stirred and prouoked to desire and long after that inheritance which is immortall vndefiled and fadeth not away but is reserued in the heauens for vs it should not be a fruitles labour to shew how we may trie the soundnes of this our desire after the paradise of God a place of all delite and pleasure yea where the Saints enioy fulnes of pleasures at Gods right hand To which end be assured that if this desire to be in the Lords ioy with filled thy heart these worthy fruites of it will manifest themselues through thy life It will moderate the eager cares of this life and will not suffer men to become drudges or slaues to the earth for he that taketh himselfe to be an heire of heauen Rom. 8.17 is well enough prouided and cared for alreadie till his patrimony fall We know that great heires in their minority are well and honestly maintained their fathers being rich and kind will not suffer them to want things fit for them and if they be any way scanted for the present they shall afterward find it with much aduantage In any want thou being thy fathers heire mayst boldly repaire to thy father with good hope to speed in any request which he seeth fit for thee and making for thy good and he will bee so far from sending thee away empty that it wil be his ioy that thou canst and wilt make request for things good for thee yea if thy beleeuing soule do bin once conceiue of Christ it will be a most effectuall reason to draw thee from minding earthly things as Paul teacheth Phil. 3.20 for exhorting them not to set their hearts vpon the things of this world he noteth this as a most effectuall argument because from heauen they looked for a Sauiour who would change their vile body and make it like his owne glorious body It will content the mind with any present condition Thus was Abraham contented Isaac and Iacob with their continuall pilgrimage vpon earth because they looked for a better citie Heb. 11.8.9 when as once this tooke vp their hearts they could cheerefully set themselues downe in their Tents they could dwell in strange countries contentedly they could receiue the promise a far off thankfully they could goe on in obedience to God what way soeuer he called readily and in all this they did not for the present desire a better outward condition but thought it the best portion which their heauenly father alotted out vnto them so we see men expecting reuersions are content for the time to liue barely and goe neere the wind and swallow vp their present wants in hope of that to which they are heires they thinke the time for their further enlargment is not far off and this helpeth wel to put off the present condition yea it doth not only giue contentment of minde because we shall haue an inheritance but rather in this that we cannot loose this inheritance Thou maist loose thy libertie thy friends thy life but thine inheritance is reserued in the heauens when others by death loose all thou shalt by it be in thy full estate This expectation of a durable substance caused the Saints to endure the spoyling of their goods with ioy Heb. 10.34 Thirdly it will strengthen the heart in enduring chastisements and corrections vnder Gods hand or from mans as Moses esteemed highly of the rebuke of Christ for he had respect vnto the recompence of reward Heb. 11.26 the faithfull know they are heires indeed but as yet in their minoritie and for the time must be put vnder tutors and the rod as well as others but the time commeth which will bring their landes into their owne hands and then they shal be at their owne commaund and haue libertie enough and herewith may the children of God raise their hearts from vnder the heauiest afflictions that are The Apostle counted that the afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the glory which shal be shewed vnto vs Rom. 8.18 for our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a far more excellent and an eternall weight of glory 2. Cor. 4.17 In the enduring therfore of affliction comfort thy selfe herein thy father may frowne chide buffer and scourge thee but he wil neuer disinherite thee other fathers somtimes out of their owne displeasure and sometimes out of their sonnes misdemeanours do disinherite their heires but the Lord cannot grow into such displeasure with his children as euer to cast them out whom in his Christ he hath once admitted into his house If his sonnes sin against him he will visit their sinnes and scourge them with the rods of men but his mercie and truth will he neuer take from them Psal 89.32.33 Lastly this desire of eternall life once wrought in our heart easily bringeth men to the deniall of themselues in stripping themselues of pleasures profits aduancements friends father wife libertie yea life it selfe Set this treasure before the eies of the wise merchant he will fell all for it Mat. 13.44 Tel a man of an earthly kingdome and let him throughly digest the conceit of obtaining it it will bee such a commander as he willingly both vndertaketh and deuoureth any trauell for it To Iacob it was a sufficient reason to neglect his stuffe in the land of Canaan because king Pharaoh promised him the best things of Egypt Gen. 45.20 So let the beleeuing heart once bee possessed with assurance of raigning with Christ it will easily bee brought to hate father and mother and wife and children brethren and sisters yea and his owne life Luk. 14.26 The disciples desirous to know what recompence their Lord would make them for leauing all to follow him Christ presently telleth them of twelue seates on which they shall fit and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel at the appearance of the Sonne of man well knowing that if this promise were once wel digested it would so feede their hearts as they should not after thinke themselues as ouershot in leauing all things for his sake Matth. 19.28 So then set thy heart vpon this inheritance A man that hath any possibilitie to befall him cannot keepe his minde but it will be running after it in so much as many wicked children in regard of their patrimony will enquire into their fathers yeares and grow sicke of their Mothers and it is ordinary that such as looke for windefals by decease of others will bee feeding their hearts with vnnaturall hopes so should it be with vs who may without iniurie to our father long after our inheritance in heauen And as we see men take no content in any part of the earth no nor in the whole comparable to that peice or portion which is their owne euen so should we not suffer our hearts so to wander after earth or earthly things as that wee should settle our contentment any where but where our owne inheritance and treasure is beeing assured that there is laid vp for vs the
spirituall neither are these fruits bare signes onely of our election and saluation but also manifest seales which by their plaine impression doe euidently assure vs thereof First God knoweth vs Ioh. 10.27 and then by the light of this knowledge communicated vnto vs he enligâ—neth our hearts with the true knowledge of himselfe as the sunne first lightneth the eyes and by this light we see the sunne it selfe And this Christ sheweth Ioh. 10.14 where first he saith he knows his sheepe and then he addeth that he is also known of them As if he should say whilst I know and acknowledge them for my sheepe hereby I bring to passe that they in like manner by the participation of this my light and knowledge doe acknowledge me for their true pastor If therefore we know and acknowledge God for our gracious God and louing father in Christ Ioh. 6.69 wee know and beleeue saith Peter c. it is a most certaine signe that he also by his foreknowledge doth know and acknowledg vs for his children but if we remaine in our ignorance without the knowledge of God and his sonne Christ we can gather no assurance of our election and saluation Ioh. 17.3 For this is eternall life to knowe thee to be the true God and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ Secondly God hath eternally loued vs in Christ Thou hast loued them Ier. 31. 3. with an euerlasting loue and hath expressed this his loue by sending his son and giuing him to death for vs Ioh. 3.16 1. Ioh. 4.9 Now this loue of God hath descended vpon vs whereby we loue him again and this is plainly shewed 1. Ioh. 4. 19. where it is said we loue God because he loued vs first and hence it is that the Apostle saith ver 7. that loue commeth of God because we can neither loue God nor our neighbour aright till his loue towards vs hauing shined vpon vs hath inflamed our hearts So also S. Paul saith Rom. 5.5 that the loue of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is giuen vnto vs whereby loue towards God is begotten in vs. If therfore the loue of God be in our hearts we may be assured that it is made by the seale of his loue towards vs. And thus we haue heard of a second effect of the spirit which may put vs out of all doubt of Gods loue towards vs But for our further satisfaction let vs consider the speciall fruits of the spirit as he best knoweth that he hath life which feeleth it in himselfe so he best knoweth that he hath the spirit of God that feeleth the spirit working in him Now the fruits of the spirit are set downe Gal. 5.22.23 as followeth First loue respecteth both God and man And the loue which respecteth God sheweth it selfe in two things First when a mans heart is set and disposed to seeke the honour and glory of God in all things Secondly when a man by all meanes endeauours himselfe to please God in euery thing counting it a most miserable estate to liue in the displeasure of God by these two signes a man may know whether he loue God or no. Our loue to man is a fruite of this loue to God for God is to be loued for himselfe and man is loued for God This loue must be in deed and in truth 1. Ioh. 3.18 and is shewed in giuing and forgiuing as afterward shall more appeare Secondly ioy which is when a man is glad at the good of his neighbour as at his owne good and this is an especiall worke of the holy Ghost Rom. 12.15 Reioyce with them that reioyce This was the the practise of the neighbours of Zacharias and Elizabeth when Iohn Baptist was borne Luk. 1.58 And thus did the faithfull for the conuersion of the Gentiles Act. 11.18 Thirdly peace which is nothing else but concord which must be kept in an holy manner withall men both good and bad so farre foorth as can be Rom. 12. 18. The prophet Esay speaking of the Gospel saith c. 11.6 that the wolfe shall dwell with the lambe and the Leopard shal be with the kidde c. shewing hereby that in the estate of grace Christians howsoeuer by nature cruell shall become gentle and liue peaceable with all men yea with those that hate peace so farre forth as may stand with a good conscience Psal 120.7 Fourthly long suffering whose propertie is to keep the affection of anger in moderation and compasse It standeth in two points first when a man deferreth his anger and is hardly brought to it secondly when beeing angrie hee stayeth the whotnesse of that affection Colos 3.12.13 Fiftly gentlenesse whereby a man behaueth and sheweth himselfe friendly and courteous to euerie man Tit. 3.2 Sofâ— shewing all meekenesse to all men This gentlenesse stands in three points first to speake to euerie man friendly and louingly secondly to salute friendly and courteously thirdly to be readie vpon any occasion to giue reuerence and honour to euery man in his place Sixtly goodnesse which is when a man is ready to doe good and become seruiceable in his calling to all men at all times vpon all occasions as Iob 29.15.16 I was the eyes to the blind I was the feete to the lame I was a father vnto the weake c. Thus did Paul 1. Cor. 9.22 To the weake I became as weake that I may winne the weak I am made all things to all men c. The godly are trees of righteousnesse Isa 61.3 bearing fruite not for themselues but for others and therefore Paul saith By loue serue one an other Seuenthly faith or fidelity which standeth in these two duties first to make conscience of a lie and to speake euerie thing whereof we speake as we thinke it is and not to speake one thing and think an other secondly to keep and performe the promise which thou hast made beeing lawfull and good Eightly meekenesse which is a notable grace of God when a man prouoked by iniuries doth neither intend not enterprize the requitall of the same This meekenesse was in Dauid who when hee was cast out of his kingdome and scourged with the rayling of Shemei was not mooued vnto wrath but did Christianly beare his reuilings and did forbid any to hurt him 2. Sam. 16.10 The same vertue was in Moses Numb 12.3 of whom it is recorded that he was a verie meeke man aboue all the men that were vpon the earth And the like grace was in Paul Rom. 9.3 who notwithstanding the Iewes sought to kill him yet he wished to be separated from Christ for them Ninthly temperance whereby a man brideleth his appetite or lust in meate drinke or apparell 2. Pet. 1.6 this is a fruit of faith and Dan. 1.8.11 practised by Daniel Now to conclude where these fruites of the spirit are to be found there is also the spirit of God for as certainely as we knowe that there is fire because it easteth forth heate and
and valew and as it were set so high a price of Christ and his righteousnes that he accounts euen the most pretious things that are to be but as dunge in regard thereof This affection was notably in Paul Phil. 3.8 who did thinke all things but losse for the excellent knowledge fake of Christ Iesus c. And the same we reade to haue beene in Moses Heb. 11.24.25 who refused to bee called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter and chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God c. Christ commendeth this affection to all that shall in time to come beleeue in him Luk. 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother wife and children c. that is doth not preferre me before father and mother c. he cannot bee my disciple Which affection also is significantly expressed in the parable of the precious pearle Matth. 13.45 c. which when a man hath found he selleth all that hee hath to buy it what faith Christ Iesus to Martha Luk. 10.41.42 Martha Martha thou art cumbred about many things but this one thing is needefull Marie hath chosen the good part which shall neuer bee taken away from her so the men of this world are intangled with many things but this one thing is needfull aboue all things Matth. 6.33 seeke first the kingdome of God and his righteousnes The loue of Gods children to Christ is so firmely rooted in their hearts as that it is Cant. 8.6 strong as death which ouercommeth all things deepe as the graue which swalloweth all things yea such as we wil not depart with for any mony and such and so great as it is true that nothing can separate vs from the loue of God in Christ Rom. 8.38.39 Let vs then so loue Christ that it may bee as hot as the flame that whole floods of waters may not quench it and so strong that neither terrors in persecution nor pleasures in life nor the anguish of death may make vs forsake our anchor Christ Iesus but that we may hold our confidence in a hope sure and stedfast which shall at the last giue vs entrance into the vaile whether Christ our forerunner is for vs entred in Heb. 9.20 Now euerie man will say of himselfe that he is thus affected to Christ and that he more highly esteems the least droppe of his blood then all things in the world when as in truth such and so vehement are their naturall and earthly affections and so great their greedines to inioy the pleasures and profits of this life that the marriage of a wife or the triall of a yoake of oxen shall easily keepe them from Christ Matt. 22.5 Luk. 14.17 And are herein like the Israelites who liked better the onions flesh-pots of Egypt then the blessings of God in the land of promise Therefore that no man may deceiue himselfe this affecton may bee discerned by these signes 1. To loue and like a Christian man because he is a Christian for he that doth aright esteeme of Christ doth in like manner esteeme of the members of Christ to loue them as beeing Christs friends 1. Ioh. 3.14 such as are his members because they are so for this commandement haue we of God that he that loueth God should loue his brother also 1. Ioh. 4.21 he which loueth him which begat loueth him which is begotten 1. Ioh. 5.1 And Christ setteth downe a plentifull reward for a cup of cold water giuen to a distressed brother Matth. 10.41.42 Cap. 25.34 now who these brethren bee Christ sheweth to be such as doe the will of his father Matth. 12.50 so as it is not the affinitie in the flesh but the bond of the spirit that must vnite vs. If we loue good men because they are so it is a good signe wee doe much more loue God who is goodnes it selfe as if the father loue the schoolemaster for the sonnes sake it is a signe he loueth his sonne much more 1. Ioh. 3.10 He that loueth not his brother is not of God therefore he that loueth his brother is of God 1 Ioh. 3.18 Here is a double loue the one idle which consisteth onely in word and is proper to hypocrites and flatterers the other is actiue which sheweth it selfe in the affection and the worke and is proper to the godly Therefore the perfectest loue consisteth in the affection of the heart purified by faith in the testification of the tongue and in the performance of the worke And ver 19. there bee set downe two benefits of loue one that thereby we know that we are of the truth that is that we are no counterfeit Christians the other that herehence we shall perswade our hearts that is shall make our hearts secure of our adoption by faith Therefore to conclude 1. Ioh. 4.7 Beloued let vs loue one another for loue commeth of God and euery one that loueth is borne of God and knoweth God Now the vndoubted signes of Christian charitie are two First giuing to those that want Secondly forgiuing those that offend 1. First it is the propertie of loue to be bountifull 1. Cor. 13.4 as to all so especially to those that are of the houshold of faith Gal. 6.10 On the other side hee that hath this worldly goods 1. Ioh. 3.17 and seeth his brother haue need shutteth vp his compassion from him how dwelleth the loue of God in him and consequently the loue of his brethren which is but a streame issuing from this fountaine To doe good and to distribute is a sacrifice wherewith God is well pleased Heb. 13.16 and the high way and beaten path to heauen 1. Tim. 6.18.19 for they that do good and be rich in good works and are readie to distribute and communicate doe lay vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may obtaine euerlasting life The Apostle also would this way trie and make experience of the naturalnesse of the loue of the Corinths in their bountie and liberalitie towards the Saints in want 2. Cor. 8.8 2. Secondly it is the propertie also of true loue to forgiue that is when we are readie for Gods sake and in obedience to his commandement to remit and pardon those iniuries which are offred vs for loue is not prouoked to anger 1. Cor. 13. much lesse therefore to reuenge 1. Cor. 13.7 Loue suffereth all things it endureth all things nay it doth not onely not render euill for euill but it ouercommeth euill with goodnesse Rom. 12.19.21 leauing the reuenge vnto God and to his deputies vicegerents the Magistrates as we see in the examples of Christ Luk. 23.34 and of Steuen Act. 7.60 who praied for their persecutors whose example we are to imitate as Paul exhorteth Rom. 12.14 Blesse I say and curse not Naturally we are wolues lyons leopards c. Isa 11.6.7.8 like bruite beasts willing to offer all iniuries but impatient to suffer any as the Prouerb goeth wee