some live by Manual Labours others by more Noble Employments as Magistrates Ministers who study for Publick Good Manual Labour is not required of all because it is a thing that is not required propter se as simply good and necessary but propter aliud as for Maintenance and Support of Life to ease others and to supply the Uses of Charity Ephes. 4.28 Let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labour working with his Hands the thing that is good that he may have to give to him that needeth When the Ends of Labour cannot otherwise be obtained then Handy-Labour is required All others are to serve their Generation according to the Will of God Acts 13.26 As Instruments of Providence to serve the Common Good to promote the Welfare of their Family Neighbourhood Country Those that spend their whole Life in Eating Drinking Sporting and Sleeping are guilty of brutish Idleness one of Sodom's Sins Ezek. 16.49 Behold this was the Iniquity of thy Sister Sodom Pride Fulness of Bread and abundance of Idleness was in her and in her Daughters And therefore those that are freed from Service and Handy-Labour are not freed from Work and Business If any Man must be allowed to be Idle then one Member must be lost in the Body Politick A Man is born a Member of some Society Family or City and is to seek the good of it he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We see in the Body Natural there is no Member but hath its Function and Use whereby it becometh serviceable to the whole All have not the same Office that would make a confusion but all have their Use either as an Eye or as a Hand or as a Tooth So in the Body Politick no Member may be useless they must have one Function or another wherein to imploy themselves otherwise they are unprofitable Burdens of the Earth Again every Man is more or less intrusted with a Gift which he is to exercise and improve for the good of others and at the day of Judgment he is to give up his Accounts as you may learn from the Parable of the Talents Mat. 25. If he hath but one Talent it must not be hidden in a Napkin Well then if every Man hath a Gift for which he is accountable to God he must have a Calling 1 Cor. 7.17 But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every Man so let him walk and chuse his state of Life Besides a Calling is necessary to prevent the Mischiefs of Idleness and those Inconveniences that follow Men not employed Standing Pools are apt to putrify but running Waters are sweetest an idle Man is a Burden to Himself a Prey to Satan a Grief to the Spirit of God a Mischief to others He is a Burden to himself for he knoweth not what to do with his Time in the Morning he says Would God it were Evening and in the Evening would God it were Morning The Mind is like a Mill when it wanteth Corn it grindeth upon it self He is a Prey to Satan the House is emptied swept and garnished And then he goeth and taketh with himself seven other Spirits more wicked than himself and they enter in and dwell there Mat. 12.44 45. The Devil findeth them at leisure When David was idle on the Tarras he was tempted to Adultery Birds are seldom taken in their Flight but when they pitch and rest on the Ground He is a Grief to God's Spirit Ephes. 4.28 Let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labour working with his Hands that he may have to give to him that needeth with Vers. 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God Idle Men quench the vigor of their Natural Gifts and lose those Abilities that are bestowed on them He is a Mischief to Others 2 Thess. 3.11 For we hear there are some that walk among you disorderly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 working not at all but are busy-bodies They that do nothing will do too much no Work maketh way for ill Work or for Censure and busy inquisition into other Mens Actions and so they prove the Fire-brands of Contention and unneighbourly Quarrels There must be a Calling and a Work to do 3. This Work is given them by God He appointeth to every one his Task and will be glorified by no Works but what are by himself assigned to them in their Station 1. By his Word 2. By his Providence 1. By his Word There is no calling and course of Service good but what is agreeable to the Word of God Psal. 119.105 Thy Word is a Light unto my Feet and a Lamp unto my Paths We must not settle in a sinful course of Life Men may tolerate Evil Callings but God never appointed them As for instance if any Calling and Course of Life be against Piety Temperance Justice it is against the Word Titus 2.12 Teaching us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Against Piety as to be an Idolatrous Priest or to make Shrines for Idols which was Demetrius his Calling in Ephesus and Tertullian in his Book de Idolatria sheweth this was the practice of many Christians to get their Livings by making Statues and Images and other Ornaments to sell to Heathen Idolaters Against Justice as Piâ—â—cy Usury and other oppressive Courses Against Sobriety as such Callings as meerly tend to feed the Luxury Pride and Vanity of Men so Mountebanks Comedians Stage-Players It were endless to instance in all In general the Calling must be good and lawful 2. By his Providence which ruleth in every thing that falleth out even to the least Matters especially hath the Lord a great Hand in Callings and appointing to every one his Estate and Condition of Life In Paradise God set Adam his Work to dress and prune the Trees of the Garden Gen. 2.15 And still he doth not only give Abilities and special Inclinations but also disposeth of the Education of the Parent and the Passages of Mens Lives to bring them to such a Calling Isa. 54.16 Behold I have created the Smith that bloweth the Coals in the Fire and that bringeth forth an Instrument for his Work Common Trades and Crafts are from the Lord. The Heathens had a several God for every several Trade as the Papists now have a tutelar Saint but they rob God of his Honour he giveth the Faculty and the Blessing Isa. 28.24 to the end His God doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him c. He giveth the State and appointeth the Work Your particular Estate and Condition of Life doth not come by Chance or by the Care Will and Pleasure of Man but the Ordination of God without whom a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground In the higher Callings of Ministry and Magistracy there is a greater solemnity But how should a Man glorify God in his Place and Station wherein God hath set him Answ. 1. Be
is not so tender of his Works as of his Word It is more firm and stable than the Frame of Heaven and Earth that shall be dissolved but not the least Point of Truth shall fail Heaven and Earth do only continue till all that is prophesied of 〈◊〉 the Word be fulfilled His Word endureth for ever We shall have the Comfort of it in Heaven when all these things are melted 2. Nay which is more the Treason plotted against Christ taketh place that 〈◊〉 Word may be fulfilled and one main Reason why Christ came into the World was to accomplish the Word tho it cost him his Life yet saith he Heb. 10.7 Lo I come in the Volume of the Book it is written of me to do thy Will O God Promises shall be fulfilled tho most difficult for God to grant or us to believe Rather than God baulk from his Word God would send his Son to die for a sinful World Vse 1. Wait for the Accomplishment of Prophecies fear the Truth of Threatnings Hos. 7.12 I will chastise them as their Congregation hath heard Isa. 34.16 Seek ye out of the Book of the Lord and read No one of these shall fail none shall want her Mate For my Mouth it hath commanded and his Spirit it hath gathered them Look into the Book of the Law where these Curses are recorded When the Day of Execution cometh take this Prophecy into your hands see if any of these be found wanting not one thing shall fail This is the Unhappiness of Ministers all other Professions are believed when they discover Danger But who hath believed our Report It is our Duty to observe all Occurrences and compare the Rule and Event together and observe what Truth God makes good by what is fallen out and come to pass And so wait for the Accomplishment of Promises whatever Inconveniences fall out they shall be fulfilled When a Promise is thrown into the Fire it shall come out again and be fulfilled in its due time Vse 2. Here is Comfort to the Godly against the Wrath of their Enemies God hath a hand not only in Sickness and Famine but the Treasons of Men against Christ. If the Rod smites it is in the Father's hand Let Men live how they will yet God will have his Will if not his Will of Command his Will of Decree His Glory shall prevail at last You cannot hurt God whether you will or no he will be glorified SERMON XXI JOHN XVII 13 And now come I to Thee and these things I speak in the World that they might have my Ioy fulfilled in themselves OUR Lord is still amplifying that Argument of his own Departure and the Disciples danger in the World and so justifieth his earnestness in Prayer for them I come to thee and must leave their Company and therefore I have need to make some provision for them In the Argument of this Text Christ sheweth what was his special Aim in the whole Prayer He is so earnest not to blemish the Father as if he were backward and wanted Mercy but for their Comfort that they might know what Prayers were laid up in store for them and to give them a taste of his own Care He prayeth with them that they might know how he prayed for them Christ would have something left upon Record as a Pledg of his Affections to the Church These things I speak in the World c. In the words not to speak of the Occasion I come to thee which signifieth not his Address in Prayer but his Ascension to God as was cleared before Vers. 11. In the rest of the words we have Christ's Action and Christ's Aim The Comfort of the Disciples where we have the Author My Joy the Manner how received for quantity fulfilled the Quality in themselves And these things I speak in the World That is make this Prayer in their hearing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I speak it signifieth Prayer with an audible Voice elsewhere he useth the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And here a Record and Patern is left for the use of the Church in all Ages That they may have my Joy What is the meaning of that 1. Because he rejoiceth in our Good My Joy and your Joy are distinguished John 15.11 These things have I spoken to you that my Joy should be fulfilled in you and that your Joy might be full There is nothing maketh the Heart of Christ so glad as to see his Members thrive in Peace and Grace So the Apostle Paul Phil. 2.2 Fulfil ye my Joy Nothing could be more comfortable to Paul than to see the Philippians thrive in Grace Thus some interpret it actively of the Joy which Christ hath in the good of his Members But I suppose it is rather to be taken passively 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in themselves 2. Others think that by my Joy is meant a Joy like mine when they feel the same Desires kindled in their Hearts they may be comforted with the workings of the same Spirit of Prayer in them that is feel such a Joy as I feel in uttering these Requests But this doth not run so smoothly 3. My Joy because he is the Author of it Gaudium ex me Joy which I work as Mediator and Redeemer Of our selves we have nothing but Despair and Trouble Isa. 57.19 I create the Fruit of the Lips Peace Peace to him that is afar of and to him that is near and I will heal him We possess it but it is Christ's Joy he worketh it and causeth it by his Spirit elsewhere it is called Joy in the Holy Ghost 1 Thess. 1.6 4. My Joy because he is the Object of it Gaudium de me that that Joy which they have conceived from my Presence with them or care of them may not be lessened but increased that this Spiritual Joy may be fulfilled These two latter are of chief regard May be fulfilled not only accomplished but be abundant as Chap. 15.11 That your Joy may be full The filling up of Joy is a Phrase proper to S. John Ch. 3.29 This my Joy therefore is fulfilled saith John the Baptist because he heard the Bridegroom's Voice So 1 John 1.4 These things we write unto you that your Joy may be full And 2 Epist. 12. vers I trust to come unto you and speak face to face that our Joy may be full Possibly this Joy is called a Full Joy not with respect to it self but with respect to other Joys In it self it is always a growing and receiveth a daily increase till it be perfected in Heaven Here we have but some fore-running Beams of the Noon of Glory the first Fruits of the Harvest The Joy of the World is a lank empty Joy In themselves that is in their Hearts by their own feeling and experience they have need of something within for they have nothing without John 16.33 In the World ye shall have tribulation but be of good comfort I
needs be true for God is so infinitely Wise that he cannot be deceived and so infinitely Just and True that he will not deceive us and so Omnipotent that he cannot be jealous of our Knowledg and so Gracious that he is not envious of our Knowledg as the Devil would insinuate Gen. 3.5 For God doth know that in the Day ye eat thereof then your Eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing Good and Evil. It will be no infringement to his Interest if we should know his Nature and his Will But the great Question is What we should take for the Word of God Now that we may have a sure ground in this Kind let us consider how he hath revealed himself to Man The Dispensations of God are several 1. To Adam 2. To the World 3. To the Church 1. To Adam His Bible was his Heart the Law was written there and God preached to him immediatly and by Oracle gave him all extraordinary Commands and the Book of the Creatures for his Contemplation not so much to better his Knowledg as to increase his Reverence 2. To the World to Heathens God gave the Book of Nature which was more than they made use of and therefore he stopt there Psal. 19.1 2 3. The Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his Handy-Work Day unto Day uttereth Speech and Night unto Night sheweth Knowledg There is no Speech nor Language where their Voice is not heard c. This Revelation God hath made of himself even to all Nations they have Sun and Moon to look upon and the Structure of the Heavens to behold which are as so many Pledges of the Excellency and Infiniteness of God Rom. 1.19 20. Because that which may be known of God is manifest to them for God hath shewed it unto them For the invisible Things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the Things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead so that they are without excuse Acts 14.17 Nevertheless he left not himself without Witness in that he did good and gave us Rain from Heaven and fruitful Seasons filling our Hearts with Food and Gladness In the Book of Nature there is the rough Draught of God's Will Trismegistus said it was Liber unus Divinitate plenus Creation was nothing else but one Book that was full of the Glory of God and his Excellency God Spake to them by Things not by Words This with some Instincts of Conscience the Relicts of the Fall was all the Heathens had Conscience was God's Deputy to put them in mind of a Judg and the Heavens put them in mind of a God Look as Job's Messengers said I alone am escaped to tell thee so there are some few Reliques and Principles alone escaped out of the Ruins of the Fall to tell us somewhat of God and somewhat of a Judg. That Light proclaims every where and speaks to every Nation and proclaims it aloud to all People Kindred and Tongues of the Earth Take notice there is one infinite eternal God that made us and you and all things else God's refreshing the parched Earth with Showers of Rain shews how willing he is to be gracious to poor hungry Creatures Fruitful Seasons shew us the abundance of his Mercy The decking the Heavens with Stars and the Earth with Plants shew us what Glory he can put upon the Creatures This Language may be gathered out of the Creation and thus did God speak to all Creatures by the Voice of his Creatures 3. To the Church And the Dispensations of God to the Church have been various and diverse Heb. 1.1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spake in Times past unto our Fathers by the Prophets c. He spake his Mind by pieces that is signified by the Word now he gave a piece of his Mind and then a piece And he hath spoken also in sundry manners by several ways of Revelation The Church never wanted sufficient Revelation nor Means of Knowledg to guide them to the Enjoyment of God and true Happiness God's Dispensations to the Church may be reduced to three Heads There was 1. His Word without Writing 2. Then Word and Writing 3. Then Writing only 1. There was the Word without Writing by Visions Oracles and Dreams by which he manifested himself to Persons of the greatest Sanctity and Holiness that they might instruct others and impart the Mind of God to others Now mark this Dispensation was sure enough to guide them to Communion with God why Because the People of the World were then but few Families and the Persons intrusted with God's Message were of great Authority and Credit therefore sufficient enough to inform that present Age of God's Counsel and which was another Advantage they lived long to continue the Tradition with certainty to others for hundreds of Years Vision and Tradition was sure enough for as 't is observed by some three Men might continue the Tradition of the Counsel of God from Adam till Israel went down into Egypt There was Adam first God taught him by Oracle and he taught others he lived a long time Methuselah lived with Adam two hundred forty three Years and continued until the Flood then Seâ— lived with Methusalah ninety eight Years and flourished about five hundred Years after the Flood and Isaac lived fifty Years with Sem and died about ten Years before Israel's descent into Egypt So that Methuselah Sem and Isaac might continue the Knowledg of God and preserve the Purity of Religion from Adam's Death till Israel's going down into Egypt for so many hundred Years This was God's Dispensation to that Church 2. Afterwards there was both Word and Writing God's Word was necessary for the further revealing and clearing up of the Doctrine of Salvation which was revealed by pieces And Writing was necessary partly because in process of time Precepts were multiplied and it was needful for Mens Memories that they should be registred in some publick Record and partly because the long Life of God's Witnesses was much lessened and the Corruption of the World was increased and Satan began to imitate God by Oracles Visions and Answers and Idolatry and Superstition crept into the best Families Into â—erah's Josh. 24.2 Your Fathers dwelt on the other side the Flood in old Time even Terah the Father of Abraham and the Father of Nachor and they served other Gods And Jacob's Family was corrupt Gen. 35.2 Then Jacob said to his Houshold and to all that were with him Put away the strange Gods that are among you and be clean and change your Garments The People were grown numerous enough to make a Commonwealth and a Politick Body and it was fit they should have a publick Record and common Rule and therefore to avoid Man's Corruptions and to give a stop to Satan's Deceits the Lord thought fit there should be a written Rule at hand for
would venture upon that probability Now here is not only a possibility of gaining but you are threatned with horrible Torments everlasting Death and Horror more than is propounded in any Religion Do not think this is a foolish Credulity the Simple believeth every Word there is none more foolishly credulous than the Atheist and the Antiscripturist who withhold their Assent from the Word of God upon very slight Reasons and venture their Salvation upon them 2. Do not in such a Matter rest upon the Credit of any Man but seek to have a firm Ground in your Consciences an inward Certioration from the Spirit of God Phil. 1.9 This I pray that your Love may abound yet more and more in Knowledg and in Judgment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in all sence Wait till you have an inward feeling He that is led by a Man into the acknowledgment of the Truth will be led off again by Men. There will be no stability till you have an inward Assurance 2 Pet. 3.16 Beware lest ye also being led away with the Error of the Wicked fall from your own stedfastness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Every Child of God should have some Ballast in his own Spirit some Ground and Experience upon which he durst venture his Soul Labour for this proper Ballast and Stedfastness of your own And for your Comfort let me tell you if you with a humble and pious Mind wait upon God you will not want it long He that with a sincere mind and studiousness of his own Salvation desires to find out the Truth of the Scriptures certainly God will settle him Vse 2. Here is Advice to the People of God 1. Prize this way of Dispensation bless God for it that the Rule of Faith is put into a setled Course the greatest Gift next the Lord Jesus Christ that the World ever had The Scriptures are God's Charter given to Man the Evidence of his Happiness by which he holds Heaven and Grace and all his Privileges in Christ. Tho the Bible alone were extant in the World here were sufficient Direction a Doctrine full enough to guide us to Happiness and tho all the World were full of Books if the Bible only were wanting you would have no sure Doctrine Some Books are of Satan's inditing they that are full of Filthiness and Folly Other Books smell of Men there is not any other Book in the World but hath something of Man in it and a humane Spirit But this is all of God this is the Truth the Touchstone of Words and Deeds Other Writings speak Man's Heart but this speaks to Man's Heart with a Divine Power this is the Book that is the best discovery of God's Heart to us and our own to our selves it is the Touchstone not only to try Doctrines but to try all Mens Dispositions how we stand affected to him 2. Rest in the certainty of this Doctrine We are foolish Creatures and would give Laws to Heaven and indent with God to believe upon our own Terms Look as the Devil would indent with Christ Mat. 4.3 If thou be the Son of God command that these Stones be made Bread So we indent with God If it be his Word let God testify it by some Oracle or some visible Dispensation We think it were better and that the World had more Assurance when God spake in divers manners than when the Canon and Rule of Faith is closed up and he speaks by Writing only and not by Voice No God's Terms are surer than if a Man should come from Hell and speak to them We are apt to think if a Messenger should come up in Garments of flaming Fire and preach of the Horrors of the World to come then there would be no Atheists but there is a far greater certainty in such a Dispensation as we are now under Luke 16. 30 31. If one went unto them from the Dead they will repent And he said If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded tho one arose from the Dead Satan still appears to the blind World in horrible shapes to terrify them so would we look upon this as an horrible shape as the malice and cunning of the Devil Nay it is surer than if an Angel should come from Heaven to preach the Gospel to us for that would not be such an absolute Assurance Gal. 1.8 For tho we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Nay it is more sure than an Oracle from God tho that is as sure in it self because it is from the true God yet it is not so sure to us 2 Pet. 1.19 We have a more sure Word of Prophecy More sure than what Than Visions and the Voice from the excellent Glory He alludes to that Voice which came from Heaven Mat. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Ay but saith he We have a more sure Word of Prophecy Therefore rest in this way of Dispensation do not blame God as if he had ill provided for the Comfort and Safety of the Church 3. Improve it to a solid Hope and Comfort it is the Word of God and venture upon it If you be deceived God hath deceived you as the Prophet saith Jer. 4.10 Venture upon the Promises of God entertain the Precepts of it as if God himself had spoken them 1 Thess. 2.13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the Word of Men but as it is in Truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe When you hear any particular thing prest out of the Word entertain it as if God spake from Heaven What will you venture upon God's Word in a way of Suffering And what Lust will you thwart and crucify that God by his Word commands SERMON XXVIII JOHN XVII 17 Sanctify them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth NOW I proceed to the Arguments that prove the Scriptures to be the Word of God First Some are Extrinsical and do lie without the Scriptures Secondly Some are Intrinsical and lie within the Scriptures themselves as being taken from the Matter and Form of them First Extrinsical Arguments There I shall shew you I. That God hath owned the Scriptures for his Word II. The Church hath owned them as God's Word III. The Malignant World in their way hath owned them that is upon that respect they have opposed them I. God hath owned them several ways By the wonderful Success of that Religion which the Scriptures establish Preservation Miracles Accomplishment of Prophecies Promises and Threatnings by Concomitancy of Grace Testimony of the Spirit by particular Judgments and Punishments of those which have abused the Scriptures First By the wonderful Success of that Doctrine and Religion which the Scriptures do establish Certainly if we think that
those that have only a washy weak Knowledg not a living Light and Knowledg that is rooted in their own Hearts they talk like Parrots like the Moon they are dark themselves though from others they shine to others like Vintners that keep Wine not for use but for sale The Cellar may be better stored but it is for others 2 Pet. 1.8 For if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a disparagement to know Christ and never be the better for him These are like the Noble-man of Samaria that saw the plenty of Samaria but could not taste of it Surely there are not greater Atheists in the World than Carnal Scholars that have a great deal of Light but no Grace It is sad to hear of such a Christ and feel nothing John 17.17 Sanctify them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth They who are able to understand the Word but to no purpose must needs doubt of the Truth of it Vse 2. To press Christians to grow in Knowledg that they may enter upon Eternal Life by degrees Hos. 6.3 Follow on to know the Lord. There is a growth in Knowledg as well as Grace it is not so sensible in the very increase and progress as that of Grace is because growth in Grace is always cum luctû with some strife but the Work upon the Understanding is more still and silent Draw away the Curtain and the Light cometh in and our Ignorance vanisheth silently and without such strife as goeth to the taming of Lusts and vile Affections yet afterwards it is sensible that we have grown Ye were Darkness but now are ye Light in the Lord Ephes. 5.8 as a Plant increaseth in length and stature though we do not see the Progress We read of Jesus Christ that he grew in Knowledg we do not read that he grew in Grace he received the Spirit without measure and nothing could be added to the perfection of his Innocence yet it is said Luke 2.40 The Child grew and Vers. 52. Jesus increased in Wisdom and in Stature and in favour with God and Man The Godhead made out it self to him by degrees Oh let us increase It is notable that Moses his first Request to God was Tell me thy Name and afterward shew me thy Glory a more full manifestation of God We should not always keep to our Milk our Infant-Notions and Apprehensions but go on to a greater Increase it much advanceth your Spiritual Life and will be an advantage to your Eternal Life They have the highest Visions of God hereafter that know most of him here upon Earth they are Vessels of a larger capacity and though all be perfect yet with a difference Now for Means and Directions take these 1. Wait upon the preaching of the Word God appointed it and hath given Gifts to the Church for this end and purpose We should quicken one another Isa. 2.3 Come and let us go up to the House of the Lord and he will teach us his Ways God's Grace is given in his own way When Men neglect and despise God's solemn Institutions they either grow brutish or fanatical as we see by daily experience Light as well as Flame is kept in by the breath of Preaching By long attention you grow skilful in the Word of Righteousness Men that despise the Word may be more full of Crotchets and Curiosities but that Light is Darkness It is disputed which is the sense of Learning Hearing or Seeing By the Eye we see things but must by reason of innate Ignorance be taught how to judg of them 2. You must read the Word with diligence That is every Man's Work that hath a Soul to be saved They that busy themselves in other Books will not have such lively Impressions Psal. 1.2 His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night that must be our Exercise not Play-Books Stories and idle Sonnets How many Sacrilegious Hours do many spend this way Castae deliciae meae sunt scripturae tuae Aug. Nay good Books should not keep from the Scriptures Luther in Gen. cap. 19. saith Ego odi libros meos saepe opto eos interire ne morentur lectores abducant a lectione ipsius scripturae We should go to the Fountain 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation We put a disparagement upon the Word when we savour and relish Humane Writings though never so good and excellent better than the Word of God it self This is the standing Rule by which all Doctrines must be confirmed and you do not know what sweet fresh and savory Thoughts the Spirit of God may stir up in your own Minds for Word-representations are not so taking as our own inward Thoughts and Discourses these like a draught of Wine from the Tap are more fresh and lively It is necessary as I said before to wait upon Preaching to hear what others can say out of the Scriptures but it is good to read too that we may preach to our selves Every Man is fittest to commune with his own Heart and that Conviction which doth immediately arise out of the Word is more prevalent A Man can be angry with any Preacher but Conscience In another when a Matter is expressed to our Case we are apt to suspect the mixture of Passion and private Aims but read thy self and what thoughts are stirred up upon thy reading will be most advantagious to thee Besides those that are studious of the Word have this sensible advantage that they have the Promises the Doctrines the Examples of the Word more familiar and ready with them upon all Cases It is said of one that he was a living Bible and a walking Library 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a Christian is a walking Concordance And whereas other Christians are weak unsetled in Comfort or Opinion these have always Scriptures ready And let me tell you in the whole Work of Grace you will find no Weapon so effectual as the Sword of the Spirit as Scriptures readily and seasonably urged Therefore no diligence here is too much if you would not be barren and sapless in Discourse with others if you would not be weak and comfortless in your self read the Scriptures that you may bring sic scriptum est upon every Temptation and urge the solid grounds of our Comfort I speak the more in so plain a Point because I would make Men more conscionable both in their Closets and Families in this Point that they may not only have recourse to learned Helps and Books of an humane Original but to the Word it self 3. The Scriptures must be read with Prayer We must plow with God's Heifer if we would understand his Riddle we must beg the Spirit 's help The Spirit is the best Interpreter bene
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for when the Nature of God is expressed it is expressed by a word equivalent to Essence I Am that I Am Exod. 3.14 So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that was and is and is to come Rev. 1.4 Then for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ is called Heb. 1.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The express Image of his Person It cannot be rendred Essâ—nce but Subsistence for then Arrius would have carried the Day and Christ would be only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the Father's Essence cannot properly be said to be impressed on the Son since the very same individual Essence and Substance was wholly in him as it was wholly in the Father and the Son cannot be said to be like But now the express Image of his Subsistence or as we now render it Person doth provide for the Consubstantiality of the Son against Arrius and for the distinction of the Subsistences against Sabellius Thus for a long time it was carried in the terms of Substance and Subsistence But how came the word Person in use I answer The Latin Church expressed it by Person upon these Grounds partly because they would have a word in their own Language that might serve for common and vulgar use and the right apprehension of this Mystery partly because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Subsistence were ambiguous and of a doubtful signification being both often in common acceptation put for the same thing and the Latin Fathers timidiùs usi sunt eo vocabulo were shy in using that word partly because this word is very commodious as being proper to particular distinct rational Substances Whatever is a Person must be a Substance not an Attribute or Accident as White or Black a particular Substance not a general Essence or Nature it must be living we do not call a Book or a Board a Person it must be rational we do not call a Tree or a Beast a Person though they have Life but only Man and it must not be a part of a Man as the Soul it must be that which is sustained in another but subsisteth of it self so the humanity of Christ is not a Person because it hath no Subsistence in it self but is sustained by the Godhead Now a Person in the Godhead is an incommunicable Subsistence in the Divine Essence or the Divine Essence or Nature distinguished by its incommunicable Property or more plainly a diverse and distinct Subsistence in the Godhead And the word is not to be taken in the extream rigor to infer any separation or division in the Godhead Three Persons among Men make three separate Essences three Men but not here three Gods for in the Godhead the Persons are not separate and divided but only distinguished by their Relative Properties they are Coeternal Infinite and may be in one another the Father in the Son the Son in the Father both in the Spirit We are material and though we communicate in the same Nature yet we live separate In short the word Person is used to shew that they are not only three Acts Offices Attributes Properties Qualities Operations but distinct Subsistences distinguished from one another by their unchangeable Order of First Second and Third Father Word and Spirit and their incommunicable Properties of Paternity Filiation and Procession or unbegotten begotten and proceeding and by their special and personal manner of Operation creating redeeming sanctifying Creation is by the Father Redemption by the Son Sanctification by the Spirit More may be said but when shall we make an end Let us apply it Vse Let us bless God that we have such a compleat Object for our Faith we can want nothing that have Father Son and Spirit the co-operation of all the Persons for our Salvation that we can consider the Father in Heaven the Son on the Cross and feel the Spirit in our Hearts yea that the whole Godhead should take up its abode and come and converse with us 2 Cor. 13.14 The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Oh what a treble Privilege is this Grace Love and Communion Election Merit and Actual Grace This is a Mystery felt as well as believed We have a God to love us a Christ to redeem us and a Spirit to apply all to the Soul 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious Our Spiritual Estate standeth upon a sure Bottom the beginning is from God the Father the Dispensation from the Son and the Application from the Holy Ghost The Father 's Electing Love is ingaged by the Merit of Christ and conveyed by the Power of the Holy Ghost There was a Purpose by the Father the Accomplishment was by the Son and Exhibition is by the Spirit it is free in the Father sure in the Son ours in the Spirit the Father purposeth the Son ratifieth the Spirit giveth us the enjoyment of all Oh! let us adore the Mysterious Trinity we are not thankful enough for this glorious Discovery Doct. 4. That God who is one in three Persons is the only true God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee the only true God 1 Thess. 1.9 Ye turned to God from Idols to serve the Living and True God All others are but Idols and false Gods they are not able to avenge the contempt of them that wrong them or to save those that trust in them Gal. 4.8 Then when ye knew not God ye did service to them that by Nature were no Gods An Idol is nothing but what it is in the valuation and esteem of Men. Oh then let us not look upon Religion as a meer Fancy God is whether we acknowledg him or no. Usually in great Turns and Changes many turn Atheists some turn short from gross Idolatry to rest in Superstition others turn over and lay aside Religion it self as if all were Fancy and Figment Oh consider a God there is who else made the World And then Who is a God like unto the Lord our God Go search abroad among the Nations It is some advantage sometimes to consider what a God we â—erve above the Gods of the Gentiles God alloweth you the search for Settlement and Satisfaction Jer. 6.16 Thus saith the Lord Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old Paths Where is the good Way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your Souls If you will make a serious Comparison see where you can anchor safer than in Christianity Where can you have more comfortable Representations of God than in the Christian Religion And where can you have a purer Representation of the Christian Religion than in the Churches of the Protestants all else is as unstable as Waters Here God is represented as holy yet gracious and here you may meet with a strict Rule of Duty and yet best for your Choice Let it confirm you in your Choice and bless God for the Advantages of
hast so many Infirmities â—llurements Discouragements corrupt Inclinations thou standest not by thine own â—trength Christ hath engaged God's Name to keep thee Psal. 16.8 I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right Hand I shall not be moved It is well that we have so good a Second a Christian is a Souldier that may triumph before the Victory It was a Proverb Let not him that putteth on his Armour boast as he that putteth it off 3. To Thankfulness Did we believe the Power of Corruption we should be more thankful 2 Cor. 1.21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God He doth all and being ingaged with Christ by virtue of your Interest in him you shall stand None should be proud of their standing in the State of Grace God must have all the Glory 1 Pet. 4.11 If any Man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God If any Man minister let him do it as of the ability that God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be Praise and Dominion for ever and ever Amen SERMON XVIII JOHN XVII 11 And now I am no more in the World but these are in the World and I come to thee Holy Father keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are WE are now come to the fourth Circumstance the Persons for whom he prayeth those which thou hast given me Some ancient Copies read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy Name which thou hast given me but I will not trouble you with that most read as we do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those which thou hast given me But who are they and what is meant by God's giving us to Christ and why is it mentioned here The Phrase is often repeated and used in many Verses of this Chapter I shall now explain it once for all I. Who are the Persons that were given to Christ I Answer Generally the Elect particularly the Apostles The Elect are and may be comprised within the Expression for Ver. 9. it is put in contradistinction to the Reprobate World for whom Christ will not pray I pray for them I pray not for the World but for them that thou hast given me for they are thine But in the principal scope of this Verse the Disciples of that Age are intended and among them chiefly the Apostles who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Elect of the Elect For he doth principally pray for others afterward Vers. 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for those which shall believe on me through their Word But after that again both the Disciples and all others that belong to the purposes of God's Grace are folded or bound together up in this one Expression Vers. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory All which sheweth that this Expression those which are given to Christ is a Character proper and peculiar to the Elect and so Christ meaneth it in this place Nothing can be objected against this but that in the Verse next my Text Vers. 12. Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost but the Son of Perdition So that either we must take this giving in a larger sense or allow that some of those given to Christ may be lost I Answer I might take the word in a larger sense indeed as it is sometimes used in Scripture for those given to Christ only by way of Reward tho not by way of Charge as I shall distinguish by and by Hypocrites because of their external Vocation are said to be given to Christ by way of Ministry and Service but not by way of special Charge And it is notable what Christ saith of Judas John 13.18 I speak not of you all I know whom I have chosen but that the Scripture might be fulfilled He that eateth Bread with me hath lift up his Heel against me Where he sheweth plainly that one of them was not of the number of the Elect and should not receive the Privileges of his especial Charge tho he was chosen to the Calling of an Apostle yet not to Eternal Life but only given by way of Ministry and Service But this would seem to cross the constant use of the Phrase in this Chapter I Answer Therefore by interpreting the Phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the Son of Perdition the words are not exceptive but adversative and must be thus construed None of them which thou hast given me is lost but the Son of Perdition is lost And mark it we do not render it Except the Son of Perdition but But the Son of Perdition it is not nisi but sed there is no exception made of Judas as if he had been given to Christ and afterward had fallen away but when he had mentioned their keeping he would adversatively put the losing of Judas This Phrase or manner of Speech is often used in Scripture So Rev. 21.27 There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie but they that are written in the Lamb's Book of Life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where the Words are not exceptive for then it would follow that some that work Abomination were in the Lamb's Book but adversative They shall not enter but others shall enter So Mat. 12.4 David entred into the House of God and did eat the Shew-bread which was not lawful for him to eat neither for them which were with him but only for the Priests 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is not exceptive as if they were of David's Company but adversative It was not lawful for them to eat but it was lawful for the Priests II. How are they said to be given to Christ Persons are given to Christ two ways by way of Reward or by way Charge 1. By way of Reward and so more largely all Nations are given to him Psal. 2.3 Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thy Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession And John 17.2 As thou hast given him Power over all Flesh. This Donation taketh in Elect and Reprobate Nations are his Heritage as well as the Church Only in this giving by way of Reward there is a difference some are given to Christ at large to be disposed of according to his Pleasure others are given to him for some special Ministry and Service as Hypocrites in the Church and thus Judas amongst the rest was given to Christ though a Son of Perdition And again others are given to him by way of special and peculiar Interest to be Members of his Body Subjects of his Kingdom Children of his Family So only the Elect are given to him John 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy Word The great
the Trial of all Doctrines God himself wrote the first Scripture that ever was written with his own Finger Exod. 24.12 And the Lord said to Moses Câ—me up to me into the Mount and be there and I will give thee Tables of Stone and a Law and Commandments which I have written that thou mayest teach them And then commanded Moses and the Prophets to do the same Exod. 17.14 And the Lord said unto Moses Write this for a Memorial in a Book And Exod. 34.27 And the Lord said unto Moses Write thou these Words for after the Tenor of these Words I have made a Covenant with thee and with Israel So he bids Jeremiah Chap. 36.2 Take thee a Roll of a Book and write therein all the Words that I have spoken thee And so God spake to all the Prophets tho it be not exprest and by inward Instinct bids them write their Prophecies that it might be a publick Record for the Church in all Ages Now this Way was always accompanied with Prophetical Revelations until Christ's time who as the great Doctor of the Church perfected the Rule of Faith and by the Apostles as so many Publick Notaries consigned it to the use of the Church And so when the Canon was compleat then John as the last of the Apostles and outliving the rest closed up all and therefore closeth up his Prophecy thus Rev. 22.18 19. For I testify unto every Man that heareth the Words of the Prophecy of this Book If any Man add unto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book And if any Man shall take away from the Words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the holy City and from the Things that are written in this Book Which sealeth up the whole Canon and Rule of Faith as well as the Book of the Revelations And therefore 3. There is now Writing only without the Word without Visions and Revelations There needeth no more now because here is enough to make us wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. And that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness That the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works It is sufficient to make us wise to preach and you wise to practise It is now certain enough God hath left a publick Record that we might not spend our time in doubting and disputing And it is full enough you need nothing more either to satisfy the Desires of Nature or to repair the Defects of Nature to satiate the Soul with Knowledg For God hath given to the Church sufficient Instruction to decide all Controversies to assoil all Doubts and to give us sure Conduct and Direction to everlasting Glory III. The next Question is Of what Concernment it is to enquire of the Truth of the Scripture Many think that such a Discussion needs not because this is a principal matter to be believed not argued and Arguments at least beget but an humane Faith Yet certainly it is of great necessity if you consider four things 1. It is good to prepare and induce carnal Men to respect it and to wait for the Confirmation of the Spirit An Humane Faith maketh way for a Divine when Men hearken to the Word upon common grounds God may satisfy them as those John 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Son of the Living God They first believed upon the Woman's Report and then upon their own Experience So it is good to establish sound Grounds that we may know the Truth of God first upon Hear-say and afterward upon Experience This way we induce and invite Men to make a Trial. 2. Because it giveth an additional Confirmation and greater Certainty to the People of God Foundation-Stones can never be laid with exactness and care enough For if you mark it you will find all doubting in your Belief all disproportion in your Practice ariseth from this because the supreme Truth is not setled in the Soul We ought to believe it more and more then it stirs up greater Reverence greater Admiration and makes way for your Delight and Joy to have your Charter cleared It is good to look upon this Argument that it might further Our Comfort and that this Fire may be blown up into a Flame and that Truth may have more Awe upon the Conscience 3. It awakeneth them that have received the Word upon slight grounds to be better setled Most Men look no further than humane Authority and publick Countenance they have no other grounds to believe the Scriptures than the Turks to believe the Alcoran because it is the Tradition of their Fathers Most Mens Belief is but an happy Mistake a thing at peradventure and they are Christians upon no other grounds than others are Turks God loveth a rational Worship he would have us to render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Reason of the Faith that is in us But they are Christians by Chance rather than Choice and solid Reason it is because they know no other Religion not because they know no better Well then that you may be able to justify your Religion For Wisdom is justified of her Children Mat. 11.19 that you may take up the Ways of God upon a rational Choice it is good to see what Grounds and Confirmations we have for that holy Faith we do profess 4. That we may know the distinct Excellency of our Profession above all other Professions in the World The Daughters of Jerusalem are brought in asking the Spouse Cant. 5.9 What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved O thou fairest among Women What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved that thou dost so charge us What can you say for your Christ and for your way of Salvation and for your Scriptures above what other Men can say for their Worship or their Superstition A Christian should know the distinct and special Excellency of his Profession Jer. 6.16 God bids us Stand in the way and see and ask for the old Paths Where is the good Way It is good to survey the Superstitions we have in the World and compare the Excellency of our holy Profession with other Professions In Scripture we are required not only to glorify God but to sanctify him Isa. 8.13 Sanctify the Lord of Hosts in your Hearts So 1 Pet. 3.15 Sanctify the Lord God in your Hearts and be ready always to give an Answer to every Man that asketh you a Reason of the Hope that is in you with meekness and fear Now what is it to sanctify It is to set apart any thing from common Uses This
that looketh upon the Gospel in the Light of Parts and External Tradition hath a Model of Truth in his Brain but these find it impressed upon their Hearts there is Light and Fire Wait for this Witness Sixthly By the wonderful preservation of Scriptures even to our Times There is no Doctrine so ancient it describeth the whole History of the World from the very Creation Moses was ancienter than the Gods of the Heathens No Doctrine can produce such Records of the Original of the World The Doctrine of the Gospel is as Old as Paradise where God preached it to Adam Gen. 3.15 I will put enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed It shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel The Foundation was laid long since tho it was more explicitly revealed upon the coming of Christ. None so much oppugned We have some ancient Writings of the Heathens tho nothing so ancient as Scripture Other Writings by tract of Time have been much mangled tho they have been cherished by Men as not contrary to their Lusts but the Scripture is still opposed persecuted maligned and yet it continueth Psal. 129.1 2. Many a time have they afflicted me from my Youth may Israel now say Many a time have they afflicted me from my Youth yet they have not prevailed against me The Church hath been always bred up under Afflictions Enmity against it began betimes yet still it holdeth up its Head Errors are not long-lived 1 Cor. 3.12 13. Now if any Man build upon this Foundation Gold Silver precious Stones Wood Hay Stubble Every Man's Work shall be made manifest For the Day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by Fire and the Fire shall try every Man's Work of what sort it is The World hath had time enough to enquire into the Scripture and to discover the vanity and falshood of it if there were any Nay not only the main Doctrine of the Scripture hath been continued but no part of it is falsified corrupted or destroyed The World wanted not Malice nor Opportunity the Powers of the World were bent against it and corrupt Persons in the Church were always given to other gospelling Gal. 1.6 7. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another Gospel Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. 1 Tim. 6.3 If any Man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words c. But still the Scriptures are wonderfully preserved as the three Children in the Furnace not an Hair was singed not a jot or tittle of the Truth is perished or corrupted If it were corrupted it must be before Christ's Time or after it not before then Christ would have noted it not after for then the Parts would not agree but we find no such thing but an exact Harmony Nor is there any lost for here is a sufficient Instruction and Guide to Happiness Christ hath promised not a tittle shall fall to the ground The Word hath been in danger of being lost but the Miracle of Preservation is therefore the greater In Joshua's Time there was but one Copy of the Law In Dioclesian's Time there was an Edict to burn their Bibles and Copies were scarce and chargeable and yet still it hath been kept Seventhly By his Judgments on those who have reviled abused and persecuted this Truth The Records of all Ages witness to this The whole Jewish Nation was destroyed for opposing the Doctrine of the Gospel After the slaughter of the Prophets and murder of Christ God let them alone for forty Years and then Wrath came upon them to the uttermost the People were carried captive contrary to the Roman Custom the Land lost its fertility Look into succeeding Times very few Persecutors went to the Grave by a natural Death Particular Stories are full of the Judgments of God executed on them Julian the Apostate confessed Christ had the best at last Vicisti Galilee and so died blaspheming Lucian that railed against God and his Word as he returned from a Supper his Dogs fell mad and tore him in pieces Eusebius reports of a certain Jew that took upon him to apply a sentence of the Word to a prophane End to make a Jest of Scripture was stricken with blindness till he made confession of his Fault Appion scoffing at Scripture and at Circumcision had an Ulcer growing in the place of Circumcision as Josephus reporteth God is very angry when Men are partial in the Law tho they do many good things Rev. 22.18 19. For I testify unto every Man that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this Book If any Man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book And if any Man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the Holy City and from the things which are written in this Book SERMON XXIX JOHN XVII 17 Sanctify them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth II. THE Church hath owned the Word You see how God hath owned it he saith it is my Word Let us see how the Church hath owned it Here I shall shew three things 1. What is the Church's Duty to the Word 2. What Credit and Value we ought to put on the Churches Testimony 3. How the Church hath witnessed to the Word in all Ages 1. What is the Churches Duty To keep the Word and to transmit it pure to the next Age that nothing be added nothing diminished that it be published to the present Age and transmitted pure to the next Rom. 3.2 Vnto them were committed the Oracles of God We are Trustees Jude 3. Earnestly contending for the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of the Living God the Pillar and Ground of the Truth The Church is to hold it forth as a Pillar doth a Proclamation that it may not be lost and extinguished This is the Jewel Christ hath left his Spouse as the Law was kept in the Ark. 2. What respect we ought to bear to the Churches Testimony To hearken to it till we have better Evidence We do not ultimately resolve our Faith into the Churches Authority for the Authority of the Church is not Absolute but Ministerial as a Royal Edict doth not receive Credit by the Officer and Crier he only declareth it Yet the Church's Testimony is not to be neglected for Faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10.14 It is a preparative Inducement John 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the World If we would know the Truth of a thing before we have experience go to them that have experience the judgment of others whom we respect and reverence causeth us
them and if others do injuries to us to forgive them as God for Christs sake hath forgiven us The second Operation which the Holy Ghost produceth in us is righteousness or justice in all our dealings giving every one his due honour whom tribute and praise to whom praise belongeth not borrowing without a mind or ability to pay which is but a specious robbery and 't is a shame so many Christians are guilty of it I am sure 't is contrary to the Spirit of God for when God hath done so much to manifest his justice to the world all that have the Spirit of God should be very righteous far from Oppression Fraud or Detention of what is another mans The Third Thing is Truth or Fidelity whereby we carry our selves sincerely and free from Hypocrisie and Dissimulation or lying cozenage and deceit God is a God of Truth and the Holiness be worketh in us is true holiness the Apostle groundeth his Exhortation upon that Wherefore put away lying Eph. 4.24 25. and speak truth every man to his neighbour 'T is a sin inconsistent with sincerity more than any other Well then this is the Gospel-spirit now the Holy Ghost doth not only plant these graces in us at first but doth continually increase them and assist us in the exercise of them he doth plant them in us at first Faith is his gift and 't is he doth change our hearts and kindle an holy love in us to God and raiseth the heart to the hope of Salvation 1 Pet. 1.9 begotten to a lively hope This is his first work for men must be good before their actions can be good then he doth increase Grace making all outward means effectual to this end and purpose this is called the supply of the spirit of Christ Jesus Phil. 1.19 meaning thereby a further addition of grace wrought in us by the spirit whereby we grow and advance in the way to Heaven These Impressions are weak in us at first but they are increased by the same Author or Agent in the use of the same means Lastly he doth assist us in the exercise of the same grace still working in us what is pleasing in the sight of God Heb. 13.21 he concurreth to every action and we do not only live in the spirit but walk in the spirit Gal. 5.25 all along we are quickned by his influence Let us in the next place consider from whom we receive it 't is said here the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus it belongeth to Christ to give the spirit 1. He is the head ef the renewed state Christ was filled with the spirit to this end to be the head or quickning spirit to his Mystical Body 1 Cor. 15.45 The first Adam was made a living soul the second a quickening spirit not only as he giveth us the life of glory but the life of Grace also so Eph. 1.22 23. he is head over all things to the church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all He is an Head not only to govern and defend the Church but to give them spiritual life and motion as the Head doth to the members for he filleth all with grace all believers are supplied from this fountain and continually supplied till they be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3.17 18 19. That is with all the Grace he meaneth to impart to us Well then the spirit is given by Christ John 4.14 Whoso drinketh of the water that I shall give shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up to everlasting life 'T is a living Conduit John 7.38 39. 2. 'T is his law that is written upon our hearts by the spirit The new Covenant is made with sinners in Christ Heb. 8.8 9 10. Behold the days come saith the Lord I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel not according to the covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my covenant for this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel I will put my laws into their minds and write them in their hearts Now he that taught us the Christian Faith and Religion doth impress it upon us by his spirit we find a power more than can be from the words alone in the effects on our selves This cometh from Christ whose Law it is but it is immediately wrought by the spirit 3. Christ promised it therefore Christ giveth it John 15.26 The comforter shall come whom I will send you from the father by vertue of his Merit and Intercession Christ from the Father sendeth forth the all-conquering spirit to subdue the world to himself he promised aforehand to send down this sanctifying spirit into mens souls to do this work upon them 4. He giveth it on his own conditions that is to say of Faith John 7.37 38. if any man thirst let him come to me and drink he that believeth in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water but this he spake of the spirit which they that believe in him should receive And repentance Acts 2.38 Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Now these are the conditions of the new covenant which Christ brought out of the Bosom of God 3. By what law By the Gospel this is the law of the spirit of Christ there is some little of the spirit given by the light of nature to help men to read the book of the creatures Rom. 1.19 God shewed it them they might see somewhat of God in the creatures his Wisdom Power and Goodness and God excited their minds to behold it and did dart in some light into their consciences There was more of the spirit given by the legal Covenant they might see much more of the Power Wisdom and Goodness of God in his Statutes and Laws than Heathens could in the book of Nature but generally it wrought unto bondage the free spirit was but sparingly dispensed and to some few choice servants of God but these were but as a few drops of grace the great Flood of grace was poured out by the Gospel The Apostle puts the Galatians to the Question by what Doctrine they received the spirit Gal. 3.2 This only would I learn of you received you the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith He appealeth to their conscience and experience what kind of Doctrine conveyed the spirit to them the preaching of the Law or the preaching of the Gospel and this is meant not only of the Spirit that wrought Miracles but the sanctifying spirit he speaketh of both ver 5. He therefore that ministreth to you the spirit and worketh miracles among
of a deaf ear nonattentiveness to Gods providence made way for the prevalency of Atheism and Idolatry in the world There are two propositions that if well minded and improved would preserve a lively remembrance of God in the hearts of men That all good cometh from God James 1.17 Every good and perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights And all evil from God Amos 3.6 Shall there be evil in a city and the Lord hath not done it And that any notable effect in either kind is a sign and witness of an invisible power If men would not look upon all things that befall them as meer chances they could not sleep so securely in their sins but God would have a greater testimony in every mans bosom that he hath a care of human affairs and is a rewarder of such as please him and an avenger of such as do offend him The question about this improper calling is What is the use of it or whether it be sufficient to salvation 1. Though the works of Creation and providence reveal a God yet these natural Apostles Sun Moon and Stars say nothing of Christ and there is salvation in no other Acts 4.12 They did teach the world That there is a God and that this God must be served and will be terrible to those that serve him not And possibly that God was placable or willing to be appeased because of the continuance of the Creation and the manifold mercies we lost or forfeited by our Apostacy and defection from him The Apostle saith 't is an invitation to repentance Rom. 2.4 Yet the knowledge of Jesus Christ the Son of God and of Redemption purchased to lost sinners through him is a mystery which the greatest wits in the world could not understand but by Gods revealing it in his word 2. The use of this call to those that have no other but barely it is to leave men without excuse Rom. 1.20 And that it might prevail to work some restraint of sin and to promote some external reformation in the world for the good of mankind Rom. 2.14 3. Those who have a louder call in the word are the more obliged to regard this call and invitation by the works of Gods creation and providence The call by the word is more perfect and more pressing and suited more to work upon our thoughts the object being more clearly and fully propounded to us yet this latter call is not privative but accumulative it doth not nâ—ll the duty of the former call or make it wholly useless to us but helps us to interpret it the better and we need all helps Faith doth not withdraw it self from natural knowledge and make it useless to us though we are to exercise our selves in the law of God day and night yet we must not overlook the works of Creation and Providence and whilest we study his word neglect Gods works for they are a confimation of our faith and a great occasional help to our love as appeareth by the instructions which the holy men of God gather thence witness David his night-meditation Psal. 8. Thy moon and thy stars And his morning-meditation Psal. 19. The Heavens declare the glory of God The glories of God which we read of in the word are visible in the Creation and though David preferreth the book of Scripture yet he doth not lay aside the book of Nature We must use the world as a glass wherein to see the glory of God he hath not the heart of a man in him who is not stricken with admiration at the sight of these things the glory of the heavenly bodies and the wonderful variety of all creatures and besides there is none so good but he needeth the mercy and direction of God to invite him to a more frequent remembrance of him How happy are they that have such a God for their God How miserable they that make him their Judg and Avenger 2. The proper calling is the voice of God in the word of his grace inviting sinners to Christ. This is called his distinctly calling Eph. 1.18 That ye may know what is the hope of his calling And the high calling of God in Jesus Christ Phil. 3.14 And again That our God would count you worthy of his calling 2 Thes. 1.11 And explained 1 Cor. 1.9 Faithful is he which hath called you into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now this is a more close and full discovery of God than is to be found elsewhere God calleth and inviteth some by the creatures only others by his grace in Christ. But this being calling most properly taken Why is it not vouchsafed to all I answer 1. God is not obliged to send the gospel to any 'T is his free dispensation Rom. 11.35 Or who hath first given to him and it shall be recompenced to him again God doth not send the Gospel by necessity of nature or any pre-obligation on the creatures part but meerly of his own grace which worketh most freely and sendeth it where it pleaseth him 2. All have more knowledge of God by nature than they make good use of Rom. 1.21 When they knew God they glorified him not as God And till men improve a lower dispensation why should they be trusted with an higher If a vessel will not hold water you will not trust wine or any more precious liquor in it 2. Gods gracious invitation of lost sinners to Christ which properly is his calling them is either external or internal external by the word internal by his Spirit 1. External by the commands and promises of the word requiring such duties from them and assuring them of such blessings upon obedience Thus Wisdoms Maidens are sent forth to invite guests to her palace Prov. 4.2 And the kings servants to call them to the marriage feast Matth. 22.9 And so far they prevail in their message that many present themselves God would not leave us to a book but hath appointed a living Ministry 2 Cor. 6.10 2. Internal not only by the word but by his Spirit and the checks of their own conscience which is a nearer approach of his grace and power to us By the motions of his Spirit How else could it be said Gen. 6.3 My Spirit shall not always strive with man And Acts 7.51 Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost And also by their consciences sollicâ—ting them to the performance of their duty and challenging them for the neglect of it 'T is natural duty Rom. 2.14 15. The Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the law these having not the law are a law to themselves which shew the works of the law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing witness and their thoughts in the mean while accusing or excusing one another And for acceptance of the Gospel-Covenant 1 John 3.20 21. If our hearts condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things If our heart condemn us not
them that do well and evil with them that do evil That every man should reap according to what he hath sown Therefore those whom Christ will receive into Everlasting life must appear faithful and obedient for then God will judge the world in righteousness Acts 17.31 Now in patience towards the wicked now by way of exercise and tryal of his people 2. The certainty of the Event The hour is coming John 5.28 That there is such a time coming he ill deserveth the name of a Christian who maketh any Question of it But because many live as if they shall never be called to an account I shall evidence that certainly we shall appear both by natural Light and Scripture 1. Let the evidence of Reason be heard so far as it will go Reason sheweth that it may be and argueth 1. From the nature of God There is a God That God is just and 't is agreeable to his justice that it should be well with them that do well and ill with them that do evil These are principles out of dispute and foundations in the structure and building of the Christian Faith Here the best suffer most and are exercised with poverty disgrace scorn and all manner of persecutions and the wicked live a life of pomp and ease how shall we reconcile these things with the notions which we have of God and his Providence No satisfactory account can be given but this The wicked are reserved to future punishment and the Godly to future reward Here the goodness of God towards the good and the justice of God towards the wicked is not enough manifested therefore there is a day when his Judgment shall be brought to light and his different respect to good and bad made more Conspicuous 2. From the providence of God There are many Judgments which are pledges of the general Judgment that at length God will Judge the whole world for sin As the drowning of the Old World the burning of Sodom the destruction of Jerusalem these are as a warning to all for 't is said Jude 7. these are set forth as a warning to all that should live ungodly God is the same still Gal. 3.20 God is one that is in one mind of punishing the wicked without variation and change he hateth the sins of one as well as of another If he would not put up the iniquities of the Old World he will not put up the iniquities of the New if he punished the iniquities of Sodom he will punish the iniquities of others who sinned in like manner God is not grown more indulgent to sin than he was before though it be not now there will be a time when he will call them to a reckoning In every Age he keepeth a petty Sessions but then will be the general Assizes When man first sinned God did not immediately execute the Sentence of his Law upon him but giveth him time of Repentance till he dieth As he giveth every man time and space so he giveth all the World for he would not have all the World to be born at once and die at once but to live in several successions of Ages from Father to Son throughout divers generations till we come to that Period which his Providence hath fixed Now as he reckoned with every man particularly at his death so with all the World at the end of time Particular Judgments shew that God is not asleep or unmindful of humane Affairs but the general Judgment is deferred till then 3. From the Feelings of Conscience After sin men are troubled though there be none about them in the World to call them to an account or though the fact be done so secretly that it is not liable to an humane Tribunal Nature is sensible that there is an higher Judgment that Divine Justice must have a solemn Triumph Conscience is afraid of it Heathens are sensible of such a thing Rom. 1.32 Who knowing the Judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death Foelix trembled at the mention of it which sheweth there is an easie reception of such a Truth Acts 24.25 There is an hidden fear in the Consciences of all men which is soon revived and awakened by the Thoughts of this Truth Every guilty person is more or less held in the Chains of darkness which sheweth how easily this Truth can insinuate it self into a rational mind 2. Faith sheweth that it shall be The light of Faith is more certain and more distinct 'T is more certain for it buildeth upon a Divine Testimony which is more infallible than the ghesses of Reason And 't is more distinct for Nature could never find out the circumstances of that day as by whom this Judgment shall be managed and in what manner that God hath appointed one Man by whom he will judg the World in Righteousness that he shall come in the glory of his Father and all the holy Angels with him Faith concludeth this certainty 1. From that Revelation which God hath made in his Word Matth. 13.49 50. So shall it be at the end of the World the Angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just and shall cast them into the Furnace of Fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Joh. 5.28 29. The hour is coming in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Heb. 9.27 And it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the Judgment Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God Matth. 12.36 37. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works And in many other places for this being a necessary Truth is more plentifully revealed than others of lesser importance This was the great Promise ever kept afoot in the Church Scoffers took notice of it saying Where is the Promise of his coming The Apostle Jude intimateth the Ancient Promise of it Jude v. 14. And Enoch also the seventh Son from Adam prophesied of these things saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints And it hath been revived in all Ages by Moses and David and Daniel and Joel Zechary and Malachi and more clearly by Christ himself and his Apostles every where Now we may reason that hath God been faithful in all things will not fail at last he hath ever stood to his Word when more unlikely things have been
Wo unto us if now after God hath been at such a great deal of cost we should slight the motion Angels wonder at what you slight 1 Pet. 1.12 Shall the Blood of Christ run a wasting Mind the business I pray you God hath laid out all his wisdom upon it and will not you take it into your thoughts Gods Heart was much set upon it or else he would never have given his Son to bring it about 'T is the folly of man to part with things of worth for trifles As Esau sold his Birth-Right for a mess of Pottage Lysimachus his Kingdom for a Draught of Water Surely we cannot imagine this of the wise God when he hath been at such expense 't is not for a matter of nothing Therefore we should the more regard it 3dly In that he hath appointed a Ministry of Reconciliation and authorized some as solemn Messengers to tender this grace to us in his name Therefore we as Embassadors for Christ we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God God might have contented himself with putting his thoughts into Scripture and given us the word and doctrine of Reconciliation only and truly that 's a great mercy Heathens are left to the puzzle and distraction of their own thoughts and know not how God shall be appeased But because that Blessed Book may possibly lye by as a neglected thing he will have some that shall put us in mind daily of his design of saving the World by Christ. If he would send Messengers he might have sent Heraulds to proclaim War but he hath sent Embassadors of peace Surely upon this account we should be welcome to you Isa. 52.7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace that bringeth good tidings of good that publisheth Salvation that saith unto Zion Thy God Reigneth How dirty soever their feet be with the Journey Our Message is not to require satisfaction for the wrongs done to the Crown of Heaven or to denounce War but a matter of peace Not only to beg a correspondency of Traffick but a treaty about Marriage and so to enter into the strictest-amity with God Even that you may be married unto Christ to bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7.4 Yet farther 4thly These messengers are under a charge to manage Gods message with all wisdom and faithfulness and diligence Mark 16.15 16. To preach the Gospel to every creature to Rich and Poor Learned and Unlearned And woe be to them if they be not diligent warning every Man and teaching every Man that they may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1.28 Christ hath conjured them by all their love to his person to do it Joh. 21.15 16 Feed my sheep Feed my Lambs If we have any respect to our Lord we must be diligent in offering peace to all that are willing to repent and believe This work is seriously commended to us yet profess to be my Servants and therefore by all the love you have to me I conjure you I shall not take it that you love me if you have not a care of my sheep and my Lambs You know the temptations prejudices and hatred of those you have to do with Therefore pray them to be reconciled And 5thly Consider the terms which God requireth Which are only that we should render our selves capable of his favour by entring into covenant with him On Gods part all things are ready Now we pray you to be reconciled That is do you enter into covenant with him God in the covenant is our Friend Abraham is called the Friend of God James 2.23 2. Chro 20.7 Thou gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy Friend for ever Isa. 41.8 The seed of Abraham my Friend Abraham was Gods Confederate and they loved intirely as one Friend doth another In the covenant you take God for your God and God taketh you for his people you enter into a League Offensive and Defensive to hate what God hateth and to love what God loveth God promiseth and ingageth to bless and you to obey 3dly The value of this priviledge 't is worth the having What do we plead with you about but the favour of God and reconciliation with him by Christ God found out the way Christ purchased it The Angels first published it Luk. 2.14 I here are many priviledges depend upon it As 1. Sanctifying Grace God being propitiated in Christ giveth us the first grace and causeth us to repent and believe in Christ. For on the behalf of Christ 't is given us to believe Phil. 1.29 And the regenerating Spirit is Shed upon us by Christ. Now when we repent and believe we are made capable of more of the sanctifying Spirit Acts. 2.38 The holy Ghost is given to them that obey Acts 3.32 And we are witnesses of these things and so is also the Holy-Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him And a farther measure of grace upon our actual reconciliation Gal. 4.6 And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father 2dly The pardon of sins When we are Regenerated our sins are actually pardoned Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and Inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me Heb. 8.10 11 12. We are released from the eternal punishment and God quits his controversy against us 3dly Communion with God Favour Image and Fellowship go still together They were lost together Before we could not look God in the face or lift up the Head to him or think of him without Trembling There is a God but he is my enemy Every Prayer revived our guilt But now we have access with boldness and confidence of welcom and audience when ever we have occasion to make use of God Heb. 4.16 When David heard that Saul was pacified towards him he was in his presence as in times past 1 Sam. 19.7 The flaming Sword which kept the way to the Tree of life is removed In our falls in our distresses in our dangers in our wants in death its self we have a God to go to to move for relief to whom to commit our Souls 4thly We have solid Consolation Rest and Peace in our selves For the chief cause of our fear and sorrow is done away Our sin is pardoned and subdued and the eternal punishment released 'Till this be you can never have any rest for your Souls 'till you are at peace with God and submit to the course prescribed by him for your reconciliation Matth. 11.28 29. One great fault of man is that he doth not take a right course to quiet his Soul God complaineth of his people by the Prophet That they had forgotten their resting place Jer. 50.6 That is they had forgotten God their only trust Men seek peace
long and given us a large space of time wherein to employ our selves but what have we done for his glory Alas either we do nihil agere or male agere or aliud agere either we do nothing or nothing to the purpose or that which is worse than nothing which will undo us for ever Oh what thoughts will we have of a careless and mispent life when we come to die Many do not think of the end of their Lives till their lives be ended and then they moan and bewail themselves when they lye a dying Oh rather think of your last end and great account betimes 'T is lamentable to begin to live when we must die Quidam tunc incipiat vivere cum desinendum est they end their lives before they begin to live Therefore if hitherto you have been pleasing the flesh idling and wantoning away your precious time say 1 Pet. 4.3 Let the time past suffice I have been long enough dishonouring God and destroying my own soul hath my Master tarryed so long and shall I still abuse his patience This is an holy and right use of this delay Secondly His Work what he will do when he cometh He reckoneth with his Servants Doct. II. Those that have Talents must look to reckon for them For though he be long first yet at length the Lord cometh 1. Consider the certainty of this Account his Wisdom Justice Goodness and Truth require it His Wisdome requireth it for no wise man would put hiâ— Goods to trust and never look after them more and shall we imagine that the wise God would send reasonable Creatures into the World and furnish them with excellent Gifts and Endowments and never consider how they imploy themselves Is man Gods Servant then certainly he is liable to an account You had never come into the World but for this business to serve and please God For God maketh nothing in vain but all things for himself Prov. 16.4 And do you think that after you are made for this end you may live as you lift and never be called to a reckoning So absurd a thought cannot enter into the heart of a reasonable man Eccl. 11.9 Rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes But know thou for all these things God will bring thee to judgment Man would be but a sort of Beast if he had no other end of his Actions but to eat and drink and sleep and no other account to give surely the most wise God would not have given us such excellent faculties in vain He fitteth all Creatures for their use Every Workman fitteth his work for the end for which it serveth so God hath made Man for some end and use And Gods Justice requireth it that it should be well with them that do well and ill with them that do ill In the World it is not so his Servants are very often abused while doing their work most faithfully the World thinks them mad hateth them They that neglect their own work beat their Fellow-servants therefore the honour of his Justice requireth they should be called to an account 1 Pet. 4.5 Who must give an account to him who is ready to judge the quick and the dead There is not a thought in wicked mens Hearts nor a word in their Mouths contrary to God and his People but he taketh notice of it and will exact an account thereof a strict and impartial account of all their hard speeches And the Goodness of God requireth it His goodness to the World in general the World would be a Wilderness and Men like ravenous Beasts if there were not some Bridle and awe of a World to come upon them but every one that had power would prey upon others but that there is an higher Judge God hath appointed a supream Tribunal where Causes are judged over again otherwise those that have power enough to do mischief would be under no restraint But 't is goodness to his people whom he hath set a work and therefore hath appointed a day when he will give them their wages his goodness will not permit that they should be any losers by God their love and obedience to him that deny themselves their own affections and interest for his sake Therefore certainly the great God of Recompences will come and call the VVorld to an account that the faithfulness of his Servants may appear with praise and honour This is a supream Truth Heb. 11.6 That he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him And his Truth requireth it 't is laid at pledge in the VVord that 's the proper ground for Faith to build upon Now there we have not only Gods VVord but Gods Oath Rom. 14.10 11. For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God There we have plentiful evidence 2. 'T is a personal Account Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God VVe should not look to others what they be and do As to our selves we must give an account of our selves our life our heart our own thoughts words and actions 'T is personal partly because every one must give his Account apart not every one shuffled together and in gross but every Servant apart and severally first he that had five Talents then two then one And partly because every one unavoidably must answer for himself Here we may have our Attorney or Advocate to appear for us in Court but there every one for himself every man must in person give an Account of his own fidelity 3. 'T is an Impartial Account every one without exception Revel 20.12 I saw the Dead both small and great stand before God Small and great King and Peasant they shall all one day be called to an Account whether Faithful or no. None so high as to be exempted from this Account none so mean as to be neglected in it he that received five Talents and he that received one both gave an Account The poor Beggar is not left out nor the King excused 4. 'T is a particular Account God will not take our Accounts by the heap and lump but there is a narrow search into all our Hearts and Ways the the great thing is What we have done in that place and Relation where God hath set us our Stewardship Luke 16.2 But that 's not all we are to give an Account of every Action Eccles. 12.14 For God shall bring every work into Judgement Every idle Word must be Accounted for Mat. 12.36 All the time we have spent degrees of Grace we received what we have done proportionable to our Trust five for five two for two 5. 'T is an exact
Account that nothing is lost Rev. 20.12 The Books were produced the Book of Conscience and the Book of Gods Remembrance one of these is in the Sinners keeping and yet it cannot be blotted out nor defaced but at the day of Judgment Conscience shall be extended to the Recognition of all our Wayes Now these Books of Account that are kept between God and the Creature are somewhat like the Books of Merchants of Debtor and Creditor what returned and what received Gods Mercies to us are Booked so are our Returns That Gods Mercies are put upon the Book and Register appeareth by the Expostulations used in Scripture when God proceedeth to any particular Judgment As for instance Opportunities of Grace and instructions of the Word the Word Preached 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 24.14 And the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the World for a Witness unto all Nations and then shall the End come God keepeth exact Account Behold these three years came I seeking Fruit Luke 13.7 This second Epistle write I unto you 2 Pet. 3.1 He taketh notice of a former God remembreth the Prophets words when the Prophets are dead and gone Every pressing Sermon every Notable Help This second Miracle did Jesus 〈◊〉 Cana of Galilee Joh. 4.54 Christs special Works and Manifestations of himself ought to be marked and kept in memory God doth so for Deliverances from Danger Isa. 11.11 The Lord shall arise the second time for the Deliverance of his People He taketh notice that he has been once at it and would be again So what Talents and Gifts we have had whether five two or one Secondly On the other side all the good that we do therefore the Apostle speaketh of Fruit abounding to his Account Phil. 4.17 The Lord taketh notice of our Faithfulness in evil times Mal. 3.15 16. And now we call the Proud happy yea they that work Wickedness are set up yea they that tempt God are even dilivered Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name 1 Kings 19.18 Acts 17. ult Kindness to his Servants Mat. 10.42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a Cup of cold Water only in the Name of a Disciple he shall not lose his Reward Eccles. 11.1 Cast thy bread upon the Waters and thou shalt find it after many days 't is not lost On the other side Injuries done to his People he hath a bottle for their Tears and a Book for their Sorrows Psal. 56.8 All the Snares contrived Deut. 32.34 Is not this laid up in store with me and sealed up among my Treasures Job 13.27 Thou lookest narrowly to all my Paths thou settest a Print upon the Heels of my Feet Every Action leaveth a Track every Word Mat. 12.36 every Thought 1 Cor. 4.5 VSE Is our Account ready against that great day of Audit Most neglect it put off the thoughts of it Take occasion hence to reckon with your selves aforehand and see what an Account you can give to Conscience we should prepare more for this Solemn day of Reckoning and therefore should take notice of what we do and what we receive we had need keep a Register of every days Work and every days Mercies There are three Questions in Scripture often put them to your Hearts Deut. 32.6 Do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish People and unwise is not he thy Father that hath bought thee hath he not made thee and established thee Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Isa. 5.4 What could I have done more for my Vineyard that I have not done in it Wherefore when I looked for Grapes behold it brought forth wild Grapes The Profit of daily arraigning Conscience is great 1. It keepeth us sensible of our Duty maketh us often have recourse to Grace when we continually observe our Sins Duties Afflictions Mercies Comforts Opportunities of receiving Grace and do but intermingle this thought that one day for all these I must give an Account 2. It presseth us to be more earnest for pardoning Mercy and every day to make even This is the great Folly of men that they put off Sin when God doth not put it away There is an Expression often used in Scripture Their Iniquities shall find them out this Notion of Accounts will help us to understand it 'T was committed many years ago never heard of it since but at length they shall hear of it God reckoneth with them If men escape and prosper a Month or a Year or two they think all is forgotten but at length it findeth them out Sins are called Debts and all Debts lie upon Account against us till they be cancelled Augustus bought his Quilt of one who slept securely when he Owed an hundred Thousand Sesterces We may wonder at the Security of Sinners who sleep when their Damnation sleepeth not They run upon the score and never think of a Reckoning Solomon adviseth a man in debt not to sleep till he be delivered like a Roe from the Hunter Prov. 6.4 5. 'T is good Advice to us to get our spiritual debts discharged Psal. 51.1 Blot out my Transgressions Christ hath taught us to pray for daily Pardon as well as daily Bread The thought of these Records that are kept and the Account we must make should quicken us to it Oh what a Clamour will our Sins make when God sets them all in Order before us Psal. 50.21 Thousands of vain Thoughts light Words and Sinful Actions much mispense of time Abuse of Mercies we know not how soon God will put the Bond in Suit other Debts have a day of Payment fixed but this God hath reserved in his own Breast when he will call us to an Account 3. It Presseth us to live always as those that are to give an Account Paul quickned himself to diligence upon this Consideration 2 Cor. 5.9 10. If we were never to be called to an Account we should do God all the Service that possibly we can we are so much Obliged to him but he hath set a day wherein he will reckon with us Oh what Watchfulness what Diligence and Faithfulness should this produce in us Jam. 2.12 So speak and so do as those that shall be judged by the Law of Liberty We read in the Story of Albigenses when the President of St. Juliers coming to Angrogne would have forced a man to Re-baptize his Child in the Popish way he prayed the President that he would give it in Writing and sign it with his own hand that he would discharge him before God and take the Peril upon himself This made him relent and Profess his Trouble Conscience is startled at Gods Records if a man should do nothing and speak nothing but what is to be registred and proclaimed at the Market-Cross how watchful would he be All is Recorded the Books will