Schoot their keenest Shafts of Malice and Hatred The best of Men oftentimes Drinks deep of the Cup of Affliction Psal 34. 19. Acts 14. 22. 2 Tim. 3. 12. John 16. 33. Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous They enter into Heaven Through many Tribulations All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must Suffer Persecution Christ hath foretold that his Children should in the World meet with Tribulations The Title of Psalm 22. is Aijeleth Shahar i. e. The Hind of the Morning Hunted and Pursued That Psalm is a Prophesy of Christ's Sufferings and upon a serious Comparing of it with Mat. 27. we shall find this Chapter to be a perfect Commentary upon that Psalm But if we ask How comes it to pass Quest that the Righteous and Holy Servants of God Suffer such hard things and meet with such great Sufferings in this World I shall lay down an Answer in these ensuing Particulars Answ 1 The Godly have not their Portion in this Life Mich. 2. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 4. First The Godly have a Portion prepared for them in a better Life Here is not their Portion here is not their Riches Here is not their Rest. They have a brave Reversion i. e. the Kingdom of Heaven That 's Christ's Purchase and the Saints Inheritance This is a Crown of Glory that Fadeth not away This is an Inheritance Incorruptible and Undefiled and that Fadeth not away Reserved in Heaven for all true Believers When Anaxagoras was ask't Hast thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no Care of thy Country Yes saith he I have a great Care of my Country and he Stretched out his Hand towards Heaven implying that Heaven was his Country The Godly have as it were an Hell here in this World by reason of Persecution Ignominy Disgrace and the Hearing and Seeing the Abominations of Wicked Men The Wicked have as it were an Heaven in this World for so they Esteem their Bravery and Jollity They are Described in their Characters Plal. 73. 5 6 7. They are not in Trouble as other Men neither are they Plagued like other Men. Therefore Pride compasseth them about as a Chain Violence covereth them as a Garment Their Eyes stand out with Fatness | Stultae corum cogitationes nullis finibus possunt claudi aut coreceri Quo enim plura affluant eo Majora appetunt subinde Cupiditates hominum sunt insatiabiles Mollenus they have more than Heart can wish Now who of Understanding would Envy such Men their Portion which they Possess for a few days and afterwards become Miserable unto all Eternity A good Man said well if it be well Interpreted Give me Heavens Misery i. e. Afflictions Troubles and Sufferings which meet us in our Way to Heaven And take thou Hells Happiness i. e. the Pleasures Profits and Riches of this World which is all the Heaven that Wicked Men shall have Better to go with Lazarus full of Sores to Heaven than with the Rich Glutton in all his Mirth and Jollity to Hell The Contemplation of Heaven and Meditation of the Glory that shall be Revealed will Sweeten the most bitter Pill of Affliction Second Whatsoever Afflictions God's 2. The Afflictions of God's People are Sanctified People Suffer they are Sanctified unto them by God's gracious Hand and turned unto their greater Good as is evident from Rom. 8. 28. There 's no Exception All things Be they Losses Persecutions Imprisonments Exiles even the greatest Mischief that Men and Devils can contrive against God's Children Yet all Shall work together | Non dicit quod non accedat quicquam periculi caeterum ad bonum cooperetur hoc est quod ipsis periculis utatur ad bonorum insidias calamitates sustinentium probationem Occumen for Good to them By Afflictions God's Children are defecated by being emptied from Vessel to Vessel they are Rinsed and Cleansed by being cast into the Furnace their Dross is took away He that ran a Sword into his Enemy with an intention to Kill him let out his Imposthume and so against his will saved his Life So wicked and violent Adversaries may against their will do good to the Children of God They may put them more and more upon searching their own Hearts and upon more circumspect Walking Carthage Emulating Rome and Rome Emulating Carthage both of them became mutually more Industrious likewise more VVatchful and more Valorous But sure I am that God so Orders the Sufferings of his People as to make them gainers thereby Although their Enemies intend nothing but Ruin and Destruction to them yet God brings much Good out of the Evil Designs of the vilest Periissem nisi periissem Themistocles inveterate Enemies so that Experimentally a Suffering Servant of God can say I had Perished unless I had Perished Third The Afflictions and greatest 3. The Saints Afflictions are but Momentary Sufferings are but Momentary for at the longest they last but while they Live in this vale of Tears in this present World but the Mercies reserved for them last to all Eternity There are grand Incouragements from Three choice Scriptures one is Isa 54. 7 8. For a small Moment have I forsaken thee but with great Mercies will I gather thee In a little Wrath I hid my Face from thee for a Moment but with everlasting kindness will I have Mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer The other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Puto hoc ipsum esse quod Latini verbo Reor signisicant unde ratum dicitur quod certum ac firmum censeri debet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vertimus pro câ—gitare reputare colligere imputare Beza Scripture is Rom. 8. 18. For I reckon that the Sufferings of this present time is not worthy to be compared with the Glory which shall be revealed in us A Third Scripture is 2 Cor. 4. 17. For our light Affliction which is but for a Moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory That Christian who lives upon these Scriptures and makes particular Application of them to his own Soul he needs not fear the most boisterous Storms and Tempests Act. 27. 1â— Ejus est timere mortem qui ad Christum nolit ire Cypr. no not that Tempestuous Wind called Euroclydon He that hath Interest in Christ and is assured of God's Love need not be afraid of Fiery Serpents Sons of Anak and Beasts of Ephesus for there is more for him than can be against him Rom. 8. 31. What shall we say then to these things If God be for us who can be against us Caesar comforted the Boat-man with this saying Be of good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comfort Thou carriest Caesar Thus in a Storm he cheared up the Boat-man but how much greater ground of Incouragement is it in Afflictions to have Christ's Presence and the Consolations of his Spirit these will hold up the Head above Water and keep thee from
washed us from our Sins in his own Blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and to his Father This Election was before the Foundation of the World was laid 2 Thess 2. 13. God hath * Primum dixit sanctificationem spiritus ut â—steâ—deret quod nequaquam ad fidem venissemus nisi ipsa gratia Spiritus Sancti dâ—â—isset Oâ—cum Quomodo eos separavit Deus sanctificando eos per Spiritum quomodo pervenitur ad illum Spiritum per fidem habitam Evangeliâ— Grot. from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth Wherefore the Apostle calls the Saints Elect and that according to the fore-knowledg of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience Those that are elected unto Glory are elected unto Holiness No Holiness no Happiness A second Motive is drawn from Creation Motive 2. We are created unto Holiness we are created unto Holiness All the Members of our Bodies and all the Faculties of our Soul should be employed for holy uses to serve God External and Internal Purity are required 2 Cor. 7. 1. Let us cleanse our selves from filthiness of the Flesh and of the Spirit The Heart must Jam. 4. â— be purified and the hands cleansed the Tongue must minister Grace to the Hearer Holiness must sit upon the Lips Heart and Life To this purpose were we created Eph. 2. 10. We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk therein Good works are as a Father saith The way to the Kingdom Via ad Regnum non causa râ—gâ—â—â—di Bern. not the cause of reigning there We may not we dare not trust to our own Merits and expect to be justified by our own Works yet we must perform them in Obedience to God's Command in Testimony of our Duty and Thankfulness They are necessary necessitate praecepti non necessitate causae Wherefore let us seriously reflect upon our Creation and consider that we are ingaged thereby to Holiness of Life The frequent remembrance of our Creation should excite us unto the practice of Holiness 3. Let 's consider our Redemption and Motive 3. We are redeemed unto Holiness this was purchased at the dearest rate even the purchase of Blood and that not of an ordinary Blood but of Royal Blood and more than that it was the Blood of God Acts 20. 28. So we must understand it by a communication of Idioms To this purpose hath Christ redeemed us out of the Hands of our Enemies that we might Luke 1. 74 75. serve him without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our Life Christ did not redeem â—â— that we might live to our selves or as we list but as the Apostle expresseth it Christ gave himself for his Church that he might Eph. 5. 26 27. sanctify it and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Whosoever then hath an Interest in the Blood of Christ is sanctified by the Spirit of Christ He is redeemed from his vain Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Eph. 4. 23. He is a new Creature He is renewed in the Spirit of his Mind The Image of Christ is imprinted in him and that consists in Righteousness and Holiness Eph. 4. 24. SECT III. Of Glorification SAnctification is here begun in this Sect. 3. Glorification is thâ— Purchase of Christ Life and it must receive daily Augmentations till it be consummated in Glory Now Glorification is Christ's Purchase The Kingdom of Heaven the Crown of Glory the price of our high Câ—lling Abrahams Bosom the purchased Possession the lot of the Saints in Life an Inheritance immortal undefiled which fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for us all these are synonymous Expressions to set forth the State of Glory and all these are the Purchase of Christ Glorification is one of the Links even the highest of them in that Golden Chain Rom. 8. 30. Whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Christ himself is in Glory and he the Head would have Glory put upon all his Members Christ is in all the Saints the Hope of Glory The Salvation which is Col. 1. 27. 2 Tim. 2. 10. Cum ibi erimus ubi ipse est tum quidem eum perfecte coram videbimus câ—m autem videbimus â—um sicut â—st tum plene perfecteque â—psi glorificabimur â—am si fides nos glorificat ex parte hoc est dum â—um quasi eminus intuâ—mur profecto aspectus nos plâ—â—â— perfecteque glorificabit Rolloc in Christ Jesus is with eternal Glory and this is Christ's grand Petition unto his Father John 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World Christ is gone before to prepare a place for his Children He sits at the right hand of the Father in Glory and hath purchased Glory for all his Members Hence the Apostle assuredly concludes in his own Name and in the Name of all true Believers Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in Glory And there shall not only be Glory put upon the Bodies but also upon the Souls of the Saints Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our Here then is a notable comfort for all God's Children that not only our Souls after this Life shall go unto God that gave them but our Bodies likewise in the last day shall be raised up again and made like unto Christ his glorious Body that our Souls and Bodies being united together We may live for ever with him in his Kingdom of Glory Dr. Ayry on Phil. 3. 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Excellentissimè gravem gloriam Hic Hebraeo more per verbum geminans Apostâ—luâ— summam quandam excellentiam indicavit Grot. vile Bodies that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself Whatsoever Sufferings we meet withal they are not to be compared to future Glory There 's a Superlative above a Superlative mentioned beyond the capacity of our Language to express to the full 2 Cor. 4. 17. For our light Affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory Thus I have endeavoured to represent A brief recapitulation of the Premises the Excellency and Dignity of Christ and have endeavoured to make good this Assertion That Christ is of inestimable Dignity
severa est verum Gaudium Seneca to be Thankful and a thankful Heart is a contented Heart A Third Sort to be reproved are Rash Censurers who by their uncharitable 3. Rash Censurers are Reproved Censures add more Weight to the Burdens and more Afflictions to the Bonds of God's Afflicted Children Every prophane Miscreant is â—pt to Vâ—ima est adversae fortunae sarcina quod dum miseris aliquod crimen effiâ—gitur quae perferunt meruisse creduntur Boeth lib. 1. Pros 4. de consol Trample on them that are already cast down and reproach Sufferers and censure them for the vilest of Men. They throw Dirt enough hoping that some may Stick But Christ gives a seasonable Caution Luk. 13. 2. Suppose ye that these Galileans were Sinners above all the Galileans because they Suffered such things and ver 4. Or those Eighteen upon whom the Tower in Siloam fell and Slew them think ye that they were Sinners above all Men that dwelt in Jerusalem Christ puts them in mind of that necessary indispensable Duty of Repentance ver 5. I tell you nay but except ye Repent ye shall all likewise Perish | Si ipsi nostri simus accusatores proficâ—â— nobis ad salutem sâ— vero expectamus ut a Diabolo accusemur accusatio illa nobis cedit ad paenam Origen Hom. 3. in Lev. If Censurers of others would reflect upon themselves and enquire into their own Hearts they would find work enough to busy themselves at Home and take more heed least they Condemn the Generation of the Righteous For every one to Ex â—o â—â—â—squisque justus esse incipit ex quo sui Accusator Extiterit Bern. de inter Dom. c. 1. Accuse himself is the way to mend Job's Friends were mistaken Exceedingly in Condemning him for Hypocrisy Whereas Hypocrisy was not the cause of his Sufferings God had a Design to prove the Devil a Lyar Whâ— moved God against him And likewise God made Job a Probationer and proved him and refined him by Afflictions and left him upon Record as a mirror of Patience to Posterity Had it not been for the exercise of Patience under Afflictions we had not injoyed that excellent Book of Job But nothing more common than to Brand the greatest Sufferers for the greatest Sinners to censure them for Cast-awayes and rejected of God This is the gross mistake of Multitudes We Read in the Gospel when they brought a Man Born Blind to Christ the Disciples asked him Master Who did Sin this Man or his Parents that he was Born Blind Jesus Answered Neither hath this Man Sinned nor his Parents but that the Works of God should be made Manifest in him Though he was a Sinner from the Womb yet he did not Sin himself Blind God did not inflict Blindness upon him for any particular Sin Thus God according to his Soveraign and absolute Prerogative may do what he pleaseth and none 〈◊〉 Question In Affliction as a Learned Si iniquitatis merita respiciat nullum est adeo ingens sâ—â—plicium c. Ferus in loc Author observes God either looks at Sin or at his own Glory If he look at Sin no Affliction is so great but we deservedly Suffer it But oft-times God only looks at his own Glory and then he Afflicts not for Sin Now if it be thus Sinful to pass wrong and uncharitable Censures upon God's Children in Affliction How much more Sinful is it to Rejoyce in their Calamities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. a Rejoycing in others Sufferings argueth a brutish and a barbarous Spirit even as bad as the Spirit of a Tyger or the Bowels of an Estrich Thus David was troubled with Psal 70. â— such inhuman Enemies who desired his Hurt and Cried Aha Aha They Rejoyced in any Evil that befel him They Insulted over him in his Afflictions Malo meo gaudentes dicunt de me euge euge Jan. in loc and as Jansenius observes shewed Acclamations of Joy Now such there are who as Solomon saith Rejoyce to do Evil Prov. 21. 4. They Sleep not except they have done Mischief and their Sleep is taken away unless they cause some to Fall These are the Persons who like the Devil are most pleas'd when they have done most Mischief and are most Joyful when they hear of the Sorrows and Afflictions of God's Children To such I will relate a Story of Stephen Vid. Fox Acts and Monu Queen Maries Days 〈◊〉 3. Gardiner Bishop of Winchester who had provided a great Feast to Entertain his Acquaintance that Day that Bishop Ridâ—â—â—y and Bishop Latimer were to be Burnt but he would not sit down to Dinner till a Messenger late in the Afternoon brought word of their Burning then he went merrily to Dinner with his Guests But behold the Hand of God was upon him at Dinner and he was Carried from Table his Tongue was Swoln and a dreadful Disease called Miserer mei seized on him he Dyed of that remarkable Sickness and in his Sickness he Confessed That he Denied Christ with Peter but he did not Repent with Peter Let such Stories be a Warning-Piece to all such who Rejoyce in the Sufferings of God's Children God Professeth that he was sorely displeased with such as help forward his Peoples Afflictions Zeph 1. 15. Although God chastise his dearest Children for they may be Sub ira yet they are not Filii irae yet God will not 〈◊〉 them He chastiseth his own People with the Rods of Men but the Wicked he will Chastise with Scorpions What the Godly Suffer is only a Fatherly Correction a Judgment of Chastisement They are Chastised in Measure and Mercy and for a Moment and shall escape Eternal Punishments But the Corrections of the Wicked are Judgments of Revenge part of Payment of a greater Sum as an earnest Penny of the Flames of Hell Fire which the Wicked and all that forget God shall Endure Easeless Endless and Remediless Isa 28. 22. Wherefore Be ye not Mockers least your Bands be made Strong Scorn not Jeer not neither any whit undervalue any Afflicted Servants of God of all others there 's least hope of Reforming such Vile and Abominable Persons who make God's Children their Langhing-stoch and Subjects of Derision The same Doom may be Applicable to them with those mentioned 1 Pet. 2. 3. Whose Judgment now of a long time Lingreth not and their Damnation Slumbreth not CHAP. XIII Containing an Use of Exhortation wherein are laid down moving Considerations to depend and rely on God's All-Sufficiency for Exhortation I Come now to a Second Use which it for Exhortation that from the Consideration of God's All-Sufficiency we would endeavour quietly to stay repose and establish our Spirits In pursuance of this Exhortation some Motives or Perswasives are to be Urged some Impediments to be removed and some Duties to be Practised First For Motives or Perswasives to this grand Duty of reposing our Strength and Confidence in God's All-Sufficiency
super hunc Petrum for Christ built his Church upon the Faith and not upon the Person Learned Expositors as Lyra Hugo de sancto Victore Ferus all these though of the Romish Party expound the Rock to be Bp. Morton's Appeal L. 2. Cap. 17. meant Christ as a Reverend and eminently Learned Prelate declares Let the worst of Enemies put forth their rage to the utmost and in their Malice and Fury endeavour the Destruction of the Church yet the Church shall prevail against them The Church is under Persecution but like a Vine it thrives by bleeding What 's the reason but because God is the Protector and Defender of his Church Christ is the King of it There are many comfortable promises for the preservation of the Church One is Isa 4. 5. Vpon all the Glory Diligentâ—r not andum est quia monemur non aliter gratiae Dei nos fore participes quam siejus imaginem gestemus ac in nobis reluceat cjus gloria Calv shall be a defence By the Glory is meant Gods People for they are his Glory and are made Partakers of his Glory God first makes them Glorious and then accounts them his Glory and upon them the Lord will be a defence or covering Another Promise is Isaiah 27. 2 3. In that day sing ye unto her a Vineyard of Red Wine I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keep it Night and Day There are two things especially prejudicial to a Vineyard The one is drought and want of Water to refresh it The other is a violent breaking in either of Man or Beast to pluck off the â—rapes and destroy the Branches against both God promiseth his Gracious Protection God waters it and keeps it his refreshings and defence are abundant security A third Promise to name no more Non tantum est Ignis adversarios terrens devorans si accesserâ—nt propâ—â—s sed murus qui undiquaque tegit iâ— Zech. 2. 5. For I saith the Lord will be unto her a Wall of Fire round about and I will be the Glory in the midst of her Here 's a wonderful Protector A Wall of Fire is such an impregnable defence as Enemies dare not venture thorough it And God by his presence makes his Church Glorious And not one of these Promises but have partly already and shall further be accomplished in the days of the Gospel Witness all Ages wherein the Church hath suffered Persecution and notwithstanding Fire and Sword the Gospel hath flourished and the Church prevailed Those famous Waldenses Wicklevites Lollards and others of later date bare Testimony to the Truth maugre all the violent oppositions of their Adversaries Christ is King and will go on conquering and to conquer Some he bends and makes them willing and obedient Subjects to his Scepter Psal 110. 3. Thy People shall be willing in the day of thy power or more suitable to the Original a people of willingness Others Christ breaks to pieces Psal 2. 9. Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Those who yield not to Christs Government but oppose it shall be broken in pieces Whatever Potentate sets himself in opposition to Christ shall surely be broken to pieces Christ will maintain defend and protect his Church though it be a little Flock and despised by the World yet Christ will protect them and preserve them from the outrage and violence both of Corporal and Spiritual Enemies SECT III. Concerning our Duties to Christ our King 3. FArther yet to inlarge concerning 3. Our Duties to Christ as our King the Kingly Office of Christ The last particular is to inquire into our Duties Duties are incumbent on us unto Christ as our King Amongst many Duties which might be named I shall only insist on two viz. Prayer and Obedience 1. For Prayer we must make our addresses 1. We must pray to Christ to Christ and prefer our Supplications in his name We have Promises to rely on John 16. 23. Verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you With Christ we are promised all things Rom. 8. 32. Whatever we want we must go to Christ for he is a great King and able to help us and a High-Priest full of Bowels of Compassion touched with the feeling of our Infirmities Heb. 4. 15. But in an especial manner we must pray that the Kingdomes of Sin Satan and Antichrist may be utterly destroyed and the Kingdom of Christ may be advanced We must make it our grand Petition That Christs Kingdom may come i. e. The Kingdom of Grace here and the Kingdom of Glory hereafter That Christ may Reign and Rule in our Hearts that he may be Glorified in us and by us and that the Kingdoms of the World may become the Kingdoms Rev. 11. 15. of the Lord and of his Christ Christs Kingdom is an Holy Kingdom and he Rules in Righteousness we should labour after Holiness that we may be conformable unto Christs Kingdom We must not only take Christ for a Prophet to instruct us and a Priest to Sacrifice for us but for a King to Reign and Rule in us And there 's a second Duty incumbent 2. We must Obey Christ on us which is Obedience As Loyal Subjects we should be obedient and submissive to the Laws of Christ His will is a binding Law and his command ingageth ready and chearful Obedience Our Consciences are at Christs command for he is the Lord and Commander of them As it is our duty to obey Temporal Governours for so we are commanded in the Word of God and the fifth Commandment Rom. 13. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 13. 17. expresly obligeth us to obey our Superiours So we must above all yield obedience unto Christ Even the greatest Earthly Governours themselves must acknowledge Christ above them Even the greatest Powers on Earth which will acknowledge no Earthly Power above them yet must acknowledge themselves subordinate unto Jesus Christ and yield Obedience and Subjection unto him All Rule and Authority must be imployed for Christ and not against him Wherefore the Turks which set up that grâ—at Impostor Mahomet and prefer him before Christ and the Pope who pretends himself to be Christ's Vicar and takes Christs Office out of his Hand in commanding and forcing the consciences of Men these do abominably and highly derogate what in them lies from the Kingdom of Jesus Christ But Christs Kingdom shall stand for ever when Antichrist and his Kingdom shall perish CHAP. VII Representing Christ's Dignity by several Metaphors and Resemblances SECT I. Christ is resembled to a Stone The 49th Chapter of Genesis and the 24th verse and Isa 28. 16. are expounded THere are many Scripture Metaphors Christ is resembled to a Stone and Resemblances representing the Dignity of Christ One Resemblance is to a Stone for
Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him the Eyes of your understanding being inlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints 2. A true Believer hath a spiritual tasâ— 2. A true Believer hath a spiritual tast â— ph 1. 14. and relish of Christ's Goodness He hath tasted that the Lord is gracious he hath received the earnest of his Inheritance viz The first Fruits of Glory even some glimpses of a beautiful and Transcendently excellent Saviour Now having experimental knowledge of Christs Mercy in pardoning and purging of him and making particular Application of Christ as St. Paul did Gal. 2. 20. who loved me and gave himself for me Upon these considerations I say how can it be otherwise but Christ must be Precious to such an one Christ hath preheminence in a Believers estimation for in his doubts he hath experimented Christ to be his Counsellor and in his distress his Comforter a Refuge in storm Riches in Poverty Health in Sickness Life in Death Christ is all in all to those who have experienced of his goodness All true Believers put the highest appretiation upon Jesus Christ both for what they already have and whatever they shall have 1. They already have part of payment 1. Believers receive in this Life part of payment earnest given in this Life of his love They have Influences from the Spirit of Christ They are endowed with the Graces of his Spirit They injoy a Sacred Communion with him They tast sweetness in his Ordinances by his Gracious Presence and by the Gracious Operations of his Spirit For it 's Christ's presence and the effectual working of his Spirit that makes an Ordinance effectual to the Soul Of this all the Adopted Sons and Daughters of God are Partakers more or less in this Life Now for what they now enjoy they have cause and accordingly endeavour to extol the Dignity and Honour of Jesus Christ 2. For what Believers shall have hereafter they account Christ pretious Though 2. Believers shall have Glory Heb. 11. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It importeth a removing of the lâ—ye from one Object to another Moses turned his Eyes from the Pleasures of Egypt and fix'd them on Heaven Dr. Gouge Col. 1. 27. â—ui Christus dulcescit mundus amarescit they are not mercenary yet with Moses they have an Eye unto the reward The Israelites in their tedious Pilgrimage had Canaan in their eye and the Thoughts of Canaan sweetned their present hardship and Sufferings Observe the order mentioned Rom. 12. 12. Rejoycing in hope patient in Tribulation The hope of Glory is cause of rejoycing and will make us more chearful to undergo Afflictions in this present World Christ the hope of Glory when he hath the preheminence in all things and we account him all in all then all things are but loss and dung when compared with Christ All things are accounted bitter where Christ is sweet Now the Crown of Glory the purchased Possession and the price of the high calling and Eternal Life all these are the gift of God through Jesus Christ having then these things in our deliberate and serious Meditation O! how infinitely shall we esteem of Jesus Christ more then our Hearts can conceive or our Tongues can express 3. A true Believer hath Spiritual Affections 3. A true Believer hath spiritual Affections and sets them all on work to magnifie the excellency of Christ For Instance 1. His Love is swallowed up with the 1. The Love of a Believer is on Christ Love of Christ He is with the Spouse sick of Love for Christ The Love of Christ constrains him 2 Cor. 5. 14. to do and suffer what Christ would have him 2. His Joy is fixed on Christ Christ is 2. His Joy is fix'd on Christ the Believers Joy he cannot rejoice in Corn and Wine and affluence of earthly things for there is Vanity and vexation in them all But he rejoyceth in Christ He delights hearing Christ speak to him in his Word and in his speaking to Christ in Prayer and Supplication We read of the Joy of Espousals and of the Joy of Harvest and Vintage but no Joy like to the Joy in God and to Joy in the Holy Ghost which is Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Senica would have Joy Volâ— laetitiam tibi esse Domi. Sen. Vis nunquam esse tristis bene vive Bona vita semper Gaudium habet conscientia rei semper in poena est Beza de inter Dom. to be at home Inward Joy Joy of the Heart is better than an outward flashly Joy and that is Joy wherein the Mind is quieted Now Christ alone can quiet the Mind and rejoyce the Spirit For other Joys Men may be seemingly Merry and force an outward Mirth when there 's a damp upon their Spirits and they are inwardly sad but the Joy of Christ causeth a serious solid Mirth so that a Believer may be full of inward Joy though he may seem outwardly sad i. e. or rather serious having a sedate and composed Spirit Now to rejoice in Christ shews how much we prize him 3. Our desire is on him That which 3. His desire is on Christ we desire above all and are most eager in pursuit of it plainly evidenceth that it 's in our highest estimation It 's Christ whom the Believer desires above all and as Rachel cryed out Give me Children or else I dye So a Believer cries Give me Christ or else I dye So did the Martyr in J. Lambert Fox Act. and Mon. Vol. 3. the Flames None but Christ none but Christ Christ is the Love Joy Delight and Desire of every true Believer The Hunted Hart doth not more earnestly thirst after Water then a Believer thirsts after Christ Nothing but Christ can satisfie his desire Cicero's works could not please Austin because Christ was not mentioned Aug. Con. l. 3. c. 4. Valde protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab â—o Ad in vita Lutheri in them Luther would not be put off with outward things he lookt for Christ and his Riches He preferred them before all Preferments They would not satisfie Bazil nor Caracciolus nor other Heroick Spirited Christians Their Desires and Longings were after Christ and Christ alone could satisfie their Desires No satisfying or quietting a Believers Heart without Christ SECT IV. Containing an Vse of Reproof to alâ—Vnbelievers Of Reproof THE second Use is for Reproof unto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non credentibus Vulg. Ed. all Unbelievers These are call'd disobedient in the next words following my Text Christ is the Stone which the â—uilders disallowed yet it 's made the head of the Corner Now as Christ is to Believers Pretious and esteemed the chief Corner Stone so unto Unbelieves he is a