will strengthen us in our sufferings Psal. 37.39 He is their strength in the time of trouble Either God makes our burden lighter or our Faith stronger He will compensate and recompence our sufferings Mat. 19.29 Every one that hath forsaken Houses or Lands for my name sake shall receive an hundred fold and inherit Life everlasting Here are encouragements to suffer affliction but there is no encouragement to sin God hath brandish'd a flaming Sword of threatnings to deter us from sin Psal. 68.21 God shall wound the Hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses There is a flying Roul of Curses which enter into the House of a sinner Zac. 5.4 if a Man sin be it at his peril Deut. 32.42 I will make mine Arrows drunk with Blood God will make Men weary of their sins or he will make them weary of their Lives Thus sin is worse than Affliction there are Encouragements to suffer Affliction but no Encouragement to sin 8. When a Person is afflicted only he himself suffers but by sinning openly he doth hurt to others 1. He doth hurt to the Vnconverted one mans sin may lay a stone in another mans way at which he may stumble and fall into Hell O the Evil of scandalous Sin some are discouraged others hardned thy sinning may be a cause of anothers damning Mal. 2.7 8. The Priests going wrong caused others to stumble 2. He doth hurt to the Converted by an open scandalous sin he offends weak Believers and so sins against Christ 1 Cor. 8.12 Thus sin is worse than Affliction because it doth hurt to others 9. In Afflictions the Saints may Rejoyce 1 Thes. 1.6 Ye receiv'd the Word in much Affliction with Ioy Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your Goods Aristotle speaks of a Bird that lives among Thorns yet sings sweetly so a Child of God can rejoyce in Affliction St. Paul had his Prison-songs Rom. 5.3 We glory in Tribulation ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the Word signifies an Exuberancy of Joy a Joy with Boasting and Triumph God doth oft pour in those Divine Consolations as cause the Saints to rejoyce in Afflictions they had rather have their Afflictions than want their Comforts God doth candy their Wormwood with Sugar Rom. 5.5 You have seen the Sun shine when it rains The Saints have had the shining of Gods Face when Affliction hath rained and drop'd upon them Thus we may rejoyce in Affliction but we cannot rejoyce in sin Hos 9.1 Rejoyce not O Israel for Ioy as other people for thou hast gone a Whoring from thy God Sin is Matter of Shame and Grief not of Joy David having sinn'd in numbring of the people His Heart smote him 2 Sam. 24.10 as the pricking of a Vein lets out the Blood so when sin hath prick'd the Conscience it lets out the Joy 10. Affliction is a Magnifying of a Person Iob 7.17 What is Man that thou shouldest magnifie him and visit him every morning That is visit him with Affliction How do Afflictions magnifie us Answ. 1. As they are signs of Son-ship Heb. 12.7 If ye endure Chastening God deals with you as Sons Every Print of the Rod is a Badge of Honor. 2. As the sufferings of the Godly have raised their Fame and Renown in the World the Zeal and Constancy of the Martyrs in their Suffering have Eterniz'd their Name O how Eminent was Iob for his Patience Iam. 5.11 Ye have heard of the Patience of Job Iob the Sufferer was more Renown'd than Alexander the Conqueror Thus Afflictions Magnifie a Person but sin doth not magnifie but vilifie him When Eliâs Sons had sinn'd and prophan'd their Priesthood they turn'd their glory into shame the Text saith They made themselves Vile 1 Sam. 3.13 Sin casts an indelible Blot on a mans Name Prov. 6.32 33. Whoso commits Adultery with a Woman a Wound and Dishonour shall he get and his Reproach shall not be wiped away 11. A man may suffer Affliction and bring Honour to Religion Pauls Iron Chain made the Gospel wear a Gold Chain suffering Credits and propagates the Gospel but committing of sin brings a Dishonour and Scandal upon the ways of God Cyprian saith when in the Primitive Times a Virgin who vow'd her self to Religion had defil'd her Chastity Totum Ecclesiae Caetum erubescere Shame and Grief fill'd the face of the whole Congregation When scandalous sins are committed by a few they bring a Reproach upon all that profess As three or four brass shillings in a summ of Mony make all the rest suspected 12. when a mans Afflictions are upon a good Account that he uffers for Christ he hath the Prayers of God's People 'T is no small priviledge to have a stock of Prayer going 't is like a Merchant that hath a part in several Ships Suffering Saints have a large share in the Prayers of others Acts 12.5 Peter was in Prison but Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church to God for him What greater Happiness than to have God's Promises and the Saints Prayers But when a Man sins presumptuously and scandalously he hath the Saints bitter Tears and just Censures he is a burden to all that know him as David speaks in another Case Psal. 31.11 They that did see me without fled from me So a scandalous sinner the People of God fly from him he is like an infected person every one shuns and avoids him 13. Affliction can hurt a Man only while he is living but sin doth hurt when he is dead as a Mans Vertues and Alms may do good when he is dead so a Mans sin may do Mischief when he is dead When a Spider is kill'd the Poison of it may do hurt so the Poison of an Evil Example may do much hurt when a man is in his Grave Affliction at most can but last a Mans Life but his sin lives and doth hurt when he is gone Thus you see sin is far worse than Affliction 2. Sin is worse than Death Aristotle calls Death ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the Terrible of Terribles and Iob calls it The King of Terrors Iob 18.14 but sin is more deadly than Death it self First Death tho' it be painful yet it were not hurtful but for sin It is sin that imbitters Death and makes it sting 1 Cor. 15.56 The Sting of Death is sin Were it not for sin tho' Death might kill us it could not curse us Sin poisons Deaths Arrow so that sin is worse than death because it puts a sting into Death Secondly Death doth but separate between the Body and the Soul but sin without Repentance separates between God and the Soul Iudg. 18.24 Ye have taken away my Gods and what have I more Death doth but take away our Life from us but sin takes away our God from us So that sin is worse than Death Thirdly Sin is worse than Hell In Hell there is the Worm and the Fire but sin is worse 1. Hell is of God's making but sin
Relations lie in our way to Heaven we must either leap over them or tread upon them A Child must unchild himself and forget he is a Child he must know neither Father nor Mother in God's Cause Deut. 33.9 Who said unto his father and his mother I have not seen him neither did he acknowledge his Brethren This is to aim at God's Glory 2. Then we aim at God's Glory when we can be content that God's Will should take place though it cross ours Lord I am content to be a Looser if thou a Gainer to have less Health if I may have more Grace and thou more Glory whether it be Food or bitter Physick thou givest me Lord I desire that which may be most for thy Glory Thus our Blessed Saviour Not as I will but as thou wilt Matth. 26.39 So God might have more Glory by his Sufferings he was content to suffer Joh. 12.28 Father glorifie thy name 3. Then we aim at God's Glory when we can be content to be out-shined by others in Gifts and Esteem so God's Glory may be encreased A Man that hath God in his Heart and God's Glory in his Eye desires that God should be exalted and if this be effected let who will be the Instrument he rejoyceth Phil. 1.15 Some preach Christ of Envy notwithstanding Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce and will rejoyce they preached Christ of Envy they envyed Paul that Concourse of People and they preached that they might out-shine him in Gifts and get away some of his Hearers Well saith Paul Christ is preached and God is like to have Glory therefore I rejoyce let my Candle go out if the Sun of Righteousness may but shine 2. We Glorifie God by an ingenuous Confession of Sin The Thief of the Cross had dishonour'd God in his Life but at his Death he brings Glory to God by Confession of Sin Luke 23.41 We indeed suffer justly He acknowledged he deserved not only Crucifixion but Damnation Josh. 7.19 My son give I pray thee glory to God and make confession unto him An humble Confession exalts God how is God's Free-grace magnified in crowning those who deserve to be condemn'd as the excusing and mincing of Sin doth cast a Reproach upon God Adam denies not he did tast the forbidden Fruit but instead of a full Confession he taxes God Inscripserâ Deos sceleri Gen. 3.12 The woman whom thou gavest me she gave me of the tree and I did eat It is long of thee if thou hadst not given me the Woman to be a Tempter I had not sinned So Confession glorifies God it clears it acknowledgeth he is Holy and Righteous whatever he doth Nehemiah vindicates God's Righteousness Chap. 9.33 Thou art just in all that is brought upon us And Confession then is ingenuous when it is free not forc'd Luke 15.18 I have sinn'd against heaven and before thee he chargeth himself with Sin before ever his Father chargeth him with it 3. We glorifie God by Believing Rom. 4.20 Abraham was strong in faith giving glory to God Unbelief affronts God it gives him the Lye He that believeth not maketh God a lyer 1 Joh. 5.10 So Faith brings Glory to God it sets to its Seal that God is true Ioh. 3.33 he that believes flies to God's Mercy and Truth as to an Altar of Refuge he doth Ingarrison himself in the Promises he trusts all he hath with God Psal. 31.5 Into thy hands I commit my spirit this is a great way of bringing Glory to God therefore God honours Faith because Faith honours God It is a great Honour we do to a Man when we trust him with all we have we put our Lives and Estates into his hand a sign we have a good Opinion of him The three Children glorified God by believing The God whom we serve is able to deliver us and will deliver us Dan. 3.17 Faith knows there are no Impossibles with God and will trust him where it cannot trace him 4. We glorifie God by being tender of God's Glory God's Glory is dear to him as the apple of his Eye now when we are tender of his Glory by laying to heart his Dishonours this is a glorifying of him An ingenuous Child weeps to see a Disgrace done to his Father Psal. 69.9 The reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me When we hear God reproached it is as if we were reproached when God's Glory suffers 't is as if we suffered This is to be tender of God's Glory 5. We glorifie God by Fruitfulness Joh. 15.8 Hereby is my Father glorified if ye bring forth much fruit As 't is a Dishonour to God to be barren so Fruitfulness doth honour him Phil. 1.11 Filled with the fruits of righteousness which are to the praise of his glory We must not be like the Fig-tree in the Gospel which had nothing but Leaves but like the Pomocitron that is continually either mellowing or blossoming it is never without Fruit. 'T is not Profession but Fruit glorifies God God expects to have his Glory from us this way 1 Cor. 9.7 Who plants a vineyard and eats not of the fruit of it Trees in the Forrest may be barren but Trees in the Garden are fruitful We must bring forth the Fruits of Love and Good Works Matth. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Faith doth sanctifie our Works and Works do testifie our Faith To be doing good to others to be Eyes to the Blind Feet to the Lame doth much glorifie God And thus Christ did glorifie his Father He went about doing good Acts 10.38 By being fruitful we are fair in God's Eyes Jer. 11.16 The Lord called thy name a green olive-tree fair and of goodly fruit And we must bear much Fruit it is Muchness of Fruit glorifies God if ye bear much Fruit. The Spouse's Breasts are compared to Clusters of Grapes Cant. 7.7 to shew how fertile she was Tho' the lowest degree of Grace may bring Salvation to you yet not so much Glory to God it was not a spark of Love Christ commended in Mary but much love ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã she loved much Luke 7.47 6. We glorifie God by being contented in that State where his Providence hath set us we give God the Glory of his Wisdom in that we rest satisfied with what he carves out to us Thus did holy Paul glorifie God the Lord had cast him into as great variety of Condition as any Man in Prisons more frequent in Deaths oft 2 Cor. 11.23 yet he had learned to be content St. Paul could sail either in a Storm or a Calm he could be any thing that God would have him he could either want or abound Phil. 4.13 A good Christian argues thus It is God hath put me in this Condition he could have raised me higher if he pleas'd but that might have been a Snare to me God hath done it
in Wisdom and Love therefore I will sit down satisfied with my Condition Surely this doth much glorifie God God counts himself much honoured by such a Christian saith God Here is one after my own heart let me do what I will with him I hear no murmuring he is content This shews abundance of Grace When Grace is crowning it is not so much to be content but when Grace is conflicting with Inconveniencies then to be content is a glorious thing indeed for one to be content when he is in Heaven is no wonder but to be content under the Cross is like a Christian This Man must needs bring Glory to God for he shews to all the World that though he hath little Meal in Barrel yet he hath enough in God to make him content he saith as David Psal. 16.5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance the lines are fallen to me in pleasant places 7. We glorifie God in working out our own Salvation God hath twisted these two together his Glory and our Good we glorifie him by promoting our own Salvation 't is a Glory to God to have multitude of Converts now his design of Free-grace takes and God hath the Glory of his Mercy So that while we are endeavouring our Salvation we are honouring God What an Encouragement is this to the Service of God to think while I am Hearing and Praying I am glorifying God while I am furthering my own Glory in Heaven I am encreasing God's Glory Would it not be an Encouragement to a Subject to hear his Prince say to him You will honour and please me very much if you will go to yonder Mine of Gold and dig out as much Gold for yourself as you can carry away So for God to say Go to the Ordinances get as much Grace as you can dig out as much Salvation as you can and the more Happiness you have the more I shall count myself glorified 8. We glorifie God by living to God 2 Cor. 5.15 That they which live should not live to themselves but unto him who died for them Rom. 14.8 Whether we live we live unto the Lord. The Mammonist lives to his Money the Epicure lives to his Belly the design of a Sinner's Life is to gratifie Lust. But then we glorifie God when we live to God Quest. What is it to live to God Resp. When we live to his Service and lay out ourselves wholly for God The Lord hath sent us into the World as a Merchant sends his Factor beyond the Seas to trade for him Then we live to God when we trade for his Interest and propagate his Gospel God hath given every Man a Tallent Now when he doth not hide it in a Napkin but improves it for God this is to live to God When a Master in a Family by Counsel and good Example labours to bring his Servants to Christ when a Minister doth exhaust himself in the Labours of his Holy Calling when he spends himself and is spent that he may win Souls to Christ and make the Crown flourish upon Christ's Head when the Magistrate doth not bear the Sword in vain but labours to cut down Sin and suppress Vice this is to live to God and this a glorifying of God Phil. 1.20 That Christ may be magnified whether by life or by death Three Wishes St. Paul had and they were all about Christ That he might be found in Christ be with Christ and that he might magnifie Christ. 9. We glorifie God by walking chearfully It is a Glory to God when the World sees a Christian hath that within him that can make him chearful in the worst Times he can with the Nightingale sing with a Thorn at his Breast The People of God have ground of Chearfulness they are justified and instated into Adoption and this Creates inward Peace it makes Musick within whatever Storms are without 2 Cor. 1.4 1 Thes. 1.6 If we consider what Christ hath wrought for us by his Bloud and wrought in us by his Spirit it is a ground of great Chearfulness and this Chearfulness glorifies God It reflects upon a Master when the Servant is always drooping and sad sure he is kept to hard Commons his Master doth not give him what is fitting So when God's People hang their Harpes on Willows sure they do not serve a good Master repent of their Choice this reflects Dishonour on God as the gross Sins of the Wicked bring a Scandal on the Gospel so do the unchearful Lives of the Godly Psal. 100.2 Serve the Lord with gladness Your serving him doth not glorifie him unless it be with Gladness a Christian 's chearful looks glorifie God Religion doth not take away our Joy but refine and clarifie it it doth not break our Viol but tunes it and makes the Musick sweeter 10. We glorifie God by standing up for his Truths Much of God's Glory lies in his Truth God hath intrusted us with his Truth as a Master intrusts his Servant with his Purse to keep We have not a richer Jewel to trust God with than our Souls nor God hath not a richer Jewel to trust us with than his Truth Truth is a Beam that shines from God much of his Glory lies in his Truth now when we are Advocates for Truth this is to glorifie God so Athanasius ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the Bulwark of Truth Jud. 3. That ye should contend earnestly for the faith viz. the Doctrine of Faith The Greek word ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã to contend signifies a great contending as one would contend for his Land and not suffer his Right to be taken from him so we should contend for the Truth Were there more of this Holy Contention God would have more Glory Some can contend earnestly for Trifles and Ceremonies but not for the Truth we should count him indiscreet that should contend more for a Picture then for his Land of Inheritance a Box of Counters then for his Box of Evidences 11. We glorifie God by praising of him Doxology or Praise is a God-exalting Work Psal. 50.23 Whoso offers praise glorifies me The Hebrew word Bara to create and Barak to praise are little different because the End of Creation is to Praise God David was called the sweet Singer of Israel and his praising God was called a glorifying of God Psal. 86.12 I will praise thee O Lord my God and I will glorifie thy name Though nothing can add to God's essential Glory yet Praise exalts him in the eyes of others when we praise God we spread his Fame and Renown we display the Trophies of his Excellency In this manner the Angels glorifie God they are the Queristers of Heaven and do trumpet forth God's Praise and praising of God is one of the highest and purest Acts of Religion in Prayer we act like Men in Praise we act like Angels this is an high degree of glorifying God Believers are called Temples of God 1 Cor. 3.16 when our Tongues praise God then the
is only a Passage-room to Eternity the World is to us as the Wilderness was to Israel not to rest in but to travel through to the glorious Canaan The World is a Tyring-room to dress our Souls in not a place where we are to stay for ever The Apostle tells us of the Worlds Funerals 2 Pet. 3.10 The Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up 2. Positively God made the World to demonstrate his own glory The World is a Looking-glass in which we may see the Power and Goodness of God shine forth The Heavens declare the glory of God Psal. 19.1 The World is like a curious Piece of Arras or Tapestry in which we may see the Skill and Wisdom of him that made it Use 1. Did God create the World This convinceth us of the Truth of his Godhead to create is proper to a Deity Acts 17.24 This convinced Plato of a Deity when he saw all the World could not make a Fly Thus God proves himself to be the true God and distinguisheth himself from Idols Ier. 10.11 It is written in Chalde Thus shall ye say to them the gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish Who but God can create The Creation is enough to Convince the Heathen that there is a God There are two Books out of which God will judge and condemn the Heathen viz. the Book of Conscience Rom. 2.15 Who have the Law written in their heart and the Book of the Creation Rom. 1.20 The invisible things of him are clearly seen by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead The World is full of Emblems and Hyeroglyphicks every Star in the Sky every Bird that flies in the Air is a Witness against the Heathen A Creature could not make it self 2. Here is a mighty support for Faith God Creates He that made all things with a word what cannot he do He can create strength in weakness he can create a supply of our wants What a foolish question was that Psal. 78.19 Can he prepare a table in the wilderness Cannot he that made the World do much more Psal. 124.8 Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth Rest on this God for help who made Heaven and Earth The work of Creation as it is a Monument of God's Power so it is a stay to Faith Is thy Heart hard he can with a word create softness Is it unclean he can create purity Psal. 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God Is the Church of God low he can create Ierusalem a Praise Isa. 65.18 No such golden Pillar for Faith to stay upon as a creating Power 3. Did God make this World full of Beauty and Glory every thing very good then what an evil thing is sin that hath put out of frame the whole Creation Sin hath much eclipsed the beauty sowrd the sweetness and marred the harmony of the World How bitter is that Gall a drop whereof can imbitter a whole Sea Sin hath brought Vanity and Vexation into the World yea a Curse God cursed the ground for Man's sake Gen. 3. There were several Fruits of the Curse 1. In sorrow shalt thou eat of it vers 17. By that word sorrow is to be understood all the Troubles and Cares of this Life 2. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread vers 19. In Innocency Adam did till the ground he must not live idly but it was rather a delight then a labour that tilling was without toiling The eating in sorrow and the sweat of the brow came in after sin 3. Thorns also and Thistles shall the ground bring forth vers 18. Quest. Whether in Innocency did not the Earth bear Thorns because it is threatned as a punishment Answ. It is likely it did bear Thorns for when God had done creating he made no new Species or Kinds of things but the meaning is now after Sin the Earth should bring forth more plenty of Thorns and now those Thorns should be hurtful and choke the Corn which hurtful quality was not in them before Ever since the Fall all the Comforts of this Life have a Thorn and a Thistle in them 4. The fourth fruit of the Curse was the driving Man out of Paradise vers 24. So he drove out the Man God at first brought Adam into Paradise as into an House ready furnished or as a King into his Throne Gen. 1.28 have dominion over every living thing that moveth Now God's driving Adam out of Paradise signified his dethroning and banishing him that he might look after an heavenly and a better Paradise 5. A fifth fruit of the Curse was Death verse 19. To dust thou shalt return Death was not natural to Adam it came in after sin Iosephus is of opinion Man should have died though he had continued in Innocency only he should have had a longer term of years added to his life but out of question Death grew out of the Root of Sin the Apostle saith Rom. 5.12 By sin came death See then how cursed a thing Sin is that hath brought so many Curses upon the Creation If we will not hate Sin for its Deformity let us hate it for the Curse it brings 4. Did God make this glorious World did he make every thing good was there in the Creature so much beauty and sweetness Oh! then what sweetness is there in God Quicquid efficit tale illud est magis tale the Cause is always more noble than the Effect Think with your selves is there so much excellence in House and Lands then how much more is there in God that made these Is there beauty in a Rose what beauty then is there in Christ the Rose of Sharon Doth Oil make the face shine Psal. 104.15 How will the Light of God's Countenance make it shine Doth Wine chear the heart O what Virtue is in the true Vine How doth the Blood of this Grape chear the Heart Is the fruit of the Garden sweet how delicious are the Fruits of the Spirit Is a Gold Mine so precious how precious is he who founded this Mine What is Christ in whom are hid all Treasures Coloss. 2.3 We should ascend from the Creature to the Creator If there be any Comfort here below how much more is there in God who made all these things How unreasonable is it that we should delight in the World and not much more in him that made it How should our Hearts be set on God and how should we long to be with God who hath infinitely more sweetness in him than any Creature Use 2. of Exhortation 1. Did God create the World let us wisely observe these Works of Creation God hath given us not only the Book of the Scriptures to read in but the Book of the Creation Look up to the Heavens they shew much of God's glory the Sun gilds the World with its bright
and Drunkenness in Noah and Cursing in Iob If God leave a Man to himself how suddenly and scandalously may Original sin break forth in the holiest Men alive 5. Original sin doth mix and incorporate it self with our Duties and Graces 1. With out Duties as the hand which is paralitical or palsy cannot move without shaking as wanting some inward strength so we cannot do any holy action without sinning as wanting a Principle of Original Righteousness As the Leper whatever he touched became unclen if he touched the Altar the Altar did not sanctifie him but he polluted the Altar such a Leprosy is Original sin it defiles our Prayers and Tears we cannot write without blotting Though I do not say that the holy Duties and good Works of the Regenerate are sins for that were to reproach the Spirit of Christ by which they are wrought yet this I say that the best works of the godly have sin cleaving to them only Christ's Blood makes atonement for our holy things 2. With our Graces There is some Unbelief mixed with Faith Lukewarmness with Zeal Pride with Humility As bad Lungs cause an Astmah or shortness of breath so Original Corruption having infected our heart our Greaces breath now very faintly 6. Original sin is a vigorous active Principle within us it doth not lye still but is ever exciting and stirring us up to evil it is an Inmate very unquiet Rom. 7.15 What I hate that do I. How came Paul to do so Original sin did irritate and stir him up to it Original sin is like Quicksilver always in motion when we are asleep sin is awake in the Fancy Original sin sets the Head a plotting evil and the Hands a working it it hath in it principium motus not quiet is it is like the Pulse ever beating 7. Original sin is the cause of all Actual it is fomes peccati it is the Womb in which all actual sins are conceived Hence come Murders Adulteries Rapines it is the Trojan Horse out of which a whole Army of Impieties come Though Actual sins may be more scandalous yet Original sin is more heinous the Cause is more then the Effect 8. It is not perfectly cured in this Life Grace though it doth subdue sin yet not wholly remove it Though we are like Christ having the first fruits of the Spirit yet we are unlike him having the remainders of the Flesh. There are two Nations in the Womb. Original sin is like that Tree Dan. 4.23 though the Branches of it were hewen down and the main body of it yet the stumps and root of the Tree were left Though the Spirit be still weakning and hewing down sin in the godly yet the stump of Original sin is still left it is a Sea that will not in this Life be dried up Quest. But why doth God leave Original Corruption in us after Regeneration he could quite free us from it if he pleased Resp. 1. He doth it to shew the power of his Grace in the weakest Believer Grace shall prevail against a Torrent of Corruption Whence is this the Corrupion is ours but the Grace is Gods 2. God leaves Original Corruption to make us long after Heaven when there shall be no Sin to defile no Devil to tempt When Elias was taken up to Heaven his Mantle dropped off so when the Angels shall carry us up to Heaven this Mantle of sin shall drop off we shall never complain more of an aking head or an unbelieving heart Use 1. If Original sin be propagated to us and will be inherent in us while we live here then it Confutes the Libertines and Quakers who say they are ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã without sin they hold Perfection they shew much Pride and Ignorance ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã but we see the Seeds of Original sin remain in the best Eccles. 7.20 There is not a just man lives and sins not And St. Paul complained of a body of death Rom. 7.24 Grace though it doth purifie Nature it doth not perfect it Object But doth not the Apostle say of Believers that their old man is crucified Rom. 6.6 and they are dead to sin Rom. 7.11 Resp. They are dead 1. Spiritually they are dead as to the Reatus the guilt of it and as to the Regnum the power of it the love of sin is crucified 2. They are dead to sin Legally as a Man that is Sentenced to Death is dead in Law so they are legally dead to Sin there is a Sentence of Death gone out against sin it shall die and drop into the Crave but at the present sin hath its Life lengthened out nothing but Death of the Body can quite free us from the Body of Death Use 2. Let us lay to heart Original sin and be deeply humbled for it it cleaves to us as a Disease it is an active Principle in us stirring us up to Evil. Original sin is worse then all Actual sin the Fountain is more then the Stream Some think as long as they are civil they are well enough I but thy Nature is poisoned thou hast a proud lustful envious Nature a River may have fair Streams but Vermin at bottom Thou carriest an Hell about thee thou canst do nothing but thou defilest it thy Heart like muddy ground defiles the purest Water that runs thorow it Nay though thou art Regenerate there is much of the Old Man in the New Man O how should Original sin humble us This is one reason God hath left Original sin in us because he would have it as a Thorn in our side to humble us as the Bishop of Alexandria after the People had embraced Cristianity destroyed all their Idols but one that the sight of that Idol might make them loath themselves for their former Idolatry So God leaves Original sin to pull down the Plumes of Pride Under our silver Wings of Grace are black feet 2. Let the sence of this make us daily look up to Heaven for help beg Christ's Blood to wash away the guilt of sin and his Spirit to mortifie the power of it beg further degrees of Grace Gratiam Christi eò obnixiùs ambiamus though Grace cannot make sin to be yet not to reign though Grace cannot expel sin it can repel it and for our Comfort where Grace makes a Combat with sin Death shall make a Conquest 3. Let Original sin make us walk with continual Iealousie and Watchfulness over our Hearts The Sin of our Nature is like a sleeping Lion the least thing that awakens it makes it rage The Sin of our Nature though it seem quiet and lies as Fire hid under the Embers yet if it be a little stirr'd and blown up by a Temptation how quickly may it flame forth into scandalous Evils therefore we had need always walk watchfully Mark 13.37 I say to you all watch A wandring heart needs a watchful Eye MAN's Misery by the FALL Quest. XIII WHat is the Misery of that Estate whereinto Man fell
his Bloud Without Faith Christ himself will not avail us Branch 2. Let us love a Bleeding Saviour and let us show our Love to Christ by being ready to suffer for him Many rejoyce at Christ's Suffering for them but dream not of their Suffering for him Ioseph dreamed of his Preferment but not of his Imprisonment Was Christ a Sacrifice Did he bear God's Wrath for us we should bear Man's Wrath for him Christ's Death was voluntary Psal. 40.7 Lo I come to do thy will O God Luke 12.50 I have a baptism to be baptized with and how am I straitned till it be accomplished Christ calls his Sufferings a Baptism he was to be as it were baptized in his own Bloud And how did he thirst for that time How am I straitned Oh then let us be willing to suffer for Christ Christ hath taken away the Venom and Sting of the Saint's Sufferings there is no Wrath in their Cup. Our Sufferings Christ can make sweet As there was Oyl mix'd in the Peace-Offering So God can mix the Oyl of Gladness with our Sufferings The ringing of my Chain is sweet Musick in my Ears Landgrave of Hesse Life must be parted with shortly what is it to part with it a little sooner as a Sacrifice to Christ as a Seal of our Sincerity and a Pledge of Thankfulness 3. Use of Consolation This Sacrifice of Christ's Bloud may infinitely comfort us This is the Bloud of Atonement Christ's Cross is Cardo salutis Calv. The Hing and Foundation of our Comfort 1. This Bloud comforts in case of Guilt O saith the Soul my sins trouble me why Christ's Bloud was shed for the Remission of Sin Mat. 26.28 Let us see our sins laid on Christ and then they are no more ours but his 2. In case of Pollution Christ's Bloud is an healing and cleansing Bloud 1. It is healing Isa. 53.5 With his stripes we are healed It is the best Weapon-Salve it heals at a distance though Christ be in Heaven we may feel the Vertue of his Bloud healing our bloudy Issue 2. And it is cleansing 'T is therefore compar'd to Fountain-water Zec. 13.1 The Word is a Glass to show us our Spots and Christ's Bloud is a Fountain to wash them away it turns Leprosy into Purity 1 Joh. 1.7 The bloud of Iesus cleanseth us from all our sin There is indeed one Spot so black that Christ's Bloud doth not wash away viz. The Sin against the Holy Ghost Not but that there is Vertue enough in Christ's Bloud to wash it away but he who hath sinned that Sin will not be washed he contemns Christ's Bloud and tramples it under foot Heb. 10.29 Thus we see what a strong Cordial Christ's Bloud is it is the Anchor-hold of our Faith the Spring of our Joy the Crown of our Desires and the only Support both in Life and Death In all our Fears let us comfort our selves with the Propitiatory Sacrifice of Christ's Bloud Christ dyed both as a Purchaser and as a Conquerour 1. As a Purchaser in regard of God having by his Bloud obtained our Salvation 2. And as a Conqueror in regard of Satan the Cross being his Triumphant Chariot wheâein he hath led Hell and Death captive Use ult Bless God for this precious Sacrifice of Christ's Death Psal. 103.1 Bless the Lord O my soul. And for what doth David bless him Who redeemeth thy life from destruction Christ gave himself a Sin-offering for us let us give ourselves a Thank-offering to him If a Man redeem another out of Debt will not he be grateful How deeply do we stand obliged to Christ who hath redeemed us from Hell and Damnation Rev. 5.9 And they sung a new Song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood Let our Hearts and Tongues join in consort to bless God and let us shew our Thankfulness to Christ by Fruitfulness let us bring forth as Spice-Trees the Fruits of Humility Zeal Good-works This is to live unto him who hath died for us 2 Cor. 5.15 The Wise-men did not only worship Christ but presented him with Gifts Gold and Frankincense and Myrrhe Matth. 2.11 Let us present Christ with the Fruits of Righteousness which are unto the Glory and Praise of God CHRIST's Intercession ROM 8.34 Who also maketh Intercession for us WHen Aaron entred into the Holy Place his Bells gave a Sound so Christ having entred into Heaven his Intercession makes a melodious sound in the Ears of God Christ though he be exalted to Glory hath not laid aside his Bowels of Compassion but is still mindful of his Body Mystical as Ioseph was mindful of his Father and Brethren when he was exalted to the Court Who also maketh Intercession for us To Intercede is to make Request in the behalf of another Christ is the great Master of Requests in Heaven Christus est Catholicus Patris Sacerdos Tertul. Quest. What are the Qualifications of our Intercessor Resp. 1. He is holy Hebr. 7.26 For such an High Priest became us who is holy undefiled separate from sinners Christ knew no sin 2 Cor. 5.21 he knew sin in the weight not in the act It was requisite that he who was to do away the sins of others should himself be without sin Holiness is one of the precious Stones which shines on the Breast-Plate of our High Priest 2. He is faithful Hebr. 2.17 It behoved him to be like unto his brethren that he might be a faithful High Priest Moses was faithful as a Servant Christ as a Son Hebr. 3.5 he doth not forget any Cause he hath to plead nor doth he use any deceit in pleading An ordinary Attorney may either leave out some word which might make for the Client or put in a word against him having receiv'd a Fee on both sides but Christ is true to the Cause he pleads we may leave our Matters with him we may trust our Lives and Souls in his hand 3. He never dies The Priests under the Law while their Office lived they themselves died Hebr. 7.23 They were not suffered to continue by reason of death but Christ ever lives to make Intercession Hebr. 7.25 He hath no Succession in his Priesthood Quest. Who Christ intercedes for Resp. Not for all promiscuously Iohn 17.9 but for the Elect. The efficacy of Christ's Prayer reacheth no further then the efficacy of his Blood but his Blood was shed only for the Elect therefore his Prayers only reach them The High Priest went into the Sanctuary with the Names only of the Twelve Tribes upon his Breast so Christ goes into Heaven only with the Names of the Elect upon his Breast Christ interceeds for the weakest Believers Iohn 17.20 and for all the sins of Believers In the Law there were some sins the High Priest was neither to offer Sacrifice for nor yet to offer Prayer Numb 15.30 The Soul that doth ought presumptuously shall be cut off The
the Strings of a Viol the Musick is spoil'd if Christians slacken in Duty they spoil the sweet Musick of Peace in their Souls As the Fire decays so the Cold increaseth as Fervency in Duty abates so our Peace cools Use. Labour for this blessed Peace Peace with God and Conscience Peace with Neighbour Nations is sweet Pax una Triumphis innumeris melior the Hebrew Word ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Peace comprehends all Blessings it is the Glory of a Kingdom a Princes Crown is more Beautiful when it is hung with the white Lilly of Peace than when it is set with the Red Roses of a Bloody War O then how sweet is Peace of Conscience it is a Bulwark against the Enemy Phil. 4.7 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã it shall keep you as in a Garrison you may throw out the Gantlet and bid defiance to Enemies It is the Golden Pot and the Manna it is the first Fruits of Paradise It is still Musick for want of this a Christian is in continual fear he doth not take that comfort in Ordinances Hannah went up to the Feast at Ierusalem but she wept and did not eat 1 Sam. 1.7 So a poor dejected Soul goes to an Ordinance but doth not eat of the Feast he weeps and doth not eat He cannot take that comfort in Worldly Blessings Health Estate Relations he wants that inward Peace which should be as Sawce to sweeten his Comforts O therefore labour for this blessed Peace consider the noble and excellent effects of it First It gives boldness at the Throne of Grace Guilt of Conscience clips the Wings of Prayer it makes the Face Blush and the Heart But when a Christian hath some lively apprehensions of God's Love and the Spirit whispering Peace then he goes to God with boldness as a Child to his Father Psal. 25.1 Unto thee O Lord I lift up my Soul Time was when David's Soul was bowed down Psal. 38.6 I am bowed down greatly But now the case is alter'd he will lift up his Soul to God in a way of Triumph whence was this God had spoken Peace to his Soul Psal. 26.3 Thy loving Kindness is before mine Eyes 2. This Divine Peace fires the Heart with Love to Christ Peace is the result of Pardon he who hath a Pardon seal'd cannot choose but love his Prince How endeared is Christ to the Soul now Christ is precious indeed O saith the Soul how sweet is this Rose of Sharon Hath Christ waded through a Sea of Blood and Wrath to purchase my Peace hath he not only made Peace but spoke Peace to me how should my Heart ascend in a fiery Chariot of Love how willing should I be to do and suffer for Christ 3. This Peace quiets the heart in Trouble Mic. 5.5 This Man shall be the Peace when the Assyrian shall come into our Land and tread in our Palaces The Enemy may invade our Palaces but not our Peace this Man Christ shall be the Peace When the Head akes the Heart may be well when Worldly troubles assault a Christian his Mind may be in Peace and Quiet Psal. 4.8 I will lay me down in Peace and Sleep 'T was now a sad time with David he was flying for his Life from Absalom it was no small Afflicton to think that his own Son should seek to take away his Fathers Life and Crown David wept and covered his Face 2 Sam. 15.30 Yet at this time saith he I will lay me down in Peace and Sleep He had trouble from his Son but Peace from his Conscience David could sleep upon the soft Pillow of a good Conscience This is a Peace worth getting Quest. 8. What shall we do to attain this blessed Peace Resp. 1. Let us ask it of God he is the God of Peace he beats back the roaring Lion he stills the raging of Conscience If we could call all the Angels out of Heaven they could not speak Peace without God The Stars cannot make Day without the Sun none can make day in a dark Deserted Soul but the Sun of Righteousness as the Wilderness cannot water it self but remains dry and parched till the Clouds drop their Moisture so our Hearts cannot have Peace till he infuse and drop it upon us by his Spirit Therefore pray Lord thou who art the God of Peace create Peace thou who art the Prince of Peace command it Give me that Peace which may sweeten trouble yea the bitter Cup of Death 2. If you would have Peace make War with Sin Sin is the Achan that troubles us the Trojan Horse 2 Kings 9.22 When Joram saw Jehu he said is it Peace Jehu And he answered what Peace so long as the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezabel and her Witchcrafts are so many What Peace as long as Sin remains unmortified If you would have Peace with God break the League with Sin Give battel to Sin it is a most just War God hath proclaimed it Nay he hath promised us Victory Sin shall not have Dominion Rom. 6. No way to Peace but by maintaining a War with Sin Pax nostra Bellum contra Daemonem Tert. When Sampson had slain the Lion there came Hony out of the Lion By Slaying Sin we get this Hony of Peace 3. Go to Christs Blood for Peace Some go to fetch their Peace from their own Righteousness not Christs they go for Peace to their Holy Life not Christ's Death If Conscience be troubled they strive to quiet it with their Duties this is not the right way to Peace Duties must not be neglected nor yet idolized Look up to the Blood of Sprinkling Heb. 12.24 That Blood of Christ which pacified God must pacifie Conscience Christ's blood being suck'd in by Faith gives Peace Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God No Balm to cure a Wounded Conscience but the Blood of Christ. 4. Walk closely with God Peace flows from Purity Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this Rule Peace be on them In the Text Grace and Peace are put together Grace is the Root and Peace is the Flower As Balm-Water drops from the Limbeck so Divine Peace comes out of the Limbeck of a Gracious Heart Walk very Holily God's Spirit is first a Refiner before a Comforter Bran. 2. You who have this Peace Peace above Peace within labour to keep it it is a precious Jewel do not lose it 'T is sad to have the League of National Peace broken but it is worse to have the Peace of Conscience broken Oh preserve this Peace First Take heed of Relapses hath God spoken Peace do not turn again to Folly Psal. 85.8 Besides the Ingratitude there 's folly in Relapses it was long ere God was reconciled and the Breach made up and will you again Eclipse and Forfeit your Peace Hath God heal'd the wound of Conscience and will you tear it open again Will you break another Vein will you cut a new Artery This is returning indeed to folly What Madness is it
some stings of it in the joynts of the stone-work which cannot be gotten out 8. Sin mingles with our Duties and Graces we cannot write a Copy of Holiness without blotting This makes a Child of God weary of his Life and makes him water his Couch with his Tears to think sin so strong a Party and he should offend that God whom he loves This made Paul cry out Miser ego Homo O wretched Man that I am Hence Paul did not cry out of his Affliction of his Prison-chain but of the body of sin Now a Believer at Death shall be freed from sin he is not taken away in but from his sins he shall never have a vain proud thought more he shall never grieve the Spirit of God any more Sin brought Death into the World and Death shall carry sin out of the World The Persians had a certain day in the Year in which they kill'd all Serpents and venomous Creatures Such a day will the day of Death be to a Believer it will destroy all his sins which like so many Serpents have stung him Death smites a Believer as the Angel did Peter it made his Chains fall off So Death makes all the Chains of Sin fall off Acts 12.7 Believers at Death are made perfect in Holiness Heb. 12.23 The Spirits of just Men made perfect At Death the Souls of Believers recover their Virgin-purity O what a Blessed Privilege is this to be sine macula ruga without spot and wrinckle Eph. 5.27 to be purer than the Sun-beams to be as free from sin as the Angels This makes a Believer so desirous to have his Pass to be gone He would fain live in that pure Air where no black Vapors of sin arise 2. At Death the Saints shall be freed from all the Troubles and Incumbrances to which this Life is subject Sin is the Seed sown and Trouble is the Harvest reaped ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Eurip. Life and Trouble are married together There is more in Life to wean us than to tempt us Parents divide a Portion of Sorrow to their Children and yet they leave enough for themselves Iob 5.7 Man is born to trouble He is Heir to it it is his Birth-right You may as well separate weight from Lead as Trouble from the Life of Man Quid est diu vivere nisi diu Torqueri Aug. King Henry's Emblem a Crown hung in a Bush of Thorns There is a far greater Proportion of Bitterness than Pleasure in this Life Prov. 7.17 I have perfumed my Bed with Myrrhe Aloes and Cynamon For one sweet Ingredient there were two bitter for the Cynamon there was Myrrhe and Aloes A Mans Grace will not exempt him from Troubles Gen. 47.9 Few and evil have the days of the years of my Life been Though he was a Godly Patriarch though he had met with God Gen. 32.30 He named the name of the place Peniel For I have seen God face to face Yet he had his Troubles few and evil c. There are many things to imbitter Life and cause trouble and Death frees us from all 1. Care The Mind is full of perplexed thoughts how to bring about such a Design how to prevent such an Evil. The word for Care ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã comes from a Primitive in the Greek that signifies To cut the Heart in pieces Care doth discruciate the Mind wast the Spirits No such bitter Bread as the Bread of Carefulness Ezek. 12.19 Care is a Spiritual Canker which eats out the Comfort of Life Death is the Cure of Care 2. Fear Fear is the Ague of the Soul which sets it a shaking 1 Iohn 4.14 There is Torment in Fear Fear is like Prometheus his Vulture it gnaws upon the Heart There is a distrustful Fear a Fear of Want and a distracting Fear Fear of Danger and a discouraging Fear a Fear God doth not love us These Fears leave sad Impressions upon the Mind Now at Death a Believer is freed from these torturing Fears He now knows he is passed from Death to Life He is as far from Fear as the Damned are from Hope The Grave buries a Christians Fears 3. Labour Eccles. 1.8 All things are full of labour Some labour in the Mine others among the Muses God hath made a Law In the sweat of thy Brows thou shalt eat Bread But Death gives a Believer a Quietus est it takes him off from his Day-labour Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord they rest from their labours What needs working when they have their Reward What needs fighting when the Crown is set on their Head they rest from their Labours 4. Suffering Believers are as a Lilly among Thorns as the Dove among the Birds of Prey The Wicked have an Antipathy against the Righteous and secret Hatred will break forth into open Violence Gal. 4.29 He that was born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit The Dragon is described with seven Heads and ten Horns Rev. 12.3 he plotteth with the one and pusheth with the other But at Death the Godly shall be freed from the Molestations of the Wicked they shall never be pestered with these Vermin more Iob 3.17 There viz. in the Grave the wicked cease from troubling Death doth to a Believer as Ioseph of Arimathea did to Christ it takes him down from the Cross and gives him a Writ of Ease The Eagle that flies high cannot be stung with the Serpent Death gives the Soul the Wing of the Eagle that it flies above all these venomous Serpents here below 5. Temptation Though Satan be a conquered Enemy yet he is a restless Enemy 1 Pet. 5.8 He walketh about the Devil is always going his Diocess He hath his Snares and his Darts One he tempts with Riches another with Beauty it is no small trouble to be continually followed with Temptation As for a Virgin to have her Chastity daily assaulted But Death will free a Child of God from Temptation he shall never be vexed more with the old Serpent After Death hath shot its Dart at us the Devil shall have done shooting his Though Grace puts a Believer out of the Devils Possession only Death frees him from the Devils Temptation 6. Sorrow A Cloud of Sorrow gathers in the Heart and drops into Tears Psal. 31.10 My life is spent with Grief and my years with sighing It was a Curse Gen. 3.16 In sorrow thou shalt bring forth Many things occasion Sorrow Sickness Law-suits Treachery of Friends disappointment of Hopes loss of Estate Ruth 1.20 Call me not Naomi call me Mara I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty Sorrow is the evil Spirit that haunts us the World is a Bochim Rachel wept for her Children some grieve that they have no Children and others grieve that their Children are undutiful Thus we spend our years with sighing 't is a Valley of Tears But Death is the Funeral of all our Sorrows Rev. 7.17 And God
Life of another This makes the Sin of Blood more bloody The less Provocation to a Sin the greater the Sin 2. To shed the Blood of another contrary to Promise Thus after the Princes of Israel had sworn to the Gibeonites that they should live Iosh. 9.15 Saul slew them 2 Sam. 21.1 Here were two Sins twisted together Breach of Oath and Murder 3. To take away the Life of any Publick Person inhanceth the Murder and makes it greater As 1. To Kill a Judge upon the Bench because he represents the King's Person 2. To murder a Person whose Office is Sacred and comes on the King of Heaven's Ambassage The murdering of him may be the murdering of many Herod added this Sin above all that he shut up Iohn Baptist in Prison Luke 3.20 Then much more to behead Iohn in Prison 3. To stain ones Hands with Royal Blood David's Heart smote him because he did but cut off the Lap of King Saul's Garment 1 Sam. 24.5 How would David's Heart have smote him if he had cut off Sauls Head 4. To shed the Blood of a near Relation aggravates the Murder and dies it of a deeper Crimson For a Son to kill his Father is horrid Parricides are Monsters in Nature Qui occidit patrem plurima committit peccata in uno Cicero He who takes away his Fathers Life committeth many Sins in one He is not only guilty of Murder but of Disobedience Ingratitude Ostracism and Diabolical Cruelty Exod. 21.15 He who striketh his Father or Mother shall be surely put to Death Then how many Deaths is he worthy of that destroyes his Father or Mother Such a Monster was Nero who caused his Mother Agrippina to be slain 5. To shed the Blood of any Righteous Person aggravates the Sin First Hereby Justice is perverted Such a Person being innocent is unworthy of Death Secondly A Saint being ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a Publick Blessing he lies in the Breach to turn away Wrath So that to destroy him is to go to pull down the Pillars of a Nation Thirdly He is precious to God Isa. 15.43 44. He is a Member of Christ's Body therefore what Injury is offered to him is done to God himself Acts 9.4 Caution I. Tho this Commandment forbids Private Persons Thou shalt not kill to shed the Blood of another unless in their own Defence yet such as are in Office must punish Publick Offenders yea with Death else they sin To kill an Offender is not Murder but Justice A Private Person sins if he draws the Sword a Publick Person sins if he put up the Sword A Magistrate ought not to let the Sword of Justice rust in the Scabbard As the Magistrate should not let the Sword be too sharp by Severity so neither should the Edge of it be blunted by too much Lenity Caution II. Neither doth this Commandment Thou shalt not kill prohibit a Iust War When Mens Sins grow ripe and long Plenty hath bred Surfeit Then God saith Sword go through the Land Ezek. 14.17 God did abet the War between the Tribes of Israel and Benjamin When the Iniquity of the Amorites was full then God sent Israel to commence a War against them Iudg. 11.21 Vse I. Lamentation That this Land is so defiled with Blood Numb 35.33 How common is this Sin in this Hectoring Age England's Sins are written in Letters of Blood Some make no more of killing Men than Sheep Ier. 2.34 In thy Skirts is found the Blood of the poor Innocents Iunius reads it in Alis and so in Hebrew In Thy Wings is found the Blood of Innocents It alludes to the Birds of Prey which stain their Wings with the Blood of other Birds May not the Lord justly take up a Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Land because Blood toucheth Blood Hos. 4.2 There is a Concatenation a Plurality of Murders And that which may encrease our Lamentation is that not only Man's Blood is shed among us but Chrst's Blood Such as are profane flagitious Sinners are said to Crucify the Son of God afresh Heb. 6.6 1. They Swear by his Blood and so do as it were make his Wounds bleed afresh 2. Crucifie Christ in his Members Why persecutest thou me The Foot being trodden on the Head cried out 3. If it lay in their Power were Christ alive on Earth they would nail him again to the Cross. Thus Men Crucifie Christ afresh And if Man's Blood doth so cry how loud will Christ's Blood cry against Sinners Vse II. Beware of having your Hands imbrued in the Blood of others Obj. But such a one hath wronged me by Defamation or other ways and if I spill his Blood I do but revenge my own Quarrel Resp. If he hath done you wrong the Law is open but take heed of shedding Blood What because he hath wronged you will you therefore wrong God Is it not a Wrong to God to take his Work out of his Hand He hath said Vengeance is mine and I will repay Rom. 12.19 But you will take upon you to revenge your self You will be both Plantiff and Judge and Executioner your self This is an high Wrong done to God and he will not hold you guiltless Now to deterr all from having their Hands defiled with Blood consider what a Sin Murder is 1. A God-affronting Sin It is a Breach of Commandment trampling upon God's Royal Edict It is a Wrong offered to God's Image Gen. 9.6 In the Image of God made he Man It is a tearing God's Picture and breaking in Pieces the King of Heavens Broad-Seal Man is the Temple of God 1 Cor. 6.19 Know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost So that the Man-slayer destroys God's Temple And will God endure to be thus confronted by proud Dust 2. It is a crying Sin Clamitat in Coelum vox Sanguinis There are three Sins in Scripture said to cry 1. Oppression Psal. 12.5 2. Sodomy Gen. 18.21 3. Blood-shed This comes so loud that it drowns all the other Cries Gen. 4.10 The Voice of thy Brothers Blood cries unto me from the Ground Abel's Blood had as many Tongues as Drops to cry aloud for Vengeance This Sin of Blood lay heavy on David's Conscience Tho he had sinned by Adultery yet that he cried out of most was this Crimson Sin of Blood Psal. 51.14 Deliver me from Blood-guiltiness O God Tho the Lord visits for every Sin yet he will in a special manner make Inquisition for Blood Psal. 9.12 If a Beast did kill a Man the Beast was to be ston'd and his Flesh must not be eaten Exod. 21.8 If God would have a Beast stoned that killed a Man who had not the Use of Reason to restrain him then much more will he be incensed against those who go both against Reason and Conscience in spoiling the Life of a Man 3. Murder is a Diabolical Sin It makes a Man Primogenitum Diaboli The Devil 's First-born He was a Murderer from the beginning Iohn
Adulteress who can paint her black enough The Scripture calls her a deep Ditch Prov. 23.27 She is a Common-shore Whereas a Believer his Body is a Living Temple and his Soul a little Heaven bespangled with the Graces as so many little Stars The Body of an Harlot is a walking Dunghil and her Soul a lesser Hell Fourthly Adultery is destructive to the Body Prov. 5.11 And thou mourn at last when thy Flesh and thy Body is consumed It brings into a Consumption Uncleanness turns the Body into an Hospital it wastes the Radical Moisture rots the Skull eats the Beauty of the Face As the Flame wastes the Candle so the Fire of Lust consumes the Bones The Adulterer hastens his own Death Prov. 7.23 Till a Dart strike through his Liver The Romans had their Funerals at the Gate of Venus Temple to signify that Lust brings Death Venus is Lust. Fifthly Adultery is a Purgatory to the Purse as it wastes the Body so the Estate Prov. 6.26 By the means of a Whorish Woman a Man is brought to a piece of Bread Whores are the Devil's Horseleeches Spunges that will soon suck in all ones Money The Prodigal had soon spent his Portion when once he fell among Harlots Luke 15.30 King Edward the Third's Concubine when he lay a dying got all she could from him and pluck'd the Rings off his Fingers and so left him He that lives in Luxury dies in Beggery Sixthly Adultery blots and eclipseth the Name Prov. 6.33 Whoso committeth Adultery with a Woman a wound and dishonour shall he get and his Reproach shall not be wiped away Some while they get Wounds get Honour The Soldiers Wounds are full of Honour The Martyrs Wounds for Christ are full of Honour These get Honour while they get Wounds But the Adulterer gets Wounds in his Name but no Honour His Reproach shall not be wiped away The Wounds of the Name no Physician can heal The Adulterer when he is dead his Shame lives When his Body rots under ground his Name rots above ground His base-born Children will be the Living Monuments of his Shame Seventhly This Sin doth much eclipse the Light of Reason it steals away the Understanding it stupifies the Heart Hos. 4.11 Whoredom takes away the Heart It eats out all Heart for good Solomon besotted himself with Women and they enticed him to Idolatry Eighthly This Sin of Adultery ushers in Temporal Iudgments The Mosaical Law made Adultery Death Lev. 20.10 The Adulterer and the Adulteress shall surely be put to Death And the usual Death was Stoning Deut. 22.24 The Saxons commanded the Persons taken in this Sin to be burnt The Romans caused their Heads to be stricken off This Sin like a Scorpion carries a Sting in the Tail of it The Adultery of Paris and Helena a beautiful Strumpet ended in the Ruin of Troy and was the Death both of Paris and Helena Iealousie is the rage of a Man and the Adulterer is oft killed in the Act of his Sin Adultery cost Otho the Emperor and Pope Sixtus the Fourth their Lives Laeta venire Venus tristis abire solet I have read of two Citizens in London 1583. who defiling themselves with Adultery on the Lord's Day were immediately struck dead with a Fire from Heaven If all that were now guilty of this Sin should be punished in this manner it would rain Fire again as on Sodom Ninthly Adultery without Repentance damns the Soul 1 Cor. 6.9 Neither Fornicators nor Adulterers nor Effeminate shall enter into the Kingdom of God The Fire of Lust brings to the Fire of Hell Heb. 13.4 Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Tho Men may neglect to judge them yet God will judge them But will not God judge all other Sinners Yes Why then doth the Apostle say Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge The meaning is 1. He will judge them assuredly they shall not escape the Hand of Justice 2. He will punish them severely 2 Pet. 2.10 The Lord knoweth how to reserve the Vnjust to the Day of Iudgment to be punish'd but chiefly them that walk in the Lust of Vncleanness The Harlot's Breast keeps from Abraham's Bosom Momentaneum est quod delectat Aeternum q. d. Cruciat Who would for a Cup of Pleasure drink a Sea of Wrath Prov. 9.18 Her Guests are in the depths of Hell A wise Traveller when he comes to his Inn tho many pleasant Dishes are set before him yet he forbears to taste because of the Reckoning which will be brought in We are here all Travellers to Ierusalem above and tho many Baits of Temptation are set before us yet we should forbear and think of the reckoning which will be brought in at Death With what Stomach could Dionisius eat his Dainties when he imagined there was a naked Sword hung over his Head as he sat at Meat While the Adulterer feeds on strange Flesh the Sword of God's Justice hangs over his Head Causinus speaks of a Tree that grows in Spain that is of a sweet Smell and pleasant to the Taste but the Juyice of it is poysonous The Emblem of an Harlot she is perfum'd with Powders and fair to look on but poysonous and damnable to the Soul Prov. 7.26 She hath cast down many wounded yea many strong Men have been slain by her Tenthly The Adulterer doth not only wrong his own Soul but doth what in him lies to destroy the Soul of another and so kill two at once And thus the Adulterer is worse than the Thief For suppose a Thief Rob a Man yea take away his Life yet that Man's Soul may be happy he may go to Heaven as well as if he had died in his Bed But he who commits Adultery endangers the Soul of another and deprives her of Salvation so far as in him lies Now what a fearful thing is it to be an Instrument to draw another to Hell Eleventhly The Adulterer is abhorr'd of God Prov. 22.14 The mouth of a strange Woman is a deep Pit he who is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein What can be worse than to be abhorr'd of God God may be angry with his own Children but for God to Abhor a Man it is the highest Degree of Hatred Quest. But how doth the Lord show his abhorring of the Adulterer Answ. In giving him up to a Reprobate Mind and a Seared Conscience Rom. 1.26 And now he is in such a condition that he cannot repent This is to be abhorred of God Such a Person stands upon the Threshold of Hell and when Death gives him a Jog he tumbles in All which may sound a Retreat in our Ears and call us off from the pursuit of so damnable a Sin as Uncleanness I will conclude with two Scriptures Prov. 5.8 Come not nigh the Door of her House Prov. 7.27 Her House is the way to Hell Twelfthly Adultery is a Sower of Discord It destroyes Peace and Love the two best Flowers which grow in a Family Adultery sets Husband
did not only leave his Harlots but did arise and go to his Father Luke 15.18 In true Repentance the Heart points directly to God as the Needle to the North-Pole Vse Let us all set upon this great Work of Repentance let us repent sincerely and speedily Let us repent of all our Sins our Pride rash Anger Unbelief Without Repentance no remission It is not consistent with the Holiness of God's Nature to pardon a Sinner while he is in the Act of Rebellion O meet God not with Weapons but Tears in your Eyes And to stir you up to a melting penitent Frame 1. Consider What is there in Sin that you should continue in the Practice of it It is the accursed thing Iosh. 7.11 It is the Spirits of Mischief distilled 1. It defiles the Souls Glory it is like a Stain to Beauty 'T is compar'd to a Plague-Sore 1 King 8.38 Nothing so changeth ones Glory into Shame as Sin 2. Without Repentance Sin tends to final Damnation Peccatum transit actu manet reatu Sin at first shows its Colour in the Glass but afterwards it bites like a Serpent Those Locusts Rev. 9.7 were an Emblem of sin On their Heads were Crowns like Gold and they had Hair as the Hair of Women and their Teeth were as the Teeth of Lions and there were Stings in their Tails Sin unrepented of ends in a Tragedy Sin hath the Devil for its Father Shame for its Companion and Death for its Wages Rom. 6.23 What is there in sin then that Men should continue in it Say not it is sweet Who would desire that Pleasure which kills 2. Repentance is very pleasing to God to Sacrifice like a broken Heart Psal. 51.17 A contrite and a broken Heart O God thou wilt not despise St. Austin caus'd this Sentence to be written over his Bed when he was sick When the Widow brought empty Vessels to Elisha the Oyl was poured into them 2 Kings 4.6 Bring God the broken Vessel of a contrite Heart and he will pour in the Oyl of Mercy Repenting Tears are the Joy of God and Angels Luke 15. Doves delight to be about the Waters And surely Gods Spirit who once descended in the likeness of a Dove takes great Delight in the Waters of Repentance Mary stood at Iesus Feet weeping Luke 7.38 She brought two things to Christ Tears and Oyntment her Tears were more precious to Christ than her Oyntment 3. Repentance ushers in Pardon therefore they are joyned together Acts 5.31 Repentance and Remission Pardon of Sin is the Richest Blessing it is enough to make a sick Man well Isa. 33.24 The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick the People that dwell therein shall be forgiven their Iniquity Pardon settles upon us the rich Charter of the Promises Pardoning Mercy is the Sauce that makes all other Mercies relish the sweeter it sweetens our Health Riches Honour David had a Crown of Pure Gold set upon his Head Psal. 21.3 But that which David did most bless God for was not that God had set a Crown of Gold upon his Head but that God had set a Crown of Mercy upon his Head Psal. 103.4 Who crowneth thee with Mercies But what was this Crown of Mercy You may see ver 3. Who forgiveth all thy Iniquity David more rejoyc'd that he was Crown'd with Forgiveness than that he wore a Crown of pure Gold Now what is it makes way for pardon of sin but Repentence When David's Soul was humbled and broken then the Prophet Nathan brought him that good News 2 Sam. 12.13 The Lord hath put away thy Sin Obj. But sure my Sins are so great that if I should repent God would not pardon them Resp. God will not go from his Promise Ier. 3.12 Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause my Anger to fall upon you for I am merciful If thy Sins are as Rocks yet upon thy Repentance the Sea of God's Mercy can drown these Rocks Isa. 1.16 Wash ye make ye clean Wash in the Laver of Repentance Ver. 18. Come now and let us reason saith the Lord tho' your Sins be a Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow Manasseh was a Crimson Sinner but when he humblâd himself greatly the Golden Scepter of Mercy was held forth when his Head was a Fountain to weep for Sin Christ's Sides were a Fountain to wash away Sin 'T is not the greatness of Sin but Impenitency destroys The Jews some of them that had an hand in Crucifying Christ upon their Repentance the Blood they shed was a sovereign Balm to heal them When the Prodigal came home to his Father he had the Robe and Ring put upon him and his Father kissed him Luke 15. If you break off your Sins God will become a Friend to you all that is in God shall be yours His Power shall be yours to help you his Wisdom shall be yours to counsel you his Spirit shall be yours to sanctifie you his Promises shall be yours to comfort you his Angels shall be yours to guard you his Mercy shall be yours to save you 4. There 's much Sweetness in Repenting Tears The Soul is never more enlarged and inwardly delighted than when it can melt kindly for Sin Weeping Days are Festival Days The Hebrew Word to Repent Nicham signifies Consolari to takâ Comfort Iohn 16.21 Your Sorrow shall be turned into Ioy. Christ turns the Water of Tears into Wine David who was the great Mourner in Israel was the Sweet Singer And the Joy a true Penitent finds is a Prelibation and Foretaste of the Joy of Paradise The Wicked Man's Joy turns to Sadness the Penitents Sadness turns to Joy Tho Repentance seems at first to be thorny and bitter yet of this Thorn a Christian gathers Grapes All which Considerations may open a Vein of Godly Sorrow in our Souls that we may both weep for Sin and turn from Sin If ever God restores Comfort 't is to his Mourners Isa. 57.18 And when we have wept let us look up to Christ's Blood for Pardon Say as that holy Man Lavae Domine lachrimas meas Lord wash my Tears in thy Blood We drop sin with our Tears and need Christ's Blood to wash them And this Repentance must not only be for a few days like the Mourning for a Friend which is soon over but it must be the Work of our Lives The Issue of Godly Sorrow must not be stopt till Death After Sin is pardoned we must repent We run afresh upon the Score we sin daily therefore must repent daily Some shed a few Tears for Sin and when their Tears like the Widows Oyl have run awhile they cease Many if the Plaister of Repentance begin to smart a little pluck it off whereas this Plaister of Repentance must still lie on and not be plucked off till Death when as all other Tears so these of Godly Sorrow shall be wiped away Quest. What shall we do to obtain a Penitential Frame of Heart
9.21 then well may we look upon it as a favour to be taken into his Royal Service Theodosius thought it a greater Honour to be Gods Servant than to be an Emperour 'T is more Honour to serve God than to have Kings serve us Every Subject of this King is Crowned with Regal Honour Rev. 1.6 Who hath made us Kings Therefore as the Queen of Sheba having seen the Glory of Solomons Kingdom said Happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee 1 Kings 10.8 so happy are those Saints who stand before the King of Heaven and wait on his Throne Br. 2. If God be such a Glorious King crowned with Wisdom armed with Power bespangled with Riches then it showes us what Prudence it is to have this King to be ours To say as Psal. 5.2 My King and my God 'T is counted great Policy to be on the strongest side if we belong to the King of Heaven we are sure to be on the strongest side The King of Glory can with ease destroy his Adversaries he can pull down their Pride befool their Policy restrain their Malice That stone cut out of the Mountains without hands which smote the Image Dan. 2.34 was an emblem saith Austin of Christs Monarchical Power conquering and triumphing over his enemies If we are on Gods side we are on the strongest side he can with a Word destroy his enemies Psal. 2.5 Then shall he speak to them in his wrath nay he can with a Look destroy them Iob 40.12 Look upon every one that is proud and bring him low It needs cost God no more to confound those who rise up against him than a look a cast of the eye Exod. 14.24 In the morning watch the Lord looked to the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and troubled their host and took off their chariot-wheels What Wisdom is it then to have this King to be ours then we are on the strongest side VSE II of Exhortation Br. 1. If God be so Glorious a King full of Power and Majesty let us trust in him Psal. 9.10 They that know thy name will put their trust in thee Trust him with your Soul you cannot put this Jewel in safer hands and trust him with Church and State Affairs He is King Exod. 15.3 The Lord is a man of war he can make bear his holy Arm in the eyes of all the Nations If means fail he is never at a loss there are no impossibles with him he can make the dry bones live Ezek. 37.10 As a King he can command and as a God he can create Salvation Isa. 65.18 I create Ierusalem a rejoycing Let us trust all our affairs with this great King Either God can remove Mountains or can leap over them Cant. 2.8 Br. 2. If God be so great a King let us fear him Ier. 5.22 Fear ye not me saith the Lord Will ye not tremble at my presence We have enough fear of Men. Fear makes danger appear greater and sin lesser but let us fear the King of Kings who hath power to cast Body and Soul into Hell Luke 12.5 As one wedge drives out another so the fear of God would drive out all base carnal fear Let us fear that God whose Throne is set above all Kings they may be Mighty but he is Almighty Kings have no Power but what God hath given them their Power is limited his is infinite Let us fear this King whose eyes are as lamps of fire Rev. 1.14 The mountains quake at him and the rocks are thrown down by him Nahum 1.6 If he stamps with his foot all the Creatures are presently up in a battalio to fight for him O tremble and fear before this God Fear is Ianitor Animae it is the Door-keeper of the Soul it keeps Sin from entring Gen. 39.9 How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God 3 Br. If God be so Glorious a King he hath jus virae necis He hath the power of Life and Death in his Hand Let all the Potentates of the Earth take heed how they employ their Power against the King of Heaven they employ their power against God who with their Scepter beat down his Truth which is the most Orient Pearl of his Crown who crush and persecute his People which are the Apple of his Eye Zach. 2.8 Who trample upon his Laws and Royal Edicts which he hath set forth Psal. 2.3 What is a King without his Laws Let all that are invested with worldly Power and Grandeur take heed how they oppose the King of Glory The Lord will be too hard for all that come against him Iob 40.9 Hast thou an Arm like God Wilt thou measure Arms with the Almighty Shall a little Child go to fight with an Arch-angel Ezek. 22.14 Can thy Heart endure or can thy Hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee Christ will put all his Enemies at last under his Feet Psal. 110.1 All the Multitude of the Wicked who set themselves against God shall be but as so many Clusters of ripe Grapes to be cast into the Wine-press of the wrath of God and to be trodden by him till their blood comes forth The King of Glory will come off Victor at last Men may set up their Standard but God alwaies sets up his Trophies of Victory the Lord hath a golden Scepter and an iron Rod Psal. 2.9 Those who will not bow to the one shall be broken by the other 4. Br. Is God so great a King having all Power in Heaven and Earth in his Hand let us learn Subjection to him Such as have gone on in Sin and by their Impieties hung out a Flag of defiance against the King of Heaven Oh come in quickly and make your Peace submit to God Psal. 2.12 Kiss the Son least he be angry Kiss Christ with a Kiss of Love and a Kiss of Obedience obey the King of Heaven when he speaks to you by his Ministers and Ambassadors 2 Cor. 5.20 when God bids you fly from Sin and espouse Holiness obey him to obey is better then Sacrifice To obey God saith Luther is better then to work Miracles Obey God willingly Isa. 1.19 That is the best obedience that is chearful as that is the sweetest Honey which drops out of the Comb Obey God swiftly Zech. 5.9 I lift up mine eyes and behold two Women and the wind was in their Wings Wings are swift but wind in the wings denotes great swiftness such should our obedience to God be Obey the King of Glory Vse III. Comfort to those who are the Subjects of the King of Heaven God will put forth all his Royal Power for their Succour and Comfort 1. The King of Heaven will plead their Cause Ier. 51.36 I will plead thy Cause and take Vengeance for thee 2. He will protect his People He sets an invisible guard about them Zech. 2.5 I will be a Wall of Fire to her rounâ about A wall that
his Master as a Wife gives up her self to her Husband so we give up our selves to God by obedience and this obedience is 1. Free as that is the sweetest honey which drops from the comb 2. Uniform we obey God in one thing as well as another Psal. 119.6 Then shall I not be ashamed or as it is in the Hebrew ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã I shall not blush when I have respect to all thy commandments A good Christian is like a pair of Compasses one foot of the Compass stands upon the Centre the other part of it goes round the Circle so a Christian by Faith stands on God the Centre and by Obedience goes round the Circle of Gods Commandments a sign the Kingdom of Grace is not come into the heart when it doth not reign there by universal Obedience Hypocrites would have Christ to be their Saviour but they pluck the government from his shoulders they will not have him rule but he who hath the Kingdom of God within him submits chearfully to every command of God he will do what God will have him do he will be what God will have him be He puts a blank Paper into Gods hand and saith Lord write what thou wilt I will subscribe Blessed is he that can find all these things in his Soul He is all glorious within Psal. 45.13 he carries a Kingdom about him and this Kingdom of Grace will certainly bring to a Kingdom of Glory I shall answer some Doubts and Objections a Christian may make against himself Object I Fear the Kingdom of Grace is not yet come into my heart Answ. When a Christian is under temptation or Grace lies dormant he is not fit to be his own judge but in this case he must take the witness of others who have the Spirit of discerning But let us hear a Christians Objections against himself why he thinks the Kingdom of Grace is not yet come into his heart Object 1. I cannot discern Grace Answ. A Child of God may have the Kingdom of Grace in his heart yet not know it The Cup was in Benjamins sack though he did not know it was there thou mayest have Faith in thy heart the Cup may be in thy sack though thou knowest it not Old Iacob wept for his Son Ioseph when Ioseph was alive thou mayest weep for want of Grace when Grace may be alive in thy heart The seed may be in the ground when we do not see it spring up the seed of God may be sown in thy heart though thou dost not perceive the springing of it up think not Grace is lost because it is hid Object 2. Before the Kingdom of Grace come into the heart there must be some preparation for it The fallow ground of the heart must be broken up I fear the plough of the Law hath not gone deep enough I have not been humbled enough therefore I have no Grace Answ. God doth not prescribe a just proportion of sorrow and humiliation The Scripture mentions the truth of sorrow but not the measure Some are more flagitious âinners than others these must have a greater degree of humiliation A knotty piece of Timber requires more wedges to be driven into it Some Stomachs are fouler than others therefore need stronger Physick But wouldst thou know when thou hast been humbled enough for sin 1. When thou art weary of thy sin and sick of love to Christ. What doth God require sorrow for but as sawce to make Sin rellish bitter and Christ sweet 2. When thou art willing to let go thy sins Then the Gold hath lain long enough in the Furnace when the dross is purged out so when the love of sin is purged out a Soul is humbled enough to divine acceptation though not to divine satisfaction Now if thou art humbled enough though not so much as others what needs more Frustra fit per plura c. If a Needle will let out the Imposthume what needs a Launce Be not more cruel to thy self than God would have thee Object 3. If the Kingdom of God were within me it would be a Kingdom of Power it would inable me to serve God with vigour of Soul but I have a spirit of infirmity upon me I am weak and impotent and untuned to every holy action Answ. There is a great difference between the weakness of Grace and the want of Grace A Man may have Life though he be sick and weak Weak Grace is not to be despised but cherished Christ will not break the bruised reed Do not argue from the weakness of Grace to the nullity 1. Weak Grace will give us a Title to Christ as well as a strong Weak Faith justifies as well as a strong A weak hand of Faith will receive the Almes of Christs merit 2. Weak Faith is capable of growth The seed springs up by degrees first the blade and then the ear and then the full corn in the ear the Faith that is strongest was once in its infancy Grace is like the waters of the Sanctuary which did rise higher and higher Be not discouraged at thy weak Faith though it be now but blossoming it will by degrees come to more maturity 3. The weakest Grace shall persevere as well as the strongest A sucking Child was as safe in the Ark as Noah An infant-believer that is but newly laid to the breast of a Promise is as safe in Christ as the most eminent heroick Saint Object 4. I fear the Kingdom of Grace is not yet come because I find the Kingdom of Sin so strong in me Had I Faith it would purifie my heart but I find much Pride Worldliness Passion Answ. The best of the Saints have remainders of corruption Dan. 7.12 They had their dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season So in the regenerate though the dominion of sin be taken away yet the life of it is prolonged for a season What pride was there in Christs own Disciples when they strove which should be greatest The issue of sin will not be quite stopped till death The Lord is pleased to let the in-being of sin continue to humble his people and make them prize Christ the more but because you find corruptions stirring do not therefore presently un-saint your selves and deny the Kingdom of Grace to be come into your Souls That you feel sin is an evidence of Spiritual Life that you mourn for sin what are these tears but fruits of love to God That you have a combate with sin argues antipathy against it those sins which you did once wear as a crown on your head are now as fetters on the leg is not all this from the Spirit of Grace in you Sin is in you as poyson in the body which you are sick of and use all Scripture-antidotes to expel Should we condemn all those who have the in-dwelling of sin nay who have had sin at some times prevailing we should blot some of the best Saints out of
owe God themselves to pay it in part and do not look to have it all forgiven But why did Christ teach us to pray forgive us our sins if we can of our selves satisfie God for the wrong we have done him This Doctrine robs God of his Glory Christ of his Merit and the Soul of Salvation Alas is not the lock cut where our Strength lay are not all our Works fly-blown with sin and can sin satisfie for sin this Doctrine makes men their own Saviours it is most absurd to hold for can the Obedience of a finite Creature satisfie for an infinite Offence Sin being forgiven clearly implies we cannot satisfie for it 2. From this word Vs forgive us we learn that pardon is chiefly to be sought for our selves For tho' we are to pray for the pardon of others Iam. 6.16 Pray one for another yet in the first place we are to beg pardon for our selves What will anothers pardon do us good every one is to endeavour to have his own name in the pardon A Son may be made free by his Fathers Copy but he cannot be pardoned by his Fathers pardon he must have a pardon for himself In this sence selfiâhness is lawful every one must be for himself and get a pardon for his own sins Forgive Vs. 3. From this word ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã OVR Our sins we learn how just God is in punishing us the Text saith Our Sins we are not punished for other mens sins but our own Nemo habet de proprio nisi peccatum Augustine There 's nothing we can call so properly ours as sin Our daily bread we have from God our daily sins we have from our selves Sin is our own Act a web of our own spinning How righteous therefore is God in punishing of us we sow the seed and God only makes us reap what we sow Ier. 17.10 I give every man the fruit of his own doings When we are punished we do but tast the fruit of our own grafting 4. From this word ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Sins see from hence the multitude of sins we stand guilty of we pray not forgive us our Sin as if it were only a single debt but sins in the plural so vast is the Catalogue of our sins that David cries out Who can understand his Errors Ps. 19.12 Our sins are like the drops in the Sea like the atoms in the Sun they exceed all Arithmetick Our debts we owe to God we can no more number than we can satisfie Which as it should humble us to consider how full of black Spots our Souls are so it should put us upon seeking after the pardon of our sins and this brings to the second Vse Exhort To labour to have the forgiveness of sin sealed up to us How can we eat or drink or sleep without it 'T is sad dying without a pardon This is to fall into the Labyrinth of Despair of this the next time Vse 2. Let us labour for the forgiveness of sin If ever this was needful then now when the Times ring Changes and Dangers seem to be marching towards us Labour I say for the Forgiveness of sin this is a main Branch of the Charter or Covenant of Grace Heb. 10.12 I will be merciful to your Unrighteousness and your Sins and Iniquities I will remember no more It is Mercy to feed us but it is rich Mercy to pardon us this is spun and woven out of the Bowels of Free-grace Earthly things are no signs of God's love he may give the Venison but not the Blessing but when God seals up Forgiveness he gives his Love and Heaven with it Psal. 21.3 Thou settest a Crown of pure Gold on his head A Crown of Gold was a Mercy but if you look into 103. Psalm you shall find a greater Mercy v. 3 4. Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities who crowneth thee with loving-kindness To be crowned with Forgiveness and Loving kindness is a far greater Mercy than to have a Crown of pure Gold set upon the Head it was a Mercy when Christ cured the palsy man but when Christ said to him Thy sins are forgiven Mar. 2.5 this was more than to have his palsy healed forgiveness of Sin is the Chief thing to be sought after and sure if conscience be once touched with a sence of Sin there 's nothing a man will thirst after more than forgiveness Ps. 51.3 My Sin is ever before me this made David so earnest for pardon Ps. 51.1 Have Mercy upon me O God blot out my Transgressions If one should have come to David and asked him David where is thy pain what is it troubles thee is it the fear of shame which shall come upon thee in thy Wives is it the fear of the Sword which God hath threatned shall not depart from thy House he would have said No it is only my sin pains me My Sin is ever before me Were but this removed by forgiveness tho' the Sword did ride in circuit in my Family I should be well enough content When the Arrow of Guilt sticks in the Conscience nothing is so desirable as to have this Arrow plucked out by forgiveness Oh therefore seek after the Forgiveness of Sin can you make a shift to live without it but how will you do to die without it will not death have a sting to an unpardoned Sinner how do you think to get to Heaven without forgiveness as at some solemn Festivals there 's no being admitted unless you bring a Ticket so unless you have this Ticket to shew Forgiveness of Sin there 's no being admitted into the Holy Place of Heaven Will God ever Crown those that he will not forgive O be ambitious of pardoning Grace When God had made Abraham great and large Promises Abraham replies Lord what is all seeing I go Childless Gen. 15.2 so when God hath given thee Riches and all thy heart can wish say to him Lord what is all this seeing I want Forgiveness let my pardon be sealed in Christ's Blood A Prisoner in the Tower is in an ill Case notwithstanding his brave Diet great Attendance soft Bed to lie on because being Impeach'd he looks every day for his Arraignment and is afraid of the Sentence of Death In such a Case and worse is He that swims in the Pleasures of the World but his sins are not forgiven A guilty Conscience doth impeach him and he is in fear of being Arraign'd and Condemn'd at God's Judgment-Seat Give not then sleep to your Eyes or slumber to your Eye lids till you have gotten some well-grounded hope that your sins are blotted out Before I come to press the Exhortation to seek after forgiveness of Sin I shall propound one question Quest. If pardon of Sin be so absolutely necessary without it no Salvation what is the Reason that so few in the world seek after it If they want health they repair to the Physitian if they want Riches they take a Voyage to the Indies
but if they want forgiveness of Sin they seem to be unconcerned and do not seek after it whence is this Answ. 1. Inadvertency or want of Consideration they do not look into their spiritual Estate or cast up their Accounts to see how Matters stand between God and their Souls Isa. 1.3 My people doth not consider they do not consider they are indebted to God in a Debt of ten thousand Talents and that God will ere long call them to account Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God But people shun serious Thoughts my people doth not consider Hence it is they do not look after pardon 2. Men do not seek after forgiveness of Sin for want of Conviction Few are convinc'd what a deadly Evil Sin is it is the spirits of Mischief distilled it turns a mans Glory into shame it brings all plagues on the Body and curses on the Soul Unless a mans Sin be forgiven there 's not the vilest creature alive the Dog Serpent Toad but is in a better Condition than the Sinner for when they die they go but to the Earth but he dying without pardon goes into Hell-Torments for ever Men are not convinced of this but play with the Viper of Sin 3. Men do not seek earnestly after Forgiveness because they are seeking other things they seek the World immoderately When Saul was seeking after the Asses he did not think of a Kingdom The World is a golden Snare Divitiae Saeculi sunt laquei Diaboli Bern. The Wedge of Gold hinders many from seeking after a pardon Ministers cry to the people get your pardon sealed but if you call to a man that is in a Mill the noise of the Mill drowns the voice that he cannot hear so when the Mill of a Trade is going it makes such a noise that the people cannot hear the Minister when he lifts up his Voice like a Trumpet and cries to them to look after the sealing of their pardon He who spends all his time about the World and doth not mind Forgiveness will accuse himself of Folly at last You would judge that Prisoner very unwise that should spend all his time with the Cook to get his dinner ready and should never mind getting a pardon 4. Men seek not after the forgiveness of Sin through a bold Presumption of Mercy they conceit God to be made up all of Mercy and that he will indulge them tho' they take little or no pains to sue out their pardon It is true God is Merciful but withal he is Iust he will not wrong his Justice by shewing Mercy read the Proclamation Exod. 34.6 The Lord the Lord God merciful ver 7. and that will by no means clear the guilty Such as go on in Sin and are so slothful or wilful that they will not seek after Forgiveness tho there be a whole Ocean of Mercy in the Lord not one drop shall fall to their share he will by no means clear the guilty 5. Men seek not earnestly after Forgiveness out of hope of Impunity they flatter themselves in sin and because they have been spared so long therefore sure God never intends to reckon with them Ps. 10.11 He hath said in his Heart God hath forgotten he hides his Face he will never see it Atheists think either the Iudge is blind or forgetful but let Sinners know that long forbearance is no forgiveness God did bear with Sodom a long time but at last rain'd down Fire and Brimstone upon them the adjourning of the Assises doth not acquit the Prisoner the longer God is taking his blow the heavier it will be at last if sinners repent not 6. Men do not seek earnestly after Forgiveness through Mistake they think getting a pardon is easie it is but repenting at the last hour a sigh or a Lord have Mercy and a pardon will drop into their Mouths But is it so easie to repent and have a pardon tell me O Sinner is Regeneration easie are there no Pangs in the new Birth is Mortification easie is it nothing to pluck out the right Eye is it easie to leap out of Dalilahs Lap into Abrahams Bosom This is the Draw-net by which the Devil drags Millions to Hell the facility of Repenting and getting a Pardon 7. Men do not look after Forgiveness through Despair Oh saith the desponding Soul it is a vain thing for me to expect pardon my Sins are so many and hainous that sure God will not forgive me Ier. 18.12 And they said There is no hope My Sins are huge Mountains and can they ever be cast into the Sea Despair cuts the Sinews of Endeavour who will use means that despairs of Success The Devil shews some men their sins at the little end of the Perspective-Glass and they seem little or none at all but he shews others their Sins at the great end of the Perspective and they fright them into Despair This is a Soul-damning Sin Iudas's Despair was worse than his Treason Despair spills the Cordial of Christ's Blood this is the Voice of Despair Christ's Blood cannot pardon me Thus you see whence it is that men seek no more earnestly after the forgiveness of sin Having answered this Question I shall now come to press the Exhortation upon every One of us to seek earnestly after the forgiveness of our Sins 1. Our very Life lies upon the getting of a Pardon 't is call'd the Iustification of Life Rom. 5.18 Now if our Life lies upon our Pardon and we are dead and damned without it doth it not concern us above all things to labour after forgiveness of Sin Deut. 32.47 For it is not a vain thing for you because it is your Life If a man be under a Sentence of Death he will set his Wits a work and make use of all his friends to get the King to grant His pardon because his Life lies upon it So we are by reason of Sin under a Sentence of Damnation now there is one friend at Court we may make use of to procure our Pardon namely the Lord Iesus How earnest then should we be with him to be our Advocate to the Father for us and that he would Present the Merit of his Blood to the Father as the Price of our Pardon 2. There is that in Sin may make us desire Forgiveness Sin is the only thing that disquiets the Soul 1. Sin is a Burden it burdens the Creation Rom. 8.22 it burdens the Conscience Ps. 38.4 A wicked man is not sensible of Sin he is dead in Sin and if you lay a thousand weight upon a dead man he feels it not But to an awakened Conscience there 's no such Burden as Sin when a man seriously weighs with himself the Glory and Purity of that Majesty which Sin hath offended the preciousness of that Soul which Sin hath polluted the loss of that Happiness which sin hath indangered the greatness of that Torment which Sin hath deserved to lay all
two Talents take the Venison and take a Blessing with it Take the Oil in the Cruse and take my Love with it Take two Talents 'T is observable Christ joins these two together Give us our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as if Christ would teach us there is little comfort in daily bread unless sin be forgiven Forgiveness doth perfume and drop sweetness into every earthly enjoyment 11. If sin be forgiven God will never upbraid us with our former sins When the Proâigal came home to his Father the Father received him into his loving embraces and never mentioned his former Luxury or spending his Estate among Harlots So God will not upbraid us with former sins nay he will intirely love us we shall be his Jewels and he will put us in his bosom Mary Magdalen a pardoned Penitent after Christ arose he appeared first to her Mark 16.9 So far was Christ from upbraiding her that he brings her the first New of his Resurrection 12. Sin being pardoned is a pillar of support in the loss of dear Friends God hath taken away thy Child thy Husband but withal he hath taken away thy sins He hath given thee more than he hath taken away He hath taken a-away a Flower and given thee a Jewel He hath given thee Christ and the Spirit and the earnest of Glory He hath given thee more than he hath taken away 13. Where God Pardons Sins he bestows righteousness With Remission of sin goes Imputation of Righteousness Isa. 61.10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness If a Christian can take any comfort in his Inherent Righteousness which is so stain'd and mix'd with sin O then what comfort may he take in Christ's Righteousness which is a better Righteousness than that of Adam Adam's Righteousness was Mutable but suppose it had been Vnchangeable yet it was but the Righteousness of a Man but that Righteousness which is Imputed is the Righteousness of him who is God 2 Cor. 5.21 That we might be made the Righteousness of God in Him O blessed priviledge to be reputed in the sight of God Righteous as Christ having his Embroidered Robe put upon the Soul This is the comfort of every one that is pardoned he hath a Perfect Righteousness and now God saith of him Thou art all fair my Love and there is no spot in thee Cant. 4.7 14. A pardon'd Soul needs not fear death He may look on Death with Joy who can look on Forgiveness with Faith To a pardoned Soul death hath lost his Sting Death to a pardon'd sinner is like the Arresting a Man after the Debt is paid Death may Arrest but Christ will shew the Debt-book Crossed in his Blood A pardoned Soul may Triumph over Death O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory He who is pardon'd needs not fear death it is not a Destruction but a Deliverance It is to him a day of Iubilee or Release it releaseth him from all his sins Death comes to a pardoned Soul as the Angel did to Peter it smote him and beat off his Chains and carried him out of Prison So doth Death to him who is pardon'd it smites his Body and the Chains of Sin fall off Death gives a pardon'd Soul a Quietus Est it frees him from all his Labours Revel 14.13 Faelix transitus à labore ad Requiem Death as it will wipe off our Tears so it will wipe off our Sweat Death will do a pardon'd Christian the greatest good turn therefore it is made a part of the Inventory 1 Cor. 3.22 Death is yours Death is like the Waggon which was sent for old Iacob it came ratling with its Wheels but it was to carry Iacob to his Son Ioseph So the Wheels of Death's Chariot may rattle and make a noise but they are to carry a Believer to Christ. While a Believer is here he is absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 He lives far from Court and cannot see him whom his Soul loves But Death gives him a sight of the King of Glory in whose presence is fulness of Ioy To a pardoned Soul Death is Transitus ad regnum it removes him to the place of Bliss where he shall hear the Triumphs and Anthems of Praise Sung in the Quire of Angels No cause hath a pardoned Soul to fear Death What needs he fear to have his Body buried in the Earth who hath his Sins buried in Christ's Wounds What hurt can Death do to him It is but his Ferry-man to Ferry him over to the Land of Promise The day of Death to a pardon'd Soul is his Ascension day to Heaven his Coronation-day when he shall be Crown'd with those delights of Paradice which are unspeakable and full of glory ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Chrysost. Thus you see the the rich Consolations which belong to a pardoned sinner Well might David proclaim him blessed Psal. 32.1 Blessed is he whose iniquity is forgiven In the Hebrew it is in the plural ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Blessednesses Here is a Plurality of Blessings Forgiveness of sin is like the first link of a Chain which draws all the links after it it draws these 14 Priviledges after it It Crowns with Grace and Glory Who then would not labour to have his sins forgiven Blessed is he whose Iniquity is forgiven whose sin is covered Now followeth the Duties of such as have their sins forgiven Mercy calls for Duty Be much in Praise and Doxology Psal. 103. 1. Bless the Lord O my Soul who forgiveth all thy Iniquities Hath God Crowned you with pardoning Mercy set the Crown of your Praise upon the head of Free Grace Pardon of sin is a Discriminating Mercy a Jewel hung onely upon the Elect this calls for Acclamations of Praise You will give thanks for daily bread and will you not much more for Pardon You will give thanks for deliverance from Sickness and will you not for deliverance from Hell God hath done more for you in forgiving your sin than if he had given you a Kingdom And that you may be more thankful do but set the Unpardoned condition bâfore your eyes How sad is it to want a pardon all the Curses of the Law stand in full force against such an one The Unpardoned Sinner dying he drops into the Grave and Hell both at once He must quarter among the Damned and will not this make you Thankful that this is not your condition but that you are delivered from wrath to come 2. Let God's pardoning love inflame your hearts with love to God For God to pardon freely without any desert of yours to pardon so many offences that he should pardon you and pass by others that he should take you out of the ruines of Mankind and of a clod of dust and sin make you a Jewel sparkling with Heavenly Glory Will not this make you love God much Three Prisoners that deserve to die if the King pardon one
flaming Sword in his Hand ready to strike the Stroke and Patience steps in for the sinner Lord Spare him a while longer My thinks I hear the Angels saying to God as the King of Israel to the Prophet 2 King 6.21 Shall I smite them shall I smite them Lord here is such a sinner shall I smite him Shall I take off the Head of such a Drunkard Swearer Sabbath-breaker And Gods Patience saith as the Dresser of the Vineyard Luke 13.8 Let him alone this year O the infinite Patience of God that sin being so Great an Evil and so Contrary to God he should bear with sinners so long 1 Sam. 24.19 If a man find his enemy will he let him go well away God finds his Enemies yet he lets them go he is not presently aveng'd on them Every sin hath a voice to cry to God for Vengeance Sodom's sin cried Gen. 18.20 yet God spares men But let not sinners presume upon God's Patience if they repent not long forbearance is no forgiveness Gods Patience abus'd will leave men more inexcusable III. Branch If Sin be so great an Evil then there is no sin little There 's no little Treason every sin strikes at God's Crown and Dignity and in this sence it may be said as Iob 22.5 Are not thy Iniquities infinite The least sin as the Schoolmen say is infinite objective because it is committed against an infinite Majesty And besides nothing can do away sin but that which hath an Infiniteness in it For tho' the Sufferings of Christ as Man were not infinite yet the Divine Nature did shed forth an Infinite Value and Merit upon his Sufferings So that no sin is little there is no little Hell for sin as we are not to think any of Gods Mercies little because they are more than we can deserve so neither are we to think any of our sins little because they are more than we can answer for That sin we esteem lightest without Christ's Blood will be heavy enough to sink us into Perdition IV. Branch If Sin be so great an Evil then see whence all personal or national Troubles come they come from the Evil of Sin our Sins grow high that makes our Divisions grow wide Sin is the Achan that troubles us it is the Cockatrice's Egg out of which comes a fiery flying Serpent Sin is like Phaeton who as the Poets fain driving the Chariot of the Sun set the World on fire Sin like the Planet Saturn hath a Malignant Influence Sin brings us into straits 2. Sam. 24.14 David said unto Gad I am in a great Streight Ier. 4.17 As Keepers of a field are they against her round about As Horses or Deer in a field are so enclosed with Hedges and so narrowly watched that they cannot get out so Ierusalem was so close besieg'd with Enemies and watch'd that there was no escape for her Whence was this Ver. 18. This is thy Wickedness All our Evils are from the Evil of Sin The Cords that pinch us are of our own twisting Flagitium flagellum sunt tanquam Acus Filum Sin raiseth all the Storms in Conscience the Sword of God's Justice lies quiet till Sin draws it out of the scabbard and makes God whet it against a Nation V. Br. If sin be so great an Evil then how little Reason hath any one to be in Love with sin Some are so infatuated with sin that they delight in it The Devil can so cook and dress sin that it pleaseth the sinners Palate Iob 20.12 Tho' Wickedness be sweet in his Mouth Sin is as delightful to corrupt Nature as Meat to the Taste Sin is a Feast on which Men feed their Lusts but there 's little cause to be so in love with sin Iob. 20.14 Tho' Wickedness be sweet in his Mouth it is the Gall of Asps within him To love sin is to hug an Enemy Sin puts a Worm into Conscience a Sting into Death a Fire into Hell Sin is like those Locusts Rev. 9.7 On their Heads were as it were Crowns like Gold and they had Hair as the Hair of Women and their Teeth were as the Teeth of Lions and they had Tails like Scorpions and they had Stings in their Tails after the Womens Hair comes the Scorpions Sting VI. Br. If sin be so great an Evil then what may we judge of them who make light of sin as if there were no danger in it as if God were not in earnest when he threatens sin or as if Ministers were about a needless Work when they Preach against sin Some people make nothing of breaking a Commandment they make nothing of telling a Lie of Couzening of Slandering nothing of living in the sin of Uncleanness if you weigh sin in the Ballance of some mens Judgments it weighs very light but who are those that make so light of sin Solomon hath describ'd them Prov. 19.9 Fools make a mock of sin Stultus in vitia cito dilabitur Isidor Who but Fools would make light of that which grieves the Spirit of God who but Fools would put such a Viperous sin in their Bosoms Who but fools would laugh at their own Calamity and make sport while they give themselves Poison VII Br. If sin be so great an Evil then I infer that there 's no good to be gotten by Sin of this Thorn we cannot gather Grapes If Sin be so deadly an Evil then we cannot get any profit by it no man did ever thrive upon this Trade Those Atheists said Mal. 3 14. It is in vain to serve God and what profit is it But we may say more truly what profit is there in Sin Rom. 6.21 What Frâât had ye in those things whereof ye are now ashamed Where are your Earnings what have you gotten by Sin It hath shame for its Companion and death for its Wages What profit had Achan of his Wedge of Gold That wedge seemed to cleave asunder his Soul from God What profit had Ahab of the Vineyard he got unjustly the Dogs licked his Blood 1 King 21.19 What profit had Iudas of his Treason For thirty pieces he sold his Saviour and bought his own Damnation All the Gain men get by their Sins they may put in their Eye nay they must and weep it out again VIII Br. If Sin be so great an Evil see then the Folly of those who venture upon sin because of the Pleasure they have in it 2 Thes. 2.12 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Who have Pleasure in Unrighteousness As for the Pleasure of sin 1. It is but Seeming it is but a pleasant Fancy a golden Dream 2. And besides it is a mixed Pleasure it hath Bitterness intermingled Prov. 7.17 I have saith the Harlot perfum'd my Bed with Myrrh Aloes and Cinnamon For one sweet here are two bitters Cinnamon is sweet but Myrrh and Aloes are bitter the Harlots Pleasure is mix'd There are those inward Fears and Lashes of Conscience as imbitter the Pleasure 3. If there be any Pleasure
Organs in God's Spiritual Temple are going How sad is it that God hath no more of his Glory from us this way Many are full of Murmurings and Discontents but seldom do they bring Glory to God by giving him the Praise due to his Name We read of the Saints having Harps in their hand Rev. 5.8 the Emblem of Praise Many have Tears in their eyes and Complaints in their mouth but few have Harps in their hand blessing and glorifying of God let us Honour God this way Praise is the Quit-rent we pay to God while God renews our Lease we must renew our Rent 12. We glorifie God by being zealous for his Name Numb 25.11 Phinehas hath turned my wrath away while he was zealous for my sake Zeal is a mixed Affection a Compound of Love and Anger it carries forth our Love to God and Anger against Sin in a most intense manner Zeal is impatient of God's Dishonour a Christian fired with Zeal takes a Dishonour done to God worse then an Injury done to himself Rev. 2.2 Thou canst not bear them that are evil Our Saviour Christ did thus glorifie his Father he being baptized with a Spirit of Zeal drove the Money-changers out of the Temple Iob. 2.14 and 17. The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up 13. We glorifie God when we have an eye at God both in our Natural and in our Civil Actions 1. In our Natural Actions in eating and drinking 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink do all to the glory of God A gracious Person holds the Golden Bridle of Temperance he takes his Meat as a Medicine to heal the Decays of Nature and that he may be the fitter by the strength he receives for the Service of God he makes his Food not Fuel for Lust but Help to Duty 2. In buying and selling we do all to the Glory of God the Wicked live upon unjust Gain either by falsifying the Ballance Hos. 12.7 The ballances of deceit are in his hand While Men make their Weights lighter they make their Sins heavier or by exacting more then the Commodity is worth they do not for fourscore write down fifty but for fifty fourscore they exact double the Price that a thing is worth But then we buy and sell to the Glory of God when in our buying and selling we observe that Golden Maxim To do to others as we would have them do to us Matth. 7.12 When we so sell our Commodities that we do not sell our Conscience Acts 24.16 Herein do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and toward men This is to glorifie God when we have an eye at God in all our Civil and Natural Actions and will do nothing that may reflect any Blemish on Religion 14. We glorifie God by labouring to draw others to God we convert others and so make them Instruments of glorifying God We should be both Diamonds and Loadstones Diamonds for the Lustre of Grace and Loadstones for our attractive Vertue in drawing others to Christ Gal. 4.19 My little children of whom I travel c. This is a great way of glorifying God when we break the Devil's Prison and turn Men from the Power of Satan to God 15. We glorifie God in an high manner when we suffer for God and Seal the Gospel with our Bloud Joh. 21.18 19. When thou shalt be old another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldst not This spake he signifying by what death he should glorifie God God's Glory shines in the Ashes of his Martyrs Isa. 24.15 Wherefore glorifie the Lord in the fires Micaiah was in the Prison Isaiah sawn asunder Paul beheaded Luke hanged on an Olive-tree thus did they by their Death glorifie God The Sufferings of the Primitive Saints did Honour God and make the Gospel famous in the World What would others say See what a good Master they serve and how they love him that they will venture loss of all in his Service The Glory of Christ's Kingdom doth not stand in Worldly Pomp and Grandeur as other Kings but it is seen in the chearful Sufferings of his People The Saints of old loved not their lives to the Death Rev. 12.11 They snatch'd up Torments as so many Crowns God grant we may thus glorifie him if he calls us to it many pray Let this cup pass away but not Thy will be done 16. We glorifie God when we give God the Glory of all we do Herod when he had made an Oration and the People gave a shout saying It is the voice of a God and not of a Man and he took this Glory to himself the Text saith Immediately the angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of worms Acts 12.23 Then we glorifie God when we sacrifice the Praise and Glory of all to God 1 Cor. 15.10 I labour more abundantly then they all A Speech one would think savoured of Pride but the Apostle pulls the Crown from his own Head and sets it upon the Head of Free-grace Yet not I but the grace of God which was with me As Ioab when he fought against Rabbah sent for King David that he might carry away the Crown of the Victory 2 Sam. 12.28 so a Christian when he hath gotten power over any Corruption or Tentation sends for Christ that he may carry away the Crown of the Victory as the Silk-worm when she weaves her curious Work she hides herself under the Silk and is not seen so when we have done any thing Praise-worthy we must hide ourselves under the Vail of Humility and transfer the Glory of all we have to done God Constantine did use to write the Name of Christ over his Door so should we write the Name of Christ over our Duties let him wear the Garland of Praise 17. We glorifie God by an holy Life Christianorum religio haâc sine macula vivere lactant As a bad Life doth dishonour God 1 Pet. 2.9 Ye are an holy nation that ye should shew forth the praises of him that hath called you Rom. 2.24 The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you Epiphanius saith That the Loosness of some Christians in his time made many of the Heathen shun the Company of the Christians and would not be drawn to hear their Sermons So by our exact Bible-conversation we glorifie God though the main Work of Religion lies in the Heart yet our light must so shine that others may behold it the chief of Building is in Foundation yet the Glory of it is in Frontis-piece so Beauty in the Conversation When the Saints who are called Jewels cast a sparkling Lustre of Holiness in the Eyes of the World when they walk as Christ walked 1 Ioh. 2.6 when they live as if they had seen the Lord with bodily Eyes and been with him upon the Mount then they adorn Religion and bring Revenues of Glory to the Crown of
Book against Wrath Anger Et ipse mihi irascitur yet he falls into a Passion of Anger with me So this Minister preacheth against Drunkenness yet he will be drunk he preacheth against Swearing yet he will swear this reproacheth God and makes the Offering of the Lord to be abhorred 3. Masters of Families do you glorifie God season your Children and Servants with the Knowledge of the Lord your Houses should be little Churches Gen. 18.19 I know that Abraham will command his children that they keep the way of the Lord. You that are Masters know you have a Charge of Souls under you for want of the Bridle of Family-discipline Youth runs wild Well let me lay down some Motives to glorifie God 1 Motive It will be a great Comfort in a dying hour to think we have glorified God in our Lives it was Christ's Comfort before his Death Ioh. 17.3 I have glorified thee on earth At the hour of Death all your earthly Comforts will vanish if you think how Rich you have been what Pleasures you have had on Earth this will be so far from comforting you that it will but torment you the more What is one the better for an Estate that is spent But now to have Conscience telling you that you have glorified God on Earth what sweet Comfort and Peace will this let into your Soul how will this make you long for Death The Servant that hath been all day working in the Vineyard longs till Evening comes when he shall receive his Pay They who have lived and brought no Glory to God how can they think of dying with Comfort they cannot expect an Harvest that never sowed any Seed How can they expect Glory from God that never brought any Glory to him O in what Horrour will they be at Death the Worm of Conscience will gnaw their Souls before the Worms are gnawing their Bodies 2 Mot. If we glorifie God he will glorifie our Souls for ever by raising God's Glory we encrease our own by glorifying of God we come at last to the blessed Enjoying of Him and that brings me to the second The Enjoying of God Secondly Man's chief End is to Enjoy God for ever Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee Quasi What is there in Heaven I desire to enjoy but thee Ibi Angeli musculus There is a twofold Fruition or enjoying of God the one is in this Life the other in the Life to come 1st An enjoying of God here in this Life The enjoying of God's Presence it is a great matter to enjoy God's Ordinances a Mercy that some do envy us but to enjoy God's Presence in the Ordinances is that which a gracious Heart aspires after Psal. 63.2 To see thy glory so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary This sweet enjoying of God is when we feel his Spirit co-operating with the Ordinance and distilling Grace upon our Hearts 1. When in word the Spirit doth quicken and raise the Affections Luke 24.32 Did not our hearts burn within us 2. When the Spirit doth transform the Heart leaving an impress of Holiness upon it 2 Cor. 3.8 We are changed into the same Image from glory to glory 3. When the Spirit doth receive the Heart with Comfort it comes not only with its Anointing but its Seal it sheds God's Love abroad in the Heart Rom. 5.5 this is to enjoy God in an Ordinance 1 Joh. 1.3 Our fellowship is with the Father and his son Iesus In the Word we hear God's Voice and in the Sacrament we have his Kiss this is enjoying of God And what infinite Content doth a gracious Soul find in this The Heart being warm'd and inflamed in a Duty this is God's answering by Fire When a Christian hath the sweet Illapses of God's Spirit these are the first Fruits of Glory when God comes down to the Soul in an Ordinance Now Christ hath pull'd off his Veil and showed his smiling Face now he hath led a Believer into the Banqueting-house and given him of the spiced Wine of his Love to drink he hath put in his Finger at the hole of the Door he hath touch'd the Heart and made it leap for Joy Oh how sweet is it thus to enjoy God! The Godly have in the use of the Ordinances had such Divine Raptures of Joy and Soul-transfigurations that they have been carried above the World and despised all things here below Use 1. Is the enjoying God in this Life so sweet how prodigiously wicked are they that prefer the enjoying their Lusts before the enjoying of God 2 Pet. 3.3 The lust of the flesh the lust of the eye the pride of life is the Trinity they worship Lust is an inordinate Desire or Impulse provoking the Soul to that which is evil there is the revengeful Lust and the wanton Lust Lust is like a feaverish Heat it puts the Soul into a Flame Aristotle calls sensual Lusts bruitish because when any Lust is violent Reason or Conscience cannot be heard the Beast rides the Man These Lusts when they are enjoyed do besot and dispirit Persons Hos. 4.11 Whoredom and wine take away the heart They have no heart for any thing that is good how many make it their chief end not to enjoy God but to enjoy their Lusts As that Cardinal said Let him but keep his Cardinalship of Paris and he was content to loose his part in Paradise Lust first bewitcheth with Pleasure and then comes the fatal Dart Prov. 7.23 Till a dart strike through his liver This should be as a flaming Sword to stop Men in the way of their carnal Delights who would for a Drop of Pleasure drink a Sea of Wrath Use 2. Let it be our great Care to enjoy God's sweet Presence here which is the Beauty and Comfort of the Ordinance Enjoying spiritual Communion with God is a Riddle and Mystery to most People every one that hangs about the Court doth not speak with the King We may approach to God in Ordinances and as it were hang about the Court of Heaven yet not enjoy Communion with God we may have the Letter without Spirit the visible Sign without the invisible Grace it is the enjoying of God in a Duty we should chiefly look at Psal. 42.2 My soul thirsteth for God for the living God Alas what are all our worldly Enjoyments without the enjoying of God What is it to enjoy a great deal of Health a brave Estate and not to enjoy God Job 30.28 I went mourning without the sun So maist thou say in the Enjoyment of all Creatures without God I went mourning without the sun I have the Star-light of outward Enjoyments but I cannot enjoy God I want the Sun of Righteousness I went mourning without the sun This should be our great Design not only to have the Ordinances of God but the God of the Ordinances The enjoying God's sweet Presence with us here is the most contented Life he is an Hive of Sweetness a Magazine of Riches
a saying of Luther Quos Deus vult perdere c. whom God intends to destroy he gives them leave to play with Scripturre Use 3. of Exhortation If the Scripture be of Divine Inspiration then be exhorted 1. to study the Scripture it is a Copy of God's Will be Scripture Men Bible Christians I adore the fulness of Scripture saith Tertullian In the Book of God are scattered many Truths as so many Pearls Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures Search as for a Vein of Silver This blessed Book will fill your Head with Knowledge and your Heart with Grace God wrote the two Tables with his own Fingers and if God took pains to write well may we take pains âo read Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 The Word is our Magna Charta for Heaven shall we be ignorant of our Charter Col. 3.16 Let the word of God dwell in you richly The Memory must be a Table-Book where the Word is written To make us read the Word consider 1. There is Majesty sparkling in every Line of Scripture Take but one Instance Isa. 63.1 Who is this that cometh from Edom with died garments from Bozrah this that is glorious in his apparel travelling in the greatness of his strength I that speak in righteousness mighty to save Behold here a lofty magnificent stile what Angel could speak after this manner Iunius was converted by reading one Verse of Iohn he beheld a Majesty in it beyond all Humane Rhetorick 2. There is Melody in Scripture This is that blessed Harp which drives away sadness of Spirit Hear the sounding of this Harp a little 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the World to save sinners he took not only our Flesh upon him but our Sins And Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest How sweetly doth this Harp of Scripture sound what heavenly Musick doth it make in the Ears of a distressed sinner especially when the Finger of God's Spirit toucheth upon this Instrument 3. There is Divinity in Scripture It contains the Marrow and Quintessence of Religion The Scripture is a Rock of Diamonds a Mystery of Piety the Lips of Scripture have Grace poured into them The Scripture speaks of Faith Self-denial and all the Graces which as a Chain of Pearl adore a Christian. The Scripture excites to Holiness it treats of another World it gives a prospect of Eternity Oh then search the Scriptures Make the Word familiar to you Had I the Tongue of Angels I could not sufficiently set forth the Excellency of Scripture It is a spiritual Optick Glass in which we behold God's Glory it is the Tree of Life the Oracle of Wisdom the Rule of Manners the heavenly Seed of which the New Creature is formed Iames 1.18 The two Testaments saith Austin are the two Breasts which every Christian must suck that he may get spiritual Nourishment The Leaves of the Tree of Life were for Healing Rev. 22.2 so these Holy Leaves of Scripture like those Leaves are for the healing of our Souls The Scripture is profitable for all things If we are deserted here is the spiced Wine that cheers the heavy heart If we are pursued by Satan here is the Sword of the Spirit to resist him If we are diseased with Sins leprosy here are the Waters of the Sanctuary both to Cleanse and Cure Oh then search the Scriptures There is no danger in tasting this Tree of Knowledge There was a Penalty laid at first that we might not taste of the Tree of Knowledge Gen. 3.17 In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die But there is no danger of plucking this Tree of Holy Scripture if we do not eat of this Tree of Knowledge we shall surely die Oh then read the Scriptures Time may come when the Scriptures may be kept from us Quest. How should we so search the Scriptures as to find Life Answ. 1. Read the Bible with Reverence think every Line you read God is speaking to you The Ark wherein the Law was put was over-laid with pure Gold and was carried on Barrs that the Levites might not touch it Exod. 25.14 And why was this but to breed in the People Reverence to the Law 2. Read with Seriousness 'T is Matter of Life and Death By this Word you must be tried Conscience and Scripture are the Jury God will proceed by in Judging of you 3. Read the Word with Affection Get your Hearts quickned with the Word go to it to fetch fire Luke 24.31 Did not our hearts burn within us Labour that the Word may not only be a Lamp to direct but a Fire to warm Read the Scripture not only as an History but as a Love-Letter sent to you from God which may affect your Hearts 4. Pray that the same Spirit that wrote the Word may assist you in the reading of it that God's Spirit would show you the wonderful Things of his Law Go near saith God to Philip joyn thy self to this Chariot Acts 8.29 So when God's Spirit joyns himself with this Chariot of the Word then it becomes effectual 2. Be exhorted to prize the Word written Iob 23.12 David valued the Word more precious than Gold What would the Martyrs have given for a Leaf of the Bible The Word is the Field where Christ the Pearl of price is hid In this Sacred Mine we dig not for a Wedge of Gold but a Weight of Glory 1. The Scripture is a Sacred Collyrium or Eye-salve to illuminate us Prov. 6.23 The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Clem Alexandrinus The Scripture is the Card and Compass by which we Sail to the New Ierusalem 2. The Scripture is a Soveraign Cordial in all Distresses What are the Promises but the Water of Life to renew fainting Spirits Is it sin troubles there is a Scripture Cordial Psal. 65.3 Iniquities prevail against me as for our Transgressions thou shalt purge them away or as it is in Hebrew Te eapperem Thou shalt cover them Is it outward Affliction disquiets there is a Scripture Cordial Psal. 91.15 I will be with him in trouble not only to behold but to uphold Thus as in the Ark was laid up Manna Promises are laid up as Manna in the Ark of Scripture 3. The Scripture will make us wise Wisdom is above Troubles Psal. 119.104 By thy Precepts I get understanding What made Eve so desire the Tree of Knowledge Gen. 3.6 It was a Tree to make one wise The Scriptures teach a Man to know himself they discover Satan's ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã snares and stratagems 2 Cor. 2.11 They make one wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 O then highly prize the Scriptures I read of Queen Elizabeth at her Coronation she received the Bible presented to her with both her Hands and kissing it laid it to her Breast saying That that Book
any Affliction befal you remember God sees it is that which is fit for you or it should not come your Cloaths cannot be so fit for you as your Crosses God's Providence may sometimes be secret but it is always wise Tho' we may not be silent under God's Dishonour yet we should learn to be silent under his Displeasure 3. You that are Christians believe that all God's Providences shall conspire for the good of his People and shall promote their Salvation at last The Providences of God are sometimes dark and our eyes dim and we can hardly tell what to make of them but when we cannot unriddle Providence believe it shall work together for the good of the Elect Rom. 8.28 The Wheels in a Watch seem to move cross one to another but they help forward the Motion of the Watch and make the Larum strike so the Providences of God seem to be cross Wheels but for all that they shall carry on the Good of the Elect. The pricking of a Vein is in itseâf evil and hurtful but as it prevents a Fevor and tends to the Health of the Patient so it is good So Affliction in itself is not glorious but grievous but the Lord turns this to the good of his Saints Poverty shall starve their Sins Affliction shall prepare them for a Kingdom Therefore Christians believe that God loves us that he will make the most cross Providences to promote his Glory and our Good 4. Let this be an Antidote against Immoderate Fear for nothing comes to pass but what is ordain'd by God's Decree and ordered by his Providence We sometimes fear what the Issue of things will be Men grow high in their Actings let us not make things worse by our Fear Men are limited in their Power and shall not go one Hair's breadth further then God's Providence will permit He might let Sennacherib's Army march towards Ierusalem but he shall not shoot one Arrow against it Isa. 38.36 Then the angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred and fourscore and five thousand When Israel was compassed in between Pharoah and the Red Sea no question some of their hearts did begin to tremble and they look'd upon themselves as dead Men but Providence so ordered it that the Sea was a safe Passage to Israel and a Sepulchre to Pharaoh and all his Host. Use 2. Comfort in respect of the Church of God God's Providence reacheth in a more special manner to his Church Isa. 27.2 Sing ye unto her A vineyard of red wine God waters this Vineyard with his Blessings and watcheth over it by his Providence I the Lord keep it night and day Such as think totally to ruin the Church must do it in a time when it is neither Day nor Night for the Lord keeps it by his Providence Night and Day What a miraculous Conduct of Providence had Israel God led them by a Pillar of Fire gave them Manna from Heaven set the Rock abroach God by his Providence preserves his Church in the midst of Enemies which is as to see a Spark kept alive in the Ocean or a Flock of Sheep among Wolves God saves his Church strangely 1. By giving Unexpected Mercies to his Church when she looked for nothing but Ruine Psal. 126.1 When the Lord turned the captivity of Sion we were like them that dream How strangely did God raise up Queen Esther to preserve alive the Iews when Haman had got a bloudy Warrant sign'd for their Execution 2. Strangely by saving in that very way in which we think he will destroy God works sometimes by Contraries He raiseth his Church by bringing it low The Bloud of the Martyrs hath watered the Church and made it more fruitful Exod. 1.12 The more they afflicted them the more they multiplied The Church is like that Plant Gregory Nazianzen speaks of ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã it lives by dying and grows by cutting 3. Strangely in that he makes the Enemy do his Work When the People of Amon and Moab and Mount Seir came against Iudah God set the Enemy one against another 2 Chr. 20.23 The children of Amon and Moab stood up against them of Mount Seir to slay them and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir every one help'd to destroy another In the Powder-Treason he made the Traytors to be their own Betrayers God can do his work by the Enemies hand God made the Aegyptians send away the People of Israel laden with Jewels Exod. 12.36 The Church is the Apple of God's Eye and the Eye-lid of his Providence doth daily cover and defend it 5. Let the merciful Providences of God cause Thankfulness We are kept alive by a Wonder-working Providence Providence makes our Cloaths warm us our Meat nourish us We are fed every day out of the Alms-basket of God's Providence That in Health that we have an Estate it is not our Diligence but God's Providence Deut. 8.18 Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for he it is that gives thee power to get wealth Especially if we go a stâp higher we may see cause of Thankfulness That we should be born and bred in a Gospel Climate that we should live in such a place where the Sun of Righteousness shines this is a signal Providence Why might not we have been born in such places where Paganism prevails That Christ should make himself known to us and touch our hearts with his Spirit when he passeth by others Whence is this but from the miraculous Providence of God which is the Effect of his Free-grace Use 3. See here that which may make us long for that time when the great Mystery of God's Providence shall be fully unfolded to us Now we scarce know what to make of God's Providences therefore are ready to Censure what we do not understand but in Heaven we shall see how all God's Providences Sickness Losses Sufferings carried on our Salvation Here we see but some dark pieces of God's Providence and it is impossible to judge of God's Works by Pieces but when we come to Heaven and see the full Body and Pourtraicture of God's Providence drawn out in its lively Colours it will be a glorious Sight to behold Then we shall see how all God's Providences help'd to fulfil his Promises Never a Providence but we shall see had either a Wonder or a Mercy in it The Covenant of Works Quest. IX I Proceed to the next Question What special Providence did God exercise towards Man in the Estate wherein he was created Answ. When God created Man he entred into a Covenant of Life with him upon Condition of perfect Obedience forbidding him to eat of the Tree of Knowledge upon pain of death For this consult with Gen. 2.16 17. And the Lord commanded the man saying of every Tree of the Garden thou mayest freely eat but of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil thou shalt not eat for in the day thou
Resp. All Mankind by their Fall lost Communion with God are under his Wrath and Curse and so made liable to all Miseries in this Life to Death itself and to the Pains of Hell for ever Ephes. 2.3 And were by nature the children of wrath Adam left an unhappy Portion to his Posterity Sin and Misery We have already considered the first of these Original Sin now the Misery of that Estate in the first we have seen Mankind Offending in the second we shall see him Suffering The Misery ensuing Original Sin is twofold I. Privative By this first Hereditary Sin we have lost Communion with God Adam was God's Familiar his Favourite but Sin hath put us all out of Favour When we lost God's Image we lost his Acquaintance God's banishing Adam out of Paradise Hierogliphical it shewed how Sin hath banish'd us out of God's Love and Favour II. Positive In four things 1. Under the Power of Satan 2. Heirs of God's Wrath. 3. Subject to all Miseries in this Life 4. Obnoxious to Hell and Damnation 1. The first Misery is By Nature we are under the Power of Satan who is called The Prince of the Power of the Air Eph. 2.2 Before the Fall Man was a free Denison now a Slave before a King on the Throne now in Fetters And who is Man inslaved too To one that is an Hater of him This was an Aggravation of Israel's Servitude Psal. 106.41 They that hated them ruled over them By Sin we are enslaved to Satan who is an Hater of Mankind and writes all his Laws in Bloud Sinners before Conversion are under Satan's Command as the Ass at the command of the Driver he doth all the Devil's Drudgery No sooner Satan tempts but he obeys as the Ship is at the command of the Pilot he steers it which way he will so is the Sinner at the command of Satan he may steer him which way he will and he never steers the Ship but into Hell's Mouth The Devil rules all the Powers and Faculties of a Sinner 1. He rules the Understanding He blinds Men with Ignorance and then rules them As the Philistines first put out Sampson's Eyes and then bound him Satan can do what he will with an ignorant Man he doth not see the Errour of his way therefore the Devil can lead him into any Sin you may lead a blind Man any whither Omne peccatum fundatur in ignorantia 2. Satan rules the Will Though he cannot force the Will yet he can by a Tentation draw it Joh. 8.44 The lusts of your father ye will do He hath got your hearts and him you will obey Jer. 44.17 We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven When the Devil spurs a Sinner by a Tentation he will over Hedge and Ditch break all God's Laws that he may obey Satan Where then is Free-will When Satan hath such power over the Will his lusts ye will do There 's not any Member of the Body but is at the Devil's Service the Head to plot Sin the Hands to work it the Feet to run on the Devil's Errand Grave jugum servitutis Cicero Slavery is hateful to a Noble Spirit Satan is the Worst Tyrant the Cruelty of Cannibal or Nero is nothing to his other Tyrants do but rule over the Bodies he over the Conscience other Tyrants have some Pity on their Slaves though they work in the Gally they give them Meat let them have Hours for Rest but Satan is a Merciless Tyrant he âets Men have no Rest. What pains did Iudas take the Devil would let him have no rest till he had betrayed Christ and afterwards embrued his Hands in his own Bloud Use 1. See here our Misery by Original Sin enslaved to Satan Ephes. 2.2 Satan is said to work effectually in the Children of Disobedience What a sad Plague is this for a Sinner to be at the will of the Devil Just like a Slave if the Turk bids him dig in the Mine hew in the Quarres tug at the Oar the Slave must do it he dares not refuse If the Devil bids a Man Lye or Cozen he doth not refuse and which is worst Men are enslaved and they willingly obey this Tyrant other Slaves are forced against their will Israel sighed by reason of their bondage Exod. 2.23 But Sinners are willing to be Slaves they will not take their Freedom they kiss their Fetters Use 2. Let us labour to get out of this deplorable Condition Sin hath plunged us into get from under the Power of Satan If any of your Children were Slaves you would give great sums of Money to purchase their Freedom your Souls are enslaved and will you not labour to be set free Improve the Gospel the Gospel proclaims a Jubilee to Captives Sin binds Men the Gospel looseth them Paul's preaching was to turn Men from the Power of Satan to God Acts 26.18 The Gospel-Star that leads you to Christ and if you get Christ then you are made free though not from the Being of Sin yet from Satan's Tyranny Joh. 8.36 If the Son make you free ye shall be free indeed You hope to be Kings to Reign in Heaven and will you let Satan Reign in you now Never think to be Kings when you die and Slaves while you live The Crown of Glory is for Conquerours not for Captives Oh get out of Satan's Jurisdiction get your Fetters of Sin filed off by Repentance 2 Misery We are Heirs of God's Wrath. In the Text And were by nature the children of wrath Tertullian's Exposition here is wrong Chrildren of Wrath he understands subjective that is subject to Wrath and Passion offending often in the Irascible Faculty of a wrathful Spirit But by Children of Wrath the Apostle passively means Heirs of Wrath expos'd to God's Displeasure God was once a Friend but Sin broke the Knot of Friendship now God's Smile is turned into a Frown we are now bound over to the Sessions and become Children of Wrath And who knows the power of Godâs wrath Psal. 90.11 The Wrath of a King is as the roaring of a Lyon Prov. 19.12 How did Haman's Heart tremble when the King rose up from the Banquet in wrath Esth. 7.7 But God's Wrath is Infinite all other is but as a Spark to a Flame Wrath in God is not a Passion as in us but it is an Act of God's Holy Will whereby he abhors Sin and decrees to punish it This Wrath is very dismal 't is this Wrath of God that imbitters Afflictions in this Life When Sickness comes attended with God's Wrath it puts Conscience into an Agony The mingling the Fire with the Hail made it so terrible Exod. 9.24 so mingling God's Wrath with Affliction makes it torturing It is the Nail in the Yoke God's Wrath when but in a Threatning as a Shower hanging in the Cloud made Ely's ears to tingle What is it then when this Wrath is executed It is terrible when the King rates and chides a Traytor but it is more
and could we have shed Rivers of Tears offered up Millions of Holocausts and Burnt-Offerings we could never have pacified an angry Deity therefore Christ must dye that God's Justice might be satisfied It is hotly debated among Divines Whether God could not have forgiven Sin freely without a Sacrifice Not to dispute what God could have done but when we consider God was resolved to have the Law satisfied and to have Man in a way of Justice as well as Mercy then I say it was necessary that Christ should lay down his Life as a Sacrifice 1. To fulfil the Predictions of Scripture Luke 24.46 Thus it behoved Christ to suffer 2. To bring us into Favour with God 'T is one thing for a Traytor to be pardoned and another thing to be made a Favourite Christ's Bloud is not only called ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a Sacrifice whereby God is appeased but ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a Propitiation whereby God becomes gracious and friendly to us Christ is our Mercy-seat from which God gives Answers of Peace to us 3. Christ dyed that he might make good his last Will and Testament with his Bloud There were many Legacies which Christ bequeathed to Believers which had been all null and void had not he dyed and by his Death confirm'd the Will Heb. 9.17 A Testament is in force after Men are dead The Mission of Spirit the Promises those Legacies were not in force till Christ's Death but Christ by his Bloud hath sealed them and Believers may lay claim to them 4. He died that he might purchase for us Glorious Mansions Therefore Heaven is called not only a promised but a purchased Possession Eph. 1.14 Christ dyed for our Preferment He suffered that we might reign he hung upon the Cross that we might fit upon the Throne Heaven was shut c. Crux Christi clavis Paradisi The Cross of Christ is the Ladder by which we ascend to Heaven His Crucifixion is our Coronation Use 1. In the Bloudy Sacrifice of Christ see the horrid Nature of Sin Sin it is true is odious as it banish'd Adam out of Paradise and threw the Angels into Hell but that which doth most of all make it appear Horrid is this it made Christ vail his Glory and loose his Bloud We should look upon Sin with Indignation and pursue it with an Holy Malice and shed the Bloud of those Sins shed Christ's Bloud The sight of Caesar's Bloudy Robe incensed the Romans against them that slew him The sight of Christ's bleeding Body should incense us against Sin let us not parly with it let not that be our Joy which made Christ a Man of Sorrow Use 2. Is Christ our Priest sacrific'd see God's Mercy and Iustice displayed I may say as the Apostle Rom. 11.27 Behold the goodness and severity of God 1. The Goodness of God in providing a Sacrifice Had not Christ suffered on the Cross we must have lain in Hell for ever satisfying God's Justice 2. The Severity of God Though it were his own Son the Son of his Love and our Sins were but imputed to him yet God did not spare him Rom. 8.32 but his Wrath did flame against him And if God were thus severe to his own Son how dreadful will he be one day to his Enemies Such as dye in wilful Impenitency must feel the same Wrath as Christ did and because they cannot bear it at once therefore they must be enduring it for ever Use 3. Is Christ our Priest who was sacrificed for us then see the endeared Affection of Christ to us Sinners The Cross saith Austin was a Pulpit in which Christ preached his Love to the World That Christ should dye was more then if all the Angels had been turned to Dust And that Christ should dye as a Malefactor having the weight of all Mens Sins laid upon him That he should dye for his Enemies Rom. 5.10 The Balm-tree weeps out its precious Balm to heal those that cut and mangle it Christ shed his Bloud to heal those that crucified him And that he should dye freely it is call'd the Offering of the Body of Jesus Heb. 10.10 And though his Sufferings were so great that they made him sigh and weep and bleed yet they could not make him Repent Isa. 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his soul and be satisfied Christ had hard travel upon the Cross yet he doth not repent of it but thinks his Sweat and Bloud well bestowed because he sees Redemption brought forth to the World O infinite amazing Love of Christ a Love that passeth Knowledge Eph. 3.19 That neither Man or Angel can paralel How should we be affected with this Love if Saul was so affected with David's Kindness in sparing his Life How should we be affected with Christ's Kindness in parting with his Life for us At Christ's Death and Passion the very Stones did cleave asunder Matth. 27.5 The rocks rent Not to be affected with Christ's Love in dying is to have Hearts harder then the Rocks Use 4. Is Christ our Sacrifice then see the Excellency of this Sacrifice 1. It is perfect Heb. 10.14 By one offering he hath perfected them that are sanctified Therefore how impious are the Papists in joyning their Merits and the Prayers of Saints with Christ's Sacrifice They offer him up daily in the Mass as if Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross were imperfect this is a Blasphemy against Christ's Priestly Office 2. Christ's Sacrifice is meritorious he not only died for our Example but to merit Salvation The Person who suffered being God as well as Man did put Vertue into his Sufferings and now our sins are expiated and God appeased No sooner did the Messengers say Uriah is dead but David's Anger was pacified 2 Sam. 11.21 No sooner did Christ dye but God's Anger is pacified 3. This Sacrifice is beneficial out of the dead Lyon Sampson had Honey it procures Justification of our Persons Acceptance of our Services Access to God with Boldness Entrance into the Holy Place of Heaven Heb. 10.19 Per latus Christi paâescit nobis in coelum Israel passed through the Red Sea to Canaan so through the Red Sea of Christ's Bloud we enter into the Heavenly Canaan 2. Use of Exhortation Branch 1. Let us fiducially apply this Bloud of Christ All the Vertue of a Medicine is in the applying though the Medicine be made of the Bloud of God it will not heal unless by Faith applyed As Fire is to the Chymist so is Faith to a Christian the Chymist can do nothing without Fire so there is nothing done without Faith Faith makes Christ's Sacrifice ours Phil. 3.8 Christ Iesus my Lord. It is not Gold in the Mine enricheth but Gold in the Hand Faith is the Hand receives Christ's Golden Merits It is not a Cordial in the Glass refresheth the Spirits but a Cordial drunk down Per fidem Christi sanguinem sugimus Cypr. Faith opens the Orifice of Christ's Woundâ and drinks the precious Cordial of
can destroy his Church Let the Wind and Storms be up and the Church almost covered with Waves yet Christ is in the Ship of the Church and so long there 's no danger of Shipwrack Nor will Christ only defend his Church as he is King but deliver it 2 Tim. 4.17 He delivered me out of the mouth of the lion viz. Nero. 2. Chr. 11.14 The Lord saved them by a great deliverance Sometimes Christ is said to command Deliverance Psal. 44.4 Sometimes to create Deliverance Isa. 65.18 Christ as a King commands Deliverance and as a God creates it And deliverance shall come in his time Isa. 60.22 I the LORD will hasten it in his time Quest. When is the time that this King will deliver his People Resp. When the Hearts of his People are humblest when their Prayers are ferventest when their Faith is strongest when their Forces are weakest when their Enemies are highest now is the usual time that Christ puts forth his Kingly Power in their Deliverance Isa. 33.2 8 9. 3. Christ is a King to Reward his People there 's nothing lost by serving this King 1. He Rewards his Subjects in this Life 1. He gives them Inward Peace and Joy a Bunch of Grapes by the way and oftentimes Riches and Honour Godliness hath the promise of this life 1 Tim. 4.8 These are as it were the Saints Vails but besides the great Reward is to come An eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Christ makes all his Subjects Kings Rev. 2.10 I 'll give thee a crown of life This Crown will be full of Jewels and it will never fade 1 Pet. 5.5 2. Christ is a King in reference to his Enemies in subduing and conquering them He pulls down their Pride befools their Policy restrains their Malice That Stone cut out of the Mountains without Hands which smote the Image Dan. 2.34 was was an Emblem saith Austin of Christ's Monarchical Power conquering and triumphing over his Enemies Christ will make his Enemies his Footstool Psal. 110.1 He can destroy them with ease 2 Chron. 14.11 It is nothing for thee Lord to help He can do it with weak means without means He can make the Enemies destroy themselves he set the Persians against the Grecians and 2 Chron. 20.23 the Children of Ammon helped to destroy one another Thus Christ is King in vanquishing the Enemies of his Church This is a great ground of Comfort to the Church of God in the midst of all the Combinations of the Enemy Christ is King and he can not only bound the Enemies power but break it The Church hath more with her then against her she hath Emanuel on her side even that Great King to whom all Knees must bend Christ is called a Man of War Exod. 15.3 he understands all the Policies of Chivalry he is described with seven Eyes and seven Horns Rev. 5.6 The seven Eyes are to discern the Conspiracies of his Enemies and the seven Horns are to push and vex his Enemies Christ is described with a Crown and a Bow Rev. 6.2 He that sat on the white Horse had a Bow and a Crown was given unto him and he went forth conquering and to conquer A Crown is an Ensign of his Kingly Office and the Bow is to shoot his Enemies to Death Christ is describ'd with a Vesture dip'd in Blood Rev. 19.13 He hath a golden Scepter to Rule his People but an Iron Rod to break his Enemies Rev. 17.12 14. The ten Horns thou sawest are ten Kings these shall make War with the Lamb but the Lamb shall overcome them for he is King of Kings The Enemies may set up their Standard but Christ will set up his Trophies at last Rev. 14.18 19. And the Angel gathered the Vine of the Earth and cast it into the great Wine-press of the Wrath of God and the Wine-press was trodden and blood came out of the Wine-press The Enemies of Christ shall be but as so many Clusters of ripe Grapes to be cast into the great Wine-Press of the Wrath of God and to be trodden by Christ till their Bloud comes out Christ will at last come off Victor and all his Enemies shall be put under his Feet Gaudeo quod Christus dominus est alioqui desperassem said Miconius in an Epistle to Calvin I am glad Christ Reigns else I should have despaired Use 1. Branch 1. See hence it is no Disparagement to serve Christ he is a King and it s no Dishonour to be employed in a King's Service Some are apt to reproach the Saints for their Piety they serve the Lord Christ he who hath this Inscription upon his Vesture KING of KINGS Theodosius thought it a greater Honour to be a Servant of CHRIST then the Head of an Empire Servire est Regnare Christ's Servants are call'd Vessels of Honour 2 Tim. 2.21 And a Royal Nation 1 Pet. 2.9 Serving of Christ Ennobles us with Dignity 'T is a greater Honour to serve Christ then to have Kings serve us Branch 2. If Christ be King it informs us that all Matters of Fact must one day be brought before him Christ hath Ius vitae necis the Power of Life and Death in his hand Joh. 5.22 The Father hath committed all judgment to the Son He who once hung upon the Cross shall sit upon the Bench of Judicature Kings must come before him to be judged they who once sat upon the Throne must appear at the Bar. God hath committed all Judgment to the Son and Christ's is the highest Court of Judicature if this King once condemns Men there is no Appeal to any other Court Branch 3. See whither we are to go when we are foiled by Corruption go to Christ he is King desire him by his Kingly Power to subdue thy Corruptions to bind these Kings with Chains Psal. 149.8 We are apt to say of our Sins These sons of Zerviah will be too strong for us we shall never overcome this Pride and Infidelity Aye but go to Christ he is King though our Lusts are too strong for us yet not for Christ to conquer he can by his Spirit break the Power of Sin Ioshua when he had conquered five Kings caus'd his Servants to set their Feet on the Necks of those Kings so Christ can and will set his Feet on the Necks of our Lusts. 2. Use of Caution Is Christ King of Kings Let all Great Ones take heed how they imploy their Power against Christ Christ gives them their Power and if this Power shall be made use of for the suppressing of his Kingdom and Ordinances their account will be heavy God hath laid the Key of Government upon Christ's shoulders Isa. 9.7 and to go to oppose Christ in his Kingly Office it is as if the Thorns should set themselves in Battalia against the Fire or a Child fight with an Archangel Christ's Sword on his Thigh is able to avenge all his Quarrels It is not good to stir a Lion Let not Men provoke the
Lion of the Tribe of Judah whose Eyes are as a Lamp of fire and the Rocks are thrown down by him Nahum 1.6 He shall cut off the spirit of Princes Psal. 76.12 Use 3. If Christ be a great King submit to him Say not as those Iews We have no King but Caesar no King but our Lusts. This is to choose the Bramble to rule over you and out of the Bramble will come forth a fire Iudg. 9. Submit to Christ willingly all the Devils in Hell submit to Christ but 't is against their will they are his Slaves Not his Subjects Submit cheerfully to Christ's Person and his Laws Many would have Christ their Saviour but not their Prince such as will not have Christ to be their King to rule them shall never have his Blood to save them Obey all Christ's Princely Commands if he commands Love Humility Good Works be as the Needle which points which way soever the Load-stone draws Branch 2. Let such admire God's Free-grace who were once under the Power and Tyranny of Satan and now Christ hath made them of Slaves to become the Subjects of his Kingdom Christ did not need Subjects he hath Legions of Angels ministring to him but in his Love he hath honoured you to make you his Subjects O! how long was it e're Christ could prevail with you to come under his Banner How much opposition did he meet with e're you would wear this Prince's Colours but at last Omnipotent Grace overcame you When Peter was sleeping between two Souldiers an Angel came and beat off his Chains Acts 12.7 So when thou wert sleeping in the Devil's Arms that Christ should by his Spirit smite thy heart and cause the Chains of Sin to fall off and make thee a Subject of his Kingdom O admire Free-grace Thou who art a Subject of Christ art sure to Reign with Christ for ever Christ's Humiliation in his Incarnation 1 TIM 3.16 Great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in the flesh Quest. XVII WHerein did Christ's Humiliation consist Resp. In his being born and that in a low condition undergoing the Miseries of this Life the Wrath of God and the cursed Death of the Cross. Christ's Humiliation consisted in his Incarnation his taking Flesh and being Born It was real Flesh Christ took Not the Image of a Body as the Manichees erroniously held but a true Body therefore Christ is said to be made of a woman Gal. 4.4 As the Bread is made of the Wheat and the Wine is made of the Grape so Christ was made of a Woman his Body was part of the Flesh and Substance of the Virgin This is a glorious Mystery God manifest in the flesh In the Creation Man was made in God's Image in the Incarnation God was made in Man's Image Quest. How it came about that Christ was made flesh Resp. It was by his Fathers special designation Gal. 4.4 God sent forth his Son made of a Woman God the Father did in a special manner appoint Christ to be Incarnate which shews us how needful a Call is to any business of weight and importance to act without a Call is to act without a Blessing Christ himself would not be Incarnate and take upon him the work of a Mediator till he had a Call God sent forth his Son made of a Woman Quest. But was there no other way for the restoring of fallen Man but this that God should take flesh Answ. We must not ask a Reason of God's Will it is dangerous to pry into God's Ark we are not to dispute but adore The wise God saw this the best way for our Redemption that Christ should be Incarnate it was not fit for any to satisfie God's Justice but Man none could do it but God therefore Christ being both God and Man he is the fittest to undertake this Work of Redemption Quest. Why Christ was born of a Woman Resp. 1. That God might fulfil that promise Gen. 3.15 The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head 2. Christ was born of a Woman that he might roll away that reproach from the Woman which she had contracted by being seduced by the Serpent Christ in taking his flesh from the Woman hath honoured her Sex that as at the first the Woman had made Man a Sinner so now to make him amends she should bring him a Saviour Quest. Why Christ was born of a Virgin Resp. 1. For Decency It became not God to have any Mother but a Maid and it became not a Maid to have any Son but a God 2. For Necessity Christ was to be an High Priest most pure and holy Had he been born after the ordinary course of Nature he had been defiled all that spring out of Adam's Loins have a tincture of sin but that Christ's Substance might remain pure and immaculate he was born of a Virgin 3. To answer the Type Melchisedeck was a Type of Christ he is said to be without Father and without Mother Christ being born of a Virgin answered the Type he was without Father and without Mother without Mother as he was God without Father as he was Man Quest. How could Christ be made of the flesh and blood of a Virgin yet without sin The purest Virgin that is her Soul is stained with Original sin Answ. This Knot the Scripture unties Luke 1.35 The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and overshadow thee therefore that holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be caled the Son of God The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee that is the Holy Ghost did consecrate and purifie that part of the Virgins flesh whereof Christ was made As the Alchymist extracts and draws away the dross from the Gold so the Holy Ghost did refine and claritie that part of the Virgins flesh separating it from sin Though the Virgin Mary her self had sin yet that part of the flesh whereof Christ was made was without sin otherwise it must have been an impure Conception Quest. What is meant by the power of the Holy Ghost overshadowing the Virgin Answ. St. Basil saith It was the Holy Ghost's blessing the flesh of that Virgin whereof Christ was formed But there is a further Mystery in it the Holy Ghost having framed Christ in the Virgins Womb did in a wonderful manner unite Christ's Humane Nature to his Divine and so of both made one person This is a Mystery which the Angels pry into with Adoration Quest. When was Christ incarnate Answ. In the fulness of time Gal. 4.4 When the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman By the fulness of time we must understand Tempus à Patre praefinitum so Ambrose Luther Cornâà Lap. the determinate Time that God had set More particularly this fulness of time was when all the Prophesies of the coming of the Messiah were accomplished and all Legal Shadows and Figures whereby he was tipified were abrogated in the fulness of time God sent his Son And
Who mind earthly things They pull down their Souls to build up an Estate they are not redeemed by Christ who not from the World 3. Use of Comfort to such as are redeemed You are happy the lot of free grace is fallen upon you you who were once in the Devil's Prison you have broke this Prison you that were once bound in the Chains of Sin God hath begun to beat off your Chains and hath freed you from the Power of Sin and Curse due to it What a Comfort is this And is there any Consolation in Christ it is thine is there any sweet Fruit growing upon the Promise thou maist gather it are there any glorious Priviledges in the Gospel they are thy Joynture Justification Adoption Coronation is there any Glory in Heaven thou shalt shortly drink of that River of Pleasure hast thou any Temporal Comforts these are but a Pledge and Earnest of more Thy Meal in thy Barrel is but a Bait by the way and an Earnest of that Angels Food which God hath prepared for thee How maist thou be comforted in all Worldly Afflictions though the Fig-tree flourish not nay in case of Death Death hath lost its Sting Mors obiit morte Christi Death shall carry thee to thy Redeemer fear not dying not happy but by dying Use ult of Exhortation Long for the time when you shall have a full and perfect Redemption in Heaven an eternal Jubilee when you shall be freed not only from the Power but from the Presence of Sin Here a Believer is as a Prisoner that hath broke Prison but walks with a Fetter on his Leg. When the Banner of Glory shall be displayed over you you shall be as the Angels of God you shall never have a sinful Thought more When no Pain or Grief no aking Head or unbelieving Heart you shall see Christ's Face and lye for ever in his Arms. You shall be as Ioseph Gen. 41.14 They brought him hastily out of the dungeon and he shaved himself and changed his raiment and came in unto Pharaoh Long for that time when you shall put off your Prison-Garments and change your Raiment and put on the Embroidered Garment of Glory O long yet be content to wait for this full and glorious Redemption when you shall be more Happy than you can desire when you shall have that which eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor can it enter into man's heart to conceive Of FAITH Gal. 2.20 The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of GOD. THE Spirit applys to us the Redemption purchased by Christ by working Faith in us Christ is the Glory and Faith in Christ the Comfort of the Gospel Quest. What are the kinds of Faith Resp. Fourfold 1. An Historical or Dogmatical Faith which is the believing the Truths revealed in the Word because of Divine Authority 2. There is a Temporal Faith which lasteth but for a time and vanisheth Matth. 13.21 Yet hath he not root in himself but dureth for a while A Temporary Faith is like Ionah's Gourd which came up in a night and withered Cap. 4.10 3. A Miraculous Faith which was granted to the Apostles to work Miracles for the Confirmation of the Gospel This Iudas had he cast out Devils yet was cast out to the Devil 4. A true justifying Faith which is called A faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12 And is a Jewel hung only upon the Elect. Quest. What is justifying Faith Resp. I shall show 1. What it is not It is not a bear Acknowledgment that Christ is a Saviour indeed there must be an Acknowledgment but that is not sufficient to justifie The Devils acknowledged Christ's Godhead Matth. 8.29 Iesus thou Son of God There may be an Assent to Divine Truths yet no Work of Grace on the Heart many assent in their Judgments that Sin is an evil thing but they go on in Sin their Corruptions are stronger than their Convictions and that Christ is excellent cheapen the Pearl but do not buy 2. What justifying Faith is I answer True justifying Faith consists in three things 1. Self-renunciation Faith is a going out of one's self a Man is taken off from his own bottom he sees he hath no Righteousness of his own to save him Phil. 3.9 Not having my own righteousness Self-righteousness is a broken Reed the Soul dares not lean on Repentance and Faith are both Humbling Graces by Repentance a Man abhors himself by Faith he goes out of himself Is is with a Sinner in the first Act of Believing as with Israel in their Wilderness-march behind them they saw Pharaoh and his Chariots pursuing them before them the Red Sea ready to devour them so the Soul behind sees God's Justice pursuing him for Sin before Hell ready to devour him and in this forlorn Condition he sees nothing in himself to help him but he must perish unless he can find help in another 2. Recumbency The Soul casts itself upon Jesus Christ ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Faith rests on Christ's Person Faith believes the Promise but that which Faith rests upon in the Promise is the Person of Christ Therefore the Spouse is said to lean upon her Beloved Cant. 8.5 And Faith is described to be a believing on the Name of the Son of God Ioh. 3.23 viz. On his Person the Promise is but the Cabinet Christ is the Jewel in it Faith embraceth the Promise is but the Dish Christ is the Food in it which Faith feeds on And as Faith rests on Christ's Person so on his Person under this Notion as he was crucified Faith glories in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 To consider Christ as he is crown'd with all manner of Excellencies doth rather stir up Admiration and Wonder but Christ looked upon as Bleeding and Dying is the proper Object of our Faith therefore it is call'd Faith in his blood Rom. 3.25 3. Appropriation or the applying Christ to ourselves A Medicine though it be never so soveraign yet if it be not applyed to the Wound will do no good tho' the Plaister be made of Christ's own Bloud yet it will not heal unless it be applyed by Faith the Bloud of God without Faith in God will not save this applying of Christ is called a receiving of him Joh. 1.12 The hand receiving of Gold enricheth so the hand of Faith receiving Christ's Golden Merits with Salvation enricheth us Quest. How is Faith wrought Resp. By the Blessed Spirit it is called the Spirit of Grace Zec. 12.10 because it is the Spring and Efficient of all Grace Faith is the chief Work which the Spirit of God works in a Man's heart In making the World God did but speak a Word but in working Faith he puts forth his Arm Luke 1.51 The Spirits working Faith is called The exceeding Greatness of God's Power What a Power was put forth in raising Christ from the Grave when such a Tombstone lay upon him the Sins of all
Calls Satan calls by a Temptation Lust calls evil company calls But as the Adder stops its Ear against the Voice of the Charmer so he who is effectually called stops his Ear against all the Charms of Flesh and Devil Use 3. Of Comfort to them who are the called of God This Call evidenceth Election Rom. 8.30 Whom he predestinated them he also called Election is the cause of our Vocation and Vocation is the sign of our Election Election is the first Link of the golden Chain of Salvation Vocation is the second he who hath the second Link of the Chain is sure of the first Link As by the Stream we are led to the Fountain so by Vocation we ascend to Election Calling is an earnest and pledge of Glory 2 Thess. 2.13 God hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification We may read God's predestinating love in the work of Grace in our heart Branch 2. To such as are called to be thankful to God for this unspeakable Blessing be thankful to all the Persons in the Trinity to the Father's Mercy to the Son's Merit to the Spirit 's Efficacy To make you thankful consider when you had offended God that he should call you that when God needed you not he had Millions of glorified Saints and Angels to praise him yet he called you Again consider what you were before God called you you were in your sins when God called Paul he found him persecuting when he called Matthew he found him at the Receipt of Custom when he called Zacheus he found him using Extorsion When God calls a Man by his Grace he finds him seeking after his Lusts as when Saul was called to the Kingdom he was seeking the Asses That God should call thee when thou wert in the hot pursuit of sin admire God's Love exalt his Praise Again that God should call you and pass by others what Mercy is this Matth. 11.26 Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight That God should pass by the wise and noble Persons of sweeter disposition acuter parts guilty of less Vice and that the Lot of Free-grace should fall on you O astonishing Love of God It was a great favour of God to Samuel that God call'd to him and revealed his Mind to him and passed by Eli though a Priest and a Judge in Israel 1 Sam. 3.9 so that God should call to thee a flagitious sinner and pass by others of higher birth and better morals here is that calls aloud for Praise As God so governs the Clouds that he makes them rain upon one place and not upon another so doth he dispence his Grace it shall drop its sweet dew upon one and not another Two at a Sermon one his heart the Lord opens the other is no more affected with it than a deaf Man with the sound of Musick Here is the Banner of Free-grace display'd and here should be the Trophies of Praise erected Eliah and Elisha were walking together on a sudden there came a Chariot of Fire and carried Eliah up to Heaven but left Elisha behind so when two are walking together Husband and Wife Father and Child that God should call one by his Grace but leave the other carry one up in a triumphant Chariot to Heaven but let the other perish eternally O infinite rich Grace how should they that are call'd be affected with God's discriminating Love how should the Vessels of Mercy run over with Thankfulness how should they stand upon Mount Gerizim blessing and praising God O begin the work of Heaven here Such as are Patterns of Mercy should be Trumpets of Praise Thus S. Paul being call'd of God and seeing what a Debtor he was to Free-grace breaks forth into Admiration and Gratulation 1 Tim. 1.13 Use 4. To the Called walk worthy of your high Calling Eph. 4.1 I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called in two things 1. Walk compassionately pity such as are yet uncalled Hast thou a Child that God hath not yet called a Wife a Servant Weep over their dying Souls They are in their Bloud under the Power of Satan O pity them Let their sins more trouble you then your own Sufferings If you pity an Ox or Ass going astray will you not pity a Soul going astray Show your Piety by your Pity 2. Walk holily yours is an holy Calling 2 Tim. 1.9 You are called to be Saints Rom. 1.7 Show your Vocation by a Bible-conversation Shall not Flowers smell sweeter than Weeds Shall not they who are ennobled with Grace have more Fragrancy in their Lives than Sinners 1 Pet. 1.15 As he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation O dishonour not your high Calling by any sordid Carriage When Antigonus going to defile himself with Women one told him He was a King's Son O remember your Dignity Called of God! of the Bloud-Royal of Heaven do nothing unworthy of your Honourable Calling Scipio refused the Embraces of an Harlot because he was General of an Army Abhor all Motions to sin because of your high Calling 'T is not fit for them who are the Called of God to do as others tho' others of the Iews did drink Wine it was not fit for the Nazarite because he had a Vow of Separation upon him and had promised Abstinence Though Pagans and loose Christians take liberty to sin yet it is not fit for them who are called out of the World and have the Mark of Election upon them to do so You are consecrated Persons your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and your Souls must be a Sacrary or Holy of Holies OF IVSTIFICATION Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace Quest. XXI WHat is Iustification Resp. It is an Act of God's Free-grace whereby he pardoneth all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the Righteousness of CHRIST imputed to us and received by Faith Iustification is the very Hinge and Pillar of CHRISTIANITY and an Errour about Iustification is dangerous like a Crack in the Foundation or an Errour in the first Concoction Iustification by Christ is a Spring of the Water of Life and to have the Poison of corrupt Doctrine cast into this Spring is damnable It was a Saying of Luther That after his Death the Doctrine of Iustification would be corrupted As it hath been in these latter Times the Arminians and Socinians have cast a dead Fly into this Box of precious Oyntment I shall endeavour to follow the Star of Scripture to light me through this Mysterious Point Quest. What is meant by Iustification Resp. It is verbum forense a word borrowed from Law-courts wherein a Person arraigned is pronounced Righteous and is openly absolved in the Court Thus God in justifying a Person pronounceth him to be Righteous and looks upon him as if he had not sinned Quest. What is the Ground of Iustification Resp. The Causa ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the
God hath given him his only Son Hath he Scarcity of Bread God hath given him the finest of the Wheat the Bread of Life Are his Comforts gone He hath the Comforter Doth he meet with Storms on the Sea He knows where to put in for Harbour God is his Portion and Heaven is his Haven Thus Assurance gives sweet Contentment in every Condition Effect 6. Assurance would bear up the Heart in Sufferings it would make a Christian endure Troubles with Patience and Chearfulness with Patience Heb. 10.36 Ye have need of Patience There are some Meats we say are hard of Digestion and only a good Stomach will concoct them Affliction is a Meat hard of Digestion but Patience like a good Stomach will be able to digest it and whence comes Patience but from Assurance Rom. 5.5 Tribulation worketh Patience because the Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts with chearfulness Assurance is like the Mariners Lanthorn on the Deck which gives light in a dark night Assurance gives the light of Comfort in Affliction Heb. 10.34 ye took joyfully the spoiling of your Goods knowing in your selves c. there was Assurance He that hath Assurance can rejoyce in Tribulation he can gather Grapes of Thorns and Hony out of the Lyons Carcass Latimer When I sit alone and can have a setled Assurance of the State of my Soul and know that God is mine I can Laugh at all Troubles and nothing can daunt me Effect 7. Assurance would pacifie a troubled Conscience He who hath a disturbed vexatious Conscience carries an Hell about him Eheu quis intus Scorpio but Assurance cures the Agony and allays the Fury of Conscience Conscience that before was turned into a Serpent now is like a Bee that hath Hony in its Mouth it speaks Peace Tranquillus Deus tranquillat omnia Tertull. When God is pacified towards us then Conscience is pacified If the Heavens are quiet and there are no Winds stirring thence the Sea is quiet and calm So if there be no Anger in Gods Heart if the Tempest of his Wrath doth not blow Conscience is quiet and serene Effect 8. Assurance would strengthen us against the Fear of Death such as want it cannot dye with Comfort they are in aequilibrio they hang in a doubtful Suspence what shall become of them after Death But he who hath Assurance hath an ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã an happy and joyful Passage out of the World he knows he is passed from Death to Life he is carried full sail to Heaven though he cannot resist Death yet ãâã overcomes it Quest. 6. What shall they do that want Assurance Resp. 1. Such as want Assurance let them labour to find Grace when the Sun denies light to the Earth it may give forth its Influence When God denies the light of his Countenance he may give the Influence of his Grace Quest. How shall we know we have a real Work of Grace and so have a right to Assurance Resp. If we can resolve two Queries 1. Have we high Appretiations of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.7 To you that believe he is precious Christ is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã all made up of Beauties and Delights our Praises fall short of his Worth and is like spreading Canvass upon Cloth of Gold How precious is his Blood and Incense The one pacifies our Conscience the other Perfumes our Prayers Can we say we have endearing Thoughts of Christ Do we esteem him our Pearl of Price Our bright Morning Star Do we count all earthly Enjoyments but as ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Dung in comparison of Christ Phil. 3.8 do we prefer the worst things of Christ before the best things of the World the Reproaches of Christ before the Worlds Embraces Heb. 11.26 Quer. 2. Have we the indwelling of the Spirit 2 Tim. 1.14 The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us Quest. How may we know we have the indwelling presence of the Spirit Resp. Not by having sometimes good Motions stir'd up in us by the Spirit it may work in us yet not dwell but by the Sanctifying Power of the Spirit on our Heart the Spirit infuseth Divinam Indolem a Divine Nature it stamps its own impress and Effigies on the Soul making the Complexion of it Holy The Spirit ennobles and raiseth the Heart above the World when Nebuchadnezzar had his Understanding given him he grazed no longer amongst the Beasts but returned to his Throne and minded the Affairs of his Kingdom when the Spirit of God dwells in a Man it carries his Heart above the visible Orbs it makes him Superna anhelare thirst after Christ and Glory if we can find this then we have Grace and so have a right to Assurance 2. If you want Assurance wait for it if the Figures are graven on the Dial it is but waiting a while and the Sun shines When Grace is engraven in the Heart it is but waiting a while and we shall have the Sun-shine of Assurance He that believes makes not haste Isa. 28.16 He will stay Gods leisure say not God hath forsaken you he will never lift up the light of his Countenance but rather say as the Church Isa. 8.17 I will wait upon the Lord which hideth his face from the House of Jacob. 1. Hath God waited for your Conversion and will not you wait for his Consolation How ãâã did he come a woing to you by his Spirit He waited till his Head was fill'd with Dew He cry'd as Ier. 13.27 Wilt thou not be made clean when shall it once be O Christian did God wait for thy Love and canst not thou wait for his 2. Assurance is so sweet and precious that it is worth waiting for the price of it is above Rubies it cannot be valued with thâ Gold of Ophir Assurance of Gods Love is a Pledge of Election 't is the Angels Banquet what other Joy have they As Micah said Iudges 18.24 What have I more So when God assures the Soul of his eternal purposes of Love what hath he more to give Whom God kisseth he Crowns Assurance is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã The first Fruits of Paradise one Smile of Gods Face one Glance of his Eye one Crumb of the hidden Manna is so sweet a Delicious that it deserves our waiting 3. God hath given a Promise that we shall not wait in vain Isa. 49.23 They shall not be ashamed that wait for me Perhaps God reserves this Cordial of Assurance for a fainting time He keeps sometimes his best Wine till last Assurance shall be reserved as an Ingredient to sweeten the bitter Cup of Death Quest. 7. How may deserted Souls be comforted who are cast down for want of Assurance They have the Day-star of Grace risen in their Souls but as Job complains I went Mourning without the Sun Iob 30.28 They go mourning for want of the Sun-light of Gods Face Their Ioy is eclipsed They walk in darkness and see no light Isa. 50.10 How shall we comfort such as lye Bleeding in
his Service 3. Faith gives us a Prospect of Heaven it shews us an invisible Glory and he who hath Christ in his Heart and a Crown in his Eye will not faint away O cherish Faith keep your Faith and your Faith will keep you While the Pilot keeps his Ship his Ship keeps him Sixthly If Persevere let us engage the power of God to help us we are kept by the power of God The Child is safest when it is held in the Nurses Arms so are we when we are held in the Arms of Free-Grace It is not our holding God but his holding us preserves us When a Boat is tied to a Rock it is secure so when we are fast tied to the Rock of Ages then we are impregnable O engage God's power to help us to Persevere we engage his Power by Prayer Let us pray to him to keep us Psal. 17.5 Hold up my goings in thy Paths that my Footsteps slip not It was a good Prayer of Beza Domine quod cepisti perfice ne in portu naufragium accidat Lord perfect what thou hast begun in me that I may not suffer Shipwreck when I am almost at the Haven Seventhly If Persevere set often before your Eyes the noble Examples of those who have Persevered in Religion quot Martyres quot Fideles in Coelis jam Triumphant What a glorious Army of Saints and Martyrs have gone before us How constant to the Death was St. Paul Acts 21.13 How Persevering in the Faith were Ignasius Policarp Athanasius These were Stars in their Orb Pillars in the Temple of God Let us look on their Zeal and Courage and be animated Heb. 12.1 Seeing we are compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses let us run with Patience the Race that is set before us The Crown is set at the end of the Race if we win the Race we shall wear the Crown A Believers Privilege at Death Phil. 1.21 For to me to Live is Christ and to Dye is Gain SAint Paul was a great Admirer of Christ he desired to know nothing but Christ and him Crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 No Julip to the Blood of Christ and in the Text To me to live is Christ and to dye is Gain First To me to live is Christ ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã We must understand Paul of a Spiritual Life To me to live is Christ i. e. Christ is my Life so Greg. Nyssen Or thus my Life is made up of Christ. As a Wicked Mans Life is made up of Sin So Paul's Life was made up of Christ he was full of Christ. But that I may give you the Sense of the Teââ more fully take it in these Three particulars 1. Christ is the principle of my Life 2. Christ is the end of my Life 3. Christ is the Joy of my Life 1. To me to live is Christ i. e. Christ is the Principle of my Life I fetch my Spiritual Life from Christ as the Branch fetcheth its Sap from the Root Gal. 2.20 Christ liveth in me Jesus Christ is an Head of Influence he sends forth Life and Spirits into me to quicken me to every Holy Action Thus To me to live is Christ. Christ is the principle of my Life from his Fulness I live as the Vine-branch lives from the Root 2. To me to live is Christ i. e. Christ is the end of my Life I live not to my self but to Christ. So Grotius and Causabon Christo Servio To me to live is Christ all my Living is is to do Service to Christ Rom. 14.8 Whether we live we live unto the Lord. When we lay out our selves wholly for Christ as the Factor trades for the Merchant so we Trade for Christs Interest we propagate his Gospel the design of our Life is to exalt Christ and make the Crown upon his Head to flourish Now it may be said to us to live is Christ our whole Life is a Living to Christ. 3. To me to live is Christ i. e. Christ is the Joy of my Life Psal. 42.4 God my exceeding Ioy or the Cream of my Joy A Christian rejoyceth in Christs Righteousness he can rejoyce in Christ when Worldly Joys are gone When the Tulip in a Garden withers a Man rejoyceth in his Jewels When Relations Dye a Saint can rejoyce in Christ the Pearl of Price in this Sense to me to live is Christ he is the Joy of my Life If Christ were gone my Life would be a Death to me Use. It should exhort us all to labour to say as the Apostle to me to live is Christ. Christ is the Principle of my Life the End of my Life the Joy of my Life to me to live is Christ and then we may comfortably conclude that to Dye shall be Gain Secondly And that brings me to the Second part of the Text ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã and to Dye is Gain Doct. To a Believer Death is great Gain A Saint can tell what his Losses for Christ are but he cannot tell how great his Gains are at Death To me to dye is Gain Death to a Believer is Crepusculum gloriae the Day-break of Eternal Brightness To shew fully what a Believers Gains are at Death were a task too great for an Angel all Hyperboles fall short the Reward of Glory exceeds our very Faith Only let me give you the ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã some dark views and imperfect Lineaments of that infinite Glory the Saints shall gain at the Hour of Death To me to Dye is Gain 1. Believers at Death shall gain a Writ of Ease from all Sins and Troubles they shall be in a state of Impeccability Sin expires with their Life I think sometimes what an happy state that will be never to have a sinful Thought more And they shall have a quietus est from their Troubles Here David cried out My Life is spent with Griefs and my Years with Sighing Psal. 31.10 Quid est diu vivere nisi diu torqueri Aug. Life begins with a Cry and ends with a Groan but at Death all Troubles Dye 2. Believers at Death shall gain the glorious Sight of God They shall see him First Intellectually with the Eyes of their Mind which Divines call the Beatifical Vision If there were not such an Intellectual sight of God how do the Spirits of Iust Men made Perfect see him Secondly They shall behold the Glorified Body of Jesus Christ and if it be pleasant to behold the Sun then how blessed a sight will it be to see Christ the Son of Righteousness cloathed with our Human Nature shining in Glory above the Angels Through Christ's Flesh as through a Transparent Glass some bright Rays and Beams of the God head shall display themselves to glorified Eyes The sight of God through Christ will be very complacential and delightful The terrour of God's Essence will be taken away Gods Majesty will be mixed with Beauty and sweetned with Clemency it will be infinitely delightful to the Saints to see the amiable
aspects and smiles of Gods Face Which brings me to the third thing 3. The Saints at Death shall not only have a Sight of God but shall enjoy the Love of God there shall be no more Veil on Gods Face nor his Smiles checker'd with Frowns but Gods love shall discover it self in all its Orient Beauty and fragrant Sweetness Here the Saints pray for Gods Love and they have a few drops but there they shall have as much as their Vessel can receive To know this love passeth Knowledge This will cause a Jubilation of Spirits and create such Holy Raptures of Joy in the Saints as are Superlative and would soon overwhelm them if God did not make them able to bear 4. Believers at Death shall gain a Celestial Palace an House not made with Hands 2 Cor. 5.1 Here the Saints are straitned for Room they have but mean Cottages to live in but they shall have a Royal Palace to live in Here is but their Sojourning House there in Heaven is their Mansion-house An House built high above all the Visible Orbs an House bespangled with Light Col. 1.12 Enriched with Pearls and Precious Stones Rev. 21.19 And this is not their Landlord's House but their Father's House Iohn 14.2 And this House stands all upon Consecrated Ground it is set out by Transparent Glass to shew the Holiness of it Rev. 21.27 5. Believers at Death shall gain the sweet Society of glorified Saints and Angels This will add something to the felicity of Heaven as every Star adds some lustre to the Firmament First The Society of the glorified Saints we shall see them in their Souls as well as in their Bodies Their Bodies will be so clear and bright that we shall see their Souls shining through their Bodies as the Wine through the Glass and Believers at Death shall have Converse with the Saints glorified And how delightful will that be when they shall be freed from all their Sinful Corruptions Pride Envy Passion Censoriousness which are Scars upon them here to disfigure them In Heaven there shall be perfect Love among the Saints they shall as the Olive and Myrtle sweetly embrace each other The Saints shall know one another as Luther speaks If in the Transfiguration Peter knew Moses and Elias which he never saw before Mat. 17.3 then much more in the glorified State the Saints shall perfectly know one another though they never saw them before Secondly The Saints at Death shall behold the Angels with the glorified Eye of their Understanding The Wings of the Cherubins representing the Angels were made of Fine Gold to denote both their Sanctity and Splendor The Angels are compared to Lightning Mat. 28.3 because of those Sparkling Beams of Majesty which as Lightning shoot from them And when Saints and Angels shall meet and sing together in Consort in the Heavenly Quire what Divine Harmony what Joyful Triumphs will it Create 6. Believers at Death shall gain Perfection of Holiness Here Grace was but in Cunabulis in its Cradle very Imperfect we cannot write a Copy of Holiness without Blotting Believers are said to receive but Primitias Spiritus the first Fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 But at Death the Saints shall arrive at Perfection their Knowledge clear their Sanctity perfect their Sun shall be in its full Meridian Splendour They need not then pray for Encrease of Grace they shall Love God as much as they would Love him and as much as he desires to have them Love him they shall be then in respect of Holiness ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã as the Angels of God 7. At Death the Saints shall gain a Royal Magnificent Feast I told you before what a glorious Palace they shall have but a Man may starve in a House if there be no Chear The Saints at Death shall have a Royal Banquet shadowed out in Scripture by a Marriage Supper Rev. 19.9 Bullinger and Gregory the Great understand by that Marriage-Supper of the Lamb the stately Magnificent Festival the Saints shall have in Heaven they shall feed on the Tree of Life Rev. 22. They shall have the Heavenly Nectar and Ambrosia the Spiced Wine and Iuice of the Pomegranate Cant. 8.2 This Royal Supper of the Lamb will not only satisfie Hunger but prevent it Rev. 7 16. They shall hunger no more Nor can there be any Surfeit at this Feast because a fresh Course will be continually served in New and fresh Delights will spring from God therefore the Tree of Life in Paradise is said to bear Twelve sorts of Fruit Rev. 22.2 8. Believers at Death shall gain Honour and Dignity they shall reign as Kings therefore we read of the Ensigns of their Royalty their White Robes and Crowns Caelestial 2 Tim. 4.7 We read that the Doors of the Holy of Holies were made of Palm-Trees and open Flowers covered with Gold 1 Kings 6.35 An Emblem of that Victory and Triumph and that Golden Garland of Honour wherewith God hath invested the Saints glorified When all Worldly Honour shall lye in the Dust the Mace the Star the Robe of Ermin the Imperial Diadem then shall the Saints Honour remain not one Jewel shall be pluck'd out of their Crown they shall gain at Death a Blessed Eternity If the Saints could have but the least Suspicion or Fear of losing their Glory it would much cool and imbitter their Joy but their Crown fades not away 1 Pet. 5.4 As the Wicked have a Worm that never dies so the Elect have a Crown that never fades Ever is a short Word but hath no ending in fine erit gaudium sine fine Bern. 2 Cor. 4.18 The things which are not seen are Eternal Psal. 16.11 At thy right Hand are Pleasures for evermâre Who can span Eternity Millions of Ages stand but for Ciphers in Eternity This is the Elah or highest strain of the Saints Glory ever in Christ's Bosom Quest. How come the Saints to have all this Gain Resp. Believers have a right to all this Gain at Death upon a diverse account By vertue of the Fathers Donation the Sons Purchase the Holy Ghosts Earnest and Faiths acceptance Therefore the state of future glory is called the Saints proper inheritance Col. 1.12 They are Heirs of God and have a right to inherit Use 1. See the great difference between the Death of the Godly and the Wicked the Godly are great gainers at Death the Wicked are great Losers at Death They loose Four things 1. They lose the World and that is a great loss to the Wicked they laid up their Treasure upon Earth and to be turned out of all at once is a great loss 2. They lose their Souls Mat. 16.26 The Soul was at first a noble piece of Coin which God stamped his own Image upon this Caelestial spark is more precious than the whole Globe of the World But the Sinners Soul is lost not that the Souls of the Wicked are annihilated at Death but damnified 3. They lose Heaven Heaven is Sedes
beatorum the Royal Seat of the Blessed it is the region of Happiness the Map of Perfection There is that Manna which is Angels Food there is the Garden of Spices the Bed of Perfumes the Rivers of Pleasure Sinners at Death lose all this 4. They lose their Hopes For though they lived wickedly yet they hoped God was Merciful and they hoped they should go to Heaven Their Hope was not an Anchor but a Spiders Web. Now at Death they lose their Hopes they see they did but flatter themselves into Hell Iob. 8.14 Whose Hope shall be cut off That is sad to have a Mans Life and his Hope cut off together Use 2. If the Saints gain such glorious things at Death then how may they desire Death Doth not every one desire Preferment nemo ante funera Foelix Faith gives a Title to Heaven Death a Possession Though we should be desirous of doing Service here yet we should be ambitious to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 We should be content to live but willing to Dye Is it not a blessed thing to be freed from Sin and to lie for ever in the Bosom of Divine Love Is it not a blessed thing to meet our Godly Relations in Heaven and to be singing Divine Anthems of Praise among the Angels Doth not the Bride desire the Marriage Day especially if she were to be matched unto the Crown What is the Place we now live in but a Place of Banishment from God We are in a Wilderness while the Angels live at Court Here we are combating with Satan and should not we desire to be out of the Bloody Field where the Bullets of Tentation fly so fast and to receive a Victorious Crown Think what it will be to have always a smiling Aspect from Christs Face to be brought into the Banqueting House and have the Banner of his Love displayed over you O ye Saints desire Death it is your Ascension-day to Heaven Egredere anima egredere said Hilarion on his Death-bed Go forth my Soul what fearest thou Another Holy Man said Lord lead me to that Glory which I have seen as through a Glass Hast Lord and do not tarry Some Plants thrive best when they are transplanted Believers when they are by Death transplanted cannot choose but thrive because they have Christ's sweet Sun-beams shine upon them And what though the Passage through the Valley of the shadow of Death be troublesome Who would not be willing to pass a tempestuous Sea if he were sure to be crown'd as soon as he came at shore Use 3. Comfort in the loss of our dear and pious Relations They when they dye are not only taken away from the Evil to come but they are great gainers by Death They leave a Wilderness and go to Paradise They change their Complaints into Thanksgivings They leave their Sorrows behind and enter into the Joy of their Lord Why should we weep for their Preferment Believers have not their Portion paid till the day of their Death Gods Promise is his Bond to make over Heaven in Reversion to them But though they have his Bond they do not receive their Portion till the day of Death Oh! Rejoyce to think of their Happiness who dye in the Lord to them to dye is gain They are as Rich as Heaven can make them A Believers Privilege at Death Phil. 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to dye is gain HOPE is a Christan's Anchor which he casts within the vail Rom. 12.12 Rejoycing in Hope A Christians Hope is not in this Life but he hath Hope in his Death Prov. 14.32 The best of a Saints Comfort begins when his Life ends The Wicked have all their Heaven here Luke 6.28 Woe unto you Rich you have received your Consolation You may make your Acquittance and write Received in full Payment Luke 16.25 Son remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things But a Saints Happiness is in Reversion The righteous hath Hope in his death God keeps the best Wine till last If Cato the Heathen said To me to dye is gain He saw Mortality to be a Mercy Then what may a Believer say Eccles. 7.1 The day of Death is better than the day of ones Birth Nemo ante Funera Felix Solon A Queen of this Land said she prefer'd her Coffin before her Cradle Quest. 1. What Benefits do Believers receive at Death Resp. 1. They have great Immunities 2. They pass immediately into a State of Glory 3. Their Bodies are united to Christ in the Grave till the Resurrection 1. The Saints at Death have great Immunities and Freedoms A Prentice when out of his time is made Free When the Saints are out of their time of living then they are made Free not made Free till Death 1. At Death they are freed from a Body of Sin There are in the best reliquiae peccati some Remainders and Reliques of Corruption Rom. 7.24 O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Death By the Body of Death is meant the Congeries the Mass and lump of Sin It may well be called a Body for its weightiness and a Body of Death for its noisomness 1. It weighs us down sin hinders us from doing good A Christian is like a Bird that would be flying up but hath a string tyed to its Legs to hinder it so he would be flying up to Heaven with the Wings of desire but sin hinders him Rom. 7.15 The good that I would I do not A Christian is like a Ship that is under Sail and at Anchor Grace would sail forward but Sin is the Anchor that holds it back 2. Sin is oft more active in its Sphere than Grace How stirring was Lust in David when his Grace lay dormant 3. Sin sometimes gets the Mastery and leads a Saint Captive Rom. 7.19 The evil I would not that do I. Paul was like a Man carried down the stream and could not bear up against it How oft is a Child of God over-power'd with Pride and Passion Therefore Paul calls sin ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a Law in his Members Rom. 7.24 it binds as a Law it hath a kind of Jurisdiction over the Soul as Cesar had over the Senate 4. Sin defiles the Soul it is like a stain to Beauty it turns the Souls Azure Brightness into Sables 5. Sin debilitates us it disarms us of our strength 2 Sam. 3.39 I am this day weak though anointed King So though a Saint is crown'd with Grace yet he is weak though anointed a Spiritual King 6. Sin is ever Restless Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusts against the Spirit It is an Inmate that is always quarrelling Like Marcellus that Roman Captain of whom Hannibal said Whether he did beat or was beaten he would never be quiet 7. Sin adheres to us we cannot get rid of it It may be compar'd to a wild Fig-tree growing on a Wall though the Roots are pull'd up yet there are some Fibers
A Christian after his weary Marches and Battels shall put off his Bloody Armour and rest himself upon the Bosom of Jesus that Bed of Perfume When Death hath given the Saints the Wings of a Dove then they shall fly away to Paradise and be at rest 7. The Seventh thing in Glory is Eternity 2 Cor. 4.17 An Eternal weight of Glory First Glory is a Weight The Hebrew Word for Glory quod significat Pondus is a Weight God must make us able to bear it Secondly An Eternal Weight ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Glory is such a Manna as doth not breed Worms If the Saints glory in Heaven were but for a time and they were in fear of losing it it would eclipse and imbitter the Joys of Heaven but Eternity is written upon their Joys The Garland made of Flowers of Paradise fades not 1 Pet. 5.4 I have read of a River which they call the Day-River in which time it runs with a full Torrent but at Night it is dried up such are all Earthly Comforts they run with a full Stream all the Day-time of Life but at the Night of Death they are dried up but the Saints glorified shall drink of the Rivers of Pleasure for evermore Psal. 16.11 Eternity is the Heaven of Heavens in fine Gaudium erit sine fine Bern. The Joys of Heaven as overflowing so ever-flowing Quest. 2. When do Believers enter upon Possession of Glory Resp. They pass immediately after Death into Glory Some hold with the Platonists and Lucianists that the Soul dies But many of the Sober Heathens believed the Souls immortality The Romans when their Great Men died caus'd an Eagle to be let loose and fly about in the Air signifying hereby that the Soul was immortal and did not dye with the Body Christ tells us the Soul is not capable of Killing Luke 12.4 Therefore not of Dying And as the Soul doth not Dye so neither doth it Sleep in the Body for a time If the Soul be at Death absent from the Body 2 Cor. 5.8 then it cannot Sleep in the Body There is an immediate passage from Death to Glory It is but winking and we shall see God Luke 23.43 This Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise by Paradise is meant Heaven the Third Heaven into which Paul was wrap'd which all hold to be the Heaven of the blessed was called Paradise 2 Cor 12.4 Now saith Christ to the Thief on the Cross ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã This Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise his Body could not be there for it was laid in the Grave But it was spoke of his Soul that it should be immediately after Death in Heaven Let none be so vain as to talk of Purgatory A Soul purg'd by Christs Blood needs no fire of Purgatory but goes immediately from a Death-bed into a glorified State Use 1. See what little cause Believers have to fear Death when it brings such glorious Benefits To me to Dye is Gain Why should the Saints fear their Preferment Is it not a blessed thing to see God to love God and to lye for ever in the Bosom of Divine Love Is it not a blessed thing to meet our Godly Relations in Heaven Why should the Saints be afraid of their Blessings Is a Virgin afraid to be matched into the Crown Now is but the Contract at Death is the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb Rev. 19.9 What hurt doth Death but take us from among Fiery Serpents and place us among Angels What hurt doth it do but to cloath us with a Robe of Immortality Hath he any wrong done that hath his Sack-Cloath pull'd off and hath Cloath of Gold put upon him Fear not Dying who cannot live but by Dying Use 2. You who are Real Saints whose Hearts are purified by Faith spend much time in musing upon these glorious Benefits which you shall have by Christ at Death Thus might you by a Contemplative Life begin the Life of Angels here and be in Heaven before your time Eudoxus was so affected with the Glory of the Sun that he thought he was born only to behold it What should we contemplate but Caelestial Glory when we shall see God Face to Face David was got above the ordinary sort of Men he was in the Altitudes âsal 139.18 I am ever with thee A true Saint every Day takes a turn in Heaven his Thoughts and Desires are like Cherubims flying up to Paradise Can Men of the World so delight in looking upon their Bags of Gold and Fields of Corn and shall not the Heirs of Heaven take more delight in Contemplating their Glory in Reversion Could we send forth Faith as a Spy and every Day view the Glory of the Ierusalem above how would it rejoyce us as it doth the Heir to think of the Inheritance which is to come into his Hand shortly Use 3. Consolation This is that which may comfort the Saints in Two Cases 1. Under their Wants they abound only in Wants The Meal is almost spent in the Barrel but be patient till Death and you shall have a Supply of all your Wants You shall have a Kingdom and be as Rich as Heaven can make you He who hath the promise of an Estate after the expiring of a few Years though at present he hath nothing to help himself yet comforts himself with this that shortly he shall have an Estate come into his Hands 1 Iohn 2.3 It doth not yet appear what we shall be we shall be enamel'd with Glory and be as rich as the Angels under their Sufferings 2. A true Saint is as Luther Haeres Crucis but this may make us go chearfully through our Sufferings there are great things laid up in store there is Glory coming which Eye hath not seen we shall drink of the Fruit of the Vine in the Kingdom of Heaven though now we drink in a Wormwood Cup yet here is Sugar to sweeten it we shall taste of those Joys of Paradise which exceed our Faith and may be better felt than they can be expressed Of the RESVRRECTION John 5.28 Marvel not at this for the Hour is coming in which all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done Good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done Evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Quest. WHat Benefits shall Believers receive from Christ at the Resurrection Resp. 1. Their Bodies shall be raised up to Glory 2. They shall be openly acquitted at the Day of Judgment 3. They shall be made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God for ever 1. The Bodies of Believers shall be raised up to Glory The Doctrin of the Resurrection is a Fundamental Article of our Faith the Apostle puts it among the Principles of the Doctrin of Christ Heb. 6.2 The Body shall rise again we are not so sure to rise out of our Beds as we are to rise out of our Graves The saved Body shall arise again Some
Variety is wanting we are apt to nauseate to feed only on Hony would breed Loathing but in God is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã all Variety of Fulness Col. 1.19 He is an Universal Good Commensurate to all our Wants He is Bonum in quo omnia Bona a Sun a Portion an Horn of Salvation He is called the God of all Comfort 2 Cor. 1.3 There is a Complication of all Beauties and Delights in him Health hath not the comfort of Beauty nor Beauty of Riches nor Riches of Wisdom but God is the God of all Comfort Fourthly In the chief Good there must be Eternity God is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã He is a Treasure that can neither be drawn low nor drawn dry Though the Angels are still spending on him he can never be spent he abides for ever Eternity is a Flower of his Crown Now if God be our God here is enough to let in full Contentment into our Souls What though we want Torch-light if we have the Sun What if God deny us the Flower if he hath given us the Jewel How should this rock a Christians Heart quiet If we say God is our God and we are not content we have cause to question our Interest in him III. If we can clear up this Covenant-Union that God is our God let this chear and revive us in all Conditions To be content with God is not enough but to be chearful what greater Cordial can you have than Union with Deity When Jesus Christ was ready to Ascend he could not leave a richer consolation with his Disciples than this Tell them I go to my God and their God John 20.17 Who should rejoyce if not they who have an Infinite Alsufficient Eternal God to be their Portion who are as Rich as Heaven can make them What though I want Health I have God who is the Health of my Countenance and my God Psal. 42.11 What though I am low in the World if I have not the Earth I have him that made it The Philosopher comforted himself with this though he had no Musick or Vine-Trees yet ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã here are the Houshold Gods with me So though we have not the Vine or Fig-Tree yet we have God with us I cannot be Poor saith St. Bernard as long as God is Rich for his Riches are mine O Let the Saints rejoyce in this Covenant-Union To say God is ours is more than to say Heaven is ours Heaven would not be Heaven without God All the Stars cannot make Day without the Sun All the Angels those Morning Stars cannot make Heaven without Christ the Sun of Righteousness And as to have God for our God is matter of rejoycing in Life so especially it will be at our Death Let a Christian think thus I am going to my God A Child is glad when he is going home to his Father This was Christs comfort when he was leaving the World Iohn 20.17 I go to my God And this is a Believers Death-bed Cordial I am going to my God I shall change my Place but not my Kindred I go to my God and my Father IV. If God be our God then let us break forth into Doxology and Praise Psal. 118.28 Thou art my God and I will praise thee O infinite Astonishing Mercy that God should take Dust and Ashes into so near a Bond of Love as to be our God As Micah said Iudg. 18.24 What have I more So what hath God more What richer Jewel hath he to bestow upon us than himself What hath he more That God should put off most of the World with Riches and Honours and that he should pass over himself to us by a Deed of Gift to be our God and by virtue of this settle a Kingdom upon us O let us praise him with the best Instrument our Heart and let this Instrument be scrued up to the highest Peg Let us praise him with our whole Heart See how David riseth by degrees Psal. 32.11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce and shout for Ioy. Be glad there is Thankfulness rejoyce there is Chearfulness shout there is Triumph Praise is called Incense because it is so sweet a Sacrifice Let the Saints be Queristers in Gods Praises the deepest Springs yield the sweetest Water The more deeply sensible we are of Gods Covenant-Love to us the sweeter Praises we should yield We should begin here to eternize Gods Name and do that Work on Earth which we shall be always doing in Heaven Psal. 146.2 While I live will I praise the Lord. 5. Let us carry our selves as those who have God to be our God that is when we walk so that others may see there is something of God in us Live Holily What have we to do with Sin Is it not this that if it doth not break yet will weaken the Interest Hos. 14.8 What have I to do any more with Idols So should a Christian say God is my God what have I to do any more with Sin with Lust Pride Malice Bid me commit Sin as well bid me Drink Poison Shall I forfeit my Interest in God Let me rather Dye than willingly offend him who is the Crown of my Joy the God of my Salvation Of the Ten Commandments Exod. 20.2 The Land of Egypt c. THE Second part of Preface Who have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of Bondage Egypt and the House of Bondage are the same only they are represented to us under a different Expression or Notion I begin with the First Expression Who have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt Quest. Why doth the Lord mention this Deliverance of Israel out of the Land of Egypt Resp. 1. Because of the strangeness of the Deliverance God delivered his People Israel by strange Signs and Wonders by sending Plague after Plague upon Pharaoh blasting the Fruits of the Earth killing all the First-born in Egypt Exod. 12.29 And when Israel march'd out of Egypt God made the Waters of the Sea to part and become a Wall to his People while they went on Dry Ground and as he made the Sea a Cawsey to Israel so a Grave to Pharaoh and his Chariots Well might the Lord mention his bringing them out of the Land of Egypt because of the strangeness of the Deliverance God wrought Miracle upon Miracle for their Deliverance 2. God mentions Israel's Deliverance out of Egypt because of the greatness of the Deliverance God delivered Israel from the Pollutions of Egypt Egypt was a bad Air to live in it was infected with Idolatry The Egyptians were gross Idolaters they were guilty of that which the Apostle speaks of Rom. 1.23 They changed the Glory of the uncorruptible God into an Image made like to Corruptible Man and to Birds and Four-Footed Beasts and Creeping Things The Egyptians Worshipped instead of the true God First A Corruptible Man they Deified their King Apis forbidding all under pain of Death to say that he was a Man
manner Thirdly When are the Seasons Fourthly Why God delivers Fifthly How the deliverances of the Godly and Wicked out of Trouble differ First ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã That God doth deliver his Children out of Troubles Psal. 22.4 Our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted and thou didst deliver them 2 Tim. 4.17 And I was delivered out of the Mouth of the Lion viz. from Nero. Psal. 66.11 12. Thou laidst Affliction upon our Loins but thou broughtest us out into a Wealthy Place Psal. 30.5 Heaviness may endure for a Night but Ioy cometh in the Morning God brought Daniel out of the Lions Den Sihon out of Babylon God in his due time gives an issue out of trouble Psal. 68.20 The Tree which in Winter seems dead in the Spring revives Post nubila Phaebus Affliction may leap on us as the Viper did on Paul but at last this Viper shall be shaked off 'T is called a Cup of Affliction Isa. 51.17 The Wicked drink a Sea of Wrath the Godly drink only a Cup of Affliction and God will say shortly Let this Cup pass away God will give his People a Goal Delivery Secondly Quest. In what manner doth God deliver his People out of Trouble Resp. He doth it like a God in Wisdom 1. He doth it sometimes suddenly as the Angel was caused to fly swiftly Dan. 9.21 So God sometimes makes a Deliverance fly swiftly upon the Wing and on a Suddain he turns the shadow of Death into the Light of the Morning As God gives us Mercies above what we can think Ephes. 3.20 so sometimes before we can think of them Psal. 126.1 When the Lord turned the Captivity of Sion we were like them that Dreamed we were in a Dream we never thought of it Ioseph could not have thought of such a sudden Alteration to be the same Day freed out of Prison and made the chief Ruler in the Kingdom Mercy sometimes doth not stick long in the Birth but it is brought forth on a sudden 2. God sometimes delivers his People strangely That the Whale which swallow'd up Ionah should be a means to bring him safe to Land God sometimes delivers his People in that very way they think he will destroy In Bringing Israel out of Egypt God stirred up the Hearts of the Egyptians to hate them Psal. 105.22 And that was the means of their Deliverance He brought Paul to Shoar by a contrary Wind and upon the broken Pieces of the Ship Acts 27.44 Thirdly Quest. When are the times and Seasons that God usually delivers his People out of the Bondage of Affliction Resp. 1. When they are in the greatest Extremity When Ionah was in the Belly of Hell then Chap. 2.5 Thou hast brought up my Life from Corruption When there is but an Hairs breadth between the Godly and Death then God ushers in Deliverance When the Ship in the Gospel was almost covered with Waves then Christ awoke and rebuked the Wind. When Isaac was upon the Altar and the Knife going to be put to his Throat then comes the Angel Lay not thy Hand upon the Child When Peter began to sink then Christ took him by the Hand Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses When the Tale of Brick was doubled then comes Moses the Temporal Saviour When the People of God are in the greatest danger then appears the Morning Star of Deliverance When the Patient is ready to faint now the Cordial is given 2. The Second Season is when Affliction hath done its Work upon them When it hath effected that God hath sent it for As First When it hath humbled them Lam. 3.19 Remembring my Affliction the Wormwood and Gall my Soul is humbled in me When Gods Corrosive hath eat out the Proud Flesh. Secondly When it hath tamed their Impatience Before they were proud and impatient like froward Children that would struggle with their Parents but when their curst Hearts are tamed and they say as Micah 7.9 I will bear the Indignation of the Lord because I have sin'd against him and as Eli It is the Lord let him do what seems him good Let him hedge me with Thorns if he will plant me with Grace 3 When they are more Partakers of God's Holiness Heb. 12.10 they are more full of Heavenly-Mindedness When the sharp Frost of Affliction hath brought forth the Spring Flowers of Grace now the Cross is sanctified and God will bring them out of the House of Bondage Luctus in laetitiam vertetur cineres in Corollas When the Metal is refined then it is taken out of the Furnace When Affliction hath heal'd us now God takes off the smarting Plaister Fourthly Quest. Why doth God bring his People out of the House of Bondage Resp. Hereby he makes way for his own Glory Gods Glory is dearer to him than any thing besides it is a Crown-Jewel God by raising his People raiseth the Trophies of his own Honour He glorifies his Attributes His Power Goodness Truth do all Ride in Triumph 1. His Power If God did not sometimes bring his People into Trouble how would his Power be seen in bringing them out He brought Israel out of the House of Bondage with Miracle upon Miracle he saved them with an outstretched-Arm Psal. 114.5 What ailed thee O thou Sea that thou fleddest c. It is spoken of Israel's March out of Egypt when the Sea fled and the Waters were parted each from other Here was the power of God set forth Ier. 32.27 Is any thing too hard for me God loves to help when things seem past hope he creates Deliverance Psal. 124.8 He brought Isaac out of a Dead Womb and the Messiah out of a Virgins Womb. O how doth his Power shine forth when he overcomes seeming Impossibilities and works a Cure when things look desperate 2. His Truth God hath made Promises to his People when they are under great pressures to deliver them and his Truth is engaged in his Promise Psal. 50.15 Call-upon me in the Day of Trouble I will deliver thee Job 5.19 He shall deliver thee in Six Troubles and in Seven How is the Scripture bespangled with these Promises as the Firmament is with Stars either God will deliver them from Death or by Death ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã he will make a way to escape 1 Cor. 10.13 When Promises are verified God's Truth is magnified 3. His Goodness God is full of Compassion to such as are in Misery The Hebrew Word Racham for Mercy signifies Bowels God hath Soundings of Bowels Isa. 63.15 And this Sympathy stirs up God to deliver Isa. 63.9 In his Love and in his Pity he Redeemed them This makes way for the Triumph of Gods Goodness First He is Tender-hearted he will not over-afflict he cuts asunder the Bars of Iron he breaks the Yoaks of the Oppressor Thus all his Attributes ride in Triumph in the saving his People out of Trouble Fifthly Quest. How the Deliverances of the Godly and Wicked out of Trouble differ Resp. 1. The deliverances of
Clock a going The Soul is much in Prayer Weeping Fasting he strives as in an Agony that he may obtain him whom his Soul loves Plutarch reports of the Gauls an ancient People of France after they had tasted the sweet Wine of Italy they never rested till they had arrived at that Country He who is in love with God never rests till he hath gotten a part in him Cant. 3.2 I sought him whom my Soul loved How can they say they love God who are not industrious in the use of means to obtain him Prov. 19.24 A sloathful man hides his hands in his Bosom These not in Agony but Lethargy If Christ and Salvation would drop as a ripe Fig into his mouth he could be content to have them but he is loath to put himself to too much trouble Doth he love his Friend that will not make a Journey to him 6. He that loves God prefers him before Estate and Life 1. Before Estate Phil. 3.8 For whom I have suffered the loss of all things Who that loves a rich Jewel would not part with a Flower for it Galcanus Marquess of Vico parted with a fair Estate to enjoy God in his pure Ordinances When a Jesuit perswaded him to return to his Popish Religion in Italy promising him an huge Summ of Mony Saith he Let their Mony perish with them who esteem all the Gold in the World worth one days Communion with Iesus Christ and his Holy Spirit 2. Before Life Rev. 12.11 They loved not their lives to the death Love to God carries the Soul above the love of Life and the fear of Death 7. He who loves God loves his Favourites viz. the Saints 1 Iohn 5.1 Idem est motus animi in imaginem rem To love a Man for his Grace and the more we see of God in him the more we love him is the infallible sign of love to God The Wicked pretend to love God but hate and persecute his Image Doth he love his Prince who abuseth his Statue tears his Picture Indeed they seem to shew great Reverence to the Saints departed they have a great Reverence for St. Paul and St. Stephen and St. Luke They Canonize dead Saints but perâecute living Saints And do these love God Can it be imagined he should love God who hates his Children because they are like him If Christ were alive again he would not escape a second Persecution 8. If we love God as we cannot but be fearful of dishonouring him the more a Child loves his Father the more he is afraid to displease him so we weep and mourn when we have offended him Peter went out and wept bitterly Matt. 26.75 When Peter thought how dearly Christ loved him he took him up to the Mount where he was Transfigured Christ shewed him the Glory of Heaven in a Vision Now that he should deny Christ after he had received such signal Tokens of Christs Love this broke his Heart with grief He wept bitterly Are our Eyes Limbicks dropping Tears of grief for Sin against God A blessed Evidence of our love to God and such shall find Mercy He shews Mercy to Thousands of them that love him Use. Let us be Lovers of God we love our Food and shall not we love him that gives it All the Joy we hope for in Heaven is in God and shall not he who shall be our Joy be our Love It is a Saying of St. Austin Annon poena satis magna est non amare te Is it not Punishment enough Lord not to love thee And again Animam meam odio haberem I would hate my own Soul if I did not find it loving of God Quest. What are the Incentives to provoke and inflame our Love to God Resp. 1. Gods Benefits bestowed on us A Prince who bestows continual Favours on a Subject if that Subject have any Ingenuity he cannot but love his Prince God is continually heaping Benefits upon us He fills our hearts with food and gladness Acts 14.17 As the Rock followed Israel whither ever they went streams of Water out of the Rock followed them So Gods Blessings follow us every day We swim in a Sea of Mercy That Heart is hard that is not prevailed with by all Gods Blessings to love him Magnes amoris amor Kindness works on a Bruit The Ox knows his Owner 2. Love to God would make Duties of Religion Facile and Pleasant I confess to him that hath no love to God Religion must needs be a Burden And I wonder not to hear him say What a weariness is it to serve the Lord It is like rowing against Tyde But Love oyls the Wheels it makes Duty a Pleasure Why are the Angels so swift and winged in Gods Service but because they love him Iacob thought seven years but little for the love he did bear to Rachel Love is never weary He who loves Mony is not weary of telling it And he who loves God is not weary of serving him 3. It is Advantagious There is nothing lost by our Love to God â Cor. â â Eye hath not seen c. the things which God hath prepared for them ãâ¦ã Such glorious Rewards are laid up for such as love God That as Austiâ saith they do not only transcend our Reason but Faith it self is not able to comprehend them A Crown is the highest Ensign of Worldly Glory and God hath promisââ a Crown of Life to them that love him Iames 1.12 And it is a never-fading Crown 1 Pet. 5.4 4. By our loving God we may know that he loves us 1 Iohn 4.19 We love ãâã because he first loved us If the Ice melts it is because the Sun hath shined on ãâã Iâ the frosen Heart melts in Love it is because the Sun of Righteousness hath shined upon it Quest. What means may be used to excite our love to God Resp. 1. Labour to know God aright The School-men say true Bonum non amatur quod non cognoscitur We cannot love that which we do not know God is the most Eligible good All the Excellencies which lye scattered in the Creature are united in God He is Optimus maximus Wisdom Beauty Riches Love do all concenter in God How fair were that Tulip which had the Colours of all Tulips in it All Perfections and Sweetnesses are eminently in God Did we know God more and by the Eye of Faith see his orient Beauty our Hearts would be fired with love to him 2. Make the Scriptures familiar to you St. Austin saith Before his Conversion he took no pleasure in Scripture but after Conversion it was his chast delight The Book of God discovers God to us in his Holiness Wisdom Veracity and Truth It represents God rich in Mercy incircled with Promises St. Austin calls the Scripture a golden Epistle or Love-letter sent from God to us By reading this Love-letter we shall be the more inamoured with love to God As by reading Lascivious Books Comedies Romances Lust is provoked 3.
our Blood Ezek. 16.6 We had no Spiritual Beauty to tempt Christ. Nay we were not only in our Blood but we were up in Arms Rom. 5.8 When we were Enemies Christ died for us When he was shedding his Blood we were spitting our Poyson Secondly As we could not deserve so neither could we recompense Christ's Love For 1. After he had dy'd for us we could not so much as love him till he made us love him 2. We could give Christ nothing in lieu of his Love Rom. 11.35 Who hath first given to him We were fallen to Poverty if we have any Beauty it is from Christ. Ezek. 16.14 Thou wert comely through my comeliness which I put upon thee If we bring forth any good Fruit it is not of our own Growth it comes from Christ the True Vine Hos. 14.8 From me is thy Fruit found So that it was nothing but pure Love for Christ to lay out his Blood to redeem such as he could not expect to be really bettered by 5. That Christ should die so willingly Iohn 10.17 I lay down my Life The Jews could not have taken it away if he had not laid it down he could have called to his Father for a Legion of Angels to be his Life-guard but what needed that when his Godhead could have defended him from all Assaults But he laid down his Life The Jews did not so much thirst for Christ's Death as he thirsted for our Redemption Luke 12.50 I have a Baptism to be baptized with and how am I straitned till it be accomplished Christ call'd his Sufferings a Baptism He was to be baptiz'd and sprinkled with his own Blood and Christ thought the time long before he suffered ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã How am I straitned till it be accomplished Therefore to show Christ's willingness to die his Sufferings is called an Offering Heb. 10.10 By the offering of the Body of Iesus His Death was a Free-will Offering 6. That Christ should not grutch or think much of all his Sufferings his being scourged and crucified we grutch him a light Service but that he should be well contented with what he hath done and if it were to do again he would do it Isa. 53.11 He shall see of the Travel of his Soul and be satisfied As the Mother tho she hath had hard Labour yet when she sees a Child brought forth she doth not repent of her Pangs but is well contented So Christ though he had Hard Travel upon the Cross which put him into an Agony yet he doth not think much he is not troubled but thinks his Sweat and Blood well bestowed because he sees the Man-child of Redemption brought forth into the World He shall see of the Travel of his Soul and shall be satisfied 7. That Christ should make Redemption effectual to some and not to others Here is the Quintessence of Love Tho there is a Sufficiency in Christ's Merit to save all yet only some partake of its saving Vertue all do not believe Iohn 6.64 There are some of you that believe not Christ doth not pray for all Iohn 17.9 Some refuse Christ Psal. 118.22 This is the Stone which the Builders refused Others deride him Luke 16.14 Others throw off his Yoak Luke 19.14 We will not have this Man reign over us So that all have not the benefit of Salvation by him Herein appears the distinguishing Love of Christ that the Vertue of his Death should reach some and not others 1 Cor. 1.26 Not many wise Men after the Flesh not many mighty not many noble are called That Christ should pass by many of Birth and Parts and that the Lot of Free-Grace should fall upon thee that he should sprinkle his Blood upon thee ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the Depth of the Love of Christ. 8. That Christ should love us with such an entire transcendent Love The Apostle calls it a Love which passeth knowledge Eph. 3.19 That he should love us more than the Angels He loves them as his Friends Believers as his Spouse He loves them with such a kind of Love as God the Father bears to him Iohn 15.9 As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you O what an Hyperbole of Love doth Christ show in redeeming us 9. That Christ's Love in our Redemption should be everlasting Iohn 13.1 Having loved his own he loved them ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã to the end As Christ's Love is matchless so endless The Flower of Christ's Love is sweet and that which makes it sweeter it never dies Christ's Love is Eterniz'd Ier. 31.3 He will never divorce his Elect Spouse The Failings of his People cannot quite take off his Love They may eclipse his Love not wholly remove it their Failings may make Christ angry with them but not hate them Every Failing doth not break the Marriage-knot Christ's Love is not like the Saints Love sometimes they have strong Affections towards Christ at other times the hot Fit is off and they can find little or no Love stirring in them But it is not so with Christ's Love to the Saints it is a Love of Eternity When the Sun-shine of Christ's Electing Love hath once risen upon the Soul it never sets finally Death may take away our Life from us but not Christ's Love Behold here a rare Subject on a Sabbath-morning to meditate upon The Meditation of Christ's wonderful Love in Redeeming us would work in us a Sabbath-Frame of Heart First It would melt us into Tears for our Spiritual Vnkindnesses That we should sin against so sweet a Saviour that we should be no more affected with his Love but requite Evil for Good Like the Athenians who notwithstanding all the good Service Aristides had done them banished him out of their City That we should grieve Christ with our Pride rash Anger our Unfruitfulness Animosities strange Factions Have we none to abuse but our Friend Have we nothing to kick against but the Bowels of a Saviour Did not Christ suffer enough upon the Cross but must we needs make him suffer more Do we give him more Gall and Vinegar to drink O if any thing can dissolve the Heart in Sorrow and broach the Eyes with Tears 't is dis-ingenuity and unkindness offered to Christ. When Peter thought of Christ's Love to him how he had made him an Apostle and reveal'd his Bosom-Secrets to him and taken him to the Mount of Transfiguration and that he should deny Christ it broke his Heart with Sorrow he went out and wept bitterly Mat. 26.75 What a blessed thing is it to have the Eyes dropping Tears on a Sabbath And nothing would sooner fetch Tears than to meditate of Christ's Love to us and our unkind Requitals Secondly The Meditating on a Lord's Day Morning of Christ's Love would kindle Love in our Hearts to Christ. How can we look on Christ bleeding and dying for us and our Hearts not be warmed with Love to him Love is the Soul of Religion the purest Affection it is not
we love we fix our Minds upon He that loves his Pleasures and Recreations his Mind is fixed on them and he can follow them without Distraction Were our Love more set upon the Word Preached our Minds would be more fixed upon it And surely there is enough to make us love the Word Preached for it is the Word of Life the Inlet to Knowledge the Antidote against Sin the Quickner of Holy Affections It is the True Manna which hath all sorts of sweet Tasts in it It is the Pool of Bethesda in which the Rivers of Life spring forth to heal the broken in Heart It is a Soveveraign Elixir or Cordial to revive the sorrowful Spirit Get Love to the Word Preached and you will not be so distracted in hearing What the Heart delights in the Thoughts dwell upon II. If you would sanctifie the Sabbath by deligent attentive hearing take heed of Drowsiness in Hearing Drowsiness shows much Irreverence How lively are many when they are about the World but in the Worship of God how drowsie as if the Devil had given them some Opium to make them sleep A Drowsie Temper is now very absurd and sinful Are not you in Prayer asking Pardon of sin Will the Prisoner fall asleep when he is begging his Pardon In the Preaching of the Word is not the Bread of Life breaking to you and will a Man fall asleep at his Food Which is worse to stay from a Sermon or sleep at a Sermon While you sleep perhaps that Truth was delivered which might have converted your Souls Besides sleeping is very offensive in these Holy Assemblies It is not only a grieving the Spirit of God but a making the Hearts of the Righteous sad Ezek. 13.22 It troubles them to see any show such a Contempt of God and his Worship to see Men busie in the Shop but drowsie in the Temple Therefore as Christ said Mat. 26.40 Could ye not watch one Hour So can ye not wake one Hour I deny not but a Child of God may sometimes through Weakness and Indisposition of Body drop asleep at a Sermon but it is not voluntary or ordinary The Sun may be in an Eclipse but not often If sleeping be customary and allowed it is a very bad sign and is a profaning of the Ordinance A good Remedy against Drowsiness is to use a Spare Diet upon this Day Such as indulge their Appetite too much on a Sabbath are fitter to sleep on a Couch than pray in the Temple Now that you may throw off Distracting Thoughts and Drowsiness on the Lord's Day and may hear the Word with reverend Attention consider 1. It is God that speaks to us in his Word therefore the Preaching of the Word is called the Breath of his Lips Isa. 11.4 And Christ is said now to speak to us from Heaven Heb. 12.25 as a King speaks in his Ambassador Ministers are but as the Pipes and Organs it is the Spirit of the Living God breathes in them When we come to the Word we should think thus with our selves God speaks in this Preacher The Thessalonians heard the Word Paul Preached as if God himself had spoken to them 1 Thess. 2.13 When ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye receiv'd it not as the Word of Men but as it is in truth the Word of God When Samuel knew it was the Lord that spake to him he lent his Ear 1 Sam. 3.10 If we do not regard God when he speaks to us he will not regard us when we pray to him 2. Consider how serious and weighty the matters delivered to us are As Moses said Deut. 30.19 I call Heaven and Earth âo record this day that I have set before you Life and Death Can Men be regardless of the Word or drowsie when the weighty matters of Eternity are set before them We Preach of Faith and Holiness of Life and the Day of Judgment and the Eternal Recompences here is Life and Death set before you and doth not all this call for serious Attention If a Letter were read to one of special business wherein his Life and Estate were concern'd would not he be very serious in listning to that Letter In the Preaching of the Word your Salvation is concerned and if ever you will attend it should be now Deut. 32.47 It is not a vain thing for you because it is your Life 3. To give way to Vain Thoughts and Drowsiness in hearing doth much gratifie Satan He knows that not to mind a Duty is all one as not to do a Duty Quicquid cor non facit non sit in Religion What the Heart doth not do is not done Therefore Christ saith of some Hearing they hear not Mat. 13.13 How could that be Because tho' the Word sounded in their Ear yet they minded not what was said to them their Thoughts were upon other things therefore it was all one as if they did not âear Hearing they hear not And doth not this please Satan to see Men come to the Word and as good stay away They are haunted with vain Thoughts they are taken off the Duty while they are in it their Body is in the Assembly their Heart in their Shop Hearing they hear not 4. It may be the last Sabbath that ever we shall keep We may go from the place of Hearing to the place of Judging and shall not we give Reverend Attention to the Word Did we think thus when we come into God's House Perhaps this will be the last time that ever God will counsel us about our Souls before another Sermon Death's Alarum will sound in our Ears With what Attention and Devotion should we come hither and our Affections would be all on Fire in hearing 5. You must give an Account for every Sermon you hear Luke 16.2 Redde rationem Give an account of thy Stewardship So will God say Give an Account of thy Hearing Hast thou been affected with the Word Hast thou profited by it And how can we give an Account if we have been distracted in hearing and have not taken notice what hath been said to us The Judge to whom we must give an Account is God Were one to give an Account to Man he might falsifie his Accounts but we must give an Account to God Nec donis corrumpitur nec blanditiis fallitur He is so Iust a God that he cannot be bribed and so Wise that he cannot be deceived Therefore being to give an Account to such an impartial Judge how should we observe every Word Preached remembring the Account Let all this make us shake off Distraction and Drowsiness in Hearing and have our Ears chain'd to the Word EXOD. XX. 8 Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy c. II. If you would hear the Word aright lay aside those things which may render the Word Preached ineffectual As 1. Curiosity Some come to the Word Preached not so much to get Grace as to enrich themselves with Notions Itching Ears
So God hath put a Sacred Stamp upon this Day the stamp of Divine Authority and the stamp of Divine Benediction This makes it honourable This is a sanctifying the Sabbath to call it a Delight and Honourable 5. Not doing thy own ways That is Thou shalt not defile the Day by doing any Servile Work 6. Nor Finding thy own pleasure That is not gratifying the Fleshly Part by Walks Visits or Pastimes 7. Nor Speaking thy own Words That is Words Heterogeneous and unsuitable for a Sabbath vain impertinent Words Discourses of Worldly Affairs Here is the sanctifying of a Sabbath described Vse II. If the Sabbath-day be to be kept holy it reproves them who instead of sanctifying the Sabbath profane it They take that Time which should be Dedicated wholly to God and spend it in the Service of the Devil and their Lusts. The Lord hath enclosed this Day for his own Worship and they lay God's Day common God hath set an Hedge about this Commandment Remember and they break this Hedge But he who breaks an Hedge a Serpent shall bite him Eccles. 10.8 The Sabbath-day in England lies bleeding And Oh! that our Parliament would pour in some Balm into the Wounds which the Sabbath hath received How is this Day profaned by sitting idle at home by selling Meat by vain Discourse by sinful Visits by walking in the Fields by using Sports The People of Israel might not gather Manna on the Sabbath and may we use Sports and Dancings on this Day Truly it should be matter of Grief to us to see so much Sabbath-profanation When one of Darius's Eunuchs saw Alexander setting his Feet on a rich Table of Darius's he fell a weeping Alexander ask'd him why he wept He said It was to see the Table which his Master so highly esteemed to be now made a Footstool So we may weep to see the Sabbath-day which God so highly esteems and hath so honoured and blessed to be made a Footstool and to be trampled upon by the Feet of Sinners To profane the Sabbath is a Sin of an High Nature it is a wilful Contempt of God It is not only a Casting God's Law behind our back but a trampling it under foot God saith Keep the Sabbath holy but Men will pollute it This is to despise God to hang out the Flag of Defiance to throw down the Gantlet and challenge God himself Now how can God endure to be thus saucily confronted by proud Dust God will not suffer this high Impudence to go unpunished This will draw God's Curses upon the Sabbath-breaker and God's Curse blasts where it comes No sooner did Christ curse the Fig-tree but it withered Tho the Law of the Land lets Sabbath-breakers alone to rob a Man of his Purse shall be punished with Death but to rob God of his Day shall not be punished with Death But God will take the matter into his own hand he will see after the punishing of Sabbath-violation And how doth he punish it 1. With Spiritual Plagues He gives up Sabbath-profaners to hardness of Heart and a seared Conscience Spiritual Judgments are sorest Psal. 81.12 So I gave them up to their own Hearts Lusts. A Sear in the Conscience is a Brand-mark of Reprobation 2. God punisheth this Sin of Sabbath-breaking by giving them up to commit other Sins God to revenge the breaking of his Sabbath suffers Men to break open Houses and so come to be punished by the Magistrate How many such Confessions have we heard from Thieves going to be executed They never regarded the Sabbath and so God suffered them to commit those hainous Sins for which now they are to die 3. God punisheth Sabbath-breaking by sudden visible Judgments on Men for this Sin God punisheth them in their Estates and in their Persons One carrying Corn into his Barn on the Lord's Day both House and Corn consumed with Fire from Heaven In Wiltshire there was a Dancing Match appointed upon the Lord's Day and one of the Company as he was dancing fell down dead suddenly and so was made a Spectacle of God's Justice The Theatre of God's Iudgments relates of one who used every Lord's Day to hunt in Sermon-time and he had a Child by his Wife with an Head like a Dog and it cried like an Hound His Sin was monstrous and it was punish'd with a monstrous Birth The Lord threatned the Jews That if they would not hallow the Sabbath-day he would kindle a Fire in their Gates Jer. 17.27 The dreadful Fire which brake out in London began on the Sabbath-day as if God would tell us from Heaven he was then punishing us for our Sabbath-profanation Nor doth God punish it only in this Life with Death but with Damnation Such as break God's Sabbath let them see if they can break those Chains of Darkness in which they and the Devils shall be held Vse III. It exhorts us to Sabbath-holiness I. Make Conscience of keeping this Day Holy The other Commandments have only an Affirmative in them or a Negative This Fourth Commandment hath both an Affirmative in it and a Negative Thou shalt keep the Sabbath-day holy And Thou shalt not do any manner of Work in it To show how carefully God would have us observe this Day Nor only must you keep this Day your Selves but have a care that all under your Charge keep it Thou and thy Son and thy Daughter and thy Man-Servant and thy Maid-Servant That is Thou who art a Superiour a Parent or a Master thou must have a Care that not only thy self sanctifie the Day but those who are under thy Trust and Tuition To blame are those Masters of Families who are careful that their Servants serve them but have no care that they serve God They care not though their Servants should serve the Devil so long as their Bodies do them Service That which St. Paul saith to Timothy 1 Tim. 6.20 Serva Depositum Keep that which is committed to thy Trust is of a large Extension Not only have a Care of thy own Soul but have a Care of the Souls thou art entrusted with See that they who are under thy Charge sanctifie the Sabbath God's Law provided That if a Man met an Ox or an Ass going astray he should bring him back again Much more when thou seest the Soul of thy Child or Servant going astray from God and breaking his Sabbath thou shouldest bring him back again to a Religious Observation of this Day Now that I may press you to Sabbath-Sanctification consider 1. God hath promised great Blessings to the strict Observers of this Day If this Day be a Delight Isa. 58.14 Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord. Delighting in God is both a Duty and a Reward In this Text it is a Reward Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord As if God had said If thou keep the Sabbath Conscientiously I will give thee that which shall fill thee with Delight If thou keepest the Sabbath willingly I
why Children should honour their Parents are 1. It is a Solemn Command of God Honour thy Father c. As God's Word is the Rule so his Will must be the Reason of our Obedience 2. They deserve Honour in respect of that great Love and Affection which they bear to their Children and that Love is evidenced both by their Care and Cost 1. Their Care in bringing up their Children A Sign their Hearts are full of Love because their Heads are so full of Care Parents oft take more Care for their Children than for themselves They take Care of them when they are tender least like Wall-Fruit they should be nip'd in the Bud. And as Children grow older so the Care of Parents grows greater They are afraid of their Childrens falling when young and of worse Faults when they are older 2. Their Love is evidenced by their Cost 1 Cor. 12.14 They lay up and lay out for their Children They are not like the Raven or Ostrich Job 39.14 which are cruel to their Young Parents sometimes do impoverlsh themselves to enrich their Children All this calls for Honour from the Children Children can never parallel or equal Parents Love Parents are the Instruments of Life to their Children Children cannot be so to their Parents 3. To honour Parents is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã well-pleasing to the Lord Col. 3.20 As it is joyful to the Parents so it is pleasing to the Lord. Children is it not your Desire to please God In honouring and obeying your Parents you please God as well as when you Repent and Believe And that you may see how well it pleaseth God he bestows a Reward upon it That thy Days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Iacob would not let the Angel go till he had blessed him nor God would not part with this Commandment till he had blessed it Here is the Blessing That thy Days may be long in the Land c. St. Paul calls this the First Commandment with Promise Eph. 6.2 The Second Commandment hath a General Promise of Mercy But this is the First Commandment that hath a Particular Promise made to it That thy Days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Long Life is mentioned as a Blessing Psal. 128.6 Thou shalt see thy Childrens Children It was a great Favour of God to Moses that tho' he was an Hundred and Twenty Years old he needed no Spectacles his Eye was not dim nor his Natural Strength abated Deut. 34.7 God threatned it as a Curse to Eli That there should not be an Old Man in his Family 1 Sam. 2.31 Since the Flood Life is much abbreviated and cut short Some the Womb is their Tomb others exchange their Cradle for their Grave others die in the Flower of their Age Death serves it's Warrant every Day upon one or other Now when Death lies in Ambush continually for us if God satisfie us with Long Life Psal. 91.16 With long Life will I satisfie him This is to be esteemed a Blessing It is a Blessing that God gives a long time to repent and a long time to do Service and a long time to enjoy the Comfort of Relations and who is this Blessing of Long Life entail'd upon but Obedient Children Honour thy Father that thy Days may be long Nothing sooner shortens Life than Disobedience to Parents Absalom was a disobedient Son who sought to deprive his Father of his Life and Crown and he did not live out half his Days The Mule he rode upon as being weary of such a Burden left him hanging in the Oak betwixt Heaven and Earth as not fit to tread upon the one or enter into the other Obedience to Parents spins out thy Life That thy Days may be long Nor doth Obedience to Parents only lengthen Life but sweeten it Therefore it follows That thy Days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee To live long and not have a Foot of Land is a Misery but Obedience to Parents settles Land of Inheritance upon the Child Hast thou but one Blessing O my Father said Esau. Behold God hath more Blessings for an Obedient Child than one not only shall he have a Long Life but a Fruitful Land And not only shall he have Land but Land given in Love The Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Thou shalt have thy Land not only with God's Leave but with his Love All which are cogent Arguments to make Children Honour and Obey their Parents EXOD. XX. 12 Honour thy Father Vse I. If we are to Honour our Fathers on Earth then much more our Father in Heaven Mal. 1.6 If then I am a Father where is my Honour A Father is but the Instrument of conveying Life but God is the Original Cause of our Being Psal. 100.3 For it is he that hath made us and not we our selves Honour and Adoration is a Pearl belongs only to the Crown of Heaven And 1. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by obeying him Thus Christ honoured his Father Iohn 6.38 I came down from Heaven not to do my own Will but the Will of him that sent me This he calls honouring of God Iohn 8.29 I do always those things which please him Ver. 49. I honour my Father The Wise Men did not only bow the Knee to Christ but presented him with Gold and Myrrh Mat. 2.8 So we must not only bow the Knee give God Adoration but bring Presents give him Golden Obedience 2. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by appearing as Advocates in his Cause and standing up for his Truth in an Adulterous Generation That Son honours his Father who stands up in his Defence and vindicates him when he is calumniated and reproached Do they honour God who are ashamed of him Iohn 12.42 Many believed on him but durst not confess him They are Bastard Sons who are ashamed to own their Heavenly Father Such as are born of God are steeled with Courage for his Truth They are like the Rock which no Waves can break like the Adamant which no Sword can cut Basil was a Champion for Truth in the Time of the Emperor Valens and Athanasius when the World was Arrian appeared for God 3. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by ascribing the Honour of all we do to him 1 Cor. 15.10 I laboured morè abundantly than they all yet not I but the Grace of God which was in me If a Christian hath any Assistance in Duty any strength against Corruption he rears up a Pillar and writes upon it Hitherto the Lord hath helped me As Ioab when he had fought against Rabbah and had like to have taken it sent for King David that he might carry away the Honour of the Victory 2 Sam. 12.27 So when a Child of God hath any Conquest over Satan he gives all the Honour to God Hypocrites whose Lamp is fed with the Oyl of Vain-Glory
his Soul 1. We must not injure another in his Name A good Name is a precious Balsom it is a great Cruelty to murder a Man in his Name We injure others in their Name When we calumniate and slander them 'T was David's Complaint Psal. 35.11 They laid to my Charge things which I knew not The Primitive Christians were traduced for Incest and killing their Children as Tertul. Dicimur infanticidii incestus rei This is to behead others in their good Name this is an irreparable Injury No Physician can heal the Wounds of the Tongue 2. We must not injure another in his Body The Life is the most precious thing and God hath set this Commandment as a Fence about it to preserve it Thou shalt not kill God made a Statute which was never to this Day repealed Gen. 9.6 Who so sheddeth Man's Blood by Man shall his Blood be shed In the Old Law had a Man killed another unawares he might take Sanctuary but if he had killed him willingly tho he did fly to the Sanctuary the Holiness of the Place was not to defend him Exod. 21.14 If a Man come presumptuously upon his Neighbour to slay him with Guile thou shalt take him from my Altar that he may die Now in this Commandment Thou shalt do no Murder all those Sins are forbidden which lead to it and are the occasions of it As 1. Vnadvised Anger Anger boyls up the Blood in the Veins and oft produceth Murder Gen. 49.6 In their Anger they slew a Man 2. Envy Satan envy'd our first Parents the Robe of Innocence and the Glory of Paradise therefore never left till he had procured their Death Ioseph's Brethren envied him because his Father loved him and gave him a Coat of divers Colours therefore take Counsel to slay him Gen. 37.20 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã and ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Envy and Murder are near a-kin therefore the Apostle puts them together Gal. 5.21 Envyings Murders Envy is a Sin breaks both the Tables at once It begins in Discontent against God and ends in Injury against Man as we see in Cain Gen. 4.6 8. Envious Cain first discontented with God there he broke the First Table and then he fell out with his Brother and slew him there he broke the Second Table Anger is sometimes soon over like Fire kindled in Straw which is quickly out but Envy is a radicated thing and will not quench its Thirst without Blood Prov. 27.4 Who is able to stand before Envy 3. Hatred The Pharisees hated Christ because he excelled them in Gifts and had more Honour among the People than they therefore they never left till they had nailed him to the Cross and taken away his Life Hatred is a Vermin lives upon Blood Ezek. 35.5 Because thou hast had a perpetual Hatred and hast shed the Blood of the Children of Israel Haman hated Mordecai because he did not bow to him and he presently sought Revenge He got a Bloody Warrant sealed for the Destruction of the whole Race and Seed of the Jews Esther 3.9 Hatred is ever cruel All these Sins are forbidden in this Commandment which lead the Van and are oft the occasions of this Sin of Murder Quest. How many ways is Murder committed Resp. We may be said to Murder another Twelve ways 1. With the Hand As Ioab kill ãâã Abner and Amasa 2 Sam. 20.10 He smote him in the Fifth Rib and shed out his Bowels 2. Murder is committed with the Mind Malice is Mental Murder 1 Iohn 3.15 Whoso hateth his Brother is a Murderer To malign another and wish Evil against him in the Heart is a murdering him 3. Murder is committed with the Tongue By speaking to the Prejudice of another and causing him to be put to Death Thus the Jews kill'd the Lord of Life when they inveighed against him and accused him falsly to Pilate Iohn 18.30 4. Murder is committed with the Pen. So David killed Vriah in writing to Ioab to set Vriah in the Fore-front of the Battle 2 Sam. 11.15 Tho the Ammonites Sword cut off Vriah yet David's Pen was the Cause of his Death Therefore the Lord tells David by the Prophet Nathan 2 Sam. 12.9 Thou hast killed Vriah 5. Murder is committed by Plotting anothers Death Thus Iezabel tho she did not lay Hands her self upon Naboth yet because she contrived his Death and caused Two false Witnesses to swear against him and bring him within the Compass of Treason she was a Murderer 1 Kings 21.10 6. Murder is committed by instilling Poyson into Potions Thus the Wife of Commodus the Emperor killed her Husband by poysoning the Wine which he drank So many kill the Children they go with by taking such Medicines or strong Purges as prove the Death of the Child 7. By Witchcraft and Sorcery a thing forbidden under the Law Deut. 18.10 There shall not be found among you an Enchanter or a Witch or a Consulter with Familiar Spirits 8. By having an Intention to kill another as Herod would under a Pretence of Worshipping Christ have killed him Mat. 2..8 13. So Saul when he made David go as Captain against the Philistins designing thereby that the Philistins should have killed him 1 Sam. 18.17 Saul said Let not my Hand be upon him but let the Hand of the Philistins be upon him Here was intentional Murder and it was in God's Account as bad as actual 9. By consenting to anothers Death So Saul to the Death of Stephen Acts 22.20 I also was standing by and consenting to his Death He that gives Consent is accessary to the Murder 10. By not hindring the Death of another when in our Power Pilate knew Christ was innocent I find no Fault in him but he did not hinder his Death therefore he was guilty It was not washing his Hands in Water could wash away the Guilt of Christ's Blood 11. By Vnmercifulness 1. By taking away that which is necessary for the Sustentation of Life As to take away those Tools or Utensils whereby a Man gets his Living Deut. 24.6 No man shall take away the nether or the upper Milstone to pledge for he takes a mans Life 2. By not helping him when he is ready to perish You may be the Death of another as well by not relieving him as by offering him Violence Si non paveris occidisti Ambrose If thou dost not feed him that is starving thou killest him And then how many are guilty of the Breach of this Commandment 12. By not Executing the Law upon Capital Offenders A Felon having committed Six Murders the Judge may be said to be guilty of Five of them because he did not execute the Felon for his first Offence The next thing I shall speak to is to show the Aggravations of this Sin of Murder As 1. To shed the Blood of another Causless as to kill another in an Humour or Frolick A Bee will not sting unless provok'd But many when they are not provoked will take away the
8.44 By saying to our First Parents Ye shall not die he brought in Death to the World 4. It is a Cursed Sin If there be a Curse for him that smites his Neighbour secretly Deut. 27.4 then he is double cursed that kills him The first Man that was born was a Murderer Gen. 4.11 And now art thou cursed from the Earth He was an excommunicate Person banish'd from the place of God's Publick Worship God set a Mark upon bloody Cain Gen. 24 15. Some think it was Horror of Mind which above all Sins doth accompany the Sin of Blood Others think this Mark was a continual Shaking and trembling in his Flesh which was a Mark of Infamy God set upon him He carried a Curse along with him 5. It is a Wrath-procuring Sin 2 Kings 24.4 1. It procures Temporal Judgments Phocas to get the Empire put to Death all the Sons of Mauritius the Emperor and then slew him But this Phocas was pursued by his Son-in-law Priscus who cut off his Ears and Feet and then kill'd him Charles the 9 th who caused the Massacre of so many Christians at Paris Blood issued out at several parts of his Body of which he died Albonia kill'd a Man and then made a Cup of his Skull to drink in afterwards his own Wife caused him to be murdered in his Bed Vengeance as a Blood-hound pursues the Murderer Bloody Men shall not live out half their Days Psal. 55.23 2. It brings Eternal Judgments It binds Men over to Hell The Papists make nothing of Massacres theirs is a Bloody Religion They dispense with Men for Murder so it be to propagate the Catholick Cause If a Cardinal put his Red Hat upon the Head of a Murderer going to Execution he is saved from Death But let all impenitent Murderers read their Doom Rev. 21.8 Murderers shall have their part in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone This is the Second Death We read of Fire mingled with Blood Rev. 8.7 Such as have their Hands full of Blood must undergo the Wrath of God Here is Fire mingled with Blood and this Fire is inextinguishable Mark 9.44 Time will not finish it Tears will not quench it EXOD. XX. 12 Thou shalt not Kill 3. We must not injure anothers Soul This is the greatest Murder of all because there is more of God's Image in the Soul than in the Body Ths Soul tho it cannot be annihilated is said to be murdered because it misseth of Happiness and is for ever in Torment Now how many are Soul-murderers 1. Such as corrupt others by bad Example Vivitur Exemplis The World is led by Example especially the Examples of Great ones are very pernicious Magnates Magnetes We are apt to do as we see others before us especially above us Such as are placed in High Power are like the Pillar of Cloud when that went Israel went When Great Ones move in their Sphere others will follow them tho it be to Hell Evil Magistrates like the Tail of the Dragon draw the third part of the Stars after them 2. Such as entice others to Sin The Harlot by curling her Hair rolling her Eyes laying open her Breasts doth what in her lies to be both a Tempter and a Murderer Such an one was Messalina Wife to Claudius the Emperor Prov. 7.7 10. I discerned a young Man and there met him a Woman with the Attire of an Harlot so she caught him and kissed him Better are the Reproofs of a Friend than the Kisses of an Harlot 3. Ministers are Murderers who either starve or poyson or infect Souls 1. That starve Souls 1 Pet. 5.2 Feed the Flock of God which is among you These Feed themselves and starve the Flock Either through Non-residing they do not Preach or through Insufficiency they cannot There are many in the Ministry a shame to speak it so ignorant that they had need to be taught the First Principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5.12 Was not he fit to be a Preacher in Israel think ye who being asked something concerning the Decalogue answered He never saw any such Book 2. That Poyson Souls Such are Heterodox Ministers who poyson People with Error The Basilisk poysons Herbs and Flowers by breathing on them The Breath of Heretical Ministers like the Basilisks Breath poysons Souls The Socinian that would rob Christ of his Godhead the Arminian that by advancing the Power of the Will would take off the Crown from the Head of Free-Grace the Antinomian who denies the Use of the Moral Law to a Believer as if it were antiquated and out of date these Poyson Mens Souls Error is as damnable as Vice 1 Pet. 2.1 There shall he false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Hereresies denying the Lord that bought them 3. That Infect Souls viz. By their Scandalous Lives Exod. 19.22 Let the Priests which come near to the Lord sanctifie themselves Ministers who by their Places are nearer to God should be holier than others The Elements the higher they are the purer The Air is purer than the Water the Fire is purer than the Air. The higher Men are by Office the holier they should be Iohn Baptist was a shining Lamp But there are many who infect their People with their Bad Life They preach one thing and live another Qui curios simulant Bacchanalia vivunt They like Eli's Sons are in White Linen but they have Scarlet Sins Some say that Prester Iohn the Lord of Africa causeth to be carried before him a Golden Cup full of Dirt A fit Emblem of such Ministers as have a Golden Office but are dirty and polluted in their Lives They are Murderers and the Blood of Souls will cry against them at the last Day 4. Such as destroy others by getting them into bad Company and so making them Proselytes to the Devil Vitia in proximum quemque transiliunt Sen. A Man cannot live in the Aethiopian Climate but he will be discoloured with the Sun nor he cannot be in bad Company but he will partake of their Evil. One Drunkard makes another as the Prophet speaks in another Sence Ier. 35.5 I set before them pots full of Wine and Cups and said unto them Drink ye Wine So the Wicked set Pots of Wine before others and make them drink till Reason be stupified and Lust enflamed These are guilty of the Breach of this Commandment they are Murderers of Souls How sad will it be with these who have not only their own Sins but the Blood of others to answer for So much for the First thing forbidden in the Commandment the Injuring of others II. The Second thing forbidden in it is the injuring ones self Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt do no hurt to thy self 1. Thou shalt not hurt thy own Body One may be guilty of Self-murder either 1. Indirectly and Occasionally 2. Directly and Absolutely 1. Indirectly and Occasionally As First When a Man thrusts himself into Danger which he might prevent
As if a Company of Archers were shooting and one should go and stand in the place where the Arrows fly if the Arrow did kill him he is accessary to his own Death In the Law God would have the Leper shut up to keep others from being infected Lev. 13.4 Now if any would be so presumptuous as to go in to the Leper and get the Plague of Leprosie he might thank himself he occasioned his own Death Secondly A Person may be in some Sence guilty of his own Death by neglecting the Use of Means if sick and use no Physick If hehath received a Wound and will not apply Balsom he hastens his own Death God appointed Hezekiah to lay a Lump of Figs to the Boil Isa. 38.21 If he had not used the Lump of Figs he had been the cause of his own Death Thirdly By Immoderate Grief 2 Cor. 7.10 The Sorrow of the World worketh Death When God takes away a dear Relation and one is swallowed up with Sorrow How many weep themselves into their Graves Queen Mary grieved so excessively for the loss of Calice that it broke her Heart Fourthly By Intemperance Excess in Diet. Surfeiting shortens Life Plures periere crapula quam gladio Many dig their Grave with their Teeth Too much Oyl choaks the Lamp The Cup kills more than the Canon Excessive drinking causeth untimely Death 2. One may be guilty of Self-murder Directly and Absolutely 1. By Envy Envy is Tristitia de bonis alienis a secret repining at the Welfare of another Invidus alterius rebus macrescit opimis An envious Man is more sorry at anothers Prosperity than at his own Adversity He never laughs but when another Weeps Envy is a Self-murder a Fretting Canker Cyprian calls it Vulnus occultum a Secret Wound it hurts a Man's self most-Envy corrodes the Heart dries up the Blood rots the Bones Prov. 14.30 Envy is the rottenness of the Bones It is to the Body as the Moth to the Cloth it eats it and makes its Beauty consume Envy drinks its own Venom The Viper which leap'd on Paul's Hand thought to have hurt Paul but fell her self into the Fire Acts 28.3 So while the envious Man thinks to hurt another he destroys himself 2. By laying Violent Hands upon himself and thus he is Felo de se as Saul fell upon his own Sword and kill'd himself Because I see so many in the Bills of Mortality who make away themselves let me a little expatiate It is the most unnatural and barbarous kind of Murder for a Man to butcher himself and imbrue his Hands in his own Blood A Man's self is most near to him therefore this Sin of Self-murder breaks both the Law of God and the Bonds of Nature The Lord hath placed the Soul in the Body as in a Prison now it is a great Sin to break Prison till God by Death open the Door Self-murders are worse than the Brute-Creatures they will tear and gore one another but no Beast will go to destroy its self Self-murder is occasion'd usually from Discontent Discontent is joyned with a sullen Melancholy The Bird that beats her self in the Cage and is ready to kill her self is the true Emblem of a discontented Spirit And this Discontent ariseth 1. From Pride A Man that is swell'd with an High Opinion of himself thinks he deserves better than others and if any Cross befall him he is discontented and now in a suddain Passion will make away himself Achitophel had high Thoughts of himself his Words were esteemed Oracles and to have his Wise Counsel rejected he was not able to bear it 2 Sam. 17.23 He put his House in order and hanged himself 2. Discontent is occasioned from Poverty Poverty is a sore Temptation ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Menand Prov. 30.29 Give me not Poverty Many by their Sin have brought themselves to Poverty and when a great Estate is boil'd away to nothing then they are discontented and think better to die quickly than languish in Misery Hereupon the Devil helps them to dispatch themselves 3. Discontent is occasion'd from Covetousness Avarice is a dry Drunkenness an Horseleech that is never satisfied The Covetous Man is like Behemoth Iob 40.23 Behold he drinketh up a River and yet his Thirst is not allayed The covetous Miser hoards up Corn and if he hears the Price of Corn begins to fall then he is troubled and there 's no Cure for his Discontent but an Halter 4. From Horror of Mind A Man hath sinn'd a great Sin he hath swallowed down some Pills of Temptation the Devil hath given him and these Pills begin to work in his Conscience and the Horror is so great that he chooseth Strangling Iudas having betray'd Innocent Blood he was in that Agony that he hanged himself to quiet his Conscience As if one should to avoid the stinging of a Gnat endure the biting of a Serpent This Self-murder ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã is an High Breach of this Commandment it is an execrable Sin I can see no ground of hope for such as make away themselves for they die in the very Act of Sin and cannot have time to repent 2. Here is forbidden hurting ones own Soul Thou shalt not Kill Many who are free from other Murder yet are guilty here they go about to murder their own Souls they are wilfully set to damn themselves and throw themselves into Hell Quest. Who are they that go about desperately to murder their own Souls Resp. 1. Such wilfully go about to murder their Souls who have no Sence of God or the other World They are past feeling Eph. 4.19 Tell them of God's Holiness and Justice they are not at all affected Zech. 7.12 They made their Hearts like an Adamant The Adamant saith Pliny is insuperable the Hammer cannot conquer it Sinners have Adamantine Hearts The Altar of Stone when the Prophet spake to it rent asunder 1 Kings 13.2 But Sinners Hearts are so hardened in Sin that nothing will work upon them neither Ordinances nor Judgments they do not believe a Deity they laugh at Hell These go about to murder their Souls they are throwing themselves as fast as they can into Hell 2. Such as are set wilfully to murder their Souls are they who are resolved upon their Lusts let what will come of it the Soul may cry out I am killing I am murdering Eph. 4.19 They have given themselves over to work all Vncleanness with Greediness Let Ministers speak to them about their Sins let Conscience speak let Affliction speak yet they will have their Lusts tho they go to Hell for them Are not these resolved to murder their Souls As Agrippina Mother to Nero said Occidat modò imperet Let my Son kill me so he may Reign So many say in their Hearts Let our Sins damn us so they may but please us Herod will have his incestuous Lust tho it cost him his Soul Men will for a drop of Pleasure drink a Sea of Wrath. Are not
these about to massacre and damn their own Souls 3. They murder their Souls who avoid all means of saving their Souls They will go to Plays to drunken Meetings but will not set their Foot within God's House or come near the Sound of the Gospel Trumpet As if one that is Diseased should shun the Bath for fear of being healed These do wilfully damn their Souls and are as great Murderers of themselves as he who having means of Cure offered him chooseth Death rather than Physick 4. They do voluntarily murder their Souls who suck in false Prejudices against Religion as if Religion were too strict and severe they that espouse Holiness must live a melancholly Life like Hermits and Anchorites and drown all their Joy in Tears This is a Slander which the Devil hath cast upon Religion For there 's no true Joy but in believing Rom. 15.13 No Hony so sweet as that which drops from a Promise Some Men have foolishly taken up a Prejudice against Religion they are resolved rather never to go to Heaven than go thither through the Strait Gate I may say of Prejudice as Paul to Elimas Acts 13.10 O Prejudice thou Child of the Devil thou Enemy of all Righteousness how many Souls hast thou damned 5. They are wilfully set to murder their own Souls who will neither be good to themselves nor suffer others to be so Matth. 23.13 Ye neither go into the Kingdom of Heaven your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in Such are those that persecute others for their Religion Drunken Meetings shall escape Punishment But if Men meet to serve God then let all Severity be used These are resolved to Shipwrack others tho they themselves are cast away in the Storm Oh! Take heed of this of murdering your own Souls No Creature but Man doth willingly kill its self So I have done with the First the Sin Forbidden in this Commandment Thou shalt not kill EXOD. XX. 13 Thou shalt not Kill II. The Second Duty implyed is That we should do all the Good we can to our selves and others 1. In reference to Others We should endeavour to preserve the Lives and Souls of others 2. In reference to our selves To preserve our own Life and Soul 1. In reference to Others 1. To preserve the Life of others Comfort them in their Sorrows relieve them in their Wants Be as the good Samaritan pour Wine and Oyl into their Wounds Iob 29.16 I was a Father to the poor 13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me This is a great means of preserving the Life of another by relieving him when he is ready to perish Pompey when there was a great Dearth in Rome provided Corn for their Relief and when the Mariners were backward to sail thither in a Tempest saith he ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã It is not necessary that we should live but it is necessary that Rome be relieved Grace makes the Heart tender it causeth Sympathy and Charity As it melts the Heart in Contrition towards God so in Compassion towards others Psal. 112.9 He hath dispersed he hath given to the poor This the Commandment implies That we should be so far from ruining others that we should do all we can to preserve the Lives of others When we see the Picture of Death drawn in their Faces administer to their Necessities Be Temporal Saviours to them draw them out of the Waters of Affliction with a Silver Cord of Charity That I may perswade you to this let me lay before you Arguments First Works of Charity evidence Grace 1. Faith Iam. 2.18 I mill shew thee my Faith by my Works Works are Faith's Letters of Credence to show We judge of the Health of the Body by the Pulse where the Blood stirs and operates Christian judge of the Health of thy Faith by the Pulse of Charity The Word of God is the Rule of Faith and good Works are the Witnesses of Faith 2. Love Love loves Mercy It is a Noble bountiful Grace Mary loved Christ and how liberal was her Love She bestows on Christ her Tears Kisses costly Oyntments Love is like a full Vessel will have Vent it vents it self in Acts of Liberality Secondly To communicate to the Necessities of others is not Arbitrary it 's not left to our Choice whether we will or no but it is a Duty incumbent 1 Tim. 6.17 Charge them that are Rich in this World that they do good that they be rich in good Works This is not only a Counsel but a Charge If God should lay a Charge upon the Inanimate Creatures they would obey If he should charge the Rocks they would send forth Water If he should charge the Clouds they would melt into Showers If he should charge the Stones they would become Bread And shall we be harder than the Stones not to obey God when he chargeth us to be rich in Good Works Thirdly God supplies our Wants and shall not we supply the Wants of others We could not live without Mercy God makes every Creature helpful to us The Sun doth enrich us with it's Golden Beams The Earth yields us its Encrease Veins of Gold Crops of Corn store of Flowers God opens the Treasury of his Mercy he feeds us every Day out of the Alms-basket of his Providence Thou openest thy hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing Psal. 145.16 Now doth God supply our Wants and shall not we minister to the Wants of others Shall we be only as a Spunge to suck in Mercy and not as a Breast to milk it out to others Fourthly Herein we resemble God to be doing Good to others 'T is our Excellency to be like God Godliness is God-likeness And wherein are we more like him than in Acts of Bounty and Munificence Psal. 119.68 Thou art good and dost good Thou art good there is God's Essential Goodness and dost good there is his Communicative Goodness The more helpful we are to others the more like we are to God We cannot be like God in Omnisciency or in working Miracles but we may be like him in doing Works of Mercy Fifthly God remembers all our Deeds of Charity and takes them kindly at our Hands Heb. 6.10 God is not unrighteous to forget your labour of Love which ye have shewed towards his Name in that ye have ministred to the Saints The Chief Butler may forget Ioseph's Kindness but the Lord will not forget any kindness we show to his People Mat. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me Meat Thirsty and ye gave me Drink Christ takes the kindness done to his Saints as done to himself God that hath a Bottle for your Tears hath a Book to write down your Alms. Mal. 3.16 A Book of Remembrance was written before him Tamerlane had a Register to write down all the Names and good Service of his Soldiers So God hath a Book of Remembrance to write down all your Charitable Works and at the
Day of Judgment there shall be an open and honourable mention made of them in the Presence of the Angels Sixthly Hard-heartedness to them in Misery reproacheth the Gospel When Men's Hearts are like pieces of Rocks or as the Scales of the Leviathan shut up as with a close Seal Job 41.15 You may as well extract Oyl out of a Flint as the Golden Oyl of Charity out of their Hearts These Vnchristian themselves Unmercifulness is the Sin of the Heathen Rom. 1.31 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã without Mercy It eclipseth the Glory of the Gospel Doth the Gospel teach Uncharitableness Doth it not bid us draw out our Soul to the Hungry Isa. 58.10 Tit. 3.8 These things I will that you affirm that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works While you relieve not such as are in Want you walk Antipodes to the Gospel you cause it to be evil spoken of and lay it open to the Lasâ and Censure of others Seventhly There is nothing lost by relieving the Necessitous The Shunamite Woman was kind to the Prophet she welcomed him to her House and she received Kindness from him another way He restored her Dead Child to Life 2 Kings 4.35 Such as are helpful to others shall find Mercy to help in time of need Such as pour out the Golden Oyl of Compassion to others God will pour out the Golden Oyl of Salvation to them For a Cup of cold Water they shall have Rivers of Pleasure Nay God will make it up some way or other in this Life Prov. 11.25 The Liberal Soul shall be made faâ As the Loaves in breaking multiplied or as the Widows Oyl encreased by pouring out 1 Kings 17.16 An Estate may be imparted yet not impaired Eighthly To do good to others in Necessity keeps up the Credit of Religion Works of Mercy adorn the Gospel as the Fruit Adorns the Tree When our Light so shines that others see our Good Works this glorifies God Crowns Religion silenceth the Lips of Gain-sayers Basil saith Nothing rendred the True Religion more famous in the Primitive Times and made more Proselytes to it than the Bounty and Charity of the Christians Ninthly and Lastly The Evil that doth accrue by not preserving the Lives of others and helping them in their Necessities God sends oft a secret Moth into their Estate Prov. 11.24 There is that with-holdeth more than is meet but it tendeth to Poverty Prov. 21.13 Whoso stoppeth his Ears at the cry of the poor he also shall cry himself but shall not be heard Jam. 2.13 He shall have Iudgment without Mercy that showed no Mercy Dives denied Lazarus a Crumb of Bread and Dives was denied a Drop of Water Mat. 25.41 Depart from me ye cursed for I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat Christ saith not Ye took away my Meat But Ye gave me no Meat ye did not feed my Members therefore depart from me By all this be ready to distribute to the Necessities of others This is included in the Commandment Thou shalt not kill Not only Thou shalt not destroy his Life but thou shalt preserve it by giving to his Necessities 2. It is imply'd that we should endeavour to preserve the Souls of others counsel them about their Souls set Life and Death before them help them to Heaven In the Law if one met his Neighbours Ox or Ass going astray he must bring him back Exod. 33.4 Much more if we see our Neighbours Soul going astray we should use all means to bring him back to God by Repentance 2. In reference to our selves The Commandment Thou shalt not kill requires that we should preserve our own Life and Soul 'T is engraven upon every Creature that we should preserve our own Natural Life We must be so far from Self-murder that we must do all we can to preserve our Natural Life We must use all means of Diet Exercise and lawful Recreation which is like Oyl to preserve the Lamp of Life from going out Some have been under Temptation Satan hath suggested they are such Sinners as do not deserve a bit of Bread and so they have been ready to starve themselves This is contrary to this Sixth Commandment Thou shalt do no Murder it is imply'd we are to use all means for the preserving our own Life 1 Tim. 5.23 Drink no longer Water but use a little Wine for thy Stomach's sake Timothy was not by drinking too much Water to over-cool his Stomach and weaken Nature but he must use means for Self-preservation Drink a little Wine c. Secondly This Commandment requires that we should endeavour as to preserve our own Life so especially to preserve our own Souls Omnia si perdas animam servare memento It is engraven upon every Creature as with the Point of a Diamond that it should look to its own Preservation If the Life of the Body must be preserved then much more the Life of the Soul If he who doth not provide for his own House is worse than an Infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 then much more he who doth not provide for his own Soul This is a main thing implied in the Commandment a special Care for the preserving our Souls The Soul is the Iewel ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Macar The Soul is a Diamond set in a Ring of Clay Christ puts the Soul in ballance with the World and it outweighs Matth. 16.26 The Soul is a Glass in which some Rays of Divine Glory shine It hath in it some Faint Idea and Resemblance of a Deity It is a Celestial Spark lighted by the Breath of God The Body was made out of the Dust but the Soul is of a more noble Extract and Original Gen. 2.7 God breathed into Man a living Soul 1. The Soul is Excellent in its Nature It is a Spiritual Being 't is a kind of Angelical thing The Mind sparkles with Knowledge the Will is crown'd with Liberty and all the Affections are as Stars shining in their Orb. The Soul being Spiritual 1. Is of quick Operation How quick is the Motion of a Spark How swift is the Wing of a Cherubim So quick and agil is the Motion of the Soul What is quicker than a Thought How many Miles can the Soul travel in an Instant 2. The Soul being Spiritual moves upward it contemplates God and Glory Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee The Motion of the Soul is upward only Sin hath put a wrong Byass upon the Soul and made it move too much down-ward 3. The Soul being Spiritual is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã it hath a self-moving Power it can subsist and move when the Body is dead as the Mariner can subsist when the Ship is broken 4. The Soul being Spiritual is Immortal Scaliger Aeternitatis Gemma a Bud of Eternity 2. As the Soul is excellent in its Nature so in its Capacities It is capable of Grace it is fit to be an Associate and Companion of Angels It
he cannot do Duty out of love to Duty and if he cannot do Duty Spiritually then much less Perfectly Now that a Natural Man cannot yield perfect Obedience to the Moral Law is evident 1. Because he is Spiritually dead Eph. 2.1 And being so how can he keep the Commandments of God perfectly A dead Man is not fit for Action A Sinner hath the Symptoms of Death upon him 1. He hath no Sense a Dead Man hath no Sense He hath no Sense of the Evil of Sin of God's Holiness and Veracity therefore he is said to be without feeling Eph. 4.19 2. He hath no Strength Rom. 5.6 What Strength hath a dead Man A Natural Man hath no Strength to deny himself to resist Temptation he is dead And can a dead Man fulfill the Moral Law 2. A natural Man cannot perfectly keep all God's Commandments because he is so interlarded with Sin He is born in Sin Psal. 51.5 Iob 15.16 He drinks Iniquity as Water All the Imagination of his Thoughts are evil and only evil Gen. 6.5 Now the least Evil Thought is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a Breach of the Royal Law And if there be Defection there cannot be Perfection And as a natural Man hath no Power to keep the Moral Law so he hath no Will. He is not only Dead but worse than dead A dead Man doth no Hurt but there is a Life of Resistance against God goes along with the Death of sin A Natural Man not only cannot keep the Law through Weakness but he breaks it through Wilfulness Ier. 44.17 We will do whatsoever goeth out of our Mouth to burn Incense to the Queen of Heaven 2. As the Unregenerate cannot keep the Moral Law perfectly so neither the Regenerate Eccles. 7.20 There is not a just Man upon the Earth that doth good and sinneth not Nay that sins not in doing good There 's that in the best Actions of a Righteous Man that is damnable if God should weigh him in the Ballance of Justice Alas How are his Duties Fly-blown He cannot pray without wandring nor believe without doubting Rom. 7.18 To me to will is present but how to perform I find not In the Greek it is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã How to do it thoroughly I find not Paul tho a Saint of the first Magnitude was better at willing than at performing Mary asked where they had laid Christ She had a mind to have carried him away but she wanted Strength So the Regenerate have a Will to obey God's Law perfectly but they want Strength Their Obedience is weak and sickly The Mark they are to shoot at is perfection of Holiness tho they take a right Aim yet do what they can they shoot short Rom. 7.19 The Good which I would I do not A Christian while he is serving God is hindred Like a Ferry-man that plies the Oar and rows hard but a Gust of Wind carries him back again So saith Paul The Good I would I do not I am driven back by a Temptation Now if there be any Failure in our Obedience we cannot make a perfect Commentary upon God's Law No Christian alive can write a Copy of Holiness without blotting The Virgin Mary's Obedience was not perfect she needed Christ's Blood to wash her Tears Aaron was to make Atonement for the Altar Exod. 29.37 to show that the most holy Offering hath Defilement in it and needs Atonement to be made for it Quest. 1. But if Man hath not power to keep the whole Moral Law then why doth God require that of Man which he is not able to perform How doth this stand with his Iustice Answ. Tho Man hath lost his Power of Obeying God hath not lost his Right of Commanding If a Master entrusts a Servant with Money to lay out and the Servant spends it dissolutely may not the Master justly demand this Money God gave us a Power to keep the Moral Law we by tampering with Sin lost it But may not God still call for perfect Obedience Or in case of Default justly punish us Quest. 2. But why doth God suffer such an Impotency to lie upon Man that he cannot perfectly keep the Law Answ. The Lord doth it 1. To humble us Man is a self-exalting Creature and if he hath but any thing of Worth he is ready to be puffed up But when he comes to see his ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã his Deficiencies and Failings and how far short he comes of the Holiness and Perfection God's Law requires this is a means to pull down his Plumes of Pride and lay them in the Dust. He weeps over his Impotency he blusheth for his Leprous Spots he saith as Iob I abhor my self in Dust and Ashes 2. God lets this Impotency and Infirmness lie upon us that we may have recourse to Christ to obtain Pardon for our Defects and to sprinkle our best Duties with his Blood When a Man sees himself indebted he owes perfect Obedience to the Law but he hath nothing to pay This makes him fly to Christ to be his Friend and answer all the Demands and Challenges of the Law and set him free in the Court of Justice Vse I. Is matter of Humiliation for our Fall in Adam In the State of Innocency we were perfectly holy our Minds were crowned with Knowledge and our Wills as a Queen did sway the Scepter of Liberty But now we may say as Lam. 5.16 The Crown is fallen from our Head We have lost that Power which was Inherent in us When we look back to our Primitive Glory when we sâined as Earthly Angels we may take up Iob's Words Chap. 29.2 O that it were as in Months past O that it were with us as at first when there was no Stain upon our Virgin-Nature when there was a perfect Harmony between God's Law and Man's Will But alas Now the Scene is alter'd our Strength is gone from us we tread awry every Step we come below every Precept our Dwarfishness will not reach the Sublimity of God's Law we fail in our Obedience and while we fail we forfeit This may put us in close Mourning and spring a Leak of Sorrow in all our Souls Vse II. 1 st Br. Confutation It confutes the Arminians who cry up the Power of the Will They hold they have a Will to save themselves But by Nature we not only want Strength Rom. 5.6 but we want Will to that which is Good The Will is not only full of Impotency but Obstinacy Psal. 81.11 Israel would none of me The Will hangs forth a Flag of Defiance against God Such as speak of the Sovereign Power of the Will forget Phil. 2.13 It is God that worketh in you ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã both to will and to do If the Power be in the Will of Man then what needs God to work in us to Will If the Air can enlighten it self what needs the Sun to shine Such as talk of the Power of Nature and the Ability they have to save themselves
not only to have the Light of the Word in our Heads but the Power of the Word in our Hearts Let us endeavour to have the Word copied out and written a Second time in our Hearts Psal. 37.31 The Law of God is in his Heart The Word saith Be cloath'd with Humility 1 Pet. 5.5 Let us be low and humble in our own Eyes The Word calls for Sanctity Let us labour to partake of the Divine Nature and to have something conceived in us which is of the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.4 When the Word is thus copied out into our Hearts and we are changed into the Similitude of it now the VVord written is made effectual to us and becomes a Savour of Life 7. ult When we read the Holy Scriptutes let us look up to God for a Blessing Beg the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that we may see the ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the deep things of God Eph. 1.17 Pray to God that the same Spirit that wrote the Scripture would enable us to understand it Pray that God will give us that ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 2 Cor. 2.14 That Savour of Knowledge that we may relish a Sweetness in the Word we read David tasted it sweeter than the Honey-comb Psal. 19.10 Let us pray that God will not only give us his Word as a Rule of Holiness but his Grace as a Principle of Holiness 2 d. Branch of the 2 d. Question How may we so hear the Word that it may be effectual and saving to our Souls Resp. 1. Give great Attention to the Word preached let nothing pass without taking special Notice of it Luke 19.48 All the People were very attentive to hear him Greek ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã they hanged upon his Lip Acts 16.14 Lydia a Seller of Purple which worshipped God heard us whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul Give Attention to the Word as to a matter of Life and Death And to that purpose have a care 1. To banish vain impertinent Thoughts which will distract you and take you off from the Work in hand These Fowls will be coming to the Sacrifice Gen. 15.11 therefore we must drive them away An Archer may take a right Aim but if one stand at his Elbow and jog him when he is going to shoot he will not hit the Mark. Christians may have good Aims in hering but take heed of impertinent Thoughts which will jog and hinder you in God's Service 2. Banish Dulness The Devil gives many Hearers a sleepy Sop they cannot keep their Eyes open at a Sermon They eat so much on a Lord's Day that they are fitter for the Pillow and Couch than the Temple Frequent and customary sleeping at a Sermon shows high Contempt and Irreverence of the Ordinance it gives bad Example to others it makes your Sincerity to be called in question it is the Devil's Seed-time Matth. 13.25 While the Men slept the Enemy came and sowed Tares Oh shake off Drowsiness as Paul shook off the Viper Be serious and attentive in hearing the Word Deut. 32.47 For it is not a vain thing for you it is your Life When People do not mind what God speaks to them in his Word God doth as little mind what they say to him in Prayer 2. If you would have the Word Preached effectual come with an holy Appetite to the Word 1 Pet. 2.2 The Thirsting Soul is the Thriving Soul In Nature one may have an Appetite and no Digestion But it is not so in Religion where there is a great Appetite to the Word there is for the most part Digestion the Word doth concoct and nourish Come with Hungrings of Soul after the Word And therefore desire the Word that it may not only please you but profit you Look not more at the garnishing of the Dish than the Meat at Eloquence and Rhetorick more than solid matter It argues both a wanton Pallat and surfeited Stomach to feed on Sallets and Kickshaws rather than wholsom Food 3. If you would have the Preaching of the Word effectual come to it with a Tenderness upon your Heart 2 Chron. 34.19 Because thy Heart was tender If we preach to hard Hearts it is like shooting against a Brazen Wall the Word doth not enter it is like setting a Gold Seal upon Marble which takes no Impression Oh come to the Word preached with a melting Frame of Heart 'T is the melting VVax receives the Stamp of the Seal VVhen the Heart is in a melting Frame it will better receive the Stamp of the Word preached VVhen Paul's Heart was melted and broken for Sin then Lord what wilt thou have me do Acts 9.6 Come not hither with hard Hearts Who can expect a Crop when the Seed is sown upon stony Ground 4. If you would have the Word effectual receive it with Meekness Iam. 1.21 Receive with meekness the engrafted Word Meekness is a Submissive Frame of Heart to the Word a willingness to hear the Counsels and Reproofs of the Word Contrary to this Meekness is 1. Fierceness of Spirit whereby Men are ready to rise up in Rage against the Word Proud Men and Guilty cannot endure to hear of their Faults Proud Herod put Iohn in Prison Mark 12.12 The guilty Jews being told of their Crucifying Christ stoned Stephen Acts 7.59 To tell Men of Sin is to hold a Glass to one that is deformed who cannot endure to see his own Face 2. Contrary to Meekness is Stubbornness of Heart whereby Men are resolved to hold fast their Sins let the Word say what it will Ier. 44.16 We will burn Incense to the Queen of Heaven Oh take heed of this If you would have the Word preached work effectually lay aside Fierceness and Stubbornness receive the Word with Meekness By Meekness the Word preached comes to be engrafted As a good Cion that is grafted into a bad Stock doth change the Nature of the Fruit and make it taste sweet So when the Word comes to be engrafted into the Soul it sanctifies it and makes it bring forth the sweet Fruit of Righteousness 5. Mingle the Word preached with Faith Heb. 4.2 The Word preached profited not not being mixed with Faith If you leave out the chief ingredient in a Medicine it hinders the Operation Do not leave out this Ingredient of Faith Believe the Word and so believe it as to apply it When you hear Christ Preached apply him to your selves this is to put on the Lord Jesus Rom. 13.14 When you hear a Promise spoken of apply it This is to suck the Flower of the Promise and turn it to Honey 6. Be not only attentive in Hearing but retentive after Hearing Heb. 2.1 We ought to give the more diligent heed to the things we have heard lest at any time we let them slip ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Lest we let them run out as Water out of a Sieve If the Ground doth not retain the Seed thrown into
sin be sober in your attire savoury in your speeches grave in your deportment obey your Fathers voice Open to God as the Flower opens to the Sun As you expect your Fathers Blessing obey him in whatever he commands First and Second Table Duties A Lutenist that he may make sweet Musick toucheth upon every String of the Lute The Ten Commandments are like a ten stringed Instrument touch upon every String obey every Command or you cannot make sweet Melody in Religion Obey your Heavenly Father though he commands things contrary to Flesh and blood 1. When he commands to mortifie Sin that Sin which hath been dear to you Pluck out this right eye that you may see the better to go to Heaven 2. When he commands you to suffer for him be ready to obey Acts 21.13 every good Christian hath a Spirit of Martyrdom in him and is ready rather to suffer for the Truth than the Truth should suffer Luther said he had rather be a Martyr than a Monarch Peter was Crucified with his Head downwards as Eusebius Ignatius called his Chains his Spiritual Pearls and did wear his Fetters as a Bracelet of Diamonds This is to carry it as Gods Children when we obey his voice and count not our lives dear so that we may show our love to our Heavenly Father Rev. 12.11 They loved not their lives to the death 6. If God be your Father show it by your chearful looks that you are the Children of such a Father Too much drooping and despondency disparageth the Relation you stand in to God What though you meet with hard usage in the World you are now in a strange Land far from home it will be shortly better with you when you are in your own Country and your Father hath you in his Armes Doth not the Heir rejoyce in hope Shall the Sons of a King walk dejected 2 Sam. 13.4 Why art thou being the Kings Son lean Is God an unkind Father are his Commands grievous Hath he no Land to give to his Heirs Why then do Gods Children walk so sad Never had Children such Priviledges as they who are of the Seed-Royal of Heaven and have God for their Father they should rejoyce therefore who are within a few hours to be crowned with Glory 7. If God be our Father let us honour him by walking very holily 1 Pet. 1.16 Be ye holy for I am holy A young Prince asking a Philosopher how he should behave himself the Philosopher said Memento te filium esse Regis Remember thou art a Kings Son do nothing but what becomes the Son of a King So remember you are the adopted Sons and Daughters of the high God do nothing unworthy of such a Relation A debauched Child is the disgrace of his Father Is this thy Sons Coat said they to Iacob when they brought it home dip'd in blood Gen. 37.32 so when we see a person defiled with Malice Passion Drunkenness we may say is this the Coat of Gods adopted Son Doth he look as an Heir of Glory 'T is a blaspheming the Name of God to call him Father yet live in Sin Such as profess God is their Father yet live unholily they will slander and defraud these are as bad to God as Heathens Amos 9.7 Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians to me O children of Israel saith the Lord The Ethiopians were uncircumcised a base ill-bred People when Israel grew wicked they were no better to God than Ethiopians Loose scandalous livers under the Gospel are no better in Gods esteem than Pagans and Americans nay they shall have an hotter place in Hell O let all who profess God to be their Father honour him by their unspotted lives Scipio abhorred the embraces of an Harlot because he was the General of an Army Abstain from all Sin because you are born of God and have God for your Father 1 Thess. 5.22 Abstain from all appearance of evil 'T was a saying of Augustus An Emperor should not only be free from Crimes but from the suspicion of them by an holy Life you would bring Glory to your Heavenly Father and cause others to become his Children Est pellax virtutis odor Causinus in his Hieroglyphicks speaks of a Dove whose Wings being perfum'd with sweet Oyntments did draw the other Doves after her The holy Lives of Gods Children is a sweet perfume to draw others to Religion and make them to be of the Family of God Iustin Martyr saith that which converted him to Christianity was the beholding the blameless Lives of the Christians 8. If God be our Father let us love all that are his Children Psal. 133.1 How pleasant is it for brethren to dwell together in unity 'T is compared to Oyntment ver 2. for the sweet fragrancy of it 1 Pet. 2.17 Love the brotherhood Idem est motus animae in imaginem rem The Saints are the walking pictures of God if God be our Father we love to see his picture of Holiness in Believers we pity them for their Infirmities but love them for their Graces we prize their Company above others Psal. 119.63 it may justly be suspected that God is not their Father who love not Gods Children though they retain the Communion of Saints in their Creed yet they banish the Communion of Saints out of their Company 9. If God be our Father let us show Heavenly mindedness They who are born of God do ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã set their Affections on things that are above Col. 3.2 O ye Children of the high God do not disgrace your high birth by sordid Covetousness What a Son of God and a slave to the World What spring from Heaven and buried in the Earth For a Christian who pretends to derive his pedigree from Heaven yet wholly to mind Earthly things is to debase himself as if a King should leave his Throne to follow the Plough Ier. 45.5 Seekest thou great things for thy self As if the Lord had said what thou Baruck thou who art born of God akin to Angels and by thy Office a Levite dost thou debase thy self and spot the silver wings of thy Grace by beliming them with earth Seekest thou great things seek them not The Earth choaks the Fire Earthliness choaks the Fire of good Affections 10. Vlt. If God be our Father let us own our Heavenly Father in the worst times stand up in his cause defend his Truths Athanasius owned God when most of the World turned Arrians If Sufferings come do not deny God He is a bad Son who denyes his Father Such as are ashamed of God in times of danger God will be ashamed to own them for his Children Mark 8.38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous generation of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with his holy Angels So I have done with the First Part of the Preface Our Father II. The Second Part of the
much eclipsed Gods name Truly Gods own People have sinned enough to justifie God in all his severe actings against them VSE III. Of Exhortation Let us hallow and sanctifie Gods Name Did we but see a glimpse of Gods glory as Moses did in the Rock the sight of this would draw Adoration and Praise from us could we see God face to face as the Angels in Heaven do could we behold him sitting on his Throne like â Jasper-stone Rev. 4.3 we should presently at the sight of this glory do as the twenty four Elders Rev. 4.10 They worship him that liveth for ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory honour and power That we may be stirred up to this great Duty the hallowing adoring and sanctifying Gods name consider 1. It is the very end of our Being Why did God give us our Life but that our living may be an hallowing of his Name Why did he give us Souls but to admire him and Tongues but to praise him The excellency of a thing is when it attains the end for which it was made The excellency of a Star is to give Light of a Plant to be Fruitful the excellency of a Christian is to answer the end of his Creation which is to hallow Gods name and live to that God by whom he lives He who lives and God hath no honour by him buries himself alive and exposeth himself to a Curse Christ cursed the barren Fig-tree 2. Gods Name is so excellent that it deserves to be hallowed Psal. 8.9 How excellent is thy name in all the earth Psal. 104.1 Thou art cloathed with honour and majesty As the Sun hath its brightness whether we admire it or no so Gods Name is illustrious and glorious whether we hallow it or no. In God are all shining perfections Holiness Wisdom Mercy He is worthy to be praised 2 Sam. 22.4 God is dignus Honore worthy of Honour Love Adoration We oft bestow Titles of Honour upon them that do not deserve them but God is worthy to be praised his Name deserves hallowing he is above all the Honour and Praise which the Angels in Heaven give him 3. We pray Hallowed be thy Name that is let thy Name be honoured and magnified by us Now if we do not magnifie his Name we contradict our own Prayers To say Hallowed be thy Name yet not to bring honour to Gods Name it is to take his Name in vain 4. Such as do not hallow Gods Name and bring revenues of honour to him God will get his honour upon them Exod. 14.17 I 'll get me honour upon Pharaoh Pharaoh would not hallow Gods Name Who is the Lord that I should obey him Well saith God if Pharaoh will not honour me I will get me honour upon him When God overthrew him and his Chariots in the Sea then he got his honour upon him Gods Power and Justice were glorified in his destruction There are some whom God hath raised to great Power and Dignity and they will not honour Gods Name they make use of their Power to dishonour God they cast reproach upon Gods Name and revile his Servants well they who will not honour God he will get his honour upon them in their final ruine Herod did not give Glory to God and God did get his Glory upon him Acts 12.23 The Angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of worms 5. It will be no small comfort to us when we come to dye that we have hallowed and sanctified Godâ Name It was Christs comfort a little before his Death Ioh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on the earth Christs redeeming Mankind was an hallowing and glorifying of Gods Name never was more Honour brought to Gods Name than by this great undertaking of Christ Now here was Christs comfort before his Death that he had hallowed Gods Name and brought Glory to him So what a Cordial will this be to us at last when our whole Life hath been an hallowing of Gods Name we have loved him with our Hearts praised him with our Lips honoured him with our Lives We have been ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã to the praise of his glory Eph. 1.6 At the hour of death all your earthly comforts will vanish to think how rich you have been or what pleasures you have enjoyed upon earth this will not give one dram of comfort What is one the better for an Estate that is spent But now to have Conscience witnessing that you have hallowed Gods Name your whole Life hath been a glorifying of him what sweet peace and satisfaction will this give That Servant who hath been all day working in the Vineyard how glad is he when evening comes that he shall receive his pay Such as have spent their Lives in honouring God how sweet will Death be when they shall receive the recompence of Reward What comfort was it to Hezekiah when he was on his Sick-bed and could appeal to God Isa. 38.3 Remember Lord how I have walked before thee with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight I have hallowed thy Name I have brought all the Honour I could to thee I have done that which is good in thy sight 6. There is nothing lost by what we do for God if we bring Honour to his Name he will honour us Honour is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Arist. As Balac said to Balaam Numb 22.37 Am not I able to promote thee to honour So if we hallow and sanctifie Gods Name is not he able to promote us to Honour 1. He will honour us in our Life 1. He will put honour upon our Persons He will number us among his Jewels Mal. 3.17 he will make us a Royal Diadem in his hand Isa. 62.3 he will lift us up in the eyes of others Zach. 9.16 They shall be as the stones of a crown lifted up as an ensign of glory He will esteem us as the cream and flower of the Creation Isa. 43.4 Since thou hast been precious in my sight thou hast been honourable 2. God will put honour upon our Names Prov. 10.17 The memory of the just is blessed How renowned have the Saints been in all Ages who have hallowed Gods Name How renowned was Abraham for his Faith Moses for his Meekness David for his Zeal Paul for his Love to Christ their Names as a precious Oyntment send forth a sweet perfume in Gods Church to this day 2. God will honour us at our Death he will send his Angels to carry us up with triumph into Heaven Luke 16.22 The beggar dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom Amasis King of Egypt had his Chariot drawn with four Kings which he had conquered in War but what is this to the Glory every Believer shall have at his Death he shall be carried by the Angels of God 3. God will put honour upon us after Death 1. He will put
out of fear of Hell or because it brings shame and penury but still his heart goes after it Hos. 4.8 They set their heart on their iniquity as Lots Wife left Sodom but still her heart was in Sodom Hypocrites are like the Snake which casts her coat but keeps her poyson They keep the love of sin as one that hath been long Suitor to another though his Friends break off the march yet still he hath a hankering Love to her 2. It may be a partial Reformation He may leave one Sin and live in another he may refrain drunkenness and live in covetousness he may refrain swearing and live in the sin of slandering one Devil may be cast out and an other as bad may come in the room 3. A Man may forsake gross sins but have no reluctancy against Heart-sins Motus primo primi proud lustful Thoughts though he dams up the stream he lets alone the Fountain O therefore if there be so many deceits and Men may think the kingdom of grace is come into their Heart when it is not How curious and critical had we need be in our search whether we have the kingdom of grace really come into our hearts If a Man be deceived in the Title of his Land it is but the loss of his Estate But if he be deceived about his grace 't is the loss of his Soul I should now come to answer this Question How we know that the kingdom of grace is set up in our Hearts Quest. How may we know the Kingdom of Grace is set up in us Answ. 1. In general By having a Metamorphosis and Change wrought in the Soul This is called the New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 The Faculties are not new but there is a new Nature As the strings of the Lute are the same but the Tune is altered When the Kingdom of grace is set up there is Light in the Mind Order in the Affections Pliableness in the Will Tenderness in the Conscience Such as can find no change of heart they are the same they were as vain as earthly as unclean as ever there is no sign of Gods kingdom of grace in them 2. More particularly We may know the kingdom of grace is set up in our hearts 1. By having unfeigned desires after God This is the smoaking Flax Christ will not quench A true desire of grace is grace By the beating of this pulse conclude there is life Nehem. 1.11 O Lord let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy Servants who desire to fear thy Name But may not an Hypocrite have good desires Numb 23.10 Let me dye the Death of the Righteous Therefore I say unfeigned desires evidence the kingdom of God within a Man Quest. But how may these unfeigned Desires be known 1. An unfeigned desire is ingenuous we desire God propter se for himself for his intrinsecal Excellencies and the Oriency of his Beauty which shines The savour of Christs Ointments i. e. his graces draw the Virgins desires after him Cant. 1.3 A true Saint desires Christ not only for what he hath but for what he is not only for his Rewards but for his Holiness No Hypocrite can thus desire God he may desire him for his Jewels but not for his Beauty 2. An unfeigned desire is unsatiable it cannot be satisfied without God let the World heap her Honours and Riches they will not satisfy Not Flowers or Musick will content him who is thirsty Nothing will quench the Souls thirst but the blood of Christ He faints away his heart breaks with longing for God Psal. 84.2 Psal. 119.20 3. An unfeigned desire is active it flourisheth into endeavour Isa. 26.9 With my Soul have I desired thee yea with my Spirit within me will I seek these early A Soul that desires aright saith Christ I must have grace I must have I will have Heaven though I take it by storm He who desires water will let down the Bucket into the Well to draw it up 4. An unfeigned desire is superlative We desire Christ not only more then the world but more then Heaven Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee Heaven it self would not satisfy without Christ Christ is the Diamond in the Ring of glory If God should say to the Soul I will put thee into Heaven but I will hide my Face from thee I will draw a Curtain between that thou shalt not behold my glory the Soul would not be satisfied but say as Absalom 2 Sam. 14.32 Now therefore let me see the Kings face 5. An unfeigned desire is gradual It encreaseth as the Sun in the Horizon A little of God will not satisfy but the pious Soul desireth still more A drop of water is not enough for the thirsty Traveller Though a Christian is thankful for the least degree of grace yet he is not satisfied with the greatest still he thirsts for more of Christ and his Spirit Desire is an holy Dropsie A Saint would have more knowledge more Sanctity more of Christs Presence A glympse of Christ through the Lattice of an Ordinance is sweet and now the Soul will never leave longing till it sees him face to face He desires to have grace perfected in glory Dulcissimo Deo totus immergi cupit inviscerari He would be swallowed up in God and be ever bathing himself in those perfumed waters of pleasure which run at his right hand for ever Sure this unfeigned desire after God is a blessed sign that the kingdom of grace is come into our Hearts the beating of this pulse shows life est a Deó ut bene velimus Aug. If iron move upward contrary to its Nature 't is a sign some Loadstone hath been there drawing it If the Soul move towards God in unfeigned desires it 's a sign the Loadstone of the Spirit hath been drawing it 2. We may know the kingdom of grace is come into our Hearts by having the Princely grace of Faith Fides est sanctissima humani pectoris Gemma Faith cuts us off from the wild Olive of Nature and ingrafts us into Christ Faith is the vital artery of the Soul Heb. 10.38 The just shall live by Faith Faith makes an holy adventure on Christs Merits When this Faith as a Princely grace reigns in the Soul now the kingdom of God is come into us The Hebrew word for Faith comes from a Radix which signifies to nourish Faith nourisheth the Soul and is the Nurse of all the graces But who will not say he is a Believer Simon Magus believed Acts 8.13 yet was in the gall of bitterness The Hypocrite can put on Faiths Mantle as the Devil did Samuel's How shall we know therefore that our Faith is âound That it is the Faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12 and so that the kingdom of God is within us Answ. 1. True Faith is wrought by the Ministry of the Word Rom. 10.17 Faith comes by hearing Peter let down the Net of his Ministry and
without any thing to uphold it The Glory of the Heavenly Kingdom is substantial it hath twelve Foundations Rev. 21.14 That which God and Angels count Glory is true Glory 2. The Glory of this Kingdom is satisfying Psal. 36.9 With thee is the Fountain of Life How can they choose but be full who are at the Fountain head Psal. 17.15 When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy Likeness i. e. VVhen I awake in the Morning of the Resurrection having some of the Beams of thy Glory shining in me I shall be satisfied Iob 28.14 The Creature saith concerning Satisfaction It is not in me If we go for Happiness to the Creature we go to the wrong Box only Heavens Glory is commensurate to the vast Desires of an Immortal Soul A Christian bathing himself in these Rivers of Pleasure cries out in a Divine Extasy I have enough The Soul is never satisfied till it hath God for its Portion and Heaven for its Haven Dissatisfaction ariseth from some defect but God is an Infinite Good and there can be no defect in that which is Infinite 3. The Glory of Heavens Kingdom is pure and unmix'd the Streams of Paradise are not muddied omnia clara omnia jucunda there that Gold hath no alloy no bitter ingredient in that Glory but pure as the Honey drops from the Comb there is a Rose grows without Prickles the Rose of Sharon there is Ease without Pain Honour without Disgrace Life without Death 4. The Glory of this Kingdom is constantly exhilarating and refreshing there 's fulness but no surfeit Worldly Comforts though sweet yet in time grow stale A Down-bed pleaseth a while but within a while we are weary and would rise Too much Pleasure is a pain But the Glory of Heaven doth never surfeit or nauseate the reason is because as there are all Rarities imaginable so every Moment fresh Delights spring from God into the glorified Soul 5. The Glory of this Kingdom is distributed to every individual Saint In an Earthly Kingdom the Crown goes but to one a Crown will fit but one Head but in that Kingdom above the Crown goes to all Rev. 1.6 All Elect are Kings The Land is settled chiefly upon the Heir and the rest are ill provided for But in the Kingdom of Heaven all the Saints are Heirs Rom. 8.17 Heirs of God and ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Co-heirs with Christ. God hath Land enough to give to all his Heirs 6. Lucid and Transparent This Kingdom of Heaven is adorned and bespangled with Light 1 Tim. 6.16 Light is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the Glory of the Creation Eccl. 11.7 The Light is sweet Hell is a dark Dungeon Mat. 22.13 Fire but no Light The Kingdom of Heaven is a Diaphanum all imbroidered with Light clear as Christal How can there want light where Christ the Sun of Righteousness displaies his Golden Beams Rev. 21.23 The Glory of the Lord did lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof 7. The Glory of this Kingdom is adequate and proportionable to the desire of the Soul In Creature-Fruitions that which doth commend them and set them off to us is Suitableness The Content of Marriage doth not lye either in Beauty or Portion but the suitableness of Disposition The Excellency of a Feast is when the Meat is suited to the Pallat This is one ingredient in the Glory of Heaven it exactly suits the desires of the glorified Saints we shall not say in Heaven Here is a Dish I do not love There shall be Musick suits the Ear the Anthems of Angels and Food that suits with the glorified Pallat the hidden Manna of Gods Love 8. The Glory of this Kingdom will be seasonable the seasonableness of a Mercy adds to the Beauty and sweetness it is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver After an hard Winter in this cold Climate will it not be seasonable to have the Spring Flowers of Glory appear and the singing of the Birds of Paradise come When we have been wearied and even tired out in battle with sin and Satan will not a Crown be seasonable 3. Quest. Wherein the Kingdom of Heaven infinitely excels all the Kingdoms of the Earth Resp. 1. It excels in the Architect Other Kingdoms have Men to raise their Structures but God himself laid the first Stone in this Kingdom Heb. 11.10 This Kingdom is of the greatest Antiquity God was the first King and Founder of it no Angel was worthy to lay a Stone in this Building 2. This Heavenly Kingdom excels in Altitude 't is higher scituated than any Kingdom the higher any thing is the more excellent The Fire being the most sublime Element is most Noble The Kingdom of Heaven is seated above all the visible Orbs There is first the Aery Heaven which is the space from the Earth to the Sphere of the Moon 2. The Starry Heaven the place where are the Planets of an higher Elevation Saturn Iupiter Mars 3. The Caelum Empyraeum the Empyraean Heaven which Paul calls the third Heaven Vbi Christ is there is the Kingdom of Glory scituated This Kingdom is so high that no Scaling Ladders of Enemies can reach it so high that the old Serpent can't shoot up his fiery Darts to it If wicked Men could build their Nests among the Stars yet the least Believer would shortly be above them 3. The Kingdom of Heaven excels all other in Splendor and Riches it is described by precious Stones Rev. 21.19 What are all the Rarities of the Earth to this Kingdom Coasts of Pearl Rocks of Diamonds Islands of Spices What are the Wonders of the World to it The Egyptian Pyramides The Temple of Diana The Pillar of the Sun offered to Iupiter What a rich Kingdom is that where God will lay out all his cost Those who are poor in the World yet as soon as they come into this Kingdom grow rich as rich as the Angels Other Kingdoms are inriched with Gold this is inriched with the Deity 4. The Kingdom of Heaven excels all other Kingdoms in Holiness Kingdoms on Earth are for the most part unholy there 's a Common Shore of Luxury and Uncleanness running in them Kingdoms are Stages for sin to be acted on Isa. 28.8 All Tables are full of Vomit But the Kingdom of Heaven is so holy that it will not mix with any Corruption Rev. 21.27 There shall enter into it nothing that defileth 'T is so pure a Soyl that no Serpent of Sin will breed there There is Beauty which is not stained with Lust and Honour which is not swelled with Pride Holiness is the brightest Jewel of the Crown of Heaven 5. The kingdom of Heaven excels all other kingdoms in its pacifick Nature 't is Regnum Paciâ a kingdom of Peace Peace is the Glory of a Kingdom Pax una Triumphis innumeris melior A Kings Crown is more adorned with the white Lilly of Peace then when it is beset with the red Roses of a bloody War but where shall
fit of Musick Such are they who let Heaven go for a song This will make the Devil insult at the last day to think how he hath gull'd Men and made them lose their Souls and their happiness for lying vanities If Satan could make good his brag in giving all the Glory and Kingdoms of the World it could not countervail the loss of the Celestial Kingdom All the tears in Hell are not sufficient to lament the loss of Heaven VSE II. Of Reproof 1. Branch It reproves such as do not at all look after this Kingdom of Glory As if all we say about Heaven were but a Romance they do not mind it That they mind it not appears because they do not labour to have the Kingdom of Grace set up in their hearts If they have some thoughts of this Kingdom yet it is in a dull careless manner they serve God as if they served him not they do not vires exerere put forth their strength for the Heavenly Kingdom How industrious were the Saints of old for this Kingdom Phil. 3.13 Reaching forth unto those things which are before The Greek word is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã stretching out the neck a Metaphor from Racers that strain every limb and reach forward to lay hold on the prize Luther spent three hours a day in Prayer Anna the prophetess departed not from the temple but served God with fasting and prayers night and day Luke 2.37 How zealous and industrious were the Martyrs to get into this Heavenly Kingdom they wore their Fetters as Ornaments snatched up Torments as Crowns and embraced the Flames as chearfully as Elijah did the fiery Chariot which came to fetch him to Heaven and do not we think this Kingdom worth our labour The great pains the Heathens took in their Olympick Races when they ran but for a Crown made of Olive intermixed with Gold will rise up in Judgment against such as take little or no pains in seeking after the Kingdom of Glory The dulness of many in seeking after Heaven is such as if they did not believe there were such a Kingdom or as if it would not countervail their labour or as if they thought it were indifferent whether they obtained this Kingdom or no which is as much as to say whether they were saved or no whether they were Crowned in Glory or chained as Gally slaves in Hell for ever 2. Branch It reproves them who spend their sweat more in getting the World then the Kingdom of Heaven Phil. 3.19 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã who mind earthly things the World is the great Diana they cry up as if they would fetch happiness out of the earth which God hath cursed They labour for and Honour Riches many are like Korah and Dathan the earth swallowed them up Num. 16.32 So the earth swallows up their Time and Thoughts these if they are not Pagans yet they are Infidels they do not believe there is such a kingdom they go for Christians yet question that great Article in their Faith Life Everlasting these like the Serpents lick the dust O what is there in the World that we should so idolize it when Christ and Heaven are not regarded what hath Christ done for you died for your sins what will the World do for you can it pacify an angry Conscience can it procure Gods Favour can it flee death can it bribe your Judge can it purchase for you a place in the kingdom of heaven O how are Men bewitched with worldly Profits and Honours that for these things they will let go Paradise It was a good prayer of St. Bernard Sic possideamâu mundana ut non perdamus aeterna Lo let us so possess things temporal that we do not lose things eternal 3. Branch It reproves such who delay and put off seeking this kingdom till it be too late like the foolish Virgins who came when the door was shut Mora trahit periculum People let the Lamp of Life blaze out and when the Symptoms of death are upon them and they know not what else to do now will look up to the kingdom of Heaven Christ bids them seek Gods kingdom first and they will seek it last they put off the kingdom of heaven to a Death-bed as if it were as easie to make their Peace as to make their Will How many have lost the Heavenly kingdom through Delays and Procrastinations Plutarch reports of Archias the Lacedemonian being among his Cups one delivered him a Letter and desired him to read it presently being of serious business saith he seria cras I will mind serious things to morrow and that Night he was slain Thou that saiest thou wilt look after the kingdom of Heaven to morrow knowest not but that thou maiest be in Hell before to morrow Sometimes death comes suddenly it strikes without giving warning What folly is it putting off seeking the kingdom of heaven till the day of Grace expire till the radical moisture be spent as if a Man should begin to run a Race when a fit of the Gout takes him 4. Branch It reproves such as were once great Zealots in Religion and did seem to be touch'd with a coal from Gods Altar but since they have cool'd in their Devotion and have left off the pursuing the Caelestial kingdom Hos. 8.3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good there is no face of Religion to be seen they have left off the House of Prayer and gone to Play houses they have left off pursuing the Heavenly Kingdom Quest. Whence is this Resp. 1. For want of a supernatural Principle of Grace That Branch must needs dye which hath no Root to grow upon That which moves from a Principle of Life lasts as the beating of the Pulse but that which moves only from an artificial Spring when the spring is down the motion ceaseth The Hypocrites Religion is artificial not vital he acts from the outward spring of Applause or Gain and if that spring be down his motion towards Heaven ceaseth 2. From Unbelief Heb. 3.12 An evil heart of Vnbelief departing from the living God Psal. 78.22 They believed not in God Verse 41. they turned back Sinners have hard thoughts of God they think they may pray and hear yet never the better Mal. 3.14 they question whether God will give them the kingdom at last then they turn back and throw away Christs Colours they distrust Gods Love no wonder then they desert his Service Infidelity is the Root of Apostacy 3. Men leave off pursuing the heavenly kingdom it is from some secret Lust nourished in the Soul perhaps a wanton or a covetous Lust Demas for love of the world forsook his Religion and afterwards turned Priest in an idol Temple One of Christs own Apostles was caught with a silver Bait Covetousness will make Men betray a good Cause and make shipwrack of a good Conscience if there be any Lust unmortified in the Soul it will bring forth the bitter fruit either of
was established in my Kingdom King Henry VI. was deposed from his Throne yet restored again to it but they who once lose Heaven can never be restored to it again After millions of years they are as far from obtaining Glory as at first Thus you see how needful this Exhortation is that we should fear least we fall short of this Kingdom of Heaven Quest What shall we do that we may not miss of this Kingdom of Glory Resp. 1. Take heed of those things which will make you miss of Heaven 1. Take heed of Spiritual Sloath. Many Christians are settled upon their lees they are loath to put themselves to too much pains It is said of Israel They despised the pleasant land Psal. 106.24 Canaan was a Paradise of Delight a Type of Heaven I but some of the Iews thought it would cost them a great deal of trouble and hazard in the getting and they would rather go without it They despised the pleasant land I have read of certain Spaniards that live where there is great store of Fish yet are so lazy that they will not be at the pains to catch them but buy of their Neighbours such a sinful sloath is upon the most that though the Kingdom of Heaven be offered to them yet they will not put themselves to any labour for it They have some faint velleities and desires O that I had this Kingdom like a Man that wisheth for Venison but will not hunt for it Prov. 13.4 The soul of the sluggard wisheth and hath nothing Men could be content to have the Kingdom of Heaven if it would drop as a ripe Fig into their mouth but they are loath to fight for it O take heed of Spiritual Sloath God never made Heaven to be an hive for drones We cannot have the World without labour and do we think to have the Kingdom of Heaven Heathens will rise up in Judgment against many Christians what pains did they take in their Olympick Races when they ran but for a Crown of Olive or Myrtle intermixed with Gold and do we stand still when we are running for a Kingdom Prov. 19.15 Sloathfulness casts into a deep sleep Sloath is the Souls sleep Adam lost his Rib when he was asleep Many a Man loseth the Kingdom of Heaven when he is in this deep sleep of sloath 2. Take heed of Unbelief Unbelief kept Israel out of Canaan Heb. 3.19 So we see they could not enter in because of unbelief and it keeps many out of Heaven Unbelief is an enemy to Salvation 't is a damning sin it whispers thus to what purpose is all this pains for the Heavenly Kingdom I had as good sit still I may come near to Heaven yet come short of Heaven Ier. 18.12 And they said there is no hope Unbelief destroyes hope and if you once cut this sinew a Christian goes but lamely in Religion if he goes at all Unbelief raiseth jealous thoughts of God it represents him as a severe Judge this discourageth many a Soul and takes it off from Duty Beware of unbelief believe the Promises Lam. 3.25 God is good to the Soul that seeks him seek him earnestly and he will open both his Heart and Heaven to you Deus volentibus non deest do what you are able and God will help you While you spread the sails of your endeavour Gods Spirit will blow upon these sails and carry you swiftly to the Kingdom of Glory 3. If you would not miss of the Heavenly Kingdom take heed of mistake imagining the way to the Kingdom of Heaven to be easier than it is 't is but a sigh or Lord have Mercy There 's no going to Heaven per saltum one cannot leap out of Dalilahs lap into Abrahams bosom The Sinner is dead in trespasses Eph. 2.1 is it easie for a dead Man to restore himself to life Is Regeneration easie Are there no pangs in the new birth Doth not the Scripture call Christianity a warfare and a race And do you fancy this easie The way to the Kingdom is not easie but the mistake about the way is easie 4. If you would not miss of the Heavenly Kingdom take heed of delayes and procrastinations Mora trahit periculum It is an usual delusion I will mind the Kingdom of Heaven but not yet when I have gotten an Estate and am grown old then I will look after Heaven and on a sudden Death surprizeth Men and they fall short of Heaven Delay strengthens sin hardens the heart and gives the Devil fuller possession of a Man Take heed of adjourning and putting off seeking the Kingdom of Heaven till it be too late Caesar deferring to read a Letter put into his hand was killed in the Senate-house Consider how short your Life is 't is a Taper soon blown out Animantis cujusque vita in fuga est The Body is like a Vessel tun'd with breath Sickness broacheth it Death draws it out delay not the business of Salvation a day longer sometimes Death strikes and gives no warning 5. If you would not come short of the Kingdom of Heaven take heed of prejudice Many take a prejudice at Religion and on this Rock dash their Souls they are prejudiced at Christs Person his Truths his Followers his Wayes 1. They are prejudiced at his Person Matth. 13.57 And they were offended in him what is there in Christ that Men should be offended at him He is the pearl of price Matth. 13.46 are Men offended at Pearls and Diamonds Christ is the wonder of Beauty Psal. 45.2 Fairer than the children of men is there any thing in Beauty to offend Christ is a mirrour of Mercy Heb. 2.17 why should Mercy offend any Christ is a Redeemer why should a captive slave be offended at him who comes with a summe of Money to ransom him The prejudice Men take at Christ is from the inbred pravity of their hearts The eye that is sore cannot endure the light of the Sun the fault is not in the Sun but in the sore eye There are two things in Christ Men are prejudiced at 1. His Means The Iewes expected a Monarch for their Messiah but Christ came not with outward Pomp and Splendor His Kingdom was not of this World The Stars which are seated in the lightest Orbs are least seen Christ who was the bright Morning Star was not much seen his Divinity was hid in the dark Lanthorne of his humanity all who saw the Man did not see the Messiah this the Jews stumbled at the Means of his Person 2. Men are prejudiced at Christs strictness they look upon Christ as austere and his Lawes too severe Psal. 2.3 Let us break their bands and cast away their cords from us Though to a Saint Christs Laws are no more burdensome than Wings are to a Bird yet to the Wicked Christs Laws are a yoke and they love not to come under restraint hence it is they hate Christ. Though they pretend to love him as a Saviour yet they
Heaven If the Prayers of the Saints have so much power with God then what hath Christs Prayer how can the Children of such Prayers miscarry how can they fall short of the Kingdom who have him praying for them who is not only a Priest but a Son and besides what he prays for as he is Man that he hath power to give as he is God thus you see how a Christian comes to Persevere till he comes to the Kingdom Object But methinks I hear some Christians say if only perseverance obtains the Kingdom they fear they shall not come thither they fear they shall faint by the way and the weak legs of their Grace will never carry them to the Kingdom of Heaven Answ. Wert thou indeed to stand in thy own strength thou mightest fall away that Branch withers and dies which hath no Root to grow upon thou growest upon the Root Christ who will be daily sending forth vital influence to strengthen thee thou art imbecil and weak in Grace yet fear not falling short of Heaven For 1. God hath made a promise to weak Believers what is a bruised Reed but the Emblem of a weak Faith yet it hath a Promise made to it Mat. 12.20 A bruised Reed he will not break God hath promised to supply the weak Christian with so much Grace as he shall need till he comes to Heaven Beside the two Pence which the good Samaritan left to pay for the Cure of the poor wounded Man he passed his Word for all that he should need beside Luke 10.35 So Christ doth not only give a little Grace in hand but his Bond for more that he will give as much Grace as a Saint shall need till he comes to Heaven Psal. 84.11 The Lord will give Grace and Glory that is a fresh supply of Grace till it be perfected in Glory 2. God hath most care of his weak Saints who fear they shall never hold out till they come to the Kingdom doth not the Mother tend the weak Child most Isa. 40.11 He will gather the Lambs in his Arms and carry them in his Bosom If thou thinkest thou art so weak that thou shalt never hold out till thou comest to Heaven thou shalt be carried in the Arms of the Almighty he gathers the Lambs in his Arms Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah marched before hiâ People and his Power is their Rear-ward so that none of them faint or dye in their March to Heaven 3. Quest. What are the Encouragements to make Christians hold on till they come to the Kingdom of Heaven Answ. 1. It is a great Credit to a Christian not only to hold forth the Truth but to hold fast the Truth till he comes to Heaven when Grace doth flourish into perseverance and with the Church of Thyatira our last works are more then our first Rev. 2.19 This is insigne honoris a Star of Honour 'T is matter of renown to see gray hairs shine with golden vertues the Excellency of a thing lies in the finishing of it What is the excellency of a Building not when the first stone is laid but when it is finished so the beauty and excellency of a Christian is when he hath finished his Faith having done his work is landed safe in Heaven 2. You that have made a progress in Religion have not many Miles to go before you come at the Kingdom of Heaven Rom. 13.11 Now is our Salvation neerer then when we believed You who have hoary hairs your green Tree is turned into an Almond-tree you are near to Heaven it is but going a little further and you will set your Feet within Heaven Gates Oh therefore now be encouraged to hold out your Salvation is nearer then when you first began to believe Our diligence should be greater when our Salvation is nearer When a Man is almost at the end of the Race will he now tire and faint will he not put forth all his strength and strain every Limb that he may lay hold upon the Prize Our Salvation is now nearer the Kingdom is as it were within sight how should we now put forth all our strength that we may lay hold upon the Garland of Glory Doctor Taylour when he was going to his Martyrdom I have saith he but two Stiles to go over and I shall be at my Fathers House Though the way to Heaven be up hill you must climb the steepy Rock of Mortification and though there be Thorns in the way viz. Sufferings yet you have gone the greatest part of your way you are within a few days march of the Kingdom and will not you persevere Christian pluck up thy Courage fight the good fight of Faith pursue Holiness 't is but a while and you shall put off your Armour and end all your weary Marches and receive a Victorious Crown your Salvation is nearer you are within a little of the Kingdom therefore now presevere you are ready to commence and take your Degree of Glory 3. The blessed promise annexed to Perseverance the promise is a Crown of Life Rev 2.10 Death is a Worm that feeds in the Crowns of Princes but behold here a living Crown and a never-fading Crown 1 Pet. 5.4 and Rev. 2.28 He that overcometh and keepeth my works to the end I will give him Stellam matutinam the Morning Star The Morning Star is brighter then the rest this Morning Star is meant of Christ as if Christ had said I will give to him that perseveres some of my Beauty I will put some of my illustrious Rays upon him he shall have the next degree of Glory to me as the Morning Star is next the Sun will not this animate and make us hold out we shall have a Kingdom and that which is better then the Kingdom a bright Morning Star 4 Quest. What are the means conducing to perseverance or what shall we do that we may hold out to the Kingdom Resp. 1. Take up Religion upon good Grounds not in a Fit or Humour or out of worldly design but be deliberate weigh things well in the Ballance Luke 14.28 Which of you intending to build a Tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost Think with your selves what Religion must cost you it must cost you the parting with your sins and what is may cost you it may cost you the parting with your Lives consider if a Kingdom will not countervail your Sufferings weigh things well and then make your choice Psal. 119.30 I have chosen the way of thy Truth Why do many Apostatize and fall away but because they did never sit down and count the cost 2. If we would hold out to the Kingdom let us cherish the Grace of Faith 1 Cor. 1.24 By Faith ye stand Faith like Hercules Club it beats down all Oppositions before it 't is a conquering Grace Quest. How comes Faith to be so strong Resp. Faith fetcheth Christs strength into the Soul Phil. 4.13 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã A Captain
It will not be long before the silver cord be loosed and the golden bowl broken Eccles. 12. The skin wherein the Brains are inclosed as in a bowl this golden bowl will soon be broken Our Soul is in our Body as the Bird is in the Shell which soon breaks and the Bird flyes out the Shell of the Body breaking the Soul flyes into Eternity We know not whether we shall live to another Sabbath Before we hear another Sermon-bell go our Passing-bell may go Our Life runs as a swift stream into the ocean of Eternity Brethren if our Time be so minute and transient if the taper of Life be so soon wasted or perhaps blown out by violent death how should we put to all our strength and call in help from Heaven that we may obtain the Kingdom of Glory If time be so short why do we wast it about things of less moment and neglect the one thing needful which is the Kingdom of Heaven A Man that hath a great work to be done and but one day for the doing of it had need work hard We have a great work to do we are striving for a Kingdom and alas we are not certain of one day to work in therefore what need have we to bestir our selves and what we do for Heaven to do it with all our might 5. To excite our diligence let us consider how inexcusable we shall be if we miss of the Kingdom of Heaven who have had such helps for Heaven as we have had Indians who have Mines of Gold have not such advantages for Glory as we they have the light of the Sun Moon and Stars and the light of Râason but this is not enough to light them to Heaven But we have had the light of the Gospel shining in our Horizon we have been lifted up to Heaven with Ordinances we have had the Word in season and out of season The Ordinances are the pipes of the Sanctuary which empty the golden Oyl of Grace into the Soul they are scala ParAdisi the Ladder by which we ascend to the Kingdom of Heaven Deut. 4 7. What nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for We have had Heaven and Hell set before us we have had Counsels of Friends Warnings Examples the Motions and Inspirations of the Holy Ghost how should all these spurs quicken us in our pace to Heaven Should not that Ship sail apace to the Haven which hath Wind and Tide to carry it The Tide of Ordinances and the Wind of the Spirit Surely if we through negligence miss of the Kingdom of Heaven we shall have nothing to say for our selves we shall be as far from excuse as from happiness 6. You cannot do too much for the Kingdom of Heaven you cannot pray too much sanctifie the Sabbath too much love God too much you cannot over-do In secular things a Man may labour too hard he may kill himself with working but there is no fear of working too hard for Heaven In virtute non est verendum ne quid nimium sit Seneca The World is apt to censure the Godly as if they were too zealous and did over-strain themselves in Religion Indeed a Man may follow the World too much he may make too much hast to be rich The Ferry-man may take in too many Passengers into his Boat to the sinking of his Boat so a Man may heap up so much Gold and Silver as to sink himself in Perdition 1 Tim. 6.9 but one cannot be too earnest and zealous for the Kingdom of Heaven there is no fear of excess here when we do all we can for Heaven we come short of the Golden Rule set us and of Christs Golden Pattern when our Faith is highest like the Sun in the Meridian yet still ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã there is something lacking in our Faith 1 Thess. 3.1 so that all our labour for the Kingdom is little enough When a Christian hath done his best yet still he hath sins and wants to bewail 7 By this you may judge of the state of your Souls whether you have Grace or no by your earnest pursuit after the Heavenly Kingdom Grace infuseth a Spirit of activity into a person Grace doth not lye dormant in the Soul 't is not a sleepy habit but it makes a Christian like a Seraphim swift and winged in his Heavenly motion Grace is like fire it makes one burn in love to God and the more he loves him the more he presseth forward to Heaven where he may fully enjoy him Hope is an active Grace 't is called a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 hope is like the spring in the Watch it sets all the wheels of the Soul a running Hope of a Crop makes the Husbandman sow his seed hope of Victory makes the Souldier fight and a true hope of Glory makes a Christian vigorously pursue Glory Here is a Spiritual Touchstone to try our Grace by If we have the anointing of the Spirit it will oyl the wheels of our endeavour and make us lively in our pursuit after the Heavenly Kingdom No sooner had Paul Grace infused but presently Behold he prayes Acts 9.11 The Affections are by Divines called the Feet of the Soul if these Feet move not towards Heaven it is because there is no Life 8. Your labour for Heaven is not lost Perhaps you may think it is in vain that you have served God but know that your pains is not lost The Seed is cast into the Earth and it dyes yet at last it brings forth a plentiful Crop so your labours seem to be fruitless but at last they bring you to a Kingdom Who would not work hard for one hour when for that hours work he shâuld be a King as long as he lived And let me tell you the more labour you have put forth for the Kingdom of Heaven the more degrees of Glory you shall have As there are degrees of Torment in Hell Matth. 23.14 so of Glory in Heaven As one Star differs from another in Glory so shall one Saint 1 Cor. 15.41 Though every Vessel of Mercy shall be full yet one Vessel may hold morâ than another Such as have done more work for God shall have more Glory in the Heavenly Kingdom Could we hear thâ Saints departed speaking to us from Heaven sure they would speak after this manner Were we to leave Heaven a while and live on the Earth again we would do God a thousand times more service than ever we did we would pray with more Life act with more Zeal for now we see the more hath been our labour the greater is our reward in Heaven 9. While we are labouring for the Kingdom God will help us Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes The Promise encourageth us and Gods Spirit inableth us A Master gives his Servant work to
of Gods Will Thy Will be done 3. By doing the Will of God we evidence Sincerity as Christ said in another sense Iohn 10.25 The works which I do bear witness of me So it is not all our golden words if we could speak like Angels but our works our doing of Gods Will which bears witness of our Sincerity We judge not of the health of a Mans Body by his high Colour but by the Pulse of the Arm where the Blood chiefly stirs so a Christians soundness is not to be judged by his Profession what is this high Colour but the estimate of a Christian is to be taken by his Obediential acting his doing the Will of God this is the best Certificate and Letters Testimonial to shew for Heaven 4. Doing Gods Will much propagates the Gospel this is the Diamond that sparkles in Religion Others cannot see what Faith is in the Heart but when they see we do Gods Will on Earth this makes them have a venerable opinion of Religion and become Proselites to it Iulian in one of his Epistles writing to Arsatius saith That the Christian Religion did much flourish by the Sanctity and Obedience of them that professed it 5. By doing Gods Will we show our Love to Christ Iohn 14.21 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me What greater Love to Christ than to do his Will though it cross our own Every one would be thought to love Christ but how shall that be known but by this do you do his Will on Earth Neque principem veneramur si odio ejus Leges habemus Isid. 'T is a vain thing for a Man to say he loves Christs Person when he slights his Commands Not to do Gods Will on Earth is a great evil 't is 1. Sinful 2. Foolish 3. Dangerous 1. It is Sinful 1. We go against our Prayers we pray Fiat voluntas tua thy will be done and yet we do not obey his will we confute our own Prayer 2. VVe go against our Vow in Baptism we have vowed to fight under the Lords Banner to obey his Scepter and this Vow we have oft renewed in the Lords Supper if we do not Gods will on Earth we are forsworn and God will indite us of Perjury 2. Not to do Gods will on Earth is Foolish 1. Because there is no standing it out against God If we do not obey him we cannot resist him 1 Cor. 10. â2 Are we stronger than he Iob. 40.9 Hast thou an arm like God Canst thou measure Armes with him To oppose God is as if a Child should fight with an Arch-Angel as if an heap of Bryars should put themselves into a battalia against the Flame 2. Not to do Gods will is foolish because if we do not Gods will we do the Devils will Is it not folly to gratifie an enemy To do his will that seeks our ruine Quest. But are any so wicked as to do the Devils will Answ. Yes Iohn 8.44 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do VVhen a Man tells a lye doth he not do the Devils will Acts 5.3 Ananias Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye to the Holy Ghost 3. Not to do Gods Will is dangerous it brings a Spiritual Praemunire If Gods Will be not done by us he will have his will upon us if we obey not Gods will in commanding we shall obey his will in punishing 2 Thess. 1.7 The Lord Iesus shall be revealed with his mighty Angels in flames of fire taking vengeance on them that obey not his gospel Either we must do Gods will or suffer it 6. VVhatever God wills us to do is for our benefit Behold here self-interest As if a King commands his Subject to dig in a Mine of Gold and then gives him all the Gold he hath digged God bids us do his will and this is for our good Deut. 10.13 And now O Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God and keep the commandments of the Lord which I command thee this day for thy good It is Gods will that we should repent and this is for our good Repentance ushers in remission Acts 3.9 Repent that your sins may be blotted out It is Gods will that we should believe and why is it but that we should be crowned with Salvation Mark 16.16 He that believes shall be saved VVhat God wills is not so much our Duty as our Priviledge he bids us obey his voice and it is greatly for our good Ier. 7.23 Obey my voice and I will be your God I will not only give you my Angels to be your guard but my self to be your portion my Spirit shall be yours to sanctifie you my Love shall be yours to comfort you my Mercy shall be yours to save you I will be your God 7. To do Gods will is our Honour A Person thinks it an Honour to have a King speak to him to do such a thing the Angels count it their highest Honour in Heaven to do Gods will Servire Deo regnare est To serve God is to reign Non onerant nos sed ornant Salvian How chearfully did the Rowers row the Barge that carried Caesar to be imployed in his Barge was an Honour to be imployed in doing Gods will is insigne Honoris the highest ensign of Honour that a Mortal Creature is capable of Christs Precepts do not burden us but adorn us 8. To do Gods Will on Earth makes us like Christ and akin to Christ. 1. It makes us like Christ Is it not our Prayer that we may be like Christ. Jesus Christ did his Fathers will Iohn 6.38 I came down from Heaven not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me God the Father and Christ as they have but one Essence so but one VVill Christs will was melted into his Fathers Iohn 4.34 My meat is to do the will of him that sent me By our doing Gods will on Earth we resemble Christ nay we are akin to Christ and are of the Blood-Royal of Heaven Alexander called himself Couzen to the Gods what Honour is it to be akin to Christ. Matth. 12.50 Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven the same is my Brother and Sister and Mother Did King Solomon arise off his Throne to meet his Mother and set her on a Throne by him 1 Kings 3.19 such Honour will Christ bestow on such as are doers of Gods will he will salute them as his Kindred and set them on a Glorious Throne in the Amphitheatre of Heaven 9. Doing Gods will on Earth brings Peace in Life and Death 1. In Life Psal. 19.11 In keeping thy precepts there is great reward not only after keeping them but in keeping them when we walk closely with God in Obedience there is a secret Joy let into the Soul and how swiftly and chearfully do the wheels of the Soul move
a Limb from the Body He takes away an holy Child Iacobs Life was bound up in Benjamin Gen. 44.30 and that which puts Teeth into the Cross and is worse than the loss of Children is when they are continued as living Crosses where the Parents expected Honey there to have Wormwood What greater cut to a Godly Parent than a Child who disclaims his Fathers God! A Corrosive applyed to the Body may do well but a bad Child is a Corrosive to the Heart Such an undutiful Son had David who conspired Treason and would not only have taken away his Fathers Crown but his Life 4. God sometimes afflicts with a ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã infirmness of Body scarce a well day Sickness takes away the Comfort of Life and makes one in Deaths oft thus God tryes his People with various Afflictions so that there is need of Patience to submit to Gods Will. He who hath divers Bullets shot at him needs Armour when divers Afflictions assault we need Patience as Armour of Proof 3. God sometimes lets the Affliction continue long Psal. 74.9 as it is with Diseases there are some Chronical that linger and hang about the Body several years together so it is with Affliction the Lord is pleased to exercise many of his precious ones with Chronical Afflictions such as lye upon them a long time so that in all these Cases we need Patience and submissiveness of Spirit to Gods Will. VSE I. It reproves such as have not yet learned this part of the Lords Prayer Thy Will be done they have only said it but not learned it If things be not according to their Mind if the Wind of Providence crosseth the Tide of their Will they are discontented and querulous where is now submission of Will to God To be displeased with God if things do not please us is this to lye at Gods feet and acquiesce in his Will This is a very bad temper of Spirit and God may justly punish us by letting us have our Will Rachel cryed Give me Children or I dye Gen. 30.1 God let her have a Child but it cost her her Life Gen. 35.18 Israel not content with Manna Angels Food they must have Quails to their Manna God punished them by letting them have their Will Numb 11.31 There went sorth a wind from the Lord and brought quails ver 33. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth the wrath of the Lord was kindled against them and the Lord smote them with a great plague They had better been without their Quails than had such sower sawce to them Many have importunately desired the Life of a Child and could not bring their Wills to Gods to be content to part with it and the Lord hath punished them by letting them have their Will the Child hath lived and been a burden to them Seeing their Wills crossed God their Child shall cross them VSE II. Of Exhortation Let us be exhorted whatever troubles God doth exercise us with aequo animo ferre to resign up our Wills to God and say Thy Will be done Which is fittest that God should bring his will to ours or we bring our will to his Say as Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good And as David 2 Sam. 15.26 Behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him It was the saying of Harpulas Placet mihi quod Regi placet that pleaseth me which pleaseth the King So should we say that which pleaseth God pleaseth us Thy Will be done Some have not yet learned this art of submission to God and truly he who wants Patience in Affliction is like a Souldier in Battle who wants Armour Quest. When do we not as we ought submit to Gods Will in Affliction Answ. 1. When we have hard thoughts of God and our Hearts begin to swell against him 2. When we are so troubled at our present Affliction that we are unfit for Duty We can mourn as Doves but not pray or praise God We are so discomposed that we are not fit to hearken to any good Counsel Exod. 6.9 They hearkened not to Moses for anguish of spirit Israel were so full of grief under their present burdens that they minded not what Moses said though he came with a Message from God to them They hearkened not to Moses for anguish of spirit 3. We do not submit as we ought to Gods Will when we labour to break loose from Affliction by indirect means Many to rid themselves out of trouble run themselves into Sin When God hath bound them with the cords of Affliction they go to the Devil to loosen their bands Better it is to stay in Affliction than to sin our selves out of Affliction O let us learn to stoop to Gods Will in all afflictive Providences Quest. But how shall we bring our selves to this Christian Temper in all Occurrences of Providence patiently to acquiesce in Gods Will and say Thy Will be done We know not what Tryals Personal or National we may be exercised with We seem now to be under the Planet Saturn which hath a malignant Aspect Our Ship is steer'd so strangely that we are in danger on one hand of the Sands on the other hand of the Rocks If Affliction comes how shall we keep a Christian Decorum how shall we bear things with equanimity of mind and say Thy Will be done Answ. The means for a quiet resignation to Gods Will in Affliction is 1. Judicious Consideration Eccles. 7.14 In the day of adversity consider When any thing burdens us or runs cross to our desires did we but sit down and consider and weigh things in the ballance of Judgment it would much quiet our Minds and subject our Wills to God In the day of adversity consider Consideration would be as Davids Harp to charm down the evil Spirit of frowardness and discontent Quest. But what should we consider Answ. That which may make us submit to God in Affliction and say Thy Will be done is 1. To consider that the present state of Life is subject to Afflictions as a Seamans Life is subject to storms Ferre quam sortem omnes patiuntur nemo recusat Iob 5.7 Man is born to trouble he is heir apparent to it he comes into the World with a cry and goes out with a groan Ea lege nati sumus The World is a place where much Wormwood grows Lam. 3.15 He hath filled me with bitterness Hebr. Bammerorim with bitternesses he hath made me drunk with wormwood Troubles arise like sparks out of a Furnace Afflictions are some of the Thorns which the Earth after the Curse brings forth VVe may as well think to stop the Chariot of the Sun when it is in its swift motion as put a stop to trouble the consideration of this our Life is exposed to eclipses and sufferings should make us say with Patience Thy Will be done Shall a Mariner be angry that he meets with a storm at
with us as we do with froward Children while we fret and quarrel God will give us nothing but when we are submissive and say Thy Will be done now God carves out Mercy to us The way to have our Will is to submit it David brought his Will to God 2 Sam. 15.26 Here am I Let him do to me as seems good to him And after he resigned his Will he had his Will God brought him back to the Ark and setled him again in his Throne 2 Sam. 19. Many a Parent that hath had a dear Child sick when he could bring his Will to God to part with it God hath given him the life of his Child There 's nothing lost by referring our Will to God the Lord takes it kindly from us and it is the only way to have our Will 27. and Vlt. Consideration We may the more chearfully surrender our Souls to God when we dye when we have surrendred our Wills to God while we live Our blessed Saviour had all along submitted his VVill to God there was but one VVill between God the Father and Christ now Christ having in his life time given up his Will to his Father at death he chearfully gives up his Soul to him Luke 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit You that resign up your VVills to God may at the hour of death comfortably bequeath your Souls to him II. The second Means to bring our VVill to God in Affliction is Study the Will of God 1. It is a Sovereign Will he hath a supream right and Dominion over his Creatures to dispose of them as he pleaseth A Man may do with his own as he list Mat. 20.15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own A Man may cut his own Timber as he will Gods Sovereignty may cause submission he may do with us as he sees good God is not accountable to any Creature for what he doth Iob 33.13 He giveth not account of any of his matters VVho shall call God to account VVho is higher then the Highest Eccl. 5.8 VVhat Man or Angel dare summon God to his Bar He giveth not account of any of his Matters God will take an account of our Carriage towards him but he will give no account of his Carriage towards us God hath an absolute Jurisdiction over us the remembrance of this Gods Will is a sovereign Will to do with us what he please may silence all discontents and charm down all unruly Passions we are not to dispute but submit 2. Gods Will is a wise Will he knows what is conducing to the good of his People therefore submit Isa. 30.18 The Lord is a God of Iudgment that is he is able to judge what is best for us therefore rest in his VVisdom and acquiesce in his VVill VVe rest in the wisdom of a Physician we are content he should scarify and let us blood because he is judicious and knows what is most conducible to our health If the Pilot be skilful the Passenger saith let him alone he knows how best to steer the Ship and shall we not rest in Gods VVisdom Did we but study how wisely God steers all Occurrences and how he often brings us to Heaven by a cross wind it would much quiet our Spirits and make us say Thy Will be done Gods VVill is guided by VVisdom should God sometimes let us have our VVill we would undo our selves did he let us carve for our selves we should choose the worst piece Lot chose Sodom because well watered and was as the Garden of the Lord Gen. 13.10 but God rained fire upon it out of Heaven Gen. 19.24 3. Gods VVill is a just VVill Gen. 18.25 Shall not the Iudge of all the Earth do right Gods VVill is Regula Mensura it is the Rule of Justice the VVills of Men are corrupt therefore unfit to give Law but Gods VVill is an holy unerring VVill which may cause submission Psal. 97.2 God may cross us but he cannot wrong us severe he may be not unjust therefore we must strike Sail and say Thy Will be done 4. Gods VVill is a good and gracious VVill it promotes our Interest if it be Gods VVill to afflict us he will make us say at last it was good for us that we were afflicted Gods Flail shall only thresh off our Husks That which is against our VVill shall not be against our profit Study what a good VVill Gods is and we will say Fiat Voluntas let thy Will be done 5. Gods VVill is an irresistible VVill we may oppose it but we cannot hinder it The rising of the VVave cannot stop the Ship when it is in full sail so the rising up of our Will against God cannot stop the execution of his Will Rom. 9.19 Who hath resisted his Will Who can stay the Chariot of the Sun in its full Career Who can hinder the Progress of Gods Will Therefore it is in vain to contest with God his Will shall take place there 's no way to overcome God but by lying at his Feet 3. Means to submission to God in Affliction is Get a gracious heart all the Rules and Helps in the World will do but little good till Grace be infused the Boul must have a good Byas or it will not run according to our desire so till God puts a new Byas of Grace into the Soul which inclines the Will it will never submit to God Grace renews the Will and it must be renewed before it be subdued Grace teacheth self denyal and we can never submit our Will till we deny it 4. Means Let us labour to have our Covenant-Interest cleared to know that God is our God Psal. 48.14 This God is our God he whose Faith doth flourish into assurance that can say God is his will say Thy VVill be done A wicked man may say God hath laid this Affliction upon me and I cannot help it but a Believer saith My God hath done it and I will submit to it He who can call God his knows God loves him as he loves Christ and designs his Salvation therefore he will with Saint Paul take pleasure in Reproaches 2 Cor. 12.10 and in every adverse Providence yeild to God as the Wax to the impression of the Seal 5. Means to submission to God in Affliction get an humble Spirit A proud Man will never stoop to God he will rather break then bend but when the Heart is humble the Will is pliable What a vast difference was there between Pharaoh and Eli Pharaeoh cries out VVho is the Lord that I should obey his Voice Exod. 5.2 but Eli saith It is the Lord let him do what seems good in his sight 1 Sam. 3.18 See the difference between an Heart that is swell'd with Pride and that is ballasted with Humility Pharaoh saith VVho is the Lord Eli It is the Lord. An humble Soul hath a deep sence of sin he sees how he hath provoked God he wonders he
we prefer Gods glory before our own Credit Fama pari passu ambulat cum Vita Credit is a Jewel highly valued like precious Ointment it casts a fragrant smell but Gods glory must be dearer then Credit and Applause We must be willing to have our Credit trampled upon if Gods glory may be raised higher Acts 5.41 The Apostles rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã that they were graced so far as to be disgraced for Christ. 2. Do we prefer Gods glory before our Relations Relations are near they are of our Flesh and Bone but Gods glory must be dearer Luke 14.26 If any Man come after me and hate not Father and Mother he cannot be my Disciple Here odium in suos is Pietas in Deum If my Friends saith Ierome should perswade me to deny Christ if my Wife should hang about my Neck if my Mother should show me her Breasts that gave me suck I would trample upon all and fly to Christ. 3. We must prefer Gods glory before estate gold is but shining dust Gods glory must weigh heavier If it comes to this I cannot keep my place of Profit but Gods glory will be eclipsed here I must rather suffer in my Estate then Gods glory should suffer Heb. 10 34. 4. We must prefer Gods Glory before our life Rev. 12.11 They loved not their own lives to the Death Ignatius called his Fetters ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã his Spiritual Jewels he wore them as a Chain of Pearl Gordius the Martyr said it is to my Loss if you bate me any thing of my Sufferings This Argues grace Crescent and elevated in an high Degree Who but a Soul inflamed in love to God can set God highest in the Throne and prefer him above all private Concerns II. The second thing in the Petition is the Matter of it Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie Give us this day our dayly Bread The sum of this Petition is that God will give us such a Competency in these outward things as he sees most expedient for us it is much like that Prayer of Agur Prov. 30.8 Feed me with Food convenient for me give me a Viaticum a Bait by the way enough to bear my Charges till I come to Heaven and it sufficeth Let me explain the Words Give us this day our dayly Bread Give hence note that the good things of this life are the gifts of God He is the Donor of all our Blessings Give us not only Faith is the gift of God but Food not only dayly Grace is from God but daily Bread every good thing comes from God Iam. 1.17 Every good Gift is from above and comes down from the Father of Lights Wisdom is the gift of God Isa. 28.26 His God doth instruct him to Discretion Riches are the gift of God 2 Chron. 1.12 I will give thee riches Peace is the gift of God Psal. 147.14 He makes peace in thy borders Health which is the cream of Life is the gift of God Ier. 30.17 I will restore health to thee Rain is the gift of God Iob 5.10 Who giveth rain on the earth all comes from God He makes the Corn to grow and the Herbs to flourish VSE I. See our own poverty and indigence we live all upon alms and upon free gift Give us this day All we have is from the hand of Gods Royal Bounty We have nothing but what God gives us out of his Storehouse we cannot have one bit of Bread but from God The Devil perswaded our first Parents that by disobeying God they should be as Gods Gen. 3.5 but we may now see what goodly Gods we are that we have not a bit of bread to put in our mouths unless God give it us Here is an humbling Consideration Br. 2. Is all a gift then we are to seek every Mercy from God by Prayer Give us this day The Tree of Mercy will not drop its Fruit unless shaken by the hand of Prayer Whatever we have if it doth not come in the way of Prayer it doth not come in the way of Love 't is given as Israels Quails in anger If every thing be a gift we do not deserve it we are not fit for it unless we ask for this alms and must we go to God for every Mercy How wicked are they who instead of going to God for food when they want they go to the Devil they make a compact with him and if he will help them to a livelyhood they will give him their Souls Better starve than go to the Devil for provender I wish there be none in our Age guilty of this who when they are in want use indirect means for a livelyhood they consult with Witches who are the Devils Oracles the end of these will be fearful as that of Saul was whom the Lord is said to have killed because he asked counsel at a familiar spirit 3. If all be a Gift then it is not a Debt we cannot say to God as that Creditor said Matth. 18.28 Pay me what thou owest Who can make God a Debtor or do any Act that is obliging and meritorious Whatever we receive from God is a gift We can give nothing to God but what he hath given us 1 Chron. 29.14 All things come of thee and of thine own have we given thee David and his People offered to the building of Gods House Gold and Silver but they offered nothing but what God had given them Of thâne own have we given thee If we love God God it is that hath given us an Heart to love him if we praise him he both gives us the Organ of the Tongue and puts it in Tune if we give Almes to others God hath given Almes to us first so that we may say We offer O Lord of thine own to thee Is all of Gift how absurd then is the Doctrine of Merit That was a proud speech of a Fryar that said Redde mihi Vitam Aeternam quam debes Give me Lord Eternal Life which thou owest me We cannot deserve a bit of Bread much less a Crown of Glory If all be a Gift then Merit is exploded and shut out of doors 4. If all be a Gift Give us this day then take notice of Gods goodness there 's nothing in us can deserve or requite Gods kindness yet such is the sweetness of his Nature he gives us rich Provision and feeds us with the finest of the Wheat Pindar saith it was an opinion of the People of Rhodes that Iupiter rained down Gold upon the City God hath rained down golden Mercies upon us he is upon the giving hand Observe three things in Gods giving 1. He is not weary of giving the springs of Mercy are ever running God did not only dispence Blessings in former Ages but he still gives gifts to us As the Sun not only inricheth the World with its Morning light but keeps Light for the Meridian The Honey-comb
be white as Snow Scarlet ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã signifies Twice dipt which no art of man can get out yet God can wash out this scarlet Dye There is no sin excepted from pardon but that sin which despiseth pardon viz. the sin against the Holy Ghost Mat. 12.31 Therefore O sinner do not cast away thy Anchor of Hope but go to God for forgiveness The vast Ocean hath Bounds set to it but God's pardoning-Mercy is Boundless God can as well forgive Great Sins as less as the Sea can as well cover great Rocks as little Sands Nothing hinders pardon but the sinners not asking it That a Great Sinner should not despair of forgiveness consult that Scripture Isa. 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions If you look on the foregoing words you would wonder how this verse comes in ver 24. Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins thou hast wearied me with thy Iniquities and then it follows I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions One would have thought it should have run thus Thou hast wearied me with thy Iniquities I even I am he that will punish thy Iniquities but God comes in a mild loveing strain Thou hast wearied me with thy Iniquities I am he that blots out thy Iniquities So that the greatness of our sins should not discourage us from going to God for forgiveness Tho' thou hast committed Acts of Impiety yet God can come with an Act of Indemnity and say I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions God counts it his Glory to display Free-grace in its Orient Colours Rom 5.20 Where sin abounded Grace did much more abound When Sin becomes exceeding sinful Free-grace becomes exceeding glorious God's pardoning-Love can conquer the sinner and triumph over the sin Consider thou almost-despairing Soul there is not so much sin in man as there is Mercy in God Man's sin in comparison of God's Mercy is but as a spark to the Ocean and who would doubt whether a spark could be quenched in an Ocean Object 3. But I have relapsed into the same sins and how can I have the face to come to God for the pardon of those sins which I have more than once fallen into Answ. I know the Novatians held that after a Relapse no forgiveness by the Church But doubtless that was an Errour Abraham did twice equivocate Lot committed Incest twice Peter sin'd thrice by carnal Fear but these repenting had their Absolution There is a two-fold Relapse 1. a wilful Relapse when after a man hath solemnly vowed himself to God he falls into a league with sin and returns back to it Ier. 2.25 I have loved Strangers and after them will I go 2. There is a Relapse through Infirmity when the Bent and Resolution of a mans Heart is against sin but through the Violence of Temptation and the withdrawing of God's Grace he is carried down the stream against his Will Now though wilful continued Relapses are desperate and do vastare Conscientiam as Tertull. waste the Conscience and run men upon the Precipice of damnation yet if they are through Infirmity and we mourn for them we may obtain forgiveness A godly man doth not march after sin as his General but is led captive by it and the Lord will pity a captive Prisoner Christ commands us to forgive a trespassing Brother seventy times seven Mat. 18.22 If he bids us do it much more will he forgive a relapsing Sinner in case he repent Ier. 3.12 Return thou back-sliding Israel for I am merciful saith the Lord. It is not falling once or twice into the Mire that drowns but lying there it is not once relapsing into sin but lying in sin impenitently that damns Object 4. But God requires so much Sorrow and Humiliation before Remission that I fear I shall never arrive at it Answ. God requires no more Humiliation than may fit a Soul for Mercy Many a Christian thinks because he hath not fill'd God's Bottle so full of Tears as others therefore he is not humbled enough to receive a Pardon But we must know God's Dealings are Various all have not the like Pangs in the New-Birth Some are won with Love the sence of God's Mercy abused causeth ingenuous Tears to flow others are more flagitious and hardned and these God deals more roughly with This is sure That Soul is humbled enough to receive a Pardon who is brought to a thorow Sence of sin and sees the need of a Saviour and loves him as the fairest of ten thousand therefore be not discouraged if thy Heart be bruised for sin and broken off from it thy sin shall be blotted out No sooner did Ephraim fall a weeping but God's Bowels fell a working Ier. 31.20 My Bowels are troubled for him I will surely have Mercy upon him Having answered these Objections let me beseech you above all things labour for the forgiveness of sin Think with your selves how great a Mercy it is It is one of the Richest Jewels in the Cabinet of the New-Covenant Psal. 32.1 Blessed is he whose Iniquity is forgiven in the Hebrew it is Ashre Blessednesses And think with your selves the unparallel'd Misery of such whose sins are not forgiven such as had not the Blood of the Paschal Lamb sprinkled on their Door-posts were destroy'd by the Angel Exod. 12. So they who have not Christ's Blood sprinkled on them to wash away the guilt of sin will fall into the gulf of Perdition And if you resolve to seek after forgiveness do not delay Many say they will go about getting their pardon but they procrastinate and put it off so long till it be too late when the shadows of the Evening are stretch'd forth and the night of Death aproacheth then they begin to look after their pardon This hath been the undoing of millions they purpose they will look after their Souls but they stay so long till the Lease of Mercy be run out Oh therefore hasten the getting of a pardon Think of the Vncertainty of Life What Security have you that you shall live another day Volat ambiguis mobilis alis hora our Life is a Taper soon blown out 't is made up of a few flying minutes O thou Dust and Ashes thou mayest fear every hour to be blown into thy Grave and what if Death come to arrest thee before thy pardon be sealed Plutarch reports of one Archias who being among his Cups one delivered to him a Letter and desired him to read it presently being about serious Business saith he Seria cras I will mind serious things to morrow and that night he was slain Thou that sayest To morrow I will repent I will get my pardon mayest suddenly be slain therefore to day while it is called to day look after the forgiveness of sin after a while all the Conducts of Mercy will be stop'd there will not be one drop of Christ's Blood to be had there is no sealing of pardons after death 2.
12.13 The Lord hath put away thy sin This could not but revive his heart and in token of joy he Anoints himself Philo saith it was an opinion of some of the Philosophers that among the Heavenly Sphears there is such a sweet Harmonious Melody that if the sound of it could reach our ears it would affect us with wonder and delight Sure he who is pardoned hath such a Divine Melody in his Soul as doth replenish him with infinite delight When Christ had said to Mary Magdalen Thy sins are forgiven he presently adds Go in peace Luk. 7.50 More particularly 1. Comfort God looks upon a pardoned Soul as if he had never sinned As the Cancelling a Bond nulls the Bond and makes it as if the Money had never been owing Forgiving sin makes it not to be where Sin is Remitted it is as if it had not been Committed Jerem. 50.20 So that as Rachel wept because her children were not so a Child of God may rejoice because his sins are not God looks upon him as if he had never offended Though sin remain in him after pardon yet God doth not look upon him as a Sinner but as a Just Man 2. Comfort God having pardoned sin will pass an Act of Oblivion Jer. 31.34 I will forgive their Iniquity and I 'll remember their sin no more VVhen a Creditor hath crossed the Book he doth not call for the Debt again God will not reckon with the Sinner in a Iudicial way VVhen our sins are laid upon the head of Christ our Scape-goat they are carried into a Land of forgetfulness 3. Comfort The pardoned soul is for ever secured from the wrath of God How terrible is God's wrath Psal. 90.11 Who knows the power of thine anger If a spark of God's Wrath when it lights into a Mans Conscience fills it with such horror as in the case of Spira then what is it to be always scorching in that Torrid Zone to lie upon Beds of Flames Now from this avenging Wrath of God every pardoned Soul is freed Though he may tast of the bitter Cup of Affliction yet he shall never drink of the Sea of God's Wrath Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Christ's blood quencheth the flames of Hell 4. Comfort Sin being pardoned Conscience hath no more authority to accuse Conscience roars against the Unpardoned Sinner but it hath nothing to do to Terrifie or Accuse him that is pardoned God hath discharged the sinner and if the Creditor discharge the Debtor what hath the Sergeant to do to Arrest him The truth is if God Absolve Conscience if rightly informed Absolves If once God saith Thy sins are pardoned Conscience saith Go in peace If the Sky be clear and no storms blow there then the Sea is calm If all be clear above and God shine with pardoning Mercy upon the Soul then Conscience is calm and serene 5. Comfort Nothing that befals a pardoned Soul shall hurt him ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Psal. 90.10 No evil shall touch thee That is no destructive evil Every thing to a wicked Man is hurtful Good things are for his hurt His very blessings are turned into a curse Mal. 2.2 I will curse your blessings Riches and Prosperity do him hurt They are not mânera but insidiae Sen. Golden snares Eccles. 5.13 Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt Like Haman's Banquet which did usher in his Funeral Ordinances do a sinner hurt they are ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a Savour of Death 2 Cor. 2.16 Cordials themselves kill The best things hurt the wicked but the worst things which befal a pardoned Soul shall do him no hurt the Sting the Poison the Curse is gone His Soul is no more hurt than David hurt Saul when he cut off the Lap of his Garment 6. To a pardoned Soul every thing hath a Commission to do him Good Afflictions shall do him good Poverty Reproach Persecution Gen. 50.20 Ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good As the Elements though of contrary qualities yet God hath so tempered them that they work for the good of the Universe So the most cross Providences shall work for good to a pardoned Soul Correction shall be a Corrosive to eat out sin it shall cure the swelling of Pride the Feaver of Lust the Dropsie of Avarice it shall be a Refining Fire to purifie Grace and make it sparkle as Gold ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Chrisostom Every cross-Providence to a pardon'd Soul shall be like Paul's Euroclidon or cross-wind Acts 27. which though it broke the Ship yet Paul was brought to shore upon the broken pieces 7. A pardoned Soul is not onely exempted from Wrath but invested with Dignity as Ioseph was not onely freed from Prison but advanced to be Second Man in the Kingdom A Pardon'd Soul is made a Favourite of Heaven A King may pardon a Traitor but will not make him one of his Privy-Council but whom God Pardons he receives into Favour I may say to him as the Angel to V. Mary Luk. 1.30 Thou hast found favour with God Hence such as are forgiven are said to be Crowned with Loving-kindness Psal. 103.3 4. Whom God pardons he Crowns Whom God Absolves he marries himself to Jer. 3.12 I am merciful and I will not keep anger for ever there is Forgiveness and in the 14th Verse I am Married to you and he who is Match'd into the Crown of Heaven is as rich as the Angels as rich as Heaven can make him 8. Sin being pardon'd we may come with humble boldness to God in Prayer Guilt makes us afraid to go to God Adam having sinn'd Gen. 3.10 I was afraid and hid my self Guilt clips the wings of Prayer it fills the Face with blushing but Forgiveness breeds confidence we may look upon God as a Father of Mercy holding forth a Golden Scepter he that hath got his pardon can look upon his Prince with comfort 9. Forgiveness of Sin makes our Services acceptable God takes all we do in good part A guilty person nothing he doth pleaseth God His Prayer is turned into sin but when sin is pardoned now God accepts our offering We read of Ioshua standing before the Angel of the Lord. * Ioshua was clothed with filthy garments Zach. 3.3 that is he was guilty of divers sins now saith the Lord Vers. 4. Take away his filthy Garments I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee and then he stood and Ministred before the Lord and his Services were accepted 10. Forgiveness of sin is the Sawce which sweetens all the comforts of this life As guilt imbitters our comforts it puts Wormwood into our Cup so pardon of Sin sweetens all it is like Sugar to Wine Health and Pardon Estate and Pardon relisheth well Pardon of sin gives a Sanctified Title and a delicious tast to every comfort As Naaman said to Gehazi 2 King 5.23 Take two Talents So saith God to the Pardoned Soul Take
and abused and to put it up will be a stain to my reputation Answ. 1. To pass by an injury without revenge is no eclipsing ones credit the Scripture saith Prov. 19.11 It is the glory of a man to pass over a transgression 'T is more honour to bury an injury than revenge it wrathfulness denotes weakness a noble Heroick Spirit overlooks a petty offence 2. Suppose a Mans Credit should be impaired with those whose censure is not to be valued yet consider the folly of challenging another to a Duel 't is little Wisdom for a Man to redeem his Credit by losing his Life and to run into Hell to be counted valorous Object 2. But the wrong he hath done me is great Answ. But thy not forgiving him is a greater wrong he in injuring thee hath offended against a Man but thou in not forgiving him offendest against God Object 3. But if I forgive one injury I shall occasion more Answ. If the more injuries thou forgivest the more thou meetest with this will make thy Grace shine the more often forgiving will add more to the weight of his sin and to the weight of thy glory If any shall say I strive to excel in other Graces but as for this of forgiving I cannot do it I desire in this to be excused What dost thou talk of other Graces the Graces are inter se connexae link'd and chain'd together where there is one there is all he that cannot Forgive his Grace is Counterfeit his Faith is Fancy his Devotion is Hypocrisie Quest. 3. But suppose another hath wronged me in my Estate may not I go to Law for my Debt Answ. Yes else what use were there of Law Courts God hath set judges to decide cases in Law and to give every one his right It is with going to Law as it is with going to War when the just rights of a Nation are Invaded here iâ is lawful to go to War So when a Mans Estate is trespass'd upon by another he may go to law to recover it But the Law must be used in the last place when no entreaties or arbitrations will prevail then the Chancery must decide it Yet this is no revenge it is not so much to injure another as to right ones self this may be yet one may live in Charity USE 1. Here is a Bill of inditement against such as study revenge and cannot put up the least discourtesie They would have God forgive them but they will not forgive others they will Pray come to Church give Alms but as Christ said Mark 10.21 Yet lackest thou One Thing they lack a forgiving Spirit they will rather want forgiveness from God than they will forgive their Brother How sad is it that for every slight wrong or disgraceful word men should let malice boil in their Hearts Would there be so many Duels Arrests Murders if Men had the art of forgiving Revenge is the proper sin of the Devil he is no Drunkard or Adulterer but this old Serpent is full of the Poison of Malice and what shall we say to them who make profession of Religion yet instead of forgiving pursue others despightfully it was Prophesied the Wolf should dwâll with the Lamb Isa. 11.6 but what shall we say when such as profess to be Lambs become Wolves These open the mouths of the prophane against Religion they will say these are as full of rancour as any O whither is Love and Mercy fled if the Son of Man did come should he find Charity on the Earth I fear but a little Such as cherish Anger and Malice in their Hearts and will not Forgive how can they pray Forgive us as we forgive others either they must omit this Petition as Chrysostom saith some did in his Time or else they pray against themselves Vse 2. Let it persuade us all as ever we hope for Salvation to pass by petty injuries and discourtesies and labour to be of forgiving Spirits Col. 3.13 Forbearing one another and forgiving one another 1. Herein we resemble God He is ready to forgive Psal. 86.5 He befriends His Enemies He opens his Hands to relieve them who open their Mouths against Him 'T was Adams Pride to go to resemble God in omnisciency But here it is lawful to resemble God in Forgiving Enemies This is a God-like disposition and what is Godliness but God-likeness 2. To forgive is one of the highest evidences of Grace When Grace comes into the Heart it makes a man as Caleb of another Spirit Numb 14.24 It makes a great Metamorphosis it sweetens the Heart and fills it with Love and Candour When a Siene is grafted into a Stock it partakes of the Nature and Sap of the Tree and brings forth the same fruit Take a Crab graft it into a Pepin it brings forth the same fruit as the Pepin So he who was once of a sour crabby disposition given to revenge when he is once ingrafted into Christ he partakes of the Sap of this Heavenly Olive and bears sweet and generous fruit he is Full of Love to his Enemies and requites Good for Evil. As the Sun draws up many thick noxious Vapours from the Earth and returns them in sweet showers so a gracious Heart returns the unkindnesses of others with the sweet influences of love and mercifulness Psal. 35.13 They rewarded me Evil for Good but as for me when they were sick my clothing was Sackcloth I humbled my Soul with Fasting This is a good Certificate to shew for Heaven 3. The blessed example of our Lord Jesus He was of a Forgiving Spirit His Enemies reviled him but he did pitty them Their words were more bitter than the Gall and Vinegar they gave him but Christs words were smoother than Oil. They spat upon him Peirced him with the Spear and Nails but he prayed for them Father forgive them he wept over his Enemies he shed tears for them that shed his Blood never such a pattern of amazing kindness Christ bids us learn of him Mat. 11.29 he doth not bid us learn of him to work Miracles but he would have us learn of him to forgive our Enemies If we do not imitate Christs Life we cannot be saved by his Death 4. The danger of an implacable unforgiving Spirit It hinders the efficacy of Ordinances It is like an obstruction in the Body which keeps it from thriving A revengeful Spirit poisons our Sacrifice our prayers are turned into sin will God receive prayer mingled with this strange Fire Our coming to the Sacrament is sin We come not in charity so that ordinances are turn'd into sin It were sad if all the Meat one did eat should turn to Poison Malice poisons the Sacramental Cup men Eat and Drink their own Damnation Iudas came to the Passover in malice and after the Sop Satan entred Iohn 13.27 5. God hath tyed his Mercy to this condition if we do not forgive neither will he forgive us Mat 6.15 If ye forgive not men their Trespasses neither
This is Satan's Temptation the hand of Ioab is in this 2. To Rejoyce is a Duty Psal. 33.1 Praise is comely for the Vpright But when God by his judgments calls us to Weeping now Joy and Mirth is unseasonable Isa. 22.12 In that day did the Lord call to weeping and behold joy and gladness Oecolampadius and other Learned Writers think it was in the time of King Ahaz when the Signs of God's Anger like a Blazing-Star did appear now to be given to Mirth was very unseasonable 3. To Read The Word is a Duty but Satan will sometimes put Men upon it when it is unseasonable To Read at home when God's Word is Preaching or the Sacrament Administring is unseasonable yea sinful As Hushai said 2 Sam. 17.7 The Counsel is not good at this time There was a Set-time enjoyned for the Passover when the Iews were to bring their Offering to the Lord Numb 9.2 Had the People been Reading the Law at home in the time of the Passover it had not been in season and God would have punished it for a contempt This is the Devil 's subtil Temptation either to keep us from duty or to put us upon it when it is least in season Duties of Religion not well timed and done in season are dangerous Snow and Hail are good for the ground when they come in their season but in Harvest when the Corn is ripe then a Storm of Hail would do hurt 25. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting is to perswade Men to delay their repenting and turning to God He saith as Hag. 1.2 The time is not yet come Now youth is budding or you are but in the flower of your age it is too soon to repent the time is not yet come This Temptation is the Devil's draw-net by which he drags Millions to Hell It is a danâerous Temptation Sin is Dulce venenum Bern. a Poison the longer Poison lies in the Body the more mortal By delay of Repentance sin strengthens and the heart hardens The longer Ice freezeth the harder it is to be broken The longer a Man freezeth in impenitency the more difficult it will be to have his heart broken When sin hath gotten an haunt it is not easily shaken off Besides the danger of this Temptation to delay Repentance appears in this because life is hazardous and may on a sudden expire What security have you that you shall live another day Life is made up of a few flying Minutes it is a Taper soon blown out Jam. 4.14 What is your life It is but a vapour The body is like a Vessel tun'd with a little breath Sickness broacheth this Vessel Death draws it out How dangerous therefore is this Temptation to procrastinate and put off turning to God by repentance Many now in Hell did purpose to Repent but Death surpriz'd them 26. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting is to infringe and weaken the Saints peace If he cannot Destroy their Grace he will Disturb their Peace Satan envies a Christian should have a good day and if he cannot keep him from Heaven he will keep him from an Heaven upon Earth There is nothing next to Holiness a Christian prizeth more than Peace and Tranquillity of Mind This is the Cream of Life a Bunch of Grapes by the way Now it is Satans great policy to shake a Christian's Peace that if he will go to Heaven he shall go thither through Frights and plenty of Tears The Devil throws in his Fireballs of Temptation to set the Saints Peace on fire Of such great concern is Spiritual Peace that no wonder if Satan would by his Intricate subtilties Rob us of this Jewel Spiritual Peace is a Token of God's Favour As Ioseph had a special testimony of his Fathers Kindness in the Party-coloured Coat he gave him so have the Saints a special token of God's Good-will to them when he gives them inward Peace which is as it were the party-coloured Coat to wear No wonder then if Satan so much rage against the Saints Peace and would tear off this comfortable Robe from them The Devil troubles the waters of the Saints Peace because hereby he hopes to have the more advantage of them 1. By this perplexing of their Spirits Satan takes off their Chariot-wheels unfits them for the Service of God Body and Mind are both out of temper like an Instrument out of Tune Sadness of Spirit prevailing a Christian can think of nothing but his Troubles his Mind is full of doubts fears surmises that he is like a person distracted and is scarce himself Either he neglects the duties of Religion or his mind is taken off from them while he is doing them Especially there is one Duty that melancholy and sadness of spirit unfits for and that is Thankfulness Thankfulness is a Tribute or Quit-rent due to God Psal. 149.3 Let the Saints be joyful let the high praises of God be in their mouth But when Satan hath disturbed a Christian's spirit and fill'd his Mind full of black and almost despairing thoughts how can he be Thankful It rejoyceth Satan to see how his Plot takes by making God's Children Vnquiet he makes them Vnthankful 2. Satan by troubling the Saints Peace hath this advantage of laying a stumbling-block in the way of others By this policy the Devil gets an occasion to render the ways of God unlovely to those who are looking Heaven-ward He sets before new beginners the perplexing Thoughts the Tears the Groans of them who are wounded in Spirit to scare them quite off from all seriousness in Religion He will object to new beginners Do you not see how these sad Souls torture themselves with melancholy Thoughts and will you change the comforts and pleasures of this life to sit always in the house of mourning Will you espouse that Religion which makes you a terror to your selves and a burden to others Can you be in love with such a Religion as is ready to fright you out of your wits This advantage the Devil gets by troubling the Saints Peace he would discourage others who are looking towards Heaven he would beat them off from Praying and hearing all Soul-awakening Sermons lest they fall into this black humour of Melancholy and end their days in despair 3. By this subtil policy of Satan in disturbing the Saints Peace and making them believe God doth not love them he hath this advantage he sometimes so far prevails over them as to make them begin to entertain hard thoughts of God Through the black Spectacles of Melancholy God's dealings look sad and Ghastly Satan tempts the Godly to have strange thoughts of God to think he hath cast off all pity and hath forgotten to be gracious Psal. 77. and to make sad conclusions Isai. 38.13 I reckoned that as a Lion so will he break all my bones from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me The Devil setting in with Melancholy causeth a sad Eclipse in the Soul it begins to think God hath shut up
Thief this may cause a spring of Tears Infer 4. See hence a Christians Life is no easie life it is Military he hath a Goliah in the field to Encounter with one that is arm'd with Power and Subtilty he hath his Wiles and Darts A Christian must be continually Watching and Fighting Satans Designs carry death in the Front 1 Pet. 5.8 Seeking whom he he may devour Therefore we had need be always with our Weapons in our hand How few think their Life a warfare Tho' they have an Enemy in the field that is always laying of Snares or shooting of Darts yet they do not stand Sentinel or get their spiritual Artillery ready They put on their Iewels but not their Armour Iob 21.12 They take the Tymbrel and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ as if they were rather in Musick than in Battle Many are asleep in sloth when they should be fighting against Satan and no wonder the Devil shoots them when he finds them asleep Use 2. It reproves them who pray Lead us not into Temptation yet run themselves into Temptation Such are they who go to Plays and Masquerades and hunt after strange Flesh. Some go a slower pace to Hell but such as run themselves into Temptation these go galloping thither we have too many of these in this debauch'd Age who as if they thought they could not sin fast enough tempt the Devil to tempt them Vse 3. Exhortation Let us labour that we be not overcome by temptation Quest. What means may be used that Satans Temptations may not prevail against us Resp. 1. Avoid Solitariness It is no Wisdom in fighting with an Enemy to give him the Advantage of the Ground we give Satan Advantage of the Ground when we are alone Eve was foiled in the Absence of her Husband a Virgin is not so soon set upon in company Eccles. 4 10. Two are better than one Get into the Communion of Saints and that is a good Remedy against Temptation 2. If you would not be overcome of Temptation beware of the Predominancy of Melancholy This is Atra bilis a black Humour seated chiefly in the Brain Melancholy disturbs Reason and exposeth to Temptation One calls Melancholy Balneum Diaboli the Devils Bath he baths himself with Delight in such a Person Melancholy clothes the Mind in Sable it fills it with such dismal Apprehensions as oft end in self-murder 3. If you would not be overcome of Temptation study Sobriety 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober because your Adversary walketh about Sober-mindedness consists in the moderate use of earthly Things an immoderate desire of these things oft brings men into the snare of the Devil 1 Tim. 6.9 They that will be rich fall into a Snare He who loves Riches inordinately will purchase them unjustly Ahab would swim to Naboâhs Vineyard in Blood He who is drunk with the Love of the World is never free from Temptation he will pull down his Soul to build up an Estate Quid non mortalia pectora cogis auri sacra fames Be sober take heed of being drunk with the love of the World lest ye fall into Temptation 4. Be always upon your Guard watch against Satans Wiles and Subtilties 1 Pet. 5.8 Be vigilant because your Adversary the Devil walks about A Christian must Excubias agere keep Watch and Ward See where Satan labours to make a Breach see what Grace he most strikes at or what sin he most tempts to Mark 13.37 I say to you all Watch. Watch all the Sences the Eye the Ear the Touch Satan can creep in here O how needful is the spiritual Watch shall Satan be watchful and we drowsie Doth he watch to devour us and shall not we watch to save our selves Let us see what sin our Heart most naturally inclines to and watch against this 5. Beware of Idleness Satan sows most of his seed in fallow Ground it was Hieroms Counsel to his Friend to be ever busied that if the Devil did come he might find him working in the Vineyard Idleness tempts the Devil to tempt the Bird that sits still is shot he that wants Employment never wants Temptation When a man hath nothing to do Satan will bring Grist to the Mill and find him work enough 6. Make known thy Case to some godly Friend The hiding a Serpent in the Bosom is not the way to be safe When the old Serpent hath gotten into your Bosom by a Temptation do not hide him there by keeping his Counsel If a spark be got into the Thatch it is not Wisdom to conceal it it may set the House on fire conceal not Temptation The keeping of Secrets is for familiar Friends be not so great a friend to Satan as to keep his secrets Reveal your Temptations which is the way to procure others Prayer and Advice Let all see that you are not true to Satans Party because you tell all his Plots and reveal his Treasons Besides the telling our Case to some Experienced Christian is the way to have ease as the opening a Vein gives ease so the opening our Case to a Friend gives ease to the Soul and a Temptation doth not so much inflame 7. Make use of the Word This the Apostle calls the Sword of the Spirit Ephes. 6.17 a fit Weapon to fight against the Tempter This Sword of the Spirit is Gladius anceps a Two-edged Sword it wounds carnal Lust and it wounds Satan He who travels a Road where there is Robbing will be sure to ride with his Sword We are travelling to Heaven and in this Road there is a Thief will always beset us Satan is in every place where we go He meets us at Church he doth not miss a Sermon he will be tempting us there sometimes to Drowsiness when you sleep at a Sermon the Devil rocks you a-sleep sometimes he tempts by distracting the Mind in Hearing Sometimes he tempts to question the Truth of what you hear thus we meet with the Tempter at Church and he tempts in the shop he tempts you to use Collusion and Deceit Hos. 12.7 The Ballances of Deceit are in his Hand So that we meet with the Tempter every where therefore this Thief being in the Road we had need ride with a Sword we must have the Sword of the Spirit about us We must have skill to use this Sword and have an Heart to draw it out and this Sword will put the Devil to flight Thus our Blessed Saviour when Satan tempted him to Distrust and Blasphemy he used a Scripture Weapon It is written Three times Christ wounded the old Serpent with this Sword Christ could with his Power and Authority have rebuked the Prince of the Air as he did the Winds but he stops the Devils Mouth with Scripture It is written It is not our Vows or Resolutions will do it it is not the Papists Holy-Water or Charms will drive away the Devil but let us bring the Word of God against him this is such an Argument
expos'd to the Waves and Rocks 3. Watch your Temptations Satan continually lies in ambush and watcheth to draw us to sin Stat in procinctu diabolus he is fishing for our Souls he is either laying of snares or shooting of darts therefore we had need watch the Tempter that we be not decoyed into sin Most sin is committed for want of watchfulness 7. If you would be kept from the evil of sin consult with the Oracles of God be well versed in Scripture Psal. 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee The word is Anceps gladius a two-edged Sword to cut asunder mens lusts When the Fogs and Vapours of sin begin to arise let but the Light of Scripture shine into the Soul and it dispels those Fogs Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you Col. 3.16 Alphonsus King of Arragon read over the Bible Fourteen times The word shews the damnable evil of sin it furnisheth us with Precepts which are so many Receipts and Antidotes against sin When Christ had a Temptation to sin he beat back the Tempter and wounded him Three times with this Sword of the Spirit It is written Why do men live in sin but because they either do not Read the Word or do not believe it 8. If you would be preserv'd from gross presumptuous sin get your hearts fired with love to God Love hath a great force in it it is strong as death it breaks the league between the heart and sin Two things in God cause Love First His Orient Beauty Moses desired to see some glimpse of it Lord shew me thy glory 2. His Amazing Love What a Prodigy of Love was it to give his Son out of his Bosom and lay such a Jewel to pawn for our Redemption These two the Orient of God's Beauty and the Magnitude of his Love may like two Loadstones draw our Love to God and if we love him we will not sin against him He that loves his Friend will not by any means displease him I have read of four men meeting together who asked one another What it was that kept them from sinning One said The Fear of Hell Another said The Joys of Heaven The Third said The Odiousness of Sin The Fourth said That which keeps me from sin is Love to God Shall I sin against so good a God Shall I abuse Love Love to God is the best Curben-bit to keep from sin 9. If you would be kept from the evil of sin be diligent in a Calling DuÌ laboribus omnia vendunt Adam in Paradise must till the Ground Such as live idly expose themselves to sin if we have no work to do Satan will find us work He sows most of his seed in Fallow ground A Woman being much tempted to sin came to Reverend Mr. Greenham for Advice What she should do to resist the Temptation He gave her this Answer Be always well employed that so when Satan comes he may find thee busied in thy Calling and thou maist not be at leisure to listen to his Temptations 10. If you would be kept from sin fix the eye of your Mind upon the Beauty of Holiness Holiness consists in our Conformity to God Holiness is the sparkling of the Divine Nature a beam of God shining in the Soul How lovely is Christ's Bride when decked and bespangled with the Jewels of Holiness What makes the Seraphims Angels of Light but their Holiness Do but think with your selves what a splendid glorious thing Holiness is and it will cause a disgust and hatred of sin which is so contrary to it The beholding of Beauty makes one out of love with Deformity 11. If you would keep from the evil of sin meditate frequently of Death First The unavoidableness of it Heb. 9.27 Statutum est It is appointed for all once to die We are not so sure to lie down this night in our Bed as we are to lie down in our Grave Secondly The uncertainty of the Time We are but Tenants at will we hold our Life at the Will of our Landlord And how soon may God turn us out of this house of clay Death oft comes when we least look for it The Floud as some Learned Writers observe came in the Month Zif or April in the Spring when the Trees were Blossoming and the Birds Singing then came the Floud when they least looked for it So oft in the Spring of Youth when the Body is most healthy and the Spirits most sprightly and vigorous and Death is least thought on then it comes Could we think often and seriously of Death it would give a Death's-wound to sin Nihil sic revocato peocata quà m crebra mortis contemplatio Aug. No stronger Antidote against sin than this Am I now Singing and to morrow may be Dying What if Death should take me doing the Devil's work Would it not send me to him to receive my Wages Would but the Adulterer think I am now in the Act of Sin but how soon may Death come and then I who have burned in lust must burn in Hell This sure would strike a damp into him and make him afraid of going after strange Flesh. 12. If you would be kept from Gross Scandalous Sins beware of a Covetous Heart Covetousness is a dry Drunkenness He who thirsts insatiably after the World will stick at no sin he will betray Christ and a Good Cause for Money Cui nihil satis eidem nihil turpe Tacitus 1 Tim. 6.10 The love of Money is the root of all evil From this Root comes First Theft Achan's covetous humour made him steal the VVedge of Gold Josh. 7.21 Covetousness makes the Jayls so full Secondly From this root comes Murder VVhy did Ahab Stone Naboth to death but to possess his Vineyard 1 King 21.13 Covetousness hath made many swim to the Crown in blood Thirdly From this bitter Root of Covetousness proceeds Cousenage It is the Covetous hand holds false weights Fourthly From this Root of covetousness comes Uncleanness You read of the hire of a Whore Deut. 23.18 For Money she would let both her Conscience and Chastity be set to sale O if you would be kept from the evil of sin beware of Covetousness which is the In-let to so many sins 13. Let us be much in Prayer to God to keep us from Ingulphing our selves in sin Psal. 19.11 Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins We have no power inherent to keep our selves from evil Arnoldus saith That Man in his corrupt estate hath Aliquaâ reliquias vitae Spiritualis Some Reliques of Spiritual Life left And Arminius saith Man hath a sufficiency of Grace in himself whereby he may Abstinere à malo abstain from evil Free-will is a sufficient curb to check and pull him back from sin But then what needed Christ to have Taught us this Prayer Libera nos à malo Deliver us from evil If we have power of our selves to keep from sin What need we pray to
the Soul as Angels as Heaven God hath laid out much Cost upon it and if it perish he should lose all his Cost When Xerxes destroyed the Temples in Greece he caused the Temple of Diana to be preserved for its beautiful Structure The new creature is God's Temple adorned with all the Graces which he will not suffer to be demolished Riches take Wings Kings Crowns tumble in the Dust Nay some of the Graces may cease Faith and Hope shall be no more but the new creature abideth for ever 1 Iohn 2.27 5. The Misery of the unregenerate creature Dying so I may say of him as Christ said of Iudas Mark 14.21 It were good for that Man if he had not been born Better have been a Toad a Serpent any thing if not a new creature The old Sinner must go into old Tophet Isa. 30.33 Damned Caitiffs will have nothing to ease their Torments not one drop of Honey in all their Gall. In the Sacrifice of Iealousie there was to be no Oil put to it Numb 5. In Hell there is no Oil of Mercy put to the Sufferings of the damned to lenifie them Therefore get out of the Wild Olive of Nature labour to be new creatures lest you curse your selves at last A sinful Life will cause a despairing Death Quest. What shall we do to be new Creatures Answ. 1. Wait on the Ordinances The Preaching of the Word is the Seed of which the new Creature is formed This is the Trumpet which must make the dead in Sin come out of their Grave 2. Pray earnestly for the new Creature Lord thou hast made me once make me again What shall I do with this old heart It defiles all it toucheth Urge God with his Promise Ezek. 36.26 A new Heart will I give you Say Lord I am as the dry Bones but thou didst cause Breath to come into them Ezek. 37.10 Do the same to me breath a supernatural Life of Grace into me Vse 4. Thankfulness Let such as are new creatures stand upon Mount Gerizim blessing and praising God Ascribe all to the Riches of God's Love set the Crown upon the head of free Grace God hath done more for you than if he had made you Kings and Queens Though you have not so much of the World as others you are happier than the greatest Monarchs upon Earth and I dare say you would not change with them The Apostles seldom speak of the new Creation but they join some thankful Praises with it 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be God who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope Col. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father who hath made us meet for the inheritance in light The new creature is a sign of Election a badge of Adoption What distinguishing Love is this that God should make any of us new creatures when he hath left the greatest part of the World to perish in their Sins Such as are Paterns of Mercy should be Trumpets of Praise Of the Government of the Tongue Jam. 3.6 And the Tongue is a Fire a World of Iniquity THE Apostle Iames in this Scripture describes the Evil of the Tongue The Tongue is a Fire a World of Iniquity 1. It is a Fire It burns with intemperate heat it causeth the Heat of Contention it sets others in a Flame 2. A World of Iniquity It was at first made to be an Organ of God's Praise but it is become an Instrument of Unrighteousness All the Members of the Body are sinful as there is bitterness in every Branch of Wormwood but the Tongue is excessively sinful full of deadly Poison vers 8. Doctr. The Tongue though it be a little Member yet it hath a World of Sin in it The Tongue is an unruly Evil. We put Bitts in Horses Mouths and rule them but the Tongue is an unbridled Thing It is hard to find a Curbing bitt to rule the Tongue There is a World of Sin in the Tongue The Devil makes use of Men's Tongues for the promoting most of the Wickedness which is in the World I shall show you some of the Evils of the Tongue I. The Evil Tongue travel a little over this World is the silent Tongue It is wholly mute in Matters of Religion it never speaks of God or Heaven as if it cleaved to the roof of the Mouth Men are fluent and discursive enough in other Things but in Matters of Religion their Lips are sealed up If we come into some People's Company we do not know what Religion they are of whether Iews or Mahometans for they never speak of Christ they are like the Man in the Gospel who was possessed with a Dumb Devil Mar. 9.17 II. The Evil Tongue is the earthly Tongue Men talk of nothing but the World their Wares and Drugs or their rich Purchace Son 's of the Earth they have the Serpent's Curse lick the Dust. Ioh. 3.31 He that is of the Earth speaketh of the Earth as if all their Hopes were here and they looked for an earthly Eternity these have Brutish Minds Seneca being asked of what Country he was answered that he was ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a Citizen of this World So many are Citizens of this World all their Discourse and Traffick is here Their Speech bewrays them III. The Evil Tongue is the hasty or angry Tongue They have no command of Passions but are carried away with them as a Chariot with wild Horses I know there is an Holy Anger when we are angry with Sin Christ had this Anger when they made the Temple a place of Merchandice Ioh. 2.15 That Anger is without Sin which is against Sin but that is an Evil Tongue which is presently blown up into exorbitant Passion this Tongue is set on Fire from Hell Isaiah's Lips were touched with a Coal from the Altar Isa. 6. His Tongue was set on Fire from Heaven but the angry furious Tongue is set on Fire from Hell When the Tongue is on Fire it is the Devil that lights the Match Eccles. 7.9 Anger rests in the Bosom of Fools It may be in a Wise Man but it rests in a Fool. More are drunk with Passion than Wine Hierome Water when it is hot soon boils over So when the Heart is heated with Anger it soon boils over in fiery and passionate Speeches 1 King 19.12 after the Earthquake a Fire but God was not in the Fire So I may say of the Fire of rash Anger God is not in this Fire Grace heats the Heart but cools the Tongue makes it meek and calm Passion transports it oft disturbs the use of Reason Brevis Insania and if Reason cannot act much less can Grace Rashness of Anger hinders Holy Duties Hot Passions make cold Prayers A wrathful Spirit is unsuitable to the Gospel It is a Gospel of Peace and it is sealed by the Spirit who came in the Form of a Dove a meek peaceable Creature Thou who art given much to Passion whose Tongue is often set
to do with our Words Who shall controll us Who is Lord over us There 's no Engine the Devil makes more use of than the Tongue What Errors Contentions Impieties have been propagated this way to the Dishonour of the high God David calls his Tongue his Glory Psal. 57.8 Awake my Glory Why did he call his Tongue his Glory but because by it he did set forth God's Glory in praising him But a wicked man's Tongue is not his Glory but his Shame With his Tongue he wounds the Glory of God it is set on fire of Hell Vse 3. Confutation Bran. 1. It confutes the Catharists and Perfectists that plead for Perfection in this Life If the Tongue hath so many Evils in it how are they perfect Prov. 20.9 Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from Sin He makes a challenge to all the World But the Perfectist saith he is pure from Sin Like Isidore the Monk Non habâo Domine quod mihi ignoscas I have nothing Lord for thee to pardon If pure and perfect then they put Christ out of Office he hath nothing to do for them as an Advocate they have no need of his Intercession But Eccles. 7.20 There is not a just man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not Nay that sinneth not in doing good In the Grammar with the Present Tense is joyn'd the Imperfect With the Present State of Grace is joyn'd Imperfection There 's not a just man on earth that sinneth not nay I may say that sinneth not in his tongue Moses was noted for the meekest man alive yet he spake unadvisedly with his Lips Hear ye Rebels Moses could not plead Perfection Paul was an elect Vessel but there fell out a sharp contention between him and Barnabas and they grew so hot in their Words that they parted each from other and we do not read that they had any more friendly Visits Acts 15.39 Paul himself was not perfect Sin is like the wild Fig-tree in the Wall cut off the Branches and Stump yet some Sprig or other will spring out again How proud and supercilious are they who hold they are perfect when the holiest men alive at some time or other offend in their Tongue There is no Perfection on this side the Grave Perfection never begins till the Life ends Only the Death of the Body will free us from the Body of Death Branch 2. It confutes the Arminians those Patrons of Free Will they say they have power to their own Salvation they can change their Heart The Apostle saith The Tongue can no man tame Jam. 3.8 If they cannot bridle their Tongue how can they conquer their Will If they cannot master this little Member Tongue how can they change their Nature Alas as St. Austin saith Cathedram habet in Coelo qui corda docet in Terra He hath his Pulpit in Heaven that converts Hearts But what Reply will Men make at the last Day when God shall say You had power to convert your selves why were you not converted You could have come to Christ if you pleased but why did ye not It was Wilfulness Ex ore tuo out of thy own mouth I will condemn thee Vse 4. Caution Take heed to your Tongue have a care that ye offend not with your Tongue Psal. 34.14 Keep thy Tongue from evil A Sin we are very prone to to lash out with our Tongues There 's the Fire of Lust in the Eye and the Fire of Passion in the Tongue Psal. 39.1 I said I will take heed to my Ways that I offend not with my tongue An hard Lesson Pambus said he was above twenty years learning that Scripture not to offend with his tongue The Tongue is an unruly Member God hath set a double Hedge before the Tongue the Teeth and Lips to keep it within its bounds that it doth not speak vainly O look to your Tongue When a City is besieged he that keeps the Gates of the City keeps the whole City safe so if you keep the Gates or Doors of your Mouth you keep your whole Soul Rules for the well ordering and regulating your Words or the governing of your Tongue that you do not dishonour God therewith 1 Rule If you would have better Tongues labour for better Hearts It is the Heart hath Influence upon the Tongue The Heart fills the Tongue with Words as the Cistern is fill'd from the Spunge The way to heal the Tongue is to better the Heart The Vapours that trouble the Head come from the Stomach If you would cure the Head apply something to the Stomach If the Stomach were better the Head would be better Reformation must begin at the Heart In a Watch when the Wheels are out of order they mend the Spring thereof so when the Tongue is like a Watch that runs too fast in vain sinful talk mend the Spring let thy Heart be bettered If the Heart be vain and earthly the Tongue will be so If the Water be foul in the Fountain it cannot be clear in the Vessel If the Heart be holy the Tongue will be so Look to thy Heart get a better Heart and a better Tongue Quest. How shall I get my Heart bettered Answ. Get a Principle of Grace infused Grace is like the Salt cast into the Spring Grace changeth the Heart and sanctifies all the Members of the Body it sanctifies the Eyes and makes them Chast it sanctifies the Tongue and makes it Meek and Calm When the Holy Ghost came upon the Apostles they began to speak with other Tongues Act. 2.4 When God's Spirit comes on a Man with a sanctifying Work he speaks with another Tongue the Speech is Heavenly Grace makes the Heart Serious and that cures the levity of the Tongue When the Heart is serious the Words are savoury 2 Rule If you would not Sin in your Tongue call to Mind how you have formerly offended in your Tongue and that will make you more watchful for the Future Have not you spoken Words that have savoured of Discontent or Envy Have not you been guilty of Censuring and Slandering Have not you been disguised with Passion Hath not your Tongue out run your Discretion Have not you spoken Words that you have been sorry for afterwards and have caused either shame or tears O observe former failings how you have sinned in your Tongue and that will be a good help for the future David certainly made a Critical Observation upon some of his Words wherein he had offended Words of Pride Psal. 30.6 In my Prosperity I said I shall never be moved And Psal. 116.14 I said in my haste All Men are Lyars Even Samuel and all the Prophets who promised me the Kingdom they are all Lyars and I shall die before I can come to enjoy it David having observed how he had offended in his Tongue he is more careful of his Words and made a strict Vow with himself that he would look better them Psal. 39.1 I said I
is it to do well a while and then by Apostasie to unravel all As if a Limner should with his Pencil draw a fair Picture and then come with his Spunge and wipe it out again 6. Consider the Examples of such as have continued their Progress unweariably in a Christian course The Apostle sets before our Eyes a Cloud of Witnesses Heb. 12.1 Being compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses let us run the Race that is set before us let us run it with celerity and constancy How many Noble Martyrs and Confessors of old have walked in the ways of God though they have been strew'd with Thorns they scorned Preferments laughed at imprisonments and their love to Christ burned hotter than the Fire Polycarp when he came before the Proconsul and he bad him deny Christ he replyed Octoginta fexannos illi inservii c. I have served Christ these 86 years and he hath not once hurt me and shall I deny him now Tertullian saith such was the constancy of the Primitive Saints that the Persecutors cryed out Quae miseria est haec What a Misery is this that we are more weary in tormenting than they are in enduring Torment Let us tread in their steps who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises 7. It will be our Comfort on our Death-bed to review a well-spent Life It was Augustus's wish that he might have an ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a quiet easie Death If any thing make our Pillow easie at Death it will be this that we have been unweariable in God's Work This will be a Death-bed Cordial Did you ever know any repent at Death that they have been too Holy Many have repented that they have followed the World too much not that they have prayed too much that they have repented too much What hath made Death sweet but that they have finished their Course and kept the Faith 8. Think of the Great Reward we shall have if we do not give over or grow weary and that is Glory and Immortality 1. This Glory is ponderous 't is called ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a Weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 The Weight adds to the Worth the weightier a Crown of Gold is the more it is worth 2. It is satisfying Psal. 17.15 I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness This Glory will abundantly recompense all our Labours and Sufferings The Joy of Harvest makes amends for all the Labour in sowing O what an Harvest shall the Saints reap It will be always reaping time in Heaven and this reaping will be in the due season So the Apostle saith in the Text we shall reap ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã in due Season The Husband-man doth not desire to reap till the Season he will not reap his Corn while it is green but when it is ripe So we shall reap the Reward of Glory in due Season When our Work is done when our Sins are purged out when our Graces are come to their full growth then is the Season of reaping Therefore let us not be weary of well-doing but hold on in Prayer Reading and all the Exercises of Religion we shall reap in due season if we faint not To keep us from fainting know that the Reward promised is very near Rom. 13.11 Our Salvation is nearer than when we believed We are but within a few Days March of the Heavenly Canaan It is but a few more Prayers and Tears shed and we shall be perfected in Glory as that Martyr Dr. Taylor said I have but one Style more to go over and I shall be at my Father's House Stay but a while Christians and your Troubles will be over and your Coronation-Day shall come Christ who is the Oracle of Truth hath said Behold I come quickly Rev. 22.20 And yet Death 's coming is sooner than Christ's Personal coming and then begins the Saints Blessed Iubile Quest. What Means shall we use that we may not wax weary in a Christian course Answ. 1. Let us otium excutere shake off Spiritual Sloath. Sloath saith there is a Lyon in the way He who is sloathful will soon grow weary he is fitter to lie on his Couch than to run a Race It is a strange Sight to see a busie Devil and an idle Christian. Answ. 2. If we would not grow weary let us pray for persevering Grace It was David's Prayer Psal. 119.117 Hold thou me up and I shall be safe And it was Beza's Prayer Domine quod Coepisti perfice c. Lord perfect what thou hast begun in me that I may not suffer Shipwrack within sight of the Haven That we may hold on a Christian Course let us labour for Three persevering Graces 1. Faith Faith keeps from Fainting Faith gives a Substance to Things not seen and makes them to be as it were present Heb. 11.1 As a Perspective-Glass makes those things which are at a distance near to the Eye so to Faith Heaven and Glory seem near A Christian will not be weary of Service that hath the Crown in his Eye 2. The Second persevering Grace is Hope Credula vitam spes fovet Hope animates the Spirits it is to the Soul as the Cork to the Net which keeps it from sinking Hope breeds Patience and Patience breeds Perseverance Hope is compared to an Anchor Heb. 6.19 The Christian never sinks but when he casts away his Anchor 3. Persevering Grace is Love Love makes a Man that he is never weary Love may be compared to the Rod of Mirtle in the Traveller's Hand which refresheth him and keeps him from being weary in his Journey He who loves the World is never weary of following the World he who loves God will not be weary of serving him That is the Reason why the Saints and Angels in Heaven are never weary of Praising and Worshiping God because their Love to God is perfect and Love turns Service into Delight Get the Love of God in your Hearts and you will run in his Ways and not be weary Of knowing to do Good and not to do it James 4.17 To him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is Sin THE Apostle in the former Verses had met with a Sin common in those days a sinful Boasting among Men. Ver. 13. Go to now ye that say to day or to morrow we will go into such a City and buy and sell and get gain whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow you may be in your Graves before to morrow for what is your Life it is even a Vapour A Vapour being an Exhalation it cannot continue long as it is raised by the Sun so it is dispersed by the Wind Such is your Life a Vapour a short Breath a flying Shadow it appears ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã for a little time and then vanisheth Well might they say what need we be taught such a plain Lesson who knows not all this that Life is a Vapour and that we ought not to
and yet not to do it knowing what is evil yet not forbearing these Sins do much harden the Heart These are two of the greatest Blessings a sound Judgment and a soft Heart But sinning presumptuously and knowingly doth congeal the Heart it doth both wast the Conscience and sear it 1 Tim. 4.2 By sinning knowingly a Person gets a Custom of Sin and the Custom of sinning takes away the Sense of sinning Ephes. 4.19 Being past feeling Tell the presumptuous Sinner there are Treasures of Wrath laid up for him lead him to the Brink of Hell and bid him hear the Roarings of the damned and the ratling of their Chains bid him look upon the infernal Flames and see the Devils that must shortly keep him company he fears not his Heart is like a piece of Marble or Adamant that will take no impression When Men know to do Good yet do it not their Hearts harden insensibly and that is dangerous Now they cannot repent that makes the Sin against the Holy Ghost uncapable of Pardon because he that hath sinn'd it is uncapable of Repentance 2. Such as sin presumptuously they know to do good yet do it not are ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã self-condemned Tit. 3.11 Being condemned in himself The Sinner knows in his Conscience he is guilty he hath sinn'd against Warnings Education Conviction so that his own Heart condemns him When the Judge saith to the Malefactor Thou hast committed such things worthy of Death and the Evidence is clear against thee What canst thou say for thy self that thou shouldest not die he is forc'd to cry Guilty The presumptuous Sinner is self-condemned and he will clear God when God judgeth him Psal. 51.4 That thou maist be clear when thou judgest When God condemns the Prisoner he will clear his Judge 3. To know to do good yet not to do it such presumptuous Sins make deep Wounds in the Soul A Prick of a Pin fetcheth Blood but the Thrust of a Rapier brings Death The least Sin fetcheth Blood but presumptuous Sins are like a stab at the Heart 'T is a Miracle if ever such recover by Repentance Every little Hole in the Tiling le ts in Rain but a Crack in the Foundation indangers the Fall of the House Every Sin of Infirmity is hurtful but presumptuous Sin cracks the Conscience and threatens the Ruine of that Soul Presumptuous Sin makes way for Despair a deep Wound Despair is the Agony of the Soul Spira in Despair was like a living Man in Hell Despair did suck out his Marrow and Vital Blood it made him a very Anatomy Now to sin against the Light of Conscience will bring to despair at last The Sinner goes on stubbornly yet his foolish Heart tells him all will be well But when God begins to set his Sins in order before him and Conscience which before was like a Lion asleep begins to be awakened and roars upon him and he sees Death and Hell before him now his Heart faints his Presumption is turn'd to Despair and he cries out as Cain Gen. 4.13 My punishment is greater than I can bear Now the Sinner begins to think with himself thus I would have my Sins and I had them and I have the wrath of God with them Oh how foolish was I to refuse Instruction but it is too late now the Mercy-Seat is quite covered with Clouds I am shut out from all hope of Mercy my Wounds are such that the Balm of Gilead will not heal The more Presumption in the Time of Life the more Despair at the hour of Death 4. To know to do Good and not to do it to sin presumptuously God may in just Judgment leave such an one to himself It is a terrible thing when God shall say Thou hast by thy presumptuous Sin affronted me and provoked me to my Face therefore I will give thee up to thine own Heart thou shalt sin still seeing thou wilt be filthy thou shalt be filthy still 'T is sad for a Man to be left to himself 't is like a Ship without a Rudder or Pilot driven of the Winds and dashing upon a Rock Rom. 1.21 24. Because when they knew God they glorified him not as God wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness What is the Condition of a Patient when the Physician gives him over and leaves him to his own sick Palate Saith he Physick will do him no good he may eat what he pleases for he will die So God after Men have sinn'd wilfully gives them up to their Lusts let them do what they will they are in a dying condition 5. To know what is good yet not do to it to sin presumptuously is a great degree of the Sin against the Holy Ghost Such as sin presumptuously sin wilfully Put but one Weight more into the Scale add but Despight and Malice against the Spirit and it becomes the unpardonable Sin Though Presumption is not final Apostacy yet it comes very near to it and a little matter more will make thee so guilty that there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin To sin presumptuously against Light may in time bring on Malice and Despight to the Spirit As it was with Iulian who threw up his Dagger in the Air as if he would be revenged on God When once it is come to this there 's but one step lower a Man can fall and that is into Hell 6. A presumptuous person who knows to do Good and doth it not is possessed with the Devil Satan hath a great power over him A Man that is resolved in Sin let God and Conscience say what they will I may say as Acts 5.2 Why hath Satan filled thy Heart The Prince of the Air hath blown on thee and fill'd thy Sails that thou movest so swiftly in Sin In Christ's time there were many bodily possess'd but in our time I fear they have their Souls possess'd with the Devil she would have her Will licet Corpus Animam in aeternum damnavit May it not be said of such a Person as Mat. 15.22 My Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil 7. There is little hope for such as know to do Good yet do it not know what is evil but will not forbear There were Sacrifices for Sins of Ignorance but no Sacrifices for Sins of Presumption Numb 15.30 Indeed presumptuous Sinners hope all will be well Prov. 14.16 The Fool is confident Such a Fool is spoken of Deut. 29.19 When he hears the words of this Curse he blesseth himself saying I shall have peace though I walk after the imagination of my heart to add Drunkenness to Thirst the Lord will not spare him but the Anger and Iealousie of the Lord shall smoke against that Man Though the humble penitent may fly to the Mercy of God as to an Altar of Refuge yet God will pluck the presumptuous Sinner from this Altar Exod. 23.7 I will not justifie the wicked Should God favour presumptuous Sinners he should justifie the wicked seem to