iâ— sent into the World to reveal it to man We know not the mind of God but we have the mind of Christ 2. All other handles the Word deceitfully and is nothing but the teaching of the Serpent to draw man from God 3. He hath gone the way himself others have but seen it in a map 1. But there are manie false Teachers and Preachers in the World As Satan preacheth liberty unto sin the World riches and careing and fleshlie pleasures But these are not the Doctrine of the Christ 2. Others will be wise in heavenlie doctrine by fleshlie wisdom and so think by art and learning to compasse it and so transcend above Christ and lyes not low with him 3. Others teach Christ to be a Law-giver and so frame a righteousnesse in seeming obedience but knows not the power of his death and life 1. As the drunkard to wallow in pleasure and live like a beast at the stale didst thou learn this at Christ 2. The wordling carking caring gathering didst thou learn that at Christ who had not his kingdom here 3. The proud vain glorious that looks for respect did Christ teach thee that Who pulls down every high thought 4. The malicious striving contentious man did Christ so Nay the Doctrine of Christ was 1. To pull down man and lay him low and exalt God and the power of his truth 2. To Crosse the World and stablish Faith 3. To kill the Flesh and stablish patience to destroy Lust and stablish Love But we like noâ— this doctrine it gives no liberty to the Flesh hereby all false doctrine is detected For I am meek and lowly in heart so should you be So that Lowelie meek-minded men who are humbled in themselves and daily judge their own unworthinesse shall enjoy most rest unto their Souls Christ reviled not again Mat. 5. Blessed are the meekâ— And a meek and quiet Spirit is much set by He that humbles himself shall be exalted the whole Gospel runâ— on this string 1. For they are fitted to bear all estates 2. Nothing vexeth man but Pride and unquietnesse of his own mind when he looks for this and that and strives cares and frets and no rest 3. He lives by meer mercie having no good thought of himself 1. This is not a softnesse of nature fretting within 2. Nor a Pharisaical hanging down the head like a bul-rush as Isa 6.8 3. Nor a lurking like a dog under a cudgile But a true understanding of himself and his own vilenesse which brings down pride judgeth himself justifie others applyant mind readie to suffer all and passe by them SERMON IV. Luke 2.8 9 10. And there were in the same countrey shepherds abiding in the field and watching their flocks by night And the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone about them and they were sore afraid c. IN the former verses hath been laid down the birth of Christ and the manner thereof According to the prophesies gone of him before Here is laid down the manifestation hereof to the world It was the greatest message that ever was brought into the World and the most unliklie to be believed by the World That a poor infant born of poor Parents so disrespected in the World that they could not be admitted to come into the Inne but born in a stable and laid in a manger wrapped in a few cloaths And this now revealed to the poor shepherds in the fields and by them reported to the men of Bethlem When the Church being then in trouble and bondage looked for some great and glorious Messiah to come with great pompe and power to work deliverance for them and this must be the man raised up by the power of God to be the light of the Gentiles and the glorie of Israel We celebrate this Feast in remembrance of this great Savior and worker of deliverance Like that of Purim in Esther But we consecrate it to Bacchus not to Christ in Rioting and Drunkennesse in Chambring Wantonnesse c. And not in povertie of Spirit and humility with Christ but in pride and fullnesse of the World Our joy is not in communion with Christ in his birth and death but in liberty to the Flesh forgetting of all O if Christ should come as he will come and find us thus One swilling and drinking another carding and dicing another whoring And all under pretence of love to him Would he take it well O no! Christ was born in a time and manner little looked for by the World and yet in a time of great need For the Church was now grown to a low ebb From Ezraâ—s Nehemiahs time after the second Temple and one during the time of the Maccabees They suffered great persecution darknesse as Heb. 11. For now they had no more Prophesies but a very vaiting on the word of Promises Yea now according to Jacobs Prophesie the Scepter was departed from Judah and they Tributaries to the Romans And now was the time though not known to the World not expected yet now the fullnesse of time being come Christ is sent Thus God dealeth in the Kingdom of Christ So that God hath a time reserved in his own purpose for deliverance and redemption of man which he sends not when and how he lastingly expects but only to be waited one by lowly Faith in tâ—e word of Truth which shall come when man in Flesh and sense sees least reason and least expects it When thou brought again the captivity of Jacob or Sion we were as them that dream Hab. 2. The vision is for an appointed time and the prodigal little looked for intertainment 1. For so God deals in all that he may be magnified For to the wicked he comes in judgment when they are eating and drinking and cry peace peace and to believers in mercy when they cry woe and misery bondage and death 2. He hath given a sure Word of the Prophets to be attended on For the time he hath in his own power and that time is worth waiting on in Faith and Patience 3. It is not mans device and work that can haften his time Not going up to Heaven nor down to Hell but abiding in the word of truth being near even in our hearts Thus we would all fain hasten the time As in the Church there was great expectation yea Abraham desired to see this day So we all would know where when and how But the Kingdom of Christ comes not with observâ—tion 1. If we be in miserie we think too long and murmure Thy desire God sees but thy Impatience he likes not He will answer thy desires and longing but he will make thee First willing to bear his Indignation Yea and we no sooner begin to feel the smart of our guilt a little but we think Christ should presentlie come nay but we must pay tribute and be taxed and feel Repentance and the bitternesse thereof and wait in
hearts even drovvned in pride of our ovvn hearts have a conceit of salvation in our selves Is sin lesse sinful than it was Stand vve not as much need of salvation as before nay our hearts are not prepared for mercie but claime it as a due and therefore is salvation far from us But know that before salvation or freedom come from Christ to our hearts these high looks must down we carried into Babylon God never casts his mercy upon hardened hearts but the poor mourners shall be comforted So that faith holinesse is daily preserved by repentance deep humility vvhen God opens the high vvay of our hearts he gathers out the stones all his mercies though they bring comfort yet still more humblenesse that he should daily be so good we so vile rebellious still so is mercie salvation contained Who is this that cometh from Edom. That is from the land of captivitie from Bozra the chief Citie of the Edomites representing the great povver of Satan Flesh and the World wherein man is bound novv comes the Prince and Captain of our Salvation out of our captivity and death and is consecrated through suffering even in death overcoming all things his garments red with the blood of the Sacrifice Laying it down by way of admiration in the question answer containing wondering and Christs ansvver For the vvhole Chapter is a Prophetical Declaration of Redemption by Christ and the state of man to be redeemed as 1. The Person or Redeemer even Christ discovered by his povver and strength travelling in the greatnesse of his strength and the rest c. 2. By his truth and righteousnesse I that speak in righteousnesse 3. The way means how he hath done it viz. First By death under a Metophor of Trading the Wine-presse 4. What he hath done viz. Troden them in his Wrath. Who is this that cometh This shews the expectation of the captive Church waiting for a deliverer according to the promise after seventy weeks so man after his long bondage under hell and Flesh and seeing Christ a weak poor man and that all in blood crucified dead and buried seems an unlikely man to reason but in his answer he puts away all doubts that he is the only man and Redeemer So that The weary waiting and forlorn heart of man though he see little possibility to obtain life by Christ in sense reason but many more likely devices ye shall never find freedom but only in him For he was ordained of old to break the Serpents head and prophesied to bind up the broken hearted Yet what a doe had he with his Disciples for to perswade them that He was He but still they cried Is not this Josephs Son is this likely to be He He only was Jobs refuge in all his afflictions when he saw nothing but death yet his Redeemer liveth This he witnesseth by word and work By word I am come to save the World I am the Resurrection and the Life By works How many poor lame and blind did He help which He was after to do spiritually the afflicted he comforted as Mary and the Prodigal The Pharisees cryed out Who is this that forgiveth sins that destroyes the Law Nay others said Except ye be circumcised Christ cannot profit 1. For he came to destroy the flesh and redeem the spirit therefore was he weak in the flesh strong in spirit that he might cross the curious witt and pride of man who looked for great things 2. All things prosper according to his presence with man and not he according to the power of the creature all other things are but miserable comforters only puts off for a time but it comes again with all violence like a sore that is ill healed Yet who hath believed this report Nay in any straits we look for other helps The World saith Come see what riches and certaintie I will relieve thy wants be diligent ply thy mind to me and I will ease thee and saith Man This is that comes with full hand and good gain This is like to preserve so much Inheritance so much coming in and is yet never a whit eased but a slave still The flesh saith Come to me I come not in sadnesse and sorrow but in mirth and pastime and pleasure I will put away sorrow from thy heart and season all sadnesse with mirth and yet for all this in the midst thereof the heart is sorrowfull Reason saith Come to me I will shew thee a likelie way do good worke righteousnesse see thy great knowledge and good qualities then believe that Christ may profit but simple believing stands not in this but in another thing and when thou feels nothing in thy self Reason would judge this but a blind way Nay saith Christ But come hither look on me believe my Word I am poor and needie in flesh and so must thou be I will deliever thy Spirit and free thy mind these deceive thee but I speak in righteousnesse though I seem base yet all power is given to me and I am mighty to save So that he that looks for salvation by Christ had need of Faith more than Witt When the poor captive Soul sees nothing but death and bondage no power to free himself and sees nothing but poor Christ all wallowing in blood shut up in the grave sits mourning at the Sepulchre and yet look for salvation in him had need to pray daily Lord increase our Faith and help our unbelief And to this end would Christ confirm his Disciples in expectation of the Promise and Life by his Death and to wait for the Holy Ghost by the Sacraments and pledges of his love and truth which he left them saying I know ye doubt and fear and hereafter ye shal see me forsaken judged and crucified and buried and then will your hearts tremble but that I have spoken in Righteousnesse take this as a pledge of my love and truth when ye come together eat and drink this believe my Promise rejoyce in me in my death for though I must trade the Wine presse alone yet I will trade it in my Furie I that speak in righteousnesse The word of Christ is the word of righteousness to believing hearts and shall be assuredlie fulfilled to troubled Spirits Mighty to save So that All power of saving man is in Christ no power in man to procure or pâ—eserve his own safetie I have troden the Wine-presse So that Jesus Christ hath under-gone the wrath of the Father for man that he might redeem man from wrath and by his suffering hath wrought Redemption for man I have troden the Wine-presse alone So that None partakes with Christ in the work of mans redemption but he is the beginner finisher of mans happinesse Mine own arm brought salvation So that When all povver in man fails miserie strikes then is the power of Gods spirit still at hand I will trade
of natural wit to know the good will pleasure of God or the Mistery of Christ so as man shall find life theteby or certainty therein but as the Father makes himself known in Christ by his Word power of his Spirit unto the faith of man believing his truth 1. Cor. 2. The natural man understandeth not the things of God Christ saith I am the light that enlightens all that comes after me Joh. 1 He is the light of the world Joh. 1.4 There is anoynting that teacheth all things 1. Joh. 5. None can say that Jesus is the Christ but by the Holy Ghost Though we think that That Jesus we read of was the Christ and Saviour yet the flesh thinks but of him after the flesh but his mightie Power his wonderful Truth unspeakable Love to Man the bitternesse of his Sufferings the Joy in the Fathers will the Victory over Hell and Death the joy at the Fathers right hand none knowes it but he that believes it out of blinnnesse and misery 1. For the Father hath hid the treasures of wisdom in him hidden them from the world found not by curious searching but by humble crying believing found not in man but in Christ there to be enjoyed for he is made our Wisdom Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption 2. Adam had thought to have known God in the Creatures and himself and the evil also without God but knew no good till God revealed Christ in the promise So until we be brought by the truth of Christ to know no good in any thing but in God nor no evil in any thing but in our selves we know nothing at all but we seek to see a good in every thing and in our selves especially and would see no evil and so are lifted up and know nothing as we ought 3. And this Christ prayes that his Elect may know that thou art in me and I in thee and that thou hast sent me And I speak not of any self but they are the words of my Father that sent me for of my self I can do nothing 4. And note that this great Mystery was revealed after Christs death for then he sent the Comforter to lead into all truth and not till then Before this the Disciples had a thousand imaginations of Christ but now they knew that he was the Son of the Father Head of the Church So we have a world of fancies toâ—câ—ing God and Christ but never know him until the Crosse reveal him for till then we only tâ—ink him to be such and such and another thought crosseth that But this makes the weaknesse and vanity to appear his power preserves for every mans work shall be revealed by Fire How wonderful are the blind conceits that man hath of God and Christ as 1. When we will needs comprehend God vvithout Christ in his Essence Properties Attributes Eternity Omnipotencie c. What a foolishnesse is this to think to compasse in our thoughts Omnipotence c. 2. Others that frame a knowledge of Christ in comprehending the Story of his Life and Death Works c Thus vve know him by Relation as we do other Countries where we never were but never vvalk on foot with him in his death and miserie None knowes him whose miserable heart is not delivered from Death by him who believes his truth above all then this truth makes him free 3. We see then that all Knowledge comes by Faitht as suppose a man a Stranger promise to ransome me a captive I believe he will but I know not that he will but only vvait in faith nor hovv he vvil do it nor vvhy he vvill but when he makes good his word then I know his love vvhich he revealed to me and I not able to conceive in my self So with Christ he promiseth that he vvill redeem me but I know not that he vvill onlie I believe and wait in miserie yet by that Faith I am preserved through the Word though I feel nothing but death and bâ—ndage Wouldst thou know the Love of God that passeth Knovvledge vvait on Christ by Faith believing his Word and he will reveal the Love of the Father For though vve know not the mind of Gâ—d yet vve have the mind of Christ So that thou must knovv nothing but in him abide in him â—nd his Word abide in thee and he will reveal all things unto thee So that our curious and busie Wit so hun ing to knovv and straining out the Wit to understand leads to many fancies But knovv that his wayes are insearchable but vvait and attend and he vvill reveal Christ and the Father if thâ—u fit under the burden of thine ovvn ignorance and content for the time to knovv nothing but thy ovvn vilenesse Here we see that Christ is both God and Man A Mâ—n in vvhom the fulnesse of the God head dvvells to vvhom all is given that knovvs the mind of the Father and reveals iâ— to us This is the only God on Earth that mans mind maâ— be fixed here not gade abroad neither ascend into Heaven nor descend down into Hell c. Where then is the free vvill and power of Man vvithout Christ living in him and leading into all Truth dravving the vvill of Man to vvait on God in subjection All else is but trusting to the Wit of Nature vvhich is alvvayes blind It follovveth in the 28. verse SERMON III. Matth 11.28 Come unto me all that are weary and heavy laden and I will ease you Take my yoke upon you learn of me for I am meek lowly in heart HEre is his Invitation upon the former relation of his fulnesse viz. You see where all help is 〈◊〉 then you want help in any strait that lyes on you as a burden Come to me viz. to my Word Promise for there he dwells I will ease you So that There is no certain way or means to a burdened heart to free his guilt ease his burden or rid in him ouâ— of the Snare of Satan but the simple fleeing of the mind from all to Christ in his Word of Truth and there to stick and abide in life and death He was of old ordained to break the Serpents head and prophesied of to bind up the broken hearted He was the refuge of Job in all his afflictions I know that my Redeemer liveth He was sealed and appointed thereto by the purpose of the Father This himself witnesseth by word and work By word I am come to save the World I am the Resurrection and the Life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live By works How many poor lame blind did he help which he was after to do spiritually to heal the blind c. The afflicted he comforted as the Publicane Mary c. And this Paul found in himself and taught unto others That there is none other Name under Heaven c. 1. For nothing can free the spirit of man but he
sinners but now righteous and holy and their repenting dayes are forgotten so mercy lost saith fails For as it was sin that by accident brought Christ into the World so it is sin in mans heart that brings a Saviour unto man 4. Others see in themselves weaknesse and want of Power that they cannot come to that pitch of knowledge righteousnesse that they aim at which if they could all would be well But their rebellious Will Lust and Pride and Worldlinesse are hid from them So that it is the hardest thing to make a man a sinner and to keep him to a daily sense of his own weaknesse 2. But sin in man and mercy in God infidelity in man and faith in Christ layes a right foundation of Religion and is the dayly continuance of the life of all Religion in man for thereby Prayer humilitie â—nd saith are preserved 3 So that the word never prospers but when it lights amongst sinful men The self-righteous have a covering yea all are grown cunning to put off the evil day make a covenant with hell for no sooner doth sin prick look out at them but they have a sore knowledge of a Saviour and so cure the wound before it be made When the heard that Jesus was at meat She being now brought into misery within her self and all her sweet pleasures turned into gall and worm wood she seeks for case and rest so it will fall out to all So that That all the pleasures of joy and peace that man now enjoyes in the world and the flesh will sooner or later be turned into sorrow want and misery for death and judgement will lay all in the dust Where was the confidence that Paul had in the flesh when he was stricken down in the way to Damascus Where is all the power of Pharaoh Pompey of Dives and wealth of all worldlings Luk. 12. Yea Pompey and Alexander are laid in the dust Luke 6. Woe be to you that now laugh for you shall mourn Isa 28. I will make void your Covenant with death 15 For there is a way that seems good but the issues thereof are death 2. Else man should insult over God and Christ his Word become a lye 3. Thus doth God make way for his mercy and love that man may be capable thereof 4. All joy and life of Adam must be destroyed that Christ may live in us 1. Woe to the merry deceived wordling who rejoyceth in his wealth friends pleasure respect as this woman did but behold She is now brought to weeping cheare So we make our selves merry promise many happy dayes but sure fear and sorrow weaknesse and misery must first come before man be established in Peace Freedom for this will not last We think ease good while it lasts and so we put off the evil that we must taste for we have eaten sowre grapes our teeth must be set on edge Nay all our labour care is to put away sorrow fear therefore we gather riches power c. that vve might sit above and see no evil Man would do evil but would not see it rebell but not take notice Did ever any rebell against his Prince but he smarted for it in the end And though the King of meer grace would pardon yet was he a lost man in his own eyes and his pride was laid down in the dungeon so with us for sin in man will cause smart to man first or last For 1. Though we may put it off through blind presumption not regarding what shall follow 2. Or cover our selves and close up our hearts under the bewitching of wordly profits 3. Or to drink down sorrow like unto beasts for a while 4. Or cover our selves from the Word of Truth and simplicity of our minds by our opinions of knowledge self-righteousnesse and the world underneath 1. Yet either will the Lord find us out by his Word and discover such a wretchednesse to man as shall make him cry out Woe and alace that ever I was born and that my mothers Womb had been my grave or that I had been strangled assoon as I saw the light and so cursing his birth day as Job 1. Or man runing on to his course to the end of his Shadows Pleasures and fools Paradice at last falls into the Pit where there is nothing but weeping and gnashing of teeth weeping and howling for the dayes of their vanity that are past and cannot be recalled For the guilt of his Soul presseth him down and cannot be eased when man is entred into Eternal misery which shall never be ended Then alace shall we see that Husband and Wife or Children were but silly fading Earth on which we so doted that Gold and Silver were but Drosse which we so served and now all taken from us and our Life too never to be restored 1. No misery like to the misery of man for no creature on earth hath so rebelled against God as he Did not this woman account any creature happier than she and yet we sport our selves above all and feel no smart because that we are so hardened in the flesh that the Spirit is lost O then that God would give us hearts to see that misery that we might mouâ—n in time and break off sin by repentance For what a folly is it for a man to run on in a course still that he knowes will bring sorrow like the thief who bewitched with present sweet and seeding himself with hope to escape becomes hardned and never believes nor sees the sorrowing of his hanging day 4. And that men in the dayes of mirth would think of the time of mourning every one seeing himself even â—ing on his death-bed and bidding farewell to all worldly delights look for it even the best For Christs heavy day was his lâ—st day even before his entrance into glory so know there is yet a more heavy day to come then thou hast hitherto felt When she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisees house Notwithstanding her own unworthinesse Christs holinesse the Pharisees hard opinion of her Yet such was the miserie that she felt and desire that she had to the Word of Christ that she saw that there was nothing that could ease her but he only so that Christ and his Word are only sweet and desired of troubled hearts and wearied minds but to others it is wearisome and little regarded as Psal 119. I had fainted in my affliction but that thy word stayed me The poor receive the Gospel and the halt and blind came willingly at the voice of the Gospel and how dear was the Word to the Martyrs in trouble that one of Pauls Epistles was a treasure from hand to hand And what a wonderful power had it amongst those sick blind men that he but spake the Word and they were made whole 1. For there is nothing left to a wearie mind that hath any life but Christ and
also and carry them to Babylon to be a prey and servants unto them In the Words note two things 1. His heavy message to Hezekiah 2. Hezekiahs free subjection to the will of God and justifying his Word First He shewes that all the riches and store wherein he glories shall be taken from him yea and his posterity for whom he had gathered them shold be carried Captives and nothing left that he might return to his God As if he shâ—uld say Thâ—u hast shewed all thy store to the King of Babylon and sent the newes of all thy wealth thither Even all this shall be carried away to Babylon and thy children also Thus doth God to destroy the hope of man So that There is a day coming to man that will turn all his riches and glory and pleasures wherein he trusteth and rejoyceth into want sorrow and misery and death doom will sooner or latter lay all in the dust Where is now the glory and pleasure of the Old World or the Power of Pharaoh the Wealâ—h of Job or the Pleasure of Dives the riches of the rich fool or righteousnesse of Paul all laid in the dust For woe to them that now laugh c. 1. For there is a way that seems good to man but the issues thereof are the issues of death 2. For God will take away from man all stayes in the flesh that he may see and know that there is no rest but in him for the life of the first Adam must be lost that we may live by the second 3. Thus God makes way for the manifestation of his mercy and the delivering of Man out of Satans snare 1 Woe to the deceived and bewitched heart of Man whom Satan hath beguiled with the Lustre of the world and drawn from his God who blesseth himself in his present portion and pleasure and thinks he shall see no evil but enjoy many a merry day but sees not the black day when all shall be taken away Nay man thinks to joyn a perpetuity here by joyning house to house and laying a foundation in the earth and then he saith Is not this great Babel that I have built And so shews his Wealth to the world or at least feeds on it himself saith Is not this a goodly portion a loving wife obedient and fine children a good stock and portion a certain estate and never a fâ—iling way of increase what hurt can come to me Even like the thief who blesseth himself in his stolen riches and never thinks of his hanging-day But know though we may put off the evil day a while and first either bury it in forgetfulnesse or drink down fear like beasts or cover it with the righteousnesse of the Law Yet God will either sooner or later strip up our hearts and either first 1. By the Word discover that misery that all our fulnesse cannot remove as before to Hezekiah that with Job we shal curse the day of our birth and with we had never been born 2. Or if he suffer us to run out the course of our vanities with the Prodigal yet there will come a day that will lay all in the dust and darknesse when we shal be cast into the pit and death comes and will not be resisted and then nothing but wailing and gnashing of teeth Wailing for the Time of vanity mispent for Guilt of heart not to be eased for darling with the World that was so esteemed and our friends so dear to part with Then shal we see that Wife and Children Gold and Silver that we see doted on are but Drosse When the Babylonians have ransaked our treasure as now to the Germans and life taken away not to be restored 1. Are not the fair and admired beauties now defaced with rottennesse and consumed with worms that were as smooth ruddy neat and trim as thou art 2 Are not the rich worldlings laid low in a poor sheet and turned to dust 3. Is not the wise-man dead as the fool and all the counsels of his heart perished 4. Are not drunkards and wicked destroyed and their name and posterity forgotten and rotten upon earth 2. Hence we see then whatever man establisheth in his heart and fixeth his mind on but Christ must down and nothing must be left We all desire to learn something and to have something to look at we will trust God but we will have something else to look at some sign and token thus man is lothe to part with all but still he reservs some portion some hope some good quality some righteousnesse to look at no there must be nothing left but the Brazen Serpent Nothing but Christ to look at for all else must to Babylon 3. Nay we see how he takes away all excuses we think to establish our posterity and gather for our children that each may have so much though we fear not our own portion but even these shal be servants we feed them with a coal stollen from the Altar we leave them the fruits of our covetous hearts and so brings them into the snare for an hours pleasure they also must into the land of darknesse commit them to God with any portion for if they may enjoy any small pittance it is enough for thou shalt not know whether they shall come to honour or low degree Let all look for this in the day of fulnesse look for want misery for it will come see thy self taking leave with all thy Friends and Riches for Pompey Alexander are now conquered that conquered all the World Yea the best must taste of this for Christs last day was his heavie day when Wrath Death lay upon Him So that there is a more heavie day to be endured only mans rest in this day is with Hezekiah to cleave to the Word of the Lord in subjection When the Prophet had delivered his message we see how Hezekiah takes it First He acknowledgeth the Power and Goodnesse of the Word of God 2. He submits himself thereto in confidence and assurance that according to the Word Truth and Peace should be in his dayes So that The Word of the Lord is ever good to man and his only treasure on earth and mans subjection thereto his only freedom and rest Isa How sweet upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth glad tydings of Peace It is the joyful tydings of Salvation the Word of Life and the Message of the Kingdom and that wherein David found more joy than in all riches or great spoils The Law is spiritual and good the Gospel is the message of Mercy and Life Wisdom is justified of her Children And Eli's subjection to the word of Samuel was his only hearts ease 1. For though it fight against the World and Lust of mans heart yet it is for the freeing of Man from them 2. For this Word must stand though it sight against Man and mans subjection must be his Rest For the Word cannot be changed nor
their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence comforted them Heb. We have an high Priest subject to like Infirmities that he might be able to comfâ—rt us he took upon him 〈◊〉 sins and bare our infirmities and he was counted the great sinner of the World Like a loving Elder Brother who seeing his younger brother overladen takes the burden sees him beaten weeps sees him want gives him half For though he was the Word of God and was God yet he took the form of a Servant and became flesh and dwelt among us that we might see him a man in the flesh like us and suffering more than we all and yet overcame Thus he was given as a witnesse to the People and the first begotten among many Brethren 1. What then are all those high Contemplations that soar above and seek Christ in Heaven and make him a high speculative Angel and rack their thoughts and beat their brains in comprehending When alace He is with us lâ—ke us suffering watching praying poor judged and reproached and dying as we are He cares not for thâ—se high religious ones but pure and contrite ones With these he hath fellowship they with him 2 What hearting is this to patience that he as a husband is ever with us in well and woe Thou thinks thy case singular thou art poor he poorer thou wants the Fathers Love so did he thou art afflicted so was he thou art sick he swate drops of water and blood for the sick Nay in all he was with thee But we have little fellowship with him we sport our selves and are full strong and wise and so strangers to him We are righteous without him so that he hath nothing to do but with poor beggers 3 And where Christ partakes with us there he makes us also to partake with others to mourn with them that mourn bear their Infirmities and covers sin helps the needy relieves the oppressed c. All high flying Religion then is not of Christ but of the Devil for Christ therefore brings down all high thoughts for they are against Christ Then Christ hath little working among us when every one is for himself when we judge and condemn instead of pardoning spread others infirmities instead of covering them laugh at others fall and not mourn for them robb and not relieve the poor nay with the unthankful servant take him by the throat 4. Believers have a friend at back He gives a mouth and wisdom the world may fail and friends and wit too short and riches perish and the life gone yet he fails not as to the Martyrs who had him in all troubles a Protector and Captain and in His power overcame all That he might through Death Here is the second thing that Christ hath done for us viz. Destroyed the power of Satan and delivered man and the way whereby through Death So that Christ Jesus the Son of the Virgin and Savior of the World hath vanquisht and doth daily overcome the Power and Tyranny of Satan which he hath exerciseth over the Church and Souls of the Faithful and by His Death hath freed and delivered and daily doth deliver man from that bondage So it was promised when Man had fallen from God to Satan and was now become a Sâ—hollâ—r in his shool viz by subtilty of Wit and strength of Lust to sight agâ—inst God and stablish his own peace in the Flesh God promised to raise up one of the seed of the Woman to crush this power by disannulling that Peace and bringing man to suffer the Death Losse of all things 1. John 3. Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil viz. To turn that peace into War to pull down his high Mountains to set mans crooked way straight to bring man to Repentance and so to bring him into his Kingdom He came to bind the red Dragon that made all drunk and to this end was the Gospel sent by Paul to the Gentiles To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God This was figured in the fall of Jericho the City of Gods enemies Idolaters the walls were high the inhabitants strong Israel few and weak the means weaker Blowing with rains horns Yet by the spirit of believing Joshua they fell So also man is weak the walls of Lust the World are strong mightie and wylie but by the foolish way of Preaching shout of the Gospel the Towers fall and Mountains fall at his presence and Christ enters Also figured in the Victorie of David over Goliath he weak means weaker but exposing himself to death and casting his life into the hands of God by Faith in the God of Israel he overcame and took the bondage and shame from Israel And figured also in the victorie of Hezekiah over Senacherib that great beast he cried and wept and spred the letter and prayed and Senacherib fell into his hands without lifting up a dart even one hundred fourtie and five thousand in one night So when Christ prayed in the garden in his agonie and embraced Death in subjection to the Fathers will He overcame hell death So stâ—ll it is when man is wearie of that bondage fells no power spreads his heart before the Lord even readie to meet death then is he freed by a great deliverance 1. For though Christ by his power might have delivered man and not died yet this was not profitable for man both that the power of God might appear that He might be a faithful and fit High Priest to sustain man in the power of Deaâ—h But this was an unlikely thing to reason That a man by dying should overcome He â—ather seemed to be vanquished yea so He did But therein he trâ—pt the devil For while Satan laid on stripes he gave his ckeeks to the nippers and let Satan strike his full shoot his last dart whereby he had thought to have driven Christ from the father or to have sought help of the world but he continued still patient and at last rose triumphed over hell and death Nay Balaam could not prevail against Israel by all his curses they still being stayed on God but by his wicked counsel perswading to draw them to sin he wrought their death As by his wylie drawing men to live by the world without God that way he prevails much now Christ delivers by his death 1. Having paid the debt answers the law became a curse for us Who hath any thing to lay to our charge 2 In sustaining man by his grace and upholding him in death for if we die with him we shall live with Him and if we suffer with Him we shall be glorified with Him 1. But we seek deliverance another way and think to escape death 1. One by his gaining the world not losing it by saving his life not by giving it up to that end is wise diligent careful to put the
winnow you as wheat but I have prayed that thy faith fail not when thou art converted c. VVHen Christ had now finished his course was now readie to suffer that fearful bitter hour he foretells the disciples what to look for and will befal them viz. He will strike the Shepherd and what then will become of the Sheep they had lived with Him in peace or at least such a trouble as was easie to bear but now must all be shaken and so sore-warns them of the Crosse that they must suffer he sorewarns them of the Crosse and miseries to come and that by the Instrument of Satan amplified by a Metaphor he assures him of help and that by faith he shall be preserved and that he hearten his brethren After Peters brag and Christs answer First He shews how Satan as an enemie stands waiting and seeking to overthrow Christ his Kingdom by which he might shake the saith of all his followers for if he had overthrown Him then Faith and all had been dasht So that Satans main drift to worke mans eternal destruction is to overthrow Christ and his Kingdom and to drive man from Câ—rist and to seek help elsewhere Thus with Job thus with Annanias and thus with Christ in his temptations still granting what Christ alleadged and still labouring again to trap him in that for still he traps man in that wherein he stands as the worlding he fills them with fear and pleaseth his lust and the weak to worke it out and he laid load upon Paul fightings without and terrors wiâ—hin And thus he layes reproaches upon the Truth and blazeth the failings of the Faithful to slander the Truth for he is the accuser of the Brethâ—en 1. And herein stands the salvation of man that he can deal with any thing but Christ the wisest or holiest he can catch and keep him in his snaâ—e and fill them with fear or hope that he sifts them keeps them in his bâ—g 2. For he hath power over man to tempt man in the heel and to sift man and leave him nothing but brane For when he hath ground man to powder he sets his servant the flesh to sift him and he reasons and looks from what he feels and sues no help left but all is gone but Christ through patience overcoming him Thus he Winnowed the Martyrs and left nothing in the flesh to uphold them and thus he workes their good against his will to purge man of the flesh and to drive him to Christ 3. The whole truth is revealed by Fire First Thus he drives all another way and he cares not what way he goes so he looks not this way 1. The Worlding he keeps in fear of want or failing or decrease or uncertainty and so keeps him closse like Israel in Egypt 2. Others that look after Christ yet keeps the World alive in the heart through Lust and that all is theirs they having right must provide for honest things as that all is theirs c. and so he makes Fig-leafe-coverings but the heart Rotten 3. Others he lifts up above the simplicitie of Christ and their own minds by great and high speculations to falsifie the Truth by false Doctrine and all this to hide Repentance from mans heart that so the Kingdom of Christ may not come 4. Others by joyning something as Circumcision with Christ and the Gospel is perfected by the Law and not the Law fulfilled by the Gospel 5. Others he pursues with calamitie and miserie as in ward Lust and Rebellion frowardnesse of their own will and indisposition to any good that so man might get ease thereby 6 Others by losses crosses wants and troubles that he may distrust God and cleave to the arm of flesh and so consent to Rabâ—â—ekeys Letter saying Thou trustest and believest in Christ he will deceive thee thou art forlorn and forsaken it were best to look after other helps a little and then trust God so that whither he offer Life or threaten Death he intends Death forsaken of Christ for Paul he knows Christ he knows 2. He never prevails so much as in a thriving way whereby the heart becomes lifted up he never overcomes to much by misery let him fain as much as he will all this is but to weaken the flesh and to bring down high Mountains and bring Job to lay his hand on his mouth and repent in dust and ashes So that nothing preserves man but a simple repenting heart Sensible of weaknesse in the midst of greatest gifts 1. The simplicitie of the Gospel written in mans heart 2. Simple believing and patience to suffer and overcome so with Christ He was the Wisdom of the Father he patiently bare the Wrath of the Father for man To winnow you like Wheat This was a coming when the Shepherd was smitten all friends forsook him the Earth shook Darknesse was over all Peter accused the rest fled Christ crucified like unto a murtherer laid in the grave all gone so that nothing was left but the Wisdom that Christ had given them and Faith in that Promise to believe that he would come again So that Ranson saw little to trust to So that There will come a Winnowing day upon all Flesh good and bad to destroy and take from men all confidence in the Flesh in which the Faithfull shall be preserved by Faith and Repentance and Patience The Lord will in righteous judgement winnow the wicked and Satan that falsifier Where is Pharaohs Power and Pompejy and Dives and Wealth of the Worldlings and righteousnesse of Paul Is it not all found too light God hath had his Fan in his hand no unrighteousnesse shall stand before him For they are like those chaffe before the Wind Woe to them that laugh for their covenant of Death shall be disannulled or broken 1. For God maks way hereby for his mercie and purifieth faith and drived man to himself though grievous yet wholesome 2. All joy and life of Adam must be taken away nothing doth that but Christ 3. Then though Satan now insult and triumph like a King yet he must be cast into the bottomlesse Pit all that obey him 4. There is away that seems good buâ— it must be tryed and proves death as that of Peter to Christ save thy self but this is not good 1. Know then that this day will come We laugh Feast and Drink as though it would last alwayes but know as to a Schollar or idle Servant that when he hath sported all these dayes there will come a black-Munday and hard Work So that though we sport our selves in quiet cover our own guilt delude sorrow and drive it from our hearts put off the evil day play the Wanton with our knowledge and Feast a while with Christ dainties as he dealt with the Disciples who brought them on by immediate power and love but in the end he must be taken away So know that these will fail and nothing
cover it and in Saul to spare Agag but greater to excuse it and lie to the Holy Ghost This is a fighting against Christ and strengthening our selves in something else that we might not stand in need of him Like the malefactor that hath done evil and yet will excuse it and justifie himself he will be hanged indeed For God is a God of truth and workes truth in the inward parts and the power of truth is to discover the subtilitie of man and the Devil and to convince the World and to lay the heart naked and bare before God Away then with all doubling lyes let God be true and the Devil and everie man a lyer From the beginning vve all professe to love God and believe in him but we lie But Whence then is this care and confidence in the World this fear and sorrow for losse this pleading of our own Righteousnesse to keep up conceit We professe to love God above all but we lye Whence then is this self-love of the World and we forsake him for a Morsel of Bread that we love our Brethren Whence then is this malice and revenge this oppressing and grinding this cusinning and circumventing and that we love the truth and yet believe it not at all but sell it for our own wills and that God would change his will and rather than we want our Lusts We are all knowing and devote men but honest simplicitie is lost among main plain dealing is gone So in Religion truth and simplicitie is gone simple praying and believing from a troubled Spirit is gone simple love one to another is gone and everie one judging another and locked up in secret surmising not bearing with infirmities but blazing abroad the frailties of others But God will find out all our falshood one day when all our excuses shal be as shiftlesse as to Adam When he shall open the Books and that are hid layed open Then shal thy Hypocrisie and double dealing be laid open whither thou hast trusted God or thy self loved Him or the World Then shal it be seen whether thou believed indeed and in truth For true evidence shal come against thee a malefactor which thou canst not denie It is not our simple sinning that hinders our happinesse for God will pardon but it is our lying and covering it that hides us from Christ As the Child that hath not onlie made a fault but hides and covers it is beaten double This his Father cannot abide God gives us true and simple hearts we seek great gifts and qualities and become wise but lose innocencie and run from our selves In all their afflictions he was afflicted And the Angel of his presence saved them Here is Christ suffering who bare the infirmities of man in all weaknesse So that Christ the loving Saviour of man partakes with man in all his miserie and lovingly helps when all fails Heb. 2. Forasmuch as the Children were partakers of flesh and blood c. Heb. 5. He is a faithful high Priest subject to like infirmities And was partaker with all that was miserable but the Wealth and Glorie of the World he had none of Like a loving elder-brother that sees his younger overburthned helps him beaten weeps and hungry gives him meat For he was the Word of the Father was God yet he took upon him the form of a servant and became flesh and dwelt among us that we might see him afflâ—cted suffering forsaken and yet he overcame all For he came to help the afflicted therefore he came in the flesh that he might destroy flesh by enabling man to suffer destroying fleshly lust in man Thus was he given as a witnesse to the people the first-begotten of many What then means these high thoughts soaring conceits that seek Christ in heaven and think Him to be some angry spirit and so rack their thoughts and beat their brains in comprehending Him but lo He is with the poor afflicted and forsaken this high and full Religion he cares not for nor hath any communion therewith What a hearting then is this to patience that like a loving husband is with the wife in well and woe thou thinks thy case singular none like thee thou poor He poorer thou wants the fathers love so did he thou art persecuted so he unto death thou sick so â—e swaâ—e blood for sicknesse But we have little fellowship with Him for we are full and rich and at ease He bears our weaknesse but who feels it He wipes away tears but who sheds them He hears our cryes but who makes them Nay we are all Christs to our selves therefore He is a stranger to us All high flying Religion then is not of Christ for he hath no communion with man but in affliction therefore Paul desired only to be partaker in his afflictions for he hath not to do with rich men at ease and he that saith He hath fellowship with him and not in his death lyes and deals not truly It is not affliction that hurts or hinders man but want of Faith for he is afflicted with us but because we do not believe his power and truth nor are we patient to want rest therefore are we crushed under afflictions we have not learned to lose the world and our selves with him the fire cannot fear them And where man is partaker with Christ in afflictions he makes him also partaker with others to mourn with them that mourn But we are little disposed to the practice of Faith while we judge others in stead of pardoning we spread abroad their Infirmities we spoil the poor but believing miserable men have a friend at back that is with them giving a mouth and wisdom when friends and world fail yet then He abides and fails not but when they have least hope they have readiest help and when they are weak then are they the strongest And the Angel of his presence When they were brought low in affliction and sate in sorrow and helplesse repenting hearts then his love breaks out So that iâ— Christ is only present to afflicted spirits and His love and compassion only is the stay of repenting hearts nothing else As here he alludes in the presence of the God of Israel in their Redemption out of Egypt when they knew not what to do the Angel brought them out went before them and though they fell into many straits yet the Lord pitied and helped them yea though they rebelled daylie yet He afflicted and pardoned them And His love and mercy is never seen so much as in daylie pardoning for it is a burden that all the World cannot remove For he was given to bear the infirmities of men Mat. 11 If any be burthened he shal find rest to his soul As in the Prodigal and the Publican like a wise tender father whose child hath want only run away yet the father seeks him and finds him First leâ—s him sit forlorn in the wildernesse and seems to take no notice then
appoints work to his Servants and command the Porter to watch and thereupon applyes the parable and renews the caveat in these words wherein 1. A caveat for all to watch wait for death dooâ— 2. His reason from the uncertainty of the time thereoâ— 3. The danger of being taken unprepared lest he sin us sleepping 1. The master of the house viz Christ is gone into a fâ— Country viz. Far from the knowledge of all humaâ— fleshly wisdom and given authoritie to his Servants viz. to his Ministers to guide and govern his Churâ— and Houshold by his Word and Discipline to eveâ— man his work viz. His Word to husband and to waâ— in love and do good to all to further his glorie kinâ—dom as he gave the Vineyard to husbandmen viz. Hâ— Gospel and commanded the Porter to Watch viz. 〈◊〉 Ministers to watch â—ver the flock Therefore he bâ— both Ministers and people watch attend his comiâ— in faithfulness that so they waiting in Faith may â—ceive mercie So that The work of a believing heart and faithful servaâ— here is nothing else but a daily waiting of the will 〈◊〉 pleasure of the Lord by Faith and patience in love attending his coming by death and doom This Christ often gives in charge as Luk. 1.21 Mâ— 24. Luk. 12. And this Job practised 14.14 This Pâ— saw and waited for 1. Tim. 4. I am now ready tâ— offered and 2. Cor. 5. We sigh and groan desiring to go hence and he with the Lord and the Martyrs 1. For here we have no habitation but like Pilgrims in tents 2. For God hath sent us hither a while to accomplish his Will according to his Word but our abiding hereafter is eternal not to build a rest here or think our houses shall continue but to wait on his coming when we shall have the reward and doom that lasteth for ever We see it in all faithful Servants how careful they are to have all in a readinesse when the Master comes home and the Maid how doth she sweep and wash and scoure that her Mastres may find all right but the carelesse they sport and ravel and spend and waste on their Lusts and when they have done lye down and sleep and say Nay the Master will be long before he come 1. And thus it fareth with the secure World we watch all opportunities but this When a man hath a great businesse to do O! how he museth and thinketh and studieth night and day be it suâ—e in Law or an other project or danger upon the event whereof depends his making or undoing how doth hâ— neglect no inferiour businesse He runs and rides bâ— spares no pains against that day that he may be pr vided for good issue And have we any greater busi esse than this yea when he hath a sum of monie to pay how he cares casts about And is not here a great account to make nay how do we watch for a fair day in harvest and ply our time and yet this great businesse we heed not 2. Nay nothing ill make us wait on God but the Crosse as to the Disciples Do we watch to get out of the World or rather to run farther into it As it was in the dayes of Noah so now nay worse For now the World is drowned in carelesness witness our excessive drinkings and endlesse drunkennesse our too common trade of userie and oppression our neglect of the Word and Sacraments that we watch nothing but our lusts and pleasures Mammon and our own Wills and like these waste our Masters goods and strike our Fellow-servants and withold a portion from the poor Will not the Lord of the Church call for a reckoning for these and if we be taken in these woe unto us We know what is the hire of such faithless Servants We watch the plague to prevent death but we wait not on God to meet death we watch the enemies of our Land that we be not surprized but we have an enemie within that will overthrow us We provide against famine and yet our selves pine Now this watching is not any power in man to preserve himself but sensible of his own weaknesse to preserve himself and longing to be with Christ 1. That we wait in Faith upon the Word of Christ believing the promise though we see nothing but miserie and death yet expecting life and freedom according to that Word 2. That we be working in love and obedient to his Will not seeking or serving our own Lusts even so as we would have Christ to finde us when he comes 3. Truely knowing our own danger the strength of the Devil and the World over us daily drawing us to forget this day That which Christ said come is or should be the care of all our Watch. 1. If our love were to Christ would we not wait for him as the Wife for her Husband and the Child for the Father 2 If we knew our danger we would not sleep and suffer our House to be broken up 3. If we bâ—â—leve the nearnesse or uncertainty of his coming We would watch better For we know not when our Master will come So thâ— in this we see the reason viz. The uncertainty of thâ— tâ—me of his coming 1. The certainty of his coming that the Master will return Death and Doom shall light upon all 2. That he will come at an unset time when the World is secure 3. That none shall escape it 4. That everie one shall be accountant No escaping of this day for as the balliff it pursues man though he flee as a Traitor and having arrested him Phisicians nor friends cannot bail him but he must dye When the Scripture speaks of this day it seems to hasten it aâ— though it were at hand even on our necks as Dan. 7.9 10. And Paul upon whom the ends of the World are come And Peter The end of all things are at hand but of that day knows no man The Father hath put them in his own power So that The dayes of man are only numbred of God and the hour of death unknown to man but he will come when he thinks least thereof When they cry Peace peace c. And yet it cannot belong to any and for the general day all the Prophesies of Christ are near fulfilled as the spreading of Error and Heresies Wars Plagues and Prodigies are now abroad Faith scarcely found trade of iniquitie in growth Love extinct And if the Gospel be preached through the World it may be before we parte this place 1. How fond are they then that will calculate this day as the Heathen of old by their Chimick year and golden number fifteen thousand years as also the Chiâ—eans in Austins time Who said It should be four hundred years after the Ascension and Papists by the â—oming of Anti-Christ who was to be of the Tribe of Dan and reign three years and a half in Jerusalem and subdue all the World
Of grace and truth in that same little seed Which thou hast sown for me when I stood need When Sin Death when Hell Darknesse great When losse when crosse about my heart did beat When angrie thou as judge to me did shine And I stood judg'd within my conscience mine Such witnesse had that I could plead no more My sin did mount to such a mighty score When all my friends from me a loof did stand When lovers all ran far away yea and When I lay dead and hopes I then had none Of life but laying comfortless alone Then thou declar'd to me that time I say Thy saving health wherein O Lord for ay In peace I 'le rest as unto me thou said From all my fears for thou hast so displaid Thy freest love that makes my heart rejoyce And mount and sing with Simeon that voice Now let me Lord depart in peace anon For I have seen thy great salvation Thy words enough I thereon will depend In it there 's life and it will me defend And bring me forth into that light wherein I shall remain and with high Cherubin Shall shew forth what with thee I have seen In my return as it hath with me been I have none other Song but this to sing What thou hast done for me that I will bring Before thy Saints that they also with me May sing it forth in sweetest melodie As none else can but them whom thou alone Hath so redeem'd by that same corner-stone That lyeth lowest in the building so That simmoned they are for so to do Which freedom brings in such great mighty store That sing that song they will for evermore Then thou my Soul sit here in silent rest Under his wings in whom thou thus art blest And wander not nor let thy gadding mind Be turn'd about thy Spirit for to blind Into the flesh as though that heavenly thing Thou there would keep and to thy sense would bring Thy freedom now and think thereby to hold That in thy self which no man ever could And soar not up into thy thoughts so high But ly thee down in true humilitie And eat thy portion there with that content That faith doth bring and be thou patient A word 's enough he will supply thy want There 's all in him how can there then be scant Nor turn thou back unto thy pleasures vain Nor unto Mammons filthly sordid gain Such lovers all too base are for thy mind Who now stands free in such a heavenly kind Of noble birth nay what shall I say more An heir with Christ as was said heretofore Of that same Crown which links thee into one Where freedoms stands beside which there is none And that I may Lord take into thy hand My life for all 's at thine own great command If thou wilt speak thy word it will suffice Then speak it Lord let not my foes arise Me to prevent of this thy pearl great O then speak Lord and so they shall retreat And then full safely I shall walk along With thee though with my wicked foes among I sojourn still untill that precious time Of Jubill come that full deliverance mine That Jubill time O! when shall it appear To free me from my burdens that are here Me thinks I long my heart it would be gone Out of this clay unto that only One But I must stay and in this house abide Till gold from drosse be true and fully try'd And sin and death hath done their worst and then Shall life come in and that same last Amen Shall then make up both breach and ruins all That hath befall'n the Saints since Adams fall The which shall then full gloriously appear When God in man his Kingdom shall up reare When God is all and man brought home in one That 's the Kingdom or else I say there 's none For Kingdoms else before him they shall fall And come to end though they be ne're so tall Then hasten Lord this Kingdom that is thine That I in thee may in thy onenesse shine That thou in me and I in thee still may Remain in one eternally I say Where I may cast before thy face my crown Where thou abides in that same highest throne Of glory great where all things end in one And thither brought by the chief corner stone Where Saints and Angels in true unity One song shall sing in God eternally Amen Lord hasten this thy pointed day It 's in thy hand yet still for that I 'le pray That when thou hast brought all things into one We all thy Saints may live in thee alone And thou in us may be our heaven alway Which shall remain that mighty longest day That mighty longest day that Alpha one That last Omega who is God alone Amen Amen O Lord I do thee pray To bring my soul to this thy holy day For thou art First and thou will be the last Of all that is to come or hath been past That glory honour power and due praise May be of all return'd to thee alwayes The corner stone out from the Father came Was laid in blood for to declare his name His grace and love unto fall'n men alace And by an oath so interposed was To reconcile to God his creature man So as no Angel nor no creature can So that his glory did surmount the bound Of all darkness in this wide world round Yea it did shine through sin through death through hell And grave as doth the Scripture fairly tell And if his splendor shine through such darkness Then doth it shine within all men no less To be the life of them who do receive it And judgement unto them who do reject it Thus is he set the fall and rise again Of some and all as will appear full plain When he as judge such witness will produce That who rejects shall be without excuse Let all men then what talent God doth give Improve it so as he therein may live And give account what gain comes in thereby Unto his Lord lest not so doing dye Then see thy Talent be not laid within Thy carnal earth which no good gain can win But exchange that which of thee is carnal Into a state that is spiritual So shalt thou build upon the corner stone A good increase while carnal earth brings none In Jordans water Christ baptized were By John so plung'd over head and ear The Holy Ghost descending on him so That he our sorrows bare and rude our wo And was the man who did repentance bear For all mens sins that he might wash them clear And after that that he was so baptized His after life was all then sacrificed Up unto death and in death baptized And by the spirit he again was raised Into the heavenly beeing there to reign In power great untill he come again In watry tears and siry blood was he So plunged in our Saviour for to be Thus water fire and blood was mingled For him to