Soule and body from God and Glorie is eternall death Secondly how the Soule can be said to dye It dyeth not in respect of existence and being but relatively in respect of Gods Grace and favour as the body being dead there is eares and eyes and handes and feete but without life so it is a carkasse till life be put into it being voide of motion so the Soule hath understanding memorie will and affections yet is dead by Nature having no spirituall motion hence t is said Men are dead in trespasses and sinnes Ephes 2.1 Let the dead burie their dead Matth. 8.22 This thy brother was dead Luke 15.31 She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth 1 Tim. 5.6 Thirdly the cause of death is sinne there was an immortall lively estate in mans innocencie Death was threatned as a punishment and was accomplished when man had sinned Adam stood or fell for himselfe and his Posteritie as Levie paid Tithes in Abraham Heb. 7.9 So we sinned in Adam being in his loines so death went over all men in asmuch as all men have sinned Romans 5.12 Fourthly the signes and markes of death 1. Where a dead body is there in time is rottennesse so t is with the dead soule Psalme 53.3 All are corrupted that is loathsome and stinking Ainsworth 2. Where death is there is insensiblenesse So the Soules dead in sinne are past feeling Ephes 4.19 They are so sensles they feele nothing though the foundations of the earth be remooved Psal 82.5 They in greatest danger be as the drunkard asleepe on the top of the mâ—st Pro. 23.34 3. Where men are dead they feede not present to them the daintiest dish they taste not of it so men that are dead in sinne feede not on Christ the heavenly Manna nor on the word the foode of their Soules if wisedome make her feast and prepare her dainties the living are her guestes the dead in sinne heare not her invitations not come to her house nor eate with her at her table Of Gods Image on the Soule resolving First what an Image is 2. What the Image of GOD is 3. How Adam was made after Gods Image 4. Whether this Image still doth remaine 5. In whom t is repaired First what an Image is It is not onely a resemblance for the Sunne resembles God in light and brightnesse but yet the Sunne is not an Image of GOD an Image is a likenesse forme shape and similitude Gen. 1.26 Let us make man in our Image Exodus 20.4 Thou shalt not make any graven Image nor the likenesse The Image is substantiall so Adam begate Seth in his likenesse Gen. 5.3 So Christ is the substantiall Image of his Father Coloss 1.15 Heb. 1.3 Or an Image is artificiall Matth. 22.20 Whose Image is this saith Christ. By Art Images are molten graven carved painted or an Image is spiritually taken Ephesians 4.24 This Image is Holinesse and Righteousnesse Secondly what the Image of GOD is No corporall likenesse is Gods Image for he is a Spirit of infinite perfection the Image of God is Knowledge Goodnesse Soveraigntie Righteousnesse Immortalitie Blessednesse c. Thirdly how Adam was made after Gods Image 1. He was made Good Gen. 1 3. Simply good without mixture of evill 2. He was made in Knowledge Col. 3.10 He knew God and the Creatures after an excellent manner and gave the Creatures sutable names Gen. 2.19 3. He was created Holy Ephes 4.24 free from all sinne set apart for God So fourthly He was made Righteous Eccles 7.3 being conformable to the will of his Creatour fit to conceave a right of things in his mind fit to will righteousnesse to remember righteousnesse to love righteousnesse to speake righteousnesse and to doe it 5. He was made Glorious having these admirable endowments shining in his Soule and his body without infirmitie or deformitie strong nimble active healthie 6. He was Immortall heate and cold moisture and drought were as I take it perfectly compounded fire and water aire and earth so curiously mixed and so tempered by the Lord of the Artistes that man was not in this estate capable of sicknesse sorrow paine or death 7. He was Lord over Gods works and bare the Image of God in superioritie Psalme 8. Thus was man every way happy resembling the blessed God the favour of his Lord shined upon him the Creatures submitted to him the Aire did not distemper him the Lyon fawned on him like the dog he had no lusts nor passions within him he was ioyfull and wise and rich filled with contentment and satisfaction he most lively resembled and was the very Image of his Creatour Fourthly whether this Image of God doth still remaine in us Man being in honour he stood not in that condition but is like the beastes that perish insteed of goodnesse Now we are evill Matth. 7.11 Insteed of knowledge wee are Ignorant 1 Cor. 2.14 Wee were created holy in Adam but now are uncleane Iob 14.4 Insteed of righteousnesse wee have found out many Inventions contrarie to righteousnesse Eccles 7.31 Insteed of glorie we have shame which makes us cover the nakednesse of our bodies with garments and the nakednesse of our soules with excuses diminutions distinctions imputations to others Insteed of Immortalitie we have death attends on us and is sure of us although we be Lords over the Creatures sometimes they rebell 1 Kings 13.24 In steed of being happie now we are accursed in our Natures with sinfull dispositions Rom. 7.23 And accursed in our labours the Earth sometimes denyes fruits to releeve us and brings forth bryers and thornes to greeve us Micha 6.15 Gen. 3.18 Fifthly In whom is the Image of God repaired Onely in the Regenerate they so learne CHRIST that they are renewed in the spirit of their mindes Ephes 4.23 GOD shines in their hearts 2 Cor. 4.6 And turnes them from darknesse to light Act. 26.18 In the Gospell they so behold Gods glorie so as they are changed into Gods Image 2 Cor. 3.18 They put off the old man which is corrupt and put on the new man which maketh them like their first Creation in holinesse and righteousnesse Ephes 4 24. These new Creatures are after the Image of God by resemblance and are in this his Image 1. He is a God of knowledge 1 Sam. 2.3 And these are an understanding people being fed with knowledge Ier. 3.15 the Image of God is repaired in knowledge Colos 3.10 2. God is an holy God Leviticus 11.44 The Regenerate are a holy people 1 Pet. 2.9 3. God is a mercifull God Exodus 34.6 And these are mercifull like him Colloss 3.12 4. God is righteous Psalme 92.15 And these are a righteous people Psalme 11.6 5. God keepes his Covenants Daniel 9.4 And these people keepe their Covenants Psal 15.4 6. God cannot abide iniquitie Habakkuk 1.13 And these people hate evill Psalme 97.10 Adam had Gods Image in his body and soule the Image of God was in his Nature and if he had not
sixe dayes in the making of the world He being Omnipotent could have made it in an houre or a moment Answ 1. It was his pleasure to be sixe dayes that is a sufficient answer 2. God gives us example to goe about our worke with deliberation 3. He affords us matter of Meditation by severall daies workes 4. He gives us an example to keepe the Sabbath in resting the seventh day Quest 4 Did not God being Omnipotent make more worlds 't is said Heb. 1.1 by whom he made the Worlds Answ T is plurall because there is the Celestiall world and terrestriall world this present world and heaven called the world to come no question but in God was the Idea of more worlds Quest 5 Why did not God having all power and all creatures at his command use the ministry of Angels to gather and convert and save his elect by preaching Answer The Angels are too terrible to us 1. Chron. 21.20 therefore they have wings to cover their feete to signifie we cannot behold them Isaiah 6.2 2. God tries our subjection whether we will submit to his ordinance Peter must teach Cornelius Act. 10. Acts 8. not an Angel Philip must instruct the Eunuch not an Angel 3. The weaknesse of the instrument is the glory of the worker God exercises his power in those earthen vessels that his strength might be magnified in their weaknesse though the vessels be earth yet the treasure they bring us is heavenly 2. Cor. 4.7 Though Ministers bee weake instruments yet they are Gods Embassadors and the glory of Christ 2. Cor. 8.23 which he hath chosen to set forth his glory in the world Quest 6 Why doth God suffer his Church to lye so long in affliction seeing he is omnipotent and able to deliver speedily Answer 1. Because his people before conversion did not speedily heare him and turne and obey him 2. Because they must by long afflictions be soundly humbled and fitted for deliverance 3. To exercise their faith hope patience prayer and subjection 4. To shew his power in supporting them in long afflictions 5. To make deliverances the more sweete and welcome Quest 7 Why doth God suffer sinne to be in his children after conversion he having power wholly to subdue it in them here in this world Answ 1. Because hee hath reserved perfection for another world 2. Because it is his pleasure we should be humble here all our dayes 3. Because we prize the Lord Jesus highly our sins tells us we neede a Saviour 4. Because our corruptions are for our exercise as the Canaanites to Israel we must be in warre here for we have an enemy within us 5. Though sinne remaine within us yet by the power of Gods grace it doth not raigne in us though sinne be in us as a scullion for a base use 't is but as the Gibeonites exercised about hewing wood and drawing water we are dayly mortifying yet not at the command of it Quest 8 Why doth God suffer his children to dye seeing hee is Almighty and could translate them hence from Temporall life to Eternall Answ 1. Because hee hath decreed and ordeined all must die Hebrewes 9.27 and his decrees must stand Pâ—ul 33 11. 2. God deales favourably with us though we dye temporally because he frees us from eternall death 3. The curse of death is taken away by Christ Now death is asleepe Act. 7.6 1. Thess 4.13 4. That we might all learne to hate sin that brought death into the world 5. Christ dyed and entred into Glory it is fit wee should follow our Captaine 6. Though we dye yet God he loves us Rom. 8.38 39. and shewes us the greatest love presently after that he hath taken away our lives for then he receives us into joy Sect. 5 Fifthly the uses to edifie Vse 1 TO praise the Lord with all our strength for his Almighty power Revel 4.11 Worthy art thou O Lord to receive honour and glory and power Not that God receives from us the thing but the praise honour and acknowledgement 1. Chron. 29.11 Thine O Lord is greatnesse and glory and power Vse 2 To speake of his Power and to make it knowne that is the property of the Saints Psal 145.10 11. What others doe extraordinarily on a suddaine motion being amazed as Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 2.33 Darius Dan. 6.27 Let us doe constantly that is to make Gods power knowne Vse 3 To worke our hearts to feare the Lord because of his power else we are very sots and without understanding Ier. 5.21 22. God calls us to feare him because by his power he keepes the Sea within his bounds when Iob considers it he saith The Pillars of heaven quake at his reproofe Iob. 26.10 11. and verse 14. Who can understand his fearefull power Matth. 10.28 Feare him that can cast both body and soule into hell Object Perfect love casts out feare 1. Iohn 4.18 Answ 1. No man hath such perfection of love but he hath some remainders of feare 2. St. Iohn speakes of the judgement day then our love shall be perfect and we shal have boldnesse without feare 3. Love casts out tormenting feare and perplexitie 4. The perfect love of God apprehended by us Calvin Comment on Epistle Iohn page 83. casts out feare and quiets our mindes so Calvin on the place To learne to depend on the Almighty for preservation who can preserve without meanes as Elias forty dayes by small meanes as the widowes little oyle and flower in her cruse Against meanes as Daniel in the Denne And for ordinary meanes let us desire his powerfull blessing on the meanes else we shall eate and not be satisfied Hag. 1. Vse 5 This is terrible to wicked men to have the Almighty against them His power and wrath is against them that doe evill Ezra 8.22 The consideration thereof is terrible to the very Divels Jam. 2.19 Here is matter of Consolation Vse 6 1. In regard of our Prayers we call on him that is able to doe aboundantly above that wee aske or thinke Ephes 3.20 He that we pray unto can quicken the soules of our wives and children and servants Iohn 5.21 Hee quickens whom he will Ephes 2.1 2. Comfort in regard of perseverance our strength shall be renewed we shall runne and not be weary we shall walke and not faint Isaiah 40 31. because God upholds us in our intigrety Psal 41.12 the Garrison that kepes us is the power of God 1. Pet. 1.5 and none can take us out of his hand that is himselfe greater than all Iohn 10.29 3. Comfort in temptations our strength is in the Lord and in the power of his might Ephes 6.10 't is he doth streâ—gthen us in the inner man Ephes 3.16 and when God helpes us with a little helpe Dan. 11.34 then our strongest temptations shall not prevaile but we shal be more than Conquerers Rom. 8.37 a vehement speech 4. Comfort in afflictions he that is almighty orders them for the kinde whether on our
the creatures doe one serve another and all serve Man Man consists of a Soule and a bodie the Soule is distinct and immortall the body hath sences and members the Soule hath substance and faculties the substance is spirituall and invisible the bodie hath generation and corruption So much of the Exordium beginning at God ending with Man The Meditations follow 1. What the Soule is 2. How it was created 3. Of the Coniunction with the body 4. Of the immortalitie of the Soule 5. The difference of immortall and eternall 6. Of the life and death of the Soule A Conclusion concerning Gods Image on the Soule explained by Resolves 1. Concerning Images what they be 2. What the Image of GOD is 3. How Adam was made after Gods Image 4. Whether this Image still remaines 5. In whom this Image is repaired 6. Reflexions applicatorie from the former heads Section 1 First what the Soule is IT is a spirituall Distinct invisible substance spirituall opposed to that is corporall It is Distinct and hath a being and existence being separated and departed from the bodie It had an entrance and hath a returne Ecclesiastes 12.7 It being a Spirit therefore is invisible This quick nimble apprehensive very active stirring working It hath being and faculties some superiour as the understanding and mind some inferiour as the desires and affections The former rule the later obey the former contrive the later doe acte The understanding is as the King the will the Lord Maior the memorie the Recorder reason and discourse as the Sheriffes determination as the Aldermen Conscience as the Serieant Devotion as the Divine the Affections as the Commons in this Citie of the Soule of Man Section 2 Secondly how the Soule was created There was the Creating of Adams Soule and our Soules How Adam came by his Soule we know how we come by our Soules for the manner wee know not Adams Souls was by inspiration Gen. 2.7 Spiration and Reason differs Adams Soule and makes a distinction from the Soule of other creatures which is onely in the blood we come by our Soules some thinke by participation as one candle doth light another by generation a man beget a man compleat◠some thinke our Soules come by infusion by a particular inspiration when the child first quickens in the wombe but this is certaine no man knowes the way of the Spirit Eccles 11.5 when all is imagined little is concluded concerning this question Section 3 Thirdly of the Conjuction of the Soule with the body GOD made three sorts of Creatures in the beginning Spirits without bodies as Angels Bodies without immortall Spirits as beasts fowles and fishes Bodies and immortall Spirits having a ioyning together as men There is a Divine Coniunction of the Deitie to CHRISTS Humanitie a matrimoniall Coniunction betweene man and wife a mysticall Coniunction betweene Christ and the Faithfull a personall Coniunction betweene the Soule and Body This Conjunction 1. Is a Coniunction of contraries as flesh and Spirit 2. Such a Coniunction as may be separated by death 3. After the day of Judgment this shall be eternall 4. In this Coniunction there is a fellow feeling a simpathizing The passions alter the lookes and visage the sensible paines affect the Soule 5. The more Noble is to rule the inferiour to obey Reason not appetite or sence should governe Section 4 Fourthly of the Immortalitie of the Soule GOD hath immortalitie 1 Tim. 1.17 he hath it essensually independantly we have it by derivation by donation GOD hath made our Soules immortall and our Bodies though subiect to corruption yet by Divine ordination shall be immortall after the Resurrection Arguments of the Soules Immortalitie 1. The Father of our Spirits is immortall Heb. 12.9 he is the GOD of the Spirits of all flesh Num. 16. yea the Father of our Spirits and by immortalitie our Soules ressemble the Father of them 2. The operation of the Soule shewes it hath more than mortalitie The Soule actes and flieth beyond the power of our sences It flies from East to West suddenly It passes over the Seas it calculates the course of the Sunne Moone and Starres The Soule discourseth of things past and foreseeth things to come In hard matters the Soule first doubteth then deliberates then chooseth the Soule passeth through humane actions defining dividing compounding dissolving the Soule pearceth the skies and conceaves of GOD and of his Angels to be immortall Essences thus the Soule conceaves of immortall things strives for immortall rewards feares immortall punishment 3. The vigor strength and duration of the Soule proves it immortall age and sicknesse doe weaken the body yet the Soule hath life and vigour the Soule wantes manifestation in children old-men and mad-men drunken-men and men a sleepe the Sunne is the same though the clouds doe hinder the shining the Soule is the same and as an able work-man whose instruments be weake or out of order or broken 4. The name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is in Latine Spiritus proves the Immortalitie of the Soule for Soule and Spirit are promiscuously taken one for the other Iohn 13.21 Turbatus est Spiritus Iohn 12.27 Nunc anima mea turbata est In the first Text he was troubled in Spirit in the last Text hee was troubled in Soule a spirit is immortall so is the soule 5. The soule is not derived out of any matter which is the roote of corruption so Angels and the soules of men are not made of composition of the Elements so are immortall and not subiect to dissolution 6. The last and least Argument is the Testimonie of Heathen men Solon saith the soule is an incorruptible substance apt to receive Joie or paine here and els where Plato saith Though the body die the Soule dieth not Socrates saith The Soule that followeth Vertue shall see God Anaxaxchus put to death with Iron hammers saith Knock hard the flesh and bones but Anaxaxchus thou canst not hurt Section 5 Fifthly the Difference of Immortall and Eternall Immortall is opposed to death Eternall is opposed to time Immortall hath respect to being without limitation of time Eternall respects no time persons nor things there would be eternity were there no persons things nor time Immortall is more noble than Eternall for the Angels and soules of men are nearer GOD bearing his Image Eternitie is a vaste Ocean without measure or limitation The Immortalls doe dwell in Eternitie at last as the Inhabitants in the house Section 6 Sixthly of the life and death of the Soule First of the life of the soule here consider 1. What life is 2. The severall kindes of life Life is a power to move and to acte In the Creatour t is an essentiall perfect single Divine being there is the fountaine man had his life at the first by spiration Gen. 2.7 called breath of lives for the severall faculties t is in or the severall operations or degrees There are three degrees of life in the wombe in the
Time there was no World Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God made the Heavens There was a beginning and the Earth Before that time nothing did appeare Heb. 11.3 Object They say Of nothing comes nothing therefore the World was eternall Answ Of nothing comes nothing in Mans worke because he cannot worke without materials Of nothing comes all things in Gods worke Psalme 33.9 because he is a Creator and his Word gives a being to that which had no being and his command produces substances and reall things so they appeare and are in being though they were form'd of nothing Quest 2 Were not the highest Heavens eternall and the dwelling place of the Lord Answ The maker thereof is God Heb. 11.10 It was made without hands 2. Cor. 5.1 Heaven is a glorious and excellent place yet a created place 'T is called Gods dwelling Psal 2.4 1. Kings 8.27 because he is manifested there in glory Yet the Heaven of Heavens the most excellent Heavens cannot containe him He had glory excellency before Heaven or t e World had a being Himselfe is eternall who had no beginning Iohn 7.5 The Heavens are not eternall which had a beginning Quest 3 Are not the Angels eternall of whose Creation 't is not spoken of in Genesis 'T is spoken of inclusively though not so plainely Answ Gen 2.1 The Heavens and Earth were finished with all their Hoasts In the Hoast of Heaven the Angels are not excluded for elsewhere they are called the Lords Hoast Gen. 32.2 So Ps 103.20 21. Praise the Lord yee his Angels praise the Lord yee his Hoasts And that the Angels were created read Psal 148.2 Praise the Lord yee his Angels vers 5. For he commanded and they were created Col. 1.16 By him were all things made things visible and invisible whether Thrones or Dominions Principalities or Powers Angels are not eternall but were created and had a beginning Quest 4 Saint Iude speakes of eternall Fire Iude vers 7. Had that Fire no beginning as it shall have no ending Answ It had a beginning that which Saint Iude calls eternall Christ calls Everlasting fire Math. 25.41 Math. 25.41 'T is eternall in a future relation it is prepared saith Christ for the Divell and his Angels being prepared fitted Iude 7. verse and made ready proves it had a beginning Note that Eternall and Everlasting one word is used for both Quest 5 What is the reason that men knowing that on this moment of time depends their eternall estate yet are carelesse for Eternity and minde so much the present time Answ The Reason is from the great subtilty of Sathan that separates betweene end and meanes If wee thinke of eternall fire hee will labour to race these thoughts out of our mindes yet provoke us to sinne which is the meanes hiding the end In good things hee will keepe us from the meanes as Repentance Prayer Holinesse yet gull us with a fooles hope we shall have the end as well as those that are most painefull and vertuous 2. Temporall things are next us and wee are too much led by Sence and Appetite like Esau wee will have the present pottage with losse of the future blessing Quest 6 By what Arguments can you prove Gods Eternity Answ 1. That which is the first Cause of all Causes must be eternall which is God He that gives the being to alâ— creatures must be an eternall being 2. He that had glory before there was a World and decreed and purposed before the foundations of the World were laid must be eternall But God had glory before the world Iohn 17.5 2. Tim. 1.9 and purposes and decrees before the world Ephes 1.4 and therefor is eternall 3. He that can give eternall rewards must be eternall But he can give eternall rewards Rom. 6. last vers therâ—ore is eternall 4. To be eternall is to have no beginning no mutation no end God had no beginning with him is no shadow of change nor possibility of end Quest 7 How is Christ thâ— eternall Sonne of God Answ In respect of his God-head Hee was before the mountaines a Synechdoche a part for the whole Mountaines put for the World Prov. 8.25 And for the future None can declare his age Esay 53.8 For hee liveth for ever Rev. 1.18 The Heavens have a duration without life The devils have an everlasting being without joy The Angels have an everlasting joyfull being but their being is dependant and by participation and their joy successive The Saints in Heaven have a blessed everlasting being but not perfect till the Day of Judgement But Christ is eternall and hath with his eternity and everlastingnesse life joy perfection fulnesse at once so that he is eternall as God Quest 8 Shall Judgement be eternall in pronouncing will the great Sessions last for ever 'T is Heb. 6.2 called Eternall Iudgement Answ Eternity follows the Sentence an eternall God judges and he gives an everlasting Sentence pronouncing to the Elect eternall life and to to the reprobate eternall destruction 2. 'T is Eternall judgement in opposition to temporall judgements here then time is out and we have nothing to doe with it all wee have to doe is about Eternity 3. As a Malefactor when he goes to the barre wee say he hath received his death notwithstanding the execution followes after so then men receive their eternall sentence 't is eternall judgement Sect. 4 Fourthly Vses to Edifie Vse 1 1. THis shewes us the difference of Eternity in Time First Time had a beginning and shall have ending Eternity hath neither beginning nor end 2. Time is measured by ages yeares moneths dayes houres minutes Eternity hath no measure nor portions nor limits it passes and out-strips the bounds of our thoughts nor can our reason gage it nor our understanding fathom it 3. Time is alwaies in motion as the spring of a Watch never stands still till it be consumed and brought to an end Eternity hath no motion it ever stands still it s alwaies the same Vse 2 Secondly here we may gaine a glimpse of Gods excellency he is Eternall without beginning or end Angels had a beginning so had men and the world Angels and men shall have an everlasting being after once they have begun to be from him that never began to be who is the Eternall God Therefore when we thinke or speake of Gods Eternity we should conclude as St. Paul To the King Everlasting Immortall c to him be glory for ever Amen Vse 3 Thirdly we may in Gods feare learne two profitable lessons considering we have time and are swittly passing to Eternity 1. Consider the brevity of Time 2. Take the opportunity of time 1. The brevity Time is short whilst I am in thinking some of it is gon mans whole life is numbred by dayes compared to a spanne a bubble to a winde that passes away c. If we could seriously alter our thoughts to thinke more of the shortnesse of Time it would
Man was made with true faculties of the soule and true members of the body and a true conformity in both to the Will of God Man fell by falsehood but is redeemed in Truth and renewed againe in Truth Ephes 4.24 The earth is reall earth the water is true water all Gods workes are done in Truth Sect. 3 Thirdly Of the Truth of God HE is the essentiall Truth Truth flowes from him He is the onely true God Iohn 17.3 Hee is a God of Truth Psal 31. â— The Father is Truth so is the Sonne * John 14.6 So is the Holy Ghost †John 16.13 God is a true Essence true in his Attributes he is truely Eternall truely Omnipotent Daniel 10.21 Iohn 17.17 truely invisible and incomprehensible * His Scriptures are the Scriptures of Truth being true in the precepts promises and threatnings not a jot shall faile Here is the heavenly verity 2 Cor. 1.20 Math. 5. above nature sence and reason Nature and Sence are Reasons servants and Reason must stoope to Truth and Truth must be beleeved by Faith beyond Nature Sence and Reason for as the light availes not unlesse we have eyes to see so God and his Word are not rightly discerned but by faith without which a man still is ignorant and demands with Pilate what is Truth Iohn 18. Sect. 4 Fourthly Applications to edifie distributive FIrst this distinguishes the true God from false Gods In respect of God as Idols which are not true Gods for they are no Gods Ier. 2.11 Our God is the living and true God 1. Thes 1.9 And the onely God Iohn 17.3 As for Angels or Magistrates that are called gods †Psal 8. and Psal â—2 because the Magistrates execute the Judgements of God 2. Chron. 19.6 And God hath given them his Word Iohn 10.34 35. And Angels are Princes Dan. 10.13 Yet the Angels are messengers Heb. 1. last And Magistrates are mortall Psal 82.6 The eternall Iehovah is the true God and these are his servants Secondly is the Word the Truth In respect of the Word then wee should 1. Buy it Prov. 23.23 2. Keepe it In buying are three things first we see our need secondly wee goe where the commodity is to be had thirdly we give something for it by way of exchange Thus we must buy the Truth 1. We must see our need of it without the Truth we are in bondage and in darknesse and in the shadow of death and miserable The Truth will make us free set us at liberty give us light and life it will direct us and enrich us these considerations should cause us to prize it because it is of worth and we neede it 2. We must goe where it is to be had not to the Iewish Talmud nor Turkes Alcoran nor the Papists Legend but got to God who gives it who is the Author of Truth goe to the holy Bible where 't is printed to the congregations where 't is preached unfolded and applied goe to the society of the godly where it is professed and the power of it expressed read Commentaries and Expositions labour and enquire digge and search be studious and industrious let spare houres here be spent and vacant time be this way imployed 3. We must part with something for the Truth wee must part with some sleepe with some pleasure with some gaine nay if we part with all that we have for the Truth we shall be wise bayers and great gainers we shall be wise Merchants and obtaine the best bargaine Secondly as the Truth is to be bought so it is to be kept with Mary to lay it up in our hearts Iohn 2.51 Psal 119.10 The Word is kept by witnessing to it John 18.37 and by professing it for by professing it the Truth is knowne and spread abroad in the world We should witnesse in our profession three things of the Truth 1. That it is able to worke a through change * James 1.18 and to bring a man to a holy frame of heart and life †John 17.17 that the Word hath a regenerating power to make us new men 2. That the Truth hath a power to governe and guide a man in his place to make him a good Father or master a good servant a loyall subject a loving Husband a kinde neighbour a faithfull friend a mercifull Christian a just dealer c. 3. That the Truth is able to support him in reproaches under crosses and troubles that there are consolations to be had in the Scriptures for every condition in all changes and alterations Thus shall we shew our selves children of the Truth begotten by the Truth James 1.18 Nourished by the Truth 1. Pet. 2.1 2. And those that have the Truth dwelling in them * 2. Joh. 2. vers whereby they are enriched guided quickened emboldened strengthened and rejoyced Sect. 5 Fifthly Questions answered Quest 1 WHat duties doe we owe to the God of Truth Answ 1. To labour to know him Iohn 17.3 2. To give him a true worship Iohn 14.24 3. To commend our soules continually into his hands Psal 31.6 Quest 2 When doe we know the true God with a true knowledge Answ First when we know him in Christ Iohn 17.3 Secondly when wee know him our God that loves us Thirdly when we so know him that we doe flye to him in all our needs and troubles * Psal 9.11 Fourthly when this knowledge increases more and more Quest 3 How may we know the Truth from Errour Answ 1. The Truth makes God the highest and man the lowest 2. The Truth brings peace with it to that soule which imbraceth it 3. The Truth maketh the most sound professors and substantiall Christians 4. It seeks not violent meanes to uphold it nor base meanes and shifts as Hereticks and Tyrants 5. God preserves the Truth and sides with it and often manifests visible Iudgements on the opposers and gaine-sayers of the Truth Quest 4 May a Christian know that he is in the Truth Answ He may on sound grounds David knew that hee had chosen the way of Truth Psal 119.30 1. John 5. And St. Iohn saith Wee know that we are of God The high-way is light the by-wayes are darke and doubtfull Quest 5 What be the symptomes of an upstart Hereticke that opposeth the Truth Answ 1. He preaches ambiguously in darke phrases that so he may win disciples to his lodging 2. Hee delivers some Doctrine against the fundamentall points of Religion 3. He opposes the faithfull preachers as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses 4. They are not in the same tale in their chambers and in the Pulpit to their followers and to others 5. They boast of illuminations and revelations 6. They challenge Dispures in which they falsifie the Scriptures and learned Authours pretending they are on their side 7. Their followers bewray them the hollow hypocrite the idle that live without a Calling or negligent in a Calling the unstable and giddy-headed they make a
some probability to pay their Debts and so for a time save their credit But if they have no good ground to pay debts due already it is but injustice to make a shew to be trusted farther it is just to strike saile Of Life 1. What Life is 2. Of the life of Creatures 3. Of the life of God 4. Applications to edifie 5. Questions answered Sect. 1 First What Life is LIfe is to have motion and activenesse opposed to deadnesse and lumpishnesse There is a living Spring a live Tree a live Man Life is operative aâ—d excellent a live worme is more excellent than all the Gold in the World though gold be more usefull A live Dogge saith the wise man is better than a dead Lyon one live soldier is more excellent than an Army of the dead and slaine It was the live Child that tâ—e two Harlot strove about it is life that wee all strive to maintaine and prolong life is as the first figure in Arithmatick number as much as you will it is the greatest Sect. 2 Secondly of the life of the creatures THere is a vegetive life of Trees and Roots and Hearbs part in the Earth part in the Ayre there is a sensitive life of Beasts Fowles and Fishes there is a rationall life of Angels and Men the Angels life is most excellent of all Creatures being spirituall holy without wearinesse or want or labour or misery a glorious and immortall life The life of man hath three degrees first in the wombe secondly in the world thirdly in Heaven The life in the wombe is secret in the conveyance and secret in the continuance Ecclesiastes 11.5 The life in the world is a life of action Rom 2.6 The lâ—fe in Heaven is a life of vision or contemplation John 17.24 Matth. 5.8 Then shall we be as the Angels Mat. 22.30 which doe behold the face of God Mat. 18.10 The life in the wombe is secret and little can be said of it The life in the world is either common to all being a life of nature or speciall to the Saints called a life of grace Of the the life of Nature The life of Nature is exercised about such things as the strength of Nature can act All men attaine not to the same operatioâ—s nor is the same man alwayes alike some men excell others in their actions and the same man excells himselfe in time by exercise and experience This naturall life is exercised in the severall faculties of the soule as Understanding Will Memory and Affections Some by study and industry attaine to the knowledge of the heavenly Spheares and celestiall Orbes whi h we doe call Astronomy Some have knowledge of the terrestriall Globe which is called Geography These say that the World is divided into foure parts Africa Asia Europe and America Some attaine to Arithmaticke others to Musick instrumentall and vocall and excell the melodious birds Some attained to Printing after they had long used Writing First men wrote on ashes with the Finger as some report then on barks of Trees with Knives then on stones with Iron then on Parchment with Canes lastly on Paper with quills Their Inke at first was the juyce of a Fish then the juyce of Mulberries then they used Chimney-soote now men use Gumme Gaules and Copperas Man in this life of Nature acts on the Stage of this World divers acts of Wisedome Art and Invention many Martiall inventions and warlike exploits rares Cures in Physick and shews great cunning in Navigation policy in governments curious Art in Workmanship profoundnesse in Rethoricke deepe Arguments in Logicke I give a Compendium it requires a Volume Of the life of Grace The life of grace none live but those that are quickned from a spirituall death Ephes 2.1 Naturall men are spiritually dead When God converts a soule hee puts a new life into it that now a man lives to God intentially spiritually and constantly 1. Intentially a man intends and purposes to live to God whose servant he is 1. Cor. 6.20 2. Spiritually this life of grace is godly and religious holy heavenly and spirituall Rom. 8.1 This life of grace makes them spirituall minded and affected spirituall and heavenly in duties as in prayer hearing reading and receiving the Sacraments c. 3. Grace makes us to live to God constantly against this life of grace heresies nor afflictions nor pleasures can prevaile Acts 11.23 they cleave fast to the Lord. A man that lives to God would not change the condition thereof with a worldly man though he were a Lord or Prince This life of grace is a life of knowledge which doth change him 2. Cor. 3.18 A life of joy which doth strengthen him Nehemiah 8.10 A life of hope which doth purge him 1. John 3.3 This life of grace is most excellent most honourable and most comfortable 1. Most excellent in conveyance they have it derived from Christ He is the fountaine from whence spirituall life comes Prov. 12.26 Psal 16.3 It is the life of the most excellent persons This life makes Gods children excell others others live onely a life of nature but they live a life of grace they have grace to restraine them grace to renew them grace to comfort them grace to strengthen and quicken them 2. The life of grace is most honourable Two things doe bring honour one to doe that is hard the other to doe that which is profitable Hee that lives a life of grace doth hard things he subdues himselfe workes out his salvation increases dayly his assurance edifies his brethren and in this imployment is honourable He that lives to God is one of his servants hath admittance into his favour is beautified with graces and vertues such honour have his Saints 3. This life of grace is most comfortable the comforts of naturall men are but as the light of the Moone inferiour at the best and alwayes mutable Those which doe live to God are neare him and the light of his countenance shines upon them And hence it is that they have more joy than worldly men Psal 4.7 They have communion with God this makes Heaven joyfull their actions are godly and be as seeds of joy they are the most comfortable people and have the greatest grounds of joy they have a sweet possession and a large reversion Of the life of glory The life of grace ends in a life of glory the people of God shall be glorious and shine in the Kingdome of their Father This life is called Eternall life Marke 10.30 Iohn 3.16 This life the Scriptures reveale we are to beleeve it as an article of our Creed we beleeve everlasting life were there not such a life the professors of the Gospell and the Martyrs had beene of all others most miserable 1. Cor. 15.19 The Heathen Poets ghessed at it comparing it to the Elizean fields This life of Glory is a blessed life having the enjoyment of God the chiefe good the onely good There is joy pleasures riches
and a reall renovation by Gods holy Spirit Secondly the Moones blemishes are obvious and apparant so are the sinnes of Gods people apparant to him Psalme 90.8 and apparant to others as were the sinnes of David and Peter apparant to our selves Psal 51.5 Lord let my iniquities be forgiven and my sins covered not from thy omniscience that is impossible but from thy judiciall view Lord looke not on my sins to take vengeance and let me so looke on the apparant faults of others that I forget not to looke on their apparant graces Thirdly the Moones blemishes are continued so are the blemishes of the regenerate St Paul had a law in his members these Canaanites are left for our exercise perfection is for the next world here we are as the Moone with blemishes Applications 1. Alas poore soule that I am not onely in a place polluted Mich. 2.10 but my very soule is polluted and my pollutions sticke fast upon me Heb. 12.1 so that much Nicer and Sope will not wash them away 2. Yet there is a fountaine opened for sinne and uncleanenesse Zach. 13.1 There is a blood that can cleanse from all sinne 1. Ioh. 1.7 and make me whiter than Snow 3. Death is not to bee abhorred as the greatest evill for it puts an end to my pollutions He that is dead is freed from sinne Rom. 6.7 Death takes away our sins as well as our lives then perfect holinesse and happines shall meete our blemishes shall be done away and we shall shine as the Sunne Mat. 13.43 Sect. 4 Fourthly Of the Moones mutation LIke the English people she ever changes her forme and shape and hath a diverse light sometimes like a bow and sometimes like a globe she is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when she is new and seemes horned she is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be-in halfe at the full at eight daies old she is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when there is doubt of the full roundnesse she is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shining at the full going from the Sunne she hath hornes toward the East comming toward the Sun her hornes be toward the west the side toward the Sun is alwaies the bright side Considerations 1. As the Moone is alwaies mutable so are all things under it the Windes change the waters ebbe after flowing the earth lies dead in the winter but buds springs blossoms and beares fruit in the Summer generation and corruption is acted on this terrestriall globe Oh how mutable a creature is man first an embrion then a living creature growing till he be borne Then he cries at his birth and is restlesse till his death First hee changes from an infant to a childe from a childe to a youth from a youth to a man from weaknesse he changes to strength and from strength to weaknesse againe In youth he is more strong and lesse wise in age more wise but lesse strong every steppe he treades he is mutable now he goes anon he runnes then he sits then he eates anon he is weary of eating he desires his bed and in short time is weary of it he would be rich then honourable then he longs for pleasures he will marry and if he could he would againe be unmarried he wil to sea and shortly desire the shore Man is made of composition and alwaies subject to alteration now he laughes and anon is madde angry now embraces anon he strikes and stabbes to day he is at his recreation to morrow groaning on his sicke bed to day in a Bower feasting to morrow in the field fighting he desires hee rejoyces he feares he sorrowes now patient anon vexed now zealous anon cold Ahasueros loves Vashtai but anon hates her hee honours Haman then he hangs him Ammon lusts for Tamar anon despises her A man is an unsettled thing he never leaves tumbling till hee comes to the pit and there he doth change to dust whereof hee was made 2. If there be a necessity of an unavoidable mutation let me labour to change for the better to change from Adam to Christ from nature to grace from sinne to sanctification Those which be never changed cannot be saved those which are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.8 Except we repent we must perish Luke 13.5 Let me labour to be renewed and changed Rom. 12.2 This will evidence that I beare his Image 2. Cor. 3.18 3. All my little changes are but fore-runners of my great change Iob. 14.14 Death will come let me prepare for it by seeing his approaching and pulling out his sting which is done by faith in Christ his blood and serious repentance the thoughts of my end should be the end of my thoughts and my thoughts of death should be as a bridle and a spurre so death would be to me not a ruine but an advantage Sect. 3 The fifth branch is of the Moones gubernation HEr Regiment is over the waters a moist government the flood and ebbe is according to the encrease and wane of the Moone what power she hath on our braines or blood exceedes my knowledge but this is plaine the Moone drawes the Ocean as the Adamant doth the Iron At new moone and full moone the tide is highest Considerations How is my condition like the Moone as in my mutation and blemishes so in my calling and condition being Clerke and Steward to the Water engines like the Moone I cause the waters to flow abroad by my direction 1. The Moone was appoynted among the rest of the Planets for this office so I was chosen from the rest to my place 2. The Mooone is under the Sunne and an inferior yet over the waters as a governour So am I under my superiors yet as the Centurion have sevants under me 3. The Moone is faithfull in her Regiment and was never knowne to stoppe a tide or take a bribe to pervert order to teach me my duty to keepe order and Justice 4. The Moon is sometimes clouded yet still hath relation to the waters so is my inclination that way when other occasions keepe me away I forget not my relation that I beare toward the water-workes 5. The Moone is lesse welcome to theeves who love the darke because their deedes are evill and I finde my selfe most maligned by them whose falshood I discover Secondly the Moone over the waters is as the King over the people 1. As many droppes makes a River many rivers an Ocean so many people doe make up a Nation or an Army 2. Waters are sometimes calme and quiet and sometimes troublesome so are people sometimes quiet sometimes raging and furious 3. Water are for ornament and defence profit and refreshing so are people to the Prince 4. Some waters are salt some are fresh some are bitter some are for healing so are the people some are tart byting and censorious some are sweet loving amiable some are good mercifull and religious 5. Some waters are more obvious some are more obscure and runne under the ground so
world in heaven the life in the wombe is secret the life in the world is active the life in heaven is contemplative a life of vision The life in the wombe is secret in the conveyance and in the continuance In the conveyance Eccles 11.5 Thou knowest not the way of the Spirit In the continuance being nourisht by the Navill and preserved by a Divine Providence rather to be admired than disputed 2. The kindes of life are three a life of Nature a life of Grace a life of Glory The life of Nature is in such things as the strength of Nature can acte all attaine not to the like operations nor the same man is all times alike one man excelles another and the same man in time he doth excell his former actions some have attained to a great knowledge of the heavenly sphares and orbes some to the knowledge of the terrestriall globe finding out the minerals that lay hid and the Nature of the Creatures that doe live and growe on the earth man hath divided the world into foure parts for distinction of Countries and people some attaine to Arithmetique some are Musicall man hath found out writing printing Martiall discipline Navigation policie in Governement curious Arts Phisique Rethorique Logique much varietie for the being and well being of humane life The life of Grace is a spirituall life which onely the regenerate doe attaine unto 1. Consider how it is communicated 2. How it is manifested 3. How it is preserved First how it is communicated Christ is the originall of light and life Iohn 1.9 He is the way the truth and the life John 14.6 He is the Resurrection and the life John 11.25 He is a quickening Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 Giving life to his members This life is called spirituall life 1. Because the Spirit of God workes it 2. Because the carnall man knowes it not t is the spirituall man hath spirituall life 3. T is employed in spirituall things spirituall motions spirituall words and actions Secondly how t is manifested 1. By prayers desires longings after God where is breath there is life 2. By sence of sin to feele Idle thoughts indisposednesse to duties c. there is life for where is sence and feeling there is life 3. Affections against sin and for GOD argues life for where is heate is life 4. To doe good workes workes of mercie workes of pietie workes of mortification argues life for where is motion and action there is life Thirdly how spirituall life is preserved 1. By a good diet we must strive for appetite and for food labour and salt things and sharp things brings appetite we must exercise our selves in the Law and applie the curses and the threatnings home to the soule this will make us to hunger for Christ for mercie and grace then labour for nourishment the word preacht and reade the Sacraments and prayer and conference and meditation are spirituall nourishments to preserve spirituall life 2. Life is preserved by exercise we should put forth our habilities in duties as in Gods sight and for Gods Glorie here stirring is for soules health 3. Life is preserved by Physique 1. There is preventing Physique to remember Gods Presence Gods Law the great accompt the mercies we enioy the example of Christ these meanes keeps us from sinfull diseases 2. There purging Physique true sorrow free Confession humiliation prayer turning to God 3. There is restoring Physique to embrace the tender of mercie the promise of grace to lay hold on the bloud of Christ to ponder what is Gods sweete Nature what GOD hath beene to others what he hath beene to us formerly what he is to us at this present what a sweete Mediatour we have at the right hand of GOD this may restore us In the third place as there is a life of Nature and a life of Grace so there is for the soule a life of Glorie 1. There is an eternall life of Glorie 2. The felicitie of that life That there is an eternall life t is plaine Mark 10.30 In the world to come eternall life Iohn 3.16 Whosoever beleeves shall have everlasting life Eternall life is foure and twenty times to be read in the New Testament besides the other names of heavenly Glory heavenly inheritance c. The Arguments to prove an eternall life 1. Other wayes the Scriptures would be false which doe so manifestly reveale it unto us 2. Els we loose an Article of our Creed 3. The verie heathens have guessed at it 4. Els the Saints of all people were most miserable 1 Cor. 15.19 The Felicitie of that life 1. T is a life of Glorie in a Kingdome of Glorie with the God of Glorie 2. T is a life of pleasure Psalme 16.11 There is sweetnesse with our Glorie then they that mourned here shall laugh those that fasted shall feast and them imprisoned shal be enlarged 3. T is a life of triumph there be palmes in their hands in token of victorie then the poore child of God that is now militant shall triumph 4. T is a life of safetie there no theefe can come to rob no enemie to assalte no Divell to tempte there shall be no arrest no suite nor accusation against us 5. A life of love Love is the Law of the Kingdome everie one is glad of anothers felicitie so the ioy is mixt and enlarged they so abounding in love one to another and all to the Lord. 6. T is a spirituall life glorified there is no thirst nor wearinesse or lumpishnesse 7. T is a life of knowledge Ignorance is expelled we know here in part but then we shall know in perfection 8. T is a life of praises then prayers cease but praises never cease we shall doe it for ever with spiritualnesse and livelinesse and againe we sound forth the praises of God and againe and againe with infinite sweetnesse 9. T is a life of Communion with Christ and the Angels and all the Elect we shal be all of one mind none shall separate from this assemblie nor one profane man be admitted 10. T is a life of Satisfaction we shall say Lord I have enough Lord I am full I am satisfied richly rewarded here we ever want something but that life knowes want of nothing Of the death of the Soule 1. What Death is 2. How the Soule can be said to die 3. The cause of death 4. The signes of death First what death is Plinie calles it ruine Horace the last line of things Some call death a dissolution or departing sometimes t is afflictions 2 Cor. 1.10 Who delivered us from so great a death sometimes t is a dangerous thing 2 Kings 4.40 Death is in the pot Death is the separating the Soule from the body Heb. 9.27 our living out of Gods favour and without the Word of God is the shadow of death The separation of the Soule from the body is bodily death the separation of grace from the Soule is spirituall death the separation of the
sinned we had received Gods Image by a succession but now t is by reparation here imperfectly in grace hereafter wee shall have it transcendently in blisse and glorie Reflexions applicatorie from the former Heads 1. Thou O Lord hast given me a soule O graunt mee thy saving grace else I were better have no soule at all By thy grace preserve my soule which thou hast given mee thy way I admire but cannot comprehend 2. Thou hast ioyned my body and soule together wherein I see thy power and wisedome that canst make such contraries to unite together O ioyne Christ and my soule together that nothing may make a separation not life nor death 3. Thou onely hast Immortalitie from thy selfe my Immortalitie is dependant on thee the Blessed and Immortall God give me Faith and Sanctification here and I shall not faile of Immortall blisse hereafter let my thoughts of my mortalitie be mixed with hopes of Immortalitie and dwelling here in this world inhabited by mortals let my conversation be in heaven where mortalitie ceaseth and when I come to lay downe at my death the rags of mortalitie let me not be like them which despaire of Immortalitie and so dy raging or sensles let mee live the life of the righteous that my last end may be like his that though I dy as a mortall yet I may have a witnesse within me and give evidence without mee that I have striven for and waited for an estate Immortall 4. As there is the death of the body by the departing of the soule so there is the death of the soule by the departing of God from it O Lord my life depart not thou from mee then I dy I dy eternally pardon mee and abide with mee O cleanse mee and abide with mee set up thy governement in my heart raigne in my soule as a King on his Throne I am thine doe with mee what thou wilt onely abide with mee and doe not depart from mee 5. I live a life of Nature whereby I excell the unreasonable Creatures Lord when shall I live a life of grace say to my sinnes dy say to my prayers live when shall Lattaine mortification a heavenly frame of heart and be filled with the fruites of righteousnesse O! that I might attaine to the aboundance of grace that my whole life might be godly and religious holy heavenly and spirituall that it might be my meate and drinke to doe thy blessed Will O! that I could subdue my selfe denie mine owne corrupt will forgive iniuries be spirituall in duties love them most that be most godly be weaned from the world and hope for Christs appearing as he that lives a life of grace 6. There is a life of Glorie that followes a life of Grace I may admire it but not conceive it I better know what t is not then what it is Honour Glorie Joy Pleasures are there for the measure t is unconceaveable eternall life good companie is there a Crowne a Kingdome an Inheritance is there O! that the Contemplation of that long life might swallow up my eager thoughts for this short life O! that the Joyes of that life might in my mind sweeten the sorrowes of this life O! that the rest of that life might sweeten my mind in respect of the cares labours and troubles of this life O! that with Christ I could looke up to the Joy set before mee and with Moses looke to the recompence of reward Lord raise Meditations of heaven in my heart give me a heavenly use of the thoughts of heaven let me oftner thinke of heaven oftner speake of heaven be more resolved for the wayes of heaven let me so have heaven in my soule here that I may have my soule in heaven hereafter that I may at last have that in fruition that I have now in expectation 7. Thy Image O Lord was stamped on man at the first as a Divine Character but alas wee have lost thy Image and are most uglie filthie abominable obiects I have nothing to present before thee but sinne and shame yet I fnd in thy Word there is a remnant shall be restored againe thine Image repaired and their soules and bodies saved if I live and dy in mine owne Image so I shall arise at the last then O mountaines fall on mee O hills cover mee I am ashamed of my filthinesse now I shall be worse ashamed then if I be not in this life renewed O repaire my soule that I may have thy Image not onely in superioritie over thy Creatures under mee but by regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost So much of the Soule next of the Body Of the Body of Man 1. Whereof the Body was made 2. Of the Excellencie of the Body 3. Of the mortalitie of the Body 4. Of the Immortalitie of the Body Section 1 First Whereof the Body was made Not of the Angelicall Nature nor of the heavenly Bodies the Sunne Moone or Starres but of the dust of the Earth Genesis 2.7 This puts me in mind of foure things 1. Of my basenesse I am but dust and earth 2. Of my frailtie and weaknesse I am brittle earth 3. Of my worldlinesse I bend towards earth in my minde to please my earthly body 4. Of my lumpishnesse heavinesse and dulnesse I am but a clod of earth 1. The basenesse of my body is exprest by these termes Houses of clay Iob 4.19 Vile bodies Philippians 3.21 2. The frailtie and weakenesse of our bodies hath these termes Man is a worme Iob 15.6 Man is as grasse and as the flower of the field Psalme 103.15 3. The worldlinesse of earthly man is set downe in these phrases yee covet Iames 4.2 and t is said to be wicked covetousnesse Esa 57.17 The covetous man is an Idolater Ephes 5.5 4. The lumpishnesse of man is exprest in these words or the like Goe to the pismire thou sluggard Pro. 6.6 Awake thou that sleepest Ephes 5.14 Arise call upon thy God Iona. 1.6 My basenesse should kill my pride my frailtie should kill my selfe-dependance my earthlinesse makes mee unlike the Angels my lumpishnesse should make me desire to be quickned Section 2 Secondly Of the Excellencie of mans body 1. The Excellencie appeares by the Creation of it the Blessed Trinitie consulted and fashioned it Genesis 1.26 2. All other bodies serve mans body as being more excellent than they all the Celestiall bodies give man bodily light the fowles and fishes and beastes feede his body the massie body of the earth is for his habitation and delight and nourishment 3. Christ tooke humane flesh and ioyned it to the Godhead and now our bodies are dignified exceedingly 4. Mans body hath excellent qualities of strength beautie nimblenesse and activitie so that we may say we are Artificiose confecti Psalme 139.15 Conclusions applicatorie 1. I am to be carefull of this curious worke-manship of GOD not to spoile it by wrastling fighting running over-heating it by drunkennesse intemperancie or any way or course to
bring ruine upon it 2. I am to serve GOD with my body by bowing before him speaking to him and for him by working walking doing suffering as the Apostle saith Glorifie God with your bodies 1. Cor. 6. 3. I must not defile my neighbours body nor oppresse the weake nor in passion wound or maime or kill that bodie that is Gods noble curious worke 4. I am to prefer the bodies of my servants being humane before the bodies of horses dogs hawkes parrets monkies apes to love them and care for them above the rest Section 3 Thirdly Of the mortalitie of mans body Mortalitie and death seises on mans body 1. Because of sinne and transgression 2. Because t is of mixt matter and composition 3. Because of Gods will and ordination First Because of sinne Rom. 5.12 Death came into the world by sinne sinne ushers-in death and then turnes from an usher to a sting and though some that receive grace doe pull out deaths sting by Repentance yet death hath matter to worke upon we being 2. Compounded of the foure Elements and being made of composition we are subiect to a dissolution fire aire water and earth are our composition heate cold moisture and drought doe strive to hasten our Conclusion if one prove praedominant above the rest then we conclude and dissolve to dust 3. Because of Gods will and ordination Statutum est T is appointed and ordained that men must dy Heb. 9.27 Conclusions applicatorie 1. This should stirre up my hatred against sinne which brings death and to manifest my hatred 1. By studying the destruction of it 2. By withdrawing the meanes that nourishes it 3. By groaning at the feeling and presence of it 4. By frequenting holy duties to subdue it 5. By longing for the time to be quite ridde of it 2. To remember my mortalitie thereby 1. I shall applie my heart to wisedome 2. Be the more moderate in all outward things 3. Be stirred and quickned to duties for there is no knowledge wit nor invention in the grave 3. I am to prepare for death and dissolution 1. By being sound in Repentance then death will be an advantage Daily I am to enlarge as I am able my Conviction Confession shame sorrow and forsaking of my sinnes so will the sting of death be pulled forth 2. I am to dy daily in affection I must be a man resolved for death then when sicknesse and death comes I may say Whom seeke ye I am the man take mee I submit 3. When death comes Mors ultima linea rerum being my last line I am to endeavour to dy in Faith with patience hopefully with giving instruction to others if I have time and senses and speech and to dy with devotion commending my Soule to the Lord. 4. Death is an Ordinance of GOD and all his Ordinances are for our good and much to be regarded The benefit of this Ordinance is 1. We by it attaine to perfect mortification that we have beene digging at all the time of our new life and loosened the earth about the rootes of sinne death comes as a mighty blustering wind and downe fall our sinnes never to rise any more 2. By this Ordinance we come to rest from all our drudgerie turmoile and labour 3. By this Ordinance we have a passage to Paradise the third Heaven Abrahams boosome to the companie of innumerable Angels to our Inheritance our Masters Joy 4. By this Ordinance we be freed from oppression dangers feares faintings indisposednesse and evill companie So much of the mortalitie of the body Section 4 Fourthly of the Immortalitie of the body 1. It was Immortall in the Creation 2. It shall be Immortall at the Resurrection 3. Some have Immortalitie by translation as Henoch and Elias First Mans body was immortall by Creation before sinne there was no death for death came into the world by sinne Rom. 5.12 Man was not made mortall and sinne came not as an accident to make death a punishment as though Adam had dyed if he had not sinned but now hee dyes as a punishment of sinne But he was made immortall and had he not sinned he had not dyed for Angels had immortalitie by Nature Adam was immortall in his condition being in his body without deformitie and his humours without contrarietie death and all the fore-runners of death sicknesse sorrowes paines proceed from the transgression which altered our immortall estate Conclusions applicatorie 1. Sinne alwayes makes mans exchanges woefull we have changed immortalitie for mortalitie beauty for deformitie felicitie for miserie 2. This should humble us to consider wee were once immortall greate men decayed doe looke back on former dignities with sighes 3. We should lay the blame on our selves when we feele our ruines GOD made us happie blessed and immortall in our Creation 4. We may take a view of our immortall condition by Comparisons If Absolon was so beautifull what was Adam If Asahel was so swift of foote if some men are so wise and skilfull having but some remainder of the excellencie Adam lost what had he then himselfe in his ioyfull innocent immortall condition Secondly the body shall be Immortall at the Resurrection It shall be raised spirituall and immortall 1 Cor. 15.44 Mortalitie and death and sinne shall be abolished There is the dominion of sinne the being of sinne the consequent of sinne The dominion is taken away in our Regeneration the being ceases at our dissolution the consequent which is death and mortalitie is taken away at the Resurrection Conclusions 1. I that like of comlinesse and activitie may looke backward what I was in Adam and forward what I shall be at the Resurrection and so exercise my griefe and hope 2. In all my lumpishnesse and drowsinesse of body I may comfort my selfe in this at the Resurrection I shall serve GOD with that conformitie of body to my soule that there shall be no let nor impediment then my body shall be immortall with my soule Then there shall be no actuall evill for Grace shall be consummated nor potentiall evill being confirmed in goodnesse and holinesse no actuall corruption of body then there shall be no defect nor deformitie no potentiall corruption then all passions cease all sufferings are abolisht the passions of the senses shall be with Joy and perfection as Musique perfects our hearing 3. With the prospect of Faith by the light of the word I see a glimpse of the bodies immortalitie Absolon had naturall beautie and here is a reflex in this life but then the soule shall appeare in the body as the wine in the pure glasse the soule shall be ioyned to GOD the body to the soule and both glorious Now to come to the particulars and first of the Head The Head of man is 1. Obvious and is seene above the rest of the body 2. T is honourable above the rest of the members 3. T is united to the body 4. It conveighes influence to the body 5. It is sensible all