and nothing that is given him will go down neither Food nor Physick or if he doth take it yet it will not stay with him 't is a very bad sign so when a Sinner refuseth all good Counsel that is given him and instead of vomiting up by true Repentance his Sin he vomiteth up the Physick and Food of his Soul that should do him good and despises all Reproof Prov. 28.1 hardning himself against it he is near to Destruction 6. And Lastly When a Man is wounded and that Balsam Means or Medicine that seldom fails to work a Cure in others yet will do him no good but contrary-wise whilst in Cure and under the best Means he grows worse and worse there is little hopes of him so when a Sinner under a powerful and Soul-saving Ministry and divers sore Afflictions is not at all reformed but grows worse and worse his Condition is bad it may be that Sermon that works no change at all in him hath tended through the Mercy of God to the Conversion of several Souls who were as sorely wounded as he If a Physician gives the best Medicine he has and lays on a most Soveraign Plaister and yet the Patient saith Sir that which you prescribed hath done me no good I wonder saith he it seldom fails me I fear your Condition I must give up I have done what I can for you the Lord pitty your Soul you are no Man for this World 't is an Argument that Wound or Sickness will be unto Death when the best Preaching the best Means that can be made use of will not work upon a Man's Heart he is under Losses and Affliction and divers melting Providences but nothing will do Inferences IS Sin a Wound or doth it wound the Soul wound the State Nation and Church of God We may then infer from hence the Folly of Men and Women who love and hug their Sin Wilt thou O Sinner hug a Serpent in thy Bosom that strives to sting thee to Death what Fools are wicked Men 2. Let us learn from hence to bewail the Condition of our sinful Relations let the Husband mourn over his unbelieving Wife and the Wife mourn over the unbelieving Husband Fathers grieve for their unconverted and wounded Children and Children grieve for their wounded and unconverted Parents c. What are they that thou lovest so dearly and who lye in thy Bosom mortally wounded and wilt thou not be troubled for them what not one Sigh nor Tear come from thee for them be astonished O Heavens what a hard Heart hast thou 3. Seek out for help you that are unconverted delay not and let such who are healed do what they can to get help and Cure for their Friends if a Husband a Wife a Father a Child or Brother be dangerously sick or wounded externally how ready are you to enquire for some skilful Physician or Chyrurgion and what speed will you make and will you not be as tender and as careful of their Souls 4. Take heed you do not draw others into Sin What not only wound thy own Soul but be cruel also to the Souls of others wilt thou murther thy self and murther thy Friend too 5. What blind Wretches are they that make a mock at Sin See Fools 6. Let it be also matter of caution to all to take heed they rest not satisfied with slight healing Jer. 8.11 They have healed the hurt of the Daughter of my People slightly c. This may be done many ways 1. Some rest satisfied and lick themselves whole with the thoughts of federal Holiness think they are in Covenant with God through the Faith of their Parents thus the Jews Mat. 3.9 We are Abraham 's Seed we have Abraham to our Father my Parents were Godly and so they might and yet thou a Child of the Devil and be damned for all that 2. Some fly to their Godly Education but that will never heal their Wounds 't is not what a Godly Family thou wast brought up in and what good Instruction thou hadst but what thou art and what a change there is in thee what Faith and Fear of God is there wrought in thy Soul 3. Others apply the Mercy of God when they begin to feel Conscience to terrify them Exod 34.6 and their Wounds appear but never consider his Justice remember God is graciâ—us and merciful c. but will in no wise clear the Guilty 4. Others trust to a partial Reformation of Life they are other Men to what they were once Soul 't is not Reformation or leaving all manner of gross scandalous Sins but a change of Heart and Regeneration thou must seek after 5. Some apply the Promises of God to Sinners before their Wounds were ever lanced or their Sores laid open and the Corruption let out this is but skinning over the Sore and to leave it to fester and rancle inwardly the proud Flesh must with some corroding Plaister be taken down thou wantest through Humiliation for Sin 6. Many satisfy themselves because they are not such great Sinners as some are Remember Luk. 13 3 5. I tell ye nay except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish 7. Some fly to their Duties they sin and are wounded and they think Prayer will make them whole 8. Some boast of their Knowledg and Experiences c. they can discourse and talk well nay and will tell you they are Members of the Church too and this may be and yet they die of their Wounds and go to Hell O take heed you are not slightly healed Quest Well but it may be you will say What should we do to be throughly healed Answ There is but one Physician can heal these Wounds none but the Lord Christ only has the healing Medicine his Blood is the Balsam which thou must apply by Faith And if thou wouldest have a perfect Cure thou must be put to pain He that would be healed must suffer his Wounds to be lanced and searched to the bottom 2. Take the Physician 's Counsel and carefully follow his Directions come to him presently whilst it is to day or thou art a dead Man 3. If it be so that he says thy right Hand must be cut off bear the Pain or thy right Eye must be pulled out submit to him Whatsoever is dear to thee that hinders the Cure thou must deny thy self of 4. A Purge thou must take or thy Wounds cannot be healed the evil Humors or the Filth and Corruption that is in thy Heart must by the Spirit of Grace be purged out John 3.3 5. Thou must become a new Creature Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Sin a Plague 1 Kings 8.38 What Prayer and Supplication soever be made by any Man or by all thy People Israel which shall know every Man the Plague of his own Heart c. Levit. 13.2 3 4 5 6. And it be in the Skin of the Flesh like the Plague of
or Life it self in his Cause but he can restore it with great Advantage Joh. 12.25 He that loveth his Life shall lose it but he that hateth his Life in this World shall keep it unto Life eternal III. Souldiers are armed with carnal Weapons and fight with Men like themselves and yet many times are overcome and lose the Victory III. But Saints fight with spiritual Weapons and not only with Men like themselves but with the Devil and his infernal Crew and yet through Christ their Captain they get the Victory For the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal Eph. 6. but mighty through God c. For we wrestle not against Flesh and Blood but against Principalities and Powers c. Inferences THese things being so let all true Christians take Heart and be valiant and fear not the Face of Enemies 1. Consider the Worth and Dignity of your Captain Christians have the best Captain and Leader in the World 1. He is of a most honourable Extraction of a most high and noble Descent the Heir of all things the Father's First-born the express Image of his Person He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and he is saith one Generalissimo of all his Majesty's Forces in Heaven and Earth 2. Consider his Strength and Valour He hath an Omnipotent Arm and is of a most valiant undaunted couragious and heroick Spirit What was Sampson Gideon David Alexander Julius Caesar Scanderbeg or any other mighty Warrior to the Lord Jesus This is he who cuts in pieces the Gates of Brass and breaks asunder the Bars of Iron that hath the Keys of Death and Hell that flew Rahab Isa 51.9 and wounded the Dragon who is terrible to the Kings of the Earth and will come upon Princes as upon Mortar This is He that is the Terror of Devils the Dread of Mortals who will make other Captains tremble and cry out to the Rocks and Mountains to hide them in the Day of his Wrath. 3. Consider his Wisdom His Skill and Policy far exceeds the Craft and Subtilty of all the Machiavellian Politicians in the World He knows how to assault and harm his Enemies and to carry on and bring off to preserve and defend his People and faithful Souldiers Let Men and Devils be never so skilful and politick Christ knows how to outwit them and over-reach them all He knows where all their Mines are digged where all their Forces Flankers and Ambuscadoes do lie He knows their Plot and how laid this day against his Interest Gospel and Covenant-People in this and other Nations He knows how to confound them and catch them in their own Craftiness and to bring them to Shame He is wonderful in Counsel and mighty in Working He hath an Omniscient Eye as well as an Omnipotent Hand He makes his Countermines and blows them up or burieth them in the Pit they have digged He outshoots the Devil and the Wicked in their own Bow He will bring down the Beast and Whore and all their Abettors and make them ashamed of their Hope Mark the Issue of this present Dispensation See Captain in the First Volume and God a Man of War 2. Consider the Excellency of your Cause which is just and righteous 3. The Goodness of your Call against which nothing can be objected 4. For your further Encouragement consider the Strength of your Fortifications They are all impregnable and impenetrable of most invincible Strength Your Out-Works your Walls your Bulwarks your Forts and Towers all your Defence is admirable The Name of the Lord is a Strong-Tower Prov. 18.10 Isa 26.1 Salvation will God appoint for Walls and Bulwarks O how formidable and terrible are the Attributes and Threatnings of God to his Enemies 5. Consider Tho your Number be the fewest yet your Side is the strongest God is for us and on our Side With them is the Arm of Flesh but with us the Lord our God to fight for us How many said Antigonor will you reckon me for Poor Mortal How many then may we reckon God Christ the Holy Ghost for The whole Trinity is engaged for us 6. Consider Tho your Service be hard and Conflict sharp yet it will be short It is but a little while and your Enemy shall trouble you no more 2 Cor. 4.17 Our light Afflictions which are but for a moment c. 7. Consider the Devils and all other Enemies tho never so potent cruel and malicious yet they are all conquered and spoiled Col. 2.15 Having spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a Shew of them openly triumphing over them in it The Romans were wont in a triumphant manner to carry those they had conquered about with them and to brandish their Swords and display their Colours and carry their Arms in open View as Trophies and Emblems of Victory So the Lord Jesus having conquered Satan and the Powers of Hell rode as it were in Triumph through their Kingdom the Air and made a Shew of them openly as a glorious Victor 2. Again the World is subdued Be of good cheer saith Christ Joh. 16. Rom 8. I have overcome the World And we through him are hereby made more than Conquerors Come Tribulation Distress Persecution c. with all their Blackness Darkness Threats and Terror what will they do Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ Rom. 8.35 or hinder us of eternal Life 3. Death is subdued Christ hath got the Victory over that What Joy and Comfort is this to Believers to hear that all their Enemies are conquered your Captain-General hath broken them all to pieces 6. The Enemy cannot hurt you Rom. 8.28 the worst you can meet with will work for your Good 9. Consider Tho you meet with hard Things Christ can and will make them easy to you All your Wounds he can heal and all your broken Bones he can set The more you suffer for Christ the greater your Reward will be 10. Consider what great and glorious Pay you shall have in the end Is not a Kingdom a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away worth fighting and striving for 11. Look to Christ remember what he hath done and suffered for you and consider what many Saints have endured for his sake before you that were most precious in God's sight Is it not better to suffer here than to suffer in Hell What is the Pain and Sorrow of the Godly in this Life to the everlasting Pains and Torments of the Damned in the World to come Get much Faith and provide your selves with all your Armor and the right Use of it the Nature of which is opened under the Fifth Head Get your Hearts loose from the World No Man that warreth 2 Tim. 2.4 entangleth himself with the Affairs of this Life Labour for much Love to God It was a notable Saying of Mr. Bland the Martyr when he was at the Stake This Death saith he is more dear to me than Thousands of Gold
Snare of the Devil who are taken captive by him at his Will IV. Some by Allurements are enticed by an Adversary and that way overcome and brought into Bondage Pirates oft-times put out false Colours and pretend themselves to be Friends that so they may the better trapan and take poor unwary Persons IV. Prov. 7.21 So wicked Men are by the Allurements and Enticements of Sin and Satan overcome and brought into Bondage These spiritual Enemies by Policy deceive and trapan the Souls of Men. Satan like a cursed Pirate puts out false Colours pretends himself a Friend he presents the Pleasures and Profits of the World to them 1 Cor. 11.14 and thereby overcomes them and carries them away captive V. Some Persons when they are taken captive by an Enemy are stript naked their own Robes being taken away they have instead of them nothing but filthy Rags to hide their Nakedness withal V. Adam The sad and miserable Condition of Satan's Captives when Satan overcame him by his Treachery and subtil Wiles was stript naked He lost all his precious Robes viz. his spotless and perfect Righteousness and ever since his natural Off-spring while they remain unconverted have nothing but their own Righteousness to cover them which is by the Holy-Ghost compared to filthy Rags Some conceive by filthy Rags Isa 64 6. the Spirit of God alludes to those Rags that Chirurgeons take off of corrupt and filthy Sores which we know are very loathsom this shews that the State of Sinners is very deplorable VI. Some Persons who are taken captive are put into a Prison nay into a Dungeon and remain under the power of a cruel Keeper VI. Sinners whilst they remain in a State of Nature Captives of Sin and Satan are in a Prison in a deep Prison or Dungeon of Darkness Col. 1.13 called the Power of Darkness This Prison is strong there is no Man can break through and make an escape 'T is called a Pit yea Psal 40.2 an horrible Pit or Pit of Noise Some understand David means the Depth of Afflictions others the horrible State of Unregeneracy or deep Alienation from the Life of God wherein is heard nothing but the fearful and hideous Noise of an accusing Conscience and Wrath of an angry God 'T is a Pit wherein is no Water Zech. 9.11 viz. no Soul-Comfort nor Refreshment c. being under the Power and Tyranny of Satan VII Some Persons when they are taken captive and put into Prison and also bound with Iron Chains or Fetters of Brass their Eyes also have been put out Thus the King of Babylon served Zedekiah King of Judah 2 King 25.7 when Jerusalem was taken And they slew the Sons of Zedekiah before his Eyes and put out the Eyes of Zedekiah and bound him with Fetters of Brass and carried him to Babylon VII Wicked Men are not only Captives and put into a bottomless Prison but they are also bound I perceive thou art in the Gall of Bitterness Acts 8. and in the Bond of Iniquity Hence the Prophet speaking of Christ saith Isa 61.1 He hath sent me to bind up the Broken-hearted to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Every ungodly Man whilst he remains in Satan's Kingdom is bound with strong Bonds First the Bond of a hard Heart Jer. 5.3 Act. 26.18 secondly the Bond of Ignorance thirdly the Bond of Unbelief Which they are no way able to break asunder or get out of And by this means they are fit for any Drudgery the Devil hath for them to do the Eyes of their Understanding being darkned or put out Eph. 5.8 Ye that were sometimes in Darkness c. VIII Some Persons that have been in Captivity have been almost starved to Death having had little more than Bread and Water afforded them nay have been forced to eat such things as were not fit for Food VIII Wicked Men who are the Captives of Sin and Satan are kept at hard Commons they never yet had the least Taste of that which is really good but they spend their Money for that which is not Bread and their Labour for that which satisfieth not And therefore saith God Isa 55.1 2 Hearken diligently unto me and eat that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in Fatness Pray observe what the Holy-Ghost compares the Food of ungodly Sinners to First They are said to feed on the Wind secondly to feed on Ashes and thirdly on Gravel and fourthly on Husks Isa 44.20 Hos 12.1 Prov. 20.17 The Prodigal would fain have filled his Belly with the Husks which the Swine did eat Should a poor Captive have nothing allowed him to eat but Husks Gravel or Ashes all would conclude his Condition to be very miserable so miserable are all ungodly Sinners Alas all the Pleasures Riches and Honours of this World or whatsoever it is that they feed upon or let their Hearts run out after are in comparison of Christ the Bread of Life and those other good Things which Believers daily feed and feast upon but as feeding on Husks and Gravel If Men naturally have no Food to eat they will pine away and soon die So were it not for those earthly Comforts that the Ungodly have to feed upon and support their Spirits with tho you see what the Nature of them is they would soon pine away Do but dispossess them of any of these earthly Enjoyments Psal 34.8 and their Hearts like the Heart of Nabal would presently die in them for they never tasted how good the Lord is how sweet Promises are what it is to have the Love and Favour of God never tasted of the Feast of a good Conscience nor of the Comforts of the Holy-Ghost IX Some Persons that have been taken captive have been grievously wounded they have not only been stript put into Prison and almost starved to Death but also have lain there in a sad bloody and mangled Condition and their Wounds let alone to fester stink and be very loathsom IX The Wicked are not only Captives of the Devil stript of all their first Righteousness in Prison in Iron Chains almost starved to Death spiritually but also they are wounded from the Sole of the Foot to the Head there is no soundness in it Isa 1.6 but Wounds and Bruises and putrifying Sores Some conclude that the Prophet speaks of the Body Politick or National Church of the Jews which was under great Affliction and so was that way sorely wounded But doubtless the Wounds and Sickness spoken of here were those Sins and abominable Evils that People were guilty of which appears from what is said by the Lord in the first Verse Why should ye be stricken any more ye will revolt more and more And as a Proof of it he saith The whole Head is sick and the whole Heart faint Sin was the Sickness and the Wounds and those Afflictions
as a Cart is pressed with Sheaves Amos 2.13 Nothing is more opposite to God than Sin or is more loathsome to him 3. Because it wounds bruises and lays the Soul it self a bleeding 4. Because it brings the Soul under the dreadful Wrath of an angry God yea binds down under everlasting Wrath causing a final Separation from God and Christ for ever Inferences WHat insensible Creatures are unconverted Sinners 2. Moreover what a sore and grievous thing it is to have this Burden laid upon the Soul 3. It may stir up such who feel this Weight to cast it off by Repentance and Faith remember Christ hath born it for thee that thou mightest go free Isa 53. The Lord hath laid on him the Iniquities of us all 4. It shews us what a wonderful Mercy it is to be freed from this Burden Saints are delivered from the Power and Dominion Guilt and Condemnation of it Rom. 6.14 through the Lord Jesus Christ Sin a Sting 1 Cor. 15.56 The Sting of Death is Sin Parallels DEath is like a venemous Serpent that hath a cruel and tormenting Sting and this Sting is Sin II. The Sting of some Serpents in the Flesh is very painful it makes such to cry out exceedingly So such who feel themselves stung with Sin cry out like as those did in Acts 2.36 The pain and torment of a wounded Conscience is intolerable as many can experience and the History of Francis Spira abundantly shews III. The Venom or Sting of some Serpents is mortal it killeth the Body so Sin that Venom of Death and the Devil killeth both Body and Soul IV. If a Serpent biteth or stingeth any one part the Venom and Contagion spreadeth over all the Body and destroyeth the whole Man so the Sting and Poyson of Sin which entered by one Man's Offence Rom. 5 15 18. hath infected and killed all the Lump of Mankind moreover he that harboureth but one Sin in his Bosom it will destroy his whole Soul if this Sting be but in his Tongue 't is like the Poyson of Asps his Life must go for it without speedy help V. No Salve or Medicine could heal the Bodies of those who were stung with those fiery Serpents in the Wilderness till they look'd up to the Brazen Serpent no Physician on Earth could cure them Dioscor l 6. c. 30. so no work of Man can cure the biting of Death and the Devil or Sting of Sin but the Venom thereof rageth and raigneth tormenting the Conscience untill the Soul looks up by a true and lively Faith to Jesus Christ VI. As the Sting of a Serpent must be pulled out before the Person stung can be cured so Sin must be lifted pulled or worked out of the Heart and Life of a Sinner by the Spirit before he can be either healed or saved VII As some Serpents cannot hurt when they have lost their Sting so Death cannot hurt a Soul whose Sin is taken away by Jesus Christ Sin a Wound Psal 38.5 My Wounds stinck and are corrupt c. Prov. 18.14 But a wounded Spirit who can bear Luke 10.34 And bound up his Wounds c. SIN wounds the Soul of a Sinner a Church or Nation When Ephraim saw his Sickness and Judah saw his Wounds c. Hos 5.13 The Word translated Wound in this place is from a Word that signifieth colligavit he hath bound up either because of the corruption of the Body that is gathered together or because of the binding of it up with Cloaths Parallels WOunds are either new which we commonly call green Wounds or else old Wounds Now Sinners have an old Wound upon them which is like a stinking Ulcer which they received above five thousand years ago in the Garden of Eden when Adam was wounded by his Sin in eating of the forbidden Fruit all his Posterity were wounded in him also every Sinner hath many fresh Wounds upon him Rom. 5.12 II. Some Wounds are venemous as the biting or cruel sting of some poysonous Serpent c. Sin is a venemous Wound it is the sting of a Serpent the old Serpent See Sting III. Some Persons have been full of Wounds wounded from the Crown of the Head to the Soles of the Feet they are as it were nothing but Wounds so Sinners are full of Wounds every Sin is like a Wound or makes a Wound in the Soul so many Sins a Man is guilty of so many Wounds he hath in his inward Man Every Faculty of their Soul is wounded 1. Their Judgment is corrupt 2. Their Understanding darkned full of Vanity Blindness Incredulity Enmity and Unteachableness 3. The Will that noble Faculty is wounded and fearfully depraved the Mind of a Man being corrupt the Will must needs be corrupt As to a Man that hath his Pallate possest with a vicious Humour every thing seems bitter according to the Humour so the Understanding reckoning the ways of God both Enmity and Folly the Will acts accordingly The Will of wicked Men acts cross and contrary to God and his Holy Will in all things they resist and fight against him and are not subject to his Law neither indeed can be there is much Pride Inconstancy Rom. 8 7. Stubbornness and Disobedience in the Will Our Tongues are our own and who is Lord over us Psal 12.4 4. Their Affections are wounded and very filthy Men naturally love the Creature more than God nay they love their Lusts horrid Sins and Uncleanness above the Majesty of Heaven The Apostle giving a Character of some Men saith they are Lovers of Pleasures more than Lovers of God 5. The Memory is wounded 1 Tim. 3.4 being forgetful of that which is good and like a leaking Vessel Men are ready to remember what God bids them forget but forget that which he commands them to remember they are too apt to think upon Injuries nay may be one Injury will be thought on more than many Kindnesses and Years of good Service they are subject enough to remember Trifles and vain Stories whenas a profitable Sermon or wholesome Counsel is forgot c. 6. The Conscience of a Sinner is wounded with Sin tho not for it or in a deep and real Sense of the evil of it Vnto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure Tit. 1.15 but their Minds and Consciences are corrupt the Conscience which should like Job's last Messenger bring us Word that all the rest of the Faculties are dead i. e. wounded Preston and corrupted alas is maimed dumb or misguided or grievously distempered that when it should accuse it excuseth it should act the part of a faithful Register to set all our Sins down exactly but it falsifies in this and as saith Dr. Preston when it should set down Hundreds it sets down Fifties when it should restrain from Evil it is almost asleep and lets the Sinner alone whom it should condemn for want of Light it acquits And as a Man is
Thoughts And do not all these things commend unto us the Justice Wisdom Holiness Omnipotence Omniscience Perfection and absolute Soveraignty of the Law-Maker 'T is a Book that comprehends an Universal History of the World past present and to come Its Contents reach as far as the first Foundations of the Earth and Heavens give us an Account of God's Revelations to Man ever since his first make and the particulars of an Entercourse between God and the World for near upon two thousand and five hundred Years before they were any where extant upon Record What other Book since the World began so much as pretended to do this A Book which as it was sixteen hundred Years a writing for so long it was from the Time of Moses till John closed it with the Revelations so the Matters it treats of are of the most excellent Nature and highest Concernment To give the World a satisfactory Account not only of its Original but of its End too To bring Man acquainted with his true Soveraign Happiness and a most wonderful and astonishing method of Reconciliation with his Maker Its Promises are everlasting Glory and never-fading Crowns Its Precepts perfect †Gal. 3.10 Righteousness and altogether such as tend most to the Honour of God the Happiness of a Man's Self and the Quiet of the World Its Threatnings are of Miseries that are endless It s whole Tendency is to a Prospect beyond the Grave what Heathen ever so much as dream'd of the Resurrection Who but the Lord could be Author of such Laws that only can give eternal Life and inflict eternal Death These things can move the Conscience of none but such who acknowledg the Precepts thereof to be divine In a Word its General Subjects are Mysteries no where else to be heard of and without such a Manifestation unconceivable Now considering the Premises what less than Infinite VVisdom can be the supposed Author of such a Book 2. The Antiquity of the Holy Scriptures II. By its Antiquity The Books of Moses wherein in Promises Prophecies Types and Shadows the Sum and Substance of all the rest of the Bible is comprised were the first Writings in the World next to those by the Finger of God on Mount Sinai This is fully proved by Justin Martyr an ancient Writer that lived within one hundred and thirty Years after Christ in his Paroenetick to the Greeks who comparing the Times of all Human Writers Poets Philosophers Historians and Law-givers esteemed most ancient demonstrates them all to be but Punies to Moses Eusebius also who followed Justin Martyr at about two hundred Years distance in the 2d and 3d Books of his Evangelical Preparation prosecutes the same Argument at large and from abundance of Testimonies and Confessions out of the best and most authentick Heathen Authors themselves undeniably evinces That Moses was the most ancient of all the Writers that were known or named amongst them And Tertullian so confidently upbraids the Gentiles in this matter that we think it not amiss to recite his Words in the 19th Chapter of his Apology Our Religion saith he speaking to the Heathens far out-does all that you can boast of in that kind For the Books of one of our Prophets only viz. Moses wherein it seems God hath enclosed as in a Treasury all the Christian Religion preceding so many Ages together reach beyond the ancientest you have even all your Publick Monuments the Antiquity of your Originals the Establishment of your Estates the Foundations of your Cities all that are most advanced by you in all Ages of History and Memory of Times the Invention even of the Characters which are Interpreters of Sciences and the Guardians of all Things excellent I think I may say more they are elder than your very Gods your Temples Oracles and Sacrifices Have you not heard mention made of that great Prophet Moses He was contemporary with Inachus and preceded Danaus the ancientest of all that have a Name in your Histories 393 Years He lived some Hundreds of Years before the Ruine of Troy And Homer the eldest Writer amongst the Grecians lived as Pliny saith 250 Years after the Subversion of that City Every of the other Prophets succeeded Moses and yet the last of them was of the same Age as your prime Wise-Men Law-givers and Historians were So that 't is a Thing out of dispute that for Antiquity neither the Writings of Orpheus or Homer or Trismegistus or Pythagoras or Berosus nor any other can compare with the Pentateuch These Gray-Hairs shew them to be the Off-spring of the Ancient of Days for Truth is always the First-born And if we consider how low mean and imperfect all humane Inventions were in those Times and what foolish irrational and absurd Conceptions both the Egyptians and Grecians Nations most celebrated for Wisdom had of Things Divine and the Duty and Happiness of Man we cannot but conclude That so clear an Account of the World's Beginning Depravation Destruction by the Flood and Re-peopling such a most excellent Law and Doctrine in reference both to God and Man c. could not be of Humane Extract but must needs be in truth what it pretends it self to be a Divine Revelation Besides who can believe the first Religion should be the worst or the most timely Notions of God the falsest Were this so and the Bible not a Divine Book but composed by Impostors then it follows That the most primitive Account we have of Religion is counterfeit that the Devil set up his Chappel before God built his Church that in the earliest Notices we have of God of the World 's Original Man's Fall and the Way of his Recovery the World is deceived and abused and that God suffered the Devil in the first place and without any Thing publickly extant from him either before or since to contradict it in his Name and under pretence of his Authority to delude and mislead Mankind with a false Account of all those Things which they are most concerned to know and upon the right Knowledg of which their present and future Happiness depends All which as it is unworthy of God so it is no less repugnant to the Dictates of Reason But on the contrary 't is most rational to believe that God's Revelations were as early as Man's Necessities and that the Bible being the most ancient as well as the wisest Book in the World is also the truest and proceeded from the God of Truth III. This Royal Descent or Divinity of the Scriptures further appears 3. The Majesty and Strangeness of the Stile by that Majesty and Authoritativeness of the Spirit of God speaking in them and that extraordinary and inimitable Stile wherein they are written As 't is said of our blessed Lord Mat. 7.28 That he taught as one having Authority and not as the Scribes So the Scriptures teach with an awful Authority †See the Epist to the First Volume The Stile of the Sacred Scripture is
Death Secondly the Grave Thirdly Coals and Flames of Fire Which shew forth the vehement Power and Force of Divine Love to Jesus Christ Which cannot be quenched First Love is compared to Death and the Grave Metaphor Parallel DEath and the Grave overcome the strongest Men it prevails over the most powerful wise and learned in the World neither can the most mighty Monarch encounter Death or stand before it there is no discharge in that War SO Love that is in the Heart of a sincere Christian prevails against all Difficulties and Oppositions Temptations Afflictions and most cruel Sufferings and Torments that can be exercised upon them as appeared by the blessed Martyrs Nothing is too hard for Love it cannot be subdued it overcomes all Sin and Suffering whatsoever II. Death and the Grave seize upon every part of the corporal or mortal Body II. So Love when shed abroad in the Heart seizeth upon all the Faculties of the Soul Hence it is that true Christians are said to love Christ with all their Hearts and with all their Souls Metaphor Disparity DEath and the Grave put an end to natural Life and so cause all Motions or Actions from thence to cease BUt Love hath that Virtue as it is a Grace of the Spirit that it sets all the Faculties of the Soul upon Acts of a spiritual Life None are so lively as those that truly love Jesus Christ II. Death overcomes and destroys that which we would if possible keep viz. our Lives that are most dear to us II. Love only overcomes that which is offensive and contrary to us or that stands in opposition to the Soul's Union with Christ making that which would be injurious to Flesh and Blood to become profitable and advantagious yea tho it be to the Loss of Life yet Love takes away the Fear of Death and makes the Soul willing to part with Life for Christ's sake Love is also compared to Coals and Flames of Fire Metaphor Parallel COals and Flames of Fire are of a burning and consuming Quality THe Grace of Love kindled in the Soul of a Believer burns up and consumes that inordinate Desire which is naturally in the Heart after the Things and Vanities of this World it eats up and consumes all carnal and sensual Lusts whatsoever all fleshly and combustible Stuff or Things that stand in the way are burnt up and destroyed by it II. Coals and Flames of Fire are of a purging and purifying quality II. So the Grace of Love purgeth cleanseth and purifieth the Soul the Dross and Filth of the Heart and Life being wasted away a Christian is made holy sanctified and heavenly thereby III. Coals and Flames of Fire are of a melting and softning Nature they make things tender and pliable meet to receive the Impression of a Seal c. III. So the Grace of Love softens the Heart and melts it making it pliable and very fit and capable to receive the Impression and Divine Image of God IV. Some Fire is so vehement that Water thrown upon it will not quench it but rather cause it to burn more fierce and vehemently IV. The Grace of Love is of such a strong and vehement Nature thâ—t it is impossible utterly to quench or extinguish it in the Soul tho the Devil daily useth all his Strength and Skill to do it Many ways he continually assaults Believers when Temptations of one sort fail he trieth others he offers worldly Pleasures Honours Riches yea all the Goods as I may say of his House but all is in vain nothing will quench this Divine Flame the true Christian utterly contemns him with all he hath The grand Design of Satan's courting a Man with all his Offers All this will I give thee c. is to gain his Love or draw off his Affections from Jesus Christ If this Way will not do he tries another and brings Afflictions and Crosses upon the Soul but over these likewise is a Saint a Conqueror Which makes the Apostle break forth into this holy Triumph Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ Shall Tribulation or Distress Rom. 8.35 36 37 38. or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness or Peril or Sword No none of these things can For I am persuaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. V. Fire hath Light with it V. So the Grace of Love is attended with the Knowledg of Christ who is the Object of Love Ignoti enim nulla cupido VI. Coals and Flames of Fire afford Heat they are of a warming and reviving Nature VI. So the Grace of Love heats our cold and frozen Hearts it warms and revives them with sweet and blessed Love and Zeal for God and his Glory VII Flames of Fire ascend or tend continually upwards See more of the Nature and Quality of Fire where the Word of God is compared to it VII So the Grace of Love darts the Desires of the Soul Heavenwards Such have their Affections set on Things above Col. 3.1 2. Metaphor Disparity FIre is from beneath it is earthy and one of the four Elements THe Grace of Love is from above it is a supernatural Grace it grows not in Natures Garden But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love c. II. A violent Fire may be quenched and all natural and elementary Fire shall be put out Mount Aetna shall not burn always II. But the Grace of Love this Divine Fire can never be quenched it shall burn to Eternity Charity never faileth c. Inference BY these Things Works and Operations we may try whether we have true Love to Jesus Christ or no. And for a further Help therein see the following Metaphor Christ's Love compared to Wine Cant. 1.2 For his Love is better than Wine WHereas Christ's Love is preferred to Wine it is to be understood Synecdochically so Ainsworth Wine here is put for the most pleasant joyful refreshing and cordial Things as Bread by the same Figure is frequently put for such things as strengthen c. The Love of Jesus Christ is better than Wine or whatsoever Men esteem to be good or to excell in Nature and Virtue Metaphor Parallel VVIne is the Fruit of a good Tree a choice and precious Plant and 't is the best of natural Liquors THe Love of Christ is the Fruit of the choicest Plant that ever was planted Men and Angels are not to be compared to him See Vine And his Love is the best and choicest of Love Wine is natural but his Love is Divine and supernatural None ever loved as Christ loved II. Wine is pleasant delectable and sweet to the Taste II. There is nothing so pleasant and delectable to a believing Soul as the Manifestation of Christ's Love it excells all things for sweetness III. Wine is to be
live in newness of Life amongst the Saints in the Kingdom of God II. When one is buried he ought to be covered all over with Earth else 't is no Burial II. When one is baptized he ought to be covered all over with Water or else 't is no Baptism Which fully appears 1. From the Nature of Burial 2. From the proper and Metaphorical Significations of the Word as is largely opened 3. From Scripture-Practice which always was by Dipping as all the Learned that are impartial acknowledg 4. From the constant Practice of Antiquity who retained the right Form until Clinical Baptism viz. such who deferred their Baptism till their sick Bed came to be used about Cyprian's time in the third Century These Clinici so called because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 baptized in their Bed were such as delayed their Baptism until their Death-Beds because they believed it would take away all Sin and that there was no Pardon if they sinned after receiving it yet not daring to go out of the World without this great Badge of Christianity deferr'd it till they thought they were in danger of Death And since they could not without peril of Life be dipp'd Sprinkling was invented to serve the turn For a like Reason as was said before they changed the Mode of Administration with respect to Infants when their Baptism was introduced out of regard to their tender Constitutions especially in cold Countries Seasons This was the Original of Sprinkling and sprung purely from the abuse of Baptism and the Want of the right Subject as by Divine Aid shall be demonstrated in a particular Sheet impartially and from undoubted Authority One may with as much reason be said to be buried when Clay or Earth is thrown upon his Head only as to be baptized when Water is poured upon his Head or Face And if the one be no Burying 't is as certain the other is no Baptism And he that affirms that Sprinkling may represent or symbolically express the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ does at the same time speak without colour of Truth Word of Sence and against all the Reason in the World As breaking of the Sacramental Bread visibly betokens that Christ's Body was broke and as the pouring forth of the Sacramental Wine represents the gushing forth of his Blood so the Sacramental Dipping in Water viz. Baptism represents his Death and Burial and the coming from under the Water his Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.2 3 4 c. III. Burial precedes the Resurrection or raising of the dead Body to a State of Immortality III. The Immersion of the Party baptized precedes his Emersion or coming out of the Water which symbolizes or answers to two things 1. The Resurâ—ection of Christ 2. Our rising again to Newness of Life Buried with him in Baptism wherein ye are also risen with him c. as in the Text. Inferences FRom the whole we may rationally conclude That the Administration of this great Ordinance by Sprinkling which comports not with the Literal nor Metaphorical Signification of the Word nor those great Mysteries represented by it viz. the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ is disorderly and should be rectified 2. It is a Motive to excite us to admire and reverence the great Grace and Goodness of Christ who hath given us such a visible Symbol of his Death Burial and Resurrection not only to confirm our Faith but also to prevent our being deceived by any seducing Spirits 3. It is not to be wondred at that such as deny the Man Christ Jesus but preach up the Light within to be a Saviour should reject these two great Ordinances stated in the Scripture viz. Baptism and the Lord's Supper because such as deny the Substance are necessitated to deny the Sign Persons of this Judgment may be easily confuted For when ever the Term Baptism is mentioned and God or Christ represented as the Agent it must be understood of the Baptism of the Spirit in the Sence before spoken of When ever Baptism is mentioned as the Act of any Apostle or Minister of the Gospel it denotes Water-Baptism because these have neither Power nor Commission to baptize with the Spirit and with Fire And when ever the Baptism of Blood and Suffering is mentioned it must be understood of Persecutors or ungodly Men who murther destroy or afflict the Godly for neither God without Blasphemy nor good Men without a wrong application of the Term may be said to baptize that way So that when we meet with the Act of Baptism as the Act of a good Man we must of necessity understand it of Water-Baptism in the same Method and Mode of Administration as was practised by the Apostles and Primitive Christians and that being a positive Institution with respect to the Subject and Manner of Administration is not to be deviated from upon any pretence whatsoever unless we will suppose the Laws of the Almighty to be in the Power of Man so as that he may dispense at pleasure with them which is not to be done without sufficient Authority from God himself which is no where to be found 4. If the Laws of the great unerring Sovereign of all things are to be observed without variation unless it be by his express Direction then we are to conform exactly to his Order in this part of the Evangelical Law and to practise it no otherwise than he has prescribed because it was once so delivered to the Saints 5. We would caution all that would approach to this sacred Evangelical Ordinance unless they be dead to Sin that is such as truly and really hate Wickedness and the empty Vanities of the World and unless they have a prospect of and long to have an Interest in that never-fading Inheritance promised by our dear Lord Jesus to his Children not to prophane this blessed Institution Because if they want the due Qualifications of serious and converted Souls viz. Faith Repentance and good Lives they are hereby entitled not real Members of Christ but Hypocrites and incur as great a Hazard as such do who eat and drink unworthily of the Lord's Supper The Lord's Supper 1 Cor. 11.23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you That the Lord Jesus the same Night in which he was betrayed took Bread Verse 24. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you This do in remembrance of me THe Papists affirm That after the Words which they call the Words of Consecration spoken by the Mass-Priest the Bread is changed into the real Body of Jesus Christ and many of the blessed Martyrs in Queen Mary's Days were burned to Ashes for denying this Transubstantiation Which absurd and monstrous Conceit of theirs hath been learnedly confuted by many ancient and modern Writers so that it may be thought needless to add any thing here upon that account yet that we may make our way
Iron 1 Tim. 4.2 VII A great and faithful Witness who hath perfect Knowledg of things and will not be bribed who can and will as it is believed and found by experience speak fully to a Cause tho it be to the utter Shame and Ruin of all guilty Persons is many times grievously abused by malicious Men who hate that their abominable Deeds should be brought to Light or laid at their Doors nay not only so but some have been stifled strangled and traiterously murdered as the ever renowned Sir Edmond-Bury Godfrey was by bloody Papists the 12th of October 1678. whom they knew could witness many things against them to detect their cursed and never to be forgotten Hellish Plot. VIII It is a very great Wickedness to lay violent hands or treacherously to abuse and stifle the King 's faithful Witnesses especially when called to give in their Evidence in Matters of great Moment wherein the Honour and Sovereignty of the King is greatly concerned VIII So it is a great and horrible Wickedness for any Soul or Sinner to go about to stop the Mouth of or treacherously to abuse poor Conscience who is the great Witness of the King of Heaven and Earth in this lower Court and that in Matters wherein his Honour and glorious Right and Sovereignty is much concerned nay not only his Witness but Judg to sit upon the Bench to hear and determine all Causes if rightly informed according to the great Law-Book of the Gospel and to pass Sentence of Life and Death or to acquit and discharge IX A Witness is required to speak the Truth when he comes before a Court of Judicature the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth and he that is a true Witness will do it And hereby many times most horrid Evils are brought to light and publickly detected yea secret things are discovered that the guilty Person thought would never have been known which makes him ashamed and confounded for ever IX So Conscience in the Day of Judgment will speak the Truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth Tho now oft-times he is blinded and at a great Loss for want of Light or by being mis-guided he gives in false Testimony and quits the guilty and condemns the innocent but in that day it will recover such perfect Light and Knowledg that it will decide the Cause clearly the right way and will by this means bring to light all the hidden things of Darkness 1 Cor. 4 5. even all those cursed Abominations of the Heart all secret things that it and God Almighty were only privy to and will lay open all the horrid Evils that have been done in the dark Then Men shall be forced to confess their secret Adulteries Murthers Treacheries Theft Self-Revenge together with all their bloody and black Combinations ConspiracieS and Hellish Plots carried on in secret Cabals managed by ungodly Papists or others notwithstanding all their Oaths of Secrecy Conscience if it comes not to light before will in that day lay all open before the Eyes of Men and Angels to the Shame and eternal Confusion of all ungodly Ones X. A just and impartial Witness that clearly and very fully giveth in Testimony against a Person in a fair Trial finally stops his own Mouth and the Mouths of all others and leaves the Cause clear for the Judg to pass Sentence against him X. So the Consciences of wicked Men in the great Day will give in such clear and full Evidence against them touching all the Evils they shall then be charged with by the just Judg of Heaven and Earth that all Flesh shall for ever be silenced and God shall be clear when he judgeth Rom. 2.15 16. Which shew the Works of the Law written in their Hearts their Consciences also bearing Witness and their Thoughts in the mean while accusing or else excusing one another in that Day when God shall judg the Secrets of all Men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel And hereby all the Mouths of Unbelievers will be stopp'd and they all be found guilty before Christ Inferences THese things being considered it may stir up all Persons to take heed how they carry it at home and abroad when they go out and when they come in when they lie down or rise up because Conscience observes all that is said or done nay is privy to all the thoughts of our Hearts and one day will witness for us or against us II. Let Christians whatever they do labour to keep a good Conscience A good Conscience is better than a good Name it is better than a good Trade 't is better than a good Estate And for further Motives to this needful Duty 1 Consider Conscience keeps a Register of all thy Thoughts Words and Actions what you forget and is quite gone out of your Memories is set down in the Book of Conscience 2. Consider Conscience is a Witness an impartial Witness an Accuser of Evil and tho he lies still a great while he will rouse up at last and with his cruel Charges and Accusations accuse the Soul as in the Case of Joseph's Brethren And they said one to another Gen. 42.21 Verily we are guilty concerning our Brother in that we saw the Anguish of his Soul when he besought us and we would not hear therefore is this Distress come upon us 3. Conscience is not only a Witness but a Judg and hath power to condemn the wicked and the guilty Soul it sits upon the Throne as God's Attorney-General to award Life or Death as the States and Conditons of Men are If thy Heart condemn the 1 Joh 3.20 21. God is greater c. 4. Conscience doth often the Work and Office of a Tormentor wo to them that fall into his enraged hands here but much more sad will it be with them whom he shall torment in Hell 'T is he that is the gnawing Worm that never dies Mark 9.44 where the Fire shall never be quenched But 5. There is no bearing in this World the Pain and Torment of an accusing Conscience Tiberius the Emperor was so followed with Grief and Horror by his own Conscience that he confessed in the Senate-House he suffered Death daily and Charles the Ninth of France that Monster of Mortals after the dreadful Massacre could never endure to be awaked in the Night without Musick such was the dreadful Anguish and Horror he found in his own Conscience Francis Spira also may be here recited among the rest whose Conscience terrified him at that rate that the Account of his fearful Case is left to Posterity It was Conscience that put Judas into such an Amaze and forced him to hang himself after he had betrayed our Blessed Saviour And many other Examples both ancient and modern we meet with both of Men and Women that have destroyed themselves as not being able to bear the cruel Torments of an accusing Conscience and others from hence have confessed their Guilt and so
House of the Lord all the days of my Life c. XII A dear Child will strive to imitate his Father and walk in his Steps in all things that are just and right Thus Solomon was exhorted to follow the good Example of his Father David XII So a dear Saint takes care to follow God Be ye Followers of God Eph. 5.1 as dear Children Be ye holy for I am holy That is the Precept and a sincere Soul labours so to be it is his great desire to be like God and Christ as near as he can Be ye Followers of me as I am of Christ Jesus 1. A Saint strives to follow God and Christ in Love We are taught of God to love one another 2. In Humility What a Pattern hath God in Christ laid before us herein Mat 11.28 Phil. 2.5 6 Learn of me saith our Saviour for I am meek and lowly in Heart c. Let the same Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus 3. In being merciful and kind to all Be ye merciful Mat. 5.45.48 as your Father that is in Heaven is merciful 3. In hating and abominating that which is evil God loaths Sin and so doth every sincere Christian 5. In Forgiveness they strive to be like God in this He is ready to pardon forgive and forget Injuries done to him and so ought his Children Eph. 4.34 And be ye kind one to another and tender-hearted forgiving one another as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you God forgiveth freely universally and for ever so must they Inferences LAbour to follow God as dear Children 1. Sincerely not in Hypocrisy not for Loaves 2. Speedily do not defer it I made haste saith David c. 3. In whatsoever he commands you 4. Diligently 5. Follow him through all Difficulties and Hardships as Caleb did c. and as Ruth followed Naomi 6. Follow him humbly 7. Follow him joyfully 8. Follow him when others leave him 9. Follow him constantly even to the end 10. And lastly follow none but him forsake all those that would lead you astray Christ's Sheep will not follow Strangers they will follow God and not Baal II. From hence every one may perceive whether they are God's Children yea or no. III. This shews also what great Dignity God hath conferred upon Believers Behold what manner of Love is this God hath bestowed upon us 1 Joh. 3.1 2 that we should be called the Sons of God If David thought it no small thing to be Son in Law to an earthly King what an Honour hath God conferred on us Rom. 8. IV. Saints may from hence read their Privileges If Children then Heirs Heirs of God and Joynt-Heirs with Christ. Saints compared to Heirs Rom. 8.17 If Children then Heirs c. Rev. 21.7 He that overcometh shall be Heir of all things Note The Saints of God are Heirs Heirs of God Heirs of all things c. Heirs Parallel THe First-born had a Princely Power and Dominion over their Brethren who bowed down before them they were next their Fathers in Honour THe Saints are made Kings to God are called Kings and Princes Isa 32.1 A King shall reign in Righteousness and Princes shall decree Judgment They shall have Dominion over the Mighty of the Earth in their Day They are next to Christ in Honour Rev. 3.21 and shall sit upon the Throne with him II. The First-born were Priests in their Father's Family till the Levites came in II. The Saints are Priests as well as Kings to God Rev. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.5 He hath made us Kings and Priests c. They are called an holy Priesthood to offer up a holy and acceptable Sacrifice unto God III. The First-born had the Inheritance the rest had but a Piece of Money And to this day we see that Men use to make their Inheritance over to the First-born and besides the Inheritance they had a double Portion of Goods III. The Saints have the eternal Inheritance made over to them the World hath but a small Allowance for all they have amounts to no more than Vanity God giveth himself and all he hath to Believers they have a double Portion an Hundred-fold in this Life and in the World to come Life everlasting IV. An Heir sometimes stays a great while before he comes to the full Possession of the Inheritance and until then he is under Tutors and Governors and differeth but little from a Servant IV. The Saints patiently wait a while being under Age before they come to the full Possession of the Inheritance purchased for them by Christ and until they come to full Age they are under Tutors and Governors who deal hardly with them and they seem not to differ from Servants V. The First-born had a peculiar Sort of Apparel whereby they were distinguished from others such was Esau's goodly Raiment which Rachel put upon Jacob. V. The Saints are cloathed with a goodly Raiment viz. the Righteousness of Christ Holiness is the Saints Livery whereby they are distinguished from the rest of the World VI. The First-Born had the Blessing annexed to them and unless they were supplanted as Esau was by Jacob they were blest of their Father especially when their Fathers were at the point of Death VI. The Saints are the Blessed of the Lord none can take either Birth-right or Blessing away from them they are blessed and shall be blessed The Lord Jesus blessed them at his Departure and that Blessing shall never depart from them Heirs Disparity AMong Men all a Man's Children are not Heirs nor can they fully possess the same Estate entirely to themselves as if but one had it BUt all the Saints are Heirs together they are all Joynt-heirs and yet every one hath all to himself They have all one and the same Father one and the same Christ one and the same Spirit the same Apparel the same Grace all one Faith Hope c. all the same Promises same Attendance viz. the holy Angels the same Crown Kingdom and Eternal Inheritance II. Heirs among Men have but a small Inheritance What is all this World Luther called all the Turkish Empire but a Crust God casts to a Dog II. But the Saints are Heirs of all Things Heirs of Heaven and Earth too Heirs of God And what is there more what can a Man ask or desire to have would he have more than all III. An Heir among Men is often deprived by Force or Craft of his Title and turned out of all III. But the Saints cannot by Force or Fraud be deprived of their Title to Eternal Life That it may be sure and firm to them it is made over to them by the Oath of God See Light in the First Volume Saints compared to Eagles Isa 40.31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their Strength they shall mount up with Wings as Eagles Psal 103.5 Who satisfieth thy Mouth with good Things so that thy Youth is renewed like the
Communion with God II. The Palm-Tree grows in the purest Soil it will not grow in filthy Places it loves to spread forth its Roots by a River it loves not dungy Soil as other Trees do II. The Righteous flourish best in a pure Soil in a Land where the Gospel is preached in its purity They are planted in a choice Garden Christ's blessed Vineyard in the Courts of the Lord's House as it follows in the Psalm Psal 92.13 14. 1 Joh. 5.19 They are transplanted out of and love not the polluted and idolatrous World that lies in Wickedness which smells like a Dunghill but in the Garden of God III. The Palm is an even and very strait Tree and grows upright Hence 't is said of Idols that they are upright like the Palm-Tree III. The Saints of God are a People sincere of an upright Heart and of an upright Conversation for tho naturally they are rough knotty and crooked like others yet Grace works out or cuts off that Crookedness Uncomeliness or Unevenness that naturally was in them IV. The Palm-Tree when young is a very weak Plant it is so feeble that it can hardly stand of it self And therefore Pliny says they usually plant three or four of them together and by that means they strengthen one another and stand the faster IV. The Saints of God when first converted are usually weak and feeble and hardly able to stand of themselves without the help and support of their Brethren but when planted together in God's Vineyard they thrive greatly confirming and strengthning one another which shews the Excellency of Christian Communion and Fellowship Isa 35.3 Strengthen ye the weak Hands and confirm the feeble Knees Support the Weak V. The Palm-Trees Naturalists tell us by growing together do join clasp and grow one to the other and by that means grow very strong and flourish exceedingly V. The Saints and People of God by being planted together in Gospel-Fellowship and Communion do or ought so to join clasp and cleave in Love and Affection one to another as to become as it were all but one Tree and hereby they are made very strong and flourish exceedingly VI. The Palm-Tree is one of those Trees that are always green green in Winter as well as in Summer it doth not cast its Leaves nor fade as the expression in Psal 1.3 VI. The Godly are compared to Trees that are always green Greenness is caused from the abundance of Sap that flows from the Root Luk 23.31 Christ is called a green Tree Greenness as applied to the Godly notes their abounding in inward Grace and Holiness from the Root Christ Psal 52.14 I am saith David as a green Olive-Tree in the House of the Lord. Saints are said to be fed in green Pastures that is such Pastures as afford precious and pleasant Food as also Plenty Sincere Christians continually abide green and flourishing they are like Trees planted by the River-side that bring forth Fruit in their Season their Leaf shall not wither They hold up their Profession not only in the Summer of Prosperity but in the very Winter of Adversity and maintain their Vertue and Beauty in the hardest Time Psal 92.14 They shall saith David still bring Fruit in old Age they shall be fat and flourishing VII The Palm-Tree doth not only keep up its Greenness and the Beauty of its Leaves but it is a Tree that is full of Fruit and that good Fruit pleasant Fruit sweet Fruit Fruit that is excellent Cordial which you know Dates are Surely saith Pliny new Dates as they come from the Tree are so exceeding pleasant and delicious that a Man can hardly forbear and make an end in good time VII The Righteous are a People that have not only the Greenness of Profession and the Greenness of Grace and inward Vertue in their Hearts but also the Fruit of a good Life Their Conversation is full of good Fruit the Fruit of Righteousness is pleasant Fruit choice and precious Fruit no Fruit is like the Fruit of the Spirit which is Love Joy Peace Gal 5.22 Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith c. Saints are very fruitful Trees they may fitly in this respect be compared to the Palm-Tree VIII The Palm-Tree will thrive under heavy Pressures or Weights that are hanged upon it The Palm-Tree saith Mr. Caryl doth grow up when it is most prest down When there are the heaviest Weights hung upon it then it grows highest when it is as it were kept down the Burthens that are upon it cannot make it bow nor grow crooked This Tree saith Ainsworth tho pressed yet it endureth and prospereth It is a Tree of an excellent Nature VIII Psâ—l 92.12 Thus the Righteous flourish like the Palm-Tree they grow and encrease in Grace and Holiness tho under great Burthens and Pressures The Devil strives to press them down Sin endeavours to press them down wicked Men endeavour to press them down and yet they thrive and grow exceedingly The Righteous shall hold on his Way and he that hath clean Hands shall grow stronger and stronger 'T is said of the People of Israel Exod. 1.11 12. when Pharaoh put heavy Weights upon them when he set Task-Masters to afflict them with their Burthens the more he afflicted them the more they multiplied Persecution never does godly Christians any harm they grow the more not only in Number but in Goodness It refines and purifies them it purges and makes them white they grow in Faith in Patience Tribulation worketh Patience Rom. 5.4 5. and Patience Experience and Experience Hope Here is a growing and flourishing like the Palm-Tree under heavy Pressures and Afflictions They get more Knowledg also of their own Hearts and more Acquaintance and Communion with God the Spirit of Grace and Glory resteth upon such And thus the Righteous flourish like the Palm-Tree under Weights and heavy Pressures of Afflictions IX The Branches of the Palm-Tree were used as Signs of Victory and Rejoycing when the People would express their great Joy When they beheld Christ riding triumphantly to Jerusalem Joh. 12. they cut down Palm-Branches c. Also the Hundred Forty Four Thousand Rev. 7.9 who were redeemed from the Earth that were cloathed in white are said to have Palms in their hands IX Saints are as Palm-Branches in Christ's hand as a Sign of that glorious Victory he hath obtained over Sin Satan the World Death Hell and Wrath and all other Enemies whatsoever Also as one observes their being compared to the Palm-Tree may signify that victorious and triumphant State and eternal Joy which they shall obtain after the heavy Pressures Sorrows and Afflictions that attend them in this World are ended Inferences THis shews forth the Excellency of true Grace such is its rare Nature that it causeth the Soul that receives it to grow like a Palm-Tree 2. God hereby outwits the Mighty There is no Counsel against the Lord. The Ungodly hang their Weights
by it or by force of Argument to maintain it Paul upon this account saith 1 Cor. 15.32 he fought with Beasts at Ephesus i. e. Men like Beasts who acted like Beasts in opposing the Truth 4. In their visible professing and publick owning of the Truth They are not afraid nor ashamed to confess Christ and his Ways before Men. Some for fear of the Jews did not publickly own Jesus Christ in the Days of his Flesh but such who are sincere will go forth bearing his Reproach Tho Men forbid them Heb. 13.13 nay threaten them c. yet they will preach Jesus Christ and profess his Name and maintain his Ordinances and blessed Institutions The Apostles cried out Acts 4 20. 5.29 We cannot but speak the Things which we have seen and heard c. 5. They shew their Courage in suffering for the Truth when called so to do 1. They will suffer Reproach for the Truth 2. They will suffer Blows for the Truth 3. Imprisonment for the Truth 4. Loss of their Goods 5. Banishment 6. Yea Death it self when called to it rather than deny Christ and the Truth 6. They will stand by the Truth when others turn their Backs upon it Thus did Paul 7. They will maintain every Truth but more especially that Truth which is most opposed in the Day in which they live It may be no demonstration of Courage to stand up for or maintain a Truth in one Age which was a great Proof of Valour in another when it was chiefly opposed Would it be any Sign of spiritual Courage now to affirm God is God and Baal is not yet that was in Elijah's Days 1 Kings 18 Or would it be any Demonstration of Courage now to affirm Jesus of Nazareth to be the true Saviour yet it was in the Apostle's Time because it was the great Truth then opposed Christian Courage is now shewed by owning and maintaining those Truths of Christ now opposed and which in standing by do expose the Professors thereof Now that which doth animate and embolden the Saints in the Day of Trial in standing up for Christ and his Ways is 1. The Satisfaction they have touching the Truth of that which they profess 'T is God's Truth 2. The Consideration of the Excellency of God's Truth Psal 119. The Word of God is pure c. 3. The Consideration of the Goodness and Justness of their Call to suffer in behalf of Truth for that is one thing which must always be considered 4. The Goodness of their Consciences or the Evidences of their own Sincerity A Hypocrite may suffer some things but at last his Courage will fail him I have heard of a Captain that principally would make choice of two Sorts of Men for his Souldiers viz. either sincere and godly Christians or downright Atheists because neither of them he concluded would be afraid to die The true Christian would not be afraid of Death because he knew he should go to Christ and the Atheist would not be afraid of Death because he thought or rather hoped he should die as a Beast and there would be an end of him 5. The Consideration of his having so good a Second A couragious and undaunted Second oftentimes puts much Courage into a Person that is singled out to fight a Duel Now a Christian has the Almighty and Terrible God to take his part c. Fear not Worm Jacob I will help thee c. I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Isa 41.14 Heb. 13.5 6. So that we may boldly say The Lord is my Helper I will not fear what Man can do unto me 6. The Certainty of getting the Victory or overcoming at last As it is said of Gad it may be said of a Christian tho a Troop may overcome him yet he shall overcome at last Hence Saints are said to be more than Conquerors Rom. 8.37 for no Conqueror is certain whilst he is in the Conflict that he shall at last obtain the Conquest 7. The Consideration of that exceeding great Reward which they shall receive when they have overcome wonderfully adds Courage and Boldness unto them Be thou faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 II. Lions are great Conquerors Many other Beasts tho they are much bigger than they yet they are not able to stand before them II. Saints are great Conquerors through Christ they conquer Sin Satan the World Death and Hell they are said to be more than Conquerors Rom. 8. III. A Lion is a Creature that other Beasts are afraid of III. So the Saints are Men that the Wicked oft times fear they dread the Effects of their Prayers 'T is said that Mary Queen of Scots was more afraid of the Prayer of John Knox than of an Army of Twenty Thousand Men. Herod was afraid of John Baptist It hath been observed that some wicked Persons have been afraid to swear or carry it unseemly in the presence of a godly Man IV. A Lion is a very strong Creature IV. The Saints are so strong in the Lord and the Power of his Might that none either in Earth or Hell are a Match for them V. A Lion treadeth down and maketh a Prey of his Enemies V. So the Godly shall in the latter Days make a Prey of all their Adversaries be as terrible as an Army with Banners when God brings them forth against Babylon God will raise up the Sons of Zion against the Sons of Greece and make them as the Sword of a mighty Man Cant. 6.10 Zech. 9.13 Mich. 5.8 The Remnant of Jacob shall be amongst the Gentiles in the midst of many People as a Lion amongst the Beasts of the Forrest amongst a Flock of Sheep who if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces and none can deliver Disparity IN many things the Righteous are not like to a Lion A Lion hath many evil devouring and hurtful Qualities and it is upon that account wicked Men and the Devils are compared to Lions Inferences IN vain are the Saints by Men and Devils assaulted he that prevails against them must also prevail against and overcome the mighty God and who is a Match for Him 2. This reproves and may tend to shame the timorous Christian What! afraid to own Christ to stand up for and stand by the Truth when thou hast God to stand up for thee and stand by thee c. 3. Let Saints shew themselves bold and couragious in the Cause and Interest of God and their Souls A fearful timerous Spirit becomes not a Christian Have you a good Cause have you a good Call have you a good Conscience have you a good Captain What then do you fear In the Strength of the Lord be as bold as a Lion and in order thereunto get the Truth into your Affections see that you have received the Truth in the Love of it And be sure you approve your selves to be sincere for
Word of God because the Wind blows or it rains or he hath wearied himself the day before and so cannot rise early enough or it is a great Way and the Ways are bad c. Yet he knows in his Conscience that if there were but a good Bargain to be bought or some worldly Advantage to be had tho it were not above the Value of half Five Pound all these Obstructions would be nothing But perhaps some Sluggards may get over these things and yet if there lie other Difficulties in the Way they cannot hold the Plough of the Gospel if there is a Blast of Persecution feared he knows not how to encounter with that And thus the Sluggard discourages himself VIII The Sluggard tho he is so slothful as to hide his hand in his Bosom and is grieved to bring it again to his Mouth yet he is wise in his own Eyes Prov. 26.16 The Sluggard is wiser in his own Conceit than seven Men that can render a Reason VIII So the spiritual Sluggard tho he is monstrous idle prays as if he prayed not and reads as if it were a Burthen to him and hears the Word with no delight his Heart is asleep and perhaps his Eyes too yet he is very wise in his own Conceit Notwithstanding he is such a poor carnal worldly Wretch he hath high Thoughts of himself and cries out when reproved I know as much as you mind your own Matters every Tub shall stand upon its own Bottom why do you trouble your self with me Thus every Man is right in his own Eyes but the Lord pondereth the Heart Prov. 21.2 IX The Sluggard is a Man that seems to desire but a little time and then he will awake Yet a little Sleep yet a little Slumber yet a little folding of the hands to sleep c. As much as if he should say Let me alone yet a little I will sleep but a little longer let me have a little more Sleep c. IX So the spiritual Sluggard seems also to desire but a little time to gratify his Flesh and please his sensual Appetite to walk in ways of Vanity and sin against God I will saith an ungodly Person repent or 't is my purpose to reform my Ways but let me alone a little longer 't is time enough yet 'T is a great while to Day saith the Sluggard when one comes to awake him early in the Morning so saith the Sinner 'T is a great while before Christ will come or before old Age and Death will come in his Heart therefore he is resolved to continue in his evil and ungodly Courses a little longer Yet a little Sleep yet a little Slumber yet a little folding of the Hands to sleep Pray observe how sweet Sleep seems to be to a Sluggard so the Ways of Sin and Vanity seem sweet to an unconverted Man And as hard Labour is grievous to such a Person so is Godliness I mean strict and real Godliness Godliness in the Power of it to an unsanctified Heart X. Lastly A Sluggard cannot abide to be disturbed O let me lie let me sleep what ado you make is the Voice of a slothful Man X. A Sinner or spiritual Sluggard cannot endure to be disturbed the Thoughts of Death are to him like the Hand-writing on the Wall Dan. 5. he loves not that Conscience should call upon him to awake him nor Ministers nor any Friends he hath nay such as would or do strive to rouse a Sinner are the unwelcomest People in the World to him Repent repent what ado is here saith the graceless Soul can you not let me alone pray do not trouble me You know who sent away Paul being unwilling to hear any more at that time Inferences THis shews what a sad and dangerous Condition Sinners are in they are not only asleep but in a dead Sleep and know not how near eternal Ruine they are II. We shall endeavour therefore to awaken the Sinner out of his deep Sleep 1. Sinner God calls aloud upon thee Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the Dead How long wilt thou sleep O Sluggard 2. God hath called not only loud but long upon you Consider what Danger you expose your Souls unto you put an Opportunity into the Devil's hands to destroy you How easy is it for a weak Enemy to destroy a mighty Champion when he is asleep Jael a Woman soon destroyed Sisera when he was asleep 3. May I not say Sinner the Philistines are upon thee and thy Soul is in danger of being made a Prey for ever 4. Many ways hath God used to awaken thee He hath employed his Ministers he hath set Conscience on work he hath brought forth many dreadful Judgments and all to awaken thee and shall all Means fail and be insufficient 5. Thou losest many choice Blessings by lying thus asleep in thy Sin 6. There is Grace offered you Pardon offered you Peace offered you and will not this stir you up Nay more than all Christ is offered you Heaven offered you a Kingdom and Crown of endless Glory is offered you Soul rouse up and look about consider the Opportunity that is now in your hands will not Life and Light Pardon and Peace God and Christ Heaven and Happiness do you much Good Prov. 6 8 9 7. 'T is Harvest-Time Go to the Ant thou Sluggard consider her Ways and be wise She provideth her Meat in the Summer and gathereth her Food in the Harvest And shall such a small and contemptible Animal be wiser than you 8. The Harvest will soon be gone the Day of Grace be over and then it will be too late Jer. 8.20 The Harvest is past the Summer ended and we are not saved 9. If you will not sow now because it is cold you are like to begin Harvest and have nothing viz. at the End of the World and then you will say Lord Lord open unto us and he will say Verily verily I know you not depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity 10. Let me tell thee thou art just ready to drop into Hell thou sleepest in a dangerous Place awake Sinner or thou art damned If thy House were all on fire and thy Neighbours should not cry out to thee to save thy self thou wouldest conclude they were without all Bowels of Humanity Sinner this is thy Condition thy Soul is on a flame see what Sin that evil Spark hath done I can do no less than cry out Fire Fire wilt thou sleep and be burnt for ever The Lord awaken thee III. Let Saints bless God they are awakened out of their sleepy State IV. Let not Satan this World nor any other Enemy lull you asleep again Let us not sleep as do others Christians are subject to fall into a spiritual Drouziness see Mat. 25.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. O cry therefore with David Lord open thou mine Eyes lest I sleep the Sleep of Death Quest Some may say From whence doth it arise
have paid the utmost Farthing Inferences HOw may this humble sinful Mortals What little cause have any of the Chrildren of Men to boast of their Riches Alas they are whether they know it or no exceedingly in Debt they are worth nothing and whether they believe it or not Death will convince them of it 2. It may stir up the Hearts of the Godly to pity Sinners when you see poor Prisoners that are in Prison for Debt crying out of the Grates Bread Bread for the Lord's sake how ready are you to pity them but how more doleful is that Cry of the rich Glutton in Hell for a drop of Water to cool his Tongue and none is given to him 3. It speaks much Comfort to Believers who have through that redemption that is in Christ obtained the forgiveness of all their Debts Oh! what a Blessing these things being considered is pardon of Sin Let thy Soul with David Bless the Lord and all that is within thee praise his holy Name who forgiveth all thine Iniquities Psal 103.1 2 3. who healeth all thy Diseases who hath freed thee from thy Sins and the Punishment of them Wicked Men the Rod of God Isa 10.5 O Assyrian the Rod of mine Anger THe Ungodly and bloody Persecutors of the Lord's People are called his Hand his Rod and his Sword Deliver my Soul from the Wicked which is thy Sword from Men of the World which are thy Hand O Lord Psal 17.13 14. Parallels I. A Man smites such as have offended him with his Hand and with a Rod or Sword So God makes use of the Wicked as an Instrument to chastize his Children when they transgress his Law and grievously sin against him II. As a Hand or Rod lays on harder or softer Blows according to the Pleasure and Purpose of him that strikes So God lets the Wicked out upon his own People to oppress and afflict them as he fees good either in a milder or more severe manner III. When a Father hath chastized his Children sufficiently and throughly humbled them he sometimes casteth the Rod into the Fire So when God hath by the Wicked who are his Rod throughly humbled his People and taken away their Sin he will throw the Wicked their bloody Persecutors into the Fire of his Wrath For yet a very little while Isa 10.25 and the Indignation shall cease and mine Anger in their Destruction Wicked Men compared to Tares Mat. 13.38 The Tares are the Children of the Wicked One TAres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Varineus quia amet triticum illud ut umbra corpus sequitur imitatus simul arescit ac si esset de tritici genere i. e. Because it loveth the Wheat and imitates it as the Shadow imitateth the Body and groweth up with it as if it were of the same kind with the Wheat It should not saith one be translated Tares but evil Seed It is that which we call the deaf Ears that grow up with the good Corn and cannot be discerned till the Harvest Liegh's Crit. Sacr. and then it proves naught for Tares and Fitches are soon discerned and pluck'd up The Enemy sowed Tares v. 15. i. e. corrupted Ungodly Men are compared to Tares Tares saith a noted Writer is a Sort of Grain that groweth in the Eastern Country therefore those that are called Tares amongst us I suppose are not the Tares our Saviour alludes to Metaphor Parallel TAres are a low and base Sort of Grain of little worth or esteem in comparison of Wheat and some other Grain SO the Children of the Wicked One are a base and contemptible Sort of People in comparison of the Children of God II. If Tares are sown amongst Wheat it is done by the Hand of an Enemy out of spite and malice to the Injury and Loss of the Owner of the Field II. So the spiritual or metaphorical Tares viz. the Children of Belial that grow in the Field of this World were first sowed by the Devil he is that Enemy who did it i. e. He infused by his Spirit through the Corruptness of Mortals that evil Seed into their Hearts from whence these Tares spring out of spite and Malice to God himself whose is the Field and also out of spite and malice to Mankind III. Tares growing among Wheat do hurt and prejudice the Wheat hindering its growth and flourishing III. So the Ungodly or Children of the Wicked One dwelling with or among the Saints hurt and greatly prejudice them hindering their Growth in Grace and Godliness Saith David Psal 120.6 Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar It is a hard Matter to keep our Garments clean and no way to defile them living in the midst of a wicked and ungodly Generation Who can touch Pitch and not be defiled therewith The Israelites dwelling among the wicked Natives of the Land of Canaan Psal 10 6.35 36. 't is said learned their Works and served their Gods IV. Tares as Wilson observes are so like Wheat whilst they are in the Blade as hardly the one can be discerned from the other IV. So Hypocrites seem so like true and sincere Christians that for a while the one can hardly be known from the other V. The Man who had Tares sown amongst the Wheat in his Field whilst Men slept would not suffer his Servants to pluck them up lest some of the Wheat should be pluck'd up with them but let them grow together until Harvest and then commands the Reapers to separate the one from the other and the Wheat to gather into his Barn but the Tares to cast into the Fire from whence it appears that those Tares were good for nothing but Fuel for the Fire c. V. So the Almighty tho there be many Hypocrites Hereticks and Reprobates in the World would not have Magistrates or others to pluck them up for their Errors or Heresy only that is destroy them or take them away by corporal Punishment and Death lest they pull up and destroy some of his precious Saints with them instead of those Children of the Evil One but would have them live or grow together in the Field of the World until the Harvest that is the End of the World The Field is the World Mat. 13.38 39 40 41. the good Seed an the Children of the Kingdom but the Tares the Children of the Wicked One. The Enemy that sowed them is the Devil the Harvest is the End of the World and the Reapers are the Angels As therefore the Tares are gathered and burnt in the Fire so shall it be in the End of the World The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels to gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do Iniquity And shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Inferences THis may put every Christian upon the Search and Examination of
or if they escape an immediate Stroak in the very Act of Sin yet they are pursued by God's just Judgment that followeth them and will overtake them at last VIII Thieves when taken would fain make an escape nay if they are not held by strong Hand 's they will get loose and run away So Wicked Men when God's Hand is upon them how fain would they make an escape when Adam fell in with the Tempter to rob God of his Honour it is said he hid himself among the Trees of the Garden Guilt made him fly and what pitiful Shifts do all old Adam's Children make to exâ—use their Sins Or if they cannot make excuse then they seek out ways to escape if possible Some say their Sins are not so great as others others say they were drawn in and inticed others that God is merciful and they doubt not but he will pardon them others fly to the goodness of their Hearts some to seeming Repentance saying God forgive me c. But what ever way they take till they are truly converted they are holden by the Cords of their own Sins and they shall not escape nor can get out of God's Hand but must answer for all their Wickedness at their utmost peril IX Some Thieves are so impudent that they will adventure to rob in the day time let who will look on being too strong for the Standers-by So some Wicked Men are so impudent that they will adventure to rob their innocent Neighbours of their Goods in a publick manner in the day-time as many of the Papists have served the poor Protestants in former times in divers Nations and pretended they had Law for what they did X. Some are great Thieves and therefore called the Captains of the Thieves under whose Conduct and Direction the lesser Thieves do rob and steal So some Wicked Men are so notorious in Wickedness that they lead the Van as it were and are not only examples to others of inventing new coined Oaths and sinful Fashions and Customs but do command or lay some kind of force upon such who are under their Power to be as Wicked as themselves else they turn them off as not fit to do them Service Pro. 29.12 as it is written If a Ruler hearken to Lies all his Servants are wicked that is he will so discountenance and discourage Truth and honest Dealing that none but Lyers and Wicked Persons can live with him XI Some Thieves are so merciless they steal and carry all away that People have So some Persecutors have been so void of pity and humanity that they have took all away which some Godly People had even their very Beds from under them XII There are some sacrilegious Thieves such as rob Churches and steal away those things that are set a-part for Divine Worship So some Wicked Men are Robbers of the Church of God by taking away his holy Institutions and setting their Inventions in the room thereof such are the Romish Crew c. Christ tells us that such who come not in by the Door but climb up some other way are Thieves and Robbers nay if it were possible the Great Thief the Pope and his Accomplices would have robbed us of the Bible and the true Religion nay of the true Church it self however they with all that adhere to them have robbed many hundreds nay thousands of her true and faithful Members both of their Goods Lives and Liberties for the which they must givâ— an account at the great Day XIII Thieves are so opposite to honest Men that they by all means avoid their Company and Society if possible when they know them So Wicked Men known and discovered to be so are not at all fit Company for the Godly nay the Godly are commanded to avoid them and to have no fellowship with them so far as possible they may however if in Civil Things there be some kind of Necessity to buy and sell with them yet their Sin in that or any other way is to be hated and departed from nay if a Man hath been a Professor of Godliness and turn to be a Wicked Man with such a one the Godly are to have no intimacy 1 Cor. 5. that he may be ashamed XIV Thieves know by-ways and are acquainted with such Places where they may accomplish their Designs not only as to Secrecy but Security So Wicked Men do acquaint themselves with by-ways and therefore called the way of the Wicked Let the Wicked forsake his way Isa 55.5 Psal 1.2 c. Blessed is the Man that walketh not in the way of the Vngodly c. Joseph's Mistress made use of her Skill in the way of the Wicked when she attempted to rob him of his Chastity for there was 1. Privacy none saw 2. Secrecy none knew and 3. Opportunity which he might now without fear of Shame make use of and there is not a Wicked Fornicator in the World but would have owned it as his way and have chosen it too as a fit Opportunity But Blessed Joseph walked not in this way he knew that nothing could be so private nor be kept so secret but the All-seeing Eye of God can see it and will bring it to Light XV. Thieves are sometimes taken and committed to Prison there to be kept safe till the general Assize or time of Trial and then are brought forth tryed and condemned many times to die and soon after executed So Wicked Men are taken by Death and committed to the Grave and there they are held fast till the day of the Resurrection and last Judgment or great Assize where they shall be tryed and give an account of all their Wickedness done in the Body against whom Jesus Christ will proceed in a way of Justice and being arraigned and indicted for all their Wickedness Thefts and Robberies shall be found Guilty by good Evidence by the Law of God Conscience and Nature and being so found Guilty Mat. 25. ult shall receive the just Sentence of Hell Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels with a Go ye Cursed Disparity THieves can but rob and steal such things as are common to Men But Wicked Men rob God and cheat themselves of their own immortal Souls as hath been shewed II. Thieves endeavour to hide themselves and are not willing to be known But Wicked Men commit their Wickedness publickly and matter not who seeth them they declare their Sin as Sodom and hide it not they are not ashamed to commit their Wickedness in the very Face of the Sun III. Thieves oft-times spare the Poor and let them pass but seize upon such as are Rich But Wicked Men regard neither Poor nor Rich if they are Godly nay the Poor of this World tho Rich in Faith are mostly in their Eye to be made a spoil robbed and ruined by them IV. Some Thieves after they have received the just Sentence of Death from which they cannot escape yet do repent of their Wickedness and receive
pardon of God tho they die by the Law of Man But Wicked Men living and dying in Sin after the last Judgment and Sentence of Eternal Death cannot repent neither have they any time so to do but must be damned without Remedy Inferences HEnce we may see how easily Men may mistake themselves by condemning others when they are in as bad or a worse state themselves who is it but will readily cry out against a Thief and use their utmost endeavour to apprehend him but how few are there of the same kind viz. Thieves as hath been shown will lay Hands upon or condemn themselves who are as you have heard worse than Thieves 2. How doth it warn the Godly to look to themselves for if the good Man of the House had known at what time the Thief would have come he would have watched Wicked Men naked Ezek. 16.8 And covered thy Nakedness c. Verse 22. Thou hast not remembred the Days of thy Youth when thou wert naked and bare c. Rev. 3.17 Poor and blind and naked c. THere is a twofold Nakedness viz. an external and an internal Nakedness the Nakedness of the Soul as well as of the Body Parallels I. NAkedness since the Fall doth not only import not having of Clothes but the Want of Clothes As Adam before he fell had no Clothes so he needed none his Nakedness was an Ornament to him but no sooner had he sinned but he saw the want of a Garment So all ungodly Men are not only without spiritual Clothes but they exceedingly need them as they have no Righteousness to cover them so 't is their Misery 'T is a lamentable thing to be naked and 't is a far more grievous thing to be spiritually naked to have no real and divine Cover for the Soul II. The Shame Deformity and all natural Filthiness of a naked Person doth appear 't is visible and he is thereby exposed to Reproach So the Shame Deformity and Vileness of wicked Men who are spiritually naked having not the Righteousness of Christ to cover them doth appear and this exposeth them to Shame and Reproach Sin is the Shame of any People To see a Man naked Prov. 10 â— that hath a rotten and polluted Carcase full of Sores and stinking Ulcers is a loathsom Sight But such is the State of the Souls of ungodly Men they are naked and their inward Filthinâ—ss lies fully open to the Eyes of the great God nay and much of it appears to the Sight of Men spiritually there is no Soundness in them from the Crown of their Heads to the Soles of their Feet Isa 1.6 nothing but Wounds Bruises and putrifying Sores III. A naked Person is exposed to the Extremity both of Cold and Heat Clothes keâ—p the Body warm in Winter and defend from the parching Heat in Summer and he that is without them from hence is in a miserable Condition every Blast pinches him the Sun scorches him c. So wicked Men lie open to the dreadful Wrath of God which is set forth in Scripture by Things extreme in their Nature both in respect of Heat and Cold. O how unable will these naked Souls be to abide the Day of God's Wrath or to stand before him who is a consuming Fire The Righteousness of Christ will be as a Cover and Screen between the Saints and the devouring Flames of God's Anger but wicked Men have no Defence no Screen nor Cover they are naked exposed not only to the Shame of every Eye but to the direful Effects of God's dreadful Wrath and Vengeance c. whilst they live and when they die and for ever IV. A naked Man is exposed to great Danger by his Enemies every small Blow may wound him who hath nothing on to defend him from it every small Prick will make him bleed But much greater Danger is he in by great Strokes and Thrusts of Swords and Spears and by Arrows and Darts that Enemies may let flie against him his Condition is not full of Shame but also full of Danger So wicked Men who are spiritually naked are exposed to great Danger from the Enemies of the Soul 1. Sin nay every Sin wounds him the least Sin makes a Wound in his Soul what Wounds then do great Sins make 2. Conscience wounds him and lashes him sorely 3. Satan lets flie his fiery Darts and Arrows against him and wounds him to the very Heart and like an hungry Lion tears his Soul as it were to pieces 4. Death and Wrath wound him he having nothing to defend him from any of these c. V. A naked Person is not fit for any Employment he is not fit to fight nor fit to labour So such who are spiritually naked are not fit for any spiritual Service they can neither work for God nor suffer for God nor resist Sin and Satan they are not fit for any Society of spiritual Men but are unspeakably miserable every way Disparity NAked Men desire Clothes they will beg hard for something to cover their Nakedness But the Wicked are unsensible of their Nakedness and therefore seek not to be cloathed nay like mad Men refuse Raiment We read Luke 8.27 of a Man possessed with a Legion of Devils and the Text saith he wore no Clothes his Madness is evidenced by that he would suffer no Clothes to be put upon him 'T is a Sign Men are spiritually possessed with a Legion of Devils that refuse to put on the Garment of Faith and Holiness to cover their Nakedness These Garments are held forth every day to be sold without Money and without Price in the Ministry of the Word but so mad are ungodly Men they had rather go naked than lay hold on them and put them on And is it not just that such Men should be buried in Hell Isa 55.1 2 Rev. 3. in their own Rags that will not embrace Christ and Holiness that they may be cloathed with eternal Salvation Wicked Men compared to Vipers Mat. 3.7 O Generation of Vipers c. JOhn Baptist calls the Scribes and Pharisees and other wicked Men of the Jews Vipers not only Vipers but a Seed and Generation of Vipers Some think he alludes to the Devil that old Serpent whose Off-spring they were Ye are of your Father the Devil John 8. c. But others rather think he compares them to the Serpent called the Viper upon consideration of divers Properties wherein there is a fit resemblance between it and them c. Parallels THe Viper is a most poysonous Creature Act. 28.5 when the Barbarians saw the Viper stick on Paul's hand they looked upon him as a dead Man their Biting is accounted mortal So the Wicked are a very destructive and murderous Generation of Men their bitter Words and cruel Slanders are like deadly Venom The Poyson of Asps is under their Tongues David complains of the Ungodly upon this account Whose Tongue saith he is as a sharp Sword Sin is
God in all things his Rule 7. That he ought to have a comfortable Maintenance allowed him by the Church to which he belongs if they are able to do it That this is their Due by Divine Right tho not a forced Maintenance otherwise than Love to God his Truth and People whose Duty forceth them to allow their Ministers a Competency Secondly We may infer That the Work of a Minister of Christ is no easy but contrariwise a very hard and difficult Work Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.16 Exod. 4.13 Jer. 20.9 So hard that many of Christ's Servants of old undertook it with much trembling which made them cry out Send by whom thou wilt send c. So hard that a Saint with all his natural Parts is not sufficient for it nay a Saint with all his acquired Parts is not sufficient for it nay I may say a Saint with all his spiritual Gifts Graces and Endowments without fresh Supplies of new Strength is not sufficient for it Thirdly It informs us wherein the Difficulty of the Ministers Work doth lie and that 1. In respect of themselves who are employed in it 1. They are but Men Son of Man I have made thee a Watchman 1 Cor. 1.27 and they commonly none of the wisest and most learned in the esteem of the World neither 2. Man at the best is a dark-sighted Creature We know but in part 1 Cor. 13.9 Rom. 7. 3 Man at best is attended with Weaknesses and carries a Body of Sin and Death about with him 4. Man at best hath but small Skill and short Experience 5. Man at best is subject to great Discouragements and liable to Temptations 2. In respect to the Work it self a Minister's Employment is very hard and difficult 1. 'T is a mysterious Work what Mysteries are greater than those a Minister is to study and dive into 1 Tim. 3.16 Without Controversy great is the Mystery of Godliness c. 2. 'T is difficult in that it calls for the greatest Care and Exactness imaginable Add not to his Word c. 3. In that it calls for the Strength of his whole Soul 4. In that it is a Work that consisteth in divers Parts there are many Things in which a Minister ought to be well instructed as appears by what hath been said 5. In that it is a Work which calls for much Diligence a slothful or idle Person is not fit to be a Minister 'T is a Work that must be followed continually Preach the Word be instant in season out of season reprove exhort with all Long-suffering and Doctrine 3. T is a difficult Work in respect of the Opposition that is made against them or from those grand Obstructions they meet with 1. From their own Hearts 2. From Sin 3. From Satan 4. From the World 1. By Reproaches and Contradictions of the Ungodly 2. By Hereticks and False-Teachers 3. From Persecutors c. Fourthly We may infer from what hath been said in opening these Metaphors That Gospel-Ministration is of absolute Necessity 1. Because God hath ordained Preaching as the ordinary Means for the Conversion of Sinners Rom. 10.17 Faith cometh by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God 2. God hath gifted and graciously endowed some Men on purpose for this Work 3. He hath given plain Directions to his People how and whom to chuse and ordain c. 4. The Necessity further appears by considering the Nature of the Similes and Metaphors we have opened Sinners are in Arms against God and these are his Ambassadors by whom he treats and offers Terms of Peace to them Christ designs to espouse Sinners to himself and these are his Spokes-men by whom he effects this glorious Enterprize Fifthly It shews also That the Ministers Function is a most noble and honourable Employment and that all due Respect Esteem and Obedience ought to be given to them Sixthly We may infer That many who pretend themselves to be Christ's true Ministers are none of his Ministers but rather a Shame and Reproach to that venerable Name Work and Office Seventhly Let us learn from hence to bless God that we have so many able and worthy Ministers of Christ in our Land O let us pray for them and desire God to send more of these Labourers into his Harvest Pray ye the Lord of the Harvest c. Eighthly It sharply reproves many Churches and Professors for the great Neglect of their Duties towards their Ministers What a Day do we live in How is Christ's Interest Ministers and poor Saints forgot slighted and neglected O that God would raise up some to cry aloud and spare not but lift up their Voice like a Trumpet to shew God's People their Transgressions and the House of Jacob their Sins Metaphors Similes AND Other borrowed Terms c. CONCERNING FALSE TEACHERS False Teachers compared to Wolves Acts 20.29 I know that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the Flock c. A Wolf is in Hebrew Zeeb Gen. 49. in Chaldee Deeba and Deba the Arabians call him Zebab the Greeks Lycos and Lagos and Lycania and Lycos among some of the Arabian Writers is borrowed from them as Munster hath noted in his Lexicon of three Languages The Italians call it Lupo in French Loup in Spain Lobo in Germany Valff in English Wolf The common Epithets of this Beast amongst several Authors are these Sowre Elianus Gesner Topsell wild fierce bold greedy wary swift bloody hard degenerate gluttonous hungry flesh-eater famishing harmful cruel furious insatiable treacherous martial ravenous nightly c. There are five sorts of Wolves The first is called Toxenter a swift Wolf the second Kind are called Harpages and these saith my Author are the greatest Raveners to which saith Topsall our Saviour alludes Mat. 7.15 The third Sort are called Lupus Aureus a Golden Wolf by reason of his Colour the fourth Acmone the fifth Ictinus I know that after my departure shall grievous Wolves c. Not Wolves only but grievous Wolves such as are called by some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Snatchers or ravening Wolves Note Some False-Teachers may fitly be compared to Wolves to ravening Wolves Metaphor Parallel A Wolf is a cruel and devouring Beast Topsell p. 571 578. he is not contented to kill to fill his Belly but will spoil and destroy a whole Flock c. SO some False-Teachers are very cruel and bloody destroying Multitudes of Souls 't is not one or two but the whole Church of God they strive to devour hence said not to spare the Flock Acts 20.29 II. Wolves are not only cruel but subtil and very crafty also watching the fittest Time to seize upon their Prey They will silently approach the Sheep-Fold to see whether the Dogs be asleep or the Shepherd wanting when he is careless or negligent of his Flock then comes the Wolf to destroy and suck the Blood of the poor Sheep Those Beasts that have Horns he
wounded in every Faculty of his Soul or rational part so likewise he is in his sensitive part his Eyes are full of Adultery his Lips are unclean Râ—m 3. â—3 his Throat is like an open Sepulchre the Poyson of Asps is under his Tongue his Ears are deaf and dull of hearing that which is good IV. As some Wounds a Man receives are very deep and reach to the Heart so Sin makes a deep Wound Man is not only wounded in every part but very deeply wounded Jeâ— 4.18 Gen. 6 5. This is thy Wickedness because it is bitter because it reacheth to thine Heart Their Heart deviseth Wickedness c. Every Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart is only evil continually Jer. 4.14 Hence saith God Wash thine Heart from Wickedness c. V. Some Wounds are corrupt filthy and very loathsome the Wounds Sin makes in the Soul Isa 1.6 are very filthy and abominable From the sole of the Foot even to the Head there is no soundness in it but Wounds and Bruises and putrifying Sores they have not been bound up neither molified with Ointment My Wounds stink and are corrupt VI. Some Wounds smart and are very painful causing the Patient to cry out in great anguish Sin makes such a Wound in the Soul that it causeth such who have their Spiritual Feeling to cry out the pain is so great that a Christian cannot without Divine Help Psal 38.8 9. bear up under the smart and torture of it I have roared saith the Psalmist by reason of the disquietness of my Heart Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee Lev. 13.2 3 4 5 6. VII Some Sores or Wounds are infectious like Plague-Sores or the Leprosy they infect the Cloaths and Garments of the wounded and diseased Person and not only so but the very House where he dwells and the People also that come near him or converse with him Sin is of an infectious Nature no Plague more catching and infectious than the Sore or Plague of Sin it defiles all a Man's best Actions and makes all our Righteousness like filthy Rags If ye daily converse with or are frequently in the Company of some wicked Men 't is a thousand to one if you are not the worse for it Who can touch Pitch and not be defiled therewith We are commanded to keep our selves unspotted from the World 't is a hard matter to keep clear of these Spots and Pollutions wicked Men are defiled with Sin is of such an infectious Nature that it hath corrupâ—â—d the Earth Isa 24.5 The Earth is defiled under the Inhabitants thereof c. Nay some conceive the Sin of Man hath darkned in some respect the glorious Heavens Job 25.5 with the Sun Moon and Stars that they shine not so splendidly as they did at the first VIII Some Wounds are of a festering and spreading Nature whilst the Patient is under Cure they grow worse and worse The Wounds or Sins of some Men tho they are under Cure i. e. sit under a powerful and Soul-searching Ministry fester as it were 2 Tim 3.13 they instead of growing better grow worse and worse like as the Apostle speaks of Deceivers IX Some Sores Wounds and Scabs bring Shame upon such who have them Sin is such a Sore and so hateful a Scab that it causes Shame and Confusion of Face Sin is the shame of any People Phil. 3 19. and yet how do some glory in it They glory in their Shame Sin is the soul Disease the Hurt nay all the Hurt Sorrow and Shame Sinners meet with came in originally by Sin by yielding to the Devil and by adulterating from God no running Sore no Scab no breaking out in the Flesh like Sin in the Heart and Life of a Sinner Ezek 18. Joh. 8.22 Rom. 8.13 X. Some Wounds are Mortal Sin makes a mortal Wound The Soul that Sins shall die and unless ye believe that I am he ye shall die in your Sins If ye live after the Flesh ye shall die c. I do not say there is no Help nor Cure for these Spiritual Sores and Wounds yet I must say they are incurable as to Man no Man can find by all his Skill and Art any healing Medicine And upon this account the Lord said of Judah and Israel their Wound was incurable they had brought themselves into such a Condition that none could help them nor bring them out O Israel thy destruction is of thy self but in me is thy help Indeed some Men are so desperately and dangerously wounded that there is little hope of them they have all the signs of Ruine and Eternal Death upon them imaginable Quest It may be you will say When may the state of a Person be said to be desperate and almost if not altogether past hope or wounded even unto Death Answ 1. If a Man sins and is sorely wounded and yet continues in his Sinful Course the Sting is not pulled as it were out of his Flesh I mean out of his Heart nor is he willing it should there is little hopes at present of this Man Can a Wound be healed and yet the venemous Sting stick fast in him A continual course or custom in Sin tho they be small Sins comparatively may prove deadly 2. When â—in is in the Affection 't is dangerous You know when the Heart is wounded and corrupt there is no hopes of Life if in times of Infection you can keep it from the Heart you are well enough Physicians tho they have Medicines to keep Infection from the Heart yet they have no Medicine to cure the Heart if once the Distemper gets into it When a Man closes in with his Sin likes it loves it and makes Provision to fulfil the Lusts of it 't is a dangerous sign 3. When the Wound spreads and increaseth or a Person grows more vain carnal and filthy 't is a sad sign Some Men have been for a time cautions and somewhat tender their Consciences have restrained them from yielding unto Sin but afterwards they came to grow more hard and bold and have adventured on this and the other Evil and so by degrees from little Sins make no Conscience of greater till they are notorious in Wickedness and this after common Illuminations this is a sign they are near Hell 4. When a Person is sorely and grievously wounded and yet is unsensible does not cry out nor feel any pain 't is a sad sign Come to some wounded Persons and ask them how they do they will answer you Very well I ail nothing then Relations begin to weep so some Sinners through a custom of Sin grow insensible they are past feeling they are not only without pain themselves but laugh at such who complain of their Sores upon the Head and mourn for their Sin of this Man you may write in Red Letters Lord have Mercy upon him 5. When a Man is dangerously wounded
Paul determined to know nothing so much as Christ and him crucified When we know Christ better we shall understand this Mystery better Christ is the Mystery wrapt up in all the Gospel he is the Scope of all the Scripture the Pearl hid in the Field every Line is drawn to him as the proper Center all the Types and Shadows pointed to him and all the Promises run in him Jesus Christ is really and truly God and yet very Man God and Man in one Person and is not this a Mystery 1. Is it not a Wonder that a Woman should compass a Man 2. That he that made the World should be born of a Woman 3. That the Ancient of Days should become a Child of a Day old 4. That Blessedness it self should be brought under a Curse for Sinners Christ was made a Curse for us Gal. 3.13 as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree 5. That he that was the Heir of all things Heir of both Worlds should be laid in a Manger 6. That he who was God over all should have no where to lay his Head 7. That he should become poor who was so rich and by his Poverty make others rich is not this a Mystery 8. He by dying destroyed Death and unless he had died we could not live and by Death he brought us to Life 9. And is it not a Mystery that a Person should be capable to die and yet by his own Power raise himself up again from the Dead 10. Is not this a Mystery that the Physician should die to cure his Patient nay and unless he die the Sin-sick Soul could not live and that his Blood should be the Balsam Is it not a great Mystery that the offended Saviour should suffer to free the offending Sinner 11. Is it not a Mystery that the Nature of Man should be so joined to the Divine Nature of God that both should make but one Christ and that our Nature should be exalted above the Nature of the Angels that Man should sit at God's right hand that Man should be very God and God very Man in one Person O how great is â—he Mystery of Godliness Acts 2.23 chap. 4.28 12. Is it not a Mystery that Christ suffered according to the Decree and determined Counsel of God and yet the Jews did wickedly in putting him to Death Secondly The Mystery of Christianity appears to be great 1. in God's casting off the Jews who followed after Righteousness and in calling the Gentiles who followed not after Righteousness That God should not be found of them that sought him and be found of them that sought him not 2. That God should chuse poor and contemptible Ones into his Service and reject the Wise the Noble and the Learned and that by weak Things he overcame the Mighty and by Folly confounded the Wisdom of this World Thirdly There is a great Mystery in Election in Justification in Sanctification in Renovation c. Nay what Branch or Part of the Doctrine of Godliness is not full of Mystery Fourthly There is a Mystery in every Grace 1. In Faith As 1. That a Sinner should believe i. e. go out of himself and be carried above himself to believe Things impossible to Man's Sense and above his Reason that he should seek for Justification by the Righteousness and Obedience of another for a Man as one would think to have a great deal of Holiness and good Works and yet to throw it as it were all away and be dead to it in point of Trust and Dependence is not this a Mystery 2. To believe when every thing is opposite to it To work for Life and to oppose some Sin a natural Man is ready to do but to believe in Christ for Life and Holiness to relie upon his Doings his Works and Merits this the Heart of Map is averse to nay and Satan opposeth it the World mocks at it and accounts it Foolishness 3. That a Man should believe and not see nay believe as Abraham did in hope against hope 2. There is a Mystery in Love that a Man should love him with an endeared Affection with a superlative Love whom the World can see no beauty in nay thus to love him whom their natural Eyes never beheld nay love him who is able to make great and save from all Misery and yet suffers his People and best beloved Ones to lie amongst the Pots and to be hated and persecuted in the World and to appearance to be of all Men the most miserable A Saint knows the Reason of these Things but 't is a Mystery to others The Love of Christ turns the Affections another way it drives as it were Jordan back it makes the Waters ascend and run up hill Is it not a Mystery to see a Saint who hath a Hundred nay it may be Five Hundred a Year a gracious Wife many sweet and lovely Children enjoying much Health and living in all Prosperity yet if he hath lost the Light of God's Countenance or Christ be withdrawn from him he is cast down and greatly distressed and afflicted in his Spirit and crying out Ah! what is all that I possess sith I want the Love of Christ the Presence of Christ what 's an Estate and no Christ Wife and Children and no sight of Christ Christ saith he is all to me and all is nothing without him This is a Mystery to carnal Hearts they wonder at it Nay to see a Man that hath all the Comforts of the World expose himself to cruel Mockings Loss of Goods to Imprisonment and Death it self for Christ's sake is a strange thing to worldly Men they think the Man is mad 't is a Mystery to them c. Fourthly The Effects and Operations of Grace and Godliness are a Mystery 1. That God should make Men wise by teaching them to become Fools 1 Cor. 3.18 2. That the way to become rich very rich eternally rich is to become poor This is a Mystery yet this Mystery is taught us in the Person of Christ David was a King and very rich yet cries out I am poor he was poor in Spirit This poor Man cried There is that maketh himself rich yet hath nothing there is that maketh himself poor Prov. 13.7 and yet hath great Riches 3. That the way to have all is to lose all and that a Man gains most when he loses most Is not this a Mystery 4. That Men must die to live or that the way to live is to die nay that God kills by making Souls alive and yet by that killing and death brings them to life And is not this a Mystery Sin must die and we must die to Sin Sin revived and I died Rom. 7.11 yet by that Death he revived and lived A Man must die to Self or he can never live himself 5. God makes Men blind by giving Sight and turns that Darkness into Light and is not this a Mystery 6. The way
long they are but for a season a Thaw will come So the afflicted State of a godly Man tho it be unpleasant yet 't is not lasting to be sure not everlasting Tho some Frosts hold longer than others yet none hold always Summer will come And usually where Winter is fiercest Summer for a Recompence is pleasantest Our Modern Geographer having described the Sharpness of Winter in Muscovia Heylin 's Geography concludes thus Such is their Winter c. Neither is their Summer less miraculous for the huge Seas of Ice which in a manner covered the whole Surface of the Country are at first approach of the Sun suddenly dissolved the Waters dried up and the Earth dressed in her Holy-day Apparel such a mature Growth of Fruits such flourishing of Herbs such chirping of Birds as if it were a perpetual Spring Even thus after a cold Winter of Affliction shall the Church or a particular Soul be relieved by a sweet and comfortable Summer of Prosperity Inferences THis may help the Godly to bear up under Afflictions and Sufferings in this World What tho they be pinching and troublesom whilst they last yet they have a very good Effect Like as Frost mellows the Earth and after it the Clods crumble easily whereas if there was no Winter no Frost they would be more stiff and not fit for the Husbandman So thy Heart is hereby made mellow and more meet and fit to receive the good Seed Frost dries up the ill Humors of the Earth so do Afflictions those of the Soul c. The Winter-Frosts kill the Weeds and Worms which eat the Roots and hinder the Growth of Herbs and Corn So Afflictions tend to kill our Lusts those Weeds and Worms that breed and grow in our Hearts always hindering our Fruitfulness in Grace and true Godliness II. You know Fire does well in Winter to warm the Blood c. So the Fire of the Spirit will warm and heat thy Soul in and under Afflictions and Temptations get therefore near it and labour to experience its powerful Operations See The Word and Spirit compared to Fire in the First Volume III. It may reprove such who are discontented under Afflictions they would not be in such and such a troubled Condition c. Alas Soul will a wise Man be angry and offended with the Winter Wouldest thou have all Summer and no Winter all Peace and Prosperity and no Adversity Consider how necessary Winter is Affliction compared to Darkness Isa 8.22 Behold Trouble and Darkness c. Lam. 3.2 And brought me into Darkness c. Joel 2.2 A Day of Darkness c. DArkness is taken properly or metaphorically 1. Properly Darkness is nothing else but a Privation of Light Caryl 't is no positive Creature it hath no Cause in Nature but is the Consequent of the Sun's Absence 2. Metaphorically or improperly it signifies divers Things 1. The State of Nature or Unregeneracy or deep Alienation from the Life of God Ye that were sometimes Darkness c. 2. Several Sins wherein wicked Men live 3. Desertion 4. The Grave Eph. 5.8 Eph. 5.11 5. Hell 6. Afflictions Note Afflictions Calamities and spiritual Desertions may be compared to Darkness Parallels DArkness is a Judgment thick Darkness was one of the Plagues of Egypt So some Calamities and severe Afflictions are brought upon a People or Nation as a just and dreadful Judgment of God II. Natural Darkness is occasioned by the Absence of the Sun and Obscurity of the other Luminaries of Heaven So some Afflictions and Calamities are occasioned by the absence of the Light of God's Word and hiding of his Face When the Gospel is taken away from a People that People are presently involved in thick Darkness which is a most sore and fearful Judgment III. Darkness is very uncomfortable 't is a dolesom thing to have no Light So to be under some Afflictions especially Desertion is the most uncomfortable State in the World IV. Darkness causeth a Man to lose his Way and wander about and exposeth him to many Dangers So spiritual Darkness causes a Man to stumble Walk whilst you have the Light lest Darkness come upon you for he that walketh in Darkness John 12.35 knoweth not whither he goeth Give Glory to the Lord your God Jer. 13.16 before he cause your Feet to stumble upon the dark Mountains and whilst you look for Light he turn it into the Shadow of Death V. There are Degrees of Darkness Darkness and thick Darkness and the Blackness of Darkness c. One degree of Darkness may attend the Day a Day may be dark but not like the Darkness of the Night and some Nights are darker than others as Experience shews And hence we read of Darkness and of the Shadow of Death Psal 23.4 Tho I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no Evil c. That is the greatest Darkness and Evil that can befall a godly Man The Shadow of a Thing in Scripture saith Mr. Caryl denotes the Power of a Thing and to be under the Shadow of a Thing is to be under the Power of it To be under the Shadow of the Almighty is to be under the Power of the Almighty c. To be under the shadow of Death is to be under the power and reach of it Tho I may be so near Death that it may seem to others to be really Death and that it is impossible to escape Death yet I will fear no Evil. Some Afflictions threaten Death upon God's People and upon his Concerns and Interest in the World and Christians may seem to be under the Influence of Death The Influences of Death are those Fears and Doubtings Divisions Distractions and Vexations of Heart and Mind Cries and Confusions which usually accompany or prepare the Way for Death Job 3.5 Let Darkness and the Shadow of Death stain it c. That is such Darkness as dwells with Death such Darkness as fills the House of Death the Grave Such Darkness as this Heman complained of I am accounted with them that go down into the Pit c free among the Dead Psal 88.4 5 6 7. like the slain in the Grave whâ—m thou remembrest no more and they are cut off by thy Hand Thou hast layed me in the lowest Pit in Darkness in the Deep Thy Wrath lieth hard upon me and thou hast afflicted me with all thy Waves Selah He seemed to be under the greatest Darkness so sorely deserted that he saw no Light he sate in the very Shadow of Death Caryl viz deadly Darkness thick Darkness stifling Darkness such as is in deep Pits and Mines under the Earth where Vapors and noisom Damps do many times strike Men with Death in the most deplorable State and Condition imaginable 'T is one thing to have some Afflictions and some Doubtings of Mind and Spirit and another thing to be in these great Deeps of Affliction and Desertion VI. No natural
Scripture Christ and his Apostles the Lie Dan. 12.2 John 5.28 Ergo. The Scripture saith that those that sleep in the Dust of the Earth shall awake Christ saith all that are in the Grave shall hear his Voice and come forth and we have shewed the Apostles do affirm that the Dead shall be raised c. 12. If that which sleepeth in the Dust shall rise then the Body shall rise again for 't is the Body that sleepeth in the Dust But that which sleeps in the Dust shall be raised Ergo. 1 Cor. 15. Obj. 'T is not the same Body Thou sowest not that Body that shall be c. Answ If the same numerical Body rise not it will not be a Resurrection but a new Creation therefore that which the Apostle there intends is the Manner of the Resurrection i. e. how the Saints shall be raised 'T is not the same in respect of Weakness and Frailty It is sown a natural Body and shall be raised a spiritual Body 't is sown in Corruption and shall be raised in Incorruption 't is sown in Weakness and shall be raised in Power Which Thing a Grain of Corn that is sown teaches Quest Why shall the same Body of the Dead be raised Answ Because the same Body of Christ was raised that suffered 2. Because the same Body that suffered for Christ shall be glorified with Christ 3. Because the same Body that sinned shall be punished if not the same Body that sinned it might reflect upon the Justice and Goodness of God to punish an innocent Body Besides those Scriptures must be fullfilled which assert the Resurrection of the Body Inferences FRom hence we may infer that here is a World to come 2. That Death is not the last end of Man 3. Prepare for the Resurrection Day think of it when thou liest down and risest up in the Morning Thy lying down to sleep is a Figure of thy lying down in the Grave and thy awaking out of Sleep in the Morning is a Figure of the Resurrection 4. Think of the Resurrection in the Spring when thou seest the Flowers of the Earth bud forth and spring up for that is a Figure also of the Resurrection Of the Iudgment-Day The Iudgment-Day compared to an Assize 2 Cor. 5.10 For we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ Rev. 20.11 And I saw a great white Throne and him that sate on it c. AFter the Resurrection comes the Judgement the eternal Judgment Note The Judgment-day may fitly be compared to an Assize or general Goal-Delivery Parallels THere is a Judge appointed by the King or supream Power of the Nation or Kingdom where an Assize is to be held who receives his Commission and acts by the Authority thereof Jesus Christ is appointed to be the Judge of Quick and Dead by the Father King of Heaven and Earth The Father judgeth no Man but hath committed all Power to the Son John 5.22 II. The Judge likely comes to the Bench or Judgment-seat with the Sound of Trumpets Christ will come to the Judgment-Seat with the Sound of a Trumpet 1 Cor. 15.52 The Trumpet shall sound and the Dead shall be raised incorruptible III. There is a known Law or Laws in a Kingdom by which the Judge heareth and determines all Causes So there is a known Law or Laws by which Jesus Christ will judg and determine all Causes in the great Day viz. the Law of Moses the Law of Nature and the Law of Christ called the Book of the Gospel The Books shall be opened Rev. 20. IV. The Judge hath many honourable Persons that sit on the Bench with him So Jesus Christ will havâ— all the Saints sit with him on the Throne of Judgment who shall assent and consent to whatsoever he shall do in thâ—t Day Hence 't is said Rev. 3. the Saints shall judge the World He that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my Throne even as I also overcame and am sate down with my Father in his Throne V. A Judge at Assizes after he hath read his Commission and given his Charge calls for the Prisoners So Jesus Christ will orderly proceed and câ—ll before him all Nations all the ungodly that ever lived on the Earth shall be arraigned by him being brought before his Judgment-Seat VI. A Judg having arraigned the Prisoner calls in the Witnesses and then suffers every Man to speak what he hath to say for himself So Jesus Christ will call in Witnesses and indeed every Man's Conscience shall be more than ten thousand Witnesses against him Rom. 2.14 15 16. and all Mouths shall be stopt and every ungodly Man shall be found guilty before Christ VII A Judg after he hath found Men guilty and cast them for their Lives passeth the Sentance So Jesus Christ at the last day having found Sinners guilty of all the horrid Crimes they shall be charged with will pass the fearful Sentence Go ye cursed Mat. 25. VIII A Judg after the Sentence is past orders the manner time and place of Execution So Jesus Christ will at the last day after the Sentence of Condemnation order the Execution of the Wicked and appoint them the place where and the time how long they shall suffer the place will be Hell the time will be for ever and ever See more in the First Volumn Christ the Judg of all Of Heaven The Celestial Paradise Luk. 23.43 Verily I say unto thee This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise 2 Cor. 12.2 He was taken up into Paradise Rev. 2.7 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God c. PAradise is taken in the Holy Scripture in a twofold Sense 1. For the Garden of Eden this is Earthly Paradise 2. For Heaven the Seat or Place of Glory this is Celestial Paradise Now the Earthly Paradise being a Figure of Heaven I shall in the opening of this run the Parallel principally with respect to the Garden of Eden and the State of Adam in Innocency c. Parallels PAradise or the Garden of Eden was a place of Pleasure So Heaven is a place of Pleasure II. Paradise was a place created of God and appointed for Man whilst he stood in the State of Innocency So Heaven is created of God and appointed for all those who obtain through Christ perfect Righteousness their Primitive Glory and Innocency III. Adam in Paradise had all Delight Joy and Pleasure his Heart could desire he wanted nothing to make his Life sweet and pleasant to him So the Saints in Heaven have the fullest Joy Pleasure and Satisfaction imaginable there is nothing wanting they can desire to please and delight them Thou wilt shew me the Path of Life Psal 16.11 Psal 36.8 in thy Presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right-hand Pleasures for evermore They drink of the Rivers of God's Pleasures A River abounds with Water
see Corruption XIII The Fire which consumed the Burnt-Offering came down from Heaven signifying that that Wrath which seized on Jesus Christ in the Garden and on the Cross came from Heaven or that it was God's Wrath due to us for our Sins that consumed him Or as others it may be on better reason give it that that which moved Christ to suffer for Mankind was wholly his heavenly sacred and divine Love XIV This Fire was to be continually upon the Altar signifying the Unchangeableness of Christ's Love to his Elect and recâ—nt Virtue of his Death and Merits The Burnt-Offering of Fowls Levit. 1.14 a Type of Christ THe Fowls that were appointed for Burnt-Offerings were to be Turtles or Pigeons signifying the Meekness and Innocency of Christ II. The Neck of the Fowl was to be pinched with the Nail that the Blood might go out but not that the Head should be pluck'd off from the Body signifying how Christ should die and shed his Blood yet thereby his Deity as the Head or principal Part should not be divided from his Humanity nor yet by his Death should he who is our Head Joh. 14. be taken from his Church but should rise again and be with them by his Spirit forever III. The Blood thereof was strained or pressed out at the side of the Altar before it was pluck'd and laid upon the Altar to be burned signifying thereby the straining or pressing out of Christ's Blood in his grievous Agony in the Garden before he was taken Luke 24.44 and stripp'd to be crucified c. The Daily Sacrifice a Type of Christ THe Daily Sacrifice was a Lamb So our Saviour not daily but once for all was offered unto the Father himself as a Lamb without spot II. It was slain in the Morning and in the Evening to shew that Christ was a Lamb slain from the Morning of the Creation or in the Decree of God from the Foundation of the World tho not actually till the Evening of the World or latter Days III. It was to be offered up with fine Flower beaten Oil and Wine to shew that Christ by his Death and Oblation becomes not only a Redemption for us but also spiritual Food Gladness and cheering Comfort IV. Where this Sacrifice was offered Exod. 24.42 the Lord promised and appointed to speak unto Israel and shew himself signifying that in Christ and through his Death and Bloodshed the new Appointment or Covenant of his Grace and Manifestation of his Love and Favour is established to his Church and faithful People The Sin-Offering a Type of Christ THe Blood of the Sin-Offering was to be poured out shewing how the Blood of Jesus Christ our true Sin-Offering should be poured forth II. The Priest saith the Lord shall dip his Finger in the Blood of the Beast and sprinkle thereof seven times before the Lord shadowing the Perfection of that Expiation and Satisfaction for Sin which Christ should make in the virtue quality and perpetuity thereof the Number of Seven being the Number of Perfection Heb 9.29 III. The Priest shall bring in the Blood of the Bullock into the Tabernacle of the Congregation shewing thereby how Christ should enter into Heaven by his own Blood Heb. 9 1â— having obtained eternal Redemption for us IV. The Priest was to take some of the Blood Mark 16.15 Mat. 28. and put it upon the four Horns of the Altar signifying thereby that the preaching Remission of Sins by the Atonement of Christ's Blood should be proclaimed to the four Corners of the Earth V. The Bodies of those Beasts whose Blood was brought into the Sanctuary by the High-Priest was burnt without the Host or Camp signifying that Christ should suffer without the Gate teaching us also to go forth into a publick Profession Heb. 13.11 12. and bear his Reproach VI. The Priest was to eat the Sin-Offering in the holy Place whose Blood was not brought into the Tabernacle of the Congregation signifying that Jesus Christ doth not only reconcile us to God but also feed and nourish the Souls of all his Royal Priesthood unto eternal Life VII The Priest shall make Atonement still this is repeated always signifying that 't is Christ our High-Priest and his Sacrifice only that makes a real Atonement and Reconciliation for our Sins The Meat-Offering Lev. 2. what it was a Type of THe Meat-Offerings as Ainsworth observes were nine and all of them came to the Altar 1. The poor Man's Meat-Offâ—ring Lev. 5.11 2. The Jealousy-Offering Numb 5.15 3. The Meat Offering of Initiation which every Priest offered when he first entred into his Service Levit. 8.26 28. 4. The Meat-Offering which the High-Priest offered every day Lev. 6.20 5. The Meat-Offering of fine Flower 6. The Meat-Offering baked on a Plate 7. In a Frying-Pan 8. In an Oven 9. Wafers 1. The Minchah or Meat-Offering saith he was primarily a Figure of Christ's Oblation Eph. 5.2 who gave himself for us an Oblation and Sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling Savâ—ur Sacrifice and Oblation Minchah thou wouldest not but a Body hast thou prepared me c. Above Heb. 10.5 8 9 10. when he said Sacrifice and Oblation and Burnt-Offerings for Sin thou wouldest not c. Then said he Lo I come to do thy Will O God c. by which Will we are sanctified through the Offering of Christ once for all So that in the Oblation of Christ's Body this Legal Service was accomplished and ended 2. It figured saith he the Persons of Christians who through him are cleansed and sanctified to be pure Oblations unto God 3. It figured saith he the Fruits of Grace and good Works that Christians are to perform both towards God and Men. 1. Towards God Let the lifting up of my Hands saith David Psal 141.2 be as the Evening Minchah or Oblation So when God told the Jews I will not accept a Minchah or Meat-Offering at your Hands he addeth For from the rising of the Sun Mal. 1.10 11. even to the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every Place Incense shall be offâ—red unto my Name and a pure Meat-Offering Which is fulfilled when Men pray every where lifting up holy Hands c. 2. Towards Men see Heb. 13.16 Phil. 4.18 4. All the Meat Offerings were of Wheaten Flower except the Jealousy-Offering and the waved Sheaf yea and ought to be of fine Flower signifying the Purity and Perfection of Christ as also that we should offer our best Things to the Lord. Eph. 5 2. Rom. 12.1 5. Oil and Incense was put thereon The Oil saith he signified the Graces and Comforts of the Holy-Ghost and the Incense or Frankincense shewed how acceptable Saints and their Services are unto the Lord. 6. It must be brought to the Priest and he shall bring it to the Altar shadowing that 't is by Christ and his Oblation that we and our Works and Duties are
in the Body but he could not tell whether the Soul acted with his bodily Organs or without them He had mighty Operations in his Soul his Spirit wrought strangely and then took in such Revelations of God and from God as his bodily Organs could never fashion into Words or represent by Speech He heard quae fando explicari à quoquam homine non possunt unspeakable Words Beza which it is not lawful or possible for a Man to utter The Soul hath an Ear to hear such Words that the Body cannot find a Tongue to express So John in his divine Ravishment saith I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day as for his Body that was as to that Business laid aside and suspended as useless in that Day and his Spirit called up to that angelical Work viz. the receiving of Visions and Revelations from on high c. Now as the Souls of good Men whilest they are in this World in Sleep and in Trances or Ecstasies are capable of such glorious Ravishments c. So when their Bodies dy or fall asleep their Souls are with Christ in Heaven and the Souls of the Wicked they go into Chains of Darkness Torment Luk. 16.22 2◠and Misery The rich Man died and was buried and in Hell he lift up his Eyes being in Torment III. Sleep is not perpetual we sleep and wake again So tho the Body lie in the Grave yet Death is but a Sleep as it were the Man will awake and rise again IV. The going to sleep and sleeping of some Men greatly differs from others So the Death of the Saints greatly differs from the Death of the Wicked 1. In the Preparation the one makes to go to rest over what the other doth Some go to sleep before their Work is done So some die before their Work is done As no Saint dies before his Work is done So there is no wicked Person that dies but he dies or goes to sleep before his Work is done This is our Working-day when the Sun of our Life is set no more Work can be done The Time comes saith Christ when no Man can work All a Godly Man's Care is to be ready when Night comes to go to rest But the Wicked take little Thought about it 2. Some Men fall asleep in an hurry of Business and in great Distraction when others in a sweet Manner lay their Heads down upon their Pillows So some wicked Men die in great Distraction and under sad Horrour of Conscience when many a Godly Man dies in a sweet and heavenly Manner declaring to all he hath nothing to do but to die 3. Some Men dread the Thoughts of going to sleep for that it is dangerous in some Cases for some Persons to sleep So some wicked Men dread the Thoughts of Death like him who cryed out I am so sick I cannot live and so sinful that I am afraid to die But most Godly Men are delivered from the Fear of Death they go willingly to Bed Luk. 2.29 Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace c. Saints are many times willing to go to rest because they are quite wearied out 1. Sin wearies them and even wares them out and makes them groan 2. The World wearies them and makes them willing to go to Bed Eccl. 5.12 3. The Devil the God of this World wearies them with his Temptations 4. Their bodily Weaknesses and disquieting Pains wearie them 5. The Absence of Christ also makes them willing to go home 4. Some Men fall asleep in a dangerous Place nay and sometimes in the midst of their Enemies So wicked Men die in a dangerous Place being far from God and out of the Covenant of Grace and besides are surrounded about with evil Angels who stand ready to devour their Souls But a godly Man falls asleep in Jesus O that 's a sweet Place to sleep in 1. He sleeps in the view of Jesus Christ knows his Grave and will preserve his Dust 2. He falls asleep in the Love of Jesus 3. He falls asleep in the Covenant of Jesus I am the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. 5. Some Mens Sleep is much more sweet and comfortable than others as we shewed before some Mens Sleep is very troublesom their Spirits are troubled So the Death of the Godly is sweet they have Peace and heavenly Joy being with Christ but the Death of the Wicked is troublesom their Spirits being in Torment whilst the Body lies in the Grave I might also shew you the great Difference there shall be in the awaking of the one and the other but that I will leave to its proper place V. A Man that is asleep taking his natural Rest may be easily awakened and called up by the Power of Man So the Body when it is dead can with infinitely more ease be raised up by the Power of God 't is but a Call from Heaven and we are awakened out of the Dust The Day is coming when all that are in the Grave shall hear his Voice and come forth c. John 5.28 Inferences WHat a blessed Condition are Believers in They are not only happy whilst they live but shall be blessed when they die their Bodies have not only quiet Rest but their Souls also rest in Peace and Quiet 2. It may stir up all Christless Souls to labour after an Interest in the Lord Jesus for if they are not in Christ whilst they live they are not like to fall asleep in Christ when they die 3. We may learn also from hence what little ground there is for a godly Man to be unwilling to die when his Work is done Are any unwilling to go to sleep at Night that have laboured hard all Day 4. Let us labour hard whilst the Day lasts whilst we have Health and Life that we may have done our Work and be ready to go to sleep Death a Departure Phil. 1.23 Having a desire to depart c. WE at Death leave one Place to go to another If godly we depart from our Place here on Earth and go to Heaven we depart from our Friends on Earth and go to our Friends in Heaven we depart from the Valley of Tears and go to the Mount of Joy we depart from an howling Wilderness to go to an heavenly Paradise Who would be unwilling to exchange a Sodom for a Sion an Egypt for a Canaan Misery for Glory Death a Rest Rev. 14.13 And I heard a Voice from Heaven saying unto me Write Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord from henceforth Yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their Works do follow them Parallels REst is a desirable Thing to a labouring Man Paul desired to die Death or to depart was greatly desirable in his Sight II. Rest is sweet and therefore desirable to a weary Man So will Death be to a poor weary Saint one that is weary of Sin weary of the World weary of the Temptations
of Satan c. See Sleep Disparity SOme Men enjoy Rest but in part they have no perfect Rest But a godly Man at Death hath perfect Rest nothing shall disturb or disquiet him any more II. Some Men have Rest but for a little time a short Rest But the godly Man's Rest is for ever at Death he enters into God's everlasting Rest III. Some Rest from Labour is not honourable 't is a Reproach to a Man to take his Rest when he should be at work But the Rest of a godly Man at Death is honourable 't is a Rest that Christ himself entred into when he had finished all his Work Of the Resurrection The Resurrection compared to the Morning Psal 49.14 And the Righteous shall have Dominion over them in the Morning Parallels THe Morning comes after the Night is gone So the Resurrection will come after the Night of this World is gone the Time of this World's Continuance is called Night in the Holy Scriptures The Night is far spent c. II. The Morning is longed for many watch and long for the Morning So the Godly long for the Resurrection all the Faithful ever waited for and greatly desired that Day III. The Morning brings Light and makes Things manifest which lie hid or appear not what they are in themselves in the Night-Time So the Resurrection will make manifest all the hidden Things of Darkness which appear not to the Sight of Men that glorious Morning will sooon discover all 1. It will make manifest all the horrid and cursed Designs of the Ungodly which they from time to time have contrived and endeavoured to carry on against the Saints and Church of God many of which God in his gracious Providence prevented from taking place and so they were never known but that Morning-Light will discover all those hidden Things of Darkness 2. The Light of that Morning will discover all the Secrets of every Man's Heart all the Evil Lust Envy Pride Revenge c. or what else hath been harboured in the Bosoms of Men. See 1 Cor. 4.5 3. It will discover all the filthy Actions and Abominations of the Wicked that are not known to Men nor fit to be mentioned Eph. 5.12 For it is a Shame to speak of those Things that are done of them in secret 4. That Morning will discover all Persons as well as Things then it will appear who are God's People and who are not who they were that served God in Truth Mat. 3. ult and who were Hypocrites c. IV. Towards the Morning the Morning-Star appears which gives notice the Day approacheth So towards this Morning there will appear many Signs to give warning to the World that the Day of the Resurrection is at hand Mat. 24.33 So likewise when ye shall see all these Things know thâ—t it is near even at the Door V. When the bright Morning is come the Sun rises and shines forth gloriously So when that Morning is come Jesus Christ the Sun of Righteousness will appear in his Glory and shine forth to the amazement of all the World VI. The Morning brings Joy and Gladness with it it makes the Birds to sing and send forth their warbling Notes So the Morning of the Resurrection will bring Joy and Gladness to all the Righteous then shall the Saints sing for Joy of Heart and be glad in the Lord. VII In the Morning Men arise out of their Beds So in the Morning of the Resurrection shall all the Saints of God be raised out of their Graves Thy dead Men shall live Isa 26.19 together with my dead Body shall they arise c. The Dead in Christ shall rise first VIII We commonly give a guess what kind of Day it will be by the Morning So by the Morning of the Resurrection the Godly will perceive what kind of Day the Day of Eternity or Glory of Christ's Kingdom will be IX In a springing Morning Things look fresh and very beautiful and also send forth a most sweet and fragrant Scent So in the Morning of the Resurrection the Earth will appear in its Bâ—auty and the Saints in their Glory Mat. 13.43 Then shall the Righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father c. Disparity IN the Morning of a natural Day here wicked Men receive like Benefit with the Righteous The Sun rises upon the Just and upon the Vnjust But in the Morning of the Resurrection it shall not be so the Ungodly shall not partake with the Saints of any of the Blessings and Comforts of that Morning then that Word shall be made good The Righteous shall have Dominion over them in the Morning Psal 49.14 In many other respects that Morning will differ from all other Mornings that ever were before it The Resurrection compared to awaking out of Sleep Dan. 12.2 And many of them that sleep in the Dust of the Earth shall awake c. Parallels DEath we have already shewed is called a Sleep and after a Man hath had his full Sleep he awaketh So when the Dead have lain their full Time appointed by the Almighty in the Grave they shall be quickned and come to life again II. Some fall into such a sound Sleep that they must when there is occasion for it be awakened So the Dead are fallen into such a fast or sound Sleep that they must be awakened John 5.28 Marvel not at this for the Hour is câ—ming in the which all that are in the Grave shall hear his Voice III. When a Man is throughly awakened he rises up So when the Dead are quickned by the mighty Power of God they shall rise up out of the Grave Sea or wheresoever else they lay asleep IV. There is a great difference between one Man's awaking out of Sleep and anothers some are awakened before they are willing and arise up with great horror and amazement when others awake in a sweet peaceable and quiet manner c. So there will be a great difference between the awaking of the Godly and the Ungodly at the last Day 1 Cor. 15. 1. The Godly shall arise sooner than the Ungodly The Dead in Christ shall rise first 2. The Saints of God shall awake in Christ's likeness their vile Bodies shall be fashioned and made like Christ's glorious Body But the Wicked shall appear base and vile in that Day Let them lie down in never so great Pomp and external Grandure yet alas when they awake they will appear most vile and contemptible 3. The Godly shall awake with glorious Robes upon them fit for the Consummation of their Marriage with the Lamb the Prince of the Kings of the Earth But the Wicked shall awake in a poor miserable and naked Condition What Robes shall they have on unless they be the filthy Rags of their own Righteousness with which they were cloathed whilst they lived in this World 4. The Godly shall have sweet and heavenly Company about them