the Heavenly Canaan lyes through the Briars and Thorns of afflictions and that through many Tribulations we must expect to enter into the Kingdom of God We may learn from them that it is possible for poor frail Men to overcome all the Rage and Cruelty of the World that the greatest Torments may be patiently endured and that Christ can Ride Triumphant on such poor Worms as we are and by the weakest conquer all the strength and power of the World The same Spirit that animated and enabled them is yet alive to Cloath us with like Magnaminity and Resolution the Captain of Salvation is the same the Spiritual Weapons that we are to fight with are the same the promises of Spiritual supplies and supports are the same why then should Christians now despond or despair of like success and victory How many of the Primitive Saints did trend in their steps despising Torments and trampling on Death it self Justin Martyr * In dial cum Tryph. Jude◠applies that of Micah 4.4 to the Christians of his time he thus Addresses to the Enemies of the Church saying You behead us burn us and in several other ways kill us but yet you cannot make us afraid or destroy us When the Devil raged in the Roman Heathen Emperour Rev. 12.1.2 3 4. A great Red Dragon standing before the Church that was as a Woman in Travel to devour her Man-Child to destroy any Christians as soon as they were Spiritually brought forth to Christ yet this did not hinder Men from Embracing and Professing Christianity v. 11. but they overcame all the threatnings and cruelty of the World by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their Testimony and they leved not their lives unto the death Cyprian said of old Nos Christiani Spiritu magis viventes sumus quam Corpore We Christians do live rather in our Spirits than in our Bodies They did estimate and value the life of their Better and despise the life of their Baser part Arnobius contr Gentes tells the Heathen You benefit and not hurt us by killing of us our Souls are in our Bodies as in a dark Prison and by Martyring of us you do but pull down the Walls of our Prison and let in the pure and comfortable light upon us What a great Speech is that of Ignatius in Epist ad Rom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now being bound in Christ I learn to desire no worldly or vain thing He intimates he was weaned from and dead to all things in this World And doth not the same Spirit dwell and act in all the Saints of God How then should we trust upon the same Spirit for the same quickning Courage and Strength Direction 7. We must look beyond this World and above our ill Treatment and Usage here Faith sees him that is invisible Heb. 11.27 and causes the Soul to look at the things that are not seen 2 Cor. 4. last Though Christ be withdrawn from the Eye of Sense and Heaven be behind the Vail far removed from the Apprehensions of the Natural Man yet Faith can pierce the Heavens behold the Churches King there in his Glory and see that goodly Heavenly Canaan that is afar off Isa 33.17 If your Eye doth not go out of the World your Hearts will not go beyond it and if your Eye and Hearts do not pass out of this World you will never be willing to go without the Camp to Jesus It is Faith that must survey that glorious City that is above and make report of it to the Soul It is the Belief of what is testified of it in the Scripture that must animate the Soul to overcome all the Dangers and Difficulties that are in the way to it You must listen to what the Word declares concerning this excellent City Glorious things are spoken of this Heavenly Zion the City of our God Christ mentions it as an excellent Privilege to have the Name of the City of his God to be written on any Man and for him to be reputed a Citizen of the New Jerusalem Rev. 3.12 I will write upon him that overcomes the Name of the City of my God There is no Temple or need of the Light of the Sun or of the Moon in this City God is All here to his People to their Souls without Ordinances and to their Bodies without Creatures Rev. 21.22 23. This is a most rich and self-sufficient City it needs not Provisions to be brought in from without the Tree of Life grows in it Rev. 22.1 2. and a River of pure Living Water issues from the Throne of God and of the Lamb. The Fruit of this Tree of Life and this River of Living Water will make a delicious and eternal Feast to all the Inhabitants of this Blessed City Look for this abiding City that hath Foundations Heb. 11.10 Heb. 13.14 from whence all Sorrow Pain Misery and Death are banished for ever and where fulness of joy doth dwell and rivers of spiritual pleasures do flow for evermore All Gods Children shall be gathered into their Fathers House all his Subjects shall be taken into and shall dwell in the Kings Palace And Gods Palace is not like the Great Turk's Seraglio * Turkish Seragl at the end of Tavernier 's Travels which one ingeniously calls a Paradise for one but a Prison to all others that reside in it But this Royal Mansion of the King of Glory is not only a Paradise to Christ but to all his Members they enjoy the Riches partake of the Honours and taste the Pleasures of it Let Faith pass within the Walls and walk in the Streets of this heavenly Jerusalem O! strive by a Spiritual Eye to see the true King Solomon wearing his Glittering and Glorious Crown though men hid their Faces from him as a Leper trod on him as a Worm despised and abbhored him Is 49.7 yet he was glorious in the Eyes of the Lord God the Father received him into Heaven and welcomed him thither with these Honourable Words Sit thou on my Right Hand till I make all thy Foes to be thy Footstool Ps 110.1 And as Christ was treated after his Sufferings so will he entertain his People after their Sorrows and Afflictions How welcome will they be to him when they come out of the Field and arrive from off a Stormy and Raging Sea how will he chear and comfort them How kindly will he speak to them What marks of Honour will he put upon them How will he praise their Faith commend their Love approve and applaud their Constancy and Loyalty to him 1 Pet. 1.7 How honourably doth Christ speak of Antipas Rev. 2.13 He Styles him Antipas his Faithful Martyr So Christ will Paint out the Services and Sufferings of his People before his Father he will acknowledge and confess their Names thus These are they that have followed me in a Wilderness that have walked after me in the Valley of the Shadow of Death that have abode with me in
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken by the Grecian Lawyers vid. Zauch in Locum for a Mulct and Fine It is always a Crime in the Eye of the wicked World to separate from their corrupt ways and cleave to Christs Truth and pure Worship When the world are restrained when the Hands of Wicked men are bound then the Fine runs lower the men of this Earth only reproach and revile the People of God for this reputed Crime of forsaking Satans Camp and Tents and following Christ the Captain of Salvation But there are Times when Satan is loosed when the Dams are broken down and the restraints are taken off from his Instruments then a Flood of Temporal Evils pours in upon the People of God Now the Fine is increased they are threatned with spoiling of Goods loss of Liberty and Life if they will not deny Christ and comply with the inventions and corruptions of men There are Seasons when Sailing towards Heaven seems very dangerous in the Eye of Flesh and Blood As Paul Acts 27.9 10. When Sailing began to be dangerous towards Winter saith Sirs I perceive this Voyage will be with hurt and much dammage of the Lading of the Ship and of our Lives Even so men may perceive and discern such Times when the Voyage to Heaven is like to be with much Dammage of all the Wealth and Riches that they have laded themselves with yea their very Lives may be lost Have you thought of such cloudy times of dark hours of temptation of the gloomy Valley of the Shadow of Death that God may try you whether you will cast all over-board to keep the purity and peace of your Consciences suffer shipwrack of your Estates and Honours rather than suffer shipwrack of Faith and your Integrity You may lay the Foundation of your Spiritual building in a peaceable time in Halcyon days but great storms and fights of Affliction may arise and surprize you before you have finished your Building As the Foundation of the Temple of Jerusalem was laid in Peace without opposition or contradiction from the World but before they could finish it their Enemies bestirred themselves procured an Authority and Order from the King of Persia against them and speedily put it in Execution causing the Jews to cease by force from prosecuting of this Building Compute the 3. of Ezra the 8 9 10 11. with 4. of Ezra 21.23 Thus it may be with you Consider therefore whether your Hearts are fired and your purposess fixed for Christ Can you say with Paul You are ready to be bound and to die for the Name of the Lord Jesus Acts 21.13 Are you not rather resolved against standing any brunt bearing any hardship suffering any loss for that Profession as Henry the 4th of France is said to have spoken that he would venture no further into the Sea of Religion but that he might still see the Shoar and retreat at his pleasure to it Have you not such secret resolutions as these that you will not interest your selves too deeply and ingage too far in any matter of Religion but that you may make a fair and safe retreat if you see need Or have you reckoned up all the troubles and losses that you may be exposed to for Christ and are come to this resolution with Paul Acts 20.24 None of these things move me neither do I account my life dear to me that I may finish my Course with joy Do you judge of all Losses and Afflictions as Paul that said I count the Sufferings of the present time not to be worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 Are you resolved to go forth to a Despised Hated and Persecuted Jesus and with Peter to count your selves safer with Christ on the Waves than in the Worlds Ship without him Matt. 14.26 28 29. Quest 2. Have you sold all for Christ Matt. 13.44 45. He that found the hidden Treasures for joy went and sold all that he had that he might buy the Field and assure the Treasure to himself Christ is a Rich Treasure a Pearl of inestimable Price O! have you found this Treasure this Pearl Do you discern espy and know the Worth and Riches of Jesus Christ Are you so affected with him as to sell all for him And what is it to sell all for Christ Surely it is to part with the esteem to relinquish the inordinate love of this world or any thing in it When the Market is faln the Price of these things beaten down as it were to nothing buy those Spiritual Goods that are imported by Christ the heavenly Merchant from another World O! have your Souls such a sight of Christ and his Excellent Commodities that you are weaned from your Estates and Lives that you little value any thing here below yea count all things but Dung that you may gain Christ Phil. 3.8 If you have indeed thus sold all things it will not be very difficult to yield possession to quit the use and enjoyment of that which your Hearts are dead to That which is truly put and turned out of your Hearts will certainly be cast out of your Hands in the day of Trial and Adversity Quest 3. Are you indeed Married to Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 I have espoused you to one Husband even to Christ Rom. 7.4 that you may be Married to him that is raised from the dead Hath he spoken and gained your Hearts Hath he allured and drawn your Souls to himself In Jer. 2.2 God speaks of the love of Israels Espousals That she went up after him and followed him in a Wilderness in a Land that was not sown where they might fear want and feel Penury without a miraculous and extraordinary Provision If you are truly espoused to Christ you will follow him in a Wilderness I have read an History concerning the Mogul a Great Prince in the East Indies that grew jealous of his Son lest he should aspire to his Kingdom and dethrone him in his absence from his Imperial City And therefore caused a Tower to be built without any Gate or Door yet well stored with all necessary Provisions in it to shut up his Son during the time of his absence When this was understood the Wife of this Young Prince desired to be shut up with her Husband in this Tower such was the great love that she did bear to him Thus if you love Christ as a Husband you will go out to him you will not be separated and parted from him but will say as Ittai to David 2 Sam. 15.21 As the Lord liveth where my Lord the King is there will thy Servant be whether in Life or in Death As Rachel and Leah were ready to leave and forsake their Fathers House and to follow Jacob their Husband into his Country and Fathers House Gen. 31.13 14 15 16. Even so wilt thou determine to go forth to and follow Christ to his Heavenly Country if he be thy Husband and the
〈◊〉 GREAT DUTY OF Christians TO Go forth without the Camp TO JESUS Set forth in several SERMONS On Hebr. XIII 13. By S. T. M. of A. of Trinity College in Cambridge LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Three Bibles and Crown in Cheapside MDCLXXXII To the Right Honourable WILLIAM Lord RVSSEL Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ My Lord IT is one of the wonderful Riddles and deep Mysteries of Providence That the Church that hath the least of Sin should yet endure the most of Sufferings That the Metal that is best refined should be most often cast into the Furnace and That they that are most white in their Souls with the Beauty of Holiness should be so black'd in their Outward Man and State by the scorching Sun of Persecution How hard is it for those that live by Sense to believe That they shall wear glittering Crowns and sit on glorious Thrones for ever that now are crushed as Worms under the Feet of Sinners and are bruised as Grapes in the Wine-press of the Worlds Rage and Fury But as the First-born of God's New Family veiled his Majesty emptied himself and hid his Glory Phil. 2.6 His visage was marred more than any man and his form than the sons of men Isa 52.14 so his younger Brethren are arraied in dark Parables of Shame Reproach and Sufferings The blessed Life of Saints is now hidden and a base and course Covering is spread over all their intrinsick Glory they are as it were disguised and incognitol in the World 1 John 3.1 Pignorius observes Quicquid Taetrum Saevum Horribile in Christianos olim excogitatum exercitum est illud omne ut ego Censeo a servis ad illos transivit De Servis p. 9. That is Whatsoever Grievous Horrible and Cruel Torments were of old practised against the Christians in the Primitive Times were just the same that cruel Masters used to inflict on their bought Slaves O what a dark Veil was cast over the Adopted Sons of God when they were treated just as imperious and tyrannical Masters used to handle their poor and vile Slaves Those that the World hath not been worthy of have been driven Into Wildernesses as if they were not worthy to converse with and live among Men The precious Sons of Zion comparable to fine Gold have been reputed as the vile potsheards of the earth Lam. 4.2 and the heirs of Glory been accounted but as Sheep for the Slaughter Psal 44.22 Peter Martyr in Rom. 8.36 thus glosses the Words That they are not preserved as some Sheep for their Wooll and Lambs but are like other Sheep fed and fatted that their Bodies may be for Meat Scultetus thus understands the Words in Psal 44.22 That the Wicked of the World do make no more to kill the Saints of God than a Butcher doth to kill Sheep The Bodies of the Saints have been laid as the mire of the Streets and their Blood poured out as Water on the Ground and Wicked Men have been permitted to do to some of them even as they would Read Isa 51. last Psal 79.3 Matth. 17.12 My Lord This being the State of the Church of God for the most part in the World how necessary is it that every Christian should be armed with Faith and Patience that the Truths of God should be deeply rooted in our Souls that they may serve as an Helmet to guard our Heads in a great Fight of Afflictions and as an Anchor to establish our Hearts in a grievous Storm of Persecutions These following Considerations may somewhat conduce to this great End 1. Christians should consider That Jesus Christ was not of this World neither is his Kingdom of this World John 18.36 and he represents and commends his Disciples to his Father as conformed to him in this John 17.14 16. They are not of the World even as I am not of the World Christ did but Tabernacle John 1.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in our frail Flesh and passed through the World as a Pilgrim and Stranger And all the Gospel-Worship of Christians is set out by keeping the Feast of Tabernacles Zech. 14.16 And what doth this Expression import Surely this among other things may be hinted to us by this Text That as we are most gratefully to acknowledge this great Mercy of the Son of God's Tabernacling in our Flesh so that it ought to have this Effect upon us to make us to sojourn in the World as Pilgrims and Strangers in expectation of a glorious Life and Inheritance in Heaven We should account that this Natural Life is not our Life but that our Life is hid with God in Christ Col. 3.3 That this Earth is not our Country and that Worldly Enjoyments are not our Portion and Treasure Christ hath crucified our Old Man and abolished the Natural Life by his Death Rom. 6.6 Christ hath put an end to the old Stateâ— Week and World and by Rising again the First Day of the Week he hath begun a new Week and World The Eternal Day doth dawn Immortality is brought to light Everlasting Life is begun and exemplified in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ And he is ascended to Heaven to chuse the Inheritance of and prepare a place for all the Family and Houshold of Faith Psal 47.3 To this Jesus we are called to go forth on this Magnetick and Glorious Object are we to fix our Eyes and Hearts If the Wise Men acknowledged him as King when he lay in a contemptible Cradle and the Thief addressed to him as such when he hung on an ignominious Cross shall not we much more confess and adore him now crowned with Honour and Glory and sitting on the Right hand of the Majesty on High Shall we dote on a World that is a sink of Sin and a Scene of Vanity Shall be we fond of the vile and base Life of the First dislike and disparage the glorious Life of the Second Adam Shall we be charmed by or chained to poor beggarly Objects below and despise the glorious Portion and rich Inheritance of Christ above Shall a short Life clogged with Sin clouded with Sorrows â—â—â—â—â—â—tered with continual Temptations and Warfare be preferred before a Life of Immortality ennobled with glorious Holiness perfect Peace and triumphant Joy 2. Christians should consider what this World is and the Men of it are That they are called out from the World it self is devoted to the Fire this Earth must be burnt up 2 Pet. 3.10 And shall we feed on that which must be reduced to Ashes Shall we lay up our Treasure and Portion where the Flames will devour and consume all And what are the unregenerate Men of this World but Spiritual Carcases dead in Sins and Trespasses Strabo in his Geography lib. 17. tells us of a City in Egypt calle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The City of Dead Men because of the multitude of Dead Bodies that were Embalmed there And he
a Crown is laid up 2 Tim. 4.8 an Inheritance is reserved 1 Pet. 1.4 a Rest remains for them Heb. 4.9 While their Bodies feed on God's Creatures their Souls may delight in and feast on their Fathers Love accounting that he gives bread to them that fear him he will ever be mindful of his Covenant Psal 111.5 that he spreads their Table fills their Cup Psal 23.5 annoints their heads and hearts with Oyl of Joy as Ointment was poured on great and noble Guests when they were entertained at a Feast Cant. 1.12 Mat. 26.7 They take all as coming immediately from God Gen. 48.15 The God that fed me all my life long He looks beyond Joseph Egypt and all Creatures he ascends to God as the Priests had the Lord for their Portion he provided and gave maintenance to them the Altar was as it were their Field from whence they had Bread and Flesh Mal. 1.22 therefore what was brought to and laid on it is called the Fruits of it as if it grew there for the Priests that had their Portion of the Sacrifices and are therefore said to live upon holy things and partake with the Altar 1 Cor. 9.13 Even so God is the Portion of his People even in Temporal as well as Spiritual respects Psal 16.5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. Their very outward Enjoyments are as Shew-bread or Face-bread as it is in the Original Exod. 25.30 They receive them as those Loaves of Shew-bread from the Face of God they see his Face and Love in them and therefore may call them Peniel Gen. 32.30 They take their daily Provision as a Dish sent from their Father's Table as Joseph is said to send Messes from before him to his Brethren Gen. 43. last Their Food is seasoned with the sense of their Father's Love and with the hope of his Kingdom and Glory and so their Sawee is better than their Meat Besides after this Hundred-fold in the present time they are to inherit Everlasting Life Christ saith He that loseth his life shall find it but he that finds it shall lose it Mat. 10.39 David said Died Abner as a fool 2 Sam. 3.33 So I may say Do Saints die as Fools Do they lavish out their Blood and rashly squander away their Lives Surely no they well understand themselves and know what they do if they lose their Lives for Christ they shall find a better Life for their very Bodies They lay down the vile common Plebeian Life of the first Adam but they shall at the Resurrection receive and take up the Honourable Royal and Glorious Life of the second Adam Phil. 3.21 He shall fashion our vile Bodies like his glorious Body If we be faithful to the death we shall receive from Christ the Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 Mark that Expression The Crown of Life This very Life is a Crown it is a Royal Life Rom. 5.17 it is said That they that receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life So that Saints lose a base and common Life and are recompensed with a Kingly Life All Vails shall be taken off all Clouds shall be scattered all Reproaches shall be wiped away from the Saints the righteous shall shine out in the kingdom of their father Matth. 13.43 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Sun that disperses all Clouds But those that resolve to save their lives shall lose them This is certain that by a fond and sinful sparing of their Lives here they shall cut themselves off from all the Glory and Blessedness that Saints shall enjoy in their Souls and Bodies Hereafter they shall only Be to be Miserable and be continued to endure the Blows of an Almighty Arm to drink the Wine of the Wrath of an Eternal God and this is but a Husk and Carcase of Being Isa 66. last to be preserved to be Fuel of Everlasting Flames This State of the Wicked therefore is not called Life but the second Death yea sometimes in this Life Apostates meet with remarkable and infamous punishment and quickly lose that Life that sinfully they preserved He in Queen Maries days that said See Foxes Acts Monuments he could not burn for the Gospel of which in King Edward's Days he had been a forward Professor was himself and all his House and Family burnt in the Night by a Fire that rose suddenly And the Priest that denied the Truth in France to save his Life and was discharged out of Prison as he was going home met with two Men that had a quarrel with him for merly who fell upon him and killed him See Clarke 's History of the French Martyrs Secondly I shall now lay down some Directions how you may attain such a frame of Spirit as will incline you readily and freely to go forth without the Camp to Jesus Direction 1. Endeavour to get a clear sight of the Shortness of Life and the Vanity of all the Things of this World Surely every man walks in a vain shew Psal 39.6 What is this vain shew I answer It is the Natural Life and the earnest and restless Endeavours of Men about it and for it This Life is but a vain shew of Life as a Shadow that hath the shape of Man's Body but yet is but a vain shew of a Body or a Picture that hath the resemblance of a Man of his Head Face Body Hands and Feet but come to handle it there is nothing but Canvas and Colours there is only a vain shew of a Man and of his Members but no Flesh Bones or Life So this present Life is but a Shadow a vain shew of that true and real Life that flows from Jesus Christ and is to be enjoyed for ever with him And all the Labours and Toil of Men to provide for and maintain this Life is but a vain shew of Business Men seem to do something but indeed do nothing to purpose as long as they neglect theit Souls It is a busie Idleness a laborious doing of nothing just like Children that make Pies build Houses dress Babies and talk over every piece of their Work as if it were some very serious weighty thing and all is but a piece of childish Folly and Vanity When God awakes to judge the World how will he himself despise and render most ridiculous and contemptible to others this Image of worldly men Psal 73.20 How will he deride their Folly that forget their Souls cast God and his Word behind their backs banish the Thoughts of Eternity out of their Minds and satisfie themselves with such a vile Life and such a vain Image of Happiness And the Psalmist in this 39 Psalm ver 6. saith That a worldly Man heaps up Riches and knows not who shall gather them He seems to allude to the Custom of some Countries where the Corn is heaped up and set Artificially in the Field so as to preserve it from Weather till all
Exod. 16.3 And in the 11. of Numb the 5. Verse We remember the Fish which we did eat in Egypt freely the Cucumbers the Melons the Leeks the Onions and the Garlick There they accounted they had their Varieties Fish and Flesh several sorts of Sallets and Fruits but now they reckoned they were at short Commons and confined to one Dish ver 6. There is nothing but this Manna before our Eyes And their Soul was dried away with it And Numb 16.13 Some of them chid with Moses and challenge him for bringing them up out of Egypt which they call a Land flowing with Milk and Honey O! how excellent pleasant a Land is Egypt in their Eye The Epithetes God gave to Canaan they transfer and apply to Egypt as if the Country they were called from did better deserve this Name than the Land that they were called to And they seemed so far to be transported with the love of Egypt and to repent of their leaving of it that they stirred up one another to make a Captain and to return thither again And Stephen asserts that they returned to Egypt again in their Hearts Acts 7.39 Thus too many pretend a separation from the World yet the World is still in their Hearts And while it is thus they will never go forth without the Camp to Jesus But Christians should strive to imitate Abraham Isaac and Jacob The Scripture saith that if they had been mindful of the Country from whence they came out they might have had opportunity to have returned Heb. 11.15 Hereby the Divine Pen-man sufficiently intimates that they were not mindful of Vr of the Chaldees the Country from whence Abraham came They did not confess themselves Pilgrims and Strangers because drawn from Vr but because they were yet on Earth and not arrived in Heaven They were quite weaned from and dead to Vr and all other Countries on Earth Thus the world should be rooted and banished out of our Minds and Hearts Christ hath chosen his people out of the World John 15.19 and therefore they should not remember or be enticed by it but leave this Camp and go forth to Jesus 4. Direct Labour to get a clear sight and deep sense of the love of Christ to perishing Sinners and particularly to your own Souls How wonderful is it that He that made all things should be made Flesh 1 John 1.2.14 that the Creator should become a Creature That the Fountain and Ocean of Being should take a Humane Nature and so become a drop of Being A Diamond or Ruby is debased when set in Iron or Lead what a wonderful condescention is it then that the Divine Nature should be joyned with a Humane Nature in the Person of the Son How did he that was in the Form of God and thought it no Robbery to be equal with God empty and humble himself by becoming man They are very Excellent and Emphatical Words that the Apostle uses Phil. 2.6 7 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he emptied himself of all Majesty State and Divine Glory in the Eye of Man which the Apostle admirably expresses thus He was found in Fashion like a Man That is he looked but like an ordinary and common Man as if there were nothing extraordinary or supernatural in him as if he were no more than a Man Thus he vailed his Eternity Omnipotency Immensity and infinite Wisdom by becoming an Infant of Days a Weak Child confined to a Manger or a Cradle and not able for the present to speak and express the inward Sentiments of his Soul The Ancient of Days yea he that was Ancienter than Days whose goings forth were from Everlasting came forth of Bethlem but yesterday Mic. 5.2 All Temporal Benefits are compared by Parisiensis to sparks of Fire But when Jesus Christ came into the World this he saith was a Mountain of Fire cast into the Earth How should the Hearts of the Sons of Men be inflamed by this wonderful and astonishing kindness of God in sending his Son And Christ did not stop here but he stooped yet lower when he was he found in fashion of an ordinary common Man he humbled himself to death and that not an ordinary or common one but to the death of the Cross A death that Servants Thieves and the worst of Malefactors were adjudged to A painful lingring and most shameful death it was and this he did undergo that Sinners might not Perish Everlastingly He that was the Judge and might have destroyed Offenders O! that he should stand and suffer as an Offender He that might have Executed Vengeance on us did endure it for us He to whose Justice we might have been offered up as whole burnt-Offerings in Everlasting Flames became a Sacrifice himself Needed the Father or the Son to have valued the loss and ruine of a world of Sinners What are all Nations to God but as the drop of a Bucket and as the small Dust that cleaves to the Ballance Is 40.15 And who values the loss of a drop of Water or of a mote of Dust And as unconcerned might God have been at the loss of the whole World but the Bowels of the Son of God yearned towards a perishing World and rather than the Sheep should go to the Slaughter the Shepherd offers himself to be their Ransom and Exchange And how resolved was Jesus Christ to perfect this work Is 50.6 7. He gave his Back to the Smiters his Cheeks to those that plucked off the Hair He hid not his Face from Shame and Spitting he set his Face as a Flint This expression may be illustrated and commented on by the words of Luke Luke 9.51 In Isaiah we have the Prophesie in Luke the History of Christ He stedfastly set his Face to go up to Jerusalem saith Luke He set his Face as a Flint saith Isaiah Christ was resolved to go through the Storm he knew what a dreadful Tempest did abide him at Jerusalem yet he would not recoil draw back or turn his Face from it He was as stedfast as resolved as if his Face had been a Flint and without sense or feeling of Pain and anguish of Blows and Wounds Again it is said he poured out his Soul to the death Is 53.12 How much love is implyed and imported in this Expression That Christ had as low and vile thoughts of his Life and was as freely and willingly ready to part with it as if he had but poured out so much Water on the ground O! how bounteous and large Hearted was Christ that he did not spare his very Blood Love made him yet wisely and holily prodigal of his Life he poured out his Soul to the death Christ's Adversaries upbraided him thus Matth. 27.42 He saved others but himself he cannot save These very Words of Christ's Enemies signifie and set out to us the wonderful Love and excellent Self-denial of Jesus Christ He wrought Miracles to heal the Diseases of some and he raised up others from the Dead some
he kept from presently falling into the Hands others he rescued from the Jaws and Power of Death And they thought surely he that was so kind to others would much more be prompted and induced by Self-love to save himself if he could and because he did not deliver himself they conclude he could not How do they exult and triumph as if his Power were dried up and gone his mighty Arm withered or broken as if his Relief and Help were confined to others but he could extend no Salvation to himself And why did not Christ then save himself Surely it was in wonderful pity and kindness to Sinners that he would not save himself till he had suffered and satisfied for them and so could not onely save himself but also save them too O how was Christ wholly swallowed up in Love to his Father and perishing Sinners when he prayed thus Father glorifie thy own Name John 12.27 28. As if he should say Father whatever become of me whatever I suffer and endure glorifie thy own Name glorifie thy Justice in punishing Sin and so make way to glorifie thy Mercy in pardoning Sinners Meditate of these great Truths of the Gospel use them as a Spiritual Burning-glass till thy Heart be enflamed towards Jesus Christ Direction 5. We must have an high Esteem and Value for Jesus Christ and our Hearts must burn with Love towards him 1. We must have an high Esteem of Jesus Christ Cant. 5.10 My beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousands White as to the Purity of his Life and Ruddy in his Bloody Passion and Death Psal 45.2 Thou art fairer than the children of men Grace is poured out into thy lips Thy Name saith the Church Cant. 1.3 is as an Ointment poured out All his garments smell of Myrrh Aloes and Cassia Psalm 45.8 We must account Christ better than our People and our Fathers House That it is our Interest to please him though we disgust and displease the whole World and that it will be our advantage to cleave to him though all men should frown on us be imbittered towards us and inraged against us His Love is better than Wine and his Kindness better than Life Cant. 1.4 Ps 63.3 Let all the world be put into the Ballance to weigh against Christ it will be found to be lighter than Vanity what is all we have to be esteemed in regard of Christ We must sell all to buy the Pearl of Price but we must not sell this Pearl to buy Peace Liberty or a quiet enjoyment of our Estates in the World If we come out from Wicked Men God and Christ will receive us 2 Cor. 6. 2 last Verses We should little regard the Worlds rejecting of us if Christ will receive us Should a Man be grieved if he be turned out of the Cottage of a Beggar and received into the Palace of a King As the King of Sodom said to Abraham give me the Persons and take thou the Goods to thy self So we should say to Carnal men take you the Goods of this world to your selves but leave me the Person of Christ and I shall account my Lines are fallen to me in Pleasant Places and I have a goodly Heritage 2ly Our Hearts must Burn with love towards Jesus Christ Cant. 8.6 7. Many Waters cannot quench love neither can the Floods drown it O such a divine Flame of love should be kindled in our Hearts that if the World lets in upon and turns over us Rivers of afflictions Floods of sufferings yet all may not be able to quench it If we thus love Jesus Christ we shall follow him As Ruth said to Naomi Intreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after thee For whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodgest I will lodge thy People shall be my People and thy God shall be my God Ruth 1.16 So those that love Christ will say to the World Allure me not to leave Jesus Christ or to return from following of him where he is there will I be his God shall be my God his People shall be my People As Peter was so in love with Christ that he cast himself into the Sea that he might swim and come to Christ standing on the Shoar John 21.7 So Christians that highly prize and dearly love him will be willing not only to come to Christ by a Natural death as other Disciples came to Christ by their Boat or little Ship John 21.8 but to be cast into a Sea of sufferings and so come to Christ by a violent Death As Ignatius an ancient Father in his Epistle to the Romans expresses himself thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Fire the Cross the Wild Beasts and other Instruments of Cruelty come on me onely that I may obtain and enjoy Christ He cared not what he suffered or endured so that he might come to Christ Love is said to be stronger than Death and Jealousie is cruel as the Grave Cant. 8.6 As Death kills the strongest and the Grave swallows up all the bodies put into it and turns them into Dust so true servent love to Christ will subdue all opposition Conquer all resistance and is Cruel to what would tempt or draw it from Christ So did Paul love Christ that he desired to be dissolved to be taken to pieces so that his Soul might be with Christ Phil. 1.23 6. Direct We must eye and frequently think upon the Examples of suffering Saints who through Faith and Patience have inherited the promised Kingdom and inheritance Heb. 11.36 37 38. there is a short account of the various sufferings of several of the Lords Worthies what losses they sustained what tortures they endured that they might obtain a better Resurrection Heb. 11.35 yet the World to come was not so much Unvailed and Revealed then as it is now well may the duty of self-denial and bearing the Cross be more explicitely required and more often pressed in the Gospel Matth. 16.23 24. when the motives and incouragements to it are more clearly and abundantly revealed We see Death foiled and abolished a new Life obtained and Heaven possessed by Christ as a fore-runner Yet Saints of old supported their Hearts with the hope of a glorious Resurrection and this carried them through the greatest losses and the most exquisite torments and their Example is improved in Hebr. 12.1 Being compassed with such a cloud of Witnesses let us run the Race that is set before us There may perhaps be an allusion to the Cloud that went before and guided the Israelites in the Wilderness and directed them in the way to the Earthly Canaan So we have a great Cloud of Spiritual Witnesses that have testified God's Truth and their own Love and Loyalty to him with their Blood and shall not their Examples both guide and animate us to the same Faith and Patience as they practised Their sufferings teach us that the way to
dark hours of Temptation that have passed through Fiery Tryals and have endured great Fights of Affliction have taken joyfully the Spoiling of their Goods that have rejoyced they were accounted worthy to suffer for my Namessake that have not loved their Lives to the Death How will such a Confession of their Names by Christ put Eternal Honour on the Saints O! look beyond this gloomy Valley of the Shadow of Death to an Inheritance in Light Col. 1.12 Look beyond this short Night of Sorrows and Sufferings to the bright and glorious Morning of the Resurrection Ps 49.14 Though Saints now bow down and are laid as the Mire of the Streets Is 51. last Yet the upright shall have Dominion in the Morning they shall tread down the Wicked they shall be as Ashes under the soles of their Feet Ps 45.14 Mal. 2.3 Abigal went forth to David in his Afflicted State 1 Sam. 25.4 14 40 42. Married and followed him in a Wilderness and afterwards did partake of his Honour and Prosperity We read that after Sauls Death he led her out of this Wilderness-state into the Royal City of Hebron 2 Sam. 2.2 Even so if you now go out to Christ while his People are in a Wilderness Afflicted and Persecuted in the world Jesus Christ will make you partakers of his Honour Felicity and Glory The time will come when this Spiritual King David will lead his Afflicted Spouse to his Royal City above will place her at his Right Hand and delight in her as his Hephzibah for ever 8. Direct We must be filled with the Spirit Eph. 5.18 As there is such a strong and swift Current that always runs in at the Straits Mouth into the Mediterranean Sea that a Ship cannot come out at the Straits Mouth if it hath not a good stiff Gale of Wind So truly there is such a strong Torrent of Self-love and Carnal Affections that runs into the Camp of this World that a Soul can never come out to Jesus through the Streights of Afflictions and Sufferings and cross this violent Stream of sinful self-love and worldly lusts if the Sails of our Souls be not mightily filled with the Gales of the Spirit The Hebrews after they were enlightned endured a great fight of Afflictions Heb. 10.32 And who is it that doth enlighten but the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Eph. 1.17.18 Our sight is cleared and recovered by the Spirits Eye-Salve Rev. 3.18 so that we can see more and further than the rest of the World Hence Saints are called Children of Light Luke 16.8 because they look into and take hold of another world As Stephens Eye was extraordinarily fortified and improved that he could see up into Heaven and behold Jesus at the Right Hand of God Acts 7.55 56. So the Spirit doth so renew and enlighten the Eyes of Saints Minds that they can see Invisible Heavenly and Eternal things And it is this sight that establishes the Heart against the threatnings and terrors of the World That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit John 3.6 that is Such are Spiritual Creatures and are also called Heavenly 1 Cor. 15.48 If you are Spirit you will not lust after and be captivated by Carnal things If you are heavenly Creatures you will not stoop and bow down to this Earth for your Happiness It is by the Spirit that we must mortifie the Deeds of the Body and Members upon Earth Rom. 8.13 Col. 3.5 These lusts that are fixed on fed and filled by Objects on Earth are tempting and drawing down Souls to a Center and Portion here below and it is by the Power of the Spirit only that we can repress and subdue them The Apostle bids Timothy to partake of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the Power of God 2. Tim. 1.8 If we are to bear them our selves and were left to the frailty of Nature how soon should we be foiled and overcome But Saints by the Spirit and its power are enabled to deny themselves to conquer the Flesh and tread the world under their Feet Christ hath promised not to leave his People comfortless John 14.16 18. but that he would send them the Comforter What the Spirit shews John 16.13.8 Rom. 16.17 Eph. 1.13 testifies seals to the Souls of Believers is sufficient to buoy up the Hearts of Christians against all Temporal Evils If the Spirit could make supply instead of Christs Bodily Presence with his people if it could chear them in the absence and withdrawing of Christs Humane Nature can it not much more comfort us in the absence or loss of outward Enjoyments As a Tree that hath a River at its Root can retain its Verdure and Flourishing Sate though there be a great Drought and no Showers come upon it Jer. 17.8 Ps 5.2 So if we have the Comforter within if we are watered by the Rivers of its Consolations may we not be satisfied from our selves Prov. 14.14 though we have no Showers of worldly comforts or enjoyments If men would stir and labour and thereby excite their Natural Heat they would not absolutely need Fire in the coldest Weather to warm them So if Christians did more stir up Faith and walk in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost Acts 9.31 they would little need or regard the worlds consolations If you be led by the Spirit of Christ it will in some measure work in you as in him it will raise in you such apprehensions and kindle in you such Affections as were found in Jesus He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 That is He is of the same Spirit of the same Temper of the same Disposition and Inclinations with Jesus Christ As if the same Soul did animate many Bodies these several Persons would be of the same Will and have the same Affections So the Spirit of Christ dwelling in his People the same will be in them as was found in Jesus Rom. 8.9 Phil. 2.5 O! how freely did Jesus Christ yield himself to sufferings and death Ps 40.7 8. Lo I come I delight to do thy will O God yea thy Law is within my Heart And what was the Will of God that Jesus Christ did delight to do We are told what this Will was in Heb. 10.10 viz. that Jesus Christ should offer his Body once for all How difficult and hard was this Service yet such a Law of Love to the Father and perishing sinners was written in the Heart of Christ that he was straitned till this Bloody Baptism was fulfilled Luke 12.50 Though his Cup of Sufferings was so deep so large tempered with so many bitter Ingredients yet he resigned himself and said Father if this Cup may not pass except I drink of it thy Will be done Matt. 26.42 When Peter tempted him to favour spare and indulge himself he sharply rebuked him and said Get thou behind me Satan thou art an offence to me Matt. 16.22 23. How did Christ deny himself and subject his Will to the Will of God And when Christ was raised from the Dead how did he despise and disdain to be tempted to stay here below by the best things of this World Would the Riches Honours Pleasures of this world then have allured the Eye captivated or chained the Heart of Christ here below Could such things stay or stop detain or six him here below Was he not exceedingly raised in his Mind and Affections above the best things of this world This was his Request and Prayer to the Father Now glorifie me with thy own self with the glory that I had with thee before the Foundations of the World John 17.5 His Mind did soar upwards his Heart did aspire to a heavenly Kingdom and Glory Now if this Spirit of the Lord Jesus do dwell in our Hearts will it not fix our hearts and fortifie our resolutions to go through Fire and Water Floods and Storms for the Honour of God and for the Glory of Christ Shall we be of timerous base dastardly Spirits if the blessed Spirit of Jesus do dwell in us And shall we not slight also and contemn turn our Eyes from and our Backs upon all the Beauty and Excellency of this world if the Spirit hath given us a sight of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Shall we not cry out to God as the Psalmist Ps 73.25 26. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee How will such a Soul rate away and rebuke tempting Objects and say Get you gone I have fatness and sweetness I have fulness and satisfaction in my Lord Jesus my Eyes are closed against your Beauty my Ears are stopt against your Charms Christ I have chosen and I see no cause to repent of my choice to him therefore will I cleave and stick for ever And that you may obtain this blessed Spirit and all Spiritual good things as flowing from him Bow your Knees to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ And if Parents that are evil do yet know how to give good gifts to their Children much more shall our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11.13 FINIS