in being such as every one of you ought to be viz. sound believers and zealous Followers of Christ Jesus our Lord. Consider the persons spoken unto in my Text that they were chosen Disciples called to be Apostles and Ministers we have already understood but withal we may observe that they had more troubles then the other Disciples had We may further note that although a chief part of their troubles arose from their office and Ministery yet a chief part of their Relief and Comfort arose unto them not from their being peculiar Apostles Disciples and Ministers of Christ but from their being such as you we trust are viz. followers of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. When our blessed Saviour comforteth them Let not your heart be troubled he doth not add Ye have the credit of being chosen Ministers ye have the honour of being great Apostles but ye believe in God He doth not bid them remember their preheminencies but believe in me neither doth he tell them In the Ministry of the Gospel is no small honour but In my Fathers house are many Mansions Now Faith in God Faith in Christ the Mansions in heaven are not peculiar unto Gospel-Ministers as Ministers (4) This one name Christian bindeth us a together leadeth us all hand in hand toward Heaven G. H. Serin on Numb 17.18 but common to Gospel-Profsessors as Believers Having therefore so fully considered the persons here spoken unto as they were called unto the Ministery of the Gospel I shall in the next place review them under that Notion which much more concerneth their Everlasting peace I shall consider them as called unto the Faith of the Gospel And this ye may justy expect from my hands For we were only in the Context when we found the persons here spoken unto chosen Ministers we find them professed Believers in the Text it self So many of you as believe in God so many of you as believe in Christ let not your heart be troubled In my Fathers house are many Mansions as well for you his Elect as for his Apostles themselves PArtly because our Saviour had with so much ease conveighed himself from the Jews Universal unto the Professors of the Gospel (1) Joh. 5.16.7.30.8.20.11.8.10.31 39.19.11 whensoever the Jews most malitiously attempted to kill him and partly because when at last our Saviour did not (2) Mat. 26.53 54. escape but suffer death the Traitors heart was so manifestly (3) Mat. 27.3.5 overcome with sorrow some (4) Jansea Concord Evan. cap. 140. pitifully conjecture that had it once entered into his thoughts that Jesus might not have delivered himself as well (5) Joh. 18.6 12. at this as at former (6) Joh. 10.31 39. times Judas would not for any (7) Mat. 26.15 moneys have betraied his Master Thus some fancy But First since Iscariots hand was in (1) John 12.6 what moneys he lost in the Spiknard he was (2) Mat. 26. V. 8. compared with v. 14. resolved he would gain by his Treason Secondly What good affection a [3] John 12.6 Thief had for an honest Master I know not Thirdly The Traitor could not [4] Mat. 16.21 be ignorant that the same Jews which bought his Master would with wicked hands crucifie him Fourthly as his covetous heart could not brook to see any cost go beside his bag so neither could his Hypocritical heart brook it that he was (5) John 6.70.13.26 Mat. 26.23 24 25. layed so open before his Fellow-Disciples Fifthly Of this I am sure the (6) Psal 41.5 9.109.4 5 16. Scriptures concerning him could not but be fulfilled Sixthly This ye will all say (7) 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be accursed Judas he loved not the Lord Jesus he was [8] Joh. 15.25 his adversary without a cause He (9) Psal 41.9.109.5 rewarded him evil for good he lifted up his heels against his [10] Joh. 13.18 Head he was a very [11] Joh. 6.70 Devil unto him Therefore Judas was not ignorant but malicious not upright but a Thief not sincere but a Hypocrite not a Convert but a Caitiffe he loved not the Lord Jesus and was therefore a [12) Joh. 17.12 son of Perdition Now in as much as Judas is found to be a son of perdition he is utterly excluded from the comforts of this Text When Christ saith Let not your heart be troubled he speaketh not to Judas who (1) Joh. 13.30 left him but unto the Disciples who abode with him Here is therefore matter to be applied unto all of you and unto none of you First Unto none of you viz. Unto none of you in my Text unto you that are none of Christs Next Vnto all of you viz. Unto all of you in my Text unto all of you who are true Disciples of Christ unto all of you Disciples who faithfully continue sincere Followers of Christ To proceede then The person here speaking in my Text is one who is a Teacher sent from God To Unbelievers whom it one who rightly divideth the Word of Truth one who distributeth unto each his due portion one who separateth between the goats and the sheep between the chaff and the wheat between the vile and the precious as he will not break the bruised Reed will not quench the smoaking flax so neither will he speak peace unto the wicked Mention a Hypocrite and he shall have [1] Mat. 24.51 weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth Find out a Generation of Vipers and they shall [2] Mat. 23.32 fill up the measure of their Fathers guilt In my Text here Your is exclusivè ye who abide constant Followers let not your heart be troubled But as for Judas who [3] Joh 13.30 is departed from me well were it [4) Mat. 26.24 for him had he never been born let him do [5] Joh. 13.37.30 what he listeth let him go [6] Joh. 13.30 where he will let his heart be [7] Mat. 27 3. troubled let his heart be troubled till he [8] Mat. 27 5. On which see Hammond and on Act. 1.18 burst again Thus the same Gospel which publisheth glad Tidings unto you who continue Christs unfeigned Disciples the same writteth bitter things against you that forsake your own Mercy Methinketh the Genius of this present Text is much like unto that good Angel specified [1] Mat. 28.2 by S. Matthew such as seek for Iesus them it [2] Mat. 28.5 gratifieth them it filleth with holy [3] Mat. 28.8 fear them it filleth with great [4] Mat. 28.8 joy But as for the enemies of Christ them it [5] Mat. 28.4 shaketh of them it maketh [6] Mat. 28.4 so many dead men at the [7] Mat. 27.60 door of their heart it findeth a great [8] Mat. 27.60 stone a great stone [9] Mat. 27.66 sealed a great sealed stone [10] Ibid. watched and warded
of the holy One and the poor in spirit wax rich in grace MOTIVE VIII Thy natural averseness There is no such Trewant as the natural man Motive 8. Judas will rather hang himself then delight in his Masters pleasure but first meer shame will reduce thee from this ingratitude no love for thy father nor love for thy Redeemer nor love for thy preserver fie fie for shame the oxe (1) Isa 1 3 knoweth his owner and the dog at thy heels his master Secondly Let thy heart alone and thou (2) 1 Cor. 2.14 wilt love thy God less next day then thou wilt to morrow and less to morrow then to day thou dost Thirdly Thou must not follow but (3) Col. 3.1 lead thine affections we force our selves to delight in such diets such exercises such employments as most suit not with our pleasure but with our real good Fourthly What thanks is it if we place our affections upon that whereunto we are of our selves addicted but herein we know that we love our God if we deny (4) Mat. 16.24 our selves that we may love him Lastly remove thine ignorance and thy dis-affection is removed once see the beauty of holiness (5) Exod. 15.11 and be out of love with it if thou canst thou wilt therefore love God because God is glorious in holiness thy Lord most holy MOTIVE IX Motive 9. A ninth Motive which may stir up thy mind to follow God fully is thy desperate guilt The whole need not the Physitian but thou dost such a sinner as thou art may well cry God mercy all the days of his life He that hath wallowed in so much mire as thou hast done hath great reason to wish (1) Ezek. 36.25 for clean waters who should thirst after sanctification if thine Aethiopian skin should not the Leopards spots are white to thine if the blood of the Lamb can make thy crimson sins whiter then snow surely thou hast cause sufficient to bath in that warm blood thou hast sinned so prodigally against heaven and against God that it is the best of thy skill to make benefit of Christ merits Then then the holy Angels will (2) Luk. 15.7 rejoyce indeed when they see such a lost creature as thou hast been take the kingdom of heaven by violence and main force MOTIVE Motive 10. X. A tenth particular which helpeth thine unwearied soul to take the kingdom of heaven by violence is the present evil world viz. unless it were better then it is thou wilt no more (1) Jam. 1.27 dirty thy self with it the cares thereof may choak such as love them but thee they drive unto (2) 1 Pet. 4.19 thy faithful Creator to him that endured temptations in the wilderness Canaan is sweet pleasures upon earth may ensnare fools they only mind thee of thy masters joys thou translatest the whole book of nature into a book of grace well knowing that the things which are seen are transitory but the things which are not seen are eternal MOTIVE XI Motive 11. The next particular serving to awaken thee unto righteousness is the corruption of thine old man For first while [1] Gal 5.17 thy flesh is contrary to thy spirit his thou [2] Rom. 6.16 art unto whom thou yieldest obedience and if it was thy [3] Rom. 8.6 death to be carnally minded to be spiritually minded is a sign of life Again sometimes a (4] 2 Cor. 12.7 buffet or two doth Saint Paul a kindnâ—ss [5] 2 Cor. 12.9 while the flesh (6) 1 Pet. 2.11 warreth against thy soul thy soul is [7] Deut. 8.2 Judg. 2.21 22 3.2 kept upon her guard Rome is not secure so long as Carthage is standing nay opposition strengthneth the prevailing party as [8] 2 Sam. 3.1 Sauls rebellions established David in his Throne for infirmities of nature excite the power of grace Corruption is flesh and [9] Isa 31.3 not spirit MOTIVE XII Motive 12. The roaring lion at this instant seeking to devoure thee Among too too many Ministers who during our late detestable rebellions were most reproachfully tossed out of their livelyhoods one I knew who (1) Mr. Vade of Odington in Glocester-shire would full often with indignation enough boast himself a person more beholding unto Committee-men then unto all the kinred which be had his riddle was while he kept house in his Parsonage diseases cares and debts grew upon him but so soon as the Committee had once for ever sequestred from Him his Parsonage they from that time forward eased him of his debts by disposing his fifths for their payment they cured him of his disease while want of a horse made him walk away his Gout and withall they freed him from his cares for he had now no worldly thing to care for bear with me the condition is thine I may seriously affirme that next unto God himself this (2) Matt. 6.13 13.39 evil one is although full (3) Esa 10.7 sore against his will the very best friend whom thou hast in the world if thou hast but eyes of understanding in thy head this I will clear unto thee in three particulars The Devil (4) Eph. 6.12 1 Pet. 5.8 befriendeth thee first By deterring from sin Ah Sir this Bug-bear at the gate will make thee (5) 1 Tim. 3.6 7. keep within dores the saucer eyes of this spright will make thee look unto thy self espie once his cloven foot and adventure (6) Act. 24.16 abroad if thou darest Secondly By Temptations thou wilt not trust a reconciled enemy The Devil is so [7] Eph. 6.11 2 Cor. 2.11 well known that none of his chaff can catch old birds if he begin to tempt he will make thee glad to cling unto thy father Thy fear of this Pursevants Arrest [8] Heb. 4.16 will make thee take Sanctuary the more stratagems this subtle creature useth to (9) 2 Tim. 2.26 entice thee toward hell the more thy holy jealousies will draw thee toward heaven and all the while this Avenger lasheth thee [10] 1 Kin. 12.11 with Scorpions he [11] Gal. 3.24 schooleth thee unto Christ Thirdly [12] Ephes 6.11 by wrestlings carnal [13] 1 Pet. 2.11 lusts war against the soul but we wrestle not against flesh and blood alone these are no equal match for him that [14] Psal 23.4 27.12 undertaketh to be strong in the Lord that is a [15] Heb. 22.4 Sine periculo seiget ludus dull skirmish which hazardeth no blood Surely thou shalt see what thy servant can do saith the (16) 1 Sam. 28.2 Warriour As the Martyr Juliano kissed the step whereon he stood to suffer death so thou when valiant wilt kiss the turf whereon thou standest to fight thy Lords battel Glad is David if he may be but allowed to deal with (17) 1 Sam. 17.32 a Goliah if Jether (18) Judg. 8.20 fear Zebah and Zalmunna it is
mention that Lady but that Ladies name was ever solemnly attended with a long train of this Gentlewomans just and real Commendations [3] Vita est mansio animae in corperâ— As she never spake evil of the absent so she never interpreted the praise of another to be a diminution unto her self One thing I ever observed in this Gentlewoman which I can by no meanes conceal She was an absolute Governesse of her passions The empty fallacies of mirth [1] Res severa est verum gandium Seneca deluded not Her soul Ever chearful she was but still sober still modest She was that person whose passion never no not in her most retired familiarity dissolved into any excesse No jollities could make Her frolique She had so wonderful a command over her lively Spirit that her moderation could not but be known unto all that knew Her manner of living Free from exceptiousnesse she was in truth Her vertues had no weaknesses to be jealous of Small cause had she to suspect the whispers or fear the mis-reports of others being conscious unto her self of nothing except of comlinesse and integrity You could not provoke her unto revenge A discerning spirit she had could see a neglect as well as another She could see it but would not see it Or if too too palpable it was she was so far from being overcome of evil that she would most industriosly seek I had almost said steal opportunities to overcome that evil with good You have heard some part of her self-denials But She was in many other circumstances an [1] Egregia virtutis exempla veluti lumen in edito ponenda sunt ut omnibus praeluceant multosque ad sui aemulationem accendant Erasm ad Archiep. Tolet. Augustini operibus praefix p. ult example worthy the imitation of Believers All along She was Exemplary Exemplary even from her Infancy so pliant so obedient unto her Parents so filial she was Exemplary in her minority Other Virgins marry she was given in marriage Her affections followed her judgement and her judgement was led by her Parents Exemplary as a Subject Loyal even then when Loyaltie was not only a ruine but a seeming disgrace An exemplary Friend more then usually that Sexe can be Her fidelity was above the fidelity of women firm and judicious for although she enjoyed the soft vertues of a woman she wanted not the perfections of a man Unto Mistresses of families She was exemplary How peaceable how discreet how bountifull a Mistresse she was The sorrowes of her weeping Hand-maidens will best resolve you I am not ignorant that [1] Sir Tho. Overbury his Wife Contiguous businesse much that Sexe befits But a truth it is She in understanding was masculine as she never despised Martha for being busied about many things so she was ever accompanying Mary in that better part which could not be taken from her A notable exemplary Mother she was For She reformed her Children not by reproofs but by examples Witnesse her Daughter [2] Christiana a Christian that hitherto miracle of Children Other Parents suffer their Children to be the Trouble of their Parents and the shame of themselves but this Parent was so discreet that Her severities were pleasantnesse and her smiles corrections As a Wife she was exceeding exemplary like The Beloved in the [1] Cant. 5.16 Canticles not a Wife but a Spouse not a Spouse but a Friend Her love was even saving that it was daily encreasing Her privacies were not fondnesse but dearnesse Such her conjugal Society that the longer she lived the more she was a Bride a discreet one though If ever Wife was a Help meet for her husband This was she She gave very great examples of liberality and bountifulnesse There is that [1] Pro. 11.24 scattereth and yet encreaseth She was such a one Her liberal soul was made fat and liberal things she devised She was not alone in this Duty but in this Duty very exemplary she was No Coine was so good sterling with Her as that which testified her bountifulnesse Verily she was eminently generous and gave so great encouragements unto the ministery of the Gospel that of her quality I have not known her second Far from vain glory she was but most singularly munificent She did so heartily imitate the goodnesse of our [1] The Lady Hester Overbury the vertuous wife of Sr. Thomas Overbury Kt. present Lady that her pious Charity was no whit inferiour unto her specified generous liberality It is the blessing of these [2] Of Burton on the Hill and Morton in the Marsh of Gloucestor shire Villages that God hath brought among us Christians very eminent for casting their bread upon many waters Ladies ready to distribute Ladies ever lending unto the Lord Such a one was this Gentlewoman Under God I can attribute the lives of some Widowes in this Parish unto that sustenance and relief which they received from this Gentlewoman in the mean space Her right hand knew not what her left hand did Very pitiful very tender-hearted very full of compassion she was She took it as no small kindnesse when at any time I enformed her who among us was in poverty or any otherwise distressed Let me speak it in the audience of this large Congregation She professedly took more pleasure in visiting the sick the poor the needy then in visiting the great the rich the prosperous Forbear weeping poor people Yet alas were it not for the [1] The vertuous Lady the Lady Hester Overbury and the good Lady and some [2] excellent Gentlewom n Mrs. Whitlock Mrs Creswick c. few others amongst us what would your sick beds do now that you have no Mrs. RUTTER to stand by you The Lord comfort you Trust in Him he will make your beds in your sicknesses As were her fruits such was her faith Her heart was therefore exercised with such charitable practices because so much exercised unto godlinesse She loved the Gospel in the purity of it She was an example unto you all in frequenting the Church and no marvail for she frequented the Church as the House of Her God She sat not down in her Pew to read some Historical Scripture or some private Book to talk of vanities to tosse her heels against God or to sleep in sin c. No she was truly zealous in her Devotions Some sort of friends we have which are a kind of Trencher-friends which visit you more for your Table then for your Society In like manner some sort of Gospel-professors we have which although the chief end of Sermons is to fit us that we may worship our God come to Church for the food of a Sermom not for (1) Inanis potentia quae non reducitur ad actum the worship of their God No Sermou no worship with these except they may edifie their soules by a Sermon they will not meet here to speak good of Gods Name to give thanks for
inform me if you are able to inform me how manifold and how unfeigned Thanksgivings are from us due unto Him whose Name is WONDERFUL And yet before we step unto the Globe of the Vniversal World you will glance an eye upon a lesser Mapp upon the little mapp of this little word [1] How little more alas is man now then before he was he was Donns Poems MAN For Consider this dear Gentlewoman which shall hereafter rest in peace Consider these persons here spoken unto in my Text these whineing Disciples these sorry Fishermen Make a grand inquest upon these and all other believers How htghly soever their nature is now exalted their Father was an Amorite their Mother a Hittite Examine [1] Revolve pâ—imordia attende media memorare novissima haec pudorem adducunt ista dolorem ingerunt illa metuÌ„ incutiunt Cogita unde veneâ—is erubesce ubi sis ingemisce qâ—o vadis contremisce Bernard Serm. de primord novissim every Child of Adam At the best Vanity is light but as for man He is lighter even a thing of nought worse [2] Psa 62 9 then nought What ah What is a lump of [3] Ezek. 16.6 menstruous flesh that the pure the most holy God should not utterly detest utterly desert it How is it that God God who [4] Psalm 8.4 Heb. 2.16 rejecteth fallen Angels should have any compassion at all for ever-falling man for a crosse-grained off-spring of a prodigious Traitor for a pernicious brood of viperous Wretches Beloved seeing our first Parents [1] Compare 2 Sam. 12.9 10. with Gen. 2.16 17. despised their Creatours goodnesse seeing we like them thwart his will [2] Compare 2 Sam. 6.5 8.21 ever thwart his will What future good could possibly be foreseen in [3] Rom. 3.19 23 27 any of us which might in the least move election Alas originally there spreadeth in every one of our hearts the loathsome seed of [4] Rom. 7.7 13 Matth. 15.19 Revel 18.2 Esay 2.22 every wickednesse whatsoever There dwelleth in us that Lust which naturally lusteth after the vilest sins imaginable We finde within our selves [5] Job 4.17 19 9.15 20 21 22.2 3 5 25.4 5 6 14.3 4 17 matter worthy reprobation but what finde we worthy Gods election Verily when all that can be said in our behalf is fully spoken all will [6] Rom. 3.9 c. Lam. 3.12 Heb. 12.29 When Nonius rode in a triumphal Chariot Catulus saw cause to say What a deal of dirt is this Cart filled with See Gen. 3.22 and Rom. 3.19 signifie a new-nothing Nothing except guilt except inbred hereditary inveterate malicious guilt We must be [7] Eph. 1.11 predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will before we can obtain an inheritance Through [8] 1 Pet. 1.2 sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience our calling and election [9] 2 Pet. 1.10 is made sure and evident unto us but it must be [10] 1 Pet. 1.2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father that we are elected unto (11) Col. 3.12 Phil. 2.15 this sanctification To know our election of God it (12) 1 Thes 1.4 becometh us but it becometh us to know that our election was of God (13) Eph. 1.4 before all worlds The holy Calling wherewith we are called is (14) 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 3.5 not according unto our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began We differ from other men but (15) Rom. 3.22 who made the difference Who (16) 1 Cor. 4 7 maketh thee to differ from another We are kept by the (17) 1 Pet 1.5 power of God through faith unto Salvation but that faith is (18) Rom. 3.22 Tit. 1.1 the faith of Gods elect Whom God justifieth them he (19) Rom. 8.20 calleth whom he calleth them he did predestinate them he (20) Rom. 8.29 did predestinate to be conformed unto the image of his Son If (21) Eph. 1.5 11 according unto the good pleasure of his will he predestinated us unto salvation it is because he predestinated us unto the (22) Eph. 1.5 5 adoption of Children by Jesus Christ unto himself If we (23) Phil. 2.15 Ephes 1.4 be holy and without blame before him in love it is because (24) ibid. he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world And all this to the (25) Phil. v. 12 prayse of the glory of his grace wherein he (26) Phil. v. 6 hath made us accepted in the Beloved Not unto us O Lord not (27) Psalm 115.1 Jer. 9.24 1 Cor. 1.30 31 unto us but unto thy Name give the glory for the Scripture hath (28) Gal. 3.22 concluded us all under sin the Scripture hath (29) RoÌ„ 11.32 3.12 concluded us all under unbelief Of our selves there is (30) Jer. 17.9 En cada casa ay un Ladron In every house liveth a Thief none that deth good no not one If we look no further then our selves 31 Hell is our portion Thus in our lesser Mapp Sins microcosm is found such a world of guilt such a world of provocation such a (1) Gen. 6 5 6 Rom. 3.10 -20 Job 4.17 7.17 18 9 2 11.11 12 14 10 15.14 16 25.4 6 34.15 lost world that as he is now encentred in the midst of the Universe man vain man justly appeareth a most inconsiderable spot lesse far lesse then the (2) Gen. 32.10 least of thy mercies O Lord Yet loe with what a (1) Psalm 32.11 circumference of blessings hast thou encircled this vile Malefactor this most unworthy wretch a wretch so (2) Prov. 8.36 mercilesse unto himself so (3) Esay 17.10 43.22 Jer. 2.32 mindlesse of thee his God! O Lord our God the more (4) Rom. 5.20 undeserving sinful-we are on the left hand and on the right hand the larger the globe (5) Psal 84.5 of thine Vniverse so much the greater prayses blessings and thanksgivings are ever from us due unto thy dreadful Name for all thy mercies Whether to Unbelievers or unto Believers To Unbelievers whether already dead or now living To them who died in Vnbelief It is the Lords mercy First How long since soever they were cast into Hell that into Hell they were not (1) Rom. 9.20 21 Esay 64.8 Prov. 16.4 sooner cast Secondly How great soever the measure of their guilt and pain is that (2) Psalm 145.9 103.10 greater it is not Thirdly That the utmost measure of their punishment is (3) Jude 11. Matth. 16.27 deferred until the great and terrible day of the Lord. Fourthly That their Carcasses which did sin and shall suffer with their soules are respited from Hell (4) John 5.29 1 Thes 4.16 until the general Resurrection Fifthly That both their soules and bodies had obtained everlasting mercies