thou afflicted and tossed with tempest Names are taken a notioribus things are known and distinguished by their name 't is one of the Way-marks to Heaven Act. 14. 22. Through many tribulations enter into the Kingdom of God As the way to Canaan lay through a howling Wilderness If we were told before that we should meet with such and such marks in our Journey to such a place if we found them not we should have cause to suspect we were out of our way From the beginning of the World the Church hath always been bred up under troubles and innured to the Discipline of the Cross Psal. 129. 1. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say The spirit of enmity wrought betimes The first Family that ever was in the World yielded Abel the Proto-Martyr and Cain the Patriarch of Unbelievers While the Church kept in Families the outward estate of Gods People was worse than their Neighbours Abraham was a Sojourner though owned and blessed by God when the Canaanites were possessors and dwelt in walled Towns Iacob's Family grew up by degrees into a Nation but Esau's presently multiplyed into many Dukes and Princes And as they grew up they grew up in Affliction Egypt was a place of retreat for them for a while but before they got out of it it proved an house of Bondage Their deliverance brought them into a Wilderness where Want made them murmur but oftner Wantonness But then God sent fiery Serpents and broke them and afflicted them with other Judgments After forty years wandring in the Wilderness they are brought into Canaan a Land of Rest but it afforded them little rest for they forfeited it almost as soon as they Conquered it it flowed with Milk and Honey but mixed with Gall and Wormwood Their story as 't is delivered in the Book of God acquaints you with several varieties and intermixtures of Providence till wrath came upon them to the utmost till God saw fit to inlarge the pale and lines of Communication by treating with other Nations Now if the old Testament Church were thus afflicted much more the new God discovered his approbation and improbation then more by temporal Mercies and temporal Judgements The Promises run to us in another strain and since Life and Immortality was brought tolight in the Gospel we must not expect to be so delicately brought up as never to see an evil day he hath told us 2 Tim. 3. 12. We must be conformed to our head Rom. 8. 29. And expect to pledge Christ in his bitter Cup and our condition must inform us that our hopes are not in this World 1 Cor. 15. 19. In the Gospel-dispensation God would deal forth temporal Blessings more sparingly and spiritual with a fuller hand the experience of all Ages verifieth this When Religion began first to fly abroad into all Lands the Pagans first persecuted it and then the Pseudo-Christians the holiest and best People were Maligned and Bound and Butchered and Racked and Stoned but still they Multiplied 'T were easie to tire you with various Instances in every Age those that went home to God were those that came out of tribulations and had washed their Robes and made them white in the bloud of the Lamb Rev. 7. 14. There is always something set a-foot to try God servants and in the latter times the roaring Lion is not grown more gentle and tame rather more fierce and severe Rev. 12. 12. For the Devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time Dying Beasts struggle most As his Kingdom beginneth to shake so he will be most fierce and cruel for the supporting of it 2. As to particular persons The whole Creation groaneth Rom. 8. 22. and Gods Children bear a part in the Consort they have their share in the Worlds Miseries and Domestical Crosses are common to them with other Men in the World Yea their condition is worse then others Chaffe and Corn are threshed in the same floor but the Corn is grinded in the Mill and baked in the Oven Ieremiah was in the Dungeon when the City was besieged The World hateth them more than others and God loveth them more than others The World hateth them because they are so good and God correcteth them because they are no better There is more care exercised about a Vine than a Bramble God will not let them perish with the World Great receipts call for great expences first or last God seeth it fitting sometimes at first setting forth as the old Germans were wont to dip their Children in the Rhine to harden them so to season them for their whole Course they must bear the yoke from their youth or first acquaintance with God Heb. 10. 32. Sometimes God lets them alone while they are young and raw and of little experience as we are tender of Trees newly planted as Iacob drove as the little ones were able to bear 1 Cor. 10. 13. He will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able They are let alone till middle age till they are of some standing in Religion Heb. 11. 24. Moses when he was come to years 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sometimes let alone till their latter time and their season of fighting cometh not till they are ready to go out of the World that they may die fighting and be crowned in the Field but first or last the Cross commeth and there is a time to exercise our Faith and Patience before we inherit the Promises I will not inlarge in the common place of Afflictions and tell you how necessary the Cross is to subdue Sin which God will do in an accommodate way to weaken Pride to reclaim us from our Wandrings to increase Grace to make us mindful of heavenly things these are discussed in other Verses to make us retreat to our great Priviledges to stir us up to Prayer c. Tribulatio tam nobis necessaria quam ipsa vita immo magis necessaria multoque utilior quam totius mundi opes dignitates saith Luther We think Wealth is necessary for us Dignity and Esteem is necessary for us no Affliction is necessary for us 1 Pet. 1. 6. If need be you are in Heaviness c. Use 1. Let us look for Troubles and provide for them we shall not alwayes have a life of ease and peace the Times will not alwayes be friendly to Religion Then had the Churches rest Acts 9. 31. Halcyon dayes the enmity of wicked men will not always lye asleep we would gather rust and grow dead therefore look for them If because you are Christians you Promise your selves a long lease of temporal Happiness free from Troubles and Afflictions 't is as if a Souldier going to the Wars should promise himself Peace and continual Truce with the Enemy Or as if a Mariner committing himself to the Sea for a long Voyage should promise himself nothing but fair and calm
the Text Wherewith shall a young man cleanse c. In the words there is 1. A question asked 2. An answer given In the question there is the person spoken of a young man And his work Wherewith shall he cleanse his way Omnis quaestio supponit unum inquirit aliud In this Question there are several things supposed 1. That we are from the birth polluted with sin for we must be cleansed It is not direct his way but cleanse his way 2. That we should be very early and timously sensible of this evil for the question is propounded concerning the young man 3. That we should earnestly seek for a remedy how to dry up the issue of sin that runneth upon us All this is to be supposed That which is inquired after is What remedy there is against it What course is to be taken So that the sum of the question is this How shall a man that is impure and naturally defiled with sin be made able as soon as he cometh to the use of reason to purge out that natural corruption and live an holy and pure life to God The answer given is By taking heed thereto according to thy word Where two things are to be observed 1. The Remedy 2. The manner how it is applied and made use of 1. The remedy is the Word by way of address to God called Thy Word because if God had not given direction about it we should have been at an utter loss 2. The manner how it is applied and made use of by taking heed thereto c. by studying and endeavouring an holy conformity to Gods will 1. I begin with the question for as the careless world carrieth the matter it seemeth very impertinent and ridiculous What hath youth and childhood to do with so serious a work When old age hath snowed upon their heads and the smart experience of more years in the world hath ripened them for so severe a Discipline then it is time to think of cleansing their way or of entring upon a course of repentance and submission to God For the present Dandum est aliquid huic aetati Youth must be a little indulged they will grow wiser as they grow more in years Oh! no God demandeth his right as soon as we are capable to understand it And it concerneth every one as soon as he cometh to the use of reason presently to mind his work both in regard of God and himself 1. In regard of God that he may not be kept out of his right too long Eccles. 12. 1. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth He is our Creator we have nothing but what he gave us and that for his own use and service And therefore the vessel should be cleansed as soon as may be that it may be fit for the Masters use It is a kind of spiritual restitution for the neglects of childhood and the forgetfulness of Infancy when we were not in a capacity to know our Creator much less to serve him And therefore as soon as we come to the use of reason we should restore his right with advantage 2. In regard of himself The first seasoning of the Vessel is very considerable Prov. 22. 6. Train up a child in the way in which he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it When well principled and seasoned in youth it sticketh by them before sin and worldly lusts have gotten a deeper rooting If Solomon's observation be true a mans infancy and younger time is a notable presage what he will prove afterwards Prov. 20. 11. Even a child is known by his doings whether his work be pure and whether it be right Much may be known by our young inclinations But alas this is not full out the case The vessel is seasoned already But wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way which presupposeth a defilement No Infant is like a vessel that newly cometh out of the potters shop indifferent for good or bad infusions The vessel is tainted already and hath a smatch of the old man and the corruptions of the flesh Psal. 51. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me We came polluted into the world our business is to stop the growth of sin As a child walloweth in his filthiness so we do all spiritually wallow in our blood Ezek. 16. 4 5. As for thy nativity in the day thou wast born thou wert not washed in water nor swadled at all No eye pitied thee to do any of these unto thee to have compassion upon thee but thou wast cast out into the open field to the loathing of thy person in the day that thou wast born And when I saw thee polluted in thy own blood I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live c. Therefore the Question is very savory and profitable Wherewith shall a young man c. But why is the young man only specified I answer All men are concerned in this work old men are not left to themselves not wholly given over as hopeless but youth need it most being inclined to liberty and carnal pleasures and most apt to be led aside from the right way by the motions of the flesh and being head-strong in their passions and self-willed need to have their servours abated by the cool and chill Doctrines of repentance and conversion to God And therefore though others be not excluded the young man is expresly mentioned unbroken Colts need the stronger bits The word is of use to all but especially to youth to bridle them and reduce them to reason 2. The Answer By taking heed thereto according to thy word The word as a remedy against natural uncleanness is considerable two ways As a Rule and as an Instrument 1. As the only rule of that Holiness which God will accept all other ways are but by-paths as good meaning or the suggestions of a blind conscience custom example of others our own desires laws of men superstitious observances an Apocryphal holiness Nothing is holiness in Gods account how specious soever it be unless it be according to the Word What doth the Word do about all these as the Rule It sheweth the only way of reconciliation with God or being cleansed from the guilt of sin and the only way of solid and true Sanctification and subjection to God which is our cleansing from the filthiness of sin All Religions aim at this Ut anima sit subjecta Deo peccata in se no true peace without the Word nor no true holiness The first is proved Ier. 6. 16. Thus saith the Lord Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your souls The second is proved Ioh. 17. 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth So that a young man that is like Hercules in bivio to chuse his path to true
of neither have entred into the heart of man to conceive Therefore the word hath a notable instrumentality that way 3. The Doctrine of the Scripture holds out the remedy and means of cleansing Christs blood which is not only an argument or motive to move us to it So it is urged 1 Pet. 1. 18. Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable c. It presseth holiness upon this argument why God hath been at great cost to bring it about therefore we must not content our selves with some smooth morality which might have been whether Christ had been yea or no. Again the word propounds it as a purchase whereby grace is procured for us so it is said 1 Ioh. 1. 7. He hath purchased the spirit to bless us and turn us from our sins And it exciteth faith to apply and improve this remedy and so conveyeth the power of God into the soul Act. 15. 9. Purifying their hearts by faith 2. The manner how the word is applied and made use of If he take heed thereunto according to thy word This implieth a studying of the word and the tendency and importance of it which is necessary if the young man would have benefit by it David calleth the statutes of God the men of his counsel Young men that are taken with other books if they neglect the word of God that book that should do the cure upon the heart and mind they are with all their knowledg miserable Psal. 1. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night If men would grow wise to Salvation and get any skill in the practice of godliness they must be much in this blessed book of God which is given us for direction 1 Ioh. 2. 14. I have written unto you young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one It is not a slight acquaintance with the word that will make a young man so successful as to defeat the temptations of Satan and be too hard for his own lust it is not a little notional irradiation but to have the word dwell in you and abide in you richly The way to destroy ill weeds is to plant good herbs that are contrary We suck in carnal principles with our milk and therefore we are said to speak lies from the womb A kind of a riddle before we are able to speak we speak lyes namely as we are prone to error and all manner of carnal fancies by the natural temper and frame of our hearts Isa. 58. 2. And therefore from our very tender and Infant-age we should be acquainted with the word of God 2 Tim. 3. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures It may be children by reading the word get nothing but a little memorative knowledg but yet it is good to plant the field of the memory in time they will soak into the judgment and conscience and thence into the heart and affections 2. It implieth a care and watchfulness over our hearts and ways that our will and actions be conformed to the word This must be the young mans daily prayer and care that there be a conformity between his will and the word that he may be a walking Bible Christs living Epistle copy out the word in his life that the truths of it may appear plainly in his conversation All that I have said issueth it self into three Points 1. That the great Duty of Youth assoon as they come to the full use of reason is to enquire and study how they may cleanse their hearts and ways from sin 2. That the Word of God is the only rule sufficient and effectual to accomplish this work 3. If we would have this efficacy there is required much care and watchfulness that we come to the direction of the Word in every tittle not a loose and unattentive reflection upon the Word careless inconsiderateness but a taking heed thereunto Now why in youth and as soon as we come to the use of reason we should mind the work of cleansing our way 1. Consider how reasonable this is It is fit that God should have our first and our best It is fit he should have our first because he minded us before we were born His love to us is an eternal and an everlasting love and shall we put off God to old age shall we thrust him into a corner Surely God that loved us so early it is but reason he should have our first and also our best for we have all from him Under the Law the first-fruits was Gods to shew the first and best was his portion All the Sacrifices that were offered to him they were in their strength and young Levit. 2. 14. And if thou offer a meat-offering of thy first-fruits unto the Lord thou shalt offer for the meat-offering of thy first-fruits green ears of corn dried by the fire even corn beaten out of full ears God would not stay till ripened God will not be long kept out of his portion Youth it is our best time Mal. 1. 13. when they brought a weak and sickly offering should I accept this of your hand saith the Lord The health strength quickness of spirit and vigour is in youth Shall our health and strength be for the Devils use and shall we put off God with the dregs of time Shall Satan feast upon the flower of our youth and fresh time and God only have the scraps and fragments of the Devils Table When wit is dulled the ears heavy the body weak and affections are spent is this a fit present for God 2. Consider the necessity of it 1. Because of the heat of youth the passions and lusts are very strong 2 Tim. 2. 22. Fly also youthful lusts Men are most incident in that age to pride and self-conceit to strong affections inordinate and excessive love of liberty 1 Tim. 3. 6. Not a Novice lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil A man may make tame fierce creatures Lyons and Tygers and the fury of youth needs to be tempered and bridled by the word It is much for the glory of Grace that this heat and violence is broken when the subject is least of all disposed and prepared 2. Because none are tempted so much as they Children cannot be serviceable to the Devil and old men are spent and have chosen their way but youths who have a sharpness of understanding and the stoutest and most stirring spirits the Devil loveth to make use of such 1 Joh. 2. 13. I write unto you young men because ye have overcome the wicked one They are most assaulted but it is for the honour of grace when they overcome when their fervency and strength is employed not in satisfying lusts but in the service of God and fighting against Satan Therefore
his mouth and walk in the way that is pointed out by his Word and Spirit you shall have enough to direct you in all your ways 2. It doth warn us of all our dangers It doth not only in the general call upon us to watch Mat. 13. 37. and walk circumspectly Eph. 5. 15. but it discovers all those deceits particularly whereby we may be surprized diverted and turned out of the way There are snares in Prosperity snares in Adversity Temptations you meet with in praying trading eating drinking in your publick undertakings and in your private converse it shews your danger in all your ways before you feel the smart of them therefore give up your selves to God's direction reading hearing meditating believing and practising read hear it often then the deceits of Satan will be laid open and the snares of your own hearts Christians an exact Rule is of little use if you do not consult it Gal. 6. 16. Peace and mercy be upon all them that walk according to this Rule That order their conversations exactly the word signifies that try their work as a Carpenter doth by his square they examine their actions by the Word of God what they are now a doing therefore consult with it often then meditate of it ponder it seriously 2 Tim. 2. 7. Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things If we would have understanding by the Word there must be consideration Man hath a discursive faculty to debate things with himself Why this is my duty what would become of me if I slep out of God's way here 's danger and a snare What if I should run into it now it is laid before me And then believe it surely Heb. 4. 2. The Word profited not not being mixed with faith in them that heard it Believe God upon his Word without making tryal You hear much of living by sense and by saith living by faith is when we bear up upon the bare Word of God and encourage our selves in the Lord but living by sense is a trying whether it be so or no as they that will not believe Hell shall feel Hell and they that will not believe the Word of God shall smart for it Heb 11. 7. Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark. It may be there were no preparations to the accomplishment of the Curse and Judgment the Word threatned it 's a thing not seen yet he prepared an Ark. When a man is walking in an unjust course all things prosper for awhile the misery the Word threatens is unseen Ay but if you would grow wiser by the Word than men can by Experience you must look to the end of things Psal. 73. 17. I went into the sanctuary of God then understood I their end And then practise it diligently A young Practiser hath more understanding than an ancient Notionallist Psal. 111. 10. A good understanding have all they that do his commandments It is not they that are able to speak of things and savor what the Word requires but they that do what they hear and discourse of Gregory saith We know no more than we practise and we practise as we know these two always go together The Word doth us no good unless there be a ready obedience therefore this is wisdom when we give up our selves to God's direction whatever it cost us in the world Doct. 2. That young ones may have many times more of this wisdom than those that are ancient Divers instances there are Ioseph was very young sold into Egypt about 17 years of age and when he was in Egypt Psal. 105. 22. He taught his Senators wisdom speaking of the Senators of Egypt With how much modesty did he carry himself when his Mistriss laid that snare Isaac was young and permitted himself to be offered to God as a Sacrifice Samuel was wise betimes 1 Sam. 2. 26. It is said The child Samuel grew on and was in favor both with the Lord and also with men From his Infancy he was dedicated to God and God gives him wisdom to walk so that he was in favor with God and men yea God reveals himself to Samuel when he did not to Eli. David when he was but 15 years of age fought with the Lion and Bear and somewhile after that with Goliah when he was a ruddy youth Iosiah when he was but eight years old administred the Kingdom before he was twelve sets upon serious Reformation Ieremiah was sanctified from the womb Ier. 1. 5. And Iohn the Baptist leapt in his Mother's womb Luke 1. 35. In the 32d of Iâ—…b the Ancients Iob's Friends are spoken of pleading their Cause wise young Elihu brings wiser words and better arguments than those that came to comfort Iob. Solomon asked wisdom of God when he was young Daniel and his Companions those four children as they are called Dan. 1. 17 18. it is said The Lord filled them with wisdom above all the ancient Chaldeans And Timothy the Apostle speaks of his youth and bids him flee youthful lusts he was young yet very knowing and set over the Church of God Our Lord Iesus at 12 years old puzled the Doctors In Ecclesiastical Stories we read of one at 15 years of age dyed with great constancy for Religion in the midst of sundry tortures Ignatius pleads the cause of the Bishop when he was but a very youth but a man powerful in doctrine and of great wisdom and therefore he saith He would have them not look to his appearing youth but to the age of his mind to his wisdom before God And he saith There are many that have nothing to shew for their age but wrinckles and gray hairs So there are many young ones in whom there is an excellent spirit and in all Ages there are instances given of youth of whom it may be said That they are wise beyond their years For the Reasons why many times young ones may have more wisdom than those that are aged God doth so 1. That he might shew the freedom and sovereignty of his grace He is not bound to years nor to the ordinary course of nature but can work according to his own pleasure and give a greater measure of knowledge and understanding to those that are young and otherwise green than he will to those that are of great age and more experience in the world You have this reason rendred Iob 32. 7 8 9. I said days should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom There 's the ordinary course But there is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding Great men are not always wise neither do the aged understand judgment Though all men have reason and a spirit yet the Spirit of God is a wind that blows where he lists Those that exceed others in time may come behind them in grace He gives a greater measure many times of grace and knowledge to shew his
are not to defraud a poor Servant nor to delay him but to make him quick payment and shall we defraud our great Creator of the debt we owe to him and put him off from day to day Use 2. To exhort us with speed to turn to the Lord and to comply with his motions Let us not put off God from day to day I shall urge it 1 as to the general case 2 as to particular Duties which are prest upon you First As to the general Case Oh go and bethink your selves how do matters stand between God and thy Soul Debate it seriously that if you have neglected God and his Salvation already you may now turn to him without delay Let me preâ—…â—…ou further 1. You can never part with Sin soon enough it is a cursed Inmate that will surely bring mischief upon the Soul that harbours it It will set its own dwelling on â—…ire If there be a moat in the Eye a thorn in the Foot we take them out without delay and is not sin a greater mischief and sooner to be looked into and parted with certainly the evil of sin is greater then all evil and hereafter the trouble will be greater therefore we can never soon enough part with it 2. Let thâ—…s move you sin must have a quick dispatch and shall not God It would defeat temptations if we would but delay them it would stop the furies of anger and suppress the motions of Lust. Augustus the Emperour advised those who were angry to repeat the Greek Alphabet meaning that he might take time to consider So for uncleanness and other sins if the Practice and Execution of many Lusts were but delayed we would not be so frequent in them as we are to the dishonour of God and scandal of Religion Prov. 7. 22. it is said of the young man enticed by the Harlot that forthwith he went after her When our Lusts are a gog all the checks of Conscience and perswasions of the World will not prevail for a little respite Now shall sin have a more ready entertainment then God Will you rush upon the practice of sin like a Horse into the battle and come on in the Service of God like a Snail Will you be so eager and passionate upon the impulsion of every Lust and so hardly be entreated by the Spirit of God and by the word of God 3. If you be not ready God is ready How ready is he on the one hand to receive you and on the other hand to punish you The one quickens us by hope and the other by fear For the consideration which works upon hope God is ready Matth. 22. 4 5. Come to the Wedding all things are ready He hath a Christ ready to receive you a Spirit ready to sanctifie and cure all your Soul distempers he hath pardoning Mercy to forgive all your sins he hath power of Grace to remedy all your distempers and will not you be ready Luke 15. 20. The Prodigal said I will go to my Father Mark his Language I will go the Father ran When we do but relent and with brokenness of heart come and lie at the feet of God Loves pace is very swift and runs to snatch us out of the fire therefore will you not be ready to cast your selves into the Armes of his Compassion Cant. 2. 8. Christ is represented as leaping upon the Mountains and skipping upon the Hills Christ thinks he can never be soon and early enough with a returning sinner to revive a poor broken hearted sinner therefore if God â—…e so ready so should you On the other side to work upon your fear if you delay God is ready to punish you The wrath of God hangs over your heads like a sharp sword by a slender thread and will you sit still and keep your place The Iudge is at the door he is ready to judge 1 Pet. 4. 2. are you ready to be judged God is ready to condemn to execute and are not you ready to implore Mercy to seek the Lords Favour ready to fall flat and beg terms of Grace in and through Christ Iesus Rahab when the Lord had by his Messengers threatned destruction to Iericho onely Rahabs house was to be safe she hanged out a scarlet thread ere the Spies were departed Ioshua 2. she did not delay till the Army came and the city was surprized When the Lord is marching against sinners with vengeance and fury you cannot come soon enough to God to prevent it Luke 14. 32. That King that had twenty thousand marching against him doth not stay till they were in his quarters but while the other is yet a great way off he sendeth an Ambassage and desireth conditions of peace God is ready to execute all his vengeance and Curses of the Law therefore while you may O seek conditions of peace You have been spared long it may be for the next sin you may pay for all A Thief that hath long escaped when he is taken at length all his villany is recompensed into his Bosome if he had not stolen the last time he had escaped God hath spared you hitherto it may be upon the next sin he will strike you and hold his hands no longer If God now strike in what a wofull case would you be 4. There was never any that came to God too soon many have come too late the foolish Virgins are an instance When they brought little Children to Christ Christ received them There are none so little but the great God can form and fashion them into a temple for himself Usually God chooseth his People from among the Youth There may be some converted in Old-age but few usually 't is in our Youth or as soon as we come to our Maturitie Reason thus I may be too late I cannot be too early let me no longer dally with God Secondly As to the particular duties which are prest upon you let me caution you and direct you I. By way of Caution 1. When you have any stirrings of heart any anxious thoughts about your Eternal condition beware you do not believe the Devil that hereafter will be a more convenient season I shall give directions suitable to the grand Enemies of our Salvation the Devil the World and the Flesh. Now do not believe the Devil This was Felix case Paul was reasoning of Justice and Temperance Graces that he was little acquainted withall and Paul quickens all by a remembrance of Judgment to come and then Felix trembled but how doth he put off this Heart-work Hereafter we shall have a more convenient season Acts 24. 25. O never will it be better with you than now when the Waters are stirred Still there is something in the sinners way when God hath any business for him When young we want Wisdom when old we want strength in the middle of business we want leisure in the midst of leisure we are corrupted and want a heart We are lazy and then every Mole-hill seems
of Balaam that he caused Balak to lay a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication This was the Plot to send some beautiful Women of Midian to wander about the Camp of Israel to tempt their lusty Youth and martial Men first to Uncleanness and then to Idolatry that so God might be provoked against them A Plot so full of refined Malice that it can hardly be parallel'd Thus the Devil and his Instruments play their part sufficiently to divide God's People to prejudice their Rulers yea to disaffect God himself II. Plots to discourage and suppress Religion So there are many ways which wicked Men take who can name them all I shall only instance in two Policies of Iulian the Apostate the most refined Instrument the Devil used either for Wit or Malice two ways especially did he seek to undermine Religion 1. One was to forbid the use of Schools to the Christians and suppress Humane Learning To make a people irreligious the way is to make them ignorant discourage Learning and Piety will not be long in fashion not able long to maintain itself in the dark Men will adore any fancy This was like Nahash his condition to Iabesh Gilead Put out their right eye God's two famous Instruments who wrote most both of the Old and New Testament Paul and Moses were both excellently skill'd in secular Learning 2. Another was to put none to death for Religion but to oppress them with all manner of vexations and discouragements To put them to death he apprehended to be glorious but sometimes banished them Towns As Athanasius deprived them of all Offices Civil and Military wasted them with burdensom Levies and Exactions Let us make them poor saith he scoffingly for it is a hard matter for the Rich to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven The Devil doth his work more cleverly and handsomly when Christians are not called out to the Fire and Gibbet but are wasted by lingring Inconveniences and loss of Priviledges III. Plots to introduce Persecution 1. Defamation Infamy is the Forerunner of more Trouble and the Showers of Slander are but Presages of grievous Storms of Persecution The Devil is first a Lyar and then a Murtherer Iohn 8. 44. When the Children of God are represented as Criminal they are more easily destroyed 'T was a fashion in the primitive Persecutions to invest Christians with a Bears skin and then to bait them as Bears And 't is an usual practice of Satan and his Instruments to blast the repute of Religious persons to cloath them with the Livery of Reproach and then prosecute them as Offenders Psal. 5. 9. Their throat is an open sepulchre The Slanders of the wicked are preparatives to Death as the Sepulchre when opened is prepared to receive the dead Carkass Men first slander and then molest The Devil is afraid to meddle with unstained innocency A good report is a great security against open violence 2. To destroy the Church under the pretence of the Church as the Beast in the Revelations pushed with the horns of the Lamb Rev. 13. 11. 'T was a Proverb All Evil began in the Name of the Lord In Nomine Domini incipit omne malum And it hath been a false pretended Zeal for the Church that hath of later years raised and fomented all or most of the Persecutions of Christians 3. To destroy Christians upon the pretence of Civil Quarrels and Laws and to disguise Hatred against Religion under a pretence of Publick Peace Kill you as well as cast you out of the Synagogue Dan. 6. 4. The Persian Noblemen sought to find occasion against Daniel because of the kingdom though they find none 4. To make way for Errors and Falshoods so many Pits do the wicked dig to beguile unwary and unstable Souls sometimes by more than ordinary pretences of Love Meekness and Sweetness They come to you in sheeps cloathing saith our Lord but inwardly are ravening wolves Mat. 7. 15. Sheeps cloathing that is all for love and kindness and so steal away the hearts of the people as Absolom by his submission and servile Flattery And then by debasing opposing and crying down a faithful Ministry Demosthenes's Fable of the Wolves agreeing with the sheep in lusu would send away their Dogs Now thus they do by questioning their calling as the false Teachers did Pauls And we have been so long Unministring one another that all Ministry is hated in the hearts of many an Anti-Ministerial spirit Sometimes by decrying Maintenance The Lamp is starved when not supplied with Oil. Some to gain credit and entrance and to disgrace Paul and the true Evangelick Ministers whose Poverty needed a supply will take no Maintenance therefore Paul saith 2 Cor. 11. 12. That wherein they glory we might be as they but there is no end of raking in this Puddle 2dly Private Persons Cain against Abel drew him into the Field disputed with him about God and Providence and the World to come Gen. 4. The Princes of Darius against Daniel Dan. 6. the Kingdom was but newly subdued by the Medes This would try the affection of his Subjects no request to be made to God or Man for 30 days The Medes and Persians were wont to ascribe Divine Honours to their Kings as Brissonius proveth The report of this Reverence would be glorious Religion was at stake therefore Daniel would venture the Lyons Den. Iudas his Treason against Christ Luke 22. 3. The Devil entred into Iudas The Iews laying in wait for Paul Acts 23. 12 13 14. Certain Iews banded together and bound themselves under a curse or oath of execration that they would not eat or drink till they had killed Paul And they were more than forty that had made this conspiracy And this they would do with the consent of the chief Priests as he was coming to the Sanedrim A Parallel in the Fifth of November So Iezabel's Plot against Naboth for his Vineyard makes use of God's Name and Worship to bring it about 1 Kings 21. 8 9 10. But I must stop being carried beyond my first intention plotted Mischiefs are an ancient practice Use of all How much are we obliged to God's Providence who doth not only defend us against open violence but secret Machinations 'T is the Lord taketh the wise in their own craftiness and disappointeth the counsels of wicked men against his people Iob 5. 12. Many things are contrived against us in the dark that we know not and see not but the eye of the Lord watcheth for us Isa. 8. 10. Take counsel together and it shall come to nought speak the word and it shall not stand for God is with us Second Point That these Plots usually begin in Pride For David saith here The proud have digged pits for me Therefore it is Pride that puts Men upon designs of mischief and ruine to others Pride sheweth itself in the envy of Superiors contention with Equals or the disdain of
make it stick make it to be peace comfort and quickning to our souls It is said 1 Tim. 6. 13. That he that quickneth all things is God The quickning of life natural or life spiritual is to be ascribed to God alone Let me evidence this by three Considerations 1. The life of grace is begun and carried on in a constant way of dependance upon God he will not trust us with a stock of grace in our own hands but our life is in Christ's hands 1 Iohn 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life He hath it in his own hands and he gives and conveys it to us And Gal. 2. 20. I livâ—… yet not I but Christ liveth in me Christ made the purchase and therefore it pleased the Father that the parchased Treasure should be put into his hands and not immediately into ours We have so foully miscarried already that God will trust his Honour in our hands no more as at first he did We have nothing but what we have daily from Christ and in Christ he must influence us and without him we can do nothing Iohn 15. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apart from him we can do nothing therefore we cannot quicken our selves for God hath reserved this life of grace and kept it in his own hands that we may have our daily supplies from Christ. 2. The vitality or liveliness of Grace is not dispensed by a certain Law but according to the sovereign will and good pleasure of God God gives life to his People but the activity of it is only from his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. For it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of or according to his good pleasure He gives out comfort and he gives degrees of quickning as he pleaseth to some more to some less and not always in the same degree to the same persons therefore we must look up unto God if we would have this life and quickning it is very necessary to our well-being but it is a favor he worketh in us according to his good pleasure 3. The Means cannot work without the principal Agent As the Word could not convert us at first but by the power of God or as his Grace works by it quickning a dead soul purifying a defiled heart humbling a proud mind so when the Conscience grows sleepâ—… you need quickning excitations to duty The same Grace which caused a spiritual life doth give us spiritual strength and maintain that life by inclining the mind and will by stirring up the affections by longing desires after Christ and Glory so the soul is still kept alive in the same way as it was begotten by God at first 1 Cor. 3. 7. Paul may plant and Apollo may water but it is God that giveth the increase All is of God who hath only the supreme power over mens hearts to enlighten the mind incline the will and enlarge the affections Though we use the means and we sin if we do not yet it is God that quickneth us he hath the supreme power over the heart of man IV. Fourthly These powerful Experiences in this kind will be and should be recorded and remembred by us for saith David I will never forget thy precepts 1 They will be remembred if we have met with any powerful Experiences of the Lord's quickning and awakening the heart 1. We will remember what most concerns us 2. We will remember all those things which make notable impressions upon our souls 1. Things that do concern us will be remembred by us Every ones memory is as his affections are Let a Child read the Scripture that Chapter wherein mention is made of Ioseph's parti-coloured Coat that will stick in his mind more than better things because it suits with his childish fancy and his desires that his Parents should make such a Garment for himself And 't is usually observed that Youth is most taken with the Histories of the Bible because of their desire to know things past And if oncâ—… they come to manly age they are more taken with the Doctrines of the Bible because when they grow men they begin to form their Opinions of Religion And elder persons are taken with Psalms and holy devotional strains in Scripture because then as they grow in age it is time to address themselves to God Persons in doubts and fears by reason of Sin they will be most affected with tenders of Grace as suiting best with their condition Persons in affliction with the consolations appointed for the afflicted Persons in conflict with any Sin with those passages which afford most direct help against them Still that which more especially concerns us that should and will be most observed and remembred by us for there it speaks to our very hearts Now saith the Soul in such a Point in such Extremity the Word of God did my heart good I shall remember it as long as I live When a seasonable word is spoken to their case their judgment was not past over by the Lord I was dead and it revived me disconsolate and it comforted me ready to stray and it reduced me under such a temptation and it relieved me I should transcribe the whole Scripture especially the Psalms if I should tell you how often David takes notice what the Word of God did to him in such and such a condition for still things that nearly concern us they will affect us and be remembred by us 2. Those things will be remembred that make any notable impression that leave a lively sense upon the heart they impress a notice of themselves and will not be forgotten Luke 24. 32. Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures If opening of the Scriptures causeth any burning of heart or any strange workings of soul when the heat is gone and past yet the burning cannot be forgotten they remembred Christ still and can speak of the actings of the Spirit not only when they are on but when they are over and past Christ was vanished out of sight and gone yet they cannot forget the warmness of heart they felt while he opened the Scriptures to them Cant. 5. 4. He put in his hand by the hole of the door and my bowels were moved for him And ver 6. My soul failed when he spake O if we be soundly humbled or soundly comforted or be effectually moved and stirred to the remembrance of God then heavenly things that occasion this will not be forgotten 2 These things should be remembred to confirm our Faith to increase our Love 1. To confirm our Faith Faith is taken either for a general assent to the Word or for a dependence upon God for some blessing that we want or stand in need of Now if we take it for a general assent to the Word why these notable quicknings and experiences of the convincing or comforting or
would desire to know more of God therefore the Word is dear and precious to them because it discovers so much of God Hosea 6. 3. This is their property they follow on to know the Lord. They do not content themselves with their first and infant Notions but aspire to know him more and more for their love fear and trust and all doth depend upon the knowledge of God If we had more knowledge of God we should love him more and trust him more Psal. 9. 10. They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee We know God but as men born blind know the fire they know there is such a thing as fire for they feel it warm them but what it is they know not so that there is a God we know but what he is we know little and indeed we can never search him out to perfection a finite creature can never fully comprehend that which is infinite The Saints are following on to know the Lord they desire to know more and more and there is no such means to discover God to them as this way 2 The use of the Word is to convert the soul and to bring it home to God Psal. 19. 7. The Law of God is perfect converting the soul. There is the perfection of God's Word it is God's instrument for converting of souls or turning of them back to him again For Conversion take it in its whole latitude compriseth this to humble us to cleanse us to bind up our broken hearts because of all these uses the children of God love his Word It serves 1. To humble us for sin Ier. 23. 29. Is not my Word like as a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces He appeals to it as things that we may find by experience that the Word of God is not only a hammer to break but a fire to melt As a batter'd Vessel when it is to be new form'd must be melted that it may be capable of this new form so no such way to melt the heart and make it capable of God's pâ—…pose as the Word of God no such thing to break the heart no such terrors and agonies like those the Word works and to melt the heart to make it pliable to God's use no such thing as the Word of God to affect us for sin for sin as it is a breach of God's Law or an offence to God 2. It hath this use to cleanse the heart and subdue it to the obedience of Christ Psal. 119. 9. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word Young men who more stubborn and boistrous than they that are carried on with great strength and fervor in the very heat of their rebellion against God Well the Word of God can cleanse the heart of a young man As Plato saith of Youth That it is such a Beast as will not easily come to hand Now for cicurating and taming this Beast for the captivating those rebellious affections in youth and cleansing and working out the filthiness that is in us nothing like the Word and it is by these spiritual weapons that every thought is brought into captivity to Christ 2 Cor. 10. and then as it is obstinate the power of the Word breaks the force of our lusts 3. For comforting and binding up the broken hearted Humane wisdom and eloquence can do nothing to purpose this way but when God by the Word reveals to a man his righteousness then his flesh shall come again as a childs he shall return to the days of his youth Iob 33. 25. Though a man before did walk up and down as a Ghost was as it were a walking Skeleton and his marrow was suck'd out of his bones by the terrors of the Lord that were upon him yet when he hath Godâ—…s Word to shew under God's hand for his pardon this brings his comfort his flesh shall revive he shall return fresher than a child and shall return to the days of his youth his strength joy and comfort shall come again therefore O how they love the Law because they have felt in their heart it must be God's Word for that which wounds must also heal 3 To make us perfect as well as to begin the work 2 Tim. 3. 17. it is said The Word of God is able to make the man of God perfect throughly furnished to all good works so that in this perfection there are three Uses for which the Word serves 1. For building up in Faith or increasing in internal Grace The Word of God is not only for Novices but for grown persons that there may be a continual dropping into the lamps as it was in the Vision of Zechariah Acts 20. 32. I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified It is not enough to lay a foundation but there must be a building up Now what is that which builds us up The word of his grace that is God's blessing upon the reading and hearing the Word for the Apostle speaks it when he was taking leave of the Ephesians I commend you to God and the word of his grace that is the word of grace sent among them by their ordinary Officers continued to them blessing the reading and hearing the Word by their ordinary Officers there would be no need of Paul the room should be supplied Habits of grace must still be maintained by fresh influences and they always come into us by the Word of God therefore after we are converted and born again the Word is useful that we may grow thereby 2 Pet. 2. 2. 2. To direct our practice that 's one use the Word serves for so it is said 2 Pet. 1. 19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place In this state of ignorance wherein we are for that 's figured by those words in a dark place sure it is a great blessing to have a light shining to us that we may not wander and fall into the snares wherewith we are encompassed We are apt to forget and mistake our way we are very forgetful and our way is narrow hardly found and hardly kept and Satan is full of wiles and deceits like an ignis fatuus ready to lead us out of the way therefore we had need have a sure guide and a sure light Psal. 119. 105. Thy word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths It is a light not only to our paths for the choice of our general way but for all our steps to direct us in all our ways 3. To comfort us in all conditions under our crosses confusions and difficulties we have all from the Word of God Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy Word hath
mind so darkly that no body could understand their meaning Christians they were not men that were to act a part oftheir own upon the stage of the world not men that aimed at ostentation of wisdom and curiosity of science but they were holy men they were free from ambition and envy and other such vile affections which are wont to make Writers to affect obscurity therefore in all simplicity of stile plainness of heart and faithfulness to their message they minded their Master's honour and the Peoples good they renounced pomp of words and lofty speculations minded that People might understand the mind of God published by them As they were holy men so they were acted by the Spirit of God now the Spirit of God is not a Spirit of darkness but a Spirit of light which gives understanding to all men therefore they spake luminously and clearly Nay they were not only acted by the Spirit but they were born up by the Spirit carried by the Holy Ghost while they were employed in this work publishing the mind of God to the Church they were carried beyond the line of their natural spirits by an extraordinary impulse infallibly born up so that they could not err and miscarry Now from such holy men that were not sway'd by ambition and private aims so guided so acted by the Spirit what can be expected but what is sure clear and plain 3. I argue and reason again from the end of God in giving us the Scriptures all which doth clearly infer that here 's a sure and plain direction that will lead you to Heaven There 's a fourfold end wherefore God hath given us the Scriptures 1. That by this means heavenly doctrine might be kept free from corruption that men might not obtrude Articles of Faith upon us and fancies of their own brain that heavenly doctrine might be put into a stated course and kept pure from corruption When mankind sate in darkness and in the shadow of death it was necessary that one way or other they should have light that God by some way or other would reveal his mind to them either by word of mouth or by writing Now God did it by Oracles and extraodinary messages at first while there were but few truths revealed and such as did not much burden the memory and while men were long-lived and so could a great while avouch their message from God and while they were of great simplicity and the Church was confin'd to a few men to a few families within a small compass of ground not liable to those miseries and changes now in latter days Before Christ came it was fit God should send his messengers but now in these latter days when he hath spoken to us by his Son Heb. 1. 1. it is fit the Rule of Faith should be closed up It is not for the honour of the Son of God that after him should come any extraordinary Nuncio or Ambassador from Heaven as if he had not fully discovered his Fathers mind Well then therefore God hath put all his messages into writing for the use of after-ages and for this end that there might be some publick standard for trying of things by now God's end would not be accomplished if this writing were not clear Here 's the Argument the world would be left at great uncertainties far more than in old time and so this end for preserving truth for the use and direction of the Church would be wholly lost Well then if God will make a writing serve instead of extraordinary messages which brought their own evidence with them certainly he will not put it into words liable to mistake but that are intelligible Wisdom saith Prov. 8. 9. They are all plain to him that understandeth and right to them that find knowledge Certainly they that come in simplicity of heart with a mind to learn God's Will not to cavil they may know 2dly God's end in setting forth the Scripture was that it might be read of all Ages and of all Sexes as the Book of the Law was to be read in the Congregation before the Men Women little Ones and Strangers Deut. 21. From day to day it was read in the Synagogue Acts 15. 21. And God would have them teach their children Deut. 6. 6. And Timothy is commended for reading the Scriptures from his youth 2 Tim. 3. 5. And the Apostles do express themselves to be debters both to the wise and unwise to Greeks and Barbarians Rom. 1. 14. To speak wisdom to the wise and plainness to the simple And St. Iohn he writes to children and young men and fathers 1 Iohn 2. 3. Well then here 's my Argument If God would write a Book to be read by men women children all sorts surely 't is that all might understand not that they might repeat it by rote and toss the words of it in their mouths as Parrots do words they understand not surely then they are compiled to profit all 3dly God's end in giving the Word was for converting of men or leaving them without excuse Now take either end and it shews there must be a plain direction If for converting of men then it must be so plain that it may be understood by them for there is nothing gets to the heart but by the understanding After I was instructed I smote upon my thigh And all influences are conveyed by light and if God gains any heart it is by teaching and by light Or if it were for leaving them without excuse it must be by a clear revealing of his Will otherwise they might pretend obscurity The Apostle pleads this 2 Cor. 4. 2 3 4. saith the Apostle There is such plain truth in the Gospel that every man's conscience may take it up if he will and if he cannot see the Majesty of God in this doctrine they are blinded by Satan the fault is not in Gospel-light but in their own eyes they cannot complain of God but of themselves 4th End is that it might be a rule of faith and manners by which all doctrines are to be tryed A rule of faith Isa. 8. 20. To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them And Acts 17. 11. They received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether these things were so So to be a rule of manners Gal. 6. 16. As many as walk according to this rule c. There are many actions which God requireth of us that expose us to great difficulty and hazard now before the heart be gained to them we had need have a plain proof that it is the Will of God For who will venture his all unless he have a clear warrant that knows whither he goes and whither to look for amends if he suffer the loss of all things Thus there 's light in the Word Secondly But now 't is a full direction for David speaks it of his
this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do The Word can do that which a miracle cannot make the stoutest hearts relent and yield One instance more Acts 24. 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness temperance and judgment to come Felix trembled Mark the disadvantage the Prisoner maketh the Judg tremble the man none of the tenderest a Pagan and to boot an obdurate Sinner but Paul by his power caused these Terrors of Conscience which are raised by the Word all wicked men feel not but soon may they fear them that feel them not Iohn 3. 20. For every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved Conviction in one of these spiritual agonies exceeds all natural passions fears of the wrath of God scorch more and breed more restlesness and disquietness to the soul their thoughts become a burthen to them He is convinced of all and judged of all and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. His sins revived the poor Creature lyeth groveling Secondly There is a converting and transforming power in the word of God Rom. 1. 16. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth 1 Thess. 1. 9. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you and how ye turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God from a false to a true a bad to a better Men brought up in a false Religion there is much ado to take them off Have any Nations changed their gods Though their worship be never so vain and foolish yet this power the Word hath even over those that have been rooted and habituated in superstitious customes The gods they had prayed to in their adversities praised in their prosperity deprecated their anger when any Judgment upon them magnified their goodness when any good received built them Temples offered them Gifts Must they break those Images destroy those Temples deny those Gods How dear Idols are Rachels stealing away her Fathers Images clearly sheweth Gen. 31. 34. She was one of them that built Gods Israel yet she hath an hankering after her Fathers Idols No humours so obstinate and stiff as those that are found in religious Customs They accused Stephen for changing the Customs Moses delivered Acts 6. 14. and Paul that he taught Customs which were not lawful for Romans to observe Acts 16. 21. Certainly it is a very hard thing to bring men out of an old Religion into a new one 2. The converting of man from a state of nature to a state of Grace So that they are as it were born again Iames 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his Creation It is a hard matter to change natures to turn a Lyon into a Lamb Isa. 11. 6. The wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lye down with the kid and the calf and the young Lyon and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them Yet this will the Gospel do make him that resembleth the Devil in his contempt of God Envy Revenge to be like Christ I say the Gospel doth it 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. To bring us to love what we naturally hate and to hate what we naturally love That the heart should be turned from all Creatures himself and all to God That they should be induced to turn from the Creature to God to seek out happiness in him from self to Christ from Sin to Holiness that God's desires should be our desires his will our will his delights our delights The natural heart is averse from this Rom. 8. 7. The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subjest to the Law of God neither indeed can be That the hearts spirits dispositions of men should be turned upside down 1 Cor. 6. 9 10 11. Be not deceived neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of our Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God Isa. 55. 13. Instead of the thorns shall come up the Fig-tree and instead of the bryer shall come up the Myrtle-tree A mighty change wrought to be changed not only in their lives but natures Thirdly In comforting poor distressed Souls their sore runneth upon them and their soul refuseth comfort when they have all things in the world but yet as there are no sorrows like wounds of Conscience for degree so no comforts Groans unutterable so joys unutterable nothing left that will comfort it is as the whole of their joy the reviving of poor wounded Spirits is one of the greatest wonders in the world Creatures can do nothing Reason and humane discourse can do nothing it proceedeth from the apprehension of Gods wrath provoked by sin Iob 33. 23 24 25. If there be an Interpreter one among a thousand to show unto man his uprightness then he is gracious unto him and saith Deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransom his flesh shall be fresher than a childs he shall return to the days of his youth Nothing but the Covenant of his peace will still such a Soul a Scripture wound will only be cured by Scripture plasters He that puts the soul on the racks of conscience can only release us I create the fruits of the lips to be peace Ier. 6. 16. Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your souls Mat. 11. 28 29. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls Fourthly The confirming and strengtnhing power of the word that we may despise the world encounter all difficulties and discouragements and to be chearful as the martyrs were in the midst of flames all the oppositions of Satan 1 Ioh. 2. 14. I have written unto you young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one Acts 20. 32. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word
the Scriptures were written not for Ministers or professed Students God speaketh to all sorts of men in the Scripture and therefore would have all understand them He wrote the Scripture that it might be read of all young and old Deut. 30. 11 12. This Commandment which I command thee this day is not hidden from thee neither is it far off It is not in heaven that thou shouldest say Who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it c. Rich and poor the King was to read in it all the days of his life Deut. 17. 18 19. It shall be that when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom he shall write him a Copy in a Book out of that which is before the Priests the Levites and it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life Every good man is to meditate in it Psal. 1. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night Deut. 6. 6 7. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up The Apostles wrote Epistles to the whole Church spake to old men youth little Children 1 Iohn 2. 13. I write unto you Fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I write unto you young men because ye have overcome the wicked one I write unto you little Children because ye have known the Father To Kings Judges Men Women Husbands Wives Fathers Children Masters Servants was it written for their use nor must it be taken out of their hands nor is it above their reach 3. The end why it was written to be a sure and infallible direction to guide us to eternal life and make us wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. And that from a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Iesus Not only so but it is our food and means of growth 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new born Babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby Every life hath food convenient for it It is our weapon in temptation Ephes. 6. 17. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God To be read by all in this spiritual warfare they are all engaged in It is Gods testament therefore should be viewed by his Children the Epistle of the Creator to his Creatures therefore to be read by them to whom it is sent Gods Letter must not be intercepted upon all these reasons There is enough to make wise the simple in Scriptures But is there nothing difficult in Scriptures Answ. Yes to subdue the pride of mans wit to quicken us to wait and depend upon him for knowledge to prevent contempt to exercise our industry and diligence and to fasten truths on our minds There is some difficulty but not such difficulty as that the people neither can nor ought to read them with profit which is the dispute between us and Papists There is no difficulty but what is conquerable by that Grace that God ordinarily dispenseth and the means of explaining or applying not a whole loaf but a dimensum his share for it distributes to every man his portion Use 1. For the confutation of them that forbid the simple the use of the word The Papists say Gods Word is dark and hard to be understood therefore they lock it up from the people in an unknown tongue as if none could profit by it but the learned sort Yea many among us are ready to say What should simple men do with Scripture and think all the confusions and troubles of the world come from giving people this liberty Answ. Though in the word there are mysteries to exercise the greatest Wits yet there are plain truths to edifie the simple This Text is a notable proof against them It is good to have a Text against every errour of theirs They are injurious to God as if he had revealed his mind so darkly or his word that it were so doubtful and harmful that there were danger in reading it injurious to the Scriptures while they tax them with obscurity injurious to the people of God while they despise those whom the Lord inviteth with their Pharisaical pride Iohn 7. 49. But this people who know not the Law are cursed hinder them of their comfort The simple have souls to save therefore have need to see with their own eyes to consider Gods Charter They pretend they do it in mercy to the people lest by their mistakes they should ruine themselves and introduce confusion into the world They should as well say All must be starved and deny meat and drink because some surfeit But certainly they do it for their own interest they have false Wares to vend and to keep the people from discovering the errours they impose upon them they would conceal the Scriptures from them Ignorance is a friend to the Devils Kingdom The blind go as they are led They are afraid of the Scriptures as a Thief of a Candle or the light which would discover his villany and hinder his design Iohn 3. 20. Use 2. Of encouragement to poor Christians that have a sense of weakness Before Plato's School was written Let none but the learned come in hither but Christ inviteth the simple that none might be discouraged he speaketh to all sorts Prov. 8. 4 5. Unto you O men I call and my voice is to the sons of men O ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be of an understanding heart That which is spoken to all is thought to be spoken for none Christ speaketh to men under their several distinctions noble base young or old rich or poor If any earthly profit be offered to any that will take it who will exempt themselves None are so modest But in spiritual things persons are more stupid Let none be discouraged by weakness of parts all are invited to learn and here they may be taught of any capacity Oh! but how many will say I am so weak of understanding that I shall make no work of such deep mysteries as are contained in the Scriptures Answ. 1. Many times this objection cometh from a sluggish heart to ease themselves of the trouble of a duty as meditation or prayer they pretend weakness they would have a rule that would make knowledge 2. If it be serious God is able to interpret his own Book unto thee He must indeed open the door or we cannot get into the knowledge of truths there If you had better parts you would be but groping about the door He that hath not the right Key is as far from entring the