THE PARABLE OF THE Ten Virgins OPENED APPLIED Being the Substance of divers SERMONS on Matth. 25. 1 13. Wherein the Difference between the Sincere Christian and the most Refined Hypocrite the Nature and Characters of Saving and of Common Grace the Dangers and Diseases incident to most flourishing Churches or Christians and other Spiritual TRUTHS of greatest importance are clearly discovered and practically Improved BY THOMAS SHEPARD late Worthy and Faithfull Pastor of the Church of Christ at Cambridge in NEW-ENGLAND Now Published from the Authours own Notes at the desires of many for the common Benefit of the Lords people BY Ionathan Mitchell Minister at Cambridge in NEW ENGLAND The Shepard Son to the Reverend Author now Minister at Charles-Town in NEW ENGLAND LUKE 21. 36. Watch ye therefore and pray alwaies that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to passe and to stand before the Son of man LONDON Printed by I. Hayes for Iohn Rothwell at the Sign of the Fountain in Gold smiths-Row in Cheap-side 1660. TO THE READER And Especially to the Inhabitants of CAMBRIDGE IN NEW-ENGLAND THat to make sure of Life Eternal is the one necessary Businesse that we Sons of death have to do in this world and without which all our time here is worse than lost every enlightned mind will easily acknowledge This present life being by the Rule of it appointed but to this end to be preparation-time spent in a continual care to make ready that we might have a good meeting with him who shall be seen in this Aire one day And whether we look up to Heaven or down to Hell whether we reflect upon our own immortal souls or turn our eyes toward the Greatnesse and Goodnesse of that God in Christ with whom we have to do whether we pace over the time between this and Judgment-day or send our thoughts to view the Eternity that is to follow after All things put a Necessity a Solemnity a Glory upon this work But Difficilia quae Pulchra It is one of the Oracles uttered by our Lord with his own mouth Strait is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few there be that find it It is not so easie a thing to get to Heaven nor so broad a way thither as the slight and loose Opinions of some and Practises of more would make it nor as the carnal hearts of all would have it Though thâ—t if it be examined is the common Scope of all Erroneous Conceits and how restlesly have the corrupt minds of men laboured therein in all ages and do in these our daies to widen the way to Life to break down the Boundaries of this narrow Path and make it broader than ever God made it Mans carnal heart finds it self pinioned and straitned in the way the good old way of effectual Faith and obedience that God hath laid out hence it breaks out on this hand and on that and will rather pluck up the ancient Land-marks of Gods Truth than not make it broader The Gospel will not afford men a way broad enough unlesse the Law be quite removed not only as a Covenant but as a commanding Rule of Life too and laid flat like an old Hedge that they may go over it at pleasure and not attend it any further than their spirit listeth Justification by Faith is too narrow a path unlesse they may be justified before and without Faith it is not free enough they complain of it as if it laid them under a Covenant of works Conditional Promises are of too straight a size they must be all absolute and give us peace without any qualification in us or else they are not large enough To be solicitous about Sanctification and inherent Grace is too troublesom to seek God diligently in the use of all means in a daily and hearty performance of holy Duties in a strict Sanctifying of Sabbaths in constant watchfulnesse c. this must be laid by as a Legal Businesse And if the Spirit immediatly will act us and carry us in a Bed of ease to Heaven without troubling us to act and strive well and good otherwise men will shake hands with the power of Godlinesse and run a drift before their own Corruptions But when all Stones are turned the way to Heaven is and will be found to be a straight way Truth hath said it is so God hath laid it out so and it is not all the Notions of men that will make it otherwise And hence those solemn Counsels of the Scripture Work out your salvation with fear and trembling Give all diligence to make all sure Strâ—ve to enter in at the Straight Gate So run that you may obtain c. though they be little attended by the loosenesse of these times yet they are of endlesse Moment and use and had need be awfully regarded by all that love their everlasting peace He therefore that is in earnest about this great businesse will be glad of any good help to guide him in this way this straight way to Life And though there be many choice helps herein already extant in the precious Labours of sundry of the Lords Faithful Servants for which this Age hath cause on bended Knees to blesse the Lord and which will be such a testimony against the wantonnesse thereof as it will never be able to answer Yet of those that do clearly particularly livelily and searchingly discover and mark out this straight way with the several practical turns thereof and shew where they that miss of the end at last do turn out of it although they go far therein of those that Pilot us when we come into the narrow Channel unto the very point of entrance into life and shew us the Rocks and Shoals on either hand distinctly of these I say there is not too great a number For to speak any good and useful Truths is good and commendable but yet it is another and a further matter to hold the Candle to the poor people of God even to the meanest to light them to Heaven or to take the soul by the hand and lead if from step to step through all the difficulties deceits and turnings at which the closest Hypocrites do misse their way and lose themselves and to do this so convincingly throughly and distinctly as that the secrets of hearts may be made manifest the secure self-deceiver discovered and awakened and yet the humble upright Christian confirmed and encouraged In this Skill and Work as the Author of the following Sermous was known to be among the first Three so these Lectures of his up on the Parable of the Virgins have been esteemed to excel in this kind having left such a relish upon the Hearers as that they have not forgotten the Taâ—t of them to this day It hath therefore been the instant desire of many that heard them and of some that have but heard of them that they might be imparted to the
be called for out of the Word it is a way of works almost flat Popery in their books If Ministers have had the Spirit burning within them seeing people led from the truth and so speak against them that deceive them 't is passion and bitterness if they have sought to keep the hearts of Gods people close one to another the strong man then keeps the palace What should I name all Quest. But for what is it that they are thus sâ—andalized Ans. 1. For preaching that we are justified by Faith and that Faith is required to the entertainment of Christ as a condition of the Gospel here is not bread say men 2. For preaching that Sanctification is an evidence of Justification and though it be granted the Lord never justified any without a work of vocation at least and this is not against Gods Grace to justifie by Faith yet it is against Grace and 't is a way of works say some to see my self justified by Faith If the Word did reveal a second Justification by Faith and a first Justification without Faith then our first evidence might be without sight of Faith because there is some word which reveals our being Justified without it But the Word reveals all our Justification to be by Faith and thus for preaching the Gospel of Christ have the Servants of the Lord been reproached And though they keep it in yet how many are there whose hearts go after these detestable things 3. Some resist the Spirit by despising inwardly and so casting off the Word of the Lord Heb. 2. 2 3. if we neglect or slight so great salvation and when was the Gospel more slighted by many every thing we say is dear but Gospel which should make us mourn that ever it should be said so in this Country you despise the Spirit of God a man of greatness suffers by nothing so much as by contempt so it is with the Spirit of Grace And it is a thousand to one but that there will be something to make them despise at last the Lord himself But the Word comes thus to be despised and cast off SECT IX First PArtly by the false reports of others as if they were factious disturbers of peace men under a Covenant of Works c. It is the Jesuites policy to raise up lyes and though all will not beleive them yet some will stick Secondly Partly by covetousness the glory of the things of this world is greater than the glory of the Gospel tell them of living by Faith and Promises they deride you in their hearts tell them of a Kingdom and the excellency of holiness they slight them to be so rich and honored it is glorious indeed Luke 16. 14. The Pharisees scorned him because they were covetous Thirdly Sometime because Ministers and Ministry are Bills of charges to a congregation and are too costly inhabitants among them Fourthly Partly because of ignorance of the truth why was Paul's Ministry foolishness it was a mystery so many come and understand not the truths preached they be too high points for them to conceive of let truth be never so precious they esteem it not because they know it not Fifthly Partly because they have known all that our Ministers do preach before which is now like flowers and roses withering which were flourishing heretofore Capernaum despiseth that which Sodom would not and Tyreâ— and Sidon would have repented at and say They can do as well themselves as this and better Sixthly Partly because Ministers are so long at it and that may be delivered in one hour which is stood upon an hour and half and they wonder men preach so little and yet so long which argues contempt and that every truth is not precious Men cry not out of men when they are telling money to them many hours and yet this is more precious Eutychus grows sleepy thank Paul for preaching so long and falls down thank long Sermons for that This is the sinful language of some Seventhly Because they cannot profit by them hence when they should mourn for themselves they despise the truth of the Lord Mic. 2. 7. are not my words good to him that walks uprightly Eighthly Because some have weaker gifts than others And thus I say the Ministry of the Lord and his Spirit is despised Mat. 18. 8. Take heed you despise not little ones for Angels behold them Oh what is it then to despise the Spirit himself And thus I say the Spirit of God is resâ—sted go home therefore and mourn and consider 1. The time is already set the Spirit will not alway strive and time may come that it will go from you and never return to you more 2. Fire will come out of their mouthes Rev. 11. 5. 3. The Ministry shall be taken from you and your children Act. 13. 46. 4. The Spirit it self shall torment you Isa. 63. 10. SECT X. OF Exhortation Oh therefore if ever you would have the Spirit dispensed to you wait here upon the Ministry of the Gospel for it neglect not private helps books and meditations c. but know if ever you have it dispensed here it is chiefly to be had buy at this shop Do you not find parched dryed up hearts the Spirit of God is gone from men and this verily is the cause of it what consolations what peace what glory from the Spirit of all comfort of peace and glory might men have but for this Obj. But I may never get this Spirit Ans. Yes Heaâ— and your souls shall live Isa. 55. 3. for to reprobates the Lord never gives an ear what a comfort is this you cannot help your selves to look to Christ to come to Christ hear him then when he is come to thee Rom. 11. 7 8. he hath given them ears not to hear and usually the first work of the Spirit in the soul is to give an ear the Lord awakens that to 〈◊〉 that never regarded any thing before and then something enters first or â—ast SECT XI Quest. HOw shall I so hear as to receive the Spirit Answ. 1. Get a deep sence of your wants particularly and distinctly before you come if a man comes to the Market and 〈…〉 his Family wants he will never come and buy of them that sell a poor man if he comes into a rich shop hath a mind to buy all the commodities he sees if he had money but if it may be had without money he will take them gladly Matth. 11. The poor receive the Gospel I am perswaded that this is the great cause why scarce any buy here they know not their need of every truth hence Isa. 50. 4. He hath given me the tongue of the learned to preach a Word in season to the weary the Lord will do it in season when the heart is weary of its own deceit and ignorance and all carnal contents and blessings and sins now the Lord Jesus must speak at last let a people be more weary of outward
been Imitators and Apeâ— of God to forge and make Grace like true Grace hence deceived This being pleasing to men is the practice of most men yea all men out of Christ. And this is one great part of the inward secret subtil spiritual whoredom of the soul. Thus men may force sorrow when yet there is little true sorrow and so in other cases SECT VII THat all these works though good in themselves yet are most vile before the Lord as Christ speaks of the Pharisees Its abomination in the sight of God which is glorious before man Luke 16. 15. 1. Because hereby the soul deprives Christ of the end of his coming for all men having lost the stock and power to live the Lord hence will trust no man with it again hence puts it into a surer and better hand that thither poor blind dead creatures might fly for life when they are there live there like â—ees on their hony Iohn 6. 27. 17. 23. He might never have looked after you and will you despise him now What folly and unkindnesse is this that when your pits are dry and bottles empty and souls miserable here you will not I do not say sip when water runs by your door but not live 2. Because whatever comeâ— from self it s ever for self A man can do nothing from himself but his last end is self As 't is with water-works they rise no higher than the spring Gen. 11. 4. This Babel I have built Dan. 4. 30. And a man that hath but common Grace look as by vertue of that Grace or gift of God he may act for God because it came from God so nature and sin being moâ—e powerful than that Grace hence he never so acts for God but in the last place acts for it self as in Iehu And so a man makes himself his own Goâ— 3. Because whatever a man doth from himself he will grow proud of it Rom. 4. Not of works lest any man should boast Hence Iâ—ab sent to David to take the City that he might have the Crown This robs Christ of the Glory 4. Because whatever work is not done by vertue of the Lord Jesus is a dead work which a living God and a living Christ and a living Spirit loâ—th Heb. 9. 14. Sprinkle your Consciences from dead works Deadly works are sins dead works are good works done but not from the principle of the life of Faith but life of Nature Now as Conscience is the principle of the life of Nature So Christ is the principle of a Christian life Col. 3. 1 Iohn 5. 10 11 12. For 't is not sanctification that is the principle of life but the life it self that flows from it as from union of soul and body the soul is not the life but the principle of it hence as soon as it s out the body is dead So c. And do you not find it thus whenas you do many duties how tedious wearison are they yet must be done this is a dead work What comfort what peace is there when you have done them because not from life 5. Because what come from self comes from all sin 't is dipt and dyed and tainted and poysoned with all sin in a manner Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean 6. Because when a man will act from himself and not suffer Christ to act for him he will not have Christ to reign over him he puâ—â— down the Kingdom of God that should be within him For when a man professeth Christ is King of his Church he is now a King in name When a man feels an impossibility to rule himself and hence desireth and chuseth Christ to rule now Christ is a King by choice When the soul after this choice depends on Christ for what he chose him for and the Lord works now Christ is a King indeed Now if you will not have the Lord to reign over you you will be found enemies to the Lords Kingdom SECT V. HEnce it will follow The soul is to act wholly and only from the Lord Iesus Christ and whatever fruits of love it shows to Christ to bring them forth from Christ. Which doth not only concern them that never yet knew Christ and yet pride up themselves in what they have and do but those that be in Christ in a special manner For Iohn 15. 2. Every Branch in me that brings not forth fruit 'T is not meant of one indeed in Christ for he shall bring forth fruit but every branch i. e. by outward profession so that it brings not forth fruit but appears fair and deceives man God will cast away And without me even ye Disciples can do nothing 1. How is the soul to act from Christ only when it hath life especially the elect 2. By what means may this be done to get and keep this chastity First How is the soul to act from Christ alone when there is sanctification within 1. If the soul feel no power to act from Grace received as Saints somtimes do either after Gods deserting them or their forsaking God long or after some hardning sin then 't is clear the soul in this case is though not in a way of carelesseness to depend upon the Lord Jesus that he would quicken and help As David after his grosse fall Lord create in me a clean heart And Isa. 63. 17. Why hast thou hardned our hearts from thy fear Oh return In this case the soul is not to bring the soul to God but God to the soul. As many a Christian cannot prize not love the Lord not his waies he is not to say I will bring my soul and oâ—fer it to him but look to the Lord that he would raise up my dead affections again As the Centurion of his Servant Speak the word c. Christ marveiled at his Faith Men think when they feel nothing that they must and can work it out and hence comes one of these three things 1. Either the soul cannot love Christ when it sees such Lawes it cannot submit to And hence a Christian once said to me If the least thing was left for me to do of my self I could not love Christ but now that when brought low and can do nothing he brings all the help we need This makes the Spouse go to the bosom of her Husband Psal. 116. 6 7. Or else 2. It cannot do it for corruption in a Saint is too hard for his Grace I am but a child and thy people many 1 Kings 3. 7. Hence he must be strong in the Lord. Or 3. If it do it never hath any peace in what it doth the duties never so well done Whereas otherwise the poorest duty done from Christ witnesse Heb. 11. 4 5. as a child begoâ— of the Father he will own but other children not If any poor tired heart that heaâ—s me this day thou hast been making thy Brick and promises and vowes will not help
dead weak 2. But you will say all the world want it and yet few in the world shall ever have any share there therefore all them in the world that hunger after all that good that is in him they may now in the absence of it content themselves with it that there 't is in him for them for the Lord fills the hungry and so hungry as 't is not something or other that they pick out but all Christ and all of that is in Christ now is the season to eat if bread and hunger meet now satisfie your self 2 Cor. 12. 9. Paul prayed and the Lord denyed yet now the Lord bid him feed on his Grace so that when thy heart asks what hast thou to do with him when so vile answer Yet the Lord hath all and I want him and hunger after him Take heed of despising his Grace if thou hast no hunger the Lord be merciful to thee 3. If you have so contented your selves with him as now you place all your felicity in him to this end to receive life from him as a man satisfies himself with bread that he may have life for as I would not damp the Faâ—th of the Elect no more would I patronize the sloth of the wicked Many a man it may be may say I have nothing in my self and all is in Christ and comfort himself there and so fall asleep hands off and touch not this Ark lest the Lord slay thee a christ of clouts would serve your turn as well Run not to this Temple to make it a Denn of your thievish heart no do you so content or will you so content your selves with him as to account your selves happy here that all the world is Dung in respect of this and this you do to suck and receive more from Christ and so to be like him now hold here and live here and rejoyce here for ever Phil. 3. 9 10 11. Isai. 12. 2 3. First The Lord is my Song and Salvation therefore we will draw hence if the Lord gives nothing yet I have it in him if he gives any thing the honour shall be given to him Oh take this course 1. Lest you lose Christ and all too 2. Lest the Lord ever keep you short in a complaining condition 3. That you may be every day and moment in Heaven and win the Crown from every Hypocrite who knows not what this life in Christ means 4. That the Lord may be your glory for he is not only the glory of God but of his people Israel too 5. That you may love your selves the lesse and the Lord the more SECT V. HEnce see a necessity of seeing knowing Christ before a man can believe or if ever the soul believe for if Faith closeth with the person of the Lord Jesus the same Faith must first see that person If it takes the Bride-groom himself it must see and know him first Did you ever see any espoused together that did not first see and know each other the eye must first see my meaning is there must precede this act of the understanding to see Christ before a man can close with Christ by his will for I aim not at this whether it goes before in time but in order of nature it does precede and absolutely necessary it is hence Iohn 6. 40. He that seeth and believeth in the Son hath eternal life this is so necessary to Faith that Faith it self puts on this name Isai. 53. 11. By his knowledg Luke 19. 41. Oh that thou hadst known Isai. 46. 22. Look unto me and be saved And hence unbelief in Scripture is exprest by being blinded Rom. 11. 7 8. for though Christ be absent from us on earth yet that 's the excellency of faith it makes things absent present and sees unseen things Heb. 11. 1. Iohn 8. 56. Abraham saw my day and that 's the wonderment of Saints there is light in Gosben when all Egypt is dark when others are blind they see Isai. 60. 1 2. What is this knowledg or seeing of the Lord I make this question partly because this is the first chief Evangelical work as it appears to us nay indeed 't is in a manner all hence Mat. 11. 27. I thank thee thou hast hid these things c. If this be right Faith is right c. And if this be not a mans Faith is but a Fancy and a mans Sanctification and Reformation hopes desires are but the works of death and darknesse if this Sun be not risen And partly also because all the policy and power of Satan is to blind the eye here for then he knowes men will stumble at every step 2 Cor. 4. 4. He will help to beleeve and joy in beleeving and reformation after thaâ— joy that a man might content himself with this joy and Faith and look not after the sight of Christ. And if I was to leave the world I should leave this to be thought of as Christ told the woman of Samaria Ye worship whom ye know not so men beleeve in whom they know not and pray to one whom they know not and depend on whom they see not and hence do not wonder at an adulterous generation rising up that deny all evidencing of a mans justification from his sanctification and that 't is but a fâ—ding thing because they never felt what it meant because they never knew what the Lord Jesus meant and therefore listen to it I say therefore first what this knowledge is not for every man hath some knowledge 1. There is a knowledge of the Lord Jesus by report the fame of a man may come where himself is not seen so of Christ there may be a fame spread of him and of some excellencies in him where he is not savingly known and this is not seeing of Christ for a man may live and die a damned creature with this knowledge The Samaritans had some knowledge by report of the Messiah Iohn 4. 25. When he is come he will tell us all things so many among us hear that Christ is come and risen and glorisied and the Saviour of the world and of sinners c. But how come they to know this By way of tradition and report only I confesse this knowledge may be a means in the Elect to bring them to saving knowledge as in the Qâ—een of Sheba that heard Solomons fame and the Disciples Iohn 1. Come and see But Reprobates are not drawn by it as Herod Luke 23. 8. heard many things of Christ but never saw him till he came to judge him So here because they can live well without Christ hence rest content with the bare report Whereas they that had diseases heard of his fame and came to see Jesus 2. There is a knowledg of Christ from his works as we know what Trade and what Artificers many men be because these are external things yet know not the man so there is a knowledg of Christ by his works
it as part of Christian liberty this is our Liberty in Christ Iesus 2 Pet. 2. 19. And they rejoyce exceedingly that the Law is dead as they did Rev. 11. 10. for the death of the witnesses because they tormented them I say again they rejoyce not because the Lord makes them like himself and because of his Image restored by the Gospel and because they feel the power of it but because they are free from the power of it It s an old deceit yet subtil to rejoyce and love and blesse Christ because he will pardon sin though I lie and live in them Or if they do not free themselves from it the Gospel shews the Law within closing with the Law without to be an evidence the Lord will not impute it and that 't is not therefore they but sin in them Hence a sloathful heart will continue in his sloath and to ease himself of trouble for sin and obedience too say 't is not he but sin And hence Arminius makes a strange interpretation of Rom. 7. Because he saw German Professours plead that for themselves The Israelites entred not into Canaan unbelief caused it And why did that shut them out Oh there were walled Towns and difficulties and this was the last shock and hence they fell off so 't is in Hypocrites now The safest place to lie asleep is in Christ Lap. 5. From the mighty cunning of Satan the strength of whose Kingdom is made and continued by peace Luke 11. 41. Hence he will turn himself into an Angel of light and suffer men to go to Christ and Gospel to avoid the search that they may be Christs in appearance and his indeed 2 Cor. 4. 4. He hath a mighty power over men to blind them For there be three things which trouble men usually and make them question their estates and the Gospel quiets and absolves them from all 1. Conscience that cries dolefully sometimes these sins shall have these woes Yes unlesse I believe but I believe and trust to Christ and flee to Gods Mercy 2. Ministry that cries and searcheâ—h into the deepest windings of mens hearts that men cannot but see that Christ hath eyes of flaming fire to see through theâ— Now hence men avoid the stroke and power of all Ministry thus it is with me thus it is will be with me but I believe and trust to Christ. And hence men beaâ— back like Brazen Walls all Blowes 3. Gods judgment-seat What though men see you not yet God seeth Why they have sinned they confesse but Christ hath suffered they have sinned but they trust c. Micah 3. 11. Is not the Lord among us Look as it was with Ioab he runs to the Horns of the Altar yet there he perisheth there he would die there was the last refuge from search and death so here SECT III. HEnce do not think your estates good because you look only for justification by Christ and look only to Gods free Grace and count of Grace in Christ. It s a common errour for men to think being they be of this opinion only to look for Grace in Christ to think that therefore their estates are safe and they are justified by Christ. Why there may be such a power of Word and Spirit to conquer their judgments as those Papists that have been pleading against it have been overcome by it Thou maist receive the Notions of it thy Head but the power of it never into thy Heart Obj. 1. But my heart hath been affected with this to see when my sins deserve death yet there is mercy for the vilest in Christ. Answ. Thou maist tast and joy and yet fall off at last Obj. 2. But I have Fellowship with the Lord Jesus Answ. Thou maist eat and drink in his presence and yet be bid Depart I know you not a worker of iniquity Obj. 3. But I have escaped the pollution of the world 2 Pet. 2. 20. And that through this knowledge of Christ his love hath much moved me to part with my sins Answ. It may be so and it may wash thee from all external pollutions and yet thy swinish nature remain still hidden from thee but seen of an all-seeing God Obj. 4. But I look for Christ and wait for him and desire him and all that are wise think well of me Answ. You may do all this and yet you may be found foolish for all this Evangelical work which is accompanied with Salvation in some it may be Hypocritical in thee And therefore take heed you do not take shews for substance For look as in the Gospel Gods utmost perfection of wisdom and love appears so the most hidden and admirable delusions of Satan are Evangelical There his power is employed to undermine and so to keep his head Oh that we could but imagine and set before our eyes the amazing condition of such a man whose plagues shall be made wonderfull that hath been troubled with sin a long time at last looks to Christ and there rests and so hears all Sermons and there still sleeps and considers often that his waies are evil but never suspects his Faith to be evil then he comes to die and then looks for Christ at last the week or snuff dies and Sun sets and darknesse approacheth and then suddenly slips into Hell where he sees Christ and Saints afar off And what hath deceived them Oh their Faith hath deceived them to see Christ shaking them off as dust Oh they wish Oh that I had known or feared this before and will you not fear now as for you prophane ones that can scoff and drink and break Sabbaths and live idly your judgement is writ upon your foreheads but Oh take heed you that have escaped these pollutions lest you deceive your selves here To shew you that deceit particularly it 's not my time yet but go alone and think sadly of it I may look for justification by Christ and wait for Christ and yet perish Oh let me be sure I get such a Faith as will not deceive me here Should not a man you will say trust to Christ yes when you can in truth but thy Trust may be but Presumption II. Take not up therefore every Opinion and Doctrine from men or Angel that bears a fair shew of advancing Christ for they may be but the fruits of Evangelical Hypocrisie and deceit that being deceived themselves may deceive others too Mat. 7. 15. Beware of them that come in Sheeps clothing in the innocency purity and meeknesse of Christ and his people but inwardly are Wolves proud cruel sensorious speaking evil of what they know not by their fruits you shall know them Do not think Beloved that Satan will not seek to send delusions among us and do you think these delusions will come out of the Popish pack whose inventions sâ—el above ground here No he must come and will come with more Evangelical fine-spun devices It 's a rule observed among Jesuites at this day If
finish And hence David begs Psal. 119. 132. Oh the mercy that thou usest to shew to them that love thy Name Why so Oh David saw mercy to others that sets God awork to do somwhat for them work somwhat in them but 't is not such mercy Oh beg for that mercy that humbled others quickned others that are now in Glory that or no mercy Lord How shall I know whether the work is overly 1. If sudden and violent 't is usually overly A Picture long a drawing is exact another soon done is lightly done A man hath Leopard-spots which in our garments cannot be washed out easily Gods through-work is soaking and searching Hence violent sudden sorrows and joyes and reformation which all were in the stony ground proved unsound Mat. 13. 5. 2. God hath thy time of trying thee Mat. 13. The seed was sown Which now is good ground Where is there fruit to be seen and ripeness of Grace Look upon persecution if that doth not drive thee from Christ. If that doth not see if the world doth not which by a certain deceit and cozenage will befool you I am peâ—swaded as 〈◊〉 is that all the several trials of men are to shew them to themselves and the world that they be but counterfeits and to make Saints known to themselves the better As Saul he hath a temptation only of a command when he had nothing to cause him to stoop but it yet he fell there So 't is with many others that God doth much for he tries them Rom. 5. 5. Tribâ—laâ—ion works trial and that hope Prov. 17. 3. If you would know whether it will hold weight the trial will tell you Look you there and in special if it drives to Prayer fear not CHAP. XX. Wherein is given a more Large and Full account of that Fulnesse of Grace that is in Believers as to the Several Parts thereof and how the most Glorious Hypocrites come short in all SECT I. MAke therefore a narrow search whether you have this Fulness of the Spirit or no. What is this Fulnessâ— When the Spirit comes in the room of those things which a man is full of now For fulness or filling implies emptiness and the removal of that Now there are six things every man is full of 1. Sin 2. Darkness 3. Unbelief 4. Satan 5. Self 6. World So there is answerably in every Saint 1. A Fulness of humiliation for sin 2. A Fulness of illuminaâ—â—on and revelation in the room of darkness 3. A Fulness of Faith in the room of unbelief 4. A Fulness of the Spirit it self in the room of Satan 5. A Fulness of Sanctification in acting for God as their last end in the room of self-seeking 6. A Fulness of Glory and Consolation in stead of the world I. Fulness of humiliation under sin opposite to fulness of sin For every hypocritical heart hath commonly some humiliation and casting down which is the first Principle of all his Profession and hence can tell you of his miserable estate that once he lived in and for which he was troubled but it was never deep enough For as there was before his terrifying a full power a fulness of the dominion of sin his humiliation for sin never reached never came to that fulness or measure so as to deliver the soul from that For I do not account that true humiliation whereby a mans heart is rent troubled and tormented with sin but whereby 't is rent from sin not from the being but from the power not from the bondage of some but yet from the power of all For if rending with sin should be humiliation then the Devils should be more humbled then any Then also a man may have too much of humiliation and of Gods Spirit If rending from the being of all sin should be humiliation then no man living should be sincerely humbled unless we dream of an estâ—te of perfection before it comes and of the day of triumph in the time of warfare If rending from the bondage of some sins should be humiliation then a man might be truly humbled for sin and yet under the power of it And therefore look as in every one the Lord humbles there was once a fulness of the reign and power of sin in the full strength of it so that full measure of Humiliation which the Lord works in his it ever comes to that height as to break that power down Ehud like it not only wounds the flesh but leaves the dagger in the heart of this Tyrant 2 Cor. 10. 5. The weapons of our warfare are mighty to cast down every thing that exalts it self If I should leave this Point thus I should but leave you as doubtful as you came and so in the dark therefore for the better clearing of this Point let me explain five things to you The Scope of which is to shew you what I mean by sin and the power of it and that Humiliation that removes it I. That besides the outward acts of sin and inward lusts and breathings of sin and the spiritual plagues with which God strikes men for sin as blindness hardness of heart there is in every man living another sin commonly called the sin of nature as in the Serpents besides the spitting of poyson their nature is poisonous which sin is generally beleeved and confessed but felt by few This is called in Scripture by the name of Flesh Joh. 3. 3. The Law of the members The old man For as in men there are actions breathings and the man himself So here Which sin of nature is the deordination of the whole man or a corrupt bent and set of the whole man against God And it expresseth it self in two particulars 1. In a constant departing from God in every action Civil and Moral Like a man set out of his way every step he goes is ouâ— or like a Clock out of frame every stroke is false Psal. 58. 3. The wicked go astray from the very wombe 2. In a fierce invincible resisting and contradicting of God wheâ— he hath overtaken the soul to draw it home and turn it back Rom. 8. 7. We account it a doleful thing for Christ to bid the soul depart at the last day that wo is past upon all the sons of men by this sin now only with this difference 1. They are forced to depart then men willingly depart now and hasten away in every thing from God as fast as they can 2. They depart into fire these to broken Cisterns of creatures I do 3. Believe they would not resist the Lord if he should come to save them from their separation then from him this makes nature resist him now II. That this sin of nature is most properly only the reigning sin The text is evident for it Rom. 6. 12. Let not sin reign to obey it in the lusts thereof There is 1. Obedience i. e. the outward acts 2. Lusts the inward breathings 3. Sin it self where
and yet they do but think so for though they hate sin yet it is unsoundly because they see not how closely their hands are knit to their sin they never did believe because they never felt their unwilling heart to close with Christ they never loved the Saints because they never felt their contempt of Saints never sought Gods glory because they never mourned under that which did stain it they never make work with their own hearts the stony and thorny ground withered because their soil was naught a heart filled with sweet affections which never felt the strength of contrary corruptions lying underneath it is an ill soil and where those affections will never prosper nor prove right and hence 2 Tim. 2. 20 21. he that purgeth himself from these things shall be a vessell of honor ever preserved never broken Do not put it to a venture it may be I may have grace and so put your salvation on the hazard of such hopes but the Lord that hath come to thee knocking open the door that he may come in and feast cry for infinite creating power and mercy to make haste and come and help thee what have you to do else but to get your old lusts purged away what do you labor for else if you have children to bring up if you have any love to them nay if swine or cattel meat you will have to feed them and satisfie them if possible and yet behold thy soul perishing for want of true spiritual refreshings SECT VI. OF Exhortat on to all young beginners and so to all others Take heed you chop not at your comfort too soon take heed you do not perish in the way that whiles seeking after the Lord and rest you fall from the Lord by security and scandal and so you perish but labor for that which will continue and last 1. Mariners when they go a voyage they will trim their vessel and search if there be not something amiss which may sink the ship at last if once out at sea they may dye before they come home and hence at first setting out are careful so do you 2. You will meet with trials enough to exercise all your grace that you will find all little enough in the issue 3. This will be your comfort at death that â—hough it be difficult yet if you have fought a good fight and run a good race there is now a crown this will make you to go out of the world wondering and go up to eternity in your triumphant Chariot of glory when you shall see on the one side here a Demas forsaking there a Iudas betraying here one Chriâ—â—ian withered there another scandalised and offended and yet the Lord hath upheld thee in thy integrity a poor creature that thoughst thou shouâ—dst never have held out at all That you may do thus two things are to be done First Be sure your wound at first for sin be deep enough for all the error in a mans Faith and Sanctification it springs from that first error of his Humiliation if a mans Humiliation be false and weak and little his Faith is light and his Sanctification counterfeit as may be seen in the stony and thorny soil if a mans wound be right and Humiâ—â—ation deep enough that mans Faith is right and his Sanctification is glorious for Christ cannot be exceeding sweet and satisfactory to the soul unless sin be first exceeding bitter and this is the reason why Christ is not sweet nor precious at first nor afterward because sin is not so better to them especially heart sins Christians shall find it the esteem and price of Christ falls whiles sin lies light and is not bitter SECT VII Quest. HOw bitter must it be Answ. So bitter as that nothing contents your heart whiles sin is with you and the Lord is gone from you Lam. 3. 49. Mine eye ceaseth not mourning till the Lord look down from heaven as a man that looks for a Prince to come and live with him he prepares rooms for all his attendants but he reserves the best lodgings for the Prince himself and they are kept empty whiles he comes So the soul entertains Creatures and Ordinances and Saints of God but yet the heart is not content but sits empty desolate whiles the Lord is gone for whiles the heart is delighted with somewhat else beside the Lord that if the Lord comes it is well if not it is merry and jolly see what the Lord there speaks Iam. 4. 8 9 10. Cleanse your hearts and he will draw nigh unto you turn laughter to mourning else you are not humbled Let Gods own people do so it stops up the fountain of Gods love and sweetness of mercy Psal. 30. 7. When carnally confident I was troubled as it is in marriage if a man knows there is familiarity between the woman and another Lover he will have none of her but when sin is thus bitter the Lord hath the garments of joy to give for the spirit of heaviness Isa. 61. 1 2. Oh therefore though it be cross to have limbs cut off and breasts feared bones broken c. yet part with all for life even this life of Christ in you which will give you full content SECT VIII Quest. HOw shall I do thus my heart will be wanton and carnal Answ. 1. Set this down for a conclusion I shall never be comforted by the Lord whiles any thing else comforts my heart i. e. for it self as hath been proved and if this was well thought of this would make a man above all other things detest his carnal content because this indeed keeps the Lord from him 2. Keep the remembrance of the bitterness of your sin and evil in it thus David Plal. 51. 3. set it ever before him for all the sweet of sin comes into the heart by a delusion first begot in the mind of some present good in it which the soul not attending to is drawn away by it â—â—am 1. 14. drawn away and enticed hence fortifie here Three things in sin which if remembred would make it bitter 1. Sentence of condemnation past upon thee by the Law of God for it which may make a soul to mourn Little 〈◊〉 do men take in their Prison-bolts 2. The death and agonies and sorrows of the Lord Jesus to acquit the soul from this condemnation this is that which may work bitterness as for a first born Zach. 12. 10 11. 3. Crossing the will and so grieving the heart of Christ now in glory as when the old world grew sensual it grieved God to the heart keep these in remembrance what pleasure canst thou take in that which makes the Lord sigh 4. The end wâ—ll be bitterness Psal. 73. 17. Secondly Take heed you miss not of that Faith which will bring in supply Heâ— 4. 1 2. Take heed lest a promise being leâ—t any fall short of that rest which comes by the promise by an unbelieving heart for many desire the
for the elects sake they are willing to spend and to be spent 2 Cor. 1â— 15. Paul wisheth himself anathâ—â—â— amor divinâ—s est exstâ—â—cus â— carries out of self Rom. â— 1 2 3. though it is true the Ministry was not blest to all yet the election obtained it Rom. 11. 7. hence the ministry is from men not Angels that there might be the more pity and so the more help Heb. 4. 2. SECT IV. 2. BUt why by the Ministry of the Gospel Because the Law cannot give life Gal. 3. 21. Now the Lord cannot make him that hath sinned not to have sinned that would be a contradiction and he that hath sinned must dye and hence there is no possibility for the Spirit to give life here hence the Spirit takes another instrument the Gospel can perswade to believe and bring to Christ where life is feared Because there is more of Christs blood here and hence more Spirit for they are all one to be cleansed with Blood and Spirit for the Lord Jesus did not by his blood purchase the unsealing of the Law but the Gospel is a secret and not known but by this means it is the New Testament which ariseth from the death of the Testator to have the neâ—â— of the Gospel printed it is by means of Christ blood but to have men sent to open it there is more of his blood therein and hence more Spirit Because there is more of Christ's love in the Gospel and where most of his love goes there his Spirit goes most it is love to make us know the Law though it be a hand-wrâ—ing against us but now when we see death to bring the Gospel and therein to entreat and wait there is great love and hence it is called the Ministry of Râ—conciliation Oh it is infinite pity to offer to take a dead â—artion up under his wings here he loâ—gs for the salvation of a siâ—ner most if we were fallen Angels he would never send the Ministry of the Gospel to us but so it is now that he hath taken the seed of Abraham SECT V. OF Instruction 1. Hence we may see the glory of the Gospel in that it is the Ministry of the Spirit of God this the Apostle professeth it exceeds in glory glorious light it scatters that which hath been hid from the wise nay from Prophets and Abraham who desired to see this day and saw it but â—â— far off hence it is called marvellous light which brings the foul to the light of that blessed face of Jesus and his glorious love which never shal be sounded to the bottom of it which damps the glory of all other things and although many great and wise despise it yet if they did know they would not despise the Lord of glory nor crucifie him but their eyes shall never see those glorious consolations and comforts promised to the people of God I will send the 〈◊〉 saith Christ which 〈◊〉 can be taken 〈◊〉 from Beleivers which in midst of all miserie comforts it is a great mercy when a man sees his sin else he would never seek for remedy but the Law canot do any thing but arrest and imprison it cannot get sin removed yet the Gospel can set at liberty which 〈…〉 prisoners Ioh 8. 32. You shall know the truth and that shall make you free I can through Christ c. Phil. 4. 13. It is a marvellous mercy to tremble before God and see and know and be affected with Gods wrath but yet if this be all the heart will sink and flye from God now the Gospel reveals Christ and so Ioh. 10. 16. his sheep he ar and follow him and the Gospel comes to hell with the Spirit to a poor sinner when he is blind captive broken mourning never so miserable now the Gospel penetrates thus low and brings the Spirit with it it makes the soul not only to see Christ but gives it him and now it is safe Oh beloved if the Spirit be glorious then is the Gospel glorious if the Ministry of men could bring in and draw with them the Princes of this world and all their wealth to serve you Angels and their Ministry nay bring Christ himself bodily to you how glorious were this but what is this to bring the Spirit into a Sty into thy Soul Oh therefore take heed of a light esteem of the Gospel as those Matth. 22. 3. which were shut out Men must speak something take heed you that have once esteemed it of accounting it a common thing it is next to the unpardonable sin of accounting the Gospel Ministers Truths Justification by Faith c. common things but see them glorious the greatest glory that ever was in the world did once lye hid under the meanest outside viz. Jesus Christ and yet the Apostles beheld his glory so the Gospel is most glorious now as being his glass and this notwithstanding is most mean in the account of many Paul is in the eyes of the Corinthian Doctors a mean man his presence was contemptible his words mean also men despised them Secondly hence see what cause they have to sit and go home to their houses lamenting that never found the Spirit conveyed by the ministry of the Gospel in life and power Lam. 1. 16. Oh the comforter that should refresh my soul is far from me if there be any hope of help it is by the Spirit and if the Spirit it is by the Ministry where the Gospel is published and the Spirit conveyed Oh thinks many a one in himself I find no such good thus long have I heard and thus oft do I hear but I come and go away as I came my heart never shaken my soul never broken my spirit never humbled nor comforted c. and therefore what care I for Ministers or Gospel it is true it is hid 2 Cor. 4. 3. but then it is from them that be lost only whom Satan hath blinded it may be the last medicine is now using as it is with many that have the last remedy applied when they be sick to death truly so it is here Heb. 6. 8. The tree or ground that brings forth bryars is nigh to cursing the condition is sad as it is there exprest it shall never see good when good comes Ier. 17. 6. Oh it was a sad complaint of Saul Oh the Lord answers me not and of the people of God Wee see no vision but you have none and lament it not if men in the old Law did not meet with the Lord in their Tent doors it was no wonder it was not usual so to do but when at the Tabernacle if they met not there with him it was sad then so here if you meet not the Lord there where he dwells it is strange not but that Saints may find the Lord absent but I speak to them that find it not and mourn not for it others shall rejoyce when they mourn for the absence of the Lord.