fire for its mollifying power Jer. 23. 29. If you are poysoned with sin here is an herb to expel it Look upon the Word as a soveraign Elixir to comfort you in distress it comforts you against all your sins temptations and afflictions What are the Promises but divine Cordials to revive fainting Souls A gracious heart goes feeding on a Promise as Sampson on the Hony-comb Judg. 14. 9. The word comforts against sickness and death 1 Cor. 15. 55. O death where is thy sting A Christian dies embracing the Promise as Simeon did Christ Heb. 11. 16. Read the Word as the last VVill and Testament of Christ. Here are many Legacies given to them that love him Pardon of sin Adoption Consolation this Will is in force being sealed in Christs Blood With what seriousness doth a Child read over the Will and Testament of his Father that he may see what is left him Read it as a Book by which you must be judged John 12. 48. The Word I have spoken shall judge him at the last day They who live according to the Rules of this Book shall be acquitted they who live contrary to them shall be condemned There are two Books God will go by the Book of Conscience and the Book of Scripture the one shall be the Witness and the other the Judge How should every Christian then provoke himself to read this Book of God with Care and Devotion This is that Book which God will proceed by at the last They who fly from the Word as a Guide shall be forced to submit to it as a Judge 2. The second Duty of Religion wherein we must provoke our selves is in Hearing of the Word We may bring our bodies to the Word with ease but not our hearts without offering violence to our selves When we come to the Word Preached we come about a business of the highest importance therefore should stir up our selves and hear with the greatest devotion Constantine the Emperour was noted for his reverend attention to the Word Luk. 19. 48. All the people were attentive to hear him In the Greek it is they hanged upon his lip When the Word is dispensed we are now to lift up the everlasting doors of our hearts that the King of glory may enter in How far are they from offering violence to themselves in hearing who scarce mind what is said as if they were not at all concerned in the business they come to Church more for custom than conscience Ezek. 33. 31. They come to thee as the people cometh and they sit before thee as my people and hear thywords but they will not do them If we could tell them of a rich purchase or of some place of preferment they would diligently attend but when the Word of Life is Preached they disregard it 2. How far are they from offering violence to themselves in hearing who come to the Word in a dull drowsie manner as if they came to Church to take a Receipt to make them sleep The Word is to feed it is strange to sleep at meat The Word judgeth men it is strange for a prisoner to fall asleep at the Bar. To such sleepy hearers God may say Sleep on He may suffer them to be so stupified that no Ordinance shall awaken them Mat. 13. 25. While men slept the enemy came and sowed Tares The Devil is never asleep but sows the tares of sin in a drowsie hearer That we may when we come to the Word offer violence to our selves and stir up our selves to hear with devotion consider 1. It is God that speaks to us If a Judge give a charge upon the bench all listen If a King speaks all give attention When we come to the Word we should think thus with our selves We are to hear God in this Preacher Therefore Christ is said Now to speak to us from Heaven Heb. 12. 25. Christ speaks in his Ministers as a King speaketh in the person of his Embassadour When Samuel knew it was the Lord that spake to him he lent an ear 2. Sam. 3. 5. Speak Lord thy Servant heareth They who slight God speaking in his Word shall hear him speaking in his wrath Psalm 2. 5. Then shall he speak to them in his wrath 2. Let us consider the weightiness of the matters delivered to us As Moses said to Israel Deut. 30. 19. I call Heaven and Earth to Record this day that I havâ—… set before you life and death We preach to men of Christ and the Eternal Recompences here are the magnalia Legis the weighty matters of the Law and doth not all this call for serious attention There is a great deal of difference between a Letter of news read to us and a Letter of special business wherein our whole Land and Estate is concerned In the Word preached our Salvation is concerned here we are instructed to the Kingdom of God and if ever we will be serious it should be now Deut. 32. 47. It is not a vain thing for you because it is your life 3. If the Word be not regarded it will not be remembred Many complain they cannot remember here is the reason God punisheth their carelesness in hearing with forgetfulness He suffers Satan to take away the Word from them Mat. 13. 4. The Fowls of the Air came and devoured the seed The Devil is no Recusant he comeâ—… to Church but it is not for any good intent he gets away the Word from men How many have been roâ—…ed of the Sermon and their souls both at once 4. It may be the last time that ever God will speak to us in his Word it may be the last Sermon that ever we shall hear and we may go from the place of hearing to the place of judgeing Did people think thus when they come into the Houseof God Perhaps this will be the last time that God will counsel us about our souls the last time that ever we shall see our Minister's face with what devotion would they come how would their affections be all on fire in hearing We give great attention to the last speeches of friends A Parents dying words are received as Oracles Oh let all this provoke us to diligence in hearing let us think this may be the last time that Aarons Bell shall sound in our ears and before another day we shall be in another World The third Duty wherein we are to offer violence to our selves is in Prayer Prayer is a duty which keeps the trade of Religlon agoing When we either joyn in prayer with others or pray alone we must use holy violence not eloquence in prayer but violence carries it Theodorus speaking of Luther Once saith he I over heard him in prayer but good God with what life and spirit did he pray It was with so much Reverence as if he were speaking to God yet with so much confidence as if he had been speaking to his friend
How confident are some of salvation yet never examine their title to Heaven 3. Men are not forward to examine themselves because they rest in the good opinion of others how vain is this Alas one may be Gold and Pearl in the eye of others yet God may judge him Reprobate Silver others may think him a Saint and God may write him down in his black-black-book Judas was looked upon by the rest of the Apostles as a true Believer they would have been ready to have given their hands to his certificate yet he was a Traitor Standers by can but see the outward carriage they cannot tell what evil is in the heart Fair streams may run on the top of a River but vermin may lie at the bottom 4. Men are hardly brought to examine themselves because they do not believe Scripture The Scripture saith The heart is deceitful above all things Jer. 17. 9. Solomon said there were four things too wonderful for him that he could not know Prov. 30. 19. He might have added a fifth The Way of mans heart The heart is the greatest Impostor it will be ready to put one off with seeming Grace instead of saving The heart will perswade that a slight tear is Repentance a lazy desire is Faith Now because the generality of people do not believe that there is such fallacy in their hearts therefore they are so slow to examine them This natural backwardness in us to self-reflection should cause us to offer the more violence to our selves in making a thorow disquisition and search of our hearts Oh that I might prevail with Christians to take pains with themselves in this great work of Examination Their salvation depends on it It is the note of an Harlot she is seldom at home Prov. 7. 11 12. Her feet abide not in her house now is she without now in the streets It is a sign of an Harlot Professor to be altogether abroad spying the faults of others but is never at home with his own heart Oh let us try our Hearts as we do Gold by the Touchstone Let us examine our sins and finding out this leven burn it Let us examine our Grace whether it be of the right kind One went into the field to gather herbs and he gathered wild gourds and then Death was in the Pot. 2 Kings 4. 40. So many think they have Grace the right Herb but it proves a wild gourd and brings death and damnation That we may offer violence to our selves in this great business of Examination let these few things be seriously weighed 1. Without self-examination we can never know how it is with us If we should die presently we cannot tell to what Coast we should sail whether to Hell or Heaven It is reported of Socrates when he was going out of the World he had this speech I am now to dye and the gods know whether I shall be happy or iniserable That man who is ignorant of the state of his Soul must needs heve the trembling at the heart as Cain had a shaking in his flesh By a serious serutiny of our hearts we come to know to what Prince we belong whether to the Prince of peace or the Prince of the aiâ—… 2. If we will not try our selves God will try us He will examine us as the chief Captain did Paul by scourging Act. 22. 24. He will ask that question as Christ Whose image â—…d superscription is this And if we cannot shew him his own image he will reject us 3. There is secret corruption within which will never be found out but by searching There are in the heart as Austin saith hidden pollutions When Pharaoh's Steward accused Joseph's Brethren of having the Cup they durst have sworn they had not the Cup in their sack Little doth a man know what Atheism Pride Uncleanness is in his heart till he searcheth 4. The great advantage which will accrew to us the benefit is great which way soever things turn If upon examination we find that we have not grace in truth then the mistake is discovered and the danger prevented If we find that we have grace we may take the comfort of it How glad was he that had found the Pearl of great priâ—…e He that upon search finds that he hath but the minimum quod sic the least degree of grace is like one that hath found his Box of Evidences he is Heir to all the Promises and in a state of Salvation And that we â—…ay go on the more successively in this work let us desire God to help us to find out our hearts Job 34. 32. That which I see not teach thou me Lord take off the vail shew me my heart let me not perish through mistake or go to Hell with hope of Heaven The sixth duty wherein we must offer violence to our selves is The Religious sanctifying of the Lords day That there should be a day of holy rest dedicated to God appears from the institution Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day Our Christian Sabbath comes in the room of the Jewish Sabbath it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. from Christ the Author of it Our Sabbath is altered by Christ's own appointment He arose this day out of the grave and appeared on it often to his Disciples 1 Cor. 16. 1. To intimate to them saith Athanasius that he transferred the Sabbath to the Lords day And St. Austin saith That by Christ's rising on the first day of the week it was consecrated to be the Christian Sabbath in remembrance of his Resurrection This day was antâ—…tly called Dies Lucis the day of Light as Junius observes The other days of the week would be dark were it not for the shining of the Sun of Righteousness on this day This day hath been called by the Antients Regind diâ—…rum the Queen of days And St. Hieroni preferrs this day above all solemn Festivals The Primitive Churâ—…h had this day in high veneration it was a great badge of their Religion for when the question was asked Servasti Dominicum Keepest thou the Sabbath the answer was made Christianus sum I am a Christian and dare not omit the celebration of the Lords day What great cause have we thankfully to remember this day As the benefit of Israel's deliverance from the Babylonish captivity was so great that it drowned the remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt Jer. 16. 14. So the benefit of our deliverance from Satan's captivity and the rising of Christ from finishing the glorious work of our Redemption was so famous that in respect of this his other benefits receive as it were a diminution Great was the work of Creation but greater the work of Redemption It cost more to redeem us than make us In the one there was only the speaking a word Psal. 148. 5 in the other the shedding of blood Heb. 9. 22. The Creation was the work of God's fingers Psal. 8. 3. the
for Heaven thou wilt lose all thy pleasures ask him what pleasures are they Satan such as please only the senses they do not delight the mind they do not comfort the conscience they are such delights wherein the bruit creatures do exceed me 3. These sugred pleasures in sin the Scripture saith are but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a season Heb. 11. 25. Like fire in straw which makes a blaze but is presently out 1 Joh. 2. 17. The world passeth away and the lusts thereof It passeth away swiftly as a ship under sail Worldly pleasures perish in the using like a flying shadow or flash of lightning and are these to be preferred before an eternal weight of glory 4. The present sweetness which is in fin will turn to bitterness at last Like the Book the Prophet eat Ezek. 3. 3. Sweet in the mouth but bitter in the belly Hony is sweet but it turns to choler Sin is a sweet poison it delights the palate but torments the bowels When once the finner's eyes come to be opened at death and he feels some sparks of God's wrath in his conscience then he will cry out for horrour and be ready to lay violent hands upon himself We may say of the pleasures of sin as Solomon of wine Prov. 23. 32. Look not on the wine when it is red when it shews its colour in the glass afterwards it bites like a Serpent So look not on the smiling pleasures of sin be not delighted with its beauty but affrighted with its sting Do the damned in Hell feel any pleasure now in their sins Hath their cup of wrath one drop of hony in it Oh remember after the golden Crowns and womens hair come the Lions teeth Rev. 9. 8. Thus I have answered the first part of the Objection I shall lose all my pleasures in sin If I put forth this violence in Religion I shall exchange my delight for labour I must dig a way through the Rock and while I work I must weep Resp. Though you must use violence yet it is a sweet violence it is a labour turned into delight Psal. 138. 5. They shall sing in the waies of the Lord. To send out faith as a spy to view the heavenly Canaan and pluck a bunch of Grapes there what delight is here Rom. 15. 13. Joy in believing To love God in whom all excellencies are combined how sweet is it To love beauty is delightful To walk among the promises as among beds of spices and taste the fruit oh how pleasant The labour of a Christian brings peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost Sed juvat ipse labor And whereas it is said that this holy violence takes away our joy and while we work we must weep I answer a Christian would not be without these tears The tears of a Saint saith Bernard have more true joy in them than all worldly delight The Oyl of joy is for mourners Isa. 61. 3. 4. I would use this violence for Heaven but I shall expose my self to the censure and scorn of others They will wonder to see me so altered and think it nothing but a religious phrensie Consider who reproach thee they are the wicked such as if Christ were alive on earth would reproach him They are blinded by the God of the world 2 Cor. 4. 4. It is as if a blind man should reproach a beautifull face 2. What do they reproach thee for 't is for offering violence for Heaven Is it a disgrace to be labouring for a Kingdom Tell them thou art doing the work that God hath set thee about Better they should reproach thee for working in the Vineyard than God damn thee for not working 3. Jesus Christ was reproached for thy sake Heb. 12. 2. He endured the shame of the Cross and wilt not thou be contented to bear reproaches for him These are but the chips of the Cross which are rather to be despised than laid to heart If I use this holy violence and turn religious then I shall lose such yearly profits which my sin hath brought in As Amaziah said What shall I do for the hundred Talents 2 Chron. 25. 9. Is there any profit in sin did ever any one thrive upon that Trade by that time you have cast up the reckoning you will find but little profit 1. By the incomes that sin brings in thou treasurest up vengeance Rom. 2. 5. While thou puttest unjust gain in thy bag God puts wrath in his viol and will you call this profit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whatever mony a man gets in a sinful way he must pay interest for it in hell 2. That cannot be for thy profit which makes thee come off a loser at last Thou losest Heaven and thy soul and what can countervail this loss What is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul Matth. 16. 26. God saith Chrysostom hath given a man two eyes if he lose one he hath another but he hath but one soul and if that be lost he is undone for ever But I have so much business in the world that I can find no time for this holy violence As the King of Macedon said when they presented him with a book treating of Happiness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am not at leisure See the folly of of this objection What is the main business of life but looking after the soul and for men to say they are so immersed in the world that they cannot mind their souls is most absurd and irrational This is to make the greater give way to the lesse As if an Husbandman should say he is so busie in angling or looking after his Bees that he hath no time to plow or sow What is his occupation but plowing Such a madness is it to hear men say they are so taken up about the world that they have no time for their souls Could God find time to think of thy salvation could Jesus Christ find time to come into the world and be here above thirty years in carrying on this great design of thy Redemption and canst thou find no time to look after it Is the getting a little mony that which obstructs this violence for Heaven Thy mony perish with thee Canst thou find time for thy body time to eat and sleep and not find time for thy soul canst thou find time to employ about thy recreation and no time to employ about thy salvation canst thou find time for idle visits and no time to visit the Throne of Grace Oh take heed thou goest not to Hell in the croud of worldly business Joshua who was a Commander of an Army yet his work as a Souldier was not to hinder his work as a Christian he must pray as well as fight and take the Book of the Law in his hand as well as the Sword Josh. 1. 8. Thou whosoever thou art that makest this