terminis for the out-works of Religion but for the Fundamentals and for the whole possession We must contend with Papists about our Justification with Arminians about our Election with Antimonians for the Law with Socinians for the Gospel and with the Antiscripturists for all 2. The Lord commends this in his servants he hath recorded the zeal of Moses Phinees Paul Apollos c. to their everlasting prayse they are the Apple of his Eye which is Oculus Oculi the glory of the Eye Zach. 2.8 They are his jewels he counts himself honoured and adorned by such and therefore he calls them his glory Isay 4.5 These glorifie God on earth and therefore we will glorifie them with himself Iohn 15.8 and 17.4.5 God hath more glory from his little zealous flock then from all the world besides Hence he so much glories in him Iob 2 3. Acts 13.22 3. He Rewards it where ever he finds it Phinees for his zealous execution of Justice was blest both he and his posterity Numb 15.11 12 13. Levi for his zeal in vindicating Gods Honour was exalted to the Priesthood Exod. 32.29 Deut. 33.8 9 10. Zabulum and Napthali that ventured their lives in Gods cause Iudge 5.18 God remembers the kindness and rewards it many years after in sending Christ to preach the Gospel first to them Matth. 4.13.14 yea so greatly is the Lord delighted with zeal that Iehu his Hypocritical zeal went not unrewarded 2 King 10.30 4. It graceth all our graces and is the Honour of our honours All Grace without this is nothing Dead Knowledge Faith Repentance are of no esteem with God dead Prayer is not Prayer As under the Law no sacrifice was acceptable without fire so no duty now is acceptable without the fire of zeal 5. Christ hath paid best for our zeal The fair price that he paid to Redeem us the same precious blood he gave to purchase us to himselfe a zealous and peculiar people Titus 2.14 If any have paid dearer for it or can shew better Title to it let him take it 6. Our zeal doth denominate us that we are that we are zealous for 'T is true we may love the creature but it must be with a subordinate inferior love but our zeal which is the cream of our affections must be given only to God 'T is a glory which he will not suffer to be given to another 7. Our zeal may provoke others the Corinthians zeal provoked many 2 Cor. 9.12 When the Love-sick Church began to commend Christ Cant. 5. ult This is my friend and this is my Beloved in the very next Chapter 6.1 Others begin to inquire Where is thy Beloved that we may seeke him with thee 8. Such help to save a Land from ruine One zealous Moses kept off judgement from Israel Psalm 106.23 One zealous Phinees stayes the Plague One zealous innocent man may save an Iland Iob 22. ult 9. This makes a man to excel we are all by Nature of one blood 't is Holy zeal that makes the difference This makes the Righteous to excel his Neighbour Prov. 12.26 both in life and death one of these Pearles surpasseth ten thousand peebles as one living creature excels a thousand dead ones These are called lively stones 1 Pet. 2.5 1. They are stones in respect of stability and solidness they stir not from their principles but are an everlasting foundation Prov. 10.25 2. Lively because of their Zeale and Activity they are prompt and ready for every good work 2 Timothy 2.21 Their spirits are raised to the highest excellencies and so are capable of the highe stactings They live the life of God Ephesians 4.18 or a godly life because it is from God as the Author it is according to God as the pattern and it tends to God as the end Others may do well but the zealous man excels them all Hence he 's called in Scripture not Adam a common man but Ish quasi Esh a man of fire heat and courage a man of spirit life activity a man of men an excellent man fitted to honour God and rule others 10. You will have no cause to repent of this zeal yea if the saints in Heaven were capable of sorrow they would grieve for nothing so much as that they had not done more for God in their generation How many have repented of their superstitious carnal zeal as Cardinal Woolsy sometimes did Had I served God as diligently as I have done the King he would not have given me over in my gray hairs but this is my just reward for serving men before God 11 There is an absolute necessity of it in respect of the many enemies that oppose us So soon as ever a man begins to look towards Heaven he must look for Giants and sons of Anak to oppose him We have the Devil above us with all his methods Eph. 6.11 depths Rev. 2.24 Devices 2 Cor. 2.11 The world about us with all its baits and snares and an evil heart within us ready to betray us into the hands of our enemies So that unless we be resolute violent men we shall never get Heaven Matth. 11.12 't is not the lazy somnolent Christian but the active and the violent that take Heaven by force 12. All thy gifts and parts without zeal to improve them become useless A Stag or Hart that hath great strength and horns yet doth little with them for want of courage As a bird without wings a body without a soul and salt without savor so is a man without zeal like Ieremiahs rotten girdle that was good for nothing Ier. 13.7 Zeal is to the soul that which spirits are to the body and wine to the Spirits it puts activity and quickning in us 'T is as wheels to the Chariot which make us run the wayes of Gods Commandments as courage to a souldier as mettle to the horse and as manure to the ground which makes it abound in fruitfulness Now that you may get and keep this Gace we must shun those Quenchâ—coals which extinguish this holy fire in us 1. The first is the retaining of any one bosome beloved sin be it Pride Idleness Formality Covetousness either thy zeal must destroy thy sin or thy sin will destroy thy zeal Zealous affections are the wings of the soul but sin like bird-lime intangles them that they cannot fly Heaven-ward They are the feet of the soul but sin like fetters hindereth us from runing They are the fire of the soul but sin like water quencheth this fire We must resolve therefore against all sin if ever we would have the Spirit of zeal to dwell in us 2. Take heed of the inordinate love of the world These thornes will choak our zeal and this outward heat extracts and consumes our inward Cast earth upon fire and you put it out Demas and Iudas the love of the world drew them off we must get our affections loosened from the world and use it as though we used it not Use
them These are those that poysen not bodies but soules as the harlot so these hunt for the precious soul. Prov. 6.26 they hatch the Cockatrice egges he that eates of their egges dyes and that which is crusht breakes forth into a Viper Isay 59.5 These are those that make rents and divisions in the Church whose Peace should be very deare unto us for though Unity be not the very being yet it tends much to the well-being of a Church These hinder the progresse of the Gospel when people should be praying weeping and humbling themselves together these set them to disputing wrangling and malicing one another 'T is Unity that spreads the Gospel and makes mountains to become a plain even the seven hills amongst the rest Were there that sweet Synceretismus or rather Synchristianismus that harmony of hearts and wayes as ought to be amongst the people of God how terrible would the Church be to her enemies 'T is these that breed tumults in the Church commotions in the Common-wealth that imbitter mens spirits one against another waste mens estates bring men to a morsell of bread and at last bring themselves to some untimely end Oh consider the sad Ends of many Hereticks and let their falls make you to feare Arrius voyded his bowells Iulian died blaspheming Simon Magus an Arch-Heretick who by his sorcery and feined miracles deluded many people who took him for a God Acts 8.10 attempting on a time to fly in the ayer in the sight of many people his divelish art failing him he fell to the ground and brake his leg which was his death Servetus was burnt for his blasphemies at Geneva Gibraldus the Heretick was swept away by the Plague Blandrate Physician to the King of Pâ—land a great Patron to Socinus and his followers was strangled in his bed by his Brothers son Alciat a Socinian died despairing Paleâ—logus an Arrian was burnt Francis David a proud Socinian died mad and was distracted with the sight of the Devill Lismanninus an Arrian drowned himself in a well Olympius that denied the Trinity was burnt to death with three Lightnings Beâ—old that Anabaptist King with his companions was tortured and put to death Humber was burnt Muntzer and Pheifer beheaded So let all thine enemies perish O Lord. Consider Gods hand on Nayler a Quaker and Sundercomb a Leveller and Mistris Hutchinson in New-England who was banisht for her Heresies and destroyed both she and her family by the Indians Parnel a Quaker famisht himself in Colchester Jayle trying to fast 40. dayes as Christ did Poole a Quaker in Dorcester drowned himselfe Quest. If any desire to know the Reasons why God suffers Seducers to abound he may find good store in Doctor Boltons Arraignment of error Pag. 5. to 55. in Mr. Brimslyes Spi. Vertigo p. 37. c. and Mr. Sherlock against the Quakers In fine cap. 6. p. 205. c. Vse 1. Since false Prophets are such Pestilent persons the Magistrate must not Tolerate them Who will Tolerate such as have Plague-sores running on them to go up and down infecting others or that have poyson to go up and down selling it instead of food Seducing Hereticks are worse those kill but the body these with their damnable Heresies destroy the soul. 2 Pet 2.1 and if such as steal away but their bodies must die Exod. 21.16 what shall be done to those that ruine the better part These are called Foxes Vipers Wolves Thieves troublers of the Church and therefore to be cut off not tolerated Galathians 5.12 Christ blames the Church of Thyatire for giveing a toleration to Iesabel Revelations 2.20 and commends the Church of Ephesus for not bearing with such as are evil Revelatâ—ons 2.2 and Iosiah is commended for compelling men to the worship of God 2 Chronicles 34.33 The Magistrate is the Minister of God and must be a terror to them that doe evil Romans 13. especially if they be compounded blasphemous seducing Hereticks they must be put to death Leviticus 24.14 Exodus 22.20 Deuteronomy 13.6.8 9. and 17.2.5 2 Chronicles 5.16 Ezra 7.26 Iosiah slayes the false Prophets 1 Kings 23.20 Elâ—jah commands the Priests of Baal to be slain 1 Kings 18.40 Object Lest any should think to evade these Proofs as Legall the prophet Zachary 13.3 prophesing of Gospel times tells us that if any shall be so bold as to teach lies that his father and mother shall cause him to be put to death alluding to that Deuteronomy 13. The equity of which Law still remains under the Gospel Better and with lesse danger is a Thief an Adulterer a murderer a Witch and Sorcerer tolerated then such an Heretick and Seducer As our large Annotations have it 'T is observed by a learned Divine That as in things of practice so of perswasion that are impious either in themselves or in their naturall unconstrained consequences the Plea of conscience is an Aggravation of the crime if mens consciences are â—eared and themselves given up to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient there is no doubt but they ought to suffer such things as to such practices are assigned and appointed Thus he And if any shall object that these are tolerated but in corners The answer is easie if it be truth they teach why should it not have Churches if errour why should it have Chambers See more against Toler Mr. Ant. Burges on Iohn 7.21 Serm. 115. Mr. Gee on Prayer cap. 4. Sect. 7. p. 358. Mr. Iohn Clerk Ser. on Leaven p. 24.36 See 9. wayes by which the Magistrate may stop the flood of Heresies Mr. Obad. Sedgwicks Serm. on Revelation 12.15 p. 37. Preacht 1646. Iames 27. Mr. Edwards against Toleration Calvin contra Serv. inter Opuscul p. 694. Beza de Haert puniend Epistol contra Deditium Prins Treatise in defence of the Magistrates coercive power Mr. Rudderfords Treatise against Liberty of Conscience Doctor Taylor on Titus 3.1.10 p. 347 715. 2. Ministers must come forth to the helpe of the Lord against these daring Goliahs Even a Dogge will barke when hee seeth his Master wronged And a Craesus sonne that hath been dumbe all his life yet will speak when they offer violence to his father We are the Lords Watchmen and when we see the Wolf or the Theif approching we must give warning seducers are subtle and people can not easily discover their plots we must do it for them One great cause of so many abounding errors amongst us springs from Ministers 'T was whilest the watchmen slept that the enemy sowed his Tares Matthew 13.25 1. Some are ignorant dumb dogs and cannot bark 2. Others are scandalous and dare not for fear of being questioned themselves 3. Others see which way the times go and like dead fish they go down the stream they dare not displease they love to sleep in a whole skin and say as the great ones say But let us be the Lords witnesses against a perverse people this
they would stirre up the Magistrate since they have more especial influence on him and are more nearly related to him that he may no longer bear the sword in vain but as God hath made him the Drunkards terror the swearers terror and the profane mans terror so he may be the blaspheamers terror and the Quakers terrour making them Quake in a better kind c. That some of these are Witches accumulative compounded seducing blasphemous witches in the highest degree there is none that hath read their books or known their Practices but is or may be fully satisfied That such should be put to death is clear Exod. 22.18 Levit. 24.16 Dan. 3.29 Deut. 13.6 to 10. Some judicial precepts are Iuris communis of common equity such as are agreeable to the instinct and law of nature common to all men and these for substance bind all persons both Jews and Gentiles as being Moral and so agreeing with the Moral Law These judicial precepts which were Iuris particularis of particular equity such as pertained especially to the Jews common-wealth and were sitted for them and their time are now abolished E. g. that a man should marry with none but his own stock That the brother should raise up seed to his Brother and that a Thief should restore four-fold this was peculiar to their Common-wealth and not to ours For 1. They were a wealthy people had abundance and could better bear a losse then we can To steal an Oxe from him that hath a thousand is nothing in comparison of stealing an Oxe from him that hath but two or four 2. Violence is oft added to Theft and the publick peace of the Nation is oft broken thereby Now more regard is to be had of the publick peace then of a private mans life Melius est ut pereat unus quà m unitas The Question then will be whether it be lawfull to put a man to death for Theft Answ. We must distinguish of Theft 1. There is a single simple Theft and this admits of discreet pitty especially when 't is committed by reason of extream poverty and necessity 2. There is compounded Theft when Violence Assaults Frights in the night time especially by breaking of a mans dwelling house whereby the life of him and his are endangered and in such cases where the offence is multiplyed and increased there the Magistrate may increase the punishment and inflict death upon the party as appeares 2 Sam. 12.1 2 3 4 c. Exod. 22.2 Prov. 6.31 So then those judicial and civil Precepts which are agreeable to the Moral Law and do confirm and uphold it they bind for ever E. g. 'T is a judicial Law that adulterers and adulteresses should dye the death now this being agreeable to common equity and to the Law of Nature as appeares Gen. 38.24 where Iudah before this judicial Law was publish by Moses appoints Tamar his daughter-in-Law to be burnt for this sin and Nebuchadnezzar burnt Ahab and Zedekiah for it Ier. 29.21 22 23. So this judicial Law of putting Witches to death by the Magistrate is agreeable to common equity it helps to preserve all the Moral Prceepts which are broken by the Idolatry Murder and Malice of Wiches It preserves the Peace of the land and therefore is perpetual and must be executed in our dayes on such as practice witchcraft be they high or low white or black As witchcraft is the same for substance now as it was in the dayes of Moses viz. a Covenant with the Devil whereby men can do strange things above the Order of Nature so the punishment ought to be the same and Witches should now be more severely punisht because they sin against greater Light and Love against greater means and mercies Yea though they never hurt any person yet if it can be clearly proved that any person hath made a League with the Devil and is in confederacy with him this renouncing the Lord and contracting with his deadly enemy is a High Treason against God and deserves present and certain death It 's dangerous for Magistrates to suffer such to live whom God hath appointed unto death 1 Kings 20.42 True God is very tender of the life of man and therefore the Magistrate must be very cautious and make diligent inquiry to find out this great Mystery he must not judge by bare reports or doubtful signs but he must lay all the Testimonies Signs Circumstances and strong presumptions of witchcraft together and then judge of the Cause What a heap of words the Lord useth by way of Caution before a man be put to death Deut. 13.14 15. if a man were reported to be a seducer of others to Idolatry he must not presently be stoned though he were a son of Belial But they must enquire and make search and aske diligently and behold if it be truth and the thing be certain that such an abomination is wrought then they must surely die Levit. 20. ult this made Iosiah to destroy the witches of his time 2 King 23.14 yea Saul though a wicked man yet put witches to death 2 Sam. 28.3.9 though his heart was not sincere in what he did for he sought to them in his trouble and if the Magistrate will not cut off such yet God will Balaam the sorcerer fell by the sword Iosh. 13.22 Simon Magus fell and perisht miserably Yea Saul lost his life for seeking to such 1 Chron. 10.13 14. and so did Ahaziah 2 Kings 1.2 3 4. Levit. 20.6 2. Idolaters and enticers to Idolatry must die Exod. 22.20 Deut. 13.6.9 But witches are the grossest Idolaters they sacrifice to the Devil they pray to him trust in him and serve him who is Gods profest enemy 2. They entice others to forsake God Witches beget witches they usually seduce wives sons daughters friends c. and therefore they ought to die 3. Those that doe more especially bring Gods plagues on a Land and Nation ought more especially to be punisht But witches and wizards do more especially bring Gods Plagues on a Nation This brought the curse on the Canaanites and drove them out of their Land Deuteronomy 18.12 14 15. This was that crying sin which made the Lord to forsake his people Isay 2.6 Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people because they are South-sayers like the Philistims Manasses witch-craft and wickednesse brought plagues on the Jewes many years after So 2 Kings 17.17 18. I have insisted the more on this sin because witch-craft grows so rife in the Land Had it been practised in the midnight of Popery it had been no wonder to see such works of darkness in dayes of darkness Revelatiâ—ns 18.23 but now in the glorious Sunshine of the Gospel and day of special grace to practice such abominable works of darknesse makes mens sinnes out of measure sinneful We look for Peace but God may say to us as Iehu did to Ioram what hast thou to doe with Peace since the whoredomes of thy Mother Iesabel and
is the very formalis ratio the quintescence of zeal to be intense and increased to the utmost 'T is not every degree of Affection for a formalist may have some cold Vellieties and Luke-warm desires and a carnal man may have some joy and fear But zeal is another thing 't is a boiling over again with extremity of heat 'T is sacra ebullitio a holy heat and rising of the heart against sin It makes a man fervent or seething hot against sin Rom. 12.11 Water may be hot in some measure and yet not seeth seething hot is the highest degree of heat But the Hypocrite is affraid of being too zealous and active for God whereas we can never be too zealous in that we know to be good in it self and good for us to do We cannot exceed in our love to God nor in our obedience to him No vertue in its formal reason can be too much intended a man cannot be nimis liberalis tho he may be nimius in largitione Keep the horse under the bridle and in the right way and keep the stream within its banks let it run in a right channel and then the stronger the better 3. It will make us sharp and severe against our own sins but pittiful and compassionate to others As charity so zeal begins at home no man can speak so sharply against him as he doth against himself though others may excuse him yet he 'l not excuse himself 2 Sam. 24.10 But the Hypocrite he 's parcus sibi severus aliis High and harsh in his censures of others but indulgent to himself Matth. 7.4 the worst men are usually the greatest censurers Acts 28.4 4. It makes a man more zealous in great matters then in lesser In great causes he sheweth great zeal and in lesser causes lesser zeal He calls not for a Sword to kill a Flea nor for an Axe to crack an Egge He well knows that the same fire is not requisite for the roasting of an Egge as is for the roasting of an Ox. But the Hypocrite he 's magnus in minimis he 's fiery in small matters and cold in weighty ones With Saul he kills the lean but spares the fat And with the Pharises he Tythes Mint and Cummin but neglects obedience in the great things of the Law Matth. 23.23 5. He 's more zealous in Gods cause then in his own Moses how meek and quiet in his own cause Numb 12.3 Yet how hot in Gods Exod. 32.9.19.27 Hezekiah mourns more for Senacherib's blasphemy then for the Sword that was drawn against himself 2 Kings 19.3 4.16 David when himself was persecuted became as a deaf man but when Gods Law is transgressed his zeal consumes him and rivers of tears run down his eyes Christ himself in his own sufferings was as a Sheep before the Shearer dumb but when Gods house is profaned he doth not onely by words but blows drive them out with an holy violence Nehemiah how silent when himself was reproached but when Gods Sabbaths are profaned he contends even with Nobles about it Ioshua 7.8 is more tender over Gods Name then his own he doth not say what shall our names estates and lives do but what wilt thou do for thy own name The Church of Ephesus could bear any suffering but not sin Rev. 2.2 But the hypocrite is hot in his own case and key-cold in Gods let any wrong him or rob him he 's all on a flame but let Gods Name Sabbaths Servants be wronged he cares for no such things 4. True zeal may be known by it's concomitants and companions which are 4.1 'T is ever attended with wisedom and discretion 'T is not a rash ungrounded zeal but a wise sober well-grounded fervour As a good dish may be spoiled in the dressing so a good reproof for want of observing due circumstances of persons time and place may loose it's due operation Hence Solomon commends a word that 's spoken Beophman super rotis suis running on the wheels of all due circumstances Psal. 25.11 Fire on the hearth is good but fire in the top of the house is dangerous Love allows us to be warm and plain but not scalding hot in our reproofs A well-ordred zeal will teach a Nathan to catch a David in a parable Caut. Yet must we beware least under pretence of discretion we destroy zeal of which see more in the Objections 2. It keeps the bounds of its calling It dares do nothing without a call from God Simeon and Levi were good men and the cause was good but the prosecution of it was ill for they assumed the Magistrates power without a call Gen. 3.4 Excessive heat or excessive cold is poysen 3. He loves to see and to make others zealous It 's the nature of fire to multiply one livingâ—coal kindles another zealous Abraham will not keep his goodness to himself but he 'l communicate it to his family So Moses Numb 11.29 and Paul Acts 26.29 4. 'T is of a growing nature we must grow in zeal as well as in other graces A grain of mustard seed though it be little yet 't is lively Fire on the Altar might not be suffered to go out Levit. 6.13 As natural strength so this is increased by exercise To him that hath true zeal shall be given more Lastly this must quicken us all to an holy zeal and emulation in well-doing Most men seek to excell their Neighbours in riches fine houses fine fare but who labours to excel in vertue The living God delights not in dead hearts dead spirits become not his servants cold wishes and faint desires please not him we must be active and stirring if we desire that God should be with us for our God is not the God of the dead but of the living Who should be zealous and active for God if we be not as Nehemiah said in another case Neh. 6.11 Should such a one as I fly I that am under such special promises special protection special providences should I dishonour my profession and in a fearful manner fly so should such as we be cold and dead who live upon the bread of life and drink the water of life who have lively Oracles and lively Ordinances and all meanes to make us lively Let us therefore do what we do with all our might as David did when he danced before the Ark. 2 Sam. 6.14 Let us oppose sin with all our might Preach Pray and praise God with all our might Iudge 5.12 Psal. 103.23 Rom. 12.11 We should burn and boyl up in our spirits in duty By this meanes we shall prevent aboundance of dangerous temptations which seise on Luke-warm professors When Honey is cold every Fly and Wasp robs us of it but when 't is boyling and scalding hot they dare not come neer it When men are cold and indifferent in Religion every Sectary and Seducer which are the Devils Flies and Emissaries makes a prey of us but when we are hot
Court and the Martyrs wander up and down in Sheep-kins and Goat-skins being destitute afflicted tormented Heb. 11. Grant but this and then Cain need not fear to kill his brother Saul to persecute the Church Herod to kill the Saints Who will study to keep Gods Commandements or make any conscience of his wayes As for ourselves let us abhor that desperate Opinion which openeth the flood-gates to all villanies and abominations The broachers and obstinate defenders of such Tenents should die without mercy Zach. 13.3 And if the murderers of mens bodies must die for it then such murderers should die some remarkable death for as there are no mercies like soul mercies so there are no murders like these 2. The Immortality of our souls should make us have a special care of them we should see to them diligently Deuteronomy 4.9 Nature teacheth us to look to our bodies but grace to our souls The soul is the man and if that be lost all is lost but if you have a care of your souls God will have a care of your bodies If the Mid-wives fear the Lord he will provide them houses Exodus 1.21 If Solomon seek soul mercies God will cast in Temporal blessings into the bargain 1 Kings 3.12 There are many sicknesses now abroad the way to remove them is to cleave to the Lord and serve him with all our souls then he hath promised to bless our Land and to take all sickness from amongst us Exodus 23.25 Solomon telleth us that the soul is a precious thing Proverbs 6.26 and a wiser then Solomon hath told us that One soul is more worth then all the â—orld Matthew 16.26 Ten thousand worlds could not ransome one soul. Nothing but the precious blood of Christ who was God and Man could do it 1 Pet. 1.19 We see how careful men be for their bodies to feed them when hungry cloath them when naked Physick them when sick and arm them against dangers but the soul the immortal soul lieth starved naked sick and unarmed most with Martha carke and care for the body but few with Mary see to the better part We see how highly men prize their Natural Lives Skinn for skinn and all that they have they will give for them Iob 2.4 Offer a man all the World for his life and he can readily answer what will this profit me when I am dead but offer the same man a little gain honor pleasure for his soul and he 'l part with that for it Esau sold his soul for a mess of pottage Iudas his for 30. pieces of silver the Prodigal his for husks and the worldling for meer vanity drowns his soul in perdition 1 Tim. 6.9 Let us from time to come set a higher price on our souls let us so pray so hear so live as those that believe that our soules are immortal 'T is true we must have a moderate care of our bodies 1 Timothy 5.23 but the welfare of our soules must be chiefly regarded Matth. 6.33 Iohn 6.27 'T was an high commendation of Gajus when the Apostle wisheth he might be in health and prosper even as his Soul prospred 3 Iohn 1.2 I see more in Mr. Calamies Sermon at R. Boltoâ—s Funeral and Mr. Ambrose his Prima 2 P. p. 61. c. See 20. Reas. for the Souls Immortality in Mr. Baxters Saints Rest. P. 2. c. 10. S. 1. p. 298. Norton Orthodox Evangel c. 15. D. Arrowsmith Tactica S. l. 3. c. 3. S. 12. Prideaux Fascicul p. 315. Calvin de Psychopannychia inter Opuscula contra Libertinos cap. 22. Observation 5. 5. The death of the Martyrs is a most pleasing Sacrifice to God The obedient life and death of all Gods Saints is very pleasing to him Psal. 116.15 but the death of Martyrs who do actually seal to his truth with their dearest blood is a most deligthful sacrifice to him How vilely soever the world esteems of their sufferings yet they are precious in Gods eye and their blood shall pay for it who have made themselves drunk with the blood of his Saints Isay 63.13 Rev. 17.6 When ever therefore the Lord shall call for our lives especially by way of Martyrdom we should cheerfully offer them up in sacrifice to God rejoicing that we have a life or any thing of worth to loose for him We should be holily prodigal of our lives in Gods cause so were the Martyrs and so was Paul he did not value his life when he came to part with it in this kind Acts 20.24 Neither should we mourn inordinately moderately we may as they did for Steven Acts 8.2 for such as dye in the cause of Christ nor yet hinder our Relations in such resolutions but say The will of the Lord be done rejoicing that we have any children or friends that are worthy of so great an honour Observation 6. 6. The death of the Martyrs doth confirm the truth The Church is Gods garden and t is watered and enriched by the blood of Martyrs By sealing the truth with their blood and not loving their lives unto the death the weak are strengthened and the strong confirmed and though they be dead yet their Testimony speaks Heb. 12.4 they conquer even when they seem to be conquered and Chriâ—â— is magnified by their death as well as by their life Phil. 1.20 Caut. Not that the sufferings or constancy of the Martyrs is the foundation of our Faith but God hath ordained it as a means to strengthen it VERSE 7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finisht my course I have kept the Faith V. 7. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day and not to me onely but unto them also that love his appearing THE Apostle being come to the end of his race he looks about him he looks downward backward upward 1. He looks downward into the grave v. 6. whither he was going and there he sees comfort his death was a pleasing sacrifice to God and a friend to conveigh him to his fathers house 2. He looks backward and views his well-spent life with joy and comfort and in an Holy gloriation breaks forth I have fought the good fight c. A Soul that hath made its peace with God may with comfort and confidence look death in the face and say with good old Simeon Lord now let thy servant depart in peace 3. He looks upward and there he sees Heaven prepared for him v. 8. So that in these two verses we have Pauls work and Pauls wages we see what he did for God and what he expected from God Objct. But doth not this savour of vain-glory and Spiritual Pride Answer Not at all for the Apostle speaks not this Proudly or Thrasonically as if he had merited any thing at the hand of God for he testifieth against this in all his writings especially in Rom. 4. and Phil. 3. and tells us
mention not Vain-gloriously but Thankfully against both men and devils and beastly Barbarians I have contended for the Gospel constantly and couragiously My life is a race and I have run my course even to the very goal in despight of all opposition I have maintained and defended the truth of Christs Gospel inviolably according to my Christian profession and office Apostolical and now from henceforth I comfort my self with the expectation of that crown of immortality which upon the gracious promises of a righteous God is laid up for me and not for me onely but for all the faithful who love Christ and long for his coming Observations 1. 'T is lawful sometimes to speak of those gifts and graces which God hath given us that we may comfort and quicken others by our example But of this see the Observations on chapter 3.10 2. The sweetest songs of the Saints have been towards their last ends The sun shines sweetliest when it is setting the wine of the Spirit is strongest in the Saints when they are drawing to an end His motions are quickest when natural motions are slowest as we see in Moses his Swan-like Song Deut. 31. and 32. and 33. and David how sweetly doth he sing a little before he dies of Gods mercies to himselfe of the covenant of free Grace which God had made with him and his judgements on the sons of Belial 2 Samuel 23.1 to 8. Ioshua dying how sweetly doth he exhort the people to obedience by setting before them the mercies of God Ioshua 24. All Christs sayings are excellent but none so sweet and comfortable as those which he delivered a little before his death His last Sermon and Prayer how sweet are they Iohn 13.14 15 16 17. Iacob dying how sweetly doth he bless his sons Gen. 49. Steven dying prayes for their life who put him to death so did the Martyrs Doctor Prestons last Sermons were on the Attributes Doctor Sibbs his last Sermons on that comfortable Text Iohn 14.1 and Master Robert Boltons on the Joyes of Heaven Wicked men when they die they set in a Cloud and like the going out of a candle they leave a stench behind them as their bodies so their names rot and stink when they are dead and gone As wicked men grow worse and worse and their last dayes are their worst so good men grow better and better and their last dayes are their best having hut a little time to live in the world they are willing to leave it with a good savour Observation 3. 3. The sweet resent which a good Conscience hath of a well spent life is matter of singular comfort and rejoycing in death The Apostle was now near to death and what doth he rejoyce in why 't is in this that by the assistance of Christ he had fought a good sight and finisht his course and therefore he had hope as the righteous have even in death Proverbs 14.32 Elijah that had been zealous for the Lord of Hosts can with comfort desire the Lord to to take his soul 1 Kings 19.4.10 Hezekiah that great reformer when he heard that he must die yet comforteth himselfe with this that he had walked before God in sincerity and singleness of heart Isay 38.3 this upheld Iob in the middest of all his trials Iob 27.5 6. This comforted the Apostles when they were in deep distress 2 Corinthians 1.12 This is our rejoycing the Testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the world Not that the conscience of our sincere walking is the Deserver but the Assurer of our salvation Well-doing may Evidence to us our Election though it cannot Merit it 2 Peter 1.10 Men of good consciences sit at a continnal Feast Proverbs 15.15 a good heart or a quiet merry heart as some Translations render it Is not may be or shall be hereafter but is already a reall Feast and hereafter shall be consummate 'T is not a dead Ignorant secure benummed erroneous seared Conscience but it is an inlightned inlivened renewed pure conscience which is purged from the guilt of sinne by the blood of Christ and delivered from the Tyranny of sinne by the Spirit of Christ This this onely is a good Conscience This puritie of Conscience breedeth Peace and Peace breedeth Joy and Spirituall Mirth this reconcileth those Translations which render it a quiet or merry heart which is true in respect of the effects and fruits of a good conscience Now this good conscience is called a Feast 1. Because at a Feast there is variety of dainties and dishes abundance of cates and delicates 't is not a Feast without variety and plenty and more then ordinary fare So at this Feast there is great variety 1. Here is Ioy this is most sutable and seasonable at a Feast not a carnal sensual external inferiour joy but a spiritual supernatural Holy Heavenly solid serious well-grounded durable Joy which none can take from us Iohn 16.22 They rejoyce in the Lord alwayes Psalm 33.1 Philip. 4.4 yea even in Tribulation Romans 5.3 Iames 1.2 and that with a superlative transcendent Joy hence called Ioy unspeakable and glorious 1 Peter 1.8 and compared to Joy in Harvest when the husbandman after long toyl reapeth the fruits of his labours Isay 9.3 yea it surpasseth that joy Psalm 4.7 it mortifieth our delights to these low things makes us to rejoyce in them as though we rejoyced not 1 Cor. 7.31 Lo this is the first dish which is served in at this Royal Feast Matthew 13.44 Acts 16.34 and therefore it is called by a special propriety the joy of Gods people Psal. 206.5 2. At this Feast here is Peace not a Fading unsetled transitory Peace such as wicked men have but 't is a well grounded and a well bottomed Peace 't is built on the Word and it's foundation is laid in Humiliation it had a storm before it came to this calme 2. 'T is not an ordinary but a transcendent Peace such as passes all human understanding Phil. 4.7 mans wit cannot sufficiently conceive it nor value it according to its worth To have Peace with men and Angels is a mercy but when the soul lieth groaning under the sight and sense of sinne then for the Spirit to speak Peace to us to assure us that God in Christ is reconciled to us this is a mercy of mercies David had this Peace and therefore he fears not though ten thousand should compass him about Psalm 3.6 Peter that was in great danger of his life yet having a good cause and a good conscience he sleeps in Peace Acts 12.6 3. 'T is an everlasting peace Christ hath bequeathed it to his for ever Iohn 14.27 Peace I leave with you my Peace I give you The Lord hath bound himself by Covenant to continue it it is more firme then the pillars of the Earth or the Poles of Heaven Isay 54.9 The mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my