the children of God present Christ in the Arms of their Faith 2. The prayers of Gods children indited by the Spirit are ardent prayers Ye have received the Spirit whereby we cry Abba Father Rom. 8.15 Father that implies Faith we cry that implies fervency The incense was to be laid upon burning coals Lev. 16.12 The incense was a type of prayer the burning coals of ardency in prayer Elias prayed earnestly Jam. 5.17 In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verbis addita verbalia apud Hebraeus vehementiam significant Grot. IN PRAYING HE PRAYED that is he did it with vehemency †in prayer the heart must boyle over with heat of affection Prayer is compared to groans unutterable * Rom. 8.26 it alludes to a woman that is in pangs We should be in pangs when we are travelling for mercy such prayer commands God himself Isa 45.11 3. The prayers of Gods children are heart-cleansing prayers they purge out sin many pray against sin and sin against prayer Gods children do not only pray against sin but pray down sin 3. The Spirit of God hath a witnessing work in the heart Gods children have not only the influence of the Spirit but the witness Rom. 8.16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God There is a three-fold witness a child of God hath the witness of the Word the witness of Conscience the witness of the Spirit the Word makes the major Proposition He who is in such a manner qualified is a childe of God Conscience makes the minor but Thou art so divinely qualified the Spirit makes the conclusion therefore Thou art a child of God The Spirit joyns with the witness of Conscience Rom. 8.16 The Spirit witnesseth with our spirits The Spirit teacheth Conscience to search the Records of Scripture and finde its evidences for heaven it helps conscience to spell out its name in a promise it bears witness with our spirit Quest Quest But how shall I know the witness of the Spirit from a delusion Answ Answ The Spirit of God always witnesseth according to the Word as the Eccho answers the voyce Enthusiasts speak much of the Spirit but they leave the Word That inspiration which is either without the Word or against it is an imposture The Spirit of God did indite the Word 2 Pet. 1.21 Now if the Spâ—rit should witness otherwise than according to the Word the Spirit should be divided against it self it should be a spirit of contradiction witnessing one thing for a truth in the Word and another thing different from it in a mans conscience 4. The fourth sign of Gods children is Zeal for God they are zealous for his Day his Truth his Glory they who are born of God are impatient of his dishonour Moses was cool in his own cause but hot in Gods when the people of Israel had wrought folly in the golden Calf he breaks the Tables When Saint Paul saw the people of Athens given to Idolatry his spirit was stirred in him Acts 17.16 In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his spirit was imbittered or as the word may signifie he was in a Paroxysme or burning fit of zeal He could not contain but with this fire of zeal dischargeth against their sin As we shall answer for idle words so for sinful silence it is dangerous in this sense to be possessed with a dumb Divel David saith the zeal of Gods house had eaten him up Psal 69.9 Many Christians whose zeal once had almost eaten them up now they have eaten up their zeal they are grown tepid and neutral the breath of preferment blowing upon them hath cooled their heat I can never believe that he hath the heart of a childe in him that can be patient when Gods glory suffers Can an ingenuous childe endure to hear his father reproached though we should be silent under Gods displeasure yet not under his dishonour When there is an holy fire kindled in the heart it will break forth at the lips zeal tempered with holiness is the white and sanguine which gives the foul its best complexion Of all others let Ministers be impatient when Gods glory is impeached and eclipsed A Minister without zeal is like salt that hath lost its savour Zeal will make men take injuries done to God as done to themselves It is reported of Chrysostom that he reproved any sin against God as if he himself had received a personal wrong * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let not Ministers be either shaken with fear or seduced with flattery God never made Ministers to be as false glasses to make bad faces look fair for want of this fire of zeal they are in danger of another fire even the burning lake Rev. 21.8 into which the fearful shall be cast 5. Those who are Gods children and are born of God are of a more noble and celestial spirit than men of the world they minde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things above * Col. 3.2 1 John 5.4 Whatsoever is born of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 overcometh the world The children of God live in an higher Region they are compared to Eagles Isa 40.31 in regard of their sublimeness and heavenly-mindedness their souls are fled aloft Christ is in their heart Col. 1.27 and the world is under their feet Rev. 12.1 Men of the world are ever tumbling in thick clay they are terrae filii not Eagles but Earth-worms the Saints are of another spirit they are born of God and walk with God as the childe walks with the father Noah walked with God Gen. 6.9 Gods children shew their high Pedigree in their heavenly Conversation Phil. 3.21 6. Another sign of Adoption is love to them that are children Gods children are knit together with the bond of love as all the members of the body are knit together by several nerves and ligaments If we are born of God then we love the brotherhood 1 Pet. 2.17 Idem est motus animae in imaginem rem he that loves the person loves the picture The children of God are his walking pictures and if we are of God we love those who have his Effigies and Pourtraiture drawn upon their souls If we are born of God we love the Saints notwithstanding their infirmities Children love one another though they have some imperfections of nature a squint-eye or a crooked back We love gold in the Oar though it have some drossiness in it the best Saints have their blemishes We read of the spot of Gods children Deutr. 32.5 A Saint in this life is like a fair face with a scar in it If we are born of God we love his children though they are poor we love to see the image and picture of our father though hung in never so poor a Frame we love to see a rich Christ in a poor man And if we are children of the Highest we shew our love to Gods children 1. By prizing their persons
heart to be ignorant of sin Signs of an impure heart or Christ argues impurity of heart Nahash the Ammonite would enter into Covenant with the men of Jabesh-Gilead so he might thrust out their right eyes 1 Sam. 11.2 Satan leaves men their left eye in worldly knowledge they are quick-sighted enough but the right eye of spiritual knowledge is quite put out 2 Cor. 4.4 Ignorance is Satans strong hold Acts 26.18 The Divels are bound in chains of darkness Jude 6. So are all ignorant persons impossible it is that an ignorant heart should be good it is knowledge makes the heart good Prov. 19.2 That the soul be without knowledge it is not good For any to say though their mind be ignorant yet their heart is good they may as well say though they are blind yet their eyes are good In the Law when the plague of Leprosie was in a mans head the Priest was to pronounce him unclean This is the case of an ignorant man the Leprosie is in his head he is unclean That heart cannot be very pure which is a Dungeon Grace cannot reign where ignorance reigns an ignorant man can have no love to God Ignoti nulla cupido he cannot love that which he doth not know he can have no faith knowledge must usher in faith Psal 9.10 he cannot worship God aright John 4.22 Though he may worship the true God yet in a wrong manner ignorance is the root of sin blindness leads to lasciviousness Ephes 4.18 19. Prov. 7.23 Ignorance is the mother of pride Revel 3.17 It is the cause of Error 2 Tim. 3.6 and which is worst an affected ignorance aliud est nescire aliud nolle scire Many are in love with ignorance * Non modo ducem non quaerunt sed oblatum respuunt Bern. they hug their disease Job 21.14 2 Pet. 3.5 Ignorant minds are impure there is no going to heaven in the dark 2. That heart is impure which sees no need of purity Revel 3.17 I am rich and have need of nothing Not to be sensible of a disease is worse than the disease you shall hear a sick man say I am well I ayle nothing there are some who need no Repentance Luk. 15.7 Some sinners are too well to be cured heart-purity is as great a wonder to a natural man as the new-birth was to Nicodemus Joh. 3.4 'T is sad to think how many go on confidently and are ready to bless themselves never suspecting their condition till it be too late 3. He hath an impure heart who regards iniquity in his heart Psal 66.18 If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me In the Original it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if I look upon sin that is with a lustful look sin-regarding is inconsistent with heart-purity Quest What is it to regard iniquity Quest Answ 1 Answ 1. When we indulge sin when sin not only lives in us but we live in sin Some will leave all their sins but one Jacob would let all his sons go but Benjamin Satan can hold a man by one sin the Fowler holds the Bird fast enough by a Wing or Claw Others hide their sins like one that shuts up his Shop-windows but follows his Trade within doors Many deal with their sins as Moses his mother dealt with him she hid him in the Ark of Bulrushes as if she had left him quite but her eye was still upon him and in conclusion she became his Nurse Exod. 2.9 So many seem to leave their sins but they only hide them from the eye of others their heart still goes after them and at last they Nurse and give the breast to their sins 2. To regard iniquity is to delight in iniquity A child of God though he sins yet he doth not take a complacency in sin Rom. 7.15 What I hate that do I but impure souls make a recreation of sin 2 Thes 2.12 They had pleasure in unrighteousness Never did one feed with more delight on a dish he loves than a wicked man doth upon the forbidden fruit This delight shews the will is in the sin Et voluntas est regula mensura actionis 3. To regard iniquity is to lay in provision for sin Rom. 13.14 Make not provision for the flesh Sinners are Caterers for their lusts 't is a Metaphor taken from such as make provision for a Family or victual a Garrison The Greek word there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a projecting and fore-casting in the mind how to bring a thing about This is to make provision for the flesh when one studies to gratifie the flesh and lay in fuel for lust Thus Amnon made provision for the flesh 2 Sam. 13.5 He fains himself sick and his sister Tamar must be his Nurse she must cook and dress his meat for him by which means he defiled the breasts of her Virginity it is sad when mens care is not to discharge conscience but to satisfie lust 4. To regard iniquity is to give it respect and entertainment as Lot shewed respect to the Angels Gen. 19.2 He bowed himself with his face toward the ground and said behold now my Lords turn in I pray you c. When the Spirit of God comes it is repulsed and grieved but when tentation comes the sinner bowes to it sets open the great Gates and saith Turn in my Lord this is to regard iniquity 5. He is said to regard sin that doth not regard the threatnings of God against sin We read of seven thunders uttering their voyce Rev. 10.3 How many thunders in Scripture utter their voyce against sin Psal 68.21 God shall wound the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his Trespasses Here is a thundering Scripture but sinners fear not this thunder let a Minister come as a Boanerges cloathed with the spirit of Eliah and denounce all the curses of God against mens sins they regard it not they can laugh at the shaking of a Spear * Job 41.29 this is to regard iniquity and doth argue an impure heart 4. An unbelieving heart is an impure heart The Scripture calls it expresly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an evil heart of unbelief Hebr. 3.12 An unbelieving heart is evil summo gradu 't is full of the poyson of hell Unbelief is omnium peccatorum colluvies the root and receptactle of sin 1. Unbelief is a God-affronting sin 1. It puts the lye upon God it calls in question his power * Psa 78.19 20. mercy truth 1 John 5.10 He that believeth not hath made God a lyar And can a greater affront be cast upon the God of glory 2. It makes us trust to second causes which is a setting the creature in the room of God 2 Chron. 16.12 Asa in his disease sought not to the Lord but to the Physitians He relied more on the Physitian than upon God Saul seeks to the Witch of Endor O high affront to lean upon the Reed and neglect the Rock
Expedient Be ye kind one to another Ephes 4.32 3. Look not upon the failings of others but their graces there is no perfection here We read of the spots of Gods children Deutr. 32.5 The most golden Christians are some grains too light Oh let us not so quarrel with the infirmities of others as to pass by their vertues If in some things they fail in other things they excel 'T is the manner of the world to look more upon the Sun in an Eclipse than when it shines in its full lustre 4. Pray to God that he will send down the Spirit of peace into our hearts we should not as Vultures prey one upon another but pray one for another Pray that God will quench the fire of contention and kindle the fire of compassion in our hearts one to another So much for the first thing in the Text implied that Christians should be peaceable-minded I proceed to the second expressed That they should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peace-makers SECT 5. Pressing Christians to be Peace-makers Doctr. 2 THAT all good Christians ought to be peace-makers Doctr. 2 they should not only be peaceable themselves but make others to be at peace as in the body when a joynt is out we set it again so it should be in the body Politick When a garment is rent we sowe it together again when others are rent asunder in their affections we should with a spirit of meekness sow them together again Had we this excellent skill we might glue and unite dissenting spirits I confess it is oft a thankless office to go about to reconcile differences * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. Naz. Acts 7.27 Handle a bryar never so gently it will go near to scratch he that goes to interpose between two Fencers many time receives the blow but this duty though it may want success as from men yet it shall not want a blessing from God Blessed are the peace-makers O how happy were England if it had more peace-makers Abraham was a peace-maker Gen. 13.8 Moses was a peace-maker Exod. 2.13 and that ever to be honoured Emperor Constantine when he called the Bishops together at that first Council of Nice to end Church-controversies they having instead of that prepared bitter invectives and accusations one against another Constantine took their papers and rent them gravely exhorting them to peace and unanimity Use 1. Reproof It sharply reproves them that are so Use 1 far from being peace-makers that they are peace-breakers Reproof If blessed are the peace-makers then cursed are the peace-breakers If peace-makers are the children of God then peace-breakers are the children of the Divel Hereticks destroy the truth of the Church by Error and Schismaticks destroy the peace of it by division the Apostle sets a bâ—â—nd upon such Rom. 16.17 Mark those which cause divisions and avoid them Have no more to do with them than with Witches or Murderers The Divel was the first peace-breaker he divided man from God he like Phaeton set all on fire There are too many make-bates in England whose sweetest Musick is in discord who never unite but to divide as it was said of one of the Arian Emperours he procured unity to prevent peace * Unitatem procurat ne pax sit How many in our dayes may be compared to Sampsons Fox-tails which were tyed together only to set the Philistines Corn on fire Judges 15.4 5. Sectaries unite to set the Churches peace on fire these are the persons Gods soul hates Prov. 6.19 Sowers of discord among Brethren these are the children of a curse Deutr. 27.24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly That is who backbites and so sets one friend against another if there be a Divel in mans shape it is the Incendiary Use 2 Use 2. It exhorts to two things Exhort 1. Let us take up a bitter lamentation for the divisions of England the wild Beast hath broken down the hedge Branch 1 of our peace we are like an house falling to ruine if the Lord doth not mercifully under-prop and shore us up None of the sons of England comfort her but rather rake in her bowels Will not an ingenuous child grieve to see his mother rent and torn in pieces It is reported of Cato that from the time the Civil Wars began in Rome between Cesar and Pompey he was never seen to laugh or shave his beard or cut his hair That our hearts may be sadly affected with these our Church and State-divisions let us consider the mischief of divisions 1. They are a Prognostick of much evil to a Nation here that Rule in Philosophy holds true omne divisibile est corruptibile When the vail of the Temple did rend in pieces it was a sad omen and fore-runner of the destruction of the Temple the rending the vail of the Churches peace betokens the ruine of it Josephus observes that the City of Hierusalem when it was besieged by Titus Vespasian had three great factions in it which destroyed more than the enemy and was the occasion of the taking it How fatal intestine divisions have been to this Land Cambden and other learned Writers relate our discerptions and mutinies have been the scaling ladder by which the Romans and the Normans have formerly gotten into the Nation How is the bond of peace broken we have so many Schisms in the body and are run into so many particular Churches that God may justly unchurch us as he did Asia 2. It may afflict us to see the garment of the Churches peace rent because divisions bring an opprobrium and scandal upon Religion these make the ways of God evil spoken as if Religion were the fomenter of strife and sedition Julian in his invectives against the Christians said they lived together as Tygers rending and devouring one another and shall we make good Julians words 'T is unseemly to see Christs Doves fighting to see his lilly become a bramble Alexander Severus seeing two Christians contending commanded them that they should not take the name of Christians any longer upon them for saith he you dishonour your Master Christ Let men either lay down their contentions or lay off the coat of their profession 3. Divisions obstruct the progress of piety the Gospel seldom thrives where the apple of strife grows the building of Gods spiritual Temple is hindered by the confusion of tongues Division eats as a worm and destroys the peaceable fruits of righteousness * Hebr. 12.11 In the Church of Corinth when they began to divide into Parties one was for Paul and another for Apollo there were but few for Christ confident I am Englands divisions have made many turn Atheists 2. Let us labour to heal differences and be repairers Branch 2 of breaches Blessed are the peace-makers 1. Jesus Christ was a great peace-maker he took a long journey from heaven to earth to make peace 2. Peace and unity is a great means for the corroborating and strengthning the Church
we suffer for the truth and espouse the quarrel of Religion this is to suffer for righteousness sake Acts 28.20 For the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain 2. When we suffer with a good conscience A man may have a good cause and a bad conscience he may suffer for righteousness sake yet he himself be unrighteous Saint Paul as he had a just cause so he had a pure conscience Acts 23.1 I have lived in all good conscience to this day Paul kept a good conscience to his dying day a good conscience will make a man suffer with comfort it hath made the Saints go as chearfully to the stake as if they had been going to a Crown look to it that there be no flaw in conscience A ship that is to sail upon the waters must be preserved from leaking when Christians are to sail on the waters of persecution let them take heed there be no leak of guilt in their conscience he who suffers though it be in Gods own cause with a bad conscience suffers two hells an hell of persecution and an hell of damnation 3. When we have a good call Matth. 10.18 When ye shall be brought before Kings c. There is no question but a man may so far consult for his safety that if God by his Providence open a door he may flie in time of persecution Matth. 10.23 But when he is brought before Kings and the case is such that either he must suffer or the truth must suffer here is a clear call to suffering and this is reckon'd for Martyrdom 4. When we have good ends in our suffering viz. that we may glorifie God set a seal to the truth shew our love to Christ Matth. 10.18 When you shall be brought before Kings for my sake The Primitive Christians did burn more in love than in fire when we look at God in our sufferings and are willing to make his Crown flourish though it be in our ashes this is that suffering which carries away the Garland of glory 5. When we suffer as Christians 1 Pet. 4.16 If any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed To suffer as a Christian is to suffer with such a Spirit as becomes a Christian which is 1. When we suffer with patience Jam. 5.10 Take my Brethren the Prophets for an example of suffering affliction and of patience A Christian must not repine but say Shall I not drink the cup of Martyrdom which my Father hath given me There should be such a spirit of meekness in a Christians suffering that it should be hard to say which is greater his persecution or his patience When Job had lost all he kept the breast-plate of innocency and the shield of patience an impatient Martyr is a Solecism 2. To suffer as Christians is when we suffer with courage Courage is a Christians Armour of proof it steels and animates him The three children or rather the three Champions were of brave heroick spirits they do not say to the King we ought not serve thy gods but we will not Dan. 3.18 Neither Nebuchadnezzars Musick nor his Furnace could alter their resolution Tertullian was called an Adamant for his invincible courage Holy courage makes us as one of the Fathers saith edomita fronte ad Crucis opprobrium have such faces of brass that we are not ashamed of the Cross this is to suffer as Christians when we are meek yet resolute The more the fire is blown the more it flames so it is with a brave-spirited Christian the more opposition he meets with the more his zeal and courage flames forth What a spirit of gallantry was in Luther who writing to Melancthon If saith he it be not the cause of God we are imbarked in let us desert it if it be his cause and will bear us out why do we not stand to it * Si piam justam causam defendimus cur Dei promissis non confidimus 3. To suffer as Christians is to suffer with chearfulness Patience is a bearing the Cross chearfulness is a taking up the Cross Christ suffered for us chearfully his death was a free-will offering Luke 12.50 * Sanguinem suum patri obtulet tanquam sacrificium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He thirsted to drink of that cup of blood such must our sufferings be for Christ Chearfulness perfumes Martyrdom and makes it the sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour to God Thus Moses suffered chearfully Hebr. 11.24 25. Moses when he was come to years chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Observe 1. When he was come to years it was no childish act it was not in his non-age but when he was of years of discretion 2. He chose to suffer affliction suffering was not so much his task as his choice the Cross was not so much imposed as embraced this is to suffer as Christians when we are Volunteers we take up the Cross chearfully nay joyfully Acts 5.41 They departed from the presence of the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name Or as it is more emphatical in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they rejoyced that they were so far graced as to be disgraced for the Name of Christ Tertullian saith of the Primitive Christians they took more comfort in their sufferings than in their deliverance * Magis damnati quam absoluti gaudentes Tert. Apol. And indeed well may a Christian be joyful in suffering * 2 Cor. 4.7 because it is a great favour when God honours a man to be a witness to the truth Christs marks in Saint Pauls body were prints of glory * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys the Saints have worn their sufferings as ornaments Ignatius his chains were his jewels never have any Princes been so famous for their Victories as the Martyrs for their sufferings 4. We suffer as Christians when we suffer and pray Matth. 5.44 Pray for them which despightfully use you and persecute you There are two Reasons why we should pray for our persecutors 1. Because our prayers may be a means to convert them Stephen prayed for his persecutors Acts 7.60 Lord lay not this sin to their charge and this prayer was effectual to some of their conversions Austin saith the Church of God was beholding to Stephens prayer for all that benefit which was reaped by Pauls Ministry 2. We should pray for our persecutors because they do us good though against their will they shall encrease our reward every reproach shall adde to our glory every injury shall serve to make our Crown heavier as Gregory Nazianzene speaks in one of his Orations Every stone which was thrown at Stephen was a precious stone which enriched him and made him shine brighter in the Kingdom of heaven Thus I have shewn what that suffering is which makes us blessed and shall wear the Crown of Martyrdom SECT 6. Inferences drawn