what they say nor whereof they affirm only ignorantly and inconsiderately swallow down the Current Opinions without knowing the certainty of those things wherein they have been instructed Luke 1.4 And so though they never doubted of the Truth of their Religion it is because they were never assaulted with Temptations to the contrary and all the strength of their Faith lyeth in their Inconsideration or Non-attention If they have any ground and bottom it is only Men's saying so and therefore their Belief if they have any should rather be called Humane Credulity than Christian Faith In short they that believe every thing believe nothing which soon appeareth when a Temptation cometh 2 dly It distinguisheth it from Conjecture which is a lighter Inclination of Mind to a thing as possibly or probably true whereby Men get no higher than it may be so and yet there are shrewd suspicions to the contrary A guess is not an Assent much less a firm and strong Assent as Faith is 3 dly It distinguisheth it from Opinion which is a trembling fearful uncertain Assent Opinion is beyond Conjecture but short of Faith Conjecture only supposes it may be so but Opinion asserts that it is so though not without some fear of the contrary but above all this Faith is an undoubted perswasion of the Truth of things revealed by God By Opinion one may be so convinced of the Truth of Divine things as not to be able reasonably to contradict them but by Faith a Man is so convinced of the Truth of the Gospel that he seeth all the reason in the World to embrace and follow it Col. 2.2 That their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ And 1 Thess. 1.5 For our Gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake And Heb 10.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water 2. The next Qualification of this Assent is that it is a Cordial or Hearty Assent I mean such as doth engage the Will and Affections to pursue the Happiness which God hath revealed in the way and by the means which God hath prescribed We read in Scripture of believing with the heart Rom. 10.9 10. and with all the heart Acts 8.37 The Object of Faith is not only true but Good and therefore produceth a Cordial Adherence to the Truths of which it is perswaded There is not only a Conviction of the Mind but a bent and Inclination of the Will which followeth the perswasion of Faith if it be firm and strong for it considereth not only the evidence of the things propounded but the worth weight and greatness of them 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation otherwise it will not serve the end and purpose of the Gospel which requireth us to Crucifie our Lusts and Sacrifice our Interests and perform Duties displeasing to Corrupt Nature and all this upon the Hope 's only which it offereth to us and to wait upon God for his Salvation in the midst of all Pressures and Afflictions Therefore certainly Believing is an Heart business not a simple naked and speculative Assent This latter Qualification doth exclude two things from true Lively and Saving Faith First That which Divines call Historical 2 dly That which they call Temporary Faith 1. Historical Faith which is a simple and naked Assent to such things as are propounded in the Word of God and maketh Men more knowing but not better not more Holy and Heavenly they are not excited thereby to pursue that Happiness which the Gospel offereth in the way of Holy Living or patient continuance in well-doing So Simon Magus believed the preaching of Philip Acts 8.13 yet his Heart was not right with God but he still remained in the Gall of bitterness and bond of Iniquity And so many believed in the Name of Christ to whom Christ committed not himself because he knew all men Joh. 2.23 24. And this Faith even the Devils may have Iam. 2.19 Thou believest that there is a God thou dost well the Devils also believe and tremble and that not only in Truths evivident by Natural Light such as that is there mentioned that there is a God but in Gospel Truths as that Jesus is the Son of God Mark 1.24 The Devil cryed out saying Let us alone what have we to do with thee thou Iesus of Nazareth I know thee who thou art the Holy One of God Now this kind of Faith is called Historical Faith not from the Object of it as if it did only believe the Histories of Scripture No they that have it may believe the Promises the Doctrines the Precepts as well as the Histories but from the Manner in which it is conversant about its Object namely thus As we read Histories in which we are no way concern'd we nakedly read them for Knowledge sake not to make a party in their Broils and Interests but only to know what was done so they that have only this kind of Faith read the Scriptures as Persons unconcerned and rest in idle Speculation without referring those notable Truths to choice and practice I cannot say that this cannot be called Faith because they that have it do believe those things which are true and do truly believe them but yet lively Saving Faith it is not for he who hath that findeth his Heart engaged to Christ and doth so believe the Promises of the Gospel concerning pardon of Sins and Life Eternal that he seeketh after them as his Happiness and doth so believe the Mysteries of our Redemption by Christ as that all his Hope and Peace and Confidence is drawn from thence and doth so believe the Commandments of God and Christ as that he determineth to frame his Heart and Life to the observance of them and doth so believe the Threatnings whether of Temporal Plagues or Eternal Damnation as that in comparison of them all the frightful things of the World are as nothing Luke 12.24 Be not afraid of them that can kill the Body and after that have no more that they can do Destruction from God is a Terrour to them beyond all the Evil that Man can threaten As he said to the Emperour Thou threatenest a Prison but Christ threateneth Hell 2. It is distinguished from Temporary Faith which is an Assent to Scriptural or Gospel Truth accompanyed with a slight and insufficient touch upon the Heart called a taste of the heavenly gift and of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come Heb. 6.4 5 6. By this kind of Faith the Mind is not only enlightened but the Heart affected
but granted assured it to Believers by the Promises of the Gospel 1 Ioh. 2.25 'T is so conveyed to us as that we may be sure of Obtaining it 3. 'T is more than a Prophecy or simple Prediction Scripture Prophecies will be fulfilled because of God's Veracity but Scripture Promises will be fulfilled not only because of God's Veracity but also because of his Fidelity and Justice As by our Promise another Man cometh to have a right to the thing promised therefore it is just it should be given unto him so 't is in God 't was his Mercy and Goodness to make the Promise but his Holiness and Justice bindeth him to make it good 1 Ioh. 1.9 He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins And as for Pardon so for Life 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the righteous Iudge shall give me on that day It becometh a Debt of Grace This may be illustrated by what Divines say of an Assertory Lye and a Promissory Lye An assertory Lye is when we speak of a thing past or present otherwise than it is and a promissory Lye is when we speak of a thing for the time to come which we never intend to perform and this is the worst sort of Lyes because it doth not only pervert the end of Speech which is Truth but also defeateth another of that Right which we seem to give him by our Promise in the thing promised which is a farther degree of Injustice Now we should apprehend God to be very far from this Titus 1.2 In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lye promised before the World began And Heb. 6.18 That by two immutable things in which 't was impossible for God to lye we might have a strong Consolation Secondly 'T is the Promise of God In every Promise that it be certain and firm three things are required 1. That it be made seriously and heartily with a purpose to perform it 2. That he that promiseth continue in his Purpose without change of Mind 3. That it be in the Power of him that promiseth to perform what he hath so promised Now in the Promise of God there can be no doubt of any of these things Certainly God meaneth as he speaketh when he promiseth Eternal Life to the Faithful Servants and Disciples of Jesus Christ for what need had he to court his Creatures into a false and imaginary Happiness which he never meant to bestow upon them to send his Son with a Commission from Heaven to assure them of it who also wrought Miracles to confirm the Message that he brought from God dyed upon this Truth and rose again and entred into the Happiness that he spoke of to give us Assurance and a visible demonstration of the Truth of it sent abroad his Apostles to invite the World to embrace it his Holy Spirit accompanying them and sealing their Message also with divers Signs and Wonders And surely he doth continue in the same mind for there is no repeal of this Law of Grace and He is able to perform it for what difficulty is there which Omnipotency cannot subdue and overcome Surely what God hath promised he is fully able to perform 2. The Acts of Faith about the Word 1. We are to Believe and Credit it upon solid and sufficient Evidence 't is said Heb. 11.11 They saw these things afar off and were perswaded of them And Acts 13.48 When the Gentiles heard this they glorified the Word of God and believed that is Blessed God for his glorious Mercy revealed in the Gospel the sound Belief and firm Assent leadeth on other things for the most powerful Truths work not 'till they are believed 1 Thes. 2.13 Ye received the Word not as the Word of Man but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Here beginneth the Efficacy Now usually we receive the Truth at first upon low and insufficient Evidence but afterwards our Assent is upon better grounds and more valid and strong as the Samaritans Joh. 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the World Her saying was much for the Woman had testified that she had met with an Holy Person that had told her of all that ever she did So Nathaniel was drawn to Christ by Philip's perswasion but when he perceived that he knew the Heart and secret things Ioh. 1.48 49. He saith unto him whence knowest thou me Iesus answered and said unto him Before that Philip called thee when thou wast under the Figg-tree I saw thee Nathaniel answered and saith unto him Rabbi thou art the Son of God thou art the King of Israel Christ then promiseth him farther Assurance and greater Evidence which should beget a more confirmed and strong Faith Verse the 50 th Iesus answered and said unto him Because I said unto thee I saw thee under the Figg-tree believest thou thou shalt see greater things than these The Church is in possession of a Religion which God hath Blessed throughout successions of Ages and we received the Doctrine of the Gospel and New Covenant upon report and hearsay hereafter we see farther and better grounds and the Scriptures are owned with more certainty of Evidence Well then here is the first thing Assent or a receiving all Truths about Supernatural things upon the Credit of God's Word 2. The Work of Faith is to apply these things For the closer such Blessed Truths are laid to our own Souls the more we feel the vertue of them Iob 5.27 Lo this it is know thou it for thy good Rom. 8.31 VVhat shall we then say to these things The Promise includeth you as well as others and promiseth and offereth you Pardon and Life if you will believe in Christ Therefore the Application I press you to is not a Claim of Priviledges stay a while there but an exciting your selves to perform the Duties of the Gospel that you may turn away from all other ways of Felicity and choose this alone Faith must be Applicative and the closer the Application the better But there is a difference between the Application which is an Excitement of your Duty and that Application which is an assurance of your Interest Acts 13.20 To you is this word of Salvation sent 'T is my Duty to make general Grace particular but not presently and at first dash to enter my Plea and Claim but to oblige me to take God's Way God calleth upon me to Repent and Believe in Christ that I may have Pardon and Life 3. We are heartily to Consent to this Blessed Covenant which is contained in the Word of God taking the Promises offered for our Happiness resolving upon the Duties required as our Work Acts 2.41 They received the word gladly and were baptized There was a Precept and a Promise Verse 38. they accepted the Counsel and
away Religion that the want may make us more sensible of the worth of it 5. It bringeth a Scandal and ill report on God in the World Therefore he standeth upon his vindication Micah 6.3 4 5. O my People what have I done unto thee And wherein have I wearied thee Testifie against me For I brought thee up out of the Land of Egypt and redeemed thee out of the house of Servants and I sent before thee Moses Aaron and Miriam Oh my People remember now what Balak King of Moab consulted and what Baalam the Son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord. That strangers receive him not is not so bad but that a People acquainted with him should cast him out after trial God calleth upon the Mountains and strong foundations of the Earth who keep still their obediential Subjection to their Creatour to witness against the ingratitude and stupidness of his People What injury have we found in God vers 2. Hear O ye mountains the Lords controversy and ye strong foundations of the Earth for the Lord hath a controversy with his People and he will plead with Israel 1. Vse We must neither build the walls of Iericho again nor as much as in us lyeth suffer others to build them Every one in his place is to hinder the work If Religion were uncertain it were another matter But did Christ come to establish the works of the Devil If Joshua saith cursed be he before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this City Jericho If Paul said Gal. 1.8 If an Angel from Heaven Preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed If others bestir themselves and by clancular and base artifices go to build these Walls again We should be the more Zealous for God Micah 4.5 For all People shall walk in the Name of his God and we will walk in the Name of our God But what must we do 1. Let us not only profess the true Religion but come under the Power of it The heart is best established by Grace The byas of mens corrupt hearts doth easily prevail against the light of their minds Few are corrupted in opinion but that are first false at heart The regenerate have advantages above other men 1 John 2.20 Ye have an unction from the holy one and know all things Most rotten opinions in the World are against the gust and sense of the new Nature But on the other side Men soon lose their zeal for truth that are addicted to a worldly sensual life Therefore see that Christ's Kingdom be set up in our hearts Luk. 17.21 The Kingdom of God is within you And that there we build not again the things we have destroyed Gal. 2.18 After we have devoted our selves to God we must not fall off from him till Christ's Kingdom be set up in our hearts we shall never sincerely care for his interests in the world For all carnal men seek their own things Men may bustle for a while for the Interest of their several Factions and Opinions but have not a true pure zeal for Christ's Kingdom 2. Let us pray That will do much Christ hath taught us to pray for the coming of his Kingdom Matth. 6.10 Thy Kingdom come David in his penitential Psalm could not forget the welfare of the Church when so deeply concerned as to his own particular for the recovering of his own peace Psal. 51.18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion build thou the walls of Jerusalem Walls of Sion not of Iericho or Babylon It is God's interest spread it before him 3. Be thankful to God for these deliverances Prayer gets blessings but thankfulness keepeth them For God is careful to preserve them to such who count it a benefit and are mindful of it We have manifold cause to bless God 1. For former deliverance out of the House of Bondage so early 2. That he hath so often defeated the attempts of those who would bring us back thither 3. For the good we have many years injoyed under the Reformed Religion which God hath blessed to the converting strengthening and comforting many a precious Soul 4. For continuing still the liberty of the Gospel and means of Grace under a Protestant King 5. For the quiet we now injoy when other parts of Christendom are are in a combustion we are untouched and injoy safety We are querulous and apt to complain but all things reckoned we have much more cause to give thanks 4. Let such deliverances as this inkindle our Love and Zeal to that Religion which God hath owned and defended Partly because when men are perswaded of the Truth such Providences as these are so many attestations to it Psal 41.11 By this I know that thou favourest me because mine enemy doth not triumph over me Partly because God will spue those out of his mouth that are neither hot nor cold Partly because Zeal discourageth the Factours and Abettours of the Kingdom of darkness The Fear of the People restrained the Pharisees 5. Prize the means of Grace and incourage them Iericho's Walls fell by the blast of the Rams-horns This Kingdom falleth by the Preaching of the Gospel 2 Thes. 2.8 Whom the Lord will consume with the Spirit of his mouth Whoever hinders that promotes the Devils Kingdom 2 Cor. 4.4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Owls fly in the dark This Kingdom is maintained by Darkness Blindness and Ignorance of the Truth 6. Let us not give incouragement by our Divisions to our adversaries The more we labour for Unity the more we Establish Religion Rom. 16.17 Mark them which cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrin which ye have Learned and avoid them When Passengers in a boat fall a quarreling and pushing one another they endanger the sinking of the boat When Christ's Army is scattered Antichrist will prevail Keep up the common Christianity it may be peaceful endeavours signifie nothing in a factious and divided â— time yet we must Unite every one in the things that are right and owned by God Jam. 3.17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaecable Provided we touch no unclean thing Here we must separate 2 Cor. 6.17 Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you 7 Recommend Religion by an holy Life Partly because gross sins under the Profession of a Reformed Religion provoke God to remove our Candlestick from us Partly because with all understanding Beholders the Fruits of Love Peace and Holiness will justifie your Religion Matth. 11.19 Wisdom is justified of her Children 8. Practise the Vertues contrary to the Vices of the opposite Kingdom Theirs is a Bloody Religion ours a Meâ—k
the Heart and may be determined partly by the object or matter believed partly by the subject of it or the acts of the Soul towards it First The Object or Matter believed is in short this That there is a God Heb. 11.6 That God having made Man he hath right and power over him to govern him by his Laws James 4.12 There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy That Man failing in his Obedience he and all his Posterity are subject to the wrath and vindictive Justice of God Rom. 3.19 That all the World may become guilty before God Ephes. 2.3 And were by nature children of wrath even as others That such was God's Love that to recover Man out of this wretched condition he sent his own Son into the World John 3.16 That Iesus Christ who was the Son of God died for our offences and rose again for our Iustification Rom. 4.25 That is died to expiate our sins and rose again to convince the unbelieving VVorld of the Authority and Dignity of his Person and Offices and also of the truth of his Law and Covenant that having died and rose again he hath acquired Novum Ius Imperii a new right of Command and Empire over the World Rom. 14.9 For this cause he both died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord of dead and living That is have full power and dominion to dispose of us dead and living That Christ having this full power and dominion over all flesh hath established and enacted a Law of Grace or New Covenant wherein Pardon and Righteousness or Title to Life is assured to Penitent Believers Mark 16.16 Whosoever believeth shall be saved And Luke 24.47 And that Repentance and Remission of sins be Preached in his Name to all Nations And shall actually be bestowed upon all that obey him Heb. 5.9 But those that refuse this Christ shall be eternally miserable John 3.19 This is the condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil This is the sum of what is to be believed Secondly It may be determined partly by the Subject of it or the acts of the Soul about it The Subject is the Heart both Understanding and Will The Understanding Assents to all this as true both what is said of the Person of the Redeemer and his Covenant and accordingly disposeth the heart of Man to carry it self towards both 1. To the Person of the Redeemer We Thankfully and Broken-heartedly receive him to the ends of the Gospel or to be to us what God hath appointed him to be and do that for us That God hath appointed Him to do for poor sinners To be our Lord and Saviour Iohn 1.12 Col. 2.6 as Lord to obey him and as Saviour to depend upon him and trust our selves in his hands for our happiness whatever befalleth us 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day 2. Towards the Covenant which he hath appointed as the Law or Rule of Commerce between us and God There are Promises and Precepts Commands and offers of Grace 1. For the Promises you heartily accept them as the greatest Happiness that can be bestowed upon you and depend upon them as things that surely will be performed for there comes in the consideration of true and good 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a true and faithful saying Ephes. 1.13 In whom ye trusted after ye heard the word of truth as true doubts are opposite to them as good carnal inclinations 2 For the Precepts and Duties required you bind your selves to perform them upon these hopes whatever it cost you And there comes in also the nature of Faith Sincere Resolution and Absolute Self denial Sincere resolution to perform what God hath required that you may obtain what he hath offered which is called a giving up of our selves to the Lord 2 Cor. 8.5 And absolute Self denial or Selling all for the Pearl of Price Mat. 13.46 And so that Faith which is made such a difficult thing to explain as it were a Bugbear to affright poor Christians from all thoughts and study about it is made easie and facile to the understandings of the meanest Christians who must live by it and be saved by it This then is believing with the Heart Secondly What is Confession with the Mouth A solemn outward declaration that we take Christ for our Lord and Saviour or that we believe what is revealed to us concerning God and Christ and our duty to him This is necessary because the Promises of the New Covenant run in both strains of putting the word in our Heart Ier. 31.37 and putting it in our Mouths Isa. 59.21 The Saints Prayers are That God would not take it out of their Hearts Psal. 119.36 nor out of their Mouths Verse 43. Take not the word of Truth utterly out of my Mouth And the nature of their duty to God requireth it for a Man is first to embrace the True Religion to receive it with his Heart and then he is to profess it or express it with his Mouth for no Man is to conceal and keep his Religion to himself Our Tongues and our Bodies were given us to shew forth that acknowledgment and Adoraâ—ion of God which is in our hearts He that denieth God or Christ with the Heart doth not believe in him or Worship him with the Heart So he doth not Worship God with his Tongue and Life who doth not outwardly profess and honour him As he hath given us an understanding that we may know him so he hath prepared for us a body wherewithal to profess him and our esteem of him Isa. 45.23 To me every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear Which is again repeated and established as our duty in the Gospel Phil. 2.10.11 At the Name of Iesus every Knee should bow And every Tongue confess that Iesus Christ is Lord. But more distinctly to open this confession with the Mouth 1. The matter to be confessed is the great truths which we do believe God Christ the Covenant of Grace Eternal Glory and Happiness And the lesser truths in their season at other times Rom. 14.22 Hast thou Faith have it to thy self before God 'T is not meant of the necessary Articles of the Christian belief but things of a doubtful disputation If we know more than others in these things yet we must not needlessly trouble the Church or offend the weak to the danger of their Souls and hindrance of greater truths And yet in these things you must not deny the smallest truth 2 Cor. 13.8 We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth For though the thing we contend for be small yet sincerity is a great matter and to profess our Assent or Consent to what we neither count true nor can well approve of is to come under a
of Peace II. The respect that is between these two Faith and Profession There is a double respect such as between 1. The Cause and Effect First We Believe and then Confess our Faith is the cause of our Confession 2 Cor. 4.13 We having the same Spirit of Faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak David was sore afflicted and yet professed his Faith in God He could not suppress his boasting of the promises in his greatest distresses So we believe in Christ and therefore cannot but in word and deed express our confidence in him when such a Spirit of Faith cometh upon us there will not need many enforcemenâ—s or excitements publickly to own Christ For this Spirit of Faith cannot be shut up in the Heart but will break out into Confession There cannot be a true and lively Faith without Confession nor a true Confession without Faith For the effect cannot be without the cause nor such a powerful cause without the effect 2. Such as there is between the sign and the thing signified Faith hath always Confession and Obedience joined with it as its proper sign As Flame or Smoâ—k is of Fire or â—reathing of Life so is Confession with the Mouth or an Holy Life an individual companion and note of true Faith by which it is demonstrated to be sincere and real Shew me thy Faith without thy Works and I will shew thee my Faith by my Works Iames 2.18 Men know not our Hearts whether we believe in God yea or no or what we believe of him till they hear and see it in our profession and actions here is the sign the proof of it Look as an evil principle bewrayeth its self by its proper signs as Atheism by Mens ungodly and unholy lives Psal. 36.1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my Heart There is no fear of God before his Eyes What could they do more in a way of sin or less in a way of duty if there were no God The current of a Mans life and actions doth best expound and interpret his Heart any considerate Man may conclude from their manner of living that they have no sense of the Being of God nor never expect to be accountable to him So for the belief of Christianity 't is discovered by owning Christ in the greatest dangers by a ready obedience to his precepts that seem to be most cross to the inclination and interest of the Flesh or by an Holy and Heavenly life 'T is a sign we believe those blessed sublime and weighty truths which are contained in the Gospel In short we judge others by external works alone for the Tree is known by its Fruits Mat. 7.16 we judge of our selves by external and internal together both by the belief of the Heart and the confession of the Mouth also III. The order God hath established appointing Faith as a means to be justified and confession as a means to be saved 1. Let us speak of what is requisite to righteousness so Faith is the means whereby this Righteousness is applied received and freely given us To explain this I shall enquire 1. What is Righteousness 2. Shew you that this Righteousness is applied by Faith 3. That the Cordial and Heart-believer is the Penitent Working Believer 1. What is Righteousness 't is here taken in a legal and judicial sense not for a disposition of Mind and Heart to please God but for the ground of a Plea before the Tribunal of God that we may be exempted from the punishments threatned and obtain the Grace offered or a right to the reward promised Rom. 5.18 As by the offence of one Iudgment came upon all to condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to justification of life 2. That we are qualified for this Righteousness by Faith So 't is said Rom. 3.24 25. Being justified freely by his Grace through the redemption that is in Iesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his Blood to declare his Righteousness for the remission of sins We get absolution from sin by free pardon through the Merit of Christ and are accepted as Righteous before God when we enter into the new Covenant taking God for our Lord and Happiness Christ for our Redeemer and Saviour the Holy-Ghost for our Sanctifier and Comforter More especially with respect to Christ when we subject our selves to him as our Lord and depend upon the Merit of his Death and Intercession for our acceptance with God Now that this believing with the Heart is required in order to righteousness is every where manifested in the Scriptures Therefore the new Covenant Righteousness is called the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 9.30 The Gentiles have attained to Righteousness even the Righteousness which is of Faith So Gal. 5.5 We through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith Because Faith qualifieth us for it A righteousness we must have that we may be exempted from wrath which sin hath made our due and that we may be accepted with God unto Eternal Life which they that are destitute of all Righteousness can never attain unto A Righteousness of our own according to the Law of Works we are far from The legal way therefore can never stead us We must only run for Refuge to the Evangelical course or way set down in the Gospel namely that upon the account of the Merit and Obedience of Christ God will pardon the sins of all Penitent Believers and accept them to Grace and Favour Well then 't is by Faith that Christs Death and Obedience are applied and made beneficial to us Rom. 3 2â— The righteousness of God is by the Faith of Iesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe and there is no difference Well then every Believer is qualified If you ask me therefore 3. What kind of Believer is qualified and accepted as righteous I answer 1. The Penitent Believer 2. The Working Believer 1. The Penitent Believer for Faith and Repentance are inseparable Companions and always go together in our first introduction or entrance into the New Covenant Mark 1.15 Repent and Believe the Gospel And Acts 2.38 Repent and be Baptized for the Remission of Sins When we depend upon Christ for Pardon we are willing to return to God and live in his Obedience hating and detesting our former ways wherein we wandred from him Well then though the Righteousness be only the Righteousness of Faith and the Believer be only accepted as Righteous yet 't is the Penitent Believer whose Heart and Life is changed and who is willing by Christ to come to God 2. 'T is the Working Believer So 't is explained what is in Gal. 5.5 called The Righteousness of Faith is ver 6. called Faith working by Love Not all that is called by that Name but the working Faith And so 't is expressed else where Heb. 11.7 By
you shall command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law Luke 9.44 Let these sayings sink down into your Ears Close Application Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things if God be for us who can be against us Job 5.27 Loe thus we have searched it so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good And therefore as things are duly thought on so they must be closely applied These three acts of the Soul have each of them a distinct and proper Work Sound belief worketh on the clearness and certainty of the things asserted Serious Consideration on the greatness and importance of them Close Application on their pertinency and suitableness to us See all in one place 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a true saying worthy of all acceptation That Iesus Christ came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am chief These are all necessary to make any truth operative Sound belief for we are not affected with what we believe not Heb. 4.2 For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them but the word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Therefore to awaken diligence the truth of things is pleaded 2 Pet. 1.5 10 16. Give all diligence to add to your Faith Virtue and to Virtue Knowledge Give diligence to make your calling and Election sure for we have not followed cunningly devised Fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Iesus Christ but were Eye-witnesses of his Majesty Heb. 2.3 4. For if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him The first rousing Question when Men heard any Sermon about any Truth or Doctrine of the Gospel was Is this true For Consideration Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy Brethren partakers of the Heavenly calling consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Christ Iesus our Lord. Without Consideration the weightiest things lie by as if they were not Sleepy reason is as none The most important Truths have no force upon us till Consideration awakeneth us Then for Application what concerneth us not is passed over Unless we hear things with a care to apply them we shall never make use of them Eph. 1.13 In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of our Salvation In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise 'T is not enough to know the Gospel to be a Doctrine of Salvation to others but we must look upon it as a Doctrine that bringeth Salvation to our own doors and leaveth it upon our choice A Plaister doth not heal at a distance till it be applied to the Sore Truths are too remote till we set the edge and point of them to our own Hearts Well then by this way we Preach to our selves Day and Night by exciting our Faith in God and Christ and Glory to come and by serious Consideration stirring up all God's graces in our selves and reproving our selves for all our Sins and calling a backward Heart to all the duties required of us This is the work of Close Application 5. They prosper best in Grace that most faithfully and diligently use the means Here I shall prove two things 1. That we are to use the means For wherefore hath Christ appointed them but that we should use them His Church is not like a Statuaries Shop where the Image or Statue doth nothing but the Carver or Artificer doth all But 't is compared to a School where Christ is the Teacher to teach us our Duty and we are Disciples to learn it And to a Kingdom where Christ is the Monarch and Sovereign and we are Subjects ingaged by Covenant to Obey him and the manner of his Government 't is not meerly natural ruling us as he doth the other Creatures by a Rod of Iron or in a way of absolute power as they cannot do otherwise but Moral by Laws Promises Threatnings working Faith by preaching and Love Hope and Obedience are the ends of Faith Certainly he governeth Man as Man not by Physical Motions only but by Moral Motives to which we must attend consider and improve Hosea 11.4 I drew them with the Cords of a Man with bands of Love Christ hath not to deal with Stones or Brick or Timber but with Men. God hath fitted the means to do their work and for these ends we must use them If he did ordinarily work without them he would never have appointed them to this end He could have done it with one powerful fiat one creating word or beck of his will but he hath set another train and order of Causes and therefore he will work by them because he worketh on all things according to their Nature and this is suitable to the nature of Man We never knew of any Man that came to Knowledge Faith or Love without means Therefore 't is presumption for us to expect it And the greatest neglecters and despisers of Means are every where the most graceless and the worst of Men Therefore it concerneth us to use them 〈◊〉 the greater diligence and care We may learn from our Adversary the Devil he sheweth his Malice to Souls in opposing the means either by depriving Men of them 2 Thess. 2.18 Wherefore we would have come unto you even I Paul once and again but Satan hindred us or keeping them from them by thraldom or filling them with prejudice Iohn 8.4.4 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do he was a Murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him 2 Cor. 44. In whom the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine upon them Or from the Faithful using of them Matth. 13.19 When any one heareth the word of the Kingdom and understandeth it not then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sowen in his Heart He watcheth them in all their Postures As soon as Men begin to be serious and to take heed what they hear he disturbeth the Work Well then the Means have an Aptitude and subservient Efficacy which we ought to regard 2. They prosper best that do most faithfully and diligently use the means I shall prove that by the double reason of the Text. 1. With what measure you meet it shall be measured to you again In the Allegation of this Proverbial Speech I shall observe two things 1. That there is a Law of Commerce between God and his Creatures or else how shall we know what to expect And the ordinary Rule
be pleasing and acceptable to God in order to Practice and value our Lives for this End only that we may serve God it is a sign Grace is planted in the Heart But now ungodly Men neither care to know the ways of God nor to walk in them They that are willingly ignorant and do not search to know how God will be served and pleased and make this their Work they do not count God their chiefest Good They search not that they may not practice they err not in their Mind only but in their Hearts Psal. 95.10 It is a People that do err in their Hearts they have not known my ways To err in the Mind may be through invincible Ignorance but a Man errs in his Heart when he doth not desire to know God and to know his Will and what he must do in Worship and Conversation but saith I do not desire to know God Iob 21.14 Therefore they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the Knowledg of thy ways Therefore he that doth not make it his great Work and the Business of his Life to find out what God would have him do he is ungodly Usually this is found in Men half convinced they have not a Mind to know that which they have not a Mind to do and so they are willingly ignorant But now a godly Man makes it the Business of his Life still to follow God Foot by Foot to know more of his Mind and Will Rom. 12.2 That you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect VVill of God Ephes. 5.12 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. A true Christian always practiseth what he knows and still searcheth that he may know more he would be always more useful for God and more according to his Heart that is the Study the great Business and Project of his Life to find out God's Will and then practise it What shall I do more for God Thirdly God must be acknowledged as the supream Truth and Authority and there if we be not moved with his Promises with his Threatnings and Counsels as the Words of the great God as if he had spoken from Heaven by an audible Voice if we do not yield him Reverence in his Worship and subject our Hearts and Lives unto his Laws it is Ungodliness 1 st We must receive the Counsels of his Word with all Reverence and Veneration as if God had spoke to us by a Voice from Heaven This is to receive the Word as the Word of God 2 Thess. 2.10 They received not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved The Heathens received the Oracles of their Gods with great Reverence and were much moved when they had an Oracle but when the Word comes with a mighty convincing Power upon the Heart and you are not moved and affected this argues your Ungodliness So when we can drousily hear of the great things of Heaven and the Death of Christ and the Covenant of Grace and the glorious Salvation offered and are no more moved than with a Fable or with a Dream of Rubies dropping down from Heaven in the Night this is Ungodliness That there is a great deal of Ungodliness in this kind is clear by our Neglect of these Precious Things If a Man should proffer another a thousand Pound for a Trifle and he should not accept it you would not say it was because he prized that Trifle that is not profitable but because he did not believe the Offer So when God offers Heaven and Christ to us upon such easy terms as to part with nothing but our Sins which are better parted with than kept we do not honour him as the eternal Truth if we do not accept it but count him a Liar and this is the greatest Affront you can put upon God for he that believeth not God hath made him a Liar because he believeth not the Record that God gave of his Son 1 John 5.10 He that doth not regard the Offer of the Gospel certainly he believes it is not true and so he dishonours God as the supream Truth 2 dly If we would honour God as the supream Lord of Heaven and Earth we must reverence him in his Worship God is not only terrible in the high Places of the Field and there where he executes his dreadful Judgments and not only so in the Depths of the Sea where the Wonders of the Lord are seen but he is also terrible in his holy Places Psal. 68.35 O God thou art terrible out of thy holy Places Then are the Hearts of his People filled with most awful Apprehensions of his glorious Majesty and of his excellent Holiness and this makes them tremble But now when we do not come with these awful Apprehensions we do not own God as the supream Majesty and therefore when they brought him an unbeseeming Sacrifice saith the Lord Mal. 1.14 Cursed be the Deceiver which hath in his Flock a Male and voweth and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing for I am a great King saith the Lord of Hosts and my Name is dreadful among the Heathens This is not becoming my Majesty And the Saints of God never feel such Self-Abhorrency and Loathing of themselves as when they are worshipping God God is even dreadful then when he is most comfortable to his People Deut. 28.58 That thou mayst fear this glorious and fearful Name the Lord thy God Thy God this is the comfortablest Name in all the Scripture this is the Foundation of our Hope and this puts the Saints upon a Holy Reverence But now ungodly Men come with slight cold and careless Hearts their Thoughts are upon the Shop and the Cart and the Plough and any where else than upon God they dream nigh to him with their Lips but their Hearts are removed far from him They do not come to him as a great King and supream Majesty and Authority of all and so they dishonour God exceedingly Our Thoughts in Worship should be more taken up with his Glory 3 dly If we would honour God as supream there must be a willing Subjection of our Hearts and Lives to his Laws Usually here we stick in a want of Conformity thereto Men that love God as a Creator naturally hate him as a Law-giver Men love him as a Giver of Blessings but they would fain live at large Thoughts that strike at the Being of God and Doctrines of Liberty are welcome to a carnal Heart therefore it is tedious to them to hear of one to call them to account and it is pleasing to them to think which is an Argument of the highest Hatred that can be that there were no God to call them to a reckoning that they might let loose the Reins to vile Affections We would be absolute and Lords of our own Actions And this Subjection must be in Heart and Life There must be a Subjection of the Heart God's Authority is never more undermined than by a mere Form of
account of what we have done and received in the Body And therefore it is best while we are in the way to make our Peace with God and to break off our Sins by Repentance Otherwise what Quiet can we have in our selves or how can we keep our selves when we are serious from trembling at Wrath to come We may smother Conscience and baffle all Convictions for the present but Christians you and I must be judged Now when God riseth up to the Judgment what shall we answer him Iob 31.14 What then shall I do when God riseth up and when he visiteth what shall I answer him That must be thought on before-hand If we have no Answer which will satisfy now much less then 2. From the manner or strictness of that Day 's Account he will judg the World in Righteousness Eccles. 12.14 God shall bring every Work into Iudgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil Hypocrisy shall be disclosed Sincerity shall be rewarded nothing shall be hidden from God's Search no Person shall be exempted no Work either open or secret but God will bring it into Judgment His infinite Wisdom knoweth all and his infinite Justice will give due Recompence to all The Businesses of all Nations and Persons shall be openly examined What then is our Duty but to exercise our selves both in Faith and Repentance that our Judg may be our Saviour and it may go well with us when this Search is made 3. Chiefly from the Person sufficiently attested by the Miracles of his Life and Resurrection from Death God hath determined and ordained the Person by whom the whole World shall be judged And from thence we may judg of the Rule it is by his Doctrine and by our receiving or not receiving Christ. Surely it is our Interest to be in with him who will cite us before his Tribunal To accept his Person as our Lord and Saviour Iohn 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God To believe and entertain his Doctrine as the Message of God Iohn 5.24 He that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting Life and shall not come into Condemnation but is passed from Death to Life To imitate his Example 1 Iohn 4.17 Herein is our Love made perfect that we may have Boldness in the Day of Iudgment because as he is so are we in this World To trust in his Merit Psal. 2.12 Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his Wrath is kindled but a little Blessed are all they that put their Trust in him To love him and live to him 1 Cor. 16.22 If any Man love not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be Anathema Maran-atha If he say Come ye Blessed or Go ye Cursed we must abide by it to all Eternity Wo to them that neglect his Offers contemn his Ways oppose his Interest oppress his Servants But blessed are they whose Redeemer is their Judg he who shed his Blood for them must pass the Sentence on them and one that is Flesh of our Flesh and Bone of our Bone is the final Judg between us and God Will he be harsh to his sincere Disciples But to say all in a word Surely this Consideration should do the Work effectually because his Gospel and Covenant is nothing else but a free Promise of Pardon upon Condition of Repentance Luke 24.47 That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations And to this end the Apostles were to preach that Christ is Judg Acts 10.42 43. He hath commanded us to preach unto the People and to testify that it is he who was ordained of God to be the Iudg of Quick and Dead To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive Remission of Sins Nothing sheweth the necessity of Remission of Sins so much as the Judgment and the necessity of Repentance to Remission so much as the Judg who in his Covenant hath made this Condition Nothing doth befriend the great Discovery of the Gospel which is free Pardon of Sin by Christ upon Repentance so much as the sound Belief of this Truth that Christ is Judg. Doct. That the great Purpose and Drift of the Gospel where it is sent and preached is to invite Men to Repentance This appeareth abundantly by the Scripture that Repentance is one of the first and chief Lessons which the Gospel teacheth When the Gospel-Kingdom was to be erected or set up Iohn the Baptist crieth Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Mat. 3.2 So when Jesus himself began to preach his Note is the same Mat. 4.17 He began to preach and to say Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand His Doctrine and the Doctrine of the Baptist is all one in substance and necessarily it must be so The Gospel findeth Men under the Tyranny of Sathan and offereth to bring them into the Kingdom of God So when he sent abroad his Disciples first to the Iews Matth. 10. and afterwards to the World Luk. 24.47 That Repentance and remission of Sins should be preached in his Name The Disciples were faithful to their Commission Acts 2.38 Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of Sins But to give you some Reasons of it I shall 1. Enquire what is Repentance 2. What the Gospel doth to promote it 3. How convenient and necessary this is for all those that are willing to come out of the Apostacy of Mankind and to return to their Obedience to God First What is Repentance Sometimes it is taken largely for our whole Conversion to God through the Faith of Christ as in the Text He commandeth all men to repent that is to turn from their Sins and believe the Gospel 2 Tim. 2.25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if peradventure God will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth Where the owning of the Christian Faith is called Repentance Sometimes strictly as opposed to or rather distinguished from Faith as Acts 20.21 Testifying both to the Iews and also to the Greeks Repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Iesus Christ. Where Repentance is said to be towards God as the End as Faith is conversant about Christ as the Means And there it signifieth a return to the Love and Obedience of our Creator which was our Primitive Duty before the Fall as Faith implyeth all the Duties that belong to our recovery by Christ. In short in the strict sense there is not only a Sorrow for what is past which is a beginning and help to the other part for 2 Cor. 7.10 Godly sorrow working repentance unto Salvation not to be repented of but also a full purpose of Heart to live unto God Gal. 2.19 I through the Law am dead to
lay hold of the second Covenant we must be dead to the Law Men are slight and careless untill the Curse of the Law puts them so hard to it that they are made to despair of getting Heaven and Salvation by Obedience to it O then they think of a New Life and a New Claim The Curse of the Law follows them close makes them utterly despair in themselves then they are fit to live unto God The Apostle tells us this is the great Use for which the Law now serveth Rom. 5.20 The Law entred that the Offence might abound Gal. 3.19 Wherefore then serveth the Law it was added because of trangression that is to convince Sinners of their lost Estate that men might be sensible of their Sins and so forcibly constrained to make after another Righteousness None pass from one Covenant to another but they have a taste of the first I. VSE To inform us how the two Covenants agree and are subservient to one another For these two are not contrary being both Truths revealed by God they have a mutual respect the Law serveth to make Sin known Rom. 3.20 For by the Law is the knowledge of Sin and the Gospel holdeth forth the Remedy of Sin Iohn 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sin of the World The Law paints out our need oâ— Christ who is the end of the Law for Righteousness Rom. 10.4 The Gospel maketh an offer of Christ that in him we may have what we could not attain by the Law 1 Cor. 1.30 For of him are ye in Christ Iesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption The Law discovers those Duties wherein a Man made Righteous ought to walk and testifie his Thankfulness Eph. 4.1 2. I beseech you that you walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness c. The Gospel furnisheth him with Spiritual Strength to walk in those Duties which the Law prescribeth 2 Cor. 3.6 The Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life Lex jubet Gratia juvat The Law commands but Grace helps us Thus they fairly agree and are mutually useful II. VSE To awaken our Consciences to consider upon what Terms we stand with God and by what Covenant we can plead with him by the Covenant of Works or by the Covenant of Grace If we be yet under the Covenant of Works and have not got the Sentence of the Law repealed O miserable Creatures there is no hope Psal. 130.34 If thou Lord shouldest mark Iniquity O Lord who shall stand But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared If God should deal with us in a way of strict Justice according to the tenor of the Law and the Covenant of Works no Man can escape Condemnation and the Curse There is another Covenant but how will you decline Judgment according to the first Covenant 1. There is no hope of your pleading another Covenant till you own the first Covenant to be just and with Brokenness of Heart you look upon your selves as shut up under the Curse and you acknowâ—edge your selves lost and undone Sinners The great thing that this Young man wanted was Brokenness of Heart and therefore Christ would have him see himself in the Law The Heirs of Promise are described to be those that have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the Hope set before them Heb. 6.18 It is all Allusion to those that fled for their Life If one had kill'd a Man by chance and not out of Malice prepense there was a City of Refuge appointed and if he fled there before the Avenger of Blood the next of kin seized upon him the Man was safe None are brought in to Christ but they come as those that have the Avenger of Blood following them they are driven and must away from the first Covenant by a deep sense of their Misery Men that are Heart-whole and have only Doctrinal Notions about the two Covenants without feeling the force of either and being driven out of themselves to ly at God's Feet for Mercy they as yet remain under the Old Covenant and need be prepared by this breaking Work Indeed Degrees are different but all feel some Trouble some with great Horror and Despair but others with Anxiousness and Solicitude the Curse is at their heels therefore they desire to be found in Christ Now have you felt any thing of the Spirit of Bondage The deepness of the Wound is not to be looked after but the soundness of the Cure but yet some Wound there will be And therefore till there be some Grief and Shame and Sorrow and bitter Remorse because of Sin a smiting upon the Thigh because of the Indignation of the Lord and humbling our selves before God we are not fit for Mercy We are not Heirs of the Promise if we do not hasten to the Hope set before us 2. They that do as yet trust to their good Meanings and Endeavours and seek Salvation by their own Doing must yield perfect Obedience to the Law of God or else they cannot obtain Eternal Life we make this to be our Covenant by sticking to any one Work of ours Gal. 5.2 3. Behold I Paul say unto you that if ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing For I testifie again to every one that is circumcised that he is a Debtor to do the whole Law If another Man had spoken this possibly you would have judged him rash and uncircumspect But I Paul say unto you I that have an Apostolical Authority I that know the mind of Christ I testifie this again and again that observing any one Ceremony as part of a Mans Righteousness necessary to Salvation cuts off the Observer from all Benefit by Christ he is a Debtor to the Duty of the whole Law he obligeth himself to perfect Obedience without which the Law cannot justifie any he saith it again and again that Man might take heed This trust in his own Righteousness in effect is a renouncing the Gospel Covenant Christ must be our whole Righteousness and a compleat Saviour or not at all If we rely upon any thing besides him or joyntly with him as a meritorious Cause of Salvation we lose all Hope and Comfort by Christ. This is the great Concernment of the Soul therefore to be inculcated with such Seriousness and Earnestness 3. By living in any known allowed reigning Sin shews we have no Claim to the second Covenant Saith David Psal. 19.13 Keep back thy Servant also from presumptuous sins let them not have Dominion over me so shall I be upright and shall be innocent from the great transgression Our Qualification under the second Covenant is not a Soul exactly perfect but a Soul sincere Now if any Sin hath Dominion over us our Sincerity is gone Rom. 6.14 Sin shall not havâ— dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace There were no cogency in the Argument
and with least defaults in his Duty and blots in his Fidelity to Christ. Would you know then whether your Faith be strong or weak know it by this The more you can adhere to Christ whatever Temptations you have to the contrary if you can venture not only some but all things upon the Account of the Promise of Eternal Life 1. Deny the sinful Pleasures of the Flesh they were never worth the keeping If I cannot deny a little vain Pleasure what can I deny for Christ surely momentary Delight is bought too dear if it must be bought with the loss of Eternal Joyes Esau is represented as a Prophane Person that sold his Birth-right for one morsel of Meat Heb. 12.15 If the vain Delights of the World prevail so with Men that all the Promises of the Gospel cannot reclaim them these comply with the Motions of the Flesh which is importunate to be pleased but have no sense of the Offers of Christ who calleth upon us to save our Souls The true Christian is a Stranger and Pilgrim on the Earth whose Mind and Heart is set upon better things which are to come 1 Pet. 2.11 Upon the security of God's Word he is taking his Journey into another World 2. We must be willing to Sacrifice all our Interests Matth. 16.24 If any Man will come after me and be my Disciple let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me If God be trusted as our Felicity Worldly Felicity must be no Impediment to our Duty therefore if we cannot incur blame and shame with Men yea damage and loss that we may be faithful with God our Faith is worth nothing 3. If God call you not to Sufferings yet there are some Expencefull and Self-denying Duties which ever are incumbent upon you Matth. 25.35 Visiting the Sick Cloathing the Naked Feeding the Hungry Luk. 12.33 Sell that ye have and give Alms provide your selves Bags which wax not old a Treasure in the Heavens that faileth not Can you trust Christ upon such Promises and be at some loss for the Gospel for a Religion that costs nothing is worth nothing most Men love a cheap Gospel and the Flesh ingrosseth all Faith gets little from them to be layed out for God These Men run a fearful hazard of being rejected for ever they Sow to the Flesh Gal. 6.8 He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting 4. If your Faith maketh you to submit to Providence When we first entred into Covenant with God we entirely and absolutely gave up our selves to God to be governed by his commanding Will and to be ordered by his disposing Will You cannot shift your selves out of his Hands but your voluntary submission to any thing if you may have Christ and Heaven at last is the Tryal of your Faith Iob 1.21 The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord Phil. 1.20 So Christ be magnified in my Body whether it be by life or death He was come to a Point Nothing should be reserved so Christ may be glorified and you may have his saving Grace let him give or take the more willingly you do this the stronger is your Faith Certainly to deny all is an essential Property of Faith 3. The third Evidence of a growing Faith is when our Light is turned into Love For Faith is not a bare Knowledge but a sound a savoury and affective Knowledge a knowing things as we ought to know them 1 Cor. 8.1 2. A Knowledge with a Taste for such a difference as there is between the sight of Meat and the tasting of it such a difference there is betwen speculative Knowledge and the Apprehension of Faith 1 Pet. 1.3 You may dispute him out of his Belief that Seeth but you can never dispute him out of his Belief that Tastes for you cannot make him go against his own sense The stedfastness of unlearned Christians cometh mainly from their Taste and Love They adhere more closely to Christ than those that have only a dead Opinion because they received the Truth not only in the light but love of it 2 Thes. 2.10 Now the more Taste we have of the things we know and believe the stronger is our Faith Now besides the manner of Apprehension the Truths apprehended tend mainly to raise our Love to God that we may love him that loved us first 1 Ioh. 4.19 We know God that we may Love him and Faith is nothing else but a beholding the Love of God in the Face of Jesus Christ that our Hearts may be warmed attracted and drawn to God Faith is the Bellows to enkindle the Fire of Love in our Souls and therefore Faith the more sound and sincere it is the more it worketh by Love Gal. 5.6 Faith is required sub ratione medii Love sub ratione finis The End of the Gospel Institution is Love 1 Tim. 1.5 Well then when you make it your great Business to love God and count it your great Happiness to be beloved by him then may you best judge of the Growth of your Faith The Gospel representeth the Goodness and Amiableness of God that he may be more lovely to us and be beloved by us For this was the end of Reconciling and Saving Man by Christ his Incarnation Life Sufferings Death Resurrection Ascension and Intercession is all to reveal the Love of God in Christ and to work our Hearts to love God again To this end also tend his merciful Covenant and Promises and all the Benefits given to the Church all the Priviledges of the Saints his Spirit Pardon Peace Glory all these to warm our Hearts and fill them with a sense of the Love of God Now if we slightly reflect upon these things with cold and narrow Thoughts we have not the true Faith certainly not a grown Faith SERMON IV. ON 2 THESS I. v. 3. Your Faith groweth exceedingly THe Fourth Essential Property of Faith is its Respect to the Word of God That I may explain this with more full satisfaction I shall open Four things 1. The Relation of the Word to Faith 2. The Acts of Faith about the Word 3. The Effects of Faith thus exercised 4. The Notes whereby we may discern a strong or grown Faith 1. The Relation of the Word to Faith 1. 'T is a Means to beget and breed Faith Rom. 10.14 15. How shall they call on him on whom they have not believed and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent Every part of the gradation hath its weight First What I am bound to Adore and Invocate I must believe in him as a Divine Power For the Second How shall Men believe in Christ as a God unless they have heard of him Faith is a believing such things as God
hath revealed because he hath revealed them therefore the Divine Revelation must be conveyed to them by some means or other The Third There is no Hearing without a Preacher some Messenger or Interpreter that may bring Tydings of Pardon and Life by Christ. Then for the Fourth Branch How shall they Preach except they be sent that is come with Authority Evidence and Power whereby it may be known that he is a Messenger authorized and sent by God that the things propounded may be received as a certain Truth of God's own Revelation that we may depend upon the Credit of his Word and that with such a lively and effectual Belief as may prevail with us to Assent unto it and embrace it notwithstanding all Difficulties and Objections to the contrary Now such is the Doctrine of Salvation by Christ which Inviteth us to call upon his Name or Name our selves by the Name of Christ because we may Believe in him and run all Hazards for him 2 Tim. 1.12 Why Because we have heard of him the Fame of his Doctrine so suitable to the Glory of God and the Necessities of Mankind and the Fame of his Miracles especially his Death and Resurrection and that by Authentick Preachers or Faithful Men authorized by God and sufficiently owned by him as those that are Commissioned to Instruct the World and to Teach them the way of Salvation So that the Word is the great Means to work Faith 2. 'T is the Warrant of Faith which stateth the Laws of Commerce between us and God which sheweth how far God hath Obliged himself and we may depend upon him as appeareth by the Words of Christ Ioh. 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also that shall believe in me through their word The Principal Object of Faith is Christ we believe in him and the Warrant of Faith is the Word that is the Doctrine which by the Apostles is consigned to the use of the Church For these and no other Christ Prayeth and according to this way or Law of Grace God offereth himself to be reconciled to his Creatures So that here you may hold him to his Covenant the Word is gone out of his Lips and without this you make Promises to your selves which God will not stand unto 3. 'T is the Object of Faith or the thing which we do believe Acts 24.14 I believe all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets and add to that in the Writings of the Apostles to make the Object of the Christian Faith compleat take in also what is written in the Apostles for We are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone Eph. 2.20 That is the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ being the chief summe and scope of it who is to be accepted of as he is revealed and offered in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament betwixt which there is a sweet Harmony and Agreement But because this is too bulky and large for us to manage at one time let us consider the summe of the Scriptures in the Method wherein God hath put it and that is the Covenant of Grace ratified by the Blood of Christ which is the most glorious Discovery whereby God hath made known himself to his Creatures Psal. 138.2 I will praise thy Name for thy loving kindness and thy truth for thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name There we see that God's Word is the chiefest Discovery that he hath made of himself to the Creature for 't is magnified above all his Name that is it doth set forth God above all that is named famed spoken or believed or known or understood of God And what is the Matter of his Word his loving Kindness and his Truth that is in the Word there are contained Admirable Promises which God will certainly perform to the utmost Importance of them There we see his Mercy and loving Kindness in making such great Promises The Promises of the New Covenant are beyond all Expression great and precious 2 Pet. 1.4 they contain as much as the Heart of Man can desire all Spiritual and eternal Riches Pardon of Sin taking away the Stony Heart Eternal Life these are offered to Men to Believe And then his Truth and Fidelity in performing these Promises most punctually to all those that do Believe and will accept the Pardon Grace and Blessedness offered and behave themselves accordingly Well then God's Mercies in Christ to them that Repent Believe and Obey God are the Matter and Object of our Faith 4. The Word is the Security and Strength of our Faith 1. As it puts God's Grace into the way of a Promise 2. As this Promise is the Promise of God First We have much Advantage in Believing by the Formality of a Promise A Promise is more than a Purpose more than a Doctrinal Declaration more than a Prediction or Prophecy 1. More than a Purpose A Purpose is only the Thought of the Heart a thing secret and hidden but a Promise is open and manifest A Purpose is the Intention of a Person a Promise is his Intention revealed whereby we have a Knowledge of the good intended to us If God had only purposed to give us Eternal Life we might at last have enjoyed it but we could not have known it before hand It would have been as an hidden Treasure Promises are the Eruptions and Over-flows of God's Love to us his Heart is so big with Kindness and Designs of Goodness that it cannot stay 'till the accomplishment of things Isa. 42.9 Before they spring forth I tell you of them God's Purposes are a Sealed Fountain but his Promises are a Fountain broken open bubling forth He might have done us good and given us no Notice but Love concealed would not be so much for our Comfort Besides they are Obligations which God taketh upon himself Promittendi se fecit debitorem So far as God hath Promised so far he hath made himself a Debtor God's Purposes are unchangeable but his Promises are a Security put into our Hands so that we have a greater Hold fast upon God now the Word is gone out of his Lips Psal. 89.34 We may put the Bond in suit throw him in his Hand-writing Psal. 119.49 Remember thy word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope We have the Pawn of the thing Promised which we must hold fast 'till Performance cometh His Truth and Holiness lye at stake and are as it were impawned with the Creature 2. 'T is more than a Doctrinal Declaration 'T is one thing to reveal a thing another to Promise it A Doctrine maketh a thing known but a Promise maketh a thing sure A Doctrine giveth us Notice but a Promise giveth us Right and Interest if we be qualified Christ hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Doctrine of the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 But he hath not only manifested
waited for the Promise Our Respect to the Word is made up of a mixture of Obedience and Dependance there must be a Consent to both and we must resolve for the Holy and Heavenly Life Faith is an Act of the Will as well as of the Understanding Heb. 11.13 These all dyed in Faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were perswaded of them and embraced them Besides being perswaded there is embracing The promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us 2 Cor. 1.20 And they are exceeding great and precious Promises 2 Pet. 1.4 In one place you have both 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Iesus came into the World to save Sinners Therefore embrace them you must with all your Hearts and submit to this way of Covenanting with God 4. Your Judgments must highly esteem these Promises and your Hearts find full Contentment and Satisfaction in them We read often of receiving the Word with Joy and the confidence and rejoycing of Hope Heb. 3.6 Usually the Word of God hath too cold and slight Entertainment in our Affections and we do not value those precious Promises as we ought to do they should be dearer to us than our Lives and give us more Satisfaction than all the Enjoyments of the World Psal. 119.111 I have taken thy Testimonies as an heritage for ever they are the rejoycing of my Soul they do you good to your very Heart and the more you are acquainted with them the more you will see the worth of them Luke 6.23 Rejoyce and leap for joy for great is your reward in Heaven And of the Eunuch when he had sealed Covenant with God Acts 8.39 It is said he went his way rejoycing Faith cannot do its Office that it begets an Holy Gratitude to God to draw us off from the Allurements of Sense and fortifie us against Adversities and Troubles and engage us to the Duties of Christianity which are distrustful to Flesh and Blood unless it did fill our Hearts with an higher and better Joy than the World yieldeth Surely 't is Comfortable to be pardoned and reconciled to God to be in the Way and under the Hopes of Eternal Life Thirdly The Effects which these Acts produce These may be stated by the several Uses for which the Word of God serveth 1. T is the Seed of a New Life 2. The Constant Rule of all our Actions 3. The sure Charter of our Hopes 4. Our Strength and Preservation against all Temptations from the Devil the World and the Flesh. 5. Our Comfort and Cordial in all Afflictions 1. 'T is the Seed of a New Life 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of Corruptible seed but of Incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever And Iames 1.18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures And also 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature When we so believe the Pardon and Grace and Blessedness offered that our Hearts are changed into the Life and Likeness of God for the Truth is not rightly owned and believed till this Change be wrought both in Heart and Life then we are cast into the Mould of this Doctrine Rom. 6.17 Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine that was delivered to you Gospel Truths serve not for Speculation or meer Talk and Discourse but for Sanctification and therefore if this Seed be sown and engrafted in your Hearts and you begin to live to God an Holy and Heavenly Life you have the surest Evidence of your Faith for Causes are made sensible to us by their Effects 'T is usually brought as a proof of the Word the Sanctifying Vertue of it so 't is of the Sincerity of your Faith for the Word profiteth not unless it be mingled with Faith and since both Faith and the Word concurr to this Effect it may be ascribed to either Surely therefore if we believe the Word of God and value it as we ought it doth leave the Impression of God's Image upon us for it is the fairest Draught and Representation of God that ever was in the Law and Life of Christ 2 Cor. 3.18 If our Souls and Lives be a Transcript of the Word this Image is thence deduced to us by the Spirit and of necessity it must be so for Christs comforting Promises of Mercy and Glory are made to these New Creatures who live the Holy and Heavenly Life They have God's mark and Signature upon them and therefore are said to be sealed to the day of Redemption Eph. 2.30 and Eph. 1.3 This Renovation of the Soul is the Seal of God the Pledge of his Love and the Earnest of the heavenly Inheritance 2. The Constant Rule of all our Actions There is a fixed determined Rule from whence we cannot swerve and vary without Sin and if we would have Communion with God here or enjoy him hereafter We must keep close to this Rule Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this Rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God This Rule that is the Word of God which directeth us as to our General Path and Way and all our steps or particular Actions Psal. 119.105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths We must hide the Word in our Hearts Psal. 119.110 Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee We must consult with it upon all occasions as willing to understand our Duty Psal. 119.24 Thy Testiminies also are my delight and my Counsellors And because we may mistake thrô Error of Mind or be tempted aside thro' aversion of Heart and manifold Temptations Therefore we must earnestly beg it of God Psal. 119.133 Order my steps in thy VVord and let not any Iniquity have dominion over me And we must use all study our selves Rom. 12.2 and constant watchfulness Eph. 5.15 See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Now that which I say is this When the Word ruleth the main Course of our Lives and teacheth us how to live in the World soberly righteously and godly the tenderness of the Word and high respect to it that we dare not transgress it whatever Temptations we have so to do sheweth that Faith hath obtained its effect in us For trembling at the Word fearing of a Commandment and whatever of that kind is spoken of in the Scripture they are all Fruits of Faith 3. 'T is the Charter of our Hopes Iohn 20.31 These things are written that ye might have life through his Name 1 Iohn 5.11 This is the Record that God hath given unto us eternal life and this life is in his Son Now the Work of Faith
Faith and wherein the greatness of it lay 2. How this Faith was bred and begotten in him 3. The Effects and Fruits of it or how it discovered its self I. The Nature of his Faith It was a firm Perswasion that all Power and Authority was eminently in Christ and that he could do what he pleased The great End of Christ in all his Miracles was to discover himself to be the Son of God and one in whom the Divine Nature and Power resided and so by consequence that true Messiah and Saviour of the World This was Peter's Confession of Faith Matth. 16.16 Thou art Christ the Son of the living God The Promised Messiah the anointed Saviour of the World And with Peter all the rest of the Disciples join Iohn 6.69 We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God This the Samaritans being Convinced and Converted confessed also Ioh. 4.42 We know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the World This Martha acknowledges Ioh. 11.27 She saith unto him yea Lord I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God that should come into the VVorld This was it which the Apostles preached Acts 13.23 Of this Man's seed hath God according to his Promise raised unto Israel a Saviour Iesus This they required of all whom they Converted to the Christian Faith Acts 8.37 I believe that Iesus Christ is the Son of God Now this the Centurion cometh off roundly with being firmly perswaded of a Divine Power and Authority in Christ for he ascribeth an Omnipotency to his Word and reasoneth it out notably Speak but the word and my Servant shall be healed Ver. 8 9. For I am a Man under Authority having Souldiers under me and I say to this man goe and he goeth and to another come and he cometh and to my Servant do this and he doeth it Here then was the greatness of his Faith Objection You will say then all have great Faith for all the Christian World professeth this truth that Jesus is the Son of God Papists and Protestants Carnal and Renewed the rabble of Nominal Christians as well as the seriously Godly are of this Opinion that Jesus is the Son of God and the Saviour of the World Answer 1. Distinguere Tempora You must distinguish of the times In that Age there was no humane reason to believe this Truth Antiquity was against it and therefore when Paul preached Jesus they said He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods Acts 17.18 Authority was against it 1 Cor. 2.8 Which none of the Princes of this World knew for had they known it they would not have Crucifyed the Lord of glory Authority not only Civil but Ecclesiastical was against it Acts 4.11 This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders The universal Consent of the habitable World was against it Only a small handfull of contemptible People owned him Luk. 12.32 Fear not little Flock 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At that time it was the Critical Point the hated Truth that the Carpenter's Son should be owned as the Son of God Those bleak Winds that blew in our Backs and thrust us onward to Believe blew in their Faces and drove them from it Those very Reasons which move us to own Christ moved them to reject him For many Ages the Name of Christ hath been in Request and Honour but then it was a despised way For Men to lay aside their old Religion and Temples and Altars and Ceremonies and Rights of Worship for the new way of Jesus of Nazareth never heard of before born of a Jewish Woman living in a mean way Crucifyed like a Malefactor and dead and buried that he should be owned as the Son of God and the Saviour of the World what could be to appearance more unreasonable Alas what should we have done if we had been put to encounter with these Difficulties and Prejudices and no sooner did any Man own this truth but he was presently exposed to all manner of Troubles and Persecutions brought before Magistrates tortured murthered by all the Cruel Deaths that could be devised and all this to be endured upon the hopes of an unseen World Therefore then it was an undoubted Truth 1 Iohn 5.1 Whosoever believeth that Iesus is the Son of God is born of God And 1 Iohn 4.2 Every Spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the Flesh is of God Nay somewhat less than Faith and great Faith At his first appearance a certain perswasion impressed upon the Soul by the Spirit of God of the Divine Power and Alsufficiency of Christ so as to repair to him for help was Faith and great Faith when the vail of his Humane Nature and Infirmities did not keep the Eye of Faith from seeing him to have a Divine Power thô they could not unriddle all the Mysteries about his Person and Office this was accepted for Saving Faith 2. The Speculative Belief of this Truth was not sufficient then no more than it is now but the Practical Improvement Grant that Truth that Jesus is the Son of God and other things will follow as that we must obey his Laws and depend upon his Promises and make use of his Power and trust our selves in his hands otherwise the bare acknowledgment was not sufficient If a Man had at that time with some kind of Belief owned Christ as the Son of God and yet could not overcome the shame and fear of the World he would not have been accepted for it is said 1 Iohn 5.5 Who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that Iesus is the Son of God Unless that effect followed the Belief was vain Therefore it is said Iohn 2.23 24 25. Many believed in his Name when they saw the Miracles which he did But Iesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men And needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in Man Christ knew the inside of Men and therefore knew this Faith was unlikely to bear any stress or hold out against Temptations Men might be convinced of some Excellency and Divine Power in Christ and yet remain unconverted So Acts 8. Simon Magus believed in Christ yet remained in the gall of bitterness and bond of Iniquity So we read again Iohn 8.30 31. As he spake these words many believed on him Then said Iesus to those Iews which believed on him if ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Some are his Disciples in shew not truly and really being not settled and rooted in the Faith So it is noted Iohn 12.42 43. Nevertheless among the chief Rulers also many believed on him but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him lest they should be put out of the Synagogue For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God They had Faith but it was too weak to encounter Temptations they were too
In some Sence it is our Duty to consider them that we may not go about the most serious Work hand over head Christ bids us sit down and count the Charges Luke 14.28 For which of you intending to build a lower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost whether he have sufficient to finish it The Saints are wont to put hard cases to themselves Psal. 3.6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about And Psal. 23.4 Yea though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no evil 2. Therefore the Ends must be observed We must consider them to prevent Slightness and to weaken our Security but not to weaken our Confidence in the Promise When they are urged against the Promise they impeach the Truth of God but when we consider them to prevent Slightness it is good The Difficulties of Salvation must be sufficiently understood oâ—herwise we think to do the Work of an Age in a Breath Luke 13.24 Strive to enter in at the strait Gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able Josh. 24.19 And Ioshuâ— said unto the People Ye â—annot serve the Lord for he be is a holy God It is not so easie a Matter as you take it to be 3. Difficulties must be thought on to quicken Faith not to weaken it If they be pleaded against the Promise they weaken Faith if they be pleaded to drive us to the Promise they quicken Faith What greater Arguments are there to press us to dependance than to consider our Impotency the loosness of our Hearts and the strength of Temptations 2 Chron. 20.12 For we have no might against this great Company that cometh against us neither know we what to do but our eyes are unto thee But to plead against the Promise is to Consult with the Wisdom of the Flesh and it hath ever fared ill with the Saints Luk. 1.18 And Zacharias said unto the Angel Whereby shall I know this for I am an old man and my Wife well stricken in years Therefore for a while he was struck dumb So Moses Numb 20.12 Hear now ye Rebels must â—e fetch you water out of the Rock God had bidden him smite the Rock and assured him the Water should flow but he pleadeth the natural Impossibility therefore he was shut out of Canaan So that Noble Man 2 Kings 7.2 Then a Lord on whose hand the King leaned answered the Man of God and said Behold if the Lord would make Windows in Heaven might this thing be And he said Behold thou shalt see it with thine Eyes but shalt not eat thereof But he that will not believe the Truth of a Promise shall not partake of the Benefit of it Well then as Abraham regarded not the great Difficulties that might be pleaded to his Faith from his own and his Wife's Age so must not we Secondly I shall shew you the Inconveniences of this sinful considering the Difficulties in all the parts of Faith Assent Consent and Affiance 1. As to Assent There are many Difficulties which may be objected against the Truths propounded in the Word but it is enough to a Believer that God hath revealed them in his Word and propounded them to his Faith Reason is apt to reply as Nicodemus when Christ spake to him of Regeneration Iohn 3.9 How can these things be Carnal Reason keepeth Men from simple believing or resting on what is revealed till they see a Reason for every thing Now we see a Reason why we do believe and that is the Word of God or Divine Revelation though we do not see a Reason of every thing which we do believe for many things are Mysteries In such cases we must receive Truths as we do Pills not chew but swallow them take them upon the Credit of the Revealer To chew produceth a loathsom Ejection to swallow a wholsom Remedy Believing in the common Notion of it is a receiving of Truths upon Trust from another so it differeth from knowing And Divine Faith is a receiving such things as God hath revealed because he hath revealed them Therefore our first Enquiry is Whether these things be so or no Not how they can be so There we begin at the wrong end In many Cases constat de re the thing is evident in Scripture whereby it is revealed but how it can be is beyound our reach the Modus is not certain Now when we should believe we dispute and so cavil rather than enquire If it be not plainly revealed by God you may reject it without Sin and Danger but if it be you must not contradict all that you cannot comprehend otherwise dangerous Mischiefs will ensue The True God will be no God to you because you cannot comprehend the Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Divine Essence Christ will be no Christ because you cannot comprehend how a Virgin should conceive or how a God should become Man It is sufficient that it is revealed in Scripture which carrieth it's own Evidence in it's Forehead shining by it's own Light hath the Seal and Stamp of God upon it and moreover is confirmed by Miracles and handed and brought down to us by the Universal Tradition of the Church through the Successions of all Ages in whose Experience God hath blessed it to the converting comforting and sanctifying of many Souls In short to see a thing in it's Evidence is not to believe but to receive it on the Credit of the Testifyer If you will not credit it unless the thing be evident in it's self without his Word you do not believe Christ but your own Reason and instead of being thankful for the Revelation you quarrel with his Truth because it is in some things above your Capacity You should be satisfied with the bare Word of God and captivate your Understandings to the Obedience of it 2. As to Consent and Acceptance There are many things may be objected against entring into Covenant with Christ as our Unworthiness the fickleness and loosness of our Hearts how unable we are to keep Covenant with him but these things must not be alledged against our Duty and the free offers of the Lord's Grace 1. Our great Unworthiness This is one Reason why the instance of Abraham is produced by Paul as a pattern of Faith to the Gentiles As Abraham considered not his Natural Incapacity to have Children so they not their unworthiness to be Adopted into God's Covenant The Gentiles were not a People unto God but were over-looked in the Dispensations of his Grace but Hosea 2.23 I will have Mercy upon her that had not obtained Mercy and I will say unto them that were not my People Thou art my People and they shall say Thou art my God Our condition is not so desperate that the Mercy of the New Covenant cannot reach us and recover us So for particular Christians they exclude and repell
Worship and Conversation He did indeed observe the way of the Christian Worship which they called Sectarisme or Heresie and Paul was accused to be a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarens verse 5. But yet this was agreeable enough to the Religion of the Iews for the substance which he proveth by his Faith Hope Carriage and Conversation Here is in effect all Christianity delivered to us in one prospect and view 1. An Account of his Faith at the bottom of all Believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets 2. His Hope as the immediate fruit of it And have hope towards God And the principal Object is The resurrection of the dead both of the just and the unjust When we shall injoy the full of what we wait for 3. An Account of his Manners where you have a brief Description of a Christian Conversation Herein do I exercise my self to have alwayes a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men My business is not to discuss all these branches of Christianity apart and in their full Latitude but to give you the summ and Delineation of all Religion in one view Therefore observe Doct. That true Christianity is such a believing the truths contained in the Scriptures as produceth an hope of Eternal Life and is expressed in an impartial uniform and constant obedience Here is Pauls Apology Faith at the bottom Hope as the immediate Effect and Product of it and an Holy Conversation as the fruit and consequent The same Method is observed in other Scriptures as 1 Tim. 1.5 The end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned The Commandment is the Gospel-Institution and this received with a pure Heart and Faith unfeigned produceth a good Conscience which shews it self in love to God and Men by a true and lively Faith in Christ The Holy Ghost purifieth the Heart and Conscience and so produceth Love 2 Pet. 1.5 6. Add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness In the Chain of Graces Faith is the Root of all I shall 1. Examine the Expressions here used 2. Give some Reasons why this is true Christianity I. Examine the Expressions here used First Concerning Faith Believing all things that are written in the law and the prophets 1. Here is the Object or things believed Things written in the law and the prophets 2. The Extent All 3. The Act believing First The Object Things written in the law and the prophets Law and Prophets is an expression commonly used for all the Scripture then extant Matth. 11.13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until Iohn And Luke 16.29 They have Moses and the prophets let them hear them The Books of the Old Testament are thus called We Christians who have received the Canon and Rule of Faith more inlarged are said to be built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles Eph. 2.20 So that now the Object of our Faith is Prophets and Apostles The Object of Faith may be considered Formally or Materially Materially Such things as God hath revealed Formally Because God hath revealed them If God hath revealed what is in the Writings of the Apostles then we are to believe them God's Veracity is the ground and support of our Faith into which it is ultimately resolved His Instruments in revealing are the Prophets and Apostles We know God hath revealed the things written by them partly because these Writings are delivered to us by the Universal Tradition of the Church and the Testimony of Christians thorough all Successions of Ages in whose experience God hath blessed these Writings for Conviction Conversion and Consolation And partly because of the consent between the Prophets and the Apostles the one foretelling whatever the other declared as accomplished Acts 26.22 Having therefore obtained help of God I continue unto this day witnessing both to small and great saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come Partly because the Doctrines have an impress of God upon them as every thing that hath passed his hand hath How do I know a Flie Gnat or any other Creature to be made by God God hath set his signature upon them Psal. 19.1 The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work So the Scriptures agree with the Nature and Properties of God As God is Wise Powerful and Good these Doctrines become his Wisdom they have the stamp of his Moral Goodness which is his Holiness and as for his Power they that feel it not fear it Iohn 3.20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved There is something that alarmeth the Conscience And partly because it agreeth with the Nature of Man so far as a Man hath any good left in him It agreeth with the necessities of Man his guilty Fears and his Desires of Happyness For his guilty Fears Men that by reason of Sin are afraid of Gods Justice cannot be quieted by any other means but are by this Ier. 6.16 Stand ye in the wayes and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and you shall find rest for your souls Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest In Life and Death the Conscience is quieted So for desires of Happiness Men rove and grope about for some satisfying good Acts 17.27 That they should seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him and find him And Psalm 4.6 There be many that say who will shew us any good Life and Immortality are brought to light in the Scriptures and the way to obtain it clearly revealed Psalm 16.11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulness of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Partly because God hath witnessed and attested it by his Spirit Acts 5.32 We are witnesses of these things and so is also the holy Ghost Without by Miracles and other wonderful Effects within by inlightning the Heart and Mind inclining and exciting us to believe it upon these Motives and Arguments 2 Cor. 4 6. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ so as to discern Gods Impress Upon these accounts we receive what is written in the Prophets and Apostles as revealed by God Secondly The Extent All things A Believer receiveth all Truths which are of Divine Revelation whether Precepts Promises Threatnings Doctrines or Histories But then we must distinguish of an implicite or explicite Faith With the latter we can only believe those things which we know what we know not we cannot believe with an explicite
Faith Some Christians know not all things which are contained in the Prophets and Apostles and yet in a sense they do believe by an implicite Faith As Agrippa believed the Prophets Acts 26.27 King Agrippa Believest thou the prophets I know that thou believest Yet he was ignorant of some things revealed by them So all Christians own the Writings of the Apostles and Prophets as the Rule and Warrant of Faith yet they do not discerne every Truth therein contained They do believe that whatever the Prophets and Apostles say and have written is true and so are ready to believe all things which shall be demonstrated to them to be written or said by them But by an explicite Faith they believe all Fundamental Truths such as are absolutely necessary to Salvation and usually most other Truths which are next to Fundamentals The Fundamentals are set down Iohn 17.3 This is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent That God is to be known loved obeyed worshipped and injoyed and that the Lord Jesus is our Redeemer and Saviour to bring us home to God with his gifts of Pardon and Life to be begun by the Spirit here and perfected in Heaven Thirdly The Act believing It is not enough not to deny or not to contradict but we must actually and positively believe The Reason why the generality of People living in the Christian World feel so little force of their Faith is from their inadvertency they leap into the Christian Faith by the advantage of their Birth but do not consider what they believe nor why they should believe it and how they are concerned in it and so may be rather said not to contradict than to believe But true Faith is a positive firm assent excited in us by the Spirit of God As the Apostle saith of some that were zealous for the Law Vnderstanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm 1 Tim. 1.7 So the Rabble of Common Christians may be zealous for the Gospel yet are not instructed in the Nature and Grounds of it what and why they should believe A sound belief requireth a thorough understanding of what we believe and a deep consideration of the Grounds and Reasons why we are to believe it And then it is such a fixed assent as is not perplexed and haunted with doubts about the truth of it And such a close adherence as is not discouraged with difficulties and oppositions It would be much better with the Christian World if every one that carryeth the name of a Christian could say I believe all that is written in the prophets and the apostles In short To a sound belief there is necessary 1. A Knowledge or full Instruction in the things which we believe for it is said 1 Iohn 4.16 We have known and believed the love that God hath to us first known and then believed 2. A due Conviction of the Certainty of them Luke 1.4 That thou mayest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed And Iohn 6.69 We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God And Iohn 17.8 They have known surely that I came out from thee and they have believed that thou didst send me 3. This Faith doth not only imply a bare intellectual assent but a practical trust and affiance For the Nature of the Object requireth so much Christianity doth not only propound bare Truths to be assented unto but joyful comfortable Truths suitable to our necessity and desires and therefore we must depend upon them seek our Happyness in them in the way appointed by God which is nothing but practical trust and affiance Therefore it is not a bare Opinion but a relyance upon God that he will make good his word to us whilest we continue with Patience in well-doing Therefore we are said to belong to Christ if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end Heb. 3.6 4. Those Truths which are contained in the word are to be considered with application that we may know them for our good Iob 5.27 Hear it and know thou it for thy good Every Doctrine which upon search we find to be sound and good we must make application of it to our selves that it may affect our own Hearts if Threatnings that we may escape the Curse if Comforts or Promises Rom. 8.32 What shall we say to these things The promise of Pardon to all Believers is so universal that it includeth you as well as others Christ is offered to every Creature that he may be yours as well as anothers and the offer of Heaven and Eternal Life is so propounded that you should ingage your Hearts to seek after it and closely to adhere to it till you obtain it But to apply it so as to be perswaded that your own Sins are already pardoned that you are an Heir of Glory that you are Christs as to actual Interest you must have good Evidence for that from a Spiritual Sense of your own Qualifications but it belongeth not to Faith simply taken Thus we have set forth a Christian in his first part as a Believer II. The Apostle asserts his Hope And have hope towards God which they themselves allow that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust 1. Mark that he propoundeth his hope as the immediate effect and product of Faith for when I believe then I must look and long and prepare for the Blessedness offered otherwise my Faith is but a cold Opinion not such a Faith as will subdue the inclinations and Interests of the Flesh nor make the Labours and Sufferings of the Spiritual Life tolerable And that is true Faith which breatheth and longeth after the end of all Religion and looketh for it What will it do me good to believe the Doctrines of the Prophets and Apostles if I expect no good from thence Faith would be vain and Religion vain Only note here that Hope is two-fold 1. One the Fruit of Regeneration or the immediate effect of Conversion to God 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope And this is nothing else but a seeking and looking for an Happiness in another and in an unseen World with a longing desire and diligent care to obtain it It is Faith to place my Happiness so high and so far from sense now when my desires and delights are there and my daily care is to get thither and to live in a continual preparation for it and desirous expectation of it and to deny my self and suffer any loss and pain to get thither this is the work of Hope 2. There is an Hope built upon experience Rom. 5.4 5. And experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost
all at the last day In both these things the Angels are concerned in his conquests as Christ doth confound the wisdom of Men and Devils in maintaining and preserving his Church They are a part of Christ's Army and have a great respect to his Church Heb. 1.13 14. But to which of the Angels said he at any time Sit on my right hand until I make thine Enemies thy Footstool Are they not all Ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation They are some of God's Messengers that help to restore and recover Man from the power of the Devil and disdain not the Service Christ appoints them for lost sinners but have a great respect to his Church and the Assemblies of his People 1 Cor. 11.10 For this cause ought the Woman to have power on her head because of the Angels 1 Tim. 5.21 I charge thee before God and the elect Angels For his Triumph with them Christ will appear at the end of the World when he hath won the Field and cometh in Triumph to confound his conquer'd Enemies 2 Thess. 1.7 The Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his Mighty Angels These things the Angels pry into so should we Secondly How 1. Accurately and Seriously Usually we content our selves with running cursory thoughts never sit and pause with our selves what manner of Saviour and Salvation this is what is required of them that would be partakers of it and so content our selves with a superficial view without an accurate inspection Slight and shallow apprehensions leave no impression on the Soul The Hen thaâ— often stragleth from her Nest suffereth her Eggs to chill We should dwell upon these things till they produce a clearer Knowledge a firmer Belief an higher Estimation a greater Admiration for this is to resemble Angels Eph 3.18 That we may comprehend with all Saints the depth and length and breadth and heighâ—h all which begets solid comforts when the mind is wholly taken up with other things the soundest Knowledge worketh not 2. Spiritually profitably practically Our business is not so much to know new truths about the Gospel as to know them in a more useful manner Let us pry into these things as the Angels do not to satisfie our curiosity with a little notional knowledge or out of pride that we may pertinently discourse of them or hold up an argument about them but that God may be glorified and admired in the Person of the Redeemer and our Souls delighted for our comfort and quickening and weaned from the vanities of the World ver 13. Wherefore gird up the Loins of your Mind be sober and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Iesus Christ. Thirdly Why 1. Because it is an honourable imployment to look into the mysteries of Salvation and to be much conversant about them It will be a great part of our happiness and work in Heaven to behold Christ's Glory Iohn 17.24 Father I will that those whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory All our Faith Hope and Labour tendeth to this The Queen of Sheba took a long journey to behold the Glory of Solomon which did so ravish her that her Spirit even fainted within her and yet that was but an Earthly Temporal Fading Glory But to behold the Majesty and Greatness which Christ our Redeemer hath at the Right Hand of God is the great work which we have to do to all Eternity Therefore now we should busie ourselves about these things that our Mouths may be filled with Praise and Thanksgiving 2. Because it is delightful to Gracious Hearts God findeth a delight in Christ and shall not we There is more in the Gospel than a vulgar Eye taketh notice of or our first apprehensions represent unto us shall Angels wonder at these things joy and delight in these things and shall we slight them Paul counted all things Dung in comparison of the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Phil. 3.8 and 1 Cor. 2.2 I determined to know nothing among you save Iesus Christ and Him Crucified Surely unless our thoughts are lawfully diverted or suspended we should think of no other thing Austin cast away Tully quia nomen Christi non erat ibi because the name of Christ was not in it 3. It is useful 1. That all created glory may wax dim and be more obscured in our Eyes their power is nothing their loveliness is nothing in comparison of Christ this should take up thy Soul and draw off thy observation from deluding vanities such as Riches and Honours and Pleasures As the light of a Candle is scarce seen when the Sun shineth brightly so all the tempting baits of the Flesh are nothing when the glories of Christ are considered by us See ver 13. Wherefore gird up the Loins of your Mind and be sober and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Iesus Christ. So for affrighting terrors what are Potentates and Powers to him All authorities and powers lawful or usurped must be subject to Christ 1 Pet. 3.22 Who is gone into Heaven and is at the right Hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him This promoteth the joy and constancy of Believers under sufferings 2. To draw out our Hearts after him Iohn 4.10 If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee Give me to drink thou wouldest have asked and he would have given thee living Water Looking after these things is in order to choice Mat. 13.45 46. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Merchant Man seeking goodly Pearls who when he hath found one Pearl of great Price he went and sold all that he had and bought it What are all things in the World if set against Christ and his Salvation 3. That we should converse with him in holy duties with more reverence Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth Much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him Now shall we scarce vouchsafe these things a serious thought The Angels are concerned in a way of duty not in a way of benefit It is their duty to worship Christ Heb. 1.6 And again when he brought his first begotten into the World he saith And let all the Angels of God Worship him but not by way of recovery and yet they desire to look into this Glorious Mystery A Sermon on GALATIANS V. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith IN the context the Apostle perswadeth the Galatians to stand fast in
by his Death of Salvation by Faith in the Mediator this depends not upon the Connexion of natural Causes but the free Pleasure of God therefore the Angels knew it not till it was revealed in the Church Ephes. 3.10 To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God The Gentiles by looking into the Order of Causes could never find it out They might find a first Being and the chiefest Good but not a Christ not a Saviour there they sat in the shadows of Death and did not understand nor desire Eternal Life Acts 14.17 Nevertheless he left not himself without Witness in that he did good and gave us Rain from Heaven and fruitful Seasons filling our Hearts with Food and Gladness Much of God may be seen in the known courses of Nature Rain from Heaven and fruitful Seasons but nothing of Christ. The Apostle speaks it there to disswade them from the Worship of Iupiter and Mercury and other of the Vanities of the Gentiles he argues from the Grace of Nature and common Benefits which they had received this were enough to make them acknowledg a Divine Power Pray mark the Apostle saith He left not himself without a Witness yet he suffered them to walk in their own ways because he did not reveal his Gospel nor give them his Spirit Psal. 147.19 20. He sheweth his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and his Iudgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Iudgments they have not known them Rom. 16.25 26. According to the Revelation of the Mystery which was kept secret since the World began But now is made manifest and by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the Commandment of the everlasting God made known unto all Nations for the Obedience of Faith Ephes. 3.4 5. Whereby when ye read ye may understand my Knowledg in the Mystery of Christ which in other Ages was not made known unto the Sons of Men as it is now revealed unto his Holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit Col. 1.26 27. Even the Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and from Generations but now is made manifest to his Saints To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in them the Hope of Glory But God suffered them to serve their own Lusts and to carry on that Religion which they had feigned to themselves But then he left not himself without a Witness for they had many corporal Blessings from whence they might easily collect that they should not worship Stocks and Stones and dead Men but the living God by whose Providence those Blessings were dispensed Though he gave them not the Gospel yet he gave them the Light of Nature and the Looking-glass of the Creatures There is much ado whether this were auxilium sufficiens Gratiae a sufficient Help to convert them or to bring them to such a Condition that they might gain the Grace of God It was enough to oblige them to seek after God and to convince them that they did ill in worshipping the Creatures but it was not sufficient to find out the true God and enjoy him Saving-Grace is not granted by any Promise to the improvement of Nature Well then though the whole Earth be full of the Goodness of the Lord that is of the Fruits and Effects of his common Bounty yet nothing of his Saving-Grace is known till it appeared and broke out in the Gospel 2. To the Jews this Grace began to dawn but it was veiled in Figures and Shadows that they could not see clearly The Substance of their Doctrine was the same with ours but there is a great deal of difference in the manner of Dispensation they had the dark Text and we the Exposition There was Grace and Shadow by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Iesus Christ John 1.17 because here all the Types were revealed and we have the Substance it self Christ is the Light of the World The Sun the farther off it is from rising the less Light it gives Christ was not then risen therefore there was but Twi-light and full of Shadows Grace is opposed to the Condemnation of the Moral Law and Truth to the Shadows of the Ceremonial Law Christ's Offices his Benefices his Person were but darkly propounded to them Take but one place for all Of all the Ministers of the Legal Dispensation Iohn Baptist saw the clearest yet saith Christ the least of Gospel-Ministers knows more than he Matth. 11.11 Verily I say unto you among them that are born of Women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist notwithstanding he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he Iohn drawing nearer to Christ had a clearer knowledg of the Meaning and Application of the Types than others had But now those that have lived after the pouring out of the Spirit upon Christ's Ascension under the Gospel-Dispensation have a clear insight into the Doctrine of Grace far more clear than it was in the days of Iohn II. What and how much of Grace is now discovered I answer 1. The Wisdom of Grace The Gospel is a meer Riddle to Carnal Reason a great Mystery 1 Tim. 3.16 Great is the Mystery of Godliness There we read of God and Man brought together and Justice and Mercy brought together by the Contrivance of Grace Here we only see this Mystery that is without Controversy great for these Things could not come into the Heads of any Creatures If Angels and Men had been put to study and set down their Way of Reconciliation to God how it should be they could never have thought of such a Remedy as the bringing of God and Man together in the Person of Christ and Justice and Mercy together by the Blood and Satisfaction of Christ this came out of no Breast but God he brought the Secret out of his own Bosom When the Question was put in the Counsel of the Trinity How Man that was fallen might be brought again to God from the Depth of Misery to the Height of Happiness Grace interposed and propounded Christ to be God-Man in one Person O the strangeness and wonderfulness of this Contrivance If you consider the Weakness and Vileness of Humane Nature the Infiniteness and Excellency of the Divine Nature certainly such a Plot could not enter into the Head of any Creature Upon what Grounds could any Creature expect such a Condescention that Mortal and Immortal Infiniteness and Finiteness should come together And as the Person of Christ is wonderful so also is his Work and Business which was to bring Justice and Mercy to kiss each other that Justice might have full Satisfaction for Mens Sins and Mercy have full Content in procuring their Salvation that Grace might be glorified and yet Justice be no Loser When God redeemed the World he had a greater Work
Diis nec hominibus pepercit ad impietatem in Deos in homines adjunxit injuriam He spared neither the Gods nor Men to his Impiety against the Gods he added Injuries to Men he was both ungodly and unrighteous Vse Would we not then be counted ungodly let us take heed of all these Sins deny them all 1. How else will you look God in the Face at the Day of Judgment Psal. 1.5 The Vngodly shall not stand in the Iudgment nor Sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous He shall not be able to lift up his Head 2 Pet. 3.11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of Persons ought we to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness The Day of Judgment is to take Vengeance of Ungodliness Iude 15. To execute Iudgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly Deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard Speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him It is the Day wherein God that is now hidden behind the Curtain of the Heavens cometh forth to vindicate his Honour 2. Great Judgments shall befal them in this World 2 Pet. 2.6 And turning the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into Asbes condemned them with an Overthrow making them Examples unto those that should live ungodly And 1 Pet. 4.18 And if the Righteous scarcely be saved where shall the Ungodly and the Sinner appear God's Jealousy is great Isa. 59.17 For he put on Righteousness as a Breast-plate and a Helmet of Salvation upon his Head and he put on the Garments of Vengeance for a Clothing and was clad with Zeal as a Cloke God is not only jealous of his Honour but he will be known and plainly profess himself so to be the Cloke of a Man being his outward Garment No such visible Providences as against Ungodliness So Exod. 34.13 The Lord whose Name is Iealous is a jealous God That is fit to make the Name of a thing which distinguisheth it from all other things of the same kind This distinguisheth the true God from all Gods whatsoever others are so far from being iealous Gods that tho their Worshippers went to never so many Gods yet to them it was all one they were good Fellow-Gods and would admit of Partners when they brought their Gifts like common Whores they received them without more ado The true God will admit of no Partners this he will severely punish and do them as much Harm as ever he did do them Good 3. It is the great Aim of the Gospel to promote Godliness 1 Tim. 3.6 And without controversy great is the Mystery of Godliness 1 Tim. 6.3 If any Man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesom Words even the Words of our Lord Iesus Christ and to the Doctrine that is according to Godliness So far Men are Christians as they are godly Men might be ungodly at a cheaper rate when they had not so much Means As the Angel said to Iacob Gen. 32.26 Let me go for the Day breaketh Now Grace appeareth we should deny Ungodliness 4. Ungodliness is the Root of all irregular Courses Gen. 20.11 I thought surely the Fear of God is not in this Place and they will slay me for my Wife's sake Godliness is the Bulwark of Laws and of all honest Discipline there can be no Honesty without Piety The first part of the Law provideth for Respects to God as being the proper Foundation for Respects to our Neighbour Without the knowledg of the true God the Heart cannot be clean Prov. 19.2 Also that the Soul be without knowledg is not good The Means are these 1. Purge the Heart from all Principles of Ungodliness There are many gross Maxims as that it is Folly to be precise that they have a good Heart towards God that it were better when there was less Knowledg that it is an easy matter to repent and have a good Heart towards God that it is in vain to serve God that Thoughts are free let us carry it fair before Men and all will be well when Men have done their best petty Sins are not to be stood upon These are the implicite Thoughts and Maxims of ungodly Men which are the ground of all sottish Practices purge your Hearts from them 2. Suppress all ungodly Thoughts and Motions all gross Thoughts of God Psal. 14.1 The Fool hath said in his Heart There is no God Shame may lay a restraint upon the Tongue but such Thoughts and Whispers do arise in the Heart Again that God is not so harsh as he is represented Psal. 50.21 These things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thy self That God cannot see through the dark Cloud Iob 22.12 13. Is not God in the height of Heaven and behold the height of the Stars how high they are And thou sayest How doth God know can he judg through the dark Cloud These are the Thoughts of carnal ungodly Men have a care of giving them the least Entertainment suppress them when they first rise in the Heart 3. Mortify vile Affections As the Air in some Countries is seldom clear but dark and foggy so it is with the Minds of carnal Men vile Affections steeming in the Heart cloud the Understanding and Judgment and beget ungodly Thoughts as a filthy Stomach sends up Fumes to the Head 4. Keep close to God's Institutions these keep up his Honour and preserve his Memorial Divine Truths breed Godliness False Worship and multitude of Ceremonies darken the Nature of God Images beget a gross Opinion of God as if he were a poor sensless thing that could do little good or harm God knows what is best and how he will be worshipped do not presume to be wiser than God his own Institutions keep up the repute of his Nature and Essence 5. Let us exercise our selves unto Godliness 1 Tim. 4.7 But refuse prophane and old Wives Fables and exercise thy self rather unto Godliness Give God the Honour due to him let him have your Love Delight Trust and Fear do all things with an aim at his Glory and worship him not out of Custom but out of Conscience so should we exercise our selves unto Godliness SERMON V. TITUS II. 12 And worldly Lusts c. GRace that teacheth us to deny Ungodliness doth also teach us to deny worldly Lusts. These are fitly coupled Ungodliness feedeth worldly Lusts and worldly Lusts encrease Ungodliness 1. Ungodliness feedeth worldly Lusts because when we leave God the chiefest Good then our Hearts go a whoring after every base Comfort Jer. 2.13 My People have committed two Evils They have forsaken me the Fountain of living Waters and have hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no Water If Men are ignorant of God or do not seek after God the Heart lies open to every Object As when a worthy Match is refused upon some groundless dislike in a fond humour the next
Lesson which Grace teacheth was propounded Privatively and Positively Privatively wherein I have shewed what we must eschew and avoid viz. Vngodliness and worldly Lusts. II. I now come to the Positive Part where the Duty of Man is distributed into three kinds Look as in a moral Consideration there are but three Beings God Neighbours and Self so here the Apostle makes three Parts and Branches of our Duty that we should live soberly as to our selves righteously as to our Neighbour godly that the Lord may not be defrauded of his Portion Sobriety respects the Duties of our personal Capacity Righteousness the Duties of our Relation to others and Piety the Duties of immediate Intercourse with God I begin with the first of the Apostle's Adverbs That we should live soberly Sobriety is a Grace very necessary we can neither be righteous nor pious without it for he that is not sober he takes to himself more than is due and so can neither give God nor Man their Portion If he be unsober he will be unjust he robs the Church of his Parts which are quenched in Pleasure the Common-wealth of his Service the Family of their Maintenance and necessary Provision and then the Poor are robbed because that which should be spent in their Relief is wasted in Luxury And then he that is unsober cannot be godly for he doth not give God his Portion he robs God of his time and which is worse of his Heart for that being carried out to Pleasure it is deprived of the Fruition of God and transported from better Delights So that if we would discharge our Duty to God or Man if we would live righteously and piously we must live soberly Once more that you may a little conceive of the Weight and Consequence of this Discourse Sobriety is a part of Vertue 's Armor so much is intimated by the Apostle 2 Pet. 1.5 6. Add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledg and to Knowledg Temperance and to Temperance Patience Vertue or Strictness of Life is rooted in Faith directed by Knowledg defended and maintained by Temperance and Patience by Temperance on the right hand and Patience on the left as Fortitude or Patience is necessary to arm Grace against Dangers so is Temperance or Sobriety to arm it against Pleasures and worldly Comforts It is hard to say which we need most Temperance or Patience we must expect Hardships and still we live among Snares but only Snares are more frequent than Troubles as more Birds are ensnared by the Net than killed by the Birding-piece Persecution hath slain its Thousands but Pleasures their ten Thousands Therefore you see Sobriety is of great Use in the spiritual Life As we need to press Faith as the Root of Vertue and Knowledg as the Guide of Vertue so we need to press Temperance and Patience as the Guard and Defence of Vertue Patience against the Troubles and Hardships that we meet with and Sobriety against the Comforts and Allurements of the present World Before I enter upon the Discussion of the present Argument let me first remove some Prejudices 1. Some Men think that to discourse of Sobriety will be to give you a moral Lecture not an Evangelical Discourse they would have us to preach Christ as if pressing the Duties of Religion were not a preaching Christ. Certainly we may preach that which Grace teacheth now Grace teacheth to live soberly The Truth is Men would be hinged and oiled with Grace and cannot endure the Strictness of moral Duties Here Conviction is easy and Conscience maketh Guilt fly in the Face and therefore Men cannot endure this kind of Preaching I tell you to preach Sobriety and Temperance is to preach Christ. It is said Acts 24.24 After certain Days when Felix came with his Wife Drusilla which was a Iewess he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the Faith in Christ. Paul Let us hear somewhat of Christ. Now what doth Paul preach of ver 25. And as he reasoned of Righteousness Temperance and Iudgment to come Felix trembled There is his preaching Christ. To preach Christ is to press whatever the Christian Religion requireth and in that manner and upon those terms And when Paul saith 1 Cor. 2.2 I have determined not to know any thing among you save Iesus Christ and him crucified it was because that was the controverted Truth the Truth then in Question and most opposed for the Doctrine of the Cross was to the Iews a Stumbling-block and to the Greeks Foolishness 1 Cor. 1.23 Now saith the Apostle as foolish a Doctrine as it is I have determined to know nothing else among you not to prescribe in other Cases but to confine our Meditations to the Doctrine of the Cross. There are other Arguments necessary and must take their turn and place 2. Some Men think that they are above these Directions to be taught how to eat and drink and that every Man hath Prudence enough to govern his Appetite But consider Christ thought meet to warn his own Disciples Luke 21.34 Take heed to your selves lest at any time your Hearts be over-charged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness and Cares of this Life A Man would think it a needless Direction to such holy Men yet saith Christ Take heed And certainly Sin is not grown less dangerous nor we more holy than the Apostles Besides now if ever is there need of such kind of Preaching some Men profess to live to the Height of the Creature and so make Lust as wanton as it is dangerous always to go near the Pit's Brink and he that doth all that he may will soon do more than he should It is a Character of prophane Men Iude 12. Feeding themselves without Fear The Throat is a slippery Place and had need be watch'd and kept with Fear We find that an over-spiritual Preaching hath made Men loose and careless and that moral Duties need to be pressed 3. Another Prejudice there is against this Doctrine Men shift it off to others We conceive of Gluttony Drunkenness and Covetousness otherwise than Christ did and therefore do not judg such Discourses necessary We conceive Drunkenness and Gluttony to be an outragious Excess when we hear of Gluttons and Drunkards we think of them vomiting staggering reeling not being able to speak or able to go faltring in Speech and Language But the Scripture sets out other manner of Drunkards these are the Effects the Punishment rather than the Fault And so when we hear of Covetousness then we think of some sordid Wretch or else of some Oppressor that gets Wealth by Rapine and Extortion or the apparent use of unlawful means and so we wipe our Lips and think we are clean But now that which is counted Surfeiting and Drunkenness and Covetousness before God is the over-charging the Heart Luke 21.34 Take heed to your selves lest your Hearts be over-charged c. A Man's Heart may be over-charged though his Stomach is not when he cannot freely meditate upon
3.33 He that hath received his Testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true It is a great Dishonour to God not to receive God's Testimony you put the Lie upon him and so make him to be no God You would not do so to your Equals A Lie is the greatest Reproach it rendreth a Man unfit for Society and Commerce It is a fearful thing to make the God of Truth a Father of Lies When God hath given his Word and Oath and Seals all this while shall he not be believed God never gave us cause to distrust him he never failed in one Promise all that have had to do with him have found him a faithful God Nebuchadnezzar doth him this Honour and Right after he had tasted of the Whip and was again restored to the Use of Reason Dan. 4.37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of Heaven all whose Works are Truth not only Justice but Truth not only as I deserved but as he foretold It is a Shame that you have made no Observations upon Providence that you may give it under Hand and Seal that God is true and faithful God expecteth such a Testimony from his People all that have long had to do with him have found him a true God both in a way of Justice and Mercy that he ever stood to his Word God cannot lie Tit. 1.2 In Hope of eternal Life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began God can do all things that argue Power and Perfection of Nature but he cannot lie for that argueth Weakness and Impotency 2 Tim. 2.13 If we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself he should then cease to be God He is Truth it self the primitive and supream Truth the Original Author of all Truth If he should not be true who should be so But is any so impudent as to put the Lie upon God I answer Yes 1 Iohn 5.10 He that believeth not God hath made him a Liar because he believeth not the Record that God gave of his Son We accuse him not only of a Lie but of Perjury 1. By our Carelesness and the little Regard we have to those great and precious Promises that he has given us Great things are offered and you look upon them as Notions and Fancies It was otherwise with the Patriarchs of old Heb. 11.13 All these died in Faith not having received the Promises but having seen them afar of and were perswaded of them and imbraced them We cast off the Tenders of Grace as Matters of which we never made any great Account We grasp after the World and let Heaven go when we mind it not we believe it not A Man toileth hard all Day for a small Piece of Silver do we seek Heaven with a like Earnestness How many Adventures do Merchants run when the Gain is uncertain but we are not uncertain of our Reward 1 Cor. 15.58 Forasmuch as ye know that your Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Did we more stedfastly believe this we should not be so cold in Duties and so bold in Sinning 2. By our Despondencies in all cross Providences We have a sure Word and why are we up and down and so full of Distractions and Unquietness of Soul Iames 1.8 A double-minded Man is unstable in all his Ways unsetled in all his Thoughts uneven in all his Ways raised up and cast down with contrary Hopes and Fears off and on as worldly things ebb and flow We shall never want Discouragements if we live upon Sense but if we could live upon the Promises we should not be at such a Loss The Fruit of Faith in the Promises is strong Consolation too strong to be overcome by Sin Death or Hell A Believer is content with the Promises though all the World say No 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the Promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen Yea to our Hopes Amen to our Desires Whatever Changes happen the Promises are the same upon Desire of such a thing Amen saith the Promise upon Hope of such a thing Yea saith the Promise In difficult Cases you ask of the Creatures they say No but the Promise saith Yea. 3. When we will venture nothing on the Promises Christ told the young Man of Treasure in Heaven and he went away sad he doth not like such a Bargain Luke 18.22 23. Sell all that thou hast and distribute to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come follow me And when he had heard this he was very sorrowful for he was very rich Thus God dealeth with us Prov. 19.17 He that hath pity upon the Poor lendeth to the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Eccles. 11.1 Cast thy Bread upon the Waters for thou shalt find it after many Days But the Words and Engagements of Men that deceive and are deceived are esteemed above them We would trust a Man of Sufficiency upon his Bond with Hundreds and Thousands if we have his Hand and Seal to shew for it but we refuse God's Assurance Who is careful to provide Bags that wax not old and to draw over his Estate into the other World Luke 12.33 Sell that ye have and give Alms provide your selves Bags that wax not old a Treasure in the Heavens that faileth not where no Thief approacheth neither Moth corrupteth What Adventures do you make upon God's Bond or Bill Do you account no Estate so sure as that which is adventured in Christ's Hands Can we believe the Promises and part with nothing for them with neither our Lusts nor our Interests 4. When temporal things work far more than eternal things visible things than invisible If we had such Promises from Men we would be more chearful If a Beggar did hear of a great Inheritance fallen to him he would often think of it rejoice in it long to go see it We have a Promise of eternal Life who thinks of it or puts in for a Share of it We are contented with any slight Assurance in matters of such Weight Men love great Earnest and great Assurance in temporal Affairs but any slight Hope serves the turn in spiritual Affairs Why do we so little rejoice in it If the Reversion of an earthly Estate be passed over to us how are we contented with such a Conveyance but God hath made over Pardon and Grace and we are not satisfied 5. Our Confidence bewrayeth it The pretended Strength of our Faith about Christ and Hopes of Glory sheweth the Weakness of it and that it is but a slight overly Apprehension Most Men will pretend to be able to trust God for Pardon of Sin and Heaven and yet cannot trust God for daily Bread they find it difficult to believe in Temporals and yet very easy in Spirituals and Eternals What should be the Reason Heaven and things to come are greater Mercies the way of bringing them about more difficult if Conscience
and neglected It is very sad when God is provoked to swear to the Damnation of any Creature Who are the Persons that may stand in dread of this Oath why they that believe not Heb. 3.18 To whom swear he that they should not enter into his Rest but to them that believe not It is the Sin of Unbelief after many tenders and offers of Mercy which provokes God to this Indignation Here is Oath against Oath the one to drive us the other to draw us and pull in the Heart to God If you continue in this course you shall have neither Part nor Portioâ— in Christ nor in the Land of Promise It is better to be satisfied with God's Oath in Mercy than to run the hazard of his Oath in Judgment Therefore speak to Conscience Do I come up to this Certainty and Confidence Is the Controversy ended between God and me Are all Suspicions laid aside Obj. But you will say I do not doubt of the Truth of the Gospel but of my own â—nterest I doubt that I am the Person to whom God hath sworn The Truth of God is sure but my Interest is not clear Sol. In Answer to this consider 1. It doth but seem so that all Doubts are about our own Interestâ— but it is not so indeed If once you were heartily perswaded of God's good Affection in Christ Doubts and Scruples about our own Estate would soon vanish Look as the Fire when it is well kindled bursts out of its own accord into a Flame so if Faith were once well laid in the Soul if Men could rest upon these two immutable things Consolation would not be so far from them if there were a firm Assent to the Doctrine of the Gospel there would not be so many Buts if you did firmly believe his Mercy in Christ it would soon end in a stedfast Confidence This appeareth from the nature of the thing All Uncertainty ariseth either from a Neglect of the great Salvation or else from Trouble of Conscience Now carnal Men neglect it because they are not perswaded of the Worth and Excellency of it and Men under Horrors of Conscience distrust it they are such Sinners they dare not apply it and are so full of Doubts and Scruples because they are not perswaded of the Truth of the Gospel See how the Apostle proposeth the Gospel 1 Tim. 1. â—5 This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief If negligent and carnal Men would but look upon it as worthy of all Acceptation and troubled Conscience look upon it as a faithful Saying there would be more regular Actings and Effects found in their Hearts and Lives the Negligent would give more Diligence and the Contrite would rise up into a greater Hope and Confidence If Men did believe the Worth of Salvation they would not run after lying Vanities If they did believe the Truth of Salvation for Sinners there would not be so many Scruples and Fears It is notable that the Scriptures very seldom do press Assurance of the Subject but Assurance of the Object in very many places to believe the Doctrine it self for there is the greatest Difficulty and in the Word of God we have no Precedent of any that were troubled about their own Interest If an Earthly King should proclaim a general Pardon and an Act of Grace to all Persons in Rebellion only on terms of Submission and laying down their Hostility and returning to their Duty and Allegiance the Doubt would not be of their own Interest but of the truth of his Intention to shew them such Grace and Mercy So it is with God he hath proclaimed Terms of Grace in the Gospel provided we will lay down the Weapons of our Defiance and return to the Duty of our Allegiance now that which we suspect is the Heart of God and the Gospel in the general whether there be Mercy for such kind of Sinners as we are 2. Because we cannot perswade Men to a Certainty against their Consciences what should hinder but that now you should establish your Interest and that you now make your Plea and Claim according to God's Word and Oath for Joy must arise from a Sense of it Your complaining is not the way to ease your Conscience but Obedience It is an Advantage to find our selves in an ill Condition not a Discouragement As the Woman in the Gospel made an Argument of that that she was a Dog Mat. 15.27 Truth Lord yet the Dogs eat of the Crumbs that fall from their Masters Table As when the Man-slayer saw the Avenger of Blood at his Heels this made him mend his pace and fly for Refuge so when we see we are under the Wrath of God this should make us more earnest to look after Christ and Salvation in and by him The Cities of Refuge under the Law stood open for every Comer and there was free Admission till their Cause was heard So Christ is the Sanctuary of a pursued Soul and whosoever comes shall be received Iohn 6.37 Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out God excludeth none but those that exclude themselves No Sin is excepted but the Sin against the Holy Ghost Therefore make your Claim till your Cause be heard The great Affront we put upon God's Oath is not so much doubting of our Condition but not running to Christ for Refuge If we still stand complaining of our lost Estate and do not attempt the Work of Faith we put an Affront upon God's Oath If the Lord had bid thee do some great thing I allude to the Speech of Naaman's Servants wouldst thou not have done it to be freed from Death and Hell How much rather when he saith unto thee Only come fly as for thy Life and see if I will cast thee out Take up a Resolution to try God and see if he will not be as good as his Word and Oath Say Lord thou hast given two immutable Grounds of Hope here I come I will wait to see what thou wilt do for me in Christ. 3. I answer Do but see whether thy Interest in Christ be not established or no Here is the lowest Qualification of an Heir of Promise and yet the highest and most solemn way of Assurance Here are two immutable Grounds and yet what 's the Description we who have fled for Refuge to lay hold upon the Hope set before 〈◊〉 Here is a driving Work that belongs to the Law implied in these words We fly 〈◊〉 Refuge then a drawing Work which belongs to the Gospel in these words To lay hold on the Hope set before us The Law begins and works preparatively as Moses brought the Children of Israel to the Borders then Ioshua led them into the Land of Canaan The Law shews us our Bondage and makes us fly for Refuge but then the Gospel pulls in the Heart to God There is a necessity of the preparing
in all our Enjoyments If God gives you deliverance you may say as Hezekiah Isa. 38.17 Thou hast in love to my Soul delivered it from the Pit of Corruption You are loved into Mercy Whatsoever you enjoy it is not as a Creature but as an Heir What a Comfort then will a Christian take in a morsel of Bread when he causes God's special Love in it more than worldly Men can take in their greatest Possessions Look as a mean Remembrance from a Friend is better than a Royal Gift from an Enemy so this makes thy Meat and Bread sweet when sent from thy Father in Heaven when thou hast it as an Heir of Promise 6. This will make Afflictions sweet their very Property is altered they are not now vindictive Dispensations but such as belong to the Covenant of Grace and so they will not do us harm In faithfulness thou hast afflicted me Psal. 119.75 When you can make this Reflection the Lord seeth I want this else I should not be exercised with such Providences At least there is a Supply of inward Comfort and then a heavy Burden is nothing to a sound Back If God strikes Sin is pardoned and the Sting of Affliction is taken away 7. It will sweeten Death it self thou knowest whither thou art going Death is a sad stroak to wicked Men which sends the Body to the Grave and the Soul to Hell it must needs be a King of Terrors to them But Death to those that have this strong Consolation is as Haman was to Mordecai from a Mischief it is made a Means to do us Honour Christ hath delivered us both from the Hurt and Fear of Death Heb. 2.14 15. That through Death he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil And deliver them who through fear of Death were all their life-time subject to Bondage So that we may entertain it with Delight as Iacob looked upon the Chariots that were sent for him with rejoicing This is a Messenger to carry me to Christ and who would refuse to be happy Phil. 1.23 I desire to depart and to be with Christ. They know Death is but a loosing from the Body that they may be joined to Christ and they had rather lose a thousand Bodies than Fellowship with Christ their Souls are sent away in peace to the place of Bliss 8. This makes the Day of Judgment sweet Look as the betrothed Virgin longs for the Day of Espousals and when the Bridegroom will come or as a Woman longs for the return of her Husband that is gone a long Voyage so the Soul that is betrothed to Christ longs for the return of the Bridegroom that he may carry it into his Father's House 9. It will make the Thoughts of Heaven sweet When a Christian walks abroad and points up to Heaven he may say there is the place of my Bliss and everlasting Abode One would think this were enough to ravish the Heart of any Man and make him do any thing even run to the ends of the Earth to gain this strong Consolation But we are backward and slow therefore here is the great Question What shall we do to get and keep this great Comfort I shall give you a few Directions Many rest in Notions when they see the Way they are discouraged and go no farther But will you engage before the Lord to observe these things if you find them according to Scripture First Then how to get these strong Consolations 1. Lay a good Foundation by meditating upon the Mercy and Truth of God in the Gospel Our first Comfort ariseth from Meditation or the serious Act of Faith on the Mercy and Truth of God as settled Assurance ariseth from a sight of Evidence God usually gives us at first Conversion a taste of his Goodness and Sweetness which differeth from Assurance 1 Pet. 2.2 3. As new-born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby If so be ye have â—â—sted that the Lord is gracious Usually at first when the Soul is taken up with deep Thoughts of God's Love and Mercy in Christ God lets in some Comfort and Sweetness into the Soul which though it be not Assurance and a solemn Testimony of our Interest in Christ yet it is a Refreshment which the Soul receiveth while it admires the Riches and the Bounty and the Certainty of God's Grace However this is a Taste a Beginning that maketh as look after a more assured sense of God's Grace Briefly there must be believing Thoughts of God's Mercy and Truth I call this Meditation because all the direct Acts of Faith are performed and carried on by the help of the Thoughts Faith engageth us in solemn musing and deep Thoughts fasten things upon the Spirit As Eggs are hatched by a constant Incubation so when the Soul museth Comfort ariseth The two things you should often propound are Mercy and Truth because they are the Iâ—â—hin and Boaâ— the two Pillars which support the Covenant of Grace for it was made in Mercy and kept in Truth Therefore it is said Mich. 7.20 Thou wilt perform the Truth to Jacob and Mercy to Abraham The Covenant was made first with Abraham therefore it was Mercy to him but it was made good to Iacob therefore it was Truth to him In the 89th Psalm they are seven times coupled the one is the Fountain the other the Pipe and Conveyance it springs from Mercy and is conveyed and dispensed in Truth Therefore the Psalmist saith Psal. 25.10 All the Paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth to them that keep his Covenant and his Testimonies It is free that it may be sure and sure that it may be free These are the two Attributes God doth glorify in the Covenant of Grace and in all his Dispensations of Grace 1. Meditate of the Mercy and Love of God In the Covenant of Works God would glorify his Justice but his great Aim in the Covenant of Grace is to glorify his Mercy Ephes. 1.6 To the praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath accepted us in the Beloved God would make Grace glorious Justice seeks a fit Object Mercy only a fit Occasion The Question of Justice is To whom is it due But the Question of Mercy is Who wants it who needs it Well then though Satan and our own Hearts may make many Objections there is enough indeed to overwhelm us to damn us when we look to our selves But what will God glorify Grace Grace This is the Banner he hath spread over the Church in defiance of all the Powers of Darkness He hath brought me to the Banqueting-house and his Banner over me was Love Cant. 2.4 You must refresh your Souls with a sense of God's Mercy every day get a sprinkling of Christ's Blood upon your Heart Now in the establishing Assurance this is necessary for the Spirit sealeth us a Spirit of Promise upon terms of Mercy and Grace Ephes. 1.13 Ye were sealed
1 Cor. 7.30 And they that weep as tho they wept not and they that rejoice as tho they rejoiced not and they that buy as tho they possessed not 2 Cor. 6.7 By the Word of Truth by the Power of God by the Armour of Righteousness on the right-hand and on the left by Honour and Dishonour by evil Report and good Report Phil. 4.12 I know how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need A Man must learn both Lessons or he learneth neither The Prevalency of any Earthly Love will always expose us to Disquiets and we should have more in God if we looked for less in the Creature but whilst we dote upon these things we are more sollicitous about getting or keeping and troubled at the want or loss of them 3. The great care is in the Text about the exercise of Faith on God and Christ Ye believe in God believe also in me Sense is the cause of Trouble Faith of Comfort Christ who is the true Physician of Souls knoweth what Cure is proper to the Disease Mountebanks would prescribe another Cure spare the Flesh or feed Men with carnal Hopes No ye believe in God believe also in me Tho God should not prevent the Evil feared or remove the Affliction yet if we can believe we are well enough Faith represents more Grounds of Comfort than Sense can of Trouble whilst it carrieth off the Heart from things seen to things unseen from things present to things future from the Creature to God who can give better things than the World can give or take from us Here are two Objects of Faith God and Christ 1 Cor. 8.6 To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him One supream God from whom we derive all our Graces and to whom we direct all our Services and one Mediator by whom as a golden Pipe all our Mercies are conveyed to us and by whom also we have access to God for all that we stand in need of 4. Let us labour to keep our Consciences pure if we would not have our Hearts troubled Sin will bring on Trouble both inward and outward for it is the cause of Sufferings and it maketh them more grievous as we shall always walk in Pain till the Thorn be pulled out of our Foot Righteousness bringeth Peace and the Oil of Grace maketh way for the Oil of Gladness the Apostle bringeth this out of Melchisedec's Name and Title Heb. 7.2 First being by Interpretation King of Righteousness and after that also King of Salem which is King of Peace Elsewhere the Scripture doth attest it Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this Rule Peace be on them and Mercy and upon the Israel of God And 2 Cor. 1.12 Our rejoicing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in Simplicity and godly Sincerity not with fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World David interposeth a Caution Psal. 85.8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak Peace unto his People and to his Saints but let them not turn again to Folly 5. There are certain Ordinances appointed to fortify us against Soul-trouble The Word Psal. 119.50 This is my Comfort in mine Affliction for thy Word hath quickened me There are the fixed Grounds of that Hope and Comfort which will support and enliven us in the greatest Pressures God's Covenant and promised Mercies are Portion enough what Distresses soever he sendeth So Prayer if it be ingenuous thankful Prayer Phil. 4.6 Be careful for nothing but in every thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving let your Requests be made known unto God The Lord's-Supper it is our Viaticum non morientium not when we come to die Papists think so and therefore thrust the Sacrament into the Mouths of those that die if this be neglected they almost despair of their Salvation But it is Viaticum viventium of those that live Death is not a Journey but the end of a Journey a Passage in a Moment a Cessation from our Journey in this World which needeth no Viaticum a going out of the World like the putting out of a Lamp in a moment as the Lamp needeth no more Oil when it is to be extinguished We need this for our Journey in the World not our departure out of the World Acts 8.39 He went on his way rejoicing As it is our Antidote against the Corruption that is in the World through Lust so it is our Cordial against the Troubles of the World to give us more Joy of Faith more sense of God's Love It is the Feast provided for the refreshing of the weary and cherishing of the mournful Soul SERMON II. JOHN XIV 1 Let not your Heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me Doct. II. ONE great Means of easing our Hearts from Trouble is believing in God and Christ. To evidence this I shall consider I. The Act. II. The Object which is double 1. One part taken for granted Ye believe in God 2. The other part of the Object they were now invited and recommended unto Believe also in me I. For the Act. Faith in the general hath a comforting Property and a Power to allay Trouble As here the Disciples being in Trouble are exhorted by Christ to believe that is to renew their Faith David felt a blustering in his Spirit and how doth he allay the Storms Psal. 42.5 Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God There is no such ready way to still unquiet Thoughts as to set Faith on work and to cast Anchor within the Vail hoping for and expecting Relief from God So the Primitive Christians when they were under great Heaviness in divers Trials how did they get any Comfort to keep themselves alive 1 Pet. 1.8 In whom tho now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with Ioy unspeakable and full of Glory A lively Exercise of Faith will bring in much Joy to the Soul in hard Times and under sore Trials and not only keep it alive as Habak 2.4 The Iust shall live by Faith or make a Believer not barely to subsist but he fareth high and liveth at a wonderful rate of Comfort such as is for nature and kind tho not degree somewhat like the Joy of the Blessed Look into the Book of God and you shall find that all our Fears and Troubles are for want of Faith As for Instance Peter when he walked to Christ upon the Waters his Feet never sunk till his Faith failed Mat. 14.31 O thou of little Faith wherefore didst thou doubt The Wind was boisterous but there was Christ at hand He looketh at the Wind too much
Dispensations of God to his People whatever harshness or hard Aspect they have at first view are yet stamped and marked with Covenant-Mercy Love and Faithfulness Psal. 25.10 All the Paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth to such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies There is merciful and faithful dealing with him in every Condition for all this is but God's Way to make them partake of his Promises 6. That every Condition is useful and hath a Blessing in it to the Godly Cant. 4.16 Awake O North Wind and come thou South blow upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out Out of what Corner soever the Wind bloweth it is beneficial to Christ's Garden whether the bleak North Wind or hot South Wind. The same Spirit sanctifieth Afflictions who teacheth us how to serve God chearfully in our prosperous Condition Whatever Changes come upon us a Christian should be a Christian still and the Savour of his Spices should flow forth The North and South Wind be of contrary Qualities as Cold and Hot Moist and Dry. The Church needeth sometimes sharp Rebukes sometimes calm and gentle Consolations 7. That those things which seem to be for our temporal Hurt do in the Issue turn to our eternal Good 2 Cor. 4.17 For our light Affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory Carnal Self-love Sense and Fancy are all for our temporal Benefit and would fain be rid of temporal Evil But this would gratify our Flesh which feeleth what pleaseth it for the present and so be for our eternal Ruin But Faith owneth God's Wisdom and gracious Ordering and can see an eternal Benefit in a temporal Loss As a prudent sick Man obeyeth his Physician before his Appetite and against his Appetite because he is perswaded of his Skill and Faithfulness We trust God because he is Wise and Faithful and taketh the best course with us though if we consult with Fancy and Appetite no such thing doth appear Some Afflictions fit us for Glory as they better our Hearts others hasten our Glory as they shorten our Lives In the Eye of Faith Persecution is the nearest way to Heaven and the Sword of the Enemy is but the Key to open the Prison-Doors and let out the Soul that hath long desired to be with Christ. II. The Object 1. Much of the Triumph of Faith ariseth from its Object 2 Tim. 1.12 I know in whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that Day The strength of the Ivy lieth in the Oak or Tree about which it claspeth Much Comfort dependeth upon the Act of Faith as it seeth things that cannot otherwise be seen maketh things absent present raiseth the Heart above its present Condition But most of the Strength of Faith is in its Object Other Graces their Strength is more in the Subject wherein they are seated but Faith and Hope derive their Strength from the Object because their Nature lieth in Adherence and Expectation and if this have not Bottom enough to support it all is vain 2. Here is a double Object propounded And so before we go deeper into the Argument we have the more Advantages than if it were single and alone for two is more than one So Gen. 41.32 For that the Dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice it is because the thing is established by God and God will shortly bring it to pass The Object is doubled that Faith may be more full This double Prop for our Faith should give us double Strength in Believing when we have God to trust in and Christ to trust in We that have sinned with both Hands earnestly have a double Ground of Comfort and Hope the infinite Mercy and Power of God and the infinite Righteousness and everlasting Redemption of a Mediator God alone is enough for our Happiness there is in him abundantly more than enough to satisfy all the Capacities of the Creature but without a Mediator how shall we come to enjoy him Tho there be a Sufficiency in the Object of our Happiness yet as to the Means something else beside this is requisite If Man had kept innocent one Object of Faith had been enough but to Man fallen a Mediator is necessary And it is an unspeakable Mercy that God hath given us his Son that by Jesus Christ we may come to him Iohn 14.6 Iesus saith unto him I am the Way the Truth and the Life no Man cometh unto the Father but by me And on the other side by the Mediator Jesus Christ we come to the Father Iohn 12.44 He that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me 3. Respect to one of these Objects is taken for granted the other is expresly recommended to us Why is Faith in Christ especially required Partly upon a special and partly upon a general Reason 1. The special Reason was because their Faith in Christ as the promised Messiah was not so well established as their Faith in God He was shortly to undergo ignominious Sufferings yea Death it self which would tempt them to cast off the Faith of his Promises Therefore to fortify them against the Scandal of his Sufferings he saith Believe also in me They would be troubled if they looked only to Appearance and did not believe in him or look upon him in that Quality and Relation in which God sent him and he came into the World Luke 24.21 We trusted that it had been he that should have redeemed Israel It saveth a great deal of Trouble to be established in the present Truths and to understand what God is a doing in our time We should fortify our Faith where it is likely to be most assaulted 2. More general Besides a Faith in God a Faith is necessary which closeth with and embraceth Christ as Mediator Iohn 6.29 This is the VVork of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent He is sent of his Father to do us Good and authorized by God to exercise that Office for us and to us Yea we cannot believe in God unless we believe in Christ for the distance between God and us is so great that we cannot immediately converse with him nor trust in him for any Benefit without a Mediator 2 Cor. 3.4 Such Trust have we through Christ to God-ward So it is said 1 Pet. 1.21 VVho by him do believe in God who raised him from the Dead and gave him Glory that your Faith and Hope may be in God God was offended with Man and is fully satisfied with the Ransom payed for Sinners by Jesus Christ he is pacified towards all those that flee to him by Jesus Christ so that poor penitent Sinners may now come and rest upon him 4. Faith seeth many Grounds of Comfort yea of compleat and full Satisfaction in this double Object What will content you if God and Christ will not content you 1.
Here is God to satisfy us There is an infinite Latitude in the Object of Faith Father Son and Holy Ghost with all their Powers and Capacities to do us Good No Pain so great but he can mitigate or remove it no Danger so dreadful or so likely but he can prevent it no Misery so deep but he can deliver us from it no Enemies so strong but he can vanquish them no Want that he cannot supply Gen. 17.1 The Lord appeared to Abraham and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect When we have a Want that God cannot supply or a Sickness that God cannot cure or a Danger that he cannot prevent or a Misery that he cannot remove or can produce any Enemies or Creatures that are too hard for God then we have leave to yield to Trouble and Despondency of Heart Chuse God as your Portion and chief Happiness and you shall want nothing Psal. 23.6 Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the Days of my Life Surely could we more believe in God our Hearts would be more ballanced and kept steady not tost up and down with various Occurrences Whatever falleth out we have a God still to rejoice in and depend upon Habak 3.18 Yet will I rejoice in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation He supposeth himself not only in some necessity but in extremity not only kept bare but reduced to nothing 2 Cor. 6.10 As sorrowful yet alway rejoicing as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things You have all things in him 2. Here is Christ as Mediator We have great Advantage by that Consideration 1. Hereby we see God in our Nature and so nearer at hand and ready to help us and more accessible for us to come at than as God considered in the mere Deity John 1.14 The VVord was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us God is come down and become our Neighbour yea like one of us Bone of our Bone and Flesh of our Flesh. Though he has removed his Dwelling again into Heaven yet it is for our sakes our Nature is there though our Persons be not He is sat down as our Agent Heb. 8.1 VVe have such an High-Priest who is sat on the right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Heb. 4.15 For we have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities but was in all Points tempted like as we are yet without Sin God in our Flesh will not be strange to us We are bidden Isa. 58.7 not to hide our selves from our own Flesh. Gen. 29.14 And Laban said unto him Surely thou art my Bone and my Flesh and he abode with him 2. In the Mystery of Redemption all the Divine Persons put themselves in an Order for our Faith to take hold of Faith may close with any one of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity provided we divide not the Divine Essence in our Thoughts But in the Mystery of Redemption all is made obvious and handy to our Faith The Father considered as the Fountain of the Deity to whom we come for Grace and Mercy The second Person clothed with our Flesh through whom we come Being assisted and enabled to come by the Holy Spirit who is the third Person Eph. 2.18 For through him we both have an Access by one Spirit unto the Father This is that full and satisfying Object with which Faith closeth when it acteth most distinctly In the Father there we see original Love or original Authority and infinite free Grace Iohn 3.16 For God so loved the VVorld that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life In the Son everlasting Righteousness and Redemption Heb. 9.12 Neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in once into the holy Place having obtained eternal Redemption for us In the Spirit infinite Virtue and Power for the applying of Christ's Purchase for he createth a new Spirit in us he createth the Fruit of the Lips Peace Peace It is God that must be satisfied and by God must this Satisfaction be made and by him that is God must this Satisfaction be applied before we can have the Comfort of it You have all in one Verse 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledg of God the Father through the Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience and the sprinkling of the Blood of Iesus Christ. So ver 21 22. VVho by him do believe in God that raised him up from the Dead and gave him Glory that your Faith and Hope might be in God seeing ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit In the Father we see Elective Love in the Son there is full Redemption and by the Spirit effectual Application The Father appoints Blessedness to us the Son purchaseth it for us and the Holy Ghost carrieth it on powerfully and invincibly The Salvation of poor Sinners is a Work wherein all the Persons of the blessed Trinity are engaged and do concur therein by a several distinct personal Operation Surely that is a noble Work wherein such Agents are imployed and our Hearts must be raised to give equal Glory to all the Persons knowingly and distinctly and explicitely The Father out of his good Pleasure electing Sinners to Grace and Glory The Son by his Obedience and Suffering purchasing the same for them The Holy Ghost by his Power working Grace in them and preparing them for that Blessedness which the Father hath appointed and Christ hath purchased for them 3. In believing of Christ as Mediator our Troubles are stopped at the Fountain-head It is not the Wrath and Fury of the Creature but the Wrath of God which maketh us miserable and nothing can fully comfort us if God be apprehended as an Enemy or not fully reconciled to us Now God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself 2 Cor. 5.19 There was Enmity stopped God in our Nature suffering for us dying for us and paying a full Ransom for our Sins so that now all true Believers may draw nigh to him as a reconciled God for Christ hath merited Favour for all those who come to God by him 4. By believing in Christ as Mediator we may be assured of his purchase of Glory for us which is the great Cordial against all Trouble whatsoever 1 Thess. 5.9 10. For God hath not appointed us to Wrath but to obtain Salvation by Iesus Christ who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him He biddeth them comfort one another with these Words ver 18. When a great Judgment is a coming upon Men because of their Sins a Believer is Affliction-proof because he hath secured his eternal Interests by Christ. Here our Lord Jesus telleth them he was going to Heaven to prepare a Place for them Whilst we flatter our selves with temporal
they call Christ Lord and Saviour but do not rest upon him for Salvation nor obey him therefore this will be of no use to them as to Eternal Life So Mat. 7.21 Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father that is in Heaven Thô we profess Christianity and seem to have a great Respect to Christ's Memory yet without the practice of Faith and Obedience we shall have no Benefit by Christ and shall never enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Only those who being condemned by the Law fly to Christ by Faith and study to bring forth the Fruits of Newness of Life shall be saved by him Again Iohn 8.31 If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed There are Disciples in Name and there are Christ's Disciples indeed such as are so in Truth Life and Practice Whatever Priviledges Men may have by their outward Profession and Shew yet they have no ground of solid Comfort till they persevere to walk according to Christ's Direction and continue in his Word Thus when we renounce the Devil the World and the Flesh and cleave to Christ as Prince and Saviour and resign up our selves to his Use when this is done in reality then do we enter our selves indeed to be his Disciples This is implyed in our Baptism as in the Primitive Times when they did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Iustin Martyr phraseth it they did solemnly renounce Christ's Enemies and profess to choose him for their Lord and Master and yielded up themselves to be guided by him in his own way to Heaven And the Apostle telleth us 1 Pet. 3.21 Baptism saveth us not the putting away of the filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God that is an hearty acceptance of God's Offers and an engagement in his strength to do his Commandments Secondly Why this is necessary beyond Alms and all other Amiable Qualities 1. Because Heathens and Men of a false Religion may Excell in Charity and other Moralities and yet without true Grace they are nothing The Apostle tells us The Gentiles which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law Rom. 2.14 And that they excelled in Charity as well as other things appears by Titus 3.14 Let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses Who are they that he calls ours also Compare it with v. 8. That they which have believed in God be careful to maintain good works that is those of our Religion as well as the Iews and Pagans The Gentiles were much given to Charity Paul saith Acts 28.2 The barbarous people shewed us no little kindness Mercy had an Altar in every City of Greece The Alchoran of the Turks say That if men knew what a pleasant thing it was to give Alms rather than want somewhat to give they would slice out their own Flesh So that the Gentiles and men not under the Institution of Christ those that are without the Covenant and Promise and Grace may be addicted to Alms. But now all this is nothing without true Grace 1 Cor. 13.3 Thô I bestow all my Goods to feed the poor and have not Charity it profiteth me nothing A Man would think there were a Contradiction in the Apostles Speech for how can one bestow all his Goods to feed the Poor and yet want Charity If this be not Charity what is I would not Interpret it If I bestow all my Goods upon the Poor Hypocritically for it is a hard thing to conceive Hypocrisie should go to such a length but there is the Grace of Charity and the Natural Amiable Quality of Charity If a Man have not a renewed Heart if it be a meer Natural Motion without Spiritual Grace and that cannot be till they enter themselves Disciples to Christ in the way spoken of it is nothing The Apostle commends the Macedonians that were a poor People yet did exceedingly stretch themselves to contribute to the Poor Saints at Ierusalem 2. Cor. 8.5 And this they did not as we hoped but first gave their own selves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God And here was the true Method before they gave their Goods they offered their Hearts to God they gave up themselves to the Lord Christ to be his Disciples they entred themselves into his Service This is the true Fountain of Charity and then it comes to something 2. There is need of Faith in Christ in order to our Acceptance with God and Reconciliation with him and therefore all the Good Works we do will not profit us till we become Disciples of Christ Why till we Believe his Atonement and Reconciliation is not reckoned to us for the Gifts of Enemies are giftless and unacceptable Since the Fall there is no way of acceptance with God till we change our Copy and come to claim by a new Covenant Nothing will render us acceptable to God but compleat Innocence or else Repentance and Faith in Christ. While we stand upon our own Bottom alas the least Failing is damnable and spoils all the good we do for without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 and Rom. 8.8 They that are in the Flesh cannot please God VSE To shew the Necessity of becoming the Disciples of Christ that you may not satisfie your selves with any thing you do without it or beneath it till you have taken Christ for your Saviour But you will say What need this ado we are Christians are not we dedicated to his Service Baptized in his Name I answer three things 1. There is the more need of entring your selves Disciples of Christ because you are Baptized that you may fill up your Baptism with answerable Duty The Apostle Paul presseth to put on Christ Rom. 13.14 But put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ and that because they had put on Christ Colos. 3.10 Seeing ye have put on the new man We are more engaged by our Profession and Covenant sealed in Baptism if we have put on Christ Sacramentaally we must put him on really Rom. 6.11 Reckon your selves to be dead indeed unto Sin but alive unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord. And indeed this is so far from being an Objection that it binds us the more strongly However God may deal with Infidels to be sure it will not fare well with you if you mock God with an empty Formality and put him off with a Baptismal Regeneration without a real Regeneration if ye put on Christ in Profession and do not really put him on and know his Grace in Truth All are engaged the more strongly that live in the Church not only by the common necessity that is upon all Mankind of running to a Redeemer but because of their Profession Rom. 6.3 4 5. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Iesus Christ were baptized into his Death Therefore we are buried
that Riches are evil in themselves but that it is hard for such Creatures as we to possess them without sinful and inordinate Affections 4. Consider who it is that speaks it Alas if it had been the saying of any private Divine or particular Minister we might tax it as rash and rigorous but the mouth of Truth it self hath spoken it even Jesus Christ whom we own as our Lord and Master He knew the way of Salvation and knew the state and danger of Souls and he hath interposed his Authority and represents the difficulty It is Jesus Christ that had so much Wisdom to judge aright of matters Jesus Christ that had so much regard to the Comfort and Happiness of Men that he would not fright them with a needless danger and therefore certainly you should take such an Admonition to Heart from the mouth of him whom you call your Lord and Master and from whom at last you expect your doom and judgment he hath said it If any wise Man hath said it from the Experience of almost all Ages and Persons you ought to have regarded it but when our Lord hath said it he who is the Amen the Faithful and true Witness why should we not believe him I pray what do you think of Christ was not he able to judge of the Case It was the saying of Plato 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is impossible to be excellently good and eminently rich Therefore Celsus a Heathen who sought all occasions to disgrace the Gospel saith that Christ borrowed this saying of Plato but he is confuted by Origen in his Book against him This proud Heathen was sensible there was Wisdom in the speech therefore he would deprive Christ of the Honour of it But now since we believe the Doctrine of Christ and own it as the Speech of Christ who is our Lord and Master therefore it should more sink into our Hearts Thus for the Explanation of the Point from the Circumstances of the Text. II. Let us see whence this difficulty doth arise I answer Because of the sins to which a wealthy Estate doth expose us 1. Riches are apt to breed Atheism and Contempt of God They that are wholly drowned in Pleasures of Sense do not look into the Invisible World and see God which is the Father of Spirits Prov. 30.9 Lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord There is a Practical Atheism when Men forget or despise God and a Speculative Atheism when they deny God Now the Rich are apt to do both A Man that tumbles in Wealth Ease and Plenty is apt to forget and despise God But Jesurun waxed fat and kicked thou art waxen fat thou art grown thick thou art covered with fatness then he forsook God which made him and lightly esteemed the rock of his Salvation Deut. 32.15 Nay in some sort they deny God they live as if there were no God at all none to call them to Account Men that have seen no Changes and were never humbled under God's mighty hand never think of an Invisible Power I remember the Psalmist saith Psal. 55.19 Because they have no Changes therefore they fear not God they have not an Awe or Reverence or due sense of a Divine Power upon their Hearts because they never have been acquainted with Changes the Condition they have lived in hath been a constant tenour of Worldly Happiness So Zeph. 1.12 They are settled upon their Lees that is are not tossed from Vessel to Vessel as Wine that is racked They live in an even course of Worldly Prosperity and in abundance of Worldly Comforts without a Change and this choaks and gluts the Heart that they have no sense of the Lord's Goodness Changes do more awaken us and make us look to God as the Fountain of good and evil Isne vices magis in nobis excitant sensum divinae bonitatis quà m continuus tenor faelicitatis qui nos inebriat In short The Pleasures and Thoughts of the World do so take up their Hearts that there is no place for any serious thought and solemn remembrance of God such as should beget an awe in us It is said Isa. 5.12 The Harp and the Viol and Tabret and Pipe and Wine are in their Feasts but they regard not the work of the Lord neither consider the operation of his hands Thoughts of God are suppressed as soon as they do arise and they take no notice of the work of God's hands nor what he doth in their days to revive the sense of his Eternal Power and Godhead nor do they take their Comforts out of God's hands but look altogether to natural and to second Causes as being sufficient to themselves to live of themselves Indeed they may seem in Opinion to own a God as others do they take up the current Opinions and perform customary Worship but they do not glorifie him as God or repair to him with that life and fervency as those that stand in need of him nor consecrate their best Time and Strength and Affections to his Service It is usually the broken-hearted godly poor and those that have had frequent Experiences of the Changes of Providence that exercise themselves to Godliness and seek after God in good earnest The great Landlord of the World hath more Rent from many poor Cottages than from divers great Pallaces for they wallow in Plenty and never think of God 2. Riches keep Men from being broken-hearted and seeing their need of Christ. It is the poor needy Soul sensible of its own sin and misery that is likely to thrive in Religon and prosper in any heavenly design and pursuit Now those that are rich have so many entertainments of sense to inveagle their minds and divert their thoughts and are so besotted and inchanted with present delights and Pleasures that they have no feeling of their Condition or sense of the necessity of God's Grace therefore it is our Lord begins his description of Blessedness Mat. 5.3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven How few of them that are rich in Estate are poor in spirit the sense of their present Ease and Welfare makes them forget all thoughts of their spiritual Condition and reconciling themselves to God by Christ. The Prodigal never thought of going to his Father 'till he began to be in want Luk. 15.17 18. While Men have any thing in the World they are senseless and secure in the midst of all their sin and â—isery and if they can live without God and apart from God they will not come at him Ier. 2.31 Wherefore say my people We are Lordâ— we will come no more unto thee As if this merry World would always last and there were no Judgment to come and God would never bring them into his Presence but they live a Life of Estrangement from God they can live upon themselves and their own supplies and things that fall to them by the Bounty of God's Providence 3.
a mighty hand in the disposal of things in the World Secondly By way of Pactice 1. Pray more to be kept from this Sin than from Poverty namely to have Riches and not to trust in them It is an Extraordinary Gift of God and to be â—ought with greater Care Diligence and Frequency of Prayers and Fastings than either Health Preferment Life or any other thing Ver. 27. With men it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible God only can do it throughly This should be the constant Request of Rich Men Lord let me not trust in what I have this is a greater Blessing than the greatest abundance in the World 2. Be more ready to watch Opportunities of Charity to distribute and dispence your Estate than to encrease it for there is nothing will free us from this Sin so much as the continual Exercise of Charity or the giving of Alms. Therefore your great Care and Delight should be to hearken after Charitable Occasions for the Relief of the Poor and for the Church of God and be glad when occasions of doing Good are offered They that hunt after Opportunities of Gain trust in Riches but they that seek Opportunities of doing Good shew they are clear from this Sin Luke 12.33 Sell that you have and give alms provide your selves bags which wax not old a treasure in the heavens that faileth not then you trust in the Promises Your Office is not that of a Treasurer but of a Steward to have them in your Hands not in your Hearts otherwise not You but your Chest is Rich. 3. Labour by Faith to make God your Trust and Confidence 1 Tim. 6.17 That they trust not in uncertain riches but in the living God To rely upon his Power Mercy and Goodness for all that you have and stand in need of Give us this day our daily Bread for Protection and Provision When God giveth you Riches suspect what your Heart may do with them It is good to fear always especially when we have what we wish for or desire Therefore still be looking to God taking your Maintenance out of his hands and praying to him and blessing him daily for your Supply and this will make your Estate sweet and comfortable to you and free from those snares wherewith otherwise it will be encumbered 4. Be sure you get Grace together with an Estate for otherwise singly it will be a Snare to you Prov. 14.24 The Crown of the wise is their Riches but the foolishness of Fools is folly Riches are as they are used if they fall to the share of a Man that is Godly and wise they are a Crown and Ornament otherwise a Snare for the one employeth them to the Honour of God and the Good of the Church and State and is more publickly useful but the other groweth more haughty and fierce and scornful of holy things and sensual and vain and eateth and drinketh and swaggereth away the Good Gifts of God which might have a more Noble use So Eccl. 7.11 Wisdom is good with an Inheritance it is good without it but more conspicuously good with it It is not said an Inheritance is good without Wisdom or Grace No it is reserved to the Owners for their hurt So Prov. 17.16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a Fool to get wisdom seeing he hath no heart to it Many a Man hath a price but he hath not an Heart an Estate is but as a Sword in the hand of a Mad man when a Man wants Grace to improve it 5. Be sure your esteem of Riches come below your esteem of Religion and good Conscience As Nazianzen said of his Eloquence he had something of value to esteem as nothing for Christ By all my Wealth and Glory this alone I have gained that I have something to which I might preferr my Saviour This is like the Woman cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet Rov 12.1 contemning all worldly and sublunary things for Christ. 6. Think of Changes in the midst of your Fulness Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity Psal. 39.5 not only at his worst Estate when God rebuketh him for Sin We should make suppositions and see how we can bear the loss of all things when they are represented but in Conceit and Imagination Habbac 3.17 18. Althô the fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the vine c. Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of my Salvation The Fool durst not suppose the Accidents of that Night Luke 12.20 Thou Fool this night thy Soul shall be required of thee Security is a Coward acquaint the Soul with a supposition of Loss and Danger SERMON XII ON MARK X. v. 25. It is easier for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle than for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God I Have now read you a Sentence that at first view may seem to cut off the greatest and most splendid part of the World from all hopes of Salvation Had it been my Saying only you might take Liberty to tax it as rash and rigorous but the mouth of Truth it self hath spoken it even Jesus Christ whom we own as our Lord and Master He sufficiently knew the Worth and Way of Salvation and the State and Danger of Souls Now he interposeth his Authority Matth. 19.24 I say unto you It is easier for a Camel to go thorough the Eye of a Needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God If we believe him then let Rich Men look to themselves He had already told them that it is hard for them that have Riches then he shews wherein the difficulty laâ— because of their trusting in Riches Now he represents the Difficulty by a Similitude it is as hard for them to enter into the Kingdom of God as for a thing of the greatest Bulk to pass through the straitest place for what more strait than a Needles Eye and a Camel is a Creature of a great Bulk A Camel cannot pass throrow a Needle 's Eye without a Miracle nor a Rich Man enter into the Kingdom of God without the singular Power of God's Grace For the Expression Some say there was a Gate at Ierusalem call'd the Eye of a Needle a strait Gate by which a Camel could not enter Nisi deposito onere flexis genibus without laying aside his Burden and bending his Knee But no approved History mentions this and the Conceit lesseneth the force of our Saviour's Speech Others say that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Cable by which Mariners do fasten the Anchor but that also is a Mistake for that word is otherwise spelt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and doth also rarely occur in that sence and therefore rather the Beast is intended than the Cord or Cable It was an ordinary Proverb among the Iews and is so even to this
His shutting the mouths of the hungry Lyons when Daniel was in the Den with them Dan. 6.22 His making the Ravens which are by Nature Birds of prey to be Caterers to Elijah 1 Kin. 17.6 3. Distinction There are Impossibilia Naturae and Impossibilia Naturâ things impossible to Nature and things impossible by Nature Things impossible to Nature God can do but not things impossible by Nature he will do things above Nature and besides it but nothing against it Things impossible by Nature are such as either respect the Agent or the Object 1. With respect to the Agent that which is repugnant to his own Essential Perfection Thus God cannot lye Tit. 1.2 Which God that cannot lye hath promised Heb. 6.18 That by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye we may have strong consolation God cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2.13 If we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself for these things imply weakness and not Power God cannot dye God cannot sleep It is no discredit to a wise man that he cannot play the Fool or to a valiant Man that he cannot be a Coward God can do all things so as that he is still God Those things that are repugnant to the Perfection of his Nature he cannot do 2. With respect to the Object such things as imply a Contradiction as that a thing should be and not be to make a Creature finite and Infinite dependant and Independant at the same time and in the same respect limited to a place and yet in every place to make the Sun shine and not to shine at the same time these are against the Nature of the things themselves These Distinctions have their use in many Controversies that are about Religion VSE For Exhortation To press you to Believe that God is Almighty and to Improve it 1. Believe it Need we press men to that It is a piece of Natural Divinity a Truth held forth to us not only in the Book of Scripture but of Nature That Light which finds out a Deity will discover him to be Almighty and therefore need we any great ado to perswade men to believe it Yes certainly for this is the great thing that we question in Cases of difficulty we doubt more of the Power of God than of his Will Our seeming doubts of his Will are but pretences to cover our shameful and Atheistical Doubts of his Power that which works subtilly and underground in us and weakens our Conâ—idence in God and hinders the rejoycing of our Faith is a doubt of his Power Surely God knows us better than we do our selves and the Scripture shews all along that our Doubts are about God's Power When there was a Promise brought from God that Sarah should conceive with Child she did not believe the Promise Gen. 18.13 14. And the Lord faid unto Abraham wherefore did Sarah laugh saâ—ing Shall I of a surety bear a Child which am old Is any thing too hard for the Lord There was her Doubt and difficulty So Moses the Man of God the Lord had told him Face to Face that he would feed his People and give them Flesh to eat and he doubted of God's Power Numbers 11.21 22 23. The people among whom I am are six hundred thousand footmen and thou hast said I will give them Flesh that they may eat a whole month shall the flocks and herds be slain for them to suffice them or shall all the fish of the Sea be gathered together for them to suffice thim And the Lord said unto Moses Is the Lords hand waxed short So when the Prophet foretold there should be such Plenty in Samaria where there was great Scarcity saith the Noble-man 2 Kings 7.2 Behold if the Lord should make windows in Heaven might this thing be There was his Doubt So the Virgin Mary when the Angel comes with the Message of the great Mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God that he should be Born of her Luk. 1.34 Then said Mary unto the Angel How can this be seeing I know not a Man At this rate still doth Unbelief speak in the Wilderness as the Children of Israel Psal. 78.19 20. Can God furnish a Table in the Wilderness Behold he smote the Rock that the Waters gushed out and the streams overflowed can he give Bread also can he provide Flesh for his People Certainly the Scripture knows what is the special Language of our Hearts better than we our selves Now Unbelief is still represented as doubting of God's Power Besides Doubts haunt us only in times of difficulty and when Mercies expected are hard to come by If we did doubt of God's Will because of our Unworthiness why do we not doubt at other times when things are easie but these doubts surprize us only when the things we expect from God according to his Promises are difficult and hard to come by And the reason why we are so apt to doubt of God's Power is the imperfection of our Thoughts about God's being We are inured to Principles of Sense and Converse with limited Beings and therefore confine God to a Circle of our own making Psal. 78.41 They turned back and tempted God and limited the Holy one of Israel We confine God to the Course of second Causes with which we wholly Converse and when there is difficulty there our Hearts fail therefore there is need to press you to believe God's Power 2. Improve it to strengthen our Faith and encourage our Obedience 1. To strengthen our Faith either in Prayer or in Waiting In Prayer O when you come to God remember he is able to do abundantly above all that we ask or think Eph. 3.20 How hard and difficult soever the thing be that we ask of God he is able to do it When our Lord taught us to Pray what are the Encouragements he gives us see the Conclusion of the Lord's Prayer Mat. 6.13 Thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory As God hath a Kingdom and Authority to dispose of all things for his Glory and our good so he hath a Power to back it it is not an empty Title Pray for help with such cheerfulness and confidence as if it were the easiest thing in the World to be done All those things that are so difficult to be obtained either the Sanctification of our Souls or the Promotion of Christ's Kingdom or any of those things Thine is the Power there is that which holds up our Hands in Prayer and gives us confidence towards God So to strengthen our Faith in Waiting touching the performane of all God's Promises for our selves and others Abraham believed above Hope and against Hope why being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform Rom. 4.21 This is the great Security of the Soul that confirms us in waiting upon God when the Accomplishment of his Promises is unlikely to Reason God is able If you expect of God preservation in
next World but to carry us thither with Comfort supplying us in a way most conducible to his Glory and our Welfare Psal. 84.11 The Lord is a Sun and Shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly All things are yours Ordinances Providences 1 Cor. 3.21 For all things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is God's 2. Hereafter That Christ will give us Eternal Glory and Happiness in the other World 1 Tim. 1.16 For this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Iesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe in him to life everlasting And Iohn 20.31 These are written that ye might believe that Iesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name This is the main Blessing which Faith aimeth at 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your Faith even the salvation of your Souls By this all Temptations of Sense are defeated Now if you would know whether your Faith groweth or no you must discover it by the Firmness of your Assent or the Resolvedness of your Consent or the Peace and Confidence of your Relyance 1. For Assent If you believe the Word of Gâ—d especially the Gospel part with an Assent so strong that you can resolve to venture your whole Happiness in this bottom and let go all that you may obtain the Hopes which the Gospel offereth to you certainly he hath a strong Faith who taketh Gods Promises for his whole Felicity and God's Word for his only Security he needeth no more nor no better Thing nor surer Conveyance to engage him to hazard all that he hath when the Enjoyment of it is inconsistent with his Fidelity to Christ. 2. Your Consent A full entire Hearty Consent to resign your Selves to Christ not a feeble Consent such as is contradicted by every foolish and hurtful Lust but a prevalent Consent such as can maintain it self notwithstanding Difficulties Temptations and Oppositions of the Flesh and controll all other Desires and Delights whatsoever 3. For Relyance When you can trust him for deliverance from the Guilt Power and Punishment of Sin and to quicken strengthen and preserve Grace in you to everlasting Life You trust him in all his Offices as a Priest when you believe his Merits and Sacrifice and Comfort your selves with his Gracious Promises and Covenant and come to God with more boldness and Hope of Mercy upon the account of his Intercession especially in all Extremities and Necessities Heb. 4.14 15 16. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens Iesus the Son of God Let us hold fast our Profession for we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need You trust him as a Prophet when you give up your selves as his Disciples to the Conduct of his Word and Spirit being parswaded that he will infallibly teach you the way to true Happiness Ioh. 6.68 Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life You trust him as a King when you become his Subjects and are perswaded that he will Govern you in Truth and Righteousness in order to your Salvation and defend you by his mighty Power from all your Enemies 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day And 2 Tim. 4.18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly Kingdom To whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen SERMON III. ON 2 THESS I. v. 3. Your Faith groweth exceedingly and the Charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth THE Growth and Encrease of Faith may be Judged of 1. By the Nature of Faith 2. The Properties of it 3. The Examples and Instances of great Faith in Scripture We are now upon the Second Thing the Properties 1. A Dependance upon God for something that lyeth out of Sight That this is an Essential Property of Faith appeareth by the Description of it Heb. 11.1 The Evidence of things not seen that is not seen by Sense and Reason Some things are invisible by reason of their Nature as God for no man hath seen God at any time Joh. 1.18 And therefore he is called the Invisible God Col. 1.15 And some things by reason of their Distance because they are Absent and Future as the Glory of the World to come and therefore 't is an Object of Faith and Hope Rom. 8.24 For hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for it Vision and Possession exclude Hope and leave no room and place for it Now without Faith a Man can have no sight of these things 2 Pet. 1.9 He that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off There is a mist upon Eternity and we cannot look beyond the Clouds of this lower World unless we have the Eagle-eye of Faith but by Faith we can see them so as to frame our Lives accordingly 2 Cor. 5.7 For we walk by Faith and not by Sight By Sense we see what is pleasing or displeasing to the Flesh but by Faith what conduceth to the saving or losing of the Soul Faith being very much like Sight and serving us for the Government of the Soul as Sight doth for the Body it may much be explained by it Now to Bodily Sight there must be an Object a Medium to make the Object conspicuous and a Faculty or Organ 1. The Great Object of Faith is Eternal Life as procured by Christ and promised in the Gospel There is no use of Sight where nothing is to be seen therefore the Object is set before us in the view of Faith in the Promises of the Gospel Heb. 6.18 and Heb. 12.2 God's Truth is as certain as Sight it self can be in it we see all things promised as sure and near 2. The Medium As we see Colours in the Light of the Air so these Spiritual and heavenly things in the Light of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.11 12. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God Now we have received not the Spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given us of God 3. The Eye or Visive Power A Blind Man cannot see at Noon-day nor the sharpest Sight at Midnight Now this
continual Practice How few can see all things in God when they have nothing in the Creature 2 Cor. 6.10 Many talk of living by Faith but 't is when they have enough in the World to live upon they eat their own Bread wear their own Apparel only call it by God's Name The Life of Sense is more evident than the Life of Faith Well now This being the Nature of Faith thereby we may know the measure of it for the Excellency and Degree of every thing is known by the Essential Properties 2. The second Property of Faith is Self-denyal or a venturing of all in Christ's Hands or a foregoing all for Christ. That this is included in the Nature of Faith yea essential to it I must prove to you 1. By the Description of Faith in Scripture Heb. 10.39 We are not of the number of them that draw back to perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Purchasing of the Soul Not Purchasing in the way of Merit but Means A true and sound Faith will cause us to save the Soul though with the loss of other things The Flesh is for sparing or saving the Body but Faith is for saving the Soul whatever it costs us The Flesh saith Favour thy self Faith saith Hazard all for Christ. 2. By Reason I will prove that it not only necessarily results from the Nature of Faith but is included in it for Faith builds upon the Promise of Salvation by Christ Now this Promise is not only true but good 1 Tim. 1.1 'T is certainly true and requireth the firmest Belief 't is eminently good and worthy to be regarded above all other things the Happiness is most desirable and the Assurance of enjoying it as strong as can be given us Now we do not close with this Promise rightly unless we Assent and Embrace take the thing Promised for our whole Happiness and the Promise it self for our whole Security The thing promised we do not take for our whole Happiness unless we forsake all other Hopes and Happiness and can let go all Pleasures Profits Worldly Reputation and Honour yea Life it self when 't is inconsistent with our Fidelity to Christ or the way we should take to enjoy the Blessedness that he offereth Not only wilfull Sin and all Carnal Pleasures but any thing though never so near and dear to us No we will not take up with any other Portion and Felicity for all the Temptations in the World And also there must be a Confidence of God's Promise in Jesus Christ that we may Venture our all upon this Security and if God call us to it actually forsake all so that without Self-denyal we can neither trust God nor be true to him 3. This suiteth with the Nature of the Conditional and Baptismal Covenant There is an Absolute Covenant whereby God promiseth to give Faith to the Elect and a Conditional Covenant sealed in Baptism wherein 't is said that He that Believeth and is Baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 Now by this Covenant none can be Believers or Disciples of Christ but those that forsake all for Christ's sake Matth. 13.45 46. The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a Merchant-man seeking goodly Pearls who when he had found one Pearl of great price he went and sold all that he had and bought it Christ knew the Nature of Faith better than we do many cheapen the Pearl of Price but do not go through with the Bargain because they do not sell all to Purchase it all that is inconsistent with this Choice and Trust So Luk. 14.26 If any Man come unto me and hate not Father and Mother and Brother and Sister yea and his own Life he cannot be my Disciple Shall we think to go to Heaven at a cheaper rate after such express Declarations of the Will of Christ All Christians are not called to this but all must be ready for this Eph. 6.15 Your Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace Acts 21.13 I am ready not to be bound only but also to dye at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus 1 Pet. 3.15 Be ready alwayes to give an Answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the Hope that is in you with meekness and fear This every Disciple must be Prepared to undergo Martyrdom if God calls him to it 4. I prove it by the Instances of Believers ordinary and extraordinary Faith was ever a venturing all and a forsaking all upon Gods Veracity and Truth of his Promises 1. Extraordinary Noah had but God's bare Word for the Flood Heb. 11.7 yet notwithstanding the Mocks of the incredulous World with vast Expence and Care he prepareth an Ark which was the prescribed Means to save himself and Houshold Abraham leaveth his Father's House though he knew not whether God would call him Heb. 11.8 Here was venturing all on God's Fidelity and afterwards we read that he was ready to offer Isaac leaving the way to God how to fulfill his Promises Vers. 17 18. So the Israelites passing through the Red Sea Ver. 29. there they put their All into God's Hands when upon his Word themselves and little ones and all their substance ventured into the great deep So Christ's Tryal of the young Man Mark 10.21 Go thy way sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven c. But the Promise of Eternal Life and great Treasure in Heaven could not part the young Man and his great Estate 2. Ordinary Moses Heb. 11.24 25 26. By Faith Moses when he was come to years refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to endure the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt for he he had respect unto the recompense of reward So those that the Apostle speaketh of Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance They had such a Faith in Christ that though they had lost their Goods yet because they lost not Christ and the Hopes of Heaven by him they thought themselves happy enough So Paul's quitting all Honour and Respect with his Countrey-men Phil. 3.8 I count all things but dung and dross for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. 'T is endless to instance in all but this is enough to shew you that the true Believers are still known by their Self-denyal But you will say if this be necessary to the very Truth and Being of Faith as certainly it is how shall we know our growth for we can but forsake all I Answer By your readiness and willingness to part with all for Christ. The weakest Believer can part with no more but all but the stronger this Faith is he doth it with the more readiness of mind
great stay to the Souls of true Believers to cause them with Comfort to trust themselves and all their Affairs in the hands of Christ. We have no reason to doubt of his Care Protection and Merciful Disposal of us and if poor sick and desolate you may go to him it is in the power of his hands to help you 1. There is no want but he can easily supply it Psal. 23.1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want 2. There is no pain or suffering but he can easily mitigate or remove it Mat. 8.2 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean 3. There is no danger so great from which he is not able to deliver thee Dan. 3.17 18. If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King But if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the golden Image which thou hast set up 2 Cor. 1.10 Who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us Where can we be so safe as in the Love and Covenant of such an Almighty Saviour Get but this imprinted upon your Hearts and it will beget a strong and stedfast Confidence in him 6. He reasoneth from the strict Discipline observed in the Roman Armies where there was no disputing of Commands or questioning Why and Wherefore I am a man under Authority having Soldiers under me and I say to this man go and he goeth and to another come and he cometh and to my Servant do this and he doth it Verse 9 th Where he compareth Person with Person I am a Man thou a God Condition with Condition a subordinate Officer with Christ the Supream Lord He knew what it was to obey and to have Power over others Power with Power his Power over Soldiers and Servants with Christ's Command over all Events Health and Sickness Life and Death Reasoning for God and his Promises is a great advantage We are Naturally acute in reasoning against Faith but when the Understanding is quick and ready to invent Arguments to encourage Faith it is a good sign VSE Go you and do likewise From the Example of the Centurion let me encourage you 1. To readiness of Believing Iames 3.17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated This is opposite to that slowness of Heart to believe which we read of Luke 24.25 Oh Fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken These are more receptive and easie to entertain a Doctrine than others Iohn 7.17 If any Man do his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God The Sincere and Renewed need less ado to convince them There is a light Credulity Prov. 14.15 The Simple believeth every word and there is the readiness of a Sincere Mind to embrace the Truth We are to captivate our Understandings to the Obedience of Faith but not every Fancy lest we be like Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4.14 No a Christian must not be like a Reed shaken with the Wind nor believe every Spirit but yet where the Truth is sufficiently evidenced we must embrace it Most of our Hesitancy in Religion comes not so much from the Conflict between our Light and the Doubts of our Mind as from the Conflict between our Light and Lusts which maketh us irresolute but a sincere Heart soon overcometh the difficulty 2. To represent our Necessity to Christ and referr the Event to him to commit and submit all to him There is an Alsufficiency of Power and Infinite Pity and Goodness that we need not trouble our selves about the Event Submission before the Event is Faith as after it is Patience This is true Faith in such Cases as the Centurion came about to referr all to Christ. 3. To be Humble In all our Commerce with Christ Faith must produce a real Humility Faith is most high when the Heart is most low Luke 18.11 12 13 14. The Pâ—arisee stood and prayed saying God! I thank thee I am not as other men are c. I fast twice a week I give tithes of all that I possess And the Publican standing afar off would not so much as lift up his eyes to Heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a Sinner I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted The one changelled a Debt the other begged a Favour Humble Supplications to God become us better than proud Expostulations 4. To meditate often on the Soveraign Dominion of Christ and his Power over all things that fall out in the World To keep us from warping and running to unlawful shifts God propoundeth his Alsufficiency to our Faith when we enter into Covenant with him Gen. 17.1 I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect He hath Power enough to help defend and reward us we need not seek elsewhere for a Protector or Paymaster the Word of his Providence is enough he can heal our Diseases supply our Necessities or bless a little as he did the Pulse to the captive Children Dan. 1.15 Their Countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the Children which did eat the portion of the Kings meat A SERMON ON MATTH XV. v. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. Then Iesus went thence and departed into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon And behold a Woman of Canaan came out of the same Coasts and cryed unto him saying Have mercy on me O Lord thou Son of David my Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil But he answered her not a word and his Disciples came and besought him saying Send her away for she cryeth after us But he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost Sheep of the House of Israel Then came she and worshipped him saying Lord help me But he answered and said It is not meet to take the Childrens bread and cast it to Dogs And she saith Truth Lord yet the Dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Masters Table And Iesus answered and said unto her O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt And her Daughter was made whole from that very hour WE come now to the Second Instance of a Great and Grown Faith This ought to be considered by us In the Centurion me had an Instance of a reasoning Faith now of a wrestling Faith Faith wrestling with grievous Temptations but at length obtaining help from God We ought to consider this for these Reasons 1. Because Christ pronounceth it to be great Faith and so proper for our Imitation O Woman great is thy Faith It is the Faith of a Woman a
holding and drawing with the Almighty will not let him go till he bless them The Woman doth not turn her Back upon Christ but draws the nearer to him the more he seemeth to drive her away from him and keepeth arguing with him and beseeching of him till he giveth her Satisfaction But how shall we do to keep up Prayer in the midst of so many Discouragements 1. Our Necessity should quicken us And 2. God's Goodness and Power should support us Faith pressed with need is earnest in Prayer when it is dealing with a God gracious and powerful why should we give over the Suit 2. Her Humility We read of no murmuring and Impatience or Discontent at Christ's Carriage No if we will wrestle with God we must wrestle with Prayers and Tears with humble and broken Hearts there must be no complaining of God but to God The Woman doth not tax Christ as harsh and severe but only maketh Supplication Lord have mercy upon me Son of David help me It is said Matth. 15.25 She worshipped him But in Mark 7.25 it is said She fell at his feet She fell prostrate before him and owneth the Term of Dog that justly she might be accounted so and maketh it her Plea and Claim Humility is contented to be humbled as deeply as the Lord pleaseth but cannot bear this to be excluded from Christ and the Benefit of his Grace In all Faith there is always a deep Humility When Christ rebuketh her as a Dog she doth not make a murmuring Retort but an humble Plea That some of the Mercy provided for Israel might be spared to a poor Canaanite a Crumb at least 3. A resolved Faith under our greatest Pressures Iob 15.14 Tho' he slay me yet I will trust in him As Antisthenes told his Master that taught him Philosophy That he should not find a Club big enough to beat him from him Faith will not quit it's Adherence to God for any Difficulty whatsoever when God seemeth to quit the Believer the Believer will not quit God but take him as a Friend when he seemeth to deal as an Enemy and still put a good Construction upon his Providence This Resolute Adherence is seen in three things 1. An Adherence to his Way how little soever he seemeth to own it Psal. 44.17 18. All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant Our Heart is not turned back neither have our Steps declined from thy way Sharp Afflictions do not discharge us from our Duty in professing the Truth As our Steps must not decline so not our Hearts Dan. 3.17 18. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery Furnace and â—e will deliver us out of thy Hand O King But if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the Golden Image which thou hast set up However God disposes of us we must keep to our Duty 2. In Perseverance in the use of Means Rom. 12.12 Continuing instant in Prayer We are to use the Duty still though we have no Satisfaction as to the Event and as long as there is Life in the Duty it will come to something at the last Luke 5.15 We have toiled all night and have taken nothing nevertheless at thy Word we will let down the Net It is enough that these means are appointed by God and we must use them though hitherto we have gained little Comfort and Success by them 3. In a Dependance upon his Promises and powerful Providence The Woman sticketh to Christ as only able to help her though there was little appearance of any help from him She runneth not away to another Helper but worshippeth him cleaveth to him Better lie dead at Christ's Feet than die in a state of Alienation from him We must resolve to be his though we cannot know that he is ours No Trouble how great soever is a Warrant to quit our Trust and whatever Disappointment saith to us it doth not say Put your Confidence elsewhere or trust no longer in God This resolute Confidence is justifiable upon these Grounds 1. His Providence will never give his Word the Lie Let God do what he will they are approved who are approved by his Word and they are condemned who are condemned by his Word Psal. 73.17 When I went into the Sanctuary of God then understood I their end Job 3.3 I have seen the foolish taking root but suddenly I cursed his Habitation And on the contrary Psal. 4.3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for himself the Lord will hear when I call unto him Isa. 3.10 Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him for they shall eat of the Fruit of their doings 2. There is more good Will in his Heart than is visible in his Dealings The merciful Nature of God should be a support to us though we see nothing of the Effects of it in his Providence Iob 10.13 These things hast thou hid in thine Heart I know that it is with thee He speaketh of his favourable Inclination to shew pity to distressed Creatures We are not able always to reconcile his present Dispensations with his gracious Nature yet Faith must not quit it's Hold fast We must see what is hid in God's Heart and comfort our selves with that Favour and Mercy which we know to be Essential to him Tho' the Mercy and Pity be not visible and obvious to Sense the Disposition and Inclination abideth in God unchangeable and sure God is a merciful God still and Christ a compassionate Saviour though the Effects be suspended to try and sharpen our Faith 3. Because God loveth to bring Light out of Darkness to give the Valley of Achor for a Door of Hope to bring meat out of the Eater and sweetness out of the strong to bring about his Peoples Mercies by means very improbable and contrary that he may train us up to hope against Hope When Deliverance is a coming it is not always in sight Christ at a Wedding calls for Water when he intended to give Wine Iohn 2.7 And here he rebuketh the Woman as a Dog when he meant to treat her as a Daughter of Abraham 4. When he seemeth to resist and be opposite to his People he giveth them secret-Strength to prevail over him When Iacob wrestled with God it was by God's own Strength God in Iacob seemed to overcome God without him or against him Was not the Spirit of Christ at work in the Heart of this Woman all the while he seemed to be struggling with her He never striveth with his Servants but giveth them suitable Strength to the Task he imposeth on them 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it Psal. 138.3 In the day when I
God having raised up his Son Iesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities There the Blessing is Interpreted Secondly That Eternal Life is included in it also is evident from the Nature of the Thing For this being the chief Blessedness it cannot be excluded and may be farther proved from the double reasoning of the Apostle from this Covenant 1. Because the Patriarchs sought it by vertue of this Promise Heb. 11.13 14 15. All these died in Faith not having received the Promises but having seen them afar off and were perswaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a Countrey And truely if they had been mindful of that Countrey from whence they came out they might have had opportunity to have returned But now they desire a better Countrey that is an Heavenly The Argument is They did not think themselves to be at home in Canaan but sojourned there as in a strange Countrey The Apostle is speaking of Abraham Isaac and Iacob who were Heirs of the same Promise namely of Blessedness in the Seed of Abraham they still sought another place 2. Because else God could not act suitably to the greatness of his Covenant-love and Relation and did not make good his Title Verse 16. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City God having made so Rich a Preparation for them may be fitly called their God Note our Saviour's reasoning Matth 22.31 32. But as touching the Resurrection of the Dead have ye not read that which was spoken to you by God saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob God is not the God of the Dead but of the Living II. Come we now to the Strength of his Faith That is seen in Two Things 1. His Clear Vision 2. His Deep Affection 1. His Clear Vision and Sight of Christ He saw my Day The Eagle-Eye of Faith will see afar off and through many Impediments and draw Comfort not only from what is present visible and sensible but from what is distant and future and but obscurely revealed The sight of Faith may be Illustrated by Bodily Sight Three Things argue the Strength of Bodily Sight 1. When the things are afar off that we see for a weak Eye cannot see afar off 2. When there are Clouds between though the things be clear To pierce through these Clouds argueth the fight is strong 3. When there is but a little sight to see by To see a thing at a distance either in the Morning or Evening-Twilight argueth a strong fight All these concurr here 1. The things to be seen were at a great distance not to be accomplished in their time nor a long time after Thousands of Years and many Successions of Ages intervened e're the Messiah was Exhibited to the World and came in the Flesh to Erect his Gospel kingdom yet they went to the Grave in Assurance of this Promise That in due time the Redemption of sinful Man should be accomplished Well then we see the Nature of Faith that it can look upon things absent and future as sure and near And without it Man looketh no farther than present probabilities 2 Pet. 1.9 But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Purblind Man cannot see things at a distance from him But Faith surmounts all Successions of Ages and can fly over many Thousands of Years in a Moment to the Object expected as the Apostle Iohn Revel 20.12 I saw the Dead small and great stand before God He saw it in the Light of Prophecy but the Light of Faith and Prophecy differ little They agree in the general ground viz. Divine Revelation they differ only as the general Revelation is the ground of Faith a particular Revelation is the ground of Prophecy They agree in the manner of Perception by Divine Illumination the Spirit inlightneth Believers and the Spirit inlightned the Prophets for they were moved by the Holy Ghost But only Believers by that general way of Illumination which is common to all the Saints the special Illumination is peculiar to Prophets They agree in the Object things absent and future and at great distance here there is no difference They agree in the certainty of Apprehension only by Prophecy they may define particular Events by the other the accomplishment of general Promises They agree as to the Affections of the Heart but they differ in the degree the one hath more Extatick Motions the other is a more Temperate Confidence So that you see by this comparison a strong Faith can see things at a distance and we are affected with them in some manner as if they were present 2. When Clouds come between Faith and the Object to be seen When the Promise was given to Abraham he was Childless and so remained a long time In the Course of Nature his own Body and Sarah's Womb were dead and after he had a Son God commands him to slay him and Offer him in Sacrifice A Command not only against his Natural Affection but Hope And then afterwards his Seed was few in number for a long time and when they did multiply they were oppressed which was revealed to Abraham Now to strive against all these difficulties was to believe in Hope against Hope Rom. 4.18 But this I must reserve to the next time However it is said of Abraham He saw my Day he rested in the Truth and Power of God and by it resolved all difficulties To see through such Natural Impossibilities argueth a strong sight of Faith 3. For their Light to go by it was but a little the Revelation was but obscure the Patriarchs had only that Promise Gen. 3.15 And I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Abraham's was a little clearer all that he had was but this In thy Seed all Nations shall be blessed Yet this was but a small glimmering Light in Comparison of what we enjoy far short in clearness and plainness of the many precious Gospel promises which are made to us The Day-light is not only broken out but it draweth â—igh to high Noon Though they saw not Christ so nearly and clearly revealed as we do yet they could do more mighty things with their Faith than we can do with ours and did more excell both in Comfort and Holiness You will say What is this clear Vision of Christ to us How shall we judge of the strength or weakness of our Faith by this Answ. 1. As to Christ there is a sight of Christ past present and to come which still belongeth to Faith 1. Past To see him whom we have not seen that is so to be affected with his
Abraham had a strong Hope in God when all Appearances seemed to forbid Hope Most Mens Faith is born up by outward likelihoods and probabilities and when they fail their Faith faileth they can trust God no farther than they can see him But true Faith dependeth upon him when his way is in the dark and there is little appearance of the things we wait for as Paul could assure them not a Man should be lost when all hope that any should be saved was taken away Acts 27.20 22. I prove this 1. From the Genius and Nature of Faith There must be some difficulty in the thing to be believed or else it is not an Object of Faith Rom. 8.24 But hope that is seen is not hope for what a Man seeth why doth he yet hope for The Nature of Faith and Hope is so that it is not of things presently enjoyed for Vision and Possession exclude Hope and what is easie and next at hand it is as if it were already enjoyed therefore it is no Tryal of your Faith to wait for probable things and such as are within the View of Sense or Reason But to Hope against Hope when God disappointeth our Confidence and seemeth to beat us off from believing yet to adhere to him this is the disposition of Faith 2. From the Warrant of Faith which is the Word of God Now we must believe God upon his bare word though we know not what time or way he will take or by what means the things promised may be accomplished In things future and invisible we believe against Sense to say with Thomas Except I see I will not believe Joh. 20.25 this maketh way for Atheism In things incredible we believe against Reason Heb. 11.1 Faith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Evidence of things not seen provided they be revealed by God we must not be false Prophets to our selves and make Promises which God never made that is to interest his Glory in our vain Conceits Ier. 4.10 Ah Lord God! surely thou hast greatly deceived this People and Ierusalem saying Ye shall have peace meaning the false Prophets using his Name And it is a Snare to our selves we dream of Deliverance when God intendeth a further Tryal 1 Thes. 5.3 For when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a VVoman with Child and they shall not escape But when the Promise is clear then we must believe in Hope against Hope Sense Nature and humane Reason must not be heard against Faith Psal. 27.3 Tho' VVar should rise against me in this I will be confident whatever the Danger was for he had a particular Promise of coming to the Throne It must not be saith Sense It cannot be saith Natural Reason It both can and will be saith Faith Though what God had promised to do do far exceed the Power of Nature his Word is enough to Faith But if we have no express Promise may we not believe in Hope against Hope Answer If Believing be meant only of a Confidence in God's Power not determining the certainty of the Event Many times we are cast upon God's Providence all humane refuge and help faileth there is no possibility of escape yet God forbiddeth Despair and thus driveth us to himself 2 Cor. 1.9 But we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the dead He means when the furious multitude at Ephesus was let loose upon him for his adherence to his way Psal. 44.19 20. Tho' thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadow of death we have not forgotten the Name of our God We have sometimes that which is equivalent to a Promise even the usual Practice of God Deut. 32.36 For the Lord will judge his people and repent himself for his servants when he seeth their Power is gone and there is none shut up or left Gen. 22.14 In the Mount of the Lord it shall be seen 3. The Object of Faith God-all-sufficient We must neither measure his Goodness nor Power by our Scantling and Module Not his Goodness Isa. 55.8 9. For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord. But as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts Hosea 11.9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine Anger I will not return to destroy Ephraim for I am God and not man We sin as Men but he pardoneth like a God Nor his Power Zech. 8.6 If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this People in these days should it also be marvellous in mine eyes saith the Lord of Hosts The Promises then made seemed impossible or improbable to be performed for the Iews were a despicable Remnant and the Times full of Dangers and Fears Reason and Probability is not our Support but Faith which looketh to God to whom nothing is impossible Nothing can be laid in opposition to his Power or can overballance his Promises We are at a loss many times but God is never at a loss You would think that man ridiculous that should say An Horse cannot carry him upon his Back because a Fly cannot It is more ridiculous to confine God to Humane Likelyhoods and Probabilities We cannot do this therefore God cannot Psal. 78.41 They lâ—mited the Holy One of Israel that is streightned his Power as if their Wants were so great God was not able to supply them or their Miseries so grievous that he were not able to remove them or their Enemies so strong that he were not able to vanquish them If there be any difficulty in the Case it is the fitter for an Almighty Power Certainly we have no strong Faith if any Faith when we cannot see the Truth of God's Promises unless we see the Possibility of their Accomplishment by Natural means If it pass the power of the Creature we say How can these things be Alas you do not know God's Infinite Power Can you say Thus far God can go and no further This much God can do and no more II. He considered not the Difficulties Ver. 19. And being not weak in Faith he considered not his own Body now dead when he was about an hundred years old neither yet the deadness of Sarah's Womb. Here we learn that we must not oppose natural Impediments to the Power and Truth of God Unbelief will stir up many Objections great Reasonings within our selves against the Promise To hearken to these is to tempt our selves and choke our own Faith As in other Sins to pore upon the Temptation is to parley with the Devil and suffer the Evil to fasten it's self upon our Spirits So in point of Believing Abraham considered not how dead and unmeet he and his Wife were as to Prolification First I shall examine how we are or are not to consider Difficulties 1.
Thus some of the Disciples doubted of the Truth of Christ's Resurrection Matth. 28.27 And when they saw him they worshipped him but some doubted Luk 24.21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel This argueth a weak Faith not vigorous and active but Faith is strong as it overcomes our speculative Doubts and so doth settle and establish our Souls in the Truth Acts 2.36 Let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Iesus whom ye have Crucified both Lord and Christ. 2. There is a Doubting or Staggering as Faith is a Consent when the Consent is weak and wavering Faith is weak Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering for he is faithful that promised But such a confirmed Resolution as leaveth no room for wavering and looking back argueth a strong Faith Acts 21.13 Then Paul answered What mean ye to weep and to break my heart for I am ready not to be bound only but to dye at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus 3. As Faith implyeth a Dependance and Trust Iames 1.6 7 8. But let him ask in Faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a Wave of the Sea driven with the wind and tossed for let not that Man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord A double minded Man is unstable in all his wayes Divided between God and other Confidences 1 Tim. 2.8 I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting Matth. 14.31 O thou of little Faith why didst thou doubt Well then it is a strong Faith that causeth such a Fortitude that we pass through all Difficulties and Tryals without distrust or anxiety of mind It is opposite to Fainting Psal. 27.13 I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living To Fears and Troubles Matth. 8.26 Why are ye fearful O ye of little Faith Strength of Assent doth exclude speculative Doubts and Errors Strength of Resolution doth fortifâ—y us against worldly Temptations which beget uncertainty Temptations of Profit Pleasure or Vain-glory if the Heart be secretly biassed with these It is opposite to Faith Ioh. 5 44. How can ye believe which receive Honour one of another And strength of Confidence doth exclude those Doubts which arise from Fears of Danger and Terrors of Sense in such Cases we dispute away the Comfort of the Promises IV. He was fully perswaded that what God had promised he was able also to perform A strong steddy and full Perswasion of the Power of God argueth a great Faith 1. There is no doubt of his Will when we have his Promise but the Ability of the Promiser is that which is usually questioned Unbelief stumbleth at his can Can God furnish a Table in the Wilderness Psal. 78.19 and How can these things be Luk. 1.34 So 2 Kings 7.2 If the Lord should make Windows in Heaven might this thing be Nay and the Children of God themselves Sarah was rebuked when she laughed Gen. 18.12 13 14. Therefore Sarah laughed within her self saying After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure my Lord being old also And the Lord said unto Abraham Wherefore did Sarah laugh saying Shall I of a surety bear a Child which am old is any thing too hard for the Lord Her Laughter was not the Laughter of Exultation but Dubitation Moses Numb 11.13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this People for they weep unto me saying Give us flesh that we may eat The Case is clear we Doubt not but in Case of Danger then we are full of Fears and Suspicions if of his Will it is because we are so vile and unworthy but we are vile and unworthy out of danger as well as in danger therefore it is of his Power 2. God's Power and Alsufficiency is to the Saints the great support of Faith in their greatest Extremities They are relieved by fixing their Eye on God's Almightiness as Abraham here So Heb. 11.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead So for Perseverance Iude 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling And for the Resurrection Phil. 3.21 Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself His Power reacheth to the Grave and beyond the Grave So for the Calling the Iews Rom. 11.23 And they also if they abide not still in Vnbelief shall be grafted in for God is able to graft them in again In short to question his Power is to put him out of the Throne to deny him to be God as if he were not able to help his Friends and to be a terror to his Enemies Well then in Matters absolutely promised we have nothing to do but to exalt his Power therefore you may reason thus He will do it for he is able to do it Rom. 11.23 They shall be grafted in for God is able to graft them in again In Matters conditionally promised we must magnifie his Power and refer the Event to his Will Matth. 8.2 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean 3. There are two things enlarge our Thoughts and Apprehensions about the Power of God they are mentioned Verse 17. Whom he believed even God who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things that be not as though they were We have to do with a God that can say to the Dead Live God's Power can bring Life out of Death something out of nothing Resurrection and Creation are easie to him He that can quicken the dead can quicken those that are dead in trespasses and sins By the Word of his Power he maketh all things to be that are not Let there be Light and there was Light Lazarus come forth and he came forth He causeth things to appear and exist that had no being before Thirdly The Fruit and Effect of his Faith an exact and constant Obedience Isa. 41.2 Who raised up the righteous Man from the East and called him to his foot The righteous Man is supposed to be Abraham often designed by that Character and he was called to his Foot to go to and fro at God's Command as the Centurion said Matth. 8.9 I am a Man under Authority having Souldiers under me and I say to this man go and he goeth and to another come and he cometh and to my servant do this and he doth it There are two great Instances of Abraham's Obedience 1. His Self-denyal in leaving his Countrey Heb. 11.8 By Faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went It is a sore Tryal to forsake Kindred Friends Lands Fathers House and Inheritance and to seek an abode he knew
the Guilt of hainous Sins and be insensible after gross Falls they may lie in Hardness for a while till God rouse them up again Great Falls are like a Blow upon the Head that stuns us and amazes us for a while and it is some good while ere we recover again David's Conscience was not presently awakened Spiritual Lethargies are long Fits David lay ten Months from the Conception to the Birth of his Child and yet all this while did formally use God's Ordinances and publick Service Nathan comes to him after the Child was born 2 Sam. 12.14 The Child that is born unto thee shall surely die And he never relented till Nathan came to him as appeareth by the Title of the fifty first Psalm A Psalm of David when Nathan the Prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba All this while Grace was not dead but in a deep Sleep The least Sin maketh way for hardness of Heart much more Sins against Conscience there is a more long Sequestration then God will not let you enjoy the Comforts and effectual Presence of his Spirit These Blows and Wounds will leave you for dead for a long while SERMON II. MARK III. 5 And Iesus looked round about on them with Anger being grieved for the Hardness of their Hearts IV. THE Causes of hardness of Heart 1. Ignorance The blind Mind and the hard Heart always go together Iohn 12.40 He hath blinded their Minds and hardned their Hearts that they should not see with their Eyes nor understand with their Hearts Men are first unteachable then unpliable Obstinacy beginneth at Sottishness of Conceit He that knoweth not what he ought to do careth not much what he doth The Children of God never feel hardness in their Hearts but when the Light in their Minds is unactive or obscured there is a kind of Darkness for that time We see that the most carnal Wretches when they come to die are sensible when the Mind is cleared from the Fogs of Lust and Conscience is awakened then they feel a great Weight of Sin upon them Light always begets Tenderness as in a clear Vessel the Dregs do soon appear Well then either they are ignorant or have but a naked Theory not the lively Light of the Spirit and hence it is that their Hearts are hardned 2. Unbelief for it is Faith that maketh all Truths active and lively The great Motives and Arguments of Religion are mainly fetched from things to come Now it is not enough to know the things of the World to come but there must be an hearty Assent to them as if we did see them before our Eyes Things that are at a distance are as nothing to us as the Stars appear as so many Spangles they lose much of their Greatness Men sin and no Evil cometh of it therefore they grow bold and sensless in Sin Eccles. 8.11 Because Sentence against an evil Work is not executed speedily therefore the Heart of the Sons of Men is fully set in them to do evil They grow remiss and slack in their Duty The Reward is not by and by Mal. 3.14 Ye have said It is in vain to serve God and what Profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts We are for a present Good Now Faith is the Substance of Things hoped for and the Evidence of Things not seen Heb. 11.1 It maketh Things present as if we did see them with our Eyes as if the Judgment-Seat were set and the Books were opened Those that hardned their Hearts did not believe what God said was true Heb. 3. from the seventh to the eighteenth Verse If Men did believe there were an Heaven and Hell and Judgment to come they would not lie in their Sins they could not be unpliable to God's Motions All disrespect of Promises and Threatnings cometh from Unbelief Christ did chide his Disciples for their Unbelief and hardness of Heart Mark 16.14 What is the Reason that though we preach the Law and the Judgment of God so much to you and beseech you to come in and receive Christ and you shall be saved and this Time after Time and Day after Day and yet the Word hath no Effect upon you you are as ignorant and careless as ever The Reason is you do not believe Certainly the Word would work otherwise than it doth if you did believe it If one should tell a Man that such an earthly Potentate if he would but come to him and visit him would raise him to great Honour it would be the first thing he would do Truly so if you did believe that coming to Christ were the only way to Happiness you would mind it more seriously than you do Again if you did believe that the Word of God is true that God is a just God if the Drunkard did believe that Drunkards shall be damned or the Adulterer did believe that no Adulterer shall inherit the Kingdom of God or if the vain Person or the Gamester did believe that they must give an Account of their mis-spent Time and idle Words and vain Communication they would not sport themselves in their Sins as they do If Men did believe that God calleth when and whom he listeth they would not defer their Repentance and put off the Motions of the Spirit but would strike while the Iron is hot and let out the Sails when the Wind bloweth But Men do not believe and therefore go on in their Sins as they do Tell Men of earthly Things of a Commodity which if they would but by it would yield an hundred for one surely they would not neglect the Market We press Men to renounce but a little Ease and carnal Pleasures and to use Diligence to get Christ into their Hearts and they shall have a hundred for one but Men want Faith therefore Christ lieth by as a refuse Commodity There is nothing breedeth hardness of Heart so much as Unbelief of what God can and will do 3. Custom in Sinning As an High-way is trodden hard by long travelling in it so the Heart by long Custom groweth more obstinate every day In Sin there is not only a Fault Guilt but a Blot a stronger Inclination to the practice of the same Sin again as a Brand that has been once in the Fire is more apt to burn again Every new Oath is as Oil to the Tongue to make it more glib and fleet in the repetition of that Oath or vain Speech There is a natural Tenderness in Men whilst young at least a lesser degree of Hardness which will get Strength by Use and Age if not in time cured Ier. 13.23 How can ye do Good that are accustomed to do Evil Water when it first freezeth will not bear the weight of a Pin but afterwards by continual freezing it cometh to bear a Cart-load 4. Hypocrisy Take it for Dissembling whereby we deceive others or Formality whereby we deceive our selves For
trouble us no more but that the World should not be a Snare to us He came not to exempt us from Trouble but to save us from our Sins Mat. 1.21 To deliver us from Wrath to come 1 Thess. 1.10 We have the Victory which he purchased for us if the Devil and the World do not hinder the Fruition of eternal Glory Our Victory over Satan is mostly gotten by Patience even to the Death and so those that are killed all the Day long are more than Conquerors through him that loved them Rom. 8.35 36 37. Satan's main Spight is not at your worldly Interests but your Souls God may give him sometimes a Power over your worldly and bodily Interests but he doth not give him a Power over your Souls Though he get his Will over your Bodies yet if he get not his Will over your Souls it is you that conquer and not Satan Therefore in the Christian sense Suffering is Conquering If he do not draw you away from God and Christ though he and his Instruments have great Power over you it is your Heel only is bruised but your Head is safe 2. It is not a total Exemption from Sin Necessary vital Grace is only absolutely secured you shall receive no deadly Wound to destroy your Salvation The Godly sometimes may be foiled Satan stirred up David to number the People 2 Corinth 11.2 3. I am jealous over you with a godly Iealousy for I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ. For I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his Subtilty so your Minds should bâ— corrupted from the Simplicity that is in Christ. 1 Cor. 7.5 That Satan tempt you not for your Incontinency Yea God may imploy Satan in punishing his People as when the Israelites murmured he sent evil Angels among them Psal. 78.49 and they were destroyed of the Destroyer 1 Cor. 10.10 Because careless Souls are apt to fall asleep God permitteth him to be the Executioner of his Indignation Vse 4. To animate and incourage Christ's Servants in their War against Satan's Kingdom at home and abroad within and without Not to give place to the Devil Ephes. 4.27 Christ whom we serve is more able to save than Satan is to destroy 1. The Devil is a Creature but Christ is the Sovereign Lord who hath Power over him and all Creatures The Devil 's tempting is by Leave Iob 1.12 And the Lord said unto Satan Behold all that he hath is in thy Power Luke 22.31 And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat He could not enter into the Herd of Swine without Leave from Christ Matth. 8.31 So the Devils besought him saying If thou cast us out suffer us to go away into the Herd of Swine When we are in Satan's Hands Satan is in God's Hands 2. The Devil is an Usurper Christ is the Heir of all things Satan is the God of this World by Usurpation but by lawful Ordination Jesus is both Lord and Christ Acts 2.36 Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Iesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ. 3. The Devil hath only a perswasive Force no constraining Efficacy He cannot change the Heart or create any new Principles and Habits there which were not before But God can put his Law into our inward Parts and write it in our Hearts Jer. 31.35 He can only propound alluring Baits or Objects to the outward Senses and Fancy but God worketh immediately on the Heart 4. If the Devil be vigilant and assiduous in his Temptations he is matched and overmatched Christ is always mindful of the Affairs of his People he doth ever make Intercession for us before God And he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep Psal. 121.4 Satan daily bloweth the Bellows inflaming our Corruptions suggesting Temptations but the Spirit is as watchful in our Hearts maintaining his Interest there 5. The Devil's Malice is restrained for he is held in Chains of Darkness 2 Pet. 2.4 If God spared not the Angels that fell but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into Chains of Darkness to be reserved unto Iudgment Meaning thereby not only the powerful Restraints of Providence but the Horror of their own despairing Fears Chains imply Restraint but Chains of Darkness Horror he himself believeth and trembleth Iames 2.19 Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well the Devils also believe and tremble 6. The Lord Jesus doth often give out Demonstrations of his Power and Providence Partly in protecting strengthning assisting his People and prospering their just Endeavours for the Advancement of his Kingdom so that all the Machinations of the Wicked against them come to nought Partly in making fearful Havock and Destruction in Satan's Kingdom In protecting his People sometimes he destroyeth their Enemies Isa. 27.4 Who would set the Briars and Thorns against me in Battel I would go through them I would burn them together Sometimes infatuateth their Counsels Iob 5.12 13 14. He disappointeth the Devices of the Crafty so that their Hands cannot perform their Enterprise He taketh the Wise in their own Craftiness and the Counsel of the Froward is carried headlong They meet with Darkness in the Day-time and grope in the Noon-day as in the Night Sometimes he hideth his People in the Secret of his Presence Psal. 31.20 Thou shalt hide them in the Secret of thy Presence from the Pride of Man thou shalt keep them secretly in a Pavilion from the Strife of Tongues He smiteth his Enemies by an invisible Curse Job 20.26 All Darkness shall be hid in his secret Places a Fire not blown shall consume him it shall go ill with him that is left in his Tabernacle He divideth them 2 Chron. 20.23 The Children of Ammon and Moab rose up against the Inhabitants of Mount Seir utterly to slay and destroy them and when they had made an end of the Inhabitants of Seir every one helped to destroy another Christ is the Assailant and makes fearful Havock in the Devil's Kingdom The Word of Truth is come into all the World and pulleth down Idolatrous and False Worship Coloss. 1.6 The Word of Truth is come unto you as it is in all the World and bringeth forth Fruit as it doth also in you since the Day ye heard of it and knew the Grace of God in Truth Sermon on Gen. 24.63 Isaac went out to meditate in the Field c. SERMONS ON THE XXIV Chapter OF GENESIS SERMON I. GENESIS xxiv 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide THE Context is spent in describing the Journey of Rebecca with Abraham's Servant and the Text sheweth the occasion of the first interview between Isaac and Rebekah he goeth out into the Fields to meditate and of a sudden he seeth the Camels coming I cannot pass by this Accident
of the whole Verse in this one Point Doctrine That it is the Duty of Christians to sequester and set apart some time and place for Solemn Meditation or the Exercising their Souls in Heavenly and Holy Things My purpose is to speak of Meditation a Duty unaccustomed and unpractised both the Practice and the Knowledge of it are become Strangers to us The times are times of Action and Tumult and we all think that we have so much to do with others that few desire to Converse with God and themselves Our Case is somewhat like theirs in Nehemiah's time Nehem. 4.17 With one hand they wrought in the work and with the other hand held a weapon We are forced to fight and quarrel for our Religion that we may rescue the Innocent and Holy Principles of it from violation and scorn I observe that many Christians use the Sword they spend the heat and strength of their Spirits in Controversies but I doubt they do not use the Trowel enough and are not so serious in Private Retirements as they are earnest in Publick Defences Therefore I shall make it my work to press the Duty of Meditation My Method shall be this I shall shew 1. What Meditation is 2. The Necessity and Profit of it 3. The Rules that serve to guide us in this Holy Work and Business 4. The Lets and Hindrances of it with the Helps and Remedies against them 5. The Object or Matters upon which you are to Meditate which I shall handle 1. Generally 2. Particularly I shall give you some hints of Meditation on those Objects which are most usual and most practical I. What Meditation is Before I can define it I must distinguish it 1. There is that which we call Occasional Meditation which is an Act by which the Soul Spiritualizeth every Object about which it is Conversant A Gracious Heart is like an Alymbeck it can distil Useful Meditations out of all things it meeteth with Look as it seeth all things in God so it seeth God in all things Our Lord at the Well discourseth of the water of life Iohn 21.10 At the Supper of the Pharisee one discourseth of eating bread in the kingdom of God Luke 14.15 There is a Chimistry and Holy Art that a Christian hath to turn Water into Wine Brass into Gold to make Earthly Occasions and Objects to minister Spiritual and Heavenly Thoughts God trained up the Old Church by Types and Ceremonies that upon a Common Object they might Ascend to Spiritual Thoughts and Our Lord in the New Testament taught by Parables and Similitudes taken from Ordinary Functions and Offices among Men that in every Trade and Calling we might be employed in our Worldly Business with an Heavenly Mind that whether in the Shop or at the Loom or in the Field we might still think of Christ and Heaven There is a Parable of Merchant-Men a Parable of the Sower a Parable of a Man calling his Servants to an Account in all these similitudes Christ would teach us that we should still think of God and Heaven So small a matter as a grain of Mustard-seed may yield many Spiritual Applications 2. There is set and solemn Meditation Now this is of several sorts or rather they are but several parts of the same Exercise 1. There is a Reflexive Meditation by which we wholly fall upon our selves This is nothing else but a solemn Parley between a Man and his own Heart Psal. 4.4 Commune with your own hearts upon your bed and be still When in a solemn Retirement Reason and inward Discourse returneth and falleth back upon it self Of all the parts of Meditation this is the most difficult for here a Man is to exercise Dominion over his Soul and to be his own Accuser and Judge It is against self-love and carnal-ease We see all our shifts are to avoid our own Company and to run away from our selves Guilty Man like a Basiliske dyeth by seeing himself Hence the Worldly Man choaketh his Soul with business lest his Thoughts for want of work like a Mill should grind upon it self the Voluptuous Person melteth away his dayes in Pleasure and charmeth his Soul into a deep sleep with the Potion of outward Delights lest it should awake and talk with him Oh then necessary it is that a Christian should take some time to discourse with himself to ask of our own Souls What we are What we have been What we have done Ier. 8.6 What Streights what Temptations we have passed thorough and how we have overcome them You would think it strange of Two Men that Conversed every day for Forty or Fifty years and all this while they did not know one another yet this is the Case between us and our Souls we live a long time in the World and are Strangers to our selves 2. There is a Meditation which is more direct and that is of two sorts 1. Dogmatical whose Object is the Word 2. Practical Whose Object is our own Lives There is more of search and apprehension in the First there is more of Plot and Contrivance in the Second the one is more conversant about Doctrines the other about Things the latter catcheth hold of the heel of the former for where Dogmatical Meditation endeth there Practical Meditation beginneth 1. Dogmatical Meditation is when we exercise our selves in the Doctrines of the Word and consider how Truths known may be useful to us It differeth from Study partly in the Object Study is conversant about a thing unknown in whole or in part Rom. 12.2 That ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God but Meditation is an Act of Knowledge reiterated or a return of the mind to that point to which it arrived before it is the inculcation or whetting of a known Truth the pawse of Reason on something already conceived and known or a calling to remembrance what we know before Partly in the end the end of Study is Information but the end of Meditation is Practice or a work upon the Affections Ioshua 1.8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein Study is like a Winters Sun that shineth but warmeth not but Meditation is like the blowing up of the Fire where we do not mind the blaze but the heat The Fruit of Study is to hoard up Truth but the Fruit of Meditation is to practise it Curious Inquiries have more of the Student in them than the Christian. In Study we are rather like Vintners that take in Wines to store themselves for Sale in Meditation we are like Private Men that buy Wine for our Use and Comfort A Vintners Cellar may be better stored than a Noblemans but he hath it for others Use. The Student may have more of Notion and Knowledge his Cellar may be fuller but he hath it not for tast and necessary
thoughts leave a forcible impression upon the Soul The Papists talk of St. Francis and St. Clara that had the wounds of Christ impressed on them it is true in a Spiritual way deep thoughts leave the wounds and sorrows of Christ upon the heart and do cruciâ—e us it is true Morally as well as Mystically I am crucified with Christ Gal. 2.20 Certainly you find this by Experience that when you know not things you are not so throughly affected with them Serious Meditation hath this advantage that it doth make the Object present and as it were sensible therefore Faith which is a deep acting of the thoughts upon the Promises and upon Glory to come is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 It giveth the future Blessedness a present subsistence in the Soul and therefore it must needs ravish it It is a Principle in Nature Appetition followeth Knowledge and Desire is answerable to that certain and clear Judgment that we have of the Worth Value and Dignity of the Object Now it is not enough that the Judgment be once convinced but that it stay upon the Object for things loose their Vertue when we do not keep them in the Eye of the Soul When the Bird often leaveth her nest and is long absent the eggs grow cold and do not come to be quickned so do our desires grow cold and dull which otherwise by a constant Meditation are hatched into some Life Instance in any Affection Hope and Trust is ripened by constant thoughts of the Grace Power Truth Goodness and Unchangeableness of God 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day Presumption is an inconstant careless apprehension and therefore soon overborn Psal. 9.10 They that know thy name will put their trust in thee that is that seriously consider it for the Hebrew word is used for consider they that know what a God thou art how Merciful True and Powerful thou art they will trust thee So for Fear so far as it is sanctified it is fed by a consideration of the dreadfulness of Gods wrath and displeasure Psal. 90.11 Who knows the power of thine anger according to thy fear so is thy wrath that is who doth seriously consider of it According to those awful apprehensions that they form within themselves doth Gods Wrath more or less move them So for Desire either of Christ or of Heaven Of Christ a serious consideration of the Excellency of Christ is that which ravisheth the Heart The Spowse formeth a Description of Christ and then she saith he is all desires Cant. 5.16 His mouth is more sweet yea he is altogether lovely Enough to ravish all our Desires The value of things lyeth hid when we do but slightly and superficially look upon them but when we meditate of them they are double to that which is seen at the â—â—rst blush Iob. 11.6 And thaâ— he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom that they are doubâ—e to that which is In Natural things serious thoughts are necessary much more in Spiritual because the Mind by long use having been enured to Earthly Objects and Profits had need to be much raised We see that we do insensibly receive teint from those Objects with which we do Converse and therefore we had need to be often and serious in meditating of the Excellencies of Christ that by a Spiritual Art he may be as usual an Object to us as the World So for Heaven when we do not hold our Hearts to the consideration of the Glory of it it doth not work upon us Moses Heb. 11.26 Had respect to the recompence of the reward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he had an eye to it the word noteth a serious and intent consideration we should again and again consider it and be sending our thoughts as Spies into the Land of Promise to bring us Reports and Tydings of it as Love between Men is maintained by constant Visits and Letters So for sorrow for sin past Psal. 51.3 My sin is ever before me and Ier. 31.19 Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth When we come deeply to consider our Errors and the unkindness of them that begetteth a sad sence So for hatred and displicency against Sin Evil Affections are nourished by thoughts and kept up in Life and Strength for thoughts are pabulum animae the Food of the Soul Rom. 7.13 Sin that it might appear sin working death in me by that which is good that Sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful The sinfulness of Sin appears by considering the Purity of the Law the Majesty of God and the Kindness of Christ. So for Joy and Delight the Soul is feasted by Meditation it turneth the Promises into Marrow Psal. 63.5 6. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips When I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches Hereby we discern their relish and savour Psal. 34.8 Oh taste and see that the Lord is good the thoughts taste and the relish is left on the Affections 3. It is an advantage to the Fruits of Grace in the Life it maketh the Heavenly Life more easie more sweet more orderly and prudent 1. More easie because it calleth in all the rational help that may be Reason which otherwise would serve the Senses and be enslaved to Appetite and Worldly Desire now is imployed in the highest and purest use and therefore when Reason is gained which is the leading faculty the work cometh on more easily Meditation putteth Reason in Authority and rescueth it from being prostituted to sence 2 Cor. 10.5 Casting down imaginations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reasonings and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And then for sense it maketh our Eyes to furnish us with matter Iob 12.7 8. But ask now the beasts and they will teach thee and the fowls of the air and they shall tell thee Or speak to the earth and it shall teach thee and the fishes of the Sea shall declare unto thee Every Element giveth in an help he that doth not want an Heart cannot want an Object the Air the Sea the Earth giveth Fewel for Wisdom and Spiritual Advantage But for want of consideration a Man is worse than the Beasts Prov. 6.6 Go to the ant thou sâ—uggard consider her wayes and be wise 2. More sweet It bringeth the Heavenly Life into more liking with us Duty to worldly Men is irksome and unsavoury because they loose the sweetness and blessedness of Communion with God Psalm 26.3 For thy loving kindness is
joint again that is once out So David Psalm 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God! and renew a right spirit within me He speaketh of it as a second Creation and Renovation not that there was a total expulsion of Faith or Charity but to shew that the loss is not soon repaired 2. There is Counsel given him Strengthen thy Brethren When by Repentance thou art recovered out of thy Sin be more careful to confirm and strengthen others 1. To prevent falling pray for them warne them be an example of Constancy to them that they may not fall or fail in like manner which he did by his three-fold profession of Love to Christ and in glorifying God in his whole Life and Death Iohn 21.19 This spake he signifying by what death he should glorifie God Christ warneth him of his future Sufferings shewing that he should be more stout than in his former Tryal Such a difference there was between Peter trusting in his own strength and Peter supported by God He that before was blown down by the weak blast of a Damosels Question could then confidently look a cruel Death in the Face 2. Recover them if lapsed with Meekness that they may not despair Gal. 6.1 If a man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted If the possibility of falling be an Argument the actual experience is much more Christians should not exercise too great severity on them that are fallen considering we have or we might fall into like Sin in the time of Temptation Thus would Christ season and prepare his Servants for their Office and by their own Experience teach them meekness and tenderness to others In general it is said 2 Cor. 1.4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble with the comforts wherewith we our selves are comforted of God Such Comforts are not only for our good but for the benefit and advantage of others Confirme thy brethren saith Christ here to Peter They are Brethren and they need to be strengthned for all these Afflictions are incident to all our Brethren which are in the Flesh and our Example and Consolation from experience are a great relief to them Thus you have a full view and prospect of the words I shall observe this Point from the whole Doct. That though Sathan by Gods permission may soarly trouble and vex his people yet we are not wholly exposed to his fury to be dealt with as he pleaseth Let me shew you 1. How many wayes Sathan may vex and trouble Gods People Either by inward Suggestion or by outward Persecution and Affliction 1. By inward Suggestions as when he tempted David to number the People 1 Chron. 21.1 Sathan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel Namely as he moved him to Pride and Glory in the Arm of Flesh or in his Grandure or multitude of Subjects God had an hand in it 2 Sam. 24.1 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel and he moved David against them to say Go number Israel and Iudah To punish David and his People for their Sins God as a just Judge using Sathan as his Minister therein God by permission and a wise Ordination of it for good and Sathan by Suggestion and Malicious Intention for evil God as a Judge in a just punishment for Sin and Sathan as an Enemy and an Actor of Sin It is no excuse to Sathan or David that God moved nor any blot in God that Sathan moved they acting from divers Principles and divers ends Well but to our present purpose Sathan moved David a Man after Gods own heart Alas the best have their Infirmities and Sathan hath many hidden secret Arts to mischief Souls which we think not of 2. By Persecutions or Afflictions Many of Satans Temptations are conveyed by Afflictions that he may make the People of God weary of their Profession and either quit the Truth or cast off their Duty to him Thus when the Apostle telleth us of the Devils unwearied Malice and Enmity to Souls he biddeth us resist him stedfast in the faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren which are in the world 1 Pet. 5.9 And again Revel 2.10 The Devil shall cast some of you into prison Surely they were put in Prison by Men but these Men were Sathans Instruments They have their Hour some Times and Seasons when they work great Trouble to the People of God God doth not so altogether bind up Sathan but that he suffereth him to act many strange parts in the World either by himself immediately or by his Instruments II. Our Tryals are the more soar because Sathan hath an hand in them 1. Not only because that is cumulative to the Malice of Men or superadded to it And so the Apostle Eph. 6.12 We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickednesses in high places Our business lyeth not with Men with Flesh and Blood only but with Sathan Men are but the Devils Instruments Humane and Bodily Powers are Sathans Auxiliaries whom he stirreth up and imployeth so that there is a double Party The invisible Agents and the invisible Powers by which they are assisted and acted But 2. There are special Reasons why the Devil is a more terrible and dangerous Party than any Humane Power As partly 1. Because of his great Enmity to Mankind especially the redeemed by Christ Because he looketh upon them as likely to possess the vacant places from which he and his Angels are faln He is alway called the Enemy with respect to War Adversary or Opposite Litigant Party with respect to Law 2. Partly because of his unwearied activity He is alwaies going about 1 Pet. 5.8 Your adversary the Devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour And in the Book of Iob chap. 1.7 From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it And 3. Partly for his insatiable Cruelty His Malice is bitter and extream seeking whom he may devour His aim is utter Ruine and Damnation to prejudice us in our Eternal Estate or our Spiritual and Heavenly Concernments It is not your Temporal and Bodily Interests that he would mainly bereave you off He can let you injoy the pleasures of the World that he may deprive you of your delight in God He can be content that you shall have Dignities and Honours Ease and Safety so they prove a Snare to you all is to ruine your Souls If he cannot prevail so far yet he would thereby draw you to scandalous Sins that you may dishonour God 2 Sam. 12.14 By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme and destroy your own peace Psalm 32.3 My bones waxed
thing Conscience is another Science is a Mans knowledge of other things Conscience is a Mans knowledge of himself his State and wayes to know what he is to do and to know who he hath done that is Conscience It is the Judgment of a Man concerning himself and his Actions with respect to Reward and Punishment God that is our Lord is also our proper Judge but it pleaseth God to put a faculty into Man this Spirit within him that he should have something in his own Bosom to be a Rule and Judge but yet a Subordinate Rule and a Deputy-Judge accountable to God but a Judge it is However it much conduceth to the Glory of God and to the Safety of Man 1. To the Glory of God 1. As it is an Evidence of his Being whose Law is the ground of Conscience and before whom Conscience doth accuse and whose Sentence it doth dread and stand in fear of Why doth Conscience scruple this or that if there be not a God by whose Will Good and Evil are distinguished To whom doth it accuse us but to God Why is Conscience sometimes afraid sometimes comforted if there were no God to mind things here below We find Conscience appaleth the stoutest Sinners after the commitment of some Offence though it be secret and beyond the Cognizance and Vengeance of Man Psalm 53.5 There were they in great fear where no fear was that is no outward cause of fear where none sought to hurt them accusing themselves when none else could accuse them as Iosephs Brethren Gen. 42.21 We are verily guilty concerning our brothers blood or where none had power to reach them as Princes and Worldly Potentates feel the stings of Conscience as well as others Foelix trembled who was the Judge at Pauls Words who was the Prisoner Acts 24.25 And as he reasoned of righteousness temperance and judgment to come Foelix trembled What is the Reason of this but that they know there is a Supream Judge and Avenger 2. It is for the Glory of his Judicial Proceedings Self-Accusers and Self-Condemners have no reason to quarrel with God and impeach his Justice Man hath Principles and Sentiments graven upon his Heart which justifie all Gods dealings with him Luke 19.22 Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee thou wicked servant And Psalm 51.4 That thou mayest be justified when thon speakest and be clear when thou judgest Hereby he is left without excuse Rom. 1.20 So that they are without excuse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tit. 3.11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hence the frequent Appeals to Conscience Isa. 5.3 4. Iudge I pray you betwixt me and my vineyard What could I have done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it I have produced these Scriptures to show that by Conscience Man is better induced to give a Testimony to God concerning all his dealings with him 2. To the safety and benefit of Man that he may have an Oracle in his own bosom to direct him to his Duty and to warn him of his danger if he doth amiss Conscience is spoken of in Scripture both wayes as instructing us in our Duty Psalm 16.7 My reins also instruct me in the night season that is Conscience shewed him his Duty and how he was concerned in the Law of God or the Rule which God had given to his Creatures And as it sheweth us what to do so it reflecteth upon what we have done If evil it smiteth us for it 2 Sam. 24.10 And Davids heart smote him after that he had numbred the people If good it cheareth us with it 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world It smiteth as it exciteth fear of punishment it cheareth as it stirreth up hope of Reward and we do very much understand hereby how God standeth affected towards us 1 Iohn 3.19 20 21 And hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him For if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all thing Beloved If our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 2. Conscience is Gods Vicegerent and Deputy You may know much of his Mind by the Voice and Report of Conscience therefore next to the Judgment and Sentence of God a Man should regard the Judgment and Sentence of Conscience 1 Iohn 3.20 21. If our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things Beloved If our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God Observe what Conscience speaketh doth it condemn thee or acquit thee And upon what terms doth it either The voice of Conscience is often the voice of God and Men would sooner come to know themselves and might make a right Judgment upon their Estates if they would look inward and regard the voice of Conscience doth it condemn or acquit Indeed there lyeth an Appeal from Court to Court and from Judge to Judge 1. From Court to Court In what Court doth Conscience condemne you In the Law Court You ought to own the desert of Sin clearing God if he should inflict it upon you 1 Cor. 11.31 For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged But yet you may take Sanctuary at his Grace and humbly claim the benefit of the New Covenant Psalm 130.3 4. If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquity O Lord who shall stand But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared If it condemn you in the Gospel Court for no sound Believer the Case must not be lightly passed over but examined whether there be a sincere bent of Heart towards God Heb. 13.18 We trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly 2. There is an appeal to an higher Judge Doth Conscience write bitter things against thee Yet if God justifieth Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth Gods Act is Authoritative and Powerful Isa. 57.19 I create the fruit of the lips Peace Peace to him that is afar of and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heal him Psalm 85.8 I will hear what God the â—ord will speak for he will speak peace unto his people and to his saints But sometimes he speaketh in the Sentence of his Word when not in the Conscience his Authority may comfort when we feel not his Power so for acquitting Conscience is not the highest Judge 1 Cor. 4.4 For if I know nothing by my self yet am I not hereby justified but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Prov. 16.2 All the wayes of a man are clean in his own eyes but the Lord weigheth the spirits He must consult his Word and thereby clear our Case so
Evangelist there explaineth his meaning so that there needeth no further scruple about the sense of the words It followeth that whosoever All Persons are invited without exclusion of any that universal particle comprehendeth Sinners of all sorts and sizes of all ranks and conditions in the World Believeth in him This answereth to looking upon the Brazen Serpent Believing is a looking to Christ a looking upon him by the Eye of Faith Shall not perish but have eternal life He shall escape the present danger which he feareth Souls shall be healed and delivered from Hell and Life Eternal is restored to them Doct. That we ought to consider Salvation by Christ as prefigured and represented by the history of the brazen Serpent As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the son of Man be lifted up And Christ here propoundeth it to Nicodemus 1. It is useful to consider the Types partly to confirm our Faith when we see the Harmony between the Testaments There are Historical Types and Prophetical Types Historical Types are only Patterns and Examples 1 Cor. 10.11 All these things hapned to them for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ensamples or Types so the Providences of God to his Antient People 1 Cor. 10.9 Neither let us tempt Christ as some of them also tempted and were destroyed of serpents Prophetical Types were instituted to prefigure a thing to come as the Ceremonies of the Law were Figures of better things to come Now we see the Gospel is not a Novel Invention only hatched in that Age when it was first set a foot no it was long since foretold not only by words but things there was a preparation made for it And partly to help our Meditation we reflect upon these things with more delight and sweetness whilest we view the Agreement between the Truth and the Type When we know the Person yet we delight to see the Picture and so we may take a view of things with a grateful variety We see them double when we consider both the Shadow and the Mistery Partly to increase our thankfulness we have not such dark and long prospects through which they only could look to Christ we may see him more clearly in the Doctrines of the Gospel where he is evidently set forth unto us and as it were crucified before our eyes Gal. 3.1 Surely then we are more obliged to mind these things The more clearly and convincingly Christ is represented to us the more will our negligence be aggravated and our contempt the greater if we make light of these things 2. Among other Types the Brazen Serpent must not be forgotten partly because it doth in a most lively and full manner represent Christ Here a word is a Sermon and we cannot think of the Brazen Serpent but the necessity the remedy the means of Application do presently offer themselves to our thoughts And partly because this took off the great scandal and Iewish exception against Christ which was the ignominy of the Cross. Therefore to a Doctor of the Law he doth not produce the Paschal Lamb or other Figures but the Brazen Serpent as clearly representing the Cause Quality and Fruit of his Sufferings 3. To help you in this Consideration I shall 1. Give the History 2. The Typical Use of it First The History in Numb 21.6 7 8 9. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bite the people and much people of Israel dyed Therefore the people came unto Moses and said we have sinned for we have spoken against the Lord and against thee pray unto the â—ord that he take away the serpents from us and Moses prayed for the people And the Lord said unto Moses Make thee a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole and it shall come to pass that every one that is bitten when he looketh upon it he shall live And Moses made a serpent of brass and put it upon a pole and it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the serpent of brass he lived The Sin occasioning the Judgment was there murmuring at Moses and Aaron and their loathing of Manna for this God sendeth fiery Serpents Observe how God suiteth the Judgment to the Sin venomous Tongues are plagued with venomous Serpents It is said Eccl. 10.11 Surely the serpent shall bite without inchantment and a babler is no better And again Psalm 140.3 They have sharpned their tongues like a serpent Adders poison is under their lips They have a Bag of Water under their Tongues which is most poisonous and inflaming which in biting is broken But this was not the Asp but the Chersydrus a sort of Serpent which abideth on Land as well as in Water whilst it liveth in the Water it is not altogether so venomous as when it cometh to live on the dry Land and in this part of the thirsty howling Wilderness these kind of Serpents were most fiery and burning and at that time of the year when the Israelites were there which was about the end of August For Aaron dyed in the first day of the fifth moneth Numb 33.38 which was about the Tenth of Iuly and the Children of Israel mourned thirty days before they journeyed Numb 20.29 And when they journeyed from Mount Hor then we read of their murmuring and Gods plaguing them with fiery Serpents Observe again that God that bringeth Manna from Heaven can also send Serpents God is not all Honey abused Mercy is turned into fury and when his favours are despised he hath Judgments to sting us and if Men will loath their Food God will chastise them with poison But again to the History These Serpents which God sent are called fiery serpents partly for their colour being of a shining glistring skin the word in the Original is Seraphim-burners a Name given to the Angels Isa. 6.2 Above it stood the Seraphims which Angels are called elsewhere flames of fire Psalm 104.4 Partly because their venomous stinging and biting did cause a raging heat and grievous burning in the Bodies of the Israelites And it seemeth they were a kind of Serpents with Wings not of Feathers but of a cartilaginous substance like the Wings of a Bat and did here and there seize upon them and bite them or at least they are said to flie because of their swift Motion whereby suddenly jerking they shoot themselves forward or dart themselves out of Trees on Men or Beasts as they pass by them There is a plain allusion to those flying Serpents Isa. 14.29 Out of the serpents hole shall come forth a cockatrice and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent And indeed that Wilderness through which the Israelites passed did abound with many sorts of these Serpents Therefore it is said Deut. 8.15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness wherein were fiery serpents and scorpions Well then they go to Moses and said we have sinned for we have spoken against God and against
you by discontent impetuous Rage passionate Commotions contumelious Speeches Envy Revenge we hinder our joy in the Lord. Now all this must be carefully avoided least we contract deadness and numbness of Conscience 4. If by Sin you have wounded your Conscience and brought smart and mourning upon your selves abide not in that Estate but humble your selves renewing your Repentance and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ sueing out your Pardon and getting your Wounds healed Beg of God to restore the joy of his Salvation that your broken Hearts may be revived and your broken Bones restored and set in joynt again Psalm 51.8 Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce and verse 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation Never rest till you come again to delight in God with an hearty resolution not to break with God any more Psalm 51.6 Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom Psalm 85.8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace unto his people and to his Saints but let them not turn again to folly God is ready to receive lapsed Penitents that are sensible of their errors and are willing to return to their Duty Psalm 32.5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I not hid I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Isa. 57.17 18. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart I have seen his wayes and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comfort to him and to his mourners Your case is sad and grievous but not desperate and hopeless you may have comfort upon Gods termes mourning for Sin that Sin may be made bitter to you and you may not hazard your peace for trifles another time and putting your business into the hands of your Redeemer the Advocate must make your peace for you 1 Iohn 2.1 If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous A SERMON On I. Thessalonians v. 17 Pray without ceasing IN the words we have 1. A Duty Pray 2. The continuance of the Duty alwaies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from both observe Doctrine That constant and frequent Prayer to God is a Duty required of Christians In handling this Doctrine I shall shew 1. What Prayer is 2. How it is to be carried on without ceasing 3. The Reasons of the Doctrine I. What Prayer is And here I shall speak 1. Of the Nature of Prayer 2. Of the several kinds of it 1. First For the Nature of Prayer Prayer is the offering up of our desires to God in the Name of Christ for such things as are agreeable to his will 1. It is an offering up of our Desires Desires are the Soul and Life of Prayer Words are but the Body now as the Body without the Soul is dead so are Prayers unless they are animated with our Desires Psalm 10.17 Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble God heareth not Words but Desires 2. These Desires are offered unto God or brought before the Lord in this solemne way Zeph. 3.10 My suppliants even the daughters of my dispersed shall bring mine offering That is shall reverendly express their Desires to God An Offering was either a Sacrifice and Prayer is a Spiritual Sacrifice 1 Pet. 2.5 Ye are an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ. As a Man did then present himself and his offering before the Lord so do we present our selves and our desires and pour out our Hearts before him Or an Offering might be the Mincah or Meat-Offering which was baked or fryed in a Pan and then presented to the Lord Psalm 45 1. My heart inditeth a good matter not raw indigested Services must be performed to God such as are the eructations of the flesh or Incense was offered to the Lord. Let my Prayer be set before thee as incense Psalm 141.2 And we read of Vials full of odours which are the Prayers of the saints Revel 5.8 Incense was a mixture of sweet spices which being set on fire the fume thereof ascended into Heaven so do our holy and ardent desires ascend unto God 3. They are desires presented in the name of Christ in whom alone we are acceptable to God Iohn 16.23 Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you 4. They are desires of things agreeable to the will of God 1 Iohn 5.14 And this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us All our Desires must be regulated by his revealed Will and subordinated to his secret Will so far as God seeth it fit for his Glory and our Good for upon other termes he is not bound to us Secondly The kinds of Prayer so there are sundry distinctions 1. There is Mental Prayer Exod. 14.15 Wherefore criest thou unto me Moses cryed unto the Lord and yet no words are mentioned And Vocal Prayer Psal. 5.3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up When Prayers are put into Language or formalized into some outward expression Again 2. There is suddain and ejaculatory Prayer as Nehem. 2.4 The king said unto me for what dost thou make request so I prayed unto the God of heaven That is some suddain dart of Prayer such as Prosper I pray thy servant lifting up his Heart in a suddain desire to God to direct or give success to his Petition And solemn Prayer and of greater length Rom. 15.30 That ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me which words imply a Prayer full of earnest pleadings 3. There are Publick or Church-Prayers 1 Tim. 2.1 2. I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for kings and for all that are in authority Where he giveth directions how the Prayers of their Publick Assemblies should be ordered And Private or Family Prayer Acts 10.2 Cornelius is said to be a devout man and one that feared God with all his house and gave much almes to the people and prayed to God alwayes that is a Man that worshipped God with his Family as good Men use to do And it is said 1 Chron. 16.43 That David after Publick Services returned to bless his house that is to pray for his Family as he had done for the people before And Secret and Closet Prayer concerning which Christ giveth Direction when thou prayest enter into thy closet Matth. 6.6 Again 4. There is Ordinary and Extraordinary Prayer Ordinary Prayer is performed upon Ordinary Causes such as Daily Necessities Psalm 55.17 Evening
should be broken off Alas whosoever readeth the carriage of this people in the Wilderness towards God he shall still find Grace striving with sin and the goodness of God overcoming the evil of Man and his fidelity prevailing above their unthankfulness and unfaithfulness And the character of this people in the Wilderness is just our own in travelling to Heaven how often do we forfeit the blessing of God's presence but he is not severe upon every failing and upon repentance he is willing to renew covenant with us and set us in joint again nothing hurteth us more than the sinful provocations of God's people have no hand in them or if you have been accessory to publick guilt bemoan it and humble your selves before God and be more awful and tender for the future and you will find God to be a merciful God III. Why such kind of Mercies should not be forgotten Here I will prove First That Man is apt to forget the great mercies of God especially national Mercies Secondly That yet these Mercies should not be forgotten both because of God's command and the profit of remembring them First That Man is marvellous apt to forget these benefits Therefore there are so many cautions that we forget them not In private mercies Psal. 103.2 Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his benefits Deut. 8.11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God in not keeping his commandments and his judgments and his statutes which I command thee this day and verse 14. That thy heart be lifted up and thou forget the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt from the House of Bondage So we have many Precepts Deut. 8.2 Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years 1 Chron. 16.12 Remember his marvellous works which he hath done his wonders and the judgments of his Mouth And so many charges and complaints Jud. 8.34 The Children of Israel remembred not the Lord their God who had delivered them out of the hands of their Enemies on every side Psal. 78.11 they forgot his works and his wonders that he had shewed them and Psal. 106.13 They soon forgot his works And all this is no more than needeth for Man's memory is a bad friend to benefits Injuries are written in Marble but benefits in the Water Now as these cautions charges and accusations do respect all Mercies so especially more eminent Mercies for it is said He hath made his wonderful works to be remembred Psal. 111.4 The great miraculous works of his Providence should make such impression upon Men as never to be forgotten but recorded and reported for ever As for great deliverances God hath appointed Ordinances for a memorial such as the Passover or the Lord's Supper to remember our Redemption by Christ for by these works God maketh himself a name by doing great things for his people 2 Sam. 7.23 Redemption from the tyranny of Antichrist is not to be forgotten 2. That yet these mercies should not be forgotten partly because God hath commanded the contrary as we have seen It is not only a sin to forget his Word but his Works and partly also because of the profit 1. That we may be more deeply possessed of the goodness of God The Ear doth not affect the Heart so much as the Eye and what is felt leaveth a greater impression upon us than what is talked of for experience giveth us a more intimate perception of things The King of Syria said We have heard that the Kings of the House of Israel are merciful Kings 1 Kings 20.31 A rumour and report giveth incouragement but actual experience silenceth all contradiction when I can say I know God is not unmindful of his people but relieveth them in their great streights and watcheth over their welfare As the Apostle Acts. 10.34 Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons Psal. 140.12 I know that the Lord will maintain the right of the poor and the cause of the afflicted Unquestionably God will undertake the patronage of his distressed Servants when all other hopes fail them meaning when God did signally defend them and watch over them 2. To incourage us to walk in his ways It is our forgetfulness of God's goodness that maketh us so disobedient and unthankful to him Psal. 78.7 That they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his commandments Nothing breedeth a careful uniform obedience to his commands so much as a grateful remembrance of his Mercies Alass as our thankfulness is abated so is our obedience God's authority sways the Conscience but God's love inclines the Heart Therefore mercies should be remembred 3. To fortifie us against all oppositions and temptations Deut. 7.18 Thou shalt not be afraid of them but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh and unto all Egypt It is a great comfort to Faith to look back upon the former manifestations of God's power and good will towards his People We have manifold fears and infirmities upon us when we see the power or suspect the craft of our Enemies but let us remember former experiences and that will be an allay to them When we see the continuance of his judgments so many years and in so many forms frequently varied but still lying upon us we are filled with many sad thoughts and reasonings of unbelief but we may soon suppress and silence them by the thoughts of God's power and love heretofore and the evidences of his love and good will and fidelity to all that depend upon him Former dealings raise our hearts to the expectation of future mercies Vse is to press us to this remembrance 1. Of the great Christian Mercies that concern the whole common-wealth of Believers such as the Birth Death Resurrection and Ascension and Intercession of the Lord Jesus these are the standing Dishes at a Believer's Table the constant food for our Faith Mercies never out of season these are mercies so general and beneficial that they should never be forgotten but remembred before God we should always bless God for Jesus Christ and desire that the knowledge of these things may be perpetuated to after Ages Eph. 3.21 Vnto him be glory in the Church by Iesus Christ throughout all Ages World without end Amen 2. For National Mercies so far as they concern either the first planting or the restoring of Christs Religion or the maintenance of it against the eminent open attempts or secret plots of Antichristian Adversaries These should be remembred by us partly to awaken our zeal that religion thus owned may not die upon our hands partly to shew our esteem both of the Religion and the mercy of God in owning it partly that we may beg the continuance of it for every thanksgiving is an implicite prayer partly that we may embolden our selves against all the difficulties we may be exposed unto in owning the true profession
you If you be sollicitous about the word of Christ and the matters of Duty contained therein you have a great advantage at the Throne of Grace So Psal. 66.18 If I regard Iniquity in my Heart the Lord will not hear me Many that pray are as Ice a little thawed above but hard at bottom they have not such a strong setled Resolution to walk more closely and orderly with God but allow some secret Lust and so marr their own Audience and Acceptance with God II. For Reasons 1. With respect to God 1. His Observance 2. His Acceptance 1. With respect to Gods Observance He is an All-seeing Spirit and therefore will not be mocked with a vain appearance or a little bodily exercise but the Prayers we make to him we must find them in our Hearts 1 Sam. 16.7 For God seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but God looketh on the Heart We may Act the Parrot before men but God looks to what there is in the Heart 1 Chron. 28.9 Know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect Heart and with a willing Mind for the Lord searcheth all Hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the Thoughts A man up in the Air seeth the Spring as well as the River and its course we that stand by see the course but not the Spring God understandeth whether we are inclined and encouraged whether we are habitually inclined to God Ier. 5.3 O Lord are not thine eyes on the Truth Rom. 8.27 And he that searcheth the Heart knoweth what is the Mâ—nd of the Spirit because he maketh Intercession for the Saints according to the will of God He knows a belch of the Flesh from a groan of the Spirit He understandeth our desires as well as our Words So whether we are encouraged by the Grace of the New Covenant and Sense of our own qualification 1 Ioh. 3.20 21. If our Heart condemn us God is greater than our Heart and knoweth all things Beloved if our Heart condemn us not then have we Confidence towards God 2. With respect to Gods Acceptance God granteth not our Prayers till our Hearts be fixedly bent towards him Psal. 10.17 Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their Heart thou wilt cause thine Ear to hear When God hath put it into their Hearts to pray and awakened their desires then he will hear Dan. 10.12 From the first day that thou didst set thine Heart to understand and to chasten thy self before thy God thy words were heard God hath accepted the Heart without the Tongue but never accepted the Tongue without the Heart Moses cryed to God when he spake not one word Exod. 8.12 and God heard him 2. With respect to us 1. The part which the Heart beareth in all humane Actions It is fons actionum ad extra and it is terminus actionum ad intra In our actings towards God Prov. 4.23 Keep thy Heart with all diligence for out of it are the Issues of Life and in our receipts from God this is the thing that God aimeth at Rom. 6.17 Ye have obeyed from the Heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered you Prayer is not a receiving duty as hearing In praying the Heart begins in hearing it ends the Duty 2. With respect to our carriage in Prayer We do not conceive a Prayer but impose a Prayer upon our selves if the Tongue guide the Heart rather than the Heart the Tongue Like Children that cast stones into the Mine but do not draw Oar out of the Mine Acts 2.26 Therefore did my Heart rejoice and my Tongue was glad I. Vse Information 1. What need is there of Recollection before we come to pray that we may not force upon our selves what chance offereth but may have a Prayer in our Hearts before we have it in our Tongues Psal. 45.1 My Heart is inditing a good matter I speak of the things which I have made touching the King my Tongue is as the Pen of a ready Writer Usually we offer to God a dough-baked Sacrifice Only that I may not grate upon a tender Conscience there is an habitual Preparation and an actual Preparation The habitual Preparation lyeth in a broken hearted Sense of our wants radicated Inclination or bent of Heart towards God and Heavenly Things and in a Confidence and Liberty towards God The actual Preparation lyeth in such a Sense of our Necessities as the present Case doth deserve such a quickening of our desires after Heavenly Things as may fill us with Life such a remembrance of the Grace of God in Christ and our own Sincerity that our Hearts may not reproach us when dealing with God as a Father Again I distinguish that our requests are Ordinary or Extraordinary Ordinary When we ask daily supplies of Grace having no particular streight Temptation Difficulty or Business of moment then in hand Here the Habitual Preparation with little or no Actual Preparation serveth in our daily Prayers for necessary Blessings Extraordinary as in some notable trial difficult Streight Conflict Temptation or when we seek some special Benefit and upon eminent Occasions then as our Necessities are greater so our Acts of Prayer are more earnest Psal 109 4. For my love they are my Adversaries but I give my self unto Prayer Our Lord Jesus Christ being in an Agony prayed more earnestly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 22.44 And so it resolveth this Case What if I have not such a feeling of strong and earnest desire or the over ruling bent of the general Inclination Yet keep not off from Prayer 1. Good desires are to be asked of God 2. Such desires as you have must be expressed 3. Prayer is the usual way to quicken and increase them 4 Turning away from God is the means to kill them 2. It informeth us what need we have of more help than our own if we must find every Prayer in our Heart which we utter with our Tongues Three things are necessary in Prayer The Humane Spirit or natural Faculty that I may by my Understanding work on my Will The New Nature Faith Hope and Love to believe in God and see him before me to incline me to God as my chief good and to hope for Benefit from him The Divine Spirit to excite these Graces Iude 20. Praying in the Holy Ghost Rom. 8.26 The Spirit it self also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh Intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered The Spirit works not on us as blocks but as rational Creatures nor does it blow on a dead Coal II. Vse Caution Do not take every thing for Prayer which looks like it 1. Bodily exercise Mâ—ny by the Agitation of the bodily Spirits work themselves into some vehemency their Voice is heard on high but the Heart is dead and cold quibus arteriis opus est These fill up only a little
you addicted to vain pleasures and not able to deny them 2. As it is an argument to confirm us in the certainty of the happiness of the world to come It were best to chuse the easiest life here if we did not believe eternity to live a life of pomp and ease The troubles and miseries of the Godly have been counted a sure argument to confirm it 1 Cor. 5.19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable God would not make us miserable by our Duty And 2 Thes. 1.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is a manifest token of the righteous Iudgment of God If the consideration of Godly mens sufferings in this world be of moment to such an inference much more the sufferings of Christ who was not only a man good and innocent beyond example instructing the Souls curing the Bodies of so many men but also the Son of God His exaltation is a pledge of our happiness and his humiliation an argument he is gone there as our fore-runner Application to the Sacrament This Duty bindeth us both to the mediatory and moral consideration of Christs abasement 1. The Mediatory consideration of Christs abasement That we may grow in Faith and Love we remember the Death and sufferings of the Lord Jesus for the increase of Faith and Love 1. Faith Here is the foundation laid of all our happiness and deliverance from sin and misery Here is a merit and a price full enough to purchase all needful graces He became Poor that we might be Rich and not have a slender measure of grace John 1.16 Of his fulness we all receive and grace for grace He was emptied that we might be filled Ephes. 4.10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things And 1 Cor. 3. latter end All things are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods John 10.10 I am come that they might have Life and that they might have it more abundantly Tit. 3.5 6. He saved us by the washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour What may we not Promise our selves from God made man made sin made a curse for us Surely a larger and plentiful measure of the gifts and graces of the Spirit 2. His great Love to lost Sinners For he made himself of no reputation for our sakes Such was the unconceivable Love of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Souls of men that he was willing to condescend to any condition for their good and Salvation Some will do a kindness so as themselves may not be the worse nor the poorer nor disgraced nor adventure the displeasure of others But Christ hath filled us by emptying himself taken our nature and was subject to misery out of Love to the Salvation of lost Sinners He did willingly lay aside his Glory which he had with the Father before the World was to suffer in his Humane nature the utmost of misery and grief which the malice of Men and Devils could inflict and which seemed good to the Father to order and appoint for a satisfaction to provoked Justice Quanto vilior tanto charior Bernard So much more vile as Christ was so much dearer should he be to us 2. Let us improve the moral consideration of Christs being a pattern and example to us We feed upon Christ that we may be like him Other food is assimilated and changed into our Substance but here we are changed into it We who give up our names to Christ must expect to injoy the fruits of his obedience in the same steps wherein he walked before us If we can contemn the World be content to be of no reputation that we may glorifie God and finally save our souls then are we like Christ. We come to arm our selves with the same mind which was in Jesus to get above the the hopes and fears pains and pleasures honours and profits of the present World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nothing in this World should be great to us These things are transitory soon conveyed out of sight the basest and vilest of men are capable of them the most generous are above them Therefore we should be weaning our hearts more and more from this World and drawing them off to another World for we profess our selves to be followers of a poor Saviour A Sermon on 1 Cor. Viii. 3 If any Man Love God the same is known of him THE Apostle is reasoning in the context against them that abused the knowledge of their Liberty by Christ to the offence and scandal of others and sheweth that we ought to joyn Charity with our Knowledge of God His Arguments are three 1. Bare knowledge without Charity is windy and pussing The flesh may serve it self even of the knowledge of Divine Mysteries as it giveth men occasion to be proud and despise others Knowledge puffeth up but Charity edifieth vers 1. 2. That it is not knowledge unless it be joyned with love Otherwise it is only a talking after others by rote not the effect of Divine Illumination vers 2. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know For the Spirit of Light and Life is also a Spirit of Love Bare knowledge sufficeth where the matter requireth no more But Christianity is a practical effective knowledge tending to make us good rather than learned And therefore the profit of our knowledge is lost it is as no knowledge unless it produce Love God never intended a Religion to try the sharpness of mens wits but to draw their hearts to himself As God can neither be Loved Obeyed nor Trusted without knowledge for without knowledge the heart is not good So knowledge is not knowledge unless we know him so as to love him John 4.10 If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith unto thee Give me to drink thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living Water Know him so as to trust in him Psal. 9.10 They that know thy name will put their trust in thee Know him so as to please him and serve him 1 John 2.4 He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar and the Truth is not in him 3. God knoweth such as rightly know him with a knowledge joyned with Love He knoweth them that is doth acknowledge them for his Faithful Servants as will be demonstrated by the effects So in the Text If any man love God the same is known of him But in this Argument the Apostle seemeth to forget his purpose and to alter the terms of the dispute in hand for instead of Charity towards our neighbour he puts in Love to God and instead of our Knowledge of God he puts in Gods Knowledge of us and so seemeth to be carried besides his purpose I. Answer No such matter
fourth rank is of those things which are evil in themselves and good only by accident in order to some greater good which may be procured by them as War to make way for a lasting Quiet and Peace the cutting off an Arm or Leg to preserve the rest of the Body burning the Harvest to starve an Enemy In a Theological Consideration Afflictions have this use which are not things to be desired and chosen but endured and suffered when sent by the wise God for our good Well now a Christian should love all things according to their value and as they approach nearer to his last end and chief good He valueth all things as they more or less let out God to him the nearer means more than the remote subservient helps Thus he delighteth in the Ordinances more than the Creatures because the Ordinances discover more of God and exhibite more of God to him He valueth Graces more than Ordinances because by the Graces of the Spirit he is brought into more Conformity to God and Communion with him than by the bare formality of a Duty And he delighteth in Jesus Christ more than in Created Graces as being by him nearer to God and God nearer to us Here is the method and order of our value and esteem then First God next Christ as Mediatour next the Graces of the Spirit next the Ordinances next the Creatures and Comforts of this Life 3. A Godly mans Judgment is rectified about the difference between things spiritual and temporal Prov. 23.4 Labour not to be rich cease from thine own Wisdom 1 Cor 2.12 We have received not the Spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God Psal. 16.7 I will bless the Lord who hath given me Counsel my Reins also instruct me in the night season He counteth that Condition beâ—â— wherein he may be most serviceable to God and best helped to Heaven The natural understanding valueth all things by the Interest of the Flesh for it looketh only to present things 't is the Spirit of the World But one to whom God hath given Counsel he is of another temper seeth things by another light and liveth to another end and scope His End enlightneth him and the Spirit of God enlightneth him The Spirit sheweth him the reality and worth of Heavenly things Eph. 1.17 18. That the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of him The Eyes of your Vnderstanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the Hope of his Calling and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints There is no Prospect of the other World by the light of a natural Spirit but by Faith 2 Pet. 1.9 He that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off A meer naturaâ— man acteth at little a higher rate than a Beast A Beast seeth things before him tasts what is comfortable to his Senses is guided by Fancy and Appetite But the Spirit of Faith maketh a Man live as in the sight of God and under a sense of another World His end enlightneth him for Mat. 6.22 The light of the Body is the Eye if thine Eye be single thy whole Body shall be full of Light When a man hath fixed his end he will the sooner understand his way Finis est mensura mediorum The End is the measure of the means A good end and scope inlightneth and governeth a man in his whole course As a Man's end is so he judgeth of Happiness and Misery If a Mans end be to live well in the World then Happy are the People that are in such a Case If his end be to enjoy God then Happy is the People whose God is the Lord Psal. 144.15 It is a blessed opportunity to be waiting upon him So he judgeth of Liberty and Bondage If his end be to please God then Corruption is his Yoak if to please the Flesh Duty is his Yoak So he judgeth of Wisdom and Folly A carnal man counteth himself wise when he has made a good Bargain then he applaudeth himself Psal 10.3 The wicked boasteth of his Hearts desire and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth The Godly Man then counteth himself wise when he has redeemed time for spiritual uses Eph. 5.15 16. Not as Fools but as Wise redeeming the time because the days are evil And the Eunuch when he was instructed by Philip went on his way rejoicing Acts 8 39. Vse 1. If these things be so then it informeth us how chearfully we should pass through our Sabbath Duties Isa. 58.13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy Pleasure on my Holy Day and call the Sabbath a delight the Holy of the Lord honourable and shalt Honour him not doing thine own work nor finding thine own Pleasure nor speaking thine own Words c. It followeth naturally from the Point in hand for if a day in Gods house be better than a thousand elsewhere then a Christian should be in his Element when he is wholly at leisure for God His Sabbath time should not hang upon his hands nor should he count this day as a melancholy Interruption Few are of this Spirit they are out of their course Amos 8.5 When will the Sabbath be gone that we may set forth Wheat They are weary of Sacred Meetings and long to have them over that they might follow their gain and satisfie their worldly Humour They make the World and their Gain their great Errand and look upon Attendance upon God as a matter by the by and therefore are soon weary of it Vse II. Let us reflect the Light of this Truth upon our own Hearts have we this love and affection to the means of Grace If we profess it the Truth of it is best known to God but in some measure it should be known to our selves also if we would take Comfort in it Therefore let us a little state it 1. This Affection and Respect to Ordinances is to them as pure to those meetings where God is sincerely and purely worshipped As new born Babes desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sincere Milk of the Word 1 Pet. 2.2 The new Nature is suited to Gods Institutions As the puking Infant when he sucketh a Stranger doth in Effect say this is not my Mothers Milk Christ is there where he is worshipped in his own way Mat. 28.20 Teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the World The Church hath nothing to do about ordaining or instituting but only about ordering the natural circumstances of Worship 2. It is not the empty formality which the Saints prize but meeting with God Psal. 81.1 2. How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my Soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord
of any danger of ruine to the Soul Surely this care of seeking and searching out and reducing sinners to Repentance should be imitated of all These words are spoken by Christ upon another occasion why his little ones should not be despised Mat. 18.11 For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost He came to redeem the meanest Believer Now his little ones are despised by laying stumbling Blocks in their way or neglecting the means by which they may be reduced to God as if their Souls were not worth the looking after Hath the Minister no poor ignorant Creature to instruct Or the Father of the Family no Children or Servants to bring home to God Or the good Christian no Brothers nor Sisters nor Neighbours who walk in a Soul-destroying course how can we think our selves to belong to Christ when we are so unlike him Oh seek and save that which is lost do what you can to pluck them out of the fire they are lost and undone for ever if they continue in their carnal and flesh-pleasing course Be they never so mean you must seek to save them for you must not have the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons 2. How much they obstruct the end of Christ's coming who hinder the Salvation of lost Souls either by depriving them of the means of Grace as the Pharisees who would neither enter into the Kingdom of God themselves nor suffer them that were entring to go in Mat. 23.13 but seek all means to divert them or else by clogging his Grace with unnecessary conditions or preparations and so shut up the way to the City of Refuge which was to be smoothed or made plain Deut. 19.2 3. that nothing might hinder him that fled thither no stop nor stumbling block no hill nor dale nor river without convenient passage It is enough they are sensible that they are lost Creatures And it is not the deepness of the wound is to be regarded but the soundness of the cure they have a sense of sin and misery Christ seeketh such to save and cure Some exclude all conditions and means he must look to nothing in himself to make out his claim but only to Christ's Blood shed for the expiation of his sins Alas Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost not only as a Priest but as a Prophet and as a King not only to die for sins but to call us to Repentance and to work it in us by his Spirit He findeth us lost sinners but he doth not leave us so And Conversion is a part of his Salvation as well as Redemption he saveth us by renewing God's Image in us as well as procuring his favour for us to be saved from our sins is Salvation Mat. 1.21 To be regenerated is Salvation as well as to be reconciled to God and so the Scripture speaketh of it 3. It informeth us that if Men be not saved the fault is their own for Christ doth what belongeth to him he came to seek and to save what is lost but we do not what belongeth to us we are not willing to be saved The Scripture chargeth it upon our Will we will not submit to his saving and healing methods Mat. 23.37 I would have gathered thee as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings but ye would not Christ would but we will not so Iohn 5.40 Ye will not come to me that you might have life You complain of want of power when ye are not willing to leave your sins You say I cannot save my self when thou art not willing that Christ should save thee thou wilt not receive the Grace and Help offered to thee Possibly thou wouldest be freed from the Flames of Hell but thou wouldest not leave thy sins There is no man perisheth in his sins but because he would not be saved Is not Christ able to help thee Yes the doubt lieth not there is he not willing to help thee say it if thou canst why did he die for thee Why did he send means to offer his help Why did he bear with thee so long and warn thee so often of thy danger when thou thoughtest not of it if he were not willing to help thee out of thy misery why doth he so often tender thee his saving Grace Surely the defect is in thy Will not in Christ's thou art in love with the sensual pleasures of sin loth to exchange them for the Salvation Christ offereth Christ inviteth thee and thy excuse is I cannot when the truth is thou wilt not come to him The business is not whether thou canst save thy self But whether thou art willing Christ should save thee Christ is not unwilling to do that which he seeketh after with so much diligence and care Say not then in thy heart I know Christ can save me if he will Why he is as willing as able to save thee but he will not save thee by force against thy will or without or besides thy consent Certainly none perish in their sins but because they would not be saved they refuse the help which God offereth and will not improve the power which he hath given They refuse his help I would have purged thee but thou wouldest not be purged Ezek. 24.13 They do not use the power they have for there is no wicked Man but might do more than he doth they are sloathful servants that hide their Talents in a Napkin Matth. 25 26. They put off the Word quench their Convictions will not bestir themselves nor hearken to Christ's offers if others had these helps they would have repented long ago Matth. 11.21 22. Wo unto thee Chorazin Wo unto thee Bethsaida for if the mighty works which are done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes But I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for Tire and Sidon in the day of Iudgment than for you Vse 2. To press you to accept of this Grace and deal with Christ as a Saviour this title is not a title of terror and dread but of life and comfort Oh! submit then to his healing Methods and suffer Christ to save you in his own way Arguments to press you to accept of this Grace 1. Consider the misery of a lost condition We were all lost in Adam and can onely be recovered by Christ we fell from God by his first transgression and so were estranged from the Womb and went astray assoon as we were born Psal. 58.3 The wicked are estranged from the womb they go astray assoon as they be born speaking lies And every sin that we commit is a farther loss of our selves for every wicked Man doth more undo himself and plunge himself into farther Perdition for our sins make a greater distance between God and us Isa. 59.2 Your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will
out of the burning That God should reform thy crooked perverse spirit and pardon all thy sins and lead thee in the way of righteousness unto Eternal Glory How should thy heart and mouth be filled with the high Praises of God! and how should you say Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed my Soul 3. Consider what preventing Grace God used towards you How he sought you out when you sought not him that he might save you As this saving Mercy was not deserved by you so it was not so much as desired by you the Lord pittied thee when thou hadst not an heart to pity thy self and prevented thee with his goodness It is good to observe the circumstances of our first awakening or reducement from our wandrings The Apostle speaketh of the called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to his purpose Rom. 8.28 Not the purpose of them that are converted but the purpose of God For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate and whom he did predestinate them he also called vers 30. Many come to a Duty with careless and slight Spirits or by a meer Chance as Paul's Infidel 1 Cor. 14.24 25. But if all prophesie and there come in one that believeth not or one unlearned he is convinced of all he is judged of all And thus are the secrets of the heart made manifest and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth Oh how many do thus stumble upon Grace unawares as not minding or desiring any such Matter yet God directeth a seasonable word that pierceth iâ—to their very hearts Sometimes when opposing and persecuting as Paul Acts â— Many that come to scoff I have seen his ways I will heal him Isa. 57.18 Soâ—e are leavened with prejudice loth to come drawn against their consent Iohn 1.46 Nathaniel saith to Philip Can any good come out of Nazareth Philip saith unto him Come and see yet there he met with Christ. Various circumstances there are which shew Christ's vigilancy and care in seeking after lost Souls 4. That he hath made the Cure effectual notwithstanding the reluctancies of our carnal hearts We are all of us full of the wisdom of the Flesh and that is enmity to God Rom. 8.7 Because the Carnal Mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Now that our hearts should be quite changed and have another bias and inclination put upon them this is the Lord 's doing and it should be marvellous in our eyes Iohn 3.6 That which is born of flesh is flesh but that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit That we should be so quite altered as now to mind Serious Spiritual and Heavenly things surely nothing could do this but the Almighty Spirit of Christ or that efficacy which is proper to the Mediatour Sermon I. on Psal. Lc 1 Lord thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations IN a time of danger we would all be glad if we could get a safe place of retreat or a secure habitation where the evil might not come nigh us The Text will direct you to one if you have an heart to make use of it This Psalm was penned by Moses the Man of God as the Title sheweth It 's reflection is mainly upon the state of those times wherein he lived when the Children of God wandered up and down in the Wilderness and were sorely afflicted by sundry Plagues and great Multitudes of them cut off by untimely death for their Provocations The Psalm is said to be a Prayer of Moses He beginneth his Prayer with an acknowledgment of God's goodness and gracious protection In the howling Wilderness and in all former Ages he had been their habitation And this giveth him confidence to ask and expect other things from God's hand From hence we may learn to express Faith in Prayer before we express Desire and give God glory in believing before we lay forth our own wants So doth Moses the Man of God Lord thou hast been our dwelling-place in all Generations Doctr. That God is his Peoples habitation or dwelling-place I shall deliver the sum of this point in these Considerations First The First shall be a General Truth That true and lively Faith doth apprehend all things as present in God which it wanteth in the Creature When they wandered up and down in the Wilderness God was their habitation As the life of Sense is a flat contradiction to Faith so is the life of Faith to the life of Sense Faith is supported by two things God's All-sufficiency and Gracious Covenant The one sheweth what may be the other what shall be As God hath a double Knowledge Scientia simplicis intelligentiae visionis By the former he knows all things that may be in his own All-sufficiency By the latter he knows all things that shall be in his own Decree So Faith sees all things made up in God This can be because God is able to bring it to pass This shall be because God hath promised it His promise is as good as performance therefore a Believer in the want of all things doth not onely make a shift to live but groweth rich 2 Cor. 6.10 As poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things Nothing in the view of Sense but all things in God that are good for him As God was as a fixed habitation to them that were in the Wilderness so he promiseth Ezek. 11.16 Although I have cast them far off among the Heathen and although I have scattered them among the Countreys yet will I be to them as a little Sanctuary in the Countreys where they shall come A Christian that hath learned to live by Faith above Sense he can never want any thing he hath it in God and can see not onely pardon and righteousness forth-coming out of the Covenant but food and raiment protection and maintenance house and home and all things even then when they are most destitute It is not onely an act of Love that God is instead of all these things but an act of Faith As to Love 1 Sam. 1.8 Am I not better to thee then ten Sons God is not onely better than all to a Believer but he is all Secondly God's People may be reduced to such exigences that they may have no house nor habitation on this side God As now the People of God were in a wandering condition 1 Pet. 1.1 Peter directs his Epistle To the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia Strangers not only in affection but condition Exile and Separation from their outward comforts and priviledges may be the lot of the People that are dearest to the Lord of any on earth besides Heb. 11.37 They wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skin being destitute afflicted tormented v. 38. They wandered in Desarts and in Mountains and in Dens and in
of an incredible bigness and all our Alpâ—s and Pyrenees to be but like little spots Those that converse above that dwell in the secret place of the Most High the difficulties and dangers of the World seem as nothing to them They can despise this Ant-hill of the World as a poor little sandy heap that is soon spurned into dust But God's help seemeth greater and therefore they are not troubled nor afraid They can say Rom. 8.31 If God be for us who can be against us Goliah frighted all the Hosts of Israel but David went forth against him in the name of the Lord 1 Sam. 17.45 Thou comest to me with a Sword and with a Spear and with a Shield but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts the God of the Armies of Israel whom thou hast defied David could despise the Giant as much as the Giant despised David Compare any of the Children of this World with a Servant of God that dwelleth in the shadow of the Almighty and what a difference will you find One dismayed with every danger troubled with every petty loss why so Because he dwelleth in the Earth and converseth only with created things and so small things seem great to him But now take any of the Servants of God who live in God as the Martyrs they are not daunted with Fires Swords Wheels Gibbets Beasts they are as a Flea-biting They are acquainted with things truly great Nay many of the evils we feel come from God himself from his immediate Hand as Pestilence and Famines None are affected with these things more than a Child of God as they are tokens of his Father's displeasure He is not stupid and fool-hardy None hath such a tender sense of the events and effects of Providence as he hath He looketh upon them with an Eye of Nature and of Grace and seeth God in them Yet none are less discomposed in such cases They know none can withdraw himself from God or lye hid from his Eye when he maketh inquisition for sinners Qui à te fugit quò fugiet nisi à te irato ad pacatum He that flies from thee whither shall he fly but from thee as angry to thee as appeased There is no way to avoid his justice but by flying to his Mercy Kings and Potentates of the Earth their wrath may be escaped their Eyes cannot see all nor their Hands reach all But none can hide themselves from him that filleth Heaven and Earth with his presence There is no hiding from God but in God 4. Because of the manner of his defence and protection It is every where expressed as a secret invisible thing that cannot be seen with bodily Eyes So Iob 29.4 The secret of the Lord was upon my Tabernacle Meaning his Gracious protection So Psal. 31.20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the Pride of Man Thou shalt keep them secretly in a Pavillion from the strife of Tongues So Psal. 91.1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty This keeping is not liable to the view of sense A man is kept no body knoweth how abroad yet hidden in God Natural Men cannot discern the way of it When to appearance they are laid in common with others yet they are distinguished from others by the special care of God's Providence God's Truth Power Grace and Goodness whereon Faith doth fix it self It is a riddle and a mystery to the World which carnal reason knoweth not to improve to any satisfaction and comfort However it teacheth us to depend upon the Providence of God whether there be any appearance of the benefit we look for yea or no. The name of the Lord is a strong Tower but it is an invisible Tower only found out by Faith and entered into by Faith Therefore he that would take up his dwelling place in God must not govern himself by probabilities of sense but by Maxims of Faith 2. An House is the seat of our blessings and the place where we lay up our comforts And so God is our Habitation as we expect all our supplies and provisions from him So the Saints have God for their store-house and his All-sufficiency for their Portion out of which they fetch not only Peace and Grace and Righteousness but Food and Raiment Psal. 23.1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want Psal. 34.1 O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him Psal. 84.11 For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly We must not prescribe at what rate we will be maintained for that is to ask Meat for our Lusts and to set Providence a task which it will not comply withal But that which is good for us he will not deny unto us He that satisfieth the desire of every living thing cannot be unkind to his People Psal. 145.16 Thou openest thy Hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing compared with ver 18 19. The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him to all that call upon him in Truth He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him he also will hear when they cry and will save them He that provideth not for his own is worse than an Infidel and can unbelief paint out God as so negligent and careless Christ taxeth them as of little Faith Mat. 6.30 Wherefore if God so cloath the Grass of the Field that to day is and to morrow is cast into the Oven how much more will he cloath you O ye of little Faith Shall we pretend to believe in God for Eternal Life and not trust in him for daily Bread 3. The House is the place of our abode and rest so in God we have consolation as well as protection and provision It is blustering weather abroad but in the Bosom of God we may repose our selves Iohn 16.33 These things have I spoken unto you that in me ye might have rest in the World ye shall have Tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the World As it is comfortable to be within and hear the ratling of the Storm on the Tiles So it is to have inward peace in outward trouble 2 Cor. 1.5 As the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. Abroad a Christian hath his labours and sorrows but in God is his rest when he has recourse thither he is at ease 1 Sam. 30.6 David encouraged himself in the Lord his God Well then we have the effect of an House in God In him we may dwell quietly as in a secure safe and comfortable place and need not fear any danger whatsoever Thus much for the Metaphorical reflection upon these words which is the third consideration 4. I observe this title hath a special respect to that
the Elect Angels 1 Tim. 5.21 Now which of these are we to understand Not the Evil Angels to be sure for since the Fall they are called Devils not Angels singly without a note of Distinction This was an Holy Desire of an Holy Object of which those damned Spirits are not capable It is a burden to them to think of God and Christ they abhor their own Thoughts of God Iam. 9.19 The Devils also believe and tremble And Christs Presence was a torment to them Mat. 8.29 What have we to do with thee Iesus thou Son of God! art thou come to torment us before the time They cannot please themselves nor find such a delight and full satisfaction in the view of these Truths Therefore it is meant of those good Angels that behold the face of God and Minister in his presence they are beholding wondering and rejoycing at the mysteries of the Gospel There are two kinds of Creatures made after the Likeness of God Angels and Men and they are seated and placed in the two Extremities of the World the one in Heaven and the other on Earth in the Highest and Lowest Story of the Universe that at both ends of the Creation there might be some to glorifie him and acknowledge his Excellencies Alas here with us in the lower part of the World how few take notice of the glorious discoveries of God in any of his Works especially in the work of Redemption So that all Gods Preparations and Expences seem lost as to the Honour and Service which he might justly expect from us But there is another World where this mystery that is so little regarded here is more thought of and better studied even by the Blessed Angels Creatures more excellent and more numerous than Mankind who are always glorifying God and admiring his Excellencies upon this account As we behold the Sun that shineth to us from their part of the World so do they behold the Son of Righteousness from our part of the World even Jesus Christ the Lord in all the Acts of his Mediation 1 Tim. 3.16 Without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels That is beheld with Wonder and Reverence God needeth not to Court us with such importunity he hath Creatures enough to glorifie him ten thousand times ten thousand Angels that stand before his Throne and know more of God than we do and are more ready to praise him II. What The Text telleth us which things that is those things spoken of in the Context 1. The Person of the Redeemer the most glorious Object that can be looked upon or taken into the Thoughts of any Creature The view of this is now our Comfort and will be our Happiness to all Eternity Iohn 17.24 Father I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me When we are in Heaven on t'other side of the World that will be our Work and our Happiness but it must not be wholly omitted here So the Angels delight in the Person of the Redeemer it is their rejoicing to look upon Christ in whom the Glory of God shineth forth more admirably than in any other of his Works Yea I shall go one Strain higher God himself delighteth in looking upon Christ Prov. 8.30 There was I by him as one brought up with him I was daily his delight in the Hebrew it is day day one day after another God never satisfieth himself enough in this yea God delighteth in Christ as Mediatour Mat. 3.17 This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteâ—â— It is the ground of his gracious aspect upon us As Holy he delighted in all his Works and was refreshed at the view of them Gen. 1.31 And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good compared with Exo. 31.17 In six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed Well then this is one thing which the Angels look upon the Person of Christ the most lovely Object to be thought of figur'd in the Mercy-Seat or cover of the Ark who interposed between the Law and God Christ is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Propitiation that is Christ Incarnate 2. The way of Redemption verse 11. The Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow And therein the sweet Harmony and Concord between Infinite Mercy and Infinite Justice that both might have full satisfaction This is figured in the Mercy-Seat Gods reconciling himself to Man by Christ Rom. 3.24 25 26. Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Iesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of Sins that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his Righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Iesus 3 Another thing spoken of in the Context is the Grace that should come to us verse 10. Gods keeping familiar Correspondence and Communion with Poor Creatures in and through Christ 1 Iohn 1.3 And truely our Communion is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ. The dwelling of our Nature with God in a Personal Union a thing which Angels may wonder at since God abaseth himself to behold things in Heaven or things on Earth Psal. 113.6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and in the Earth His Majesty and All sufficiency is so great that he might justly despise the Angels of whom he standeth in no need Now that he should stoop so low as to look after poor crawling Worms and admit them to such intimacy with himself this Commerce between God and the Inhabitants of the lower World is matter of wondrous delight to the Angels 4. The Mission of the Spirit here just before the Text the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven and then presently it followeth which things the Angels desire to look into viz. The Copious Effusion of Gospel Grace Before the price was paid when God gave out Grace upon Trust 't was more sparingly dispensed but now more plentifully since the price of Redemption is actually paid The Angels are ascending and descending present with the Churches in their Holy Worship When the Spirit was first poured out the Men that were Conscious to it were all surprized with wonder Acts 2.7 They were all amazed and marvelled saying one to another Behold are not all these that speak Galileans And surely the Angels see cause to glorifie God for his Gifts and Graces bestowed on the Church It was done in the sight of Angels Eph. 4.8 When he ascended on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men compared with Col. 2.15 And having
not a thing which God would keep secret from them What the Church knoweth the Angels know in some measure Or Secondly In the End Only to know They did not know meerly that they might know To know that we may be knowing is Arrogancy to know that we may gain by our Knowledge is covetousness and self-seeking to know that we may know is Curiosity but to know that we may adore and worship God this is Religion and Godliness This was their end that they might the more admire God in the discoveries of himself to the Creatures 2. Not total Ignorance of this Mystery before it was brought about They had some Knowledge of it but now to their Natural and Supernatural Knowledge there is added Experimental Knowledge which is daily increased in them 2. Affirmatively 1. They have such a deep sense of the worth of these things that they desire to know more Eph. 3.10 To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God By Principalities and Powers are meant Angels so called because God maketh use of them in governing the World and because of their great Power and Strength By Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places are meant good Angels Now these glorious Creatures see more of the Wisdom of God by his Gracious Dispensations to the Church they improve and come to a more full Knowledge by observing and looking unto the Tenour of the Gospel and the Providences that do accompany it though their present State of Happiness doth give them full satisfaction for the time yet it is capable of some Additions and shall be perfected more fully at the last day when the torments of the faln Angels are also full 2 Pet. 2.4 God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into Chains of darkness to be reserved unto Iudgment It is true they are in termino not in via there can be no change of their State yet as to the degree they have not their full Happiness till then There are some things in this Mystery which they know not it is a deep Treasure of Wisdom and the Angels cannot see to the Bottom of it 2. In other things which they know they delight themselves in the view of them It is a sweet and comfortable Speculation with the thoughts of which their Hearts are ravished They desire to look into these things out of the delight which they take therein But why do the Angels so much delight in the Mystery of Redemption 1. Because of the Glory of God discovered therein 2. The good of Man procured thereby Both are laid down in the Angels Song Luke 2.14 Glory to God in the highest and on Earth Peace Good will towards Men. 1. For the Glory of God they see their Creator gets a great deal of Honour God was but half discovered in the Creation of the World but now more fully in the Redemption of the World In the Creation he shewed his Power Wisdom and Goodness but now he discovers more Attributes and these in a greater Latitude as his Truth Holiness and Justice His Truth in that this is the greatest promise His Holiness for here is the greatest instance of his hatred of evil and his Justice in the Agonies and Sufferings and shame of the Son of God In the work of Redemption God discovers his Power in dissolving the works of the Devil over-powering the resistance of Man It is true in the Creation there was nothing to help for there was nothing to lett and hinder His Goodness Rom. 4.8 But God commended his Love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us God commendeth his love to us in loving such unworthy Creatures and with such a love So the Apostle Titus 3.4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards Man appeared His wisdom not in ordering the Creatures but reconciling his Attributes When God embraced such unworthy polluted Creatures this is that the Angels are taken with to see the Wisdom Power and Justice of God shining forth in the Person of our Redeemer and in the work of our Redemption this is an admirable Looking-glass wherein to see these things 2. For the good of Man The Angels are without envy they rejoice at our welfare when the Nature of Man is so much preferred before theirs They are brought in rejoicing when Man was made Job 38.7 When the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy When Christ was born Luke 2.13 And suddenly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God When Man is converted Luke 15.7 Ioy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth They rejoice in our Salvation Vse 1. Information It sheweth us 1. The Sublimity of Gospel Mysteries they are Speculations that befit Angels the Angels that behold the face of God admire at them Oh! How should we admire the Love of God in Christ that he hath provided such things for us in Christ that Angels wonder at The business of our Salvation is called a Mystery Ephes. 3.4 Whereby when ye read ye may understand my knowledge in the Mystery of Christ Rom. 16.25 According to the Revelation of the Mystery which was kept secret since the World began 1 Tim. 3.16 Without controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness An holy secret transcending the reach of ordinary knowledge such as nothing of it could be known by Man or Angel before it was revealed and after it is revealed it is a thing hidden from carnal Men in the Spiritual beauty of it and in a great measure from Believers themselves if their knowledge be compared with what it shall be hereafter 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part then I shall know even as also I am known Many are scandalized at the Scriptures because of the simplicity of them as containing onely a few plain truths but there are Mysteries which take up the mind and study of Angels and they think them worthy their best thoughts 2. The goodness of them the Angels are delighted in this study It is a pleasant sweet ravishing frame of truths the more we know them aright the more inquisitive shall we be and the more diligent to know more Those know nothing of Christ savourily who are so soon Gospel-glutted and Christ-glutted and look upon these discoveries and discourses of God's Grace in Christ as dry Chips and withered Flowers and hear them without any joy and thankfulness Revel 19.10 The Testimony of Iesus is the Spirit of Prophesie What should we delight in and busie our heads and hearts about but with God in Christ reconciling the VVorld to himself this takes off our delight from vain trifles Many of you Gentlemen that leave this study to Divines you lose much of the comfort and sweetness of your
lives because you do no more warm your hearts with these thoughts Gentlemen leave off the reading vain Books and Romances they that have found the saving effects of God's Love will do so Ephes. 3.18 19. That ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge This will be for our comfort Rom. 5.5 Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given to us It will quicken us to holiness if ever we feel the love of God 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of Christ constraineth us 3. It informeth us of the Harmony between the Churches Between the Old Testament Church and the Christian Church John 8.56 Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad Luke 10.24 I tell you that many Prophets and Kings have desired to see those things which ye see and have not seen them and to hear those things which ye hear and have not heard them The times of the Gospel would to them have been a sweet sight they ardently desired to see Christ in the flesh And between the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant they join together in admiring Christ. Saints and Angels have one Beatitude beholding the face of God therefore they join in one duty looking on Christ. VVe shall one day meet in one Assembly Heb. 12.23 VVe hope to be Luke 20.36 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Like the Angels VVe should do as they do if we would be as they be 4. That Creatures busie their thoughts as they are affected Base Spirits are busied about light matters but Eagles will not stoop to catch Flies nor Angels employ themselves in inferiour and mean speculations but they have a great delight in acknowledging the manifold VVisdom of God in the Work of Redemption Great Spirits are taken up with things of great weight and importance Acts 17.11 These were more noble then they of Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether these things were so whilst others quench their Souls in sensualities they are for the Divine Study these were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is not meant of Natural Nobility but Spiritual True Nobility and Excellency which lieth in a care of Salvation not in wearing fine Cloaths or enjoying plentiful Revenues or good Descent but in the study of Christ not in greatness of Birth but Diligence in searching out the Mysteries of Salvation that is Nobility indeed not to enslave our selves to the Opinions of Men and their Customs 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a price be not ye the servants of Men. Not to wallow in Earthly Pleasure but seek things above Col. 3.1 If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Phil. 3.20 For our conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ. Not to be overcome by a Man's Passions and Corrupt Affections Prov. 16.32 He that is slow to anger is better then the Mighty and he that ruleth his own Spirit then he that taketh a City Prov. 25.28 He that hath no rule over his own Spirit is like a City that is broken down and without Walls These Noble Spirits will not yield to Lusts. Vse 2. To Reprove 1. The slightness of Men and to confound us with shame that we do no more take care to look after this Happiness that we do so unwillingly think of these things or set a-part our selves for the study of them Shall we slight these things which Angels wonder at Some will scarce vouchsafe to look into these things scarce think or talk seriously of them whilst their Minds and Discourses are taken up with baubles and trifles Angels are more noble Beings nearer to God they are not the parties interested we have particular benefit by them Matt. 22.5 But they made light of it They would not let it enter into their care and thoughts We are bound to this under pain of Damnation 't is not a thing arbitrary Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Bewail your stupidness that you have so slight a sense of these things Meditation I know is painful work it is very difficult but the sweetness of the Argument should perswade us to it 2. It reproveth that satiety that is apt to creep upon us Why should we be weary of searching into these Holy Mysteries What is the reason of this satiety First We search for them out of curiosity or content our selves with meer speculations which is an Adulterous love to truth not to get an interest in them John 4.10 If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee Give me to drink thou wouldest have asked and he would have given thee living water Secondly We do not look upon them with the eye of Faith Ephes. 3.17 18. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge Our embracing by Faith is a good means to make this study effectual Thirdly They content themselves with a superficial view but do not make an accurate inspection We do not know it so as to stand wondering at it in all its dimensions Ephes. 3.18 That ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth Breadth whereby it is extended to Men of all Ages and Ranks Matth. 28.20 Lo I am with you always to the end of the World 1 Tim. 2.4 Who will have all Men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth Length whereby it reacheth from eternity to eternity Psal. 103.17 The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting Depth It stoopeth to our lowest misery Christ delivered us from the depths of misery and sin Psal. 86.13 Thou hast delivered my Soul from the lowest Hell And there is Heighth in it whereby it reacheth to Heavenly Joys and Happiness John 14.3 If I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Study those several respects and ways wherein it is manifested till you are ravished with the thoughts of it draw solid comfort hope and quickening from it Psal. 39.3 While I was musing the fire burned 4. It reproves those that onely study it but do not get an interest and experience of the comfort of it otherwise it is a cold story 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious There is Christ revealed to us and Christ revealed in us then is there sweetness in these truths Gal. 1.16 It pleased God to
Faith standeth us in most stead Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Then by the one we are freed from the guilt of Sin and so have deliverance from Eternal Death By the other we have not only right but entrance into Eternal Glory What is our whole scope but to be absolved by Christ at last and enter into Eternal Life Finally these two are to be regarded to obviate their mistake who think indeed that Faith and it may be Repentance is necessary to pardon or to dissolve our Obligation to Punishment but not new Obedience But in their place all the Conditions are necessary They think new Obedience is necessary to Salvation or Eternal Life but not to Justification But Salvation is as gracious an Act of Mercy as free and undeserved a Gift as Pardon Rom. 6.23 The wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Eternal Life is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wages but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Gift of God It is as much merited by Christ as the other and therefore as proper a part yea the chief part of the Hope of Righteousness by Faith and that which is only waited for and not injoyed III. What is the work of the Spirit in this business in urging Believers to wait for the Hope of Righteousness by Faith I Answer the work of the Spirit doth either concern the Duties of the new Covenant or the Priviledges of the new Covenant or what is common to them both I begin with the latter 1. What is common to them both He doth convince us of the Truth of the Gospel both of means and end that there is such an Hope and the Righteousness of Faith is the only way to obtain it Now this he doth Externally and Internally 1. Externally and by way of Objective Evidence All the certainty that we have of the Gospel is by the Spirit Acts 5.32 We are Witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Ghost which he hath given to them that obey him And Iohn 15. 26 27. When the Comforter is come whom I will send to you from the Father even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me And ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with me from the beginning Mark in both these places the two solemn Witnesses are the Spirit and the Apostles the one Principal the other Ministerial the one declaring Doctrine and Matter of Fact the other assuring the World of the Truth of their Testimony The Apostles testified of Christs sayings and doings and the Holy Ghost which came down upon them and the rest that consorted with them and was given in some measure to those that obeyed their Doctrine was an undoubted Evidence that God owned it from Heaven Here was enough to open mens Eyes and to give them a right understanding of his Person and Doctrine that it was of God The Visible Gifts of the Holy Ghost and his powerful working in the Hearts of men in order to their Conversion unto God These admirable Gifts and Graces shed abroad upon men were a Notable Conviction to the World that Christ was a Teacher sent from God to teach men the way to Eternal Life and Happiness This did afford sufficient matter of Confirmation and Conviction by the Spirit shed abroad and poured forth on the Christian Church 2. Internally inlightning their Minds and inclining their Hearts to imbrace the Truth Which maketh the former Testimony effectual So the Apostle prayeth Eph. 1.17 For the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Christ the eyes of their understanding being inlightned that they might know what is the hope of his Calling and the Riches of the Glory of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light To the sight of any thing these things are necessary an Object a Medium a Faculty As in outward sight an Object that may be seen a convenient light to represent it and make the Object perspicuous An Organ or Faculty of seeing in the Eye Unless there be an Object you bid a man see nothing Unless there be a Medium a due light to represent it as in a fog or at Midnight the sharpest sight can see nothing Unless there be a Faculty neither the Object nor Medium will avail a Blind-man cannot see any thing at Noon-day Now here is an Object the way of Salvation by Christ A convenient light it is represented in the Gospel And the Faculty is prepared for the Eyes of the Mind are opened by the Spirit that we may see both Way and End the necessity of Holiness and the reality of future Glory and Blessedness Alas without this sight we busie our selves about Vanities and Childish Toys and never Mind the things which are most necessary certainly we can have no saving understanding of Spiritual Truths neither what is the Benefit of Christianity or the blessed Condition of Gods People Nor what are the Duties of Christianity so as our Hearts may be held to them or how we may behave our selves as true Believers 2. The Work of the Spirit as to the Duties of the new Covenant He doth not only convince us of the Reality and the Necessity of Christs Obedience and our Holiness but by his Powerful Operation frameth and inclineth our Hearts to the Duties required of us Faith it self is wrought in us by this Holy Spirit for it is the Gift of God Eph. 2.8 And so is Repentance and Obedience Heb. 8.10 I will write my Laws upon their Hearts and put them into their Minds Moses his Law was written on Tables of Stone as a Rule without them but Christs Law on the Heart and Mind as drawing and inclining them to obey it The Renewing Grace of the Spirit of God doth prepare us and fit us and his exciting Grace doth quicken us that we may do what is pleasing in his sight And therefore if we profess to live under the new Covenant we are inexcusable if we do not bestir our selves and accomplish the work of Faith with Power and obey from the Heart the Doctrine delivered to us Indeed the Spirit doth most naturally put us upon spiritual Worship and spiritual Holiness these things agree most with his Being and Nature The observances of the Law were carnal yet as long as Gods command continued the Spirit inclined to Obedience to them But a better Law being enacted by Christ the Spirit that proceedeth from the Father and the Son suiteth his Operations accordingly For he cometh into us as Christs Spirit He shall take of mine and glorifie me John 16.14 All that he doth accordeth with Christ as Christs Will doth with the Father 3. The work of the Spirit as to the priviledges of the New Covenant which are pardon and life 1. As to Pardon he is the Comforter He cometh
Verse 8th The word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart It 's in the Mouth to know it and speak of it it 's in the Heart as written there by the Spirit that we may do the duty it requireth of us with ease and sweetness 'T is in thy Mouth to Confess and in thy Heart to Believe and Practise VVhen the New Covenant is spoken of as opposite to the Covenant made with them when they came out of Egypt it is said sometimes to be put into the Mouth and sometimes in the Heart The words are Isa. 59.21 As for me This is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my VVords which I have put in thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy Mouth nor out of the Mouth of thy seed nor out of the Mouth of thy seed's seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Meaning thereby That his Spirit and Word shall continue with them as a Church to direct them in all necessary things This for the Mouth Now for the Heart see another Promise Jer. 31.33 And this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their Hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my People Well then The Excellency of the Gospel-dispensation is set forth by Two things 1. It 's more easie to be known and understood and carried in the Memory for the Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth The drift of Moses his Speech tendeth to shew that they should have a New Covenant the Tenour of which was known and easie to be expressed by all those who were acquainted with it 2. It 's more easie to be practised 'T is not in our Mouths onely but in our Hearts which are inclined by the Holy Spirit to obey it so that the New Creature may undertake the duty it requireth of us by the assistance of God and do it sincerely though not exactly Secondly The sense of what it saith 't is explained and exemplified 1. Explained Verse 8. This is the word which we preach namely the Doctrine of Repentance and Remission of sins by Jesus Christ. 2. Exemplified Verse 9th That if thou shalt confess with thy Mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Confession with the Mouth there answers to the Word is in thy Mouth believe with thine heart that implieth Faith And Christ's being raised from the Dead is instanced in rather than any other Article of Faith because that proveth all the rest and is the great evidence of the truth of Christianity Doctrine That the way of acceptance with God or obtaining Salvation is so clearly stated in the Gospel that we need not be in doubtful suspence or seek out another Religion wherein to find it or other satisfaction than God hath given us in his Word The sense of this Point I shall give you in these Propositions First That it is the weightiest matter in the VVorld to know how to be accepted with God as to pardon and life Man being a guilty Creature needeth pardon and the Soul dying not with the Body we desire to know the way of life or what shall become of us when this frail life is at an end Certain it is that we are haunted with guilty fears for we are through the fear of death all our life-time subject to bondage Heb. 2.15 There are some troubles of Mind in all of us about our acceptance with God not always felt indeed but soon awakened Trembling Souls who know what God is and what themselves are and are conscious to former guilt and present unworthiness cannot easily settle in a confidence of God's Mercy to them especially when they come to die The fear of death raised our trouble before but when death cometh indeed these stings are increased 1 Cor. 15.56 The Sting of Death is sin and these stings of Conscience are justified by the highest reason which is the Law of God not occasioned by our melancholy conceits only It 's an Amazing consideration to us to think of entering into an unknown World and to stand before the righteous bar of an impartial Judge That it is very hard to undergo death with a steady confidence and to incourage our fearful and doubtful Minds to lanch out into Eternity common experience verifieth I pray consider Christians that our present condition is a state of darkness and fear and these fears are caused by sin and justified by the Law of God and revived by death and the thoughts of the other World And therefore there is not a weightier business than to establish our fearful and doubtful Minds in Peace that we may comfortably wait for the Mercy of God unto Eternal Life Secondly That is the best Religion which doth most provide for this Peace and Rest of Soul So that if a man were at liberty to choose and were consulting what Religion he should choose this Consideration must guide him where he can find true Peace and Rest for his Anxious Soul So the Prophet directeth them Ier. 6.16 Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and you shall find rest for your Souls And by this Argument Christ inviteth us to himself Mat. 11.28 29. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Take my yoak upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Heart and ye shall find rest unto your Souls And the Apostle commendeth the Gospel upon this account Rom. 5.1 Therefore being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Iesus It is easie to lull Conscience asleep for a while either 1. By Carnal Pleasures Prov. 9.17 Stolen Waters are sweet and Bread eaten in secret is pleasant For a while they seem so but the vertue of that Opium is soon spent Or 2. By a false Religion but within a while we shall soon find that is so far from being our cure that it is a great part of our disease no false Religion is consistent with right Thoughts of God Therefore the Woman of Samaria assoon as she began to have an awakened Conscience enquires after the true Religion Iohn 4.20 Our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain and ye say in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship An awakened Conscience will be careful to lay the ground-work of Religion sure A false way of Religion always breedeth scruples and is accompanied with no sound Peace Or 3. In the superficial observances of a true Religion Mat. 19.20 All these things have I kept from my Youth up what lack I yet A false Righteousness will not give true quietness to the Conscience there is something lacking and the Soul sits uneasie Therefore nothing but coming under the Power of the
hansel to the new Gospel by Peters Exhortation three thousand were converted at once and afterwards evidenced the Truth of their Doctrine by Miracles There is no need that Christ should rise again in the Eye and view of all those that would believe in him Here is ground enough in that which was once already done 2. What we must do verse 9. Confess with the Mouth and believe with the Heart that is be really perswaded of the Truth of what is done for us and thankfully own it and acknowledge it to the World resigning up our selves to the discipline of his Spirit whatever it costs us This is all that is required of us But though these two only be mentioned we must understand those things which belong to either of them 1. To begin with that first mentioned If thou wilt confess with thy Mouth There is a Confession both in Word and Deed the one must not contradict the other The Apostle telleth us of some that profess they know God but in works they deny him Tit. 1.16 So it is true of confessing Christ or Holiness of Life Works are a part of Profession or Confession as also Invocation is a branch of this Confession as appeareth by the 13. ver For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved Confession then implieth all visible Godliness and Holiness of Life for the Holy Thankful Life is a constant Hymn to God or a practical Acknowledgment of the Benefits we have by â—hrist and so all Christianity is a Confession It is necessary also that this Confession be made in spight of all Persecution and Danger Heb. 4.14 Let us hold fast our Profession In those days believing with the Heart was not so costly as Confession with the Mouth It exposed them to great troubles yet a Christian must be resolute and trust Christ with all Dan. 6.10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed he went into his house and his Window being open in his Chamber toward Jerusalem he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime 2. So for the other Believing with the Heart implieth not a dead Faith but Operative Iam. 2.20 Faith without Works is Dead Not a cold opinion but such as worketh by Love Gal. 5.6 Not a general Assent but an applicative Faith Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all Acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief Owning him as our Lord and Saviour Do this and then you believe with the Heart to Righteousness and confess with the Mouth to Salvation That is you are so pardoned that at length you are saved They that could thus take Christ and venture all upon the security of his Word and wholly resign up themselves to God upon these Hopes were in a safe Condition or a state of Peace Fourthly The Gospel so clearly stating these things there is no reason of doubtful suspence All demurring must be upon one of these two Reasons either the Difficulty of the thing or Want of certainty but neither of them is just in this Case 1. Not the Difficulty of the Conditions For believing with the Heart and confessing with the Mouth are easie to be understood and easie to be observed by the Power of the Spirit For the Gospel is the Power of God to Salvation Rom. 1.16 If God will put this into our Heart and Mouth and give what he requireth why should we snuff at these Conditions as unreasonable and troublesome What more reasonable than to own him with the greatest hazard from whom we expect such Benefits as Pardon and Life And to consent to follow his Direction who will bring us out of our Misery to perfect Happiness And to venture all for him who by a condescending Act of astonishing love stooped so low for us It is true Confession may be costly but it is not an impossible thing We should be willing to suffer the loss of all things for his sake Especially when God is ready powerfully to assist and help us Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthneth me 2. Want of Certainty We do not know whether this be the way of God yea or no I Answer 1. There is no doubt that reasonably can be urged Either this is the way of God or none The way of Heathenism is sottish and fabulous 1 Cor. 8.5 They have Lords many and Gods many And the way of the Iews yieldeth no relief if the Gospel be excluded The way of the Mahometans is ridiculous and beareth no dispute Therefore this is the way or none Obj. But why do you haesitate You did not see Christ in the Flesh. Ans. But we may love him for all that and believe in him though we never saw him 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice He must not be fetched out of Heaven again nor raised from the dead again It is not necessary to our Faith that we should see Christ with bodily Eyes when we have most certain and firm Arguments by which his Resurrection may be proved Obj. But we live not in the Age of Miracles Oracles and Visions which People had in former times Ans. Man is apt to indent with God and to prescribe to God that he may believe upon Terms of his own making Let him now come down from the Cross then we will believe him Mat. 27.42 Can he prepare a Table in the Wilderness Psal. 78.19 If thou be the Son of God command that these Stones be made Bread Mat. 4.3 We are not to think that God should be at our Beck and do what we require Many require new Apostles and Miracles that maketh them turn Scepticks and Atheists We must not prescribe to God how he shall reveal his Mind to men but submit to the way he seeth best and fittest for us 2. There lye more prejudices by far against any way of our own devising than the course God hath taken The People slighted Moses and would hear God himself speak but when it thundred upon the Mount they cryed out Exod. 20.19 Speak thou with us and we will hear but let not God speak with us lest we die We would have Miracles but thereby the simplicity of Christianity is lost and it would lay us open to the jugling tricks of Wonder-mongers and that would be little for our safety We would have one from the dead Luke 16.30 But they are out of the Sphere of our commerce That is no familiar way nor so fit to instil Faith and reduce men to Obedience to God And if we should learn our Religion from Ghosts and Apparitions we should never be free from Delusion Gal. 1.8 But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we
one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity THese Words are brought in to prevent the Scandal which the Godly might take at the falling away of two such Men as Hymeneus and Philetus who in probability were Men of Note in the Church for there is not such notice taken of ordinary and mean Persons Their Error was they acknowledged only a Metaphorical Resurrection and so weakened the Comfort of the Faithful The Scandal which they gave was Threefold Scandalum Seductionis Contristationis Offensionis 1. There was Scandalum Seductionis Ver. 18. They overthrow the Faith of some Fides quae creditur 'T is principally meant They turned them away from the Truth 2. There was Scandalum Contristationis They were a great trouble to the Faithful and weakened their Comfort As surely it is a mighty disheartening to see such glorious Luminaries fall from Heaven like Lightning Some think the main drift of the Text is to comfort them with an hope of Preservation though these fell away When others fall those who are truly the Lord's and do unfeignedly Dedicate themselves to be his People shall be preserved by his Power because the Foundation or first Stone of this Spiritual Building was laid in their Election which is firm and unchangable I am not against this sense because I find Election to be made the ground of our standing out in Temptations Matth. 24.24 Insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. The Elect cannot possibly be deceived and drawn away from the true Christ because of the Wisdom Love and Power of God ingaged for them 2 Thess. 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth Their Election did secure them from Danmable Errors I am not against this Truth yet I think it not the full meaning of this place though strongly implied in it Truly the Apostle doth confirm the Hearts of the Faithful in these words by shewing them their Priviledges and their Duty Their Priviledges when he telleth them that God knoweth them that are his Their Duty when he presseth them to Holiness Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity The Apostacy of some should excite all to watchfulness â—est they be caught in the same Snare But yet I cannot induce my self to think that by the Foundation of God is meant his Election and it is an hard thing to conceive that a Foundation of a Building should be sealed 3. There is Scandalum Offensionis It might make them to slumble and take Offence and raise a Scandal of Prejudice or Doubtfulness at least First Against the Truth of the Gospel Secondly The Honour of the Church The later Scandal is obviated in the 20th Verse But in a great house there are not only Vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth and some to honour and some to dishonour The Carnal and Renewed the sincerely Godly and the Hypocrites live together in the Church without any dishonour to the Church or derogation to God's Providence As in a great Family there are divers Utensils some for a nobler some for a baser use But the former Scandal against the Truth of the Gospel which seemed to be weakened in their Minds by this perverse Opinion that the Resurrection was past is chiefly obviated in the Text. They denied the future Estate and so there was no Bliss for them that were persecuted Now to comfort them the Apostle telleth them that God hath a Reward for those that were faithful with him and that Eternally both in Body and Soul So that the meaning of The Foundation of the Lord standeth sure is his Obligation and Covenant with them in Christ and his purpose towards them remains unchangable and firm because it is sealed on God's part by his Providence Administring all things for the good of the Elect on Man's part by their Conscience of their Duty Nevertheless the foundation of the Lord standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his and Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity In the words observe First The Proposition concerning the sureness of God's Covenant The foundation of the Lord standeth sure Secondly The Confirmation 1. In General because it is a sealed Contract 2. More particularly from the nature of this Seal or the double Inscription or Motto of it It hath an Inscription or Motto agreeing to the condition of the Two Parties contracting 1. On God's part The Lord knoweth them that are his God will be faithful and constant in loving those who are his Servants 2. On Man's part Yet we are not to be negligent of our Duty And Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity Doctr. That what ever Errors or Scandals arise in the Church yet God's purpose declared in the Gospel of bringing his peculiar People unto Glory remaineth firm and steady This was the Truth assaulted by this Error which shaked so many and this is the Comfort which the Apostle propoundeth to the Disciples and Servants of Christ. The Point will be made good by explaining the Circumstances of the Text. I. The Proposition here asserted The foundation of the Lord standeth sure All the business will be to shew what is the Foundation of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Foundation is taken Sensu forensi or Architectonico in the Builder's sense or in the Lawyer 's sense In the Builder's sense for the Foundation of an House In the Lawyer 's sense for the Foundation of an Estate which I expect from another upon any Bargain or Contract with him the Evidences and Deeds of Conveyance are the Foundation which I have to build upon for my Right and Title Now to take Foundation here in the Builder's sense would make but an odd Interpretation in this place who ever heard of the sealing of the Foundation of an House and Inscriptions on that Seal And therefore Foundation is taken here for a Covenant or Bill of Contract As also 1 Tim. 6.19 Laying up in store for your selves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life It would be incongruous to take Foundation there in the Builder's sense as if Good Works were the Foundation of eternal Life No they are only the Evidences and Assurances of it The notion of a Bond or Obligation is more proper Upon a Contract I found or build my confidence of expecting Good from another so Prov. 19.17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Lending noteth some Contract and Promise and Expectation grounded thereon so here The foundation of God is his Bill or Bond which is as a Pledge or Security left with us And thereby is not meant so much God's Eternal Purpose of Election as his Covenant that Deed and Instrument of Law by which he
Covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my Salvation and all my desire although he make it not to grow We are not so firm as God but remission of Sins is one of the Covenant priviledges and remaineth notwithstanding the defects and failings on our part When we grow secure and neglect our duty and do not watch over our selves the jealous God will watch over us and take away the fuel of our Lusts and quicken us to Repentance and the remembrance of our duty The sharpest rods and sorest stripes may stand and do stand with his Covenant-love to them Psal. 119.75 I know that in Faithfulness hast thou afflicted me Yea not only so but they are part of his Covenanting-Administrations they are Fatherly Corrections and Medicinal Preservatives against sinning they are token of God's hating Sin in his People but not of the rejection of their Persons but rather effects of his Love to the persons corrected II. The Confirmation 1. In the General God's Bill and Bond hath a Seal annexed to it A Seal is to make a thing unquestionable The Prophet in his bargain for the Field of Anathoth Ier. 32.10 11. saith I subscribed the Evidence and Sealed it and I took the Evidence of the purchase which was Sealed according to the Law and Custom The Sealing of the Deeds was an assurance by which an Inheritance was made over and a Covenant and Bargain ratified was Sealed by both Parties So is Gods Covenant sealed for the more assurance by God and us 2. I shall shew particularly the nature of the Seal on God's part and ours 1. The Seal of the Covenant hath an impression suitable to God's part the Lord knoweth those that are his where there is a double comfort and ground of assurance to God's Covenant-People 1. They are his 2. He knoweth them 1. They are his 1. By Election from all Eternity Iohn 17.6 Thine they were By this there is a distinction between them and others in the purposes of his Grace When the Lord had all Adam's Posterity under his all-seeing Eye he did out of his free Love chuse some from among others to be the objects of his special Grace 2. By effectual calling which is their actual choice by which a distinction is made between them and others in time 2 Thess. 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth His actual Choice is there meant Iohn 15.19 I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you The World knoweth not the secrets of God's Election but they see the effects The first foundation of a Believer's Salvation was laid in Election but it is acted and compleated when God calleth them from the rest of the World and sets them apart for himself 3. They are his by entering into Covenant with him and an Act of Consecration on their part Ezek. 16.8 Now when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of Love and I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy Nakedness yea I sware unto thee and enter'd into a Covenant with thee saith the Lord God and thou becamest mine They surrender themselves to the Lord's use 2 Chron. 30.8 Now be ye not stiff Necked as your Fathers were but yield your selves unto the Lord. Give your hand to God Now all this maketh the Foundation or the Covenant of the Lord sure to them so that they shall not Miscarry by damnable Errors and willful Sin as others do God's eternal Election keepeth them from the Teint of Errors Matth. 24.24 Insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. The Elect cannot altogether be seduced and drawn away from Christ because of the purpose of God which is backed by his invincible power and care over them Actual Election or effectual Calling giveth them a discerning Spirit 2 Thess. 2.13 But we are bound always to give thanks to God for you Brethren Beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth Their Minds are savingly enlightned and their Wills renewed so that they are kept safe Their Covenant-Dedication doth particularly entitle them to God's care so that they are guided by God's Spirit and guarded by his continual Providence till the work begun in them be perfected Phil. 1.6 Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Iesus Christ. 2. God knoweth them Knowing is put for 1. His particular notice of them as his peculiar People of all that belong to the Election of his Grace He knoweth their Persons Ier. 1.5 Before I formed thee in the Belly I knew thee God hath a special care of them that they may not dye in their unregenerate condition He knoweth their Names Exod. 33.12 I know thee by Name and thou hast also found grace in my sight and Vers. 17. I will do this thing also which thou hast spoken for thou hast found grace in my sight and I know thee by name And it is said of Jesus Christ that he calleth his own Sheep by name and leadeth them out Iohn 10.3 He knoweth all his Flock particularly their Names and their Number by Head and Poll even to the meanest and poorest Saint Iohn Andrew Thomas He knoweth their Necessities Streights and Temptations Cares Griefs Fears Wants Difficulties and Dangers Matth. 6.32 Your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things He knoweth who wanteth Food and Rayment and Protection His Eye is never off the Saints Psal. 56.8 Thou tellest my wandrings put then my Tears into thy Bottle are they not in thy Book Not a drop but is in God's Bottle God doth number their Tears reckon all the steps of their Wandrings and Pilgrimages every weary step through Ziph and Hareph I tell you it is God's Business in Heaven to look after his Saints The Eyes of the Lord run too and fro throughout the whole Earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him 2 Chron. 16.9 He knoweth all their employments and how they are to be fitted for them Gal. 1.15 It pleased God who separated me from my Mother's Womb and called me by his Grace He dateth God's Law from that time This Child is appointed to be a Vessel of Mercy to be employed in an especial manner for God's Glory Thus Ieremy was designed to be a Prophet before he was bred or born Paul to be an Apostle in his Mothers Womb An instance we have of God's particular knowledge in the 9 th of the Acts the 11th vers The Lord said unto 〈…〉 go into the street which is called Straight and enquire in the Hous◠of Judas 〈…〉 called Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth Such a Town such a Street 〈…〉 Person about such a work God taketh notice of
Psal. 17.14 15. From men which are thy hand O Lord from men of the world which have their portion in this life and whose Belly is fill'd with the hid treasure they are full of Children and leave the rest of their substance to their Babes But as for me I will behold thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Men are dazled with the splendour of Worldly Happiness and think it a fine thing to be well fed and well clad and well attended but this is all for them and theirs and shall we Envy them for this That they have more for Back and Belly than we have a little pomp of living especially when such great things be provided for us in Christ. Alass what is a more plentiful Table to the Everlasting fruition of God The Pomp of the World to the Honour Christ will put on us at the day of Judgment when he shall be admired in his Saints The favour of Princes to seeing God face to face Vain Glory to Everlasting Glory Their momentary Pleasures which pass away suddenly as a Dream to that Everlasting pleasure at God's Right hand A little Decking and Adorning of the Body to be satisfied with his likeness and to walk with God in White 2. Present Enjoyments Here I take in the notion of the Text his secret is with the righteous There is some difference what should be meant by the secret of the Lord. Sometimes it noteth 1 Spiritual Illumination or the knowledge of God's Will Psal. 25 14. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him he will teach them his Covenant They know more of God's mind than others do and they know it not only Literally but Spiritually That is by the lively light of the Spirit not Disciplinarily Now this is a great favour that God doth so love them that he doth admit them to his Arcana Iohn 15.15 I have called you Friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you 'T is a greater Evidence of God's Friendship to understand his Counsel in the Word and to be acquainted with the Mysteries of Godliness than all the Success Power and greatness of the World Christ gave his Spirit to the rest of the Apostles but his Purse to the Son of Perdition Some have Knowledge and Eminent Gifts others Wealth and Honour yea though they which increase Knowledge increase Sorrow yet the knowledge of a despised hated truth though it expose us to sufferings is better than to flourish in opposition against the ways of God through our ignorance obstinacy and blind prejudice And will you that are directed in the way of Salvation advanced to know God and the tenour of his Will far more than the Blind Carnal Careless World Envy them that are only acquainted with Christianity as a Report or Tradition calculated and formed to to a Worldly Interest 2. The secret of the Lord may intend not only direction in our Duty but Satisfaction about God's Dispensations for our Consolation in all Afflictions God helpeth them to interpret his Providence better than others called the secrets of Wisdom Iob. 11.6 And should the Saints whose Graces make them so sharp and Engaged that know more of God's mind than others in these very dealings which are so troublesome and offensive to them should they envy the Oppresâ—or and be so discontented to suffer a little that have more skill than others to look into God's ways and consider the course of his proceedings 3. Secret may imply the visible Blessings of God's Providence so 't is said Iob. 29.34 The secret of the Lord was upon my Tabernacle The singular Love God bore to him did preserve him and did guide him and his Family and made all his Affairs prosper Psal. 31.20 God shall hide them in the secret of his presence When they seem to be left open as a prey to the oppressions and injuries of their potent Adversaries yet there is a secret guard upon them and they are kept the World knoweth not how Now should such that are hedged round about with the guard of a secret Blessing leave their refuge for the defence of a little Interest in the World which God hateth and can soon blow upon Psal. 91.1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty 4. Secret may note the intimate familiarity that is between God and them and that inward Consolation which they have with God in a course of Holiness which is hidden from the World 1 Iohn 1.7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another John 14.21 He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self to him Many secret Refreshings visits of Love expressions of Grace are bestowed upon them Now have such any cause to envy others They that walk with God meet him at every turn are so often comforted and quickned by the manifestations of God and the influences of his Grace Psal. 17.15 As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness The Psalmist preferreth his present condition before the greatest happiness of carnal men because he had opportunities of beholding the Face of God or enjoying the Comforts of his Presence This is as if a Child fed with Manchet should envy a Slave for being fed with the Bread of Sorrows 3 The Nature and mischievous effects of this envy For 't is not so tame an evil as the world doth imagine 1. It disposeth to fretting or murmuring against God's Holy Providence Psal. 37.1 Fret not thy self because of evil doers neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity Prov. 24.19 Fret not thy self because of evil men neither be thou envious at the wicked It notes a certain taxing of God's Providence as if he did not rightly Govern the World 1. It tempteth to Apostacy from God's ways to the ways of the wicked That 's in the Text clearly Envy not the oppressor and chuse none of his ways implying that this emulation of their Happiness will draw you to cry up a Confederacy with them and to enter into their Lot and Net Prov. 24.1 Be not thou envious against evil men neither desire to be with them When we admire their Happiness it secretly inticeth our Hearts to take share and lott with them A Man is perverted by this Envy it weakneth our fear of God our value of Spiritual Blessings expectation of things to come and diligence in God's Service 3. It implieth and includeth many ill Principles which tend directly to the weakning of Faith Hope and Piety 1. It implyeth or includeth this Principle or Opinion That the felicity of a Man consisteth in these external good things which the wicked enjoy which is an error destructive to Godliness For change a Man's
how miserable a thing it is to have a drossy unsanctified Heart even though your Life should be never so blameless Now the Spirit of God calleth upon us to shew our selves Men Isa. 46.8 Remember this and shew your selves men bring it again to mind O ye transgressors And if you will never sit alone and commune with your selves about these weighty Matters your Condemnation is just Motives to quicken us how much it concerneth you to get your Hearts sanctified 1. Because of the two great Competitors God and Satan how earnest they are for the Heart It is God's Choice Prov. 23.26 My son give me thy heart This is that which God craveth and every good Man should say Lord I give it unto thee It pleaseth God to hide our Hearts from one anothers knowledge but he seeth them whether they be kept in a right frame yea or no. Men are incompetent Judges of the Heart therefore they look to the outward appearance but God's Eye is upon the Heart 1 Sam. 16.7 Man looketh unto the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart Psal. 41.6 Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom If we have a wise and understanding Heart a choice and excellent Spirit On the other side it is that which Satan striveth for most the greatest Contest between God and Satan is who shall have the Heart of Man As Acts 5.3 Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye to the Holy Ghost So Luke 22.3 Then entred Satan into Iudas Then he gets into the Man when he gets into the Heart Iohn 13.2 The Devil having now put into the heart of Iudas to betray him This is the Castle the Enemy would surprize he maintaineth his Interest there by vain and sinful Thoughts 2. The importance of the Heart as to our Speeches and Actions it is Fons Actionum ad extra the Fountain of all our outward Actions we bring every thing out of the Heart Matth. 12.35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things The Tongue Eyes Hands and Feet are but Instruments to execute the motions of the Heart The Prophet cast Salt into the Spring to cure the brackishness of the Water 2 Kings 22.21 And it is Terminus actionum ad intra the principle of our internal Actions Rom. 6.17 Ye have obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine which was delivered you Means 1. Earnest Prayer to God Psal. 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me God beginneth to us that we may imitate him Deut. 5.29 O that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always Psal. 86.11 Unite my heart to fear thy name The Heart naturally is scattered to vain Objects 2. Treasuring up the Counsels of the Word Psal. 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee Prov. 6.20 21 22. My son keep thy fathers commandments and forsake not the law of thy mother Bind them continually upon thine heart and tie them about thy neck When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee 3. Serious Caution that bad Principles be not rooted in us Heb. 3.12 Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God 4. Watching against vain Pleasures which render it brutish sottish frothy and stupid Hosea 4.11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart The generosity bravery and spriteliness of the Heart 5. If gotten keep it Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence Our first business is to get an Heart worth the keeping a vain Heart is better thrown away than kept When the Heart is renewed and changed keep it pure and loyal to God First get out Sin then keep it out We keep it by a constant watchfulness over the Senses Iob 31.1 I made a Covenant with my eyes why then should I look upon a maid Over the Thoughts Prov. 15.26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord. Over the Affections and Passions Gal. 5.24 They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts 6. Increase it to a Choice an excellent Spirit 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God 2 Tim. 1.7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power of love and of a sound mind A Sermon on Acts x. 34 35. Then Peter opened his mouth and said Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons But in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him THese Words are Peter's reply to Cornelius who sent for him to hear the Gospel from his mouth For the entertaining of this Message both Peter and Cornelius were aforehand prepared severally by God Peter by a Vision Cornelius by an Oracle So much ado was needful to gather in the first Fruits of the Gentiles In the Words take notice of two Things 1. Peter's acknowledgment of his former Mistake Vers. 34. 2. His assertion of the positive Truth which he learned by this Providence Vers. 35. First In the acknowledgment of his former Error you may observe three things 1. The Preface or Introduction Then Peter opened his mouth and said Prophane Spirits cavil at this Expression as needless For how could he speak say they without opening his mouth But they mind not that it is an Hebraism frequently used in Scripture concerning them that are about to speak any thing weighty upon mature deliberation As of our Lord Christ it is said Matth. 5.2 He opened his mouth and taught them saying So Psal. 78.2 I will open my mouth in a parable Prov. 8.2 I will speak of excellent things the opening of my mouth shall be right things To open the Mouth is to speak considerately prudently confidently Would to God that those that scoff at these things would never open their Mouths to worse purpose 2. The means of his Conviction Of a truth I perceive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Phrase is used of those that are apparently convinced and perswaded to change their Opinion The Latines would express it A vero vinci to be overcome by the Truth it self Peter once thought that it was unlawful for a Man that is a Jew to keep company with or go to one that is of another Nation as he himself expresseth it Vers. 28. But being prepared by his Vision and now convinced by the Words of Cornelius he perceived the contrary 3. The Error That God was a Respecter of Persons or had so confined his Respect to the Jewish Nation that
the knowledge of the Truth gained thereby if they despise all these and abandon themselves to their own brutish Passions and Affections as we see many by resisting Common Preparing Grace do so harden their Hearts and increase their Incapacity that the same degree of Grace will not change them that will change others not so self-harden'd Ier. 13.23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots Then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil And those that are unwilling to use the Means that they are able that will not hear or consider what they hear that it may affect them they provoke God not only to suspend the influence of his Spirit but to take away the Means Prov. 1.23 24. Turn you at my reproof â—ehold I will pour out my spirit unto you and I will make known my words unto you Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded c. Much more when they run the contrary way and turn their Thoughts and Affections more eagerly after Vanity and oppose God's Help and Grace because it is against their Lusts Ezek. 24.13 Because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more Well then they that have common Grace ought and are bound to use it for the obtaining of more Grace 'T is charged as a great Crime on them that have Eyes and see not Ears and hear not that will not frame their Doings to turn unto the Lord so much as put themselves into a posture They are threatned that it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than those that have abundance of Means and use them not That they that were lifted up to Heaven in Ordinances shall be cast down to Hell for the neglect of them Matth. 11.23 That the Ninivites shall rise up in judgment against them and condemn them because they repented at the preaching of Ionas and behold a greater than Ionas is here Matth. 12.41 They that have received so much Grace from God and yet do not understand nor seek after him their Condemnation is aggravated their Destruction is of themselves they shut themselves out of the Kingdom of God reject the Counsel of God against themselves and judge themselves unworthy of Eternal Life The Scripture every where speaketh at this rate concerning the Folly and Negligence of Men. But if it be asked If they did improve this common Grace shall they acquire Special Grace Answ. 1. â—od is abundant in Mercy Goodness and Truth and doth not use to appoint Means in vain Certainly they do not merit it at God's hands nor is he expresly bound to give it to them No It is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth Rom. 9.16 The first â—race is given by God as a free Lord not by any certain Law but by his own Pleaâ—ure Well but will he give it The Question is curious and needeth no Answer He that is deadly sick doth not refuse his Physick till he be made certain that it will recover him but useth it as the only proper Remedy in the case and commits the Event to â—od He that is to Plough and commit his precious Seed to the ground doth not stand to have assurance that the next Year will prove fruitful and the Season kindly but ventureth because usually God's Blessing goeth along with Man's Industry So in the business of Salvation we should not trouble our selves about the Event but do our Duty and leave the Event to God waiting for his Power and Grace in the careful use of the Means which he hath instituted to that end Certainly none perish but they perish through their own folly and negligence not for any defect in God's help When we have done all that we can he is not our Debtor but yet he is our gracious Benefactor and if we would labour to suppress our Cavils and Curiosity we shall find God better to us than we can imagine 4. This increase is given by degrees we have not all at first nor all at once for Christ speaketh to them To whom it was given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God Mark 4.11 To them that had ears to hear Vers. 23. Now to them he saith More shall be given As our Capacities are inlarged so is God's Bounty to us Psal. 81.10 Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it We are not straitned in God but in our selves The more we improve Grace received and the more serious we grow and have our Desires and Expectations enlarged the more God will give for by Mercy he prepareth for more Mercy 'T is serious Diligence and exercising our selves to Godliness maketh us see the worth of Grace and the necessity of more â—race to bear our Burdens resist Temptations perform our Duties and the more we are acquainted with God the more will we follow on to know the Lord. Mosâ—s his first Request was Tell me thy name and then Shew me thy glory Sensible Want increaseth with Enjoyment so doth God's Supply for his Goodness is inexhaustible Where he hath given he will give 1 Use. Is Information to shew us the reason why so many reap so little Fruit by the hearing of the Word either they never had solid Comfort and Benefit by it or else languiâ—h and grow lazy in the profession and practice of Godliness What is the reason They do not take heed to what they hear seriously regard the Mesâ—ages sent them by God day after day and then alas all the good Seed that is sown is like Corn on the House top that never groweth to perfection Neither is the Understanding informed nor the Will engaged to Practice Why are our Hearts so little affected and inflamed with the love of God Why stand we in no more Awe and Fear of him Have so small Hope and weak Confidence in him We mind nothing what is said concerning these Duties in the course of the Ministry We sit under the Gospel and pass over these things and do not deeply consider them in our Hearts Christians we impose no hard Law upon you many pretend they cannot invent Arguments for Meditation but when brought to your hands will you think of them They have no Time but if you will spare none of your own Time will you employ God's Time well Let Sabbath-Doctrines so far be considered by you as to sink into your Hearts Surely in their season all things should have their Turn and Place When we are employed about the World we are never troubled with Heavenly things why should the World intrude upon God's Portion 2. Use is Direction If you would profit by the Word take heed to what you Hear see what you do with it believe it soundly Is it a Truth or a Fable a Crochet of Ministers or a genuine Deduction from the word of God Consider it seriously How shall I mortifie this Sin or perform this Duty
in peace without spot and 〈◊〉 Now the Devil will not let you alone in this earnest diligence but seeketh to break your Resolutions or deaden your Affections or damp and discourage your Zeal and the Flesh joyneth with him especially when the World frowneth upon your Endeavours and are set against you for being so faithful to Christ. 2. That they are not prepared till they are endowed with Faith Hope and Love To evidence this I shall shew 1. Their Nature 2. Their mutual respect to one another 3. Their use in the Spiritual Conflict I. Their Nature 1. Faith which is a firm and cordial assent to the Doctrine of the Gospel or such things as are revealed by God because revealed by him 1. The Object 1. The Material Object of Faith in general is such things as are revealed by God in his Word Acts 24.14 Believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets The Precepts Promises Threatnings Histories Mysteries The general Faith goeth before the particular there is no Building without a Foundation The special Object is God's Transactions about Man's Salvation by Christ Ioh. 17.3 This is Life Eternal to know thee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent 2. The formal Consideration is because revealed by him Iohn 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and believe that this indeed is the Christ the Saviour of the World That is because they had heard his Words and were convinced and satisfied 1 Thess. 2.13 Ye received it not as the Word of Men but as it is in Truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Not as any Doctrine devised of Men but as sent by God from Heaven for the benefit of Mankind 2. The act of the Soul It is an Assent The Understanding hath a double act about Divine Truths First Knowledge or a due Apprehension of them Secondly Exercising a Judgment about them this is Acknowledgment or Assent And this Assent hath two Adjuncts 1. It is a firm belief of these things There is a Latitude and Difference in the firmness of Assent there is Conjecture or Opinion which is a weak Faith but Assurance doth best Coll. 2.2 That their Hearts might be comforted being knit together in Love and unto all Riches of the full Assurance of Vnderstanding to the acknowledgment of the Mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ. I say there is a difference In the firmness of Assent there is Certitudo Notitia Certitudo Adherentiae a Certainty of Knowledge and a Certainty of Adherence But in all that are sincere it is so firm as to sway our choice incline our Hearts and govern our Resolutions that we see all the reason in the World to follow the way which Christ hath prescribed that we may be everlastingly happy whatever it cost they will venture Heb. 10.39 But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition but of them that believe to the saving of our Souls Sense saith Spare the Flesh but Faith saith Save the Soul 2. It is a Cordial Belief or such as engageth the Heart For Faith considereth not only the Evidence of things propounded but the Weight Worth and Greatness of them 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation Simon Magus believed but his Heart was not right with God Acts 8.13 compared with 21 Verse So Many believed in his Name when they saw the Miracles which he did but Iesus committed not himself to them because he knew all Men John 2.23 24. This is Faith for first Men believe then love then hope then lift up the Head 2. Love Which is a Grace which inclineth our Hearts to God as our Portion and chief Happiness This over-ruleth all their Affections to their outward Interests Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Here we shall consider 1. The Qualification of the Object Love in the general considereth the Object as good God is good in himself and good to us Psal. 119.68 Thou art good and dost good and we love God as a good God having received our Beings from him Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and to him are all things And being redeemed by him when all was forfeited into the Hands of his Justice 1 Iohn 4.19 We love him because he loved us first And looking to expect more from him when all his Promises shall be fulfilled 1 Ioh. 3.1 2. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! Therefore the World knoweth us not because it knew him not Beloved Now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 2. The respect of Love to the Object It is such a respect as becometh the Chief Good and Happiness such a superlative and transcendent Love that our Love to other things should be as no Love when it is compared or cometh in Competition with our Love to God There are two acts of Love to God Desire after him and Delight in him 1. Desire is the pursuit of the Soul after God that we may get nearer to him It iâ— expressed usually by seeking after God and when God is sought after in the first place then are we said to love God as Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me and they that seek me early shall find me All Duties and all Acts of the Spiritual Life are a seeking after more of God Psal. 63.8 My Soul followeth hâ—rd after thee Psal. 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the Days of my Life to behold the Beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple This ardent and burning desire is a great effect of love to God but when Men are cold and flat and more indifferent as to the distinguishing Testimonies of Gods love there is something on this side God which doth content us and divert us from him 2. Delight in God The highest exercise of this is reserved for the World to come when we shall enter into our Master's Joy but now it is a pleasing thing to think of him Psal. 104.34 My Meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord. And to speak of him Ephes. 5.4 Neither Filthiness nor foolish Talking nor Iesting which are not convenient but rather giving of Thanks And to converse with him Psal. 122.1 I was glad when they said unto me Come let us go into the House of the Lord. Yea it is the Pleasure of their Lives to serve and obey him Psal. 112.1 Blessed is the Man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandments This Complacency or
Profit and Pleasure that is in Adultery and Theft but shutteth the Eyes of his Mind against the Filthiness or Injustice that is in it and therefore he is like a Man that leapeth from an high place into the Water who first shutteth his Eyes and then casts himself into the Flood or Stream 3. Consequent Ignorance is after the Sin or Act of the Will either from the depraved Disposition of the Will Iohn 3.20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved Or from the just Judgment of God Iohn 9.39 For judgment I am come into the world that they which see not might see and that they which see might be made blind God inflicts a Judicial Blindness on Men that will not obey the Truth 3. Ignorance is either Invincible or Vincible 1. Invincible Ignorance is when there is not sufficient Revelation when it is a thing we should know but God hath not brought Light among us Thus the Heathens are punished for not glorifying God whom they knew by the Light of Nature Rom. 1.21 When they knew God they glorified him not as God Not because they believed not in Christ for he was not revealed unto them But Christians shall be punished for not obeying the Gospel 2 Thess. 1.8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ. 2. Vincible Ignorance is when there are plentiful Means and gross Helps to overcome it then is our Ignorance more culpable This is seen when either Ignorance is Voluntary and Pertinacious or when there is gross Negligence When it is Voluntary 2 Pet. 3.5 For this they are willingly ignorant of That they may Sin more freely and securely they will not know what may disturb or trouble their Sleep in Sin Iob 21.14 Therefore they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways The Psalmist says of them Psal. 95.10 It is a people that do err in their hearts they have not known my ways They err in their Hearts as well as in their Minds when they do not desire to know what they should know this Ignorance is voluntary Or else it is bewrayed by gross Negligence when a Man doth a thing that if he were not grosly Negligent he might know to be Sin Eph. 3.15 16 17. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Redeeming the time because the days are evil Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is A Christian is bound to use all holy Means to know all things that belong to his Duty and must bestow much time and diligence upon it If he is grosly ignorant it is a sign he hath a mind to put a cheat upon his Soul Use. Let us beware of Sin against Knowledge these Sins of all others are the most dangerous whether they be Sins of Omission to omit Duties that we know to be Duties this is very dangerous Iames 4.17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin Or Sins of Commission to commit Sins that we know to be Sins Rom. 2.21 22. Thou therefore which teachest another teachest thou not thy self Thou that preachest a man should not steal dost thou steal Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery dost thou commit adultery Thou that abhorrest idols dost thou commit sacriledge To commit Sins that we know to be Sins is to involve our selves in Wrath and Vengeance Have a care then of these Sins if you are guilty of them it cannot be pleaded for you Father forgive them they know not what they do A Sermon on JOHN xix 30. He said It is finished and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost THIS is one of the seven Words which Christ uttered upon the Cross the last save one for before his bowing of the Head and giving up the Ghost those Words must come in which are mentioned Luke 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and having said thus he gave up the ghost To make way for these Words we need go no farther back than the 28th Verse it is said there After this Iesus knowing that all things were now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled said I thirst Where we may observe 1. The exact knowledge which Christ had of all his Sufferings He knew that all things were accomplished namely all the preparative Sufferings which were to usher in his Death All these bitter Sorrows were numbred out to him by the Divine Decrees and praesignified in the Prophesies Jesus knew all the exact Tale and account of them A Circumstance that doth much commend his Love to us Christ knew how dear the bargain of Souls would be to him and yet he would shew his Obedience to the Father and his Love to Mankind He long since sate down and counted the Charges and yet he came to do his Father's Will When a Business proveth hazardous and inconvenient we are apt to say If I had known it would have cost me so much I should never have undertaken it Christ went not to the Cross blindfold he knew the Work of our Redemption would be troublesom and painful that he was to give his Back to the Smiters and his Cheeks to the Nippers that he was to be hurried from the Garden to the Courts of Men from the Courts of Men to the Cross and there to endure acute Pains and Torments Jesus knew that all these things were to be fulfilled 2. Observe It is said he knew they were accomplished Christ had a lively feeling of every part of his Sorrows and his Senses remained in full vigour to the last and without any stupefaction He knew what Hour the Clock of the Divine Decree would next strike or what was the next Circumstance whereby he was to discover himself to be the true Messiah David saith Died Abner as a fool dieth 2 Sam. 3.32 We may say so Died the Lord Jesus as a Fool dieth in a stupid sensless way Or as one merely passive Extremity of Pain had now surprized the Thieves which were crucified with him we hear no more of them but Christ's Reason and Senses are still exercised and his Sorrows made more active by his own apprehension 3. Observe That the Scriptures might be fulfilled he said I thirst By fulfilling another Prophecy God discovereth another Note whereby the Messiah might be known All the Passages of Christ's Death were appointed with infinite Wisdom and Love either they were such as were necessary parts of Redemption or some Indications whereby the Messiah fore-prophesied of might be discovered Here is another Prophecy fulfilled in Christ's Thirst. The Prophesies alluded to are two one is Psal. 22.15 My strength is dried up like a potsheard and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws thou hast brought me to the dust of death The other Prophesie hinteth the
11 12. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto Death and those that are ready to be slain If thou sayest Behold we knew it not doth not he that pondreth the Heart consider it and he that keepeth thy Soul doth not he know it and shall not be render to every Man according to his Works Here is a Work of Charity delivering the Innocent from temporal Death the Sin is a Sin of Omission every Man is bound to do what he can to save his Neighbour from imminent Destruction It is our Duty not to be silent and see him perish with a safe Conscience we cannot do so it is against the Light of Nature and all Honesty to use Tergiversation in this Case when we have Probability to help it and will not this hold good in the Case of Brotherly Reproof when thou seest thy Neighbour likely to perish and be undone for ever The same Charity that bindeth us to deliver him from Temporal Death will much more bind us to deliver him from Eternal Death Heb. 3.12 13. Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil Heart of Vnbelief in departing from the living God Not only in you your selves but in any of you as will be clear in the Remedy prescribed But exhort one another daily while it is called To Day lest any of you be hardened through the Deceitfulness of Sin This is a Work of Christian Charity which we owe to one another as Christian Brethren But see how God answereth the Excuse If thou sayest Behold we knew it not They knew not the Danger or Innocency of the Person Can you answer so to God Doth not he that pondereth the Heart consider c. He will be Judg whether you love your Brother yea or no whether this Pretence be Cowardice or mere Ignorance 2. How far the Obligation reacheth extensively It bindeth all For 1. All are to be able Col. 3.16 Let the Word of God dwell in you richly in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another And Rom. 15.14 I am perswaded of you my Brethren that ye also are full of Goodness filled with all Knowledg able also to admonish one another There are several Relations between Christians but all are bound to reprove some are Superiours some are Inferiours Superiours are bound in point of Justice Inferiours in point of Charity Superiours that have Charge of Souls are much more bound to reprove than others God 's Threatnings against them are more grievous if they neglect this Duty of Love The Watchman must not spare Yea they are bound though it be with the Danger of their Lives as Matth. 10.16 Behold I send you forth as Sheep in the midst of Wolves Iohn the Baptist reproved Herod though it cost him his Life Mark 6.27 And the Reason is they have a double Tie and Bond upon them as their Office and Relation besides the common Bond of Charity But now whether Inferiours are bound to reprove those that are over them Yes certainly for David a King did receive with Meekness a Reproof not only from Nathan a Prophet but from Abigail a Woman 1 Sam. 25.32 33. And Iob produceth it as a Proof of his Integrity that he despised not the Cause of his Man-servant or of his Maid-servant when they contended with him Job 31.13 Certainly we owe this Duty to Superiours as their Danger is greater To save a private Person is not so much as to do good to one that shineth in a higher Sphere Well then we are bound to reprove all whom we are bound to love whether Superiours or Inferiours But then to Superiours we are to use great Modesty 1 Tim. 5.1 Rebuke not an Elder but intreat him as a Father and the younger Men as Brethren It should be rather an Exhortation and Intreaty than a Reproof So Princes and Magistrates who are subject to Errors and Miscarriages may with Humility and Wisdom be admonished as Naaman's Servant 2 Kings 5.13 My Father if the Prophet had bid thee do some great thing wouldst thou not have done it how much rather then when he saith Wash and be clean Dan. 4.27 Wherefore O King let my Counsel be acceptable to thee And Col. 4.17 Say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it But yet this is still a Generality If every one be bound to reprove all and all every one when shall we know that this Duty is to be put in Act Answer The Admonisher should have a Calling to it through some Relation between him and the Offender So we may find it in all kind of Relations A Minister or Prophet as Nathan reproved David 2 Sam. 12.1 As a Counsellor Ioab reproveth him 2 Sam. 19.5 6. Thou hast shamed this Day the Faces of all thy Servants which have saved thy Life A Yoke-fellow as the Husband the Wife Iob 2.10 Thou speakest as one of the foolish Women speaketh The Wife the Husband as Abigail to Nabal 1 Sam. 25.37 And it came to pass in the Morning when the Wine was gone out of his Head and his Wife had told him these things his Heart died within him and he became as a Stone A Son as Ionathan to Saul 1 Sam. 19.4 And Jonathan spake good of David to Saul his Father and said unto him Let not the King sin against his Servant against David because he hath not sinned against thee A Servant admonisheth a Prince 2 Kings 5.13 A Subject so Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4.27 A Friend to his Friend Prov. 27.6 Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend Yea a Stranger travelling by the way and seeing his Fellow-Traveller sin or sitting at the same Table it is a Call because he is then in his Company and there is the Sin committed For so Christ proveth the Samaritan was a Neighbour to the Iew when he lighted upon him Luke 10.29 So that the Duty though it universally obligeth yet it is not unpracticable there is something giveth us the Occasion 4 thly It is recommended When besides the Precept there is a Commendation it sheweth the Value of a Duty Now God not only commandeth but commendeth to us both the giving and taking a Reproof and that upon the highest and most pressing Motives 1. Let us see how the giving a Reproof is recommended to us as a Means to increase Knowledg Prov. 19.25 Reprove one that hath Vnderstanding and he will understand Knowledg that is profit in the Fear of the Lord. Yea as a Means to convey Life Prov. 6.23 And Reproofs of Instruction are the way of Life They are a means to reduce Men to God and eternal Happiness and it is called saving a Soul from Death Iam. 5.19 20. Brethren if any of you do err from the Truth and one convert him let him know that he that converteth a Sinner from the Error of his way shall save a Soul from Death and shall hide a Multitude of Sins So Prov. 24.25 But to them that
rebuke him shall be Delight and a good Blessing shall come upon him that is all will pray for him whereas they curse and detest Flatterers Many such Promises there are 2. Taking a Reproof is commended Eccles. 7.5 It is better to hear the Rebuke of the VVise than for a Man to hear the Song of Fools It sads the Heart for the present yet it is more wholesome and beneficial than vain Mirth that puts us off from Seriousness in Soul-Dangers and feedeth our Lusts and Corruptions So Prov. 13.18 Poverty and Shame shall be to him that refuseth Instruction but he that regardeth Reproof shall be honoured A head-strong wicked Man bringeth himself to Beggary and Shame but he that taketh Counsel betimes soon wipeth off the Stain of his Miscarriages So see two Proverbs together Prov. 15.31 32. The Ear that heareth the Reproof of Life abideth among the VVise He that refuseth Instruction despiseth his own Soul but he that heareth Reproof getteth Vnderstanding The one is a slight careless Person that despiseth God and his Salvation but the other giveth a Token of a wise and tractable Disposition So Prov. 17.10 A Reproof entreth more into a wise Man than an hundred Stripes into a Fool. Correption doth more good than Correction Now when God doth argue and perswade and not only interpose his Authority surely this is a Duty of Importance which we should make Conscience of 5 thly If God hath given Directions about it is is unquestionably a Duty belonging to us for Directions suppose the Duty and shew that God would not have it miscarry in our Hands As when God directeth to pray he supposeth Prayer when God directeth to hear he supposeth hearing so when he directeth to reprove he supposeth Reproof to be a Duty Now the Word of God doth every where abound with these Directions as with what Lenity and Meekness we should reprove 2 Cor. 2.4 For out of much Affliction and Anguish of Heart I wrote unto you with many Tears not that you should be grieved but that you may know the Love which I have more abundantly unto you Gal. 6.1 Brethren if a Man be overtaken in a Fault ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the Spirit of Meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted What Difference we should make of Faults Gnats and Camels Matth. 23.24 Ye blind Guides which strain at a Gnat and swallow a Camel Of Persons Iude 22 23. And of some have Compassion making a Difference Others save with Fear pulling them out of the Fire 6 thly The Duty is necessary to prevent a Sin such as Detraction Censure and Backbiting It is the usual Fashion of the World to change a Duty into a Sin it should be the Care of God's People to change a Sin into a Duty Ephes. 5.4 Not foolish Talking or Iesting which are not convenient but rather giving of Thanks So do not speak of them that sin but to them do not judg but reprove 7 thly That without which no Society can be maintained no Relation faithfully improved certainly is an unquestionable Duty but so is Reproof No Society can be maintained for Faults will arise the Injured will vent themselves in Passion or Reproof now which conduceth to the Welfare of Humane Society And for Relations how can I be faithful to God in them unless I make Advantage of this Nearness and Frequency of Converse for spiritual Use Even good Men will miscarry if we be privy to it must we hold our Peace Well then observe the Reasonableness of God's Ordinance III. What is Reproof It is an Act of Charity or Mercy by which we seek by fit Discourse to draw our Brother from Sin to his Duty 1. It is an Act of Charity and Mercy not of Pride and Vain-glory Iam. 3.1 My Brethren be not many Masters knowing that we shall receive the greater Condemnation No it is not an Act of Mastery or rash Judging but of Mercy towards our Brother in his spiritual Misery as he hath rendred himself obnoxious to God's Wrath. 2. The Means it useth is fit Discourse not Correction and Chastening but Correption or Rebuke It must be dispensed in most wholesome ways such as may be most fit to gain a Sinner and heal his Soul To some we must use more Tenderness but more Sharpness to others In general we reprove from God's Word Col. 3.16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all VVisdom teaching and admonishing one another That the Offender may see God reproving him rather than Man as Christ reproved the Pharisees with mere Words of Scripture Matth. 15.7 8 9. Ye Hypocrites well did Esaias prophesy of you saying This People draweth nigh unto me with their Mouths and honoureth me with their Lips but their Heart is far from me But in vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. The Reproof must be insinuated as the Matter requireth either by Exhortation Admonition or Caution 3. The End not to shame him but to gain him from Sin to his Duty If the Man be good to set him in joint again Gal. 6.1 Brethren if a Man be overtaken in a Fault ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the Spirit of Meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted If carnal to take this Occasion to turn him from Sin to Holiness or to save his Soul from Death Iam. 5.19 20. Brethren if any of you do err from the Truth and one convert him let him know that he which converteth the Sinner from the Error of his way shall save a Soul from Death and shall hide a Multitude of Sins IV. Let us see when this Duty bindeth or bindeth not For it being an Affirmative Precept it doth not bind at all times but as circumstantiated Affirmative Precepts non ligant ad semper do not always bind as negative Precepts do for evil Actions are never lawful Affirmative Precepts bind only when Time and Place and other Circumstances concur and then the Omission is faulty The Question then is At what times and in what Circumstances this Duty bindeth 1. It bindeth not if I do not certainly or probably know the Sin of my Neighbour For Reproof by way of Charge must be upon an apparent Crime as Gal. 2.11 But when Peter was come to Antioch I withstood him to the Face because he was to be blamed 1 Cor. 5.1 It is reported commonly that there is Fornication among you and such Fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles that one should have his Father's VVife 1 Cor. 1.11 For it hath been declared unto me of you my Brethren by them which are of the House of Cloe that there are Contentions among you Mark the Grounds he goeth upon certain Knowledg publick Fame and valuable Testimony It is commonly reported And it is declared by the House of Cloe. Faults that we reprove must be certainly known and evident we may not reprove upon bare
Thoughts that they will find it an help to their Meditation Would God make Laws with a Sanction of Penalty and Reward and never look after them more Doth he delight in the Prosperity of his Servants or their Afflictions Would he raise Hopes and Desires which he never meant to satisfy give the Wicked Power to afflict and vex his People and never call them to an Account bid us venture our All for him and give us no Recompence If such Thoughts were more frequent with us God would bless them to the increase of Faith Love and Hope Vse 3. Is to perswade us to live in the constant Hopes of this blessed Estate in the Life to come Hope is a certain and earnest Expectation of the promised Blessedness Let me shew you 1. The Necessity of this Hope 2. The Encouragements of it 1. The Necessity of the Hope of Eternal Glory should always be cherished in us 1. Because it is a special Act of the New Nature 1 Pet. 1.3 Who hath begotten us to a lively Hope Assoon as we are Children we look for a Child's Portion The New Nature presently discovereth it self by its tendency to its End and Rest which is the Fruition of God in Heaven Indeed the Scriptures speak of a twofold Hope one that is the immediate Effect of Regeneration and flows from our acceptance of the New Covenant and dependeth upon the conditional offer of Eternal Life we take it for our Happiness resolving to seek it in God's way without this we are not new Creatures There is another Hope which is the fruit of Experience and belongeth to the seasoned and tried Christian who hath approved his own Fidelity to God and hath had much trial of God's Fidelity to him This is spoken of Rom. 5.4 Patience worketh Experience and Experience Hope This produceth not a conditional Certainty but an actual Confidence of our own Salvation The former is more necessary for we live by it but this is very comfortable 2. Because it is the great End why the Scriptures were written to beget and raise this Hope in us Rom. 15.4 For whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope It is the business and design of these holy Books 3. Because the keeping up of this Hope with Zeal and Industry is the distinguishing Character between the temporary and the sincere Convert The one loseth his Taste and Comfort and so casteth off the Profession of Godliness or neglecteth the powerful Practice of it the other is diligent serious patient mortified heavenly and holy because he holdeth fast the Confidence and the rejoicing of the Hope firm unto the end Heb. 3.6 And his End sweetens his Work for this Grace doth quicken the whole Spiritual Life Titus 2.12 13. Teaching us that denying Vngodliness and worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present VVorld Looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Iesus Christ. 4. Because we have nothing else to support us and fortify us against the Difficulties that fall out between our first Right to Eternal Life and our full Possession of it In our Journey to Heaven there are many Sufferings and Trials which must be undergone and Hope is our Strength and Support He that sets his Face Heavenward will find Difficulties that attend his Service Temptations that assault his Constancy and Troubles and Calamities to which his Religion exposeth him now it is Hope carrieth us through and therefore it is compared to an Anchor Heb. 6.19 Which Hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the Vail And to an Helmet Eph. 6.17 And take the Helmet of Salvation Compared with 1 Thess. 5.8 And for an Helmet the Hope of Salvation As we would not go to Sea without an Anchor and to War without an Helmet so we must not think of carrying on the Spiritual Life without Hope Nothing else will compose the Mind and keep it stable in the Floods of Temptation or cause us to hold up our Heads in our daily Conflicts and Encounters Without this Anchor our Souls are in danger of spiritual Shipwrack without this Helmet our Heads are exposed to deadly Blows from Sin Satan and worldly Discouragements 5. We shall need it not only while we live but we shall have most need of it when we come to die They that are destitute of the Hope of Glory then are in a dangerous woful and most lamentable Case Job 27.8 For what is the Hope of the Hypocrite though he hath gained when God taketh away his Soul They may be full of Presumption and blind Confidence while they live but what Hope have they when they come to die All their worldly Advantages will afford them no solid Comfort They live in a presumptuous Dream that all shall be well but then they die stupid and sensless or else despairing and their Hopes fail them when they have most need of them 2. The Encouragements of it 1. God's gracious Covenant and Promises God would not invite and raise an Hope to disappoint it for surely God will not disappoint the Creature that dependeth upon his Word and therefore we are allowed to challenge God upon his Word Psal. 119.49 Remember the VVord unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope It contains a double Argument the Promise was of God's making and the Hope of his Operation the Grant of the New Covenant and his Influence by the Spirit We have a strong Tie upon God as he giveth us the Promise which is a ground of Hope we may humbly put the Bond in Suit and when his Spirit hath caused the Hope it is not with a purpose to defeat it 2. Consider what a Foundation God hath laid for his Promises 2 Tim. 2.19 The Foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the Promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen unto the Glory of God by us 3. Observe what God hath given you by way of Earnest Hope is not built upon Promises alone but also upon Assurances and Earnest the Promises are contained in the Word of God but the Earnest is given into our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 Who hath also sealed us and given the Earnest of his Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 5.5 Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God who hath also given unto us the Earnest of the Spirit Eph. 1.13 14. In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of Promise which is the Earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased Possession unto the praise of his Glory Tho God be Truth it self and promiseth nothing but what he meaneth to perform yet he will give Earnest of his Promises and a Pledg of his Affection
the poor Saints which are at Jerusalem What is in our Translation to make a Contribution for the Saints is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to make a Communion or Communication So 2 Cor. 8.4 Praying us with much Intreaty that we would receive the Gift and take upon us the Fellowship of the ministring to the Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So 2 Cor. 9.13 And for your liberal Distribution unto them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So here the Communication of the Spirit If you will render it Communion this is the great Effect of the Love of God and the Grace of Christ that we are made Members of Christ's Mystical Body by the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 For by one Spirit we are are all baptized into one Body And so are united to the Head and to one another by this Bond of Union The Church is a Mystical Body whereof Christ is the Head and the Holy Ghost is as it were the Heart of it the one guideth this great Body the other quickneth it Now in this Mystical Body we actually come to the Participation of what Christ hath purchased for us by the Holy Ghost 4. These make way one for another or work into each others hand for what the Father intended Christ purchased and the Spirit applieth God the Father is as the Fountain of Grace Jesus Christ as the Conduit or Pipe to convey it to us and the Holy Ghost the immediate Operator and Worker of it The Father of his good Pleasure electing Sinners to Grace and Glory the Son by his Obedience and Sufferings purchasing it that it may be brought about in a Way convenient for God's Honour the Spirit by his Virtue and Power working Grace in them There is not a different Effect from the Father which is not from the Son and from the Son which is not from the Spirit but they concur in an united Way that what cometh from the Father cometh from the Son and the Spirit the Father makes way for the Son's Work and the Son for the Spirit 's So back again the Spirit is said to honour the Son Iohn 16.14 He shall glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you And the Son is said to glorify the Father Iohn 14.13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son The Spirit acts as sent by Christ and Christ as sent by the Father This is necessary to be regarded by us because as our Salvation in the general is from the Father through the Son by the Spirit so in all our Commerce with God God the Father as a Judg by the Spirit of Bondage sendeth us to Christ as Mediator and Christ as Mediator by the Spirit of Adoption sends us back again to God as a Father It is a great Help to Prayer Eph. 2.18 For through him we both have an Access by one Spirit unto the Father To whom are we praying To God as a Father Whence have we hopes of Audience By Christ. Who giveth us an Heart to come The Spirit II. The Reasons why they concur 1. That we may have the higher Esteem of the Work which hath such Agents concerned in it It is no slight thing to bring about the Salvation of lost Sinners all the Persons of the Godhead are at work about it and shall not we who are the Parties interested be employed about it also God is in good earnest for therefore before all Worlds he employed the Riches of his Wisdom and Grace to save us in this convenient Way 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was fore ordained before the Foundation of the World but was manifest in these last Times for you And who are we that the Thoughts of God should be taken up about us so long ago Jesus Christ hath spared no Pains to accomplish the Work of our Redemption but freely offered himself to this Work Heb. 10.7 Lo I come to do thy Will O God He repented not his Undertaking but was fully contented if Souls may be saved Isa. 53.11 He shall see of the Travail of his Soul and shall be satisfied And the Holy Spirit continueth striving with us though often grieved by our Obstinacy and Disobedience Gen. 6.3 My Spirit shall not always strive with Man Isa. 63.10 They rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit Many a Conviction do we smother and often check and resist his Motions yet he is importunate to prevail with us 2. That our Hearts may be raised to give equal Glory to all the Persons concerned We must honour the Son as we honour the Father as it is expresly said Ioh. 5.23 That all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him There is an Honour due to God only not to be given to any other Christ is equal with the Father in participating this Honour he is to have the same Glory of Believing Love Fear and Invocation So also for the Spirit he is an Object of Invocation for as the Apostle wisheth and desireth Love from the Father and Grace from Christ so a liberal Distribution and Communication of Gifts and Graces from the Spirit Now to excite us to give this due Respect to all the Persons every one concurreth in his way to promote our final Happiness and Salvation The Father deserveth this Esteem from us Many think of God the Father as all Wrath and Justice difficult to be reconciled to Man and of the second Person of the Trinity as more gracious and merciful No the Love of God is the Original of our Redemption God spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all Rom. 8.32 And God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their Trespasses to them 2 Cor. 5.19 And the Father himself loveth you John 16.27 Christ came to shew the amiable Nature of God Being the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 Then for the Lord Jesus in Christ the Glory and Riches of the Grace of God doth more eminently and palpably appear This is the Contemplation of the Saints Iohn 1.14 And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only-begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Ephes. 3.18 19. That ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the Breadth and Length and Depth and Height and to know the Love of Christ which passeth knowledg that ye might be filled with all the Fulness of God Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy Brethren Partakers of the Heavenly Calling consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Iesus Christ. His Grace thus condescending to Men is more eminently seen Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us And Rev. 1.5 To him who loved us and washed us from
Comfort because they are so vile and unworthy and such Sinners If you be such a Sinner the more need of a Saviour You would laugh at him that would argue thus I am too Cold to go to the Fire too Sick to send for the Physician too Poor to take Alms too Filthy to go to the Water to be Washed You must not consider what you have been but what you would be Christ doth not Invite us because we are Holy but that we may be Holy The Objection were of weight if we did only advise you to be eased of your smart but not to be rid of your burden if this Consent were only a Claim of Priviledges and not an Obligation to Duties or a submission to Christ's Healing Methods Celsus objected against Christianity that it was a Sanctuary for naughty Persons and Men of a Licentious Life Origen answereth him That it was not a Sanctuary to shelter them only but an Hospital to cure them It is not the Worthy are Invited â—ut the Thirsty and the Needy you are unworthy to the very last but are you hungry You are unworthy to receive Christ but God is worthy to be oâ—â—yed it is not a matter of Priviledge only but Duty 2. Your Hearts are so loose and changeable you are afraid to bind your selves to God The truth is this consent implyeth a delivery over of your selves to Christ to seek Happiness in the way that he hath appointed it is the first Egress of the Soul towards the Execution of the Duty of a Christian our entry into the practice of the Holy Life and an entry withall into a resolved War with the Devil the World and the Flesh who will resist us herein and you must consider difficulties so as to fortifie your Resolution Matth. 16.24 If any Man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me He will surprize no Man Matth. 20.22 Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I drink of and to be baptized with the Baptism that I am Baptized with And not to consider is to discourage your Consent Obj. You will say You cannot do it by your own Strength and you are uncertain of God's Assistance Answ. Do not foretell the Event but charge your selves with your Duty It is your Duty to engage your Hearts to God tho' you cannot lay Wagers upon your own Strength You must resolve but continually depend upon Christ for the performing of your Resolutions He will maintain you in your way to Heaven 2 Tim. 1.12 For I know in whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day In a sense of your own Insufficiency and Deceitfulness of Heart you must still relye upon his Grace and Spirit who hath made many Promises to support and to keep you by his Power through Faith unto Salvation 3. For Affiance in the great Promise of the Gospel or offer of Pardon and Life by Christ. There seemeth to be an impossibility to Sense and Reason from first to last If the 〈◊〉 of Salvation were sufficiently understood we should see from the beginning to the end from the first step to its last Period in everlasting Glory it is the meer Grace and Power of God that carrieth it on in despite of Men and Devils and therefore it is said Eph. 1.19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us word who believe according to the working of his mighty power As for instance the reconciling of a guilty Soul to God Eph. 2.3 Among whom also we had oâ—r Conversation in time past in the lust of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nâ—â—ure Children of Wrath even as others The changing of a naughty and obstinate Heart Ier. 17.9 The Heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it And the giving us an Holy Nature and Life Iob 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean nâ—t one Or to quicken us that were dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.1 You also hath be quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins To strengthen a feeble and weak Creature 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God That things meet with so much opposition by the way Eph. 6.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this World against spiritual wickedness in high places What can maintain us in the midst of so many Temptations We at length dye and rot in the Grave as others do now the rising of our Bodies after it is eaten by Worms and turned to Dust is a thing incredible and to Flesh and Blood wholly impossible 't is wholly within the reach of God's Power Now since we have ground to hope for all this from the Word of God even to Pardon our many sins Isa. 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon To change this sinful Nature that we may become an holy People to God Titus 3.5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saveth us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost To overcome our Obstinacy perverseness in evil fickleness in good To maintain Grace in the midst of Temptations Iude 24. To him that is able to keep you from falling And finally to raise us up out of the Grace We must not consider and plead the difficulties to damp Faith but to quicken it going on with our Duty and wait for his Salvation III. He staggered not at the Promise through Vnbelief Strong Faith is so satisfied with God's Promise that it leaveth no place for considerable doubtings as Abraham here admitted no doubts or questionings touching the Promise of God but without disputing or arguing to the contrary depended fully upon the Lord being perswaded he could do what he had promised There are two Reasons hereof The Immutability of his Nature Heb. 6.18 That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have strong Consolation And his Tenderness of his Word Psal. 138.2 For thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name Both these breed this assured Perswasion of God's Faithfulness and Stedfastness and make his Promise the great Prop and Support of Faith Now this staggering or not staggering at the Promise and so the Weakness and Strength of our Faith may referr to three Acts or Parts of Faith 1. A strong Assent or clear sight of the Evidence of the Truth If we have the Word and Promise of God we should believe any thing as surely as if we had the greatest Evidence in the World
be Grave and Serious The Mind is according to the course of the Life You flatter your selves when you think you are able to command Spiritual Thoughts on a sudden when you have suffered your thoughts to rove and wander Prov. 17.24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth here and there and every where 5. Watch against the first Diversion how plausible soever it be look upon it as an intruding that breaks the rank The Devil injects good thoughts sometimes that he might divert your other thoughts Charge your thoughts that they may not disturb your Meditation Cant. 3.5 I charge you O ye daughters of Ierusalem that you stir not up nor awake my love till he please 6. When you come to meditate in Gods Presence do not bring the World with you purge your selves of all Carnal Affections Ezek. 33.31 Their heart goeth after their covetousness Alwaies consider this the prevailing Lust will engross the thoughts to a distracted Mind no place is a solitude the very Closet is a Market-place Therefore before Meditation we should purge our Hearts of Worldly Affections SERMON IV. GENESIS xxiv 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide I Shall not wholly divert from the Subject in hand though I shall a little interrupt the Method of it My purpose is now to speak of that Meditation that is proper to the Sacrament The main part of that Worship is dispatched in Thoughts Here we come to put Reason to the Highest and most Sublime Use to be an Instrument and Servant to Faith and Love But now the Thoughts proper to the Lords Supper are many There are an Union of Mysteries yea so many that they are a burden to some Christians and a snare to those that are most scrupulous It will be necessary therefore to give you some Directions how you may guide your selves in this Duty for your best advantage It is a matter of great profit to be wise and skilful in Duties Many that know the general Nature of them know not how to manage them David saith Psalm 119.27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts so shall I talk of thy wondrous works intimating that then we performe Duties with most success when we go about them with most Wisdom and Understanding and when we are skilled in the way of Gods Precepts we shall understand those Marvellous Acts of Grace which he vouchsafeth to his People Now it is good that every one according to his Talent should help one anothers Joy and therefore I shall now speak a little to this purpose and the rather because it will much conduce to the opening of the Doctrine of Meditation in the general My Method shall be this 1. I will shew the usual defects of Christians in this Service with their necessary Remedies 2. I shall handle some cases First The usual defects and faults of People in this Duty I mean so far as they concern Meditation and they are Four Barrenness Stupidity Roving of Thoughts and a lazy Formality 1. Barrenness This is a great trouble to Christians when their Understandings are unfruitful and they cannot inlarge themselves in pertinent and necessary thoughts Now how shall we do to get our Hearts to be fruitful in Holy Thoughts 1. There must be a Solemn Preparation for this Service It is good to breathe our selves in some Religious Exercises before-hand that we may run the more freely without fainting Spiritual Dispositions do not come on us of a sudden Christians are deceived that look for rapt and sudden motions there must be a time to put off the Shoes off our Feet when we come upon Holy Ground to converse with God in so sweet a Service we must lay aside the Distractions of the World and not come roaking from the World into Gods presence There must be a time to raise the Soul into a Zealous Height and Ardour there must be a blowing of the fire for here you come to the flame your thoughts are to flame out in great and raised ascents Cant. 1.12 While the king sitteth at his table my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof Wood doth not blaze and flame as soon as it is laid on 2. Those solemn and preparative thoughts are chiefly to be spent in these two things The Nature of the Supper and the Love of Christ in the institution of it 1. The Nature of the Supper You are to consider the great things that are offered to you and the great Blessings and Benefits which God cometh to represent exhibit and seal up to your Souls Matth. 11.7 What went ye out into the wilderness for to see Christ examineth the grounds of their Resort and Concourse to him It is good to consider what we are about and the Dainties of the Banquet we are invited to what assurance the outward Signs are to give you what Communion we have with Christ and his Graces We are barren because we do not consider our Work and the Nature and Importance of it 2. The Love of Christ in the Institution of it 1. The Time when it was instituted 1 Cor. 11.23 The Lord Iesus Christ the same night in which he was betrayed took bread The Lord Jesus Christ had thoughts of the greatest good to Man when Man was executing the greatest Spight and Malice against him And the rather because it is an Act of Mercy that Christ frequently useth to surprize Sinners in the midst of their wickedness when Saul was breathing out threatnings against the Disciples God had a design of Love to him and smites him from his Horse Some are smitten with Conviction in the height of Provocations We read in Ecclesiastical Story of a young Man that came to stab St. Iohn was converted by him so many come to jear and catch at a Sermon and have been converted by it 2. The Rights which he instituted appointing Bread and Wine Symbols of Pleasure and Delight as a Physician conveys health to us in a Golden Pill so doth Christ convey Spiritual nourishment to us by those Elements which we take Pleasure in The outward Observance is comfortable God doth not require us to lance our selves and to exercise the Body with Whips and Cords the Rights are not bloody as in Circumcision but Bread and Wine And yet this is nothing to the inward sweetness Meat and Drink which the World knows not of Iohn 4.32 I have meat to eat which ye know not of 3. The Advantage and Relief that Faith has from these things of Sense God speaketh to you now not by Words but things He doth as it were embody Religion and represent it to the Senses Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Iesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you That is in the Word or Sacraments here God doth as it were hold forth Christ dying before your eyes
It is a pleasure to see things by Picture though we know the Person so though we have an Image of Christ in the Word and may know his Person there yet it is a great relief to us to see Christ in the Supper by these outward Symbols where Sense may teach Faith what strength of Grace and what sweetness of Comfort to expect from Christ. These thoughts through the blessing of God will raise the Soul into a frame of Religion that when you come to this Ordinance you will not be so dry and barren 2. Wandring when the Heart is prepared and set towards God how shall we do to keep it from roving and prevent those excursions which are apt to carry away the Heart 1. Get an Awe and Dread of God Labour to have the deepest Apprehensions of the Presence of God as possibly may be Strong Affections especially Fear lock up the Mind and do not suffer it to flit abroad Now Fear is not unseasonable to this Duty but rather proper because of the Excellent Mysteries by which God condescendeth and approacheth us Chrysostome calls it terribilis mystica mensa the dreadful Mysterious Table and therefore now our Apprehensions should be most awful When Iacob had a sight of God saies he Gen. 28.17 How dreadful is this place And the Psalmist saith Psal. 68 35. Oh God! thou art terrible out of thy holy places Mixt Affections do best in the sweetest Worship Psalm 2.11 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Hosea 3.5 They shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter dayes Here we are to have distinct thoughts of his Holyness and Goodness and therefore we should fear before him lest we forget our selves to be poor guilty Creatures and Fear confineth the Soul and will not suffer it to run abroad 2. Chide the Heart for your vain Excursions Christians might have more command over their Hearts if they would but hold the Reins a little straiter and check their Souls they are not so sadly sensible of the idle roving of the brain which do not so directly carry them after the evil as when they make them to neglect the good Take up your selves as David doth about his lumpishness Psalm 42.5 Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted in me Did I come hither to think of any thing but Christ and Heaven Did I come to think of News Vanity Business and Lust My work is to discerne the Lords Body not to think of Worldly Toyes Is this to remember and fruitfully to insist upon his Death Look as Christ did chide his Disciples Matth. 26.40 What! could ye not watch with me one hour So chide your Heart cannot I keep my Heart free for God a little while In Heaven Duty will be my constant work and if my Heart wander now How shall I be able to hold it for ever In the Supper God tyes my Soul by outward Rites least my Eyes should carry away my Heart God would exercise my Eyes Certainly if you would chide your Souls the Heart would not steal so many glances But usually our Hearts do not steal away we dismiss them and let them go God gave Reason a command of your Thoughts at first and we might exercise it more than we do 3. Stupidness Many times the Soul is surprized with deadness and amazement it neither actually thinks of Evil nor of Good but is at a dead pawse and stay For this I shall urge a double help 1. By earnest Ejaculations call in the help of the Spirit Cant. 4.16 Awake O north-wind and come thou south blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out Desire God to breathe upon the Soul with a fresh gale and excitement that he would take a Coal from his own Altar that the perfume might burn bright Censers must not be kindled with strange Fire Oh raise and quicken this dead Soul Remember the first Adam was made a living soul the last Adam was made a quickning spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 2. Call upon your own Hearts It is a mistake of Christians to think they are only to call upon God you are also to call upon your selves and to deal with your own Souls by way of quickning Psalm 57.8 Awake my glory awake psaltery and harp I my self will awake early Charge your Souls awake to the consideration of Heavenly Mysteries Speak to your own Hearts as David layes a charge upon himself Psalm 103.1 Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name The Children of God are brought in speaking to themselves Oh my drousie blockish Heart How coldly dost thou think of Christ This dead Heart will not become the Service of the Living God 4. A lazy Formality Either we cannot get the Soul to this Worship or we performe it slightly We content our selves with a few careless glances and lazy baren thoughts To remedy this consider in so sweet a Duty God doth not only require Affection but height of Affection an Holy ardor earnestness and raisedness of Spirit Cant. 4.6 Vntil the day break and the shadows flee away I will get me to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense an allusion to the Censers used in the Levitical Worship God requires such thoughts as will comfort revive and quicken our Souls Such thoughts as end in Affection Leave not off till you can say as the Spouse Cant. 2.5 Stay me with flaggons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love Do not leave meditating of Christ till you can bring your Souls to a Holy ravishment and your Hearts are wounded with impatient Desires after Communion with Christ. No thoughts will work but those that are serious Secondly I will propound some cases which shall not only concern the Duty of the Lords Supper but some of them the Duty of Meditation in general 1. Case How can we do because of variety of Matter that is to be meditated upon that plenty makes us barren And in such streights of time how can we run through all I shall answer to this in three Propositions 1. The Mind of Man is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 working and much may be done by thoughts in a short time The Minds motion is not so slow as that of the Body which is burdened with a mass and clod of flesh and therefore must have time for its Action but the Soul is quick There are two sorts of Meditations in the Supper as indeed in all other Matters pregnant Apprehensions and enforcing Reasons 1. Pregnant Apprehensions sutable to each Circumstance of the Duty Now these are absolutely necessary as in blessing the Elements and setting them aside for this use think of the Eternal Decrees of God by which Christ was separated to the Office of Mediator In breaking the Bread your Thoughts must act afresh on the Sorrows of Christ's Cross and those bruises wherewith he was broken for our Iniquities Thus it is good
the same Covenant It is a common Charter Acts 2.39 For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even to as many as the Lord our God shall call 3. They have the same Redeemer 1 Cor. 1.2 Iesus Christ both theirs and ours Rich and Poor gave the same Ransom Exod. 30.15 Half a shekel One has not a more worthy Christ than another Rom. 3.22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Iesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference 4. The Faith of the one is as acceptable to God as the other 2 Pet. 1.1 Simon Peter a servant and an Apostle of Iesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our saviour Iesus Christ. The same for kind though not for degree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A jewel held by a Child's hand is a Jewel as well as that held by a Man's Well then the Expressions of God's love to his People of old have their use for the establishment of our Comfort and Hope Rom. 15.4 Whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 4.23 It was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also As Judgments on the Wicked are for our Admonition 1 Cor. 10.6 These things were our examples So Promises are for our Consolation The Word is not only an History but a Book of Precedents As a Painter hangeth forth his Master-Pieces to draw Custom so here God's kindnesses to his People are advantageous to us only let us take heed that we have the same Spirit 2. I observe that it is a capacious Promise applicable to several purposes To Ioshua to imbolden him against Dangers To Iacob to make him patient under Crosses To Salomon to quicken him against coldness in God's Service To Israel to hearten them against Enemies To all Believers to support them under Family-wants and Straights One Promise hath several Uses it is good for Wants good for Wars This one Promise well observed will teach us to live well and dye well for still God is with us To live without carking for then God is with us and to dye without discomfort for then we are with God If one Promise yield so much Comfort what will all It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a common Remedy for every Disease As the Scripture saith in another case Mark well her Bulworks tell her Towers There is no Case to which God hath not spoken no Blessing but it is adopted into the Covenant 3. I observe that it is a Promise emphatically delivered 1. For the Matter I will not leave thee nor forsake thee That is I will be so far from forsaking or casting thee off that I will not so much as leave thee for a time It is such another as that Psal. 121.4 Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep There is no time that his People are left to shift for themselves but they are under the Care of his Providence continually 2. For the Form 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will not not leave thee neither not not forsake thee Five Negatives He will not yea he will not surely he will not forsake his Servants or neglect them and withdraw his Presence and Providence from them 3 For the Duplication I will not leave thee nor forsake thee Ioseph told Pharaoh the Dream was doubled because it was established by God Gen. 41.32 All this is to shew how dull and stupid we are in conceiving of God's Promises O ye fools and slow of heart to believe Luke 24.21 We are backward to every thing but especially to Faith or dependance on God for something that lyeth not in our own power Before we are serious and put to tryal nothing seemeth more easie than dependance upon God but when it cometh to the push it is evinced Now it is God's condescention that he will press these things again and again that we may not lose the comfort of the Promise The Expression is universal to awaken our attention to engage our Hearts to believe that he will not forsake us in our streights 4. I observe that it is a promise that every one must particularly apply to his own case God doth not say I will not leave you nor forsake you as speaking to his People collectively but distributively thee And that not only to Ioshua but to Israel Deut. 31.6 8. Be strong and of a good courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the Lord thy God he it is that doth go with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee As in the Decalogue that every one might look upon himself as concerned God speaketh in the singular number to every individual Person Thou shalt have no other Gods So here Thou as if spoken to by name Thou Peter Andrew Thomas I will not forsake thee Oh that we had this Spirit of Application and could read our Names in Christ's Testament Omnis operatio fit per contactum the closer the touch upon our Hearts the greater the Efficacy Break out your own Portion of the Bread of Life Iob 5.27 Loe this we have searched it so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good Christian how many Promises dost thou know for thy good Canst thou say Here is my Portion blessed be God for this comfortable Promise to me Doctr. That God never utterly forsaketh or leaveth his People destitute to utter and insupportable Difficulties Why 1. The tenderness of his Love will not permit it Isa. 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee There is no such Affection as God hath to his Children The Mother if she leave her sucking Child she doth not utterly forsake him but runneth to the cry So will God he is unchangable Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not He is immutable in his Grace and constant in his Promise as well as his Being He needs no after-thoughts his purpose of Love stands firm he willeth a Change but changeth not his Will Though he uses various contrary Means yet his Love altereth not as our Condition altereth We are full of Inconstancy but not he Death doth not make void Christ's Interest nor cause his Affection to cease when we are rotting in the Grave Where God has once fixed his Dwelling-place he will never leave it again Psal. 37.28 The Lord loveth judgment and forsaketh not his saints By Judgment is meant Righteousness or Holiness the Rule for conformity to the Rule that is the Ground His Truth is plighted in his Promises God hath ever stood upon his Credit especially when his Promise hath drawn forth the faith of his People Psal. 111.5 God will ever be mindful of
his covenant Psal. 9.10 They that know thy name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee To disappoint a Trust is accounted disingenuous among Men. No Age can give an Instance of this in God Obj. But his People complain of being forsaken Isa. 49.14 But Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Yea Christ himself cried out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Matth. 27.46 Ans. 1. Many times the Saints complain without a cause Sense maketh Lyes of God Psal. 31.22 I said in my haste I am cut off from before thine eyes nevertheless thou heardest the Voice of my supplications But there was no such matter Psal. 77.10 This is my infirmity The Lord may seem to a perplexed Heart to cast off a Man and to suspend the course of his wonted savour so as they may seem to be without all hope and comfort of the Promises when there 's no such matter 2. Though a Child of God may be forsaken for a while yet not forsaken for ever Isa. 54.7 8. 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 kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer There may be some short interruptions of a Christian's comfort All things here are subject to changes there will be Ebbs and Flows Nights and Days in our condition There will be Changes but it is but for a moment Mercy will not come out of season though Carnal Hopes may be spent Isa. 41.17 When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them There are three kinds of forsaking 1. As to our outward and inward condition Outwardly God may reduce his People to great straights and yet not forsake them Every Condition is sweet where God is and he is with us in Dangers and Afflictions Isa. 43.2 When thou passest thorough the waters I will be with thee and thorough the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thorough the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the fire kindle upon thee God preserves not only from Fire and Water but in Fire and Water He may exercise his People with trouble but he will not withdraw himself from them in trouble but will stay with them and bear them company Our worldly Comforts may be gone but God stayeth behind we may be forsaken outwardly but are preserved inwardly Persecuted but not forsaken 2 Cor. 4.9 He giveth support still Psal. 138.3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. God affords sweet Refreshings to his People 2 Cor. 1.5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And gracious Visits and Experiences Rom. 5.3 4 5. And not only so but we glory in tribulation also knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy-ghost which is given unto us 2. Inward desertion is either in point of Comfort or in point of Grace Comfort may be withdrawn for the increase of Grace Rain is necessary as well as Sunshine We need many times our Thorn in the Flesh. Grace is the main thing we should desire though Comfort should not be despised We should be rather more humble and more diligent in a doubtful condition than in a settled 3. In point of Grace there is a total desertion and a partial desertion God's People may be deserted really but not utterly There is a Seed remaineth in them 1 Iohn 3.9 though they may lose much of their liveliness and alacrity in God's Service My loving kindness I will not take from them David had brutish Thoughts yet some Sustentation Psal. 73.23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by thy right hand He was kept from being utterly overcome by the temptation They have a secret Power to uphold them as long as they have any tenderness left with desires of former Enjoyments and sensibleness of their present Inconvenience The degrees of Grace may be lost when the Habit remaineth God's degrees of Presence with us should be observed as well as his degrees of Absence David bewaileth his Folly acknowledges Sustentation 4. The ends of this forsaking There are three 1. Sometimes to shew us our selves to our selves 2 Chron. 32.31 Howbeit in the business of the Ambassadors of the Princes of Babylon who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land God left him to try him that he might know all that was in his heart While God is present comforting quickening and guiding us we do not know what Pride and Passion lieth hidden in our Hearts God doth shew the folly of our Wisdom the weakness of our Strength and the imperfection of our Graces by his forsaking us 2. How ready he is to help in an extremity Psal. 94.18 19. When I said my foot slippeth thy mercy O Lord held me up In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. When we are at the brink of Danger and full of Perplexities and dark Thoughts then doth Help appear 3. To quicken us to look after him and to draw us to nearer Communion with himself Hos. 5.15 I will go and return to my place till they acknowledge their offence and seek my face In their affliction they will seek me early When Afflictions press hard it puts an edge upon our Affections Surely God hath left something behind them when our Affections draw to him Dan. 9.3 All this evil is come upon us yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God To be dead and stupid then is a bad sign that we are deserted in point of sensible Comfort and Duty too The Use is to press you 1. To believe this Promise You see how emphatitically it is proposed The Flesh that loveth its own Ease will contradict and carnal Sense will bring Arguments against it therefore lay it up the more firmly Surely God will not forsake his People such tender Bowels such agreeable Love He that made the new Creature will not forsake it Will the Damm forsake her young ones and let them perish Christians he will let all the World perish rather than his Saints perish God may hide himself but never forsake them utterly It is a rare case to see them utterly destitute as to outward things Psal. 37.25 I have been young and now am old yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread David aged a Man of much Observation a great Student of Providence yet never saw it Ask the Beasts Fowls or Fishes Iob 12.7.8 Ask now