31. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judca and Galilee and Samaria and were edified and walking in the feare of the Lord and in the comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplied The more their graces were increased the more their comforts were augmented If one drop of the joy of the Holy Ghost should fall into hell it would swallow up all the torments of hell saith Austin Oh! who would not then labour to increase in grace that he may abound in joy c. The Promise lyes most fair before their eyes that are rich in grace their interest in it is most clear and rarely that they goe without it unlesse it is by taking part sometimes with Satan against their interest in Christ or somtimes through the power of unbelief which indeed cuts off all the comfort of the soule or by looking after other lovers or by not hearkning to the voyce of the Comforter c. Christians you often complaine of the want of joy and comfort oh doe but abound in grace and you won't complaine of the want of comfort Without delight the soule cannot live saith one take away all delight and the soul dyes Let this that ha's been spoken provoke every Christian to labour to be rich in grace c. But secondly Consider this You have singular opportunities and choyce advantages to be rich in grace There is a price put into your hands but where are your hearts In former times God gave out grace by drops but now by Flaggons Opportunities if not improved will as Cant. 2. 5. that sword that Hector gave Ajax be turned into your owne bowels This will be a sword in thy bowels that there hath been soule-inriching opportunities and thou hast neglected them and turned thy back upon them The thoughts of this will one day be the Scorpions that will vex thee the rod that will lash thee the thornes that will prick thee and the worm that will gnaw thee The Storke saith the Prophet knowes Jer. 8. 7. his appointed times and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow observe the time of their coming but my people know not the judgement of the Lord. The Market for your soules is open slip not your season least with the foolish Virgins you Mat. 25. goe to buy when 't is too late The Merchant will not slip his opportunity of buying nor the Saylor his of sailing nor the Husbandman his of sowing and why should you slip yours of growing rich in grace Many men loose their soules as Saul lost his Kingdome by not discerning their time to be spiritually rich Tamarlen at first hung out a white flagge but if they slipt Such â—here have been who by giving a glasse of water opportunely have obtain'd a Kingdome as you may see in the story of Thâ—umâ—stus and King Agrippa c. that opportunity then a red and so death and destruction followed c. The Lord Jesus hangs out the white flagge of mercy in these dayes to intice soules to come in and to share with him in his glorious and unsearchable riches in the riches of his grace and mercy but if you stand out Christ hath a red flagge and if that be once put out you are lost for ever Thrice happy are those that take the first opportunity of closing with Christ and of subjecting themselves to Christ Plutarch writes of Hanniball That when he could have taken Rome he would not but when he would have taken Rome he could not When many men may have mercy they won't and when they would have mercy they shan't Mercy and Prov. 1. 24 â—l Rev. 3. 20. grace is sometimes upon the bare knee Christ stands knocking at sinners doores he is willing to come in and make sinners rich and happy for ever he calls upon soules to open to him Lift up your heads O ye Gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting Prov. 24. 7 8 c. doores and the King of glory shall come in who is the King of glory The Lord strong and mighty the Lord mighty in Battell The King of glory comes not vacuis manibus empty-handed no he comes with his hands and heart full of rich and royal Presents and blest and enricht for ever are those that open to this King of glory c. Thirdly Consider this Soules rich in grace shall have their names immortall Every man naturally would have if it were possible his name immortal now there 's no way in the world to have your names immortal like this of growing rich in grace A man that 's spiritually rich shall live and his name shall live when he is dead In Nehem. 7. 2. 't is said of Hannaniah that he was a faithfull man and feared God above many Or He feared God above multitudes as the Hebrew hath it His Merâ—bbim from Rabâ—b name lives though his body for many hundred years hath been turn'd to dust So in Acts 7. 55. Stephen was a man full of the Holy Ghost Though Stephen were stoned yet his name lives his memoriall is precious among the Saints to this very day So in Heb. 11. 38. They were such of whom this world was not worthy And in the third Epistle of John the six first Verses compared with vers 12. Gaius and Demetrius Ego si bonam faâ—ram servassâ— sat dives ero If I may but keep a good name I have wealth enough said Plaâ—t who were rich in grace have Crownes of honour set upon their heads their names live and are a sweet savour to this very day c. So in Psal 112. 6. The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance but the name of the wicked shall rot The great mans name and the rich mans name shall rot saith he but the name of the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance The Persians use to write their Kings names in golden Characters so the Lord writes the names of soules rich in grace in golden Characters Their names are alwayes Heires to their lives believe it there 's no such way in the world to have immortall names like this of growing rich in grace One man thinks to make his name immortall by making himself great another by heaping up silver and gold as the dust of the A good name yields a fragrant smell over Towne Country it puts a shining lustre upon the countenance it fitteth to any publick employment in Ministry or Magistracy it stops many a foul mouth and it makes men live when they are dead earth or the stones of the street and another by doing some strange exploites c. But for all this the Lord will make good his word The name of the wicked shall rot if God be God his name must rot but the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance they leave their Names behind for a blessing Isa 65. 15. 'T is sad to consider what many poor carnall Creatures have done and suffered to make their names immortall
Lord gives out but little of himselfe here we have but a tast of Divine sweetnesse here we see but the back parts of God the day is not farr off when we shall see his face The best of Christ is behind as the sweetest Honey lies in the bottome Our greatest knowledge here is to know that we know nothing The Rabbins in their Comments upon Scripture when they meet with hard knots that they cannot explicate they Elias cum vâ—nerit solvet omnia salve all with this When Elias comes he will resolve all things The best men are in the dark and will be in the dark till the Lord comes to shine forth upon them in more grace and glory The best men on this side Heaven are narrow Vessels they are able to receive and take in but little of God The best men are so full of the world and the vanities thereof that they are able to take in but little of God Here God gives his people some tasts that they may not faint and he gives them but a tast that they may long to be at home that they may keep humble that they may set loose from things below that they may not break and despise bruised reeds and that Heaven may be the more sweet to them at last c. A third reason why the best men are the most humble and 3 Reason that is Because the best men dwell more upon their wonser part their ignoble part then they doe upon their noble part their better part In Isa 6. 5. I am a man of unclean lips saith that humble soule So humble Job cryes out of the iniquity of his youth Job 13. 26. Job 40. 50. and sayes he Once have I spoken foolishly yea twice but I will doe so no more Humble David Psal 51. 3. sighes it out My sin is ever before me So humble Paul Rom. 7. 22 23. complaines that he hath a law in his members warring against the Law of his mind and leading him captive to the Law of sin Tenâ—o in mâ—â—iaâ—sâ—ribâ— in Charta sed non habeâ— in viâ—a Aug. and that when he would doe good evill was present with him An humble soule sees that he can stay no more from sin then the heart can from panting and the pulse from beating he sees his heart and life to be fuller of sin then the firmament is of Starres and this keeps him low He sees that sin is so bred in the bone that till his bones as Josephs be carried out of the Aegypt of this world it will not out He every day findes these Jebusites and Canaanites to be as thornes in his eyes and As Hagar would dwell with Sarah til she beat her out of doors so will sinne dwell with Grace till death-beat it out of doors as goades in his sides he finds sin an ill inmate that will not out till the house falleth on the head of it As the fretting Leprosie in the walls of the house would not out till the house it selfe was demolisht Though Sin and Grace were never borne together and though they shall not dye together yet while the Believer lives these two must live together and this keeps them humble As the Peacock looking upon his black feet le ts fall his Plumes So the poore soule when he looks upon his black feet the vanity of his mind the body of sin that is in him his This duplication as well as the Ecce is sull of attention and admiration and Christ by praising perfects his own work for Locutio verbi infusio doni to call her faire is to make her so c. proud Spirit falls low Epiminondas an Athenian Captaine being askt why he was so sad the day after a great Victory answered Yesterday I was tickled with much vaine glory therefore I correct my selfe for it to day That 's the temper of an humble soule 'T is very observable that the Saints are pressed to take notice of their better part Cant. 1. 15. Behold thou art faire my Love behold thou art faire And so Chap. 4. 1. Behold thou art faire behold thou art faire God hath much adoe to get a gratious heart to mind his spirituall beauty to take notice of the inward excellency that he hath wrought in it Though the Kings Daughter be all glorious within yet God hath much adoe to bring her to see and take notice of her inward beauty and glory The humble soule is more set to eye and dwell upon its deformity then it is upon that beauty and glory that God hath stampt upon it And this makes the man little and low in his owne eyes Fourthly Because they have the cleerest sight and vision of 4 Reason God and have the neerest and highest communion with God None on earth are so neere to God and so high in their communion with God as humble soules And as they have the cleerest Visions of God so those actions of God give them the fullest sight and knowledge of their owne sinfullnesse and nothingnesse So in Job 42. 4 5. I have heard of thee with the hearing of the eare but now mine eye hath seene 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—rom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which signifies to reject to despise to cast of o contemne thee I abhor my selfe in dust and ashes Isa 6. 1. 5. In a Vision the Lord discovers his glory to the Prophet then vers 5. Woe is me saith he for I am undone Or I am cut off why because I am a man of uncleane lips and have seene the King the Lord of Hosts Oh the Vision that I have had of the glory of God hath given me such a clear and full sight of my owne vilenesse and basenesse that I can't but loath and abhor my selfe When Abraham drawes neer to God then he accounts himselfe but dust and ashes Gen. 18. 26 27. The Angels that are neere God that stand before him they cover their faces with two wings as with a double Scarfe in the 6 of Isa ver 2. The fifth and last Reason why those are most humble that 5 Reason As one fire so one feare drives out another As the Sun-shine puts out fire so doth the feare of God the fire of lusts are most holy is Because they maintaine in themselves a holy feare of sinning And the more this holy feare of falling is maintained the more the soule is humbled Prov. 14. 16. A wise man feareth and departeth from evill And Chap. 28. 14. Happy is the man that feareth alwayes but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischiefe And this keepes the holy soule humble I have knowne a good old man saith Bernard who when he had heard of any that had committed some notorious offence Ille hodie ego cras was wont to say with himselfe He fell to day so may I to morrow Now the Reason why humble soules doe keep up in themselves a holy feare of falling is Because
and a gripe of Goats haire for an Oblation and certainly God hath lost none of his affections to poore soules in the time of the Gospel Cant. 2. 14. Let me heare thy voyce for thy voyce is sweet and thy countenance is lovely The Hebrew word * Eth kolech signifies any sound such as Birds or bruits make their chattering is like lovely Songs in the ear of God their mite is a sweet Oblation Parents that have but some drops of that love and tender affection that is in God to his people yet accept of a very little service from their weak Children and will not God In time of strength God looks for much but in the time of weaknesse God will bear much and overlook much and accept of a little yea of a very very little One writing of the Tree of Knowledge saith That it bears many leaves but little fruit Though weak Saints have a great many leaves and but little fruit little grace yet that little the Lord will kindly accept of Artaxerxes the Persian Monarch was famous for accepting of a little water from the hand of a loving Subject God makes himselfe famous and his Grace glorious by his kind acceptation of the weakest endeavours of his people c. The seventh Support is this The least measure of Grace is as true an earnest and as good 7 Support Though men often loose their earnest yet God will never loose his His earnest is very obliging Phil. 1. 6. and sure a pledge of greater measures of Grace that the soule shall have here and of Glory that the soule shall have hereafter as the greatest measure of Grace is He that hath begun a good worke he will perfect it to the day of Christ Christ is called not onely the Author but also the Finisher of our faith Heb. 12. 2. In Mal. 4. 2 3. Vnto you that fear my name shall the Son of Righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings and he shall goe forth and grow up as The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or way signifies a distinct course from others as the way from one Town differs from the way to another Here in Job 't is taken for a course in piety Calves of the stall And so in Job 17. 9. The righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger Zech. 12. 8. In that day shall the Lord defend the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angel of the Lord before them So in Hos 14. 5 6 7. I will be as the dew to Israel he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his fruits as Lebanon His branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive Tree and his smell as Lebanon They that dwell under his shadow shall return they shall revive as the Corne and grow as the Vine the sent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon The Tree in Alcinous Garden had alwayes blossomes buds and ripe fruits one under another Such a Tree will God make every weak Christian to be The righteous though never so weak shall flourish like the Palme Tree Psal 92. 12 13 14 Now the Palme Tree never looseth his leafe or fruit saith Pliny An old man being asked If he grew in goodnesse answered Yea doubtlesse I believe I doe because the Lord has said They shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From Hagnan Green flourishing or green as the Hebrew hath it In the Island of St. Thomas on the back side of Africa in the midst of it is a hill and over that a continuall Cloud wherewith the whole Island is watered Such a cloud is Christ to weak Saints Though our hearts naturally are like the Isle of Pathmos which is so barren of any good as that nothing will grow but on Earth that is brought from other places yet Christ will make them like a watered Garden and like a Isa 58. 11. Spring of water whose waters faile not The eighth Support is this 8 Support A dying saiâ— once cryed out He is come he is come meaning the Lord with a great reward for a little worke That the least good that is done by the weakest Saint shall not be despised by Christ but highly esteemed and rewarded As you may see in Mat. 19. 27. Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee and what shall we have A great All a great catch indeed as I have formerly shew'd you they left a few old boats and torne Nets and poor houshold-stuffe yet Christ carries it very sweetly and lovingly to them and tells them in vers 28. that they should sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Christ tells them they shall sit as Ambassadors or chief Councellors and Presidents which have the chief seats in the Kingly Assembly yea they shall sit as Kings they are here but obscure Kings but Kings Elected but in that day they shall be Kings Crowned Kings glorified Kings acknowledged then they shall as far out-shine the glory of the Sun as the Sun psal 89. 27. Agrippa having suffered imprisonmeÌ„t for wishing Cajus Emperour the first thing Cajus did when he came to the Empire was to prefer Agrippa to a Kingdome He gave him also a Chain of gold as heavy as the Chaine of Iâ—on that was â—pon him in prison And will not Christ richly â—eward for all our well wishes towards him and for all our gracious actings for him surely he will he ha's a Kings heart as well as a Kings Purse â—eb 6. 10. now outshines a twinkling Star In that day they shal be higher then the Kings of the Earth So in Mat. 10. ult And whosoever shall give to drinke unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water onely in the name of a Disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise loose his reward for a cup of cold water Water the common Element and cold water which cost them not the charges of fire to warme it for that there is a torrent and a very sea of all pleasures provided for thee to all Eternity God esteems mens deeds by their minds and not their minds by their deeds The least and cheapest courtesie that can be shewed shall be rewarded There is an Emphasis in that deep asseveration Verily I say unto you he shall in no wise loose his reward Mercy is as sure a graine as vanity God is not like to break neither will he forget the least good done by the least Saint The Buttler may forget Joseph and Joseph may forget his fathers house but the Lord will not forget the least good done by the weakest Saint The Duke of Burgundy being a wise and loving man did bountifully reward a poor Gardener for offering of him a Rape root being the best present
bâ—st Gifts to his Dearest ones I shall onely give you these six FIrst Because he loves them with the dearest with the choycest and with the strongest love therefore he gives them the best Gifts Christ doth not love Believers with a low flat dull common love with such a love as most men love one another with but with a love that is like himselfe Now men will give as they love 1 Sam. 1. 4 5. And Elkanah gave to Penninah his wife and to all her sonnes and daughters Portions but unto Hannah he gave a worthy Portion for he loved her Jiâ—â—en manah ahhath appaiim In the Hebrew it is He gave her a Gift of the face That is a great an honourable Gift Men look upon great and honourable Gifts with a sweet and cheerfull countenance So the Gifts that Jesus Christ gives to Believers are Gifts of the face that is they are the greatest Gifts the honourablest Gifts the choycest Gifts Gifts fit for none but a King to Mundus cadaver est petentis cum sunt Canis The world is a Carcasse and those that hunt after it are Doggs is an Arabick Proverb give Augustus in his solemne Feasts gave trifles to some but gold to others The Lord Jesus scatters the trifles of this world up and downe as Luther well speaks The whole Turkish Empire is but a crust that God throwes to a Dogge God scatters giftlesse Gifts viz. the honours riches and favours of this world up and downe among the worst of men but as for his gold his spirit his grace his Son his favour these are Jewels that he onely casts into the bosome of Saints and that because he dearly loves them Secondly Christ gives the best Gifts to his people Beeause Wicked men are onely principled to abuse mercy which occasions God so often to raine hell out of heaven upon them as he did once up on Sodome Gomorrah for abusing of mercy Gen. 25. 5. they are best principled and fitted to make a Divine improvement of them There 's no men on earth that are principled and fitted for the improvement of the speciall Gifts that Christ gives but his owne people None have such principles of wisdome love holinesse and faithfullnesse to make an improvement of the joy the peace the comfort that the Lord gives as his people Ergo. Abraham gave unto the Sons of the Concubines Gifts and sent them away but unto Isaac he gave all that he had As Isaac was better beloved then the Concubines Sons so Isaac was better principled to improve love then they were The application is easie Thirdly He doth it upon this account That he may the more indeere the hearts of his people to him The greatest designe of Christ in this world is mightily to indeere the hearts of his people and indeed it was that which was in his eye and upon his heart from all eternity It was this designe that caused him to lay downe his Crowne and to take up our Crosse to put off his Robes and to put on our Raggs to be condemned that we might be justified to undergo the wrath of the Almighty that we might for ever be in the armes of his mercy He gives his Spirit his Grace yea and his very selfe and all to indeere the hearts of his people to himselfe When Isaac would indeere the heart of Rebeckah then the Bracelets the Jewels and the Ear-rings are cast into her bosome So the Lord Jesus casts his Gen. 24. 53. heavenly Bracelets Jewels and Ear-rings into the bosomes into the laps of his people out of a designe to indeere himselfe unto them Prov. 17. 8. A Gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it whither soever it turneth it prospereth In the Hebrew 'tis thus A Gift is as a stone of grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is it makes a man very acceptable and gracious in the eyes of others A Gift is like that precious stone Pantarbe that hath a marvellous consiliating property in it Or like the wonder-working Load-stone that as some Writers observe hath among other Properties this That it makes those that have it well-spoken men and well accepted of Princes Certainly the Gifts that Jesus Christ gives to his doe render him very acceptable and precious in their eyes Christ to them is the Crowne of Crownes the Heaven of Heaven the Glory of Glories he is the most sparkling Diamond in the Ring of Glory Prov. 18. 16. A mans Gift maketh roome for him and bringeth him before great men The Gifts that Jesus Christ gives widen the heart and inlarge the soule of a Believer to take in more of himselfe Naturally we are narrow-mouthed Heaven-ward and wide-mouthed earth-ward But the Lord Jesus by casting in his Jewels his Pearles his precious Gifts into the soule doth widen the soule and inlarge the soule and make it more capacious to entertaine Psal 24. 7 8 9 10. himselfe Christ by his Gifts causes all doores to stand open that the King of glory may enter in Now the fourth Reason of the Point is Because Christ expects more from his people then he doth from all the world besides therefore he gives them the best Gifts Where the Lord expects and looks for most there he gives 'T was a good saying of Just Maâ—tyr Non in verbis sed infactis res nostrae religionis consislunt God loves saith Luther curristas not quaristas the â—unner not the question or c. most Though Believers are but A little little flock though they are but A remnant though they are A fountaine sealed A spring shut up A Garden inclosed yet Christ looks for more from them then from all the world besides He looks for more love from them then from all the world besides and he expects more service from them then from all the world besides and he looks for more honour from them then from all the world besides Mal. 1. 6. A Son honoureth his father and a servant his Master if I am your father where is my honour And if I am your master where is my feare He looks for more fear from them then from all the world besides and for more honour from them then from all the world besides and for more prayers and praises Some say that the Panther wil leap three times after his prey but if he misse it the 3d time he will leap no more 'T were well for Saints if Satan would doe so c. 1 Chr. 21. 1. Job 2. 9. Mat. 26. 2 Cor. 12. 7. Mat. 4. 1 12. from them then from all the world besides Fifthly The Lord Jesus gives the best gifts to his owne people That he may fence and strengthen them against the worst Temptations There are no men on earth that lye open to temptations as Saints the best men have been alwayes the most tempted The more excellent any man is in grace and holinesse the more shall that man be
thread of The very Heâ—then man could say Quando sapiens loquitur aulea animi aperdit When a wise man speaketh he openeth the rich treasures and wardrobe of his mind c. scarlet with talking of nothing but a crucified Christ and thin like a thread not swell'd with other vaine and wicked discourses The old zealous Primitive Christians did so frequently and so effectually mind and talke of the Kingdome of Heaven and of the riches and glory of that State that the Ethnicks begun to be a little jealous that they affected the Roman Empire when alasse their ambition was of another and a nobler nature Psal 37. 30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisedome and his tongue talketh judgement for the Law of the Lord is in his heart Prov. 12. 18. The tongue of the wise is health his tongue is a Tree of life whose leaves are medicinable No way to be rich in spiritualls like being much in with such precious soules whose tongues drop marrow and fatnesse Utterance is a gift and dumb Christians are blame-worthy as well as dumb Ministers We should all strive to a holy ability and dexterity of savoury discourse If Christ should come to many of us as he did to his two Disciples in that last of Luke on Sabboath-dayes and other times and say to us as to them What manner of communication had ye or have yee Oh! with what palenesse of face and sadnesse of countenance should we look The story of Loquere ut videam is common Speake that I may see thee said Socrates to a faire Boy When the heart is full it overfloweth in speech we know Mettals by their tinkling and men by their talking Happy was that tongue in the Primitive time that could sound out Aliquid Davidicum Any thing of Davids doing but much more happy is he that speaks out Aliquid Christi Any thing of Christ from experience Seventhly If ever you would be spiritually rich Then take heed of eating or tasting of forbidden fruit This stript Adam of his Crowne of his Jewels and of all his rich Ornaments in a moment and of the richest and Becanus tells us That the Tree of Knowledge was Ficus indica and that it bears many leaves and little fruit and so 't is with those that tast and eat of forbidden fruit c. greatest Prince that ever breathed made him the miserablest Beggar that ever liv'd O take heed of tasting of poyson of eating of poyson A person that hath eate poyson will not thrive let him take never such wholsome food the choycest Cordials will not increase blood and spirits and strength but the man will throw up all Poore soules that have been tasting of poyson are apt to find fault with the Minister and sometimes with this and that as the cause of their not growing rich in spiritualls When alasse the onely cause is their eating of poyson These are like him in Seneca that having a thorne in his foot complained of the roughnesse of the way as the cause of his limping Sirs 't is not the Minister nor this nor that but your eating of forbidden fruit that is the cause of your non-thriving in spiritualls Sin is the souls sicknesse and nothing more prejudices growth then sicknesse Christians if ever you would be trees not onely having the leaves of honour but the fruites of righteousnesse then take heed of sin abhor it more then hell and fly from it as from your deadliest enemy c. Eighthly and lastly Be sure to maintaine a secret trade with God You know many men come to be very rich in the world Acts 10. 3 9. Gen. 21. 33. Exod. 14. 15. 1 Sam. 1. 13. by a secret trade Though many have not such an open trade as others yet they have a more secret Trade and by that they gaine very great Estates as many of you here in London know by experience Take it friends as an experienced truth there is no such way under heaven to be rich in spiritualls as by driving of a secret Trade heavenwards 'T is true it 's good for men to attend upon this and that and the other publick administration for in all Divine administrations God shewes his beauty and glory I but such that delight to be more Psal 63. 2 3. Psal 27. 4. Psal 84. 10. upon the publick stage then in the Closet will never be rich in spiritualls they may grow rich in notions but they will never grow rich in gracious experiences Oh! God loves to see a poore Christian to shut his closet doore and then to open Mat 6. 6. his bosome and poure out his soule before him God hath very discoveries for soules that drive a secret Trade The best wine the best dainties and delicates are for such And I never knew any man or woman in my life that was richer in grace then those that were much in closet communion with God Much of a Christians spirituall strength lyes in secret prayer as Sampson's did in his haire Nothing charmes Satan and weakens sin like this Secret Prayers are the pillars of smoke wherein the soule ascendeth to God out of the wildernesse of this world Secret prayer is Jacobs Ladder where you have God discending downe into the soul and rhe soule sweetly ascending up to God No way to be rich in spirituals like this therefore be sure to maintaine and keep up a secret Trade between God and your owne soules Oh let God heare often of you in secret In Cant. 7. 5. The King is held in the Galleries Oh! in the secret walks the soule meets with the King of glory Oh! there the soule hangs upon Christ there the soule sucks and drawes virtue from Christ and there the soule is made rich with the riches of Christ Christ is much delighted and taken with secret prayer Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the clefts of the rock in the secret places of the staires that art got into a hole let me heare thy voyce let me see thy countenance for sweet is thy voyce and thy countenance is lovely Secret meales are very fatning and secret duties are very soule-inriching Christians set more close to this work and if you don't thrive by it trust me no more And thus you see by what means you may grow rich in grace The third thing I propounded to speak to was Some Propositions concerning Spirituall Riches Some Propositions concerning spirituall Riches And the first Proposition is this ALL that doe grow rich in Grace they grow rich gradually The Sun ascends by degrees Children Plants and Trees they grow by degrees so doe Saints in spiritualls It 's true many men as to temporalls by the death of some friend or this or that providence grow rich on a suddaine But no soule that 's rich in grace but growes rich gradually In Prov. 4. 18. But the path of the just is like the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day
need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus as he did the widowes vessel The fountaine hath not the lesse water for the vessel it fills nor the Sun the lesse light for that it gives forth to the Starres so the Lord Jesus Christ hath never a whit the lesse for what he gives forth unto his Saints When Zelislaus the King of Poland's Generall had lost his hand in his service the King sent him a golden hand Ah Christians when you loose this or that for him he will send you a golden hand if you loose a penny for him he will give you a Pearle Christ will not live long in any mans debt if he should he would loose his glory c. Secondly If the Lord Jesus be very rich Oh then take heed of despairing by reason of your sins I confesse the least sin should humble the soule but certainly the greatest sin should never discourage the soule much lesse should it work the soule to despaire Read 1 Tim. 1. 13 14 15. and despaire I had almost said if thou can'st Despairing Judas perished when as the murderers of Christ Acts 2. believing on Christ were saved Despaire is a sin exceeding vild and contemptible 't is a word of eternall reproach dishonour and confusion it declares the Devil a Conquerour and what greater dishonour can be done to Christ then for My sin is greater then can be forgiven saith Gain Thou lyest Cain saith Augustine for Gods mercy is greater then the sins of all men and its a great injury to God to distrust of his mercy a soule to proclaime before all the world the Devil a crowned Conquerour A despairing soule is Magor missabib A terrour to himselfe his heart a hell of horrour his conscience an Acheldama a field of black blood He hath no rest at home nor abroad at bed nor board but is as if infernall Devils followed him in fearfull shapes terrifying and tormenting his perplexed soule Eternity of misery feared or felt begets that Monster which like Medusas head astonisheth with its very aspect and strangles hope which is the breath of the soule As it is said Dum spiro spero so it may be inverted Dum spero spiro other miseries may wound the spirit but despaire kills it dead c. Thirdly If Christ be so rich Then take heed of presuming Christ is a Lyon as well as a Lamb he hath a sword as well as a Scepter Take heed of taking incouragement to sin upon this account that Christ is rich in grace and mercy To argue from the riches of mercy to sinfull liberty is the Devils Logick A soule that thus reasons is a soule left of God a soule that is upon the last step of the ladder a soule that Satan hath by the hand and the eternall God knowes whether he will lead him What the women sung of Saul and David that Saul 1 Sam. 18. 6 7. Rom. 6. 1 2. had slaine his thousands and David his ten thousands that I may say of despaire and presumption Despaire hath slaine her thousand but presumption hath slaine her ten thousand Shall we sin that grace may abound God forbid How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein As the beams of the Sun shining on the fire puts out the fire so the shinings of Gods mercy on us should extinguish sin in us as the Apostle argues 2 Pet. 3. 15. from Paul Rom. 2. 4. Christ seemes to say to soules as Thesius said once Goe sayes he and tell Creon Thesius offers thee a gracious offer yet I am pleased to be friends if thou wilt submit this is my first Message but if this offer prevaile not looke for me to be up in armes Ah soules if you shall abuse the riches of grace to a presumptuous sinning against Christ Christ will take up Armes and you shall dye for it The next Use is this If Christ be so rich Oh then open to Christ when he knocks Christ knocks by his word and he knocks by his rod he knocks by his spirit and he knocks by his messengers and he knocks by conscience Oh open to him for he is very rich Though you shut the doore against a poore man yet you will open it to one that is rich and why not then to Christ who would faine have entrance Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the doore and knocke if any man heare my voyce and open the doore I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me Behold I stand I that am the King of glory I that am Psal 24. 7 8 9. Rev. 17. 14. King of Kings and Lord of Lords I that am rich in mercy rich in goodnesse rich in grace rich in glory I stand at the doore and knocke I that have gold to inrich you I that have eye-salve to inlighten you I that have glorious Apparrell to cloath you I that have mercy to pardon you I that have power to save you I that have wisedome to counsell you I that have happinesse to Crowne you I stand at the doore and knocke If any man will open If the Master will not yet if the servant will if the Mistrisse will not yet if the Maid will if the Parent will not yet if the Child will if the rich man will not yet if the poore man will if the Pharisee won't yet if the Publican will I will come in and will sup with him and he with me Jesus Christ hath the greatest worth and wealth in him as the worth and value of many peeces of silver is in one piece of gold so all the heavenly excellencies that are scattered abroad in Angels and men are united to Christ yea all the whole volume of perfection which is spread through heaven and earth is epitomized in Christ They â—ay 't is true of the Oyle at Rhemes That though it be continually spent in the inauguration of their Kings of France yet it never wasts Christ is a pot of Manna a cruise of Oyle a bottomlesse Ocean of all comforts and contents that never faile A Saint may say In having nothing I have all things because I have Christ Having therefore all things in him I seeke no other reward for he is the universall reward And then againe If Christ be so rich then sit downe and wonder at his condiscending love That one so rich should fall in love with such that are Rev. 3. 17. to 21 c. poore wretched miserable blind and naked that one so high should look so low as poore we that one so great that one who is the Lord and Heire of all should match with us Heb 1 2 3 4. Phil. 3. 17 18 19 c. Ezek. 16. that have nothing at all O the breadth the length the depth the highth of Christs love to unlovely soules to such that had neither portion nor proportion that had neither externall nor internall worth that might in the
pittifull work would they make Yea for want of a Christ within how little of Christ doe they understand How little of Christ doe they make known notwithstanding all their borrowed helps Paul was a man that had got a Christ within him Gal. 2. 20. I live yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life that I live is by the faith of the Son of God c. Compare this with Gal. 4. 19. My little Children of whom I travell in birth till Christ be formed in you A Christ within makes him travel in birth Odino 2 Cor. 11. 23. ult As Nurses to Princes children are fed with the most delicate fare but not for their owne sakes buâ— for the childrens sake to whom they give Nurse So 't is with many Ministers that want a Christ within â— Tim. 2. â—4 25. The Greek word Translated I travell in birth signifies not onely the travel of the woman at the birth of the Child but also the painfull bearing thereof before the birth The paines of travel breed not a greater desire to see a Man-child borne into the world then Paul's love bred in him till Christ were anew formed in them No man did so much for the winning of soules to Christ as Paul nor no man had so much of a Christ within him as Paul Nothing will naturalize a Ministers heart to his work like a Christ within nothing will make him so wise so painfull so watchfull so carefull to win soules as a Christ within nothing will make him hold out and hold on in the work of the Lord in the face of all oppositions persecutions dangers and deaths as a Christ within Nothing will make a man strive with sinners and weep over sinners and waite upon sinners for their returne as a Christ within Such Ministers that have not a Christ within them will find to comfort and as little successe in their Preaching of Christ Above all gettings get a Christ within or else after all thy Preaching thy selfe will be a cast-away Secondly They that would Preach Christ to the people must Study more Scripture truths Scripture Mysteries then humane Histories They must study Gods Book more then all other Books The truth and antiquity of the Book of God finds no companion either in Age or Authority No Histories are comparable to the Histories of the Scriptures Moses is sound more ancient then all those whom the Grecians make most antient as Homer Hesiod and Jupiter himsâ—lâ— whom the Greeks have seated in the top of their Divinity For 1 Antiquity 2 Rariety 3 Variety 4 Brevity 5 Perspicuity 6 Harmony 7 Verity Gregory calls the Scripture Cor animam Dei The heart and soule of God for in the Scriptures as in a glasse we may see how the heart and soule of God stands towards his poore creatures It was the glory of Apollos that he was mighty in the Scripture Acts 18. 24. John 5. 39. Search the Scripture saith Christ The Greek word signifies to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 search as men search for gold in Mines You must search the Scripture not superficially but narrowly The Scriptures are a great depth wherein the choycest treasures are hid therefore you must digge deep if you will find Col. 3. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you Or as the Greek hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the word of Christ indwell in you as an ingrafted word incorporated into your soules Let the word be so concocted and digested by you as that you turne it into a part of your selves You must be familiarly acquainted with the word you must not let it passe by you as a stranger or lodge and sojourne with you as a wafairing man it must continually abide with you and dwell richly in you 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good workes All Books and helps are not comparable to the Bible for the compleating and perfecting of a man for the work of the Ministry That which a Papist reports of their Sacrament of the Masse That there are as many Mysteries in it as there are drops in the sea dust on the earth Angels in heaven Starres in the skie Attomes in the Sun-beams or sands on the sea-shore Whiles they burned us said Reverend Moulin for reading the Scriptures we burnt with zeale to be reading of them But where is this brave spirit now c. may be truly asserted of the word of God No study to the study of the Scripture for profit and comfort Count Anhalt that Princely Preacher was wont to say That the whole Scriptures were the swadling bands of the child Jesus he being to be found almost in every page in every verse in every line Luther would often say That he had rather that all his Bookes should be burnt then that they should be a means to hinder persons from studying of the Scripture The third and last Rule I shall lay downe is this Such as would Preach Christ aright to the people had need Dwell much upon the vanity of humane doctrines The vanity of which doctrines may be thus discovered First They doe not discover sin in its uglinesse and filthinesse as the Scriptures doe They search but to the skin they reach not to the heart they doe not doe as the Master did in Jonah's ship when they were in a storme Secondly Humane doctrines have no humbling power in These things had need be seriously minded in these dayes wherein â—umane doctrines are so much exalted and admired them They may a little tickle you but they can never humble you they cannot cast downe Satans strong holds they cannot melt nor break the heart of a sinner they cannot make him cry out with the Leaper Vnclean unclean Thirdly Humane doctrines nourish not the noble part the soule of man The Prodigal was like to starve before he returned to his fathers house A man may study much and labour much and lay out much of his time and spirits about humane doctrines and yet after all be like to Pharoah's lean Kine A man that studies humane doctrines doth but feed upon ashes Fourthly Humane doctrines cannot cure a wound in the conscience The diseased woman spent all she had upon Physitians but was not a penny the better The remedy is too weak for the disease Conscience like Prometheus Vulture will still lye gnawing notwithstanding all that such doctrines can doe Fifthly Humane doctrines are so far from inriching the soule that they usually impoverish the soule They weaken the soule they expose the soule to the greatest wants and to the greatest weaknesses they play the Harlot with the soule they impoverish it and bring it to a morsel of bread Who so poore in spirituall experiences and heavenly injoyments as such that sit under the droppings