voice of his Word Blesse the Lord all ye his hosts the Ministers of his that do his pleasure And we pray thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven 3. To celebrate the praises of God * Isa 6. 3. One cried unto another and 3. To praise God said holy holy holy Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory †Luk. 2. 13 14. And suddenly there was with the Angell a multitude of the heavenly host praising God saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men ‖ Rev. 4. 8 9. The foure beasts had each of them six winges about him they were full oâ— eyes within they rest not day or night saying holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was is is to come 4. To make it their work to preserve Gods glory And I fell 4. To make it their worke to preserve Gods glory Rev. 19. 10. at his feet to worship him and he said unto me see thou do it not I am thy fellow-servant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy The Angell would not beare with Gods dishonour and would not permit John to worship him 5. To be servants unto Christ When he bringeth in the first begotten 5. to be Christs servants Heo 1. 6. Psal 97. 7. Luk. 1. 19. into the world he saith let all the Angells of God worship him Confounded be all they that serve graven Images that boast themselves of Idolls worship him all ye Gods They brought the message of Christs incarnation I am Gabriell that stand in the presence of God and am sent to speak unto thee and to tell thee these glad tidings They ministred unto him * Mat. 4. 11. Then the Devill leaved him and behold Angells came and ministred unto him †Luk. 22. 43. And there appeared an Angell from Heaven unto him and strengthening him Christ is the head of them and they are his servants ye are compleat in him who is Col. 2. 10. the head of all Principality and Power 6. Angells are serviceable unto men not one but all not any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Ministratores quos vulgò solemus officiarias vocare Beza Numb 20. 16 2 King 6. 16. aâ—e exempted They are all ministring spirits in the text And these singular services which they have done and will do for Gods children are upon record They deliver them from dangers When we cried unto the Lord he heard our voice and sent an Angell and hath brought us forth out of Egypt and behold we are in Kadesh a Cittie in the uttermost of thy border Feare not saith the Prophet for they they that be with us are more then they that are with them Who were they but Gods Angells for the Prophets safe-guard 1. The Angell of the Lord incampeth about them that feare him 1. The Angell of the Lord incampeth about the righteous and delivereth them * Dan. 3. 28. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said blessed be the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego who hath sent his Angell and delivered his servants that trusted in him aad hath changed the Kings word and yeelded their bodies that they might not serve or worship any God except their own God And Daniel makes this acknowledgment My God hath sent his Angell and hath shut ‖ Psal 91. 11. the Lyons mouth that they have not hurt me for asmuch as before him innocency was found in me and also before thee O King I have done no hurt †Dan. 6. 22. He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all his waies Angels are Protectors Guardians commissionated by God Dan. 10. 13. to protect Gods children The Prince of the Kingdome of Persia withstood me one and twenty daies but lo Michael one of the chiefe Princes came to help me and I remained there with the King of Persia Michael is generally interpreted to be Christ the only Archangell 2. The Angells are of marvellous wisdome to direct counsell 2. Angels are of marveilous wisdome Gen. 24. 7. and advise the children of God The Lord God of heaven which took me from my fathers house and from the Land of my kindred and which spake unto me and sware unto me saying unto thy seed will I give this Land he shall send his Angell before thee and thou shalt take a wife to my son from thence The Lord before whom I walk will send his Angell with thee and prosper thy way and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred and of my Fathers house 3. They comfort Gods children Gen. 32. 2. This is Gods host said 3. Angells comfort Gods children 1 King 19. 5 6 7. Jacob as Elias lay and slept under a juniper tree behold then an Angell touched him and said unto him arise and eate And he looked and behold there was a cake baken on the coales and a cruse of water at his head and he did eat and drinke and laid him down again And the Angell of the Lord came a second time and touched him and said arise and eat because the journey is to great for thee 4. They punish their enemies * Gen. 19. 11 They smote the men that were at 4. Angells punish the saints enemies the dore with blindnesse both small and great so that they wearied themselves to find the dore †2 King 19. 35. And it came to passe that night that the Angell of the Lord went out and smote in the campe of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand and when they arose early in the morning behold they were all dead corpses Herod was made a signall spectacle of pride as is on record ‖ Acts 12. 23 And immediatly an Angell of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory he was Rev. 12. 7. eaten of wormes and gave up the ghost They stand for Christ and his Church against Satan and his Angells And there was war in heaven Michael and his Angells fought against the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angells 5. They resist the wicked and their attemps Balaam found 5. Angells resist wicked men Num. 22. 22. 6. Angels carry the Saints souls into heaven Luk. 16. 22. 7. They gather the elect unto Christ Mat. 24. 31. Mar. 13. 27. Q. 4. Whether every Saint hath a peculiar Angell his keeper Mat. 18. 10. it so And Gods anger was kindled because he went and an Angell of the Lord stood in the way for an Adversary against him 6. They carry the soules of Gods children into heaven And it came to passe that the begger died and was carried by the Angells into Abrahams bosome the rich man also died and was buried c. 7. They gather the elect unto Christ at the last day He shall send
infinitely more worth then all and therefore willingly foregoes all things for him It 's Chrysostom's observation Christ is the Pearl of infinite value if you sell not all you cannot purchase him But an Objection lies in the way and must be removed lest it Q. prove a dangerous stumbling-block Can Christ Heaven Salvation be bought and sold Questionless Heaven is the Saints inheritance not their purchase but Christs for them For Answer hereunto we may not too hard strain a Parable lest A. we draw blood out of it And it 's a received rule in Divinity Theologia Parabolica non est argumentativa And Pareus observes on the place Hoc servit Parabolae non sensui Non enim pretio emitur sed gratis fide acquiritur No merit no purchase of Heaven all 's from Grace But then saith Calvin are we said to buy Christ Quum volentes nos privamus carnis desideriis i. e. When we willingly renounce carnal desires When knowing the worth of Christ we deny our selves foregoe what 's dearest and nearest so far forth as it stands in competition with or opposition unto Jesus Christ When we forsake all for Christ foregoe lusts pleasures profits honors in their greatest estate and confluence then are we said to buy this Pearl of price Now the Parable thus unfolded holds forth these evident truths of Doctrine First That every true Believer is a Merchant of goodly pearls Secondly Every spiritual Merchant-venturer must sell all for the purchase of the Pearl of price And these shall be the ground-work of my ensuing Meditations Both I purpose to enlarge this time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the solemnity of the day requiring inlargement of Duties I resume the first Doct. 1 Doctrine propounded That evâ—ry true c. In handling whereof I shall observe this method Meth. 1. To illustrate the similitude between material and immaterial Pearls And shew how the comparison holds between them that shall constitute the Doctrinal part Then secondly I 'le review the comparison betwixt a Merchant and a true Believer and from the practice and negotiation of the one infer the duty of the other This shall constitute the Use and Application 1. Then my task lies in illustration of the similitude and making 1. A similitude between material and immaterial Pearls 1. Pearlâ— have lustre and beauty a comparison between material and immaterial Pearls The comparison holds good in these resemblances 1. Pearls have a resplendent lustre and beauty Pearls and pretious Stones are beautiful even to admiration The sparkling of a Diamond the beauty of a Ruby will even dazzle the eyes of the beholders So the Word and Sacraments are beautiful Ordinances there 's a great deal of beauty and splendor put upon the Word of God sincerely preached and the Sacraments purely administred There 's a vast difference betwixt Pearl and Pearl A Bristol stone or a bastard Pearl may cheat ignorant people But a skilfull Jeweller will bring them to the touch-stone and discover the difference There 's a great difference between Preacher and Preacher One man bands Jesuite against Jesuite Councâ—l against Councel or stuffs up his Sermon with Poetical fragments high-flown Stage-play expressions this man is cryed up for an excellent Preacher even in Athens amongst some raw wanton Auditors And I wonder not that such preaching frequently of late years used in this place thanks be to God there is better now hath been useless unfruitful such as God would not honor with a blessing because it came onely from the head and so went no further then the head it tickled the ear and pleased the fancy onely it never descended into the heart and affected the Conscience Whereas on the contrary another man preacheth Christ in simplicity of heart in the demonstration of the spirit having experience of Gods love in his own soul he comforts others with those comforts wherewith he himself in particular hath been comforted withall This is the Preacher likeliest to do good And the seet of such are beautiful The Gospel is most Isa 52. 7. 1 Cor. 1. 21. beautiful in its own dress And the foolishness of Preaching is effectual to salvation There 's no necessity of guilding a Pearl the Pearl of it self is more precious then all the guilding that's put upon it To guild over Sermons with humane inventions and froth of wit is like to those who when they could not make the Picture handsome fell a daubing of it I discard not humane Learning but highly commend it if it be used with wisdom and moderation as a servant keeping its due distance But love to your souls constrains me to speak and be your remembrancer how thankful ought you to be and O that you would improve the price put into your hands that instead of such whose study was to preach affected phrases strong lines more Philosophy then Divinity now at last God hath sent amongst you faithful painful Preachers dividing the Word aright even between the Joynts and Marrow applying it home to your consciences such you ought to esteem highly for their works sakâ— as the Apostle exhorts It hath been an exceeding 1 Thess 5. 13. grief of heart unto me to hear so little use made of Scripture in this place formerly when Postillers and Jesuites have been muster'd as frequently as uselesly I would therefore inhance the price of this inestmable Pearl of the word of God There 's more beauty more strength of judgement more conviction of the conscience in one line of Gods word then in all the elaborate Volumes of Philosophers Compare Livy and Moses Pindarus's Odes and Davids Psalms compare Demosthenes and Cicero with Isaiah and Paul as some of the Learned have done and you 'l finde how the Learned Clem. Alex. Stâ—om Philosophers and Orators are put down and vanquisht in their own Art quite foil'd with their own Weapons so that the Quintessence and Elixar drawn out of the exquisite Writings of Philosophers are but bastard Pearls in comparison of the Holy Scriptures Let me impart an experience I speak it onely to the glory of God that I have gone from Commentator to Commentator though â— approve of their help and have been unsatisfi'd at last I have compared Scripture with Scripture and there have I received satisfaction upon my knees which otherwise I could not obtain Let 's all study the Scripture more for Gods Word is more beautiful then all the Writings of the wisest Men. 2. Pearls are very rare and scarce A man may finde millions of 2. Pearls are very rare Pebble-stones for one Pearl The Margarites come out of a sheâ—l and that very rare to be found but in the Indian Ocean The Merchant that gets them must sound the depth of the sea And many precious stones are found only in craggy steep rocks A man must scramble up to the top of high Rocks and incur the hazard of a dangerous Precipice And it 's doubtful whether for all his labours
and leave the success to God A Third sinne is an affectation of Novelty or devising wayes 2. Sinne affectation of Novelty besides or quite contrary to the knowledge of the word of God We brayd of the humour of old Athens we have Itching eares after novelty It is sad to consider how many young mens heads affect froth of wit and spend much time in reading stage playes Poets Pasquills Romances high-flown non-sense of late Scriblers Others out of curiosity are not afraid to meddle with Judicial Astrology which was Mr. Perkins his sinne in his younger years and his sorrow in his elder years Another sort there are who are much affected with New-Lights i. e. Antinomian and Familisticall writers who with a swelling Title in the frontispice allure men as the Syrens doe with their Musick and then devour them Some of their bookes are no better then guilded Pills or guilded Rats-bane which whilest they pretend the exaltation of Christ and bright morning beames as somâ—e of their Titles pretend they deceive young heads and whilest they pretend new lights they revive old Antiquated Her esies and like an ignis fatuus mislead multitudes ho follow after to their own destruction Therefore lets all as one man be exhorted not to be wise above what is written not to follow any further then they follow Jesus Christ Keep close to the good old rule unto the law and the testimonyes study the Scriptures and converse with those Mnasons those old disciples study their works such as were Greenham Perkâ—ns Regers Hildersham Dod Dyke c. Their memory is blessed their works prayse them in the gate And let me communicate an experience unto you I have observed of some that at first out of pregnancy of parts and singularity they would be scepticall and hold Paradoxes in Philosophy In tract of time they stayd not there but they would set their wits a working and afterwards they became scepticall and Heterodoxe in Divinity And therefore take heed of Sceptisme There is †Mr. John Bidle a notorious Heretique One whom I knew very well a man of a proud spirit that used in the schooles to be sâ—epticall and maintaine Paradoxes and to goe against the principles of Philosophy He is gone further now and hath wrote a blasphemous book against the Divinity of the holy Ghost Whither will not pride and vaine glory carry any man And what becomes of the best wit the best parts when God leaves any man unto himself The Fourth and last sinne I shall now name is pride and of all 4. Sin Pride pride spirituall pride is most dangerous when a man is proud of any gift of God his pride will prove like the wild gourd est mors in olla Pride is the poyson of the soul it soon swells a man and then bursts him And many times men of learning smart for their pride God bereaves them of their senses and they doe even obrutescere with Nebuchadnezzar who in the middest of his proud vainglorious boasting was sent a grazing among the beasts of the field And there is another sort of pride which I dare not let goe unreproved i. e. the strange Exotick Garbes of these times worse then former ages mâ—ny cannot be content with the haire v. Mr. Pryn's unlovelyness of love-looks that God gives them they like not the colour of it but they borrow other folks hair some are so phantasticall as to Crisp and Powder their hair and wear long Locks fitter to be called Pride-locks then Love-locks I cannot hold my peace to see such vanities and prodigious sights even like bushy Comets pâ—â—tending some mischeif to the place where they live You shall not talk scarce with any Trades-man but he will tell you it s a hard time he hath much adoe to live And many poore housholders have much adoe to keep themselves alive when as in the mean time a Phantasticall Gallant wears so many Ribbands even all the coâ—lours of the Rainbow in his Hat so many Ribbands about his waste so many Poynts about the knees as the price payd for them would maintain many poore families a great while Brethren I speak these things sadly and seriously when I consider such superfluityes and vanityes which if they were pared off and that money converted to the poor it might supply the honest necessity of many a poor servant of Jesus Christ Hopeing therefore of your Reformation I proceed to a Second Vse for Exhortation Let old men call to mind their youthfull sinnes and mourn for 2 Vse For Exhortation Admonentur hic senes ut ipst delicta juventutis suae â—gnoscant detestentur illorutnque veniam precentur Davidem non imitantur qui gloriando de praeteritâ suâ stultitiâ garriunt adhuc tales esse vellent Musc in Psal 25. Quidâ—m ex hoc loco colligun eximiam viri sanctissimi sanctitatem qui in aetate jam confirmatâ maturâ nihil sibi conscivit Sanct. them I am confident there are divers aged persons that have repented of their youthfull sinnes which sins were they to commit again they would not commit them for all the world And doe not passe by the sinnes of your riper years David prayes that God would charge neither upon him but remember him according to mercy Psal 25. 7. Covetousness and Passion are amongst others two especiall sinnes that accompany old age Beware of these in an especiall manner These are beloved bosome sinnes O subdue them when Goliah was slain the Philistines were vanquished presently When Covetousness and Passion which are the championsins the accustomed sins of old age are conquered other sins of ordinary incursions will more easily be subdued I have read of Bellarmine that when the Priest came to confess him he could not remember any particular sins of his present age but was fain to call to mind the sinnes of his youth put surely this man was a meer stranger to his own heart he had not studied his own heart otherwise he might have found many present sinnes to bewail if he had not gone back as farre as his youth â—owever the oldest Saints find matter of humiliation for daily and hourely sinnes and they lamâ—nâ— their sinnes committed in all ages viz Infancy Childhood Youth and old age â—nd to you that are yong let me beseech you to give God the prime of your youth consecrate your youth to God A young Timothy O how delightfull is he to God The time you have before you O redeem it and be good husbands of it and improve every minute of time to the glory of God! and the best advantage of your precious soules O labour with a holy greediness to get saving graces faith love hope patience meekness and humilitie Now you have a time of plenty store up against a year of famine Now you have many prices put into your hands to get wisdom withall O that God would give you hearts to make a right improvement of them You have strength â—nd
God did beseech 2 Cor. 5. 20. you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God Oâ—r commission may be out of date to morrow Christ now waites till his locks be wet with dew now he calls sinners to repentance He hath sent me on an errand this day to invite thirsty soules to come unto him and he will give them drink to invite those that are heavy laden and he will give them rest It 's my businesse this day to tender Jesus Christ the Fountain opened to presse home the Exhortation of the Holy Ghost Let the wicked forsake his way and Isa 55. 7. the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Now what answer shall I return unto him that sent me Suffer I beseech you Fathers and Brethren the word of exhortation not to suffer the holy Spirit to spend his sacred breath in vain You have many prizes put into your hands improve them in your several capacities to the glory of God and mutual edification one of another Let Rulers rule with diligence let Governours Tutours Masters of Families all unite their endeavours to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ and put Joshua's resolution into practise but as for me I and my house we will serve the Lord. O that Josh 24. 15. we could be spirituall Fathers to those that are committed to our charge Governours and Tutours should look upon themselves as Pro-parents and upon the Scholars under them as children and therefore ought to have special care over them and principally to enquire how it fares with their soules what knowledge they have of Jesus Christ What a comfort will it be another day when we can say Behold Lord here we are and the children which thou hast given us Thou â—ord hast made us spiritual Fathers unto these young Pupiss Now whilst the Spirit stayes waiting upon us whilst we have time talents and opportunities vouchsafed unto us whilest we live under the sound of the Gospel and hear admonitions reproofs and many Exhortations to repentance let us not put off the Spirit with any more delatory answers but resolve with the full purpose of our hearts to cleave unto the Lord. I have two or three plain moving considerations to adde for the better setting home of my Exhortation Consider the brevity of our lives What 's our life but a bubble Consid 1. The brevity of our lives John 4. a flower a vapor a shadow By these resemblances the Holy Ghost sets forth the shortness of our lives We had need be a working while day lasteth I must work the works of him that sent me while day lasteth the night cometh when no man can work A night of death is coming wherein no man can work and we must always remember that the Spirit strives not always not during the whole course of our lives It moves when it pleaseth and on a suddain ceaseth yet at the most it moveth no longer nor striveth no longer but this little moment of time whilst we are on this side the grave After death there will be no more warnings no more admonitions no place left for repentance no Purgatory that 's a Popish dream He that dieth filthy will so remain unto all Eternity Now then my Brethren considering you have but a little time and upon this moment depends Eternity and after death there will be no further tenders of Grace and Mercy let us husband this time to the best advantage Let us prize Sermons Sabbaths and all those Evangelical Dispensations vouchsafed to us more then ever we did Let us redeem the time as we are exhorted Eph. 5. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 5. 16. buying out or making a good market of the season Every thing is beautiful in its season there 's a season acceptable and there 's a season perilous Let 's come when God calls that 's the accepted time let 's not prescribe a time of our own that 's the perillous season let 's not account time a slight matter for each minute ought to be valued A second consideration shal be drawn from the uncertainty of the Consid 2. The uncertainty of the spirits striving Nil pretiosius tempore heu nil hodie vilius invenitur Bern. Veniet tempus quo vel unam horam ad resiâ—iscendum redimere mirum quantum optabimus Otho Casmannus spirits strivings If the holy Spirit be rejected its uncertain whether ever he will come again The Spirit will not always bear reproaches indignities If we refuse to give God the glory of his mercy he will shew upon us the glory of his Justice and Power If we will not open when God knocks at our doors he will not open when we knock at his door Unkindness will drive away a friend from our houses When the Spirit invites himself unto us if we will open he will come and dine and sup with us if we refuse this Heavenly guest how shall we escape our destruction will be inevitable This Spirit is often compared to fire nothing more comforting nothing more consuming than fire If thou wilt not suffer the Spirit to purge and refine thee it will consume thee Nothing more comfortable then light warmth and witness of the Spirit Nothing more terrible then the bondage conviction and condemnation of the Spirit Therefore beware of resisting any good motions that the Spirit of God puts into thy heart this day lest if the spirit have a repulse he may go away and never return any more 3. Thirdly Consider the certainty of the day of Judgement 2 Cor. 5. 10. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Consid 3. The day of Iudgement Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Then there will be an account to be given for all the Sermons which we have heard for all the Sabbaths we have enjoyed for all the motions of the Spirit for all the admonitions reproofs Gospel opportunities and advantages that we have received we should therefore hear a Sermon now as for ought we know we may be presently summon'd by death to appear before the Judgement-seat of Jesus Christ Let us imagine that now we hear this day as if it might be our last day We hear for Eternity Preachers and Hearers shall be called to an account at the great Assise The Lord grant that we may all give up our accounts with joy The third Use shall be for reprehension of those who resist or Use 3. For reprehension stifle the strivings and the sweet motions of the holy Spirit To come to particulars 1. How sad is their condition who are contemners of the sweet motions of Gods Spirit Let them read Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Such
up after their deliverance Votivas Tabulas as Monuments of gratitude for their deliverance VVhat are we to offer but Thanksgiving Ps 50. 14. what are wee to render but the Calves of our lips Hos 14. 2. Noâ— if wee thus I bour to eternize Gods name he will have regard unto our names if we honour him he will honour us so he declares Them that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2. 30. Secondly a gratefull commemoration of Mercies and Deliverances Reas 2. Thankfulnes is Gods Tribute is that Tribute that God requires that Homage due unto him VVe are all indebted to God nec solvendo sumus whatever we can doe at the best holds no proportion with the mercy received yet the Lord is pleased to accept of a thankfull heart and where it is graciously rewards it VVhat speciall notice doth Christ take of the thankfull Samaritan and the Apostle joynes unthankfull and unholy together what a brand of infamy lyeth on the ungratefull Impudence and Ingratitude goe together How many are like Swine that eat the Acorns but never look up to the Tree what great ingratitude was charged on Ieshurun to forget the Roâ—k that made them and lightly esteem of the Rock of their salvation Now what a poor pittance is this Rent-penny and acknowledgment to vouchsafe unto the father of Mercies Shall we not return a drop of Praises for an Ocean of Mercies where 's Davids Quid retribuam What shall I render c. Psal 107. 8. A third Reason shall be drawn from the excellency of the duty Reas 3. From the excellency of the duty to record Mercies to speak good of God and blesse his name to tell what God hath done for thy self and for others what national what personal mercies he hath heaped on thee and to be exuberant in the praises of the Lord this is an excellent service To set thy Hosannahs and Hallelujahs on the highest Key and to break forth into the praises of God This is a good thing Psal 92. 1. and as it is a good thing so it is a pleasant thing Psal 147 1. further it 's a comely thing to tell of Gods mercies and to say blessed be God is in discourses a comely Parenthesis The Apostle tels us Eph. 5. 14. that filthiness foolish talking and jesting are unseemly and inconvenient but what 's to be used in their room it followeth but rather giving of thanks but adde further praise is permanent for praise is to all eternity we shall for ever be praising of the Lord we shall sing praise honour and glory unto him that sitteth on the Throne and unto the Lamb for evermore David professeth Ps 146. 2. that he will praise God whilst he hath any being we should thus exercise our selves in that language on earth which will be our employment unto all eternity Reas 4. Drawn from many obligations 1 A Bond of Creation A fourth Reason shall be drawn from those many obligations that lye us upon As 1. Vinculo creationis God it is that made us and not we our selves Psal 100. 3. Now we should be to the praise of God and set forth his praise we should be thankfull unto him and blesse his name as Rivers return unto the Sea whence they first came so wee should returne all wee have to the praise and service of God Auius Fulvius said to his Sonne when he found him in Catilines conspiracy Non ego te Catilinae genui sed patriae So doth God say I gave thee not a soul and body to serve sin withall but to serve me withall Quot membra tot ora So many members of our body and so many faculties of our soules are as so many mouths to call upon us to praise the Lord. 2. Vinculo Redemptionis here 's matter of praise for ever and eternity 2 A Bond of Redemption will be too little to praise God for Jesus Christ our Redeemer who hath delivered us from our enemies to this purâ—ose That we might serve him in holynesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our lives Luk. 1. 74 75. So that Thanksgiving is a special service due unto God Quot inimici tot ora so many enemies as we are delivered from by Christs death call upon us to serve Christ for ever and to blesse God for the riches of his mercies in Jesu Christ 3. Vinculo Gratitudinis Quot beneficia tot ora wee receive mercies 3 A Bond of Gratitude at our lying down and riâ—ng up we are compassed about with varieties of mercies mercies on the right and mercies on the left hand mercies for our bodies mercies for our souls so that every mercy is a mouth to call upon us to be thankfull Haman plotted most mischief and was counterplotted and the Jews accounted themselves bound even by the bond of gratitude to keep a solemn remembrance of so great a deliverance so the Romish â—un-powder â—raytoâ—s plotted the destruction of Protestants and layed their designes as low as Hell God hath vouâ—hsafed a gracious deliverance unto the land of our Nativity wherefore the very bond of Gratitude engageth us to keep this day and offer unto God praise and thanksgiving dâ—e unto his name 4. Vinculo gloriae divinae promovendae What lyeth in us we should 4 A Bond to promote Gods glory unite all our members and faculties to advance the glory of God Now this is a way of gloryfying God he is glorysied by the praises of his people â—or he that praiseth God glorisieth him Psal 50. 23. Now put all these together and you 'll conclude what good reason we have to keep in memory divine Deliverances and ascribe unto the Lord the praise and glory of his Deliverances I shall insist no longer in this proof of the Doctrine but make a Applicat seasonable improvement thereof in some usefull Application I shall onely insâ—st on three â—ses for Infoâ—mation Caution and Exhortation and accordingly apply the point unto the solemnity of the day Lend me I pray your patient attention whilst I make a suitable application of all 1. This serves to inform us of the warrantablenesse of our present Use 1. For information meeting upon this day and what good grounds we have to set apart this day for an Anniversary Thanksgiving Gods people formerly upon like occasions kept a day of remembrance so did the Jews here in the Text keep the Feast of Purim and truly we of this Nation have as great cause as ever any had to keep this memorable day wherein the hand of God was eminently seen in our deliverance wherein his own right arme wrought a glorious salvation for us Now to make you more sensible of the greatnesse of the deliverance I conâ—eive it very proper to my businesse that lies before me to make a brief Narrative and acquaint you with the â—istory of this day In pursuance whereof I shall observe two heads into which I shall cast my following Narration 1.
admits of no revocation Arrow out of a Bow we cannot call back the least minute of time Deeds of Lands are made oftentimes in this world with power of revocation But mans eternal condition admits of no revocation When once death hath dissolved and put a period to our life in this world then we are lanched into the ocean of Eternity and there 's no possibility of returning to the shore of this world no new life to re-act in this world After this life ends we shall be in a never-ending condition The Saints shall no more returne to the world for the world was their prison Death is their Goal-delivery Multitudes of sorrows and sufferings they have met with in the world now in Eternity they are freed from all and shall never returne to re-act all those Tragedies and sufferings which they brake through in this life Neither can the damned 〈◊〉 any relaxation or revocation for they are in a hopelesse and Christlesse condition They sinned against an infinite God and in Justice he proportions infinite punishments for sinning against so infinite a Majesty Thus you have heard what Eternity cannot admit of by way of negation I have shaddowed it forth in those Propositions Now what Eternity is I shall positively thus define unto you Definition of Eternity Eternal life is the perfection of happynesse given by Christ unto the Saints in glory whereby they have an everlasting fruition of God and communion with him To open this Definition 1. I call it the perfection of happynesse It 's the aggregation of 1. Eternity is the perfection of happinesse all good things the comprehension of all blessednesses Many Stars make a Constellation many waters make a sea All good things put together make up this happyness There 's no imperfection no decay no alteration Eternal life takes in perfection of joy perfection of glory perfection of degrees 2. This is given by Christ unto the Saints Joh. 10. 28. I saith 2. Eternity is Christs gift Christ give unto them eternall life God the Father gives eternall life by the Sonne and the Sonne by the Spirit God the Father the fountain and author of all life gives this life God the Sonne laid down his blood a price abundantly sufficient to pay to the uttermost farthing for the purchase And God the holy Ghost seals and gives assurance and applyes the love of God the Father and the love of God the Sonne with all his meritorious sufferings unto the Saints 3. I said by this eternall life the Saints in glory enjoy fruition 3. The Saints enjoy fruition of and communion with God and communion with God Here they enjoy some glimpses and parcels of this communion they have tasted how good God is But in Heaven in Eternity in the fruition of and communion with God there will be these singularities 1. They shall enjoy God immediately They shall enjoy the 1. They enjoy God immediately blessed presence of God communion with the holy Trinity not as here by ordinances and means but immediately 1 Joh. 3. 2. they shall see him as he is If it be so sweet to enjoy a Sabboth and communion with God in Ordinances and communion with his children here on earth Oh! how ravishing must that sweetness be to enjoy God in heaven Si adeo dulcis quaerenti saith Bernard quid erit invenienti If wee meet with sweetness in our way what shall we doe at our jouâ—â—â—ys end in our country 2. They shall enjoy God fully In thy presence is fulnesse of joy Ps 2. They enjoy God fully 16. 11. God will never hide his face he will never withdraw his comforts There wil be no low ebbe but it shall be full tide alwaies Every vessâ—l shall be as full as it can hold even brim full of glory 3. They shall enjoy God everlastingly At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. Eternity admits no period 3. They shall enjoy God everlastingly of time no conclusion A Ring which is an emblem of Eternity may be broken to pieces and will wear away The Vestall fires are quenched Methuselah that long-liv'd Patriarch dyed But Eternity admits no conclusion As long as God and Christ is so long shall the Saints be happy and that 's to all Eternity Non beatitudo esset si certum Sancti non haberent se ibi semper futuros Aug. de Civit Dei Having now given you some glimpses of Eternity and having though but darkly represented to you that which is indeed inconceivable and inexpressible but by those who are partakers of it I come now in the next place to prove my assertion That this ought to be our inquiry grand business the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the work of works to examine what shal become of our souls bodies to all eternity I shall give attestations to the truth delivered 1. From Scripture Examples 2. From Scripture Precepts 3. From Scripture Reasons 1. From Scripture Examples This was the maine Question of 1. From Scripture examples those that were touched at Peters Sermon Men and Brethren what shall we doe Act. 2. 37. And of the convert Goaler Sirs what shall I doe to be saved Act. 16. 30. Eternity was in the eyes of Enoch Gen. 5. 24. And in the eye of Moses Heb. 11. 26. This was in the meditations of David Ps 17. 15. When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likenesse This was that Country which those renowned Patriarchs sought after Heb. 11. 16. This was in the heart of Paul Phil. 1. 23. and he speaks in the name of all the Saints Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation is in heaven whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ The worthy Martyrs of whom the world was not worthy laid down willingly this temporal life for an eternal Heb. 11. 35. And what 's the great ground of consolation 1 Cor. 5. 1. but a house eternall in the heavens It were easie to give a Catalogue of many rare precious servants of Jesus Christ who have made this their designe and businesse to enquire concerning their everlasting condition But this that hath been said may suffice 2. For Scripture Precepts To this purpose tends the weighty 2. From Scripture precepts exhortation of Christ to lay up treasure in heaven Mat. 6. 19. 20. to seek first the kingdome of God Mat. 6. 33. Joh. 6. 27. to labour for that which endureth unto eternal life And those of the Apostle Phil. 2. 12. 1 Tim. 6. 12. v. 19. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is not a bare taking but a laying hold with both hands Wee must make it our businesse to get assurance of our eternal condition 3. I will lay down some Scripture Reasons and they shall bee 3. From Scripture Reasons considered under two heads either privatively what we are freed from by our interest in this eternal life or positively what wee gaine by the
fruition thereof There 's great reason to perswade us to labour and secure our everlasting estate if we consider 1. When once wee are in eternity consider what we are freed from There are severall privative Immunities which glorified Reas 1 Saints are partakers of and Militant Saints have onely in their eye heart desires and expectation of that happy welcome day These things are in the desire hope and earnest longing of Militant Saints but gloryfied Saints have their desires accomplished and the fruition of that which on earth they hoped for And what are these privative immunities 1. Freedome from sinne Nothing that defileth is in heaven â— We are fâ—eed from sinne there is no conflict between the flesh and spirit no struggling against lust no combating with the flesh It 's the greatest desire of Gods children that they may sinne no more In this world the best of Gods children are subject to many infirmities they carry about with them a body of sinne But then there shall be no infirmities no corruptions no lusts to conflict withall as appears more fully from Isai 44. 22. Jer. 50. 20. All which Prophesies have reference unto the Triumphant Church Jerusalem which is above the Mother of us all 2. We shall in eternity be freed from all tentations to sin from 2. We are freed from all tentations the Flesh the Devil and the World 1. There we shall not be troubled with corrupt flesh to lust against the spirit There we shall not be troubled with the deeds of the flesh Envy Hatred Malice Heresies Variances c. Here we are in part carnal there we shall be wholly spiritual 2. There we shall not be troubled with the Devils temptations his methods snares depths shall doe us no harm In this world he is a Lyon let loose running about seeking whom he may devoure there he is a Lyon chained shut up he may like as dogs bark at the Moon rayle against the Saints but he can doe them no harme This Accuser of the Brethren is shut up In this world the Devil is busie to winnow the Saints as Wheat but in the world to come the Saints are like Wheat layd up in the Garner out of his reach and meddling withall as we may read Rev. 20. 10. 3. The Saints shall be freed from all the worlds temptations what 's in the world is reckoned up 1 Joh. 2. 16. viz. the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life But in that day the world shall be burnt up and be dissolved There shall not remaine a wicked world to seduce the Saints The Devil cries come to me but he will deceive thee The flesh cries come to me but it will assuredly faile thy expectation The world cries come to me but it will destroy thee But in the world to come there will be neither a devil to deceive nor a flesh to faile nor a world to flay And lastly we are freed in heaven from all punishments of sin 3. Wee are freed from punishments all sorrows calamities afflictions of all sorts and sizes Rev. 21. 4. Heaven is a place of rest There the weary goe to rest Heaven is a place of security no enemy can pursue thee there no persecutor can reach thee there no slanderous tongue can there do thee harm there thou shalt be hid from the scourge of tongues there shall be neither thirst nor hunger no sorrow nor mourning All teares are then wiped away sorrow and mourning shall flee away In heaven thou shalt not bee troubled with an aking head nor with a sad heart None shall complaine there of fainting fits nor of stone chollick gout strangury tooth-ake or such like pains full of dolour and anguish Nay more than this after once thou art in heaven thou shalt no more tast of death a temporal death thou sufferedst before that was the wages of sinne but a second death thou shalt escape as we may read Rev. 20. 14. When once thou gettest into heaven thou art out of gun-shot out of all dangers out of the rage and malice of wicked men the Whip the Rack the Block the Gibbet all the threats of ungodly men can do thee no harm Thou hast a life secured from the malice of men and devils it 's a hidden life 't is in the safest custody Col. 3. 3. Your life is hid with Christ in God These are privative immunities But in the second place another Reason to perswade us to the Reas 2. Drawn from Positive Benefits search study and inquisition after eternal things shall be drawn from those positive singular benefits which the Saints shall reap in eternity Particularly 1. They shall enjoy the blessed presence of the holy Trinity the vision and fruition of God This is a transforming sight They are like unto God so far as a creature can be capable of assimilation unto a deity Though Saints are not deified become Gods yet they are in an eminent manner partakers of the divine nature They shall see in heaven God the first being of all and their gracious Father reconciled to them in Jesus Christ They shall see Christ God and man in one person their Redeemer and Intercessor and they shall see the holy Ghost their comforter Neither shall they as strangers and travellers see other mens Lands or as men by maps see farre Countries wherein they have no interest But they shall see the blessed Trinity as haveing themselves a special interest therein God as their God Christ as their Redeemer the Holy Ghost as their Comforter Tolle meum saith a Father tolle Deum In My God and my Lord there liâ—th the great consolation 2. Glorified Saints enjoy the society of Saints and Angels the 2. Glorified Saints enjoy the society of Saints spirits of just men made perfect There they shall see Abraham the father of the faithful David a man after Gods own heart Moses and Job Mirrours of meekness and patience Paul the great Dr. of the Gentiles There the godly Pastor and godly People the godly Husband and godly Wife the godly Father and godly Children shall meet together O what pretious company is there None but holy persons are admitted into the new Jerusalem Whether the Saints shall know one another in heaven who have been so well acquainted on earth is a question much controverted But there are two Scriptures that make much for the affirmative viz. Mat. 17. 4. At Christs transfiguration which was a type and glimpse of heaven Peter knew Moses and Elias who were dead many hundred years before Another is 1 Thes 2. 19 20. For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming For ye are our glory and joy 3. The glorified Saints shall be busied in a rare transcendent 3. Glorified Saints shall be busied in a high emâ—loyment imployment In heaven they shall be for ever praysing of
spoken 2. Consider those that pray most for Jerusalem shall reape 2. Mot. Those that pray for Jerusalem shall reap the greatest comfort the greatest comfort in Jerusalem's establishment They that have ventured most in the flock shall receive most in the return In Jerusalem's peace we shall have peace Our fraught is imbarkâ— in this ship As we have sowen so shall we reape We have had a wet seed time and have wept and fasted for the Church but we shall have a joyfull harvest Wherefore confirme the weak knees and strengthen the feeble hands But I proceed to a third use for Direction How must we give Vse 3. For Direction God no rest After what manner Must we thus present our supplications to the Throne of grace Amongst many I shall fix only on three properties of such a prayer as consists in giving God no rest according to the Text and they are Faith Fervency and perseverance 1. We must pray in faith The promise is that what we ask believing 1. We must pray in faith we shall receive No prayer unlesse coming from a Principle of faith can obtain acceptance Heb. 11. 6. Without faith it is impossible to please God And whatsoever is not of faith is sinne All prayers must be put up in faith believing in Christ and expecting from him only help and comfort In all our approaches to the Father let us come in the name of Christ believing and relying only on his merits Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church his spouse Christ is the Head the Church his body Faith is an Instrument of Union to unite the members unto the Head 2. We must pray with fervency as Jacob wrastled Hannah 2. We should pray with fervency poured out her Heart We must imitate the Importunate widdow Luk. 18. 1. Christ spake a Parable to this end that men ought alwaies to pray and not to faint The woman of Canaan who would have no nay And so Luk. 11. 8. Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend yet because of his Importunity he will rise c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We must besiege Heaven and offer an holy Violence to the Throne of grace The violent take it by force and the effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much James 5. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an inward working or an inwrought prayer Those that were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did great things 3. We must pray with perseverance We must pray and not faint 3. We must pray with perseverance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 18. 1. The Word as Eustathius observes is derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à cedendo from shrinking back as some cowardly Souldiers do in time of danger Our duty is to pray without ceasing 1 Thes 5. 19. Job makes it the mark of an Hypocrite that he will not pray alwaies he will not alwaies call upon God The fourth and last Use is a word of Consolation to praying Vse 4. For Consolation Christians Such as are much in Prayer who tugg hard at the Throne of grace and in joy frequent Communion with God in this Ordinance They use prayer not only as a duty commanded but as a meanes to obtaine a blessing Their Hearts are heated their affections warmed and prayer is their Priviledge as well as service For they have accesse unto the Throne of grace they cry Abba Father they pray from a spirit of Adoption they come to God as Children to a Father and such have strong hopes to speed The Lords secret is with the Righteous they are his jewells his peculiar treasure Now the Prayers of the righteous availe much for themselves and for the publick wherefore O Christians hold on praying lift up your Hearts with your Hands to God in the Heavens continue to be Jerusalems Advocates and what ever things you see coming as the Answers of Prayers those will be most highly valued Go on then pray for Jerusalem fast and weep for Jerusalem and in Gods good time you shall see Jerusalem a praise in the earth THE CRUCIFIED CHRISTIAN REPRESENTED From Gal 5. vers 24. And they that are Christ's have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts UPON a review of the precedent verses you will Sermon 5. Preached at St. Marye's Oxon. Feb. 13. 1658. observe a double Catalogue one of the deeds of the flesh vers 19 20 21. Another of the fruits of the spirit vers 22. Concerning these the Apostle determines that against such there is no law i. e. 1. There is no law to Condemne them 2. There is no law to compell them Because they as freely obey God as if there were no law Their freedome obligeth more to obedience not in the least to disobedience Now the scope of my Text is to prove what was immediatly delivered before that there is no law against spirituall men and the Text gives a double reason one is because spirituall men are Christ's therefore there is no law against them the other is because that is crucified in spirituall men which the law condemneth namely the flesh with the affections and lusts therefore there is no law to condemne the spirituall man The words then in their dâ—ift and Latitude containe a description or a Character of true believers and the scope of the Words lyes obviously before us in these fundamentall Doctrines 1. That there are a peculiar people that are Christ's and have speciall Doct. 1 interest in him 2. All those that are Christ's and have speciall interest in him are Doct. 2 such as have crucified the flesh with it's affections and lusts These two points contain the full scope and substance of the words and what needs explication in the Text shall be given in upon the prosecution of the Doctrines as I go a long I resume the first That there are a pâ—culiar people c. This I Doct. 1 Method propounded shall endeavour to cleare from severall distinguishing names the nature grounds and benefits of those that are Christs and have interest in him and after this manner I shall handle the Doctrinall part of my Text which done I shall inquire how all this may concerne us as reducible unto point of practise this shall constitute the particular Use and Application of all 1. To prove my Assertion It 's plain if we inquire into Scripture 1. The Doctrine proved Testimony what speciall distinguishing names and Titles are appropriated unto those who are Christs and have speciall interest in him Sometimes Christ calls them his friends Joh. 15. 14 15. Sometimes he calls them disciples Joh. 13. 35. Children Matth. 17. 26. They are a chosen Generation a royall Priesthood a holy Nation a peculiar people 1 Pet. 2. 9. They are Kings and Priests unto God Rev. 1. 6. They are a peculiar treasure unto God Exod. 19. 5. A Crowne of Glory a Royall Diadem in the hand of God Isai 62. 3. The dearly beloved
to the Method propounded 1. For Scripture Testimony we have many parrellel places Let your conversation be aâ—â—ecometh the Gospell of Christ The grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should be soberly righteously and godly in this present world There are three choyce Adverbs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that hath this hope in him purifieth himselfe as God is pure They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you Let him shew out of a good Conversation his workes with meekness of wisdome As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him Two things saith learned * Ambulare in Christo duo de notat perseverare progredi in doctrinâ fide Christi vitam agere juâ—ta hanc fidem Davenant in Col. 2. R. 1. A holy Conversation is an Evidence of election 2 Pet. 1. 10. Rom. 12. 9. Davenant are imployed in that Exhortation viz Perseverance in the doctrine of faith and a life regulated accordingly 2. In the second place for confirmation amongst many Reasons that might be mentioned I shall insist only on foure 1. A holy Conversation is an Evidence of election Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure There 's great care and diligence required in the work We need not ascend into heaven and curiously enquire after the Decree of God but our duty is to descend and make strict Inquisition into our own hearts whether we be sanctified and renewed in the spirits of our minds whether we depart from iniquity whether as the Apostle exhorts We abhor that which is evill and cleave to that which is good We must be assured in this grand Truth That God who 2 Thes 2. 13. hath ordained to the end hath ordained unto the means We are bound saith the Apostle to give thanks alwaies to God for you because he hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the spirit and beliefe of the truth 2. When the profession and practice of Christianity meet together R. 2. This sheweth the sincerity of our Profession 2 Cor. 1. 12. here 's an infallible evidence of the truth and sincerity of our profession For our rejoycing is this the testimony for our Conscience that in simplicity and godly â—incerity not with fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world Multitudes plead an interest in Christs redemption But here 's the Criticall note To be redeemed from their vaine conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18. To be new creatures 2 Cor. 5. 17. To be renewed in the spirit of their minds Eph. 4. 23. To be made partakers the of divine Nature 2 Pe. 1. 4. These are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Markes and Characters of those that have interest in Christ And whoever make a profession and practiceth not what they profeffe they are strangers from the life of Christ and no otherwise to be accounted of then such who by Mapps and reading of Authors discourse of farre countreys where they have never beene themselves but only they receive things by an implicite faith upon others reports and not by an experimentall knowledge But hereby we have evidence of the truth of our profession when Words and Actions Profession and Conversation concurre together in a sweet harmony and mutuall equipage R. 3. Here the Gospell is adorned 3. When Profession and Conversation meet togeather there the Gospell is adorned The Gospell gives not a Writ to licentiousnesse it opens no gapp to carnall liberty It ought to be our study and endeavour to adorne a holy Profession by a holy Conversation Tit. 2. 10. Exhort servants saith the Apostle to be obedient c. not purloyning but shewing all fidelity that they may adorne the doctrine of our Saviour in all things The great designe of Christians ought to be to keep up the reputation of the Gospel It is adorned when people walk according to the Apostles charge See that yee Eph. 5. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. walk circumspectly not as fooles but as wise The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Originall we should be likewise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without spot and blamelesse Holinesse only adornes our profession and they are most beautifull who are adorned with the graces of Gods spirit 2 Pet. 3. 14. The Kings daughter is all glorious within her cloathing is of wrought Psal 45. 13. Gold And we read of broidered workes badgers skins bracâ—lets chaines jewells gold ear-rings Ezek. 16. Hence it eminently appeares that only the graces of the spirit can adorne a soule Now when what we professe in our mouths we make good by our practice When we name the name of Christ and depart from iniquity When we professe holinesse and live accordingly then we adorne the Gospell For the Gospell requires holinesse righteousnesse circumspect walking and the more holy righteous and circumspect a man is the more he adornes the Gospell 4. And lastly Hereby we bring the greater glory to God For R. 4. Here we bring the greater glory to God Joh. 15. 8. God is gâ—orified by the fruitfulnesse of his servants Herein is my Father glorified that yee bring forth much fruit What is this fruit but such as is meet for Repentance Mat. 3. 8. Fruit unto holinesse Rom. 6. 22. Fruits of Righteousnesse Jam. 3. 18. And this is the fruit the Apostle prayeth might abound in the Philippians chap. 4. 17. That fruit might abound to their account Now put all these Reasons together I conceive there is strength of Argument to persuade us to the duty of the Text viz. To depart from iniquity i. e. to make our Profession and Practise meet in one as lines in their proper center considering that hereby we prove our election sure and our profession to be sincere and that we adorne our profession and bring greater glory to God To these foure Reasons I l'e adde only foure Uses which are to be handled in the particular application as I promised and so I shall put a Period to my discourse 1. Here 's matter of Information that a name or forme of a Profession Vse 1. For Information an outward title or claime to Christ are altogether insufficient to Salvation What 's the forme without the power of Godlinesse what 's the name without the thing No better then the body without the spirit or the carcasse without the soule to animate it Concerning Formalists we have a Caution Having a 2 Tim. 3 5. forme of Godlinesse but denying the power thereof from such turne aside I know thy workes saith Christ unto the Angells of the Rev. 3. 1. Church of Sardis that thou hast a name that thou livest yet art dead How many are there that rest contented with an externall
not be bitternesse in the end but where God is the most bitter pill of affliction is sweet and pleasant St Bernard hath a speciall Bernard Orat de bonis deserendis observation in a declamation de bonis deserendis non Isaac sed aries morietur c. If you be willing to sacrifice your Isaac which signifies laughter i. e. your pleasure your Isaac your pleasure shall not dye it is the Ramme the stubbornesse of spirit which shall dye but your Isaac shall live you shall have pleasure still Wherefore cast downe all your joyes comforts and pleasures at Gods feet in an humble submission saying Lord here they are do with me and them what seemes good in thine eyes When the heart is thus took of the world it 's in a fit temper and is best qualified for the comforts of God and over and above when thy spirit is in this frame of resignation of all unto God he in mercy may vouchsafe unto thee the comfortable fruition of them Thus you have heard what Demonstrations I have propounded for the evincing of this pretious Doctrine that all joy and comfort amidst the greatest discomforts is to be found in God Now that I may presse what hath been said home unto your Applicat practice 1. I shall inferre something by way of comfort unto those that make the Lord the joy of their soules 2. In the next place I shall exhort you unto so excellent and necessary duty 3. In the last place I shall lay downe some Directions how this sacred duty of rejoycing in God ought to be exexercised within these limits I shall confine my ensueing Application In the first place this discovers unto us the comfortable condition Vse 1. For Comfort of the Children of God O blessed men whose hope and comfort the Lord is comfort yee comfort yee my people saith the Lord to these comfort appertaines as their peculiar right and interest let them amidst greatest calamities lift up their heads for their redemption draweth nigh All the sufferings of Christ his sweating of drops of blood were for them Christ wept that they might rejoyce he drunk a cup of gall and vinegar that they might drink a cup of new wine in the Kingdome of Heaven and he wore a Crowne of Thornes that they might weare a Crowne of Glory Oh! be not dismayed at any evill tydings and mourne not as men with out hope notwithstanding the confusion and troubles of the Land of our Nativity Let faith hope and patience be exercised Hope is the propp of the righteous that stayes the soule from falling were it not for hope the heart would breake in these conflicting daies of sin where there are such sad thoughts of heart for the afflictions of Joseph and for the divisions of Reuben We know not what to do we have no strength of our selves but let me tell you as Nehemiah did the Jewes Neh. 8. 10. The joy of the Lord is your strength Hee 's a fountaine inexhausted though the Cisternes of the Creatures are drawne dry he continues a God of strength though all sublunary things are as weak as water when Parents forsake a man then the Lord takes pitty upon him when riches make themselves wings and flye away as an Eagle towards heaven God becomes thy riches and inricheth thee with grace and so thou gainest by thy lossesse As Joseph told Pharaoh God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace so say I God shall answer thy doubts and let in peace and tranquility into thy soule Melchior Adamus records this observeable passage in Melchior Adamus In vita Oecolampadii the life of Oecolampadius when some of his friends askt him whether the light did not offend him Tangens pectus inquit abunde lucis est he clapt his hands upon his breast and said here 's light enough When the light of God shines in thy bosome and thou discernest Gods reconciled countenance in Christ thou hast enough Strive therefore to exterminate all thoughts of doubtting and diffidence feare not stand still and behold the salvation of the Lord. However things go with thee though clouds hang over thee and they resolve and melt thy heart into abundance of teares and sorrowes yet let my Prophets resolution set thy affections a working yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation 2. In the second place suffer I beseech you my brethren the Vse 2. For Exhortation word of Exhortation Oh! that I could perswade you to your duty I shall branch it out into three particulars 1. To make God your joy 2. To account him your treasure 3. To have recourse to him as your refuge 1. Make God your joy There 's no man but hath some principle Dut. 1. Make God your joy of joy or inward working motion within his own bosome and according to the variety of fansies and humours the joyes and comforts are bottom'd upon a various and different ground 1. One man fixeth his joy upon his riches A 2. Upon his honour and reputation A 3. Upon his delights and pleasures But the Godly mans honours riches pleasures are wholly terminated upon the Lord his God When the man in the Gospell had bought the field wherein he found the pearle of price he was ravisht with joy beyond expression and apprehension The grace of God revealed to the soule of man is this Gemme of superlative estimation thou must part with all thy riches pleasures and comforts nay with all the world for this and thou hereby makest the wisest bargaine that ever was made For by the losse of earth thou gainest heaven what joy possest the spirit of the Eunuch after Phillip had baptized him and brought Christ home unto him the Text saith he went away rejoycing Such is the joy of a spiritualliz'd man whose God is his joy and Consolation though troubles and miseries come thick and threefold yet his heart is fixed upon Mount Zion that it cannot be removed nay upon the God of Zion There 's some inward working principle that will swallow up all discomforts whatsoever This spirituall joy dasheth all carnall joyes This is the only true sollid joy arising from Gods reconciled countenance in Christ which makes a man rejoyce in the Holy Ghost with joy unspeakable and full of glory It 's said in Judges that the young Levites heart was glad when the children of Dan proffer'd promotion to him much more joy resides in the spirituall mans soule and conscience when he thinks of his Crownes and of the joyes of Heaven and of the sweet uninterrupted Communion with Jesus Christ unto all eternity Oh! then make God thy joy The serenity of his countenance will dissipate all these clouds the refreshings and those soule ravishing comforts of Christ will infinitely exceed the greatest discomforts in the Universe The joy of the world may be took from thee by the men of the world There are many Anabaptisticall Antiministeriall spirits