is only a Passage-room to Eternity the World is to us as the Wilderness was to Israel not to rest in but to travel through to the glorious Canaan The World is a Tyring-room to dress our Souls in not a place where we are to stay for ever The Apostle tells us of the Worlds Funerals 2 Pet. 3.10 The Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up 2. Positively God made the World to demonstrate his own glory The World is a Looking-glass in which we may see the Power and Goodness of God shine forth The Heavens declare the glory of God Psal. 19.1 The World is like a curious Piece of Arras or Tapestry in which we may see the Skill and Wisdom of him that made it Use 1. Did God create the World This convinceth us of the Truth of his Godhead to create is proper to a Deity Acts 17.24 This convinced Plato of a Deity when he saw all the World could not make a Fly Thus God proves himself to be the true God and distinguisheth himself from Idols Ier. 10.11 It is written in Chalde Thus shall ye say to them the gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish Who but God can create The Creation is enough to Convince the Heathen that there is a God There are two Books out of which God will judge and condemn the Heathen viz. the Book of Conscience Rom. 2.15 Who have the Law written in their heart and the Book of the Creation Rom. 1.20 The invisible things of him are clearly seen by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead The World is full of Emblems and Hyeroglyphicks every Star in the Sky every Bird that flies in the Air is a Witness against the Heathen A Creature could not make it self 2. Here is a mighty support for Faith God Creates He that made all things with a word what cannot he do He can create strength in weakness he can create a supply of our wants What a foolish question was that Psal. 78.19 Can he prepare a table in the wilderness Cannot he that made the World do much more Psal. 124.8 Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth Rest on this God for help who made Heaven and Earth The work of Creation as it is a Monument of God's Power so it is a stay to Faith Is thy Heart hard he can with a word create softness Is it unclean he can create purity Psal. 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God Is the Church of God low he can create Ierusalem a Praise Isa. 65.18 No such golden Pillar for Faith to stay upon as a creating Power 3. Did God make this World full of Beauty and Glory every thing very good then what an evil thing is sin that hath put out of frame the whole Creation Sin hath much eclipsed the beauty sowrd the sweetness and marred the harmony of the World How bitter is that Gall a drop whereof can imbitter a whole Sea Sin hath brought Vanity and Vexation into the World yea a Curse God cursed the ground for Man's sake Gen. 3. There were several Fruits of the Curse 1. In sorrow shalt thou eat of it vers 17. By that word sorrow is to be understood all the Troubles and Cares of this Life 2. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread vers 19. In Innocency Adam did till the ground he must not live idly but it was rather a delight then a labour that tilling was without toiling The eating in sorrow and the sweat of the brow came in after sin 3. Thorns also and Thistles shall the ground bring forth vers 18. Quest. Whether in Innocency did not the Earth bear Thorns because it is threatned as a punishment Answ. It is likely it did bear Thorns for when God had done creating he made no new Species or Kinds of things but the meaning is now after Sin the Earth should bring forth more plenty of Thorns and now those Thorns should be hurtful and choke the Corn which hurtful quality was not in them before Ever since the Fall all the Comforts of this Life have a Thorn and a Thistle in them 4. The fourth fruit of the Curse was the driving Man out of Paradise vers 24. So he drove out the Man God at first brought Adam into Paradise as into an House ready furnished or as a King into his Throne Gen. 1.28 have dominion over every living thing that moveth Now God's driving Adam out of Paradise signified his dethroning and banishing him that he might look after an heavenly and a better Paradise 5. A fifth fruit of the Curse was Death verse 19. To dust thou shalt return Death was not natural to Adam it came in after sin Iosephus is of opinion Man should have died though he had continued in Innocency only he should have had a longer term of years added to his life but out of question Death grew out of the Root of Sin the Apostle saith Rom. 5.12 By sin came death See then how cursed a thing Sin is that hath brought so many Curses upon the Creation If we will not hate Sin for its Deformity let us hate it for the Curse it brings 4. Did God make this glorious World did he make every thing good was there in the Creature so much beauty and sweetness Oh! then what sweetness is there in God Quicquid efficit tale illud est magis tale the Cause is always more noble than the Effect Think with your selves is there so much excellence in House and Lands then how much more is there in God that made these Is there beauty in a Rose what beauty then is there in Christ the Rose of Sharon Doth Oil make the face shine Psal. 104.15 How will the Light of God's Countenance make it shine Doth Wine chear the heart O what Virtue is in the true Vine How doth the Blood of this Grape chear the Heart Is the fruit of the Garden sweet how delicious are the Fruits of the Spirit Is a Gold Mine so precious how precious is he who founded this Mine What is Christ in whom are hid all Treasures Coloss. 2.3 We should ascend from the Creature to the Creator If there be any Comfort here below how much more is there in God who made all these things How unreasonable is it that we should delight in the World and not much more in him that made it How should our Hearts be set on God and how should we long to be with God who hath infinitely more sweetness in him than any Creature Use 2. of Exhortation 1. Did God create the World let us wisely observe these Works of Creation God hath given us not only the Book of the Scriptures to read in but the Book of the Creation Look up to the Heavens they shew much of God's glory the Sun gilds the World with its bright
Grave and the Holy Ghosts descending upon the Earth This Day is perfum'd with the sweet Odour of Prayer which goes up to Heaven as Incense This Day the Manna falls that Angels Food this is the Soul's Festival Day on this Day all the Graces act their Part The other Days of the Week are most employed about Earth this Day about Heaven Then you gather Straw now Pearl Now Christ takes the Soul up into the Mount and gives it transfiguring Sights of Glory Now Christ leads his Spouse into the Wine-Cellar and displays the Banner of his Love now he gives her his Spiced Wine and the Iuice of the Pomegranate Cant. 8.2 The Lord doth usually reveal himself more to the Soul on this Day The Apostle Iohn was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day Revel 1.10 He was carried up in Divine Raptures towards Heaven This Day a Christian is in the Altitudes he walks with God and takes as it were a turn with him in Heaven 1 Ioh. 1.3 On this Day holy Affections are quickened The Stock of Grace is improved Corruptions are weakened On this Day Satan falls like Lightning before the Majesty of the Word Christ wrought most of his Miracles upon the Sabbath So he doth now The dead Soul is raised the Heart of Stone is made Flesh. How should this Day be highly esteemed and had in Reverence This Day is more precious than Rubies God hath anoynted this Day with the Oyl of Gladness above its Fellows On the Sabbath we are doing Angels Work our Tongues are tuned to God's Praises This Sabbath on Earth is a Shadow and Type of that Glorious Rest and Eternal Sabbath we hope for in Heaven when God shall be the Temple and the Lamb shall be the Light of it Rev. 21.22 23. EXOD. XX. 9 10. Six Days shalt thou labour and do all thy Work but the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of Work c. Six Days shalt thou labour God would not have any live out of a Calling Religion seals no Warrant for Idleness 'T is as well a Duty to labour Six Days as to keep Holy Rest on the Seventh Day Six Days shalt thou labour 2 Thess. 3.11 We hear there are some among you walking Disorderly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 working not at all Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Iesus that with Quietness they work and eat their own Bread A Christian must not only mind Heaven but his Calling While the Pilot hath his Eye to the Star he hath his Hand to the Stern Without labour the Pillars of a Common-wealth will dissolve and the Earth will be like the Sluggards Field over-run with Briars Prov. 24.31 Adam in Innocency tho he was the Monarch of the World yet God would not have him idle but he must dress and till the Ground Gen. 2.15 Piety doth not exclude Industry Six Days shalt thou labour Standing Water putrifies The Inanimate Creatures are in Motion The Sun goes its Circuit the Fountain runs the Fire sparkles And Animate Creatures Solomon sends us to the Ant and Pismire to learn Labour Prov. 6.6 Chap. 30.35 The Bee is the Emblem of Industry some of the Bees trim the Honey others work the Wax others frame the Comb others lie Sentinel at the Door of the Hive to keep out the Drone And shall not Man much more inure himself to labour That Law in Paradise was never yet repealed In the Sweat of thy Brows shalt thou eat Bread Gen. 3.19 Such Professors are to to be disliked who talk of living by Faith but live out of a Calling They are like the Lillies which toil not neither do they spin Mat. 6.28 'T is a Speech of Holy and Learned Mr. Perkins Let a Man be endued with excellent Gifts and hear the Word with Reverence and receive the Sacrament yet if he practise not the Duties of his Calling all is but Hypocrisie What is an idle Person good for What benefit is there of a Ship that lies always on the shore Or of Armour that hangs up and rusts To live out of a Calling exposeth a Person to Temptation Melancton calls Idleness Balneum Diaboli the Devil's Bath because he bathes himself with delight in an idle Soul We do not use to sow Seed in ground when it lies fallow but Satan sows most of his Seed of Temptation in such Persons as lie fallow and are out of a Calling Idleness is the Nurse of Vice Seneca an Heathen could say Nullus mihi per Otium Dies exit No Day passeth me without some labour An idle Person stands for a Cypher in the World and God writes down no Cyphers in the Book of Life We read in Scripture of eating the Bread of Idleness Prov. 31.27 and drinking the Wine of Violence Prov. 4.17 It is as well a sin to eat the Bread of Idleness as to drink the Wine of Violence An idle Person can give no account of his Time Time is a Talent to trade with both in our Particular and General Calling The slothful Person hides his Talent in the Earth he doth no good his Time is not lived but lost An idle Person lives unprofitably he cumbers the ground God calls the slothful Servant wicked Mat. 25.26 Thou wicked and slothful Servant Draco whose Laws were written in Blood deprived them of their Life who would not work for their Living In Hetruria they caused such Persons to be banished Idle Persons live in the Breach of this Commandment Six Days shalt thou labour Let them take heed they be not banished Heaven A Man may as well go to Hell for not working in his Calling as for not Believing So I pass to the next But The Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of work Having spoken already of the Reasons of sanctifying the Sabbath I come now to that Question Quest. In what manner we are to sanctifie the Sabbath Resp. 1. Negatively we must do no Work in it that is expressed in the Commandment In it thou shalt do no manner of Work God hath enclosed this Day for himself therefore we are not to lay it common by doing any Civil Work As Abraham when he went to sacrifice left his Servant and the Ass at the bottom of the Hill Gen. 22.5 So when we are to Worship God this Day we must leave all worldly business behind leave the Ass at the Bottom of the Hill And as Ioseph when he would speak with his Brethren thrust out the Egyptians so when we would converse with God this Day we must thrust out all earthly Employments The Lord's Day is a Day of Holy Rest all secular Works must be forborn and suspended it is a prophaning the Day Nâ—hem 13.15 In these days saw I in Iudah some treading Wine-presses on the Sabbath and bringing in Sheaves as also Wine-Grapes and Figs and all manner of Burdens which they brought into Ierusalem on
motion was reckoned among the unclean Lev. 11.30 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom Prov. 19.24 he is loath to pull it out though it be to lay hold on a Crown Non capit porta illa Caelestis torpore languidos Brugens The Devil himself cannot be charged with idleness 1 Pet. 5.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He walketh about An idle Soul stands in the World for a cypher and God writes down no cyphers in the Book of Life Heaven is no hive for Drones an idle person is fit for a temptation When the Bird sits still upon the bough then it is in danger of the gun one sits still in sloath then the Devil shoots him with a temptation standing water putrifies Heathens will rise up in Judgment against supine Christians What pains did they take in the Olympick Games they ran but for a Garland of Flowers or Olive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Chrysâ—stom and do we sit still who run for a Kingdom How can he expect a Reward that never works or a Crown that never fights Inertia animae somnus sloath is the Souls sleep Adam when he was asleep lost his Rib and when a person is in the deep sleep of sloath he loseth Salvation 16. Holy activity and industry doth enoble a Christian Labor splendore decoratur Cicero The more excellent any thing is the more active The Sun is a glorious Creature it is ever in motion going its circuit Fire is the purest Element and the most active 't is ever sparkling and flaming The Angels are the most Noble Creatures they are represented by the Cherubims with Wings displayed The more active for Heaven the more illustrious and the more do we resemble the Angels The Phenix flyes with a Coronet on its head the industrious Soul hath his Coronet his labour is his ensign of honour 17. It is Mercy that there is a possibility of Happiness and that upon our pains taking we may have a Kingdom by our Fall in Adam we forfeited Heaven why might not God have dealt with us as with the lapsed Angels they had no sooner sinned but were expell'd Heaven never to come thither more we may say as the Apostle Rom. 11.22 Behold the Goodness and severity of God To the Apostate Angels behold the severity of God that he should throw them down to Hell for ever to us behold the goodness of God that he hath put us into a possibility of Mercy and if we do but take pains there is a Kingdom stands ready for us how may this whet and sharpen our Industry that we are in a Capacity of Salvation and if we do but what we are able we shall receive an eternal weight of Glory 18. Our labour for the Kingdom of Heaven is minute and transient it is not to last long our labour expires with our life 't is but a while and we shall leave off working for a little labour an eternal Rest Who would think much to wade through a little water that were sure to be crowned as soon as he came at shore Christians let this encourage you you have but a little more pains to take a few Tears more shed a few more Sabbaths kept and behold an Eternal Recompence of Reward what are a few Tears to a Crown a few Minutes of time to an Eternity of Glory 19. What striving is there for earthly Kingdoms which are corruptible and subject to change With what Vigour and Alacrity did Hannibal's Soldiers continue their March over the Alps and craggy Rocks and Caesars Soldiers fight with Hunger and Cold. Men will break through Laws and Oaths they will swim to the Crown in Blood will they venture thus for earthly Promotions and shall not we strive more for an Heavenly Kingdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost. This is a Kingdom which cannot be shaken Heb. 12.28 A Kingdom where there is unparallel'd Beauty unstained Honour unmixed joy a Kingdom where there shall be nothing present which we could wish were removed nor nothing absent which we could wish were enjoyed Sure if there be any Spark of Grace or true Generosity in our Breasts we will not suffer our selves to be out-striven by others we will not let them take more pains for earthly Honours then we do for that excellent Glory which will crown all our desires 20. How much pains do some Men take to go to Hell and shall not we take more pains to go to Heaven Ier. 9.5 They weary themselves to commit Iniquity Sinners hackny themselves out in the Devils Service What Pains do some Men take to satisfy their unclean Lusts they wast their Estates wear the shameful marks of their sin about them they will visit the Harlots house though it stands the next door to hell Prov. 7.27 Her house is the way to Hell What pains do others take in persecuting Holiness is the white they shoot at 'T is said of Antiochus Epiphanes he undertook more tedious Journies and went upon greater hazards to vex and oppose the Iews then any of his Predecessors had done in getting of Victories The Devil blows the horn and Men ride Posâ— to hell as if they feared hell would be full ere they could get thither When Satan had entred into Iudas how active was Iudas he goes to the High Priests from them to the Band of Soldiers and with them back again to the Garden and never left till he had betrayed Christ How industrious were the idolatrous Iews so fiercely were they bent upon their sin that they would sacrifice their Sons and Daughters to their Idol Gods Ier. 32.35 Do Men take all this Pains for hell and shall not we take pains for the Kingdom of Heaven The wicked have nothing to encourage them in their Sins they have all the threatenings of God as a flaming Sword against them O let it never be said that the Devils Servants are more active then Christs that they serve him better who rewards them only with Fire and Brimstone then we do God who rewards us with a Kingdom 21. The labour we take for Heaven is a labour full of pleasure Prov. 3.17 A Man sweats at his Recreation tires himself with hunting but there is a delight he takes in it which sweetens it Rom. 7.22 I delight in the Law of God in the inner Man Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I take pleasure Not only is the Kingdom of Heaven delightful but the way thither What delight hath a gracious Soul in Prayer Isa. 56.7 I will make them joyful in my house of Prayer While a Christian weeps there is joy drops with Tears while he is musing on God he hath such illapses of the Spirit and as it were such Transfigurations of Soul that he thinks himself half in Heaven Psal. 63.5 6. My Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my Mouth shall praise thee with joyful Lips when I remember thee upon my Bed c. A Christians work for Heaven is like a Bridegrooms work
Thomas Watson sometimes Minister of St. Stephens Walbrooke LONDON A Body of Practical Divinity Consisting of above One Hundred Seventy Six SERMONS ON THE Lesser CATECHISM Composed by The Reverend Assembly OF Divines at Westminster WITH A SUPPLEMENT OF SOME SERMONS on several Texts of SCRIPTURE By THOMAS WATSON Formerly Minister at St. Stephen's Walbrook London Printed from his own Hand-Writing Recommended by several Ministers to Masters of Families and others Heb. XI iv He being dead yet speaketh LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1692. To the READER THESE Catechetical Lectures of the late Reverend Mr. Tho. Watson all but one written with his own hand I have read over together with some Sermons annexed to them and since my Testimony is desired concerning them I do hereby declare That tho' I will not undertake to justifie every Expression or Sentence in them or in any Humane Writing yet I find them in the main agreeable unto the Doctrinal Articles of the Church of England and unto the Westminster Assembly's Confession of Faith and Catechisms And I believe that through the Blessing of God they may be profitable unto the Edification of all that read them with an honest desire to know and do the Will of God for certainly there are many excellent things in them which if they meet with a well-disposed serious Mind are very apt to have a good Effect upon it and if it prove otherwise with any that happen to read this Book it will be their own Fault more than the Books Most Writers have different Stiles and it is well known that Mr. Watson had one peculiar to himself which yet has found good Acceptance with and has been useful unto serious People and I hope this by reason of the great Variety of excellent Matter may be more generally Vseful than any other thing that ever he wrote I little doubt but every sober Christian will be of this mind after he hath read his Lectures on God's Attributes the Ten Commandments Lord's Prayer c. I sincerely profess I have no other End in giving this Testimony of this Book but thereby to serve the Common Good of Christ's Church and not the Private Interest of any Person or Party in the World if my Conscience did not bear me witness that this Book may be Vseful to that excellent End no Man should ever have prevailed with me thus to prefix my Testimony and Name to it Moreover I do not doubt but every Intelligent and Candid Reader will consider that this is a Posthumous Work and on that account will make some Allowance for any small Fault that may be in it as also for the Errours of the Press That it may answer the main End for which it was first written by the Author whom I always took to be a grave serious modest good Man and for which I hope it is now published to wit The Edification of the Church of Christ in Faith Holiness and Comfort is the hearty Desire of one of the meanest Servants of our most Blessed LORD IESVS WILL. LORIMER WE whose Names are subscribed having seen the Testimony of our Worthy Brother Mr. William Lorimer after his Perusal of this Book doubt not but it may be of use to many as the former Writings of Mr. Thomas Watson have been and with that Desire and Hope we Recommend it to Masters of Families and others William Bates Matth. Barker Iohn Howe Matth. Mead Edw. Lawrance Samuel Slater Richard Mayo Richard Adams Richard Steel Samuel Stancliff Iohn Raynolds Nath. Vincent Iohn Hughes Matth. Sylvester Ioseph Read Dan. Burges Abraham Hume Ioseph Cawthorne Rich. Stretton Daniel Williams Richard Wavel Iohn Shower Timothy Cruso Francis Glascock Timothy Rogers Nath. Oldfield ADVERTISEMENT THere are many single Sermons on Variety of Occasions as at Fasts Thanksgivings Sacrament Discourses besides several Subjects handled in many Sermons on each Text of Scripture left under Mr. Thomas Watson's one Hand-writing if these find Acceptance in due time after their being perused by some Learned Divine may be published Tho. Parkhurst Aug. 28th 1692. A Catalogue of what Books Mr. Thomas Watson published THree Treatises 1. The Christian's Charter shewing the Priviledges of a Believer 2. The Art of Divine Contentment 3. A Discourse of Meditation To which is added several Sermons preached Occasionally Quarto The Beatitudes or a Discourse upon part of Christ's famous Sermon on the Mount Whereunto is added Christ's various Fulness The Preciousness of the Soul The Soul's Malady and Cure The Beauty of Grace The Spiritual Watch The Heavenly Race The Sacred Anchor The Trees of Righteousness The Perfume of Love The good Practitioner The Godly Man's Character A Word of Comfort to the Church of God in a Sermon Quarto The Crown of Righteousness at the Funeral of Mr. Hoges Merchant Quarto A Sermon preached July 2 at the Funeral of Mr. John Wells late Pastor of Olave-Jury London By Thomas Watson Quarto The Fight of Faith Crowned or a Sermon preached at the Funeral of the eminently Holy Man Mr. Henry Stubs By Thomas Watson The Doctrine of Repentance Useful for these Times Religion our true Interest or Practical Notes upon the third Chapter of Malachy the sixteen seventeen and eighteen Verses The Mischief of Sin it brings a Person Low A Divine Cordial or the Transcendent Priviledge of Those that Love God and are savingly Called The Holy Eucharist or the Mystery of the Lord's Supper briefly explained A Plea for the Godly Wherein is shown the Excellency of a Righteous Person The Duty of Self-denial briefly Opened and Urged Heaven taken by Storm A Preliminary Discourse TO CATECHISING COL I. xxiii If ye continue in the faith grounded and setled INtending the next Lord's Day to enter upon the Work of Catechising it will not be amiss to give you this Preliminary Discourse as preparative to it shewing you how needful it is for Christians to be well instructed in the Grounds of Religion If ye continue in the faith grounded and setled Two Propositions First It is the Duty of Christians to be setled in the Doctrine of Faith Second The best way for Christians to be setled is to be well grounded Doct. 1. That it is the Duty of Christians to be setled in the Doctrine of Faith It is the Apostle's Prayer 1 Pet. 5.10 The God of all grace stablish strengthen settle you That they might not be Meteors in the Air but fixed Stars The Apostle Iude speaks of wandring Stars Verse 13. They are called wandring Stars because as Aristotle saith they do saltare leap up and down and wander into several parts of the Heaven and being but dry Exhalations not made of that pure Coelestial Matter as the fixed Stars are they often fall to the Earth Now such as are not setled in Religion will at one time or other prove wandring Stars they will lose their former Strictness and wander from one Opinion to another Such as are
Harmonious Consent of all the Parts of Scripture there are Seven cogent Arguments may Evince it to be the Word of God 1. By its Antiquity It is of ancient standing The gray Hairs of Scripture make it Venerable No Humane Histories extant reach further then since Noah's Flood but the Holy Scripture relates Matters of Fact that have been from the beginning of the World it writes of things before Time Now that is a sure Rule of Tertullian That which is of the greatest Antiquity is to be received as most Sacred and Authentick 2. We may know the Scripture to be the Word of God by the Miraculous Preservation of it in all Ages The Holy Scriptures are the richest Jewel that Christ hath left and the Church of God hath kept these Publick Records of Heaven that they have not been lost The Word of God hath never wanted Enemies to oppose and if possible to extirpate it They have given out a Law concerning Scripture as Pharaoh did the Midwives concerning the Hebrew Womens Children to strangle it in the Birth yet God hath preserved this blessed Book inviolable to this Day The Devil and his Agents have been blowing at Scripture-Light but could never prevail to blow it out a clear sign that it was lighted from Heaven Nor hath the Church of God in all Revolutions and Changes only kept the Scripture that it should not be lost but that it should not be depraved The Letter of Scripture hath been preserved without any Corruption in the Original Tongue The Scriptures were not corrupted before Christ's Time for then Christ would never have sent the Jews to the Scriptures but he sends them to the Scriptures Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures Christ knew these Sacred Springs were not muddied with Humane Fancies 3. The Scripture appears to be the Word of God by the Matter contained in it 1. By its Profundity The Mystery of Scripture is so abstruse and profound that no Man or Angel could have known it had it not been Divinely revealed That Eternity should be born that he who Thunders in the Heavens should cry in the Cradle that he who Rules the Stars should Suck the Breasts That the Prince of Life should die that the Lord of Glory should be put to shame that Sin should be punished to the full yet pardoned to the full who could ever have conceived of such a Mystery had not the Scripture been the Oracle to reveal it to us So for the Doctrine of the Resurrection That the same Body which is crumbled into a thousand pieces should rise idem numero the same individual Body for else it were a Creation not a Resurrection how could such a Sacred Riddle above all Humane disquisition be known had not the Scripture made a Discovery of it 2. By its Purity It is for the Matter of it so full of Goodness Justice and Sanctity that it could be breathed from none but God The Holiness of it shows it to be of God it bears his very Image The Scripture is compared to Silver refined seven times Psal. 12.6 This Book of God hath no Errata's in it It is a Beam of the Sun of Righteousness a Chrystal Stream flowing from the Fountain of Life All Laws and Edicts of Men have had their Corruptions but the Word of God hath not the least Tincture it is of a Meridian Splendour Psal. 119.140 Thy Word is very pure like wine that comes from the grape which is not mixed or adulterated It is so pure that it purifies every thing else Iohn 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy truth The Scripture presseth Holiness so as never any Book did It bids us live soberly righteously godly Titus 2.12 Soberly in Acts of Temperance Righteously in Acts of Justice Godly in Acts of Zeal and Devotion It commends to us whatever is just lovely of good report Phil. 4.8 This Sword of the Spirit Eph. 6.17 cuts down Vice Out of this Tower of Scripture is thrown down a Milstone upon the Head of Sin The Scripture is the Royal Law which commands not only the Actions but Affections it binds the Heart to its good Behaviour Where is there such Holiness to be found as is dig'd out of this Sacred Mine Who could be the Author of such a Book but God himself 4. That the Scripture is the Word of God is evident by its Predictions it Prophesieth of things to come This shows the Voice of God speaking in it it was foretold by the Prophet A Virgin shall conceive Isa. 7.14 and the Messiah shall be cut off Dan. 9.26 The Scripture foretels things that should fall out many Ages and Centuries after as how long Israel should serve in the Iron Furnace and the very day of their Deliverance Exod. 12.41 At the end of the four hundred and thirty years even the self same day it came to pass the Hoasts of the Lord went out of Egypt This Prediction of Future Things meerly contingent and not depending upon Natural Causes is a clear Demonstration of its Divine Original 5. The Impartiality of those Men of God who wrote the Scriptures they do not spare to set down their own Failings What Man that writes an History would black his own face viz. record those things of himself that might stain his Reputation Moses records his own Impatience when he struck the Rock and tells us therefore he could not enter into the Land of Promise David writes of his own Adultery and Bloodshed which stands as a Blot in his Scutchion to succeeding Ages Peter relates his own Pusillanimity in denying Christ. Ionah sets down his own Passions I do well to be angry to the death Surely had not their Pen been guided by God's own Hand they would never have written that which did reflect dishonour upon themselves Men do usually rather hide their Blemishes then publish them to the World But these Pen-men of Holy Scripture eclipse their own Name they take away all the Glory from themselves and give the Glory to God 6 Arg. The mighty power and efficacy the Word hath had upon the Souls and Consciences of Men. 1. It hath changed their heart 1. Some by reading of Scripture have been turned into other Men they have been made holy and gracious By reading other Books the Heart may be warmed but by reading this Book it is transformed 2 Cor. 3.3 Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God The Word was copied out into their Hearts and they were become Christ's Epistle so that others might read Christ in them If you should set a Seal upon Marble and it should make an Impression upon the Marble and leave a Print behind there were a strange Virtue in that Seal So when the Seal of the Word leaves an heavenly print of Grace upon the Heart there must needs be a Power going along with that Word no less than Divine 2. It hath comforted their Heart When
his Bloud Without Faith Christ himself will not avail us Branch 2. Let us love a Bleeding Saviour and let us show our Love to Christ by being ready to suffer for him Many rejoyce at Christ's Suffering for them but dream not of their Suffering for him Ioseph dreamed of his Preferment but not of his Imprisonment Was Christ a Sacrifice Did he bear God's Wrath for us we should bear Man's Wrath for him Christ's Death was voluntary Psal. 40.7 Lo I come to do thy will O God Luke 12.50 I have a baptism to be baptized with and how am I straitned till it be accomplished Christ calls his Sufferings a Baptism he was to be as it were baptized in his own Bloud And how did he thirst for that time How am I straitned Oh then let us be willing to suffer for Christ Christ hath taken away the Venom and Sting of the Saint's Sufferings there is no Wrath in their Cup. Our Sufferings Christ can make sweet As there was Oyl mix'd in the Peace-Offering So God can mix the Oyl of Gladness with our Sufferings The ringing of my Chain is sweet Musick in my Ears Landgrave of Hesse Life must be parted with shortly what is it to part with it a little sooner as a Sacrifice to Christ as a Seal of our Sincerity and a Pledge of Thankfulness 3. Use of Consolation This Sacrifice of Christ's Bloud may infinitely comfort us This is the Bloud of Atonement Christ's Cross is Cardo salutis Calv. The Hing and Foundation of our Comfort 1. This Bloud comforts in case of Guilt O saith the Soul my sins trouble me why Christ's Bloud was shed for the Remission of Sin Mat. 26.28 Let us see our sins laid on Christ and then they are no more ours but his 2. In case of Pollution Christ's Bloud is an healing and cleansing Bloud 1. It is healing Isa. 53.5 With his stripes we are healed It is the best Weapon-Salve it heals at a distance though Christ be in Heaven we may feel the Vertue of his Bloud healing our bloudy Issue 2. And it is cleansing 'T is therefore compar'd to Fountain-water Zec. 13.1 The Word is a Glass to show us our Spots and Christ's Bloud is a Fountain to wash them away it turns Leprosy into Purity 1 Joh. 1.7 The bloud of Iesus cleanseth us from all our sin There is indeed one Spot so black that Christ's Bloud doth not wash away viz. The Sin against the Holy Ghost Not but that there is Vertue enough in Christ's Bloud to wash it away but he who hath sinned that Sin will not be washed he contemns Christ's Bloud and tramples it under foot Heb. 10.29 Thus we see what a strong Cordial Christ's Bloud is it is the Anchor-hold of our Faith the Spring of our Joy the Crown of our Desires and the only Support both in Life and Death In all our Fears let us comfort our selves with the Propitiatory Sacrifice of Christ's Bloud Christ dyed both as a Purchaser and as a Conquerour 1. As a Purchaser in regard of God having by his Bloud obtained our Salvation 2. And as a Conqueror in regard of Satan the Cross being his Triumphant Chariot wheâ—ein he hath led Hell and Death captive Use ult Bless God for this precious Sacrifice of Christ's Death Psal. 103.1 Bless the Lord O my soul. And for what doth David bless him Who redeemeth thy life from destruction Christ gave himself a Sin-offering for us let us give ourselves a Thank-offering to him If a Man redeem another out of Debt will not he be grateful How deeply do we stand obliged to Christ who hath redeemed us from Hell and Damnation Rev. 5.9 And they sung a new Song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood Let our Hearts and Tongues join in consort to bless God and let us shew our Thankfulness to Christ by Fruitfulness let us bring forth as Spice-Trees the Fruits of Humility Zeal Good-works This is to live unto him who hath died for us 2 Cor. 5.15 The Wise-men did not only worship Christ but presented him with Gifts Gold and Frankincense and Myrrhe Matth. 2.11 Let us present Christ with the Fruits of Righteousness which are unto the Glory and Praise of God CHRIST's Intercession ROM 8.34 Who also maketh Intercession for us WHen Aaron entred into the Holy Place his Bells gave a Sound so Christ having entred into Heaven his Intercession makes a melodious sound in the Ears of God Christ though he be exalted to Glory hath not laid aside his Bowels of Compassion but is still mindful of his Body Mystical as Ioseph was mindful of his Father and Brethren when he was exalted to the Court Who also maketh Intercession for us To Intercede is to make Request in the behalf of another Christ is the great Master of Requests in Heaven Christus est Catholicus Patris Sacerdos Tertul. Quest. What are the Qualifications of our Intercessor Resp. 1. He is holy Hebr. 7.26 For such an High Priest became us who is holy undefiled separate from sinners Christ knew no sin 2 Cor. 5.21 he knew sin in the weight not in the act It was requisite that he who was to do away the sins of others should himself be without sin Holiness is one of the precious Stones which shines on the Breast-Plate of our High Priest 2. He is faithful Hebr. 2.17 It behoved him to be like unto his brethren that he might be a faithful High Priest Moses was faithful as a Servant Christ as a Son Hebr. 3.5 he doth not forget any Cause he hath to plead nor doth he use any deceit in pleading An ordinary Attorney may either leave out some word which might make for the Client or put in a word against him having receiv'd a Fee on both sides but Christ is true to the Cause he pleads we may leave our Matters with him we may trust our Lives and Souls in his hand 3. He never dies The Priests under the Law while their Office lived they themselves died Hebr. 7.23 They were not suffered to continue by reason of death but Christ ever lives to make Intercession Hebr. 7.25 He hath no Succession in his Priesthood Quest. Who Christ intercedes for Resp. Not for all promiscuously Iohn 17.9 but for the Elect. The efficacy of Christ's Prayer reacheth no further then the efficacy of his Blood but his Blood was shed only for the Elect therefore his Prayers only reach them The High Priest went into the Sanctuary with the Names only of the Twelve Tribes upon his Breast so Christ goes into Heaven only with the Names of the Elect upon his Breast Christ interceeds for the weakest Believers Iohn 17.20 and for all the sins of Believers In the Law there were some sins the High Priest was neither to offer Sacrifice for nor yet to offer Prayer Numb 15.30 The Soul that doth ought presumptuously shall be cut off The
against Wife and Wife against Husband and so it causeth the Ioynts of the same Body to smite one against another And this Division in a Family works Confusion For an House divided against it self cannot stand Luke 11.17 Omne divisibile est corruptibile Quest. How may we abstain from this Sin of Adultery Resp. I shall lay down some Directions by way of Antidote to keep you from being infected with this Sin 1. Come not into the Company of a Whorish Woman avoid her House as a Seaman doth a Rock Prov. 5.8 Come not near the Door of her House He who would not have the Plague must not come near Houses infected Every Whore-house hath the Plague in it Beware of the occasion of Sin To venture upon the occasion of Sin and then pray Lead us not into Temptation is as if one should put his Finger in the Candle and then pray that it may not be burnt 2. Look to your Eyes Much Sin comes in by the Eye 2 Pet. 2.14 Having Eyes full of Adultery The Eye tempts the Fancy and the Fancy works upon the Heart A wanton amorous Eye may usher in Sin Eve first saw the Tree of Knowledge and then she took Gen. 3.6 First she looked and then she loved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Eye oft sets the Heart on Fire Therefore Iob laid a Law upon his Eyes Iob 31.1 I made a Covenant with my Eyes why then should I think upon a Maid Democritus the Philosopher pluck'd out his Eyes because he would not be tempted with vain Objects The Scripture doth not bid us do so but set a Watch before our Eyes 3. Look to your Lips Take heed of any unseemly Word that may enkindle unclean Thoughts in your selves or others 1 Cor. 15.33 Evil Communications corrupt good Manners Impure Discourse is the Bellows to blow up the Fire of Lust. Much Evil is conveyed to the Heart by the Tongue Psal. 141.3 Set a watch O Lord before my mouth 4. Look in a special manner to your Heart Prov. 4.23 Keep thy Heart with all keeping Every one hath a Tempter in his own Bosom Matth. 15.19 Out of the Heart come Evil Thoughts And thinking of Sin makes way for the Act of Sin Suppress the first Risings of Sin in your Heart As the Serpent when Danger is near keeps his Head So keep your Heart which is the Spring from whence all lustful Motions do proceed 5. Look to your Attire We read of the Attire of an Harlot Prov. 7.10 A wanton Dress is a Provocation to Lust. Curlings and Towrings of the Hair a Painted Face naked Breasts are Allurements to Vanity Where the Bush is hung out People will go in and taste of the Liquor Hierom saith Such as by their lascivious Attires endeavour to draw others to Lust tho no Evil follow yet these Tempters shall be punished because they offered Poyson to others tho they would not drink 6. Take heed of Evil Company Serpunt vitia in proximum quemque transiliunt Sin is a Disease very catching One Man tempts another to sin and hardens him in Sin There are three Cords to draw Men to Adultery The Inclination of the Heart the Perswasion of Evil Company and the Embraces of the Harlot and this Three-fold Cord is not easily broken Psal. 106.18 A Fire was kindled in their Company I may allude to it the Fire of Lust is kindled in bad Company 7. Beware of going to Plays A Play-house is oft a Preface to a Whore-house Ludi praebent semina nequitiae We are forbid to avoid all appearance of Evil Are not Plays the appearance of Evil Such Sights are there as are not fit to be beheld with chaste Eyes Both Fathers and Councils have shown their Dislike of going to Plays A Learned Divine observes That many have on their Death-beds confessed with Tears that the Pollution of their Bodies hath been occasioned by going to Plays 8. Take heed of mix'd Dancing Instrumenta luxuriae tripudia From Dancing People come to Dalliance one with another and from Dalliance to Uncleanness There is saith Calvin for the most part some unchaste Behaviour in Dancing Dances draw the Heart to Folly by wanton Gestures by Unchaste Touches by Lustful Looks St. Chrysostom did inveigh against mix'd Dancing in his Time We read saith he of a Marriage-Feast and of Virgins going before with Lamps Matth. 25.7 but of Dancing there we read not Many have been insnared by Dancing as the Duke of Normandy and others Saltatio ad adulteras non ad pudicas pertinet Ambros. Chrysostom saith Where Dancing is there the Devil is I speak chiefly of mix'd Dancing And whereas we read of Dances in Scripture Exod. 15. those were sober and modest They were not mix'd Dances but Pious and Religious being usually accompanied with singing Praises to God 9. Take heed of Lascivious Books and those Pictures that provoke to Lust. 1. Books As the reading of Scripture doth stir up Love to God so reading of bad Books doth stir up the Mind to Wickedness I could name one who publish'd a Book to the World full of effeminate amorous and wanton Expressions before he died he was much troubled for it and did burn that Book which did make so many burn in Lust. 2. And to Lascivious Books I may add Lascivious Pictures which bewitch the Eye and are the Incendiaries of Lust. They secretly convey Poyson to the Heart Qui aspicit innocens aspectu fit nocens Popish Pictures are not more prone to stir up to Adultery than unclean Pictures are to stir up to Concupiscence 10. Take heed of Excess in Diet. When Gluttony and Drunkenness lead the Van Chambering and Wantonness bring up the Rear Vinum fomentum libidinis any Wine inflames Lust And Fulness of Bread is made the Cause of Sodom's Uncleanness Ezek. 16.49 The rankest Weeds grow out of the fattest Soil Uncleanness proceeds from Excess Ier. 5.8 When they were fed to the full every one neighed after his Neighbours Wife Get the Golden Bridle of Temperance God allows Recruits of Nature and what may fit us the better for his Service but beware of Surfeit Excess in the Creature clouds the Mind choaks good Affections provokes Lust St. Paul did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 keep under his Body 1 Cor. 9.27 The Flesh pampered is apt to rebell Corpus impinguatum recalcitrat 11. Take heed of Idleness When a Man is out of a Calling now he is fit to receive any Temptation We do not use to sow Seed in Fallow Ground But the Devil sows most Seed of Temptation in such as lie sallow Idleness is the Cause of Sodomy and Uncleanness Ezek. 16.49 When David was idle on the Top of his Leads then he espied Bathsheba and took her to him 2 Sam. 11.4 Hierom gave his Friend this Counsel to be always well employed in God's Vineyard that when the Devil came he might have no leisure to listen to a Temptation 12. To avoid Fornication and Adultery let every Man
Person of the Trinity 63 What Sorrow goes before Forgiveness 806 Soul-Murther who are guilty of it 365 Soul the Excellency of it 801 Soul-dress for receiving the Sacrament wherein it consists 416 Souls deserted that want assurance how they may be comforted 205 Spiritual what it is to be so 25 Spirit how it can be said to be grieved 77 State of Nature is a Kingdom of Darkness Submission to God's Will what it is not 520 Submission to God's Will what may stand with it and what not 521 Submission to God's Will what it is ibid. When we do not submit to God's Will in Afflictions 523. Subtilty of Satan to make Men miscarry in the use of Meat 838 T Temptations whence they come 832 Tempted two cases of them spoke to 852 Temptations of Satan means to defeat them 855 Temptation what good may come out of it 858 Theft whence it doth arise 377 How many sorts of it there are ibid. What are the aggravations of it ibid. Vain Thoughts how they come in in hearing the Word 340 The Evil of them 341 Vain Thoughts how we may get help against them 342 Vain Thoughts in Prayer how we may cure them 422 Tongue how it is Evil. 986 Evil Tongue the several sorts of 986 987. Tongue rules for governing it 991 Tongue Sins Motives to beware of them 993 Torments of Hell what they are 473 Trinity of Persons proved 62 63 Truth of God 57 U Visiting Iniquity what is meant by it 282 Unchangeableness of God 36 Unchangeable God how to get a part in him 38 Unpardoned Soul how miserable it is 816 Vorstius Objection against God's Vbiquity answered 27 W Several Ways of Satan to tempt Men. 853 Weariness in well-doing what occasions it 994 The Evil of it 996 Means to keep us from being weary in Well-doing 997 Will of God what is meant by it 512 Will of God how we are to do it that we may find acceptance 515 Will of God how we may Evangelically do it 516 Will of God how we may come to do it aright Wisdom of God wherein it appears 40 Wisdom and Innocence necessary Qualifications of a Christian. 966 Wisdom wherein it chiefly consists ibid. The Word 's effectually Working what is meant by it 404 Word how it may be read effectually 405 How it may be heard effectually 406 World why God made it 66 World in what sence it is Evil. 877 What Worship is most suitable to God 25 To Worship God in the Spirit what it is 26 Wrath to come what we shall do to escape it 397 A Catalogue of BOOKS sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns near Mercers Chapel in Cheapside In Folio THE Christian Directory or Case of Conscience Catholick Theology Methodus Theologica all three by Mr. Richard Baxter A Sacred Poem on the Glory of Heaven Rushworth's first Vol. Crook's Hypocrite Keach's Metaphors Strong on the Covenant Burgess on the Corinthians Taylor on Christ's Temptation Horton on the Psalms Gell's Remains A Dialogue between Timothy and Titus about the Articles of the Church of England Isaac Ambrose's Works Pool's Annotations on the Bible Pembroke's Arcadia Manton's Third Vol. of Sermons Dr. Lightfoot's Works Gurnall's Christian Armour Dr. Horton's 100 Sermons Nostradamus's Prophecies Melvill's Memoirs Marvell's Poems Daillé on the Colossians Cook 's Mirabilia Clark's Martyrology The Acts Decisions Decrees and Canons of the Reformed Churches in France being a most Faithful and Impartial History of the Rise Growth and Decay of the Reformation in that Kingdom their Confession of Faith Speeches Letters Cases of Conscience c. By Iohn Quick Minister in London Dr. Owen's Discourse of the Holy Spirit on the Hebrews Second Vol. on the Hebrews Third Vol. In Quarto Baxter's Saints Everlasting rest Church History and Councils History of Counsels inlarged and defended Apology for Nonconformists Second Defence of Nonconformists Apology against Eight Men. Treatise of Episcopacy Disputations of Church-Government Life of Faith First of the Sermons Preach'd before King Charles the Second English Nonconformity Naked Popery against Dodwell and Shirlock Which is the True Church Catholick Communion against both Extreams in six several Controversies Moral Prognostication Search for English Schismaticks Farewel Sermon Published by himself Alderman Ashurst's Funeral Sermon Mr. Iohn Corbet's Funeral Sermon Glorious Kingdom of Christ. Reply to Mr. Tho. Beverly's Answer National Churches Church Concord Penitent Confession and necessary Vindication Power of a Christian Magistrate Disputations of right to Sacraments Disputation of Justification Church Told against Bagshaw Ark on the Covenant Brown's Gospel-Churches Brightman on the Revelations Bulkley on the Covenant Critical Enquiries Boyse's Sermon Charlton's Enquiries into Humane Nature Child's Pilot's Sea-Mirrour Clarkson's Poetical Divinity of Papists No Evidence for Diocesan Churches Corbet's Nonconformist's Plea Clark against Postlewait A Dialogue between a Protestant and a Jew and a Papist and a Jew Doolittle's Protestant's Answer to where was your Church before Luther Caryl on Iob. Elton on the Commandments Greenhill on Ezekiel First Vol. Second Vol. Humphrys's Nonconformist's Third Step. Frysell's Sermons of Grace and Temptation Bishop Hopkins on the Commandments Humphrys's Middle Way Peaceable Disquisition Q. I Ovid. 2 Chr. 11.15 Q. II. * Id verum quod primum †Veritas opprimi patest non supprimi * Que regit Syder a sagit ubera Q. III. Q. IV. * Iovis omnia plâ—na * Not the posse but velle * Bene esse Removenda Promovenda * Vox faucibus haeret 3. Casus Non mirum Tristis Miosis * Brugensis * Bern. * Hierom. * Macrobius * Die Dominico nihil aliud vacandum nisi ad pietatiâ— munia 1. A Promise of Joy Psal. 37.4 2. Of Honour 3. Of Earth and Heaven Eccles. 12.5 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Son as well as Servant * Bern. 1 Cor. 9.7 * Arist. * Davenant Reason * The Eye is the first part Ravens pick out * Plutarch †Validiora sunt Exempla quam verba Isa. 1.21 Acts 9.4 1. Excellency of the Soul 2. Excellency Plutarch Sen. Surius of Luther Ainsworth Ambrose Epiphan Luke 3.20 * Ex uguue Leonem Luther August * Cyprian * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 1 Chron. 15.13 * Rev. 3.2 Mat. 7.6 Exod. 19.12 * Aug. * Crede manducasti Aug. Luther Calvin Aug. Tertull. Aug. Calvin Aristot. Rom. 1.30 2 Sam. 12.11 * Bern. 2 Sam. 18.2 Gal. 5.17