right which he saith not to avoid death but to shew that he was unjustly accused 4. He is an eternal Lord Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even for ever Isa 9.7 Luke 1.33 He is the King immortal 1 Tim. 1.17 Death the King of terrors and terror of Kings is subdued by this Lord not only so as never to touch him but also never to hurt any of his Servants Other Rulers though they be called gods and lords yet shall dye like men earthly Monarchs either by some Poison or Treason are brought to untimely deaths at least some disease or other will lay their glory in the dust but Jesus Christ is yesterday today and the same for ever 5. He is a mighty Lord most able to do what is good for his Servant and to subdue all persons and things to himself Psal. 3.21 He can kill the Soul and throw both the Body and Soul into Hell he can subdue the hearts of men even of the deadliest enemies unto his love and obedience he can protect and shelter his Servants from all evil and bestow all good things on them for the world is his and the fulness thereof He hath under his command the forces of all creatures in Heaven and Earth which he rules as he pleases to his own purpose he can at ease frustrate the harmful intentions and noisom qualities of the worst of them he can turn their malice into mercy their hatred into love yea can bring forth glory to himself and profit to his Servants not only against but even out of their mischievous designments as in Daniel and the three Children c. 6. He is a most just Lord his is a Scepter of righteousness Heb. 1.8 his right hand is full of righteousness The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works Psal. 145.17 In him is exact and perfect integrity and equity of all his counsels words and actions and there is no unrighteousness in him His will is the rule and standard of justice and whatever he commands is most equal and right because he wills and commands it 7. He is a most glorious Lord and Master The glory of Kings and Emperours is but a borrowed ray or spark from his Majesty the glory of all the Caesars c. is but a black coal in comparison of his splendor and when he shall appear in his glory the glow-worms of worldly splendor and majesty shall disappear and be extinguished the poorest Servant he hath shall then appear with him in such glory that the combined-excellency of Kings shall not be so much as a shadow to it 8. He is a most gracious Lord he puts them upon none but safe honourable and comfortable employments He puts no more upon them than they can go through and lays no more upon them than they are able to bear he knows their mould and frame remembers they are but dust he is Jesus as well as Lord a Shepherd as well as a Master he joins his glory and their happiness together he never requireth brick from his people without giving them straw he will either multiply grace or diminish the temptation his Grace is always sufficient for them 9. He is a wise judicious Master A man that serves a fickle and unconstant Master who often changes his mind has a hard task and endless labour but a prudent man who orders his affairs with discretion and deliberation his commands are but once obeyed his work is soon done what he doth now anon he must undo and so Sysiphus like he is ever doing and hath never done he never knows an end of his work But the Servant of Christ is at a good certainty and knows before-hand what his work must be and what his wages as his Master himself is so his Commandments are immutable and invariable without so much as a shadow of change Iam. 1.17 That was a needless cavil and meer peevishness and selfishness in Ionah Ionah 4.2 10. He is a most knowing and discerning Lord. He observes the ways and works of his Servants so narrowly that the closest and subtillest among them cannot deceive him he spies them in every corner nay every corner of their hearts in them all things are open and naked before him though now in some sort he be absent yet he needs no informer he knows what every Servant doth in his absence and will manifest every ones work to all the world his eyes are as a flame of fire clearer than ten thousand suns he takes notice of all their services and hearts Rev. 2.19 I know thy works and charity and service and faith and thy patience and thy works and the last to be more than the first 11. He is a pitiful and merciful Lord and Master He hath an eye as pitying as it is piercing he doth no less observe the wants and troubles than the ways and works of his Servants he is a Father as well as a Master and As a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him Psal. 103.13 14 And spareth them as a father his son that serveth him Mal. 3.17 hath more tender bowels than a mother Isa. 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking-sucking-child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Christ is not as the slothful man thought a cruel and hard Master Matt. 25.24 that looks for much work and gives little encouragement but is moved with compassion towards his Servants Matt. 18.27 he will not have his Servants complain that they serve an hard Master 12. He is a meek and lowly Master condescending to serve his Servants here and hereafter 1. Hereâ— Matt. 20.28 He came not to be ministred unto but to minister Luke 22.27 Whether is greater he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth is not he that sitteth at meat but I am among you as he that serveth He stoopt so low as to wash his Disciples feet 2. Hereafter Luke 12.37 Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Verily I say unto you That he shall gird himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them Study but yet expect not to understand either the comfort or condescention of this promise made to the faithful Servants of Christ He shall gird himself c. Lord saith one did I not think that the cheer and the attendance were both one I should say the attendance were infinitely better than the meat Think what it is for Christ himself to serve at the Table what is it but infinite delight for the guests to have him set himself to solace them who is infinite as in sweetness so in knowledg to make his sweetness please them Nor will the dignity of these
CHRIST DISPLAYED AS THE Choicest Gift and Best Master From Ioh. 4.10 Ioh. 13.13 Being some of the last Sermons Preached by that faithful and industrious Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. NATHANEEL HEYWOOD Sometime Minister of the Gospel at Ormeschurch in Lancashire 1 Cor. 2.2 For I determined not to know any thing among you save Iesus Christ and hlm crucified Salvian de Gubern Dei Lib. 4. In id penitus deducta res est ut sicut de Paganis Barbaris priùs diximus Christi nomen non videatur jam Sacramentum esse sed sermo Nam in tantum apud plurimos nomen hoc parvi penditur ut nunquam minus cogitent quippiam facere quam cum se jurant per Christum esse facturos LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1679. To the Worshipful HENRY HOGHTON Esq And the Lady STANLEY His Vertuous Consort Worthy SIR MADAM I Presume to affix your Venerable Names in the Frontispiece of this Treatise not upon my own account or upon any such interest I can challenge in your Worships being much unknown to you but as acting the part of the deceased Author who had upon great reason conceived a very high estimation of you as I doubt not but your respects to him were reciprocal being grounded both upon long acquaintance and experience of each other his discourse of you with grateful acknowledgments of your multiplied kindness to his person and family in my hearing and his affectionate prayers for you were clear testimonies that you were engraven upon his heart and if his unparallel'd modesty had permitted him to have committed any thing to the Press doubtless his cordial affection would have issued it self in such an Epistolary inscription But since I am necessitated to supply his place in handing these Discourses to the World I prostrate this exposed Orphan at your feet and question not your candid reception and resolute protection of what was the genuine product of his mind and mouth which I will confidently assure you these Treatises are both for matter method words without the least addition substraction or alteration being taken out of his own notes as he preacht them writ at large with his own hand The matter of these Sermons is of greatest moment and importance fundamental truths they are of the gift of God in our blessed Redeemer and Christs Lordship and Soveraignty which are truths of the first magnitude most necessary like wool and corn the staple-commodities of this Kingdom like bread and salt that must be set upon the Table like ground-Cells upon which lyes the weight of the fabrick these are comprehensive and extensive truths without this gift sinners had not been pardoned accepted without this Lordship souls would wander and rebel the former brings us into favour with God the latter conquers rebellious wills subdues enemies regulates Saints and crowns them with glory The manner of handling these subjects is plain exact nervous and very pathetical which took great impression on the hearers vvhen first delivered with the lively voice of that fair spokesman for Christ whose heart was much taken with this lovely and beloved Lord and took great delight to recommend him to poor sinners which he did with great advantage and success whereby he became a spiritual father of many children whom he begot in the bonds of the Gospel Indeed he excelled others in other subjects but in this he excelled himself especially in this swan-like song which savours of Heaven and seems to be calculated for the height of Sion to be sung by that heavenly host in the praises of our dear Redeemer But neither do these weighty subjects nor the lively colours wherein they are set off need my recommendation nor yet the Authors gifts graces industry fidelity and other imitable properties well known to you and all that were acquainted with him need at all be mentioned by me at least at this season his singular accomplishments and conversation shine too bright to be darkened by any black-mouth'd Momus as his soul and body are beyond the reach of Satan and Sorrow so his name is above any just censures and calumnies I make bold to put these Posthumous works into your hands may your Worships in the first place reap the benefit and by your experiments thereof in your souls and conformity thereto in your lives incourage others to come and see how good our Lord Jesus is this is a lovely Song of one that could play well on an instrument may your hearts eccho to this Gospel-tune here 's solid food well cookt rendred delectable with the sweet sauce of acceptable words may your stomacks be keen and sharp and nourisht by it to eternal life These are goads and nails fastened by this master of assemblies now rewarded by his Master given out by one shepherd may Gods Spirit fasten them as a nail in a sure place upon many consciences I have then attained my ends in this undertaking may God be thereby glorified and souls edified we have enough The Lord bless you both and make you rich blessings to your Country in your publick domestical and personal station and relation The Lord drop down this choice gift into your laps and hearts that you may give up your selves to him again as his bored devoted servants for ever God Almighty that hath been the stay of your Youth be also the staff of your old age and maintain you as choice instruments of his glory in the land of the living and in a good old age conduct you through the valley of the shadow of death into the land of life so prayeth Your Worships humble Servant in our Dearest Lord O. H. Febr. 1. 1678 9. To the CHRISTIAN READER especially the Inhabitants of the Town and Parish of Ormeschurch and the places adjacent Grace Mercy and Peace My dearly beloved in our dearest Lord IT is an astonishing Providence that in such a day of Epidemical sinning general fears of approaching Iudgments and great necessity in most places God should thus weaken our strength undermine the fabrick by cutting off so many faithful Shepherds in so short a space therein seeming as if he would make a way to his wrath But as your dark parts have more need of such faithful Watchmen so you are most emptied God having of late renewed his witnesses against you and broken you with breach upon breach before your eyes were fully wiped for one loss another follows at the heels like Job's messengers bringing the sad tidings of the death of another gracious Minister and this last is not the least under which you lye bleeding It is true on his account that 's gone you have no reason to lament God hath put a blessed end to his torturing pains of body perplexing thoughts of heart and indefatigable labours in the Ministry and crown'd him with glory the sharper was his passage the sweeter is his present repose he finds himself abundantly rewarded God made great
and Stars be beautiful the lovely Lord that made them must contain their beauty in the highest measure beauty in God is the amiableness and loveliness of his nature and all his infinite perfections as this pleasantness offers it self to his own understanding and the understanding of men and Angels So that as bodily beauty satisfies the eye and so acts on the heart to win love So the Truth of the Lords nature and all his Attributes offered to the understanding and mind drawing from them admiration and love is the beauty of God The Prophet speaks of it with admiration How great is thy beauty Zech. 9.17 David makes it his one thing that he may behold it Psal. 27.4 David desires no other life but to stand beside God and behold with the eye of his mind and faith God in his Nature and Attributes as he reveals himself to the creature Now this beauty of God shines forth to us in Christ 2 Cor. 4.7 who is the brightness of his Fathers glory and the express character of his person Heb. 1.3 When Moses was to behold God he was hid in the Rock while his glory passed by and that Rock was Christ. You sometimes see beauty that ravishes the heart of the beholder in the children of men O! but Christ is fairer than the Sons of men Psal. 45.2 on which place Austin thus descants To us Believers the heavenly Bridegroom seems to be most fair every way fair in Heaven fair on Earth fair in the Womb fair in the Cradle fair in his Miracles fair in his Doctrine fair in his Stripes fair on the Cross fair in his very Grave To make up a beauty is required 1. A good complexion fairness in colours So Christ is pure white and red Cant. 5.10 white in his Divine Nature which was the brightness of his Fathers substance Red in his humanity being of the same substance with the first Adam who was made of Red Earth White in his holiness Red in his blood and sufferings White in his own immaculate innocence and purity Red by the imputation of our sins which are like scarlet and Crimson White in his goodness and free grace to humble sinners but Red and bloody in his severity to his enemies that will not that he reign over them His effigies was so beautiful that no Painter could ever draw him because of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Divine lustre and grace that shone in him His countenance is as Lebanon excellent as the Cedar Cant. 5.15 and 1.16 the Spouse cryes out wondering Behold thou art fair my beloved yea pleasant that is lovely and amiable 2. As he is fair in Coulors so he is comly in proportion and integrity of parts If a person have never so good colours yet if any part be wanting or be not an agreement of parts in regard of quantity scituation and stature 't is no beauty but an error of nature But Christ is beautiful for features for infiniteness and sweetness of order and proportion is so spread over his nature and attributes that nothing can be added to him nothing taken from him He is the fulness of the godhead the perfection of beauty Cant. 5.10 to the end His head is as most fine gold his locks bushy and black as a raven his eyes as the eyes of doves his cheeks as a bed of spices his lips like lillies c. O what a pleasant harmony and specious consent of parts is here yea he is altogether lovely Here she breaks off her praises in a general Elogy which no words can express enough q. d. Alas what is this I have spoken I am too barren and empty of language I know not what to call him but do you that hear me imagine or name any thing that is most desirable most worthy to be loved longed for and admired and that is he he is the desire of all Nations This pleasant and delightful gift is set forth in Scripture by something that pleases all the inward senses Here 's beauty to delight the eye O! how blessed are they who see the King in his beauty Here 's Myrrh Aloes and Cassia sweet perfumes to the spiritual smell Psal. 45.8 He is a bundle of myrrh Cant. 1.13 His voice is most sweet and pleasant to the ear Cant. 2.8 The voice of my beloved so taken with the sweetneâ—s of it that she speaks in broken language His lips like lillies dropping sweet smelling myrrh Cant. 5.13 How sweet is he to the taste Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste of an excellent rellish wine milk honey fatted calf c. are but shadows of this He 's a delicate Banquet The kisses of his mouth and hidden manna are most delectable to the spiritual touch Cant. 1.2 The sense and experience of his mercy the assurance of his love the sealing of his Spirit O how swâ—et to a thirsty soul O taste and see that the Lord is gracious and transcendently amiable and pleasant as Mr. Rutherford Suppose all the corns of sand in all the earth and shores all the flowers herbs leaves and twigs of trees since the creation all the drops of dew and rain that the clouds send down all the stars in heaven all the joints hairs and drops of blood of all men that have been are or shall be were all rational creatures and had the wisdom and tongues of Angels to speak of the beauty and loveliness of Christ they would in all their expressions stay millions of miles on this side Christ and his excellency 7. Christ is a most useful gift In this respect he is the one thing needful and were there no other excellency in him this were enough to commend him to us he is so useful that we cannot be without him Though a gift were never so rich pleasant and precious in it self yet if the excellency in it may not be made use of and it be not good and fit for us it is not much valued But this gift of God is so admirable good for our use that he seems to be fitted and dressed and made all for our use in regard of his Mediatorship that office is wholly for us and our benefit He was born lived died rose again sits on Gods right hand as Advocate and comes to judgment for our sakes and for our good He is God and Man Prophet Priest and King A Saviour a Redeemer a Surety an Advocate a Mediator Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification c. all for use to us lost and perishing sinners He is a jewel indeed but not locked up in heaven to be made use of by none Christ is shadowed forth in Scripture by Head Vine Milk Water c. now what more necessary and useful to men than these Who could reconcile us to God when we were enemies but Christ in his blood Rom. 5.10 Who could justifie us in the sight of God when we were sinners but Christ by his righteousness Rom.
wouldest thou not to thy power have done them that thou maist injoy the blessed Son of God for thine How much more then when he only saith Take Jesus Christ as thy Lord and Saviour prize and love him as thy Saviour obey and honour him as thy Lord and he shall be thine for ever do but as much for him as the covetous man does for his wealth as the ambitious man for his honour as the voluptuous man for his belly they give their highest esteem their choicest affections and their greatest service to that which they take for their God their chief good And surely Christ is more worthy hereof and will requite thee best for them 4. Consider how God offers this gift to thee his manner of dealing with thee in this is wonderful he offers Christ most really means what he speaks and most tenderly and affectionately He not only offers Christ to thee but invites thee to him what canst thou desire more in a gift or benefit than to have it heartily offered and be invited to take it He offers Christ without grudging falshood or equivocation with an open heart that he may shew how willing and cordial he is to part with this gift He invites us to take him Rev. 22.17 Let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Nay he shouts and calls aloud Isa. 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Had he once tendered Christ it had been infinite mercy but to entreat us to accept him to perswade and move us as one that would not be denied that 's admirable 2 Cor. 5.20 We are embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God And he commands us to receive Christ his Son and makes this the chief and as it were the only thing he requires of us 1 Ioh. 3.23 and inforceth his just command with most severe threatnings Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven Sometimes he expostulateth with men Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread Isa. 55.2 and adds protestations of his loathness that any soul should perish Why will you dye anger is not in me why should the flame consume the stubble what could I do more what iniquity have ye found in me c He complains and laments most sadly when men neglect and slight this offered gift Why will ye not come to me that ye may have life He came to his own and they received him not John 1.11 O Ierusalem Ierusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Matt. 23.37 Yea with very vehement passions he bewails and weeps over them that pity not themselves Luke 19.42 If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong to thy peace c. Those tears and mournings over Ierusalem for her hard heart and contempt have been and are still over thee He upbraids men with nothing so much as this and threatens no such woes in all the Scripture as against such as refuse Christ Matt. 11.20 Wo unto thee Chorazin wo unto thee Bethsaida c. Jer. 13.17 Wo unto thee O Ierusalem wilt thou not be made clean when shall it once be He is never so angry with any as with them that despise this love and refuse this offer Luke 14.21 Matt. 22.7 He was very wroth when the invited guests would not come So Mat. 21.40 with those Husbandmen that took his Son and killed him and those Citizens Luke 19.27 that would not have him reign over them are destroyed as enemies And when all this will do no good men will not be perswaded nor allured but hang off and keep at a distance he goes away as it were troubled and wishing it had been better He swears and pawns his life on it that he would not have them perish has no pleasure in their destruction Ezek. 33.11 O that they had hearkened to my commandments then had their peace been as a river and their righteousness as the waves of the sea Isa. 48.18 Psal. 81.11 But my people would not hearken to my voice Israel would none of me O that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my ways I would soon have subdued their enemies I would have fed them with the finest of the wheat with honey out of the rock would I have satisfied them O the compassionate pangs of Gods bowels of infinite mercy towards poor sinners O quam stupenda pieatas quam mira Dei dignatio quem regare debuimus ut nos recipere dignaretur ab ipso rogamur ut ad eum venire dignemur It were one would think enough to prevail with us to accept this gift with joy and thankfulness to consider how incomparably excellent the gift it self is But God adds unspeakable benefits with him to draw us to this acceptance as life and favour with God Prov. 8.35 Whoso findeth me findeth life and obtaineth favour of the Lord. Recovery of Gods image freedom from bondage communion with God liberty of will pardon of sin power against sin deliverance from Satan peace and joy adoption of Sons Ioh. 1.12 acceptance of persons and services audience of prayers a sanctified use of comforts and crosses victory over death assurance of heaven the fair inheritance of all things fulness of joy and happiness pleasures for evermore 5. Consider why God offereth Christ unto thee for what end is he thus sollicitous about thine acceptance of this gift do not mistake me nor deceive thy self by thinking that because God out of his infinite pity to his miserable creatures is instant and urgent with them to accept of Christ therefore he hath any need of thee or seeketh his own happiness therein I tell thee if thou hadst no more need of Christ than he hath of thee thou maist let him alone No it 's purely for thy good for thy real and eternal good that he offers his Son to thee He needs thy service no more than he doth the service of the Damned or of the Devils and he knows how to make use of thee for his own glory as he doth of them if thou foolishly reject this offer of his Son to save thee Had he a work to do he needs not thy help he might have made nobler creatures than the present race of mankind to glorifie his Grace and execute his will and have left thee and all Adam's posterity to glorifie his Justice Thy righteousness will not
therefore his Ordinances they are his Gallery where he loves to walk and here if any where you may find him or hear of him enquire in the way he has appointed So the Spouse Cant. 1.7 Tell me O thou whom my soul loveth where thou feedest where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions Christ presently and lovingly answers If thou know not O thou fairest among women go thy way forth q. d. up and rise and get out sit not still lamenting and crying Lord Lord but go out of your selves by the footsteps of the flock and feed thy kids besides the shepherds tents Qui Christum sine ecclesia quaerit errare fatigari potest in venire non potest saith Bed you may seek long enough c. Cant. 6. begin The Daughters of Ierusalem hearing so much of the worth beauty and excellency of Christ had an earnest desire to seek him with the Spouse therefore enquire whither is thy beloved gone O thou fairest among women whither is thy beloved turned aside that we may seek him with thee This repetition argues both the vehemency of their affections and their expedition no excuses nor delays can be admitted in this case If any that hear me be of this mind having heard so much of Christs worth observe the answer of the Spouse My beloved is gone down into his garden to the bed of spices to feed in the garden and to gather lillies His Garden is the Church there attend his motions 4. Believe and Pray and attend Ordinances with an empty hand and hungry soul let go and be stript of your selves and all other things that you may receive Christ thus the Apostle did Phil. 3.7 8 9 10 quit all interest in your selves all dependance on the creature break your league with sin renounce your own righteousness account all things dung and loss that you may gain Christ leave all for him prefer him above all the world consent to his covenant say you will have him on any terms and he is yours unless you deny your selves you cannot accept this gift the world and the things of it Sin and the flesh and your own righteousness is that self that must be denied 1. You must deny and relinquish the world and all carnal relations What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul If the heart be divided between Christ and the world there will be always a disproportion the world will have most and Christ least Do not overvalue or love the wealth of the world the young man bid fair at Christ but stuck at this Say with that Marquess Galeacius Cariac tempted by a Jesuite with a mighty sum of Money Let their Money perish with them that esteem all the gold in the world worth one days communion with Iesus Christ. Or Christ will say if you set so much by the world take it and see what it can do for you if you can spare me better than your wealth you shall be without me He that loveth houses or lands yea father or mother more than me is not worthy of me Matt. 10.37 38. Luk. â—4 26 If any man come after me and hateth not father and mother wife and children brethren and sisters yea his own life cannot be my desciple which is not to be understood simply as if the service of Christ required the violation of the Laws of God and Nature but comparatively as Ierome If my Father should be weeping on his knees before me and my Mother hanging on my neeâ— behind me and all my Brethren and Kinsfolks howl on every side I would despise all and throw them off to go to Christ when he calls me If any think this would not consist with natural affection hear what Kilian the Dutch Schoolmaster and Martyr said If the whole world were Gold and mine to dispose of I would give it to live with my Wife and Children though in Prison yet my Soul and Christ are dearer to me than all Psal. 45.10 Forget thy own people and thy fathers house c. 2. Sin must be denied and forsaken Christ and Belial purity and corruption can have no fellowship Depart from all iniquity Jesus Christ and one allowed lust cannot lodge together in the same Soul He that prefers any lust before Christ deserves to go without him but he that with indignation parts with his sins shall have the Pearl of price in their room 3. you must deny your own righteousness this is the hardest part of self-denyal yet necessary Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners the whole need not the Physitian but the sick there must be sense of sin guilt shame and nakedness as Noah's Dove So long as the prodigal could make any shift to live he returned not or the woman with the blood issue had any thing to spend she came not to Christ like the man cast from an high Tower and stuck to the Mulberry-tree and scap'd A wounded man hasts to the Chyrurgeon sick to the Physician the man pursued by the avenger of blood to the City of refuge so a poor Soul broken with the insupportable burden of his sin wrath of God curse of the Law will be willing with a witness to cast it self into the opened arms and inviting embracements of Jesus Christ bleeding on the Cross tendred in the Gospel and so made his for ever you must sell all that you have and thus buy the Pearl 5. Do all this presently speedily defer it not till to morrow now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation Seek you the Lord while he may be found Isa. 55.6 While he offers himself in the ministry of his Word while he saith seek ye my face let your heart answer thy face do I seek To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts to day after so long a time Heb. 4.7 If you will do it at all do it betimes before the day of grace and time of repentance be expired and the door of mercy be shut As the Jewish Rabbi said of repentance Do it to day because thou knowest not thou shalt live till to morrow You know not that ever this gift shall be offered again this may be the last time to thee your life may be gone and then actum est or means removed or judicial hardness inflicted according to that dreadful threat Matt. 13.14 Hearing ye shall hear and not understand c. no judgment so terrible on this side Hell or he swear in his wrath you shall not enter into his rest God forbids his people to feed on those twilight birds the Bats signifying prolongers of repentance who think to flutter confusedly about Christ in the evening of their withered years and dream of a devout retirement in old age Now Christ stands at the door and knocks the spirit strives but the time is coming when many
such a jewel all the treasures upon earth could not bear proportion to him nor make reparation for the loss of him I know the true Believer shall never lose Christ because Christ will never suffer him to be lost but he may do that which may tend to the losing of him though through grace he shall not be actually loâ—t and he may do that which may deprive him utterly of the sense evidence and comfort of this gift though his propriety in it remain firm and sure 'T is true a Saint shall never be left so to himself or his sin as that sin shall bereave him of his jewel his Christ but may and often doth steal away the key of his cabinet his evidence and assurance Cant. 5.5 6. I opened to my beloved but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone Thus you see Christ sometimes withdraws himself from them that dearly love and earnestly desire him for as he is said when pleased to gratifie his people with his grace and assistance strength and deliverance to come out of heaven his dwelling place Isa 26. ult and 64.1 So he is said to return thither when he forbears to put forth and exercise his grace and to shew his mercy and loving kindness to them Hos. 5. ult Isa. 18.4 he is said to hide his face in regard of his special grace and love and in regard of intercourse and communion with his Church not totally but in part not finally and for ever but for a moment a small moment he shortens his hand in his wonted operations and ceaseth to be so intimate and familiar with his servants and seems to be a stranger to them and their condition and this he does for divers good reasons and considerations 1. Christ leaves them sometimes because they will not open to him when he knocks at the door of their hearts either they are not at leasure or busied about other matters and employments or are too much setled upon their lees sloath and security hath seized upon them Cant. 5.2 3 4. 2. He does it for tryal that he may make an experiment of his Churches love to him and faithfulness in his service to see whether his people can abide to be without him or will serve and follow him frowning as well as smileing As a Father may leave his dear Child and stand behind the door to see what it will do So God exercised Iob David Heman Asaph and others the Wife is tryed in the long absence of her Husband 3. To raise and quicken them more to love and desire him for though the absence of fuel doth diminish the fire yet commonly the absence of Lovers doth increase and heighten love and makes it more impatient and restless Cant. 5.8 This made the Spouse sick of love and her soul failed she could not bear it Isa. 26.9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night 4. To cure formality in believers and to remove all trusting to resting in or relying on any thing besides himself and that the soul may not be satisfied with any thing below himself As a Father sometimes le ts go his hold that the Child may see his dependance upon him The Children of Israel were exceedingly formalized in their Devotion they only looked at the external Sacrifices but did not frame their doings to turn unto God Hos. 5 6. Therefore he takes this course with them They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord but they shall not find him He hath withdrawn himself from them i. e. they shall go after their accustomed manner of sacrifices but God hides himself because he will bring them off their formality and security So if we trust in outward Ordinances and lay too much stress upon them the time may come when we shall use them and seek God in them and not find him because of formality 5. That he may teach them to live by faith not to be too much dejected but believe that he is near to them but behind the Wall Cant. 2.8 9. He is kept off from the soul by the wall of sense and carnal reason that the soul may improve his faith in looking over this wall as Iob did Iob 19.25 26 I know that my redeemer lives c. Isa. 50.10 He will come and will not tarry 6 That his presence may be more esteemed and valued when re-injoyed there is often a remisness and abatement in love to Christ but when he is lost and found again we shall watch better over our selves and set a higher price on him than before we have need sometimes to be taught the worth of mercies by the want of them post frigora dulcior ignis when we know what it is to want his presence we learn to esteem it Post tempestatem dulcior securitas How sweet is a calm after a storm Christs favourable Aspect is more sweet and acceptable when the sun-shine thereof begins to break forth again after some black and bitter tempest of desertion Now since there is some danger of losing Christ in these respects we had need look to our selves and do all we can to retain him with us for our help I shall lay down some motives and then directions as in the first branch 1. To perswade us to this I shall use no other arguments or motives but only to tell you what Christ is to the soul and so it may see what it deprives it self of by losing him 1. Keep him for he is thy life Whoso findeth him findeth life Prov. 8.35 and 3.18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her and happy is every one that retaineth her speaking of wisdom under which notion Christ is commended to us So Prov. 4.13 Take fast hold of instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy life He saith I am thy life and the length of thy days with him is the fountain of life he is the only well-spring of life and all blessedness How sweet is life skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life he 'l part with any thing every thing rather than life When many of Christs followers forsook and walked no more with him Will ye also forsake me said he to his Apostles Peter answered for himself and the rest Lord whither shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life Joh. 6.68 q. d. Lord if we leave thee we leave our life and all our comfort we forsake our own mercy and judg our selves unworthy of everlasting life had we no other reason 't is motive enough to stay with thee and keep close with thee to consider that our lives are hid in thee eternal life and consequently all that 's dear to us the quintessence of all happiness is with thee 2. Keep him for he is thy light how sad and miserable is it to walk in darkness if you let Christ go you eclipse your own light 't is night when
ends how careful and wary should we be in using the Creatures all the comforts we enjoy are the goods of this Lord we are but stewards of them what we use must be used for not against our Lord. Learning riches honour are from him and therefore should be for him all our enjoyments are but borrowed we must therefore use them well not spot or stain not tear and cut them by sin lest we be ashamed when we should return them back to the owner and give him an account of them it may be with joy and not with grief 3. Neither may any Christian think himself Lord of the Church or his Brethren 1 Pet. 5.3 Neither as being lords over Gods heritage but being ensamples to the flock The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dominantes is not to be understood of tyrannizing and bearing unlawful rule or usurped dominion as Bellarmine would have it but exercising Lordship the same which Christ forbids the Apostles in the same word Mat. 20.25 as Bernard tells Pope Eugenius Ne dictum sola humilitate putes non veritate vox domini est reges gentium dominantur eis vos autem non sic Planum est apostolis inter dicitur dominatus not over-ruling It doth not only forbid the abuse of their authority or imperiously commanding of their own inventions instead of the Doctrine of the Gospel or carping Magisterially and insolently towards Gods people as Amet. But the use of that authority in the Ecclesiastical office which it is lawful for Princes to exercise towards their subjects saith Beza Omnes enim esse unius legislatoris domini servos c. Have Ministers no authority Yes saith he not over the consciences of men but only as messengers of Christ whose is all the power of commanding No Church no Council can make Laws but in Christ the compound and the simple word are used one by Matthew and Mark the other by Luke in the same sense so that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adds no Emphasis to it all kind of Temporal rule is simply forbidden them 1. No Christian can bind the conscience in internal or elicite acts 2 Cor. 1.24 Not that we have dominion over your faith but as helpers of your joy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i e. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Apostle adds this left he should seem to have spoken too imperiously q. d. That I said I therefore came not that I might spare you take thus Not that I could by my own authority do any thing with Religion and in binding or relaxing your consciences but that I might be Gods Minister to comfort you c. 2. Nor can he command the outward imperate Acts of Conscience otherwise then by power civil or spiritual from Christ Pro. 8.15 By me Kings reign and Princes decree Iustice. 2 Cor. 10.8 1 Thes. 5.12 We beseech you Brethren know them who labour among you and are over you in the Lord. 3. As a Christian no man hath civil power over his Brother or the Church or over men Mat. 20.26 It shall not be so among you that as the Gentiles exercise authority and dominion over them 1. As a Christian he hath no legislative but only applicative power or executive in the Church a Christian must not make Laws in his house but keep and execute his Laws 2. As such He hath no coercive power over his fellow servants That natural or civil power that any Christian hath otherways over his Brother is to rule under for and according or like to Christ Philemon 16. Not now as a servant but above a servant a brother beloved especially to me How much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord 1 Cor. 7.39 She is at liberty to be married to whom she will only in the Lord. Ministers are not owners of the house but stewards in the house Laws are committed to us and must not be excogitated by us Only Christ can ordain laws to bind the Conscience mans laws bind not as they are mans but as they are back't by Christ nor can any but Christ so give laws to which we should be obedient as withal to make us obedient to the laws which he gives Christ only can write his laws in the heart No man should prefer the will or interest of the greatest mortal man or dearest friend nor the publick interest of States before or plead it against the will and interest of this great Lord. Neither may we give nor receive ambitious or flattering titles of honour Mat. 23 8 9 10 Be not ye called Masters for one is your Lord and Master even Christ we should so acknowledg a superiority among men as to be fearful of causing pride in them and that they may know themselves not to be absolute Lords but derivatively and secundum quid Herod became worms-meat who but just now was a meer idol and cryed up c. God would not bear it 5. It informs us therefore how consistible Christs service is with the service of others 1. It dissolves not but confirms natural and civil Lordship and subjection as between master and servant 1 Tim. 6.1 2 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour but what if they be both believers are they not Brethren yes and they that have believing masters let them not despise them because they are Brethren but rather do them service because they are believing and beloved partakers of the same benefit Titus 2.9 Between Magistrate and Subject Rom. 13.1 Let every soul be subject to the Higher Powers 2 Pet. 3.3 Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake 2. This our relation to Christ as master regulates the service of others Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right Eph. 6.1 For the Lord is the author of the authority of Fathers and therefore we must yield such obedience as he will have us This in the Lord implies both a commandment of Childrens obedience from the Lord and a restriction or limitation in those things which are not against the Lord that they so far obey their Parents as they swerve not from the true worship and service of God 3. This service of Christ excludes all absolute and unnecessary subjection to Creatures Luke 16.13 No man can serve two Masters He may subordinately but not absolutely for God will have the sâ—rvice of the whole man 1 Cor. 7.21 23 Art thou called being a servant care not for it but if thou may'st be made free use it raâ—her Ye are bought with a price be not ye the servants of men If ye be at liberty do not of your own accord make your selves servants but consecrate your selves intirely Body and Soul to the service of Christ or it ye be servants to men that is in a state of servitude remember still that above and before all ye are the servants of Christ and therefore see ye do nothing to the obedience of men which