for this cause the world knoweth you not because it knoweth not him God is become their Father the Sonne their Redeemer and the Holy Ghost their Sanctifier the Angells their attendants the Scriptures their Euidences and the Sacraments Seales vnto the same This the Apostle teacheth whē he saith All things are yours and yee Christs and Christ Gods they are blessed then that are thus reconciled to God in Iesus Christ they are blessed that haue their sinnes pardoned and not imputed vnto them they are blessed that inioy this sweet peace of conscience and ioy in the Holie Ghost they are blessed that haue attained to this assurance that the kingdome of Heauen eternall life and saluation shall be their reward But the godly man is partaker of all these what then shall hinder his happinesse Three sorts of men confuted This serueth then to confute three sorts of men First the Voluptuous man who placeth his felicity and happinesse in delights pleasures 1 Voluptuous sports and pastimes hee loues and likes them aboue all other things and most eagerly doth hunt after them Luke 12. This appeared in that rich man in the Gospell who bad his soule eate drink and be merry as if there were nothing else to be looked after or as if mans chiefe felicity did consist in these things Rom 14 17 Eccles 2. And this was the case of Salomon in the dayes of his vanity vntill he saw that all was but vain Let vs then be careful that we be not deceiued with these sinfull pleasures of this life as to thinke therein wee are happy but let vs take heed vnto this hooke of Sathan least we bee taken within his snare It is written to the euerlasting commendation of Moses that he refused to bee called the son of Pharaohs daughter Heb. 11.24 and chose rather to suffer aduersity with the people of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt for he had respect vnto the recompence of reward The second sort of men heere reproued are the ambitious 2 Ambitious that makes honor preferment his God as if mans chiefe felicity did consist in that this is their care and study how to climb vp to preferment like Absolom that sought to steale the hearts of his fathers subiects And Achitophel that was so proud that he could not indure a man in fauour but himselfe and therefore when he saw Hushaies counsell receiued and his reiected went and hanged himselfe Hest 2.3 So proud Haman was so vexed with Mordecay that hee could not bee quiet till hee had wrought his owne distruction and the reason of all is this prosperity puffeth vp and stealeth away the heart of man 1 Tim. 6 9. making a man both to forget God and himselfe and therefore prosperitie is a very dangerous slippery estate and howsoeuer it bee much desired and admired yet it is full of dangers and hedged in with many perils and howsoeuer many are drawne away from God through persecution and affliction yet prosperity is more dangerous for by it many more are drowned in sensualitie and euen lulled asleepe in carnall security 3 Couetous The third sort of men here reproued are the couetous Cormorants of the world such as make gold their God loue it and delight in it more then God as if their chiefest happinesse did consist in the multitude of their riches Coloss 3. whereas indeed godlinesse alone hath the promise of this life and that which is to come And of all other sinnes our Sauiour giues this caueat against this sinne Luk. 12.15 saying Take heede and beware of couetousnesse and this is that which the Prophet Dauid doth pray against when hee saith Ps 119.36 Incline my heart vnto thy testimonies and not vnto couetousnesse 1. Ioh. 2.15 Hereunto agreeth that exhortation of the Apostle Mat. 6.24 If anie man loue this world the loue of my Father is not in him So then whether wee consider that couetousnesse is the roote of all euill or that there is a flat opposition betweene God and the world wee must hold this as an euident truth that there is no blessednesse to be found in them This may seeme to reprooue that Vse 2 cursed yet common opinion of the world namely that of all men the godly man is most miserable We see heere that the LORD himselfe doth proclaime from Heauen that hee accompteth the godlie man a blessed and happy man but yet the world that is wicked men in the world iudge and deeme the godlie man wretched and miserable such a man as truely feareth God hates all iniquitie disliketh lewd companie makes conscience of good dueties as to pray in his Familie to instruct his seruants and children is diligent and carefull to frequent Sermons this man is as an Owle amongst Birds whooted at and poynted at men reproach him and of all men hee is most contemned But as Paul saith thus it must bee wee are brought vpon the stage we are made a gazing-stock to wicked men and accounted as dung for Christes sake Vse 3 This may serue to stoppe their mouthes that say and thinke it is in vain to serue the Lord that it is lost labour to be religious that there is no good got by hearing of Sermons and leading of a godly life It is and euer hath beene the cursed thought of mans heart to thinke so as in the time of the Prophet Malachie It is lost labour to serue the Lord Mal. 3.14 and what good comes there by seruing of GOD So in these dayes it is cleare men thinke it is in vaine to be religious to liue godly and in all things to labour to keepe faith and a good conscience before God and men But it is manifest heere that it is not in vaine to serue GOD Note nay it is that alone that brings a man to happinesse and true comfort here and an eternall measure of glory in the world to come and withall this may serue to comfort euery poore childe of God against al the discomforts discouragements of the world by satan his cursed instruments namely that whatsoeuer thy estate be neuer so poore in this world and subiect to neuer so many afflictions yet if thou be a godly man certainely then thou art Blessed Heb. 11.24 12.23 Thou that art in Gods fauour thou that art reconciled to God in Iesus Christ and hast thy sinnes pardoned eternall life belongs vnto thee and therfore feare not bee not any whit discouraged hold out vnto the end certaine it is thou art a Blessed Man and in so doing thou shalt haue a crown of life Hence wee learne that as many Vse 4 as desire to bee truely happy and blessed may heere behold the way to bee happy and blessed Wouldst thou bee truely happy and blessed heere in this life and heereafter in the life to
of the whole Sciptures it shall make this Doctrine so much the more apparant vnto vs that is That wheresoeuer there is a comfort laid downe in the Word the same comfort is still restrained to the godly As that of the holy Apostle Saint Paul in the eight chapter and first verse of his Epistle to the Romans There is no condemnation A maruellous comfort to heare that wee are freed from that heauy and grieuous curse which wee had incurred by reason of sin yet lest the wicked should presume hereby and take it vnto themselues vnto whom in no wise it doth belong The Apostle restraineth the comfort in the same Verse to them that are in Christ Iesus and lest men should deceiue themselues to take this comfort to themselues vnto whom it doth not belong hee marketh them out as it were in their fore-heads saying They are such as walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit The like of Dauid Lord who shall enter into thy holy Tabernacle Psalm 15. c. Hee that hath cleane hands and pure heart c. Besides none are blessed but such as bee in the fauour of God as the Prophet Dauid saith In thy fauour is life such as bee reconciled to God in Iesus Christ As for such as be out of his fauour they be cursed and miserable bee they what they will bee Now onely the godly man that is humbled that is sanctified that is borne anew is hee alone that is in the fauour of God therefore onely the godly man is blessed Obiect Wherein stands the blessednesse of Gods children of a godly and a righteous man Answ I answere in this that a godly man that is humbled for his sins is now reconciled to God so as God the Father becomes his Father Wherein the godly man is blest adopts him to be his Childe loues him and delights in him as his Childe Behold what loue the Father hath giuen vs that wee should bee called the Sonnes of God And hereupon come the amiable and loue-Titles that Christ giueth vnto his Church Cant. 5.2 Psal 105.12.13 Deut 7.6 Psa 91.1.2.3 Open vnto mee my Sister my Loue my Doue my vndefiled Great are the affections of feruent loue that parents beare towardes their Children which none can expresse but they that feele and yet all their loue is nothing in comparison of the loue of God towardes his children this the Prophet teacheth Can a woman forget her childe Esa 49.15 and not haue compassion on the Sonne of her wombe yet will not I forget thee Another part of the happinesse of a godly man doth consist in this that hee hath assurance of the pardon of his sinnes that they are all done away and shall neuer be layd to his charge but are washed away in the bloud of IESVS CHRIST according to that of the Prophet Dauid Psal 32.1 Actes 3.26 Blessed is hee whose wickednesse is forgiuen Hee hath all his sinnes originall and actuall Rom 8.1 1. Pet. 2.24 Rom. 4 5. 2. Cor. 19. with the guilt and punishment belonging vnto them freely and fully forgiuen vnto him And all the righteousnesse of CHRIST freely and fully imputed vnto him and so GOD is reconciled vnto him and approueth him as righteous in his sight And thus the Apostle reasoneth Rom. 8.33 Heerein was that loue of GOD made manifest amongst vs because GOD sent his onely begotten Son into the world that wee might liue through him Heerein is that loue not that wee loued GOD but that hee loued vs and sent his Sonne to be a reconciliation for our sinnes An other part of the happinesse of a godly man doth consist in this that hee hath peace of Conscience whereas the wicked and vngodlie man hath a dead and sleepie conscience or else an accusing conscience There is no peace to the wicked saith my God Esay 57. But the godly man that is reconciled to God in Christ Iesus hath the free pardon of al his sinnes hee hath sweete peace of conscience Rom. 4.17 which doth not accuse but excuse him to God yea hee hath exceeding ioy in the HOLIE GHOST that hee knoweth his sinnes are pardoned Pax est hereditas Christianorum Aug. Serm. de temp according to that of the Apostle The kingdome of God standeth not in meate and drinke but in righteousnesse peace and ioy in the HOLIE GHOST And indeed whom should hee feare Perfecta absolata uiusque exusatio testimonium conscientiae suae Bern. or whereof should hee be afraide God is become his Father the Angels are become his attendants they pitch their Tents round about them and haue a charge of them the Saints of Heauen and Earth are their fellow Brethren the Creatures of Almightie God are their friends yea their seruants to do them good al their daies The diuells nor all the powers of darkenesse shall not hurt them Psal 37.25 Psal 34.7 Psal 91.11 Hosea 2.18 Col. 2.15 For Christ hath spoiled Principalities and Powers and hath made a shew of them openly and hath triumphed ouer them vpon the Crosse yea that which is more the Lord Iesus Christ to whom all Iudgement is committed is become their Lord and Sauiour So that they shall neuer come into condemnation but shall passe from death vnto life Ioh. 5.24 Lastly the godly man is assured that the kingdome of Heauen and eternall life belongs vnto him And that hee shall be partaker of Eternall glorie life and saluation and shall liue in the presence of God the Father the Sonne and Holy Ghost for euermore Non arrogantia est sed fides c. Aug. Serm. 8. and this assurance in the godlie is no presumption but Faith for euery godly man hath in him the Spirit of Grace and Adoption and he that hath the Spirit of Adoption knowes that hee hath it and is able through the same Spirit to say Gala. 2.20 2. Cor. 13 5 I liue and Christ liueth in me This was in Iob when he said I know that my Redeemer liueth c. This was in Saint Paul Rom 8. I am perswaded that neyther heighth nor depth c. In these and the like Priuiledges stands the happie and blessed estate of Gods children Vse 1 The vse of this Doctrine is most excellent for seeing the priuiledges of Gods ehildren are so great and so excellent that therefore they must needes bee most happie and hlessed For howsoeuer the world accompt them miserable grinning at them with their teeth 1. Pet. 1.18 nodding at them with their heades hissing at them with their tongues and euery way most contumeliously reproaching them with their wordes yet wee see heere how deere and precious they are with God and in the reputation of Iesus Christ who bought them at a price and redeemed them euen with his owne bloud 1. Cor. 3.21 Beholde what loue the Father hath giuen to vs that wee should be called the Sonnes of God And
reproue the cursed practise of vngodly men Vse it is wonderfull to see how bold they bee to abuse Gods Seruants to mocke them and to disgrace them to slander and reuile them they thinke them the worst men that liue in the world they traduce them and bring them on the Stage they loade them with vile and odious names Now what doe they else then set themselues against God himselfe seeing they hate them whom God loues And as this may serue for the terrour of the wicked so it serues to comfort euery poore child of God What though the world hate thee so God loue thee Oh remember that the Lord loues and allowes of thee Now then if God approue of thee what though all men in the world did refuse or condemne thee If the King should grace a man and honour him what would this man care for the contempt of a Scullion boy Well let this be a comfort and encouragement vnto vs that God knowes and allowes of vs For what were the fauour and approbation of men if this were wanting Obiect How a mā may know whether Christ approue of him But how shall a man know whether God knoweth him thus with his speciall knowledge or not I answere First if God know any man for his by his speciall and effectuall knowledge Answere then hee begets in him the knowledge of himselfe As the light of the Sunne falling on our eye by whose light wee behold the Sunne againe Ioh. 10. I know my Sheep saith Christ and they know mee Secondly if God thus know any man with his especiall and effectuall knowledge of his so as hee loues and likes of him it begets the loue of God in a mans heart So as God loues him hee is inflamed to loue God againe 1. Ioh. 4.9 and in loue vnto him is loath to offend him and most carefull to please him And therefore if wee would know whether wee be thus knowne of God let vs labour to finde our hearts thus enflamed with the loue of him Thirdly whom GOD knoweth thus he chuseth to bee his Childe in CHRIST IESVS delights to blesse him Now then this workes in the heart of a godly man another work namely to choose God to bee his God to set his heart on him to delight in him to adore him as his God to loue him feare him obey and cal vpon him and to trust in him as his God Thus you see how a man may know whether God know him with this special and effectual knowledge which is proper to the Elect alone namely by these fruites and effects in our hearts For as we see though euery man cannot come to see the Kings Broad Seale yet can discerne the picture of it in wax and say This is the Kings Broad Seale So though men cannot ascend to Heauen to know the secret counsell of God yet by these fruites and effectes of his knowledge men may know his will whether they be his or not Well to conclude seeing the Lord thus knowes and acknowledgeth yea loues and likes of the life of a godly and righteous man let vs bee encouraged to goe through-stitch and to resolue of this neuer to be daunted or discouraged with the hard measure of vngodly men All our care should bee to please God and to bee approued of him and therefore so long as hee doth approue of vs let vs not care what man can doe against vs. But the way of the wicked shall perish Doct. 2 The Lord hates a wicked man and al he doth Esay 1.11 HEere we learne that the whole life of a wicked man and whatsoeuer he doth is abhominable the Lord hates him and all he doth What haue I to doe with the multitude of your Sacrifices saith the Lord. And againe Esay 66.3 The Sacrifices of the wicked are abhominable vnto the Lord. Now if the best actions of a wicked man his Hearing Reading praying Ier. 7.8 Prou. 15.8 and Receiuing be abhominable to the Lord how much more their swearing cursing banning prophaning the Sabboth drunkennesse vncleannesse lying stealing c. Againe without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Now no wicked man can haue true faith because Faith purifies the heart Acts 15.9 and is neuer seuered from true repentance and amendment of life And therfore the way of the wicked seeme it neuer so goodly and glorious in the world all their studies and endeuours shall perish and come to destruction in the end Pro. 20.17 Iob. 20.29 This is the portion of the wicked man and the heritage that he shall haue from God for his workes This shewes the state of most men to bee miserable and vnhappy Vse For onely those bee blessed whose liues do please God Now alas what delight can God haue in the filthy liues of most men whose whole delight and study is in sin and wickednesse in all kinde of lewdnesse and prophannesse haue no care to please God but euen obstinately rebell against him surely the Lord hates them and all they do O wofull condition of such sinful men that betake themselues thus vnto the way of sinne Not as though they walk therein but for a time but as such as purpose to tread therein for euer From this wofull estate the Lord deliuer vs for his Christs sake Amen A Prayer for the Morning O LORD and our good GOD wee thy poore vnworthy seruants according to our bounden duetie are heere assembled together in thy Name O LORD it is thy owne Commandement that wee should call vpon thee in all our necessities and it is likewise thy promise that thou wilt heare vs in assurance whereof wee are bold now to come vnto thee acknowledging first of all that wee are altogether vnworthy of our selues as of our selues to request for any fauour or mercie at thy hands for from our cradles vnto this present there hath beene in vs nothing else but Apostasie and rebellion yea Lord we haue so added sinne vnto sinne as if there were no other end why wee were sent into the world but to prouoke thee to wrath and to heap vp a great measure of iniquitie against our own soules against the day of wrath Our sinnes of omission our sinnes of commission ô Lord they are many and great and if thou shouldest call vs to a reckoning euen for the least of them we are not able to answere thy Maiesty for one of a thousand yea Lord wee confesse that it is thy mercie that endureth for euer and that hath beene the cause that wee haue not long agoe tasted of thy iudgements O Lord be thou mercifull vnto vs still for thy Names sake separate our sinnes as farre from thy presence as the East is from the West Bury them in the graue of thy Sonne Christ that they may neuer rise vp againe in this world to accuse vs or in the world to come to condemne vs. Teach vs to consider good much lesse to