which is a continual dropping and causeth continual disquiet and wrangling To the other sin is in the Throne or in quiet possession as Master in the house The Amalakites and Israelites are together in the Valley fighting sometime the one somtimes the other prevailing God left the Canaanites to try his people and to learne them War He would not destroy them totally that the wild Beasts should not rise up against his people Better a thorn in the flesh and a Messenger of Satan buffetting thee to keep thee humble then a revelation and a rapture into heaven to puff thee up 6 Sin mourned under never damnes but gloried in ever damnes Oh wretched man that I am saith the godly soul. Pain could never make Paul cry Oh nor miserable that I am who shall deliver this body from death But Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver this soul from this body of death He that could glory in all infirmities and distresses could not glory but mourne under sin 7. Sin resisted though it over-power the soul and prevail at present leading into captivity damns not I find a Law in my members warring against the law of my mind and leading me into captivity into the law of sin Samson was a Captive to the Philistims but his heart was the same he hated them as much waited and prayed for new strength to be revenged and dyed in the quarrel The Christian Combat is like that of Joab a hard charge the battle before and behind and we herein in the same distress that the old Britaines when the Romans had drawen oway their Forces to protect them against the Picts they sent to Aetius the Prefect crying out The barbarous enemy beats us to the Sea and the Sea beats us back to the enemy between these two kinds of deaths we are either murthered or drowned The Christian is often in like extremities the fear pit and snare are before him the Lion Bear and Serpent He no sooner escapes the fear of the worlds pollution but he falls into the snare of Satans Temptation and if he escape that he fals into the pit of bosome corruption Between these two he is like to be either murdered or drowned Or as Amos hath it He that flyeth from the devouring Lion the worlds raging persecution meets with a more savage Bear Satans devouring Temptation and flying both is in his own house bitten by the Serpent in the wall Between Corruption and Temptation he is hard put to it oft foiled and captived yet fetcht off safe at last Here is nothing but death before him yet death without damnation One while he saith sin betrayed and deceived me and thereby slew me another time saith sin revived temptation revived and I dyed Yet all this dying is but the dying to sin and the death of sin not that death in sin 8 Where sin is as death it brings not death It is mortuum not mortiferum Where sin lives the soul must dye If Agag be spared Saul shall not be spared Who shall deliver mee from the body of this death I may add a few other Notes from other Scriptures 1 Sin whereby the heart is broken hinders not Salvation but sin whereby the heart is hardned Pharaoh and Magus had hearts hardned by sin Peters was broken with his 2 Sin fallen into when one is overtaken damns not sin continued in is that which damns David fel Saul and Jeroboam lay in their sin 3 Sins of infirmity and inadvertency damne not such was Noahs Sins of deliberation destroy Salvation There was a City of Refuge for him that slew a man unwittingly and a pardon of course but wilful Murder had no benefit of Sanctuary Christ will be no City of Refuge to him whose presumption of pardon is his provocation to sin 4 Sin against resolution destroyes not Salvation Such was Peters denyal of his Master into which he fell through too much fear sin resolved upon damnes Such was Judas his betraying his Master which he had long plotted and had watched for an opportunity to effect 5 Sin confessed and discovered is ever covered and remitted sin covered and concealed shall be proclaimed on the house top He that hideth his sin shall not prosper Hee that confesseth and forsaketh findeth mercy 6 Sin repented of never damns sin not repented of ever damns Take the two thieves for an example the one dyed in the presence of a Saviour his impenitency made him uncapable of Salvation the other though in the same condemnation saved by meanes of his true though late repentance But upon this occasion of this rare indeed sole example of the Thief on the Crosse we may use that Proverb Many talk of Robin Hood who never shot in his bow so many speak of the Thief on the Crosse who do nothing like him He confessed Christ among enemies these deny revile him among his friends He believed in him prayed to him relyed on him these do none of these How much grace did appear in that man in so little a time 1. Zeal for God he rebuked the profane Thief 2. Charity to man whom he would reclaime Dost not thou yet fear God being in this condemnation as if he should say Cast not away thy soul there is yet hope or possibility of Salvation 3. His repentanee manifested in that self-condemning and God justifying expression We suffer justly 4. His Faith in Christ whom he justified when the world condemned him He hath done nothing amiss 5. His Prayer of faith Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kigdom Verily there was not found so much faith in all Israel no not among all the Apostles who forsook him and fled I may call his faith a faith of Miracles as well as his Conversion a miraculous Conversion 7 Sin forsaken never sin not forsaken ever damns When Manasseh and the Prodigal returned they found the gate of Mercy open to entertain them Cast away your Transgressions and you shall not be cast away Electio aut dilectio peccati reprobatio peccatoris It is that Reprobate sin that reprobates soules But sin reprobated and rejected the soul is elected and beloved But to return from this Digression we shal proceed to a fourth Point CHAP. XXI That Christ shall certainly and timely arise upon all such as fear his Name TO you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise Having spoken of Christ apart that he is the Sun of Righteousness and of the godly apart that they are such as fear his Name We will now bring them together and they are best when together Christ and they that fear his Name Doct. What ever the present condition and apprehension of such as fear Gods Name may be there shall be a day when Christ shall rise upon them They shall come out of the cold shade into the warm Sun and out of all their darkness into his marvellous light To the upright ariseth light in darkness
4. 2. In a more comfortable manner To be a Sun of Righteousnesse where we have a description 1. of Christ. 2. Of his people 1. Of Christ what he is at least and to all his Church best and to his chosen ones 1. At least and to all his Church he is a Sun 2. At best to his chosen where three things Promised 1. He wil be to them as a Rising Sun after their long sitting in obscurity waiting for a joyful morning and never be to them a departing declining or setting Sun when once risen but as the morning light shining more and more to perfect day Prov 4. 18. 2. Above the ordinary Sun he will be a Sun of Righteousnesse imparting not light but life John 1. 4. In him was life and the life was the light of men The Sun in heaven gives only light the Sun of Righteousnesse gives life 3. He wil be a healing Sun to such as are sick infirme and sad amplifyed by the place and part where this healing virtue resides not in his Vesture Touch Lips Spitle all which were healing but in his wings For a double Reason 1. To denote his swiftness he hath wings â—e that came to be a swift witnesse against the wicked cap. 3. 5. is as swift a Savior he comes suddenly and unexpectedly into his Temple cap. 3. 1. 2. Under his wings to denote the warmer closer embraces which his servants shal be cheared and healed withall as tender chickins under the Hen. And this answereth to that cap. 3. 5. As he there came neere in Judgment to wicked ones so he comes neer in mercy with healing mercy to his chosen ones 2. His people described and that 1. What they are at least and worst before this Sun rising and healing them h. e. before any extraordinary and sensible manifestation of Christ to them They are such as fear his Name that is all they can say for themselves 2. What they are at best when the Sun hath risen and healed them they shall goe forth with life strength and cheerfulnesse as the fatted calves of the stall Calves are noted to be lively lightsome skipping creatures Psal. 29. 6. Christ is compared to a fatted Calfe Luke 15. The Calves sacrificed were 1. Types of Christ and his blood 2. Of our selves and our sacrifice of praises The words thus far opened we come now to the Doctrines therein contained whereof the first is this viz. CHAP. I. 1. Christ is to his Church what the Sun is to the world Christ is set forth under many resemblances of a Rock a Spring the Brasen Serpent a Lamb Morning Star Bread Water Light Garments Gold Pearl of a King Prophet Priest Husband Head Root c. because no one good thing can set out Christ fully for all can set him out but partially and because what ever good is in any or all of these that is Christ and more and better and that when we behold and use any of these we might be put in mind of Christ. This is as High and fit and full a resemblance of him as any one thing can be if I could as fitly and fully pursue it Psal. 84. 10. The Lord God is a Sun and shield to his people But especially Christ is so often called John 1. 12. Ego sum Lux mundi what is that But I am the Sun I am the light of the world John 1. 4. In him was life which life was the light of men and ver 9. This is the true light c. John Baptist was a light Iohn 5. 35. burning and shining but not The Light A Star of the first magnitude but not the true light but Christ only the true Light as the true Vine Iohn 15. 1. That is 1. The great Luminare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. The Universall light giving light to all that come into the world 3. The Original uncreated light that had his light from himselfe all others from him In him was light Rev. 1. 16. and 10. 1. Christ is described having his countenance shining as the Sun in his strength And Rev. 12. 1. The Church in relation to him and conjunction with him cloathed with the Sun that is his Righteousnesse Cant. 6. 10. faire as the Moon cleare as the Sun that is full of Christ. The Moon is faire not clear from spots when at ful the Sun is alwaies ful alwaies clear The Church hath not only her own imperfect spotted Righteousnesse inherent to make her fair but Christs perfect Sunlike imputed to make her clear without spot or wrinkle or any such thing In which regard the Church is called upon and encouraged to clear up Isa. 60. 1. Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee The Church is the only Halo or Corona on which this Sun makes his Impression And the Church Militant and the Triumphant are the two right Parelii on either side of this Sun near to him and full of his Lustre and Glory This is a deep and rich Mine I am digging into I dare not promise to bring up all the treasures hid in it I shall shew you what I can get up and your selves may go and get much more No Artist can draw all the Suns light into one roome were his house all Chrystall no labour can get all the water of the Sea into one vessel Some abler Pen or larger heart may as a larger window let in more of this light I shall but draw the Curtain and set open my narrow Casement to let in what I have received There is in many things a likeness unlikeness between Christ and the Sun CHAP. 2. The Likenesse between Christ and the Sun THeir Likeness is seen in many Particulars and because so many I shall not defer the Application of all til I have spoke of each as usually we doe but as we go along apply each particular to free your memories from the greater burden and my self from needlesse repetitions Alike they are 1. In their Essence 2. Attributes 3. Properties 4. Effects 5. Accidents 1. In their Essence much alike who knows the essence and nature of the Sun what is that light unaccessible which it inhabits what is the matter of it and what and whence that heat The weary Philosopher astonished with long admiration and tyred with deep contemplation of this lower and lesser Suns light and glory gave over seriously wishing himself out of this body that he might behold the Body of the Sun and know his Essence Enquire not after the name essence and generation of Christ His Name is Wonderful Secret He dwels in light unaccessible wel may we at death come to a clear view of these two Suns and they are worth a death to come to a ful view of them especially the Sun of righteousnesse which we shal then see as he is 1 Joh 3. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with open face the sight of perfect vision here we are
the same voice of words and thunder that Moses did His face only shone he had nearer approaches of God unto his soul Then did the Disciples hearts burne within them when this Sun was so near and gave light to the darker Scriptures It was the Sun not the Wind which got off the Travellers Cloak It is the love of Christ not Lawes Terror that maketh sin to be laid by His Love is cords his love is chains his love constrains and drawes I drew them with cords of a man with bands of Love Mâ—ses speaks of the precions fruits brought forth by the Sun Where the Suns heat is most predominant there are the richest Meâ—tals the sweetest spices the rarest fruits the most precious Jewels There is not in the East and Affrica any Quicksilver very little Iron but these meaner Meâ—tals of Brasse Iron Lead are only in the Northerne Countries they have Gold as naturally and abundantly as in our Countries Lead and Iron Where this Sun is near and vertical what fruitfulness is here over all others What precious things doth this Sun bring forth For Brasse I will bring Gold and for Iron Silver and for Wood Brasse and for stones iron Isaiah 60. 17. 2. It lets us see what difference between the comforts of Christs giving and those which flow from the Creature He that leaveth this Fountaine to go drink of those Cisternes goeth from Gods blessing into the warm Sun as we say but he that hath drunk of those and after tastes of this finds he is come from the freezing shady side into the cheering Sun side The Sun 's is Calor Coelestis the most kindly heat Christ's the most kindly comforts The fire in Winter heats for a while afterwards makes more chill Strong Water at present warmes but after leaves the stomack cooler The end of carnal joy is heavinesse The Sun 's is the cheering and the lasting heat it heats and alters the air without and it alters the temper of our bodies that we need less fire apparel and strong drinks The comfort had from Creatures is presently gone Christ's alters the temper of our spirits and abides much longer The greatest inward heater is Wine and the greatest outward is fire Christ his love and comfort warmes more then both Thy Love is better then Wine Cant. 1. 2. The coals of Love are coals of fire which hath a most vehement flame Cant. 8. 6. There are nine differences observable between the comforts of Christs giving and other comforts 1. His are soul purifying whereas others defile it Carnal mirth lets out all the spirits into looseness They sate down to eat and drink and rose up to play They did eat and drink and curse But Godly and spiritual comfort makes the heart serious savoury dilates the heart to receive more Graces expelleth what is noisom and is of the same operation with godly sorrow whose sadnesse of countenance makes the heart better Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost are joyned 2. Soul pacifying his comfort and presence gives richest peace first his Love lets in Joy and Joy brings in Peace these three sit down together and this Trinity of Blessings make up the Unity and Perfection of Blessednesse the Love of the Father the Joy of the Son the Peace of the Holy Ghost Other Joy corrodes and gnawes the heart hath an ill farewel and leaveth it in sadnesse 3. Soul satisfying Corn Wine Oyle Lands Moneys satisfie not the narrow eyes much lesse the enlarged heart He still cries with the Horsleach Give give give more give better The Christians life consists not in these the Beasts and the more brutish Worldlings do who drink both in the same Trough and feed on the same husks Theirs is a hungry Joy this a filling His strength shall be hunger bitten Job 18. 12. but John 16. 24. Your joy shall be full In thy presence fulnesse of Ioy and the heart full of this Joy saith not with Esau in a bravado I have enough but with Jacob and Paul I have all and abound I am full c. Phil 4. 18. Though as having nothing yet I possess more then all things 4. Soul quickning making the soul active vigilant fit to pray sing praise fit for Duty suffering dying Godly men are never so fit for duty never so prepared to dy as with these comforts The Martyrs have gone singing and dancing with these to the flames When Judas was gone out to fetch the Officers to apprehend Christ then did Christ rejoice Now is the Son of Man glorified now shall God be glorified in him God shall first be glorified in him then straightway glorifie him in himselfe This puts that Spirit of Glory and of God upon the Saints The wicked mans Joy is intoxicating stupifying besotting as Hamans Belshazzers Benhadads they eat drink feast and flesh'd with fleshly delights they run desperately upon danger as Benhadad or Gaal the son of Ebed much like the horse rushing into the Battel and crying Aha at the sound of the Trumpet or else besotted they eat drink sleep spend their dayes in peace and in a moment go down quick into Hell like Solomens Ox who is going to the slaughter or like Jeremyes Lambs those who dye like Lambs In their heat I wil make their feasts and make them drunken that they may rejoice and sleep a perpetual sleep and not awake saith the Lord. I will bring them down like Lambs to the slaughter like Rams with hee Goats Danger is never nearer then when the wicked cry Peace peace Never is he less fit for death nor dies so miserably as when overcharged with his Joyes 5. Soul raising to God towards heaven in thankfulness love praise dependance submission total resignation of self these give Wings Christ is now higher Grace the Promise Salvation is sweeter Glory and Eternity more precious and Earthly Pleasures Profits Honors fall lower in his esteem Whereas worldly joies as worldly sorrowes are heart-sinking debasing depressing 6. Soul strengthening The joy of the Lord is your strength This strengthens a soul in Grace and to Duty in faith patience waiting and in Prayer Carnal Joy sets men far off from God they never depart further and never say to God depart from us so much as then In sorrow they are less desperate Pharaoh Ahab Iehoiakim such wild Asses may be taken in their month I spake to thee in thy prosperity and thou wouldst not hear this hath been thy manner from thy youth But how gracious wilt thou be when pangs come upon thee Look how much Spiritual sorrow brings men nearer to God then carnal joy so doth Spiritual joy as much more then Spiritual sorrow therefore in Heaven there shall be all Graces yet no spiritual sorrow but all Spiritual joy because there all is ripe sorrow here is but the seed joy is the ripe fruit 7. This solid not a
who at every turne called in Astrologers Chaldeans Magicians Dream-mongers to advise with was turned out of his Kingdom yea turned out of Man after all these dismal consultations with those of Satans Cabinet Councell Nay the greatest Artists in this black Art have not onely wilfully plunged their souls into eternal perdition but notwithstanding all their Star skill and their Covenants with Hell to prevent it the dreadful judgments of God have fallen most remarkably on their own heads Their great Grandfather Balaam slain by the sword Jezabel their Grandmother torn in pieces by dogs the like befel Asclaterion a famous Mathematician who took upon him to foretel Domitian the Emperour both his and his own death What became of Dr. Lamb in our remembrance Stories are full of examples Why did not these foresee those ends if they did foresee why did they not by all their Art prevent them Yet what a reproach is it to Christian Religion that such a generation of men should be suffered Not only Christian Emperours by their Edicts have punished but even Heathen States Augustus banished them Rome Tiberius and Claudius out of Italy Vitellius put them to death Domitian made two Acts to banish them out of City and Countrey The Primitive Heathens left these Arts and became Christians we set up these Arts and become Heathens They burnt those curious Art Books and took up the Bible do thou burne the Bible if thou resolve to meddle in these Books full of nothing but Vanity Uncertainty Lying Falsehood and Impiety 1. Of Lying Said Tully How many things did these Astrologers say to Pompey Crassus and to Caeâ—ar in my remembrance that each of them should â—y in Peace Age Honour that I wonder saith hee that any will yet believe them whose former Predictions all prove false It is a notable story of Galeacius Prince of Millain an Astrologer told him he should dye suddenly and himselfe live long the Duke commanded him to be presently hanged to prove him a Lyar and himselfe lived long after 2. Of Impiety To give you the relation of a Papist and a famous Jesuite of the Practices of Rome and the doleful effects thereof In those few yeares saith hee I was at Rome I saw many great men undone by these Astrologers who promised one should dye a Cardinal another a Pope who were all deceived not onely of their hope but of their salvation For when saith hee they dreamt not of dying till they came to these promotions they never prepared for it yea being stricken by death and admonished by their Physicians they yet regarded not which saith the Learned Jesuite is the onely Fraud of the Divel who by these baites â—ayeth wait for poore souls as a wolf for the sheep that he may devour them CHAP. XV. The Suns Activity and Motion the last Property WE are now come to the last Property of the Sun his Activity and Motion herein a further Resemblance of Christ. The Motion of boâ—h is 1. Restlesse and perpetual The Sun never stands still what ever the other Creatures do it is not an idle spectator of humane affairs but is it selfe most active When drest in his glory sits not as our Ladies to be looked on or as the Persian Emperours in a Chair of State to be worshipped But as Job in his splendor who led others in their way and sate chief as the King in the Army The Sun alwayes is in motion Christ alwaies in action vigilant sleeps not The Sun makes night to others by withdrawing it self never had yet one night of Rest or one day of Sabbath 1. Then behold the great care and pains of Christ who travels as a Gyant His life was nothing but labour he went about doing good The Sun walketh to day and to morrow The Father worketh hitherto and still worketh and I work saith the Son The Sons work in his Humiliation was hard work in his Exaltation he worketh still not so hard but higher work Who knoweth the care of a Master of a Family of a General in an Army of a Publick Magistrate Moses was tired out with the encumbrance of his weighty Office and of the oversight of Israel all day from morning to night 2. Be like these two great Lights stand not still The Sun hath but an imaginary solstice twice per annum let not thy whole year be a Solstice or pingue Otium Heavens are always in motion Earth only stands still let heavenly minds be moving Tempus est mensura motus motus Temporis Let not time be the measure of thy life but motion and action Let it not be said he lived so many years but did so many memorable actions he saw so many dayes but the dayes saw him doing so many good acts that there may bee Latitude in our lives as well as longitude 1. In Gods work be not negligent To do Gods work negligently and the worlds over diligently both are accursed Not slothful in business fervent in prayer serving the Lord. The Oxen and Farm have A must in the Worlds sense the Christian saith no must for the world Must is only for Gods work I must work the works of him that sent me Again Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business Take heed of being early in the shop late in the closet busie at the Farm idle in the Vineyard awake at the Exchange asleep at Church That the Christian be not drowned in the good Husband 2. In thy honest Calling All things are full of labour and man born to it Heavens alwayes moving winds blowing sea flowing springs running earth moves not yet rests not neither is alwayes bearing fruits trees seeds in Winter if it bears not yet onely lyes in after hard labor to get strength for new births No Creatures made to be idle the mighty Elephant Warlike horse paineful Oxe yea the little Ant and Bee The Christian is not exempted when the Talent of Grace is given it is with this charge Occupy till I come Angels have their charge Adam in his Innocency had his Imployment the second Adam all whose life was a state of Innocency yet had his work If the Master be up at work a shame for the Servant to be in bed If Caesar say Eamus the soldier marches after The Sun looks into thy Chamber and saith up sluggard I rested not all night wilt thou rest all day The little Ant to work sluggard or to begging I have no Master to compel me to labour but I hate idleness The idle person is a Monster in nature a bryar in the field a weed in the Garden a Drone in the hive a thief in the candle What wretches they whose life is but a long vacation whose work is to eat drink play they rise dress dine halfe their dayes work is done they play sup undress and there is the other half The soul in such Drones is but as salt to keep the body
neather springs both which fal into one river and make glad the City of God both these fields yield a plentiful harvest of comfort to the godly Quest. But here the godly soul is oft troubled and saith when shall this promise bee fulfilled this vision is for many dayes to come When will this Sun arise Answ. Though the Sun keep a certaine houre of his arising knowne to all yet of this day and hour knoweth no man when this Sun of righteousnesse will arise The operation and course of nature is much alike The dispensations of grace and peace are various more different then any other actings of God therefore nothing can be set downe certainly as a constant rule There are four notable dayes of the coming of Christ two in this life two after all alike unknowne 1. When Christ will come with his fanne in his hand refiners fire and fullers soap at conversion to purifie an elect unconverted 2. When with healing under his wings to cheer and satisfie the Elect converted yet unsatisfied soule 3. The third great and notable day of the Lord is at death when he comes as a Bridegroome his reward with him to make perfect the elect converted comforted soule yet never perfected And the fourth is the greatest of all when he cometh in the clouds to render to all according to their deeds None of these four dayes of the Lord are like the Lords day which is knowne and kept by all alike and we know that after every six dayes another will certainly follow but as the thiefe by night or the lightning not the sun by day come suddenly unexpected or as the dayes of Noah and of Lot were so shall all these comings of the Son of man be 1. Those dayes came but once 2. Came of a sudden 3. Came to put a mighty difference between them and others yet had we not need bee as the world was then Eating drinking sinning singing c. but as Noah and Lot fearing waiting praying preparing Samuel had the Sunne breaking out in the morning he was called young and it shined all day to his old gray â—ayres Abraham had no sun nor â—ight of heaven â—â—il he was seventy five years old and had a sad houre of darknesse before the covenant made The Lord had said hee would be a shield to him before he shewed himselfe to be his Sun Job had a glorious morning Sun in his younger age It was sadly overclouded at Noon but brake out again ere night Solomon the like or more glorious morning and noone waded toward evening and set in a cloud Moses had frequent familiarity with God as a friend forty dayes entertained by him as his Ghest and one day above all the rest had into the banquetting house as his onely favourite hee saw the similitude of the Lord heard his Name proclaimed beheld his glory and had this superadded I know thee by thy name and thou hast found favour in my sight Jacob was twenty whole years kept in suspence about his sonne Joseph ere he knew what was become of him and full twenty years it was betweene his first vision at Bethel and that at Penuel where he saw God face to face Thomas was but eight dayes under that uncomfortable fit of incredulity then full satisfaction Manoahs wife had two heavenly apparitions not long between the one and the other no more all her life Solomon had his two also The Son of God bad only one transfiguration and twice that testimony Thou art my Beloved Son the rest of his life was all Humiliation Heman and Ethan haply never saw the sun of righteousnesse shine out all their dayes never got higher then faith of Adherence yet dyed in faith not having received the promises But first usually the Promise is made good when the Christian is conscientiously attending on Gospel ordinances to meet God in his way when we wait to receive God wayteth to bestow grace 1. The Lords day is usually the day of the Lord the desired day of the Son of man on that day John being in the spirit had that communion with Christ and the Revelation of so great mysteries The Sabbath sanctified is also blissed The house of prayer is the place where God will make his people joyfull and where God records his name in any place hee will there meet and blesse his people Upon every dwelling place of mount Syon and upon her assemblies the Lord hath promised to creaete a cloud and smoak by day and a pillar of fire by night for upon all the glory shall bee a defence Where was Christ to bee found but in the Temple And when did he appear to his Disciples but on the Lords day one day after another It is observed if there be any wind at all stirring it is about the Church and if any breath of the spirit it is within the Church Sometimes Christ sets this fruit on the Preachers lips and there you must gather it Sometimes and as usually in and after prayer Cornelius had his and Peter his vision when both at prayer Christ had both those famous testimonies by audible voyce on the day of the holy Ghosts Transfiguration into a dove and his owne Transfiguration after when at prayer When did Jacob see the face of God but when he wept and made supplication Often at the Sacrament when wee set to our seals and avouch God for our God he sets to his seal and doth avouch us for his people Christ at Baptism received that first testimony from the Fathers mouth and the spirits descending upon him And how many doe we read of that have together with the water Baptisme received that also of the holy Ghost So for that other Sacrament how many can say in experience the Lord hath been known to them in breaking of bread when not till then discovered Abraham had the covenant first made and sealed at that first and notable Sacrament or Sacramental sacrifice so solemnely celebrated When Hezekiah and his people prepared themselves to a religious celebrating the Passeover their prayer came up to heaven God heard and healed his people Wait then upon God in the way of his owne ordinances And if thou know not yet where Christ is to be found goe thy way forth by the foot steps of the flock and feed thy kids besides the shepherds tents 2. Sometimes God revealeth himselfe in an extraordinary manner when we have been seeking him in a more extraordinary manner when Jacob was more importunate then ever had wrestled and wept all night he saw Gods face in the morning 3. Often before some singular tryall to be undergone and some hard service to bee performed Jacob had that laetificall vision at Bethel when he was to enter on Labans hard service Joseph had his divine dreame before hee was sold that he might have somewhat to live upon in
tippling some were great husbands building planting buying selling Both perished together The interposition of the earth eclipseth the Moon depriving it of the light of the Sun If the world get between Christ and thy heart all is gone 3 Pride is a blasting East wind which destroyes Grace and breeds those Caterpillars which destroye both leaf and blossom This is to the soul not as a Disease but poison Diseases stop growth poison takes away life though taken in meat or Cordials Pride is poison to Grace death to the soul though it be taken in the best Duties and parts This destroyed the Angelical nature when spiritual pride got into heaven It infected the humane till then in innocency It is a â—anker oft bred in the fairest rose but destroys it The Divel seeks to get into his service the best wits choicest parts greatest Scholers and by pride he makes them sure What drew Arius Paulus Samosatenus Novatus c. into their Schismes and pestilent Heresies but their pride and arrogancy 4. Evil company is as great a hinderance to growth in Grace as any of the former We may compare these four to those four devourers That which the palmer worm of idlenesse hath left hath the Loâ—ust of worldly activenesse eaten that which that Locust hath left hath the Canker of Pride eaten and what that Cankerworm hath left hath this Caterpillar of ill company quite eaten Or else to those four destroyers the Sword Famine Pestilence and this ill company worst of all the evil Beasts Oh Inimica Amicitia Austin cryes out upon it Judas took no hurt in the Apostles society yet among the High Priests he was undone Peter sitting by the High Priests fire fell in and burnt himself Loâ— had perished in Sodom had he not hasted out Nothing brings the Plague so soon as eating drinking and conversing with the Infected Nebuchadnezzar became a Beast by conversing with Beasts and man turns to earth lying in the earth Such as the company such is or shortly will be the man Worldly company will make thee worldly profane profane corrupt company opinionative and erroneous Satan and his black Retinue come out in dances to meet this their great Champion singing Pride and other Commanders have slaine their thousands but good fellowship otherwise called ill society hath slain his ten thousands Other sins send men single to hell this as Phinehas Javelin strikes two dead at one stroke or as Samsons Jaw-bone layes heaps upon heaps 5 Any raigning sin hinders growth If the Worshipper comes with Idols in his heart his inquiry after God will not profit Many complain of the Minister they cannot profit by him their Idols cause it Ahab could neither proâ—it by Elijah nor Micajah not one good Sermon from them both Judas might be with Christ all his dayes yet not profit he was a Thief and a Hypocrite Nor could Herod profit by John Baptist. Herodias the right eye that caused him to offend should have been plucked out It is the Physicians Aphorisme Corrupt Bodyes the more they are fed the more they are corrupted Therefore Peters prescript is to lay aside all malice guile hypocrisies c. before you come to the sincere milk of the Word if you would grow thereby 6 An ill dyet or an ill Ministry Would you grow without meat or by eating unwholsom flatulent or poisoned meat Take â—eed oâ— such a Ministry and fix thy selfe under that godly Minister whom God hath set over thee in the Lord. We will not have our child suck every nurse nor doth the often changing the Nurse benefit but endanger the child Be not carryed about with divers and strange Doctrines But take heed how and what and whom you hear 7 Intermitting Duties Pray without â—easing quench not the spirit despise not prophecying neglect not the gift that is in thee forsake not the assembling of your selves together Intermitting Duties for two or three dayes is like intermitting meat for as long a time The Amalakitish servant was taken up fainting but when he had eaten againe his spirit came to him again We need Duties to keep grace and soul together as much as meat to keep life and soul together When the candle is newly blown out you may easily blow it in again but when the fire is out no blowing can light it When wee goe from Duty to Duty the heart is kept burning when we let grace dy for want of present blowing up we are insensibly hardned and Grace decayes 8 Self sufficiency There is more hope of a fool then of him that is wise in his own conceit He that thinks he hath already attained seeks to go no further He that thinks he hath Learning Wisdom Riches enough to serve his turne gives over the wise mans seeking and intermeddling with all wisdom The emptiest Vine brings forth most fruit to it self 3 Helps to Growth 1 Thou must be the plant which God hath planted He is the only Husbandman we are Gods Husbandry Every plant which his right hand hath not planted at length is rooted up Nature Art Education Industry all moral perswasions make not a heavenly plant Flesh and bloud did nothing to Peter but the Father which is in Heaven 2 As planted by the Fathers hand so ingrafted into Christs root Therefore is the branches fruitfulnesse ascribed to a double cause 1 The Fathers pruning and purging Every branch that beareth fruit heâ— purgeth that it may bear much fruit 2 To our Insition into and abiding in Christ. Hee that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can doe nothing Those parts of the tree which are nearest the root are biggest those twigs which furthest off least 3 The Spirit of God hath the third hand in a Christians growth When the Spirit breathed on the dry bones they stood up and became an Army Saul when the Spirit came upon him had another heart became another man The Apostles were well grown before but when the holy Ghost came upon them then they grew mightily Pray Blow O North wind and breath thou South wind that the Spices of my garden may flow 4 To hold communion with the body as well as with the head that being knit together by those mystical bonds and joynts there may be an increase in the body to the edifying of it self in love Yea that it may increase with the increase of God a Divine and admirable increase The branch cut off from the arm of the tree is cut off from the root also and withers The sheep straying from the flock is devoured safe when it abides with his fellowes then the Shepherds eye is upon it 5 To attend upon living and lively Ordinances The tree of life growes close by the River of the water of life no where else 6 A good depth of Mortification to begin withal The ground deep ploughed retaineth the
Promises shall bee fulfilled at death then shall be the great shooting of the departing soul as of the bodyes at the departure then shall what is imperfect bee done away or rather made perfect Therefore in this case I conclude with the Angels words to Daniel Go thy way Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end Many of the choicest and greatest Promises concerning the Church are sealed up and closed unfulfilled till the end of the world And the best and richest Promises made to the Saints are sealed closed up not perfectly fulfilled till the end of their life among which this is one great and glorious one Etiam veni Domine Iesu. The TABLE THE Introduction to and opening of the Text page 1 Chap. 1 That Christ is to the Church what the Sun is to the world 6 This prosecuted in shewing 1-A Likenesse 2 Unlikeness between Christ and the Sun 8 Chap. 2 The Likeness between Christ and the Sun in five particulars viz. 1 Their Essence 2 Attributes 3 Properties 4 Effects 5 Accidents Of the Agreement in their Essence 8 c Chap. 3 The agreement between Christ and the Sun in their Attributes Whereof 1 some Incommunicable 2 Some Communicable Unity the first Incommunicable Attribute 13 Chap. 4 Omniscience the second incommunicable Attribute 19 Chap. 5. The Suns Omnipresence a shadow of Christs 25 Chap. 6. The Suns Omni-influence a fourth Incommunicable Attribute 28 Chap. 7. Perfection another Incommunicable Attribute 39 Chap. 8 Unchangeableness the last Incommunicable Attribute 42 Chap. 9. Communicativeness a Communicative Attribute 47 Chap. 10 Of several Properties in the Sun as a resemblance of Christ whereof Greatness the first 60 Chap. 11 Glory a second Property 68 Chap. 12. Light the third Property 71 Chap. 13 Warmth the fourth Property 93 Nine Effects in the Suns warmth the like whereof in Christ 96 97 seq The vast difference between Christs teaching and mans 100 The difference between comforts given by Christ and those flowing from the creature shewed in nine particulars 123 Chap. 14. The Suns Regency a shadow of Christs alike in seven particulars 109 How the Sun is said to rule How said to be for a Sign Iudiciary Astrology condemned 115 116 Chap. 15 The Suns activity and motion the last Property Alike in seven particulars 118 Chap. 16 The fourth agreement between Christ and the Sun in their like Effects 132 Alike in nine Effects ibid Chap. 17 Their likenesse in their Accidents 137 Whereof 1 one greater viz. the Suns Eclipse wherein a likenesse in nine particulars ibid 2 Many lesse accidents eleven mentioned 141 Chap. 18 The unlikeness and disagreement between Christ and the Sun in ten particulars 147 Chap. 19 The second main Proposition That Christ is the Sun of Righteousness 150 Three things opened 1 How Christ is said to be Righteous or Righteousnesse 1. In respect of 1. his Person 2. His Office 151 2 What Righteousnesse we have by Christ A twofold Righteousnesse 152 Sundry Theses or Aphorisms of Righteousnesse 154 3 How and why called the Sun of Righteousness Shewed in three particulars 155 Mans best Righteousnesse like the Moon at ful in six parlars 156 Four things done in Israels solemn Expiation day 157 Four Notes of such to whom Christ is made Righteousness 161 Five golden chains laid down in Scripture viz. 1 Of Decrees 2. Graces 3 Duties 4 Beatitudes 5. Priviledges 163 A fourfold unsafe Righteousnesse 1 Seeming not real 2 Semi-righteousness not complete 3 Decaying not persevered in 4 Relyed upon not disclaimed 166 A fourfold good and necessary Righteousnesse 1 Moral or of Nations 2 Legal or of Duties 3 Evangelical or of Graces 4 Divine or of Faith 167 Chap. 20 The third main Doctrine That all the Godly are such as fear Gods Name 171 Godly subject to a threefold fear 1 Natural 2. Inordinate 3. Religious 172 Religious fear hath a double object 1 Evil 2 Good Evil to be feared with fear of abhorrence 173 Good with fear of Reverence 174 Reverential fear twofold 1. Of lowest Saints arguing lesse perfection 2 Of greater perfection and the highest Saints 175 Religious fear 1 The initial grace 176 2 The lasting Grace 178 3 The lowest grace 179 4 The constant frame of the new heart 180 All Christians are not of one stature 181 The safety of such who have only this grace of holy fear 182 Eight Notes of holy fear 185 God takes notice of the least grace and lowest measures in his servants 186 Eight Objections answered 1 I have no Grace Answ. 1 Godly ones ever have low thoughts of themselves 188 2 Not alwaies equal judges in their own case 189 3 It is possible to have true grace and be ignorant of it ibid. 4 God can espy grace where we espy nothing but sin 190 Three Gospel graces cover all sin 1 Repentance 2 Faith 3 Sincerity 191 Object 2. No grace because so little answered 194 Object 3 No grace because no growth 195 Object 4 No grace because no parts ibid. Object 5 No grace because no more comfort 196 Object 6 No grace because so many fears 197 Object 7 No grace because so many temptations 197 Object 8 No grace because such corruptions 198 Three things hard to determine 199 Eight kind of sins destroy not sanctification lessen not Iustification hinder not salvation observed out of Rom. 7. 199 200 Seven other sins neither destroying Grace nor depriving of glory 204 Chap. 21. The fourth main Proposition That Christ shall certainly and timely arise upon all such as fear his Name 207 Seven Positions implyed 208 The Reasons 1 Partly from somewhat in God viz. 1. His Power 2 His Promise to back his Power 3 His love which confirmeth his Promise 4 His Glory which engageth all 210 2 Partly from somewhat in the godly 1 Their prayers 2 Miseries 3 Graces 2â—1 Quest. When shall this Promise be fulfilled or what is the time of this Sun rising 212 Dispensations of Grace and comfort various not like the dispensations or operations of nature ibid The four notable and great dayes of the Lord all unknown 213 Nine special times when this Promise fulfilled 215 The Godly may meet with sad times 220 The godly may expect glorious times 221 Two glorious times to be expected ibid The foundation of all sound hope laid in Grace 222 The great difference 1 Between the sorrow in the godly and in the wicked ibid. â— In their comforts set out in six particulars 224 The godly to expect and pray for the accomplishment of this Promise 225 Chap. 22 Of Christ his healing all the soul Diseases of his people 229 The many and various soul Diseases of the Godly ibid. Five sad but common Diseases of all the Godly 231 Three extraordinary Diseases of some Godly ones 232 Three Reasons of the Point 234 This healing implieth six things 237 Four Means Christ useth to heal the soul 238 Quest. Whence is it that many complain they are
dismounted and throwne beside his confidence and fighting on his knees overcomes his enemy Pride is such a wild Beast and such an enemy to Grace that God leaves the Canaanite within us to learn us war that it should not rise up against us to destroy us As the wise Physician leaves his Patient to conflict with a lesse distemper to break the force of a mortal Disease Object But I have had stronger and more stirring desires formerly I am cold and flat to what I was is not this a decay Answ 1 There are at first legal stirrings raised from the Lawes terrors and heightned by the quicknesse and sharpnesse of strong convictions which gall and wound the conscience such a one is as on a Rack he roars cryes out takes on he hath drops of Gods wrath falling on him which puts him into a flame as one in a feaver who cryes out Drink drink This is a diseased not right thirst And there are Evangelical stirrings and desires begotten by the Spirit raised by the Gospel cherished by the Promise These are not so loud turbulent make not like noise but argue more grace The former said Give me ease I am sick I am damned give me a pardon or I dye This saith Give me grace let me have Christ let me be renewed or I dy There was more of selfe-love in those first desires more of love to God in these 2 Hast thou not 1. Bemoyled and bemired thy selfe with the world We cannnot both prize Christ and Mammon grow in Grace and Wealth The stomack that feeds on coals and ashes and such trash must needs forsake his meat 2 Or hath not spiritual pride given thee a fall Thou seest not that need of dependance on God use of Ordinances frequency of Duties but art in conceit above all Take away the wood the fire goes out 3 Happly thou hast obtained thy desire Why should the Sponse seek fear be so solicitous when she hath found her Beloved as when she mist him Shall the children of the Bride-chamber mourn when the Bridegroom is with them Say to thy soul Now return to thy rest The Flouds stop their course when come to the Sea The stone rests when at the center Hope deferred makes heart sicl desire obtained is a tree of life A poor man condemned to dy falls down intreats weeps cryes out for his life it is granted he kisseth the pardon blesseth the Prince thanketh his friends he leaps joyes praiseth God A Month after this man is not so full of joy or grief or care yet his life is as dear to him as ever it was 4 Thou hast more work to do then thou couldest apprehend Thy desires are divided into many streames which then were confined to one object Then thou more earnestly thirstedst after knowledge prayedst more for pardon now more for a broken heart Increase of Faith power against this Lust skil to manage this calling that business and to look to the whole charge of God and the whole Armour of a Christian. One work in hand goes on faster but when wee must use the Sword and Trowel fight and build this Church work goes slowly an end Object 3. But my desires are not uniform equal sometimes up sometimes down I know not what to think on it Resp. This may bee and yet all well 1 This may come from the different actings and assistance of the Spirit which is a free Agent as the wind blowes sometimes higher then the Ship moves faster The Spirit is not as fire or other natural Agents which alway act to the utmost of their activity fire burns as much as it can at all times The Spirit not so but as it pleaseth When the Spirit moved the wheels they moved when it stood they stood When the Spirit of God came upon Samson he was more then a man when the Spirit departed he became like another man 2 Faith acts differently and the Affections are raised or abated according to the actings of Faith The more faith is acted in the perswasion of the love of God the more thou lovest prayest obeyest c. 3 Thy mind is better prepared by spiritual Meditation therefore thou art more affected at another time thou hast slackned thy thoughts and thou art more dull 4 Is not thy body or mind distempered with melancholy This makes thee as blind Samson to the Philistins sport for Satan Luther was wont to call the melancholy head the Divels bath where he could cool and refresh himselfe There are two sights which above all other please Satan 1. To see a wicked man merry 2. A godly man sad He reckons himselfe sure of both when he seeth them thus Object But I find those corruptions in my heart which I never suspected what a sad growth is this Answ. As the day lengthens the cold strengthens When thou wast alive without the Law and thy sins thou wast dead really when sin revives thou art alive As sin reigned unto death so grace by righteousness reigneth to eternal life There may be these two opposite Kings in one Kingdome reigning sin or raging rather and Grace reigning death and life reigning sin and death reigne in thy apprehension Grace and life in Gods intention Where sin aboundeth most Grace aboundeth the more in one sense that is Grace is seen and set out the more to pardon so much sin So in another sense it is as true where Grace abounds most sin abounds the more in making opposition so new so great so strange against Grace Doubtlesse the greatest Scholers have the greatest Doubts and Objections which they cannot answer and the highest Saints have the sorest temptations The more the Spirit lusteth against the flesh the more the flesh lusteth against the Spirit But what doth thy resisting of sin lamenting for it watching and praying against it signifie but that thou art fighting the Lords battles and thou must never think of putting off thy harnesse till death There is no triumphant Church on earth all the Saints are militant We must not look to see the Egyptians drowned till we are on the other side the red sea It is enough if the Lord keep a distance between them and us here that they may not come so neer as to overcome us though in continual sight to terrifie us Sin hath received his deaths wound by Christ his death and the Law of the spirit of life in Jesus Christ but in the grave it is not on the Crosse it is but it is long a dying as if it had nine lives as we say the legs and armes of it are broken it can never come downe it is fast nayled to rule over thee dying it is not dead but shortly what is now dying thou shall see dead and what now thou seest on the Cross thou shalt see in his grave when sin and death and hell shal be cast into the lake of fire All swallowed up in victory Lastly This and all the other