a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season that is as full ripe corn is made into shocks and carried into the bâ—rn so thou shalt die in peace and shalt not be as wicked men cut off in their sins thy last day shall be thy best day and the day of thy death will be better than the day of thy birth whosoever closeth thy bodily eyes at thy dissolution the eye of thy soul shall see Christ in his glory whosoever bears thy body to burial the blessed Angels shall bear thy soul to heaven Vse 3. For direction I told you in the first place that Christ washeth us by baptisme This Use serves to direct us how to get our soules washt by baptisme First remember what a solemn promise we made in our baptisme and how often we break it this will be a good meanes to humble us and to make us more carefull to keep our covenant 2. Repent for the frequent breach of it else it will lie very heavy upon your consciences at the hour of death we would be ashamed to break our peace so often with man as we have done with God let Gods faithfulness to us make us be ashamed of our perfidiousness to him 3. Labour to feel the efficacy of your baptisme by faith in Christ indeavour to feel corruption mortified through the power of Christs death and your soul quickened with grace through the spiritual efficacy of his resurrection then you put on Christ to your eternal comfort 2. I told you in the second place that Christ washeth us by his Word This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules washt by it First We must hide it in our hearts Psalm 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee and when it cleanseth thy heart which is the fountain then it will cleanse thy words and actions streaming from it 2. Hear it with a purpose to practise it Psalm 119.33 Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it unto the end verse 34. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart what good will the best meat do to an hungry man if he eat it not Or what good will an excellent plaister do to a wounded man if he apply it not So what is a man better for hearing and reading Gods Word if he do it not Micah 2.7 Do not my words good to him that walketh uprightly but if he walk not uprightly they are not like to do him good 3. Make use of it upon all occasions then as Christ said John 15.3 ye shall be clean through the word spoken to you obey the precepts of it apply the promises and stand in awe of the threatenings that your profiting may appear to all live by the rules of it walk in the light of it that you may be such as God would have you 3. I told you in the third place that Christ washeth us by the merit of his precious bloud This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules washed by it that must be by faith Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God We read in the New Testament how our blessed Saviour healed many that beleived in him there is mighty efficacy in a true lively faith to cleanse the soul by applying the merit and efficacy of Christs bloud beleive stedfastly in the Lord Jesus with all your heart and you shall find the strength of sin dying in you 4. I told you in the fourth place that Christ washeth us with the saving graces of his holy Spirit This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules thus washed First Get a clear sight of the worth and necessity of them then you will pray to Christ with Peter Lord wash not my feet onely but also my hands and my head there is no desire of a thing unknown grace is so exceedingly sweet and lovely that the spiritual sight of it will set the heart a longing after it 2. Hunger and thirst exceeding fervently after grace and you shall be satified and washed Christ is very bountiful of his blessings now he is in glory for Revel 22.17 he freely invites us And let every one that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the waters of life freely The more you thirst after these living waters the faster will they flow into you 3. Labour to grow in these graces that you may be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect and holy as he that calleth you is holy think not that a stock of grace at your conversion without daily growth will bear you out to your latter end as many in their youth provide worldly riches enough to maintain them in their old age you must be alwayes adding to your stock if a child were no bigger at twenty yeares old than when its new born how could it help it self how could it maintain it self defend it self against dangers so if you grow no better after the receit of Gods abundant mercies and in particular under the plentiful meanes of grace how will you be able to serve please and glorifie God how will you be able to suffer for Christ to work out your salvation with fear and trembling therefore grow in grace and then you shall be more clean from iniquity 5. I told you in the fifth place that Christ washeth us by afflictions sanctified to us This Use still serves to direct us how to get our selves washed by them First Labour to know the right cause of them this course is prescribed in Lamen 3.39 40. Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Let us search and try our wayes and turn again to the Lord that is let us not repine at Gods hand in correcting us but let us search and try our wayes to find out our sins our personal and particular failings which provoked God to afflict us this course if we take we may find cause enough in our selves to justifie Gods righteous hand in afflicting us 2. Let afflictions drive thee to repentance to make thee a partaker of Gods holiness Hebr. 12.10 But he for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness then they are sanctified to thee and will tend to the health of thy soul as physick that works kindly proves healthful to the body let crosses make thee more penitent more holy more heavenly more upright then it will be comfortable to thee in thy latter end 3. Pour out earnest prayers and hearty suites to God in miseries this course Gods people took formerly Isaiah 26.16 Lord in trouble they have visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them pray to our Redeemer to be with thee in
and abillity he makes Gods will the rule of his and his word the rule of his life God puts every godly man into a general and particular calling and teacheth him how to behave himself in these callings this makes him a man after Gods own heart as David for this cause was so called Acts 13.22 4. Because every godly man is Gods factour he lies ligier for God as Merchants have their factors beyond sea to lie ligier for them to truck and barter for them so doth every godly man for God he trades for him all he can Rom. 14.8 For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord Phillip 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain that is the end and scope of my life is to honour and exalt Christ 5. Because a godly man is best fitted and prepared for Gods work and service he is one of Gods peculiar people zealous of good works Titus 2.14 Gods work is a pure and cleanly work and should be done with pure hearts and clean hands in the time of Moses Law the Priests onely might offer sacrifice and before they did it they might wash their bodies so a godly man is washt with the bloud of Christ and the grace of the holy Ghost by vertue whereof he is the fittest to do Gods work it is not for slovenly clowns to wait upon great men the work of the devil is filthy nasty and beastly wicked men delight in it and are the fittest for it 6. Because onely the heart of a godly man will bow and bend to Gods work it is a work requiring much labour and self-deniall one must stoop low to take up this burden he that loves God truly loves him with all his heart and strength onely the godly man doth this he that serves God truly is fervent in spirit serving the Lord onely the godly man doth this he that keeps Gods Commandements aright hath respect to all his Commandements and Gods Commandements are not grievous to him onely the godly man doth this The Jews say there be three hundred sixty five negative precepts in the Law according to the number of dayes in the year and two hundred forty eight affirmative commanding precepts according to the number of bones in a mans body whereby they would signifie that we must no day do those things which God hath forbidden and that with all the bones and members of our body we must do all those things which God hath commanded onely the godly man endeavours and desires to do this 7. Because God can trust none but the godly man for the godly man is the faithful man let an hypocrite have excellent parts of knowledge he will set up himself and seek his own ends as the Pharisees Mat. 6. gave almes prayed and fasted but did all to be seen of men like an idle unfaithful servant that works one hour for his master and two for himself but the godly man resolves to defend Gods cause to the utmost of his power and to bring all the glory he can to God Numb 12.7 Moses was said to be faithful in all Gods house the Martyrs would not for fear or favour of the world betray Gods cause but parted with their lives liberties and estates to glorifie Jesus Christ 8. Because none will doe Gods work so well as the godly man none have so much care to please God as he hypocrites slubber over the Lords work in prayer they draw near to God with their lips but their hearts are far from him when they hear his Word their hearts goe after their covetousness in receiving the Lords Supper they discern not the Lords body but receive onely the outward signs but a godly man prayes in prayer as Elias did James 5 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his heart is fixed with David trusting in the Lord in hearing the Word his heart burnes with holy zeal in him he will be careful and studious both to hear the Word and do it in receiving the Lords Supper he will examine himself before he eat of that bread and drink of that cup he will doe Gods work according to Gods will Vse The Uses I shall spin out of the Reasons the first reason is Because every godly man is a god-like man the first Use springing out of this Reason will be for consolation to all that be truly godly its ground of great comfort to thee that thou art like to God now thou mayest be assured of Gods dear love that he hath loved thee with an everlasting love which is better than life likeness is the cause of love this godliness is an infallible fruit of thine election and once elected alwayes beloved as earthly parents most affect those children which resemble them most so will thy heavenly Father exceedingly love thee for being so like to him the world derides and hates thee for godliness but be not dejected for godliness will be thine eternal honour and comfort 2. It may serve for admonition take heed of despising any man for being like to God for in despising him for godliness you despise God because godliness is his image Many excuse themselves and say they hate not a godly man for his godliness but for his hypocrisie I answer 1. Why doest thou not hate hypocrisie in thy self and in others who make no shew of godliness but live in hypocrisie and openly declare it 2. Godliness with some hypocrisie is better than hypocrisie without any godliness at all as corn with chaffe is better than chaffe without corn gold with dross is better than dross without gold you have more reason to love and honour them for their godliness than to hate them for hypocrisie because they hate hypocrisie and strive against it but they love godliness and labour to grow in it 3. It may serve to exhort you all to endeavour to be like to God in godliness both in heart and life Consider 1. what an honour it will be to you it will make your memories blessed when the names of the wicked shall rot very honourable and precious to this day are the names of Abraham for faith Moses for meekness Joseph for chastity Job for patience David for zeal Daniel for integrity of life Paul for love to Christ Peter and Magdalen for godly sorrow 2. Consider what a comfort it will be to your consciences when you follow God as dear children so that God is in you of a truth it was a greater comfort to blessed Hezekiah that he had walked before God in truth with a perfect heart than that he was honourable and wealthy none have so much cause to rejoyce and to be of good chear as the godly man for he is the friend of God his sins are pardoned Christ is his treasure the holy Ghost is his Comforter and heaven is his inheritance Psalm 32.11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in
and trespasses as the other sort be if there were as many people upon earth naturally dead as there be spiritually dead it would be very sad fearful and doleful you may hear them wish for grace but they take no paines for it their hearts rise against such as are gracious when they be in health though in sickness they desire to die the death of the righteous it s very sad to see how long many have lived graceless under excellent meanes of grace if a man fall into a swound and we pour Aqua vitae into him we rub him and use meanes to recover him but we perceive in him no heat sense nor motion we conclude he is dead the like we may say of very many who have been long rubb'd and stirred by powerful preaching but there appears in them no motion towards holiness no warmth of love to Christ and his image no sense of grace but coldness in their hearts and lives doubtless these men are dead having no life of God in them 5. I told you in the fift place that Christ washeth us by gentle corrections and trials sanctified to us This Use still serves to reprove such as be nothing bettered by afflictions many crosses hath God laid upon them to humble and reform them but they like wicked King Ahaz sin more in their affliction 2 Chron. 28.22 Jerem. 5.3 he complains of the Jews for their perverseness O Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth thou hast stricken them but they have not greived thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder than a rock they have refused to return In Amos the fourth chapter God by him complained of the Jewes how he had many wayes afflicted them Yet ye have not returned unto me saith the Lord To many plunge themselves deeper into wickedness when Gods hand is upon them they are incorrigible and grow more obstinate proud prophane worldly minded and malitious against the truth to such lesser crosses will prove the beginning of sorrows thou canst complain of bitter troubles and smarting miseries thou hast suffered but what change have they wrought in thy heart and life have they made thee more fearful to offend God and more studious and careful to please him then thou art in a blessed condition if it be so but if thou beest more hardened in sin by afflictions then know to thy terrour that the worst is behind Hosea 5.12 God threatens to be unto Ephraim as a moth and to the house of Judah as rottenness that is he would try them with lesser afflictions and wast them by degrees but if those did them no good he threatens verse 14. For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion and as a young lion to the house of Judah I even I will tear and go away I will take away and none shall rescue him that is he would come with more fearfull and terrible judgements to destroy them forbearance is no forgiveness though God have leadē heels yet he hath iron hands easie warnings neglected ever end in destruction you that have been oftentimes crusht and prest with heavy crosses yet you are nothing better but wax worse and worse your judgement lingers not your damnation slumbers not Vse 2. For comfort I told you in the first place that Christ washeth us with the Sacrament of Baptisme This Use serves for singular consolation to all that be thus washed you are happy and have cause to rejoyce for 1. First you were baptized into Christ his death Rom. 6.3 4. you are buried with Christ by baptisme into death your old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth you should not serve sin now his death will destroy your corruptions as Irish earth kils venomeous creatures applied to it sin may dwell in you but it shall not have dominion over you it troubles you like a tyrant but it shall never be laid to your charge you by faith applying Christs death to your soules shall find your corruptions weaker and your hearts rising against them as Davids house waxed stronger and Sauls house weaker so shall grace grow stronger and sin weaker in you 2. You are planted together with Christ in the likeness of his resurrection that ye may walk in newness of life you live above others in a farre more excellent way than they do blessed are you that ever you were born but chiefly that you were born again you are more excellent than your carnal neighbours you are such of whom the world is not worthy you are precious in the eyes of Jehovah and he will honour you for ever your life is gracious and your death shall be glorious 3. You shall have the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 3.21 The like figure whereunto even baptisme doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience c. Here Peter hath respect to that custome which was used in the baptisme of those who were of age the person baptizing asked the person to be baptized Whether he beleived and he answered I beleive c. hence by the answer of a good conscience we may understand that unfained faith whereof they made confession at their baptisme and whereby their consciences were purified and whereby they received remission of their sinnes testified by Christs resurrection from the dead also we may understand that covenant whereinto they entred at their baptisme the embracing whereof they testified by their unfained confession of their faith this benefit you shall receive by baptisme by applying unto your soules the power of Christs resurrection your consciences shall be both quieted and assured of pardon and favour and is thereupon enabled to treat for and expect mercy from God and reconciliation with him and so the faithful soul in the confidence hereof boldly questioneth with God about his favour reconciled unto him by Christs death and testified by his resurrection saying hath not Christ reconciled thy favour unto us by his death to endure for ever certainly it is so for his resurrection doth testifie it seeing that unless he had made a perfect expiation of our sins by his death and reconciled thy favour unto us he could not have risen again to life and heavenly glory 2. I told you in the second place that Christ washeth us with his sacred Word This Use still serves to comfort all such as are washed it by these benefits thou shalt enjoy by it 1. You shall ask what you will if it be according to Gods will and for his glory and it shall be done unto you John 15.7 which is an high priviledge prayer is the wing of the soul wherewith it flies up to heaven to Christ it peirceth the clouds it is a corner of heaven to a gracious soul it hath a kind of omnipotency in it it is the key