his Son Doth God command Parents to instruct their Children Leut. 4.10 and will not he instruct his Isa. 48.17 I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit Psal. 71.17 O God thou hast taught me from my youth If God be our Father he will give us the teachings of his Spirit The natural man receives not the things of God neither can he know them 1 Cor. 2.14 The Natural Man may have excellent notions in Divinity but God must teach us to know the Mysteries of the Gospel after a Spiritual manner A Man may see the figures upon a Dyal but he cannot tell how the day goes unless the Sun shine We may read many Truths in the Bible but we cannot know them savingly till God by his Spirit shine upon our Soul God teacheth not only our Ear but our Heart he not only informs our Mind but inclines our Will we never learn till God teach us If God be our Father he will teach us how to order our affairs with discretion Psalm 112.5 how to carry our selves wisely 1 Sam. 18.5 David behaved himself wisely he will teach us what to answer when we are brought before Governours he will put words into our mouths Matth. 10.18 19 20. Ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my sake but take no thought how or what ye shall speak For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you 2. If God be our Father then he hath Bowels of Affection towards us If it be so unnatural for a Father not to love his Child can we think God will be defective in his Love All the affections of Parents come from God but a spark from his flame He is the Father of Mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 he begets all the Mercies and Bowels in the Creature His Love to his Children is a Love which passeth knowledge Eph. 3.19 it exceeds all dimensions it is higher than Heaven it is broader than the Sea That you may see Gods Fatherly Love to his Children 1. Consider God makes a precious valuation of them Isa. 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight A Father prizeth his Child above his Jewels their names are precious for they have Gods own name written upon them Rev. 3.12 I will write upon him the name of my God Their Prayers are a precious perfume their Tears God bottles Psal. 56.8 God esteems his Children as a Crown of glory in his hand Isa. 62.3 2. God loves the places they were born in the better for their sakes Psal. 87.6 Of Sion it shall be said this man was born there this and that Believer was born there God loves the ground his Children tread upon Hence Iudea the seat of Gods Children and Chosen God calls a delightsome Land Mal. 3.12 It was not only pleasant for Scituation and Fruitfulness but because Gods Children who were his Hephsibab or Delight lived there 3. He chargeth the great ones of the World not to prejudice his Children their Persons are sacred Psal. 105.14 He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes saying Touch not mine anointed By Anointed is meant the Children of the High God who have the Unction of the Spirit and are set apart for God 4. God delights in their company he loves to see their Countenance and hear their Voice Cant. 2.14 he cannot refrain long from their company Let but two or three of his Children meet and pray together he will be sure to be among them Matth. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name I am in the midst of them 5. God bears his Children in his Bosom as a nursing Father doth the sucking Child Numb 11.12 Isa. 46.4 To be carried in Gods Bosom shows how near his Children lye to his Heart 6. God is full of sollicitous care for them 1 Pet. 5.7 He careth for you His eye is still upon them they are never out of his thoughts A Father cannot always take care for his Child he sometimes is asleep but God is a Father that never sleeps Psal. 121.4 He neither slumbereth nor sleepeth 7. He thinks nothing too good to part with to his Children He gives them the Kidneys of the Wheat and Honey out of the Rock and Wine on the Lees well refined Isa. 25.6 He gives them three Jewels more worth than Heaven the Blood of his Son the Grace of his Spirit the Light of his Countenance Never was there such an indulgent affectionate Father 8. If God hath one Love better than other he bestows it upon them they have the cream and quintessence of his Love He will rejoyce over thee he will rest in his love Zeph. 3.17 God loves his Children with such a love as he loves Christ Iohn 17.26 it is the same love for the unchangeableness of it God will no more cease to love his Adopted Sons then he will to love his Natural Son 3. If God be our Father he will be full of sympathy Psal. 103.13 As a Father pityeth his Children so the Lord pityeth them that fear him Ier. 31.20 Is Ephraim my dear Son my bowels are troubled for him God pityes his Children in Two Cases 1. In Case of Infirmities 2. Injuries 1. In Case of Infirmities If the Child be deformed or hath any â—odily distemper the Father pityes it If God be our Father he pityes our weaknesses and he so pityes them as to heal them Isa. 57.18 I have seen his wayes and will heal him As God hath Bowels to pity so he hath Balsam to heal 2. In Case of Injuries Every blow of the Child goes to the Fathers heart when the Saints suffer God doth sympathize Isa. 63.9 In all their afflictions he was afflicted He did as it were bleed in their Wounds Saul Saul why persecutest thou me When the foot was trod on the head cryed out Iudg. 10.16 Gods Soul was grieved for the children of Israel As when one string in a Lute is touched all the rest of the strings sound When Gods Children are stricken his Bowels sound Zach. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of my eye 4. If God be our Father he will take notice of the least good he sees in us if there be but a sigh for Sin God hears it Psal. 38.9 My groaning is not hid from thee if there be but a penitential tear comes out of our eye God sees it Isa. 38.5 I have seen thy tears If there be but a good intention God takes notice 1 Kings 8.18 Whereas it was in thy heart to build an house to my name thou didst well that it was in thine heart God punisheth intentional wickedness and crowns intentional goodness Thou didst well that it was in thy heart God takes notice of the least scintilla the least spark of grace in his Children 1 Pet. 3.6 Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord. The Holy Ghost doth not mention Sarahs unbelief or laughing at the Promise he puts a finger upon
Priest might offer up Prayer for sins of Ignorance but not of Presumption but Christ's Intercession extends to all the sins of the Elect Of what a bloody colour was David's sin yet it did not exclude Christ's Intercession Quest. What doth Christ in the Work of Intercession Resp. Three things 1. He presents the Merit of his Blood to his Father and in the Virtue of that Price paid pleads for Mercy The High Priest was herein a lively Type of Christ Aaron was to do four things 1. Kill the Beast 2. to enter with the Blood into the Holy of Holies 3. to sprinkle the Mercy Seat with the Blood 4. to kindle the Incense and with the smoak of it cause a Cloud to arise over the Mercy Seat and so the Atonement was made Lev. 16.11 12 13 14 15 16. Christ our High Priest did exactly answer to this Type He was offered up in Sacrifice that Answers to the Priests killing the Bullock And Christ is gone up into Heaven that Answers to to the Priests going into the Holy of Holies And he spreads his Blood before his Father that Answers to the Priests sprinkling the Blood upon the Mercy Seat And he prays to his Father that for his Blood sake he would be propitious to Sinners that Answers to the Cloud of Incense going up And through his Intercession God is pacified that Answers to the Priests making Atonement 2. Christ by his Intercession answers all Bills of Indictment brought in against the Elect. Believers do what they can Sin and then Satan accuseth them to God and Conscience accuseth them to themselves now Christ by his Intercession answers all these Accusations Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect it is Christ who makes Intercession for us When Aesculus was accused for some Impiety his Brother stood up for him and shewed the Magistrates how he had lost his hand in the Service of the State and so obtained his pardon Thus when Satan accuseth the Saints or the Justice of God lays any thing to their charge Christ shews his own wounds and by Virtue of his bloody Sufferings he answers all the Demands and Challenges of the Law and counter-works Satan's Accusations 3. Christ by his Intercession calls for an Acquittance Lord let the sinner be absolved from guilt and in this sence Christ is called an Advocate 1 Iohn 2.1 He requires that the Sinner be set free in the Court An Advocate differs much from an Orator an Orator useth Rhetorick to perswade and entreat the Judge to shew Mercy to another but an Advocate tells the Judge what is Law thus Christ appears in Heaven as an Advocate he represents what is Law When God's Justice opens the Debt-Book Christ opens the Law-Book Lord saith he thou art a just God and will not be pacified without Blood lo here the Blood is shed therefore in Justice give me a Discharge for these distressed Creatures 'T is equal that the Law being satisfied the Sinner should be acquitted And upon Christ's Plea God sets his hand to the Sinner's Pardon Quest. In what manner Christ interceeds Answ. 1. Freely he pleads our Cause in Heaven and takes no Fee An ordinary Lawyer will have his Fee and sometimes a Bribe too but Christ is not Mercenary How many Causes doth he plead every day in Heaven and will take nothing As Christ laid down his Life freely Iohn 10.15 18. so he interceeds freely 2. Feelingly He is sensible of our condition as his own Hebr. 4.15 We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmity As a tender hearted Mother would plead with a Judge for a Child ready to be condemned O how would her Bowels work how would her Tears trickle down what weeping Rhetorick would she use to the Judge for Mercy Thus the Lord Jesus is full of Sympathy and Tenderness Hebr. 2.17 that he might be a merciful High Priest Though he hath left his Passion yet not his Compassion An ordinary Lawyer is not affected with the Cause he pleads nor doth he care which way it goes It is Profit makes him plead not Affection But Christ interceeds feelingly and that which makes him interceed with Affection is it is his own Cause which he pleads He hath shed his Blood to purchase Life and Salvation for the Elect and if they should not be saved he would lose his purchase 3. Efficaciously It is a prevailing Intercession Christ never lost any Cause he pleaded he was never Non-suited Christ's Intercession must needs be effectual if you consider 1. The Excellency of his Person if the Prayer of a Saint be so prevalent with God Moses's Prayer did bind God's hands Exod. 32.10 Let me alone and Iacob as a Prince prevailed with God Gen. 32.28 and Eliah did by Prayer open and shut Heaven Iam. 5.17 Then what is Christ's Prayer He is the Son of God the Son in whom he is well pleased Matth. 3.17 What will not a Father grant his Son Iohn 11.42 I know that thou always hearest me If God could forget that Christ were a Priest yet he cannot forget that he is a Son 2. Christ prays for nothing but what his Father hath a mind to grant There is but One Will between Christ and his Father Christ prays Sanctifie them through thy Truth and this is the will of God even your sanctification 1 Thess. 4.3 so then if Christ prays for nothing but what God the Father hath a mind to grant then he is like to speed 3. Christ prays for nothing but what he hath power to give What he prays for as he is Man that he hath power to give as he is God Iohn 17.24 Father I will Father there he prays as Man I will there he gives as God This is a great comfort to a Believer when his Prayer is weak and he can hardly pray for himself Christs Prayer in Heaven is mighty and powerful Though God may refuse Prayer as it comes from us yet not as it comes from Christ. 4. Christ's Intercession is always ready at hand The People of God have sins of daily incursion and besides these sometimes they lapse into great sins and God is provoked and his Justice is ready to break forth upon them but Christ's Intercession is ready at hand he daily makes up the Breaches between God and them he presents the Merit of his Blood to his Father to pacifie him When the Wrath of God began to break out upon Israel Aaron presently step'd in with his Censer and offered Incense and so the Plague was staid Numb 16.47 so no sooner doth a Child of God offend and God begins to be angry but immediately Christ steps in and intercedes Father it is my Child hath offended though he hath forgotten his Duty thou hast not lost thy Bowels O pity him and let thy Anger be turned away from him Christ's Intercession is ready at hand and upon the least failings of the Godly he stands up and makes
Calls Satan calls by a Temptation Lust calls evil company calls But as the Adder stops its Ear against the Voice of the Charmer so he who is effectually called stops his Ear against all the Charms of Flesh and Devil Use 3. Of Comfort to them who are the called of God This Call evidenceth Election Rom. 8.30 Whom he predestinated them he also called Election is the cause of our Vocation and Vocation is the sign of our Election Election is the first Link of the golden Chain of Salvation Vocation is the second he who hath the second Link of the Chain is sure of the first Link As by the Stream we are led to the Fountain so by Vocation we ascend to Election Calling is an earnest and pledge of Glory 2 Thess. 2.13 God hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification We may read God's predestinating love in the work of Grace in our heart Branch 2. To such as are called to be thankful to God for this unspeakable Blessing be thankful to all the Persons in the Trinity to the Father's Mercy to the Son's Merit to the Spirit 's Efficacy To make you thankful consider when you had offended God that he should call you that when God needed you not he had Millions of glorified Saints and Angels to praise him yet he called you Again consider what you were before God called you you were in your sins when God called Paul he found him persecuting when he called Matthew he found him at the Receipt of Custom when he called Zacheus he found him using Extorsion When God calls a Man by his Grace he finds him seeking after his Lusts as when Saul was called to the Kingdom he was seeking the Asses That God should call thee when thou wert in the hot pursuit of sin admire God's Love exalt his Praise Again that God should call you and pass by others what Mercy is this Matth. 11.26 Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight That God should pass by the wise and noble Persons of sweeter disposition acuter parts guilty of less Vice and that the Lot of Free-grace should fall on you O astonishing Love of God It was a great favour of God to Samuel that God call'd to him and revealed his Mind to him and passed by Eli though a Priest and a Judge in Israel 1 Sam. 3.9 so that God should call to thee a flagitious sinner and pass by others of higher birth and better morals here is that calls aloud for Praise As God so governs the Clouds that he makes them rain upon one place and not upon another so doth he dispence his Grace it shall drop its sweet dew upon one and not another Two at a Sermon one his heart the Lord opens the other is no more affected with it than a deaf Man with the sound of Musick Here is the Banner of Free-grace display'd and here should be the Trophies of Praise erected Eliah and Elisha were walking together on a sudden there came a Chariot of Fire and carried Eliah up to Heaven but left Elisha behind so when two are walking together Husband and Wife Father and Child that God should call one by his Grace but leave the other carry one up in a triumphant Chariot to Heaven but let the other perish eternally O infinite rich Grace how should they that are call'd be affected with God's discriminating Love how should the Vessels of Mercy run over with Thankfulness how should they stand upon Mount Gerizim blessing and praising God O begin the work of Heaven here Such as are Patterns of Mercy should be Trumpets of Praise Thus S. Paul being call'd of God and seeing what a Debtor he was to Free-grace breaks forth into Admiration and Gratulation 1 Tim. 1.13 Use 4. To the Called walk worthy of your high Calling Eph. 4.1 I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called in two things 1. Walk compassionately pity such as are yet uncalled Hast thou a Child that God hath not yet called a Wife a Servant Weep over their dying Souls They are in their Bloud under the Power of Satan O pity them Let their sins more trouble you then your own Sufferings If you pity an Ox or Ass going astray will you not pity a Soul going astray Show your Piety by your Pity 2. Walk holily yours is an holy Calling 2 Tim. 1.9 You are called to be Saints Rom. 1.7 Show your Vocation by a Bible-conversation Shall not Flowers smell sweeter than Weeds Shall not they who are ennobled with Grace have more Fragrancy in their Lives than Sinners 1 Pet. 1.15 As he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation O dishonour not your high Calling by any sordid Carriage When Antigonus going to defile himself with Women one told him He was a King's Son O remember your Dignity Called of God! of the Bloud-Royal of Heaven do nothing unworthy of your Honourable Calling Scipio refused the Embraces of an Harlot because he was General of an Army Abhor all Motions to sin because of your high Calling 'T is not fit for them who are the Called of God to do as others tho' others of the Iews did drink Wine it was not fit for the Nazarite because he had a Vow of Separation upon him and had promised Abstinence Though Pagans and loose Christians take liberty to sin yet it is not fit for them who are called out of the World and have the Mark of Election upon them to do so You are consecrated Persons your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and your Souls must be a Sacrary or Holy of Holies OF IVSTIFICATION Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace Quest. XXI WHat is Iustification Resp. It is an Act of God's Free-grace whereby he pardoneth all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the Righteousness of CHRIST imputed to us and received by Faith Iustification is the very Hinge and Pillar of CHRISTIANITY and an Errour about Iustification is dangerous like a Crack in the Foundation or an Errour in the first Concoction Iustification by Christ is a Spring of the Water of Life and to have the Poison of corrupt Doctrine cast into this Spring is damnable It was a Saying of Luther That after his Death the Doctrine of Iustification would be corrupted As it hath been in these latter Times the Arminians and Socinians have cast a dead Fly into this Box of precious Oyntment I shall endeavour to follow the Star of Scripture to light me through this Mysterious Point Quest. What is meant by Iustification Resp. It is verbum forense a word borrowed from Law-courts wherein a Person arraigned is pronounced Righteous and is openly absolved in the Court Thus God in justifying a Person pronounceth him to be Righteous and looks upon him as if he had not sinned Quest. What is the Ground of Iustification Resp. The Causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the
Children to show their Honour to their Parents Resp. I. In a Reverential Esteem of their Persons They must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Give them a Civil Veneration Therefore when the Apostle speaks of Fathers of our Bodies he speaks also of giving them Reverence Heb. 12.9 This Veneration or Reverence must be shown 1. Inwardly by Fear mixed with Love Lev. 19.3 Ye shall fear every Man his Mother and his Father In the Commandment the Father is named First here the Mother is named First 1. Partly to put the Honour upon her the Mother because by reason of many Weaknesses incident to her Sex she is apt to be more slighted by Children And 2. Partly because the Mother endures more for the Child therefore here God gives the Mother the Priority names her first Ye shall fear every one his Mother and his Father 2. Reverence must be shown to Parents Outwardly viz. In Word and Gesture 1. In Word and that either in speaking to Parents or speaking of them First Reverence in speaking to Parents Children must speak to Parents respectively and in decent Language 1 Kings 2.20 Ask on my Mother said King Solomon to his Mother Bathsheba Secondly Reverence in speaking of Parents Children must speak of their Parents honourably they ought to speak well of them if they deserve well Prov. 31.28 Her Children rise up and call her Blessed And in case a Parent betrays Weakness and Indiscretion the Child should make the best of it and by his wise Apologies for his Father cover his Fathers Nakedness 2. In Gesture Children are to show their Reverence to their Parents by Submissive Behaviour by uncovering the Head bending the Knee Ioseph tho he were a Great Prince and his Father grown poor yet he bow'd to him and behaved himself as humbly as if his Father had been the Prince and he the poor Man Gen. 48.46 And King Solomon when his Mother came to him rose off his Throne and bowed himself to her 1 Kings 2.19 Among the Lacedemonians if a Child had carried himself arrogantly and sawcily to his Father it was lawful for the Father to appoint whom he would to be his Heir O how many Children are far from this giving Reverence to their Parents They despise their Parents they carry themselves with that Pride and Malapertness towards them that they are a shame to Religion and bring their Parents Grey Hairs with Sorrow to the Grave Deut. 27.16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his Father or Mother If all that set light by their Parents are Cursed how many Children in our Age are under a Curse If such as are disrespectful to their Parents live to have Children they will be Thorns in their sides and God will make them read their Sin in their Punishment II. The Second way of showing Honour to Parents is in careful Obedience Col. 3.20 Children obey your Parents in all things Our Lord Christ herein set a Pattern to Children Luke 2.51 He was subject to his Parents He to whom Angels were subject yet was subject to his Parents This Obedience to Parents is shown three ways 1. In hearkning to their Counsel Prov. 1.8 Hear the Instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother Parents are as it were in the room of God if they would teach you the Fear of the Lord you must listen to their Words as Oracles and not be as the deaf Adder to stop your Ears Ely's Sons hearkned not to the Voice of their Father 1 Sam. 2.25 but they were called Sons of Belial ver 12. And Children must hearken to the Counsel of their Parents as in Spiritual Matters so in other Affairs which relate to this Life as in the Choice of a Calling and in case of entring into Marriage Iacob would not dispose of himself in Marriage tho he were Forty Years old without the Advice and Consent of his Parents Gen. 28.1 2. Children are as it were the Parents proper Goods and Possession and it is high Injustice in a Child to give away her self without the Parents leave If Parents should indeed counsel a Child to match with one that is Irreligious or Popish I think the case is plain and many of the Learned are of Opinion that here the Child may have a Negative Voice and is not obliged to be ruled by the Parent Children are to marry in the Lord 1 Cor. 7.39 Therefore not with Persons Irreligious for that is not to marry in the Lord. 2. Obedience to Parents is shown in subscribing to their Commands A Child should be the Parents Eccho When the Father speaks the Child should Eccho back Obedience The Rechabites were forbidden by their Father to drink Wine and they did obey him and were commended for it Ier. 35.6 And Children must obey their Parents 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in all things Col. 3.20 Things that are more against the Grain and which they have some Reluctancy to yet they must obey their Parents Esau would obey his Father when he commanded him to fetch him Venison because it is probable he took pleasure in hunting but refused to obey him in a matter of greater Concernment namely in the Choice of a Wife But tho Children must obey their Parents in all things yet restringitur ad licita honesta it is with this Limitation Things just and honest Obey in the Lord Ephes. 6.1 That is so far as the Commands of Parents agree with and are consonant to Gods Commands If they command against God here they lose their Right of being obeyed and in this Case we must unchild our selves 3. Honour is to be shown to Parents in relieving their Wants Ioseph cherished his Father in his Old Age Gen. 47.12 It is but the paying a just Debt Parents have brought up Children when they were young and Children ought to nourish their Parents when they are old The young Storks by the Instinct of Nature bring Meat to the Old Storks when by reason of Age ther are not able to fly Pliny Lex Pelargica The Memory of Aeneas was honoured for carrying his Aged Father out of Troy when it was on Fire I have read of a Daughter whose Father being condemned to be starv'd to Death she did in Prison give him Suck with her own Breasts which being known to the Governours procured his Freedom out of Prison To blame are such shall I say Children or Monsters who are ashamed of their Parents when they are old and fallen to decay When Parents Tears and lean Cheeks may plead Pity yet Children have no Compassion When they ask for Bread they give them a Stone When Houses are shut up we say the Plague is there When Childrens Hearts are shut up against their Parents the Plague is in those Hearts Our blessed Saviour took great Care for his Mother When he was on the Cross he charg'd his Disciple Iohn to take her home to him as his Mother and see that she wanted nothing Iohn 19.26 27. The Reasons
your Honour 3. Provide for your Children what is fitting both in their Minority and when they come to Maturity 2 Cor. 12.14 The Children ought not to lay up for the Parents but the Parents for the Children They are your own Flesh and as the Apostle saith No Man yet ever hated his own Flesh Eph. 5.29 The Parents Bountifulness will cause Dutifulness in the Child If you pour Water into a Pump the Pump will send Water out again freely So if Parents pour in something of their Estate to their Children Children if ingenuous will pour out Obedience again to their Parents 4. When your Children are grown up put them to some Lawful Calling wherein they may serve their Generation And it is good to consult the Natural Genius and Inclination of a Child Forc'd Callings do as ill sometimes as Forc'd Matches To let a Child be out of a Calling is to expose it to Temptation Melancton Otium Balneum Diaboli A Child out of a Calling is like Fallow Ground and what can you expect should grow up but Weeds of Disobedience 5. Carry it Lovingly to your Children In all your Counsels and Commands let them read Love Love will command Honour And how can the Parent but love the Child who is his living Picture nay part of himself The Child is the Father in the Second Edition 6. Carry it prudently towards your Children A great Point of Prudence is when a Parent doth not provoke his Children to Wrath. Col. 3.21 Fathers provoke not your Children to Anger lest they be discouraged Quest. How many ways may a Parent provoke his Children to Wrath Resp. 1. By giving them Opprobrious Tearms 1 Sam. 20.30 Thou Son of the perverse rebellious Woman said Saul to his Son Ionathan Some Parents use Imprecations and Curses to their Children This is to provoke them to Wrath. Would you have God bless your Children and do you curse 2. Parents provoke Children to Wrath when they strike their Children without a Cause or when the Correction exceeds the Fault This is rather to be a Tyrant than a Father Saul cast a Javelin at his Son to smite him 1 Sam. 20.33 and his Son was provoked to Anger Ver. 34. So Ionathan arose from the Table in fierce Anger In Filium pater obtinet non tyrannicum imperium sed Basilicum Davenant 3. When Parents deny their Children Conveniences they will not let them have that which may cherish or cover Nature Some have thus provoked their Children they have stinted them and kept them so short that they have forc'd their Children upon indirect Courses and made them put forth their Hands to Iniquity 4. When Parents carry it unequally towards their Children showing more kindness to one than another this sometimes breeds bad Blood Tho a Parent hath a greater Love to one Child yet Discretion should guide Affection that he should not show more Love to one than to another Iacob show'd more love to Ioseph than all his Children and what did it procure but Envy of his Brethren Gen. 37.3 Now Israel loved Ioseph more than all his Children and when his Brethren saw that they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him 5. When a Parent doth any thing which is sordid and unworthy that which casts Disgrace upon himself and his Family as to cosen or take a false Oath this is to provoke the Child to Wrath. As the Child should honour his Father so the Father should not dishonour the Child 6. When Parents lay such Commands upon their Children as their Children cannot perform without wronging their Conscience Saul commanded his Son Ionathan to bring David to him 1 Sam. 20.3 Fetch him to me for he shall surely die Ionathan could not do this with a good Conscience but was provoked to Anger Ver. 34. Ionathan rose from the Table in fierce Anger Now the Reason why Parents should show their Prudence in not provoking their Children to Wrath is set down Col. 3.21 Lest they be discouraged This Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Discouraged implies three things 1. Grief The Parents provoking the Child the Child so takes it to Heart that it causeth immature Death 2. Despondency The Parents Austerity dispirits the Child and makes it unfit for Service Like Members of the Body stupifyed which are unfit for Work 3. Contumaâ—y and Refractoriness The Child being provoked by the cruel and unnatural carriage of the Parent grows desperate and oft studies to irritate and vex his Parent Which tho it be evil in the Child yet the Parent is accessary to it as being the occasion of it 7. If you would have Honour from your Children pray much for them Not only lay up a Portion for them but lay up a Stock of Prayer for them Monica prayed much for her Son Austin and it was said It was impossible a Son of so many Prayers and Tears should perish Pray that your Children may be preserved from the Contagion of the Times Pray that as your Children bear your Image in their Faces they may bear God's Image in their Hearts Pray they may be Instruments and Vessels of Glory This may be one Fruit of Prayer that the Child shall honour a Praying Parent 8. Encourage that which you see good and commendable in your Children Virtus laudata crescit Commending that which is good in your Children makes them more in love with Vertuous Actions and is like watering of Plants which makes them grow more Some Parents discourage the good they see in their Children and so nip Vertue in the Bud and help to damn their Childrens Souls They have their Childrens Curses 9. If you would have Honour from your Children set them a good Example It makes Children despise their Parents when the Parents live in a contradiction to their own Precepts When they bid their Children be sober yet they themselves will be drunk They bid their Children fear God yet are themselves loose in their Lives Oh! If you would have your Children honour you teach them by an Holy Example A Father is a Looking-glass which the Child oft dresseth himself by let the Glass be Clear and not Spotted Parents should observe a Good Decorum in their whole Carriage lest they give occasion to their Children to say to them as Plato's Servant My Master hath made a Book against rash Anger but he himself is passionate Or as a Son once said to his Father If I have done Evil I have learned it of you Quest. Which is the Sixth Commandment Resp. EXOD. XX. 13 Thou shalt not Kill In this Commandment 1. Is a Sin forbidden viz. Murder Thou shalt not kill 2. A Duty implied To preserve our own Life and the Life of others 1. The Sin forbidden Murder Thou shalt not kill Where two things are to be understood 1. The not injuring another 2. Our selves I. In this Thou shalt not kill is meant the not Injuring another 1. We must not injure him in his Name 2. In his Body 3. In
of God because no condemnation Rom. 8.1 No condemnation to them in Christ Iesus God doth not condemn them nor Conscience doth not condemn them Both Jury and Judge acquit them then no evil befalls them for nothing is really an evil but that which damns 10. If God be our Father this may make us go with chearfulness to the Throne of Grace Were a Man to petition his enemy there were little hope but when a Child petitions his Father he may come with confidence to speed The word Father works upon God it toucheth his very Bowels What can a Father deny his Child If a Son ask bread will he give him a stone Matth. 7.9 This may embolden us to go to God for pardon of Sin and further degrees of Sanctity We pray to a Father of Mercy setting upon a Throne of Grace Luke 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Spirit to them that ask him This did quicken the Church and add wings to Prayer Isa. 63.15 Look down from heaven ver 16. Doubtless thou art our Father Who doth God keep his Mercies for but his Children Three things may cause boldness in Prayer We have a Father to pray to and the Spirit to help us to pray and an Advocate to present our Prayers Gods Children should in all their troubles run to their Heavenly Father as that sick Child 2 Kin. 4.19 He said unto his Father My head my head So pour out thy complaint to God in Prayer Father my heart my heart My dead heart quicken it my hard heart soften it in Christs Blood Father my heart my heart Sure God that hears the cry of the Ravens will hear the cry of his Children 11. If God be our Father he will stand between us and danger A Father will keep off danger from his Child God calls himself scutum a shield A shield defends the Head guards the Vitals God shields off dangers from his Children Acts 18.10 I am with thee and none shall set on thee to hurt thee God is an hiding place Psalm 27.5 God preserved Athanasius strangely he put it into his mind to depart out of the house he was in the night before the enemies came to search for him As God hath a Breast to feed so he hath Wings to cover his Children Psal. 91.4 He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust God appoints his holy Angels to be a Life-guard about his Children Heb. 1.14 never was any Prince so well guarded as a Believer The Angels 1. are a numerous guard 2 Kings 6.17 The mountain was full of horses of fire round about Elisha The Horses and Chariots of fire were the Angels of God to defend the Prophet Elisha 2. A strong guard One Angel in a night slew an hundred and fourscore and five thousand 2 Kin. 19.32 if one Angel slew so many what would an Army of Angels have done 3. The Angels are a swift guard they are ready in an instant to help Gods Children therefore they are described with wings to show their swiftness they fly to our help Dan. 9.21 23. At the beginning of thy supplication the commandment came forth and I am come to thee Here was a swift motion for the Angel to come from Heaven to Earth between the beginning and ending of Daniels Prayer 4. The Angels are a watchful guard not like Sauls guard asleep when their Lord was in danger 1 Sam. 26.12 The Angels are a vigilant guard they watch over Gods Children to defend them Psal. 34.7 The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him There is an invisible guardianship of Angels about Gods Children 12. If God be our Father we shall not want any thing that he sees is good for us Psal. 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing God is pleased sometimes to keep his Children to hard commons but it is good for them Sheep thrive best on short pasture God sees too much may not be good plenty breeds surfeit Luxuriant animi rebus secundis God sees it good sometimes to dyet his Children and keep them short that they may run the Heavenly Race the better it was good for Iacob there was a Famine in the Land it was a means to bring him to his Son Ioseph so it is that Gods Children sometimes see the Worlds emptiness that they may acquaint themselves more with Christs fulness if God see it be good for them to have more of the World they shall have it God will not let them want any good thing 13. If God be our Father all the Promises of the Bible belong to us Gods Children are called Heirs of the promise Heb. 6.17 A wicked Man can lay claim to nothing in the Bible but the Curses he hath no more to do absolutely with the Promises than a Ploughman hath to do with the City Charter the Promises are Childrens Bread the Promises are mulctralia Evangelii the Breasts of the Gospel milking out Consolation and who are to suck of these Breasts but Gods Children The promise of Pardon is for them Ier. 33.8 I will pardon all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me The promise of Healing is for them Isa. 57.18 the promise of Salvation Ier. 23.6 the Promises are supports of Faith they are Gods sealed Deed they are a Christians Cordial O the Heavenly Comforts which are distilled from the Lembick of the Promises St. Chrysostome compares the Scripture to a Garden the Promises are the Fruit-Trees that grow in this Garden A Child of God may go to any Promise in the Bible and pluck Comfort from it He is an Heir of the Promise 14. God makes all his Children Conquerours They are born of God and are conquerours 1. They conquer themselves Fortior est qui se quam qui fortissima vincit maenia The Saints conquer their own Lusts they bind these princes in fetters of iron Psal. 149.8 Though the Children of God may sometimes be foiled and lose a single battle yet not the victory 2. They conquer the World The World holds forth her two Breasts of Pleasure and Profit and many are overcome by it but the Children of God have a World-conquering Faith 1 Iohn 5.4 This is the victory over the world even your faith 3. They conquer their Enemies How can that be when they oft take away their Lives 1. They conquer by not complying with them The three Children would not fall down to the Golden Image Dan. 3.18 they would rather burn than bow here they were Conquerours He who complyes with anothers Lust is a Captive he who refuseth to comply is a Conquerour 2. Gods Children conquer their enemies by heroick Patience A patient Christian like the anvil bears all strokes invincibly Thus the Martyrs overcame their enemies by Patience nay Gods Children are more than conquerours Rom. 8.37 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We
keep under my Body and Phil. 3.14 I press toward the mark Gods Children have that holy fear in them as keeps them from security and wantonness they believe the Promise therefore they rejoyce in hope they fear their hearts therefore they watch and pray Thus you see what strong consolation there is for all the Heirs of the Promise Such as have God for their Father are the happyest persons on Earth they are in such a condition that nothing can hurt them they have their Fathers Blessing all things conspire for their good they have a Kingdom settled on them and the entail can never be cut off How may Gods Children be comforted in all conditions let the times be what they will their Father is in Heaven he rules all If troubles arise they shall but carry Gods Children so much the sooner to their Father The more violently the Wind beats against the sails of a Ship the sooner the Ship is brought to the Haven and the more fiercely Gods Children are assaulted the sooner they come to their Fathers house 1 Thess. 4.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words VSE IV. Of Exhortation Let us behave and carry our selves as the Children of such a Father In several particulars 1. Let us depend upon our Heavenly Father in all our straits and exigencies let us believe that he will provide for us Children rely upon their Parents for the supply of wants If we trust God for Salvation shall we not trust him for a Livelyhood There is a lawful provident care to be used but beware of a distrustful care Luke 12.24 Consider the ravens they neither sow nor reap and God seedeth them Doth God feed the Birds of the Air and will he not feed his Children ver 27. Consider the lilies how they grow they spin not yet Solomon in all his glory was not arayed like one of these Doth God cloath the Lilies and will he not cloath his Lambs Even the wicked taste of Gods bounty Psal. 73.7 Their eyes stand out with fatness Doth God feed his Slaves and will not he feed his Family Gods Children may not have so liberal a share in the things of this life but little meal in the barrel they may be drawn low but not drawn dry they shall have so much as God sees is good for them Psal. 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing If God gives them not ad voluntatem he will ad sanitatem if he gives them not alwayes what they crave he will give them what they need if he gives them not a feast he will give them a viaticum a bait by the way Let Gods Children therefore depend upon Gods Fatherly Providence give not way to distrustful thoughts distracting cares or indirect means God can provide for you without your Sins 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you An Earthly Parent may have affection for his Child and would provide for him but sometimes he is not able but God can create a supply for his Children yea he hath promised a supply Psal. 37.3 Verily thou shalt be fed Will God give his Children Heaven and will he not give them enough to bear their charges thither Will he give them a Kingdom and deny them Daily bread O depend upon your Heavenly Father he hath said he will never leave you nor forsake you Heb. 13.5 2. If God be our Father let us imitate him The Child doth not only bear his Fathers Image but doth imitate him in his Speech Gesture Behaviour if God be our Father let us imitate him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. Nyssen Eph. 5.1 Be followers of God as dear children 1. Imitate God in forgiving injuries Isa. 44.22 I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions As the Sun scatters not only thin mists but thick clouds so God pardons great offences imitate God in this Eph. 4.32 Forgiving one another Cranmar was a Man of a forgiving Spirit he did bury injuries and requite good for evil He who hath God for his Father hath God for his Pattern 2. Imitate God in works of Mercy He looseth the prisoners Psal. 146.7 He opens his hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing Psal. 145.16 He drops his sweet Dew as well upon the Thistle as the Rose imitate God in Works of Mercy relieve the wants of others be rich in good works Luke 6.36 Be merciful as your Father also is merciful Be not so hard-hearted as to shut the poor out of the lines of communication Dives denyed Lazarus a crumb of Bread and Dives was denyed a drop of Water 3. If God be our Father let us submit patiently to his Will if he lay his strokes on us they are the corrections of a Father not the punishments of a Judge This made Christ so patient Iohn 18.11 Shall not I drink the cup which my Father hath given me He sees we need affliction 1 Pet. 1.6 he appoints it as a dyet-drink to purge and sanctifie us Isa. 27.9 therefore dispute not but submit Heb. 12.9 We had fathers of the flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence They might correct out of an humour but God doth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for our profit Heb. 12.10 Therefore say as Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good What gets the Child by strugling but more blows What got Israel by their murmuring and rebelling but a longer and more tedious march and at last their Carcases fell in the Wilderness 4. If God be our Father let this cause in us a Childlike Reverence Mal. 1.6 If I be a Father where is my honour This is a part of the honour we give to God when we reverence and adore him If you have not alwayes a Childlike Confidence yet alwayes preserve a Childlike Reverence and how ready are we to run into extreams either to despond or grow wanton Because God is a Father therefore do not think you may be secure and take liberty to sin if you do God may carry it so as if he were no Father he may throw Hell into your Conscience When David presumed upon Gods Paternal Affection and began to wax wanton under Mercy God made him pay dear for it he withdrew the sense of his Love and though he had the heart of a Father yet he had the look of an Enemy David prayed Cause â—e to hear the voice of joy Psal. 51.8 He lay several months in desertion and it is thought he never recovered his full joy to the day of his death Oh keep alive holy fear with a Childlike confidence preserve an humble reverence The Lord is a Father therefore love to serve him he is the Mighty God therefore fear to offend him 5. If God be our Father let us walk obedientially 1 Pet. 1.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As obedient Children When God bids you be humble and self-denying deny yours part with your bosom
then Israel prevailed So Gods Spirit puts the Promises under the Hand of Faith and then a Christian overcomes the Devil that spiritual Amalek The Promise is to the Soul as the Anchor is to a Ship which keeps it steddy in a Storm 2. Christ succours them that are tempted by his blessed interceeding for them When the Devil is tempting Christ is praying Of this the next timer 2. Christ succours his Saints by interceeding for them when Satan is tempting Christ is praying That prayer Christ put up for Peter when he was tempted extend◠to all the Saints Luk. 22.32 Lord saith Christ it is my Child that is tempted Father pitty him when a poor Soul lies bleeding of his wounds the Devil hath given him Christ presents his Wounds to his Father and in the virtue of those pleads for Mercy How powerful must Christs Prayer needs be He is a Favorite Iohn 11.42 He is both an High-Priest and a Son if God could forget that Christ were a Priest yet he cannot forget that he is a Son besides Christ prays for nothing but what is agreeable to his Fathers Will if a Kings Son Petitions only for that which his Father hath a Mind to grant his suit will not be denied 3. Christ succours his People by taking of the Tempter a Shepherd when the Sheep begins to straggle may set the Dog on the Sheep to bring it nearer the Fold but then he calls off the Dog again God will take of the Tempter 1 Cor. 10.13 He will with the Temptation make a way to escape 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will make an Out-let Christ will rebuke the Tempter Zach. 3.2 The Lord rebuke thee O Satan This is no small support that Christ succours the Tempted The Mother succours the Child most when it is sick she sits by its Bed-side brings it Cordials So when a Soul is most assaulted it shall be most assisted Object But I have dealt unkindly with Christ and sinn'd against his Love and sure he will not succour me but let me perish in the Battel Answ. Christ is a merciful High-priest and will succour thee notwithstanding thy failings Ioseph was a Type of Christ. His Brethren sold him away and the Irons entered into his Soul yet afterwards when his Brethren were ready to die in the Famine he forgot their injuries and succoured them with Money and Corn. I am saith he Ioseph your Brother so will Christ say to a tempted Soul I know thy unkindnesses how thou hast distrusted my Love grieved my Spirit but I am Ioseph I am Jesus therefore I will succour thee when thou art tempted 4. Rock of support The best Men may be most tempted A rich Ship may be violently set upon by Pyrats He who is rich in Faith yet may have the Devil that Pyrate set upon him by his battering pieces Iob an eminent Saint yet how fiercely was he assaulted Satan did smite his body that he might tempt him either to question Gods Providence or quarrel with it St. Paul was a chosen vessel but how was this vessel battered with Tentation 2 Cor. 12.7 Object But is it not said he who is born of God the Wicked one toucheth him not 1 Joh. 5.18 Answ. It is not meant that the Devil doth not tempt him but he toucheth him not that is tactu lethali Cajetan with a deadly touch 1 Joh. 5.16 There is a sin unto Death now Satan with all his Temptations doth not make a Child of God sin a sin unto Death Thus he toucheth him not 5. Rock of support Satan can go no further in tempting than God will give him leave The power of the Tempter is limited A whole Legion of Devils could not touch one Swine till Christ gave them leave Satan would have sifted Peter to have sifted out all his Grace but Christ would not suffer him I have prayed for thee c. Christ binds the Devil in a Chain Rev. 20.1 If Satans power were according to his malice not one Soul should be saved but he is a Chained Enemy this is a comfort Satan cannot go an Hairs breadth beyond Gods permission If an Enemy could not touch a Child further than the Father did appoint sure he should do the Child no great hurt 6. Rock of support It is not the having a Tentation makes guilty but the giving consent We cannot hinder a Tentation Elijah that could by Prayer shut Heaven could not shut out a Temptation but if we abhor the Temptation it is our burden not our sin We read in the old Law if one went to force a Virgin and she cried out she was reputed innocent If Satan would by temptation commit a Rape upon a Christian and he cries out and will not give consent the Lord will charge it upon the Devils score It is not the laying the Bait hurts the Fish if the Fish doth not bite 7. Rock of support Our being tempted is no sign of Gods hating us A Child of God oft thinks God doth not love him because he lets him be haunted with the Devil non sequitur this is a wrong conclusion was not Christ himself tempted yet by a Voice from Heaven proclaimed This is my beloved Son Mat. 3.17 Satans tempting and Gods loving may stand together The Goldsmith loves his Gold in the Fire God loves a Saint tho shot at by fiery Darts 8. Rock of support Christs Temptation was for our consolation aqua-ignis Jesus Christ is to be looked upon as a publick person as our Head and Representative and what Christ did he did for us His prayer was for us his suffering was for us when he was tempted and overcame the temptation he overcame for us Christs conquering Satan was to shew that every Elect Person shall at last be a Conqueror over Satan when Christ overcame Satans temptations it was not only to give us an example of Courage but an assurance of Conquest We have overcome Satan already in our Head and we shall at last perfectly overcome 9. Rock of support the Saints Temptations shall not be above their strength The Lutenist will not stretch the strings of his Lute too hard lest they break 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above that ye are able God will proportion our strength to the stroke 2. Cor. 12.9 My Grace is sufficient for thee The Torch-light of Faith shall be kept burning notwithstanding all the Winds of Temptation blowing 10. Rock of support these temptations shall produce much good 1. They shall quicken a Spirit of Prayer in the Saints they shall pray more and better Temptation is orationis flabellum the exciter of Prayer perhaps before the Saints came to God as cold suiters in Prayer they pray'd as if they pray'd not temptation is a Medicine for security When Paul had a Messenger of Satan to buffet him he was more earnest in Prayer 2 Cor. 12.8 Three times I besought the Lord the Thorn in the
a Law and they brake it therefore he punisheth them justly 2. God is just in punishing the Wicked because he never punisheth them but upon full Proof and Evidence What greater Evidence then for a Man 's own Conscience to be Witness against him There is nothing God chargeth upon a Sinner but Conscience doth set Seal to the Truth of it Use 1. See here another Flower of God's Crown the is just and righteous He is the Exemplar and Pattern of Justice Object But how doth it seem to stand with God's Justice that the Wicked should prosper in the World Prov. 12.1 Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper This hath been a great stumbling and been ready to make many question God's Justice Such as are highest in sin are highest in power Diogenes seeing Harpalus a Thief go on prosperously said Sure God had cast off the Government of the World and minded not how things went here below Resp. 1. The wicked may be sometimes Instruments to do God's work though they do not design his glory yet they may promote it Cyrus Ezra 1.7 was instrumental for the building God's Temple in Ierusalem There is some kind of Justice that they should have a Temporal Reward God lets them prosper under whose Wing his People are sheltred God will not be in any Man's debt Mal. 1.10 Who hath kindled a fire on my Altar for nought 2. God lets Men go on in sin and prosper that he may leave them more inexcusable Rev. 2.21 I gave her space to repent of her Fornication God adjourns the Sessions spins out his Mercies towards Sinners and if they repent not his Patience will be a Witness against them and his Justice will be more cleared in their Condemnation Psal. 51.4 That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest 3. God doth not always let the wicked prosper in their sin some he doth punish openly that his Justice may be taken notice of Psal. 9.16 The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth that is his Justice is seen by striking Men dead in the very act of sin Thus he struck Zimri and Cozbi in the Act of Uncleanness 4. If God do let Men prosper a while in sin his Vial of Wrath is all this while filling his Sword is all this while whetting and though God may forbear Men a while yet long forbearance is no forgiveness The longer God is taking his blow the heavier it will be at last as long as there is Eternity God hath time enough to reckon with his Enemies Justice may be as a Lion asleep but at last this Lion will awake and roar upon the Sinner Doth not Nero and Iulian and Cain now meet with God's Justice Object But God 's own People suffer great Afflictions they are injured and persecuted Psal. 73.14 All the day long have I been plagued and chastned every morning How doth this stand with God's Justice Resp. 1. That is a true Rule of St. Austin Iudicia Dei possunt esse occulta non injusta Gods ways of Judgment are sometimes secret but never unjust The Lord never Afflicts his People without a Cause so that he cannot be unjust There is some good in the godly therefore the wicked afflict them there is some evil in them therefore God afflicts them God's own Children have their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their blemishes 2 Chron. 28.10 Are there not with you even with you sins against the Lord These Spiritual Diamonds have they no flaws Do not we read of the Spots of God's Children Deut. 32.10 Are not they guilty of much Pride Censoriousness Passion Worldliness though by their Profession they seem to resemble the Birds of Paradise to fly above and feed upon the Dew of Heaven yet as the Serpent they lick the dust And these sins of God's People do more provoke God than others Deut. 32.19 Because of the provoking of his sons and daughters The sins of others pierce Christ's side these wound his heart therefore is not God just in all the Evils that befal them Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth therefore I will punish you for your Iniquities I will punish you sooner surer sorer then others 2. The Trials and Sufferings of the godly are to refine and purifie them God's Furnace is in Sion Isa. 31.9 Is it any Injustice in God to put his Gold into the Furnace to purifie it Is it any Injustice in God by afflicting his People to make them partakers of his Holiness Hebr. 12.10 What doth more proclaim God's Faithfulness than to take such a course with them as may make them better Psal. 119.75 In faithfulness thou hast corrected me 3. What Injustice is it in God to inflict a lesser Punishment and prevent a greater The best of God's Children have that in them which is meritorious of Hell Now I pray doth God do them any wrong if he useth only the Rod where they have deserved the Scorpion Is the Father unjust if he only corrects his Child who hath deserved to be disinherited If God deals so favourably with his Children he only puts Wormwood in their Cup whereas he might put Fire and Brimstone they are rather to admire his Mercy than complain of his Injustice Object How can it stand with God's Justice that all Men being equally guilty by Nature God should pass by one and save another why doth not he deal with all alike Resp. Rom. 9.14 Is there unrighteousness with God God forbid Job 8.3 Doth the Almighty pervert justice 1. God is not bound to give an account of his Actions to his Creatures If none may say to a King what dost thou Eccles. 8.4 much less to God It is sufficient God is Lord paramount he hath a Soveraign Power over his Creatures therefore can do no Injustice Rom. 9.21 Hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same Lump to make one Vessel to honour and another unto dishonour God hath a liberty â—eâ—t in his own Breast to save one and not another and his Justice is not at aâ—l impeach'd or blemished If two Men owe you Money you may without any Injuâ—tice remit the Debt to one and exact it of the other If two Male-factors be condemned to die the King may pardon one and not the other He is not unjust if he â—ets one suffer because he offended the Law nor if he save the other because he will make use of his Prerogative as he is King 2. Though some are saved and others perish yet there is no unrighteousness in God because whoever periâ—heth his destruction is of himself Hos. 13.9 O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self God offers Grace the Sinner refuseth it Is God bound to give Grace If a Chyrurgion comes to heal a Man's wound he will not be healed but bolts out his Chyrurgion is the Chyrurgion bound to heal him Prov. 1.24 I have called and ye refused Psal. 81.11 Israel would none of me
should touch the golden Scepter of his Mercy and live And this willingness to shew Mercy appears two ways 1. By his intreating of sinners to come and lay hold on his Mercy Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will come and take the water of life freely Mercy woes sinners it even kneels down to them It were strange for a Prince to entreat a condemned Man to accept a Pardon God saith poor sinner suffer me to love thee be willing to let me save thee 2. By his joyfulness when sinners do lay hold on his Mercy What is God the better whether we receive his Mercy or no What is the Fountain profited that others drink of it Yet such is God's goodness that he rejoyceth at the Salvation of sinners and is glad when his Mercy is accepted off When the Prodigal Son came home how glad was the Father and he makes a Feast to express his joy This was but a Type or Emblem to shew how God rejoyceth when a poor sinner comes in and lays hold of his Mercy What an Encouragement is here to believe in God he is a God of Pardons Nehem. 9.17 Mercy pleaseth him Micha 7.18 Nothing doth prejudice us but Unbelief Unbelief stops the current of God's Mercy from running It shuts up God's Bowels closeth the Orifice of Christ's Wounds that no healing Vertue will come out Matth. 13.58 He could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief Why dost thou not believe in God's Mercy Is it thy sins discourage God's Mercy can pardon great sins nay because they are great Psal. 25.11 The Sea covers great Rocks as well as lesser Sands some that had an hand in crucifying Christ found Mercy As far as the Heavens are above the Earth so far is God's Mercy above our sins Isa. 55.9 What will tempt us to believe if not the Mercy of God Use 3. of Caution Take heed of Abusing of this Mercy of God Suck not Poison out of the sweet Flower of God's Mercy Do not think that because God is merciful you may go on in sin this is to make Mercy become your Enemy None might touch the Ark but the Priests who by their Office were more holy None may touch this Ark of God's Mercy but such as are resolved to be holy To sin because Mercy abounds is the Devil's Logick He that sins because of Mercy is like one that wounds his Head because he hath a Plaister He that sins because of God's Mercy shall have Judgment without Mercy Mercy abused turns to Fury Deut. 29.19 If he bless himself saying I shall have peace though I walk after the imaginations of my heart to add drunkenness to thirst the Lord will not spare him but the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against that man Nothing sweeter then Mercy when it is improved nothing fiercer when it is abused Nothing colder than Lead when it is taken out of the Mine nothing more scalding than Lead when it is heated Nothing blunter than Iron nothing sharper when it is whetted Psal. 103.17 The mercy of the Lord is upon them that fear him Mercy is not for them that sin and fear not but for them that fear and sin not God's Mercy is an holy Mercy where it pardons it heals Quest. What shall we do to be interested in God's Mercy Answ. 1. Be sensible of your wants See how you stand in need of Mercy pardoning saving Mercy See your selves Orphans Hos. 14.3 In thee the fatherless findeth Mercy God bestows the Alms of Mercy only on such as are indigent Be emptied of all Opinion of Self-worthiness God pours the golden Oil of Mercy into empty Vessels 2. Go to God for Mercy Psal. 51.1 Have Mercy upon me O God! Put me not off with common Mercy that Reprobates may have Give me not only Acorns but Pearls Give me not only Mercy to feed and clothe me but Mercy to save me give me the Cream of thy Mercies Lord let me have Mercy and Loving kindness Psal. 103.4 Who crowned thee with loving kindness and tender mercies Give me such Mercy as speaks thy electing love to my soul. O pray for Mercy God hath Treasures of Mercy Prayer is the Key that opens these Treasures and in Prayer be sure to carry Christ in your Arms all Mercy comes through Christ 1 Sam. 7.9 Samuel took a sucking Lamb. Carry the Lamb Christ in your Arms go in his Name present his Merits say Lord here is Christ's Blood which is the price of my pardon Lord shew me Mercy because Christ hath purchased it Though God may refuse us when we come for Mercy in our own Name yet not when we come in Christ's Name Plead Christ's Satisfaction and this is such an Argument as God cannot deny Use 4. It exhorts such as have found Mercy to three Things 1. To be upon Mount Gerizim the Mount of Blessing and Praising They have not only heard the King of Heaven is merciful but they have found it so the Hony-comb of God's Mercy hath drop'd upon them when in wants Mercy supplied them when they were nigh unto Death Mercy raised them from the Sick-bed when covered with guilt Mercy pardoned them Psal. 103.1 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name O! how should the Vessels of Mercy run over with Praise 1 Tim. 1.13 Who was before a Persecutor and injurious but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I obtained Mercy I was bemiracled with Mercy as the Sea overflows and breaks down the Banks so the Mercy of God did break down the Banks of my Sin and Mercy did sweetly flow into my Soul You that have been Monuments of God's Mercy should be Trumpets of Praise You that have tasted the Lord is gracious tell others what Experiences you have had of God's Mercy that you may encourage them to seek to him for Mercy Psal. 66.16 I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul When I found my heart dead God's Spirit did come upon me mightily and the blowing of that wind made the withering flowers of my Grace revive O! tell others of God's goodness that you may set others a blessing him and that you may make God's Praises live when you are dead 2. To love God Mercy should be the Attractive of Love Psal. 18.1 I will love thee O Lord my strength The Hebrew word for Love ercameca signifies Love out of the inward Bowels God's Justice may make us fear him his Mercy may make us love him If Mercy will not produce Love what will We are to love God for giving us Food much more for giving us Grace for sparing Mercy much more for saving Mercy Sure that Heart is made of Marble which the Mercy of God will not dissolve into Love I would hate my own Soul saith St. Austin if I did not find it loving God 3. To imitate God in shewing Mercy God is the Father of Mercy shew your selves to be his Children by being like him St. Ambrose The sum and
any man should boast Eph. 2.9 But the Papists say The Works done by an unregenerate Man indeed cannot justify him but works done by a regenerate Man may justify This is most false as may be proved both by Example and Reason 1. By Example Abraham was a regenerate Man but Abraham was not justified by Works but by Faith Rom. 4.3 Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness 2. By Reason How can those Works justify us which defiles us Isa. 64.6 Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags Bona opera non praecedunt justificationem sed sequuntur justificatum Good Works are not an Usher to go before Iustification but an Handmaid to follow it Object But doth not the Apostle Iames say Abraham was justified by works Resp. The answer is easie Works declare us to be righteous before Men but they do not make us righteous before God Works are Evidences of our Iustification not Causes This Name only must be graven upon the Golden Plate of our High Priest Christ The LORD our righteousness 2. Use of Exhortation Branch 1. Adore the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of God to find out such a way to justify us by rich Grace and precious Bloud We were all involved in Guilt none of us could plead Not Guilty and being Guilty we lay under a Sentence of Death now that the Judge himself should find out a way to justify us and the Creditor himself contrive a way to have the Debt paid and not distress the Debtor this may fill us with Wonder and Love The Angels admire the Mystery of Free-grace in this new way of Justifying and Saving lost Man 1 Pet. 1.12 and should not we who are nearly concerned in it and on whom the Benefit is devolved cry out with the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! c. Branch 2. Labour for this high Priviledge of Justification There is Balm in Gilead Christ hath laid down the Price of our Justification viz. His Bloud and he offers himself and all his Merits to us to justifie he invites us to come to him he hath promised to give his Spirit to inable us to do what is required Why then Sinners will ye not look after this great Priviledge of Iustification Do not starve in the midst of Plenty do not perish when there is a Remedy to save you Would not he be thought to be distracted if having a Pardon offered him only upon the Acknowledgment of his Fault and promising Amendment he should bid the Prince keep his Pardon to himself for his part he was in love with his Chains and Fetters and would dye Thou who neglectest Iustification offered thee freely by Christ in the Gospel art this distracted Person Is the Love of Christ to be slighted Is thy Soul and Heaven worth nothing O then look after Iustification through Christ's Bloud Consider 1. The necessity of being justified If we are not justified we cannot be glorified Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he also glorified He who is Outlawed and all his Goods confiscated must be brought into Favour with his Prince before he can be restored to his former Rights and Liberties So we must first have our Sins forgiven and be brought into God's Favour by Iustification before we can be restored to the Liberty of the Sons of God and have Right to that Happiness we forfeited in Adam 2. The Utility and Benefit By Iustification we enjoy Peace in our Conscience a richer Jewel then any Prince wears in his Crown Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God Peace can sweeten all Afflictions it turns our Water into Wine How happy is a justified Person who hath the Power of God to guard him and the Peace of God to comfort him Peace flowing from Iustification is an Antidote against the Fear of Death and Hell Rom. 8.34 It is God that justifies who is he that condemneth Therefore labour for this Iustification by Christ this Priviledge is obtain'd by believing in Christ Acts 13.39 By him all that believe are justified And Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud Faith unites us to Christ and having Union with his Person we partake of his Merits and the glorious Salvation which comes by him Use 3. Comfort to the Justified 1. It is Comfort in case of Failings Alas how defective are the Godly they come short in every Duty But though Believers should be humbled under their Defects yet not despond they are not to be justifi'd by their Duties or Graces but the Righteousness of Christ. Their Duties are mixed with Sin but that Righteousness which justifies them is a perfect Righteousness 2. Comfort in case of hard Censures The World censures the People of God for Proud and Hypocritical and the Troublers of Israel but though Men censure and condemn the Godly yet God hath justified them And as he hath now justified them so at the Day of Judgment he will openly justifie them and pronounce them Righteous before Men and Angels And God is so just and holy a Judge that having once justified his People he will never condemn them Pilate justified Christ I find no fault in him yet after this he condemned him But God having publickly justified his Saints he will never condemn them Whom he justified them he also glorified Of ADOPTION Joh. 1.12 To them he gave power to become the sons of GOD. HAving spoken of the great Points of Faith and Justification the next is Adoption 1. The Qualification of the Persons As many as received him Receiving is put for Believing as is clear by the last words To them that believe in his name 2. The Specification of the Priviledge To them he gave power to become the sons of God The Greek word for Power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Dignity and Prerogative he dignified them to become the Sons of God Our Sonship differs from Christ's Sonship Christ was the Son of God by Eternal Generation a Son before time but our Sonship is 1. By Creation Acts 17.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are his Off-spring This is no Priviledge Men may have God for their Father by Creation yet have the Devil for their Father 2. Our Sonship is by Adoption So in the Text He gave them power to become the sons of God Adoption is twofold 1. External and Federal So those who live in a visible Church and make a Profession of God are Sons Matth. 8.12 The children of the kingdom shall be cast out 2. Real and Gracious So they are Sons who are GOD's Favourites and are Heirs of Glory Before I proceed to the Questions I shall lay down three Positions 1. Adoption takes in all Nations At first Adoption was confined to the People of the Iews they only were grafted in to the true Olive and were dignified with glorious Priviledges Rom. 9.4 Who are Israelites to whom pertaineth
the adoption and the glory But now in the time of Gospel the Chartar is enlarged and the believing Gentiles are within the Line of Communication and have a Right to the Priviledge of Adoption as well as the Iews Acts 10.35 In every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him Position 2. Adoption takes in both Sexes Females as well as Males 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters I have read in some Countries Females are excluded from the Supream Dignity as by the Salique Law in France no Woman can inherit a Crown But if we speak of Spiritual Priviledges Females are as capable as Males Every gracious Soul of whatever Sex lays claim to Adoption and hath an Interest in God as a Father Ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty Position 3. Adoption is an Act of pure Grace Eph. 1.5 Having predestinated us to the adoption of children according to the good pleasure of his will Adoption is a Mercy spun out of the Bowels of Free-grace all by Nature are Strangers therefore have no Right to Sonship only God is pleased to adopt one and not another to make one a Vessel of Glory another a Vessel of Wrath. The adopted Heir may cry out Lord how is it thou wilt show thyself to me and not unto the World Quest. What this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Filiation or Adoption is Resp. Adoption is the taking a Stranger into the Relation of a Son and Heir So Moses was the adopted Son of King Pharoah's Daughter Exod. 2.10 And Esther was the adopted Child of her Cousin Mordecai Esth. 2.7 Thus God adopts us into the Family of Heaven and God in adopting us doth two things 1. He Ennobles us with his Name he who is adopted bears his Name who adopts him Rev. 3.12 I will write on him the name of my God 2. God consecrates us with his Spirit Whom he Adopts he Anoints whom he makes Sons he makes Saints When a Man adopts another for his Son and Heir he may put his Name upon him but he cannot put his Disposition into him if he be of a morose rugged Nature he cannot alter it But whom God adopts he sanctifies He doth not only give them a new Name but a new Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 God turns the Wolf into a Lamb he makes the Heart humble and gracious he works such a Change as if another Soul did dwell in the same Body Quest. From what State doth God take us when he adopts us Resp. From a State of Sin and Misery King Pharoah's Daughter took Moses out of the Ark of Bulrushes in the Water and adopted him for her Son God did not take us out of the Water but out of our Bloud and adopted us Ezek. 16. God adopted us from Slavery It is a Mercy to redeem a Slave but it is more to adopt him Quest. To what God adopts us Resp. He adopts us to a State of Excellency it were much for God to take a Clod of Dust and make it a Star it is more for God to take a Piece of Clay and Sin and adopt it for his Heir 1. God adopts us to a State of Liberty Adoption is a State of Freedom A Slave being adopted is made a free Man Gal. 4.7 Thou art no more a servant but a son Quest. How is an adopted Son free Resp. 1. Not to do what he list he is freed from the Dominion of Sin the Tyranny of Satan the Curse of the Law 2. He is free in the manner of Worship he hath God's free Spirit which makes him free and chearful in his Service of God he is joyful in the house of prayer Isa. 56.7 2. God adopts us to a State of Dignity God makes us Heirs of Promise God Instals us into Honour Isa. 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable The Adopted are God's Treasure Exod. 19.5 His Jewels Mal. 3.17 His first Born Heb. 12.23 They have Angels for their Life-guard Heb. 1.14 They are of the Bloud-Royal of Heaven 1 Iob. 3.9 The Scripture hath set forth their Spiritual Heraldry they have their Escutcheon or Coat-armour Sometimes they give the Lyon for their Courage Prov. 28.1 Sometimes the Dove for their Meekness Cant. 2.14 Sometimes the Eagle for their Sublimeness Isa. 40.31 Thus you see their Coat of Arms display'd but what is Honour without Inheritance God adopts all his Sons to an Inheritance Luke 12.32 It is your Father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom 'T is no Disparagment to be the Sons of God To reproach the Saints is as if Shimei had reproached David when he was going to be made King Adoption ends in Coronation The Kingdom God gives his adopted Sons and Heirs excels all Earthly Monarchies 1. In Riches Rev. 21.21 the Gates of Pearl and the Streets of pure Gold and as it were transparent Glass 2. In Tranquility it is peaceable the white Lily of Peace is the best Flower of a Prince's Crown Pax una triumphis innumeris melior No Divisions at Home or Invasions Abroad no more the Noise of the Drum or Canon but the Voice of Harpers harping the Hieroglyphick of Peace Rev. 14.2 3. In Stability other Kingdoms are corruptible though they have Heads of Gold yet Feet of Clay but this Kingdom into which the Saints are adopted runs parallel with Eternity 't is a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Heb. 12.28 The Heirs of Heaven reign for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 Quest. What is the Organical or Instrumental Cause of Adoption Resp. Faith interests us in the Priviledge of Adoption Gal. 3.26 Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus Before Faith be wrought we are Spiritually Illegitimate we have no relation to God as a Father an Unbeliever may call God Iudge but not Father Faith is the filiating Grace it confers upon us the Title of Sonship and gives us right to inherit Quest. Why Faith is the Instrument of Adoption more then any other Grace Resp. 1. Faith is a quickning Grace it is the Vital Artery of the Soul Hab. 2.4 The just shall live by faith Life makes us capable of Adoption dead Children are never adopted 2. Faith makes us CHRIST's Brethren and so GOD comes to be our Father Use 1. Branch 1. See the amazing Love of God in making us his Sons Plato gave God Thanks that he had made him a Man and not only a Man but a Philosopher but it is infinitely more that he should invest us with the Prerogative of Sons It is Love in God to feed us but more to adopt us 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God! It is an Ecce Admirantis a Behold of Wonder The Wonder of God's Love in adopting us will appear the more if we consider these six things 1. That God should adopt us when he
had a Son of his own Men adopt because they want Children and desire to have some to bear their Name but that God should adopt us when he had a Son of his own the Lord Iesus here is the Wonder of Love Christ is call'd God's dear Son Col. 1.13 A Son more worthy then the angels Heb. 1.4 Being made so much better then the angels Now when God had a Son of his own such a Son here is the Wonder of God's Love in adopting us We needed a Father but he did not need Sons 2. Consider what we were before God did adopt us We were very deformed a Man will scarce adopt him for his Heir that is crooked and ill-favoured but that hath some Beauty Mordecai adopted Esther because she was fair But we were in our Bloud and then God adopted us Ezek. 16.6 When I saw thee polluted in thy bloud it was the time of love God did not adopt us when we were bespangled with the Jewels of Holiness and had the Angels Glory upon us but when we were black as Aethiopians diseased as Leapers then it was the time of Love 3. That God should be at so great Expence in adopting us When Men adopt they have only some Deed seal'd and the thing is effected but when God adopts it puts him to a far greater Expence it seâ—s his Wisdom a work to find out a way to adopt us It was no easie thing to make the Heirs of Wrath Heirs of the Promise And when God had found out a way to adopt it was no easie way our Adoption is purchased at a dear Rate When God was about to make us Sons and Heirs he could not Seal the Deed but by the Bloud of his own Son Here is the Wonder of God's Love in adopting us that he should be at all this Expence to bring this work about 4. That God should adopt his Enemies If a Man adopts another for his Heir he will not adopt his mortal Enemy but that God should adopt us when we were not only Strangers but Enemies Here is the Wonder of Love for God to have pardoned his Enemies had been much but to adopt them for his Heirs this sets the Angels in Heaven a wondring 5. That God should take great Numbers out of the Devil's Family and adopt them into the Family of Heaven Christ is said to bring many sons to glory Heb. 2.10 Men adopt usually but one Heir but God is resolved to encrease his Family he brings many Sons to Glory God's adopting Millions is the Wonder of Love Had but one been adopted all of us might have despair'd but he brings many Sons to Glory this opens a Door of Hope to us 6. That God should confer so great Honour upon us in adopting us David thought it no small Honour that he should be a King's Son-in-law 1 Sam. 18.18 But what Honour to be the Sons of the High God And the more Honour God hath put upon us in adopting us the more he hath magnified his Love towards us What Honour that God hath made us so near in Alliance to him Sons of God the Father Members of God the Son Temples of God the Holy Ghost that he hath made us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Angels Matth. 22.30 Nay in some sence superiour to the Angels all proclaims the Wonder of God's Love in adopting us Branch 2. See the sad Condition of such as live and dye in Unbelief they are not the Sons of God To as many as received him he gave power to become the sons of God even to them that believe in his name No Faith no Sonship Unbelievers have no Sign on Sonship they know not God all God's Children know their Father but the Wicked do not know him Jer. 9.3 They proceed from evil to evil and know not me saith the Lord. Unbelievers are dead in Trespasses Eph. 2.1 God hath no dead Children and not being Children they have no Right to inherit 2. Use of Tryal Try whether we are adopted all the World is divided into these two Ranks either the Sons of God or the Heirs of Hell Joh. 1.12 To them he gave power to become the sons of God Let us put ourselves on a Tryal it is no sign we are adopted Sons because we are Sons of Godly Parents The Iews boasted that they were Abraham's Seed Ioh. 8.33 they thought they must needs be good because they came of such an Holy Line But Adoption doth not come by Bloud we see many godly Parents have wicked Sons Abraham had an Ishmael Isaac an Esau. The Corn that is sown pure yet brings forth Grain with an Husk He who himself is Holy yet the Child that springs from his Loins is Unholy So that as Hierom Non nascimur filii We are not God's Sons as we are born of godly Parents but by Adoption and Grace Well then let us try if we are the adopted Sons and Daughters of God First Sign of Adoption Obedience a Son obeys his Father Jer. 35.5 I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine and cups and said unto them Drink ye Wine But they said We will drink no wine for Ionadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us saying Ye shall drink no wine So when God saith Drink not in Sin 's enchanted Cup an adopted Child saith My Heavenly Father hath commanded me I dare not Drink A gracious Soul doth not only believe God's Promise but obey his Command And true Child-like Obedience must be Regular which implies three things 1. It must be done by a right Rule Obedience must have the Word for its Rule Lydius Lapis Isa. 8.20 To the law to the testimony If our Obedience be not according to the Word it is offering up strange Fire it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Will-worship and God will say Who hath required this at your hand The Apostle condemns worshipping of Angels which had a show of Humility Col. 2.18 The Iews might say they were loath to be so bold as to go to God in their own Persons they would be more humble and prostrate themselves before the Angels desiring them to be their Mediators to God Here was a show of Humility in their Angel-worship but it was abominable because they had no Word of God to warrant it It was not Obedience but Idolatry Child-like Obedience is that which is consonant to our Father 's revealed Will. 2. It must be done from a right Principle i. e. The noble Principle of Faith Rom. 16.26 The obedience of faith Quicquid decorum est ex fide proficiscitur Aug. A Crab-tree may bear Fruit fair to the Eye but it is sowr because it doth not come from a good Root A Moral Person may give God outward Obedience and to the Eyes of others it seems glorious but his Obedience is sowr because it comes not from that sweet and pleasant Root of Faith A Child of God gives him the Obedience of Faith and that
meliorates and sweetens his Services and makes them come off with a better relish Heb. 11.4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice then Cain 3. It must be done to a right End Finis specificat actionem The end of Obedience is glorifying God That which hath spoil'd many glorious Services is when the end hath been wrong Matth. 6.2 When thou dost thine alms do not sound a trumpet as the hypocrites do that they may have glory of men Good Works should shine but not blaze If I give my body to be burned and have not charity it profits me nothing 1 Cor. 13.3 The same I may say of a sincere aim if I obey never so much and have not a sincere Aim it profits me nothing True Obedience looks at God in all Phil. 1.20 That Christ may be magnified Though a Child of God shoots short yet he takes a right Aim 2. True Child-like Obedience is Uniform A Child of God makes Conscience of one Command as well as another Quicquid propter Deum fit aequaliter fit All God's Commands have the same Stamp of Divine Authority upon them and if I obey one Precept because my Heavenly Father commands me then by the same Rule I must obey all As the Bloud runs through all the Veins of the Body and the Sun in the Firmament runs through all the Signs of the Zodiack so true Child-like Obedience runs through the First and Second Table Psal. 119.6 When I have respect to all thy commandments To obey God in some things of Religion and not in others shows an unsound Heart Like Esau who obeyed his Father in bringing him Venison but not in a greater matter viz. the Choice of his Wife Child-like Obedience moves towards every Command of God as the Needle points that way which the Load-stone draws If God call to Duties which are cross to Flesh and Bloud if we are Children we obey our Father Quest. But who can obey God in all things Ans. An adopted Heir of Heaven though he cannot obey every Precept perfectly yet he doth evangelically 1. He approves of every Command Rom. 7.16 I consent to the law that it 〈◊〉 good 2. A Child of God delights in every Command Psal. 119.97 O how I love thy precepts 3. His desire is to obey every Command Psal. 119.5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes 4. Wherein he comes short he looks up to Christ's Bloud to make supply for his Defects This is Evangelical Obedience which though it be not to Satisfaction it is to Acceptation 3. True Child-like Obedience is constant Psal. 106.3 Blessed is he that doth righteousness at all times Child-like Obedience is not like an high Cholor in a Fit which is soon over but like a right Sanguine Complexion it abides it is like the Fire on the Altar which was kept always burning Lev. 6.13 Second Sign of Adoption To love to be in our Father's Presence the Child who loves his Father is never so well as when he is near his Father Are we Children we love the Presence of God in his Ordinances In Prayer we speak to God in the preaching of his Word he speaks to us And how doth every Child of God delight to hear his Father's Voice Psal. 63.1 2. My soul thirsteth for thee to see thy glory so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary Such as disregard Ordinances are not God's Children because they care not to be in God's Presence Gen. 4.17 Cain went out from the presence of the Lord. Not that he could go out of God's Sight but the meâ—ning is Cain went from the Church and People of God where the Lord gave vissible Tokens of his Presence Third Sign of Adoption To have the Conduct of God's Spirit Rom. 8. â—4 As many as are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God It is not enough that the Child have Life but it must be led every step by the Nurse so the adopted Child must not only be born of God but have the Manuduction of the Spirit to lead him in a Course of Holiness Hos. 11.3 I taught Ephraim also to go taking them by their arms As Israel were led by the Pillar of Fire so God's Children are led by the Conduct of his Spirit the adopted Ones need God's Spirit to lead them they are apt to go wrong The fleshy Part inclines to sin the Understanding and Conscience are to guide the Will but the Will is imperious and rebels therefore God's Children need the Spirit to check Corruption and lead them in the right way as the wicked Men are led by the Evil Spirit The Spirit of Satan led Herod to Incest Ahab to Murder Iudas to Treason so the good Spirit leads God's Children into Vertuous Actions Object But Enthusiasts pretend to be led by the Spirit when it is an Ignis Fatuus a Delusion Ans. The Spirit 's Conduct is agreeable to the Word Enthusiasts leave the Word The word is truth Joh. 17.17 And the spirit guides in all truth Joh. 16.13 The Word 's Teaching and the Spirit 's Leading agree together Fourth Sign If we are adopted we have an intire love to all God's Children 1 Pet. 2.17 Love the brother-hood We bear Affection to God's Children though they have some Infirmities There are the spots of God's Children Deut. 32.5 But we must love the beautiful Face of Holiness though it hath a Scar in it If we are adopted we love the Good we see in God's Children we admire their Graces we pass by their Imprudencies if we cannot love them because they have some Failings how do we think God can love us can we plead Exemption By these Signs we may know our Adoption Quest. What are the benefits which accrue to God's Children Ans. They have great Immunities King's Children have great Priviledges and Freedoms they do not pay Custom Mat. 17.6 God's Children are priviledged Persons they are priviledged from the hurt of every thing Luke 10.19 Nothing shall by any means hurt you Hit you it may not hurt you Psal. 91.10 There shall no evil befal thee God saith not no Affliction shall befal his Children but no Evil the Hurt and Poison of it is taken away Affliction to a wicked Man hath Evil in it it makes him worse it makes him curse and blaspheme Rev. 16.9 Men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God But no Evil befals a Child of God he is better'd by Affliction Heb. 12.10 The Furnace makes Gold purer Again no Evil befals the Adopted because no Condemnation Rom. 8.33 It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth What a blessed Priviledge is this to be freed from the Sting of Affliction and the Curse of the Law to be in such a Condition that nothing can hurt one When the Dragon hath poison'd the Water the Unicorn with his Horn doth extract and draw out the Poison so Jesus Christ hath drawn out the Poison of every Affliction that it cannot
Presumption doth not fear defiling his Garments he is bold in sin Ier. 3.4 5. Wilt thou not cry unto me my Father behold thou hast done evil things as thou couldest Balaam said My God yet a Sorcerer A Sign he hath no Mony about him who fears not to Travel all Hours in the Night a sign he hath not the Jewel of Assurance who fears not the works of Darkness 3. True Assurance is built upon a Scripture-basis the Word saith The effect of Righteousness shall be Quietness and Assurance for ever Isa. 32.17 A Christians Assurance is built upon this Scripture God hath sown the Seed of Righteousness in his Soul and this Seed hath brought forth the Harvest of Assurance But Presumption is a spurious thing it hath no Scripture to shew for its Warrant it is like a Will without Seal and Witnesses which is null and void in Law Presumption wants both the Witness of the Word and the Seal of the Spirit 4. Assurance flowing from Sanctification always keeps the Heart in a lowly posture Lord saith the Soul what am I that passing by so many the Golden Beams of thy Love should shine upon me St. Paul had Assurance is he proud of this Jewel No. Ephes. 3.8 To me who am less than the least of all Saints The more love a Christian receives from God the more he sees himself a Debtor to free Grace and the sense of his Debt keeps his Heart Humble but Presumption is bred of Pride He who Presumes Disdains he think himself better than others Luke 18.11 God I thank thee I am not as other Men are nor as this Publican Feathers fly up but Gold descends he who hath this Golden Assurance his Heart descends in Humility Quest. 5. What is it may excite us to look after Assurance Resp. To consider how sweet it is and the noble and excellent effects it produceth Effect 1. How sweet it is This is the Manna in the Golden Pot the white Stone the Wine of Paradise which chears the Heart How comfortable is God's Smile The Sun is more refreshing when it shineth out that when it is hid in a Cloud it is a praelibation and fore-tast of Glory it puts a Man in Heaven before his time none can know how delicious and ravishing it is but such as have felt it as none can know how sweet Hony is but they who have tasted it 2. The noble and excellent Effects it produceth 1. Assurance will make us love God and Praise him 1. Love him Love is the Soul of Religion the Fat of the Sacrifice and who can love God so as he who hath Assurance The Sun reflecting its Beams on a burning Glass makes the Glass burn that that is near to it So Assurance which is the reflection of Gods love upon the Soul makes it burn in love to God St. Paul was assured of Christ's love to him Gal. 2.20 who hath loved me and how was his Heart fired with love he valued and admired nothing but Christ Phil. 3.8 as Christ was fastned to the Cross so he was fastned to Paul's Heart 2. Praise him Praise is the Quit-rent we pay to the Crown of Heaven who but he who hath Assurance of his Justification Man in a Swoon or Apoplexy Praise God that he is alive Can a Christian staggering with Fears about his Spiritual Condition praise God that he is elected and justified No The living the living he shall praise thee Isa. 38.19 Such as are enliven'd with Assurance they are the fittest Persons to sound forth Gods Praise Effect 2. Assurance would drop Sweetness into all our Creature-Enjoyments it would be as Sugar to Wine an earnest of more it gives a Blessing with the Venison As Guilt imbitters our Comforts it is like drinking out of a Wormwood Cup So Assurance would indulcorate and sweeten all Health and the Assurance of Gods Love are sweet Riches with the Assurance of a Kingdom are delectable Nay a Dinner of Green Herbs with the Assurance of Gods Love is Princely Fare Effect 3. Assurance would make us Active and Lively in Gods Service it would excite Prayer quicken Obedience as Diligence begets Assurance so Assurance begets Diligence Assurance will not as the Papists say breed Security in the Soul but Industry Doubting does discourage us in Gods Service but the Assurance of his Favour breeds Joy And the Ioy of the Lord is our strength Nehem. 8.10 Assurance makes us mount up to Heaven as Eagles in Holy Duties it is like the Spirit in Ezekiel's Wheels that moved them and lifted them up Faith would make us Walk but Assurance would make us Run We should never think we could do enough for God Assurance would be as Wings to the Bird as Weights to the Clock to set all the Wheels of Obedience a running Effect 4. Assurance would be a Golden Shield to beat back Temptation Assurance Triumphs over Temptation There are two sorts of Temptation Satan useth 1. He tempts to draw us to Sin Now the being assured of our Justification would make this Temptation vanish What Satan shall I Sin against him who hath loved me and washed me in his Blood Shall I return to Folly after God hath spoken Peace Shall I weaken my Assurance wound my Conscience grieve my Comforter Avoid Satan Tempt no more 2. Satan would make us question our Interest in God he tells us we are Hypocrites and God doth not love us Now there is no such Shield against this Temptation as Assurance What Satan have I a real Work of Grace in my Heart and the Seal of the Spirit to witness it and dost thou tell me God doth not love me Now I know thou art an Impostor who goest about to disprove what I sensibly feel If Faith resists the Devil Assurance would put him to flight Effect 5. Assurance would make us contented though we have but a little in the World He who hath Enough is Content He who hath Sun-light is Content though he wants Torch-light A Man that hath Assurance hath enough In uno salvatore omnes florent gemmae ad salutem He hath the Riches of Christs Merit of his Love an Earnest of his Glory he is fill'd with the Fulness of God here is enough and having enough he is Content Psal. 16.5 The Lord is the portion of my Inheritance The Lanes are fallen unto me in a pleasant place and I have a goodly Heritage Assurance will rock the Heart quiet the reason of Discontent is either because Men have no Interest in God or do not know their Interest St. Paul I know whom I have believed 2 Tim. 1.12 There was the Assurance of his Interest and 2 Cor. 6.10 As sorrowful yet always rejoycing c. There was his Contentment Get but Assurance and you will be out of the weekly Bill of Murmurers you will be discontented no more What can come amiss to him that hath Assurance God is his Hath he lost a Friend His Father lives Hath he lost his only Child
and discussing this great point let me first clear the Sense of it which I shall first do by way of Concession or Grant When I say Believers do persevere First I grant that such as are so only in Possession may fall away 2 Tim. 4.10 Demas hath forsaken us Blazing Comets soon Evaporate A Building on Sand will fall Mat. 7.26 Seeming Grace may be lost no wonder to see a Bough fall from the Tree that is only tied on Hypocrites are only tied on to Christ by an External Profession they are not ingrafted Who ever thought artificial motion would hold long The Hypocrites motion is only Artificial not Vital All Blossoms do not ripen into Fruit. Secondly I grant that if Believers were left to stand upon their own Legs they might fall finally Some of the Angels who were Stars full of Light and Glory yet did actually lose their Grace and if those pure Angels fell from Grace much more would the Godly who have so much Sin to betray them if they were not upheld by a Superior Power 3. I grant true Believers though they do not fall away actually and lose all their Grace yet their Grace may fail in the degree and they may make a great Breach upon their Sanctification Grace may be moritura not mortua dying but not dead Rev. 3.2 Strengthen the things which are ready to dye Grace may be like Fire in the Embers though not quenched yet the Flame is gone out This decay of Grace I shall shew in two particulars 1. The lively actings of Grace may be suspended Rev. 2.4 Thou hast left thy first love Grace may be like a sleepy Habit the Godly may act faintly in Religion the pulse of their Affections may beat low The wise Virgins slumbred Matt. 25.5 The Exercise of Grace may be hindred as when the course of Water is stop'd and doth not run 2. Instead of Grace exercising in the Godly Corruption may exercise instead of Patience Murmuring instead of Heavenliness Earthliness How did Pride put forth it self in the Disciples when they strove who should be greatest How did Lust put forth in David Thus lively and vigorous may Corruption be in the Regenerate they may fall into Enormous Sins But though all this be granted yet they do not penitus excidere fall away finally from Grace David did not quite lose his Grace for then why did he pray Take not away thy Holy Spirit from me He had not quite lost the Spirit As Eutiches when he fell from a Window Acts 20. and all thought he was dead No saith Paul there is Life in him So David fell foully but there was the Life of Grace in him Though the Saints may come to that pass they have but little Faith yet not to have no Faith Though their Grace may be drawn low yet not drawn dry Though Grace may be abated not abolished though the wise Virgins slumbred yet their Lamps were not quite gone out Grace when it is at the lowest shall revive and flourish as when Sampson had lost his strength his Hair grew again and he renewed his strength Having thus explained the Proposition I come now to the amplifying this great Doctrin of the Saints Perseverance Quest. 1. By what means do Christians come to persevere Resp. 1. By the Manuduction and help of Ordinances Prayer Word Sacraments Christians do not arrive at Perseverance when they sit still and do nothing It is not with us as with Passengers in a Ship who are carried to the end of their Voyage and they sit still in the Ship or as it is with Noble-men who have their Rents brought in without their Toyl or Labour but we arrive at Salvation in the use of Means as a Man comes to the end of a Race by running to a Victory by fighting Matt. 26.41 Watch and Pray As Paul said Acts 27.31 Except ye abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved Believers shall come to shore at last arrive at Heaven but Except they abide in the Ship viz. in the use of the Ordinances they cannot be saved The Ordinances cherish Grace as they beget Grace so they are the Breast-Milk by which it is nourished and preserved to Eternity 2. Auxilio Spiritus By the Sacred Influence and Concurrence of the Spirit The Spirit of God is continually at work in the Heart of a Believer to carry on Grace to Perseverance it drops on fresh Oyl to keep the Lamp of Grace burning The Spirit excites strengthens encreaseth Grace and makes a Christian go from one step of Faith to another till he comes to the end of his Faith Salvation 1 Pet. 1.9 It is a fine Expression of the Apostle 2 Tim. 1.14 The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us He who dwells in an House keeps the House in repair the Spirit dwelling in a Believer keeps Grace in repair Grace is compar'd to a River of the Water of Life Iohn 7.38 This River can never be dried up because Gods Spirit is a Spring which continually feeds it 3. Grace is carried on to Perseverance by Christs daily Intercession As the Spirit is at work in the Heart so is Christ at work in Heaven Christ is ever praying that the Saints Grace may hold out Iohn 17.11 Conserva illos Father keep those whom thou hast given me keep them as Stars in their Orb keep them as Jewels that they may not be lost Father keep them That Prayer Christ made for Peter was the Copy of his Prayer he now makes for Believers Luke 22.32 I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it be not totally eclipsed How can the Children of such Prayers perish Quest. 2. By what Arguments may we prove the Saints Perseverance Resp. 1. A veritate Dei from the Truth of God God hath both asserted it and promised it 1. God hath asserted it 1 Iohn 3.9 His Seed remaineth in him 1 Iohn 2.27 The anointing ye have received of him abideth in you 2. As God hath asserted it so he hath promised it The Truth of God the most Orient Pearl of his Crown is laid a Pawn in the Promise Iohn 10.28 I give unto them eternal Life and they shall never perish Jer. 32.42 I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my Fear in their Hearts that they shall not depart from me God will so love his People that he will not forsake them and they shall so fear him that they shall not forsake him If a Believer should not persevere God should break his Promise Hos. 2.19 I will betroth thee unto me for ever in righteousness and loving kindness God doth not Marry his People to himself and then Divorce them he hates putting away Mal. 2.16 Gods love tyes the Marriage Knot so fast that neither Death nor Hell can break it asunder 2. The second Argument is à potentia Dei from the Power of God In the Text we
it Light Feathery Christians flote in Vanity they mind not the Day of Judgment but Serious Spirits sink deep into the Thoughts of it 1. The Meditation of this Last Day would make us very sincere We would then labour to approve our Hearts to God the great Judge and Umpire of the World 'T is easie to carry it fair before Men but there is no Dissembling or Prevaricating with God he sees what the Heart is and will accordingly pass his Verdict 2. The Meditation of Christ's coming to judge us would keep us from Iudging our Brethren We are apt to judge others as to their Final State which is for Men to step into Christ's Place and take his Work out of his Hand Iam. 4.12 Who art thou that judgest another Thou that passest a rash Sentence upon another thou must come thy self shortly to be judged and then perhaps he may be Acquitted and thou Condemned Bran. So demean and carry your selves that at the Day of Judgment you may be sure to be acquitted and have those glorious Privileges the Saints shall be Crowned with Quest. How is that Resp. 1. If you would stand acquitted at the Day of Judgment then First labour to get into Christ Phil. 3.9 That I may be found in him Faith implants us into Christ it in garrisons us in him and then there 's no Condemnation Rom. 8.1 There 's no standing before Christ but by being in Christ. Secondly Labour for Humility 'T is a kind of Self-Annihilation 2 Cor. 12.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though I be nothing Christian hast thou Parts and Abilities and dost thou cover them with the Vail of Humility As Moses when his Face shined put a Vail over it If thou art Humble thou shalt be acquitted at the Day of Judgment Iob 22.29 He shall save the Humble Person An Humble Man judgeth himself for his Sins and Christ will acquit them who judge themselves 2. If you would stand acquitted at the last Day then keep a clear Conscience Do not load your selves with Guilt and furnish your Judge with matter against you The Lord saith Paul hath appointed a Day in which he would judge the World Acts 17.21 And how would Paul fit himself for that Day Acts 24.16 Herein I exercise my Self to have always a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man Be careful of the First and Second Table be Holy and Just. Have Hearts without false Aims and Hands without false Weights keep Conscience as clear as your Eye that no Dust of Sin fall into it They that sin against Conscience will be shy of their Judge Such as take in Prohibited Goods cannot endure to see the Searchers that are appointed to open their Packs Christian thy Pack will be opened at the last Day I mean thy Conscience and Christ is Searcher to see what Sins what Prohibited Goods thou hast taken in and then he proceeds to Judgment Oh be sure to keep a good Conscience this is the best way to stand with boldness at the Day of Judgment The Voice of Conscience is the Voice of God if Conscience doth upon just Grounds acquit us God will acquit us 1 Iohn 3.21 If our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 3. If you would stand acquitted at the last Day then trade your Talents for God's Glory Lay out your selves for God Honour him with your Substance Relieve Christ's Members This is the way to be acquitted He that had Five Talents Traded them and made them Five Talents more His Lord said unto him Well done Good and Faithful Servant Matt. 25.21 4. If you would stand acquitted at the Day of Judgment get an intire Love to the Saints 1 Iohn 3.14 We know we are passed from Death to Life c. Love is the truest Touch-stone of Sincerity To love Grace for Grace shews the Spirit of God to be in a Man Doth Conscience witness for you Are you perfum'd with this sweet Spice of Love Do you delight most in those whom the Image of God shines Do you reverence their Graces Do you bear with their Infirmities A Blessed Evidence that you shall be acquitted in the Day of Judgment We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren Of Obedience to God's Revealed Will. Deut. 27.9 10. Take heed and hearken O Israel This Day thou art become the People of the Lord thy God thou shalt therefore obey the Voice of the Lord thy God and do his Commandments Quest. WHat is the Duty that God requireth of Man Resp. Obedience to his Revealed Will. It is not enough to Hear God's Voice but we must Obey Obedience is a part of that Honour we owe to God Mal. 1.6 If I am a Father where is my Honour Obedience carries in it the Life-Blood of Religion Obey the Voice of the Lord thy God and do his Commandments Obedience without Knowledge is Blind and Knowledge without Obedience is Lame Rachel was fair to look upon but being barren said Give me Children or I die So if Knowledge doth not bring forth the Child of Obedience it will Dye 1 Sam. 15.22 To obey is better than Sacrifice Saul thought 't was enough for him to offer Sacrifice though he disobeyed God's Command No to obey is better than Sacrifice God disclaims Sacrifice if Obedience be wanting Ier. 7.22 I spake not to your Fathers concerning Burnt-Offerings but this thing commanded I them saying Obey my Voice Not but that God did enjoyn those Religious Rights of Worship but the meaning is God looked chiefly at Obedience without which Sacrifice was but Devout Folly The end why God hath given us his Law is Obedience Levit. 18.4 Ye shall do my Iudgments and keep my Ordinances Why doth a King publish an Edict but that it may be observed Quest. 1. What is the Rule of Obedience Resp. The Written Word That is proper Ocedience which the Word requires our Obedience must correspond with the Word as the Copy with the Original To seem to be zealous if it be not according to the Word is not Obedience but Will-worship Popish Traditions which have no Footing in the Word are abominable and God will say quis quaesivint haec Who hath required this at your Hand Isa. 1.12 The Apostle condemns the Worshipping of Angels which had a shew of Humility Col. 2.18 The Jews might say they were loath to be so bold as to go to God in their own Persons they would be more Humble and prostrate themselves before the Angels and desire them to present their Petitions to God This shew of Humility was hateful to God because there was no Word to warrant it Quest. 2. What are the Right Ingredients into our Obedience to make it acceptable Or how must it be qualified Resp. 1. Obedience must be cum animi prolubio Free and Chearful else it is Pennance not Sacrifice Isa. 1.19 If ye be Willing and Obedient though we serve God with Weakness let it be with
our strength lay But in a true Gospel Sense we may so obey the Moral Law as to find Acceptance Which Gospel-Obedience consists in a Real Endeavour to observe the whole Moral Law Psal. 119.166 I have done thy Commandments Not I have done all I should do but I have done all I am able to do and wherein our Obedience comes short we look up to the perfect Righteousness and Obedience of Christ and hope for Pardon through his Blood This is Evangelically to obey the Moral Law which though it be not to Satisfaction yet it is to Acceptation Thus I have done with the first The Preface to the Preface God spake all these words I should now come to the second the Preface it self to the Commandments I am the Lord thy God c. Of the Commandments Exod. 20.2 I am the Lord thy God c. 2. THE Preface it self which consists of three parts 1. I am the Lord thy God 2. Which have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt 3. Out of the House of Bondage 1. I am the Lord thy God Where we have a Description of God 1. By his Essential Greatness I am the Lord 2. By his relative Goodness Thy God 1. By his essential greatness I am the Lord or as in the Hebrew Iehovah This name of God sets forth his Majesty Sanctius habitum fuit saith Buxtorf the name Iohavah was had in more Reverence among the Jews than any other name of God it signifies Gods Self-sufficiency Eternity Independency Immutability Mal. 3.6 Use 1. If God be Iehovah the Fountain of being who can do what he will let us fear this great Lord Deut. 28.58 That thou maist fear Hashem Hanicbad Jehovah this glorious and fearful name Jehovah Use 2. If God be Iehovah the supream Lord then it condemns the Blasphemous Papists who speak after this manner Our Lord God the Pope Is it a Wonder the Pope lifts his Tripple Crown above the Heads of Kings and Emperors when he Usurps Gods Title Shewing himself that he is God 2 Thess. 2.4 The Pope goes to make himself Lord of Heaven for he will Canonize Saints there Lord of Earth for with his Keys he doth bind and loose whom he pleaseth Lord of Hell for he can free Men out of Purgatory But God will pull down these Plumes of Pride He will consume this Man of sin with the breath of his mouth and the brightness of his coming 2 Thess. 2.8 Use 3. God is described by his relative goodness Eloeka Thy God Had God only called himself Iehovah it might have terrified us and made us fly from him but when he saith Thy God this may allure and draw us to him This though a Preface to Law is pure Gospel This word Eloeka Thy God is so sweet that we can never suck out all the Hony in it I am thy God not only by Creation but by Election This word Thy God though it was spoken to Israel yet it is a Charter belongs to all the Saints For the further Explication here are three Questions Quest. 1. How God comes to be our God Resp. Through Jesus Christ Christ is a middle Person in the Trinity He is Emanuel God with us He brings two differing Parties together He makes our Nature lovely to God and Gods Nature lovely to us He by his Death causeth Friendship yea Union He brings us within the Verge of the Covenant and so God becomes our God Quest. 2. What doth this imply God being our God Resp. It is comprehensive of all good things God is our strong Tower our Fountain of living Water our Salvation More particularly God being our God implies the sweetest Relation 1. The Relation of a Father 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father unto you A Father is full of tender care for his Child Who doth he settle the Inheritance upon but his Child God being our God will be a Father to us a Father of Mercy 2 Cor. 1.3 the everlasting Father Psal. 9.7 If God be our God we have a Father in Heaven that never dies 2. It imports the Relation of an Husband Isa. 54.5 Thy Maker is thy Husband If God be our Husband he esteems us precious to him as the Apple of his Eye Zech. 2.8 He imparts his Secrets to us Psal. 25.14 He bestows a Kingdom upon us for our Dowry Luke 12.32 Quest. 3. How may we come to know this Covenant-Union That God is our God Resp. 1. By having his Graces planted in us Kings Children are known by their costly Jewels It is not having common Gifts which shews we belong to God many have the Gifts of God without God but it is Grace gives us a true genuine Title to God In particular Faith is Vinculum Unionis the Grace of Union By this we may spell out our Interest in God Faith doth not as the Mariner cast its Anchor downwards but upwards it trusts in the Mercy and Blood of God and trusting in God engageth him to be our God Other Graces make us like God Faith makes us one with him 2. We may know God is our God by having the Earnest of his Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 God often gives the Purse to the Wicked but the Spirit only to such as he intends to make his Heirs 1. Have we had the Consecration of the Spirit If we have not had the Sealing work of the Spirit have we had the Healing work 1 Iohn 2.20 Ye have an Unction from the Holy One. The Spirit where it is stamps the Impress of its own Holiness upon the Heart It embroiders and bespangles the Soul and makes it all glorious within 2. Have we had the Attraction of the Spirit Cant. 1.4 Draw me we will run after thee Hath the Spirit by its magnetick Vertue drawn our Hearts to God Can we say as Cant. 1.7 O thou whom my Soul loveth Is God our Paradise of Delight Our Segullah or chief Treasure Are our Hearts so chained to God that no other Object can inchant us or draw us away from him 3. Have we had the Elevation of the Spirit Hath it raised our Hearts above the World Ezek. 3.14 The Spirit lifted me up Hath the Spirit made us superna anhelare seek the things above where Christ is Though our Flesh is on Earth is our Heart in Heaven Though live here trade above Hath the Spirit thus lifted us up By this we may come to know that God is our God Where God gives his Spirit for an Earnest there he gives himself for a Portion 3. We may know God is our God if he hath given us the Hearts of Children Have we obediential Hearts Psal. 27.8 Do we subscribe to Gods Commands when his Commands cross our Will A true Saint is like the Flower of the Sun it opens and shuts with the Sun He opens to God and shuts to Sin If we have the Hearts of Children then God is our Father 4. We may know God is ours and we have an Interest in
but not the Bloody Axe Numb 23.21 He hath not seen Iniquity in Jacob He will not see Sin in his People so as to destroy them He sees their Sins so as to pity them he sees them as a Physician sees a Disease in his Patient to heal him Isa. 57.18 I have seen his Iniquities and I will heal him Every failing doth not break the Marriage Bond asunder The Disciples had great Failings they all forsook Christ and fled but this did not break off their Interest in God Therefore saith Christ at his Ascension Tell my Disciples I go to my God and to their God 7. If God be once our God he is so for ever Psal. 48.14 This God is our God Gnolam Vagned for ever and ever Whatever worldly Comforts we have are but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Season Heb. 11.25 We must part with all as Paul's Friends did accompany him to the Ship and there left him Acts 20.28 So all our earthly Comforts will but go with us to the Grave and there leave us You cannot say you have Health and shall have it for ever You have a Child and shall have it for ever But if God be your God you shall have him for ever This God is our God for ever and ever If God be our God he will be a God to us as long as he is a God You have taken away my God saith Micah Iudges 18.24 But it cannot be said so to a Believer that his God is taken away he may lose all things else but cannot lose his God God is ours from everlasting in Election and to Everlasting in Glory 8. If God be our God we shall enjoy all our Godly Relations with him in Heaven The great Felicity on Earth is to enjoy Relations a Father sees his own Picture in his Child a Wife sees a piece of her self in her Husband We plant the Flower of Love among our Relations and the loss of them is like the pulling a Limb from the Body But if God be ours with enjoying God we shall enjoy all our pious Relations in Glory The gracious Child shall see his Godly Father the Virtuous Wiâ—e shall see her Religious Husband in Christs Arms and then there will be a dearer Love to Relations than ever was before though in a far different manner then Relations shall meet and never part and so shall we be ever with the Lord. Of the Commandments Exod. 20.1 I am the Lord thy God c. TO all such as can make out this Covenant-Union It exhorts to several things I. If God be our God let us improve our Interest in him cast all our Burdens upon him the Burden of our Fears Wants Sins Psal. 55.22 Cast thy Burden upon the Lord. Wicked Men who are a Burden to God have no right to cast their Burden upon him but such as have God for their God are called upon to cast their Burden on him Where should the Child ease all its cares but in the Bosom of its Parent Iudg. 19.20 Let all thy Wants lye upon me So God seems to say to his Children let all your Wants lye upon me Christian what doth trouble thee Thou hast a God to pardon thy Sins to supply thy Wants Therefore roul your Burden on the Lord 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting all your Care on him Whence are Christians so disquieted in their Minds they are taking care when they should be casting care II. If God be our God let us learn to be contented though we have the less of other things Contentment is a rare Jewel it is the Cure of Care If we have God to be our God well may we be contented I know whom I have believed 2 Tim. 1.12 There was Paul's Interest in God 2 Cor. 6.10 As having nothing yet possessing all There was his Content That such who have Covenant-Union with God may be fill'd with Contentation of Spirit consider what a rich Blessing God is to the Soul 1. God is Bonum Sufficiens a sufficient Good He who hath God hath enough If a Man be thirsty bring him to the Ocean and he is satisfied in God there is enough to fill the Heaven-born Soul He gives Grace and Glory Psal. 84 11. There is in God not only a sufficiency but a redundancy He is not only full as a Vessel but as a Spring Other things can no more fill the Soul than a Mariners Breath can fill the Sails of a Ship But in God is a Cornu-Copia an infinite fulness He hath enough to fill the Angels therefore enough to fill us The Heart is a Triangle which only the Trinity can fill 2. God is bonum Sanctificans a Sanctifying Good First He sanctifies all our Comforts and turns them into Blessings Health is blessed Estate is blessed he gives with the Venison a Blessing Psal. 132.15 I will abundantly bless her Provision He gives us that Life we have â—anquam arâ—abo as an Earnest of more He gives the little Meal in the Barrel as an Earnest of the Royal Feast in Paradise Secondly He sanctifies all our Crosses They shall not be destructive Pâ—â—ishments but Medicines they shall corrode and eat out the Venom of Sin they shall Polish and Refine our Grace The more the Diamond is cut it sparkles the more Gods stretching the Strings of his Viol is to make the Musick better 3. God is bonum seâ—ectum Choice Good all things sub sole are but baâ—â— sâ—abelli as Austin the Blessings of the Footstool but to have God himself to be ours is the Blessing of the Throne Abraham gave gifts to the Sons of the Coâ—â—ubines but he setled the 〈…〉 â—5 5 Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac God may send away the Men of the World with Gifts a little Gold and Silver but in giving us himself he gives us the very quintessence his Grace his Love his Kingdom Here is the Crowning Blessing 4. God is Bonum summum the chief Good In the chief Good there must be First Delectability it must have something that is delicious and sweet And where can we suck those pure quintessential Comforts which ravish us with Delight but in God In Deo quadam dulcedine delectatur anima imo rapitur At Gods Right Hand are Pleasures Psal. 16.11 Secondly In the chief Good there must be Transcendency it must have a surpassing Excellency Thus God is infinitely better than all other things 't is below the Deity to compare other things with it Who would go to weigh a Feather with a Mountain of Gold God is Fons Origo the Spring of all Entities and the Cause is more noble than the Effect It is God that bespangles the Creation that puts Light into the Sun that fills the Veins of the Earth with Silver other Creatures do but maintain Life God gives Life God infinitely out-shines all Sublunary Glory he is better than the Soul than Angels than Heaven Thirdly In the chief Good there must be not only Fulness but Variety where
Prov. 5.8 Come not nigh the Door of her House He who would be free from the Plague must not come near the Infected House Under the Law the Nazarite was forbid to drink Wine nor might he eat Grapes of which the Wine was made Rule 4. In relato subintelligitur correlatum Where one Relation is named in the Commandment there another Relation is included Where the Child is named there the Father is included Where there is the Duty of Children to Parents mentioned there is included also the Duty of Parents to Children Where the Child is commanded to honour the Parent there is implyed that the Parent is also commanded to instruct to love to provide for the Child Rule 5. Where greater Sins are forbidden there lesser Sins are also forbidden Though no Sin in its own Nature is little yet comparatively one may be less than another Where Idolatry is forbidden there is forbidden Superstition or bringing any Innovation into God's Worship which he hath not appointed As the Sons of Aaron were forbid to worship an Idol so to Sacrifice to God with strange Fire Lev. 10.1 Mixture in Sacred things is like a dash in the Wine which though it gives it a colour yet doth but debase and adulterate it 'T is highly provoking to God to bring any Superstitious Ceremony into his Worship which he hath not prescribed it is to tax God's Wisdom as if he were not Wise enough to appoint the manner how he will be served Rule 6. The Law of God is Copulative Lex est Copulativa The First and Second Table are knit together Piety to God and Equity to our Neighbour These Two Tables which God hath joined together must not be put asunder Try a Moral Man by the Duties of the First Table Piety to God and there you will find him Negligent Try an Hypocrite by Duties of the Second Table Equity to his Neighbour and there you find him Tardy He who is strict in the Second Table but neglects the First or he who is zealous in the First Table but neglects the Second his Heart is not right with God The Pharisees were the Highest Pretenders to the First Table Zeal and Holiness but Christ detects their Hypocrisie Mat. 23.23 Ye have omitted Judgment Mercy and Faith They were bad in the Second Table they omitted Judgment that was being Just in their Dealings Mercy in Relieving the Poor and Faith that is Faithfulness in their Promises and Contracts with Men. God wrote both the Tables and our Obedience must set Seal to both Rule 7. God's Law forbids not only the Acting of Sin in our own Persons but being accessary to or having any Hand in the Sins of others Quest. How and in what Sense may we be said to partake and have an Hand in the Sins of others Resp. 1. By Decreeing Unrighteous Decrees and imposing on others that which is unlawful Ieroboam made the People of Israel to Sin he was accessary to their Idolatry by setting up golden Calves So David though he did not in his own Person kill Uriah yet because he wrote a Letter to Ioab to set Uriah in the Fore-front of the Battle and it was done by his command therefore he was accessary to Uriah's Death and the Murther of him was laid to David's Charge by the Prophet 2 Sam. 12.9 Thou hast kill'd Uriah the Hittite with the Sword 2. We become accessary to the Sins of others by not hindering them when it is in our power Qui non prohibet cum potest jubet If a Master of a Family sees his Servant break the Sabbath or hears him Swear and lets him alone doth not use the power he hath to suppress him he becomes accessary to his sin Eli for not punishing his Sons when they made the Offering of the Lord to be abhorred made himself guilty 1 Sam. 3.14 He that suffers an Offender to escape unpunished makes himself an Offender 3. By counselling abetting or provoking others to sin Achitophel made himself guilty of the Fact by giving Counsel to Absalom to go in and defile his Fathers Concubines 2 Sam. 16.21 He who shall tempt and solicit another to be Drunk though he himself be sober yet being the occasion of anothers sin he is accessary to it Hab. 2.15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink that puttest thy Bottle to him 4. By consenting to anothers sin Saul did not cast one stone at Stephen yet the Scripture saith Saul was consenting to his Death Acts 8.1 Thus he had an hand in it if several did combine to Murther a Man and they should tell another of their intent and he should give his consent to it he were guilty though his hand were not in the Murther yet his Heart was in it Though he did not act it yet he did approve it so it became his sin 5. By Example Vivitur Exemplis Examples are powerful and cogent setting a bad Example occasions another to sin and so a Person becomes accessary If the Father Swears and the Child by his Example learns to Swear the Father is accessary to the Childs sin he taught him by his Example As there are Diseases Hereditary so Sins Rule 8. The last Rule about the Commandments is this that though we cannot by our own strength fulfil all these Commandments yet doing quoad posse what we are able the Lord hath provided Encouragement for us There is a three-fold Encouragement 1. That though we have not Ability to obey any one Command yet God hath in the New Covenant promised to work that in us which he requires Ezek. 36.27 I will cause you to walk in my Statutes God commands us to love him Alas how weak is our Love It is like the Herb that is hot only in the first Degree But God hath promised to Circumcise our Hearts that we shall love him Deut. 30.6 He that doth command us will inable us God commands us to turn from sin but alas we have not power to turn therefore God hath promised to turn us to put his Spirit within us and turn the Heart of stone into flesh Ezek. 36.26 There is nothing in the Command but the same is in the Promise Therefore Christian be not discouraged though thou hast no strength of thy own yet God will give thee this strength The Iron hath no power to move but when the Load-stone draws it it can move Isa. 26.12 Thou hast wrought all our works in us 2. Though we cannot exactly fulfil the Moral Law yet God will for Christ's sake mitigate the Rigour of the Law and accept of something less than he requires God in the Law requires exact Obedience yet he will accept of sincere Obedience He will abate something of the Degree if there be Truth in the inward parts God will see the Faith and pass by the Failing The Gospel remits something of the Severity of the Moral Law 3. Wherein our personal Obedience comes short God will be pleased to accept us in our Surety Eph.
Wood to take Fire and indeed what needs so many Words in the Commandment Thou shalt not make any Graven Image or the likeness of any thing in Heaven Earth Water Sun Moon Stars Male Female Fish Thou shalt not bow down to them I say what needed so many Words but to shew how subject we are to this sin of false Worship It concerns us therefore to resist this sin Where the Tide is apt to run with greater force there we had need make the Banks higher and stronger the Plague of Idolatry is very infectious Psal. 106.35 36. They were mingled among the Heathens and served their Idols It is my Advice to you to avoid all occasions of this Sin 1. Come not into the Company of Idolatrous Papists dare not to live under the same Roof with them You run into the Devils Mouth Iohn the Divine would not be in the Bath where Cerinthus the Heretick was 2. Go not into their Chappels to see their Crucifixes or hear Mass As the looking on an Harlot draws to Adultery so the looking on the Popish guilded Picture may draw to Idolatry Some care not though they go and see their Idol-worship indeed a Vagrant that hath nothing to lose cares not though he goes among Thieves Such as have no goodness in them care not into what Idolatrous Places they come or what Temptations they cast themselves upon but you who have a Treasure about you good Principles take heed the Popish Priests do not rob you of your Principles and defile you with their Images 3. Dare not to joyn in Marriage with Image-worshippers Solomon though a Man of Wisdom yet his Idolatrous Wives drew away his Heart from God the People of Israel entred into an Oath and Curse that they would not give their Daughters in Marriage to the Idolaters Nehem. 10.30 For a Protestant and Papist to Marry is to be unequally yoaked 2 Cor. 6.14 and there is more danger the Papist will corrupt the Protestant than hope the Protestant will convert the Papist Mingle Wine and Vinegar the Vinegar will sooner sour the Wine than the Wine will sweeten the Vinegar 4. Avoid Superstition which is a Bridge leads over to Rome Superstition is the bringing in any Ceremony Fancy or Innovation into Gods worship which he never appointed This is very provoking to God because it reflects much upon his Honour as if he were not wise enough to appoint the manner of his own Worship God hates all strange Fire to be offered in his Temple Lev. 10.1 A Ceremony may in time bring to a Crucifix They who contend for the Cross in Baptism why may they not as well have the Oyl Salt and Cream the one being as antient as the other Such as are for Altar-worship they who will bow to the East may in time bow to the Host. Take heed of all occasions of Idolatry Idolatry is Devil-worship Psal. 106.37 And if you search through the whole Bible there is no one Sin that God hath more followed with Plagues than Idolatry the Jews have a Saying that in every Evil which befals them there is uncia aurei vituli an Ounce of the Golden Calf in it Hell is a Place for Idolaters Rev. 22.15 For without are Idolaters Synesius calls the Devil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Rejoycer at Idols because Image-worshippers help to fill Hell That you may be preserved from Idolatry and Image-worship 1. Get good Principles that you may be able to oppose the Gain-sayer Whence doth the Popish Religion get ground not from the goodness of their cause but from the ignorance of the People 2. Get love to God The Wife that loves her Husband is safe from the Adulterer and the Soul that loves Christ is safe from the Idolater 3. Pray that God will keep you Though it is true there is nothing in an Image to tempt for if we pray to an Image it cannot hear and if we pray to God by an Image he will not hear I say there is nothing to tempt yet we know not our own Hearts or how soon we may be drawn to Vanity if God leave us therefore pray that you be not enticed to false Worship or receive the Mark of the Beast in your right hand or Forehead Pray Psal. 119.117 Hold thou me up and I shall be safe Lord let me neither mistake my way for want of Light or leave the true way for want of Courage 2. Let us Bless God who hath given us the Knowledge of his Truth That we have tasted the Hony of his Word and our Eyes are enlightned Bless him that he hath shewn us the Pattern of his House the right Mode of Worship That he hath discovered to us the Forgery and Blasphemy of the Romish Religion Let us pray that God will preserve pure Ordinances and powerful Preaching among us Idolatry came in at first by the want of good Preaching Then the People began to have golden Images when they had wooden Priests Of the Ten Commandments Exod. 20.5 For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me 1. I The Lord thy God am a jealous God The first reason why Israel must not worship graven Images is because the Lord is a jealous God Exod. 34.14 The Lord whose name is Jehovah is a jealous God Jealousie is taken in a good sense and so God is jealous for his People 2. In a bad Sense and so God is jealous of his People 1. In a good Sense and so God is jealous for his People Zech. 1.14 Thus saith the Lord I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousie God hath a dear Affection to his People they are his Hephsibah or Delight Isa. 62.4 The Apple of his Eye Zech. 2.8 To express how dear they are to him and how tender he is of them Nihil charius pupilla oculi Drusius They are his Spouse adorn'd with the Jewels of Grace They lye near to his Heart He is jealous for his Spouse therefore will be avenged on them who go to wrong her Isa. 42.13 The Lord shall stir up jealousie like a man of war he shall roar he shall prevail against his enemies What is done to the Saints God takes as done to himself 2 Kings 19.22 and the Lord will undo all them that afflict Sion Zeph. 3.19 I will undo all that afflict thee 2. Jealousie is taken in a bad Sense and so God is jealous of his People And so it is taken in this Commandment I the Lord thy God am a jealous God I am jealous lest you should go after false Gods or worship the true God in a false manner lest you defile your Virgin Profession by Images God will have his Spouse keep close to him and not go after other Lovers Hos. 3.3 Thou shalt not be for another man God cannot bear a Corrival Our conjugal Love viz. a Love joyn'd with Adoration
and Worship must be given only to God Use 1. Let us give God no just cause to be jealous A good Wife will be so Discreet and Chast as to give her Husband no just occasion of Jealousie Let us avoid all Sin especially this Sin of Idolatry or Image-worship It is heinous after we have entred into a Marriage-Covenant with God now to prostitute our selves to an Image Idolatry is Spiritual Adultery and God is a jealous God he will avenge it Image-worship makes God abhor a People Psal. 78.58 They moved him to jealousie with their graven Images When God heard this he was Wroth and greatly abhorred Israel Image-worship enrageth God Prov. 6.34 Iealousie is the Rage of a man It makes God divorce a People Exod. 32.7 Thy People lo-ammi Hos. 2.2 Plead with your Mother plead for she is not my Wife Cant. 8.6 Iealousie is cruel as the grave As the Grave devours Mens Bodies so God will devour Image-worshippers Use 2. If God be a jealous God let it be a word to such whose Friends are Popish Idolaters and they are hated by their Friends because they are of a different Religion and perhaps they cut off their Maintenance from them O remember God is a jealous God better move your Parents to hatred than move God to jealousie Their Anger cannot do you so much hurt as Gods If they will not provide for you God will Psal. 27.10 When my Father and Mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up 2. The second Reason against Image-worship Visiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation There is a Two-fold Visiting 1. There is Gods visiting in Mercy Gen. 50.25 God will surely visit you That is he will bring you into the Land of Canaan the Type of Heaven Thus God hath visited us with the Sun-beams of his Favour He hath made us swim in a Sea of Mercy This is an happy Visitation 2. There is Gods visiting in Anger Ier. 5.9 Shall I not visit for these things That is Gods visiting with the Rod and Isa. 10.3 What will ye do in the day of Visitation That is in the day when God shall visit with his Judgments Thus Gods visiting is taken here in this Commandment visiting Iniquity that is punishing Iniquity Observe here three things Observ. 1. That Sin makes God visit Visiting Iniquity Sin is the cause why God visits with Sickness Poverty Psal. 89.31 32. If they break my Commandments Then will I visit their transgression with the rod. Sin twists the Cords which pinch us Sin creates all our Troubles It is the Gaul in our Cup and the Gravel in our Bread Flagitium flagellum sunt sicut acus filum Sin is the Trojan Horse The Phaeton that sets all on Fire It is the Womb of our Sorrows and Grave of our Comforts God visits for Sin Observ. 2. One special sin God visits for is Idolatry and Image-worship Visiting the iniquity of the Fathers Most of Gods invenomed Arrows have been shot among Idolaters Ier. 7.12 Go now unto my place which was in Shiloh where I set my name at the first and see what I did to it God for Israels Idolatry suffered their Army to be routed their Priests slain the Ark taken Captive and we never read that the Ark returned to Shiloh any more Hierusalem was the most Famous Metropolis of the World There was the Temple Psal. 122.4 Whither the Tribes go up the Tribes of the Lord. Yet for their high places and Images their City was besieged and taken by the Chaldean Forces 2 Kings 25.4 When Images were set up in Constantinople the chief Seat of the Eastern Empire this City which was in the eye of the World impregnable was taken by the Turks and many cruelly Massacred Then the Turks in their Triumphs reproached the Idolatrous Christians causing an Image or Crucifix to be carried through the Streets in Contempt and throwing Dirt upon it cried This is the God of the Christians Here was Gods Visitation for their Idolatry God hath set special marks of his Wrath upon Idolaters At a place called Epoletium there perished by an Earth-quake 350 Persons while they were offering Sacrifice to Idols Idolatry hath brought Misery upon the Eastern Churches it removed the golden Candlesticks of Asia This Iniquity God visits for Observ 3. Idolatrous Persons are Enemies not only to their own Souls but to their Children Visiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children As an Idolatrous Father intails his Land of Inheritance so he intails Gods Anger and Curse upon them A jealous Husband finding his Wife hath stained her Integrity may justly cast off her and her Children too because they are none of his If the Father be a Traytor to his Prince no wonder if all the Children suffer God may visit the Iniquity of Image-worshippers upon their Children Quest But is it not said Every one shall dye for his own Sin The Son shall not bear the Iniquity of the Father How then doth God say he will visit the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children Resp. Though the Son be not Damned for his Fathers Sin yet he may be severely punished Iob 21.19 God lays up his iniquity for his Children That is God lays up the Punishment of his Iniquity for his Children the Child smarts for the Fathers Sin Ieroboam thought to have established the Kingdom by Idolatrous Worship but it brought Ruin upon him and all his Posterity 1 Kings 14.10 Ahab's Idolatry wronged his Posterity they lost the Kingdom and were all Beheaded 2 Kings 10.7 They took the Kings Sons and slew seventy Persons There God visited the Iâ—â—quity of the Father upon the Children As a Son catcheth an Hereditary Disease from his Father the Stone or Gout so he catcheth Misery from him his Fathers Sin ruins him Use 1. If so then how sad is it to be the Child of an Idolater It had been sad to have been one of Gehazi's Children who had Leprosie intail'd upon them 2 Kings 5.27 The Leprosie of Naaman shall cleave to thee and to thy Seed for ever So it is sad to be a Child of an Idolater or Image-worshipper His Seed are exposed to Gods heavy Judgments in this Life God visits the Iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children Methinks I hear God speak as Isa. 14.21 Prepare slaughter for his Children for the Iniquity of their Fathers Use 2. See what a Privilege it is to be the Children of good Parents The Parents are in Covenant with God and God lays up Mercy for their Posterity Prov. 20.7 The just man walks in his Integrity his Seed are blessed after him A Religious Parent doth not procure Wrath but helps to keep off Wrath from his Child He seasons his Child with Religious Principles he prays down a Blessing on his Child He is a Load-stone drawing his Child to Christ by good Council and Example O what a Privilege is it to be born of Godly Religious Parents
St. Austin saith That his Mother Monica travelled with greater Care and Pains for his new Birth than for his Natural Wicked Idolaters entail Misery on their Posterity God visits the Iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children But Religious Parents procure a Blessing upon their Children God reserves Mercy for their Posterity 3. The third Reason against Image-worship Of them that hate me This is a Reason against Image-worship 't is hating God The Papists who worship God by an Image hate God Image-worship is a pretended Love to God but God interprets it an hating of him Quae diligit alienum odit sponsum She that loves another Man hates her own Husband An Image-lover is a God-hater Idolaters are said to go a Whoring from God Ezek. 34.15 How can they love God I shall shew that Image-worshippers hate God whatever love they pretend 1. They who go contrary to Gods express Will hate him God saith You shall not set up any Statue Image Picture to represent me These things I hate Deut. 16.22 Neither shalt thou set up any Image which the Lord thy God hateth Yet the Idolater will set up Images and worship them This God looks upon as an hating of him How doth that Child love his Father who doth all he can to cross him 2. They who shut the Truth out of Doors hate God Iephtha proves that his Brethren did hate him because they laboured to shut him out of his Fathers House Iudges 11.7 The Idolater shuts the Truth out of doors He blots out the Second Commandment He makes a shape of the invisible God He brings a Lye into Gods Worship which is a clear proof he hates God 3. Idolaters though they love the false Image of God in a Picture yet they hate the true Image of God in a Believer They pretend to Honour Christ in a Crucifix yet persecute Christ in his Members These bate God Use 1. This may confute those who plead for Image-worshippers they are very devout People they adore Images they set up the Crucifix kiss it light Candles to it They love God Nay but who shall be judge of their Love God saith they hate him They give Religious Adoration to a Creature These hate God and God hates them And they shall never live with God whom he hates He will never lay such Vipers in his Bosom Heaven is kept as Paradise with a Flaming Sword that they shall not enter And Deut. 7.10 He repayeth them that hate him to their face God will shoot all his murdering pieces among Idolaters All the Plagues and Curses in the Book of God shall befall the Idolater The Lord repays him that hates him to his Face Use 2. Let it exhort us all to fly from Romish Idolatry let us not be among God-haters 1 Iohn 5.21 Little Children keep your selves from Idols As you would keep your Bodies from Adultery so keep your Souls from Idolatry Take heed of Images they are Images of Jealousie to provoke God to Anger They are Damnable You may as well perish by false Devotion as by real Scandal By Image-worship as Drunkenness and Whoredom A Man may as well dye by Poyson as Pistol We may as well go to Hell by drinking Poyson in the Romish Cup of Fornication as by being Pistoll'd with gross scandalous Sins To conclude God is a jealous God no Corrival he will visit the Iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children He will entail a Plague upon the Posterity of Idolaters He interprets Idolaters to be such as hate him He that is an Image-lover is a God-hater Therefore keep your selves pure from Romish Idolatry If you love your Souls keep your selves from Idols Of the Commandments Exod. 20.6 Shewing Mercy unto Thousands c. THis is another Argument against Image-worship because such as do not provoke God with their Images he is merciful to them and will entail Mercy upon their Posterity Shewing Mercy to Thousands 1. Here is the golden Scepter of Gods Mercy display'd 2. The Persons interested in Gods Mercy such as love him and keep his Commandments 1. The Golden Scepter of Gods Mercy display'd shewing Mercy to Thousands The Heathens thought they praised Iupiter enough when they called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Good and Great Both these Excellencies meet in God Majesty and Mercy Mercy is that innate propensness in God to do good to Distressed Sinners God shewing Mercy makes his Godhead appear full of Glory When Moses said to God I beseech thee shew me thy Glory I will saith God shew Mercy Exod. 33.19 His Mercy is his Glory Mercy is the Name by which God will be known Exod. 34.6 The Lord passed by and proclaimed the Lord the Lord God Merciful and Gracious Mercy proceeds primarily and originally from God he is called the Father of Mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 because he begets all those Mercies and Bowels which are in the Creature Our Mercies compared with Gods are scarce so much as the Drop to the Ocean Quest. What are the Qualifications Resp. 1. The Spring of Mercy which God shews is free and spontaneous To set up Merit is to destroy Mercy nothing can deserve Mercy or force it we cannot deserve Mercy because of our Enmity nor force it we may force God to punish us not to love us Hos. 14.4 I will love them freely Every link in the golden Chain of Salvation is wrought and interwoven with Free-grace Election is free Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen us in him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the good pleasure of his Will Justification is free Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his Grace Say not then I am unworthy for Mercy is free If God should shew Mercy only to such as deserve it he must shew Mercy to none at all 2. The Mercy God shews is Powerful How Powerful is that Mercy which softens an Heart of Stone Mercy changed Mary Magdalens Heart out of whom Seven Devils were cast She who was an Inflexible Adamant Mercy made her a weeping Penitent Gods Mercy works sweetly yet irresistibly it allures yet conquers The Law may terrifie Mercy doth mollifie Of what Sovereign Power and Efficacy is that Mercy which subdues the Pride and Enmity of the Heart and beats off those Chains of Sin in which the Soul is held 3. The Mercy which God shews is superabundant Exod. 34.6 Abundant in Goodness shewing Mercy to Thousands God visits Iniquity only to the Third and Fourth Generation Exod. 20.5 But he shews Mercy to a Thousand Generations The Lord hath Treasures of Mercy lying by therefore he is said to be Plenteous in Mercy Psal. 86.5 And Rich in Mercy Ephes. 2.4 The Viol of God's Wrath doth but drop but the Fountain of his Mercy runs The Sun is not so full of Light as God is of Love God hath Mercy First Of all Dimensions he hath Depth of Mercy it reacheth as low as Sinners and Heighth of Mercy it reacheth above the Clouds Secondly God hath Mercies of all Seasons Mercies for the Night he
Commandments for a sign upon thy Hand and they shall be as Frontlets between thine Eyes Deut. 6.8 The Pharisees took it in the Literal Sense they got Two Scrolls of Parchment wherein they wrote the Two Tables putting one on their Left Arms and binding the other to their Eye-brows Thus they wrested the Scripture and took Gods Name in vain That Scripture was to be understood Spiritually and by a Figure God meant by binding his Law upon their Hands that they should meditate in his Law and put it in practice And so the Papists expound that Scripture This is my Body Literally of the very Body of Christ then when Christ gave the Bread he should have had Two Bodies one in the Bread and the other out of the Bread whereas Christ meant it Figuratively It is a sign of my Body Thus they by wresting the Scripture to a wrong Sense prophane it and take Gods Name in vain Secondly When we expound those Scriptures Figuratively and Allegorically which the Holy Ghost means Literally For example Christ said to Peter launch out into the Deep and make a Draught Luke 5.4 This Text is spoken in a plain Literal Sense of Launching out the Ship but the Papists take it in a Mystical and Allegorical This Text proves say they That the Pope which is Peter's Successor shall launch forth and catch the Ecclesiastical and Political power over the West Parts of the World this say they was meant when Christ bad Peter launch out into the Deep But I think the Papists have launched out too far beyond the meaning of the Text. When Men strain their Wits to wrest the Word to such a Sense as pleaseth them they do profane Gods Word and highly take his Name in vain VII We take Gods Name in vain when we swear by his Name Many seldom name God's Name but in Oaths for this Sin the Land Mourns Mat. 5.34 Swear not at all that is Rashly and Sinfully so as to take Gods Name in vain not but that in some cases it is lawful to take an Oath before a Magistrate Deut. 6.13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and Swear by his Name Heb. 6.16 An Oath for Confirmation is an end of all strife But when Christ saith Swear not at all he forbids such a Swearing as takes Gods Name in vain There is a Three-fold Swearing forbidden 1. Vain Swearing when Men in their ordinary Discourse let fly Oaths Some will go to excuse their Swearing It is a course Wool that will take no Dye and a bad Sin indeed that hath no Excuse Excuse 1. I swear little trifling Oaths as Faith or by the Mass. Resp. The Devil hath Two false Glasses which he sets before Mens Eyes the one is a little Glass in which the Sin appears so small that it can hardly be seen this Glass the Devil sets before Mens Eyes when they are going to commit Sin the other is a great Multiplying Glass wherein Sin appears so big that it cannot be forgiven The Devil sets this before Mens Eyes when they have sinned Thou that sayest Sin is small when God shall open the Eye of thy Conscience then thou wilt see it great and be ready to despair But to answer this Plea thou sayest they are but small Oaths but Christ forbids Vain Oaths Swear not at all If God will reckon with us for Idle Words shall not Idle Oaths be put in the Account Book Excuse 2. But I swear to the Truth See how this Harlot-Sin would paint it self with an Excuse Resp. 1. Though it be true yet if it be a Rash Oath 't is Sinful Besides 2. He that swears commonly it cannot be avoided but sometimes he may swear more than is true as where much Water runs some Gravel or Mud will pass along with the Water so where there is much Swearing some Lies will run along with the Oaths Excuse 3. But I shall not be believed unless I seal up my Word with an Oath Resp. 1. A Man that is Honest will be believed without an Oath his bare Word carries Authority with it and is as good as Letters Testimonial 2. I answer He who swears the more he swears the less others will believe him Iuras credit minus Thou art a Swearer Another thinks an Oath weighs very light with thee thou carest not what thou swearest and the more thou swearest the less he believes thee He will trust thy Bond but not thy Oath Excuse 4. But it is a Custom of Swearing I have gotten and I hope God will forgive me Resp. Though among Men custom Carries it and is pleadable in Law yet it is not so in the case of Sin Custom here is no Plea Thou hast got an habit of Swearing and canst not leave it is this an Excuse Is a thing well done because it is commonly done This is so far from being an Excuse that it is an Aggravation of Sin As if one that had been accused for Killing a Man should plead with the Judge to spare him because it was his Custom to Murder this is an Aggravation of the Offence so it is here Therefore all Excuses for this Sin of Vain-Swearing are taken away Dare not to live in this Sin it is a taking Gods Name in vain 2. Vile Swearing Horrid prodigious Oaths not to be named Swearers like Mad Dogs fly in the Face of Heaven and when they are angred spue out their blasphemous Venom on Gods Sacred Majesty Some in Gaming when things go cross and the Dice run against them their Tongues run as fast against God in Oaths and Curses And tell them of their Sin go to bring home these Asses from going astray and it is but pouring Oyl on the Flame they will swear the more St. Austin saith They do no less Sin who blaspheme Christ now in Heaven than the Jews did who Crucified him upon Earth Swearers prophane Christs Blood and tear his Name An Harlot told her Husband that of her Three Sons there was but one of them his the Father dying desired the Executors to find out which was the true natural Son and all his Estate he bequeathed to him The Father being dead the Executors set up his Corps against a Tree and delivered to every one of these Three Sons a Bow and Arrows telling them that he who could shoot nearest the Fathers Heart should have all the Estate the Two Bastard Sons shot as near as they could to his Heart but the Third did feel nature so work in him that he refused to shoot at his Fathers Heart Whereupon the Executors judged him to be the true Son and gave all the Estate to him Such as are the true Children of God fear to shoot at him but such as are Bastards and not Sons care not though they shoot at him in Heaven with their Oaths and Curses And which makes Swearing yet more heinous is when Men have resolved upon any wicked Action they bind themselves with an Oath to do it such
will make thee keep it joyfully I will give thee those Enlargements in Duty and that inward Comfort as shall abundantly satisfie thee thy Soul shall overflow with such a stream of Joy that thou shalt say Lord in keeping thy Sabbath there is great Reward And I will cause thee to ride upon the High Places of the Earth That is I will advance thee to Honour ascendere faciam so Munster interprets it Some by the High Places of the Earth understand Iudaea So Grotius I will bring thee into the Land of Iudaea which is higher situated than the other Countries adjacent And I will feed thee with the Heritage of Iacob That is I will feed thee with all the delicious things of Canaan and afterwards I 'll translate thee to Heaven whereof Canaan was but a Type And another Promise Isa. 56.2 Blessed is the Man that doth this that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it Blessed is the Man in the Hebrew it is in the Plural Ashre Blessedness To him that keeps the Sabbath holy here is Blessedness upon Blessedness belongs to him he shall be blessed with the Vpper and Nether Springs he shall be blessed in his Name Estate Soul Progeny Who would not keep the Sabbath from polluting it that shall have so many Blessings entail'd upon him and his Posterity after him 2. A Conscientious keeping the Sabbath seasons the Heart for God's Service all the Week after Christian the more holy thou art on a Sabbath the more holy thou wilt be on the Week following EXOD. XX. 12 Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy Days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Having done with the First Table I am next to speak of the Duties of the Second Table The Commandments may be likened to Iacob's Ladder The First Table as the Top of the Ladder reacheth to Heaven it respects God The Second Table as the Foot of the Ladder rests on the Earth it respects Superiors and Inferiors By the First Table we walk Religiously towards God by the Second we walk Righteously towards Man He cannot be good in the First Table that is bad in the Second Honour thy Father and thy Mother In this 1. A Command Honour thy Father and thy Mother 2. A Reason annexed to it That thy Days may be long in the Land 1. The Command Honour thy Father Quest. Who is meant here by Father Ans. Father Verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken several ways the Political Ancient Spiritual Oeconomical Natural First The Political Father the Magistrate He is the Father of his Countrey he is to be an Encourager of Vertue a Punisher of Vice a Father to the Widdow and Orphan Such a Father was Iob Chap. 29.16 I was a Father to the Poor and the Cause which I knew not I searched out And as Magistrates are Fathers so especially the King who is the Head of Magistrates is a Political Father He is placed as the Sun among the lesser Stars The Scripture calls Kings Fathers Isa. 49.23 Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers They are to nurse up their Subjects in Piety by their good Edicts and Examples and to nurse them up in Peace and Plenty Such nourishing Fathers were David Hezekiah Iosiah Constantine Theodosius It is happy for a People who have such nursing Fathers whose Breasts milk Comfort to their Children These Fathers are to be Honour'd For 1. Their Place deserves Honour God hath set these Political Fathers to preserve Order and Harmony in a Nation and to prevent those State-Convulsions which otherwise might ensue Iudg. 17.6 When there was no King in Israel every man did that which was right in his own Eyes A Wonder Prov. 30.27 2. God hath promoted Kings that they may promote Iustice. As they have a Sword in their Hand to signifie their Power so a Scepter an Emblem of Justice It is said of Marcus Aurelius Emperor That he allotted one Hour of the Day to hear the Complaints of such as were oppressed Kings place Judges as Cherubims about the Throne for distribution of Justice These Political Fathers are to be honoured Honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 And this Honour is to be shown by a Civil Respect to their Persons and a chearful Submission to their Laws so far as they agree and run parallel with God's Law Kings are to be Pray'd for which is a part of that Honour we give them 1 Tim. 2.1 I exhort that Supplications Prayers Intercessions be made for Kings that we may lead a quiet peaceable Life under them in all Godliness and Honesty We are to pray for Kings that God would honour them to be Blessings that under them we may enjoy the Gospel of Peace and the Peace of the Gospel How happy was the Reign of Numa Pompilius when the Swords were beaten into Plough-shares and the Bees made their Hives of the Soldiers Helmets Secondly There is the grave ancient Father who is Venerable for old Age whose Grey Hairs are resembled to the White Flowers of the Almond-tree Eccles. 12.5 These are Fathers for Seniority on whose wrinkled Brows and in the Furrows of whose Cheeks is pictur'd the Map of Old Age. These Fathers are to be honoured Levit. 19.32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary Head and honour the Face of the Old Man Especially those are to honoured who are Fathers not only for their Seniority but their Piety whose Souls are flourishing when their Bodies are a decaying 'T is a blessed sight to see the Spring of Grace in the Autumn of Old Age To see Men stooping towards the Grave yet going up the Hill of God To see them lose their Colour yet keep their Savour Such whose silver Hairs are crowned with Righteousness are worthy of double Honour They are to be honoured not only as Pieces of Antiquity but as Patterns of Vertue If you see an Old Man fearing God whose Grace shines brightest when the Sun of his Life is setting O honour him as a Father by reverencing and imitating him Thirdly There are Spiritual Fathers as Pastors and Ministers These are the Instruments of the New-Birth 1 Cor. 4.15 Tho you have Ten Thousand Instructors yet have ye not many Fathers for in Christ Iesus I have begotten you through the Gospel The Spiritual Fathers are to be honoured 1. In respect of their Office What-ever their Persons are their Office is honourable They are the Messengers of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2.7 They represent no less than God himself 2 Cor. 5.20 Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ. Jesus Christ was of this Calling he had his Mission and Sanction from Heaven Ioh. 8.18 And this Crowns the Ministerial Calling with Honour 2. Ministers these Spiritual Fathers are to be honoured for their Work sake they come like the Dove with an Olive-branch in their Mouth they preach glad Tidings of Peace Their Work is to save Souls Other Callings have only to do with Mens Bodies or Estates but the Ministers
Wife for himself Thirdly Faithfulness in a Servant is seen in standing up for the Honour of his Master When he hears him spoken against he must vindicate him As the Master is careful of the Servant's Body so the Servant should be careful of the Master's Name When the Master is unjustly reproached the Servant cannot be excused if he be possessed with a dumb Devil Fourthly Faithfulness is when a Servant is true to his Word He dares not tell a Lie but will speak the Truth tho it be against himself A Lie doubles the sin Psal. 101.7 He that telleth Lies shall not tarry in my sight A Liar is of near a-kin to the Devil Ioh. 8.44 And who would let any of the Devil's Kindred live with him The Lie that Gehazi told his Master Elisha entailed a Leprosie on Gehazi and his Seed for ever 2 Kings 5.22 A Faithful Servant his Tongue is the true Index of his Heart Fifthly Faithfulness is when a Servant is against Impropriation He dares not convert his Masters Goods to his own Use. Tit. 2.10 Not purloyning Ne aliquid haereat in digitis What a Servant filcheth from his Master is damnable Gain The Servant who enricheth himself by stealing from his Master stuffs his Pillow with Thorns and his Head will lie very uneasie when he comes to die Sixthly Faithfulness is in preserving the Masters Person if unjustly in Danger Banister who betrayed his Master the Duke of Buckingham in King Richard the Third's Reign it is remarkable how the Judgments of God befell that Traiterous Servant His eldest Son ran mad his Daughter of a singular Beauty was suddenly struck with Leprosie his younger Son was drowned and he himself arraigned and had been executed had he not been saved by his Clergy That Servant who is not true to his Master will never be true to God or his own Soul 4. The Servant is to honour his Master by serving him as with Love for Willingness is more than the Work so with Silence That is without repining and without replying Titus 2.9 Exhort Servants to be obedient to their Masters not answering again Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not giving cross Answers Some Servants are quick of Speech tho slow at Work and instead of being sorry for a Fault they provoke by unbeseeming Language Were the Heart more humble the Tongue would be more silent They are the Apostles Words not answering again And to those Servants who do thus honour their Masters or Family-Fathers by Submission Diligence Faithfulness Love and humble Silence for their encouragement let them take that Col. 3.24 Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the Flesh not with eye-service knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the Reward of the Inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ. In serving your Masters ye serve Christ and he will not let you lose your Labour ye shall receive the Reward of the Inheritance From serving on Earth you shall be taken up to Reign in Heaven and shall sit with Christ upon his Throne Rev. 3.21 EXOD. XX. 12 Honour thy Father and thy Mother c. If we are not just we cannot be holy Having shown you how Servants are to honour their Masters the Fathers of Families I shall next show how Masters are to carry it towards their Servants that they may gain Honour from them 1. In General Masters must remember that they have a Master in Heaven who will call them to Account Eph. 6.9 Knowing that your Master is also in Heaven 2. More Particularly 1. Masters must have a care to provide for their Servants As they cut them out Work so they must give them their Meat in due season Luke 17.7 And the Food should be wholsom and sufficing It is an unworthy thing in some Governors of Families to lay out so much upon their own Backs as to pinch their Servants Bellies 2. Masters should encourage their Servants in their Work by commending them when they do well Tho a Master is to tell a Servant of his Faults yet he is not always to beat upon one string but sometimes take notice of that which is praise-worthy This makes a Servant more chearful in his Work and gains the Master Love from his Servant 3. Masters must not over-burden their Servants but proportion their Work to their Strength If you lay too much load on a Servant he will faint under it Christianity teacheth Compassion 4. Masters must endeavour the Spiritual Good of their Servants they must be Seraphims to kindle their Love to Religion They must be Monitors to put them in mind of their Souls They must bring them to the Pool of the Sanctuary waiting till the Angel stir the Waters Iohn 5.4 They must seek God for them that their Servants may be his Servants They must allow them Time convenient for secret Devotion Some Masters are cruel to the Souls of their Servants they look that they do the Work about the House but abridge them of Time they should employ in working out Salvation 5. Masters should use mild gentle Behaviour towards Servants Eph. 6.9 Forbearing Threatning Lev. 25.43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour but fear thy God It requires Wisdom in a Master to know how to keep up his Authority yet lay down his Austerity We have a good Copy to write after Our Master in Heaven is slow to Anger and of great Mercy Psal. 145.8 Some Masters are so harsh and implacable that they are enough to spoil a good Servant 6. Be very exact and punctual in the Compacts and Agreements you make with your Servants Do not prevaricate keep not back any of their Wages nor deal deceitfully with them as Laban did with Iacob changing his Wages Gen. 31.7 Falseness in Promise is as as bad as False Weights 7. Be careful of your Servants not only in Health but in Sickness They have got their Sickness in your Service use what means you can for their Recovery Be not like the Amalekite who forsook his Servant when he was sick 1 Sam. 30.13 but be as the good Centurion who kept his sick Servant and sought to Christ for a Cure Mat. 8.6 If you have a Beast that falls sick you will not turn it off but have it look'd to and pay for its Cure Will you be kinder to your Horses than your Servants Thus should Masters the Fathers of the Family carry themselves prudently and piously that they may gain Honour from their Servants and may give up their Accounts to God with Joy Fifthly The Natural Father The Father of the Flesh Heb. 12.9 Honour thy Natural Father This is so necessary a Duty that Philo the Jew placed the Fifth Commandment in the First Table as tho' we had not perform'd our whole Duty to God till we had paid this Debt of Honour to our Natural Parents Children are the Vineyard of the Parents planting and Honour done to the Parent is some of the Fruit of the Vineyard Quest. Wherein are
why Children should honour their Parents are 1. It is a Solemn Command of God Honour thy Father c. As God's Word is the Rule so his Will must be the Reason of our Obedience 2. They deserve Honour in respect of that great Love and Affection which they bear to their Children and that Love is evidenced both by their Care and Cost 1. Their Care in bringing up their Children A Sign their Hearts are full of Love because their Heads are so full of Care Parents oft take more Care for their Children than for themselves They take Care of them when they are tender least like Wall-Fruit they should be nip'd in the Bud. And as Children grow older so the Care of Parents grows greater They are afraid of their Childrens falling when young and of worse Faults when they are older 2. Their Love is evidenced by their Cost 1 Cor. 12.14 They lay up and lay out for their Children They are not like the Raven or Ostrich Job 39.14 which are cruel to their Young Parents sometimes do impoverlsh themselves to enrich their Children All this calls for Honour from the Children Children can never parallel or equal Parents Love Parents are the Instruments of Life to their Children Children cannot be so to their Parents 3. To honour Parents is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well-pleasing to the Lord Col. 3.20 As it is joyful to the Parents so it is pleasing to the Lord. Children is it not your Desire to please God In honouring and obeying your Parents you please God as well as when you Repent and Believe And that you may see how well it pleaseth God he bestows a Reward upon it That thy Days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Iacob would not let the Angel go till he had blessed him nor God would not part with this Commandment till he had blessed it Here is the Blessing That thy Days may be long in the Land c. St. Paul calls this the First Commandment with Promise Eph. 6.2 The Second Commandment hath a General Promise of Mercy But this is the First Commandment that hath a Particular Promise made to it That thy Days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Long Life is mentioned as a Blessing Psal. 128.6 Thou shalt see thy Childrens Children It was a great Favour of God to Moses that tho' he was an Hundred and Twenty Years old he needed no Spectacles his Eye was not dim nor his Natural Strength abated Deut. 34.7 God threatned it as a Curse to Eli That there should not be an Old Man in his Family 1 Sam. 2.31 Since the Flood Life is much abbreviated and cut short Some the Womb is their Tomb others exchange their Cradle for their Grave others die in the Flower of their Age Death serves it's Warrant every Day upon one or other Now when Death lies in Ambush continually for us if God satisfie us with Long Life Psal. 91.16 With long Life will I satisfie him This is to be esteemed a Blessing It is a Blessing that God gives a long time to repent and a long time to do Service and a long time to enjoy the Comfort of Relations and who is this Blessing of Long Life entail'd upon but Obedient Children Honour thy Father that thy Days may be long Nothing sooner shortens Life than Disobedience to Parents Absalom was a disobedient Son who sought to deprive his Father of his Life and Crown and he did not live out half his Days The Mule he rode upon as being weary of such a Burden left him hanging in the Oak betwixt Heaven and Earth as not fit to tread upon the one or enter into the other Obedience to Parents spins out thy Life That thy Days may be long Nor doth Obedience to Parents only lengthen Life but sweeten it Therefore it follows That thy Days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee To live long and not have a Foot of Land is a Misery but Obedience to Parents settles Land of Inheritance upon the Child Hast thou but one Blessing O my Father said Esau. Behold God hath more Blessings for an Obedient Child than one not only shall he have a Long Life but a Fruitful Land And not only shall he have Land but Land given in Love The Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Thou shalt have thy Land not only with God's Leave but with his Love All which are cogent Arguments to make Children Honour and Obey their Parents EXOD. XX. 12 Honour thy Father Vse I. If we are to Honour our Fathers on Earth then much more our Father in Heaven Mal. 1.6 If then I am a Father where is my Honour A Father is but the Instrument of conveying Life but God is the Original Cause of our Being Psal. 100.3 For it is he that hath made us and not we our selves Honour and Adoration is a Pearl belongs only to the Crown of Heaven And 1. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by obeying him Thus Christ honoured his Father Iohn 6.38 I came down from Heaven not to do my own Will but the Will of him that sent me This he calls honouring of God Iohn 8.29 I do always those things which please him Ver. 49. I honour my Father The Wise Men did not only bow the Knee to Christ but presented him with Gold and Myrrh Mat. 2.8 So we must not only bow the Knee give God Adoration but bring Presents give him Golden Obedience 2. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by appearing as Advocates in his Cause and standing up for his Truth in an Adulterous Generation That Son honours his Father who stands up in his Defence and vindicates him when he is calumniated and reproached Do they honour God who are ashamed of him Iohn 12.42 Many believed on him but durst not confess him They are Bastard Sons who are ashamed to own their Heavenly Father Such as are born of God are steeled with Courage for his Truth They are like the Rock which no Waves can break like the Adamant which no Sword can cut Basil was a Champion for Truth in the Time of the Emperor Valens and Athanasius when the World was Arrian appeared for God 3. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by ascribing the Honour of all we do to him 1 Cor. 15.10 I laboured morè abundantly than they all yet not I but the Grace of God which was in me If a Christian hath any Assistance in Duty any strength against Corruption he rears up a Pillar and writes upon it Hitherto the Lord hath helped me As Ioab when he had fought against Rabbah and had like to have taken it sent for King David that he might carry away the Honour of the Victory 2 Sam. 12.27 So when a Child of God hath any Conquest over Satan he gives all the Honour to God Hypocrites whose Lamp is fed with the Oyl of Vain-Glory
while they do any eminent Service for God seek themselves and so their very serving of him is a dshonouring him 4. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by Celebrating his Praise Psal. 71.8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the Day Rev. 5.13 Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sits upon the Throne Blessing God is honouring of God It lifts him up in the Eyes of others it spreads his Fame and Renown in the World In this manner the Angels the Quiristers of Heaven are now honouring God they Trumpet forth his Praise In Prayer we act like Saints in Praise like Angels 5. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by suffering Dishonour yea Death for his sake St. Paul did bear in his Body the Marks of the Lord Iesus Gal. 6.17 As they were Marks of Honour to him so Trophies of Honour to the Gospel The Honour which comes to God is not by bringing that Outward Pomp and Glory to him as we do to Kings but it comes in another way by the Sufferings of his People They let the World see what a good God they serve and how they love him and will fight under his Banner to the Death Thus you see how you are to Honour your Heavenly Father God is worthy of Honour Psal. 104.1 Thou art Cloathed with Honour and Majesty What are all his Attributes but Glorious Beams shining from this Sun He deserves more Honour than Men or Angels can give him 2 Sam. 22. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised God is worthy of Honour Often times we confer Honour upon them that do not deserve it Many Noble Persons we give Titles of Honour to who are sordid and vicious they do no deserve Honour but God is worthy of Honour Neh. 9.5 Blessed be thy Glorious Name which is exalted above all Blessings and Praise He is above all the Acclamations and Triumphs of the Arch-angels O then let every true Child of God honour his Heavenly Father Tho the wicked dishonour him by their Flagitious Lives yet let not his own Children dishonour him Sins in you are worse than in others A Fault in a Stranger is not so much taken notice of as a Fault in a Child A Spot in a black Cloth is not so much observed but a Spot in Scarlet every ones Eye is upon it A Sin in the Wicked is not so much wondred at it is a Spot in black But a Sin in a Child of God here is a Spot in Scarlet this is more visible and brings an Odium and Dishonour upon the Gospel The Sins of God's own Children go nearer to his Heart Deut. 32.19 When the Lord saâ— it hâ— abhorred them because of the provoking of his Sons and Daughters O forbear doing any thing may reflect Dishonour upon God Will you disgrace your Heavenly Father Let not God complain of the Provocations of his Sons and Daughters let him not cry out as Isa. 1.2 I have brought up Children and they have rebelled against me So much for the First If our Earthly Father be to be honoured then much more our Heavenly Vse II. Exhort First Branch Doth God Command Honour thy Father and thy Mother Then let it exhort Children to put this great Duty in Practice be living Commentaries upon this Commandment Honour and Reverence your Parents not only obey their Commands but submit to their Rebukes You cannot honour your Father in Heaven unless you honour your Earthly Parents To deny Obedience to Parents entails God's Judgments upon Children Prov. 30.17 The Eye that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out and the young Eagle shall eat it Eli's Two Disobedient Sons were slain 1 Sam. 4.11 God made a Law that the Rebellious Son should be stoned the same Death the Blasphemer had Lev. 24.14 Deut. 21.18 If a Man have a stubborn and rebellious Son which will not obey the voice of his Father or the voice of his Mother then shall his Father and his Mother lay hold on him and bring him out unto the Elders of the City and all the Men of his City shall stone him with Stones that he die A Father once complaining Never had Father a worse Son than I have Yes saith the Son my Grandfather had A Prodigy of Impudence that can hardly be parallel'd Manlius when he was grown old and poor and had a Son very rich the old Father desired some Food of him but the Son denied him Relief yea disclaimed him from being his Father and sent him away with reproachful Language The poor old Father let Tears fall as Witnesses of his Grief But God to revenge this Disobedience struck this unnatural Son with Madness of which he could never be cured Disobedient Children stand in the place where all God's Arrows fly Second Branch Let Parents so carry it as they may gain Honour from their Children Quest. How may Parents so carry it towards their Children that their Children may willingly pay the Debt of Honour and Reverence to their Parents Resp. 1. If you would have your Children honour you 1. Be careful to bring them up in the Fear and Nurture of the Lord Ephes. 6.4 Bring them up in the Admonition of the Lord. You conveyed the Plague of Sin to them Ergo Endeavour to get them healed and sanctified Austin saith his Mother Monica travelled more for his Spiritual Birth than his Natural Timothy's Mother instructed him from a Child 2 Tim. 3.15 She did not only give him her Breast-milk but the sincere Milk of the Word Season your Children with good Principles betimes that they may with Obadiah fear the Lord from their Youth 1 King 18.12 When Parents instruct not their Children they seldom prove Blessings God oft punisheth the carelesness of Parents with Undutifulness in their Children It is not enough that in Baptism your Child is Dedicated to God but it must be Educated for God Children are young Plants which you must be continually watering with good Instruction Prov. 22.6 Train up a Child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it when he is old The more your Children fear God the more they will honour you 2. If you would have your Children honour you keep up your Parental Authority over your Children be kind but do not cocker them If you let them get too much Head they will Contemn you instead of Honouring you The Rod of Discipline must not be with-held Prov. 23.14 Thou shalt beat him with the Rod and deliver his Soul from Hell A Child indulg'd and humour'd in Wickedness will be a Thorn in the Parents Eye David cockered Adonijah 1 Kings 1.6 His Father had not displeased him at any time in saying Why hast thou done so And he afterward was a Grief of Heart to his Father and was false to the Crown ver 7 9. Keep up your Authority and you keep up
they disparage Christ's Merits I may say as Gal. 5.4 Christ is become of no effect to them This I affirm Such as advance the Power of their Will in matters of Salvation without the Medicinal Grace of Christ do absolutely put themselves under the Covenant of Works And now I would ask them Can they perfectly keep the Moral Law Malum oritur ex quolibet defectu If there be but the least Defect in their Obedience they are gone For one sinful Thought the Law of God curseth them and the Justice of God arraigns them Confounded be their Pride who cry up the Power of Nature as if by their own inherent Abilities they could rear up a Building the top whereof should reach to Heaven 2 d. Br. It confutes a sort of People that brag of Perfection and according to that Principle they can keep all God's Commandments perfectly I would ask these Have they at no time a vain Thought come into their Mind if they have then they are not perfect The Virgin Mary was not perfect tho' her Womb were pure being overshadowed with the Holy Ghost yet her Soul was not perfect Christ doth tacitly imply a Failing in her Luke 2.49 And are they more perfect than the Blessed Virgin was Such as hold Perfection need not confess Sin David confessed Sin Psal. 32.6 And Paul confessed Sin Rom. 7.24 But they are got beyond David and Paul they are perfect they never transgress and where there is no Transgression what needs Confession 2. If they are perfect they need not ask Pardon They can pay God's Justice what they owe therefore what need they pray Forgive us our Debts O that the Devil should rock Men so fast asleep as to make them dream of Perfection And whereas they bring that Phil. 3.15 Let us therefore as many as be Perfect be thus minded Answ. Perfection there is meant of Sincerity God is best able to interpret his own Word he calls Sincerity Perfection Iob 1.8 A perfect and an upright Man But who is exactly perfect A Man full of Diseases may as well say he is healthful as a Man full of Sin say he is perfect Vse III. To Regenerate Persons Tho you fail in your Obedience and cannot keep the Moral Law exactly yet be not discouraged Quest. What comfort may be given to a Regenerate Person under the Failures and Imperfections of his Obedience Resp. 1. That a Believer is not under the Covenant of Works but under the Covenant of Grace The Covenant of Works requires perfect personal perpetual Obedience But in the Covenant of Grace God will make some Abatements He will accept of less than he required in the Covenant of Works 1. In the Covenant of Works God required Perfection of Degrees In the Covenant of Grace he accepts Perfection of Parts There he required perfect Working here he accepts sincere Believing In the Covenant of Works God required us to live without Sin in the Covenant of Grace God accepts of our Combat with Sin 2. Tho a Christian cannot in his own Person perform all God's Commandments yet Christ as his Surety and in his stead hath fulfilled the Law for him and God accepts of Christ's Obedience which is perfect to satisfie for that Obedience which is imperfect Christ being made a Curse for Believers all the Curses of the Law have their Sting pulled out 3. Tho a Christian cannot keep the Commands of God to Satisfaction yet he may to Approbation Quest. How is that Answ. 1. He gives his full Assent and Consent to the Law of God Rom. 7.12 The Law is Holy and Iust. There was Assent in the Judgment Rom. 7.16 I consent to the Law There was Consent in the Will 2. A Christian mourns that he cannot keep the Commandments fully When he fails he weeps He is not angry with the Law because it is so strict but he is angry with himself because he is so deficient 3. He takes a sweet complacential Delight in the Law Rom. 7.22 I delight in the Law of God in the inward Man Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I take Pleasure in it Psal. 119.97 O how love I thy Law Tho a Christian cannot keep God's Law yet he loves his Law Tho he cannot serve God perfectly yet he serves him willingly 4. It is his cordial Desire to walk in all God's Commands Psal. 119.5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy Statues Tho his Strength fails yet his Pulse beats 5. He doth really endeavour to obey God's Law perfectly and wherein he comes short he runs to Christ's Blood to make Supply for his Defects This cordial Desire and real Endeavour God esteems as perfect Obedience 2 Cor. 8.12 If there be a willing mind it is accepted Let me hear thy Voice for sweet is thy Voice Cant. 2.14 Tho the Prayers of the Righteous are mixed with Sin yet God sees they would pray better God picks out the Weeds from the Flowers he sees the Faith and winks at the Failing The Saints Obedience tho it falls short of Legal Perfection yet having Sincerity in it and Christ's Merits mix'd with it finds gracious Acceptance When the Lord sees endeavours after Perfect Obedience this he takes well at our Hands As a Father that receives a Letter from his Child tho' there be Blots in the Letters and False Spellings yet the Father takes all in good Part. O what Blottings are there in our Holy Things But God is pleas'd to take all in good part Saith God It is my Child and he would do better if he could I will accept it Quest. Are all the Transgressions of the Law equally heinous Answ. Some Sins in themselves and by reason of several Aggravations are more hainous in the sight of God than others Iohn 19.11 He that delivered me unto thee hath the Greater Sin The Stoick Philosophers held that all Sins were equal But this Scripture clearly holds forth that there is a gradual difference in Sin Some are greater than others Some are mighty Sins Amos 5.12 And crying Sins Gen. 18.21 Every Sin hath a Voice to speak but some Sins cry As some Diseases are worse than others and some poysons more venomous so some Sins are more heinous Ezek. 16.47 Ier. 16.12 You have done worse than your Fathers your Sins have exceeded theirs Some Sins have a blacker Aspect than others To clip the King's Coyn is Treason but to strike his Person is an higher degree of Treason A vain Thoughr is a Sin but a blasphemous Word is a greater Sin That some Sins are greater than others appears 1. Because there was difference in the Offerings under the Law The Sin-offering was greater than the Trespass-Offering 2. Because some Sins are not capable of Pardon as others are therefore they must needs he more heinous as the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost Matth. 12.31 3. Because some Sins have a greater Degree of Punishment than others Matth. 23.14 Ye shall receive greater Damnation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shall not the
may be in the Number of God's Servants That is evident because God calls them his Servants Levit. 25.4 He shall depart from thee and his Children with him for they are my Servants Therefore Children in their Infancy being God's Servants why should they not have Baptism which is the Tessera the Mark or Seal which God sets upon his Servants 3 d Arg. Is from 1 Cor. 7.14 But now are your Children holy Children are not called Holy as if they were free from Original Sin but in the Iudgment of Charity they are to be esteemed holy and true Members of the Church of God because their Parents are Believers Hence that excellent Divine Mr. Heldersam saith That the Children of the Faithful as soon as they are born have a Covenant-Holiness and so a Right and Title to Baptism which is the Token of the Covenant 4 th Arg. From the Opinion of the Fathers and the Practice of the Church 1. The Ancient Fathers were strong Assertors of Infant-Baptism Irenaus Basil Lactantius Cyprian and Austin 2. It was the Practice of the Greek Church to baptize her Infants Erasmus saith That Infant-Baptism hath been used in the Church of God for above Fourteen Hundred Years And St. Austin in his Book against Pelagius affirms That it hath been the Custom of the Church in all Ages to Baptize Infants Yea it was an Apostolical Practice St. Paul affirms that he Baptized the whole House of Stephanus 1 Cor. 1.16 And as you have seen Scripture Arguments for Infant-Baptism so let us consider whether the Practice of those who delay the Baptizing of Children till Riper Years be warrantable For my part I cannot gather it from Scripture For tho' we read of Persons Adult and grown up to Years of Discretion in the Apostles times Baptized yet those were such as were converted from Heathenish Idolatry to the True Orthodox Faith But that in a Christian Church the Children of Believers should be kept unbaptized several Years I know neither Precept nor Example for it in Scripture but it is wholly Apocryphal The Baptizing of Persons grown up to Maturity we may argue against ab effectu from the Ill Consequences of it They dip the Persons they baptize over Head and Ears in cold Water and naked which as it is Indecent so it is Dangerous and hath been often times the occasion of Chronical Diseases yea Death it self and so is a plain Breach of the Sixth Commandment And how far God hath given up many Persons who are for the deferring of Baptism to other vile Opinions and vicious Practices is evident if we consult with History Especially if we read over the Actings of the Anabaptists in Germany Vse I. See the Riches of God's Goodness who will not only be the God of Believers but takes their Seed into Covenant Gen. 17.7 I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee to be a God unto thee and thy Seed A Father counts it a great Priviledge not only to have his own Name but his Child's Name put in a Will 2. It blames those Parents who forbid little Children to be brought to Christ they with-hold the Ordinance By denying their Infants Baptism they exclude them from having a Membership in the Visible Church and so their Infants are sucking Pagans Such as deny their Children Baptism make God's Institutions under the Law more full of Kindness and Grace to Children than they are now under the Gospel which how strange a Paradox it is I leave to you to judge Vse III. Exhort 1 st Branch We that are Baptized let us labour to find the Blessed Fruits of Baptism in our own Souls Let us labour not only to have the Sign of the Covenant but the Grace of the Covenant Many glory in this that they are Baptized The Jews gloried in their Circumcision because of their Royal Priviledges To them belonged the Adoption and the Glory and the Covenants Rom. 9.4 But many of them were a Shame and Reproach to their Circumcision Rom. 2.24 For the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you The scandalous Jews tho Circumcis'd were in God's Account as Heathens Amos 9.7 Are ye not as Children of the Ethiopians to me saith the Lord Alas What is it to have the Name of Christ and want his Image What is Baptism of Water without the Baptism of the Spirit Many Baptized Christians are no better than Heathens O labour to find the Fruits of Baptism that Christ is form'd in us Gal. 4.19 That our Nature is chang'd we are made Holy and Heavenly this is to be Baptized into Iesus Rom. 6.3 Such as live unsuitable to their Baptism may go with Baptismal Water on their Faces and Sacramental Bread in their Mouths to Hell 2 d. Br. Let us labour to make a Right Use of our Baptism 1 st Vse of Baptism Let us use it as a Shield against Temptations Satan I have given up my self to God by a Sacred Vow in Baptism I am not my own I am Christ's therefore I cannot yield to thy Temptations but I break my Oath of Allegiance which I made to God in Baptism Luther tells us of a Pious Woman who when the Devil tempted her to sin she answered Satan Baptizata sum I am baptized and so beat back the Tempter 2 d. Vse of Baptism Let us use it as a Spurr to Holiness By remembring our Baptism let us be stirred up to make good our Baptismal Engagements Renouncing the World Flesh and Devil let us Devote our selves to God and his Service To be Baptiz'd into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost implies ◠Solemn Dedication of our selves to the Service of all the Three Persons in the Trinity It is not enough that our Parents dedicate us to God in Baptism but we must dedicate our selves to him This is called a Living 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Lord Rom. 14.8 Our Life should be spent in worshipping God in loving God in exalting God We should walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as becomes the Gospel Phil. 1.27 Shine as Stars in the World and live as Earthly Angels 3 d. Vse of Baptism Let us use it as an Argument to Courage We should be ready to confess that Holy Trinity into whose Name we were baptized With the Conversion of the Heart must go the Confession of the Tongue Luke 12.8 Whosoever shall confess me before Men him shall the Son of Man also confess before the Angels of God Peter openly confessed Christ crucifyed Acts 4.10 Cyprian a Man of a brave Spirit was like a Rock whom no Waves could shake like an Adamant whom no Sword could cut He confessed Christ before the Proconsul and suffered himself to be proscribed yea chose Death rather than he would betray the Truths of Christ. He that dares not confess the Holy Trinity shames his Baptism and God will be ashamed to own him at the Day of Judgment Vlt. Vse See the fearfulness of the Sin of
capacity Clearness is the grace of Speech 3. It s Compleatness This prayer contains in it the chief things that we have to ask or God hath to bestow VSE Let us have a great esteem of the Lords prayer let it be the model and pattern of all our prayers There is a double benefit ariseth from framing our petitions suitable to the Lords prayer 1. Hereby Error in prayer is prevented 'T is not easie to write wrong Copy we cannot easily err having our pattern before us 2. Hereby Mercies requested are obtained for the Apostle assures us God will hear us when we pray according to his Will 1 Iohn 5.14 and sure we pray according to his Will when we pray according to his pattern he hath set us So much for the Introduction to the Lords prayer After this manner pray ye II. The Prayer it self which consists of three parts 1. A Preface 2. Petitions 3. The Conclusion 1. The Preface to the prayer 1. Our Father 2. Which art in Heaven To begin with the first words of the Preface 1. Our Father Father is sometimes taken personally Iohn 14.28 My Father is greater than I But Father in the Text is taken essentially for the whole Deity This Title Father teacheth us to whom we must address our selves in prayer to God alone Here is no such thing in the Lords prayer as O ye Saints or Angels that are in Heaven hear us but our Father which art in Heaven Quest. In what order must we direct our Prayers to God Here is only the Father named may not we direct our Prayers to the Son and Holy Ghost Answ. Though the Father only be named in the Lords prayer yet the other two persons are not hereby excluded The Father is mentioned because he is first in order but the Son and Holy Ghost are included because they are the same in Essence As all the three persons subsist in one Godhead so in our prayers though we name but one â—â—rson we must pray to all To come then more closely to the first words of the Preface Our Father Princes on Earth give themselves Titles expressing their Greatness as High and Mighty God might have done so and expressed himself thus Our King of Glory Our Iudge but he gives himself another Title Our Father an expression of Love and Condescension God that he might encourage us to pray to him represents himself under this sweet notion of a Father Our Father Dulce nomen Patris The Name Iehovah carries Majesty in it the Name Father carries Mercy in it Quest. 1. In what sense is God a Father Resp. 1. By Creation it is he that hath made us Acts 17.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are his Off-spring Mal. 2.10 Have we not all one Father Hath not one God Created us But there is little comfort in this for so God is Father to the Devils by Creation but he that made them will not save them 2. God is a Father by Election having chosen a certain number to be his Children whom he will entail Heaven upon Eph. 1.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath chosen us in him 3. God is a Father by special Grace he consecrates the elect by his Spirit and infuseth a supernatural principle of Holiness therefore they are said to be born of God 1 Iohn 3.9 Such only as are sanctified can say Our Father which art in Heaven Quest. 2. What is the difference between God being the Father of Christ and the Father of the Elect Resp. God is the Father of Christ in a more glorious transcendent manner Christ hath the primo-geniture he is the eldest Son a Son by eternal generation Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was Isa. 53.8 Who shall declare his generation Christ is a Son to the Father yet so as he is of the same Nature with the Father having all the incommunicable properties of the Godhead belonging to him But we are Sons of God by Adoption and Grace Gal. 4.5 That we might receive the adoption of Sons Quest. 3. What is that which makes God our Father Resp. Faith Gal. 3.26 Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus An Unbeliever may call God his Creator and his Judge but not his Father Faith doth legitimate us and make us of the Blood-Royal of Heaven Ye are the children of God by faith Baptism makes us Church-Members but Faith makes us Children Without Faith the Devil can show as good a Coat of Arms as we Quest. 4. How doth Faith make God to be our Father Resp. As Faith is an uniting Grace by Faith we have Coalition and Union with Christ and so the Kindred comes in being united to Christ the Natural Son we become Adopted Sons God is the Father of Christ Faith makes us Christs Brethren Heb. 2.11 and so God comes to be our Father Quest. 5. Wherein doth it appear that God is the best Father Resp. 1. In that he is most Antient Dan. 7.9 The antient of dayes did sit A figurative representation of God who was before all time This may cause Veneration 2. God is the best Father because he is perfect Matth. 5.48 Your Father which is in Heaven is perfect He is perfectly good Earthly Fathers are subject to infirmities Elias though a Prophet was a man of like passions Iam. 5.17 but God is perfectly good All the perfection we can arrive at in this Life is sincerity we may a little resemble God but not equal him He is infinitely perfect 3. God is the best Father in respect of Wisdom 1 Tim. 1.17 The only wise God He hath a perfect Idea of Wisdom in himself He knows the fittest Mediums to bring about his own designs the Angels light at his Lamp In particular this is one branch of his Wisdom that he knows what is best for us An Earthly Parent knows not in some intricate cases how to advise his Child or what may be best for him to do but God is a most wise Father he knows what is best for us he knows when Comfort is best for us he keeps his Cordials for fainting 2 Cor. 7.6 God who comforteth them that are cast down He knows when affliction is best for us and when it is fit to give a bitter potion 1 Pet. 1.6 If need be ye are in heaviness He is the only wise God he knows how to make evil things work for good to his Children Rom. 8 28. he can make a soveraign treacle of poyson Thus he is the best Father for Wisdom 4. He is the best Father because most loving 1 Iohn 4.16 God is love He who causeth bowels of affection in others must needs have more bowels himself quod efficit tale The Affections in Parents are but Marble and Adamant in comparison of Gods Love to his Children he gives them the cream of his Love electing Love saving Love Zeph. 3.17 He will rejoyce over thee with joy he will rest in his love
he will joy over thee with singing No Father like God for Love if thou art his Child thou canst not love thy own Soul so intirely as he loves thee 5. God is the best Father for Riches God hath land enough to give to all his Children he hath unsearchable riches Eph. 3.8 He gives the hidden Manna the Tree of Life Rivers of Joy Gates of Pearl Who ever saw gates of Pearl God hath treasures that cannot be emptied pleasures that cannot be ended Earthly Fathers if they should be ever giving they would have nothing left to give God is ever giving to his Children yet hath not the less his Riches are imparted not impaired Like the Sun that still shines yet hath not the less light He cannot be poor who is infinite Thus God is the best Father he gives more to his Children than any Father or Prince can bestow 6. God is the best Father because he can reform his Children A Father when his Son takes bad courses knows not how to make him better but God knows how to make the Children of the Election better he can change their Hearts When Paul was breathing out persecution against the Saints God soon altered his course and set him a praying Acts 9.11 Behold he prayeth None of those who belong to the Election are so rough cast and unhewen but God can polish them with his Grace and make them fit for the Inheritance 7. God is the best Father because he never dyes 1 Tim. 6 16. Who only hath immortality Earthly Fathers dye and their Children are exposed to many injuries but God lives for ever Rev. 1.8 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the last Gods Crown hath no Successors Quest. 6. Wherein lies the Dignity of such as have God for their Father Resp. They have greater Honour then is confer'd on the Princes of the Earth They are precious in Gods esteem Isa. 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my eyes thou hast been honourable the wicked are dross Psal. 119.119 and chaff Psal. 1.4 but God numbers his Children among his Jewels Mal. 3.17 he writes all his Childrens names in the Book of Life Phil. 4.3 Whose names are in the book of life Among the Romans the Names of their Senators were written down in a Book Patres conscripti God enrolls the names of his Children and will not blot their names out of the Register Rev. 3.5 I will not blot his name out of the book of life God will not be ashamed of his Children Heb. 11.16 God is not ashamed to be called your God One might think it were something below God and he might disdain to Father such Children as are Dust and Sin mingled but he is not ashamed to be called our God and that we may see he is not ashamed of his Children he writes his own Name upon them Rev. 3.12 I will write upon him the name of my God that is I will openly acknowledge him before all the Angels to be my Child I will write my Name upon him as the Son bears his Fathers name What an honour and dignity is this 2. God confers honourable Titles upon his Children 1. He calls them the excellent of the earth Psal. 16.2 or the magnificent as Iunius renders it They must needs be excellent who are e Regio Sanguine nati of the Blood-Royal of Heaven they are the Spiritual Phenixes of the World the glory of the Creation God calls his Children his glory Isa. 46.13 Israel my glory God honours his Children with the Title of Kings Rev. 1.6 And hath made us Kings All Gods Children are Kings though they have not Earthly Kingdoms yet 1. They carry a Kingdom about them Luke 17.21 The kingdom of God is within you Grace is a Kingdom set up in the hearts of Gods Children They are Kings to rule over their Sins to bind those kings in chains Psal. 149.8 2. They are like Kings they have their insignia Regalia their ensigns of Royalty and Majesty 1. They have their Crown In this Life they are Kings in a disguise They are not known therefore they are exposed to poverty and reproach they are Kings in a disguise 1 Iohn 3.2 Now we are the Sons of God and it doth not appear what we shall be Why what shall we be Every Son of God shall have his Crown of Glory 1 Pet. 5.4 and white Robes Rev. 6.11 Robes signifie Dignity and white signifies Sanctity 3. This is their honour who have God for their Father they are all Heirs the youngest Son is an Heir 1. Gods Children are heirs to the things of this Life God being their Father they have the best title to earthly things they have a sanctified right to them though they have often the least share yet they have the best right and they have a Blessing with what they have i. e. Gods Love and Favour Others may have more of the Venison but Gods Children have more of the Blessing Thus they are Heirs to the things of this Life 2 They are Heirs to the other World Heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ioint-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 They go sharers with Christ in glory Among Men commonly the eldest Son carries away all but Gods Children are all Joint-heirs with Christ they have a copartnership with him in his Riches Hath Christ a place in the Celestial Mansions so have the Saints Iohn 14.2 In my Fathers house are many mansions I go to prepare a place for you Hath he his Fathers Love so have they Psal. 146.8 Iohn 17.26 That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them Doth Christ sit upon a Throne so do Gods Children Rev. 3.21 What an high honour is this 4. God makes his Children equal in honour to the Angels Luke 20.36 They are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 equal to the Angels nay those Saints who have God for their Father are in some sense superiour to the Angels for Jesus Christ having taken our Nature Naturam nostram nobilitavit hath enobled and honoured it above the Angelical Heb. 2.16 God hath made his Children by Adoption nearer to himself than the Angels The Angels are the Friends of Christ Believers are the Members of Christ and this honour have all the Saints Thus you see the Dignity of such as have God for their Father What a comfort is this to Gods Children who are here despised and loaded with calumnies and invectives 1 Cor. 4.14 We are made as the filth of the world c. But God will put Honour upon his Children at the last day and crown them with Immortal Bliss to the envy of their Adversaries Quest. 7. How we may know that God is our Father All cannot say Our Father The Jewes boasted that God was their Father John 8.36 We have one Father even God Christ tells them their pedigree ver 44. Ye are of your Father the Devil They who are of Satanical Spirits and make use of their power to beat down
the power of Godliness cannot say God is their Father they may say Our Father which art in Hell Well then how may we know that God is our Father Resp. 1. By having a Filial disposition This is in four things 1. To melt in tears for Sin A Child weeps for offending his Father When Christ looked on Peter and he remembred his Sin in denying Christ he fell a weeping Clemens Alexandrinus reports of Peter he never heard a Cock crow but he wept This is a sign God is our Father When the heart of stone is taken away and there is a gracious thaw in the heart it melts in tears for Sin and he who hath a Child-like heart mourns for Sin in a Spiritual manner as it is Sin He grieves for it 1. As it is an Act of Pollution Sin deflours the Virgin-Soul it defaceth Gods Image it turns beauty into deformity 't is called the plague of the heart 1 Kings 8.38 It is the spirits of evil distilled A Child of God mourns for the defilement of Sin Sin hath a blacker aspect than Hell 2. He who hath a Child-like heart grieves for Sin as 't is an Act of Enmity Sin is diametrically opposite to God It is called a walking contrary to God Lev. 26.40 If they shall confess their iniquity and that they have walked contrary to me Sin doth all it can to spight God If God be of one mind Sin will be of another Sin would not only unthrone God but it strikes at his very Being if Sin could help it God should be no longer God A Child-like heart grieves for this O saith he that I should have so much enmity in me that my Will should be no more subdued to the Will of my Heavenly Father this springs a leak of godly sorrow 3. A Child-like heart weeps for Sin as it is an Act of Ingratitude Sin is an abuse of Gods Love it is a taking the Jewels of Gods Mercies and making use of them to sin God hath done more for his Children than others he hath planted his grace and given them some intimations of his favour and to sin against kindness dyes a sin in grain and makes it Crimson Like Absalom as soon as his Father kissed him and took him into favour plotted Treason against him Nothing so melts a Child-like heart in tears as sins of unkindness O that I should sin against the Blood of a Saviour and the Bowels of a Father I condemn ingratitude in my Child yet I am guilty of ingratitude against my Heavenly Father This opens a vein of godly sorrow and makes the heart bleed afresh certainly this evidenceth God to be our Father when he hath given us this Child-like frame of heart to weep for sin as it is sin an act of Pollution Enmity Ingratitude A wicked Man may mourn for the bitter Fruit of Sin but only a Child of God can grieve for the odious Nature of Sin 2. A Filial or Child-like disposition is to be full of sympathy We lay to heart the dishonours reflected upon our Heavenly Father when we see Gods Worship adulterated his Truth mingled with the poyson of Errour it is as a Sword in our Bones to see Gods Glory suffer Psal. 119.158 I beheld the transgressors and was grieved Homer describing Agamemnons grief when he was forced to sacrifice his Daughter Iphigenia brings in all his Friends weeping and condoling with him so when God is dishonoured we sympathize and are as it were clad in mourning A Child that hath any good Nature is cut to the heart to hear his Father reproached An Heir of Heaven takes a dishonour done to God more heinous than a disgrace done to himself 3. A Filial disposition is to love our Heavenly Father He is unnatural that doth not love his Father God who is crown'd with excellency is the proper object of delight and every true Child of God saith as Peter Lord thou knowest that I love thee But who will not say he loves God If ours be a true genuine love to our Heavenly Father it may be known 1. By the effects 1. Then we have an holy fear There is a fear which ariseth from love to God that is we fear the loss of the visible tokens of Gods presence 1 Sam. 4.13 Elies heart trembled for the Ark. It is not said his heart trembled for his two Sons Hophni and Phinchas but his heart trembled for the Ark because the Ark was the special sign of Gods Presence and if that were taken the Glory was departed He who loves his Heavenly Father fears least the tokens of his Presence should be removed least Profaneness should break in like a flood least Popery should get head and God should go from a people The presence of God in his Ordinances is the glory and strength of a Nation The Trojans had the Image of Pallas and they had an opinion that as long as that Image was preserved among them they should never be conquered So long as Gods presence is with a people so long they are safe Every true Child of God fears least God should go and the glory depart Try by this whether we have a Filial disposition Do we love God and doth this love cause fear and jealousie Are we afraid least we should lose Gods presence Least the Sun of Righteousness remove out of our Horizon Many are afraid least they should lose some of their Worldly profits but not least they lose the presence of God If they may have Peace and Trading they care not what becomes of the Ark of God A true Child of God fears nothing so much as the loss of his Fathers presence Hos. 9.12 Wo to them when I depart from them 2. Love to our Heavenly Father is seen by loving his Day Isa. 58.13 If thou call the Sabbath a delight The Antients called this Regina Dierum the Queen of Days If we love our Father in Heaven we spend this day in Devotion in Reading Hearing Meditating On this day Manna falls double God sanctified the Sabbath He made all the other days in the Week but he hath sanctified this day this day he hath crown'd with a Blessing 3. Love to our Heavenly Father is seen by loving his Children 1 Iohn 5.1 Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him If we love God the more we see of God in any the more we love them we love them though they are poor A Child loves to see his Fathers picture though hung in a mean frame we love the Children of our Father though they are persecuted 2 Tim. 1.16 Onesiphorus was not ashamed of my chain Constantine did kiss the hole of Paphnusius's eye because he suffered the loss of his eye for Christ. It appears they have no love to God who have no love to his Children they care not for their company they have a secret disgust and antipathy against them Hipocrites pretend great reverence to the Saints departed they canonize
dead Saints but persecute living I may say of these as the Apostle Heb. 12.8 They are bastards not sons 4. Effect of love if we love our Heavenly Father then we will be Advocates for him and stand up in the defence of his Truth He who loves his Father will plead for him when he is traduced and wronged He hath no Child-like heart no love to God who can hear Gods name dishonoured and be silent Doth Christ appear for us in Heaven and are we afraid to appear for him on Earth Such as dare not own God and Religion in times of danger God will be ashamed to be called their God it would be a reproach to him to have such Children as will not own him 2. A Child-like love to God is known as by the Effects so by the Degree it is a superiour love We love our Father in Heaven above all other things above Estate or Relations as Oyl runs above the Water Psal. 73.25 A Child of God seeing a super eminency of Goodness and a constellation of all Beauties in God he is carried out in love to him in the highest measure As God gives his Children such a love as he doth not bestow upon the wicked electing love so Gods Children give God such a love as they bestow upon none else adoring love they give him the flower and spirits of their love they love him with a love joyned with worship this spiced Wine they keep only for their Father to drink of Cant. 8.2 4. A Child-like disposition is seen in honouring our Heavenly Father Mal. 1.6 A Son honoureth his Father Quest. How 〈◊〉 show our honour to our Father in Heaven Resp. 1. By having a reverential awe of God upon us Lev. 25.17 Thou shalt fear thy God This reverential fear of God is when we dare do nothing that he hath forbidden in his Word Gen. 39.9 How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God It is the part of the honour a Son gives to his Father he fears to displease him 2. We show our honour to our Heavenly Father by doing all we can to exalt God and make his Excellencies shine forth though we cannot lift up God higher in Heaven yet we may lift him higher in our hearts and in the esteem of others When we speak well of God set forth his renown display the trophies of his goodness when we ascribe the glory of all we do to God when we are the trumpeters of Gods praise this is an honouring our Father in Heaven and a certain sign of a Child-like heart Psal. 50.23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me 2. We may know God is our Father by our resembling of him The Child is his Fathers Picture Iudg. 8.18 Each one resembled the children of a King Every Child of God resembles the King of Heaven herein Gods adopting Children and Mans differ A Man adopts one for his Son and Heir that doth not at all resemble him but whosoever God adopts for his Child is like him he not only bears his Heavenly Fathers Name but Image Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the image of him that created him He who hath God for his Father resembles God in Holiness Holiness is the glory of the Godhead Exod. 15.11 The Holiness of God is the intrinsick Purity of his Essence He who hath God for his Father partakes of the Divine Nature though not of the Divine Essence yet of the Divine Likeness As the Seal sets its print and likeness upon the Wax so he who hath God for his Father hath the print and effigies of his Holiness stamped upon him Psal. 106.16 Aaron the Saint of the Lord. Wicked Men desire to be like God hereafter in glory but do not affect to be like him here in grace they give it out to the World that God is their Father yet have nothing of God to be seen in them they are unclean they not only want his Image but hate it 3. We may know God is our Father by having his Spirit in us 1. By having the intercession of the Spirit 'T is a Spirit of Prayer Gal. 4.6 Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Prayer is the Souls breathing it self into the bosom of its Heavenly Father None of Gods Children are born dumb implet Spiritus sanctus organum suum tanquam Pila chordarum tangit Spiritus Dei corda sanctorum Prosper Acts 9.11 Behold he prayeth But it is not every Prayer evidenceth Gods Spirit in us Such as have no grace may excel in gifts and affect the hearts of others in Prayer when their own hearts are not affected As the Lute makes a sweet sound in the ears of others but it self is not sensible how therefore shall we know our Prayers are indited by Gods Spirit and so he is our Father Resp. 1. When they are not only Vocal but Mental when there are not only gifts but groans Rom. 8.26 The best Musick is in consort the best Prayer is when the heart and tongue joyn together in consort 2. When they are zealous and fervent Iam. 5.16 The effectual fervent Prayer of a righteous man availeth much The eyes melt in Prayer the heart burns Fervency is to Prayer as Fire to the Incense it makes it ascend to Heaven as a sweet perfume 3. When Prayer hath Faith sprinkled in it Prayer is the Key of Heaven and Faith is the hand that turns it Rom. 8.15 We cry Abba Father We cry there is fervency in Prayer Abba Father there is Faith Those Prayers suffer shipwrack which dash upon the rock of unbelief Thus we may know God is our Father by having his Spirit praying in us As Christ intercedes above so the Spirit intercedes within 2. By having the renewing of the Spirit which is nothing else but Regeneration which is called a being born of the Spirit Iohn 3.5 This regenerating work of the Spirit is a transformation or change of Nature Rom. 12.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind He who is born of God hath a new heart New not for substance but for qualities The strings of a Viol may be the same but the Tune is altered Before this Regeneration there are Spiritual Pangs much heart-breaking for Sin Regeneration is called a circumcising of the heart Col. 2.11 In Circumcising there was pain in the flesh so in this Spiritual Circumcision there is pain in the heart there is much sorrow arising from the sense of guilt and wrath The Jaylors trembling Acts 16.30 was a pang in the new birth Gods Spirit is a Spirit of Bondage before it be a Spirit of Adoption This blessed work of Regeneration spreads over the whole Soul it irradiates the Mind it consecrates the Heart and reforms the Life Though Regeneration be but in part it is in every part 1 Thess. 5.23 Regeneration is the signature
and engraving of the Holy Ghost upon the Soul The new born Christian is bespangled with the Jewels of the 〈◊〉 which are the Angels glory Regeneration is the spring of all true joy At our first birth we come weeping into the World but at our new birth there 's cause of rejoycing for now God is our Father and we are begotten to a lively hope of glory 1 Pet. 1.3 We may try by this our relation to God Hath a regenerating work of Gods Spirit passed upon our Souls Are we made of another Spirit Humble and Heavenly This is a good sign of Son-ship and we may say Our Father which art in Heaven 3. By having the conduct of the Spirit We are led by the Spirit Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Gods Spirit doth not only quicken us in our Regeneration but leads us on till we come to the end of our Faith Salvation It is not enough the Child have Life but he must be led every step by the Nurse Hos. 11.3 I taught Ephraim to go taking them by their armes Their Armes as the Israelites had the Cloud and Pillar of Fire to go before them and be a guide to them so Gods Spirit is a guide to go before us and lead us into all truth and counsel us in all our doubts and influence us in all our actions Psalm 73.24 Thou shalt guide me by thy counsels None can call God Father but such as have the conduct of his Spirit Try then what Spirit you are led by Such as are led by a Spirit of Envy Lust Avarice these are not led by the Spirit of God it were blasphemy for them to call God Father These are led by the Spirit of Satan and may say Our Father which art in Hell 4. By having the Witness of the Spirit Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God This Witness of the Spirit suggesting that God is our Father is not a Vocal Witness or Voice from Heaven The Spirit in the Word witnesseth The Spirit in the Word saith he who is so qualified who is an hater of Sin and a lover of Holiness is a Child of God and God is his Father if I can find such qualifications wrought here is the Spirit witnessing with my Spirit that I am a Child of God Besides we may carry it higher the Spirit of God witnesseth to our Spirit by making more than ordinary impressions upon our hearts and giving some secret hints and whispers that God hath purposes of Love to us Here is a concurrent witness of the Spirit with Conscience that we are Heirs of Heaven and God is our Father This Witness is better felt than expressed this Witness scatters doubts and fears silenceth temptations but what shall one do that hath not this Witness of the Spirit If we wâ—â—t the Witness of the Spirit let us labour to find the Work of the Spirit if we have not the Spirit testifying labour to have it sanctifying and that will be a support to us 4. If God be our Father we are of Peaceable Spirits Matth. 5.9 Blessed are the peace-makers they shall be called the children of God Grace infuseth a sweet amicable disposition it files off the ruggedness of Mens Spirits it turns the Lion-like fierceness into a Lamb-like gentleness Isa. 11.7 They who have God to be their Father follow Peace as well as Holiness God the Father is called the God of Peace Heb. 13.20 God the Son the Prince of Peace Isa. 9.6 God the Holy Ghost is a Spirit of Peace It is called the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4.3 The more peaceable the more like God It is a bad sign God is not their Father 1. Who are fierce and cruel as if with Romulus they had sucked the Milk of a Wolf Rom. 3.17 The way of peace have they not known they sport in mischief these are they who are of a persecuting Spirit as Maximinus Dioclesian Antiochus who as Eusebius took more tedious journeys and run more hazards in vexing and persecuting the Iewes than any of his Predecessors had done in getting of Victories These Furies cannot call God Father if they do they will have as little comfort in saying Father as Dives had in Hell when he said Father Abraham Luke 16.24 2. Who are makers of division Rom. 16.17 Mark them which cause divisions and avoid them Such as are born of God are makers of Peace what shall we think of such as are makers of Division will God Father these The Devil made the first division in Heaven they may call the Devil Father they may give the Cloven Foot in their Coat of Armes their sweetest Musick is in Discord they unite to divide Sampsons Fox-tails were tyed together only to set the Philistians Corn on fire Iudg. 15 4. Papists unite only to set the Churches Peace on fire· Satans Kingdom goes up by Divisions St. Chrysostome observes of the Church of Corinth when many Converts were brought in Satan knew no better way to dam up the current of Religion than to throw in an Apple of Strife and divide them into Parties one was for Paul and another for Apollos but few for Christ. Would not Christ have his Coat rent and can he endure to have his Body rent Sure God will never Father them who are not Sons of Peace Of all them who God hates he is named for one who is a sower of discord among brethren Prov. 6.19 5. If God be our Father then we love to be near God and have converse with him An ingenuous Child delights to approach near to his Father and go into his presence David envyed the Birds that they built their Nests so near Gods Altars when he was debarred his Fathers house Psal. 84.3 True Saints love to get as near to God as they can In the Word they draw near to his Holy Oracle in the Sacrament they draw near to his Table a Child of God delights to be in his Fathers presence he cannot stay away long from God he sees a Sabbath day approaching and rejoyceth his heart hath been often melted and quickened in a Ordinance he hath tasted the Lord is good therefore he loves to be in his Fathers presence he cannot keep away long from God Such as care not for Ordinances cannot say Our Father which art in Heaven Is God their Father who cannot endure to be in his presence VSE I. Of Instruction See the amazing goodness of God that is pleased to enter into this sweet relation of a Father God needed not to adopt us he did not want a Son God did not want a Son but we did a Father God showed Power in being our Maker but Mercy in being our Father When we were enemies and our hearts stood out as garrisons against God that he should conquer our stubbornness and of enemies make us children and write his
Name and put his Image upon us and bestow a Kingdom of Glory what a Miracle of Mercy is this Every adopted Child may say Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Mat. 11.26 2. Br. or Infer If God be a Father then hence I infer whatever he doth to his Children is Love 1. If he smiles upon them in Prosperity it is Love They have the World not only with Gods leave but with his love God saith to every Child of his as Naaman to Gehazi 2 Kings 5.23 Be content take two talents So saith God to his Child I am thy Father take two talents Take Health and take my Love with it take an Estate and take my Love with it Take two talents Gods Love is a sweetning ingredient into every Mercy Quest. How doth it appear that a Child of God hath Worldly things in love Resp. 1. Because he hath a good Title to them God is his Father therefore he hath a good title A wicked Man hath a civil title to the Creature but no more he hath it not from the hand of a Father he is like one that takes up Cloth at the Drapers and it is not paid for but a Believer hath a good title to every foot of Land he hath his Father hath setled it upon him 2. A Child of God hath Worldly things in love because they are sanctified to him 1. They make him better and are Loadstones to draw him nearer to God 2. He hath his Fathers Blessing with them A little blest is sweet Exod. 23.25 He shall bless thy bread and thy water Esau had the Venison but Iacob got the Blessing While the wicked have their Meat sawced with Gods Wrath Psal. 78.30 31. Believers have their Comforts seasoned with a Blessing It was a secret Blessing from God made Daniels Pulse nourish him more and make him look fairer than they that ate of the Kings Meat Dan. 1.15 3. A Child of God hath Worldly things in love because whatever he hath is an earnest of more Every bit of Bread is a pledge and earnest of glory 2. God being a Father if he frown if he dips his pen in gall and write bitter things if he corrects 't is in Love A Father loves his Child as well when he doth chastise and discipline him as when he settles his Land on him Rev. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke Afflictions are sharp Arrows saith Gr. Nazianzen but they are shot from the hand of a loving Father Correctio est Virtutis gymnasium God afflicts with the same love he gives Christ he doth it to humble and purifie Gentle Correction is as necessary as Dayly Bread nay as needful as Ordinances as Word and Sacraments There is love in all God smites that he may save 3. God being a Father if he desert and hide his face from his Child it is in love Desertion is sad in it self a short Hell Iob 6.9 When the Light is withdrawn Dew falls Yet we may see a Rainbow in the Cloud the love of a Father in all this 1. God hereby quickens grace perhaps grace lay dormant Cant. 5.2 it was as fire in the embers and God withdraws comfort to invigorate and exercise grace Faith is a Star sometimes shines brightest in the dark night of desertion Ionah 2.4 2. When God hides his face from his Child yet still he is a Father and his heart is towards his Child as Ioseph when he spake roughly to his Brethren and made them believe he would take them for Spyes still his Heart was full of Love and he was fain to go aside and weep So Gods Bowels yearn to his Children when he seems to look strange Isa. 54.8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee Though God may have the look of an enemy yet still he hath the heart of a Father 3. Br. or Infer Learn hence the sad case of the wicked they cannot say Our Father in Heaven they may say Our Iudge but not Our Father they fetch their pedigree from Hell Iohn 8.44 Ye are of your Father the Devil Such as are unclean and profane are the spurious blood of the Old Serpent and it were blasphemy for them to call God Father The case of the wicked is deplorable if they are in misery they have none to make their moan to God is not their Father he disclaims all Kindred with them Matth. 7.23 I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity The wicked dying in their Sins can expect no Mercy from God as a Father Many say he that made them will save them but Isa. 27.11 It is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them Though God was their Father by Creation yet because they were not his Children by Adoption therefore he that made them would not save them VSE II. Of Exhortation To perswade all who are yet strangers to God to labour to come into this Heavenly Kindred Never leave till you can say Our Father which art in Heaven Quest. But will God be a Father to me who have profaned his Name and been a great Sinner Resp. If thou wilt now at last seek to God by Prayer and break off thy Sins God hath the Bowels of a Father for thee and will in no wise cast thee out When the Prodigal did arise and go to his Father his Father had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him Luke 15.20 Though thou hast been a Prodigal and almost spent all upon thy Lusts yet if thou wilt now give a bill of divorce to thy Sins and fly to God by Repentance know that he hath the Bowels of a Father he will embrace thee in the Arms of his Mercy and seal thy Pardon with a Kiss What though thy Sins have been heinous The Wound is not so broad as the Plaister of Christs Blood The Sea covers great Rocks The Sea of Gods Compassion can drown thy great Sins therefore be not discouraged go to God resolve to cast thy self upon his Fatherly Bowels God may be entreated of thee as he was of Manasseh 2 Chron. 33.13 He prayed unto the Lord and he was entreated of him Manasseh made the streets run with Blood yet when his eyes ran with Tears Gods Fatherly Bowels began to melt and he was entreated of him VSE III. Of Comfort To such as can upon good grounds call God Father There 's more sweetness in this word Father then if we had ten thousand Worlds David thought it a great matter to be Son in Law to a King 1. Sam. 18.18 What is my Fathers family that I should be Son in law to the King But what is it to be born of God and have God for our Father Quest. Wherein lies the happiness of having God for our Father Resp. 1. If God be our Father then he will teach us what Father will refuse to counsel
the scar winks at her failing and only takes notice of the good that was in her her Obedience to her Husband She obeyed Abraham calling him Lord nay that good which the Saints scarce take notice of in themselves God in a special manner observes Matth. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink Then shall the Righteous say Lord when saw we thee an hungred and fed thee They did as it were over-look and disclaim their own Works of Charity yet Christ doth take notice I was an hungred and ye fed me What a Comfort is this God spyes the least good in his Children he can see a grain of Corn hid under Chaff Grace hid under Corruption 5. If God be our Father he will take all we do in good part Those Duties we our selves censure God will crown When a Child of God looks over his best Duties he sees so much Sin cleaving to them that he is even confounded Lord saith he there is more Sulphur than Incense in my Prayers but for your comfort if God be your Father he will crown those Duties which you your selves censure God sees there is sincerity in the hearts of his Children and this gold though light shall have grains of allowance Though there may be defects in the services of Gods Children yet God will not cast away their offering 2 Chron. 30.20 The Lord healed the people The Tribes of Israel being straitned in time wanted some Legal Purifications yet because their Hearts were upright God healed them he pardoned them God accepts of the good Will 2 Cor. 8.12 A Father takes a Letter from his Son kindly though there are blots or bad English in it What blottings are there in our holy things yet our Father in Heaven accepts Saith God it is my Child and he would do better I will look upon him through Christ with a merciful eye 6. If God be our Father then he will correct us in measure Ier. 30.11 I will correct thee in measure and that two ways 1. It shall be in measure for the kind God will not lay upon us more than we are able to bear 1 Cor. 10.13 he know our frame Psal. 103.14 he knows we are not Steel or Marble therefore will deal gently he will not over-afflict As the Physician that knows the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and temper of the Body will not give Physick too strong for the Body nor will he give one dram or scruple too much God hath not only the Title of a Father but the Bowels of a Father he will not lay too heavy burthens on his Children least their spirits fail before him 2. He will correct in measure for the duration he will not let the affliction lye on too long Psal. 125.3 The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous It may be there and not rest Isa. 57.16 I will not contend for ever Our Heavenly Father will love for ever but he will not contend for ever The torments of the damned are for ever Rev. 14.11 The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever The wicked shall drink a Sea of Wrath but Gods Children only taste of the Cup of Affliction and their Heavenly Father will say transeat calix let this cup pass away from them Isa. 35.10 A sting a wing 7. If God be our Father he will intermix Mercy with all our Afflictions If he give us Wormwood to drink he will mix it with Honey In the Ark the Rod was laid up and Manna With our Fathers Rod there is alwayes some Manna Ashers shooes were iron and brass but his foot was dip'd in oyl Gen. 33.24 Affliction is the shooe of brass that pincheth but there is mercy in the affliction there is the foot dipped in oyl When God afflicts the Body he gives Peace of Conscience there is Mercy in the Affliction An Affliction comes to prevent falling into Sin there is Mercy in the Affliction Iacob had his Thigh hurt in wrestling there was the Affliction but then he saw Gods face and received a Blessing from the Angel Gen. 32.30 there was Mercy in the Affliction In every Cloud a Child of God may see a Rainbow of Mercy shining As the Limner mixeth dark shadows and bright colours together so our Heavenly Father mingles the dark and the bright together Crosses and Blessings and is not this a great happiness for God thus to checker his Providences and mingle goodness with severity 8. If God be our Father the evil one shall not prevail against us Satan is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evil one emphatically He is the grand enemy of the Saints and that both in a Military sense as he fights against them with his temptations and in a Forensical or Law-sense as he is an accuser and pleads against them yet neither way shall he prevail against Gods Children as for his shooting his fiery darts God will bruise Satan shortly under the Saints feet Rom. 16.20 As for his accusing Christ is Advocate for the Saints and answers all bills of inditement brought in against them God will make all Satans temptations promote the good of his â—hildren 1. As they set them more a praying 2 Cor. 12.8 Temptation is a medicine for security 2. As they are a means to humble them 2 Cor. 12.7 Least I should be exalted above measure there was given me a thorn in the flesh The thorn in the flesh was a temptation this thorn was to prick the bladder of pride 3. As they establish them more in Grace A Tree shaken by the Wind is more settled and rooted the blowing of a temptation doth but settle a Child of God more in Grace Thus the evil one Satan shall not prevail against the Children of God 9. If God be our Father no real evil shall befal us Psal. 91.10 There shall no evil befal thee 'T is not said no trouble but no evil Gods Children are priviledged persons they are priviledged from the hurt of every thing Luke 10.19 Nothing shall by any means hurt you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys. The hurt and malignity of the affliction is taken away Affliction to a wicked Man hath evil in it it makes him worse Rev. 16.9 Men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God But no evil befalls a Child of God he is bettered by affliction Heb. 12.10 That ye may be made partakers of his holiness What hurt doth the Furnace to the Gold it only makes it purer What hurt doth Affliction to Grace only refine and purifie it What a great priviledge is this to be freed though not from the stroke of Affliction yet the sting No evil shall touch a Saint When the Dragon hath poysoned the water they say the Unicorn with his horn doth draw out the poyson Christ hath drawn out the poyson of every Affliction that it cannot prejudice a Child of God Again no evil befalls a Child
are more than conquerours How are Gods Children more than Conquerours Because they conquer without loss and because they are crowned after death which other Conquerours are not 15. If God be our Father he will now and then send us some tokens of his Love Gods Children live far from home and meet sometimes with coarse usage from the unkind World therefore God to encourage his Children sends them sometimes tokens and pledges of his Love What are these He gives them a return of Prayer there is a token of Love he quickens and enlargeth their Hearts in Duty there is a token of Love he gives them the first fruits of his Spirit which are Love-tokens Rom. 8.23 As God gives the wicked the first fruits of Hell horrour of Conscience and Despair so he gives his Children the first fruits of his Spirit Joy and Peace which are foretasts of Glory Some of Gods Children having received these tokens of Love from their Heavenly Father have been so transported that they have dyed for Joy as the Glass oft breaks with the strength of the Wine put into it 16. If God be our Father he will indulge and spare us Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him Gods sparing his Children imports this his clemency towards them he doth not punish them as he might Psal. 103.10 He hath not dealt with us according to our sins We oft do that which merits Wrath grieve Gods Spirit relapse into Sin God passeth by much and spares us God did not spare his Natural Son Rom. 8.32 yet he will spare his Adopted Sons God threatned Ephraim to make him as the Chaff driven with the Whirlwind but he soon repented Hos. 13.4 Yet I am the Lord thy God ver 10. I will be thy King Here God spared him as a Father spares his Son Israel oft provoked God with their complaints but God used clemency towards them he oft answered their murmurings with Mercies here he spared them as a Father spares his Son 17. If God be our Father he will put Honour and Renown upon us at the last day 1. He will clear the innocency of his Children Gods Children in this Life are strangely misrepresented to the World they are loaded with invectives they are called factious seditious Elijah the troubler of Israel Luther was called the trumpet of Rebellion Athanasius was accused to the Emperor Constantine to be the raiser of Tumults the Primitive Christians were accused to be infanticidii incestus rei killers of their Children guilty of Incest as Tertullian St. Paul reported to be a pestilent person Acts 24.5 Famous Wickliff called the Idol of the Hereticks and that he dyed drunk If Satan cannot defile Gods Children he will disgrace them if he cannot strike his fiery darts into their Conscience he will put a dead fly into their Name but God will one day clear his Childrens innocency he will roll away their reproach As God will make a Resurrection of Bodies so of Names Isa. 25.8 The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away God will be the Saints compurgator Psal. 37.6 He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light The Night casts its dark mantle upon the most beautiful Flowers but the light comes in the Morning and dispells the darkness and every Flower appears in its orient brightness so the wicked may by misreports darken the honour and repute of the Saints but God will dispel this darkness and cause their Names to shine forth He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light As God did stand up for the honour of Moses when Aaron and Miriam went about to eclipse his Fame Numb 12.8 Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses So will God say one day to the wicked wherefore were not ye afraid to defame and traduce my Children They having my Image upon them how durst ye abuse my Picture At last Gods Children shall come forth out of all their calumnies as a Dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold Psal. 68.13 2. God will make an open and honourable recital of all their good deeds As the Sins of the Wicked shall be openly mentioned to their eternal infamy and confusion so all the good deeds of the Saints shall be openly mentioned and then shall every man have praise of God 1 Cor. 4.5 Every Prayer made with melting eyes every good service every work of Charity shall be openly declared before Men and Angels Matth. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me meat thirsty and ye gave me drink naked and ye clothed me Thus God will set a Trophy of Honour upon all his Children at the last day Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father Matth. 13.43 18. If God be our Father he will settle good land of inheritance upon us 1 Pet. 1.4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus who hath begotten us again to a lively hope to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled A Father may be fallen to decay and have nothing to leave his Son but his Blessing but God will settle an Inheritance on his Children and an Inheritance no less than a Kingdom Luke 17.32 It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom This Kingdom is more Glorious and Magnificent than any Earthly Kingdom it is set out by Pearls and precious Stones the richest Jewels Rev 21.19 What are all the Rarities of the World to this Kingdom The Coasts of Pearl the Islands of Spices the Rocks of Diamonds In this Heavenly Kingdom is that which is satisfying unparallel'd Beauty Rivers of Pleasure and this for ever Psal. 16.11 At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Heavens eminency is its permanency and this Kingdom Gods Children shall enter into immediately after Death There is a sudden transition and passage from Death to Glory 2 Cor. 5.9 Absent from the body present with the Lord. Gods Children shall not stay long for their Inheritance it is but winking and they shall see God How may this comfort Gods Children who perhaps are low in the World your Father in Heaven will settle a Kingdom upon you at death such a Kingdom as eye hath not seen he will give you a Crown not of Gold but Glory he will give you white Robes lined with Immortality It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom 19. If God be our Father it is Comfort 1. In case of loss of Relations Hast thou lost a Father yet if thou art a Believer thou art no Orphan thou hast an Heavenly Father a Father that never dyes 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality 2. It is comfort in case of Death God is thy Father and at Death thou art going to thy Father Well might Paul say Death is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 it is your friend that will carry you home to your Father
How glad are Children when they are going home This was Christs comfort at Death he was going to his Father Ioh. 16.28 I leave the world and go to the Father and Iohn 20.17 I ascend to my Father If God be our Father we may with comfort at the day of death resign our Souls into his hands So did Christ Luke 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit If a Child hath any Jewel he will in time of danger put it into his Fathers hands where he thinks it will be kept most safe Our Soul is our richest Jewel we may at Death resign our Souls into Gods hands where they will be safer than in our own keeping Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit What a comfort is this Death carries a Believer to his Fathers house where are delights unspeakable and full of glory How glad was Old Iacob when he saw the Waggons and Chariots to carry him to his Son Ioseph the Text saith His Spirit revived Gen. 45.27 Death is a triumphant Chariot to carry every Child of God to his Fathers Mansion house 20. If God be our Father he will not disinherit his Children God may for a time desert them but not disinherit them The Sons of Kings have been sometimes disinherited by the cruelty of Usurpers as Alexander the Great his Son was put by his just Right by the violence and ambition of his Fathers Captains but what Power on Earth shall hinder the Heirs of the Promise from their Inheritance Men cannot and God will not cut off the entail The Arminians hold falling away from Grace and so a Child of God may be defeated of his Inheritance but I shall show you that Gods Children can never be degraded or disinherited their Heavenly Father will not cast them off from being Children 1. It is evident Gods Children cannot be finally disinherited by vertue of the Eternal Decree of Heaven Gods Decree is the very Pillar and Basis on which the Saints perseverance depends Gods Decree tyes the knot of Adoption so fast that neither Sin Death or Hell can break it asunder Rom. 8.30 Whom he did predestinate them he also called c. Predestination is nothing else but Gods decreeing a certain number to be Heirs of Glory on whom he will settle the Crown whom he predestinates he glorifies what shall hinder Gods electing Love or make his Decree null and void 2. Besides Gods Decree he hath engaged himself by Promise that the Heirs of Heaven shall never be put by their Inheritance Gods Promises are not like blanks in a Lottery but as a sealed Deed which cannot be reversed The Promises are the Saints Royal Charter and this is one Promise that their Heavenly Father will not disinherit them Ier. 32.40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Gods Fidelity which is the richest Pearl of his Crown is engaged in this Promise for his Childrens perseverance I will not turn away from them A Child of God cannot fall away while he is held fast in these two Armes of God his Love and his Faithfulness 3. Jesus Christ undertakes that all Gods Children by Adoption shall be preserved in a state of Grace till they inherit Glory As the Heathens feigned of Atlas that he did bear up the Heavens from falling Jesus Christ is that blessed Atlas that bears up the Saints from falling away Quest. How doth Christ preserve the Saints Graces till they come to Heaven Resp. 1. Influxu Spiritus Christ carries on Grace in the Souls of the Elect by the influence and co-operation of his Spirit Christ doth Spiritu continually excite and quicken Grace in the Godly his Spirit doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blow up the sparks of Grace into an holy flame Spiritus est Vicarius Christi The Spirit is Christs Vicar on Earth his Proxy his Executor to see that all that Christ hath purchased for the Saints be made good Christ hath obtained an Inheritance incorruptible for them 1 Pet. 1.4 and the Spirit of Christ is his Executor to see that this Inheritance be settled upon them 2. Christ carries on Grace perseveringly in the Souls of the Elect vi orationis by the prevalency of his intercession Heb. 7.25 He ever lives to make intercession for them Christ prayes that every Saint may hold out in Grace till he comes to Heaven Can the Children of such Prayers perish If the Heirs of Heaven should be disinherited and fall short of Glory then Gods Decree must be reversed his Promise broken Christs Prayer frustrated which were Blasphemy to imagine 4. That Gods Children cannot be disinherited or put by their Right to the Crown of Heaven is evident from their Mystical Union with Christ. Believers are incorporated into Christ they are knit to Christ as the Members to the Head by the Nerves and Ligaments of Faith so that they cannot be broken off Eph. 1.22 23. The Church which is his Body What was once said of Christs Natural Body is as true of his Mystical A bone of it shall not be broken As it is impossible to sever the leaven and the dough when they are once mingled and kneaded together so it is impossible when Christ and Believers are once united that they should ever by the power of Death or Hell be separated Christ and his Spiritual Members make one Christ now is it possible that any part of Christ should perish How can Christ want any Member of his Body Mystical and be perfect Every Member is an Ornament to the Body and adds to the honour of it How can Christ part with any Mystical Member and not part with some of his Glory too So that by all this it is evident that Gods Children must needs persevere in Grace and cannot be disinherited If they could be disinherited then the Scripture could not be fulfilled which tells us of Glorious Rewards for the Heirs of Promise Psal. 58.11 Doubtless there is a reward for the righteous Now if Gods Adopted Children should fall finally from Grace and miss of Heaven what Reward were there for the Righteous And Moses did indiscreetly to look to the recompence of reward and so there would be a door opened to despair Object This Doctrine of Gods Children persevering and having the Heavenly Inheritance settled on them may cause carnal security and make them less circumspect in their walking Resp. Corrupt Nature may as the Spider suck poyson from this Flower but a sober Christian who hath felt the efficacy of Grace upon his Heart dares not abuse this Doctrine He knows perseverance is attained in the use of means therefore he walks holily that so in the use of means he may arrive at perseverance St. Paul knew that he should not be disinherited and that nothing could separate him from the love of Christ but who more holy and watchful than he 1 Cor. 9.27 I
sin be sober in your attire savoury in your speeches grave in your deportment obey your Fathers voice Open to God as the Flower opens to the Sun As you expect your Fathers Blessing obey him in whatever he commands First and Second Table Duties A Lutenist that he may make sweet Musick toucheth upon every String of the Lute The Ten Commandments are like a ten stringed Instrument touch upon every String obey every Command or you cannot make sweet Melody in Religion Obey your Heavenly Father though he commands things contrary to Flesh and blood 1. When he commands to mortifie Sin that Sin which hath been dear to you Pluck out this right eye that you may see the better to go to Heaven 2. When he commands you to suffer for him be ready to obey Acts 21.13 every good Christian hath a Spirit of Martyrdom in him and is ready rather to suffer for the Truth than the Truth should suffer Luther said he had rather be a Martyr than a Monarch Peter was Crucified with his Head downwards as Eusebius Ignatius called his Chains his Spiritual Pearls and did wear his Fetters as a Bracelet of Diamonds This is to carry it as Gods Children when we obey his voice and count not our lives dear so that we may show our love to our Heavenly Father Rev. 12.11 They loved not their lives to the death 6. If God be your Father show it by your chearful looks that you are the Children of such a Father Too much drooping and despondency disparageth the Relation you stand in to God What though you meet with hard usage in the World you are now in a strange Land far from home it will be shortly better with you when you are in your own Country and your Father hath you in his Armes Doth not the Heir rejoyce in hope Shall the Sons of a King walk dejected 2 Sam. 13.4 Why art thou being the Kings Son lean Is God an unkind Father are his Commands grievous Hath he no Land to give to his Heirs Why then do Gods Children walk so sad Never had Children such Priviledges as they who are of the Seed-Royal of Heaven and have God for their Father they should rejoyce therefore who are within a few hours to be crowned with Glory 7. If God be our Father let us honour him by walking very holily 1 Pet. 1.16 Be ye holy for I am holy A young Prince asking a Philosopher how he should behave himself the Philosopher said Memento te filium esse Regis Remember thou art a Kings Son do nothing but what becomes the Son of a King So remember you are the adopted Sons and Daughters of the high God do nothing unworthy of such a Relation A debauched Child is the disgrace of his Father Is this thy Sons Coat said they to Iacob when they brought it home dip'd in blood Gen. 37.32 so when we see a person defiled with Malice Passion Drunkenness we may say is this the Coat of Gods adopted Son Doth he look as an Heir of Glory 'T is a blaspheming the Name of God to call him Father yet live in Sin Such as profess God is their Father yet live unholily they will slander and defraud these are as bad to God as Heathens Amos 9.7 Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians to me O children of Israel saith the Lord The Ethiopians were uncircumcised a base ill-bred People when Israel grew wicked they were no better to God than Ethiopians Loose scandalous livers under the Gospel are no better in Gods esteem than Pagans and Americans nay they shall have an hotter place in Hell O let all who profess God to be their Father honour him by their unspotted lives Scipio abhorred the embraces of an Harlot because he was the General of an Army Abstain from all Sin because you are born of God and have God for your Father 1 Thess. 5.22 Abstain from all appearance of evil 'T was a saying of Augustus An Emperor should not only be free from Crimes but from the suspicion of them by an holy Life you would bring Glory to your Heavenly Father and cause others to become his Children Est pellax virtutis odor Causinus in his Hieroglyphicks speaks of a Dove whose Wings being perfum'd with sweet Oyntments did draw the other Doves after her The holy Lives of Gods Children is a sweet perfume to draw others to Religion and make them to be of the Family of God Iustin Martyr saith that which converted him to Christianity was the beholding the blameless Lives of the Christians 8. If God be our Father let us love all that are his Children Psal. 133.1 How pleasant is it for brethren to dwell together in unity 'T is compared to Oyntment ver 2. for the sweet fragrancy of it 1 Pet. 2.17 Love the brotherhood Idem est motus animae in imaginem rem The Saints are the walking pictures of God if God be our Father we love to see his picture of Holiness in Believers we pity them for their Infirmities but love them for their Graces we prize their Company above others Psal. 119.63 it may justly be suspected that God is not their Father who love not Gods Children though they retain the Communion of Saints in their Creed yet they banish the Communion of Saints out of their Company 9. If God be our Father let us show Heavenly mindedness They who are born of God do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 set their Affections on things that are above Col. 3.2 O ye Children of the high God do not disgrace your high birth by sordid Covetousness What a Son of God and a slave to the World What spring from Heaven and buried in the Earth For a Christian who pretends to derive his pedigree from Heaven yet wholly to mind Earthly things is to debase himself as if a King should leave his Throne to follow the Plough Ier. 45.5 Seekest thou great things for thy self As if the Lord had said what thou Baruck thou who art born of God akin to Angels and by thy Office a Levite dost thou debase thy self and spot the silver wings of thy Grace by beliming them with earth Seekest thou great things seek them not The Earth choaks the Fire Earthliness choaks the Fire of good Affections 10. Vlt. If God be our Father let us own our Heavenly Father in the worst times stand up in his cause defend his Truths Athanasius owned God when most of the World turned Arrians If Sufferings come do not deny God He is a bad Son who denyes his Father Such as are ashamed of God in times of danger God will be ashamed to own them for his Children Mark 8.38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous generation of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with his holy Angels So I have done with the First Part of the Preface Our Father II. The Second Part of the
Beza writes of one Bolezius his Religion changed as the Moon and Planet Mercury Such as are wandering stars will be falling stars But when a Soul is built on the Rock Christ and no winds of Temptation can blow it away now the kingdom of grace flourisheth One calls Athanasius Adamas Ecclesiae an invincible Adamant in respect of his stability in the Truth Col. 2.7 rooted and built up in him the rooting of a Tree evidenceth the growth 8. Then the kingdom of grace encreaseth in a Man 's own Heart when he labours to be instrumental to set up this kingdom in others Though it is the greatest benefit to have grace wrought in our selves yet it is the greatest honour to be instrumental to work it in others Gal. 4.19 of whom I travail in birth till Christ be formed in you Such as are Masters of a Family should endeavour to see the kingdom of grace set up in their Servants Such as are godly Parents let not God alone by prayer till you see grace in your Children What a comfort would it be to you to be both the Natural and the Spiritual Fathers of your Children Austin saith his Mother Monica travailed with greater care and Pain for his new birth then his natural This shows the encrease of grace when we labour to see the kingdom of grace set up in others then the water abounds in the River when it overflows and runs into the Meadows then grace encreaseth in the Soul when it hath influence upon others and we endeavour their Salvation 2. Quest. Wherein appears the needfulness of this that the Kingdom of Grace should be encreased 1. This is Gods design in keeping up a standing Ministry in the Church to encrease the kingdom of grace in mens hearts Eph. 4.8 He gave Gifts unto Men that is Ministerial Gifts Why so ver 12. for the edifying of the Body of Christ not only for Conversion but for augmentation Therefore the Word preached is compared not only to Seed but to Milk because by this Breast-milk God designs our growth in grace 2. We had need have the kingdom of grace encrease in respect we have a great deal of work to do and a little grace will hardly carry us thorow a Christians Life is laborious so many Tentations to resist so many Promises to believe so many Precepts to obey that it will require a great deal of grace A Christian must not only pray but pray fervently Iam. 5.16 not only repent but be zealous and repent Rev 3.19 not only love but be sick of Love Cant. 2.5 How had he need therefore have the kingdom of grace enlarged in his Soul as his work encreaseth upon him so his grace had need encrease 3. If the kingdom of grace doth not encrease it will decay Rev. 2.4 Thou hast left thy first love grace for want of encreasing is sometimes like a Winter Plant all the Sap runs to the root and it looks as if it were dead Rev. 3.2 Strengthen the things that remain which are ready to dye Though grace cannot expire it may wither and a withering Christian loseth much of his Beauty and Fragrancy what great need then have we to pray Thy Kingdom come that this kingdom of grace may be encreased if grace be not improved it will soon be impaired A Christian for want of encreasing his grace loseth his strength he is like a sick Man that cannot either walk or work his prayers are sick and weak he is as if he had no life in him his Faith can hardly fetch breath and you can scarce feel the Pulse of his Love to beat 4. To have grace encreasing is suitable to Christianity Christians are called Trees of Righteousness Isa. 61.3 The Saints are not only Jewels for sparkling Lustre but Trees for growth they are called the Lights of the World Phil 2.15 Light is still encreasing First there is the Crepusculum or Day-break and so it shines brighter to the Meridian They who are the Lights of the World must encrease till they come to the Meridian of Glory Not to grow is suspicious painted things grow not 5. As the Kingdom of Grace increaseth so a Christians Comforts increase Comfort belongs to the bene esse or well-being of a Christian it is like sweet-meat delicious to the taste Psal. 94.19 The more grace the more joy as the more Sap in the Root the more Wine in the Grape Who did more increase in Grace than David and who more in Consolation Psal. 4.7 Thou hast put Gladness in my heart Grace turns to joy as the Milk to cream 3 Qu. How may they be comforted who bewail their want of growth and weep that they cannot find the Kingdom of Grace encrease Resp. 1. To see and bewail our decay in Grace argues not only the life of Grace but growth 'T is a sign a Man recovers and gets strength when he feels his weakness It is a step forward in Grace to see our Imperfections The more the Spirit shines in the Heart the more evil it discovers A Christian thinks it worse with him then it was whereas his Grace may not grow lesser but his Light greater 2. If a Christian doth not encrease in one Grace he may in another if not in knowledge he may in Humility If a Tree doth not grow so much in the Branches it may in the Root to grow downwards in the Root is a good growth 3. A Christian may grow less in Affection when he grows more in Iudgment As a Musician when he is Old his fingers are stiff and not so nimble at the Lute as they were but he plays with more Art and Judgment than before So a Christian may not have so much Affection in Duty as at the first Conversion but he is more solid in Religion and more setled in his Judgment than he was before 4. A Christian may think he doth not encrease in Grace because he doth not encrease in Gifts whereas there may be a decay of natural parts the Memory and other Faculties when there is not a decay of Grace Parts may be impaired when Grace is improved Be not discouraged it is better to decay in parts and be enlarged in Grace then to be enlarged in parts and to decay in Grace 5. A Christian may encrease in Grace yet not be so sensible of it The Seed may grow in the Earth when we do not perceive it to spring up The Grace may grow in time of Desertion and not be perceived So I have done with the first thing intended in this Petition Thy Kingdom come we pray that the Kingdom of Grace may come into our Hearts and that it may encrease and flourish I should come to the second thing intended in this Petition that the Kingdom of Glory may hasten and that we may in due time be translated into it When we pray thy Kingdom come here is something positively intended we pray 1. That the Kingdom of Grace may be set up in our Hearts
content to stay here any longer Again Our unwillingness to go hence declares we love the World too much and Christ too little Love as Aristotle saith desires Union did we love Christ as we should we would desire to be united to him in Glory when we might take our fill of Love be humbled that we are so unwilling to go hence Let us labour to arrive at that divine temper of Soul as Paul had Cupio dissolvi I desire to depart and be with Christ Phil. 1.23 We are encompassed with a body of sin should not we long to shake off this viper We are in Meseck and the Tents of Kedar in a place where we see God dishonoured should not we desire to have our pass to be gone We are in a valley of Tears is it not better being in a Kingdom Here we are combating with Satan should not we desire to be called out of the bloody field where the bullets of Temptation fly so fast that we may receive a victorious Crown O ye Saints breath after the Heavenly Kingdom Though we should be willing to stay to do service yet we should ambitiously desire to be alwayes sunning our selves in the light of Gods Countenance Think what it will be to be ever with the Lord are there any sweeter smiles or embraces than his Is there any bed so soft as Christs bosom Is there any such joy as to have the golden banner of Christs Love displayed over us Is there any such honour as to sit upon the Throne with Christ Rev. 3.21 O then long for the Caelestial Kingdom 6. Wait for this Kingdom of Glory It is not incongruous or improper to long for Heaven yet wait for it long for it because it is a Kingdom yet wait your Fathers good pleasure God could presently bestow this Kingdom but he sees it good that we should wait a while 1. Had we the Kingdom of Heaven presently assoon as ever Grace is infused then God would lose much of his Glory 1. Where would be our living by Faith which is the Grace that brings in the chief revenues of Glory to God Rom. 4.20 2. Where would be our suffering for God which is a way of honouring him which the Angels in Heaven are not capable of 3. Where would be the active service we are to do for God Would we have God give us a Kingdom and we do nothing for him before we come there Would we have Rest before Labour a Crown before Victory This were disingenuous Paul was content to stay out of Heaven a while that he might be a means to bring others thither Phil. 1.23 â— While we wait for the Kingdom our Glory is increasing Every Duty Religiously performed adds a Jewel to our Crown Do we desire to have our Robes of Glory shine brighter let us wait and work the longer we stay for the Principal the greater will the Interest be The Husbandman waits till the seed spring up Wait for the harvest of Glory Some have their waiting Weeks at Court this is your walting time Christ saith Pray and faint not Luke 18.1 so wait and faint not Be not weary the Kingdom of Heaven will make amends for your waiting I have waited for thy Salvation O Lord said that dying Patriarch Gen. 49.18 VSE V. Comfort to the people of God 1. In all their Sufferings The true Saint is as Luther saith Haeres Crucis heir to the Cross Affliction is his Dyet drink but here is that may be as Bezoar-stone to keep him from fainting these sufferings bring a Kingdom The hope of the Kingdom of Heaven saith Basil should indulcorate and sweeten all our troubles 2 Tim. 2.12 If we suffer we shall reign with him 'T is but a short fight but an eternal triumph this light suffering produceth an eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 1. A weight of Glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Things which are precious the more weighty the more they are worth the more weight is in a Crown of Gold the more it is worth 'T is a weight of Glory 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An eternal weight of Glory Did this Glory last but a while it would much abate and imbitter the Joyes of Heaven but the Glory of that Kingdom runs parallel with Eternity God will be as a deep Sea of Blessedness and the Glorified Saints shall for ever bathe themselves in that Ocean One dayes wearing the Crown will abundantly pay for all the Saints sufferings how much more then when they shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 O let this support under all the Calamities and Suffering in this Life What a vast difference is there between a Believers Sufferings and his Reward Rom. 8.18 The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory which shall be revealed in us For a few Tears Rivers of Pleasure for Mourning white Robes This made the Primitive Christians laugh at Imprisonment and snatch up Torments as so many Crowns Though now we drink in a Worm-wood Cup here is Sugar in the bottom to sweeten it 'T is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom 2. Comfort in Death Here is that which may take away from Gods Children the terrour of Death they are now entring into the Kingdom Indeed no wonder if wicked Men be appal'd and terrified at the approach of Death they dye unpardoned Death carries them to the Goal where they must lye for ever without â—ail or Mainprize But why should any of Gods Children be so scared and half-dead with the thoughts of Death What hurt doth Death do to them but lead them to a Glorious Kingdom Faith gives a Title to Heaven Death a Possession let this be a Gospel-antidote to expel the fear of Death Hilarion that blessed Man cryed out Egredere Anima egredere quid times Go forth my Soul go forth what fearest thou Let them fear Death who do not fear Sin But let not Gods Children be over-much troubled at the grim Face of that Messenger which brings them to the end of their Sorrow and the beginning of their Joy Death is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 it is part of a Believers inventory Is a Prince afraid to cross a narrow Sea who shall be Crowned when he comes to Land Death to the Saints shall be an usher to bring them into the Presence of the King of Glory This puts Lilies and Roses into the ghastly face of Death and makes it look amiable Death brings us to a Crown of Glory which fades not away The day of Death is better to a Believer than the day of his Birth Death is aditus ad Gloriam an entrance into a blessed Eternity Fear not Death but rather let your Hearts revive when you think these ratling wheels of Deaths Chariot are but to carry you home to an everlasting Kingdom MATTH vi 10 Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven WE come next to the Third Petition Thy Will be done in Earth as it
do all that God commands they leave nothing of his Will undone Psal. 103.20 Ye his Angels that do his Commandments If God send an Angel to the Virgin Mary he goes on Gods Errand if he gives his Angels a Charge to Minister for the Saints they obey Heb. 1.14 It cannot stand with Angelical Obedience to leave the least Iota of Gods Will unfulfilled This is to do Gods Will as the Angels when we do all his Will quicquid propter Deum fit aequaliter fit This was Gods Charge to Israel Numb 15.40 Remember to do all my Commandments And it was spoken of David Act. 13.22 I have found David a Man after mine own heart who shall perform all my Will Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all my Wills Every Command hath the same Authority and if we do Gods Will uprightly we do it uniformly we obey every part and Branch of his Will we joyn first and second Table surely we owe that to God our Father which the Papists say we owe to our Mother the Church unlimited Obedience we must incline to every Command as the Needle moves that way which the Loadstone draws 2. This discovers the unsoundness of many who do Gods will by halves they pick and choose in Religion they in some things comply with Gods will but not in other like a foundred Horse who sets but some of his Feet on the Ground he favours one Foot He who is to play upon a Lute must strike upon every Sring or he spoils all the Musick Gods Commandments may be compared to a ten-string'd Lute we must obey Gods will in every Command strike upon every string or we can make no good Melody in Religion The Badger hath one Foot shorter then the other Hypocrites are shorter in some duties then other some will pray not give alms hear the word not forgive their Enemies receive the Sacrament not make Restitution hovv can they be holy vvho are not just Hypocrites profess fair but vvhen it comes to sacrificing the Isaac crucifying the beloved sin or parting vvith some of their Estate for Christ here they stick and say as Naaman 2 King 5.18 In this thing the Lord pardon thy Servant This is far from doing Gods will as the Angels do God likes not such as do his will by halves if your Servant should do some of your vvork vvhich you set him about but not all hovv vvould you like that Object But vvho is able to do all Gods vvill Answ. Though vve cannot do all Gods vvill legally yet vve may Evangelically vvhich is 1. When we mourn that we can do Gods will no better when we fail we weep Rom. 7.24 2. When it is the desire of our Soul to do Gods whole Will Psal. 119.5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy Precepts What a Child of God wants in strength he makes up in desire in magnis voluisse sat est 3. When we endeavour quoad conatum to do the whole Will of God A Father bids his Child lift such a burden the Child is not able to lift it but he tries and doth his endeavour to lift it the Father accepts of it as if h◠had done it this is to do Gods Will Evangelically and God is pleased to take it in good part though it be not to satisfaction yet it is to acceptation 3. We do Gods Will as it is done in Heaven by the Angels when we do it sincerely sine fuco To do Gods VVill sincerely lies in two things 1. To do it out of a pure respect to Gods Command 2. With a pure Eye to Gods Glory 1. To do Gods Will out of a pure respect to Gods Command Abraham's sacrificing Isaac was contrary to Flesh and Blood to sacrifice the Son of his Love the Son of the Promise and that no other hand but the Fathers own should do this here was hard Service but because God commanded it out of pure respect to the Command Abraham obeyed This is to do Gods will aright when though we feel no present Joy or Comfort in Duty yet because God commands we obey not Comfort but the Command is the Ground of Duty thus the Angels do Gods will in Heaven Gods Command is the weight sets the wheels of their Obedience a going 2. To do Gods will sincerely is to do it with a pure Eye to Gods Glory The Pharisees did the will of God in giving Alms but that which was a dead Fly in the Ointment was that they did not aim at Gods Glory but vain-glory they blew a Trumpet Iehu did the will of God in destroying the Baal worshippers and God commended him for doing of it but because he aimed more at setling himself in the Kingdom then the Glory of God therefore God lookt upon it no better then Murder and said he would avenge the blood of Iezreel upon the house of Iehu Hos. 2.4 Let us look to our ends in Obedience though we shoot short let us take a right aim one may do Gods will yet not with a perfect heart 2 Chron. 25.2 Amaziah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a perfect Heart the Action was right for the matter but his aim was not right that Action which wants a good aim wants a good issue he doth Gods Will rightly that doth it uprightly his end is to honour God and lift up his Name in the world A gracious Soul makes God his Center as Ioab when he had taken Rabbah sent for King David that he might carry away the glory of the Victory 2 Sam. 12.27 So when a gracious Soul hath done any duty he desires that the glory of all may be given to God 1 Pet. 4.11 That in all things God may be glorified This is to do Gods will as the Angels when we not only advance Gods Glory but design his Glory the Angels are said to cast their Crowns before the Throne Rev. 4.10 Crowns are signs of greatest Honour but these Crowns the Angels lay at the Lords Feet to show that they ascribe the glory of all they do to him 4. VVe do Gods will as it is done in Heaven by the Angels when we do it willingly sine murmuratione The Angels love to be employed in Gods Service 't is the Angels Heaven to serve God they willingly descend from Heaven to Earth when they bring Messages from God and glad Tydings to the Church now Heaven being a place of such Joy the Angels would not leave it a Minute of an Hour only that they take such infinite delight in doing Gods will we do resemble the Angels when we do Gods will willingly 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son serve the Lord with a willing mind Gods People are called a willing People Psal. 110.3 in Hebrew Gnam nedaebot a People of willingnesses they give God a free-will Offering though they cannot serve him perfectly they serve him willingly an Hypocrite though he doth facere bonum yet not velle he hath no
a Limb from the Body He takes away an holy Child Iacobs Life was bound up in Benjamin Gen. 44.30 and that which puts Teeth into the Cross and is worse than the loss of Children is when they are continued as living Crosses where the Parents expected Honey there to have Wormwood What greater cut to a Godly Parent than a Child who disclaims his Fathers God! A Corrosive applyed to the Body may do well but a bad Child is a Corrosive to the Heart Such an undutiful Son had David who conspired Treason and would not only have taken away his Fathers Crown but his Life 4. God sometimes afflicts with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 infirmness of Body scarce a well day Sickness takes away the Comfort of Life and makes one in Deaths oft thus God tryes his People with various Afflictions so that there is need of Patience to submit to Gods Will. He who hath divers Bullets shot at him needs Armour when divers Afflictions assault we need Patience as Armour of Proof 3. God sometimes lets the Affliction continue long Psal. 74.9 as it is with Diseases there are some Chronical that linger and hang about the Body several years together so it is with Affliction the Lord is pleased to exercise many of his precious ones with Chronical Afflictions such as lye upon them a long time so that in all these Cases we need Patience and submissiveness of Spirit to Gods Will. VSE I. It reproves such as have not yet learned this part of the Lords Prayer Thy Will be done they have only said it but not learned it If things be not according to their Mind if the Wind of Providence crosseth the Tide of their Will they are discontented and querulous where is now submission of Will to God To be displeased with God if things do not please us is this to lye at Gods feet and acquiesce in his Will This is a very bad temper of Spirit and God may justly punish us by letting us have our Will Rachel cryed Give me Children or I dye Gen. 30.1 God let her have a Child but it cost her her Life Gen. 35.18 Israel not content with Manna Angels Food they must have Quails to their Manna God punished them by letting them have their Will Numb 11.31 There went sorth a wind from the Lord and brought quails ver 33. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth the wrath of the Lord was kindled against them and the Lord smote them with a great plague They had better been without their Quails than had such sower sawce to them Many have importunately desired the Life of a Child and could not bring their Wills to Gods to be content to part with it and the Lord hath punished them by letting them have their Will the Child hath lived and been a burden to them Seeing their Wills crossed God their Child shall cross them VSE II. Of Exhortation Let us be exhorted whatever troubles God doth exercise us with aequo animo ferre to resign up our Wills to God and say Thy Will be done Which is fittest that God should bring his will to ours or we bring our will to his Say as Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good And as David 2 Sam. 15.26 Behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him It was the saying of Harpulas Placet mihi quod Regi placet that pleaseth me which pleaseth the King So should we say that which pleaseth God pleaseth us Thy Will be done Some have not yet learned this art of submission to God and truly he who wants Patience in Affliction is like a Souldier in Battle who wants Armour Quest. When do we not as we ought submit to Gods Will in Affliction Answ. 1. When we have hard thoughts of God and our Hearts begin to swell against him 2. When we are so troubled at our present Affliction that we are unfit for Duty We can mourn as Doves but not pray or praise God We are so discomposed that we are not fit to hearken to any good Counsel Exod. 6.9 They hearkened not to Moses for anguish of spirit Israel were so full of grief under their present burdens that they minded not what Moses said though he came with a Message from God to them They hearkened not to Moses for anguish of spirit 3. We do not submit as we ought to Gods Will when we labour to break loose from Affliction by indirect means Many to rid themselves out of trouble run themselves into Sin When God hath bound them with the cords of Affliction they go to the Devil to loosen their bands Better it is to stay in Affliction than to sin our selves out of Affliction O let us learn to stoop to Gods Will in all afflictive Providences Quest. But how shall we bring our selves to this Christian Temper in all Occurrences of Providence patiently to acquiesce in Gods Will and say Thy Will be done We know not what Tryals Personal or National we may be exercised with We seem now to be under the Planet Saturn which hath a malignant Aspect Our Ship is steer'd so strangely that we are in danger on one hand of the Sands on the other hand of the Rocks If Affliction comes how shall we keep a Christian Decorum how shall we bear things with equanimity of mind and say Thy Will be done Answ. The means for a quiet resignation to Gods Will in Affliction is 1. Judicious Consideration Eccles. 7.14 In the day of adversity consider When any thing burdens us or runs cross to our desires did we but sit down and consider and weigh things in the ballance of Judgment it would much quiet our Minds and subject our Wills to God In the day of adversity consider Consideration would be as Davids Harp to charm down the evil Spirit of frowardness and discontent Quest. But what should we consider Answ. That which may make us submit to God in Affliction and say Thy Will be done is 1. To consider that the present state of Life is subject to Afflictions as a Seamans Life is subject to storms Ferre quam sortem omnes patiuntur nemo recusat Iob 5.7 Man is born to trouble he is heir apparent to it he comes into the World with a cry and goes out with a groan Ea lege nati sumus The World is a place where much Wormwood grows Lam. 3.15 He hath filled me with bitterness Hebr. Bammerorim with bitternesses he hath made me drunk with wormwood Troubles arise like sparks out of a Furnace Afflictions are some of the Thorns which the Earth after the Curse brings forth VVe may as well think to stop the Chariot of the Sun when it is in its swift motion as put a stop to trouble the consideration of this our Life is exposed to eclipses and sufferings should make us say with Patience Thy Will be done Shall a Mariner be angry that he meets with a storm at
Temptation strikes at some Grace more than other As in tempting he aims at some Persons more than others so he aims at some Grace more than other and if he can prevail in this he knows what an advantage it will be to him If you ask what Grace it is that Satan in his Temptations doth most strike at I Answer it is the Grace of Faith He lays the Train of his Temptation to blow up the Fort of our Faith Fidei scutum percutit Why did Christ pray more for Peter's Faith than any other Grace Luk. 22.32 Because Christ saw that his Faith was most in danger the Devil was striking at this Grace Satan in Tempting Eve did labour to weaken her Faith Gen. 3.1 Yea hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree of the Garden The Devil would perswade her that God had not spoken Truth and when he had once wrought her to distrust then she took of the Tree 'T is called Scutum fidei the Shield of Faith Ephes. 6.16 Satan in Tempting strikes most at our Shield he assaults our Faith True Faith though it cannot be wholly lost yet it may suffer a great Eclipse Though the Devil cannot by Temptation take away the Life of Faith yet he may the lively acting He cannot Gratiam diruere but he may debilitare Quest. But why doth Satan in Tempting chiefly set upon our Faith A. 1 King 22.31 Fight neither with small nor great save onely with the King So Faith is as it were the King of the Graces it is a Royal Princely Grace and puts forth the most Majestick and noble Acts therefore Satan fights chiefly with this Kingly Grace I shall shew you the Devils Policy in assaulting Faith most First Because this is the Grace doth Satan most Mischief it makes the most resistance against him 1 Pet. 5.9 Whom resist stedfast in Faith No Grace doth more bruise the Serpents Head than Faith Faith is both a Shield and a Sword defensive and offensive 1. It is a Shield A shield guards the Head defends the Vitals the shield of Faith causeth that the fiery darts of Temptation do not pierce us thorough 2. Faith is a Sword it wounds the Red Dragon Quest. How comes Faith to be so strong that it can resist Satan and put him to flight Answ. 1. Because Faith brings the strength of Christ into the Soul Sampson's strength lay in his Hair ours lies in Christ If a Child be assaulted it runs and calls to its Father for help So when Faith is assaulted it runs and calls Christ and in his Strength overcomes 2. Faith furnisheth it self with store of Promises the Promises are Faith's Weapons to fight with Now as David by Five Stones in his Sling wounded Goliah 2 Sam. 17.40 So Faith puts the Promises as Stones into its Sling I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 He will not break the bruised reed Matt. 12.20 He will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able 1 Cor. 10.13 The Lord will shortly bruise Satan under your feet Rom. 16.20 None shall pluck you out of my Fathers hands Joh. 10.29 Here are Five Promises like five Stones put in the Sling of Faith and with these a Believer wounds the Red Dragon Now Faith being such a Grace that doth so resist and wound Satan he will watch his opportunity that he may batter our shield though he cannot break it 2. Satan strikes most at our Faith and would weaken and destroy it because Faith hath a great influence upon all the other Graces Faith sets all the Graces a-work Like some rich Clothier that gives out a stock of Wool to the Poor and sets them all a Spinning So Faith gives out a stock to all the other Graces and sets them a working Faith sets Love a-work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 5.6 Faith which worketh by love When once the Soul believes God's Love this kindles Love to God The believing Martyrs burned hotter in Love than in Fire Faith sets Repentance a-work When the Soul believes there is Mercy to be had and that this mercy is for him this sets the eyes a Weeping O saith the Soul that ever I should offend so gracious a God Repenting tears drop from the eye of Faith Mark 9.24 The Father of the Child cried out with tears Lord I believe Faith set his eyes abroach with Tears therefore the Devil hath most spight at Faith and by his Temptations would undermine it because it is such an Operative Grace it sets all the other Graces on work If the Devil cannot destroy our Faith yet if he can disturb it if he can hinder and stop the actings of Faith he knows all the other Graces will be lame and unactive If the Spring in a Watch be stopp'd it will hinder the motion of the Wheels If Faith be down all the other Graces are at a stand 21. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting is In broaching those Doctrines that are Flesh-pleasing Satan knows the Flesh loves to be gratified it cries out for ease and liberty it will not endure any yoke unless it be lined and made soft The Devil will be sure so to lay his bait of Temptation as to please and humour the flesh The Word saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strive as in an Agony to enter into Glory Crucifie the Flesh Take the Kingdom of Heaven by holy Violence Now Satan to enervate and weaken these Scriptures comes with Temptations and flatters the Flesh. He tells Men there needs no such Strictness Why so much zeal and violence a softlier pace will serve sure there is an easier way to Heaven There needs no breaking the heart for Sin do but confess to a Priest or tell over a few Beads or say some Ave Maries and this will procure you a Pardon and give you admission into Paradise Or the Devil can go another way to work if he sees Men startle at Popery then he stirs up the Flattering Antinomian and he comes in another Disguise and saith What needs all this cost What needs Repenting Tears These are legal VVhat need you be so strict in your Obedience Christ hath done all for you you may make use of your Christian Liberty This Temptation draws away many it takes them off from strictness of life He who sells cheapest shall have most Customers The Devil knows this is a cheap easie Doctrine which will please the flesh and he doth not doubt but he shall have Customers enough 22. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting is in Reference to Holy Duties His policy is either to hinder from duty or discourage in duty or put Men on too far in duty I. To hinder from Duty as 1 Thes. 2.18 I would have come once and again but Satan hindred me So many Duties of Religion had been performed but Satan hindered The hand of Ioab is in this There are Three Duties which the Devil is an enemy to and labours to keep us from 1. Meditation He will let Men
Grace in them Had they no Grace the Devil would not disturb them where he keeps possession all is in peace Luk. 11.21 his Temptations are to rob the Saints of their Grace a Thief will not assault an empty House but where he thinks there is Treasure A Pyrate will not set upon an empty Ship but that is full fraught with Spices and Jewels so the Devil most assaults the people of God because he thinks they have a rich treasure of Grace in their Hearts and he would rob them of that What makes so many Cudgels be thrown at a Tree but because there is so much fruit hanging upon it the Devil throws his temptations at you because he sees you have so much fruit of Grace growing upon you Tho to be tempted is a trouble yet to think why you are tempted is a comfort 3 The third Rock of support or comfort is that Jesus Christ is near at hand and stands by us in all our temptations Here take notice of two things 1. Christs sympathy in temptation 2. Christs succour in temptation 1. Christs Sympathy in our temptations Nobis compatitur Christus Heb. 4.15 We have not an High-priest who cannot be touch'd with the feeling of our Infirmities Jesus Christ doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sympathise with us he is so sensible of our Temptations as if he himself lay under them and did feel them in his own Soul As in Musick when one string is touched all the rest sound So Christs Bowels sound we cannot be Tempted but he is touched If you saw a Wolf worry your Child would you not pity your Child You cannot pity it so as Christ doth tempted ones Christ had a fellow feeling when he was upon Earth much more now in glory Quest. But how can it stand with Christs glory now in Heaven to have a fellow-feeling of our miseries and temptations Answ. This fellow-feeling in Christ ariseth not from any infirmity or passion but from the mystical union between him and his Members Zach. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine Eye Every injury done to a Saint Christ takes as done to him in Heaven every temptation is a striking at Christ and he is touch'd with the feeling of our temptations 2. Christs succour in temptation as the good Samaritan first had compassion on the wounded Man there was Sympathy then he poured in Wine and Oil there was succour Luke 10.34 So when we are wounded by the Red Dragon Christ is first touched with compassion and then he pours in Wine and Oil Heb. 2.18 in that he himself hath suffer'd being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted The Greek word to succour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to run speedily to ones help so fierce is Satan so frail is Man that Christ who is God-man runs speedily to his help When Peter was ready to sink and said Lord save me Christ presently stretched forth his hand and caught him So when a poor Soul is tempted and cries to Heaven for help Lord save me Christ comes in with his Auxiliary Forces Noscit Christus our Lord Jesus knows what it is to be tempted therefore is so ready to succour such as are tempted it hath been an observation that child-bearing Women are more pittiful to others in their Travails than such Women as are Barren So the Lord Jesus having been in Travail by Temptations and Sufferings is more ready to pity and succour such as are tempted Concerning Christs succouring the Tempted consider two things 1. Christs Ability to succour 2. His Agility to succour 1. Christs Ability to succour Heb. 2.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is able to succour them that are tempted Christ is call'd Michael Rev. 12.7 which signifies Who is like God Tho' the Tempted Soul is weak yet he fights under a good Captain The Lion of the Tribe of Iudah When a tempted Soul fights Christ comes into the Field as his Second Michael will be too hard for the Dragon when the Devil lays the Siege of a Temptation Christ can raise the Siege when he please He can beat through the Enemies quarters and can so rout Satan that he shall never be able to rally his forces any more Jesus Christ is on the Saints side and who would desire a better Live-guard than Omnipotency 2. Christs Agility in succouring As Christ is able to succour the tempted so he will certainly succour them Christs power inables him his love inclines him his faithfulness engageth him to succour tempted Souls This is a great comfort to a Soul in Temptation he hath a succouring Saviour as God did succour Israel in the Wilderness among fiery Serpents they had the Rock set abroach the Manna the Pillar of Cloud the Brazen Serpent what was this but a Type of Gods succouring a poor Soul in the Wilderness of Temptation stung with the Devil that fiery Serpent Alexander being asked how he could sleep so securely when his Enemies were about him said Antipater is awake who is always vigilant So when our tempting Enemy is near us Jesus Christ is awake who is a Wall of Fire about us There is a great deal of succour to the tempted in the Names given to Christ. As Satans names may terrifie so Christs names may succour The Devil is called Apollyon the Devourer Rev. 9.11 Christ is called a Saviour the Devil is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Strong man Mat. 12.29 Christ is call'd el Gibbor the mighty God Isa. 9 6. the Devil is call'd the Accuser Rev. 12.10 Christ is called the Advocate 1 Ioh. 2.1 The Devil is called the Tempter Mat. 4.3 Christ is called the Comforter Luke 2.25 The Devil is call'd the Prince of Darkness Christ is call'd the Sun of Righteousness The Devil is call'd the Old Serpent Christ is call'd the Brazen Serpent that Heals Iohn 3.15 Thus the very names of Christ have some succour in them for Tempted Souls Quest. How and in what manner doth Christ succour them that are tempted Answ. Several ways 1. Christ succours them by sending his Spirit whose works it is to bring those promises to their mind which are fortifying Iohn 14.26 he shall bring all things to your remembrance The Spirit furnisheth us with promises as so many Weapons to fight against the old Serpent Rom. 16.20 the Lord will shortly bruise Satan under your feet 1 Cor. 10.13 God will not suffer you to be tempted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above that ye are able Gen. 3.15 The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents Head We are oft in times of Temptation as a Man that hath his House beset and cannot find his Weapons he hath his Sword and his Gun to seek now in this case Christ sends his Spirit and he brings things to our remembrance that help us in our Combat with Satan The Spirit of Christ doth to one that is tempted as Aaron and Hur did to Moses they put a Stone under him and held up his Hands and
it there can be no good Crop Some have Memories like leaking Vessels the Sermons they hear are presently gone and then there is no good done If Meat doth not stay and concoct in the Stomach it will not nourish Satan labours to steal the Word out of our Mind Mark 4.15 When they have heard Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the Word that was sown Our Memories should be like the Chest of the Ark wherein the Law was put 7. Reduce your Hearing to Practice Live the Sermons your hear Psal. 119.166 I have done thy Commandments Rachel was not content that she was Beautiful but her Desire was to be Fruitful What is a knowing Head without a fruitful Heart Phil. 1.11 Fill'd with the Fruits of Righteousness It is Obedience crowns Hearing That Hearing will never save the Soul which doth not reform the Life 8. Beg of God that he will accompany his Word with his Presence and Blessing The Spirit must make all effectual Ministers may prescribe Physick but it is God's Spirit must make it work Cathedram habet in Coelo qui corda docet in terra Aug. He hath his Pulpit in Heaven that converts Souls Acts 10.44 While Peter was speaking the Holy Ghost fell upon all them that heard It is said the Alchimist can draw Oyl out of Iron God's Spirit can produce Grace in the most obdurate Heart 9. ult If you would have the VVord work effectually to your Salvation make it Familiar to you discourse of the VVord you have heard when you come home Psal. 119.172 My Tongue shall speak of thy Word That may be one reason why some People get no more good by what they hear because they never speak one to another of what they have heard As if Sermons were such Secrets that they must not be spoken of again or as if it were a Shame to speak of matters of Salvation Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another and a Book of Remembrance was written Vse Caution Take heed as you love your Souls that the VVord become not ineffectual to you There are some to whom the Word preached is ineffectual 1. Such as Censure the Word in stead of judging themselves judge the Word 2. Such as live in contradiction to the Word Isa. 30.8 3. Such as are more hardened by the Word Zech. 7.11 They made their Heart as an Adamant And when Men harden their Hearts wilfully God hardens them judicially Isa. 6.8 Make their Ears heavy The Word to these is ineffectual Were it not sad if a Man's Meat should not nourish nay if it should turn to Poyson Oh! Take heed that the Word Preach'd be not ineffectual and to no purpose Consider Three things 1. If the Word Preached doth us no good there is no other way by which we can be saved This is God's Institution and the main Engin he useth to convert Souls Luke 16.31 If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded tho' one arose from the Dead If an Angel should come to you out of Heaven and preach of the Excellency of the glorified Estate and the Joys of Heaven and that in the most Pathetical manner if the Word preached doth not perswade neither would you be wrought upon by such an Oration from Heaven If a damned Spirit should come from Hell and preach to you in Flames and tell you what a place Hell is and roar out the Torments of the Damned it might make you tremble but it would not convert if the Preaching of the Word would not do it 2. To come to the Word and not be savingly wrought upon is that which the Devil is pleas'd with He cares not tho' you hear frequently if it be not effectually He is not an Enemy to Hearing but Profiting Tho' the Minister holds out the Breast of the Ordinance to you he cares not as long as you do not suck the sincere Milk of the VVord The Devil cares not how many Sermon-Pills you take so long as they do not work upon your Conscience 3. If the VVord preached be not effectual to Men's Conversion it will be effectual to their Condemnation The VVord will be effectual one way or other if it doth not make your Hearts better it will make your Chains heavier VVe pity them who have not the Word preached but it will be worse with them who are not sanctified by it Dreadful is their Case who go loaden to Hell with Sermons But I will conclude with the Apostle Heb. 6.9 I am perswaded better things of you and things that accompany Salvation Matth. XXVIII 19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them We are still upon that Question in the Catechism Quest. What are the Outward Means whereby Christ communicates to us the Benefits of Redemption Answ. They are his Ordinances especially the Word Sacraments and Prayers I have spoken to the First The Word Read and Preached I now proceed to the Second II. The Way whereby Christ communicates to us the Benefits of Redemption is in the Vse of the Sacraments Quest. 1. What are Sacraments in general Resp. They are Visible Signs of Invisible Grace Quest. 2. Is not the Word of God sufficient to Salvation What need then is there of Sacraments Resp. We must not be wise above what is written This may satisfie it is God's Will that his Church should have Sacraments And it is God's Goodness thus by Sacraments to condescend to our weak Capacities Iohn 4.48 Except ye see Signs ye will not believe God to strengthen our Faith confirms the Covenant of Grace not only by Promises but by Sacramental Signs Quest. 3. What are the Sacraments of the New Testament Resp. Two Baptism and the Lord's Supper Quest. 4. But are there no more The Papists tell us of Five more viz. Confirmation Penance Matrimony Orders and the Extream Unction Resp. 1. There were but Two Sacraments under the Law therefore there are no more now 1 Cor. 10.2 3 4. 2. These two Sacraments are sufficient The one signifying our Entrance into Christ and the other our Growth and Perseverance in him 1. I begin with the First Sacrament Baptism Go ye therefore and Teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them Go teach all Nations The Greek VVord is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Make Disciples of all Nations If it be asked How should we make them Disciples It follows Baptizing them and teaching them In an Heathen Nation first Teach them and then Baptize them but in a Christian Church first Baptize them and then Teach them Quest. 5. What is Baptism Resp. In General it is a Matriculation or Visible Admission of Children into the Congregation of Christ's Flock More particularly Baptism is a Sacrament wherein the washing or sprinkling with Water in the Name of the Father Son and
Holy Ghost doth signify and seal our engrafting into Christ and partaking of the Benefits of the Covenant of Grace and our Engagement to be the Lords Quest. 6. What is the meaning of the Parent in Presenting his Child to be Baptized Resp. The Parent in presenting his Child to be Baptiz'd doth 1. Make a Publick Acknowledgment of Original Sin that the Soul of his Child is polluted therefore needs washing away of Sin by Christ's Blood and Spirit both which Washings are signified by the sprinkling of Water in Baptism 2. The Parent by bringing his Child to be Baptiz'd doth solemly Devote his Child to the Lord and enroll him in God's Family And truly this may be a great Satisfaction to a Religious Parent that he hath given up his Child to the Lord in Baptism How can a Parent look with Comfort on that Child who was never yet Dedicated to God Quest. 7. What is the Benefit then of Baptism Resp. The Party Baptiz'd hath 1. An Entrance into the Visible Body of the Church 2. The Party Baptized hath a Right Sealed to the Ordinances which is a Priviledge full of Glory Rom. 9.4 3. The Child Baptiz'd is under a more special providential Care of Christ who appoints the Tutelage of Angels to be the Infants Life-Guard Quest. 8. Is this all the Benefit Resp. No To such as belong to the Election Baptism is a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.11 A Laver of Regeneration and a Badge of Adoption Quest. 9. How doth it appear that Children have right to Baptism Resp. Children are Parties of the Covenant of Grace The Covenant was made with them Gen. 17.7 I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and thy Seed after thee And Acts 2.39 The Promise is to you and to your Children The Covenant of Grace may be consider'd either 1. More strictly as an absolute Promise to give Saving Grace And so none but the Elect are in Covenant with God Or 2. More largely as a Covenant containing in it many outward glorious Priviledges in which respect the Children of Believers do belong to the Covenant of Grace The Promise is to you and to your Seed The Infant-Seed of Believers may as well lay a Claim to the Covenant of Grace as their Parents and having a Right to the Covenant they cannot justly be denied Baptism which is the Seal I would ask this Question of them who deny Infant-Baptism It is certain the Children of Believers were once Visibly in Covenant with God and did receive the Seal of their Admission into the Church Now where do we find this Covenant-Interest or Church-Membership of Infants was ever repealed or made void Certainly Jesus Christ did not come to put Believers and their Children into a worse condition than they were in before If the Children of Believers should not be Baptized then they are in a worse Condition now than they were in before Christ's Coming Before I came to prove the Baptizing of Infants I shall answer the Objections made against it Obj. 1. The Scripture is silent herein and doth not mention Infant-Baptism Resp. Tho' there is not the Word Infant-Baptism in Scripture yet there is the Thing There is not mention made in Scripture of Womens receiving the Sacrament but who doubts but the Command Take Eat this is my Body concerns them Doth not their Faith need strengthening as well as others So the Word Trinity is not to be found in Scripture but there is that which is equivalent 1 Iohn 5.7 There are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these Three are One. So tho' the Word Infant-Baptism is not mentioned in Scripture yet the Practice of Baptizing Infants may be drawn out of Scripture by undeniable consequence Quest. How is that proved Answ. The Scripture mentions whole Families Baptized As the Houshold of Lydia Crispus and the Iailor Acts 16.33 He was baptized he and all his Wherein we must rationally imagine that there were some little Children If it be said there is no mention there made of Children I Answer Neither are Servants named yet it cannot be suppos'd but that in so great a Family there were some Servants Obj. 2. But Infants are not capable of the End of Baptism For Baptism signifies the washing away of Sin by the Blood of Christ. Now Infants cannot understand this therefore what Benefit can Baptism be to them Answ. Whereas it is said Infants cannot understand the Mystery of Baptism neither could the Child that was to be Circumcised understand Circumcision yet the Ordinance of Circumcision was not to be omitted or deferred An Infant tho it understand not the meaning of Baptism yet it may partake of the Blessing of Baptism The little Children that Christ took in his Arms understood not Christ's meaning but they had Christ's Blessing Mark 10.16 He put his Hands upon them and blessed them Quest. But what Benefit can the Child have of Baptism if it understands not the Nature of Baptism Answ. It may have a Right to the Promise sealed up which it shall have an actual Interest in when it comes to have Faith A Legacy may be of use to the Child in the Cradle tho' now it understand not the Legacy yet when it is grown up to Years it is fully possessed of it But it may be further Objected Obj. The Party to be Baptiz'd is to be engag'd to God but how can the Child engage Answ. The Parents can engage for it which God is pleased to accept as equivalent to the Child 's Personal engaging Obj. 3. If Baptism comes in the room of Circumcision only the Males were Circumcised Gen. 17.30 Then what Warrant is there for Baptizing Females Answ. The Females were included and were virtually Circumcis'd in the Males What is done to the Head is done to the Body the Man therefore being the Head of the Woman 1 Cor. 11.3 what was done to the Male Sex was interpretatively done to the Female Having Answer'd these Objections I come now to prove by Argument Infant-Baptism 1 st Arg. If Children during their Infancy are capable of Grace then they are capable of Baptism But Children in their Infancy are capable of Grace therefore they are capable of Baptism I prove the Minor That they are capable of Grace thus If Children in their Infancy may be saved then they are capable of Grace but Children in their Infancy may be saved Which is proved thus If the Kingdom of Heaven may belong to them then they may be saved but the Kingdom of Heaven may belong to them as it is clear from Mark 10.14 Of such is the Kingdom of God Who then can forbid that the Seal of Baptism should be applied to them 2 d Arg. If Infants may be among the Number of God's Servants then there is no reason why they should be shut out of God's Family but Infants
Righteous Will it is a sin God cannot bear Numb 14.26 27. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation which murmur against me May not God justly say thus How long shall I bear with this wicked Person who when any thing falls out cross murmurs against me ver 28. Say unto them as truly as I live saith the Lord as ye have spoken in my ears so will I do unto you God swears against a murmurer As I live and what will God do as he lived ver 29. Your carcases shall fall in the wilderness You see how provoking a discontented quarrelsome Spirit is to God it may cost Men their Lives nay their Souls God sent fiery Serpents among the People for their murmuring 1 Cor. 10.10 he may send worse than fiery Serpents he may send Hell fire 20. Consideration How much doth God bear at our hand and shall not we be content to bear something at his hand It would tyre the Patience of the Angels to bear with us one day 2 Pet. 3.9 The Lord is long-suffering towards us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How oft do we offend in our Eye by envious impure glances in our Tongue by rash censuring but God passeth by many injuries he bears with us Should the Lord punish us every time we offend he might draw his sword every day shall God bear so much at our hands and can we bear with nothing at his hands Shall God be patient with us and we impatient with him Shall he be meek and we murmur Shall he endure our sins and shall not we endure his strokes Oh let us say Thy Will be done Lord thou hast been the greatest sufferer thou hast born more from me than I can from thee 21. Consideration Submitting our Wills to God in Affliction disappoints Satan of his hope and quite spoils his design The Devils end is in all our Afflictions to make us sin The Reason why Satan did smite Iob in his Body and Estate was to perplex his Mind and put him into a Passion he hoped that Iob would have been discontented and in a fit of anger not only have cursed his Birth-day but cursed his God but Iob lying at Gods Feet and blessing him in Affliction disappointed Satan of his hope and quite spoiled his plot Had Iob murmured he had pleased Satan had he fallen into an heat and the sparks of his anger flown about the Devil had warmed himself at this fire of Iobs Passion but Iob quietly submitted and blessed God here Satans design was frustrated and he missed of his intent The Devil hath oft deceived us the best way to deceive him is by quiet submission to God in all things and saying Thy Will be done 22. Consideration It may rock our Hearts quiet in Affliction to consider that to the Godly the Nature of Affliction is quite changed to a wicked Man it is a Curse the Rod is turned into a Serpent Affliction to him is but an effect of Gods displeasure the beginning of Sorrow but the nature of Affliction is quite chang'd to a Believer it is by a divine Chymistry turn'd into a Blessing it is like Poyson corrected which becomes a Medicine it is a Love-token a Badge of Adoption a preparatory to glory should not this make us say Thy VVill be done The poyson of the Affliction is gone it is not hurtful but healing this hath made the Saints not only patient in Affliction but have sounded forth Thankfulness As Bells when they have been cast in the Fire do afterwards make a sweeter sound so the Godly after they have been cast into the Fire of Affliction have sounded forth Gods Praise Psal. 119.71 It is good for me that I was afflicted Iob. 1.21 Blessed be the Name of the Lord. 23. Consideration To make us submit our Will to God in Affliction is to think how many good things we receive from God and shall we not be content to receive some evil Iob 2.10 Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil In the Hebrew hatton meeth haâ—elohim shall we receive good from God and not evil This may make us say Thy Will be done How many Blessings have we received at the Hand of Gods Bounty we have been be miracled with Mercy what sparing preventing delivering Mercy have we had the Honey-comb of Mercy hath continually drop'd upon us Lam. 3.23 His Mercies are new every Morning Mercy comes in as constantly as the Tide nay how many Tides of Mercy do we see in one day we never feed but Mercy carves every bit to us we never drink but in the golden Cup of Mercy we never go abroad but Mercy sets a guard of Angels about us we never lie down in our bed but Mercy draws the Curtains of Protection close about us Now shall we receive so many good things at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil Our Mercies far out weigh our Afflictions for one Affliction we have a thousand Mercies O then let us submit to God and say Thy Will be done The Sea of Gods Mercy should swallow up a few drops of Affliction 24. Consideration To bring our Wills to God in Affliction doth much honour the Gospel An unsubmissive Christian reproacheth Religion as if it were not able to subdue an unruly Spirit it is weak Physick which cannot purge out ill Humours and sure it is a weak Gospel if it cannot master our discontent and martyr our Wills Unsubmissiveness is a Reproach but a chearful resignation of our Will to God sets a Crown of Honour upon the Head of Religion it shows the power of the Gospel which can charm down the Passions and melt the Will into Gods Will therefore in Scripture submissive patience is brought in as an adorning Grace Rev. 14.12 Here is the Patience of the Saints 25. Consideration The Example of our Lord Jesus how flexible and submissive was he to his Father He who taught us this Prayer Thy Will be done had learned it himself Christs Will was perfectly tuned to his Fathers Will it was the Will of his Father that he should dye for our sins and he endured the Cross Heb. 12.2 It was a painful shameful cursed death he suffered the very pains of Hell equivalently yet he willingly submitted Isa. 53.7 He opened not his Mouth he opened his sides when the blood ran out but he opened not his Mouth in repining his will was resolved into the will of his Father Iohn 18.11 Shall not I drink the Cup which my Father hath given me Now the more our Wills are subject to Gods Will in Affliction the nearer we come to Christ our Pattern is it not our Prayer we may be like Christ by holy Submission we imitate him His Will was melted into his Fathers Will. 26 Consideration To Submit our Will to God is the way to have our Will every one would be glad to have his VVill the way to have our Will is to resign it God deals
with us as we do with froward Children while we fret and quarrel God will give us nothing but when we are submissive and say Thy Will be done now God carves out Mercy to us The way to have our Will is to submit it David brought his Will to God 2 Sam. 15.26 Here am I Let him do to me as seems good to him And after he resigned his Will he had his Will God brought him back to the Ark and setled him again in his Throne 2 Sam. 19. Many a Parent that hath had a dear Child sick when he could bring his Will to God to part with it God hath given him the life of his Child There 's nothing lost by referring our Will to God the Lord takes it kindly from us and it is the only way to have our Will 27. and Vlt. Consideration We may the more chearfully surrender our Souls to God when we dye when we have surrendred our Wills to God while we live Our blessed Saviour had all along submitted his VVill to God there was but one VVill between God the Father and Christ now Christ having in his life time given up his Will to his Father at death he chearfully gives up his Soul to him Luke 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit You that resign up your VVills to God may at the hour of death comfortably bequeath your Souls to him II. The second Means to bring our VVill to God in Affliction is Study the Will of God 1. It is a Sovereign Will he hath a supream right and Dominion over his Creatures to dispose of them as he pleaseth A Man may do with his own as he list Mat. 20.15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own A Man may cut his own Timber as he will Gods Sovereignty may cause submission he may do with us as he sees good God is not accountable to any Creature for what he doth Iob 33.13 He giveth not account of any of his matters VVho shall call God to account VVho is higher then the Highest Eccl. 5.8 VVhat Man or Angel dare summon God to his Bar He giveth not account of any of his Matters God will take an account of our Carriage towards him but he will give no account of his Carriage towards us God hath an absolute Jurisdiction over us the remembrance of this Gods Will is a sovereign Will to do with us what he please may silence all discontents and charm down all unruly Passions we are not to dispute but submit 2. Gods Will is a wise Will he knows what is conducing to the good of his People therefore submit Isa. 30.18 The Lord is a God of Iudgment that is he is able to judge what is best for us therefore rest in his VVisdom and acquiesce in his VVill VVe rest in the wisdom of a Physician we are content he should scarify and let us blood because he is judicious and knows what is most conducible to our health If the Pilot be skilful the Passenger saith let him alone he knows how best to steer the Ship and shall we not rest in Gods VVisdom Did we but study how wisely God steers all Occurrences and how he often brings us to Heaven by a cross wind it would much quiet our Spirits and make us say Thy Will be done Gods VVill is guided by VVisdom should God sometimes let us have our VVill we would undo our selves did he let us carve for our selves we should choose the worst piece Lot chose Sodom because well watered and was as the Garden of the Lord Gen. 13.10 but God rained fire upon it out of Heaven Gen. 19.24 3. Gods VVill is a just VVill Gen. 18.25 Shall not the Iudge of all the Earth do right Gods VVill is Regula Mensura it is the Rule of Justice the VVills of Men are corrupt therefore unfit to give Law but Gods VVill is an holy unerring VVill which may cause submission Psal. 97.2 God may cross us but he cannot wrong us severe he may be not unjust therefore we must strike Sail and say Thy Will be done 4. Gods VVill is a good and gracious VVill it promotes our Interest if it be Gods VVill to afflict us he will make us say at last it was good for us that we were afflicted Gods Flail shall only thresh off our Husks That which is against our VVill shall not be against our profit Study what a good VVill Gods is and we will say Fiat Voluntas let thy Will be done 5. Gods VVill is an irresistible VVill we may oppose it but we cannot hinder it The rising of the VVave cannot stop the Ship when it is in full sail so the rising up of our Will against God cannot stop the execution of his Will Rom. 9.19 Who hath resisted his Will Who can stay the Chariot of the Sun in its full Career Who can hinder the Progress of Gods Will Therefore it is in vain to contest with God his Will shall take place there 's no way to overcome God but by lying at his Feet 3. Means to submission to God in Affliction is Get a gracious heart all the Rules and Helps in the World will do but little good till Grace be infused the Boul must have a good Byas or it will not run according to our desire so till God puts a new Byas of Grace into the Soul which inclines the Will it will never submit to God Grace renews the Will and it must be renewed before it be subdued Grace teacheth self denyal and we can never submit our Will till we deny it 4. Means Let us labour to have our Covenant-Interest cleared to know that God is our God Psal. 48.14 This God is our God he whose Faith doth flourish into assurance that can say God is his will say Thy VVill be done A wicked man may say God hath laid this Affliction upon me and I cannot help it but a Believer saith My God hath done it and I will submit to it He who can call God his knows God loves him as he loves Christ and designs his Salvation therefore he will with Saint Paul take pleasure in Reproaches 2 Cor. 12.10 and in every adverse Providence yeild to God as the Wax to the impression of the Seal 5. Means to submission to God in Affliction get an humble Spirit A proud Man will never stoop to God he will rather break then bend but when the Heart is humble the Will is pliable What a vast difference was there between Pharaoh and Eli Pharaeoh cries out VVho is the Lord that I should obey his Voice Exod. 5.2 but Eli saith It is the Lord let him do what seems good in his sight 1 Sam. 3.18 See the difference between an Heart that is swell'd with Pride and that is ballasted with Humility Pharaoh saith VVho is the Lord Eli It is the Lord. An humble Soul hath a deep sence of sin he sees how he hath provoked God he wonders he