ver 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Love is a munificent bountiful grace it is full of good works it drops as the honey-comb 2. Charity is not puffed up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though it be bountiful it is not proud love is a humble grace like the violet though it perfumes the Aire yet hangs down its head love laies aside the Trumpet and covers it self with a vail love conceals its own worths and saith as Paul 2 Cor. 12.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though I be nothing 3. Charity seeketh not her own ver 5. The Apostle complains Phil. 2.21 All men seek their own but love seeketh not her own This is a diffusive grace and wholly spends it self for the good of others 1 Cor. 10.33 It is reported of Pompey that when there was a great dearth in Rome Pompey having provided great store of corn abroad and ship'd it the Mariners being backward in hoysing up sail by reason of a tempest Pompey himself sets forward in the storm using these words Better a few of us perish than that Rome should not be relieved * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here was publick spirit love seeks not her own it makes a private Christian a common good Love is a grace that dwells not at home it goes abroad it makes frequent visits it looks into the condition of others and relieves them * Quid prodest misereri inopis nisi alimoniam ei Largiaris Amb. Love hath one eye blind to wink at the infirmities of others and another eye open to spy their wants 4. Charity is not easily provoked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is not in a Paroxysme it burns not in anger it is meek and calm never taking fire unless to warm others with its benigne beams of mercy it gives honey but doth not easily sting 3. The Apostle sets forth the excellency of this grace of love Comparative by laying it in the ballance with other graces ver 13. And now abideth faith hope charity these three but the greatest of these is charity He compares love with faith and hope and then sets the ctown upon love indeed in some sense Faith is greater than charity 1. Ordine causalitatis in respect of causality faith is the cause of charity therefore more noble for as Austin saith * Quicquid pulchritudinis in arbore ex radice proficiscitur though the root of the tree be not seen yet all the beauty of the branches procee'ds from the Root So all the beauty that sparckles in love proceeds from the Root of Faith 2. Faith is more excellent than charity Ratione beneficij Faith is a more beneficial grace to us for by faith we are ingraffed into Christ and partake of the fatness of the Olive Faith fetcheth in all the strength and riches of Christ into the soul Faith puts upon the soul the embroidered Robe of Christs Righteousness in which it shines brighter than the Angels but in another sence love is greater than faith 1. Respectu visibilitatis because Love is a more visible grace then Faith Faith lies hid in the heart Rom. 10.9 Love is more conspicuous and shines forth more in the life Love discovers the soundness of Faith as the even beating of the pulse shows the healthful temper of the body Faith bows the knee to Christ and worships him love opens its treasures and presents unto Christ gifts Gold and Frankincense c. 2. Love is greater than Faith Respectu durationis in regard of continuance 1 Cor. 13.8 Charity never faileth we shall lay down our body of flesh and see God face to face faith and hope shall be no more but love shall remain While we live here we have need of Faith this is our Jacobs staff to walk with 2 Cor. 5. We walk by faith but we shall set this staffe shortly at heaven door and love only shall enter within the vail * Chrys in 1 Cor. Hom. 34. So you have seen the sparkling of this Diamond and thus doth the Apostle no less elegantly than divinely set forth the beauty and orient lustre of this grace 3. The third Argument pressing Christians to love is this is Decus ornamentum Evangelij it sets a crown of honour upon Religion it renders the Gospel lovely in the eyes of the world it was an honour to Religion in Tertullians time when the Heathens could say Ecce quam mutuo diligunt see how the Christians love one another Psal 133.1 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity it is like the pretious oyntment upon the head that runs down to the skirts of Religions Garments O what a blessed sight it is to see Christians link'd together with the silver link of charity the Church is Christs Temple the Saints are living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 how beautiful is this Temple when the stones of it are cemented together with love it was said of the first Temple there was no noise of hammer in it and oh that there might be no noise of strife and division in Gods Church could we see unity and verity like the Vine and Elm mutually embracing could we see the children of Sion spreading themselves as Olive plants round about their Mothers table in an amicable and peaceable manner how should this adorn Religion and be as a lure to invite and draw others to be in love with it what is Religion but Religation a binding and knitting together of hearts we are knit to God by Faith and one to another by love 4. The fourth Argument is the necessity of love love is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a debt now debts must be paid Owe nothing to any man but love Rom. 13.8 The debt of love differs from other debts 1. When a debt is paid we receive an Acquittance and are to pay it no more but this debt of love must be alwayes paying in heaven we must be paying this debt love to God and the Saints there is no discharge from this debt 2. Other debts may be dispensed with we forgive a debt sometimes as that Creditor did in the Parable Matth. 18.27 The Lord of that servant was moved with compassion and forgave him the debt But this debt of love is by no means to be dispensed with it must be paid if we do not pay this debt God will come upon us with an arrest and throw us into hell prison 3. In civil debts between man and man the more they pay the less they have but in this debt of love it is quite contrary the more we pay the more we have the more grace from God the more love from others love like the widdows oyle encreaseth by pouring out by paying other debts we grow poor by paying this debt we grow richer 5. Love makes us like God God is love 1 Joh. 4.16 a golden sentence Austin saith the Apostle doth more commend love in this one word God is love than Saint Paul doth in his whole Chapter as
heart to be ignorant of sin Signs of an impure heart or Christ argues impurity of heart Nahash the Ammonite would enter into Covenant with the men of Jabesh-Gilead so he might thrust out their right eyes 1 Sam. 11.2 Satan leaves men their left eye in worldly knowledge they are quick-sighted enough but the right eye of spiritual knowledge is quite put out 2 Cor. 4.4 Ignorance is Satans strong hold Acts 26.18 The Divels are bound in chains of darkness Jude 6. So are all ignorant persons impossible it is that an ignorant heart should be good it is knowledge makes the heart good Prov. 19.2 That the soul be without knowledge it is not good For any to say though their mind be ignorant yet their heart is good they may as well say though they are blind yet their eyes are good In the Law when the plague of Leprosie was in a mans head the Priest was to pronounce him unclean This is the case of an ignorant man the Leprosie is in his head he is unclean That heart cannot be very pure which is a Dungeon Grace cannot reign where ignorance reigns an ignorant man can have no love to God Ignoti nulla cupido he cannot love that which he doth not know he can have no faith knowledge must usher in faith Psal 9.10 he cannot worship God aright John 4.22 Though he may worship the true God yet in a wrong manner ignorance is the root of sin blindness leads to lasciviousness Ephes 4.18 19. Prov. 7.23 Ignorance is the mother of pride Revel 3.17 It is the cause of Error 2 Tim. 3.6 and which is worst an affected ignorance aliud est nescire aliud nolle scire Many are in love with ignorance * Non modo ducem non quaerunt sed oblatum respuunt Bern. they hug their disease Job 21.14 2 Pet. 3.5 Ignorant minds are impure there is no going to heaven in the dark 2. That heart is impure which sees no need of purity Revel 3.17 I am rich and have need of nothing Not to be sensible of a disease is worse than the disease you shall hear a sick man say I am well I ayle nothing there are some who need no Repentance Luk. 15.7 Some sinners are too well to be cured heart-purity is as great a wonder to a natural man as the new-birth was to Nicodemus Joh. 3.4 'T is sad to think how many go on confidently and are ready to bless themselves never suspecting their condition till it be too late 3. He hath an impure heart who regards iniquity in his heart Psal 66.18 If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me In the Original it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if I look upon sin that is with a lustful look sin-regarding is inconsistent with heart-purity Quest What is it to regard iniquity Quest Answ 1 Answ 1. When we indulge sin when sin not only lives in us but we live in sin Some will leave all their sins but one Jacob would let all his sons go but Benjamin Satan can hold a man by one sin the Fowler holds the Bird fast enough by a Wing or Claw Others hide their sins like one that shuts up his Shop-windows but follows his Trade within doors Many deal with their sins as Moses his mother dealt with him she hid him in the Ark of Bulrushes as if she had left him quite but her eye was still upon him and in conclusion she became his Nurse Exod. 2.9 So many seem to leave their sins but they only hide them from the eye of others their heart still goes after them and at last they Nurse and give the breast to their sins 2. To regard iniquity is to delight in iniquity A child of God though he sins yet he doth not take a complacency in sin Rom. 7.15 What I hate that do I but impure souls make a recreation of sin 2 Thes 2.12 They had pleasure in unrighteousness Never did one feed with more delight on a dish he loves than a wicked man doth upon the forbidden fruit This delight shews the will is in the sin Et voluntas est regula mensura actionis 3. To regard iniquity is to lay in provision for sin Rom. 13.14 Make not provision for the flesh Sinners are Caterers for their lusts 't is a Metaphor taken from such as make provision for a Family or victual a Garrison The Greek word there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a projecting and fore-casting in the mind how to bring a thing about This is to make provision for the flesh when one studies to gratifie the flesh and lay in fuel for lust Thus Amnon made provision for the flesh 2 Sam. 13.5 He fains himself sick and his sister Tamar must be his Nurse she must cook and dress his meat for him by which means he defiled the breasts of her Virginity it is sad when mens care is not to discharge conscience but to satisfie lust 4. To regard iniquity is to give it respect and entertainment as Lot shewed respect to the Angels Gen. 19.2 He bowed himself with his face toward the ground and said behold now my Lords turn in I pray you c. When the Spirit of God comes it is repulsed and grieved but when tentation comes the sinner bowes to it sets open the great Gates and saith Turn in my Lord this is to regard iniquity 5. He is said to regard sin that doth not regard the threatnings of God against sin We read of seven thunders uttering their voyce Rev. 10.3 How many thunders in Scripture utter their voyce against sin Psal 68.21 God shall wound the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his Trespasses Here is a thundering Scripture but sinners fear not this thunder let a Minister come as a Boanerges cloathed with the spirit of Eliah and denounce all the curses of God against mens sins they regard it not they can laugh at the shaking of a Spear * Job 41.29 this is to regard iniquity and doth argue an impure heart 4. An unbelieving heart is an impure heart The Scripture calls it expresly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an evil heart of unbelief Hebr. 3.12 An unbelieving heart is evil summo gradu 't is full of the poyson of hell Unbelief is omnium peccatorum colluvies the root and receptactle of sin 1. Unbelief is a God-affronting sin 1. It puts the lye upon God it calls in question his power * Psa 78.19 20. mercy truth 1 John 5.10 He that believeth not hath made God a lyar And can a greater affront be cast upon the God of glory 2. It makes us trust to second causes which is a setting the creature in the room of God 2 Chron. 16.12 Asa in his disease sought not to the Lord but to the Physitians He relied more on the Physitian than upon God Saul seeks to the Witch of Endor O high affront to lean upon the Reed and neglect the Rock
other animate as they shew Elephants the blood of Grapes and Mulberries to make them fight the better so the Holy Ghost shews us the blood of Saints and Martyrs to infuse a spirit of zeal and courage into us Micaiah was in the prison Jeremiah in the Dungeon Isaiah was sawn asunder The Primitive Christians though their flesh was boyled roasted dismembred * Alii flammis exusti alii patibulo cruciati yet like the Adamant they remained invincible such was their zeal and patience in suffering that their persecutors stood amazed and were more weary in tormenting then they were in enduring * Tertul. in Apolog. John Husse when he was brought to be burned they put upon his head a tripple crown of paper printed with red Divels which when he saw saith he My Lord Jesus Christ wore a crown of thorns for me why then shall not I wear this crown how ignominious soever Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna when he came before the Proconsul he bade him deny Christ and swear by the Emperour he replyed I have served Christ these eighty six years and he hath not once hurt me and shall I deny him now * Octoginta sex annos illi jam inservii c. Sanders that blessed Martyr said Welcome the Cross of Christ my Saviour began to me in a bitter cup and shall not I pledge him You Baynham you Papists that look for miracles I feel no more pain in the fire than if I were in a bed of Downe Another of the Martyrs said The ringing of my chain hath been sweet Musick in my ears O what a comforter saith he is a good conscience Another Martyr kissing the stake said I shall not lose my life but change it for a better instead of coals I shall have pearls Another when the chain was fastning to him said Blessed be God for this wedding girdle These suffering examples we should lay up God is still the same God he hath as much love in his heart to pity us and as much strength in his arm to help us let us think with our selves what courage the very Heathens have shewn in their sufferings Julius Caesar was a man of an heroick spirit when he was fore-told of a conspiracy against him in the Senate house he answered He had rather dye than fear * Mori se quam timere malle Plut. Mutius Scevola having his hand held over the fire till the flesh fryed and his sinnews began to shrink yet did bear it with an undaunted spirit Quintus Curtius reports of Lysimachus a brave Captain that being adjudged to be cast naked to a Lyon when the Lyon came roaring upon him Lysimachus wrapped his shirt about his arm and thrust it into the Lyons mouth and taking hold of his tongue killed the Lyon Did nature infuse such a spirit of courage and gallantry into Heathens how should grace much more into Christians let us be of Saint Pauls mind Acts 20.24 Not counting my life dear so that I might finish my course with joy 10. Let us lay in suffering considerations A wise Christian is considerative 1. Consider who we suffer for it is for Christ and we cannot suffer for a better friend there is many a man will suffer shame and death for his lusts he will suffer disgrace for a drunken lust he will suffer death for a revengeful lust Shall others dye for their lusts and shall not we dye for Christ Will a man suffer for that lust which damns him and shall not we suffer for that Christ which saves us Oh remember we espouse Gods own quarrel and he will not suffer us to be losers if no man shall kindle a fire on Gods Altar for nought Mal. 1.10 then surely no man shall sacrifice himself for God in the fire for nought 2. It is a great honour to suffer persecution Ambrose speaking in the encomium of his sister said appellabo Martyrem I will say this of her she was a Martyr it is a great honour to be singled out to bear witness to the truth Acts 5.41 They departed from the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name 't is a title that hath been given to Kings Defenders of the Faith a Martyr is in a special manner a Defender of the Faith Kings are defenders of the faith by their Swords Martyrs by their blood * Reges conservaâ—t fidem gladio Martyres sanguine Gregory Nazianzene calls Athanasius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Bulwark of truth 't is a credit to appear for God Martyrs are not only Christs Followers but his Ensign-bearers The Romans had their Camilli and Fabricii brave Warriors which grac'd the field God calls out none but his Champions to fight his battels we read Abraham called forth his trained souldiers Gen. 14.14 such as were more expert and valiant What an honour it is to be one of Christs trained-band the Disciples dreamed of a temporal reign Acts 1.6 Christ tells them Ver. 8. Ye shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem c. To bear witness by their sufferings to the truth of Christs Divinity and Passion was a greater honour to the Disciples than to have had a temporal reign upon earth a bloody Cross is more honourable than a purple Robe persecution is called the fiery trial 1 Pet. 3.12 God hath two fires one where he puts his gold and another where he puts his dross the fire where he puts his dross is hell fire the fire where he puts his gold is the fire of persecution God honours his gold when he puts it into the fire 1 Pet. 1.7 1 Pet. 4.14 A Spirit of glory rests upon you Persecution as it is a Badge of our Order so an Ensign of our Glory What greater honour can be put upon a mortal man than to stand up in the cause of God and not only to dye in the Lord but to dye for the Lord. Ignatius called his fetters his spiritual pearls Saint Paul gloried more in his iron chain than if it had been a gold chain Acts 28.20 3. Consider what Jesus Christ endured for us Calvin saith Christs whole life was a series of suffering Christian what is thy suffering art thou poor so was Christ Matth. 8.20 Foxes have holes and the Birds of the Ayre have Nests but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head Art thou surrounded with enemies so was Christ Acts 4.27 Against thy holy childe Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles c. were gathered together Do our enemies lay claim to Religion so did his Matth. 27.6 The chief Priests took the silver pieces and said It is not lawful to put them into the Treasury because it is the price of blood Godly persecutors Art thou reproached so was Christ Matth. 27.29 They bowed the knee before him and mocked him saying Hail King of the Jewes Art thou slandered so was Christ Matth. 9.34 He casteth out Divels through the
say the Ring heals but it is not the Ring but the stone in the Ring that doth the cure so faith saves and heals not by its own vertue but as it layes hold on Christ and fetcheth down his sacred influences into the soul 2. If Jesus Christ be a spiritual Physitian let us labour to hasten the cure of our souls Consider 1. What a little time we have to stay here and let that hasten the cure Solomon saith there is a time to be born and a time to dâ—e Eccles 3.2 but mentions no time of living as if that were so shoâ—t that it were not worth naming the body is called a vessel 1 Thes 4.4 This Vessel is filled with breath sickness broacheth it and death draws it out Oh hasten thy souls cure death is upon its swift march and if that surprizeth you suddenly there is no cure to be wrought in the grave Eccles 9.10 There is no work nor device nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest 2. Now is properly the time of healing now is the day of grace now Christ poures out his balsomes now he sends abroad his Ministers and Spirit 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the accepted time There were certain healing dayes wherein the King healed them that had the evil The day of grace is an healing day if we neglect the day of grace the next will be a day of wrath Rom. 2.5 Oh therefore hasten the cure of thy soul rather neglect thy food than thy cure sin will not only kill but damn To get a cure 1. Come to the healing pool of the Sanctuary the Spirit of God may on a sudden stir these waters the next Sabbath for ought thou knowest may be an healing day to thy soul 2. Pray others to pray for you when any disease is upon your body you desire the prayers of others the prayers of the Saints are pretiosa balsama precious balmes and medicines to cure sick souls 3. Is Jesus Christ a soul-physitian then let me speak to you who are in some measure healed of your damnable disease I have foure things to say 1. Break forth into thankfulness though sin be not quite cured there are still some grudgings of the disease yet the reigning power of it is taken away you are so healed that you shall not dye John 3.16 John 11.26 Those that were cured by the Brazen Serpent afterwards dyed but such as are healed by Christ shall never dye Sin may molest it shall not damn oh then what cause have you to admire and love your Physitian The Lord Jesus hath taken out the core of your disease and the curse publish your experiences Psal 66.16 I will tell you what God hath done for my soul As a man that hath been cured of an old disease how glad and thankful is he he will tell others of the medicine that cured him So say I will tell you what God hath done for my soul He hath cured me of an old disease an hard unbelieving heart a disease that hath sent millions to hell Truly we may chearfully bear any other sickness if this soul-sickness be cured Lord saith Luther strike and wound where thou wilt if sin be pardoned Oh let the high praises of God be in your mouth Psal 149.6 God expects thankfulness as a tribute he wonders men bring not their thank-offering Luk. 17.17 Were there not ten cleansed but where are the nine 2. Are you healed take heed of coming into infected company lest you take the infection the wicked are Divels to tempt to sin Lot was the worlds wonder that lived in Sodom when it was a Pest-house yet did not catch the disease 3. Take heed of relapses Men are afraid of a relapse after they are cured beware of soul-relapses Hath God softned thy heart take heed of hardning it Hath he cured thee in some measure of deadness do not relapse into a drowsie security Thou mayest have such an uproar and agony in thy conscience as may make thee go weeping to thy grave Oh take heed of falling sick again sin no more best a worse thing come unto thee John 5.14 4. Pity your friends that are sick unto death shew your piety in your pity Hast thou a childe that is well and lusty but hath a sick soul pity him pray for him David wept and fasted for his sick childe 2 Sam. 12.16 Thy childe hath the plague of the heart and Thou hast conveyed the plague to him weep and fast for thy child Hast thou a wife or husband that though they do not keep their bed yet the Lord knows they are sick they are under the raging power of sin oh let thy bowels yearn over them lift up a prayer for them the prayer of faith may save a sick soul Prayer is the best physick can be used in a desperate case you that have felt the disease of sin and the mercy of your Physitian learn to pity others 4. And lastly Is Christ a soul-physitian then let us go to Christ to cure this sick dying Nation England God knows is a sick Patient the whole head is sick the whole heart is faint Physitians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when no part of the body is free from distemper The body Politick hath a Kakexy it is ill all over Magistracy Ministry Commonalty are diseased and those who pretended to be our Healers are Physitians of no value We have spent our money upon these Physitians but yet our sores are not healed Jer. 14.19 Why hast thou smitten us and there is no healing for us Instead of healing us those who should have been our Physitians have encreased the Nations malady by giving a toleration this is like giving strong water in a Feaver which doth more inflame the disease Ah sick England because sinful England sick of error uncleanness drunkenness so sick that we may fear our Funerals are approaching And which is the worst symptom though balm hath been poured into our wounds the precious Ordinances of God have been applied yet we are not healed a signe of bad flesh that is so ill to be cured This sin-sickness in the Land hath brought forth many direful effects division oppression blood-shed the very bowels and arteries of the Nation are almost torn asunder so that now God hath fulfilled that threatning upon us Micah 6.13 I will make thee sick with smiting thee We have made our selves sick with sinning and God had made us sick with smiting Now what remains but that we should go to the great Physitian of souls whose blood sprinkles many Nations * Isa 52.15 that he would apply some healing medicines to dying England God can with a word heal he can give repentance as well as deliverance he can put us in joynt again Let all the people of the Land lie between the Porch and the Altar saying Spare thy people O Lord Joel 3.17 Our prayers and tears may set Christ on work to heal us Psal 106.23 Therefore he said that he would