the Lord. Besides what ever evils befall us God can turn them for our good as in Josephs case he saith to his Brethren Ye meant it for evil but God meant it for good Loss of goods hath proved a gain of grace Heb. 10.34 Restraint of outward liberty a means to set the conscience free Acts 16.25 Disgrace a motive for God to manifest his approbation torment an occasion of easing the minde Heb. 11.35 3 Look on God not onely as the cause of the being of things but the cause of their not being That the fire did not burn the three men Dan. 3. nor the hungry Lions devour Daniel why men favour us not and why their hearts are turned against us Psalm 105.25 God hath a work in men hearts as in Absalom who refused the best counsel Nothing is so high that is above his providence nothing so low that is beneath it nothing so large but is bounded by it nothing so little that he overlooks it nothing so confused but he can order it nothing so bad but he can draw good out of it nothing so wisely plotted but he can supplant it nothing so unpolitickly carried but he can give a prevailing power to it both is to be taken heed of Be not proud of thy wisdom and counsels if they succeed not do not despair because God governs and prospers the errours of the godly I have often committed the greatest rashness and follies but I did it not with a desire to hurt but unwisely desiring to counsel faithfully hence I prayed that God would amend my errour Luth. in Gen. 27. 4 Exhort to resign up all our actions to God in times of suffering 1 Peter 4.19 Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls unto him in well-doing as into the hands of a faithfull Creatour When we have a Jewel in times of danger we trust it in the hand of a father let us in suffering times leave our souls with God Let us also in the disposal of our conditions submit to poverty disgrace imprisonment banishment death even as the Lord in his providence shall please to dispose of us Even as the Patient doth to his Physician who hath seen his Water or felt his Pulse All the afflictions wherewith Saints are afflicted are no other thing than a pleasant and sweet play wherewith God plays with us as a father with his little ones whom he bids do something above their strength which when they endeavour diligently to do the father also puts to his hand Luth. in Gen. 43. V. 32. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess before my Father in Heaven Here 's a third Reason not to fear death because he that confesses Christ even to loss of Life Christ will confess him before his Father See Rev. 2.13 Quest What Confession is here meant Answ Habitual in the purpose of the heart for it 's not enough to confess Christ in one act onely 2 Seasonable Confession with the mouth When men shall oppose or deny Christ and his Truth or when Tyrants shall examine us of our Faith we shall unmoveably and constantly profess our belief in Christ and our cleaving to his Truth even to death and tortures Be we exhorted to confess Christ before men 3 Properties in Confession 1 Let it be with boldness Mark 15.33 1 Tim. 4.16 2 Plain without any equivocation So Peter and John answered the Council Acts 4 7. 3 With meekness and fear 1 Peter 3.15 See this fully in my Treatise of Denial of Christ p. 27. V. 33. But whosoever shall deny me before men him will I deny before my Father which is in Heaven Christ doth not here mean actual denial for Peter denied Christ yet is in Heaven And so Bilney the Martyr and many others under temptation so denied Christ yet stuck to him in the habit and purpose of their hearts but Christ means habitual denial of Christ in the purpose of the heart when a man for the saving of his Lands Liberty or Life will deny Christ or any part of his Truth Actual denial of Christ is dangerous though but in one act especially when the soul hath time to deliberate and for such a treachery God is wont to fill the soul with horrour that a man would give all the world to be eased of it as in Spira c. how much more dangerous is habitual denial Christ is denied 1 Silently when persons can hear the Truth spoken against his Servants railed on Idolatry cried up and they sit still as if the thing nothing concerned them against this see these places Psalm 119.46 1 Kings 22.8 Matth. 11.19 2 Christ is denied expresly and that 1 In a vicious Life Titus 1.16 2 Tim. 3.5 Jude 4. 2 Christ is denied in word this is 1 Publickly when being asked by the Magistrate concerning our Faith for fear of Prisons or Death we shall not acknowledg it Acts 4.8 9 10. This also is committed when we present our selves at worship which our own Conscience judges false for the substance thereof 2 In private when we conferring with men shall for fear of loss or hope of gain deny that Truth we inwardly acknowledg 3 Christ is denied in writing when we shall subscribe to any thing as truth which we are perswaded in our consciences is an errour or subscribe to the recantation of any truth Satan may tell you such a thing is soon done but know that is done in a moment which may be lamented for ever 4 Christ is denied in worship when we shall present our selves at such worship as we loath in our hearts Hosea 13.2 Let the men that sacrifice kiss the Calves 5 There is a denial of Christ in asserting Principles when for fear of loss we shall withhold the asserting of our Principles being thereunto called this was Peters sin Gal. 2.12 6 Christ is denied implicitely when though we do not deny Christ in life word or writing because we are not put to it yet we would deny him were we put thereto We must to mend this have the purposes of our hearts right to forsake all we have for Christ take we heed we deny not Christ for Church-communion John 9. John 12.42 This denial of Christ as to the acts of it is twofold 1 Sudden when a man is surprized on a sudden and denies Christ so Peter 2 Deliberate when a man notwithstanding reluctations checks and deliberations about confessing some truth yet for fear he shall hang back and deny it See my Treatise of Denial of Christ p. 12. V. 34. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth I came not to send peace but a sword Christ comes to propose another hardship his Disciples should encounter with to wit the contentions and oppositions not onely of strangers but also of near relations Think not that I am come to send peace on earth Many thought from the misunderstanding of that Scripture Isai 11.6 The
in the Life to come because their Reward is great in Heaven He means not the Reward of Merit but of Grace as if a King should give ten thousand pound a year for an hours service What I promise to give a man that is his reward though his service do not equal it as if I promise a man an hundred pound for making me a pair of gloves Now in merit there must be a proportion betwixt the work and wages for the recompence of merit is an act of righteousness now in all righteousness there must be equality when reward is promised to Gods children it is not to establish merit but to let Saints see that their labour will not be in vain Reasons against merit 1 God needs not any of our services nor gets no benefit by them Job 22.3 Can a man be profitable to God Job 35.7 8. If thou be righteous what givest thou to him or what receiveth he of thine hand Acts 17.25 He is not worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing 2 When we have done what we can we are unprofitable servants Luke 17.10 3 All good works are the workings of God in us and therefore reward is not due to our own works but God crowns his own grace in us so that Deus est debitor noster non ex commisso but promisso as Aug. saith God is our debtor not for any thing done by us but for his promise Matth. 10.42 So he promiseth to reward a cup of cold water given to a disciple 4 There is no proportion betwixt our sufferings and the crown of glory Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 18. we ought to take heed herein because the Papists use it to destroy grace Seeing then there is a reward in heaven let us endure reproaches we endure bitter Physick and sharp cutting in hope of long health let us endure reproaches and other sufferings in hope of glory Heb. 10.34 Use Caution Render not reviling for reviling imitate Christ 1 Pet. 2.23 and Paul 1 Cor. 4.12 being reviled we bless Yea he took pleasure in reproaches 2 Cor. 12.10 Let us look to the reward in heaven as Christ did Heb. 12.1 2. 3 Things may comfort under these 1 That our heart is well affected to every man yea even such as rail against us Matth. 5.44 2 That in private prayer we can pray for such reproaches Psal 109.3 4. 3 That thou hast a God to make thy complaint unto in all revilings as Nehemiah did Nehem. 4.3 4. 4 Your great reward in heaven 2 Exhortation Carry patiently under revilings for else 1 Thou wilt disturb thine own peace 2 Hereby thou wilt by an impatient frame of spirit discover so much evil as may be a just cause of revilement 3 By impatiency herein we may make others think us to be guilty 4 By reviling again you harden others in their reviling 5 You show great weakness to think so as if there were no other means to deliver you from an ill name but by an ill tongue Psal 38.12.13 When Davids enemies spake mischievous things against him he was a man that is both deaf dumb yet must we not so neglect our names that we should neglect the crimes falsely objected to us and confirm the slanderers but we must say I have not a Devil also If I have spoke evil bear witness of the evil He that neglects his name is cruell a good conscience is necessary for us before God a good name before our neighbour Luth. Ob. But I am guiltless and innocent and they reproach me falsely Ans The more false the things are the more cause thou hast to rejoyce if they were true thou hadst cause to be confounded For so persecuted they the Prophets Here 's the second ground of rejoycing It 's no otherwise with you then with the ancient Prophets of God whom they persecuted with reproaches as David Psal 31.11 Who was a reproach among his neighbours Psal 41.10 Mine enemies reproach me saying Where is thy God So strange were his reproaches that his heart was as it were broken with them Psal 69.20 So Jeremy cap. 20 10. I have heard the defaming of many Report say they and we will report it Nay it hath generally been the lot of true Prophets to be persecuted Matth. 23.34 So that we may say Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted Wâ—â—ness Eliah Micaiah Amos c. 7.13 Zachary Matth. 23.35 36. Yea the Disciples Matth. 10.23 So that we may â—â—y Gal. 4.29 As he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit So it is now Gal. 4.29 V. 13. Ye are the salt of the earth but if the salt have lost its savour wherewith shall it be salted It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be troden under foot of men Ye are the Salt of the Earth Quest Doth Christ call Ministers the Salt of the earth or all believers Ans Christ calls believers whether preachers or others the Salt of the earth 1 Because Christ not onely taught the twelve but all the disciples 2 Because it is not appropriated unto preachers alone but unto all believers to season others with grace for not onely preachers but all believers have the means of seasoning others as 1 Savoury speeches Col. 4.6 Let your speech be always with grace powdered with salt 2 Savoury examples Luke 14. ult Have salt in your selves and peace one with another that is as you live together in peace so let there be savoury and holy examples earth is put for the inhabitants of the earth by a Metonymie salt for them that do the duty of salt by a Metaphor But if the salt have lost his savor wherewith shall it be seasoned It is good for nothing no not so much as for the dunghill because it causes barrenness as if Christ should say If other men be unsavory you may season them but if you be unsavory who shall season you Use To apply this see 1 How unsavory mans nature is unless it be seasoned by the word Psal 14.3 men by nature are altogether become stinking their throats are like open sepulchres Rom. 3.13 Like putrified flesh to mans taste 2 See the duty of Christians which is to season others This is done 1 By the word which like unto salt gives rellish Psal 119.9 Wherewith all shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed unto thy word 2 By a holy and blameless conversation Scandalous practises make persons to stink Gen. 34.30 Simeon and Levi by their slaying the Sichemites made Jacob to stink among the inhabitants of the land Holy practises insensibly gain others 1 Pet. 3.1 Wives be subject to your husbands that if any obey not the word they may be won by the conversation of their wives let no man be led with vain glory because of present hearers let us live blamelesly among men and speak nothing for trifling sake but being much silent to answer to what
is needful let us avoid wicked suspicions of others concerning us and our received opinion of them is to be tried envy not any man who is dearly loved before others Just Mart. ad Zenam Serenum p. 390. Let no worldly conference flow from us but that which fits us for virtue Our neighbour speaking let us not laugh at him nor hinder him until by our silence he be ashamed and be silent Ibid. p. 391 392. 2 Exhortation to Christians to be like unto salt 1 As salt draws out putrifying humors out of meat and makes it rellishable for the palate so Christians by their doctrine and examples and in particular Preachers draw out the rottenness in the hearts and tongues of men and makes them fit for society of Christians hence they are called the salt of the earth to show that they should not season one or two or a few but even the whole earth and to press it the more upon them he used this similitude not once but often as Mark 9. ult John 14. ult 2 For profitableness Sale sole nihil utilius salt is most profitable called by some the balsome of nature it is mingled with all mixt bodies and preserves them from corruption So Christians are very profitable Philemon 11. Formerly unprofitable now profitable to thee and me 3 Christians are like salt for wisdom salt was an embleme of wisdome as salt seasons meat so wisdom seasons the mindes of good men Hence Sapientia is derived à sapore from savor because wisedome is the savor of the minde that which the soul is in the body that are Christians in the world 4 Salt is of a hot and fiery nature because cast it into the fire it kindles and of a watry nature because if you pour water upon it it turns into water So the Disciples of Christ should be hot and zealous for God yet should this heat be mingled with knowledg and discretion lest we fly out as those Luke 9.53 who called for fire from Heaven to consume the Samaritans or those who out of zeal to God persecuted Christ and his Righteousness Rom 10.2 5 As Salt stirs up Thirst so Christians should stir up others to thirst after Christ and heavenly things John 7.37 Revel 22.17 We should not so much look for Examples from others as give Examples to others Lyvy called Greece the Salt of the Nations it is more truly said of Christians 6 As by Salt Meat is made fit for our Taste so by the Salt of an holy Conversation the Word is made fit for the Rellish of others 1 Peter 3.1 Hence Christians are called the Salt of the earth that is of earthly minded men 7 As for preservation of Meat and other things from putrifaction there must be a just measure of Salt neither too much nor too little so Christians in general nor Teachers in special ought by an unseasonable application of the Law to swallow up afflicted Consciences Psalm 69.26 They persecute him whom thou hast smitten and talk to the grief of him whom thou hast wounded nor by an unseasonable application of the grace of God to encourage impenitent persons Rom 2.4 5 8 As Salt brings Desolation and a Curse to that which is not seasoned by it Gen 13.3 Zeph 2.9 so the Word in the Mouths and Lives of Christians to whom it is not a savour of life is a savour to death 2 Cor 2.16 2 Exhort to live savoury Lives our selves else how can we season others If the Salt have lost its savour what is it good for Take heed therefore of all scandalous sins for 1 By these the Name of God is blasphemed Ezek 36.20 The Babylonians seeing the loose lives of the Jews cried out These are the people of the Lord these are come out of the Lords land Rom 2 24 The Name of God is blasphemed by you Loose Christians are called Spots Jude 12 Deut 32.19 When David committed folly with Bathsheba by that thing he made the Enemies of the Lord to blaspheme 2 Sam 12.14 When the strong despised the weak and the weak judged the strong they caused their good to be evil spoken of Rom 14.16 How carefull are we to preserve the name of a Friend how carefull should we be to preserve the Name of God 2 An holy savoury walking free from scandalous sins is a mans glory 1 Sam 12.3 4 Whose Ox have I taken or whose Ass or of whose hand have I received a Bribe and they said Thou hast not defrauded us nor taken any thing of any mans hand 1 Cor 9.15 It were better for me for to dy than that any man should make my glorying void See 2 Cor 1.12 1 Thess 2.10 Contrarily it 's a dishonour to a Christian to be guilty of a spot of uncleanness c. Demetrius had a good report of all men yea and of the truth it self 3 Epist of John v. 12 3 Scandalous sins are worse to keep men off from embracing the truth than persecutions for by scandals men are hardened from embracing the truth Rom 14.13 Let no man lay a stumbling block or a scandal to another for sometimes persons were made by the contentions among strong and weak to stumble and so not to joyn to Gods people sometimes they were made to fall yea to fall off from Christian Assemblies Holy example is a duty we ow to the whole world and as by holy examples persons are built up towards Heaven so by wicked words and works yea by indifferent things done unseasonably persons are made worse and built up towards destruction Lev 19.14 Thou shalt not lay a stumbling block before the blinde Scandals are as Pits and Snares to catch living creatures wherein the unwary and blinde are taken 4 A savoury Life free from Scandals is a special means to stop the mouths of wicked men Dan 6.4 they found nought against Daniel but for the Law of his God 1 Peter 2.12 Have your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil doers they may glorifie God in the day of visitation 1 Peter 3.16 having a good Conscience whereunto an holy Life is joyned that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil doers they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ Titus 2.8 They that are of the contrary part will be ashamed having no evil thing to say of you contrarily when persons that profess shall fall into scandals wicked men draw these Conclusions as 1 Because some professing persons are bad therefore their Religion is bad 2 Because one is bad thus they are all 5 By an unsavoury scandalous Life thou hast a hand in other mens damnation A mans own personal guilt is heavy enough he need not add the weight of other mens sins Matth 18.6 Wo to the World because of offences there is not onely a Wo to the person that gives the offence but to the World This is a Rock on which thousands dash their souls Therefore as
1 That as such sufferings abound so shall consolations abound 2 Cor. 1.5 so that what ever they lose they have an hundred fold with persecutions Mark 10.29 30. 2 It 's no new thing to be persecuted Abel was persecuted of Cain 1 John 4.12 Isaac of Ishmael Gal. 4.29 As he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit so it is now yea whosoever will live godly shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3.12 so that we are not to count fiery trial a strange thing 1 Pet. 4.12 Brother shall persecute brother Matth. 10.21 and three shall persecute two in the same family Matth. 10.35 3 In the greatest violence persecutors can inflict believers shall not be forsaken of God 2 Cor. 4.9 persecuted but not forsaken not tempted above strength 1 Cor. 10.13 2 Tim. 4.16 17. All men saith Paul forsook me but the Lord stood with me when he came before Nero that Lion Matth. 10.17 I le give you a mouth that all your adversaries shall not be able to resist 4 God is wont to deliver his people from persecuting hands Persecutions befeâ— Paul at Iconium Lystra and Derbe but out of them all the Lord delivered him 2 Tim. 3.11 God delivers 1 Sometimes by setting one wicked man against another Acts 23.6 7 8. the Pharisees contended against the Sadduces for the resurrection and so took Pauls part 2 Sometimes by making the earth to help the woman Revel 12.16 3 Sometimes by providing some City of resuge Matth. 10.23 If they persecute you in one City stye to another 4 Sometimes by death when the death of his Saints shall set forth Gods glory John 21.18 Means to suffer persecution 1 Get assurance of pardon Guilt makes a man cowardly What made Paul so to triumph Rom. 8.35 Why he had assurance of pardon v. 38 39. I am perswaded neither life nor death shall separate me from the love of God 2 Pray and endeavour for a patient frame of heart When great troubles and an impatient heart meet how hardly are troubles born when Christ had told them they must be betrayed by brethren and friends and be hated of all he bids them possess their souls in patience Luke 21.17 18 19. strengthened unto all patience Col. 1.11 that is to patience in all things Hence be contented to be emptied from vessel to vessel you know how to live with your estates but learn how to live without them Phil. 4.12 13. 3 Look that the cause you suffer for be good 1 Pet. 4.16 If any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed 4 Strive not to meddle with much of other mens estates no more then for meer necessity so that if we lose for Christ we our selves alone may be losers for such debts in persecuting times will be apt to contract disquiet 5 Go in Gods strength Peter going in his own strength came to deny Christ Mark 14.29 30 31. how came Paul to stand when others shâ—unk God stood with him and strengthned him 2 Tim. 4.17 6 Get clearness of light When a man comes to suffer he will not go a jot beyond that he hath cleer light for Hâ—b 10.34 after they were illuminated they endured a great sight of affliction Though the heart be upright and cause good yet the person suffers fearfully for want of 〈…〉 7 Look upon God in his greatness and so shall you not fear men how great soever Psal 27.1 The Lord is my light and salvation whom shall I fear Mat. 10.28 Fâ—â—r him that is able to cast soul and body in to hell fiâ—e 〈◊〉 51.12.13 Wheart thou that art afraid of a man thâ—â— shall are and 〈◊〉 the Lord thy maker Heb. 11.27 Moses indured and was not affraid of the wrath of the king for he looked upon him that was invisible 8 Beware of the threats and flatteries of persecutors Be not scared with their threats Dan. 3.16 when they threaten fiery furnaces Lions dens nor yet allured with their flatteries Dan. 11.32 9 Be content to live in a low condition Many will comply to any thing because their spirits are so great they must live in such an height low conditions are crosses that must be taken up as well as other crosses Luke 14.26 27. 10 Either you must suffer with men for confessing truth or with God for denying it If it be the will of God its better that you suffer for well doing then for evill doing 1 Pet. 3.17 11 Get a holy resolution to choose persecution or any other affliction rather then to sin against thy conscience Job 36.21 Take heed regard not iniquity for this hast thou chosen rather then affliction 12 When thou choosest persecution rather then to sin against God the kingdome of heaven is thine as in the text Mens minds are apt to be broken and cast down in persecutions hence Christ promises a kingdome Matth. 19.29 Hence let us not under persecution bewail our condition as if it were most miserable seeing this kingdom will be yours V. 11. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evill against you falsely for my sake V. 12. Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you Here are 4 things considerable 1 The sufferings revilings set down by two aggravations 1 Saying all manner of evil against you 2 Saying it falsely 2 The cause for Christ his sake 3 The affections Christians must have under these sufferings viz. they must rejoyce and be exceeding glad 4 The grounds of this affection of joy which are two 1 The greatness of the reward in heaven 2 Their conformity herein to the Prophets and other holy servants of God 1 The sufferings which are revilings Obs The people of God in this present life are exposed to the worst and most false revilings for Christs sake Luke 6.22 They shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the son of mans sake Reas 1 From that enmity that is betwixt the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent Gen. 3.15 2 Because the Saints do not suite themselves to the manners and customes of the world but by a contrary course condemn the wicked manners of the world hence the world to justifie themselves and to condemn Gods people they load them with reproaches John 15.19 If ye were of the world the world would love its own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hates you 3 Because wicked men have a principle of hatred against Christians Matth. 10.22 Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake Prov. 26.28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it Use Be not discouraged under revilings seeing it is for the cause of Christ Heb. 13.13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach That is be not ashamed if
Luke 9.53 yet he brought grace to their doors Joh. 4.10 Also from the example of Saints How kinde was Joseph to his brethren that sold him into Egypt Gen. 50.20 Stephen prayed for his persecutors Acts 7.59 Jeremy did not desire the wofull day against those that went about to take away his life Jeremy 17.16 How oft had David Saul in his power yet would he not hurt him It 's related of Bishop Cranmer that he so loved his enemies that it became a Proverb That the readiest way to get a good turn from him was to do him an injury 2 There may be some good in an enemy His created nature is good as being from God he hath or may have many good parts in him which if malice did not blinde us we might see now goodness wherever it is ought to be an object of love Thy love to thy enemy may be a mean to overcome his enmity Rom. 12.19 As coals of fire melt hard mettals so will thy kindness melt him 4 Though at present he may be an enemy yet he may in time become both thy friend and Gods friend Though now for the present he do thee wrong he may come to relent Prov. 16.7 When a mans ways please the Lord he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him He that turned the hearts of the Egyptians to lend his people their jewels can turn thine enemies hearts Paul once an enemy to God and his people after conversion a true friend to both The Jews though at present enemies for your sakes yet are they beloved for the fathers sake and shall be friends to Christianity Rom. 11.28 Esau's heart was turn'd to Jacob Gen. 33.10 5 The mischiefs which come from hatred of our enemies 1 Hereby we do more hart to our own souls then our enemies can do filling our souls with malicious distempers 2 We multiply contentions farther and farther There 's no way to overcome the evil of an enemy but by doing good to him Rom. 12.21 We should be glad when God puts an opportunity in our hand to overcome the malice of our enemies that we may see the uprightness of our heart herein Miriam had spoken against Moses in a way of detraction Numb 12.1 God smites her for so doing with leprosie Moses prayes for her healing with much earnestness v. 13. So doth Samuel pray for the people when they had cast off him and his government 1 Sam. 12.18 Obj. Papists say it 's matter of counsel to love enemies but no command A. It 's well if it be so yet no sin if it be omitted do it thou hast more reward omit it thou hast no punishment Counsels are onely given to some few that can receive them Matth. 19.11 12. but this command is given to all as the other duties commanded in this Chapter are precepts as Let your light shine forth v. 16. also v. 24.28 29 c. are all precepts and not counsels so is this Besides the reasons in the Text and v. 45. show that it is not left as an arbitrary thing Yea we finde it conjoyn'd with the most precise precepts Rom. 12.18 Col. 3.13 1 Thes 5.15 Obj. But David oft prayes against his enemies Answ 1 It may be conceived he means the enemies of the Church not his own personal enemies 2 He did this rather by a Prophetical spirit as rather denouncing what will come then desiring what may come 3 It was not out of any revengefull desire as if he took pleasure in the destruction of wicked men as out of a desire that the truth and justice of God may be made glorious in the destruction of wicked men 4 The Prophets pray for the destruction of wicked men not of their persons but of their Kingdome which being destroyed the Kingdome of Christ is inlarged 5 The Prophets wish for temporal evils upon wicked men that they may be corrected and amended Ps 83.16 Fill their faces with shame that they may seek thy name O Lord. But if this cannot by prayer be obtained then that the Church may be freed from them and the justice of God glorified 6 If none of these take place which we may in most Scriptures suppose then we must think that either David and others sinned herein or that the Law of the new Testament tends more to charity then the old and is a more perfect law Obj. But it 's a rule in justice to give like for like he hates me why should not I hate him Answ Like for like is not a rule alwayes to go by for it takes place onely in just things The contrary is commanded 1 Pet. 2.23 1 Pet. 3.9 Render to no man evil for evil or rayling for rayling 2 Revenge is an act of Gods Psal 94.1 Vengeance is mine not thine Deut. 32.15 Also it 's an act of the Magistrate who is a revenger to execute wrath on them that do evil Rom. 13.4 Obj. But he is my enemy and hates me causelesly Answ 1 Lay aside thy hatred towards him that he may love thee 2 Thou wilt have great comfort in thy conscience when thou canst love a causeless enemy Psal 7.4 Yea I have delivered him that without cause was mine enemy Obj. But he is a wicked man and the Prophet David saith Psal 139.21 Do not I hate them that hate thee Answ It 's one thing to hate a wicked man another thing to hate the wickedness in a man If you hate his wickedness you will hate the same wickedness in others even in your friends which you do not therefore your hatred against the person makes you hate the sin When David hated his enemies it was with a perfect hatred now perfect hatred is that which hates not the person for the sin nor loves the sin for the person Object But if we must pray for our enemies we must pray for the Devil and his Angels Answ Christ means onely such enemies for whom there is revealed a possibility of hearing for if a man sin against the holy Ghost we are not to pray for him 1 Joh. 5.16 God hath revealed the irrevocable damnation of the devils Jude 6. in that they are reserved in everlasting chains Object But we read of particular men that curst Noah curst Canaan Gen. 9.25 Cursed be Canaan a servant of servants Joshua curst them that built Jericho Jos 6.10 compared with 1 Kin. 16. â—4 Peter curst Magus thy mony perish with thee Act 18.20 Paul wisht They were cut off that troubled the Galatians Gal. 5.12 Elisha cursed the forty and two children 2 King 2.24 Paul cursed Alexander 2 Tim. 4.14 Answ When the Saints desired these things it was made evident to them from God that they should come to pass they did not do it out of any spirit of enmity Object But is this commandement of loving our enemies possible Answ It s possible according to the tenour of the Gospel though not according to the law when we consent to the law of God herein and have
nature hence we had need look our actings be sincere Job 10.4 Hast thou carnal eys as man or seest thou as man sees Had we men onely to look upon us we might trifle as we would but we cannot beguile God Heb. 4.13 All things are naked and open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do man looks upon the appearance God upon the heart 1 Sam. 16.7 Rom. 1.9 Paul served God in his spirit Joh. 4.23 24. They that serve him must serve him in spirit and truth those that are built up a spiritual house must offer spiritual sacrifice 1 Pet. 2.5 5 There shall be a general discovery of the secrets of all hearts Luk. 12. take heed of hypocrisie why For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed nor hid that shall not be known The very counsels of the hearts shall be opened 1 Cor. 4.5 Eccl. 12.14 6 The comfort of sincerity at all times especially in an evil day at all times sincerity comforts when enemies accuse Psal 139.1 The widow had more comfort in giving her two mites then all they that had given large gifts One shilling given sincerely is more comfortable then pounds given vain-gloriously Luk. 1.75 Especially this comforts in an evil time Isai 38.3 Psal 112.4 7 8. In that time conscience will not so much ask what you have done as to whom you have done it In that day those things wherein we have had most respect unto God and least unto men will bring most comfort Hezekiah had done much for God but his chief comfort was not the things done as the manner of doing them Many have received righteous men but they will have comfort that have received righteous men as such 7 Sincerity gives a lustre and beauty to the services we do Luk. 1.6 Zachary and Elizabeth are said to be righteous before God Paul praises the graces of the Thessalonians that they were in the sight of God and our father 1 Thes 1.3 Hezekiah is commended that he turned his face to the wall and wept Isai 38.2 Hence all the duties of worship are required to be in sincerity as prayer Psal 145.18 hearing 1 Pet. 1.2 receiving 1 Cor. 5.8 yea all our service in holiness and righteousness must be before him Luk. 1.75 So that as the varnish gives a lustre to the picture the diamond to the ring so doth sincerity to our actions As hypocrisie stains all a mans actions as the burning of his body the parting with all his goods to the poor so sincerity adorns them a Ministers preaching a Tradesmans dealing a Magistrates governing a Servants working 8 There 's nothing will carry us through variety of temptations but sincerity so that sooner or later we shall discover our selves if we be not sincere as Saul Jehu Judas c. 1 Tim. 5.52 They that are otherwise cannot be hid 9 God takes pleasure delight in the sincerity of his servants Jer. 5.3 Are not thine eys upon the truth Ps 51.6 Thou desirest truth in the inward parts Such are Gods delight Prov. 11.20 Sincere men whether present with God or absent from him labour to be accepted of him 2 Cor. 5.9 If such souls pray God delights in their prayer Prov. 15.8 10 The Saints are wont to be jealous of the want of this grace above any other Psal 139.24 Try me and search me O Lord see if there be any way of wickedness in me Job 13.23 Make me to know my transgression and my sin Saints know the comfort of sincerity is great the corruptions that hinder it many the trials and sufferings to preserve it not a few hence are they so jealous of themselves hence the Disciples hearing that one of them should betray Christ all the eleven that were sincere suspected themselves Master is it 1 The ground of this jealousie in sincere souls is because they finde so much crookedness and falshood in particular actions hence they doubt lest they should be unsound in the main yea they know their comfort or misery doth in a great measure depend hereon 11 No Preacher under heaven can speak comfort to a person in an evil day unless he be sincere Job 33.23 The Interpreter one of a thousand declares comfort unto a sick man but how doth he it Even by declaring unto him his uprightness Afflicted souls send to Preachers in an evil day we speak peace to them if they be upright Prov. 2.7 He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly Prov. 10.9 He that walks uprightly walks surely 12 All sincere souls and none else have cause to rejoyce in God Psal 97.11 Light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart Yea all such are bid to rejoyce in God Psal 32.11 Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart Though they have many imperfections hanging upon them and though their grace be sometimes like a grain of Mustard seed yet are they to rejoyce Many poor Christians are apt to be discouraged by their failings yet know that sincerity may stand with the having many weaknesses but not with the allowing excusing maintaining wilfull winking or denying of any All sins which we acknowledge and defend not are pardoned but the sin which is defended is unpardonable Luth. Tom. 3. Lat. 104. Others are discouraged because of their fruitlesness let this humble thee not discourage thee Because thou brings forth fruit onely thirty fold and not sixty charge thy self with weakness and negligence not with hypocrisie Grounds why sincere souls have cause to rejoyce in God 1 Such have their sins pardoned Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute iniquity but who is that viz. in whose spirit there is no guile that is no allowance of guile or no reign of guile for in the holiest heart there is but too much guile Isai 63.8 Surely they are children that would not lye therefore was he their Savior 2 The more the afflictions and disasters of such abound the more in Gods time shall comforts abound Job 8.20 Behold God will not cast off the perfect man Psal 97.11.112.4 3 Such persons have the special presence of God determined unto them Psal 11.7 His countenance doth behold the upright Psal 140.13 The upright shall dwell in thy presence Job 13.16 he also is my salvation but an hypocrite shall not come before him that is into Gods special presence as I do and other Saints 4 God hath special care to protect such in time of danger 2 Chron. 16.9 The eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of those whose hearts are perfect with him Isai 33.15 He that walketh uprightly his place of defence shall be the munition of rocks 5 In the dispensation of rewards among professing people in this life God hath special respect to those who are sincere Psal 18.23 24. I was upright before him therefore hath the Lord
recompensed me according to my righteousness Look upon the Kings of Judah from David and so along whose hearts were perfect with God and see how God made their Kingdoms prosper witness Asa Jehoshaphat Hezekiah c. 6 Sincere souls may be comforted against all disasters whatsoever Art thou being sincere reproached Job being so comforted himself cap. 16.19 Behold my witness is in heaven and my record is on high Job 23.10 He knoweth the way that is with me so the Margin Joseph doubtless had comfort when his Mistress slandered him 1 Cor. 4.3 4. When sundry at Corinth censured Paul saith he I regard not mans day or mans judgement I know nothing by my self So in time of sickness and death great will the comfort of sincerity be Isai 57.2 He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Mark the perfect man the end of that man is peace Ps 37.37 The having the loyns girt about with truth is part of a Christians armor in an evil day Eph. 6.14 Job saith c. 27.5 6. Till I dye I will not let my integrity go from me my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live It will be a matter of comfort in death to write down some of the great actions or turnings of our lives wherein we have acted uprightly Hypocrites in prosperous times are very confident but when an evil time comes their hope is as the giving up of the Ghost but sincere souls when God shall ask them By conscience lovest thou me They can return this answer Thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee John 21.15 It was a speech of a godly woman when she came to die that she had nothing to comfort her but poor sincerity her name was Mrs. Juxon Quest But what is this sincerity which is so comfortable and whereunto you so exhort us Answ It is to do what we do unto God having a bent of heart to all Gods commandements with an earnest desire to avoid the contrary out of conscience to God and from faith and love 1 Kings 9.4 If thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked in integrity of heart and uprightness to do according to all that I have commanded thee 1 See uprightness and integrity consists in having a bent to do all God commands The contrary is unsoundness See Matth. 19.21 22. Col. 4.12 Perfect and compleat in all the will of God q. d. where there is one the other will be 2 It must be done unto God or out of conscience to God Isai 38.3 Noah was perfect in his generations how doth that appear Why Noah walked with God Gen. 6.9 that is in his actings he made himself present with God and God present with him else to part with any thing as with life and goods to give the body to be burned and all a mans goods to the poor and so consequently to do any command for these two are the hardest commands would not argue sincerity unless what we do be done out of conscience to God 3 It must be from faith and love 3 Use Trial. Try thy sincerity 1 At whose eye do you look in all your services Psalm 16.8 I have set the Lord ever before me Hypocrites in some particular actions may set God before them as Abimelech Gen. 20.6 Those that kill'd the Apostles thought they did God service in it John 16.2 The Jews in opposing Christs righteousness had the zeal of God in it that is they lookt at God in it Rom. 10.2 But sincere persons have a desire to and purpose for to set God ever before them yea if any by-ends come in they are troubled at it 2 From whom do you expect a reward hence a conscientious Preacher preacheth with all his strength though people be not gathered Esa 49.4 5. Hence that Servants may be sincere they are bid to expect their reward from God Col. 3.23 24. Why for ye serve the Lord Christ Hence a Christian doth good to unthankfull yea to enemies Psalm 35.12 13. Luke 6.35 36. Hence a sincere soul doth duty when it hath no reward with men nay contrarily shame and blame 3 The doing good and avoiding evil in secret They do good in secret Job 31.18 19. Esa 38.3 Hypocrites will do good where there are many eyes to behold them Matth 6.2 Matth. 23.5 but very seldom do they any good in secret but sincere souls do good in secret Their alms prayer and fasting they strive that it may be in secret Matth. 6.1 c. So on the other side they avoid evil in secret Joseph durst not come near his Mistress though none but he and she were in the house Job durst not lift up his hand against the fatherless though he saw his help in the gate Job 31.21 He eschews hellish thoughts and groans under them crying Cleanse me Lord from secret sins then shall I be upright Psalm 19.12 13. Contrarily hypocrites and wicked men will venture to do evil in secret all their care is to cover it from the eye of man Hence they stick not to plot mischief in secret Psalm 64.2 4. They will slander in secret Deut. 27.24 Moses calls it a smiting their neghbour secretly They do secretly accept persons Job 13.10 In a word it s a shame to speak of the things that are done of them in secret Eph. 5.12 Yet may they refrain from open and scandalous sins and live and dye without any such though usually God leaves them to fall into some open sin that so their name may rot Prov. 10.7 4 The singling out God from all other objects that come what will come they will not leave the Lord. Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should rejoyce in any thing save in the cross of Christ Rom. 8.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ He means both active and passive love which the Lord hath to us and we to the Lord. Hypocrites on the other side are double minded their hearts are divided betwixt God and some lust James 1.8 A double minded man is unstable in all his wayes Sometimes they are for God sometimes for the world hence where any soul sincerely turns to God he purifies himself from double mindedness James 4.8 9. 5 Sensibleness of and groaning under inward distempers Rom. 7.15 23. Troubled under hardness of heart Isa 63.17 Unbelief Mark 9.23 Privy pride 2 Cor. 12.7 8. From a principle of tenderness of conscience they have received and a blessed light God hath set up in their hearts they are sensible of such evils as the world counts nothing yea they are more troubled for these then wicked men are for grosse evils they complain of themselves for not striving with God to keep off his judgements for their close hypocrysie heaviness in the service of God dulness Isa 64.7 There 's none that stirs up himself to take hold of thee A sincere soul though he do duties outwardly plausible yet is he not contented
18. 9 A care to reform the outward man with a neglect of the inward man Hypocrites are busiest in outward performances For example in matters of religion there 's the outward part and the inward part for the outward part as hearing presenting himself at worship Eccl. 8.10 He comes and goes to the place of the holy but for the inward part to wit the bleeding heart the melting affection the rectified will the inward washing of the heart Jer. 4.14 these he is a stranger from He is like a Bankrupt that makes show of all and more then all the wares he hath Matth. 15.7 8 9. Ye Hypocrites well did Isaiah say this people draweth nigh me with their lips but their heart is far from me Contrary the sincere Christian is like a rich Merchant that hath much more goods then is seen in Ware-houses and Cellars if he cleanse himself he labours not onely to cleanse his hands as Pilate did but he cleanses his heart Jam. 4.8 If he gives thanks he doth not onely lift up his hand but his heart to God in the heavens Lam. 3.40 He cleanses himself not onely from filthiness of the flesh but of the Spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 Jer. 4.14 If he give alms he draws out his soul to the hungry as well as his hand Isai 58.10 If he obey God in any command it 's from the heart Rom. 6.17 Col. 3.23 If he be baptized he cares not onely to have his body washed with pure water but to have his heart sprinkled from an evil conscience Heb. 10.22 He doth not onely speak of good things with his tongue but the Law of God is in his heart Psal 37.31 Because the outward part is easie and glorious in the eys of the world the hypocrite will do that but the inward part being difficult and costly he will not do that 10 A following God in cheap and creditable duties but not in costly and dishonourable duties So Saul 1 Sam. 15.8 9. Saul destroyed the worst of the sheep and cattel every thing that was vile and refuse they destroyed utterly but for Agag and the best of the sheep and oxen and fatlings and all that was good they would not utterly destroy So when a duty is creditable a hypocrite will do it as to profess Religion forwardly where it is in credit as many hypocrites did in Josiah's time whose hypocrisie was seen when he was dead Contrarily sincere persons follow God in costly duties if duty cost them all their preferment and wealth they will part with it Luke 14.33 Heb. 11.25.26 They will not offer to God that which costs them nothing so in duties wherein there is no credit as David when he danced before the ark of God 2 Sam. 6.20 though Michal scoft at him yet would he do it 11 Self justification and translation of the fault upon others 1 Sam. 15.13 I have performed the commandment of the Lord but Samuel said What means the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the Oxen which I hear Saul answered v. 15. The people spared of the best of the sheep and of the Oxen. He laies the fault on the people v. 20 21. Contrarily sincere souls take the shame of their evils don to themselves 2 Sam. 24.17 Luke 15.18 When this frame of self justification is usual it s a bad temper See it in the Pharisee Luke 18.12 13. Contrary the publican But this sign I apply to an act rather then to a state of hypocrisie 12 The living in sin mean while pretending to be religious see it in that strumpet Prov. 7.14 she seemed very devout yet was an arrant strumpet see Eccles 8.10 Jer. 7.10 11. Herod Mark 6.20 In the midst of all his devotion he lived in incest by this was Jehu Saul c. discovered Deut. 26.13 14. One sin lived in proves a man an hypocrite Hab. 2.4 John 5.44 Psalm 19.13 Remedies against hypocrisie 1 Beg a sound heart of God that he would give thee a right Spirit Psalm 51.10.143.10 Psalm 139.24 Try me O Lord search me see if there be any way of wickedness in me Though Satan may tell thee God hears thee not because thou art an hypocrite yet mayest thou answer him He that confesses and forsakes shall finde mercy Prov. 28.13 2 Walk sutable to thy own principles beware what principles thou receivest but having received them and thy conscience having given judgement herein walk sutable to them It 's greatly hypocritical to have our principles go one way and our practice another yet ought there to be a tender respect to the principles of others judging that with as good a conscience they refrain that which you conscientiously seem to practise 3 Search thy heart to finde out thy hypocrisy and bewail it So Mr. Bradford was wont to call himself a painted hypocrite If we finde sincerity wrought in us let us hold fast the comfort of it Job 27.5 But if on the other side we finde we prefer our credit and profit before the Lord that we retain some darling sin and that we will not do some costly painfull or shamefull duty that we make clean the outside of the cup and platter but the inside is full of filth that we usually do that in secret we would not for a world should come abroad see that thou bewail all these hypocrisies thou being weary and heavy loaden with this sin as well as others art bid to come to Christ Matth. 11.28 Say not thou if thou have been an hypocrite all this while it will never be better if thou wilt not see the hypocrisie of thy heart and confess and bewail it before the Lord thou shalt never be better but if believingly thou mourn under it there is a fountain set open to wash thee from this as well as from other pollutions Zac. 13.1 1 John 1.7 8. And for the reliques of hypocrisie by often searching and bewailing they are weeded out every time a garden is weeded the weeds are the fewer and the herbs and flowers prosper better 4 Trace your hearts in your motives actings and ends It s hard for creatures to get lurking holes when they are closely hunted so hunt thy hypocrisie and it will hardly get harbour reflect upon thy self and consider the motives that set thee on work to do such an action was it the glory of God or thy own glory when thou denies thy self in such an enjoyment was it out of love to God or to get esteem Hezekiah thus traced his heart Esa 38.3 and so did David in the matter of Bathsheba hence he so prayes that God would renew a right spirit in him Probably Paul did the same Acts 9.9 and Peter Mark 14.72 when he thought thereon he wept the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he casting up Peter cast up how deceitfully he had dealt with Christ in denying him at such a time and for swearing and that three several times and that in the presence of his enemies upon a poor simple