fainting fits Thousands I am confident of imprisoned and plundered Saints can experimentally speake to the truth of this It is but the fulfilling of that promise of him who is Truth it selfe who hath engaged himselfe to be present with his in their greatest streights When thou passest thorow the waters I will be with thee and thorow the rivers that they shall not overflow thee When thou walkest thorow the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Isai 43.2 Whither will the childe feare to goe whilest it is in the fathers armes Though I walke thorow the valley of the shadow of death saith David yet will I feare none evill for thou art with me Psal 23.4 CHRIST's presence maketh amends for all Hee is so eminently and transcendently good that what-ever is wanting in the creature is supplyed out of his blessed selfe If food be wanting to his to feed them if clothes to cover and keep them warme yet hee is equivalently good yea better to them then all these or whatsoever else they can stand in need of O stand still then and seriously take notice of the happy estate of a soule reconciled to GOD in CHRIST all outward troubles cannot hinder his joy nor stoppe the entercourse of love betwixt CHRIST and his soule Hee liveth above all troubles His life is hid with CHRIST in GOD Coloss 3. vers 3. Hee liveth where hee loveth his conversation is in heaven Philip. 3. vers 20. All the enemies in the world cannot take away his joy Hee may lose house goods lands friends but still hee hath his portion GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion for even Psal 73. ver 26. All the powers of hell and all the enemies in the world are not able to take away his comfort They may strip him naked of all the comforts of this life yea they may if the LORD permit take away life it selfe but yet they cannot take away CHRIST who is the life of his life and the joy of his soule Here is a true beleevers conquest His jewell his treasure his best and greatest comfort both in life and death cannot be taken away Enemies may separate betwixt the body and the soule but never betwixt the soule and CHRIST USE 3. Thirdly This may discover unto us the desperate folly of those who are sollicitously carefull after the things of this world and in the meane time altogether carelesse concerning that which they ought principally to labour after never truely seeking after communion with GOD in CHRIST Of such wee may justly take up that complaint Yee will not come unto mee that yee might have life John 5. vers 40. They will not come to CHRIST they will not beleeve in him they will not roll themselves upon him for life and salvation They will not kisse the Sonne they will not have CHRIST to reigne over them To such I may say in the words of the holy Spirit Why is there a price put into the hands of fools seeing they have not an heart to it Why doe such lay out their money for that which is not bread Isa 55. ver 2. for that which will not comfort in time of need Why is the blessed free and gratious tender of CHRIST so slenderly esteemed and ungratefully refused This this will prove The condemnation That men love darknesse rather then light John 3. ver 19. How shall this muzzle the mouthes of all impenitent sinners that have lived in these Gospel times who have neglected so great salvation as hath been held forth unto them How unutterably miserable shall the condition of such be When the LORD JESVS shall bee revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not GOD and obey not the Gospel of our LORD JESVS CHRIST 2 Thess 1.7 8. USE 4. Fourthly The Use of this in the last place shall be for exhortation to exhort every one of us that as wee desire to finde any true solid soule-satisfying comfort either in life or death so to labour now to get a title and interest in CHRIST Strive to be found in CHRIST not having any righteousnesse of your owne but that which is through the faith of CHRIST the righteousnesse which is of GOD by faith Philipp 3. ver 9. Endeavour to get strong evidence to your soules that you are Christ's and hee yours Get the love of CHRIST shed abroad in your hearts that your soules may be heated with the reflection of this love Pray that your soules may be arrested with the love of CHRIST with such a love as the Spouse mentioneth Cant. 8. vers 6. A love as strong as death that conquers the greatest giant and mightiest Monarch A zeale for CHRIST as inexorable as the grave that the coales thereof may be fiery coales scorching coals This love will facilitate the greatest difficulties and make the Saints not to love their lives unto death This hath made the holy Martyrs kisse the stake and joyfully embrace the flames This made that blessed Ignatius when hee heard the lions roare that were purposely kept hungry to the end they might more eagerly devour him cry out O that I were with those beasts that are prepared for mee whom I desire should soon make an end of mee but if they should refuse to touch my body as through fear sometimes they have abstained from some of the Saints I would provoke them to fall upon me Others have said Racks strappadoes torments are but a play to us Flames of fire have seemed to them no lesse pleasant then beds of downe Thus have these blessed soules beene warmed yea inflamed with love to CHRIST The heat and strength of this love hath also moved the Saints lying upon their death-beds even as it is reported of the Swanne to sing before their death and to allure their soules as it were to hasten out of their bodies with old Simeon to cry out LORD now let thy servant depart in peace Luke 2. vers 29. And with good Hilarian These seventy yeeres and upwards thou hast served the LORD therefore now goe forth O my soule with joy They know right well that though they die yet the sting is pulled out and death to them is but a passage to a better life Hence it is that they welcome death as that blessed harbinger of their soules eternall happinesse This hath made them look upon the day of death as the day of harvest to the husband-man as the day of deliverance to the prisoner as a day of marriage to the Bride Upon this day have the Saints looked as a day of exultation and triumph over sinne death and hell O death Where is thy sting O grave Where is thy victory 1 Corinth 15. ver 55. It hath made them to long to be dissolved and to bee with CHRIST which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 farre farre the better Philip. 1.23 As a Reverend Divine that I have read of who the day before hee died called earnestly for the Bible saying Come oh come death approacheth let us gather some flowers to comfort this houre Another Oh what an happy change shall I make from night to day from death to life from a troublesome world to an heavenly rest Thus have many blessed Saints even longed for death and rejoyced at the very approaching of it which they could never have done had they not assuredly knowne that they should be exceeding gainers by their change had they not confidently beleeved that when these earthly tabernacles should be dissolved they should have a building of GOD not made with hands c. Oh how doth it concern us especially in these cloudy dayes to strive for interest in CHRIST Therefore as ever you desire to finde any comfort in these sad times especially at the hour of death when all other comforts shall take their leave so labour to get a tirle and interest in CHRIST that with Paul you may be able to say CHRIST is to mee both in life and death advantage NOw concerning this Gentle-woman whose death we have all cause to lament being one who was in an especiall manner instrumentall to the glory of GOD. Although I have ever hated flattery yet where I finde much of GOD I desire to speak something to his glory Many things worthy of imitation have I being much conversant with her observed in her A briefe account of some of them I shall in a word or two hint unto you First Shee was very conscientious in observing the Lords day Secondly Shee was principally carefull over the soules of her children and servants in her husbands absence A lively character of a truely vertuous wife When should the Moon shine bright but in the absence of the Sun Thirdly The cause of GOD and the welfare of his people were most deer unto her In a word Such was her demeanor in her whole conversation that I could easily be eloquent in speaking of her but I must set bounds to my selfe God hath taken her from us I must speake no more to her neither shall I for the present speak any more of her But oh that what I have or deservedly might have spoken of her might provoke others to emulation that you would strive to walk in her pathes that you might hereafter partake of her Crown I shall conclude in the words of the Apostle in the same Epistle wherein I began Phil. 4.8 Finally brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue if there be any praise think on these things FINIS
if either I must forsake them or deny Christ were they a thousand times dearer I would willingly leave them Deerest friends chiefest delights coming in competition with Christ must be disregarded In this case wee must Patrem calcare c. as Jerome speaketh wee must trample upon father and cast away mother we must know no relation so as to hinder us from Christ Hee that doth not thus hate father and mother and wife and children in respect of Christ is not worthy of Christ Thus you see upon inquiry that there is no soule-satisfying comfort to be found on this side Christ As every thing moveth towards its owne proper center and is not at rest untill it come thither so the soule of a true beleever inclineth and moveth towards Christ and never resteth contented untill it come to Christ and hath the fruition of Christ As Noah's Dove found no rest untill shee returned to the Ark and as the Bee findeth no rest untill shee returne to the hive so the soule that truely desireth communion with Christ can meet with no true contentation but in Christ As David sweetly Returne unto thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee The reconciled face and favour of God in Christ is the onely true rest of the soule The soule is restlesse untill it finde this rest Now as you have seen that there is no true comfort to be found in any enjoyment on this side Christ So wee shall endeavour to give in some arguments to prove That it is Christ alone in whom this comfort is wrapped up That the Lord Jesus Christ is a beleevers greatest advantage and best comfort both in life and death REAS. 1. Because Christ onely can free the soule from the greatest evill from the greatest burthen here in this life What is it that maketh the life of many a poor soule to be as bitter as death it selfe that maketh them to walk mournfully and Rachel-like refuse to be comforted Is it not sense of sinne and the weight of remaining corruption Doth not this constraine the poor wearied soule to cry out O wretched man that I am c. Now it is Christ alone that can ease this burthen I thanke God through Christ saith the Apostle Hee hath borne our griefes and carried our sorrowes saith the Prophet Isai 53.4 Wee are naturally dead in sinnes and trespasses 't is he that hath quickened us Wee have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an hand-writing against us 't is hee alone that hath taken it away and nailed it on his crosse We are subject to the power of darknesse 't is hee that hath spoyled principalities and powers Coloss 2.15 Hee hath disarmed Sathan of all power finally to hurt his elect It is Christ alone that can free the soule not onely from the guilt and punishment of sinne but also from the power and dominion of sinne Hee was made sinne for us that is by imputation that wee might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 God in his eternall councell appointed Christ to be surety for his elect and for his righteousnesse sake to accept of them as if they had been perfectly righteous in themselves Whom hee hath set forth saith the Apostle to be a propitiation for sinne Rom. 3.25 The originall word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sheweth the everlasting purpose of God to give his Sonne for the redemption of his elect So the same word is used Rom. 8.28 Christ was designed to this work of propitiation that is to bring his elect againe into grace and favour with God which hee performed By the merit of his death By the obedience of his life And also by the holinesse and purity of his birth and conception 1. By the merit of his death submitting himselfe to the whole curse of God deserved by their sinnes and standing in the gappe as it was said of Moses so bearing the brunt of Gods fiery wrath and indignation and thereby removing from them whatsoever Wrath or Justice could be offended at 2. By the obedience of his life in fulfilling Gods most righteous Law by yeelding perfect and entire obedience whereby they are accounted just and righteous And 3. By the holinesse and purity of his conception and birth imputed unto them whereby they are accounted personally as holy and pure in the sight of God as if they themselves had been conceived and born without spot of sinne And this holinesse and purity of Christs humane nature is no lesse reckoned to beleevers for healing their defiled nature then his obedience and suffering for remission of actuall sinnes and acquitting them from eternall destruction And to this purpose saith the Apostle Christ is made to us of God Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 CHRIST is made to such as beleeve in him not onely Righteousnesse in respect of his perfect fulfilling the Law of GOD for them but Sanctification also in respect of his holinesse innocency and most perfect purity of his holy and sanctified nature Thus there is from CHRIST made over to the true beleever whatever is needfull to his full and perfect justification in the sight of GOD. First There is merit and passion upon the Crosse answering for that curse and torment which hee deserved Secondly Integrity and obedidience of life answering for his disobedience Thirdly Perfect purity of nature answering for the impurity of his corrupt nature Now what greater comfort can there be to a beleeving soule then to have all his sinnes discharged and blotted out and himselfe acquitted in the sight of God and accounted as holy and pure as if hee had been conceived and born without sinne And to finde all his sinnes in CHRIST not onely pardoned but also overpowred and himselfe daily by degrees changed from one steppe of glorious excellency to another in sinnes ruine and graces reviving by the Spirit of the LORD Like as that poore cripple wee reade of Acts 3. v. 8. when hee was cured hee walked into the Temple praising GOD and leaping for joy even so the soule that findeth it selfe once thus set free by CHRIST cannot but with much more abundant joy triumphantly rejoyce in the free grace and mercy of GOD in CHRIST which hath set it free yea with a joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. vers 8. None knoweth the joy that such finde but the soule that hath laboured under the same burden and tasted of the like freedome A stranger intermedleth not with this joy REAS. 2. Because CHRIST onely can conferre upon the soule the greatest good What is the chiefest good that the soule is capable of here in this life What is it to have an heaven upon earth Is it not to enjoy GOD to have an intimate acquaintance with the LORD JESUS CHRIST to enjoy the sweet manifestations of his presence John 14. ver 21. Is not this the chiefest good and the great request of the soule To be kissed with the kisses of CHRIST'S
words are a triumphant manifestation of that benefit and comfort which Paul did assuredly expect to finde from Christ both in life and death Which words as I conceive not needing any further explication hold forth this Proposition DOCT. That the Lord Jesus Christ is a beleevers greatest advantage and best comfort both in life and death To mee to live is Christ and to die is gain Christ is my comfort both in life and death If I live the life that I leade is by faith in Christ If I die Christ shall be to mee advantage yea it is farre better for mee to be with Christ So affectionately desirous of enjoying still more communion with Christ was this blessed Apostle that hee tels the Corinthians I desire to know nothing among you but Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 No not at Corinth a City of Greece a famous and learned City yet hee desired even among them to know not a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not a tittle of any thing but Christ and him crucified The same Apostle telleth the Colossians that all outward priviledges and excellencies without Christ are nothing they cannot all make a man happy nor render him acceptable in the sight of God no it is Christ that is all in all Coloss 3.11 A title an interest in a Christ can onely doe this Wee are made accepted in the Beloved Ephes 1.6 Againe if you look forward into this Epistle written to the Philippians you shall finde the Apostle disrobing himselfe of all outward priviledges he was one of a good Family excellent parts one of the strictest Sect of the Pharisees yet saith hee I account all these losse in respect of Christ I account my time lost that was spent in these things I account them but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 offall garbage and filth that is thrown out to dogs Things they are indeed that may entice the dogs of the world but alas to mee saith the Apostle they are things of no value Such sweet comforts have the Saints found in Christ that Chrysostome saith The Name of Jesus hath a thousand treasures of joy and comfort in it And it is used by Paul as some have reckoned no lesse then five hundred times Thus Moses that holy man of God esteemed reproaches for Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt But how could those many opprobrious and contumelious speeches which the Hebrewes at that time in a strange land were subject unto be said to be the reproaches of Christ or for Christ when Christ was not yet born For answer to this yee know that Christ was the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world Hee hath ever been afflicted from the beginning of the world The afflictions of the Church are called the rebukes of Christ when the Saints are rebuked and persecuted Christ is persecuted and these Moses accounts greater riches then the treasures of Egypt Mocks and taunts banishment imprisonment losse of goods burning at a stake for the Name of Christ these are greater riches then all the treasures in the world without Christ and ought to be so esteemed I reckon saith the Apostle Rom. 8.18 or upon just reasoning I conclude that all the sufferings of this world are not worthy to bee compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us they are too light to be weighed with that glory The glory which the Saints shall have with Christ in the world to come shall abundantly exceed all their sufferings for Christ here And as their glory which they shall receive in the world to come is incomparable so their joy and consolation which they finde in communion with Christ here is unspeakable nothing else can satisfie or content them Should a Christian send out his soule by way of enquiry to knock at the door of all worldly contentments demanding whether any true soule-satisfying comfort and gain could be found in any of them they would all give in a negative answer Even as wee read concerning Wisdome Job 28.12 14. The depth saith It is not in mee c. so here of soul-satisfying comfort and gain it will be answered It is not in us Inquiry I. If you should inquire of riches whether they cannot give such soul-satisfying content Alas the answer is already upon record Riches availe not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death Pro. 11.4 from the sting and curse of the first death and altogether freeth from the second death T is righteousnesse but what righteousnesse Surely none other but the righteousnesse of God by faith in Christ That righteousnesse which in regard of working was the righteousnesse of Christ Rom. 5.18 and in regard of the imputing or appropriating of it is called the righteousnesse of God Rom. 3.21 Philip. 3.9 Paul durst not stick to a legall and duty-righteousnesse this will not stay the soule nor quiet the conscience in times of deep distresse but it must be a better an higher righteousnesse even the righteousnesse of Christ This is the righteousnesse that God will accept and that will afford quiet peace unto the soule This is that righteousnesse that will deliver from death Inquiry II. Honours and preferments cannot you stand the soule in stead in an evill day Cannot you step betwixt Gods wrath and a troubled conscience Alas these may carry worth and estimation among men but they are nothing in reference towards God Honour is but the raising of the value and esteem of a man here among others And when men have done what they can there is onely one Heraldry that maketh the difference of men and that is the grace of God Summa apud Deum Nobilitas est clarum esse virtutibus as one saith well 'T is grace that maketh men of the blood-royall partakers of the divine nature The best Nobility is the Nobility of faith and the best genealogie the genealogie of good works and they that truly endeavour to honour Christ them will hee honour But for worldly honour when it is once laid in the dust who can distinguish betwixt the greatest favourite of Princes here on earth and the poorest peasant These worldly preferments may adde much to the aggravation of mens condemnation in the day of the Lord Jesus but without grace to improve them to the glory of God they shall never adde to their consolation These cannot of themselves yeeld any true soule-satisfying comfort in time of distresse Inquiry III. Wife and children those dear delights of men here upon earth can you afford no soule-satisfying comfort in a time of spirituall distresse These these indeed are sweet comforts whilest injoyed with the favour of God in Christ as that blessed Martyr acknowledged who being asked whâ—her did love his Wife and children hee seeming so willing to leave them to die for the name of Christ Yea saith hee so deer are my wife and children to mee that were the whole world mine I would give it to live with them though it were but in prison But
mouth Cant. 1. v. 1. The sweet intimations of CHRIST'S love to the soule are good more then wine better then what-ever else can comfort For CHRIST to take the soule into his banquetting-house Cant. 2. v. 4. to communicate unto it largely the rich graces and treasures of his blessed Spirit to leade it as it were by the hand into his privie chambers and let it take a view of those jewels and precious things laid up for his people to refresh the soule with those spirituall consolations which exceed all outward troubles and to spread his banner or flagge of defence over the foule a banner against sinne Sathan and the world and this banner to be Love all this the love which CHRIST beareth to the foule This this so ravisheth the foule that shee is sick of love faint and sick with desire of enjoying more communion with CHRIST As Daniel when hee had recei ed abundance of revelations was faint and sick with desire of more cleare knowledge of his visions and of the Churches deliverance Dan. 8. v. 27. so the soule that hath once throughly tasted of these sweet consolations is sick after more communion with CHRIST crying out with the Spouse Stay mee with flagons c. Cant. 2.5 with the flagons of the wine of grace and spirituall consolations which Christ reacheth out to the soules of his REAS. 3. Because CHRIST onely can fit a Christian for all estates and conditions for all changes and alterations CHRIST can teach the soule humility in prosperity patience in affliction yea not onely so but also to rejoyce and glory in tribulations To glory is to have a kinde of insulting over them to live above them to undervalue them to set light by them And not onely to triumph over some light trials but even 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in pressing afflictions in tribulations Roman 5. ver 3. The presence of CHRIST carrieth the soule above all the troubles of the world and sets it upon that rock that is higher then all outward discouragements 'T is CHRIST alone that can teach the soul how to rest content in every condition I have learned saith Paul and surely it is a blessed art in whatsoever estate I am therewith to be content Philipp 4.11 But this knowledge hee tels us hee obtained from CHRIST I can doe all things through CHRIST that enableth mee REAS. 4. Because CHRIST onely can sweeten death and enable the soule couragiously to encounter that enemy which Aristotle calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The most Terrible of Terribles and Bildad one of Jobs friends The King of terrours when Sathan as usually hee doth in his last and greatest assault sendeth in his accusations like the waves of the sea or like Jobs messengers one in the neck of the other seeking to swallow up the soule in the gulfe of utter despaire presenting unto the soule as it were in one view the sight of the sinnes of her whole life together with all the aggravating circumstances Now it is CHRIST alone that can and at this time usually doth step in and rescue the soule taking away the captive out of the power of the enemy CHRIST now smileth upon the soule letting her feel the sweetnesse that redoundeth to the beleever by his bitter sufferings Hee enableth the foule by faith to cast anchour in heaven to stay it selfe upon the alone and all sufficient merits of the LORD JESUS And now the soule dares challenge death hell and Divels Who can lay any thing to the charge of GOD's Elect 'T is CHRIST that died yea rather that is risen againe for their justification USE 1. The first Use wee desire to make of this point may be to discover the vanity of all other comforts All comforts without CHRIST are but seeming comforts they are at the best but bitter-sweets there is farre more gall then honey in the best of them All other comforts without CHRIST are but like a lamp without oyle or a bone without marrow Without CHRIST the soule meeteth with emptinesse in the greatest worldly fulnesse 'T is CHRIST that filleth all in all Ephes 1.23 He putteth fulnesse of content and satisfaction into all the things that his servants enjoy The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soule Prov. 13.25 If hee have much hee blesseth GOD for it and laboureth to improve it to his glory if little hee is thankfull for it and content with it Godlinesse carrieth a selfe-sufficiencie along with it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Timoth. 6. ver 6. Other things without CHRIST may carry a shew of happinesse in them but indeed and in truth there is no true reall content and soule-satisfying comfort to be found in them The glory of the greatest that want CHRIST doth many times decay before them at the utmost it dyeth with them when they goe from their house to the grave their glory shall not descend after them It is not the quintessence of all things here below without the fruition of CHRIST with them and in them that can make a man happy Men doe but dreame of a contentednesse in them They are but a meer image and representation All worldly pomp is but a phantasie Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 25.23 These things are not so excellent as men think them to be But truely happy and assuredly blessed is that soule that enjoyeth communion with the LORD JESUS CHRIST that can truly say with Paul CHRIST is to mee both in life and death advantage USE 2. Secondly This may be an Use of Instruction to teach Christians seriously to take notice of the happy estate and condition of every soul reconciled to GOD in CHRIST The LORD JESUS is all the sweetnesse that the soules of his can desire Hee is honey in the mouth musick in the eare and a Jubilee in the heart saith Bernard Look upon one of GOD's reconciled ones in his most afflicted estate when hee is most estranged from all worldly comforts yet in the midst of all his outward wants and sufferings hee is truely happy by enjoying communion with GOD in CHRIST Let a mans outward condition be what it can yet in enjoying GOD the soule enjoyeth what-ever is necessary and conducible to her comfort and happinesse All comforts are in GOD as in the fountaine and spring all are primarily in him That which the Apostle speaketh to this purpose a Corinth 6. ver 10. is a strange Paradox to a naturall man As having nothing and yet possessing all things In enjoying GOD the beleever enjoyeth all even in that GOD who can not onely command but also create comforts Although the Lord many times leadeth his people into the wildernesse yet even there will hee speake comfortably unto them Hos 2. vers 14. GOD usually giveth in most of himselfe to his when they are most destitute of outward comforts The LORD dealing in this regard with his people as Physicians with their Patients who keep their choycest cordialls for