptures with a spirit of Application in the miscarriage of others we have experience at a cheap rate and in their misery we have as sure a proof of the evil of sin though not as costly as if we had felt it our selves Again When wicked men flourish be not dismayed How hath God judged sinners of like kind What say your Scripture presidents I went into the Sanctuary there I understood their end Psal 73. 17. Again it sheweth how vain their conceit is that God will not deal so severely with us if we continue in our sins as he hath done with others in former times when the Scriptures were written Gods judgments I confess are more spiritual but every way as severe to them that continue in their sins heretofore they were written with death now with deadness Nadab and Abihu were quickly dispatched for their unhallowed approaches to God in worship many come now that do not sanctifie God in their hearts their judgement is more spiritual the Ordinances which should quicken harden them Bears devoured the children that mocked the Prophet many sit taunting by the walls that are not torn â—n pieces by Bears but they are posting to hell apace tarry but a little while and God will tear them in pieces â—nd there shall be none to deliver Psal 50. Korah Dathan and Abiram were swallowed up quick the earth cleaves to receive them that made a cleft in the Congregation Many act as tumultuously as they and no doubt their day is coming Lot's wife whose heart hankred after her possessions was turned into a pillar of Salt for looking back They that revert and after they are embarked with Christ run ashore again assoon as they see a storm a coming shall have their reward in due time The next thing which I observe in these instances is The impartialiâ—y of Divine Justice for in all the examples brought there are some circumstances upon which others would expect an exemption from wrath as the interest of the Israelites they were God's own people the dignity of the Angels they were as it were fellows of God and Courtiers of Heaven the beauty and excellency of the country of Sodom and in all the instances ye may observe the judgements fell on multitudes and societies or collective Bâ—dies All the murmuring â—sraelites All the Apostate Angels All the Inhabitants of the four Cities Observe then That no outward Priviledge can avail us in the day of wrath and so 1. Gods â—ustice knoweth no relations He spared not Christ Rom. 8. 32. He spared not the Angels 2 Pet. 2. 5. He spared not his people of Israel c. 2. None have a priviledge to sin and thâ—â—efore none are exempted from punishment the Law includeth all the Son the Servant them that sit on the Throne and those that grinde at the Mill none have a license from heaven and a priviledge to sin above others 3. Wicked men do not spare God and therefore God doth â—â—t spare them They abuse his Justice his Mercy they spare not his glory his Laws and as they are impartial in sinning no restraints with-hold them so God is impartial in punishing Lean not then upon these reeds when wrath maketh inquisition for sinners outward privileâ—ges are of no use 't is happy for them alone that are found in Christ Phil. 3. the Avenger of blood had nothing to do with the man-slayer in the Ciâ—y of Refuge when God is about to strike noâ—e but Christ can hold the blow See the vanity of other things 1 Outward Profession is nothing your Circumcision becometh uncircumcision God disclaimeth interest in a sinful people Thy people which thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt saith God to Moses when they had corrupted themselves Exod. 32. 7. in scorn and disdain Thy people he will not own them for his Sheep Deut. 32. 5. 2. No dignity can exempt us the Angels were cast down tâ— places of darkness Dignity doth not lessen but aggravate sin where much is givâ—n much is owed and much will be required Tophet is prepared for Kings for Princes is it prepared 3. Not outward excellency as the pleasant Land of Sodom The Disciples thought the goodly buildings of the Temple would move Christ to pity Luk. 21. 5 6. but Christ telleth them not one stone should be left upon another Saul was checked for sparing the best Justice is not dazled with outward splendor The Lord threatneth to punish the dainty Daughters of Sion with a scab Isa 3. 17. c. 4. Not any society or multitudes of mâ—n He spared not the old world 2 Pet. 2. 5. No leagues and combinations can maintain your cause against God though the wicked go hand in hand they shall not scape unpunishâ—d Pro.
continually behold his face and stand before him Dan. 7. 10. In such a blessed place and in such blessed company was their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their abode or habitation when God disposed the several Creatures into proper mansions and places of abode he took the Angels into his own train and glorious attendants that they might be still with him other Creatures were his Servants those his Courtiers that is his Houshold and ordinary Servants that were to attend as in his Chamber of Presence 2. In this place they were to enjoy God and glorifie God their happiness was to enjoy God their duty to glorifie him there they behold his face Matth. 18. 10. for vision and sight of God is the happiness of rational Creatures and therefore our happy estate is expressed by beholding him face to face and David saith Psal 16. 11. in thy presence or in thy face is fulnesse of joy in Heaven then did God manifest himselfe to them there they were to applaud his Counsels receive his Commands to love God with the most perfect embraces of their will and to fulfil his Commandments hearkning to the voice of his Word 3. From this place they are now driven into the lower parts of the World as being a place more fit for sin and misery that the place into which they are driven is the bottom and center of the Earth cannot be shewen out of Scripture rather the contrary for sometimes they are said to fly up and down in the air and therefore is Sathan called the Prince of the power of the air Eph. 2. 3. and the other Divels Principalities and spiritual wickednesses in high places Eph. 6. 12. They aspire to get as high as they can but they can get no further then the Regions of the â—ire and sometimes they are said to compasse the earth to and fro Job 1. 7. The Earth is Sathans walk and circuit where he seeks to do mischief and sometimes they are in the Sea Matth. 8. 33. for as yet they are not in that prison and place of torments where they shall abide for ever under the wrath of the Lord therefore when Christ checketh their power in the world they expostulate with him Jesus thou Son of David arâ— thou come to torment us before our time Matth. 8. 29. and besought him that he would not cast them into the great deep by which some understand the final place of their residence and torments even the lowest place of the world most remote from the highest Heavens which place as yet they have not entred but how is it said that they are already cast down into Hell 2 Pet. 2. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I Answer that expression doth onely note the dreadfulnesse of their fal from so glorious a mansion to such a place of misery and because where ever they are they carry their own Hell with them though by Gods permission they are as yet suffered to remain in the Air or Earth 4. Departing from Heaven they departed from all the happiness and glory which they enjoyed there namely that light which they had in their understandings to behold God that power in their wills to love and sâ—rve him in stead of which they are filled with darknesse and malice and become the unreconsilable enemies of God and Man as to their light their gracious knowledge is quite extinct their natural knowledge much Eclipsed and their experimental knowledge not enongh to engage their hearts to God as to their integrity and holiness in stead of a will to love and serve God there are nothing but obstinate purposes to do evil and endeavours to hinder the glory of God and the good of Man 1 Pet. 5. 8. lest we should enjoy that happiness which he hath left Hence those titles given then in Scripture as Divel which signifieth a Slanderer Sathan which signifieth an Enemy the Tempter Matth. 4. 1. because he dayly solliciteth us to evil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evil one Matth. 5. being full of wickedness himselfe he maketh it his study and care to propagate it in others Belial 2 Cor. 6. 15. unprofitable as good for nothing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the destroyer because he worketh mischief the old Serpent Rev. 12. 6. because under the shape of the serpent he poysoned Eve as to their power it is much broken and limitted they are held in the chains of providence they could not do hurt to the herd of Swine without permission Luke 9. 26. 5. Though they have lost much of the glory and power annexed to their habitation yet many tokens of the divine image do as yet remain in them holiness is as we said utterly lost he sinneth from the beginning 1 John 3. 8. that is doth nothing else but sin and Acquinas saith well Hoc est Angelis casus quod hominibus mors their fall into sin to them is as death to us but now in other things they have much left as man after his fall is like a drisled picture and had onely enough left to shew what he once was so the Angels though they are much fallen from the excellency of their nature yet there is enough left to shew that once they were glorions creatures that which remaineth may be referred to two heads their great cunning and active power 1. Their knowledge and cunning is great they have much natural and experimental knowledge so as they can discern hidden causes and virtues which scape the flight of mans reason and understanding they know how to apply active to passive things can guess notably at future events but as for a certain knowledge of them unless of such things as depend upon necessary causes that is proper to God and accordingly he challengeth it Isa 41. 23. shew the things that are to come that we may know that ye are Gods c. Therefore the Divels Oracles were either false or doubtful as 2 Kings 22. 16. great skill in Arts and tongues they have as appeareth by their teaching those things with wonderful facility to those that have familiarity with them in divine things they know enough of God and his justice as to feel an horror impressed upon themselves Jam. 2. 19 Luk. 4. 34. Acts 19. 15 besides they are of wonderful sagarity to judge of mens hearts by the gestures the motion of the blood and spirits and other such external signes for directly they do not know the thoughts that is the priviledge of God 2. Their power is great still though limited so that it cannot be exercised but when and where and as God will they are able to raise tempests to bring fire from Heaven as they did to ruine Jobs house and children Job 1. they can deceive with lying miracles but true miracles can onely be wrought by a divine power being of much sagacity and skill in the secrets of nature they may poyson the air destroy the bodies of men infest and trouble beasts and cattel in short do all
and torment he is called the Ruler of the darkness of this world Eph. 6. 12. and the God of this World 2 Cor. 4. 4. 't is punishment enough to the Apostate Angels to be cast out into the World the World is the Divels work-house and prison one calleth it Sathans Diocess who would be in love with a place of bondage and punishment 9. The Divel and his Angels are in the World let us be the more cautious he compasseth the Earth to and fro no place can secure you from his temptation he is every where ravening for the prey with an indefatigable and unwearied diligence 1 Pet. 5. 8. Let us look about us Wo to the inhabitants of the Earth and the Sea for the Divel is come down to you Rev. 12. 12. Where ever you are Sathan is neer you the World is full of Divels when you are in the Shop the Divel is there to fill your hearts with lying and deceit as he did the heart of Ananias Act. 5. when you are in your closets and when you have shut the door upon you you do not shut out Sathan he can taint a secret duty when you are in the house of God Ministring before the Lord Sathan is at your right hand ready to resist you Zach. 3. 1. He is ready either to pervert your aimes or to divert your thoughts We had need keep the heart in an humble watchful praying frame God hath cast out the Angels out of Heaven and now they are here upon earth tempting the sons of men to folly and inconvenience be watchful the world is the Divels Chess-board you can hardly move back or forth but he is ready to attach you by some temptation 10. When grace is abused our dejection iâ— usually according to the degree of our exaltation the Angels from Heaven are cast down to Hell the highest in the rank of creatures are now made lowest corruptions of the best things are most noysome Thou Capernaun which are exalted to Heaven art now brought down to Hell Matth. 11. 23. 'T was one of the chiefe Cities of Galilee and where our Saviour usually conversed 't is a kind of Heaven to enjoy Christ in the Ordinances but now to slight this mercy will bring such confusions and miseries as are a kind of Hell to you slighting of grace of all sins weigheth heaviest in Gods ballance 11. Spiritual judgements are most severe and to be given up to obstinacy in sin is the forest judgement 't is diabolical to continue in sin the Angels left their habitation and what followed they lost their holiness 12. Loss of happiness is a great judgement 't is Hell enough to want God the first part of the sentence depart from me Matth. 25. 41. is most dreadful loss of Heaven is the first part of the Angels punishment we in effect say now depart from us Job 21. 14. but God will then say depart from me ye shall see my face no more c. Thus we have dispatched the first part of the Angels punishment their loss we now come to the other part their poena sensus their punishment of sense or pain bâ— hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness where there is an allusion to the state of Malefactors or condemned men who are kept in prison till execution now the evils of a prison are two 1. The darkness of the place 2. The hard usage of the evil doer suitably to which the Apostle used a double notion 1. They are reserved in everlasting chains 2. Vnder darkness 1. Begin with the first part In everlasting chains Whence two notes 1. That the Angels are kept in chains 2. That those chaines are everlasting 1. They are kept in chains But what chains can hold Angels can Spirits be bound with Irons I Answer I Answer they are spiritual chains suitable to the spirituall nature of Angels such as these 1. Guilt of conscience which bindeth them over to judgement the consciences of wicked Angels know that they are adjudged to damnation for their sin this is a sure chaine for it fasteneth the judgement so as you cannot shake it off 't is bound and tied upon us by the hand of Gods justice The condition of a guilty sinner is frequently compared to a prisoner Isa 42. 7. Isa 49. 9. Isa 61. 1. and sin to a prison wherein we are shut up Rom. 11. 32. Gal. 3. 22. and guilt to chains or bonds laid upon us by God the Judge Prov. 5. 22. Lam. 1. 14. 2. Their obstinacy in sinning They are fallen so as they cannot rise againe they are called Wickednesses as sinning with much malice and obstinacy as if you should say wickedness it selfe the Divels sin is as the sin against the Holy Ghost a malicious obstinate spiteful opposition against the Kingdom of Christ such an hatred against God and Christ that they wil not repent and be saved their despair begetteth despight and being hopeless of reliefe are without purpose of repentance they do foolish creatures adde sin to sin and harden themselves in an evil way which is as a chaine to hold them in Gods Prison till their final damnation see 2 Thes 2. 11 12. Where error and wilful persisting in disobedience is made to be Gods prison wherein reprobate creatures are held till their punishment be consummate 3. Vtter despair of deliverance they are held under their torment by their own thoughts as a distressed conscience is said to be bound up Isa 66. 1. to them here remaineth nothing but a certain fearful looking for judgement and fiery indignation Job 10. 37. release they cannot look for more judgement they do expect Matth. 8. 31. Art thou come to torment us before our time their prison door is locked with Gods own Key and as long as God sitteth upon the Throne they cannot wrest the Key out of his hands 4. Gods power and providence by which the Angelical strength is bridled and overmastered so as they cannot do what they would thus Rev. 20. 2. Sathan is said to be bound up for a thousand years that is in the chains of Gods power which are sometimes streighter and sometimes looser the Divel was fain to ask leave to enter into the herd of Swine Matth 8. 5. The chaines of Gods eternal decree As there is a golden chain the chain of Salvation which is carried on from link to link till the purposes of eternal grace do end in the possession of eternal glory so there is an Iron chain of reprobation which begins in Gods own voluntary preterition and is carried on in the creatures voluntary Apostacy and endeth in their just damnation and when once we are shut up under these bars there is no opening Job 12. 14. Secondly These chains are eternal chains because the wicked Angels stand guilty for ever without hope of recovery or redemption Every natural man is in chains but there is hope to many of the prisoners Christ saith go forth but those chains upon the evill
prudence but not of his understanding so that he knowingly sinneth so wicked men imprison the truth in unrighteousness and then God giveth them up to the sway of their own lusts and passions there is more of malice in sins against light you laugh at Christ before his face out-dare Heaven and Conscience will he force the Queen before my face c. 3. Sinning with the light When malice sets wit a work as it doth in the Divels against God and the Church 't is Sathanical to be wise to do evil to make no other use of our parts then to plot wickednesse pervert the truth and undermine religion Jer. 4. 22. They are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge when you make religion yeild to policy or bend policy to ruine religion then your wisedome hath undone you Isa 48. 4. Malice against God and goodnesse This is Sathans direct sin when men will not onely be wicked themselves but adversaries and malicious opposers of all that is good This is not onely to be sinnâ—rs but Sathans Acts 13. 10. O thou Child of the Devil and Enemy of all goodnesse Cain that hated his Brother because his works were righteous was the Divels Patriarch 5. A sottish obstinacy and wilfulnesse When will and humour is lifted up against conviction Jer. 2. 25. Ier. 44. 18. they will not because they will not foolish wilfulness meeteth with penal hardness he that will wink shall not seethe Sun shine it never so brightly such men do but lay Sathans chains on their own will and understanding 6. A senseless security notwithstanding the growth and increase of sin when men lose all feeling and restraint and grow more wicked but less tender Eph. 4. 19. and so men sin freely foully wax worse and worse and adde new lincks to the chains of darkness Sixthly There is little reason that we should adore him whom God holdeth in chains of darkness that we should exalt him whom the Lord hath cast downe and make a God of him who hath made himselfe a Divel All sins do as it were set the Crown upon Sathans head these especially 1. False Worship Sathan is the Head of Idolaters if the sacrifice were offered in an unbecomming manner God saith it was a sacrifice offered unto Divels Levit. 17. 7. In all false worships the Divel is served either directly or obliquely either by consequence or in the intention of the worshippers thence those expressions Table of Divels 1 Cor. 10. 21. they sacrificed to Divels and not to God Deut. 32. 17. You gratifie Satan if you be not right in worship those among Christians that worshipped towards an Idol of Gold and Silver are said to worship Divels Rev. 9. 20. Sathan is saith Synesius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lover of Images and a Patron of false worship 2. Worldly conversation he is called the God of this World 2 Cor. 2. 4. sensual covetous proud men are Sathans Votaries at his beck and pleasure and will you be one of the number when Christ came to dissolve Sathans works Iohn 3. 8. will you uphold them 3. Bâ—se fear of wicked men you do but fear the Divel in them Rev. 2. 10. Fear not behold the Divel shall cast some of you into prison He that will deny the truth for fear of men preferreth the Divel before God 4. Being of the faction of the wicked there is a corrupt party in the world over whom Sathan usurpeth Empire and Domination Rulers of the darkness of this World Eph. 6. 14. Col. 1. 13. cry not up a confederacy with these take heed how your soule entreth into that secret I confess 't is ingeniousness a matter of Christian skill and art to find out the snare that we may escape it Generally they are the Antichristian dark part of the world such as are led with a blind zeale and rage to oppose the interest of righteousnesse such as oppose the Gospel with rage and lyes Iohn 8. 44. Ye are of your father the Divel and his lâ—sts will ye do Many that deny Sathan yet may be of his Faction and Party We are now come to the second part of the punishment of paines taken from the other inconvenience of a prison 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 under darkness in allusion to Malefactors who are cast into Dungeons where besides the load of Irons the very darkness of the place concurreth to their misery light is pleasant as giving us the sight of what is grateful in the world of which when we are deprived the mind like a Mill falleth and worketh upon its selfe Peter saith in chains of darknesse as implying that God did bind them fast with their darknesse and horror as with a chain but our Apostle here seemeth to make them two distinct parts of their torment as certainly it is a more full description of it Well then the proposition will be That the Apostate Angels are kept under darkness Darkness in Scripture representeth three things first Ignorance secondly Sin thirdly misery as light the contrary quality implyeth Knowledge Holiness and Happiness because light discovereth all things 'T is put for knowledge because of all bodily qualities 't is most pure and unmixed therefore 't is put for holiness because 't is wonderfully pleasing and delightful to sense therefore 't is put for glory so contrarywise darkness which is nothing else but the absence and privation of light signifieth ignorance Rom. 2. 19. Sin 1 Pet. 2. 9 Misery Psal 107. 11. Now all these three make way for one another Ignorance for Sin and Sin for Misery the understanding being the great Wheel of the Soule if it be not right nothing can be right Matth. 6. 22. ignorance maketh us stumble upon sin and by sin we fall into the pit of everlasting darknesse If you ask what kind of Darkness is intended here I answer though all may be implyed yet chiefly the darkness of misery is here intended they being cast down from the light and glory of the highest Heavens into dark and obscure babitations where they want the sight of God and the light of his countenance as when the Sun is gone there is nothing but darknesse in the world so being banished out of the presence of God they are fitly said to be held under darkness for as the Sun is to the corporeal world so is God to the world of Spirits Psal 4. 6. now their Sun is Eclipsed and by the interposition of the dark cloud of their sin and obstinacy they cannot have the least comfortable glimpse and fruition of God to which also may be added the horrible apprehension of their loss and that terrour and discomfort that lyeth upon them for they have onely so much light left as serveth to encrease their torment I confesse 't is disputed by Divines whether the Devils can grieve for the losse of the light of Gods countenance or the want of the beatifical vision and the ground of doubting is because there
7. I will not be so bold with the Schoolmen as to say that the faeculent and drossie parts of this fire are reserved for the torment of the wicked in Hell for ever but in the general we may safely say that 't is an instrument of Gods vengeance on them Well now that day which hath such an end and cloze must needs be a great day Sodoms fire was dreadful but nothing to this burning that was of one particular place but this of the whole world that was a preparative warning but this the last expression of his wrath against the ungodly world Many give divers witty reasons for this burning a taste may not be unwelcom under the Law the vessel that held the sin-offering was to be purged with fire so the world where sin hath been committed The object of our Adulteries is burnt and defaced that we may know the anger of the Lords jealousie the old world was destroyed by Water propter ardorem libidimis because of the heat of lust and the present world burnt with fire propter temporem charitatis because of the coldness of love in the latter dayes But of such kinde of allusions more then enough You see then by all this that the day of judgement is a great day let us now apply it If it be a great day let us regard it more seriously for all things should be regarded according to their weight This is the greatest day that ever we shall see and therefore we shall be more affected with this day then with any thing else we have slight thoughts of things to come and therefore they do not work with us can we expect such a day and not spend a thought upon it Oh Christians look for it more long for it more provide for it more 1. Look for it Phil. 3. 21. Titus 2. 13. Every time you look up to the clouds remember you have a Saviour that in time will come from thence and call the world to an account faith should alwayes stand ready to meet him as if he were upon his way as Rebecca spied Isaac afar off so doth faith which is the evidence of things not seen Look within the curtain of the Heavens and spy out Christ as preparing for his comming If he tarrieth longer then we expect he is not stack 2 Pet. 3. 9. But we are hasty he wants no affection to us his delights were with the sons of men before they were created Prov. 8. 31. And certainly now he is so deeply interested in uâ— as having bought us with his blood he desireth to enjoy what he hath purchased 't is not want of love keepeth â—im away nor want of truth God is punctual in his promises even to a day Exod. 12. 41. even the selse same day c. If all things were ready he would come presently therefore wait and look still they were not deceived that expected his first comming in the flesh 't was said a Virgin shall conceive was it not done that God would bring his Son out of Egypt was it not done that he should ride to Jerusalem upon the foal of an Asse and was it not done Surely the God that hath been faithful all along hitherto will not fail at last 2. Long for it The faithful love his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 8. This is the great day which they long to see that they may meet with their beloved and see him in all his Glory and Royalty They have heard much of Christ and tasted much of Christ and they love him much but yet they have not seen him they know him by hearsay and by spiritual experience but never saw his person whom having not seen you love c. They have seen his picture crucified before your eyes Gal. 3. 1. beholding at in a glass the glory of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. therefore they cannot be satisfied till this day cometh abouâ— Oh when shall it once be the spirit in the Bride saith come Rev. 22 17. Nature saith not come but tarry still if it might go by voices whether Christ should come yea or no carnal man would never give their voice this way The language of corrupt Nature is depart Job 22. 14. Carnal Men are of the Divels mind art thou come to torment us before our time Matth. 8. they cannot endure to hear of it but come Oh come saith Grace this day we have cause to long for not only upon Christs account but our own 't is the day of our perfection as well as Christs royalty now every thing tendeth to its perfect state so doth a Christian then there is perfect holiness and perfect freedom we never find Christ a Saviour to the uttermost till then to the glorified spirits he is but a Saviour in part some fruit of sin is continued upon the body but then body and soul are united and perfectly glorified to enjoy God in Heaven Christ then cometh to make an end of what he had begun he first came to redeem our souls and then our bodies from corruption the body is a captive in the grave when the soul is set at liberty 't is held under the power of death till that day the Butler was not afraid to go before Pharaoh because Joseph told him he should be set at liberty lift up your heads 't is a day of redemption Luk. 17. 28. Christ cometh to loosen the bands and shackles of death to think and speak of that day with horror doth ill become him that looketh for such great priviledges 3. Provide for that day 'T is called the great and noteable day of the Lord Acts 2. 20. it should be the whole employment of our lives to prepare for it but how shall we provide for that day I answer by making peace with God in and by Jesus Christ When Jacob heard that Esau was comming with a great power and force he sendeth to make peace with him we hear of a great day comming when the Lord shall descend from Heaven with a shout and all his holy Angels with him 1. Let us compromise all differences between us and him we are advised so to do Luke 14. 32. While he is yet a great way off he sendeth an Embassage and desireâ—h conditions of peace We need not send to the Lord God maketh the offer to us let us lay down the weapons of our defiance and accept of the terms proposed 2. If you would provide for this day clear up your union with Jesus Christ he is the Judge and there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Rom. 8. 1. Will the head contemn his own members If we abide in him we shall be able to look him in the face we shall have boldness in that day 1 Joh. 2. 28 then though it be a great day it will not be a terrible day to us 3. Frequent Communion with him at the Throne of Grace When familiar friends meet together after long absence what a sweet interview is
am in the right way 't is Gods cause Answ Passion is blind and cannot judge James 1. 20. The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God the wrong way may be usually descryed by the excesses and violences of those that are engaged in it if we be in the right extremities and furies of passion are not lawful our religious affections may over-set us when Religion which should limit us is made a party to engage them 't is hard to keep bounds a stone the higher the place from whence it falleth giveth the more dangerous blow so the higher the matter about which we contend usually our Anger falleth with the more violence and is the more unmortified because of the pretence of zeal if the erring parties offend through ignorance remember a bone out of joint must be setled again with a gentle hand Gal. 6. 1. Are they opposite stubborn in meekness instruct those that oppose themselves 2 Tim. 2. 25. when their absurd opposing is apt to tempt us to rage passion and reproch we must contain our selves the hasty Disciples knew not what spirit they were of Do they provoke revile wrong us first Answ The railing and ill dealing of another doth not dissolve the bond of our duty to God to return injury for injury is but to act over their sin 't was bad in them and t is worse in us for he that sinneth by example sinneth doubly as having had experience of the odiousness of it in another Qui malum imitatur bonus esse non potest revenge and injury differ only in order of time the one is first the other second in the fault and 't was no excuse to Adam that he was not first in the transgression Christianity teacheth us a rare way of overcoming injuries not only by patience but doing good to those that wrong us Rom. 12. 17. and 1 Pet. 3. 9. render not reviling for reviling but contrarywise blessing we have for our pattern Christ who being reviled reviled not again 1 Pet. 2. 23. and herein he was imitated by his Disciples 1 Cor. 4. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being defamed we intreat a Motto which I would have prefixed to all rejoynders or replies to a virulent opposition Calvins modesty concerning Luther is notable Etiamâ—i me diabolum vocarit eum tamen insignem Dei serâ—um agnoscam Though he should call me Devil yet God forbid but I should account him an eminent servant of Christ 'T was once an Argument for the truth of our Religion that the Scriptures contained a Doctrine that could not be of men as forbidding revenge which is so sweet to nature and commanding us to do good to them that hate us But shall I suffer my self and in me the cause of Christ to be trampled upon Answ You are allowed a modest vindication of the truth and your own innocency Prov. 26. 4 5. Answer not a fool according to his folly least thou be like him Answer a fool according to his folly least he be wise in his own conceit You will say here is hot and cold in one breath I answer Solomon speaketh of a scoffing railing fool and the meaning is do not imitate him in his foolish passion this were to be evil because he is so and 't is against reason that because I am sensible of undecent carriage in him therefore I should allow it in my self but yet Answer him that is to the purpose and with solid reason beat down his presumption and ignorance with a meek but a strong reply such as may check his pride but not imitate his folly 'T is observable when 't was said to Christ John 8. 48 49. Thou art a Samaritan and hast a Devil he answered not a word to the personal reproch but where his Commission was touched to that he replyeth saying I have not a Devil but I honour my Father 't is but weakness of mind or strength of passion to regard personal invectives In short we may answer but not with harsh and contumelious language Secondly Here is a Direction to publick persons and those that can handle the Pen of the Writer Passion is apt to teint our Religious defences but check it Michael durst not bring a railing accusation leave all unhandsomeness of prosecution to them that defend an evil cause The servant of God must be gentle and patient 2 Tim. 2. 24. Opprobrious Language doth but darken a just quarrel and contention But you will say may we not reprove the sins of men and that somewhat sharply I Answer yea 't is lawful as appeareth both by the practice of the Prophets and Angels yea of Christ himself and also by the precepts of the word Paul saith Tit. 1. 7. That a Bishop must not be selfwilled and soon angry and yet he biddeth him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to rebuke some gainsayers sharply there is a great deal of difference between railing and a reproof a Sermon without some warmth and keenness in it is but like a Cold oration men that speak from their brain will speak coldly because they only declaim against things for fashions sake without any sense or touch upon their hearts an affectionate pleading for Christ is like strong-water whereas a formal narration is but like River water without any strength and vigor They that love Christ will be zealous for his Truths and Ordinances and zeal cannot deliver it self without some smartness and earnestness but a cold indifferency is more â—ame and â—lat But then this must be done with great caution you had need look to your spirits Partly because Satan loveth to corrupt a Religious affection Partly because in these businesses God is not only engaged but our selves and many times the savour of the main River is lost when 't is mingled with other streams too too often do we begin in the spirit and end in the flesh The Cautions which I shall give respect 1. The Object or Cause 2. The Persons 3. Manner 4. Principle 5. End 1. The Cause must be regarded that it be real and weighty weighty it must be 't is prepostreovs to be all of a fire about questionable truths and matters of a less regard the flaming Sword was set about Paradice And real it must be the sin we reproove must be manifest and the faults we charge apparent Mat. 5. 22. If any be angry with his brother without a cause c. otherwise Christ and his Apostles called Racha Mat. 23. 17. O fools and blind and Luk. 24. 15. O fools and slow of heart to beleeve c. and Gal. 3. 3. Oh foolish Galatians and James 2. 20. O vain man c. but in all these cases there was a cause false and rash imputations are but railing zeal being a fierce and strong passion you must not let it fly upon the throat of any thing but what is certainly evil 2. The Persons must be considered weak sinners are to be distinguished from the malicious and the tractable from the
Prophetically spoken not execratâ—rily as a threatning or denuntiation not as a curse For they have gone in the way of Cain Cains example is produced because he was the first and chief of them that departed from the true Church and pure service of God Gen. 4. 16. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt c. Tertullian saith he was the Devils Patriarch the first root of the carnal seed or of the seed of the Serpent in whom persecution began Now Cains way was a way of murther he slew his Brother because he was more righteons and godly then himself 1 Joh. 3. 12. and so they go in his way that have an envy and hatred against their holy brethren which many times proceedeth so far as violence persecution and murder This instance is fitly applyed to these Seducers for if the Targum of Jerusalem say true besides the particular grudge which Cain had against Abel about the acceptance of his Sacrifice There was a dispute which happened between them in the field concerning the providenes of Gods last judgment and world to come Non est judicium nec judex nec saculum aliud nec merces bona pro justis nec paena pro impiis nec Dei misericordia creatus est mundus nec ejus misericordia regitur eo quod suscepta est oblatio tâ—a cum beneplaâ—itâ— mea verâ—â—â— Tarq Hieros So were these Seducers exasperated against the Orthodox not only because of the greater presence of God among them but also because of difference of judgment about Christ the world to come and Providence with other wholesome Doctrines by which godliness is maintained Again Cain slew Abel so were these Gnosticks ready to break out into all violence against those that dissented from them and stirred up the Jews to persecution against the Christians Cain after this murther was haunted with his own Ghost and trembled where ever he came so doth Cains end attend Cains course such quakings and fears of conscience following them where ever they went 't is said The Lord set a mark upon Cain Gen. 4. 15. what this mark was is much disputed most say it was a continual trembling and quaking throughout his body Vide Aug. lib. 12. contra Faust cap. 12. Chrysost hom 19. in Gen. And the Sept. render that Geâ— 4. 12. Thou shalt be a Vagabond upon the earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shalt be groaning and trembling upon the earth and the word Nod the name of the place where he sojourned is by interpretation agitatio commotio quaking or trembling 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Basil seleuc apud Neiremb stromat 1. pag. 23. which if so our wicked Quakers may see who was their Patriarch Now from this first instance observe First That the practice of wicked men now and the practice of wicked men from the beginning is still the same Cains Club as Bucholcer speaketh is still carryed about in the world stained with the blood of Abel see Gal. 4. 29. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit even so 't is now So 't was then so 't is now so it will be while the spirit of the Devil worketh in the world we have the same original sin which they had in former times for a long time a disease runneth in the blood and is continued in a line and family but after some generations 't is worn out but this filth will still run as long as there is a channel of carnal generation to convey it Again we have the same Devil to tempt us who ever is converted he will never turn Christian to be sure and there are the same provocations and occasions to exasperate mens corruptions Well then let us not be over troubled there is no new thing under the Sun the same Devil that rageth now hath been a murderer from the beginning John 8. 44. The same Devil that deceiveth now was a lyar from the beginning are there those now that separate from all Churches of Christ there were Donatists in former time are there now that deny the God-Head of Christ There were Arians then are there now Ranters Familists and there were Gnosticks then are there bloody enemies of the truth every Age can yield its Cains Again if we would better know the state of our times let us blow off the dust from our old presidents the Devil doth but play over the old game and though the Scene be shifted and furnished with new Actors the Plot is the same Observe again Hereticks and Libertines usually turn persecutors for 't is said here They go in the way of Cain Satan that is a lyar is also a murtherer a false way cannot subsist without the props of blood and cruelty witness the Circumcellians the Priscillianists the Arians the Donatists the Tragedies at Munster An erroneous opinion is touchy and therefore efferates the minds of men against those that oppose it beleeve not Seducers then when they come in sheeps clothing 't is but that they may get a power to play the Wolves the better and when Libertines encrease let Magistrates look about them there are Clouds gathering together towards a dismal storm and though they seem to be meek and full of love while their party is contemptible yet when they grow considerable they appear in their colours Again let us bless God for the peace we enjoy there are swarms and droves of Locusts abroad but blessed be God that there is a restraint upon them that there is a spirit of perversity mingled with their counsels I tell you the great danger of the latter times is from Libertines many fear a second deluge of Anti-Christianism but that is not so probable as the seditious insurrections of Sectaries What sad havock will be made of the people of God when once these bloody minded wretches get power The latter times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perilous times 2 Tim. 3. 1. Why from what sort of men will the danger arise not from the Anti-Christian or Popish party so much as from a Libertine party from Quakers Ranters Anti-Scripturists Familists c. The Anti-Christian party carrieth things by power and wordly greatness but this party there described is a creeping party that gets into houses leadeth captive silly women verse 6. the Anti-Christian party abuseth the Sword of the Magistrate but this is a trayterous party heady high minded verse 4. a party rising up against Magistracy The Anti-Christian party are stiffe and obstinate in their old forms but this is a party of seekers looking for new discoveries holding nothing certain in Religion ever learning and never coming 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the acknowledgment of the truth vers 7 In short the party there described are a party that deny civil reverence natural affection and are contemptuous despisers of the true and holy servants of Christ and all this carryed on under a pretence and form
incurable Apostacy in this latter clause is set forth 1. Their being deprived of all spiritual communion with Christ and his mystical body 2. Their incapacity to bring forth fruit 3. Their readiness for burning and destruction Note That barren and corrupt Trees shall utterly be rooted out of Gods Vineyard they shall not have a visible abode and standing there Now this is brought to pass partly by their own act 1 John 2. 19. They went out from us because they were not of us for if they were of us they would have continued with us they separated themselves from the communion of the faithful to which they did never truly belong both from the doctrine professed in the Church and fellowship with them in the use of Ordinances partly by Gods act an act of judgement on his part Rom. 11. 20. for unbelief were they broken off partly by the act of the Church by which scandalous sinners are taken from among them 1 Cor. 5. 13. Put away from among your selves that wicked person well then let us walk so that this heavie judgement may never be laid upon us let us get a real union with Christ for then we can never be broken off you can no more sever the leven and the dough then a Christ and a Believer c. Walk with the more caution Be not high minded but fear 't is dreadful to be cast out of the true Church the finger that is cut off from the hand is also cut off from the head That censure if rightly administred against us should be matter of great sorrow and humiliation to us c. Verse 13. Raging Waves of the Sea foaming out their shame wandring Stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever HEre are two other comparisons the one taken from raging Waves the other from wandring Stars For the first Raging Waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame There is a great deal of variety among Interpreters in the application or accomodation of this similitude some go one way some another Waves are not more various and uncertain in their motions then they in their expositions some apply it to their levity and inconstancy some to their restless activity in sin some to their turbulency others to their pride and ostentation in such uncertainty what shall we fix upon Two things will direct us the scope and the force of the words The scope of the Apostle in all these similitudes is to shew that these seducers were nothing less then what they pretended to be Clouds but dry barren clouds Trees but such as bore either none or rotten fruit Waves that seemed to mount up unto heaven and to promise great matters as if they would swallow up the whole earth but being dashed against a Rock all this raging and swelling turneth into a little foam and froth So Calvin applyeth it to the Libertines who scorn and disdain the common forms of speech and talk of illumination and edification so that their hearers seem to be wrapt into the heavens but alas they suddenly fall into beastly errours From the scope observe That spiritual Boasters will certainly come short of their great promises All is but noise such as is made by empty vessels in the latter times you are troubled with boasters 2 Tim. 3. 2. men that boast of depths and seem to be wise and knowing above the ordinary sort that will pretend to shew you new ways a shorter cut to heaven and rare discoveries of Christ and Gospel light c. but alas to the issue they leave you much more the servants of sin then you were before But leaue a little examine the force of the words the whole similitude alludeth to what is said of wicked men in general Isa 57. 20 The wicked are like a troubled Sea that cannot rest whose water câ—st up â—ire and dirt Observe in the first place that they are Waves which noteth their Inconstancy Gen. 49 4. Reuben is as unstable as water water you know is moveable soon furled and driven too and fro by the winds so were these carried about with every wind of Dostrine Eph. 4. 14. Note thence That Seducers are unseâ—lâ—d and uncertain in their opinions so 2 Pet. 3. 16 Vnlearned and unstable if you ask why Because they are not rooted and grounded in their profession but led by sudden affection and interests rather then judgement they are unstable because unlearned such as do not proceed upon clear and certain grounds and those whom they work upon are of no principles beguiling unstable souls well then discover them by their levity you will never have comfort and certainty in following them who like weather cocks turn with every winde Ecebolius is infamous to all ages see Socrat Scholast lib. 3. cap. 2 He was Professor of Eloquence at Constantinople under Constantius zealous of Christian Religion under Julian a Pâ—gan and when he was dead he professed Christianity again but then he came weeping to the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tread upon me unsavoury â—lt and cast me to the dunghill Constantius Colorus though an Heathen both Zozomen and Eusebius give us the story yet loved constancy and faithfulness in men as to their profession he made proclamation that whosoever would not sacrifice should be discarded and no more retained in pay with him but when many false Christians hâ—d renounced their profession for gain and pre erâ—ing their civil Interests he would not receive them saving 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How can they keep 〈…〉 with their King and Emperour that would faulter in an higher matter in the business of their God and Religion for a small and petty Interest Much to the same purpose there is a passage of Theodâ—rick King of the Goths who loved a Deacon who was of the Orthodox profession though he himself was an Arrian the Deacon to please the King the more changeth his Religion and professeth Arrianism also but he beheadeth him saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If thou hast not kept thy faith with God how wilt thou preserve a good Conscience in thy duty to men The story is in Theodoret Some are meerly Waves rolling hither and thither in a doubtful uncertainty 2. Waves of the Sea There you have their restless activity they are always tossed too and fro Jer. 46. 23. The Lord shall trouble Damascus that she shall become like a fearful Sea that cannot rest so these cannot rest from evil 2 Pet. 2. 14. Eyes full of Adultery that cannot cease from sin Observe Vsually wicked men are of an unquiet spirit restless in evil They are acted by Satan who is a restless spirit and there is a great correspondency between their activeness in sin and the importunity of Sathans malice 1 Pet. 5. 8. He goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour Now you shall see the like diligence and readiness in his instruments they walk the divels round Matth. 23. 15. Wo unto you Scribes and
murmuring Job 1 23. as long as we can give thanks we will not be querulous but when we are disdainful of blessings and we say what no more Mal. 1. 2. the distemper is getting ground upon the soul 2. Affect rather to be good then great none murmur because of the smallness of grace that 's not their complaint but because of the lowness of their condition in the world a man that looketh after the increase of grace he can bless God for his outward decays 2 Cor. 4. 16. and look upon murmurings as worse then pains or losses those are afflictions these are sins So much for the first crime charged The next part of their Character is walking after their own lusts This is fitly subjoined to the former for lusts make men froward and hard to be pleased and the persons here described were exact Libertines making their lusts their rule and their law yea the most bruitish of all lusts the lusts of the flesh and therefore in Peter 't is 2 Pet. 2. 10. That walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness how portentous they were for impurities in this kind we told you before their walking after their lusts implyeth their giving up themselves to such a course contrary to all fear of God care of Laws or restraint of nature The Point is That 't is an Argument of ungodliness when men walk after their own lusts The Apostle appling the Prophesie of Enoch against ungodly men bringeth this as a part of the charge that they walk after their own lusts I shall enquire 1. What lusts are 2. What 't is to walk after their own lusts 3. Prove it to be a note of ungodliness 1. What lusts are This I have Answered elsewhere see my Comentary on James 1. 14. pag 105. and 106. for the present let it suffice to note that lust is either original or actual 1. It signifyeth our original pronnness to all that is evil James 1. 14. 2. Actual lust so it signifieth any evil motion of the heart that swerveth from the Law of God more especially our inordinate desires and inclinations to pleasures honours or profit sometimes they are called fleshly lusts 1 Pet. 2. 11. as carrying us out to the satisfaction of our bodily and bruitish appetites sometimes worldly lusts T it 2. 12. because they are stirred by worldly objects lusts are the fever of the soul unnatural heats transgressing the Laws of reason and bounds of Religion 2. What doth this walking imply 't is elsewhere expressed by serving divers lusts and pleasures Tit. 3. 3. and by fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind Ephes 2. 3. It noteth First a willing subjection to lust as a law or as a Master the one is implyed in walking after our lusts the other in serving our lusts when men do as they please and let their sensual heart give Law to the whole man a child of God may be overcome by his lusts but he doth not walk after them or serve them he may be foiled hut he doth not give over the combate and is still resisting striuing praying calling in the help of the spirit his soul suffereth a rape by lust there is not a plenary consent on his part 2. Customary practice and observance walking is a progressive motion and so implyeth mens course and the tenour of their lives a child of God his walking is in the spirit Gal. 5. 16. and doth not fulfil the lusts of the flesh but 't is a wicked mans work and employment 3. A fond indulgence they are so far from thwarting lusts that they provide contrive for them Rom. 13. 14. Make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof they nourish their hearts fondle lust and make a wanton of it they do not crucifie it and set up a course of mortification against it Thirdly This is a note of unregeneracy or a state of ungodliness the Apostle describeth the natural state by this serving Tit. 3. 3. and this fulfilling Eph. 2. 3. and when the Holy Ghost doth derive the pride and folly of young men in giving themselves up to a course of lust and vanity he saith go walk in the way of thine own heart Eccles 11. 9. and the negative or privative work of regeneration is called a putting off the old man with his deceitful lusts Eph. 4. 22 and it standeth with good reason 1. Because they that walk after their lusts seek to cherish that which Christ came to destroy and so go about to defeat the Redeemer and to hinder him from obtaining his purpose in their hearts Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil 1 John 3. 8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to unty and loosen those cords of vanity wherewith Satan hath bonnd us the works of the Devil are lies which are of his inspiring and cherishing John 8. 44. Ye are of your father the Devil and the lusts of your father ye will do Now when Christ cometh to lose these cords carnal men tye them the faster and therefore certainly are to be reckoned to the devil and not unto God every degree of service done to Satan is an act of treason and disloyalty to Christ therefore when men make it their work to fulfil their lust they renounce all allegiance to Christ 2. They that walk after their lusts have not taken the rule of the new creature upon them the new man hath another Master and another rule the renewed soul is not governed by lust but by the Law of God Gal 6. 16. it we have not changed our rule 't is a sign we have not changed our Master 3. They that walk after their lusts never felt the power of grace for the grace of God teacheth us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2. 11 12. how doth it teach us I Answer partly by diversion by acquainting us with better things in Christ Rom. 13. 14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus and make not provision for the lusts of the flesh love cannot lye idle in the soul the mind of man must have some oblectation and delight either love runneth out in lust or in respects to God either to heavenly or worldly things when we only savour the things of the flesh 't is a sign we never tasted how sweet God is in Christ 2. Partly by way of help and supply it planteth opposite principles and makes use of an opposite power it plants opposite principles a new nature that hath new desires and delights 2 Pet. 1. 4. and maketh use of an opposite power which is the spirit of God Rom. 8. 13. 3. Partly by way of argument grace out pleadeth lust it urgeth the unsuitableness of it to our condition see Rom. 13. 13. 1 Pet. 4. 3. and 1 Pet. 1. 14. Rom. 6. 2. to our vows Baptism implyeth a renunciation of sins 1 Pet 3. 21. 't is an answer to Gods demands Credis Credo ab renuncias Ab renuncio spondes spondeo Therefore he that
lusts and brutish appetitions The Lord forbid 6. 'T is lusts that hinder the peace of the world our own peace how quietly and happily would men live if they were more mortified Men desire more then they have and so are made poor not by want so much as desire he that expects little is soon satisfied 't is our own passions that raise a storm in the soul a man that is vile and little in his own eyes when others contemn and slight him they do but ratifie his private opinion of himself and who can be angry with others because they are of the same judgement with our selves Take away the lust and the trouble ceaseth What need Haman be troubled that Mordecai did not bow the knee but that he looked for it Nay Lusts trouble our pâ—ace of Conscience Lusts let alone end in gross sins and gross sins in desperation love of pleasures if uncontolled will end in drunkenness or adultery and envy in murder and violence sins unchecked grow licâ—ntioâ—s and unruly Judas allowed his covetousness and it brought him to betray his Master and that Brought him to the halter Gehazi was first blasted with covetousness and then with leprosie and so became a burden to himself Ananias and Sapâ—ira taken off by a sudden judgemeâ—t The divel loveth by lâ—st to bring us to sin and by sin to shame and by shame to horrour and despair so that if we walk after our lusts it proveth a sad walk in the issue Again it disturbeth ouâ— peace with others these Libertines were yokeless and could not endure restraints because wedded to their own lusts 't is not opinions divide the world so much as lusts and interests 7. The more you walk after your lusts the more you may they are not quenohed when they are satisfied but increased rather as the fire is by laying on of new fewel the distemper groweth every day till you are quite enslaved given to much wine 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enslaved to wine in the Greek In this sense we are said to be brought under the power of the creature 1 Cor. 6. 12. so that what ever shame or loss ensueth you cannot leave your lusts Jer. 18. 12. There is no hope c. they see 't is bad and cannot see how it should be otherwise 8. What can we get by sin but a little pleasure Tit. 3. 3. serving divers lusts and pleasures this is the great Sorceress that inchants the whole world the root of all sin they loved pleasures more then God 2 Tim. 3. 4. 't is not imaginable that an intelligent creature should rest in his own action we aim at somwhat in walking after our own lusts if we balk that which is honest it must be profit or pleasure now that a man should enslave himself forever and that for a little pleasure which is base in it self and lost as soon as enjoyed is monstrous and absurd Breve est quod delectat â—ternum quod cruciat the pleasure is but short vanishing but the pain is for ever and will you for a thing of nought break with God and forfeit your immortal souls Oh let it not be Let all this now perswade you to deny your lusts rather then to feed or cherish them to renounce them and not to walk after them There are three degrees of this denial 1. They must be prevented and kept from rising 2. Suppressed and kept from growth 3. We must not accomplish them and if they gain consent keep them from execution Suitable to which three degrees there are three duties 1. Mortification that we may prevent them 2. Watchfulness that we may suppress them 3. Resolution that we may not accomplish them 1. To begin with the top and highest degree is to prevent the lust 1 Pet. 2. 11. Abstain from fleshly lusts 't is not enough to abstain from acts of sin but we must abstain from lusts yea the root must be deadned Gal. 5. 24. Crucifie the flesh she is chaste that checketh an unclean solicitation but she is more worthy praise whose grave carriage forbiddeth all assaults and attempts in that kind so should we be so mortified as to prevent a temptation not to have a lust stirring but because this cannot always be 2. The next degree is timely to suppress them laus est aliqus in secundis stare to conquer lust when we cannot curb it and wholly keep it under Dash Babylons brats against the stone and take the little foxes smother it in the conception Jam. 1. 15. 't is a great sin to quench the spirits motions so 't is a great neglect not to take notice of the first thoughts and risings of sin the little sticks kindle first and set the great ones on fire crush the Cockatrice in the egg the flesh riseth up in arms against every gracious motion so should the spirit the better part against every sinful motion Gal. 5. 17. chide away your carnal thoughts and let them not finde harbour if the envious man throw weeds over the Garden wall the gardner will not let them root there if Sathan cast in thoughts cast them out again with indignation 3. Let not worldly lusts be put in execution If thou hast neglected the mortifica ion and deadning of the affections if sin hath got the starâ— of thee gained a consent yetat least restrain the practice Jam. 1. 15. Lâ—st when it hath conceived bringeth forth sin that is an external sinful action there are works of the flesh that follow the lâ—sts of the flâ—sh Gal. 5. 19. 't is good â—o stop at lust though the lust grieveth the spirit of God yet the work beside the grief bâ—ingeth dishonor to God giveth an ill example bringeth scandal to Religion maketh way for an habit and further proness to sin therefore if thou hast not prevented the lust act not the sin Micah 2. 1 2. Wo be to them that devise evil upon their beds and when the morning is light they practise it 't is naught to harbour the motion to plot and muse upon sin but 't is worse to practise it for every act strengthens the inclination as a brand that hath been once in the fire is more ready to burn again if the divel have kindled a fire in thy bosom let not the sparks fly abroad but keep the temptation within doors left thou more betray thy self into Sathans hands The third clause in this Application of Enochs prophesie is that their mouth speaketh great swelling words In Enochs prophesie not only ungodly deeds are noted but hard speeches these Gnosticks were faulty both ways both in word and deed that which is charged here is a fault in their speech 'T is said Dan. 11. 36. The King shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods In the Septuagint the same phrase is used that is here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so possibly it may imply their blasphemies against God a crime of which these wretches were guilty in exalting Simon
Magus above the true God or else these swelling words may relate to their boasting of their own knowledge from whence they were called Gnosticks and Tertullian saith of them omnes tument omnes scientiam pollicentur ipsae mulieres haereticae quam sunt procaces They all swell with pride and make ostentation of deeper knowledge their very women how conceited are they Or else it may signifie their proud censures of others their scorning of the Guides of the Church as 't is said of some Psal 73. 9. They speak loftily they set their mouth against the heavens their tongue walketh through the earth they took a liberty to speak of all things and persons at pleasure without any restraint which was and is the very genius of these and other Seducers rather I suppose though not excluding the other senses these swelling words relate to their phrasâ—ologie and unsavoury gibberish which they used in representing their opinions Peter calleth them swelling words of vanity 2 Pet. 2. 18. The Note hence is this That the pride and vanity of Seducers is usually bewrayed in the fondness and affectedness of their expressions The affected language of the Gnosticks and Valentinians may be seen in Iraeneus and how much this pattern hath been improved by men of a fanatical spirit may be found in those that have written of the Heresies of succeeding Ages Jerome taxeth Jovinian with his swelling words In times more modern Swinkfield was observed to be always talking of Illumination Deification c. and the Famulists cant is not unknown of being godded with God and christed with Christ so Jacob Behmens greening of the inward root c. and Calvin saith of the Libertines of his time communi sermone spreto exoticum nescio quid idioma sibi fingunt interea nihil spirituale afferunt they pretend to matter more spiritual and when all cometh to all 't is but noisom errours disguised or common things represented in uncouth forms of speech which the Scriptures own not rational and truly spiritual men understand not the same unsavory unintellegible forms of speech may be observed in a wicked Book lately put forth by a Knight of this Country called The retired mans meditations wherein the highest principles of our most holy faith are endeavoured to be undermined by this Artifice of covert and affected speech but that by the providence of God the Book fell under neglect and scorn presently upon the publication Now the reason of this affectation is I suppose to amuze the Reader with the pretence of mystery and depths Rev. 2. 24. that despising the simplicity of the world and the common and avowed principles he may be the more pliable to their carnal fancies which if naked y exposed at first would have nothing of allurement and temptation in them to any well disposed minds well then be not wrapt into admiration with novel and conceited expressions nor troubled with oppositions of science falsly so called 1 Tim. 6. 20. This is the Devils device first to maze people as brids are with a light and a bell in the night and then to drive them into the net if you would keep to wholsome Doctrine keep to a form of wholesome words and do not place Religion in conceited speaking an holy dialect I know becometh Saints but an affected p'raseology is one of Satans lures and a means to corrupt many The fourth Clause is Having mens person in admiration because of advantage Junius applyeth this to those that set up Angels and unknown names and persons in the Church instead of Christ but I think 't is rather to be applyed to men person is therefore put for the outward state and appearance in which sense 't is said Thou shalt have no respect of persons in judgment that is of their outward condition and estate accepting of persons is rendred by the Septuagint by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wondring at a mans face or outside as being overcome and dazled at the splendor of it accordingly our Apostle saith here Having mens person in admiration now this they did for advantage that is either to gain men to their party by crying them up as holy and knowing to the contempt of others who were more valuable for the sincerity of Religion or else for worldly profits sake those whom they feared or from whom they expected any worldly profit as the rich and powerful upon these would they fawn and with these in a servile manner insinnuate themselves commending their actions and magnifying their persons Having been so long in the former part of the Verse I shall but mention the Notes here 1. None so fawning and base spirited as the proud for their advantage these spoke swelling words and yet basely crouching for profits sake Ambrose noteth it of a spirit of ambition ut dominetur aliis prius servit curvatur obsequio ut honore donetur none stoop so as they that have a mind to rise one observed of our late Prelates That they were willing to take Chams curse upon them to domineer in the Tents of them that is would be servants oâ— servants slaves to great mens servants that they might lord it over Gods Heritage men of proud insulting spirits how low for their own ends as Absolom courteth the people to justle his father out of the Throne 2 Sam. 15. 2 3 4 5. and Tacitus observeth the like of Othe that he did proiicere oscula adorare vulgus omnia serviliter pro imperio adore the people kiss the meanest basely dispense his courtesie to the vilest all to further his designs upon the Empire so Ammianus Marcelliuus lib. 25. observeth the same of Julian that out of affectation of popularity he delighted to converse with the meanest of the people certainly a proud spirit is no great spirit no more then a swoln arme can be accounted big 2. Having mens persons in admiration for advantage is a sin we may admire the gifts of God in others so as to praise the giver but not so as to be guilty of anthropolatry or man worship 1 Cor 3. 21. not so as to despise others who have their usefulness and it may be as excellent a gift in another kind 1 Cor. 12. 7 8 9 10 11. not so as to promote our interests thereby this is servile flattery condemned in the Text and Hosea 7. 8. not so as to be afraid to tell them their own or for their fear or favour to wrest the truth of God Mat. 22. 16. Thou teachest the way of God in truth neither carest thou for any man for thou regardest not the person of men let all regard this especially the Ministers of Christ 3. That seducers are apt to insinnuate with great persons and men of power and interest that having their ear and countenance they may ingage them against the truth having not truth of their side they use the more craft as the Ivy not being able to support it self twineth about
the better side Well then let your memories be as an Ark or Chest in which the Tables ore kept lay up a good stock of knowledge that you may have truths always fresh and present with you will be an help to prayer Eph. 6. 17 18 Take the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying always c. a check to temptations to sin Psal 119. 9. I have hid thy word in my heart that I might not sin against thee a support in afflictions Heb. 12. 5. a remedy against errour John 14 26. The next Clause is the words spoken before The Prophesies of Scripture evince the truth of it things are there spoken long before they fall out not only before the event but before the causes or remorse tendencies to such an event wise men may guess when they see probabilities and foretel that which dependeth on natural causes the Devil can many times shrewdly interpret the predictions of the word but a certain precience of what is future and meerly in it self contingent is the prerogative of God Isa 41. 22. Let them foretel things to come c. this is done in the Scripture Cyrus is mentioned by name an hundred years before he was born Isai 25. 1. The birth of Josiah 300. years before it came to pass 1 King 13. 2. The building of Jericho 500. years before it was re-edified Josh 7. 26. with 1 King 16. 34. The great promise of Christ in Paradice accomplished a thousands of years afterward the people of the Jews were ever warned by Prophesie of the good or bad that befel them Scripture was to them not only an Authentick Register but an infallible prognostication these two signal providences of the rejeâ—ion of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles were they not abundantly foretold and accordingly came to pass Can there be any compact here When the Jews were the keepers of the Oracles of God would they foyst in Prophesies against themselves Well then venture upon the truth of the word more than you have done God hath ever hitherto stood to his word rather then he would go back from it he would not only cast off his ancient people but send his own Son to suffer a shameful and an accursed death he that hath been faithful hither to is he like to fail at last I go on in the Text of the Apostle of our Lord Jesus That the words of the Apostles are the Rule of faith these were legati a latere sent from the side of Christ they had an extraordinary mission and call immediately from Christ as Christ from the Father John 17. 18 and John 20. 21. they had extraordinary gifts as infallibility quod hoc as to the work of an Apostle the power of working miracles c. and ordinary gifts in an extraordinary manner as tongues c. they were to write Scripture and to consign a Rule to the use of the Church in all ages This word of the Kingdom must be Preached till the end come Mat. 24. 14. and Christ prayed for no more then do believe through their word John 17. 20. and to them he said Matth 28. I am with you to the end of the world no other doctrine can we expect till we come to study Divinity in the Lambs face Once more these Apostles of the Lord were Paul and Peter 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 Peter 2 Pet. 3. 2 3. From whence Jude taketh many passages 'T is not unlawful to make use of the writings of other men Compare the fifteenth and sixteenth Chapters of Isaiah with the 48 of Jeremiah especially Isa 16. 8 9 10 11 verses with Jer. 48. 32 33 34 35 36. and you shall see how they agree almost word for word the gifts and labours of others are for our use not to â—eed laziness but to exercise industry in some cases if we speak iisdem paene literis syllabis as Melanchthon wished Divines would in the same words 't is not a fault in controversies and positive truths better make use of old words then coin nâ—w matter many now scoff at common truths as if Preachers did but talk like clocks one after another Doctrine cannot be varied a good scribe indeed must bring forth out of his Treasury things both new and old represent common things in a fresh savory way yet 't is not altogether unlawful to make use of the words of others where they are poinaunt and emphatical not lazily to go on in the tract but as improving their conceptions Yet again Jude an Apostle quoteth Apostles Daniel a Prophet read in the Prophesies of Jeremiah Dan. 9. 2. Peter was conversant in the Epistles of Paul 2 Pet. 3. 16. Paul himself had a care of the Parchments that is as some suppose the Volumes and Books of Scripture 1 Tim. 4. 13. Certainly the Scripture is not only for novices and young beginners but for the highest a study becomming the most eminently gifted there is a passage Psal 119. 75. Let those that fear thy name turn unto me those that have known thy testimonies that turning to him some understand of joyning with him in friendship and familiarity as certainly godly men by a secret inclination are moved to joyn one with another others make the end of turning to him to behold in him a pattern and example of the Lords grace but the Chaldee paraphrase thus turns to my Doctrine those that know let them come to know more Well then do not rest in the light you have and think that you are above these helps you may be further instructed and established if you had all knowledg there are affections to be wrought upon you may be quickned if not learn Ministers and those that abound in knowledg may be stirred up by the admonitions and exhortations of others Verse 18. How that they told you that there should be Mockers in the last time walking after their own ungodly lusts HOw that they told you he meaneth not in word but in writings they told the Church in general but the Apostle applyeth it to them places are every where 1 Tim 4. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 1. Acts 20. 29 30. in the last time The days when the Gospel was first Preached are so called in a double sense either with respect to the approaching judgements on the Jews 1 Iohn 2. 18. Little children now it is the last time the lease of our mercies was running out a pace so James telleth the carnal Jews Iames 5. 3. Ye have heaped up treasure for the last days when God was pulling down and plucking up they were scrâ—ping and hoarding up wealth and so became a greater prey to the destroyer 2. Or because then the last dispensation began which God would continue without change unto the worlds end Heb. 1. 2. He hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son the Lord hath now fully revealed his mind and the Doctrine of salvation is put into a settled
Christ we may walk with him Col. 2. 6 motion and opperation followeth life he that made thee without thee will not save thee without thee From the other interpretation of the word your selves that is one another Observe that Mutual conference is a means of perseverance Solomon saith Eccles 4. 10. When two lye together they have heat surely good company preserveth and keepeth up our warmth and vigor as a remedy against Apostacy spiritual communion and conference is often pressed see Hebr. 3. 13. and Hebr. 10. 24 25. When Gods people did oftner meet and confer together there was more life in them Next to conference prayer is required note thence That prayer is a means of establishment We are kept by Gods Power and Gods Power is set a work by prayer this is the breath that keepeth in the fire men that neglect prayer finde sensible decays when they suspected some distemper upon Jobs spirit they charge him with the neglect of prayer Job 15. 4. surely thou restrainest prayer no wonder if men grow unsavory worldly voluptuous when they let days go and weeks go and God never heareth from them 8. Then we pray aright when we pray in the holy Ghost this concurrence is necessary both with respect to acceptance and assistance 1. With respect to acceptance God will own nothing in prayer but what cometh from his spirit any other voice is strange and barbarous to him Rom. 8. 27. He knoweth the mind of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God the Lord delighteth noâ— in the flaunting of pates and the unsavory belchâ—â— and eructations of an humane Spirit the tunâ—able cadency of words is buâ—an empty ring in Gods ears the Psalmist saith Psal 19 2. Let my prayâ—r be set forth before thee as â—ncense Now the Censers were to be kindled with holy fire before the smoak went up the coal wherewith we are kindled must be taken from the Altar not from a common hearth and then our prayer goeth up as incense Gods course is to prepare the heart and then to grant the request Psal 10. 17. Thou wâ—lt prepare their hearts and cause thine ear to hear surely Gods ear will be opened if our hearts be opened when he himself sets us a work we need not doubt of audience fire from Heaven to consume the sacrifice was the solemn token of acceptance heretofore fire from Heaven is the token still even an holy ardor wrought in us by the Spirit 2. In point of assistance prayer is a work too hard for us we can â—abble of our selves but we cannot pray without the Holy Ghost we can put words into prayer but 't is he Spirit puts affections without which 't is but a little cold prattle and spiritless talk our necessities may sharpen our prayers but they cannot enliven our prayers a carhal man may feel the impulsions of a natural fervency and so cry unto God as the young Ravens cry unto him and in all creatures there is a desire of relief the â—ude Mariners in the tempest were very earnest Jonah 1. 6. but now gracious affection is quite another thing than this natural fervency there may be cold and raw wishes after grace but not serious volitions and spiritual desires these we must have from the Holy Ghost surely if we did consider what prayer is we should see the need of this assistance 't is a work which will cost us travel of heart Acts 1. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and James 5. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 't is expressed by striving Rom. 15. 30. Strive with me in prayers and Col. 4. 12. Labouring for you â—ervently in prayers c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 't is a striving with God himself and then there is no setting upon God but by his own strength this was figured in Jacobs wrestling Gen. 32. 25. to the end which is explained Hosea 12. 4. Yea he had power over the Angel and prevailed yea he wept and made supplication the party that Jacob wrestled with is called a man an Angel and God a man for the shape and form assumed an Angel to note the second person who is the Messenger of the Covenant and God Gen. 32. 30. 'T was such an Angel as blessed him which is proper to God now in the assumed body Jacob wrestled with him which was symbolical the Prophet referreth it to his Prayers but how is it said he could not prevail against Jacob With a blast of his mouth he might have confounded him and it had been as easie for him to maim and destroy every joynt as to make him halt and same of one thigh I answer he could not because he would not he gave out but such a measure of strength to the body assumed and the Lord did wrestle both in and against Jacob in Jacobo Deus est seipso fortior he wrestleth against us with his left hand and strengtheneth us with his right so that Gods power prevaileth over himself all this is spoken to shew what need we have of a divine power when we strive with God But now what is it to pray in the Holy Ghost I shall answer it in a word the Spirit helpeth us in prayer in a way of gifts or graces in a way of gifts that the heart may not be bound up and that we may have necessary words to give vent to affections Adam maimed us both as to gifts as well as graces and therefore that our supplies in Christ may be answerable the Spirit bestoweth upon us the gift of prayer that we may inlarge our selves to God on all oncasions this gift was either extraordinary and proper to the first times of the Gospel when they were able of a sudden to dictate a prayer in a strange Language which they had never learned so 't is said 1 Cor. 14. 15. I will pray with the Spirit and with understanding also Many did pray with the Spirit that is made use of this gift but to the neglect of edifying they did not pray so as they might be understood by the Hearers Now saith the Apostle I would use the gift but to edification so as the understanding of the Auditory may go along with me 2. The ordinary gift of the Spirit is that special dexterity whereby men are able to put their meaning into apt words 't is not of such a miraculous infusion and so wonderful in its self as the former because it dependeth much upon the temper and suitable constitution of the body and is much bettered by industry hearing reading meditation conference c. As all other ordinary habits are but such a gift there is in the Church as we find by plain experience many mens tongues being as the pen of a ready Writer Psal 45. 1. All miraculous gifts are now turned into ordinary gifts somewhat like them as discerning of Spirits into a sagacity and caâ—telous prudence gifts of tongues into a special dexterity that
affection corrupted and renewed the Schoolmen dispute whether there be any thing a man doth that had not its first rise from love 't is love maketh us angry and 't is love maketh us hate and love maketh us grieve much more is it love that maketh us hope and desire and delight so 't is gracious love that sets us a mourning for sin puts us upon hatred of evil delighting in God and in his Laws see 2 Cor. 4 14. 1 Ioh. 5. 3. Gal. 5. 6. faith worketh by love faith receiveth grace and love exerciseth it if we would do any thing in the resistance of sin in keeping the Commandments we cannot spare our love 2. As to man love is a grace that will make us industrious for the good of others and therefore we read of the labour of love 1 Thes 1 3. 't is gluten animarum the glue of the souls the cement and soder of the Church the jointing that runneth throughout all the living and squared stones Col 3. 14. by this souls are mingled and all mutual offices done cheerfully want of love to the Saints is the cause of Apostacy for the less we love them the more we associate to the wicked and then zeaâ— is damnifiâ—d and abated Well then watch the more earnestly against the decays and abatements of love leaving our first love is a disease not only incident to Hypocriâ—es but sometimes to Gods own children Christians go backward in the heat and light of their graces ten degrees either through the badness of the times Mat. 24. 12. or through a cursed â—aâ—iâ—ty that is apt to creep upon us affâ—ctions are deadned to things to which we are acâ—ustomed the Israelites cryed out nothing but this Manna our desires are not so fresh and lively after long acquaintance Sometimes it cometh from negligâ—nce or a sluggish carelesness we do not take pains to keep graces alive nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stir up the gift that is in us 2 Tim. 1. 6. as the Prieâ—â—s in the Temple were to keep in the holy fire so are we by prayers and meditation and constant woâ—k to keep our love alâ—ve but when these exercises are neglected it decreaseth Sometimes it falleth out through freeness in sinning neglect is like not blowing up the coals sinning is like pouring on waters a very quenching of the sâ—irit 1 Thes 5. 13. Again through secure dalliance with the pleasures of sin or cumbring the soul with the cares of the world when the heart runneth out too much upon the creature God is neglected Thus it may fall out But now the decay of love is seen in two things 1. The remission of the degrees of love 2. The intermission of the acts of love 1. A remission of the degrees when the heart groweth cold listless and loose when there is not such a strong tendency and bent of soul towards God as formerly not such a sense of unkindness such an awful respect to God a care to please him and desire to enjoy him nor such complacency and delight in the thoughts of God but now every loss or abatement of degree doth not mount to a leaving of our first love there are certain ravishments and transports of soul which we feel upon the first evidence of our being reconciled to God or are stirred up upon ther special occasions these are accidental overflowings which may come and go we cannot always bear up under them new things strangely affect us love is afterward more settled and dâ—ffused in the channels of obedience and therefore no wonder if it do not run with so full aâ—ydâ— and current this remission of degrees then must be understood with respect to these constant dispositions of love as care to please fear to offend desire of and delight in God when these fail as to any degree love is a chilling or growing cold 2. An intermission of the acts and exercise of love when God is forgâ—tten duty neglected sin unmoâ—tified no caâ—e of or frequency in private communiâ—n with God no sweet thoughts of him Psal 63. 6. Psal 104. 34. where we love there will be musing on the object beloved there will be familiarity and intimateness of converse there is not a day can pass but love will find some errand and occasion to confer with God either to implore his help or ask his counsel but now when men can pass over whole days and weeks and never give God a visit such strangeness argueth little love Again when there is no care of glorifying God no ploâ—tings and contrivings how we may be most useful for him when we do not mourn over sin as we were wont to do are not so sensible of offences have not these meltings of heart are not so careful to avoid all occasions of offending God are not so watchful so zealous as we were wont to be do not rise up in arms against temptations and carnal thoughts love is decayed certainly when the sense of our obligations to Christ is warm upon the heart sin doth not scape so freely love will not endure it to live and act in the â—ear Tit. 2 11. 12. Gen. 39 9. but now as this is worn off the heart is not watched the tongue is not bridled speeches are idle yea rotten and prophane wrath and envy tyrannize over the Soul all runneth to riot in the poor neglected heart yea further Gods publick worship is performed perfunctorily and in a careless stupid manner sin confessed without remorse and sense of the wrong done to God prayer made for spiritual blessings without desire of obtaining wrath deprecated without any fear of the danger intercession for others without any sympathy or brotherly Love thanks given without any esteem of the benefits or affection to God in the remembrance of them conference of holy things is either none at all or very slight and careless hearing without attention reading without a desire of profit singing without any delight or melody of heart All this is but the just account of an heart declining in the love of God Now as you love your own Souls beware of this great evil to this end 1. Be rooted and grounded in love Eph. 3. 17. Do not content your selves with flashes and good moods and meltings at a Sermon but get solid grace and thorow experiences glances and suddain affections will come to nothing Matth. 13. 4. 5. with 20. 21. A tree that hath taken root is in less danger of withering 2. Increase and grow in love 1 Thessa 4. 10. Nothing conduceth to a decay more than contentment with what we have received every day you should love sin less self less world less but Christ more and more 3. Observe the first declinings for these are cause of all the rest evil is best stopped in the beginning if when we first began to grow careless we had taken heed then it would never have come to this an heavy body moving downward vires aâ—quirit â—undo it gathers strength by
running and still moveth faster and faster look then to your first breaking off from God and remitting your watch and spiritual fervour 't is easier to crush the egg than to kill the serpent He that keepeth an house in constant repair prevents the ruine and fall of it stop every hole and chinck before the mischief spread further 4. Plead with thy heart the highest degree of love doth not answer the dignity of Christ nor the duty that we owe to him he is to be loved with all the Soul and all the heart and all the might 't is a disgrace to him to give him less surely he looketh to be much loved again who hath loved us so intirely and translated us out of darkness into marvelous light 5. In case of decay take the advice which the holy Ghost hath given you Rev. 2. 5. where three things are required 1. Consideration 2. Humiliation 3. Reformation 1. Consideration Remember whence thou art fallen ponder the case in examination we compare our selves and the Law together but in this recollection our selves and our selves together sadly consider then what a difference there is between thee and thy self recall former experiences and say as Job 29. 2. 3. Oh that I were as in moneths past in the dayes when God preserved me when his candle shined on my head or as the Churce Hosea 2. 7. It was better with me than now in our serious sequestration and retirements we should have such thoughts as these are I was wont to spend some time every day with God I remember when 't was a delight to me to think of him now I have no heart to pray or meditate no relish of communion with his blessed majesty 't was the joy of my Soul to be at an Ordinance the returns of the Sabbath were welcome to me but now what a weariness is it time was when I had sweet experiences and the graces of Gods Spirit were more lively in me but now all is dead and inefficacious time was when a vain thought was burdensome unto me but now I can away with sinful actions time was when the mispence of ordinary time was a grief unto my Soul now I can spend the Sabbath unprofitably and never be troubled c. Thus should you consider your estate 2. Humiliation intimated in the word repent 't is not enough to know your selves faln many are convinced of their collapsed and decayed estate but do not judg themselves for it in Gods presence go bewail it to God smite upon the thigh praying for pardon that 's the notion of the word repent here 't is not enough to repent of gross whoredom theft drunkenness we must repent also of the decayes of love the blind world thinketh we are to repent of nothing but what is publikely odious In friendship coldness is taken for a great injury go arraign thy self before God for growing cold in his Love and Service 3. Reformation do thy first works we must not spend the time in idle complaints many are sensible that do not repent some may repent that do not reform you must not be quiet till you recover your former station Christ puts Peter upon a trebble profession because of his trebble denyal John 21. 17. The next note is from the coupling of these two the love of God and looking for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life Thence observe That love to God will put us upon looking for Christs second coming when this mercy is to be dispensed to us See the like connection elsewhere 2 Thes 3 5. the Lord direct your hearts to the Love of God and the patient waiting for Christ. Two reasons may be given of it 1. Love allayeth fear 1 John 4. 17. 18. of whom should a Christian be afraid at that day of the Divel he is held in chains of darkness and judged by the Saints together with Christ of Christ Shall the members be afraid of their head the ransomed of their Redeemer the beloved of of their Saviour Oh but then he cometh as a Judg but 't is to plead their cause to right their wrongs to revenge their enemies to reward their services if he be then your Judg he hath ever been your Advocate hitherto and surely he that hath interceded for you will not condâ—mn you 2. Love quickeneth desire 2. Pet. 3. 12 Looking for and hastening the coming of the Lord. see Cant. 8 14. Rev. 22. 20 An Harlot would have her husband deferre his coming but a chast spouse thinketh he can never come soon enough they that go an whoring after the world neither dâ—sire Christs coming nor love his appearing but the Spirit of the Bride saith come they that love God look for it Phil. 3. 20. long for it 2 Tim 4. 8. they love his appearing corrupt nature saith depart Job 22. 14. but grace saith come the children of God would fain see him of whom they have heard so often and so much and of whose sweetness they have tasted they know him by hear-say and by spiritual experience but they would fain see his person This now informeth us what a difference there is between a child of God and wicked men they wish this day would never come and would be glad in their hearts to hear such news the thought of Christs coming is their burden and torment they have the spirit of the Divel in them art thou come to torment us before our time Matth. 8. 31. They cannot endure to hear or think of it if it might go by voices whether Christ should come or no would they give their voice this way and say Come Lord Jesus yea come quickly If Thiefs and Malefactors should have the liberty to chuse whither the Assizes should be kept or no would they ever fix it and look for and long for the time of its approach No no but a child of God is waiting and looking for this happy time But now here is an Objection are Christians alwayes in this frame What shall we say then to those weak ones that tremble at the thought of it for want of the assurance of Gods Love and the best Saints that do not alwayes feel such an actual inclination and strength of desire I answer the meanest Saint hath some inclination this way can a man desire that Christ should come into his heart and not come to Judgment Since comfort and reward is more naturally embraced than duty the first work of grace is to raise us up to this hope 1 Pet. 1. 3. but yet sometimes there may be a drowsiness and indisposition and then their lamps may not be kept burning Luc. 12. 35 36. The wise Virgins stept as well as the foolish Matth. 25. oftentimes they find themselves indisposed for his coming by careless carriage remission of their watch and scattering their Love to the Creature yea much of their old bâ—ndage may remain through the imperfection of their Love for his perfect love casteth out fear A wife
desireth her husbands coming home but it may be all things are not ready and in so good order as they should be all Christians desire the coming of Christ but sometimes they are not so exact and watchful and therefore their affections are not so lively Here is a note of tryal whether we love God or Christ how do we stand affected towards his appearing the world cannot satisfie Christians they look beyond it in things to come we are apt to feign and because we have not a sufficient sense of them we think we have an affection to them when we have them not if there be looking there will be preparing when you expect a great estate for your children you breed them accordingly or rather thus a man that expecteth the comming of a King to his house will make all things ready surely you look for no body when you are not fitting and preparing your selves what have you done against this great day do you judge your selves 1 Cor. 11. 31. do you get into Christ Rom 8. 1. that you may be interested in Christs Righteousness against you come to undergo Christs judgement what purging of heart and life 2 Pet. 3. 11. art thou in such a case wherein thou wouldst be found of Christ To exhort those that love God to look earnestly for the comming of Christ to this end 1. Consider our relations to him he is our Master we are his servants and good servants will wait for their Masters comming Mat. 24. 45. here we have our meals but then our wages 't is but present maintenance which we have now but behold I come and my reward is with me Christ will not come empty handed Again he is our Husband we his Spouse the Bride saith come Rev. 22. 17. we are now but contracted to Christ then is the day of solemn Espousals The Judge is the wicked mens enemy but your Redeemer 2. Consider the priviledges we shall then enjoy the day of Christs coming is 1. A day of manifestation Rom 8 19. all is now hidden Christ is hidden the Saints are hidden their life is hidden Col. 3. 3. their glory is hidden 1 John 3. 2. but then Christ shall appear and we shall appear with him in glory as Moses told the Rebels Numb 16. To morrow the Lord will shew who are his Christ as the natural son shall then appear in all his Royalty and Glory as the great God and Saviour of the world so shall the Saints put on their best robes in winter the tree appeareth not what it is the sap and life is hidden in the root but when summer cometh all is discovered 2. 'T is a day of perfection every thing tendeth to its perfect estate the little seed that is sown in the ground breaketh through the clods that it may be in flower and perfection so a Christian is working through that he may come to an estate of perfect holiness and perfect freedom here we are very weak yea even to glorified spirits he is but a Saviour in part there is some fruit of sin continued upon the body but then body and soul are united and perfectly glorified to praise God in Heaven Christ cometh to make an end of what he hath begun he came first to redeem our souls from sin but then our bodies from corruption then all priviledges are perfect regeneration Mat. 19. 27. when Heaven's new earth new bodies new souls new that 's a regeneration indeed so adoption we are sons but handled as servants looking for the adoption Rom. 8. 23. so justification our pardon shall be proclaimed at the market cross published before all the world Acts 3. 19. so for Redemption Luk. 21. 28. the body is a captive when the soul is set at liberty the body is held under death till that day 3. 'T is a day of Congregation or gathering together the Saints are now scattered they live in divers Countreys and in divers ages but then all meet in one Assembly and Congregation Psal 1. 6. but of these things more largely verse 16. on these words the great day From that looking for the mercy c. Observe That looking earnestly for eteanal life is a good means of perseverance for to that end is it urged by the Apostle here I shall enquire 1. What this looking is 2. What influence it hath upon our perseverance 1. What this looking is it implyeth patience but chiefly hope 1. Patience in waiting Gods leisure in the midst of present difficulties Heb. 10. 36. Luke 8. 15. 1 Thes 1. 3. Rom. 8. 25. 2. Hope now because there is a blind hope and a good hope a bastard hope and a genuine hope good hope through grace saith the Apostle 2 Thes 2. 16. Let me tell you that this looking or expectation is not that blind hope that is found in men ignorant and presumptuous that regard not what they do presumption is a child of darkness the fruit of ignorance and inconsideration when men are once serious they find it an hard matter to fix an advised hope on things to come for guilty nature is more inclinable to fear than to hope this blind hope will certainly fail us 't is compared to a Spiders web Job 8. 12 13. The Spider spinneth a web out of his own bowels which is swept away as soon as the besom cometh so do carnal men conceive a few rash and ungrounded hopes but when death cometh or a little trouble of Conscience these vain conceits are swept away this hope which I press you to is a serious act arising from grace aiming at its own perfection again this looking is not some glances upon Heaven such as are sound in worldly and sensual persons who now and then have their lucida intervalla their good moods and sober thoughts as Balaam Numb 23. 10. a taste they may have Heb. 6. 4. a smatch of the sweetness of Heaven and spiritual comforts the most wretched worldlings have their wishes and suddain rapâ—s of Soul but alas these suddain motions are noâ— operative they come but seldom and leave no warmth upon the Soul as fruit is not ripened that â—ath but a gâ—aâ—ce of the Sun and a suddain light rather blindeth a man than sheweth him the way So these suddain indeliberate thoughts vanish and leave men never the better again 't is not a loose hope or a probable conjecture this hath no efficacy upon the Soul men that are under an anxious doubtful posture of Spirit will be very uneven in their walkings James 1. 8. when men are discouraged in a race they begin to slacken their pace to which the Apostle alludeth when he saith I run not as once that is uncertain 1 Cor. 9 26. but when they begin sensibly to get ground they hold on their course the more chearfully Thus negatively I have shewed you what 't is not but now positively t is an earnest well grounded expectation of blessedness to come it bewrayeth it self 1. by frequent and
serious thoughts thoughts are the spyes and messengers of hope it sendeth them into the promised land to bring the soul tydings from thence 't is impossible a man can hope for a thing but he will be thinking of it by this means we prae-occupy and forestall the contentment of what we expect and feast the soul with images and suppositions of what is to come as if it were already present if a beggar were adopted into the succession of a Crown he would please himself in imagining the happiness and honour and pleasure of the Kingly State so certainly if we did look upon our selves as Hoirs of the Kingdom of Heaven and coheirs with Christ we would think of that happy state more then we do and by a serious contemplation our hearts would carry us above the clouds and set us in the midst of the glory of the world to come as if we did see Christ upon his Throne and Paul with his Crown of righteousness upon his head and all the blessed leaning in Abrahams bosome a carnal expectation filleth men with carnal musings and projects as Luk 12. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was dialoguing and discoursing with himself of pulling down Barns and building greater of bestowing his fruits and goods see the like James 4. 13. 't is usual with men to forestall the pleasure of their hopes as young riotous heirs spend upon their estates before they come in hand now so 't is also in Heavenly things men that expect them will be entertaining their spirits with the thoughts of them 2. By hearty groans and sighs and longings Rom. 8. 23. We groan in our selves waiting for the adoption the redemption of our bodies they have had a tast of the clusters of Canaan and therefore long for more they can never be soon enough with Christ when shall it once be the nearer enjoyment the more impatient of the want of his company as the decays of nature do put them in mind of another world they begin to lift up the head and look out Rom. 8. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the earnest expectation of the creature the word signifieth the puffing out of the head to see if it can spye a thing a great way of and noteth the extension of the soul towards the fruition of things hoped for they would have a fuller draught of the consolations of the spirit more freedom from sin more perfection of grace c. 3. By lively tasts and feelings a beleever hath eternal life he beginneth it here hope is called a lively hope not only living but lively 1 Pet. 1. 3. because it quickeneth the heart and maketh us chearful and sprightly Rom. 5. 2. We rejoyce under the hope of the glory of God joy is for enjoyment and possession but yet that pre-possession which hope getteth causeth all joy see 1 Pet. 1. 8. I confess all feel it not in a like degree because it dependeth upon a sense of grace which beleevers always have not yet all find a sweetness and some comfort when they think of what they look for worldly hope is but the dream of a shadow there is pain and trouble in the expectation and no satisfaction in the fruition 2. Let me shew you the influence it hath upon perseverance 1. It sets us a work to purge out sin 1 John 3. 3. Every one that hath this hope purifiâ—th himself as Christ is pure the things that we look for are holy 't is a great part of our portion in Heaven to be free from sin and to be Consorts of the immaculate Lamb can we hope for these things and cherish wotldly lusts if we did we look for a sensual Paradise then we might indulge our lusts without any defyance of our hopes but we look for a pure and holy as well as a glorious and blessed estate and therefore we should begin to purifie our selves 2. It withdraweth our hearts from present things Phil. 2. 20. Our conversation is in Heaven from whâ—nce we look for a Saviour a man that hath been looking upon the sun findeth his eyes dazled that he cannot behold an object less glorious the oftner we look within this vail the more is the glory of the world obscured Abraham lived as a stranger in the promised land why because he looked for a City c. Hâ—b 11. 9 10 deny deadly lusts saith the Apostle looking for the blessed hope Tit. 2. 12 13. a man who is much in Heaven his affections are pre-ingaged and therefore the world doth him little hurt birds are seldom taken in their flight the more we are upon the wing of heavenly thoughts the more we escape snares hope sets the wheels a going Phil. 3. 13. I press onward because of the high price of our calling the thought of the end quickeneth to the use of means we faint because we do not consider it more 1 Cor. 15. 58. Heaven will pay for all 4. It maketh us upright and sincere looking a squint on secular rewards is the cause of all our declinings Mat. 6. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they have their reward hired Servants do not look for the inheritance and therefore must have pay in hand if they may have the world and live in honour and pleasure they will discharge God from all other promises a sincere man maketh God his Pay master and that chiefly in the other world Col. 3. 24. we have a Master good enough in him we need not look for pay elsewhere 5. It supporteth us under those difficulties and afflictions which are wont to befall us in a course of godliness we can counterballance what we feel with what we expect we feel nothing but trouble and that which we expect is life and glory Rom. 8. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 17 18. in this respect hope is called an Anchor Heb 6. 19. in the stormy gusts of temptation it stayeth the Soul which hope we have as anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfâ—st and entereth into that which is within the vail 't is a weighty anchor that will not bow or break and the ground is good it entereth into that within the vail and therefore though tempests arise it will keep us from floating and dashing against the rocks again 't is called a Helmet Eph. 6. 17. the Helmet of Salvation so 1 Thess 5. 8. the Helmet is for the Head in conflictâ— as long as we can lift up our heads and look to Heaven we are safe 6. It helpeth us to resist temptations sin maketh many promises and prevaileth by carnal hope Balaam was enlivened by promises to curse Gods people Babylons fornications are presented in a golden cup men are corrupted with promises of preferment and greatness and present accomodations now hope sets promise against promise Heaven against earth pleasures at Gods right hand against carnal delights and taking our fâ—ll of loves as one hall driveth out another so doth hope defeat the promises of the world by propounding the
promises of God Let us now apply this 1. It informeth us that we may look for the reward without sin Those men would be wiser than God that deny us a liberty to make use of the Spirits motives they begrudg Gods bounty to what end should the Lord propound rewards but that we should close with them by faith graces may be exercised about their proper objects without sin it requireth some faith to aim at things not seen the world is drowned in sense and present satisfactions they are Mercenaries that must have pay in hand their Souls droop and languish if they do not meet with credit applause and profit they make man their pay master they have the spirit of a servant that prefer present wages before the inheritance but to do all upon the incouragements of the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life argueth grace 'T was a relief to the Soul of Christ to think of the reward Heb. 12. 2. Christ as man was to have rational comforts and humane incouragements that is sinful indeed when we would have the reward but neglect the work when we would be Mercenarii but not Operarii we sever the reward from the duty like Ephraim are willing to â—â—ead the corn but not break the clods Hos 10. 11. Again we look amiss upon the reward when we have a carnal notion of heaven as some Jews looked for a carnal Messiah so do some Christians for a carnal Heaven for base pleasure and fleshly delights for a Turkish Paradisâ— such kind of hopes debase the heart or else when we look for it as merited by us as if we could challenge it by our works then we are Mercinaries indeed 't is here looking for the mercy of Jesus Christ c. Again our own happiness must not be our last end there is a personal happiness that results to us from the enjoyment of God now the glory of God must be preferred before it 2. If you would persevere in the love of God and a good frame of heart revive your hopes and set the Soul a looking and a longing for eternal life if we keep the rejoycing of our hope firm to the end then we are safe Heb. 3. 6. Courtiers are more polite in their manners than ordinary subjects because they are more in their Princes eye and company the oftner we are in Gods Court the more holy Well then be as much as you can in actual expectation of this blessedness To this end 1. Believe it there is a mist upon eternity to a carnal heart they are led by sense and reason and believe no more than is evident to a natural principle but now faith is the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. fancy and nature cannot ouâ—-see time and look beyond death faith holdeth the candle to hope and then we have a prospect into the other world and can see an happy estate to come 2. Apply it 't is a poor comfortless meditation to think of a blessed hope and the certainty of it unless we have an interest in these things an hungry man taketh little pleasure in gazing upon a feast when he tastes not of it the reprobate hereafter are lookers on and David speaketh of a table spread for him in the sight of his enemies hope hath never a more lively influence than when we can make out our own propriety and interest 1. Job 19. 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth 2 Cor 5. 1. We know that if this earthly Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 2 Tim. 4. 8. Hence forth there is laid up for me c they do not only believe there is an Heaven but apply it for me You will say is hope only the fruit assurance I answer 't is the fruit of faith as well as of assurance or experience but the sense of our interest is very comfortable and in some sort necessary before we can hope any thing for our selves our qualification is to be supposed in a matter of such moment a man should not be at an uncertainty canst thou be quiet and not sure of Heaven not to look after it is a bad sign a godly man may want it but a godly man cannot slight it 'T is possible a man may make an hard â—hift to creep to Heaven through doubts and fears and may be scarcely saved whilest others have an abundant entrance but then you lose your Heaven upon earth which consisteth in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost and lose much of the efficacy of hope for uncertain wavering thoughts work little therefore assurance cannot be sleighted further I adde by shewing what application there must be if we cannot attain to assurance there are three degâ—ees of application beneath assurance there is acceptation adherence and affiance 1. Acceptation of Gods offer upon Gods terms Job 5. 27. Know thou it for thy good put in for these hopes and take God to his word upon this confidence make good thy part of the stipation in the Covenant and he will not fail thee this application there must be in all an answer to the demands of the Covenant 1 Pet. 3. 21. Exod. 24. 6 7 8. 2. Adherence Stick close to this hope in a course of obedience if we do Gods work we shall not fail of wages 1 Car. 9. 26. I run not as one that is uncertain 3. Affiance resting waiting upon God for the accomplishment of this blessedness though not without some doubts and fears as to our own interest though you cannot say 't is yours yet you will cast your self upon the mercy of God in Christ as 't is in the Text. Looking for the mercy of Christ you dare venture your Soul in that bottom this is that committing your selves to him as unto a merciful and faithful Creator which the Apostle speaketh of 1 Pet. 4. 18. You will go on with your work and put your selves in Gods hand for your eternal happiness because he is merciful faithful See also Rom. 2. 7. 3. Meditate on it often med taâ—ion is a temperate extasie a survey of the Land of promise God biddeth Abraham take a view of Canaan Gen. 13. 14 15. Surely the more we lift up our thoughts in the contemplation of this blessed estate the more lively will our hopes be if every morning we spent a thought this way it would season the heart against the love of present things the morning is an emblem of the Resurrection when we awake out of the sleep of death and the day cometh which will never have night more Psal 17. 15. So in time of troubles we should be reckoning upon a better estate Rom. 8. 18 so when you are by bodily sickness summoned to the grave and you are going down to converse with worms and skulls then think of a blessed eternity Job 19. 26. The next Point is from that elause the mercy The ground of our waiting and looking for
Christ is set forth praise and blessing praise hath respect to his excellency and blessing to his benefits Eph 1. 3. We may praise a man for his worth though we have no benefit by him and so we are bound to praise God for the excellency of his nature though he had never done us good but now when he is our God and our Saviour and hath shewed us so much of his goodness and mercy in Christ we should be ever praising him Phil. 4. 20. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever Amen Glory is due to him as God much more as our Father his worth and excellency though he were a stranger to us doth deserve an acknowledgment but when we consider what he is to us and what he hath done for us then we can hold no longer the heart being affected with a sense of his kindness breaketh out to our Father to our Saviour be glory for ever and ever Well then consider the Lords excellencies more and observe his benefits and work them upon the heart till you be filled with a deep sense of his love and find such an impulsion in your Spirits as you cannot hold from breaking out into his praise I come now from the description to the ascription to him be glory c. Can we bestow any thing upon God or wish any real worth and excellency to be super-added to him I answer no the meaning is that those which are in God already may be first more sensibly manifested Isa 64. 2. Make thy name known among the nations 'T is a great satisfaction to Gods people when any thing of God is discovered they value it above their own benefit and safety see Psal 115. 1. they preferre the glory of mercy and truth before their deliverance 2. More seriously and frequently acknowledged 't is a great pleasure to the Saints to see others praise God Psal 107. 8. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men 3. More deeply esteemed that God may be more in request more in the hearts of men and Angels Gods children no not count it enough that God is glorified by themselves but they desire also that God may be glorified by others as fire turneth all things near it into its own nature so is grace diffusive good men are loath to go to Heaven alone they would travel thither by troops and in company But let us more particularly take a view of this ascription and so first what is ascribed glory majesty dominion and power Let us open these words Glory is clara cum laude notitia excellency discovered with praise and approbation and notech that high honour and esteem that is due to Christ Majesty is the next word which implieth such greatness excellency as maketh one honoured preferr'd above all therefore a stile usually given to Kings but none so due as unto Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of our Lords The third term is dominion which implieth the foveraignty of Christ over all things especially over the people whom he hath purchased with his blood The last word is power which signifieth that all sufficiency in God whereby he is able to do all things according to the good pleasure of his will From hence observe 1. A gracious heart hath such a sense of Gods worth and perfection that it would have all things that are honourable and glorious ascribed to him therefore are divers words here used When we have done our utmost we come short for Gods name is exalted above all blessing and above all praise Nehem. 9. 5. Yet 't is good to do as much as we can Love to God will not be satisfied with a little praise I will praise him yet more and more love inlargeth the heart towards God if there be any thing more excellent he shall have it well then 't is a sign of a dead heart to be a niggard in praises to be sparing careless or cold this way 2. When we think of God 't is a relief to the Soul to consider of his glory majesty dominion and power for this is that which the Apostle would have to be manifested acknowledged and esteemed in God as the ground of our respect to him it incourageth us in our service we need not think shame of his service to whom glory and power and majesty and dominion belongeth It hearteneth us against dangers surely the great and glorious God will bear us out in his work it increaseth our awe and reverence shall we serve God in such slight fashion as we would not serve the Governour Mal. 1. 8. 't is a lessening of Gods majesty you do not treat him as a great and glorious Potentate Mal. 1. 14. It inviteth our Prayers to whom should we go in our necessities but to him that hath Dominion over all things and power to dispose of them for the glory of his majesty It increaseth our Dependance God is glorious and will maintain the honour of his name and truth of his promises When we are daunted by earthly Potentates 't is a relief to think of the majesty of God in comparison of which all earthly Grandure is but the dream of a shadow Again God that hath a soveraignty over all things and such an almighty power to back it will not be wanting to do that which shall make for his glory 2. The next consideration in this Ascription is the duration now and ever Thence note The Saints have such large desires for Gods glory that they would have him glorified everlastingly and without ceasing they desire the pre sent age may not only glorifie God but the future when they are dead and gone the Lord remaineth and they would not have him remain without honour they do not take death so bitterly if there be any hopes that God will have a people to praise him and their great comfort now is the expectation of a great Congregation gathered from the four winds united to Christ presented to God that they may remain with him and glorifie him for evermore 't is the comfort of their hearts to see this Congregation a making up every day that there are Saints and Angels to praise God whilest others grieve and dishonour him they prize their own salvation upon this ground that they shall live for ever to glorifie God for ever see Eph. 3. 21. Ps 41. 13 Psal 106 48. Now this they do partly from their love to Gods glory which they prize above their own salvation Rom. 9. 3. Partly in thankfulness to God for his everlasting love to them God is from everlasting to everlasting and his love is from everlasting to everlasting Psal 10â— 17. he was their God and will be their God for ever and ever and therefore they purpose to be his people and to praise him for ever and ever Well then get these large desires for Gods glory that he may be
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Iraeneum Observat 1. Observat 2. Observat 3. Observat 4. * 2 Pet. 1. 2. Observat 5. Observat 6. Observat 7. * Vide Nieremberg Strom. 1. cap. 17. Glassium l. 1. Philol. sacrae pag. 60. Christolog Mosaicae dissert 5. p. 165. Observat 1. * Multi adhuc sunt qui clavum sanguine Abelis rubentem circumferunt Observat 2. * Baalam cursed Israel for hire against his own conscience so did these pervert the truth Observat 3. Observat 4. Observat 5. Observat 6. Observat 7. Observat 8. Observat 9. Observat 10. Observat 11. Observat 12. Observat 2. Observat 3 Observat 4. * Psalm 145. 15. Observat 5. Observat 6. Observat 7. 2 Pet. 2. 17. Observat 8. Observat 9. Ier. 6. 16. * Lethifer Autumnus Juvenal Observ 10. See Dr Hammond pract Cat. p. 14â— 145. Observat 11. Observat 12 Observat 13 Observat 14 Observat 1â— Observat 2. Observat 3. Observat 4. Observat 5. Observat 6. * 2 Sam. 21. 17 * See verse 6. on those words chains of ever lastâ—ng darkness and ve se 7. those words â—tâ—rual sire * Wicked men are not changed in Hell melted mettle groweth hard again the bad theif had one foot in Hell and yet dyeth blaspheming their Iudgments are changed not their hearts they would have dallyed with God longer greeved his spirit here in the world longer but that their Candle went out c. Observat 9. * Vid. Bez. Estium in loc Observat 3 Observat 4. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. Observat 5. Observat 6. Observat 7. * Psal 1. 5. See Hosea 7. 2. Psalm 49. 5. * Numb 32. 23. Observat 3. Observat 4. Tertullian * 1 Tim 3. 6. 1 Tim. 6. 3. Observat 5. Observat 6. Observat 8 * Mat. 12. 32. â— Observat 1. * Or Sibbus â— * Rom. 8. 7. * Sencea * Quod enixè concupiscunt ut sit contabescunt quod esse non possit Gilbert in cant 19. * Iob. 38. 0. * Quantum libâ—t saepe obligati hoc solum memincr unt quod negatum est Plin. Ep. 4. l. â— Non quod habit num 〈…〉 quod non abâ—t opâ—at Mâ—nil * See 2 Chron. 15. from 3. to the 6. * Qui Christum curat non multum curat quam de praciosis cibis stercus conficiat Hierom. * Virtus etiam lecto exhibetur * Exod. 14. 13. * Job 15. 11. â— Vse 1. * Mat. 5. 19. * Titus 1. 7. Titus 2. 3. Observat 3. * Discripsit Apostolus Joviniâ—num loquentem buccis tumentibus inflata verba trutinantem Hieron lib. 1. adversus Jovin * As Ge. 19. 21. Nashati panecha the word signifyeth I have accepted thy face or lifted up thy face the Sept. render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We I have accepted thee concerning this thing Observat 4 * Dr. Jackson in his Treatise of faith Observat 5. Observat 6. Observat 7. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Observat 3. Observat 4. Observat 5. Observat 6. Observat 1. Observat 2. Observat 3. * Mundus senescens â—patitur phantasias Gerson Observat 4 Observat 5. Observat 6. Observat 7. * Under this head is comprised sinsul excommunication See Joh. 9. 34. and Joh. 16. 2. * Ab Ecclesiâ Romanâ non alio â—isâ—â—ssimuâ— animo quam ut si correcta ad priorem Ecclesiae jormam redeat nos quâ—que aâ—illâ—n revertamur c. See my Comment on James pag. 405. Observat 2. Observat 3. * Ebrietas longe est a me Domine crapula autem nonunquam surrepit servo tuo Aug Confes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Observat 4. Observat 1. Observat 2. Observat 5. Observat 6. Observat 7. Observat 8. * Tit. 3. 5. Observat 1. Observat 2. * Jer. 14. 10. * Psal 95. 10. Observat 3. * Psal 97. 10. * Joh. 11. 35 36. * Luk. 7. 47. Observat 4. 1. Vse Object Sol. Vse 2. Observat 5. * John â— * See the larger annotations Vse 1. Vse 2. * 2 Pet. 4. 17. Observat 6. Observat 7. * Called therefore a Crown of life Rom. â— 10. Observat 1. Observat 2. * Errare possum Hereticus esse nolo * Isa 8. 27. * Tacitus saith that he did servili animo exercere imperiumper libidinem sevitiam * Tim. 2. 15. * Pro. 27. 23 * Theod. lib. 3 15. Observat 4. Observat 5. * These are spots in your love-feasts verse 12. Observat 1. Observat 2. Observat 3. Observat 4. * 2 Cor. 1. 22. Observat 5. Observat 6. Observat 1. * Psal 104. 24 1 Cor. 1. 21. * Dolus an virtus quis in hoste requirit Vse 1. Vse 2. Observat 2. Observat 3. Observat 4. Observat 5. Observat 6. Observat 7. Observat 8. Observat 9. Observat 10 Observat 11
bidd them God-speed l st we be partakers of their evil deeds John 2. ep verse 11. 3. Gross Idolatry when we cannot communicate in their worship without sin 8. The scandals of Professors are ground of mourning but not ground of separation 1 Cor. 5. 2. Church Guides must do their Office discern between the precious and the vile that the hearts of the righteous be not made sad yet if not you have no ground to separate because God may own them for a Church though they have many scandals among them as in Corinth there was incâ—st heresie profaneness many that never had repented 2 Cor. 12. 21. yet to the Saints at Corinth we may communicate with a Church without sin when we have done our duty that is informed warned mourned if the word and Ordinances be kept pure for substance though the persons be corrupt you may communicate without sin the Pharisees held the degree of Doctors and Expositors of the Law and so far were to be owned though guilty of much personal wickedness Matth. 23. 2 3. The Prophets lived in corrupt times yet did they not separate from the Assemblies of the Church usually laziness is the ground of separation they are loth to discharge their duty to take pains to convince exhort and warn their fellow members or to call upon their Pastors to take heed to their Ministry and some Pastors are loth to be at the labour to gain a rugged people to the obedience of the Gospel to use that frequent admonition and those serious addresses which are necessary for such a purpose and to expose themselves to encounter those exasperations which the discharge of their duty will necessarily draw upon them and therefore rnn into separate assemblies where all things may be carried on more easily 9. Lawful separation must not be suddain till all due courses be tryed 1. Cor. 13. 7. Love beareth all things endureth all things hopeth all things Certainly we should do much endure much ere we go off from the communion of any Church it must be with grief when Physicians cut off an arm or leg they do not deâ—ight in it but are driven to it of necessity So when a Judg condemneth a Malefactor he delighteth not in the punishment in a civil warre though the cause be just yet to delight in the executions that are done upon the enemy is not without sin 1 Cor. 13. 5. Charity rejoyceth not in evil but rejoyceth in the truth Again it must be with a mind to return when the evil is taken away 10. For the degrees of separation take these rules If a afew separated for a weighty cause they should only withdraw tarrying for the Reformation of the Church but numerous bodies may go on to positive Seperation for they ought not to be without Ordinances but boldly to profeâ— the right way Again as long as a lower degree of separation will serve the turn we should not go to a higher 't is a great weakening to the Interest of Christ when we presently draw things to an extremity In smaller differences we must observe the Apostles rule Phil. 3. 16. but enough of this matter The next Point is taken from the seond sin mentioned in this verse sensual he chargeth it upon those that separate themselves Those that separate from the assemblies of the faithful are usually sensual Discipline is too straight for them that would live according to their own lusts the Raven that was sâ—nt out of the Ark finding carrion floating abroad had no mind to be cooped up there and therefore returned not so these finding more liberty abroad than in the Congregations of the faithful separate and inhaunt with such among whom they may have room for their lusts Moreover they lose the benefit of those that should watch over them Church communion is a good preservative against lusts Wo to him that is alone Eccles 4. 11. Straglers are more easily surprized they were sâ—aâ—tered and became meat to the beasts of the field Ezek 34. 6. they that separate are the more easily perverted both in Judgment and practice they tuâ—n Famulists now Famulism is but painted Atheism or Antimonists and Antimonism is but sin licensed and priviledged Again 't is just with God to punish that pride wherewith seperation is accompanied with bruitish lusts usually unsanctisâ—ed knowledg runneth into pride and then the affections are not governed well then observe the providence of God in setting a mark upon those that separate they are men of unbridled affections and without yoke and are usually given up to carnal pleasures and wonder not if sensual persons cast off communion with the Church when they cast off communion with God himself those that spent their dayes in mirth said unto God depâ—rt from us Job 21. 14. Many now that are come to the height of pride and sin pretend to live to the height of the creature The next Note is That sensual persons are evil persons there are three ranks of sinners those that are given to to fleshly lusts and they are the sensual those that are given to the lust of the eyes and they are the worldly those that are given to pride of life and those are the proud the great spirits of the world see 1 Iohn 2. 16. and Jam 3. 15. with my comment there our work now lyeth with the â—ensual who seem to be the worst sort of sinners and altogether unfit for any worthy action and exploit To find them out let us consider what sensuality is 't is an inordinate desire and delight in soft and delicate living there is a due care of the body to keep it serviceable and an allowed delight in the creature he that created water created wine creatures for our delight as well as our necessity and false Teachers have often set off themselves with the shew of a severer abstinence Col. 2. 19. ' tic possible that by an undue rigor the body may be used a little too hardly and disabled for better services but yet we are more usually guilty of the excess then of the defect pleasure is born and bred with us and therefore hath a mighty force and inchantment upon the soul the first years of humane life are meerly governed by sense and for a great while all our business is to live and grow and therefore most men miscarry by appetite and an undue liberty in meats drinks and sports now to state the due bounds and limits which reason and Religion hath set is very hard different tempers and constitutions of body make rules uncertain in the general 't is good to watch least pleasure become a master and reason a slave The two general limits are 1. The health of the body 2. The welfare of the soul 1. The health of the body must be regarded too much care for the body destroyeth it as too much oylâ—puâ—s ouâ— the Lamp wine and women take away the heart Hos 4. 11. that is the generousness and sprighrliness
of a man the vigor of nature is abated gallant and active spirits effeminated and brave hopes drowned and quenched in the puddle of exâ—ess and masculine agilioy and vivacity melted away in ease and pleasure The Romans were wont to have their sunerals at the gates of Venus Temple 2. The souls welfare is of chief consideration we must take â—eed that the soul be not either disfited for duty or disposed for sin 1. Dis fitted for duty when the soul cannot lift up it self to God and divine things and findeth less aptitude for his service you are inordinate Luk. 21. 36. Let not your hearts be over charged with surfeitting and drunkenness c. the heart may be over-charged when the stomach is not when we are warned of surfeitting and drunkenness we think of vomiting staggering reeling fauliring in speech or gate Oh Christians you are guilty of it when the heart is over-charged and driveth on heavily in holy things when we are warned of adultery we think only of defiling other mens wives or scattering our lusts promisâ—uoâ—sly as the beasts do but alass we are guilty of it when the inordinate use of a lawful wife doth quench our vigor and alacrity in our heavenly calling si vinum â—x â— potheca tua c. a man may drink too freely of his hogshead 2. We must take care that the soul be not more disposed to sin diver lusts and pleasures are fitly joined by the Apostle Tit. 3. 3. if we do not watch over pleasures the heart groweth more wanton and libidinous the restraints of grace are weaker and carnal motions more urgent and violent the heart is nourished c Jam. 5. 5. the enemy put in strength and heart 1 Pet. 2. 11. Well then let us beware of sensuality other things defile a part as cevetoâ—sness the soul but sensual lusts defile the soul and body to they leave guilt upon the soul and dishonour upon the body while 't is made a streiner for meats and drinks and a channel for lusts to run in other lusts seem to gratifie the ambition of man and to exalt him but these debase him and turn him out among the beasts to renounce pleasures is the first thing you must do if you mean to do any thing in Religion otherwise you lye open to every temptation Pro 25. 18. The water of the Sanctuary could not heal the mirery places Ezek. 47. 11 which is usually appled to sensual hearts preasures bring a brawn and a deadness upon the conscience and a cloud upon the understanding Daniel that had the high visions of God lived by pulse John Baptist that had the most eminent Gospel dispensation Mat. 11. fed upon locusts and wilde honey among the Heathens he was counted the most accomplished man that spent more oyl in the Lamp then wine in the bottle certainly the baser a man is the more he affects carnal delights Eccles 7. 4. The heart of a soâ—l is in the house of mirth that which wise men prefer is better then that which fools make choice of pleasures are the choice of fools wise men know them to be baits and snares that if they be not watched they soon put us out of frame and unfit us for communion with God Eccles 2. 2. Once more this sort of sins enslaveth and by custome gaineth upon the heart more then others do and bringeth us under a power which we cannot easily break 1 Cor. 6. 12 Therefore use pleasures with care and caution that when we take them they may not take us Gods people I suppose are not so easily tempted to adultery and drunkenness but beware of gluttony the throat is a slâ—pery place and instead of supplying nature we feed lust be not too much in the use of carnal delights least you suffer this distemper of spirit to take root Dives fared deliciously every day there are times of abstinence as well as liberal rejoycing in the creature when our lives are but a diversion from one pleasure to another nature groweth wanton and unsatisfied and men live as if they were born to eat drink play sport and sleep Luk. 17. 27. Lastly take heed of solliciting lusts when you should quench them Rom. 13. 14. The next thing that we may observe is That sensual persons have not the spirit these two are contrary flesh and spirit Gal. 5. 17. and they that cherish the one do necessarily banish the other and as they enlarge the one they streighten the other the spirit is a free spirit and sensual persons are very slaves the spirit is a pure spirit and they are unclean the spirit is active and they are gross and muddy of a dull and stupid nature the spirit worketh intellectual and chast delights and they are altogether for base and dreggy pleasures such a perfect contrariety is there between them more distinctly take it thus 1. Sensual men have little of the inlightning of the spirit their palate is better then their understanding Eph. 5. 16. Be not drunken with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the spirit where the fumes of wine and the motions of the spirit are composed as things incompatible in marish countreys we do not expect a clear air so sensual persons have seldom any clear and raised thoughts of God men given to pleasures can taste meats and drinks but not Doctrines 2. Sensual men have little of the quickenings and efficacy of the spirit the more they dissolve and melt away their precious hours and spirits in pleasures the more do they grow sapless dead and careless and loose all tenderness of conscience and livelyness of affection they quench the vigor of nature much more do they quench the spirit Voluptuaries are said to be past feeling Eph. 9. 19. 3. They have little of the comforts of the Spirit the comforts of the spirit arise from meditating on the works of God Psal 104 34. or tasting his love 1 Pet. 2. 3. or contemplating our great hopes 2 Cor. 4. 18. Now carnal men can relish none of this they cannot exercise love or faith or hope that they may delight themselves in God and have some lively tasts of eternal life when the soul lyeth under the dominion of carnal and dreggy pleasures 't is uncapable of thinking upon God and his works or relishing inward consolation love is pre-occupied Well then we should the more take heed that we be not sensual never had any sensual person any great measure and portion of the holy Ghost in gifts or graces the Devil easily entereth into swine but the holy spirit of God will not dwell there a man is put to his choice which he wil have pleasures or the spirit 't wil be sad for you if you love pleasures more then God 2 Tim. 3. 4. and prefer these dreggy delights before those masculine joys which will acâ—rue to you by communion with God if we were altogether to renounce delight 't would be more â—â— some no you are only