apud Londinenses Pastor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Upon the much lamented Death of the truly Pious Youth Mr William Spurstow who deceased Anno Dom. 1633 4 March Aetatis 9. BLest Soul thy Parents only Son Thou wast Nipt in the bud and into deaths Den cast In Spring time both of age and year Thy Sun Is soon gone down soon is thy short race run True an Apprentiship th' hast serv'd on earth Of nine years but the tenth thou paist to Death As her due Tithe She will not be deni'd Young old rich poor are carried down this Tide Thou liv'st though dead in th'memory of those Who knew thy life and saw its holy close The honour thou didst to thy Parents bear Thy humble carriage witty words indear Thee unto all Those sparks of Piety Kindled wiihin thy Soul by th' Almighty Dazled the eyes of men Thine exc'llent parts Admired were by all Thou wonst all hearts But stay needs he Encomiums Reader know He joys above while we him wail below E. C. Student in Syd Coll. Cam. Upon his Funerall Text Col. 1. 27. Christ in you the hope of glory With which he was much affected in his life time and of which he did often speak THis Text did much refresh this Saint now dead Christ was his Hope his Glory Crown and Head Whilst here on earth Christ dwelt in him by grace But now he dwells with Christ and sees his face His Body though in grave to Christ is knit His Soul with Christ in Christs own Throne doth sit Christ was his hope on earth but now he is His Heaven his All his his for ever his E. C. Student in Syd Coll. Cam. Upon the Death of M. william Spurstow YE Muses Helicon what can you lie Thus mantled in a stupid Lethargy Breathe out your souls with sighs melt into tears And let your griefs be equall to your fears For him poor soul whose Fate it was we see To bid adieu in its minority Mourn that gloomy day on which it took its rise To seek a mansion in heavens Paradise What was his worth what Friends losse in verse Were but lost pains in both for to rehearse His purer mettal'd Soul needeth no Praise Or Art to'dulterate all this can't raise The price of such a Pearl that had alone What bounteous Art or Nature made her own And boldly this I 'le speak unto his praise His holy Life doth much exceed his daies O pray that such bless'd hopes may longer live Examples to such youth as cannot give W. H. The Text. COL 1. 27. Which is Christ in you the hope of Glory THe Subject matter of this Text is Jesus Christ and therefore seasonably suitable to the expectation of this Assembly which is to hear a Funeral Sermon For whereas wine is to be given unto those that be of heavy hearts what Prov. 31. 6. Cordiall is comparable with Jesus Christ who is called and deserveth to be accounted The Consolation of Luk. 2. 25. Israel In the Text Christ is tendred or rather commended to the consideration of these Christian Colossians under a threefold notion 1. As containing the riches of all Evangelicall mysteries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 referre oportet Dav. in Text. The Relative which must necessarily be referred unto the word Riches in the fore-going part of this verse as is manifest from the Originall in our Greek Copies Although the vulgar applieth the Relative which unto mystery and I acknowledge Christ to be a mystery as the holy Ghost doth Eph. 3. 3 4. often suggest in the holy Scriptures And indeed his conception and his hypostaticall Union c. give us just occasion to call him wonderfull Isa 9. 6. yet in this place I humbly conceive that he is held forth to our view as the Riches of the glorious mystery of the Gospel 2. As being the groundwork and the foundation of every good Christians good hope of happinesse Christ the hope of glory I have heard of Ships laden with rich commodities from which their owners expect great advantage called The Hope or The good Hope Under this Name may beleevers reall Saints well own the Lord Jesus The Hope of glory 3. As inhabiting dwelling in beleeving Christians for this end that by his abiding and operating in them he might be unto them the hope of glory Christ in you the hope of glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Erasmus notat ccdices quosdam sic habere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inter vos ut legit etiam Syrus interpres Beza in Text. Some Translators render the words Christ among you but I rather cleave unto our English Translators both old and new which do answer our Greek Copies and accord with the most learned judicious Interpreters Christ in you the hope of glory Having thus briefly given in the division of the Text with the Interpretation of the words both together I proceed to the handling of the Points of Doctrine hence considerable for our Instruction The first Truth observable is this That Jesus Christ is the riches of all Gospel-glorious Mysteries Doct. 1 The Apostle Paul acknowledging much glory in the Administrations of Moses wherein there was much Gospel though vailed and shadowed under Types and Ceremonies yet telleth us That Evangelicall ministrations do exceed in glory and that the former had no glory in respect of this latter 2 Cor. 3. 9 10 11. which excelleth and is much more glorious Now the riches of all this glory are in Christ Concerning which the expression of the same Apostle is observable The unsearchable riches of Christ The riches of this Gospel-glory in Christ Eph. 3. 8. may be discovered with reference 1. both to God 2. and to Ex parte Dei ex parte nostri godly Christians First In regard of God All the revenues of glory which come unto his Majesty from the Gospel are most eminently in Jesus Christ And therefore at his birth the Angels sing Glory to God on high 1. In him are all the treasures Luk. 2. 14. Col. 2 3. 1 Cor. 2. 7. 1 Cor. 1. 24. Eph. 3. 18 19. Eph. 2. 7. Eph. 1. 6. of wisedom Here is wisedom in a mystery 2. And Christ is as the wisedom so the Power of God Divine Omnipotency is no way so fully discovered as in Christ 3. In him is divine love which passeth knowledge which is beyond all dimensions 4. And as for mercy how full is the language of the Apostle The exceeding riches of his grace in his kindeness through Christ Jesus And speaking elsewhere of Gospel-incoms he addeth To the praise of the glory of his grace Here might be added the unspotted holinesse and untainted justice of God more glorified in the unexpressible humiliation of Jesus Christ then in any other way whatsoever And who knoweth not how the honour of Gods Truth is triumphantly glorious in Christ because all things
1 Thes 5. 8. Heb. 6. 19. from capital dangers in warlike encounters and as an Anchor to prevent shipwrack upon a stormy Sea in which cases men are careful to make such provision that the Head-piece and Anchor may not be brittle and easily broken 3. The hopes of multitudes will be lamentably frustrated Our Saviour brings in many pleading with confidence at the last day for life who shall be rejected with miserable disappointment Many shall say to me at that day Lord Lord c. Mat. 7. 22 23. and I will professe unto them I never knew you q. d. I never approved you depart from me 4. We know not how soon our hopes may be assaulted by others and shaken by the recoylings of our own consciences As good Job had his hopes questioned by his Friends Is this thy confidence and thy hope So the Church Iob 4. 6. Lam 3. 18. in an afflicted condition doth this dolefully bewail her self I said My hope is perished from the Lord. Now if upon these meditations helps for hopes-discovery shall be enquired after I shall briefly hint 1. whose hopes will fail 2. Whose hopes will hold in the time of triall As for the former the holy Ghost tels us plainly that their hopes are perishing who are 1. either wicked 2. or hypocrites Pro. 11. 7. Iob 8. 13. When the wicked man dieth his expectation shall perish and the hypocrites hope shall perish Here though I may not be large in characterizing the wicked man or in uncasing the Hypocrite yet take these short touches and enlarge them with application in your own thoughts First A wicked man is 1. A sin-lover The wicked and him Psa 11. 5. who loveth iniquity doth Gods soul hate saith the Psalmist And mens love of sinne is manifested by their unwillingness to have it spoken against As David would have Absalom gently 2 Sam. 18. 5. Psal 50. 16. dealt with 2. And a man who liveth in sin upon choice and deliberation Like as the fish liveth in water He is as a Tradesman a Practitioner in sin a Sin-maker a worker of 1 Ioh. 3. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 7. 23. iniquity as the Scripture expresseth it Therefore lay your hands upon your hearts and observe whether they breathe loving allowance of sin and deliberate resolutions to drive a trade in waies of known transgressions though both God and your own consciences condemn them Secondly An hypocrite may be described An outside Mat. 15. 8 9. 23. 25. 23. 5. self-seeking man-pleasing man Thus our Lord doth stigmatize them Ye hypocrites well did Isaiah prophesie of you saying This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is farre from me Ye make clean the outside and all their works they do to be seen of men When they either fast or feast religiously it is to themselves Hereby a plain-dealing self-reflecting Christian Zech. 7. 5 6. may give a good guesse at his own estate viz. whether upright or an hypocrite and consequently whether his hope will be holding or perishing And I wish people to consider these hints for triall the rather because the hopes of these persons will fall and fail them at death if not sooner What is the hope of the Hypocrite though he hath gained when God Iob 27. 8. taketh away his soul As for the latter viz whose hopes will hold attend the expressions of the Apostle Peter Blessed be the God and Father of 1. Pet. 1. 3. our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you Hence two things are notable for our purpose to discover good hope 1. The Regeneration of the person hoping 2. The activity of the hope it self 1. The persons are begotten again 2. Their hope is lively That both these particulars may be practically applied for triall I will for brevity sake suggest that the spirituall birth and hopes vivacity may be evidenced by effectuall vocation Hence it is that God in the Eph. 1. 18. 4. 4. Scripture speaketh once and again of the hope of his calling Now our effectuall calling doth discover it self 1. Partly by our coming off from sin with detestation and this is the effect of good hope Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth 1 Ioh. 3 3. himself as he is pure 2. And partly by our coming up unto God in an obedientiall submission unto his government in a studious conformity to his laws These are conjoyned in the experience and practice of Gods people viz. hope and holinesse As of David Lord I have hoped for thy salvation and Psa 116. 166. done thy Commandments And of Paul After the way which Act. 24. 14. 15 16. they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers beleeving all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets and have hope towards God And herein do I exercise my self to have alwaies a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men Therefore consciencious endeavours against all sinfull pollutions both of heart and life together with care fully to answer the minde of the Lord in a religious conversation notwithstanding hardships and reproaches in the world will give good testimony unto the truth of our hopes of eternal glory whereas loosenesse of life and heart in waies of carnall self-seeking and man-pleasing following the multitude and swimming down the stream of declining times may administer just occasion of doubting that mans expectations of eternal glory will be disappointed To perswade all them who have hitherto flattered themselves Vse 3 with false hopes of heaven to lay in better grounds for the future It is the earnest desire of Gospel-Ministers that you would use diligence to attain the full assurance of hope Heb. 6. 11. And 1. Because you have heard that it is attainable therefore you should take encouragement to seek it 2. Adde to the possibility of getting assured hope the necessity thereof that you may be prevailed with to look after it You heard before that hope is that unto a Christian in his passage unto heaven which an Helmet is to a Souldier and 1 Thes 5. 8. Heb. 6. 19. an Anchor is to the Mariner Therefore let this consideration move us to make out for the Helmet and Anchor of good hope And I would entreat you the rather to minde this my earnest exhortation because of the rocks of dissolutenesse and destruction upon which you will be in danger to be driven when Satan and your own consciences shall discover the sandinesse of all your former hopes Noteable for the proof hereof is that passage in the prophecy of Jeremiah where the people being perswaded to repentance return this answer There is no hope we will
is rooted in Christ therefore Heavens glory with all the requisites belonging thereto are from grace and mercy And this will make way for the Use following To perswade Christians the heirs of glory to praise God Vse 4 for Jesus Christ because all their hopes do spring from him As Simeon expecting salvation by Christ blessed God All Luk. 2. 28. our hearts should breathe forth Saint Peters doxology Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who 1. Pet. 1. 3 4. according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you Hence I might note to quicken gratitude 1. The admirable worth of the inheritance in glory which hope expecteth viz an Inheritance incorruptible undefiled that fadeth not away 2. The means whereby this hope is begotten in us viz. the death and resurrection of Christ 3. And the motive moving the Lord in this way to give us ground of hope viz. His abundant mercy In all which regards it may well become us to joyn with our souls in Zacharies Song Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he Luk. 1. 68 69. hath visited and redeemed his people and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David This thankfulnesse may be perswaded by a double consideration the one more generall and the other more particular In generall because this ground of hope is revealed to us Gentiles and that upon no other account but Gods good pleasure â—his is M. Bains his Observation from the words before the Text God maketh known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles This was an high priviledge peculiar to the Jews that to them were committed the Rom. 3. 1. Eph. 1. 9. Oracles of God but how much greater is our preferment in these times God having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself And the Apostle elsewhere discoursing of some differences betwixt Old-Testament and New-Testament dispensations telleth us that the Gospel bringeth in a better hope by which we draw nigh to God More particularly in Heb. 7. 19. reference to our own persons take notice of these things 1. That the revelation of this should reach our understandings when multitudes of more pregnant capacities Mat. 11. 25 26 continue ignorant hereof I thank thee O Father said Christ Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Evenso Father for it seemeth good in thy sight 2. That we do not only perceive but also participate personally in this hope through Jesus Christ whereas there are millions whose heads are full of this light and yet their hearts are empty of this lively hope of glory by Christ And if I by grace be a partaker saith Saint Paul I give God 1 Cor. 10. 30. thanks 3. That the riches of the glory of this Inheritance hoped for by the Saints is unexpressible And that we may be abundantly Eph. 1. 18. thankfull for this hope in Christ as we should pray for a more clear apprehension thereof so should we endeavour to know assuredly our peculiar interest therein by finding the Lord Jesus dwelling in our hearts by his Spirit Because my Text tels us That Christ in us is the hope of glory which is the next and last Doctrine here considerable That Christ by being in beleevers is unto them the hope of Doct. 4 glory The existency of Christ in beleeving Christians giveth existency to their hopes of glory This connexion of Christ in them and of their glory through him is considerable in his most heavenly Prayer in which having spoken of the glory given unto them with the same breath as it were he suggests Joh. 17. 22 23. Vnde colligimus nos unum cum Christo esse non quia suam in nos substantiam transfundat sed quia Spiritus sui virtute nobiscum vitam suam quicquid accepit a Patre bonorum communicet Calvin in Joh. 17. 22. Act. 20. 28. 2 Cor. 5. 19. his being in them The glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them c. Before I proceed in the further handling of this doctrine These words which speak the in-being of Christ in Christians do call for some explication Therefore let us enquire 1. Both what the phrase doth not 2. And what it doth hold forth to our consideration First It doth not intimate such a being of Christ in any Christian as of the Godhead in Christ by reason whereof Godhead and Manhood in Christ made one person in regard whereof he was from his conception absolutely free from the least tincture of sinne and was made able to compleat the work of Mediatorship both by bearing up under the infinite weight of Gods displeasure without sinking and also to give sufficient vertue and value unto his obedience active and passive that it might be satisfactory and meritorious Gal. 4. 6. Eph. 2. 22. â— Joh. 1. 12. But it doth suggest Christs peculiar abode in beleevers by his Spirit being received by faith whereby he dwelleth and operateth spiritually in their hearts Naturae nomen hic non substantiam sed qualitatem designat Naturae divinae mundi corruptionem opponit Vt siâ—us unum cum Deo quantum modulus noster fâ—ret Calvio in 2 Pet. 1. 4. which union betwixt him and them doth in some measure by way of similitude though not fully in way of parity represent the union betwixt his father and himself And whereas the Apostle Peter speaketh of our being made partakers of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. which words are much abused There are two things notable from that Scripture to manifest the difference betwixt Christ and Christians in that participation 1. The words are not we are made partakers of the God-head but of the divine nature viz. of the qualities of God according to our capacity whereby we escape that corruption which is in the world through lust and do in holy dispositions resemble God so far as such creatures can As David speaketh of shewing the kindenesse of God unto Jonathans posterity 2 Sam. 20. 15. whereas God-head it self was in such sort in Christ 1 Tim. 3. 16. that he was God blessed for ever Rom. 9. 5. coequall with God the Father Phil. 2. 6. 2. The Apostle Peter is open and expresse that Christians are partakers of the divine nature in the sense aforesaid by means of the exceeding great and precious promises of Gods grace whereas Christ was God by an eternall naturall unexpressible generation Having thus briefly explicated the expression in the Text and the like used by our Saviour I proceed to
the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt for he had respect unto the recompence of reward But 〈◊〉 you eye in Christ what is equitable and imitable then consider in Moses what is attainable by the industrious actings of faith and meditation And yet to prevail further upon your spirits in promoting your magnanimity and patience by minding your hope of glory in Christ I wish you to compare your present sufferings on earth with your future glory hoped for in heaven both in regard of their quality and continuance for the one are both light and short whereas the other is both weighty and eternall The experience of Gods servants hath often put a Probatum est unto this direction 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18. For this cause we faint not for our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporall but the things which are not seen are eternall Secondly Those who have not as yet received Christ to dwell in them are to be moved as they desire heavens glory hereafter and the comfortable hopes of it here upon earth to give entertainment unto Jesus Chaist Zacheus upon an hint given of Christs willingnesse to come into his house comes down out of the Sycamore-Tree quickly and receiveth him joyfully Now do you with seriousnesse consider Luk. 19. 4. with what 1. importunity 2. patience 3. and promises the Lord Jesus calleth upon you for entertainment Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and Rom. 3. 20. open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me 1. There is the use both of a voice and knocking therefore importunity He speaketh by his word and knocketh by his Spirit with some recoylings of an awakned conscience 2. This importunity is not only once it is not a knock or a word and away but he standeth he staieth and waiteth for admission This speaketh much patience 3. This patient importunity is backed with promises of communion upon willingnesse to take him in I will sup with him and he with me as if he had said I will feast his soul and I will accept of his provisions for my welcome Now if by these motives to which many more might be added you be disposed to enquire what you should do that may come into you and be in you the hope of glory I would refer you to the counsell given by the Psalmist which is doubled because weighty and necessary Lift up your heads O ye gates and be lift up ye everlasting doors and the Psa 24. 7. 9. King of glory shall come in Hence two directions may be gathered 1. That our souls which in regard of their immortality are called everlasting doors must willingly receive him He is a great King and will not take up with an out-house for his lodging for the place of his gracious abode Eph. 3. 17. He dwelleth in the heart Either there or not at all Therefore by meditating upon the fore-mentioned particulars suggesting Christ his deservings and the incomparable benefits to be received by him seek to prevail with your selves that your warmest loves strongest longings and highest joys may be laid forth upon him 2. That he must be received as Lord and King with free contentment to submit unto his Scepter and Regall Authority In houses where Kings were wont to be entertained Rex was usually written upon the door all the rooms were to be disposed of for his use In like manner must they commit the Keys of government into the hands of Christ with willingnesse to be ruled by him in all things who would receive him and through him the hope of glory 3. Hereto may be added heart-humiliation For whereas high stately Palaces are esteemed the fittest houses for the entertainment of earthly Princes Jesus Christ the King of glory maketh choice of lowly hearts for his habitation For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity whose name is holy I dwell Isa 55. 15. in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit Therefore levell your mountains of self-conceit lay your selves in the dust upon the serious review of the evil both of your lives and natures together with the deserved misery which you be neither able to resist nor undergo and make an unfeigned self-resignation unto the Lord to be alwaies in all things governed by him so may you expect the coming of Christ into your souls and the comfort of good hope of glory through him This one thing I earnestly move as a matter necessary to salvation by Jesus Christ viz. self-deniall with submission to Christ as tendred in the Gospel upon terms of free-grace The Apostle Paul looketh upon the Jews as not in the state of salvation Because they going about to establish Rom 10. 1 3. their own righteousnesse submitted not themselves unto the righteousnesse of God Their priviledges were high and their costly Sacrifices many and therefore they hoping without Christ then preached to work out their own welfare fell short of blessednesse The same Spirit of pride and self-dependance is in all our natures which is extreamly mischievous obstructing the way unto Christs welcome into the soul therefore I entreat and beseech Christians again and again herein to be exceeding carefull Neither let those who are most rich in parts duties enjoyments rely thereupon with disrespect of Christ Nor yet let Poor souls burthened with guilt beggarly in abilities most vile and unworthy in their own account keep off from Christ through distrustfull discouragements For as all good hope of glory is raised from Christ heartily entertained so no one who humbly obedientially stoopeth under his government Joh. 6. 37. shall be rejected In the last place The Doctrine administreth much comfort Vse 4 unto mourners bewailing the death of such who as they have just cause to beleeve had received Christ into their souls before they left this world because from this ground ariseth good hope that they are admitted into heavens glory Upon this account the Apostle disswadeth drooping and perswadeth chearfulnesse in Christians upon such occasions I would not have you ignorant Brethren concerning 1 Thes 4. 13 14 18. them who are asleep that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope For we beleeve that those who sleep in Jesus God will bring with him and so shall we ever be with the Lord Wherefore comfort one another with these words In this regard regular love to our deceased Christian Friends would turn our water into wine our tears into joys If ye loved me said Christ to his dejected Apostles ye would rejoyce because I said I go unto the Father And this was ethe rason as some