undertakings who strives not to make Christ glorious Christ being by the Disciples set upon this colt a great multitude spread their garments in the way and others cut downe branches from the trees and strawed them in the way When Christ is by his Ministers exalted and lifted up in the preaching of the Gospell many soules vaile and bow to him embrace and reverence him as their spirituall King and Soveraigne prostrating themselves and all that is theirs under him The multitude did not only straw the way with their garments and branches but they also cryed Hosanna to the sonne of David Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest Humble and beleeving soules receive and entertaine the Lord Iesus with very great ioy and gladnesse The blessed presence of Christ in the Gospell ministers matter of very great rejoycing here is such a sunne of heavenly light shining such a streame of consolations flowing such a store-house of spirituall treasure set open and such dewes of grace mercy and peace distilling that every man that hath an eye of wisedome to discerne Christ a hand of faith to lay hold on Christ and a heart of love to embrace Christs comming in the Gospell must needs say with the Psalmist Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. We are blessed out of the house of the Lord. The words are an Acclamation of the people declaring and setting forth the welcome of Christ to all beleeving soules their ioy and rejoycing conceived upon the comming of Christ among them their gratulation and thanksgiving for Christs appropinquation and comming nigh unto them their vote and exoptation of all prosperity blessed and happy successe to Christ in his kingdome Christs comming proves most ioyfull to them that lovingly receive and entertaine him All true beleevers are holy and hearty welwishers to the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ Iesus all manner of blessings attend and wait on the Lord Iesus in the humble and gracious use of his ordinances True Christians have such experience of the benefits and blessings mercies and comforts flowing from Christ in the ministery of his Gospell that with great joy and thanksgiving they cry out Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. In the words we have in the generall two things considerable 1. A Gratulation uttered by the people Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. 2. A Benediction pronounced by the Ministers of the Lord We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. In the gratulation there is 1. the Agent the people they blesse they rejoyce they are thankfull for Christs comming Man hath greatest cause of all creatures to reioyce in and for the comming of Christ Jesus 2. there is the Act Blessed praised exalted magnified be Christ Christ is worthy to be celebrated with all praises for his comming to us 3. there is the manner of their gratulation Blessed expressed 1. by way of thanksgiving and rejoycing and 2. by way of exoptation and wishing Whosoever truly reioyceth in Christ doth also wish well to the cause and kingdome of Christ 4. there is Movens or the party comming He who is the sonne of God by eternall generation and by grace of hypostaticall union the Prince of the Kings of the earth by authority and dominion He who is the head of the Church by spirituall Jurisdiction He who is the Redeemer of man by the merit of his obedience and passion He who is the Conquerour over hell death sinne and Satan by his Resurrection He who by his office is the Prophet instructing us the King commanding and defending us and the Priest offering himselfe a sacrifice for us He who is the Mediator between God and us by his intercession the fountaine of all mercy grace and peace unto us by divine ordination Blessed be he welcome be he in him let our soules rejoyce his comming let us entertaine with the chiefest and strength of our rejoycing The Lord Jesus ought to be the prime and compleat obiect of mans joyfulnesse 5. Here is his Motion Commeth Christ as God is every where and neither goes nor comes but fils all places yet he commeth by his Lawes and ordinances as a Prince by his Proclamations He commeth by his Ministers as a King by his Embassadours He commeth by his Incarnation as a brother taking our nature upon him He commeth by his gifts and graces best owed on us as a friend commeth by his love-tokens He commeth by his Word and Gospell as the Sun commeth by his light enlightening us as a King commeth by his Scepter binding bowing and inclining our hearts unto obedience as a Generall commeth by his military weapons casting downe the strong holds of sinne within us as the Cloud commeth by his dew watering refreshing and fructifying us as the Master of a feast commeth by his dainties feeding and feasting us as a Bridegroome commeth by his voice solacing and comforting us He commeth by his Sacrament as the King by his Broad Seale sealing to us the remission of our sinnes and justification of our soules through his righteousnesse he commeth by his holy and gracious operation upon our soules as the Sunne by casting a sweet and heavenly influence into our hearts as a King setting up his throne within us as a heavenly and Almighty Work-man new moulding new framing and fashioning us all these wayes comes the Lord Iesus to the soules of his servants Blessed is that person that knowes the way and manner of Christs spirituall and gracious comming Here is the terme from whence he commeth from God in the name of the Lord by the ordination and appointment of God with authority and commission from God every way fitted and furnished for the administration of his kingdome and accomplishment of the worke undertaken by him CHAP. II. I Will not insist on all these particulars but onely upon the peoples gratulation and Christs authority or commission First the peoples gratulation Blessed be he that commeth expressing their rejoycing and thanksgiving for Christs comming in his Gospell and spirituall kingdome Man blesseth man by making prayer and supplication for him God blesseth man by bestowing good things upon him by removing evill things from him and by turning all for good unto him and man blesseth God and Christ by thanksgiving to God and Christ well speaking of God and Christ holy and hearty rejoycing in God and Christ gracious and unfained wel-wishing unto the cause of God and Christ and thus the people in this place blesse Christs comming in the name of the Lord and hence we learne That Christ comming in his Gospell spiritual kingdome ought to be received and entertained with much thanksgiving reioycing The Arke was a type of Christ David at the comming of the Arke into the Tabernacle danced with all
welfare of Christs kingdome and Gospell Such men are altogether unmindfull of their relation unto Christ who desire not who labour not the prosperity of the Gospell and kingdome of Christ 3. In regard of Christs interest in us We are not our owne but Christs as sometimes the King of Syria said to the King of Israel thy silver and thy gold is mine thy wives also and thy children even the goodliest are mine Thus may Christ say to us thy body and thy soule thy wife and thy children thy gold and thy silver thy lands and thy livings and whatsoeuer thou hast is mine and we must answer as the King of Israel did My Lord O King I am thine and all that I have This the Lord claimeth by the mouth of the Prophet Now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and that formed thee O Israel I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine my chosen vessell my redeemer and sanctified one my childe my servant my jewell and the Lords portion saith Moses is his people Jacob is the Lot of his inheritance He hath separated and taken us unto himselfe to be his peculiar people whom he loves in whom he delights and to whom we must bring forth all our fruit and be unto him whatsoever we are as a portion or inheritance is all that it is to him that ownes it and Christs we are indeed by donation We are given unto him from eternity in the decree of Gods election by redemption he hath bought us with a price by vocation he called us out of darknesse into a marvellous light and hath made us a peculiar people to himselfe and also by way of spirituall Conjunction and wedlocke We are espoused unto Christ and are stiled his wife And as we are Christs so we must be for Christ so we must seeke the prosperity of Christs kingdome and advancement of his Gospell Thine are we O David and on thy side thou sonne of Jesse said Amasai to David peace peace be unto thee and peace be unto thine helpers Thus must we say unto Christ thine are we O Christ and on thy side O Sonne of God peace peace all welfare and prosperity be to thee and thy kingdome successefull be the labours and undertakings of all them that are thy ministeriall and underhelpers This is urged as a fruit and effect of Christs interest in us We are bought saith the Apostle with a price therefore let us glorifie God in our bodies and in our spirits and againe Christ hath died that wee who live should not henceforth live unto our selves but to him who died for us and rose againe That man doth not well consider Christs interest in him who puts not himselfe and all that is his upon Christs service He is doubtlesse a stranger to the efficacy and fruit of the worke of Christs redemption who doth not throughly apply himselfe to the setting up of Christ and his Gospell 4. In regard of the Subversion of Satan and his kingdome The setting up of the Arke was the fall of Dagon the setting up of the house of David was the overthrow of the house of Saul the setting up of Christ his Kingdome and Gospell is the overthrow of Satan Where the Gospell is preached and Christ set up Satan fals like lightning from heaven his holds of sin are overturned like the wals of Jericho at the blowing of the rammes hornes There is no competition between the Devils kingdome and the powerfull preaching of the Gospell When David was once set upon the throne all Israel by degrees came about left the house of Saul and bowed unto Davids scepter When Christ is set upon his Throne exalted and lifted up in the preaching of the Gospell all that are ordained unto life come about and stoop to Christ they leave the service of sinne Satan and the world and vaile to Christs scepter they turne from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God When Philip preached in Samaria the Devils went out of many that were possessed by them The Lord hath ordained the ministery of the Gospell to be the instrument and meanes of the ruine of Satans kingdome and for this cause we should come our selves to Christ and labour the welfare and increase of Christs Kingdome that Satan the grand adversary of our soules of our peace of our salvation may be overthrowne and troden under foot and have no more place in heaven in the Church of God in the hearts of the people of God but be cast out as a strong man bound is put out of his house and a King vanquished and overcome is cast out of his Kingdome He is no true subject unto Christ that endeavours not the subversion of Satan and his kingdome that Christ alone may raigne and have compleat dominion over Gods Church and people 5. In regard of the Glory Crowne and dignity of Gods Church and people The setting up of Christ his Gospell and Kingdome is the glory of the Church of God the appearance and shining of the Sunne in the fulnesse of his beauty is the glory of the world the presence of the Arke was the glory of Israel being a witnesse of Gods glorious presence among them the Lord there giving forth his oracles and hearing the prayers of his people Thus the presence appearance and bright shining of Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse in the Gospell is the glory of the Church Where Christ is in the Gospell there God is graciously present clearly manifesting himselfe to mens understanding and mercifully hearing and answering the prayers of his people and the place where the ordinances of God are where the Gospell is published and the mysteries of Gods Kingdome opened is called the habitation of his house and the place where his honor dwelleth The Lord doth ever shew himselfe very glorious to the soules of his servants in the use of his ordinances and vouchsafes great honour to the people in setting up his Gospell and Kingdome among them and therefore the Church of God is called the glorious rest of Christ because Christ by his Gospell and by his love and grace doth rest there that place is of all places most glorious which is the Evangelicall resting place of Christ and the Lord foretelling the multiplication of his Church the increase of his faithfull people and augmentation of his sonnes Kingdome saith he will glorifie the house of his glory and make his Church an eternall excellency and therefore we should mightily endeavour the exaltation of Christ and his Gospell because this is the honour crowne and glory of the Church The cleare full and open enjoyment of Christ in the Gospell is the prime glory of any place or people Such people are very base and ignominious whatsoever be their outward abundance who enjoy not Christ in his ordinance that man is altogether regardlesse of the
Men are often very dangerous self-lovers in their holiest and most honourable performances It argues a humble sweet and gracious disposition of mens affections to be able to rejoyce in the godly service of others a humble soule is joyfull and thankfull that God is honoured the Church benefited the Gospell preached the cause and kingdome of Christ promoted by others as if himselfe had been the instrument Gods glory is a humble mans maine desire and intendment and is much joyed to see the same accomplished and in these characters as in plaine letters may all men reade the truth and power of their self-denyall and accordingly judge of their condition CHAP. X. BUt it may be here demanded how many wayes a man may deceive himselfe in the point and matter of self-denyall The heart of man is deceitfull above measure and man is very prone to deceive himselfe as in other necessary points and parts of salvation so in this of self-denyall To this therefore I answer that man is apt to deceive himselfe in this behalfe eight wayes 1. By denying himselfe superstitiously Thus many deny rest food and liberty necessary lawfull and allowed whipping scourging macerating pinching and even starving their owne flesh denying themselves the use of such creatures as God hath ordained and provided for the comfort and supportment of his servants God hath made man subordinate Lord over the works of his hands and hath put all things under his feet all sheep and oxen and the beasts of the field the fowles of the ayre and the fishes of the sea Every creature of God saith the Apostle is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer yet many in their superstition deny themselves the free and Christian use of the creature placing their Religion and self-denyall in abstinence from some sorts of creatures This is a law of Antichrist mentioned by Saint Paul forbidding to marry and commanding to abstaine from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving Such self-deniers are none of Christs but Antichrists subjects Men placing their self-denyall in the observation of humane inventions are farre from denying their owne corrupt and carnall lusts and affections they that make tradition the rule of their Religion are farre from spirituall and true mortification zealous observers of humane devises in stead of denying themselves deny the Lord Jesus Of such therefore the Apostle testifies that they are vainly puft up in their fleshly mind and not holding the head which is Christ and rebuking their superstition as repugnant to Christs death he saith wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world why as though living in the world are ye subject to ordinances touch not taste not handle not which all are to perish with the using after the commandements and doctrines of men This is the superstitious mans self-denyall 2. By denying himselfe covetously Many out of an immoderate desire after earthly riches and inordinate love to the world deny themselves bodily rest rising up early and sitting up late and eating the bread of sorrowes they deny themselves necessary food and rayment they travell under their worldly abundance as a galled horse under a heavy burthen they want nothing of all their soules desire yet God gives them not power to eat thereof This is the miserable worldlings humility and self-denyall and in this he is ready to please and applaude himselfe this man indeed abaseth himselfe below the dust but he doth not humble himselfe under Christ he makes himselfe the drudge and slave of worldly dung and drosse he makes not himselfe the servant of Christ 3. By denying himselfe partially He denyes some but not all his lusts he walks in some but not in all the ordinances of God Jehu denyed Baals Priests he put them to death but he allowed the calves in Dan and Bethel Saul denyed himselfe in the refuse of the Amalekitish stuffe he destroyed the refuse but he denyed not himselfe in the bleating sheep and lowing oxen he spared them Herod denyed himselfe in many things he heard the Baptist gladly and did many things but he denyed not himselfe in Herodias he continued his incest He that denyes not himselfe in all things truly denyes himselfe in nothing he that allowes himselfe under the power of one sinne is farre from Christ farre from the knowledge of Christ as he that allowes one moate in his eye is farre from the cleare and comfortable sight of the Sunne far from the life of Christ and health of grace as he that allowes himselfe in one disease is farre from health of body farre from the love of Christ as the woman which allowes one strange lover in her bosome is farre from the love of her husband he is farre from the way to life as he that keeps himselfe and travels on in one false way is farre from his right path farre from all interest in Gods promises as he that breakes one Covenant and condition of his Lease hath forfeited his whole Lease and farre from spirituall liberty and freedome as he that is fettered with one strong chaine is farre from bodily freedome he that denyes not all sinne denyes none as it is sinne hypocriticall miserable deceitfull is their self-denyall which is partiall and halt like Israel between God and Baal between vertue and vice between the earth and heaven still abiding under the power of sin without either truth or perfection in grace 4. By denying himselfe Constrainedly Not for love but for feare not for the hatred of sinne but for the sence of misery attending sinne as the dog denyes himselfe his meat when he is sicke and the Sow denyes her wallowing in the mire by reason of the coldnesse of the weather Lord saith the Prophet in trouble have they visited thee they powred out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them When the hand of God is heavy upon them they walke humbly they deny themselves their former carnall contentments with the Mariners they cast out Jonah in the storme This is the afflicted mans self-denyall a denyall not springing from any principle of grace but forc't upon the soule not arising from any hatred of sinne but from the punishment of sinne As Mariners cease from the Sea and lye fast in the haven while the stormes last but as soone as the weather is calme they put themselves forth againe Thus many when the storme is up when their soules are tossed with the tempest of trouble they cease from their worldly and carnall wayes but as soone as their estate is cleare and calme againe they returne to their former trade and practise of sin Constrained deny all is neither cordiall nor perpetuall 5. By denying himselfe hypocritically seeming to others to deny himselfe when yet indeed he doth not as Ahab put off his Kings roabes and
One that inhabiteth Eternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite Ones God ministers most spirituall consolation to him that is most low and base in his owne eye and apprehension 2. This makes the soule of man most invincible The low shrub endureth all the gusts and blasts of wind abiding fast rooted No winds of trouble or temptation can over-throw the humble though they may a little shake him The humble soule puts a low price upon the world the gaine of it doth not much affect him the losse of it doth not much disquiet him He leanes not on himselfe or any other arme of flesh his whole dependance is upon Christ Christ is the strength by which he standeth the light by which he walketh the crowne and portion in which he rejoyceth and nothing can separate him from Christ Satan hath least opportunity to fasten a temptation upon him The proffers of the world have no rellish with him the menaces of men raise no terrour in him Christ is every way so compleat in his apprehension that he accounts both the favour and the hatred of the world as nothing being crucified to the world and the world also unto him Bede relates a poeticall fiction of a man whom they called Terrae filius who fought with a tyrant named Hercules This Terrae filius when he was weary cast himselfe on the ground and recovered his strength which Hercules perceiving lifted him up into the aire and so overcame and slew him In like manner man fighting with Satan humbling and abasing himselfe abhorring himselfe with Job below the dust and ashes reneweth his strength and remaineth invincible but Satan lifting him up filling him with high and proud thoughts of his owne worth prevailes against him obtaines victory over him Pride makes man a slave to Satan humility makes man victorious over him The meek according to that of the Prophet shall increase his ioy in the Lord. The soule which is truly humble drawes matter of consolation out of all suffering and from every estate and condition wherein the Lord sets him 3. This exceedingly indeares man unto God He that is least in his owne eye is greatest in the esteeme of God He is best beloved of God who is most out of love with himselfe The humble soule is most capable of spirituall instruction The best scholler in Christs schoole most obedient unto Gods precept the best servant in Christs family most fruitfull in every good worke most apt to every good duty the choisest Tree in Gods Orchard most sincere and full in the intendment of Gods glory the truest lover among all the friends of God most thankefull for all blessings the best receiver and improver of Gods mercies most apprehensive of Gods perfections most affected with Gods goodnesse the greatest admirer of Gods and Christs excellencies and therefore most deare to God of all others To this man saith the Lord will I looke with the eyes of my love solacing and accepting him with the eyes of my mercy pardoning and forgiving him and with the eyes or my care and providence sweetning and disposing all for good unto him Even to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word To him will I looke when he heareth my word dispensing my grace into him when he prayeth returning a gracious answer to him when he mourneth putting all his teares into my bottle comforting him when he is in distresse delivering him and when he is in want supplying him God is very wonderfull in his gracious manifestations to soules filled with humility and meeknesse to men denying themselves and their owne affections The ornament of a meeke spirit is in the sight of God a thing of great price a contrite and a broken spirit God will not despise Mans estimation with God is sutable to his disestimation of himselfe 4. This doth very wonderfully exalt a man He that is most humble is most honourable Mans self-denyall ever tends to his exaltation It is Christs promise he that humbleth himselfe shall be exalted The humble soule is the vessell which God filleth with the wine of his choisest grace the Temple in which the Spirit of God dwelleth the servant whose worke the Lord accepteth the Petitioner in whose prayer the King of mercies delighteth the Favourite whom the King of Kings honoureth the Spouse whom the Prince of peace receiveth in wedlocke and the friend to whom the Secret of the Lord is imparted God communicates great honour unto them who for his honour are contented to abase themselves in the eyes of men David was content to appeare outwardly vile yea more vile that he might honour God and God made him more honourable confirming and strengthening him in the kingdome Moses was the meekest man on earth a man that had low thoughts of himselfe a man of singular perfection in the way and worke of self-denyall refusing all the honour of Egypt and chusing to endure affliction with Gods people But God made him most honourable called him up unto himselfe in the Mount and made him the leader of his people It is good losing for God the incurment of dishonour for God is recompenced with the greatest honour from the hand of God The Baptist abased himselfe very low to exalt Christ he told the people that such was Christs dignity worth and excellency that he was not worthy to stoop downe and untie the latchet of his shooe and Christ very highly honoured him telling the people that there was not a greater borne of women then the Baptist Man is ever so much the more precious in the eyes of Christ by how much the more despicable he is in his owne and other mens eyes for the love and cause of Christ There is more honour in the humble mans ignominy then in the proud mans pomp and glory He that is least through self-denyall holy abasement and unfained humiliation shall be greatest in Gods Kingdome Greatest in spirituall liberty and freedome in the measure of Sanctification in Gods account and acceptation and in the degree of future glory communicated to him 5. This ministers a very sweet and blessed freedome to the soule He that is most humble is the choisest Freeman in the world Self-denyall is a very great and happy freedome He that is most humble hath the greatest measure of grace conferred on him and wheresoever is most grace there is most freedome Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty saith the Apostle The humble man is free from ignorance in his understanding with the lowly there is wisedome saith Solomon and God doth guide the humble in iudgement saith the Psalmist He that is most humble hath the most cleare and
abased shall you be in your owne eye able to say with the Prophet Woe is me J am undone I am a man of uncleane lips for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hoasts 2. The more ashamed shall you be of your former loosenes smiting with Ephraim upon your thigh ashamed and confounded for the reproach of your youth the more ashamed shall you be of your present uncleannesse abhorring your selfe with Iob below the dust and ashes 3. The more powerfull shall you be in the suppression of all sinne in the repelling of every temptation able to say with Joseph how shall I doe this evill and sinne against God 4. The more fervent and reverent shall you be in your hearing prayer and supplication standing with Cornelius as before the Lord in hearing his messenger and praying like Paul with the understanding and with the spirit 5. The more diligent and industrious shall you be in Gods service knowing the terrour of the Lord running like the Sunne the race which God hath set before you serving the Lord with feare and trembling doing the will of God from the heart 6. The more gracious shall you be in all your speeches speaking the words of God and as in the fight of God 7. The more circumspect shall you be in your carriage being all the day long in the feare of God and walking with God as Enoch and Noah did 8. The more couragious and undaunted shall you be in all difficulties and oppositions made against you not afraid of the many thousands that set themselves against you remembring and apprehending as Ezekiah did that God is with you a present help in trouble for you 9. The more shall you in a holy manner sleight and undervalue all the glory dignity wealth and fulnesse of the world having with you and within you that God who in your eye and apprehension transcends the world more then the most orient pearle the bafest drosse the choisest Paradise the most loathsome prison or the brightest Sunne the rotten glocworme 10. The more easily fully freely joyfully and permanently shall your hearts and thoughts come off from the creature from your selfe and from every thing here below as the eye comes gladly from the candle to the Sun upon the appearing and apprehension of the same as the Bride comes gladly from her owne people and her fathers house to her most honourable amiable and lovely Bridegroome or as the Prodigall came readily from the Swine and the huskes to his Fathers house where he apprehended fulnesse of bread 11. The more patient shall you be in all trouble apprehending God as a Father in love chastising you as a Physician launcing you and as a Refiner purging you you shall say with old Eli It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good 12. The more content shall you be in every condition contentedly able with Job to receive the evill of affliction as well as the good of peace at the hands of the Lord the apprehension of Gods presence with you shall satisfie and quiet you when every other thing is taken from you the apprehension of this shall powerfully and sweetly dispose you to quiet your selfe in the will of God humbly and readily to submit your selfe to the hand of God thankfully to take that portion which God giveth you assuring your selfe it is that which God in his wisedome seeth best for you Thrice blessed is that person who hath this apprehension of God still ruling and affecting him setledly dwelling and working within him there is nothing more availeable to keep the soule of man in a holy frame and disposition then the sence and feeling of Gods ever being present with him Secondly this should also move man to labour for infallible and sure interest in God It is the misery of man to be without God the happinesse of man to have God for his God to be able to say with Thomas My God and my Lord and in all estates to cry with David O Lord thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living It is mans having of God that makes the meditation of God sweet and comfortable to man What doth the shining of the Sunne advantage man if his eye receive not the light thereof What doth plenty of water in the well benefit the thirsty if he neither draw nor drinke of it What did fulnesse of bread in his Fathers house profit the prodigall sonne living among the swine and ready to starve with lacke of broad What doth it availe the soule that God is an eternall an Almighty an Al-seeing an alsufficient God if he live like the swine and feed upon the huskes of the world and come not unto God have no interest in God no taste no sence no feeling of the goodnesse of this God he must starve dye perish and be damned without God The charge therefore given to the children in Salomon concerning wisedome let me give to you concerning God Get God get the Lord forget him not neither decline from the words of his mouth forsake him not and he shall preserve thee love him and he shall keep thee God is the principall thing therfore got God and withall thy getting get the Lord. The gaine of all is losse without God the losse of all is gaine with God have all the power of the world without God thou art weake have all the wealth of the earth without God thou art poore have all the learning art and policye of men and Devils without God thou art foolish blinde and ignorant have all the honours of Nobles Kings and Emperours without God thou art base have all the beauty of the comeliest creatures without God thou art ugly loathsome and monstrous have all worldly and fleshly joyes and pleasures without God thy soule is in a condition of torments have all the liberties immunities and prerogatives of the freest Cities States and Kingdomes yet without God thou art in the most dishonourable slavish and basest bondage have God and though thou hast nothing else thou hast the strongest rocke to support thee the brightest Sun to guide thee the noblest crowne to honour thee the choisest pearle to enrich thee the fullest fountaine to fill thee the sweetest Paradise to solace and delight thee even God himself to be all in all in stead of all and ten thousand times more then all for ever unto thee * ⎠* FINIS A Table of the chiefe things contained in this Treatise on Psal 118. v 26. CHAP. I. AN Illustration of Christs comming and entertainment and opening the words Pag. 1. Note 1. Christ comming proves most ioyfull to them that savingly receive and entertaine him p. 4. Note 2. Man hath greatest cause of all creatures to reioyce in and for the comming of Christ Jesus ibid. Note 3. Whosoever truly reioyceth in Christ doth also wish well to the Cause and Kingdome of Christ p. 5.
Note 4. The Lord Jesus ought to be the prime and compleate Obiect of mans ioyfulnesse ib. Note 5. Blessed is that person that knoweth the way and manner of Christs spirituall and gracious comming p. 6. CHAP. II. Declaring the ioyfull receiving of Christ p. 6. Doct. Christ comming in his Gospell and spirituall Kingdome ought to be received with much thanksgiving and reioycing ib. 5. Grounds hereof p. 9. 1. Cleare and comfortable Revelation of God in Christ 2. Spirituall Liberty by Christs comming 3. Heavenly Victory 4. Spirituall peace 5. Soule-refreshing Communion with God obtained by Christs comming p. 9 10 11 12 13 14. CHAP. III. Relating their miserable Condition to whom Christ is unwelcome p. 15. 5. Grounds of Christs unwelcomnesse 1. Ignorance 2 Earthly mindednesse 3. Vnsensiblenesse 4. Contrariety to Christ 5. Infidelity p. 18 19 20. CHAP. IV. Perswading to a ioyfull entertainment of Christ p. 22. Manner how Christ must be entertained 1. Spiritually 2. Speedily 3. Cordially 4 Cheerfully 5. Humbly 6. Chiefly 7. Fully 8. perpetually p. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30. CHAP. V. Prescribing meanes disposing and inabling man to receive Christ ioyfully p. 31. The meanes 1. Full deposition of what is contrary to Christ as sin the world our selfe 2. Holy preparation to heare Christ in the Gospell 3. Gracious interest in Christ 4. Cleare discernement of Christs worth 5. Holy making use of Christ in the Gospell 6. Heavenly sence and experience of Christs worke upon our soules p. 34 to 39. CHAP. VI. Inducements to a ioyfull entertainment of Christ p. 39 6. Inducements 1. The Condition of the Creature without Christ being empty uncomfortable inthralling and polluting 2. A through view of mans estate without Christ 3. The terrible apprehension of God without Christ 4. Frustration of all Gods Ordinances Christ not entertained 5. Excellency and utility of Christ received giving life light health honour riches prosperity sweetnesse comfort satisfaction and abiding substance 6. Fastening thoughts on brevity of life p. 39. to 51. CHAP. VII Manifestations of Christs welcome p. 52. Christs welcome manifested 1. By opening the heart to him 2. By garnishing the heart for him 3. By offering our selves to Christ 4. By exalting Christ 5. By faith and love to Christ conformity with Christ and acquiescence in Christ p. 52 53. Want of ioyfull receiving of Christ shewes want 1. of knowledge 2. Of Love 3. Of Faith 4. Of prizing Christ 5. Of relishing Christ p. 54 55 56. Joy in Christs comming perswaded p. 57. CHAP. VIII The necessity and excellency of advancing Christs Gospel and Kingdome is demonstrated p. 58. Doct. It is the duty of all people unfainedly to desire and earnestly to endeavour the welfare promotion and advancement of Christ his spirituall Kingdome and Gospell ib. 5. Grounds hereof 1. The Covenant between Man and Christ 2. The Relationâ— 3. Christs interest in Man 4. The Subversion of Satan 5. The glory and crowne of the Church p. 62 63 64 65 66 67. CHAP. IX The impiety of three sorts of men is opened p. 68. 1. Non reâ—arders of the welfare of the Gospell 2. Opposers of the Gospell 3. Grievers at the prosperity of the Gospell p. 68 69 70. Grounds of not regarding the welfare of the Gospell p. 69. Grounds of opposing the Gospell p. 70 71. CHAP. X. The setting up of Christs Kingdome and Gospell is perswaded p. 72. Parties by whom Christs Kingdome and Gospell is to be exalted Magistrates Ministers Masters of families private persons p. 73 74. Inducements to the exaltation of Christs Kingdome and Gospell 1. The honour of a Christian 2. Love to Christ 3. The perill of not endeavouring the welfare of Christs Gospel 4 Christs withholding of nothing which makes for the exaltation of man 5. The blessing which attends the exaltation of the Gospell CHAP. XI Proposing meanes to frame and worke the heart of man to advance Christ and his Gospell p. 79. 4. Meanes hereof 1. Distaste of sin 2. Holy feare 3. Sence of the necessity of Christ 4. Inabling and raising the heart to a spirituall temper p. 80 81 82 83. CHAP. XII Christs being furnished with authority and ability to minister salvation is handled p. 84. Doct. Christ is furnished with authority and all divine abilities to minister all peace and salvation to Gods servants p. 85. 4. Grounds hereof 1. Christs power 2. Christs exaltation above all 3. Christs repletion of all 4. Christs proposing his Fathers glory p. 88 89 90. CHAP. XIII The dispensation of salvation by Christ is shewed p. 91. 4. Evils of leaving Christ and betaking our selves to humane traditions 1. A derogation from Christs authority 2. Self-exaltation and Presumption 3. Disparagement of Christs wisedome 4. Perill of the soule p. 93. 94. Christs authority and ability presseth to 4. Duties 1 Subiection 2. Dependence 3. Love 4. Acquiescence in Christ p. 95 96 97 98. CHAP. XIV Gods dispensing of blessings by his Ministers is fully evidenced p. 99. Note Holy and saithfull Ministers are the instrumentall Causes of great blessings to Gods Church and servants p. 99. Note It must be the care of Ministers so to demeane themselves in their function that they prove a blessing to the people p 100. Note The labours of Gods Ministers prove a blessing onely to such people as rejoyce in and endeavour the advancement of the Gospell ib. Doct. God by his holy and faithfull Ministers dispenseth very great sweet and heavenly blessings to his Church and servants ib. 3. Grounds hereof 1. Gods communication of Christ to the soules of men by the labours of his Ministers 2. The evils from which God delivers man by the labours of his Ministers 3. The blessed estate whereinto God puts man by the Labours of his Ministers p. 104. 6. Communications of Christ by the Labours of Gods Ministers 1. The Knowledge of Christ 2. The Faith of Christ 3. The Life of Christ. 4. The Love of Christ 5. The Peace of Christ 6. The whole treasury of Christ p. 104 105. Deliverance from 5. evils dispensed by Gods Ministers 1. From spirituall death 2. From blindnesse 3. From bondage 4. From uncleannesse 5. From soule-tortures p. 106. Man put into a condition of 6. Excellencies by the industry of Gods Ministers 1. Of Wisedome 2. Of Sanctification 3. Of Freedome 4. Of Exaltation 5. Of Satisfaction 6. Of Duration p. 107 108. CHAP. XV. Opening mans unhappines not enioying Gods Ministers p. 109. Mans estate without the Gospell an estate 1. Of Death 2. Of Darknesse 3. Of Servitude 4 Of Emptinesse 5. Of Vncleannesse 6. Of Sorrowes p. 110 111. The folly of Estrangement from the Gospell with the grounds and evils of it p. 112. Cure of Non-estrangement from the Gospell urged Evils of Estrangement opened p. 113 114 113. Gospell not to be â—leighted worthy of full and honourable embracement p. 115. A TABLE of the chiefe things contained in this Treatise on Galathians CHAPTER 2. VERSE 20. CHAP. I. Illustrating the state of man by