the Lord is ready Jam. 4.8 draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you if we aske we shall receive if we seek we shall find if we knock it shall be opened Mat. 7.7 We find by experience when we seek Christ diligently we find him refreshing the soule quickning and enlivening of it but if we neglect him our spirits are dull our affections grow cold Christ is ready to give out himselfe to those that looke after him at their first comming to him and at all times afterward Joh. 4.47 He that commeth unto me I will in no wise cast off He is the treasury of all grace and dispenseth grace to his people for all purposes quickning grace strengthning grace preventing grace teaching grace comforting grace he is the God of all grace and is still ready to communicate of the same to his people if they be but ready fit to receive it It may hereupon be objected by some under a Temptation Ob. O but I have prayed long and sought the Lord but I am not heard I am almost discouraged in praying and waiting so long It is answered The Cause is in thy selfe upon one accompt An. or other It may be thou hast displeased Christ by some prevailing lust it may be thou hast neglected and sleighted his grace and loving kindnesse towards thee aforetime not walking in any measure answerable thereunto hast thou not looked after other lovers in letting the streame of thy affections runne towards empty creatures Or Christ may withhold to prevent these things or the like which els would be that thou knowing how dear it costs thee to obtaine manifestations of his grace they may be the more prized Or thy graces have need of trying and exercising which els being unactive would be at a stand or decay there is some cause or other in thy selfe If need be ye are in heavinesse through manifold temptations 1 Pet. 1.6 so that Christ is ready to communicate of his fulnesse to his people and usually the soule being in a good healthy state and not clouded with lusts or temptations seeking of him does find him yea before his people call he will answere and while they are yet speaking he will heare Esay 65.24 Use 1 Let this teach us to take notice of the freenesse and readinesse of Christ to communicate of his fulnesse that our hearts may be engaged and enlarged towards him in love and thankfulnesse Use 2 This is a singular encouragement to every beleiving soule continually to make out after Christ in all our wants and needs for as he hath an infinite store and treasury of all grace so he is freely ready to dispence of it Let us understand our own emptinesse and insufficiency that we may goe to him and by faith receive of his fulnesse grace for grace even the same spirit and same graces that Christ hath in a measure The four and fiftieth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees being ordered with skill and diligence they become abundantly fruitfull which if neglected and nature be left to it selfe they will beare but little fruit or not so much nor so good as with due culture and ordering This is another Similitude of the state of Spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed By diligent use of the meanes of grace Christians attaine great advantages which through neglect or sleight using meanes would be lost Whosoever proposeth an End unto himselfe cannot rationally expect to have it without using fit meanes for attaining of it salvation is that great and generall end that men ayme at at least pretend to it but how can they expect to find it who neglect or sleight the meanes whereby only it is attained which is the knowledg of Jesus Christ Heaven is not gotten by sitting still but by laboring and striving for it in Gods way The kingdome of heaven is taken by violence and the violent take it by force Mat. 11.12 and Luk. 13.14 strive to enter in at the strait gate Meanes must be used with diligence If we would have wisdome we must ask it of God Iames 1.5 And Pro. 22. If he incline his eare and apply his heart to it if he cry after knowledg and lift up his voice for understanding if he seeke her as silver and search for her as for hid treasures then he shall understand the feare of the Lord and find the knowledg of God Here must be inclining the eare and applying the heart here must be crying and lifting up the voice seeking searching and then shall wee find Giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue c. 2 Pet. 1.5 and againe vers 10. Give all diligence to make your calling and Election sure the diligent soule shall be made fat Prov. 13.4 But on the other side neglect of the meanes of grace or carelesse use thereof looseth these advantages many seeke to enter but shall not be able some seeke not at all others seeke but negligently and so find not In attaining degrees of Gifts and Graces we see by Experience that men of mean naturall parts by diligence use of meanes grow eminent and farre beyond others who have better naturall parts if they be negligent to improve them I know meanes are nothing of themselves without the concurrence of the spirit in them but as meanes without God can do nothing so usually God without meanes if men neglect them will do nothing The diligent soule shall be made fat Prov. 13.4 but such as neglect meanes or use them negligently they loose all and perish The desire of the slothfull killeth him Prov. 21.25 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledg because thou hast rejected knowledg I also will reject thee Hos 4.6 they rejected knowledg in rejecting and neglecting the waies and meanes of knowledg ye have set at naught all my counsells and would none of my reproofs and vers 29. they hated knowledg they would none of my Counsells that is they neglected all therefore God rejected them Vse 1 This shewes us the ignorance and folly of those who cast off Ordinances and meanes of grace though God hath commanded and appointed them as meanes of greatest advantage to his people Vse 2 This also informes us why there are so many ignorant and fruitlesse persons in the world even because they neglect or carelesly use the meanes to know God Vse 3 Let us hence be stirred up to a diligent and constant use of the meanes of grace not only as to the attayning of grace where it is not but also to the increase of grace where it is wrought Especially in childhood and youth I am perswaded not one of many would perish if Parents and such as have the education of youth themselves being Godly did use all good meanes diligently for the working of grace in their hearts It s true the use of the best meanes will not be effectuall without the concurrence of the spirit of God but where God gives an
There are motions of the spirit and motions of the flesh upon all occasions workings and inclinations in the soule towards and against good and evill Gal. 5.17 the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would The flesh still moves against the motions of the spirit of God and principles of grace framing objections and reasonings against good motions Rom. 7.21 I find then a law that when I would do good evill is present with me The spirit is ready to every good worke but the flesh is sluggish loath backward vers 22. I delight in the Law of God concerning the inner man but I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my mind c. But now though it be so that the motions of the flesh oppose the motions of the spirit yet for all that the spirituall man rules in the soule for the maine and generality of our lives And Christians know by Experience that according to the promise Gal. 5.16 Walke in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh when they walke circumspectly and watch over the heart to keepe it up in a spirituall frame in communion with God then the flesh is low and kept under Vse 1 Seeing there is a continuall combate betweene the flesh and the spirit this should make us watchfull against the flesh that it prevaile not we know the flesh never sturs but to do us hurt who would not be incensed against such an enemie now the way to prevaile against the flesh is to cherish and delight to obey the motions of the spirit as before Gal. 5.16 The seventie eighth Observation in Nature SOme fruit-trees as being of different kinds and for severall other causes bring forth more fruits than others and the same fruit-trees bring forth more fruits some yeares than they do some other yeares Experience tells us that when there comes a pleasant and mild spring with other concurrent advantages trees beare as many fruits as in 3 or 4 other yeares Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us That Some believers are by advantages more fruitfull than others and at some more than at other times Every Christian being engrafted into Christ brings forth some good fruits and having a Talent or more a stock of grace gifts and advantages he imployes and improves all one way or other for the honour of God but some believers have greater measures of grace and more advantages of improving them than others and therefore their returnes are greater and their fruits are more We see Matth. 25.20 He that had five Talents he brought forth more fruits than they that had received lesse And the Apostle saies 1 Cor. 15.10 I labored more abundantly than they all Some Christians as they have greater measures of the spirit and the graces of the spirit so they have better naturall parts and more outward helps and meanes in respect of time to heare and read the word to converse with others speciall dispensations of Providence and the like advantages whereby they are enabled to bring forth more fruits than others who want such helps and means of fruitfulnesse Some are carried on with vigorous actings of spirit with a lively hope with a strong faith with fervent love and with great measures of every grace and can do and suffer more for God than other believers can Others againe having but weake naturall parts small measures of knowledge and grace wanting helps and meanes of growth and improvement having but dim evidences of the love of God their fruits are according to these fewer and smaller than some other Christians bring forth Yea the same individuall person brings forth more and better fruits at some seasons than at others At those times when the soule is in a more spirituall frame and temper in more immediate communion with God when the spirit of God sensibly actuates and quickens the Principles and habits of grace in the soule and makes them lively and vigorous when the North and south winds blow upon the Gardens then the spices thereof flow forth and fruits abound But at some other times the actings of the soule are but low and weake while the spirit withdrawes and withholds his operations if the winds blow not the ship with all its sailes moves slowly This being so let no sincere soule be discouraged and dishartned Vse 1 yeilding to a temptation to see some other Christians go beyond them in fruitfulnesse if such diligently presse on towards the marke they shall be accepted It may be others have received more from God than thou hast more Talents of Gifts Graces time and many advantages Now there being a sincere and ready mind it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to what he hath not 2 Cor. 8.12 Vse 2 Secondly seeing we are more fruitfull at some than at other times this should teach every one of us to observe and watch over the frame of our spirits from day to day that so when they are in that low and dull temper we may endeavour what in us lies by all experienced meanes to raise them out of it into that spirituall and lively frame afore mentioned wherein we bring forth more fruits and obtaine unspeakable advantages The seventie ninth Observation in Nature THe husbandman rejects not his fruit-trees because they sometimes faile in bringing forth fruits perhaps a cold time may come when they are in blossome and spoile much or most of them or if that fruit they bring forth be somewhat imperfect by spots roughnesse chaps or the like yet if it tast well if it have a good relish he approves of the fruits and commends them makes much of the trees notwithstanding all imperfections in both Hence we learne this Lesson That God beares with the failings and imperfections of his people and is ever ready to take notice of Proposition shadowed and commend the good that is in them The Lord is pleased to beare with the failings of his people and seemes not to see them but contrariwise takes notice of what good is in them and speakes of it with commendation as if it were their owne We see this fully in the case of Job God passeth by his many and great failings and scarce takes notice of them in standing so much upon his justification and breaking out to curse the day of his birth c but on the contrary obserues and commends what is good in him Ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right as my servant Job hath and Jam. 5.11 ye have heard of the patience of Job David sinned and failed very much in many things as in purposing and going about to destroy Naball and all his house 2 Sam. 25.22 without a just cause in numbring the people and in many other things upon record all which God passeth by as if they had not
calls and sends for that purpose Now Christ was fitted by this anointing Esay 61.1 The spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tydings c. and Esay 42.1 Behold my servant c. I have put my spirit upon him And when Christ sent forth his disciples to preach the Gospell how did he prepare them for it even by the same anointing Joh. 20.21 22. As my father sent me so send I you and he breathed on them and said receive ye the holy Ghost Thus also the Ministers of the Gospell that succeede him they have the same anointing which fits them with gifts and graces for this worke what ever humane learning they have more or lesse this anointing teacheth them and makes them learned in the great mystery of godlinesse Jesus Christ the wisdome of the father in whom all fulnesse dwells and the spirit of Christ dwells in them hereby they are made able Ministers of the new Testament Not of the Letter but of the spirit 2 Cor. 36. Carnall men though never so learned know not what they say they have the letter of the word but the spirituall sence is vailed and hid from them through the darknesse of their minds they have no insight nor Experience in what they say But every scribe that is instructed unto the kingdome of heaven is like unto a man that is an houshoulder which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things new and old Mat. 13.52 True Ministers of the Gospell are Embassadors for Christ 1 Cor. 4.20 they are also stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 and it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful vers 2. May it not thence be concluded that unregenerate persons who cannot be faithfull are unfit to be stewards neither are entrusted by God in this great workâ— From what hath beene said will it not follow That those are Vse 1 no true Ministers of the Gospell who are ignorant of and inexperienced in the great worke and mystery of Regeneration who have not the worke of Grace upon their owne hearts They are Theeves and Robbers who enter not in by the dore which is Christ but climbe up some other way Joh. 10.1 These come to get the fleece and care not if the flock be scattered and torne by the wolves how can they teach others who were never taught themselves is he fit to lead others who is blind Now the Naturall man seeth not perceiveth not spirituall things neither can he because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 If any shall Object That Judas was an unregenerate person and yet sent to preach Object with the rest of the Apostles It is answered That is an Extraordinary Example and foretold many generations before Answ Now Extraordinary Examples are not to be pleaded in ordinary Cases it was of absolute necessity that such a one should be that the scriptures might be fulfilled Object Secondly If it be said Though men have not the spirit of God though they have not grace yet having Learning good gifts and Parts they may doe good therewith in the Church of God It is answered Although it be granted that carnall men in the Ministry having good Gifts Answ and endowments may doe some good thereby does this prove they are therefore fit for the Ministry or that they are sent of God God of his infinite wisdome and grace ordereth and over-ruleth all things for good to his owne people even the very sinnes of men and Devills But further Though some good may be done by carnall Ministers it cannot be denyed but they do much more hurt then good by their carnall Interpretations and Mis-applications of the scriptures and bad Examples Not having the spirit not being Learned in the Mysteries of godlinesse nor being taught by wisdome from above they pervert the scriptures to their owne and others destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 they cannot see the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 so that they deceive the soules of the poore carnall people and lead them blindfold to hell when the blind lead the blind both fall into the ditch into the bottomlesse Pit so that as our Saviour bid his disciples and the multitude to take heede of the Leaven or doctrine of the Pharisees who were fooles and blind as to the spirituall understanding of the scriptures so also should we take heede of false interpretations of the scriptures by carnall men in our daies Doth not God reprove and expostulate with such for their hold undertaking in this kind Psal 50.16 What hast thou to doe to Preach my Lawes or that thou shouldest take my word in thy mouth seeing thou hatest to be reformed See also Jer. 14.14 and Jer. 23.20 This informes us That surely the time is at hand and is not the Vse 2 day dawned already when the Gospell Ministry shall be purged the drosse carnall Ministers shall be cast out and the pure mettle preserved according as was Prophesied Mal. 3.1 2 3. when the Messenger of the Covenant Jesus Christ shall come and Raigne gloriously in the Nations hee will be as a Refiners fire and shall fit as a Refiner and purifier of silver hee shall purifie the sonnes of Levi vers 3. ignorant scandalous persons who make the sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred as Elies sonnes the Name of God and his Gospell to be blasphemed and true Ministers despised and reproached these shall be cast out as unsavory salt and a true Ministry set up and encouraged Is not this the worke of this day Let them therefore who are imployed therein take heede of doing the worke of the Lord negligently but imploy and improve their Talent of Authority faithfully and diligently for their Masters interest And let all the people of God be earnest with God to carry on the worke himselfe with his owne hand by his owne spirit otherwise Instruments may labour to no purpose in this or any other worke And that God would more and more purifie his owne people even those who are most pure for in them there is much drosse yet unpurged out Though I take this to be the most proper and genuine meaning of this place yet not with exclusion of the other This points out unto us who are the true Ministers of the Gospell Vse 3 even all who have received the anointing of the spirit are taught of God as the truth is in Jesus that are called and sent of God and approved by his Church and people to that Office and worke These are the true Ministers of the Gospell of Christ these can speake of the things they have heard and seene 1 Joh. 1.3 they have skill and experience in the things whereof they speake they have the tongue of the Learned though some it may be not much humane learning and know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary because they have a fountaine of light and truth and wisdome within them he dwells in them in whom
we have received that soe we may make unto God some answerable returne God looked for more and received more from him that had the five Talents than from him that had received but two Matth 42.5.23 Noe one not the lowest or meanest is freed from making returnes of duty to God though God require much from those who have received much yet the meane person who has but a little must returne of that little Eph. 4.28 Let him worke with his hands that he may have something to give to him that needeth And it will be accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not 2 Cor. 8.12 So also of the use and improvement of all other Talents gifts graces liberty Power and the rest The fortieth Observation in Nature ALthough Fruit-trees bring forth many great and beautifull fruits yet they are not esteemed except also they have a good tast it is the relish that gives the Commendation to fruits This shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed It is not the multitude nor exactnesse of performance of duties that God accepts unlesse there be sincerity and right ends in doing thereof The Tast of Mysticall Fruits lies in the sincerity and truth of the heart sincerity and right Ends is that which God cheifly looks at and accompts upon it accordingly Actio denominatur a fine The end denominates a worke good or bad it is the forme of every duty The great end must be the glory of God though we may have subordinate ends our owne happinesse and others being Married to Christ we must bring forth fruit unto God Rom 7.8 Trees of righteousnesse being trees of the Lords planting they bring forth fruit that he may be glorified Esay 61.3 so Joh. 15. Truth sincerity Love right ends these make fruits tast pleasantly for without Love there cannot be right ends And therefore the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 13. Though a man have all knowledg all faith though he bestow all his goods to feede the poore and doe never so many good works yet if they tast not of love they are nothing worth if there be not sincerity and right ends God accompts not of them Many are but empty Vines because they bring forth fruit to themselves fruits as good as no fruit Hos 10.1 when they have no good tast which they have not when the Ends are not right The Pharisees brought forth faire and goodly fruits to looke upon Mat. 6.2 they Preached they prayed much they gave much almes they fasted payed tithes c. but the tast of these fruits was naught they had no love to God they wanted sincerity right ends in what they did Matth. 6.2 They did them to be seene of men for themselves and not for God Hence we may learne that much of the fruit that is brought Vse 1 forth in the world is not accepted of God because it wants a good tast though they are beautifull to looke upon as to the matter and substance yet they may be but as Apples of Sodome faire on the outside but rotten within of an unpleasant tast Men for the most part bring forth fruit unto themselves they aime at their owne profits honours or something mainely and cheifely if not wholly for themselves but the honour of God the interest of Christ is not in their eye their Love in their works is but selfe-Love Let us try the tast of our fruits whether we have sincere and right ends in what we doe whether they tast of Love Love to Vse 2 God and his people Let all your workes be done in Love 1 Cor. 16.14 Oh how sweete and pleasant is the tast of those fruits which spring from a principall of love to God upon the apprehension of his Love to us in Christ Seeing the tast of fruits makes them acceptable to God this is a Vse 3 ground of great comfort to every poore weake Christian whose fruits though they are but small and want outward beauty yet because they have a good tast the husbandman likes them well they are pleasant fruits in his accompt because their hearts are perfect there is truth sincerity love holy and right ends mixed with their fruits soe that the husbandman delights to come into his Garden and to eat these his pleasant fruits Cant. 4.16 The widowes two mites were but very small fruits and yet because our Lord liked the tast he said they were better and more acceptable than any or all of the Pharisees great and many fruits Math. 12.43 The one and fortieth Observation in Nature WHen Grafts begin to grow by the sap they receive from the stock they will certainely by the Law of Nature hold on untill they come to perfection The Proposition shadowed That Proposition shadowed The smallest measure of true grace in any person can never be extinguisht but will certainely grow up to perfection Grace is compared to a graine of Must-ardseede Mat. 17.20 which though it be but a very small substance yet in a while it growes to a great one Though it be but as a sparke of fire in flax it shall not be quenched Esay 42.3 it will increase to a great flame To see and be convinced of the want of Christ and to desire after him is the smallest measure of grace which yet shall certainely increase such a hungry soule shall at last be filled and satisfied with the fullnesse of Christ Mat. 5 6. If the spirit have cast the seeds and Principles of grace into the soule he will water them and cause them to grow and bud and blossome and bring forth fruits To him that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance Mat. 25 29. All the powers of hell cannot rob the soule of the least measure of grace Vse 1 This is unspeakable Consolation to all believers though never so weake in grace though they have but a drop of the water of life yet it shall be a well of water springing up to eternall life Joh. 4.14 And therefore dejected and weary soules that feare the worke of grace is not in them that long after Christ and would faine be satisfied that they have an interest in him Let such know the seede of God is in them sowen by his spirit and therefore it is that they have these desires thirstings longings c. and cannot be satisfied without Christ These motions and workings of soule are not any where but where the spirit dwels and where he hath begun the worke of grace these are sure evidences that they are united to Christ and ingrafted into him and these buds and breakings forth shew clearely to a discerning eie that they have taken hold of the stock and that they have received from it some sap and life and therefore can never be broken off nor die but they shall certainely spring up and grow to perfection and bring forth the fruits of Love joy and praise to all eternity for he who hath begun a good worke in them
in others Atoms or Moses appeare in the Beames of the sunne but not in a dimme light Seeing we have three great enemies to encounter with this Vse 2 should make us to put on the whole Armour of God and to stand upon our Guard and watch against them The sixtieth Observation in Nature GRafts before they are joyned to the stock must endure ordinarily many difficulties under the hand of the Husbandman ai cutting off from the Tree lying by for a time it may be severall weeks or months after that cutting to the pith or heart with a sharp knife c. See Observ 62. This is another Similitude of the dare of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That the people of God in their Conversion for the most part go through many straights Proposition shadowed and difficulties Those whom God intends to Ingraft into Christ the spirit first convinceth them of sin he inlightens their understandings to see where and in what case they are by Nature and of their utter inability to help themselves out of it And by degrees cuts them off from all things in themselves Their Reason wisdome skill Learning Gifts all their duties and performances all their own righteousnesse all put together is but as vanity and emptinesse there 's nothing in any thing of their own to help them or do them good so that the spirit becomes a spirit of bondage to them for a time letting them see nothing but terror and sad sights A strict Law or Covenant of works binding them over to Justice and wrath eternall death So that hereby they are cut to the heart and are put upon enquiring and seeking which way to get out of this Case Acts 2.37 what shall we doe Some are kept longer under feares and terrors and are cast lower than others they are brought in such a condition as that they will be glad to receive Christ upon any Conditions then the spirit of God opens their eyes to see a way out of their miseries then he holds forth Christ unto them in the tenders of the Gospell Oh how glad is such a soule to receive Christ upon any tearms upon any tearmes in the world Then the soule longs and hungers and thirsts to be satisfied with Christ and accompts all things but as dung and drosse in comparison of him Then the spirit of God leads the soule as by the hand to lay hold upon Christ to close with him and by little and little works a perswasion in the heart that Christ is his and that he is Christs upon the Accompt of that new pretious sure Covenant of grace in which are all the glorious sweete promises of the Gospell included Let Professours try themselves whether ever they found the Vse 1 case to be thus with them before they had a perswasion of the love of God least they deceive themselves Many build their house upon the sands against which when the Raine and the winds and floods beate when Temptations arise it will fall Mat. 7.27 Yet it is not with all alike in their coming to Christ some close with him upon easier tearms than some others howsoever in all that come to Christ there must be a sense and sight of their misery by sin as they are under the Covenant of works and their great neede of Christ to deliver them from it and thereupon a desire to rest upon him by faith for Justification and acceptance with God through him Of this see more at large Observation in Nature 25. The sixtie one Observation in Nature THe Husbandman upon occasion praises and commends his fruit-trees when they beare many and good fruits some for one property and some for another Proposition shadowed This shadowes out to us That When the people of God bring forth good fruits God himselfe doth praise and commend them The Lord takes pleasure in his people passing by their infirmities and taking notice of what is good in them It was a very high commendation that God gave of Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know him that he will command his Children and his household after him and they shall keepe the way of the Lord. God tooke notice of the good fruits that Phynehas brought forth and commends him and rewards him Numb 15.11.12 c. in that he was zealous for his God He said of David That he was a man after his owne heart So of Moses Num. 12.7 My servant Moses is faithfull in all mine house And Nathaniel Joh. 1.47 Behold an Israelite indeede in whom there is no guile Particulers neede not be multiplied one or two scriptures may serve for more Rom. 2.29 Their praise is not of men but of God and 2 Cor. 10.18 Not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but he that the Lord commendeth This is much for the comfort Vse and encouragement of all that are upright in heart God will commend such Though it may be their fruits are none of the fairest on the outside in the eyes of men they have not bulke nor shape nor colour to commend them unto men yet being well tasted savoury fruits having the Relish of truth sincerity Love and right ends the husbandman likes them well and will commend them even before men and Angels Matth. 25.24 Well done thou good and faithfull servant thou hast beene faithfull over a few things c. enter thou into the joy of thy Lord so againe vers 23. The sixtie two Observation in Nature THere is a great change wrought upon fruit-trees by Engrafting Before they brought forth sower and naughty fruits See Observ 43. and 60. but now pleasant This is another Similitude c. and shadows out unto us this Proposition That persons by Regeneration have a great Change wrought in them Propesition shadowed All by Nature bring forth bitter and naughty fruits sower Grapes Grapes of Gall their clusters are bitter And there is noe way possibly to bring them to beare good fruits but by engrafting them into Jesus Christ Now Regeneration or implanting into Christ works a great change throughout the whole man upon all the faculties of the soule and in Conversation The understanding which before was darke and ignorant of spirituall things then becomes by litttle and little inlightned and apprehensive of spirituall things Heb. 10.32 after ye were illuminated c The will which before was crosse and stubborne opposing the will of God becomes in some measure obedient and inclining to what is of God and to affect spirituall things as spirituall for themselves The affections which before implanting into Christ were cold and dead towards Christ and the things of God then have heat and life in them they stirre and move after spirituall things Vnregenerate persons cannot see nor judge of spirituall things no more than of visible outward objects without light but when the worke of grace comes into the soule then light shines there Ephes 5.8 Ye were sometimes darknesse but are now light in the Lord
beene and saies of him that David walked before him with a perfect hear t and departed not from him in any thing save in the matter of Vriah 1 Kings 15.5 How wonderfully did God beare with Jonah and how mild was God towards him when Iona was up in an angry sturdy humour and would needs maintaine it and answere God peremptorily I do well to be angry Jonah 4.9 So Christ passeth by the ignorance and prejudice of Nathaniel concerning himselfe and insted of a reproofe gives him a commendation Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile Joh. 1.46.47 And as this is the love of Christ towards particular persons so also towards his whole Church though the Church be as full of spots as the Moone yet the exceeding love of Christ covers a multitude of faults Prov. 10.12 and saies thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee Can. 4.7 Love beareth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 God doth not only conceale the failings of his people very much but he takes notice of and commends the most secret good they doe and sometimes publisheth the secret and closet good works of his people upon the house top Luk. 12.3 Do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same Rom. 13 3. Yea praise not only of men but of God Rom. 2.29 As it is our duty to speake well of God and the things of God to his praise so it is the pleasure and good will of God to speake well of his people to their praise and commendation so he spake of Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know that he will command his children and houshold to walke in my waies c. The like commendation is given of Moses My servant Moses is faithfull in all mine house There are many instances of Gods concealing the faults and failings of his people with commendation of the good that is in them Now God judgeth righteous judgment therefore 't is our true honour to be commended by him Not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but he whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10.18 Vse 1 This should make us very carefull to avoid what may offend this our indulgent and gratious father seeing he shewes his love in concealing our faults let us shew our love in suppressing and declining what is evill let this be one fruit of our Love to God Let it be far from us to turne this grace and kindnesse of God into wantonnesse to be the more bold and take more liberty in sinning because God is so ready to pardon and passe it by Psal 97.10 Yee that love the Lord hate evill the hatred of evill is a fruit of love Vse 2 The consideration of this is a speciall meanes to support the people of God against discouragements and droopings in looking upon sins failings seeing we serve so good a master that is not rigorous and severe as some earthly Masters are that all their poore diligent servants can do will not please them but our Master is of a sweete nature passing by the infirmities and accepting the sincere indeavours of his servants and that with commendation Vse 3 Hence we should be greatly encouraged in all well doing and be the more diligent and industrious to please God in all things an ingenuous and good nature will do more for love than for feare a servant though but morally honest and of a good disposition will do more for a mild Master that beares with him than if he were harsh and hard to please The Cords of love and kindnesse will draw a man of an honest mind in the way of obedience faster than scourges can drive him Vse 4 We should set this before us as a patterne for our imitation if God be so kind and forbearing towards us betweene whom there is such an infinite distance shall not we mete the same measure towards our fellow brethren it is the use the Apostle makes of the same doctrine 1 Joh. 4.11 Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another Let us beare with one anothers infirmities and take notice of all the good we can in each other This is to be like God Shall God forgive Talents of sins to us and shall not we forgive a few pence to our brethren See the reproofe and punishment of the want of this duty Matth. 18.32.33 Consider the sweet exhortation of the Apostle to this purpose Eph. 4.23 Be ye kind one to another tender harted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you The eightieth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees bring forth their fruits in their seasons some at one time some at another some sooner some later in sommer and Autumne every kind observes the Law of Nature which God hath fixed in them in respect of times and seasons of bearing fruits From hence we may observe That Trees of the Lords planting bring forth fruits seasonably Proposition shadowed All that are branches of the true Vine doe not only bring forth good fruits and by the purging and ordering of the husbandman bring forth much good fruit John 15.2 but also they bring forth good fruit in due season good fruits brought out unseasonably loose thereby much of their beauty and goodnesse therefore observe the season The Prophet David describing a Godly man one of his properties is this he brings forth his fruit in due season Psal 1.3 Solomon saies a foole utters all his mind but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards Prov. 29.7 A wise man brings forth the fruit of his lips seasonably The voice of a foole is in the multitude of words while others are speaking that 's no good season but a man should stay and wait for a fit time for an opportunity when his words may be heard yea and when the minds of the hearers are best prepared to hear such or such a truth when its most like to take impression Believers have spirituall wisdome wisdome from above Esay 50.4 The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned that I might know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary Though this be principally meant of Christ the head yet his members have from him the same spirit of wisdome to speake seasonably to weary soules and to speake in the cause of God when there is occasion and season This is to admonish every one to consider and observe the season Vse 1 the fittest season for every duty looking unto God for direction therein This will be much to the beauty and worth of them Every thing is beautifull in his season To every thing there is a season Eccl. 3.1 Circumstances commonly make or marre things and sometimes that which is a duty as to the substance and matter is turn'd into sin in respect of the manner and time of performance so that this is of very great consequence to observe a due season in duties Prov. 15.23 A word spoken in season how good is it
shew forth when they in their seasons flourish with Leaves Blossomes and Fruits especially considered not only as they appeare beautifull to the eye but also with all their inward beauties and perfections their virtues and uses in the life of man Both in Alimentall and Physicall respects but most of all as they are Similitudes and beare the figure and resemblance of many high and great Mysteries in the Word of God the Analogie and resemblance is very neere in many things to the most noble visible Creature MAN Fruit-trees beare the Figure and resemblance of what is of highest esteeme with God his People his Jewells his Adopted Sons yea of his Naturall Sonne as we frequently find in Scripture Likenesse and resemblance of inferior Creatures to those above them does ennoble and put some dignity upon them according to the degree of likenesse Now what Creatures beare resemblance to man in so many respects as Fruit-trees see the Observations pag. 1. 2. c. De Gen. ad Lit. Li. 15. Austin speaking of the marvelous effects of Nature that appeare in Seeds Trees and Fruits saies they wonderfully manifest the Attributes of God therefore he exhorts us to search into them Ex ipsis Operibus Dei indagare conemur consideremus ergo cujuslibet Arboris pulchritudinem in robore ramis frondibus Pomis c. Let us saith he inquire into the works of God and consider the beauty of a tree in the strength boughes leaves and fruits he saies it is wonderfull to see so great a body rise of so small a seed which seed has in it the whole Tree with the Leaves Fruits and Seed for the propagation of the kind not in their bulke and dimensions but Virtually as a Cause producing all these Illud germen ex semine in semine ergo illa omnìa fuerunt primitùs non mole corporeae magnitudinis sed vi potentiaque causaliter For In exiguo grano mirabilior praestantiorque vis est quia valuit adjacens humor commixtus terrae In this small seed there is a great and wonderfull virtue which shewes it selfe being cast into the earth which then riseth up into a body and spreads it selfe into boughes and Branches Quid enim ex Arbore illâ surgit aut pendet quod non ex quodam occulto Thesauro seminis illius extractum atque depromptum est What riseth or growes upon the Tree that is not brought or drawen out of the seed as out of a certaine Store-house or Treasury Fruit-trees discover many things of God and many things of our selves and concerning our duty to God We enquire of and discourse with Fruit-trees when we consider and meditate of them when we search out their virtues and perfections which God hath put into them when we pry into their natures and properties that is speaking to them And when we after a serious search do make some use and result of what we see in them when we collect something from them concerning the Power Wisdome Goodnesse and Perfections of God or our duty to God that is the Answer of the Fruit-trees then Fruit-trees speak to the mind and tell us many things and teach us many good lessons Our Considerations of them are the Questions we put to them and the Inferences or Conclusions are their Answers Those are the Lessons they teach us Of this see Mr Caryl his Exposition on Job chap. 12. Iob tells us of many Masters Creatures of which we may learne chap. 12. The Beasts the Fishes c. and ver 8. Speak to the Earth and it shall teach thee c. or as it is interpreted aske every slip or sprig that growes in the Earth and it shall teach thee Naturall and visible things are shadowes to us of Spirituall and the Spirit of God from things sensible and visible raiseth our minds to things spirituall and invisible The Ancients were skilled in this kind of Learning in teaching by SIMILITUDES and one of them observes that God sent us the Booke of Nature before he sent us the Book of the Scriptures The People of God in the beginning of the World were without the Scriptures for many yeares and they read many things in the Book of the Creatures Isaac went to meditate in the Feilds Gen. 24.63 And no doubt learned many Lessons from the Creatures And when the Church had some part of the Scriptures yet were they instructed for the space of two thousand yeares together by Similitudes for what was all the old administration but shadowes or Similitudes of things to come all shadowing out Christ and the things of Christ So the Apostle tells us Heb. 10 1. The law having the shadow of good things to come and Heb. 8.5 The example and shadow of heavenly things and Heb. 9.23 The Similitudes of heauenly things All their Services and Ceremonies were Similitudes of heavenly and spirituall things whereby they were taught and instructed Teaching by SIMILITUDES is the most plaine way of Teaching and makes dark things more cleare to the Vnderstanding and best to be retained in the Memory Our blessed Saviour the great Prophet and teacher of his Church who spake as never man spake he taught much by SIMILITUDES in his owne person and before his coming in the flesh by his Prophets as we see Hos 12.10 I have used Similitudes by the Ministry of the Prophets so we find in Esay Ezekiel and the rest One saies as Windowes are to a house so are SIMILITUDES to a Discourse they both let in light to see and discerne things that otherwise would be obscure Fruit-trees are a TEXT from which may be raised many profitable Doctrines and Conclusions which may be proved by Scripture and Experience Now therefore seeing many things may be learned from Fruit-trees for Spirituall profit I shall set downe some Observations which I have made upon them discovering the Nature and ordering of Naturall and Spirituall Fruit-trees in divers SIMILITUDES according to Scripture and experience speaking of most particulars very breifly As I have planted many thousands of Naturall Fruit-trees for the good of the COMMON-WEALTH so also I have taken some Spirituall Cyences or Grafts from them I meane severall Propositions drawne from Observations in Nature which are some what branched forth into Boughes and twiggs and bound them up and sent them abroad for the good of the Church of God And if men will but accept of them and be content to have them engrafted in their own Gardens their hearts and minds by the Husbandmans watering of them by his Spirit they will grow and blossome and beare much good fruit here and for ever Fruits of Faith Love Ioy Peace and other Fruits of the Spirit Bunches of Grapes For the feeding and refreshing of our Soules as we travell through the Wildernesse and the increase of our Glory hereafter in Canaan to all Eternity Which Improvement the Great Husbandman grant unto Thee together with Thy Servant in the Lord RA. AUSTEN To my deare Friend and Brother in
them more choice nourishment by often watring them with good water that they may grow and come on the faster This is another Similitude and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That the dispensations of God towards weak Christians Proposition Shadowed are more gentle then towards such as are grown strong The mysticall Husbandman hath Plants of severall degrees and ages in his Nursery and Orchard and according to their capacities he dealeth with them there are Children Young men and Fathers in Gods Family 1 Ioh. 2.12.13 14. the Children are ordered with more tendernesse than the elder sort Esay 40.11 He shall gather the Lambs in his Armes and carry them in his bosome and shall gently lead those that are with young He useth them gently with great tendernesse So againe Hos 11.1 3. When Israel was a child I loved him Vers 3. I taught Ephraim also to goe taking him by the Arms I drew them with cords of a man with Bands of Love I was to them as they that take off the Yoke from the Jawes and I laid meat unto them God used them as a loving Father his children or as a tender Nurse useth her young infant He gives them Milke while they are Babes and stronger meat when they are better growne as we see 1 Cor. 3.2 I fed you with Milke and not with Meat for hitherto ye were not able to beare it Heb. 5.14 Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age So also God in correcting his weake children dealeth with them according to their strength as is made out in that Similitude Esay 28.27 of the Husbandmans dealing with his Corne. The Fetches are not threshed with a threshing instrument neither is a Cartâ— wheele turned upon the Cummin but the Fetches are beaten out with a staffe and the Cummin with a rod. Vse 1 This is a ground of great comfort to weake and doubting soules God as a tender Father cherisheth and nourisheth the beginnings of grace in them he will not deale roughly and harshly but gently with them He will not quench the smoking flax nor breake the bruised Reede but improve and nourish weake beginnings is his children Esay 42.3 even as a Nurse cherisheth her children 1 Thes 2.7 that they may increase towards perfection Vse 2 Let us learne to imitate God in this thing to help and encourage those that are weake in all good beginnings Rom. 15.1 Such as are strong ought to beare with the infirmities of the weake And to comfort the feeble minded and to support the weake 1 Thes 5.14 The third Observation in Nature There are many wild Fruit-trees in the Woods waste grounds and hedges that beare faire and beautifull fruits to looke upon both for bulke and colour and yet are very harsh sower unpleasant fruits the husbandman takes no delight to eat of them although they are usefull for some other purposes these are but wild un-grafted trees and their fruits are accordingly This is another Similitude and shadowes forth unto us That Many Spirituall Fruit-trees bring forth faire Proposition Shadowed and specious fruits to observation which yet are unpleasant to the Husbandman There are very many men in the world being eminent in Learning Gifts and Parts who can performe many workes very exactly they can Pray Preach and compose workes c. and these things to the Observation of most very excellently gaining thereby great commendations from many and it may be admiration from some and yet these very Fruits to the taste of the Husbandman are very bitter and unpleasant though they may be some way serviceable and usefull to his Children and servants yet he himselfe is not delighted with them because they are from ungrafted trees such as are wild and Corrupt by Nature the Principle from which they proceed is Corrupt and that makes the fruits corrupt Who did workes to the observation of men more faire and specious then the Pharises and yet these their fruits were starke naught they were but painted fruits faire to a carnall eye without any good tast or relish Luk. 16.15 Lu. 11.39 Let none content themselves with outward performances in the worship of God though never so faire and unreproveable to the Vse 1 eye of men but looke to the Principles to the frame of the spirit to the spring from which any workes flow and examine whether they be streames from the Divine Nature or from common gifts and parts in the soule whether they be shoots springing from the spirit of Christ as from the Roote or from a Naturall Principle drawne out by some externall Causes and selfe ends for though they are never so plausible and beautifull in the eyes of men they may be deformed in the eyes of God and fruits altogether unpleasant to him Many things that are highly esteemed among men are abomination in the sight of God Luk. 16.15 Vse 1 This may serve to pull downe the high conceipts which carnall and unregenerate men have of themselves because of their Gifts and Parts their great and famous actings in the world did they but see and had they hearts to understand and consider that bitter and poysonous Roote Originall corruption which staines and spoyles all their Fruits their high conceipts of themselves and their Actings would be much abated They are but apples of Sodome Splendida peccata glorious sinnes for while the Tree is corrupt the fruit is so Math. 7.18 The fourth Observation in Nature WE find by Experience That Grafts and stocks joyned together of contrary or much different Natures will not grow nor thrive together if they be joyned in Grafting either the Graft growes not at all or else very poorely and weakly and in a few yeares decayes and dies But if the kinds of Trees are joyned together according to Rules of Nature and Art then they thrive together vigorously and beare fruits plentifully This is another Similitude of the state of Spirituall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition which also concurres with the word and experience Proposition Shadowed That persons joyned in any relation they have comfort or affliction together according to their Natures This is certaine in Nature Morality and Divinity That so much as things differ in their Natures one from another so great is the degree of dislike one of another And so neere as they are in their Natures and properties so great is the degree of complacency and love one of another Likenesse is both the Cause and the Bond of Love This is seene in all visible Creatures many Instances might easily be brought to shew it Likenesse in Natures Manners Customes begets Love and distance in these causeth dislike and sometimes Hatred 2 Cor. 6.14 What Fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse and what Communion hath light with darknesse c which Questions include Positions This should teach all who intend to enter into the state of Vse 1 Marriage to looke well to their choice that it be upon good grounds and not for
worldly advantages in the first place as most doe and match a Soule to the Earth between which there 's no likenesse nor proportion Neither are they to looke so much at likenesse in the more low and inferior respects as Person age birth friends Riches c. though care is to be had in these as to that great likenesse in Natures Manners Habits and Principles of the Mind for these are the springs and the tyes of Love therefore be not unequally yoked together 2 Cor. 6.14 The sad experience of many thousands may be a sufficient warning to others If that Love flowes according to the likenesse of natures then Vse 2 let this teach us to strive for increase of Grace to have the Image of God more and more renewed and drawn more lively upon our soules because the more like we are to God by having his Image in the Graces of his Spirit the more shall we find the love of God towards us and the more will our Love be towards God the streame of the love of God will flow more strongly into the soule which will be Rivers of pleasure unto it God will then delight in the soule and the Soule will then delight in God and this Communion will be heaven upon earth The fifth Observation in Nature THe husbandman is carefull to Engraft his Trees while they are young he then formes and fashions them by Pruning and ordering of them for he knowes when they are growen strong and bigge Trees these workes cannot be done so easily if at all it be possible therefore he sets about them while they are young-trees This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall Fruit-trees and holds forth unto us this Proposition Proposition shadowed That God calls his people for the most part in Youth and more rarely when they are old It is observed by Experience That God worketh that great worke of Repentance and Conversion of a sinner from darkenesse to light before old age generally and for the most part Most commonly in youth or full strength How seldome has it beene seene that an old person turnes to God having served Sathan and his lusts all his youth and time till old age God forbid that I should limit the boundles and infinite Mercies of God but may it not be said in this Case as of a Rich man his difficulty of being saved Matth. 19.24 It is easier for a Camell to goe through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into the Kingdome of God O how hard is it for an old habituated sinner to turne to God and forsake his old waies and customes Such are setled on their Lees and frozen in their dreggs and are past feeling their hearts are hardened and consciences seared with a hot Iron Custome in sinne hath deprived them of all sence of sinning they cannot cease from sinne 2 Pet. 2.14 As soone may the Blackmore change his skinne or the Leopard his spots as old customary sinners learne to doe well Jer. 13.23 They being old ungrafted Trees growing upon the stock of corrupt Nature it s a thousand to one but they shall grow there untill the Axe be laid unto their roots to cut them downe and they be cast into the fire not to be consumed but to burne for ever God gives men warning before hand and tells them he will not accept of them hereafter though they knocke at the Gate of Mercy it shall be shut against them if they will not now accept of Mercy Prov. 1.24 25. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded c yee shall call but I will not answer I will laugh at your calamity and mock when your feare cometh c The sinner being an hundred yeares old shall be accursed Esay 65.20 This cals to all Spirituall young Plants to labour by all possible Vse 1 meanes to get this worke of Engrafting into Christ performed Now in their youth Now to be willing to be under the discipline of the husbandman who offers and desires to forme and fashion their minds according to the shape and Mould of his holy word Now therefore hearken to his voyce while it is called to day lest ye be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Heb. 3.13 The worke as to us is more easily done Now in youth then it will be hereafter The Twiggs of the corrupt stock of sinfull Nature are yet but small and slender Udum molle lutum es nunc nunc properandus acri Fingendus sine fine tota Pers sat 3. and will more easily be cut off then when they are grown old and strong The Minde will bow and bend more easily in youth to the Rules of the husbandman then it will hereafter Things are learned in time of youth with ease which in old age are difficult or impossible There is an impossibility in respect of the Lawes of nature of altering the habits in time of old age either of Body or Mind It s true With God all things are possible Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem testa diu Hor. but we are to expect the usuall and ordinary dealings of God and not to neglect the meetest seasons and meanes for effecting our greatest work in hope that God will doe it in the most difficult times because all things are alike easie to him Now because this is a thing of infinite everlasting consequence and of greatest importance of all other things whatsoever to us And that all may be stirred up to seeke after this one necessary thing to be engrafted into Christ in time of Youth I will lay downe a few Considerations as motives to it 1. The great Lord of Heaven and Earth that gave us a being 1 Consideration Gods Command our breath our time all that we have he requires our youth to himselfe and commands every one to give their first and their full strength to him he would have their Virgin Love before they be vitiated and defloured by the Creature Eccl. 12.1 Remember now thy Creator in the daies of thy Youth while the evill daies come not As under the Law God commanded them to offer in sacrifice Young Creatures Bullocks Rammes and Lambs of a yeare old young Pigeons c. And the Levites being his portion must be numbred from a Month old and upwards to signifie to us under the Gospell that God requires the beginning of our strength in his service Mica 7.1 My soule desireth the first ripe fruits 2 Consideration Vncertainty of Gods call or acceptance afterwards 2. If Youth slight God and refuse to harken to his call and command it is uncertaine whether he will call them afterwards 2 Tim. 2.25 If God peradventure will give them Repentance He that calls to men to day if you will heare his voice hath not said to morrow or hereafter I will call againe Nay God hath said the contrary Prov. 1.24 Because
Now let it be considered What infinite advantages arise to a Christian by Early beginnings and setting forward in the waies of God betime the Priviledges are exceeding great and many These things may be great Encouragements to all young Plants to labour for them The sixt Observation in Nature WE know at the end of Sommer the sunnes influences being withdrawne in a great measure Fruit-trees cease growing their fruits and Leaves fall off and decay during the time of winter are shaken with winds pinched with Frosts and cold weather seeme to those that cannot well judg of them to be even as dead which yet when the spring of the yeare comes the spirit and sap that is naturally existing in them all winter is refreshed againe by the heat of the sunne that then approaches the branches againe begin to bud and by new supplies from the Roote grow forth and bare store of wholsome fruits This is another Similitude and shadowes out unto us this Proposition VVhich also concurres with the word and experience That When the spirit of God withdrawes Proposition shadowed then mysticall fruit-trees cease growing their leaves and Fruits fall and they indure sore conflicts for a time but at the returne of the spirit they are restored to former comforts with advantage As the sun is the efficient cause of life and growth in naturall fruit trees and all Vegetables so is the spirit of God the efficient cause of motion and growth in all spirituall fruit-trees while the spirit is sensibly present and works in the soule there is motion growth budding blossoming and bearing fruits but when the spirit withholds and withdrawes when this sunne goes afar off as to his sensible workings and effects and hides his face then the fruit-trees are at a stand and have no power in themselves to grow or beare fruits The Lord is a Sun unto his people Ps 84.11 and the face of this sun is sometimes clouded and hid from them and is as if he were afar off Esa 54.7 For a small moment have I hid my face The Church complaines in the time of this spirituall winter Cant. 5.6 My beloved had withdrawne himselfe and was gone VVhen this Sun is afar off and clouded then followes a dark and gloomy time Lam. 3.1 I am the man that have seen affliction by the rod of his wrath he hath led me and brought me into darknesse and not into light I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed Ps 88.16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrors have cut me off Ps 38.8 The Church in this long and sharp winter the sun being a far off complaineth bitterly and is almost in dispaire Esay 49.14 This is a wofull state the greatest of all miseries on this side Hell even the want of the light of Gods countenance to him that hath sensibly enjoyed it a long time together and instead thereof to have the terrors of God fight against him and make immediate impressions upon the soule yet so it is with some of the servants of God for a time Former Evidences are then of no more strength than the strength of meat and drink is to the body after a long time of fasting when the body hath beene shut up in prison and almost starv'd for want of foode It s true indeed former Evidences might something uphold in the sense of present distresse if the soule were sure they were undoubtedly true and sound because we know true grace once received cannot be lost but there lies the doubt and the ground of feare and distrust he calls all former Evidences into question and perhaps at some times concludes against himselfe that all are nothing because of present feelings of the contrary I know a man who about Ten yeares agoe was cast under this Temptation and had Experience of this woefull state and condition he lay in it for the space of Seventeene or Eighteene Months or thereabouts Having early in his youth even the first houre of the day passed through the pangs of the new birth and spirit of bondage afterwards enabled to lay hold on Christ by faith and by degrees got up to a comfortable well grounded confidence of the love of God in Christ wherein he walked chearefully many yeares together yet afterwards even about the middle of the day according to the Prophets computation Psalm 90.10 the Sun was clouded and the spirit and sap suspended so that by degrees he lost not only the sense of the light of Gods countenance towards him and the sight of the graces of his spirit but questioned all his former Evidences of his interest in Christ and especially at some times even gave all for lost And notwithstanding the dayly use of all spirituall meanes he still fell lower and lower more and more feares and terrors increased in him which were made more sharpe and heavy by many outward afflictions great crosses and disappointments at the same time which befell him in reference to his body name outward estate Calling friends and relations every one of which was a sore affliction single and of it selfe notwithstanding all came upon him in a short space and that not long after great and more then ordinary spirituall comforts evidences of the love of God in Christ which though they might have beene some ground to have upheld the soule from sinking so low yet by degrees were all weake and of no power to uphold amidst such a throng and present sense of heavy and lasting Temptations as were upon both his inward and outward man but by reason thereof the immediate succeeding desertion was the more sensible and took the deeper impression As a man that falls suddenly from a high and eminent Condition of outward comforts into great misery and want the sense of his present misery is therefore the more pressing In this sad and darke time he laboured by Prayer Fasting help of freinds and all waies of humbling himselfe to get comfort and support but still it was hâ—d from him he was by degrees cast downe very low and brought even to despair in-somuch that at some times through the violence of Temptations and apprehensions of the absence and losse of God he cryed out roared as a man in torment of body that had had some disease or burning in his Bowels At some times when he heard the word preached such terrors seased upon him that he had no rest neither in body nor mind he could neither sit still nor stand still nor rest in any posture fearefull injections thronged in upon him and such woefull apprehensions of an undone Condition were at those seasons especially represented to the mind that he was not able to expresse the horror of them And after a certaine time of the absence of the Spirit in the feeling workings of it and sence of the graces Corruptions at sometimes more especially grew strong Passions and murmurings against the righteous proceedings of God with him
and Corruptions also of other Natures brake forth from time to time which were a sting to all other Miseries that befell him and which were being improved and strongly set on by Sathan against him grounds and foundations of the most fearfull apprehensions that came into his minde The enemy pleading it against him and that from many grounds of * Such as these Heb. 6.4 It is impossible for these who were once enlightned c. and 2 Pet. 2.20 The later end is worse with them then the beginning Scripture misapplyed that no child of God did ever fall into the like and labouring to perswade him that no one guilty of the like should possibly ever recover out of such a state This was a long and tedious winter in which seldome any sunne or starrs appeared to him and then but dimly and soone clouded againe the soule was for the most part filled with stormes and tempests sad apprehensions of many present evils and feares of more and greater to come upon him The particular passages of which Condition might be related at large were it convenient But the Lord hath said he will not contend for ever neither will he be alwaies wrath lest the spirit faile before him He correcteth in measure At length the sun of righteousnesse began to arise with healing in his wings and to cast some beames of light into his darke soule which increased more and more unto the perfect day As he fell by degrees so by little and little after a time in the use of meanes he was raised up againe and restored to former comforts with great and many additions and advantages The Lord put a new song into his Mouth even praises and thanksgivings unto his God Let the father of mercies and the God of all Comforts be for ever praised for he comforteth those that are cast downe when they cry unto him in their troubles he delivereth them out of their distresse he bringeth them out of darknesse and out of the shaddow of death and breaketh their bonds asunder O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare the wonders that he doth for the Children of men Now therefore Seeing that a winter of desertion may come Let Vse 1 us wisely prepare against it by giving all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 To lay up Treasures in heaven Now in the time of plenty to store up against a time of of famine to gather now in Summer against a spending time in Winter Now to gather Evidences and sure grounds of the unchangeable love of God towards us to make sure of our interest in Christ that so we may be able to fight and conquer and to stand in the evill day and having done all to stand Eph. 6.13 This also may comfort all those that are in this case who find Vse 2 that the Sunne is withdrawne and gone a far off Let them in the use of all good meanes wait and tarry the Lords leasure he will certainly come in his time Esay 50.10 Whoso walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay himselfe upon his God for the Sunne will againe shine forth and refresh such a soule and though comfort and deliverance tarry yet wait for it it will surely come it will not tarry Hab. 2.3 The word and promises and the Experiences of performance to others are sure grounds of hope Esa 54.7 for a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer The time is at hand when it shall be said to these weather beaten fruit-trees the winter is past the raine is over and gone the Fig-tree putteth forth her greene figgs the Vines with the tender Grape give a good smell Cant. 2.11 13. Then shall they Bud and blossome and bring forth abundance of Fruits pleasant to the husbandman And shall say unto him Let my beloved come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits Cant. 4.15 They shall dayly bring forth the fruits of Praise Love and obedience which he will like and accept of The seventh Observation in Nature FRuit-trees that bring forth the fairest and most beautifull blossomes Leaves and shootes they usually bring forth the fewest and least fruits because where Nature is intent and vigorously pressing to doe one worke spending its strength there it is at the same time weak about other workes but distinct and severall works of Nature in moderate and remisse degrees are all promoted at the same time This is another Similitude c whence we learne that Proposition shadowed Generally those persons who are excessive and most curious about the Formes of duties have least of the power of godlinesse There are some who wanting sincerity lay out their thoughts and endeavours about the outside of duties they will be as forward it may be as any about the externall parts of worship who have nothing of the truth of Grace in them Much formality little or no sincerity The Pharises were excessively carefull about the outside of Gods worship Mat. 6.2.5.16 In Preaching Praying fasting giving Almes c. their care was mainly to make cleane the outside to carry things fairly to the world that they might have the praise of men broad Phylacteries long Prayers exactnesse in tithing Mynt Annis Cummin Strictnesse in observing the Sabbath and outward Ceremonies but where was sincerity all this while they had the forme but wanted the power of godlinesse These were but Leaves buds or blossomes but no Fruits they were not profitable to them as to Eternall advantages Mat. 5.20 Except your righteousnesse exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharises ye shall in no case enter into the kingdome of heaven So it was among us of late yeares bowing at the Name of Iesus and Communion Table Surplesse Common-Prayer c these and such like were pressed with all eagernesse and strictnesse The body of Religion was large and monstrous but without a scule or if any it was Leane and feeble These kind of persons are like the Indian Fig-tree that Pliny speakes of which had Leaves as broad as Targets but fruits no bigger then a Beane Let every one take heed of this and not suffer their spirits and Vse 1 endeavours to runne out and be spent about things of lesser moment and neglect the greater This is a foule fault among us at this day some men stand more about the formes of worship than about the power of it they looke so much after the way manner and circumstances that they almost loose the substance things which are but as husks or shels to the Kernels or as Leaves in respect of fruits Some others labour more for Gifts then for graces for humane Learning than for holinesse All these are guilty of the
strive one against the other so that it is the care of the husbandman and is or should be our continuall labour and businesse to strengthen the spirituall part against the fleshly part We find by Experience That while the spirituall part acts lively and strongly the Carnall part is downe While it is by the Spirit of God raised up to a high pitch and enlarged with delight and joy in God and Communion with him in Meditation and Prayer then all the while Corruptions are low and weake and as it were subdu'd The Apostle tells us what we must doe to keep downe Corruptions Gal. 5.16 This I say walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh While the soule is in a spirituall frame and hath cleare apprehensions of the love of God in Christ then it is active and lively in all the waies of God Luk. 11.21 though the flesh be as a strong man Armed yet when this spirituall man that is stronger then he riseth up and bestirs himselfe he is able to bind him and keepe him under and rules in the soule untill there be an abating and slacking of his spirituall strength and then the flesh will soone discover it selfe and stirre and act as temptations and occasions arise and then on the other side the Spirituall part acts but weakely it is downe low flat wanting life and power during such stirrings and workings of the flesh Rom. 7.23 I see a Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind and leading me captive c. This should teach us often to observe and take notice of the actings of our spirits of the frame and temper of them 1 Vse whether the stock or the Graft bud the faster what shootes the soule puts forth of what kind what the motions of our soules are whether holy and spirituall or carnall and earthly cutting off these and preserving and cherishing those If we were watchfull daily and tooke paines with our spirits to keepe them up in a spirituall frame in Communion with God then by degrees the shootes and growths of the spirituall part would become strong and the shootes of the flesh weak and feeble O that this were well weighed and practised by Christians it is the very life Spirit and power of godlinesse thus to walk with God in communion with him hereby we are enabled to doe and suffer all things for God and to resist and keep under the flesh and all Enemies This is the life of our life and heaven upon Earth The twelfth Observation in Nature THe neerer the Branches of a Tree are to the Roots the faster and firmer they are and more free from tossing and shaking by the winds Such grow more fast and steady And the farther off the Branches are from the Roote the more loose and unsteadfast they are the more they are waved and tossed by the winds and motion of the Aire This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed The more closely a Christian walks with God the more steadfast he is and more free from spirituall Enemies Every Mysticall Fruit-tree that beares good fruit is Ingrafted or implanted into Jesus Christ the Roote and Stock from whence all the spirituall sap and life is drawne and derived whereby the Branches grow and beare fruit And experience shewes the neerer the Boughs and Branches are unto the Roote the closer we walke with God the more Communion we have with the father and with his sonne Jesus Christ the more fixed stable and unshaken we are When the soule is a farre off from Christ it is carried and tossed about with divers and strange conceipts and Opinions doubts feares troubles and temptations is moved this way and that way as the top branches of a Tree with the wind The Prophet David walked with God and kept close unto him Psalm 16.8 I have set the Lord alwaies before me he is at my right hand I shall not be moved therefore he saies his heart was established and would not shrinke but was enabled to insult over all Vse 1 Enemies Psalm 46.2 I will not feare though the earth be moved c. As this shewes us the happinesse of those who walke with God so also we may hence see the miserable Condition of those who are out of Christ they being a far off from Christ the whole frame of their soule is unsetled they are like the raging sea that cannot rest Esay 57.20 their Condition is as was said of Reuben Gen. 59.4 unstable as water James 1.8 They are unstable in all thoir waies because a far off from Christ Let this stirre us up to a watchfull and circumspect care in our Vse 2 Conversations to get and keep close to Christ Such as walke closely with God live in another spheare in a higher Orb than the common world though they live with them And notwithstanding there be Commotions and stirs and turning of the world upside downe yet in the spirits of these all is calme and quiet their hearts are fixed and unmoved they feare not evill tydings Psal 112.7 8. because their hearts are fixed trusting in the Lord Psal 15.5 They are as Mount Syon that cannot be removed but abideth fast for ever The thirteenth Observation in Nature IN Materiall fruit-trees the sower Nature of the wild Plants that are grafted upon does still continue in the stock or roote and is not taken away or lost by Engrafting it is only restrained and kept under by the Graft The Nature of the Graft is predominant in the Tree and overrules in bringing forth fruits according to its owne kind although with some small degree of the sower Nature of the stock mixed with it And the two Natures of the Graft and stock continue mixed together so long as the Tree lives This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes forth unto us this Proposition That Corrupt Nature abides in believers as long as they live Proposition shadowed and is but in part subdued by grace Corruption of Nature though it be not cast out yet it is by degrees more and more subdued restrayned and kept under Rom. 6.6 The old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed it is destroyed as to the ruling power of it but not as to the being of it The spirit of God working Principles of Grace or the Divine Nature in the soule does curb restraine and as it were bind Corrupt Nature which of it selfe is as a strong man armed but when a stronger than he cometh he bindeth him and keeps him under Luk. 11.21 Not that he casteth him out as a Land-lord that turnes out an old Tenant when he puts in a new one The Apostle complaineth of it Rom. 7. I find a law in my members warring against the law of my minde c. The experience of all Believers proves this sufficiently Vse 1
the same in all but from different degrees of light and manifestations in particular things some are more renewed and changed in the spirit of their minds and have more of the Image of God and are more purged from Corruptions then others and thence it is that all cannot comprehend things alike yet is their a likenesse and resemblance in their Natures there are the same actings and movings of soule the likenings and lustings after holy and spirituall things in some measure or degree in one as in another in weake as in strong Christians A Child hath the same Members and is of the same Nature as a man at full growth So the Spirituall Man God hath promised to put this likenesse upon his people Ier. 32.39 I will give them one heart and one way God will make all of them hate the same things all the detestable things where they come Ezek. 11. vers 19. I will give them one heart The Multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soule Acts 4.32 Vse 1 Here we have a true Touchstone of an honest heart such as have a reall love and liking of spirituall things Those whose hearts secretly close with the people of God because they are his and heartily joyne with them in their most spirituall holy walkings disliking and opposing from a Principle within things that hinder the worke of grace and kingdome of Christ they may certainly conclude they are of the Elect of God because they are like and of the same stamp with the rest of his people Vse 2 This is a strong Cord to draw and tye fast together all the Children of God They are like and resemble one another are of one and the same nature properties and dispositions also they have all one God one father one saviour one spirit one and the same portion and inheritance Likenesse and resemblance in Naturall Morall and spirituall things is a ground of Love and Vnion The two and twentieth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman prepares in his Nursery such wild Pants as he intends to bring and plant in his Garden He plants none in his Orchard or Garden where they are to grow a long time but such as are first ingrafted prepared and growen fit for that purpose in the Nursery This shadowes out unto us That Those whom God purposeth to bring hereafter into his Celestiall Paradice he prepareth them for it here Proposition shadowed in this life The Whole Earth is Gods great Nursery where he hath Plants growing of all sorts and ages some newly sprung up wild and unmanured others well growen Engrafted and prepared for the heavenly Canaan whom he is daily removing and transplanting thither preparation for this Garden of God is absolutely necessary Now ther 's no preparation of wild Plants for a Garden without Engrafting all the Culture pruning dressing or ordering the husbandman can use is to no purpose without Engrafting either of Naturall or spirituall plants Jo. 3.3 Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God As to the wild Naturall Plants there is a new Nature added by Engrafting so there is also a new Nature the divine Nature put into the soule by Regeneration or Ingrafting into Christ without which there can be no preparation for glory The Apostle speaking of the glory above and that the saints groan earnestly for it saies God fits them and prepares them for this state of glory 2 Cor. 5.5 He that hath wrought us for the selfe same thing is God God squares and works these spirituall lively stones for the spirituall building as a Mason hewes and squares the stones he intends for a Materiall building Or to keepe to the similitude in hand the husbandman prepares the Plants he intends to Plant in his Garden ere he remove them thither Col. 1.12 Giving thankes to the father who hath made us meete to be pertakers of the inheritance of the saints in light As there are vessels of wrath fitted to destruction so also there are vessels of mercy prepared unto glory Rom. 9.23 This people have I formed for my selfe they shall shew forth my praise Esay 43.21 There is an absolute necessity of this preparation because might it be supposed as a thing possible that a naturall man should come to heaven it would be but even a burthen to him he would have no joy no rest nor contentment there for all things there are contrary to his Nature now nothing pleaseth but things that are according to our Nature therefore God prepareth his people by giving them another Nature the divine Nature which is sanctification or holinesse God fits and prepares his people for glory by Convincing them of their state and condition by Nature shewing them a way and meanes of getting out of it even by laying hold on Christ by faith closing with him upon the tearmes of the Gospell The Spirit of God unites them unto and by faith ingrafts them into that fruitfull living stock Iesus Christ without which none can be prepared unto glory And after this Ingrafting the Husbandman goes on to prepare his Plants by Pruning dressing and ordering of them by meanes of Ordinances Afflictions Temptations dispensations of providence and workings of his spirit in all these whereby he brings them to further degrees of Sanctification untill they have attained their measure and are fitted for glory Vse Let all that have an expectation of the glory that is to be revealed consider well this poynt it is as possible and as likely the Carpenter should take Trees newly cut downe rough and unsquared boughes and all and put them into a Building as that God should bring soules to glory the body being cut downe which he hath not fitted and prepared for glory Therefore if thou canst not upon some good grounds satisfie thy selfe that God is in a way of preparation with thee let not thine eyes sleepe neither the Temples of thine head take any rest untill thou find some good evidences of this thing And let such as find and know they are prepared for glory by Engrafting into Christ Calling Sanctification c. Rejoyce in the Lord alwaies because their a This is a cleare evidence our Names are written in heaven when the Law of God according to the New Covenant is written in our hearts that is when there are inclinations and dispositions in our hearts according to the word when there is a new Nature Holinesse or sanctification in some measure Names are written in heaven they being prepared for it shall certainly be brought unto it The three and twentieth Observation in Nature NAturall Fruit-trees increase by little and little every yeare they are not suddenly great and large trees but they increase by degrees every yeare they grow bigger and larger every way by the culture and diligence of the husbandman and influences of heaven untill they attaine their full growth This shadowes out unto us the state of spirituall Fruit-trees in this Proposition
That grace in the hearts of Believers is not suddenly strong Proposition shadowed but strength is gotten by degrees Grace is compar'd to a Grain of Mustardseede which though it be very small yet by degrees it groweth very great Mark. 4.31 It is like a Graine of Mustardseed which when it is sowen in the Earth is lesse then all the seeds that be in the earth vers 32. but when it is sowen it groweth up and becometh greater then all herbs and shooteth out great Branches c. The inclinations and new dispositions which the spirit of God beginneth to worke in the soule they are then but very weake and slender scarce it may be to be perceived but afterwards they are more sensible it is as Corne sowed in the field our Saviour holds it forth by that Similitude Mark. 4.28 which bringeth forth first the blade then the Eare after that the full corne in the Eare. Corne wee know springs up at first very small and slender and scarcely to be distinguished from Grasse so the first springings of Grace in some are so small that they are scarce to be perceived nor are they easily distinguished from Morall vertues The word of God is compar'd to seede Luk. 8.11 the seed is the word c. Now the spirit of God being the efficient Cause or worker As the husbandman casteth seede into his ground which he has prepar'd for that purpose so does the spirit cast or put the word into the heart he causeth it to fasten to take hold and to make impression in the heart and conscience of believers and there he waters it and causeth it to grow he makes it take effect and to worke according to the Nature of the word And of this seede the New man is borne 1 Pet. 1.23 being borne againe not of corruptible seede but of incorruptible by the word of God c. A Child newly borne is not presently a Man but he growes up by little and little God hath Children young men and fathers in his great family the Church believers of severall ages some weake and some strong Vse 1 This being so then the sower harsh doctrine that some men often dispence without due ingredients or distinctions is not according to wisdome laying loads and burthens upon weake shoulders and giving strong meate to Babes defining faith to be a full perswasion of the love of God which is onely applicable to some strong well growne Christians and not to the weake In the discoverie of the Characters of Grace such are often held forth as whereto none attaine but the elder and stronger sort of Believers which are stumbling blocks and grounds of Temptations and doubts to the weaker Paul should be made a Patterne in this case 1 Cor. 3.2 I have fed you with milke and not with meate for hitherto ye were not able to beare it Vse 2 Let not any soule be discouraged though Graces are weake at present they will grow stronger and stronger in the diligent use of all good meanes though thou seemest to be even overturned by Sathans Temptations and thy owne Corruptions frequently yet carry this in thy Mind I shall be stronger And be sure to eye Christ all along having once got a sight of him though thy sight be but weake and dim yet take heed of loosing it and strength will come from Christ often acting of faith upon Christ will increase and strengthen the Principle or habit of faith Though thou art not able to lay fast hold upon Christ with the hand of faith yet if thou canst but touch him as it were but with the little finger of faith vertue will come from him to refresh thy soule Daily study the Promises of the New-Covenant and ye may draw Milke out of those Breasts of Consolation which will feede and strengthen all the Graces 1 Pet. 2.2 As new borne Babes desire the sincere milke of the word that ye may grow thereby But some soules Object against themselves that they doe not grow after long use of the meanes they find little or no growth in Grace It may be Answered sure thou art mistaken for those who often complaine of the want of growth which is their greife and burthen certainely such soules doe grow Their clearer sence and sight of Corruptions with bewailing of them is a plaine Evidence of growth compare what thou findest now with what hath beene aforetime and it will be more visible Fruit trees nor Branches cannot be seene to grow yet compare their breadth and bignesse now with what they were aforetime and their growth will be manifest The foure and twentieth Observation in Nature WEe see by Experience that Grafts do sooner and more generally take hold of the stocke receive sap and life from it in a mild spring when there is calme warme weather gentle showers and now and then some warme gleames of the sunne then they do in a cold spring when there are many Frosts dry harsh East winds such a season keeps back most Grafts and hinders their springing and shooting forth as they would do in calme weather This is another Similitude c. and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Discoveries of the Love of God to soules prepared for Christ does hasten their closing with him When a soule lies under convictions for sin and apprehensions of the wrath of God for it the great thing is then how to make such a soule to close with and lay hold on Christ whereby onely he shall have true peace and so proceede unto growth and bearing fruits Now if such a one live under a harsh Ministry where the Law is frequently thundred out against sinners with little mixture of the Gospell or if he meete with passages in bookes which naturally beget feares or converse with unskilfull friends who through ignorance of such a condition will be apt to censure as Jobs friends lay on more load upon his spirit such a one hereby may be kept a great while from closing with Christ and resting on him by faith Whereas cleare discoveries of the kindnesse and love of God in Christ of readinesse to receive and bid welcome such a one is the most likely meanes to bring the soule to close with Christ When the 3000 were pricked in their hearts at Peters Sermon Acts 2. the Apostle encourages them with good words and assurance of entertainment and acceptance and thereupon they believe and rest on Christ So when the Jayler was struck with terrors Paul immediately encourages him to beleive and he forthwith closeth with Christ Acts 16.31 When a soule is wounded and bruised with the sight of sin and apprehensions of wrath then the soft Oyle or Balme of the Gospell should be powred in Esay 35.4 Say to them that are of a fearefull heart be strong feare not behold your God will come with a Recompence he will come and save you This is the very Office of Christ and his Ministers Esay 61.1 To preach glad tidings to the
Meeke to bind up the Broken hearted to proclaime liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound to proclaime the acceptable yeare of the Lord to comfort all that mourne c. Now the reason hereof is because soules lying under apprehensions of wrath for sin their doubt is mainely of Gods willingnesse to save them they know not his Will in the thing therefore to labour to convince them of his Love of his willingnesse and readinesse to receive and save sinners that come to him by Christ is the great businesse in case of distresse and doubting Vse 1 This being so then those who goe about to direct and comfort weary soules laden and burthened with the sense of sin and wrath are to beware how they presse the duties of the Law to such in order to settlement and peace some are ready still in such Cases to tell the partie distressed in conscience you must walke strictly take heed of Sin give not way to corruptions not so much as any motions or stirrings of them within and be diligent in all duties of hearing the word reading meditation c. and so put them on the duties of the Law or Covenant of workes whereby to get peace and acceptance with God making God appeare as a hard Master and thereby lay one burthen upon another in stead of easing of them Whereas the sweete refreshing Promises of the Covenant of grace the infinite Love of God in our pretious Lord Jesus Christ should be laid open and held forth clearely to such a weary soule that such a one might see the great workes of fulfilling the Law and satisfying divine Justice done to his hand in case he lay hold upon and close with Christ by faith This is the ready way to settle such a soule to make the Graft take hold of the stock from which it may receive life This the Apostle shewes us by a plaine instance Gal. 3.2 Received ye the spirit by the worke of the Law or by the hearing of faith as if he should say ye know this course was taken with you before ye beleived The doctrine of free grace was preached to you ye heard that Justification came not by the workes of the Law but by faith in Christ even so it is now Secondly Soules thus in distresse ought to harken to and receive offers of grace when they heare them made and not to Vse 2 put them off and neglect them as very many doe They will not or dare not close with the free promises of grace because say they I wretch am not worthie I am not fitted my heart is hard my Corruptions are strong I am full of sin my whole life is nothing but sin Why thou shalt never have it otherwise so long as thou standest off and refusest to close with Christ If thou think to get thy heart into an humble melting frame and temper and to subdue Corruptions and then to close with Christ thou wilt but deceive thy selfe that 's not the way but seeing thy want of Christ and thy sinfull undone condition without him and a true desire in thee to get out of it and to be sanctified as well as justified to be saved from sin as well as wrath let it be the very first thing thou doest to venture on him and close with him accept of his love and doe but touch him by faith and thou shalt find thy selfe healed of all thy spirituall diseases but without this course notwithstanding all thy owne strictnesse and endeavours in duties thou wilt find thy selfe to be worse and worse The five and twentieth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman having laboured and taken much paines about Engrafting his Plants when in the spring he sees they begin to bud and shoote forth when he observing of them perceives they have closed with and taken hold of the stock he is glad of it this is a ground of rejoycing to him he is very well pleas'd to see the good successe of his labours about his Fruit-trees This discovers to us That A sinners Repentance and closing with Christ causeth joy both in heaven and Earth The Lord the great husbandman is alwaies at worke labouring to draw soules to Christ by all waies and meanes And his sub-husbandmen the Ministers of the Gospell and all his people one way or other do labour in the same worke they are Co-workers fellow labourers with him in this great Gospell worke Now when they see their works and labours have good successe they rejoyce and are glad 1. The people of God rejoyce when they see unregenerate persons come in to Christ because they are renewed themselves and it 's naturall for every Creature to be glad of and rejoyce in its like Secondly they rejoyce at the conversion of others because they love God The Reason and Love is alwaies glad at that which pleaseth and makes for the beloved God hath honour hereby and therefore they rejoyce Secondly the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell rejoyce at the conversion of soules not only upon these accompts but also because they are more immediately concerned in it it is their proper worke and businesse to winne soules to Christ Now when they see the successe of their Labours they say as the Apostle 3 Epistle of John 4. I have no greater joy then to heare that my Children walke in the truth So the Apostle Paul 1 Thes 2.19 what is our hope our joy our Crowne of rejoycing are not yee c v. 20. For ye are our glory joy Thirdly The good Angels also rejoyce when sinners turne to God This our Saviour tells us Luk. 15.7 I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth c. vers 10. There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Fourthly God the father sonne and spirit rejoyce at the Repentance of sinners The spirit to speake after the manner of men is said to be greived with sin when soules reject his motions so on the contrary when they hearken to him he is well pleased Our Saviour having taught his disciples and brought them to understand and receive the things of the kingdome of God he rejoyced Luk. 10.21 In that houre Jesus rejoyced in spirit c. Also we see how God the Father is wel pleased when sinners come in to Christ this is at large made out unto us in the Parable of the Prodigall Luk. 15.20 the father seeing his sonne returning to him how glad is he of it he ran to meete him and fell on his neck and kissed him then there was Musicke and dancing and feasting c. all this is but to let us know how welcome a soule is to God when it returnes from its wandrings Esay 65.19 I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and Zepth 3.17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy
wast affected with me and we walked closely together but now the case is otherwise what iniquity have ye found in me that ye are gone farre from me have walked after vanity are become vaine as vers 5. thou hast lost thy first Love Rev. 2.4 God is sometimes necessitated as we may say to take away and deprive his people of Priviledges and good things that so by a sence of the want of them they may be brought to see their unthankfulnesse and take more notice of them and prize them more when they are restored The experience of Christians make this too evident Vse 1 The consideration of this should humble us and make us greatly ashamed seeing that many kindnesses from God many acts of his Love will not draw and fasten our hearts to himselfe but that they grow cold and sluggish under the richest enjoyments Let us often reflect upon it and loath our selves for this unanswerable frame of spirit towards God men cannot beare unthankfulnesse or slighting without withdrawing the manifestations of their love Now such as cannot out of an ingenuous Principle returne love for love to God yet let the feare of loosing enjoyments make such persons value and prize them Vse 2 Secondly this hatefull frame of spirit of neglecting or undervaluing precious things from God should make us long for the state of glory when the soule will be in a constant frame frame of fervent love to God and be as much affected with enjoyments after thousands millions of yeares as at the first The nine and twentieth Observation in Nature ALL the sâ—p and nourishment that the branches of a Tree have they receive it from the Roote the boughes and branches have not one jot of sap but what arises from the Roote there would not be one Bud or blossome or shoote or leafe or fruit upon the Tree if the Roote did not give up sap to nourish and maintaine them This shadowes out unto us That Our life growth strength and all our spirituall Acts Proposition shadowed are from Christ Christ is the Roote and stock of everie believer and all spirituall life and habituall grace is from him and not only the seede habits and principles of grace but also all the workings and actings of grace are from him as at first wee were starke dead in sinnes and trespasses untill he gave us life so being quickned by the sonne who quickneth whom he will we cannot grow nor act but by influences from him 2 Cor. 3.5 We are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God A good thought is the least and lowest act of grace and yet that we cannot doe of our selves good thoughts and desires are as Buds or Blossomes upon a tree which shew themselves before the fruits Now if trees cannot bud of themselves how much lesse can they bring forth fruits Which also our Saviour plainely tels his disciples Jo. 15.5 Without me ye can doe nothing Hee doth not say without me ye cannot doe any great thing but nothing at all And Hosea 14.8 from me is thy fruit found The Spirit of Christ is the spring and Roote of all our spirituall life it is the strength and power of the soule in believers Acts 1.8 Ye shall receive power when the Holy Ghost is come upon you Paul ascribes his life and power to Act all to Christ Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the sonne of God And Phil. 4.13 I can doe all things saith he but it is through Christ that strengtheneth me Vse 1 From hence believers some more especially of more eminent parts and gifts may see cause and reason to take shame unto themselves who having performed any duties or done any thing according to the mind of Christ are ready to take the glory to themselves and thinke too well of themselves O this is a generall corruption an accursed thing in the mid'st of us this secretly workes more or lesse in every heart but in some is more apparent to themselves and others although it may be these kind of workings of heart declare not themselves plainely nor arise not up in the soule to cleare and positive assertions shewing themselves in their owne colours and proper natures yet they may be discerned to be in the heart by their fruits effects and consequences which spirituall eyes discerne in themselves and others Vse 2 Let this teach us to have an eye upon Christ in all wee doe and take heed of going about to act in our owne strength either in performance of duties or mortifying Corruptions Believers generally have recourse to Christ in reference to their salvation and deliverance from sin wrath and hell but doubtlesse there is ignorance of this point in many and a great neglect in most in respect of eying Christ and drawing vertue from him by faith as to particular actings all along in their lives were we but well instructed in this point and did but practise accordingly even to looke unto Christ with the eye of faith to fetch life strength quickning and all things needefull wee might then dye more unto sin Acts 1.8 and live more unto God and might find our selves strengthned with might in the inner man by his glorious power even the spirit of Christ Col. 1.11 which worketh in his people mightily vers 19. Vse 3 Seeing all is from Christ let therefore all be unto Christ give the glory to him seeing the life and power to Act is from him This is a thing of most speciall concernment and to be noted by every believer that as we doe all in the strength of Christ who is the efficient cause of all the good we doe so also we should doe all unto Christ as the finall Cause unto whom and for whom we doe all These two speciall things the Apostle laies downe in one verse Phil. 1.11 He prayes that they may abound in love and be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God It is the property of hypocrites temporary believers to act in their owne strength Gifts and parts and for themselves their eye is secretly upon themselves Hos 10.1 These are empty Vines they bring forth fruit to themselves their fruit is as good as no fruit because for themselves but trees of the Lords planting bring forth fruit that he may be glorified Esay 61.3 and Rom. 7.4 That we should bring forth fruit unto God The thirtieth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees that spread much and grow low neere the ground such most commonly bring forth more and larger fruits then high Trees that aspire up into the Aire some Reasons may be given for it See Lo. Ba. Nat. Hist This shadowes out unto us That Humble Christians bring forth farre more and fairer fruits Proposition shadowed then such whose spirits are
lifted up Lowly Christians are like the lower grounds under hils and neere Rivers upon which when moisture descends from the heavens and from the hills it rests there and makes the ground fat and consequently fruitfull Who was a more fruitfull Christian than David the holy Prophet he was so eminently fruitfull and brought forth so much and so lovely fruits as that God himselfe commends him and saies he walked in all the commandments according to his owne heart one particular excepted and we see of what a spirit he was in respect of humility Psal 131.1.2 My heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofty my soule is even as a weaned Child And the Apostle Paul discovers a spirit of more then ordinary humility 1 Cor. 15 9. I am the least of the Apostles that am not meete to be called an Apostle And as though that were not low enough he descends lower I am lesse then the least of all Saints Eph. 3.8 But now who among the Apostles or Saints brought forth more and greatter fruits then this lowly tree In nothing was he behind the very cheife Apostles 2 Cor. 12.11 yea he laboured more abundantly then they all 1 Cor. 15.10 and 2 Cor. 11.23 In labours more abundant The Reasons hereof are first humble Christians have more from God then others because neerer God they walke with God and Communicates himselfe to them more then to others as familiar friends communicate secrets one to another so God to the humble soule that walkes with him He giveth grace to the humble 1 Pet. 5.5 He will teach the humbe his way Ps 25.9 but he resisteth the proud and is a farre off from him Secondly Humble soules are communicative they make others partake with them of what God hath given them Children every one plucke fruit from a low Tree and he that watereth shall be watered also himselfe Prov. 11.25 the more they give out the more they have comming in the more good fruit a Tree brings forth the more will the husbandman doe for it by way of culture that it may still bring forth more fruit Thirdly Humble Christians are most fruitfull because they receive profit from all persons from all things they can learne something from everie thing from the meanest from the worst whereas proud persons thinke they have so much that they 'l learne from none so that their advantages are both from heaven and earth as materiall trees growing low neere the ground have not only the sun and raine but also some advantage by the reflection of the sunne beames from the earth which tall high Trees have not Vse 1 Let us be much in love with this pretious grace of humility and beware of pride if we would bring forth much and faire fruits let us labour to be clothed with humility and follow the most glorious Patterne herein Mat. 11.29 Learne of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Then shall wee bring forth much and great fruits whereby our father will be glorified whereof our selves and others may eat and be filled But here we may stand and take up a lamentation for what we see contrary in many of the people of God in our daies especially among those who have best parts and abilities O what shall we doe to pluck up this poysonous destructive Plant from among the good plants of grace This has a strong hold even in many of the Saints and is like that uncleane spirit Mat. 17.21 which goeth not out but by Prayer and fasting with great striving and much adoe Consider is it no Argument against it in that it puts us a farre off from God in respect of that close communion we might otherwise have with him and secondly it almost stifles and chokes our graces that they cannot act at they doe in the humble soule thirdly it blemishes and cloudes exceedingly both in the eye of God and humble soules the beauty and honour of Christians in this life and lessens their future glory and that for ever This is for the honour and praise as well as for the consolation Vse 3 of humble saints who though they be lowest perhaps in outward respects here in the world yet are they in highest esteeme with God their humility exalts them even in the accompt of God and such low spreading Trees shrubs in their owne eyes when they are transplanted into the Garden of God in Paradise shall be set upon the highest ground and be the talest Trees there farre above many of their breathren who in this life are farre above them The one and thirtieth Observation in Nature THe Roote body boughes branches and small Twigs of a Tree make but one body or substance Though the parts of a Tree are distinguished and knowne by severall names and are divided into multitude of boughes branches and twigs yet all of them are so joyned together as that they make up but one body or substance This shadowes out unto us That Jesus Christ and his people Proposition shadowed though multitudes of distinct persons yet are so united as that they make but one body Christ is the head of his Church and all believers being united to him by faith are his Members 1 Cor. 12.27 Col. 1.18 Ye are the body of Christ and members in particular Now there is not a more reall union in nature between the head and the Members in the body of a man or betweene the Roote and branches of a tree then there is betweene Christ and his people When Christ ascended up on high he gave Gifts unto men for the perfecting of the saints the body of Christ Eph. 4.12 That they may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ vers 15. From whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the Edifying of it selfe in love vers 16. Christ calls himselfe the Vine Joh. 15.5 that is the bottome stock or Roote of the Vine and his people are the Branches Now as the Branches being joyned and made one with the Roote doe receive all their nourishment sap and life from the roote whereupon they increase and without which they would certainly die and wither so it is betweene Christ and his people there being a reall mysticall union and onenesse betweene this head and this body life and nourishment is given from the head to the body Col. 2.19 from which head all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God Vse 1 This is a ground of unspeakable consolation to believers for this being so Christ will certainely take care of them being joyned to Christ and one with Christ they shall have life nourishment strength wisdome righteousnesse holinesse all good things in this life out of his fulnesse and glory hereafter for ever it cannot be otherwise for in so doing
the word of God See Observ in Nature 8. 22. The foure and fortieth Observation in Nature IN a Fruit-tree the Bigg and great Boughes are but a few in Number in respect of the small Boughes there are multitudes of little small Boughes branches and Twiggs upon a Tree for one great Bough Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us That The great persons in the world who are in Christ are but few in number in respect of the meaner sort Wee see by too much experience That the rich and great ones of the world for the most part refuse Christ Their licencious lives their walking according to the flesh sufficiently testify that such who so walke are in a Carnall state but those that follow Christ as his Disciples are generally of the meaner sort of persons The Apostle is expresse in this 1 Cor. 1.26 27. Ye see your calling Brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many Mighty not many Noble are called But Jam. 2.5 God hath chosen the poore of this world rich in faith and heires of the Kingdome which he hath promised to them that love him Joh. 7.48 Have any of the Rulers or Pharisees beleeved on him But the Poore receive the Gospell This calls aloud to all great persons to try and examine themselves Vse 1 whether they be in the faith Lest they be of the number of those who have their portion in this life There is no reason any one should envy or desire the condition Vse 2 of Carnall eminent persons That sparke or blaze of seeming glory may quickly be extinguished in everlasting darknesse The five and fortieth Observation in Nature THe Branches and Boughes of fruit-trees are tossed and shaken by the winds yet there is no danger of their falling while the Roote remaines firme in the Earth Hence we learne That Although believers are shaken by the winds of Temptations yet they cannot be overturned because they are fixed upon Christ Proposition shadowed We have no promise that we shall be free from Temptations tossings and shakings in this life but rather are foretold of them Joh. 16.33 In the world yee shall have tribulations but he of good cheare I have overcome the world But we have a sure promise that no Temptation shall be too hard for us 1 Cor. 10.13 The house built upon the Rocke shall stand against all the floods windes and stormes of Temptations Matth. 7.24 The faithfulnesse 1 Pet. 1.5 and all the Attributes of God are ingaged for our safety and deliverance 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above your strength but will give an issue to every Temptation that yee may beare it Job David Heman and many others we read were much shaken with windes and stormes of Temptations but yet they were all the while safe they were not overturned because they were fixed upon Christ they were Rooted in him So all the people of God are as Mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth fast for ever Ps 125.1 Vse This is a ground of great Consolation to believers in their greatest Troubles Though they passe through the waters they shall not be drowned though they walke through the fire they shall not be burnt Esay 43.2 Though they as Branches of a tree are shaken and tossed this way and that way yet they shall not be overturned because they grow upon the Roote and their stock or Roote is stedfast and immoveable The six and fortieth Observation in Nature IRregular Buds or shoots of fruit-trees are easily rubbed or broken off at their first putting forth but if let alone they will grow great and strong soe that then it will be far wore difficult to cut or break them off The Proposition shadowed hereby is That Proposition shadowed Sinfull thoughts and motions in the soule are most easily supprest at their first rising If we give way to the motions of Corruption within us they will grow gather strengrh be much more hard to master bring downe than at their first stirrings Solomon upon this Accompt adviseth to be aware and to leave off Contention in the beginning so soone as it begins to appeare Prov. 17.14 The Children of Mysticall Babilon must be dasht in peeces soe soone as they are borne If a Poole of water begin to break the Bank its wisdome to stop the breach suddenly els it quickly growes wider and more hard to be done Diseases are more easily cured at first then when they have got strength so spirituall diseases Vse It s a great point of spirituall wisdome to watch over the heart to suppresse risings of Lusts and Corruptions quickly And therefore let us take and observe Solomons advice Prov. 4.23 to keepe the heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life The seven and fortieth Observation in Nature FRom one fruit tree are sometimeâ— taken Grafts for many trees which being ingrafted upon severall stocks multitudes of other Trees are thereby propagated and increased which also beare store of good fruits Proposition shadowed That The Instructions of one godly person Proposition shadowed sometimes are effectuall by the spirit to the implanting of many into Christ As one sinner destroyeth much good Prov. 9.18 so often one good man is the Instrument and meanes of much good God makes use of him for the conversion of many unto God He turnes many to righteousnesse Dan 12.3 Many Grafts of good Motion counsels and Instructions are sometimes taken from one good man which take hold and grow in the minds of many others as long as they live Grafts taken from that excellent fruit-tree the Apostle Peter were effectuall to the ingrafting of many into Christ Acts 2.37.41 The same day there were added unto them about 3000 soules And againe Acts 4.4 Many of them which heard the word believed and the number of the men were about 5000. Their Counsels and Instructions were ingrafted into their Minds as the Apostle speaks James 1.21 Receive with meeknesse the Ingrafted word The word takes hold and rooting in the heart as a Graft in the stock which growes there and brings forth fruit Col. 1.6 The Gospell is come unto you and bringeth forth fruit Good Mysticall fruit-trees holy men afford many good Grafts Pr. 15.4 a wholsome Tongue is a tree of life which affords many good Grafts whereby many other fruit-trees are increased of the same kind Trees of righteousnesse of the Lords planting Es 61.3 which beare store of good fruits to the husbandman Vse 1 This should ingage us to shew love and reverence to holy men not only for that they beare the Image of God upon their spirits and bring forth good fruits But also for that they are the meanes of so much good to others Who by their Prayers Preaching Printing Instructions Government and good examples are instruments and meanes of bringing many soules to God of Ingrafting and multiplying fruit-trees in Gods inclosed
Garden The eight and fortieth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees being Ingrafted they Naturally bring forth good fruits Because a new and another Nature in the graft is joyned to the wild Plant on which it is Grafted Notwithstanding some mixture of the Nature of the wild stock yet the Graft over-rules to bring forth good fruits according to its owne Nature Proposition shadowed This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Persons ingrafted into Christ doe naturally bring forth good fruits Every regenerate person hath two natures in him the divine Nature and Corrupt Nature And these two Natures act in him all his life time But notwithstanding corrupt Principles the divine Nature prevailes in beleivers for the generall course of their lives Ye are partakers of the divine Nature saith the Apostle 2 Pet. 1.4 whereby persons ingrafted into Christ are carried out to act for God according to that Nature and soe bring forth good fruits Naturally their fruits taking their denomination from the better Nature Believers have the Image of God renewed in them and his Law written in their hearts That is knowledg dispositions and inclinations carrying them by a spiritually naturall power to what is holy just and good in some degree as Adam had in his innocency soe that they Naturally bring forth good fruits and have a Naturall propension aptnesse and inclination to the things of God as unregenerate persons have to carnall things And where this divine Principle or spirituall Nature hath attained high degrees where grace is at a high pitch and the soule in a spirituall frame there the workings of it are more cleare and apparent There is a Naturall disposition affection and inclination towards God and the things of God even to all spirituall things as spirituall Rom. 8.5 They that are after the spirit doe mind the things of the spirit Notwithstanding the crosse workings and stirrings of Corrupt nature yet for the generall the movings and workings of the spirits of Believers and the fruits they bring forth are according to this spirituall nature Rom. 8.1 They walk after the spirit and Rom. 7.25 with my mind I serve the law of God The generall course of their lives is spirituall or spiritually Naturall as springing from that Mysticall roote the spirit of Christ acting those spirituall dispositions inclinations which he hath fixed in the soule This may prove Professours whether they be found or no let them examine their Principles from which they act whether Vse 1 they are acted in the waies of God from a spirituall and divine Principle within or from motives or Considerations from without whether it be not Custome Examples Counsells or Commands of men interest in or engagements of freinds Praise of men outward advantages or at best Naturall Conscience that moves them and carries them on in Religious waies Hereby we know that the waies of God are easy and pleasant Vse 2 waies for whatsoever we do naturally we do easily and with delight It is in some degrees with the adopted sonnes of God as with his Naturall sonne in this respect to accompt it their meat and drink to doe the will of their heavenly father so that this is a great encouragement to all to give up their names to Christ Prov. 3.17 His waies are waies of pleasantnesse and all his paths are peace The nine and fortieth Observation in Nature THere are but few Ingrafted trees in a Countrie in comparison of those ungrafted there are many thousands in the woods and wast grounds of wild trees the number of which farre exceeds the number of the trees of the Garden The Proportion shadowed That there are but a few Godly persons in the world in comparison of the number of the wicked Proposition shadowed This appeares expresly Matth. 7.13 14. Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that goe in thereat Because straite is the Gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it s so againe Matth. 20.16 Many are called but few are chosen Experience makes this too manifest most imbrace this present world and but few deny themselves and follow Christ few in the world make profession of Christ in comparison of the multitudes of Idolaters in other Nations And of those who make profession how many Hypocrites to one true hearted Nathaniel The godly are in number as the gleanings of Grapes when the Vintage is done Or as the shaking of an Olive tree two or three Berries in the top of the uppermost bought foure or five in the outmost Branches thereof Esay 17.6 This is a sad Consederation and should make us take up a Vse 1 lamentation for the state of mankind This should stirr up every one to labour with all diligence Vse 2 to make their calling and election sure to know they are of the number of the little flock The fiftieth Observation in Nature SOme wild and ungraded trees beare fruits very like to thos that are Ingrafted in shape and colour so that men often mistake the one for the other This shadowes out unto as this Proposition That the works of formall hypocrites are in many things very like the worlds of true Christians Proposition shadowed Many Formall Professours have speciall eminent Gifts and abilities which it may be exceede those of some reall Christians they can Preath Pray and discourse well and can make a shift to carry themselves so as to gaine some good opinion among men yea and passe for Sincere Professors Who were more exact in their lives as to outward performances of duties then the Scribes and Pharisees in Preaching Praying giving to the Poore c. and yet our saviour charges them with Hypocrisie Matth. 28.27 28. Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye are like unto whited sepulchres which indeede appeare beautifull outwardly c. Ye outwardly appeare righteous unto-men but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity So it is at this day the fruits of many seeming Christians appeare beautifull outward as if they were the fruits of ingrafted trees whereas in truth they are but the fruits of wild Trees Vse 1 This being so we ought to set our selves to distinguish fruits that are brought forth both our owne others that we take not Crabs for Apples Let us not judg of fruits by their Bulk or substance Beauty and forme or Number but by their Nature See Observ 40. and quality their Tast A spirituall Palate is able for the most part to tast the fruits that are brought forth by men he that is spirituall judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.15 spirituall men have the Law written in their hearts knowledg dispositions inclinations a frame and temper of spirit in some degee answerable to the mind of God This spirituall Nature in the soule by the assistance of the spirit of God together with the written word is
widdow Mark 12.42 that was able to make but one farthing in all the the world she and her offering was as well accompted of as King Davids Solomon or others of highest ranke he respecteth not persons 2 Cor. 19.7 and againe Rom. 2.11 There is no respect of persons with God He will take the servants part in any just cause as soon as the Masters Ephe. 6.9 He that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong that he hath done and there is no respect of Persons Col. 2 3.25 1 Pet. 1.17 God hath the same accompt of the poore as of the Rich of the Bond of the free if Believers Rom. 10.12 There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him So againe Rom. 3.22 He accepteth not the persons of Princes nor regardeth the Rich more than the Poore Job 34.19 The serious consideration of this may be a good meanes to keepe the spirits of those humble who are of the highest rank Vse 1 among Believers and that they despise not nor neglect their brethren in a lower rank Though they are planted on the higher ground in the Garden of God in any place of power or authority over others and upon that accompt honour reverence and subjection as God requires is due unto them from their brethren and fellow-Members of an inferior ranke yet the the same beares no weight in the accompt of God All the Nations of the Earth are but as the drop of a bucket or as the small dust of the Ballance in the eye of God Esay 40.15 How small then are a few men of one Nation though they may be as mighty hils and Mountaines in eminency in the sight of men All men naturally have a Principle of pride in them but none are in so much danger of it as those persons though godly who are set above others in Church or Common-wealth and therefore they have the more neede to be minded of it that they may be aware of that most prevailing Corruption which puts the Creatures at a distance from God Paul himselfe had need of something to suppresse it lest he should be exalted above measure 2 Cor. 12.7 Hence we may gather That believers of the lowest ranke in outward respects have as great and as many Priviledges in all Vse 2 Church Assemblies as those of the highest ranke whether it be to speake or hear or partake of any Ordinance for their profit and edification so that due respect towards superiors be observed Thirdly Let all believers of the lowest ranke walke chearefully Vse 3 notwithstanding any sleighting or neglects from superiors Thou that are now under and below many of thy brethren for a moment maist be above them hereafter to all Eternity The eightieth Observation in Nature THose Fruit-trees which have the influence of the sunne continually they flourish with leaves blossoms and fruits continually as it is in the East a Sr Wa Rawley 1 Book 1. part Ch. 3. §. 9. 10. pag. 64. 68. Proposition shadowed and West Indies there the sun is all the yeare long giving forth his heat and warmth and never going a far off so as to make a winter as in these Northern parts of the world so that fruits-trees there flourish with leaves and blossoms green and ripe fruits all the year long This is another Similitude of the state of Spirituall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us That Believers who daily walke with God having the light of his countenance and constant communion with him such are abundantly fruit full Although every believer is ingrafted into Christ and draws sap and vertue from him and hath the countenance of God towards him and the influences of the spirit to cause fruit-fulnesse yet not all alike there is great difference in the degrees of Gods manifesting and giving out of himselfe to his people God is a sun to his people and he shines upon some but seldome and clouds himselfe againe and withdrawes for a time and then a winter comes upon that soule But he is pleased to shine upon some others more constantly and they have an habituall enjoyment of God after some sad and darke times of the spirit of bondage and desertion in the former part of their lives when they have againe laid hold on their beloved they will not let him goe and he is as willing to stay with them so that they have a constant enjoyment of God walking daily in communion with him I meane for the maine course of their life though the spirit be not alwaies in a like frame and constant temper every houre of he day which none can expect whil'st we are in the flesh Yet as to the generality of their lives the sun is neere and discovers himselfe clearly and apparently to the soule The workings of the spirit of God are manifest evident and cleare to the soule the soule acts upon God and God upon the soule there are reciprocall acts upon each other daily frequently The spirit of God witnesseth and sealeth to the soule the sure and unchangeable love of God in Christ and the soule sets to its seale also that God is true gratious pretious and saies to God with a lively faith thou art he whom my soule loveth thou art my portion my Treasure my God and Saviour my all through Christ God acts upon the soule and saies thou art mine I have chosen thee and will never leave thee nor forsake thee and the soule acts upon God againe and saies thou art mine thou hast made me to chuse thee and I will love thee and serve thee and praise thee and joy in thee for ever Thus with infinite Acts of this Nature is this Communion continued in daily walking with God whereby such soules are so revived filled and satisfied that they are abundantly fruitfull and bring forth fruits continually These trees are continually green and flourishing with leaves blossoms and fruits such a one as the Prophet saies Jer. 17.8 He shall be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth out her Rootes by the River and shall not see when heat cometh but her leafe shall be greene and shall not be carefull in the year of drought neither shall cease from yeilding fruit And Psal 1.3 He is as a tree planted by the rivers of waters his Leafe shall not wither c. The righteous shall flourish like a Palm tree the most beautifull and excellent of all trees and which is continually green and fruitfull because it growes in those parts where the sun is continually neere it Now by the Rivers waters sun dewes rimes c. we are to understand the manifestations of God the influences of his spirit Hos 14.5 I will be as the dew to Israel and then it followes he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon vers 6. his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive tree I will be dew and
acting so the habit improves if the Acts of grace be but seldome and but weake the Habits and Principles grow but slowly And when Acts cease for a time as in some Temptations yet the habits seeds and Principles lie secret and sure in the soule and will as heat pent up and smoothered for a time breake forth afterwards more strongly and will enable the soule to trample upon all enemies The use of this may be to discover who are really in Christ Vse As there is an increase in all the Members and parts of Children if in health so in the spirituall man Ephes 4.16 according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body As it is thus of the Church so also of every particular Member of it Now this increase is not in all alike nor at all times to be perceived in any one person but differs according to Talents of grace at first received and also according to the operations of the spirit and according to the meanes and helps that Christians have and use in the course of their lives Therefore labour to discerne an increase And lest some weake soules should stumble at this and question the truth of all because they discerne not an increase of grace in themselves but rather a decay because they find not now such vehement workings of affection nor such enlargednesse of heart as sometimes heretofore Let such consider that God sometimes withdrawes that they may be sensible of the different states tempers and frames of their spirits which may be made use of as a speciall evidence of spirituall life Secondly strength of grace consisteth not in the enlargednesse of the affections in duties which is usually most in young Christians but in a solid well grounded faith knowledg experience and cleare apprehensions of the love of God in Christ these more or lesse if we are diligent in the use of meanes grow to the last though there are in some Christians some interruptions through Trials and temptations which yet God doth order for their advantage The seventy first Observation in Nature SOme fruit-trees that are but weake crooked and uncomly Trees that have little beauty in respect of shape and colour c. they are notwithstanding more profitable and bring forth more pleasant and more usefull fruits than many faire tall and beautifull trees To instance in the Vine Ficus uvae inter fructus autumnales principatum obtinent Proposition shadowed and the fig-tree what trees are so low crooked weake of so deadish coloured outsides as they which yet yeild the most refreshing pleasant nourishment Many high strong beautifull trees are farre short of them in worth and goodnesse This Observation shadowes out unto us That Many persons of a low ranke and but of despised parts do yet bring forth more profitable fruits than many others eminent in gifts and outward respects Many of the Saints in their measure and proportion are as their Lord and Saviour of whom it is said he hath no forme nor comlinesse there is no beauty that we should desire him he is despised and rejected of men c. Esay 53.2.3 and yet who brought forth such fruits as he who besides that great and maine worke for which he was sent went daily about doing good did alwaies that which was pleasing to his father Joh. 8.29 As he was despised and rejected of men for the holinesse and spirituallnesse of his doctrine and life as well as for his meanesse in the world even so are many of his people at this day And so it was too in former times Were not the Apostles and disciples of Christ of a low ranke in the world taken from meane imployments whose naturall parts had little improvement by humane Learning which caused the proud Pharisees to despise and reject both them and their doctrine and yet who brought forth the best fruits they or the Pharisees That great fruit-tree mentioned Luk. 18.11 which was growen in his owne conceipt and its like in others too as high as heaven and spread large yet his fruits were not accepted as the fruits of the poore low despised shrub the Publican who came far short of the Pharases in outward respects That of the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.27 c. is a sufficient proofe for this point The foolish things the weake things the base things the despised thing The persons and things their Gifts and endowments their Judgments and actings that the worldly and carnall wise men and some spirituall men very carnall in their Judgments and waies account foolish weake base and altogether despise and trample on these even these are of more esteeme with God and are more profitable in his Church than many persons and things eminent in the world and of highest esteeme among men Learn then to judg and esteeme of persons and things Vse of Trees and fruits as God doth judg righteous Judgment looke upon things with a spirituall eye and tast them with a spirituall Palat God expects now that his people should be more spirituall than in former times that they should come off more from Externals whereon former ages have so much stood Gospell worship and conversation is more in the spirit than many even of the godly are yet convinced of The plaine simplicity of the Gospell in the delivery and manifestation of it to others is despised Persons who preach and publish the Gospell and cannot but speake the things they have heard and seene are neglected despised and cried downe Acts 4.20 unlesse they come adorned with eminent Gifts Humane learning and other externall qualifications which the fleshly wisdome of men eyes more than the spirituall savory well tasted fruits they bring forth to the refreshing and feeding the soules of men to eternall life One of these poore low despised spirituall trees without forme or comlinesse in a carnall eye brings forth more good and profitable fruits than an hundred of some of those who come with externall Ornaments of Titles degrees tongues excellency of speech and b It s true indeede humane learning and eminent parts are excellent and of singular use in the Church of God if sanctified if in regenerate persons especially in such who have also great measures of grace to make all subservient thereunto othewise all is used and turned for selfe and sinister ends and purposes and against Christ Humane wisdome which the Apostle who had more Learning than they car'd not for in his Ministry 1 Co. 2.1 4. My speech and my preaching was not with the enticing words of mans wisdome but in the demonstration of the spirit and of power Plaine experimentall discourses of spirituall holy men but of ordinary gifts about Christ and his kingdome are for the most part more profitable amongst the vulgar sort of people than the discourses of learned men about the same thing One reason besides the speciall presence of the spirit may be because the Matter Method and expressions
satisfied with age Ps 91.16 Seeing our lives are so uncertaine and that wee know not when Vse 1 our Lord will come Mark 13.35 Whether in the evening or at midnight or at the dawning of the day we should therefore be alwaies ready that is to be sure that we have an interest in Christ without which there can be no preparation for death This shewes the desperate estate of all unregenerate persons they are in danger every moment of a sudden destruction and Vse 2 many times it comes in the height and fulnesse of their outward prosperity as with Herod upon the Throne of his glory Belshazzar in the midst of his feast Dan. 5.6 Haman at the Banquet of wine in his glory Hester 7.10 I have seen saith David the wicked in great power and spreading himselfe like a greene Bay-tree c. But how quickly was he gon Psal 37.35 Hence we should be stirred up to bring forth good and profitable Vse 3 fruits that so the husbandman may take care of us and nourish and prune and order his fruit-trees for many yeares according to his promise Prov. 10.27 My sonne keepe my Commandements for length of daies and long life and peace shall they adde to thee especially let us attend to the works of our generation according to the pointing out of the word and hand of providence The seventy fourth Observation in Nature WE see by experience that what kinds of seeds of fruit-trees wee sow in our Nurseries such will be the trees and consequently the fruits of those trees if the seed be good the trees and fruits will be so also if the seed be naught so will be the trees and fruits the seed containes in it the forme of the trees and fruits This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed According to mens Principles such are their actings and their rewards according to both Originall sin corruption of Nature is the seede that lies in the soule of all mankind which naturally springs up and growes like a plant or tree higher and larger and stronger every day branching it selfe and breaking forth in thoughts words and works now according to the Nature of this seede or these branches or trees such will be the fruits Jer. 6.19 Behold I will bring evill upon this people even the fruit of their thoughts we see what those fruits were in the following words even perishing and destruction Also Jer. 32.19 Thine eyes are upon all the waies of the sonnes of men to give everie one according to his waies and according to the fruit of his doings And againe Hos 10.13 Ye have prolonged wickednesse ye have reaped iniquity ye have eaten the fruit of lies and what the fruit was we see in the following verses dashing in peeces and utter destruction So also on the other side the seed or principles of grace in the soule springs up and growes like a tree into a body boughes and branches which bring forth good and pleasant fruits whereof we may eat not only in this life but also to all Eternity This seede springs up and branches it selfe into thoughts words actings multitudes of-waies in our conversations a wholsome tongue is a tree of life Prov. 15.3 The fruit of this Tree in Prayer Praises c. hath a sweete and acceptable tast in the account of the husbandman So also is it pleasant unto men Prov. 25.11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of Gold in pictures of silver All sorts of spirituall seede brings forth answerable fruits Gal. 6.8 He that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting The spirit of God and the habits of grace in the soule continually spring up and bring forth good fruits persons in whom these dwell act according to their Natures and fruits and rewards are accordingly dispensed Rom. 6.22 Ye have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life These things being so they call aloud to every unregenerate Vse 1 person to breake off their sinnes by Repentance thereby to cut off all the boughes and branches that spring from the seed and roote of corrupt Nature otherwise they will certainly bring forth poysonous and deadly fruits whereof they shall eat and drinke to all eternity Rom. 7.5 The motions of sin which were by the Law did worke in our Members to bring forth fruit unto death Naturall men cannot act any thing that 's good because ther 's no good seede no spirituall principles therefore it necessarily followes their fruit will be bitter Gal. 5.7 Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man sowes that shall he also reape he that seweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption The fruit the reward is perdition eternall misery They shall eat the fruit of their owne way Prov. 1.31 so also Job 4.8 and Prov. 22.8 Men may as rationally expect pleasant Apples from Crab-seede or good wheat from Tare seede as comfort or happinesse from coâ—rupt Principles This Proposition is a ground of unspeakable comfort and encouragement Vse 2 unto all that feare God they have a seede within them 1 Joh. 3.9 his seed remaineth in him that is the vigour the workings the efficacy of the spirit Principles and habits of grace the word of God these remaine in believers which spring up grow and bring forth fruit to eternall life the fruit is according to the seede their reward according to their Principles and actings Gal. 6.8 He that now goes on his way weeping and beareth good seede shall doubtlesse come againe with joy bringing his sheaves with him Psalm 126.6 Ther 's an Emphasis in the word doubtlesse out of all question nothing more certaine we shall reap in due time if we faint not Gal. 6.9 And that we may not faint let us often make use of these cordiall promises already mentioned with this and the like wrought downe to us from the hand of God Esay 3.10 say ye to the righteous it shall goe well with them for they shall eat the fruit of their doings The seventie fifth Observation in Nature Of this see at large Obser 64. FRuit-trees are profitable many waies in the wood and boughes pruned off to burne also for Ioyners and other Tradesmen the boughes and blossomes adorne the house in the spring their odor is refreshing to the spirits and their coole shade in the heat of summer but especially profitable in their fruits whereof we eat and drink all the year long This is another Similitude and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed Spirituall Fruit-trees ingrafted into Christ are many waies profitable in their Generations Such as fear God will certainly follow some profitable course of life some lawfull calling or labour either of body or mind or both whereby they may advantage themselves and others They are also profitable in many spirituall respects by discourse reproofe counsell and admonition by Prayer Preaching
printing Bookes communicating their Talents for the good of others by their Almes and acts of charity and love to their brethren and to all by their good Examples which shine forth as lights in the world directing others They are profitable to others both in privative and positive respects wicked persons who live amongst them are often spared for their sakes the Tares are suffered to grow because amongst the Wheat yea and share of many positive outward blessings for their sakes Laban and his family shared of the blessings powred downe upon Jacob Gen. 30.27 which Laban acknowledged I have learned saith he by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake So Potiphar had many outward blessings for Iosephs sake likewise Pharaoh and all his Court fared the better because of Ioseph he and his house had a full Table when others perished with hunger Yea Godlinesse and Godly men are profitable to all purposes 1 Tim. 4.8 having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come Hence we may conclude the madnesse and unreasonablenesse Vse 1 of all unregenerate persons who hate the godly and persecute them continually although they are their best freinds preserving them from many Judgments and procuring to them many temporall blessings every man naturally seekes the destruction of things dangerous and deadly to him but who but unreasonable men will seek to destroy things usefull and profitable to them yea persons and things without which they cannot subsist for were the Godly taken out of the world a floud of fire would quickly consume the wicked A whole City was preserved for a time for Lots sake Gen. 19.22 I cannot do any thing till thou be come to Zoar. Vse 2 This should make every one to love and cherish these profitable Trees where ever they grow and to defend them from spoyle or hurt as much as in us lies When Onesimus was ingrafted into Christ then he became profitable both to Paul and to others Epistle to Philemon 10 11. Now profitable both to thee and me so that Paul requires of Philemon to accompt of him now not as a servant but as a brother even as of Paul himselfe vers 12. So that we should love the people of God not only because they are belov'd of God and beare his Image and are fellow brethren and fellow Members with us but also because they are so many waies profitable The seventy sixth Observation in Nature THe sower and bitter sap of the wild stocke which is ingrafted runs through all the whole tree into the body boughes branches buds leaves blossomes fruits and does something a Although the graft changes the sap of the wild stock into its owne Nature yet not totally a tang of the wild nature remaines imbase the fruits making them lesse pleasant and sweete yet the fruits are good and acceptable fruits This shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed The most spirituall actings of believers tast of corrupt nature which notwithstanding are acceptable unto God The soule and spirit of man is the stock into which the word of God and Principles of grace are ingrafted and these drawing and making use of the sap life strength and powers of the soule in all the faculties doe change them into their owne spirituall nature in a great measure yet not totally even as the a Of this see more pa. 119. Observ 59. naturall grafts of a good and pleasant nature do change the sap vertue and strength of the wild and sower stockes so much thereof as the Grafts draw into their owne nature in a great measure but not wholly Though Christ and his graces dwell in his people yet corruption in a measure abides there also and this corruption runs through the whole man and is mixed with all our thoughts words and actings though they proceed from the principles and habits of grace fixed in the soule by the spirit of God as some noxious or hurtfull quality in the Liver mixeth it selfe with the blood and staines it throughout all the body Spirituall acts as they proceed from the spirit of God Principles of grace and are done in love to God and directed to right ends are pure and perfect these fruits have a pleasant tast with God the husbandman yet as they proceed from us and are acted in and through the faculties of the soule where Corruptions and imperfections reside they are imperfect This mixture of corruptions with our services and duties was typified in the offerings of the people Exod 28.38 Aaron a type of Christ bore the iniquity of the holy things And the Prophet Esay upon this accompt pronounces all our best righteousnesses to be as filthy raggs Esay 64.6 The Apostle also knowing this complained of it Rom. 7.21 I find a Law that when I would do good evill is present with me All believers know and find this by continuall Experience Vse 1 This shewes the vanity and unsoundnesse of that Doctrine that maintaines good workes as meritorious and meanes of Justification but let us looke unto Christ our high Priest to beare the imperfections of our best workes The consideration of this may be a meanes to pull downe the high thoughts of such as are lifted up in looking upon their Gifts Vse 2 of Nature acquired abilities graces and best workes in regard Corruption runnes through all these and staines them our purest wine is mixt with water and our best fruits are but bitter-sweets This should make us rejoice in and admire the infinite love of Vse 3 God in Christ who notwithstanding all imperfections and failings accepts and likes yea and is delighted with the duties and services of his people Love covereth all sins Prov. 10.12 Though the Church and every believing soule be black and spotted as the Moone through the staines of Corruptions yet such is the love of Christ that he over lookes all as though nothing were amisse Can. 4.7 Thou art faire my love there is no spot in thee The seventie seventh Observation in Nature IN Fruit-trees are two Natures the one of the sower wild stock the other of the pleasant graft Now these two natures being in one body strive together as all contraries joined do to convert each other into its owne kind or nature a Even as hot water and cold being mixed these qualities strive to change each other and that which is most powerfull prevailes but the Nature of the graft is predominant and converts the sap that it drawes into its owne nature though not totally See pag. 119. This Observation shadowes out unto us That There is a continuall combate betweene grace and nature in every regenerate person but grace prevailes Every believer by engrafting into Christ Proposition shadowed receives another nature the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 which abides in the soule together w th the other the corrupt nature which it had before Now these two natures being contary oppose one another all our lives long
more fruits Iohn 15.5 Yea he is long suffering towards all looking that the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long suffering should lead them to Repentance Rom. 2.4 and make them to bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life Hence we should learne to be thus minded on towards another Vse 2 especially such as are Ministers of the Gospell Masters Governours Tutours they should herein be followers of God as deare children Eph. 5.1 though their expectations and desires be not answered in the profiting and growth of those under their charge yet they should not be discouraged but wait still and prune and dresse and order their young plants still waiting till their profiting appeare as the Husbandman waiteth for the fruit of the Earth and hath long patience for it James 5.7 Vse 3 If God be so patient towards us and waits on us shall not wee be content to waite on God God waiteth for the fruits of our obedience O let us wait for the performance of his promises For they that wait for him shall never be ashamed that is they shall obtaine at length above their expectation Esay 64.4 Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the eare neither hath the eye seene O God! besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him The eightie third Observation in Nature WIld materiall fruit-trees have no power to engraft themselves but grow from year to year according their wild nature and bring forth sower and naughty fruits neither is there any possibility that such Trees should ever be engrafted and bear good fruits without the skill and paines of the Husbandman This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed Vnregenerate persons of themselves cannot come to Christ nor bring forth one good fruit Naturally every one is dead in sin and hath no more power to come to Christ or do one good worke than a dead Carkase hath to walke or worke Joh. 6.44 No man cancome to me except the father which hath sent me draw him The Naturall fruit-tree can as soone graft it selfe as any soule move towards Christ without the power of the spirit of God The heart of man by nature hath no other but corrupt Principles in it which all the time of unregeneracy daily grow stronger and stronger which are not only altogether indisposed to all that is good but also oppose it and contradict the motions of the spirit As they are alive to all that is evill so they are dead to holinesse there is no more power in the soule by nature to move towards Christ than there is in a stone to move upwards of it selfe What is lesse than to have a good thought of or towards God and yet that we have not without the spirit 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to thinke any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God This shewes us the sad and wofull estate of persons out of Vse 1 Christ and out of the election of grace there is no possibility of their escaping hell they are as fast bound in the chaines of naturall corruption as the Devils are in the Chaines of darknesse in which they are reserved unto the Judgment of the great day such have their Portion in this life even all the good things they are like to have Little reason then had David or any of the people of God in their greatest sufferings to envy the prosperity of the wicked He counted himselfe foolish for so doing when he saw their end Psalm 92.7 When the wicked spring as the Grasse and the workers of iniquity do flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever Here also we may see the Error of those who hold free will Vse 2 that a naturall man hath power of himselfe to move and come to Christ this is contrary to the doctrine of Christ and takes away his glory from him as might be shewed at large This is and will be a continuall ground of love to God to Vse 3 all eternity in the hearts of his people they being drawn to Christ and fixed upon him by faith it is the spirit that hath donne it we contributed nothing to the worke but it is an effect of free Electing love in God therefore let us shew forth the praises of God in a holy and fruitfull Conversation for he that hath begun a good worke will perfect it unto the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 The eightie fourth Observation in Nature SOme Fruit-trees if they be not carefully lookt unto will break out and the sap will presse upwards in some few branches only or chiefely and leave other branches with little sap which grow poorely and weakly and some die whereas a well ordered Tree should spread and enlarge it selfe in all the Branches This Observation shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed Some Christians chiefly pursue some particular duties belonging to them and neglect others Works and actions of spirituall fruit-trees may be considered as Branches as well as seede or fruits Some persons as experience makes too manifest are very carefull and diligent about some particular duties which they carry on from day to day and it s well they do so because those things they ought to do but there are other duties perhaps equally as convenient or necessary to be done which are altogether or very much neglected they shoote forth in some branches but not in all they are content to do some small and easy things sutable to their natures and ends while they neglect great and substantiall matters our Saviour reproves such Mat. 23.23 Ye have omitted the weightier matters of the Law Judgment mercy and faith these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone Some Christians are all or most for publique duties and very much neglect the private they heare it may be three or foure Sermons on the Lords day in this place and often on other days and they are to be incouraged in frequent hearing the word but yet many such neglect or slightly performe private duties of Prayer meditation examination of the heart and particular application of the word without which much hearing is to little purpose The heart of man is deceitfull and Sathan is deceitfull and both will be ready enough to perswade and carry on to publique duties all the day seeing they will needs be religious that so they may be hindred of greater spirituall advantages in neglecting the private duties aforementioned which are absolutely necessary to a Christians growth in grace Some other Professors are diligent in duties publique and private in reference to themselves but neglect duties in reference to others as Exhortation Reproofe distributing to their necessities visiting them sometimes especially in their afflictions herein they faile much although these are the great and weighty duties of Christians for if we faile in the
blasphemed his waies to be scandalized and the generation of his children to be reproached the name of God is blasphemed through you Rom. 2.24 James 2.7 Vse 1 Let such as professe Christ depart from iniquity and labour after a holy and fruitfull conversation for Joh. 15.8 Herein is my father glorified that ye bring forth much fruit I verily believe God hath more honour Religion and the Gospell more credit by some one of his people meane and despised it may be in the eye of a corrupt mind than by an hundred others who yet may have grace to bring them to heaven therefore let us strive to out go one another in bringing honour to God by a holy and heavenly conversation The eightie seventh Observation in Nature IF a Grafted tree and a wild ungrafted tree grow neere together both of them sucking one and the same juyce of the Earth the one converts it into good sap and nourishment and consequently into good and wholsome fruits the other turnes the same juyce of the Earth into sower bitter and it may be as in some kinds into poysonous fruits and this is from the different Formes and Natures of the Trees Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That The same things which are blessings to the Godly are curses to the wicked because of their different Principles The righteous and the wicked dwell together they are mixed as the Wheate and Tares Flowers or Weeds in a Garden and both for the most part are partakers of the same outward priviledges but to them that are in Christ all things worke together for their good Rom. 8.28 To the pure all things are pure but to the unbelieving there is nothing pure Tit. 1.15 A godly man does not only draw sweetnesse out of things that are of themselves sweet out of the word Ordinances Christ and his people but also even out of things that are bitter as Crosses afflictions Temptations Trials to him out of the strongest comes sweetnesse But now a wild ungrafted tree a person out of Christ he is like the spider that sucks poyson out of the sweetest flowers the best things become evill to him blessings become curses his health strength liberty riches honours friends gifts Learning c. all these become snares unto him he makes use of them to his owne hurt drawes nothing out of them but sin and death Their Table becomes a snare to them and that which should have beene for their welfare it becomes a Trap Psal 69 22. Yea all spirituall things prove for their greater condemnation they despise the riches of Gods grace and turne it into wantonnesse Jude 4. and therefore treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath The very Gospell it selfe which is the power of God to salvation and the savour of life unto life to them who are in Christ these wild Plants suck no sweetnesse out of it but to them it is the savour of death unto death 2 Cor 2.16 Yea the greatest Gift that ever was bestowed on the sonnes of men Jesus Christ out of whom the branches ingrafted into him draw sweetnesse sap and life marrow and fatnesse wine and water of life he is not sweete to them but contrariwise an offence Christ crucified is to them a stumbling block and foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1.23 Christ his word his Ordinances his people his mercies Judgments all his things are perverted and abused by them Hence we may see and admire the free distinguishing love of God towards his owne people who maketh such a difference betweene Use 1 them and others so that all things even the worst things are good to them they draw virtue from them but all things even the best things are evill to the wicked they draw poyson and death out of them Seeing that by reason of the corrupt nature in the wicked they draw evill out of what is good and that all things are abused by them to their owne destruction this should caution us alwaies to beware of their Opinions Judgments practises though they be never so eminent in parts and learning and bring Scripture to back them yet suspect all for they cannot see nor discerne their minds and consciences are defiled they suck not the marrow of-truth out of the word but they pervert it to their owne destruction 2 Pet. 1.16 they draw poyson corrupt doctrine out of the pure and wholsome wells of salvation Therefore our Saviour warned his disciples to take heede and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadduces which was their doctrine Mat. 16.6 12. The word which is as the Pillar of fire and discovers to the people of God their way is but a darke Cloud to them Exo. 14.30 they stumble at the word yea at Christ himelfe 1 Pet. 2.8 A stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to them which stumble at the word c. The eightie eighth Observation in Nature THe best fruit-trees have some faults and defects are subject to Cankers Mossinesse and other diseases to luxurious growthes some years they beare but few fruits and many of them small and perhaps spotted or chapt or otherwise imperfect This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed The best of Gods Children are guiltie of many sins and infirmities in their conversations We know there are two Natures continually working and striving in every regenerate person and sometimes the flesh prevailes very much and the graces of the spirit are clouded and obscured by it in the best men Moses spake unadvisedly with his lips Psal 106 33. Aaron made an Idol for the people David fained himselfe mad 1 Sam. 21.13 he numbred the people contrary to the minde of God he committed adultery and murther and sinned in many other respects Paul and Barnabas contended together and parted Acts 13. Job and Jeremiah cursed the day of their birth Jerem. 20.14 Jonah was very angry without cause Chap. 4.1 We need not multiply particulars the Experience of the people of God makes this too manifest who say with Paul Rom. 7.15 that which I doe I allow not for what I would that do I not but what I hate that do I vers 19. The evill which I would not that I do Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all The consideration of this should humble all the people of God Vse 1 seeing we carry about with us a corrupt Nature and can by no meanes be rid of it This should make every one of us watchfull and circumspect Vse 2 against sin and all enemies for if the tallest Cedars and strongest Oakes have beene bowed and brought downe how shall the weake Plant resist but by drawing continually sap and strength from the Roote and walking closely with God The consideration of this Proposition may be a meanes to stay Vse 3 the spirit of a weake Christian who is discouraged in looking upon his sin and corruption whatsoever is written is written for our learning that we
with his people Secondly By looking into the particular state of their people they may speake more sutably and seasonably to them when they know their particular Lusts and corruptions their Temptations Cases doubts c. their degrees of knowledg and other graces they may then apply the word more properly and effectually than otherwise they can upon all occasions As Physitians when they have enquired into and know the state of their Patients may administer Physicke more effectually than otherwise they can So Though Ministers may speake many good things generall truthes according to the Scriptures yet they may be and are many times very much besides the particular cases and present concernments of many or most of their hearers as not knowing their particular states Use 1 By what hath beene said it is manifest that some Ministers of the Gospell even good men do but the one a See Observ 84. halfe or but a part of their work They preach the Gospell but they looke not they enquire not into the state of their people To preach the word is not to performe the Office of an Overseer nor to follow the Example of the Apostle Paul shewed in all those places afore mentioned who laid out himselfe with diligence to know the state of the people in every place where he had preached But many thinke it sufficient to be diligent in their studies composing of Sermons to preach in publique laying out their time and strength that way but greatly neglecting this other duty of enquiring and looking into the particular state of soules and applying themselves thereunto accordingly I speake it upon knowledge and experience with griefe of heart and indignation against the grosse neglects of some in this matter who have beene so farre from enquiring after the state of others as that when poore soules have come to them to acquaint them with their doubts feares and troubles of spirit they have neglected them and given them a very slight answere and sent them away much more burdned than before which opportunities they should most gladly have imbraced and have been very tender of such wounded sick and weary soules and have come and sent often to them and taken care of them as a Nurse cherisheth her Children Vse 2 Let us blesse God notwithstanding so many seeke their owne things and neglect the things of Jesus Christ Phil. 2.21 that yet we have some Paul's Timothies among us who lay out themselves diligently to looke into the particular state of soules and naturally take care for their welfare These are wise and skilfull Physitians of soules and know how to apply sutable and seasonable things to them whereas those that neglect this duty are but as Emperique Physitians who have but only some few generall notions which they apply in all Cases Let such therefore who are diligent in this worke be encouraged to go on as faithfull and wise stewards to give every one his portion in due season and they shall in due time receive a great Reward Lu. 12.44 even when the cheife Shepheard shall appeare they shall receive a Crown of glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5.4 The ninetie second Observation in Nature THe husbandman values and approves most of those Trees and fruits that are most for his purpose most proper for his designe and end that he hath in his eye admit his great designe be to make wine of the fruits Cyder Perry c. then he likes those best that are fittest for that use Or if his designe be to transport them into other parts for sale then he approves most of good hard lasting fruits c. He had rather loose divers trees of other kinds than one of those which beare fruits sutable to his great end and designe This shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed That God discovereth a speciall care of and love unto those of his people whose Judgments and waies concurre with his great designes in their generation In every generation God is carrying on some particular and speciall designe or other and some of his people help on the worke more than others some rather hinder it they preach and pray and act against it through ignorance of it being darkned with some lusts or worldly interests Now though God cannot forsake any of his people though they oppose him yet they shall loose by it they shall have lesse of God than others whose Judgments and waies concurre with God in his designes Such of the people of God as are active for and with God in his designes they shall have speciall distinguishing care and love shewed towards them which others who neglect the worke of God or oppose it shall not find Nay such are in danger not only of losse but also of some visible testimonies of Gods displeasure towards them Such who fall in with Gods speciall designe in their generation shall find speciall grace kindnesse from God such distinguishing love Daniel found when he prayed and labored so earnestly for the restoring and enlargement of the Church then in Captivity Dan. 9. which was Gods great designe then in that generation he found skill and wisdome and understanding which others had not the care and love of God was eminently discovered towards him even to a miracle in preserving him in the Lyons den and an Angell was sent as a messenger from God to tell him he was a man greatly beloved Chap. 10.11 What speciall care and love did God manifest towards Moses who was eminently instrumentall for God in his generation in gods designe of bringing Israel out of Egipt and carrying them to Canaan Moses had peculiar honour above others of Gods people yea above other Prophets in his time Numb 12.6 7 8. If there be a Prophet among you I the Lord will make my selfe knowne unto him in a vision and will speake unto him in a dreame My servant Moses is not so who is faithfull in all my house with him will I speake mouth to mouth even apparently and not in darke speeches and the Similitude of the Lord shall he behold Caleb and Joshua who followed the Lord closesy and constantly in his designe which was the worke of their generation of setting Israel in the promised Land what distinguishing respect honour and love had they above others The Lord himselfe gave a testimony of them that they wholly followed him Numb 32.12 they possessed that good land when others who would not believe nor act for God in the worke of that generation were cut off Other proofes and instances might be brought Now the reasons hereof God gives out distinguishing mercy to his people that joyne with him in his great worke because thereby they most please him and honour him and give the greatest evidence of their love to him that can be God will reward the obedience of his people in the least and lowest duties they shall not kindle a fire on his altar in vaine nor give a Cup of cold water nor
do the least kindnesse to any of his people in vaine but much more when they act with zeale for God in the highest greatest duties he that herein soweth plentifully his labours and diligence shall reape plentifully 2 Cor. 9.6 Seeing this is so then let us labour to find out and understand Vse 2 the designes of God in our generation that so we may joine with him and helpe to carry on the Lords worke thereby great advantages will arise unto us when through ignorance or neglect thereof or opposition thereto we may suffer losse of what else we might have in the enjoyment of God or be otherwise corrected by him Of this see Mr Tillinghast Generation worke p. 45. 46. Now therefore what are the Designes of God in this our generation for understanding whereof we must compare prophesies and promises with the visible dispensations of providence in the age we live in and observe how the actings of God in the world sute or answere to what he hath foretold or promised should come to passe also inquire observe what the most humble holy selfedenying Saints have upon their Spirits how they stand affected for God reveales his secrets to the humble not to the proud though his own people And also by frequent and much conversing with God in walking with him this is best knowne such as have close Communion and fellowship with the father and with the sonne in the spirit shall certainly know much more of his mind of his waies and designes than others of his people who through some unmortified corruptions walke at a distance from him But to touch breifly what we have grounds to believe is Gods great designe which he is now carrying on more especially in this generation it is the enlargment of the Kingdome of his sonne Jesus Christ the setting up Christ as King over the Nations more gloriously than ever heretofore according to many promises Esay 2.11 The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day and Chap. 24.23 Zach. 14.9 The Lord shall be King over all the Earth c. Now in order hereunto many other prophesies and promises must be fulfilled as those concerning the propagation of the Gospell and a great increase of the Gentile Saints together with the comming in of the Jewes Esay 60 3 4 5. c. The abundance of the Nations shall be converted unto thee the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee and many other places Also union and onenesse of spirit among the people of God to serve him with one consent Zeph. 3.9 pulling downe of high and lofty things Esay 2.11 12. c. The haughtinesse of men shall be bowed downe and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day Establishment of Justice Esay 60.18 I will make thine Officers peace and thine Exactours righteousnesse 5. Pouring out of greater measures of the spirit Joel 2.28 whereby will be more and clearer discoveries of Gospell truths Esay 30.26 The light of the Moone shall be as the light of the sunne and the light of the sunne seven-fold So that the exaltation of Christ and the enlargment of his Church and Kingdome being Gods great designe in this age it concernes every one of his people to labour together with God in this glorious worke such as are sincerely and zealously active herein shall find speciall distinguishing love from God Now every one of Gods people will be ready to thinke and say they are for this designe it is their daily prayer that the Kingdome of Christ may be increased but notwithstanding certaine it is that many even of Gods owne people afford God but little or no helpe herein but rather hinder and oppose the worke really and indeed through the darknesse of their Iudgments about it though in some respects they thinke they advance it for such as give no encouragement to persons and things waies and meanes little and low in their eyes which yet God hath chosen whereby to carry on his designes but rather despise them distast and speake against them such may be said to hinder the worke for he that opposeth the meanes opposeth also the End And this indeede is done through the prevailing of selfe love and worldly interests which dimme their sight such have not yet learned that great Gospell lesson of denying all for Christ they have but a small measure of the spirit that Moses Iohn Baptist and Paul had who could be content to lay downe their owne esteeme Numb 11.29 Joh. 3.30 Phil. 1.16.17.18 and interests at the feete of Christ and be willing to decrease so that Christ might increase by any waies or meanes that he shall chuse persons and things which are neglected and despised not only by carnall men but also by the carnall part of spirituall men But such shall have fewer manifestations of the love of God than others of his people that concurre with him they shall not see nor know so much of the mind of God nor find their hearts so refreshed and enlarged in communion with God nor find so much esteeme and love from his people as those that close with God in his great designes The ninetie third Observation in Nature WHen the husbandman intends to plant a very large Orchard out of rough unmanured grounds like a wildernesse full of bushes and wild trees where never was any before when he resolves and sets on such a huge and vast Plantation such a great worke is not presently effected but by length of time perhaps he may be many yeares about it This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That God is a long time in calling the Gentiles Proposition shadowed and implanting them into Christ according to his purpose and promises All the people of the world are either Jewes or Gentiles under these two all Nations are comprehended As we see Rom. 3.9 19. We have proved both Jewes Gentiles that they are all under sin v. 19. That all the world may become guilty before God Formerly the Jewes only were the people of God the Gentiles were strangers to God and without God in the world wholly overspread with Idolatrie as we see Rom. 1. But in due time this Wildernesse was made the Garden of the Lord. God the great husbandman of his Orchard the Church began to plant the vast wast grounds the wildernesse of the Idolatrous Nations the Gentiles above sixteene hundred yeares agoe and is still about it and will at length finish it and performe all his purpose and pleasures towards them The time when he began this great plantation was in our Saviours daies who gave light to the Gentiles that sate in darknesse but especially after his Resurrection and Ascension he set his husbandmen the Apostles and Disciples on worke Matth. 28.19 Goe teach all Nations and Mark. 13.10 the Gospell must be published among all Nations The Lord told Ananias that Paul was a chosen Vessell unto him to beare his name before the Gentiles Act. 9.15 And Paul himselfe
truth Bodily exercise profiteth little 1 Tim. 4.8 any thing whatsoever wherein the body is exercised is of little or small accompt in respect of spirituall worship it is the acting of the spirit soule exercise that God looks after and stands upon he values but little bodily exercise any thing whatsoever that is externall in his worship Now the reason why God stands not upon externals in his worship or the same customes and orders among all the Saints is because he is a spirit and spirituall worship is sutable unto him let it be clothed with this or that forme it is accepted if it be in sincerity and truth Secondly because Christ hath set his people free from the yokes of bondage Gal. 5.1 Not only from Circumcision and legall Ceremonies and formes but also from all other Rules and precepts of men which his word hath not laid downe It is true indeede in time of the Law for 2000 yeares together the Church was under formes and set praescript Rules for the externall part of worship but when Christ came he set his people free not only from sin as before his comming in the flesh but also from all those Methods and Formes Rites and Ceremonies commanded by Moses from the mouth of God Ephe. 2.15 He abolished the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances that is the old externall administrations about the worship of God that so all his people as well Gentiles now as Jewes might worship God in spirit and in truth but no more in this or that externall forme and no other And accordingly the Church of Christ hath beene at liberty in respect of formes in the Apostles and primitive times and for many ages together afterwards untill of latter times externall Vniformitie was earnestly pressed in the Churches which Luther and other Good men opposed The Essence of the Kingdome of God is not any externall thing but righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost faith love holinesse walking with God in these things Vse 1 From what hath beene said we may conclude That to stand for Vniformity or onenesse in the externall part of the worship of God in the Ordinances or Government of Churches and for want thereof to breake off unity love and Communion with the people of God it is of the flesh and not of the spirit This hath beene and is the great sin and mistake even of many of the people of God the ground of whose differences lies in such externall things circumstances and formes as the word hath not determined or prescribed to be either so or so though men would be thought to prove their opinions in particular things as to the forme of worship and Church Government by the Scriptures The Godly of the Episcopall and Presbyterian Judgment the Independent and Rebaptized Churches and others differing from them what do they differ about Not the Essentials of Religion or worship but meerely in Ceremonies formes and Externall things which are not clearely held forth neither in the Doctrine of the Gospell nor in any constant practise of the Saints For we cannot find in all the Acts of the Apostles or primitive Christians any constant Methods and Formes in the worship of God or in Goverment of Churches but they varied in the formes and externall Acts as occasion was offered Paul preached sometimes on the Jewes Sabbath sometimes on the first day yea as occasion was every day and sometimes in the night sometimes he prayed and taught in the house sometimes in a ship sometimes by a River side sometimes in a Temple To the Iewes he became as a Jew to the Greeks as a Greeke to the strong as strong to the weake as weake he became all things to all that he might winne some he stood not upon externall formes in worship but upon the substance and Essence of it which is spirituall Our Saviour Christ sometimes he prayed long all night sometimes he was breife sometimes he stood and lift up his eyes to heaven sometimes being prostrate on the ground sometimes he taught in the Temple sometimes in a private house sometimes in a ship sometimes on the shore sometimes standing sometimes sitting The disciples of John they fasted often but Christs Disciples tooke more liberty in the use of the Creatures Christ administred the Sacrament of the supper in the evening Paul at midnight some in the Morning others at noone some Churches receive it sitting others kneeling some take the Elements from the Ministers hand others sit about the table and take the bread and wine themselves some partake of this Ordinance every weeke others every moneth some twice in a moneth others twice in the yeare or as oft as they please And as there is a liberty in the Churches to vary and no Vniformity in these Ordinances so also the Customes have beene various in respect of Baptisme some Churches Baptize with dipping others by sprinkling some Churches Baptize Infants of believing Parents others only those persons who can give an accompt of their faith and hence now ariseth the great controversie and contention amongst brethren who fall out by the way and break peace love and Communion one with another about the shadow the signe the forme though both have and hold the substance Many Members of both Churches are Baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire as Iohn 1.5 are baptized into one body by the spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 yea and have beene baptized with water also though there be not a Vniformity in their practise perhaps the difference will prove when throughly understood but a circumstantiall difference and doubtlesse no sufficient ground to breake off Communion amongst the Members of Christ Surely Jesus Christ will not take it well at their hands who refuse Communion and fellowship with those with whom he himselfe delights to have Communion and who are ashamed to call them brethren whom Christ himselfe is not ashamed to call brethren Heb 2.11 All believers are brethren not by a conformity or Vniformity in any Ceremony or externall observation but by faith in Christ All have the priviledge to be the sonnes and daughters of God who believe on his name John 1.12 all are the Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus John 3.26 Now therefore for men to refuse or neglect Communion and fellowship with their fellow Members and brethren for want of Vniformity in a Ceremony in the signe though they have the substance is it not carnall do not such walke as men Vse 2 Let us maintaine unity love and fellowship with all the Godly though they differ from us in Judgment or practise in the way and manner of administrations in the worship of God or particular practises in Government for the ground of the Churches Vnity is not Vniformity in any externall things but it is their having all but one head The Apostle most earnestly beseecheth them to maintaine Vnity upon a sevenfold ground but in them all not a word of Vniformity Ephes 4.4 There is one
body and one spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Here we see 1. All believers though multitudes of Members yet are but one body 2. That one body hath but one spirit As one soule animates and sets on worke all the Members of the Naturall body so does this one spirit in the mysticall body 3. There is also one hope All believeâ—s have an expectation of the enjoyment of God in glory for ever 4. They have all one Lord are fellow servants under one Lord Iesus Christ 5. So also have they but one faith believers in all ages of the world have but one faith in the same God and Saviour 6. They have but one Baptisme not baptisme of the signe but of the substance all believers are baptized with the baptisme of the spirit Iewes and Gentiles in all ages 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are all baptised into one body whether we be Jewes or Greeks 7. Believers have but one God and Father they are all borne of God are brethren in the Lord sonnes and daughters alike to the Lord Almighty Heires together of one Inheritance and Kingdome So then Here are strong bonds of Vnity and love among the Saints though Vniformity in outward things be wanting here 's no mention at all of Vniformity though they differ in their opinions in waies and formes of worship and Government yet being all one body having all one spirit one hope one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and Father these are sufficient grounds of their Vnion and love one with and to another These are the things that God stands upon having Vnity here in these things whereby they worship him in spirit and truth though they vary in many externall parts of worship and outward administrations they are dispensed withall as we see Rom. 14.18 he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men and vers 3. God hath received him or approved of him Let not men therefore disowne their brethren for differing from them in the forme in outward administrations of worship or Government when yet they worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth which if they doe it is from the carnall part and to be mortified The ninetie fifth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman often makes a hedg or fence about his Orchard and Garden with wild plants unfruitful trees or such as beare naughty unpleasant fruits as Crabtrees Thornes Bryers Okes Ashes Elmes or any such like which serve well for a mound or fence about his fruitfull Trees and preserve them from anoyances and hurts that else they are subject unto by Cattle and otherwise in many respects This shadowes out unto us That God many times makes use of wicked Proposition shadowed and unregenerate persons for the preservation and good of his owne Children Many Kings and Magistrates though wicked and carnall have beene set up for the defence of the Godly very many carnall persons though they have but only generall convictions a forme of Godlinesse common Gifts and graces yet they owne the true Religion and the professors of it notwithstanding they have no true nor cordiall love to either God makes such as an outward common fence against the breakings in of Tyrannicall and savage persons who might otherwise anoy the Church of God Yea many Morall persons are not only a meanes of defence to the Godly but they are also helpers many waies by their Gifts and Talents and outward good things which God hath given them The spirit of God doth convince the world of unregenerate persons upon this Accompt even for the good of his owne people giving to them some common light and graces and apprehensions of the things of God that so he may take off their fiercenesse and bitternesse that otherwise would naturally break out against the Godly and not only so but that also they may be helpfull and profitable to his owne people Pharaoh was convinced that God was with Ioseph and so became his freind yea and to all his brethren and his fathers house and preserved them and nourished them with the best things of the Land of Egypt Gen. 40. Laban entertained and preserved Iacob above 20 yeares together Gen. 29. c. Pharaohs daughter nourished Moses the whole Court was his freind many yeares King Nebuchadnezzar was convinced that God was with Daniel preserved and promoted Daniel so did Belshazzar And King Darius afterwards Dan. 6.3 Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were not only preserved but advanced in the Province of Babylon by King Nabuchadnezzer a heathen king There is abundant Experience of this truth in all ages especially in these times of the Gospell multitudes having common convictions of the things of God and entertaining the forme of Godlinesse though they want the power They generally if they have power preserve the people of God and Religion from overthrowes and destructions which otherwise Tyrants and barbarous enemies would bring upon them Yea and God makes them many waies usefull and helpfull to his people by their Gifts and Common graces in Naturall and Morall things Vse This discovers the speciall care and love of God the power wisdome goodnesse of God towards his owne people who maketh even their enemies to become freinds to them Enemies indeed in their Principles Natures but freinds through the overruling power of God The world all the creatures in it are ruled ordered for the good of the people of God All things are yours saith the Apostle 1 Co. 3.21.22 the world life death things present things to come all are yours God useth overruleth and ordereth all things for the advantage of them that feare him The ninetie sixth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman in Ordering of his fruit-trees observes the seasons some works are to be done at such a time of the yeare The spring is the season for Grafting the sommer for Inoculating Autumne and winter for Transplanting pruning and other workes he carefully observes the seasons for particular works This shadowes out unto us this Proposition Proposition shadowed That God in his infinite wisdome and goodnesse observes the fittest times in all his dispensations towards his people The great husbandman of his Vineyard and Garden enclosed as he gives discretion to men to order their works of husbandry Esay 28.26 doth with infinite more wisdome order his owne husbandry in respect of the matter manner and seasons of his worke Ier. 30.11 When he correcteth his people as he does it in measure so also in season when it is most likely to prevaile and take effect and when his spirit reproves the soule it is alwaies in season When he speakes to comfort and refresh the soule it is in season Esay 50.4 That I should know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary he gives his
Cordials seasonably He is a God of Iudgment and Wisdome and he waits to be gratious Esay 30.18 He taries the time stayes till the fittest time waites for the oportunity the season to give in a mercy when it may be with most advantage to his owne glory and the good of his people As God staies till the fittest time for the punishment of wicked men when he may do it most to the glory of his Iustice so also in the dispensations of grace and mercy to his people God tarries till men have filled up the measure of their sin Gen. 15.16 The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full And God indures with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction Rom. 9.22 so also he waits till his people be fitted for such or such a mercy as he intends to give till some corruption be more mortified and subdued and till grace have attained more strength till grace have beene tryed and thereby beene improved and increased when the soule is prepared and the season come then also the mercy will come Hab. 2.3 it will surely come it will not tarry Israels deliverance out of Egypt as a type of other mercies and deliverances to the Church and people of God in after ages it was at an appointed time and fittest time when the people were best prepared for such a dispensation Exod. 12.41 the selfe same day it came to passe So also God dealeth with others of his people according to that of the Prophet Psalm 102.13 Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Syon for the time to favour her yea the set time is come God observes the fittest time the season in his dispensations towards his people that thereby he may lay a ground for the advantage of his owne glory for the clearer manifestation of his glorious Attributes Mercy Justice wisdome power goodnesse c. And secondly because hereby wee are the more clearely convinced of what is done and are more taken more affected with it it makes the deeper impression is set on the more strongly and a mercy in season ingages the heart more firmely and fully than otherwise it would do Peter was not delivered out of Prison at first so soone as the Church prayed for him but God chose a peculiar season even the very night before Herod intended to bring him forth to execution Acts 12. God made Hanna to wait long for a mercy yea God himselfe waited to be gratious to her at the fittest time when she was in extraordinary bitterne of spirit God gave her her hearts desire a Child of Vse 1 many Prayers and so of many mercies Hence we should learne to magnify the riches of the wisdome and grace of God towards us who not only bestowes good things upon Vse 2 us but his care is also to give them in the fittest time Doth God waite on us to dispense mercies for our best advantage and shall not we waite on God shall not we be content to tarry the Lords leasure which is alwaies the fittest time for the fulfilling of his promises and our prayers as the Prophet encourageth Vse 3 us Psalm 27.14 Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart wait I say on the Lord. Is God seasonable in all his dispensations towards us let us then labour to be seasonable in bringing forth fruit unto him and one towards another It is true we should beare good fruits continually but yet there are some especiall times some seasons opportunities which are advantages in our actings for God our selves and others these a Christian should watch for and wisely mannage The ninetie seventh Observation in Nature THe Roote of a tree communicates and gives up sap to all the Branches one as well as another to the smalest as well as to the greatest the least branch or Twig upon the Tree yea the least bud upon the least branch hath as constant and reall a supply of sap from the roote as the greatest bough or branch upon the Tree This shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed That Jesus Christ gives forth as constant a supply of all grace to the meanest of his people as to those who are most eminent Christ takes care of all his people he will not loose or neglect the least member John 17.12 Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost He praies for them all Iohn 17.21 That they all may be one as thou father art in me and I in thee c. He provides milke for babes as well as strong meate for such as are better growne 1 Cor. 3.2 And chargeth Peter againe and againe as he would shew his love to him to feede his Lambs and his Sheepe Iohn 21.15 16 17. He gives a charge to all that they take heed that they offend not nor despise one of his little ones Matth. 18.10 He is the good and carefull Shepheard that takes care of all his sheep and feeds them Iohn 10. He carries the Lambs in his bosome and gently leadeth such as are young Esay 40.11 not one of his little ones shall perish Matth. 18.14 And as he writs unto the elder and stronger Christians the fathers and young men so also to his little Children 1 John 2.12 13. c. He takes care of all and communicates grace and supplyes to all to the meanest and weakest as well as the strongest Yea and rewards all that shew good will though the smalest kindnesse to the least of his Members as if they had donne it to himselfe Matth. 25.40 Verily I say unto you in as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren yee have done it unto me Vse 1 This magnifies the riches of the free grace and love of Jesus Christ towards his people who though he be exalted on high and set at the right hand of God farre above all Principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in the world to come Ephe. 1.21 yet he remembers his people even every one of them as well the least and meanest as the strongest and most eminent of them as well the Lambs little Children and babes as strong men and fathers and communicates of his fulnesse grace for grace as well to one as to another in their measure as really as the Roote does sap to all the branches small and great Vse 2 This is a ground of strong and lasting consolation to all weake believers who are still under doubts and feares by reason of their weaknesse let such know and consider that Christ upholds them though they are but small and weake twigs or branches being united to the stock or Roote the same nourishes them and gives up by his spirit sure and constant supplies of sap and life unto them whereby they live and grow and beare fruit some more some sesse as really as the greatest branches His love is to one as
Of this see at large 100 101 c. up from the Roote to preserve the tree in life against all anoyances by the aire extracting out the sap or by dry cold winds frosts mildewes blasting or the like that els would destroy the tree This shadowes out unto us That There is a continuall secret supply of strength from Christ Proposition shadowed to every believer in time of desertion and temptation to preserve from totall falling away The Lord hath foretold his people that through many tribulations they must enter into the kingdome of God and hereafter in heaven it shall be said of them these are they that came out of great tribulations They must goe through many tryals and temptations in this world yea some of them go through fiery tryals very sharpe hot terrible temptations both in reference to the outward and inward man when not only all creatures seeme to be against them but even God himselfe also God sometimes hides his face and answers not yea seems as an enemie and yet in all these deepe Ps 69.2 Lam. 3.54 Waters flowed over mine headâ— then I said I am cut off waters and flouds that runne over them they are preserved from drowning their head is above water yea and a secret hand underneath upholds them from sinking God bids all his redeemed ones take notice of this Esay 43.2 feare not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt c. David was in great distresse when he said I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde I am like a broken vessell Psal 31.12 yet helpe was neerer then he was aware of which he afterwards perceived and acknowledged v. 22. I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes neverthelesse thou heardest the voice of my supplications In the winter of desertion and distresse of soule when the sunne is clouded yea and gone a farre off too as to the soules apprehension when a poore creature can perceive no motions of the spirit nor workings of any grace when there 's no buds not blossoms no leaves nor fruits to be perceived upon the tree no signe of life no sun-shine nor showers no dewes no refreshing but contrariwise Clouds and darknesse round about cold boysterous winds sharp hard frosts stormes of snow and haile all discouragements deadnesse hardnesse of heart all kinds of temptations from within and without yet even then there are secret supports from and by the hand of Christ he is there present and oversees all and manages all for the good of the poore soule for otherwise the spirit would faile it could not be able to beare up under the weight of these temptations Vse 1 The consideration of this may be a Cordiall to poore distressed soules Psal 69.2 when they sinke and stick fast in the deepe mire where there is no standing when they are fallen into deepe waters where the floods runne over them Let them know and consider that the thoughts of God towards them are not as their thoughs They sometimes say or are ready to say and think as the distressed Church did Esay 49.14 The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me But what are their thoughts of God in the meane time towards such poore discouraged soules his thoughts are thoughts of love even the most tender love passing the love of the most tender Mothers towards their deare Children Esay 49.13 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the sonne of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Though God withhold sometimes the evidence of his love from his people yet his love changeth not though he seeme to cast downe and overthrow yet he doth secretly uphold Vse 1 Therefore let such of his people that walke in darknesse and have no light trust in the name of the Lord and stay themselves upon their God Esay 50.10 and in the use of all good meanes waite for deliverance for as God giveth now a sure and secret support in and under the affliction so he will give in his time a full deliverance that his people may praise him The hundred Observation in Nature FRuit-trees give forth their fruits as freely to the poore as to the Rich they naturally beare as much and as good fruit in the poore mans Garden or Orchard as in the rich mans They are all one as free and liberall to the poore as to the Rich and greatest persons Hence we may learne That True Christians doe communicate of their good things as freely to the poore as to the Rich. There are Rules and commands to use and improve our Talents of all good things for the good of all Poore and Rich but especially to give out and distribute to the Poore and meaner sort and more especially to those that are Godly Gal 6.10 Do good unto all but especially to the houshold of faith 1 Tim 6.18 Be ready to distribute willing to comunicate He. 13.16 To do good communicate for get not This is a just Reproofe unto those who call themselves Christians and it may be are so and yet have little regard to the Poore and meaner sort of persons who live amongst them in any the good things Vse 1 they communicate Many of the greater sort of persons Professors and others are free in their Gifts and benefits one towards another frequently inviting and feasting one another but few or none of the Poore or meaner ranke of Christians are the better for all such expences directly contrary to the Rule and command of our blessed Saviour as though they had never heard of any such thing where he saies plainely Luk. 14.12 When thou makest a dinner or a supper call not thy rich neighbours and freinds least they bid thee againe and a recompense be made thee but call the poore c. and thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just Though this place be not so to be taken as though the rich might not be invited yet it is much more strong for the poore But how far are many Rich Professors from walking by this rule or the Example of Job Chap. 31 17. who tels us he eat not his Morssels alone but the poore had part with him and this was a ground of comfort to him in his greatest troubles What will such persons answere our blessed Lord at the last day when he tels them ye were ashamed of me in my poore Members ye owned them not yee invited and entertained one another freely and frequently but my poore brethren were not amongst you although ye knew your Masters will in this thing yet ye did it not but walked contrary to it Vse 2 This is for the honour comfort of those who communicate of their good things as well or much rather to the poore and meanest Members of Jesus Christ as to the Rich And according to the Example of Christ owne them for brethren To these he will say come ye blessed Children of my father inherit the kingdome for in as much as ye shewed kindnesse to these my brethren ye did it unto me Mat. 24 34. Thus have I through the assistance of God performed my promise to make up what was formerly published an 100 Observations in Nature with Similitudes together with their improvement to spirituall uses I have many more in my Nursery but most are yet in the seede or Bud which when they are growen up and enlarged as these into a Body and Branches I shall if the Lord please communicate them also that others if they will but receive them be content to have them planted in their owne Gardens may partake of their Fruits such Fruits as the Apostle speakes of Gal. 5. and Col. 1.6 And it is my desire and supplication to the great husbandman that he will engraft every truth into our hearts and cause it to grow and thrive by the Sunshine and Raine of heaven and to bring forth much good fruit unto himselfe pleasant savory fruits such as he loveth and will eat of that his soule may blesse us yea whereof we our selves may also feede not only heâ— but to all Eternity FINIS
but of all believers to labour to enlarge the kingdome of Iesus Christ and to be faithfull diligent laborers in the Lords Vineyard This is the Lords great designe and the very worke of this generation in a particular respect who so hinders or neglects it even of Gods owne people shall suffer for it who so faithfully acts in it shall meete with speciall manifestations of the Love of God towards them The ninetie fourth Observation in Nature THe husbandman does not much stand upon the outward forme of his Orchards and Gardens to have them all just of one fashon and shape either round or long or square or otherwise He having divers Orchards and gardens they are some of one forme and some of another as some are larger than others so some are of one cut or shape and some of another he accompts it not necessary that they be all Vniforme but so the inward forme be good so the trees have good Natures and properties bringing forth good fruits that 's it he values it s all in all This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Externall Vniformity in the Churches of Christ Proposition shadowed is of small accompt with him in respect of Vnity and spirituall worship Severall congregations or Churches of Christ having the spirit of Christ faith love unity of doctrine and ordinances may have divers formes and waies of outward administrations and every Church is to be left to its owne liberty therein and not to be in joyned such or such Formes Methods and waies of proceedings in the worship of God or in the discipline and goverment of the particular Churches For now in the time of the New Testament the worship of God consisteth not in Externals neither are they commanded as heretofore under the old administrations of the law But our Saviour tels us John 4.23 The houre commeth and now is when the true worshipers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth Many in the Apostles time had vaine and needlesse disputations about meat and drink and observation of daies and such like Rom. 14.1 3 5 10 13. c. he tels them vers 17. The Kingdome of God is not meat and drinke it consisteth not in any externall thing but it is righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost So that he leaves them to the using or not using of such outward things to their owne pleasures being of an indifferent Nature vers 5. let every man be fully perswaded in his owne mind Now so it is in respect of External Vniformity in Churches the worship of God being Now spirituall he leaves the externall part of it unto the choice and pleasure of his people to concurre in one way or Externall forme or to vary as they judg meete and convenient every particular Church among themselves in respect of time b As for one day in seven to be dedicated to God in worship that is the morall part of the fourth commandment and was changed from the seventh to the first day of the weeke by Christ himselfe and observed by his Apostles and Disciples place manner and forme and would not have his people to fall out and differ about tything Mynt Anise Cummin petty and indifferent things while they neglect the weighty and great matters of the Law unity and spirituall worship The Apostle Paul sharply reproves the Corinthians for standing so much upon Men Names Titles 1 Cor. 1.12 One saies I am of Paul another I am of Apollo another of Cephas another of Christ even as many in our daies they stick in the outside in Names and Formes Lutherans Calvinists some are for the Episcopall way some for the Presbiterian some for the Independent some for the Rebaptized way some reject all these as the b These people proceede further in censuring others then ever any did for they judge and condemne not only the Fortunes outward administrations of all Churches but also the whole sirituall state conditiō of all persons that are not of their way and that suddenly and rashly without knowledg of the persons contrary both to Scripture and Reason crying up a dimme Naturall light within and neglecting the true light of the word and spirit of Gods who not trying the spirits whether they be of God or not they in many things put darknesse for light and light for darknesse Quakers say their's is the way So that may we not say as the Apostle said 1 Cor. 3.3 Are ye not carnall for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnall and walke as men In as much as they differ about Names and Formes and neglect and breake love and unity they are herein carnall though there may be truth of grace in and among them yet in this thing they are weake they are carnall this is knowing and approving of men after the flesh which the Apostle Paul allowes not 2 Cor. 5.16 I suppose it may be said of this or that Forme of worship as Paul saies of Circumcision 1 Cor. 7.19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping the Commandments of God and Gal. 6.15 In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a New creature neither this or that forme or externall way of worship availeth any thing but faith love spirituall worship righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost an interest in Christ regeneration or becoming a new Creature unity and love with and towards one another walking with God in fellowship with the father and with his sonne Jesus Christ in spirituall worship these are the things that God requires of his people Not but that God cals for the service and worship of the outward man and some Externall formes and waies in his spirituall worship as well as inward worship but he ties not his people to one way or forme as men would do and stand for and make divisions amoung the Churches about it which God no where requires in his word and as for Examples in the Apostles times they vary in every Church as occasions required ther 's no one forme only established As for that Command 1 Cor 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in Order the meaning is not that the worship of God in his Ordinances or practises in all Churches should be all in one manner way or forme but that they should observe Order among themselves in every particular Church or congregation As in Cities and Townes Corporate though their Customes differ one from another yet there is Order in and among themselves in each particular place The Apostle tels us Acts 10.34 35. That in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him Now in many or severall Nations there are many and severall waies and formes in and about the worship of God in the administrations of the Ordinances of Christ yet all are accepted of God when the worsh p is in spirit and in