at his house And the friendship of Christ unto Lazarus is attested by his sisters formerly He whom thou lovest is sick ver 3. and by this our Evangelist Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus ver 5. And the Jews said Behold how he loved him ver 36. yea our Saviour himself in the Text calleth him friend Now as it was betwixt Christ and Lazarus so is it likewise betwixt Christ and all real Christians their friendship is mutual The word friend expresseth love and this love hath its vicissitude amongst friends As tennise balls with rackets are banded and returned to and fro so love amongst cordial friends hath its intercourse it is received 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amicus qui amat vel qui amatur Steph. Thesau Joh. 15. 13. John 15. 14. with acceptance and returned with requitals Greater love has no man then this that a man lay down his life for his friends This expresseth Christ his love to his Christian friends Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you This speaketh the love and friendship of Christians to Christ And you must know that this affection of love was not only betwixt Christ and some peculiar Christians to Christ as his Disciples and Lazarus but betwixt him and all other sound-hearted Christians also When he preached to a very great multitude of people having warned them to take heed of hypocrisie he useth this compellation I say unto you Luk. 12. 1 5. my friends And long before his incarnation this was the language of Christ the essential Wisdome of the Father I love them that love me Whereas it is sometimes said of Prov. 8. 17. our friends that they have onely one soule in several bodies it is most true being applyed unto Christ and single-hearted Christians The Spirit of God dwelleth in them and Anima est non ubi animat sed ubi amat Rom. 8. 9. if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his As friends being in point of friendship acted by the same principles they will and nill the same things So Eadem velle nolle est firma amicitia it is with Jesus Christ and those who are unfained friends unto him As the Apostle Paul thus advised the Philippians Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ so Phil. 2. 5. 1 Cor. 2. 16. he affirmeth of the Saints at Corinth that they had the mind of Christ. The obligations of love are so strong upon friends that they can heartily say one to another I am as thou art The 2 Chrâ—n 18. 3. Esay 41 8. Lord accounted Abraham his friend and it is considerable how God and Abraham being friends did communicate themselves with their All unto each other As God by way of Covenant promiseth to be an al-sufficient Gen. 17. 1. Chap. 11. 3. portion unto him to blesse those who blesse him and to curse such who curse him and to bestow Canaan the land 2 Chron. 20. 9. flowing with milk and hony upon him so Abraham gave up himselfe wholly to be at Gods disposing in regard of his habitation to dwell where his Majesty would settle him Gen. 12. 1 5. and in respect of his relations to command his children and his houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord to do justice Gen. 18. 19. and judgement In this manner Christ and believers they are for each others with their All even as for themselves I Cant. 2. 16. am my beloveds saith the loving beloved Spouse and my beloved is mine They are the same 1. In their wills As they in things most difficult and crosse to themselves in appearance do say The will of the Lord be done So Christ is Acts 21. 14. ready to speak unto them in reference to the regular motions of their wills as once to the woman of Canaan Be it Mat. 15. 28. unto thee even as thou wilt 2. In their desires As these are their breathings there is Psal 73. 25. Cant. 7. 16. none upon earth that I desire besides thee So his desires are towards them Not long before his departure from his Apostles to evidence his desires of spiritual fellowship with Luke 22 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them He said unto them with desire I have desired to eat this Passeover with you before I suffer 3 And in their designs As this is in their eyes and aimes Phil. 1. 20. that whether by life or death Christ may be magnified in them Jer. 32. 40 41. So he will never turn from them to do them good but will rejoyce over them to do them good These are brief hints in reference to the doctrine more generally considered In the more distinct handling of it both the branches are to be taken apart and particularly to be discoursed upon And here give me leave to premise the reasons wherefore I shall discourse of this mutual friendship under the notion of love in a latitude viz. because 1. The word Friend as we already hinted speaketh love 2. In this History these phrases signifie the same thing viz. friend Lazarus and Lazarus loved 3. And the holy Ghost elsewhere useth these words indifferently viz. friend beloved The first branch of the doctrine is this That real right-bred Branch 1. Christians are friends unto Christ His endeared Spouse speaketh this openly This is my beloved and this is my Cant 5. 16. friend O Daughters of Jerusalem Answerable whereunto is the language of the Gospel-Prophet a song of my beloved Esay 5 1. to his vineyard Let it be noted that Christ is not looked upon and loved as an ordinary friend but as a friend extraordinary either a friend already married or one affected singularly with expectations of marriage The virgins love Cant. 1. 3. thee And indeed none do love Christ sincerely who do not love him singularly superlatively Let his own words be well weighed He that loveth father or mother more then Matth. 10. 37. Certè illi non amanâ— Christum qui aliquid plus quà m Christum amant Aug. me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more then me is not worthy of me This assertion is bottomed upon good reason because Christ both in his own personal excellencies and communicated advantages is infinitely better then any creature with its fairest amiabilities whatsoever Now this their love is not blinde but it aboundeth in all judgement and knowledge as will be manifest by these foure Phil. 1. 9. reasons following Reason 1 Because of his incomparable unparallelled beauties This account his dear Spouse giveth of her strong inflamed affections My beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest among Cant. 5. 10. ten thousand His head is as the most fine gold And having metaphorically commended him from the head to the foot she thus concludeth This is my beloved and this is vers 19. my
of it and fit us his Ministers that supervive to preach and live as he did To fight a good fight to finish our course and to keep the faith that so we may at last obtaine a crown of righteousness which the righteous Judge will give at the last day to all that love his appearing So prayeth Your servant in the work of the Ministery EDM. CALAMY To the Right Honourable ELIZABETH Countesse Dowager of Exeter MADAM HOw irresistible is the power of love and importunity The holy Scriptures do plentifully manifest that divine love doth set Gods All whether within or without himself on work for his childrens good and that his childrens importunity hath in al Ages prevailed with his Omnipotency to appeare for their comfort And multitudes of daily experience do evidence the prevalency of these two Arguments among the sons of men My self makes one instance for the verifying hereof by preaching at Reverend worthy Mr. Whitakers Funeral and by printing my Sermon with the Narrative of his memâ—rable life both which come abroad with enlargements because streights of time and the discomposednesse of my spirit through grief would not suffer me thus fully to dilate upon in the Pulpit Madam I am confident that your Ladyship can of your own knowledge not only attest the truth of most passages in my Narrative but adde also much more from your own observation which will render his memory precious unto posterity And will your Honour give me leave to give some further account unto the world wherefore I have presumed to dedicate unto your Ladyship these expressions of my great respect to my precious much endeared brother Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker Gratitude is at the bottom of this Dedication Madam As I shall alwayes really acknowledg your Honours favour towards my worthlesse self so I judg it meet to make known upon this occasion that more then many thanks are most due unto your Ladyship from all Mr. Whitakers Relations for your many and great testimonies of your constant respects unto him all his life long since your first acquaintance with him I have often heard him mention before the Lord with praises and prayers your Honours abundant kindnesses both unto himselfe and his family which I beleeve are on record in heaven to be fully recompensed in due time because they were the products of your sincere love unto him as the faithful Minister of Jesus Christ Madam there are not many who be so deeply sensible as your selâ—e of the great losse sustained by the death of this holy man of God What mine own losse is I had rather expresse it before the Lord then publish it unto the world He was Madam a faithful servant to your immortal soul the wel are whereof God in mercy hath given you to mind much more then all matters sublunary whatsoever In reference hereunto he was your wise counsellour in all your doubts and difficulties your compassionate comforter in all straights and sorrows your vigilant Physician to prevent spiritual sicknesse and infection your zealous Incourager in all wayes of holy service and a daily Remembrancer of you and yours before the Throne of Grace Though these things speak your losse which may warrantably afflict your heart yet I beseech you good Madam consider with comfort that notwithstanding this bucket be broken as Dr. Preston was wont to expresse it nevertheless the fountain of light life grace strength comfort and satisfaction is still at hand ever full and alwayes flowing He who is now removed out of the Land of the living to be serviceable by preaching praying conference no more was only one of those golden pipes through which the God of your mercies conveyed relief sweetly and seasonably unto your soul the wel-head is not removed and many other choice conveyances of grace and consolation from Christ be still continued to you Let this therefore be the language of your faith The Lord liveth and blessed be the 〈◊〉 oâ— my salvations who will never forsake nor faile the soule which in humility and faithfulness doth depend upon his Majesty And Madam Mr. Whitaker his rich receipts of much sanctifying grace strong confidence invincible patience undaunted courage un-interrupted peace with pure elevating joyes from the Lord may encourage the hopes of the poorest Christians to expect great things from heaven according to their necessities and desires because God is no respecter of persons but free and liberal in the communications of his peculiar goodnesse These are the words of his grace Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Psal 81. 10. If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink He that beleeveth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water Joh. 7. 37 38. The Almighty hath given you some tastes of that incomparable fruit which comes from the Land of promise that you may be encouraged to hold on in the way thither with cheerfulnesse and perseverance Madam It is no small addition unto your honour here and it will undoubtedly make to your happiness hereafter that you do own God in unwearied attendance upon his sacred Ordinances laying forth your self for his name faithfully with that prudence self-denial and plainness of heart wherewith he hath adorned you through his rich mercy in Jesus Christ Madam I humbly beg pardon for this my boldness and crave leave to subscribe my self Madam Your Honours humble Servant SIMEON ASHE JOHN 11. 11. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth THese are the words of Christ concerning Lazarus and they speak 1. His relation 2. His dissolution First the relation was friendship wherein we are to observe 1. How far this friendship was extended viz. both unto Christ and to his Disciples our friend It is not my friend or your friend but our friend both yours and mine 2. That this friendship was acknowledged by Christ himselfe not only while Lazarus was yet alive but even now when he was dead Our friend Lazarus sleepeth In the second part of the Text viz. Lazarus's dissolution we may note 1. The truth asserted viz. that Lazarus though a friend both to Christ and to his Disciples yet he was dead 2. The Metaphor whereby it is expressed which is taken from natural sleep He sleepeth 3. The notice which our Saviour took of Lazarus his decease This he reporteth unto his Disciples he saith unto them Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Thus from this plaine division of the Text I proceed unto the observations which do from hence offer themselves naturally unto our consideration And the doctrines will be six in number viz. three from each part into which the Text hath been divided Doctr. 1 The first is this viz. That there is a mutual friendship betwixt Christ and true Christians Our Lord himself here calleth Lazarus friend And that this friendship was mutual it is evident from this history First the love of Lazarus towards the Lord Jesus was witnessed by the many entertainments and hearty welcomes which he received
most truly be applied unto our loving friend Christ Jesus This the Text suggesteth for Christ did not only love Lazarus while he lived but called him friend even now when he was dead Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Secondly the efficiency of his love is admirably comfortable to all such who enjoy it For first it worketh their deliverance from whasoever may be grievous and dangerous He loved us and washed us from our sins in his blood Rev. 1. 5. Gal. 3. 13. 1 Thes 1. 10. And hence follows deliverance from the curse of the Law and from the wrath to come Secondly it procureth whatsoever may be joyous unto a spiritual heart 1. He hath made us upon this account Kings and Priests unto God and his Father Rev. 1. 6. 2. He feedeth the soul plentifully by the dainties of sacred Ordinances Eat O my friends and drink yea drink Cant. 5. 1. abundantly O my beloved 3. This his love running through all providences maketh blessings the more sweet and supporteth the sinking soule under crosses As Hezekiah's recovery was the Isa 38. 17. Heb. 12. 5 6. more pleasant because God in love to his soul wrought it so the Apostle puts this as a prop under a fainting afflicted Christian that the Lord correcteth with paternal love 4. And his love will prepare his beloved for glory Christ loved the Church that he might sanctifie it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to Eph. 5. 26. himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it might be holy and without blemish If unto all these which I mentioned without enlargement we add the complacency which he taketh in all communications of his love it will be a great addition to their joy The Lord will rejoyce over thee he will rest in his love he will Zeph. 3. 17. joy over thee with singing God seemeth to take such content in his loving transactions them-ward as though he desired nothing more Let the friends of Jesus Christ feed and feast themselves with these expressions and provisions of his love Vse 2 How should the remembrance of such rare refreshings belonging to them who are the beloved friends of Christ quicken endeavours in all sorts to gain a share in his friendship To enforce this exhortation I will cast these few thoughts into your mindes 1. Whereas Solomon telleth us What every dayes experience also speaketh that many seek the Rulers favour Prov. 10. 6. 29. 26. 1 Tim. 6. 15. Mat. 28. 18. Prov. 8. 15 16. Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords the only potentate unto whom all authority in heaven and earth is committed by whom Kings reigne Princes rule and all the Judges of the earth 2. That it will be an high honour to be called Gods friend In holy story Hushai and Zabud have this title of 2 Sam. 15 27. 1 Kings 4. 5. respect put upon them that they were the kings friends And it will be for the everlasting credit of father Abraham that he is recorded in sacred pages to be the friend of God Isa 41. 8. 3. That Christ is and ever will be in favour with God to make and to maintaine our peace with his Majesty though we frequently and fearfully do provoke him every day The inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon made Blastus Acts 12. 20. the Kings chamberlaine their friend when Herod was highly displeased with them because their countrey was nourished by the Kings countrey And is not our dependance more upon God And do not we hourly give the Almighty great occasion to reject us yea to take up arms against us And is there any one either on earth or in heaven that can asswage Gods anger and procure his favour besides Jesus Christ Therefore should meanes be used to make him our friend 4. The people of God conceiving hope that Christ regardeth us they will be encouraged with the more affectionate confidence to pray for us in the times of our need As the sisters of Lazarus making addresse unto him in the behalf of their dear brother pleaded this Lord he whom thou Joh. 11. 3. lovest is sick 5. Hereby we shall be heartned with the more hope to apply our selves unto God by prayer for our selves Our Saviour suggesteth this in the parable of the man who goeth Luk. 11. 5. 6 9. at mid-night to his friend to borrow bread he applieth it to incourage prayer 6. Because all our creature-friends may either fall off by unfaithfulnesse or forsake us by death or be forced from us other wayes This the doleful complaints of sundry dear unto the Lord recorded in Scripture do declare My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore and my Psal 38. 11. and 88. 18. 1 King 16. 11. Luke 16. kinsmen stand aloof off Lover and friend thou hast put far from me and my acquaintance into darknesse Upon this consideration the humane prudence of the unjust Steward is commended in projecting to provide friends against the time of need How far our experience at this day speaketh our losse of creature-creature-friends viz. of some by death and of others by an unfaithful deserting I forbear to speak But I do upon this consideration move your care to gaine the friendship of Christ who will love and live for ever Now if these arguments shall force resolutions in your bosoms to seek Christs love and thereupon means to attain it shall be enquired after I give these short directions 1. Accept of God and of Gospel-righteousnesse with him by a self-outing and a Christ-prizing faith The Scripture saith Abraham beleeved God and it was imputed Jam. 2. 23. unto him for righteousnesse and he was called the friend of God 2. Upon the serious consideration of his worthiness and hopeful expectations of happinesse by him labour to endear Christ unto your hearts Although our love to him doth not merit his love yet it will clearly make manifestation thereof unto our souls I love them saith he who love me Prov. 8. 17. 3. And as an expression of your love submit obediently unto his government studiously conforming unto all his commands This is his own promise which he will perform infallibly He that hath my Commandments and Joh. 14. 21. keepeth them he it is that loveth me and I will love him Vse 3 The third Use is to be directed unto them whom Christ embraceth as friends with love and they are to be perswaded unto real gratitude for his love The Disciple whom Christ loved having touched upon his incomparable love addeth this doxology To him be glory and Rom. 16. dominion for ever and ever Amen From whence might be noted 1. That the glory to be returned unto Christ for his love should not be verbal onely but real also expressed by subjection unto his dominion 2. That this obediential gratitude should not be confined to term of time
but extended unto eternity for ever and ever 3. And all Christians should heartily give in their assent and attestation hereto by annexing their Amen In the amplification of this perswasion I might call you back to the review both of the proof of this doctrine and of the qualities and efficiency of his love spoken unto in the first Use But that I may not tautologize by telling the same things again I wish you to meditate upon these particulars which will yet further commend Christs love and may call you forth in thankfulnesse for it 1. His love was primary to us and ours secundary succeeding it as the effect and consequence thereof we loved 1 Joh 4. 19. him because he loved us first If he had not fired our hearts with the flames of his love we should never have bestowed one spark of spiritual affection upon him 2. His love was free when there was much loathsomnesse and no lovelinesse at all in us When thou wast Ezek. 16. 5 6. 7 8. cast out in the open field to the loathing of thy person in the day that thou wast born And when I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thy blood when thou wast naked and bare Now when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of love 3. His love worketh him unto a familiar conversing with them which himself expresseth by feasting with them He brought me into the banqueting house and his banner over Cant. 1. 4. me was love I will sup with them and the shall sup with me Rev. 3. 20. and by acquainting them with himself I will manifest my Joh. 14 21. self unto them as also by revealing his secrets I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I Joh. 15. 15. have made known unto you As also by conjugal embracings His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth imbrace Cant. 2. 6. me Now if Christs beloved friends thankfully disposed towards him for his love shall demand how their gratitude should be really discovered I answer in the words of Solomon A man that hath friends must shew himselfe friendly Prov. 18. 24. which is done 1. By a cautious declining of whatsoever may be offensive unto him as the returning of evil for good is very sinful and a practise prejudicial to our selves so is it taken very unkindly by the Lord. Thus David complaineth of Achitophel and as some conceive Christ of Judas My friend that did eat of my bread hath lifted up his heel against Psal 41. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me As Caesar was most afflicted with the wound received from his own sons hands And thou my son too Therefore upon remembrance of Christs kindnesse learn to beat back temptations as Joseph did How then shall I do this wickednesse and sin against the Lord Gen. 39 9. 2. By an inseparable adherence unto Christ in dayes of deepest difficulty and danger The servant engaged to his Master by his favours is willing to have his eare bored that he may dwell with him for ever Ruth upon the receipt Exod. 21. 5 6. of lesse love a great deal from Naomi her mother in law taketh up this resolution Nothing shall part thee and me Ruth 1. 16. but death God forbid that ever we by our Apostacy should give Christ occasion to speak by way of reproach to us as Absalon did to Hushai deserting David as he apprehended Is this thy kindnesse to thy friend Why wentest 2 Sam. 16. 17. not thou with thy friend So be you sure that this one circumstance will gripe your hearts with great grief for your backslidings As Peter in this regard wept bitterly because he Mat. 26. 75. had denied and deserted Christ so good a Master so well deserving a friend 3. By unfained love unto all them who are the beloved friends of Christ This is the inference of Saint John from this consideration under discourse that therefore we ought to love one another and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren But of this more in the doctrine 1 Joh 4. 11. and 3. 16. following Doct. 2 That all Christs friends are mutually loving friends unto one another As Christ here saith not my friend but our friend Lazarus thereby intending to declare the friendship which was betwixt Lazarus and his Disciples as betwixt himself and Lazarus In the proof of this doctrine I will point at two particulars which I conceive this instance under hand may hint 1. That there is friendlinesse and love amongst all good Christians In this respect the Apostle Paul in his Eph. 1. 15. Epistle to the Ephesians joyneth their faith in Christ and Philem. 5. their love to all Saints And in his Epistle to Philemon he connexeth his love to Christ and his love to all Saints Yea our Saviour maketh this the livery whereby his servants may be distinguished from others By this shall Joh. 13 35. all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another 2. That there is a peculiarity of friendly respect in Christians unto Christs Ministers as here in Lazarus towards Christ his Apostles This is observable in the Letter sent from Jerusalem to Antioch wherein their expression of special love is recorded viz. Our beloved Barnabas Acts 15. 25. and Paul But I will not deal with the Doctrine in both these branches distinctly The handling of it more generally for brevity sake shall be alone undertaken And the Reasons of the point are foure Reason 1 1. Because of their relation both unto Christ and amongst themselves They stand related unto Christ as his subjects servants children Spouse Members which all will acknowledge and therefore needeth no proof And hence issueth love As David was ready to shew kindnesse to the house of Saul for Jonathans sake 2 Sam. 9. 1. And among themselves they are related many Pâ—ilemon 16. 1 Pet. 3. 8. aâ—d 2. 17. 1 Cor. 12. 25. wayes most nearly They are brethren and the brotherhood is to be loved And they are fellow-members and therefore to have mutual respect one to another Reason 2 2. Because of Christ his expresse command which is repeated and strengthened with his own example This 1 Joh. 4 21. command we have from him that he who loveth God loveth his brother also A new Commandment I give unto you John 13. 34. and 15. 12. That ye love one another as I have loved you that ye love one another And again This is my Commandment That ye love one another as I have loved you Reason 3 3. Because of the image of God engraven upon them 1 Joh. 5. 1. expressed by their holy conversation The Apostle John asserts this That every one who loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him Because the childe is the picture as it were of his
father therefore beloved for his fathers sake I here forbear to discover how Beleevers begotten again 1 Pet. 1. 3. Isa 9. 6. 1 Cor. 15. 49. by Christ as the everlasting Father do bear his image but this I propound as the reason of Christians mutual love As the inward affection of Titus was more abundant towards 2 Cor. 7. 15. the Corinthians whilest he remembred their obedience And as it 's reported of Beucer and Calvin that they loved all them in whom they could espy aliquid Christi any thing of Christ So doubtlesse it is with all others who are friends unto Christ Reas 4 Because of the habitation and operation of Gods Spirit in their hearts The Apostle Paul calleth this love Col. 1. 8. love in the Spirit And the Apostle Saint John discoursing of this Christian affection and consequently of Gods dwelling in us being thereby evidenced giveth in this as the confirmation of both Because he hath given us of his Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 12 13. This I place as the last Argument because it is the true reason which maketh all the former concluding For neither spiritual relation nor divine injunction nor Christs image upon the Christians soul could have any commanding influence to draw forth this holy love amongst Believers if God did not co-operate by the power of the holy Ghost Thus from the confirmation I proceed to the Application of the Doctrine which I shall make in four Uses viz. 1. Conviction 2. Examination 3. Comfort 4. Exhortation Vse 3 Hence two sorts of persons are cashier'd as people who are strangers to friendly fellowship with Jesus Christ First Such who are rather enemies then friends unto the people of God as their own consciences witnesse to themselves and their practices proclaim to the world this being their design and endeavour if they could effect it to ruinate them in their comforts and lives altogether They have said in their desires though not with their lips Come let us cut them off from being a Nation that the Psal 83. 4. name of Israel may be no more in remembrance Whatsoever shew of love unto Christ these persons make among men doubtlesse they are adversaries to him as sundry passages surrounding the last quotation do clearly express Keep not Psal 83. 1 2 5. thou silence O God hold not thy peace and be not still O God Lo thine enemies make a tumult and they that hate thee have lift up the head they are confederate against thee As 2 Sam. 3 17. Joab took Abner aside to speak peaceably but smote him under the fifth rib that he died So these though they smile upon Christs face with a salute yet they stab his body or as one wittily expresseth it they kisse the mouth and tread upon the toes Such unfriendlinesse to godly Christians 1. Argueth an unregenerate estate The upright in his Prov. 29. 27. way is an abomination to the wicked And he that loveth not those who are like God is one of the children of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 10. 2. And is not consistent with meetnesse to be made partakers Col. 1. 1â— of the inheritance of Saints in light For it is not a heaven but a hell rather to be confined to the company of 1 Joh. 3. 14 15. such as are hated He that loveth not his brother abideth in death c. As this doctrine falls thus heavy upon all those who are enemies rather then friends unto ordinary Christians so upon such especially who are professed adversaries to the Ministers of Christ You know how the holy Ghost doth stigmatize Ahab who hated Michaiah that he was a man who sold himself to do wickedness whereas unto true Gospel 1 Kings 21. Rom. 10. 15. Beleevers the very feet of them are beautiful who bring the glad tidings of peace Secondly those much more are by this doctrine set aside as no friends to Christ who are Boutefeuz and Incendiaries seeking to kindle coals of contentions and to increase the flames of discontent and animosities among the people of God This practice proveth them to be Factors for the Devil and exposeth them to the wrath of God It was an evil spirit that made division betwixt Abimelech and the men of Shechem The Devil is pictured with a cloven foot Judg. 9. 27. to signifie that it 's his work to cause and continue divisions in the world And those who sow those seeds of discord are Prov. 6. 16 19. reckoned by Solomon among them whom the Lord hateth and who are an abomination unto him Vse 2 From this open Conviction I proceed unto Examination because there are many who upon trial will not be found real friends unto Gods people though they be not such notorious opposites as were described in the former Use Therefore take those discoveries of them who are right in their loves to real Christians First from the object of love viz. Sanctifâ—ing grace There are many lovely qualifications in Gods faithful servants Mark 6. 20. which an ingenuous moral man may value as Herod reverenced John the Baptist but it 's holiness which is the loadstone to draw the love of the regenerate Christian Because Saints therefore excellent in a gracious eye And hence Psal 16. 2. Eph. 1. 15. 2 Cor. 7 15. followeth universality of Love to all such and the abounding of respect according to the increase of Grace Secondly from the qualities of his friendship It is accompanied 1. With an honourable estimation of them The heirs of heaven do honour such who sear the Lord. Psal 15. 4. Psal 16. 2. 2. And with complacency All my delight saith David is in them Thirdly from the Effects of this love viz. 1. Readiness to perform real offices for their comfort Thus S. Paul proved the sincerity of the Corinthians love by 2 Cor. 8. 8 24. their contribution for the relief of poore Saints 2. And compassionate sympathies when they are in trouble To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his Job 6. 14. friend By this David did demonstrate his real respects unto some who ill deserved them When they were sick my cloathing Psal 35. 13 14. was sackcloth I behaved my self as thoâ—gh he had been my friend These short hints I leave to your amplification and faithful application that your selves may understand whether your love unto godly Christians be such as will evidence your regenerate estate Vse 3 The third Use is for the comfort of all them who can in this grace of Christian love and friendship approve their sincerity unto God not doubting but that Christ himselfe will give the like testimony unto them herein as he did unto Lazarus in the Text. Our friend For 1. It is no small priviledge to partake in the love of all heavens favourites and this love is mutual Those who are cordial friends to Christians are cordially beloved by Christians which is a matter of much joy to
pravitatecordis Aug. both these are daring and God-incensing provocations Now if any shall be awakened by these flashes of Gods anger to enquire Who are to be judged persons void of love to Jesus Christ I shall referre them for satisfaction to Christs own words both the parable and his exposition of it The Parable is this The Citizens hated him and sent a message after him saying We will not have this man to reigne Luke 19 14. over us And the Application made is thus expressed Those mine enemies which would not that I should raigne over them bring them hither and slay them before me Therefore all such vers 27. are proclaimed Christs enemies Christ-haters even by Christ himself who refuse to submit unto him as their Lord and King It s no uncharitablenesse but judgment according to the Word of truth to determine those to be no friends unto Christ whose resolutions are rather to order their lives according to customs humane traditions their own humours and the practices of the multitude then according to the commands and counsels of Christ Vse 2 It much concernes us all to examine our friendship unto Christ To quicken this search these things are considerable 1. Because many professe much love outwardly whose hearts affect him not unfainedly As David describeth some counterfeit Courtiers whose words were soft like oyle when there were drawn swords in their bosomes Never was Christ more in mens mouths with smooth language then Psal 55. 21. now when their lives speak treachery against him Thus Judas calleth him Master and giveth him a kisse yet was no friend Have I not chosen twelve saith Christ and yet John 6. 79. one is a devil What Sugered words did the devil use when he designed the ruine of Adam and of all his posterity 2. Because the comforts of the Gospel do appertain to them alone whose love is without dissimulation The Apostles benediction was this Grace be with all them who Eph. 6. 14. love our Lord Jesus in sincerity The rich priviledges of grace are appropriated unto Christs cordial friend 3. Because Christ whose eyes are like unto flames of Rev. 1. 14. fire doth discern clearly all them that are false friends though they pretend fair We read of many who beleeved John 2. 23 24 25. when they saw his miracles but Jesus did not commit himselfe unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man 4 Because we cannot tell how soon we shall be called to the scrutiny The Lord may be awakening our consciences and setting them as upon a rack propound that question unto us which he asked Peter once and again and the third time Lovest thou me But though he should John 27. 15. not deal thus with us in our life time yet be sure we shall be examined upon our departure hence for after death Heb. 9 27. comes judgment infallibly Therefore it will be our wisdom in the ways of self-renuing to say as Job did When God visiteth Job â—â— 14. what shall I answer him 5. Because by serious self-reflections we may attaine such full assurance of our love unto Christ that we may with confidence speak with Peter Lord thou knowest all Joh. 21. 17. things thou knowest that I love thee Having thus moved the examination of your love to Christ I proceed to give in some discoveries of Christs loving friends and the rather because according to Gods institution we Ministers are set up amongst people to try Jer. 6. 29. their wayes And the characters of love being many I shall be the shorter in them all True it is that mens love burning in their bosoms they many times better expresse themselves Amor est inter ea quae melius sentiuntur quaÌ„ definiuntur by sense then Arguments yet God having in his word held forth manifold Signes of sincere love it is our duty to make our use of them 1. Love to Christ is alwayes accompanied with hatred of sinne Ye that love the Lord hate evil And the Apostle Psal 97. 10. his connexion is observable Let love be without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. abhorring that which is evil The ground hereof is manifold First because Christ hateth all sinne he Quomodo amas Christum cùm adhuc amas quod in tâ— odit Christus Berr. suffered death for sinne and is dishonoured by it Therefore it is not possible that love unto Christ and love unto sinne should peaceably lodge together in the same bosom 2 Love to Christ is attended with care to prevent whatsoever might be injurious or displeasing unto him Thus the loving Spouse layeth this command upon all under her Authority I charge you that you awake not my Beloved till be please In like manner Jonathans love pleadeth Cant. 3. with Saul for Davids life Let not the King sin against his servant against David wherefore wilt thou sin against innocent 1 Sam. 19. 4 5. blood to slay David without a cause And Jacobs Gen. 33. affections did project the preservation of his near relation from ruine Hence it appeareth therefore that people of Gallio his temper do not love Christ who care not Acts 18. 17. what wrongs are done to Christ in the liberty or purity of his Ordinances and comfort of his servants if themselves can sleep warm in their own well-feathered nests 3. Love to Christ discovered it self by solicitous enquiries after the minde of Christ fearing least through mistakes he might be provoked How inquisitive were his Apostles to know his pleasure in all particulars relating Mat. 26. 17. to the Passeover The Disciples came unto Jesus saying Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passeover And how tâ—morous was Abraham Gods friend lest he might Cen. 18. Res est soliciti plena timoâ—is amor by overmuch boldnesse incense him when he was mediating for Sodom Shall they therefore be accounted friends to Christ who walk at all adventures without any fears of his frown or enquiries after his will 4. Love causeth flowings forth of thoughts upon its object The beatings of the pulse are according to the heat in the heart In the Song of Loves this is the first Psal 45. 1. clause My heart is inditing of a good matter I speak of the things which I have made concerning the King Sparks do not more naturally arise out of a flaming furnace then musings upon Christ from the soule which is fired with loves towards him With how much intention frequency Amor meus est pondus meum and steddinesse do people think upon the persons and things which are greatly loved This consideration therfore casts them off as no friends to Christ of whom it may be Psal 10. 4. truly said in respect of diligent meditation The Lord is not in all their thoughts 5. Longings after Christ together with satisfactions
while he is abâ—ent are evidences of love unto him The Cant. 3. 5. Amor currit pâ—r desiderium Aug. loving Spouse shakes off sloth gets out of bed in the night and goeth abroad to seek him whom her soul loved Neither ease in a warm bed nor chamber comforts nor City-contentments could satisfie her Her Beloved she must have and her Beloved she will have for she is sick of love Love like the Load-stone is attractive and the needle touched with it will uncessantly move till it stand directly Northward In like manner will the heart which is well warmed with love to Christ this is its language Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none that I desire on earth Psal 73. 25. besides thee Give me Christ or I die 6. Contentation in the enjoyment of Christ doth demonstrate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 valdèacquiesco Amor quiescit per gaudium Aug. Ad Deâ—m apud quâ—m invenies summam tranquillitatem Vatabl. in Ps 116. 7. Cant. 8. 5. Cant. 1. 13. Phil. 3. 3. love Some note this from the Greek word which signifieth Love viz. that wherein the heart taketh rest When any thing cometh to its centre there it is quiet and still So it is with the heart which loveth God This was Davids meaning as some Expositors judge when he having expressed his love to God speaketh thus in an holy Soliloquy Return to thy rest O my soul This rest the loving Christian attaineth in Christ by complacency and dependency The Spouse leaneth resteth her selfe upon her Beloved and he for delight is a bundle of myrrhe between her breasts whereunto the words of the Apostle suit very well We have â—o confidence in the flesh but rejoyce in Christ Iesus For the soul which possesseth Christ and knoweth what it hath in having him will say I have enough I have all I need no more for in him all wants are either supplied or sanctified In him justifying grace will make up all defects in service And what is wanting in the streames of creature enjoyments is given in with more sweetnesse in the full fountain of his Al-sufficiency 7. Communication of secrets speaketh friendship Haman Esther 5. 10. 6. 13. doth unbosome himself to his friends by laying open unto them all his concernments both crosse and comfortable And Christ bids him who was dispossessed of a devil Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things God hath Mark 5. 19. done for thee We can put that into a friends bosom which we would not have blazed abroad in the world Thus Christs friends do tell him of all their troubles fears wants temptations lusts as also of their comforts receipts experiences upon all occasions they step unto him and he knoweth from them by prayer how things go with 1 Sam. 1. 15. Psal 103. 4. them whether by encouragement or discouragement in their course I here remember the speech of Sampsons wife when he concealed what she desired to know How canst thou say I love thee when thy heart is not with me And doubtless Judges 16 15. our estrangement from Christ in not laying open our selves upon all occasions before him doth more then intimate our unfriendliness 8. Readinesse to comply with Christs command will undeniably prove that we are his friends Our Lord is often upon this Argument You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you He that hath my Commandments John 15. 15. 14. 21 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and keepeth them he it is that loveth me If any man love me he will keep my words Thus Abraham made it manifest that he was Gods friend by being ready to offer up Isaac upon his call And the Apostle speaketh of the labour of love because love will not withdrw from any work wherein God seeth cause to imploy his friends The woman who Heb. 9. 10. loved Christ much will wash his feet and wipe them with the haire of her head This is the language of Love I Luke 7. 38. account no work too mean wherein I may serve Christ 9. Love is content to be at any cost for Christ Hearken unto the expressions of the loving Spouse At our gates Cant. 7. 13. are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee O my beloved And I would cause thee to Cant. 8. 2. drink of spiced wine and of the juyce of Pomgranates The best of all kinds and the best of the best is provided for Christ if he be Beloved She who loved much brought a Box of oyntment very costly In like manner whatever Luke 7. 37. with John 12. 1 2 Sam. 24. 24. duties Christs friends discharge or whatever Ordinances they frequent they are wont to say with David I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing They scorn to give him the chaff and bran when others eat the Kidneys of wheat To be warm and vigorous in creature communion and all a-mort chil and cold conversing with Christ is an abomination to Christs friends 10. Love is liberal and free not grudging any kindness laid forth for a friend This is the love of God saith the beloved 1 John 5. 3. Disciple that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous When the most is done and endured for Christ the soul saith How little have I either acted or suffered for Christ Oh that it had been more Oh that it had been more How little is all my service how small are all my disbursments for Christ When Iacob had passed two Apprentiships for Rachel under a sowre Uncle and churlish Master wherein he had been pinched with cold and parched with heat They seemed to him but a few days Gen. 29. 10. for the love he bare unto her And when Ionathan had stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to 1 Sam. 18. 3. David and his garments even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle we read not of any repinings afterward and the reason was because he loved him as his own soul Christs friends look upon him as deserving over and over againe infinitely more then they shall ever be able to requite and therefore are troubled that Christ hath had so little service never repenting that he hath received so much They know that God giveth liberally James 1. 5. and upbraideth not Worthy Doctor Sibs was wont to say Supposing a possibility of sorrow in heaven this would be the grief of the Saints there that they have done so little for Christ upon earth from whom they have received so much 11. Love maketh couragious for Christ Every one knoweth that St. Paul was Christs cordial friend which he expressed by his magnanimity I am ready not to be bound Acts 21. 13. Phil. 3. Discipulus plus amat
Christum quam timet gehennam Bern. Amanti nihil impossibile nihil difficile Aug. only but to die at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus for whom I have suffered the losse of all Much was lost already and life it self was now at stake Let all go saith Love for Christ Love looketh upon nothing as impossible or as too difficult to be undertaken The fearful Hen will flie fiercely at the devouring Creatures which would devoure her chickens and the timorous sheep will turn head upon a mastiff dog to secure her beloved Lamb. Love is strong Cant. 8. 6 7. as death many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it Mary whose bosome was full of burning love to Christ is a rare example of that metall and fortitude which love breedeth in Christs friends She seeking Christs dead body and meeting with the Gardener as she imagined she speaketh thus Sir if thou hast borne him hence tell me where thou hast laid him and I will John 20. 15. take him away Neither the ghastly looks of a dead body could affright nor the weight of it discourage her resolutions to bear it away Though she was not able good soul by her own strength to carry such a burden yet her love made her confident that she could do it and therefore was resolved to undertake it 12. All these forementioned actings and adventures of love in Christs friends do arise neither only nor principally from self-advantages received from him but from his excellencies and respect to his honour Because of Cant. 1. 3. the savour of thy good ointments thy Name is an ointment poured forth therefore do the Virgins love thee And in this Saint Paul centered as the last end of his love that Iesus Christ might be magnified in him whether by life or Phil. 1. 20. John 6. 26. death Whereas when Christ is looked after rather for loaves then for his divine lovelinesse it 's rather to be judged a trucking with him then a loving of him When men seek Est mercatura non amicitia Amor amicitiae non acquiescit in aliqua extrinseca adoptione sed quaerit amatum Aqui only to serve their turn of Christ as it were by merchandizing they may be called friends to themselves but will never be reputed faithful friends unto him This discovery lies inward and close in our bosoms in which regard the more cautiousnesse is needful that we may not be deceived Lastly and for our help in the former I adde this as the conclusion of this search upon which I have held you so long That sincere friendship unto Christ will raise rejoycings in our hearts upon his advancement though this may seem to tend to our personal detriment Here the words of Christ to his drooping Disciples fearing that themselves should be damnified by his departure from them are very considerable If you loved me you would John 14. 28. rejoyce because I said I go unto the Father John the Baptist is a rare instance to evidence this character of true friendship for he being told that Christ was likely to carry away credit from him returned this answer He that hath Joh. 3. 29. 30. the Bride is the bridegroom but the friend of the Bridegroom which standeth and heareth him rejoyceth greatly because of the Bridegrooms voice This my joy therefore is fulfilled He must increase but I must decrease And the Apostle Paul Phil. 5. 16 18. was another example of this ingenuous love Some saith he preach Christ of envy and strife supposing to adde affliction unto my bonds Notwithstanding Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce and will rejoyce Make application hereof and ask your selves this question whether you can be content that Christ should be set upon your shoulders and that your credit should be cropt rather then it should hinder his shine and prospect can you lay your selves down in the dust that the crown may be sâ—t upon Christs head can you willingly be little or nothing in the account of the world that Christ may be all in all among the children of men By sincere answers returned upon serious considerations of all these foregoing particulars you may be able to give a right judgement of your own estate whether you be in deed and in truth friends to Jesus Christ Vse 3 The Use of Exhortation followeth wherein I am to bespeak your love unto Jesus Christ And O that I knew what Arguments to use that I might prevaile with you to become friends unto Christ Might not the remembrance of the forementioned Reasons wherefore beleevers love him being faithfully pressed upon your spirits be hopefully operative for this end Take into your consideration 1. His incomparable beauties 2. His famous exploits 3. Your former rich receipts 4. Your future expectations from him and hereupon command your soules to give in their answer whether it be not reasonable that you should love Christ But forbearing the enlargement of those heads I will deal with you upon principles of self-love to love the Lord Jesus So many and so precious are the priviledges belonging unto them who are thus affected that David knew not how to desire more at the hand of God Look thou upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest Psal 119. 132. to do unto those that love thy name Shall I mention and do little more then mention some particulars 1. Thus you shall work your selves into Christs bosom which will be no small advantage I love them that love Pâ—ov 8. 17. me said our Lord long since It is reported that Vespasian commanded a large recompence to be given unto a woman Item Vespasiano adamato that fell in love with him and ordered that it should be recorded that such a summe of money was given upon that account More beautiful wil Christ be unto his friends That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance and I Prov. 8. 21. will fill their Treasures Riches substantial riches substantial riches making treasures and all this by the right of inheritance shall be the reward of them who love Christ 2. Hereupon you may confidently expect familiar fellowship with Christ and his Father which is the Christians Heaven upon Earth If any man love me my Father will love him and I will love him and manifest my self to him and Joh. 14. 21 23. we will come unto him and make our abode with him 3. Hence issueth assurance that all events and exercises shall prove spiritually advantageous Also we know that Rom. 8. 28. all things work together for good unto them who love God Every winde will undoubtedly bring in their profit and their gain shall come in at every doore 4. And the Crown of glory is promised to them who love the James 1. 12. Lord. Now if you shall demand How may we kindle the fire of love in our brests towards Christ I answer 1. By informing your selves
from the Scripture concerning Christ his worthinesse both in his person relations and several Administrations as Mediatour betwixt God and man As this is his own advice Search the John 5. 39. Scriptures for they testifie of me So by the manifestations of him friendly affections are kindled towards him Witnesse the experience of such who during their ignorance of Christ were so farre from loving him that they accounted the love of others groundlesse yet understanding his unparallel'd beauties fell in love with him This is open and apparent by comparing Cant. 5. 9. with ver 10. to the end and with Chap. 6. 1. The words being Prov. 14. 20. many I refer you to the reading of them The rich hath many friends saith Solomon And are not all the riches of earth and heaven in Christs possession and at his disposing 2. By presenting often unto your view by meditation Psalme 39. 3. all things amiable in Christ While I mused saith the Psalmist the fire burned Looking causeth loving The eye Lam. 3. 51. affect the heart By blowing a spark becomes a flame As Abrahams servant brought forth Jewels of silver and Gen. 24. 53. Jewels of goâ—d to win Rebecca her heart towards Isaac So should we spread before our souls frequently those things which are enjoyed iâ— Christ that our hearts may be enamoured with him Ponder upon his own expressions I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall finde Prov. 8. 17 18 19. me Riches and honour are with me yea durable riches and Righteousnesse My fruit is better then Gold yea then fine Gold and my revenues then choice Silver Dwell upon these and the like considerations and the Lord blesse them to the end for which propounded that your souls may flame forth loves upon the Lord Jesus The second Branch of the Doctrine followeth viz. That Branch 2. Christ is a loving friend unto all true Christians Howsoever he here calleth Lazarus his special friend and the Apostles were so accounted in some way of peculiarity Henceforth I call you not servants but I have called John 15 15. you friends Yet this compellation and this amiable relation belongeth unto all faithful Christians likewise He loved all his own in the world which is plaine also by that Joh. 13. 1. gracious invitation Eat O friends and drink O Beloved Cant. 5. 1. wherein he intendeth to take in all living Christians Now if the reason be demanded Wherefore Christ is so good a friend unto believing Christians I answer Reason 1 1. Because they are peculiarly his own upon Covenant Gal. 3. 16. compact betwixt the Father and himself The Covenant was primarily betwixt God and Christ whereupon they were committed to his trust for the praise of glorious grace And He therefore loved them because his own This our Lord himself Joh. 13. 1. doth more then intimate in his most heavenly prayer wherein expressing his respect to his Fathers honour together with abundant love towards the Elect he doth very often touch upon them as given unto him by the Father And Joh. 17. 2 4 6 7 8 9 11. 12 24 upon this account it was that he thus speaketh of the communion which he had with his Father before the foundations of the world were laid I was by him as one brought Pro. 8. 30. 31. up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing alwayes before him Rejoycing in the habitable parts of his earth and my delights were with the sons of men Reason 2 Because of the dear deliberate purchase which he made Titus 2. 14. of them that they might be brought in to friendly fellowship with him It is commonly said that the mother loveth those children most which cost her the most paine when she brought them into the world The Prophet calleth the fruit of the womb Beloved And that is very Hos 9. 16. considerable to this purpose which the Evangelical Prophet foretold of Christ He shall see of the travel of his Isa 53. 11. 1 Cor. 6. 19 20 soul and shall be satisfied We are Christs by redemption and in this regard also we are his beloved friends and highly esteemed by him above others as the Prophet witnesseth Since thou wast precious in my sight I loved thee Isa 43. 4. c. Reason 3 3. Because of their spiritual troth-plight unto Christ The Apostle speaketh of espousing the beleeving Corinthians 2 Cor. 11. 2. Hosea 2. 19. unto him as their husband And as this is done in loving kindnesse and mercy so because of this relation Christ is propounded as an example of great love Husbands love Eph. 5. 25. your wives even as Christ loved his Church and gave himselfe for it Reason 4 4. Because they are incorporated into Christ as members 1 Cor. 12. 12. of his body mystical As the body is one and hath many members so also is Christ And upon this ground likewise is Christs love to his people inferred No man ever yet Eph. 5. 29 30. hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord his Church For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bone Reason 5 5. Because all the revenues as it were of Christs honour and reputation on earth are raised from among believing Christians for praise waiteth for him in Zion and Psal 65. 1. Psal 22. 30. Exod. 19. 5. Mal. 3. 17. 2 Cor. 8. 23. this is the seed which shall serve him As before his incarnation they are called Gods peculiar treasure and his Jewels so since his Ascension the Apostle Paul stileth them the Glory of Christ And in this regard a principle of divine self-love doth incline the Lord Christ to be a friend unto beleevers For the illustration of this truth know that this love of Christ is fourfold viz. 1. Of his eternal purpose 2. Of Benevolence 3. Of Complacency 4. Of Compassion 1. There is a love of divine good pleasure appertaining unto Gods people In this sense God saith Jacob have Amor benepla citi I loved and in the pursuit hereof the Lord in due time converteth Rom. 9. 13. them unto himselfe I have loved thee with an everlasting Jer. 31. 3. love therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawn thee 2. The Lord loveth them with the love of benevolence Amor benevolenâ—iâ—e communicating to them together with himself and his loves his All for their comfort Who loved me saith Saint Paul and gave himself for me All are yours and Gal 2. 20. 1 Cor. 3. 21. 2 Cor. 4. 15. all things are for your sakes saith the same Apostle Christ himself being the heir of all things both in heaven and earth the fountaine both of grace and comfort brings along with himself all needful accommodations terrestrial celestial whether they concern this life or that which is to come How liberal was Gods love to Abraham
his friend giving all Canaan to him and his seed after 1 Chron. 20. 7. him 3. The Lord embraceth them with a love of delight Amor Amicitiâ— and complacency he himself having made them lovely by putting upon them his own robes and ornaments both by justifying and sanctifying grace This is taught by Ps 45. 9 11 13. sundry expressions in that Song of Loves The Kings Daughter is all glorious within her cloathing is of wrought Gold Vpon thy right hand did stand the Queen in Gold of Ophir so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty And to the same purpose doth the Prophet Ezekiel metaphorically hold for this truth I washed thee with water yea I throughly washed away thy blood from thee and I anointed thee with oile I clothed thee also with broidered work I Ezek. 16. 9 10 11 12 13 14 girded thee about with fine linnen and covered thee with silk I decked thee also with Ornaments and I put bracelets upon thy hand and a chaine on thy neck And I put a Jewel on thy fore head and ear-rings in thy ears and a beautiful crown on thy head Thus wast thou decked with Gold and Silver and thy raiment was of fine linnen and silk and broidered work and thou wast exceeding beautiful and thy renown went forth among the Heathen for thy beauty for it was perfect through my comelinesse put upon thee saith the Lord God Therefore though the Elect themselves are rather loathsome then delightful in their unregenerate estate yet being covered with Christ his righteousnesse and adorned with the graces Tit. 3. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his holy Spirit they are friends in whom he taketh much delight Hereupon the Church is called Hephzibah Isa 62. 4. for the Lord delighteth in her 4. Christ expresseth towards them the love of compassion Amor misericordiae Isa 63. 9. sympathizing with them in all their sorrows and sufferings in all their affliction he was afflicted As in reference to his friend Lazarus being brought to the place Joh. 11. 35 36. where he was buried Jesus wept And hence the Jewes inferred this conclusion behold how he loved him Vse 1 This makes much for the comfort of all truly gracious Christians seeing the Lord Jesus is their friend God intending to give David a cordial upon the death of his childe bestoweth upon him Solomon with this assurance 2 Sam. 12. 24 25. that he loved him whereupon he was called Jediâ—iah And for the chearing of Daniels heart he was told once and againe that he was greatly beloved by the Lord. Now Dan. 3. 23. 10. 11 19. this refreshing reacheth all Gospel-Christians universally In the serving out of this cordial I will briefly endeavour to lay before you 1. The Characters of Christs beloved friends 2. The comforts hence deducible for their relief First for these signes of Christs beloved friends I refer you to the review and application of the particulars in the former branch of the Doctrine for the discovery of such who are his loving friends For this is most certaine that Christ loveth all those who love him And I adde Prov. 8. 17. these two further evidences of them who are beloved of Christ 1. Those who are beloved of the Lord are called to be Saints Rom. 1. 7. Two things are considerable in the quotation viz. That these Saints are not so titularly onely because so reputed and nominated among men but Saints in reality and practice being persons whose hearts are separated from common pollutions raised above creature contents to minde the matters of God in good earnest in which respect they are called his Saints devoted unto him Psal 56. 5. peculiarly And this calling is not alone external for thousands who continue haters of God are called upon to lay down Isa 65. 2 3. their arms of rebellion and to submit unto the government of Christ but it is a calling internal and efficacious conquering the soul to come in unto Christ leaving all in resolution affection and endeavour for him Therefore in the application of this note the Quere should be which way the strongest stream of minde and will do run whether sin ward world-ward or God-ward and what is the greatest designe driven on by project and practice whether to satisfie lusts and to grow great in the world or to conform unto laws divine and to advance Christs glory 2. The Apostle Paul conjoyneth faithful and beloved 1 Tim. 6. 2. Persons beloved by the Lord are faithful to the Lord. And this fidelity doth evidence it selfe by two things especially 1. By cleaving inseparably unto the guidance of God when others are swayed by the multitude swimming down the tide of times In this regard in times of general Apostacy Judah is said to continue faithful with the Saints holding close to his will in holy worship when Hos 11. 12. with chap. 5. 11. Ephraim followed mens traditions and commandments 2. By intending Gods glory more then personal advantage in course of life and conversation And in this respect the Apostle speaking of the servants duty doth place purloyning in opposition to good fidelity Tit. 2. 10. that servant who purseth his Masters gaine he is not faithful If these things were brought home by an unpartial application how many would be found in these times not befriended by Christ though they would be cryed up as his chiefest favourites among men Secondly the comforts which belong unto such whom Christ affecteth as his friends may be considered under two heads viz. 1. The quality of his love towards them 2. The efficiency First his love them ward for quality is 1. Most cordial They are the dearly beloved of his soul Jer. 12. 7. It is not lip-love love from the teeth outward but love from the heart-root 2. Most large it passeth knowledge it exceedeth all dimensions Eph. 3. 19. Whereas never greater love was expressed then Joh. 15. 13. that a man should die for his friend Christ commendeth his love as much more because he died for sinners and for enemies Rom. 5. 6. 7 8 3. Most refreshing This love is not only sweeter then Cant. 1. 3. Psal 63. 3. wine but also better then life yea better then lives as the Original imports All the comforts of life natural and civil all the comforts of the several ages and conditions of life are not comparable to this love 4 Most constant whom he loveth once he loveth to the Joh. 1. 31. end This Christ did cast in to chear his Disciples being to depart from them No opposition losse or change whatsoever can possibly separate beloved Christians from this love Rom. 8. 55 which the Apostle mentioneth as a matter of high joy and holy triumph Whereas Solomon telleth us that a friend Prov. 17. 17. 18. 24. loveth at all times and that there is a friend that sticketh closer then a brother this may
have pretended much respect to Christ Maâ— 7. 22 23. 2. To all those who are ashamed to own Christ in his cause and his friends in their holy conversation for all these our Lord observeth and of them he will be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of Mark 3. 32. his Father with the holy Angels And I leave it to your consideration how miserable their case will be at the last day when Christ who knoweth all his friends and foes shall separate the sheep and the Matth. 25. 32. goats And shall come to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them Jude 15. of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him And of the individual unfriendly neglects of his necessitous servants these must depart with a curse from Christ and go away into everlasting Mat. 25. 41. 46. punishment Vse 2 This truth administreth sweet comfort unto all them who are faithful friends unto the Lord Jesus Christ and his real Relations The testimony of their own consciences 2 Coâ— 1. 12. will in this case reflect refreshing and this will be a great addition unto their comfort that expressions of friendly respect both to God and his servants are thus observed and will be acknowledged The Lord himself to enâ—ourage Israel in captivity giveth them to Jer. 24 5. understand that he will own them in that estate No doubt it was good news to Cornelius when he heard Acts 10. 4. from heaven Thy Prayers and thine Alms are come for a memorial before God So the Psalmist cheareth himself by this consideration I have preached Righteousnesse in the Psal 40 9 10. great Congregation Lo I have not refrained my lips O Lord thou knowest it This consolation will be admirably sweet at two seasons First When we may be injuriously suspected and censured for falsnesse and unfaithfulnesse either to God or to his people How well was it for Mordecai Esther 2. 21. when himself with his Countrey-men were decryed and condemned as enemies to the State that his fidelity in a particular instance was recorded And to bring this home to the knowledge that God taketh of his servants sincerity Jâ—b being reproached Job 23. 10. as an hypocrite hath recourse to this He knoweth the way that I take And Jeremiah being suspected to be one ill-affected towards the place where he lived maketh this appeale to the Lord Jer. 17. 16. I have not desired the wofull day thou knowest Secondly At the day of Judgement when God will measure out unto people according to their wayes The Prophet Malachy having mentioned both Gods hearing the good conferences of such who feare his Name in evil times and the book of Remembrance recording all he addeth And these shall be mine Mal. 3. 16 17. saith the Lord of Hosts in the day when I make up my jewels c. And this cordial is contained in Pauls Prayer for Onesiphorus The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus for he refreshed me and was 2 Tim. 1. 16 17 18. not ashamed of my chaine But when he was at Rome he sought me diligently and found me The Lord grant unto him that he may finde mercy of the Lord in that day But most comfortable is that full promise of Christ himselfe unto all such who are friendly unto him in his Matth. 25. 34. 40. 46. relations recorded in Matthew 25. from ver 34. to ver 40. from whence these particulars are worthy consideration 1. That he will at the last day remember all the individual offices of friendship to his members and will mention much that themselves never minded And they shall say when saw we thee an hungred Ver. 37. c. 2. That all acts of love and pitty towards his relations even the least and lowest shall be interpreted as a special kindnesse shewed unto himself In as Ver. 40. much as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me 3. And the recompence shall be exceeding great Then shall the King say Come ye blessed of my Father inherit Verse 34. 46. the Kingdom prepared for you And the Righteous shall go into eternal life Vse 3 I will conclude this Doctrine and this first part of my Text with a double short Exhortation First to real friendlinesse both unto Christ and to all those who peculiarly belong unto him Suppose ye saw Christ sitting in a chaire of Majesty and heard him speaking thus in the audience of all the inhabitants on earth Who is on my side Let all my faithful friends gather themselves before me In this case would not multitudes come in with professions and protestations of love Now it is thus in truth for our Lord looketh from heaven and considereth exactly who are his friends and who are not Therefore bethink your selves what you will do And if you be content to come in to Christ as faithful friends then befriend for his sake those especially Gal. 6. 10. who are of his houshold for this will be observed and rewarded Therefore my beloved be ye stedfast and 1 Cor. 15. 58. unmovable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Secondly to beware of all kinds of doubling and hypocrisie both in the profession and practice of love whether towards Christ or faithful Christians It is the admonition of the Apostle Let love be Rom. 12. 9. without dissimulation And the Doctrine is a strong Argument to back it because of the notice which our Saviour taketh thereof Christ himself by this consideration moveth sincerity in all services whether of piety towards God or charity towards men because an eye Matâ—h 6. 4 6. from heaven doth espie whatsoever is done on earth with greatest secrecy This motive will be the more prevalent if we minde Christ who as the Judge of all men will manifest and recompence Luke 12 1 2. 2 Cor. 5. 9 10. their services according to their nature and manner of performance The second part of my Text followeth in the handling whereof I shall be the shorter because I have been so large in the former Lazarus sleepeth In the division of the Text there were three things noted thence which I shall speak unto very briefly in three points of Doctrine Doct. 1 1. That such who are Christs and his peoples friends are subject to death This word Sleepeth is by our Evangelist himself thus Verse 13. Verse 14. expounded Jesus spake of his death and it is added Jesus saith to them plainly Lazarus is dead There is no need of Scripture quotations here because experiences from age to age every where give in sufficient proof of this Truth When the Apostle Heb. 11. 13. had particularized many Worthies
Text Then said his Disciples If he sleep he shall do well And by the argument the Apostle seeks to prevaile with the Thessalonians that they might not mourne excessively upon such occasion For those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him Then he addeth 1 Thes 4. 13 14 17 18. We shall be ever with the Lord wherefore comfort one another with these words Love moveth joy when our weak weary pained diseased friends are fallen into a sound sweet sleep This consideration therefore should cheere our drooping spirits in reference unto godly friends who died in the Lord. Let us minde this the rather because God who propoundeth this ground of comfort observeth both when we have need of this cordial and also what improvement we make thereof as it followeth in the next and last Doctrine which remaines to be handled Doct. 3. The Lord knoweth when his own and his Churches friends do fall asleep by death As Christ though now at a bodily distance from Bethany the place of Lazarus his abode yet told his Disciples of his death Our friend Lazarus sleepeth As God spake this to Joshuah My Josh 1. 2. servant Moses is dead This truth may be concluded strongly by these arguments Reas 1. Because Christ hath the keys of death Rev. 1. 18. in keeping the soule cannot be let out of the body without his leave And he knoweth all his own grants Reas 2. Because he also hath power in heaven keeping as it were the gate hereof into which none can enter without his allowance This is manifest by his promise to the penitent thief This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Therefore he exactly observeth when any persons or person Luke 23. 43. hath admission thither Vse 1. Hence the deity of Christ may be proved undeniably for though there be thousands dying hourely in the several places of the world yet Christ knows particularly 1. Both their qualification whether his friends and his Churches friends or no. 2. And the time when every one of them giveth up the ghost As the instance under discourse doth evince 1. He understood infallibly that Lazarus was a faithful friend both unto himselfe and his servants Our friend Lazarus 2. And though he was not corporeally present with Lazarus in the place where he died yet he knew without any creature-intelligence that now he was fallen asleep by death Vse 2. This truth speaketh manifold comforts unto Gods children For 1. This hints his respect to them Precious in Psal 116. 15. â— the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints He will not suffer any of them to lose life without his special observation thereof together with causes and concomitants therein considerable 2. It suggests his care of every soule when it removeth out of the body the place of its habitation it shall not miscary or be lost through Christs regardlessenesse Though thousands of devils may watch to intercept the soule yet Christ who observeth when it leaveth the body will undoubtedly according to his charge and promise secure its Passages to glory This is a Cordial to the poorest Christian for there is no respect of persons with the Lord. It came to passe that the beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Luk. 16. 22. Abrahams bosome And 3. It may relieve the sad hearts of godly ones mourning for their losse in the death of their dear Christian friends for their God and Saviour is quickly and fully acquainted with this their affliction he saw when our beloved relations breathed out their last gasp Questionlesse it cheered Hagar when she understood that God took notice when the bottle was empty and heard the cry of Ishmael because he wanted water And you may be Gen. 21. 16 17. confident that Christ who understands when your Parents your Pastors your yoakfellows your friends die he doth also consider what counsel what comfort what supports what supplies what encouragements you be deprived of by meanes of their death Is not this a choice Cordial to Gods children that their heavenly Father knoweth they need such things Mat. 6. 32. Vse 3. Lastly this Doctrine yields matter of seasonable and needful admonition Therefore upon the death of Gods servants we should seek after such dispositions as may be pleasing unto his Majesty who observeth together with such providences how we are affected therewith Here then I would advise two particulars wherein I intreat the Lord to make us serious 1. To be rightly affected with such like dispensations laying to heart the publick losse sustained when the friends of Christ and his servants are taken away by death The Lord observeth and complaineth when people do not herein answer his expectation The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart And our love unto Esay 57. 1. the publick together with the consideration of the great use of such persons would help forward our humiliation in such cases You heard before that they are friends to Christ and much befriended by Christ yea that they are lovers of the cause and people of God Now is not the death of such to be bewailed When Elijah went up by a whirlewinde to heaven Elisha 2 King 1. 11 12 saw it and he cryed My father my father the Charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof And when Elisha was 2 Kin. 13. 11 14 sick Joash though not a good man wept over him and said Oh my father my father the Charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof Because they beleeved that the publick safety depended much upon the interest of godly men in God therefore their death was thus lamented And truly such friends of God are the chief stakes in the hedge and maine pillars in the building both of Church and Common-wealth Therefore in such cases it may well become us to imitate the devout men who Acts 8. 2. carryed Stephen to his grave and made great lamentation for him 2. To imitate the deceased Saints in their graces and holy conversation we should lay their lives as so many faire copies before our eyes and labour to write after them by consciencious imitation The Apostle having given in a catalogue of Old-Testament-beleevers who in their several places and ages did worthily he earnestly perswadeth Christians to be followers of them And Heb. 11. compared with Heb. 12. 1. seeing God hath given us to behold the beauty of holinesse and the power of godlinesse in their courses it will much aggravate our sinne if we labour not to be like them This leadeth me to that which you all look for viz to spread before you the exemplary life of Master Jeremiah Whitaker the late Pastor of this place whose Funeral hath occasioned this great Assembly and my Sermon in reference unto whom that I may speak unto your edification I will with the change of one word only undertake my Text again Our friend Whitaker sleepeth And truly I am very confident
deny any motion for preaching and praying if God gave bodily ability and other unavoidable occasions did not necessarily hinder Many week-dayes he preached twice yea then when he attended the work of the Assembly of Divines viz. the morning-exercise either at Westminster or elsewhere afterwards in the afternoon I here remember the commendation which St. Paul gave of Epaphroditus in his Epistle to the Philippians For the work of the Lord he was nigh unto Phil. 2. 30. death not regarding his life How farre this is appliable to painful Mr. Whitaker multitudes do well know yea many conceive that his painful distempers which hastened his removal from us were caused and increased by his many constant labours in this kind Neither were his Sermons jejune and dry because thus frequent but always full of Scripture-strength savoury affectionate as his Auditors will testifie Thirdly Such was his love to Christ that his publick Imployments did not take him off from family-duties nor from more private exercises of communion with God His ordinary course was together with prayers to expound some parts of the holy Scriptures in his own family twice every day and beside other parts of Scripture which he daily read in secret he usually read over all the Epistles in the Greek Testament twice every fourtnight yea when by reason of pain and weakness he himself could not read he herein imployed others for his help Hence it was that he was a man mighty in the Scriptures like unto Apollo Acts 18. 24. as was observed by all who conversed with him And this course he earnestly commended to the practice of his dearly beloved eldest son as an excellent means to make him both a ready and a profitable Preacher Fourthly His courage in Christs Cause did much commend his love whereof I will suggest these evidences 1. While he lived in Rutland-shire he refused to read the book allowing of sports upon the Sabbath though it was with commands and threatnings pressed upon him And when he was called to give in his answer about the collection amongst Ministers to maintain the War against Scotland he openly told the Bishop or Chancellor that his conscience could not yield thereto This his answer exposing him to great danger both to lose living and liberty in those times a neighbour through misguided love compassionating him and his family payed the money and subscribed Mr. Whitakers name without his knowledge This he was long ignorant of and when he heard it he expressed with many complaints much grief of heart 2. Since our times of woful desertion and Apostasie both from Gospel-truths and practices he would undauntedly in private conferences and in his publick Ministery express his dislike yea detestation thereof to the faces of them who too much favoured Errour Heresies and ranting courses though he knew that thereby he did run hazards and procure many frownes He refused to subscribe the late Engagement though thereby he was in danger to be taken off from his Westminster Lecture And if his Sermons preached there upon Ephes 2. 2 3. concerning mens walking according to the course of this world c. fulfilling the lusts of the flesh c. could be collected and published thereby it would be manifest that Mr. Whitaker in love unto his Lord Christ was a man of good metal and magnanimity 3. One more private proof of the good mans valiant love to Christ I will make bold to insert because my self can knowingly attest its truth Since these stormy dayes wherein the liberty and livelihood of Ministers have been maligned and struck at he riding with an intimate friend by Tiburn which he had not known or not observed before demanded what that was and answer being made this is Tiburn where many Malefactors have lost their lives he stopped his horse and uttered these words with great affection O what a shame is it that so many thousands should die for the satisfaction of their lusts and so few be found willing to lay down their lives for Christ Why should not we in a good Cause and upon a good call be ready to be hanged for Jesus Christ It would be everlasting honour and it is a thousand times better to die for Christ to be hanged to be burnt for Christ then to die in our beds And how much he condemned life in respect unto Christ Jesus there are many who from his own mouth can witnesse Fifthly So great was his love unto his God and Saviour that he maintained and expressed high estimations and honourable thoughts of his Majesty when under tormenting providences nothing being more feared then this lest he should do or speak any dishonours unto his Name These were some breathings of his large love when through paine he was as in the fire and upon the Rack Good Lord keep me from dishonouring thy Name by impatiency O who would not even in burnings have honourable thoughts of God! Who that knoweth thee would not fear thee O Lord love thee and honour thee Lord thou givest me no cause to have any haâ—d thought of thee Blessed be God there is nothing of hell in all this Blessed be his Name for Jesuâ— Christ and the revelation of the everlasting Gospel Who knoweth the power of thy wrath If it be so heavy upon thy servant here how heavy shall it be to all those who shall endure it without mixture Blessed be God for the peace of mine inward man when my outward man is so full of trouble This is a bitter cup but it is of my Fathers mixture and shall I not drink it yea Lord through thy strength I will this is my burthen and I will beare it Upon any abatement of his paines he was constantly much in blessing God using these and such like expressions O! what a mercy is it that there is any mitigation any intermission Lord make me thankful And turning himselfe towards those who stood by he would speak thus O help me to be thankful O lift up a prayer for me that I may be thankful O what a mercy is this How much worse might this affliction have been I might have been distracted or laid roaring under disquietnesse of spirit By these workings of his spirit which my self and others do well remember and I could heartily wish that all the rest had been recorded who perceiveth not the sparklings of his love to God I will annex one more which hath much affected my heart viz. these words he hath often spoken to me Brother through mercy I have not one repining thought against God Now upon all these considerations I appeale unto the consciences of all ingenuous ones whether there be not ground to beleeve that Christ if here with us would give him the honour of this compellation My loving friend Whitaker The second head of my Narrative followeth That Christ loved Mr. Whitaker For as I discovered in my Sermon this love is alwayes mutual The discovery hereof will be clear upon a double account
them who will consider it as in other regards so because their love draweth our prayers unto God as need requireth Psal 122. 6 â— 2. From hence they may infallibly conclude their regeneration by special grace Let us love one another saith Saint John for love is of God and every one that loveth 1 Joh. 4. 7. Noscitur ex socio c. 2 Tim. 3 3. is born of God Whereas persons under the power of depraved nature are despisers of them who are good 3. And as they may upon this evidence lay claime to the comforts of grace upon earth so may they raise confidence of future glory in heaven We know that we 1 Joh. 3. 14. have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren Vse 4 The last Use is exhortation wherein two duties might be perswaded First to love Christians because they are like unto Christ and belonging unto him in the nearest relations The holy Ghost is often and earnest in this perswasion 1 Pet. 2. 17. and 3. 8. Col. 3. 14. Love the brotherhood love as brethren and above all things put on charity which is the bond of perfectnesse As helps herein let these meditations be moulded believingly upon your hearts 1. That they are in regard of spiritual beauties the lovelyest people under the Sun Exceeding beautiful The Church is called the fairest among Ezek. 16. 13. Cant. 6. 1. 5. women And this is not the judgement of persons subject to mistakes but even of Christ himself which he gives in again and again both as a ground of his own love and requiring attention unto his testimony Behold thou art Cant. 1. 15 16. and 4. 7. faire my beloved behold thou art faire behold thou art faire yea pleasant Thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee Therefore that you may beget love in your bosomes towards Saints do not so much pore upon their blemishes as their beauties look rather upon their vertue then their vices as Titus by remembring the obedience rather then the disobedience of the Corinthians found his affections enlarged 2 Cor. 7. 15. towards them 2. That the obligations of love which the Gospel hath laid upon you are many and commanding Here I will only name without enlargement the particulars whereby Saint Paul perswadeth the Christian Ephesians to keep Eph. 4 3 4 5 6 the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace There is one body and one spirit one baptisme one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all 3. That no persons whatsoever have been or are likely to be so useful to your selves and to the publick as these Saints and servants of the most high God This argument Paul presseth upon Philemon to move his affections towards Phil. 11. converted Onesimus because now saith he profitable to thee and me These are repairers of breaches and restorers of paths to Isa 58. 12. Isa 1. 9. dwell in And these are the remnant which if God had not left we should have been like unto Sodom and Gomorrah I forbear to report how they bestead the publick 1. By their prayers As if Moses had not stood up in the breach to turne away Gods wrath Israel had been destroyed Psal 106. 13. 2 And by their presence As God told Lot he could do nothing till he removed from Sodome By this reason Gen. 19. 22. Jonathan speaketh to move Saul's bowels towards David For he did put his life in his hand and slew the Philistine and 1 Sam. 18. 5. the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel Secondly I might from this doctrine deale with all sorts by perswasion to endeavour to become godly that they may be admitted as friends into the bosomes of Gods people Although I know that there are higher ends to be intended in undertaking the practice of piety viz. Gods glory and our own salvation yet this consideration under hand would not be slighted if these particulars which I shall onely name were well weighed 1. That the love of Gods people towards us will Phil. 1. 4 6. produce their frequent and fervent addresses unto heaven for us according to our serviceable necessities 1. That their applications unto the Lord are very Job 42. 8. prevalent in regard of their great favour with his Highnesse 2. Their love will work them unto readinesse in any other kinde to serve us with their interests and abilities Heb. 6. 10. counsels and communication of their experiences as opportunity may be offered 3. And their expressions of loving respect may administer some relief unto the faint hopes of self-suspecting soules because they are to be looked upon as best able in regard of their principles and experiments to judge of the spiritual conditions of other Christians I proceed to the third circumstance considerable in the first part of the Text viz. That Christ himself doth testifie the forementioned relation of friendship betwixt Lazarus and himself with his Disciples Our friend Doct. 3 That Jesus Christ knoweth and acknowledgeth them particularly who are friends unto himself and his peculiar people The Lord knoweth them that are his This 2 Tim. 1. 14. knowledge comprehends observation approbation and commemoration As he owned Lazarus here his friend So likewise he did his Disciples under the relation of Matth. 28. 10. brotherhood after his Resurrection Go tell my brethren And since his Ascension into glory such is his respect unto all sanctified ones That he is not ashamed to call them Heb. 10. 11. brethren If more clear Scripture-proof be demanded let these two passages be observed 1. That Christ knoweth who love him while they are alive This is manifest by Peters attestation Lord thou knowest that I love thee Joh. 21. 15 16 17. 2. That the Lord remembreth after the death of his friends that they were so during life As dead Lazarus is thus spoken of Our friend And long after Abrahams decease God speaking of Israel thus expresseth himself The Isa 41. 8. seed of Abraham my friend Reasons I shall only point at the Reasons whence this truth may be concluded 1. God knoweth his friends because himself maketh them so And therefore because he understands his own actions he cannot be ignorant in whose bosomes there Psal 33. 14 15. are these friendly dispositions 2. And God will acknowledge them because he hath undertaken torecompence them He is not unrighteous to forget labours of love Heb. 6. 10. The Application followeth This consideration may be a cooling card unto two sorts of people Vse 1 1. To all them whose consciences bear witnesse that they have no friendly frame of heart unto such godly ones whose holy conversations discover them to be chosen and called out of the world If mens hearts condemn them Gods is greater and knoweth all There will be many 1 Joh. 3. 20. rejected at the last day who