it Light Feathery Christians flote in Vanity they mind not the Day of Judgment but Serious Spirits sink deep into the Thoughts of it 1. The Meditation of this Last Day would make us very sincere We would then labour to approve our Hearts to God the great Judge and Umpire of the World 'T is easie to carry it fair before Men but there is no Dissembling or Prevaricating with God he sees what the Heart is and will accordingly pass his Verdict 2. The Meditation of Christ's coming to judge us would keep us from Iudging our Brethren We are apt to judge others as to their Final State which is for Men to step into Christ's Place and take his Work out of his Hand Iam. 4.12 Who art thou that judgest another Thou that passest a rash Sentence upon another thou must come thy self shortly to be judged and then perhaps he may be Acquitted and thou Condemned Bran. So demean and carry your selves that at the Day of Judgment you may be sure to be acquitted and have those glorious Privileges the Saints shall be Crowned with Quest. How is that Resp. 1. If you would stand acquitted at the Day of Judgment then First labour to get into Christ Phil. 3.9 That I may be found in him Faith implants us into Christ it in garrisons us in him and then there 's no Condemnation Rom. 8.1 There 's no standing before Christ but by being in Christ. Secondly Labour for Humility 'T is a kind of Self-Annihilation 2 Cor. 12.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though I be nothing Christian hast thou Parts and Abilities and dost thou cover them with the Vail of Humility As Moses when his Face shined put a Vail over it If thou art Humble thou shalt be acquitted at the Day of Judgment Iob 22.29 He shall save the Humble Person An Humble Man judgeth himself for his Sins and Christ will acquit them who judge themselves 2. If you would stand acquitted at the last Day then keep a clear Conscience Do not load your selves with Guilt and furnish your Judge with matter against you The Lord saith Paul hath appointed a Day in which he would judge the World Acts 17.21 And how would Paul fit himself for that Day Acts 24.16 Herein I exercise my Self to have always a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man Be careful of the First and Second Table be Holy and Just. Have Hearts without false Aims and Hands without false Weights keep Conscience as clear as your Eye that no Dust of Sin fall into it They that sin against Conscience will be shy of their Judge Such as take in Prohibited Goods cannot endure to see the Searchers that are appointed to open their Packs Christian thy Pack will be opened at the last Day I mean thy Conscience and Christ is Searcher to see what Sins what Prohibited Goods thou hast taken in and then he proceeds to Judgment Oh be sure to keep a good Conscience this is the best way to stand with boldness at the Day of Judgment The Voice of Conscience is the Voice of God if Conscience doth upon just Grounds acquit us God will acquit us 1 Iohn 3.21 If our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 3. If you would stand acquitted at the last Day then trade your Talents for God's Glory Lay out your selves for God Honour him with your Substance Relieve Christ's Members This is the way to be acquitted He that had Five Talents Traded them and made them Five Talents more His Lord said unto him Well done Good and Faithful Servant Matt. 25.21 4. If you would stand acquitted at the Day of Judgment get an intire Love to the Saints 1 Iohn 3.14 We know we are passed from Death to Life c. Love is the truest Touch-stone of Sincerity To love Grace for Grace shews the Spirit of God to be in a Man Doth Conscience witness for you Are you perfum'd with this sweet Spice of Love Do you delight most in those whom the Image of God shines Do you reverence their Graces Do you bear with their Infirmities A Blessed Evidence that you shall be acquitted in the Day of Judgment We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren Of Obedience to God's Revealed Will. Deut. 27.9 10. Take heed and hearken O Israel This Day thou art become the People of the Lord thy God thou shalt therefore obey the Voice of the Lord thy God and do his Commandments Quest. WHat is the Duty that God requireth of Man Resp. Obedience to his Revealed Will. It is not enough to Hear God's Voice but we must Obey Obedience is a part of that Honour we owe to God Mal. 1.6 If I am a Father where is my Honour Obedience carries in it the Life-Blood of Religion Obey the Voice of the Lord thy God and do his Commandments Obedience without Knowledge is Blind and Knowledge without Obedience is Lame Rachel was fair to look upon but being barren said Give me Children or I die So if Knowledge doth not bring forth the Child of Obedience it will Dye 1 Sam. 15.22 To obey is better than Sacrifice Saul thought 't was enough for him to offer Sacrifice though he disobeyed God's Command No to obey is better than Sacrifice God disclaims Sacrifice if Obedience be wanting Ier. 7.22 I spake not to your Fathers concerning Burnt-Offerings but this thing commanded I them saying Obey my Voice Not but that God did enjoyn those Religious Rights of Worship but the meaning is God looked chiefly at Obedience without which Sacrifice was but Devout Folly The end why God hath given us his Law is Obedience Levit. 18.4 Ye shall do my Iudgments and keep my Ordinances Why doth a King publish an Edict but that it may be observed Quest. 1. What is the Rule of Obedience Resp. The Written Word That is proper Ocedience which the Word requires our Obedience must correspond with the Word as the Copy with the Original To seem to be zealous if it be not according to the Word is not Obedience but Will-worship Popish Traditions which have no Footing in the Word are abominable and God will say quis quaesivint haec Who hath required this at your Hand Isa. 1.12 The Apostle condemns the Worshipping of Angels which had a shew of Humility Col. 2.18 The Jews might say they were loath to be so bold as to go to God in their own Persons they would be more Humble and prostrate themselves before the Angels and desire them to present their Petitions to God This shew of Humility was hateful to God because there was no Word to warrant it Quest. 2. What are the Right Ingredients into our Obedience to make it acceptable Or how must it be qualified Resp. 1. Obedience must be cum animi prolubio Free and Chearful else it is Pennance not Sacrifice Isa. 1.19 If ye be Willing and Obedient though we serve God with Weakness let it be with
in Wisdom and Love therefore I will sit down satisfied with my Condition Surely this doth much glorifie God God counts himself much honoured by such a Christian saith God Here is one after my own heart let me do what I will with him I hear no murmuring he is content This shews abundance of Grace When Grace is crowning it is not so much to be content but when Grace is conflicting with Inconveniencies then to be content is a glorious thing indeed for one to be content when he is in Heaven is no wonder but to be content under the Cross is like a Christian This Man must needs bring Glory to God for he shews to all the World that though he hath little Meal in Barrel yet he hath enough in God to make him content he saith as David Psal. 16.5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance the lines are fallen to me in pleasant places 7. We glorifie God in working out our own Salvation God hath twisted these two together his Glory and our Good we glorifie him by promoting our own Salvation 't is a Glory to God to have multitude of Converts now his design of Free-grace takes and God hath the Glory of his Mercy So that while we are endeavouring our Salvation we are honouring God What an Encouragement is this to the Service of God to think while I am Hearing and Praying I am glorifying God while I am furthering my own Glory in Heaven I am encreasing God's Glory Would it not be an Encouragement to a Subject to hear his Prince say to him You will honour and please me very much if you will go to yonder Mine of Gold and dig out as much Gold for yourself as you can carry away So for God to say Go to the Ordinances get as much Grace as you can dig out as much Salvation as you can and the more Happiness you have the more I shall count myself glorified 8. We glorifie God by living to God 2 Cor. 5.15 That they which live should not live to themselves but unto him who died for them Rom. 14.8 Whether we live we live unto the Lord. The Mammonist lives to his Money the Epicure lives to his Belly the design of a Sinner's Life is to gratifie Lust. But then we glorifie God when we live to God Quest. What is it to live to God Resp. When we live to his Service and lay out ourselves wholly for God The Lord hath sent us into the World as a Merchant sends his Factor beyond the Seas to trade for him Then we live to God when we trade for his Interest and propagate his Gospel God hath given every Man a Tallent Now when he doth not hide it in a Napkin but improves it for God this is to live to God When a Master in a Family by Counsel and good Example labours to bring his Servants to Christ when a Minister doth exhaust himself in the Labours of his Holy Calling when he spends himself and is spent that he may win Souls to Christ and make the Crown flourish upon Christ's Head when the Magistrate doth not bear the Sword in vain but labours to cut down Sin and suppress Vice this is to live to God and this a glorifying of God Phil. 1.20 That Christ may be magnified whether by life or by death Three Wishes St. Paul had and they were all about Christ That he might be found in Christ be with Christ and that he might magnifie Christ. 9. We glorifie God by walking chearfully It is a Glory to God when the World sees a Christian hath that within him that can make him chearful in the worst Times he can with the Nightingale sing with a Thorn at his Breast The People of God have ground of Chearfulness they are justified and instated into Adoption and this Creates inward Peace it makes Musick within whatever Storms are without 2 Cor. 1.4 1 Thes. 1.6 If we consider what Christ hath wrought for us by his Bloud and wrought in us by his Spirit it is a ground of great Chearfulness and this Chearfulness glorifies God It reflects upon a Master when the Servant is always drooping and sad sure he is kept to hard Commons his Master doth not give him what is fitting So when God's People hang their Harpes on Willows sure they do not serve a good Master repent of their Choice this reflects Dishonour on God as the gross Sins of the Wicked bring a Scandal on the Gospel so do the unchearful Lives of the Godly Psal. 100.2 Serve the Lord with gladness Your serving him doth not glorifie him unless it be with Gladness a Christian 's chearful looks glorifie God Religion doth not take away our Joy but refine and clarifie it it doth not break our Viol but tunes it and makes the Musick sweeter 10. We glorifie God by standing up for his Truths Much of God's Glory lies in his Truth God hath intrusted us with his Truth as a Master intrusts his Servant with his Purse to keep We have not a richer Jewel to trust God with than our Souls nor God hath not a richer Jewel to trust us with than his Truth Truth is a Beam that shines from God much of his Glory lies in his Truth now when we are Advocates for Truth this is to glorifie God so Athanasius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Bulwark of Truth Jud. 3. That ye should contend earnestly for the faith viz. the Doctrine of Faith The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to contend signifies a great contending as one would contend for his Land and not suffer his Right to be taken from him so we should contend for the Truth Were there more of this Holy Contention God would have more Glory Some can contend earnestly for Trifles and Ceremonies but not for the Truth we should count him indiscreet that should contend more for a Picture then for his Land of Inheritance a Box of Counters then for his Box of Evidences 11. We glorifie God by praising of him Doxology or Praise is a God-exalting Work Psal. 50.23 Whoso offers praise glorifies me The Hebrew word Bara to create and Barak to praise are little different because the End of Creation is to Praise God David was called the sweet Singer of Israel and his praising God was called a glorifying of God Psal. 86.12 I will praise thee O Lord my God and I will glorifie thy name Though nothing can add to God's essential Glory yet Praise exalts him in the eyes of others when we praise God we spread his Fame and Renown we display the Trophies of his Excellency In this manner the Angels glorifie God they are the Queristers of Heaven and do trumpet forth God's Praise and praising of God is one of the highest and purest Acts of Religion in Prayer we act like Men in Praise we act like Angels this is an high degree of glorifying God Believers are called Temples of God 1 Cor. 3.16 when our Tongues praise God then the
painted Fire Ejus adesse intolerabile ejus abesse impossibile To bear it will be intolerable to avoid it will be impossible And these Hell-torments are for ever have no Period put to them Rev. 9.6 They shall seek death and shall not find it Origen fancied a Fiery Stream in which the Souls of sinful Men werâ— to be purged after this Life and then to pass into Heaven but it is for ever The Breath of the Lord kindles that Fire and where shall we find Engines or Buckets to quench it Rev. 14.11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever and they have no rest night nor day Thank Original Sin for all Use. 1. What sad thoughts should we have of this Primitive Original Sin that hath created so many Miseries What Honey can be got out of this Lyon what Grapes can we gather off this Thorn It sets Heaven and Earth against us While we choose this Bramble to Rule Fire comes out of the Bramble to devour us 2. How are all Believers bound to Jesus Christ who hath freed them from that Misery to which Sin hath exposed them Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his Blood Sin hath brought Trouble and a Curse into the World Christ hath sanctified the Trouble and removed the Curse Nay he hath not only freed Believers from Misery but purchased for them a Crown of Glory and Immortality 1 Pet. 5.4 When the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Of the Covenant of Grace Quest. XIV DID God leave Mankind to perish in this state of Sin and Misery Resp. No He entred into a Covenant of Grace to deliver the Elect out of that estate and bring them into a state of Grace by a Redeemer Isa. 55.3 I Will make an Everlasting Covenant with you Man being by his Fall plung'd into a Labyrinth of Misery and having no way left to recover himself God was pleased to enter into a New Covenant with him and so restore him to Life by a Redeemer The great Proposition I shall go upon is That there is a New Covenant ratified between God and the Elect. Quest. What the New Covenant is Resp. It is a solemn Compact and Agreement made between God and fallen Man wherein the Lord undertakes to be our God and to make us his People Quest. What Names are given to the Covenant Resp. 1. It is called a Covenant of Peace Ezek. 37.26 because it Seals up Reconciliation between God and humble Sinners Before this Covenant there was nothing but Enmity God did not love us A Creature that offends cannot be loved by an holy God and we did not love him a God that condemns cannot be loved by a guilty Creature so that there was War on both sides But God hath found out a way in the new Covenant to reconcile differing Parties so that it is fitly called a Covenant of Peace 2. It is called a Covenant of Grace and well it may for 1. it was with Grace that when we had forfeited the first Covenant God should enter into a new Covenant after we had cast away our selves The Covenant of Grace is Tabula post naufragium as a Plank after shipwrack O the Free-grace of God that he should parly with Sinners and set his Wisdom and Mercy awork to bring Rebels into the Bond of the Covenant 2. It is a Covenant of Grace because it is a Royal Charter all made up of Terms of Grace That God will cast our sins behind his back that he will love us freely Hos. 14.4 that he will give us a will to accept of the Mercy of the Covenant and strength to perform the Conditions of the Covenant Ezek. 37.26 All this is pure Grace Quest. Why would God make a Covenant with us Resp. 1. It is out of Induldgence Favour and Respect to us A Tyrant will not enter into a Covenant with Slaves he will not shew them such Respect God's entring into Covenant with us to be our God is a Dignity he puts upon us A Covenant is Insigne honoris a Note of Distinction between God's People and Heathens Ezek. 16.22 I will establish my Covenant with thee When the Lorld told Abraham that he would enter into Covenant with him Abraham fell upon his face Gen. 17.2 as being amazed that the God of Glory should bestow such a Favour upon him 2. God makes a Covenant with us to tye us fast to him it is called in Ezekiel the Bond of the Covenant God knows we have slippery hearts therefore he will have a Covenant to bind us 'T is horrid Impiety to go away from God after Covenant If one of the Vestal Nuns who had vowed her self to Religion was defloured the Romans caused her to be burnt alive 'T is Perjury to depart from God after solemn Covenant Quest. How doth the Covenant of Grace differ from the first Covenant made with Adam Resp. 1 st Difference The Terms of the first Covenant were more strict and severe For 1. The least failing would have made the Covenant with Adam null and void but many Failings do not null the Covenant of Grace I grant the least sin is a Trespass upon the Covenant but it doth not make it null and void There may be many Failings in the Conjugal Relation but every Failing doth not break the Marriage-Bond It would be sad if as oft as we break Covenant with God he should break Covenant with us but God will not take advantage of every Failing but in anger remember Mercy 2. The first Covenant being broken allowed the Sinner no remedy all Doors of Hope were shut but the New Covenant allows the Sinner a remedy it leaves room for Repentance it provides a Mediator Hebr. 12.24 Iesus the Mediator of the New Covenant 2 d Difference The first Covenant did run all upon working the second upon believing Rom. 4.5 Quest. But are not Works required in the Covenant of Grace Answ. Yes Tit. 3.8 This is a faithful saying that they which believe in God be careful to maintain Good Works But the Covenant of Grace doth not require Works in the same manner as the Covenant of Works did In the first Covenant Works were required as the Condition of Life in the second they are required only as the Signs of a Man that is alive In the first Covenant Works were required as Grounds of Salvation in the New Covenant they are required as Evidences of our Love to God In the first they were required to the Justification of our Persons in the New to the Testification of our Grace Quest. What is the Condition of the Covenant of Grace Answ. The main Condition is Faith Quest. But why is Faith more the Condition of the New Covenant then any other Grace Answ. To exclude all glorying in the Creature Faith is an humble Grace If Repentance or Works were the Condition of the Covenant a Man would say It is my Righteousness hath saved
his Bloud Without Faith Christ himself will not avail us Branch 2. Let us love a Bleeding Saviour and let us show our Love to Christ by being ready to suffer for him Many rejoyce at Christ's Suffering for them but dream not of their Suffering for him Ioseph dreamed of his Preferment but not of his Imprisonment Was Christ a Sacrifice Did he bear God's Wrath for us we should bear Man's Wrath for him Christ's Death was voluntary Psal. 40.7 Lo I come to do thy will O God Luke 12.50 I have a baptism to be baptized with and how am I straitned till it be accomplished Christ calls his Sufferings a Baptism he was to be as it were baptized in his own Bloud And how did he thirst for that time How am I straitned Oh then let us be willing to suffer for Christ Christ hath taken away the Venom and Sting of the Saint's Sufferings there is no Wrath in their Cup. Our Sufferings Christ can make sweet As there was Oyl mix'd in the Peace-Offering So God can mix the Oyl of Gladness with our Sufferings The ringing of my Chain is sweet Musick in my Ears Landgrave of Hesse Life must be parted with shortly what is it to part with it a little sooner as a Sacrifice to Christ as a Seal of our Sincerity and a Pledge of Thankfulness 3. Use of Consolation This Sacrifice of Christ's Bloud may infinitely comfort us This is the Bloud of Atonement Christ's Cross is Cardo salutis Calv. The Hing and Foundation of our Comfort 1. This Bloud comforts in case of Guilt O saith the Soul my sins trouble me why Christ's Bloud was shed for the Remission of Sin Mat. 26.28 Let us see our sins laid on Christ and then they are no more ours but his 2. In case of Pollution Christ's Bloud is an healing and cleansing Bloud 1. It is healing Isa. 53.5 With his stripes we are healed It is the best Weapon-Salve it heals at a distance though Christ be in Heaven we may feel the Vertue of his Bloud healing our bloudy Issue 2. And it is cleansing 'T is therefore compar'd to Fountain-water Zec. 13.1 The Word is a Glass to show us our Spots and Christ's Bloud is a Fountain to wash them away it turns Leprosy into Purity 1 Joh. 1.7 The bloud of Iesus cleanseth us from all our sin There is indeed one Spot so black that Christ's Bloud doth not wash away viz. The Sin against the Holy Ghost Not but that there is Vertue enough in Christ's Bloud to wash it away but he who hath sinned that Sin will not be washed he contemns Christ's Bloud and tramples it under foot Heb. 10.29 Thus we see what a strong Cordial Christ's Bloud is it is the Anchor-hold of our Faith the Spring of our Joy the Crown of our Desires and the only Support both in Life and Death In all our Fears let us comfort our selves with the Propitiatory Sacrifice of Christ's Bloud Christ dyed both as a Purchaser and as a Conquerour 1. As a Purchaser in regard of God having by his Bloud obtained our Salvation 2. And as a Conqueror in regard of Satan the Cross being his Triumphant Chariot wheâ—ein he hath led Hell and Death captive Use ult Bless God for this precious Sacrifice of Christ's Death Psal. 103.1 Bless the Lord O my soul. And for what doth David bless him Who redeemeth thy life from destruction Christ gave himself a Sin-offering for us let us give ourselves a Thank-offering to him If a Man redeem another out of Debt will not he be grateful How deeply do we stand obliged to Christ who hath redeemed us from Hell and Damnation Rev. 5.9 And they sung a new Song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood Let our Hearts and Tongues join in consort to bless God and let us shew our Thankfulness to Christ by Fruitfulness let us bring forth as Spice-Trees the Fruits of Humility Zeal Good-works This is to live unto him who hath died for us 2 Cor. 5.15 The Wise-men did not only worship Christ but presented him with Gifts Gold and Frankincense and Myrrhe Matth. 2.11 Let us present Christ with the Fruits of Righteousness which are unto the Glory and Praise of God CHRIST's Intercession ROM 8.34 Who also maketh Intercession for us WHen Aaron entred into the Holy Place his Bells gave a Sound so Christ having entred into Heaven his Intercession makes a melodious sound in the Ears of God Christ though he be exalted to Glory hath not laid aside his Bowels of Compassion but is still mindful of his Body Mystical as Ioseph was mindful of his Father and Brethren when he was exalted to the Court Who also maketh Intercession for us To Intercede is to make Request in the behalf of another Christ is the great Master of Requests in Heaven Christus est Catholicus Patris Sacerdos Tertul. Quest. What are the Qualifications of our Intercessor Resp. 1. He is holy Hebr. 7.26 For such an High Priest became us who is holy undefiled separate from sinners Christ knew no sin 2 Cor. 5.21 he knew sin in the weight not in the act It was requisite that he who was to do away the sins of others should himself be without sin Holiness is one of the precious Stones which shines on the Breast-Plate of our High Priest 2. He is faithful Hebr. 2.17 It behoved him to be like unto his brethren that he might be a faithful High Priest Moses was faithful as a Servant Christ as a Son Hebr. 3.5 he doth not forget any Cause he hath to plead nor doth he use any deceit in pleading An ordinary Attorney may either leave out some word which might make for the Client or put in a word against him having receiv'd a Fee on both sides but Christ is true to the Cause he pleads we may leave our Matters with him we may trust our Lives and Souls in his hand 3. He never dies The Priests under the Law while their Office lived they themselves died Hebr. 7.23 They were not suffered to continue by reason of death but Christ ever lives to make Intercession Hebr. 7.25 He hath no Succession in his Priesthood Quest. Who Christ intercedes for Resp. Not for all promiscuously Iohn 17.9 but for the Elect. The efficacy of Christ's Prayer reacheth no further then the efficacy of his Blood but his Blood was shed only for the Elect therefore his Prayers only reach them The High Priest went into the Sanctuary with the Names only of the Twelve Tribes upon his Breast so Christ goes into Heaven only with the Names of the Elect upon his Breast Christ interceeds for the weakest Believers Iohn 17.20 and for all the sins of Believers In the Law there were some sins the High Priest was neither to offer Sacrifice for nor yet to offer Prayer Numb 15.30 The Soul that doth ought presumptuously shall be cut off The
Lion of the Tribe of Judah whose Eyes are as a Lamp of fire and the Rocks are thrown down by him Nahum 1.6 He shall cut off the spirit of Princes Psal. 76.12 Use 3. If Christ be a great King submit to him Say not as those Iews We have no King but Caesar no King but our Lusts. This is to choose the Bramble to rule over you and out of the Bramble will come forth a fire Iudg. 9. Submit to Christ willingly all the Devils in Hell submit to Christ but 't is against their will they are his Slaves Not his Subjects Submit cheerfully to Christ's Person and his Laws Many would have Christ their Saviour but not their Prince such as will not have Christ to be their King to rule them shall never have his Blood to save them Obey all Christ's Princely Commands if he commands Love Humility Good Works be as the Needle which points which way soever the Load-stone draws Branch 2. Let such admire God's Free-grace who were once under the Power and Tyranny of Satan and now Christ hath made them of Slaves to become the Subjects of his Kingdom Christ did not need Subjects he hath Legions of Angels ministring to him but in his Love he hath honoured you to make you his Subjects O! how long was it e're Christ could prevail with you to come under his Banner How much opposition did he meet with e're you would wear this Prince's Colours but at last Omnipotent Grace overcame you When Peter was sleeping between two Souldiers an Angel came and beat off his Chains Acts 12.7 So when thou wert sleeping in the Devil's Arms that Christ should by his Spirit smite thy heart and cause the Chains of Sin to fall off and make thee a Subject of his Kingdom O admire Free-grace Thou who art a Subject of Christ art sure to Reign with Christ for ever Christ's Humiliation in his Incarnation 1 TIM 3.16 Great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in the flesh Quest. XVII WHerein did Christ's Humiliation consist Resp. In his being born and that in a low condition undergoing the Miseries of this Life the Wrath of God and the cursed Death of the Cross. Christ's Humiliation consisted in his Incarnation his taking Flesh and being Born It was real Flesh Christ took Not the Image of a Body as the Manichees erroniously held but a true Body therefore Christ is said to be made of a woman Gal. 4.4 As the Bread is made of the Wheat and the Wine is made of the Grape so Christ was made of a Woman his Body was part of the Flesh and Substance of the Virgin This is a glorious Mystery God manifest in the flesh In the Creation Man was made in God's Image in the Incarnation God was made in Man's Image Quest. How it came about that Christ was made flesh Resp. It was by his Fathers special designation Gal. 4.4 God sent forth his Son made of a Woman God the Father did in a special manner appoint Christ to be Incarnate which shews us how needful a Call is to any business of weight and importance to act without a Call is to act without a Blessing Christ himself would not be Incarnate and take upon him the work of a Mediator till he had a Call God sent forth his Son made of a Woman Quest. But was there no other way for the restoring of fallen Man but this that God should take flesh Answ. We must not ask a Reason of God's Will it is dangerous to pry into God's Ark we are not to dispute but adore The wise God saw this the best way for our Redemption that Christ should be Incarnate it was not fit for any to satisfie God's Justice but Man none could do it but God therefore Christ being both God and Man he is the fittest to undertake this Work of Redemption Quest. Why Christ was born of a Woman Resp. 1. That God might fulfil that promise Gen. 3.15 The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head 2. Christ was born of a Woman that he might roll away that reproach from the Woman which she had contracted by being seduced by the Serpent Christ in taking his flesh from the Woman hath honoured her Sex that as at the first the Woman had made Man a Sinner so now to make him amends she should bring him a Saviour Quest. Why Christ was born of a Virgin Resp. 1. For Decency It became not God to have any Mother but a Maid and it became not a Maid to have any Son but a God 2. For Necessity Christ was to be an High Priest most pure and holy Had he been born after the ordinary course of Nature he had been defiled all that spring out of Adam's Loins have a tincture of sin but that Christ's Substance might remain pure and immaculate he was born of a Virgin 3. To answer the Type Melchisedeck was a Type of Christ he is said to be without Father and without Mother Christ being born of a Virgin answered the Type he was without Father and without Mother without Mother as he was God without Father as he was Man Quest. How could Christ be made of the flesh and blood of a Virgin yet without sin The purest Virgin that is her Soul is stained with Original sin Answ. This Knot the Scripture unties Luke 1.35 The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and overshadow thee therefore that holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be caled the Son of God The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee that is the Holy Ghost did consecrate and purifie that part of the Virgins flesh whereof Christ was made As the Alchymist extracts and draws away the dross from the Gold so the Holy Ghost did refine and claritie that part of the Virgins flesh separating it from sin Though the Virgin Mary her self had sin yet that part of the flesh whereof Christ was made was without sin otherwise it must have been an impure Conception Quest. What is meant by the power of the Holy Ghost overshadowing the Virgin Answ. St. Basil saith It was the Holy Ghost's blessing the flesh of that Virgin whereof Christ was formed But there is a further Mystery in it the Holy Ghost having framed Christ in the Virgins Womb did in a wonderful manner unite Christ's Humane Nature to his Divine and so of both made one person This is a Mystery which the Angels pry into with Adoration Quest. When was Christ incarnate Answ. In the fulness of time Gal. 4.4 When the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman By the fulness of time we must understand Tempus à Patre praefinitum so Ambrose Luther Cornâ—à Lap. the determinate Time that God had set More particularly this fulness of time was when all the Prophesies of the coming of the Messiah were accomplished and all Legal Shadows and Figures whereby he was tipified were abrogated in the fulness of time God sent his Son And
aspects and smiles of Gods Face Which brings me to the third thing 3. The Saints at Death shall not only have a Sight of God but shall enjoy the Love of God there shall be no more Veil on Gods Face nor his Smiles checker'd with Frowns but Gods love shall discover it self in all its Orient Beauty and fragrant Sweetness Here the Saints pray for Gods Love and they have a few drops but there they shall have as much as their Vessel can receive To know this love passeth Knowledge This will cause a Jubilation of Spirits and create such Holy Raptures of Joy in the Saints as are Superlative and would soon overwhelm them if God did not make them able to bear 4. Believers at Death shall gain a Celestial Palace an House not made with Hands 2 Cor. 5.1 Here the Saints are straitned for Room they have but mean Cottages to live in but they shall have a Royal Palace to live in Here is but their Sojourning House there in Heaven is their Mansion-house An House built high above all the Visible Orbs an House bespangled with Light Col. 1.12 Enriched with Pearls and Precious Stones Rev. 21.19 And this is not their Landlord's House but their Father's House Iohn 14.2 And this House stands all upon Consecrated Ground it is set out by Transparent Glass to shew the Holiness of it Rev. 21.27 5. Believers at Death shall gain the sweet Society of glorified Saints and Angels This will add something to the felicity of Heaven as every Star adds some lustre to the Firmament First The Society of the glorified Saints we shall see them in their Souls as well as in their Bodies Their Bodies will be so clear and bright that we shall see their Souls shining through their Bodies as the Wine through the Glass and Believers at Death shall have Converse with the Saints glorified And how delightful will that be when they shall be freed from all their Sinful Corruptions Pride Envy Passion Censoriousness which are Scars upon them here to disfigure them In Heaven there shall be perfect Love among the Saints they shall as the Olive and Myrtle sweetly embrace each other The Saints shall know one another as Luther speaks If in the Transfiguration Peter knew Moses and Elias which he never saw before Mat. 17.3 then much more in the glorified State the Saints shall perfectly know one another though they never saw them before Secondly The Saints at Death shall behold the Angels with the glorified Eye of their Understanding The Wings of the Cherubins representing the Angels were made of Fine Gold to denote both their Sanctity and Splendor The Angels are compared to Lightning Mat. 28.3 because of those Sparkling Beams of Majesty which as Lightning shoot from them And when Saints and Angels shall meet and sing together in Consort in the Heavenly Quire what Divine Harmony what Joyful Triumphs will it Create 6. Believers at Death shall gain Perfection of Holiness Here Grace was but in Cunabulis in its Cradle very Imperfect we cannot write a Copy of Holiness without Blotting Believers are said to receive but Primitias Spiritus the first Fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 But at Death the Saints shall arrive at Perfection their Knowledge clear their Sanctity perfect their Sun shall be in its full Meridian Splendour They need not then pray for Encrease of Grace they shall Love God as much as they would Love him and as much as he desires to have them Love him they shall be then in respect of Holiness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Angels of God 7. At Death the Saints shall gain a Royal Magnificent Feast I told you before what a glorious Palace they shall have but a Man may starve in a House if there be no Chear The Saints at Death shall have a Royal Banquet shadowed out in Scripture by a Marriage Supper Rev. 19.9 Bullinger and Gregory the Great understand by that Marriage-Supper of the Lamb the stately Magnificent Festival the Saints shall have in Heaven they shall feed on the Tree of Life Rev. 22. They shall have the Heavenly Nectar and Ambrosia the Spiced Wine and Iuice of the Pomegranate Cant. 8.2 This Royal Supper of the Lamb will not only satisfie Hunger but prevent it Rev. 7 16. They shall hunger no more Nor can there be any Surfeit at this Feast because a fresh Course will be continually served in New and fresh Delights will spring from God therefore the Tree of Life in Paradise is said to bear Twelve sorts of Fruit Rev. 22.2 8. Believers at Death shall gain Honour and Dignity they shall reign as Kings therefore we read of the Ensigns of their Royalty their White Robes and Crowns Caelestial 2 Tim. 4.7 We read that the Doors of the Holy of Holies were made of Palm-Trees and open Flowers covered with Gold 1 Kings 6.35 An Emblem of that Victory and Triumph and that Golden Garland of Honour wherewith God hath invested the Saints glorified When all Worldly Honour shall lye in the Dust the Mace the Star the Robe of Ermin the Imperial Diadem then shall the Saints Honour remain not one Jewel shall be pluck'd out of their Crown they shall gain at Death a Blessed Eternity If the Saints could have but the least Suspicion or Fear of losing their Glory it would much cool and imbitter their Joy but their Crown fades not away 1 Pet. 5.4 As the Wicked have a Worm that never dies so the Elect have a Crown that never fades Ever is a short Word but hath no ending in fine erit gaudium sine fine Bern. 2 Cor. 4.18 The things which are not seen are Eternal Psal. 16.11 At thy right Hand are Pleasures for evermâ—re Who can span Eternity Millions of Ages stand but for Ciphers in Eternity This is the Elah or highest strain of the Saints Glory ever in Christ's Bosom Quest. How come the Saints to have all this Gain Resp. Believers have a right to all this Gain at Death upon a diverse account By vertue of the Fathers Donation the Sons Purchase the Holy Ghosts Earnest and Faiths acceptance Therefore the state of future glory is called the Saints proper inheritance Col. 1.12 They are Heirs of God and have a right to inherit Use 1. See the great difference between the Death of the Godly and the Wicked the Godly are great gainers at Death the Wicked are great Losers at Death They loose Four things 1. They lose the World and that is a great loss to the Wicked they laid up their Treasure upon Earth and to be turned out of all at once is a great loss 2. They lose their Souls Mat. 16.26 The Soul was at first a noble piece of Coin which God stamped his own Image upon this Caelestial spark is more precious than the whole Globe of the World But the Sinners Soul is lost not that the Souls of the Wicked are annihilated at Death but damnified 3. They lose Heaven Heaven is Sedes
some stings of it in the joynts of the stone-work which cannot be gotten out 8. Sin mingles with our Duties and Graces we cannot write a Copy of Holiness without blotting This makes a Child of God weary of his Life and makes him water his Couch with his Tears to think sin so strong a Party and he should offend that God whom he loves This made Paul cry out Miser ego Homo O wretched Man that I am Hence Paul did not cry out of his Affliction of his Prison-chain but of the body of sin Now a Believer at Death shall be freed from sin he is not taken away in but from his sins he shall never have a vain proud thought more he shall never grieve the Spirit of God any more Sin brought Death into the World and Death shall carry sin out of the World The Persians had a certain day in the Year in which they kill'd all Serpents and venomous Creatures Such a day will the day of Death be to a Believer it will destroy all his sins which like so many Serpents have stung him Death smites a Believer as the Angel did Peter it made his Chains fall off So Death makes all the Chains of Sin fall off Acts 12.7 Believers at Death are made perfect in Holiness Heb. 12.23 The Spirits of just Men made perfect At Death the Souls of Believers recover their Virgin-purity O what a Blessed Privilege is this to be sine macula ruga without spot and wrinckle Eph. 5.27 to be purer than the Sun-beams to be as free from sin as the Angels This makes a Believer so desirous to have his Pass to be gone He would fain live in that pure Air where no black Vapors of sin arise 2. At Death the Saints shall be freed from all the Troubles and Incumbrances to which this Life is subject Sin is the Seed sown and Trouble is the Harvest reaped 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip. Life and Trouble are married together There is more in Life to wean us than to tempt us Parents divide a Portion of Sorrow to their Children and yet they leave enough for themselves Iob 5.7 Man is born to trouble He is Heir to it it is his Birth-right You may as well separate weight from Lead as Trouble from the Life of Man Quid est diu vivere nisi diu Torqueri Aug. King Henry's Emblem a Crown hung in a Bush of Thorns There is a far greater Proportion of Bitterness than Pleasure in this Life Prov. 7.17 I have perfumed my Bed with Myrrhe Aloes and Cynamon For one sweet Ingredient there were two bitter for the Cynamon there was Myrrhe and Aloes A Mans Grace will not exempt him from Troubles Gen. 47.9 Few and evil have the days of the years of my Life been Though he was a Godly Patriarch though he had met with God Gen. 32.30 He named the name of the place Peniel For I have seen God face to face Yet he had his Troubles few and evil c. There are many things to imbitter Life and cause trouble and Death frees us from all 1. Care The Mind is full of perplexed thoughts how to bring about such a Design how to prevent such an Evil. The word for Care 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes from a Primitive in the Greek that signifies To cut the Heart in pieces Care doth discruciate the Mind wast the Spirits No such bitter Bread as the Bread of Carefulness Ezek. 12.19 Care is a Spiritual Canker which eats out the Comfort of Life Death is the Cure of Care 2. Fear Fear is the Ague of the Soul which sets it a shaking 1 Iohn 4.14 There is Torment in Fear Fear is like Prometheus his Vulture it gnaws upon the Heart There is a distrustful Fear a Fear of Want and a distracting Fear Fear of Danger and a discouraging Fear a Fear God doth not love us These Fears leave sad Impressions upon the Mind Now at Death a Believer is freed from these torturing Fears He now knows he is passed from Death to Life He is as far from Fear as the Damned are from Hope The Grave buries a Christians Fears 3. Labour Eccles. 1.8 All things are full of labour Some labour in the Mine others among the Muses God hath made a Law In the sweat of thy Brows thou shalt eat Bread But Death gives a Believer a Quietus est it takes him off from his Day-labour Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord they rest from their labours What needs working when they have their Reward What needs fighting when the Crown is set on their Head they rest from their Labours 4. Suffering Believers are as a Lilly among Thorns as the Dove among the Birds of Prey The Wicked have an Antipathy against the Righteous and secret Hatred will break forth into open Violence Gal. 4.29 He that was born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit The Dragon is described with seven Heads and ten Horns Rev. 12.3 he plotteth with the one and pusheth with the other But at Death the Godly shall be freed from the Molestations of the Wicked they shall never be pestered with these Vermin more Iob 3.17 There viz. in the Grave the wicked cease from troubling Death doth to a Believer as Ioseph of Arimathea did to Christ it takes him down from the Cross and gives him a Writ of Ease The Eagle that flies high cannot be stung with the Serpent Death gives the Soul the Wing of the Eagle that it flies above all these venomous Serpents here below 5. Temptation Though Satan be a conquered Enemy yet he is a restless Enemy 1 Pet. 5.8 He walketh about the Devil is always going his Diocess He hath his Snares and his Darts One he tempts with Riches another with Beauty it is no small trouble to be continually followed with Temptation As for a Virgin to have her Chastity daily assaulted But Death will free a Child of God from Temptation he shall never be vexed more with the old Serpent After Death hath shot its Dart at us the Devil shall have done shooting his Though Grace puts a Believer out of the Devils Possession only Death frees him from the Devils Temptation 6. Sorrow A Cloud of Sorrow gathers in the Heart and drops into Tears Psal. 31.10 My life is spent with Grief and my years with sighing It was a Curse Gen. 3.16 In sorrow thou shalt bring forth Many things occasion Sorrow Sickness Law-suits Treachery of Friends disappointment of Hopes loss of Estate Ruth 1.20 Call me not Naomi call me Mara I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty Sorrow is the evil Spirit that haunts us the World is a Bochim Rachel wept for her Children some grieve that they have no Children and others grieve that their Children are undutiful Thus we spend our years with sighing 't is a Valley of Tears But Death is the Funeral of all our Sorrows Rev. 7.17 And God
manner Thirdly When are the Seasons Fourthly Why God delivers Fifthly How the deliverances of the Godly and Wicked out of Trouble differ First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That God doth deliver his Children out of Troubles Psal. 22.4 Our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted and thou didst deliver them 2 Tim. 4.17 And I was delivered out of the Mouth of the Lion viz. from Nero. Psal. 66.11 12. Thou laidst Affliction upon our Loins but thou broughtest us out into a Wealthy Place Psal. 30.5 Heaviness may endure for a Night but Ioy cometh in the Morning God brought Daniel out of the Lions Den Sihon out of Babylon God in his due time gives an issue out of trouble Psal. 68.20 The Tree which in Winter seems dead in the Spring revives Post nubila Phaebus Affliction may leap on us as the Viper did on Paul but at last this Viper shall be shaked off 'T is called a Cup of Affliction Isa. 51.17 The Wicked drink a Sea of Wrath the Godly drink only a Cup of Affliction and God will say shortly Let this Cup pass away God will give his People a Goal Delivery Secondly Quest. In what manner doth God deliver his People out of Trouble Resp. He doth it like a God in Wisdom 1. He doth it sometimes suddenly as the Angel was caused to fly swiftly Dan. 9.21 So God sometimes makes a Deliverance fly swiftly upon the Wing and on a Suddain he turns the shadow of Death into the Light of the Morning As God gives us Mercies above what we can think Ephes. 3.20 so sometimes before we can think of them Psal. 126.1 When the Lord turned the Captivity of Sion we were like them that Dreamed we were in a Dream we never thought of it Ioseph could not have thought of such a sudden Alteration to be the same Day freed out of Prison and made the chief Ruler in the Kingdom Mercy sometimes doth not stick long in the Birth but it is brought forth on a sudden 2. God sometimes delivers his People strangely That the Whale which swallow'd up Ionah should be a means to bring him safe to Land God sometimes delivers his People in that very way they think he will destroy In Bringing Israel out of Egypt God stirred up the Hearts of the Egyptians to hate them Psal. 105.22 And that was the means of their Deliverance He brought Paul to Shoar by a contrary Wind and upon the broken Pieces of the Ship Acts 27.44 Thirdly Quest. When are the times and Seasons that God usually delivers his People out of the Bondage of Affliction Resp. 1. When they are in the greatest Extremity When Ionah was in the Belly of Hell then Chap. 2.5 Thou hast brought up my Life from Corruption When there is but an Hairs breadth between the Godly and Death then God ushers in Deliverance When the Ship in the Gospel was almost covered with Waves then Christ awoke and rebuked the Wind. When Isaac was upon the Altar and the Knife going to be put to his Throat then comes the Angel Lay not thy Hand upon the Child When Peter began to sink then Christ took him by the Hand Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses When the Tale of Brick was doubled then comes Moses the Temporal Saviour When the People of God are in the greatest danger then appears the Morning Star of Deliverance When the Patient is ready to faint now the Cordial is given 2. The Second Season is when Affliction hath done its Work upon them When it hath effected that God hath sent it for As First When it hath humbled them Lam. 3.19 Remembring my Affliction the Wormwood and Gall my Soul is humbled in me When Gods Corrosive hath eat out the Proud Flesh. Secondly When it hath tamed their Impatience Before they were proud and impatient like froward Children that would struggle with their Parents but when their curst Hearts are tamed and they say as Micah 7.9 I will bear the Indignation of the Lord because I have sin'd against him and as Eli It is the Lord let him do what seems him good Let him hedge me with Thorns if he will plant me with Grace 3 When they are more Partakers of God's Holiness Heb. 12.10 they are more full of Heavenly-Mindedness When the sharp Frost of Affliction hath brought forth the Spring Flowers of Grace now the Cross is sanctified and God will bring them out of the House of Bondage Luctus in laetitiam vertetur cineres in Corollas When the Metal is refined then it is taken out of the Furnace When Affliction hath heal'd us now God takes off the smarting Plaister Fourthly Quest. Why doth God bring his People out of the House of Bondage Resp. Hereby he makes way for his own Glory Gods Glory is dearer to him than any thing besides it is a Crown-Jewel God by raising his People raiseth the Trophies of his own Honour He glorifies his Attributes His Power Goodness Truth do all Ride in Triumph 1. His Power If God did not sometimes bring his People into Trouble how would his Power be seen in bringing them out He brought Israel out of the House of Bondage with Miracle upon Miracle he saved them with an outstretched-Arm Psal. 114.5 What ailed thee O thou Sea that thou fleddest c. It is spoken of Israel's March out of Egypt when the Sea fled and the Waters were parted each from other Here was the power of God set forth Ier. 32.27 Is any thing too hard for me God loves to help when things seem past hope he creates Deliverance Psal. 124.8 He brought Isaac out of a Dead Womb and the Messiah out of a Virgins Womb. O how doth his Power shine forth when he overcomes seeming Impossibilities and works a Cure when things look desperate 2. His Truth God hath made Promises to his People when they are under great pressures to deliver them and his Truth is engaged in his Promise Psal. 50.15 Call-upon me in the Day of Trouble I will deliver thee Job 5.19 He shall deliver thee in Six Troubles and in Seven How is the Scripture bespangled with these Promises as the Firmament is with Stars either God will deliver them from Death or by Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will make a way to escape 1 Cor. 10.13 When Promises are verified God's Truth is magnified 3. His Goodness God is full of Compassion to such as are in Misery The Hebrew Word Racham for Mercy signifies Bowels God hath Soundings of Bowels Isa. 63.15 And this Sympathy stirs up God to deliver Isa. 63.9 In his Love and in his Pity he Redeemed them This makes way for the Triumph of Gods Goodness First He is Tender-hearted he will not over-afflict he cuts asunder the Bars of Iron he breaks the Yoaks of the Oppressor Thus all his Attributes ride in Triumph in the saving his People out of Trouble Fifthly Quest. How the Deliverances of the Godly and Wicked out of Trouble differ Resp. 1. The deliverances of
then Israel prevailed So Gods Spirit puts the Promises under the Hand of Faith and then a Christian overcomes the Devil that spiritual Amalek The Promise is to the Soul as the Anchor is to a Ship which keeps it steddy in a Storm 2. Christ succours them that are tempted by his blessed interceeding for them When the Devil is tempting Christ is praying Of this the next timer 2. Christ succours his Saints by interceeding for them when Satan is tempting Christ is praying That prayer Christ put up for Peter when he was tempted extend◠to all the Saints Luk. 22.32 Lord saith Christ it is my Child that is tempted Father pitty him when a poor Soul lies bleeding of his wounds the Devil hath given him Christ presents his Wounds to his Father and in the virtue of those pleads for Mercy How powerful must Christs Prayer needs be He is a Favorite Iohn 11.42 He is both an High-Priest and a Son if God could forget that Christ were a Priest yet he cannot forget that he is a Son besides Christ prays for nothing but what is agreeable to his Fathers Will if a Kings Son Petitions only for that which his Father hath a Mind to grant his suit will not be denied 3. Christ succours his People by taking of the Tempter a Shepherd when the Sheep begins to straggle may set the Dog on the Sheep to bring it nearer the Fold but then he calls off the Dog again God will take of the Tempter 1 Cor. 10.13 He will with the Temptation make a way to escape 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will make an Out-let Christ will rebuke the Tempter Zach. 3.2 The Lord rebuke thee O Satan This is no small support that Christ succours the Tempted The Mother succours the Child most when it is sick she sits by its Bed-side brings it Cordials So when a Soul is most assaulted it shall be most assisted Object But I have dealt unkindly with Christ and sinn'd against his Love and sure he will not succour me but let me perish in the Battel Answ. Christ is a merciful High-priest and will succour thee notwithstanding thy failings Ioseph was a Type of Christ. His Brethren sold him away and the Irons entered into his Soul yet afterwards when his Brethren were ready to die in the Famine he forgot their injuries and succoured them with Money and Corn. I am saith he Ioseph your Brother so will Christ say to a tempted Soul I know thy unkindnesses how thou hast distrusted my Love grieved my Spirit but I am Ioseph I am Jesus therefore I will succour thee when thou art tempted 4. Rock of support The best Men may be most tempted A rich Ship may be violently set upon by Pyrats He who is rich in Faith yet may have the Devil that Pyrate set upon him by his battering pieces Iob an eminent Saint yet how fiercely was he assaulted Satan did smite his body that he might tempt him either to question Gods Providence or quarrel with it St. Paul was a chosen vessel but how was this vessel battered with Tentation 2 Cor. 12.7 Object But is it not said he who is born of God the Wicked one toucheth him not 1 Joh. 5.18 Answ. It is not meant that the Devil doth not tempt him but he toucheth him not that is tactu lethali Cajetan with a deadly touch 1 Joh. 5.16 There is a sin unto Death now Satan with all his Temptations doth not make a Child of God sin a sin unto Death Thus he toucheth him not 5. Rock of support Satan can go no further in tempting than God will give him leave The power of the Tempter is limited A whole Legion of Devils could not touch one Swine till Christ gave them leave Satan would have sifted Peter to have sifted out all his Grace but Christ would not suffer him I have prayed for thee c. Christ binds the Devil in a Chain Rev. 20.1 If Satans power were according to his malice not one Soul should be saved but he is a Chained Enemy this is a comfort Satan cannot go an Hairs breadth beyond Gods permission If an Enemy could not touch a Child further than the Father did appoint sure he should do the Child no great hurt 6. Rock of support It is not the having a Tentation makes guilty but the giving consent We cannot hinder a Tentation Elijah that could by Prayer shut Heaven could not shut out a Temptation but if we abhor the Temptation it is our burden not our sin We read in the old Law if one went to force a Virgin and she cried out she was reputed innocent If Satan would by temptation commit a Rape upon a Christian and he cries out and will not give consent the Lord will charge it upon the Devils score It is not the laying the Bait hurts the Fish if the Fish doth not bite 7. Rock of support Our being tempted is no sign of Gods hating us A Child of God oft thinks God doth not love him because he lets him be haunted with the Devil non sequitur this is a wrong conclusion was not Christ himself tempted yet by a Voice from Heaven proclaimed This is my beloved Son Mat. 3.17 Satans tempting and Gods loving may stand together The Goldsmith loves his Gold in the Fire God loves a Saint tho shot at by fiery Darts 8. Rock of support Christs Temptation was for our consolation aqua-ignis Jesus Christ is to be looked upon as a publick person as our Head and Representative and what Christ did he did for us His prayer was for us his suffering was for us when he was tempted and overcame the temptation he overcame for us Christs conquering Satan was to shew that every Elect Person shall at last be a Conqueror over Satan when Christ overcame Satans temptations it was not only to give us an example of Courage but an assurance of Conquest We have overcome Satan already in our Head and we shall at last perfectly overcome 9. Rock of support the Saints Temptations shall not be above their strength The Lutenist will not stretch the strings of his Lute too hard lest they break 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above that ye are able God will proportion our strength to the stroke 2. Cor. 12.9 My Grace is sufficient for thee The Torch-light of Faith shall be kept burning notwithstanding all the Winds of Temptation blowing 10. Rock of support these temptations shall produce much good 1. They shall quicken a Spirit of Prayer in the Saints they shall pray more and better Temptation is orationis flabellum the exciter of Prayer perhaps before the Saints came to God as cold suiters in Prayer they pray'd as if they pray'd not temptation is a Medicine for security When Paul had a Messenger of Satan to buffet him he was more earnest in Prayer 2 Cor. 12.8 Three times I besought the Lord the Thorn in the
of God because no condemnation Rom. 8.1 No condemnation to them in Christ Iesus God doth not condemn them nor Conscience doth not condemn them Both Jury and Judge acquit them then no evil befalls them for nothing is really an evil but that which damns 10. If God be our Father this may make us go with chearfulness to the Throne of Grace Were a Man to petition his enemy there were little hope but when a Child petitions his Father he may come with confidence to speed The word Father works upon God it toucheth his very Bowels What can a Father deny his Child If a Son ask bread will he give him a stone Matth. 7.9 This may embolden us to go to God for pardon of Sin and further degrees of Sanctity We pray to a Father of Mercy setting upon a Throne of Grace Luke 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Spirit to them that ask him This did quicken the Church and add wings to Prayer Isa. 63.15 Look down from heaven ver 16. Doubtless thou art our Father Who doth God keep his Mercies for but his Children Three things may cause boldness in Prayer We have a Father to pray to and the Spirit to help us to pray and an Advocate to present our Prayers Gods Children should in all their troubles run to their Heavenly Father as that sick Child 2 Kin. 4.19 He said unto his Father My head my head So pour out thy complaint to God in Prayer Father my heart my heart My dead heart quicken it my hard heart soften it in Christs Blood Father my heart my heart Sure God that hears the cry of the Ravens will hear the cry of his Children 11. If God be our Father he will stand between us and danger A Father will keep off danger from his Child God calls himself scutum a shield A shield defends the Head guards the Vitals God shields off dangers from his Children Acts 18.10 I am with thee and none shall set on thee to hurt thee God is an hiding place Psalm 27.5 God preserved Athanasius strangely he put it into his mind to depart out of the house he was in the night before the enemies came to search for him As God hath a Breast to feed so he hath Wings to cover his Children Psal. 91.4 He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust God appoints his holy Angels to be a Life-guard about his Children Heb. 1.14 never was any Prince so well guarded as a Believer The Angels 1. are a numerous guard 2 Kings 6.17 The mountain was full of horses of fire round about Elisha The Horses and Chariots of fire were the Angels of God to defend the Prophet Elisha 2. A strong guard One Angel in a night slew an hundred and fourscore and five thousand 2 Kin. 19.32 if one Angel slew so many what would an Army of Angels have done 3. The Angels are a swift guard they are ready in an instant to help Gods Children therefore they are described with wings to show their swiftness they fly to our help Dan. 9.21 23. At the beginning of thy supplication the commandment came forth and I am come to thee Here was a swift motion for the Angel to come from Heaven to Earth between the beginning and ending of Daniels Prayer 4. The Angels are a watchful guard not like Sauls guard asleep when their Lord was in danger 1 Sam. 26.12 The Angels are a vigilant guard they watch over Gods Children to defend them Psal. 34.7 The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him There is an invisible guardianship of Angels about Gods Children 12. If God be our Father we shall not want any thing that he sees is good for us Psal. 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing God is pleased sometimes to keep his Children to hard commons but it is good for them Sheep thrive best on short pasture God sees too much may not be good plenty breeds surfeit Luxuriant animi rebus secundis God sees it good sometimes to dyet his Children and keep them short that they may run the Heavenly Race the better it was good for Iacob there was a Famine in the Land it was a means to bring him to his Son Ioseph so it is that Gods Children sometimes see the Worlds emptiness that they may acquaint themselves more with Christs fulness if God see it be good for them to have more of the World they shall have it God will not let them want any good thing 13. If God be our Father all the Promises of the Bible belong to us Gods Children are called Heirs of the promise Heb. 6.17 A wicked Man can lay claim to nothing in the Bible but the Curses he hath no more to do absolutely with the Promises than a Ploughman hath to do with the City Charter the Promises are Childrens Bread the Promises are mulctralia Evangelii the Breasts of the Gospel milking out Consolation and who are to suck of these Breasts but Gods Children The promise of Pardon is for them Ier. 33.8 I will pardon all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me The promise of Healing is for them Isa. 57.18 the promise of Salvation Ier. 23.6 the Promises are supports of Faith they are Gods sealed Deed they are a Christians Cordial O the Heavenly Comforts which are distilled from the Lembick of the Promises St. Chrysostome compares the Scripture to a Garden the Promises are the Fruit-Trees that grow in this Garden A Child of God may go to any Promise in the Bible and pluck Comfort from it He is an Heir of the Promise 14. God makes all his Children Conquerours They are born of God and are conquerours 1. They conquer themselves Fortior est qui se quam qui fortissima vincit maenia The Saints conquer their own Lusts they bind these princes in fetters of iron Psal. 149.8 Though the Children of God may sometimes be foiled and lose a single battle yet not the victory 2. They conquer the World The World holds forth her two Breasts of Pleasure and Profit and many are overcome by it but the Children of God have a World-conquering Faith 1 Iohn 5.4 This is the victory over the world even your faith 3. They conquer their Enemies How can that be when they oft take away their Lives 1. They conquer by not complying with them The three Children would not fall down to the Golden Image Dan. 3.18 they would rather burn than bow here they were Conquerours He who complyes with anothers Lust is a Captive he who refuseth to comply is a Conquerour 2. Gods Children conquer their enemies by heroick Patience A patient Christian like the anvil bears all strokes invincibly Thus the Martyrs overcame their enemies by Patience nay Gods Children are more than conquerours Rom. 8.37 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We
are more than conquerours How are Gods Children more than Conquerours Because they conquer without loss and because they are crowned after death which other Conquerours are not 15. If God be our Father he will now and then send us some tokens of his Love Gods Children live far from home and meet sometimes with coarse usage from the unkind World therefore God to encourage his Children sends them sometimes tokens and pledges of his Love What are these He gives them a return of Prayer there is a token of Love he quickens and enlargeth their Hearts in Duty there is a token of Love he gives them the first fruits of his Spirit which are Love-tokens Rom. 8.23 As God gives the wicked the first fruits of Hell horrour of Conscience and Despair so he gives his Children the first fruits of his Spirit Joy and Peace which are foretasts of Glory Some of Gods Children having received these tokens of Love from their Heavenly Father have been so transported that they have dyed for Joy as the Glass oft breaks with the strength of the Wine put into it 16. If God be our Father he will indulge and spare us Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him Gods sparing his Children imports this his clemency towards them he doth not punish them as he might Psal. 103.10 He hath not dealt with us according to our sins We oft do that which merits Wrath grieve Gods Spirit relapse into Sin God passeth by much and spares us God did not spare his Natural Son Rom. 8.32 yet he will spare his Adopted Sons God threatned Ephraim to make him as the Chaff driven with the Whirlwind but he soon repented Hos. 13.4 Yet I am the Lord thy God ver 10. I will be thy King Here God spared him as a Father spares his Son Israel oft provoked God with their complaints but God used clemency towards them he oft answered their murmurings with Mercies here he spared them as a Father spares his Son 17. If God be our Father he will put Honour and Renown upon us at the last day 1. He will clear the innocency of his Children Gods Children in this Life are strangely misrepresented to the World they are loaded with invectives they are called factious seditious Elijah the troubler of Israel Luther was called the trumpet of Rebellion Athanasius was accused to the Emperor Constantine to be the raiser of Tumults the Primitive Christians were accused to be infanticidii incestus rei killers of their Children guilty of Incest as Tertullian St. Paul reported to be a pestilent person Acts 24.5 Famous Wickliff called the Idol of the Hereticks and that he dyed drunk If Satan cannot defile Gods Children he will disgrace them if he cannot strike his fiery darts into their Conscience he will put a dead fly into their Name but God will one day clear his Childrens innocency he will roll away their reproach As God will make a Resurrection of Bodies so of Names Isa. 25.8 The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away God will be the Saints compurgator Psal. 37.6 He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light The Night casts its dark mantle upon the most beautiful Flowers but the light comes in the Morning and dispells the darkness and every Flower appears in its orient brightness so the wicked may by misreports darken the honour and repute of the Saints but God will dispel this darkness and cause their Names to shine forth He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light As God did stand up for the honour of Moses when Aaron and Miriam went about to eclipse his Fame Numb 12.8 Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses So will God say one day to the wicked wherefore were not ye afraid to defame and traduce my Children They having my Image upon them how durst ye abuse my Picture At last Gods Children shall come forth out of all their calumnies as a Dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold Psal. 68.13 2. God will make an open and honourable recital of all their good deeds As the Sins of the Wicked shall be openly mentioned to their eternal infamy and confusion so all the good deeds of the Saints shall be openly mentioned and then shall every man have praise of God 1 Cor. 4.5 Every Prayer made with melting eyes every good service every work of Charity shall be openly declared before Men and Angels Matth. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me meat thirsty and ye gave me drink naked and ye clothed me Thus God will set a Trophy of Honour upon all his Children at the last day Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father Matth. 13.43 18. If God be our Father he will settle good land of inheritance upon us 1 Pet. 1.4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus who hath begotten us again to a lively hope to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled A Father may be fallen to decay and have nothing to leave his Son but his Blessing but God will settle an Inheritance on his Children and an Inheritance no less than a Kingdom Luke 17.32 It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom This Kingdom is more Glorious and Magnificent than any Earthly Kingdom it is set out by Pearls and precious Stones the richest Jewels Rev 21.19 What are all the Rarities of the World to this Kingdom The Coasts of Pearl the Islands of Spices the Rocks of Diamonds In this Heavenly Kingdom is that which is satisfying unparallel'd Beauty Rivers of Pleasure and this for ever Psal. 16.11 At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Heavens eminency is its permanency and this Kingdom Gods Children shall enter into immediately after Death There is a sudden transition and passage from Death to Glory 2 Cor. 5.9 Absent from the body present with the Lord. Gods Children shall not stay long for their Inheritance it is but winking and they shall see God How may this comfort Gods Children who perhaps are low in the World your Father in Heaven will settle a Kingdom upon you at death such a Kingdom as eye hath not seen he will give you a Crown not of Gold but Glory he will give you white Robes lined with Immortality It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom 19. If God be our Father it is Comfort 1. In case of loss of Relations Hast thou lost a Father yet if thou art a Believer thou art no Orphan thou hast an Heavenly Father a Father that never dyes 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality 2. It is comfort in case of Death God is thy Father and at Death thou art going to thy Father Well might Paul say Death is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 it is your friend that will carry you home to your Father