fast to them and to their doctrine keep firm to that profession of Faith which the Orthodox Clergy have preached in their Sermons and still preach in their sufferings such as never yet renounced or contradicted their subscriptions The sum of our Churches Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government contained in the Liturgy in the Thirty nine Articles the Book of Homilies and of Ordination These every Minister did subscribe to even those Ministers did set to their hands in subscription to justifie them who after lift up their hands in Covenant to destroy them But God grant them Repentance and us Perseverance them Repentance of their Revolt and us Perseverance in the Faith that at the last day the Church may say to us what Christ said to his Apostles Luâ— â— 28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations and then shall Christ in the view of the whole World reward our Patience and crown our Constancy making it manifest fully manifest That we are approved Thus have we done with the several particulars of the Explication and of the Application what remains but your practice Halleluiah THE FIRST SERMON UPON Matth. 28. V. 19. and part of the 20. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you Introduction IF we who serve in the Sanctuary do as men intrusted in greatest Affairs and Imployments should do often view our Commission from our Saviour as his Ministers 1 Cor. 4.1 Matth. 10.24 2 Cor. 5.20 from our Lord as his Stewards from our Master as his Servants yea from our King as his Ambassadors This frequent view will animate our Ministry with a zealous vigor encouraged in our Service by the authority and presence of our Lord and Master See the Preface to my Text and we finde our Saviour victoriously risen from the Grave and before he triumphantly ascends into Heaven he orders the affairs of his Church on Earth speaking unto his Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the things concerning the Kingdom Acts 1.3 The Kingdom of which he is Soveraign All power being given unto him in Heaven and in Earth which power he hath promised shall never fail his Church For so says Christ unto his Apostles and all their Successors in the close and compline of the Text Behold I am with you unto the end of the World I am with you in the work of your Ministry with you to prosper your labors and protect your persons To prosper your labors making Disciples not to your selves but to me You I have deputed to the Office of Preaching my Word and administring my Sacraments and therefore they who own me their Master shall acknowledge you my Ministers But further I am with you Matth. 10.40 as to prosper your labors so to protect your persons I will plead your right vindicate yo r authority punish your contempt and avenge your injury If any sleight and despise the office of your ministry if any question or doubt the efficacy of mine Ordinances my Word my Sacraments see my power behold my presence maugre all the malice and rage of men and devils of earth and hell the ministry of my Gospel and Grace shall stand let this then be your encouragement and comfort let this be your assurance and establishment I will justifie your Office and make good your Commission for All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth and lo I am with you unto the end of the World And therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go ye teach all Nations c. The words they are the very basis and foundation of the Gospels Ministry to us Gentiles Observe in them three parts a Mission Division a Commission and particular Instructions for the exercising that Commission First The Mission delivered in an usual Grecism of the Participle for the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go ye Secondly The Commission not barely no nor properly teach but more fully 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make Disciples Dìscipulas facìte omnes gentes as Beza Disciple ye all Nations Thirdly The particular instructions for the exercising this Commission 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Baptising and Teaching admitting into the School and Church of Christ by Baptism and then tutoring and training up by Doctrine which Baptism is instituted as to the form of its ministration to be In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and the Doctrine is prescribed as to the extent of its object to be All things whatsoever Christ hath commanded the end of wh ch Doctrine is obedience even to observe and do Thus Go ye disciple all Nations baptising them in the Name of thâ— Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you 1. The Mission Go ye The three Offices of Christ as Mediator Explic. his Prophetick Priestly and Regal Office These he now exerciseth in his Church on Earth in the outward Ministry by her Pastors and in the inward Ministraâ—ion by his Spirit In the outward Ministry of the Church her Pastors do expound the Word of God Preach the Gospel of Truth unfold the Mysteries of Grace which is that part of their Ministry committed to them of Christ in the execution of his Prophetical Office Again they offer up the Sacrifices of Prayers and Thanksgivings Baptize and bless in the Name of Christ and celebrate the Sacramental solemnity of the holy Eucharist which is that part of their Ministry committed to them of Christ in the execution of his Priestly Office Further yet they bind the unbelieving and loose the Believer they excommunicate the scandalous and absolve the penitent they govern by Discipline and correct by censure which is that part of their Ministry committed to them of Christ in the execution of his Regal Office Now no part nor portion of this Ministry may any man take upon him Heb. 5.4 but being called as was Aaron that is called even with an inward and outward call as thus A man hath been brought up in the Schools of the Prophets or else where devoted himself to the study of Divinity whereby he is become in a competent measure fitted for the service of the Church 1 Pet. 5.2 when now he findes St. Peter's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a willingness of spirit and readiness of minde to employ his gifts this is the inward call of God But further to testifie and declare this there must be the outward call of the Church Christ receiving him into the Office of the Ministry by the regular Ordination of his Substitutes who alone in this representing his person can give us our Mission of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go ye But alas the disorder and confusion of Sacriledge and Schism What was the Prophets complaint is now our Churches groan
3.15 or addeth thereto No man disannulleth or addeth that is No man ought to disannul or adde under peril of hainous impiety and shameful punishment And let not any think St. John seals up onely the Book of Revelations but that guided by the Spirit of Truth he seals up the whole Books of the New Testament with that dreadful Commination against all Violators of the sacred Scriptures And this whether it be in the Letter or the Sense of Christs holy Word for that of Tertullian is most firmly true Tert. de Praescript c. 17. Tantum veritati obstrepit adulter sensus quantum corruptor stilus To impose an adulterate sense is as much injury to the Word of Truth as to violate the proper phrase And therefore Valentinus and so the Heresies of our times do as much damage to the Scriptures verity in misinterpreting the Sense though they spare the Letter as Marcion did by mangling the sentences and chopping off the words Hear then and tremble O ye seduced Souls who through some carnal prejudice and temporal interest involve your selves in this so horrid sin of Scripture-Sacriledge for that perverting the sense or corrupting the Letter of Christs holy Word of Truth 2 Pet. 3.16 ye do it to your own destruction 2. Observe Beloved these two sure Rules of Instruction and Exhortation 1. Keep close to the Doctrine of the Scriptures 2. Hold fast to the Judgment of the Church Keep close to the doctrine of the Scriptures that will keep you from the seductions of the Romanist Hold fast to the Judgment of the Church that will preserve you from the Errors of the Separatist For so hath God been pleased to make the Militant State of our Mother the Church of England to be betwixt the eager opposition of two enraged Enemies the Church of Rome and the Brethren of the Separation against whom she thus makes good the combate from the Authority of the sacred Scriptures and the Judgment of the Primitive Church Urging the Authority of the Scriptures the Romanist flies at the point of that weapon and would soon be beat out of the field were it not some return he makes by pretending the Church Again Urging the Judgment of the Church the Separatist staggers at that blow and would soon fall to the ground were it not some hold he catcheth by wresting the Scriptures To close then That ye may continue firm and sound in the Faith be careful that in the Epidemical distempers of the times ye change not the dyet of your Souls least what you think to make your food prove your poyson Feed on your Mothers Milk keep to that sum of our Churches Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government which is contained in the Publick Liturgy in the Thirty nine Articles the Books of Homilies and Ordination all consenting with the Word of God and Truth of Christ Withal see that to the confession of a true Faith Aquin. ye joyn the confession of an holy life Confitetur qui nulla parte diffitetur He confesses truly who confesseth thorowly Confess we with the mouth and with the hand in our words and in our works This is the best Harmony of Confessions And thus Matth. 10.32 Confess we Christ before men and he will confess us before his Father which is in Heaven Own we him in this Truâ—h and he will own us in his Glory hear we his Word and do we his Will so shall we receive his Reward and this in an eternal Rest unto our Souls Thus have we done with the Explication and the Application of what concerns the Mission and Commission together with the several Instructions given by our Saviour to his Apostles in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go ye Disciple all Nations Baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you Halleluiah THE FIRST SERMON UPON Coloss 1. v. 18 19. And he is the Head of the Body the Church who is the beginning the first-born from the dead that in all things he might have the preheminence for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell OUR Lord Jesus Christ being ascended into the highest Heavens Introduct and there sate down on the right hand of God Rom 8.34 Heb. 7.25 he ever lives to make intercession for us From which exaltation and intercession the Apostle draws his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ being able to save unto the utmost all that come unto God by him Able to save unto the utmost for that in his intercession is applied unto the Church for her salvation the utmost efficacie of the richest price the fullest power and the highest favour that humanity can receive from God or Divinity communicate to man For it is worth our observing That our blessed Lord to make our salvation sure he saves us by all means possible for salvation to be secur'd He saves us by ransom by rescue and by request by way of price by way of power and by way of favour Christs Resurrection that gives testimony to the sufficiencie of price laid down in his Passion his Ascension that gives testimony to the sufficiencie of power which he exercised in his Resurrection his sitting at Gods right hand that gives testimony to the sufficiencie of favour whereby he is exalted in his Ascension and lastly the Intercession of Christ that is applicatory of all these for the full and final redemption of his chosen In his Intercession he pleads the merit of his Passion as the full paiment he pleads the efficacie of his Resurrection as his clear acquittance he pleads the benefit of his Ascension as giving actual possession Eph. 1.6 Mat. 17.5 Heb. 1.2 and pleads the vertue of his Session at the right hand of the Father as thereby declared to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beloved Son of God and lawful Heir of Heaven Yea our holy Jesus and blessed Mediator being sate down at the right hand of God he is not only by a gracious decree appointed by an holy unction consecrated but also by a glorious investiture from the Father he is established in the spiritual oeconomy Act. 2.36 Rom. 14.9 Mat. 28.18 and actual administration of that soveraign authority whereby he is constituted and declared to be Lord and Christ Judge of quick and dead King of heaven and earth and as S. Paul here gives us the description Head of the body the Church the beginning the first-born from the dead c. Connexion Before we give you the Division of the words we must give you their Dependance to which we are directed by the Copulative and And he is the Head of the body the Church which Copulative does join what we must not separate the Context and the Text. If then we do but look three Verses back we find how the Apostle having set forth the benefits of Redemption he presently subjoins a description of the
discendum quod de Deo intelligendum as Hilary speaks we must learn from God what we may understand of God even as we discover the Body of the Sun by the light of its own beams yea God it is who prepares the eye of the practical judgment and proportions the palate of the rectified will to discern the evidence and rellish the sweetness of supernatural Truths and he does it in this order The Church by a Ministerial Manuduction and Ecclesiastical dispensation to those matriculated by Baptism born in her Lap and bred in her Bosom tutored to a reverend esteem of her Maternal Authority to them she transmits this indubitate principle of Christian Verity That the sacred Scriptures are the Word of God But to them who are without the Infidel and Heathen the Church hath her arma praelusoria her preparatory Arguments of Right Reason to fit the minde for a candid reception and diligent examination of the Scriptures And upon this the Spirit of Truth comes in with Conviction to the Conscience perswading the Soul to this assent of Faith that they are the Word of God Wherefore besides the Ministry and Manuduction of the Church there must be an illuminating power of the Spirit yea a power rectifying and raising the minde to a capacity of supernatural light otherwise the Mysteries of Grace to the Natural man will be as the varieties of colours to the blinde the colours are not discerned till the faculty be restored nor are those Mysteries understood till the minde be healed And when thus by the Spirit of God the minde is fitted to the Word and the Word revealed unto the minde then does the Soul discern an excellency in the sacred Scriptures above what is in Humane Writings with as sure a distinction though not so clear an evidence as the eye does discern a beam of the Sun from the blaze of a Candle Quest 3 Thirdly In doubtful cases how may we best interpret the sacred Scriptures Answ I answer That Interpretation of Scripture is best which holds conformity to the Analogy of Faith and consent with the judgment of the Church two sure rules of Scripture interpretation approved and observed by the ablest Expositors of Gods Word 1. Which holds conformity to the Analogy of Faith Rom 12 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which Analogy of Faith is none other thing then that summary and fit proportion which is in the general principles of Christianity and cheif mysteries of Grace plainly set down in the sacred Scriptures A sum whereof we have in our publick Confessions of Faith the Decalogue the Lords Prayer and the Doctrine of the Sacraments seeing then it is the Scripture phrase to be built up in our holy Faith As that stone Jud. 20. which holds not proportion with the rest of the building is either fitted or rejected by the Architect so that interpretation of Scripture which holds not Analogy with the received Doctrines of Faith it must be either amended or cast away by the Religious And in doing this the Faithful of Christs Church they shall according to St. Pauls precept 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 3 16. walk orderly by one and the same rule and so preserve the unity and peace of the Church in being of one and the same minde 2. Consent with the Judgment of the Church For that no Scripture is of private interpretation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1.20 to be interpreted by a mans own wit fancy or reason but by the enlightning power of the Spirit of Truth for as the Scriptures came not by the proper will Vers 21. so nor are they to be interpreted by the private judgment of men but the same Spirit who is the Author must also be the Interpreter And where may we with more confidence rest assured that this holy Spirit is then where Christ did expresly promise he should ever be with his Church Matth. 28.20 John 16.13 And especially with the Pastors of his Church to whom our Lord gives the promise that His Spirit should lead them into all truth But here it may be demanded what I call the Judgment of the Church I answer The antient perpetual and universal consent of holy Doctrine received at all times in all places and of all the faithful But especially do we fix upon that judgment of the Church in the antient perpetual and universal consent of holy Doctrine collected out of the most consonant Writings of the Primitive Fathers and the sacred Decrees of the first Councils For that without controversie even by confession of all parties in that time were the most Eminent Saints for holiness of life excellency of learning purity of doctrine and constancy of martyrdom And he that will think to go to Heaven in any other path then what these blessed Saints have trod before him I say to him as Constantine to Acesius Erige scalam ascende solus Raise thy self O man a Ladder and climb up alone Now this antient perpetual and universal consent of holy Doctrine collected out of the most consonant Writings of the Primitive Fathers and the sacred Decrees of the first Councils This is that we may call in the language of St. Ambrose Liber Sacerdotalis Ambr. de fid ad Grat. l. 3. c. 7. That Sacerdotal Book signatus a confessoribus multorum Martyrio consecratus signed by the confessions of the most eminent Saints and consecrated by the blood of the holiest Martyrs As then the Authority of the sacred Scriptures gives us the sure rule of Faith so the judgment of the Universal Church gives us the right line of interpretation according to which two it is well worthy our observation the Church of England did exactly draw the platform of her Reformation And this is evident in her Doctrine and Practice 1 In her Doctrine Art 20. amongst many other instances see it in her Book of Articles expresly acknowledging the Church to be the witness and keeper of the sacred Oracles and in her Book of Canons as expresly denying any doctrine necessary to be religiously held and believed which the Catholick Fathers and old Bishops of the Primitive Church have not collected out of the Scriptures And 2 that her practice is suitable to her Doctrine appears by her owning the four General Councils the Apostles Nicen and Athanasian Creeds And in all her disputes against the now silent adversary otherwise too busily employed the Jesuite justifying her reformed estate as conformed to the Primitive Church within the first five Centuries of years And here give me leave to observe unto you how the Presbytery laid the way to their own and our Churches ruine even by setting up private interpretation of Scripture in opposition to the received judgment of the Universal Church For do not the Brownists the Anabaptists under the name and notion of Independents presently beat them with their own weapon The Presbyterian abolisheth the Publick Liturgy and takes away Regular Ordination
God being made as so many stops of time to add more grace and sweetness to the musick § 2. This his Book of Psalms it is aptly called the Epitome of the whole Bible and the Anatomie of the Spiritual man yea we may rightly entitle it the Register of sacred History the Ephemeris of the Churches Prophecies the Library of Divine Doctrine the Store-house of Spiritual Comforts and the Treasury of holy Devotion And that Devotion either Penitentiary Invocatory or Eucharistical Penitenitary in deep contrition humble confession and passionate lamentation Invocatory in fervent supplication earnest deprecation and pious intercession Eucharistical in gratulatory thanksgivings laudatory oblations and triumphal songs David totus est in deprecanda venta peccatorum cujusdam sensim quod magnum multum dicit v. 11 hoc de illo cum Bethsabe commisso Kimhi intelligit Sim. de Muis in loc § 3. Here amidst so large a store choice is made of a Penetential Psalm though none of the seven commonly called the Penetentials fitted in its devotion to the sacred solemnity of the blessed Eucharist and could we attain Davids frame of spirit when he composed this Psalm of Penitence O how well how well would it become this holy Sacrament § 4. If any inquire a reason why choice is made of this present Psalm for the constant celebrations of the Lords Supper know I have observed a secret vigor of devotion to diffuse it self into the soul when exercised in prayer or meditation making use of Davids Psalms to draw heat from his flame and administer heavenly matter for so holy an exercise and upon this reason O ye humble suppliants I thought it an apt and profitable service to give at once a pattern whereby to frame your private devotions in your Closet and an help to compose your souls to an higher pitch of devotion in the publick solemnities of the holy Eucharist § 5. Besides the mystery and benefits of this blessed Sacrament they are so many and so various that no one single verse or small portion of Scripture may be a Text large enough for so copious a subject wherefore that many souls might receive something of instruction and devotion see here I have chosen an whole Psalm which divided into parts like those loaves in the Gospel broken into peeces it will so increase in the explication Mark 6.41 as those did in their distribution that whereas this Psalm like one of those loaves may seem in the whole to be but sufficient for one person yet shall it by a blessing of grace like as that by a miracle of power be in its divided parts sufficient for many fifties § 6. That this Psalm is of more then ordinary excellency and worth as penned by a more then ordinary diligence and zeal appears by the Alphabetical order of the Hebrew Letter Ad musicam an ad memoriam pertineat incertum est Ral bâ—ni nihil certi statuunt beginning each verse The Psalm it self is a mixture of various yet devout affections for that here the Psalmist moved with the sence of his sin and the violence of his Enemies he sues to God for the remission of the former and protection from the latter and at last salvation in respect of both even to himself and the Church of God this he does supported by faith and hope of which hope and faith he gives a sure testimony in the commemoration he makes of Gods abundant mercy and faithful promises And in the profession he declares of his sincere confidence in those promises and his firm expectation of that mercy § 7. The Analysis of the Psalm The whole Psalm consists of Four parts 1. The Preface vers 1. Unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul 2. The Prayer 1. Deprecation vers 2. to 4. O my God I trust in thee let me not be ashamed c. 2. Petition vers 4. to v. 8. Shew me thy ways O Lord teach me thy paths c. 3. The Meditation 1. Laudatory vers 8. to v. 11. Good and upright is the Lord c. 2. Consolatory vers 12. to v. 6. What man is he that feareth the Lord c. 4. The Conclusion 1. Supplication vers 16. to v. 23. Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me c. 2. Intercession vers 22. Redeem Israel O God out of all his troubles § 8. Now O ye devout souls that we may inlarge upon this of Davids Psalm with the inlargement of Davids spirit whilst I shall pass through the several parts in an explicatory application of the particular words and phrases let me revive and raise your sincere devotion as the Prophet did the Shunamites child 2 King 4.35 as the Prophet laid his mouth to the childs mouth his hands to the childs hands so let me lay Davids mouth to your mouth his hands to your hands that is I meâ—n make his prayers your prayers his meditations your meditations And having the same devotion with David we shall find a like acceptance with God whose ear is still open to our prayers whilst our hearts are laid open in his presence the Throne of grace being the only refuge of an humble penitence Vers 1. Vnto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul § 1. BUt O my Soul hast thou not been lift up against the Lord in thy sinful rebellion how then canst thou lift up thy self unto him in a sincere devotion True I have been long dead in sin long buried in the grave of customary iniquity yet I have heard the voice of the Son of God Joh. 5 25. in his Word in his Sacraments this a quickening a reviving voice And therefore unto him that calleth me unto him that quickeneth me unto my God unto my Jesus even unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul § 2. And though heretofore in the state of darkness sin and death though then I have lift up my soul against thee in pride and profaneness the high-way to hell yet now let me lift up my soul unto thee in humility and devotion the high-way to heaven Pride and profaneness they cast me from thee then which what can be lower But humility and devotion they subject me to thee then which what can be higher Thus then raise me by humbling me lay me low in my self and this shall lift me up to thee § 3. Oh how does Sin and Sathan the flesh and the world even the whole Powers of darkness how do they with violence pursue after me Psal 55.6 Oh give me then the wings of a Dove that I may flee away and be at rest Haste haste O my Soul for thy escape hie thee to the holes of the rock to the wounds of thy Jesus and for this shelter and succor for this protection and safety Oh see unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul Unto thee in the fulness of thy merits unto thee in the riches of thy grace unto thee in the
implore its deliverance And when when more seasonably help the Church with our prayers then now when her Prayers are violently wrested from the Church § 22. But more especially 2 to mind us of the fit season and service to pray for Israels deliverance even the celebration of the blessed Eucharist Seeing so great wrath is come upon us from the Almighty do we this day lay hold on the horns of the Altar do we in the celebration of this blessed Sacrament deeply sigh and contritely mourn for all the abominations that are committed in the Land that so Ezek. 9.4 with those Penitentiaries in Ezekiel we may receive our mark even that blood of Christ upon out souls that so the destroying Angel may yet pass over us and in the behalf of this our Israel do we in our most enlarged devotions make this or the like intercession unto God in the holy Eucharist Look down oh look down heavenly Father from the height of Heaven thy celestial Sanctuary and behold the sacred Hoast the blood of our Jesus speaking better things then that of Abel Heb. 12.24 even things of grace and of mercy of pardon and of peace of reconciliation and of restauration And seeing in him thy justice is satisfied let thy wrath be appeased and through the merit of his blood oh let the bleeding wounds of our fainting Land be healed and the faintâ—ng heart of our languishing Church reviv'd § 23. And here let the outward distractions of our Israel minde us of the inward distempers of our hearts the great profanations in the Church prompt us to a strict purifying of our Consciences yea our longing desires after better days quicken our holy endeavours after better lives So shall we find by an happy experience God who did watch for our deliverance when we knew not our danger In the Powder-plot 1605. he will not sleep now we know our danger and pray for our deliverance No as for the Enemies of Sion evil shall fall upon them and sudden desolation Isa 47.11 nescient ortum ejus they shall not know from whence it ariseth But as for the Israel of God he shall deliver them as a bird out of the Fowlers net Ps 124 6 7. and as a prey out of the Lyons teeth at once making it the praise of our faith then to believe when our trust seems to be against hope Rom. 4.18 and the glory of his power then to save when our condition seems to be past succor And thus for the share we have in the sorrow of Israels troubles we shall have our portion in the joy of Israels deliverance Is 35.10 if not whilst the Church is militant on earth yet most assuredly then when triumphant in heaven of which this blessed Sacrament is the seal and pledge confirming the Royal grant of this humble Petition to every faithful soul that prays with David Deliver Israel O God out of all his troubles Halleluiah THE Preacher's Tripartite BOOK II. To administer COMFORT BY CONFERENCE with the SOUL IN ITS Spiritual Conflicts Reduced to particular CASES of CONSCIENCE Viz. 1. The importunate Crowd of Vain Thoughts 2. The frightful Suggestions of Foul Thoughts 3. Some late Relapses into Sin 4. Daily Conflicts with Sin 5. A Distrust of the Graces sincerity in general of Faith and of Repentance in particular 6. The sense of Barrenness in holy Duties 7. The misapprehension of Gods withdrawing the Comforts of his gracious presence 8. The misinterpretation of the Order of Gods Providence as to the Tribulations of the Godly and as to the Prosperity of the Wicked 9. The long Continuance of Temptations and Afflictions By ROBERT MOSSOM LONDON Printed by Thomas Newcomb 1657. TO THE Right Honorable Lady FRANCES Marchioness of HERTFORD c. MADAM I Acknowledge it mine ambition that I seek your Honor's Patronage but dare adventure upon this guilt in confidence of a Favorable Pardon as well as an Honorable Protection to your Suppliant I know no vice in Morals unpardonable like that of Ingratitude and therefore to avoid the sin and censure of this Apostacy I declare it Madam your Reward of Goodness exceeding the Merit of a former Present which hath obliged the duty of this Dedication What are the charitable supplies of your Eleemosynary bounties notwithstanding Modesty is at once the Vail and Ornament of your Vertues there is a Trumpet of Honorable Fame that proclaims it That I have my self received an encouragement of my Studies by your Nobleness I willingly embrace this opportunity thankfully to acknowledge and record Besides Madam it were improper to intitle the SOUL'S CONFERENCE to any other then an experienced Piety whose Spiritual Conflicts sustained can give testimony to the Comforts administred which not Greatness but Goodness can best approve and Patronize Here then Madam to your Goodness as great in Honor and to your Honor as great in Goodness is humbly presented this Freewill-offering the Work and the Author and no Votary can do more then make his whole Possession one Oblation as ambitious to bear the name and attribute of being NOBLE MADAM Your Honors Faithfully Devoted Servant R. MOSSOM CONFERENCE WITH THE SOUL In its Spiritual Conflicts THE INTRODUCTION IT is the great design of Satan in a malicious envy to Man if he cannot spoil us of our Crown Lam. 3.17 18. then to rob us of our Comfort If he cannot deprive us of Grace then to bereave us of our Peace Which thing he doth not only attempt but often attain by raising in our hearts an infernal fog of diffidence and distrust Ps 77.8 9. Ps 88.5 6. begetting such doubts and fears and affrighting terrors as do make the Soul against all the light of counsel and of comfort in the Word conclude against it self to have lost all interest in Gods love Job 38.2 and Christs merits Lam 5.22 Isa 49.14 all Communion with the Spirit of grace and of life pleading with much vehemencie of passion and impatience that its former hopes have been but deceitful presumptions and its exercises of holiness hypocritical delusions Oh the thick darkness which this mist and fog of Satans suggestions casts upon the inward man How doth it become the very shop of fears the womb of terrors Ps 23 4. yea the valley and shadow of death the cheering light of the Sun of Righteousness being thereby eclipsed from the Soul Now there is no greater advantage unto Satan in his temptations then the ignorance and error of the mind when the Understanding is darkened or deceiv'd darkened through want of knowledge or deceiv'd with a false light For Satan he works still contrary unto God and yet in imitation of him too And therefore as God in his operations of grace to beget life Eph. 1.17 18. he first enlightens and illuminates so Satan in his temptations unto sin to destroy grace he first darkens and deceives 2 Cor. 4.4 Eph. 4.18 Luk. 22.64 He doth with the
path and leavest the beaten road even that which is right via regia the Kings high-way that way which the King of heaven Christ the Prince of glory Heb 2 10 Luk. 2â— 26 9.22 23. both by precept and by pattern by doctrine and example hath chalkt out to us If then we be of the Israel of God having escaped out of the Egypt of an unregenerate state we must expect our Red sea of persecutions our fiery Serpents of temptations and our long Wilderness of afflictions all which we must pass through before we attain the heavenly Canaan the inheritance of promise and of rest And now that we be not discouraged with the difficulties of our passage look we into the Word of life and Gospel of our salvation and there see besides the reward of glory to crown our constancie see the hand that sustains the might that strengthens us to overcome even the power and grace of Christ See the refreshings which keep our souls from fainting and add to our constancie chearfulness even the councels and comforts of the Spirit And these we shall administer to the distressed soul which in its long and continued Conflict makes this sad and languishing complaint The Words of Complaint How long oh how long have I waited for the returns of my God of my Jesus I have often prayed and long expected and yet no comfort comes unto my soul my distress of conscience still continues because my God hides his face and withholds the light of his countenance from me Yea he hath not only laid me in the darkness but also shut me up that I cannot come forth Mine afflictions compass me daily yea all the day they come about me like waters and threaten the swallowing up of my soul And oh what is my help my hope but my God But alas he refuseth to be intreated I am weary of my groaning I have cryed day and night and yet he heareth not so that though the desires of my soul be towards his name and the remembrance of his holiness yet how are my fears and my terrors increased lest I be cut off from his hand cast out of his presence and become one of those that go down into the pit I have been so long in darkness that Satan pleads it in my misgiving thoughts as too plain a sign of being a child of darkness for that sure if the Sun of righteousness were risen upon my soul those clouds this mist that darkness would not continue but as he brings healing in his wings so would he bring comfort in his light refreshings by his Spirit and deliverance by his power The Grounds of Comfort 1. The firm assurance Christ gives of his indulgent care over his Church and chosen Thus he comforted Sion of old When the Prophet in much Pathos of joy Isa 49.13 calls upon the inanimate creatures to make up the Jubile Sing O heaven and be joyful O earth and break forth into singing O mountains for God hath comforted his people and will have mercy upon his afflicted Yet it is Sion's deep complaint in the depth of her calamity v. 14. The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me But see see the love of God to his afflicted Church exceeds that of the tender mother to her sucking child Naz orat 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no bowels more tender then those of a mother yet more tender far are those of our heavenly Father For so says God in a pathetical expostulation of faithfulness and love v. 15. Can a mother forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea she may forget yet will I not forget thee Think not then O thou afflicted soul when God hides his face that he forgets thee or when he withdraws a while he then forsakes thee For how have we seen the careful and tender Mother wave the Child in her loving arms and pleas'd with its embraces threaten its fall that so fear might make it cling unto her bosom with the more sportful eagerness Thus even thus it is with the humble Saint and his gracious Saviour Videtur deserere quia non vult deseri Christ seems to forsake him on purpose that he may not be forsaken of him And this according to the tenor of Gods everlasting covenant That he will put his fear into the hearts of his chosen that they shall not depart from him Yea Jer. 32 4â— see the indeleble characters of Christs love and the infallible testimony of his care Says Christ to his Spouse his Church and in her to every faithful soul Behold I have engraven thee in the palms of my hands Engraven how why sâ— â—9 16. not with the carving tools but the piercing nails and not upon the skin but quite through the flesh not cover'd over with precious gold but colour'd through with more precious blood which neither age nor eternity shall wear out Thus thus have I engraven thee in the palms of my hands Humanitùs dictum saith Jun us it is spoken after the manner of men Jun. in loc but it is indeed an emphatical expression outvying the highest Courtship of the most amorous Lover to his beloved He it may be will have her Picture hang in his bosom that so forsooth she may be near his heart But Christ he hath his Spouse engraven in his hands that so she may be ever in his eye as well as in his heart she is his care as well as his love Wherefore that the Saints and chosen of God are often and long afflicted is not through want of love to pitty or of care to regard or of power to relieve No sure for what Father or Mother is not compassionately affected affectionately moved with the sufferings and sorrows of their dear children What tender Husband or what indeared Friend will not engage himself for the comfort succour supply and safety of whom he truly loves and lovingly tenders And therefore as David frames the Argument Ps 94 9. He that made the ear shall not he hear He that formed the eye shall not he see and he that teacheth man knowledge shall not he know So say I He who implants love and compassion in his creatures shall not he be much more loving and compassionate to his Saints He who imprints those tender affections in fathers husbands friends shall not he be more tenderly compassionate to his Church and chosen Yes sure Wherefore then Exod. 3.7 Jer 31.20 Ps 65.2 Ps 56.8 Mal. 3.16 he hath an eye of Providence to see their distress bowels of pitty to compassionate their trouble ears of mercy to hear their prayers bottles of love to hold their tears a book of remembrance to register their complaints yea Satan and the World shall know he hath Judgments of righteousness to plead their cause Vials of wrath to avenge their blood an arm of power to deliver their persons and a crown of
truth and holiness thou shalt recover the favour of thy God and renew thy communion with Christ a communion of grace and life conveyed and seal'd thee in thy Baptism Concerning which our Lord and Saviour gave in commission and instruction to his Apostles and in them to all the Ministers of his Gospel Go ye disciple all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost c. THE FIFTH SERMON UPON Matth. 28. V. 19. and part of the 20. Go ye Disciple all Nations Teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you GOD as he is Alpha so is he Omega too Introduction as he is the efficient so is he the final cause of all his Creatures especially of Angels and Men Rev. 1.11 endued with Understanding and Will who as they issue from God the product of his power so do they return to God the complement of their happiness And therefore whilst the Soul of Man winged with desires hovers over the surface of this Worlds changes like Noahs Dove Gen. 8.9 it findes no footing till it center its restless motions upon this sure Ark of the Almighties fruition But now what is the way which leads to his rest what the path of truth which conducts us safe to the Lord of Life whilst we all stand under one starry roof as Men as Christians our desires tend to the same Heaven yet we seek not to ascend by the same Ladder we all aim at the same Goal yet run not all in the same race In this we agree That God is our rest that happiness is our end yea that truth is the way and Christ is the Truth John 14.6 Yet when we come to the profession of the Truth and Faith of Christ how do we presently part hands and dividing our selves into several Sects we chuse to our selves several paths and all pretend the right way Now what is the reason of all our distraction and division but this That what God hath joyned men put asunder even the Authority of the Scriptures and the Doctrine of the Church Both which are established by Christ in the Commission and Instruction he here gives his Apostles Go ye disciple all Nations teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you Having done with the former part of our Saviours Instruction the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our admitting into the School and Church of Christ by Baptism we proceed to the latter part the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our tutoring and training up by Doctrine which doctrine is prescribed as to the extent of its object to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things whatsoever Christ hath commanded Here then as the subject matter of our ensuing discourse we will insist upon these two particulars First The object of our Faith the Word of God in which we have Whatsoever hath been commanded of Christ to be taught Secondly The means of communicating this object and preaching this Word the Ministry of the Church by which we are taught whatsoever Christ hath commanded Explic. 1. The object of our Faith the Word of God in which we have Whatsoever hath been commanded of Christ to be taught That there is a natural Theology we willingly acknowledge but that there can possibly be any natural Christianity we utterly deny and therefore that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 1.20 that which may be known of God in the visible things of the world it is not his infinite grace and love as a Redeemer but hi◠eternal power and Godhead as a Creator True it is then that a natural knowledge will serve us to understand the Creatures Dialect which loudly and plainly speaks the presence and power of a Deity but Psal 29 2. how to worship this Deity in a beauty of Holiness and so enjoy him in a communion of love must needs be the dictate of a supernatural Revelation especially and eminently called the Word of God Which Word of God the word of life and grace hath been delivered to the Church by the mouth of Moses and the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles registred and recorded in the several Books of the sacred Scriptures both of the Old Testament and of the New The Books of the Old Testament we receive transmitted to us from the Jews by an especial providence and divine appointment made faithful Registers and Bibliothists to the Christian Church for unto them were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3.2 But now under the New Testament Heb. 1.1 2. God who at sundry times and in divers manners 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in different measures of light and divers manners of revelation spake in times past to the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days in which the Church shall receive no more alteration or innovation from God as to the general form of his Worship and Truth but after this state follows eternity even in these last days God hath spoken unto us by his Son who being the onely begotten in the Bosom of the Father John 1.18 that is most intimately one with him not in a meer conjunction of love but in a near union of Nature and communion of Attributes he hath declared yea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he hath by divine Revelation expounded the Mysteries of the Godhead in his Communications of Grace unto his Church The Service then of God in the Old Testament Heb 9.1 that of the first Tabernacle and worldly Sanctuary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sanctuary earthly and material this did stand in meats and drinks Vers 10. and divers washings and carnal Ordinances imposed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 laid as a burden upon the Jews till the times of the New Testament the time of Reformation the coming of the Messiah who should reform the Ecclesiastical state by abolishing what was earthly and carnal and by establishing what is heavenly and spiritual So that now Joh. 4.24 now God being a Spirit they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth in Spirit that 's in opposition to the carnal Ordinances and in Truth that 's in opposition to the typical Sacrifices or in Spirit for the purity and in Truth for the sincerity of his Worship which must neither be Superstitious nor Hypocritical Having then shewed you where it is that we have the Word of God even in the Books of sacred Scriptures I shall proceed to describe this Word unto you in its inherent Attributes and its transient operations 1. In its inherent Attributes especially its full sufficiency and its self authority 1. It s full sufficiency The holy Scriptures they are the heavenly store-house from whence the Church of Christ is furnished with all spiritual provision of heavenly Doctrine whether it be of Faith or of manners They are the full treasury in which are laid up for the Church her inestimable riches of divine Promises and spiritual Blessings Profitable they are First