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
and as the Prophet speaks he hath no form nor comliness and when we shall see him there is no Beauty that we should desire him Yet notwithstanding there is in Christ unparallell'd Beauty This is Prophesi'd of Christ Isaiah 4. 2. In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be Beautiful Christs People shall attend willingly upon his service in the Beauties of Holiness Psal 110. Bp. Reynold's on Psal 110. v. 3 â— 6 8. Edit ult 3. That as an eminently Learned Divine observes from the Word willing or of willingness notes the Ground or Inducement of their great Devotion and Subjection unto Christs Kingdom that as the People came up in Troops to the Lords House which was the Beauty of Holiness or as Men do flock together to the sight of some honourable and stately Solemnity so Christs People by the Beauty of his Banners shall be allur'd to be gatherd unto him and fly in Multitudes as Doves unto their Windows How amiable was Christ in the estimation of the Spouse in so much that she prized him the chiefest of Ten Thousands And Christ prized her Cant. 5. 10 16. Cant. 4. 12. for the Beauty of Holiness which he put upon her the fairest among Women Christs Beauty allures and ravisheth the Spouse In what variety of expressions doth she set it forth Cant. 5. 11 12. His Head is as the most fine Gold his Locks are bushy and black as a Raven his Eyes are as the Eyes of Doves by the Rivers of Waters washed with Milk and fitly set c. All these Expressions declare the singular Beauty that is in Christ And wherein confists Christs Beauty but in his Holiness Holiness is a thing altogether Glorious and Beautiful Christ is a Holy High Priest harmless and Heb. 7. 26. undefiled separate from Sinners Christ is altogether lovely the desire of all Nations Hag. 2. 7. The Word of Christ is a Holy Word for we are clean through the Word The Holy Joh. 15. 3. Oyl with which all the Vessels of the Sanctuary were to be Consecrated was a Exod. 30. 23. Type of the Spirit of Christ which sanctifies and makes us Kings and Priests unto God So then this Beauty of Holiness which is in Christ should infinitly inhance our valuation of him 2. Consider Christs Riches and these 2. Christs Riches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are unsearchable Eph. 3. 8. The Vnsearchable Riches of Christ And these are Riches of his Grace Eph. 1. 7. And the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints There are four Singularities in the Riches of Christ which cannot be appropriated to any Riches under the Sun besides 1. The Riches of Christ are solid and 1. Solid Riches substantial of great weight and worth whereas the Riches of the World are things that are not They are upon the Wing For Riches make themselves Wings they fly Prov. 23. 5. away as an Eagle towards Heaven The things of this World they are not Bread and the Prophet expostulates Isai 55. 2. Wherefore do ye spend Money for that which is not Bread i. e. We should not anxiously and carkingly busy our selves about earthly things for they are not solid but there 's Vanity pronunced upon them all by Solomons Verdict Eccles. 2. 11. There 's a vast difference between Real Râ—s humanae cinis pulvis fuâ—â—s umbra folia cadentia flos somnium fabulae ventus aer penna mobilis unda decurrens et sâ—quid illis infertus Chysost in Epist. ad Heb. Hom. 9. Food and Imaginary Food between Solid Meat and Painted Meat and as vast a difference therein between the Riches of Christ and the Riches of the present World That 's then the best sort of Riches which is convey'd by Wisdom Prov. 8. 21. That I may cause these that love me to inherit substance and I will fill their Treasures 2. The Riches of Christ are invaluable 2. Invaluable Riches We often put too high a price on earthly things but we can never enough prize the Riches of Christ it 's a common Proverb Deus et Coelum non patiuntur Hyperbolen Wherefore all must be forgon for Christ and his Riches All the Treasures of the Judges all the Riches of the greatest Potentates may be valued at their own rate but the Riches of Christ can never be enough and sufficiently valued Wherefore the wisest of all Merchants stands not cheapning nor dodgeing for Abatements but parts with all for Christ Matth. 13. 46. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrysost in Loc. It s said who when he found one Pearl of great price he went and sold all that he had and bought it He knew the great value of it and thereupon ventur'd all for it 3. The Riches of Christ are satisfying 3. Satisfying Riches Riches The desires of Covetous Men are never satisfacted They are always a craving more Though their Bags may be fill'd with Gold and Silver yet their Hearts are never satisfyed But the Riches of Christ his Graces his Consolations can satisfie the Soul Wherefore Phillip propounds the Question Joh. 14. 8. Shew us the Father and it sufficeth us and Moses the Man of God Prayeth Ps 90. 14. O satisfye us early with thy Mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our Dayes 4. The Riches of Christ are Eternal 4. Eternal Riches Riches Oftimes Men are deprived of their Estates in this Life even whilst they live but when Death comes they are stript of all And those that could ride many Miles in their own Grounds are now confind to the narrow compass of a Grave six-foot long But the Riches of Christ last unto all Eternity It was an excellent saying of Lewis of Bowyer Emperour of Germany such Goods saith he Hujusmodi comparandae sunt opes quae cum naâ—fragio simul â—natent are worth getting and owning as will not sink nor wash away if a Ship-wrack happen but will wade and swim out with us The Riches of Christ will be preserv'd amidst Storms Tempests and Shipwracks The Graces of the Spirit the Purchases of Christ viz. Of Justification Sanctification and Glorification will abide for ever and run Parallel with the longest line of Eternity And thus it 's evidenced how highly Christ is to be valued and how pretious he is to all true Believers if we consider the Riches of Christ 3. Let 's farther instance in the Honours 3. Christs Honours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Text. Ezek. 34. 19. of Christ He is Honour it self in in the abstract and a Plant of Renown and it 's our Duty to honour him John 5. 22 23. The Father hath Committed all Judgment to the Son that all Men should honour the Son even as they Honour the Father He that Honoureth not the Son Honoureth not the Father that hath sent him Christ hath Honour in himself being the Fountain of Honour and he puts Honour upon his
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