ways of God's keeping his People Page 172 217 The necessity of God's keeping Page 217 Why God alone must keep us Page 218 Keeping of God should teach us Dependance and Confidence Page 218 Knowledg there is an unsatiable desire in Man after Knowledg Page 239 The beginning increase and progress of Eternal Life lies in Knowledg Page 25 Form of Knowledg what it is Page 91 The difference between the Knowledg of carnal Men and of Believers Page 91 The necessity of Knowledg Page 378 The excellency of it Page 378 That we are to grow in Knowledg Page 382 Directions to get Knowledg Page 27 Directions for our increase and progress in it Page 29 In using means to get Knowledg we must look up to Christ. Page 377 How Christ gives us Knowledg Page 377 How we should seek to Christ for Knowledg Page 378 Knowledg of God what it implys Page 31 Only way to Blessedness Page 370 No Knowledg of God without Christ. Page 30 371 No Knowledg sufficient for eternal Life but the Knowledg of God Page 30 This is sufficient Page 30 The Reprobate World have no true Knowledg of God Page 375 No believing or enjoying God but by Knowledg Page 371 Knowledg of Christ what it is Page 31 General Knowledg of Christ not sufficient Page 31 Knowledg of Christ Christ knows all the Elect. Page 79 And their Conditions and Necessities Page 79 Christ's Knowledg the patern and cause of ours Page 377 Kingdom Mediatory of Christ the extent of it Page 17 The Properties of it Page 73 156 Vniversal Page 73 156 Eternal Page 73 157 The manner of Administration of Christ's Kingdom Page 74 Believers are the Subjects of it Page 156 Kingly Office of Christ was little exercised in the World Page 268 L. LIbertines when in Power grow cruel Page 195 Life a Christians Life what it is Page 115 Life eternal Christ's Gift Page 19 Lies in Knowledg Page 25 The Estate of Heaven expressed by Life Eternal Page 19 Begun here and carried on by degrees Page 20 Lifting up the Eyes to Heaven in Prayer what it signifies Page 13 Heart to be lift up in Prayer Page 3 Light God's way of working in converting Souls is by Light Page 231 It must be a true and not a false Light Page 232 Light Divine the necessity of it to understand the things of God Page 69 70 Light of Nature not a sufficient Rule to fallen Man Page 239 Likeness to Christ what it is vid. Resemblance Conformity Why Christ is so earnest to make us like himself Page 324 Those are Christ's that are like him Page 324 What we should do to be like Christ. Page 324 Love of Christ to Believers Page 134 The excellency of it Page 106 Evidenced in his coming from the Father for our sakes Page 98 Love of God in giving Christ. Page 75 98 God loves his People in Afflictions Page 341 The Love of God is the ground of all other Favours and Blessings Page 382 Yet not to be measured by temporal things Page 265 385 But by spiritual Blessings Page 344 God's Love towards us and in us Page 345 383 God's Love in us in effect and in sense and feeling Page 384 We are to labour after the sense of it Page 345 The benefit of the sense of God's Love Page 345 Means to get it and increase it Page 345 Comfort to them that have the Effects but not the Sense of it Page 346 What may evidence God's Love to thee when thou wantest the sense of it Page 346 How to discern our Interest in God's Love Page 365 How we may know whether God's Love be in us Page 385 Love of God to Christ the grounds of it Page 340 The Properties of it Page 341 362 363 364 The Fruits and Effects of it Page 342 363 God loved Christ as the Son of God and as Mediator Page 337 362 In God's loving Christ he loved us Page 363 How we should love Christ as God loved him Page 338 Wherein God's Love to Christ and to Saints differ Page 340 Love of God to the Saints God loves the Saints as he loved Christ. Page 339 340 c. The grounds of it Page 340 The Properties of it Page 340 364 The Fruits and Effects of it Page 342 God would would have the World convinced of his Love to his People vid. Conviction Page 347 Love to God a shame to defer it Page 364 Love to Brethren how it is a new Commandment Page 162 Love of the World natural to us Page 222 The heinousness and danger of the Sin Page 223 Lust within gives advantage to Temptations without us Page 129 216 M. MAgistrates whether under Christ as Mediator Aff. Page l7 To own the Mediator Page 18 Magistrates Duty towards Ministers Page 274 Manifestation how Christ manifested God's Name to his People Page 66 Masters of Families to pray for their Families Page 105 Mediator the Office of a Mediator wherein it consists Page 2 Why God appointed a Mediator Page 77 Designation of Christ to this Office Page 265 The fitness of Christ for it Page 265 Why he must be God Page 40 265 Why he must be Man Page 266 What Christ received from God as Mediator Page 82 How we should make use of Christ as a Mediator Page 329 Meditation feeds Ioy. Page 190 Members Believers Members of Christ's Body Page 75 158 Memory of former Mercies an Encouragement to ask anew Page 15 The weakness of Memory in spiritual things Page 221 Men why Christ will teach us by Men vid. Ministers Page 65 Merit to be disclaimed Page 364 Ministers to be called with the necessity of a Call Page 41 274 To be elected by the People Page 273 Ordained by the Elders Page 273 Confirmed by the Magistrates Page 273 How to make out their Calling to the People Page 276 Holiness a good preparative to the Ministry and why Page 230 Ministers have more especial need of Holiness Page 263 Their Duty in their Conversation in their Ministry Page 281 Their Dignity Page 278 280 To be faithful in their Charge Page 171 181 To pray for their People Page 104 They need the Prayers of their People Page 105 Success to be desired of Ministers Page 277 People to own their Ministers Page 277 Ministers to be respected both their Message Calling and Persons Page 282 283 Hated of the World and why Page 193 The Madness of the World in opposing them Page 282 Opposition against them whence it proceeds Page 282 Those that wrong and affront them reproved Page 284 Affronts to Ministers redound to Christ. Page 283 Mission of Ministers vid. Mission Ministry an Office and a standing Office Page 275 The Mercy of God in the Institution of the Ministry Page 65 282 Those that invade the Office of the Ministry reproved Page 276 Miracles of Christ generally Actions of Relief Page 249 Sufficient Argument to prove the divine Authority of the Scriptures Page 249 Not necessary now to confirm the Scriptures
There is seldom a time when Religion is not difficult and doth not put us on some Inconvenience if not upon the Displeasure of a Magistrate yet of Carnal Friends if not for some main Truths of Christianity yet for some of Christ's lesser Institutions present Truths usually go cross to Interests 3. The less Trouble abroad the more at home if you do not conflict with a naughty World yet with a naughty Heart There are Doubts in point of Comfort Difficulties in point of Obedience A Christian in good earnest never meeteth with a sleepy lazy time all calm and rest It is good to be jealous of our selves it doth not weaken our confidence in Christ but our fleshly security Object 5. But I have many self-ends and do what I can they will be interposing and I can do nothing for Christ but am ready to be byassed by some carnal Aims Answ. It is impossible to think to be without Failings as to our Ends and Principles as well as the manner of Duty But a Christian is judged by his main scope and purpose of his Life If this be the main thing Christ will own you and intercede with God for you SERMON XIV JOHN XVII 11 And now I am no more in the World but these are in the World and I come to thee Holy Father keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are HITHERTO Christ had argued with the Father and shewed many Reasons why he would pray for the Disciples Now he cometh from Arguments to Requests Here the Prayer it self beginneth His first Request is that God would have a care of them when he was gone from them as a Father when he is about to die commendeth his Children to the care and tutelage of a near Friend so doth Christ commend his Disciples to God And now I am no more in the World c. The Circumstances notable in the Verse are these First The Occasion of the Prayer wherein there is a new Cause and Reason why he commendeth them to the Father And now I am no more in the World but these are in the World and I come to thee Secondly The Compellation of the Party to whom the Prayer is made Holy Father Titles are suted to Requests Rom. 15.13 Now the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing Thirdly The Matter of the Prayer for perseverance in Grace Keep through thine own Name Fourthly The Parties prayed for those which thou hast given me An Argument often urged before Fifthly The End of the Prayer or of the Blessing asked in Prayer that they may be one which is amplified by the exemplary Pattern as we are one Or rather the whole is a new Request two Matters are prayed for Conservation from Evil and Perfection in Good Christ prayed for Conservationem à Malo Perfectionem in Bono In this Verse there is a large Field of Matter Let me explain the Words and then raise some practical Observations First I begin with the Occasion I am no more in the World That is by and by I shall be no more Christ was yet in the World for he saith Vers. 13. These things I speak in the World still subject to the Miseries of it his Passion was not over his sorest Combat was at last and that was nigh at hand but Christ went to it with such a resolved mind that he seemed already to be exempted from a Worldly Condition But how no more in the World since he saith I am with you to the End of the World He is Spiritually still with us but he was about to withdraw his Corporal Presence But these are in the World I am almost on Shore but these are still to remain at Sea floating upon the Waves out of the Duty of their Calling they are to stay behind and must expect Tempests Labours Dangers and Persecutions Infirmities within and Temptations without The World is a Step-Mother to the Saints Christ pitieth their Case that they are to stay in the World as those that are in the Haven pity their Fellows that are left behind at Sea in the midst of the Storm And I come unto thee An Explication of what he said before I am no more in the World only it addeth something more I am no more in the World implieth only his Death but I come to thee his Ascension It is expressed before John 16.5 I go my way to him that sent me I go to the Father Vers. 10. I am about to enter into the Glory of the Father It doth not signify as Lyranus would have it I come to thee in Prayer by way of Address and Supplication but I come to be with thee in Glory Mark there was a great deal of Time yet to pass forty Days after the Resurrection Faith presents Things future as present in this sence we enter Heaven before our Time In this Clause the Occasion I observe three Things I. Christ's Ascension Father I come to thee II. The necessary ceasing of his Corporal Presence by virtue of that Ascension I am no more in the World III. Christ's care to make up that Defect to his People it is the Occasion of the present Address to God Of these in their order I. Of Christ's Ascension I come to thee Here 's 1 st The History 2 ly The Reasons 3 ly The Benefits 4 ly The Use that we may make of it 1 st The History of Christ's Ascension There are many Circumstances I shall touch upon them briefly 1. The Time when he had finished his Work not only of Doing and Suffering but giving sufficient Instrustions to the Apostles about his Kingdom Acts 1.3 He was seen of them forty days speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God As Hezekiah was to set his House in order before he died Isa. 38.1 So Christ would not ascend into Heaven till he had set all at rights upon Earth Christ would have his House well governed after his Death and therefore stayeth forty Days to give Instructions 2. The Place from whence he ascended from the Mount of Olives Acts 1.12 A Mount an high and eminent Place to ascertain them of the Truth of his Ascension he did not withdraw himself secretly as at other times but in open view The place is yet again notable the Mount of Olives was the Place from whence he went to be crucified the same Mountain yielded him a Passage to his Cross and his Crown there his Pains and Torments began in the Garden of that Mount and thence he ascended How often doth the Lord make that Place that hath been the Scene of our Sorrows to be the first Steps to our Rising and Advancement Where-ever the Saints die they have their Olivet in the Prison on the Scaffold their Sick-Beds where they have been wracked with tormenting Pains As sometimes with Wicked Men the Place of Si◠is the Place of Vengeance So Ahab's Dogs licked up his
moved with fear prepared an Ark to the saving of his Family whereby be condemned the World Your Life is a Reproof that maketh them ashamed John 7.7 The World hateth me because I testify of it that the Works thereof are evil Every wicked Man loveth another velut fautorem adjutatorem excusatorem sui criminis One wicked Man doth not put another to the Blush It is no shame to be black in a Country of Negroes where all are black Their Conversation is a living Reproof Thy Guilt is upbraided by their righteous Works their Conversation upbraideth thy Conscience the sense of thy Guilt and Negligence is revived by their righteous Works and serious Diligence in Heaven's Way We are impatient of a verbal Reproof much more of a real Their holy Lives beget a Fear and Awe Mark 6.20 Herod feared John knowing that he was a just Man and holy and observed him Christ saith here not only I have given them thy Word but They are not of the World They do not only teach things contrary to the World but live contrary to the World Many a strict Preacher may be a carnal Man and the World and he may agree well enough They look upon Sermons as Words spoken of course it is the holy Conversation that enrageth most as Elephants are enraged with gorgeous Apparel They have no Vail and Cloak for their Sins Thieves rob in the Night they would fain extinguish the Light The World cannot endure to be condemned from that Light that shineth from the Godly as the Sun is burdensom to the Owl and other Night-Birds John 3.19 20. This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men loved Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds were Evil. For every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh he to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved 2. Envy at God's Favours bestowed on them John 15.19 If ye were of the World the World would love its own but because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you Cain was not only upbraided by Abel's better Sacrifice but envied God's acceptance of him Gen. 4.4 5. Joseph's party-coloured Coat and his Father's Favour stirred up envy in his Brethren This is the difference between Envy and Emulation Envy is accompanied with Laziness as Emulation with Industry There is between the Good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a good contention Heb. 10.24 who shall be most forward Emulation is good if separated from Carnal Aims but Envy which is accompanied with Sloth maketh a Man malign that Good which is in others Envy hath an evil Eye it cannot look upon Goodness without grief When others are at the top of the Hill and they lie lazily at the bottom they fret at those which are at the top they will not put in for the Privileges of Christianity and therefore are troubled with those that do so Divine Grace hath made a distinction and those whom God blesseth to be Objects of his Love the World chuseth to be Objects of Hatred Vse 1. If the Children of God have the World's respect at any time they have need to look to their Consciences Do not you symbolize with them in Carnal Practices Luke 6.26 Cursed are you when all Men speak well of you for so they did to the false Prophets Phocion upon a general applause went home and said Quid mali feci Do not you at least let fall the Majesty of your Conversation A Child of God may find external Favour as the three Children did in Babylon by God's over-ruling Power on Men's Spirits Prov. 16.7 When a Man's ways please the Lord he maketh his Enemies to be at peace with him The World may do it in design as Hannibal abstained from Fabius his Fields to render him suspected or else to oblige by Courtesies and gain them to their Faction and Party However you have cause to look to your selves it is ill to be sollicited as a chast Matron is troubled to be sollicited to Lust. Have not you given them some advantage Do not you share with them in their Wickedness When the World's Respects run out so fairly and smoothly towards you you have cause to suspect your selves At least take the more heed that you do not seek to make your Conversation more pleasing by suiting your self to the Customs and sinful Courses of Carnal Men. Vse 2. To press all to avoid this Sin and Snare of Death especially in these Times of Dissention Oh take heed whatever you do whatever Differences you cherish or whatever Party you stick to that you be not guilty of Hatred against the Power of Godliness Let not the Saints act the Wickeds part The spirit of Enmity seeketh other Pretences Hold not Communion with the wicked World in their malignity and spight against God's Children 1. It is a mark of a Child of the Devil the express Image of Satan Thereby our Saviour convinced the Jews to be of their Father the Devil because they hated him that came from God John 8.40 41. But now ye seek to kill me a Man that have told you the truth which I have heard of God this did not Abraham Ye do the Deeds of your Father And Vers. 44. Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father ye will do he was a Murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him And St. John 1 Epist. 3.10 In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother This manifests Men to be the Children of Satan because they love not their Brethren as Cain loved not Abel You express the Image of Satan to the Life when this is the ground of your hatred 2. It is very provoking Sin and it is the more provoking because we enjoy so many Benefits by them It is sad to hate Men for their Godliness for Christ's Names sake Look as it is a commendation of Kindness on the one side so it is an aggravation of Injury on the other Mat. 10.42 Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little Ones a Cup of cold Water only in the name of a Disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his Reward The height of this Sin is the Sin against the Holy Ghost the wilful persecuting of the known Truth therefore take heed that you be not guilty of any spice and degree of it 3. It is possible for them that profess Religion to hate one another for their strictness in that Religion Pseudo-Christians may be hot and violent the Beast pusheth with the Lamb's Horns Rev. 13. Isa. 66.5 Your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my Names sake said Let the Lord be glorified Men that are Brethren that had great pretences of Zeal hate you for my Name 's sake
While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What is your Heart set upon and what do you make your Scope and Aim A Child of God prayeth professeth in order to Eternity A Man shall know his general Scope by what satisfieth him Are you contented with the World to have your Names written in Earth to have your whole Portion in this Life for other things you will give Goda Discharge Luther would not give God an Acquittance Valde protestatus summe nolle sic à Deo satiati Grace must have Eternity for it would fain answer God's Love it would live for ever for ever to praise God and serve God All the World will not satisfy it without this eternal enjoiment of God 2. Have you an Eternal Principle Is there a Life begun that cannot be quenched Is the Immortal Seed conveyed into your Hearts 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of Corruptible Seed but of Incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever Then certainly thou art loved from Eternity for thou hast a Pledg of it First or last there is a Work wrought in their Souls that can never be undone and disannulled something that is of an Everlasting Nature And therefore what Seeds of Eternity hath God planted in your Hearts Common Graces and Moral Vertues these are of no long continuance the Soul must have an abiding Work an immortal Work 3. You may know it by this you will be much in Trial whether this be wrought in you or no whether there be such an Eternal Principle conveyed into your Hearts Morality is puffed up never suspects it self and common Grace puts us into good Moods now and then gives some tasts and flashes Heb. 6.4 5. They were once enlightned and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the Power of the World to come Morality doth not labour to see that all is sure and safe and Common Grace only gives us some Taste and Flashes But a Child of God is looking after the Unction that will abide the Seed that remaineth and is careful to see that there is Grace and to be increasing in Grace and is always examining whether it be real SERMON XLIII JOHN XVII 25 O Righteous Father the World hath not known thee but I have known thee and these have known that thou hast sent me OUR Lord had laid down the Object of his Prayers and the Matter of them and now he comes to the Reasons tho in such affectionate Addresses to God we should not be anxious in stating the Method Some conceive this a Doxology as Mat. 11.25 26. I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight He had fully discharged his Office as a Prophet and therefore giveth Thanks But I rather look upon it as a part of Supplication He had made his Will and Testament and now alledgeth the Equity of it Here First A Compellation O Righteous Father Secondly The Qualification of the Disciples for that Glory which he sought for them Saving Knowledg Which is illustrated I. By its Opposite the affected and obstinate Ignorance of the World The World hath not known thee II. By its Efficient and Exemplary Cause but I have known thee First A Compellation Righteous Father In which there is an Argument secretly couched For always Titles of God are suited to the Matter in Hand It is brought to shew the Reason why the World is excluded the participation of Heavenly Glory and the Equity in bestowing it upon the Elect. He had before called him Holy Father now Righteous Father God is Just and Righteous two manner of ways in a Legal and in an Evangelical Sense In a Legal Sense his Justice is rewarding Men according to the Merit of their Actions Thus he dealeth with the Reprobate lost World In the Evangelical Sense God's Righteousness doth not regard the Merit of their Actions but the State of the Person and judgeth them rather according to what they have received than what they have done And so God dealeth with the Elect and Reprobate the one are rewarded according to their Works the other according to their State evidenced by their Works to both God is just So that I might 1. Observe That in the Condemnation of the World God is just tho they remain in blindness 1. Because God hath done enough God is aforehand with them they have more Means than they use well The Gentile World had Light enough from the Creatures to convince them of the True God Rom. 1.19 20. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and Godhead so that they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without excuse Yet they would not acknowledg the True God The Jewish World had Miracles enough to convince them of the true Messiah Joh. 15.24 If I had not done among them the Works that no other Man did they had not had Sin but now they have both seen and hated me and my Father The Carnal World within the Pale of the Church have had means enough to be better and tho it be blind in the things of God yet the Lord is clear Isa. 5.4 What could I have done more for my Vineyard than I have done in point of External Administration The Lord loveth to be clear when he judgeth Psal. 51.4 compared with Rom. 3.26 In all Debates he loveth the Victory Isa. 65.2 I have spread out my Hands all the day unto a rebellious People which walketh in a way which was not good after their own Thoughts None goeth to Hell for want of warning Mat. 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings but ye would not 2. They have not done their part They dally with Means scorn Wisdom their Weakness is wilful and their Blindness affected The Things of God must be spiritually discerned but they are folly to them 1 Cor. 2.14 For the natural Man receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can be know them because they are spiritually discerned There is not only an Impotency but a Scorn there is a positive Enmity as well as an Incapacity John 3.19 This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men loved Darkness rather than Light because