suffer in love and if wee love wee shall serve and suffer long as Jacob for Rachel and think all nothing only because we love Love is that lively motive which makes our obedience full 't is that vertue which comprehends all other vertues Gradn eminentia for if we doe and suffer out of love we are at the highest pitch possible attainable Love saith the Apostle fulfils the Law nor can any vertue so long hold out 'T is as strong as death Cant. 8.6 7. Acquaint your selves with Gods transcendent excellencies but above all set your thoughts a working in deepest and humblest meditation of his love to you in Christ God loved us loved us first loved us being enemies yea so loved us as to give his Sonne to us yea as to give him to death for us to an accursed and shamefull death and he asketh nothing of us but this that we beleeve in him and so hee good to our soules If Faith be in the worke Love will break out yea break out into teares of joy to an exrasie Psal. 31.21 Psal. 116.1 I love the Lord because hee hath heard my voyce and may supplications because hee hath inclined his eare unto mee therefore I will call upon him so long as I live Gal. 2.20 The result of all is this Wee must suffer and indure afflictions as out of love so with joy The Argument That which makes for our eternall blessednesse is to be indured with joy But Afflictions makes for out eternall blessednesse erge not that we are to rejoyce in our afflictions but in the act exercise of our patience or rather Christs working them in us and so in the assurarce of Gods love and favour as the penitent not in his sinnes but in his teares for sinne Acts 5.41 And they departed from the presence of the counsell rejaycing that they wene counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name And 2 Cor. 12.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmâ—ies in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake But be you therefore cheerefull in afflictions they are but for a few dayes and then comes glory Every Bird can sing in a cleare Heaven onely the Nightingale sings in a storme Rom. 5.2 3. By whom wee have accesse by faith into this grace wherein wee stand and rejoyce in the glory of God and not onely so but wee glory in tribulation knowing that tribulation worketh patience c. If your hearts grow heavie recover your selves with David Psal. 42.5 Why art thou so sad O my soule and why so disquieted within me Trust in God for I shall yet prayse him who is the health of my countenance and my God Soli Deo gloria THE MYSTERIE OF GODLINESSE I TIMOTHIE 3.16 And without controversie great is the Mysterie of Godlinesse God was manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seene of Angels preached unto the Gentiles beleeved on in the World received up into Glory WHat the Evangelists speake of Christ by way of Historie the Apostle here discovers as a great Mysterie Without all controversie great is the Mysterie of Godlinesse c. Where behold as in a Scale of Gradation first a Mysterie secondly a great Mysterie thirdly a great Mysterie of Godlinesse fourthly a great Mysterie of Godlinesse without all controversie Next the Veyle being as it were rent wee see what that great Mysterie is God made manifest in the flesh So then the Apostle here shewes you first that there is a Mysterie secondly declares what that Mysterie is First a Mysterie This word in its owne language speaks some sacred and secret thing full furnished with matter of knowledge but not clearely understood either because there is something betweene us and it or because it selfe is too hard for us and Mysteries there are many 1 Cor. 13. If faith the Apostle I knew all Mysteries thereby giving us to understand that there are Mysteries of severall sorts some greater some lesser whatsoever others are this is great Secondly a great Mysterie {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} This saith the Apostle speaking of Marriage Eph. 5.32 is a great Mysterie because it shadoweth forth unto us the Union that is betwixt Christ and his Church But Thirdly 't is not onely great but godly a Mysterie of Godlinesse Godlinesse is the scope of it it teaches not onely to beleeve what God promiseth but to obey what God commandeth and godlinesse faith the Apostle is great gaine it hath the promise of this life and the life to come it s therefore a Trade saith one of a good returne which way soever you looke Nay more Fourthly the Mysterie here is not onely great a Mysterie of Godlinesse but all this without controversie There are many great Mysteries in the world but not great without controversie nay not without great Controversies The world you see is full of desperate Disputes about Truth whilest Truth her selfe lyes neglected in the middle like Moses his body when the Devill and the Archangel strove about it dead and buried no man can tell where Religion as one complaines of old is even lost in Questions about Religion wee pull so violently in our unprofitable Disputes that at length breaking the Rope wee sall more asunder yea the one side if not both must at last fall to the ground But what is the Mysterie here so great so godly and both without controversie God made manifest in the flesh So that here is first Height God secondly Depth in the flesh thirdly Breath manifest that is God not onely made man but shewing himselfe a man First Height God Job 6.26 Secondly Depth God in the flesh that is the Godhead not absolutely considered but as personally restrained to the Sonne and to him not simply neither as he is God but as a Person subsisting in the Godhead The Word was made flesh saith S. John that is the second Person {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The Word of God who as wee begat words out of our thoughts beget his Sonne out of himselfe as it were by thinking within himselfe an eternall Generation Not the Father nor the holy-Ghost is made man for then there should have beene two Sonnes but the middle person betweene both as to preserve the integritie of the blessed Trinitie so the better to undertake the office of Mediation betweene God and man But yet though Father and holy-Ghost had no communion with the incarnation of the Sonne {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Damascen otherwise then by assent and approbation yet for as much as the Sonne is of the same substance with the Father coeternall coessentiall with him God blessed for ever Amen for as much as the Word and Deitie are both one subject should wee exclude the nature of God from incarnation wee should make the Sonne of God not to be very God Undoubtedly therefore the Nature of God in the Person of the Sonne is incarnate and therefore though incarnation may not be granted to any
c. Nay farther Wee must not onely {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} but {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} not only not shrinke from but not sinke under the pressures God is pleased to lay upon us So then the next point is 2. When God is pleased to trie us by afflictions we must not onely suffer them to the end but all the while with strength and courage not onely with constancie but magnanimitie If saith Solomon thy heart faile thee in the day of trouble thy strength is small Wee must stand up under our burthens as the Palme-tree under weights not onely not stooping or declining but springing up the more towards Heaven As in the Deluge the higher the Waters rose the higher still mounted the Arke so the greater our trouble are the higher must wee goe in our thoughts towards God 2 Cor. 4.8 10. Wee are troubled on every side yet not distressed wee are perplexed but not in despaire alwayes bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body Say wee then of our severall pressures as it is Ier. 10.19 Truely this is my griese and I will beare it They who being under affliction doe either shrinke from it or sinke under it are Cowards both alike If at any time either through the greatnesse or the length of any miserie our hearts begin to faint check wee our selves and say as David Psal. 42. Why art thou â—ast downe O my soule and why art thou so disquieted within me Trust in God for I shall yet prayse him who is the health of my countenance and my God To this end labour wee for spirituall strength My Grave saith God as to the Apostle so to all in like case 2 Cor. 12.9 shall be sufficient for thee And Philip 4.13 I saith the Apostle am able to doe all things through him that strengthneth me Understand him transcendently strengthned by Christ wee shall be able not onely to doe but to suffer any thing for his sake Labout wee for courage fortitude heavenly-mindednesse so shall nothing be hard unto us Aliquando vincitur quis non quia fortior sed quia cum timidiore congressus Tertull. Wee are sometimes beaten not because weake but because more cowardly and fearefull Well say you here is the Man that suffereth and thus suffereth a Man that both stayeth in his affliction and stands up under it What then Secondly The thing affirmed of him He is blessed And hence shall I commend unto your tenderest Meditations two Instructions First As we would be blessed we must first be tryed by some affliction or other Acts 14.22 Where you see the way to Heaven lyes first through tribulations secondly through many tribulations and this thirdly necessarily it must be so God hath appointed it 1 Thess. 3.3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions for your selves know that wee are appointed therecunto And if wee goe forth by the foot-steps of the flock as it is in one of the Songs of Love wee shall finde all that are now in Heaven to have gone this way Heb. 2.10 For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many Sonnes unto glory to make the Captaine of their salvation perfect through sufferings And Heb. 13 1â—Wherefore seeing wee also are compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses let us lay aside every weight c. Iamâ—es 5.10 Take my brethren the Prophets who have spoken to us in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and of patience 1 Pet. 5.9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world And this way must all follow after Whosoever saith the Apostle will live godly in Christ note that in Christ that is in opposition to the world must suffer persecution Blessednesse at the first required nothing but obedience active Doe this and live but since the Fall it requireth obedience passive also the way to Heaven is by weeping-crosse Heb. 12.6,8 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every sonne whom he recerveth if ye endure chastening God dealeth with you as with sonnes for what sonne is he whom the father chasteneth not Those eight Beatitudes or rather eight parts of Beatitudes which is one and intire in Christs first Sermon upon the Mount if you marke them run most of them in obedience passive wee must goe to Canaan through the Wildernesse amidst Scorpions and by the waters of Marah They then are much deceived who thinke to passe hence à delicits ad delicias from fleshly and worldly pleasures and delights to the joyes of Gods presence deceived they are as they shall one day find when it shall be said unto them amid their torments and too late repenting as unto Dives Remember thou hadst thy pleasure upon earth Art thou yet at ease in Sion c Well thou mâ—yst yet suffer nay thou must there is no scaping in a mist though going forth wind and tide serve thee yet suddenly both may turne against thee 'T is reported of Nero that having a faire Empresse hee used sometimes to take her by the chin saying Here is a faire face but when I list I can cut it off So say thou of all thy sairest externall blessings here is a strong body but God can when he pleaseth turne it into dust here are sweet children but God can when he will take them from me c. Provide for a storme and the rather because now the heavens lowre our bankes are broken downe and the tide is breaking in O let us no longer like little children play with cockle shells upon the shore Art thou under any affliction any distresse any extremity c be not dismayed the worst of the wayes of God are better then the best of the wayes of sinne for these lead to the chambers of death 1 Pet. 1.12 thinke it not strange nay think of it both as right and comsortable for this is your land-marke now may you assure your selves that you are in the way onely looke not back to Egypt againe nor sit still as weary yet a little farther and you are happy Heb. 12.11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous neverthelesse afterward it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of Righteousnesse unto them which are exercised thereby It followeth Secondly As they who would be blessed must endure tentation so they that endure tentation shall be blessed Rom. 8.17 And if childrens then heires heires of God and joynt-heires with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may bee also glorified together Revel. 2.10 Feare none of those things which thou shalt suffer bee thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee a crowne of life Nay they are already blessed in the comfortable assurance of Gods love and
God and Man are enemies the reconciler of both must have an interest in both behold Jesus Christ God and Man John 20.19 Gâ— to my Brethren and sayâ—nte them I ascend to my Father and year Father to my God and 〈◊〉 God When Christ shall enter our appearance in his Name and shall say to his Father Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the Children which thou hast given me This shall make God and Man friends againe And me thinkes the consideration of this should make us all friends How this that you have heard first is a Mysterie considering the premisses you will easily grant it The whole Gospel is a Mysterie Coloss. 2.2 it is the Mysterie of God and of Christ Magnum Sacramentum say the Rhemists following the vulgar as by the Conventicle of Trent they must but the word in it own Language speakes a Sacred Secret Thâ— {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 1 Gor. 1.7 Though the Gospel be every where preacht yet is it not by every one understood 't is still a Mysterie The naturall man faith the Apostle perceiveth not the things of God none but they to whom it s given understand this none but the Sparituallâ— To you faith Christ is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdoms note Mysteria 〈…〉 regis and then they that know know but in part but darkly the rest know nothing 2 Cor. 4.3 4. The Gospel is hid to those that are lost Now whatsoever in the Gospel is most mysterions the inoarnation of the Some of God is more yet Secondly 'T is a great Mysterle both in the making and in the maâ—festing of it First in the making That God should be made Man Had he come in the shape of an Angel or in the beautie and glory of any other Creature above or under the Sunne or had he come in the beautie and power of our nature or as on Mount Tabor betweene Moses and Elias when his face was as the Sunne and his garments as the Lightning this had beene abasement enough but to come in the flesh of man which is but dust and ashes oh this is that de basement beyond expression Every precious thing is abased by mingling with a worse and still the worse the thing is wherewith mingled the more the debasement If then Gold be abased by being mingled with Silver much more when mingled with rust or Iron or with the drosse of Lead This debasement of Christ oh it is infinitely more then if the Soâ—ne of the greaâ—st 〈◊〉 in the World should if it were possible he might be turned into the basest Creature on the face of the earth See Proverbs 30.4 Who bath ascended up into Heaven or desconded Who bath gathered the Winds in his fists Who bath bound the Waters in a Garment Who bath established all the ends of the Earth What is his 〈◊〉 and what is his Soâ—es Name of thou canst tell You may reade the first Letter of his Name in Isay 9.6 Wonderfull And wonderfull he was and did â—derously when he appeared unto Manaaâ— Judgers 13.18 19. Bâ— all the Wonders that ever were Creation and all from thence and that which shall be last of all but not least of all the Resurâ—ection from the dead must give place to 〈◊〉 You have here the highest pitch of Gods Wisdoâ—e Goodnesse Power Glory and Mercie if any thing may be said to be highest in that which is infiâ—te and exempt from all measure and dimension Dan. 2.11 'T is a 〈◊〉 thing a sayâ— Chaldeans to the Question propounded them by the King of Babel and none can shew the like except the gods whose dwelling is not in flesh But here the raritie lyes in the contrary He who is over all God blessed for ever is come in our flesh c. 2 Chron. 6.18 But will Gad in very deed dwell with 〈…〉 earth Behold Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens cannot containe him how much lesse this house that I bâ— built Words of wonder But see here a greater matter the Sonne of God is made the sonne of man cloâ—thed with our flesh and 〈…〉 Deus â—asciâ—ur the great Jehâ— is become a 〈…〉 sagens where Eternitie hath put on our moâ— He that is incorporeall is cloathed with our flesh the Ancient of dayes is become an infant Made of a Woman borne of a 〈…〉 that it was given for a signe unto belâ— long before the accomplishment a figue of Gods owne châ—ing one Ray of the Wonders in the depth breath on the beight above Isa. 7.14 Bohold a Virgin shall 〈◊〉 a Sonne and shall 〈◊〉 his name Emanuel That the Sonne of God should be made the some of 〈◊〉 made of a woman yea that woman which he himselfe made That her Wombe then and the Heavens now should containe him whom the Heaven of Heavent cannot containâ— That he should be both God and Man in one Person and both distinctly and so have a Father in Heaven without a Mother and on Earth a Mother without a Father That his Father should be greater then hee and yet hee equall to his Father That â—ee should be before Abraham and yet be borne well-nigh two thousand yeares after him That hee should be Davids sonne and yet Davids Lord That hee should have neither beginning nor end of dayes c. Let Egypt cease to talke of her Mole-hils of Brick Ephesus of her Temple Babyloâ— of her Walls Rhodes of her Colosâ—e here is a Wonder infinitely beyond all God is made flesh Nay more Secondly made manifest in the flesh {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} What may be knowâ—e of God saith the Apostle Rom. 1.20 is manifest in the Creatures but here you have God made manifest in the flesh of Man God himselfe is hid from our eyes Isa. 45.15 Truly O Lord thou art hid from our eyes So that God himselfe is a Mysterie and that which makes the Mysterâ— the greater God is hâ—d with Light Hee dwells saith the Apostle In Light maccessible 1 Tim. 6.16 But what have wee to doe with an hidden God a God that cannot will not be seeâ— Make us gods say the people unto Aaron may goe before us Exâ— 32. Behold here God not onely made but made manifest in the flesh And behold here a lower degree of abasement Men especially if great howsoever abased cannot endure to have their basenesse knowne Oh tell it not in Gâ—h Even Naoâ— in her distresse is ashamed of her Name Call mâ— no more beautifull but bitter far the Aloâ—ghtie hath dealt bitterly with me Ruth 1.20 But Christ is not onely made flesh but made manifest in the flesh yea so sarre from being ashamed of it that a little before his death hee gives a Charge to have it preached all over the world And if the incarnation of Christ be a Mysterie so great a Mysterie them must wee learne silently to 〈…〉 it s no shame to be ignorant of the things wee cannot know nay ' â—is Docta ignorantia Câ—lv Wee
favour Away then with all Bildads and Zophars who would draw hard conclusions on Gods people in their affliction as if God loved them not Oh let their mouthes be tyed up in silence for ever Blessed saith my Text is the man that indureth tentation and who can curse where â—od hath blessed See here with admiration the goodnesse and graciousnesse of our God who though he might command our obedience both active passive upon the allegeance we owe unto him is yet pleased to suger his precepts with sanctions with propositions promises of reward He blesseth us as the good old father Ephraim and Manasseth with his hands a-crosse How happy are wee to serve so good a Master but how happy shall we be if wee doe him good service Is there any among you who being in troubles is thereby offended whose feet begin to slip whose treadings are almost gone O looke out with Moses to the recompence of reward so shall you hasten home and sweeten your thoughts by the way as you goe the dayes are sharp but then they are short the wayes are soule but not long Heaven is hard at hand and a day is comming will make amends for all your sorrowes and sufferings hold on and the Crowne is yours Afflictions are tryalls and these as wee would be blessed wee must indure yea if wee indure them neither sinking under them nor shrinking from them we shall be blessed Blessed is the man that indureth tentation and why blessed the proose of the proposition followeth for when he is tryed he shall receive a crowne of life c. And here you see the blessednesse of the patient man First defined Secondly assured 1. 'T is defined 'T is a Crowne of life A Crowne speakes State and Dignity whatsoever we are now we shall ere long be Kings and walke in long white Robes You saith Christ that have followed mee in the Regeneration that is in the day of new birth to all the world in the day of Restauration of all things shall sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19.28 But what is a Crowne without life Better saith Salomon be a living Dag then a dead Lion True but the patient man shall have at last not only a crown but a Crowne of Life 2 Tim. 4.8 Honcesorth is laâ—d up for mee a Crownâ— of Righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Indge shall give me at that day and not to me onely bus unto them also that love his appearing So then Howsoever wee have here beatudinem viatoâ—nm such and so much happâ—nesse as belongs to Travellers yet is the fulnesse the heaghe of blessednesse behinde beatitudo patriae wee are now the sonnes of God 1 Joh. 3.2 Neverthelesse it doth not appeare what we shall be but when Christ shall appeare we shold appeare in glory with him Above saith the Apostle are such things as neither eye hath seene ner eare heard nor ever came into the heart of 〈◊〉 to conceive The sum of all is Gods beatificall vision In Heaven is the perfection of all good things fulnesse is the perfection of measure everlastingnesse is the perfection of time infinitenesse the perfection of number immutability the perfection of state immensity the perfection of place immortality the perfection of life and God the perfection of all Psal. 16.11 In thy presence as fulnesse of joy at thy right hand there we pleasures for evermore See here the extreame folly of worldly men who for perishing and vexations vanities are content to part with a Crowne of immortall Glory Worse yet are they who for the pleasures of sâ—e which are but for a season momentanie yeâ— abortive perishing are they bud forfeit eternall blessednesse Wee laugh at little children when they let goe things of worth for trifles rattles a nut an apple but certainly many among us are much more childâ—sh They let goe Heaven and all the riches joyes and happinesse thereof for things that can doe them no good may doe them much hurt and when all is done cannot abide with them See here againe a ground of patience and cheeresull suffering your losses are many and great but if you have not lost Heaveâ— you have lost nothing Maries better part is that which cannot be taken away Your crosses are many and great remember there is a Crowne of life behinde c. Wherefore as the Apostle Colos. 3. take your affections off from things here below and set them on things above looke to the Crowne of life reserved for you Amid all crosses and in the houre of death live in the comforts of this hope and raise your mindes accordingly live like those that doe beleeve and expect an Heaven Heb. 10.34 For yee had compassion of me in my bonds and tooke joyfully the spâ—yling of your goods knowing in your selves that you have in Heaven a better and an induring substance See here a crosse with a Crowne But what assurance wee see blessednesse defined but how is it assured The assurance is two-fold 1. In regard of promise God hath said 2. In regard of those to whom the promise is made They that love him First God hath said Blessed is the man that indureth tentation for he shall receive a crowne of life Hath God said it and shall not he doe it He saith the Apostle is faithfull who hath promised Againe all his promises in Christ are yea and amen If we confesse 1 Ioh. 1.9 God is faithfull to forgive a strange argument one would thinke we should rather feare revenge then expect forgivenesse of sinne from the Justice of God But God is as just in performing the mercy he hath promised as in executing the vengeance he hath threatned See here a sure ground of hope the word and promise of our never-failing God a sure ground I say wherein hope which is our Anchor may strongly fasten to secure our soules in any tempest as to hope without a promise or upon a promile otherwise then it stands is to let our Anchor hang in the water or catch in a wave and so to expect safety So to depend upon the promise of God and so as the promise is made is to settle to stay to save our selves against all stormes Wherefore take the Lord at his word Cast not away your hope saith the Apostle Heb. 10.35 36. And why because there is a promise whereby with patience and doing the will of God we shall bee saâ—e amid all surges here and at last happily arrive on the shores of peace What say some will you have us to stand where no bottome is will you have us to hang in the ayre Oh slow of heart to beleeve doth not the world earth and sea depend on the Word of God as you may see Heb. 11.2 Through faith we understand that the worlds are framed by the Word of God so that things which are seene were not made of things which 〈◊〉 appeare
immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seene nor can see You see if wee could come neere him yet wee cannot see him for he is invisible No man 〈◊〉 see him and live All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God Rom 3.23 So that wee may as easily see that which is invisible and attaine that which is unapproachable as of our selves to become holy againe unlesse the Lord shall please through some veile to exhibit his Image unto us or through some Glasse shall make the same to shine upon us wee shall live and dye without it strangers from the life of God Behold the Sonne of God is made the Sonne of man God made manifest in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 So that through his humane Nature as through a veile wee have accesse to the holiest of all Hee is the Image of the invisible God Colos. 1.15 and by him are wee made the Sonnes of God Joh. 1.12 Partakers of the Divine Nature 1 Pet. 4. and 2 Cor. 3.18 Wee all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord So that as Christ is the Image of his Father Heb. 1.3 so are we the Image of God but with this difference Christ us imago equalitatis Christianus imitationis As the Image of an Emperour saith Augustine is aliter in nummo aliter in filio so the Image of God is aliter in Christo aliter in Christiano The renewed are the Image of God Non quantum ad naturalia as the Schooles teach though therein us yet be some remaines of our lost glory but as renewed by Christ Thirdly the quality of the mysticall body where of Christ is the head and Saviour requires this imitation hee is our head Heb. 2.10 11. For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sonnes unto glory to make the Captaine of their salvation perfect through sufferings For both hee that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all one for which cause hee is not ashamed to call them Brethren and Heb. 4.15 c. Fourthly Christ is the summe of all Scriptures and therefore necessarily the rule of all holinesse as the Apostles did so must wee preach nothing but Jesus Christ How too blame are those who are so farre from following Christ that they follow man any man the worst the most and thinke it their safest way But if great men if men in Authoritie doe so and so then all is out of doubt Their Religion is to them as their Coyne all goes for Currant that is stamped with Authoritie and allowance of the State Nay what phantasticall Spirit so idle and ridioulous that hath not many Disciples What jugling Impostor so despicable and infamous that hath not many followers What rebellious Sonne of Belial or Atheisticall Ruffler so execrable and odious that hath not many observers What Ignatian Viper or devillish Jesuite Monochus Damonnicus so prodigiously wicked so trayterously audacious that hath not many favourers and attendants Habet Diogenes suos parasitas the Cynick is not without his approvers and admirers whilest Christ the Sonne of the living God sits alone like a Pellican in the Wildernesse or a Sparrow on the house top But the men are good c. Yet are they but men and all men are Lyars may both deceive and be deceived Peter was a good man yet once dissembled so was Barnabas yet snatcht away by example into the like dissimulation You see in the Scripture the failings of the Saints to hang on record not that God either delights to see them or others to gaze on them for he hath cast them all behind his back and blotted them out of the Booke of his Remembrance but that the Apostles admonition might ever be thought on Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall Cavenda tempestates flenda naufragia Aug. And that wee might not thinke it safe to follow good men no not the best men in all things nor would good men have us so to doe Follow me saith Paul as I follow Christ 1 Cor. 12.1 Some there are so farre from following Christ that they goe before him These are they that despise Government and speake evill of things they understand not Others worse yet are so farre from following Christ that they runne from him called after they will not returne having nothing to plead for themselves they make their Will their Master and so have as many Lords over them as Affections in them all under the Curse of Chaâ— a slave to their slaves one to his Pleasure another to his Profit a third to his Vanitie c. If God move by his Spirit that is resisted if hee allure by his Mercies they are abused if threatned by Judgements they are neglected if called by Ministers they are reviled c. Oh when men thus pull away their shoulders from Christs Yoake when they turne their back on God set up mounds against the Gospel Non-plus Gods mercies this is an heavie signe that God hath left them unto themselves a very plague of plagues See Psal. 81.11 12 c. What remaines but that wee send them to the Judge with this Scrowle on their fore-heads Domine noluerunt incantari Some there are who follow Christ but not constantly Sequnntur sed non assequuntuâ— Bern. With Orpha they goe a little way and then returne into their owne Countrey Set wee the example of Christ before us in all the things wee doe If the thing be unlawfull and yet wee finde our Lusts swaying us that way aske wee this question Would Christ have done this or doth hee allow it c. If the thing being both lawfull and expedient yet if not sutable to our person wee must here respect Christs allowance in all other things wee must reflect on his example 1 John 2.6 He that saith he is in Christ ought to walke as he hath walked First Religiously Beginning all things with God sanctifying every Creature and every Ordinance with prayer and this longer or shorter as the occasions are more or lesse serious doing all things by the warrant of the Word contemning our owne will that wee may doe our Fathers chusing rather to lose life then our obedience as if there were but one will betweene God and us doing all things for God and reserring all unto his glory Secondly Christ walked holily so must wee for without holinesse noâ—e shall see the Lord if wee live like monsters Christ will never owne us for his members Thirdly Christ walked fruitfully in his Calling Acts 10. Hee went about doing good hee watched and apprehended all occasions of being helpfull unto others to their soules to their bodies Thus should wee spend our dayes and not as the most doe who bring the day to an end without the performance of any thing
according to that hea hath done whether it be good or bad Seventhly Happie are all they that are gone out of themselves into Christ for Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christlesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Observe further As Christ shall come to judge the world so being come hee shall sit in the Throne of his glory Dun. 7.9 14. I behold and lee are like the Some of Man 〈◊〉 wâ—h the Clouds of Heaven and came to the Ancient of dayes and they brought him neere before him and there was given him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdome that all People Nations and Languages should serve hiâ— his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not passe away and his Kingdome that which shall not bee destroyed Match 34.30 And then shall appeare the signe of the Sonne of Maâ— in Heaven What this signe is me thinkes may be gathered from verse the 27. As the Lightning commeth from the East and passeth to the West so shall the comming of the Sonne of Man be Mâ— saith Christ 〈…〉 here is Christ and there is Christ 〈…〉 shall be the signe of my comming even the brightâ— and splendour of my Body obscuring all other Lights and awakening all the World That it shall be this is manifest Revel. 21.23 And the Citie had no need of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lambe is the light thereof If wee tell you of Christs Glory at his Transsiguration in the Mount you will tell us of that of Moses comming from his fortie dayes conference with the Lord But the difference is great First the glory of Moses was onely in his face that of Christ all over his Body secondly when Moses veyled his face none could see his beautle but that of Christ appeared through his garments Thirdly the glory of Moses made the people afraid but that of Christ was amiable and lovely Bonum est esse hit said they that were with him Fourthly Moses could not communicate his glory unto any but Christ saith the Apostle shall make our bodyes like unto his glorious Body Since the Glory of Christ was such at his Transfiguration what will his Glory be in that Day when hee shall sit in his Throne Hee came in the forme of a servant was a man of sorrowes knowning infirmities Our sinnes like continuall droppings of water putting out the Lumpe of his life But when hee comes againe O what beauty what resplendant Majesty But what of all this In that day they that have followed Christ shall sit on twelve Thrones and judge the twelve Tribes of Israel Observe First the Saints shall partake of CHRISTS GLORY Secondly They and none but they Thirdly Nor they till then First the Saints shall partake of Christs Glory God hath said it and you know hee is faithfull who hath promised All his promiser are Yeâ— and Amer See here what a good Master we serve The World payes his followers with trouble and carefulnesse the Flesh payes her followers with corruption and filthinesse the Devill his with despaire and wreâ—ednesse but Christ his with Glory and Blessednesse To hasten your desires homeward and to sweeten your affections by the way with Moses looke up to the recompence of Reward God gives you leave so to doe Secondly as the Saints shall partake of Christs Glory so none but they shall partake thereof Psal. 50.5 Gather my Saints together unto meâ— those that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice So Mal. 3.17 18. And they shall bee mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Jawels and I will spare them as a man spareth his owne sonne that serveth him then shall yee returns and discerne betweene the righteous and the wicked betweene him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Againe Mal. 4.2 3. But unto you that feare my Name shall the Sonne of Righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings and yee shall goe forth and grow as Calues of the stall and yee shall tread downe the wicked for they shall bee as ashes under the soles of your feet in that day I shall doe this saith the Lord of Hosts This point like the Red Sea opens it selfe for the passage of Gods people into Heaven and then closeth againe on the ungodly to their destruction You that live prophanely c. you are lost men you are of the forlorne hope for 1. Joh. 3.2 3. Beloved now are wee the Sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what wee shall bee but wee know that when hee shall appeare wee shall bee like him for wee shall see him as hee is and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himselfe even as hee is pure Gather hence a necessity of a godly life if wee will be happy wee must be holy Revel. 22.14 Blessed are they that doe his Commandements that they may have a right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City This also the Glory promised and expected calls for 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearely beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God Alexander invited to a Race with Plebeians could answer That Kings ought not to run but with Kings So neither Christians but with Christians Thirdly as the followers of Christ shall bee partakers of Christs Glory and they onely so they onely in the Regeneration when Christ shall come in his glory not till then that is the day of our Redemption First therefore wee are to long and look out for this Day Job 14.14 If a man dye shall he live againe All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change come Rom. 8.22 23. For wee know that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in paine together untill now and not-onely they but our selves also which have the first fruits of the Spirit even wee our selves groane within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our body Then is our Iubile the Trumpet having sounded and liberty proclaimed wee may enter into our possessions Secondly wee are to comfort our selves against all troubles in assurance and expectation of that Day Colos. 3.2 3 4. Set your affections on things above not on things on the Earth for yee are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God when Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall wee appeare with him in glory Recordatione temporum meliorum spero said a Roman beholding the rubbish of old Marble the ruines of ancient building But looke forward to the day comming and the glory thereof me thinkes this should much comfort us surely 〈◊〉 would if wee did beleeve How joyfull will it be to meet with our Saviour in that day when the thought of it is so refreshing Rabboni saith Mary unto Christ when her eyes were opened to see her Savicur whom before shee supposed to be the Gardner as if shee should have said What have I found thee whom I have so desired so longed for If thus it were with Mary then How exuberant beyond expression yea imagination great shall our joy in that Day bee when wee shall sit on Thrones with CHRIST and all partake of his Glory Thirdly wee are in the meane time to waite on in the use of all holy meanes Heb. 10.36 For yee have need of patience that after yee have done the will of God yee might receive the promise for yet a little while and hee that shall come will come and will not tarry 1 Ioh. 2.28 And now little children abide in him that when hee shall appeare wee may have confidence and not bee ashamed before him at his comming Amen Soli Deo Gloria FINIS 1 Tim. 3.16 Matth 19 28â— Jam. 1.12 1 Obserâ— 1 Vse Instruction in Truth 2 Vse Instruction to Dâ—ie 3 Use Comfort 2 Obser. 1 Vse Reproofe 2 Vse Exhortation Object Sol. Art 3.6 Job 2.10 4 Obser. Vse Counsaile Vse Conviction Counsell Vse Reproofe Advice Observ. Vse Reproofe Counsell Obser. Use Counsell Dub. Sol. Obser. Vse Quest 1. Note this â—ove arising from faith in Christ in whom alone â—s the accepâ—ance of perâ—ons and duâ—es Quest 2. Answ. Observ. Use Obser. Rom. 3. â— 1 Tim. 6.16 Heb. 2.16 Obser. Object Answ. 1 Vse 2 Vse Object