the Church of God in generall to prosper Psal. 128.5 6. when God keeps his Church as his Vineyard and waters it every moment and watcheth it night and day and destroyeth every thing that might annoy it Esay 27.2 3. In particular a Christian finds divers sorts of good daies as first the Sabbath daies well sanctified are good daies above all other daies of the week when his body enjoyes rest his soule is blessed according to Gods promise with spiritual rest and grace in Iesus Christ. Secondly the dayes in which the soule of a Christian after sinne and the judgment of God for it is humbled soundly and anew admitted into Gods presence and reconciled to God those daies when God entertaines the repenting sinner that praies unto him especially at the first reconciliation are wonderfull good daies Iob 33.25 26. with the coherence 36.11 Psal. 90.14 Luk. 4.21 with Esay 61.1.2.10 Thirdly all the daies in which a Christian thrives and prospers in the knowledge of Gods word and growes in the spirituall understanding in the mysteries of Gods kingdome are all good daies for this knowledge is that wisedom Salomon speakes of whâ—ch makes a man so happy Pro. 3.18.2.16 Thus of the good daies that are so in the judgement of the inward man God is pleased also to grant such good daies as are or ought to be so accounted in the judgement of the outward man and so First the daies of youth in which a man hath strength of body and vigour of minde to fit him not onely for the comforts of life but for the service of his creator are good daies Eccles. 12.1 it being a blessed thing to beare Gods yoake in a mans youth Secondly the daies of speciall prosperity in the world which sometime God grants unto his people are also good daies when God gives his people abundance of blessings in their families and estates and withall publike honour and respect withall sorts even the great ones of the world as was in the case of Iob which hee describes in the whole 29 Chapter of his booke but then it must have this indeed that in this prosperity the godly man be imployed in all well doing and get himselfe honour by the flourishing of his gifts and good workes as is shewed in that Chapter by Iob. Thirdly such daies in which a man enjoyes a quiet estate free from all trouble or vexation or contumely at home or abroad being free from Gods aflicting hand or mans injurious dealing are good daies and such as perhaps are specially meant in this place Thus of the sense of the words Divers doctrines may bee observed from hence 1 That the daies of men usually are evill which is true not onely of the wicked but of the godly also This Iacob said long agoe his daies were few and evill Gen. 47.9 but of this point before Only this may serve for great reproofe of those that so little minde a better life and so wilfully love this life that though they live in much misery are loath to thinke of dying take no course to provide for a better life 2 It is evident from hence that the life of man is but short whether hee live happily or miserably yet his life is reckoned by daies not by longer measures of purpose to signifie the shortnesse of our lives This is expresly affirmed in other Scriptures Iob 10.20 Iob saith his daies were few and of all men that are borne of women that they have but a short time to live Iob 7.1 And this is resembled by divers similitudes so our life is compared to a Weavers shuttle Iob 7.6 to a Post for swift running out Iob 9.25 to the grasse of the field Iob. 7.12 Esay 40.6 to an hand breadth so as he saith his age is as nothing Ps. 39.5 to a watch in the night Psal. 90.4 to a sleepe vers 5. to a tale that is told vers 9. Thus the life of man is said to bee short either as he is in Gods sight with whom a thousand years are but as yesterday when it is past Psal. 90 4. or in his owne account if he measure time to come as hee measures time past and in plaine reckoning let the life of man be improved according to mans utmost strength ordinarily a mans yeares are threescore and ten and if hee live to fourescore it is but labour and sorrow to him Psal. 90. Quest. But what should bee the cause that mens lives are so short Ans. If there were no other cause but the will of him that hath the disposing of the times seasons in his owne power yet that might satisfie us but we may ghesse at other causes as both the mercy and justice of God This world is so bad to the godly that it is Gods mercie to take them quickly out of it and contrariwise it is so good to the wicked considering their deserts that it is justice in God to take them hence and send them to their owne place which is hell Besides many men bring speedy death upon themselves by their own il courses or by sinning against their own bodies by lewd courses by eating up their owne hearts with worldly cares and sorrowes or by living in any grosse sinne to provoke God to cut them off or by falling into such disorder as the Magistrate cuts them off or by laying of violent hands upon themselves or by getting their goods unlawfully to bring upon themselves that curse Ier. 17.11 Finally in this last age of the world there may bee this reason assigned that the Lord makes hast to have the number of his elect fulfilled and therefore he dispatcheth away the generations one after another and so shortneth the daies of man for his elect sake Now for the uses Are our lives so short then it should teach us divers lessons 1 To pray God to make us able to thinke so and so to number our daies that we may not make any reckoning of any long continuance here Psal. 39.3 90.12 2 To make hast and dispatch our repentance and all the businesses that concerne our sound reconciliation and so to walke while wee have the light and to use all good meanes while we enjoy them 3 To redeeme the time and save as much of it as wee can for the uses of a better life Ephs. 5. and to worke the harder to fulfil thy measure and dispatch that taske God hath set thee to doe 4 To lay fast hold upon eternall life 1. Tim. 6. and to make that sure 5 Every day to provide for our departure even all the daies of our appointed time to waite when our changing shall come Iob 14.14 FINIS An Alphabeticall Index of the most Principall things handled throughout the whole Booke A ADoption the glory of it 133 How it is attained 136 Markes thereof 136 Amazement in wives 109 Causes thereof 109 Antiquity when ill pleaded 91 Apparell See Attire Attire reasons against the vanity
the natures and workes of the godly when they see in them that which is above the ordinary nature of men or their expectation they are affraid of the Name of God which is called upon by them Deut. 28 9.10 2 They feare when they see that they behave themselves wisely and religiously and that God is with them and they prosper notwithstanding all the oppositions are made against them 1. Sam. 18.12.15.19 Nehe. 6.16 Psal. 48.4 Zach. 9.5 3 They feare because the good conversation of the godly doth rebuke their ill conversation the chaste conversation of the Wives amazeth the hearts of the Husbands when they thinke of their owne unchaste conversation so the piety patience mercy and goodnesse exprest by godly men makes the hearts of wicked men ake within them 4 They feare extreamly because the goodnesse of the conversations of the godly is to them a very token of their owne perdition if they continue in the state they are in Phil. 1.28 Quest. But what doe wicked men doe when they feele these feares Answ. Eyther they strive to drive them out and forget them or else they strive to imagine scandalous and vile things to oppose their wicked surmises or false accusations against the glory of the godly life of such as are good as the Pharisees did against Christ the wicked Courtiers against David or else they use all meanes to remove the godly further off from them as Amaziah did to Amos and Saul to David in the place quoted before or else they increase in hatred and malice as their observation of the good hand of God upon his servants doth increase 1. Sam. 18.15.29 or else as men conquered by the truth they give glory to God and confesse the wickednesse of their owne estate and be wonne as the Husbands here by the conversation of the Wives The use should be to stirre up godly Christians to look to their owne salvation the more and to hold on and doe good still and walke wisely towards them that are without and keepe their way for hereby they shall not only convince and confute carnall persons but so daunt them as their good lives will often make their very hearts to ake within them and the rather because this effect may follow the conversation of women aswell as men and servants aswell as masters inferiours aswell as superiours Thus of feare as it is referred to the Husbands But the most Divines doe referre this feare to the Wives as they were Christians and so thereby is â—oted a second thing in their conversations which did much affect their unbeleeving husbands and that was their holy feare which they exprest in their lives Now this conversation with feare may two waies bee considered the one as it was common to these women with other Christians and so it belongs to other Christians aswell as to them and the other was as it was particularly required in them as wives For the first a conversation with feare is required in all the godly so saith Salomon Blessed is the man that feareth alwaies and Paul saith Worke out your salvation with feare and trembling Phil. 2. and againe Be not high minded but fear Rom. 12.3 This conversatton with feare was in Paul 1. Cor. 2.3 It is required that the mighty men of the earth should serve the Lord in trembling Psal. 2.12 this is a fruit of godly sorrow 2. Cor. 7.11 Now in our conversations we are to expresse both the feare of men and the feare of God There is a feare of men to bee shewed by other Christians aswell as wives in their conversations as children must feare their parents Levit. 19.3 and subjects must converse with feare and shew it in their carriage towards their rulers and so all inferiours must expresse a conversation with feare towards their superiours Hence the Apostle saith Give feare to whom feare belongeth Rom. 13.7 so such as have lesser gifts must submit themselves to such as have greater gifts in fear Eph. 5.21 But the speciall feare wee should shew in our conversation should be the feare of God and so a conversation with feare doth import more than barely to feare God for it imports that it must be by such a fear as doth appear to the view of others and such a feare as is continuall We reade of a Spirit of the feare of God Esa. 11.3 and there bee other phrases of Scripture that expresse this conversation with feare as where wee are charged to bee in the feare of God all the day long Pro. 23.17 and the godly are said to walke in the feare of God Acts 11.31 God was said to bee the feare of the Patriarches Gen. 31.42.53 so also Eccles. 8. 10. Mal. 2.5 Quest. But what cause have Christians to shew so much fear in their conversations Answ. They have reason to feare alwaies 1 Because of their owne insufficiency to performe those holy dueties are required of them in such a holy manner as they desire or ought to doe this made Paul so fearfull 1. Cor. 2.3 2 Because of the danger that the godly themselves are in if this feare be not in them as we see by the miserable instance of the Apostle Peter who fell shamefully when he shooke off this feare and grew bold and confident of his owne strength and therefore they that stand are charged to feare lest they fall Rom. 11. 3 Because of the many and fearfull adversaries our soules and religion have in this world Wee bee to wrestle with principalities powers and spirituall wickednesses Eph. 6.10 2. Cor. 11.3 and our taske is to overcome the world and the flesh which hath many difficulties in it considering the multitudes of evill examples and scandals are in the world and the great treachery of our owne flesh 4 Because of the lamentable reproach of the Heathen and such as are without God and Christ of all sorts and all places which would be powred out if we should misse it in our conversation if our foote should but slippe Neh. 5.9 5 Because of the dreadfull relation in which we stand unto God who hath authority over us and is our Master and Father Mal. 1.6 and is able to kill both body and soule Mat. 10.28 and is the Lord God Almighty and the King of Saints and hee is onely holy and of most pure eyes and hath power over all Nations Revel 15.3.4 and doth wondrous things Hee hath placed the sand for the bounds of the sea by a perpetuall decree that it cannot passe it though the waves thereof tosse themselves and roare yet they cannot prevaile Ier. 5.22 Hee is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting King at his wrath the earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not bee able to abide his indignation Ier. 10.7.10 so Iob 31.23 David said his flesh trembled for feare of God Psalm 119. vers 120. 6 Because of the fearefull falling away and rejecting of many Churches and particular persons
contrariwise he doth overcome that will render good for evill If this point were seriously considered it would mightily subdue that unruly pride and passion that discovers it selfe in the most men and it doth directly proove that Duells or single combats are simply unlawfull and intolerable in any well governed Common wealth and should warne all Christians to take heed of allowing themselves in the desires or projects of revenge Nor is their sinne the lesse that seeke revenge but it is closely and much dissembled while they watch for an opportunity to be even with them that have wronged them Nor reviling for reviling Observe 1 That people that are ungodly are very prone to reviling This wee may see in the conversation they have among their neighbours what brawling and scoulding from day to day and also in the case of Religion how doe they continually reproach and slander the true Christians so in family affaires with what disgracefull and hatefull tearmes are all the businesses almost of the houshold dispatcht But of this I spake before 2 That reviling and rayling is a very hatefull sinne It is here accounted a great suffering to suffer reviling Our Saviour reckons it murther in his exposition of the sixt Commandement Mat. 5. and if godly men be reviled it is tearmed blasphemie in divers places of Scripture in the Originall It proceeds from vile and base natures Heb. 12.14 15. Iam. 1.21 3.9 Gods Spirit is a Spirit of meekenesse and evill words corrupt good manners 1. Cor. 15 16. The use is therfore for great reproofe and shame to all those that are guilty of this sinne especially such as have their mouthes full of cursing and bitternesse Rom. 3.14 and such as revile men for this very reason because they follow goodnesse calling good evill Esay 5.20.21 Pet. 4.5 and such as revile those that are neare unto them in the strong bonds of nature or covenant as when wives revile their husbands or children their parents 3 That though weâ— be reviled yet wee must not revile againe because reviling is a sinne and God hath flatly forbidden it in this and other Scriptures and besides wee have an excellent example of our Saviour himselfe that suffered all forts of reproaches and yet was so farre from reviling that he threatened not 1. Pet. 2. and all sorts of godly men have endured reviling that were many degrees better than thou And further what knowest thou but God may blesse thee for their cursing as David said And therefore all that are true Christians should be effectually warned from hence to resolve against bitter words and reviling though they be never so much provoked Thus of the rules the Apostle gives for avoiding of trouble Now follows the arguments for the confirmation of those rules especially of the latter and the first is taken from the estate or condition of a Christian in this Verse the second from the testimony of the Prophet David Vers. 10.11 12. And the third from the probable event or effect of such a course Vers. 13. In the rest of this Verse hee inferres from their calling to Gods blessing That they shall bee so farre from cursing or reviling that they should use no other language than blessing even to the wicked and their adversaries But contrariwise This very tearme imports That the life and discourse of a true Christian should be not onely different from the life and language of wicked men but in many things contrary And it must needs bee so because the godly and wicked arise from a contrary fountaine the one borne after the flesh the other after the Spirit Gal. 4. and their words and actions flow from contrary principles for the one is led by the old man the other by the new man and they have from without contrary leaders the one led by the Devill Eph. 2. the other by the Spirit of God Rom. 8. and further they trade about contrary commodities the one for earthly things only the other for heavenly the one for things of this world the other for things of another world and lastly they goe contrary waies the one to hell the other to heaven and therefore there can bee no agreement betweene them no more than betweene light and darkenesse Christ and Behal This point serves for great reproofe of some weake Christians for comming so neere to the waies of carnall men as they can hardly be distinguished from them that looke so like them Such were those Corinthians Saint Paul reproves 1. Cor. 3.1 2 3. Blesse It is required of all true Christians that they should blesse their conversation should expresse blessing continually Now for the understanding of this point wee must know that man is said in Scripture to blesse either God or man He blesseth God when he praiseth his mercy and acknowledgeth his blessings he addes nothing to Gods blessednesse but onely acknowledgeth Gods blessed Nature and dealing towards man This exercise of blessing God began betimes in the world as Gen. 14.20 and was constantly continued in all ages among the godly But in this place the Apostle meaneth it of blessing man And to blesse man is either a vice or a vertue There is a vicious blessing of men which must be separated from the doctrine of this Text. Now it is vicious first when a man blesseth himselfe in his owne heart even then when God threatneth him Deut. 29.19 Secondly when a man blesseth wicked men and praiseth them notwithstanding their vile courses Ps. 10.3 Thirdly when a man useth blessing with his mouth yet curseth inwardly Ps. 62.4 Fourthly when a man blesseth his friend by way of flattery Prov. 27.14 Fiftly when a man blesseth Idols by worshipping them and by setting his affections upon them Esay 66.3 Thus of blessing as it is a vice As blessing is a vertue it is performed divers waies as first from Superiours to their Inferiours so parents blesse their children Gen. 27. Ministers blesse the people Num. 6.23.1 Cor. 14.16 Secondly Inferiours blesse their Superiours as the Subject the King 2. Sam. 14.22 the Child his Parents Pro. 30.11 the People their Teachers Mat. 23.39 In this place I take it blessing is considered of as it is required of all sorts of men towards all sorts of men and in particular towards their enemies or such as wrong them or revile them and so a true Christian should blesse both in deeds and words He blesseth in deeds when either he is a means to keepe others from evill 1. Sam. 25.33 or by doing good or shewing mercy to others and so a man blesseth his enemy when he relieveth him in his misery and overcommeth his evill with goodnesse Rom 12.20.21 Yea a man may be said to blesse when hee causeth others to blesse either God or himselfe for his well doing Thus Iob blessed when he caused the poore to blesse him Iob 31.20 It is required also that wee blesse one another in words and in particular it is required that wee
blesse them that curse us Mat. 5 44 Rom. 12.14 1. Cor. 4 12. And this we doe 1 By gracious communication in generall when wee use such words as may not only expresse to the life the power and truth of the gifts of grace in us but also may minister grace to the hearers if it be not their owne fault 2 By acknowledging the just praises of others 3 By praying for them Mat. 5.44 Psal. 109.4 4 By giving soft answers Pro. 15.23 and entreating them to avoid strife Gen. 13.8.9 5 By a discreet reproofe of their sinne for as he that flattereth curseth so he that wisely reprooveth blesseth Pro. 27.14 Psal. 141.5 The use should be to stirre up all true Christians to practise true vertue of blessing and to carry themselves so as all their words and actions may be blessed and a blessing to them that converse with them and may appeare to bee so even to their enemies It is a hard lesson but yet if wee seeke constantly to God for this helpe it may bee attained in some acceptable manner Knowing that ye are thereunto called Manie things may be here observed Doct. 1. That a Christian should be vehemently affected with the consideration of his calling and that for diverse reasons 1 Because of the cause of it which was Gods purpose election and free grace in Iesus Christ We were sinners and we were not called for any workes of ours Rom. 8.28 9.11 2. Tim. 1.9 The winde bloweth where it listeth wee are taken and others refused And this is the more to be thought on because this grace was given us in Iesus Christ before the world began 2. Tim. 1 9. It could not be had but by a Mediator and it was granted from all eternitie 2 If we consider from what we were called from grosse darkenesse 2. Pet. 1.9 from this present evill world Gal. 1. from the lumpe of forlorne mankinde from innumerable sins and curses from the danger of eternall damnation of body and soule for ever 3 If we consider the wonder of the meanes of our calling which is by the Gospell which is the voice of Christ raising us out of the graves of sinne even that voyce that shall make mens dead bodies rise at the last day doth now raise the dead soules of men in this world One resurrection in this life another at the day of judgement Eph. 2.1 2. Thes. 2.14 4 If we consider that it is a high calling the most honourable and most holy of any calling in the world No greater dignitie than to be the called of Iesus Christ greater in it selfe than to be an Apostle Phil. 3.14 5 If we consider to what we are called viz. to be partners and companions with Iesus Christ. 1. Cor. 1.7 and to great and precious promises Acts 2.3 9. and to obtaine the glorie of the Lord Iesus and a kingdome with him for ever Phil. 3.14 1. Tim. 1.6 The called are vessels of Gods mercie and upon them hee will make knowne the riches of his glory Rom. 9.24 6 Because the gifts and calling of God is without repentance Rom. 1 1.29 This a linke in that chaine can never bee broken this takes hold before the world of election and after the world of glorification Rom. 8.30 7 Because the great wise noble and mightie men of the world are not called and God hath looked upon such poore and weake creatures 1. Cor. 1.26 The use should be to teach us with all possible affections to magnifie Gods grace in our calling and to strive to walk worthie of our calling Ephes. 4.1 and to pray hard unto God to fulfill the worke of his grace in our calling that we may live to his glory and abound in all faith and well-doing 2. Thess. 1.11 12. The second use may be for great reproofe of mens wickednesse in neglecting the voyce of Christ in the Gospell and in intertayning so many excuses delayes hardning themselves in their evill wayes and suffering the Divell to keepe them without this high preferment Matth. 22. Doct. 2. From the coherence it is plaine That all Gods servants are called to holinesse of life aswell as to happinesse Their calling is a holy calling they are called to be Saints Rom. 1.7 so also 2. Thes. 2.14 13. 1. Pet. 1.15.1 Thes. 4.7 The use is to discover false Christians from true by their fruits you shall know them Such as make not conscience of their waies to serve God all the daies of their lives in holinesse and feare are not right Christians And therefore as men desire to have comfort in their calling they must take heed that they abuse not their liberty to licentiousnesse Gal. 5.13 Doct. 3 The calling of a Christian is a hard calling to flesh and bloud he is called to hard worke As in the coherence here to be so humble and unmoveable and holy disposed as when he is grossely abused and wronged in words deeds yet not onely to be patient but to blesse So it is in other parts of their worke as when a man must deny himselfe and take up his crosse daily and follow Christ For a man to forsake every thing his heart naturally desireth and to bee daily crossed is a hard taske The use should bee to raise up the hearts of Christians to a care to live above the course of this world and to presse forward towards the marke not caring for the difficulty of the race but looking to the price of his calling Phil. 3.14 Doct. 4. A true Christian may know his calling Know it I say that is hee may be infallibly assured of it And this is true in two respects first he may know that he is truely called and converted elected of God secondly he may know his calling in respect of the warrant of all his particular actions as here he may know what is required of him in his carriage towards his enemies Now that everie true Christian may be sure of his calling election and may know his conversion is most apparant by these Scriptures 2. Cor 13.5 1. Cor. 3.16 2. Tim. 1.12 Heb. 8.11 1. Iohn 2.3 3.14 4.16 5.13.19 And that everie Christian is bound to seeke this assurance and knowledge is apparant by many reasons As first from Gods commandement He requires it of us that wee should with all diligence seek to make our calling and election sure 2. Pet. 1.10 Secondly many reasons may be gathered from the effects and benefites such knowledge and assurance will bring to us Assurance is profitable for many things In generall it is our best riches on earth Col. 2.2 and in particular 1 It estates us in all the promises of God when wee know wee are truly called then wee know our right to all the promises of Gods word 2 It purifyeth the heart and life of man Act. 15.9 for when wee know we are the children of God wee are thereby stirred up to the greater care to please
God and walke in his waies 3 It greatly staies and supports the heart of man in the evill day when temptations or afflictions befall us yet the comfort of our assurance sustaines us and refresheth us greatly For helpe in the evill day the Apostle saith wee should above all things put on the shield of faith which if it remove not the crosse yet it quencheth the fiery temptations of Sathan with which we may be assaulted Eph. 6.16 and it greatly helpes us against the feare and terrour of death Heb. 10.19 20 22. In a word it overcomes the world 1. Iohn 5.4 5. 4 The faith of a Christian is all his living hee lives by faith in all the occasions of life as his faith helps him when all other meanes failes him and makes all other meanes more successfull when he useth them The just man lives by faith The people in captivity that were Gods children raised a living for themselves in a strange land by their faith Hab. 2.5 5 It puts life into all the duties of religion or righteousnesse it worketh by love it sets all our affections on worke towards God and his people and creatures Gal. 5.6 6 It opens a spring of grace in the heart of a Christian every good gift from above is excited and made to flow from within him by the benefit of his certaine knowledge and assurance of faith Iob. 7.38 Now if any aske how a Christian comes to know his calling I answer 1 By his sensible feeling of his sinnes to be a heavie burthen to him of which hee is truely weary so as hee desireth more to be rid of them than of any burthensome crosse whatsoever Mat. 11 2â— 9.13 2 By his manner of receiving the voice of Christ and the preaching of the Gospell not in word but in power The voice of Christ hath a marvellous power over him above all things in the world which appeares by the effects of it For he feeles in hearing the word first such an estimation of it as he acknowledgeth nothing like it for power and wisdome 1. Cor. 1.23 24. Secondly he finds at sometimes especially such an assurance of the truth of his religion and the doctrine hee heareth that he is fully established and â—â—eed from his naturall uncertainties about the true religion Thirdly the Word worketh in him spirituall senses and very life from the dead which hee feeles in all parts of his conversation making conscience of his waies in all things bewailing his frailties and striving to be such as God would have him to be Fourthly it makes him to separate himselfe from the world avoiding all needlesse society with the wicked and exciting in him constant desires to use the world as if he used it not Fiftly much spirituall joy before the Lord even then when in respect of outward things he is in much affliction The most of these effects are noted 1. Thes. 1.4 5. 3 By the Image of the vertues of Christ in his heart by new gifts in some measure for when God calls a man he reveales his Sonne in him Gal. 1.15 16. There is begotten in him a likenesse of Christ his very disposition is changed into the similitude of the vertues of Christ God gives him a new heart with the Image of Christ stamped upon it and hee is like Christ in respect of lowlinesse of minde and meeknesse and contempt of the world and love of God and the godly mercy wisdome patience love of his very enemies and desire to live without offence and praying to God as to his father Quest. But if Christians may know their calling what should be the reason that so many Christians are so unsetled and are not assured of their calling Ans. Distinguish of Christians some are Christians in name and outward profession but not in deed beeing not at all converted though they have the meanes of conversion and this is the estate of the most men and women in all places Now some are indeede converted but are weake Christians as it were infants that lye but in the cradle of religion Now for the first sort the answer is easie They know not their calling because they are not called yea they are so far from knowing it that they generally are offended at it that we should teach that any body can know his owne calling certainly Carnall Christians then know it not because they have it not and in particular the causes why these Christians attaine not assurance is because they rest upon common hope of mercy in God which house is but like the house of a Spider and will give up the ghost when the evill day commeth upon them And besides they live in knowne sinnes which they love and preferre before all things can bee offered to them by the Gospell Now it is impossible to have true assurance and to lye at the same time in knowne grosse sinnes without repentance And further many Christians by their wilfull unteachablenesse and incurablenesse in sinning doe so provoke God that all meanes notwithstanding yet those things that concerne their peace are hidden from their eies Luk. 19.42 Now for the weake Christian the causes of his want of assurance are such as these Sometimes ill opinions about assurance either that it may not be had contrary to the charge given 2. Pet. 1.10 or if it be had it will not bee profitable contrary to the reasons given before Sometimes it is their ignorance they are so unexpert in the Scriptures that not discerning the frame of godlinesse in generall they can never tell when they fully know this or any other doctrine in particular And this let is the stronger when they smother their doubts and will not aske the way or seek resolution in things they understand not especially in cases of their owne consciences In some Christians this want of assurance ariseth from meare slothfulnesse though they bee often called upon and convinced yet they returne to their former carelesnesse and will not bee at the paines to use the directions given them for the setling of their hearts In some Christians it is a violent pronenesse in their natures to take offence at such infirmities or mistakings as they observe in such as have professed religion before them yea sometimes they take offence at the liberty of those that are truly godly though they abuse not their libertie And this offence is sometimes so deadly that they give way to the projects of renouncing of all religion because they have observed such things in those that professe religion As in the primitive church many Christians took grievous offence at other Christians for the use of their liberty in things indifferent so as the Apostle was affraid they would fall away and perish in their scandalls Lastly some Christians are not setled because when the evill day comes upon them they cast away their confidence and strive to thinke that because God afflicteth them therefore they are not his being for the
will witnesse for him to his singular joy 2. Cor. 1.12 The daily encouragements of a good conscience are like a continuall feast within 3 From God and so they have Gods blessing certaine and this is a great inheritance and hath so much happinesse in it as it should swallow up all the grievance of afflictions and the contempts and scornes of the world It is enough if wee have Gods blessing Now that this point may bee distinctly beaten out wee must understand that true Christians may be said to inherite Gods blessing first in a more restrained sense and then in a more large sense In a restrained sense blessing may here be taken for Gods comfortable speaking for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifies blessing by words so it answers to the coherence If they will use good words to men God will speake good words to them And in this sense we may hence gather That Gods naturall language to the called of Iesus Christ is blessing or comfortable words God will speake to his people peace Psal. 84.5 and therefore hee gives a charge to his Ministers to speake comfortably to Ierusalem Esay 40.1 2. Secondly that Gods elect never finde this till they have their calling Thirdly that it is a great inheritance in this life to have God to speake well to us Fourthly that if the fault be not in us we shall never have God speake otherwise It is our inheritance to comfort us against all the miseries of life And therefore Ministers that are the mouth of God should studie comfort much and those Christians that desire to have the fruit of their inheritance in this thing should provide to live in such places where God speakes to men And those Ministers have a great account to make that set themselves to speake disgracefully and terribly to such as feare God striving to discourage their hearts and to strengthen the hands of the wicked Thus of the restrained sense onely note by the way That God speakes good words both for his people behinde their backes and to his people before their faces They inherite Gods good word for them in their absence Thus God speakes excellently in the praise of Iob to the Divell before the Angells Iob 1. 2. and thus hee can speake in the consciences of the greatest on earth in praise of his people as Esay 41.9 Now in the generall sense Gods people enjoy this blessing many waies and that both in this life and in the life to come In this life they have his blessin 1 In temporall things of all sorts hee makes the earth blesse them and the heavens and the waters Gen. 49.25 hee blesseth them in the City and in the field in the fruit of their bodies and of the ground and of their cattell in their Basket and in their store when they come in and when they goe out yea God will command the blessing upon them in their storehouses upon all they set their hands to he will open his good treasures unto them and blesse all the worke of their hands Deut. 28.2 3 4 5 6 8 12. And if they enjoy not so much in quality of these things as some wicked men yet they have a faire portion and a good blessing because that they have is blessed both in the originall of it and in the nature of it and in the use of it and in their right to it 2 In the meanes of grace and salvation and so they enjoy the blessing of God in his house-keeping and great is thâ—â—â— blessing where with God blesseth his people in his house on his holy hill and round about The Lord hath long since promised to make all the places about his holy hill blessings Yea there Gods people doe receive showers of blessing every powerfull Sermon is as a shower of blessing every doctrine being as a blessed drop of instruction or comfort Ezech. 34.26 Exod. 20.24 Psal. 132.15 3 In the gifts of grace and so he hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things A poore Christian carrieth about with him in his heart more treasure than all the Monarchs of the world being not true Christians can any way possesse or command Eph. 1.3 Thus of Gods blessing in this life After this life who can recount the glory of their inheritance in the blessing they shall have then from God Oh that our hearts could be enlarged to thinke of the power of these words of Christ at the last day Come yee blessed of my father inherite the kingdome prepared for you before the foundation of the world The use should be for great comfort to all true Christians They have great cause to rejoyce in their fathers blessing all their daies and the rather if they consider that Gods blessing as a Father is better than the blessing of any earthly father For an earthly fathers blessing is most an end but verball in words Gods blessing is reall in deeds A father on earth cannot derive blessing to his childe from himselfe but from God whereas Gods blessing is from himselfe Besides if an earthly father would blesse his childe yet hee wants power to give him what he desires but God our Father is almighty able to give as much as he wisheth Gen. 28.3 Finally an earthly fathers blessing may bee lost as Chams was but Gods blessing cannot be lost hee will blesse with everlasting mercy Secondly such as yet enjoy not the priviledge of Gods called ones should be greatly stirred up with desire to get this blessing even to have Gods blessing Let no man bee prophane like Esaâ— to contemne Gods blessing but seeke it while it may be had Heb. 12.17 Que. But what should we doe to get Gods blessing Ans. First you must diligently resort to Gods house for there God hath commanded the blessing Psal. 133.3 and bee carefull and attentive hearers of Gods Word for the ground that drinketh in the raine receiveth a blessing from God Heb. 6.7 the raine of instruction must soake into your hearts 2 You must turne you every one from all your transgressions if you will have Gods blessing in his Son Iesus Act. 3.26 without sound repentance Gods blessing will not be had Men must not thinke to get Gods blessing and doe after the things they doe now a daies every one that is right in his owne eyes Deut. 12.7 8. Finally wee must be all such as feare God truly Psal. 115.13 and such as will not lift up their soules to follow vanity but get cleane hands and a pure heart for such onely shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousnesse from the God of their salvation Psal. 24.4.5 and to this end we must carefully hearken to Gods voice and observe to doe all that he commandeth us Deut. 15.4.5.6 Lastly Gods owne children that have felt the comfort of Gods blessing must be admonished to carry themselves so as they may grow in the comforts of it more and more
vengeance Esay 61.2 which God proclaimes against all wicked men and by an excellency The evill day Amos 6.3 And these daies are in speciall called the daies of wicked men and they are theirs because properly no day is theirs till it bee evill Ier. 50.31 After this life comes that most speciall evill daies even that day of eternall misery in hell of which Salomon said God made the wicked for the day of evill Prov. 16.4 This doctrine of their evill daies should much affright wicked men not onely with the consideration of what they suffer now but of what they are liable to in the daies to come Little doe they dreame of the misery may befall them such daies may come as will burst their hearts with exquisite griefe their hearts shall not bee able to endure Ezech. 22.14 and therefore they should take heed of putting farre from them the evill day Amos 6.3 and in time repent and reconcile themselves to God in Iesus Christ that they may prevent the evill daies may yet fall upon them and know that their uncircumcised heart is the cause of all the evill brought or to bee brought upon them Ier. 9. ult Thus of evill daies in the life of the wicked The godly mans daies are evill divers waies 1 The daies of spirituall famine are evill daies when a man cannot enjoy the meanes of Salvation in the life and power of them In this case David said his teares were his meat day and night Psal. 42.2 2 The daies in which God is displeased with them or hideth himselfe so as he will not heare their praiers or not let them discerne it These are bitter daies to the godly Psal. 102.2 3. 90.9 3 Daies of temptation in which they are to wrestle with principalities and powers are evill daies Eph. 6. 4 All daies of trouble are in some respect evill daies Psal. 49.5 50.14 41.1 2. especially those daies are evill when the Lord turnes wicked men loose upon the godly and leaves them as it were in their hands to bee reproached and oppressed all the day especially when himselfe will not appeare to helpe them Psal. 102.8.10.11 Esay 37.3 and most of all when the just man seemeth to perish in his righteousnesse Eccles. 7.15 But yet here is a great deale of difference betweene the evill daies of godly men and the evill daies of wicked men because God sanctifies the evill of his daies to the godly man so as he is blessed when God chasteneth him for hee thereby teacheth him his law Psal. 94.12 Heb. 12. Secondly God will deliver him out of evill if he call upon him Psal. 50.15 yea though his troubles seeme desperate Ier. 30.7 Thirdly though God may seem to delay for a time yet he wil make hast to performe his deliverance After two daies hee will returne and the third day he will revive them Hos. 6.3 Fourthly God will make them glad according to the daies hee hath afflicted them hee will make them amends for all their evill daies Psal. 90.15 To conclude this point there be daies that are called evill which are common both to good and bad and such are the daies of old age Eccles. 12.1 when the Sunne Moone and Starres are darkned that is all sense of prosperity is removed and the infirmities of old age come thicke one upon another like cloudes after raine Vers. 2. when the armes which are the keepers of the house shake and the thighs and legs which were like strong men now bow and bend under them and their teeth which were the grinders or chewers of their meat now cease working because they are few and the eies which are the windowes of the body grow darke Vers. 3. when the doores shall be shut in the streets that is when upon the losse of his appetite hee shall have no delight in any thing at home nor minde to goe abroad but his owne house shall be his prison and when hee shall bee so unable to rest in his bed that he shall rise with the first voice of the bird and be waked with the least noise that is and that have no delight in musicke of any kinde as Barzillai said 2. Sam. 19.36 when they shall be affraid of every straw in their way they shall goe so weakely and their Almond tree shall flourish that is their heads shall bee white as the blossomes of the Almond they shall be so fore that a very Grashopper shall be a burthen to them to touch them shall be grievous and all the things they were wont to love they cannot now finde any comfort in and thus they are passing to their long-home which is the grave and they are so neare as if their very mourners were ready in the streets to carry them to their graves Vers. 4 5. yea they will not continue long but the silver cord will be loosened that is the marrow of their backs be consumed and their golden Ewer which is the brain-pan be broake and so will the pitcher at the Well that is the veines at the liver and so will the wheel at the Cisterne be broken that is the head which drawes the powers of life from the heart Ver. 6. and the dust returns unto the earth as it was and the spirit to God that gave it Vers. 7. Thus of the daies that be evill daies Now it remaines that wee enquire which be good daies and so wee shall finde that there bedaies that bee good in the judgment of the inward man and sometimes daies that be good in the judgment of the outward man onely thus much wee must know that in the first sense none enjoy good daies but good men Now good daies in the sense of the Scripture must bee considered either in generall or in particular In generall and so first all the daies of Christ after hee is revealed in a Christian are good daies and so all the daies of a true christian from his conversion to his death are good daies Which appears thus Saint Paul saith that Christ is our Passeover amd the Passeover is a feast which we must keep 1. Cor. 5.8 and such high festivall daies are good daies especially the first and last daies of the Passover were good daies in a special solemnity that is the day of thy conversion to spirituall life and the day of thy death which is the beginning of the day of eternall life Secondly all the daies in which Christians enjoy the preaching of the Gospell in the power of it and other ordinances of Christ in their glory all these daies be good daies for they are daies in which God makes rich feasts unto all Nations as is effectually described in the Allegory Esay 25.8 Thus David saith One day in Gods courts is better than a thousand any where else Psal. 84.10 The righteous flourish when Christ comes downe upon their soules as rain upon the mowen grasse Psal. 72.6 7. Thirdly those be good daies in which wee see