†2 Sam. 7.12 And when thy days shall be fulfilled I will set up thy Seed after thee which shall proceed out of thy Bowels and I will establish his Kingdom Isaiah received a Message from God that this Son of God should be born of a Virgin * Isa 7.14 A Virgin shall conceive Micah had notice of the place of his Nativity †Micah 5.2 * But thou Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be litle among the thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be Ruler in Israel All these Prophecies were exactly accomplished in the person of Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary Was it said the Seed of the Woman This was punctually perform'd in the strictest Sence * Mat. 1.18 The Birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise when as his Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with Child of the Holy Ghost Was he to be of Abraham's Posterity it is accordingly Recorded †Mat. 1.1 The Book of the Generation of Jesus Christ the Son of David the Son of Abraham To this purpose the Apostle Argues * Gal. 3.29 They that are Christs viz. true Believers are Abraham's seed being one in Christ they must be so accounted in that he was so Was he to be of the Tribe of Judah So saith the Scripture he was †Heb. 7.14 It is evident our Lord sprang out of Judah Was he to be of the Family of David This was so manifestly true of the Son of the Virgin Mary that even the Blind saw it Hear them * Mat. 9.27 Thou Son of David have Mercy on us Was he to be born of a Virgin You heard it proved †Mat. 1.18 Was he to be born in Bethlehem So testifie the Scriptures he was * Mat. 2.1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the King Again The Scriptures Testifie that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was God because to that very end they had their being †Joh. 20.31 These things are Written not only what I have wrote but what Matthew Mark and Luke have Wrote also that you might believe Jesus is the Son of God and that believing you might have life through his Name they must therefore necessarily testifie sufficiently of him what they were intended to induce us to believe of him viz. that he is God There want not plenty of other Arguments to evince the Deity of Jesus Christ As that we are Commanded to be Baptized in his Name and Baptism ought not to be Administred in the Name of any Creature We are also Commanded to Believe in his Name and it were bootless to Believe in any Name but the Name of God We are called Christians from him and it cannot be thought that the Church of God hath so far degenerated as to lay down the Name of God and submit to be called by the Name of a Creature We might have Argued that Divine Honour Praise and Glory are Ascribed to him We have that Knowledge that God hath declared himself Jealous of his Honour and he hath said expresly †Isai 42.8 He would not give his Honour to another Nay we have known his Jealousie burn like Fire against such as have presumed upon his Glory for this cause the Angels were thrust out of Heaven * Isai 14.12 13 14 15. Herod Alexander Caligula and Domitian have paid dearly for their Usurpation in this Kind Ascribing Glory and Honour was by the Jews allowed an Acknowledgment of the Deity When-ever the Priest in she Sanctuary made Mention of the Name of God the People used some Forms of Blessing or Praising God This may be gathered from ‖ Deut. 32.3 where Moses said Because I will publish the Name of the Lord Ascribe ye Greatness unto our God In this cafe we shall find the like Glory Ascribed to the Son of the Virgin Mary †Matt. 21.9 Hosanna to the Son of David The Jews were ordered to observe the Feast of Tabernacles which as Expositors agree not onely remembred them of their Dwelling in Tents but did also Prefigure God's pitching his Tabernacle in our Flesh At this Feast when-ever any Name or Title of God was recited by the Priest the People Repeated Hosanna which signified Save us we beseech thee St. Jerom was of opinion That much about the time of Christ's Incarnation the Jews were wont often to Read the Hundred and Eighteenth Psalm which they Interpreted of Christ in the Twenty fifth Verse whereof this word Hosanna is found this was frequently Sung in their Synagogues and the Jews being at this time big with Expectation of the Messiah met him Riding to Jerusalem and Saluted him with Hosanna the very word they used to Salute the Majesty of God on their Feast of Tabernacles a Type of Christ's Incarnation so that by this Salutation at this Time they cannot be thought to have meant any other than an owning That GOD was come among them To Justifie this Opinion I have Two Reasons 1. Because in the latter part of the Verse viz. * Matt. 21.9 it is said Hosanna in the Highest 2. Because we Read †Luk. 19.40 That if they should have held their peace and have forborn to Ascribe this Honour and Glory to Christ the Stones out of the Wall would have done it So that if Men had been obstinate and would not have Acknowledged him as God their Redeemer the Stones would have Glorified him as God their Creator The Christian Church hath continued even to our days Two Representations of the Deity of Christ which the Prince of Darkness hath laboured to get decry'd as too Superstitious and Ceremonious onely that they growing out of Request he might gradually obliterate the Sense and Belief of the Deity of the Holy Jesus the one of these is Bowing at the Name of Jesus and the other is the Eulogy given unto him when-ever his Gospel is Read in the Church saying when the Gospel is named GLORY BE TO THEE O LORD and when it is ended THANKS BE GIVEN TO THEE O LORD FOR THIS GOSPEL I referr it to modest men to Judge whether laying aside the use of these be not a Departing from one kind of Evidence of the Deity of Christ I might have added that in the end as also in other places of the Epistles Writ to the Church of God by the Apostles Christ is Prayed to as God for God the Father is Supplicated for Love Jesus Christ for Grace and the Holy Ghost for the Communication of his Gifts †2 Cor. 13.13 The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen * Gal. 1.3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ But next to Plainness my great Care hath been Brevity as much as so weighty a
Imprimatur March 12th 1693 4. Ra. Barker JESUS is GOD OR THE DEITY OF Iesus Christ VINDICATED Being an Abstract of some Sermons Preach'd in the Parish-Church of St. James Clerkenwell By D. Pead Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without Wavering LONDON Printed for George Conyers at the Golden Ring and Will. Newton over against Bartholomew-Close Gate in Little Britain 1694. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOHN EARL of CLARE Baron Haughton of Haughton Grace and Mercy from our Lord Jesus Christ My Lord THAT I Presume to Usher this Small Piece into the World under so Great a NAME proceeds not from any Opinion that the Author his Labours have Right to your Patronage But having Receiv'd an Honour from your Lordship without Desert I was unwilling it should be also without Gratitude The Subject of the following Discourse Jesus Christ is so Noble so Useful and Comfortable that it were Unpardonable in me to doubt a Free and Candid Reception seeing that he is Worthy of All Acceptation and that God doth with this his SON freely give the Worthy Receiver All things A more Precious Pearl is not to be found And if God shall vouchsafe so great a Blessing that within your Noble Heart these Lines may kindle an Ambition for the PURCHASE the way will be to Imitate the Merchant in the GOSPEL to Sell all things to Make it The Wealth the Pleasures and the Honours of this World must be Sold Dismissed and Parted with if ever they shall dare to stand in Competition with the Riches of his GRACE or in the least attempt to draw away the Heart from his Love and Service He that would be Purchaser of this INESTIM BLE MERCHANDICE must sell All must tread under-foot all Opinion of Self-Righteousness or Merit and with a Lively Faith lay hold on the Sufficiency of his Righteousness onely He must Sell All he must Devote his Time Health Estate Parts Life and all that he is or hath to Advance the Honour Glory and Praise of the Son of God Jesus Christ and of the Father through him Hoping to be somewhat Serviceable to so Pious yet Difficult Undertakings these Following Lines are Most Humbly Presented thereby intending not onely your PERSONAL but the General Advantage While others from your Unshaken Faith in and Constant Obedience to the ever Blessed JESVS may observe that though it be Hard yet it is not Impossible for the Rich to enter into the KINGDOM of GOD. Where in God's Time may your Temporary Coronet be Exchanged into an Incorruptible CROWN of GLORY is the Humble Prayer of Your Honours Most Faithful and Most Obedient Chaplain D. Pead For the PARITIONERS Especially of St. James's Clerkenwell as likewise any other into whose Hands this Book shall come the Author heartily prays growth in Grace and the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I Am not insensible what Hazards he runs who in this Nature appears in Publick the Critical Remarks and Reflections which daily come forth are warning enough to all that indulge their peace to keep within but when I consider how ready the faithful Shepherd is to adventure his Life for his Sheep I dare not judge the fear or fore-sight of Censure and Cavils sufficient to suppress my Endeavours for the General Good much less to keep from the Light this which you once having heard with the Ear now desire may be open to the Eye We live if not in the last yet to be sure in the loosest of times wherein our Saviour's Prediction as also that of the Apostles is exactly accomplished Truth is already pout up and trampled under Foot of Errour and Falsehood Hypocrisie hath got the upper hand of Religion and it is now so much out of Fashion to be really Good that Men are shy of but appearing so and therefore take great care to prevent the least suspicion thereof Piety Sobriety and Vertue are condemn'd as infallible signs of a Phanatick but excess in Drinking Pride in Apparel and Behaviour Ranting and Swearing Leudness and Vanity in Discourse are taken for the effects of Christian Liberty and the surest marks of Loyalty This corruption of Manners among Christians calls loud for a Deluge of Tears that a Deluge of Judgments wash us not away But though this be as I noted deplorable yet in our Age the Devil seems to strive for the compleat Victory His Envy at God's Glory was formerly satisfied in beholding Men to Prophane the Days to despise the Word and Ordinances and to Blaspheme the Name of God with various Oaths and Imprecations but now although they are most desperately improv'd in these yet his Arms are higher for he and his Agents have dared openly to Impugne the Trinity and deny the Deity of our Blessed Saviour Time was the Jew for his barbarous Rejecting the Messiah was every where look'd upon with an evil Eye though by what means I know not they have roosted among us till we see our Faith as much corrupted as our Coin but it were a shame to be Angry with them when Professours do the same I confess for my own part could I be once perswaded to doubt whether Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary were God I see not which way to find Sence or Comfort in the rest of the Creed It must be terrible to think of God cut of Christ and but fondness to believe him Reconcil'd through Christ if this Christ were not God as well as Man I highly Reverence the Wisdom and Piety of the Honourable House of Parliament which condemn'd that late Hellish Pamphlet to the Flames in so ignominious a Manner but it is my judgment the Son of God himself hath also more sufficiently Vindicated his doubted Deity in that signal Cure wrought much about the same time upon the Cripple for it was Faith in his Name only which hath brought this strange thing to pass that we have seen even in our Days I am not free nor do I think it necessary to engage in the justifying this to be according to the exactest Rules of a Miracle nor will I be so rash on the other hand to deny its being one for though I find where the first and second Miracle that Jesus wrought are Recorded yet I no where find the last that shall be this were not only to rob our Faith and fervent Prayers of the Efficacy we are told is in them but to determine that Divine presence which was promised should continue to the end I have not been large upon this Point because my chief Design was to furnish you with an Antidote against the poison of Theism which hath so much infected this Generation From my weak Labours I hope you may gather some strength to help you in contending for the Faith deliver'd unto the Saints and now greviously assaulted by incarnate Devils An unconcernedness in this great Quarrel I could not dispense with because I observe that every Faithful Ambassadour no sooner discovers a
Reflexion upon his Prince's Honour but that he is uneasie and restless till it be adjudged and condemned be the matter never so notoriously true how then can I doe less but endeavour to Right and Vphold the Honour of the King of Glory whose Ambassadour to you I profess my self to he and my hopes are that others that are in the same Commission with my self especially they to whom the head of the Church Christ Jesus hath committed greater Talents will also put some of theirs into this Bank that at this Time and in this Case our Lord may have his own with usury Now unto hint that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Your Servant for Jesus's Sake D. Pead Matthew XIII 58. And he did not many Mighty Works there because of their Vnbelief GOD is Immutable the same yesterday to day and for ever Old * 1 Sam. 2.30 Eli was told Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed Which to him did import That seeing the extraordinary Exaltation of his Family to the Priesthood had not produc'd that Reverence and Sanctity as was expected he should not look for any farther encrease nor yet a continuation but rather a short enjoyment of what he had already obtain'd In like manner though the Son of God had honoured Nazareth with his Conception and Education yet her Inhabitants not Re-honouring him with their Faith and Love they were told That he would turn the course of his Favour and bestow his Miracles and Extraordinary Works upon remoter Places for so saith the Text He did not many mighty works there viz. in Nazareth because of their unbelief We read of a certain Cripple miraculously cured by Peter and John †Acts 3. The healed rejoyced not so much in his restored Limbs as the Priests and Sadduces were tormented to behold the Power of that Name they had made so contemptible and therefore though they had not the Impudence to deny yet they hoped they had still power to suppress the spreading abroad the fame of the Miracle and prevent the encreasing of the Faith of the Crucified Jesus To this intent * Acts 4.5 6. the Rulers Elders and Scribes Annas Caiphas John Alexander and such of the Kindred of the High Priest as were Privileged to sit in the Sanhedrim met and Consulted what was most expedient to do seeing so notable a Miracle indeed was done and considering that not onely the Captain whose place to prevent Tumult and Sedition was at the Porches of the Temple and thence was called * Luke 22.52 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Captain of the Temple must necessarily be privy to it in that this poor Cripple was one of them that lay daily in Solomon's Porch but also that all who dwelt at Jerusalem knew it by sight or hear-say it was lookt upon as more difficult to obscure it they did no doubt remember that once they had the luck to find a pack of Souldiers who for a little Money did belye their eyes and Swore down the Resurrection but now all the Souldiers in the World though their Tongues as well as Swords could pierce through an Inch Board were not able to Stab this Miracle to death it would live for it was a notable Miracle such an one as every one had set down in their Note-Books so that all they find they can do is to Command the not Teaching or Acting any farther in this Name as if they had said The matter is so plain we cannot for shame deny it yet for fear our Infidelity be exposed we will do our best that it be forgot Thus earnest have the Devil and the World ever been to stifle Goodness and to render as much as in them lay the Means of Grace ineffectual if they cannot stop up the Fountain of Life yet they will endeavour to defile or conceal the Streams issuing thence least men by Drinking should find such a Spring of Comfort as was not likely to dry up till they came from Believing to Fruition The Fore-cited Miracle hath even in our days been in divers particulars parallell'd A Cripple from her Birth I mean not so born but one that had an inveterate Lameness from her Cradle a Cripple that did frequent the Temple more for Devotion than Alms this Cripple is now by Faith in Jesus Christ onely standing whole before us as it is Written * Acts 3.16 the Name of Jesus i. e. Faith in his Name hath given her perfect soundness And in this case there can be no Collusion neither it being done in the presence of us all If I may not for fear of incurring the Censure of the Nice and Curious term this a Miracle yet I may call it a Wonderful Work a Signal Honour done to the Place and Age as also a Great Help if rightly considered and well apply'd to awaken the Obstinate Jew and reform the Vain and Dissolute Christian who by Prophaneness Hypocrisie and Infidelity hath too long Blasphemed the Holy Name of Jesus He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief In which words we cannot but observe these Two Parts First That there was a Time and Place When and Where the Holy Jesus refused to do Mighty Works or Miracles Secondly The Reason Because of their unbelief In speaking to the former of these Three Enquiries must be made viz. 1. What a Miracle is 2. How we may know a True Miracle from a False 3. What is the use or end of Miracles how far they are necessary and where not In speaking to the latter Branch of the Text The Reason Two other Enquiries will arise viz. First What is meant by Unbelief or wherein their Unbelief did consist Secondly How it was possible for a People that had such plenty of Means for their Conviction to persist in their Unbelief Little will here be related in reference to most of these particulars the chief design of this Book 's appearing abroad being contained in one onely which in its place I shall more largely insist on First There was a Time and Place When and Where the Holy Jesus refused to do his Mighty Works or Miracles It is an undoubted Truth that our Saviour during his abode in the Flesh went about doing good yet he made a Discrimination and would not sow the Barren Sands but having an eye to his Father's Glory as well as to the Peoples Necessities where-ever he saw the former not like to be effected his Zeal overcame his Pity and he left such Places and Persons Neglected Jerusalem Bethsaida Chorazin and Capernaum had his Doctrine and beheld his Miracles after a Plentiful manner At Bethsaida particularly he was so Conversant in Teaching and Working Mighty Works that he Gathered Five Apostles there viz. Peter Andrew
Point will admit of Having thus Vindicated the Deity of Jesus Christ and from the Names given him from the Properties of the Deity Attributed to him that is to say from his Infinite Power Wisdom c. visible in the Great Works of Creation and Redemption as also from the Testimony of God the Father God the Holy Ghost and from the holy Scriptures proved that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was and is True and Perfect God Now permit me to speak unto you in the words of St. Peter ‖ 2 Pet. 1.16 I have not followed cunningly devised Fables nor have I offered you any other Arguments or Proofs than what are Proper and tend naturally to evince this Article of our Faith I have in the whole management of them followed the plainest method hoping that in so doing I have spoke to your Understanding if I have shewn any zeal or warmth it is upon the account that I take it for granted could the Wit of Men or Malice of Devils overthrow this Foundation it could not be long before the Gates of Hell would prevail against the Church of Christ And now blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who by making known to us that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was also the Eternal Son of God hath Taught us First That we Christians of the Gentiles as it is Written ‖ Ephes 2.19.20 Are no more Strangers or Foreigners but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God and are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Corner-stone so that he that ever was still is the Head of the Church viz. Jesus Christ God blessed for evermore I find our Saviour declaring ‖ Matth. 16.18 Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church Thou art Peter I so Surnamed thee †Mark 3.16 and as thy Name imports so thou art viz. a Living Stone in my Spiritual Temple upon this Rock this Confession of me to be the Son of the Living God * Matt. 16.16 I will build my Church The word Rock I take here to be mentioned Allegorically onely alluding to that Memorable Rock in the Wilderness and thus taken it signifies that as that Rock then Refreshed the Israelites in the Parched and Barren Wilderness so now the Knowledge and Confession of my Deity shall be as Refreshing Comfortable and Satisfactory to all Believers to allay the heat and burning of their Guilt to quench the fire of Divine Wrath and Vengeance as were the Streams that issued out of that Rock to cool your Forefathers Thirst and to satisfie their Appetites It were certainly a great mistake with the Church of Rome to take such notice of the Affinity of words as to Interpret Peter and the Rock to be the same thing as if Christ had here Promised to Build his Church upon Peter or were weary of his Spouse and did now intend to give her a Bill of Divorce and leave her to another this must be the consequence of that Interpretation which our Adversaries so highly favour and before we can consent to it we must Contend with Two such Difficulties as I judge Unconquerable I. If we say that Christ Promised to build his Church upon Peter How shall we answer that of the Apostle †1 Cor. 3.11 Other Foundation can no Man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ yet not him but Peter say the Romanists but let these wise Master-Builders know that the Stone they refuse is Realy and Rightfully the Head-stone in the Corner and so dangerous is it here to stumble that he that falleth on this Stone that maketh this a Rock of Offence that doubteth and will not admit Christ to be the Head of the Church shall be broken shall be wounded in his Soul but on whomsoever it shall fall viz. such as through Pride or Contumacy shall strive to shake or pull this Stone out of its place it shall grind them to Powder divine Vengeance shall dash them into a thousand pieces How will they who expound these Words Vpon this Rock of Peter and not of Christ or that Confession made of him by Peter get over the clause of that Verse where it is said The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it viz. the Church built on this Rock i. e. neither the Power nor Policy of Hell should prevail against it yet it is visible that against Peter the Gates of Hell greatly prevailed Then how must the Church totter and shake when according to them this famous Rock on which it was built did so tremble and reel But to put an end to this Controversie we have a sure Rule to which all Christians do well to have regard †Eph. 1.22 God the Father of Glory hath given his Son Jesus Christ to be Head over all things to the Church Which words do abundantly condemn the Impudence of such as presume upon a Power to order things in the Church contrary to the Revealed Will of the Head thereof On the other hand seeing the Son of God is Head of the Church how Blame-worthy nay how Audacious and Inexcusable are they who spurn against and deny any of his Ordinances I mean such whose Froward Zeal hath Exploded the Lord's Prayer as a Form Obsolete and have laid aside the Sacraments as useless which the Head of the Church Instituted as Generally Necessary for Salvation Seeing Jesus Christ is Head of the Church it is a Riddle to me whence Men derive their Power of Altering Adding to or Diminishing from what he hath Ordained Having now so Sure and Sufficient a Foundation our Main Care must be what we Build upon it We are told †1 Cor. 3.12 if we Build Wood Hay or Stubble that is Wooden and Heterodox Opinions the Trash of Philosophical Notions or the Dry Stubble of Humane Inventions and Fansies these will not abide the Trial but if we Build thereon Gold Silver or Precious Stones Solid Clear and Ornamental Truths such as may Direct Justifie and Adorn our Conversations these will Abide therefore I shall accordingly Rear this Truth upon this Foundation II. Is Jesus Christ the Son of God And is this Son Head of the Church then as saith the Apostle ‖ Phil. 2.11 Let every Tongue Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father Let all the Nations and Kindreds of the Earth Acknowledge his Doctrine to be the Onely Word of Life and that he that Brought it was Rightly Jesus a Saviour Let every Soul Bend the Knee and Submit to his Commands as being the Commands of the Lord of Lords Let this Acknowledgment and Confession be made this Obedience and Homage tendred to the Glory of God the Father for by his Order and Decree this Eternal Son of God became in Fullness of time the Son of Man Now therefore tho there be some who
in the pursuit of Earthly things or for such who acknowledge the Son of God to be their only Lord to be led Captives by the Devil at his will let us therefore as becometh Christians cast off every work of Darkness and serve the Lord that bought us in Holiness and Righteousness let us put on Christ in our Affections and Actions let us be renewed in our Minds that our Affections may become Holy and Spiritual let us sanctifie God in our hearts that so our Actions may be pious just and unblameable that all may see the life that we henceforward live in the Flesh we live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us There is a Seemliness or Comeliness proper to every Calling as is very observable but Christianity is a peculiar Calling distinct from and vastly surpassing all other some things may be tolerable in others which are no ways allowable in this and therefore we are called upon * Ephs 4.1 to walk worthy of our Vocation we have more ample Revelations of the will of God than others we have better Principles greater Helps fairer Promises and a most perfect Example and therefore for us after all these to walk after the customs of the present evil World were altogether inexcusable Luther was wont to say that Christians in their strongest Assaults might make much better Defence than they usually do if they reply'd when tempted Christiani sumus we are Christians We are Christians such as are bound by our Baptismal Vow to fight against the World the Flesh and the Devil we above all Men are not to play the Cowards and make a faint Resistance seeing that we have an Armoury and are provided for all points we have an Helmet and Brest-plate a Girdle and Shield and likewise we have the Sword of the Spirit wherewith to Wound and Baffle our Enemies this is an approved Weapon with this our Saviour conquer'd the Devil We are Christians we profess to have our Conversation in Heaven notwithstanding our commoration be on Earth and therefore an Eagle may as soon stoop at a Fly as a Christian to worldly Allurements We are Christians such as declare themselves dead to these things and therefore to give them any room in our hearts were to give the lye to our Profession We are Christians such who have a sure word of promise for things necessary and therefore how unbeseeming us is it to use any indirect means to compass that which is already secured to us in the bountiful Providence of our Heavenly Father We are Christians the Servants and followers of the Son of God and we believe his Eye to be upon us during all our Conflicts with Temptations We cannot likewise but believe our noble resolute and courageous behaviour will be acceptable to him and that to the intent we may prevail and persevere he will in pure Compassion knowing our Frailty proportion the Grate he sends us by the Temptations he permits upon us and so if we are called forth to wrestle against Principalities and Powers all the Ranks of Devils yet Jesus Christ the Son of God and Captain of our Salvation will afford us such supply as we shall be able to stand We are Christians we must therefore Watch and Pray that we fall not under Temptation we must strengthen our selves in the Lord in his Example in his Precepts and in his Promises we must gird our selves unto the Battle because we shall reap if we faint not if we finish our warfare gallantly and as becometh Christians there is certainly a Crown of immarcessible Glory prepared for us this is worth sighting for which brings me to the last and highest Story I shall or can raise upon this Foundation Is Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary God Is he the head of the Church Do all true Christians put him on walking after his Example and to his Will then as true as he is God all such as thus do shall be most plentifully rewarded The Christian Religion was calculated it is true for the Humble and Poor in Spirit but yet not for such mean Spirits as act no farther than they are instigated by a prospect of advantage when we have done all our acknowledgment must be that we are but unprofitable Servants our Lord hath been no gainer by us we have not answered what of right was due from us upon the Score of our Creation therefore not being solvent and in capacity to discharge that first Debt it is no other than Arrogance and Presumption to make Conditions with God and to limit our performances by the Hopes or Emanations of his Bounty yet such is his infinite Condescension that though a Reward may not be the sole Reason yet we permitted to look upon it as the encouragement of our services Moses expressed great Faith and Patience refusing the pleasures of Egypt which were doubtless every way corresponding to the desires of Humane Nature the purchase of these requir'd no farther toil and labour of him than a gratefull acceptance yet these so great so easily acquir'd he forsook and chose rather to endure Afflicton That which chiefly encouraged this exchange was †Heb. 11.26 He had respect unto the Recompence of the Reward Our Blessed Saviour sweetned the burden of his Yoak and the Tortures of his Cross by the proposal as well of present as future Rewards he did assure them that if they would diligently mind the one thing needful all other things should be added to them they might do their Duty and cast the care of themselves upon God and they should find from him Providential Goodness that he did certainly care for them this can inferr no less than that we abound in the Work of the Lord in as much as we are ascertain'd our Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord our Hopes shall not be frustrated He that had the love to promise a Remuneration hath the power to bestow it for now we know he is God and doth as well in Heaven as on Earth whatsoever pleaseth him Hearken we therefore for our encouragement to his gracious Promises * Mat. 10.32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before Men him also will I confess before my Father which is in Heaven He that on Earth shall confess my Deity and by Words and Deeds make an open Confession of me and if thereunto called shall in despite of Danger and Death stick to the same profession of Faith every such Person may rest satisfied his so doing shall not be forgotten but a faithful Reward shall be made thereof in Heaven no wonder therefore to hear St. Paul crying out Wo unto me if I preach not the Gospel of Jesus Christ or to see him and others of the same Principles rejoicing in that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the confessing of Christ for they had the promise of being glorified with him for whom they suffered What therefore though Troubles