to have a clear and exact knowledge in the Mysteries of Truth It is not in vain that the Scripture doth so earnestly call upon men to learn and to get and to keep the truth of Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures Buy the truth and sell it not Prov. 23. 23. Stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or our Epistle 2 Thes 2. 15. not unwritten traditions the Doctrines and Commandments of men but such as have been taught by the Apostles either by word or by their writings Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit you like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. 13. The word of God is full of such warnings and admonitions as these are And not without cause whether we consider the worth of truth in it selfe or the usefulness of it unto us It s necessary to the soul in many respects it s the light by which we see our way by which we know what to do what not to do it s a great part of our spirituall Armour by which we fight against temptations It s as great a strengthening to the Christian in fighting against Satan and his Instruments as the Souldiers belt or girdle is to him in the day of battel Take two Christians of equall grace and let them be assaulted with the same Temptation and let the one be sound in the Doctrine of Truth and the other corrupt and you will easily see the difference between the one and the other by the issue of the temptation the Doctrine of truth is as necessary for fighting against Satan as the grace of truth I note this to let all of us see what little reason any have to be displeased either with the Ministers of God or other of the Servants of God for their earnestnesse pertinacy if I may so speak in preserving the truth of Doctrine both among themselves and others They know the many advantages of it and therefore they are so zealous for the maintaining of it Paul though he was of as flexible and condescending a spirit as any other whether Apostle or ordinary Saint in all other things for he became all things to all men that he might by all means save some 1 Cor. 9. 19. 20 21 22. yet he was so positive and peremptory for the Doctrine of truth that he would not give place by subjection to false Brethren for an houre that the truth of the Gospel might continue with the people of God Gal. 2. 4. 2 'T is no wonder to see Satan use such endeavour to deprive the Sons of men of the Doctrine of truth In all ages of the Church he hath raised up his Instruments to draw men aside from the truth of Doctrine There shall be false Teachers saith the Apostle amongst you as there were false Prophets amongst the people 2 Pet. 2. 2. The Church of God as it was never destitute of true Prophets so never was it without false Prophets In the Church of Israel there were a numerous Company of seducing Prophets As there was an Elijah a holy and zealous Prophet of God so there were 456. Prophets of Baal 1 King 18. 22. The state was corrupted and they made to themselves a corrupt Ministry of their own an apostatizing State must have an apostatizing Clergy that will humour them and subscribe to them in every thing they do when Satan had perswaded Jeroboam to set up golden Calves he helped him to a Ministry that would worship them and teach others to do the like State Ministers will cry up Calves for gods rather then want promotion or lose preferment And thus it was in the Gospel Church All Pauls Epistles shew it This ariseth 1. partly from the sinfulness of men They must have their lusts and a lust cannot thrive if it have not a false Prophet to nurse it and give it suck And 2 partly from God he in his wisdom and justice permits it to be so that they that would not obey the words of a true Prophet should follow the pernicious Doctrines of falâ— Prophets 1. Reg. 22. 23. And then 3 it comes to passe from the policy and malice of Satan that he may by this means rob men of the truth and so make them fit preys for his temptations And we need not much wonder at this policy Satan knowes he is in danger of being foiled if he suffer this girdle to be upon the soul and that he shall certainly overcome if he can but pluck this off the loyns therefore he is so diligent in attempting it laying snares to intrap the true Ministers of God and opening a wide door for false Prophets and seducers to enter in and corrupt the truth 3 We have no cause to wonder to see the Devill so prevalent amongst hereticall and erroneous persons Woful experience shews us what desolations are made by Satan in our corrupt Generation what mischievous wayes of iniquity many are led into Many are drawn aside into great profanenesse of life others are sunk deep into rebellion others are gone aside into the way of perjury and Covenant-breaking others into wayes of cruelty persecution and oppression others almost into grosse Atheisme we may take up the Complaint of the Prophet Isay 59. 3. 4 5 6 7 8. Your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity your lips have spoken lies your tongue hath muttered perverseness none calleth for justice nor any pleadeth for truth they trust in vanity and speak lies they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity they hatch Cockatrice Eggs and weave the Spiders Webs he that eateth of the Eggs dyeth and that which is crushed breaketh out into a Viper their works are works of iniquity and the act of violence is in their hands Their feet run to evill and they make haste to shed Innocent blood their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity wasting and destruction are in their paths The way of peace they know not and there is no judgement in their goings they have made them crooked paths whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace A man would wonder to see and hear the horrible wickednesses that many are fallen into some openly profane the Sabbaths others defile their Neighbours wife and think they do not sin in so doing The cause of all these may be given in the words of the same Prophet Isay 59. 14. 15. Truth is fallen in the streets yea truth faileth The Devil hath taken away from them this Girdle of Truth and now they stop at no kind of abominations The Girdle of truth is quite loosed and this doth so enervate and weaken them that they are forced to do what ever the Devil requires of them And can ye wonder at it The losse of truth will certainly introduce all kinde of iniquity And that both ex Natura Rei and ex justo Dei judicio 1. Ex Natura Rei The understanding is the first wheel in man it turns about the whole man as the Helme doth the Ship if
ariseth 1. from that Naturall Distemper which is in it by reason of sin The Fall of Man did so bruise and crack this golden Vessel that it doth leak ever since and cannot hold that which is put into it The Apostle in Hebr. 2. 1. speakes of this Distemper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The memory is like a Vessel which is rent and full of holes Those golden Hoopes which God in the first Creation did set about this Vessel are either quite broken off or much loosened And then there are secondly also other things which make it so lubrick and crazy as to the retaining of things Spiritual and Divine viz. First it 's over-charged with too many Three Causes of a weak Memory worldly and sinful things the world is so much laid up in this Treasury that there is very little room for Heavenly things to be stowed there Secondly want of Meditation and recollection by this means it comes to pass that many Truths which are recorded in the Memory are as if they had never been set down in regard of use and improvement because by meditation and discourse they are not revived There is an Act of the Memory proper unto man which the Philosopher calls Eustach Phys p. 261. Reminiscentia when a thing which hath been recorded and is forgotten is by the help of Discourse and Reasoning recovered again and made present and without this it is impossible to keep alive the remembrance of many things Now it 's a very general fault not onely amongst wicked men but even amongst the people of God that they neglect this Duty of Discourse and Meditation they do not chew the Cud as they are required and so quite lose many things which they have heard understood and sometimes remembred Isaac went into the fields to meditate Gen. 24. 63. David used to meditate on Gods Statutes as well as to read and hear them Psal 119. 15. Thirdly the Devil he pilfers out many Truths he comes with his false Key and picks the Lock of the Memory and so the soul is bereaved of many a precious Truth vid. Mat. 13. 19. He comes and searcheth the books and whatever he finds there that may be prejudicial to his Kingdom he either quite takes it off the File or else so blurs it with his black Lines that in a very short time the Record becomes altogether useless Therefore for the strengthning of the weak Memory it 's not without need that things of moment and concernment should be inculcated and repeated 3. in regard of the Will and that 1. from the deadness and slowness and untowardness of the Will and Affections to embrace and give entertainment to saving truths at first when offered The heart of man is like hard Marble harder then any Adamant Zech. 7. 12. Impressions are not made upon it with one blow the Iron is not heated through with once putting into the fire there is a reluctancy and contradiction in the Will against the receiving of things of this Nature Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart ye have alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost Act. 7. 51. The Apostle speakes of many Remora's and Obstructions in the heart which hinder the effectual working of the Word 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. Strong holds carnall reasonings things exalting themselves against the knowledge of God and high thoughts c. The soul is full of surmisings prejudices objections and strong opposings the strong man armed keeps the house and by force of Arms contends against divine Truths especially such as are of weightiest concernment And therfore there is need of urging and pressing the same things over and over and that with earnestness that these high Towers may be levelled And then 2. After that the heart hath submitted and yielded it doth in a very short time through the prevalency of indwelling corruption revolt and grow stiffe again and is very backward to practise Truths subjected unto It was the sad complaint of one of the Ancients that of all Trades and Imployments Chrysost that of the Ministry is most difficult as in other respects so in this that he can never finde his work as he leaves it Let a Carpenter or Mason or any other Crafts-man shape and square and polish his work and when he returns he findes it so but the Devil he mars a Ministers work as soone as ever he hath done When he hath digged a well of godly sorrow this Philistine comes and stops it up presently When he hath stubd up the thorns the Devill comes and plants them again or more in their room When he hath cast down the Wall in one week yea in one night he findes it set up again c. Every observing and selfe-searching Christian knowes the truth of this by sad experience When any holy Resolution hath been with much labouring begot in the heart Satan and his own corruption working together do soon cool check the form he brought with him from hearing the word is soon unfashioned again Oh Israel thy goodness is as the Morning dew and as the early Cloud it presently vanisheth away Hos 6. 4. Commands are not easily obeyed therefore there must be precept upon precept The consolations of the Gospel are not easily preserved therefore there must be promise upon promise It s a hard thing to go on in duty constantly the heart will backslide It s a hard thing to keep it light and constant and close c. The Church of Ephesus had left her first love Rev. 2. 4. 5. Ephraim was a back-sliding heyfer Hos 4. 16. they were revolted and gone Thy people saith God to Moses have soon corrupted themselves c. Exod. 32. 7. 8. Paul had faithfully preached the Doctrine of justification by faith to the Galathians when he was personally with them but in a very short time they were apostatized by the fraudulency and craftiness of false Teachers therefore he is forced to write to them the same things again vid. Gal. 1. 6. We see the Disciples of Christ though they were commanded and intreated by their Master to watch with him when he was in his Agony ready to die for them yet as soon as he was departed they fell asleep again and though he came and reproved them yet they fell asleep again vid. Matth. 26. 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45. A man would wonder that when Christ had told them that the pangs of death were upon him yet they should fall asleep c. We have a discovery in them of the hearts Apostacy Vse 2. This should be a Directory for the Ministers of the Gospel That they would not be contented onely once to name necessary truths but to be ever and anon as they observe the slackness and negligence of people in practising pressing and urging the same again and again There are some Doctrines which are as standing Dishes as the Doctrine of faith Repentance c. these are of necessary and daily use and people must be
them to continue stedfast in the profession of that Faith of the Gospel which he had preached to them In which we have these three parts 1. The Preface in Cap. 1. v. 1 2. 2. The Matter of the Epistle Cap. 1. v. 2. ad Cap. 6. v. 10. In which are these two things 1. He strongly asserts and proves that Fundamental Doctrine of Justification by Grace Cap. 1 2 3. And then afterwards 2. He makes application of that Doctrine in a Use of Exhortation stirring them up to Holiness of life Cap. 4. cap. 5. cap. 6. ad v. 10. In which Exhortation he presseth two kinds of Duties First such as concerned all Christians in their general Vocation This from Cap. 4. 1. or Cap. 5. v. 21. And then secondly such kind of Duties as concerned Christians in their oeconomical Capacity as they were Husbands Wives Parents Children Masters Servants Cap. 5. 22. ad Cap. 6. v. 10. This is the second part of the Epistle 3. The Conclusion Cap. 6. v. 10. ad finem In which he doth 1 commend to them the use of that Spiritual Armour ver 10. ad 19. 2. He begs their prayers for himself v. 19 20. 3 Informes them of his sending of Tychicus v. 21 22. 4 He concludes with his usual Benediction and Prayer v. 23 24. The Verses which I have read are the first part of the Conclusion viz. a short and compendious Tractate about the Spiritual Armor concerning which the Apostle doth two things 1. Gives them a general Exhortation to use them v. 13. Wherefore c. 2. Gives them a particular Catalogue both of the Names and Uses of them ver 14 15 16 17 18. We are first to begin with the general Exhortation as it is laid down in the 13 verse Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour c. The Apostle had given this counsel ver 10. and yet because it was a very necessary Doctrine he doth here repeat it in Terminis From whence before we come to the particulars we shall lay down this Doctrine in generall viz. Doctrine general That necessary and useful Truths are not onely once but often to be preached by the Ministers of God Such Truths as are of special concernment are to be repeated again and again to the same people We shall find that the Holy Prophets of God have done so The Doctrine of Christ The calling of the Geâ—tiles c. We shall find the same Doctrine preached by the same Prophet over and over and we shall find after Prophets repeating and rehearsing what hath been urged by the former Prophets And the Apostles inculcating the same things Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes and again I say rejoyce Phil. 4. 4. If we or an Angel from Spiritual joy a necessary Duty Not hearkning to Seducers a necessary Duty Heaven preach any other Gospel let him be accursed He saith it over again Gal. 1. 8 9. And he tels the Phiâ—ippians It was not grievous to him to write the same things to them Phil. 3. 1. How often doth the Evangelist John repeat the Doctrine of Brotherly Love And our Brotherly love a necessary Duty Saviour himself preacheth the same Doctrine over again And we shall find Solomon in the Proverbs often repeating the same things Christs tender of Gâ—ace a necessary Duty Vanity of the World a necessary Duty Saints Communion with Christ a necessary Duty vid. Prov. 1. 20 21. c and Cap. 8. 1 2 3 4. you have the very same thing again and you will find the same in very many places of that book And in Eccles Cap. 1. 2. the very same words again Cap. 12. 8. And so in the Canticles as cap. 1. 15. compared with cap. 4. 1. So cap. 2. 16. compared with cap. 6. 3. And this is necessary if we consider these three things 1. The Incapacity of mens minds to understand the things of God The Scripture tels us that the mind of man is full of darkness and blindness vid. Eph. 4. 18. The Apostle in that place describes the condition of man by Nature telling that there is a thick skin a vail of blindness covering their hearts and 2 Cor. 4. 4. That the God of this world hath blinded their eyes They are blind by Nature and they are blinded by Satan 'T is true God gave man a seeing-eye when he made him at first Adam knew the Nature of every Creature and gave them apt Names answerable to their Nature and he knew his God c. but by the Fall the eye of the Soul is become darkned as to spiritual things very dim as to other things Man by affecting a forbidden knowledge fell into gross ignorance he would needs know as much as a God he became as ignorant as a Beast Psal 49. 20. Dan. 4. 16. There is Ignorantia purae negationis Gen. 3. 5. which is no sinne Christ knew not the Day of Judgment the Trades-man knows not Astrology and there is Ignorantia pravae dispositionis when a man will be so and affects it c. This is in man by Nature And therefore the Apostle saith That the pure naturall man doth not understand the things of the Spirit nor can he because they are spiritually discerned 2 Cor. 2. 14. They may and many of them do understand the matters of God Historically and Notionally but Spiritually Savingly and applicatorily and transformingly they cannot And as for the people of God who are inlightened by Grace yet even they labour under much ignorance still We find that even the Disciples of Christ though they had been tutor'd by him who was wiser then Solomon yet they were often at a loss to understand thoâ—e things which were not very obscure vid. Mat. 15. 16 17 18. And though Christ had often told them of his Passion c. yet we find they were very much to seek in that very particular after the death of their Master vid. Luke 24. 25 26. This makes these repetitions very necessary If Man were as at first a very hint or glympse would be enough but in regard of his dulness there is need of these Rehearsals And know this that it is an Act of compassion in God to the blindness of his Crearure to repeat the same things more then once It 's said of Christ that he can have compassion on the Ignorant Heb. 5. 2. These Rehearsals are one clear Testimony amongst many others of his compassion to ignorant sinners 2. The Imbecillity and weakness of the memory The Memory is the Treasury and Store-house of the Soul the peculiar Office of the memory is to retain and keep carefully all the Notions which are apprehended and taken in by the Understanding and all the Species which are drawn from several Objects by the externall and internal Senses 'T is the Registry of the Soul where these things should be faithfully recorded and kept for after-time Now there is a very great imperfection in this Register This weakness
he was not able to enter into the Herd of Swine till Christ had slackened his chain Luk. 8. 32. how much more is a Saint better then a Swine I shall to these Encouragements add one more Remember your Sacramental Oath in Baptisme made to God then it was you took Prest-money to serve in Gods wars And that you should oppose the Devil was a part of your engagements Perjury is a hainous sinne the very light of Nature abhors it and God hath and will severely avenge it vid. Zech. 5. 4. Now if you would Oppose to any benefit you should be carefull of these three things 1. Study his stratagems 2 Cor. 2. 11. This will help you much in Opposing The Apostle in Ephes 6. 11. mentions his wiles 2. Oppose him at a distance It 's best fighting an enemy in his own Territories prudent Warriours endeavour to do so 3. Use the right Armour Of which we shall speak in the next Doctrine LECT 5. Novemb. 7. 1649. Ephes 6. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand VVE have done with the LECT 5 2d. Doctrine That it 's the duty of a Christian to withstand Satan in the evill day of temptation The third Observation followeth viz. Whosoever would be able to withstand Satan Doct. 3. in the evill day of Assault must be carefull that he take to himself the whole Armour of God This is twice told us in this Chapter once in the 11. Verse and here again in this Verse to shew you the certainty and necessity of it There can be no hopes of doing any good against the Devil when he sets upon us no possibility of withstanding to any purpose without the taking and using of this Armour In the handling of this Proposition I shall briefly speak to these four Heads 1 I shall shew what this Armour is 2 Why it 's called the Armour of God 3 Why Christians must take to themselves this Armour 4 Why they must take the whole Armor of God Jerome thinkes by the whole Armour of God we are to understand Christ so as To put on the Armour of God is nothing else but To put on Christ Si enim eingulum veritas est lorica justitia est Salvator autem veritas justitia nominatur nulli dubium quin ipse cingulum sit lorica c. But I suppose in this place by the Armour of God we are to understand these two things First The Graces of Gods Spirit such as Faith Hope Patience c. This the Apostle clearly sheweth in the following verses where he reckoneth up the particulars of this Armour He mentions the Shield of Faith the Helmet of Hope the Breast-plate of Righteousness and the girdle of Truth ver 14 16 17. Hereby intimating to us that these and such like graces of God are those spiritual Armes which Christians should use in this Warfare vid. Rom. 13. 12. Graces are called The Armour of Light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And 2 Cor. 6. 7. We read of The Armour of Righteousness Secondly The Ordinances of God such as the Word Prayer Sacraments c. This also is hinted by the Apostle in the following verses where he commands us to use Prayer as one of these Weapons under which particular I conceive by a Synecdoché all the other Ordinances of God are comprehended so that the whole Spiritual Armour is comprehended under one of these two Heads of Divine Graces and Divine Ordinances 2 Cor. 10. 4. The Ordinances are called The Weapons of our Warfare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now these are called Armour because they are of the same use to the soul which material Armes are to the outward Man To defend the soul from Assaults and to offend and wound assaulting Enemies Secondly why it 's called the Armour of God For this let us consider these four Reasons viz. 1. Because it is of Divine Original God is the sole Author and Maker of this Armour 1. For the Graces of the Spirit we know that they are of a Divine descent he makes and workes them in the soul It is above created Art or Strength to plant any of these Flowers in the soul They are called the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. They are of the Spirits planting he is therefore called the Spirit of Grace Zach. 12. 10. And God is called the God of all Grace 1 Pet. 5. 10. The God of all Grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle c. 2. And for the Ordinances they are also Divine Institutions prayer preaching Sacraments are all of Gods appointment He gave some to be Apostles some Evangelists some Prophets some Pastors and Teachers for the work of the Ministry c. Eph. 4. 11. 12. None of the Ordinances could have any spirituall Math. 28. 19 efficacy if they had not a divine Originall They could neither convince the Conscience nor convert the heart they could neither terrifie nor comfort cast down nor lift up the soul if they were not of a heavenly Descent 2. As this Armour is of Divine Originall so it hath a Divine Approbation God hath given his Approbation to this Armour and to no other He hath manifested his Allowance of it both 1. By the many Commands given to all his Souldiers that they should use it he hath charged them positively that whensoever they go out to battel they should gird themselves herewith And 2. By the many signall and remarkable Victories he hath bestowed upon his Servants when they have been carefull to make use of it he hath alwayes given them good success Herewith Job overcame and herewith Paul came off victorious and by this Armour Peter was promised the Conquest when Satan sifted him God is exceedingly pleased with these Weapons he delights in the graces of his spirit and in his people for those graces How pleasant art thou O love for delights Cant. 7. 6. And he takes much contentment in his own Ordinances also Let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely Cant. 2. 14. And therefore the Church prayes Let my prayer come forth in thy sight as the incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice Psal 141. 2. And therefore also it is that God is alwayes present with his Ordinances and with his Servants whensoever they are either publiquely or privately exercised in them 3. They may be called the Armour of God In regard of Conservation God doth uphold maintain and preserve this Armour They are in his custody and keeping he takes the care of them If we look upon our graces the Scripture makes it very clear that as they are planted so they are preserved by God He that keepeth the feet of his Saints keepeth much more the
Observation from all kind of employments of men that he may be compleatly fitted for this great Work But I come to the Particulars First The girdle of Truth Having your Loyns girt about with Truth In lumbis maxima vis est stantium His malè affectis contrahitur corpus aut certè vacillans vel modicè impulsum corruit Bullinger Therefore the Apostle begins with these which he would have girded with Truth Truth in the Scripture is used to fet out two things there is a two-fold Acception of Truth 1. It is used for the Doctrine of Truth That Doctrine which is held out and revealed to the sons of men in the written Word and thus Truth is opposed unto Errour In this sense it is used in many places as Gal. 3. 1. O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth And 1 Tim. 2. 4. God will have all men saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth And 3. Ep. Joh. 4. I have no greater joy then to hear that my children walk in the truth 2. It is used for the grace of truth And so it 's opposed to Hypocrisie In this sense it 's used Psal 51. 6. Thou desirest truth in the inward parts that is sincerity and integrity of heart so Josh 24. 14. Fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth and so Joh. 4. 24. God is a a spirit and they that worship him must worship him inspirit and in truth Spiritual Worship is there opposed to Ceremonial and Truth of Worship is opposed to Hypocritical Worship Now amongst Interpreters there are some who expound this Text of the grace of truth so doth Calvin and others Others understand it as spoken of the Doctrine of truth Baldwin vera Doctrina Religione Zanchy Constantia in Doctrina veritatis Dickson 1. Both Interpretations are agreeable to the Analogy of Faith 2. Usefull Instructions may be gathered from both 3. There is nothing in the Text which doth necessarily limit and confine it to one and therefore I shall refer it to both for Vbi Scriptura non distinguit non est distinguendum And so I shall lay before you a two-fold Observation from this two-fold Interpretation 1. Understanding it of the Doctrine of Truth as some do we note this Doctrine viz. That firmness and stability in the Doctrine of 1. Doct. Truth is an excellent meanes to be preserved and to overcome Satan and his Instruments in the day of Temptation I say Firmness and Stability because the phrase of being girded about notes constancy and firmness in the Truth When the Loyns are fast tyed and compassed about with this girdle they are in a good way of security from the assaults of Satan when those who forsake and fall from the Truth are snared and overcome then shall those who adhere and stick fast to the Doctrine of Truth be delivered and escape This is promised to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia upon this very consideration Rev. 3. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth If a Church or Person be stedfast in the Doctrine of Truth God will either keep them from temptation or else he will preserve them in temptation that when others fall they shall stand I shall give you three Reasons of this viz. 1. Truth unites us to God and God to us It is of God and hath a Divine Strength God is truth and so far as a person hath the truth he hath God and so farre as he loseth the Truth he loseth God 'T is true a person may have the Truth of God sticking in his Judgment He may be very stedfast and constant in it so that he may willingly part not onely with his substance but even with his life to maintain it and yet not be savingly united to God by Christ for salvation 'T is not the fides quae creditur but the fides quâ creditur which is the bond of this Union But yet the very holding of the Doctrine of Truth gives a person some kind of union with God by which union he is more able to stand when any storm comes then he that is destitute of the Truth 2. Truth helpes a Christian both to discover a Temptation and to answer Arguments used to set on the Temptation The Truth of God in the Judgment is one of the Eyes of the Soul he that wants this is blind and cannot see afar off Now as a clear Eye is a very great help to the Souldier for the discovering of the Dart or the Bullet before it be upon him so is the clear distinct knowledg of the Truth a very great help to a Christian to discern the temptation before it be upon him He is better able by the power of Truth to see the reach of Satan and what it is that he drives at when he spreads his snare to surprize him then another can be who hath lost the Truth Any fallacy is easily put upon a person that is destitute of the truth of an Art or Science whereas he that hath the knowledge of that Art is able presently to avoid it and to answer it And therefore the Devil when he comes to tempt the woman to sinne first labours to blind her Understanding Ye shall not die but ye shall be as gods knowing good and evill Gen. 3. 4 5. and when he hath stollen that principle of truth out of her judgment We may not eat lest we die He doth without any difficulty perswade her to eat of the fruit 3. Truth doth much help a Christian in the managing of all other parts of his Armour aright He that hath lost the Doctrine of Truth will be unable to use the Bread-Plate of Righteousness For to the using of this after a right manner it is requisite that the Doctrine of the Imputation of Christs Righteousness to a sinner be tâ—roughly understood and firmly believed The Helmet of Hope will soon be knocked off the head of a Christian if he do not well understand the Nature of the Grace Hope The shield of faith will be presently pierced by Satan if he that weares it do not rightly understand the nature of faith and prayer will do but little good if he that makes the prayer be unsound in the truth Prayer is to be made in faith else it doth not prevail it is to be made not only with the grace of faith but also according to the Doct of faith A Doctrinal errour in prayers will nullifie them as well as want of the grace of Faith for this is the confidence we have in him that if we aske any thing according to his will he heareth us 1 John 5. 14. Information We may from this Doctrine 1. Vse gather these three conclusions viz. 1. This shews us how necessary it is for a Christian
thy precepts and turned my feet to thy Commandments saith David Psal 119. 59. he that forgets Gods Testimonies will soon be drawn aside from the way of obedience but he that carefully remembers these will walk holily David gives this as the reason why the godly man doth not walk in the way of the ungodly nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seat of scorners because his delight is in the word of God and therein he meditates day and night Psal 1. 2 3. 2 Cor. 8. 18. 7 Study carefully the great and many priviledges which are instated upon you in and by the Covenant of Grace The end of all the Dignities confer'd by God upon men is in respect of them that they should walk in newness of life Election is for this end Eph. 1. 4. God hath chosen men in Christ before the foundation of the world not because they were holy but that they should be holy and without blame before him in love The end of Redemption is holiness of life Luk. 1. 75. Christ came as much to redeem the people from iniquity as from hell Tit. 2. 14. The end of Adoption is that we should be harmless and blameless the Sons of God without rebuke that we should live as Gods children and walk as Children of the Light The end of our Justification is Sanctification of Life many leud and ignorant Christians argue from priviledges to laziness they continue in sinne because grace abounds But the Scripture argues from great priviledges to purity of life vid. Rom. 12. 1. I beseech you therefore Brethren c. The particular mercy he had spoken to is the great mercy of a sinners justification by faith Of this he had been disputing in the former Chapter In the 12. Chapter he comes to make the main Use of it which is an Exhortation to Holiness And from the same Doctrine Ephes 4. 1. he draws the very same inference I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you c. The end of all the Promises is holiness of life 2 Cor. 7. 1. Having therefore these Promises c. The Apostle Peter from many other rare priviledges drawes the same conclusion 1 Pet. 2. 9 10 11 12. Dishonesty of Conversation doth not onely convince a Christian of unthankfulness for his priviledges but it is a shame to his priviledges 8. Meditate much on the unrighteousness of your former conversation when ye knew not God It is the mind of God that Christians after their effectual conversion should remember their unregenerate condition Ephes 2. 11 12. There are many good uses which a Christian may make of such meditations it makes him thankful c. Amongst others this is one it will be a good help to promote his holy walking after Conversion Such meditations will bring to his mind 1. The filthiness of sinne which will set his heart against it And 2. they will let him see how much time he wasted in sinne which will be a great help to make him more careful for the future over his wayes This is laid down in many places of Scripture as a help to holy walking vid 1 Pet. 4. 3. the Apostle in the second verse exhorts them to cease from sinne and his Argument is because that was their practice in the days of their vanity when they walked after the course of the world And we have the same Argument 1 Pet. 1. 14. Not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance This is one Reason why such as have been most notoriously wicked before Conversion are sometimes more then ordinarily holy after Conversion When sinne hath abounded before Regeneration Grace hath much more abounded in them after Conversion Mary Magdalen one of the most noted sinners of her age our Saviour cast 7 Devils out of her and after her Calling one of the most exact Christians of her time You read very much of her forwardness and zeal and holiness she is usually put in the first place whereas she is spoken of vid. Matth. 27. 55 56. Matth. 28. 1. In the end of the Sabbath came Mary Magdalen c. Joh. 20. 18. Mary Magdalen came and told the Disciples c. One ground of this is because they reflect upon their former Conversation and because they find that exceeding vile therefore they are so very careful now to walk with all exactness As those that have been most prodigal when they are reclaimed are ordinarily very frugal c. 9 Meditate on the many engagements which lie upon you for holy walking You all lie under Sacramental Bonds when you were baptized then you entred into an Engagement Oath of Allegeance that you would give up your selves in obedience unto God The Apostle upon this ground argues with the Romanes Rom. 6. 2 3 4 5 6. Baptism is a holy Bond which though it be but once entred into yet the obligation of it remains for ever upon the soul And what that obligation is you have Mat. 28. 19 20. Teuching you to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded This Baptismal Vow you have renewed at the Lords Table many a time on your sick beds or in the day of other troubles Looking often upon these will be very helpful The thoughtfull remembrance of Engagements were very vsefull to David for this purpose I have sworn it and I will perform it to keep thy righteous judgments Psal 119. 106. violating of holy Vows breaking of religious Covenants though the matter of them be but civil is a sinne of a high nature Ezek. 17. per totum especially ver 18 19 20 21. So Ezek. 34. 17 18 19. 10 Get much of the holy reverential fear of God into your spirits Fearing of God and eschewing of sinne are frequently joyned together in Scripture so are fearing of God and keeping of his Commandements Job 1. 1. Eccles 12. 13. The Apostle makes the want of Gods fear to be the in-let of all unrighteousness and dissolute practices Rom. 3. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18. And the Apostle makes this fear of God to be the means of purifying the life 2 Cor. 7. 1. If the heart grow Fearless the life will grow Profane Prov. 28. 14. 11 Study and think well upon the Doctrine of Death and of Judgment Look upon Death as neer at hand let the sound of the Passing-Bell and the sight of the Grave be continually in your Senses and let the sound of the last trumpet be in your ears Awake ye dead and come to judgment Forgetfulness of Death and Judgment is the cause of so much licentiousness and the remembrance of these are of great force to keep the life holy see 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. and ver 10 11. Seeing all these things must be dissolved c. 12 Consider the unloveliness of unholy practices in other men Behold the Drunkard in his vomit and the Adulterer in his uncleanness c. This will work in your Soules hatred against sin and zeal for
the contrary vertues 13 Look very narrowly to the heart the inward man It 's impossible to preserve Holiness of life if Corruptions be not dayly purged out of the heart Let the blood of Jesus be sprinkled upon the heart every day purge the Conscience and then the Conversation will be kept clean also Out of the abundance of the heart c. Matth. 15. 18. EPHES. 6. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lect. 14. Janu. 9. 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN these words we have the third piece of the spiritual Armour The preparation of the Gospel of peace In which we shall consider of these three things 1. The Epithite given to the Gospel Evangelium pacis 2. The Armour it self The preparation of the Gospel 3. The Subject of this Armour the part of the body upon which it is to be put the Feet I shall at this time onely go over the first of these viz. The Commendation given to the Gospel And it teacheth us this lesson viz. That the Gospel is a Gospel of peace Doctrine In the opening of which Doctrine I shall 1. shew you what the Gospel is 2. What peace this is 3. How the Gospel is a Gospel of peace 4. Answer an Objection against it 1. The Gospel according to the notation of the word signifieth good news glad tydings so the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so the hebrew word Desporah signifieth it is here used to set forth the joyful tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ first preached to Adam in Paradise by God himself Gen. 3. 15. afterwards by the Prophets by Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles The Doctrine of free grace and obtaining righteousness by faith in Christ without the works of the Law It s called in the Scripture sometimes The word of Gods grace Acts 14. 3. because it doth reveal the riches of Gods grace to the children of men for their salvation Sometimes it s called the word of faith Rom. 10. 8. because it holds out faith in Christ as the instrumental cause of our salvation Sometimes it s called the grace of God Titus 2. 11. Sometimes it s called the mystery of Christ Ephes 3. 4. because it doth reveal Jesus Christ to the sons of men in his person natures offices benefits conveyed by him to such as beleive Sometimes the hidden wisdom of God 1 Cor. 2. 7. It s wisdom because it contains the wise design and plot of God for the saving of sinners And its hidden because it was from eternity hidden in the secret counsels of God till he was pleased to make it known to Adam and because Rom. 16. 25. it is still hidden from many who have not the knowledge of it and because many who know it in the letter do not savingly embrace and entertain it Sometimes it s called the word of life Phil. 2. 16. because by the right beleiving of it men are translated from the state of death to the state of life Sometimes the unsearchable riches of Christ Ephes 3. 8. because in this shop it is that all those riches are laid abroad to the view of men Sometimes it s called the good word of God Hebr 6 5. Every word of God is good the Law is a good word all the threatnings are good they come from him who is good the matter of them is good the end of them is good but the Gospel is by way of eminency called the good word because the greatest goodness and mercy that God ever manifested to his creatures is contained in the Gospel God was very good to man in creation the goodness of God was expressed in the Covenant of works but the highest expression of goodness and love lies in the Gospel And in the Text it s called the Gospel of peace the reason of which we shall see when we have done with the next particle viz. 2. What peace is here meant There is a threefold peace 1. Peace with the Creature of this Eliphaz in Job speaks Chap. 5. 23. Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be in peace with thee He is said to be at peace with the Creatures who is in such a condition that no Creature can be an instrument of his hurt but all creatures are instruments of his good and serviceable to him for his advantage All things are yours things present and things to come 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. 2. Peace with a mans self Peace of conscience of this the Apostle speaks Rom. 15. 13. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing This peace is a fruit and consequence of faith of this our Saviour speaks Math. 11. 28. Come unto me c. and ye shall find rest to your soules When the soul apprehending the pardon of sin and assurance of Gods love is freed from those fears and horrors which attend unjustified sinners 3. Peace with God Which is nothing else but Reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ of which the Apostle speaks Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ For the understanding of this we are to consider man in his threefold state 1. In the state of Innocency In this state man had peace and communion with God God and man were united in a Covenant of friendship There was nothing but Amicableness between God and man man was able to know God as the chief good To will God as the last end of all To give God the glory of his works actively To converse with God There was nothing in him opposite to God or in God till man by sin on his part had made a breach 2. In the state of corruption or the fallen estate of man This is a state of enmity and wrath God and man in this state are at deadly fewd one with another They are said to be afarre off from God they are said to be without hope and without God in the world Ephes 2. 12. Sin hath made such a wide distance that there is no hopes for God and man to come together as friends untill some meanes be used for the removal of this distance This is the state in which all unregenerate persons are The wrath of God abideth on them John 3. 36. In this state man is opposite to God His nature is opposite to God His wayes are contrary to God His heart is full of hatred to him And in this state God hath put man under Rom. 1. 30. the curse and is resolved to have his envy out of him 3. In the state of Graee or regeneration This is a state of reconciliation It consists in these four things 1. The wrath and displeasure on Gods part is quite done away so that he loves the persons and carrieth no indignation in his breast against them Some think that there is no reall wrath in God towards the vessels of election while they are in their natural
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fight or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tollo because it is the Instrument of fighting Of the Spirit Spirit is used sometimes Essentially for all the three persons Joh. 4. 24. Sometimes it s used Personally for the third person of the Trinity the Holy Ghost and so I suppose it 's used in this place The Reasons of it I shall shew afterwards Which is the Word of God There 's a two-fold Word of God 1. The Substantial or Essential Word of God viz. Jesus Christ the second Person of the Trinity Rev. 19. 13. 1 Joh. 5. 7. Joh. 1. 1. He is called the Word of GOD for two Reasons First because as the Word is Character mentis in men so Christ the Son is the Character or express Effigies of the Fathers Counsel The word or speech is Interpres mentis so Christ is Interpres Patris Joh. 1. 18. Secondly He is called the Word of God in regard of his personal properties of working whereas the Father workes by way of hidden counsel the Holy Ghost by way of internall virtue the Son workes by way of Word laying open the counsel of God and putting it into execution by his Almighty Word that is by the power of his Will outwardly set forth 2. The written Word This is nothing else but the Writings of Prophets Apostles and other holy men of God contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament which for the excellency of them are called The Bible or The Book because it 's the most excellent Book the Book of Books This is that Word of God which the Apostle here recommends unto the Christian Souldier It is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Substantial word is called but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the name given to the written Word I might make many Doctrines but I will put altogether into this one viz. DOCT. He that would be enabled to withstand and to overcome Satan in his Temptations must be careful to take and use the Sword of the Spirit which is the written Word of God By this Sword it was that our Saviour did both preserve himself and turned the Devil to flight in his day of Temptation He drew out this Sword Scriptum est and with the power of it overcame his adversary Matth. 4. In the handling of this Doctrine I shall open these three things 1. Give some Reasons to prove that the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God 2. Shew you the Reason of this Title the Sword of the Spirit 3. Shew you how this Sword is useful to help a Christian in the day of Temptations First That the Scriptures are the Word of God 1. From the evidence of Scripture it self For this I shall refer you to these places 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. 21. Prophecie came not in old time by the Will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Psal 119. 105. Thy Word is a Lamp to my feet So ver 72. The Law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver I might give you thousands of places to this purpose Secondly From the nature of the Writings themselves 1. The matter of them is of such height and sublimity as that Reason is too low to make such discoveries The mystery of the Trinity is a thing above the comprehension of Reason Reason may a little illustrate it now when 't is revealed but Reason could never have found it out The great mystery of Christs Incarnation the Personal Union of the two Natures this is a mystery not onely above Reason but above the Angelical Understanding 1 Pet. 1. 12. The Angels pry into this mystery they could never have found it out had it not been revealed in the Scriptures vid. Eph. 3. 10. This manifold wisdom of God is made known unto Principalities and Powers by the Church The Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Body is a Doctrine too high for Reason to have found out The Corruption of mans nature by the sinne of Adam c. 2. The harmonious consent and sweet agreement which is between one part of Scripture and another Though they were penned by severall persons in several Ages in several places farre distant from one another the Pen-men neither advising nor conferring with one another yet in nothing contradictory but sweetly corresponding one with another one Prophet writing nothing contrary to another All the Evangelists conspiring and agreeing mutually one with another as if they had been all in one and the same place which is impossible and was never seen amongst the Writings of men 3. The rare Predictions which are in the Scriptures accomplished at the very seasons No Creature can fore-tell or fore-know things before-hand and the Prophecies of the Scripture are not laid down Oracle-wise with ambiguity but with positive certainty expressing the very times of things the names of persons the period of States c. Gen. 3. 15. It was four thousand years before his birth and yet when the fulness of time came God sent forth his Sonne made of a woman Gal. 4. 4. So that Prediction Gen. 15. 13 14 Thy Seed shall be a stranger c. This deliverance was fore-told four hundred years before-hand So that in 1 King 13. 2 3. the Prophecy against the Altar of Bethel in Jeroboams time it was as Chronologers observe 330 and odd years before and yet 2 King 23. 16. it was fulfilled in its season That in Esa 45. 1. concerning Cyrus Cyrus was not born of a hundred years after that All the Propheticall Doctrines concerning Christ of his Sufferings Death Buriall his Crucifying with Thieves Resurrection All as punctually fore-told by the Prophets as related by the Evangelists afterward who were Eye-witnesses of them 4. The manner of enjoyning the Doctrines therein contained Meerly the Authority of the Speaker Thus saith the Lord Hear the Word of the Lord c. Other Writings go about to move men to entertain them by the strength of Naturall Reason so did the Philosophers It 's said of Plato that when he read the first Chapter of Genesis he used these words Hic vir multa dicit nihil probat 5. The Scriptures enjoyn many things which are contrary to reason That a man should deny himself Mat. 16. 2. That when we have done all we can we are unprofitable servants that a man must trust to the righteousness of another that he that will be wise must become a fool that he may be wise that he that will save his life shall lose it c. This makes the Apostle say 1 Cor. 2. 14. That a natural man cannot discern the things of the Spirit c. 6. The Scriptures doe prescribe not onely Laws for the outward man but for the heart also Thought is free from the cognizance of human Laws but not from this Law Curse