yet the living God can breath the spirit of life upon them and make a dead sinner become a living soul to God a dead drunkard and a dead worldling buried under a dunghil become a living soul to God t is no superstition for you that live the life of God to pray for such dead for a living husband to pray for his dead wife a living father to pray for his dead children so when God shall bring a Minister as he did the Prophet Ezekiel into a valley of dead bones of dead sinners and say unto him Prophecy O ye dead sinners hear ye the word of the Lord and while we are prophecying God should cause the breath of life bones and sinews to come upon these dry bones should we then despair of the quickening of any dead soul we are to mourn over the dead but not as men without hope of their better and more glorious life and condition the living God can yet make them live the life of God we should do therefore for sinful men as David did for his sick Child while it was living he humbled his soul laid on the ground fasted and praied for the childs recovery while there was hope he would not give over praying so while there is hope of a mans resurrection from death to life of his conversion from sin to God be not wanting in all means for in so doing you may save a soul This likewise may teach the godly in all their dead and dull tempers of heart whether to go for life and motion sc to the living God in whom as all naturally live move and have their being so the Saints in him have their spiritual being life and motion Thus David prayeth nine times in Psa 119. that God would quicken him as who should say my heart is dead my prayers are dead and lazy I have no heart to any good but thou who art the living God canst quicken me and revive me and enlarge my heart and make me to run the way of thy commandments Therefore in all your deadest frames be more frequent in prayer do not give over because thou findest not thy heart so fervent It is reported of that holy Martyr Mr. Bradford that when he went about any duty he would never give over till he found some reviving from God if he confessed his sins he would confess till he found his heart melting and mourning if he prayed for pardon he would still beg for pardon till he found his heart somewhat eased of his sins in praying for grace he would never give over till he found his heart warmed in prayer go then and do likewise in all thy dead frames importune the living God till he doth revive thy spirit Vse 5. This should comfort the godly against the fear of death and the forerunners of death ye are for the present the Sons of the living God ye are come to the City of the living God what need you to fear to dye seeing God will give you life eternal ye are the living stones of the Temple of the living God and he can raise your dead bodies when mouldered into dust and make both soul and body live gloriously and eternally when a godly man dieth eternal life swalloweth him up did ever man fear to go to bed to put on better apparel shall we be afraid to die to put on glory immortality and eternal life Vse 6. Take heed of sinning against God because he liveth to take vengeance upon stubborn Rebels he is a living God and takes exact notice what sinners do and lives for ever to torment the wicked to eternity The wicked need not fear eternal death if they did sin against a dead God but God who is life eternal will doom them to eternal death Vse 7. Here see the folly of Apostates in departing from a living God to embrace dead creatures that forsake the fountain of living waters and run to a pool that one warm day will dry up as Mephibosheth said to David proferring him kindness for Jonathan his fathers sake What is thy servant that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am So do creatures say to Apostates What are we thy servants that that thou shouldest take thy heart and eye from off a living God and look upon such dead dogs as honours riches and preferments are or rather speak to them as David to Saul 1 Sam. 24. 14. after whom is the King of Israel come out aâ—ter whom dost thou pursue after a dead dog after a flea dost thou pursue after a vile and base creature and cast off a most blessed God the fountain of all glory and happiness O ye Apostates seeing you forsake a living God ye shall die the death God liveth for ever to see sore execution done upon you this shall be your dying life in Hell to bemoan your departure from the living God CHAP. VI. Vses drawn from Gods Immortality IS God an immortal God then Vse 1. hence behold the infinite love of Christ who being immortal yet would become subject to death an immortal God become a mortal man for our salvation Rom. 5. 8. 2 Seeing God is immortal hence we may see what a beam of divine perfection we lost by the fall of Adam we were made immortal but our sin makes us mortal and liable to all mortal and sore diseases we lose a double immortality because of sin the immortality of our bodies and which is worse in some sense we lose the immortality of our souls Sin brings eternal death will ye still go in sin hath it not done enough to you in making you obnoxious to death but will ye bring upon you the eternal death of your immortal souls 3. This likewise should allay the fears of death in us God being immortal we also shall be immortal these mortal bodies shall put on immortality 4. See that ye fear God more then men the wrath of God more then the rage of men because man is but mortal and their rage and fury is but mortal when their breath goeth forth their rage ceaseth but as God is immortal so is his wrath an immortal wrath as he will never cease to be so the fire of his wrath shall never be quenched FINIS
Joh. 1. 4. 2. The life of grace and it is God alone that quickens men that are dead in trespasses and sins to live the life of godliness Eph. 2. 1. 3. The life of comfort Sorrow is called death Psa 116. 8. Thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears c. What is the eternal death of the damned but eternal sorrow sorrow is called the vale of death Now it is the Lord that speaks peace and creates joy to disconsolate spirits Vita nihil aliud est quam actio cum delectatione as some define it and what is the life of Angels and Saints but unspeakable and endless joy in God 4. Resurrection of dead men to life God onely by his almighty power can command the graves to yeild up their dead and make each soul to possess its own body after a long divorce made by death God alone brings these two old friends together which at first were loth to part and then shall never part again but shall then live with God for ever or else dye a living death with Devils in Hell 5. A life of glory which he alone gives to all the godly Christ saith of his sheep Joh. 10. 28. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish CHAP. III. Of the Properties of the life of God with reasons to prove him to be a living God NOw I shall explicate Gods life further in the properties of it 1. It is a most perfect and blessed life because there is nothing wanting to make his life most perfect he living of himself independing 2. It is an immutable life there is no change nor alteration of his life man is up and down sometimes brought as low as death anon revived and walks again in the land of the living Gods life is always the most happy glorious and delightsom life 3. It is an immortal and eternal life it hath no beginning neither is it capable of dying God cannot cease to be Now I shall prove that God is a living God by Scripture and Reason For Scripture read Deut. 32. 40. I lift up my hand to heaven and say I live for ever This lifting up the hand was either a sign of swearing or a gesture used by such as took an oath Gen. 14. 22. as Abram said to the King of Sodom I have lifted up my hand to the Lord the most high God the possessor of heaven and earth Sometimes it was a sign to make the hearers more attentive Thus saith the Lord Behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles and set up my standard to the people c. Isa 49. 22. Both ways it may be taken here though in the former properly for there Moses brings in God swearing I say I live for ever God speaks like a living God I say saith God None but he can say so Should creatures be so impudent as to say I say I live God will make them appear to be but dead dogs God saith I live for ever admit creatures may say we live yet herein is the living God discerned I live for ever Before the world was I lived and when the world shall have an end I live Psal 42. 2. David calls him the living God Now the Reasons of it are these Reas 1. Because whatsoever is a perfection in the creature is most eminent in God Of all natural perfection life is the principal it is better then beauty strength wisdom nothing is more dear then life Skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life A living Dog is better then a dead Lion Eccles 9. 4. One living Souldier is better then an huge Army of dead Souldiers a living beggar is better then a rich Nobleman Now if life be such a perfection then surely God is living and his life is most perfect and most eminent If God were a dead God he should want the greatest perfection then many living creatures would be better then God himself he is no God if he be not a living God Reas 2. From the actions of God we may evidently argue him to be a living God he knows all things he wills all things he makes all things he is a God that heareth our prayers and granteth the very desires of our hearts giveth the very things we beg which he could not do were he not a living God What makes him the onely true God but because he is a living God The false gods the Idolls the vanities of the Gentiles have eyes and see not ears and hear not hands and work not Baal could not hear his Priests crying aloud to him O Baal hear us therefore they are no gods But God hath eyes to see all things yea the secrets of mens hearts ears to hear the desires and groans of the poor and dictressed therefore he only is the true and living God Reas 3. All our life is from him therefore he is a living God therefore Christ is called The author of life Acts 3. With thee is the fountain of life Psal 36. 9. Life natural spiritual eternal is from God as the fountain therefore he is called life not onely because he is life essentialitèr essentially but also effectivè effectually And by the Platonists he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The soul of the world he quickens and governs the whole world and hath all the lives of his creatures in his hands I kill I make alive I save I destroy Deut. 32. 39. CHAP. IV. Of the Immortality of God NOw because the Immortality of God though it be a distinct Attribute falls under and in with the life of God I will annex a brief discourse of the nature of it and so make application of the life and immortallity of God together God is a living God and this life of God is not subject to death wherefore he is called immortal Now I shall give a brief description of Gods Immortality It is that perfection of God Desâ—r whereby his life cannot be separated from him by death God cannot cease to live God cannot dye 1 Tim. 1. 16. The Reasons of it are these Reas 1. Because God is most simple void of all composition of body and soul or a principle of life and life it self being the same in God his own essence is his life Only things which are compounded are subject to dissolution Man being compounded of soul and body is obnoxious to a separation by death where there is no union there is no separation where there can be no separation of parts there can be no death or mortality Quest But are not Angels and the souls of men immortal who are not subject to death therefore not God onely Sol. 1. It is true Angels and the souls of men are immortal but they are subject to annihilation which God is not Angels and souls of men may cease to be but God cannot cease to be 2. Angels and the Souls of men are immortal dependently God conserveth them in
to conceive something may be greater than God but it is impossible for the understanding of Men or Angels to conceive a thing may be greater than God See in what manner the Prophet prayeth to God and then tell me whether we can conceive any thing greater than he Jer. 32. 17 18 19. Ah Lord God behold thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched-out arm and there is nothing too hard for thee Thou shewest loving kindness to thousands c. The great the mighty God the Lord of hosts is his name Great in counsel and mighty in working For thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men to give every one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings He is called the blessed and onely Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Who onely hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see to whom be honour and power everlasting Amen 1 Tim. 6. 15 16. Now these three things may fully evince that God is infinite and incomprehensible 1. Because God is absolutely and eminently perfect not so much as a negative imperfection is in God All perfections are his essence or rather his essence is all perfections all infinite power infinite mercy infinite justice infinite wisdom therefore he is called Pelagus essentiae a sea of being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We may behold great perfection in the creatures Angels are great in power great in wisdome but all the perfections that are in creatures are but as a drop of a bucket in comparison of the main Ocean they are as nothing 2. God is infinitely powerful therefore infinite in his essâ—nce that he is infinite in power witness his Creation of the world there is an act and work proper onely to infinite power witness the upholding the whole world by the word of his power 3. From his great Creatures which he hath made we may apprehend the Iâ—finiteness of God Quod efficit tale est magis tale ex pede Herculem The Earth and Water are a vast and great globe the Heaven especially the Heaven of Heavens is of a most vast and inconceiveable circumference the very Sun and but one Star in the Heavens is far greater then the World is now if God hath made such great things he must needs be infinite see what the Scripture speaks of the great creatures in comparison of God Isa 40. 10. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out heaven with a span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a ballance Behold the Nations are as a drop of a Bucket and accounted as the small dust of the ballance behold be taketh up the Isles as a very little thing All Nations before him are as nothing they are counted to him lesse then nothing and vanity ver 15. 17. CHAP. V. IF God be infinite hence you may Vse 1. learn what an evil sin is that it is an infinite evil because it is committed against an infinite God We measure sin by the act and not by the object the act is transient it passeth away an idle word a vain thought a vain thought as a vain thought is little and so we are apt to think the sin little because we measure it according to the act not by the object against whom it is committed Men make nothing of an Oath of a Lye of being drunk even such gross sins as these are bâ—cause they measure them by the act but this is but a wrong Rule to measure your actions by you must measure sin by the object against whom it is committed which is God and so every sin is an infinite evil Thy idle words are infinite evils because sinâ— against God much more thy blasphemies Words spoken against the Kâ—ng and a small wrong done to his person is Crimen laesae Majestatis is high treâ—son but worâ—s spoken against an ordinary man are not so because 't is the King against whom they are spoken makes them treasonable and brings death and destruction to him that speaks them Hence it is that God will punish every sin with an infinite punishment in respect of duration those sins of which thou makest no reckoning the infinite God will inflict wrath upon thy soul for them Thou makest no matter of thy idle words and vain thoughts oh know that God will punish thy idle words and vain thoughts with infinite wrath Psal â—0 11. Who knoweth the power of thine anger even according to thy fear so is thy wrath Here is an Use of singular Comfort Use 2. to all broken-hearted sinners God's mercies are infinite his mercy is incomprehensible You think your sins are greater then can be pardoned yet though thy sins be great and numberless God's mercies are infinitely more infinite Thou canst not out vie God's mercies Lay down as many sins as thou canst at stâ—ke God will lay down infinite multiâ—udes of mercies Turn thou from thy wicked ways and believe and prove whether the Lord will not pour down mercies that there shall not be room enough to receive them God will abundantly pardon For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord For as the Heavens are higher then the earth so are my ways higher then your ways and my thoughts then your thoughts As if God should say your thoughts are that you are the most notorious sinners that are that your sins are unpardonable you think with your selves is it possible that such a sinner should find mercy Will God be gracious to such a vile wretch as I am Thou hast saith God too shallow thoughts concerning me my thoughts are not like thine thy thoughts of my way of mercy are but finite poor conceits but my thoughts of love and mercy to broken hearted sinners that humble themselves unfeignedly are like my self infinite I have infinite thoughts of mercy toward you I have infinite thoughts of mercy for you for as the heaven is higher then the earth so are my ways higher then your ways and my thoughts higher then your thoughts Isa 57. 7. 8. 9. When men do think their sins unpardonable what do they they but make God finite his mercies finite his mercies comprehensible 3. If God be an infinite majesty Use 3. this may serve as an use of instruction to us 1. Then it concerns us to behave our selves with all humility and reverence when we draw nigh to God by how much greater a prince is the more reverence we shew to him God is great infinite majesty therefore worthy of all fear submission and reverence the Angels in heaven cover their faces standing in His presence Isa 6. Beholding his infinite and most glorious majesty and their own nothing this is Solomon's exhortation to all that pray to consider what
more to depend upon him in present or in future states and conditions because he is a God that changeth not Are the like fears difficulties dangers upon thee now remember the Lord is the same who changeth not and he will give the like comforts support deliverance as formerly he did David did find a change of his conditions but never found a change in God but when he made him his trust he found God alwayes his Deliverer and Câ—mforter Not only our experience but whatsoever we find Recorded what God hath done for other Saints may strengthen our trust in God Put thou thy trust in God and he will do for thee as great things because he is the same God Did he deliver Lot he can deliver thee Hath God pardoned others he can pardon thee and will do it if thou repentest There is no shadow of change in God but he is immutably merciful and gracious Brethren take the Bible read over the several passages of Gods Wisdom Grace Mercy Power Goodness to his Children and know whatsoever is written is written for your learning and comfort make ye the like use of God who is alwayes the same and changeth not There is no condition can befall thee but in this Paradise thou maist find an healing Herb apply thou the same promises to thy self Sect. 6. 6. If God be unchangeable in his Use 6. Decrees Promises and Gifts what Comfort doth it speak to all the Godly for being once made holy you are immutably holy and shall be immutably happy Gods Immutability is the Jachin and Boaz the firm and inconcussible Pillars of our salvation never shall a child of God fall away finally from God because his Eternal Election is an immutable Decree ordaining thee to holiness to glory his promises are unchangeable Hath God spoken the word it is the word of an immutable God that hath said Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast off Joh. 6. 37. Fear not God will never cast thee off Hath God said That he will put his fear into thy heart that thou shalt never depart from him Fear not falling away though a thousand Devils suggest to thee that thou wilt prove an Apostate and wilt before death depart from God Fear not I say thou jealous Christian God hath promised that thou shalt never depart from him All the Devils in Hell all the glory and miseries in the world all the lusts in thy heart shall never pull thee off from Gods hand for every child of God is a precious Signet on Gods right hand Gods promises are immutable therefore thy state of grace is unchangeable The gifts and calling of God are without repentance Art thou called from a state of Nature to Grace from sin to Christ thou art immutably called Art thou justified thou art immutably justified Ye that are godly take comfort in this ye are eternally immutably gracious and holy and shall be immutably glorious and happy though death change thee yet the Lord our God changeth not and at the Resurrection day thy corruption shall be changed into an immutable state of immortality how unhappy poor miserable despicable soever you are for the present ye shall be changed into an immutable state of happiness because the Lord our God is unchangeable Lastly If God be immutable and Use 7. change not then endeavour to be like unto your God our constancy is our likeness to God's Immutability 1. Be constant in thy Affections to God maintain a burning love to him maintain a vehement desire after him God likes not ebbs and flows in our Affections he regards not blazing Affections like Straw-fires that are quickly in and quickly out He loves thee to the end John 13. 1. Do thou love him to the end he rejoyceth over thee to the end do thou rejoyce in the Lord alwayes Phil. 4. 4. 2. Be constant and immutable in your Promises Covenants Resolutions and Purposes which ye make to God Oh never deny thy self and lye to thy God in promising to be His and then fall off and serve thy lusts far be it from thee 3. Be constant and immutable in all thy Duties and in a course of holines Pray continually rejoyce evermore in every thing give thanks Hear the Word upon every occâ—sion walk all the dayes of thy life in the fear of God all things to thee are Mercy and Truth let all thy wayes be Sincerity and Righteousness God will make thee immutably happy and glorious if thou wilt be constant to him as the old men said to Rehoboam concerning the Tribes of Israel Be thou theirs to day and they will be thine for ever So say I to thee Be thou the Lords to day and he will be thine for ever A Discourse of God's Invisibility 1 Tim. 1. 17. Now unto the King eternal immortal invisible c. be honour and glory for ever and ever Amen CHAP. I. SAint Paul having in the foregoing part of this chapter laid down the sâ—pâ—rabundant grace of God in Christ in making him of a persecutor to become a nursing father of the Church of one that was injurious to the saints to be most loving and tenderly affected to them of a blasphemer to be an excellent preacher of the Gospel and in receiving him into special favour that was the chiefest of sinners such are the the miraculous effects of God's superabundant grace in Christ here his zeal love and thankfulness to God breaks forth into fervent praising of God giving him the honour due unto his name Now to the King eternal invisible c. be honour and glory for ever and ever Amen As if he should say seeing God hath evidently manifested to me his goodnesse grace and mercy in my conuersion let him have all the honour and glory for ever and ever And lest his conversion should seem strange he sheweth who was the Author of it 'T is God that hath converted me who is an eternal King who can do all things with whom nothing is impossible the eternal King can raise children out of stones can make the greatest sinner the greatest Saint 'T is an immortal God who ever liveth and can give life to the dead he that can make the earth to yield up her dead he can make the graves of sin likewise to give up their dead this immortal God raised up me from this death of sin It is an Invisible God man cannot see him nor his way of working his works are visible but the manner of his working is Invisible that Paul was a convert is as clear as the sun shinneth but the manner of Gods working in his conversion was invisible it was above the ken of a carnal eye It is a wise God who sweetly ordereth wisely brings to passe his counsels therefore it is not impossible with God to convert the greatest sinners Here you see are four attributes given to God 1. King everlasting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King of Ages so called for two reasons 1. Because
he is the maker of time of all ages and generations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken sometimes for times created Tit. 1. 2. Secondly Because he is King eternal not onely ante temporis durationem sed etiam omnem cogitationem As St. Augustine in his book of confessions acknowledgeth August Coâ—fess 2. He is called King Immortall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sometimes this word denotes incorruptible pure and sincere and without corruption but here iâ— excludeth end of time or being o else it signifies God that can not die 3. He is called invisible God that cannot be seen and of this attribute I am to speak CHAP. II. HEnce I note that God is an invisible Observ King or God is invisible Gods Invisibility is that divine perfection whereby his nature being so spiritual cannot be seen by any bodily eye The Scripture sufficiently proveth this attribute of God his glory that is his essence is invisible When Moses prayed Lord I beseech thee shâ—w me thy glory God answered him thou canst not see my face for Heb. 11. 27. there shall no man see me and live Ex. 33. 18. 20. The invisible things of God viz. his power wisdom goodnesse are seen onely in the vâ—sible creatures which he hath made Rom. 1. 20. but the face and essence of God cannot be seen for to be invisible is to be of such a nature as cannot be seen by any mortal eye A thing may be said to be invisible to a mans eye divers ways 1. When there is something between he object and the eye the object being visible in it self thus the sun which is primum visible the chiefest visible thing being set cannot be seen or when a Cloud is between us and it so we cannot see a picture when a curtain is drawn over it in this sense God is not invisible for there is nothing between God and us for in him we live move and have our being we are in God nothing can stand between God and us 2. A thing is said to be invisible in respect of the indistance of the object so we cannot discern it put your hand upon your eye or any thing you cannot see it in respect of the neernesse of it neither also in this respect is God said to be invisible 3. In respect of the distance of the object from the eye when the object is too remote from us we cannot see iâ— though it be a mountain because the sight is terminated and bounded beyond which the eye cannot exceed or ken and in this sense God is not invisible for he is neer every one of us that were it possible for bodily hands of flesh to touch and feel a spirit we might touch and feel him Act. 17. 4. A thing is said to be invisible when the medium is not rightly disposed as in the dark we can see nothing because the air is not light which is the medium or mean of seeing in that sense the School-men say God is invisible because there is lumen gloriae a light of glory required to behold God and so God as he hath revealed himself in his word is invisible to sinners because they are in darkness and there is a thick vail of ignorante drawn over their eyes that they cannot see God in his word of grace 5. An object is invisible through the glorious perfection of it when there is not a proportion between the eye and the object so the glorious Sun dâ—zleth the eyes that we cannot look upon it So God is invâ—sible therefore he is stiled light inaccessible unto which no mortal eye can approach A thing is said to be invisible in respâ—ct of the nature or essence of it being spiritual and incorporeal and in this sence God is invisible who is a Spirit more spiritual than Angels incorporeal though the Scripture attributeth to God eyes hands mouth nose c. it speaks of him to us after the manner of men but it sets forth the invisible things of God by the visible parts of mans body as by the eye Gods Omnisciency and his provident care c. CHAP. III. Reasons to prove God's Invisibility THe Reasons to prove this Doctrine are these 1. Because if God were visible then Reas 1. we should see nothing in the world but God because God being Omnipresent immense and infinite and so filling heaven and earth with his presence then should we see nothing else but God his immense Essence would exclude all other visible objects 2. Because if God were visible then Reas 2. God should be corporeal and not a Spirit because there is nothing subject to bodily senses but what is corporeal This was our Saviours Argument to confirm his staggering Disciples after his Resurrection That he was truly the Christ that was crucified and risen again because they might feel and see him for a spirit had not flesh and bones as he had Luk. 24. as if he had said Were I a spirit you could not feel me because spirits are not subject to sensible qualities Now God being a spirit and â—ot corporeal we cannot see him with these eyes 3. We know there are many creatures Reas 3. that are invisible therefore much more must God the Creatour of them be invisible The wind whose blustering gusts we feel whose sound we hear yet we cannot see nor do we know whence it cometh nor whither it goeth as our Saviour tells us John 3. 8. The Air is invisible the soul of man is invisible we cannot see the essence of it while the soul is in the body we see it not when the soul at death departs from the body we see it not The Angels and Devils are invisible the Angels that protect and preserve us the Devils that tempt us are invisible these we see not therefore God is invisible therefore if an Heathen should upbraid us you worship a God whom you see not where is your God shew him to us that we may see him We may answer him Therefore we worship the true God for the true God is invisible a God that is visible is not the true God those visible stocks and stones which ye worship are not gods They cannot do evil neither is it in them also to do good but the invisible God he is the true God the living God and an everlasting King Jer. 10. 10. Here â—t may be demanded whether Quest 1. God be visible in Heaven 1. We shall in Heaven behold Sol. 1. Christ in his Humanity God man with these bodily eyes as Job speaks I know that my Redeemer liveth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reins be consumed within me Job 19. 25 26 27. Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him Râ—v 1. 7. 2. We shall see God that is we shall see
that he doth all that he can do yet is he an unprofitable servant because God being most perfect is no whit the better and more perfect by all our duties by all our obedience all our goodnesse righteousnesse and performances extend not to him therefore never pride your selves in your duties but go on in a course of obedience and be humbled still 4. How should we be base and low in our own eyes before this perfect God considering his infinite perfection of holiness righteousness purity and then look back upon our sins our pride filthiness and all manner of imperfections There is an infinite disproportion between us as creatures and God as Creatour but the consideration of the vast disproportion between a most pure and perfect most holy God and such impure creatures as we are the thoughts hereof should make us ashamed and make us base in our eyes and to walk humbly with our God CHAP. VII IS God most perfect from whom Use 3. all eminent perfections in us are derived then you that have received better perfections from God than your Brethren learn hence these duties 1. Do not despise them who are not endued with such excellencies as you are Hath God given to thee a wiser heart a better judgment a fuller purse a more lovely body than to many others do not proudly glory in these things and do not so puffe up thy self as that he that wanteth them seemeth vile in thine eyes This was the advice of St. Paul to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 4 6 7. These things saith he I have in a figure transferred to my self and to Apollo for your â—akes that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written that no one of you be puffed up for one against another Paul and Apollo were two eminent men in the Church yet were both stewards of the manifold gifts and graces of God though the gifts of Ministers be heavenly yet they are earthly vessels So then whatsoever gifts are in you learn by us to think of your selves and others not above that which is written and be not puffed up for one against another The reason followeth For who maketh thee to differ from another and what eminent perfection hast thou which thou hast not received Did not God the Authour of all perfections distinguish thee from others who made thee a vessel of honour didst thou not receive all from God who giveth to whom he pleaseth and gave thee such and such perfections and not to another it is but a vanity and ridiculous Folly in Stewards to be proud of their Lords riches 2. Let God have the praise of all thy perfections let not men magnifie thee but magnifie God in thee They glorified God in me saith Paul Let men glorifie God in thy wisdom who is most wise and gave thee a wise heart and glorifie God in thy knowledge who is Omniscient and gave thee knowledge Thus Paul that vessel of grace It is no more I but the grace of God in me That he was so eminently diligent in preaching the Gospel and that his preaching was so powerful this was not from me but from the grace of God in me it was God that did all by me 3. Seek all Perfection from God It is madness for a man to burn Candle light when he may have day-light as much as he can desire and to fetch water from a Bucket when he hath a Fountain near him and as great madness it is for men to seek perfections from any but from God he alone can make you perfect in every thing Dost thou lack wisdom ask it of God who is perfectly wise Art thou weak and dost thou lack strength and power ask it of God who is perfectly Omnipotent whatsoever it be thou wantest see but thy need and go to him from whom every good and perfect gift cometh CHAP. VIII HERE is also an Use of Comfort Use 4. to the Godly who groan under their manifold Imperfections Consider what a God you have whose infinite Perfections are Comforts against your Imperfections you are weak but your God is perfectly strong perfectly Omnipotent You are Fools and unwise but your God is perfectly wise you are unrighteous your Saviour is perfectly righteous your obedience is imperfect but his obedience is perfect all your graces are imperfect his graces are perfect for you all your duties are full of imperfections but Christ perfecâ—eth them We are compleat in him Colos 2. 10. Separate a Christian from Christ he is imperfect but in him he is compleat all our graces and duties are compleat in him and God looks upon us as we are in Christ therefore did St. Paul labour to be found in him because his own righteousnesse was imperfect and Christs righteousness was a most perfect righteousness Phil. 3. 9. 2. Here 's comfort also in this respect because the same God who hath begun good work in you will perfect the same Phil. 1. 6. All Gods words are perfect he lefâ— not off creating till he had perfected the work of creation and Christ ceased not till he had finished the work of Redemption so hath God begun the work of Sanctification in thee he will never leave till he hath perfected the work of grace in thee he will perfect the work of Faith the work of Repentance and of every grace in thee every grain of mustard seed shall become a tree thy whole lump shall be leavened The work of Sanctification is compared to the rising of the sun Pro. 4. 18. when the day once begins to dawn it still encreaseth till it come to high noon so when once the light of the sun of righteousness begins to dawn upon thy soul it shall encrease more and more in thy soul unto higher degrees of perfection 3. Here is further comfort in that God being perfect will do away all your imperfections and make you perfectly holy happy and glorious now we know God in part there is a time when we shall know him perfectly perfectly love him joy in him and we shall perfectly enjoy him who is all perfection All imperfections shall be done away all bodily imperfections this imperfection of mortality shall be swallowed up of immortallity our death shall be swallowed up of life All imperfect graces shall be done away as sorrow for sin he will wipe away all tears from our eyes Repentence patience c. and some Divines think that faith it self is a grace not requisite in glorifyed Saints seeing all promises are resolved into vision then all imperfect graces shall be made perfect that there shall be as great a distance between a Saint in this life and a saint in his perfect glory as between Solomon in the womb and Solomon in all royal glory CHAP. X. An Use of Exhortation to divers Duties Sect. 1. SEeing God is perfect then be exhorted Use 5. to imitate God in his perfection and to serve God with a perfect heart which
what the Lord Jehovah doth fot thee it is for the best 3. That the Lord performeth his Promises in his own time not in times that we prescribe to him Heb. 4. 16. He will give grace and mercy in a time of need 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in opportunum auxilium for a seasonable aid It is said 2 Cor. 6. 2. In a time accepted have I heard thee and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee Therefore blessed is the man that waiteth always when Gods time begins to dawn then mercy shall shine forth The Israelites did endure a long and sore bondage in Egypt did groan heavily yet Moses came not to deliver them till the appointed time came 4. When God's determinate time is come then he will be made known by his Name Jehovah the Lord is very punctual in the observation of moments days and years as the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt was at the end of 430. years determined before and then Moses came at the fulness of time Christ came in the flesh so in the fulness of time pardon of sin peace of conscience comfort and deliverance shall come or whatsoever it be thou standest in need of When we would have things done in our time the Lord answers us as Christ did his Mother complaining there was no Wine Woman what have I to do with thee mine hour is not yet come Joh. 2. 4. When his hour was come then he turned Water into Wine So when thou art in affliction thou prayest Lord comfort now send deliverance now send assurance now our Saviour answereth My time is not yet come when that is come then will I turn thy Water into Wine then be it unto thee according to thy faith 5. Now the Rule for temporal Promises is though godliness hath an interest title and claim to all the Promises of this life yet the Lord performeth not all the promises of this life to all that are Godly but gives to all that which is good for them Now the goodness of an outward thing lies not in the nature of a mercy as in the conveniency and fitness of the mercy to thy heart Though godly men can lay claim to all Promises yet all godly men have not fit hearts for all Promises As for instance Every godly man hath the promises of Riches of Honours of Long-life but every godly man hath not an heart fit for Riches or Honours Should God give them Riches they would perhaps wax proud careless loose wanton and their hearts being puffed up would make them kick and spurn against God therefore God in his wisdome debarreth them from Riches When godly men put temporal promises in suit in the Court of Request God answereth them as our Saviour answered the Mother of Zebedee's children that desiâ—ed that her two sons might sit one at his right hand the other at his left hand in his Kingdome Ye know not what ye ask can ye be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with So ye may ask for Honours and Riches but ye know not what ye ask saith our Saviour can ye be poor can ye be contented can ye be meek and lowly can ye endure tribulation and persecution for righteousness sake CHAP. IX NOw I proceed to make Application of the Point The first Use shall be for terrour to Vse 1. all such as go on in their sins hearing what the just and faithful God doth threaten The Lord Jehovah is as true faithful and constant in his threatnings as in his promises what he hath spoken shall undoubtedly fall upon the generation of the ungodly he will be made known to the wicked by his name Jehovah in the full execution of his threatnings as in the full performance of his promises to the godly and both in due time As in Heaven all the Saints will put their seals to the Lord's truth and faithfulness in his promises so in Hell all the damned will put to their seals that God is true in his threatnings Lay your ears a while to the gates of Hell and hearken to the howling outcries that the damned Drunkards make crying out to those that were their pot-companions that are yet upon the face of the earth Oh ye swinish Drunkards that are yet living believe what your faithful Ministers say unto you from God it is most true what you have been told that no Drunkard shall inherit the Kingdome of God God hath made himself known to us to be Jehovah faithful in his threatnings to us poor creatures Attend to the howling of the damned in Hell and may ye not hear them cry out to you Hearken ye proud wretches will ye proud creatures see that God resisteth the proud oh look upon us that are turn'd into hell for our pride we see we feel now the cursed fruits of our pride Then will the adulterer and the lustful wanton cry out to their companions here upon earth that went with them to harlots Houses Oh we burned in lust and now we suffer the vengeance of eternal fire the Lord hath now made good his threatnings against us Consider what God speaks of his threatnings in Ezek. 5. 13. 15. Then shall mine anger be accomplished and I will cause my fury to rest upon them and I will be comforted and they shall know that I the Lord or Jehovah have spoken it in my zeal when I have accomplished my fury in them so it shall be a reproach and a taunt an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes then he confirmeth it thus I Jehovah have spoken it Threâ— things I will commend to the consideration of all persons concerning Gods threatnings 1. Consider seriously the Lord who threatens thee he is not a man that he will repent he cannot lie but what his mouth hath uttered shall come to pas if he hath threatned damnation to thee O impenitent sinner damnation shall be thy portion if God hath spoken against such a Nation People or Peâ—son that they shall be pluck't up and destroyed it shall certainly come to pass except they repent 2. Consider how God hath threatned and also executed judgment accoâ—ding to his threâ—tnings upon the woâ—ld the old world was drowned according to his threatenings by his name Jehovah he was made known unto them He hath inflâ—cted his judgments upon the Church the vequintessence of the whole world Jerusalem was threatened Jerusalem was accordingly plagued he hath inflicted Judgments according to his threatnings upon his own children the very quintessence of his Church David a man after Gods own heart felt the force of his threatnings And as for particular persons let drunkards look upon Belshazzer let Adulterers look upon Zimry let all profane persons look upon Esau let Worldlings consider Judas and as our Saviour said to the Jews speaking of the death of those men upon whom the Tower of
Siloam fell except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish so say I to all Drunkards and all profane persons Except ye repent ye shall likewise perish because God is Jehovah true and faithful in all his threatnings 3. Consider thine own sins and what God hath threatned against thee if thou persistest in thy Sins Art thou a drunkard consider what God hath spoken against this sin and go home and tremble lest the Lord Jehovah bring that evil upon you hath God said that all the wicked shall be turned into hell then let all wicked wretches fear and tremble lest God indeed turn them into hell for he is the Lord Jehovah CHAP. X. VVIll God make good all his Vse 1. promises to his church and people because he is Jehovah then if ever you desire the accomplishment of Gods promises see that you get into Christ for the Lord is onely made known by his name Jehovah to such as are in Christ all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen 2. Cor. 1. 20. In Christ they are all Amen so be it Hath God promised deliverance comfort assurance grace glory whatsoever his promises be they are all in Christ yea and Amen let pardon be given to him that is in Christ let comfort and assurance be given to him that is in Christ c. For God is Jehovah that makes all the promises Christ is the meritorious cause of all the promises he purchased both the making and the performance of them Christ is the ratifier of all the promises he confirmes them to us his blood is the blood of the Covenant Christ is the treasurer of all God's promises all are kept and lock't up within the breasts of Christ and none shall have any but from him Christ is the fulfiller of all the promises therefore if you expect grace peace assurance pardon as they are promised see that ye be first in Christ by faith faith is as instrumentally necessary as Christ is meritoriously necessary The Lord Jehovah answereth every believer that pleads promises Be it unto thee according to thy faith Dost thou ask for pardon dost thou believe is Jehovah's answer if so then be it unto thee as thou wilt A wicked man out of Christ may as soon pluck a star out of the firmament as the performance of one promise to himself CHAP. XI THis point speaks comfort to all Use 3. that are believers what greater comfort can be to such than to have an interest in such a God who is not onely All-sufficient but also Jehovah and so can and will make good all his promises Read over the book of God and pick out all the promises that are and apply these salves to every sore of thine God hath promised thee mercy and good according to thy condition he will make good his promises to thee as far as they are good for thee be confident thou shalt have any good thou needest in Gods due time I have seen I have seen the affliction of my people saith God to Moses then he sent him to fetch them out of the house of bondage so God takes notice of all thy afflictions inward and outward and accordingly in due time he will command deliverance comfort or whatsoever is good for thee That you may get comfort by the promises observe these rules 1. Be sure to lay up all kinds of promises we are liable to sâ—veral wants straits dangers miseries God hath fitted sutable promises as 't is said of the Virgin Mary that she did lay up his words in her heart so do thou the promises against needful times A promise in thy heart in time of need is like a friend in the Court will stand thee in pretious stead 2. Acquaint thy heart with the nature of the promises 1. Labour strongly to apprehend the truth and faithfulness of the Lord Jehovah in his promises that they are yea and Amen he will undoubtedly perform what he hath spoken he will never go back from his word 2. Labour to understand their goodness let thy thoughts dwell upon the promise till thou hast found out the riddle digg into the bowels of a promise as thou wouldst digg into the bowels of the earth for silver Ignorance or weak apprehensions of the truth of the promises of Gods all-sufficiency and faithfulness is the ground of distrustful wavering and unbelieving thoughts Ignorance of the good things in the promises is the ground of the not applying of the promises 3. Labour to know to what special condition the promise is made so thou mayst rightly apply promises to thy spiritual maladies the right salve to thy sore 3. When thou art acquainted with the nature of the promises then set faith a work rely upon God who is Jehovah for the accomplishing of the promises to thee do thou hold fast by the promise and hold God to his word say to him as Jacob did when he wrestled with him I will not let thee go till thou hast blessed me I will never let thee go till thou hast made good this or that promise to me 4. Labour to get a quiet and still frame of heart to wait for the accomplishment of the Promises This is to live by Faith in a Promise to walk by Faith for God will not by and by make good his Promises but for exercise of Faith he defers execution of them David would often call upon himself to wait upon the Lord Wait on the Lord O my soul and would check himself for tumultuous and distrustful thoughts Why art thou cast down O my soul why art thou disquieted within me wait on God for the Lord Jehovah will certainly in his appointed time make good his promises to thee if thou canst live by Faith delays will not be tedious He that believeth will not make haste Isa 28. 16. If the Lord will make his Promises good because he is Jehovah then Use 4. answer all distrustful and unbelieving temptations with this God is Jehovah A Believer shall find many strong temptations to unbelief As about the Promises of Justification this temptation may arise Can the Lord pardon such a vile sinner as I am 'T is true I read how he is a God pardoning sinners but will he pardon me Yes God can pardon thee because he is Jehovah and will make good all his Promises So in temptations against perseverance I fear saith a poor soul I shall prove an Apostate and fall away and the Devil will be ready to second it Answer it by this The Lord Jehovah hath promised to put his fear in my heart that I shall not depart from him Jer. 32. 40. and he being Jehovah can make me to persevere and hold out to the end General Rules for the better understanding What God is Exod. 3. 14. And God said unto Moses I AM THAT I AM. CHAP. I. HAving briefly gone over the glorious Titles and Names of God I will proceed to a plain handling of his glorious