looketh on the heart For the Lord knoweth full well that if the heart be not right set for God he will never walke uprightly before God how great a semblance or shew of pietâ— soever a man may make therefore God in his wisedome looketh on the heart Deut. 32. 46. Set your hearts unto all these words saith Moses It is not setting of the eare to heare only or the mouth to speake no nor the hands to worke nor feete to walke that will serve the turne unlesse the heart in the meane time be right set for that purpose therefore saith David Psalme 119. 11. I have hid thy Word in my heart that I might not sinne against thee Lo the chiefe antidote against sinne is to hide and ponder the Word of God within our hearts An excellent direction to this purpose is that of the Apostle Saint Iames 4. 8. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you if wee desire that God should draw nigh to us in mercy we must strive to draw nigh to him in service and obedience But what is required that wee may bee fit to draw nigh to God Wash your hands or cleanse your hands yee sinners and purifie your hearts ye double minded It is only a cleane and a true heart that will make a man fit to draw nigh to God Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw nigh to God with a true heart c. Hereupon David prayeth so earnestly for such an heart Psalme 119. 80. O let my heart be upright in thy Statutes that I be not ashamed For indeed God loveth truth of heart or truth in the inward affections above all other things whatsoever this is the maine thing that he desireth Psalme 51. 6. He that ever meaneth to be religious indeed must of necessity begin with the heart that is the chiefe great wheele of the clocke that moveth all the rest Psalme 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous will speake wisedome his tongue will be talking of judgement How commeth this to passe that yee shall see in the words following The Law of God is in his heart and none of his steps shall slide It is the heart that setteth both the tongue and hands a worke for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh saith our blessed Saviour in Matthew 12. 34. Oh therefore all that would spend much time in Gods service which as we have heard is absolutely and incomparably the best spent time labour to have your hearts rightly fitted and prepared for that purpose even such an heart as I have formerly described unto you namely a beleeving heart a loving heart a sincere and an upright heart full of truth and sincerity and an heart also fraught with the true feare of God hee that hath such an heart is right set for Gods service It is just such an heart as God would have us to have sc. an heart fraught and furnished with the true feare of GOD Deut. 5. 29. They have well said all that they have spoken saith the Lord ver 28. Oh that there were such an heart in them Good words without a good heart are little worth Well what kinde of heart would God have them to have That yee shall see in the words following O that there were such an heart in them that they would feare me and keepe my Commandements alwayes that it might be well with them An heart fraught with the true feare of God is that which GOD especially desireth should be in his children and which he doth exceedingly delight in when hee findeth in it them 2. We must be constant and conscionable in the private exercises of Religion this is the way to bring the heart to a right frame for the publike Ordinances this is like the tuneing of the instrument so that he that careth not for spending any time at all in private duties careth not how little time he spendeth that way in publike Oh that wee would lay this to heart and bee carefull to spend time in private prayer and reading and holy meditations Even Princes are not exempted in this case See that Direction in Deut. 17. 18 19. See the King of Israels duty when he sitteth on the Throne of his kingdome Hee shall write him a Copie of Gods Law in a booke out of that which is before the Priests and Levites and it shall be with him and hee shall reade therein all the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare the Lord his God c. where we see 1. That it is the duty even of Kings themselves to feare GOD as well as others 2. That to the end he may feare God hee must be acquainted with Gods Word for the feare of God must be learned out of the booke of God 3. Hee was to get him a copie of Gods Booke that which wee now call a Bible Kings must get them Bibles as well as Priests and Levites 4. Hee must reade in it all the dayes of his life and if Kings then much more all subjects and private persons must spend some part of every day in the duties of Gods service in private Who need thinke himselfe too good for private duties when Kings themselves are not exempted Yea it is the duty of all Gods people to search the Scriptures Iohn 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them yee thinke yee have eternall life and they are they that testifie of me saith our Saviour Yea wee should all study to be well acquainted with the Scriptures by private reading that we may be the more delighted with the publike heareing Colossians 3. 16. Let the Word of CHRIST dwell in you richly in all wisedome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spiritiuall songs c. Lo how Gods people should spend their time in private O how this would fit us for exercises of Religion in publike What made those Noble Boereans Acts 17. 11. willing to spend so much time in hearing Paul preach in publike Surely this was one cause amongst the rest sc. the care which they had to spend their time well even in private They searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so and so finding how sweetely Pauls Doctrine accorded with that which they found written in Gods Booke they received the Word with all readinesse of minde and tooke delight to spend much time in the duties of Gods publike worship and service Deut. 6. 6 7. These words which I command thee shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy Children and loe this would make us love to spend much time in Gods service publikely c. Thirdly Hee that would have an heart rightly prepared that he may bee fit and willing to spend much time in the duties of Gods solemne worship and service must have a care to beginne the day with religious exercises and holy meditations godly cogitations let into the heart in the morning will season the heart of a man
justly to be excused namely that they were preached to a plaine Countrey people which though of good affection and inclination towards pietie I hope are yet but of meane and small capacitie and understanding in the things of God Besides my care hath ever beene rather to speake to the hid man of the heart in a plaine way then tickle the eare with a neat discourse perhaps not understood and therefore without all benefit and profit Besides no marvell if these Sermons want ornaments when the Anthour himselfe was scarce supplyed with necessaries the greatest part of my meanes at that time being wholly taken from me so that some small pittance onely of outward meanes was left me though God in his goodnesse hath graciously by your hands principally provided for me This I propound not onely by way of just excuse for these my impolished labours but also to preserve alive and keepe awake your pitie and compassion towards me and to stirre up your zealous care and diligence in the cause of God which seemeth some way endangered yea hereby you shall deeply engage a number of poore soules to pray for you when they perceive the constancie of your love towards both them and me in supporting of me by way of maintenance that I may still impart the Word of life among them and goe on still to fulfill the Ministery which I have received of the Lord IESUS Thus leaving these things to your grave and loving consideration I commend the booke unto your reading and your Worships to the protection of the Almightie and both your selves and it unto his blessing I humbly take leave and rest Canwicke this 1. of Iuly 1638. Your Worships ever to be commanded in the Lord WILLIAM HARRISON Imprimatur Tho. VVykes Octob. 15. 1638. THE Purchase of Grace CHAP. I. REV. 3. 18. I counsell thee to buy of me Gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich SVch is the gracious disposition of the Almighty and so sweete is his cariage towards his dearest servants that he doth usually most comfortably reveale and communicate himselfe unto them in their extremities he hath his Cordials ready against the sicke fits of his children he loveth to comfort the abject to binde up the broken hearted to speake peace to the afflicted witnesse the cariage of our Saviour towards Saint Iohn that beloved Disciple alwayes beloved but most manifested in his afflictions when doth the Lord reveale himselfe to him so sweetly and fully but in his banishment when he was banished into the Isle Patmos Revel 1. 9. then and there was he ravished in the spirit upon the Lords days ver 10. then commeth the great and yet sweete voyce of Christ with a charge to write and send it to the seven Churches of Asia ver 11. unto Ephesus and unto Smyrna unto Pergamos and unto Thyatira unto Sardys and Philadelphia and unto Laodicea unto these seven the Evangelist dedicateth this booke of the Revelation chap. 1. 4. Iohn to the seven Churches of Asia and unto each of these he directeth as from Christ a severall Epistle Now the words which I have read are part of the Epistle written to the Church of Laodicea which continueth from ver 14. to the end of the Chapter The Epistle it selfe consisteth of three parts 1. A Proemium or inscription of the Epistle ver 14. 2. A Narration or subject matter of the Epistle unto ver 22. 3. A Peroration or conclusion Verse the last Againe in the second part or Narration we have three things 1. A Reprehension increpation or objurgation ver 15. 16 17. 2. An Exhortation or direction v. 18. 19. 3. A solemne promise or protestation ver 20. 21. Now the words which I have read are part of the exhortation or direction And in generall they hold out our Saviours advise or Counsell to the Church wherein he fitly prescribes severall remedies for all their infirmities a salve for every sore They were wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked Now in this verse wee have a remedy for all these 1. Here is gold to enrich them 2. White Rayment to cover their nakednesse 3. Eye salve to anoint their eyes that they might see I intend to insist only upon the first of these which containeth a remedy for their poverty and wretchednesse I counsell thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest bee rich Which words are the advise and counsell of our blessed Saviour the great Counsellor Isa. 9. 6. to this Church of Laoâ—icea and in them to us also and to all true Christians to the end of the world Now mee thinkes in this I should have every mans attention for behold wee have here a Lecture of thrift a way nay the onely way to be made truely rich There bee many that say who will shew us any good Psal. 4. 6 Behold here 's for you Summum bonum the chiefest good Gold yea Gold tried in the fire gold to enrich you gold and better then gold durable riches that which will make you rich indeed rich towards God as our Saviour speakes Luk. 12. 21. Now for the parts of the Text. Here is direction to get a precious and excellent commodity metaphorically set out unto us under the name of gold Wherein we have more particularly described 1. The worth and excellency of it gold tryed in the fire that is a precious rare spirituall commoditie which is like gold tryed in the fire 2. The meanes to attaine it and that is buying it must be bought 3. The Chapman of whom we must buy it and that is Christ buy of me saith our Saviour 4. The end of buying that thou mayest be rich which argueth still the worth and excellency of the commodity And so you see the parts of the Text and the words divided 2. For the explication and sense of the words The words are metaphoricall the Chapman the Commodity the Bargaine the Profit all is spirituall 1. The Chapman is Christ even 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that sendeth the Epistle to this Church He is the Chapman 2. The commodities to be bought here are the graces of Gods Spirit or if you please Christ himselfe and the graces of his Spirit that accompany salvation which are fitly compared unto gold tryed in the fire and that in many respects as wee shall see by and by The bargaine or buying is spirituall and so are the riches here mentioned spirituall riches such as will make us rich towards God The words thus opened and explained doe hold out unto us these three Propositions or points of Instruction or Doctrine 1. That Christ Iesus and the saving graces of his Spirit are fitly resembled and compared unto gold yea pure gold Gold tryed in the fire 2. That this gold is the only meanes to make us spiritually and truly rich 3. That all that would have this precious commodity must buy it of
him so busie at their returne that he had forgotten both his hunger and thirst in so much that they were enforced to urge him saying Master eate ver 31. Now marke the sweet answer of our blessed Saviour I have meate to eate that yee know not of ver 32. And see how he doth farther expresse his full meaning Ver. 34. Iesus sayd unto them my meate is to doe the will of him that sent me and to finish his worke Oh admirable patterne Oh heavenly example such was his delight in doing Gods will that hee preferreth it before his meate and drinke in the time of his greatest hunger and thirst Now for the perfecting of this point to quicken our affections and to set the better edge upon our appetites let us consider these three particulars First That we may love Gods Ordinances the better and delight to spend more time in the exercises of Religion let us consider whose Ordinances they are They are the Lords Ordinances of divine authoritie they come from above they are tokens of love sent from our heavenly Father the Word preached is Gods Word the Sacraments are his broad Seales of Righteousnesse and prayer is a dutie expresly required by God himselfe and therefore they are worthy of all due regard and esteeme for his sake that hath sent them Now a token sent from a deare friend O how welcome a Letter a Booke a Ring c. these finde speciall regard with us And shall the Lords Word that gracious Epistle sent from the King of heaven to us shall that be accounted as a strange thing God forbid Oh let us love the Word faithfully preached because it is the Lords Word It is the Gospel of Iesus Christ. This is the Apostles Argument Rom. 1. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation Yea it is the very Word of Gods grace Act. 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther and to give you an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Yea the Word preached is a speciall fruit of his favour peculiar to those that are Gods people so that wheresoever he sendeth it he hath a purpose to save some there See how this is mentioned as a speciall priviledge to the Iewes which were then the onely people of God under heaven Psal. 147. 19 20. He sheweth his Word unto Iacob his Statutes and Ordinances unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation Oh how we should value the Lords goodnesse herein to us if this were rightly and throughly considered This was the Iewes chiefe priviledge that they had the Lords Word in speciall for their direction when all Nations besides were left in darknesse Deut. 4. 8. For what Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which I have set before you this day So marke how the Apostle setteth out the Iewes priviledge above all other Nations which he sheweth consisted in this that they had the Lords lively Oracles for their Direction Rom. 3. 1 2. What advantage then hath the Jew and what profit is there of Circumcision Much every way chiefely because unto them were committed the Oracles of God They were the Lords Oracles and therefore the more to be esteemed and their priviledge was so much the greater that did enjoy them So againe setting out the Iewish priviledges see how the Apostle reports the matter Rom. 9. 4. To whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the promises The Lords Covenants the Lords Law the service of God and his promises this should make us esteeme them Yea it is the Lord that sendeth Prophets and Apostles and Pastors to teach and instruct his people in this Word that he hath given us Ier. 3. 15. I will give you Pastors according to mine owne heart that shall feede you with knowledge and understanding It was the Lord Jesus Christ himselfe that sent the Apostles to preach the Gospel Mat. 28. 20. Goe and teach all Nations c. teaching them to observe all things that I command you and loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Yea and this sending of Ministers to preach the Word unto us is a fruit of Gods singular love towards us it argueth the Lords fatherly pitie and compassion towards us according to that we reade in 2 Chron. 36. 15. And the Lord God of their fathers sent unto them by his Messengers rising early and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place Now lay up all these together If the Word preached be an Ordinance of Gods appointing if he send the Ministers to preach it if their comâ—â—â— to doe this be a fruit of his love yea 〈◊〉 compassion towards us then surely if this 〈◊〉 rightly considered wee cannot choose â—ut love it it is the Lords doings and therefore it is marvellous in our eyes The like may be said of prayer and the Sacraments they are also of Gods ordaining Secondly Consider the worth excellency of these Ordinances in themselves The Word of God faithfully preached is an excellent Ordinance of God and so is prayer and so are the Sacraments matters of speciall and exceeding worth now yee know men love and delight in things that are most excellent This is one reason that David giveth why he delights in the societie of Gods Saints sc. because they were excellent persons Psal. 16. 2. My goodnesse extendeth not unto thee sayth he to God v. 3. but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Doest thou delight in those things that are excellent O then delight thy selfe in Gods Ordinances which are most excellent The Word of God faithfully preached is a most sweet and excellent Ordinance of GOD. See how highly David that man of GOD commends and extolleth it Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple and ver 10. More to be desired are they then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then honey and the honey-combe Oh the transcendent excellency of the Word of God faithfully preached Had I the tongue of men and Angells I could not expresse it to the full Take notice of a Testimony or two to this purpose in the new Testament 2 Cor. 10. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mightie through God to the pulling downe of strong holds yea it is able to make Sathan fall downe from heaven like lightening This is the Lords great Ordinance to batter the strong holds of sinne and Sathan they are excellent things for the demolition of Sathans Ammunition this casteth out the strong man armed and taketh away his armour wherein
23. All is yours whether it be Paul or Apollos c. all is yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods Now what greater comfort So that ye see that the Word faithfully preached is the Word of comfort and therefore wee have reason to love it in that regard Fourthly Because carnall or worldly comfort is little worth therefore in the fourth place the Word preached is the best meanes of spirituall comfort gracious and heavenly consolation Hereupon it is called the Grace of God Titus 2. 11. And the Word of 〈◊〉 Grace Act. â—0 32. And the ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. It is the Instrument that the Spirit of God useth to worke grace in the hearts of Gods people It is the ministery of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 18. Yea the Word of regeneration Iam. 1. 18. Of his owne will begate he us with the Word of Truth sayth the Apostle It is the immortall sâ—ede of our new birth 1 Pet. 1. 23. yea the chiefe meanes of our Conversion Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule Yea it is the chiefe meanes of our Sanctification Psal. 119. 9. Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way c Ioh 15. 3. Now are yee cleane through the Word that I have spoken unto you sayth our Saviour and Ioh. 17. 17. Sanctifie them with thy Truth thy Word is Truth Loe the chiefe Instrument of our Sanctification Yea as God himselfe is the God of all grace so is his Word the Word of all grace for what grace of the Spirit is it that is not usually begotten in us by the Word whether knowledge or faith or repentance or the feare of God c. 1. Out of question it is the chiefe meanes of knowledge and wisedome and understanding in the things of God See it in Davids example Psal. 119. 98. Thou through thy Commandements hast made me wiser then mine enemies for they are ever with me Ver. 99. I have more understanding then all my teachers for thy Testimonies are my meditation Ver. 100. I understand more then the Ancient because I keepe thy precepts Then for faith the Word is the meanes to beget and preserve that for it is the Word of faith Rom. 10. 8. And the Apostles conclusion is Ver. 17. So Then faith commeth by hearing and hearing of the Word of God And then for the feare of God another excellent grace of the Spirit the Word of God is the chiefe meanes to beget that Deut. 17. 19. Where it is said of the King that he shall write him a copie of the booke of the Law and reade in it all the dayes of his life Why so That he may learne to feare the Lord his God and to keepe all the words of this Law Yea this is the end of our publike meeting to heare the Word faithfully preached all both old and young must come to heare it Deut. 31. 12. Gather the people together men and women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates All sorts must constantly frequent the Church assemblies and depend upon the ministery of the Word Why so That they may heare and that they may learne and feare the Lord your God and observe to doe all the words of this Law The true feare of GOD must be learned out of the Booke of GOD and hearing the Word preached is the means to attaine thereunto The like might easily be shewed of sundry other graces But this is not all the Word preached is not onely the meanes to beget the graces of Gods Spirit in us but to encrease them also Observe it 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new borne Babes desiâ—e yee the sincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby sayth the Apostle So that the ministery of the Word is not onely the seede of our new birth but also the chiefe means of our encrease and growth in Grace yea it will still build us up farther untill we come to perfection Act. 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Oh precious Word and well worthy of all high esteeme that is able to build us up in grace farther and farther untill wee come to perfection How can we choose but love the Word exceedingly and delight to spend much time in it if we seriously consider how usefull it is unto us also in this respect Fifthly and lastly The Word preached is not onely the chiefe meanes of spirituall life and comfort but of our eternall happinesse and salvation It is not onely the Word of grace but of glory too and of salvation Romans 1. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ saith the Apostle Why so Because how simple or despicable so ever it may seeme in it selfe yet it is the power of God through faith unto salvation a foolish thing indeed it is in the eye of flesh and bloud and of carnall Reason but yet it pleaseth God even by the foolishnesse of preaching to save them which doe believe 1 Cor. 1. 21. Yea it is the Word of salvation so that he is farre from salvation that rejects it Psalm 119. 155. Yea it is the Word of eternall life and therefore he that thrusteth it from him doth judge himselfe unworthy of eternall life See two direct Testimonies for this the one is the speech of Peter to our Saviour Iohn 6. 68. Will ye also goe away saith our Saviour to his Disciples The Apostle Peter maketh answer Whither should we goe where shall wee thinke to mend our selves thou hast the words of eternall life And therefore he that rejecteth it and careth not to spend time in the hearing and reading and serious perusall of it doth even judge himselfe unworthy of everlasting life Acts 13. 46. saith the Apostle addressing his speech to the Iewes It was necessary that the Word of God should be first preached unto you the preaching of Gods Word is of necessary use in the Church of God but since that ye thrust it from you and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life c. behold wee turne to the Gentiles Oh how readily and with what great affection would we receive the Word if this was rightly considered CHAP. X. Containing part of the fifth Direction c. FIfthly All that desire to spend much time in Gods service must follow that golden rule of the Apostle sc. of redeeming the time Redeeming the time because the dayes are evill saith the Apostle Ephes. 5. 16. Which rule he repeateth againe to the Colossians Colos. 4. 5. Now if you aske me From what wee must redeeme the time I answer from all such lets and impediments that will hinder this way There are diverse great consumers of precious time from which he must carefully redeeme it that would spend much time in Gods service I shall need to say
of profitable and excellent use for Gods people that have occasion to joyne together in the celebration and participation of them First For publike prayer in the Congregation see how expresly the Apostle requireth it 1 Tim. 2. 1. I exhort that first of all prayer and supplication and intercession and giving of thankes be made for all men for Kings and such as are in authoritie Let no man despise the publike Lyturgie of our Church and the prayers that are used there as if God regarded not such prayers as are read upon a booke for certainly the most godly learned and wisest men that I have heard or read of have approved of set forme of prayers yea one of the wisest and ablest even of those that have disliked the Ceremonies of our Church hath yet highly esteemed of the prayers which are appointeh to be read in our publike Lyturgie yea and doth professe publikely that in his opinion no wise man will dislike such kinde of prayers eyther because they are read upon a booke or for their length or the multitude of them yea ye sheweth plainely that it hath beene the practice and custome of the best Churches to have bookes of publike prayers and approveth of and justifieth the practise of Gods Church in that regard yea see how highly that pious man hath approved of the Booke of prayers appointed by Authoritie for the keeping of publike Fasts concerning which this reverend Divine sayth thus concerning the sayd Booke of prayers That they are as ample holy effectuall and fit for the present occasion as ever were in any Lyturgie that he had seene Having therefore cleared this in the first place give me leave to shew you the worth and excellency of publike prayers in the Congregation in some respect above any prayers that are made in secret in our Closets or in private amongst our people in our families See it in foure particulars First In regard of the excellency of the company that is present there in a speciall manner which I will manifest unto you in these three particulars First The Church and people of GOD are present there in a most speciall manner and readie to joyne with us in these publike prayers Now it must needs be an excellent thing and very beneficiall unto us in this regard This made David delight in the duties of Gods publike worship and service yea and cary his whole hous-hold a multitude with him to the House of God because he was sure to meet with the Saints of God there in whom next under God himselfe was all his delight Psal. 42. 4. Psal. 16. 3. My goodnesse O Lord extendeth not to thee but to the Saints which are on the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight This made him so glad when he was exhorted by any to goe to the house of God sc. in regard of the good company that he was sure to finde there Psal. 122. 1. 4. I was glad when they sayd unto me let us goe up to the house of the Lord. Why so That yee shall see ver 4. Thither the Tribes goe up the Tribes of the Lord c. to give thankes to the Name of the Lord and ver 8. For my brebren and companions sake I will now say peace be within thee Loe this is one strong Motive that should perswade us not onely duely to frequent the house of God our selves but to exhort and stirre up others to joyne with us therein sc. because of the people of GOD that are there present in a speciall manner Secondly Not onely Gods people are there present but also the holy Angells of God are present in our Church assemblies As they are at all times fent forth for the good of them that shall be heires of Salvation Heb. 1. 14. so especially then when we are the most seriously imployed in the duties of Gods publike worship and service they then pitch their tents about us to defend us Psal. 34. 7. and keepe us in all our wayes much more when we walke in the wayes of God they are then present with us in a most speciall manner This the Apostle intimateth in â—hat direction which he giveth to women â— Cor. 11. 10. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head that is to have her head covered in token of sujection because of the Angells i.e. The Angells are in a most speciall manner present in our Church assemblies and will dislike such disorders Yea this was also figured to Gods people in Salomons time and hence it was that the walls of Salomons Temple were full of Cherubims round about 1 King 6. 29. to intimate unto Gods people that the holy Angells of God were in a speciall manner present in the Church assemblies This should perswade us to make great account of the publike prayers in the Congregation Thirdly Not onely the Saints and Angells but also the Lord himselfe is in a most speciall manner present at our publike prayers in the Congregation Loe I am with you alwayes to the end of the world sayth our Saviour Mat. 18. 20. Especially at publike prayers for of such kinde of assemblies our blessed Saviour speaketh Mat. 18. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of them Oh how this should perswade us not onely to spend time in Gods service our selves but also exhort others to doe so too in regard of the excellent company that we are there sure to meete withall the holy Saints and the Angels of God yea and the Lord himselfe Secondly Because publike prayers that are presented to God in the Congregation are usually most prevalent and powerfull and likely to prevaile with God eyther for the obtaining of some speciall blessing that we want or preventing or removing some heavie judgement eyther felt or feared for the Lord loveth the gates of Zion more then all the dwellings of Iacob Psal. 87. 2. Such prayers do usually finde speciall acceptance with him See what a promise our Saviour hath made to such prayers Mat. 18. 19. Againe I say unto you if two of you much more if two hundred shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall aske it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven For there the Lord commandeth his blessing and life for evermore sayth the Text Psal. 133. 3. Yea the Lord himselfe directeth to these publike and solemne prayers as those that of all others are the most effectuall to prevaile with God as appeareth in Joell 2. when he foretelleth a judgement future see what the Lord prescribeth as the meanes to prevent it V. 15. Blow the Trumpet in Zion sanctifie a Fast call a solemne assembly V. 16. Gather the people sanctifie the Congregation assemble the Elders yea gather the children yea the bride and bridegroome the Priests and Ministers of the Lord all must bestirre
TVVO TREATISES I. The Purchase of Grace shewing the Excellency of Christ and the Graces of His Spirit II. The Soules Delight in Gods Tabernacles shewing the Excellency of Time spent in Duties of GOD'S Solemne Service Instances in the chiefe viz. Prayer Word and Sacraments Motives and directions for right performance Lastly The chiefe Vsurpers of time discovered with apt remedies against each of them The Contents of the Booke are Methodically exprest in the Margent which to the diligent Reader may serve instead of a TABLE By William Harrison Mr. of Arts and Minister of the Gospell at Canwicke neare Lincolne LONDON Printed by the Assigne of T. P. for Philemon Stephens and Christopher Meredith at the Golden Lion in Paul's Church-Yard 1639. THE PVRCHASE OF GRACE A Treatise Shevving the excellency of Christ and the Graces of his Spirit the true Gold Rules to discover the Gold of true Grace from counterfeit The Christians true riches in the enjoyment of this Gold With Directions how and of whom to purchase this wealth PROV 3. 13. Happy is the man that findeth Wisedome VER 15. She is more precious then Rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to bee compared with her MAT. 25. 9. Goe to them that sell and buy for your selves By William Harrison Mr. of Arts and Minister of the Gospell at Canwicke neare Lincolne LONDON Printed by the Assigne of T. P. for Philemon Stephens and Christopher Meredith and are to bee sold at their Shop at the Golden Lion in Paul's Church-Yard 1639. TO The Right VVorshipfull the Master Wardens Assistants and Communalty of the Mystery of the Mercers in London my right worthy friends and Patrons c. Right Worshipfull c. MOst lamentable it is to see mens eager pursuit of earthly vanities and their wofull neglect and contempt of true saving grace which is durable riches To which two may be fitly applyed that which was said of Saul and David the two first Kings of Israel sc. that the one hath slaine thousands and the other tenne thousands both which arise chiefely as I conceive from mens ignorance or the want of the knowledge of the worth and excellency of piety and true feare of God or saving grace For as our Saviour said to the woman of Samaria Ioh. 4. 10. If thou knewest the gift of God c. So if they knew these gifts of God in the true resplendent nature of them if men were but acquainted with the worth and excellency of this precious and golden commodity of true saving grace they would not labour so immoderately for the meat that perisheth but for the meate that endureth to everlasting life as our Saviour himselfe speaketh Ioh. 6. 29. yea they would not be so cumbred with Martha about many things whilest in the meane time the one thing needfull is neglected but rather with Mary choose the better part which should never be taken from them Luk. 10. 42. To this end I at first fastened my meditation upon this portion of Scripture and tooke into my serious consideration this clause of holy Writ yea and have still fixed my saddest thoughts upon this golden Counsell of our blessed Saviour wherein the great Counsellor of heaven and earth doth give his blessed advise to the sonnes of men whom hee generally findeth like the Church of Laodicea sc. wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked now unto all such whom he findeth in this wofull and wretched condition He propoundeth this sweete and heavenly counsell and direction which is the ground of this ensuing discourse contained in the words of this Text Rev. 3. 18. I counsell thee to buy of mee gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich Wherein our Saviour directeth us unto the true riches indeed and commendeth unto us the worth and excellency of Himselfe his merits and graces of his Spirit that they are all of a right precious nature and of great worth and value even gold tryed in the fire and such as will truely enrich us unto life eternall In prosecuting of which Text I have runne this course and endeavoured to shew the great worth and transcendent excellency of true saving grace that it is most fitly resembled to Gold tryed in the fire yea indeed to be farre preferred before it and that in sundry respects yea not only the worth and excellency of grace it selfe but also the admirable worth of such as do enjoy this precious Iewell that all such are most excellent and golden persons indeed as comming of golden parentage having a golden portion and inheritance and also golden attendants having the holy Angels of God daily to pitch their Tents round about them for their safety Farther by way of application I have earnestly pressed and perswaded unto the duty of examination that wee should all try what metall our graces are made of whether they be of a right golden nature yea or no. And because herein we are all of us naturally backward I have therefore endeavoured to enforce the duty by sundry Motives drawne from the consideration of the difficulty of the duty the danger of being mistaken as also the possibility of performance and comfort that will hereby redound unto us when the worke is once throughly performed And that we may not bee deceived about it nor gul'd with Sathans devices in a businesse of such importance I have therefore also endeavoured to manifest and discover the true markes and characters of this golden metall together with the comfortable and happy estate and condition of all such as doe enjoy this precious commodity 2. I have endeavoured to prove that all such as have true grace are absolutely and incomparably the richest persons in the world and that piety is the best and surest way to make us truly and spiritually rich So that if there be any that are ready to say Who will shew us any good Let such come and see the shortest and yet the surest way to get wealth yea durable riches and righteousnesse Lastly if any be so farre wrought upon as to cry out with those in the Gospell Lord evermore give us this bread this wealth this precious treasure I have therefore in the last place endeavoured to discover the direct meanes to obtaine it and that is Buying And the rather to encourage us to the making of this happie bargaine for our soules I have here described the excellency of the Chapman that is readie to sell us this rare commoditie of saving grace Here you shall also finde a description of all the particulars requisite to the making up of this bargaine with Christ. Here you shall finde the price of true grace and the great varietie of such customers as are readie in appearance to bargaine with this spirituall and heavenly Chapman Here have you the summe and substance of this TREATISE Whereunto I have adjoyned another of like argument shewing the worth and excellency of the time that is spent in Gods service or in the use
themselves with fasting and weeping and praying and then see the event promised V. 18. Then will the Lord be jealous for his Land and pitie his people Ver. 19. The like promise we have 2 Chron. 7. 13 14. If the people that are called by my Name shall humble themselves and pray and seeke my face c. So that in the opinion of God himselfe such prayers are excellent because most effectuall and prevalent with God in time of danger Yea this was the opinion of our blessed Saviour and therefore it was that he frequented the Jewish Synagogues the places appoynted for publike prayer though he was the most excellently furnished with the spirit of prayer of any that ever were yea and those Synagogues had great corruptions in them which sheweth how highly he esteemed of publike prayers which were solemnely made to God in the Congregation This also appeareth by experience See what wonderfull successe the Ninivites had in proclaiming publike fasting and prayer Ionah 8. 10. When God saw their workes how publikely solemnly they went to worke he repented of the evill that he intended to doe unto them and he did it not So see the successe that Iohosophat had by this meanes even at a dead lift 2 Chron. 20. 3. 13. Concerning which the Storie setteth out three things in that case as the most remarkable 1. The danger they were in their enemies being many in number were readie even suddenly to set upon them ver 1 2. 2. The course that they tooke to prevent the danger v. 3. He proclaimed a fast and set himselfe to seeke the Lord yea see how solemnly they went to worke Ver. 4. Judah gathered themselves together to aske helpe of the Lord even out of all the Cities of Iudah they came to seeke the Lord and ver 13. And all Iudah stood before the Lord with their little ones their wives and their children there was none left out Then thirdly See the strange and admirable successe that followed hereupon ver 22 23 24. c. They had the victorie without so much as striking of a stroke the enemies destroyed one another and the Iewes had nothing to doe but onely to divide the spoyle and returne due prayse and thankesgiving to God for so miraculous a deliverance See here the power of joynt prayers like a great flood they beate downe all before them And indeede in all reason the prayers that are made by the publike vote of Gods people must needs be the most effectuall for if the effectuall fervent prayer of one righteous man availe much Iam. 5. 17. much more of many Mat. 7. 7. Aske and you shall have seeke and yee shall finde and knocke and it shall be opened If a whole Towne or Parish doe all joyne together to aske a boone at some great mans hand they are most likely to prevaile rather then one man alone 2. If many eyes do joyne in seeking a thing that is lost there is the more probabilitie to finde it and if many joyne together with joynt forces to knocke at heaven gates are they not the more likely to beate them open O then the blockish folly of such as regard not these publike prayers that are made to God in the Church assemblies but doe often absent themselves upon every light and triviall occasion Yea and see the folly of those that preferre their owne private prayers before the publike prayers of the whole Church of God in the Congregation but above all the folly of those is most palpable that doe bestow that time in private reading upon a booke which they should imploy in joyning with Gods people in publike and solemne prayers if this be not to offer unto God the sacrifice of fooles I must needs confesse I doe not know what is Thirdly The third thing wherein the worth of such kinde of prayers appeareth is in regard of the glory that hereby redoundeth to God I know the Lord receiveth glory by the performance of holy duties in secret and in our families as well as in the Congregation but as 1 Cor. 15. There are degrees of glory there is one glory of the Sun another of the Moone another of the starres so in this case 1. Secret duties in our Closets that may be compared to the glory of the Starres 2. Private duties in our families that may be compared to the Moone-light 3. Publike duties in the Congregation that may be compared to the glorious light of the Sunne So that the most glory doth hereby redound to God Hence it is that David had such a speciall respect to the duties of Gods publike worship and service as Psal. 111. 1. I will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart in the assembly of the upright and in the Congregation So Psal. 116. 18. I will pay my vowes now in the presence of all his people Why so Surely because he knew that much glory did hereby redound to God Psal. 29. 1 2. Give unto the Lord glory and strength give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name But how It followeth Worship the Lord in the beautie of Holines By this meanes we give unto God the glory due unto his name Fourthly In regard of the sweetnes comfort that hereby redoūdeth to Gods people this is afeast of fat things yea hereby we taste that the Lord is gracious 1 Pet. 2. 3. And it is unto Gods people the very joy rejoycing of the heart they are like unto them that keepe holy day as David expresseth it Ps. 42. 4. v. CHAP. XIV Containing a Description of the excellency of the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper SEcondly As the excellency of the publike prayers should perswade us not onely to frequent the publike exercises of Religion our selves but also move us to exhort and perswade others so the excellency of the Sacraments which are rightly and duely administred in our Church assemblies should also perswade us hereunto O the excellency of these seales of Righteousnesse as the Apostle calleth them Rom. 4. 11. See it in both the Sacraments of the new Testament And First For Baptisme Consider the excellency of this Sacrament in it selfe the usefulnesse benefit of it in regard of our selves It was the Lord Jesus himselfe that instituted appointed this Sacrament It was he that said unto his Disciples Mat. 28. 19. Goe and teach all Nations and baptise them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne c. and therefore in no case to be slighted or disregarded Let no man therfore despise this Sacrament or scornfully turne their backs upon it when it is administred in the Congregation as many doe who eyther depart thence or else employ that time in private reading as if this Ordinance did nothing at all concerne them for it was Christ himselfe that instituted it therefore any contempt or indignity offered herein must needs reach unto Christ himselfe as the