men wrought in Gold some in purple and blew some had one office and employment and some another So when he erected a spiritual * 1 Pet. 2.5 house and building his Church the Body of Christ he did and continueth to do the like but far more gloriously that as then so now every one may speak of his glory or as 't is in the Margent every whit may utter glory viz. to him to whom 't is due Psal 29.9 To this the Apostle alludes when he saith Ephes 2.21 In whom i.e. in Christ Jesus the whole building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord. So Col. 2.19 From the Head viz. Christ all the Body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God And more fully Eph. 4.16 From whom the head Christ the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the Body to the edisying of it self in Love By all which we see with what curiosity and exectness of Art may I so speak God hath ordered every part in relation to the beauty and perfection of the whole Here is Beauty Harmony Communion Edisication all met together The more pieces there are in any work drawn into an union the more admirable is that work When the Queen of Sheba saw the House that Solomon had built c. there was no more spirit in her she was rapt with admiration 1 King 10.4 5. Much more is it matter of transport to see the variety and unity of the House of God! This made the first workmanship of God so glorious that he brought together and united so many Atoms of dust into the Body of a man to frame such a curious piece out of dust was worthy of a behold and wonder And 't is no less a beauty that 's drawn by God himself but a far greater in the second Creation especially as to the whole body-Body-mystical 1 Cor. 12.20 made up of such different Members as Fathers Young men little Children and Babes all united to so glorious an Head as Christ is and called his fulness That in Musick so many several sounds should melt into one and in Painting so many lines and colours should conspire to make one Face is admired even by Artists but alas what 's Art to Nature and what 's Nature to Grace What Bedy was ever like to the Body of Christ so fitly framed together But In 1 Cor. 12. the Apostle gives us a more particular account of Gods design herein and tells us that there is not one unnecessary member no not the most feeble 1 Cor. 12.22 And if these have such abundant honour bestowed upon them what is the honor of the comely parts that have no need Vers 23. No need what though they need not what the other parts do yet have they no need of one another Yes surely for God hath so tempered the Body and hath so set the Members That the Eye cannot say to the Hand I have no need of thee Nor the Head to the Feet Oh stange I have no need of you Vers 21. There is as much need of the Foot as the Hand of the Ear as the Eye and of the Smelling as of Seeing and Hearing Vers 15 16 17. to make the Body complear for if there were but one sort of members it were no body Vers 19. But what 's the end of all this variety and disparity 't is Vers 25 26. that there should be no schism or division in the body but that the members should have the same care one of another as if it were for themselves Heb. 13.3 as if the case were your own for so it may be and that if one member suffer all the members may suffer with it or one member be honoured all the rest may rejoy◠with it There is such a mutual assistance resulting from this united variety that 't is far better not only for the whole but for each one than if they were every one for themselves as the world is and were to be concerned for none else Wo to him that is alone without the Society and Sympathy of others but what an hapisying communion do the Babes desires the little Childrens love the Young mens strength and the Fathers wisdom I say what an happisying communion do these make in relation to one another And that these may the better contribute to each other God embodies them as 1 Cor. 12.27 it there follows What alas should the weak do were there not some stronger to bear their infirmities Rom. 15.1 What should an overtaken one do if there were not some spiritual ones to restore him and set him in joynt again with a Ladies hand yea with a spirit of meekness Gal. 6.1 And this they are obliged to do as if they were in their stead and condition considering themselves that eitheir they have been or may be tempted and therefore should bear one anothers burden Yea I may add also what would the elder sort do with all their strength and knowledge if there were not others to be strengthned and taught by them for scire tuum nihil est nisi te scire hoe sciat alter the good of knowledge and experience is not only in being pessest of it but in communicating it the design of such mens having more grace than others is not only for their own salvation less would do that but for others edification also as gists so great degrees of grace are given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a common good As Paul was converted not meerly to save him but that he might be an example to them that should believe hereafter 1 Tim. 1. So in his tribulations and temptations he was comforted not only for his own support but for the consolation and salvation of others that he might be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith he was comforted of God 2 Cor. 1.3 6. in which exercise he was not a little conversant 2 Cor. 11.28 29. Thus then you see that this body is so compact that the communion between the members is lively sympathizing and assistant as if it were every one 's own case This indeed is the excellency of this great piece of Gods work that all the members are so joynted that if you touch one all the rest feel it and have a sense of it as the Head also hath if any of his members be abused Acts 9.4.5 There are many carved and other painted pieces that please the Eye to look upon them but have no life nor sense if you touch one part the rest are not concerned but in this body they rejoyce together and suffer together according to the good or evil any members meet withal If but a Toe be trodden on the Head feels it and cries out Saul Saul why persecutest thou me If Peter be in Prison
than your Brethren by the head and shoulders are you crowned with the gray-hairs of wisdom and righteousness have ye overcome the wicked one have ye lain in the Fathers bosom give God the Glory who gave you the Grace Are others of you but of late admission or but of little and low stature are ye but Babes in Christ Yet despise not the day of small things let none of his mercies or consolations be small to you who are less than the least of them all 'T is great mercy to be one of Christs though but one of his little ones Our Lord Jesus chose twelve to be with him as his family whereof three were è secretioribus admitted to be his confidents Peter James and John and of these three John was the darling he was the Disciple whom Jesus loved with a peculiar love and was admitted to lie in his bosom now if thou be not a John yet thank him if thou be a Peter or a James if not of them yet that thou art one of the twelve but not Judas if not one of the twelve to be with him yet one of the seventy for he afterward inlarged the number to do him any service abroad Bless him that thou art a member of his body though but an ear or a foot that thou art a starr in his firmament though not of the first magnitude but the very least of all David had his several Worthies and the lowest was honorable though he attained not to the first three 2 Sam. 23.23 and among the thirty seven Vriab the Hittite was the last Verse 39. Though thou be the last yet 't is mercy to be one of the thousands of Israel Though thou do not sit at the Kings table yet bless him if thou be a Dore-keeper to behold his goings out and comings in Bless him that thou art one of the little flock though thou be not the Principal or the choise but the least of it If thou have learnt the A. B. C. of Godliness the first principles and elements of the Doctrine of Christ bless him for it thou knowest not how soon he may teach thee to spell out yea to read distinctly the more perfect lessons that thy joy may be full he takes notice of the kindness of thy Child-hood of thy lispings and essays to speak and go and he will perhaps take thee by the hand and teach thee to go from form to form till thou come to be one of the uppermost in the School of Christ and then he will remove and translate thee into the University the holy Academy where the Spirits of just men made perfect will bid thee welcome and be glad of thy Company then shalt thou be of the Society of true Christians of them that are in Christ indeed and shalt live with Christ for ever which is best of all At present if thou be not worth thousands rich in grace yet bless him that thou art worth any thing worthy of his calling and made meet to partake of the inheritance of the Saints in light Coloss 1.12 by being delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son Verse 13. Though he have not made thee a Father yet bless him that he hath made thee a Son though as yet but a Babe and under age he that blesseth God for a little is in the ready way to be blest with more Therefore again 4. Let every one that is not aim to be a Father and every one that is a Father aim at being more so for as there is a growth from one kind to another so there is a growth from one degree to another aym at and press forward to the highest state and utmost degree of perfection as Saint Paul did and thereby shews others the way Philip. 3.12 17. Be not content with being Babes but grow from thence to be little Children and from thence to be Young-men and from thence to be Fathers and so to be perfect men in Christ Jesus Ephes 4.13 16. Go from strength to strength till ye appear before God in Zion which is above Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 3.18 He had said immediately before take heed that ye fall not from your own stedfastness but lest ye should think it enough not to be Apostates or to be stedfast he presently and in the same breath subjoyns but grow in grace c. So 't is not only be stedfast and immoveable but abound yea be always abounding in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 and the Apostle Peter would not have us think that to be new-born and so to partake of a Divine nature is sufficient but saith he besides this add to your faith c. And if these things be in you is that enough No but if these things be in you and abound then an abundant entrance shall be administred to you into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.4 11. Do not content your self meerly with so much grace as will bring you into heaven the haven of happiness but that you may enter in with full sails with a plerophorie and full assurance 5. Let not the weak envy though they may emulate the strong nor let the strong despise the weak but be helpers of their faith and joy Poor Babes are apt to suffer their eye to be evil because God is good to grow sullen if others speed better than themselves but these things ought not to be so for God may do with his own what he pleaseth and give to every one as he will Many of this form are like Davids Brother Eliab who charged his inquisitive boldness upon the pride of his heart and considered not that 't was of the Lord who had chosen and preferr'd him before himself who was the elder Brother 1 Sam. 17.28 with 1 Sam. 16.6 7. Which haply was altâ mente repostum the very reason of the grudge and picque against his Brother David Saul also ey'd him with an evil eye when his Victories increased and the ten thousands were attributed to David and but thousands to himself 1 Sam. 18.5 9. Thus 't is with weak Christians they are apt to envy their superiors and betters the very grace of God but let envyings as well as wrath be laid aside which the Apostles speaks to Babes 1 Pet. 2.1 2. On the other hand let not the strong despise the weak but bear with and bear their infirmities which is to fulfil the Law of love and of Christ Gal. 6.2 3. with Rom. 15.1 7. this honour is due to these weaker Vessels for God hath bestowed it upon them he hath so tempered the body that the hand cannot say to the eye I have no need of thee nor again the head 't is strange for the head is Christ yet his Church is his fulness Ephes 1.23 much less can any of the members say to the feet I have
no need of you nay much more those members of the body which seem to be most feeble are not only convenient but necessary And not only we do or ought to give but God himself doth give more abundant honour to that part which lacketh 1 Cor. 1.12.21 24. 'T is said Prov. 22.2 The rich and poor meet together in the same body and the Lord is the maker of them all he that made him poor and thee rich could have made him rich and thee poor and as 't is now the rich need the poor as much as the poor need the rich therefore despise not the poor and low Job tells us that he despised not nor durst to despise the cause of his Man-servant no nor of his Maid-servant no though they contended with him for as he saith he could not Answer it to God who made and fashioned his Servant in the womb as he did himself Job 31.13 15. Excellent arguments Well then let not the Babe envy the Young-men c. In a great court many times there is a special favorite but all the rest are apt to envy him though they also are in the same court because they are not favoured and honoured as he is Every one would be the only one So too often in the Court of Heaven upon Earth i. e. the Church Jesus Christ the King of Saints takes one or other as John to be his bosom favorite and truely the other ambitious Courtiers cannot bear this they look upon such a person with an evil eye as Peter did upon John as you may read John 21. When Christ Jesus had told Peter not only what he must do but suffer also in relation to which he makes sure of his love first for one that loves not or loves little will not do or suffer much or willingly yet after this being told of his sufferings and nothing of that nature said concerning John he seems to take it ill and is not able to forbear asking the Question and what shall this man do which was a spice of envy for Christ takes him up for 't with an angty what is that to thee Joh. 21 15-22 When some poor souls Babes that they are see Children-Saints made so much of that they enjoy the light of Gods countenance and lie in his bosom all the day long and others Youngmen-Saints making great conquests and obtaining victories over temptations and when they hear Father-Saints tell long stories of their antient acquaintance with Christ through every turn and dispensation and what variety of experiences they have had in all conditions and withal how little joy victory experience c. they themselves have they are apt to envy and regret the others enjoyments and glory So perhaps on the other side when the Fathers hear the younger ones speak of experiences how they lisp and speak but dimidiata verba half words and see how short they fall of their attainments when the Young-men see how the Children are baffled and led into captivity by temptations when the little Children see how ignorant the Babes are and that they know not their Father at such times the rich and strong are apt to deride or at least to undervalue the poor and weak as unworthy of their company and converse 'T is but too common with them that know much to know it too much and for them that are wise and rich though but in their own eyes so many times to have very low thoughts and to speak as meanly of their inferiours but it should not be so with Saints if it be 't is their infirmity not to give it a worse name let not therefore him that eateth strong meat despise him that eateth milk nor let him that eateth but milk envy him that eateth strong meat that I may allude something to what the Apostle speakes in another case Rom. 14.3 6. Seeing there are several degrees of Saints let all be willing that each may have a share and portion at a Sermon or in an Epistle as here in 1 Job 2.13 14. or at least that some may be spoken to at one time and some at another for we cannot speak to all at once Some men must have patience at a Doal for all cannot be served at one time so it is in this case Some when they come to a Sermon think nothing worth the hearing but what is spoken to their case and truly almost so many minds as men if it be not a discourse for humbling saith one for consolation saith another for exhortation saith a third 't is nothing worth Thus one is for Paul another for Apollo and a third for Cephas some for Barnabas and others for Boanerges some for the Law and others for free-grace some for Faith and others for Works Fathers are for antiquities Young-men for wars Children for love-tokens and Babes for milk But my beloved all should wait for their meat and portion in due season And 7. Every one should endeavour to make the best use of what they hear and read All Scripture is profitable and is written for every ones learning Are Fathers spoken to 't is of use to the younger sort to provoke them to aspire and endeavour after such attainments and experiences and therefore the Apostle resolved to go on and to treat of perfection strong meat and doctrine though his Hearers were but Babes Heb. 6.1 Are the younger sort spoken to 't is of use to Fathers to call to remembrance what once they were for such were some of you And also to stir them up to thankfulness that God hath advanced them to a state of which it may be said such honour have not all the Saints and to say as David did Who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou bast brought me bitherto 2 Sâ—m 7.18 I have heard of an eminent person who had been with others at a Sermon and when some complained and seemed to be offended because the Preacher was a Boanerges and threatned wrath and the flashes of Hell fire to sinners he â—â—ld them 't was one of the sweetest and most â—â—mfortable Sermons that he had heard of a 〈◊〉 time for said he I bless God I am delivered 〈◊〉 it all This is to make a good use of a Sermon Do you that are Saints hear Sermons Preacht to sinners to shew the misery of their condition then bless God that hath converted you Do you that are sinners hear Sermons Preacht to Saints to shew their priviledges and happiness then pray to God to make you Saints also Thus all and every one may make a good use of every Sermon they hear Do not be offended or take pet and say I had as good to have staid at home what doth this concern me Oh let not any say so Concern thee There is no truth no doctrine but doth more or less concern thee be thou a sinner or a Saint be thou a Father Young-man little Child or Babe And this brings me to speak particularly
believe in Jesus have this honor to be called and to be the Sons of God who are born not of Blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God and surely they are most highly descended who are born from above or of God Joh. 1.12 13. and Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us that we should be the first-fruits i.e. the most excellent of his creatures For as manis greater than all the Creation of God Angels excepted Psal 8.4 8. so of all men the Saints are the first-fruits and in some respect advanced beyond the Angels Heb. 1.14 For the Angels are their attendants and servitours yea they learn of the Church the manifold or much varying wisdom of God Ephes 3.10 and though Christ be head over them yet he is not their head as he is the head of the Church which is his Body Ephes 1.22 23. and 5.23 The best of men are but men at best but grace makes men more men than they were and more than men 2. As there is a great difference between Saints and men so there is disparity between Saints and Saints they as the Stars differ from one another in glory All Saints are excellent but they are not all alike excellent Psal 16.3 All of them do vertuously but some excel the rest In the Body of man there are some members that are far more noble than others there are principal and vital and there are less principal and but accidental as to life indeed all the members of Christs body are vital and necessary and yet some are more so than others and as to their functions and operations do far excel the rest as the eye doth the ear the hand the foot 1 Cor. 12. And the Apostle tells us 2 Tim. 2.20 That in a great house such is Gods Church there are vessels of Gold and vessels of Silver and also of wood and earth some to honour and some to dishonour which refers not only to the difference that there is between common and special grace among men and Professours as Rom. 9.21 but to the true members of the body as 1 Cor. 12.23 they are called less honourable Now no man doubts but the vessels of Silver and Gold are more excellent and honourable than them of earth and wood There are some that are but wooden-Saints and but earthen-Saints in comparison of some that are Silver and others that are golden-Saints See and consider 1 Cor. 3.12 15. Yet this I say also that the highest of Saints doth not so far exceed or excel the lowest as the lowest exceeds and excels the highest of men for the Saints compared one with another differ but gradu gradually but Saints and men do differ specie in kind Gold in the Oare is not so much inferiour to the most refined and pure Gold as clay and earth is inferiour to Gold in the Oare that difference is but gradual but this is specifical 3. There is something common to all the Saints of what degree soever they be viz. they are all born of God all his Children all taught of God from the greatest to the least Heb. 8.11 with 1 Joh. 2.20 27. which he speaks of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little Children to whom he last of all addrest his speech v. 18. The Babe is in Christ Jesus as well as the Father though not so well rooted and grounded in him 1 Cor. 3.1 Col. 2.6 7. their sins are forgiven alike 1 Joh. 2.12 to be gracious is common to all though some have more grace than others as 't is to all men to be rational though some are more rational than others Truth of Grace is common to all though growth of Grace be in some respects more peculiar to some They are all brethren and are brought forth in the Image of God and created according to him or his likeness in righteousness and holiness of truth You may espie the Fathers Image in the Babe his eye Though they be but newly born yet they are new-born and new creatures In short and fine they are all members of the Body the foot as well as the hand the ear as well as the eye 1 Cor. 12. Though the Stars differ from one another in glory yet they agree in this that they are all of them Stars The Fathers the Young-men the little Children and the Babes also have this in common that they are of Gods Family and of the houshold of Faith the sons of God they are all in Christs School though not all of one Form 4. As there is something common to all so there are some things proper and peculiar to each state something proper to the Fathers which cannot be said of the young-men something proper to the young-men which cannot be said of the little Children something proper to the little Children which cannot be said of the Babes as there is something proper to the Babes which cannot be said of them that are not yet new-born though there be too much in common with Babes and carnal men they being not yet throughly cleansed from their blood and pollution but are as carnal and walk as men There is something in the best Saints that may be found in every one but there is that in some that cannot be found in all The Apostle gives these three Classes peculiar attributes That of Fathers is Wisdom that of young men is Valour that of little Children is Love and St. Paul tells us that the Babes eat but milk i. e. they repent and believe a little faintly c. to which St. Peter adds desires as was noted before from 1 Pet. 2.2 'T is true indeed the highest and greatest contains the less but not the less the greater much less the greatest The Father knows all the four states for he hath past from a Babe to a little Child from a little Child to a young man and from thence to a Father The young man knows three states for he past from a Babe to a little Child and from thence to a young man the little Child knows but two states being gone no further than from a Babe to a little Child but the Babe is acquainted with only his own state at present and knows not what 't is to be any thing of what is proper to the other three only this he is pâ—st from death to life from being a sinner to bâ— a Saint though but a weak one Of their several attainments and proper Characters I shâ—l treat hereafter more particularly if God permit Heb. 6.3 5. The disparity or difference that is between those Saints as such is not in their gifts but graces and not in common but iâ— special grace No nor only in accessaries and complemental but in principal and fundamental graces proper to each state 'T is not in their gifts but graces for 't is possible for persons to be full of and rich in gifts yet poor in grace as the Corinthians were they came
the Church is at Prayers the members of this body are partners in joy and sorrow if they laugh 't is together if they weep 't is together like twins in one As each member contributes to the making up and edification of the whole Ephes 4.16 So each partakers of the enjoyments or sufferings of the whole or any part And to this purpose God hath framed thus harmoniously and admirably this body made up of these members Babes little Children Young men and Fathers all of whom are necessary and assistant to the edification and perfection of the whole Structure III. A further continuation of the Praecognita things to be premised 8. ALL these ranks and states and each of them have a measure to which they are appointed and a degree wherein they are fixed The Foot is fixed to its place and measure so are the rest of the members so 't is in this body though with this difference that some who yet are Babes may be little Children and so go on from degee to degree yet there is constantly these fixed states of Babes Children c. so that they who are appointed to be but Babes go no higher and so of Children that come not to be young men and Young men that come not to be Fathers Though I cannot say this or that person is fixed to be a Babe a little Child c. and shall be no other yet I can say that the state of a Babe c. is fixed and that they who are appointed thereunto proceed no further Some die young as Jeroboams Son who run his race as soon as he could go almost The Thief on the Cross died almost in the moment or hour wherein he was new born and yet might have more grace and be of an higher degree than some that were converted before him and lived longer after it God saith in this case as to the Sea Thus far shalt thou go and no further As he appoints the times and habitations so their estates and riches to which as 't is said of their daies they cannot pass There is the measure of every part Ephes 4.16 and the measure of the Stature Vers 12. and of the gist of Christ Vers 7. of Faith Rom. 2.3 And as God hath appointed who shall be members so also what growth each of these members shall attain to for they increase with the increase of God viz. of his appointment as well as blessing and production Col. 2.19 as all Christs members were written in Gods Book so the growth of them to they are not to be all of the same stature but according to the measure that is allotted to them some live and die Babes c. 9. Every one shall have grace suitable and sufficient to his state and degree The Father for his the Young man for his and so of the rest God will seed them all with the food of their allowance or food convenient for them to allude to that of Agur Prov 30.8 A Babe shall have Babes grace Babes food and rayment Babes allowance and portion and so shall all the rest have what is suitable to and sufficient for them That which will fit and suffice one will not another but the God of all grace of all sorts and degrees will sit and furnish them all As our Fathers according to the flesh dispose of and to their Children according to their age and capacity so doth the Father of spirits his Children As to Talents Mat. 25.15 The Lord gave to every man according to his ability or faculty as Erasmus or as Dr. Hammond in his Paraphrase what was competent for that employment place office exigence of business intrusted to him and agreeable to his capacity In case of temptation he will not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able 1 Cor. 10.13 In case of duties he lays on them nothing but what is necessary to their state and condition Act. 15.28 Our Saviour would not put new Wine into old Bottles i.e. he would not put his Disciples on Fasting which was at that time a duty too hard for them Matth 9.15 17. He would not lay mens duties on Babes or Children no he hath a special tenderness for his little ones he as Jacob did his drives them gently as they can go as he doth also them that are with young and if his Lambs saint he takes them into his bosom Isa 40.11 He doth not as the Pharisees bind heavy burdens or if he do he will put to his helping hand God keeps a good Table he hath several Dishes Milk for Babes and strong meat for grown persons And in the first place he takes care that Peter seed his Lambs and then his Sheep Joh. 21. The Mother forgets not her sucking Child to be sure though she doth not neglect the rest the weak little ones shall be made much of and have the breast or the spoon often because they cannot digest much at a time that I may allude to that in Isa 28.9 10. Precept shall be upon Precept line upon line here a little and there a little God will give all their portion in due season and divide his Word aright among them they shall have suitable dividends He will give the tongue of the learned to one or other that he shall know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary Matth. 17.28 Isa 50.4 and to others also as John did to Fathers Young men and Children He will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax but support that and cherish this he will not cocker the wantons but use the Rod as well as rebuke them sharply that they may be found in the Faith Still as their case and condition is such is the administration to them Our Saviour would not say more to his Disciples than they could bear Joh. 16.12 and so he hath taught his Apostles to tread in his steps when Paul found the Corinthians to be but Babes he speaks to and treats them accordingly 1 Cor. 3.1 2. And so he did the Hebrews Chap. 5. who were dull of hearing 'T is to do hurt and not good to Preach to persons otherwise than their capacities are There is a time for all things Non omnibus omnia nec omnibus horis every thing is beautiful in its season sometimes new and sometimes old things must be brought out of the treasury sometimes promises othertimes threatnings that is best which is â—test and most agreeable We must not study what we can best Preach Mark 4.33 but what the people can best bear we must not teach a Babe as we would a Child or a Young man A word fitly spoken is like Apples of God in Pictures of Silver i. e. both inviting and taking being lovely and disireable because both pleasing and profitable What ever we do to be sure God doth feed his people with food convenient for them giving every one their portion suitably which is the beauty of it