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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	lord_n	people_n	word_n	2,775	5	4.0281	3	true

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

Saint Paul to Titus hath appeared teaching men to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously c Acts 26.16 and go●●●● in this present evill world And 〈…〉 Christ to Paul have appeared 〈…〉 ●●is purpose to make thee a Mi●●ster 〈◊〉 witnesse both of these things which thou hast seene and of those things in the which I will appeare unto thee delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee to open their eyes and to turne them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God In regard of Gods expectation The husband-man after the long manuring of the field lookes for fruit from the field Who is the d Mat. 21. housholder in the parable that planted a vineyard but the Lord What is the vineyard but the Church and what are the vines but the several mēbers of the Church Who are the servants but the Ministers whom God sends to dresse his vineyard what is the fruit which God there expects but knowledge faith repentance the fruit of his Ministers labours in the soules of his servants The shepheard lookes for increase from the flocke which he watcheth feedeth conducteth and defendeth the husband lookes for children from the wife whom he espouseth the fruit of his wedlocke and God the husband and shepheard of our soules lookes for fruit from us over whom by his Ministers hee watcheth whom by their labours he feedeth conducteth and defendeth and espouseth to himselfe The Teacher expecteth learning from his scholer and herein saith Christ is my Father glorified e Joh. 15.8 that ye beare much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples In regard of honouring and glorifying the Word and Ministers thereof The fruitfulnesse of the field is the glory of the seed sowne in it and of the husband-man which sowed it f Psa 128.3 the wife which is as the vine by the sides of the house and the children standing like Olive plants round about the Table are the glory of the house and husband g Psal 127.5 happy is he that hath his quiver full of them sayth the Psalmist he shall not be ashamed The fruitfulnesse of the people when the Congregation is full of spirituall fruit like a vine growing by the house side and the severall members thereof fat and flourishing in grace like Olive plants then the Word is glorified then the Minister is honoured happy is that Messenger of God that hath his quiver the house of his Ministery full of them It is sayd of the Gentiles h Acts 13.48 that they heard and glorified the Word of God and as many as were ordained unto life beleeved They glorified the word of God by acknowledging the truth of it by beleeving the promises of salvation proposed in it by submitting themselves to the power and authoritie of it by walking answerably to it Mans obedience is the glory of Gods ordinance the fruitfulnesse of the hearers is the crowne of Gods Messengers In regard of peace and consolation to their owne soules The good effects of Physicke make the patient joyfull the fructification of the word in the heart of man makes the soule of man comfortable When the Gospel commeth not in i 1 Thess 1.5 word onely but in power also in power in lightning in power converting and changing the heart of man working and perfecting grace in the inward man then the soule of man is filled with joy in the holy Ghost then the Word is the joy and rejoycing of the heart then the k Isai 5.7.19 fruit of the lippe is peace spirituall inward universall plentifull and perpetuall peace peace with God peace with man peace with the conscience a paradise of heavenly comforts a river of peace which no humane understanding can fathome And therefore it must bee the care of men to see that they grow to much spirituall perfection after the Ministers long and frequent preaching This therefore reproveth such as after the long and frequent preaching of the Gospel continue barren and unfruitfull Use like the grounds about l 2 King 2.19 Iericho which were not made fertile but rather barren by the waters which did flow upon them to whom the waters drawne out of the wells of salvation are as waters powred upon the rocke which bringeth forth no fruit from whom the sounding of the trumpet of the Gospel and the constant cry of Gods watchmen like the m 1 King 18 26. call and cry of Baals worshippers from the morning to the evening upon Baal hath no voyce nor answer of faith in Gods promises of obedience to Gods precepts nor of godly sorrow for mens transgressions ministring matter of complaint to God provoking the site of Gods indignation against their soules I n Isa 64.2 have spred out my hands all the day long saith the Lord unto a rebellious people which walketh in a way that is not good after their owne thoughts a people that provoketh me to anger continually 〈…〉 face ministring cause of great complaint to Gods Messengers causing them to say with the Prophet Esay o Isa 53.1 Who hath beleeved our report and to whom hath the arme of the Lord been revealed to mourne wish with Jeremy O p Jer. 9.1 that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people O that I had in the wildernesse a lodging of way-faring men that I might leave my people and goe from them for they are all adulterers an assembly of treacherous men Great is the griefe arising in the soules of Gods Ministers when men continue barren under their labours And when men thrive not ascend not to perfection in grace by the care industry of Gods watch-men they lose that q Pro. 2.10 knowledge the presence whereof is more pleasant then the sun that r 1 Pet. 1.6 faith the enioyment whereof is more pretious then all gold that peace which is more comfortable and delightfull then any paradise then the garden of Eden it self and that communion with God in cōparison wherof the sweetest communion with men is but an exilement continuing their soules under the dominion of sin which is more loathsome full of torment then any sicknes under that bondage of Satan which is infinitely worse then captivity under any mortall tyrant provoking God at length to leave them and making their last account for all the Sermons which they have heard most dreadfull and most uncomfortable Therefore let it bee our care after the long and frequent preaching of the Gospel after the due and faithfull discharge of the Ministers dutie towards us to discharge our dutie also towards God the Lord hath caused the Starre of his Gospel a long time to shine amongst you and hath made the dew of his doctrine to drop for divers years upon you he hath shewed you his statutes and

branches the Patriarchs Moses the Prophets a Vine loaden with many sweet grapes but now there was nothing but leaves on it a glorious profession a formall performance of religious duties much vaunting and boasting that they were the children of Abraham but they were barren they did not the workes of Abraham they had neither the faith nor trode the steps of Abraham And therefore our Saviour cursed the figtree 1. In testimonium to shew his Deity his absolute authority and dominion over all creatures 2. In declarationem to shew his anger against the Jewish people 3. In typum thereby to shew what the end of that people should be 6 Barrennesse ruinateth the barren tree is hewed downe the barren ground is burned Heb. 6.8 a barren people the Lord will forsake remove and cast out of his sight this is fully expressed by our Saviour in the Parable of the Housholder Mat. 21.34 in which the Housholder is God the Vineyard is generally the Church particularly the people of the Jewes the hedges are the Mosaicall lawes likened to a hedge for distinction for preservation the people of the Jewes being by them distinguished from other people and preserved from wasting as a field by a hedge the Winepresse was their ministery of the Word likened to a Wine-presse in regard of preparation fitting them to offer unto God the pleasant wine of found obedience and holy and fervent prayers the Watch tower was the Kingdome Priesthood Temple likened to a Tower for the ornament honour glory which it ministred the husbandmen to whom he let it out were the Priests and Levites likened to husbandmen for their labour in and watchfulness over the Lords Vineyard and the Lord is likened to one going into a farre Countrey not for the mutation of his presence but by cessation of miracles immediate manifestation of himselfe among them leaving his Vineyard to their charge the servants sent were the Prophets whom they beat imprisoned killed stoned at last he sent his own Son whom they crucified and for their ingratitude and barrennesse the Vineyard hath beene long let out to others This did our Saviour threaten Mat. 23.37 38. How often would I have gathered you together and ye would not Behold your house is left unto you desolate and for this likewise he threatned the removing of the Candlesticke from the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.5 and for this we have great cause to humble our selves But what need may some say have we to humble our selves we have Gods Ordinances we have plenty of learned zealous godly Preachers we have multitudes of Professours the firmament of our Church is garnished with bright and shining starres our garden is decked with many sweet and beautifull flowers our orchard is set with variety of pleasant and fruitfull trees our land enriched with great abundance of all things much cause of rejoicing but what cause of humiliation Beloved Israel had the Arke rejoiced much in the presence of it yet fell before the enemy 1 Sa. 4.5 they had the Temple of the Lord they gloried not a little thereof yet were destroyed Jer. 7.4 Wee have many learned painfull able Ministers blessed bee the great Shepheard of our soules that sends them and the Lord daily increase the number of them wee may say indeed with the Psalmist The Lord hath not dealt so with every nation Psal 147.20 Yet this was a prerogative to which Ierusalem was no stranger all the Prophets were set as watchmen upon her walles Isa 62.6 the Baptist also who excelled all the Prophets the Sonne of God himselfe and all the Apostles were sent to them yet after all this and even then was Ierusalem destroyed The more labourers in the vineyard the nigher is it unto burning if it continue unfruitfull Wee have plenty of all things so had Ierusalem a land flowing with milke and hony Isa 47.7 Babylon sate as a Queene and no widow and many who open as saith the Psalmist their mouthes against heaven Psal 73.5 have more then heart could wish and yet have been set in slippery places the more wee have received the more such ought to bee humbled as make not the best use of it It is not the presence but the good use wee make of our temporall fulnesse which proveth us to bee Gods servants Wee have many Professors men forward in attending Gods ordinances in the performance of holy duties So there were also in the dayes of our Saviour but they undertooke their profession upon false grounds for outward things Ioh 6.26 Ioh. 2.22 and therefore our Saviour would not commit himselfe unto them There were many beasts in the Arke but not all clean Foure sorts of ground received seed but onely one good Profession without practise is odious in Gods presence such of all people are in Gods eye most hatefull to Gods name most dishonuorable to Gods religion most scandalous Tit. 1.16 as professe that they know God but in workes deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good worke reprobate As wee looke on what wee have and are comforted so let us looke on what wee want and be humbled and thus consider First how many ignorant idle covetous corrupt unprofitable carnall and carelesse Ministers wee have who either doe not Gods worke at all or at least are very carelesse in the performance of it leaving their congregations as candlestickes without a candle children without a nurse families without a stewart ships without a pilot Some Foxes there are among the Shepheards some Drones among the Bees thus of old Some were covetous looking for their gaine from every quarter some dawbed with untempered morter some cried Isa 56.11 Ezek. 13.10 Ier. 23.14 Peace when there was no peace some strengthened the hands of the wicked Thus of old and thus now and thus wee have cause of humiliation Secondly how are the painfull and faithfull Ministers of the Word entertained 1 Kin. 22.8 2 Chro. 32.16 Jer. 15 10. Are they not for the most part hated mocked made as men of cōtention to the whole earth Doe not the men of the world handle them as Hanuns servants did Davids men when they shaved off their beards unto the halfe 2 Sam. 10.4 and cut off their garments to the buttockes loading them with reproches depriving them of their maintenance filling them with manifold discomforts esteeming powerfull and plaine preaching with the men of Athens no better then babbling Acts 17.18 Thirdly what doe wee for the most part profit by the labours of Gods Ministers Where is our repentance reformation new life Are not a great number of us like Micha the Idolater that pronounced himselfe blessed Jud. 17.13 because hee had a Levite to his Priest though hee still kept his Idol And thus a great number blesse themselvs in the naked having of the ministery of the Word though they still retain their Idol their covetousnesse drunkennesse pride malice like the

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

home the waters which are drawne out of the Wells of salvation as in firme and sure vessels by engraving upon your hearts as letters written with a pen of Iron or the point of a Diamond that it may never bee blotted out by ruminating and meditating thereupon day and night writing them upon the tables of your h●arts Pro. 7.2 3 4. keeping them as the apple of your eye binding them as jewels and precious stones upon your fingers in regard of your affection to them high estimation carefull preservation continuall remembrance of them singular delight in them let them be to you as sisters and kinswomen for your daily commemoration of them familiar communion and acquaintance with them Bee fruitfull in your affections let your love grow as the waters which flowed out under the Temple Ezek. 47.5 1 King 18 44 45. as the Cloud which was first no bigger then a mans hand and at length so great that it covered the whole heavens let it grow to a great love to a flaming and a burning fire a fire so strong that no floods be able to quench it to a love like Jonathans love to David a love surpassing the love of women to their children O love the Lord all ye his Saints Ps 35.23 saith the Psalmist love him with a childs love a friends love a wifes love love him with all manner of love love him purely in regard of the spring whence your love ariseth love him sincerely for the quality love him fervently for the measure love him continually constantly for the time love him universally for the extent love him in his Attributes as a God of power supporting a God of wisedome guiding a God of mercy forgiving love him in his Creatures as an Almighty Maker love him in his Word as a King prescribing lawes of obedience as a friend revealing his counsels declaring the riches of his mercies love him in Christ Jesus as a Father love him in his children as the fountaine of all grace and sanctification Bee fruitfull in all your sufferings As spices the more bruised the more fragrant resemble the fire in Nymphaeus which if we give credit to Pliny imbribus fit ardentior let all your sufferings be as Schoolemasters teaching fires purging trumpets awakening spurres quickning Zac. 10.9 winds driving neerer to God come forth of the fornace of affliction as gold out of the fire be able to say out of experience to Satan tempting to the world hating Gen. 50.20 traducing persecuting as Joseph said to his brethren Ye thought evill against me but God meant it unto good as it is this day Be fruitfull in your Callings Ministers in teaching Magistrates in governing every man in his particular Calling As every member in the body the head eyes hands feet are all profitable in their places so should each of us be fruitfull in the station wherein the Lord hath set us Every wheele in the clock hath his motion doth his part every starre in the firmament sendeth forth his influence giveth his light so must every person in that politicall or ecclesiastical orb where God hath set him abide and be fruitfull 1 Cor. 7.24 6 Be fruitfull in all your Actions in your hearing as fields receiving good seed in your prayers draw some water out of Gods well let not thy prayer returne empty Heb. 10.24 but like Noahs Dove with an olive branch of some comfort in your meetings Consider one another provoke one another to good workes in your speeches let your tongue be as choice silver Pro. 10.20 21. and fruitfull pasture for the purity sincerity profitablenesse enrichment of others feeding filling the hungry rejoycing the sorrowfull strengthening the weake by your gracious communication as by a spirituall banquet in your families let every man wife Luke 1.6 like Zachary and Elizabeth walk in all the ordinances of God and be blameles every master like Abraham Gen. 18.19 command his people to keepe the way of the Lord every servant like Joseph in Potiphars house so religious towards God so observant of his master so faithfull in his Calling that all his undertakings may be prosperous every son and daughter so attentive to the parents instruction so full of grace and godlinesse that they may make glad the hearts of their parents be an ornament to their families as the flowers to the garden every subject so loyall faithfull and obsequious to his Soveraigne that he prove both an honour and strength to the Kingdome every houshold like Philemons house Philem. vers 2. a Church of God in regard of holy instructions there delivered religious duties there observed in regard of the lively faith and holy life of such as live in it thus let us endevour to be fruitfull thus let us grow in grace Hearken beloved how Saint Paul perswades you We beseech you brethren 1 Thes 4.1 and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walke and to please God so ye would abound more and more Consider deare Christians how Saint Peter presseth it 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7. Giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse And to the end you may be fruitfull under the meanes you must be 1 Carefull in preparing a prepared field is made fruitfull by the seed and a prepared soule receiveth much benefit by the ordinances of the Lord you must put iniquity farre away from you Job 11.13 by desertion detestation declination of every occasion leading thereunto Gen. 43.24 Josephs brethren washed their feet made ready their present when they were to come before him and bowed themselves unto the earth and then Joseph made them eat and drinke and they were merry with him thus when we come before our Joseph our God and our Christ Isa 1.16 we must wash and be cleane wee must make ready our eare to heare our heart to pray and present our petition before the Lord and then the Lord Jesus will sup with us feast and feed us and make us merry Rev. 3.20 Isa 56.7 joyfull with him in his Ordinances 2 Diligent in frequenting the house of God the place where the meanes is we must wisely forecast all our businesse that we be not hindered husband our time well that we may have time to spare for good duties Cleanthes carried water by night that he might not be hindered from studying the Liberall Sciences by day thus should we rather worke by night then be absent from the house of Christ by day It is a foule shame that Shops Tavernes Market places nay the house of Baal 2 Kin. 10.20 21. should be full and the house of God empty If you purpose to be fruitfull you must attend on the Ministers of the Lord as Lydia did on Paul Act. 16.14 the lame man at Bethesda as Suiters

Clients wait day by day and houre by houre at the gates of Princes and Counsellours to have their suits heard causes favoured petitions granted thus must wee wait daily upon the posts of the Lords house and then we shall be blessed Pro. 8.34 3 Holy fervent and frequent prayer pray for a powerfull and faithfull ministry for a zealous and godly Magistracy in every Corporation and Congregation in the Kingdome for an universall reformation in every particular family Hanna was in bitternesse of spirit prayed 1 Sam. 1.10 and her barren womb was opened and made fruitfull thus fervent prayer is an instrument of great antemnae quò altius malo affiguntur eò velocius navim impellunt and they render the reason quia virtus movens quò est remotior à centro eò velocior validior so in this case the more the mind thoughts and affections of a Christian are raised up the more strong speedy and cheerfull he is in his spirituall motion the more fruitfull in every religious and holy undertaking therefore according to that of the Apostle Col. 3.1 2. If you be risen with Christ seeke those things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth Thus of what we are to gather from the first branch of this text our Saviours Commiseration next followeth his Exprobration of them wherein we may behold 1. The reason why our Saviour did upbraid them their ignorance they knew not They had Cognitionem Historicam but not Mysticam they had Cognitionem speculativam but not affectivam they had Cognitionem apprehensionis but not Approbationis they had Cognitionem discursivam but not Experimentalem Thus they knew not Christ in regard of affection he was as a stranger whom they loved not in regard of affiance as a withered reed on whom they leaned not in regard of feare as a Carpenters sonne a poore man whom they reverenced not in regard of joy and estimation hee was to their eye as a face in which is no beauty nor comelinesse Thus were they ignorant 2. Here is the matter whereof they were ignorant the things belonging to their peace happinesse and everlasting welfare Peace cometh of a word signifying perfection it compriseth in a large sense the whole welfare of soule and body Peace in regard of the Subject where it resideth 1 Thess 5.3 Rom. 14.17 Judg. 4.17 is either carnall or spirituall in regard of the Object or parties with whom wee embrace it it is either civill between man and man Gal. 5.22 or Christian between Gods children Ephes 2.14 or divine and heavenly between God and the soule of man in regard of the Adjunct Psa 121.6 2 King 20 19. Rom. 12.18 Phil. 4.7 it is either publicke of the Church or Common-wealth or private between our selves and our neighbours or secret between each particular person and his owne conscience The peace here spoken of is a spirituall and heavenly peace between God and their soules a peace in regard of the fountaine flowing originally from God the Father Phil. 4.7 Isa 53.5 the cause meriting Christs sufferings the instrument revealing and working it Eph. 6.15 the Gospel the medium by and through which it is revealed Col. 1.20 the Sonne of God the Mediator the cause efficient Rom. 14.17 Isa 54.13 Isa 57.20 the holy Spirit the subject receiving it the heart sanctified They knew that true peace consisted in having perfect communion with God but that the preaching of the Gospel was the instrument and Christ the procuring cause of it they knew not and for this they were upbraided Here is the amplification of their ignorance Mat. 3.1 taken from the season In this thy day Day generally signifieth time specially a naturall or artificiall day Ios 11.9 but usually in Scripture day is three wayes taken First Psa 90.9 there is dies vitae as the day is short full of changes and attended with the night so is the life of man of small continuance subject to many changes ever waited on by death Secondly there is dies doctrinae 1 Cor. 3.13 the day is lightsome discovereth things hidden such is the nature and such is the effect of the word of God Rom. 13.12 Thirdly there is dies gratiae this is the day here mentioned a time wherein God offered mercie to them fitly resembled to the day in regard of Revelation without the Gospel it is all night all darkness In regard of Adornation the Gospel the meanes of grace is the crowne honour beauty of a place or people as the day is the glory of the world In regard of Consolation the day is pleasant Eccles 11.7 It is a pleasant thing to the eye to behold the light so are the meanes and times of grace pleasant comfortable to the souls of the people In regard of Distinction the day distinguisheth one thing from another so under the meanes of grace Jer. 15.19 the pretious are separated from the vile the chosen from the reprobate In regard of speedie preterition a day is soone gone so is the meanes of grace soone removed a night of uncomfortable darknesse brought upon us if wee make not vse of the meanes when we have it which is the 4th and last thing here observable their deprivation of the meanes of grace the things belonging to their peace were hidden from their eyes the punishment of their former ignorance contempt rebellion barrennesse ingratitude they were left in their blindnesse From the exclamation and amplification our Saviour upbraiding them for their ignorance depriving them of the meanes of life for their barrennesse blindnesse disobedience under it we may learne that Doct. It is very dangerous and fearfull for any people or person to neglect the meanes and times of grace which God doth offer them There was a Law in the dayes of Moses that when they came to fight against a Citie Deut. 20.10 11 12 13. peace must bee proclaimed if they would not accept the peace proffered and become tributaries then they should besiege it and when the Lord had delivered it into their hands they should smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword In like sort the Lord by the ministery of the word laieth siege to our soules proffereth conditions of peace but if wee refuse peace when hee offers it and will not bee reconciled and will not become tributaries to him but deny to him the tribute of love above all creatures the tribute of obedience before all persons the tribute of dependance in all estates and conditions the tribute of contrition confession for all offences the tribute of humiliation at the apprehension of our present vilenesse the tribute of thankfulnesse for all received mercies if wee refuse this the Lord will besiege us with an Armie of fearfull plagues and punishments and at length miserably destroy us hee