and such trash in secret will overthrow the stomacke and make the wholsomest food loathsome so will sinne if we harbour with delight a close iniquity under our tongue it will nauseate all the saving truths of Jesus Christ gloriously held out in his Gospell and hinder the growth of grace Lastly conscionably use the Ordinances of God doe not as many for custome formallity but hoc age doe it in the integrity and simplicity of conscience the Law and statutes of God e Ps â—9 7 8. are beneficiall that which issues out of the Sanctuary increases f Ezek. 47.12 when pray read receive exercise your selves conscionably and your benefit will be profitably discovered to all Motives Mot. 1. The more grace the more exalt Christ 't is a soules burthen I cannot live to honour Christ for all his merit goodnesse truths and mercies labour then for more grace so speake more of his name and ye will be in life death to magnifie Christ little lower then Angels in their praises to their Maker grace brings you higher and higher to these Seraphicall spirits so you will chaunt the perpetuall Hallelujah's with the Quire of Heaven of whom Christ is to be praised as of you to be honoured 2. Grace makes the more eminent grace and fame are said to be companions as the righteous so the gracious is more excellent then his neighbour the world cleares this truth when the most debauched wretch would not but seeme gracious the strumpet luke-warme Laodicea all outwardly as the Pharisees yea the Devill else why transformed into an Angell of Light but that with more credit to act in the children of darknesse and heires of light also but grace with God and Christ a name better then of sonne or daughter 3. Time may come need of more grace these are the plundring times and exercise the faith and patience of many a precious soule though blessed be God we heare it only with our eares and see it not with our eyes nor feele it to our hearts but a time may come one grace fits not for every temptation no more then one shooe for every foot or one garment for every backe The Apostles harnesse in his Panoply g Eph. 6. from 10. to 19. that compleat sometime a Christian hath need of this grace sometime of another we know not which God will call us to exercise leave not a hoofe behind as in one grow in all and strengthen every one fearing and feeling the time bad to be worse be not unprovided consider the season and grow in grace 4. This will keep you true and stedfast to God to Christ and the principles of Religion that ye waver not in a corklike ventositie to the hazard of faith and a good conscience this will arme you against all delusions errours sinnes feares and keep you entire to Christ till you come for ever to be with him where is the Crowne of grace glory with which hee confirme you here and assure you hereafter for his owne name and glory sake Consider what I have said and the good Lord grant you a true understanding in all things that ye may grow in grace knowledge of Jesus Christ To whom be glory for ever and ever EPHES. Chap. 1. ver 7. In whom we have redemption through his bloud the forgivenesse of sins c. PAVL by the will of God separated to the Gospell for the Churches sake of the Gentiles renders the worke of his Ministry faithfull as to others to this Church of Ephesus which after his Apostolicall salute in the first and second verses doth magnifie the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ verse the third Amongst which precious excellencies this in the Text for the consolation of the faithfull in Christ is little inferiour to life everlasting this being the troublesome obstacle to a beleeving soule till it apprehend Jesus Christ in whom it hath redemption c. Doct. The Text contains this truth fully to redeeme from sinne cost no lesse then the bloud of Jesus Christ or the bloud of the Saviour is the redemption of the Saints That this is so why this is so and what use hereof are the three things I shall burthen your memory and patience with at this time That it is so appeares by the Text 1. In whom that is in Christ verse 3. in whom elected ver 4. predestinated unto adoption ver 5. in whom we are accepted ver 6. In whom redemption as in the Text We the Saints c. faithfull ver 1. blessed with all spirituall blessings ver 3. Select Paul elect Ephesians in Christ In whom we have redemption freedome full plentifull freedome the word in the Originall having a Preposition added speaks the perfection of the redemption To take redemption as in reference to the body or soule here body and soule hereafter no redemption but by Christ in whom full redemption Redemption is said to be fourefold First by Manumission as Lords their vassels freely discharging so Christ by his grace freely justifying a Rom. 3.24 Secondly by permutation or change as in warres so Christ himselfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the Tree b 1 Pet. 2.24 the wrath of the Father went downe in the Sonne to redeeme the Saints he suffered in his body that we might be redeemed in our soules so a redemption Thirdly by violent ablation so Abraham rcscued Lot so Christ redeemed his having spoiled Principallities and Powers blotting out the handwriting of Ordinances that was against us taking them out of the way c Col. 2.14 and through death destroyed him that had the power of death delivering them who through feare of death were all their life-time subject to bondage d Heb. 2.14 15. Fourthly by price and ransome so slaves and captives are redeemed from the thraldome of cruell Turks and the hands of barbarous enemies Thus Christ redeemeth his also captived under captivity yee are bought with a price e 1 Cor. 6.10 not with corruptible things of silver and gold but with the precious bloud of Christ himselfe that immaculate Lambe f 1 Pet. 1.18 19. In whom we have c. Through his bloud that is the shedding oblation of his bloud As in the Law the bloud of buls and goats sanctifyed to the purifying of the flesh so Christ by the sacrificing of his bloud obtained thorow sanctification g Heb 9.14 and eternall redemption verse the tenth In whom c. The forgivenesse of our sinnes That is Remission or as the word signifies retromission or sending backe againe from the soule to the first Originall the Father of all sinne A full remission from the defilement and destruction from the guilt and curse from the dominion and power by his bloud from the guilt of sinne and by his spirit from the power In a word from all that relates to or attends upon the
he hath is little more than a forlorne hope let him strengthen himselfe with the graces of Gods Spirit and hee shall finde a power invincible none more need of strength than a poore Christian The more grace the more strength Whether 1. Against sin that is not satisfied with a being in but would dominiere over a Christian or what strugling with secret corruptions as wrastling with too many corruptions hard to be subdued enforcing Paul to cry out k Rom. 7.24 Oh wretch who shall deliver me from this body of death Oh the sobs and groanes teares and feares of a weak Christian when corruptions begin to discover themselves then they in apprehension the undone of all the world Amaleck fights and sometime prevails the want of strength foiles the soule the height of grace upholds the soul the more grace the more strength against sinne 2 Against suffering the Church and people of God meet with opposition contradiction persecution who more it was the Fathers appointment as the sonnes prediction l Io. 15.16 and this Apostles the great Doctor of the Gentiles oft in sacred Writ To passe by bad report hunger nakednesse prison c. 't is difficult for some not all When strongly growne in the grace of Christ Paul can conquer the Apostles with admired resolution daunt their enemies when formerly all left he Lord Jesus Christ and why they were growne in grace and more grace more strength against suffering 3. Against Temptation our Saviour would not have taught his Disciples to pray Lead us not into temptation had not he known the devill and an evill heart laid snates to tempt which of Gods choisest Jewels free Not Abraham Job David not Christ himself And canst thou expect or request to be above thy Lord Poor weak Christian thou must look to be buffeted assaulted Labor for more grace so more able to resist for by the grace of God you may stand as withstand 4. Against Desertion The more grace the more strength T is a condition Gods people sometimes meet with and complaine of A bitter expostulation My God my God why hast thou forsaken Faith and feare in a double combate Whither in reference to David the Type or the Son of David the Antitype The Lord Christ And may not your full tide ebbe Your bright moon ecclipse Your fair day cloud and your clear Sun misten Oh know ye that are dandled in the armes of an everlasting God may yet not be ever danced in Gods everlasting arms He may shoot bitter Arrows against you and his everloving smile may frown it self to a momentary indignation as bitter as death as dreadfull as hell it self Labour therefore for more grace so more strength to suffer all and endure hardship as the good souldier of Jesus Christ So that either silently with Aaron hold your peace or with David religiously Language It is the Lord let him do as seemeth him good The more grace the more strength in all against all Ergo. The more grace the more comfort Reas 3 many that regard not to live conscionably yet are desirous to spend their years in prosperity and their daies in comfortable pleasures but as without grace little conscience so without true grace little true comfort the more sin in us the more opposition the more trouble griefe and fearefull horrour to the appaling of spirit and deading of heart But let a soul reflect and in simplicity speak an increase of humility faith zeal love knowledge grace more comfort questionlesse not more rejoicing can a condemned Malefactor receive by the tender of a Princes pardon than a poor soul comfort content in the truth and growth of grace were it not for the grace of God in them of all men Christians were most miserable in the sad apprehension of many and mighty corruptions within them diverse and great troubles upon them and severall scandalous reproaches against them Whither shall the soul search for comfort To whom fly for solid consolation Can that honour that is fading that estate that is flying that name that is blasting that friend that is dying afford any Alas miserable comforters all nothing so much as the least spark of divine grace and if a little will cherish what strong consolations will the growth added to the truth of grace afford view and review the instances of Sacred Writ and you shall find where most grace there most comfort Therefore grow in grace Reas 4 This comfortable evidence the sincerity and truth of your grace shew me your faith by works a dead faith no life in works The soule is barren and unfruitfull What is a body without a soule a poor body What is a soule without grace a poor soul And what is grace without the growth thereof uncomfortable grace What advantage to have a name to live and want life What profit to have a forme and void of the power of godlinesse This will upon good ground witnesse to the world the truth of grace is in you when they see your light shine that they may glorifie your father in heaven and your light which was at first as the dawning of the day appearing as the Sun heightned to the top of the Zenith fairly discovers the truth of grace in you to men And to conscience an evidentiall sign of truth when that which flames as a fire begins to live to a never dying worm t is quenched and crashed by this my conscience bears me witnesse that I though my beginning was small yet am encreased to a second a fift a tenth talent behold oh conscience did I make bones of Curse Lye Oath Sabbath Gospell Ordinance Hypocrisie Pride Passion secret Impiety or open Enormity in times past And do I not dost not thou oh conscience oh heart hate and abhor every false way Dost not performe and delight to do what God pleaseth pressing hard to be found in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ Who in my Infancy hoped to be justified by duties desires well-meaning c. whence comes my love to God and his Whence Patience Zeal Faith more then in times past Comes not my growth from my truth oh enemy be my Judge speak righteously And to God also when at the houre of Death day of Judgement summoned to appear disarmed of all hopes helps no more muse or burroughs to save or shelter This will witnesse for thee though thou hast been a poor comfortlesse one yet a true one behold Lord thy Talent hath gained multiplied t is encreased and grown though little yet good evidence the truth of grace is in thee When as on the contrary to man to conscience to God I have no more grace now then from my Infancy and day of youth This comes off with sin shame sorrow to the blacknesse of despaire it selfe Therefore being the growth of grace evidences the truth of grace good reason we should grow in grace c. According to my usuall method I proceed to the Use Learn hence The life of a
sorrow as we are in sinne would we thus transgresse Unhappy Oath curse security unbeliefe sinne of what sort or condition soever crucifying the Lord of glory unpardonable but by the alsufficient merit of Jesus Christ What meant in the Law an oblation of a He-goat for a sin-offering but to teach us that sinne is of an odious sent and an ill savour in the nosthrils of the Lord Oh cursed sinne when not all the Saints on Earth nor all the Seraphicall spirits in heaven can expiate that sinne which notion called the least Oh that the children of men and the Sons of God would apprehend the Lord speaking to a soule as once Leah to Jacob I have hired thee with my sonnes Mandrakes thou must come unto me So the Lord to our soules ye are mine you must come unto me by faith love obedience I have bought thee with my Sonnes teears sufferings and bloud precious soules set your esteeme on every sinne as is the redemption and it will speake you to remember how unhappy and cursed a thing sinne is when for the pardon thereof it cost no lesse then the unvaluable bloud of the Sonne of God the Lord Jesus Christ in whom we c. Is the bloud of the Saviour the redemption Use 2 of the Saints learne hence how deare and precious in the sight of Jesus is the soule of the Saints Oh the tender love of Christ to a poore Christian as the relation speaks him a friend a brother a Father a Spouse a Creatour each tearme speaks him ingaged to love so his love beyond measure so deare tender unparalell'd to be admired not to be expressed greater love then this can no man shew What greater then this could God declare his love engaged that piety be scourged and impiety by his stripes healed it was content wisedome it selfe be derided and folly passe unscoffed truth suffers and falshood triumphs Justice is condemned and unrighteousnesse escapes free away mercy is afflicted for cruelty life resignes it selfe to death to preserve the damned from the sting thereof In a word God dyeth once that man might live for ever by right propriety he doth redeem the poor soul as his creature by right of propinquity redeems man as his creature-Saint he undertooke that which would have mouldred ten thousands of men to dust to have endured and attomed the myriads of Angels to have suffered Oh the depth breadth length height of Christs love speaking to the Father in a loftier expression then Paul to Philemon concerning Onesimus I beseech thee for my sonne Onesimus whom I have begotten in my bonds formerly unprofitable to thee I Paul have written it with my owne hand Holy Father I beseech thee for this my poore soule whom by my Gospell I have begotten to thee formerly unprofitable unserviceable and yet unfruitfull enough but let me obtaine all his sinnes to be laid upon my shoulders 't is thy beloved Sonne that Sonne in whom thou art well pleased I have writ it and sealed it with no lesse then my precious bloud Behold love love and admire was not was not Rebeckah's love great to Jacob doe as I advise the curse be on me and the blessing on thee so Jesus Christ Soule follow my advice doe as I bid and all the blessings of thy Father be upon thee and if any curse let it light on me for in me thou shalt have redemption Oh see as to serve Christ for his love and thy redemptions sake deare and tender when his life is not spared that thy sinne may be pardoned and soule saved in the day of the Lord. You see then how deare a Saint is to Christ thus of the first Use Deale faithfully O ye beloved of the Lord 2. Vse is of exam and examine whether or no you can say in him we have redemption David speaks of the goings of God in his Sanctuary the singers before and the minstrels follow after O holy O happy progresse so may I behold the soule going to and comming with pardon of sinnes try we first by what precedes and goes before then see what followes after remission of sinnes so may we apprehend terrour or comfort to a remitted or unforgiven soule This I premise the foregoings of a pardoned soule are not to be looked on as causes though conditions or as kind of qualifications that support a soule to hopefull comfort 1. Try and examine whether or no you sence your sinnes deeply I cannot instance in whom sinne was pardoned comfortably that was never sensed deeply the experimentall Christian knew once sadly as truly it lay a load upon his soule and a burthen upon his spirit that nothing but a secret support kept him from resigning up infinite mercy A load to a griefe a griefe and load with a witnesse and can it be lesse to thy soule when such a dishonour to thy God A curse to thy Christ a grief to thy spirit a sadning to Angels and a vexation to all the Saints of God a deep sence as that reported of Queen Mary were my heart unript you should find the losse of Callice there so the soule were my heart uncased it would be knowne to men and Angels and is knowne to the Lord that knowes all secrets never any sorrow like this never any burthen to my spirits as this my unbeliefe my unprofitablenesse my deadnesse my unworthy walking to that high calling and rich mercy to which I am called and which I have received none like my sinne a burthen too heavy for me to beare If I have not a supply from my Christ in whom I hope to have redemption Try whether suffering or sinning most burthen thy soule 't is that which is deeply sensed if hopefully to be pardoned 2. The soule before it comfortably can expect the forgivenesse of sinne feares dreadfully to this dread and feare the poore soule must needs step When it senseth sinne deeply apprehends it rightly dismay terrour must appale the spirit and affright the heart when the soule looks on the sinnes many and mighty that every sinne is a crucifier of Christ and not feare and not be troubled 't is impossible When David apprehended his sinne b Psal 38.3 There is no rest in my bones because of sinne ver 6. I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I goe mourning all the day long feare and trembling make all my bones and every veine of my heart to shake If apprehending of judgement will make the quaffing Belteshazzer shake and tremble what must the deep apprehension of sinne and judgement too When the malefactor perceives the sentence of death passed upon him Oh what a shaking stupid trembling fals upon him so a poore soule receiving the sentence of death in himselfe oh what feare what amazement and horrour unspeakable the apprehension of sinne discovers the frownes of an everliving and ever-gracious Father this troubleth a soule to astonishment the promise is God will come and save you the Lord will come with recompence and