vices of Christians when their lives are holy they draw many to Christ when they are corrupt they turn many from Christ Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushell but on a candlestick A fourth Metaphor or similitude is taken from a candle set in a candlestick that gives light to them in the room such was Joshua and Zerubbabel Zach. 4.11 this was signified by the candlestick in the midst of the tabernacle and temple yea the seven Churches are called candlesticks Rev. 1.20 Churches ought not to meet in secret I mean for worship unless in some unusual case V. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father in heaven Let your light so shine before men n this verse 2 things 1. A duty Let your light shine before men 2 The ends of the duty 1. That men may see your good works 2 may glorifie Gods 1. The duty let your light so shine before men Obs Christians ought to shine as lights to others Ob. But we are bid to do good in secret Ans Augustine answers he doth good not that he may be praised but God glorified in him he that doth this need not fear to be seen of men 1 From the state of conversion Eph. 5.8 Ye were once darkness now ye are light in the Lord walk as children of the light 1 John 1.6 2 That men may see your good works not to ambition as the Pharisees who gave alms to be seen of men Matth. 6.1 but to conversion to draw others to the faith not that you may be seen save in the praises of God Aug. in loc Tom. 10. de verb. dom 3 That men may glorifie our heavenly father 1 By receiving and approving the heavenly doctrine that you profess Song 6.1 The daughters of Jerusalem ask the Church Whither is thy beloved gone that we may seek him with thee 2 By conversion to the same faith 1 Pet. 2.12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that they may by your good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation 3 By thanksgiving for so great a favour 1 Pet. 2.9 Praise him who hath called you from darkness to his marvellous light For application let your light shine forth to others for these ends testimony of conscience before God and testimony of a holy life before men 2 Cor. 8.21 Providing things honest not onely in the sight of the Lord but of men be not content to shine onely by doctrinals for so did the Jewish teachers Rom. 2.17 18 19. they were lights to them that were in darkness and rested herein but shine forth also in practicals Moreover in all your holy walking propose this end not that you may be magnified and lifted up above the stars but that God may be glorified as the authour of that little good you do the glory and praise of Christians in heaven is Christ as they are his glory praise on earth Luth. Tom. 2.94 So did John Baptist Joh. 3.30 He must increase I must decrease 2 Cor. 4.5 We preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord John 7.18 1 Cor. 10.31 Rom. 14.7 8. If any praise be cast on thee as God hath made honour to accompany virtuous actions as the shadow accompanies the body so hath God appointed estimation and praise to accompany a holy life give this glory to God Psalm 115.1 Not unto us O Lord not unto us but to thy Name do we give praise There is a secret influence in holy example though we speak never a word It will afflict our souls in death not onely to think of our personal evils but of our exemplary evil 2 Exhort Where you see holy Examples to follow them Luke 10.32 Shall God kindle Lights for us as Sun Moon and Stars and shall we not walk by their light Shall God give us holy Examples and we not walk by them Rom. 11.11 The Example of the Gentiles shall at length provoke the Jews to believe As Christians wrong the souls of wicked men when they do not give them an holy Example so do wicked men wrong their own souls when they follow not that Example which is given them A mans Life shews what his minde is for by the endeavours of our daily conversation our natures not appearing are understood Justin Martyr ad Zenam Serenum p. 394. That they may see your good works 2. things 1. What a good work is 2. What properties are requisite 1 What it is Answ It 's any thing commanded by God and done by a regenerate man so that 1 it must be commanded by God Mic. 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and it must be the work of a man whose person is accepted in Christ Matth. 7.16 Make the Tree good that the Fruit may be good Rom. 8.8 They that are in the Flesh cannot please God For as the sins of believers do not redound to their persons to make their persons wicked no more do the works of wicked men materially good as almes bounty c. redound to the persons of wicked men to make their persons righteous Prov. 15.8 Esa 66.2 2 The properties of a good work besides these two laid down as 1. commanded of God 2. done by a person accepted so 3. It must be done in a right manner as God hath set down Heb. 8.5 See thou make it according to the pattern shewed thee in the Mount John 14.31 as my father gave me a command so I do not onely what he commanded but as he commanded 4 It must be done to God Zach. 7.5 To whom hav eye fasted to me even to me Alms is a thing God commands yet if therein we have vain-glorious ends we have no other reward but the praise of men Matth. 6.1 2. Yet this single circumstance is not enough to make a work good for some thinking to do God service have killed his servants John 16.2 and some meerly out of zeal to God opposed Christianity and went about to stablish their own righteousness 5 That which is a good work must be brought about by just and holy means Rom. 3.8 We must not do evil that good may come we must not lye for God Job 13.6 7. herein Rahab the Midwives Exod. 1.19 and Jacob are supposed to fail Gen. 27.24 6 It must have a good end This is first in intention though last in execution Rom. 14.7 8. None of us That is of us that are Christians though the world do otherwise that lives to himself and no man dies to himself 2 Cor. 5.15 Jehu did a good work in destroying Baal out of Israel 2 Kings 10. and Amaziah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a perfect heart 2 Chron. 25.2 they had some selfish ends as all carnal men have in what they did Use Learn how to judge of good works they are good when thus qualified Many things glorious in the
1 Peter 2.5 And Angels are called holy Mark 8.38 but there is none holy as the Lord 1 Sam. 2.2 Saints and Angels are holy with a derivative holiness but in God it is essential Holiness in the creature is a quality in God it is his being and nature in the creature it 's finite and in such a measure in God it 's infinite and without measure Being then so infinitely and essentially holy let us sanctifie his Name by 1 Acknowledging him to be the true God Psal 103.1 The gods of the Heathen were impure Lechers 2 By being abased when thou comest into his presence after Jobs eye had seen God he abhorred himself in dust and ashes Job 42.5.6 Peter out of the apprehension of that great vileness in himself and holiness in Christ saith Depart from me for I am a sinfull man O Lord Luke 5.8 3 By extolling and praising this holiness in God Glorious in holiness and fearfull in praises are joyned together Exod. 15.11 Psalm 30.4 Give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness Without Gods holiness what were his wisdom but subtilty his will but wilfulness his power but oppression his love but dotage his justice but terrour but his Holiness declares the perfection of all his Attributes 4 By removing all causality of sin from God he can no more be a cause of sin than the Sun of darkness Shall not the Judg of all the World do right Gen. 18.25 God may will the being of sin but man the nature of it as in a Chain that breaks none is in fault but that which breaks so in the concurrent causes of sio none is to be faulted but the immediate cause the will of man God withdrawing his restraint which he is not bound to give corruption boils out and the creature sins necessarily but voluntarily He that drives a lame Horse is the cause of his going not of his halting God is the cause of the actions of the sinner for in him we live and move Acts 17.28 but not of the corrupt turning of the will 5 By avoiding all prophanation of his holy name When a man and his father went in to the same maid they prophaned Gods holy name among the heathen Amos 2.7 so the Babylonians seeing the unholy lives of the Jews cryed These are the people of the Lord and so Gods holy name was prophaned Ezek. 36.20 A small impeachment to the name of a Prince stirrs him up to arms and will not the Prince of Princes be jealous for his holy name See Ezek. 36 2â— Ezek. 39.25 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name Psal 96.8 6 By imitating God in holiness be ye holy for I am holy 1 Pet. 1.16 as a little white is like a great white differing onely in degrees so let our holiness be like Gods Are we not Gods temples wherein his spirit dwells and were not temples severed from common uses Was Belshazzar so punished for abusing a material temple and shalt thou escape if thou prophanes a spiritual temple The lives and families of too many proves that they live the lives of heathens under the name of Christians some cry out as Corah Are not all the Lords people holy Numb 16.3 others think there 's none holy but glorified Saints but there is a people who are called to holiness and who so walk making holiness their Element wherein they live as the birds in the aire and fishes in the water Hereunto were we elected that we should be holy 2 Thess 2.13 we cannot climbe up into heaven to behold our election yet may we read it in our sanctification Without holiness we cannot prove our justification seeing the water and spirit witness with us as well as the blood 1 Joh. 5.8 Ere long heaven and earth will be on fire holiness at that time will be like pure gold which will not be consumed by the fire 2 Pet. 3.11 3 Gods Name is his Attributes which name God proclaimed Exod. 33.19 compared with cap. 34 6. I will proclaim my name before thee and the Lord passed by and proclaimed the Lord merciful gracious c. the name of God is every thing which is truly affirmed of him Thou shalt fear this glorious and fearful name the Lord thy God Deut. 28.58 to derogate from any attribute of God as to tax his justice to limit his power to question his faithfulness to ascribe that to fortune which is due to providence is a prophaning of the name of God 4 Gods Name is his ordinances Mal. 10.14 as the word Psal 138.4 Prayer Act. 9.14 The supper 1 Cor. 11.29 There ought to be a discerning of the Lords body so baptisme Matth. 28.19 Baptizing them into the name of Father Son and Spirit onely God magnifies his word above all his name Psal 138.4 5 Gods Name is taken for the honour of God and credit of Religion Rom. 2. â—4 My Name is blasphemed every day through you that is you Jews who profess my name and live loosly Ezek. 36. â—0 the loose Jews in Babylon prophaned Gods name when the heathens reported These are the people of the Lord Esa 52.5 Hallowed be thy name To hallow is taken 1 for the making of a person or thing that was unholy to become holy 1 Cor. 6.10 thus we cannnot hallow Gods name 2 For the declaration or for an appearing to be holy so God will have his name appear to the whole world that he is an holy God not onely by a reverend speaking of his essence and Attributes avoiding all swearing cursing c. but also by a holy conversation Thus we are to sanctifie God in our hearts 1 Pet. 3.15 and in our lives 1 Pet. 1.16 Be ye holy for I am holy We by our holiness should show forth the glory of Gods holiness that if there be so much holiness in poor Saints how much is there in God 3 For the publishing of a thing to be holy so we are to publish the name of God to be holy Ps 105.3.111 9. Holy and reverend is his name Psal 30.4 4 For the manifestation of Gods holiness in a way of judgement when sinners will not show forth his holiness in a way of practice so when God destroyed Nadab and Abihu he saith I will be sanctified in them that come nigh unto me Levit. 10.3 so God was sanctified in the destruction of Zidon Ezek. 28.22 so God will be sanctified of God in the eyes of the heathen Ezek. 38.16 23. Thy kingdome come There 's a twofold kingdome 1 of grace 2 of glory 1 Of grace this kingdom we desire may come 1 By casting down the kingdome of Satan in us 2 Cor. 10.4 2 By setting up Christ to raign in every one of our hearts thus the kingdom of God is said to be within us Luk. 17.21 governing us by his Word and Spirit 3 By stablishing all means towards the building up of this Kingdom as the preaching of the Word which is called the Gospel of the Kingdome 4
his father because he keeps him in from prophaneness the servant is angry with his master and will not tarry with him because he is too strict how oft doth the husband rise against the wife for this Jobs wife upbraided her husband with the business of his integrity Dost thou yet retain thine integrity Michal scoft at David for his dancing before the Ark 2 Sam. 6. V. 37. He that loveth father or mother more then me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more then me is not worthy of me Here is a consolation against the former evil to wit he that shall leave relations and friends for Christ Christ vvill count such a man vvorthy of him Christ adds these vvords above me least any should think Christ to forbid love of parents Wee may love them but not above Christ if vve doe Christ vvill not think us vvorthy of him that is he vvill not account such in the number of his Disciples The sum is Christ vvould have his Disciples suffer all manner of extremities rather then to be taken off from faith and obedience to him and he that vvill not suffer this is not vvorthy of him that is he is unvvorthy to be called a Christian neither hath he any part in his Kingdom of grace or glory Under father and mother he means all relations whatsoever whether Magistrates Masters Husbands Kinsmen Friends and all the good things we have or hope to have from them as Wealth Honour Lands It might seem very sharp that we must make them who are in the same society with us Enemies Christ therefore tells us that upon no other terms we can be his Disciples therefore we must see the price of being Christs disciples The sum is Christ is to be loved sovereignly and every creature subordinately Luke 14.26 If our love to any creature hinder us from following Christ let us learn to count it dung for Christ Gal. 6.14 Phil 3.8 When a case comes that either God is to be denied or a creature then is a creature to be denied The reverence of Parents is to be cast off if it cannot stand with the reverence of God the will of God being known we must not dispute of laws or prescriptions but we must obey Gods command without any deliberation because neither the Pope parents or Caesar have this title I am the Lord thy God Luth in Gen. 27. Love is an affection whereby the soul is carried out to enjoy something it esteems to be good There are three things in love 1 Affection whereby we are inclined to some known good 2 Desire that we may be united to it 3 Joy whereby we rest in that good thing obtained These three are in every ordinary subordinate good But in the supreme good all the appetites and affections of Saints are carried soveraignly to him and with much joy rest in him If we love not Christ soveraignly we love him onely as a creature neither is it enough to love the Lord Jesus better then many things if there be any thing we love above him or equal with him whatsoever thing we so love we make an Idol See my treatise of the love of Christ To love Christ thus 1 Beware you be not ensnared with the fear of men or any hardships 2 Nor with favours of men V. 38. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me As in the former Verse we were to forgo any thing for God loving him soveraignly so are we required to suffer any thing for him loving him undividedly He that taketh not his cross By cross he means every affliction that lies in the way of duty whether it be an office which cannot be had with a good conscience or the favour of this or that man Many give a lift at the cross but finding it heavy they let it fall down again Others think when they have taken up some one or few crosses they have done enough whereas taking up the cross is a continual duty Hence it 's put in the present tense And Luke saith it 's a duty daily to be done Luk. 9.23 for what week or month is there but if a man will be true to his conscience he shall finde some cross or other lying in his way Christ doth not mean onely crucifying or the death of the cross which every Christian for Christ is called to take up but also Christ means all other crosses This death of crucifying was usual among the Romans invented by cruelty it self if Cicero may be believed among whom the word came to be used for all kinde of disprofit or suffering as the Phrase abi in malam crucem denotes and the Latine word crucior Now these words of taking the cross and taking up the cross mentioned Luk. 9.23 and that of bearing the cross Luk. 14.27 are the words used in the suffering of Christ Matth. 27.32 Mark 15.21 where the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Joh. 19.17 to show that the manner of calling sufferings by the name of the cross was taken from that suffering upon the cross So that to take up the cross is to have a disposition for all manner of sufferings for Christ whether prisons death or banishment So Paul Acts 20.24.21.13 So Peter though he went in his own strength yet the bent of his heart was right Mark 14.31 Luk. 22.33 Lord I am ready to go with thee both into prison and to death Christ calls these sufferings by the ignominious name of the cross that Christians may not expect worldly glory and domination but rather scoffs and mocks and crucifyings Moreover in that Christ saith we must take up the cross it denotes unto us a voluntary obedience that we neither fret at God or man who hath been any ways instrumental in our sufferings this should something quiet our mindes that as Christ adjudges all his Disciples to the cross so doth he us to our crosses and in that Christ saith his cross he means not that we should create crosses for our selves but only take from the hand of God bear upon our shoulders those which the Lord lays on us We are ready to think our own cross heavier then others crosses but if all the crosses of the world were laid on an heap and an equal dividend were made of them I question whether thy share would not come to more Some man can bear poverty but cannot away with infamy or disgrace Others will suffer disgrace but not imprisonment others imprisonment but not corporal punishment but a Christian that is worthy of Christ must take up all Means to take up the Cross 1 Think often of it resolve with thy self thou must not live always in peace but there will a change come when thou must part with thy dearest comforts 1 Pet. 4.12 Think not strange concerning the fiery trial be thinking what the truths of God may cost thee before
them Matth. 10.33 they know else we cannot be Christ his Disciples Luke 14.26 33. Till such times as we have a purpose of heart and an habitual intention to leave all that we have for Christ and to suffer whatsoever the rage of men shall inflict upon us we are not sincere with God Matth. 19.17 Luke 14.27 12 Whom dost thou make thy end A sincere man makes God his end Rom. 14.7 8. None of us that is of us sincere Christians that lives unto himself but whether we live we live unto the Lord he doth all to Gods glory 1 Cor. 10.31 2 Cor. 5.15 Christ died that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves There 's a twofold end 1 Absolute and ultimate 2 Subordinate and conditional Hypocrites make God their subordinate and conditional end Isai 66.5 Your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said Let the Lord be glorified They lookt at Gods glory in casting out his Saints So Jehu he had a zeal for the Lord of hosts 2 Kings 10.16 but the Lord was not his last end but his last end was to get a Kingdom to which all other ends were subservient Contrarily a sincere man makes God his last end as he studies prays preaches labours but why surely in order to God and his glory God is the end of his ends his last end whereto all his subordinate ends refer that is an absolute end which if all other ends were laid aside moves a man to do a thing The end a godly man aims at is to be acquainted with his duty and to discharge it in faithfulness all his projects and endeavours are running heaven-ward Slothfulness carelesness and remisness in the things of God and vehemence eagerness and intentness in our own affairs argues that the World is our absolute and last end and that God is onely the subordinate and inferiour end 3 Caution If the principal thing that Christ looks at in the actions of Christians be the sincerity of their actings then let us take heed of hypocrisie in all our services This is twofold 1 Gross hypocrisie which is when a man knows he dissembles with God or man Absalom pretended a vow at Hebron but intended the Murder of Amnon Such was Jezebel in her pretended Fast for Naboth and the Elders of Jezreel Jezebel knew that she proclaimed the Fast onely to get Naboths Vineyard and the Elders did it for fear they should provoke Jezebel Such was Judas in his pretending the poor when he would have had the Ointment sold John 12.6 and in his saying Hail Master and kissing Christ So the Scribes and Pharisees in their praying in the corners of the streets so the Pharisees Mat. 23.15 in their making long prayers and devouring Widows houses they were like whited Sepulchres appearing outwardly beautifull but within full of hypocrisie and iniquity v. 27 28. these are like those who at Stage Plays wear a Vizard they have Eliahs Mantle but not his Spirit They know they dissemble with God and the World and if they had the ends they aim at then farewell God and Religion These persons who for length of time go on thus are seldom converted 2 Close hypocrisie which is when a man thinks his actions are good and words and actions sincere mean time the rot tenness of his heart is known to God Prov. 16.2 Prov. 30.12 There is a generation pure in their own eys and yet is not washed from their filthiness Such was Cain Gen. 4.3 the Pharisee Luke 18.12 Paul in his Judaism Phil. 3.6 the Jews that went about to stablish their own righteousness yea many Papists and formal Protestants and Professors The mischief of this close hypocrisie is that it makes way for gross hypocrisie as in Saul who first formalized Gods worship after grosly dissembled Judas first clave to Christ for gain after betrayed him with a kiss Such close hypocrites were the Laodiceans Rev. 3.17 Concerning this I shall lay down four things 1 What it is 2 Cautions 3 What signes of it 4 What remedies against it 1 What it is There are many descriptions given of it some thus It 's when a man will do something in Gods worship but will not do it thorowly for example a man is not willing to let the duty go altogether for then were he prophane nor will perform it zealously for then were he holy but when he goes betwixt both does something but will not do it thorowly Others thus Hypocrisie is when a man doth works like unto good works but are not either because not commanded of God or because not done as he commands being done without faith and love for to deceive others for praise or profit sake Polanus l. 8. c. 10. p. 643. Others It 's a corruption of the will Wheatly Gods Husb. p. 14. whereby it inclines it self to seem good by doing some good and leaving some evil for ones own sake For the word Hypocrite some derive it of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies under and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies judgement because an Hypocite hides his judgement whiles his outward man goes one way his minde another his tongue speaks one thing his heart another Budaeus derives it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from counterfeiting so it signifies one that takes on him the person of another as Players do who on the stage appear sometimes as Beggars sometimes as Kings Translators and Interpreters fearing the name Stage-players would not be acceptable to godly ears retained the Greek word Hypocrite Mat. 6.5 When ye give alms pray be not like these Stage-players At the second hand it signifies all others which carry themselves with other faces then their own as Stage players do feigning honesty and godliness in shew when they are indeed wicked Herod is an image of the great men of the world who seem to favour the word but privily laugh at it and destroy it yet so that they would not seem to have destroyed it yea they praise John and love Christ Luth. Tom. 4.345 Hypocrisie is an outward shew of goodness not in the soul What Hypocrisie is which a person knowingly or overweeningly takes upon himself for some base and sinister end that he may seem good to others or to himself mean time harbouring some darling sin that he will not forsake and shunning some duty he will not close with 1 This takes in both gross and close hypocrisie gross hypocrisie whiles a man shall make 1 an outward shew of goodness not in the soul as Jehu 2 King 10.16 Come see my zeal for God his zeal was primarily to secure a Kingdome at the second hand or by accident for God 2 When a person shall knowingly take up such a profession contrary to what he knows is in his intent as Ishmael Jer. 41.6 Judas 3 To do this for base and sinister ends as the Scribes and Pharisees Matth. 23.29 they builded Prophets tombs to cover malice 4 He harbours some
EXPOSITIONS AND SERMONS UPON The Ten first Chapters of the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST according to MATTHEW Written by CHRISTOPHER BLACKWOOD Preacher to a Church of Christ in the City of Dublin in IRELAND Necesse est nobis Scripturas sanctas in testimonium vocari sensus quippe nostri enarrationes sine his testibus fidem nullam habent Orig. homil 1. in Jerem. It 's needfull the holy Scriptures should be called into witness because our meanings and Expositions without these witnesses have no belief Quaemadmodum si quis herbas aridas nec odorem nec colorem gratum habentes in medici officina dispositas repererit c. As if a man shall finde in a Phisician or Apothecaries shop dry herbs having neither smell nor colour though they may seem to have a base shew yet he will suspect there is some virtue and remedy in them so in the Apothecary shop of the Scriptures if any thing meet which at first sight seems to be contemned yet we may surely set down that there is some spiritual profit in it because Christ the Phisician of souls is to be supposed to have put nothing idle or unprofitable in this his shop meaning of the Scriptures Orig. hom 8. in Levit. LONDON Printed by HENRY HILLS for FRANCIS TYTON and JOHN FIELD and are to be sold at the Three Daggers and at the Seven Stars in Fleetstreet 1659. To the Right Honourable Lord CHARLES FLEETWOOD late Lord Deputy of Ireland and now Lieutenant-General of the forces in England MY LORD TO testifie that due acknowledgement of Your Lordships favors whereto I am obliged I have hereto prefixt Your Lordships name Among all studies none are to be preferr'd before the study of the Scriptures LUTHER when one Chapter was opened to him said Me thinks I see heaven opened Here are several Chapters opened wherein if God shall open himself to Your Lordships heart heaven shall undoubtedly be opened unto you Let not Your Lordship herein expect the flourishing garnish of humane Eloquence nor the glorious varnish of Rhetorical expressions but naked truth or at least the same drest up in an homely garb Truth is more potent them Eloquence the spirit better then wit Faith greater then Learning and the foolishness of God stronger then men All knowledge save that of the Scriptures is but perishing food yea the very knowledge of the Scriptures is no better unless as the understanding be affected with the truth of them the will be affected with the goodness therein presented In vain is all knowledge if it be not improved to the benefit of our own souls If our knowledge consist onely in methodical discoursing of God we shall glorifie him onely as the Painter doth the party whose picture he hath exactly taken With all the truths of God our hearts should have such correspondence as between the Character and Letter instamp'd My Lord if now and then you shall redeem an hour from Court-affairs to Closet-contemplation to peruse this ensuing Treatise I hope through the blessing of God your labor will not be in vain I have no more at present save to exhort you to take opportunities of doing much for God who hath done so much for you that so your faith and fruits of righteousness may abound in the day of account which with my prayers to the Lord for Your Lordship Your Lady and Posterity is the hearty request of MY LORD Your Lordships in all duty to serve and observe you CHR. BLACKWOOD TO THE READER BEing desired by some of my friends to Print some Annotations upon the New Testament though my life was too far spent and I not like to accomplish it my Body being much worn yet I thought it adviseable to make an Essay herein but the Providence of God so disposed that I had no sooner finished 3. or 4. Chapters in Matthew but I was called from the City of Kilkennie in Ireland to be Overseer of a Church of Christ in Dublin to whom preaching I was necessitated in order to their edification to handle some Points largelier then the nature of an Exposition calls for but yet I suppose not with less profit to ordinary Readers I have not according to the itch of the times affected new fangled interpretations but judging it unsafe to move the bounds of the faith I have troden in the steps of the best ancient and modern Divines that Providence led me to adding changing rectifying inventing and proposing what I thought needfull Thou mayest perhaps in some points meet with a judgement differing from thine in some one thing yet let not that cause thee either to reject or not promote the truths in this ensuing Treatise wherein we agree in most things If the Lord may have glory and thy soul Edification and Comfort and any Comfort may redound to me in the day of my account which speedyly draws on I trust I shall have my end With much carefulness I have endeavoured to avoid the misleading of Gods people I cannot promise thee all in this Treatise is truth yet notwithstanding all fear of losing friends and procuring enemies I have pressed after truth through multitudes of impediments temptations and discouragements That the answer of those prayers which have been poured out for a good success upon these weak endeavours may redound to the rejoycing of both our souls in the day of the Lord is the earnest request of Thy well wishing friend for the Lords sake C. B. The Authours Introduction to the ensuing Treatise TO the better understanding of this Gospel which through the assistance of the good Spirit of the Lord I now undertake there must be certain things first to be considered whereunto I shall propose these ensuing I. That by the Gospel or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is meant The glad Tidings of Salvation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies Well and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To tell though sometimes the word Gospel is taken for the Reward of good Tidings as Cicero to Atticus saith O thy sweet Epistles to which I confess Evangelia that is the Reward of good Tidings is due This word Gospel is taken 1. Generally for the whole Scripture which declares this Message for there were many sprinklings of the Gospel in the Old Testament Gen. 3.15 Deut. 18.18 2. Or particularly 1. for the promise of forgiveness of sins to them that believe and repent Luke 24.47 Acts 10.42 2. For the publication of this Gospel so Paul Rom. 16 25. was separate to the Gospel of God that is to the preaching of it See also Gal. 1.15 16. 2 Tim. 2.8 Christ was raised from the dead according to my Gospel that is the preaching of my Gospel Rom. 2.16 God shall judg all secrets according to my Gospel that is according to my preaching II. In that it 's said according to Matthew we may note that the prime Authour of this Gospel was not Matthew but the Spirit of God Matthew onely penn'd what the Spirit dictated III. This
the good enjoyed A man doth not so rejoyce at the yeaning of a Lamb as when his Wife brings forth a Son There could be no greater joy than to hear and know the Messias of the World to be born We should rejoyce exceedingly in Christ and in the means that lead to him they did not so much rejoyce in seeing the Star which they had often seen before but that they had found Christ whom they sought As it was to them so should it be exceeding joy to us to finde Christ Song 1.4.3.4 Zacheus received Christ joyfully Luke 19.6 V. 11. And when they were come into the house they saw the young Childe with Mary his Mother and fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their Treasures they presented unto him Gifts Gold Frankincense and Myrrh Here is their second testimony of Thankfulness in that they worship him And when they were come into the house Some have thought that the Tax which Augustus imposed was now ended and that Bethlem being now empty of Strangers Joseph had taken some Citizen's house to sojourn in but being the Tax continued a long time by reason of the accession of new Strangers therefore we may suppose the house to be no other than the Stable whereinto necessity had enforced Joseph by reason of the multitude of Strangers in the Inn Luke 2.7 She brought forth her first-born Son and wrapped him in swadling clothes and laid him in a Manger because there was no room for them in the Inn. All this was to teach us humility the Lord of glory laid in a Manger in stead of a Palace a Stable in stead of a Cradle of State a Beasts Cratch no Pillow it 's like but a Lock of Hay no Hangings but Dust and Copwebs he was in so low a condition 1. That all persons may have access to him Shepherds as well as others 2. To shew himself to be the Messias and Saviour of poor as well as rich 3. Because it was suitable to the rest of his Life which was spent in a great humility Men are apt to look for a Messias in State in a Crimson Mantle in a Cradle of Ivory and to have found him in the best house in Bethlem in the best Chamber there but we shall not finde him in any such place but in a Stable Learn we hereby to be lowly in heart Matth. 11.29 And fell down and worshipped him No doubt by divine instinct they knew the Divinity of Christ hence they worshipt him not onely with civil worship as one born King of the Jews but with divine worship which was it's like the outward gesture of reverence and kneeling and falling down for so the Greek words signifie They presented unto him Gifts Gold Frankincense and Myrrh It was usual for the Persians and for the whole Eastern People to go to their Kings with Gifts Gen 42.11 1 Kings 10.2 They brought the best things their Countrey afforded Myrrh grows in Arabia Frankincense among the Sabeans a part of Arabia Arabia Faelix brings Gold therefore the Kings of Arabia brought Gold to Solomon The Lord hereby would provide for Joseph and Mary and the Childe being speedily to go into banishment For the mystical sense it 's thought they offered to him Frankincense as God acknowledging his divine Nature Myrrh as man acknowledging his humane Nature that which they believe in their hearts they protest by their Gifts and that he should dy for the Salvation of Man for Myrrh was bestowed upon him at his Burial John 19.39 They offer to him Gold as acknowledging him their King and the King of all the earth Bernard acknowledges no Mystery herein but thinks they offered Gold to minister to his want Myrrh to strengthen the Members of the Infant Frankincense to take away the stink of the place But one end may be for the fulfilling the Prophesie Psalm 72.10 The Kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring Gifts Also v. 15. He shall live and to him shall be given of the Gold of Sheba Let us bring to this our King also three Gifts Gold that is Faith or a Heart by Faith purified for Frankincense devout and fervent Prayers that may come up like Incense for Myrrh let us bring Tears Mortification and Brokenness of Heart In that they bring not onely Gold to minister to Joseph and Maries wants but Myrrh and Frankincense it argues there is a Mystery lies hid herein V. 12. And being warned of God in a Dream that they should not return to Herod they departed to their own Countrey another way That neither the Wise-men nor the Childe Jesus should become a Prey to Herod's cruelty they are warned of God to go home another way There 's a secret Providence watches over not onely the Head but the Members Psalm 91.1 10. The Lord also hereby shewed what manner of a Kingdom this King should have he should have a Crown but it should be of Thorns a Kingdom but full of crosses exposed to the snares and persecutions of the mighty men of the World but also comforts them that he the Lord was able to disappoint the most artificial Projects of the most cunning Tyrants V. 13. And when they were departed behold the Angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream saying Arise and take the young childe and his mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young childe to destroy him The 2d part of the Chapter in which are these things 1 The command the Angel gives to Joseph which was to take the young childe and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word 2 The reasons of the command for Herod will seek the young childe not to worship him as he pretended to the Wise men but to destroy him if he tarry any longer in Bethlem All the commands of God are for the good of his people and are founded upon reason 2 A second reason to fulfil the prophesie I have called my Son out of Egypt v. 15. 3 Josephs obedience in both the branches of the command 1 In taking the childe and his mother and flying into Egypt 2 In his tarriance there he abode there till the death of Herod when word came to him for his return And when they were departed We see the changeableness of earthly comforts as it were yesterday the Wise men came but now they are departed See we Gods goodness when one comfort is taken away another comes The Angel appears when the Wise men were gone Flee into Egypt When we look on our afflictions remember Christ was afflicted from the cradle Obs It 's the duties of Masters of Families to take care of their relations 1 Tim. 5.8 2 Obs It 's a sufficient ground to flye when we know persons lye in wait for our lives but with this disposition that if taken rather we resolve in Gods strength to lose our lives then to deny the truth Flee into
progenitorâ— had that is he should convert them to the faith of Christ their fathers hoped in and looked for lest continuing obstinate to the great and terrible Day of the Lords Judgment they should perish among the rest of his Enemies to understand which the old Prophets Daniel excepted for the most part spake of the coming of Christ without distinguishing his first and second coming and applying those things which respectively concerne the state of either of them Again it appears from Matth. 17.10 the Disciples upon the Transfiguration asked Christ Why say the Scribes that Elias must first come Christ answers Elias truly shall first come and shall restore all things These words being spoken of Christ after John Baptist was beheaded imply plainly that he is to come again besides how can this restoring of all things be verified of the Ministry of John Baptist which continued but a short time and did no such thing as these words seem to imply for the restoring of all things belongs not to the first but to the second coming of Christ Acts 3 19. Repent and be converted for the blotting out of your sins that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you whom the Heavens must receive untill the times of the restitution of all things If the M ster come not to restore all things till then surely his Harbinger who is to prepare his way for restoring all things is not to be looked for till then Whereas Malachy saith Behold I will send you Eliah the Prophet it proves no more that it should be Eliah the This bite in person than when it is said David shall rule over you proves Christ should be David in person It 's like if it be one that comes again it should be John Baptist himself who was the Harbinger of the first coming so that as Christ had two comings so his Harbinger should have 2 We have Christ his Preaching set forth by the place which was Galilee The Word begun from Galilee Acts 10.37 Galilee was part of the Land of Canaan it was divided into two parts the higher and lower the higher was for the most part the Land of Nephtali wherein stood Capernaum the chiefest City of Galilee situate upon the bank of Jordan over against which on the other side stood Chorazin the lower Galilee contained the Tribes of Zebulon and Issachar wherein were the Cities Nazareth and Bethsaida near the Lake or Sea of Galilee and Cana. Also Mount Iabor where he was transfigured In Galilee was Christ's conversation principally when he was upon earth there it was Christ healed the Nobleman's son John 4.46 In Nazareth a City of Galilee he was conceived Luke 1.26 and brought up Matth. 2.23 there he began his Preaching in Capernaum thence it was that his Disciples were Acts 1.11 Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven Acts 2.7 When the Holy Ghost was given it 's said Are not all these that speak Galileans Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues and healing all manner of sickness Matth. 4.23 at Cana in Gatilee he turned Water into Wine his Transfiguration was upon Tabor a Mount of Galilee his ordinary residence was in Galilee he came into Judea as it 's thought onely at the Feast times when the whole Nation assembled at Hierusalem during which times partly during his stay there partly in his going and returning he did all in a manner that he did out of Galilee and the last Feast he came thither offered himself a Sacrifice upon the Cross And when he was risen from the Dead he appoints his Disciples to go see him in Galilee Matth. 28.10 Onely his Nativity was at Bethlem upon the occasion of the Taxing his Passion at Hierusalem and his Ascension upon Mount Olivet near to Hierusalem V. 13. And leaving Nazareth he came and dwelt in Capernaum which is upon the Sea coast in the Borders of Zebulon and Nephtali V. 14. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the Prophet saying V. 15. The People which sate in Darkness saw great Light and to them that sate in the Region of the Shadow of Death Light is sprung up We have in this History the beginning of Christ's Ministry set down 1 From the occasion of it which was Christ's hearing that John was cast into Prison 2 From the place of it which was Capernaum a City in the Coasts of Zebulon and Nephtali lying near the Sea 3 The end of his Ministry there which was twofold 1 For the fulfilling of the Prophesie of Esaias mentioned cap. 9.1 2. v. 14 15. 2 For the enlightening of People that sate in darkness v. 16. 4 The sum of his Doctrine which was Repentance v. 17. Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Leaving Nazareth John gives the Reason hereof Because a Prophet hath no honour in his own Countrey John 4.44 This was the Town where his Parents dwelt Luke 2.39 wherein he had lived thirty years Luke 4.16 Matth. 2.23 hence called Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee Mat. 21 11. the Reason why he could have no honour there was because it was his own Countrey Many Prophets that have their gifts and graces admired in strange places are partly from meanness of Parentage and partly from childish weakness in their childhood acted partly from observation of some Infirmities in them partly from Passions to which the holiest are liable Christ onely excepted and partly from curiosity men being apt to loath Manna because of the commonness of it and partly from wantonness men having itching ears and desiring change apt to be contemned by their own People As it should be the care of a faithfull Teacher to keep up the authority of his Ministry Titus 2.15 so should it be the care of Gods People to honour the Prophets of God and to esteem them that are over them in the Lord 1 Thess 5.12 lest their Ministry become ineffectual for the Message will never be esteemed where the person is vilified Christ was exceeding contemptuous of the glory and praise of men as appears John 7.3 4. but he knew none could receive good by his Ministry that did not esteem reverently of his person which reverence and honour because he could not have it at Nazareth he goes to Capernaum Teachers should have such sanctity of life powerfulness and impartiality in Doctrine sufficiency of maintenance as may keep their persons from contempt and the People of God should count it their happiness to have such as they can reverence for the obtaining such let them spare no pains nor cost He came and dwelt in Capernaum upon the Sea-coast Capernaum did adjoyn to Jerdan where Jordan flowed into the Sea of Tiberias it was by reason of its lying on the Sea the Metropolis of Galilee and the chief Mart town here Christ and his Disciples lived the best part of three years
his heart and thereby to humble him for his pride 2 Chron. 32.31 compared with 26. Peter after he had fallen to deny Christ he went out and wept bitterly Mat. 27.75 3 This is the end why God lays outward poverty on us that which pride feeds upon is some outward thing that the flesh takes occasion to swell with now when the fewel is taken away the fire goes out Manasses was hereby brought to inward poverty riches are mostly the nourishment of sin and hardly can a rich man come to heaven Matth. 19.23 You see your calling brethren not many mighty not many noble are called 1 Cor. 1.26 Contrarily Hath not God chosen the Poor of this world Jam. 2.5 Poor men do usually more readily believe then rich men because they are less wrapt up in cares and earthly hindrances hence Christ doth with his people as a Physician with his Patient that hath a foul body he purges him almost to skin and bone that having made the body poor there may be a spring of better bloud and spirits Thus providence serves to predestination that poverty among other things serves to the good of the elect Rom. 8.28 4 Spiritual Poverty makes us successeful in the things of this life Many going in their own wit and strength prove very unprosperous Prov. 3.5 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy steps Psal 78. He took David from following the Ewes to feed Jacob his people The reason is because God delights to lift up them that give glory to his name 1 Sam. 2.7 8. he makes such to be the pillars of the earth Psal 113.7 8. 5 Spiritual Poverty is that emptiness God is wont to fill Luke 1.53 He filleth the hungry with good things but the rich he hath sent empty away Such an heart is a spiritual emptiness so that as every thing in nature is filled with something so in grace 6 Men spiritually poor have their prayers answered Psal 34 6. This poor man cryed and the Lord heard him Psal 9.18 The needy shall not always be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever When the sorrows of death compassed David the Lord heard him out of his holy temple Psal 18.4 5 6. So Jonah chap. 2.7 When my soul faiâ—ted within me I remembred the Lord and my prayer came in unto thee into thine holy temple 7 Persons spiritually poor are wont to trust in God Zeph. 3.12 I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted poor people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. Such persons seeing the uncertainty of all other refuges are wont to refuge themselves in God Psal 142.4 5. Trials of spiritual poverty 1 Persons spiritually poor are full of sence of wants out of which they mightily pour out their souls You need not dictate words to a man that is sensible of wants A poor Tenant that hath had an hard bargain can sufficiently tell his tale to his Landlord See examples Psal 34.6 Psal 142.2.102.1 2. Job 29.12 2 In persons so qualified there is a care of using and frequenting ordinances See Psal 84.6 7. Poor Persons go to all places to get riches Psal 107.36 to 42. so they that want grace and comfort will attend upon all means they will go to Gods ordinances Persons that think there 's too much reading and hearing and preaching were never humbled why complain they not of the sun for light and of the earth for plenty 3 Persons spiritually poor are very much in esteeming any measure of grace Col. 1.12 13. 1 Tim. 1.12 the woman of Canaan esteems crumbs Matth. 15.27 A soul that sees the want of grace and the excellency of it is thankful for every good motion A Christian knowing he deserves nothing is thankful for every thing 1 Sam. 25.32 33. Psal 116.12 13. 4 Persons spiritually poor are fearful to offend God because the dependances of their grace comfort and glory is upon God Phil. 2.12 13. Even as poor people are afraid to offend those upon whom their earthly dependance is for maintenance or countenance Hos 3.5 Jer. 32.39 5 Such persons are teachable you may lead a man poor in spirit with any Counsel having smarted for sin Acts 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to do Esa 11.6 and because they are teachable God delights to teach them Psal 25.9 6 Such persons are not wont to upbraid others with their conditions they are so taken up with their own Luke 15.16 17. compared with v. 30. The prodigal he looks onely on his own misery the elder brother upbraids the prodigal This thy son hath devoured thy living with harlots and thou hast killed for him the fatted calf 7 Men that are spiritually poor are especially troubled for spiritual wants as blindness of mind hardness of heart unbelief Mark 9.24 Esa 63.17 Why hast thou hardned our heart from thy fear 2 Cor. 12.7 8. for this thing that is for removing the thorne in the flesh I besought the Lord thrice Jer. 17.14 Heal me and I shall be healed Hos 14.3 Take away all iniquity 8 Persons spiritually poor are wont to clear God in all his proceedings against them Ezra 9.13 All that is come upon us is for our evil deeds and great trespass and thou hast punisht us less then our iniquities deserve Ezek. 16.63 That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified towards thee See Psal 51.4 Levit. 26.39.40.41 Psal 145.17 Dan. 9.8 9. 9 He is not vain glorious but ascribes all to grace 1 Cor. 15.9 10. he hath low thoughts of himself whatsoever others think of him Matth. 8.8 Psal 115.1 Means to spiritual poverty 1 Look upon the mixture of corruption in your best and holiest services this will make you cry out with sighs Oh that my ways were directed that I might keep thy statutes Psal 119.5 Oh wretched man who shall deliver me Rom. 7.13 Neh. 13.22 Remember me O my God concerning this and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy 2. Look on thy woful estate both before and after calling before calling poor and blind and wretched and miserable Rev. 3.17 owing ten thousand talents and not able to pay a penny Matth. 18.24 and after calling not able to think a good thought without grace 2 Cor. 3.5 What have we that we have not received 1 Cor. 4.7 3 Look on the humble dispositions of Saints of most grace Abraham counts himself dust and ashes Gen. 18.27 Job abhors himself in dust and ashes c. 41.6 Agur saith I am more brutish then any man Prov. 30.2 Asaph saith So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a beast before thee Psal 73.22 Jacob I am less then the least of thy mercies Gen. 32.10 John Baptist I have need to be baptized of thee I am not worthy to loose the latchet of his
fleet he would not joyn with his son Ahaziah though sollicited When a man hath had a fall from a resty horse which had like to have broke his neck he will hardly come upon his back again 2 He will not be hired for any gain of sin against God he will not sell himself as Balaam did Tryals of thy Mourning 1 True mourning that comes from the spirit of grace looks at God who hath been dishonoured and at Christ who hath been crucified Psal 51.3 4. Mine iniquitie is ever before me against thee thee onely have I sinned Hos 6.1 Come let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn us and he will heal us Luke 15.18 Father I have sinned against heaven and before thee so it looks on Christ as crucified Zach. 12.10 They shall look upon him whom they have pierced In opposition to this there is a mourning flowing from the spirit of bondage which is a forced work this differs from the other as the motion of a clock from the motion of a living creature the one is moved from a principle of life the other from weights in the one a man is humbled in the other he humbles himself 2 True mourning hath a change of heart going with it Jer. 4 14. Luke 7.38 those eys that had been employd in wanton glancings now they weep those hairs that had been laid out to entangle now wipes Christs feet those lips that had kist wantonly now kiss Christs feet Hypocritical mourners have no change of heart they are like thievs who forbear stealing while in prison onely 3 If thy mourning for sin be right outward contents will not take it off David had the delights of a Court yet did not this take off his mourning Psalm 51.3.38.6 4 If thy mourning for sin be right it will be on this ground because it turnes away the face of God 2 Chron. 7.12 13. 5 Thou wilt mourn for secret sins as well as for open Psalm 19.12 Cleanse me from my secret sins as vain thoughts Jer. 4.14 c. 6 Thou wilt mourn especially for thy great sins as David doth for his adultery and murder Psalm 51 14. and Paul for his blasphemy 1 Timothy 1.13 7 Thy mourning will be especially for thy master sin Psalm 32.4 5. All Davids mourning was nothing till he came to touch upon this sin of murder to mourn for it 8 Thou wilt mourn for it not onely in times of extremity as Pharaoh Exod. 9.27 and Judas Matth. 27.4 but likewise in times of prosperity 9 True mourning looks at Gods face and favour 1 Sam. 7.3 Psalm 51.8 12. Ezek. 7.16 Hypocrites mourning is to have temporal judgements removed 1 Kings 21.27 and so Jehoram 2 Kings 6.29 30. and those who howled upon their beds for Corn and Wine Hos 7.14 Means to mourning 1 Urge the Lord with his Promise of taking away thy stony heart Ezek. 36.26 Zach. 12.10 God promises to pour upon the house of David and the Hierusalem of Jew and Gentile a spirit of grace and supplication and they shall mourn c. 2 Be frequent in self-examination Psalm 22.28 They shall remember themselves and turn to the Lord Lam. 3.39 Jer. 31.19 after Ephraim was brought to know himself he lamented 3 Keep thy heart under the powerfull dispensation of the Word Jer. 23.29 The Word is a Fire and Hammer Acts 2.37 4 Look often on Christ crucified Hard is thy heart if it mourns not when thou remembrest the dying of Christ Zach. 12.10 looking on him they pierced they mourned 5 Pray for the Spirit of grace to be poured upon thy soul Isai 32.15 When the Spirit is poured from on high the Wilderness will be a fruitfull Field that is those hearts that were like Wildernesses and Forests when the spirit was poured from on high became fruitfull Fields 6 Get assurance of thy interest in Christ crucified A man cannot mourn heartily for sinning against the Lord so long as he knows not but God may damn him in time to come but when Gods love is manifested there will be great sorrow 7 Mournfull considerations as that thou hast broken an holy Law thou hast offended a tender Father that thou hast lived an unprofitable life that thou hast sadded righteous men and gladded wicked men that thou hast been partaker with other men in their sins that thou hast often slidden back from God that thou hast been so dead-hearted in thy secret approaches to God 8 Consider the benefits of holy mourning as 1 Joy is wont to follow it Psalm 97.11.126.6 7. as a joyfull Harvest follows a weeping Seed-time when the poor Farmer mourns to cast away his precious Seed which his Family so much wants Luke 6.25 Isai 57.18 Isai 6.1 2 3. 2 Such persons are marked in an evil time Ezek. 9.4 Job 5.11 3 Such persons are not without blessedness though they be without comfort for Blessed are they that mourn Yea a time is coming when the Lord shall be thy everlasting Light and the days of thy mourning shall be ended Isai 60.20 4 This is one of the effects of Repentance 2 Cor. 7.7 Joel 2.12 5 Godly mourning is a special means to compose the dissoluteness and loosness of our affections which are apt to be scattered too much among carnal joys James 4.9 10. Be afflicted and mourn let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into heaviness 9 Practise duties as 1 Private admonition 2 Sam. 12.7 Psalm 141.5 2 Take a fit season for plowing up thy heart Jer. 4.3 when softened by outward trouble 3 Get a particular knowledg of thy evils 1 Sam. 12.19 We have sinned in asking us a King 2 The Reason why mourners are blessed For they shall be comforted here in part 2 Cor. 1.4 and hereafter fully in Heaven James 1.12 Apoc. 7.17 V. 4. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth Obs Meek persons are blessed 1 What meekness is 2 Why the meek are blessed 1 What it is it is a certain moderation of minde speech and gesture whereby a man becomes gentle and tractable towards those with whom he converses so that he is not sharpened unjustly at their follies and frowardness and smaller offences they commit against him 2 Why meek persons are blessed 1 Because Christ pronounces them blessed Psalm 149.4 The Lord taketh pleasure in his people he will beautifie the meek with salvation Psalm 147.6 The Lord lifts up the meek The meek shall increase their joy in the Lord Isai 29.19 2 Christ promises such persons rest Matth. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and ye shall finde rest for your souls Now what rest is this save the rest of grace and glory 3 A meek spirit is of high price in the sight of God 1 Peter 3 4. God exalts such souls in blessedness Hence Preachers are sent to preach good tidings to the meek Isai 61.1 Psalm 76.9 4 Let us learn this duty 1 We have the example of Christ herein Matth. 21.5 Behold thy
Because such persons are believers Acts 15.9 purifying their hearts by faith that is every believer from the blood and spirit of Christ draws power to purifie and purge the heart from that filth which ariseth therein Now to every true believer there is a promise of blessedness 3 Because a purifying of the heart and hope of blessedness are inseparably annext or joyned together 1 John 3.3 Every man that hath this hope in him that is to see the Lord to his comfort whereof he had spoken verse 2. purifieth himself as God is pure A man may have other hopes without this as hope to be rich to be honourable but he cannot have this hope without purity Use 1 Exhortation to follow after purity of heart When the heart is pure thy hands will be pure clean hands and a pure heart go together Psalm 24.4 thy prayer will be pure Job 16.7 Mal. 1.11 thy conscience will be pure that it will witness thou lives not in sin 1 Tim. 3.9 Means to purity of heart 1 Get the blood and spirit to purifie thy heart As the blood of Christ purges the soul from guilt Heb. 9.14 so doth the spirit from filth 1 Peter 1.22 Seeing you have purified your hearts through the spirit Psalm 51.7 9 10. 2 Purifie your hearts from double mindedness James 4.8 Cleanse your hands ye sinners and purifie your hearts ye double minded Now that is double mindedness when a man thinks to grasp grace and sin and holds them in an equal poise as the young man Matth. 19. he would fain have held Christ and the inordinate love of the world together Contrarily Nathaniel John 1.47 3 Content not your selves with outward purity The Pharisees by an outward shew of purity by making clean the out-side of the cup and platter got great authority among men Matth. 23.25 though their hearts were full of rottenness and they that followed after inward purity of heart were contemned but in opposition Christ commends to his Disciples inward purity Many are pure in apparel but few in this 4 Nourish Gods fear in you cleanse your selves from all filthiness 2 Cor. 7.1 how shall we do it Perfecting holiness in the fear of God Gods fear makes a man afraid to let any sin have a quiet abode in him Psal 19.9 The fear of the Lord is clean 5 Believe the promises By the belief of the promises we partake of the divine nature and to escape the corruption of the world 2 Pet. 1.3 4. 2 Cor. 7.1 6 Purity of heart is a preparative for communion with God Psalm 24.3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord Who shall stand in his holy place He that hath a pure heart verse 4. For they shall see God Here 's the reason of their blessedness for they shall see God 1 In this life as a pure glass receives the image proposed to it 2 Cor. 3.18 we beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same glory 2 In the life to come Men of pure heart are not seen in the world or taken notice of but in another world they shall see God Now in the sight of God is fulness of joy Psal 16. ult Matth. 18.10 setting forth the glory of Angels he saith They always behold the face of my Father in heaven For as the sun is not beheld but by sound eyes so God that is a most pure light cannot be seen but by a pure heart For the former of these the beholding God in this life is 1 The beholding of God in the creatures Psal 19.1 The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showes his handy work Rom. 1.20 The eternal power and God-head of God are cleerly seen by the things that are made God left not himself without witness whiles he gave fruitfull seasons Acts 14.17 Carnal men might oppose many things against Atheisme but they consider not the works of the Lord nor the operation of his hands Psal 28.5 2 The beholding of God in his word By this was Christ set forth evidently crucified Gal. 3.1 The word enlightens the eys Psal 19.8 In the glass of the word we behold God with open face 2 Cor. 3.18 which sets him forth 1 By removing all imperfections from him 2 By ascribing all perfections to him 3 The beholding of God in the light of his countenance Psal 17.15 I shall behold thy face in righteousness Job 13.16 An hypocrite shall not come before him that is to behold the light of his face Psal 140. ult the upright shall dwell in his presence The beholding of this is the earnest desire of every holy man Psal 4.6 7. If there be so much comfort in this when we behold it here what will there be in future blessedness 2 In the life to come we behold God This beholding is an eternal fulness of joy 1 Its a fulness of joy Psal 16. ult In his presence is fulness of joy If Solomons servants were blessed that stood in the presence of Solomon 1 Kings 10.8 and beheld his wisdom much more they who behold the glorious presence of God in heaven 2 It s eternal If a man were to leave heaven after a thousand years it were not happiness but we shall for ever enjoy this happiness 2 Cor. 4.18 2 Cor. 5.1 1 Thes 4.18 This joy consists 1 in the absence of all evils as 1 freedome from sin both original wherewith now assail'd Rom. 7.15 and actual 1 Cor. 15.55 We shall set our feet on our corruptions as Joshua did his feet on the necks of the Kings 2 Freedome from temptations especially those of Satan which often make the life comfortless 3 From labours Rev. 14.3 The dead in the Lord rest from their labour They have the rest of an eternal sabbath Heb. 4.10 All things rest when they come at their proper place this is a maxime among men but true of glorified persons 4 From society of wicked men The Egyptians whom you have seen you shall see them no more for ever Exod. 15.13 shall then be made true all that do iniquity shall be gathered out Matth. 13.41 and turned into hell Psal 9.17 5 From all necessities of nature We shall need no house to dwel in no fire to warm us no meat to feed us no Physick to cleanse us for our bodies shall be spiritual not needing any of these 1 Cor. 15 43. 6 From all sorrow and mourning Revel 21.4 2 This joy consisteth in the enjoyment of all goods as 1 Light Psal 36.9 In thy light shall we see light darkness is part of the torment in hell 2 Pleasures and that for evermore Psal 16. ult hence heaven is called paradice Luke 23.43 3 Life of this shall mortality be swallowed up as time is swallowed up of eternity 2 Cor. 5.4 mortality shall be swallowed up of life 4 Perfect knowledge of God We shall see him face to face that is plentifully and cleerly as two men that behold one another 1 Cor. 13.12
you be reproachfully cast out of cities seeing ye are reproached for Christ He calls cities by the name of camp or tent because many cities begun from tents and the castles in them are called Castra or Tents 1 If those that take up reproaches against holy men shall not rest in heaven Psal 15.3 What shall become of them that raise them Such were there in Terâ—ullians time Apol. cap. 7. we are called most wicked from the Sacrament of infant killing and the eating of them and the incest we commit after the banquet that dogs throw down the lights to wit that they may procure a meeting of knaves and whores together by the immodesty of darkness and lusts to whom Tertullian saith finde it out if ye believe it or do not believe that which you have not found out who ever heard any such infant crying who ever unlockt the cruel mouths of these Cyclops and Syrens to the Judg who hath found out some unclean foot-steps in his Wife who when he had found out such wickedness hath concealed them Minucius Faelix in his Octavius The Heathens thought that Christians did devour Infants make incestuous Banquets that they worshipped an Asses head p. 118 for ye killed the Just One and before him his Prophets and now them that place their hope in him and ye despise the Creatour of all things that sent him cursing them in your Synagogues that believe on him for ye have no power to kill them because of them who at present govern Justin Martyr against Triph. p. 181. After ye had killed that Just One by whose stripes was healing to them that go to him by the Father when ye knew he was risen from the dead and ascended into Heaven you were so far from repenting of your evils that you sent choice men from Jerusalem into all the earth saying The Heresie of the Christians was to acknowledg no God scattering those words against us which all that know us not boast of therefore ye are not onely the cause of iniquity to your selves but also altogether to other mortals Justinâ—bid 2 Revilers do but after their kinde They are called Devils 1 Tim 3.6 2 Tim 3.3 also Dogs Psalm 59.6 now we wonder not at Dogs snarling 3 Look upon Revileâ—â—â—â— as a just punishment from God though unjust from 〈◊〉 2 Sam 16.10 The Lord hath bid Shiâ—â—â— to â—â—se David 1 God inflicts them because we do not that good to men we should do 2 Because we make little conscience of sinning against God in secret 3 Because we have so little care of the honour of God 1 Sam 2.30 hence God hath no care of our name 4 Because we have so little care to preserve the good names of others Matth 7.2 4 Such Revilements as are cast upon thee were cast upon Christ and upon the godly For Christ he was called a Drunkard a Glutton Matth 11.19 said to cast out Devils by Beelzebub Matth 12.24 accused as a Blasphemer Matth 26.65 lookt upon as a Mad-man by his Friend Mark 3.21 railed upon Mark 15.29 called a Perverter of the Nations forbidding to give Tribute to Caesar Luke 23.2 that he was a Samaritan and had a Devil John 8.48 Yea Gods people have been so reproached Psalm 44.13 14 16 Thou makest us a reproach a scorn a by word a shaking of the head David was the Song of the Drunkards Psalm 69.11 12 yea he became a Proverb to them Christians were counted Turners of the World upside down Acts 17.6 Paul was counted a pestilent Fellow and a Mover of Sedition and not counted worthy to live Acts 22.24 5 Come we to the second thing the affections Christians ought to have under Revilings Rejoyce and be exceeding glad Obser Christians should be so far from being dejected under wicked Revilings for Christ that they have cause to rejoyce and be glad 1 Because all Revilings add to their Crown even when we are asleep and are not aware of it yea when we know not of it they add to our Crown Luke 6.23 Blessed are you when men shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil rejoyce you in that day and leap for joy for behold your Reward is great in 〈…〉 2 Because such persons so reproached when Christ shall appear in glory shall be glad with exceeding joy 1 Peter 4.13 Rom 8.17 3 Because there 's a Day coming when all Reproaches shall be wiped off Isai 66.5 Your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my sake said Let the Lord be glorified but he shall appear for your joy James 5.9 4 In all Reproaches you have the Spirit of Glory and of God resting on you 1 Peter 4.14 as if he should say Why do you not rejoyce in your Reproaches you have great cause why the Spirit of Power and of Glory as it 's supposed to be the best Reading that glorious Spirt of God will not forsake but will abide with you yea will rest upon you 5 Either thou art reproached deservedly or undeservedly if deservedly it 's not a Reproach but a Judgment if undeservedly why shouldst thou blush for another mans sin Use For Application learn to rejoyce in all Reproaches and other hardships that shall come upon you for Christ Your Glory in Heaven is not uncertain for Christ then would not bid you rejoyce in it shew your joy herein by your words and gestures and by your chearfull walking James 1.2 Rom 5.2 Acts 5.41 The last is the Ground of this Affection of Joy because they are said to be blessed and because their Reward in Heaven is great Obser The Saints of God are happy under all manner of Revilements for Christ 1 Happy in this Life 1 Because they have the rejoycing of a good Conscience Acts 23.1 2 3 Acts 24.5 6 when there were railing Accusations against him yet his Conscience could witness that he walked uprightly v. 16 2 Sooner or later God will clear their innocency as we see in Joseph's case and in David's upon whom the Courtiers in Saul's Court cast Reproaches yet he died in honour 1 Chron 29 It 's with the name of a Christian as with the Sun which is sometimes hindered from our sight by Clouds and Eclipses but recovering a clear Sky shines the more bright so Reproaches sometimes cloud our names but in a while they are dispelled by the upright walking of Saints Isai 51.7 8 Fear ye not the reproach of men neither be ye affraid of their revilings Why For the Moth shall eat them up like a Garment and the Worm shall eat them as Wood that is all their Reproaches will insensibly by degrees wear away 3 The Revilings and Wrongs done to Gods people God takes them as done to himself 2 Kings 19.16 Hear the words of Sennacherib who hath sent Rabshakeh to blaspheme the living God Also v. 22 23 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed even the holy one of Israel yet Rabshakeh's Reproaches were against Gods people Acts 9 Rom 15.3 2 They are happy
all Creatures by natural instinct are shy of the Snare laid for them so should all persons take heed that when a Scandal falls out there be not a Wo to them The unholy carriage of Eli his sons made people abhor the offerings of the Lord 1 Sam 2.17 6 Nothing so darkens the glory of the Church as the spots and unsavoury Life of those that pretend to Christianity What hath kept people from joyning to us Was it Prisons Banishment hazards Perhaps so in some but that which in likelihood hath hindered many hath been our not walking up to our Profession Fire and Fagot though it may scare some yet it cannot make them think in their consciences such and such Tenents to be Errours but scandalous practices of headiness pride and passion worldly mindedness makes them think in their consciences we are in an errour and so may in time hearten them to persecute us Moreover hereby blurs and reproaches are cast upon the Church If it be so great an offence to bring a scandal on one Israelite that he that did it was amerced in an hundred Shekels of Silver for bringing up an evil name upon a Virgin in Israel Deut. 22.19 then what shall be done to them that bring a Reproach upon all the Israel of God 7 The great triumphs and outcries wicked men make when any of Gods children fall into scandalous sin I say Gods children for properly a scandal cannot be given but by Gods children or by them that profess the truth when such are overtaken though the wicked themselves be a thousand times worse they are apt to triumph Psalm 38.16 When my foot slippeth though I did not actually fall they magnifie themselves against me As things that fall from on high make a great sound so the falls of persons that are high in profession are heard afar off Wicked men hunger and thirst after the falls of godly men and if at any time they fall into evil like hungry Dogs they muzzle in their Excrements like Horse-Flies that passing by many precious Flowers fasten upon Dung. The wicked pass by the graces of Saints and fasten upon their infirmities Means to live savoury Lives free from Scandall 1 Make conscience of sinning in secret if not thou maist look when God may give thee up to scandalous sin Prov. 26.26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit his wickedness shall be revealed before the whole congregation Because David made little conscience of sinning in secret 2 Sam. 12.12 in that he so cunningly slew Uriah and took his wife hence the Lord says Thou didst it secretly but I will do this thing openly I will reveal thy scandalous sins in their punishments to all Israel 2 Take heed of such sins as are wont to spot Christians as 1 Worldly mindedness Phil. 3.19 1 Cor. 7.29 2 Censoriousness It s sawciness in us to judge another mans servant Rom. 14.4 3 Janglings 1 Cor. 1.11.3.3 4 Telling uncertainties for truths Psal 119.29 5 Rents and divisions because of difference of judgement This evil age hath added this new sin not known in the Apostles times 6 Detraction James 4.12 Speak not evil one of another brethren 7 Denial of the truth Jude 4. new ashamed are they that have denyed the truth either in doctrine or practice to look other men in the face 8 Venturing upon things that are not expedient they ask Is the thing lawful then presently they do it an action may be lawful yet varied with some circumstance of calling age c. it may be inexpedient 1 Cor. 10.23 all things are lawful but all things are not expedient 9 Unpeaceableness and strife such was the differences betwixt strong and weak Rom. 14.13 3 Look upon the falls of others and tremble at them as Lot Aaron David Peter the incestuous person Let us then do as Marriners who steer off from that rock where others have suffered shipwrack 4 Look upon the miseries that follow the scandalous sins of Christians as 1 Horrour the incestuous person was so troubled for the offence he had given that he was like to have been swallowed up with too much sorrow 2 Cor. 2.7 2 Punishment 2 Sam. 12.14 Because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme the child that is born unto thee shall surely dye So reproach is another punishment all sins are called by the name of reproaches how much more are scandalous sins reproaches Rom. 15.3 5 Nourish Gods fear Levit. 19.14 Thou shalt not lay a stumbling block before the blinde but shalt fear the Lord thy God Nehem. 5.9 Ought we not to walk in the fear of God because of the heathen that are round about us q. d. Gods fear is a special preservative from scandalous sins The fear of the Lord is clean Psal 19.9 Hence Abraham would not contend Gen. 13.6 7. 1 Cor. 6.1 6 Mourn for other mens scandals He that can truly mourn for scandalous evils in others will hardly venture upon them himself Ezra 9.1 2 3 4. Ezra when he heard that the Priests and Levites had taken of the daughters of the heathen to wife and that the Princes and Rulers were chief in this trespass he rent his garment and sat astonied Besides thy mourning for another mans scandal may occasion the scandalous person to mourn for his own sin And so much the more should we mourn for such scandals because often they are spiritual judgements to punish unprofitableness under spiritual blessings that they who would not be won by the holy examples of some might be hardned by the evil examples of others V. 14. Ye are the light of the world a city that is set on an hill cannot be hid Here is another Metaphor whereby the Lord commends unto us an holy example viz. to shine before others by life and doctrine There would be much fewer wicked men then are in likelyhood if we would be such Christians as we ought to be if we would do good for evil if we would patiently bear revilements One Paul drew many to the faith if all the Saints were such how many would be converted For application 1 It taxes them who having such holy examples remain in darkness and love darkness more then light Phil. 2.19 2 To shine forth in holy example 1 Thess 5.5 We are all children of the light therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober v. 6. Be like John a burning and shining light Joh. 5.25 to shine as lights in the world holding forth in your practise the word of life Phil. 2.15 the Apostle alludes unto those fires and candles that are lightned and fet up on high near unto some rocks and quicksands that Marriners and Seamen that sail that way may escape such rocks and sands A city that is set on an hill A third Metaphor to commend to Christians an holy example Look as a city built upon an hill is visible to all so are the virtues and
father is perfect 3 The inference whence it is inforced Therefore Be ye perfect Not in equality but in similitude as Luke 6.36 Be ye mercifull as you father is mercifull Probably it might be taken out of Levit. 11.44.19.2 from whence Peter took it 1 Pet. 1.16 Be holy as I am holy Perfection is taken 1 For the perfection of sinceritie Gen. 17.1 Walk before me and be thou perfect Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just and a perfect man in his generation and Noah walked with God that is his sincerity showed it self by walking with God making God present with him and himself present with God in his actings Now this perfection of sincerity is taken in opposition to hypocrisie in the reign Isa 38.3 Remember how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart Luke 1.76 In holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our life Many have an outward perfection but they are like Apples rotten at the core though they look lovelily Contrary Saints 2 Cor. 2.17 2 Perfection is taken for universality of obedience Psal 119.7 I will praise thee with uprightness when I shall have learned not onely notionally but practically thy Commandements Now when a man lives in a purpose of any sin or in an omission of any known duty or in an unresolvedness against any known evil he is not perfect also if he admit a constant neglect of any duty or an ordinary Commission of any sin he is not perfect but when a man though he be subject to infirmities had rather dye then omit a known duty or live in a known sin he is perfect and will grow out his infirmities in time as a sound man wears out his sickness This perfection is called Sanctification throughout 1 Thes 5.23 and turning to God with the whole heart Joel 2.12 Jer. 3.10 There is not any thing in his soul the bent whereof is not from God Now where men are not thus perfectly universal something or other steals away their heart as riches honour c. that if God and that come in competition they leave the Lord. This universality of obedience is seen in eying every of Gods commands Psal 119.6 as in governing the tongue without which we are not perfect Jam. 1.26 compared with Jam. 3.2 q.d. he is not a perfect man unless he look to this command of governing his tongue as well as other 3 Perfection is taken for singleness of heart Gen. 17.1 which is when a man singles out God from all other objects he will follow God in his ways that neither favours of great ones contempts of multitudes proffers of preferment nor persecutions of enemies shall draw him off from the Lord Josh 24.15 Heb. 11.24 Dan. 6.10 4 Perfection is taken for straightness Psal 37.37 Mark the just and perfect man or as the word is rendred straight man Straightness appears in a mans ayms and ends as when a person shall make Gods glory profitableness to others and his own salvation to be his end Imperfect men go in crooked paths Psal 125.4 Crooked hearts and straight rules to aym at God cannot meet For application try your perfection of heart by four trials suitable to this fourfold acception of perfection 1 Whether are you sincere to eye God in what you do as in alms prayer and fasting Matth. 6.1 2 c. Col. 3.22 23. speaking to Christian servants he saith Servants obey your masters not with eye service as men-pleasers but with singleness of heart fearing God and whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men q.d. in all your services eye God 2 Cor. 2.17 Obj. But if none are perfect with God but those that eye God what will become of me who have so many by-ends in what I do Answ Gods children though by ends creep into them groan under them Rom. 7.16 17. 2 Their earnest desire is to be wholly rid of them and where a man can do no more but will his will is accepted for the deed 2 Cor. 8.12 3 Ordinarily and usually they look at Gods eye in what they do and this is a blessed temper belonging onely to perfect men Rom. 8.1 Thou herein walks after the spirit and so art blessed 2 Whether dost thou look at all Gods commands Herod did many things but would not part with Herodias Mark 6.20 If thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked in integrity of heart and in uprightness to do according to all that I have commanded thee 1 Kings 9.4 As if he should say Thy heart O Solomon cannot be perfect unless thou observe all my commands The young man Mat. 19. proved his unsoundness in that he would not part with all for Christ in something or other unsound men discover themselves if not to the observation of others yet to the conviction of their own hearts if they would not want in the due trial hereof If thy bloud rise when thou hears a stranger swear an oath and thou canst hear thy Apprentice to lye and cheat and never be moved at it this is but a false fire True obedience as it disputes not the comands of God but obeys them cheerfully so doth it not divide the commands of God but obeys them equally Ps 119.6 Joh. 15.14 3 When a man is not onely willing to do but to sufer any thing that God commands Matth. 19 17. If thou wilt be perfect go and sell all as if he should say If there be any enjoyment in the world that a man is not willing to part with as to leave this pleasant dwelling to part with thy country to fall out with thy near friend to lose the favour of this man that could prefer thee to leave such an Office or imployment as brings it in or if there be any evil thou art not ready to suffer as banishment imprisonment reproach and confiscation of goods thy heart is not perfect with God Acts 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to do Let the business be easie or difficult tell me what thou wilt have me to do See in Moses Heb. 11.25 26. Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should rejoyce in any thing save in the cross of Christ that is neither in wealth honour liberty or relations more then in duty to God 4 Whom doest thou make thy end A perfect man makes God his end Rom. 14.7 8. None of us who profess our selves to be Christians lives unto himself c. 1 Cor. 10.31 Joh. 7.18 He that hath no unrighteousness in him that is to say a perfect man seeks the glory of him that sent him The Apostle exhorting servants to uprightness bids them with good will do service as to the Lord Eph. 6.6 7. and bidding masters to be upright in their places v. 9. he urges on this ground Knowing they have a master in heaven Also Col. 3.23 Whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men This consideration that I have to do with God makes a
deliver our selves in temptation but Gods grace is sufficient for us 2 Cor. 12.9 10. For his strength is made perfect in our weakness 3 To learn watchfulness against Satans temptations and against all temptations 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit you like men be strong 4 See the providence bridling tempters and temptations that though they come never so violently upon us they cannot prevail further then God permits for Satans temptations see Luk. 22.30 31. Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you but I have prayed for thee Job 1.12 Rev. 2.10 And as Gods providence bridles Satans temptations so doth it the temptations of wicked men 1 Cor. 10.13 5 We do not onely pray against Satan who is the great artificer of temptations and is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wicked one 1 Joh. 2. 1 Joh. 5. but also against every thing that may either draw us to sin or hinders us from godliness Satan is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great Burgomaster of Hell 6 We are here taught that we are not yet in that estate wherein we shall be free from all temptations it will be the happiness of Heaven that we shall neither have Devil nor lust to combat with 7 That God would temper all temptations according to the strength we receive either by increasing our strength or lessening the force of the temptation Rev. 3.10 I will keep thee from the hour of temptation 2 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knowes how to deliver the godly in time of temptation for want of which assistance unsound men in time of temptation fall away Luke 8.13 8 See who are most apt to be tempted even Gods children who call him Father The devil hath carnal men sure and so never tempts them Luke 11.21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace 9 See what a filthy nature we have which is ready to betray us to every temptation If God withdraw his grace we are presently ready to fall as the staffe doth when it is forsaken of the hand that held it We see it in Gods children Sampson David Solomon Hezekiah Peter Noah Lot Nay they forsaken of God not onely fall into sin but lye in it how much more wicked men 10 That as we desire to be delivered by God from the evil of temptation so it should be our care not to run into provocations and occasions Joseph Gen. 39.10 though Potiphars wife tempted him from day to day yet he hearkened not to lye by or to be with her so not to go into houses hanted with the devil upon any pretence of the strength of our faith This is as if we should go within the reach of a Lion or mad Dog Remember the sons of Sceva Acts 19.14 16. who going in the devils reach without a call the devil both tore off their cloaths and wounded their bodies and therefore if godly people shall be invited to pray in such a place let them know they have no call to it 11 We desire not onely to be delivered from evils of wicked things but that even good things as riches strength health beauty friends may not become a snare to us For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for ever and ever These words are the conclusion not expressed by Luke It contains three motives or encouragements to come to God in prayer as 1 Thine is the Kingdome that is all Kingdomes are thine the Kingdome of providence or government of the world the Kingdome of grace and glory as if it were said Thou O Lord hast all Kingdomes in thy own hand and therefore thou art able to give all good things to thy subjects whether grace or glory even all things necessary for soul and body and to deliver them from all evils and to bring them to eternal redemption Under the name of Kingdome is meant the power of right Now the Kingdomes are Gods 1 Proprietarily that none can lay claim to it in this manner but himself also efficiently Psal 95.3 4. 2 Derivatively or hereditarily so the Kingdoms of the world are given to carnal men Dan. 4.25 and the Kingdomes of grace and glory to Saints so Satan is called the Prince of the power of the ayr Eph. 2.2 because devils are suffered there to rule and tempt and to speak to our spirits but yet with subordination to the Lords providence The power Here 's another argument to strengthen our faith in prayer as his fatherly affection on the one hand so his kingly power on the other may assure us that he is both willing and able to grant our requests There is such power in God that there is nothing too hard for him thou hast not onely potestas or authority of all things as a King but thou hast power that is a working power thou alone canst grant us these things and no other can grant them thou hindering them therefore we come to thee for them Also saying Thine is the power we learn that his power is not derived from any other the power of creation is thine and the power of sustentation of all things Heb. 1.3 and in particular the power whereby he sustains his Church 1 Chr. 29.11 12. Thine O Lord is the greatness and power thou raignest over all and in thy hand is power The power of God is seen in these things 1 In making Heaven and Earth Psalm 124.8 2 In that he made it without matter Man cannot work without matter God made the World of no matter that doth appear Heb. 11.3 3 In making them so easily even by the word of his mouth Gen. 1. 4 This power in God is seen in raising up the Body of Christ and the bodies of Saints which rose with him and the bodies of Saints which shall arise John 5.28 Ephes 1. 5 In bringing over a soul to believe Ephes 1.19 God inclines our wills whither he willeth having them more in his power than we our selves A man may sit under Ordinances all his life and not be converted if this power put not forth it self This power in God is twofold 1 Absolute and that is twofold 1 Independent in that none hath power to call him to account Job 33.13 He giveth not account of any of his matters None hath power to ask him why he makes one crooked another straight why he calls one and passes by another why he gifts one and not another why one is a King and another a Slave this power is authority 2 Infinite and unlimited whereby God is able to do more than he doth he never so puts forth his power but he could put it forth further if he pleased Matth. 9. God is able of stones to raise up children to Abraham he hath made a World and could make more if he pleased Matth. 26.55 Thinkest thou not that I could have prayed to my Father and he would have given me more than twelve Legions of Angels 2 There is an actual
water its full when it s out of the water nothing remains in it 5 Meditate of what thou reads or hears so do godly men Psal 1.1 So did Joshua cap. 1.8 and David Psal 119.15.148 Those that read and hear much and meditate little are like those that have a sharp appetite after food but by reason of a cold stomack they cannot digest it Meditation is to the soul as digestion to the stomach for want of which the word heard is as a writing writ in the sand which the first blast of wind doth utterly deface 6 As the light of the sun or some other light must meet with the light of the eye before sight can follow so in order to spiritual light God must shine in our hearts 2 Cor. 4.6 Besides the light of wisdom in the soul there must be the light of divine revelation The inspiration of the Almighty gives understanding Job 32.8 I will make known my words unto you Prov. 1.23 Matth. 16.17 Flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven V. 24. No man can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other yee cannot serve God and Mammon Christ to the end of the chapter sets down 2 things 1 a dehortation from worldliness and carking cares from ver 24. to ver 33. 2 an exhortation to true carefulness ver 33. For the dehortation it is confirmed by divers reasons the first is from the impossibility of serving God and the world or loving God soveraignly and the world soveraignly No man can serve two masters Mammon as Aretius and many others observe is a Syriack word and signifies wealth or as Hesichius interprets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a treasure This Mammon or wealth is said to be a Lord or Master not as if it were so by nature or in deed but onely in the estimation of men and because it possesses the chief seat in the hearts of earthly minded men Not as if it were unlawful to have Mammon or wealth for Christ bids us make to our selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness Luk. 16.9 But he bids we should not make an Idol of it to serve it as covetous men do who set their hearts upon their wealth and make a God of it Abram Isaac David Solomon had wealth but set not their hearts on it We may see what it is to serve Mammon by considering what it is to serve God To serve God is to acknowledg him to reverence him as our Lord and Saviour to obey him to trust in him alone to lift him up in our hearts above all creatures and enjoyments when he and they shall come in competition to seek and promote his glory onely all or most of this covetous and earthly men ascribe to wealth now God will be worshipped alone or not at all Now whereas covetous men object we can serve God and the World together we can have leasure for Gods worship and our own gain I confess I am eager to get wealth but I will not omit the worship of God To this Christ answers No man can serve two Masters for either he will love the one and hate the other This Proverb means it of Masters in the whole as the Lawyers say there cannot be two Lords or Masters of one and the same thing 2 No man can serve two Masters that is commanding contrary things at one and the same time for else we may serve divers Masters subordinate one to another as the Council here and those that derive power from them and those who derive power to them 1 Peter 2.12 13. and two Masters that are in equal power Besides immoderate love of the World will alienate the heart from God yea getting a reign in our heart it will throw God out of government there Ye cannot serve God and Mammon Irenaeus derives Mammon of Mum that is a spot and Hon that is Riches so that Mammon is the spot of Riches such is covetousness which hides Riches up that they are eaten up of Rust and Moth. From the words I le gather one Observation Obs The love of God and the love of the World cannot in any sovereign and eminent degree be in one and the same soul at one and the same time James 4.4 O ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God 1 John 2.16 If any man love the world the love of the Father cannot abide in him Reas 1 From the contrariety of one to the other 2 Because God among all the affections of the soul challenges our love Matth. 22.38 yea and that in a sovereign degree Matth. 10.37 therefore the World cannot have it When we give up our sovereign love to him then he gives us back some of it that we may bestow it upon Wives Children Estate with this intention that we love them subordinately to himself 3 From the absurdity of placing God and the World in one and the same Throne It 's all one as to joyn light and darkness together which cannot have communion 2 Cor. 4.14 To be translated out of the World and to love the World cannot be together in one and the same subject it 's an argument à repugnantibus Use 1 For information See how far they are from Christianity whose hearts are knit to any earthly thing more than God 1 These earthly things thou so affects are not able to fill thy soul God onely fills the soul Eccles 5.10 He that loveth Silver shall not be satisfied with Silver He spake like a Fool that said Soul take thine ease eat drink and be merry You may as soon fill a Chest with Grace as a Soul with Gold 2 Consider for whom God placed the affection of love in thee was it not for himself As the eye was made for colour so was our love for God To fall in love with the World and not with God is as if a man having a beautifull virtuous noble and rich virgin offered him he should slight her and fall in love with some base and beggerly strumpet 3 The love of the World will eat out the love of God 2 Tim. 3.4 Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God The more love to God the more remiss about earthly things and the more love to earthly things the more remiss to God and his service 4 All earthly things thou so affects are not the true good Matth. 19.17 Why callest thou me good there is none good save one that is God Christ himself though nearer to good than any creature yet if men had set their affections on him as a creature they had done amiss When worldly men say who will shew us any good meaning from Corn and Wine the Prophet judging these not to be the true good saith Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon me Psalm 4.6 7. as if he should
fine houses pleasant gardens and costly apparrel hath the late cloud of war overshadowed Esa 23.9 The Lord hath stained the pride of all glory and brought into contempt all the honourable of the earth But could Satan give the glory he pretends yet should you have it upon exceeding hard terms He said to Christ Fall down and worship me and all shall be thine 4 As the Lines meet in the centre and the beams of the Sun in a burning-glass so let your scattered affections meet in God Solomon having let his affections go out to pleasures mirth wine buildings vineyards gardens pools of water possessions of cattel treasures of gold and silver musick c. Eccles 2.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. came to see the vanity and to centre himself in the fear of God and keeping his commandments Eccles 12.1 5 Consider the things of the world which are sutable to others God can make them disproportionable to thee Ahab had a Kingdom but could take no comfort in it but was sick for one poor Vineyard Haman had wealth honour and the favour of the Prince in abundance yet the want of a cringe from Mordecai a small matter one would think made all bitter If inferiour causes can bring forth contrary effects as the Sun can soften Wax and harden Clay cannot the highest cause much more produce it Many have vast Estates but an unequal yoke-fellow or the reproach of some sin they have committed or a guilty conscience takes away the comforts of them 6 Consider it 's a Christians duty always to have a disposition to leave all for Christ Luke 14.26 Now how can we perform this duty if our hearts be set upon the World Thou sayest thou canst not leave thy stately dwelling and accommodations thou dost in effect say I cannot be a Christian Paul saith Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should rejoyce save in the Cross of Christ 7 Be convinced of the vanity in all earthly things Practise often follows conviction there 's a mask upon riches pleasures honours which is false opinion which must be pulled off How was Achan cozened with a Wedg of Gold and Gehezi with two Talents of Silver The Labours of worldly men are not unfitly by some resembled to the sports of children their buildings to the houses children make of cards and trenchers their gathering wealth to the others gathering sticks their immoderate sorrow in the loss of them to the cry of children when their houses are cast down Whether it be a thing more to be laughed at or pitied I shall not determine to see man that hath an eternal soul and eternal objects to look at upon the terms of highest necessity his eternal weal or wo to spend the strength of his spirit upon earthly vanities We count them mad men who leaving serious things are disposed to play with pins and straws such are worldly men The Prophet said He saw an end of all perfections Psalm 119.96 May we not say the same we have seen an end of all perfection of beauty save of Gods image Holiness of all perfection of pedegree save spiritual adoption of all perfection of wealth save of riches laid up in Heaven of all perfection of buildings save of that City whose Builder and Maker is God of all perfections of joy save the joy of a good conscience which is a continual feast 8 Beware of being deluded by worldly pretences as 1 the hardness of the times in hard times let us be less worldly then should we open our hands freely 2 The greatness of their charge true we are to provide for our charge else we are worse then Infidels but thou provides for thy self being loath to part with any thing till death put thy children in possession whether thou wilt or not nay if God take half their charge away they are not more lib eral 3 The great necessities of the Church a faire pretence if true but consider what hast thou done for the Church do not thy proportions come short not onely of others but also of thy own ability we read of some who parted with all for the Church but they were not men of this temper Acts 4.34 35. 9 Be much in prayer that God would cure thy worldly frame of heart say Lord I can savour nothing but oxen and farms If any man speak a word of any heavenly discourse it 's unsavory I have a heart just like the Inn at Bethlehem room enough for others none for thee Be large in thy confessions say Lord this is a sin that makes me sometimes neglect duties of religion and commonly chop them off that makes me so many times in a week go to bed prayerless and abroad in the morning prayerless This sin hath oft exposed me to lying over-reaching for which I doubt I have not made full restitution my own interest hath made me seek the ruine of the whole this hath made me take a bribe in my office to sell justice in my magistracy cheat in my weights and measures flatter in my ministry sell things unlawful to be sold as the Christians in Tertulian's time sold images to the heathens As a Land-lord I have rackt my Tenants grinding their faces because I knew they must have my farms as a labourer I have extorted because I knew they could not get another As a servant I have cozened my Master now and then of a penny as a Master I have griped my Workmen making them take so much in commodity at a racking price because I knew thy were tied to my Work these confessions when they are feeling and not historical will much take off the heart from the World 10 Set your affections in Heaven when a man is upon an high Pinacle things below seem very small so get your spirits up on high and the things below will seem small The Christians in Justin Martyr's time in his Epistle to Diognetus inhabited their own countreys as strangers they had all things common with others as Citizens but suffered all things as strangers every strange countrey is their countrey and every countrey is strange to them they live in the earth but have their conversation in heaven That which is the soul in the body that are Christians in the World the soul is dispersed through all the members of the body and Christians are dispersed through the Cities of the World the soul dwells in the body but is not of the body so Christians dwell in the World but are not of the World Then are our affections in Heaven when the soul is longing after the presence of God the soul is not so much there where it lives as where it loves The soul looking upon better things than the World can easily bid adieu unto the World It was a Christian speech of a certain Bishop mentioned by Augustine that when the Gothes had taken the City and spoil he said I am not sorry for my Gold and Silver thou knowest where my treasure is 11 Believe the
of danger Psalm 3.5 6. I will not fear ten thousands that have set themselves against me Psalm 27.1 2.46.1 2. 4 A mighty spirit of Prayer that will take no denial from God Matth. 15.28 The Woman of Cana would take no denial from Christ hence Christ says O woman great is thy faith 5 A comfortable apprehension of Death and Judgment which days are feared by weak Christians Luke 2.29 Phil. 1.23 6 To have a clear manifestation of Gods love without any questioning of his Estate Rom. 8.38 39. and thereupon to triumph in Gods love over all both sin Satan and afflictions Rom. 8.33 34 35 36 37. Quest Whether may not a man of great faith so decline that his faith may become weak Answ As some of weak have become strong so some of strong have become weak Heb. 11.34 Asa had a great faith that he feared not a Million of Ethiopians yet after became weak See 2 Chron. 16.7 8. yea so weak that we might question his grace did not the Scripture say His heart was perfect with God all his days 1 Kings 15.14 This is caused partly from want of the means of grace or disuse of them as want of Preaching Prayer and good company Shut up a strong man from food and diet him thus and his strength will decay Partly from falling into some sin against conscience Psalm 51.10 11. or a frequent giving way to ones daily corruptions without lamenting and reforming of them and partly from love of the World and multitude of worldly businesses hence many who have shewn much forwardness in their youth have decayed in their affections to the Lord and to his people V. 31. Therefore take no thought saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewith shall we be clothed 32 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after Here is a fifth argument against earthly sollicitude or carking because this inordinate carking for meat drink and apparel is proper to heathens which are ignorant of God and his providence and not to Christians who acknowledge and experience both The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a certain vehement desire As ye my disciples differ in your profession from the Gentiles see that ye differ also in your practice they are still carking what they shall eat drink put on but let your questions be how shall we live for ever Few of the heathens look for any happiness after death and therefore no wonder they are so eager after the things of this life but you are born to better things and called out from them therefore though you have great charge and perhaps but little means to maintain them though you have now and then a cross in the world do not you distrustfully say as they say What shall we eat c. For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things This is a sixth argument against earthly sollicitude taken from Gods fatherly care of you he knowes what your means and charge is what the hardness of the times the contingent charges that befall you he is a Father and therefore will not neglect his children an heavenly Father and therefore will give you the best of blessings he is also your Father one in whom you have a property what need you then doubt what childe is there that casts not his care upon his father It 's the fathers reproach if he either will not or cannot provide for his children will it not redound to Gods reproach when we shall be carking for our selves as if we had no God to care for us Psal 23.1 The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want If we could conceive God were our Father and we his children the world would be base to us with all its glory wealth and pleasures we would not be sollicitous for livelihood we would not be so confident earthly things being present nor cast away our confidence they being taken away Luth. Tom. 4.127 V. 33. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you We have heard of Christs dehortation from worldliness and carking now followes the exhortation to true care but seek ye first the Kingdom of God In the words 2 things 1 a duty Seek ye first the Kingdom of God 2 The promise All these things shall be added Seek ye first Threefold firstness 1 of time 2 of estimation 3 of opportunity He that forsakes opportunity shall be forsaken of it Opportunity is like a ship under sail to which you must call presently else it is gone Hannibal when he could would not destroy Rome after he could not when he would Though we are to give God our youth Exod. 22.29 Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits Prov. 3 9. Honour the Lord with the first-fruits of thy increase Eccles 12.1 Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth And those that have been most eminent in grace have been wrought upon young Obadiah feared the Lord from his youth Samuel was called when a childe Timothy and many others and it is a mans honor to begin to know God betimes Yet this firstness is not all but we must understand a firstness of dignity and estimation that we prize spiritual things above temporal those temporal things are to be sought in order to the Kingdom of God Carnal men say seek money first and vertue afterwards But Christ sayes seek grace first if not we shall be as foolish virgins who too late sought for oyl Mat. 25. So that here is a seventh argument against distrustful care viz. all temporal good things are the rewards of godliness therefore cark not for them Psal 34.9 10. There is no want to them that fear him they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing 1 Tim. 4.8 Earthly things are added over and above alluding to that 1 Kings 3.11 Because Solomon asked an understanding heart and not long life riches or the lives of enemies God gave him that which he did not ask over and above riches and honour The Kingdom of God and his righteousness The Kingdom of God as the mark righteousness as the way So Matth. 5.20 Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of God He that seeks the Kingdom of God above all other things and all other things for it need not be sollicitous for other things for they shall be added Also by Kingdom of God understand right and title to the Kingdom of God And his righteousness which is 1 Imputative righteousness of Christ which is also called the righteousness of God Rom. 1.17 Rom. 3.21 Rom. 10.3 2 The righteousness of sanctification as integrity of love hunger and thirst after doing Gods will innocency charity and all other graces Now that sanctification is called righteousness appears Deut. 6.25 It shall be our righteousness if we observe to
fearlesly he feared no mans angry looks Let not faithfull Preachers expect glory but ignominy and contempt not wealth but poverty violence prisons and death as Michaiah and John Baptist and when others shall be cast into hell such shall have place in heaven As Caesar hath his Electors the Turk his Princes so our King hath his Ministers Augustine is a Prince Elector so Irenaeus Quadratus are Princes and Counts Luth. Tom. 3.495 let us not then fear the opposition of men how great opposition did Noah suffer in his ministry for hundreds of years A Preacher must be vir rixarum a man of strife 6 He was not vain-glorious but still sought the glory of his Father Joh. 6.38 39. so let faithfull Preachers Joh. 7. say I began not to preach the Gospel that the world should honour me and I will not cease from preaching because of the worlds reproach 7 He was in his Ministry convictive of gain-sayers yet did he not according to the guise of the times tye up his convincing arguments to syllogisms in mood and figure but he brought unanswerable reason Without this gift Churwill be wasted and scattered See Titus 1.9 CHAP. VIII SOmetimes Christ goes from miracles to doctrine but here having laid down his doctrine he comes in this Chapter to confirm it by miracles Before he began his sermon he healed all sicknesses and diseases Matth. 4.23 that he might make way for his doctrine For doubtless the miracles Christ and his Apostles did were a great cause why their doctrine in so great measure was believed Acts 8.6 The people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake hearing and seeing the miracles which he did And now Christ when his sermon was ended on the Mount he went down and the multitudes followed him before whom he wrought sundry miracles V. 1. And when he was come down from the Mountain great multitudes followed him These multitudes were of divers humours hence upon divers ends they followed Christ some followed out of love to his doctrine the sweetness whereof they had already tasted some out of curiosity that they might hear some new thing some out of desire of confirmation that they might be assured of his doctrine whiles they saw it confirmed by miracles some to be cured of their maladies some for loaves John 6.27 Christ hath multitudes of followers but few that follow him for a right end Look we to the end why we follow Christ whether it be for glory and earthly praise or profit or whether it be for himself in all conditions even in adversity persecution Matth. 16.24 Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Virgin souls follow the Lamb whither soever he goeth Rev. 14.4 yea though to prison banishment death the world pretend to follow Christ but it 's at a distance always with the exception of the cross V. 2. And behold there came a Leper and worshipped him saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean We have here Christ his first miracle set down wherein three things 1 The Lepers devotion set down in two branches 1 He worships Christ 2 He acts faith in Christ Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean 2 Christs compassion v. 3. I will be thou clean Amplified first from the efficients 1 From the instrumental efficient cause Jesus put forth his hand and touched him 2 From the principal efficient I will be thou clean 3 From the effect Immediately his Leprosie departed from him 3 Christ his direction which was 1 Silence See thou tell no man 2 To shew himself to the Priest and offer the gift which Moses commanded V. 1. And behold there came a Leper Luke c. 5.12 saith It was in a certain City that is near to a City for Lepers for fear of infection were put out of Cities Levit. 13.46 2 Kings 7.3 Leprosie is abundance of burnt choler and salt phlegm diffused from the Liver all over the body breaking out into a filthy scab or scurf There are other evils besides accompany this disease viz. the hairs fall off the nostrils are widened the bones are eaten into by it the tongue swells the breath stinks It 's an universal Gangrene which is incurable and hereditary and abounds most in hot countreys as in Judea Egypt c. This disease Physicians call Elephantiasis It 's used ordinarily as an Embleme or Looking-glass to express our natural defilements Isai 1.6 And worshipped him The manner of the worship Luke sets down which was he fell on his face cap. 5.12 So that he touched Christ his feet as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not kneeled as the word is translated Mark 1.40 So that he lay at Christs feet imploring and beseeching him as a Dog at his masters feet as Zanch. de Red. renders the word which shews that this Leper lookt upon Christ more than a Prophet or a holy man and that believing he was God and so able to heal him if he would he gave him religious worship He came to know Christ was God partly by inspiration partly by the miracles which Christ did cap. 4.20 He doth not say to Christ Lord if thou wilt pray to God or to thy Father for me I shall be whole but Lord if thou wilt I shall be whole He acknowledges the Leprosie curable by Christ which he and all men knew was incurable by others which was a plain argument of his faith for though the Psora or scabbedness may be cured yet that which is called Lepra Physicians acknowledg incurable for if a particular Cancer cannot be cured much less can an universal Cancer as Avicen observes Yet in a miraculous manner some Lepers have been cured as Miriam Num. 12.14 Naaman 2 Kings 5.14 Saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean Here is the profession of his faith Of no Prince or Potentate can this be affirmed save of God himself no nor of any Disciple or Apostle for they did not do Miracles when they would but when God would Heb. 2.4 onely of God is that true which Job speaks cap. 42.2 I know thou canst do every thing Gen. 18.14 Is there any thing too hard for the Lord Rom. 4.21 Heb. 11.19 How great soever is the will of God so great is his power Psalm 115.3 Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in Heaven and Earth yea he can do more than he will do See Matth. 3.8 9. Matth. 26.53 However God deal with us give him the glory of his power If thou wilt See his resignment to the will of Christ under affliction So Eli 1 Sam. 3.17 So Christ Matth. 26.39 Not my will but thine be done The Brethren Acts 21.13 When Paul would not be perswaded they cried out The will of the Lord be done I will be thou clean I will both as I am God and Man Ambrose in 5. Luke 12. saith Christ saith I will for Photinus he commands for Arrius he touches for Manicheus Photinus taught
the Thessalonians faith 1 Thess 3.10 3 Direction in difficult Cases together with satisfaction in scruples so that the souls of persons are kept in peace John 9.3 4 To kindle affections when souls are dead how were the affections of the Brethren at Ephesus Acts 20.36 and Tyre Acts 21.5 kindled and the three thousand pricked Acts 2.37 The hearts of the Disciples going to Emmaus were on fire whiles Christ spoke to them Luke 24.32 5 Relations kept in the way of duty fathers children husbands wives princes subjects masters servants 6 Soul watchfulness Heb. 13.17 They watch for your souls Isai 62.6 7. 7 They wrastle with the Lord in prayer and give him no rest till they obtain mercy for a people Isai 62.6 7. 8 They gather Gods harvest into barns that is souls into Churches here and into glory hereafter That he would send forth Labourers into his Harvest Seven grounds hereof 1 The need there is of such Labourers as a Field will be overgrown with Weeds if the Husbandman send not Labourers into it so will the hearts of men where there are not such Labourers to weed And as when Corn is ripe it will be apt to shatter if there be not Labourers to inn it so people of good affections are apt to decline where there are not Labourers to perfect young comers on The need of such is seen in that yearly there are so many thousands born Children of Wrath. And in that the hearts of good men are liable to so many decays and coolings 2 The great blessing there is by such Ministry and labour and needs must it bring a blessing because it roots out that which will be the ruine of any place I mean sin Prov. 28.2 Yea nothing doth more bless a place than such Labourers 2 Chron. 11.17 The godly Priests and Levites that came to Rehoboam strengthened the Kingdom of Judah 3 Because the Harvest is Gods it 's called his Harvest therefore it belongs to him to send forth Labourers into it Now they that are of Gods sending are endued with gifts and grace 4 Because they cannot preach unless he send them Rom. 10.14 How shall they preach except they be sent The least degree of sending is to have ability to divide the word This sending is 1 Inward when a man having the love of souls stamped upon his heart is made willing to offer up himself to this work Isai 6.6 7 8. 2 Outward because too many out of pride and self-conceitedness are ready to put themselves forward this way hence God hath appointed that persons that are to go out be first approved by men thereunto appointed Else Jer. 23.21 I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran 5 As the primitive work of sending is Gods so there is something in sending which is ours to wit that we shew our selves willing to be sent When God had sent one of the Seraphims to Isaiah with a coal in his hand to touch his mouth meaning a burning zeal to Gods glory and when the Lord asks the question whom shall I send and who shall go for us the Prophet then answers v. 8. Here I am send me Isai 6.6 7. Men to whom God hath given Abilities should be forward to put forth themselves Out of love to souls they may desire the Office of a Bishop 1 Tim. 3.1 yea they must out of a ready minde take the oversight of the flock of God 1 Peter 5.2 Not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde 6 All the success that is in any mans Ministry how fully soever sent or how willing of himself for to go is from God So that the force of the Reason is he hath the power of succeeding and making Ministry effectual therefore he hath the power of sending We preach to persons to turn from darkness Acts 26.18 but God turns them Isaiah preached a long time Isai 53.1 yet because the arm of the Lord or the power of the Lord was not revealed to souls there were so few converted that he cries out Who hath believed our reports yea he and the children God had given him were as signs and wonders If God go along Peter shall at one Sermon convert three thousand All our Preaching is but as the rigging of the Sails which avails not unless the Winde blow When he opens none can shut when he shuts none can open Rev. 3.7 8. yet must we in a patient manner make trial what success God will give us in our Ministry imitating Peter Luke 5.5 who had toiled all night and taken nothing yet would at Christs word further let down the net And truly persons sent by God usually have their labours blessed to the converting and building up of some souls Jer. 23.21 22. 7 It is the Lord that maintains them in their work Acts 18.9 10. Be not affraid but speak and hold not thy peace for I am with thee He holds the seven stars in his right hand Revel 1.16 20. now the right hand is the hand of strength and power Jer. 1.18 19. saith God to Jeremy I have made thee an Iron Pillar and a Brazen Wall they shall fight against thee but not prevail Seeing God maintains persons herein it 's fit he have the sending of them CHAP. X. WE have in this Chapter three things to be premised 1 The occasion and coherence which was multitudes coming to Christ with desire to hear the Gospel he was moved with compassion towards them cap. 9.7 Seeing them as Sheep without a Shepherd he consults to send out his Disciples and therefore before he sends them forth he bids them pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send forth Labourers which the Disciples doubtless did hence as an answer of their prayers Christ as the Lord of the Harvest sends forth Labourers even his twelve Apostles 2 That there is difference betwixt this sending and the election of the twelve mentioned Luke 6. when Christ chose them that he might instruct them that in time to come they might be sent out Christ will have those whom he sends out first to be Disciples before he will send them out he mentions not here their chusing but onely their sending because he had chosen them before 3 That this sending forth of the twelve Disciples or Apostles differs from that sending forth of the twelve mentioned Matth. 28.19 this being onely particular that they should go into the Land of Judea that being for them to go into all the World and was to continue till the end of the World Matth. 28.20 Contrarily this sending may seem to be onely temporary and that the Commissions here and there do tota specie in the whole kinde differ and that that is not an enlargement of this commission but another 1 Because at this sending Christ impowers them to preach and do Miracles but there he impowers them to make Disciples and baptize them 2 Because these are forbidden not to go into the way of the Gentiles nor
come to an end How many hardships do we suffer in hope of ease We suffer an hard Apprentiship in hope of freedome we suffer a bitter potion in hope of health let us endure the cross in hope of the crown Soldiers endure much hardships in hope of victory Revel 3.5 Here are two graces commended to us 1 Patience in tribulations 2 Perseverance unto the end The same shall be saved Rev. 2.10 Be thou faithfull unto death and I will give thee a crown of life Jam 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown Having the Goal in our eye we should put forth all our strength to run For the joy set before him Christ endured the cross Heb. 12.2 he bids us do so likewise V. 23. But when they persecute youâ— in this City flee ye into another for verily I say unto you ye shall not have gone over the Cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come Christ sets down a fourth danger to wit persecution Three things 1 The danger persecution 2 The remedy herein viz. flight 3 The promise of supportance Ye shall not have gone over the Cities of Israel till the Son of Man come But when they persecute you in this City flee ye to another Some have pretended the unlawfulness of flight when being tied by the lines of their temporal lots they would comply to common corruptions rather then leave them like some Lawyers who pretend to have a great zeal of justice when it 's onely to advance their own practice and to gain credit in pleading as P. Martyr in his book of flight to the brethren of Luca. Flight is not onely lawfull but a command these rules observed 1 That a man flye with a disposition and purpose of heart rather to die a thousand deaths then deny the truth in case he should be taken by the adversary 2 That we flye with an intent to propagate and spread the truth of God in the compass of our callings whither we go the soldier that flies may fight again 3 When we see snares are laid for us to take away our lives So Joseph fled into Egypt to save the life of Christ being an infant Matth. 2.14 so David oft fled from Saul 1 Sam. 19.11 12. Eliah from the sword of Jezebel 1 Kin. 19.3 Christ fled from the men of Nazareth when they would have cast him down from the brow of the hill Luk. 4.30 so Paul fled by night out of Damascus when the Governour endeavoured to apprehend him Act. 9 25. so when the Grecians went about to slay him he went to Cesarea and Tarsus to escape them v. 29 30. 4 That our flight be without scandal and therefore without 1 cowardliness 2 Tim. 4.16 2 Without rashness 3 Without treachery as hirelings do who when they should give their life for the sheep leave them to the wolf Joh. 10.12 13. 4 Without offence to the weak Rom. 15.1 5 That we flye with a minde neither wishing death nor for the sake of Christ fearing it Hence Eliah his passion was condemned 1 Kings 19.4 when Jezebel persecuted him he cries Now Lord take away my life If Christ may have more glory by our living then by our dying we must not refuse to live Though death was more acceptable to Paul and to be with Christ 2 Cor. 5.2 3. compared with Phil. 1.23 yet for the brethrens sake he desired to live 6 Consider whether God may be more glorified and the Church more edified by thy staying or by thy going 1 Cor. 10.31 7 When all means of flight are cut off then are we called to suffer as in the example of Shadrach Meshech and Abednego who had they had means of escape it 's very likely they would have taken them Yet in these cases 1 When the cause of God hath no witness besides himself in a place a man must be very wary in flying lest his heart be troubled herein and Gods hand meet him See a most eminent example Jer. 26.20 21 22 23 24. It was Uriah who thus flying was brought back and kill'd 2 When God puts a spirit of valour into the soul When a man is resolved to stand against all the fury of enemies he is not to be condemned Paul knew that bonds and afflictions did abide him in every City yet he counted not his life dear unto him so he might finish his course with joy Acts 20.24.21.13 Such was that example of one William Gardiner Some examples are Heroical some Moral an English Merchant in Portugal who in or about the year 1652. when an high Mass was at the mariage of the King of Portugals son to the King of Spains daughter while the Mass was solemnizing he in the presence of the King and his Nobles with one hand took the Host out of the Priests hand who consecrated it and trod it under his feet and with the other hand overthrew the Chalice for the which he was by grace enabled notwithstanding he knew that many grievous tortures must needs abide such a witness which with unspeakable cruelty were executed upon him See his tortures Acts and Mon. vol. 2. p. 746. For verily I say unto you ye shall not have gone over the Cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come Some think that by this coming is meant not the personal presence of Christ but the pouring out of the Spirit on believers mentioned Acts 2.1 which was a certain sign that Christ came as a King with fulness of power from his Father and that his Kingdom so long expected was come the sending of which Spirit was to be a comfort to them against all dangers John 14.18 I will not leave you fatherless I will come to you Now the coming of Christ here meant was onely the sending of the Spirit Acts 2.33 Being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of thee Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this thing which ye now see and hear So that the sense is I have told you what evils hang over you yet do I warn you to stand to the testimony you have given and not to be discouraged My coming unto you by the pouring out of my Spirit is at hand yea before you shall make an end of teaching the Jews within the bounds of Palestina Others carry it to the sending of Ministry to the end of the World For my self I rather carry it to the consolation of all persecuted Saints to the end of the world whereas the Disciples might be ready to think if we shall be under so great hatred and persecution none will receive us to this Christ answers There will be Cities of Israel that is Inhabitants in Cities by a Metonymie of the subject and a Synecdoche of Gentiles to be converted who will receive you untill the second coming of Christ in judgment of which coming mention is made Matth. 24.30 Luke 21.27 for Gentile
Laws set by him in the creation without taking advice of any creature I have oft endeavoured to prescribe to God certain ways which he should use in the government of his Church and other things I said ah Lord I would have it done in this order this event but God did altogether the contrary from that which I had requested then did I think but my counsel is not strange from the glory of God but will conduce much to sanctifie his name It 's well thought but doubtless God laught at this my wisedome and said Go too I know thee to be wise and learned but it was never my manner that Peter or Martin should teach lead form govern me I am not a passive God but an active Luth. Tom. 4. in Gen. fol. 56. 2 Extraordinary when God works against or besides his appointed order as in dividing the waters of the red Sea Reas 1 Because all things yea the most contingent things in the world are ordered by it as the falling of a tyle Exod 21.13 the flying of the head of the ax from the helve and killing a man Deut. 19.5 yea the ordering of a lot Prov. 16.33 2 The order of things in the world prove it 1 Natural order the motions of the heavens the Sun warms the earth the ayr moistens it the earth brings forth the grass the beasts feed on it and man feeds on them Look on the fowls God appoints them their residence Psal 104.17 18. and so doth he for other creatures Yea the fowl knows her appointed time and changes her country according to the season of the year That there 's a place appointed for the waters that they may not overflow the earth Psal 104.7 8 9. that there are springs of waters in the Valleys to give drink to the beasts of the field v. 10. that there should be an intercourse of light and darkness that the wilde beasts should get them to their dens on the day time that man may follow his work that there should be such provisions made for all the inhabitants of the world all this proves to us a providence 2 Politick order In Courts of Justice one Officer depends on another as wheels in a clock and moves not without the first wheel How many thousands are provided for in their several trades one depending upon another How hath God made the City to depend upon the Country and the Country upon the City how do all creatures move at his command as soldiers at the command of the General 3 From the reasonable actions God puts into unreasonable creatures Prov. 6.6 7 8. the Pismire having no guide over-seer nor ruler provideth her meat in the summer Jer. 8.6 7. the Stork Crane Swallow know their appointed time Who hath put wisdome in their inward parts Job 38.36 4 Should God not take care of things below it 's either because he will not or cannot or knowes them not but to affirm any of these were blasphemy 5 In his provision he makes for all creatures Psal 145.15 The eyes of all wait on thee and thou givest them food in due season thou openest thy hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing Psal 104.28 That thou givest them they gather thou openest thy hand they are filled with good v. 30. Every Spring God renues the face of the earth Psal 147.9 He giveth to the Beast his food and to the young Ravens which cry compared vvith Job 38.41 See Job cap. 36 37 38 39. 6 In ordering the sins of men for his own glory and good of his Church The envy of Josephs brethren for the advancement of Joseph and the preservation of Jacobs posterity The treason of Bigthan and Teresh for the advancement of Mordecai Cyrus his ambition for the Churches deliverance Titus Vespasian who persecuted the Christians at Rome God orders his passion that he goes to revenge Christs death at Jerusalem Sennacheribs covetousness and pride to punish the hypocrisie of the Jews Isai 10.5 6 7. the covetousness of Judas and malice of the devil to accomplish the work of our redemption 7 In a special respect to the good of his people Besides a general providence in the world he hath a special providence for their good 1 Cor. 9.9 He is the Savior of all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the preserver of all but specially of them that believe 2 Tim. 4.9 10. 2 Chron. 16.9 The eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of those whose hearts are perfect with him Zach. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye 8 In snaring the wicked in the work of their own hands Psal 9.16 The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands Higgaion Selah a thing to be meditated as Hierom renders it When Nebuchad-nezzar in his boasting is bereft of his wits Herod in his pomp eaten up of Worms the Philistims in their jollity have the house fall on them Judg. 16.30 who will not say they are taken in a snare 9 In making wicked men whether they will or no to do Gods will Acts 4.28 To do whatsoever thy hand and counsel had before determined to be done As in a kennel of hounds every one of them runs according to his natural inclination yet all of them serve the purpose of the Hunter And as in an Army of men one fights for honour another for spite another for pay yet all of them fight for victory for the Prince who sent them into the field so whatsoever wickedness evil men do they do but serve Gods providence and fulfill his will God sometimes changes their will sometimes stops it by offering consideration of good or ill danger or profit so that still he makes their wills serve his decree Use 1 Acknowledg this Providence in all thy undertakings God keeps us not onely waking but sleeping when we know not that we live then he observes our dreams in opposition of that tenent that God considers nothing but himself and is onely delighted in the beholding of himself in thy appointing future businesses James 4.15 16. Go to ye that say We will go to such a City and buy and sell c. Prov. 3.6 In all thy ways acknowledg him and he shall direct thy steps So did Eleazar for his Master Abraham Gen. 24. that he might get a Wife for Isaac but yet Eleazar did not neglect the use of means he that rightly looks to Gods providence is most carefull to use means When thou findest a treasure in digging of a field when thou escapest a fall in walking on a plank was it not God who brought thee to the one and saved thee from the other 2 Not to fear men to the balking of duty seeing Gods provicence takes care of us this stayed Davids heart when at Ziglag his Souldiers were at the point of stoning him 1 Sam. 30.6 He encouraged himself in
against our selves to cause us to walk heavily The beholding of any truth of heart in our selves should make us go on with joyfulness chearfulness thankfulness being sure God will perfect the good work he hath begun how small soever Phil. 1.6 Trials of an Hypocrite 1 To look mostly at the eye of man in what he doth All his care is to have mens observation of the good he doth Matth. 6.2 If there be no observation of man his endeavours flag so his care is to keep his naughtiness from man but makes little conscience of sinning in secret Many will say Have we not writ many books preached many sermons built Hospitals but the Lord will say Thou didst so but it was to thy praise and credit not out of love to me nor zeal of my glory Contrary sincere souls in what they do desire to seek the glory of God not their own glory John 7.18 2 Cor. 4.5 2 A going on in dead and liveless duties and not feeling his deadness a burthen he counts them a task a penance and were it not conscience would fly in his face he would leave them quite off he counts Gods service a weariness and snuffs at it Though Gods Saints too oft perform dead and liveless duties by fits yet the deadness of hypocrites differs in two particulars 1 The hypocrite hath a voluntary careless admission of rovings in duty Prov. 5.14 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and Assemblies So Ezekiels hearers Ezek. 33.31 When they were at hearing their hearts ran after their covetousness 2 The hypocrite sees not the face of God in duty Job 13.16 He onely is my salvation saith Job how proves he that Why because a hypocrite shall not come before him Job means into his special presence for into his omnipresence all creatures come yea the devils the dwelling in and enjoying of Gods special presence is determined to the upright Psalm 140.13 See also Psalm 11.7 His countenance doth behold the upright Psalm 97.11 Light is sowen for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart Possibly upright men may so formalize and post over duty that they may see no face of God therein but when they pray with life and quickning and strength of affection then they see the face of God 3 Note Though a hypocrite hath many good things in him yet the bent of his heart is not for God he doth sundry good acts but he hath no good habit or inclination Hos 7.16 They return but not to the most high they are like a deceitfull bow q. d. as an archer when he shoots though he aim never so well at the white yet the bow being deceitfull he cannot come near it so these hypocrites who howl upon their beds they pretend to return but it is not in the purpose of their hearts it is not to the most High Their prayers for corn and wine are onely as the cryes of a hog when he is pinched or the howling of a wolf when he is hungry yea even a hypocrite when he most forbears sin the bent of his heart is for it See it in Balaam when for fear he should be destroyed he durst not curse yet how did he thirst after it how did he love the wages of unrighteousness and see whether God that would not let him curse Israel at one time would let him curse them at another Herod when he heard John gladly yet the bent of his heart was for Herodias All the while Demas was with Paul yet the bent of his heart was for the world As the bent of the dogs appetite is after the porrige pot or dripping pan though he stand quietly by it or the bent of the wolves appetite is after the sheep though for fear of the shepheards staff he dare not touch them so the bent of a hypocrites heart is to some sin which he will not leave though by some respects he may be restrained from it so that habitually he doth the evil which actually he forbears This is called an inclining to wickedness in the heart Psalm 66.18 A committing sin 1 John 3.8 a working of iniquity Matth. 7.23 Contrarily the upright have the habitual bent of their heart for God Psal 119.6 also v. 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee Their hearts stick to Gods testimonies v. 31. Refraining the feet from every evil way v. 101. Upright men are not so much descerned by their good actions as by this bent of heart See 2 Chron. 19.3.30.18 19. It 's called a not departing from Gods judgements v. 102. a keeping of Gods precepts v. 106. an inclining of the heart to perform Gods statutes unto the end v. 112. Isai 26.8 The desire of my soul is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee That the bent of upright hearts is for God appears in their readiness chearfulness and delight they have in doing such things as God requires So Paul Lord what wilt thou have me to do As we see a ship that hath winde and tide with it bends more and more to the haven 4 Censoriousness of other mens actions when thy self lives in gross sins When a man can see motes in another I mean sins of infirmities to which the holiest are liable and cannot see beams in himself strain at a gnat in another and swallow a Camel Matth. 23.24 So the Ruler of the Synagogue Luke 13.13 14. whom Christ therefore called hypocrite censured Christ for healing a daughter of Abraham on the Sabbath when on that same day every one of them would lead their Ass to watering The way to make themselves even with the best men is either to grow higher which their lusts will not suffer them or to pull others lower hence they censure the best men and even motes in such sins of ignorance and infirmity yea many times that which is no sin as the Pharisees taxed Christs Disciples for eating with unwashen hands when mean time their own hearts were unwasht for plucking a few ears of corn when their own houses were full of rapine Contrary upright men are most censorious against themselves 2 Sam. 24.17 These sheep what have they done let thy hand be against me and against my fathers house His subjects doubtless had much provoked God yet he had more to say against himself then against all his subjects So Nehemiah c. 1.6 7. Would we judge our selves we should have less time and more compassion to judge others 5 Partiality in obedience The hypocrite will onely do some or many things not all as Herod Mark 6.20 Jehu 2 Kings 10.28 If thou suffer thy self to be drawn to some good things not all and withdrawn from some evils not all and that for thy own credit profit or ease sake and not Gods sake onely or principally thou art a plain hypocrite Let there be one idol in our hearts of which thy heart upon deliberation will or must say thou wilt rather leave the Lord then it thou