of all our friends according to the flesh made dumb and silent then our soules will be put upon Christ and there will bee no remedy we must say Come Lord Iesus And therefore this should make Christ very pretious in our eyes now this should inflame our hearts with singular and fervent love unto him for the present getting interest in him above all things and making him our chiefest and choycest our deare and onely friend This should so sweeten unto us the Lord Jesus that wee should say with Bernard Jesus dulcis in voce dulcis in facie dulcis in nomine dulce enim nomen suave Jesus consecratum ab aeterno annunciatum ab Angelo prophetatum Solomonis oraculo qui ait Oleum effusum nomen tuum Psa 73.25 Jesus is sweet in voice sweet in face sweet in name for the name Jesus is sweet being consecrated from eternitie published by the Angel and prophesied by the Oracle of Solomon who saith Thy Name is an oyntment powred forth Wee should so select him so admire him so adhere unto him so set our hearts upon him that wee should say with the Psalmist Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee So glorious so pretious so infinitely transcendent let him be in our thoughts in our judgements in our estimation and affections that wee love and affect him exalt and preferre him as the King above all commanders as the Sunne above all lights as the spring above all cisternes as the pearle above all treasure and as the husband of our soules above all friends as a Paradice of all pleasures a haven of rest from all tempests and the refuge of our soules in all troubles Let our faith bee such in him our hope so settled upon him our love so strong towards him our subjection such under him that we may bee able at all times and seasons in all estates and conditions to say Come Lord Jesus Behold in this the honour and profit the advantage and comfort which a bodily dissolution bringeth to the righteous to all true beleevers they desire the full fruition of Christ and this bringeth them home to Christ Phil. 1.21 to them to dye is gaine gaine of libertie from the burthen of all corruption from all the assaults of Satan from the servitude of the world and all affliction gaine of perfect holinesse in respect of Gods image gain of complete victory in respect of all enemies gaine of most sweet communion in respect of their fellowâ—hip with God Christ the glorious Angels and all the Saints of God gaine of absolute honour in respect of their glorious condition in heaven As death to the righteous is a tree of many fruitfull branches a messenger of many comfortable tidings so the Spirit of God hath given it many denominations Sometimes it is stiled a Sleepe Mat. 9.24 sleep possesseth onely the outward members and senses the soule sleepeth not so in death the body onely dies the soule is carried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.22 â—ev 14.13 Sleep giveth rest unto the body They who dye in the Lord rest from all their labours Sometimes it is called a gathering to our Fathers Gen. 25.8 by death the righteous are separated from the wicked gathered as wheat into Gods garner and their soules bound up in the bundle of life 1 Sam. 25 29. Sometimes it is called a way the way of all flesh by the way wee come to our home to our fathers and to our friends house Ios 23.14 and by death wee come to our heavenly home to God the father and the Lord Jesus Sometimes it is called a going forth As the prisoner goeth forth of the prison 2 Pet. 1.15 and Israel went forth from the bondage of Egypt so when the body dieth the soule goeth forth as out of a prison and entreth into the land of the living Sometimes it is called an end Mat. 10.22 because in death there is an end of all sin of all sorrow of all labour trouble as in the waters of the red Sea the Israelites Egyptian bondage ended Sometimes it is termed a sowing Ioh. 11.24 1 Cor. 15.44 the seed which is sowne doth spring forth again into a blade the body in the resurrection shall flourish like the grasse death like a Physician cures all their diseases like a key opens the prison and restores them to a blessed freedom brings them to the full fruition of Jesus Christ the desire of their soules And this is the sweetest and fullest gaine of a Christian Lucrum est evasisse incrementa peccati Augustine lucrum fugisse deteriora lucrum transire ad meliora Aug. Lucrum maximum computat Christianus Cyprian jam saeculi laqueis non teneri jam nullis peccatis vitiis carnis obnoxium fieri exemptum pressuris angentibus venenatis diaboli faucibus liberatum ad laetitiam salutis aeternae Christo vocante proficisci Cypr. This must perswade move us to work our hearts to a holy longing and earnest desire after the comming of the Lord Jesus to desire it as the husbandman the coÌ„ming of the harvest the sick man the comming of the day of health or the ward the day of his full age to looke for the new heavens 2 Pet. 3.13 2 Tim. 4.8 and the new earth and to love the appearing of the Lord Iesus and for that end there must be First Godly sorrow for sin Christs coming is comfortable to such as are truly sorrowfull he that is weary of his corruptions doth truely long for the coming of Christ Jesus Gen 45.4.5 Ioseph spake to his brethren kindly entertained them courteously when he saw them grieved for the injury offered him Luke 15. The prodigals day of humiliation Isa 61.1 was the day wherein his father graciously received him Christ will bee found a sweet and mercifull Iesus to all Mat. 11.28 truly penitent sinners Secondly there must be a thorough removall of sin an effectuall reformation of all our wayes Gen. 35.2 Jacob went not up to Bethel before he purged his house of Idols It is in vain for man to say Come Lord Jesus if there bee not a conversion of the soule to Jesus To such the Prophet speakes Amos 5.18.19 Woe to you that desire the day of the Lord to what end is it for you the day of the Lord is darknesse and not light as if a man did flye from a Lyon and a Beare met him or went into a house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him Shall not the day of the Lord be darknesse and not light even very darke and no brightnesse in it What the voyce of God was to Adam upon the eating of the forbidden fruit what the comming of the flood was to the profane men of the old world what the waters of the red Sea were to Pharaoh what the
pray we sing we conferre we worke we thinke unto eternity how exact and serious should we be in our short walking the end whereof is eternall Vigilanti curâ saith Gregory per cuncta opera intentio nobis pensanda est ut nihil temporale in his quae agit appetat sed totam se in soliditate aeternitatis figat The intention is thorough all our works to bee weighed with vigilant care that in the things which it doth it may desire nothing temporall but wholly fasten it selfe on that which is eternall hee that walkes not circumspectly deprives himselfe of an eternity of felicity and casts himselfe into an eternity of misery better live strictly for a time then live miserably for ever nay bee assured that even for the present there is more comfort in one dayes strict walking with God then in a thousand dayes loose conversing with men Did men know the peace joy sweetnesse boldnesse honour and triumph of holy walking they would instantly and for ever abandon all dissolute living heaven is the paradice of all joyes he that in his holy walking commeth nearest unto heaven is doubtlesse of all men the most joyfull O say not then as a man of noble blood and acute wit but profane life sometime did when being demanded what he thought of the austere life of the godly and licentious life of the wicked answered Cum istis mallem vivere cum illis mori mallem I had rather live with the latter I had rather dye with the former But as you desire to dye the death of the righteous so bee very solicitous and studious very vigilant and industrious to live the life of the righteous Never promise your selves a blessed death without a holy life Lastly Be stedfast in adhering to the truth be not like children carried to and fro with every vaine perswasion nor like ships without anchor tossed up and downe with the winde of every empty doctrine But be constant in following the truth as the Wisemen did the starre untill you come home to Christ and as the Israelites did the fiery pillar untill you come to the heavenly Canaan Buy the truth saith Solomon and sell it not you can never over-buy it whatsoever you give for it you can never sufficiently sell it if you have all the world in exchange for it It is said of Caesar Major fuit cura Caesari libellorum quà m purpurae He had greater care of his books then of his royall robes for swimming through the waters to escape his enemies he carried his books in his hand above the waters but lost his robe What are Caesars bookes to Gods booke and his learning to Gods truth more then a glow-worme to the sunne Bee you therefore more carefull of the Gospel then of any earthly possession though you bee driven into the deepe waters of affliction and there lose all your worldly fulnesse yet hold fast the Gospel of Christ Jesus you shall finde infinitely more worth and comfort in the Gospel then in all the treasure of the world It is reported of Alexander the Great that hee had alwayes Homers Iliads under his pillow and preferred them above Darius his most precious and costly chest what are Homers Iliads to Christs Gospel or Darius chest to the invaluable treasure which is in Christ Have therefore the booke of God ever with you when you lye downe when you rise up when you walke abroad have it in your understandings to know it in your imaginations to thinke and meditate upon it in your memories to remember it in your hearts to love it to rejoice and delight your selves in it to solace refresh and comfort your soules with it in your tongues to speake of it to edifie and strengthen one another by it give it preheminence above the chiefest wordly substance The losse of all cannot make man miserable as long as hee sincerely and fully adheres unto and enjoyes the Gospel Make this therefore your constant and perpetuall light to guide you your heavenly Manna to feed you your celestiall treasure to enrich you your spirituall well-spring to refresh and fill you your firme and sure anchor to sustaine and stay you your holy and gracious Schoole to edifie you in the knowledge faith and love of Chrst to ravish your soules with the apprehension of CHRISTS beauties to fill you more and more with CHRISTS fulnesse and prepare you a sweet and entire communion of everlasting continuance with the Lord JESUS which hee most unfainedly desireth who ever remaineth Most intirely devoted to your spirituall service ALEXANDER GROSSE A TABLE OF THE Chiefe things contained in this Treatise on COL 2.9 10. For in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily and ye are complete in him who is head of all principality and power CHAP. I. The transcendency of Christs fulnesse above all created fulnesse Fol. 1 CHAP. II. Christs fulnesse a ground of dehortation from humane inventions Fol. 3 Doct. 1. Such is Christs fulnesse that men ought not to joyne to him other doctrines and observations to further their eternall happiness Fol. 9 Foure grounds hereof Fol. 12 CHAP. III. The folly of not cleaving to and quieting and contenting our selves with Christ but going aside to humane inventions Fol. 18 Five grounds hereof Fol. 19 The vanity of humane doctrines displayed in 12. particulars Fol. 25 An admonition to wait on Christ and receive all our direction from him Fol. 27 CHAP. IIII. Doct. 2. All divine and heavenly fulnesse is to be found in Christ Jesus Fol. 30 Three grounds hereof Fol. 34 CHAP. V. The folly of neglecting Christ and seeking fulnesse elsewhere Fol. 41 Foure seekers of fulnesse deceived Fol. 43 1 Some leave Christ and seeke fulnesse in the creature ib. Mans folly in seeking fulnesse in the creature opened in 6 particulars Fol. 46 2 Some seeke fulnesse in themselves Fol. 50 Ignorance and unsensiblenesse of mans want of Christ the ground of this Fol. 52 3 Some seeke fulnesse in the naked use of the ordinances not labouring to see taste and receive Christ in them ibid. 4 Some seeke fulnâ—sse in humane observations their folly discovered Fol. 54 CHAP. VI. The folly of man in standing aloofe off from Christ and not comming fully home to Christ in whom is all fulnesse manifested Fol. 56 Foure grounds hereof Fol. 59 The folly of man in not comming unto Christ illustrated Fol. 68 CHAP. VII The valuing and esteeming of Christ above all is pressed Fol. 73 Christ to be valued above all 6. wayes Fol. 75 Foure things in Christ to be highly prized Fol. 81 CHAP. VIII Perswasion to come to Christ and get interest in Christ. Fol. 86 Three things perswading thereunto Fol. 90 The manner of comming to Christ laid down Fol. 98 Helps disposing and fitting man to come to Christ Fol. 101 CHAP. IX The making use of Christ is taught Fol. 104 CHAP. X. Full and constant acquiescence in Christ is perswaded Fol. 110 Consolations flowing from the fulnesse of
their sinne their profane and evill estate it is a great terrour to them it troubles them as the star did i Mat. 2.2 Herod the men of Ierusalem Man can never take pleasure in that fulnesse of light which shineth from Christ Jesus untill hee hath emptied himselfe of the fulnesse of his corruptions Secondly from the want of love to the truth The woman that wants love to her husband readily prostitutes her selfe to strangers The soule that loves not Christ and his truth doth easily open it selfe to corrupt and deceitfull doctrines because they k 2 Thes 2.9 10. received not the love of the truth that they might bee saved for this cause saith the Apostle God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve a lye Corrupt and carnall doctrine is very welcome where the love of the truth is wanting hee that receives not the truth into his affection as well as into his judgement will soone bee drawne from it Under the Law it was usuall for a man that married a l Deut. 24.1 woman if hee loved her not to give her a bill of divorcement and send her out of his house It is common with men under the Gospel who in regard of externall covenant and profession are married to the truth yet afterwards through the want of love they give the truth a bill of divorce and become strangers to it It is love to the truth that causeth man to continue constant with it m Cant. 8.6 7. Love it and you shall never depart from it Thirdly from a desire of novelty Men naturally desire new things as they desire new fashions of apparrell for their bodies so new doctrines for their soules The eye is little affected with the Sun because it shineth every day it much admires a blazing star because but seldome seene Things of greatest worth because common are little esteemed vaine and empty things because new are much regarded Saint Paul tells Timothy that the time will come when men will not n 2 Tim. 4.3 endure sound doctrine but after their owne lusts shall they heap unto themselves teachers having itching eares Men having the itch delight in scraping men over-spred with the loathsome scab of unclean lusts desire to bee soothed daubed flattered in their sinnes and to have their eares tickled and pleased with some new and strange things with o Isay 30.10 smooth things and deceits with the p 1 Cor. 2.3 enticing words of mens wisedome The Israelites q Numb 11.5 loathed the Manna and lusted after the Onions of Egypt Men of corrupt hearts after a while loath the pure and plaine preaching of Christ and fall a lusting after Philosophicall superstitious and vaine doctrines No man so desires change of new and strange doctrines as he that meanes not to change his conversation were the hearts of men truly changed the true and common doctrine of Christ would bee very pleasant the soule would never grow weary of it Fourthly from their estrangement from Christ they discerne not Christs beauties they taste not Christs sweetnesse they feele not Christs goodnesse there is no sutablenesse between Christ and their hearts they have not r Ephes 4.21 learned Christ as the truth is in him they have not learned the wisedome of Christ to bee guided by him the authoritie of Christ to subject themselves unto him the beauties of Christ to admire him the love of Christ to delight themselves in him the death of Christ to mortifie their lusts the resurrection of Christ quickning them to a new life the power of Christ to depend upon him the holinesse of Christ to imitate him the all-sufficiencie of Christ to content themselves with him Christ is to them a ſ Rev. 2.17 hidden Manna whom they taste not they see t Isay 53.2 nothing in him for which they should desire him It is recorded of Agesilaus comming to help the King of Egypt in his distresse that ob corpus incultum vestis vilitatem venit in contemptum ejus gentis hominibus qui sperarunt se visuros Spartanum regem talem qualis esset rex Persarum corpore decentissimè ornatum for the unhansomnesse of his body basenesse of his garment hee was had in contempt among the men of that nation who hoped to have seene a Spartan King such as the King of the Persians most comely adorned in his body So Christ comming to helpe us in our distresse for the want of externall pompe in his Ordinances and worldly glory in his Ministers and Members the splendor of humane eloquence in his doctrines is despised by the men who frame and forme unto themselves a Christ like to one of the mighty Monarches of the earth Hee that discernes not the spirituall beauty of Christ in his doctrine doth easily degenerate to humane superstition Fifthly from the disagreement betweene them and Christs doctrine There is no proportion no likenesse no answerablenesse betweene their hearts and this doctrine they are darknesse and this is light they are carnall and this is spirituall they are from beneath and this is from above their wayes are contrary to it their hearts are full of enmitie against it they hate it as u 1 King 22.8 Ahab hated Micaiah because hee never prophesied good to him Such is the brightnesse the holinesse the power of it that they cannot endure it they are loath to bee searched to have their sinne discovered as Rahel when shee sate upon her Idoll unwilling to bee reproved to have their lusts mortified as David was to have Absolom put to w 2 Sam. 18.3 death and therefore charged the Captaines of his Army to deale gently with the young man The rough handling of profane mens vices makes them weary of Gods ordinances and moves them to seeke out some more gentle and easie doctrines But brethren The vanity of humane doctrine displayed as Solomon sometime said of Laughter It is mad and of Mirth what doth it so let me say to you of this rotten deceitfull and pleasant doctrine It is mad the words of wisedome and sobernesse are not in it and of all humane observations and Philosophicall dictates in the Schoole of Christ What do they Why surely they doe x Isai 8.20 not discover sinne they search as Laban did not as the Master in Ionah did they are but a key of straw they open not the doore of the heart they leave man ignorant of God and himselfe No doctrine can shew us God but that which is from God Secondly they humble not the soul As Zebah Zalmunna said of Iether y Iudg. 8.21 Such as the man is such is his strength so such as the doctrine is such is its strength The Divell regarded not the sonnes of z Acts 19.15 Sceva's adjuration his holds are never cast downe by a humane doctrine Thirdly they nourish not The a Luke 15. Prodigall was like to starve before hee returned to his
not know Christ As the blind man doth not know the Sun though it shine upon him no more doth the carnall and worldly man know Christ though he shine upon him in the Gospel for the light o Ioh. 1.5 shineth in the darknesse and the darknesse comprehendeth it not Such is mans ignorance that as the light shining in Goshen did not pierce the darknes p Exod. 10. where the Egyptians sate no more doth the light of the Gospel penetrate their soules but they sit in darknesse and the shadow of death at the q Isa 59.10 noone day of the Gospel they are in the midnight of ignorance To such our Saviour saith Ye neither r Ioh. 8.19 Isa 53.2 know me nor my Father They know not the beauties of Christ they see no comelinesse in him for which they should desire him he is no more to them then another beloved They know not the power of Christ in softning their hearts as the ground knowes the power of the dew in suppling it in quickning their soules as Lazarus knew the power of Christ in raising his body in restoring them to spirituall liberty as Peter knew the power of the Angell in smiting off his fetters in setting him free from Herods prison They know not the death of Christ as the members know the death of the head and the branches the death of the root in withering and dying with it they doe not so know his death that their Å¿ Rom. 6.6 old man is crucified with him that the body of sin is destroied and they no more serve sin They know not the resurrection of Christ comming forth of the grave of their sin as the dead knew the resurrection of Christ their bodies comming out of the grave with him They know not the gracious presence and inhabitation of Christ in their soules as Obed-Edom knew the presence and dwelling of the Ark in his house causing all that he had to t 2 Sam. 6.11 prosper making their soules flourish in all saving graces They know not the love of Christ as the Bride in the Bride-chamber knows the love of the Bridegroome as the guests in the banquetting house know the love of the master of the feast as David knew the love of Jonathan Christ is not like Jonathan to David very u 2 Sam. 1.26 pleasant unto their soules his love is not to their sense and feeling wonderfull passing the love of women They know not Christ in his Gospel as a friend in his letters as a King in his Embassadours of peace as a Musician in his musicall instrument making a joyfull sound in their eares as the lame w Iohn 5.4 5. man knew the Angell in Bethesda healing their diseases They know not Christs fulnesse as the seeing eye knowes the fulnesse of light in the Sunne as the thirsty palate knowes the fulnesse of water in the fountaine and because they doe not know him they regard not to come unto him Ignorance is a great impediment of mans comming to Christ Jesus Hagar x Gen. 21. came not unto the Well untill her eyes were opened to see the Well No man embraceth Christ untill his understanding is enlightned to see and discerne Christ aright Men through ignorance have very dishonourable opinions of Christ remaine great strangers to Christ and are very injurious against Christ 2. Unsensiblenesse Unsensiblenesse of the want of Christ It was a law of Plato that no man should draw water out of his neighbours Well untill he had digged to the Potters earth in his own court It is a law in nature Man never commeth unto Christ never endevours to partake of his fulnesse untill hee hath tried and knowes his owne emptinesse untill he discernes his want of Christ The y Ios 10.6 Gibeonites sent not to Iosua untill they saw themselves besieged by the Amoritish Princes Iud. 11. The Elders of Gilead hated Ieptha and expelled him out of their fathers house came no more unto him untill they were in distresse saw their want of him plainly perceived that none else could help them Mans opinion of his owne fulnesse makes him under-value the fulnesse of Christ Christ is never pretious in the eyes of man untill man feele his want of him As man is more or lesse sensible of his want of Christ so hee is more or lesse industrious in approching unto Christ The z Prov. 27.7 full stomacke regards not the hony combe The full soule a Io. 9.41 Matth. 9. Rev. 3.17 loatheth Christ who is sweeter then the hony or the hony combe Christ is ever most pretious with the soule that knowes its owne emptinesse Unwillingnesse to bee at the cost of comming unto Christ 3. Unwillingnesse Though Christ proffer himselfe freely yet man must bee at some cost or hee cannot come to Christ hee cannot enjoy Christ b Gen. 35.2 Iacob cannot come to Bethel unlesse hee put away way his Idols Exod. 3.5 Moses cannot come nigh the burning Bush unlesse hee put off his shooes from his feet Man cannot come nigh unto God and Christ Ia. 4.8 unlesse he purge his heart and cleanse his hands The Merchant in the Parable sold c Mat. 13.44 all that hee had to buy the pretious pearle to make that his owne Man that will come to Christ and make Christ his must sell all that is his owne Man must first come out of himselfe before hee can come to Christ If d Luke 9.23 any man saith Christ will come after mee let him deny himselfe and take up his crosse daily and follow me Hee that will come to Christ must deny his owne wisedome and be as a e 1 Cor. 3.18 Rom. 7.18 foole in his owne apprehension hee must deny his owne fulnesse and be as an empty house in his owne sense and feeling he must deny his owne righteousnesse and bee as a naked man in his owne understanding hee must deny his owne reputation in the eyes of men and bee contented to have his name f Luke 6.22 cast out as abominable to be accounted more vile as David for dancing before the Arke 2 Sam. 6.22 hee must bee willing to bee in the world as nothing who will have Christ and his fulnesse to bee all in all unto him Men are loath to bee at this cost and therefore come not to Christ The young man that came to Christ hearing hee must sell all and follow him g Mat. 19.21 went away sorrowfull Hee that carries the love of the world in his heart will faint by the way and never come to Christ The over-valuing of the world makes the doctrine of the Gospel a sorrowfull doctrine and mans endevour to come to Christ unfruitfull Many h Ioh. 12.42 among the chiefe Rulers beleeved on Christ made some steppes towards him but because of the Pharisees they did not confesse him they came not boldly freely and fully home to Christ lest
withers and a branch without root abiding barren and hastening to the fire Behold then O man thy necessity of Christ thy misery without Christ and give thy soule no rest untill thou art come home to Christ Fasten your thoughts upon the vanitie of all things without Christ 2. Vanitie of all things without Christ What is worldly fulnesse to him that comes not to Christ Jesus but vanity x Eccles 2.11 vexation of spirit a bed of thornes on which hee canâ—ot sleep without terrour * Auruâ—a 〈…〉 pâ—â—◠〈…〉 poâ—◠〈…〉 aurum â—â—â—lus â—â—â—nus pâ—â—â—â—or servus Aug. a way of snares 〈◊〉 â—hich hee cannot walke without stumâ—â—ng â—ruising and hurting himselfe a cup oâ— gâ—ll of which hee cannot drink with any comfort like the waters of Marah to Isâ—ael without the tree burthens oppressing chaine 's fettering arrowes wounding â—â—as tossing and winds shaking are all worldly possessions to them that possâ—sse not Christ Jesus What was Paradise to Adam when hee had deprived hâ—mselfe of the tree of life by eating of the trâ—e of forbidden fruit but as a wildernesse of thornes and briars a place of extreame torture and disquiet The worlds choycest Paradise proves at length full of bitternesse to him that hath deprived himselfe of Christ Jesus Augustine saith * Quid prodest diviti quod habet si Deum qui omnia dedit non habet What doth that profit the rich man which hee hath if hee hath not God which gave all What availes the having of the cisterne without the fountain The having of all things is as nothing if man have not Christ with them Happy is the man that so lookes upon the creatures emptinesse that he is thereby stirred up to seeke Christ and his fulnesse The excellencie the worth of Christ 3. Dignity of Christ As they said of David Hee is better more worthy then all the y 2 Sam. 18. â— thousands of the world As they said of the Centurion Hee is z Luk. 7.4 worthy for whom thou shalt doe this thing Much more may I say of Christ Hee is worthy that you should come unto him in him are all the load-stones of vertue power beauty and whatsoever can be spoken to move and draw the soule of man towards him In him is wisedome surpassing the brightnesse of the Sunne even all the a Col. â— 3 treasures of wisedome hidden In him is power excelling the strength of all Rockes hee is not onely strong but b Psal 18.1 strength it felfe In him is honour transcending all the Kings of the earth for hee is c Rev. 19.16 King of Kings and Lord of Lords hee is d Psa 104 1 2. cloathed with honour and majesty and covered with light as with a garment In him is beauty excelling the e Cant. 2.2 Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the valley hee is the f Cant. 5.10 fairest of ten thousand fairer then all the flowers of the field then all the pretious stones of the earth then all the lights in the firmament then all Saints and Angels in the highest heavens In him is g Ephes 3.8 riches above all the riches of the world as in the Pearle above the drosse All worldly wealth is but poverty to the riches which is in Christ In him are h Psa 16.11 pleasures excelling all earthly pleasures more then ever paradise excelled the barren wildernesse All pleasures are but sorrowes and tortures to the pleasure which the soule doth finde in Christ Surely all wisedome is folly all power weaknesse all honour ignominy all beauty deformity all riches poverty all pleasures anguish and all fulnesse emptinesse in comparison of the wisedome power glory beauty riches pleasures and fulnesse that is in Christ Jesus O therefore come to Christ that you may bee enlightned strengthened honoured enriched protected solaced and your soules every way filled O come as the Queene of the South came from i 1 King 10.1 2. farre to Solomon that you may learne his wisedome O come as the stones in the building to the head k 1 Pet. 2.5 corner stone that hee may support you come as the subjects come the Kings Court that hee may advance and honour you come as poore men to a golden Mine that hee may enrich you come as Naaman came to l 2 King 5. Iordan that hee may sanctifie and cleanse you O come as the Prodigall came to his fathers m Luk. 15. house that Christ may kill the fatted calfe for you feed you with his ordinances with himselfe with his graces and put the robe of his righteousnesse upon you O come as a disconsolate man unto his friend that Christ may comfort you with the sweetnesse of his presence the sense of his love and all the comforts of his Spirit O come as the chicken to the henne that his wings may hide and shadow you Under the wings of Christ saith * Sub Christi scapulis quatuor nohis beneficia conseruntur c. Bernard foure benefites are bestowed upon us Here wee are hidden and protected Here wee are refreshed Here the scorching heat of affliction is repelled And here wee are fed and nourished Christ saith †Christus omnia ut qui omnia propter Christum dimiserit unum inveniat pro omnibus possit libero clamare Pars mea Dominus Ierome is all things that hee who for Christ hath let goe all may find one for all and may freely say The Lord is my portion For as Ambrose sayd * Omnia habemus in Christo omnia in nobis Christus si à vulnere curari defideras medicus est c. We have all in Christ and Christ is all things in us if thou desire to be cured of thy wound hee is a Physician if thou burne with Fevers hee is a Fountaine if thou art burthened with iniquity he is righteousnesse if thou wanttest help hee is strength if thou feare death hee is life if tâ—ou flye from darknesse hee is light if thou desirest heaven hee is the way if thou seekest food hee is nourishment Therefore to him let us come as sheep to their Shepheard as captives to their Ransomer as children to their Father The manner of comming to Christ 1. Speedily To him let us come first speedily without all delay as Eagles to the carcasse As the woman of Shunem n 2 King 4. sadled her Asse and made haste to the man of God for the recovery of her dead childe so let us make haste to Christ for the recovery life health comfort and welfare of our poore soules let us come unto him while hee may bee found and call upon him while hee is neere at hand As the Angell hasted and thrust Lot out of Sodome and bid him o Gen. 19 haste to Zoar and escape thither so let us hasten our soules out of the Sodome of sinne unto Christ O let us with all speed
who is the best beloved Son of God By whose strength can Satan with all the powers of darknesse bee vanquishâ—d but by his who is stronger then all the Divels Who can overcome death but hee that hath the power of death The good things to bee restored are perfect righteousnesse adoption the image of God the gifts of the Spirit life eternall and the like Now who can make man righteous but hee that is Righteousnesse it selfe Who can make men the sonnes of God by grace but hee that is the Sonne of God by nature Who can restore us to the image of God but hee that is the invisible image of God Who can give us the Spirit but hee from whom the Spirit of God proceedeth And who can give man eternall life but hee that is life it selfe And thus it behoved mans redeemer to be God Secondly the Justice of God which as it leaveth not sinne unpunished so it punisheth it not but in that nature which hath sinned required that hee should bee man And thus hee that knew y 2 Cor. 5.21 no sinne was made sinne for us that wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him And hee must bee God and Man in one person that hee might bee a middle man betweene God and Man and doe the thiâ—gs which were to bee performed with z Heb. 5.1 God and also with men And thus there was a necessitie that the fulnesse of the Godhead should dwell in the humane nature of Christ and that hee should bee God and man in one person Doth Christ dwell in mans flesh Use Hath hee assumed mans nature into the unity of his person The honor and exaltation of mans nature then behold the honour of man how wondrously Christ hath exalted the nature of man Man that by his sinne hath made himselfe extremely base and ignominious is exceedingly honoured by Christ Jesus even above all the residue of the creatures for hee tooke not on him the a Heb. 2.16 nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham Hee often used the Angels as his ministers and instruments but tooke them not into the unity of his person they have indeed a neere and sweet communion with him but the nature of man alone hath the prerogative and glory of being one with Christ personally Ambrose saith * Honorem hunc digniâ—atem humanae naturae Deus Dei filius contribuit ut Deus homo una persona esset God the Sonne of God hath given this honour and dignitie to the humane nature that God and man should bee one person Great is the honour that comes to man by Christs incarnation it is onely the Lord Jesus that makes man honourable and glorious the Sunne is the glory of the world the head is the glory of the body the crowne is the glory of the King the flower is the glory of the garden b Prov. 17 6. Childrens children saith Solomon are the crowne of old men and the glory of children are their fathers but when all is done the glory of a Christian is Christ Jesus hee that commeth neerest unto Christ and is most entirely united to him is of all persons the most honourable and glorious These are a c 1 Pet. 2.9 royall Priesthood a chosen generation a peculiar people called out of darknesse into a marvelous light Women suppose it a great glory to bee taken into wedlocke by rich men and Nobles Men repute it a high honour to be received into the favour and fellowship of Princes Servants have high thoughts of their being made companions of their Lords and Masters but true glory full abiding glory commeth unto man by his being received of Christ by his having union communion with Christ hee alone is truly honourable and everlastingly noble that hath Christ graciously dwelling in him he hath the honour of a d Iohn 1.12 Sonne of God by regeneration and adoption the honour of a e Iohn 15.15 friend of God for Gods familiar and full imparting of his mind and secrets to him the honour of a f Rom. 8.37 Conquerour for the victory which Christ gives him over the Divell the world and his owne corruption the honour of a g Ephes 5.30 Spouse for Christs spirituall wedlock with him the honour of an h Rom. 8.17 heire for his free participation of all the good things of his heavenly Father and the honour of a i Rev. 1.6 King for the spirituall dominion which hee hath over himselfe and the world Were man sensible of the honour that comes by the participation of Christ Jesus hee would never so strive for worldly honours nor entertaine such dishonourable thoughts of the wayes of Christ and his servants The state of that man doth ever at last prove most dishonourable and base that thinkes to enoble himselfe without Christ Joseph brought his brethren and presented them to Pharaoh King of Egypt hee accepted them bad them dwell in the k Gen. 47.6 best of the land and commanded that the men of activity among them should be rulers over his catell through Christ wee come nigh to the great King of heaven and earth hee accepts us hee bestowes his best blessings upon us and makes us spirituall rulers over all worldly vanities and our owne affections Very great is the honour that God dispenseth unto man through Christ his Sonne Mans care to preserve his honor And O how great should the care of man bee that is thus honoured by Christ not to dishonour himselfe by wallowing like a swine in the mire and filth of sinne by bowing downe to the world as Gideons l Iud. 7. thousands to the waters by enthralling himselfe to the Divell and his owne lusts as sometimes Dalila cut off Sampsons m Iud. 16. lockes and made him a slave to the Philistines O man doe not dishonour that nature of thine which Christ hath so honoured doe not debase that which Christ hath exalted doe not unite and joyne thy selfe in communion with the Divell and the dung and drosse of the world Christ having taken mans nature into the unitie of his person as a pledge of thy future exaltation doe not bow downe thy soule and exalt thy lust as Solomon sometimes saw n Eccl. 10.17 servants on horse-backe and Princes walking on foote But as Christ hath honoured thee Manner how man must preserve his honour Non est digâ—um ut inde exigas honorem unde refugis laborem so maintaine thy dignity and spirituall glory by purging thy selfe from sinne as a living spring doth purge it selfe from pollution by contending mightily against all the oppositions of grace as a Souldier in the day of battle by being industrious in the works of holinesse as hee that labours for great wages a Christians labour is his honour by shining as the Sunne with light by being full as the tree with fruit by abounding as the sea with waters As the nature
on earth besides him and is as a crowne of glory in the hand of the Lord Isa 62.3 and as a royall Diadem in the hand of his God Joh. 1.12 Rom 8.18 Rev. 1.6 All that have Christ are sonnes of God heires of heaven spirituall Kings hee is most honourable and glorious that comes nighest unto Christ that receiveth most of Christ it is not naturall birth but new birth not worldly abundance but heavenly fulness that honors man in Gods presence * Sola apud Deum libertas est non servire peccatis summa apud Deum nobilitas est clarum esse virtutibus Rev. 12.1 The onely freedome with God saith Ierome is not to serve sinne and with God to excell in vertue is the highest nobility Most honourable and glorious is the description of the Church represented by a woman clothed with the Sunne a crowne of twelve starres on her head and the Moone under her feet That mans condition is questionlesse most honourable that hath the Sunne of righteousnesse clothing him the starre of Gods word guiding him and all the things of the earth put under him 5. The having of all things Fifthly hee that hath Christ hath all shee that is wedded to the Master of the house hath all the house Man by his spirituall wedlocke with Christ hath interest in all the things of this great house of the world Of such as have Christ the Apostle saith All things are yours 1 Cor. 3.22 23. whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and yee are Christs and Christ is Gods All things are yours all the creatures here below are yours as your servants to doe service to you as all the servants of the house are under the mistresse of the house the Angels are also yours to minister to you as the Nobles of the land are the Queenes to attend and wait upon her All things are appointed for your good for your edification supportation and comfort Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas all the Ministers of God from the highest to the lowest are yours as lights to guide you pastors to feed you with knowledge and understanding as shepheards to gather you home to Christ as physicians to heale you as builders to hew and square you as husbandmen to manure and dresse you as the friends of the Bridegroome to wooe you to perswade and betroth you to Christ All the ordinances of God are yours as a schoole to instruct you as a Banquetting house to feed you as an Artillery house to furnish you with spirituall armour as a Bethesda to heale you All these are for your sakes for your good The world is yours as a house for you to dwell in a countrey for you to live in for a season All the goods of the world are yours to use as the things of the house are the wives to use they are all sanctified unto you All the malice and opposition of the world is yours to weane you from the earth to drive you home to Christ to exercise your graces and sweeten unto you Christ Iesus The fulnesse pompe and glory of the world is yours to try your sobriety humility vigilancie and moderation in all things Not onely all things are yours but all conditions whether life or death life is yours the time of life is yours to learne and know God to get assurance of another life The prosperity of life is yours to bee thankfull to God for it the troubles of life are yours to learne to beare the crosse with patience All the severall estates and conditions of life are yours in each of them to shew your subjection and obedience unto God Death is also yours to put an end to all your miseries as a Physician to cure all your diseases as a haven of peace after all tempests as a place of rest after all labours as the red sea to Israel drowning all sinnes ending all sorrowes and giving entrance into endlesse joyes as the red sea drowned Pharaoh and the Egyptians and proved a safe passage to the Israelites and gave them occasion of great triumph and exultation Things present and things to come are yours present things are yours present good things are yours to behold God in them to praise God for them to serve God with them to doe good to others by them present afflictions are yours to try you to humble you to purge you to sweeten the meditation of Christ and heaven to you present sinnes are yours to make you vile in your owne apprehension to drive you out of your selves to let you see the necessarie use of Gods ordinances and the necessity of Christ Jesus Things to come are yours afflictions to come are yours to prepare for them sinnes to come are yours to prevent them heaven and happiness to come are yours to sustaine and comfort your selves with the thought and beleefe of them All things of whatsoever kinde or nature are yours and you are Christs Christs servants to obey him Christs Spouse to love him Christs members receiving all from him possessing all in him and Christ is Gods subordinate unto God as Man and Mediator between God and Man Here are all the latitudes of a Christians riches his having of all in Christ Jesus Let the proud man with Nebuchadnezar blesse himselfe in his stately palace let the mighty man with Golâ—ah boast himselfe in his tall stature and strong armour let the valiant man with Senacharib magnifie himselfe in his victories and the covetous blesse himselfe with him in the parable in having his barnes full but let the Christian pronounce himselfe happy onely happy truly happy fully happy everlastingly happy in his having of Christ for Christ Jesus is mans sole and joyfull constant and most glorious happinesse because in him dwells all fulnesse even the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily The last thing in this verse is the manner how the fulnesse of the Godhead dwells in Christ and that is bodily in the body or humane nature assumed in that the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth Omnis plenitudo divinae narae in corpore ejus inhabitat All fulness saith Ierom of the divine nature dwelleth in his body And the Apostle addeth this word bodily 1. To put a distinction betweene the dwelling of the Godhead in the humane nature assumed and in the Saints in them the Godhead dwels by the communication of vertue but in this the Godhead dwels personally by the coÌ„munication of the person of the Son to the humane nature 2. This the Apostle addeth to shew that Christ according to his humane nature is head of the Church by reason of the personall inhabitation of the Godhead in the flesh 3. To declare the full and open manifestation of God in Christ God did often manifest himselfe unto men in shadowes and in powerfull and mighty workes but in Christ he hath manifested himselfe most fully dwelling
in the flesh assumed personally so that Christ in our flesh is true God and true man and he that hath the Sonne of God hath the Father hee that enjoyes Christ enjoyes God because the Godhead dwels in the humane nature personally and by this we see that Doct. Christ dwelling in our flesh is true God Christ the Sonne of God dwelling in our flesh is truely and essentially God nothing is wanting to Christ that belongs to God that appertaines to the divinity whatsoever the father doth the Sonne doth in our flesh though not by the power of the flesh but by his Godhead dwelling in the flesh the names of nature and of imposition the titles of honour love office and labour which are given unto Christ the attributes of eternity of immutability immortallity omnipresence omnisciency and omnipotency ascribed unto Christ together with the miraculous and mighty workes wrought by Christ doe give an ample cleare and invincible testimony of Christs Godhead Applic. Let us therefore looke upon the Godhead of Christ in our flesh and admire his goodness in comming so neare unto us strive by faith and love to come to him and through him to God Christ reconciling God and man as Jacobs ladder joyned heaven and earth together God dispensing all to men by Christ accepting men through Christ as the Angels descended and ascended by the ladder in Jacobs vision Let us againe contemplate Christ as God dwelling in our flesh and feare him and obey him above all commanders exalt him above all men and Angels love him above all creatures stay upon him in all distresses consecrate our selves to his service celebrate him as the Author and worker of all our welfare and happinesse and quiet and content our selves in and with him as the fountain of all fulnesse VERSE 10. And yee are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power CHAP. XVI Ascribing perfection in Christ to such alone as are truely gracious IN the precedent verse is the fulnesse of Christ opened in this verse is the fulnesse of his members proposed Christ is very free full and gracious in his ministrations to his servants As there is a fulnesse in the Vine so there is a fulness in the Branches as there is a fulnesse in the Sea so there is a fulnesse in the Rivers as there is a fulnesse in Christ so there is a fulnesse in his Members they are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power Scope of the Apostle These words contain a third argument used by the Apostle to dehort and disswade men from having recourse to humane traditions philosophicall doctrines vaine and needlesse ceremonies from seeking perfection or fulnesse in such empty lamps broken cisternes and barren trees considering they have perfection nearer home and in themselves being in Christ members of Christ incorporate into Christ in whom is all fulnesse they need not looke else where for perfection for they are complete in him In the words wee have two things in the generall 1. The Saints perfection 2 Parts 1 Saints perfection 2. Christs exaltation and yee are complete in him 2. Christs exaltation which is the head of all principality and power First of the Saints perfection and ye are complete in him wherein we may take notice 1. Of the subject yee not all but yee Yee who are effectually called from the death of sinne to the life of grace Ioh. 11.44 as Christ called Lazarus from the death of the grave to the life of nature Yee that are savingly enlightned Ioh. 9 as the eies of him that was borne blind were opened Yee that are spiritually purged and cleansed from sin 2 King 5. as Naaman was washed from his Leprosie in Iordan Yee that have put off the old man Eph. 2.4 and put on the new Gen. 41.14 42. 2 Cor. 5.17 as Ioseph had his prison garments taken off and vestures of fine linnen put upon him and a golden chaine about his necke yee from whom all old things are put away and to whom all things are become new yee are complete in him Note Such alone as are truely holy and gracious are complete and perfect in Christ Iesus Such alone are living branches in this vine a spirituall Bride to this husband endowed with Gods image interested in Gods promise separated from worldly vanities and the power of uncleannesse clothed with Christs righteousnesse and filled with Christs fulnesse Use 1 Prophane and carnall people are farre from all spirituall perfection as the dead are farre from life the blinde farre from eye-sight and bondmen farre from freedome Unregenerate and ungracious persons have no saving knowledge of Christ Jesus no participation of his fulnesse no interest in his benefits no taste of the sweetnesse of his mercies Christ to them is a hidden Manna whom they taste not an eclipsed Sunne whom they see not a sealed Well of whom they drinke not like the Tree of Life to Adam expelled out of the garden of Eden Gen. 3. one to whom they come not of whose fruit they feed not Reigning prophanenesse deprives the soule of all the benefits and comforts of the Lord Jesus Such alone as are truly gracious are Use 2 filled with Christs fulnesse discern Christs excellencies and are refreshed with the sweetnesse of his mercies They alone that live to Christ enjoy Christ and are made perfect by Christ and have the promise of eternall life in and through Christ Dignus planè est morte qui tibi Christe recuset vivere qui tibi non sapit desipit qui curat esse nisi propter te pro nihilo est nihil est propter teipsum Deus fecisti omnia qui esse vult sibi non tibi nihil esse incipit inter omnia O Christ saith Bernard hee is plainly worthy of death who refuseth to live to thee and hee that is not wise for thee is foolish and hee that cares to bee unlesse for thee goes for nothing and is nothing O God saith hee thou hast made all things for thy selfe and hee that will bee for himselfe and not for thee beginnes in the midst of all things to bee nothing Without Christ mans greatest fulnesse is nothing else but emptinesse hee that seeks himselfe and not Christ loseth both himselfe and Christ hee that strives without Christ to be happy involves himselfe in the snare casts himselfe into the gulfe of the greatest misery To live to the Lord Jesus in true holinesse is the onely way to everlasting happinesse Hee that for Christ can make himselfe nothing shall in Christ finde the perfection of all things Labour then to bee of their number who are truly holy and gracious that you may bee complete and perfect in Christ Jesus Secondly here is the benefite complete full entire perfect complete in the imputation of Christs righteousnesse in the inchoation of all saving gifts and graces
manner consider and bee thoughly affected with the barrennesse of the Kingdome wherein wee are subjects of the Congregation whereof wee are members of the Families in which wee are fathers mothers husbands wives sonnes daughters servants soiourners every man the barrennesse of his own heart way life let us be in bitternesse of soule and pray and weep as sore for this barrenness of soule as ever Hanna did for the barrennesse of her body The Lord hath done great things for us as for Jerusalem he hath separated us to himselfe set us up his tabernacle among us beene a wall of fire round about us caused the clouds of heavenly doctrine to poure downe their sweet and comfortable dew upon us he hath given us Pastors according to his owne heart Jer 3 15. to feed us with knowledge and understanding and yet we are unfruitfull As the men of the City of Jericho said of that 2 Kin. 2.19 The scituation of the City is pleasant but the water is naught and the ground barren so may we truely say of our selves the Lord hath seated us in a pleasant place in a fruitfull land in a Paradise of all temporall and spirituall plenty yea the waters the ordinances of God the meanes of life are also good sweet savoury completely fitted to minister comfort to the s ules of the people but our hearts are for the most pâ—rt naught and our lives are barren of the good fruit should grow upon them We are 1. Such fallow grâ—und such strangers to a contrite and broken spirit that the Word is to many of us like seed sowne on ground not broken 2. Our hearts are so growne over with the thornes and briars of worldly cares that the seed of the Word is choked in the greatest number of us 3. Our souls are so over-spread with the weeds and drowned in the waters of sensuall pleasures carnall lusts and vaine delights that the meanes of life are not to a few as seed sowne in watry ground where it prospers not 4. Many of us doe so please our selves with a formall profession that wee are but as women travelling with a false birth we doe so flatter our selves with the naked having of Gods Ordinances with the glorious name of Christians that we regard not the nature life power fruit of godlinesse but remaine universally barren our understandings like a lamp without oile our memories like a peece of paper wherein nothing is written our hearts like an Altar on which no fire burneth our faith like Jeroboams withered arme our affections like the lame mans feet who could not walke the whole man like a garden wherein every tree is barren a house whereof euery roome is empty the greatest part of us like foolish Souldiers that think it enough to draw forth and flourish their weapons never wounding their enemies therewith suppose wee have done as much as is required when we attend upon the Ordinance of God though wee never make any particular and effectuall application thereof Aristotle was wont to taxe the Athenians Laeâ—t li. 5. cap. 1. quòd cum duas res invenissent frumenta ac leges frumentis uterentur legibus nequaquam And for this may we be no lesse justly reproved that God having given us the fruits of the earth and the law of life and salvation we use the former but neglect the latter Is it not wonderfull to see how industrious the Husbandman is to improve his ground of a barren to make a fruitfull land how the Merchant setteth his wits on worke to improve his trade how the married persons doe long to see their children stand like Olive branches round about their Table how every person yea every creature in his way after his kind doth strive to be fruitfull and shall the Christian the most excellent peece of the workmanship of God be contented to remaine barren and unprofitable Doe you not heare how the Husbandman complaines like the men of Jericho if the field be barren how the Merchant droopes and hangs downe the head if his ship miscarry his trade faile and poverty come upon him Doe you not heare how the Husband like Isaac prayes for the fruitfulnesse of the Wife when there is no conception how the barren wife cries with an impatient spirit Give me children or I die Gen. 30.1 2. And shall not we complaine bow downe and humble our selves for our barrennesse in grace shall not we study strive labour pray and crie unto the Lord our God to open our hearts that are shut up to enlarge our souls to fill us with all goodnesse And to induce us hereunto the consideration of the concomitants and fruits of this spirituall barrennesse are of very great force For 1 Barrennesse reproacheth it was a reproach to a mother in Israel to be barren 1 Sa. 1.6 Barrennesse disgraceth fields trees cattle reasonable and unreasonable creatures and barrennesse of grace in like manner disgraceth us in the eyes of God in the eyes of Gods children giveth occasion of insultation to the adversaries of religion as the bodily barrennesse of Hanna gave Peninna occasion to insult over her this causeth our profession to be traduced and the name of God to be blasphemed Ro. 2.24 2 Barrennesse is unprofitable a barren tree ministreth no profit it doth but cumber the ground Luk. 13.8 barren Christians are unserviceable to God pester and cumber the Church wherein they live 3 Barrennesse grieveth the barren wife grieveth the husband the barren tree grieveth the keeper of the Orchard a barren people grieve the faithfull and painfull Minister whom the Lord hath set as a Shepheard over them this pained Paul as a woman in travell Gal. 4.19 Jer. 20.14 occasioned Jeremy through the anguish and trouble of his spirit to curse the day of his birth and wrought so forcibly with Eliah 1 Kin. 19.4 that he grew weary of his life and wished for death rather then life 4 Barrenness spoileth the soule of much sweet and heavenly peace boldnesse comfort and confidence Doth the Master smile or else frowne upon the unprofitable servant can such a servant come before his Master with confidence with assurance of acceptance doth he not hang downe the head is he not ashamed is not his confidence removed farre from him When Adam was naked he ran from the presence of the Lord Gen. 3. when the soules of men within are naked of grace and the lives of men without are naked of good works they have no courage no comfort no boldnesse to present themselves before the Lord. 5 Barrennesse provoketh the barren field angreth the Husbandman the barren tree mentioned in the Gospel displeased our Saviour when hee sought fruit and found none on it Christ hungred Mat. 21.18 19. desired much to taste of the sweet grapes of faith repentance love thankfulnesse which should have beene brought forth by the Jewes a Vine of his Fathers owne planting once a Vine of many goodly
will have no pitie no compassion upon us Hear what the Lord hath to this purpose spoken by Solomon Proverbs 1. vers 23. Pro. 1.23 There is Gods invitation strengthened by the consideration of past and present corrections and the promise of future kindnesse vers 24 25. There is their refusall obstinacie rebellion against him their slighting of Gods counsels weariness under his corrections Vers 26 27 28. There is laid open the misery of their condition the wrath of God against them the bitter fruits of their rejection of that mercy which God did proffer to them For this God threatned to leave the people in their sinne Because I have purged thee Ezek. 24.13 and thou wast not purged saith the Lord unto Jerusalem thou shalt not bee purged from thy filthinesse any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee I the Lord have spoken it it shall come to passe and I will doe it I will not goe back neither will I spare neither will I repent c. To this accordeth that commination of our Saviour against the false Prophetesse and soule-seducing Jezabel Rev. 2 21. I gave her space to repent of her fornication and she repented not there is our Saviours patience mercie long-suffering veâ—se 22. Behold saith Christ I will cast her into a bed a bed of affliction them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation except they repent of their evill deeds Heb. 3.16.18 Some saith the Apostle when they had heard provoked thereupon the Lord sware they should not enter into his rest and the estate of such people is very dangerous and fearfull For Reason 1 It is uncertaine First whether God will continue the meanes of grace Propter incertitudinem If a man knock long at a doore and none open he departeth Our Saviour Cant. 5. knocked by his word instructing inviting by his rod chastising by his Spirit moving by his mercies long-suffering alluring he waited long in the dew and in the raine enduring many sorrowes Cant. 5.2 3. troubles afflictions in himselfe and in his Ministers but because his Spouse refused the proffers of his love hee withdrew himselfe hee stopt his eare hee would not heare in her distresse Secondly it is uncertaine whether our life will continue Iam. 4.14 Our life is but a vapour and wee know not what shall be on the morrow Nemo tam divos habet faventes crastinum ut possit sibi polliceri Sen. qui poenitenti veniam spospondit peccanti diem crastinum non promisit Greg. Thirdly if both meanes and life continue and wee for the present refuse to make use of it it is very uncertaine whether God will give his blessing to make the meanes effectuall God may leave us under his ordinances as rockes in the midst of rivers Isa 59.10 as blinde men under the Sunne at noone day hee may suffer his word to prove the savour of death unto death 2 Cor. 2.14 make what should have been for our welfare to be an occasion hastening our ruine It is not in our power to repent and turne to God when we list Propter impotentiam 2 Sam. 3.32 David in his life time complained of the sonnes of Zervia that they were too strong for him And wee may truly complaine of Satan and his sonnes his cursed birth within us I meane our corruptions that they bee too strong for us wee may imagine as Sampson in another case did that we have power to awaken rise up goe forth from the servitude of sinne and Satan when wee please but it will bee at last with us as with Sampson our strength will faile us the Philistines will bee upon us prevaile against us Ezek. 36.26 27. we may as soon turne the stony rock into soft ground raise the dead out of the grave make the brambles bear figges as by our owne power raise our selves to a new life Ephes 2.1 Mat. 7.16 turne our stony into a soft and tender heart bring forth the sweet figges and pleasant grapes of godly sorrow true repentance a lively faith fervent love sincere obedience This is a worke sutable to none but Gods finger Hee that raised the dead Ioh. 11.44 Isa 35.5 6 Exo. 17.6 that turned the barren wildernesse into a fruitful field that fetcht water out of the stony rocke hee alone can change the heart make us fruitfull in the saving grace of the Spirit 1 Cor. 3.6 Paul plants and Apollo waters but the Lord doth give the increase It is God that openeth the heart of Lydia Act. 16.14 When Paul preacheth and the Lord is a free agent hee communicateth his grace when and where he pleaseth Ioh. 3.8 Sinne will grow strong and Satan will fortifie his holds Propter incrementum if the meanes of grace bee neglected the reformation of our wayes procrastinated A disease neglected growes incurable an enemy let alone becomes invincible and sinne gathers much strength by continuance it blindes the understanding dulls the affection hardens the heart seares the conscience makes uncapable of holy counsell unfit for every godly undertaking Difficile est ab usitatis desinere difficile est à familiaribus abstrahi Greg. Can the Ethiopian saith the Prophet change his skinne Ier. 23.13 or the Leopard his spots then may yee also doe good that are accustomed to doe evill This serveth for the sharpe reproofe of such as procrastinate their repentance Use stop their eares to present invitations shut their eyes against the present light which shineth to them regard not the day of their visitation Iâ—a 55.6 who seek not the Lord while hee may bee found but like the sluggard cry Pro. 6.10 A little more sleepe a little more slumber a little more folding of the hands upon the bed of sinne till sinne Satan hell come like armed men upon them and they are found unable to resist them Thus the old world all the time of Noahs preaching and preparing the Arke neglected their day till the flood came upon them Mat. 25.1 the foolish virgins slumbred till the bridegroome came entred in and shut them out having no oyle in their lampes Some out of the strength of their love to sinne repose themselves after many warnings in her lap as Sampson did in Dalilahs lap till shee delivered him into the hands of the Philistines Some out of hope to repent hereafter Acts 24.25 Rom. 2.5 Psa 95.10 Job 21.14 or in hope of better leasure some out of the hardnesse of their hearts some out of their unbeliefe some out of their Atheisticall and base conceits of a religious and godly life Rev. 3.17 some out of selfe-conceit thoughts of selfe-sufficiencie and present fulnesse Luk. 14.18 some through multiplicitie of worldly businesse some by the perswasions of carnall friends are hindered from attending the meanes of grace from the reformation of their wayes As the Levite was so long
Psa 63.3 above wine which maketh glad the heart above the increase of corne and wine the joy of the rich above life the choycest pearle and deerest treasure in natures closet If the dawning of the day bee so joyous how much more pleasant is the Sunne rising If the first fruits be so acceptable how much more abundantly joyfulâ— is the full vintage If the glimpse of Gods face bee so much desired how much more desireable is the fulnesse of Gods countenance reserved for us in the heavens which the Psalmist doth illustrate by a similitude taken from the chased Hart Psa 42.1 2. As the Hart the Hart chased heated affrighted and vexed by the hounds and hunters doth pant after the water brookes so doth my soule pant after thee O God my soule thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appeare before God before God in his holy Temple in the assembly of his Saints and servants in the use of his ordinances in the sense of his loving kindnesse and in the full fruition of his face in the highest heavens And this the Apostle expresseth by a Metaphor taken from the naked 2 Cor. 5.2 who have no garment to cover them no house to hide them as they with great diligence seeke and much earnestnesse long for a covering so doe the faithfull servants of God long for heaven their house and habitation and for the full fruition of Jesus Christ whose righteousnesse is their rich and royall robe their pure and spotlesse garment to cover them In this saith the Apostle wee groane â—arnestly desiring to bee clothed upon with our house which is from heaven As he that is in darkness longeth for the light so the soules of Gods children in the darknesse of this world doe long for Jesus Christ and heaven the Sunne of righteousnesse and that heavenly Citie which God hath provided for them Rev. 21.23 Where there is no need neither of the Sunne nor of the Moone to shine in it because the glory of God doth lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof As the Bride doth long for the comming of the Bridegroome so the spirituall Bride longeth for the comming of the heavenly Bridegroome Christ Jesus being sicke of love Cant. 5.6 8. and full of longings after him As the mother of Sisera looked out through the window and cried through the lattesse Iudg. 5.28 Why is his Chariot so long in comming why tarry the wheeles of his Chariots so doth the Spouse of Christ here in this life looke forth through the window of Gods ordinances and through the lattesse of her faith and cry How long Lord Jesus Rev. 6.10 how long Thou art my helpe and my deliverer make no tarrying O my God And the Apostle for the mitigating of their sorrowes asswaging of their troubles quieting of their consciences and the better staying of their soules perswades them to waite assures them of the speedy comming of Christ saying Psa 40.17 Cast not away your confidence which hath great recompence of reward for yee have need of patience that after yee have done the will of God yee might receive the promise For yet a little while and hee that shall come will come Heb. 10.35 36 37. and will not tarry And thus have Gods servants expressed their desires Phil. 1.23 I desire saith Saint Paul to be dissolved as a prisoner from his fetters as a captive from his bondage and to bee with Christ which is farre better And wee groane saith hee speaking in the name of all the faithfull to be cloathed upon 2 Cor. 5.4 8. that mortality might bee swallowed up of immortality And wee are willing to bee absent from the body and present with the Lord And this the Apostle commended in the Thessalonians 1 Thess 1.9 10. that they were turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Sonne from heaven as servants wait for the comming of their Lord and Master And this Saint Peter termes a looking for 2 Pet. 3.12 and hastening unto the comming of the day of God The reason whereof is In regard of their remaining sinne and Reason 1 corruption This is to them as a disease to the sicke as fetters to the prisoner as a burthen to the traveller as a mote to the eye as manacles to the hands as chaines to the feet as aches to the bones as the sons of Zervia unto David they were adversaries to him too strong for him 2 Sam 19.22 so are their corruptions adversaries to their soules to their peace to their communion with God to their present and everlasting welfare Somtimes they are too strong for them leading them captive Rom. 7.23 as a tyrant the souldier whom he hath taken in the battle 1 Pet. 2.11 2 Sam. 3.1 making continuall warre against them as the house of Saul did against the house of David being as prickes in their eyes and thornes in their sides Iudg. 2.2 as the Canaanites were to Israel as heavie burthens to their backes Psa 38.4 burthens too heavie for them to beare as dead members in their body Rom. 7.24 very cumbersome and occasions of great trouble And therefore as the noble man went unto Christ and besought him Ioh. 4.47 that he would come downe and heale his sonne because hee was at the poynt of death so doe the faithfull servants of God go to Christ and say Come Lord Iesus that there may bee a thorough healing of all their infirmities In regard of Satans subtile assiduous and violent temptations Ios 10. As the Amoritish Princes besieged Gibeon so doth the prince of darknesse besiege the soules of Gods people As Pharaoh imposed heavie burthens upon the children of Israel set cruell task-masters over them and when they were going forth of Egypt raised an army and pursued them so doth Satan lay heavie burthens upon great and grievous things to the charge of Gods people set many mercilesse and bloudy minded man against them and raiseth an armie of evill thoughts within to distract them and an army of afflictions without to molest them being as a roaring Lyon to Gods flocke 1 Pet. 5.8 as a man of warre to the Citie of their soules making their passage very stormy and tempestuous Luk. 11.21 and therefore as the woman of Canaan came to our Saviour and cryed to him Mat. 15.22 25. saying Have mercie on mee O Lord thou Sonne of David my daughter is grievously vexed with a Divell Lord helpe mee so doe Gods children addresse themselves to Christ and cry Have mercie upon us thou Sonne of David for our soules are sore vexed with the Divell Lord helpe us O come Lord Jesus and bring us a full and finall deliverance from all infernall adversaries In regard of the evill and offensive conversation of ungracious men their language their practice their profanenesse their troublesomnesse is to
Gods children a great griefe a meanes of very much disquiet as the daughters of Heth to Sarah Gen. 27.46 made her life a burthen and the presence of disobedient Ionah made the sea tempestuous the navigation very perillous to the Mariners This hath filled them full of complaints Psa 120.5 Woe is me saith David that I sojourne in Mesech that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar Psa 119.136 Mine eyes gush out with rivers of tears because men keepe not thy law saith David And Lot was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked 2 Pet. 2.7 That righteous man saith S. Peter dwelling among them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their unlawfull deeds And therefore as he that dwells among thornes briars and scorpions Ezek. 2.6 desires to change his dwelling so doe Gods servants say Come Lord Jesus that they may have full freedome from the conversation of sinfull men In regard of love to Christ their love to him 2 Sam. 1.26 like the love of Jonathan to David is wonderfull they love him with all manner of love with a creatures love as he is their maker with a servants love as hee is their Lord and Master with a subjects love as he is their King and Ruler with a ransomed mans love as hee is their Redeemer with a friends love as hee is their Comforter with a childs love as he is their everlasting Father with a kinsmans love as hee is their Brother and with a Brides love as hee is the Bridegroome of their soules Can. 2.5 They are sicke of love and love breeds longing and longing breeds desire of fruition And as love constraines the wife to desire the presence of the husband so doth love cause the spouse of Christ to long for the presence of Christ to say Tit. 2.13 Come Lord Iesus to looke for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Iesus Christ In regard of the plenary and perfect restauration of Gods image in their soules The day of Christs comming shall bee the day of their full freedome and perfect redemption wherein they shal be a garden without weeds a tree without barren branch superfluous bough or fading leafe As Absolon 2 Sam. 15. in respect of bodily perfection was without blemish from the crowne of the head unto the sole of the foot so shall Gods servants upon the comming of Christ be free from all blemish and glorious in soule and body Mat. 13.43 Luk. 21.28 like the Sun in the firmament This is called the day of their redemption And as the captive desireth the comming of the ransomer so doe they the comming of Christ our blessed Redeemer and therfore they say Come Lord Iesus that they may have the full possession of all joy and glory in heaven This openeth and unfoldeth the estate and condition of man Use even of the holiest and best men in this life even an estate of distance separation in part from Christ their desire of him their longing after him their crying Come Lord Iesus shewes they doe not enjoy Christ now in his greatest fulnesse Here Numb 13 23. like Israel in the way to Canaan they have a few grapes a little taste of the goodnesse of the land of heaven but the full vintage is reserved till their bodily dissolution till Christs second comming Now they are absent from the Lord they behold him as a friend a farre off While wee are at home in the body 2 Cor. 5.6 wee are absent from the Lord saith the Apostle Absent from the perfection of Gods Image from the fulnesse of the light of Gods countenance from the perfect and complete fruition of his presence and the glory he hath provided for us 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see as through a glasse darkly in the workes of God as in a glasse wee see the generall wisedome power and goodnesse of God In the Word and Sacraments wee see as in a glasse the command and precept the will and counsell the love and mercie of God in Christ Jesus Hereafter wee shall see face to face truly without errour conspicuously without darknesse and fully without the mixture of all imperfections Now we are as runners in a race the price is not yet wonne 1 Cor. 9.24 therefore so runne that yee may obtaine saith S. Paul Now we are as Souldiers in the battle fighting the victory is not yet fully gotten Rev. 2.10 therefore be thou faithful saith our Saviour to the death and I will give thee a crowne of life Wee are now travellers our journey is not yet ended Psa 84.7 therefore we must go from strength to strength untill wee doe appeare before the Lord in Sion Matth. 24.13 For hee that continueth to the end shall be saved Now we are as pilgrimes and strangers we have not yet the possession of our heavenly dwelling and therefore as pilgrimes strangers 1 Pet. 2.11 let us abstaine from fleshly lusts which warre against the soule we halt like Iacob in our walking our goings are not absolutely perfect Gen. 32.31.35 our lives like Iacobs flock are spotty coloured a mixture of grace vice is in them our souls Gen. 25.24 like Rebecca's womb carry in them an Esau a Iacob the flesh lusting against the spirit the spirit against the flesh as Esau against Iacob Iacob against Esau In the Common-wealth of Israel 2 Sam. 3.1 there was continuall war between the house of Saul David in the common-weale of a regenerate soule there is continuall warre between God Satan between grace and corruption and therfore we must labour in the worke of grace like the house of David to grow stronger stronger to make sin like the house of Saul grow weaker weaker still pressing to more perfection ever saying with the Evangelist Come Lord Iesus as a guide to direct us a Physician to heale us and a man of warre to overcome for us This should wonderfully endeare unto us the Lord Jesus He is the desire of the soules of all beleevers to him we must go to him we must seek on him we must call When distresse commeth when sicknesse visiteth when death approacheth then we shall bee constrained to cry Come Lord Iesus then as the woman of Tekoah in a pretended distresse came to David and cried 2 Sam. 14.4 Help O King so shall we in the reall distresse of our soules bee constrained to cry Help O Christ When wee shall see Satan casting all his fiery darts at us setting with all his forces like an armed man upon us bringing all our sinnes like a subtile accuser against us when wee shall apprehend death as a Serjeant arresting hurrying and drawing us before the Lords tribunall and shall see the armes of all earthly helpers broken the lamp of all worldly lights put out and the tongues
fire from heaven was to the Captaines which came up against Eliah what the burning fornace was to them that cast in Shadrach Meshec and Abednego the same will be the coming of the L. Jesus to all unholy persons O therfore away with your sins every soul of man reform his wayes Job 11.14 That you may lift up your faces with boldnes that you may with great joy and comfort say Come Lord Iesus Thirdly get it to your hearts the pretious pearle of a lively faith Eph. 6.16 this wil quench all Satans darts silence all the accusâ—tions of conscience make you looke on Christ as on a friend to comfort you Rom. 8.31 an advocate to plead for you and a redeemer to save you and like Eliahs fiery chariot will carry your soules aloft and bring you with gladnesse into the presence of the Lord Jesus Fourthly make a good use of your talent be wise be diligent be faithfull holy humble in the imployment of it and Christ shall come with comfort and he shall entertain you with a sweet and comfortable Euge. Well done thou good and faithfull servant Mat. 25.23 thou hast been faithfull over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into thy masters joy And let us be excited stirred up to work our hearts to this longing for Christs comming considering First the satiety of our estate in heaven Rev. 22.2 there is a Tree bearing twelve sorts of fruit youth without old age health without sicknesse fulness without loathing liberty without bondage beauty without deformitie impassibility without griefe abundance without want peace without trouble security without feare knowledge without ignorance glory without ignominy joy without sorrow Secondly the security of that estate no enemy can reach us it is a Citie never besiegâ—d a haven never disquieted there is no death neither of sin nor of misery Rev. 21.4 Nec culpae nec miseriae nec naturae nor of nature Thirdly the jucundity of it a day without clouds a paradise without thornes fulness of joy true joy without deceit sincere joy free from the mixture of sorrow Psa 16. constant joy a Sun that never sets of which we may say as Augustine doth * O gaudium supergaudium vincens omne gaudium extra quod non est gaudium quando intrabo in te ut videam Deum meum qui habitat in te O joy above joy overcoming all joy without which there is no joy when shall I enter into thee that I may see my God who dwelleth in thee Here is joy above us in the vision of God joy within us in the glorification of our souls and bodies joy about us in our communion with Saints and Angels joy beneath us in our evasion and escapall of hell and everlasting darknesse Here is to the souls of all beleevers Gaudium de Christo joy concerning Christ as the authour of our welfare in Christo in Christ as he is the head and wee the members cum Christo with Christ as coheires with him of the same inheritance post Christum after Christ every soule joying according to proportion per Christum by Christ being reconciled to God by him and beholding God with joy through him propter Christum for Christ he being exalted above all creatures and having purchased all things O let these things sweeten the thought of Christ Jesus to us inflame our soules with longing after him make us all say Come Lord Iesus Thus from the Motion passe wee to the Mover Lord Jesus Two titles of the blessed Sonne of God the one a title of authoritie to command us the other of mercie to comfort us Love and Justice are sweetly knit together in Christ Jesus Note as Lord hee requireth obedience to his precepts as Jesus he calleth for faith in his promises Faith and obedience must never be divided in Gods servants hee that calls him Lord without obedience dishonours him hee that calls him Iesus without faith receives no benefit by him Hee is stiled first Lord and then Jesus Note If Christ bee not our Lord and Master first hee will never bee our Saviour at last He that will not have Christ to be his Lord in his life shall not have him for his Iesus at the houre of his death O therefore serve him honour him obey him as your Lord beleeve him love him rejoyce in him as your Jesus now that you may bee able upon all occasions to say Come Lord Iesus Come Lord Jesus as a Counsellour to guide us as a Rock to support us as a Friend to comfort us as a Fountaine to supply us Come Lord Jesus in the day of fulnesse and make us thankfull in the day of want and make us contented in the day of our sinne and make us penitent in the day of affliction and make us patient in the day of temptation and make us confident in the day of sorrow and make us joyfull in the day of health and make us mindfull of the day of sicknesse in the day of life and make us watchfull against the day of death in the day of sicknesse and assure us of the blessed issue of our earthly pilgrimage in the day of death and translate our soules into a glorious life Even so come LORD JESUS And now touching this spectacle of mortalitie here before us what shall I say unto you wherein shall I from hence instruct you but onely in two things in the genenerall First by way of premonition Secondly by way of commemoration By way of premonition and so you may in this object of death be admonished First of the transitorinesse of mans pilgrimage his life is a vapour soon vanishing a race soone runne Heâ— 13.14 a candle quickly gone out having no continuing Citie here but must seeke one that is to come Secondly of the vanitie of all earthly abundance it is a starting Bow in the day of battle a rotten Anchor in the stormie tempest Wee see that of Solomon ver fied by daily experience Pro. 11.4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death the righteousnesse of Christ imputed the righteousnesse of conversation well ordered giveth comfort deliverance from the second death when soule body are dissolved Thirdly whatsoever extravagancies or aberrations we see in others let us not thereby take occasion to insult over them to passe any rash or finâ—ll sentence upon them this is the worst use of other mens offences this is to thrust God out of his office Rom. 14.4 For every man stands or falls to his owne master but what wee see amisse in others let us correct in our selves by the sight of their spots let us wash our owne garments bee thankfull to God who doth preserve us for no man standeth by his owne strength Let us be watchfull over our selves and desire God to keepe us lest Satan and our owne corruption draw us