of malice pride and passion and to deface their blamelesse innocency and the most upright and conscionable cariages in their callings with the staining tiâ—cture of contentious faction hellish maliciousnesse base covetousnesse opinionative pride or some such like vile diffamations obnubilating and obscuring these shining candles to this end and purpose that others might fall and never rise againe But what and if the messenger be a man of infamous rank as alas there are too many such yet let us regard his Doctrine which is of God An authenticall Proclamation loseth nothing of its authority by the promulgation of a deboist Officer Eliahs food was acceptable to him although uncleane ravens were his servitours and I thinke none of us will refuse currant coine comming from the hands of slovenly or bad companions And shall not we heare the Scribes and Pharisies sitting in Moises chaire Math. 23. 1 2 3. Because they say and do not But argue thus with your selves 1. Since no flesh can heare God and live Exod. 20. 19. 2. Since it is impossible and against the pleasure of Christ that he should preach againe in his manhood 3. Since it 's no wayes warrantable to expect preaching by Angels there being no such precept or practice 4. Since it 's not only impossible but unprofitable for those who will not c. Neither will they believe though one come from the dead Luc. 16. 31. to have a teacher come from the dead 5. Since though it were to be wished that none but good men did preach the Word we must regard not so much who speakes as what is spoken we resolve to heare Gods voice in the ministery of the Word 1. Not spider-like striving to sucke poison from the sweetest flowers Scribe-like seeking with poysoned hearts to entrappe the preacher as if we came to mend him not our selves 2. Not Athenian-like itchingly desiring novelties new texts new Teachers not seeking for grace but newes to feed our vaine and fond curiosity 3. Not unprofitably like riven vessels which receive plenty of water yet leake out all 4. Nor obstinately like the pertinacious stiffe-necked Iewes who resolutely answered they would not hearken Ierem. 44. 10. But with a serious Christian preparation diligent attention post-consideration and practice the end of hearing This word of God offering health to the sicke liberty to the bond life to the dead It having whatsoever is desireable whether profit surpassing gold or delight sweeter then hony And it being a word of reconciliation so a meanes to obtaine fellowship with the Father where it is wanting and a necessary duty for all such who have fellowship with the Father delightfully to heare God speake to them in his Word CHAP. XI The sixt Meanes and Duty is Seeking the Lord. HAve the Saints such a fellowship Seeke we the Lord that 6. Meanes Duty we also may have fellowship with the Father For the Lord will not forsake them that seeke him Psal 9. 10. This is neither the last nor the least meanes to obtaine society with the Lord. The Holy Ghost in many places frequently inculcating this duty stirring us up to seeke the Lord directs and guides us how and presseth us forward to get communion with the Father For what is it to seeke the Lord save to seeke the love and favour fellowshippe and fruition of the Lord And how shall we get communion with the Lord better then by seeking the Lord viz. Seeking to know him seeking to obey him that we may enjoy him Sociall combinations are not compacted til after former fervent and frequent seeking Courtly dignities country offices if of profit meet mates for mariages friendly companions who sticke closer then brethren arts and sciences health liberty wisedome wealth yea grace and glory therefore fellowship with the Father if wanting must be sought that they may be had Seeke we therefore to pacifie to please that so we may possesse the Lord or have fellowship with the Father Man 1 Oh seeke him therefore and that 1. Sincerely and unfainedly Deut. 4. 29. If thou seeke the Lord thy God thou shalt find him if thou seeke him with all thy heart and with all thy soule 1 Chron. 22. 19. Set your heart and your soule to seeke the Lord your God Ier. 29. 13. Ye shall seeke me and find me when you shall seeke me with all your heart 2. Fervently and earnestly Isa 26. 9. With my soule have I desired thee with my spirit within me will I seeke thee with all thy heart and soule 3. Humbly and submissively Zeph. 2. 3. Seeke the Lord ye meeke of the earth 4. Timely and seasonably Isa 55. 6. Seeke the Lord while he may be found Prov. 8. 17. Those who seeke me early shall find me 5. Constantly and painefully Prov. 2. 4. Seeking him as silver and searching for him as for hidden treasures Seeke we therefore and that Meanes 1 1. By godly meditation Cant. 3. 1. By night on my bed I sought c. 2. By unfained faith Heb. 11. 6. He that commeth to God must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seeke him 3. By true repentance Acts 17. 27. Seeke the Lord 30. ever repent 4. By humility Zeph. 2. 3. Seeke the Lord all ye meeke 5. By searching the Scriptures Iohn 5. 27. Search the Scriptures c. 6. By Christian conference Cant. 6. 1. Whither that seeke Zach. 8. 21. If moving inducements will prevaile behold Mot. 1 1. The Soveraigne mandate of the Lord of Hosts Thus saith the Lord of Hosts unto the house of Israel seek you me Isa 55. 6. Acts 5. 4. 2. The Lords pronenesse and easinesse to be found 2 Chron. 15. 4. 15. But when and sought him he was found of them 3. The perill and danger depending upon the neglect hereof Ier. 10. 21. The Pastors are become brutish and have not sought the Lord therefore they shall not prosper and their flocks shal be scattered Ezra 8. 22. His wrath is against them that forsake him 4. The superabundant promises which are made to those who seek him Deu. 4. 29. Ier. 29. 12 13 14. You shall find me c. 5. The profitable advantages redounding to all those who rightly seeke the Lord are very large and many As for example 1. Râ—st on every side from enemies 2 Chron. 14. 7. Because c. 2. The hand of the Lord is with them for good who seeke him Ezra 8. 22. 3. They shall never be forsaken who seeke God Psal 9. 10. 4. They shall want no good thing Psal 34. 10. 5. The Lord is good to the soule which seeketh him Lam. 3. 23 6. They shall live that seek God Amos. 5 6. Instigate and stirre up your selves to seeke the Lord with these or such like meditations as these foure following 1. Shall the Centurions servant go and come do this and that at his Masters bidding Ought all servants to obey the injunctions of their Maisters in all things scil which are
66. last Then we and all they shall see they were but in a fooles paradise and a deluding dreame 4. No peace No not with Gods creatures base or glorious these being ready prest to harme and hurt them if the Lord command or permit God being against them who can have peace with them Rom. 8. 31. 5. No peace Much lesse with the Lord For as Iehâ— could have no peace with Ioram so long as the whoredomes c. 2 Reg. 9. 22. What peace can they have with God so long as their impieties are so many As out of this society there is no peace so in this there is perfect peace Isa 26. 3. Peace they have with Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Rom. 5. 1. With glorious Angels these being their guard with good men Marc. 9. 50. Yea oft with enemies Prov. 16. 7. With heaven earth creatures crosses and their owne consciences What though they have afflictions in the world yet have they peace in Christ Ioh. 16. 33. And be it they not onely have trouble without but temptations within yet are they free from the force power and poyson of them which workes damnation in the wicked These things being so me thinkes all of you should use your best and utmost endeavours to have part and interest in this goodfellowship it being of all societies the sweetest surest most glorious most rich most joyfull and peacefull so that we may say of this as the Psalmist doth of the City of God Psal 8â— 3. Glorious things are spoken of thee O blessed society Yea such glorious wealth beauty victories prophesies presence promises and performances that being advisedly apprehended are of force to instigate and induce each soule enlivened by the Spirit of Grace to applaud with an holy admiration Psal 84. 1. this blissefull association and say How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord Christ Iesus To desire with earnest ardency wish for with unsatiable longings and say Psal 84. 2. My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God and with the same sweet singing Psalmist magnifie the sumptuous magnificence of this assembly saying Blessed are they that dwell in this house Verse 4. One day in these courts is better then a thousand I had rather be a doorekeeper in this society then to dwell in the tents of wickednesse Ver. 10. CHAP. V. Vse 4. Of Consolation to such who have fellowship with Christ. ALL you who are stubborne refractary and inexorable bedlam Belials who will not have this man raigne Vse 4. Consolation over you who will not be inoculated and inserted into this society of such ineffable glory unspeakable beauty and other inestimable transcendent excellencies stand by behold and view with admiration the glory and magnificence of this society and as Titus when he had seene the remainder of the Sanctum Sanctorum said Now I well perceive that this is none other then the house of God and the dwelling of the God of heaven Neither was it for nought that the Iewes stood so earnestly in the defence thereof For great is the glory of this Temple So when you have seene the splendent glory and transcendent beatitudes of this unparalel'd society do you speake out and say we well perceive that this connexion is no other then the communion with God the dwelling of the God of heaven neither is it for nought that such precise practising Protestants stand so earnestly in defence of it for great is the glory of this conjunction But do not presume to meddle with or lay hold upon it so as to apply it to your selves so long as you proceed in your exorbitant disorders This holy thing is not to be given to dogs these pearles are not to be cast before swine neither must any Cananite enter into this fellowship with the Lord Iesus But all you who already are annexed to and you who desire with unchangeable longings and laborious endeavours to conglutinate your selves to the Lord Iesus draw neare with attentive harkening That I may edge and keene your obtuse and blunt endeavours to cleave more closely to and pursue more eagerly this desireable society that I may hearten and incourage you against the many oppositions you are to encounter with in this your warring pilgrimage that I may make gladsome your soules and spirits I have words of comfort and consolation to speake unto you We have fellowship with Gods Sonne Iesus Christ and he is Wonderfull to save us Counsellour to advise us Mighty God to deliver us Everlasting Father to care and provide for us A Prince of peace to quiet our consciences and Governour for our defence Isa 9. 6. 1. Be it you are infirme and weake yet have you fellowship with Iesus Christ such a Child which will make you strong 2. Be it you are servants yet have you fellowship with Iesus Christ a Sonne to make and keepe you free 1. Are you confounded in conscience beholding the grim and ghastly lookes of your many bloudy and crimson sinnes formerly acted or intended Consolate your selves with this you have fellowship with him who is wonderfull to quiet all 2. Are you at your wits end being void of counsell Behold how you have fellowship with Christ Iesus a present Counsellour to advise and direct you 3. Are you feeble yea ready to despaire in regard of your inability and lack of strength to withstand the fierie darts and fierce assaults of Sathan that authour of evill to undergo the many great and grievous pressures of disgracefull ignominious reproches slaunderous calumniations and other malicious usages you meet with in this world animate your drooping and dismaid spirits with this you have fellowship with Christ a Mighty God so that you shal be able to do all things through Christ which strengtheneth you 4. Are you fearefull of death that dismall parter of soules and bodies Comfort your selves with this you have fellowship with Christ an everlasting Father who hath provided so graciously for you that your death is not a perishing but a parting for a time yea such that although there be a painefull parting betweene your soules and bodies yet there shal be a most gladsome and joyfull meeting 5. Are you afraid of Gods judgements Behold your fellowship with Gods Sonne the Prince of peace 6. Are you dismaid with any evill Consider how you have fellowship with him who is Governour of all for your defence Feare not therefore What Not God not his judgements not man not sinne I say not so 1. Gods judgements and threatnings are to be feared 2 Cor. 5. 11. Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord such who feared Gods judgements were comforted Isa 66. 5. Yea the very Aegyptians who feared the threats escaped them Exod. 9. 20. They are to be feared therefore although not so as to think to be overwhelmed by them or that God doth not love us 2. Man is to be feared although not simply for himselfe
abide in you or not For not onely Fantastique Familists Anabaptisticall dreamers and such like factious sects and Sectaries but many other children of Beliall who in truth are as yet habitations for the uncleane spirit and the seven other spirits more wicked to dwell in Math. 12. 43 44. Boast and glory of the happy fruition of Gods Spirit like the false Prophet Zedekiah who notwithstanding was possessed with a lying spirit 1 Reg. 22. 23 24. Search therefore the Scriptures for they testifie of these things and from them you may learne what spirit you are of The Scriptures tell us 1. That where Gods Spirit abideth there is the Spirit of Prayer Rom. 8. 15. We have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we crie Abba Father Verse 16. The Spirit maketh intercession for us 2. Where Gods Spirit abideth there is a new birth regeneration a new creation Ioh. 3. 4. Borne of the Spirit 3. Where Gods Spirit abideth there is holinesse and sanctity 1 Pet. 1. 2. Sanctification of the Spirit Rom. 1. 4. Spirit of holinesse 4. Where Gods Spirit is there is knowledge of all things sc Necessary to salvation 1 Ioh. 2. 20. 5. Where the Spirit of God abideth there must needs be sincerity or uprightnesse 6. Where the Spirit of God abideth there is a testification to a mans owne spirit that he is the child of God Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit beares witnesse with our Spirits that we are the children of God From which grounded Maximes and undeniable Theses drawne from the Word of truth these following inferences must necessarily be concluded 1. That the prayerlesse person sc such a one who prayes not at all or not so with such graces which Gods Spirit prescribes in the Word as necessary companions of pious prayer viz. Knowledge faith sincerity zeale c. in some measure 2. That the unregenerate not converted man who is the same he was ever no changeling having the same mind will affections c. And he who is changed from one evill to another as bad or worse neither of these being truly converted so as to become new creatures 2 Cor. 5. 17. New men Eph. 4. 24. To have new hearts Ezek. 11. 19. And new lives yea all things new 2 Cor. 5. 17. sc wils lives affections sc love hatred c. New eyes Eph. 1. 18. Eares Psal 40. 6. And tast Rom. 8. 5. 3. That the meere civill honest man although he walke as inoffensively as did ever any Heathen Worthy and as plausibly as those justiciary Pharisees being no oppressour paying every man to the mint and anniseed Much lesse therefore the prophane Belial which wallowes in all wickednesse wholly regardlesse of piety of God and righteousnesse to man 4. That the man ignorant and unacquainted in those truths which are necessary to be knowne and the man who although he hath plenty of knowledge floting in the braine and flowing from the tongue yet wants the necessary practique knowledge So that although he is able to discourse learnedly and profoundly yet doth he not believe that he knowes is to be believed love that he knowes is to beloved and do that he knowes is to be done c. in some measure 5. That the flourishing Formalist performing those many excellent and praise-worthy duties he doth onely outwardly for by-ends without the pith marrow and substance of Christianity uprightnesse of heart 6. That the man wholly and altogether wanting the testimony of his owne conscience grounded upon the testimony of Gods Spirit that he is the child of God and he who in stead of the testification of Gods Spirit which ever agreeth to the Word glads and contents himselfe with the wicked spirit of presumption for his living willingly constantly and contentedly in those wicked wayes the Word of God condemnes to hellish torments argues an absence of the testimonie of Gods Spirit for is it possible that Gods Spirit should peremptorily affirme in the Word that no drunkard covetous person hypocrite c. shall inherite the kingdome of heaven and yet testifie to the conscience of a drunkard covetous person hypocrite c. that he is Gods child and shall go to heaven That none of these have the Spirit of Christ abiding in them and therfore no fellowship with Iesus Christ may safely must necessarily be inferred from the forenamed propositions First all you of the former ranke which have the Spirit of prayer true conversion holinesse saving knowledge sincerity of heart and a warrantable assurance in your owne consciences that you are the children of God consequently have the Spirit of God abiding in you and therefore fellowship with the Lord Iesus 1. Be perswaded highly to praise and glorifie the Lord so loving and liberall who hath bestowed such an inestimable treasure upon you as is the Spirit of the Lord the Spirit of wisdome and understanding to teach you the Spirit of counsell to counsell and advise you the Spirit of might to protect and defend you the Spirit of knowledge to instruct you Isa 11. 2. The Spirit of the Lord inabling you to pray and making your prayers acceptable Rom. 8. 26. Bringing you to liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. Helping your infirmities enlightening your understandings rectifying your judgements reviving your spirits stirring your affections sanctifying all inward gifts and seasoning the use of all outward things unto you assuring you of all the rich treasures in Iesus Christ This being the gift of gifts the head the height the depth the bredth and length of all good things 2. Not to grieve this Holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption Eph. 4. 30. By doing any thing contrary to the light which is set up in your consciences by the Word of God and this Spirit least if you vexe him he turnes to be your enemie Isa 63. 10. 3. Not to quench the Spirit 1 Thes 5. 19. Doe not therefore by your security and negligence lose the fruits and effects of the Spirit nor abate the working of grace To lose wholly the saving graces of the Spirit which a man once had as if a man should extinguish fire wholly is not possible the Spirit abiding with such for ever Ioh. 14. 16. But to lose some fruits and effects of the Spirit and to abate the working of grace as if a man should slacke the heate and lose the light of fire doth oft befall the Saints by meanes of their carelesnesse and security 4. To walke after the Spirit Rom. 8. 1. Which are in Christ walke after the Spirit Gal. 5. 25. If you live in the Spirit walke in the Spirit i. By minding liking wishing desiring and affecting the things of the Spirit Rom. 8. 5. And by endeavouring in the whole course of your lives and callings to order your selves according to the will and Word of God for that which is commanded in the Word is enjoyned by the Spirit and to leade a mans life according to the Word is to walke after the Spirit
it to raigne and rage in them Whosoever is bâ—râ—e of God sinneth not cannot sinne He doth not sinne i. not châ—rish it and suffer it to raigne but endeavoureth to cleanse himselfe from sinne following holinesse of life He cannot sin â— â—â—to death as he is borne of God as he hath Gods Spirit and graces although as he is man as he is flesh he doth He cannot indeavour to sinne c. 2 Neither intend I the least justifying of such abominable iâ—poâ—ritâ—s painted pollution covered with pretended religion is worthy double punishment yea double damnation which living iâ— loathsome impâ—â—ties boastingly reject their neighbours â—â—â—â—stand by thy selfe come not neare to me for I am holier thâ—â— thou Isa 65. 5. I am not as other men are c. Luke 18. 11. I fast pay tithes although they omitted the weightier matters of the Law judgement mercy and faith Mat. 23 23. within full of extortion and excesse 25. of hypocrisie and iniquity 28. These righteous persons Christ came not to call Math. 9 13. These being a generation which are cleane in their owne eyes and yet is not washed from their filthinesse Prov. 30. 12. I leave such dotages as the proper characters of spirituall fooles whose wayes though naught are righteous in their owne eyes and yet are not washed from their filthinesse Pro. 30. 12. Of unsanctified persons Prov. 30. 13. Of Lâ—wd companions Isaiah 65. 3 4. Of formall Christians Math. 7. 22. Of Civill honest men Math. 19. 20. and of proud Pharisees Luk. 18. 11. Which were a people eagerly thirsting after vaine-glorious ostentation doing all to be seene of men the greatest enemies as it 's ever the property of outside Christians to Christ and his Disciples the most dogged censurers of mens aâ—tions better then themselves causelessely A lively pictâ—re of whom we shall sind pourtrayd in most ignorant sots goodfellow-drunkards Papists hypocrites familists and meere civill honest men whose actions although in many particulars they come short of those painted sepulchres run paralled with theirs Math. 6. The Pharisee gave prayed fasted to be seene of men Math. 19. 20. Luke 18. 11. And boasts of exact obedience Vpon which ground I suppose every one of indifferent understanding will ingeniously confesse that these forenamed who seldome give except vaine-gloriously to some clamorous beggers seldome or never pray in secret or in their families onely in publique to be seene of men By consequence avouch themselves to keepe the Law of God perfectly for although they are sinners as they say yet they have kept the 1 2 3 4 commandement c. And not in those who are called Puritanes by worldlings because they will not be prophane 1 Pet. 4. 4. Because they endeavour in all things to live honestly and to keepe a good conscience These not onely giving sometimes in the view of others carefully relieving the distressed members of Christ in secret praying conscionably and constantly to their father in secret and although they justifie themselves in regard of some speciall kind of sinne onely or some degree or some circumstance as David cleares himselfe Psal 7. 27. And Saint Paul himselfe from soule-murther Acts 20. 26. Yet in regard of their common corruptions and particular frailties condemne themselves more deeply then any others Psal 51. Rom. 7. 16. 1 Tim. 1. 15. But sith it is evident without contradiction that not onely all men but also all regenerate persons who are borne of God are sinners and yet such are exhorted not to sinne yea are said not to sinne 1 Ioh. 3. 9. Give me leave briefly to point at under correction of the learned the differences betwixt Gods children and wicked men and then to perswade all such who professe themselves the children of this Father although they cannot but sinne not so to sinne as wicked and ungodly ones do which is the second Vse of this Point The godly man imployes his utmost endeavours to shun Differen 1. Godly shunne secret sinnes envy and anger aswell as murther lust as adultery infidelity hypocrisie pride earthly-mindednesse and all secret and hidden sinnes aswell as outward impieties He desiring to approve his heart unto God He well considering 1. That the secrets of the heart are as transparent to the omniscient thought-searching Iehovah as the most audible words and publique actions 2. That God will judge for secret sinnes aswell as for outward Rom. 2. 16. The wicked man so be he can demeane himselfe so smoothly and plausibly that man cannot accuse him of outward villany thinkes all is well although his heart is farc't brim full of privy pride secret hypocrisie shamefull ignorance wanton obscoenities base earthly-mindednesse canckred envy unadvised anger c. Deeming either his thoughts to be free or doing all to be seen of men The Godly man albeit he may fall into some grosser impiety doth carefully eschew and with as much loathing detestation the smallest sinnes as those of the grosser order and Small sinnes that 1. Because he knoweth that the smallest is sinne 2. Committed against an infinite God 3. A trespasse against the most holy Law 4. Able to deprive of the greatest good sc Gods favour 5. Able to bring the greatest misery 6. Not washed away with any thing save the â—â—valâ—able price of the blâ—nd of the immacâ—late Lambe Christ 〈◊〉 The wicked man makes of mountaines molehils makes no scruplâ— of pâ—tty oathes Racha foole wanton dalliance merry and offâ—â—â—â—s 〈◊〉 hurtfuâ—l jests c. Yea he is ready not onely to extâ—â—â—â—te but to plead that they are small Wheras no sinne is smâ—ll compared with the Law the punishment person offended and price of redemption The child of God doth not onely take heed of the top and height of sinne but of the first and least degree of sinne He advisedly considering the insinuating spreading and incroching nature of sinne one drawing on another he therefore diligently withstands the first degree he crusheth the egge lâ—st it prove a Sâ—rpent quencheth the sparkles least they fire all Iam. 1. 19. The wicked no whit regardeth concupiscence the root and beginning of sinne but deales with it as Milo with his calfe carried it a calfe and an oxe likewise custome comes upon him which hardeneth his heart Ier. 13. The godly man sinneth not with full câ—nsent of heart The 4. Spirit strives against the flesh Gal. 5 17. His sinne is as bitter and burdensome to him as death Rom. 7. 24. Yea he is so irâ—â—d with the remainder of old Adam and with his particular slips and wants in well-doing that he lamentably complaines O wretched man ver 24. Not despairing of salvation as the next words and last verses of the next Chapter declare but bewailing his present misâ—rable condition so subject to sinne as one groaning under a heavy burden And therefore doth earnestly strive against the sinne and temptation â—â—â—ting the spirituall warfare with the two edged sword of the Word and ardent prayer The wicked sinneth with
145. 16. and the Lyons seeke their meate of God Psal 104. 21. and thou must of necessity confesse That all sustenance is his gift That all are meere gratuities That he doth continually supply the wants of all creatures And that he is a liberall giver feeding millions of millons every day And then rouse up and animate thy drooping and dismayed Spirits as Christ did comfort his distrustfull Disciples Math. 6. 26. c. Doe all the innumbred swarmes and troupes of birds beasts and fishes depend upon my Father Doth he afford them such sufficient supplyes and contented satisfactions that although they have nothing beforehand to glut and satiate the eye they chirp and sing leape and skippe and shall I distrust who am a man a child by adoption God forbid will not the Lord much more provide for me who am better then they Doubtlesse he will Be it therefore that I am poore yet my Father hath more then enough to supply my wants Be it that I see no meanes in humane reason how to live yet will I depend on him who can preserve me with or by small meanes Be it that my charge is great yet will not I distrust I see the little Wren a poore and weake bird having her nest stored with a multitude of little helplesse creatures to skippe as livelily to live as merrily and sing as pleasantly as at other times I have nothing beforehand no more hath she I have a great charge She as great I have small meanes to get She hath lesse It is my gracious Father who provides for her and hers He will also for me and mine To this I may fitly adde the saying of a devout Writer Thy children are thy riches children are not a trouble Filâ—â— tui divitiae tue sunt silij non labor sed requies parentunt sunt levamen laborum ac omna fortunae so latium si boni sunt si mali non de numero sed de moribus querela est Qua pascet omnes Qui pisâ—es maru pascit quadrupedes c. Quis vestet qui agros herbis ac floribus vestit atque frondibus silvas Adrian Caâ—th pag. 126 but an ease of parents a solace of calamities and a consolation of every estate if they be good if they be evill the complaint is not of their number but their vices Who shall feed them all He that feedeth the fishes of the sea the foure footed beasts c. Who shall cloath them He who doth cloath the fields with herbs and flowers and the woods with leaves CHAP. V. Duty 4. Saints must honour God FOurthly we are to honour our Heavenly Father Mal. 1. 6. Duty 4. A sonne honoureth his Father If I be a Father where is mine honour Our Father hallowed be thy Name is the continuall cry of Gods children and it 's a necessary inference If we ought to honor our fathers by nature precedency of time age and office much more the Lord our Heavenly Father In prosecuting this filiall duty I intend to have the judgement rightly informed how God must be honoured and to perswade by certaine motives the affections to practice this fourth siliall duty God may be honoured or despised many wayes but these three especially 1. In himselfe or his owne person diverse wayes 1. By obeying him and submitting our selves to him 2. Beleeving in him and trusting to him 3. By calling upon him and praying to him 4. In loving him above all 5. In fearing him above all 6. In confessing of his truth 7. In confessing of our sinnes 2. In his servants either Prophets or people Ministers or members of Christ when they are honoured for his sake or his gifts and graces are honoured in them God is honoured in his Ministers when those branches of honour are given to them which the Word of God requires As 1. Reverence in thought word and gesture 2. Obedience to their Doctrine 3. Imitation of their good example 4. Maintenance 3. In his sacred and holy Ordinances Word Sacraments prayer or other parts of his Service when they are reverently rightly used So men may dishonor God by the same means or after the same manner sc when any of the aforesaid duties are denied or wanting he is dishonoured in regard of himselfe or servants and in regard of his Ordinances when any of them are refused or abused Wee are to honour our Heavenly Father with soule and body both for he created them both Eccl. 12. 1. Remember thy Creatour Ver. 9. Spirit to God who gave it Hee redeemed them both 1 Cor. 6. 20. He sanctifieth them both 1 Thess 5. 23. He preserves them both Psal 97. 10. And he will glorifie both 1 Cor. 15. 49. But first with the soule Psal 103. 1 2. Blesse the Lord O my soule And that 1. Because the Lord requires it most Deut. 6. 4. Ioh. 4. 24. 2. Because it is the seat of sanctification the beginning and efficient cause of every action Math. 12. 35. Prov. 4. 23. 3. Because the Lord observeth tryeth and searcheth it most 1 Ioh. 3. 19 20. 21. 4. Because the Lord regards it most And 5. Because if the soule once truly honour God it will draw the whole body Let hollow-hearted dissemblers and tombe-like Pharisees as Alexander in another case scattred in India at his departure speares shields swords and other warlike furniture fitter for men of gyant-like then ordinary stature that he and his might be thought to be men of extraordinary greatnesse seeme to glorifie God more then other men being in the meane time as full of dregs and filth as a loathsome caske and as empty of worth as a drumme having in it nothing but windy ayre although its sound is great and clamorous Yet let every adopted child of the Lords be exhorted to honour our heavenly Father 1. Inwardly and that first in his understanding 1. By an effectuall spirituall distinct speciall lively experimentall and consequently saving knowledge of God the want thereof causing a denyall of honour to the Lord Exod. 5. 1. I know not God c. Rom. 1. 21. 2. By a true faith unbeliefe hindring from sanctifying the glorious name of God Num. 20. 12. Secondly in his affections 1. By a spirituall child like or siliall feare whose fruit and force is to restraine from vice and constraine to well-doing for desire to glorifie God 2. By a Christian love a fruit and signe of a justified perion causing us to delight in God for his goodnesse sake and in our neighbour for Gods sake 2. With our tongues given us by our sole Creatour for this end Iam. 3. 9. Therewith blesse we God even the Father Phil. 2. 11. that every tong should confesse to the glory of God the Father Psal 51. 15. And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise We are to honour our heavenly Father in word by speaking reverently of all those things whereby God and his holy will is made better knowne unto us e. g.
out-cries against all such who question their society with God they having ever in a readinesse Lord Lord. At what time soever c. They are men of good meaning although they are not bookish They have a sure beliefe in God They love God above all and their neighbour as themselves God they hope did not make them to damne them all men are sinners as well as themselves They hope to be saved before or as soone as the strictest Saint-seeming Puritanes of them all These and such like traditionary conceipts being in their shallow apprehensions sufficient to quiet their guilty consciences from ever accusing them to put to silence and make mute those cutting conclusions and peremptory propositions of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. Neither fornicators c. Gal. 5. 19 20 21. An Antidote sufficient to counterpoyse against the poysonfull venome of their infectious impieties A paimeâ—t equivalent to countervaile the numberlesse debts of their hainous enormities And graces availeable to equalize them with the Saints and annexe them firmely to this Divine Society which is with the Father Yet I humbly intreate and beseech yea I charge and command in the name of the Lord Iehouah all you who either hope for have or hunger after this Coelestiall Society to have no fellowship with the fruitlesse works of darknesse to forsake and flee from sinne and iniquity Sinne is darknesse Rom. 13. 12. Cast off the workes of Mot. 1. darknesse Eph. 5. 11. Fruitlesse workes of darknesse 1 Thes 5. 4. Not in darknesse Darknesse it is in respect of its author who is the Prince of darknesse 2. Of its fountaine the darke heart of man 3. Of the nature of the nature of its author he hates the light 4. Of the time wherein done the night 1 Thes 5. 7. Of its fruits eternall darknesse Wicked men are walkers in darknesse 1 Ioh. 1. 6. Yea such wayes of darknesse that I am altogether ignorant whereunto to resemble it Should I paralell it with Cimerean darknesse that no whit comparable it being occasioned by the farre distance of the Sunne from that place and people and so but naturall an absence of light naturall this by the absence of the splendent rayes of the rich and radiant graces of the Sunne of righteousnesse therefore a spirituall darknesse containing the fearefull estate of unbeleevers in this world Or with that Aegyptian plague of darknesse which was palpable There is no comparison by that their bodily eyes were blinded by this of the soule 2 Cor. 4. 4. That was but for a short time of continuance this otherwise That kept them from mooving this hoodwinks and infatuates them so that although they go yet whither they know not 1 Ioh. 2. 11. But in God is no darknesse at all 1 Ioh. 1. 5. Sinne is death Math. 8. 22. Let the dead burie their dead Eph. 2. 12. Dead in trespasses and sinnes 5. 14. Arise from the dead 1 Tim 5. 6. Dead while she lives 1 Ioh. 3. 14. Passed from death Well may sinne be called death 1. It deserving death 2. Causing death Rom. 5. 12. 3. Being odious to a living soule as death to a living man 4. Bitter as death 5. It disabling the soule from well-doing And 6. destroying as death But God is life 1 Ioh. 1. 2. Is it a grounded axiome Omne dissimile est in sociabile That every dissimilitude is insociable Do we all know that light and darknesse can never accord but the one is ever a privation of the other Doth experience daily declare unto us that there is not the least society betwixt living and dead bodies although of the most intimate confederates Although the one a most compassionate mother the other an entirely affected child Yea although of the lovingest mates that ever were linked in the sacred bonds of conjugall society But the living as disjoyned from the dead parts them away by a speedy interring them in the earth And is it possible think for God and sin twixt whom there is the greatest repugnancy to accord Can any so much as dreame of yet dreames are but dreames having fellowship with those fruitlesse workes of darknesse which are dead works yea death it selfe and with the Lord of light and life Sinne doth inkindle the wrathfull indignation of the irefull sinne-revenging God making him so sore displeased that he threw downe Angels from his heavenly habitations into that infernall lake of endlesse woe exil'd our first parents out of Eden that Paradise of God brake up the fountaines of the great deepe and opened the floud-gates of heaven and destroyed all flesh wherein was the breath of life those few excepted which were in the Arke Destroyed utterly Sodome The Lake Sodome 180 furlongs which is 22. miles of ours in length â—50 in bredth which is 18. of our miles as some say some more Ios Weissenbig It hath no out-let or disburdening Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim with fire and brimstone from heaven In a word sinne is that which provokes the Lord to send upon a people or person his numberlesse and insupportable plagues and punishments hence come noysome beasts hence dolefull captivities hence destroying pestilences hence famine so tragicall yea all other greater or lesser temporall tortures Hence blindnesse of mind hardnesse of heart pertinacious obstinacy finall impenitency yea all those endlesse easelesse hopelesse helplesse torments of eternall damnation where their worme never dyeth and their fire is not quenched of which those other are but vaunt-courers or fore-runners And can we have fellowship with God except we abandon iniquity thinke we Sinne is that traiterous Iudas corrupt Pilate perfidious perjurers bloud-thirsty Iewes and torturing executioners yea as the thornes whips nailes mockings buffettings spittings and speare wherewith the head backe and cheekes so tender and lovely were bloudily and barbarously gored the harmelesse innocency derided and calumniated yea the hearts bloud of the Sonne of God more worth then millions of worlds spilt upon the earth This is that which grieves despights and quencheth the Spirit of God And can we perswade our selves of having fellowship with the Father if we delight in sinne which crucifies the Sonne and grieves if not wholly quencheth and despighteth the Holy Ghost Sinne transformes men into monsters making them Scorpions Ezek. 2. 6. Vipers Math. 3. 7. Cokatrices and Spiders Isa 59. 5. Dogges swine and such like foule and filthy creatures Ignatius saith I sight valiantly with beasts in Assyria even 〈…〉 to Rome not that I am devoured by bruit beasts For these as you know God willing â—â—ared Daniel But of beasts bearing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in whom that cruell beast doth 〈◊〉 which doth daily sting and wound me St. Chrysostome saith Sometimes he calleth them 〈◊〉 for their sawâ—inesse and violence sometimes horses for their lust sometimes asses for their sottishnesse and ignorance sometimes lions and libards for their ravening end covetousnesse of having sometimes also aspes for their guile oftentimes serpents and vâ—pers for their secret
poison and malice The way therefore to have fellowship with the Fathâ—r cannot bâ—â—y delighting in that which Metamorphoseth men into such monstrous shapes It is the prâ—per object of the Lords and ought to be the 〈◊〉 object of mans hatred Psal 5. 5. Thou hatest all workers much more the workes of iniquity 45. 7. Tâ—â—â— hatest wic 〈…〉 Rev. 2. 6. That hatest 〈◊〉 I also hate yea with such an utter 〈◊〉 that it makes him 〈◊〉 his owne creatures excellent by creation as Devils and wicked men his owne Ordinaâ—ces as New Moones and Sabbaths Isa 1. 15. And prayerâ— If therefore we desire fellowship with the 〈◊〉 we must 〈◊〉 and avoid it It 's directly 〈◊〉 to the honour and glory of God his will and workes being a transgression of his most holy Lawes In fine Who is the Father of it Sathan Ioh. 8. 41. Math. 13. 28. The workes of your father you will do What is the mother to conceive and bring it fortâ— Mans corrupt soule What is the fruit of it Separation from God What is the reward Eternall death Râ—m â— 2â— And can we imagine to enjoy fâ—llowship with the Father and iniquity Such who thinke so are deceived those who say so lye and the truth is not in them 1 Ioh. 1. 6. If we say c. Let us therefore who desire fellowship with the Father â—ave no fellowship with the fruitlesse workes of darknesse Ephes 5. 11. and cast we off the unprofitable workes of darknesse Rom. 13. 12. CHAP. VII The second meanes and duty Sinners Societie to bee shunned HAve we or desire we fellowship with the Father then 2. Meanes Duty avoid society with Gods enemies The blessed man consequently those of this association walke not in the way sit not stand not c. Psal 1. 1. The Citizen of Sion who is directly one of these consorts may and must thinke vilely of the vile person and with his eyes countenance and gesture declare it Psal 15. 4. affording no more then civill courtesie and that with some dislike declared towards equalls honouring authority vilely esteeming of the persons of superiours if the sonnes of Belial for these have two persons 1 their owne 2 anothers scil the Lords as they are his deputies Godly David hated such who hated God such are all wicked men Exod. 20. 5. Rom. 1. 30. either openly or secretly Psal 139. 21. yea with perfect hatred accounting them his enemies being enemies to his God And King Iehosaphat was sharply reprooved by the Prophet Iehu and severely punished by the Lord for helping the ungodly loving them which hated God 2. Chron. 19. 2. scil for ioyning in fellowship with wicked Ahab so that he would be as he was his people as Ahabs and would be with him in the warre 1. King 18. 3. Is it needfull O you blissefull goodfellowes to disswade you Dissw 1. from intimate society with wicked men I perswade my selfe you know full well their pestiferous pedigree what and whence it is you being well acquainted in the Word of life cannot be ignorant that they are 1. Children of this world Luk. 16. 8. and the friendship of this world is emnity with God Iam. 4. 4. 2. Children of disobedience Ephes 2. 2. therefore distastfull 3. Children of Belial 1. Sam. 2. 12. therefore loâ—thsome 4. Children of the divell Iohn 8. 44. therefore hatefull to God 5. Children of wrath therefore abhorred of the Lord. 6. Children of hell Matth. 23. 13. therefore fitter for fellowship with damned Divels then the associates of the Lord of Glory Yet view them well in the spotlesse Christalline glasse of Gods Word and there you shall see clearely deciphered in lively colours the loathsomnesse of those base companions 1. Would you see what beasts they be Scripture calls them a 2 Tim 4. 17. Lyons and they are savage b Isa 11 7. Beares and they are cruell c Ezek 29. 3. Dragons and they are hideous d Mat. 10. 16. Dogs and they are bloody e Mat. 10. 16. Wolves and they are truculent 2. Desire you a sight of their venemous serpentine nature have you ever heard of the sevenfeeted tormenting tayle-killing Scorpion such are they Rev. 9. 3. 5. 10. or the damme destroying Vipers such are they Mat. 3. 7. Have you ever heard of the dreadfull Basiliske killing man and beast with its breath and sight these are no lesse Isai 11. 8. 59. 5. Or of the poysonfull venemous Aspe these are such I need not tell you of the poysonous nature of the Spider it s knowne to all and these likewise are such Isa 59. 5. 3. Consider that the Word of truth stiles them 1. Thorns and 2. Briars Isa 10. 17. 27. 4. 55. 13. Ezek. 2. 6. Micah 7. 4. 3. Thistles Matth. 7. 6. 4. Brambles Iudg. 9. 14. 5. Stubble Iob 21. 18. 6. Evill trees Matth. 12. 33. 4. No marvaile though such holy men as a Vpon Psal 6. Munâ—â— excreâ—enta Bucer called them the excrements of the world Scripture terming them 1. Sordid dirt of the streete Psal 18. 42. and no marvaile for 1. As dirt the more it is stirred the more it stinketh so these 2. As dirt is neither good for manure nor morter field nor towne so these are neither good for God nor men Church nor Common-wealth 3. As dirt is hurtfull and noysome to man and beast so these to all about them who fare the worse for their sakes 2. Vnprofitable Chaffe blowne away with the winde Psal 1. 4. and to be burnt with unquenchable fire Matth. 3. 12. For as Chaffe is light so are 1 These in weight Dan. 5. 27. found too light 2 In worth for they are little yea nothing worth 3 In conversation their mind will deeds words being inconstant 4 In condition for all their honour and pleasure c. is but vaine 3. Noysome dust swept away with the besome of Gods judgements Psal 18. 42. as the dust before the winde being 1 Vnstable and light 2 Barren of good workes 3 Dry devoid of grace and the sweet distilling dew of Gods Spirit as dust is light dry and barren 4. Contagious drosse Ezek. 22. 18 19. become drosse Psal 119. 117. and not undeservedly they 1. Labouring to darken and obscure the righteous as drosse doth gold 2. Striving to corrupt and infect them by mixing themselves with them 3. Falling from them in the fiery triall 4. Cast away into perdition when severed from them 5. Stinking smoake Psal 68. 2. Isa 65. 5. Hos 13. 3. and justly too for 1. They endeavour to climbe and mount aloft as smoake doth 2. They are soonest gone when they get to the highest as smoake is 3. They seeke to choake smoother and stifle the righteous as smoake c. 6. Should I say they are as the loathsome excrementitious scumme I have my warrant in sacred writ Ezek. 24. 6. Imagine wee a man compos'd of the naughtinesse of all hurtfull creatures give him the bloud-thirsty nature of a
Lyon Beare Dog and Dragon give him the tormenting taile of a stinging Scorpion the venemous teeth of a gnawing Viper the virulent breath and dreadfull sight of an eye killing Cockatrice farce his bowels with the poyson of Aspes and the venime of Spiders go to an hedge of thornes briars and brambles and a bed of thistles and thence extract the hurtfull properties of these evill plants and adde them to this monster heape on the stinking loathsome and vnprofitable conditions of the most loathsome scumme canker-eaten drosse suffocating smoake sterilous dust and contaminating dirt The wicked man is this compacted monster and therefore an unmeete associate for a Saint for such a one who hath or desireth fellowship with the Father CHAP. VIII The third meanes and duty We must be like God WOuld we communicate in this community we must 3. Meanes Duty endeavour to be like the Lord. Similitude is a fastening linke to conglutinate Societies which all delight in such who are most like themselves hence it is that birds of a fâ—ather flie together like master like man If thou wilt marry marry thy like saith the Poet and that friendship is the pleasantest which likenesse of conditions hath linked together saith the hearâ—en Oratour and Saint Iohn tells us expressely there must be a congruence in this consociety 1 Iohn 1. 7. If we walke in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with anâ—ther Be we therefore followers of God as deare Children Ephes 5. 1. 1. In holinesse 1. Pet. 1. 15. as he which hath called you is holy so be you holy in all manner of conversation ver 16. Because it is written be you holy as I am holy True it is God only is holy i. e. infinitely pure and righteous yet the Saints are holy also i. e. separate from sinne and corruption unperfectly here most perfectly hereafter in heaven 2. In a godly remuneration rendering love for hatred benedictions for execrations good turnes for bad prayers for persecutions Matth. 5. 44 45. That we may be Children of our father for he makes his sunne c. 3. In a pitifull compassionatenesse easily mooved to grieve at the miseries of others and to succour them Luke 6. 6. Be you therefore mercifull as your heavenly father is mercifull Col. 3. 12. put you on as the c. 4. In perfection Matth. 5. 48. Be you therefore perfect as your father in heaven is perfect not as if we could be without sinne as doting fantasticke Familists averre or keepe the whole law as superstitious Antichristian Papists avowe For Scripture and each man 's enlightened conscience witnesse the contrary But 1. Comparatively in regard of the weake and wicked 2. In regard of parts being sanctified in every part and power of soule and body to every duty concerning them in some measure So that there is an upright judgement in the minde an honest heart a sincere and good conscience 5. In walking in the light 1. Iohn 1. 7. If we walke in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and this we may doe by following Gods Word as our guide in our travaile to eternall blessednesse Let Sathans hellish brood doe the workes of their father the divell walke foot by foot in those cursed paths which Sathan hath traced out unto them viz. in the darke and damned waies of swearing lying cursing c. and so demonstrate to the whole world that themselves have fellowship with the divell Let cavelling carpers deeme these sayings hard and harsh Paradoxes peremptorily concluding it to bee altogether impossible for any man to be holy mercifull perfect c. as the father in heaven is Yet let all such who already have or desire to enjoy fellowship with the Father conforme themselves unto him in the Scripture sense which speakes not of equality but similitude endeavouring to bee holy loving mercifull and perfect as a staggering childe may imitate a mighty man This sanctity perfection and such like excellencies of all the glorified Saints that are or shall be being no more in comparison of this unparalel'd holinesse and perfection of God then the dimme and duskish light of a pinking candle compared with the splendent lustre of the radiant sun enlightned moone and glistering starres CHAP. IX The fourth meanes and duty is prayer to God HAve we or desire we fellowship with the father delight 4. Meanes Duty we then to speake to him in prayer and rejoyce to heare him speake to us in the ministery of the Word What society where intercourse of speech is wanting every colleague in each community will acknowledge society and mutuall exchange of speech to be inseperable and that it is one way to connexe men firmely in a friendly fellowship A word of each 1. Should I say prayerlesse persons are gracelesse I have my warrant Zach. 12. 10. the spirit of grace and prayer being joynt companions 2. Should I terme them godlesse Atheists who can justly contradict me not to pray being one of those markes wherewith men foolish and without God are branded out Psal 14. 4. 3. May I not confidently affirme such to have cast off the feare of the Lord restraining prayers before God Iob 15. 8. 4. May I not pronounce peremptorily prayerlesse persons to be destitute of the spirit of adoption Saint Paul testifying that the Saints have received the spirit of adoption whereby they cry Abba father Rom. 8. 15. And can a prayerlesse person he wanting gods grace his feare the true God and his blessed Spirit have fellowship with the Father Moreover doe many people pray to no purpose asking and not receiving because they aske amisse Iam. 4. 3. their prayers being pinnioned that they cannot mount aloft into the eares of the Lord of Sabbaths 1. By grosse pollutions Isa 1. 15. I will not heare because your hands are full of bloud 2. By disobedience to the voice of God in the ministery of his Word Zach 7. 13. therefore as he cryed and they would not heare so they cryed and I would not heare saith the Lord of hoasts 3. By impenitency Iob. 9. 31. God heareth not sinners 4. By regarding iniquity in their hearts Psal 66. 18. 5. By 〈◊〉 Prov. 23. 13. He that stops his eares at the crie of the poore shall crie himselfe and not be heard 6. By crueltie Micah 3. 4. Then shall crie c. 7. By painted hypocrisie Math. 6. 5. 8. By faithlesse infidelity Iam. 1. 6. 7. 9. By pharisaicall selfe-conceitednesse Luke 18. 11. 14. 10. By blind ignorance Mat. 20. 22. You aske you c. 11. By malicious envy Math. 6. 15. If you forgive not 12. By praying for those things which are impious unjust hurtfull impossible needlesse or otherwise not to be prayed for It stands us in hand therefore if we either have or desire to have fellowship with the Father not onely to pray but so to pray as we are directed in the Word of truth viz.
4. Submitting themselves to Gods will c. 4. And make a good use thereof being made more compassionate to others in misery hating sinne the cause of the scourge And not as the fashion of many is who go to the sicke but 1. To the hurt of themselves being hardened in seeing the foolish virgins or Nabal-like sicknesse or death of wicked men and the violent death and sicknesse of many good men 2. To the hurt of the sicke 1 Viewing the weaknesse of the sicke to sport themselves and discredit their weake neighbour 2. Hardening them what they can in their sinnes by securing them of longer life flatterie c. 2. Relieving the distressed with a thankfull loving pitifull 1 Cor. 16. 1. single cheerefull liberall just and true heart 3. Teaching the ignorant drawing sinners to repentance comforting the distressed admonishing the unruly encouraging the good rebuking the bad reconciling the disagreeing stirring up the slothfull c. Whereas many people deeme such like courses to savour Affirm 4. of melancholike madnesse and too much puritannicall austeritie and thinke themselves undone if they may not have free liberty to glut and satiate themselves with carnall delights and vaine sportings I am surely perswaded 1. That there is no true sound and solid cause of delight Recreat 1. in any vaine sportings or worldly pleasures especially in comparison of these Lords Dayes delightfull duties if they may be poised in an even ballance e. g. Ballance together the least measure of saving graces and a world of voluptuous contentments and gainefull profits and I 'le undertake that the former the meanes of getting and the helpes in keeping it shal be found more honourable profitable and delightfull and so over-weigh by farre the latter Or 2. Cast into one end of the scales the Word of God into the other any worldly contentment what you will and let the Lord himselfe who is fittest and best able to decide the controversie be judge and it wil be found farre to surpasse in worth and valuation all pearles of price and excelling treasures Mat. 13. 44. 2. Surmounting in profit and advantage the most advantagious practices in or about the world making those who read and heare it with open eyes and hearing eares happy Rev. 1. 3. And those who meditate therein day and night like trees planted by the waters side c. Psal 1. 2 3. Thirdly to ravish the heart truly sensible of Divine delights with unsatiable glee and unmatchable gladnes rejoycing that heart as much as if it had found great spoiles Psal 119. 162. Being more luscious then the sweetest hony or the most mellifluous hony combe Psal 19. 9. 2. That there is sound and sufficient cause of joy and delight in all such and other Sabbath Duties Instance in some particulars e. g. 1. In hearing and reading the Word of God if we consider it in its names and effects declaring the nature thereof e. g. 1. It is a transcendent pearle and excelling treasure Math. 13. 44 45. More lovely then gold or much fine gold Psal 119. 127. Better then thousands of gold and silver Verse 72. And therefore cannot but fill and farce the soule with consolation in getting possessing and enjoying the same 2. It is bread water wine milke and meate to feast and fatten the soule begotten by this immortall seed and enlivened with Gods quickening Spirit and therefore must needs make merry the same feeding and fatting it selfe with such heavenly cates 3. It is a light to the feet and a lanterne to the paths Psal 119. 105. Then which what more needfull profitable or pleasing to the Christian travailer to direct him to the haven of endlesse happinesse 4. Is there not extraordinary matter of joyfull delight in reading and hearing read and preached 1. The Word of grace justly so called shewing and working grace in those which rightly heare it 2. That Word which begets and increaseth faith therefore termed truly the Word of faith 3. That Word which declares the way of salvation therefore stiled by the Holy Ghost a Word of salvation 4. That Word which nourisheth and sustaineth a spirituall life and offereth eternall life ergo called a Word of life 5. And the Word of reconciliation as is before shewed 2. In prayer which sacred duty will appeare perspicuously to each enlightned soule to be a true cause of gladnesse when rightly performed it seriously considering 1. How acceptable it is with God he being well pleased with such like sacrifices 1 Tim. 2. 3. 2. Of what excellent dignity put for the whole worship of God Psal 50. 15. 3. How commodious and gainefull 1. Being a Soveraigne salve for every sore 2. Bringing salvation to the pious petitioner Rom. 10. 13. 3. Resisting that implacable enemy Sathan Eph. 6. 18. 4. Prevailing with God extraordinarily beyond imagination 3. If we ponder advisedly that while here we live we are in a strange countrey being pilgrims and strangers having no continuing city seeking one to come scil an heavenly where our Father our Head and Husband our friends and fellowes our crowne and inheritance are It will necessarily follow that as it is a gladding discourse to countrey-men meeting in another nation to talke of their owne country and common-wealth their friends and families and which way to take soone and surely to enjoy their wished company so it must needs be a delightfull colloquie when two or more citizens of heaven meeting in this their pilgrimage conferre cordially of the way to heaven of the pious and sweetned paths directly tending thither Secondly if we seriously consider that a godly and Christian communication is an excellent meanes to increase saving knowledge enkindle godly zeale nourish Christian love cherish and warme all gracious beginnings and edge and keene the longing appetite to hunger insatiably after the best things We cannot but conclude that such like conference on the Lords Day must needs afford superabundant matter of pleasure and delectation 4. To instance in the duty of Divine contemplation which seemes to worldlings full of pensive sadnesse and madding melancholy this I say savouring seemingly so much of uncomfortable sorrow is no wise defective of recreating festivities each particular holy meditation having its severall oblectation For examples sake let it be 1. Vpon the workes and creatures of God how do these make merry the godly soule after a serious musing of them considering that as they were made for the glory of God so for his particular good some to guard some to delight some to feed and refresh and all to serve him after one manner or other 2. Let it be upon the Word of God what it hath beene is and wil be to him the many fruits and benefits he hath reaped from it 3. Let it be upon Gods particular favours and mercies bestowed upon a mans selfe especially his soule and generall benefits and blessings he hath bestowed and promised to bestow upon his Church and chosen 4. Let it be upon the
and play and swimme therein like Leviathan in the sea How would some glut their insatiable appetites feeding themselves upon the extracted quintessence of all reall and imaginarie dainties might each have free liberty of choice Chusers you may be chusors I desire you to be not of such dunghill drosse not of such barbarous revenge not of such fading crownes not of such frothy delights not of such corruptible cates But with David of the 〈◊〉 truth Psal 119. 30. Or of Gods precepts Verse 135. Of that which is good Isa 7. 15. Of that good part which Marie chose Luc. 10. 42. And of that which pleaseth God 1. Obedience pleaseth God 1 Sam. 15. 22. 2. Sorrow for sinne pleaseth God Psal 51. 17. 3. A holy life that pleaseth God 4. Saving faith pleaseth God Heb. 11. 6. 5. To do good and communicate please God Heb. 13. 16. 6. And to frame our thoughts words and deeds to Gods will pleaseth God Col. 1. 10. These things chuse therefore and I 'le warrant you your choice shall not repent you Enoch was not taken to heaven because he was rich royally descended the seventh from Adam because he was learned had a comly and strong body but because he pleased God Heb. 11. 5. Chuse we therfore with Enoch the pious Proselite and godly Eunuch the thing which pleaseth God this choice being a signe of mans communion with God and a meanes whereby a man is joyned to God that so with these we may have fellowship with the Father CHAP. XIIII The ninth Meanes and Duty To take hold of Gods Covenant HAve we fellowship with the Father Declare it Doe 9. Meanes Duty we want it Feele it by taking hold of Gods Covenant this being a marke and meanes of mans communion with the Father Isa 56. 4. Ier. 50. 5. The foundation of which Covenant is Christ Iesus onely Isa 42. 6. He onely being the peace-maker or Prince of peace 2. The onely Angell of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. 3. The Mediatour of the New Testament 4. The Father onely being well pleased in him 5. By him onely man comes to God And 6. In regard that he onely ratified and confirmed it with his owne Bloud Heb. 7. 22. 8. 6. 9. 15. Secondly the frame is by way of contract in which are comprised 1. Certaine Articles and Conditions on both parts 1. The principall Party covenanting is God who covenants to be our 〈◊〉 and the God of our seed Gen. 17. 7. i. To save us and ours to give us righteousnesse and eternall life in Christ 2. The other is the godly man who for his part promiseth to be the Lords people Ios 24. 15. And therefore binds himselfe to believe and rest upon the promise of God 2. Signes and seales binding each party to the agreement or covenant made on Gods part He hath given us his Word Hand-writing oath Heb. 6. 17. as Seales On our part the ancient people of God have bound themselves by writing Nehem. 9. 38. Seale ibid. Imprecation 10. 29. And Oath ibid. Circumcision Gen. 17. 13. c. And the people of God now perhaps by writing perhaps by seale perhaps by vow surely by word Baptisme and the receiving of the Lords Supper 3. Writings containing the conditions on both sides scil the Word of God the Old and New Testament called the Covenant Ex. 24. 2. Booke of the Covenant 34. 28. Words of the Covenant Deut. 9. 11. 29. 1. Tables of the Covenant Rom. 9. 4. The Covenants because they shew what God will do to his people and what we are to performe according to the tenour of the Covenant This Covenant or compact made betwixt God and man 1. Touching reconciliation and life everlasting is 1. Legall of workes which is a league made touching salvation upon condition of perfect obedience set downe in the Morall Law wherein eternall life is promised to such as perfectly fulfill the same and eternall death threatned to such as transgresse the same 2. Evangelicall of grace which is an agreement concerning men to be freely saved through faith in Christ. This Covenant God made with the justified Iewes before Christ to whom he was a child borne and a Sonne given Isa 9. 6. And the believing Iewes and Eundem spiritum eandem fidem fuisse in Apostolis Prophetis evidentissimè probat Apostolus 2 Cor. 4. Epiph contra errores Marcionis Gentiles since for although the Prophet Ieremy speakes of an old and a new Covenant yet himselfe shewes that this old and new covenant for substance are one and the same Verse 33. of Chapter 31. I will put my Law in their inward parts will be their God and they shal be my people I will forgive their iniquity 34. Which is the substance of the old and new Covenant The old in shadowes prefigured Christ to come The New apparantly shewes that Christ is come The Apostle S. Paul 1 Cor. 10. 2 3. saith the ancient Iewes and we eate the same spirituall meat and drinke the same spirituall drinke Their Sacraments were more in number then ours differenced in rites and measure of signification from ours yet the same Author end and signified thing c. S. Iohn speaking of love calls it a a new commandement and an old 1 Ioh. 2. 7 8. Old in regard of the substance new it being newly approved and renewed by Christ Ioh. 15. 12. So this Covenant of grace was the same when it was old to the sanctified Iewes in regard of substance as it is to us to whom it is new onely it differs in this that now it is published more clearely not in such darke shadowes and more persons are renewed more graces are bestowed Gods Covenant made with the justified Iewes and us Gentiles or the old and new Covenant 1. Differ in the Circumstances Adjuncts Accessories Oiconomie Administration and Dispensation 2. Agree in the Substance Particularly in the 1. Principall efficient cause Ier. 31. 31. 2. Moving cause Luc. 1. 54. 55. 72. 78. 3. Meritorious cause Gen. 3. 15. Ephes 2. 12 13. 4. Materiall cause 2 Cor. 5. 19. Reconciliation c. 5. Instrumental the Word 1. Of Gods grace Act. 20. 32 2. Of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 19. 3. Of faith Gal. 3. 8. 6. Formall cause or mutuall promise Gods which is free mans which is due Ro 3. 22 7. Finall cause to stirre up and confirme the hope of immortality Heb. 11. 8 9 10. 8. Effect justification and regeneration 1 Cor. 1. 30. 6. 11. 9. Subject persons onely Gods Elect true believers Rom. 3. 3. 26. 10. Inward seale sc the holy Spirit 2 Cor. 1. 22. Eph. 1. 13. This Covenant we for our parts must make Psal 50. 5. Or enter into Deut. 29. 12. Keepe Psal 103. 18. Or stand to the words thereof so as to performe or accomplish 2 Reg. 22. 3. That we may 1. please God this being a thing pleasing the Lord Isa 56. 4. 2. Shew that we have communion with God this being a
his Church with such entire and ardent love that he gave himselfe for his Church But because I will not stay upon conjugall duties in briefe I say that no husband ever nay if the excellency of all the most melting affectionatenesse and other chiefe vertues could be drawne out of all mankind that have beene are or shal be and infused into some Angelicall body yet could not this imagined excellent husband love with such a sincere and perpetuall love cleave so closely and compactedly unto give such honor or due benevolence unto consolate with such ravishing comforts graunt more willingly the honest and reasonable requests governe guide and direct more prudently a wife lovely beyond imagination as Christ Iesus doth the Church or true believers Saints or faithfull Christians his Spouse That all true believers are the Spouse of Christ is perspicuously transparent Rev. 19. 7 8. 21. 9. 22. 27. Iohn 3. 29. And in this that they owe the selfesame duties to Christ Iesus which wives do owe to their husbands sc Subjection reverence obedience c. Therefore all true believers have fellowship with Iesus Christ c. All those which are ingrafted and inoculated into Iesus Christ have fellowshippe with Iesus Christ the Sonne of God But all true believers Saints or faithfull Christians are ingrafted or inoculated into Iesus Christ Therefore all true believers c. have fellowship with Iesus Christ the c. The latter Proposition I prove out of Ioh. 15. 1 2. 1. There is a husbandman who is the Father justly called the husbandman for 1. He hath a rightfull interest unto and an absolute Soveraigne authority over his spirituall vine vineyard and branches his is the right not by Law but by nature not from any superiour but from himselfe and he may do with it what he will 2. In regard of affection the affection that he beares to this vine vineyard and branches is transcendent he loves them tenderly and delights in them wonderfully 3. In regard of his actions for 1. He doth plant i. e. joyne the elect taken out of the rotten stocke of old Adam unto Christ and his Church by the spirit Psal 92. 13. Rom. 6. 5. 2. He doth water with the true doctrine of his Word the holy spirit and saving graces Ezek 36. 15. 3. He doth expect as earnestly fruit from his vineyard as the husbandman doth from his Isa 5. 2. 4. He doth prune and purge out blindnesse by the word of Knowledge errour by the Word of Confutation desperation by the word of Consolation c. and he preserves c. and on the contrary he rejects the fruitlesse branches that so they may wither and be burned Iohn 15. 2. 4. 6. 2. There is also a Vine and there are branches abiding in that vine Iohn 15. 4. Christ is a vine giving life of grace to all his members as a vine gives juyce and life to all its branches he ministreth to Christians the sappe of his grace and spirit whereby they live grow and bring forth good workes even as a vine doth minister to the branches moysture sappe and juyce whereby they live flourish and beare fruit In this vine the roote is Christ his God-head the stemme his Manhood the sâ—ppe his graces the branches true beleevers and the grapes good workes Neither is this contradicted where the Church is called a vine Psal 80. 9. 14. Isa 5. 1. 2. 3. A vine it is whose sense is Gods protection whose preachers are its watchmen their doctrines and exhortations as a winepresse to wring out good duties as sweet iuyce and whose grapes are good workes as pleasant fruite Nor where Christ is called a branch as he oftentimes is Ier. 33. 15. Zach. 3. 8. 6. 12. for when Christ is a branch his Church is the vine himselfe the Head or chiefe branch his Saints inferiour twigs his graces sappe blossome bud and grapes When the Church is a vine Christ wholy is the roote and stock true beleevers the branches whose obedience is the fruits or pleasant grapes which way soever they are ingrafted into Christ Therefore have fellowship with Iesus Christ the Sonne of God Those who being knit together by the spirit are laid as living stones upon Christ the foundation or head corner stone to be an habitation of God have fellowship with Iesus Christ the Sonne of God because they are stones of that building whereof he is the foundation But all true beleevers are built together or laid upon Christ Iesus the foundation c. Ephes 2. 20 21 22. 1. Pet. 2. 5. 6 7. Therefore Christ Iesus is 1. That stone in Daniel 2. 43. cut out of the mountaines without hands being not set up by man but sent by God 2. A stone of offence 1. Pet. 2. 8. to unbeleevers and misbeleevers they perishing by refusing to be laid upon this stone 3. A pretious stone 1. Pet. 2. 6. hee being of exceeding great value more worth then millions of worlds 4. A living stone 1. Pet. 2. 4. preserving the faithfull in the life of grace to the life of glory 5. A stone with seaven eyes Zach. 4. 10. in regard Gods providence watcheth graciously over all such who are built upon this stone 6. Yea the foundation of his Church and chosen 1. Cor. 3. 10 11. Other foundation can no man lay then that is layd which is Iesus Christ Ephes 2. 20. Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone 1. Pet. 2. 6. True it is that the decree of Gods election grounded upon his everlasting love is a foundation 2. Tim. 2. 19. because the godly are stayed upon this as a house upon the foundation 2. Christian doctrine is a foundation also Heb. 6. 1. It being a meanes to build men upon Christ the foundation 3. Christian princes and Magistrates are thus stiled Psal 82. 5. because the quiet of the Church doth rest upon them as a house on the foundation 4. The Apostles and Prophets Ephes 2. 20. Not onely Peter those who make Peter the foundation whereon the Church is built 1. Falsifye the Text which is not Vpon thee Peter but Vpon this Rocke 2. Deale reprochfully with Christ lifting Peter into the roome of his Master 3. Injuriously with the Church building it upon so weake a rocke which so often failed but the Apostles and Prophets all of them as well as he are foundations viz. second and subordinate because by their doctrien they lay the elect upon Christ the true foundation which is the true foundation of the Church in regard of his person and office 1. Hee being the corner stone or firme foundation whereon his Church is built 2. He supporting and bearing it Vp as a foundation against the gates of hell that they cannot prevaile against it As Christ is the foundation so Gods faithfull Ministers are the builders 1. Cor. 3. 10. laying the Elect upon Christ as builders doe one stone upon another and all upon the foundation And the Saints are the stones 1. Called lively 1. Pet.
after much searching and prying whether they be sound and sufficient you receive not gold carelesly but after tryall whether it is currant coine and of sufficient weight You take not silver hand over head but you first see whether it is payable money you turne and tosse rub and ring each suspected piece least you take brasse for lawfull silver And deale you thus with your faith Do you examine whether you are in the faith Do you try by the touch-stone of the Word whether it is of the right kind not that of Divels not that of temporizers not that of wicked ones but that of the Elect making them endeavour good and shun sinne I would you did 2. Is faith thus excellent Then you who wish well to your selves prise and use all sanctified meanes whereby it 's gotten kept and increased This is a pearle of price the tryall whereof is better then gold 1 Pet. 1. 7. The least degree whereof is better then a world of earthly contentments benefiting the enjoyer when all worldly vanities stand in no stead not forsaking him till he hath received the end of his faith the salvation of his soule 1 Pet. 1. 9. This is a precious jewell in the esteeme of God and godly men in regard of the giver worker object meanes and use 2 Pet. 1. 1. By this we are united unto we receive vitality from and have familiarity with the Lord Iesus Or in a word this is an astringent tye joyning us into this union so neare true and admirable this fellowship so celestiall and inseparable which is with Gods Sonne Iesus Christ CHAP. X. The third Marke and Duty Such have Christs Spirit abiding in them HAve we or desire we fellowship with Christ Iesus We 3. Marke Duty must have the Spirit of God inhabiting within us Rom. 8. 9. But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his If we have fellowship with Christ we already have if we desire communion with Christ we must get to have the Spirit of God to dwell in us To like purpose is that 1 Cor. 3. 16. Know you not that you are the Temple of God and that the Holy Ghost dwelleth in you As 1 Cor. 6. 19. And 2 Tim. 1. 14. By the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in you Of such absolute necessity is the having of Christs Spirit Mot. 1. abiding in us That without it no saving faith no sound hope no true love no happy peace no solid joy no new birth no new life no spirituall adoption no reall ingrafting into Christ no union or communion with him these all being graces works and fruits of Gods Spirit Those who have not the Spirit of Christ abiding in them are none of Christs 1. Souldiers therefore the Dragons there being but two sides and therefore shal be overcome Rev. 12. 9. 2. Servants therefore slaves to sinne and Sathan therefore to be paid the wages of eternall death Rom. 6. 23. 3. Subjects therefore rebels and traitours against the king of heaven therefore to be slaine Luc. 19. 27. 4. Sheepe therefore Goates whose end is to be accursed Math. 25. 41. 5. Braunches abiding in him therefore withered castawayes to be burned Ioh 15. 6. 6. Acquaintance friends familiars therefore strangers to heare that dolefull farewell depart I know you not Math. 7. 25. 7. Brethren therefore bastards children of this world and the Devill therefore no inheritours 8. Brides therefore harlots and strumpets therefore divorced and cast out 9. Members of his mysticall body therefore limbes of the Devill to be consumed Therefore if we have not the Spirit of God abiding in us there is no possibility of fellowship with Iesus Christ while so we continue The unspeakable motions and operations of Gods Spirit manifest the truth of this abundantly 1. Whence is our regeneration or new creation From the Spirit Ioh. 3. 5. Borne of the Spirit 2. Whence is our justification From the Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 11. You are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God 3. Whence is our holinesse and sanctification From the Spirit Acts 15. 8 9. Giving the Holy Ghost purifying c. 4. Whence is our Christian loue whereby we love Christ for his owne sake and Christians for his From the Spirit Rom. 5. 5. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given us 5. Whence is our obsignation whereby we are ascertained that we are the Sonnes of God From the Spirit Rom. 8. 16. It beares witnesse with our spirits that we are the Sonnes of God 2 Cor. 1. 22. Who hath sealed c. 6. Whence is our direction how to live From the Spirit Rom. 8. 14. Led by the Spirit 7. Whence is our corroboration or spirituall strength From the Spirit Eph. 3. 16. Strongthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man 8. Whence our supplication or ability to pray From the Spirit Rom. 8. 15. Whereby c. 9. Whence our consolation From the Spirit Acts 9. 31. Comfort of the Holy Ghost 10. Whence our incorporation into and inhabitation in Christ From the Spirit Eph. 2. 22. In whom you are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Saint Chrysostome saith well That Spirit doth make holy sanctifie Ergò iste Spiritus consecrat sanctificat benedicit honorificat guberuat protegit consolatur producit ad santam Ecclesiam 1. Expos Symboli Tom. 5 pag. 1147. blesse honour governe protect comfort and doth bring to the holy Church All those therefore who have these speciall and heavenly prerogatives of regeneration justification c. and communion with Christ Iesus they have necessarily the Spirit of God abiding in them 1. Ponder with advisement and deliberation how lamentably dreadfull their condition is who have not the Spirit of God abiding in them for although the conversation of many of them is plausible and to admiration in regard of their upright civill carriage yet wanting the Spirit of God they are none of Christs and therefore have no interest in this communion 2. Commiserate the Maniacque folly and braine-sicke bedlam madnesse of all such scorners which scoffe at this as if there were no cohabitation of Gods Spirit in the hearts of godly men These blinded beetles thinke none see because themselves do not are perswaded none have Gods Spirit because they want it The glorious Sun is in the firmament giving comfortable light to all seeing creatures although born-blind Moles never behold the least glimpse of its shining rayes The blessed Spirit of God is dwelling and abiding in the holy ones of God although such deriding scorners hood-winkt by the Devill with the scales of blockish ignorance and damned infidelity are altogether unexperienced and unacquainted in such Divine and heavenly enjoyments 3. Looke O you sonnes of men whether this Spiritof God