wrath Psalm 112.10 The wicked shall see and grieve and perish and melt away the desire or Hope of the wicked shall perish Such hopes are like dust or chaff fome or thin froth smoak that is soon dispersed or a Guest that stays but a day saith the wise man Eccles 5.14 Or like an unfaithful man in time of Trouble a broken tooth and a foot out of joynt Prov. 25.19 saith Solomon Ap. Should I bring these things down to our times when should I end and conclude this Subject For how many did hope that upon the death of the late King both Name and Thing King and King-ship hath been dead for ever and that either Anarchy or Tyranny Stratocracy or Oligarchy c. viz. the Rump should have domineered over us for ever And that King Kingdom Settlement or Free Parliament conducing thereto should never have appeared more Others had better hopes and now God hath decided the business You know the point from this helmet of salvation viz. Doct. A Christians hope of salvation is to him an helmet which he must take and make use in this spiritual Warfare This hath been explicated confirmed and applyed in part The first Use did reprove doubtful and despairful persons The second Those that hope in the Creature in humane inventions or in their own Merits And thirdly The vain hopes of evil men in and after vain or evil things Instances of which are innumerable 1. Balaam 2. Abimeleck 3. Ahab 4. Zimri 5. Athaliah 6. Sennacherib 7. Israel hoping in Egypt 8. Those Covenanters with death and hell And 9. Those Husbandmen in the Gospel who slew the Heir and did seize upon his inheritance hoping they had much advantaged themselves thereby Mat. 21. whereas indeed they utterly undid themselves by so doing as it is evident to this day 1600. years since These nine Instances were propounded unto you with a brief Application to these times and expression of the righteous Judgements of God against such sinful and ungodly hopes Thus far I have proceeded I do now descend to the Uses of Examination and Exhortation which you may conjoyn together for brevity sake The second and third Use of Examination and Exhortation is A Christians hope of salvation a helmet then try and examine your selves what Use you make of it You have heard it opened in the Causes and Effects of it c. 1. Now do you importune God much for this Grace of Hope he is the Donor of this and every perfect gift He is the Fountain of all good and to him we must have recourse 2. How do we cherish Faith the Root and Instrumental cause of this Faith is a principal grace as you have heard Then use all means to strengthen it and starve it not 3. Doth our hope of salvation make us act the more strenuously and vigorously For the 1. Glory of God from whom we expect salvation according to what we pray for Orat. Dom. Pet. 1. hollowed be thy Name Glorifie him in all things Ap. How can we hope for such honour from him whom we wilfully dishonour daily Be you exhorted and perswaded to mend what is amiss in this particular 2. And for our own Salvation in the way of it and in the pursuit of whatsoever may further the same Ap. These are the final causes and ends of your hope do you answer them 4. Hope it is Spes piorum and is appropriated only to the godly See that you be such these are the proper Bottles fit for such Wine The wicked have no hope being without God in the world Ephes 2.12 1 Thes 4.13 5. What are the Objects of our hope Is our hope fixed upon God Christ his Word and his Mercy Goodness and the manifold benefits Veniae Gratiae Gloriae of Pardon Grace and Glory the fruits of his Mercy and the streams of that fountain of living water For the Mercies of God fail not Ap. Do we esteem the fruition of these the greatest Blessings or is our hope set upon the world the pleasures profits and preferments of the same 1. Sensual and sinful pleasures are as much as some Epicuri de grege porci Epicures and others do hope for 2. With others Gold is their hope and gain their godliness Job 31.24 He did not so And Mammon their God Mat. 6.24 3. And the Glory Pomp and Preferment of this world have caused many to fall down and worship the God of this world This our Saviour refused 6. How are our minds prepared 1 Pet. 1.13 and our lives purified 1 John 3.3.1 To entertain such a perseverance as is required of us viz To hold fast our confidence and rejoycing of hope firm and stedfast unto the end Heb. 3.6 14. And 2. Such a full assurance of Hope unto the end as is expected and desired by us Heb. 6.11 which must be accomplished by diligence Faith and Patience not slothfulness Ap. We must be at pains to reach this Assurance and great diligence must be used to keep it free and full without anxiety and doubting Let this be your work 7. What effects have this our hope of salvation wrought and produced in us Are we hereby taught to be more heavenly minded Are our hearts there where our hopes are And are we more conformable to heavenly conditions and qualifications there is perfect Peace Vnity Amity Love and Concord all in agreement and one God and Father over all who is infinitely good Ap. But we on earth have had many Masters none of the best and amongst our selves are full of Fractions and divisions Machiavels wicked rule hath had great power influence and prevalence with us for many years viz. Divide impera which hath been mightily acted by a Jesuited party Divide and Rule We have more resembled a wilderness of Bears and Lions Wolves and Tigers rather then a Paradise of God a place of peace where the Lion and the Lamb lye down in peace together Isa 11.6 to 10. and 65.25 We have broken one anothers heads and hands and hearts and Estates and how all things have suited with this Helmet of Salvation I leave to wise experienced Christians to determine Tantaene animis coelestibus Irae Great anger among heavenly minds was strange to Heathens The good Lord mend it now among Christians 2. How much more humble are we then formerly This is a valley of grace Capsula virtutum a Cabinet of vertues the first step to heaven to which God gives his grace and then adds Exaltation Ap. Yet how few have and embrace this 3. How much Self-denial all in reference to the things of this world hath this hope wrought in us Who denys himself the more in respect of dishonest gain Or willingly restores things unlawfully gotten We hope for heaven yet we would willingly hold the worst gotten goods on earth Ap. How these things suit I know not 4. What Patience upon earth in bearing Afflictions and Injuries Hath our hope of heaven wrought in us 5. And lastly What
have been of God 2 Cor. 1.4 as the Apostle did in time of his Troubles And the more we do in this kind to others the more ability we have to do so still He that faithfully useth the graces of God shall have them increased whereas in other things The more we spend the less we have till all be gone Money and Goods and Lands and great Estates may soon be spent by use or gift liberality or prodigality bounty or magnificence c. But here it is otherwise The more free and liberral any man is of his Graces in a right use of them The more his stock increases and the richer he is in a spiritual endowment the more he gives the more he gains till he be filled brim-full with the fulness of God in everlasting glory Thus much of the fourth help to proficiency viz. Exercisese 5. The last help to proficiency is guod society make use of it for a man either is or is like to be such an one as his Companions are A man is much bettered or worsed by company For the words of the wise are as nails and goads Eccles And do minister grace to the hearers Ephesians c. 4.29 E Contra the language of evil company is like an open Sepulchre and the poyson of Asps full of filthiness and deadly poyson so is the discourse of such full of blasphemies against God of Reproaches and railing at men not of their mind and as contagiously infectious as the poyson of Alps For which there is no remedy but cutting of Rom. 3.13 So here the only remedy is cutting off such company from us or such dangerous tongues in our Saviours sense Mat. 18.8 least being incurably infected we perishby the poyson of it Naturalists observe That the Stag or Hart and the Serpent the Wolves and Sheep cannot agree and Vines and Coleworths can never grow together and so it is with good men when mixt with ill company there can be no agreement e contra Vines and Olives the Fig-tree and Rue or Herb-grace planted at his root yea Lilies and Roses are much the more fragrant if Garlick be planted by them so wise and hot Christians will do And the Lizard loves a man so well that he preserves him from the Serpent so will a good companion do Bad acquaintance cannot be avoided But bad Familiars may Let this be our practise and prosper vid. Keck 1. Tom. p. 1388. c. Magir. p. 206 207. From this last particular in this verse you have heard the main end of all our preaching and your learning viz. That increasing in grace and abounding in good works is a Christians excellency as well as it is his duty This point hath been proved and confirmed to you at large The Uses were of Lamentation Reproof Exhortation Examination and Consolation The three first of these are dispatcht already The two last remains so that I am now upon the fourth viz. Of Examination Use 4. The fourth Use is of Examination which puts us upon the Trial whether we do increase and abound as we ought to do and for the better effecting of this tryal and our more certainty therein forasmuch as we are fallen upon the Scripture-allegory which doth often compare the faithful to the Trees of the garden of God as the Vires Palms and Cedars c. let me give you a tast of your tryal from some signs which do appear in Trees whether they do thrive and prosper or not which signs do arise from the Root Body Bark Branch Fruit and Stature of such Trees 1. The Root The Tree firmly rooted grows amain and prospers Oh that this were our case this is that which the Apostle prays for heartily and perswades to seriously Ephes 3.16 to 20. and Col. 2.6 7. viz. That they may be strengthned well rooted and firmly established in the faith able to comprehend c. So were most of the Martyrs and Professors of Jesus in all ages these could stand in a storm and abide terrible blasts Neither Persecuters nor Seducers could pluck them up by the roots Such were some of the Churches of Asia viz. Smyrna Thyatira and Philadelphia Rev. 2.8 18. 3.7 yet had they Persecutors Seducers c. To try what they could do This is the drist of the Ministry Ephes 4.13 to 17. That we may become perfect men no more children tossed to and fro and carried about c. But speaking the truth might grow up in Christ in all things Now that you may be sure that you are well rooted look what faith you have for Faith is a root which in a well grown Christian is very strong it sendeth forth its suckers to the Rivers The waters of life which bring in supply and do enable us to 1. Great obedience as in Abraham offering up Isaac Gen. 22. The rich in Faith are so in good works This Root yields abundance of good fruit The poor of this world that are rich in faith are chosen of God and Heirs of the kingdom promised by him Jam. 2.5 The rich in this world that have learned not to be high-minded nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God c. And to do good to be rich in good works These lay a good foundation for the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. Poor Lazarus and rich Abraham both being rich in Faith do enjoy the same Glory with God this is a good root that sends up its branches and fruit as high as heaven this faith doth perform 2. Great Conquests over sin and great corruptions The Faith of Miracles could remove Mountains so can this For by faith we do resist the Devil 1 Pet. 5.8 9. And put him to flight Jam. 4.7 3. To stand against great discouragement as Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him and that woman of Canaan Mat. 15.22 to 29. Who by faith still waited upon Christ against the discouragement of his not being sent to such and terming her a Dog 4. And in great dangers A good man shall not be moved for ever nor be afraid of evil tidings His heart is fixed c. Psalm 112.6 7. And our Saviour adviseth viseth us John 14.1 2 3. Let not your hearts be troubled Why Mark their belief in God believe also in me and heavenly Mansions are prepared for you and you shall be with me Thus Faith is a blessed root the Tree so rooted shall prosper And concerning this we all had need to pray with him in the Go pel Mark 9.24 And that with tears saying Lord I believe help thou my unbelief thus Faith is the Christians root producing Obedience Courage Patience and Peserverance 2. Body Look upon the body of a Tree and Judge of its proficiency so upon the grace and strength of a Christian In a tree that is now become Timber fit to be a Pillar a principle beam in the building which was but a Twig c. In Corn
Devil c. and so it is used in the Text. 4. Divine and so God himself is a Shield to the godly To protect them as Gen. 15.1 to Abraham Deut. 33.29 To Israel Psalm 3.3 and 84.9 11. To David and to all that walk uprightly 3. Of Faith This is the main grace the suctject of the Text here compared to a Shield Of which I shall speak at large as I handle the main Doctrine of this Verse 4. Wherewith ye shall be able to quench i.e. not only to repel and keep off but also to extinguish and utterly to destroy all their venemous power of hurting you 5. All the fiery darts that is all the Temptations of the Devil whereby he doth provoke us to sin against which we pray in the Lords Prayer And these are said to be fiery darts and destructive because if admitted once and allowed of they do easily kindle the heart to multitudes of sins which like links in a chain draw in one another successively and here we might observe by the way Doct. Satan hath his fiery darts to do us mischief with Quest If any do enquire what these fiery darts are I answer Answ Concupiscence and evil Lusts which do kindle the soul with Covetousness Ambition Self-seeking Revenge c. As also all Incentives to sin and dangerous temptations of incredulity distrust despair all which I may meet with in the main point and now pass them 6. Of the wicked or that wicked one i. e. of Satan and his instruments wicked men habits of sin corruption of heart c. These things premised and the Text thus explained it doth afford us Doct. Faith is a Christians Shield or Buckler to withstand repel and extinguish all the fiery darts and destructive temptations and seducements of the Devil Ergo we are commanded to resist him herewith and we have a promise of Conquest for he will flee if we give no place to him So also for the world This is the Victory c. and this we may the more easily be perswaded of if we consider 1. The promises of God made to Believers which are abundant 2. The Grace of Faith this Shield in it self which is evidence of our sonship union to Christ as the Anchor c. to the Root Foundation Head 3. That it justifieth us by possessing us of Christ of his Riches and Merits Rom. 3.28 and 5.1 as in marriage a woman possessing the mans means and here you are to consider what Justification is and how by faith we do obtain it Of which see my Notes at large on Rom. 13.11 only thus here Justification is an act of Gods imputing Christs Righteousness to a believing sinner absolving him from sin accepting him as righteous in Christ and as an Heir of Eternal life Bishop Downam de Just l. 2.1 Papists make Justification Justification and so confound Justification and Sanctification whereas the Hebrew Hitzdik and the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are verba forensia judicial words taken from Courts of Justice and do not signifie to make just but to absolve See Proverbs 17.15 Isa 5 23. Marzdik Rom. 3.24 26 28 30. By Faith in Christ only we are justified we exclude not God the Author nor the Holy Ghost and Ministers the Workers nor good Works the evidence of Justification But that as the matter nothing but Christ and his Righteousness which is the Object of Faith doth justifie Ergo we say Fides sola justificat oculus solus vidit as the only instruments to apprehend the Object but not Solitaria solo is joyn'd with the Predicat justificat solus sed non separatus ab anima cerebro c. 4. Faith gives Assurance Heb. 10.22 as to Job David Hezekiah Paul where yet note that the 1 Acts of Faith are 1. Direct 2. Reflect 2. Courts in which Pardon is sealed 1. In Heaven 2. In Conscience 3 Assurance is either of 1. Adherence 2. In Evidence 5 Faith sanctifieth and purifieth the heart Acts 15.9 Purifie c. Gal. 2.20 Christs lives in us Col. 2.12 Risen with Christ by faith An heavenly Conversation here is a good evidence of a heavenly condition hereafter as the Spirit put into upon Saul David Jehu were a good earnest of the future dignity of a Kingdom which befel them 6. And lastly Faith is an evidence of heaven and all good hoped for Heb. 11.1 Hab. 2.4 Ephes 2.8 Ye are saved 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls Ap Now sum up all these together and apply them to the point then that Faith this Shield by which we have Son-ship Union with Christ Justification Assurance Sanctification and Salvation doth evidently conclude a full and final Conquest over all the fiery darts and destructive temptations of the wicked and so you may add them all as an Illustration of the Reason annexed in this Text-in the praise of this Faith drawn from the admirable and wonderful effects of the same viz. In quenching all the fiery darts Quest If any ask how these darts can be thus quenched I answer Answ By Faith I have interest into all the promises of God to Believers I am his Son I have Union with Christ am justified by his Righteousness have Assurance of his Favour am sanctified by his Grace and have evidence of heaven and final Salvation Now apply these to any Dart or Temptation and resist them with these and say to Satan c. Should I yield to be or do what thou suggest to defile and undo my self with wicked lustss forfeit all my honour and happiness for thy transitory pleasures profits and preferments And say in this case as the Lord Jesus our Saviour said to the Devil upon his great proffer of the power and glory of all the Kingdoms of the world Mat. 4.10 Luke 4.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Abi abscede retro me Satana Arias Montan. Get thee hence depart avoid be gone I defie thee in such a case as this then draw the sword of the Spirit upon him and adjoyn Supplications and Prayer to God to defend thee and to subdue him under thy feet Ap. Thus resist and he will flee and thou shalt conquer Thus you see how you may improve this Shield of Faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked in every kind I have done with the proof of the point I do now descend to Use Uses of this point are of Reproof Examination and Comfort I. The first Use is of Reproof and Terrour to all that want this shield or neglect it either in defect or excess either by Unbelief or Presumption 1. Vnbelief is a sin against Faith in the way of defect and Vnbelievers are such as either know not the Word of God through ignorance and want of the means of Faith as Pagans Psalm 147.19 20. which yet excuseth them not but a tanto John 15.22 Or Obstinacy and Wilfulness against means as many Christians 2 Pet. 3.5 And this is the mother of Errours and