our conceits capacities and inventions T is the Court of the glorious God compared to a City whose gates are pearles whose walls precious stones the streets gold the inhabitants are Kings there is the glory of Gods presence all is light and day and no darknesse nor night 't is the kingdome of glory there are Crownes of glory laid up for vessels of mercy prepared for glory 3. Of the glory of the visible heavens the heavens have the preheminence and are the most excellent the waters excell the earth the aire excells the water and the heavens for largenesse clearenesse purâ—nesse excell all under them and have this honor to declare the glory of God Psal 19.1 4. The ornaments of heaven are glorious the sunne is glorious in magnitude brightnesse swiftnesse efficacy and operation enlightning and heating the aire exhaling the waters quickning the earth and making fruitfull the earth with trees herbes and plants c. The Moone hath her glory though it be borrowed and her excellency appeares in the darke when we most need her light in the Canticles her fairenesse is commended 1. Cor. 15. and shee is one of the glorious workes of God The Starres have glory differing one from another and adorne the heavens with their bespangled brightnesse like a curious embroydered Canopy glorious to our eyes The Earth hath the glory of stability riches and variety among all that are taken out of it man is a glorious peece of workmanship whose foundation 〈…〉 the dust young mens glory is their strength and the glory of the aged is the gray-head Princes have their glory and great men according to their dignity but among men none have the glory and honor like to the regenerate man he is honorable by faith Iohn 1.12 and is glorious within they are changed from glory to glory 2. Cor. 3. they have a glorious head Iames 2.1 a glorious guard Heb. 1. last vers glorious food Gods ordinances glorious apparell Christs righteousnesse they are called the glory Isai 4.5 the spirit of glory rests on them 1. Pet. 4. they are heires of glory The Sea hath his glory for largenesse and terriblenesse and strength carrying the mighty ships there sports the great Leviathan and there are fishes innumerable The sea hath his proud waves of great height and quantity yet is honorable for this that it keeps within his bounds at the Creators command Sect. 3 Thirdly Of the glory of the Creator HIs glory is essential he is clothed with Majesty and glory Ps 104.1 so glorious is the Lord that the very angels cover their faces before him The Father is called the God of glory Acts 7.1 if the whole Trinity be there meant the Father is not excluded Christ is called our glorious Lord Iesus Christ Iames 2.1 The holy Ghost is called the spirit of glory 1. Pet. 4.14 all the gâ—ory in the creatures is but as a drop compared with the Ocean he had glory before there was a world Ioh. 17.5 and all creatures can adde nothing to his glory for it is not capable of addition he doth manifest his glory to the creatures and we give him glory by taking notice of his excellency and râ—ndering praises and acknowledging that is in him already Sect. 4 Fourthly Questions resolved Quest 1 WHerein doe men most usually glory Answ In wisedome strength riches Ier. 9.23 Quest Why doe men glory in their wisedome Answ 1. Their wisedome and knowledge puffes them up 1. Cor. 8.1 cognitio inflat knowledge makes them swolne and filled with winde they looke on their bulke and bignesse and doe forget they want the substance of faith and love 2. They thinke by their wisedome to doe great matters to suppresse those they would not have rise Exodus 1.10 3. When they effect their enterprises and get into favour or prevaile against those they hate that they applaud their wits like those that sacrifice to their nets Habbak 1.16 Quest 3 Why doe men glory in their strength Answ 1. Because they compare themselves with those are weake and feeble 2. They overmaster others and command them and glory in that strength and power which subdued them 3. They thinke to prevent and withstand those which dare oppose them Quest 4 Why doe men glory in their riches Answ 1. Because of the supposed good they thinke riches can procure them as friends places of preferments costly buildings dainty fare many attendants and servitors and to become as the great men of the earth 2. Because of the supposed evill they thinke riches will free them from Prov. 11.11 therefore t is said riches in their imagination is as a strong City and a high wall to shelter them 3. They have thoughts of the perpetuity of their riches to their posterity Psalm 49. contriving to assure them to their childrens children 4. Because they see others sue to them stand with cap and knee before them runne and goe at their becke affraid to displease them these causes make them glory in riches Quest 5 What is it to glory in God Answ T is to have an inward joy manifested by outward expressions Psal 33.21 so the word signifies Laetatur and Psalm 34.2 my soule shall glory in the Lord 1. Cor. 1.31 That he that glorieth may glory in the Lord we must not arrogate to our selves but all to God he is wisedome to our understanding righteousnesse to justifie us sanctification to renew us and redemption to our bodies and soules 1. God is our wisedome to teach us knowledge and give us light 2. Cor. 4.6 2. God is our strength Psal 59.17 3. God is our riches and our portion Psalm 119.57 therefore we should glory in him Quest 6 What is vaine glory Answ It is when a man seekes his owne glory as the end hee aimes at Iohn 7.18 He that speaketh of himselfe seeketh his owne glory Prov. 25.27 To seeke diligently * Pervestigari our owne glory is no glory glory and honour may bee enjoyed but we must not seeke it earnestly from men then it is vaine if wee seeke it then it must be in the second place moderately orderly else it is vaine a fruit of the flesh and it is sought from vaine men it is most uncertaine and gives no sound satisfaction being vaine Quest 7 What is the right way to seeke glory Answ 1. To abase our selves then we shall be exalted and honoured 1. Pet. 5.6 2. To grow stronger in faith Iohn 1.12 3. To practise good workes Matth. 5.16 Acts 10.4 Quest 8 What kinde of workes doe glorifie God Answ 1. To repent and turne from sinne Revel 16.9 2. To give to the poore Prov. 3.9 3. To sanctifie the Sabbath Isaiah 58.13 4. To praise the Lord. Psalme â—o last verse Quest 9 How may we know wee doe seeke the glory of God Answ 1. Though our selves be commended wee are displeased if we see not honour redound to the Lord. 2. We are content to lose that God may gaine honor 3. Though
with victory and spread his owne praises by using instruments to suppresse the pride of the enemies and by spreading his Gospell 7. Let us in all the victories we heare of that are for the Churches welfare give God all the honour and glory that we are able by looking beyond the instruments to the Lord of hoasts that imployes them The horse may be prepared for the battaile but salvation is of the Lord therefore to him let us bow and worship and acknowledge his right hand and say the Lord hath triumphed valiantly to him let us sing it is the Lord of Hoasts to whom wee should give the glory and the praise as we have a patterne Exod. 15. Judges 5. 8. Here is comfort against Principalities and powers the mighty enemies of our soules the Lord of Hoasts is with us mighty to save through him we shall doe valiantly How God is made an Idoll 1. What an Jdoll is 2. How men make God an Jdoll 3. Their punishment that make God an Idol 4. Questions resolved Sect. 1 First what an Idoll is AN Idoll is an unlawfull representation of a false God an Idoll is a resemblance figure or shape the making of an Idoll of a false or Image of the true God either molten carved or painted is unlawfull for no man ever saw his shape Deut. 4.15 Isai 40. if it be to make us to mind God t is condemned Exod. 32.8 and God was displeased 1. Cor. 10.5 Sect. 2 Secondly How men doe make God an Idoll T Is impossible to turne the essence of God to an Idoll but men are said to make God an Idoll in imagination and in conversation in imagination that conceive of God to be like an Idoll that thinke God will doe neither good nor evill that God sees not Zeph. 1.12 Ezek. 9.9 Psal 94.7 they could conceive no otherwise of an Idoll Men make God an Idoll in his worship 1. When they prepare not their hearts nor fit their affections for his presence they could doe no otherwaies were they to come before an Idoll that could take no notice of their hearts 2. When all their religion is in the Temple there they leave their God if they served an Idoll in the Temple he could not see their behaviour in their houses nor have they communion with him at home these men carry themselves as if God were an Idoll only setled within the walls of the Temple This is indeed the principall but not the sole place of Gods worship 3. When men invent wayes to worship God and follow their owne devices and imaginations they make God like an Idoll which cannot direct his worshippers but they will teach him how he must be served they could doe no more to an Idoll In conversation men make God an Idoll 1. When they say it is in vaine to serve God and to walke humbly before him that thinke God will not reward his servants they could thinke or say no more of an Idoll which receives all and gives nothing 2. When men commit horrible sins in secret were God an Idoll they could doe no more as if he would never call them to a reckoning 3. That opposes the godly and persecutes them were God an Idoll then they might trouble his servants without feare or danger 4. When men scrape together aboundance of wealth by wicked meanes then on their sicke bed they thinke by some dead workes to satisfie for all as if God were an Idoll that for a few scraps of that is evilly gotten would be dumbe for ever 5. When men forsweare themselves and call God to witnesse to a lye were he an Idoll that could not see their abomiâ—ation nor be revenged they could doe no more against him Sect. 3 Thirdly Their punishments that doe thus make God an Idoll 1. GOD hath a base esteeme of them 1. Sam. 2.30 those which despise him shall be despised they shall find him no Idoll but a living God when they fall into his hands Heb. 10. and a seeing God when he sets their sins in order before them Psal 50. 2. They thinke he sees not he punishes them with blindnesse Isai 6. so they have eyes and see not they come to his worship with no more preparation then to come before an Idoll and goe away with no more blessing then if they had bin before an Idoll 3. They will bring in humane inventions into his worship and prescribe rules out of their owne braine he rejects all their services and makes them loose all their cost and paines and tells them their worship is vaine Isai 1. Isai 66. Mat. 15. 4. They sinne freely as if he were an Idoll God lets them alone throwes the raines on their necks so they being let alone doe live most abominably and fill up the measure of their sins Note and heape up wrath thus God abhors them and gives them over to spirituall judgements he accepts not their services he reserves wrath for them and reserves them for wrath this is their punishment it is most bitter Sect. 4 Fourthly Questions resolved Quest 1 HOw is it said an Idoll is nothing Answ It is nothing in comparison of a God it is something for matter and forme it is nothing for divinity it it nothing that is spoken in contempt it is an empty foolish vaine fiction it is good for nothing Quest 2 Where did idolatry first begin Answ It is likely from the brood of Cain it did first arise Cain he left the true God and his service and it is probable he would worship somewhat Quest 3 Why did the Jewes so often fall to idolatry Answ 1. Mans nature is very prone to that sinne therefore God gave the second commandement to restraine us 2. They being mingled with the heathen learned their waies and were inticed by their example 3. Sometimes their Princes were idolaters then they turned for feare 4. The idolaters had glorious deckings of their Images this did moove the carnall to be wonne 5. The zeale of idolaters to cut their flesh and burne their children was powerfull to allure them Quest 4 What is the best prevention of idolatry Answ 1. To be truly informed of the nature of God that we may give to him divine worship and not to them which by nature are no Gods Gal. 4.8 Ignorance is the mother of idolatry not devotion 2. Consider Gods law negative and affirmative negative hee forbids all divine adoration to be given to Creatures Exod. 20.4 whether in heaven as the Sunne Moone and Starres Deut. 4.17 or the Angels Revel 22.9 or any Terrestriall creature whatsoever Affirmative Gods Law bindes us to worship him and him onely Matthew 4.10 to call upon him in the day of trouble Psal 50.15 it is the Lord of hoasts must be worshipped Zach. 14.17 3. Consider the judgements have befallen idolaters 1. They are punished in their soules with blindnesse and a reprobate sence Jsaiah 6. Romans 1.24 2. They are punished first or last in their bodies God lets
THey were made in the beginning Gen. 1.1 there is first eternity secondly time thirdly beginning is the entrance of time fourthly there is end fifthly there is everlasting being indeed eternity againe eternity is before and after time time we doe live in beginning brings forth time end consummates time everlasting swallowes up time Reflections 1. Discerning 1. I see the difference of the Creator and the creatures none is eternall but God he had no beginning nor shall have ending Psalm 90.2 he is from everlasting to everlasting 2. Consideration 2. Once there was no time and an end will come and time shall be no more Revel 10.6 In this my day cause me O Lord to consider the things belong to my peace on this moment depends eternity cause me wel to spend my space of time and to take advantage of the opportunities of time that doing thy will in this world I may in the next world be eternally happy 3. Preparation 3. My beginning of time was my birth my measure of time is my life my end of time is my death my account for time is my judgement Oh that my waies were direct and straight that the midst might agree with both ends I was borne humble and meeke and so I must dye So let me live O Lord remembring the shortnesse swiftnesse preciousnesse and irrecoverablenes of time that is past is gone that to come is uncertaine time present is minâ— which I desire so to spend that it may appeare I had grace and time together Sect. 4 Fourthly for what all things were made THe blessed God made all things for his owne sake Prov. 16.4 He made them not because hee needed them he was essentially happy without them nor doe the Creatures adde to his glory onely wee acknowledge that is in God already the end God aimed at in the cretion was to make himselfe knowne to the creatures and that the Creatures should acknowledge him and give him glory Reflections 1. What cause have I to seeke his glory 1. Seeke the glory of God as my utmost end by such meanes as his word teacheth mee Cause me oh Lord to confesse my sinnes and so to give glory unto thee to turne from sinne that I may repent and give glory unto thee oh worke faith in my heart and let me be strentghened therein that I may give glory to thee and let my light so shine before men that they may be stirred up to glorifie thee grant that I may honour thee by sanctifying thy Sabbaths and by being fruitfull in grace let my praises glorifie thee and my wealth and my death if I bee called to suffer for thy truth 2. Of all sinnes to take heede of pride 2. Beware of Pride and vaine glory glory belongs to God to us shame and confusion God will not give his glory to another if man doe take it it will bee his destruction Lord purge out all pride and selfe-seeking out of my heart and whatsoever I doe let me labour to give thee all the honour and glory I am able 3. God aimed at his glory in the first place 3. How to aime at glory in his workes I am to aime at my glory in the last place in all my workes First Gods glory must be my aime next I must minde my duty and lastly my glory my reward when I beginne I must looke to the glory of God when I worke I must looke to the rule if I faint or be discouraged or indisposed Heb. 12.2 I may looke to the joy before me the glory prepared for me being the recompence of reward So much in generall Of Angels 1. Of their Nature 2. Of their number 3. Of their office 4. Divers errors concerning the Angels 5. Why Christ is called an Angel Sect. 1 First of the Nature of Angels NAture is the quality and disposition and motion which God variously giveth to the creatures to the heavens a firmnesse to the sunne a brightnesse to the water moystnesse the stone descends the fire ascends men have reason and Angels have swift motion all by nature the Toad is poysonous the Serpent is wise the Dove is meeke all by nature The Nature of Angels is spirituall incorporeall Luke 24.39 without flesh and bones They are 1. Substances 2. Excellent being Spirits 3. Invisible being Spirits 1. They are substances though we cannot make dimensions to measure their length and bredth yet wee learne they are spirituall natures reall substances having a true being a distinct essence 2. They are excellent natures excellent for holines (a) Mark 8.38 excellent for beauty (b) Acts 6.15 excellent for strength (c) Ps 103.20 excellent for wisedome (d) 2 Sam. 14.17 excellent for swiftnesse being said to have wings to declare their swift motion celerity exâ—edition (e) Isai 6.2 Thirdly they are invisible their matter and nature is so pure that our sence is not able to discerne if an Angell were before our eyes in the brightest light with the best advantage we could not see him For a corporeall view cannot apprehend a spirituall object of such an excellent nature Reflexions If the nature of Angels be so excellent Note 1. To admire Gods nature what is the Nature of the Lord of Angels 1. His Nature is uncreat theirs is an excellent but created Nature 2. His nature is independant the Angels nature is by participation 3. Gods nature is his essence and eternall theirs is begun once they had no being 4. Gods nature is every where at once theirs is by locall mutation and limitation 5. Gods nature is Omnipotent Angels can doe much but they cannot doe all things Secondly let me looke to Christ 2. To looke to Christ and there see my advantage he hath advanced our humane nature uniting it to the God-head so that those Spirits and holy natures are content to be Ministers for the good of the members of Christ Our flesh is carried upon high and now Christ which is both God and Man all the Angels of God doe worship him Heb. 1. Thirdly 3. Information I am informed by the Word of God concerning my behaviour towards the Angels both by a negative and an affirmative rule 1. Negatively I must not worship them for it is forbidden Colos 2.18 Rev. 19.10 2. I am not to make Angels my Mediators for there is one God and one Mediator which is Christ by him we are to offer our sacrifices 1. Pet. 2.5 3. Nor am I bound to put my trust and confidence in Angels nor to depend on any particular Angel for my Angel guardian 4. Nor am I to busie my head about the Hierarchie of Angels concerning their degrees and orders 5. Nor am I to looke for audible voyces from Angels nor visible apparisions least I fall to phantasies and delusions preachers not those Angels are our instructors Affirmatively 1. I am bound to beleeve the Angels are excellent creatures of excellent
with his bodily eyes 2. God is a Spirit Iohn 4.24 therefore invisible 3. If God were visible wee should see nothing but God for he fills Heaven and Earth Quest 3 Shall not our eyes see God in the life to come Iob saith With these eies I shal see him And Christ saith The pure in heart shall see God Math. 5. Answ Iob in Heaven with a glorified eye shall see Christ in his Humanity and the pure in heart shall see God with the eye of the body to satisfaction but with the eye of the minde more clearely in neither they shall comprehend his Essence in both they shall have a fulnesse of vision farre beyond that we can conceive in this life He that goes to the Sea may fill his vessell yet leave the Ocean behinde him We shall see so much as wee shall say we have enough our vision shall be so great that it is called the beatificall vision Quest 4 How is Christ married to his Church and yet they never saw each other on both sides Answ There is a consent of both parties Christ gives himselfe to be a Husband the Church gives her selfe to be his Spouse there is the Fathers consent and his giâ—t of her Iohn 17 24. on the Sonnes demand Psal 2.8 There is the pledge of our faith at Baptisme and the Lords Supper and he promises in the Covenant of Grace to bee our God there are reciprocall affections and the conjunction is reall yet spirituall As for sight hee sees us with his all-seeing view wee see him with the eye of faith Heb. 11.27 which sight of faith makes us to rejoyce 1. Pet. 1.8 Our joy proceeds from our Union without the which we had no sound consolation Quest 5 Were it not a great helpe to our devotion to have some Image before us because God is invisible Answ To have an Image of God to helpe our devotion is forbidden Deut. 4.23 2. It is unprofitable Isai 44.10 3. The Image drawes the minde downe for the minde doth much follow the eye 4. â—t is against Gods nature who is a Spirit 5. It is not possible to make an Image of God Object God made man in his image Answ The Image was Knowledge Colos 3.10 and Holinesse and Righteousnesse Ephes 4.24 That was the image not the Substance of the Soule for that is not lost but Gods Image was lost The soules of the wicked are without Gods Image till they be renewed So then the Image are divine qualities which Paâ—â—â—ers and Carvers know not how to cut out or draw Quest 6 Doe divels see each other and doe Angels see them Answ It is likely that they doe it is naturall for each species to know his like and â—ngels have combats with them Revel 12 therefore see each other Quest 7 Can the â—oule see an Angell or devill Answ Not in their owne Nature but in some similitude for their substance is spirituall and not obvious to the bodily eye Quest 8 How may we know when Sathan tempts us because we cannot see him how differ his tentations from our owne corruptions Answ 1. His temptations of that kinde are against the light of nature as that there is no God or that he is not gratious just and merciful c. 2. His temptations are to the ruine of nature as for a man to kill himselfe causelesly 3. The temptations come rushing suddenly our corruptions entice by degrees by mentall contemplation or outward objeâ—ts 4. He resists holy duties by injecting false reasonings in the minde tâ—at God is dreadfull we sinfull unworthy and shall have no assistance nor acceptance 5. He workes discomforts in the heart by hiding the consolations presenting judgements to the minde and threatnings to make us give over a godly course or walke heavily Quest 9 Cannot Sathan appeare visible Answ No not in his owne nature but he may by permission use some of the creatures as a Serpent to Eve or may use the foure Elements to forme and apparition as in the body of Samuel or rather the likenesse of Samuel or he can delude the sences as the Serpent cast downe before Pharaoh Moses Serpent was true the Magitians was but a delusion a deceiving of the sences Quest 7 May not the Heathen object against us Where is your God seeing he is invisible and cannot shew wee him We can answer them thus Answ 1. Their question comes from grosse ignorance 2. We can tell them where our God is He is in heaven Psalme 115.3 3. We retort to them where is your God if they can shew him to the eye he is no true God because he is visible and shall be perishing Ier. 10. Sect. 5 Fifthly Applications to edifie 1. TO praise God as for other excellencies so for his invisibility 1. Tim. 1.17 2. To learne to walke by faith as if wee saw him who is invisible Heb. 11.27 3. To remember him though we see him not to remember him with affection to love him though wee have not seene him and to rejoyce in him as we are beleevers 1. Pet. 1.8 4. Would we see the Invisible God then let us behold his invisible power and God-head in his workes Rom. 1.20 Would we see him hereafter then let us labour for pure hearts that we may be rewarded with the vision of God Matth. 5.8 5. Here is comfort against invisible enemies we have the invisible God and invisible Angels to helpe us wee have promises of invisible things to encourage us we shall have invisible rewards to recompence us 6. Let us minde more invisible things desire more invisible favours send vp invisible desires let the glory of all visible excellency be blasted and let us raise our mindes to things more excellent and invisible 7. Observe Gods workes they are invisible in operation but visible in manifestation they are hid and unseene in operation both the works of nature Eccle. 11.5 thou knâ—wst not the way of the spirit nor how the bones are fashioned in the wombe and the worke of grace Iohn 3.3 These workes done secretly are manifested in mans birth and regeneration If we will follow God let us strive to get the inward worke of grace to be wrought in the secret parts of our hearts and soules to bee inwardly adorned with humility and wisedome and heavenly mindednesse with love zeale patience and contentment Then outwardly to manifest the same by gracious speeches and good workes that the invisible graces of God may have a visible declaration among men thus shall wee resemble the invisible God as the drop doth the Ocean Of Wisedome 1. What Wisedome is 2. Of the wisedome of creatures 3. Of the wisedome of God 4. Applications to edifie 5. Questions answered Sect. 1 First What Wisedome is IT is the better perceived by comparing it with those vertues which are neare to it and like it as Knowledge Prudence and discretion Knowledge is to perceive to comprehend or see Scientia it is gained by the eye or eare or
some probability to pay their Debts and so for a time save their credit But if they have no good ground to pay debts due already it is but injustice to make a shew to be trusted farther it is just to strike saile Of Life 1. What Life is 2. Of the life of Creatures 3. Of the life of God 4. Applications to edifie 5. Questions answered Sect. 1 First What Life is LIfe is to have motion and activenesse opposed to deadnesse and lumpishnesse There is a living Spring a live Tree a live Man Life is operative aâ—d excellent a live worme is more excellent than all the Gold in the World though gold be more usefull A live Dogge saith the wise man is better than a dead Lyon one live soldier is more excellent than an Army of the dead and slaine It was the live Child that tâ—e two Harlot strove about it is life that wee all strive to maintaine and prolong life is as the first figure in Arithmatick number as much as you will it is the greatest Sect. 2 Secondly of the life of the creatures THere is a vegetive life of Trees and Roots and Hearbs part in the Earth part in the Ayre there is a sensitive life of Beasts Fowles and Fishes there is a rationall life of Angels and Men the Angels life is most excellent of all Creatures being spirituall holy without wearinesse or want or labour or misery a glorious and immortall life The life of man hath three degrees first in the wombe secondly in the world thirdly in Heaven The life in the wombe is secret in the conveyance and secret in the continuance Ecclesiastes 11.5 The life in the world is a life of action Rom 2.6 The lâ—fe in Heaven is a life of vision or contemplation John 17.24 Matth. 5.8 Then shall we be as the Angels Mat. 22.30 which doe behold the face of God Mat. 18.10 The life in the wombe is secret and little can be said of it The life in the world is either common to all being a life of nature or speciall to the Saints called a life of grace Of the the life of Nature The life of Nature is exercised about such things as the strength of Nature can act All men attaine not to the same operatioâ—s nor is the same man alwayes alike some men excell others in their actions and the same man excells himselfe in time by exercise and experience This naturall life is exercised in the severall faculties of the soule as Understanding Will Memory and Affections Some by study and industry attaine to the knowledge of the heavenly Spheares and celestiall Orbes whi h we doe call Astronomy Some have knowledge of the terrestriall Globe which is called Geography These say that the World is divided into foure parts Africa Asia Europe and America Some attaine to Arithmaticke others to Musick instrumentall and vocall and excell the melodious birds Some attained to Printing after they had long used Writing First men wrote on ashes with the Finger as some report then on barks of Trees with Knives then on stones with Iron then on Parchment with Canes lastly on Paper with quills Their Inke at first was the juyce of a Fish then the juyce of Mulberries then they used Chimney-soote now men use Gumme Gaules and Copperas Man in this life of Nature acts on the Stage of this World divers acts of Wisedome Art and Invention many Martiall inventions and warlike exploits rares Cures in Physick and shews great cunning in Navigation policy in governments curious Art in Workmanship profoundnesse in Rethoricke deepe Arguments in Logicke I give a Compendium it requires a Volume Of the life of Grace The life of grace none live but those that are quickned from a spirituall death Ephes 2.1 Naturall men are spiritually dead When God converts a soule hee puts a new life into it that now a man lives to God intentially spiritually and constantly 1. Intentially a man intends and purposes to live to God whose servant he is 1. Cor. 6.20 2. Spiritually this life of grace is godly and religious holy heavenly and spirituall Rom. 8.1 This life of grace makes them spirituall minded and affected spirituall and heavenly in duties as in prayer hearing reading and receiving the Sacraments c. 3. Grace makes us to live to God constantly against this life of grace heresies nor afflictions nor pleasures can prevaile Acts 11.23 they cleave fast to the Lord. A man that lives to God would not change the condition thereof with a worldly man though he were a Lord or Prince This life of grace is a life of knowledge which doth change him 2. Cor. 3.18 A life of joy which doth strengthen him Nehemiah 8.10 A life of hope which doth purge him 1. John 3.3 This life of grace is most excellent most honourable and most comfortable 1. Most excellent in conveyance they have it derived from Christ He is the fountaine from whence spirituall life comes Prov. 12.26 Psal 16.3 It is the life of the most excellent persons This life makes Gods children excell others others live onely a life of nature but they live a life of grace they have grace to restraine them grace to renew them grace to comfort them grace to strengthen and quicken them 2. The life of grace is most honourable Two things doe bring honour one to doe that is hard the other to doe that which is profitable Hee that lives a life of grace doth hard things he subdues himselfe workes out his salvation increases dayly his assurance edifies his brethren and in this imployment is honourable He that lives to God is one of his servants hath admittance into his favour is beautified with graces and vertues such honour have his Saints 3. This life of grace is most comfortable the comforts of naturall men are but as the light of the Moone inferiour at the best and alwayes mutable Those which doe live to God are neare him and the light of his countenance shines upon them And hence it is that they have more joy than worldly men Psal 4.7 They have communion with God this makes Heaven joyfull their actions are godly and be as seeds of joy they are the most comfortable people and have the greatest grounds of joy they have a sweet possession and a large reversion Of the life of glory The life of grace ends in a life of glory the people of God shall be glorious and shine in the Kingdome of their Father This life is called Eternall life Marke 10.30 Iohn 3.16 This life the Scriptures reveale we are to beleeve it as an article of our Creed we beleeve everlasting life were there not such a life the professors of the Gospell and the Martyrs had beene of all others most miserable 1. Cor. 15.19 The Heathen Poets ghessed at it comparing it to the Elizean fields This life of Glory is a blessed life having the enjoyment of God the chiefe good the onely good There is joy pleasures riches
26.16 3. Be more zealous Revel 3.19 4. Learne to pitty others Heb. 4.15 In Sathans buffettings to keepe the sence of Gods favour 1. Pray earnestly 2. Labour to see your unsufficiency 3. Being pricked and restlesse looke on Gods sufficiency 2. Cor. 12.7 8 9 10. In desertions 1. Resolve to walke by saith 2. Cor. 5.7 2. Prize favour above all things Psal 63.3 3. Waite patiently for the Lord. Psal 40.1 4. Expect consolation Isaiah 54.8 6. Resolve to cleave to God Iob. 13.15 Sect. 3 Thirdly how we may know we are in the favour of God 1 BY our Vocation those he favoured before time he calleth in time Rom. 8.30 He calls them to holinesse here 1. Thes 4.7 and glory hereafter 2. Thes 2.14 2. He manifests himselfe and his will to those hee favours Matth. 16.17 He gives them the Spirit of revelation Ephes 1.17 whereby they perceive those mysteries which are hid from the world Matth. 13.11 Iohn 15.15 3. The mollifying of the heart is a token of his favour Rom. 9.18 Sect. 4 Fourthly how is the sence of Gods favour preserved 1. BY our esteeme and prizing his favour 2. By our carriage in regard of relation to him Quest 1 How may I know I esteeme Gods favour and prize it at an high rate Answ 1. By the streame of your thoughts for our thoughts runne on that we doe esteeme Psalme 119.127 128. 2. If we oppose Gods favour against mans malice the one swallowes the other 3. Our esteeme appeares by our desires Canticles 1.1 We desire tokens of his love and favour 4. We lament the losse of his favour Psal 77.10 5. We receive his favours humbly as of favour 6. We desire nothing which stands not with his favor 7. We keepe and use his blessings as favours 8. We will not breake with him for others favour Quest 2 How may I obtaine this esteeme Answ 1. Consider the excellency of it Gods favour is the happinesse of Angels How happy was Adam in Paradise when he enjoyed it how happy were the Martyrs that felt it how comfortable are our lives when wee do taste it 2. Consider the necessity we cannot be strong to performe duties nor patient to beare crosses without it the Divels are nimble and active potent and vigilant but what good doth all this to them they wanting Gods favour it is this which addes wings unto our duties and is as oyle to our soules Nehem. 8.10 3. Consider the benefit of Gods favour it makes us presently happy and like to the angels in heaven it makes us accepted the sence of Gods favour quickens our spirits enlarges our hope hope makes us industrious we hope for perseverance and goe on comfortably The perswasion of Gods favour is as the great wheele that moves all the rest it is so beneficiall that it is better than life excelling life being a peculiar and durable over-topping all miseries and bringing to all felicity to our full satisfaction at last in heaven where the beames of his favour will make us glorious Lastly his favour is preserved by our carriage in regard of our relations to him we have relations to him divers wayes 1. As he is a King Matth. 5.35 2. As he is a Master Col. 4 1. 3. As he is a husband Hosea 2.19 4. As he is a head Ephes 5.23 5. As he is a husbandman Iohn 15.1 First as he is a King and we his subjects 1. We are to rejoyce in our King Psal 149.2 2. To keepe his lawes labouring to know them and justify them to be good by loving them and obeying them 3. We must fight his battailes 4. We must keepe the Kings peace By yeelding to others in some cases Matth. 17.27 By gentle answers Iudges 8.3 By endeavouring to be like minded Rom. 15.5 Secondly as he is a Master we owe to him 1. Reverence both inward and outward 2. Faithfulnesse both serving our time using his talents for his owne advantage and doing all his workes after his owne minde Thirdly as he is a husband united to us 1. We should diligently observe his nature 2. Humbly acknowledge his free grace that tooke us who had neither beauty nor dowry 3. Expresse duty to his commands from our love 4. Affect him with content and satisfaction 5. Labour to imitate him as we are capable 6. Endeavour to be cheerefull with him and before him Fourthly as he is a head and we members 1. To acknowledge both life and wisedome is from him 2. Follow his directions let the head be guide 3. Confirme to his death and resurrection 4. Harme not but love the poorest member Fifthly as he is a husbandman 1. Take heede of barrennesse 2. Labour to abound in fruit Iohn 15.8 3. Let your fruit be seasonable Psal 1.3 4. Let your fruit be lasting Psal 92.14 Of Glory 1. What Glory is 2. Of the glory of the creatures 3. Of the glory of the Creator 4. Questions resolved Sect. 1 First What glory is GLory is excellency dignity honour splendor as the Crowne on the head as the light to the world we may see it by contraries and comparisons 1. By contraries so darknesse is opposed to glory for light is glorious Weaknesse is contrary to glory it is strength is glorious and honourable Also shame and death are contrary to glory but nothing more than sinne for that deprives of glory of endowments and excellencies which we had originally Rom. 3.23 or thus we are by sinne deprived of the glory of Communion with God of acceptance and by desert deprived of the glory of heaven sinne brings on us that which is contrary to glory as weaknesse sicknesse shame death and darknesse 2. We perceive glory by degrees there is the glory of the Morning the glory of the Moone the glory of the Sunne The Starres differ in glory men differ in dignity and glory So much what glory is Sect. 2 Secondly Of the glory of Creatures WE may consider the creatures either celestiall or terrestriall the celestiall are the Angels or the heavens the heavens either invisible or visible and elementary as is above our heads with their ornaments 1. Of the glory of Angels the Lord is the God of glory Acts 7.1 and these doe stand as his hoste round about him and the raies of his glory shines on them and makes them exceeding glorious These Angels have sixe wings with two wings they cover their faces not able to behold Gods glory with two they cover their feete so that we that are mortalls cannot behold their glory with the other two wings they flie with a glorious swiftnesse They are said two have foure heads and the one is as a man for they are most honorable for wisedome the other as a Bull for they are glorious for strength the third is as an Eagle for they have a glorious expedition and celerity in their messages the fourth head is as a Lyon for they have a glorious courage 2. Of the glory of the invisible heavens It outstrips
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because hee will fight with Serpents The fourth is called a Grashopper because of his Leaping The Marginall Note saith these were kinds of Grashoppers to us unknowne 4. Qu. What were the Legs of Iron and Clay Dan. 2.33 Ans The fourth Monarchie divided into two kingdomes Syria and Egypt 1. These two Kingdomes were as Iron to the Church 2. They issued from the Brasen-bellie and Thighes from Alexanders Monarchie 3. These Kingdomes were one stronger than the other the King of the North was strongest 4. Their Matrimoniall Leagues would not hold together as Iron and Clay can make no firme lasting Coniunction 5. Qu. What is meant by Cant. 5.15 His Legs are Pillars of Marble set upon sockets of Gold Ans Christs goings are commended 1. For Comlinesse Pillars of Marble be long and straight and beautifull 2. For strength and stabilitie Marble is lasting 3. For Glorie the Sockets be Gold the most precious of Metals Christ comes beautifull as one to be desired his goings are strong none can let his comming nor rase-out his foot-steps his foot-steps be golden steps he brings Glorie with him to that people to that soule where he comes Resolves Concerning the Feete 1. Qu. VVHat may we observe from Moses putting-off his shoes from his Feete Exo. 3.5 Ans There be three Causes of putting-off the shoes 1. By way of Humiliation as David did 1 Sam. 15.30 2. By way of Resignation Deut. 25.9 Ruth 4.7 3. By way of Reverence so Moses put-off his shoes Divers Opinions Concerning Moses Action 1. Some thinke to Consecrate the place but Gods presence made it holie before 2. Another Opinion The shoes were made of dead Beasts skinnes Now he must put-off the feare of Death 3. Or to put-off the shoes to acknowledge he is not the Head of the Church he resignes his right by that Action that is another Opinion 4. Moses must put-off his carnall Affections when hee approches Gods Presence this is a true Opinion The Iewes from the Precept Leviticus 19.30 Yee shall Reverence my Sanctuarie Concluded None must come there with shoes on his Feete 2. Qâ—est What is meant by Saules going in the cave to cover his Feete 1 Sam. 24 3â— Ans To doe his easement wee call it to untrusse a poynt The Holie Bible teaches a holie Expression of things unseemely to be spoken Adam knew Hevah Gen. 4.1 The Title of Psalme 51. A Psalme of David after he had gone-in to Bath-sheba 3. Qu. What learne wee from Rom. 16.20 The God of Peace will tread Satan under your Feete Ans 1. To encourage them against false Teachers he promises them victorie 2. The God of Peace will destroy him that breaks Peace 3. Wee must not trust to our owne strength to subdue Satan t is God can doe it 4. Satan shall be subdued and kept under 5. God did this for the Christians in that time who suffered under the Roman Persecuters 6. As GOD raiseth up an Adversarie to the Negligent 1 Kings 11.14 So he threatens to crush the greatest Enemie of the Diligent 7. When Satan is subdued then Grace florishes presently The Apostle wishes the Grace of Christ as soone as hee had spoken of Satans being troden under our Feete 8. If Satan the Chiefest then all other Enemies that be Inferiour must needs be subdued 9. Though Satan hath a Throne for a time Revelation 2.13 Yet hee must come under Foote in a short time hee shall be trod under Foote shortly 10. Those which have trod on Satan and beene victorious should encourage us as Iosua did encourage from former Experience Iosua 10.24.25 4. Quest What is meant by Esai 3.16 The Daughters of Sion made a tinkling with their Feete Ans 1. They had some Bells or Plates that sounded 2. whatsoever it was it made a noise as they went 3. Such a noise as they would be taken notice of 5. Quest How are the Affections like the Feete and the Feete like the Affections Ans 1. The Affections be a part of the Soule and the Feete be a part of the Bodie 2. The Affections be in Motion so be the Feete 3. The Affections be soone cold so be the Feete 4. The Affections must be guided so must the Feete 5. The Affections goe by two and two so the Feete are in number two Quest How doe the Affections goe by two and two Answer There is Joy and Griefe Loving and Hating Desiring and Fearing Hoping and Despairing c. 6. Feete well shod with shoes will treade on Stones or Thornes yet goe-on Comfortably And Affections well shod with Patience will goe on Crosses and Troubles with Constancie 7. When the Feete be cold t is uncomfortable so when the Affections be cold t is uncomfortable 8. Stirring or Fire warmes the Feete so Duties and the Ordinances warme the Affections 9. A paire of little shoes will serve a paire of little Feete so those which Affect little a little will content them 10. As Children doe grow Elder so their Feete grow bigger and stronger So GODS Children as they grow Elder their Affections should grow better and stronger Section 4 Fourthly How Man is a Medium betweene an Angell and a Beast and of other Mediums 1. THE Angell is all Spirit the Beast is all Flesh Man is a Medium Soule and Flesh 2. The Angell hath cleere Understanding the Beast hath no Understanding Man is a Medium in his Knowledge above Beasts lesse than Angels 3. The Angels Love is Divine the Beasts Love is sensuall Man is a Medium and by Grace he loves Divinely by Nature sensually 4. The Angell doth service willingly the Beast by compulsion Man is a Medium by Grace hee is willing by Nature hee is dull and backward and must be forced by Lawes threates corrections c. 5. The Angell is full of Admiration the Beast may be frighted but cannot Admire Man is a Medium he may be frighted and hath Reason so is capable of Admiration 6. The Angell never dies the Beast dies Man is a Medium his Bodie dies his Soule dies not Of other Mediums 1. THERE is Earth there is Water Slime is a Medium 2. There is Aire there is Water Vapours are a Medium 3. There is Aire there is Fire Exhalations are a Medium 4. There is Slime there are Stones the Sea-some a Medium 5. There is a Diamond there is Water Crystall the Medium 6. There is Water and Metals Quick-silver the Medium 7. There are Rootes and Stones the Corall the Medium 8. There are Animals and Plants the Mandrake the Medium 9. There are Fowles and Beasts the Ostrich the Medium 10. There are Birds and Creeping-things the Bat the Medium 11. There is Raine and Haile the Snow the Medium FINIS