of uncleanness oh that thou wouldest sanctifie and beautifie them by thy glorious presence they cannot be happy or blessed one minute without thee yet shall be as thou art if thou comest but into them but alas we are many of us as the Bethlemites that would not entertain Christ in the inne for there was no room for them in the inne Which brings me to the 4 thing viz. the peoples inhospitality 4 There was no room for them in the Inne What was the suddenness of the journey any cause of the virgins speedy travail or her sudden travail rather a cause of the Bethlehemites uncharitableness poor virgin and yet happy mother of so blest a babe she comes too late to be lodged in the Inne that came too soon to be entertained of her kindred but too late for the Inne and all the room was taken up before she came and therefore must be in the stable rather then an honest traveller will be burthensome the meanest room to his humility shall be great satisfaction indeed some had their delicates and fed onely for wantonness though she wants necessaries the Carpenter that had built many a house now wants a house wherein to rest himself and almost wearied traveller contentedly accepting the beasts for his companions rather then want a lodging just so the God of heaven and earth having left heaven was glad to shrowd himself in this clay of ours Ioseph came to his City and the Citizens received him not because they knew not that the Lord of glory was with him thus the Ox knows his owner and the Asse his masters crib but Israel did not know the Bethlemites did not consider Esay 1.3 Whom have you rejected you Bethlemites Will ye rather reject God in a stranger then entertain a stranger for Gods sake What do you throw God into a stable Know you not that out of you shall come the ruler of Israel Mich. 5.2 And are you so stupidly ignorant that now you will lose the accomplishment of that promise How unlike art thou to Bethlehem the house of Bread in regard thou neither affordest him house to harbour nor bread to succour him But alas woe unto us we censure thee O Bethlehem but if we had lived in thy dayes we should have been worse and now can expect nothing but that Bethlehem should rise up in Judgment against us for in this she is more righteous then we for Christ came but once to them and in humility but he comes often to us in power and we regard not How often doth he knock at the door of our hearts by his Word and by his Spirit yea and that untill his head be filled with dew and his locks with drops of the night but we will not entertain him O! if those rude heaps have had the dust of his feet shaken against them for their inhospitableness how shall these hard hearts of ours that will not receive him be ground to powder Matth. 21.24 when that great milstone shall fall upon us for our hardness and impenitency do not your hearts tremble to hear the sad doom I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye clothed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not therefore ye shall go into everlasting punishment S. Mat. 25.43 46. With what sadness of countenance shall we hear this woe denounced and that by Christ himself and certainly without repentance it will be our portion how then should we pray oh that our hearts were worthy the harbouring of so rare a guest With what diligence and care should we sweep our houses set open our doors and make us in a readiness when we heard of some earthly monarch that were coming to us and thus we should by repentance and holy devotion prepare our hearts that they may be meet Tabernacles for him and labour to get all those graces his Spirit confers on those that love him that so our Lord might not come before expected nor passe by uninvited but freely turn unto us and dwell by Faith in us that we may dwell in him by the same Spirit that Christ dwelling in us here we may dwell with him for ever hereafter In whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore A Funeral Sermon SERMON IV. 1 COR. 15.19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable THere is a time to be born and a time to die saith Solomon Eccles 3.2 And the day of a mans death is better then the day of a mans birth for he is born to misery and trouble as the sparks flie out of the fire but by death he is delivered out of the misery of this sinfull world to enjoy true blisse and happinesse therefore why should we hang down our heads like a bulrush and afflict our souls or rather why should we not were it not that we know that God will give us beauty for ashes Isa 61.3 and the spirit of joy for the garment of heaviness or give us the felicity of his chosen and make us rejoyce with the gladnesse of his people or with S. Paul 1 Cor. 15 32. Why should I fight with beasts at Ephesus or contend with unreasonable men Why should I subdue the beastly lusts of the flesh or overcome sinfull corruptions or rather not run to all excesse of riot were it not that after this life there is laid up a crown of glory 2 Tim. 4.8 which God will give to them that love and serve him Why should we arraign and judge our selves for to bring these dayes to an end were it not that upon this moment hangs eternity which we shall be possessed of when death shall be swallowed up of victory 1 Cor. 15.54 and mortality shall put on immortality or why should we account all things loss and dung for the excellency of Christ Phil. 3 8. but that besides the hundred-fold which we shall receive here below God will reckon us among his precious Jewels Why should we not embrace liberty and freedom rather then abide a furnace of trials were there not the Son of God to comfort us and a fiery Chariot whereby to escape the fire that never goeth out And who can dwell with everlasting burning or who can abide with devouring fire Isai 33.14 Why should we not be discouraged at the death of friends and with great despondency hang down our heads in discomfort when we see the lives of our relations are cut off and withall remember that we our selves must shortly turn to dust were we not assured that he who out of stones can raise up children unto Abraham Mat 3.9 will from among these stones raise us again and give us a crown of righteousness And set this crown aside well may the world think Christians the most miserable Take away the hope of a better life I say take away the hope we have in Christ of a
majore ad minorem from the greater to the lesser Christ knew no sin yet he was a man of sorrow the imputation of our sin made him the heir of our sorrows he being the Surety for man he paid the debt when the Principal went free which brought him to that pathetical exclamation Lament 1 12. Behold if â—ver sorrow was like unto my sorrow Thus the Son of God for man became miserable and not only did man by sin bring sorrow upon his Redeemer but also upon himself and the whole creation too as will appear 2. A minore ad majorem from the less to the greater The creatures which were not capable of sin but being subject to man are made lyable to suffering The creature is made subject to vanity not willingly but by constraint Wherefore the whole Creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now c. Rom. 8.20 22. How much more Man is become miserable for whose sake the whole Creation became miserable Misery is the common condition of this life though grace raise the soul to a higher contemplation which often mitigateth and easeth the bitterness of the trouble yet notwithstanding it often cometh to pass that through the inequality of sufferings in this present life she and all her followers must wear garments of a deeper black then the rest of her sons for if others have their cups filled up to the top with bitter afflictions these filled with the dregs if one be scourged with whips the other with Scorpions if they partake of common afflictions good men must be most miserable which brings me to the second conclusion 2. That Christians in this life are outwardly Con. 2 most miserable Vâ—rtue hath such power over the soul of man could it be seen it is so pure it would ravish the beholder with admiration that it is strange how it comes to pass though grace be but vertue sanctified and raised to contemplation that she that commends her better part is so far from having that respect due to her that she is made the heir of sorrows and wicked men like the unjust servants in the Gospel conspire her death and utter extirpation It is strange to see the Sun cursed for its heat the most innocent to be least secure in this life where they must expect sorrow and trouble 2 Tim. 3.12 For all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution and that either inwardly or outwardly 1. Inwardly while the godly cry out with holy David Psal 120 5. Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell in Mesech c. or with just Lâ—t while in Sodom who complained that his righteous soul was vexed with the unclean conversation of the wicked 2 Pet. 2.7 hearing the sacred Name of God blasphemed with oaths and seeing the consent of ungodly men And 2. Outwardly and that either secret or manifest 1. Secret witness the low esteem and base value the world rate Gods Jewels at 1 Cor. 4.13 accounting them the filth and off scouring of the world 2. Manifest and that in words behaviour or actions 1. In words thus Tertullus called Saint Paul a babler a pestilent fellow a mover of sedition Act. 24.5 And Ahab called Elijah him that troubled Israel 1 King 18.17 Psal 69.12 2. In behaviour and thus the drunkards make songs of David and even Christ himself is derided the Jews mock him in his Prophetick Office saying Prophesie who smote thee St. Mat. 26.68 The Souldiers mocked him in his Priestly Office bowing their knees and worshipped him St. Mark 15.19 Herod mocked him in his Kingly Office when he put a purple robe on him and platted a crown of thorns on his head and all in scorn to his sacred person St. Mat. 27.29 3. In actions and here what mischiefs are not executed while wicked mens heads are plotting against the Lords peculiar people Their foul suggestions create ways to disturb them that we cannot conclude that Homo est homini Deus that man is to man a God unless we believe there are two Gods a good and a bad what then Est homo homini daemon is man to man a devill not so good That Kingdom that is divided against it self cannot stand Mark 3.24 saith our Saviour the Kingdom of Satan remains and stands and therefore that Kingdom is not divided how then Est homo homini lupus is man to man a wolf not so good neither wolves prey not on wolves the savage wilde beasts do not devour prey on their own kind but what then Homo est homini homo man is to man a man and what creature doth man more mischief then man Dan. 3.27 See the fire less cruel to the three Children and the hungry Lions more merciful to Daniel then were their accusers Dan. 6.22 the earth more pities Abel in opening her mouth to receive his bloud then was Cain his brother which slew him and wherefore slew he him but because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous 1 Joh. 3.12 So though at the very first you see man walking from the womb to the grave giving up that breath he first drew into misery yet here you have mischief more active though the wicked shall substract from the number of the days of the godly it is but to increase his miseries and though they breviate the Text it is he that comments upon it yet here is the comfort though in his way from Jericho unto Jerusalem he fall among theeves Luk. 10.30 and they wound him and leave him half dead yet the pious Samaritan his Saviour takes care of him poureth in Wine to make glad the heart and Oyl to make him cheerful which are the true effects of a faithful soul in greatest miseries and extremities which he receives by hope in Christ For Con. 3 3. The misery of a Christian is taken away by the hope in Christ Yet mistake not it is not for all trees to heal the bitterness of the waters of Marah Exod. 15.25 nor all meal to heal the deadly pottage it is for every hope out of the eater to bring forth meat it is a riddle a good Samson puts forth of too sublime a nature for carnality to unfold it is a mystrey so divinely pleasant and delightful that none can declare but they that plough with Christs heifer Judges 14.18 Indeed wicked men may presume and by the help of their own abilities think to find perfect freedom but their expectation shall fail and their hope be cut off Job 8.14 only those are they that receive comfort that have the God of Jacob for their help Now in what part of the soul Hope is seated is disputable it matters not whether or no it be referred to the Will seeing it extends to the object he desires and that hope is properly taken not to be a passion but a habit infused by the Spirit of God into a Christian which I take to be
guilty yet notwithstanding amidst the many divided tongues there are found some united hands to slay him Indeed the Atheists scoffe at this saying shall we begin our Religion at a Babe in the manger or believe in him whose poverty was so great that to pay tribute for his allegiance was fain to be obliged to a Fish for money whose penury necessitated him to beg for a living who was hungry and thirsty and sleepy and sorrowful yea so despicably mean and contemptible that his own kindred was ready to lay hands on him as one out of his wits and he complained for want of lodging esteeming himself more despicable than the foxes of the earth or the fowles in the air this was the esteem or very little better which the world had of him of whom they were altogether unworthy not considering why he so came for he came to be thus mean that we might become honourable therefore did he come to be killed by sinners that sinners might live in his death to die for them that they might die to sin and though they now crucifie afresh the Son of God by their iniquities yet a time will come when they will be glad of the saving virtue of one drop of that bloud which they now disgrace To apply this If the Son of God came in such humility as to humble himself to come into the world to die for us why should we disdain to do our friends good though never so mean even to the degree of a servant seeing that when the Son of God came to redeem us he did it in the form of a servant Again why should we think our selves too good to serve our brethren since Christ disdained not to wash his Disciples feet shewing himself in nothing so much as in humility And what doth this teach us but to lay a foundation for greater glory that we beginning in humility here may be raised to glory hereafter for he that is low shall be exalted and in his humility is a follower of him that came to the place of his reception in the lowest form which brings me to the third particular namely The place of his entertainment the World And it is taken two wayes 1. Either for the frame of this vast Globe 2. Or for the Inhabitants thereof But I understand it here for the fabrick of this vast earth which is too mean and altogether unworthy to entertain him nay it is not of capacity to do it for how should this great house hold his glorious Majesty when the Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain him It was humility for him to come into this world and yet he came to the world to shew his humility for the Word was made flesh St. John 1.14 and dwelt among us c. and he abhorred not the Virgins womb though a simple Lady I mean simple in respect of outward glory or worldly riches for so poor she was that at her Churching she was necessitated instead of a Lamb to offer a pair of young Pigeons and though he did seem to straiten himself at his conception because he had little room in the womb yet he was more straitened at his birth for there was no room for him in the Inne which shews the greatness of his love to us that our blessed Saviour will want room on earth rather than we shall want Mansions in heaven the blessed Virgin is driven to so great necessity that her chamber must be in the stable her bed no better than that of straw and the glorious Babe lodged in no other cradle but that of the manger Never was Glory in so homely a place before God at first brought forth man like a King and placed him in Paradise to rule over the Beasts but God is brought forth man in the place of beasts See then vile man who it is whom thou hast neglected in Heaven by sinning on earth the Lord of Men and Angels is now made the companion of Beasts because thou hast made thy self like the beasts that perish how canst thou not admire at the low condescention of thy Saviour that he should so come into the world and be born of such mean parents and in so base a place as is a stable and that which is worse to be laid in a manger also O the heighth and depth of the love of the Son of God! Who would not fall into admiration to see God in a manger God is in his holy Temple what shall he descend Yea we believe him when he said he would do so and now that he hath so done who can forbear loving of him view him in the manger and there you see him become food for beasts for men who are transformed by beastly lusts and yet he will be found in the Temple also that so he may gather both great and small he is meat for strong men yea and he will be milk to the little ones also and unless every one of us become as little ones St. Matt. 18.3 we shall in no wise enter into the Kingdome of Heaven he was born that he might have us born again he was wrapt in swadling-cloths to teach us that we should not despise men how mean soever in appearance and in a stable to shew his communicableness to all persons he was laid in a manger not for food to the beasts but for bread to men Indeed as he is God he gives fodder to the cattle of the earth and the fowles in the air for he feeds the young Ravens but it is only unto men that he gives himself as bread and in a mystery was he found in a stable to shew us that as men became beasts by their fall so he was found among the beasts that he might be food for all and that beastly man might find and tast the bread of life he will also become bread that so we may indeed eat his flesh and drink his bloud St. John 6.55 Therefore since Christ came in such elements hence learn Use That none but clean beasts must eat of such food and none but such truly can do it those that consider not what is really the body and bloud of Christ eat not bread and drink not wine 1 Cor. 11.29 but eat and drink their own condemnation but they that by a true and lively faith do eat and drink the body and bloud of Christ spiritually in the blessed Eucharist do truly fulfil the great end of his coming into the world for thus he came and was born that we might reap the benefit of his life and death and he came so meanely that his poverty might enrich us so lowly that his humility might strengthen us and though we disdainfully neglected the means of our salvation yet he took care of us before all time and manifested his love in coming to us in the fulness of time Ttherfore to wind up all Praise thou the Lord O my soul Ps 103.1 2 3 4 c.
the meaning thereof yet now that he is sure it is the thing it self the mistaking or leaving out but of one circumstance may make the whole action sinful there being no excuse to be drawn for the same either from the goodness of his person now or the holiness of his former life that can make good or fill up what was wanting and defective in his actions Nor is David excusable in feigning himself mad before the people 1 Sam. 21.13 though he was a man after Gods own heart No much more is commendable the saying of old Eleazar when at the command of Antiochus all were to die that would not eat swines flesh and when he had eaten it or at least seemed to eat it for he spit it out again and repenting came of his own accord to the torment choosing to die gloriously rather than live stained with such an abomination therefore saith he excellently when perswaded by friends to bring flesh of his own and make as if he obeyed the King in eating the flesh taken from the Sacrifice It becomes not one of my years to dissemble for then any young person may think that I being fourscore years old and ten were now gone to a strange Religion and so they through my hypocrisie and desire to live a little time and a moment longer should be deceived by me and so I get a stain and make my old age abominable and though I should at present be delivered from men yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead 2 Maccab. 6.19 20 21. When it once comes to this strait that we must either deny the truth or fall under the sword of persecution we are rather to die in or for the Faith then forsake it and as we may not for the saving of our lives doe that which is unlawfull much lesse must we free our goods from danger by similation or making a lie we must not similate good into evil nor truth into falshood by wicked words or works nor seeme to doe good when we intend nothing lesse because of the lye which will lie upon us and we shall be guilty of for so doing and withall because there is a lye in deed as well as in saying and neither is allowable in any man under what pretence soever though the doing thereof were to save his life For we must not doe evil that good may come thereof Rom. 3.8 4. Deniall of the truth and that either by subscribing against it or by doing that in our lives and actions which is directly opposite unto it for there is a double denial of truth 1. In Faith 2. In practice 1. In Faith for the love of pleasures 2. In Practice for fear of pain 1. In Faith Some have made shipwrack of faith and a good conscience 1 Tim. 1.19 and the reason is given in 2 Tim. 3.4 why they so did it was because they were lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God And as they for love of worldly pleasure cast away truth of Faith So 2. Others for fear of pain have done it in fact having a forme of godliness but denying the power thereof c. 2 Tim. 3.5 And in words profess that they know God but in workes they deny him Titus 1.16 being reprobate to every good work c. But besides this denying of truth in faith and practice there is also a deniall of the truth in judgement and this admits of divers degrees 1. Apostasie when men fall from truth into sinfull errours 2 When they revile the truth by evil speeches Thus wicked men detect themselves to be enemies to that truth which with their tongues and hands they violently oppose 3. The sin also against the holy Ghost comes in under the notion of a sinfull Apostate and reviling judgement and that appears 1. In matter of Faith 2. In matter of Fact 1. In matter of Faith when men fall off from the truth of Faith first forsaking of it then denying and at last blaspheming the truths of God and continuing in that blasphemy this is to sinne against the holy Ghost in matter of Faith 2. In matter of Fact and that is when men doe those things which are utterly contrary to the revealed will of Almighty God and obstinately persist in the same this is to sinne in matter of Fact against the holy Ghost for every action that dishonours God and heartens others to doe the like is to deny the truths of God therefore it concernes every man to look to himself and make a curious examination by what hath been said in reference to his words and works that so he may not be found guilty of those errours and crimes which the workes and words of our Saviour eminently convince of for we are obliged though with the losse of our lives to bear witness to the truth for to this end were we born regenerate made Christians came into the world the Christian Chruch that we both in our words in our workes in our lives by our deaths if called thereunto should bear witness to the truth And so I have done with the act Bear witness To this end was I borne and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness to the truth Testis fidelis OR The faithful Witness SERMON VIII St. IOHN 18.37 To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witnesse unto the truth THe lives of most men are mispent it being onely they who have a certain end of their actions that shall attain to the right end for which those actions are designed namely the glory of God and their own salvation some there are that shoot at they know not what mark they direct themselves to an universal scope not minding or regarding the particular tendency of their doings hence it is that they arise not to perfection they continue in that evil which ends in discomfort some level at the right end but level amiss wanting prudence and discretion rightly to manage their actions so as may best direct to the true end of their creation It is only true Christian wisdome that shewes the right end and certainly finds out the way thereunto and a wise Christian amidst the many changes of this life continually presses to one end with reverence and respect still setting his resolution in all his wayes if possible to get near to the great centre who when he was summoned unto death and betrayed thereunto by his seeming friend yet stedfastly asserted the end of his life saying To this end was I borne and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness to the truth In which words I have already observed these particulars 1. An Action 2. An End 3. The Object 1. The Action he was born he came into the world 2. The End and that Pointed at Pointed out 1. Pointed at to this end and for this cause 2. Pointed out to
Christians by cruel usage and at last destroy them yea such hath been the lot of Gods Saints in all ages thus to be persecuted and destroyed for the Prophet Elijahs must be in danger the Ieremies in prison the Disciples lose their goods and the holy Confessors pay their tribute of allegiance to Almighty God with pain and the Martyrs with their lives and though these afflictions may seem terrible to Christians to suffer for the Truth yet the highest of them is no more than lawful and necessary if called thereunto for the pious hearts of true Christians have alwayes thus testified to the Truth witness Saint Paul What mean you to weep and break my heart for I am ready not to be bound only but to die at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus Acts 21.13 and Acts 20.24 He saith elsewhere Neither do I account my life dear unto my self so that I might finish my course with joy It is remarkable to consider the way which Almighty God took to support his Disciples and Servants in despight of the wisdom and malice of the Iews for the planting of his Church in Christianity that it will appear almost incredible to hear what were the afflictions of the Church how intolerable her sufferings that had they not had one to support them who was Almighty and All-sufficient it had been impossible they should have continued stedfast but they had not only the inward support of the Spirit to strengthen but the outward example of our Saviours Passion to incourage them unto a conformity to him both in doing and suffering and so nearly did the Saints copy out one anothers lives that their spirits were seemingly converted into one anothers bodies and one would have thought that the dying bloud of the one was infused into anothers veins for no sooner was one cut off by the hands of cruelty but God presently inspired another with faith and patience to witness to his Truth and the torturing of the body made but the mouth speak the louder in witnessing unto the Truth So that by what you have already heard you may see Christian Profession is no secure kind of living for he that believes in Christ must be no niggard of his life for the Truth when God cals to bring him home by death Indeed it is yet our happiness that in these cloudy dayes we are not brought to the fire and faggot for the tryal of our faith God only knows when and upon whom that heavy lot must fall and in what manner it will come this we are not able to demonstrate but by the luke-warmness of most mens zeal in the truth of Religion it is to be feared that when those dayes do come that many will turn from Christ rather than burn for the Truth because it appears that many untrained souls are so wedded to their lusts that they had rather lose their interest in Gods love then forgoe one darling sin many do so love the works of vanity that they have made shipwrack of faith and turned their eares unto fables and when you shall read or hear of these then may you imagine those locusts are come upon the earth spoken of by St. Iohn in the 9th of the Revelation 8 9. verses which had power to torture men and like Scorpions with their power able to sting them to death then beware lest you be led into the errors of the wicked 2 St. Pet. 3.17 but be you stablished in the known acknowledged and established Church of England which I dare be bold to say for doctrine and discipline is more purely true and truly pure from errors than any Christian Church or Congregation whatsoever and shall be ready to prove them so when occasion shall call me thereunto for the Truth of God will remain pure notwithstanding the malice of gain-sayers and therefore we should defend it with all our might for the Truth will spread it self though there be no other place but Pulpits to declare it in nor no other witnessing but by preaching nor no witnesses but Prophets but yet many in their lowest condition have yet highly exalted God by a faithful testimony to his Truth and though this life be encombred by sickness and infirmities yet this readiness to suffer shall be able to silence any gain-sayer when thou art not able to witness much because of thy weakness yet do as much as thou canst do your best and God will accept it though mean if from a willing mind for it will be nothing to suffer by martyrdome when we consider it is for so great a prize as is the Truth of God and will be to our souls if we continue stedfast therein for still in every age God will keep some defenders of the Truth and why may not we be the persons therefore should God call us to it and we refuse to suffer for the Truth it would be but a just judgement for God to take his Gospel from us and give it to a more faithful people for so the Apostles were commanded to serve the Iews Acts 13.46 the Truth of God in the House of God had dwelt among us for many years together in much serenity till of late years it hath been tossed upon the troubled waters therefore let us in our words and works witness to it lest he take it from us also and give it to others that will give it better entertainment than we have done Therefore let all of us make it our prayer unto Almighty God Oh Lord rather let our hearts witness to the Truth that thy Truth may witness unto us then by our not witnessing for thee we come to be destroyed by thee let thy Truth dwell with us here that we may dwell with thee hereafter Brethren let not your faith be shaken or moved by tribulations or any kind of sufferings whatsoever knowing this that after you have fought a good fight and kept the faith there shall be laid up for you and all other his faithful Servants a Crown of righteousness which the righteous Iudge shall give you at that day 2 Tim. 3.7 8. and to this end were we born and for this cause we all came to the Christian world the Church of God that we in our estates and callings lives and deaths should bear witness to the truth Testis fidelis OR The faithful Witness SERMON IX St. IOHN 18.37 To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth THe pattern of all Presidents and the life of all that is good in man is the God in man the man in God the man Christ Jesus who in his birth was a pattern of humility in his life of innocence in his death of patience in all a pattern of holiness as it is the marrow of Religion to worship God in spirit and Truth and to serve him with truth in the inward man so the iniquity of a Christian consists in not doing what he did
is but a lame consent yeilded by constraint for he that by a Tyrant is compelled with force of punishment to deny the Truth doth in a sort deny and not deny he denies it outwardly with his lips but his heart greives inwardly for the same because his conscience bears witness to the Truth but he that with a wicked life is given wholly to sin that he hath all his delights in it that man hath made himself perfect in evil 4. From the more full signification we do signifie more of wickedness to be in us by our works than by our words he sits at a farre greater denial of truth that denies it by a wicked life than he that denies it onely with his lips for fear of death though both these are great aggravations since in our lives words and works we are to bear witness to the Truth for to this end were we born and for this cause came we into the world c. Application Our Saviour bids Let your light so shine before men c. Saint Matthew 5.6 then we may hence learn that those that should light others to Heaven by their Doctrine must not darken their way by the evil example of an unholy life and not only must Ministers but people also let the light of holiness appear visible in their lives When God places a man a private Christian in the lower Orbe he puts him there to shine like a starre bright and clear in his own sphere Christians should shine and bear witness in their lives and be cautious how they walk because every sin puts a dimness upon the soul and darkness internal can expect no other but to go to darkness eternal and therefore St. Peter saith that our good works should make those that look on us as evil doers glorifie God in the day of visitation 1 Saint Peter 2.12 There be some that must believe in Christ throughout the world and witness his Truth to unbelievers by a holy life and why may it not belong to us but if on the contrary we be found to live as they live how shall they be brought to believe as we believe It was the saying of a Heathen If I did see the Christians lives better I should think their faith better than mine Religion and the Doctrines of Faith are often disgrac'd by wicked Professors 1 Tim. 1.6 7. the rebellion of a Christian that is a Servant though to an Heathen Master brings a scandal both upon God and on holy Religion Sure I am God and Religion is very much disgrac'd and the Gospel dishonoured and the Church of Christ abused by the wicked lives of those that are called the Sons of the Church Oh therefore that by holy lives judicious reading faithful hearing and constant studying and meditating in the wayes of God and the Truths of God we would make our selves able and ready to give an account of the hope that is in us that so both in our knowledge and practice we bearing witness to the Truth here on earth we may have the truth in our consciences to bear witness to our selves that we are the Sons of God that so he that ascended into Heaven to take possession of his own Glory may in time bring us thither who himself affirmed and after whose example we should walk that as he was born and came into the world to bear witness to the truth so we should also account of our selves that we were born and that we came into the world that we might bear witness to the truth that we came into the world this Christian world to witness to the truth as common Christians that we came into the world the Church of God as members thereof to justifie that faith by a holy life unto which our parents had baptized us still indeavouring to carry the same mind in us that was in Christ Jesus that as he did so we came into the world to bear witness to the truth for he justified himself before the judgement-seat of Pilate saying in the words of my Text To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness to the truth The end of the Sermons Dr. Hewit's publique Prayer after Sermon O HOLY HOLY HOLY Lord God of heaven and earth heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory Glory be to thee O Lord glory be to thee glory be to thee glory be to thee for all those infinite favours which thou of thine infinite goodnesse hast voucsafed to us who are lesse then the least of all thy mercies for the fountain of all mercies Jesus Christ in whom thou hast loved us with an everlasting love before ever we or the world were made that thou hast created us after thine own Image and redeemed us by the bloud of Jesus Christ when we were utterly lost that thou hast called us with an holy calling and in some measure sanctified us by the graces of thy holy Spirit that thou hast spared us thus long and given us so long and so large a time of repentance when as thou mightest have cut us off in the midst of our transgressions whilst we were rebelling against thee Blessed be thy name O Lord for all thy mercies vouchsafed unto us thy mercies to allure us thy promises to wooe us thy patience and long-suffering towards us to lead us to repentance thy corrections to reclaime us thy judgements to affright and better us blessed by thy name for all opportunities of wel-doing for all hinderances of evill-doing for all the good purposes and resolutions thou hast put into our hands to draw our souls from the dregs of sin and ignorance into the glory of thy Saints for any assistance that thou hast given to any of us in any holy performance for the Communion of thy Saints the aide of their counsels the benefit of their Prayers the comfort of their conversations the protection of thy Holy Angels for all corporall spirituall temporall and eternall mercies mercies concerning this life and mercies concerning the life to come Blessed be thy name for thy mercies to us all the dayes of our lives thy mercies unto us this present day for the light thereof the greater light the light of thy truth to shine into our soules to guide our feet into the way of all truth For that portion of Scripture wherein thou hast been pleased to reveal thy self unto us at this time Lord though it be sowne in much weaknesse do thou raise it up in great power let it not be as water spilt upon the ground but let it be as seed sown in good ground that it may take deep root downward in our hearts by faith and bring forth much fruit upwards in our lives and conversations to the glory of thy holy name to the edification of thy Church and people and to the salvation of our souls in the day of Jesus Christ to whom with thy self and holy Spirit we desire to