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
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
foole but hee hath no heart to use it There is a transcendent fulnesse in Christ and hee is the choycest of all prices and is even put into the hands of men but many have no heart to make use of him and therefore hee doth not profit them What is the fulnesse of the Sunne to the blinde that doth not see by it the fulnesse of the fountaine to him that doth not drinke of it the fulnesse of the feast to him that doth not feed upon it and what is the fulnesse of Christ to him that makes no use of Christ What is a man the better for a locke if hee hath not a key to use it withall It is not a trade but a trade well followed it is not land but land well tilled that maintaines men that makes men rich It is not Christ but Christ well used that maintaines the soule that makes the soule rich a Eccles 5.18 19. Behold saith Solomon that which I have seene it is good and comely for one to eate and drinke and to enjoy the good of all his labour that hee taketh under the Sunne all the dayes of his life which God giveth him for it is his portion Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth and hath given him power to eate thereof and to take his portion and to rejoyce in his labour this is the gift of God Christ is a rarer portion then all wealth then all meat and drinke it is a rarer gift of God to make use of Christ and to enjoy the good of Christ all the dayes of his life this is the portion of a Christian of a gracious and sanctified soule indeed As therefore the healthy man makes use of his meat and is strengthened the sick man makes use of his physicke and is healed the Souldier maketh use of his weapon and overcommeth the Merchant maketh use of his trade and growes rich by it Thus let us make use of Christ that our soules may bee healed strengthened made victorious and spiritually enriched Some men live by their wits some by their lands and some by their trades the Christian lives by his Christ Of Christ therefore let us make use in our Understandings to fill us with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisedome to receive all our direction from him as the traveller maketh use of the Sunne to guide him Of him let us make use in our Meditations thinke upon him as the Bride in her thoughts maketh use of the Bride-groome let the thought of Christ bee frequent and pretious and the meditation of Christ b Ps 104.34 sweet unto us Of him let us make use by our Faith depending upon him as the house upon the rocke casting our selves our care and burthen upon him as the childe upon the parent hiding our selves under the shadow of his wings as the chicken under the wings of the hen resting upon him for a supply in all our wants for a deliverance in all distresses making him in stead of all in the absence of all helpers deriving and drawing more and more from his fulnesse as the thirsty draw waters out of the Well by the bucket and as the branches draw nourishment from the roots Of him let us make use by our Love loving him as the Father begetting the Ransomer redeeming the Physician healing the Husband marrying and Treasure enriching our soules Of him let us make use in our Ioy rejoycing in him as the wise men in the Starre with an c Mat. 2.10 exceeding great joy Of him let us make use in our peace and prosperity looking on him as the authour of all our happinesse as the Sunne that puts a fulnesse into all the lights of our comforts as the Sunne puts a fulnesse into the starres without Christ all is empty as a withered branch without the root all is bitter as the waters of Marah without the tree Of him let us make use in our hearing preaching prayer conference him let us heare him let us learne of him let us speake him let us set forth * Aridus est omnis animae cibus fi non oleo isto insunditur insipidus est si non hoc sale conditur si scribas non sapit mihi nisi legero ibi Iesum si disputes aut confâ—ras non sapit mihi nâ—si sonuerit ibi Jesus Bernard saith All the food of the soule is dry if it bee not put into this oyle it is unsavory if it bee not seasoned with this salt if thou writest it doth not relish with mee unlesse I read JESUS there if thou doest dispute or conferre it doth not relish wel with me unlesse JESUS found there if we make not use of Christ Jesus our use of Gods ordinance is fruitlesse Of Christ let us make use in our distresses as Noah made use of the Arke in the deluge to support us as the Gibeonites made use of Josua in the siege to helpe us to deliver us as Hagar made use of the Well when her bottle was empty to fill us O let not Christ bee to us as Iethers sword to him which hee drew not used not as wealth to many to whom God gives not power to eate as a cordiall to him that doth not receive it or a garment to him that doth not put it on but let us every way make use of Christ make use of his wisedome to guide us of his power to uphold us of his dominion to awe us of his majesty to humble us of his puritie to make us vile in our owne eyes to shame us for our uncleannesse to worke us to holinesse of his justice to drive us from sinne of his righteousnesse to cloath us and cover our sinnes of his mercie to pardon us of his love to comfort us of his presence to encourage us of his fulnesse to satisfie us of his Word to feed us of his Sacraments to confirme us of his death to mortifie our lusts of his resurrection to quicken our soules of his sufferings to suffer with patience of his intercession to settle us in the assurance of the pardon of our sinnes and establishment of the love of God on our soules of his commandements as of a spurre to quicken us in his service and as of a bridle to restraine us from what is forbidden of his promises as of a rocke to sustaine us as of a load-stone to draw us as of a light in darknesse to comfort us and as of a spring in the day of drought to refresh and fill us Excellent is the use of Christ Jesus to the soules of all true Christians it extirpates all cares dispelleth all feares evacuates the minde of distracting thoughts and disturbing passions sweetens all estates mitigates all sorrowes facilitateth all burdens and exhilerates the whole man Very great is the soules happinesse which makes a true full and constant use of Christ Jesus CHAP. X. Perswading to full and constant acquiescence in Christ AS there is all
doth prescribe and whatsoever thou losest hold fast thy communion with God As Joseph left his cloake and fled from his mistris to preserve his chastity so let goe thy cloake all the bodily coverings of wealth honour and whatsoever else flye from sinne and keepe thy communion with thy God as the choycest excellency of thy soule CHAP. XIII Declaring the perfection and fulnesse of Christ above the fulnesse of all Creatures THE fourth thing in these words is the matter which dwelleth in Christ and that is all fulnesse and the fifth is the condition or quality of this fulnesse the fulnesse of the Godhead In Saints and Angels dwels a fulnesse of divine qualities in Christ the fulnesse of divine essence and herein Christ as man is manifested to bee farre more excellent then others to come nearer to God and to participate more of the fulnesse of God then all creatures And hence we learne that Doctr. Christs perfection and fulnesse doth infinitely surpass the fulness of all creatures As the fulnesse of the sea surpasseth the fulnesse of small vessels as Saul was d 1 Sam. 10.22 head and shoulders in stature above the people so is Christ in heavenly stature and fulnesse far above all men and Angels therefore is he stiled the e Ephes 1.22 head of all principality power for his cōplete dominiō over all creatures f Rev. 1.5 the prince of the kings of the earth to shew his power over all kings tyrants and whatsoever enemies g Heb. 1.2 the heire of all things having interest in dominion over all creatures in heaven and earth the whole world is his inheritance Such is Christs riches that all the fulnesse of the world is but poverty in comparison of him and all the strength of the creature but weaknesse compared with the power that is in his arme For God saith the Apostle h Ephes 1.20 21 22. raised him from the dead and set him at his owne right hand in heavenly places farre above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not onely in this world but also in that which is to come above the name of kings for his dominion above the name of rich men for his wealth above the name of Conquerours for his victory above the name of Saints and Angels for his puritie wisedome and most exquisite and absolute perfection And this appeares by the excellencie of Christs originall 3 Grounds of Christ above all creatures 1. Excellency of Christs originall As hee is the second person in the Trinitie he is begotten of his Father by an eternall generation Very God of very God As man he is the sonne of God by hypostaticall union his humanity subsisting in the person of the Son Of Christ therefore the Apostle saith that he is i Heb. 1.3 the brightnesse of his Fathers glory and the expresse image of his person being made so much better than the Angels as hee hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they Hee is the brightnesse of his Fathers glory as the beames are the glory of the Sunne and the expresse image of his person as the print of the seale on the waxe is the expresse image of the seale it selfe and is more excellent then the choycest creatures being the expresse and lively image of his Father the maker of all by his power the heire of all by his birth the supporter of all by his providence the revealer of all misteries by his wisedome the purgation of all sins by the sacrifice of himselfe head King and ruler of all by his session at the right hand of God and thus hee hath a more excellent name then the Angels according to his divinitie by eternall generation of his Father being the naturall Sonne of God consubstantiall with the Father according to his flesh by a temporall birth of the virgin and operation of the holy Ghost the flesh being assumed of the Sonne into the unitie of his person so that the same Sonne is both God and Man not two Sonnes but one and that not by adoption but by union not made a Sonne but borne a Sonne the flesh being assumed into the unitie of the person of the naturall Sonne As Christ hath being from and union with the Father more naturally intimately and entirely then any of the creatures so hee excells all others Hee that is most fully of God by regeneration and commeth neerest unto God by gracious union and communion is the most excellent of many people This appeares by the proportion between his humiliation and his exaltation Proportion betweene Christs humiliation exaltation he was abased and humbled below others hee appeared in the k Phil. 2.7 forme of a servant he was of no reputation rejected reproched persecuted accused blasphemed spit upon put to the shamefull death of the Crosse and his soule sorrowfull to the death And as hee was humbled and abased below others so it is fit hee should bee exalted above others Being l Phil. 2.8.9 found saith the Apostle in fashion as a man hee humbled himselfe and became obedient to the death even the death of the crosse wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name God will honour such people as men dishonour for their weldoing The good mans future glory shall fully answer his present ignominy David was set behind the Ewes his brethren preferred above him the Lord takes David from the Ewes and makes him king over Israel Ioseph was brought lower then any of his brethren cast into prison fetters put upon him yet from thence he came to the second place next the king in Aegypt Christs humiliation was deepest Christs glory is highest let no man for any reproach decline the way of godlinesse the basest crosse shall turne to their most glorious crowne that suffer for weldoing 2. Subjection of all under Christ This appeares by the subjection of all things under him m Ephes 1.22 all things are put under his feete all things high and low great and small visible and invisible present and to come are put under Christs feete even as he is man men and Angels are put under him as Subjects under their Soveraignes as Nobles under their Prince the Saints and faithfull servants of God are put under him as sheepe under their shepheard as the Bride under the Bridegroome as the members under their head all troubles and afflictions are put under him as n Mat. 8.8 Souldiers under the Centurion all Divels are put under him as captives under their Conquerour as Ioshua trode upon the neckes of the kings of Canaan so doth he trample downe and triumph over all the Princes of darkenesse all sinnes and transgressions are put under him as the offences of a land under a king Christ having authority to forgive them as deseases under a physician Christ having ability to heale all the distempers
his name is called Wonderfull Isay 9.1 Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Wonderfull for the admirable union of two natures in one person for his wonderfull conception and birth of a Virgine and Wonderfull for the administration of his kingdome wonderfully saving his servants wonderfully destroying his enemies Counsâ—llour for the wisedome which he revealeth and counsell which hee giveth the elect by the Gospel making them wise unto salvation The mighty God for the miracles hee wrought the donation of the Spirit and regeneration of Gods chosen The everlasting Father for the life of grace and glory which hee ministers to all true beleevers And the Prince of Peace for the peace which hee makes between God and his chosen for the concord which hee workes between Gods children and the heavenly tranquillity which hee puts into the consciences of contrite and broken-hearted sinners The names of the Lord Iesus are Characters full of wonders in the eyes of all beleevers and beames ministring the heavenly light of wisedome and consolation to all that come unto him Sometimes he is figuratively stiled a Head Eph. 1.22 for the excellency dignity and eminency of his condition above others as the head is the most noble and eminent above all the members for his mysticall conjunction with true beleevers direction gubernation protection which hee ministers to them and for the communication of all spirituall life sense motion and every good thing to Gods children Sometimes hee is stiled a Rocke 1 Cor. 10.4 1 Pet. 2 5. and the head stone of the corner for his conjunction of Jew and Gentile in one Church and for his might in sustaining all such as are by a lively faith built a spirituall house upon him Sometimes hee is called a Lyon the Lyon of the tribe of Juda Rev. 5.5 for his principality and eminence as the Lyon is the King of all beasts for his vigilancie as the Lyon sleeps with his eyes open Christ is a keeper that never sleeps for his power efficacie in plucking us out of the mouth of the roaring Lyon the Divel for his custody keeping us as the Lyon his whelps for the terrour he casts upon the hearts of his enemies by the preaching of his word as the Lyon by his voyce makes all the beasts to tremble and by the raising of his chosen unto life as the Lyon by his cry awakens his young which sleepe Sometimes hee is called the Sunne Mal. 4.2 the Sunne is the Prince of the Starres Christ is the Prince of the Kings of the earth the Sunne is the eye of the world Christ of the Church the Sunne conferreth light with his beames Christ conferres the light of knowledge faith and all grace to the soule the Sunne is in the midst of the planets Christ is a middle person betweene God and man Christ gives the light of glory to the Saints above the light of grace to beleevers here beneath The Sunne warmes the earth Christ the heart with his divine love the Sun makes the earth fertile Christ makes the soule fruitfull the Sunne casts his light upon the poore mans cottage as well as on the kings palace Christ shines as clearely and comfortably unto the heart of the poorest as of the richest Christian Sometimes he is stiled a Bridegroome a husband 2 Cor. 11.2 for his dominion over despensation and betrothment with and singular affection to his Spouse the Church for his protection nutrition communication of honour to the children of God for his entire union with acquisition of his Spouse Sampson and David obtained their Brides by shedding the bloud of their enemies Christ hath obtained his Spouse by shedding his owne bloud and dissolving the workes of the Divell his their adversary Most excellent is the authority dignity majesty power beauty wisedome love and chiefest goodnesse shining forth to the soules of Gods servants in and through the names of Chrâ—st Jesus Foure excellencies in Christ on which men are to fasten the eyes of their faith 1. Excellency of dominion Let us therfore lock and fasten the eies of our faith First upon the excellency of Christs dominion behold him reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords and vaile and bow to him As Pharaoh put all the people of his land from the lowest to the highest under Joseph because none was excellent as Joseph so let us put all the faculties of our soules and all the members of our bodies the whole man under Christ let all be subject and serviceable unto Christ let all be ruled and guided by Christ Christ hath absolute and most excellent authority over us and therefore as all that travell in the day are guided by the Sunne as all Israel were guided by the pillar as all the members of the body are guided by the head so let us in all things be guided by Christ Mat. 8.8 let us goe and come at Christs command as the souldiers did at the command of the Centurion All mans goings are aberrations if he be not guided by Christ Iesus nothing is wel done but that which answers Christs direction they that walke after their owne fancies walke in darkenesse It is recorded of the wheeles in Ezekiels vision Ezek. 1.21 that when the living creatures went the wheeles went and when the living creatures stood the wheeles stood when the living creatures were lifted up the wheeles were lifted up over against them for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheeles Thus let our motion station be according to Christs prescription having as the Psalmist saith Psa 40.8 the law of the Lord in our hearts And as Christ hath excellent dominion so let us feele him reigning and ruling within us by illumination as the Sun doth rule the day by filling the aire with light by subjugation putting under all our unruly lusts as Iosua ruled in Canaan by treading upon the neckes of the kings of Canaan and putting them to death by direction and guidance of our souls to move aright in the wayes of God as the pilot doth guide the ship by love as the husband doth rule the wife by inhabitation possession as the dweller doth rule the house by gracious heavenly influence as the hand doth guide the pen and the load-stone doth turne and draw the iron towards it It is the glory of mans heart to become the Throne of Christ the honour of mans life to bee wholly subject unto Christ it is a far greater honor to be Christs * Bonus obediens domini servus proximi socius mundi dominus superiora habet ad gaudium aequalia ad consortium inferiora ad sâ—rviâ—ium Bern. gracious servant then the worlds profane commander Hee that is most spiritually subject is most truly excellent of all men he hath the choycest dominion that yeelds to Christ most ready free subjection Every thing shall serve him who readily serves
readinesse in the ground to receive raine from every cloud a readiness with diligence to follow every good worke 2 Tim. 2.21 as there is a readiness in the hand of a good Scholar to write after every letter in the copie 3 By the fulnesse of liberty and freedome from the rule and power of every sin 3 Fulnesse of liberty from the rule of sin as Josuah put all the Canaanites under so doth fulnesse of grace put downe every lust it suffers no sin to reigne as Asa deposed his owne mother 2 Chr. 15. so doth this the mother sin of the soule the sin that is most deare If the eye offend it plucks it out Mat. 5. if the hand offend it cuts it off it doth not worke by halfes as Saul did but destroyes all as Samuel did 1. Sam. 15 it restores the whole man to liberty the understanding to know as Christ restored the blind man to sight the will to embrace Christ as the man whose hand was withered had it made whole to receive any gift the imagination and affections to mind and meditate upon to love and delight in the things which are above as Christ healed the woman that had a Spirit or infirmity making her able to walke upright it makes the whole man free to move and come to Christ as the Rivers move towards the Sea This the Psalmist termeth an inlarging of the heart to run the way of Gods commandements and where the Spirit of the Lord is Psa 119.32 2. Cor. 3.17 there is liberty saith the Apostle 4 By the fulnesse of mans application of himselfe to Christ 4. Fulnesse of mans application of himselfe to Christ The more fully man receives of Christ the more fully he doth apply himselfe to Christ the more the River receives from the Sea the more strongly speedily and fully it returns again and empties it selfe into the Sea Mans motion to Christ is according to his gracious receivings from Christ where there is fulnes of grace Christ is apprehended as a King for his authority as a most precious Pearl for his worth as a Ransomer for his purchase which he hath made of us as a Bridegroome for his love to us and conjunction with us and as the wife which receives the husband gives her selfe againe unto the husband thus the soule which receiveth Christ doth give it selfe againe to Christ Saint Paul saith of the Macedonians 2 Cor. 8.5 they gave themselves unto the Lord as to their Counselour to direct them as to their Shepheard to feed them as to their King to honour him as to their Lord and Master to serve him as to their Husband to love him to rejoyce and delight in him and bring forth fruit unto him and this is stiled a yeelding vp of our selves to God and a living unto God Ro. 12.1 2. Cor. 5.15 mans subjection unto God and Christ being ever sutable to the power and dominion of grace within him This should perswade and move all men to labour for spirituall and heavenly fulnesse to abound as the Corinthians did Perswasion to this fulnesse in every gift to abound in knowledge as good schollers in learning as the starres in light 2 Cor. 8 7 2 Pet. 3.18 to grow in knowledge In the knowledge of our selves and bee abased In the knowledge of the Law of God and bee reformed by it and conformed to it In the knowledge of the majestie puritie and perfection of God and bee humbled in the apprehension of it In the knowledge of the authoritie and dominion of God and feare to offend him In the knowledge of the power of God and hide our selves under him In the knowledge of the promises of God and build upon them In the knowledge of the bounty of God and bee thankfull In the knowledge of the love of God and be cheerfull In the knowledge of the gracious working of God and ascend to more spirituall perfection In the knowledge of the death of Christ attaining to a greater measure of mortification In the knowledge of the resurrection of Christ being more and more quickned by him In the knowledge of the fulnesse of Christ drawing neerer to him receiving more and more from him more and more solacing quieting and contenting our soules in and with him Let us labour for fulnesse of Faith as the tree increaseth in the fulnesse of his roots Col. 2.7 beeing rooted and built up in Christ and stablished in the faith abounding therein with thankesgiving Let us strive to bee full of love as a fire of much wood is full of heat and as the bride is full of love even sick of love towards the bridegroome to bee full of joy with the light of Gods countenance as the favourite is full of joy with the Kings countenance the light of the Kings countenance being unto him as life and his favour as a cloud of the latter raine O let us endevour to bee full of the holy Ghost full of the fruits of the Spirit as a good orchard is full of all sorts of fruit And the better to provoke our soules to this let us meditate Upon the fulnesse of that power which doth oppose the welfare of our soules Foure meditations moving to this fulnes 1. Fulness of opposing power There is a fulnesse of sinne a fulnesse of Satan a fulnesse of worldly vanities which without a fulnesse of grace we can never withstand subdue and cast downe When the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Sampson he rent the Lyon Iudg. 14. when the Spirit of the Lord cometh mightily in the fulnesse of his grace upon us then Satan the roaring Lyon is put to flight then his workes are dissolved then the strong holds of sinne are cast downe and the soule prevaileth Therefore the Apostle chargeth us to bee strong in the Lord and in the power of hâ—s might to put on the whole armour of God that wee may bee able to stand against the wiles of the Divell 2. Sweet agreâ—ment beâ—ween Heaâ—t and Word Upon the sweet agreement which will arise from this fulnesse betweene our heâ—rts and the word of God This will make the commandement an easie yoke a plaine path this will make the Word sweet and pleasant as the light unto a cleare eye wine unto a thirsty palate or meat to a healthy and hungry stomacke or the voyce of the bridegroome to the bride when her heart is full of love towards him 3. Satisfaction which it ministreth Iâ—h 4.14 Ioh. 7. Mat. 13.44 Upon the satisfaction and contentment which this fulnesse of grace will minister to the soule It will bee as a living spring as floods of water within us quenching our thirst and taking off all our longings from the world it will bee to us as the pearle to the Merchant in the Parable in stead of all worldly treasure it will content us in every estate bee in stead of all to our soules
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
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