us and wee shall walke in that blessed and celestiall light there is no more need of earthly comforts that blessed Sonne shall drowne and swallow up all the lights of these candles and of the Moone it selfe As that holy woman and martyr going to her death said I am now going to a place where money beareth no mastery Rev. 21. 23. that City hath no neede of the worlds Sun nor Moone for the glory of God and the Lambe are the light of it Now wee proceed to the Starres of the firmament the handmaides of the Queene of heaven who in their nature call us all to the knowledge of God And by the teaching of grace they all may be as the starre that led the wise men to Christ. In them let us consider The unconceiveable magnitude of them the swiftnesse of their motion their secret but admirable efficacie and influence and all this to be put forth or restrained at the Lords pleasure must needs argue him to be wise of heart and strong of power Iob 9. Verses 4 7 9 10. to order so great things and unsearchable yea marvelous things without number Adde hereunto the multitude of them which thou canst not number the force and power of them as mighty armies for the execution of the Lords justice and mercie which thou canst not reach All this leadeth us into the sense of our owne imperfection in knowledge to apprehend his perfections that calleth them all by their names And hence we are called both to acknowledge the power of him that made Pleiades and Orion Amos 5. 8. as also to praise his goodnesse that made the great lights the Sun to governe the day the Moone and Starres to rule the night This might stirre up our faith concerning the multitudes of beleevers in the Kingdome of Christ which shall be as the starres of the firmament Genes 22. 17. This consideration the Lord useth as an argument to confirme the faith of his Church Ierem. 33. 22. Therefore is the Lord worthy of praise Psal. 136. 7. The stars keepe their courses and motions and orbes constantly and unweariably they suffer no eclypses in themselves as the greater lights doe they never deny their light unto others By which both our faith may be strengthened and our duty directed The former the Lord urgeth to confirme our faith in the stability and truth of his promises Ier. 31. 35. If the courses of the moone and starres can be broken then may the seed of Israel cease The latter directeth us 1. To stand in our owne orbes with constancy doing our owne duty as fixed starres Iude 13. not as the shooting or wandring starres that is unconstant and unstable men carried about with every winde of temptation doctrin lust But we must hold on anweariably in doing our duty 2. To shine in grace without eclypses so farre as is possible 3. To deny to none our helpe and light that stand in need We see one starre differ from another in magnitude claritie glory and motion yet one hindereth not another one envieth not at another Which noteth 1. The divers degrees of grace here For the Saints have diversity of gifts which maketh them as stars divers in their use and shining site and magnitude yet must not be adverse not envious not in pride advance our selves above others the stars doe not so The stars have each one their glory but none of them from themselves And what hast thou which thou hast not received 2. The divers degrees of glory hereafter proved by the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 41. What a sweet elevation of the soule were it in beholding the starres to put our selves in minde of that heavenly glory wherewith we shall be cloathed as the Scripture doth Dan. 12. 3. They that turne many to righteousnes shall shine as the starres Wee see the stars shine brightest in darkest nights to teach and excite us in darkest nights of triall afflictions and dangers most to manifest our light of faith patience fortitude and graces Where should fortitude demonstrate it selfe but in the field and combate Where doe spices send forth their odoriferous smels but in the mortar under the pestle In every starre we must labour to see Iesus Christ who calleth himselfe 1. The morning starre Revel 2. 28. And the bright morning starre Rev. 21. 16. He that overcommeth I will give him the morning starre that is I will communicate my selfe wholly unto him and make him conformable unto me im my glory Alwayes the proportion of head and members observed The morning starre is the most bright and shining of all the starres in heaven see in it the most excellent light and celestiall glory of Christ wherein the Lord Iesus excelleth all men and Angels as farre as the morning starre all the starres of heaven The morning starre communicateth all his light to the world In this see Christ communicating to the world of beleevers all light of Grace and Glory The morning starre dispelleth the nights darkenesse Hence conceive Christ that day starre rising in our hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. who by the light of his Propheticall and Apostolicall Word his Spirit accompanying the same dispelleth the darkenesse of ignorance and errors wherein we were wrapped in the night of sinne and unregenerate estate The morning starre is anteambulo Solis and fitly said to be the Suns harbenger and fore-runner of perfect day Conceive Christ our morning Star not onely dispelling and dispersing with the beames of his light the darkenesse of this present life which is a night in comparison But is a pledge of our perfect day and future glory who in the morning of our common resurrection will shew himselfe to all his Saints in surpassing Glory and Majesty above the perfect light of a thousand Sunnes Thus wee see the use of the Starres in their naturall use excellent and usefull but in spirituall and supernaturall farre more to the Christian and Beleever 2. Behold Christ termed the starre of Iacob Num. 24. 17. Here observe 1. The originall of a starre is from heaven not earth I must conceive of Christ otherwise than of other men which have their originall on earth But he is the Lord from heaven as God he is from heaven 2. Yet a starre of Jacob. As a man of the posterity of Iacob so I must conceive him both God and man 3. This starre first riseth in the horizon of Iudea and Ierusalem see Psal. 60. 1. and carrieth his light round about to all nations as the starres 4. The use of this starre is to be a load-starre to helpe us to our haven that as Marriners on the Sea behold the Pole-star to saile safely and avoid rockes and shelves So must wee on the Sea of this world looke at this starre and feare no shipwracke Now come we to consider the inferiour heavens and in these consider the Clouds Aire Windes The Clouds have a voice to teach us not onely that mighty voice
it is as the life of a Serpent whose head is crushed in peeces Secondly life in all living men is not alike but in some stronger in some weaker in some more healthfull in some more conflicted with diseases in some more aged and tall in some weaker and younger and so it is in the life of God But canst thou find it in any measure or degree happy art thou If naturall life be so precious and desireable what is spirituall and eternall Object Oh that I could finde this life in any measure Answ. First where life is in man there is a breathing Hast thou holy affections petitions Secondly where life is there it is maintained by food Dost thou desire the sincere milke the Mannah dost thou thrive and grow by it canst thou digest strong meate Thirdly where life is there is growth to the full vigour Dost thou grow in stature and strength outgrowing the weakenesse and infancy of grace passing the severall ages of Christianity Fourthly where life is there is motion Dost thou move in the manly actions of grace walkest thou diligently in the calling of a Christian abroad and at home Fifthly canst thou beare burthens afflictions from God without murmuring wrong from men without revenge Here is the life of God Thirdly for the third whereas in the first Adam wee are all cast out of Paradise of the third heaven as persons in disgrace with their Soveraigne are banished from the Court as Absalom after his slaying his brother was commanded out of the Kings presence and might not see the Kings face 2 Sam. 14. 24. The new creature restored to favour hath a tenure and certainty of the inheritance of Saints and not onely so but present possession though not full possession both in Christ who tooke possession as a head not for himselfe but for his members both in their name and to their use As also in beginnings of heavenly life and conversation already what comfort can a Saint in heaven want But of every new creature the Apostle saith expresly Hee is raised to heavenly places already ◠Pet. 1. 6. The second ground of comfort hence is from Gods gracious acceptation who calleth them new Creatures that are very imperfectly new Wee have cleaving to us a great deale of old rubbish and corruption from the old man but if wee have the least beginnings of new Creation and the least seeds of sound grace but as a graine of mustard-seede he pleaseth to stile us thereby as if no old thing were left in us So in Canticles the fourth Thou art all faire my love and there is no spot in thee and in the context All old things are past Reas. 1. He nameth the end from the beginning and those new that onely tend to newnesse and speaketh of us as wee are in his account not our constitution Secondly for our incouragement our God telleth us wee have crucified the flesh and lusts Gal. 5. 29. when we are not yet halfe way in the worke that we are sanctified and saved when wee are but in the beginning of both both to hold us on in those beginnings For what account will hee make of us when wee are all new creatures that thus esteemeth of us now as also to assure us of perfection as the harvest was in the first fruits The new creature shall be as surely perfect as if he were already Thirdly that wee should admire this grace and imitate it in espying the grace of God in others and esteeme them from that and not from their corruptions Whereas cleane contrary we can fixe both our eyes upon the least frailties to disgrace them and the whole profession for their sakes but passe over many excellent graces Is this to be like God would we have God doe so by us or if he should should we ever carry the name of new creatures The third ground of comfort is in respect of the Lord his gracious preservation and perfecting this worke Now the Lord upholdeth this new creature 1. Partly by conquering oppositions and enmities against it 2. Partly by confirming it against all encounters and impediments To the former Sathan and our owne corruption could cast us off the happinesse of our first creation but not of the second Reas. 1. When God once bēginneth true grace it is followed with grace till all be new Deut. Chap. 31. ver 4 Perfect is the worke of God In the creation he never gave over till he had perfected all the Creatures so will he never give over the worke till there be a perfect new creature Secondly true grace though never so small is Gods earnest of glory and the Lord never tepenteth him of his earnest Thirdly sound grace is as the light that shineth more and more till perfect day Prov. 4. 18. The golden chaine cleareth it Rom. 8. 30. Once justified ever glorified Fourthly to destroy the new Creature requireth a stronger power than that which set it up Therefore all the gates of hell nor any created power can demolish this frame Which made the Apostle triumph as in a victory gotten Rom. 8. 37. Here is the comfort of Perseverance Secondly the Lord upholdeth his owne workemanship by confirming it against all encounters First of worldly basenesse Art thou in a meane condition a poore creature despised and cast off of men yet being a new creature thou art the Son of God an heire of grace thou hast a new name a new stone of absolution a new title to a new heaven and those new mansions which Christ is gone to trim up for thee Secondly of worldly wants Art thou poore and in want of necessaries and hast scarce from hand to mouth to provide foode and rayment yet being a new creature thou wantest not a full treasurie and store-house The same full and liberall hand that feedeth and sustaineth all the baser and inferiour creatures will much more sustaine thee a new Creature The Lord that looketh on thee not as a Creator but as a Father will looke to thee and will supply all wants with a new tree of life in the middest of the Paradise of God and with that new garment of immortality which never waxeth old Thirdly of worldly persecutions Because himselfe hath noted the true reason why the new creature is so hated in the world The reason is because it is new and called out of the old estate of the world For First every new thing is a wonderment for a time therefore men gaze at grace as if it were a Comet or new Starre Whence the Apostle saith of himselfe and the rest that they were as gazing stocks to men and Angels Secondly contrariety betweene the godly and wicked In one all is new a new judgement will affections actions in the other all is old still and a new patch will never agree with an old cloath Hence an old ungracious man will better agree with a
light without light and can I know God without Gods teaching 2 I see the more light the Creature hath the more excellent profitable and usefull it is the Starres more excellent than stones for their light the Sunne than the Starres Of stones the more light and shining the more price and value and vertue are they of So should I thinke of my selfe the more light of God and grace I can get sure the more worthy I am and of others as they excell in knowledge and grace so should I thinke of them as of stars which differ in glory according to the proportion of their light 3 I see the greater light obscure the lesse and it is absurd to light a candle to the Sunne Why then should I sticke unto worldly wisedome worldly comforts earthly contentments which are as candles to the Sun the great light of the day of heavenly wisedome spirituall comforts durable contentments 4 I see the light bringeth comfort and refreshing draweth all eyes unto it all Creatures follow it but hatefull Bats and Owles c. When I have slept all night the light wakeneth mee raiseth me to the actions of the day Oh what joy bringeth it to the soule when God sheweth himselfe lightsome to it should not his glorious light be the sweetest object of the eye of my soule Why should not this light awaken my soule and raise mee from the sleepe of sin and lusts If light goe away darkenesse succeedeth in darkenesse none can see the way before him O therefore why should not I lay fast hold of the Lord who is my light and walke in his light by which alone I can hold the plaine and direct way to eternall life and light 5. I see the light in an instant presenting it self as the lightning is suddenly dispersed from one side of heaven to another If I be in darkenesse and desertion the Lord my light can and will suddenly present himselfe with joy and comfort to my soule 6 Was I darkenesse now I am light in the Lord that is enlightned by the Word of truth 2. Enlightening others by holy instruction and conversation Thus we must be wary and walke as in the light In the Heavens consider wee all the light bodies as the 1. Sunne 2. Moone 3. Starres These rightly considered will bring much light to the eyes of the minde and though we have in the Church a superiour meanes by the voyce of the Scriptures yet wee may not despise the day breake because the noone is brighter Quest. But why doth the Prophet here not mention the Sun but the Moone and Starres Ans. When a man beholdeth the Moone and Stars the Sun is absent as in the night It seemes it was his manner to walke forth in the night season to behold and contemplate the Lords greatnesse and goodnesse in these servants of the night and wee should finde some times of the night not unfruitfully spent if wee would take up this practice But if the glory of God shine so much in these obscure lights and if David could so teach and admonish his heart by them how much more by the brightnesse of the Sunne And if David by day looke upon the Heavens as Psalme 19. 1. he can say The Heavens declare the glory of God because in them hee hath set a Tabernacle for the Sunne which commeth forth as a bridegroome out of his chamber arraied with nuptiall and glorious garments turning all eyes towards him and as a Gyant strong and speedy to make a swift and long course such as even our thoughts want wings to follow 1 When I behold the Sunne in his wounderfull magnitude being an hundred sixty and sixe times at least bigger than all the vast body of the earth how can I choose but be ledde unto the Lord and say Great is the Lord great is his power and there is no end of his goodnesse For how much greater is the Creator of the Sun and Heavens than the things created 2 When I behold the pulchritude and brightnesse of the Sunne which is such as blindeth and destroyeth my sight as too weake to behold it what infinite light and brightnesse must I conceive in the Father of lights in that bright and eternall Sunne who never setteth in whom is no shadow of change who can but here admire at the majesty of the Creatour 3 When I behold the Sun ever in his motion never standing still but by miracle never slacking his motion but alwayes keeping the same pace should not I learne to be constant in my motion never to be idle or make stop in my course or duty 2 When I see that God himselfe and his Word is as the soule and spring of the Suns motion hee commandeth him to come forth as a Gyant to run his race hee can stop him in his race and by a word command him to stand still or runne backe I must learne hereby to be sure that Gods Word as a soule giveth life to my actions my motions and courses I must move where his word bids mee I must stand and be every thing at his word 3 When I see the Sun in his motion keepe his bounds and zodiacke never going without his owne line but precisely keeping his course and not so much as slugging therein must not I learne hence to containe my selfe within the bounds of my calling and his command 4 When I see the Sun in all his motions carry heate light comfort and direction and is the chiefe ornament of this inferiour world and that he goeth no where but the world is better for him should not I in all my course strive to be profitable and by the light of my conversation be comforting directing and shining to others in good workes And when I see the Sun impart his light and shine unpartially on good and bad I must learne to doe good to all good bad friends enemies envying my light to none no more than the Sun doth his to any 4 Doe I see the Sun set every day and rise every day Salomon would have me see therein my owne misery and vanity Eccles. 1. 4. Thus hath the Sunne continued his course for many generations But I rise but once and have but one day of naturall life allotted me and if my selfe and others once set and the night of my life be come there is no more returning to this life 5 I see this glorious sun sometime clouded sometime eclipsed and this calleth on me to see the eclypse of heavenly light in my selfe my sin hath reached unto heaven and often inverteth even the order of nature in obscuring light bodies for light bodies not to shine is besides their nature As in the death of Christ God would let the world see her sinne in crucifying the Sonne of God Never see the Sunne hide his comfortable presence but confesse thou deservest never to see it any more 6 I see sometime the Sunne by his extreame heate
with Christ but in Christ to bee a member of Christ. So Christ appeared in great humilitie to advance us to this honour Secondly it is a most comfortable condition for First now there is no condemnation to them that are in Iesus Christ Rom. 8. 1. Secondly all thy debts are discharged Thou hast in him satisfied and in him fulfilled al righteousnesse for who payeth the wives debt but the husband and the bebt being once payed it shall never be demanded more Thirdly all the grace and good that Christ hath in himselfe is thine whole Christ is thine by imputation of his merits holinesse obedience active and passive This loving Husband hath all holinesse and happinesse for his Spouse His life is thine for hee that hath the Sonne hath life his death is thine and all the fruits of his passion his resurrection and ascension is thine that thou mayest boldly ascend in affection and cause thy prayers to ascend yea and in person to ascend into thy fathers house and pull downe his intercession Oh what a rich estate is this that a man can aske nothing but hee shall have it Iohn 15. 7. Thirdly it is a most safe condition to bee in Christ our head is above water an able head will save and protect the members All sinnes and imperfections are now covered and hid for the head will hide the defects of the members He takes upon him all the quarrels of the Christian and mightily overcommeth hell the grave death the devill and all adversary power so as the elect cannot bee seduced nor severed from God Fourthly it is a most fruitfull condition Iohn 15. 2. Every branch that beareth fruit in mee hee purgeth that it might bring forth more fruit How can a branch set into such a roote but bee fruitfull Et contra Whereas the misery of one that is out of Christ is that hee can doe nothing at all No branch can bring any fruit that abideth not in him And whatsoever branch bringeth not fruit in him is cast out as a withered branch into the fire A fruitlesse barren tree dishonoureth God Herein is the Father glorified c. Hee disgraceth the stocke into which he is set Fftly it is the onely state of perfection in this life For all perfection is originally in him and derived to us because wee are in him So as that in him wee attaine all that maketh for grace or glory Col. 2. 10. Ye are compleat in him who leadeth into all truth who giveth all graces in their kinde and addeth all degrees of those graces which makes up their full happinesse Yea the perfection of this state is also in the preservance and continuance of it For wee beare not the roote but the roote beareth us Our salvation dependeth not on our selves but on him for being in him we not onely grow but increase and the older we grow the more we flourish and bring fruit Psalme 92. 20. All other branches may bee plucked away from their stocke by violence of windes or mans hand or consumed by time and age but it is not so with those that are in this roote life nor death things present nor things to come can separate them c. From the state of a man renewed we come to the note of him Hee is a new creature Where consider first what is meant by a new Creature and why a man in Christ is so called secondly how a man may know himselfe to bee a new Creature which is here implyed thirdly how a man may become a new Creature seeing hee must bee so Fourthly why he must be a new Creature Fiftly Vse both for instruction and secondly consolation First the new Creature is the regenerate man who is indued with new qualities of righteousnesse and holinesse according to the image of the new or second Adam To understand which consider in man three things 1 The substance of soule and body 2 The faculties of them 3 The qualities of both For the first the same substance of soule and body remaineth which GOD created at first For the second the faculties be the same the same understanding will memory affections senses naturall motions the same they were but the qualities of them all are changed and new framed for whereas in the old Adam the understanding was blind now it is inlightened the will that was rebellious is now bored in part unto dutie the conscience memory thoughts desires which were dull earthly dead estranged from God now are quickned wakened raised upwards the affections which were crooked and corrupt are changed and straightened the senses which were servants of sin are servants of grace senses of discipline the members that were weapons of unrighteousnesse are now become members of Christ in one word the whole man is in these qualities repaired and renewed and made as here a new creature so elsewhere a new man Col. 3. 10. The qualities thus framed in the hearts of the elect at their first conversion are called a new creature The man being the same in substance faculties and members onely in the frame and order of them not the same The new creature is not in respect of substance but of malice Quest. But why is hee called a new Creature Answer The worke of grace is a kinde of creation Psal. 51. 10. Create in me a new heart Now if restoring of Grace where it was be a kind of creation much more the framing of grace at the first where it is not Secondly there is a great resemblance betweene these two great workes of God the first creation and the second First the Author of the creation was the Sonne of God God by Christ made all things By him were all things made 1 Cor. 8. 6. There is one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him he is the beginning of the Creatures Acts 15. 15. He being the mighty Iehovah giveth being and beginning to all creatures not in Nature-onely but in Grace and Glory Againe none can re-creat but hee that first created What is decayed in nature must bee restored by the Author of nature hee that brought his whole order out of confusion can onely bring our confusion into order Secondly the matter of the creation was of nothing which is the difference of Creation from Generation which is the producing of a substance from a substance so here was no preiacent grace no preparing grace For how could Adam prepare himselfe to his owne creation and as little can a man dead in sinne prepare himselfe to the life of God Nay in the first Creation was nothing to resist but here is nothing but an old rubbish strong in resistance Thirdly the manner in the first Creation all was made by a word Psal. 33. 6 9. By the Word of God were the Heavens made and Psal. 148. 1. and 9. He spake the word and all things were made so this is done by the same mighty
sinnes even those which himselfe doth small and great he spareth none Nay he hateth his life and loveth it not to the death in comparison of Christ. These are strange affections but inseparable to the new Creature Fifthly new senses a new cleared eye to discerne the things of God Ephes. 1. 15. A new eare opened boared circumcised to heare and obey Psam 40. 6. A new taste how good God is and rellish of the things of God A new smell to savour the things of the spirit Rom. 8. 5. which before were unsavoury and tastelesse A new feeling hee feeleth the worke of the Word and Spirit in him hee feeleth a sweete apprehension of remission of sins and Gods favour in Christ hee feeleth the peace and joy of a good conscience and fellowfeeleth the affliction of his brethren Sixthly a whole new estate hee is in state of regeneration and in state of salvation being before in state of death and damnation A new name Esay 62. 1. Being married to Christ is called by the husbands name Christian. A new language of Canaan he is of a pure language Hee hath new food new milke from the breasts of the Church Mannah from Heaven to grow by Every creature hath his proper foode to live by so here he hath new raiment to cloath him the righteousnesse of Christ the elder brother new attendants and servants to keepe him in his way the Angels Psal. 34. A new and living way by Iesus Christ to walke into heaven contrary to the way of the world Seventhly a new death not of his soule in sin as before but of sinne in his soule Nay his body dyeth not the common death of all men but a new death sanctified seasoned in the death of Christ yea more he hath a new grave and buriall of sinne in his soule and his body is layd in a Tombe wherein never wicked man was layd al perfumed in the buriall and grave of Iesus Christ. Here is a new Creature all new all tending to perfection The fourth note of a new creature is new Motion called new obedience first from the original secondly the matter thirdly the manner fourthly the end of it First the spring or rise of the new Creatures Motion is from within all hee doth is from the spirit within him The Old mans Obedience is from without hee beginneth at his finger ends is drawne by outward inducements hee setteth his service to sale to the view of men as a clocke that worketh not from within but is moved by plummets and weights without But the new Creature performeth new Obedience from a new ground he hath not onely Spiritum adstantem but assistentem that is hee hath not the presence of the spirit only but his assistance Of all sins hee shunneth the most inward and spirituall of all judgements hee most dreadeth inward and spirituall of all places hee would have his heart within sweetest cleanest and best trimmed Secondly the matter of his Obedience is grounded in the Word either in some precept generall or speciall or in some example in all his motion hee looketh to the rule as the Israelites to the cloud hee hath a new commandement to observe Iohn 13. from a new Master whom his desire is to please in all things which cannot be in any thing but commanded by himselfe Thirdly the manner of his motion is new and diverse from other men yea from himselfe A beast may doe the same things that a man doth eate drinke sleepe but the manner is not the same A wicked man may doe some things that are good and commanded as hearing reading praying fasting but hee slubbers it over and contenteth himselfe to doe it in any fashion to get it over But a new Creature aimeth as much at the right manner of doing as the thing it selfe The maine difference in the manner of doing betweene the old and new creature is in two things 1 As every Creature hath his severall delight in his proper action so the new Creature doth duties with delight freedome cheerefulnesse The Bird delighteth in singing so the new Creature delighteth in his new motion and the Commandement is not a burthen 2 As every Creature is uniforme in his proper action it doth them all alike every where so the new Creature is the same in his obedience every where Ioseph is Ioseph in the dungeon as well as in the top of the Kingdome Iob is Iob on the dung-hill Fourthly the end of his Motion and Obedience is new Gods glory directly as the glory of God shareth in all the workes of the Creation Rom. 1 〈◊〉 The Heavens declare his glory and the Earth show his handy workes Much more this new Creature in his motion expresseth the glory of God Carnall men are like blazing-starres which so long as they are fed with vapours shine as if they were stars but let the vapours dry up presently they vanish and disappeare So so long as earthly vapours of profit preferment vaine-glory feed naturall men so long they appeare in motion and shine as starres but no longer But the new Creature is of anothet mould he is a new wonkemanship that will serve to the praise of the glory of the grace of the workeman Ephes. 1. 6. The third point is How may a man become a new Creature The Text saith Let him be a new creature as if it were in our power to be so or not to be Answ. This implieth our dutie not our abilitie of our selves Our duty is to labour after this new creation to get into this new estate and to be sure wee have our being in grace secondly the Text speaketh of one in Christ whose will is freed in part Ob. But how can I seeke a being in grace having no being in it I can resist it but how can I helpe it forward can a dead man move to life Answ. 1. All such places as Ier. 4. 4. doe shew us 1. what wee cannot doe 2. what wee ought to doe 3. what we must attaine by grace 2 The Lord who doth the wole worke of creation doth it not so immediatly as hee did the creation of naturall things but ordinarily useth meanes sanctified to this worke God that made us without our selves will not save us without our selves nor worketh in the elect as in stockes and stones but as in reasonable instruments First hee hath appointed meanes for our regeneration and salvation secondly commandeth us to use them thirdly promiseth that in the right use of them hee will put forth his mighty power upon his own meanes Therefore thou maist present thy selfe to the meanes and submit thy selfe unto Gods ordinances beware of thrusting away the offers of grace No man can helpe himselfe into life but being quickned by God knoweth that he liveth and doth the actions of life Quest. But how can I having no grace seeke after grace in the meanes Ans. No man can seeke grace but by grace but being
scorch and burne up the plants and fruits of the earth Herein our Lord in the Parable hath directed mans eyes to behold the persecution and affliction of the Church which often scorcheth the greennesse of grace and maketh many professors wither and fall away Cant. 1. 5. I am blacke for the Sunne hath looked on mee and indeed 1 The Sunne doth not more ordinarily or daily arise than persecution daily waiteth on the Word 2 As the Sun-beames diffuse and disperse themselves into every place and no man can hide himselfe from the heate of the Sunne Psalme 19. 3. So doe the beames of this Sunne of persecution dart into every place where the Sunne of grace shineth in the Church No godly man can hide himselfe from the heate of this Sunne but one time or other it will finde him out 3 The Sunne hath not more beames to scorch and dry up the moysture of the earth than Sathan and the wicked world have to dry up the moysture of grace where it is not sound sometimes by armies of inward and spirituall temptations sometimes by open tyranny and hostility That is not a true marke of a true Church which Bellarmine designeth outward splendor and prosperity but the Crosse and Persecution 7 But above all other the sweetest use of the Sunne is to see in it Iesus Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse Mal. 4. 2. Rev. 1. 12. For 1. As there is but one Sunne in the heavens so but one Sonne of righteousnesse the onely begotten Son of God Ioh. 1. 14. and as this Sunne is not onely light but the fountaine of light and in it selfe a body of most surpassing and shining light So Iesus Christ is light in his essence an heavenly light as the Sunne a light that none can reach or attaine the light of the world as the Sunne is a light in whom is no darkenesse so his face shineth as the brightest Sunne Rev. 1. 16. and as in the middest of Planets inlighteneth those that are about him 2. I see of all creatures the Sunne most admirable all the world admireth it A great part doe idolatrously adore it And the whole Church must admire her Sunne yea let all the Angels of heaven adore him as tenne thousand times passing the Sunne of the world For 1. That is but a meere creature though very glorious but this is the mighty God the maker of that 2 That serveth the outward man in things of this life But this the inward man in things spirituall and eternall 3 That riseth and shineth on good and bad but this onely on the good onely on his Ierusalem Esay 60. 1. 4 That rising obscureth the starres but this inlighteneth all beleevers who by his presence shine as lights in the worlds darknesse 5 That may be eclypsed and darkened and though it rise every day it every day setteth but this Sunne of the Church being eternall shall never lose or lessen his shine and glory and once risen shall never set more Esay 60. 20. 3. I admire the sunne for his purity and piercing nature the sun is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of many eyes who disperseth from himselfe on all sides infinite beames of light as so many eyes on every creature and none can hide it selfe from this great eye of the world and so pure that looking on all filthinesse contracteth none But how much more am I to admire the surpassing purity of Christ whose most piercing eye none can avoyde for all things are naked to him with whom we have to deale and so pure is this son that though hee was borne of sinners lived and conversed with sinners yea died with and for sinners and as a sinner yet no man could justly accuse him of sin but hee remained in his nature and life purer than the sun in his strength And must not the Saints imitate this their Son though they live amongst sinners and see much foule behaviour amongst men yet to keepe themselves pure in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation 4. I behold the Sunne a most powerfull creature for though his body be in heaven yet his comfortable beames reach to the extreame parts of the earth May I not now behold Iesus Christ being in heaven bodily and ascended thither in that his flesh yet by his spirit grace and power present with his Church in all parts of the world unto the end Mat. 28. 10. And as the Sun rising commeth forth as a Gyant to run his course and maketh such haste in his way as no created force can hinder him So this powerfull Sonne of his Church maketh haste in his way to her all created power of men and Angels cannot hinder him Hee skippeth over mountaines and hils in his haste unto her 5 What comfort have we by the sunne and shall we not have the same in Christ 1. Doth the sun drive away the darkenesse of the night and doth not Christ the thicke mists of sinnes the darkenesse of ignorance errour wrath damnation and of hell it selfe But for the sun of the world were a perpetuall night much more by the absence of this sunne of righteousnesse were it so in the Church 2. Doth the sun by his beames give direction for this naturall life c. So doth Iesus Christ by his beames of wisedome and grace directing us worke in us spirituall and heavenly life What can a man doe commendably without the Sunne So what is that wee can doe that can be acceptable without Christ 3. Is the sun under God the life quickner and comforter of the world otherwise dead and see â—e not Christ quickning al the elect dead in sins and trespasses warming them with beames of his love which as sunne-beames doe reflect backe on himselfe 4 Doth the Sun make and preserve the seasons of the yeare Summer Winter Spring Autumne See Iesus Christ having all seasons in his hand the seed-time of grace here that harvest of glory hereafter Hee appointeth the summer and prosperity of his Church and changeth it into a sharpe winter of adversity All vicissitudes and changes of the Church are appointed by his wisedome Daniel 2. 21. Whence wee may learne a number of duties As 1. Doe all creatures rejoyce in the Sun but hatefull Bats and Owles doe they follow the Sun thrive and prosper in the sunne turne after the sun as Mari-gold Dazy Turnesole c. Should not new creatures draw neere and follow this Sun to prosper it it Doe we open our windowes and doores to take in the beames of the Sun and not open the doores of our hearts for the Word that the beames from Christ may inlighten and warme us 2. When the Sun riseth men goe forth to labour When Christ our Sonne is risen and present in his offers and ordinances wee must worke and walke before the night come 3 Men in the Sun walke uprightly in a misty night to stumble and fall is more hurt than shame but to fall at noone is
of thunder which made proud Pharaoh confesse his owne wickednesse and begge prayers as Exodus 9. 21. but also a silent voice every of them being as that pillar of the cloud which was a signe of Gods presence amongst his people as Exod. 13. 21. yea every cloud herein like the cloud of the Tabernacle whereof is said the glory of God appeared in the cloud Exodus 16. 10. I may say as Iob 37. 14. Hearken and give heede to these wondrous workes of God Who is the Father of rame Iob 38. 28. that is besides the Lord what power is there that bindes the waters in the thicke clouds so that the cloud breaketh not Iob 26. 29. And if thou dost know who it is that maketh the clouds to labour to water the earth and who it is that turneth them about by his government to doe whatsoever hee commands them on the world for punishment or mercie yet dost thou know how God disposeth them The varietie of them the wondrous workes of him that is perfect in knowledge Iob 37. from verse 11. to 17. Canst thou tell how the bottles of heaven are filled how they being of infinite weight and magnitude are hung as in a ballance in the soft aire without any other stay than his Word How the windowes of Heaven be open to raine downe fatnesse and plenty Psal. 65. 12. Surely in these things the Lord left not himselfe without witnesse amongst the Gentiles in giving them raine and fruitfull seasons Act. 14. 17. and much lesse among us in the Church to whom by the teaching of grace they proelaime his wisedome power justice mercy as also his glory and majesty who rideth on the clouds as on a horse and turneth them what way soever he pleaseth As they leade us to God so they serve to afford us many excellent meditations 1 Doe I see the raine fall from the clouds to water the earth and returneth not in vaine Isa. 55. 10. I must see the worke of the word preached upon my earthly heart for the moystening softening and changing of my heart for preparing it to fruitfulnesse and preserving it in fruitfulnesse for it shall never be in vaine but doth the worke for which it is sent Never was a greater plague in Israel than when for three yeares and a halfe it rained not on the earth in Ababs time a greater plague cannot be in this life than when the raine falleth not to the moystening the furrowes of our hearts 2. Doe I see the clouds to be as a shadow and cover against the heate parching and burning of the Sun I must herein behold the Lords protection as a covering cloud or shadow saving his Saints from the sunne of affliction and persecution which will burne up those that are not defended Psal. 91. 1. They shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty Here is another manner of shadow than Iona'hs gourd I will run under this shadow saith David Psal. 121. 6. and the sunne shall not smite me by day 3. Doe I see the raine-bow in the clouds I must meditate of Gods faithfulnesse who hath set it as a signe of mercy and patience yea I may carry my mind beyond the temporall and conceive of Gods everlasting mercy in Christ in whom I come to the throne of grace which is described to have a raine-bow round about it Rev. 4. 3. 4. When I see the cloud disperse it selfe upon all grounds and raines fall on good and bad I must learne to distill my goodnesse to all in generall good and bad friends and enemies And so show my selfe a childe of my heavenly Father who letteth his raine fall on the just and unjust Mat. 5. 45. 5. When I see the dewes of small raines which is the joy and life of flowers I must in them beheld Iesus Christ who compareth himselfe unto dew Hosea 14. 5. I will be a dew to Israel the dew presenteth it selfe in faire weather so Christ is neare when Gods face and favour is calme and pacified The dew refresheth and reviveth withering medowes so Christ by his grace refresheth and quickneth drie and dead hearts remitting sinnes and infusing moysture of grace and holinesse to make them fruitfull in all good workes The dewes temper and allay great heate and parching of the sunne so doth Christ coole the burning heate of his Fathers wrath and quencheth the fiery darts of the devill cooleth the heate of persecution and all that wee may become and continue fruitfull Without these dewes from heaven is no expectation of fruits in earth and without Christ and his grace we can doe nothing at all 6. I see a morning dew and suddaine raine soone dryed up I must looke to the soundnesse of my grace faith and comfort that it bee not as an hasty raine or an heritage hastily gotten that it bee not as the righteousnesse of Ephraim Hos. 6. 4. as a morning dew by sun-rising suddenly vanished and gone when is most neede of it Hence learne to strive against hypocrisie 7. In beholding the clouds what a profitable meditation were it to consider them as the glorious charriot of Christ wherin hee ascended to heaven and was taken up in the cloude from the sight of his Disciples Acts 1. 9. And wherein hee shall descend in great glory and majesty to judge the quicke and dead Matth. 26. 64. As also how serviceable the cloudes shall be unto us as unto our head when in the last day we shall be taken up into the clouds to meete the Lord in the ayre and so shall bee ever with him 1 Thes. 4. 17. Now come wee to the ayre which is not in vaine but may also leade us to God for it hath expresse impressions of his fingers For It truely and really subsisteth though it bee not seene so hath also the Lord the maker thereof a reall but invisible existence It leadeth us by the hand to the ubiquitie of GOD for it is every where and in every open place and secret in townes and fields and widest deserts it is in the bowels of the earth in the bottome of the Sea within us without us Euen so must I conceive God present at and in all places immediately compassing me every where as the ayre Nay hath place in my heart and minde that as surely as I continually draw the ayre into my body heart and braines so is the Lord much more present within mee This will not let me shut him up in heaven whose essence is not more there than in this inferiour world though his glory and Majesty shine clearer there Neither to thinke him far absent nor by walls doores windowes closets or chambers kept from seeing or knowing my waies no more than ayre but I shall continually stand in awe and feare to offend him I see the ayre the preserver of my life that without it I cannot continue any whit but presently perish so as wee may say of it truly as