Stones in the Street but you cannot go a step but you meet with Mire The Wicked are as common as the Dirt in the Street Look into the Generality of People How many Drunkards for one that is Sober How many Adulterers for one that is Chast How many Hypocrites for one that is Sincere The Devil hath the Harvest and God only a few Gleanings Oh then such as are delivered from the House of Bondage Hell have infinite cause to admire and bless God How should the Vessels of Mercy run over with Thankfulness When most are carried Prisoners to Hell they are delivered from Wrath to come Quest. How shall I know I am delivered from Hell Resp. 1. Those whom Christ saves from Hell he saves from Sin Matt. 1.21 He shall save his People from their sins Hath God delivered you from the power of Corruption from Pride Malice Lust If he hath delivered you from the Hell of Sin then he hath delivered you from the Hell of Torment 2. If you have got an Interest in Christ prizing confiding loving him then you are delivered from Hell and Damnation Rom. 8.1 No Condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus If you are in Christ then he hath put the Garment of his Righteousness over you and Hell Fire can never singe this Garment Pliny observes nothing will so soon quench Fire as Salt and Blood The Salt tears off Repentance and the Blood of Christ will quench the Fire of Hell that it shall never kindle upon you Of the Commandments Exod. 20.3 Thou shalt have no other Gods before me c. BEfore I come to the Commandment I shall premise some things about the Moral Law Answer Questions Rules Quest. 1. What is the difference between the Moral Law and the Gospel Resp. 1. The Law requires that we worship God as our Creator The Gospel requires that we worship God in and through Christ. God in Christ is propitious out of Christ we may see Gods Power Justice Holiness in Christ we see his Mercy display'd 2. The Moral Law requires Obedience but gives no strength as Pharaoh required Brick but gave no Straw but the Gospel gives strength The Gospel bestows Faith upon the Elect The Gospel sweetens the Law it makes us serve God with delight Quest. 2. What use is there of the Moral Law to us Resp. The Law is a Glass to shew us our Sins that so seeing our Pollution and Misery we may be forced to fly to Christ to satisfie for former guilt and save from future Wrath Gal. 3.24 The Law was our School-master to bring us to Christ. Quest. 3. But is the Moral Law still in force to Believers is it not abolished to them Resp. In some sense it is abolished to Believers 1. In respect of Justification they are not justified by their Obedience to the Moral Law Believers are to make great use of the Moral Law as I shall shew but they must trust only to Christs Righteousness for Justification as Noah's Dove made use of her Wings to fly but trusted to the Ark for Safety If the Moral Law could justifie what need were there of Christs Dying 2. The Moral Law is abolished to Believers in respect of the Malediction of it They are freed from the Curse and damnatory power of it Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us Quest. 4. How was Christ made a Curse for us Resp. Christ may be considered 1. As the Son of God and so he was not made a Curse 2. As our Pledge and Surety Heb. 7.22 And so he was made a Curse for us This Curse was not upon his God-head but upon his Manhood This Curse was the Wrath of God lying upon him And thus Christ hath taken away from Believers the Curse of the Law by being made a Curse for them But though the Moral Law is thus far abolished yet it remains as a perpetual Rule to Believers Though the Law Moral be not their Saviour yet it is their Guide Though it be not Foedus a Covenant of Life yet it is Norma a Rule of Living Every Christian is bound to conform to the Moral Law and write as exactly as he can after this Copy Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the Law through Faith God forbid Though a Christian is not under the condemning power of the Law yet he is under the commanding power To love God to reverence and obey him this is a Law always binds and will bind in Heaven This I urge against the Antinomians who say the Moral Law is abrogated to Believers which as it contradicts Scripture so it is a Key to open the Door to all Licentiousness They who will not have the Law to rule them shall never have the Gospel to save them Having answered these Questions I shall in the next place law down some general Rules for the right understanding of the Decalogue or Ten Commandments These Rules may serve to give us some light into the Sense and Meaning of the Commandments Rule 1. The Commands and Prohibitions of the Moral Law reach the Heart 1. The Commands of the Moral Law reach the Heart The Commandments require not only outward Actions but inward Affections They require not only the outward Act of Obedience but the inward Affection of Love Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart 2. The Threats and Prohibitions of the Moral Law reach the Heart The Law of God forbids not only the Act of Sin but the Desire and Inclination Not only doth it forbid Adultery but Lusting Matt. 5.28 Not only Stealing but Coveting Rom. 7.7 Lex humana ligat manum lex Divina comprimit animam Mans Law binds only the Hands Gods Law binds the Heart Rule 2. In the Commandments there is a Synecdoche more is intended than is spoken 1. Where any Duty is commanded there the contrary Sin is forbidden c. When we are commanded to keep the Sabbath day Holy there we are forbidden to break the Sabbath When we are commanded to live in a calling Six days shalt thou labour there we are forbidden to live idly and out of a Calling 2. Where any Sin is forbidden there the contrary Duty is commanded When we are forbidden to take Gods Name iâ— vain the contrary Duty is commanded that we should reverence his Name Deut. 28.58 That thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful Name the Lord thy God Where we are forbidden to wrong our Neighbour there is the contrary Duty included that we should do him all the good we can by vindicating his Name and supplying his Wants Rule 3. Where any Sin is forbidden in the Commandment there the occasion of it is also forbidden Where Murder is forbidden there Envy and rash Anger are forbidden which may occasion it Where Adultery is forbidden in the Commandment there is forbidden all that may lead to it as wanton glances of the Eye or coming into the Company of an Harlot
so much for the first Position That God's Providence reaches to all Places to all Persons and to all Occurrences 2. A second Position is this There are Providences that are casual and accidental to us are predetermin'd by the Lord the falling of a Tyle upon one's head the breaking out of a Fire to us is casual but 't is order'd by a Providence of God You have a clear Instance of this 1 Kings 22.34 A certain man drew a bow at a venture and smote the king of Israel between the joynts of the harness This Accident was casual as to the Man who drew the Bow but 't was divinely order'd by the Providence of God God's Providence directed the Arrow to hit the Mark. Things that seem to fall out casual and by chance they are the Issues of God's Decrees and the Interpretation of his Will 3. God's Providence is greatly to be observed but we are not to make it the Rule of our Actions Psal. 107.43 Whoso is wise will observe these things 'T is good to observe Providence but we must not make it our Rule to walk by Providence is a Christian 's Diurnal but not his Bible Sometimes a bad Cause prevails and gets ground it is not to be liked because it doth prevail we must not think the better of what is sinful because 't is successful here is no Rule of our Actions to be directed by 4. Divine Providence is irresistible there is no standing in the way of God's Providence to hinder it When God's time was come for Ioseph's Release the Prison could hold him no longer The king sent and loosed him Psal. 105.20 When God would indulge the Iews with Liberty in their Religion Cyrus by a Providence puts forth a Proclamation to encourage the Iews to go and build their Temple at Ierusalem and worship God Ezra 1.2 3. If God will shield and protect Ieremiah's Person in Captivity the very King of Babylon shall nurse up the Prophet and give charge concerning him that he want nothing Ier. 39.11 12. 5. God is to be trusted when his Providences seem to run contrary to his Promises God promised David to give him the Crown to make him King but Providence runs contrary to his Promise David was pursued by Saul was in danger of his Life but all this while it was David's Duty to trust God Pray observe the Lord doth oftentimes by cross Providences bring to pass his Promises God promised Paul the Lives of all that were with him in the Ship but now the Providence of God seems to run quite contrary to his Promise the Winds blew the Ship splits and breaks in pieces and thus God fulfill'd his Promise upon the broken pieces of the Ship they all come safe to shore Trust God when Providences seem to run quite contrary to Promises 6. The Providences of God are Checquer-work they are intermingled In the Life to come there shall be no more Mixture in Hell there is nothing but Bitter in Heaven there is nothing but Sweet but in this Life the Providences of God are mixed there is something of the sweet in them and something of the bitter Providences are just like Israel's Pillar or Cloud that conducted them in their March it was dark on one side and light on the other so the Providences of God are a dark part and a light part In the Ark there was laid up the Rod and Manna so are God's Providences to his Children there is something of the Rod and something of the Manna so that we may say with David I will sing of mercy and judgment Ioseph was in Prison there was the dark side of the Cloud but God was with Ioseph there was the light side of the Cloud Ashur's Shooes were of Brass but his Feet were dipt in Oyl Deut. 33.24 So Affliction is the Shooe of Brass that pinches ay but there is Mercy mingled with the Affliction there 's the Foot dipt in Oyl 7. The very same Action as it comes from God's Providence may be good which as it comes from Men may be evil For Instance Ioseph being sold into Aegypt as he was sold by his Brethren it was evil very wicked for it was the Fruit of their Envy but as it was an Act of God's Providence so it was good for by this means Iacob and all his Family were preserved alive in Aegypt Another Instance is in Shimei's cursing David now as Shimei cursed David 't was wicked and sinful for 't was the Fruit of his Malice but as his cursing was ordered by God's Providence so 't was an Act of God's Justice to punish David and to Humble him for his Adultery and Murder The Crucifying of Christ as it came from the Iews 't is an Act of Hatred and Malice to Christ So Iudas betraying him was an Act of Covetuousness but as it was an Act of God's Providence so there was good in it for see it was an Act of God's Love in giving Christ to dye for the World Thus I have clear'd to you the Doctrine of God's Providence in these several Positions let me now speak something by way of Application Use 1. By way of Exhortation in these particulars 1st Admire God's Providence The Providence of God keeps the whole Creation upon the Wheeâ—s or else it would soon be dissolved and the very Axle-tree would break in pieces If God's Providence should be withdrawn but for a while Creatures would be dissolved and run into their first Nothing Without this wise Providence of God there would be an Anxiety and Confusion in the whole World just like an Army when it is routed and scatter'd The Providence of God infuses Comfort and Virtue into every thing we enjoy our Cloaths would not warm us our Food would not nourish us without the special Providence of God And doth not all this deserve your Admiration of Providence 2. Learn quietly to submit to Divine Providence do not murmur at things that are order'd by Divine Wisdom We may no more find fault with the Works of Providence then we may with the Works of Creation It is a Sin as well to quarrel with God's Providence as to deny God's Providence If Men do not act as we would have them they shall act as God would have them His Providence it is his Master-wheel that turns these lesser Wheels and God will bring his Glory out of all at last Psal. 39.9 I was dumb and opened not my mouth because thou Lord didst it It may be we think sometimes we could order things better if we had the Government of the World in our hands but alas should we be left to our own Choice we should choose those things that are hurtful for us David did earnestly desire the Life of his Child which was the Fruit of his Sin now had the Child lived it had been a perpetual Monument of his Shame Let us be content God should Rule the World learn to acquiesce in his Will and submit to his Providence Doth
will make thee keep it joyfully I will give thee those Enlargements in Duty and that inward Comfort as shall abundantly satisfie thee thy Soul shall overflow with such a stream of Joy that thou shalt say Lord in keeping thy Sabbath there is great Reward And I will cause thee to ride upon the High Places of the Earth That is I will advance thee to Honour ascendere faciam so Munster interprets it Some by the High Places of the Earth understand Iudaea So Grotius I will bring thee into the Land of Iudaea which is higher situated than the other Countries adjacent And I will feed thee with the Heritage of Iacob That is I will feed thee with all the delicious things of Canaan and afterwards I 'll translate thee to Heaven whereof Canaan was but a Type And another Promise Isa. 56.2 Blessed is the Man that doth this that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it Blessed is the Man in the Hebrew it is in the Plural Ashre Blessedness To him that keeps the Sabbath holy here is Blessedness upon Blessedness belongs to him he shall be blessed with the Vpper and Nether Springs he shall be blessed in his Name Estate Soul Progeny Who would not keep the Sabbath from polluting it that shall have so many Blessings entail'd upon him and his Posterity after him 2. A Conscientious keeping the Sabbath seasons the Heart for God's Service all the Week after Christian the more holy thou art on a Sabbath the more holy thou wilt be on the Week following EXOD. XX. 12 Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy Days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Having done with the First Table I am next to speak of the Duties of the Second Table The Commandments may be likened to Iacob's Ladder The First Table as the Top of the Ladder reacheth to Heaven it respects God The Second Table as the Foot of the Ladder rests on the Earth it respects Superiors and Inferiors By the First Table we walk Religiously towards God by the Second we walk Righteously towards Man He cannot be good in the First Table that is bad in the Second Honour thy Father and thy Mother In this 1. A Command Honour thy Father and thy Mother 2. A Reason annexed to it That thy Days may be long in the Land 1. The Command Honour thy Father Quest. Who is meant here by Father Ans. Father Verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken several ways the Political Ancient Spiritual Oeconomical Natural First The Political Father the Magistrate He is the Father of his Countrey he is to be an Encourager of Vertue a Punisher of Vice a Father to the Widdow and Orphan Such a Father was Iob Chap. 29.16 I was a Father to the Poor and the Cause which I knew not I searched out And as Magistrates are Fathers so especially the King who is the Head of Magistrates is a Political Father He is placed as the Sun among the lesser Stars The Scripture calls Kings Fathers Isa. 49.23 Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers They are to nurse up their Subjects in Piety by their good Edicts and Examples and to nurse them up in Peace and Plenty Such nourishing Fathers were David Hezekiah Iosiah Constantine Theodosius It is happy for a People who have such nursing Fathers whose Breasts milk Comfort to their Children These Fathers are to be Honour'd For 1. Their Place deserves Honour God hath set these Political Fathers to preserve Order and Harmony in a Nation and to prevent those State-Convulsions which otherwise might ensue Iudg. 17.6 When there was no King in Israel every man did that which was right in his own Eyes A Wonder Prov. 30.27 2. God hath promoted Kings that they may promote Iustice. As they have a Sword in their Hand to signifie their Power so a Scepter an Emblem of Justice It is said of Marcus Aurelius Emperor That he allotted one Hour of the Day to hear the Complaints of such as were oppressed Kings place Judges as Cherubims about the Throne for distribution of Justice These Political Fathers are to be honoured Honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 And this Honour is to be shown by a Civil Respect to their Persons and a chearful Submission to their Laws so far as they agree and run parallel with God's Law Kings are to be Pray'd for which is a part of that Honour we give them 1 Tim. 2.1 I exhort that Supplications Prayers Intercessions be made for Kings that we may lead a quiet peaceable Life under them in all Godliness and Honesty We are to pray for Kings that God would honour them to be Blessings that under them we may enjoy the Gospel of Peace and the Peace of the Gospel How happy was the Reign of Numa Pompilius when the Swords were beaten into Plough-shares and the Bees made their Hives of the Soldiers Helmets Secondly There is the grave ancient Father who is Venerable for old Age whose Grey Hairs are resembled to the White Flowers of the Almond-tree Eccles. 12.5 These are Fathers for Seniority on whose wrinkled Brows and in the Furrows of whose Cheeks is pictur'd the Map of Old Age. These Fathers are to be honoured Levit. 19.32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary Head and honour the Face of the Old Man Especially those are to honoured who are Fathers not only for their Seniority but their Piety whose Souls are flourishing when their Bodies are a decaying 'T is a blessed sight to see the Spring of Grace in the Autumn of Old Age To see Men stooping towards the Grave yet going up the Hill of God To see them lose their Colour yet keep their Savour Such whose silver Hairs are crowned with Righteousness are worthy of double Honour They are to be honoured not only as Pieces of Antiquity but as Patterns of Vertue If you see an Old Man fearing God whose Grace shines brightest when the Sun of his Life is setting O honour him as a Father by reverencing and imitating him Thirdly There are Spiritual Fathers as Pastors and Ministers These are the Instruments of the New-Birth 1 Cor. 4.15 Tho you have Ten Thousand Instructors yet have ye not many Fathers for in Christ Iesus I have begotten you through the Gospel The Spiritual Fathers are to be honoured 1. In respect of their Office What-ever their Persons are their Office is honourable They are the Messengers of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2.7 They represent no less than God himself 2 Cor. 5.20 Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ. Jesus Christ was of this Calling he had his Mission and Sanction from Heaven Ioh. 8.18 And this Crowns the Ministerial Calling with Honour 2. Ministers these Spiritual Fathers are to be honoured for their Work sake they come like the Dove with an Olive-branch in their Mouth they preach glad Tidings of Peace Their Work is to save Souls Other Callings have only to do with Mens Bodies or Estates but the Ministers
Celebrate the Lord's Supper an Officer stood up and cried 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy things for Holy Men And then several of the Congregation were to depart I would have my Hand cut off saith Chrysostom rather than I would give Christ's Body and Blood to the Profane The wicked do not eat Christ's Flesh but tear it they do not drink his Blood but spill it These Holy Mysteries in the Sacraments are tremenda mysteria Mysteries that the Soul is to tremble at Sinners defile the Holy things of God they poyson the Sacramental Cup. We read that the wicked are to be set at Christ's Feet Psal. 110. not at his Table Quest. 7. How may we receive the Supper of the Lord worthily that so it may become effectual to us Resp. That we may receive it worthily and it may become Efficacious 1. We must solemnly prepare our selves before we come We must not rush upon the Ordinance rudely and irreverently but come in due order There was a great deal of Preparation to the Passover 2 Chron. 30.18 19. And the Sacrament comes in the room of it Quest. Wherein doth this Solemn Preparing for the Ordinance consist Resp. 1. In Examining our selves 2. In Dressing our Souls before we come which is by washing in the Water of Repentance 3. By exciting the Habit of Grace into Exercise 4. In begging a Blessing upon the Ordinance 1. Solemn Preparing for the Sacrament consists in Self-examining 1 Cor. 11.28 But let a Man examin himself and so let him eat It is not only a Counsel but a Charge Let him examin himself As if a King should say Let it be enacted Jesus Christ having by his Institution consecrated these Elements in the Supper to an high Mystery they represent his Body and Blood Therefore there must be Preparation and if Preparation then there must be first Examining our selves without which there can be no Preparation Let us be serious in this examining our selves our Salvation depends upon it We are curious in examining other things We will not take Gold but examine it by the Touch-stone We will not take Land but we will examine the Title And shall not we be as exact and curious in examining the state of our Souls Quest. 1. What is required to this Self-examining Resp. There must be a Solemn Retiring of the Soul We must set our selves apart and retire for some time from all Secular Employment that we may be more serious in this Work There is no casting up of Accounts in a Crowd nor can we examin our selves when we are in a Crowd of Worldly Businesses We read a Man that was in a Iourney might not come to the Passover Numb 9.13 because his Mind was full of Secular Cares and his Thoughts were taken up about his Journey When we are upon Self-examining-work we had not need be in an Hurry or have any distracting Thoughts but retire and lock up our selves in our Closet that we may be more intent in the Work Quest. 2. What is Self-examination Resp. It is a setting up a Court in Conscience and keeping a Register there that by a strict Scrutiny a Man may see how Matters stand between God and his Soul Self-examination is a Spiritual Inquisition an Heart-Anatomy whereby a Man takes his Heart as a Watch all in pieces and sees what is defective there It is a Dialogue with ones self Psal. 77.7 I commune with my own Heart David call'd himself to Account and put Interrogatories to his own Heart Self-examining is a critical Descant or Search as the Woman in the Parable did light a Candle and search for her lost Groat Luke 15.8 So Conscience is the Candle of tâ—â— Lord. Search with this Candle what thou canst find wrought by the Spirit in thee Quest. 3. What is the Rule by which we must Examine our selves Resp. The Rule or Measure we must Examine our selves by is the Holy Scripture We must not make Fancy or the good Opinion which others have of us the Rule by which we judge of our selves But as the Goldsmith brings his Gold to the Touch-stone so must we bring our Hearts to a Scripture Touch-stone To the Law to the Testimony Isa. 8.20 What saith the Word Are we divorced from Sin Are we renewed by the Spirit Let the Word decide whether we are fit Communicants or no. We judge of Colours by the Sun so must we judge of the state of our Souls by the Sun-light of Scripture Quest. 4. What are the cogent Reasons why we must Examine our selves before we approach to the Lord's Table Resp. 1. It is a Duty imposed Let him examine himself The Passover was not to be eaten Raw Exod. 12.19 To come to such an Ordinance slightly without Examination is to come in an undue manner and is like Eating the Passover Raw. 2. We must examine our selves before we come because it is not only a Duty imposed but opposed There is nothing the Heart naturally is more averse from than Self-exemination We may know that Duty is good which the Heart opposeth But why doth the Heart so oppose it Because it doth cross the Tide of Corrupt Nature 't is contrary to Flesh and Blood The Heart is guilty and doth a guilty Person love to be examined The Heart opposeth it therefore the rather set upon it That Duty is good which the Heart opposeth 3. Because Self-examining is so needful a Work as appears 1. Without Self-examination a Man can never tell how it is with him whether he hath Grace or no and this must needs be very uncomfortable He knows not if he should die presently what will become of him or to what Coast he shall sail whether to Hell or Heaven As Socrates said I am about to die and the gods know whether I shall be happy or miserable How needful therefore is Self-examination that a Man by Search may come to know the true state of his Soul and may guess how it will go with him to Eternity 2. Self-examination is needful in respect of the Excellency of the Sacrament Let him eat de illo Pane Of that Bread 1 Cor. 11.28 That excellent Bread that consecrated Bread that Bread which is not only the Bread of the Lord but the Bread the Lord. Let him drink de illo Poculo Of that Cup that precious Cup which is perfum'd and spic'd with Christ's Love that Cup which holds the Blood of God Sacramentally Cleopatra put a Jewel in a Cup which contained the price of a Kingdom This Sacred Cup we are to drink of enriched with the Blood of God is above the Price of a Kingdom It is more worth than Heaven Therefore coming to such a Royal Feast having whole Christ his Divine and Humane Nature to feed on how should we examine our selves before-hand that we may be fit Guests for such a Magnificent Banquet 3. Self-examining is needful because God will examine us That was a sad Question Matth. 22.12 Friend how camest thou in hither
because he hath bound himself by promise to forgive an humble Confessor of sin Cum accusat excusat Tertull. When we accuse our selves God absolves us We are apt to hide our sins Iob 31.33 which is as great a folly as for one to hide his disease from the Physitian But when we open our sins to God by Confessing he opens his Mercy to us by Forgiving 4. Means for pardon sound Repentance Repentance and Remission are put together Luk. 24 47. There is a Promise of a Fountain Opened for the washing away the guilt of sin Zach. 13.1 But see what goes before Zac. 12.10 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced and shall mourn for him Isa. 1.16 Wash ye make ye clean that is wash in the waters of Repentance and then follows a promise of Forgiveness Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow 'T is easie to turn white into scarlet but not so easie to turn scarlet into white yet upon Repentance God hath promised to make the scarlet-sinner of a Milk-like whiteness Caut Not that Repentance merits pardon but it prepares for it We set our Seal on the Wax when it melts God seals his pardons on melting hearts 5. Means Faith in the blood of Christ. It 's Christ's blood washeth away sin Rev. 1.6 but this blood will not wash away sin unless it be apply'd by Faith The Apostle speaks of the Sprinkling of the blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1.2 Many are not pardoned though Christ's blood be shed because it is not sprinkled Now it is Faith that sprinkles Christ's blood on the Soul for the Remission of sin As Thomas put his hands into Christ's sides Ioh. 20 27. So Faith puts its hand into Christ's wounds and takes of the blood and sprinkles it upon the Conscience for the washing away of guilt Hence in Scripture we are said to obtain pardon through Faith Act. 13.39 By him all that believe are justified Luk. 7.48 Thy sins are forgiven Whence was this Vers. 50. Thy faith hath saved thee O let us labour for Faith Christ is a Propitiation or Atonement to take away sin But how through Faith in his blood Rom 3.25 6. Means Pray much for Pardon Hos. 14.2 Take away all iniquity Luk. 18.13 The Publican smote upon his breast saying God be me merciful to me a sinner and the Text saith he went away justified Many pray for Health Riches Children but Christ hath taught us what to pray for chiefly remitte nobis debita nostra Forgive us our sins And be earnest Suitors for pardon Consider what guilt of sin is it binds one over to the Wrath of God Better thy House were haunted with Devils than thy Soul with guilt He who is in the bond of iniquity must needs be in the Gall of bitterness Acts 8.23 A guilty Soul wears Cain's Mark which was a Trembling at Heart and a Shaâ—â—ng in his Flesh. Guilt makes the sinner afraid lest every Trouble he meets with should Arrest him and bring him to Judgment If guilt be so dismal and breeds such Convulsion fits in the Conscience How earnest should we be in Prayer that God would remove this guilt and so earnest as to Resolve to take no denial Plead hard with God for Pardon as a Man would plead with a Judge for his Life Fall upon thy Knees say Lord hear one word Why may God say What canst thou say for thy self that thou shouldst not dye Lord I can say but little but I put in my surety Christ shall answer for me O look upon that blood which speaks better things than the blood of Abel Christ is my Priest his Blood is my Sacrifice his Divine Nature is my Altar As Rahab was to shew the Scarlet thread in the Window and when Ioshua saw it he did not destroy her Iosh. 2.18.21 Iosh. 6.22 23. So shew the Lord the Scarlet thread of Christs Blood and that is the way to have mercy But will God say why should I pardon thee thou hast no ways obliged me but Lord pardon me because thou hast promised it I urge thy Covenant when a Man is to dye by the Law he calls for his Book so say Lord let me have the benefit of my Book thy Word saith if the sinner forsake his evil way thou wilt pardon abundantly Isa. 55.7 Lord I have forsaken my sin let me therefore have mercy I plead the benefit of the Book But for whose sake should I pardon thou canst not deserve it Lord for thy own name sake thou hast said thou wilt blot out sin for thy own name sake Isa. 43.25 'T will be no Eclipsing to thy Crown how will thy mercy shine forth and all thy other Attributes ride in triumph if thou shalt pardon me Thus plead with God in Prayer and resolve not to give him over till thy pardon be sealed God cannot deny importunity He delights in Mercy as the Mother saith Chrysostom delights to have her Breast milked so God delights to Milk out the Breast of Mercy to the sinner these means being used will procure this great blessedness the Forgiveness of Sin Thus I have done with the first part of this fifth Petition Forgive us our Sins I come next to the second part of the Petition as we forgive our Debtors Mat. 6.12 As we forgive our Debtors or as we forgive them that trespass against us I proceed to the second part of the Petition As we forgive them that trespass against us As we forgive This word As is not a note of Equality but Similitude not that we equal God in forgiving but imitate him This great Duty of forgiving others is a crossing the stream 't is contrary to flesh and blood Men forget kindnesses but remember injuries But it is an indispensable duty to forgive we are not bound to trust an Enemy but we are bound to forgive him We are naturally prone to revenge Revenge saith Homer is sweet as dropping Honey The Heathen Philosophers held revenge lawful Vlcisci te lacessitus potes Cicero But we learn better things out of the Oracles of Scripture Mar. 11.25 when ye stand praying forgive Mat. 5.44 Col. 3.13 If a Man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye Quest. 1. How can we forgive others when it is only God forgives sin Answ. In every breach of the second Table there are two things an offence against God and a trespass against Man so far as it is an offence against God only he can forgive but so far as it is a trespass against Man so we may forgive Quest. 2. When do we forgive others Answ. When we strive against all thoughts of revenge if it be in our power to do our enemies mischief we will not we wish well to them grieve at their Calamities we pray for them we seek reconciliation with them we shew our selves ready on all occasions to relieve them this is Gospel forgiving Object 1. But I have been much injur'd