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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	believe_v	love_n	truth_n	1,575	5	6.0356	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02260	The happines of enjoying, and making a true and speedie use of Christ Setting forth, first, the fulnesse of Christ. Secondly, the danger of neglecting Christ, and the opportunity of grace. Thirdly, the Lord Jesus the soules last refuge. Whereunto is added, St. Pauls legacie, or farewell to the men of Corinth. By Alexander Grosse B.D. Minister of the Gospel, and pastour of Bridford.	Grosse, Alexander, 1596?-1654.	1640 (1640)	STC 12395; ESTC S103450	151,344	397

their sinne their profane and evill estate it is a great terrour to them it troubles them as the star did i Mat. 2.2 Herod the men of Ierusalem Man can never take pleasure in that fulnesse of light which shineth from Christ Jesus untill hee hath emptied himselfe of the fulnesse of his corruptions Secondly from the want of love to the truth The woman that wants love to her husband readily prostitutes her selfe to strangers The soule that loves not Christ and his truth doth easily open it selfe to corrupt and deceitfull doctrines because they k 2 Thes 2.9 10. received not the love of the truth that they might bee saved for this cause saith the Apostle God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve a lye Corrupt and carnall doctrine is very welcome where the love of the truth is wanting hee that receives not the truth into his affection as well as into his judgement will soone bee drawne from it Under the Law it was usuall for a man that married a l Deut. 24.1 woman if hee loved her not to give her a bill of divorcement and send her out of his house It is common with men under the Gospel who in regard of externall covenant and profession are married to the truth yet afterwards through the want of love they give the truth a bill of divorce and become strangers to it It is love to the truth that causeth man to continue constant with it m Cant. 8.6 7. Love it and you shall never depart from it Thirdly from a desire of novelty Men naturally desire new things as they desire new fashions of apparrell for their bodies so new doctrines for their soules The eye is little affected with the Sun because it shineth every day it much admires a blazing star because but seldome seene Things of greatest worth because common are little esteemed vaine and empty things because new are much regarded Saint Paul tells Timothy that the time will come when men will not n 2 Tim. 4.3 endure sound doctrine but after their owne lusts shall they heap unto themselves teachers having itching eares Men having the itch delight in scraping men over-spred with the loathsome scab of unclean lusts desire to bee soothed daubed flattered in their sinnes and to have their eares tickled and pleased with some new and strange things with o Isay 30.10 smooth things and deceits with the p 1 Cor. 2.3 enticing words of mens wisedome The Israelites q Numb 11.5 loathed the Manna and lusted after the Onions of Egypt Men of corrupt hearts after a while loath the pure and plaine preaching of Christ and fall a lusting after Philosophicall superstitious and vaine doctrines No man so desires change of new and strange doctrines as he that meanes not to change his conversation were the hearts of men truly changed the true and common doctrine of Christ would bee very pleasant the soule would never grow weary of it Fourthly from their estrangement from Christ they discerne not Christs beauties they taste not Christs sweetnesse they feele not Christs goodnesse there is no sutablenesse between Christ and their hearts they have not r Ephes 4.21 learned Christ as the truth is in him they have not learned the wisedome of Christ to bee guided by him the authoritie of Christ to subject themselves unto him the beauties of Christ to admire him the love of Christ to delight themselves in him the death of Christ to mortifie their lusts the resurrection of Christ quickning them to a new life the power of Christ to depend upon him the holinesse of Christ to imitate him the all-sufficiencie of Christ to content themselves with him Christ is to them a ſ Rev. 2.17 hidden Manna whom they taste not they see t Isay 53.2 nothing in him for which they should desire him It is recorded of Agesilaus comming to help the King of Egypt in his distresse that ob corpus incultum vestis vilitatem venit in contemptum ejus gentis hominibus qui sperarunt se visuros Spartanum regem talem qualis esset rex Persarum corpore decentissimè ornatum for the unhansomnesse of his body basenesse of his garment hee was had in contempt among the men of that nation who hoped to have seene a Spartan King such as the King of the Persians most comely adorned in his body So Christ comming to helpe us in our distresse for the want of externall pompe in his Ordinances and worldly glory in his Ministers and Members the splendor of humane eloquence in his doctrines is despised by the men who frame and forme unto themselves a Christ like to one of the mighty Monarches of the earth Hee that discernes not the spirituall beauty of Christ in his doctrine doth easily degenerate to humane superstition Fifthly from the disagreement betweene them and Christs doctrine There is no proportion no likenesse no answerablenesse betweene their hearts and this doctrine they are darknesse and this is light they are carnall and this is spirituall they are from beneath and this is from above their wayes are contrary to it their hearts are full of enmitie against it they hate it as u 1 King 22.8 Ahab hated Micaiah because hee never prophesied good to him Such is the brightnesse the holinesse the power of it that they cannot endure it they are loath to bee searched to have their sinne discovered as Rahel when shee sate upon her Idoll unwilling to bee reproved to have their lusts mortified as David was to have Absolom put to w 2 Sam. 18.3 death and therefore charged the Captaines of his Army to deale gently with the young man The rough handling of profane mens vices makes them weary of Gods ordinances and moves them to seeke out some more gentle and easie doctrines But brethren The vanity of humane doctrine displayed as Solomon sometime said of Laughter It is mad and of Mirth what doth it so let me say to you of this rotten deceitfull and pleasant doctrine It is mad the words of wisedome and sobernesse are not in it and of all humane observations and Philosophicall dictates in the Schoole of Christ What do they Why surely they doe x Isai 8.20 not discover sinne they search as Laban did not as the Master in Ionah did they are but a key of straw they open not the doore of the heart they leave man ignorant of God and himselfe No doctrine can shew us God but that which is from God Secondly they humble not the soul As Zebah Zalmunna said of Iether y Iudg. 8.21 Such as the man is such is his strength so such as the doctrine is such is its strength The Divell regarded not the sonnes of z Acts 19.15 Sceva's adjuration his holds are never cast downe by a humane doctrine Thirdly they nourish not The a Luke 15. Prodigall was like to starve before hee returned to his

a candle of his owne thereunto to helpe him in his travell Such was the fulnesse of light issuing from the fiery Pillar that the Israelites needed not the light of any lamp besides to guide them in their journeyes to the land of Canaan Such a fiery Pillar such a bright and shining Sun is Christ that wee need no other light to guide us in all our doings in all our progresse to the heavenly Canaan but onely Christ shining in the sacred Scriptures and in the labours of his faithfull Ministers Therefore wee are sent to him as to the onely e Mat. 23.9.10 Master having both authoritie and wisedome to command and instruct us This was commanded by the voyce from heaven f Mat. 17.5 Heare him as if the Lord had said I will not that yee depend on any other whether Moses or Elias but on Christ Moses and Elias vanished Christ remained the Ceremonies of the Law were abolished the predictions of the Prophets fulfilled Christ alone remaineth and him wee must heare as a Scholler his Teacher receiving all instruction from him as a Servant his Lord yeelding ful and constant obedience to him Him we must heare in his Word as a King in his Proclamation in his Ministers as a King in his Embassadours as a Bride-groome in his Friends Him wee must heare in his precepts obeying him in his promises beleeving him in his judgements fearing him in his mercies drawing nigh unto him and rejoycing in him every way quieting and contenting our selves with him And for this cause hee is stiled our Prophet a Prophet g Deut. 18.15 18 19. like unto Moses in nature and office being a Man and a Mediatour as Moses was though more excellent and in a more singular sort Moses as a Servant Christ as a h Heb. 3. Sonne and Lord of his Church a Prophet revealing the counsell of his Father concerning our redemption a Prophet giving power to his Word to worke for our conversion As he called Lazarus by his voyce and raised him by his power so hee calleth us by his Word and converteth raiseth us by his grace And as the eyes of Israel were on the fiery Pillar to guide them and as that moved they moved so must our eyes bee on Christ conforming our motion according to Christs prescription all other doctrines are excluded wee are denied to hearken to them to embrace or entertaine them i 2 Epist Ioh. v. 10. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine the doctrine of Christ but his owne doctrine receive him not to house have no acquaintance with him give him no audience shew him no countenance neither bid him God speed salute him not affoord him no speech wish him no successe shut your eares at him withdraw your selves from him Though wee or an Angel from heaven saith Saint Paul whosoever hee bee be he never so famous for his learning or renowned for his sanctity if hee speake or live in externall appearance as an Angell yet if he preach another Gospel another doctrine k Gal. 1.8 then that which wee have preached unto you let him bee accursed let him be vile and execrable in your eye odious and abominable in your apprehension Looke to Christ cleave to Christ turne not aside from him looke for no other Instructer to make thee wise unto salvation Looke saith Chrysostome for no other Master Noli exp●ctare alium magistrum nemo te potest sic docere Chrys thou hast the words of God no man can so teach thee And I saith our Saviour of himselfe am the way the Truth and the Life Ambulare vis saith Augustine of Christ ego sum via Falli non vis ego sum veritas Mori non vis ego sum vita Wilt thou walke I am the Way Wilt thou not bee deceived I am the Truth Wilt thou not dye I am the life So that in Christ there is such fulnesse that wee have no cause of going to others to joyne other doctrines and observations to Christ Jesus Foure grounds of this truth In regard of the perfection of Christ It l Col. 1.19 pleased God that in him should all fulnesse dwell fulnesse of wisedome to direct fulnesse of power to defend fulnesse of worth to satisfie Gods justice to merit mans salvation fulnesse of righteousnesse to justifie fulnesse of holinesse to sanctifie fulnesse of mercie to p●rdon fulness of sufficiencie to satisfi● 〈◊〉 is stiled a Rocke for his strength to support us a Counsellour for his wisedome to guide us a Fountaine opened for his readiness and preparedness to wash away our uncleanness a Tree of life bearing twelve sorts of fruit every moneth for the plenty and perpetuitie of joy and gladness and other fruits of the Spirit which he ministers to true beleevers To a river of living water cleare as Crystall for that ineffable purity perfection comfort and satisfaction which Christ ministreth to the soules of his children To a pretious Pearle for his worth To a Store-house for his fulness of all spirituall treasure O●●e h●ppiness of the soule that enjoyes Christ He that hath the Lord Jesus n●e● not look elswhere for any perfections H●ving Christ we have all saith Ambrose he may say● Iacob did I have enough The m Rev. 12 1. woman ●ne spouse of Christ is describ●d cloathed with the Sunne and a Crowne of twelve Stars upon her head the righteousnes of Christ cloathing her as the Sun and his doctrine guiding her as the light of twelve Starres and in him are n Col. 2.3 hidden all the treasures of wisedome Surely the man never knew never saw never apprehended Christs fulness that dotes on forraigne d●ctrines that admires humane inventions In regard of the vanity of all humane doctrines and observations They are a o Ezek. 13 7. Lam. 2.14 vaine vision a vision composed of vaine and foolish things they are an emptie Lampe wherein is no light they discover not the sinne of mans heart they doe not reveale God in Christ they shine not into the heart they make not wise unto salvation they are a Schoole wherein men are ever learning and yet p 2 Tim. 3.7 never come to the knowledge of the truth He that is most devoted to humane observations is commonly most ignorant of the mysteries of godliness As long as Saint Paul was a Scholler in this Schoole he remained ignorant of his owne estate hee st●ll beheld himselfe in a false glass q Rom. 7.9 I was alive saith Paul once without the Law Hee knowes little of the Law of God that makes mens traditions a law to direct him in the service of God no light discloseth the heavens but that which shineth from heaven no doctrine shewes forth God and the way to heaven but onely that which God himselfe hath given Of all other doctrines we may say as Iob did of his friends r Iob 13.5 They are Physitians of no value they neither

discover nor cure the disease of the soule And as sometime the Lord said of the Egyptians ſ Isa 30.2 The Egyptians shall helpe in vaine and to no purpose their strength is to fit still so may wee of all humane carnal doctrines they help in vain and to no purpose they can doe nothing by way of mortification to sin by way of corroboration against Satans temptations by way of pacification in quieting the conscience In such cases their strength is to sit still they doe not profit the receivers of them It is but the sowing of chaffe that brings forth no fruit or feeding on huskes that ministers no strength a labour which doth not t Ier. 2.8 profit He that lookes beyond or beside Christ for light to direct him his labour is altogether unprofitable In regard of the foolishnesse of man to step aside from Christ and cleave to humane observations Every man reputes it a foolish thing for a man that hath a full fountaine to seeke water out of an empty pit for him that hath the Sunne shining upon him to light a Candle to guide him It was great folly in the men of Schechem to refuse u Iud. 9.9 the Vine the Olive and the Figge-tree and choose the Bramble to leave the sonnes of Jerubbaal and choose Abimelech to reigne over them What is Christ but a living fountaine a bright and shining Sunne a Vine an Olive a Figge-tree full of all light replenished with the greatest fulnesse of all divine and heavenly fruit And what are humane doctrines and observations but an empty pit a very snuffe that gives no light a barren bramble that beares no good fruit Man never more manifests his foolishnesse then in leaving the Lord Jesus w Ier. 2.11 12 13. Hath any nation saith the Lord changed their gods which are yet no gods But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit Bee astonished O yee heavens at this and be horribly afraid bee yee very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two great evils they have forsaken mee the fountaine of living waters and hewed them out cisternes broken cisternes that can hold no water Who is the fountaine of living waters but God and his Christ What are the broken cisternes but humane inventions which have no water of life in them Who is censured in the Parable as a foole but he that left the Rock and built upon the Sand Who is the Rock but Christ What is the Sand but the vaine and idle observations of men And who so foolish as he that leaves the former and builds his faith and salvation upon the latter Hee is certainly in Gods account a man of no understanding that leaves Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of true wisedome In regard of perill It is very dangerous to leave Christ and adhere to rotten doctrines and empty devices It is dangerous to the Sheepe to leave the Shepheard and apply himselfe to the Wolfe to the sicke to leave the wise and faithfull Physician and put himselfe into his hands who is both ignorant and deceitfull What are the Teachers of corrupt doctrine but x Mat. 7.15 Wolves in sheeps clothing and y Ier. 6.14 false Physicians who heale the disease of the daughter of Gods people deceitfully The men of Israel exposed themselves to great danger when they left David their true King and z 2 Sam. 20.2 followed Sheba that blew the trumpet of rebellion The man that leaves Christ and followes them that blow the trumpet of vaine and idle Omne quod non aedificat audientes in periculum vertitur au●ientum Ierom carnall and unsound doctrine exposeth his soule to the danger of infection seduction and utter ruine Unsound doctrines are instruments of great prejudice to their receivers the bait by which Satan like a Fowler allures them the snare in which like a Hunter he intangles and takes them The Prince of darknesse hath no such agents as deceitfull Teachers he doth more advance his kingdome and bring greater ruine to the soules of the people by bad seeds-men then by the men of any one calling besides them a lying speech out of the mouth of an a 1 Kings 13.8.19 old Prophet prevails draws to disobedience more then a Kings perswasion Satan ordinarily workes the greatest mischiefe by being a b 1 Kings 22.22 lying spirit in the mouth of some Prophet The state of mans soule is very dangerous that stickes not close to Christ Jesus CHAP. III. Disclosing the folly of not cleaving to and contenting our selves with Christ but going aside to vaine inventions THis discovers the vanity of their minds the folly of their hearts the perill of their soules who cleave not to Christ who rest not quiet not content not themselves in Christ and his fulnesse but step out goe aside turne away from Christ to vaine doctrines humane devices and carnall observations like the two c 2 Sam. 15.11 12. hundred men of Ierusalem that turned aside from David and went after Absolom As they went in the simplicity of their hearts so these in the folly of their soules As they knew not any thing so these know not any thing truly and savingly of God of Christ of the deceit of Satan of the danger of their estate and doing As they took unto themselves Achitophel a Counsellour of David so these take unto themselves some Teacher some Minister who by calling is one of Gods Counsellours one that should plead Gods cause and open Gods counsel And as their conspiracy was strong against David so is these mens conspiracie strong against God against his truth against the good of their owne soules Hee that cleaves to corrupt doctrine conspires against Christ and his owne salvation And whence is it that falshood is more welcome then truth a man that comes in his d Ioh. 5.43 Five Grounds hereof owne name more acceptable then hee that comes in Gods name but first from the dominion and fulnes of corruptiō A deformed face pleaseth it selfe in a deceitfull glasse the malefactor rejoyceth to heare of a corrupt Judge some diseased stomackes desire to feed on ashes a rotten heart and a rotten doctrine are very suteable Ahab having e 1 Kings 22. sold himselfe to commit wickednesse was very attentive to the false Prophets Men saith our Saviour f Ioh. 3.19.20 love darknesse rather then light because their deeds are evill Hee that doth evill hateth the light neither commeth hee to the light lest his deeds should bee reproved Iob saith of Theeves g Iob 24.17 The morning is to them as the shadow of death if one know them they are in the terrours of the shadow of death To men that rob God by their impieties the morning the truth which shineth forth like the h 2 Pet. 1.19 Morning starre is as the shadow of death if one know them if the Minister detect and lay open

which their parents provide for them 2. To humble submission and obedience to their doctrines seeing they doe all in singular love for the salvation of our soules these wee should follow as Israel the fiery pillar these wee should readily put in practice as Ahimaas l 2 Sam. 18. ran as soon as Ioab gave him a commission The love of Gods Ministers should worke the hearers to a ready and singular observance of their doctrines 3. This should breed in us reverence to their persons as obedient children to their loving parents receiving and honouring their doctrines as the word m 1 Thes 2.13 of God and not of man Men must make their reverence proportionable to the love and labour of Gods Messengers the more they endevour our salvation the more honourably we should thinke of them 4. This should make us unwilling to be deprived of them as children of a loving nurse the wife of a kinde and carefull husband or the n 1 Sam. 4.22 wife of Phineas of the Arke it should lesse grieve us to bee deprived of all earthly abilities then of Gods faithfull Ministers the gaine of the world cannot recompence the losse of the Gospel He never clearly discerned nor truly tasted Christ in the doctrine of Gods Messengers that is not exceedingly grieved at the losse of their labours 5. This should draw love from us againe to them causing us to have them in o 1 Thes 5.13 singular love for their workes sake the more wee love them the more readily we shall receive their instructions the more fully shall wee subject our selves to their admonitions the more beauty shall wee see in their doctrines the more sweetnesse shall we taste in their labours and the more feelingly and effectually shall the Minister wish and endevour our peace and everlasting welfare speaking peace to us and praying for all good things at the hands of God for us and saying at last with Saint Paul Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace bee with you The third thing in these words is a word of valediction Farewell a word commonly used in the conclusion and upshot of Epistles wherein the Apostle wisheth to them all happinesse joy tranquillity comfort even all manner welfare He had been long their Teacher Watchman and Monitor yet at length hee bids them farewell and takes his leave of them The labours of Gods choycest Ministers are not everlasting but of a short continuance Note After a while the p 1 King 17.7 brooke Cherith of which Eliah dranke was dried up and he was commanded to goe to Zarepha to looke out for another place of supportment After a while the Minister whose doctrine hath been as a river to refresh and water us is taken from us the brooke of his doctrine is dried up and we must looke out some other brook whereof to drinke or else our soules must starve and perish It should bee therefore mens wisedome to keepe and continue the faithfull Minister of God with them while they have him and not delight in change of Ministers as men doe in change of horses lest they bee deceived at last q Prov. 27.10 Thine owne friend and thy fathers friend saith Solomon forsake not As friends so Ministers are not like houses and garments commendable and to bee desired for their newnesse but like Wiues for their long continuance and experience wee have of their faithfulnesse and labours And since the continuance of able Ministers is so uncertaine it should bee our care to make our best use of them while wee doe enjoy them men buy while the Mart lasteth men walke while the light shineth men enter while the gate is open and every man should strive to furnish his soule to draw nigh to God to enter in to Christ while God affoords an able Minister to guide and bring us home to Christ Jesus But this word Valete is commonly expounded by another word gaudete rejoyce yee and then the meaning is this If so bee that yee follow the counsell which hath beene given you beleeve the doctrine which hath been taught you and conforme your selves to the rules which have been prescribed to you then you shall have matter and cause of great joy And hence note Doct. That the full and thorough conforming of our selves to the doctrine of Gods Messengers ministers great joy and gladnesse though they depart from us The Israelites had great joy in that they had followed the fiery pillar though at length it left them because before it left them it brought them into the land of Canaan The r Mat. 2.10 wise men had matter of great joy in the starre though at length it was no more a light unto them because before it left them it brought them unto Christ The traveller hath great joy in the guide though at length hee cease to bee any more a guide unto him because before hee forsooke him hee brought him unto his home at least led him farre in his way and shewed him how to walke aright unto his journeyes end Man that throughly conformes himselfe to the doctrine of Gods faithfull Minister hath matter of great joy within him though the Minister of God at length leave him because before he leaves him hee hath presented and opened Christ unto him and brought him home to Christ by working faith and love in him brought him into the state of grace sowen a seed in his heart which shall never dye kindled a light in his soule which shall never goe out and set his feet in that way from which hee shall never wander but walke on untill hee come unto his blessed and everlasting home And this is that which indeed gives cause of joy and gladnesse to the people even their full and effectuall conforming themselves to the Ministers doctrine their observing his counsell their obeying his admonition their feeling the power of his ministery in working a blessed and gracious change in them The Eunuch feeling faith wrought in him by Philips Sermon and being baptized by him having his incorporation into Christ sealed up unto him it is said Å¿ Act. 8.39 Hee went on his way rejoycing though the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip that hee saw him no more It is said of them that beleeved upon Paul and Barnabas his preaching though the people raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their coasts yet the Disciples such as were converted by their ministery were t Acts 13.48 32. filled with joy and with the holy Ghost And though the departure of Gods faithfull Embassadours minister matter of great griefe and sorrow to the soules of true beleevers as sometimes the men of Ephesus u Acts 20 37 38. wept sore and fell on Pauls necke and kissed him sorrowing most of all for the words which hee spake that they should see his face no

It is the property and practise of the Lords servants like good r Joh. 15.2 branches to grow and beare more fruit to ſ Eph. 4.11 grow up in Christ which is the head as the members in the body grow up under the head to t Phil. 3.11 12. follow after to presse toward the mercie to reach forth to the things which are before to apprehend that for which they are apprehended of Christ Jesus As they th●● run in a race are swift put to it with all their strength and cease not so the runners in the race of godlinesse are swift put to it to the utmost and cease not untill they have fully apprehended Christ They u Isa 40.31 run on faint not they mount up like the Eagles come nearer nearer unto Christ as the Eagles flye nearer and nearer and cease not untill they come to the carkasse for Grace is of a growing and increasing Reas 1 nature it riseth higher and higher like the w Ezek. 47.5 waters which came forth under the threshold of the Temple it x Prov. 4.18 shineth more and more like the light unto the perfect day God where he y Phil. 1.6 beginnes a good worke Reas 2 continues the same unto perfection Hee is a King that once beginning to make warre against the Divell and the lusts of men goeth on and ceaseth not untill hee hath obtained a full and perfect conquest He is a builder who having once laid the foundation of grace in the heart of man gives not over untill he hath finished the house and made the house of man a perfect Temple for his Spirit to dwell in True saving grace once felt and x 1 Pet. 2.2.3 tasted Reas 3 is most highly pr●●ed and most earnestly de●●●d As the lo●e of money growes according to the growth of money so doth the love of grace answer the growth of grace the more a man hath of it the more his soule doth thirst and long after it the more hee desires to be filled with it as the thirst of the dropsie-man encreaseth by drinking Hee that hath least grace puts the lowest price upon it no man more sensible of the want of grace then hee that hath the greatest measure of grace no man more desires the encrease of grace then hee that hath the greatest fulnesse of grace Use Take heed then of apostasie and backsliding bee not like Gideons souldiers whose hearts fainted bee not like the a Luk. 14.30 Builder in the Gospel that began to build but could not make an end Doe not with the b 2 Pet. 2.22 Sow return againe and wallow in the mire of sinne returne not to your old lusts and profanesse But as c Gen. 6.14.22 Noah having a paterne from the Lord began to build and ceased not untill he had finished his Arke and was preserved when the deluge came so you having had a paterne of faith and life set before you and having begun to build according to it cease not untill the worke is finished that your soules may be saved when the deluge commeth Be not like the Sun in d Jos 12.13 Aialon that stood still nor like the Sunne in Ahaz Diall that went back but like the Sunne mentioned by the e Psal 19.5 Psalmist comming forth as a Bridegroome out of his chamber and rejoyce yee like a mighty man to runne his race Where is your faith in Christ if like withered branches you fall off from Christ or sinke like the house builded on the sand Where is your love to Christ if you give him a bill of divorce and hold not out with him unto the end Where is the fruit of your long attendance upon Gods ordinances What avails the sowing of all this seed if you fall away before the harvest Where is the Crowne you looke for if yee faint before the conquest O then take heed hold out let your workes be more at last then at first bee constant in your profession bee fruitfull in all well-doing Bee f Phil. 1.10 filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are to the praise glory of God in the day of Christ Jesus So shall the Lord take pleasure in you so shall you honour the Gospel adorn Religion shame the Adversary glorifie the Ministery and fill your owne conscience with much peace and quietnesse and give the Minister good and lust occasion to speake to you in a comfortable language to bid you with Saint Paul to bee of good comfort The second Legacie which the Apostle here bequeatheth a Legacie of Consolation Bee of good comfort Though many changes come many troubles arise and many afflictions be endured for the Name and Cause of Christ yet doe not faint bee not disheartned but bee of good comfort solace and comfort your selves in the Lord and his Word And hence learne that Doct. Gods children ought to bee very comfortable though many changes and afflictions doe attend them The Lilly is fresh beautifull and looks pleasantly though growing among the thornes such must bee the affection and disposition of Gods children though compast about with the Thornes and Briers of many troubles g Jam. 1.2 Account it all joy saith Saint James to fall into manifold temptations h Rom. 5.3 We glory in tribulations saith Saint Paul knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed i 1 Pet. 1.8 And beleeving saith Saint Peter yee rejoyce with joy unspeakeable and full of glory And Gods children have great cause of comfort In regard of the Authour of their afflictions Reas 1 They come from k Heb. 12.7 God as a Father they are not a rod in an enemies but in a Fathers hand they are all in mercie they are a serpent which hath lost his sting the venome of them is gone In regard of their end They are not for Reas 2 punishment but for castigation not for destruction but for reformation humiliation and excitation as l 2 Sam. 18. David sent forth his Army against Absolom not to destroy him but to humble and amend him In regard of the comforts mixed with Reas 3 them They are Pills lapped up in Sugar like Sampsons m Jud. 1 4. Lyon they have a honey combe within them There is sweet comming out of the sowre and meat comming out of the eater In regard of the fruit and issue of them Reas 4 Like the waters of the red Sea which drowned not n Exod. 14. Israel but the enemies which pursued them no more doe these destroy Gods children but the corruption which is within them which hangs like a heavie weight about them and like an enemie pursues and followes them O then bee of good comfort all yee that love the Lord that embrace his Christ Use that delight in his service keepe your selves from sinne and whatsoever come let your hearts be joyfull the Lord shall