saying of one I am not afraid to dye but to be damned * Mori nen metuo damnari metuo But here 's a believers comfort the fire of Gods wrath can never kindle upon him grace is Gods own image stamp'd on the soul and he will not destroy his own image xerxes the Persian when he destroyed all the Temples in Greece he caused the Temple of Diana to be preserved for its beautiful structure that soul which hath the beauty of holiness shining in it shall be preserved for the glory of the structure God will not suffer his own Temple to be demolished Would you be secured in evil times get grace and fortifie this Garrison a good conscience is a Christians Fort-Royal Murus Aheneus esto Nil conscire sibi Davids enemies lay round about him yet saith he I laid me down and slept Psal 3.5 A good conscience can sleep in the mouth of a Cannon grace is a Christian Coat of Male which fears not the Arrow or Bullet True grace may be shot at but can never be shot thorow grace puts the soul into Christ and there it is safe as the Bee in the Hive as the Dove in the Ark. Rom. 8.1 There 's no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus 10. Grace hath an heart-establishing excellency Hebr. Excellency 10 13.9 It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace Before the infusion of grace the heart is like a Ship without a Ballast it wavers and tosseth being ready to overturn therefore a man void of grace is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a double-minded man Jam. 1.8 He acts for and against as if he had two souls he is unresolved to day of one minde to morrow of another to day he will hear a Preacher that is Orthodox to morrow one that is Heterodox he will be as the Times are and change his Religion as fast as the Camelion his colour Hearts unsanctified will be unsetled they will face about to the rising side they will follow not what is best but what is safest they are for that Religion not which hath the Word to guide it but the sword to back it this Seneca calls a minde that rolls up and down * Nusquam residentis animi volutatio Seneca and settles nowhere But grace doth consolidate and fix the heart Psal 57.7 My heart is fixed O God Hypocrites are like Meteors in the Aire David was a fixed star grace keeps the heart upright and the more sincere the more stedfast grace carries the heart to God as the center and there it rests Psal 116. Psal 7. A gracious heart cleaves to God and let whatever changes come the soul is setled as a Ship at Anchor 11. Grace hath a preparatory excellency in it it prepares Excellency 11 and fits for glory Glory is the highest peg of our felicity it transcends all our thoughts glory can have no Hyperbole * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost Now grace tunes and fits the soul for glory 2 Pet. 1.3 Who hath called us to glory and vertue Vertue leads to glory First you cleanse the Vessel and then poure in the wine God doth first cleanse us by his grace and then poure in the wine of glory the silver link of grace draws the golden link of glory after it Indeed grace differs little from glory grace is glory in the bud and glory is grace in the flower In short glory is nothing else but grace commencing and taking its degrees Excellency 12 12. Grace hath anabiding excellency temporal things are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a season but grace hath eternity stamped upon it it is called durable riches Prov. 8.18 Other riches take wings and flie from us grace takes wings and flies with us to heaven Some tell us of falling away from grace I grant seeming grace may be lost a blazing Comet will spend and evaporate nay saving grace may fail in the degree it may suffer an eclipse it may lose all its sweet fruit of joy and peace but still there is sap in the Vine and the seed of God remains 1 John 3.4 Grace is a blossom of eternity * Grotia concutitur non excutitur Aug. it is called unctio manens 1 John 2.27 The anointing that abides colours laid in oyle are durable those hearts which are laid in oyle and have the anointing of God hold their colours and endure for ever Grace is compared to a river of the water of life John 7.38 This River can never he dried up for the Spirit of God is the spring that seeds it Grace is not like a Lease which soon expires so the Pelagians would make it to day a believer to morrow an unbeliever to day justified to morrow unjustified this would be like a Lease soon run out but God settles grace on the Saints as an inheritance and he will see that the entail shall never be cut off He who hath true grace can no more fall away than the Angels which are fixed stars in their heavenly orbs The Arguments to prove the perpetuation of grace are 1. Gods Election this I ground upon Rom. 8.29 30. Whom he did fore-know he also did predestinate Predestination is the grand cause of the Saints preservation God chooseth as well to salvation as to saith 2 Thes 2.13 What shall make Gods Election void 2. The Power of God 1 Pet. 1.5 We are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation I deny not but grace in it self may perish our grace is no better coyne than Adams but grace in Gods keeping cannot the Saints graces of themselves may break as glasses but these glasses in the hand of God shall never break 3. Gods Solemn Engagement the Lord hath passed it under hand and seal he hath given bond for the Saints perseverance Jer. 32 40. I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them and they shall not depart from me A believers Charter is confirmed under the broad Seal of heaven and if grace doth not endure to eternity it is either because God wants power to make good what he hath decreed or truth to make good what he hath promised either of which to assert were blasphemy Besides all this Jesus Christ our blessed High Priest who hath the golden plate on his fore-head appears in the Court and as he poured out blood on the Cross so he poures forth prayers in heaven for the Saints perseverance Hebr. 7.25 He ever liveth to make intercession for them And Christ is not only a Priest but a Son therefore likely to prevail and which puts the matter out of doubt what Christ prays for as he is man he hath power to give as he is God John 17.24 Father I will Father there he prays as man I will there he gives as God So that grace is an abiding thing Christians you may lose your friends your estates your lives but you shall never lose your grace Those who hold
dangerous and their hearts are ready to despond It will not be amiss therefore to set the Crown of blessedness before them to animate their courage and to inflame their zeal How many Scriptures bring this Olive-branch in their mouth the tydings of blessedness to believers Matth. 24.46 Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Mat. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father Blessedness is the perfection of a rational creature it is the whet-stone of a Christians industry the heighth of his ambition the flower of his joy blessedness is the desire of all men Aquinas calls it the ultimus finis this is the White every man aims to hit to this Center all the lines are drawn Quest Wherein doth blessedness consist Answ Millions of men mistake both the nature of blessedness and the way thither Some of the Learned have set down two hundred eighty eight several opinions about blessedness * Austin and all have shot wide of the mark I shall shew wherein it doth not consist and then wherein it doth consist SECT 1. 1. WHerein blessedness doth not consist It doth not lie in the acquisition of worldly things happiness cannot by any Art of Chymistry be extracted here Christ doth not say Blessed are the Rich or blessed are the Noble yet too many Idolize these things Man by the fall hath not only lost his Crown but his Head-piece How ready is he to terminate his happiness in extrinsecals which makes me call to mind that definition which some of the Heathen Philosophers gave of blessedness * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it was to have a sufficiency of subsistence and to thrive well in the World And are there not many who go for Christians that seem to be of this Philosophical opinion if they have but worldly accommodations they are ready to sing a requiem to their souls and say with that brutish fool in the Gospel Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thy ease Luk. 12.19 Quid turpius quam bonum rationalis animi ex irrationalibus nectere * Seneca Alas the Tree of blessedness doth not grow in an earthly Paradise Hath not God cursed the ground for sin Gen. 3.17 yet many are digging for felicity here as if they would fetch a blessing out of a curse a man may as well think to extract oyle out of a flint or fire out of water as blessedness out of these terrestial things King Solomon arrived at more than any man he was the most magnificent Prince that ever held the Scepter 1. For his Parentage he sprang from the Royal Line not only that Line of which many Kings came but of which Christ himself came Jesus Christ was of Solomons Line and Race so that for Heraldry and Nobility none could shew a fairer Coat of Arms. 2. For the situation of his Palace it was in Hierusalem the Princess and Paragon of the earth Hierusalem for its Renown was called the City of God it was the most famous Metropolis in the World Whither the Tribes go up the Tribes of the Lord Psal 122.4 3. For Wealth his Crown was hung full of Jewels he had treasures of gold and pearle and gave silver as stones 1 Kings 10.27 4. For worldly joy he had the flower and quintessence of all delights sumptuous Fare stately Edifices Vineyards Fish-ponds all sorts of Musick to inchant and ravish the senses with joy if there were any Rarity it was a Present for King Solomons Court thus did he bath himself in the perfumed waters of pleasure 5. For Wisdome he was the Oracle of his time when the Queen of Sheba came to pose him with hard questions he gave a solution to all her doubts 1 Kings 10.3 He had a key of knowledge to unlock Natures dark Cabinet so that if wisdome had been lost it might have been found here and the whole world might have lighted their understanding at Solomons Lamp He was an earthly Angel so that a carnal eye surveying his glory would have been ready to imagine that Solomon had entred into that Paradise out of which Adam was once driven or that he had found another as good never did the World cast a more smiling aspect upon any man yet when he comes to give in his impartial verdict he tells us that the World hath vanity written upon its Frontispiece and all those golden delights he enjoyed were but a painted felicity a glorious misery Eccles 2.8 And behold all was vanity Blessedness is too noble and delicate a Plant to dwell in Natures soile That blessedness doth not lie in Externals I shall prove by these five Demonstrations 1. Those things which are not commensurate to the desires of the soul can never make a man blessed but transitory things are not commensurate to the desires of the soul therefore they cannot render him blessed nothing on earth can satisfie Eccles 5.10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver Riches are unsatisfying 1. Because they are not real the world is called a fashion 1 Cor. 7.31 The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Mathematical Figure sometimes a shew or apparition Riches are but tin'd over * Bracteata faelicitas Sen. they are like Alchymy which glisters a little in our eyes but at death all this Alchymy will be worn off Riches are but sugred lyes pleasant impostures like a gilded Cover which hath not one leaf of true comfort bound up in it 2. Because they are not sutable The soul is a spiritual thing riches are of an earthly extract * Effodiuntur opes and how can these fill a spiritual substance a man may as well fill his Chest with grace as his heart with gold if a man were crowned with all the delights of the world nay if God should build him an house among the Stars yet the restless eye of his unsatisfied mind would be looking still higher he would be prying beyond the heavens for some hidden rarities which he thinks he hath not yet attained to so unquenchable is the thirst of the soul till it come to bath in the River of life and to center upon true blessedness 2. That which cannot quiet the heart in a storme cannot intitle a man to blessedness but earthly things accumulated cannot rock the troubled heart quiet therefore they cannot make one blessed If the Spirit be wounded can the creature poure in wine and oyle into these wounds if God sets on conscience and it flies in a mans face can worldly comforts take off this angry fury Is there any Harp to drive away the evil Spirit outward things can no more cure the agony of conscience than a silken stockin can cure a gouty leg When Saul was sore distressed 1 Sam. 28.15 could all the Jewels of his Crown comfort him if God be angry whose fury is poured out like fire and the Rocks are thrown down by him Nahum 1.6 can a wedge of gold be
there is hope Repentance unravels sin and makes sin not to be but hardness of heart binds guilt fast upon the soul it seals a man under wrath it is not the hainousness of sin but hardness of heart that damns this makes the sin against the Holy Ghost uncapable of mercy because the sinner that hath committed it is uncapable of Repentance CHAP. VII Containing a sharp Reprehension Use 1 Use 1 THIS Doctrine draws up a Charge against several sorts Reproof Branch 1 1. Those that think themselves good Christians yet have not learned this Art of holy Mourning Luther calls Mourning Bara herba a rare herb Men have tears to shed for other things but have none to spare for their sins there are many Murmurers but few Mourners most are like the stony ground which wanted moisture Matth. 13. We have many cry out of hard times but are not sensible of hard hearts hot and dry is the worst temper of the body sure I am to be hot in sin and to be so dry as to have no tears is the worst temper of the soul How many are like Gideons dry Fleece and like the Mountains of Gilboa there is no dew upon them Did Christ bleed for sin and canst not thou weep if Gods bottle be not filled with tears his Vial will be filled with wrath We have many sinners in Sion but few mourners in Sion It is with most people as with a man on the top of a Mast the Winds blow and the Waves beat and the ship is in danger of shipwrack and he is fast asleep so when the Waves of sin have even covered men and the stormy wind of Gods Wrath blows and is ready to blow them into hell yet they are asleep in security 2. It reproves them who instead of weeping for sin Branch 2 spend their dayes in mirth and jollity instead of Mourners we have Ranters they take the Timbrel and Harp they spend their dayes in wealth Job 21.13 Vitam agunt Sybariticam * Luther they do not lugere animo but indulgere genio they live Epicures and dye Atheists St. James bids us turn our laughter to Mourning Jam. 4.9 But they turn their Mourning to laughter Sampson was brought forth to make the Philistines sport Judg. 16.26 The jovial sinner doth make the Divel sport it is a saying of Theophylact It is one of the worst sights to see a sinner go laughing to hell How unseasonable is it to take the Harp and Viol when God is taking the Sword Ezek. 21.9 10. A sword a sword is sharpned and also furbished should we then make mirth this is a sin that enrageth God Isa 22.12 13. In that day did the Lord of Hosts call to weeping and to mourning and behold joy and gladness slaying Oxen and killing sheep eating flesh and drinking wine and it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of Hosts Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till you dye saith the Lord God of Hosts That is this your sin shall not be done away by any expiatory sacrifice but vengeance shall pursue you for ever 3. It reproves those who instead of mourning for sin Branch 3 rejoyce in sin Prov. 2.14 2 Thess 2.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who take pleasure in iniquity Wicked men are worse in this sense than the damned in hell for I dare say they take little pleasure in their sins there are some so impudently profane that they will make themselves and others merry with their sins sin is a soul-sickness Luke 5.31 Will a man make merry with his disease ah wretch did Christ bleed for sin and dost thou laugh at sin is that thy mirthwhich grieves the Spirit * Tantis in malis laetari diesque jocis choreis consumere nonne est eos imitari qui phrenesi laborant qui dum carnes proprias laccrant ridem Isid Clar. is it a time for a man to break jests when he is upon the Scaffold and his head is to be stricken off thou that laughest at sin now the time is coming when God will laugh at thy calamity Prov. 1.26 Branch 4 4. It reproves those that cry down mourning for sin they are like the Philistines who stopped the Wells Gen. 26.15 These would stop the Wells of godly sorrow Antimonians say this is a legal Doctrine but Christ here preacheth it Blessed are they that mourn and the Apostles preached it Mark 6.11 And they went out and preached that men should repent Holy ingenuity will put us upon mourning for sin he that hath the heart of a child cannot but weep for his unkindness against God Mourning for sin is the very fruit and product of the Spirit of grace Zach. 12.10 Such as cry down Repentance cry down the Spirit of grace mourning for sin is the only way to keep off wrath from us such as with Sampson would break this Pillar go about to pull down the vengeance of God upon the Land To all such I say as Peter to Simon Magus Acts 8.22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee O sinner Repent that thou hast cryed down Repentance CHAP. VIII Motives to holy mourning 2. LET me exhort Christians to holy Mourning Use 2 Exhort I now perswade such a Mourning as will prepare the soul for blessedness Oh that our hearts were spiritual limbicks distilling the water of holy tears Christs Doves weep Ezek. 7.16 They that escape shall be like Doves of the Vallies all of them mourning every one for his iniquity There are several Divine Motives to holy Mourning 1. Tears cannot be put to a better use if you weep Motive 1 for outward losses you lose your tears 't is like a showre upon a Rock which doth no good but tears for sin are blessed tears Blessed are they that mourn These poyson our corruptions salt-water kills the worms the brinish water of repenting tears will help to kill that worm of sin which would gnaw the conscience 2. Gospel-Mourning is an evidence of grace Zach. Motive 2 12.10 I will poure upon the house of David and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and they shall mourn c. The Holy Ghost descended on Christ like a Dove Matth. 3. The Dove is a weeping creature where there is a Dove-like weeping it is a good sign the Spirit of God hath descended there weeping for sin is a sign of the new birth assoon as the child is born it weeps Exod. 2.3 And behold the babe wept To weep kindly for sin is a good sign we are born of God Mourning shews an heart of flesh Ezek. 36.26 A stone will not melt when the heart is in a melting frame it is a sign the heart of stone is taken away Motive 3 3. The preciousness of tears 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tears dropping from a mournful penitent eye are like the water dropping from the Roses very sweet and precious to God
wonder Saint Paul was willing to be bound and dye for Christ Acts 21.13 when he knew that Christ loved him and had given himself for him Gal. 2.20 Though I will not say Paul was proud of his chain yet he was glad of it he wore it as a chain of pearle Quest Quest But how shall I get this jewel of assurance Answ Answ 1. Make duty familiar to you when the Spouse sought Christ diligently she found him joyfully Cant. 3.4 The Ordinances are the Lattice where Christ looks forth and gives the soul a smiling aspect As Christ was made known to his Disciples in the breaking of bread Luke 24.35 so in the use of holy Ordinances in the breaking of bread Christ makes a glorious discovery of himself to the soul Christs parents found him in the Temple Luk. 2.46 They who would find Christ with comfort and have the kisses of his lips shall be sure to meet with him in the Temple 2. Preserve the virginity of conscience when the glass is foule you will not poure wine into it but when it is clean so when the soul is cleansed from the love of every sin now God will poure in the sweet wine of assurance * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Socrat. Hebr. 10.22 Let us draw near in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience Guilt clips the wings of joy he who is conscious to himself of secret sin cannot draw near to God in full assurance he cannot come with boldness but blushing he cannot call God Father but Judge assurance is a flowre that grows only in a pure heart before David prayes for joy he first prayes for a pure heart Psal 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God 3. Be much in the actings of faith the more active the childe is in obedience the sooner he hath his fathers smile if faith be ready to dye Rev. 3.2 if it be like Armour hung up or like a sleepy habit in the soul never look for assurance God will not speak peace to thee when thou art asleep it is the lively faith which flourisheth into assurance Abraham had a vigorous sparkling faith Rom. 4.18 who against hope believed in hope That is against the hope of sense he believed in the hope of the promise and how sweetly doth God manifest himself to Abraham he calls him his friend he makes him of his Cabinet-counsel Gen. 18.17 Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do Wouldst thou have Christ reveal his love to thee kâ—ep faith upon the wing this is the Bird which soars aloft and plucks a bunch of grapes from the true Vine 4. If Christ be all then make him so to Branch 4 you 1. Make Christ all in your understanding be ambitious to know nothing but Christ 1 Cor. 2.2 For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I judged not I did not think any thing in my judgement worth knowing in comparison of Christ Austin saith of Cicero he liked his eloquence but he could not take so much delight in reading him quia Nomen Christi non erat ibi because he could not finde the Name of Christ there what will all other knowledge avail a man at his death who is ignorant of Christ Si Christum nescis nihil est si coetera noscis What is it to have knowledge in Physick to be able with Esculapius and Galen to discourse of the causes and symptomes of a disease and what is proper to apply and in the mean time to be ignorant of the healing under Christs wings What is it to have knowledge in Astronomy to discourse of the Stars and Planets and to be ignorant of Christ that bright morning star which leads to heaven what is it to have skill in a shop and ignorant of that commodity which doth both enrich and crown what is it to be versed in Musick and to be ignorant of Christ whose blood makes atonement in heaven and musick in the conscience what is it to know all the stratagems of War and to be ignorant of the Prince of peace O make Christ all be willing to know nothing but Christ though you may know other things in their due place yet know Christ in the first place let the knowledge of Jesus Christ have the preheminence as the Sun among the lesser Planets This is the crowning knowledge Prov. 4.18 The prudent are crowned with knowledge 1. We cannot know our selves unless we know Christ he it is who lights us into our hearts and shews as the spots of our souls whereby we abhor our selves in dust and ashes Christ shews us our own vacuity and indigency and untill we see our own emptiness we are not fit to be filled with the golden oyle of mercy 2. We cannot know God but through Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Out of Christ God is terrible he is a consuming fire it is through Christ that we know God as a friend oh then treasure up the knowledge of Christ he is the golden ladder by which we ascend to heaven to be ignorant of Christ is as if a man were poysoned and there were an herb in the garden could cure him but he is ignorant of that herb 2. Make Christ all in your affections 1. Desire nothing but Christ he is the accumulation of all good things Ye are compleat in him Col. 2.10 Christ is the Christians perfection what should the soul desire less what can it desire more * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignatius Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee David had his Crown and his Throne to delight in I but it was the presence of Christ he chiefly thirsted after without Christ all his other comforts were not only emptiness but bitterness 2. Love nothing but Christ love is the choycest affection it is the purest stream of the soul it is the richest jewel the creature hath to bestow oh if Christ be all love him better than all let your Rivers still run into this golden Sea Every mans heart is set upon his treasure in Christ there are unsearchable riches Ephes 3.8 Though the Angels have lived so long in heaven yet to this day they know not how rich Christ is Take the most precious pearle or Diamond that is and the Jeweller can set the full value of it he can say This is worth so much and no more but the riches of Christ are unsearchable it cannot be said he is worth so much and no more neither man or Angel are able to set the full value of the pearle of price and shall not Jesus Christ lie nearest our hearts shall he not have the cream of our love Consider 1. If you love other things when they dye your love is lost but Christ lives for ever to requite your love 2. You may love other things in the excess but you cannot