not all his benefits who remembred thee in thy low estate when no man cared for thy Soul 2. Go not back from him turn not aside from following him in thy duty though it be through difficulty This God commends in Israel of old Jer. 2.2 I remember the kindness of thy youth the love of their Espousals hoâ— thou wentest after me in the Wilderness O Repent not of your engagements for God Say not as some of these murmurers did Let us go back again to Egypt to our Onions and Garlick to our sins and lusts to our Superstitions and Idolatries again But rather let us say as Jepthah Judges 11.35 I have opened my mouth unto the Lord and I cannot go back When we fall into days of great backsliding we should think we hear Christ speaking to us as he did to his Apostles Joh. 6.66 67 68. When many of the Disciples of Christ went back from him and walked no more with him he said to the Apostles Will ye also go away Peter answered Lord To whom should we go O let a Caleb like spirit be in us that we may follow the Lord fully O that we could by this approve our selves to be the Sheep of Christ indeed by hearing his voice and following him and not following strangers nor knowing the voice of strangers John 10.4 5. Strange Doctrines strange Worship that is such Doctrines and Worship as are strange to the holy Scriptures let us not receive them nor those that bring them Never is there more need Sheep should listen to the voice of their Shepherd and follow him than when they are in a waste howling Wilderness apt of themselves to go astray and so ready to be devoured by the Beasts of prey We should therefore pray with the Spouse Cant. 1.7 Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest where thou makest thy Flock to rest at noon for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the Flocks of thy Companions 3. To conclude all Trust in the Lord for ever This is Wilderness-work In the greatest straits and most amazing distresses when we are stript of all humane helps and ordinary means fail yet believe that God will provide for our Bodies for our Souls for our Families for his Church and People Casting all our care on him for he careth for us 1 Pet. 5.7 In all our exigencies let us roll our selves on God and go up from this Wilderness leaning on our Beloved Cant. 8.5 This is God's Command Psal 37.3 Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the Land and verily thou shalt be â—ed Hereby we give God his greatest honour Rom. 4.20 Abraham was strong in faith giving glory to God This â—s the way to be delivered out of straits Exod. 14.13 Stand still namely in way of faith and dependance and ye shall see the salvation of the Lord. Faith will 〈◊〉 our best Anchor staying our Souls upâ—â— God and his Promise Isa 26.3 Thâ— wilt keep him in perfect peace whose minâ— stayed on thee because he trusteth in thâ— We know not how great the wants 〈◊〉 straits are we may be reduced unto Remember this Example in the Text noâ— before us Ordinary means failed 〈◊〉 God provided extraordinarily He haâ— wonderful ways to provide for his Châ—â—dren He can make a little go a greâ—â— way as when he multiplied the Loaâ—â— by a Miracle He can cause the courseâ— food to be as good nourishment as the best dainties witness Daniel's pulse Hâ— can by unexpected ways bring relieâ— When Musculus that famous Divine wanted bread for his Family and maâ—â— those Verses in his straits which are 〈◊〉 follows Est Deus in coelis qui providus omnia curâ—â— Nunquan credentes deseruisse potest In English thus There is a God in Hâ—â—ven who hath a provident care for all 〈◊〉 creatures and cannot forsake those that â—â—lieve in him As he was thus exercising himself in a way of Faith one sent him a Loaf of Bread which relieved him and his Family And in the Massacre at Paris was one Merlin nourished fourteen days together by an Egg a day laid by an Hen that came constantly to that Hawmow where he lay hid from danger Only let us labour to be Israelites indeed for such shall want no good thing Let us come into the Wilderness as Israel did by following God's Word and Spirit and not by neglecting God's Rule not by prodigal expensive courses or idleness and neglect of our Callings Let us use all good and lawful means to provide for our selves Israel took pains to gather the Manna daily and to bake it in Pans and fit it for their eating We must also pray for provision as Christ teacheth us in the Pattern he gave his Disciples to say Give us this day our daily bread and then let us trust in the Lord and by Faith leave the event with him he will take care for us As Mr. Hern a worthy Minister of the Gospel said to his Wife when he was nigh death and she with divers Children like to be left in a low condition weeping by him he sought to quiet her with these words Peace Sweet-heart That God that feed the Ravens will not starve the Herns So would I say here That God who fed Israel with Manna in the Wilderness will not fail to feed those that trust in him with food convenient for them in their greatest straits and necessities Comfort your selves and one another with these things SERMON IV. Nahum 1.7 The Lord is good a strong hold in the day of trouble and he knoweth theâ—â— that trust in him SOme say this Prophet was born at Elkosh a small Town in Galilee and there named Nahum which signifies a Comforter And so he was to Gods people He speaks indeed terrible thingâ— against Gods enemies in the 2 3 4 5 and 6 verses He shews how dreadfuâ— the wrath of God would be against the Ninevites and the Assyrians for their great wickedness Yet so as he also declares how comfortably God would manifest himself to his people in all their troubles in the words of the text The Lord is good c. Wherein he gives us 1. A description of Gods nature in general The Lord is good 2. An account wherein he his ready to express this goodness to Israel in particular Which is set down in two things 1. He is a strong hold 2. He knows them that trust in him in a day of trouble The notes observable are these 1. That the Lord is good 2. That the Church and people of God have or may expect to meet with a day of trouble 3. That God is a strong hold for them in that troublous time 4. That God knows them that trust in him in the day of trouble Of these in order Doct. 1. That the Lord is Good This is expresly in the Text. To open this briefly in two things 1. He is good in himself and so there is a threefold goodness in
parts of the mind decay by old age the forerunners of death and death it self overtake us We are exhorted to do our work while it is day and that with our might Eccle. 9.10 For there is no work in the grave whither we go And Christ saith John 9.4 verse The night cometh when no man can work Now if we are going and the night coming how greatly doth it concern us all to day even while it is called to day to work for God and for our Souls with all our might whatever he has put into our hand to do 3. The darkness of Hell that blackness of darkness which is for ever Jude 12. verse The Children of the Kingdom are above others cast into utter darkness Matth. 8.12 Let me end all with that of the Prophet Jeremiah Chap. 13. verse 16. And O that the Lord would cause it to take some good effect upon us Give glory to the Lord your God before he cause darkness before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains and while ye look for light he turn it into the Shadow of death and make it gross darkness FINIS A Catalogue of Books Printed for and are to be sold by Edward Giles Bookseller in Norwich near the Market-place SEveral Discourses concerning Actual Providence A Word in Season Defensive Armour against four of Satan's most Fiery Darts Sermons upon the whole first and second Chapters of the Canticles Thirteen Sermons upon several useful Subjects all published by John Collings D. D. The Way of the Spirit in bringing Souls to Christ The Glory of Christ set forth with the necessity of Faith in several Sermons both by Mr. Thomas Allein late Pastor of a Church at Norwich Enochs walk with God and Christ a Christians gain by Mr. Timothy Armitage late Minister in Norwich A Discourse of the Preciousness of Faith and of the Preciousness of Christ Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers both by Mr. John Lougher Minister in Norfolk The Saints Ebenezar by Mr. Francis English late Minister in Norwich Directions to spell English right The History of the Protestant Reformation as it was begun by Luther The Dead Saint speaking being a Sermon preached upon the Death of Mr. Newcome The English Presbyterian The Ordinary Matter of Prayer drawn into Questions and Answers Two Treatises The first of Rejoycing in the Lord Jesus in all cases and conditions The second of a Christians Hope in Heaven and Freedom from Condemnation by Christ both by Mr. Robert Asty late Minister of Jesus Christ in Norwich Obedience to Magistrates recommended in a Sermon preached on the ninth of September 1683. being the Thanksgiving day for His Majesties Deliverance by Mr. Jonathan Clapham Rector of Wramplingham in Norfolk A Present for Youth and Example for the Aged Two Discourses one of Spiritual Blessings the other That God hath a high account of the least Grace in the Saints by Mr. John Cromwell late Pastor of a Church of Christ in the City of Norwich FINIS ERRATA IN the Epistle r. persuasion in the Book p. 2. l. 8. r. remove p. 9. l. 10. r. willingly p. 14. l. 24. r. were p. 53. l. 14. add the word it p. 63. l. 4. r. like p. 65. l. 29. r. this p. 95. l. 3. 〈◊〉 principium p. 97. l. 23. r. Church p. 108. l. 23. r. rottenness p. 126. l. 12. let a be left out p. 127. l. 21. r. Vse 1. p. 137. l. 8. r. is p. 159. l. 8. add the word not p. 170. l. 5. r. presence p. 179. l. 10. r. the p. 181. l. 5. add day of p. 184. l. 14. r. obstinacy p. 218. r. of p. 223. l. 7. r. works
SERMONS On several SUBJECTS SHEWING Gods Love to Mankind Salvation is by Grace Wilderness-Provision God a Strong Hold in Trouble Light is to be improved By J. Lougher Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed by T. S. for Edward Giles Bookseller in Norwich near the Market-place 1685. THE Epistle Dedicatory To my esteemed Christian Friends in and about Southrepps and Alby in Norfolk Dear Friends THe kind Acceptance my former weak endeavours found with you have induced me to this second attempt of the same nature I have contracted the Sum of several Sermons into a narrow compass They were once delivered to your Ears they are now in your Eye the Lord writ them in all your hearts I expect to be variously censured Some will reject them for their plainness as not being suited to the humour and style of this ingenious Age Others will dislike them as not agreeing in some things with their own sentiments My Apology is only this As I have agreat value for the persons and labours of every learned and good man though of a different perswasion from me in things eâ—trafundamental so I thank God for it 〈◊〉 man can have so mean an esteem of me 〈◊〉 my endeavours but I have lower thoughâ— both of my self and them For I do 〈◊〉 ought to know my self better than otherâ— do or can And by this I have learned iâ— some measure to esteem others better thaâ— my self Worthy Friends if God wiâ—â— please to make the following discourses by his Blessing instrumental to quikeâ— and excite any among you to make sure 〈◊〉 an interest in the special love of God 〈◊〉 seek Salvation by Grace to trust God fâ—â— provision in your wilderness condition 〈◊〉 make God your strong hold in a day 〈◊〉 trouble and to walk while you havâ— Gospel-light I have my chief end in thâ— publication I desire the continuance oâ— your Prayers to God for me and commend you all in the Perusal of these weaâ— meditations to the care and Blessed influences of Jesus Christ For whose sake I am Your Servant in the Gospel JOHN LOVGHER SERMON I. John 1.4.16 God is Love KNowledge is one great accomplishment of the rational creature Of all Knowledge there is none so accomplishing as that which is Divine and Spiritual Of all Divine Knowledge the Knowledge of God and his perfections is the most excellent Of all the perfections of God there is none so sweet and desirable to be known as this of his Love This was the Element in which this Apostle and beloved Disciple St. John lived and it made such impressions upon his heart that he breaths little but love throughout this Epistle and makes known something of what he had experience of in his own Soul and not only declares the love of God but asserts God himself to be love in the Text now before us Which words are a short description of God and a Proposition in themselves and so let us take them Doct. That God is Love 'T is more easie to declare what God is not than what he is hence some chuse to speak of him viâ remotionis they consider the imperfections which are in the creatures and remove them all from God as inconsistent with a Deity Thus they say he is impeccable impassible immortal and the like because to sin to suffer to die are imperfections in the creature This gives a negative discovery of him but falls far short of what he is The holy Scriptures give us the most positive account of him yet not according to his infinite perfections no words can do that but so as is most suitable to his nature and our apprehensions John 4.24 1 John 1.5 Thus we read that God is a Spirit God is Light and God is Love Thus he is twice stiled in this Chapter viz. in the 8th verse of it and in the Text. Quest 1. You will say In what respects may this be spoken of God Ans 1. He is Love essentially Hence he is not only said to be loving but Love in the abstract He is stiled by St. Paul the God of Love 2 Cor. 13.11 but the Text saith God is Love which shews it is essential to his Nature Creatures may be loving God only is Love In creatures it is but an accident or quality in God it is of a natural descent of his substance and being The Apostle saith God is Love Even as the Sun hath but one glorious brightness no colours yet makes all other colours visible So though many things may help our apprehensions of God we call him just when he punisheth true when he performs his promises merciful and loving when he shews pity to them in misery yet God is but one entire perfection Quicquid in Deo Deus est whatsoever is in God is God 2. He is Love causally He is the efficient cause of all that which deserves the name of Love in the World Jam. 1.17 Gal. 5.22 Rom. 1 30. Rom. 8.7 Every good and perfect gift cometh down from above from the Father of Lights If there be any love in our hearts to himself it is the fruit of his Spirit for naturally we are haters of God our carnal minds are enmity against God so St. Paul speaks Love to God is not a Flower that grows in Natures Garden but is a drop issuing from God the Fountain of Love 1 Joh. 4.19 We love him because he loved us first It is a beam darted from that Sun a reflexion of his Love to us The same may be said of true Love to Man naturally we are hateful and hating one another Titus 3.3 as St. Paul saith If there be a cordial affection though but natural it is from God much more true Spiritual Love 3. He is Love objectively He is or ought to be the chief object of our Love As David calls God his joy Psal 43.4 Psal 38. his exceeding joy that is the object of his joy and his hope that is the object of his hope so he is termed Love because he is and should be the chief object of the Christians Love Christ calls his Church his Love Cant. 5.2 in the Canticles because it is the object of his Love Thus God is deservedly the object of the Love of Men and Angels for he is altogether lovely Whatever outward good men set up as the object of their Love it is in God in a more high and transcendent way than can be in all creatures Is it riches they affect we read much of God's riches The Earth is full of thy riches Psa 104.24 Eph. 1.7 Rom. 2.5 Phil. 4.19 says the Psalmist We read in the Scriptures of the riches of his grace the riches of his goodness the riches of his glory the riches of his mercy and the like Is it beauty they are taken with God is more glorious than Angels they cover their faces when they behold his brightness Is it pleasure they set their love upon Psal
the sweetest of these is love Yea it is the sweetner of all the other attributes The wisdom of God would amaze us his power confound us and his Justice destroy us were it not for his love Who would not be much in the contemplation of it and say with the Church Cant. 1.4 We will remember thy love more than Wine We may go too far in the contemplation of the other attributes as in examining the reason of his actings towards his creatures but we can never go too far in the meditation of his love And when we cannot reach the bottom of it let us imitate the Philosopher who not being able to give the reason of the ebbing and flowing of the Sea threw himself into it saying Si ego non capiam te tu capies me If I cannot comprehend thee thou shalt comprehend me Oh how sweet is it to bathe our Souls in the Ocean of divine love to drown our selves in the contemplation thereof Especially considering what power it has to bear up our Spirits in all our troubles and adversities When of old great Calamities were coming upon the Earth when death came up into the windows God gave forth this Attribute of his Loving-kindness to his People to rejoyce in and solace themselves with Let him that glorieth glory in this Jer. 9.22 23 24. that he knoweth me to be God exercising loving-kindness in the Earth Thus do in perilous and evil days by Faith and Meditation solace our selves iâ— in the apprehension of God's Love thâ— we may possess our Souls in patience and enjoy God in our troubles Oh let us live and die cleaving by Faith to this Love till we lanch into the infinite Ocean 〈◊〉 it and so come to a fuller understanding of this Text that God is Love SERMON II. Ephesians 2.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God THat these words have relation to the foregoing passages is evident by the particle For in the beginning of them Some think the Apostle reassumes the Argument he had hinted at in the 5th v. in a Parenthesis By grace ye are saved and so gives a more full explication of them Others refer them to what is spoken in the 7th verse where the Apostle shews the end God had in the application of Salvation to these Ephesians who were Gentiles which was that in the Ages to come he might shew forth the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness c. And then adds the words of the Text as a reason thereof For by grace are ye saved as if he had said God hath therefore ordered it thus towards you that it may appear that the Original of Salvation and of all the means leading to it is meerly and purely of grace In the words we have Salvation laid down with the Causes of it 1. The Principal Cause Grace By grace are ye saved 2. The Instrumental Cause is Faith Through faith 3. The Original of this Faith this is set down negatively And that not of your selves And affirmatively It is the gift of God There are three things in the words observable 1. That the Saints and People of God are saved here 2. That their Salvation is by or of grace 3. That the Faith through which they are saved is not of themselves but is the gift of God Of these in order Doct. 1. That the People of God are saved here It 's twice set down in this chapter verse 5. and in the Text and in the present tense ye are saved To open this briefly Quest 1. What is Salvation and what kind of Salvation is here intended Answ Salvation imports deliverance from evil and misery I'ts threefold Temporal Spiritual and Eternal 1. Temporal Salvation relating to the outward man Exod. 14.13 Stand still says Moses to the Israelites and see the Salvation of the Lord. This was an external bodily deliverance from the Egyptians 1 Sam. 19.5 The Lord wrought great Salvation for all Israel which was deliverance from their Enemies the Philistines 2. Spiritual Salvation The Angels that stand were never under misery therefore they are never said to be saved for Salvation is from misery as men are Luke 1.71 That we should be saved from our Enemies c. Our spiritual Enemies are here intended those that war against our Souls 3. Eternal Salvation Now is your Salvation nearer than when ye believed Rom. 13.11 that is your perfect and compleat Salvation Heb. 9. ult Christ shall appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Now when the Apostle saith Ye are saved we may take it for spiritual yea we may include eternal Salvation for not only the Text but also other Scriptures speak the same Language This day is Salvation come to this house saith Christ speaking of Zacheus Luke 19.9 and his own coming thither And the Apostle speaking of the preaching of the Cross 1 Cor. 1.18 namely of Christ crucified upon the Cross saith to us which are saved it is the power of God And Christ in his prayer Joh. 17.3 saith This is life eternal to know thee c. Not iâ— the future tense it shall be but in thâ— present It is life eternal He that hath thâ— Son hath life 1 John 5.12 Christiâ—â— the Prince and Principle of life he thâ—â— hath union with him and interest in him hath life What life not only the life 〈◊〉 righteousness whereby he is justified anâ— the life of holiness whereby he is sanctified but in a sense the life of happineâ— and glory We read John 3.18 〈◊〉 that believeth not is condemned already 〈◊〉 cause he hath not believed on the name of thâ— only begotten Son of God That is the sentence of condemnation is past against him which yet by his believing shall be reversed and there wants nothing but execution Should the thred of his frail life by which he hangs over the Pit of destruction be cut while he is in this condition he is gone and lost for ever Noâ— is an unbeliever condemned already anâ— are not true Believers saved already Surely yes Hence Christ saith in the last verse of that chapter He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life Hâ— walks upon the Battlements of Heaven and hath one foot in the Porch of Paradise Those that shall be saved hereafter are saved here Quest. 2. Ye will say In what respects are the People of God saved here Answ 1. In pretio in the price that was laid down for it For not only are Believers themselves bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.20 but Salvation it self Hence it is that the Apostle Eph. 1.14 calls Heaven a purchased Possession Though to us a free gift yet to Christ a dear purchase No man ever made such a purchase of Lands as Christ hath made of Souls He purchased the Church with his own blood Acts 20.28 The Apostle speaking of 1 Pet. 1.18 19. saith It was not with silver and gold that
dangerous mistakes Some meâ— apprehend a facility of believing bâ—â— this is highly presumptuous it is not 〈◊〉 your selves saith the Text It is exceedinâ— pernicious for it makes men slighty 〈◊〉 examining this work and careless in improving the means and like the fool Sâ—lomon speaks of Eccles 4.5 that foldeâ— his hands together and eateth his owâ— flesh careless and negligent and bringâ— themselves to ruine Others are ready 〈◊〉 murmure against God and think to chaâ—â— their unbelief upon him but he will bâ— justified when he appears and clear wheâ— he judgeth As Adam at first so men 〈◊〉 the last will be ready to lay blame oâ— him but he will surely return it upoâ— themselves and say as of old O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self O ye Sons oâ— Men your guilt is upon your own heads Because unbelievers were preingageâ— against the offers of grace men have before-hand made over themselves to Sin Satan and the World and are careless about the means of grace Sinners do not what they may and can they improve not the rational faculties God gives them Isa 46.8 Remember this shew your selves men Why should men then think hardly of God Idolaters act beneath men Surely his proceedings against them will be just and their condemnation righteous Vse 2. Let us all examine and enquire into our hearts for a true work of faith through which we may be saved It was unfeigned faith that was in Timothy 2 Tim. 1.5 Is ours such We all profess we believe is it so indeed Thus it may be known 1. By strong desires to receive Christ on Gospel-terms as King Priest and Prophet not only to be saved by him but to yield subjection to him not only to tast of his bounty but to cleave to him in duty No unbeliever doth desire Christ in this extent and latitude he his for happiness not for holiness for Christ to save him and for his lusts to rule him In times of trouble sickness and death he hath strong desires after Christ let these Clouds blow over and his desires are vanished David did not only desire God would hide his face from his sins but that he would create in him a clean heart and renew in him a rigâ—â— spirit 2. True faith is a mournâ—â— grace it makes a penitent heart They sâ—â—â— look on him whom they have pierced 〈◊〉 mourn Zech. 12.10 Penitent tears flâ—â—â— from Faiths Eye it mourns for its oâ—â— weakness and for strength of unbeliâ—â— Mark 9.24 as he said with tears I â—â—lieve Lord help my unbelief 3. It cannâ—â— rest in its weakness but desires the sinâ—â—â— milk of the Word by which it was fiâ—â— wrought that it may grow thereâ—â— 1 Pet. 2.2 4. It will cleave to Châ—â—â—â— for ever and not part with him or frâ—â— him upon any terms The Gadarens â—â—sily parted from Christ for they belieâ—â— not in him Some yea many of his Dâ—â—ciples went away from him and walkâ—â— no more with him John 6.66 These hâ—â— no true work of faith in them But woâ—â— Peter and the rest that had received thâ— gift of faith go away from him No 〈◊〉 for the world verse 68. When Christ 〈◊〉 the question to them Peter answered 〈◊〉 the name of them all Lord to whom shoâ—â—â— we go from thee Thou hast the words 〈◊〉 eternal life What true faith wants in eâ—â—dence it will make up in adherence 〈◊〉 us all try our selves in this matter by thâ—â— notes and not deceive our own Soâ—â—â— Vse 3. Of Exhortation 1. Let all that want faith go out of themselves for it and seek this gift at the hand of God He gives it by means The Gospel is the word of faith Rom. 10.8 The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 and he is the Spirit of Promise O wait in Gospel dispensations in the word of faith for the work of faith and oppose not the Spirit when he offers his help to this work And remember whatever gift God gives if you have not this gift of faith all is nothing What is the gift of wealth What is the gift of restraining grace What is the gift of humane wisdom What is the gift of ordinances the gift of prayer having not this grace of faith given with and above them Can they satisfie Can they sanctifie Can they save us Had not the rich fool in the Gospel the young man and the Pharisees and Herod these gifts yet all perished for want of faith to save them We may covet the best gifts but this of faith is the more excellent way to life and salvation O pray much and earnestly for this grace and know if you that are evil can give good things to â—our Children how much more will God give faith to them that so ask him 2. Believers are bound to glorifie God for 〈◊〉 gift For faith is precious 2 Pet. 1 â—â—â— the trial of it much more faith it 〈◊〉 is more precious than gold Gold is pâ—â—cious among men and Solomon saith â—â—ney answers all things So doth faith mâ—â—â— more Consider what manner of 〈◊〉 faith is and it will cause them that 〈◊〉 it to glorifie God for it 1. 'T is a â—â—â—ritual gift for it is wrought by the poâ—â—â— of the Spirit and that is the very reaâ—â— carnal men are so little affected with 〈◊〉 for they cannot understand it 2. 〈◊〉 a free gift Thou hast nothing to give 〈◊〉 it The Queen of Sheba gave great gâ—â—â— to Solomon because of his wisdom but thâ—â— hast none to give to God 'T is free alâ—â— because thou hast done nothing for it Dâ—vid slew many of the Philistines to haâ—â— Saul's Daughter given him but thou 〈◊〉 slain no lust done no service for Gâ—4â— that faith should be given thee Freeâ—â— is also because without any relation 〈◊〉 engage him to thee A Father gives 〈◊〉 his Child because he is his Child 〈◊〉 thou art by nature a Child of wraâ—â—â— 3. 'T is an excellent and choice gift â—â—â—led precious faith as before was touchâ—â— God gives the men of the world the huâ—â— and stubble of the world but to them 〈◊〉 gives precious faith precious in respect of the worker God the object Christ the end Salvation and in respect of the variety of blessings it lets thee into This is the golden Key that lets thee into all the Treasures of grace and mercy laid up in Christ into comfort here and glory hereafter 4. 'T is a lasting gift This gift of God is without repentance God repented he gave Saul a Kingdom and â—o he may repent he gives men so much of the world but where he bestows this gift of saving faith he never repents of it The comfort and assurance of faith the â—vely actings and stirrings of faith may be â—â—spended but the habit root and principle of faith is not destroyed or removed 5. It is a growing gift a man â—â—ves his Son Money or Land and he â—ay increase it or he may diminish it â—â—at this gift
much and so long sin against the Lord so loving and so good a Father It will make our souls die to sin daily and to be careful and jealous lest any affection should prove inordinate and prejudicial to Christs honour and its own comfort By these things we may know whether Christ be indeed a saving light unto our Souls and so finding him to be may drink in all the comfort that flows from so sweet a truth as this is Object We fear may some say Christ is not such a light to us because we find our corruptions so strong in us and our affections so dead to Christ Ans There may be something of Christ as such a light in thee and yet this not clearly perceived nor felt by thee There may be notwithstanding thy complaints some dawning of the day some breakings forth of the morning light upon thy Soul For Christs goings forth in enlightning and quickning and comforting grace are prepared as the morning Hos 6.3 Now the morning goeth forth gradually small at the beginning but growing to perfection Do not despise the day of small things Though the morning be Cloudy and Rainy yet Christ â—uth prepared a wind to blow them â—ver He deals with Souls in this case as in the care of the blind man Mark 8. â—3 24. He caused him at first to see â—ut imperfectly he saw men walking â—s Trees afterwards clearly So he will â—eal with thee Though thou goest forth â—s the morning yet ere long thou wilt â—e fair as the Moon yea clear as the Sun Cant. 6.10 Vse 3. Suffer the word of Exhortation 1. Let all be perswaded to receive Christ this true light We see â—ur need of natural light and who reâ—ects it Who loves not the light more than darkness Who opens not their windows and doors to receive the light of the Sun How much more should we â—pen our eyes and hearts to entertain Christ the Spiritual and saving light O let us all pray with David Lord lift â—â—ou up the light of thy countenance upon us Psal 4.6 None but the blind do unâ—ervalue the benefit of light none but weak Eyes are offended at it none but â—culterers and thieves fly from it None but ignorant or wicked or hypocriteâ— undervalue Christ and when he is willing to be a light to them love darkness rather than light Owls and Bats love the night Darkness is a suitable element to a dark heart Melancholy Spirits love dark places So did he we read of Luke 8.27 But after Christ had commanded the evil Spirit out of him then he sate at Christs feet clothed and in his right mind O let us all go to Christ that he would be pleased who commanded the light at first to shine out of darkness to shine into all our hearts to give us the light of saving knowledge sound holiness and divine comforts that we may no more call light darkness and darkness light but in this our day see the things that belong unto our peace before they be hidden from our eyes 2. Let us receive every discovery of Christ as a beam of light and let us receive nothing as light but what comes from him And above all things let us walk while we have the light Which leads us to the second Doctrine Doct. 2. That it is the duty of all men to walk while they have the light Hence is that Exhortation of the Apostle Paul Rom. 13.12 13. The night is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the deeds of darkness and put on the Armour of light Let us walk honestly as in the day c. As if he had said The night of your unregeneracy is past and the day of grace has dawned upon your Souls Therefore as men when they see the glimmering of the day cast off their night-clothes so we seeing a glimmering of the Gospel ought to cast off the works of darkness as night-attire have no more to do with them sins are called works of darkness because many times they are done in the dark and because they proceed from darkness and if not cast off truly and timely tend to bring men to utter darkness And we should now put on the Armour of light as those that rise out of their sleep put on their working apparel that they may be fit for the business of the day So now seeing the night of ignorance is past adorn your selves with the works of light They that sleep sleep in the night and they that are drunk are drunk in the night But let them that are of the day put on the graces of the Spirit of Christ that bright and glistering armour wherewith their Souls shall not only be armed but adorned such as shines to the glory of God and becomes those that desire to walk honestly as in the day Christ himself did walk and work while he had his day John 9.4 I must work the works of God saith he while it is day Let us follow his steps herein Qu. 1. Ye will say How may men be said to have the light Ans By enjoying the Gospel of Christ For though his personal presence and ministry are withdrawn yet the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ shines amongst us And every word of Christ is light Isa 51.4 A Law shall proceed from me for a light of the people saith Christ His word is the rule and standard of light Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light or no morning in them This is that more sure word of prophecy which we shall do well we take heed unto as un to a light that shineth in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.19 Where the Apostle shews that a written Revelation from the Word is more sure than an immediate Revelation from heaven Here I might shew some of those Truths the Gospel gives a more full and clear discovery of than ever was before this glorious light came into the World As the great Doctrine of the Trinity the Incarnation of Christ the great and dangerous evil of unbelief that Christ came and put himself in the place of sinners and died an accursed death to save men from unbelief so that by his mediatory sacrifice there is a possibility for condemned unbelievers to be saved from that sentence that is gone out against them He ordered Repentance and Remission of sins to be preached in his name And that he that believeth in him shall be saved And he stayed not till men sent to him but he calls to them Ezek. c. 18. Why will ye dye O house of Israel Yea The Gospel holds forth life to the greatest sinners to the worst or men if thy will indeed believe and turn in to God by Christ God so loved the World that he gave his only begotton Son John 3.16 That whosoever believeth on him None excepted where Christ is offered but those
2.6 A shewing forth the vertues of him who is the light and hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2.9 And once again It is called walking as Children of light Eph. 5.8 〈◊〉 are all the Children of the light saies 〈◊〉 Apostle in another place 1 Thes 5.6 Therefore let us not sleep as do others 〈◊〉 let us watch and be sober O let us â—our thus to carry it Then we walk 〈◊〉 and up to the light indeed when 〈◊〉 have nothing to do with the â—â—â—ks of darkness which become 〈◊〉 Children of light but Children 〈◊〉 darkness rather It is now broad 〈◊〉 light the light of the Gospel â—â—â—es full in our faces every one â—â—ll now condemn those that praâ—se deeds of darkness To speak more â—â—â—ticularly yet very briefly To walk up 〈◊〉 Gospel-light it lies in these folâ—â—wing things 1. It is to walk openly with all â—â—gleness of heart as we read the â—â—mitive Christians did Acts 2.46 â—â—me walk so intricately with such â—â—â—ings and Windings are so full 〈◊〉 darkness as we know not what to â—â—ke of them But to be of plain â—â—arts as Jacob was that the honesty 〈◊〉 our hearts and designs may be seen 〈◊〉 all our words and dealings this is becoming such as are Children 〈◊〉 the light and of the day 2. It is to walk exemplarily 〈◊〉 shine as lights in a dark World 〈◊〉 Beacons set upon a hill which give ligâ—â— round about Phil. 2.15 To haâ—â— our light so shine before men as theâ—â— seeing our good works may gloriâ—â—â— God Mat. 5.16 God hung 〈◊〉 those lights at the first Creatioâ— Gen. 1. That they should give ligâ—â— upon the earth Thus we should poiâ—â— out to others the way to Heaven 〈◊〉 the light of our examples and caâ—â— a Torch before them that will eâ—â—â— go into the kennel and walk in 〈◊〉 mire and dirt of wicked waies Tâ—â— evil deeds of men are made manifeâ—â— and reproved also by such a carriagâ— and if by this we turn others from 〈◊〉 waies of sin to righteous paths 〈◊〉 will brighten our own Crown 〈◊〉 we shall shine as Stars for ever aâ—â— ever Light propagates it self 〈◊〉 so should all enlightened Christians 〈◊〉 deavour to communicate their light 〈◊〉 the good of others 3. It is to walk purely in holiness of life A spot is easily seen in a Sun beam we should walk without rebuke blamless harmless without spots as much as may be spot not our consciences nor our conversations but be undefiled in the way and keep our selves unspotted from the World To abstain from not only apparent evil but the very appearance of evil Quicquid male coloratum est All that hath the shew and colour of evil As â—e that hath called us is holy so let us be holy in all manner of conversation 4. It is to walk knowingly in the light of Spiritual Judgment and understanding The Apostle requires Husbands to dwell with their Wives as men of knowledge 1 Pet. 3.7 So ought all Christians to walk as those that know the evil of sin to hate and avoid it As those that know Satans wiles and devices to shun and flee from them As those that know the vanity of the World to be dead and crucified to it by the death of Christ as Paul was Gal. 6.14 As those that have seen the beauty of Christ and tasted of his love to be enamoured with him and to cleave in love to him who loved them first In a word if they know any thing of his will to be found doing it that they may be blessed in their deed 5. It is to walk cheerfully in the light of Joy Those Christians that spend their daies in sadness bring an evil report upon Gods good waies and dishearten and discourage many who who will look upon Gods waies as things that tend to destroy the comfort of their lives God loves a cheerful giver and a holy cheerful liver Avoid sinful frothy mirth the Joy of the Lord is your strength Sometimes indeed sin is as a Thief in the Candle that does wast a Christians Joy and dim his comfort which yet if truly repented of may be recovered and made to shine more bright But let a believer keep off from avoidable sins and live in the exercise of faith and he may rejoyce with Joy unspeakable and full of glory and strangers intermeddle not with this Joy This is to walk in the light when we walk unto the light into the light and up to the light Vse Let me urge this exhortion of Christ upon you all and upon my self Let us walk while we have the light Some sit still idle all the day of the Gospel Others walk in contrary waies but whatever others do let us be found in obedience to this command of Christ Consider to help us herein 1. It is the end why we have the light We give our servants light to work by not to play by No more does God give the glorious light of the Gospel to men to dally and trifle with but to work out their own salvation by 2. If we thus walk as hath been shewn we shall have cause to rejoyce that ever we had this blessed light The Psalmist praises God for the great lights set up in the visible Heavens Psal 136.7 8 9. The Sun to Rule by day and the Moon and Stars by night But what praise shall we be bound to give unto God for Christ and the Gospel of Christ if while it shineth among us we do as men do when the Sun ariseth What is that The Psalmist tells us Psal 104.22 23. Man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening This Sun of Gospel light is given us not that we should play away our Souls into destruction by carnal security but to get evidences of our Salvation with fear and trembling 3. The light will not alwaies shine but darkness will come upon us Hence the Lord in the Text useth this Argument Yet a little while the light is with you walk while ye have the light lest darkness come upon you 1. The darkness of Gospel-removal The longest day hath a night following it We have injoyed the Gospel-light many years and the brighter the day hath been and yet abused it may end in dreadful darkness Christ threatned Ephesus for the loss of her first love and works to come to her quickly and remove her Candlestick the Candle consequently except she repented Rev. 2.4 5. And doth not he seem to speak the same to England and to his Churches here at this day O let us yet in this our day know the things that belong unto our peace before they be hidden from our eyes 2. The darkness of death Eccel 12.2 While the Sun or the light or the Moon or the Stars be not darkned c. Then shall the dust return to the Earth as it was c. that is Before the outward parts of the body or the inward