18 There is no fear in love c. And also largely to that place Rom. 8. 15 Ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear c. That place in Rev. 21. 8 But the fearful c. shall be cast into the lake of sire c. answered What is that fear of God here commanded farther set down in three particulars Q. What are the special marks of the true fear of God answered in seven particulars Q. What the arguments are to induce us to fear God answered in eight things In way of a conclusion Thirteen sentences about the fear of God Exercitation V. Of waiting upon God upon these words My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from Him Three ingredients to wait upon God What waiting upon God is Four signs of our waiting upon God Four helps for strengthening us against troubles An explanation out of the Greek of waiting and expectation The manner of our waiting in three things Gods waiting upon us Wait upon God only What expectation is What we expect from God Examples of the miseries of those who would not wait upon God Exercitation VI. The way to salvation repentance and faith On these words Mark 1. 15 Repent ye and believe the Gospel What repentance is Repentance is twofold 1. Legal 2. Evangelical What they both are The signs whereby they may be known Four parts of Evangelical repentance Repentance must be renewed What faith is Five acceptations of faith The object of true saving faith The manner of Gods working of it The absolute necesssity of it in every part of Gods worship Encouragements to labour for it Exercitation VII Holiness on these words Psal 93. 5. Holiness becometh thine house O Lord for ever What Holiness is 1. As applyed to God 2. To believers Our holiness must bear a conformity to Christs holiness in four things What sanctification is The terms from which and to which Two degrees of sanctification Two parts of it The ends of it in two things What we must do that we may be holy Four things thereto Three things to be observed for holiness sake Christ is the principle of our holiness and also the pattern of it the comeliness of holiness Of Gods house How holy it is and how holy we must be A Scriptural Prayer to God for Holiness A farther Encomium and praise of Holiness Exercitation VIII Of Swearing On these words Jer. 23. 9 For because of Oaths the Land mourneth A sad complaint of the over-spreading and greatness of this horrid sin of prophane swearing Of taking Gods name in vain Superstitious and foolish swearing How an Oath is to be taken The parts of an Oath The form of an Oath The end of an Oath The divers kinds of an Oath How an Oath is to be performed Is it lawful for Christians to take an Oath Proved affirmatively by four reasons An exploding the Opinion of the Anabaptists c. by six Arguments By whom we must swear About what things an Oath may be taken Whether all Oaths are to be kept How God in Scripture is said to swear The sum of the third Commandment Six Corollaries Of the government of the tongue Exercitation IX Hardness os heart On these words And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also The Plague of hardness of heart Examples of it To harden the heart what it is 1. In reference to God 2. â—o Satan 3. To a mans self Of conscience what it is How did God harden Pharaohs heart and how he did iâ— himself The miseries ensuing hardness of heart Exeroitation X. Of the Sabbath On these words in Exod. 31. 13 14 15 16 17. 20. 8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy The necessity of a sabbath The morality of it The excellency of the Moral Law above the Ceremonial or Judicial What the sanctifying of the sabbath is the parts of it A short Paraphrase on Isai 58. 13 14. which is borrowed The strict observation of the sabbath belongs more to us then to the Jews the reasons of the alteration of it How the sabbath is a sign Woe to sabbath prophaners and sabbath idlers The right manner of sanctifying of the sabbath Be not weary of sabbath-duties For Reasons why it is called sabbath The many sabbaths of the Jews formerly Three Reasons why God commands us to observe the sabbath We must lay out our strength in sabbath-duties Exercitation XI Of Patience On these words Luk. 21. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls Of afflictions to the Godly 1. For correction 2. For tryal Inferences upon each Examine for what particular sin God so afflicts Afflictions a sign of Gods love Why afflictions are called temptations What patience is Of impatience The good effects of patience Motives to it The true nature of patience towards God our selves and others Four Arguments to strengthen us in our patience The vices contrary Exercitation XII Pride and humility On these words James 4. 6 God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble What Pride is The parts of Pride How it is shewed Of pride against God and of pride towards men Of the sin of the fallen Angels and of the sin of our first Parents Four helps to subdue pride What grace is Several acceptations of grace A description of humility Humility towards God humility towards men Five means to attain humility towards God Three marks of humility towards men Humility farther described and praised Incitations to humility Some additional notes about pride and humility Fourteen Aphorisms about humility Exercitation XIII Of Care On these words 1 Pet. 5. 10 Casting all your care upon God for He careth for you Seven Arguments against carefulness Twofold care of outward things Worldly cares compared to thorns in four respects Irregular cares are 1. Superfluous 2. Sinful We are to do our duty faithfully and then trust in God who is our Father and the great house-keeper of all the earth The fourth Petition in the Lords Prayer fully explained If we rowl our selves upon God He hath engaged Himself to relieve us Outward things are necessary for us in a threefold respect Rest upon Gods Providence What Gods actual Providence is Of the fate of the heathen Philosophers The parts of Providence Depend upon Providence Wait Gods time Live by faith Be we diligent in our callings The tenderness fidelity and wisdom of Gods Providence The twelve miracles observed about Manna More of Gods Providence and twelve Corollaries thereabout Exercitation XIV Of death judgment hell and heaven On these words Rev. 20. 12. 15 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire 1. Of death what death is The causes of it The
Wherefore seeing the Heathen have a Conscience they have also a Law which leaves them without excuse at the great day of Judgment though they have not the light of the glorious Gospel shining among them as blessed be God we have Let us strive to keep Conscience awake while we are here in this life and not to muzzle its mouth then it will either accuse or excuse us but if it be deadned here at the great day of judgment when the books shall Rev. 20. 12. be opened that is mens Consciences or the records and testimonies of every man's Conscience being unfolded and manifested through the mighty power of God wherein as in books are written all mens thoughts words and works then Conscience will speak and not be dumb and thou shalt be judged out of those things which are written in those books yea if thou stiflest the mouth of Conscience here thy Conscience as ten thosand witnesses will fly in thy face for ever hereafter where the worm never Isai 66. 24. Mark 9. 44. dyes where that worm of Conscience will for ever gnaw upon thine heart in the fire that never goeth out Then the Lord will be known by the judgments Psal 9. 16. which He executeth and the wicked shall be snared in the works of their own hands Oh that dreadful expression the Lord said by Moses unto Pharaoh Exod. 9. 14. I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart and upon thy servants and upon thy people And in the next Chapter I have hardened his heart and Exod. 10. 1. the heart of his servants These spiritual judgments are of all others the most fearful and terrible that can befall a man or woman in this life As 1. Blindness of mind 2. Hardness of heart 3. Searedness of Conscience for these are the dreadful fore-runners of hell Let us therefore hearken to the checks of Conscience and not stifle them and labour we to have our hearts sprinkled Heb. 10. 22. from an evil Conscience that is from the inward impurity and defilements of corruption whereof every man's Conscience is a witness and judge And strive we also to have the answer of a 1 Pet. 3. 21. good conscience towards God The meaning of the Apostle there is of the inward baptism or washing wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost whereby a believers Conscience is in such manner eased acquitted and purified that it being tryed and questioned before God it answers and witnesses to it self in the name of the Holy Ghost Pardon Grace and Peace which is Rom. 8. 16. which is unto such a soul a foundation pledge and assurance of everlasting Salvation As the former were the pledges and assurances of everlasting damnation Despair is that which follows from an evil Conscience and obstinate contempt of God and is the greatest part of punishment and evil which wicked men suffer Conscience may be thus described though there be other definitions of it A power and faculty of the Soul taking knowledge and bearing witness of all a man's thoughts words and actions and accordingly excusing or accusing absolving or condemning comforting or tormenting of the same Conscience is God's Notary and there is nothing passes in our whole life whether good or evil which Conscience notes not down with an indeleble Character which nothing can rase out but Christ's blood alone Conscience writes men's sins as with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond and they are graven upon the table of their hearts Their conscience Jer. 17. 1. also bearing witness c. In the day when Rom. 2. 15 16. God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ Conscience I say is exact and punctual in setting down the particulars of a man's whole life that it may be a faithful witness either for him or against him at the last day Our transgressions Isai 59. 12. are multiplyed before Thee and our sins testifie against us for our transgressions are with us and as for our sins we know them A hard heart is not rent by compunction Bernard nor mollified by Piety nor moved by intreaties yieldeth not unto threatnings is hardened by corrections is ingrateful for benefits will not hearken to good counsel cruel to revenge immodest in regard of shameful things not dismayed with dangers inhumane in humane things râ—sh in Divine things forgetting things past neglecting present things not providing for future that is which remembreth nothing past but only injuries to revenge them c. Q. How may we understand this that is said in several places Pharaoh hardened Exod. 4. 21 his heart and God said I have hardened Pharaohs heart and the Lord 9. 12. hardened Pharaohs heart if God hardened his heart how did he do it himself A. God worketh two ways in the hearts of wicked men 1. By with-holding His Grace whereby they might be moved unto good as when light is taken away there remaineth nothing but darkness and blindness when God's Spirit is taken away then mens hearts become hard as stones when God's direction ceaseth then mens hearts are turned aside into crookedness and perverseness so it is said that God doth blind harden and bow them from whom He takes away the power to see and to do that which is right 2. By using the Ministery of Sathan to stir up frame and incline their wills God for the executing of His judgments by Sathan the Minister of His wrath both appointeth the purposes of wicked men to what end it pleaseth Him and stirreth up their wills and strengthneth their endeavours So Sihon King of Heshbon as we said Deut. 2. 30. before did not let Israel pass by him because the Lord hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate that He might deliver him into the hand of Israel Therefore because it was God's Will to have him destroyed the making of his heart hard and obstinate was God's preparing him for his destruction So God hardened Pharaoh's heart that is not only in not sustaining it but also in committing his heart to Sathan to be confirmed with obstinacy So God turned their hearts to hate His Psal 105. 25. people c. And it was the Lord that hardened the heart of Pharaoh and his servants to pursue after Israel that He Exod. 14. 4. might be honoured upon Pharaoh c. God hardened Pharaoh's heart not that He did set and imprint hardness in his heart but because by sundry actions He ordered and governed His wicked will And they are four 1. God permitted Pharaoh to walk after his own will 2. He left him to the malice of the Devil and the lusts of his own heart 3. He urgeth him with a Commandment to let the people go and Pharaoh the more he is urged the stiffeâ— and more stubborn he is and the more he reâ—els against God 4. God useth the hardness of Pharaoh's heart to the manifestation of His own
word hath a weight of matter but we must not dwell upon that now Also we must be diligent in our Callings for an idle soul shall suffer hunger Prov. 19 15. As we do see the constancy of Providence even so we shall find the power of Providence by bridleing the power of enemies confounding their power as he did Senacherib's Hoast prospering under their power as the more they are afflicted the more they prosper Rom. 8 37. and at lost conquering them nay in all these things we are more than conquerours through Him that loved us I could enlarge upon each of these but I study brevity 1. Oh the tenderness of God's Providence Isa 63. 9. over His poor servants in all our afflictions He is afflicted c. He Deut. 32. 10. keeps us as the apple of His eye now the apple of the eye is the tenderest part in all the body 2. Consider also as the tenderness so the sidelity of God's Providence He is faithful who hath promised Heb. 10. 23. 3. The Wisdom of God's Providence and that in the several branches thereof 1. God discerns what is good for us 2. God foresees all the evils which may befal us 3. God sometimes prevents and disappoints them 4. Gods ordering them for our good if they do befal us 5. Finding out means and ways for our safety 6. In seasonable supplies of strength under them or deliverance from them Trust in the Lord Psal 37 3. and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed If we can find an hand to labour and take pains and faith to believe and trust God will find meat to feed us and rayment wherewith to cloath us For He careth for us The good old Prophet Elisha when he had received so many kindnesses from the woman of Shunem he said 2 Kin. 4 13. unto her behold thou hast been careful for us with all this care what is to be done unto thee for it But God hath cared for us with great care in our mothers womb fearfully Psal 139. 14 15 16. and wonderfully were we made and curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth in his book all our members were written He took us out of our mothers Psal 22. 9. womb We have been cast upon God from our birth He hath fed us all our Gen. 48. 15. life long even to this day His Providence and mercies have been always upon us for we cannot subsist a moment without Him Yet we take not so much notice of it as we should nor say in our hearts what shall we give unto Thee for all this thy great care over us Or what shall we render to the Lord Psal 116. 12. for all His benefits towards us Let us give up our selves wholly unto God and present our bodies a living Rom. 12. 1 2. sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is our reasonable service and not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God and that to follow and to avoid whatsoever is contrary thereunto Learn to depend upon God to live by Faith he that believeth makes not Isa 28. 16. haste to use diligence in our places and then Cast we all our care upon God for He careth for us St. Paul plainly condemns the desire Addition of riches that is of things more than necessary affirming that such as desire to be rich fall into the snares of the Devil 1 Tim. 6. 9. Some have observed Twelve wonders in the Manna of the Israelites 1. They were fed with it 40 Years 2. To the Godly it tasted according to every ones desire 3. To the ungodly it was loathsome 4. A Gomar of it sufficed all stomachs 5. Whether men gathered more or less they had full measure neither more or less that is a Gomar full 6. Two Gomars full before the Sabbath or other days but one Gomar full 7. It fell every day but on the Sabbath day 8. It melted in the Sun and was hardened in the fire 9. It was kept many years in the Ark unputrifi'd 10. Being preserved till the morrow it putrifi'd except on the Sabbath 11. He that gathered least had his Gomar full 12. He that gathered most had but his Gomar Now by the most of these wonders we are taught and especially in that Manna laid up till the next day putrifi'd and that every Israelite had his competent measure were his labour more or less It shews that the seeking of abundance pleaseth not God An Omer or Gomar was a measure of dry things also a Sheaf of Corn or handful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because usually that Ruth 2. 7. which was beaten out of a Sheaf might fill a Gomar God knoweth what is fittest for us Nature is content with little Grace with less To speak a little more of the Providence of God The Providence of God is His eternal Another Description of Proviaâ—nce most free immutable most wise and most just Councel according to which He worketh all good things in His creatures permitteth evil things to be done and directeth all things both good and evil to His own glory and the good of His Elect. I could prove out of Scripture every word of this Definition but I study brevity All things come to pass by the Providence of God both things past present and future So God said by the Prophet Remember the former things Isa 46. 9 10. of old for I am God and there is none else I am God and there is none like Me Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done sayiny my Councel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure Consider the degrees of Providence God careth for and Governeth all His creatures but especially mankind as the chief among the works of Creation and made in the image of God and in mankind especially the Elect and chosen to life Eternal whom He maketh one everlasting Church with the blessed Angels that He might dwell in them as in His Temple and Habitation Therefore doth He so lead them and govern them through the whole course of their life that all things may serve and â—end to their everlasting Salvation Gods Providence is over us in the whole course of our lives So He said Gen. 28. 19. to Jacob Lo I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest c. For I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of So Laban would have injured and deceived Jacob but God suffered Gen. 31. 7 8 9. him not to hurt him yea God blessed Jacob the more for Labans deceits and wrongs intended towards him So God said to Paul Fear not for I am with thee Acts 18. 9. and no
man shall set upon thee to hurt thee It is endless to quote all the texts in the Old and New Testament to this purpose I will only add a few Corollaries 1. God will have glory attributed Corollarâ—â—â— to Him not only as He is the Creator and Upholder of Heaven and Earth but also the most High Wise Just and Great Governor and Directer of all things This is against the Figments of the Bpicureans and Pelagians 2. This Doctrine of Providence may confirm and strengthen our hearts against the Blasphemies of the Manichees and Libertines who say that God willeth sin as it is sin Whereas He willeth the act but not the evil of the act c. 3. Against the Opinion of the Stoicks for all things are govern'd by Gods most free and unchangable Decree 4. Therefore He will be acknowledged and praised by us as the Author Fountain and Worker of all good things for nothing in any creature is or can be of good unto us but by Gods Will affectually working in it and by it 5. Seeing all good things are from God Let us not sacrifice to our own â—â—â— 1. 16. nets or burn incense to our own drag that is not resting in creatures or second causes by which we may be benefited but giving all glory and praise to God to acknowledg the creatures are but instruments and ministers in His hand and by His ordering to do good unto us 6. Sith nothing rashly or casually happeneth to us but all things betide us by Gods most Blessed Just and profitable Decree and Good-will towards us Let us effectually be stirred up by knowing and acknowledging hereof to exercise patience in all our adversities As Psal 39. 9. David said I was dumb and opened not my mouth because Thou hast done it Job 1. 21. And Job the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. 7. Let our confidence and comfort be sound firm and established in the Lord who will defend and preserve us in the midst of all enemies and dangers moderating and ordering all evils so that they tend to our good and salvation For we know that all things work Rom. 8. 28. together for good to them that love God 8. By all our past and present afflictions let us be bettered and amended Sith not by chance but by God they are inflicted upon us that we may say Psal 119. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted c. 9. For future crosses and afflictions seeing they are signs and tokens of Gods anger against sin Let us fear them and strive to avoid them by fleeing and abstaining from sin the cause of them 10. Let us not faint much less despair when we are in dangers troubles or adversities when the outward means of our deliverance fail and the creatures seem to be against us because God is not ty'd to help by them For man lives not by bread alone c. The Mat. 4. 4. 16. 18. gates of Hell shall not prevail c. There 1 Sam. 14. 6. is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few He can deliver either by means or without means or against means 11. Seeing all events are ordered by God and no wholsome counsels can be undertaken without Him neither doth any thing please Him but what we undertake according to His Word Let us not be lifted up in confidence of our own wisdom and power c. but demeaning our selves in the fear of God let us pray that all our actions may be directed by Him and so blessed unto us and that we may never depart from His Will revealed unto us And then confidently wait on Him for sâ—ccess 12. Sith we know as before we said God hath a care of all things especially of mankind and most principally of His own Children whom He peculiarly loveth and careth for so as Christ said the hairs of our head Mat. 10. 31. are all number'd and we are of more value than many Sparrows Let us in doing our duty faithfully in our places rest confidently on the Providence of God Casting all our care on Him for He careth for us EXERCITATION THE FOURTEENTH Rev. 20. 12 15 Verses And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire EXpect not a Logical Analysis of the words and a procedure thereon accordingly that I leave to Divines in their Sermons But according to my use in my former Exercitations to chuse out some heads out of the words read and so meditate and dilate upon them And here we may consider these four heads 1 Death 2 Judgment 3 Hell 4 Heaven Accordingly we shall frame our ensuing discourse 1. Death out of these words And I 1 Death saw the dead c. First there must be death before they could be dead 2. Judgment out of these words 2 Judgment Stand before God c. and they were judged c. 3. This Judgment shall be according to their works They that have done good shall go into life everlasting and 3 Heaven they that have done evil into everlasting 4 Hell fire So it is in the Creed of Holy Athanasius And so also in the Apostles Creed I believe that Christ shall come to judg both the quick and dead I believe the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting So also in the Nicene Creed That is everlasting life for the good in heaven and everlasting life for the wicked in hell in those never Mark 9. 44. dying flames where the worm dyeth not and the fire never goeth out First to speak of Death Death is the 1 Death fruit of Sin Sin brings shame misery and death 1. Sin brings shame for before the fall our first Parents were both naked Gen. 2. 25. and were not ashamed But since the fall sin causeth shame in all men and women except those who are come to that height of impudence that they are past shame of whom the Prophet speaks Were they ashamed when they had Jer. 6. 15. committed abomination nay they were not at all ashamed neither could they blush Therefore said the Apostle What Rom. 6. 21. fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed c 2. Sin brings all sorts of miseries calamities losses c. I have wounded them Jer. 30. 14 15. with the wounds of an enemy with the chastisement of a cruel one for the multitude of thine iniquities because thy sins were increased I have done these things unto thee 3. Sin brings death the end of these Rom. 6. 21. things is death So we see that sin guiltiness and
air to meet the Lord But the Reprobate together with the Devil and his Angels shall with great horror and confusion be drawn into the presence of Christ then Rev. 6. 15. the Books shall be opened whereby we understand partly the Omniscience of God or His knowing of all things and partly the conscience of every man and woman And another book shall be opened which is the book of life Which is to shew that the salvation of the godly is not from their works buâ— from the eternal Grace of God whereby they are written in the book of life The wicked shall have their unbelief and wickedness so laid before their eyes by the testimony of their own consciences that they shall not be able to contradict or deny any thing at all I will reprove thee saith God and Psal â—0 21. Mat. 12. 3â— set thy wickedness before thy face The Act of Judgment shall be performed two ways 1. By examination 2. By pronouncing Sentence 1. By examination and that â— By 1. Examination the Law of God which hath been revealed unto men whether it be the Law of Nature only which is the remainder of the Law written in the hearts of our First Parents and conveyed by the Power of God unto all men to leave them without excuse for the Rom. 1. 20. invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even His eternal Power and God-head so that they are without excuse Or whether by the Law of God we understand that written word of God vouchsafed unto the Church in the Scriptures first of the Old and after of the New Testament as the rule of faith and life For as many as have sinned without Rom. 2. 12. Law shall also perish without Law and as many as have sinned in the Law shall be judged by the Law 2. This examination shall be by the evidence of every mans conscience bringing all his works to light whether they be good or evil his conscience bearing witness with him or against him together with the testimony of such who either by their doctrine company or example have either approved or condemned him Which Mat. 12. 27 41 42. shew the work of the law written in their Rom. 2. 15. hearts their conscience also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or excusing one another But there shall be a great difference in the examination of the elect and examination of the reprobates For 1. The elect shall not have their sins remembred Christ having satisfied for them All their transgressions that Ezek. 18. 22. they have committed they shall not be mentioned unto them Their transgressions are forgiven and their sins are covered Psal 32. 1. But their good works shall be remembred I was hungry and ye fed me c. their good works do follow Rev. 14. 13. them 2. Because they be in Christ therefore they and their works shall not undergo the strict Tryal of the law simply in its self but as the obedience thereof doth prove them to be true partakers of the grace of the Gospel Thus we have seen the first Act of judgment which is by Examination Now of the second Act which is by the 2. Pronouncing of sentence pronouncing of sentence The sentence shall be pronounced by the Judg Himself our Lord Jesus Christ according to the evidence and verdict of conscience touching works who shall adjudg the Elect unto the blessing of the Kingdom of God His Father And the Reprobates with the Devil and his Angels unto the curse of everlasting Fire So then men shall be adjudged to salvation or damnation for their works sake 1. The wicked shall be condemned for the merit of their works because being perfectly evil they deserve the wages of damnation For the wages of Rom. 6. 23. sin is death 2. The Godly shall be pronounced just because their works though imperfect do prove their faith whereby they lay hold on Christ and His meritorious righteousness to be a true Faith As Jam. 2. 18. Gal. 5. 6. working by love in all parts of obedience This last Judgment is administred by Christ as a King for the power of judging is a part of the Royal Function 1. In respect of the faithful this Judgment is from Grace and is a Function of the Kingdom of Grace essential to Christ as our Mediator 2. But in respect of the wicked From His Power and Dominion granted to Him by the Father Hence it is as I said before the sins of the Godly shall not come into Judgment for in this life by the Sentence of Justification they are taken away and coverd And this last Judgment shall be a confirming and manifestation of the same Sentence Therefore it is not consentaneous or meet that they should then be brought to light again Christ shall judg the world not according Isa 11. 3. to the sight of the eyes or hearing of the ears But He is the knower and searcher of all hearts who can discern the Hypocrites from the truly Godly and He will do no wrong to any The judg of all the earth will do Gen. 18. 25. right He will not acquit the wicked nor condemn the just He will manifest the secrets of all hearts and render to every one according to his works then shall the upright have praise of God Q Why must this last judgment be A. 1. Because of God's decree He hath decreed it and said it shall be 2. That God may obtain the end of creation of man God made all men for His glory if wicked men would not glorifie Him here He will judiciarily be glorified upon them in their everlasting confusion God shall be praised and glorified by His Elect to all eternity 3. That God may shew His perfect goodness and mercy to His Elect who were so excruciated troubled and afflicted here in this world that they may 2 Thess 1. 8. have rest 4. For His perfect Justice and Truths sake that He may shew His Justice in punishing the ungodly who do flourish in this world where they have all Luk. 16. 25. the good that ever they shall have Therefore it must be according to God's Justice and Truth in His Promises that the righteous shall have recompence in everlasting life both in body and soul Q. But it is said The Saints shall 1 Cor. 6. 2. judg the world And the Apostles shall sit upon thrones judging the twelve Luk. 22. 30. tribes of Israel A. I answer Christ alone in His humane nature shall appear judg and pronounce the sentence on all and execute it yet not excluding the Father and the Holy Ghost God is invisible For this judgment is the work of the whole individual Trinity but according to the visible act promulgation and execution of the sentence so it is the judgment of Christ For Christ being
Faith fills the heart full of spiritual joy and therefore these two are joyned together believing we rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory And so 1 Pet 1. 8. 2 Pet. 1. 6 10. a believer strives to add to his faith vertue c. to grow and increase more and more never to give over reaching forth and pressing toward the mark if by any means he might attain unto the resurrection Phill. 3. 11. of the dead to attain to such a measure of Grace and Holiness as I shall have at the resurrection of the dead when I shall receive the end of my faith 1 Pet. 1. 9. even the salvation of my soul where faith shall for ever be swallowed up with fruition EXERCITATION THE SEVENTH Psal 93. 5. Holiness becometh Thine house O Lord for ever HOliness in the Septuagint is rendered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sanctimonia from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sanctus which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as some say is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 veneratio ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 veneror colo Then it implies that holy persons are true worshippers of God 2. Others derive it from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a privative particle and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 terra quasi extra terram vel sine â—erra then it denotes that Saints must not be glewed to the earth but trample all earthly things under their feet 3. Others derive it from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 duco because the Godly are led in the ways of God So said the Apostle As many as Rom. 8. 14. are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God Holiness is the end of our election for God chose us in Christ before the Eph. 1. 4. foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love This Holiness makes the Church and people of God and every particular Servant of His to excel all the world besides For Saints and holy persons are excellent persons they are more excellent Psal 16. 3. Prov. 12. 2â— than their neighbour This comely and becoming this excellent dress of holiness makes us like the most holy God Therefore He commands us be ye holy as I am holy and be ye holy for 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. I the Lord your God am holy If we would shew our selves God's Children and call Him Father let us be followers Eph. 5. 1. of God as dear children endeavouring to come near His nature by Holiness and Sanctimony of life Yea God is Holiness it self in the abstract Once have I Psal 89. 35. sworn by My holiness c. that is by my Self who am holiness it self Holiness applyed unto God is that Holiness of God what it is Divine uncreated essence which being it self most holy and undesiled loveth every thing which is so and loatheth and hateth every thing which is not so The men of Bethshemesh after they had so pryed into the Ark experimentally said Who can stand before this holy Lord 1 Sam. 6. 20. God Holiness applyed unto men signifies Holiness of men what it is that created quality of pureness wherein the Saints resemble God being pure severed in part from the mixture of sin as God is holy and pure Here we are unperfectly pure and clean and unpolluted separate from sin and corruption but such we shall be most perfectly in heaven So the nearer that any come to God in holiness the more they are like unto God best liked and beloved of Him Therefore this should breed in our hearts a love of holiness and a hatred of whatsoever is contrary unto it it should kill in us all evil thoughts and opinions of God that may rise in our hearts seeing in Him who is holiness it self there can be no iniquity No evil shall dwell with Him He hateth all Psal 5. 5. those that are workers of iniquity He cannot endure to behold iniquity in the sons of men but with indignation He Habb 1. 13. is of purer eyes to behold evil Holiness is a real change of a man Definition of Holiness from the filthiness of sin into the purity of the image of God To put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the Ephes 4. 22 23 24. deceitful lusts and to be renewed in the spirit of our mind and to put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Christ is the sum of the whole Scriptures therefore necessarily He who is the new man must be the rule of holiness Holiness is a conformity unto Christ if we consider the nature of it when we are reindued with that image of God after which we were at first created We were predestinated to be conformed Rom. 8. 29. to the image of His Son that is to be conformed to Christ in His nature which is Holiness in His end which is blessedness and in the way thereunto which is by sufferings So our holiness must bear a proportion to Christ's holiness for conformity cannot be without proportion 1. Our holiness must have the same principle and seed with Christ's holiness namely His Spirit 2. It must be conformable to Christ's holiness in the ends of it as the glory of God and the good of the Church Rom. 11. 36. 3. Our holiness must be proportionable to Christ's holiness in regard of the parts of it it must be universal to have respect to all Gods Commandments and that with the whole man both Soul and Body So the Apostle prays for the Psal 119. 8. 1 Thess 5. 23. Thessalonians And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 4. In the manner of working and there 1. It must be done with self-denyal So said our Saviour If any Mat. 16. 24. man will follow Me let him deny himself c. 2. It must be done in obedience to God so Christ said In the volume Heb. 10. 5. of thy book it is written of Me to do Thy will O God Lo I come to do thy 7. 9. will O God 3. It must have growth and proficiency with it therefore we are bid to grow in Grace and in the 2 Pet. 3. 18. knowledge of our Lord Jesus A plant while it hath life in it will grow so a Child c. Even so we while we have the life of true Grace in us will strive to grow and make proficiency in the ways of holiness Sanctification is a real change both of our quality and dispositions Of Lyons Isai 11. 6. we become Lambs though we were fierce cruel hard-hearted c. formerly Sanctification makes us gentle meek easie to be intreated peaceable â—am 3. 17. full of mercy and good fruits c. Briefly it is a change of the whole man and
their faith and troth to every trivial thing which is an evident sign that they have little faith or truth in them or know not the true worth and value of them else they would not so lightly lay such precious Jewels to pawn upon every slight occasion Let all such and every one also remember our blessed Saviour's rule afore-mentioned in all their ordinary speeches and communications Swear not at all but let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more cometh of evil But of this we shall have occasion to speak more anon Now to speak what an oath is the parts of an oath how an oath may be lawfully taken and other things An oath is the craving of God's testimony to confirm the truth of our testimony Men swear by the greater and an Heb. 6. 13. 16. â—ath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife Deservedly is the testimony or witness-bearing of God called to confirm a truth for He is the truth who neither can deceive nor be deceived About an oath consider two things 1. How an oath is to be taken 2. How it is to be performed Q. 1. How to be taken In taking of an oath four circumstances are to be considered 1. The parts of an oath 2. The form of an oath 3. The end of an oath 4. The divers sorts or kinds of an oath 1. The parts of an oath and they are four 1. Confirmation of a truth 2. Invocation of God alone as a witness of a truth and a revenger of a lye 3. Confession that God is a revenger of perjury when He is brought in as a false witness 4. A binding over unto punishment if we use deceit 2. The form of an oath we must swear 1. In truth lest we forswear 2. In righteousness lest we swear to that which is wicked 3. In judgment lest we swear rashly or for a trifle So we must swear truly advisedly and rightly As it is commanded Thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in truth and Jer. 4. 2. in righteousness and in judgment They who do not thus are reproved which swear by the name of the Lord and make Isai 48. 1. mention of the God of Israel but not in truth nor in righteousness 3. The end of an oath which is to confirm some necessary truth in question either for the ending of controversies or for the performing of promises So an oath for confirmation is among men an end of all strife 4. The divers sorts or kinds of an oath 1. Publick 2. Private 1. Publick when the Magistrate doth upon just cause exact a testimony under the reverence of an oath 2. Private which two or more take privately As Jacob to Laban Gen. 31. 53. Bodz to Ruth Ruth 3. 13. and Obadiah to Elijah the Prophet 1 King 18. 12. So also there is an assertory oath and a promissory oath 1. An assertory oath or a confirming oath which is to confirm the truth of a thing either past or present 2. A promissory oath which is about a thing to come So we see that an oath is the calling of the name of God the searcher of the heart to witness a needful truth for the ending of strife and controversies In a lawful oath lawfully taken there is a worshipping of the name of God When Joshua would cause Achan to confess the truth he saith to him My Son Josh 7. 19. give glory to the God of Israel c. meaning thereby that God is highly dishonoured if a man swear falsly by Him For he doth in a manner as much as lies in him prophane and pollute God's holy name with a lye and on the contrary if a man swears truly he honours God False swearing is called prophaning the name of God Ye shall not swear by My name falsly neither â—evâ— 19. 12. shalt thou prophane the name of the Lord thy God I am the Lord. This manner of Joshuah's speech was used among the Jems so often as any was called to take an oath as it appears by the like protestation of the Pharisees used to the blind man whom Christ had restored to sight they said to him Give God the Joh. 9. 24. praise we know this man is a sinner To this heedfulness the forms of oaths used in the Scriptures do advise and instruct us As the Lord liveth God do so 1 Sam. 14. 39. 44. to me and more also 2 Kings 6. 31. And the Lord be witness upon my soul 2 Cor. 1. 23. All which do prove that we cannot call God to witness of our sayings but that we call Him to take witness of our perjury if we speak falsly or deceitfully The name of God is made vile and common when it is used in superfluous speeches as in foolish admirations which is a manifest taking of God's name in vain Swearing was suffered and ordained not for lust or pleasure but for necessitie sake And there can be no necessity pretended but where it is to serve either religion or charity But now it is so licentiously and customarily used that men think it no sin at all But the Commandment of the Lord remaineth still in force the penalty abideth in strength and shall one day have its effect whereby there is a special revenge proclaimed against all those who take God's name in vain though they may here escape for a time the judgment of men The very Heathens will condemn herein those who are outwardly proâ—essed Christians for among the Heathen ex animi sui sententiâ according to the purpose of their mind was to them instead of an oath Did they who had but the glimmering knowledge of God from the book of the Creatures and the Law of Nature written in their hearts do such things and shew such truth and reality in their speeches and dealings How shall this rise up in judgment against us and condemn us who have the written Word of God the knowledge of the true God and the glorious Gospel of his Son shining as a light among us and yet to do such things whereas the Heathen sit in darkness and in the region and shadow of Mat. 14. 16 death Thus far about the taking of an oath now Q. 2. How an oath is to be performed A. If the oath be made about lawful things it must be performed whether it be of much difficulty or great dammage to us or extorted by force from us So it is said he shall dwell in God's tabernacle that sweareth to his Psâ—l 15. 4. own hurt and changeth not Yet the Magistrate hath in his power as may seem right and convenient either to annihilate or moderate such oaths But of this we shall treat farther anon An oath in Scripture sometimes is taken for the whole Worship and Service of God Thou shalt fear the Lord Deut. 10. 20 thy God Him shalt thou serve and swear by His name And five Cities in the Isai 19. 18. land of