he will joy over thee with singing No Father like God for Love if thou art his Child thou canst not love thy own Soul so intirely as he loves thee 5. God is the best Father for Riches God hath land enough to give to all his Children he hath unsearchable riches Eph. 3.8 He gives the hidden Manna the Tree of Life Rivers of Joy Gates of Pearl Who ever saw gates of Pearl God hath treasures that cannot be emptied pleasures that cannot be ended Earthly Fathers if they should be ever giving they would have nothing left to give God is ever giving to his Children yet hath not the less his Riches are imparted not impaired Like the Sun that still shines yet hath not the less light He cannot be poor who is infinite Thus God is the best Father he gives more to his Children than any Father or Prince can bestow 6. God is the best Father because he can reform his Children A Father when his Son takes bad courses knows not how to make him better but God knows how to make the Children of the Election better he can change their Hearts When Paul was breathing out persecution against the Saints God soon altered his course and set him a praying Acts 9.11 Behold he prayeth None of those who belong to the Election are so rough cast and unhewen but God can polish them with his Grace and make them fit for the Inheritance 7. God is the best Father because he never dyes 1 Tim. 6 16. Who only hath immortality Earthly Fathers dye and their Children are exposed to many injuries but God lives for ever Rev. 1.8 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the last Gods Crown hath no Successors Quest. 6. Wherein lies the Dignity of such as have God for their Father Resp. They have greater Honour then is confer'd on the Princes of the Earth They are precious in Gods esteem Isa. 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my eyes thou hast been honourable the wicked are dross Psal. 119.119 and chaff Psal. 1.4 but God numbers his Children among his Jewels Mal. 3.17 he writes all his Childrens names in the Book of Life Phil. 4.3 Whose names are in the book of life Among the Romans the Names of their Senators were written down in a Book Patres conscripti God enrolls the names of his Children and will not blot their names out of the Register Rev. 3.5 I will not blot his name out of the book of life God will not be ashamed of his Children Heb. 11.16 God is not ashamed to be called your God One might think it were something below God and he might disdain to Father such Children as are Dust and Sin mingled but he is not ashamed to be called our God and that we may see he is not ashamed of his Children he writes his own Name upon them Rev. 3.12 I will write upon him the name of my God that is I will openly acknowledge him before all the Angels to be my Child I will write my Name upon him as the Son bears his Fathers name What an honour and dignity is this 2. God confers honourable Titles upon his Children 1. He calls them the excellent of the earth Psal. 16.2 or the magnificent as Iunius renders it They must needs be excellent who are e Regio Sanguine nati of the Blood-Royal of Heaven they are the Spiritual Phenixes of the World the glory of the Creation God calls his Children his glory Isa. 46.13 Israel my glory God honours his Children with the Title of Kings Rev. 1.6 And hath made us Kings All Gods Children are Kings though they have not Earthly Kingdoms yet 1. They carry a Kingdom about them Luke 17.21 The kingdom of God is within you Grace is a Kingdom set up in the hearts of Gods Children They are Kings to rule over their Sins to bind those kings in chains Psal. 149.8 2. They are like Kings they have their insignia Regalia their ensigns of Royalty and Majesty 1. They have their Crown In this Life they are Kings in a disguise They are not known therefore they are exposed to poverty and reproach they are Kings in a disguise 1 Iohn 3.2 Now we are the Sons of God and it doth not appear what we shall be Why what shall we be Every Son of God shall have his Crown of Glory 1 Pet. 5.4 and white Robes Rev. 6.11 Robes signifie Dignity and white signifies Sanctity 3. This is their honour who have God for their Father they are all Heirs the youngest Son is an Heir 1. Gods Children are heirs to the things of this Life God being their Father they have the best title to earthly things they have a sanctified right to them though they have often the least share yet they have the best right and they have a Blessing with what they have i. e. Gods Love and Favour Others may have more of the Venison but Gods Children have more of the Blessing Thus they are Heirs to the things of this Life 2 They are Heirs to the other World Heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ioint-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 They go sharers with Christ in glory Among Men commonly the eldest Son carries away all but Gods Children are all Joint-heirs with Christ they have a copartnership with him in his Riches Hath Christ a place in the Celestial Mansions so have the Saints Iohn 14.2 In my Fathers house are many mansions I go to prepare a place for you Hath he his Fathers Love so have they Psal. 146.8 Iohn 17.26 That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them Doth Christ sit upon a Throne so do Gods Children Rev. 3.21 What an high honour is this 4. God makes his Children equal in honour to the Angels Luke 20.36 They are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 equal to the Angels nay those Saints who have God for their Father are in some sense superiour to the Angels for Jesus Christ having taken our Nature Naturam nostram nobilitavit hath enobled and honoured it above the Angelical Heb. 2.16 God hath made his Children by Adoption nearer to himself than the Angels The Angels are the Friends of Christ Believers are the Members of Christ and this honour have all the Saints Thus you see the Dignity of such as have God for their Father What a comfort is this to Gods Children who are here despised and loaded with calumnies and invectives 1 Cor. 4.14 We are made as the filth of the world c. But God will put Honour upon his Children at the last day and crown them with Immortal Bliss to the envy of their Adversaries Quest. 7. How we may know that God is our Father All cannot say Our Father The Jewes boasted that God was their Father John 8.36 We have one Father even God Christ tells them their pedigree ver 44. Ye are of your Father the Devil They who are of Satanical Spirits and make use of their power to beat down
Christians have sat by the Rivers weeping the Word hath dropped as Honey and sweetly revived them A Christians chief Comfort is drawn out of these Wells of Salvation Rom. 15.4 That we through Comfort of the Scriptures might have hope When a poor Soul hath been ready to faint he hath had nothing to Comfort him but a Scripture Cordial When he hath been sick the Word hath revived him 2 Cor. 4.17 Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory When he hath been deserted the Word hath drop'd in the golden Oil of Joy into his Heart Cant. 3.31 The Lord will not cast off for ever He may change his Providence not his Purpose he may have the Look of an Enemy but the Heart of a Father Thus the Word hath a Power in it to comfort the heart Psal. 119.50 This is my comfort in my affliction for thy Word hath quickned me As the Spirits are conveyed through the Arteries of the Body So Divine Comforts are conveyed through the Promises of the Word Now the Scriptures having such an exhilarating Heart-comforting Power in them it shows clearly that they are of God and it is he that hath put this Milk of Consolation into these Breasts 7. The great Miracles wherewith the Lord hath confirmed Scripture Miracles were used by Moses Elijah Christ and continued many years after by the Apostles to confirm the verity of the Holy Scriptures As Props are set under weak Vines so these Miracles were set under the weak Faith of Men that if they would not believe the Writings of the Word yet they might believe the Miracles We read of God's dividing the Waters making a Cawsey in the Sea for his People to go over the Iron swimming the Oil increasing by pouring out Christ's making Wine of Water his curing the Blind and raising the Dead Thus God hath set Seal to the Truth and Divinity of Scripture by Miracles Object The Papists indeed cannot deny but that the Scripture is Divine and Sacred but they affirm that quoad nos with respect to us it receives its Divine Authority from the Church and they bring that Scripture 1 Tim. 3.15 where the Church is said to be the Ground and Pillar of Truth Answ. It is true the Church is the Pillar of Truth but it doth not therefore follow that the Scripture hath its Authority from the Church The King's Proclamation is fixed on the Pillar the Pillar holds it out that all may read but the Proclamation doth not receive its Authority from the Pillar but from the King So the Church holds forth the Scriptures but they do not receive their Authority from the Church but from God If the Word of God should be Divine because the Church holds it forth then it will follow that our Faith is to be built upon the Church and not upon the Word contrary to that Eph. 2.20 Built upon the Foundation that is the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets Quest. Are all the Books in the Bible of the same Divine Authority Answ. Those which we call Canonical Quest. Why are the Scriptures called Canonical Answ. Because the Word is a Rule of Faith a Canon to direct our Lives The Word is the Judge of Controversies the Rock of Infallibility that only is to be received for Truth which is consonant to and agrees with Scripture as the Transcript with the Original All Maximes in Divinity are to be brought to the Touchstone of Scripture as all Measures are brought to the Standard Quest. Are the Scriptures a compleat Rule Answ. The Scripture is a full and perfect Canon containing in it all things necessary to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Thou hast from a Child known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise to salvation It shews the credenda what we are to believe and agenda what we are to practise It gives us an exact Model of Religion and perfectly Instructs us in the deep Things of God The Papists therefore make themselves guilty who go to seek out Scripture with their Traditions which they equalize it The Council of Trent saith That the Traditions of the Church of Rome are to be received pari pietatis affectu with the same Devotion that Scripture is to be received with So bring themselves under that Curse Rev. 22.18 If any Man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this Book Quest. What is the main Scope and End of Scripture Answ. To Chalk out a Way to Salvation It makes a clear Discovery of Christ. Iohn 20.31 These things are written that ye might believe that Iesus is the Christ and that believing ye might have Life through his Name The Design of the Word is to be an Examen whereby our Grace is to be tried a Sea-mark to show us what Rocks we are to avoid The Word is to sublimate and quicken our Affections it is to be our Directory and Consolatory it is to waft us over to the Land of Promise Quest. Who shall have the Power of interpreting Scriptures The Papists do assert that it is in the Power of the Church If you ask who they mean by the Church They say the Pope who is Head of it and he is Infallible so Bellarmine But that Assertion is false because many of the Popes have been ignorant and vitious as Platina affirms who writes of the Lives of the Popes Pope Liberius was an Arian and Pope Iohn XXII denied the Immortality of the Soul therefore Popes are no fit Interpreters of Scripture Who then Ans. The Scripture is to be its own Interpreter or rather the Spirit speaking in it nothing can cut the Diamond but the Diamond nothing can interpret Scripture but Scripture the Sun best discovers its self by its own Beams the Scripture interprets itself in easie places to the Understanding But the Question is concerning hard places of Scripture where the weak Christian is ready to wade beyond his depth who shall interpret here Resp. In the Church God hath appointed Ordo docentium discentium some to Expound and Interpret Scripture therefore he hath given Gifts to Men the several Pastors of Churches like bright Constellations give light to dark Scriptures Mal. 2.7 The priests lips should preserve knowledge and they should seek the law at his mouth Quest. But this is to pin our Faith upon Men Resp. We are to receive nothing for currant but what is agreeable to the Word as God hath given to his Ministers Gifts for the interpreting obscure places so he hath given to his People so much of the Spirit of Discerning that they can tell at least in things necessary to Salvation what is consonant to Scripture and what is not 1 Cor. 12.10 To one is given a spirit of prophesie to another discerning of spirits God hath endued his People with such a measure of Wisdom and Discretion that they can discern between Truth and
come to thee that they may have my Ioy fulfilled in themselves And this Prayer he now Prays over in Heaven he knows we never love him so as when we feel his Love which may encourage us to seek after this Joy we Pray for that which Christ himself is Praying for that his Joy may be fulfilled in us Quest. 6. What shall we do to obtain this Spiritual Ioy Resp. Walk accurately and heavenly God gives it after a long and close walking with him 1. Observe your hours set time every day apart for God 2. Mourn for Sin Mourning is the Seed as Basil saith out of which the Flower of Spiritual Joy Grows Isa. 57.18 I 'll restore Comfort to my Mourners 3. Keep the Book of Conscience fair written do not by Presumptuous Sins blur your Evidences A good Conscience is the Ark where God puts the hidden Manna 4. Be often upon your Knees Pray with Life and Fervency The same Spirit that fills the Heart with Sighs fills it with Joys the same Spirit that indites the Prayer Seals it When Hannah had pray'd her Countenance was no more sad 1 Sam. 1.18 Praying Christians have much Intercourse with God and none are so like to have the Secrets of his Love imparted as those who hold Correspondence with him By a close walking with God we get these Bunches of Grapes by the way which are an Earnest of future Happiness Quest. 7. How shall we Comfort them who want this Ioy Resp. Such as walk in close Communion with God have more than others 1. Initial Joy Joy in Semine in the Seed Psal. 97.11 Light a Metaphor for Joy is sown for the Righteous Grace in the Heart is a Seed of Ioy. Though a Christian wants the Sun he hath a Day-star in his Heart 2. A Believer hath Real though not Royal Comforts he hath as Aquinas saith Gaudium in Deo though not à Deo Joy in God though not from God Joy in God is the Delight and Complacency the Soul takes in God Psal. 104.34 My Soul shall be glad in the Lord. He that is truly gracious is so far joyful as to take Comfort in God though he cannot say God rejoyceth in him yet he can say he rejoyceth in God 3. He hath Supporting though not Transporting Comforts he hath so much that keeps him from sinking Psal. 138.3 Thou strengthenedst me with strength in my Soul If a Christian hath not Gods Arm to embrace him yet to uphold him Thus a Christian who walks with God hath something that bears up his Heart from sinking and it is but waiting a while and he is sure of those Joys which are unspeakable and full of Glory Use 1. Then see that Religion is no Melancholy thing it brings Joy the Fruit of the Spirit is Joy Mutatur non tollitur a poor Christian that feeds on Bread and Water may have purer Joy than the greatest Monarch though he fares hard he feeds high he hath a Table spread from Heaven Angels Food hidden Manna he hath sometimes those sweet Raptures of Joy as cause a Jubilation of Spirit 2 Cor. 12.3 he hath that which is better felt than can be expressed Use 2. If God gives his People such Joy in this Life Oh! then what glorious Joy will he give them in Heaven Matt. 25.21 Enter thou into the Ioy of thy Lord here Joy begins to enter into us there we shall enter into Joy God keeps his best Wine till last Heliogabalus bathed himself in sweet perfum'd Waters What Joy when the Soul shall for ever bath it self in the pure and pleasant Fountain of Gods Love what joy to see the Orient Brightness of Christ's Face and have the Kisses of those Lips which drop sweet smelling Myrrhe Laetabitur sponsa in amplexibus Domini Aug. Oh! if a cluster of Grapes here be so sweet what will the full Vintage be How may this set us all a longing for that place where Sorrow cannot Live and where Joy cannot Dye Growth of GRACE 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in Grace Fruit 4. GRowth of Grace True Grace is progressive of a spreading growing Nature 't is with Grace as with the Light first there is the Crepusculum or day-break then it shines brighter to the full Meridian A good Christian is like the Crocodil Quam diu vivit crescit he hath never done growing The Saints are not only compared to Stars for their light but Trees for their growth Isa. 61.3 Hos. 14.5 A good Christian is not like Hezekiah's Sun that went backward nor Ioshua's Sun that stood still but is always advancing in Holiness and increasing with the Increase of God Col. 2.19 Now to amplifie and illustrate this Quest. 1. How many ways may a Christian be said to grow in Grace Resp. 1. He grows Vigore in the Exercise of Grace his Lamps are burning and shining therefore we read of a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 here is the Activity of Grace the Church prays for the blowing of the Spirit that her Spices might flow forth Cant. 4.16 2. A Christian grows Gradu in the degree of Grace he goes from strength to strength Psal. 84.7 viz. from one degree of Grace to another A Saint goes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Faith to Faith Rom. 1.17 and his Love abounds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more and more Phil. 1.9 here is growing in the degree Quest. 2. What is the right manner of a Christians growth Resp. 1. The right manner of growth is to grow less in ones own Eyes Psal. 22.6 I am a worm and no Man The sight of Corruption and Ignorance makes a Christian grow into a dislike of himself he doth vanish in his own Eyes Iob abhor'd himself in the Dust cap. 42.6 This is good to grow out of conceit of ones self 2. The right manner of growth is to grow proportionably when a Christian grows in one Grace as well as another 2 Pet. 1.5 to grow in Knowledge but not in Meekness brotherly Love good Works this is not the right growth a thing may swell and not grow a Man may be swell'd with Knowledge yet have no spiritual Growth the right manner of growth is uniform growing in one Grace as well as another As the Beauty of the Body is when there is a Symmetry of Parts not only the Head grows but the Arm and Breast so spiritual Growth is most Beautiful when there is a Symmmetry and Proportion every Grace thrives 3. The right manner of growth is when a Christian hath Grace suitable to his several Employments and Occasions when Corruptions are strong and he hath Grace able to give check to them Burdens are heavy and he hath Patience able to bear them Temptations fierce and he hath Faith able to resist them here is Grace growing in the right manner Quest. 3. Whence is it that true Grace cannot but grow Resp. 1. It is proper for Grace to grow 't is semen manens the Seed of God 1 Iohn 3.9 'T is the Nature of Seed to
Harmonious Consent of all the Parts of Scripture there are Seven cogent Arguments may Evince it to be the Word of God 1. By its Antiquity It is of ancient standing The gray Hairs of Scripture make it Venerable No Humane Histories extant reach further then since Noah's Flood but the Holy Scripture relates Matters of Fact that have been from the beginning of the World it writes of things before Time Now that is a sure Rule of Tertullian That which is of the greatest Antiquity is to be received as most Sacred and Authentick 2. We may know the Scripture to be the Word of God by the Miraculous Preservation of it in all Ages The Holy Scriptures are the richest Jewel that Christ hath left and the Church of God hath kept these Publick Records of Heaven that they have not been lost The Word of God hath never wanted Enemies to oppose and if possible to extirpate it They have given out a Law concerning Scripture as Pharaoh did the Midwives concerning the Hebrew Womens Children to strangle it in the Birth yet God hath preserved this blessed Book inviolable to this Day The Devil and his Agents have been blowing at Scripture-Light but could never prevail to blow it out a clear sign that it was lighted from Heaven Nor hath the Church of God in all Revolutions and Changes only kept the Scripture that it should not be lost but that it should not be depraved The Letter of Scripture hath been preserved without any Corruption in the Original Tongue The Scriptures were not corrupted before Christ's Time for then Christ would never have sent the Jews to the Scriptures but he sends them to the Scriptures Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures Christ knew these Sacred Springs were not muddied with Humane Fancies 3. The Scripture appears to be the Word of God by the Matter contained in it 1. By its Profundity The Mystery of Scripture is so abstruse and profound that no Man or Angel could have known it had it not been Divinely revealed That Eternity should be born that he who Thunders in the Heavens should cry in the Cradle that he who Rules the Stars should Suck the Breasts That the Prince of Life should die that the Lord of Glory should be put to shame that Sin should be punished to the full yet pardoned to the full who could ever have conceived of such a Mystery had not the Scripture been the Oracle to reveal it to us So for the Doctrine of the Resurrection That the same Body which is crumbled into a thousand pieces should rise idem numero the same individual Body for else it were a Creation not a Resurrection how could such a Sacred Riddle above all Humane disquisition be known had not the Scripture made a Discovery of it 2. By its Purity It is for the Matter of it so full of Goodness Justice and Sanctity that it could be breathed from none but God The Holiness of it shows it to be of God it bears his very Image The Scripture is compared to Silver refined seven times Psal. 12.6 This Book of God hath no Errata's in it It is a Beam of the Sun of Righteousness a Chrystal Stream flowing from the Fountain of Life All Laws and Edicts of Men have had their Corruptions but the Word of God hath not the least Tincture it is of a Meridian Splendour Psal. 119.140 Thy Word is very pure like wine that comes from the grape which is not mixed or adulterated It is so pure that it purifies every thing else Iohn 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy truth The Scripture presseth Holiness so as never any Book did It bids us live soberly righteously godly Titus 2.12 Soberly in Acts of Temperance Righteously in Acts of Justice Godly in Acts of Zeal and Devotion It commends to us whatever is just lovely of good report Phil. 4.8 This Sword of the Spirit Eph. 6.17 cuts down Vice Out of this Tower of Scripture is thrown down a Milstone upon the Head of Sin The Scripture is the Royal Law which commands not only the Actions but Affections it binds the Heart to its good Behaviour Where is there such Holiness to be found as is dig'd out of this Sacred Mine Who could be the Author of such a Book but God himself 4. That the Scripture is the Word of God is evident by its Predictions it Prophesieth of things to come This shows the Voice of God speaking in it it was foretold by the Prophet A Virgin shall conceive Isa. 7.14 and the Messiah shall be cut off Dan. 9.26 The Scripture foretels things that should fall out many Ages and Centuries after as how long Israel should serve in the Iron Furnace and the very day of their Deliverance Exod. 12.41 At the end of the four hundred and thirty years even the self same day it came to pass the Hoasts of the Lord went out of Egypt This Prediction of Future Things meerly contingent and not depending upon Natural Causes is a clear Demonstration of its Divine Original 5. The Impartiality of those Men of God who wrote the Scriptures they do not spare to set down their own Failings What Man that writes an History would black his own face viz. record those things of himself that might stain his Reputation Moses records his own Impatience when he struck the Rock and tells us therefore he could not enter into the Land of Promise David writes of his own Adultery and Bloodshed which stands as a Blot in his Scutchion to succeeding Ages Peter relates his own Pusillanimity in denying Christ. Ionah sets down his own Passions I do well to be angry to the death Surely had not their Pen been guided by God's own Hand they would never have written that which did reflect dishonour upon themselves Men do usually rather hide their Blemishes then publish them to the World But these Pen-men of Holy Scripture eclipse their own Name they take away all the Glory from themselves and give the Glory to God 6 Arg. The mighty power and efficacy the Word hath had upon the Souls and Consciences of Men. 1. It hath changed their heart 1. Some by reading of Scripture have been turned into other Men they have been made holy and gracious By reading other Books the Heart may be warmed but by reading this Book it is transformed 2 Cor. 3.3 Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God The Word was copied out into their Hearts and they were become Christ's Epistle so that others might read Christ in them If you should set a Seal upon Marble and it should make an Impression upon the Marble and leave a Print behind there were a strange Virtue in that Seal So when the Seal of the Word leaves an heavenly print of Grace upon the Heart there must needs be a Power going along with that Word no less than Divine 2. It hath comforted their Heart When
a saying of Luther Quos Deus vult perdere c. whom God intends to destroy he gives them leave to play with Scripturre Use 3. of Exhortation If the Scripture be of Divine Inspiration then be exhorted 1. to study the Scripture it is a Copy of God's Will be Scripture Men Bible Christians I adore the fulness of Scripture saith Tertullian In the Book of God are scattered many Truths as so many Pearls Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures Search as for a Vein of Silver This blessed Book will fill your Head with Knowledge and your Heart with Grace God wrote the two Tables with his own Fingers and if God took pains to write well may we take pains â—o read Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 The Word is our Magna Charta for Heaven shall we be ignorant of our Charter Col. 3.16 Let the word of God dwell in you richly The Memory must be a table-Table-Book where the Word is written To make us read the Word consider 1. There is Majesty sparkling in every Line of Scripture Take but one Instance Isa. 63.1 Who is this that cometh from Edom with died garments from Bozrah this that is glorious in his apparel travelling in the greatness of his strength I that speak in righteousness mighty to save Behold here a lofty magnificent stile what Angel could speak after this manner Iunius was converted by reading one Verse of Iohn he beheld a Majesty in it beyond all Humane Rhetorick 2. There is Melody in Scripture This is that blessed Harp which drives away sadness of Spirit Hear the sounding of this Harp a little 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the World to save sinners he took not only our Flesh upon him but our Sins And Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest How sweetly doth this Harp of Scripture sound what heavenly Musick doth it make in the Ears of a distressed sinner especially when the Finger of God's Spirit toucheth upon this Instrument 3. There is Divinity in Scripture It contains the Marrow and Quintessence of Religion The Scripture is a Rock of Diamonds a Mystery of Piety the Lips of Scripture have Grace poured into them The Scripture speaks of Faith Self-denial and all the Graces which as a Chain of Pearl adore a Christian. The Scripture excites to Holiness it treats of another World it gives a prospect of Eternity Oh then search the Scriptures Make the Word familiar to you Had I the Tongue of Angels I could not sufficiently set forth the Excellency of Scripture It is a spiritual Optick Glass in which we behold God's Glory it is the Tree of Life the Oracle of Wisdom the Rule of Manners the heavenly Seed of which the New Creature is formed Iames 1.18 The two Testaments saith Austin are the two Breasts which every Christian must suck that he may get spiritual Nourishment The Leaves of the Tree of Life were for Healing Rev. 22.2 so these Holy Leaves of Scripture like those Leaves are for the healing of our Souls The Scripture is profitable for all things If we are deserted here is the spiced Wine that cheers the heavy heart If we are pursued by Satan here is the Sword of the Spirit to resist him If we are diseased with Sins leprosy here are the Waters of the Sanctuary both to Cleanse and Cure Oh then search the Scriptures There is no danger in tasting this Tree of Knowledge There was a Penalty laid at first that we might not taste of the Tree of Knowledge Gen. 3.17 In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die But there is no danger of plucking this Tree of Holy Scripture if we do not eat of this Tree of Knowledge we shall surely die Oh then read the Scriptures Time may come when the Scriptures may be kept from us Quest. How should we so search the Scriptures as to find Life Answ. 1. Read the Bible with Reverence think every Line you read God is speaking to you The Ark wherein the Law was put was over-laid with pure Gold and was carried on Barrs that the Levites might not touch it Exod. 25.14 And why was this but to breed in the People Reverence to the Law 2. Read with Seriousness 'T is Matter of Life and Death By this Word you must be tried Conscience and Scripture are the Jury God will proceed by in Judging of you 3. Read the Word with Affection Get your Hearts quickned with the Word go to it to fetch fire Luke 24.31 Did not our hearts burn within us Labour that the Word may not only be a Lamp to direct but a Fire to warm Read the Scripture not only as an History but as a Love-Letter sent to you from God which may affect your Hearts 4. Pray that the same Spirit that wrote the Word may assist you in the reading of it that God's Spirit would show you the wonderful Things of his Law Go near saith God to Philip joyn thy self to this Chariot Acts 8.29 So when God's Spirit joyns himself with this Chariot of the Word then it becomes effectual 2. Be exhorted to prize the Word written Iob 23.12 David valued the Word more precious than Gold What would the Martyrs have given for a Leaf of the Bible The Word is the Field where Christ the Pearl of price is hid In this Sacred Mine we dig not for a Wedge of Gold but a Weight of Glory 1. The Scripture is a Sacred Collyrium or Eye-salve to illuminate us Prov. 6.23 The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem Alexandrinus The Scripture is the Card and Compass by which we Sail to the New Ierusalem 2. The Scripture is a Soveraign Cordial in all Distresses What are the Promises but the Water of Life to renew fainting Spirits Is it sin troubles there is a Scripture Cordial Psal. 65.3 Iniquities prevail against me as for our Transgressions thou shalt purge them away or as it is in Hebrew Te eapperem Thou shalt cover them Is it outward Affliction disquiets there is a Scripture Cordial Psal. 91.15 I will be with him in trouble not only to behold but to uphold Thus as in the Ark was laid up Manna Promises are laid up as Manna in the Ark of Scripture 3. The Scripture will make us wise Wisdom is above Troubles Psal. 119.104 By thy Precepts I get understanding What made Eve so desire the Tree of Knowledge Gen. 3.6 It was a Tree to make one wise The Scriptures teach a Man to know himself they discover Satan's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 snares and stratagems 2 Cor. 2.11 They make one wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 O then highly prize the Scriptures I read of Queen Elizabeth at her Coronation she received the Bible presented to her with both her Hands and kissing it laid it to her Breast saying That that Book
6.4 he sees in secret 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in impios habet Rivet As a Merchant enters down Debts in his Book so God hath his Diary or Day-Book and he enters down every sin into the Book He makes a Critical Discant upon Mens Actions Ieroboam's Wife disguised her self that the Prophet should not know her but he discern'd her 1 Kings 14.6 Why feignest thou thy self to be another The Hppocrite thinks to prevaricate and juggle with God but God will unmask him Eccles. 12.14 God shall bring every work into Iudgment with every secret thing Jer. 29.23 They have committed Villany in Israel even I know and am a witness saith the Lord. I but the Hypocrite hopes he shall colour over his sin and make it look very specious Absolom masks over his Treason with the pretence of a Religious Vow Iudas dissembles his Envy at Christ and Covetousness with a pretence of Charity to the Poor John 12.5 Iehu makes Religion a stirrop to his Ambitious Design 1 Kings 10.16 but God sees through these Figleaves You may see a Jade under his gilt Trappings Ier. 16.17 Their Iniquities is not hid from my eyes And he that hath an Eye to see will find an Hand to punish Use 2. of Exhortation Is God so infinite in his Knowledge then we should always set our selves as under his Omniscient Eye Sic vivendum est tanquam in conspectu Seneca Let us set David's Prospect before our Eye Psal. 16.8 I have set the Lord always before me Seneca counselled Lucilius that whatever he was doing he should imagine some of the Roman Worthies beheld him and then he would do nothing dishonourable The consideration of God's Omnisciency would 1. Be preventive of much sin The Eye of Man will restrain from sin and will not God's Eyes much more Esther 7.8 Will he force the Queen before me when I stand and look on Will we sin when our Judge looks on Would Men speak so vainly if they considered God over-heard them Latimer took heed to every word in his Examination when he heard the Pen go behind the Hangings So what care would Persons have of their words if they remembred God heard and the Pen is going in Heaven Would Men go after strange Flesh if they believed God were a Spectator of their wickedness and would make them do Pennance in Hell for it would they defraud in their Dealings and use false Weights if they thought God saw them and for making their Weights lighter would make their damnation heavier 2. The setting our selves as under the Eye of God's Omnisciency would cause Reverence in the Worship of God God sees the frame and carriage of our Hearts when we come before him How would this call in our stragling thoughts how would this animate and spirit Duty it would make us put fire to the Incense Acts 26.7 The Tribes instantly served God day and night 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnibus venibus with the utmost zeal and intensness of Spirit To think God is in this place he beholds us would add Wings to Prayer and Oil to the flame of our Devotion 2. Is God's Knowledge infinite study sincerity be what you seem 1 Sam. 16.7 The Lord looketh upon the heart Men judge of the Heart by the Actions God judgeth of the Actions by the Heart If the Heart be sincere God will see the Faith and wink at the failing Asa had his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Blemishes but his Heart was right with God 2 Chron. 15.17 God saw his Sincerity and pardoned his Infirmity Sincerity in a Christian is like Chastity in a Wise which doth excuse many Failings Sincerity makes our Duties acceptable like Musk among Linen that perfumes it As Iehu said to Iehonadab 2 Kings 10.15 Is thy heart right with me and he said it is if it be saith he give me thy hand and he took him up into the Chariot So if God sees our heart is right that we love him and design his glory now saith he give me your Prayers and Tears now you shall come up with me into the triumphant Chariot of Glory Sincerity makes our Services to be golden and God will not cast away this Gold though it may want some weight Is God Omniscient and his Eye chiefly upon the Heart wear this Girdle of Truth about you and never leave it off Use 3. of Comfort Is God a God of infinite Knowledge then there is Comfort 1. To the Saints in particular 2. To the Church in general in three Respects 1. In case of Private Devotion Christian thou settest hours apart for God thy Thoughts run upon him as thy Treasure God takes notice of every good Thought Mal. 3.17 He had a Book of Remembrance written for them that thought upon his Name Thou enterest into thy Closet and prayest to thy Father in secret he hears every sigh and groan Psal. 38.9 My groaning is not hid from thee Thou waterest the Seed of thy Prayer with Tears God bottles every Tear Psal. 56.8 Put thou my Tears into thy bottle When the Secrets of all Hearts shall be opened God will make an honourable mention of the Zeal and Devotion of his People and he himself will be the Herauld of their Praises 1 Cor. 4.5 Then shall every man have praise of God 2. The Infiniteness of God's Knowledge is a Comfort in case the Saints have not so clear a Knowledge of themselves They find so much Corruption that they judge they have no Grace Gen. 25.22 If it be so why am I thus If I have Grace why is my Heart in so dead and earthly a frame O remember God is of infinite Knowledge he can spy Grace where thou canst not he can see Grace hid under Corruption as the Stars may be hid under a Cloud God can see that Holiness in thee which thou canst not discern in thy self He can spy the flower of Grace in thee though overtop'd with weeds 1 Kings 14.13 Because there is in him some good thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God sees some good thing in his People when they can see no Good in themselves and though they judge themselves he will give them an Absolution 3. It is Comfort in respect of Personal Injuries It is the Saints lot to suffer The Head being crowned with Thorns the Feet must not tread upon Roses if Saints find a real Purgatory 't is in this Life but this is the Comfort God sees what wrong is done to them The Apple of his Eye is touched and is not he sensible St. Paul was scourged by cruel Hands 1 Cor. 11.35 Thrice was I beaten with Rods as if you should see a Scullion whip the King's Son God beholds it Exod. 3.7 I know their sorrows The Wicked make wounds in the backs of the Saints and then pour in Vinegar God writes down their Cruelty Believers art part of Christs Mystical Body and for every drop of a Saint's Blood spilt God puts a drop of Wrath in his Vial. 2. Comfort
is only a Passage-room to Eternity the World is to us as the Wilderness was to Israel not to rest in but to travel through to the glorious Canaan The World is a Tyring-room to dress our Souls in not a place where we are to stay for ever The Apostle tells us of the Worlds Funerals 2 Pet. 3.10 The Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up 2. Positively God made the World to demonstrate his own glory The World is a Looking-glass in which we may see the Power and Goodness of God shine forth The Heavens declare the glory of God Psal. 19.1 The World is like a curious Piece of Arras or Tapestry in which we may see the Skill and Wisdom of him that made it Use 1. Did God create the World This convinceth us of the Truth of his Godhead to create is proper to a Deity Acts 17.24 This convinced Plato of a Deity when he saw all the World could not make a Fly Thus God proves himself to be the true God and distinguisheth himself from Idols Ier. 10.11 It is written in Chalde Thus shall ye say to them the gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish Who but God can create The Creation is enough to Convince the Heathen that there is a God There are two Books out of which God will judge and condemn the Heathen viz. the Book of Conscience Rom. 2.15 Who have the Law written in their heart and the Book of the Creation Rom. 1.20 The invisible things of him are clearly seen by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead The World is full of Emblems and Hyeroglyphicks every Star in the Sky every Bird that flies in the Air is a Witness against the Heathen A Creature could not make it self 2. Here is a mighty support for Faith God Creates He that made all things with a word what cannot he do He can create strength in weakness he can create a supply of our wants What a foolish question was that Psal. 78.19 Can he prepare a table in the wilderness Cannot he that made the World do much more Psal. 124.8 Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth Rest on this God for help who made Heaven and Earth The work of Creation as it is a Monument of God's Power so it is a stay to Faith Is thy Heart hard he can with a word create softness Is it unclean he can create purity Psal. 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God Is the Church of God low he can create Ierusalem a Praise Isa. 65.18 No such golden Pillar for Faith to stay upon as a creating Power 3. Did God make this World full of Beauty and Glory every thing very good then what an evil thing is sin that hath put out of frame the whole Creation Sin hath much eclipsed the beauty sowrd the sweetness and marred the harmony of the World How bitter is that Gall a drop whereof can imbitter a whole Sea Sin hath brought Vanity and Vexation into the World yea a Curse God cursed the ground for Man's sake Gen. 3. There were several Fruits of the Curse 1. In sorrow shalt thou eat of it vers 17. By that word sorrow is to be understood all the Troubles and Cares of this Life 2. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread vers 19. In Innocency Adam did till the ground he must not live idly but it was rather a delight then a labour that tilling was without toiling The eating in sorrow and the sweat of the brow came in after sin 3. Thorns also and Thistles shall the ground bring forth vers 18. Quest. Whether in Innocency did not the Earth bear Thorns because it is threatned as a punishment Answ. It is likely it did bear Thorns for when God had done creating he made no new Species or Kinds of things but the meaning is now after Sin the Earth should bring forth more plenty of Thorns and now those Thorns should be hurtful and choke the Corn which hurtful quality was not in them before Ever since the Fall all the Comforts of this Life have a Thorn and a Thistle in them 4. The fourth fruit of the Curse was the driving Man out of Paradise vers 24. So he drove out the Man God at first brought Adam into Paradise as into an House ready furnished or as a King into his Throne Gen. 1.28 have dominion over every living thing that moveth Now God's driving Adam out of Paradise signified his dethroning and banishing him that he might look after an heavenly and a better Paradise 5. A fifth fruit of the Curse was Death verse 19. To dust thou shalt return Death was not natural to Adam it came in after sin Iosephus is of opinion Man should have died though he had continued in Innocency only he should have had a longer term of years added to his life but out of question Death grew out of the Root of Sin the Apostle saith Rom. 5.12 By sin came death See then how cursed a thing Sin is that hath brought so many Curses upon the Creation If we will not hate Sin for its Deformity let us hate it for the Curse it brings 4. Did God make this glorious World did he make every thing good was there in the Creature so much beauty and sweetness Oh! then what sweetness is there in God Quicquid efficit tale illud est magis tale the Cause is always more noble than the Effect Think with your selves is there so much excellence in House and Lands then how much more is there in God that made these Is there beauty in a Rose what beauty then is there in Christ the Rose of Sharon Doth Oil make the face shine Psal. 104.15 How will the Light of God's Countenance make it shine Doth Wine chear the heart O what Virtue is in the true Vine How doth the Blood of this Grape chear the Heart Is the fruit of the Garden sweet how delicious are the Fruits of the Spirit Is a Gold Mine so precious how precious is he who founded this Mine What is Christ in whom are hid all Treasures Coloss. 2.3 We should ascend from the Creature to the Creator If there be any Comfort here below how much more is there in God who made all these things How unreasonable is it that we should delight in the World and not much more in him that made it How should our Hearts be set on God and how should we long to be with God who hath infinitely more sweetness in him than any Creature Use 2. of Exhortation 1. Did God create the World let us wisely observe these Works of Creation God hath given us not only the Book of the Scriptures to read in but the Book of the Creation Look up to the Heavens they shew much of God's glory the Sun gilds the World with its bright
to Judge them Thirdly The Papists who as if Gods Law were imperfect and when he spake all these Words he did not speak enough add their Canons and Traditions to the Moral Law This is to tax Gods Wisdom as if he knew not how to make his own Law And surely 't is an high provoking Sin Rev. 22.18 If any Man shall add to these Words God shall add unto him the Plagues written in this Book As it is a great evil to add any thing to a Man 's sealed Will so much more to add any thing to that Law God himself spake and wrote with his own Fingers Use 3. If God spake all these Words viz. of the Moral Law then this presseth upon us several Duties 1. If God spake all these Words then we must hear all these Words the Words which God speaks are too precious to be lost As we would have God hear all our Words when we Pray so we must hear all his Words when he speaks We must not be as the deaf Adder which stoppeth her Ears He that stops his Ears when God cries shall cry himself and not be heard 2. If God spake all these Words then we must attend to them with Reverence Every Word of the Moral Law is an Oracle from Heaven God himself is the Preacher this calls for Reverence If a Judge gives a Charge upon the Bench all attend with Reverence In the Moral Law God himself gives a Charge God spake all these Words therefore with what Veneration should we attend Moses was to put off his Shoes from his Feet in token of Reverence when God was about to speak to him Exod. 3.5 6. 3. If God spake all these Words of the Moral Law then we must remember them Sure all God speaks is worth remembring those Words are weighty which concern Salvation Deut. 32.47 It is not a vain thing for you because it is your Life Our Memory should be like the Chest in the Ark where the Law was kept Gods Oracles are Ornaments and shall we forget them Ier. 2.32 Can a Maid forget her Ornaments 4. If God spake all these Words then believe them See the Name of God written upon every Commandment The Heathens that they might gain Credit to their Laws reported that they were inspired by the Gods at Rome The Moral Law fetcheth its Pedigree from Heaven ipse dixit God spake all these Words Shall we not give credit to the God of Heaven How would the Angel confirm the Women in the Resurrection of Christ Mat. 28.7 Lo saith he I have told you I speak in the Word of an Angel Much more should the Moral Law be believed when it comes to us in the Word of a God God spake all these Words Unbelief enervates the Virtue of God's Word and makes it prove Abortive Heb. 4.2 The Word did not profit not being mixed with Faith Eve gave more credit to the Devil when he spake than she did to God 5. If God spake all these words then love the Commandments Psal. 119.97 O how love I thy Law It is my Meditation all the day Consider how I love thy Precepts Psal. 119.159 The Moral Law is the Copy of Gods Will our Spiritual Directory it shews what Sins to avoid what Duties to pursue The Ten Commandments are a Chain of Pearl to adorn us They are our Treasury to enrich us They are more precious than Lands of Spices or Rocks of Diamonds Psal. 119.72 The Law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of Gold and Silver The Law of God hath Truth and Goodness in it Nehem. 9.13 Truth for God spake it and Goodness for there is nothing the Commandment enjoyns but is for our good O then let this command our Love 6. If God spake all these words Then teach your Children the Law of God Deut. 6.7 These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy Heart and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy Children He who is Godly is both a Diamond and a Load stone a Diamond for the sparkling of his Grace and a Load-stone for his attractive Virtue in drawing others to the Love of Gods Precepts Vir bonus magis aliis prodest quam sibi You that are Parents discharge your Duty Though you cannot impart Grace to your Children yet you may impart Knowledge Let your Children know the Commandments of God Deut. 11.19 Ye shall teach them your Children You are careful to leave your Children a Portion Leave the Oracles of Heaven with them instruct them in the Law of God If God spake all these words you may well speak them over again to your Children 7. If God spake all these words then the Moral Law must be obeyed If a King speaks his words command Allegiance Much more when God speaks all his words must be subscribed to Some will obey partially obey some Commandments not others like a Plow which when it comes to a stiff piece of Earth makes a Baulk But God that spake all the words of the Moral Law will have all obeyed God will not dispense with the Breach of one Law Indeed Princes for special Reasons dispense sometimes with Penal Statutes and will not take the Severity of the Law But God who spake all these words binds Men with a Subpoena to yield Obedience to every Law This condemns the Church of Rome who instead of obeying the whole Moral Law blot out one Commandment and dispense with others 1. They leave out the second Commandment out of their Catechises because it makes against Images and to fill up the number of Ten they divide the Tenth Commandment into two Thus they run themselves into that dreadful Premunire Rev. 22.19 If any Man shall take away from the words of this Book God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life 2. As they blot out one Commandment and cut that knot which they cannot untye so they dispense with other Commandments They dispense with the sixth Commandment making Murther Meritorious in case of propagating the Catholick Cause They dispense with the seventh Commandment wherein God forbids Adultery The Pope dispenseth with the Sin of Uncleanness yea Incest only paying such Fines and Summs of Mony into his Coffer No wonder the Pope takes Men off from their Loyalty to Kings and Princes when he teacheth them Disloyalty to God Some of the Papists say expresly in their Writings That the Pope hath Power to dispense with the Laws of God and can give Men a License to break the Commandments of the Old and New Testament That such a Religion ever get foot in England the Lord in Mercy prevent If God spake all the Commandments then we must obey all He who breaks this Hedge of the Commandments a Serpent shall bite him Object But what Man alive can obey all Gods Commandments Resp. To obey the Law in a legal Sense viz. To do all the Law requires no Man alive can Sin hath cut the Lock of original Righteousness where
Commandments for a sign upon thy Hand and they shall be as Frontlets between thine Eyes Deut. 6.8 The Pharisees took it in the Literal Sense they got Two Scrolls of Parchment wherein they wrote the Two Tables putting one on their Left Arms and binding the other to their Eye-brows Thus they wrested the Scripture and took Gods Name in vain That Scripture was to be understood Spiritually and by a Figure God meant by binding his Law upon their Hands that they should meditate in his Law and put it in practice And so the Papists expound that Scripture This is my Body Literally of the very Body of Christ then when Christ gave the Bread he should have had Two Bodies one in the Bread and the other out of the Bread whereas Christ meant it Figuratively It is a sign of my Body Thus they by wresting the Scripture to a wrong Sense prophane it and take Gods Name in vain Secondly When we expound those Scriptures Figuratively and Allegorically which the Holy Ghost means Literally For example Christ said to Peter launch out into the Deep and make a Draught Luke 5.4 This Text is spoken in a plain Literal Sense of Launching out the Ship but the Papists take it in a Mystical and Allegorical This Text proves say they That the Pope which is Peter's Successor shall launch forth and catch the Ecclesiastical and Political power over the West Parts of the World this say they was meant when Christ bad Peter launch out into the Deep But I think the Papists have launched out too far beyond the meaning of the Text. When Men strain their Wits to wrest the Word to such a Sense as pleaseth them they do profane Gods Word and highly take his Name in vain VII We take Gods Name in vain when we swear by his Name Many seldom name God's Name but in Oaths for this Sin the Land Mourns Mat. 5.34 Swear not at all that is Rashly and Sinfully so as to take Gods Name in vain not but that in some cases it is lawful to take an Oath before a Magistrate Deut. 6.13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and Swear by his Name Heb. 6.16 An Oath for Confirmation is an end of all strife But when Christ saith Swear not at all he forbids such a Swearing as takes Gods Name in vain There is a Three-fold Swearing forbidden 1. Vain Swearing when Men in their ordinary Discourse let fly Oaths Some will go to excuse their Swearing It is a course Wool that will take no Dye and a bad Sin indeed that hath no Excuse Excuse 1. I swear little trifling Oaths as Faith or by the Mass. Resp. The Devil hath Two false Glasses which he sets before Mens Eyes the one is a little Glass in which the Sin appears so small that it can hardly be seen this Glass the Devil sets before Mens Eyes when they are going to commit Sin the other is a great Multiplying Glass wherein Sin appears so big that it cannot be forgiven The Devil sets this before Mens Eyes when they have sinned Thou that sayest Sin is small when God shall open the Eye of thy Conscience then thou wilt see it great and be ready to despair But to answer this Plea thou sayest they are but small Oaths but Christ forbids Vain Oaths Swear not at all If God will reckon with us for Idle Words shall not Idle Oaths be put in the Account Book Excuse 2. But I swear to the Truth See how this Harlot-Sin would paint it self with an Excuse Resp. 1. Though it be true yet if it be a Rash Oath 't is Sinful Besides 2. He that swears commonly it cannot be avoided but sometimes he may swear more than is true as where much Water runs some Gravel or Mud will pass along with the Water so where there is much Swearing some Lies will run along with the Oaths Excuse 3. But I shall not be believed unless I seal up my Word with an Oath Resp. 1. A Man that is Honest will be believed without an Oath his bare Word carries Authority with it and is as good as Letters Testimonial 2. I answer He who swears the more he swears the less others will believe him Iuras credit minus Thou art a Swearer Another thinks an Oath weighs very light with thee thou carest not what thou swearest and the more thou swearest the less he believes thee He will trust thy Bond but not thy Oath Excuse 4. But it is a Custom of Swearing I have gotten and I hope God will forgive me Resp. Though among Men custom Carries it and is pleadable in Law yet it is not so in the case of Sin Custom here is no Plea Thou hast got an habit of Swearing and canst not leave it is this an Excuse Is a thing well done because it is commonly done This is so far from being an Excuse that it is an Aggravation of Sin As if one that had been accused for Killing a Man should plead with the Judge to spare him because it was his Custom to Murder this is an Aggravation of the Offence so it is here Therefore all Excuses for this Sin of Vain-Swearing are taken away Dare not to live in this Sin it is a taking Gods Name in vain 2. Vile Swearing Horrid prodigious Oaths not to be named Swearers like Mad Dogs fly in the Face of Heaven and when they are angred spue out their blasphemous Venom on Gods Sacred Majesty Some in Gaming when things go cross and the Dice run against them their Tongues run as fast against God in Oaths and Curses And tell them of their Sin go to bring home these Asses from going astray and it is but pouring Oyl on the Flame they will swear the more St. Austin saith They do no less Sin who blaspheme Christ now in Heaven than the Jews did who Crucified him upon Earth Swearers prophane Christs Blood and tear his Name An Harlot told her Husband that of her Three Sons there was but one of them his the Father dying desired the Executors to find out which was the true natural Son and all his Estate he bequeathed to him The Father being dead the Executors set up his Corps against a Tree and delivered to every one of these Three Sons a Bow and Arrows telling them that he who could shoot nearest the Fathers Heart should have all the Estate the Two Bastard Sons shot as near as they could to his Heart but the Third did feel nature so work in him that he refused to shoot at his Fathers Heart Whereupon the Executors judged him to be the true Son and gave all the Estate to him Such as are the true Children of God fear to shoot at him but such as are Bastards and not Sons care not though they shoot at him in Heaven with their Oaths and Curses And which makes Swearing yet more heinous is when Men have resolved upon any wicked Action they bind themselves with an Oath to do it such
Presence Ioh. 8.56 Abraham saw my day and rejoyced So when we see the Light of a Sabbath shine we should rejoyce Isa. 58.13 Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight This is the Queen of Days which God hath Crowned with a Blessing As there was one Day in the Week on which God did rain Manna twice as much as upon any other Day so God rains down the Manna of Heavenly Blessings twice as much on the Sabbath as on any other This is the Day wherein Christ carries the Soul into the House of Wine and displays the Banners of Love over it Now the Dew of the Spirit falls on the Soul whereby it is revived and comforted How many may write the Lord's day the day of their New Birth This day of Rest is a Pledge and Earnest of that Eternal Rest in Heaven and shall not we rejoyce at the approach of it That day on which the Sun of Righteousness shines should be a day of Gladness 2. Get up betimes on the Sabbath-morning Christ rose early on this day before the Sun was up Iohn 20.1 Did Christ rise early to save us and shall not we rise early to worship and glorifie him Psal. 63.1 Early will I seek thee Can we be up betimes on other days The Husbandman is early at his Plough the Traveller riseth early to go his Journey and shall not we when we are on this day travelling to Heaven Certainly did we love God as we should we would rise on this day betimes that we may meet with him whom our Soul loveth Such as sit up late at work on the Night before will be so buried in sleep that they will hardly be up betimes on a Sabbath-morning 3. Having dressed our Bodies we must dress our Souls for the hearing of the Word As the People of Israel were to wash themselves before the Law was delivered to them Exod. 19.10 so we must wash and cleanse our Souls and that is by Reading Meditation and Prayer I. By Reading the Word The Word is a great means to sanctifie the Heart and bring it into a Sabbath-frame Iohn 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy truth c. And read the Word not carelesly but with seriousness and affection it is the Oracle of Heaven the Well of Salvation the Book of Life David for the preciousness of God's Word esteemed it above Gold and for the sweetness above Honey Psal. 19.10 By reading the Word aright our Hearts when they are dull are quickened when they are hard are mollified when cold and frozen are enflam'd and we can say as the Disciples Did not our Hearts burn within us Some step out of their Bed to hearing The Reason why many get no more good on a Sabbath by the Word Preached is because they did not break Fast with God in the Morning by the Reading of his Word II. Meditation Get upon the Mount of Meditation and so converse with God Meditation is the Soul 's retiring of its self that by a serious and solemn thinking upon God the Heart may be raised up to Divine Affections Meditation is a Work fit for the Morning of a Sabbath Meditate on Four things 1. On the Works of Creation That is express'd here in the Commandment The Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea c. The Creation is a Looking-glass in which we see the Wisdom and Power of God gloriously represented God produced this fair Structure of the World without any pre-existent Matter and with a Word Psal. 33.6 By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made The Disciples wondred that Christ could with a Word calm the Sea Matth. 8.26 but it was far more with a Word to make the Sea Let us on a Sabbath meditate on the Infiniteness of our Creator look up to the Firmament there we may see God's Glory blazing in the Sun twinkling in the Stars look into the Sea there we may see God's Wonders in the Deep Psal. 107.24 Look into the Earth there we may behold the Nature of Minerals the Power of the Load-stone the Vertue of Herbs and Beauty of Flowers By meditating on these Works of Creation so curiously embroidered we come to admire God and praise him Psal. 104.24 O Lord how manifold are thy Works in Wisdom hast thou made them all By meditating on the Works of Creation we come to confide in God He who can Create can Provide he that could make us when we were nothing he can raise us when we are low Psal. 124.8 Our Help stands in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth 2. Meditate on God's Holiness Psal. 111.9 Holy and reverend is his Name Hab. 1.13 Thou art of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity God is Essentially Originally and Efficiently Holy All the Holiness in Men and Angels is but a Chrystal Stream that runs from this Glorious Ocean God loves Holiness because it is his own Image A King cannot but love to see his own Effigies stamp'd on Coyn. God counts Holiness his Glory and the most sparkling Jewel of his Crown Exod. 15.11 Glorious in Holiness Here is a Meditation fit for our first entrance into a Sabbath God's Holiness The Contemplation of this would work in us such a Frame of Heart as is suitable to an Holy God It would make us then Reverence his Name Hallow his Day While we are musing of the Holiness of God's Nature we begin to be transformed into his Likeness 3. Meditate on Christ's Love in redeeming us Rev. 1.5 Redemption exceeds Creation the one is a Monument of God's Power the other of his Love Here is fit Work for a Sabbath O the infinite stupendious Love of Christ in raising poor lapsed Creatures from a state of Guilt and Damnation 1. That Christ who was God should die That this Glorious Sun of Righteousness should be in an Eclipse we can never enough admire this Love no not in Heaven 2. That Christ should die for Sinners Not sinful Angels but sinful Mankind That such Clods of Earth and Sin should be made bright Stars of Glory O the amazing Love of Christ This was Illustre amoris Christi mnemosynum 3. That Christ should not only die for Sinners but die as a Sinner 2 Cor. 5.21 He was made sin for us He who was among the Glorious Persons of the Trinity was numbred among Transgressors Isa. 53.12 Not that he had Sin but he was like a Sinner having our Sins imputed to him Sin did not live in him but it was laid upon him Here was an Hyperbole of Love enough to strike us into Astonishment 4. That Christ should redeem us when he could not look to gain any thing or be at all advantaged by us Men will not lay out their Mony upon a Purchase unless it will turn to their Profit But what Benefit could Christ expect in purchasing and redeeming us We were in such a Condition that we could neither deserve nor recompense Christ's Love First We could not deserve it for we were in
these about to massacre and damn their own Souls 3. They murder their Souls who avoid all means of saving their Souls They will go to Plays to drunken Meetings but will not set their Foot within God's House or come near the Sound of the Gospel Trumpet As if one that is Diseased should shun the Bath for fear of being healed These do wilfully damn their Souls and are as great Murderers of themselves as he who having means of Cure offered him chooseth Death rather than Physick 4. They do voluntarily murder their Souls who suck in false Prejudices against Religion as if Religion were too strict and severe they that espouse Holiness must live a melancholly Life like Hermits and Anchorites and drown all their Joy in Tears This is a Slander which the Devil hath cast upon Religion For there 's no true Joy but in believing Rom. 15.13 No Hony so sweet as that which drops from a Promise Some Men have foolishly taken up a Prejudice against Religion they are resolved rather never to go to Heaven than go thither through the Strait Gate I may say of Prejudice as Paul to Elimas Acts 13.10 O Prejudice thou Child of the Devil thou Enemy of all Righteousness how many Souls hast thou damned 5. They are wilfully set to murder their own Souls who will neither be good to themselves nor suffer others to be so Matth. 23.13 Ye neither go into the Kingdom of Heaven your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in Such are those that persecute others for their Religion Drunken Meetings shall escape Punishment But if Men meet to serve God then let all Severity be used These are resolved to Shipwrack others tho they themselves are cast away in the Storm Oh! Take heed of this of murdering your own Souls No Creature but Man doth willingly kill its self So I have done with the First the Sin Forbidden in this Commandment Thou shalt not kill EXOD. XX. 13 Thou shalt not Kill II. The Second Duty implyed is That we should do all the Good we can to our selves and others 1. In reference to Others We should endeavour to preserve the Lives and Souls of others 2. In reference to our selves To preserve our own Life and Soul 1. In reference to Others 1. To preserve the Life of others Comfort them in their Sorrows relieve them in their Wants Be as the good Samaritan pour Wine and Oyl into their Wounds Iob 29.16 I was a Father to the poor 13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me This is a great means of preserving the Life of another by relieving him when he is ready to perish Pompey when there was a great Dearth in Rome provided Corn for their Relief and when the Mariners were backward to sail thither in a Tempest saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is not necessary that we should live but it is necessary that Rome be relieved Grace makes the Heart tender it causeth Sympathy and Charity As it melts the Heart in Contrition towards God so in Compassion towards others Psal. 112.9 He hath dispersed he hath given to the poor This the Commandment implies That we should be so far from ruining others that we should do all we can to preserve the Lives of others When we see the Picture of Death drawn in their Faces administer to their Necessities Be Temporal Saviours to them draw them out of the Waters of Affliction with a Silver Cord of Charity That I may perswade you to this let me lay before you Arguments First Works of Charity evidence Grace 1. Faith Iam. 2.18 I mill shew thee my Faith by my Works Works are Faith's Letters of Credence to show We judge of the Health of the Body by the Pulse where the Blood stirs and operates Christian judge of the Health of thy Faith by the Pulse of Charity The Word of God is the Rule of Faith and good Works are the Witnesses of Faith 2. Love Love loves Mercy It is a Noble bountiful Grace Mary loved Christ and how liberal was her Love She bestows on Christ her Tears Kisses costly Oyntments Love is like a full Vessel will have Vent it vents it self in Acts of Liberality Secondly To communicate to the Necessities of others is not Arbitrary it 's not left to our Choice whether we will or no but it is a Duty incumbent 1 Tim. 6.17 Charge them that are Rich in this World that they do good that they be rich in good Works This is not only a Counsel but a Charge If God should lay a Charge upon the Inanimate Creatures they would obey If he should charge the Rocks they would send forth Water If he should charge the Clouds they would melt into Showers If he should charge the Stones they would become Bread And shall we be harder than the Stones not to obey God when he chargeth us to be rich in Good Works Thirdly God supplies our Wants and shall not we supply the Wants of others We could not live without Mercy God makes every Creature helpful to us The Sun doth enrich us with it's Golden Beams The Earth yields us its Encrease Veins of Gold Crops of Corn store of Flowers God opens the Treasury of his Mercy he feeds us every Day out of the Alms-basket of his Providence Thou openest thy hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing Psal. 145.16 Now doth God supply our Wants and shall not we minister to the Wants of others Shall we be only as a Spunge to suck in Mercy and not as a Breast to milk it out to others Fourthly Herein we resemble God to be doing Good to others 'T is our Excellency to be like God Godliness is God-likeness And wherein are we more like him than in Acts of Bounty and Munificence Psal. 119.68 Thou art good and dost good Thou art good there is God's Essential Goodness and dost good there is his Communicative Goodness The more helpful we are to others the more like we are to God We cannot be like God in Omnisciency or in working Miracles but we may be like him in doing Works of Mercy Fifthly God remembers all our Deeds of Charity and takes them kindly at our Hands Heb. 6.10 God is not unrighteous to forget your labour of Love which ye have shewed towards his Name in that ye have ministred to the Saints The Chief Butler may forget Ioseph's Kindness but the Lord will not forget any kindness we show to his People Mat. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me Meat Thirsty and ye gave me Drink Christ takes the kindness done to his Saints as done to himself God that hath a Bottle for your Tears hath a Book to write down your Alms. Mal. 3.16 A Book of Remembrance was written before him Tamerlane had a Register to write down all the Names and good Service of his Soldiers So God hath a Book of Remembrance to write down all your Charitable Works and at the
Resp. Seek to God for it It is his Promise to give an Heart of Flesh Ezek. 36. and to pour on us a Spirit of Mourning Zech. 12.10 Beg God's Holy Spirit Psal. 147.18 He causeth his Wind to blow and the Waters flow When the Wind of God's Spirit blows upon us then the Waters of Repentant Tears will flow from us III. The Third way to escape the Wrath and Curse of God and obtain the Benefit of Redemption by Christ is The diligent Vse of Ordinances In particular the Word Sacraments and Prayer 1. I begin with the First of these Ordinances I. The Word 1 Thess. 2.13 which effectually worketh in you that believe Quest. 1. What is meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Words working effectually Resp. The Word of God is said to work effectually when it hath that good effect upon us for which it was appointed of God namely when the Word works powerful Illumination and thorough Reformation Acts 26.18 To open their Eyes and turn them from the power of Satan to God The opening their Eyes denotes Illumination And turning them from Satan to God denotes Reformation Quest. 2. How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to Salvation This Question consists of Two Branches 1. How may the Word be read Effectually 2. How may it be heard Effectually 1. I shall begin with the First Branch of the Question How is the Word to be read that it may be effectual to our Salvation Answ. That we may so read the Word that it may conduce effectually to our Salvation 1. Let us have a Reverend Esteem of every part of Canonical Scripture Psal. 19.10 More are they to be desired than Gold Value this Book of God above all other Books It is a Golden Epistle endited by the Holy Ghost sent to us from Heaven more particularly to raise our Esteem 1. The Scripture is a Spiritual Glass to dress our Souls by it shows us more than we can see by the Light of a Natural Conscience that may discover gross Sins but the Glass of the Word shâ—ws us Heart-Sins Vain Thoughts Unbelief c. And it not only shows us our Spots but washeth them away 2. The Scripture is a Sacred Magazine out of which we may fetch our Spiritual Artillery to fight against Satan When the Devil tempted our Saviour he fetch'd Armour and Weapons from Scripture It is written Matth. 4.4 7. 3. The Holy Scripture is a Panacea or Universal Medicine for the Soul it gives a Receipt to cure Deadness of Heart Psal. 119.50 Pride 1 Pet. 5.5 Infideliâ—y Iohn 3.36 It is a Physick-Garden where we may gather any Herb or Antidote to expell the Poyson of sin The Leaves of Scripture like the Leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the Nations Rev. 22.2 And may not this cause a reverend Esteem of the Word 2. If we would have the Word written effectual to our Souls let us peruse it with Intenseness of Mind Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures The Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to search as for a Vein of Silver The Bereans Acts 17. searched the 〈…〉 daily The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to make a curious and critical Search And 〈◊〉 was mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 Some gallop over a Chapter 〈…〉 and get no good by it If we would have the Word effectual and saving we must mind and observe every Passage of Scripture And that we may be diâ—igent in the perusal of Scripture Consider First The Word written is Norma Cultus the Rule and Platform by which we are to square our Lives it contains in it all things needful to Salvation Psal. 19.7 What Duties we are to do what Sins we are to avoid God gave Moses a Pattern how he would have the Tabernacle made and he was to go exactly according to the Pattern Exod. 25.9 The Word is the Pattern God hath given us in Writing for modelling our Lives therefore how careful should we be in the pursuing and looking over this Pattern Secondly The Written Word as it is our Pattern so it will be our Iudge Iohn 12.48 The Word that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last Day We read of the opening of the Books Rev. 20.12 This is one Book God will open the Book of Scripture and will judge Men out of it He will say Have you lived according to the Rule of this Word The Word hath a double Work to Teach and to Iudge 3. If we would have the Word written effectual we must bring Faith to the reading of it Believe it to be the Word of the Eternal Iehovah The Word written comes with Authority it shews its Commission from Heaven Thus saith the Lord It is of Divine Inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 The Oracles of Scripture must be surer to us than a Voice from Heaven 1 Pet. 1.18 Unbelief enervates the Vertue of Scripture and renders it ineffectual First Men question the Truth of the Scripture and then fall away from it 4. If we would have the Word written effectual to Salvation we must delight in it as our Spiritual Cordial Ier. 15.16 Thy Words were found and I did eat them and they were the joy and rejoycing of my Heart All true solid Comfort is fetch'd out of the Word The Word as Chrysostom saith is a Spiritual Garden and the Promises are the Fragrant Flowers or Spices in this Garden How should we delight to walk among these Beds of Spices Is it not a Comfort in all dubious perplext Cases to have a Counsellor to advise us Psal. 119.24 Thy Testimonies are my Counsellors Is it not a Comfort to find our Evidences for Heaven and where should we find them but in the Word 1 Thess. 1.4 5. The Word written is a Sovereign Elixir or Comfort in an hour of Distress Psal. 119.50 This is my Comfort in Afflictions for thy Word hath quickned me It can turn all our Water into Wine How should we take a great Complacency and Delight in the Word They only who come to the Word with Delight go from it with Success 5. If we would have the Scripture effectual and saving we must be sure when we have read the Word to hide it in our Hearts Psal. 119.11 Thy Word have I hid in my Heart The Word locked up in the Heart is a Preservative against sin Why did David hide the Word in his Heart In the next Words That I might not sin against thee As one would carry an Antidote about him when he comes near a place infected so David carried the Word in his Heart as a Sacred Antidote to preserve him from the Infection of Sin When the Sap is hid in the Root it makes the Branches fruitful When the Seed is hid in the Ground then the Corn springs up So when the Word is hid in the Heart then it brings forth good Fruit. 6. If we would have the Word written effectual let us labour
it there can be no good Crop Some have Memories like leaking Vessels the Sermons they hear are presently gone and then there is no good done If Meat doth not stay and concoct in the Stomach it will not nourish Satan labours to steal the Word out of our Mind Mark 4.15 When they have heard Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the Word that was sown Our Memories should be like the Chest of the Ark wherein the Law was put 7. Reduce your Hearing to Practice Live the Sermons your hear Psal. 119.166 I have done thy Commandments Rachel was not content that she was Beautiful but her Desire was to be Fruitful What is a knowing Head without a fruitful Heart Phil. 1.11 Fill'd with the Fruits of Righteousness It is Obedience crowns Hearing That Hearing will never save the Soul which doth not reform the Life 8. Beg of God that he will accompany his Word with his Presence and Blessing The Spirit must make all effectual Ministers may prescribe Physick but it is God's Spirit must make it work Cathedram habet in Coelo qui corda docet in terra Aug. He hath his Pulpit in Heaven that converts Souls Acts 10.44 While Peter was speaking the Holy Ghost fell upon all them that heard It is said the Alchimist can draw Oyl out of Iron God's Spirit can produce Grace in the most obdurate Heart 9. ult If you would have the VVord work effectually to your Salvation make it Familiar to you discourse of the VVord you have heard when you come home Psal. 119.172 My Tongue shall speak of thy Word That may be one reason why some People get no more good by what they hear because they never speak one to another of what they have heard As if Sermons were such Secrets that they must not be spoken of again or as if it were a Shame to speak of matters of Salvation Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another and a Book of Remembrance was written Vse Caution Take heed as you love your Souls that the VVord become not ineffectual to you There are some to whom the Word preached is ineffectual 1. Such as Censure the Word in stead of judging themselves judge the Word 2. Such as live in contradiction to the Word Isa. 30.8 3. Such as are more hardened by the Word Zech. 7.11 They made their Heart as an Adamant And when Men harden their Hearts wilfully God hardens them judicially Isa. 6.8 Make their Ears heavy The Word to these is ineffectual Were it not sad if a Man's Meat should not nourish nay if it should turn to Poyson Oh! Take heed that the Word Preach'd be not ineffectual and to no purpose Consider Three things 1. If the Word Preached doth us no good there is no other way by which we can be saved This is God's Institution and the main Engin he useth to convert Souls Luke 16.31 If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded tho' one arose from the Dead If an Angel should come to you out of Heaven and preach of the Excellency of the glorified Estate and the Joys of Heaven and that in the most Pathetical manner if the Word preached doth not perswade neither would you be wrought upon by such an Oration from Heaven If a damned Spirit should come from Hell and preach to you in Flames and tell you what a place Hell is and roar out the Torments of the Damned it might make you tremble but it would not convert if the Preaching of the Word would not do it 2. To come to the Word and not be savingly wrought upon is that which the Devil is pleas'd with He cares not tho' you hear frequently if it be not effectually He is not an Enemy to Hearing but Profiting Tho' the Minister holds out the Breast of the Ordinance to you he cares not as long as you do not suck the sincere Milk of the VVord The Devil cares not how many Sermon-Pills you take so long as they do not work upon your Conscience 3. If the VVord preached be not effectual to Men's Conversion it will be effectual to their Condemnation The VVord will be effectual one way or other if it doth not make your Hearts better it will make your Chains heavier VVe pity them who have not the Word preached but it will be worse with them who are not sanctified by it Dreadful is their Case who go loaden to Hell with Sermons But I will conclude with the Apostle Heb. 6.9 I am perswaded better things of you and things that accompany Salvation Matth. XXVIII 19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them We are still upon that Question in the Catechism Quest. What are the Outward Means whereby Christ communicates to us the Benefits of Redemption Answ. They are his Ordinances especially the Word Sacraments and Prayers I have spoken to the First The Word Read and Preached I now proceed to the Second II. The Way whereby Christ communicates to us the Benefits of Redemption is in the Vse of the Sacraments Quest. 1. What are Sacraments in general Resp. They are Visible Signs of Invisible Grace Quest. 2. Is not the Word of God sufficient to Salvation What need then is there of Sacraments Resp. We must not be wise above what is written This may satisfie it is God's Will that his Church should have Sacraments And it is God's Goodness thus by Sacraments to condescend to our weak Capacities Iohn 4.48 Except ye see Signs ye will not believe God to strengthen our Faith confirms the Covenant of Grace not only by Promises but by Sacramental Signs Quest. 3. What are the Sacraments of the New Testament Resp. Two Baptism and the Lord's Supper Quest. 4. But are there no more The Papists tell us of Five more viz. Confirmation Penance Matrimony Orders and the Extream Unction Resp. 1. There were but Two Sacraments under the Law therefore there are no more now 1 Cor. 10.2 3 4. 2. These two Sacraments are sufficient The one signifying our Entrance into Christ and the other our Growth and Perseverance in him 1. I begin with the First Sacrament Baptism Go ye therefore and Teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them Go teach all Nations The Greek VVord is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Make Disciples of all Nations If it be asked How should we make them Disciples It follows Baptizing them and teaching them In an Heathen Nation first Teach them and then Baptize them but in a Christian Church first Baptize them and then Teach them Quest. 5. What is Baptism Resp. In General it is a Matriculation or Visible Admission of Children into the Congregation of Christ's Flock More particularly Baptism is a Sacrament wherein the washing or sprinkling with Water in the Name of the Father Son and
this together sure must make sin burdensome and should not we labour to have this Burden removed by pardoning Mercy 2. Sin is a Debt Mat. 6.12 Forgive us our Debts and every Debt we owe God hath written down in his Book Isa. 65.6 Behold it is written before me and one day God's Debt-Book will be opened Rev. 20.12 The Books were opened And is not this that which may make us look after Forgiveness Sin being such a debt as we must eternally lie in the Prison of Hell for if it be not discharged shall not we be earnest with God to cross the Debt-book with the Blood of his Son There is no way to look God in the face with Comfort but by having our debts either payed or pardoned 3. There is nothing but Forgiveness can give Ease to a troubled Conscience there is a great difference between having the Fancy pleased and having the Conscience eased Worldly things may please the Fancy but not ease the Conscience Nothing but pardon can relieve a troubled Soul it is strange what shifts men will make for Ease when Conscience is pained and how many false Medicines they will use before they will take the right way for a Cure When Conscience is troubled they will try what merry Company can do they may perhaps drink away trouble of Conscience perhaps they may play it away at Cards perhaps a lent whipping will do the deed Perhaps multitude of Business will so take up their time that they shall have no leisure to hear the Clamours and Accusations of Conscience But how vain are all these Attempts still their Wound bleeds inwardly their Heart trembles their Conscience roars and they can have no peace Whence is it Here is the Reason they go not to the Mercy of God and the Blood of Christ for the pardon of their Sins and hence it is they can have no ease Suppose a man hath a Thorn in his Foot which puts him to pain let him anoint it or wrap it up and keep it warm yet till the Thorn be pluck'd out it akes and swells and he hath no ease So when the Thorn of Sin is gotten into a Man's Conscience there 's no ease till the Thorn be pull'd out when God removes Iniquity now the Thoâ—n is pluck'd out How was Davids Heart finely quieted when Nathan the Prophet told him tâ—e Lord hath put away thy Sin 2. Sam. 12.13 How should we therefore labour for Forgiveness till then we can have no ease in our Mind nothing but a pardon seal'd in the Blood of a Redeemer can ease a wounded Spirit 4. Forgiveness of sin is feasible it may be obtained Impossibility destroys Endeavour but as Ezra 10.2 There is hope in Israel concerning this the Devils are past hope a sentence of death is passed upon them which is irrevocable but there is hope for us of obtaining a Pardon Psal. 130.4 There is Forgiveness with thee If pardon of sin were not possible then it were not to be pray'd for but it hath been pray'd for 2 Sam. 24.10 I beseech thee O Lord take away mine Iniquity and Christ bids us pray for it Forgive us our Trespasses That is possible which God hath promised but God hath promised pardon upon Repentance Isa. 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and return to the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Hebr. Ki Iarbe lisloac He will multiply to pardon That is possible which others have obtain'd but others have arrived at Forgiveness therefore it is haveable Psal. 32.5 Isa. 38.17 Thou hast cast all my Sins behind thy back this may make us endeavour after pardon because it is feasible it may be had 5. Consideration to perswade to it is forgiveness of Sin is a Choice Eminent Blessing to have the Book cancel'd and God appeas'd is worth obtaining which may whet our Endeavour after it That it is a rare Transcendent Blessing appears by three Demonstrations 1. If we consider how this Blessing is purchased namely by the Lord Iesus there are three things in reference to Christ which set forth the Choiceness and Pretiousness of Forgiveness 1. No meer created Power in Heaven or Earth could expiate one Sin or procure a Pardon only Jesus Christ 1 Iohn 2.2 He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the propitiation for our Sins no Merit can buy out a Pardon Paul had as much to boast of as any man His high Birth his Learning his legal Righteousness but he disclaims all in point of Justification and lays them under Christ's Feet to tread upon No Angel could with all his Holiness lay down a price for the pardon of one Sin 1 Sam. 2.25 If a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him What Angel durst be so bold as to open his Mouth to God for a delinquent sinner Only Jesus Christ who is God-Man could deal with God's Justice and purchase Forgiveness 2. Christ himself could not procure a Pardon but by Dying every Pardon is the Price of Blood Christ's Life was a Rule of Holiness and a Pattern of Obedience Mat. 3.15 He fulfilled all Righteousness And certainly Christ's Active Obedience was of great Value and Merit but here is that which raiseth the worth of Forgiveness Christ's active Obedience had not fully procured a Pardon for us with the shedding of his Blood Therefore our Justification is ascribeâ— to his Blood Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his Blood Christ did bleed out our Pardon There is much ascribed to Christ's Intercession but his Intercession had not prevail'd with God for the forgiveness of one sin had not he shed his Blood 'T is worth our notice that when Christ is described to Iohn as an Intercessor for his Church he is represented to him in the likeness of a Lamb slain Revel 5.6 To shew that Christ must die and be slain before he can be an Intercessor 3. Christ by dying had not purchased Forgiveness for us if he had not dyed an Execrable Death he endured the Curse Gal. 3.13 All the Agonies Christ endured in his Soul all the Torments in his Body could not purchase a Pardon except he had been made a Curse for us Christ must be cursed before we could be blessed with a pardon 2. Forgiveness of Sin is a choice Blessing if we consider what glorious Attributes God puts forth in the pardoning of sin 1. God puts forth infinite Power when Moses was pleading with God for the pardon of Israels Sin he speaks thus Let the Power of my Lord be great Numb 14.17 Gods forgiving of Sin is a Work of as great Power as to make Heaven and Earth Nay a Greater for when God made the World he met with no Opposition but when he comes to pardon Satan opposeth and the Heart opposeth A Sinner is desperate and slights yea defies a pardon till God by his mighty Power convinceth him of his Sin and Danger and makes him willing to accept of a pardon 2.
his second Subtilty Satan chooseth the fittest season when to throw in a Temptation Subtilty 3. A third subtil Policy of Satan in tempting is He baits his Hook with Religion the Devil can hang out Christ's Colours and tempt to sin under pretences of Piety Now he is the White Devil and transforms himself into an Angel of Light Celsus wrote a Book full of Errour and he Intitled it Liber Veritatis The Book of Truth So Satan can write the Title of Religion upon his worst Temptations He comes to Christ with Scripture in his Mouth It is written c. So he comes to many and tempts them to sin under the pretence of Religion he tempts to Evil that Good may come of it He tempts men to such unwarrantable Actions that they may be put into a Capacity of honouring God the more He tempts them to accept of Preferment against Conscience that hereby they may be in a condition of doing more good He put Herod upon killing Iohn Baptist that hereby he might be kept from the Violation of his Oath He tempts many to Oppression and Extortion telling them they are bound to provide for their Families He tempts many to make away with themselves that they may live no longer to sin against God thus he wraps his poisonous Pills in sugar Who would suspect him when he comes as a Divine and quotes Scripture 4. Subtilty of Satan is to tempt to sin Gradually The old Serpent winds himself in by degrees He tempts first to lesser sins that so he may bring on greater A small Offence may occasion a great Crime as a little prick of an Artery may occasion a mortal Gangrene Satan first tempted David to an impure glance of the Eye to look on Bathsheba and that unclean look occasion'd Adultery and Murder First the Devil tempts to go into the Company of the wicked then to twist into a Cord of Friendship and so by degrees to be brought into the same Condemnation with them This is a great Subtilty of Satan to tempt to lesser sins first for these harden the Heart and fit men for the committing of more horrid tremendous Sins 5. Subtilty Satans Policy is to hand over Temptations to us by those whom we least suspect 1. By near Friends he tempts us by them who are near in Blood He tempted Iob by a Proxy he handed over a Temptation to him by his Wife Iob 2.9 Dost thou still retain thy Integrity As if he had said Iob thou seest how for all thy Religion God deals with thee His hand is gone out sore against thee what and still pray and weep Cast off all religion turn Atheist Curse God and die Thus Satan made use of Iob's Wife to do his work the woman was made of the Rib and Satan made a Bow of this Rib out of which he shot the Arrow of his Tentation Per costam petit Cor the Devil oft stands behind the Curtain he will not be seen in the Business but puts others to do his work As a man makes use of a Sergeant to arrest another so Satan makes use of a Proxy to tempt as he did creep into the Serpent so he can creep into a near Relation 2. He tempts sometimes by religious Friends The Devil keeps still out of sight that his Cloven Foot may not be seen Who would have thought to have found the Devil in Peter When he disswaded Christ from suffering Master spare thy self Christ spied Satan in the Temptation Get thee behind me Satan When our religious Friends would disswade us from doing our Duty Satan is a lying spirit in their Mouths and would by them entice us to Evil 6. Subtilty Satan tempts some Persons more than others some are like wet Tinder who will not so soon take the fire of Temptation as others Satan tempts most where he thinks his Policy 's will more easily prevail some are fitter to receive the impression of Temptations as soft Wax is fitter to take the stamp of the Seal The Apostle speaks of Vessels filled for Destruction Rom. 9.22 so there are Vessels fitted for Temptation Some like the spunge suck in Satan's Temptations There are five sorts of persons that Satan doth most sit brooding upon by his Temptations 1. Ignorant Persons The Devil can lead them into any snare you may lead a blind man any whither God made a Law that the Iews should not put a stumbling block in the way of the blind Levit. 19.14 Satan knows it is easie to put a Temptation in the way of the blind at which they shall stumble into Hell When the Syrians were smitten with Blindness the Prophet Elisha could lead them whither he would into the Enemies Country 2 Kin. 6.20 The bird that is blind is soon shot by the Fowler Satan the God of this World blinds men and then shoots them An ignorant man cannot see the Devils snares Satan tells him such a thing is no sin or but a little one and he will do well enough 'T is but repent 2. Satan tempts Vnbelievers He who with Diagoras doubts of a Deity or with the Photinians denies Hell what sin will not this man be drawn to He is like mettal that Satan can cast into any Mould he can dye him of any colour An Unbeliever will stick at no sin Luxury Perjury Injustice Paul was afraid of none so much as them that did not believe Rom. 15.31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea 3. Satan tempts proud Persons these he hath more power of none is in greater danger of falling by a Temptation than he who stands high in his own Conceit When David's Heart was lifted up in pride then the Devil stirr'd himself up to Number the people 2 Sam. 24.2 Celsae graviore casu decidunt Turres feriuntque summos fulmina montes Hor. Satan made use of Hamans pride to be his shame 4. Melancholy Persons Melancholy is atra bilis a black Humour seated chiefly in the Brain Melancholy clothes the Mind in Sable it doth disturb Reason Satan works much upon this Humour There are three things in Melancholy which give the Devil great Advantage 1. It unfits for Duty it pulls off the Chariot-Wheels it dispirits a man Lute-strings when they are wet will not sound When the spirit is sad and melancholy a Christian is out of tune for spiritual Actions 2. Melancholy sides often with Satan against God the Devil tells such a person God doth not love him there is no Mercy for him and the Melancholy Soul is apt to think so too and sets his hand to the Devils Lies 3. Melancholy breeds Discontent and Discontent is a cause of many sins Unthankfulness Impatience and oft it ends in self-murder Judge then what an Advantage Satan hath against a melancholy Person and how easily he may prevail with his Temptations A melancholy person tempts the Devil to tempt him 4. Idle Persons He who is idle the Devil will find him work to do Ierom
Spirits inflamed and your Tongues on Fire say as it is Deut. 29.24 What means the Heat of this Great Anger Whence doth this Fire come Is this Coal fetched from the Altar or the Infernal Pit Doth not Satan kindle this Fire in my Tongue and then warm himself at it 6 Motive The Sins of the Tongue are provoking to God and prejudicial to us 1. Provoking to God they make the fury rise up in his Face Psal. 106.33 Moses spake unadvisedly with his Lips What was this unadvised Speech Numb 20.10 11. Hear now ye Rebells must we fetch you Water out of this Rock Though he were a Favourite and God had spoken with him Face to Face yet God gives him a check for it it turned his smile into a frown 2. Prejudicial to us Moses's rash Speech shut him out of Canaan it may us out of Heaven of which that was but a Type The Fiery Tongue oft brings Men to the Fiery Furnace The rich Man cried for a drop of Water to cool his Tongue Origen notes he had sinned most in his Tongue and God punished him most in his Tongue 7 Motive He who offends not in his Tongue is a perfect Man An high expression If any Man offend not in Word the same is a perfect Man that is attained to a very high degree in the highest Form of Christ's School A prudent Man or an upright Man or comparatively in comparison of others such as have not gotten the Conquest over their Passions he is far above them and in comparison of them he is a perfect Man such an one was Holy Cranmer that could not be provoked by the ill carriages of others but requited injuries with kindness 8 Motive You must give an account to God as well of your Speeches as your Actions Mat. 12.36 Every idle Word that Men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the Day of Iudgment Words of no account will have an heavy account and if God will reckon with Men for every idle angry Word then what will he do for sinful Oaths O that my Words were written Job 19.23 Truly if many People's Words were written they would be ashamed of them And let me tell you your Words are written Rev. 20.12 The Books were opened In the Book of God's remembrance all your Words are written You had need then be careful you offend not with your Tongues God writes down all you speak and you must give an account to him When Latimer heard the Pen going behind the Hangings he was careful in his Answers And let me tell you as your Words are such will your Sentence be when the Books are opened God will proceed with you in Judicature according to your Words By your Words you shall be saved or condemned Matth. 12.37 By thy Words thou shalt be justified and by thy Words thou shalt be condemned This should Bridle our Tongues from evil speaking If our Words be good the Sentence will go on our side if evil the Sentence will go against us By thy Words c. Treasonable Words make Men guilty in Man's Court and vain sinful in God's Against being weary in well-doing Gal. 6.9 And let us not be weary in well-doing for in due Season we shall reap if we faint not IN the Verses before the Text the Apostle had laid down a Proposition What a Man soweth that shall he reap v. 7. He that sows in Sin shall reap in Sorrow he that Sows the Seeds of Grace shall reap Glory There is the Proposition In the Text the Apostle makes the application Let us not be weary of well-doing We that have sown the good Seed of Repentance and an Holy Life let us not be weary for in due season we shall reap if we faint not First A Dehortation Let us not be weary Secondly The Argument We shall reap in due season First A Dehortation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let us not be weary Where there is I. Something implied that we are apt to be weary in well-doing II. Something expressed that we ought not to be weary in well-doing I. The thing implied that we are apt to be weary in well-doing This lassitude and weariness is not from the regenerate part but the fleshly as Peter's sinking in the Water was not from the Faith in him but the Fear This weariness in a Christian course is occasioned from four Things 1. From the revilings of the World Psal. 41.5 My Enemies speak evil of me Innocency is no shield against reproach But why should this make us weary of well-doing Will a Soldier run from his Colours and quit the Field because of a little Small-shot Did not Jesus Christ undergo reproach for us when the Iews put a Crown of Thorns on him and bowed the Knee in scorn Is it any dishonour to us to be reproached for doing that which is Good Is it any disparagement to a Virgin to be reproached for her Beauty and Chastity Our reproaches for Christ we should bind as a Crown about our Head Now a Spirit of Glory rests upon us 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for a Spirit of God and of Glory resteth upon you Regium est benè facere malè audire He that clips our Credit to make it weigh lighter makes our Crown heavier 2. That which is apt to occasion weariness in well-doing is the present sufferings we are exposed to 2 Cor. 4.8 We are troubled on every side like a Ship that hath the Pirates shooting at it on both sides The Cross is the Saint's Joynture 2 Tim. 3.12 But why should this make us weary of well-doing Is not our Life a Warfare 'T is no more strange to meet with Sufferings in Religion than for a Mariner to meet with Storms or a Soldier to meet with Bullets Do not we consider upon what terms we entred into Religion Did not we Vow in Baptism to Fight under Christ's Banner Doth not our Lord tell us we must take up the Cross and follow him Matth. 16.24 Is not this part of the Legacy Christ hath bequeathed us Ioh. 16.33 We would partake of Christ's Glory but not of his Sufferings Besides doth not many a Man suffer for his Sins Do not Men's Lusts bring them to an untimely end Do Men suffer for their Sins and do we think much to suffer for Christ How did St. Paul rejoice in Sufferings 2 Cor. 7.4 How did he rattle his Chain that he wore for Christ How did he Glory in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As a Woman that is proud of her Iewels Chrysost. Why should Sufferings make us faint Who would not be willing to tread upon a few Thorns that is going to a Kingdom 3. That which is apt to occasion weariness in well-doing is the deferring of the Reward We are apt to be discouraged and grow weary if we have not what we desire presently we are all for present pay But consider 1. Our Work is not yet done