of a compleate Christian 1. Honestie 2. Vprightnesse 3. Pietie And they receiue much excellency and lustre from a circumstance of time In his generations which were many and mainly corrupt Without any further vnfolding my Texts coherence and dependance vpon either precedent or following parts for Historicall passages are plainer and doe not euer exact the length and labour of such an exact resolution as other Scriptures doe I collect from the first point wherein I finde Gods free grace to bee the prime and principall cause of Noahs preseruation this Note Doct. The free grace and fauour of God is the first moouer and fountaine of all our good Consider for this purpose such places as these Ier. 31. 3. Hos. 14. 4. Deut. 7. 7 8. Rom. 9. 11 12 13. Ioh. 3. 16. Ios. 24. 2 3. Ephes. 1. 5. And it must needs bee so For it is vtterly impossible that any finite cause created power or any thing out of Himselfe should primarily mooue and incline the eternall immutable increated omnipotent will of God The true originall and prime motiue of all gracious bountifull expressions and effusions of loue vpon His Elect is His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His merum beneplacitum The good pleasure of His will And therefore to hold that election to life is made vpon foresight of faith good workes the right vse of free-will or any created motiue is not only false and wicked but also an ignorant and absurd Tenent To say no more at this time it robs God of his All-sufficiencie making Him goe out of Himselfe looking to this or that in the creature vpon which His will may bee determined to elect The Schoole-men tho otherwise a rotten generation of Diuines yet are right in this 1. That distinction which I learne from my Master in his heauenly Sermons published since his death doth leade vnto aright and truely inlighten this Head-spring of all our good 1. Some actions of Gods loue vnto vs saith he are so in Christ that they are wholly suspended on Him and His merits are the onely procuring cause of them For example Forgiuenesse of sinnes is an action of Gods loue vnto vs and yet this wholly depends vpon Christ and his merits so that His precious Blood must either procure this mercy for vs from God else they will neuer bee forgiuen and this and the like loue of God is both in Christ and for Christ. 2. There are some other actions of Gods loue which arise meerely and onely out of the absolute will of God without any concurrence of Christs merits As the eternall purpose of God whereby Hee hath determined to chuse some men to saluation this is an action of Gods loue meerely rising out of His absolute will without Christs merits For Christ is a Mediatour and all his merits are the effects of his loue not the cause of it And yet this loue though it be not for Christ yet is it in Christ Ephes. 3. 11. According to the eternall purpose which hee wrought in Christ Iesus our Lord that is in regard of the execution of it for euen this eternall purpose and all the actions of Gods loue which arise from his absolute Will are effected and brought to passe in and through Christ. 3. Wee may take an estimate of the absolute and infinite frankenesse of this vnconceiueable loue of God to his which reacheth from euerlasting to euerlasting by looking vpon that goodly faire sweete amiable creature described Ezechiel 16. In the beginning of the Chapter shee lies most filthy and foule tumbling in her owne blood pittied by no eye abhorred of all which loathsomnesse should rather haue begot loathing then loue auersion and hate then affection and liking yet God Himselfe doth there professe out of a melting pang and ouer-flowing abundance of His free grace that that time was vnto Him the time of loue Hee spred his skirt ouer her and couered her nakednesse In a word after she was dressed and adorned with Gods most skilfull mercifull hand she became a most louely thing First washed with water cleansed from blood anointed with oyle then cloathed with broidered worke shod with Badgers skinne girded about with fine linnen couered with silke decked with ornaments of siluer and gold with bracelets vpon her hands a chaine on her necke a iewell on her forehead earerings in her eares and a beautifull Crowne vpon her head fedde with fine flower honie and oyle so that she became exceeding beautifull and renowned through the whole World for her perfect comelinesse euen mine owne comelinesse which I put vpon her saith the Lord God Uses 1. All praise then is due vnto Iehoua the Author of all our good the Fountaine of all our blisse the Well-spring of immortalitie and life whereby we liue and moue and haue our being our naturall being the beeing of our outward state our gracious being the euerlastingnesse of our glorious state Were the holiest heart vpon earth enlarged to the vast comprehension of this great Worlds widenesse nay made capable of all the glorious and magnificent Hallelu-iahs and hearty praises offered to Iehoua both by all the militant and Triumphant Church yet would it come infinitely short of sufficiently magnifying admiring and adoring the inexplicable mysterie and bottomles depth of this free independant mercy and loue of God the Fountaine and first Moouer of all our good We may and are bound to blesse God for all the meanes instruments and second causes whereby it pleaseth God to conferre and conuey good things vnto vs but we must rest principally with lowliest thoughts of most humble and heartiest praisefulnesse at the Well-head of all our welfare Iehoua blessed for euer Wee receiue a great deale of comfort and refreshment from the Moone and Starres but wee must chiefly thanke the Sunne from the greater Riuers also but the maine Sea is the Fountaine Angels Ministers and Men may pleasure vs but Iehoua is the principall Let vs then imitate those Lights of Heauen and Riuers of the Earth do all the good wee can with those good things God hath giuen vs by his instruments and then reflect backe towards and returne all the glory and praise vnto the Sunne of righteousnesse and Sea of our saluation The beames of the Moone and Starres returne as farre-backe to glorifie the face of the Sunne which gaue them their beauty as they can possibly vntill they be reflected or determine by necessarie expiration the Sunnes eiaculatorie power being finite Let vs semblably euer send backe to Gods owne glorious Selfe the honour of all His gifts by a fruitfull improouement of them in setting forth His glory and by continuall feruent eiaculations of praise to the vtmost possibilitie of our gracious hearts And here I cannot hold but must needs most iustly complaine of the hatefull intolerable vnthankefulnesse of vs in this Kingdome the happiest people vnder the Cope of Heauen had we hearts enlarged to conceiue aright of Gods extraordinary loue and such miraculous mercies
Duels c And was not the discouery and deliuerance from the Powder-plot that great astonishment of Men and Angels one of the most vnparalelled and mercifull Miracles that euer the Church of God tasted Is it not admirable in the eyes of all Christendome that the only Daughter of our King vnworthily hunted vp and downe like a Partridge in the Mountaines should with such Heroicall height of spirit passe thorow so many insupportable dangers difficulties and indignities impossible to be forced vpon Ladies by generous spirits and as impossible to bee borne and ouercome but by an inuincible spirit and that Shee and all her Royall little Ones should bee still safe in the golden Cabinet of Gods sweetest prouidence And to crowne all with a wonder of greatest astonishment doe not we all that are the Kings faithfullest Subiects almost feare still lest we be in a dreame that Prince Charles the Flowre of Christendome should returne home so To say no more Away then with all sowre melancholike causelesse sinfull discontent And Praise ye the Lord sing vnto the Lord a new song and his praise in the congregation of the Saints Let Israel reioyce in him that made him let the children of Zion be ioyfull in their King For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people Hee will beautifie the meeke with saluation Let the Saints be ioyfull in glory let them sing aloud vpon their beds In a word let vs of this Iland as we haue iust cause aboue all the Nations of the earth and aboue all Ages of the Church from the very first creation of it praise Iehoua most heartily infinitely and for euer 2. Neuer hit any in the teeth with deformity of bodie dulnesse of conceit weaknesse of wit poorenesse in outward state basenesse of birth c. For who makes thee to differ from another Either In naturall gifts as comelines of body beauty feature stature wit strength c. See Iob 10. 10 11. Psal. 139. 13 14 15. In ciuill endowments or any artificiall skill vntill it come euen vnto matters of Husbandry See Esay 28. 26. In outward things see Psalm 127. More particularly in preferment and promotion see Psal. 75. 6 7. In children 1. Sam. 1. 27. Psal. 127. 3. In a good wife see Prou. 19. 14. In spirituall things see Ezech. 16. In any thing thou canst name We are all framed of the same mold hewed out of the same Rocke made as it were of the same cloth the sheares as they say onely going betweene it is therefore onely the free loue and grace of God which makes all the difference Whereupon it was an excellent speech of the last French King as his Chronicler reports When I was borne there were a thousand other soules more borne what haue I done vnto God more then they It is his meere grace and mercie which doth often bind me more vnto his iustice for the faults of great men are neuer small Let none then I say ouer-looke disdaine or brow-beate their brethren by reason of any extraordinarinesse of gifts eminency of parts singularitie of Gods speciall fauour or indulgence towards him in any good thing which he denies to others Especially thy selfe being vouchsafed the mercy of conuersion neuer insolently and imperiously insult ouer those poore soules who are beside themselues in matter of saluation who like miserable drudges damne themselues in the Deuils slauery and suffer their corrupt nature to carrie them to any villanie lust or lewd course Alas our hearts should bleed within vs to behold so many about vs to imbrew their cruell hands in the bloud of their owne soules by their ignorance worldlinesse drunkennesse lust lying scoffing at profession hating to be reformed c. What heart except it be hewed out of the hardest rocke or hath suckt the brests of mercilesse Tygers but would yerne and weepe to see a man made of the same mold with himselfe wilfully as it were against the Ministery of the Word a thousand warnings and Gods many compassionate inuitations to cast himselfe body and soule into the endlesse easelesse and remedilesse miseries of Hell And the rather should we pittie and pray for such an one who followes the swinge of his owne heart to his owne euerlasting perdition because as I said before there went but the sheares betweene the matter whereof we were all made onely the free mercy goodnesse and grace of God makes the difference If he should giue vs ouer to the vnbridled current of our corrupt nature wee might be as bad and run riot into a world of wickednesse as well as he if the same God visit him in mercy he might become euery way as good or better then we 3. If the free loue of God bee the fountaine of all our good away then with that fained fore-sight of faith right vse of free-will good workes which should mooue God to elect before all eternitie and that Luciferian selfe-conceite of present merit fit monstrous broode of that Beast of Rome who opposeth and exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God For workes meritorious fore-seene are equally opposite to Grace as workes meritorious really existing Here you must cal to mind those eight considerations which I opposed against that wicked Tenent of Merit which doth iustly merit neuer to taste of Gods free mercy From the second point in these words These are the generations of Noah whereas the fame and memoriall of all the Families vpon Earth besides lay buried and rotting in the gulfe of euerlasting obliuion as their bodies in the vniuersall graue of Waters the family of Noah a righteous and holy man is not onely preserued in safetie from the generall Deluge but his generations registred and renowned in the Booke of God and conueyed along towards the Lord Iesus as his Progenitors and precedent Royall Line I obserue this point Doct. Personall goodnesse is a good meanes to bring safety honour and many comfortable blessings vpon posteritie see Deut. 5. 29. Exod. 20. 6. Psal. 37. 26. Prou. 20. 7. and 11. 21. Psal. 112. 1 3. Act. 2. 39. Reas. 1. Parents professing Religion in truth make conscience of praying for their children before they haue them as did Isaac Hannah When they are quicke in the wombe as did Rebeckah When they are borne as did Zachariah In the whole course of their life as did Iob At their death as did Isaack And prayers we know are for the purchasing of all fauour at the hands of God either for our selues or others the most vndoubted soueraigne meanes we can possibly vse 2. Godly Parents doe infinitely more desire to see the true feare of God planted in their childrens hearts then if it were possible the Imperiall Diadem of the whole Earth set vpon their heads And therefore their principall care is and the Crowne of their greatest ioy would bee by good example religious education daily instruction louing admonitions seasonable reproofes restraint from wicked company the
wherein they basely languish and lose their soules and leaue the successe issue and euent of all thy labours and vndertakings vnto the Lord whatsoeuer it may bee resting sweetly and euer relying vpon that gracious promise Heb. 13. 5. I will neuer faile thee nor forsake thee In ordering and guiding the affaires of thy family depend by faith vpon Gods blessing the strength and sinew of all sound comfort and true contentation that way See Psal. 127. In the losse of outward things for thy loue and seruice vnto God by beleeuing that Man of God 2. Chron. 25. 9. The Lord is able to giue thee much more then this Nay in the losse of all earthly things in euery kind see Habac. 3. 17 18. Although the fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Oliue shall faile and the fields shall yeeld no meate the flocke shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalles yet I will reioyce in the Lord I will ioy in the God of my saluation Consider also for this purpose Iobs patient blessing of God vpon the surprize and concurrence of an vniuersall misery Iob 1. 21. In pangs of the New-birth spirituall infancy weakenesses of faith prayer godly sorrow and other graces by those cordiall refreshing promises Reu. 21. 6. Math. 5. 6. Isa. 42. 3. and 40. 11. and 57. 15. In oppositions against the raising or restauration of spirituall buildings by the Ministery of the Word or in temptations against a mans personall progresse and holding out against Gods waies vnto the end by renouncing our owne strength disclaiming the arme of flesh and crying in euery encounter Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hoasts What art thou O great mountaine c In languishings and tremblings after relapse into some old or fall into some new sinne by such precious places as these 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Luk. 17. 4. 1. Sam. 12. 20. 1. Iohn 1. 9. From this last place a reuerend Diuine collects this comfort If we see our vnworthinesse and with broken hearts acknowledge it God is faithfull and iust to forgiue it bee it neuer so great But this is a iewell fit onely for the eare of a sincere Christian when out of the fearefulnesse of his distrustfull spirit he puts off all comfort though truely humbled after ensnarement in some more speciall affrighting sinne Let no swine trample vpon it In all kindes of temptations by the power of that promise 1. Cor. 10. 13. Nay euen amidst varietie of them by obeying that precept Iam. 1. 2. My brethren count it all ioy when you fall into diuers temptations In spirituall desertion by refreshing and resting thy sinking soule in the meane time vntill the Lord returne vpon that surest Rocke Isa. 30. 18. Blessed are all they that waite for him Most blessed deare and sweetest Sanctuary If the Christian die in that waiting state he shall be certainely saued For the holy Ghost pronounceth him blessed In the deepe and almost despairing apprehensions of thine extreme vilenesse and as it were nothingnesse in grace by apprehending that most mercifull promise from Gods owne mouth Isa. 43. 25. In thy perplexed and troubled thoughts about returne after backsliding by those comfortable encouragements Ier. 3. 1 12 13 14 22. Hos. 14. 1 2 4. In doubts of losing the loue of God and life of Grace by consideration of those passages in Gods Booke where it appeares that the loue of God vnto his child in respect of tendernesse and constancy is infinitely dearer then that of a most louing mother to her little one Isai. 49. 15. stronger then the stony Mountaines and Rocks of flint Isa. 54. 10. as constant as the courses of the Sunne and of the Moone and of the Starres and of the day and of the night Ier. 31. 36. and 33. 20. nay as sure as God himselfe Psal. 89. 33 34 35. In the Haile stormes of slanderous arrowes and empoysoned darts of disgrace by cleauing to most glorious promises 1. Pet. 4. 14. Mat. 5. 11. In the valley of the shadow of death by an assurance of Gods mercifull omnipotent presence Psal. 23. 4. In the extremitie depth of such desperate distresses and perplexities wherein in thy present feeling thou canst see and find no possibilitie of helpe from Heauen or Earth God or Man but art both helpelesse and hopelesse as the Church complaines Lam. 3. 18. by such like places as those Isai. 33. 9 10. 2. Chron. 20. 12. Gen. 22. 14. Exod. 14. 13. Psal. 78. 65. In euery thing or any thing that shall or can possibly befall thee prosperitie or pouertie crosse or comfort calmnesse of conscience or tempests of terror life or death c. by extracting abundance of vnconquerable patience and peace of soule from those three heauenly golden conduits of sweetest comfort Rom. 8. ver 18 28 32. Thus in any trouble of soule body good name outward state present or to come thou mayest by the soueraigne power of faith working vpon the Word not onely draw out the sting and expell the poison of it but also create a great deale of comfort to thy truly-humbled soule and maintaine it in despite of all mortall or infernall opposition in a constant spirituall gladnesse For all those promises whereupon thy heauy heart in such cases may repose and refresh it selfe haue their being from the blessed name Iehoua see Exo. 6. 3. and therefore are as sure as God himselfe they are sealed with the bloody sufferings of his onely Sonne and therefore as true as truth it selfe and if thou be in Christ are all as certainely thine as the heart in thy body or blood that runnes in thy veines Nay and a little more for thy comfort the glory of Gods truth is mightily aduanced and himselfe extraordinarily pleased by thy more resolute stedfast and triumphant cleauing vnto them What a blessed sweete and heauenly life then is the life of faith V. Apprehend in thy minde and settle in thine heart a true estimate and right conceit of the substance and power marrow and materials of Christianitie Which doth not consist as too many suppose In outward shewes profession talking in holding strict points defending precise opinions contesting against the corruptions of the times in the worke wrought externall formes of religious exercises set-taskes of hearing reading conference and the like in some solemne outward extraordinarie abstinences and forbearances censuring others c. But in righteousnesse peace ioy in the holy Ghost in meekenesse tender-heartednesse loue in patience humilitie contentednesse in mortification of sinne moderation of passion holy guidance of the tongue in workes of mercy iustice and truth in fidelitie painfulnesse in our Callings conscionable conuersing with men in reuerence vnto superiours loue of our enemies an open-hearted reall fruitfull affectionatenesse and bounty to Gods people in heauenly-mindednesse selfe-deniall the life of faith in dis-esteeme of earthly things
canst euer possibly harme thine opposite 5. A great deale of spirituall good doth by accident accrue to the Christian by the malice of his enemies The raging and rayling enemies of Gods people serue as scullions to scowre the Lords Vessels of Honour as Shepheards Dogs to hunt Christs Sheepe into order and to purer pastures 1. Their narrow watching ouer his wayes to take him tripping and prying into all passages of his life vpon purpose to disgrace his profession should make him walk more precisely and to hold a continuall counter-watch ouer all his courses that hee giue no iust cause of offence or any true matter of cauill or calumniation Whence it is that Dauid prayeth Psa. 27. 11. Leade me in a plaine path because of mine enemies or those which obserue mee 2. Their hitting him in the teeth with the reproch of his former sinnes should serue as a remembrancer vnto him to reuise and renew more effectually and feelingly the great worke of his first repentance and to open afresh a fountaine of penitent teares or at least of new griefe hee can grieue no more for those particular sinnes which any dogged Shimei or slanderous Doeg brings into his mind vpon such occasion For it is the woont of ignorant enemies to Gods holy wayes to charge vpon his children euen with much bitternesse and insultation the faults and follies of their vnregenerate time Though God Almighty hath buried them for euer in his mercy yet they will neuer suffer them to dye out of their malice Though the blood of Christ hath couered them euerlastingly from the sight of God and search of Satan yet their base and dunghill spite will euer and anon rake into them againe to their disgrace Thus were Austin and Beza two great Lights of the Church in their times and so are many other moderne Worthies and Champions of Christ dayly dealt with In which case learned Austin sweetly replyed to the Donatists vpbraiding him in such an vnworthy fashion with the impiety and impuritie of his former life Looke said he how much they blame my fault so much I commend and praise my Physicion And blessed Beza to a fellow obiecting vnto him his youthfull Poems This man vexeth himselfe because Christ hath vouchsafed mee his Grace And King Dauid with whom I should haue begun when Shimei rayled vpon him and called him murtherer Let him alone and let him curse for the Lord hath bidden him And yet besides this I doubt not but vpon these occasions Dauids heart bled afresh for his bloody sinne Augustines for his former heresie and sensualitie Bezaes for the vanitie of his youth 3. Their blazing abroad some speciall visible scandalous infirmitie of his and yet to which he is haled and as it were hurried by the impetuousnesse of some sudden passion or violent temptation and which is one of his greatest griefes and much matter of mourning in secret should cause him to strengthen his watch and improoue all his spirituall valour against the assaults and insinuations of it 4. Their malicious fathering vpon him by false reports those faults he yet neuer fell into and yet to which hee may bee naturally much inclinable should furnish him with more then ordinarie care and courage wisdome and watchfulnesse to preuent the scandall of any such guiltinesse 5. Their slanderous laying to his charge the things hee neuer did nor euer like to doe which is also an hellish humour and deuilish tricke of prophanenesse against profession should leade him to a strict enquirie into his heart and life to find out some other sinne of which vpon that occasion God would haue him take notice and mortifie It may be thou art falsely charged with hypocrisie looke that thou bee not earthly-minded with pride looke that thou be not passionate with worldlinesse looke that thou be not luke-warme c. Thus haue I somewhat inlightned and insisted longer vpon this point purposely to stirre vp and quicken the spirits of all Gods people to a fruitfull constant exercise of Christian charitie and bounty towards their poore brethren to bee aswell plentifull in workes of mercy as precise in duties of pietie God loues mercy aswell as sacrifice nay in some cases hee preferres the other before this to be so much more mindfull and apprehensiue of all opportunities for a sincere discharge of this much vrged and honoured duty as the wicked are malicious and Pharises forward to charge vpon them the contrarie For you know that carnall men are extremely greedy of casting aspersions and disgraces vpon the innocencie of religious Professours No excellencie of parts singularitie of worth eminencie of zeale height of holinesse integritie and puritie of life can possibly priuiledge the best man that euer breathed the life of grace in the bosome of the Church from the scourge of tongues The only Worthies vpon earth of whom the world was not worthy were vexed with cruell mockings Paul that precious Pillar of Gods Church was called A pestilent fellow nay Christ Iesus himselfe in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelt bodily was said to haue a Deuill And no marueile though they deale thus with his Children that daily blaspheme the mighty Lord of heauen and earth blessed for euer Daily experience tracts them in fiue pestilent passages this way It is their woont with all their cunning and vpon all occasions 1. To lessen disgrace and disparage all they can the graces worth and good parts of good men 2. To report true things maliciously and vpon purpose to bring them into hatred and disestimation so Doeg dealt with Dauid 3. To charge vpon them with much credulity and confidence things they neuer did neuer knew neuer thought vpon or dreamed vpon 4. With whorish foreheads and very impudencie of hell to fasten vpon them by slanderous imputation those sinnes and vices in the contrary graces and vertues whereof they are many times very eminent and remarkable Elijah was slandered to be a troubler of the State whereas in truth hee was the strongest Pillar of the kingdome the very chariots and horsemen of Israel 5. Nay and which is yet more to father vpon them those faults wherein themselues hatefull hypocrites are grosly and notoriously guilty Tertullus tels Felix that Paul was a very plague for so is the Originall whereas not onely Paul was one of the best men vpon earth but also himselfe a cursed cutthroate of all goodnesse and furious opposite to the glorious Gospell His lewd Mistresse charged Ioseph with an assault vpon her chastitie whereas not onely he was most free that way but also her selfe notoriously naught Ahab called Elijah a troubler of Israel whereas not only that blessed Prophet was the very strength of that State but also himselfe by his abominable couetous Idolatrous villanies brought confusion and misery vpon the whole kingdome Now out of this cunning malicious humour carnall men lye at the catch and are most eager to apprehend any shadow of
bring it downe and into the dust for increase of humiliation and lowlinesse in thine owne eyes as thou holdest out in the one hand the cleare Cristall of Gods pure Law to discouer the crookednesse of thy vile naturall disposition the villanies and skarlet abominations of thine vnregenerate time the daily spots staines which light vpon thy soule c. hold out also in the other hand or rather lay hold vpon Christ Iesus by the hand of faith hanging bleeding and dying vpon the Crosse for those very same sins that thereby thou maist vtterly quench all Satans fiery darts preuent drawing towards despaire nay preserue thy spirit in sweetest peace and vnconquerable comfort against if it be possible the least distrustfull intrusion of any slauish terrour 4. Vpon the holiest men that euer breathed the life of grace vpon earth and the most renowned in the Church thorow all generations for all spirituall sufficiencies and excellencies and thou shalt find them euer most humble in their owne conceits vilest in their own eyes nothing in their owne account Me thinks holy Pauls heauy complaint O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Heauenly Dauids continuall cry I am a worme and no man There is no rest in my bones because of my sinne My sinne is euer before me c. Blessed Bradfords abasing himselfe who was one of the worthiest Martyrs and the Heauenliest minded man that euer breathed out his last in the flames and ascended to heauen in a fiery chariot as himselfe spake at the stake I am as dry as a stone saith hee as dumbe as a nayle as farre from praying as he that neuer knew any taste of it He sometime subscribed in this manner to those Letters which were full of spirituall life diuinest streines and demonstration of the Spirit The most miserable hard-hearted vnthankefull sinner Iohn Bradford A very painted Hypocrite I. B. c. I say Me thinkes the humble deportment of these and all truely holy Ones should rather make thee sinke yet lower in thine owne conceit then swell with the poyson of Pharisaicall selfe-conceitednesse 5. Keepe in a readinesse and in fresh remembrance such considerations and cooling cards as it were as these when thy heart begins to swell vaine-gloriously That thou haddest thine hand in that fire-worke which blew vp all mankind I meane in Adams transgression that brought forth such a bloody sea of sinne and sorrow into the World such a world of miseries and mischiefes vpon all the sonnes and daughters of Adam all tortures vpon earth and torments in Hell thorow all eternity That thou camest into this world a sinke a Sodom a very hell of all filth and impuritie of all corruption and crookednesse euen a little Deuill for darkenesse and damnation That thou wofully lost and mis-spentst many yeeres perhaps the best of thy time strength of youth flowre of thy age in Satans seruice and vpon thy owne abominable lusts That now vpon thy conuersion the meere worke of Gods free grace thou being honored with part in Christs Passion with the presence of the blessed Spirit dwelling in thee with the highest aduancement of being Gods Fauourite the dearely beloued of his soule yet the best Sabbath that thou passest ouer the holyest duty that thou performest is distained and distempered with so many imperfections distractions frailties and failings That while thou yet inhabitest a house of flesh thou hast inherent in thy bowels secret seeds and inbred inclinations to all sinne Blesse the sanctifying Spirit for thy priuiledge and preseruation euen to Atheisme selfe-murder Sodomy despairing of Gods mercy familiarity with wicked spirits sinne against the Holy Ghost c. That whereas thousands about thee goe on in their sinnes and perish euerlastingly thy selfe it may bee before thy change worse then most of them yet now beeing sanctified thou mayest bee assured thy name was writ in Heauen from all eternitie and therefore from euerlasting thou layest in the bosome of Gods loue and from the same euerlasting had the Lord Iesus set apart to shead his blood in the fulnesse of time for the saluation of thy soule and haue patience but a little and euerlasting refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord thou shalt shine as the brightnesse of the firmament for euer and euer And in all this who made thee to differ Thou wast framed of the same mould made as it were of the same cloth onely the sheeres going betweene with those that perish It was onely Gods free grace the good pleasure of his will These and the like considerations layde together should infinitely rather mooue thee with all humble reuerence to adore the bottomlesse depth of Gods free loue vnto thee then conceitedly to magnifie thy selfe aboue thy brethren or proudly insult ouer those that are without to praise thy God with a neuer satisfied admiration of his vnconceiueable bounty then to plague thy soule and as it were empoyson thy graces with an humour of pride 6. Thou must shortly bee strictly accountable at the iust Tribunall of God for the vse and imployment of all the good things hee hath giuen vnto thee of thy life and euery moment of it of thy goods and euery farthing of them of euery word thou euer spokest of euery thought that euer sprung out of thy heart of euery Sermon thou euer heardst of euery Sabbath thou hast solemnized of euery line thou hast writ of euery glance of thine eye of euery iourney thou hast made c. of thy wit memory learning of thy strength courage credit of thine honour power and high place In a word of euery benefit or any good thing in any kinde thou euer receiuedst from the bountifull and blessed hand of Almightie God And the moe and more excellent and extraordinary endowments and gracious indulgences haue beene vouchsafed thee from the euer-springing Fountaine of all good the more exactly must thou bee answerable and in proportion accountable for more Wherefore sith the graces of saluation incomparably excell and outshine all other humane abilities all excellencies of nature art policie learning or what else can bee named admirable in the eyes of men God lookes that wee should keepe those heauenly Iewels especially orient bright and shining communicate them most frankely and abundantly to our brethren and with all watchfulnesse and wisdome vpon all opportunities imploy them to our Masters greatest and most glorious aduantage Now there is nothing more hinders the fruitfull improouement of them then Pride Nothing makes them more passable and profitable then Humility A proud man puft vp with an opinion of his good parts doth ordinarily out of an itching ambitious humour single out such seasons for discouerie of himselfe and ostentation of his gifts when hee may winne most applause from men and shew himselfe vaine-gloriously and thereupon is more rare dainty and reserued in exercising his talent But a downeright humble Christian is in this kinde
originall corruption and by reason of his vnauoideable frailties and imperfections but yet comely as the curtaines of Salomon by the glory of his new creation and gracious beames that shine vpon his soule from the face of Christ. 3. The further the Moone is remoued from the Sunne the fairer she is and fuller of light The more an humble soule vpon sight of that holy Maiestie and purest eye ten thousand times brighter then the Sun which cannot look on iniquitie doth retire with lowliest thoughts into himselfe to abhorre himselfe in dust and ashes as most vile and farre worthier to be throwne into the lowest dungeon of the kingdome of darknesse then to bee honoured with the loue and light of his countenance is more beautifull and amiable in the eyes of God Fure as the Sunne The Moone shadowes out inherent fairenesse the Sunne resembles and represents our imputed puritie So that this Royall Robe the Sunne of righteousnesse the vnspotted Iustice of Iesus Christ doth glorifie the soule 1. With an entire vnstained beautie our inherent holinesse hath some spots and staines of imperfection like the Moone but that imputed for our iustification is much more spotlesse and orient then the Sunne 2 Vniuersally Wee are washed as it were from top to toe in the blood of Christ and couered wholly with his perfect righteousnesse 3. Constantly The exercise of spirituall graces and sence of inward comfort may sometimes ebbe and waâ—…e for a time but the Robe of Christs Royall Iustice once put on by the hand of Faith is sure and the same for euer Terrible as an armie with banners Besides this rich and royall attire all this abundance of spirituall fairenesse and beauty wee are to put on also leâ—…t hellish Harpies that I may so speake snatch away our delicious and diuine dainties that glistering Armour thicke seâ—… with heauenly Pearles described Ephes. 6. The glorious splendour whereof is able to dazle the deuils eyes to daunt his courage and driue him out of the field For hee well knowes it to bee tryed and of proofe worne by our Captaine Christ Iesus who foild him by the sword of the Spirit in that great combate in the Wildernesse Mat. 4. And it is that by which the weakest Christians shall shortly by the blessing of the God of Peace bruise Satan vnder their feet The summe is The heauenly attire of a sanctified soule is farre fairer and more amiable then the exquisite concurrence of all earthly beauties and visible glory Were the light of all the starres aboue collected into Sunnes which Astronomers say would make many and added vnto that great bright Body the Prince of all the lampes in heauen nay if besides there were an accession of all the orient splendour of all the Pearles and Iewels of all the Crystall and glistering things in this lower world and all compacted into one beautifull body it would be but as a lumpe of darknesse to the glory and fairenesse of a sanctified soule For the beauty and amiablenesse of an holy soule inflames the heart and affections of the Sonne of God with an extraordinarie pang of spirituall feruent loue Cant. 4. 9. whereas not all the glory of the world though represented to his eye with the fairest lustre and in the most refined forme could moue him euer a whit Matth 4. 8 9 10. Plato was wont to say if morall vertues could be seene with the outward eye they would stirre vp in the heart extraordinary flames of admiration and loue what vnspeakeable rauishments then would Christian graces enkindle were they visible to the carnall eyes They would be able to make Persecutors Professors to turne euen Drunkards into Puritans as they call them the most sensuall Epicure into a mortified Saint For the second Let thy spirituall appetite seed merrily vpon that sweetest place Isa. 25 6. And in this mountaine shall the Lord of Hosts c. Heere is prouided as wee may see a magnificent and glorious feast composed all of marrow and fatnesse of most refined and purified wines which shadow vnto vs spirituall delicacies those golden dainties digd out of the rich myne of the mysterie of Christ by the hand of Faith in the Word Sacraments Prayer Communion of Saints solemne humiliations sweet Soliloquies solitary conferences with our God feeling forethought of infinite ioyes thorow eternity c. Euery circumstance breathes out nothing but sweetnesse In this mountaine It is dressed in Mount Zion The perfection of beautie The ioy of the whole earth The glory of all Lands which represents vnto vs by way of shadow and type the ouerflowing glory of the Christian Church the very Heauen of all humane societies our onely Sunne in this inferiour world which though so much maligned yet were it remooued there would bee a little hell vpon earth and nothing left but a darke Midnight of villany and horror for incarnate Deuils to domineere in A feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined Hereby is intimated the matter of the Feast and Royall prouision amplified with extraordinary Emphasis of words elegancy of phrase and iteration of the same sence with variety of expression which also argues its excellency It is not enough to haue said of fat things but there is added of fat things full of marrow and so proportionably of the wines to intimate the most exquisite refined flower of all delicacies and dainties The marrow of the fatnesse as if a man should say the spirit of the quintessence the Diamond of the Ring the sparkle of the Diamond c. And yet all this comes infinitely short of what the holy Ghost would shadow and shew vnto vs by the most sumptuous materials of earthly Feasts But aboue all that which makes the Feast most matchlesse is the Feast-maker Iehouah is the founder and furnisher of it The maker of heauen and earth makes it The Poets describing men of most ambitious appetites after choisest dainties say that they rob all the Elements to please their palates The Master of this Feast the euer-blessed Iehoua tells vs of his store and treasuries this way Psal. 50. 10 11. Euery beast of the 〈◊〉 is mine and the cattell vpon a thousand hills I know all the fowles of the mountaines and the wild beasts of the field are mine But all these being but onely matter of corporall food are yet nothing to the spirituall sweetenesse of this heauenly Banqueâ—… The secret and sacred delight of those diuine dainties intended here by the holy Ghost being vnspeakable and glorious doth infinitely transcend the possibility of all creatures to contribute and the capacity of the largest naturall vnderstanding to conceiue So must be construed as a worthy Diuine sayes truly that Text 1 Cor. 2. Not of the ioyes of heauen which heere the spirituall man himselfe cannot tell what they shall bee but of the Gospels ioy of the Wine and