Holy Ghost doth signify and seal our engrafting into Christ and partaking of the Benefits of the Covenant of Grace and our Engagement to be the Lords Quest. 6. What is the meaning of the Parent in Presenting his Child to be Baptized Resp. The Parent in presenting his Child to be Baptiz'd doth 1. Make a Publick Acknowledgment of Original Sin that the Soul of his Child is polluted therefore needs washing away of Sin by Christ's Blood and Spirit both which Washings are signified by the sprinkling of Water in Baptism 2. The Parent by bringing his Child to be Baptiz'd doth solemly Devote his Child to the Lord and enroll him in God's Family And truly this may be a great Satisfaction to a Religious Parent that he hath given up his Child to the Lord in Baptism How can a Parent look with Comfort on that Child who was never yet Dedicated to God Quest. 7. What is the Benefit then of Baptism Resp. The Party Baptiz'd hath 1. An Entrance into the Visible Body of the Church 2. The Party Baptized hath a Right Sealed to the Ordinances which is a Priviledge full of Glory Rom. 9.4 3. The Child Baptiz'd is under a more special providential Care of Christ who appoints the Tutelage of Angels to be the Infants Life-Guard Quest. 8. Is this all the Benefit Resp. No To such as belong to the Election Baptism is a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.11 A Laver of Regeneration and a Badge of Adoption Quest. 9. How doth it appear that Children have right to Baptism Resp. Children are Parties of the Covenant of Grace The Covenant was made with them Gen. 17.7 I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and thy Seed after thee And Acts 2.39 The Promise is to you and to your Children The Covenant of Grace may be consider'd either 1. More strictly as an absolute Promise to give Saving Grace And so none but the Elect are in Covenant with God Or 2. More largely as a Covenant containing in it many outward glorious Priviledges in which respect the Children of Believers do belong to the Covenant of Grace The Promise is to you and to your Seed The Infant-Seed of Believers may as well lay a Claim to the Covenant of Grace as their Parents and having a Right to the Covenant they cannot justly be denied Baptism which is the Seal I would ask this Question of them who deny Infant-Baptism It is certain the Children of Believers were once Visibly in Covenant with God and did receive the Seal of their Admission into the Church Now where do we find this Covenant-Interest or Church-Membership of Infants was ever repealed or made void Certainly Jesus Christ did not come to put Believers and their Children into a worse condition than they were in before If the Children of Believers should not be Baptized then they are in a worse Condition now than they were in before Christ's Coming Before I came to prove the Baptizing of Infants I shall answer the Objections made against it Obj. 1. The Scripture is silent herein and doth not mention Infant-Baptism Resp. Tho' there is not the Word Infant-Baptism in Scripture yet there is the Thing There is not mention made in Scripture of Womens receiving the Sacrament but who doubts but the Command Take Eat this is my Body concerns them Doth not their Faith need strengthening as well as others So the Word Trinity is not to be found in Scripture but there is that which is equivalent 1 Iohn 5.7 There are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these Three are One. So tho' the Word Infant-Baptism is not mentioned in Scripture yet the Practice of Baptizing Infants may be drawn out of Scripture by undeniable consequence Quest. How is that proved Answ. The Scripture mentions whole Families Baptized As the Houshold of Lydia Crispus and the Iailor Acts 16.33 He was baptized he and all his Wherein we must rationally imagine that there were some little Children If it be said there is no mention there made of Children I Answer Neither are Servants named yet it cannot be suppos'd but that in so great a Family there were some Servants Obj. 2. But Infants are not capable of the End of Baptism For Baptism signifies the washing away of Sin by the Blood of Christ. Now Infants cannot understand this therefore what Benefit can Baptism be to them Answ. Whereas it is said Infants cannot understand the Mystery of Baptism neither could the Child that was to be Circumcised understand Circumcision yet the Ordinance of Circumcision was not to be omitted or deferred An Infant tho it understand not the meaning of Baptism yet it may partake of the Blessing of Baptism The little Children that Christ took in his Arms understood not Christ's meaning but they had Christ's Blessing Mark 10.16 He put his Hands upon them and blessed them Quest. But what Benefit can the Child have of Baptism if it understands not the Nature of Baptism Answ. It may have a Right to the Promise sealed up which it shall have an actual Interest in when it comes to have Faith A Legacy may be of use to the Child in the Cradle tho' now it understand not the Legacy yet when it is grown up to Years it is fully possessed of it But it may be further Objected Obj. The Party to be Baptiz'd is to be engag'd to God but how can the Child engage Answ. The Parents can engage for it which God is pleased to accept as equivalent to the Child 's Personal engaging Obj. 3. If Baptism comes in the room of Circumcision only the Males were Circumcised Gen. 17.30 Then what Warrant is there for Baptizing Females Answ. The Females were included and were virtually Circumcis'd in the Males What is done to the Head is done to the Body the Man therefore being the Head of the Woman 1 Cor. 11.3 what was done to the Male Sex was interpretatively done to the Female Having Answer'd these Objections I come now to prove by Argument Infant-Baptism 1 st Arg. If Children during their Infancy are capable of Grace then they are capable of Baptism But Children in their Infancy are capable of Grace therefore they are capable of Baptism I prove the Minor That they are capable of Grace thus If Children in their Infancy may be saved then they are capable of Grace but Children in their Infancy may be saved Which is proved thus If the Kingdom of Heaven may belong to them then they may be saved but the Kingdom of Heaven may belong to them as it is clear from Mark 10.14 Of such is the Kingdom of God Who then can forbid that the Seal of Baptism should be applied to them 2 d Arg. If Infants may be among the Number of God's Servants then there is no reason why they should be shut out of God's Family but Infants
had betrayed Christ and hanged himself Thus Satan is the worst Tyrant when Men have served him to their utmost strength he will welcome them to Hell with Fire and Brimstone VSE Let us pray that Satans Kingdom set up in the World may be thrown down 'T is sad to think that though the Devils Kingdom be so bad yet that it should have so many to support it Satan hath more to stand up for his Kingdom than Christ hath for his What a large harvest of Souls hath Satan and God only a few gleanings The Pope and the Turk give their power to Satan If in Gods visible Church the Devil hath so many Loyal Subjects that serve him with their Lives and Souls then how do his Subjects swarm in places of Idolatry and Paganism where there is none to oppose him but all vote on the Devils side Men are willingly slaves to Satan they will fight and dye for him therefore Satan is not only called the Prince of this world Iohn 14.30 but the God of this world 2 Cor. 4.4 to show what power Satan hath over Mens Souls O let us pray that God will break the Scepter of the Devils Kingdom that Michael may destroy the Dragon that by the help of a Religious Magistracy and Ministry the Hellish Kingdom of the Prince of Darkness may be beaten down Satans Kingdom must be thrown down before Christs Kingdom can flourish in its Power and Majesty 2. When we pray Thy Kingdom come here is something positively intended 1. We pray that the Kingdom of Grace may be set up in our hearts and encreased 2. That the Kingdom of Glory may hasten and that we may in Gods due time be translated into it I begin with the First The Kingdom of Grace When we pray Thy Kingdom come we pray 1. That the Kingdom of Grace may come into our hearts This is Regnum Dei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods lesser Kingdom Rom. 14.17 The Kingdom of God is righteousness Luke 17.21 The kingdom of God is within you Quest. 1. Why is Grace called a Kingdom Answ. Because where Grace comes there is a Kingly Government set up in the Soul Grace rules the Will and Affections and brings the whole Man in subjection to Christ. Grace doth king it in the Soul it swayes the Scepter it subdues mutinous Lusts and keeps the Soul in a Spiritual Decorum Quest. 2. Why is there such need that we should pray that this Kingdom of Grace come into our hearts Resp. 1. Because till the Kingdom of Grace come we have no right to the Covenant of Grace The Covenant of Grace is sweetned with Love bespangled with Promises the Covenant of Grace is our Magna Charta by vertue of which God passeth himself over to us to be our God But who are Heirs of the Covenant of Grace only such as have the kingdom of Grace in their hearts Ezek. 36.26 A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you there is the kingdom of Grace set up in the Soul then it followes ver 28. I will be your God The Covenant of Grace is to an ungracious Person a sealed Fountain it is kept as Paradise with a Flaming Sword that the Sinner may not touch it without Grace you have no more right to it than a Farmer to the City Charter 2. Unless the Kingdom of Grace be set up in our hearts our purest Offerings are defiled they may be good as to the matter but not as to the manner they want that which should meliorate and sweeten them under the Law If a Man who was unclean by a dead body did carry a piece of holy flesh in his skirt the holy flesh could not cleanse him but he polluted that Hag. 2.12 Till the kingdom of Grace be in our hearts Ordinances do not purifie us but we pollute them the Prayer of an ungracious person becomes sin Prov. 15.8 In what a sad condition is a Man before Gods kingdom of Grace be set up in his heart whether he comes or comes not to the Ordinance he sins If he doth not come to the Ordinance he is a contemner of it if he doth come he is a polluter of it A Sinners works are opera mortua dead works Heb. 1.6 and those works which are dead cannot please God a dead Flower hath no sweetness 3. We had need pray that the kingdom of Grace may come because till this kingdom come into our hearts we are loathsome in Gods eyes Zech. 11.8 My soul loathed them Quanta est faeditas vitiosae mentis Tully An heart void of Grace looks blacker than Hell Sin transforms one into a Devil Iohn 6.70 Have not I chosen twelve and one of you is a devil Envy is the Devils eye hypocrisie is his cloven-foot thus it is before the kingdom of Grace come So deformed is a Graceless person that when once he sees his own filth and leprosie the first thing he doth is to loath himself Ezek. 20.43 Ye shall loath your selves in your own sight for all your evils I have read of a Woman who alwayes used flattering glasses by chance seeing her Face in a true glass in insaniam delapsa est she ran mad Such as now dress themselves by the flattering glass of presumption when once God gives them a sight of their filthiness they will abhor themselves Ye shall loath your selves in your own sight for all your evils 4. Before the kingdom of Grace comes into us we are Spiritually illegitimate of the Bastard brood of the Old Serpent Iohn 8.44 To be illegitimate is the greatest infamy Deut. 23.2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord to the tenth generation He was to be kept out of the holy Assemblies of Israel as an infamous Creature A Bastard by the Law cannot inherit before the kingdom of Grace come into the heart a person is to God as one illegitimate and so continuing he cannot enter into the Congregation of Heaven 5. Before the kingdom of Grace be set up in Mens hearts the kingdom of Satan is set up in them They are said to be under the power of Satan Acts 26.18 Satan commands the Will though he cannot force the Will he can by his subtle temptations draw it The Devil is said to take men captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to take them alive as the Fowler doth the bird in the snare The sinners heart is the Devils Mansion-house Matth. 12.44 I will go to my house It is officina Diaboli Satans shop where he works Eph. 2.2 The prince of the air now worketh in the children of disobedience The members of the Body are the tools which Satan works with Satan possesseth Men. In Christs time many had their Bodies possessed but it is far worse to have their Souls possessed One is possessed with an unclean Devil another with a revengeful Devil No wonder the Ship goes full sail when the
eatest of it thou shalt surely die The Subject then of our next Discourse is the Covenant of Works This Covenant was made with Adam and all Mankind for Adam was a publick Person and the Representative of the World Quest. For what Reason did God make a Covenant with Adam and his Posterity in Innocency Resp. 1. To shew his Soveraignty over us we were his Creatures and as God was the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth God might impose upon us terms of a Covenant 2. God made a Covenant with Adam to bind him fast to God as God bound himself to Adam so Adam was bound to God by the Covenant Quest. What was the Covenant Resp. God commanded Adam not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge God gave Adam leave to eat of all the other Trees of the Garden God did not envy him any Happiness only meddle not with this Tree of Knowledge because God would try Adam's Obedience As King Pharaoh made Ioseph chief Ruler in his Kingdom and gave him a Ring off his Finger and a Chain of Gold only he must not touch his Throne Gen. 41.40 in like manner God dealt with Adam he gave him a sparkling Jewel Knowledge and araid him with a fine Vesture put upon him the Garment of Original Righteousness only saith God Touch not the Tree of Knowledge for that is aspiring after Omnisciency Adam had power to have kept this Law Adam had the Copy of God's Law written in his heart This Covenant of Works had a Promise annexed to it and a Threatning 1. The Promise Do this and live In case Man had stood it is probable he had not died but had been translated to a better Paradise 2. The Threatning Thou shalt die the death Hebr. in dying thou shalt die that is thou shalt die both a natural Death and an Eternal unless some other Expedient be found out for thy Restoration Quest. But why did God give Adam this Law seeing God did foresee that Adam would transgress Resp. 1. It was Adam's fault he did not keep the Law God gave him a stock of Grace to trade with but he of himself broke 2. Though God foresaw Adam would transgress yet that was not a sufficient reason that Adam should have no Law given him for by the same reason God should not have given his written Word to Men to be a Rule of Faith and Manners because he foresaw that some would not believe and others would be prophane Shall not Laws be made in the Land because some break them 3. God though he foresaw Adam would break the Law he knew how to turn it to a greater good in sending Christ. The first Covenant being broken he knew how to establish a second and a better Well concerning the First Covenant consider these four Things 1. The Form of the first Covenant in Innocency was working Do this and live Working was the Ground and Condition of our Justification Gal. 3.12 Not but that working is required in the Covenant of Grace we are bid to work out salvation and be rich in good works But works in the Covenant of Grace are not required under the same Notion as in the first Covenant with Adam Works are not required to the Iustification of our Persons but as a Testification of our Love to God not as a Cause of our Salvation but as an Evidence of our Adoption Works are required in the Covenant of Grace not so much in our own strength as in the strength of another It is God which worketh in you Phil. 2.13 As the Scrivener guides the Child's hand and helps him to form his Letters so that it is not so much the Child's writing as the Scriveners that guides his hand so not our working as the Spirit 's co-working 2. The Covenant of Works was very strict God required of Adam and all Mankind 1. Perfect Obedience Adam must do all things written in the Book of the Law Gal. 3.10 and not fail either in the matter or manner Adam was to live up to the whole breadth of the Moral Law and go exactly according to it as a well made Dial goes with the Sun a sinful thought had forfeited the Covenant 2. Personal Obedience Adam must not do his work by a Proxy or have any Surety bound for him no it must be done in his own Person 3. Perpetual Obedience He must continue in all things written in the Book of the Law Gal. 3.10 Thus it was very strict There was no Mercy in case of failure 3. The Covenant of Works was not built upon a very firm Basis therefore it must needs leave Men full of Fears and Doubts The Covenant of Works rested upon the strength of Man's inherent Righteousness which though in Innocency was perfect yet was subject to a change Adam was created holy but mutable He had a power to stand but not a power not to fall Adam had a stock of Original Righteousness to begin the World with but he was not sure he should not break Adam was his own Pilot and could steer right in the time of Innocency but he was not so secured but that he might dash against the Rock of a Temptation and he and his Posterity suffer Shipwrack So that the Covenant of Works must needs leave Jealousies and Doubtings in Adam's heart he having no Security given him that he should not fall from that glorious state 4. The Covenant of Works being broken by Sin Man's Condition was very deplorable and desperate He was left in himself helpless there was no place for Repentance the Justice of God being offended sets all the other Attributes against Mandkind When Adam lost his Righteousness he lost his Anchor of Hope and his Crown there was no way for Man's relief unless God would find out such a way that neither Man nor Angels could devise Use 1. See the Condescension of God who was pleased to stoop so low as to make a Covenant with us For the God of Glory to make a Covenant with Dust and Ashes for God to bind himself to us to give us Life in case of Obedience Entring into Covenant was a sign of God's Friendship with us and a Royal Act of his Favour 2. See what a glorious Condition Man was in when God entred into Covenant with him 1. He was placed in the Garden of God which for the pleasure of it was called Paradise Gen. 2.8 he had his choice of all the Trees one only excepted he had all kind of precious Stones pure Mettals rich Cedars he was a King upon the Throne and all the Creation did obeysance to him as in Ioseph's Dream all his Brethrens sheaves did bow to his sheaf Man in Innocency had all kind of Pleasure that might ravish his Sences with delight and be as Baits to allure him to serve and worship his Maker 2. Besides he was full of Holiness Paradise was not more adorned with Fruit then Adam's Soul was with Grace He was the Coin on which God had
stamp'd his lively Image Light sparkled in his Understanding he was like an Earthly Angel his Will and Affections were full of order tuning harmoniously to the Will of God Adam was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a perfect Pattern of Sanctity 3. Adam had intimacy of Communion with God and conversed with him as a Favourite with his Prince Adam knew God's Mind and had his Heart He not only enjoyed the Light of the Sun in Paradise but the Light of God's Countenance This Condition was Adam in when God entred into Covenant with him But this did not long continue Man being in honour abideth not Psal. 49. ult lodged not for a night his Teeth watered at the Apple and ever since it hath made our Eyes water 3. Learn from Adam's Fall how unable we are to stand in our own strength If Adam in the state of Integrity did not stand how unable are we now when the Lock of our original Righteousness is cut If purified Nature did not stand how then shall corrupt Nature we need more strength to uphold us then our own 4. See in what a sad Condition all Unbelievers and Impenitent Persons are so long as they continue in their sins they continue under the Curse of the first Covenant Faith intitles us to the Mercy of the second Covenant but while Men are under the power of their sins they are under the Curse of the first Covenant and if they die in this Condition they are damned to Eternity 5. See the wonderful goodness of God who was pleased when we had forfeited the first Covenant to enter into a new Covenant with us Well may it be called Foedus Gratiae a Covenant of Grace it is bespangled with Promises as the Heaven with Stars When the Angels those glorious Spirits fell God did not enter into a new Covenant with them to be their God but let those golden Vessels lie broken but hath entred into a second Covenant with us better then the first Hebr. 8.6 It is better because it is surer it is made in Christ and cannot be reversed Christ hath engaged his strength to keep every Believer In the first Covenant we had à posse stare a power of standing in the second we have à non posse cadere an impossibility of Falling finally 1 Pet. 1.5 6. Whoever they are that look for Righteousness and Salvation by the power of their Free-will or the inherent goodness of their Nature or by Virtue of their Merit as the Socinians and Papists these are all under the Covenant of Works they do not submit to the Righteousness of Faith therefore they are bound to keep the whole Law and in case of failure they are condemned The Covenant of Grace is like a Court of Chancery to relieve the Sinner and help him who is Cast by the first Covenant It saith Believe in the Lord Jesus and be saved but such as will stand upon their own inherent Righteousness Free-will and Merit they fall under the first Covenant of Works and are in a perishing Estate Use 2. Let us labour by Faith to get into the second Covenant of Grace and then the Curse of the first Covenant is taken away by Christ. If once we get to be Heirs of the Covenant of Grace we are in a better state than before Adam stood on his own Legs therefore fell we stand in the strength of Christ. Under the first Covenant the Justice of God as an Avenger of Blood pursues you but if ye get into the second Covenant you are got into the City of Refuge you are safe and the Justice of God is pacified towards you Concerning SIN Quest. X. What is Sin Answ. Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the Law of God 1 John 3.4 Sin is a Transgression of the Law Of Sin in general 1. Sin is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Violation or Transgression The Latin word transgredior to transgress signifies to go beyond ones Bounds The Moral Law is to keep us within the bounds of our Duty Sin is a going beyond our bounds 2. The Law of God it is not the Law of an Inferiour Prince is broken but of Iehovah who gives Laws as well to Angels as Men it is a Law that is just and holy and good Rom. 7.12 It is just there is nothing in it unequal holy nothing in it impure good nothing in it prejudicial So that there is no reason to break this Law no more than for a Beast that is in a fat Pasture to break over the Hedge to leap into a barren Heath or Quagmire I shall shew what an heinous and execrable thing Sin is It is malorum colluvies the complication of all Evil it is the Spirits of Mischief distil'd The Scripture calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the accursed thing Josh. 7.13 it is compared to the venome of Serpents the stench of Sepulchres The Apostle useth this expression of sin out of measure sinful Rom. 7.13 or as in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hyperbolically sinful The Devil would paint over sin with the Vermilion colour of Pleasure and Profit that he may make it look fair But I shall pull off the Paint from Sin that you may see the ugly face of it We are apt to have slight thoughts of Sin and to say of it as Lot of Zoar Gen. 19.20 Is it not a little one But that you may see how great an Evil Sin is consider these four things I. The Original of Sin whence it comes It fetcheth its Pedigree from Hell Sin is of the Devil 1 Iohn 3.8 He that committeth sin is of the Devil Satan was the first Actor of sin and the first Tempter to sin Sin is the Devils First-born II. Sin is evil in the Nature of it 1. It is a defiling thing Sin is not only a Defection but a Pollution It is to the Soul as Rust is to Gold as a Stain is to Beauty It makes the Soul red with guilt and black with filth Sin in Scripture is compared to a menstruous cloath Isa. 30.22 to a plague sore 1 Kings 8.38 Ioshua's filthy Garments in which he stood before the Angel Zach. 3.3 were nothing but a Type and Hieroglyphick of Sin Sin hath blotted God's Image and stained the orient brightness of the Soul Sin makes God loath a sinner Zach. 11.8 and when a sinner sees his sin he loaths himself Ezek. 20.42 Sin drops poison on our holy things it infects our Prayers The High Priest was to make Atonement for sin on the Altar Exod. 29.36 to typifie that our holiest Services need Christ to make Atonement for them Duties of Religion in themselves are good but sin corrupts them as the purest Water is polluted running through muddy ground The Leper under the Law if he had touched the Altar the Altar had not cleansed him but he had defiled the Altar The Apostle calls Sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 filthiness of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 Sin stamps the
painted Fire Ejus adesse intolerabile ejus abesse impossibile To bear it will be intolerable to avoid it will be impossible And these Hell-torments are for ever have no Period put to them Rev. 9.6 They shall seek death and shall not find it Origen fancied a Fiery Stream in which the Souls of sinful Men werâ— to be purged after this Life and then to pass into Heaven but it is for ever The Breath of the Lord kindles that Fire and where shall we find Engines or Buckets to quench it Rev. 14.11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever and they have no rest night nor day Thank Original Sin for all Use. 1. What sad thoughts should we have of this Primitive Original Sin that hath created so many Miseries What Honey can be got out of this Lyon what Grapes can we gather off this Thorn It sets Heaven and Earth against us While we choose this Bramble to Rule Fire comes out of the Bramble to devour us 2. How are all Believers bound to Jesus Christ who hath freed them from that Misery to which Sin hath exposed them Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his Blood Sin hath brought Trouble and a Curse into the World Christ hath sanctified the Trouble and removed the Curse Nay he hath not only freed Believers from Misery but purchased for them a Crown of Glory and Immortality 1 Pet. 5.4 When the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Of the Covenant of Grace Quest. XIV DID God leave Mankind to perish in this state of Sin and Misery Resp. No He entred into a Covenant of Grace to deliver the Elect out of that estate and bring them into a state of Grace by a Redeemer Isa. 55.3 I Will make an Everlasting Covenant with you Man being by his Fall plung'd into a Labyrinth of Misery and having no way left to recover himself God was pleased to enter into a New Covenant with him and so restore him to Life by a Redeemer The great Proposition I shall go upon is That there is a New Covenant ratified between God and the Elect. Quest. What the New Covenant is Resp. It is a solemn Compact and Agreement made between God and fallen Man wherein the Lord undertakes to be our God and to make us his People Quest. What Names are given to the Covenant Resp. 1. It is called a Covenant of Peace Ezek. 37.26 because it Seals up Reconciliation between God and humble Sinners Before this Covenant there was nothing but Enmity God did not love us A Creature that offends cannot be loved by an holy God and we did not love him a God that condemns cannot be loved by a guilty Creature so that there was War on both sides But God hath found out a way in the new Covenant to reconcile differing Parties so that it is fitly called a Covenant of Peace 2. It is called a Covenant of Grace and well it may for 1. it was with Grace that when we had forfeited the first Covenant God should enter into a new Covenant after we had cast away our selves The Covenant of Grace is Tabula post naufragium as a Plank after shipwrack O the Free-grace of God that he should parly with Sinners and set his Wisdom and Mercy awork to bring Rebels into the Bond of the Covenant 2. It is a Covenant of Grace because it is a Royal Charter all made up of Terms of Grace That God will cast our sins behind his back that he will love us freely Hos. 14.4 that he will give us a will to accept of the Mercy of the Covenant and strength to perform the Conditions of the Covenant Ezek. 37.26 All this is pure Grace Quest. Why would God make a Covenant with us Resp. 1. It is out of Induldgence Favour and Respect to us A Tyrant will not enter into a Covenant with Slaves he will not shew them such Respect God's entring into Covenant with us to be our God is a Dignity he puts upon us A Covenant is Insigne honoris a Note of Distinction between God's People and Heathens Ezek. 16.22 I will establish my Covenant with thee When the Lorld told Abraham that he would enter into Covenant with him Abraham fell upon his face Gen. 17.2 as being amazed that the God of Glory should bestow such a Favour upon him 2. God makes a Covenant with us to tye us fast to him it is called in Ezekiel the Bond of the Covenant God knows we have slippery hearts therefore he will have a Covenant to bind us 'T is horrid Impiety to go away from God after Covenant If one of the Vestal Nuns who had vowed her self to Religion was defloured the Romans caused her to be burnt alive 'T is Perjury to depart from God after solemn Covenant Quest. How doth the Covenant of Grace differ from the first Covenant made with Adam Resp. 1 st Difference The Terms of the first Covenant were more strict and severe For 1. The least failing would have made the Covenant with Adam null and void but many Failings do not null the Covenant of Grace I grant the least sin is a Trespass upon the Covenant but it doth not make it null and void There may be many Failings in the Conjugal Relation but every Failing doth not break the Marriage-Bond It would be sad if as oft as we break Covenant with God he should break Covenant with us but God will not take advantage of every Failing but in anger remember Mercy 2. The first Covenant being broken allowed the Sinner no remedy all Doors of Hope were shut but the New Covenant allows the Sinner a remedy it leaves room for Repentance it provides a Mediator Hebr. 12.24 Iesus the Mediator of the New Covenant 2 d Difference The first Covenant did run all upon working the second upon believing Rom. 4.5 Quest. But are not Works required in the Covenant of Grace Answ. Yes Tit. 3.8 This is a faithful saying that they which believe in God be careful to maintain Good Works But the Covenant of Grace doth not require Works in the same manner as the Covenant of Works did In the first Covenant Works were required as the Condition of Life in the second they are required only as the Signs of a Man that is alive In the first Covenant Works were required as Grounds of Salvation in the New Covenant they are required as Evidences of our Love to God In the first they were required to the Justification of our Persons in the New to the Testification of our Grace Quest. What is the Condition of the Covenant of Grace Answ. The main Condition is Faith Quest. But why is Faith more the Condition of the New Covenant then any other Grace Answ. To exclude all glorying in the Creature Faith is an humble Grace If Repentance or Works were the Condition of the Covenant a Man would say It is my Righteousness hath saved
me But if it be of Faith where is boasting Faith fetcheth all from Christ and gives all the glory to Christ 't is most humble Grace Hence it is God hath singled out this Grace to be the Condition of the Covenant And if Faith be the Condition of the Covenant of Grace it excludes desperate presumptuous Sinners from the Covenant They say there is a Covenant of Grace and they shall be saved but did you ever know a Bond without a Condition The Condition of the Covenant is Faith and if thou hast no Faith thou hast no more to do with the Covenant than a Foreigner or a Country Farmer with the City Charter Use 1. of Information See the amazing Goodness of God to enter into Covenant with us He never entred into Covenant with the Angels when they fell It was much Condescension in God to enter into Covenant with us in a state of Innocency but it was more to enter into Covenant with us in a state of Enmity In this Covenant of Grace we may see the Cream of God's Love and the working of his Bowels to sinners This is a Marriage-Covenant Ier. 3.14 I am married to you saith the Lord. In the New Covenant God makes himself over to us and what can he give more And he makes over his Promises to us and what better Bond can we have Use 2. of Trial. Whether we are in Covenant with God There are three Characters 1. God's Covenant People are an humble People 1 Pet. 5.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be ye clothed with humility God's People esteem of others better then themselves they shrink into nothing in their own thoughts Phil. 2.3 David cries out I am a worm and no man Psal. 22.6 though a Saint though a King yet a Worm When Moses's Face shin'd he covered it with a Vail God's People when they shine most in Grace are covered with the Vail of Humility Pride excludes from the Covenant God resisteth the proud 1 Pet. 5.5 and sure such are not in Covenant with God whom he resists 2. A People in Covenant with God are a willing People though they cannot serve God perfectly they serve him willingly They do not grudge God a little time spent in his Worship they do not hesitate or murmur at Sufferings they will go through a Sea and a Wilderness if God calls Psal. 110.3 Thy people shall be a willing people Hebr. gnam nedabot a people of willingness This spontanity and willingness is from the attractive Power of God's Spirit the Spirit doth not impellere force but trahere sweetly draw the Will and this willingness in Religion makes all our Services accepted God doth sometimes accept of willingness without the work but never the work without willingness 3. God's Covenant People are a consecrated People they have holiness to the Lord written upon them Cast a placent superis Deut. 7.6 Thou art an holy people to the Lord thy God God's Covenant People are separated from the World and sanctified by the Spirit The Priests under the Law were not only to wash in the great Laver but were araied with glorious Apparel Exod. 28.2 This was Typical to shew God's People are not only washed from gross sin but adorned with holiness of heart they bear not only God's Name but Image Tamerlain refused a Pot of Gold when he saw it had not his Fathers stamp upon it but the Roman stamp Holiness is God's stamp if he doth not see this stamp upon us he will not own us for his Covenant People Use 3. of Exhort To such as are out of Covenant labour to get into Covenant and have God for your God How glad would the old World have been of an Ark How industrious should we be to get within the Arke of the Covenant Consider 1. the Misery of such as live and die out of Covenant with God 1. Such have none to go to in an hour of distress When Conscience accuseth when Sickness approacheth which is but an Harbinger to bespeak a Loding for Death then what will you do whither will you fly will you look to Christ for help He is a Mediator only for such as are in Covenant O! how will you be filled with horrour and despair and be as Saul 1 Sam. 15.28 The Philistines make war against me and the Lord is departed 2. Till you are in Covenant with God there is no Mercy The Mercy-Seat was placed upon the Ark and the Mercy-Seat was no larger then the Ark to shew that the Mercy of God reacheth no further then the Covenant 2. The Excellency of the Covenant of Grace it is a better Covenant then the first made with Adam 1. Because it is more friendly and propitious Those Services which would have been rejected in the first Covenant are accepted in the second Here God accepts of the Will for the Deed 2 Cor. 8.10 here sincerity is crowned In the Covenant of Grace wherein we are weak God will give strength and wherein we come short God will accept of a Surety 2. It is a better Covenant because it is surer 2 Sam. 23.5 Thou hast made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure The first Covenant was not sure it stood upon a tottering foundation Works Adam had no sooner a stock of Righteousness to trade with but he broke but the Covenant of Grace is sure it is confirmed with God's Decree and it rests upon two mighty Pillars the Oath of God and the Blood of God 3. It hath better Priviledges The Covenant of Grace brings preferment Our Nature is now more enobled we are rais'd to higher Glory then in Innocency we are advanced to sit upon Christ's Throne Rev. 3.21 we are by virtue of the Covenant of Grace nearer to Christ then the Angels They are his Friends we his Spouse 3. God is willing to be in Covenant with you Why doth God woe and beseech you by his Ambassadors to be reconciled if he were not willing to be in Covenant Object I would fain be in Covenant with God but I have been a great sinner and I fear God will not admit me into Covenant Resp. If thou seest thy sins and loathest thy self for them yet God will take thee into Covenant Isa. 43.24 Thou hast wearied me with thy iniquities I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions As the Sea covers great Rocks so God's Covenant-Mercy covers great Sins Some of the Jews that crucified Christ yet had their sins washed away in his Blood Object But I am not worthy that ever God should admit me into Covenant Answ. It never came into God's thoughts to make a New Covenant upon Terms of Worthiness If God should shew Mercy to none but such as are worthy then he must shew Mercy to none at all But it is God's design in the New Covenant to advance the riches of Grace to love us freely and when we have no worthiness of our own to accept us through Christ's worthiness Therefore
the Gospel the Wonder of Angels the Joy and Triumph of Saints The Name of Christ is sweet it is as Musick in the Ear Honey in the Mouth and a Cordial at the Heart I shall wave the Context and only speak of that which concerns our present Purpose Having discours'd of the Covenant of Grace I shall speak now of the Mediator of the Covenant and the Restorer of lapsed Sinners IESUS the Mediator of the Covenant There are several Names and Titles in Scripture given to Christ as the Great Restorer of Mankind 1. Sometimes he is called a Saviour Matth. 1.21 His name shall be called Iesus The Hebrew word for Jesus Ioshuang signifies a Saviour and whom he saves from Hell he saves from Sin where Christ is a Saviour he is a Sanctifier Matth. 1.21 He shall save his people from their sins There is no other Saviour Acts 4.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neither is there salvation in any other As there was but one Ark to save the World from drowning so there is but one Jesus to save Sinners from damning As Naomi said to her Daughters-in-law Ruth 1.11 Are there yet any more sons in my womb So hath God any other Sons in the Womb of his Eternal Decree to be Saviours to us besides Christ Job 28.13 Where shall wisdom be found the deep saith it is not in me and the sea saith it is not with me Let me allude Where shall Salvation be found The Angel saith it is not in me Morality saith it is not in me the Ordinance saith it is not in me Christ alone is the Well-spring of Life the Ordinance is the Conduit-pipe that conveys Salvation but Christ is the Spring that feeds it Neither is there salvation in any other 2. Sometimes Christ is called a Redeemer Isa. 59.20 The redeemer shall come to Sion Some understand it of Cyrus others of an Angel but the most ancient Iewish Doctors understand it of Christ the Redeemer of the Elect Job 19.25 My redeemer liveth The Hebrew word for Redeemer Goel signifies such an one as is near a Kin and hath Right to redeem a Mortgage So Christ is near a kin to us being our Elder Brother therefore hath the best right to redeem us 3. Christ is called a Mediator in the Text Iesus the mediator of the new covenant The Greek word for Mediator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a middle Person one that doth make up the breach between two disagreeing Parties God and we were at Variance by Sin now Christ doth Mediate and Umpire between us he reconciles us to God through his Bloud therefore is call'd the Mediator of the New Covenant There is no way of Communion and Intercourse between God and Man but in and through a Mediator Christ takes away the Enmity in us and the Wrath in God and so makes Peace nor is Christ only a Mediator of Reconciliation but Intercession Heb. 9.24 Christ is entred not into the holy place made with hands but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us The Priest when he had slain the Sacrifice was to go with the Bloud before the Altar and Mercy-seat and show it to the Lord. Now in Christ our Blessed Mediator consider two things 1. His Person 2. His Graces 1. His Person His Person is amiable he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all made up of Love and Beauty He is the Effigies of his Father Heb. 1.3 The express image of his person Consider 1. Christ's Person in two Natures 2. His two Natures in one Person 1. Christ's Person in two Natures 1. Look upon his Humane Nature as Incarnate The Valentinians deny his Humane Nature but Joh. 1.14 The Word was made Flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is spoken of Christ the promised Messiah Christ took our Flesh that the same Nature which sinned might suffer and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word made flesh that through the Glass of his Humane Nature we might look upon God Quest. Why is Christ called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word Resp. Because as a Word is the Interpreter of the Mind and reveals what is in a Man's breast so Jesus Christ reveals his Father's Mind to us concerning the great Matters of our Salvation Iohn 1.18 Were it not for CHRIST's Manhood the sight of the Godhead would be formidable to us but through Christ's Flesh we may look upon God without Terrour And Christ took our Flesh that he might know how to pity us he knows what it is to be faint sorrowful tempted Psal. 103.14 He knows our frame And he took our Flesh that he might as Austin saith Ennoble our Humane Nature with Honour Christ having married our Flesh hath exalted it above the Angelical Nature 2. Look upon Christ's Divine Nature Christ may fitly be compared to Iacob's Ladder Gen. 28.12 which reached from Earth to Heaven Christ's Humane Nature was the foot of the Ladder which stood upon Earth his Divine Nature the top of the Ladder which reached to Heaven This being a grand Article of our Faith I shall amplifie I know the Arians Socinians Ebionites would rob Christ of the best Jewel of his Crown his Godhead but the Apostolical Nicene Athanasian Creed affirm Christ's Deity to this the Churches of Helvetia Bohemia Wittembergh Transylvania c. give their full Consent and the Scripture is clear for it He is call'd the Mighty God Isa. 9.6 El Gibber and in him dwells the fulness of the Godhead Col. 2.9 He is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same Nature and Essence with the Father So Athanasius Basil Chrysostom 1. Is God the Father call'd Almighty so is Christ Rev. 1.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Almighty 2. Is God the Father the Heart-searcher so is Christ Ioh. 2.25 He knew their thoughts 3. Is God the Father Omnipresent so is Christ Joh. 3.13 The Son of man which is in heaven Christ as God was then in Heaven when as Man he was upon the Earth Quest. Is God Eternal Resp. Christ is the Everlasting Father Isa. 9.6 which Scripture may be urged against the Cerinthian Hereticks who deny'd the Pre-existency of Christ's Godhead and held that Christ had no being till he derived it from the Virgin Mary 4. Doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Divine Worship belong to the first Person in the Trinity so it doth to Christ Ioh. 5.23 Heb. 1.6 Let all the angels of God worship him 5. Is Creation proper to the Deity This is a Flower of Christ's Crown Col. 1.16 By him were all things created 6. Is Invocation proper to the Deity This is given to Christ Acts 7. Lord Iesus receive my spirit 7. Is Recumbency and Trust peculiar to God the Father This is given to Christ Joh. 14.1 Ye believe in God believe also in me Christ must needs be God not only that the Divine Nature might support the Humane from sinking under God's Wrath but also to give Value and Weight to his
the World yet he was raised up by the Spirit The same Power the Spirit of God puts forth in working Faith the Spirit irradiates the Mind subdues the Will the Will naturally is like a Garrison which holds out against God the Spirit with a sweet Violence conquers or rather changeth the Will making the Sinner willing to have Christ upon any Terms to be ruled by him as well as saved by him Quest. Wherein lyes the Preciousness of Faith Resp. As Faith is the chief Gospel-grace the Head of the Graces as Gold among Mettals so is Faith among the Graces Clem. Alexandrinus calls the other Graces the Daughters of Faith Indeed in Heaven Love will be the chief Grace but while we are here Militant Love must give place to Faith Love takes Possession of Glory but Faith gives a Title to it Love is the Crowning Grace in Heaven but Faith is the Conquering Grace upon Earth 1 Joh. 5.4 This is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith 2. As Faith hath influence upon all the Graces and sets them awork not a Grace stirs till Faith set it awork As the Clothier sets the Poor awork he sets their Wheel a going Faith sets Hope awork The Heir must believe his Title to an Estate in Reversion before he can hope for it Faith believes its Title to Glory and then Hope waits for it Did not Faith feed the Lamp of Hope with Oyl it would soon dye Faith sets Love awork Gal. 5.6 Faith which worketh by love believing the Mercy and Merit of Christ causeth a flame of Love to ascend Faith sets Patience a work Heb. 6.12 Be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises Faith believes the glorious Rewards given to Suffering this makes the Soul patient in suffering Thus Faith is the Master-wheel it sets all the other Graces a running 3. As Faith is the Grace which God honours to Iustifie and Save thus indeed it is precious Faith as the Apostle calls it 2 Pet. 1.1 The other Graces help to sanctify but it is Faith that justifies Rom. 5.1 Being justified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by faith Repentance or Love do not justifie but Faith Quest. How doth Faith justifie Resp. Faith doth not justify 1. As it is a Work that were to make a Christ of our Faith but Faith justifies as it lays hold of the Object viz. Christ's Merits If a Man had a precious Stone in a Ring that could heal we say the Ring heals but properly it is not the Ring but the precious Stone in the Ring heals Thus Faith saves and justifies but it is not any inherent Vertue in Faith but as it lays hold on Christ so it justifies 2. Faith doth not justify as it exerciseth Grace It cannot be denied Faith doth Invigorate all the Graces it puts strength and liveliness into them but it doth not justifie under this Notion Faith works by Love but it doth not justifie as it works by Love but as it applys Christ's Merits Quest. Why should Faith save and justifie more then any other Grace Resp. 1. Because of God's Sanction He hath appointed this Grace to be justifying and he doth it because Faith is a Grace that takes a Man off himself and gives all the Honour to Christ and Free-grace Rom. 4.20 Strong in faith giving glory to God Therefore God hath put this Honour on Faith to make it saving and justifying The King's Stamp makes the Coyn pass for Currant if he would put his Stamp upon Leather as well as Silver it would make it Currant So God having put his Sanction the Stamp of his Authority and Institution upon Faith this makes it to be justifying and saving 2. Because Faith makes us one with Christ Eph. 3.17 It is the espousing incorporating Grace it gives us Coalition and Union with Christ's Person other Graces make us like Christ Faith makes us Members of Christ. 1. Use of Exhortation Let us above all things labour for Faith Fides est sanctissimum humani pectoris bonum Ephes. 6.16 Above all taking the shield of faith Faith will be of more use to us then any Grace as an Eye though dim was of more use to an Israâ—lite then all the other Members of his Body not a strong Arm or a nimble Foot it was his Eye looking on the Brazen Serpent that cured him It is not Knowledge though Angelical not Repentance though we could shed Rivers of Tears could justifie us only Faith whereby we look on Christ. Without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 and if we do not please him by believing he will not please us in saving of us Faith is the Condition of the Covenant of Grace without Faith without Covenant and without Covenant without Hope Eph. 2.12 2. Use of Tryal Let us try whether we have Faith There is something looks like Faith and is not a Bristol-stone looks like Diamond Some Plants have the same Leaf with others but the Herbalist can distinguish them by the Root and Tast. Something may look like true Faith but it may be distinguished by the Fruits Let us be serious in the Tryal of our Faith there is much depends upon our Faith If our Faith be not good there is nothing good comes from us our Duties and Graces are adulterate Quest. Well then how shall we know it is a true Faith Resp. By the Noble Effects 1. Faith is a Christ-prizing Grace it puts an high Valuation upon Christ 1 Pet. 2.7 To you that believe he is precious St. Paul did best know Christ 1 Cor. 9.1 Have I not seen Iesus Christ our Lord Paul saw Christ with his bodily Eyes in a Vision when he was wrapped up into the third Heaven and he saw him with the Eye of his Faith in the Holy Supper ergo he best knew Christ. And see how he stiles all things in comparison of him Phil. 3.8 I count all things but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dung that I may win Christ. Do we set an high Estimate on Christ could we be willing to part with our Wedg of Gold for the Pearl of Price Greg. Nazianzen blessed God he had any thing to lose for Christ's sake 2. Faith is a refining Grace 1 Tim. 3.9 Mystery of faith in a pure conscience Faith is in the Soul as Fire among Metals it refines and purifies Morality may wash the outside Faith washeth the inside Acts 15.9 Having purified their hearts by faith Faith makes the Heart a Sacrary or Holy of Holies Faith is a Virgin-Grace tho' it doth not take away the Life of Sin yet love of Sin Examine if your Heart be an Unclean Fountain sending out Mud and Dirt Pride Envy if there be Legions of Lusts in thy Soul there is no Faith Faith is an Heavenly Plant which will not grow in an impure Soil 3. Faith is an Obediential Grace Rom. 16.26 The obedience of faith Faith melts our Will into Gods Faith runs at God's Call if God commands Duty though
justified then he is but he may be more sanctified than he is Sanctification is still encreasing like the Morning Sun which grows brighter to the full Meridian Knowledge is said to encrease Col. 1.10 and Faith to encrease 2 Cor. 10.15 a Christian is continually adding a Cubit to his spiritual Stature It is not with us as it was with Christ who received the Spirit without measure Christ would not be more holy then he was But we have the Spirit only in measure and may be still augmenting our Grace as Appelles when he had drawn a Picture he would be still mending it with his Pencil The Image of God is drawn but imperfectly in us therefore we must be still mending it and drawing it in more lively Colours Sanctification is progressive if it doth not grow it is because it doth not live Thus you see the Nature of Sanctification Quest. What are the Counterfeits of Sanctification Resp. There is something looks like Sanctification which is not 1. The first Counterfeit of Sanctification is Moral Vertue To be just temperate to be of a fair deportment not having ones Scocheon blotted with ignominious scandal this is good but not enough this is not Sanctification A field flower differs from a garden flower 1. Heathens have attain'd to Morality Cato Socrates Aristides Civility is but Nature refined there 's nothing of Christ there the heart may be foul and impure under these fair Leaves of Civility the worm of Unbelief may be hid 2. A Moral Person hath a secret antipathy against Grace he hates Vice and he hates Grace as much as Vice The Snake hath a fine colour but a sting A Person adorned and cultivated with Moral Vertue hath a secret spleen against Sanctity Those Stoicks which were the chief of the moralized Heathens were the bitterest Enemies St. Paul had Acts 17.18 2. The second Counterfeit of Sanctification is superstitious Devotion this abounds in Popery Adorations Images Altars Vestments Holy Water which I look upon as a religious frenzy This is far from Sanctification 1. It doth not put any intrinsical goodness into a Man it doth not make a Man better If the legal Purifications and Washings which were of God's own appointing did not make them that used them more holy the Priests who wore holy Garments and had holy Oil poured on them were never the more holy without the anointing of the Spirit then surely those superstitious Innovations in Religion which God never appointed cannot contribute any holiness to Men. 2. A superstitious Holiness costs no great labour there is nothing of the Heart in it If to tell over a few Beads or bow to an Image to sprinkle themselves with Holy-water if this were Sanctification and were all that were required of them that should be saved then Hell would be empty none would come there 3. The third Counterfeit of Sanctification is Hypocrisie when men make a pretence of that Holiness which they have not A Cemet may shine like a Star such a Lustre shines from their Profession as dazleth the eyes of the beholders 2 Tim. 3.5 Having a form of godliness but denying the power These are Lamps without Oil whited Sepulchres like the Egyptian Temples which had fair Out-sides but within Spiders and Apes The Apostle speaks of true holiness Eph. 4.24 implying there is an Holiness which is spurious and feigned Rev. 3.1 Thou hast a name to live but art dead like Pictures and Statutes which are destitute of a vital principle Iude 12. Clouds without water They pretend to be full of the Spirit but empty Clouds This shew of Sanctification when it is nothing else is Self-delusion He who takes Copper instead of Gold wrongs himself most the Counterfeit Saint deceives others while he lives but deceives himself when he dies To pretend Holiness when there is none is a vain thing What were the foolish Virgins better for their blazing Lamps when they wanted Oil What is the Lamp of Profession without the Oil of Saving Grace what Comfort will a shew of Holiness yield at last will painted Gold enrich painted Wine refresh him that is thirsty will painted Holiness be a Cordial at the hour of Death A pretence of Sanctification is not to be rested in Many Ships that have had the name of the Hope the Safe-guard the Triumph yet have been cast away upon the Rocks so many who have had the name of Saintship have been cast into Hell 4. The fourth Counterfeit of Sanctification is restraining Grace When Men forbear Vice though they do not hate it This may be the sinners Motto Fain I would but I dare not The Dog hath a mind to the Bone but is afraid of the Cudgel Men have a mind to Lust but Conscience stands as the Angel with a flaming Sword and affrights They have a mind to Revenge but the fear of Hell is a Curb-bit to check them Here is no change of heart sin is curbed but not cured a Lion may be in Chains but is a Lion still 5. The fifth Counterfeit of Sanctification is common Grace which is a slight transient work of the Spirit but doth not amount to Conversion There is some light in the Judgment but it is not humbling some Checks in the Conscience but they are not awakening This looks like Sanctification but is not Men have Convictions wrought in them but they break loose from them again like the Deer which being shot shakes out the Arrow After Conviction Men go into the House of Mirth take the Harp to drive away the Spirit of Sadness and so all dies and comes to nothing Quest. Wherein appears the necessity of Sanctification Resp. In six things 1. God hath called us to it 2 Pet. 1.4 Who hath called us to glory and vertue to Vertue as well as Glory God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness 1 Thess. 4.7 We have no call to sin we may have a temptation but no call no call to be proud or unclean but we have a call to be holy 2. The necessity appears in this without Sanctification there is no evidencing our Justification Justification and Sanctification go together 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are sanctified but ye are justified Mic. 7.18 Pardoning iniquity there is Justification ver 19. He will subdue our iniquities there is Sanctification Out of Christs sides came water and blood 1 Joh. 5.6 Blood viz. Justification Water viz. Sanctification Such as have not the Water out of Christ's sides to cleanse them shall never have the Blood out of his sides to save them 3. Without Sanctification we have no title to the New Covenant The Covenant of Grace is our Charter for Heaven The Tenure of the Covenant is that God will be our God the crowning Blessing But who are interessed in the Covenant and may plead the benefit of it only sanctified Persons Ezek. 36.26 A new heart will I give you and I will put my spirit within you and I will be your God If a Man
Job 15.14 God can do it Out of an unholy Heart he can produce Grace O! make David's Prayer Psal. 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God Lay thy Heart before the Lord and say Lord my unsanctified Heart pollutes all it toucheth I am not fit to live with such an Heart for I cannot honour thee nor to die with such an Heart for I cannot see thee O create in me a clean heart Lord consecrate my heart and make it thy Temple and thy Praises shall be sung there for ever Use 3. of Thankfulness Hath God brought a clean thing out of an unclean hath he sanctified you wear this Jewel of Sanctification with thankfulness Col. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who hath made us meet for the Inheritance c. Christian Thou could'st defile thy self but not sanctifie thy self But God hath done it he hath not only chain'd up sin but chang'd thy Nature and made thee as a King's Daughter all glorious within He hath put upon thee the Breast-place of Holiness which though it may be shot at can never be shot thorow Are there any here that are sanctified God hath done more for you then millions They may be illuminated but not sanctified He hath done more for you then if he had made you the Sons of Princes and caused you to ride upon the high places of the Earth Are you sanctified Heaven is begun in you Happiness is nothing but the quintissence of Holiness O how thankful should you be to God Do as that blind Man in the Gospel after he had received his sight He followed Christ glorifying God Luke 18.43 Make Heaven ring of God's Praises Of ASSVRANCE Quest. WHat are the Benefits flow from Sanctification Resp. Assurance of God's Love Peace of Conscience Ioy in the Holy Ghost Encrease of Grace and Perseverance therein to the end 1. Benefit flowing from Sanctification is assurance of God's Love 2 Pet. 1.10 Give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure Sanctification is the Seed Assurance is the Flower which grows out of it Assurance is a consequent of Sanctification the Saints of old had it 1 Iohn 2.3 We know that we know him 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed here was Sensus Fidei the reflex act of Faith and Gal. 2.20 Christ hath loved me Here was Faith flourishing into Assurance Aecolampadias when he was Sick pointed to his Heart Hic sat Lucis Here I have Light enough meaning Comfort and Assurance Quest. 1. Have all Sanctified Persons Assurance Resp. They have a right to it and I do incline to believe that all have it in some degree before their last expiring though their Comfort may be so strong and their Vital Spirits so weak that they cannot express what they feel But I dare not positively affirm that all have Assurance in the first moment of their Sanctification A Letter may be written when it is not Sealed so Grace may be written in the heart yet the Spirit may not set the Seal of Assurance to it God is a free Agent and may give or suspend Assurance pro libito as he please Where there is the Sanctifying work of the Spirit he may withhold the Sealing work partly to keep the Soul Humble partly to punish our careless walking We neglect our Spiritual watch grow remiss in duty and then walk under a Cloud We quench the Graces of the Spirit and God withholds the Comforts and partly to put a difference between Earth and Heaven This I the rather speak to bear up the Hearts of Gods People who are dejected because they have not Assurance You may have the Water of the Spirit poured on you in Sanctification though not the Oyl of Gladness in Assurance there may be Faith of Adherence and not of Evidence there may be Life in the Root when there is no Fruit in the Branches to be seen so Faith in the Heart when no Fruit of Assurance Quest 2. What is Assurance Resp. It is not Vocal any audible Voice or brought to us by the help of an Angel or Revelation Assurance consists of a Practical Sylogism where the Word of God makes the major Conscience the minor the Spirit of God the Conclusion The Word saith He that fears and loves God is loved of God there is the major Proposition then Conscience makes the minor but I fear and love God then the Spirit makes the Conclusion therefore thou art loved of God And this is that which the Apostle calls The Witnessing of the Spirit with our Spirits that we are his Children Rom. 8.16 Quest. 3. Whether hath a Sanctified Soul such an Assurance as excludes all doubting Resp. He hath that which bears up his Heart from sinking he hath such an Earnest of the Spirit that he would not part with for the Richest Prize but his Assurance though it be infallible it is not perfect There will be sometimes a Trepidation or Trembling he is safe yet not without fears and doubts as a Ship lies safe at Anchor yet may be a little shaken by the Wind. If a Christian had no Doubtings there should be no unbelief in him had he no Doubtings there would be no difference between Grace Militant and Triumphant Had not David his Ebbings sometimes as well as his Flowings like the Mariner who sometimes cries out Stellam Video I see a Star sometimes the Star is out of Sight Sometimes we hear David say Thy Loving Kindness is before mine Eyes Psal. 26.3 But at another time he was at a loss Psal. 89.49 Lord where are thy former Loving Kindnesses And there may fall out an Eclipse in a Christians Assurance to put him upon longing after Heaven Then there shall not be the least doubting then the Banner of Gods Love shall be always display'd upon the Soul then the light of God's Face shall be without Clouds and have no Sun-setting then the Saints shall have an uninterrupted Assurance and be ever with the Lord. Quest. 4. What are the differences between true Assurance and Presumption Resp. 1. They differ in the method or manner of working Divine Assurance flows from Humiliation for Sin I speak not of the measure of Humiliation but the Truth There are in Palermo Reeds growing in which there is a Sugred Juice A Soul humbled for Sin is the Bruised Reed in which grows this sweet Assurance God's Spirit is a Spirit of Bondage before it be a Spirit of Adoption but Presumption ariseth without any humbling work of the Spirit How camest thou by thy Venison so soon The Plow goes before the Seed be sown the Heart must be plowed up by Humiliation and Repentance before God sows the Seed of Assurance 2. He who hath a real Assurance will take heed of that which will weaken and darken his Assurance he is fearful of the Forbidden Fruit he knows though he cannot sin away his Soul yet he may sin away his Assurance But he who hath the Ignis Fatuus of
Presumption doth not fear defiling his Garments he is bold in sin Ier. 3.4 5. Wilt thou not cry unto me my Father behold thou hast done evil things as thou couldest Balaam said My God yet a Sorcerer A Sign he hath no Mony about him who fears not to Travel all Hours in the Night a sign he hath not the Jewel of Assurance who fears not the works of Darkness 3. True Assurance is built upon a Scripture-basis the Word saith The effect of Righteousness shall be Quietness and Assurance for ever Isa. 32.17 A Christians Assurance is built upon this Scripture God hath sown the Seed of Righteousness in his Soul and this Seed hath brought forth the Harvest of Assurance But Presumption is a spurious thing it hath no Scripture to shew for its Warrant it is like a Will without Seal and Witnesses which is null and void in Law Presumption wants both the Witness of the Word and the Seal of the Spirit 4. Assurance flowing from Sanctification always keeps the Heart in a lowly posture Lord saith the Soul what am I that passing by so many the Golden Beams of thy Love should shine upon me St. Paul had Assurance is he proud of this Jewel No. Ephes. 3.8 To me who am less than the least of all Saints The more love a Christian receives from God the more he sees himself a Debtor to free Grace and the sense of his Debt keeps his Heart Humble but Presumption is bred of Pride He who Presumes Disdains he think himself better than others Luke 18.11 God I thank thee I am not as other Men are nor as this Publican Feathers fly up but Gold descends he who hath this Golden Assurance his Heart descends in Humility Quest. 5. What is it may excite us to look after Assurance Resp. To consider how sweet it is and the noble and excellent effects it produceth Effect 1. How sweet it is This is the Manna in the Golden Pot the white Stone the Wine of Paradise which chears the Heart How comfortable is God's Smile The Sun is more refreshing when it shineth out that when it is hid in a Cloud it is a praelibation and fore-tast of Glory it puts a Man in Heaven before his time none can know how delicious and ravishing it is but such as have felt it as none can know how sweet Hony is but they who have tasted it 2. The noble and excellent Effects it produceth 1. Assurance will make us love God and Praise him 1. Love him Love is the Soul of Religion the Fat of the Sacrifice and who can love God so as he who hath Assurance The Sun reflecting its Beams on a burning Glass makes the Glass burn that that is near to it So Assurance which is the reflection of Gods love upon the Soul makes it burn in love to God St. Paul was assured of Christ's love to him Gal. 2.20 who hath loved me and how was his Heart fired with love he valued and admired nothing but Christ Phil. 3.8 as Christ was fastned to the Cross so he was fastned to Paul's Heart 2. Praise him Praise is the Quit-rent we pay to the Crown of Heaven who but he who hath Assurance of his Justification Man in a Swoon or Apoplexy Praise God that he is alive Can a Christian staggering with Fears about his Spiritual Condition praise God that he is elected and justified No The living the living he shall praise thee Isa. 38.19 Such as are enliven'd with Assurance they are the fittest Persons to sound forth Gods Praise Effect 2. Assurance would drop Sweetness into all our Creature-Enjoyments it would be as Sugar to Wine an earnest of more it gives a Blessing with the Venison As Guilt imbitters our Comforts it is like drinking out of a Wormwood Cup So Assurance would indulcorate and sweeten all Health and the Assurance of Gods Love are sweet Riches with the Assurance of a Kingdom are delectable Nay a Dinner of Green Herbs with the Assurance of Gods Love is Princely Fare Effect 3. Assurance would make us Active and Lively in Gods Service it would excite Prayer quicken Obedience as Diligence begets Assurance so Assurance begets Diligence Assurance will not as the Papists say breed Security in the Soul but Industry Doubting does discourage us in Gods Service but the Assurance of his Favour breeds Joy And the Ioy of the Lord is our strength Nehem. 8.10 Assurance makes us mount up to Heaven as Eagles in Holy Duties it is like the Spirit in Ezekiel's Wheels that moved them and lifted them up Faith would make us Walk but Assurance would make us Run We should never think we could do enough for God Assurance would be as Wings to the Bird as Weights to the Clock to set all the Wheels of Obedience a running Effect 4. Assurance would be a Golden Shield to beat back Temptation Assurance Triumphs over Temptation There are two sorts of Temptation Satan useth 1. He tempts to draw us to Sin Now the being assured of our Justification would make this Temptation vanish What Satan shall I Sin against him who hath loved me and washed me in his Blood Shall I return to Folly after God hath spoken Peace Shall I weaken my Assurance wound my Conscience grieve my Comforter Avoid Satan Tempt no more 2. Satan would make us question our Interest in God he tells us we are Hypocrites and God doth not love us Now there is no such Shield against this Temptation as Assurance What Satan have I a real Work of Grace in my Heart and the Seal of the Spirit to witness it and dost thou tell me God doth not love me Now I know thou art an Impostor who goest about to disprove what I sensibly feel If Faith resists the Devil Assurance would put him to flight Effect 5. Assurance would make us contented though we have but a little in the World He who hath Enough is Content He who hath Sun-light is Content though he wants Torch-light A Man that hath Assurance hath enough In uno salvatore omnes florent gemmae ad salutem He hath the Riches of Christs Merit of his Love an Earnest of his Glory he is fill'd with the Fulness of God here is enough and having enough he is Content Psal. 16.5 The Lord is the portion of my Inheritance The Lanes are fallen unto me in a pleasant place and I have a goodly Heritage Assurance will rock the Heart quiet the reason of Discontent is either because Men have no Interest in God or do not know their Interest St. Paul I know whom I have believed 2 Tim. 1.12 There was the Assurance of his Interest and 2 Cor. 6.10 As sorrowful yet always rejoycing c. There was his Contentment Get but Assurance and you will be out of the weekly Bill of Murmurers you will be discontented no more What can come amiss to him that hath Assurance God is his Hath he lost a Friend His Father lives Hath he lost his only Child
to meddle again with that Sin which will breed the Worm of Conscience Secondly Make up your Spiritual Accounts daily See how Matters stand between God and your Souls Psal. 77.6 I commune with my own Heart Often Reckonings keep God and Conscience Friends do with your Hearts as you do with your Watches wind them up every Morning by Prayer and at Night examine whether your Hearts have gone true all the day whether the Wheels of your Affections have moved swiftly towards Heaven Oh call your selves often to account keep your Reckonings even and that is the way to keep your Peace Of IOY Gal. 5.22 The Fruit of the Spirit is Ioy. THE third Fruit of Justification Adoption and Sanctification is Joy in the Holy Ghost Joy is the setting the Soul upon the Top of a Pinacle 't is the Cream of the sincere Milk of the Word Quest. 1. What is this Ioy Resp. Spiritual Joy is a sweet and delightful Passion arising from the Apprehension and Feeling of some Good whereby the Soul is supported under present Troubles and fenced against future Fear 1. It is a Delightful Passion So it is contrary to Sorrow which is a Perturbation of Mind whereby the Heart is perplexed and cast down Joy is a sweet and pleasant Affection which easeth the Mind Exhilarates and Comforts the Spirits 2. It ariseth from the Feeling of some Good Joy is not a Fancy or bred of Conceit but is Rational and ariseth from the feeling of some Good viz. The Sense of Gods Love and Favour Joy is so Real a thing that it makes a sudden Change in a Person it turns Mourning into Melody As in Spring time when the Sun comes to our Horizon it makes a sudden Alteration in the Face of the Universe the Birds sing the Flowers appear the Fig-tree puts forth forth her green Figs every thing seems to rejoyce and put off its Mourning as being revived with the sweet Influence of the Sun so when the Sun of Righteousness ariseth on the Soul it makes a sudden Alteration and the Soul is infinitely rejoyced with the Golden Beams of Gods Love 3. By it the Soul is supported under present Troubles Joy stupifies and swallows up Troubles it carries the Heart above them as the Oyl swims above the Water 4. The Heart is fenced against future Fear Joy is both a Cordial and an Antidote it is a Cordial which gives present Relief to the Spirits when they are Sad and an Antidote it fenceth off Fear of approaching Danger Psal. 23.4 I will fear no Evil for thou art with me thy Rod and thy Staff comfort me Quest. 2. How is this Ioy wrought Resp. 1. It ariseth partly from the Promise As the Bee lyes at the Breast of the Flower and sucks out the Sweetness of it so Faith lyes at the Breast of a Promise and sucks out the Quintessence of Joy Psal. 94.19 Thy Comforts delight my Soul that is the Comforts which distill from the Limbeck of the Promises 2. The Spirit of God who is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Comforter John 14.26 doth sometimes drop in this Golden Oyl of Joy into the Soul the Spirit whispers to a Believer the Remission of his Sin and sheds Gods Love abroad into the Heart Rom. 5.5 whence flows infinite Joy and Delight Quest. 3. What are the Seasons when God doth usually give his People these Divine Ioys Resp. Five Seasons 1. Sometimes at the Blessed Supper the Soul oft comes Weeping after Christ in the Sacrament and God sends it away Weeping for Joy The Iews had a Custom at their Feasts they pour'd Oyntment on their Guests and kissed them In the Eucharist God often pours the Oyl of Gladness on the Saints and Kisseth them with the Kisses of his Lips There are two grand Ends of the Sacrament the strengthening of Faith and the flourishing of Joy Here in this Ordinance God displays the Banner of his Love Here Believers taste not only Sacramental Bread but hidden Manna Caution Not that God always meets the Soul with Joy He may give Increase of Grace when not Increase of Joy but oftentimes he pours in the Oyl of Gladness and gives the Soul a Privy Seal of his Love as Christ made himself known in the breaking of Bread 2 Season Before God calls his People to Suffering Acts 23.11 Be of good Cheer Paul When God was about to give Paul a Cup of Blood to drink he spiced it with Joy 2 Cor. 1.5 As the Sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth This made the Martyrs Flames Beds of Roses when Stephen was Stoning he saw Heaven open and the Sun of Righteousness shined in his Face God Candies our Wormwood with Sugar 3 Season After sore Conflicts with Satan Satan is the Red Dragon who troubleth the Waters he puts the Soul into Frights makes it believe that it hath no Grace and that God doth not love it Though Satan cannot blot out a Christians Evidence yet he may cast such a Mist before his Eyes that he cannot read it Now when the Soul hath been bruised with Temptation God will Comfort this bruised Reed He now gives Joy Ad corroborandum Titulum to confirm a Christians Title to Heaven After Satans Fiery Darts comes the White Stone no better Balm to heal a Tempted Soul than the Oyl of Gladness As after Christ was Tempted then came an Angel to Comfort him 4 Season After Desertion Desertion is a poysoned Arrow shoots to the Heart Iob 6.4 God is call'd a Fire and a Light the deserted Soul feels the Fire but doth not see the Light it cries out as Asaph Psal. 77.8 Is his Mercy clean gone Now when the Soul is in this case and ready to faint away in Despair God shines upon the Soul and gives it some Apprehension of his Favour and turns the shadow of Death into the light of the Morning God keeps his Cordials for a time of Fainting Joy after Desertion is like a Resurrection from the Dead 5 Season At the hour of Death such as have had no Joy in their Life-time God puts in this Sugar in the bottom of the Cup to make their Death sweet Now at the last hour when all other Comforts are gone God sends the Comforter and when their Appetite to Meat fails God feeds them with hidden Manna Sure as the Wicked before they dye have some Apprehensions of Hell and Wrath in their Conscience so the Godly have some Fore-tasts of Gods Everlasting Favour though sometimes their Disease may be such and their Animal Spirits may be so oppressed that they cannot express what they feel Iacob laid himself to sleep on a stone where he saw a Vision a Ladder and the Angels ascending and descending so when the Saints lay themselves down to sleep the sleep of Death they have often a Vision they see the Light of Gods Face and have the Evidences of his Love sealed up to them for ever Quest. 4. What are the Differences between Worldly
they disparage Christ's Merits I may say as Gal. 5.4 Christ is become of no effect to them This I affirm Such as advance the Power of their Will in matters of Salvation without the Medicinal Grace of Christ do absolutely put themselves under the Covenant of Works And now I would ask them Can they perfectly keep the Moral Law Malum oritur ex quolibet defectu If there be but the least Defect in their Obedience they are gone For one sinful Thought the Law of God curseth them and the Justice of God arraigns them Confounded be their Pride who cry up the Power of Nature as if by their own inherent Abilities they could rear up a Building the top whereof should reach to Heaven 2 d. Br. It confutes a sort of People that brag of Perfection and according to that Principle they can keep all God's Commandments perfectly I would ask these Have they at no time a vain Thought come into their Mind if they have then they are not perfect The Virgin Mary was not perfect tho' her Womb were pure being overshadowed with the Holy Ghost yet her Soul was not perfect Christ doth tacitly imply a Failing in her Luke 2.49 And are they more perfect than the Blessed Virgin was Such as hold Perfection need not confess Sin David confessed Sin Psal. 32.6 And Paul confessed Sin Rom. 7.24 But they are got beyond David and Paul they are perfect they never transgress and where there is no Transgression what needs Confession 2. If they are perfect they need not ask Pardon They can pay God's Justice what they owe therefore what need they pray Forgive us our Debts O that the Devil should rock Men so fast asleep as to make them dream of Perfection And whereas they bring that Phil. 3.15 Let us therefore as many as be Perfect be thus minded Answ. Perfection there is meant of Sincerity God is best able to interpret his own Word he calls Sincerity Perfection Iob 1.8 A perfect and an upright Man But who is exactly perfect A Man full of Diseases may as well say he is healthful as a Man full of Sin say he is perfect Vse III. To Regenerate Persons Tho you fail in your Obedience and cannot keep the Moral Law exactly yet be not discouraged Quest. What comfort may be given to a Regenerate Person under the Failures and Imperfections of his Obedience Resp. 1. That a Believer is not under the Covenant of Works but under the Covenant of Grace The Covenant of Works requires perfect personal perpetual Obedience But in the Covenant of Grace God will make some Abatements He will accept of less than he required in the Covenant of Works 1. In the Covenant of Works God required Perfection of Degrees In the Covenant of Grace he accepts Perfection of Parts There he required perfect Working here he accepts sincere Believing In the Covenant of Works God required us to live without Sin in the Covenant of Grace God accepts of our Combat with Sin 2. Tho a Christian cannot in his own Person perform all God's Commandments yet Christ as his Surety and in his stead hath fulfilled the Law for him and God accepts of Christ's Obedience which is perfect to satisfie for that Obedience which is imperfect Christ being made a Curse for Believers all the Curses of the Law have their Sting pulled out 3. Tho a Christian cannot keep the Commands of God to Satisfaction yet he may to Approbation Quest. How is that Answ. 1. He gives his full Assent and Consent to the Law of God Rom. 7.12 The Law is Holy and Iust. There was Assent in the Judgment Rom. 7.16 I consent to the Law There was Consent in the Will 2. A Christian mourns that he cannot keep the Commandments fully When he fails he weeps He is not angry with the Law because it is so strict but he is angry with himself because he is so deficient 3. He takes a sweet complacential Delight in the Law Rom. 7.22 I delight in the Law of God in the inward Man Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I take Pleasure in it Psal. 119.97 O how love I thy Law Tho a Christian cannot keep God's Law yet he loves his Law Tho he cannot serve God perfectly yet he serves him willingly 4. It is his cordial Desire to walk in all God's Commands Psal. 119.5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy Statues Tho his Strength fails yet his Pulse beats 5. He doth really endeavour to obey God's Law perfectly and wherein he comes short he runs to Christ's Blood to make Supply for his Defects This cordial Desire and real Endeavour God esteems as perfect Obedience 2 Cor. 8.12 If there be a willing mind it is accepted Let me hear thy Voice for sweet is thy Voice Cant. 2.14 Tho the Prayers of the Righteous are mixed with Sin yet God sees they would pray better God picks out the Weeds from the Flowers he sees the Faith and winks at the Failing The Saints Obedience tho it falls short of Legal Perfection yet having Sincerity in it and Christ's Merits mix'd with it finds gracious Acceptance When the Lord sees endeavours after Perfect Obedience this he takes well at our Hands As a Father that receives a Letter from his Child tho' there be Blots in the Letters and False Spellings yet the Father takes all in good Part. O what Blottings are there in our Holy Things But God is pleas'd to take all in good part Saith God It is my Child and he would do better if he could I will accept it Quest. Are all the Transgressions of the Law equally heinous Answ. Some Sins in themselves and by reason of several Aggravations are more hainous in the sight of God than others Iohn 19.11 He that delivered me unto thee hath the Greater Sin The Stoick Philosophers held that all Sins were equal But this Scripture clearly holds forth that there is a gradual difference in Sin Some are greater than others Some are mighty Sins Amos 5.12 And crying Sins Gen. 18.21 Every Sin hath a Voice to speak but some Sins cry As some Diseases are worse than others and some poysons more venomous so some Sins are more heinous Ezek. 16.47 Ier. 16.12 You have done worse than your Fathers your Sins have exceeded theirs Some Sins have a blacker Aspect than others To clip the King's Coyn is Treason but to strike his Person is an higher degree of Treason A vain Thoughr is a Sin but a blasphemous Word is a greater Sin That some Sins are greater than others appears 1. Because there was difference in the Offerings under the Law The Sin-offering was greater than the Trespass-Offering 2. Because some Sins are not capable of Pardon as others are therefore they must needs he more heinous as the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost Matth. 12.31 3. Because some Sins have a greater Degree of Punishment than others Matth. 23.14 Ye shall receive greater Damnation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shall not the
it there can be no good Crop Some have Memories like leaking Vessels the Sermons they hear are presently gone and then there is no good done If Meat doth not stay and concoct in the Stomach it will not nourish Satan labours to steal the Word out of our Mind Mark 4.15 When they have heard Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the Word that was sown Our Memories should be like the Chest of the Ark wherein the Law was put 7. Reduce your Hearing to Practice Live the Sermons your hear Psal. 119.166 I have done thy Commandments Rachel was not content that she was Beautiful but her Desire was to be Fruitful What is a knowing Head without a fruitful Heart Phil. 1.11 Fill'd with the Fruits of Righteousness It is Obedience crowns Hearing That Hearing will never save the Soul which doth not reform the Life 8. Beg of God that he will accompany his Word with his Presence and Blessing The Spirit must make all effectual Ministers may prescribe Physick but it is God's Spirit must make it work Cathedram habet in Coelo qui corda docet in terra Aug. He hath his Pulpit in Heaven that converts Souls Acts 10.44 While Peter was speaking the Holy Ghost fell upon all them that heard It is said the Alchimist can draw Oyl out of Iron God's Spirit can produce Grace in the most obdurate Heart 9. ult If you would have the VVord work effectually to your Salvation make it Familiar to you discourse of the VVord you have heard when you come home Psal. 119.172 My Tongue shall speak of thy Word That may be one reason why some People get no more good by what they hear because they never speak one to another of what they have heard As if Sermons were such Secrets that they must not be spoken of again or as if it were a Shame to speak of matters of Salvation Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another and a Book of Remembrance was written Vse Caution Take heed as you love your Souls that the VVord become not ineffectual to you There are some to whom the Word preached is ineffectual 1. Such as Censure the Word in stead of judging themselves judge the Word 2. Such as live in contradiction to the Word Isa. 30.8 3. Such as are more hardened by the Word Zech. 7.11 They made their Heart as an Adamant And when Men harden their Hearts wilfully God hardens them judicially Isa. 6.8 Make their Ears heavy The Word to these is ineffectual Were it not sad if a Man's Meat should not nourish nay if it should turn to Poyson Oh! Take heed that the Word Preach'd be not ineffectual and to no purpose Consider Three things 1. If the Word Preached doth us no good there is no other way by which we can be saved This is God's Institution and the main Engin he useth to convert Souls Luke 16.31 If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded tho' one arose from the Dead If an Angel should come to you out of Heaven and preach of the Excellency of the glorified Estate and the Joys of Heaven and that in the most Pathetical manner if the Word preached doth not perswade neither would you be wrought upon by such an Oration from Heaven If a damned Spirit should come from Hell and preach to you in Flames and tell you what a place Hell is and roar out the Torments of the Damned it might make you tremble but it would not convert if the Preaching of the Word would not do it 2. To come to the Word and not be savingly wrought upon is that which the Devil is pleas'd with He cares not tho' you hear frequently if it be not effectually He is not an Enemy to Hearing but Profiting Tho' the Minister holds out the Breast of the Ordinance to you he cares not as long as you do not suck the sincere Milk of the VVord The Devil cares not how many Sermon-Pills you take so long as they do not work upon your Conscience 3. If the VVord preached be not effectual to Men's Conversion it will be effectual to their Condemnation The VVord will be effectual one way or other if it doth not make your Hearts better it will make your Chains heavier VVe pity them who have not the Word preached but it will be worse with them who are not sanctified by it Dreadful is their Case who go loaden to Hell with Sermons But I will conclude with the Apostle Heb. 6.9 I am perswaded better things of you and things that accompany Salvation Matth. XXVIII 19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them We are still upon that Question in the Catechism Quest. What are the Outward Means whereby Christ communicates to us the Benefits of Redemption Answ. They are his Ordinances especially the Word Sacraments and Prayers I have spoken to the First The Word Read and Preached I now proceed to the Second II. The Way whereby Christ communicates to us the Benefits of Redemption is in the Vse of the Sacraments Quest. 1. What are Sacraments in general Resp. They are Visible Signs of Invisible Grace Quest. 2. Is not the Word of God sufficient to Salvation What need then is there of Sacraments Resp. We must not be wise above what is written This may satisfie it is God's Will that his Church should have Sacraments And it is God's Goodness thus by Sacraments to condescend to our weak Capacities Iohn 4.48 Except ye see Signs ye will not believe God to strengthen our Faith confirms the Covenant of Grace not only by Promises but by Sacramental Signs Quest. 3. What are the Sacraments of the New Testament Resp. Two Baptism and the Lord's Supper Quest. 4. But are there no more The Papists tell us of Five more viz. Confirmation Penance Matrimony Orders and the Extream Unction Resp. 1. There were but Two Sacraments under the Law therefore there are no more now 1 Cor. 10.2 3 4. 2. These two Sacraments are sufficient The one signifying our Entrance into Christ and the other our Growth and Perseverance in him 1. I begin with the First Sacrament Baptism Go ye therefore and Teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them Go teach all Nations The Greek VVord is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Make Disciples of all Nations If it be asked How should we make them Disciples It follows Baptizing them and teaching them In an Heathen Nation first Teach them and then Baptize them but in a Christian Church first Baptize them and then Teach them Quest. 5. What is Baptism Resp. In General it is a Matriculation or Visible Admission of Children into the Congregation of Christ's Flock More particularly Baptism is a Sacrament wherein the washing or sprinkling with Water in the Name of the Father Son and
may be in the Number of God's Servants That is evident because God calls them his Servants Levit. 25.4 He shall depart from thee and his Children with him for they are my Servants Therefore Children in their Infancy being God's Servants why should they not have Baptism which is the Tessera the Mark or Seal which God sets upon his Servants 3 d Arg. Is from 1 Cor. 7.14 But now are your Children holy Children are not called Holy as if they were free from Original Sin but in the Iudgment of Charity they are to be esteemed holy and true Members of the Church of God because their Parents are Believers Hence that excellent Divine Mr. Heldersam saith That the Children of the Faithful as soon as they are born have a Covenant-Holiness and so a Right and Title to Baptism which is the Token of the Covenant 4 th Arg. From the Opinion of the Fathers and the Practice of the Church 1. The Ancient Fathers were strong Assertors of Infant-Baptism Irenaus Basil Lactantius Cyprian and Austin 2. It was the Practice of the Greek Church to baptize her Infants Erasmus saith That Infant-Baptism hath been used in the Church of God for above Fourteen Hundred Years And St. Austin in his Book against Pelagius affirms That it hath been the Custom of the Church in all Ages to Baptize Infants Yea it was an Apostolical Practice St. Paul affirms that he Baptized the whole House of Stephanus 1 Cor. 1.16 And as you have seen Scripture Arguments for Infant-Baptism so let us consider whether the Practice of those who delay the Baptizing of Children till Riper Years be warrantable For my part I cannot gather it from Scripture For tho' we read of Persons Adult and grown up to Years of Discretion in the Apostles times Baptized yet those were such as were converted from Heathenish Idolatry to the True Orthodox Faith But that in a Christian Church the Children of Believers should be kept unbaptized several Years I know neither Precept nor Example for it in Scripture but it is wholly Apocryphal The Baptizing of Persons grown up to Maturity we may argue against ab effectu from the Ill Consequences of it They dip the Persons they baptize over Head and Ears in cold Water and naked which as it is Indecent so it is Dangerous and hath been often times the occasion of Chronical Diseases yea Death it self and so is a plain Breach of the Sixth Commandment And how far God hath given up many Persons who are for the deferring of Baptism to other vile Opinions and vicious Practices is evident if we consult with History Especially if we read over the Actings of the Anabaptists in Germany Vse I. See the Riches of God's Goodness who will not only be the God of Believers but takes their Seed into Covenant Gen. 17.7 I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee to be a God unto thee and thy Seed A Father counts it a great Priviledge not only to have his own Name but his Child's Name put in a Will 2. It blames those Parents who forbid little Children to be brought to Christ they with-hold the Ordinance By denying their Infants Baptism they exclude them from having a Membership in the Visible Church and so their Infants are sucking Pagans Such as deny their Children Baptism make God's Institutions under the Law more full of Kindness and Grace to Children than they are now under the Gospel which how strange a Paradox it is I leave to you to judge Vse III. Exhort 1 st Branch We that are Baptized let us labour to find the Blessed Fruits of Baptism in our own Souls Let us labour not only to have the Sign of the Covenant but the Grace of the Covenant Many glory in this that they are Baptized The Jews gloried in their Circumcision because of their Royal Priviledges To them belonged the Adoption and the Glory and the Covenants Rom. 9.4 But many of them were a Shame and Reproach to their Circumcision Rom. 2.24 For the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you The scandalous Jews tho Circumcis'd were in God's Account as Heathens Amos 9.7 Are ye not as Children of the Ethiopians to me saith the Lord Alas What is it to have the Name of Christ and want his Image What is Baptism of Water without the Baptism of the Spirit Many Baptized Christians are no better than Heathens O labour to find the Fruits of Baptism that Christ is form'd in us Gal. 4.19 That our Nature is chang'd we are made Holy and Heavenly this is to be Baptized into Iesus Rom. 6.3 Such as live unsuitable to their Baptism may go with Baptismal Water on their Faces and Sacramental Bread in their Mouths to Hell 2 d. Br. Let us labour to make a Right Use of our Baptism 1 st Vse of Baptism Let us use it as a Shield against Temptations Satan I have given up my self to God by a Sacred Vow in Baptism I am not my own I am Christ's therefore I cannot yield to thy Temptations but I break my Oath of Allegiance which I made to God in Baptism Luther tells us of a Pious Woman who when the Devil tempted her to sin she answered Satan Baptizata sum I am baptized and so beat back the Tempter 2 d. Vse of Baptism Let us use it as a Spurr to Holiness By remembring our Baptism let us be stirred up to make good our Baptismal Engagements Renouncing the World Flesh and Devil let us Devote our selves to God and his Service To be Baptiz'd into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost implies ◠Solemn Dedication of our selves to the Service of all the Three Persons in the Trinity It is not enough that our Parents dedicate us to God in Baptism but we must dedicate our selves to him This is called a Living 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Lord Rom. 14.8 Our Life should be spent in worshipping God in loving God in exalting God We should walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as becomes the Gospel Phil. 1.27 Shine as Stars in the World and live as Earthly Angels 3 d. Vse of Baptism Let us use it as an Argument to Courage We should be ready to confess that Holy Trinity into whose Name we were baptized With the Conversion of the Heart must go the Confession of the Tongue Luke 12.8 Whosoever shall confess me before Men him shall the Son of Man also confess before the Angels of God Peter openly confessed Christ crucifyed Acts 4.10 Cyprian a Man of a brave Spirit was like a Rock whom no Waves could shake like an Adamant whom no Sword could cut He confessed Christ before the Proconsul and suffered himself to be proscribed yea chose Death rather than he would betray the Truths of Christ. He that dares not confess the Holy Trinity shames his Baptism and God will be ashamed to own him at the Day of Judgment Vlt. Vse See the fearfulness of the Sin of
Christ doth not cast these Pearl before Swine Whether Iudas were present at the Supper is controverted I rather incline to think he was not For Christ said to the Disciples This is my Blood which is shed for you Luke 22.20 Christ knew his Blood was never shed effectually and intentionally for Iudas In eating the Passover Christ gave Iudas a Sop which was a Bit of Unleavened Bread dipt in a Sauce made with bitter Herbs Iudas having received the Sop went immediately out John 13. But suppose Iudas were there tho he receiv'd the Element yet not the Blessing 7. Take Eat This Expression of Eating denotes Four things 1. The near mystical Vnion between Christ and his Saints As the Meat which is eaten incorporates with the Body and becomes one with it so by eating Christ's Flesh and drinking his Blood Spiritually we partake of Christ's Merits and Graces and are mystically one with him Iohn 17.23 I in them 2. Take eat Eating shows the infinite Delight the believing Soul hath in Christ. Eating is grateful and pleasing to the Pallat So feeding on Christ by a lively Faith is delicious Nullus animae suavior cibus Lactantius No such sweet feeding as on Christ crucifyed This is a Feast of Fat things and Wine on Lees wâ—ll refined 3. Take eat Eating denotes Nourishment Meat as it is delicious to the Pallat so it is nourishing to the Body So eating Christ's Flesh and drinking his Blood is nutritive to the Soul The new Creature is nourished at the Table of the Lord to everlasting Life Iohn 6.54 Whoso eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal Life 4. Take eat shows the Wisdom of God who restores us by the same means by which we fell We fell by Taking and Eating the Forbidden Fruit and we are recovered again by Taking and Eating of Christ's Flesh. We died by eating the Tree of Knowledge and we live by eating the Tree of Life 8. This is my Body These Words Hoc est Corpus meum have been much controverted between us and the Papists This is my Body that is by a Metonymy It is a Sign and Figure of my Body The Papists hold Transubstantiation that the Bread is after Consecration turn'd into the very Substance of Christ's Body We say we receive Christ's Body Spiritually they say they receive Christ's Body Carnally which is contrary to Scripture The Scripture affirms that the Heavens must receive Christ's Body until the times of the restitution of all things Acts 3.21 Christ's Body cannot be at the same time in Heaven and in the Host. Aquinas saith It is not possible by any Miracle that a Body should be locally in two places at once Besides it is absurd to imagine that the Bread in the Sacrament should be turned into Christ's Flesh and that his Body which was hung before should be made again of Bread So that This is my Body is as if Christ had said This is a Sign and Representation of my Body 9. And he took the Cup. The Cup is put by a Metonymy of the Subject for the Adjunct for the Wine in the Cup it signifies the Blood of Christ shed for our Sins The taking of the Cup denotes the Redundancy of Merit in Christ and the Fulness of our Redemption by him He not only took the Bread but the Cup. 10. And when he had given Thanks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ gave Thanks that God had given these Elements of Bread and Wine to be Signs and Seals of Man's Redemption by Christ. Christ's giving of Thanks shows his Philanthropy or Love to Mankind who did so rejoyce and bless God that Lost Man was now in a way of Recovery and that he should be rais'd higher in Christ than ever he was in Innocency 11. He gave the Cup to them Why then dare any with-hold the Cup This is to pollute and curtail the Ordinance and alter it from its Primitive Institution Christ and his Apostles administred the Sacrament in both Kinds the Bread and the Cup 1 Cor. 11.24 25. And the Cup was receiv'd in the ancient Church for the space of 1400 Years as is confess'd by Two Popish Councils Christ saith expresly Drink ye all of this He doth not say Eat ye all of this But Drink ye all as foreseeing the Sacrilegious Impiety of the Church of Rome in keeping back the Cup from the People The Popish Council of Constance speaks plainly but impudently That altho' Christ instituted and administred the Sacrament in both Kinds the Bread and the Wine yet the Authority of the Holy Canons and the Custom of the Mother Church think good to deny the Cup to the Laity Thus as the Popish Priests make Christ but half a Saviour so they administer to the People but half a Sacrament The Sacrament is Christ's Last Will and Testament in the Text This is my Blood of the New Testament Now to alter or take away any thing from a Man's Will and Testament is a great Impiety What is it then to alter and mangle Christ's Last Will and Testament Sure 't is an high Affront to Christ. Quest. 3. What are the Ends of the Lord's Supper Resp. 1. It is an Ordinance appointed to confirm our Faith Iohn 4.48 Except ye see Signs ye will not believe Christ sets the Elements before us that by these Signs our Faith may be strengthened As Faith cometh by hearing so it is confirmed by seeing Christ crucify'd The Sacrament is not only a Sign to represent Christ but a Seal to confirm our Interest in him Object But it is the Spirit confirms Faith therefore not the Sacrament Answ. This is no good Logick The Spirit confirms Faith therefore not the Sacrament is as if one should say God feeds our Bodies therefore Bread doth not feed us whereas God feeds us by Bread So the Spirit confirms our Faith by the Use of the Sacrament 2. The End of the Sacrament is to keep up the Memory of Christ's Death 1 Cor. 11.25 This do ye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in remembrance of me If a Friend give us a Ring at his Death we wear it to keep up the Memory of our Friend Much more then ought we to keep up the Memorial of Christ's Death in the Sacrament Christ's Death lays a Foundation for all the magnificent Blessings which we receive from Christ. The Covenant of Grace was agreed on in Heaven but sealed upon the Cross. Christ hath sealed all the Articles of Peace in his Blood Remission of Sin flows from Christ's Death Matth. 26.28 This is my Blood of the New Testament shed for many for the Remission of Sins Consecration or making us Holy is the Fruit of Christ's Death Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ purge your Conscience Christ's Intercession is made available to us by Vertue of his Death Christ could not have been admitted an Advocate if he had not been first a Sacrifice Our entring into Heaven is the Fruit of Christ's Blood Heb. 10.19
Christ and all his Benefits to us We are to pray that this great Ordinance may be Poyson to our Sins and Food to our Graces That as it was with Ionathan when he had tasted the Honey-Comb his Eyes mere enlightned 1 Sam. 14.27 So that by our receiving this Holy Eucharist our Eyes may be so enlightned as to discern the Lord's Body Thus should we implore a Blessing upon the Ordinance before we come The Sacrament is like a Tree hung full of Fruit but none of this Fruit will fall unless shaken by the Hand of Prayer 2. That the Sacrament may be effectual to us as there must be a Due Preparing for it so a right partaking of it Which right Participation of the Sacrament is in Three Things 1. When we draw nigh to God's Table in an humble Sense of our Vnworthiness We do not deserve one Crumb of the Bread of Life we are poor Indigent Creatures who have lost our Glory and are like a Vessel that is Shipwrack'd We smite on our Breast as the Publican God be merciful to us Sinners This is a right Partaking of the Ordinance 'T is part of our Worthiness to see our Unworthiness 2. We rightly partake of the Sacrament when at the Lord's Table we are fill'd with Anhelations of Soul and inflamed Desires after Christ and nothing can quench our Thirst but his Blood Matth. 5.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blessed are they that thirst They are blessed not only when they are filled but while they are thirsting 3. A right participation of the Supper is when we receive in Faith Without Faith we get no good What is said of the Word Preached It profiteth not not being mixed with Faith Heb. 4.2 is as true of the Sacrament Christ turned Stones into Bread Unbelief turns the Bread into Stones that it doth not nourish Then we partake aright when we come in Faith Faith hath a two-fold Act an adhering and an applying By the first Act we go over to Christ by the second Act we bring Christ over to us Gal. 2.20 This is the great Grace we must set awork Acts 10.43 Philo calls it Fides Occulata Faith is the Eagle Eye that discerns the Lord's Body Faith causeth a virtual Contact it toucheth Christ. Christ said to Mary Touch me not c. Iohn 20.17 She was not to touch him with the Hands of her Body But he saith to us Touch me Touch me with the Hand of your Faith Faith makes Christ present to the Soul The Believer hath a real Presence in the Sacrament The Body of the Sun is in the Firmament but the Light of the Sun is in the Eye Christ's Essence is in Heaven but he is in a Believers Heart by his Light and Influence Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your Heart by Faith Faith is the Pallat which tastes Christ 1 Pet. 2.3 Faith makes a Concoction it causeth the Bread of Life to nourish Faith causeth a Coalition it makes us one with Christ Eph. 1.23 Other Graces make us like Christ Faith makes us Members of Christ. Fourthly Then we partake aright of the Sacrament when we receive in Love 1. Love to Christ. Who can see Christ pierced with a Crown of Thorns sweating in his Agony bleeding on the Cross but his Heart must needs be endeared in Love to him How can we but love him who hath given his Life a ransom for us Love is the Spiced Wine and Juyce of the Pomgranate which we must give Christ Cant. 8.2 Our Love to this Superiour and Blessed Jesus must exceed our Love to other things as the Oyl runs above the Water Tho' we cannot with Mary bring our costly Oyntment to anoynt Christ's Body yet we do more than this when we bring him our Love which is sweeter to him than all Oyntments and Perfumes 2. Love to the Saints This is a Love-Feast Tho' we must eat this Supper with the Bitter Herbs of Repentance yet not with the bitter Herbs of Malice Were it not sad if all the Meat one eats should turn to bad Humours He who comes in Malice to the Lord's Table all he eats is to his hurt He eats and drinks Damnation to himself 1 Cor. 11.29 Come in Love It is with Love as it is with Fire You keep Fire all the Day upon the Hearth but upon special occasions you draw the Fire out larger So tho we must have Love to all yet to the Saints who are our Fellow-Members here we must draw out the Fire of our Love larger and we must show the Largeness of our Affections to them by prizing their Persons by chusing their Company by doing all Offices of Love to them counselling them in their Doubts comforting them in their Fears supplying them in their Wants Thus one Christian may be an Eben-ezer to another and as an Angel of God to him The Sacrament cannot be effectual to him who doth not receive in Love If a Man drinks Poyson and then takes a Cordial the Cordial will do him little good He who hath the Poyson of Malice in his Soul the Cordial of Christ's Blood will do him no good Come therefore in Love and Charity And thus we see how we may receive the Supper of the Lord that it may be Effectual to our Salvation Vse I. From the whole Doctrine of the Sacrament learn How precious should a Sacrament be to us It is a Sealed Deed to make over the Blessings of the New Covenant to us Justification Sanctification Glory A small piece of Wax put to a Parchment is made the Instrument to confirm a rich Conveyance or Lordship to another So these Elements in the Sacrament of Bread and Wine tho in themselves of no great value yet being consecrated to be Seals to Confirm the Covenant of Grace to us so they are of more value than all the Riches of the Indies Vse II. The Sacrament being such an Holy Mystery let us come to this Holy Mystery with Holy Hearts There 's no receiving a crucify'd Christ but into a consecrated Heart Christ in his Conception lay in a pure Virgins Womb and at his Death his Body was wrapped in clean Linnen and put in a new Virgin-Tomb never yet defiled with Rottenness If Christ would not lie in an unclean Grave sure he will not be received into an unclean Heart Isa. 52.11 Be ye clean that bear the Vessels of the Lord. If they who did carry the Vessels of the Lord were to be holy then they who are to be the Vessels of the Lord and are to hold Christ's Body and Blood ought to be holy Vse III. Consolation Christ's Body and Blood in the Sacrament is a most Sovereign Elixir or Comfort to a distressed Soul Christ having poured out his Blood now God's Justice is fully satisfied There is in the Death of Christ enough to answer all Doubts What if Sin is the Poyson here is the Flesh of Christ an Antidote against it What if Sin be red as Scarlet is not Christ's
a means to bring us thither 18. The last means for obtaining the Heavenly Kingdom is Perseverance in Holiness Rev. 2.10 Be thou faithful unto death and thou shalt receive the Crown of Life In Christians non initia sed finis laudantur Hierom. 1. Is there such a thing as persevering 2. How doth a Christian come to persevere 3. What are the Incouragements 4. What Helps 1. Is there such a thing as persevering till we come to Heaven The Arminians deny it and truly that any one holds out to the Kingdom is a wonder if you consider 1. What a world of Corruption is mingled with Grace Grace is apt to be stifled as the Coal to be choaked with its own ashes Grace is oft like a Spark in the Sea 't is a wonder it is not quenched 'T is a wonder sin doth not do to Grace as sometime the Nurse to the Child overlay it that it dye so that this Infant of Grace is not smothered 2. The Implacable malice of Satan he denies that we should have a Kingdom when he himself is cast out it cuts him to the heart to see a piece of dust and clay be made a bright Star in Glory and he himself an Angel of Darkness he will Acheronta movere move all the Powers of Hell to hinder us from the Kingdom he spits his Venome shoots his fiery Darts raiseth a storm of persecution yea and prevails against some Rev. 12.4 There appeared a great red Dragon and his Tail drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven and did cast them to the Earth By the Dragon is meant the Heathenish Empire now when his Tail cast so many to the Earth it is a wonder that any of the Stars keep fixed in their Orb. 3. The Blandishments of Riches The Young man in the Gospel went very far thou art not far from the Kingdom of God but he had rich Possessions and these golden weights hindred him from the Kingdom Luke 18.23 Ionathan pursued the Battle till he came at the Honey-comb and then he stood still 1 Sam. 14.27 Many are forward for Heaven till they tast the sweetness of the World but when they come at the Honey-comb then they stand still and go no further Faenus pecuniae funus animae Those who have escaped the Rocks of gross sins yet have been cast away upon the Golden Sands What a wonder therefore that any doth hold on till he comes to the Kingdom 4. A wonder any holds out in Grace and doth not tire in his march to Heaven if you consider the difficulty of a Christians Work he hath no time to lye fallow he is either watching or fighting nay a Christian is to do those Duties which to the eye of sence and reason seem inconsistent While a Christian doth one duty he seems to cross another e. g. he must come with holy boldness to God in Prayer yet must serve him with fear he must mourn for sin yet rejoyce he must be contented yet covet 1 Cor. 12.32 contemn Mens Impieties yet reverence their Authority What difficult work is this a wonder any Saint arrives at the Heavenly Kingdom to this I might add the evil Examples abroad which are so atractive we may say the Devils are come among us in the likeness of Men what a wonder is it that any Soul perseveres till it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven but as great a wonder as it is there is such a thing as perseverance a Saints perseverance is built upon three immutable Pillars 1. Gods Eternal Love We are inconstant in our Love to God but he is not so in his Love to us Ier. 31.9 I have loved thee with an everlasting Love a havath gnolam with a Love of Eternity Gods Love to the Elect is not like a Kings Love to his Favourite when it is at the highest Spring-Tide it soon ebbs but Gods Love is eternized God may desert not disinherit he may change his Love into a Frown not into hatred he may alter his Providence not his decree When once the Sun-shine of Gods Electing Love is risen upon the Soul it never sets finally 2. A Saints Perseverance is built upon the Covenant of Grace 〈◊〉 a firm impregnable Covenant This you have in the words of the sweet Singer of Israel 2. Sam. 23.5 God hath made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure 'T is a sweet Covenant that God will be our God the marrow and quintessence of all Blessing and it is a sure Covenant that he will put his Fear in our heart and we shall never depart from him Ier. 32.40 This Covenant is inviolable cannot be broken indeed sin may break the Peace of the Covenant but it cannot break the Bond of the Covenant 3. The third Pillar Perseverance is built upon is the Mistical Union Believers are incorporated into Christ they are knit to him as Members to the Head by the Nerve and Ligament of Faith that they cannot be broken off Eph. 5.23 What was once said of Christs natural Body is as true of his mistical Body Iohn 19.36 A bone of it shall not be broken As it is impossible to sever the Leaven and the Dough when they are once mingled so it is impossible when Christ and Believers are once united ever by the Power of Death or Hell to be separated How can Christ lose any Member of his Body and be perfect You see on what strong Pillars the Saints Perseverance is built 2 Quest. How doth a Christian hold on till he comes to the Kingdom How doth he persevere Resp. 1. Auxilio Spiritus God carries on a Christian to perseverance by the Energy and vigorous working of his Spirit The Spirit maintains the Essence and Seed of Grace it doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blow up the Sparks of Grace into an holy Flame Spiritus est Vicarius Christi Tertul. 't is Christs Deputy and Proxy is it every day at work in a Believers heart exerting Grace into Exercise and ripening it into perseverance The Spirit doth carve and polish the Vessels of Mercy and make them fit for Glory 2. Christ causeth perseverance and carries on a Saint till he comes to the Heavenly Kingdom vi orationis by his Intercession Christ is an Advocate as well as a Surety he prays that the Saints may arrive safe at the Kingdom Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able to save them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the uttermost i. e. perfectly seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them that Prayer he made for Peter on Earth he prays now in Heaven for the Saints that their Faith fail not Luke 22.32 that they may be with him where he is Iohn 17.24 and sure if he pray that they may be with him in his Kingdom they cannot perish by the way Christs Prayer is efficacious if the Saints Prayers have so much force and prevalency in them Iacob had power with God and as a Prince prevailed Hos. 12.4 By Prayer Eliah unlocked
tears Rev. 7.17 3. God hath given thee Grace Grace is the rich embroidery and workmanship of the Holy Ghost it is the sacred Unction 1 Iohn 2.27 The Graces are a Chain of Pearl to adorn and Beds of Spices which make us a sweet odour to God Grace is a distinguishing Blessing Christ gave Iudas his Purse but not his Spirit may not this quiet the Heart in Affliction and make it say Thy Will be done Lord thou hast given that Jewel which thou bestowest only on the Elect. Grace is a seal of thy Love it is both Food and Cordial it is an earnest of Glory 9. Consideration When God intends the greatest Mercy to any of his People he brings them low in Affliction God seems to go quite cross to Sense and Reason when he intends to raise us highest he brings us lowest As Moses Hand before it wrought Miracles was Leprous and Sarahs Womb before it brought forth the Son of the Promise was Barren God brings us low before he raiseth us as Water is at the lowest ebb before there is a Spring tyde 1. It is true in a Temporal Sense When God would bring Israel to Canaan a Land flowing with Milk and Honey he first leads them through a Sea and a Wilderness when God intended to advance Ioseph to be the second Man in the Kingdom he casts him first into Prison and the Irons entred into his Soul Psal. 105.18 God usually lets it be darkest before the Morning-Star of deliverance appears 2. It is true in a Spiritual Sense When God intends to raise a Soul to Spiritual Comfort he first layes it low in desertion Isa. 12.1 as the Limner layes his dark colour first and then layes his gold colour on it so God first layes the Soul in the dark of desertion and then he layes his golden colour of Joy and Consolation May not this make us chearfully submit and say Thy Will be done Perhaps now God afflicts me he is about to raise me he intends me a greater Mercy than I am aware of 10. Consideration The excellency of this frame of Soul to lye at Gods feet and say Thy Will be done 1. A Soul that is melted into Gods Will shows variety of Grace As the holy Oyntment was made up of several Aromatick Spices Myrrh Cinnamon Cassia Exod. 30.23 so this sweet temper of Soul submission to Gods Will in Affliction hath in it a mixture of several Graces In particular it is compounded of three Graces Faith Love Humility 1. Faith Faith believes God doth all in Mercy that Affliction is to mortifie some Sin or exercise some Grace that God corrects in Love and Faithfulness Psalm 119.75 the belief of this causeth submission of Will to God 2. Love Love thinks no evil 1 Cor. 13.5 Love takes all God doth in the best sense it hath good thoughts of God this causeth submission Thy Will be done Let the Righteous God smite me saith Love it shall be a kindness yea it shall be an excellent oyl which shall not break my head 3. Humility The humble Soul looks on its Sins and how it hath provoked God he saith not his Afflictions are great but his Sins are great this makes him lye at Gods feet and say I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him Micah 7.9 Thus a submissive frame of Heart is full of grace it is compounded of several graces it pleaseth God to see so many graces at once sweetly exercised he saith of such a Christian as David of Goliahs Sword 1 Sam. 21.9 None like that give it me 2. He who puts his fiat placet to Gods Will and saith Thy Will be done shows not only variety of grace but strength of grace It argues much strength in the Body to be able to endure hard weather yet not be altered by it so to endure hard tryals yet not faint or fret shows more than ordinary strength of grace You that can say you have brought your Wills to Gods Gods VVill and yours agree as the Copy and the Original let me assure you you have out-strip'd many Christians who perhaps shine in an higher orb of knowledge than you To be content to be at Gods dispose to be any thing that God will have us shows a noble heroick Soul It is reported of the Eagle it is not like other Fowls they when they are hungry make a noise the Ravens cry for food but the Eagle is never heard to make a noise though it wants meat and it is from the nobleness and greatness of its Spirit The Eagle is above other Fowls and hath a Spirit suitable to its Nature so it is an argument of an holy gallantry and magnitude of Spirit that whatever cross Providences befal a Christian he doth not cry and whine as others but is silent and lyes quietly at Gods feet Here 's much strength of Grace in such a Soul nay the height of Grace VVhen Grace is crowning it is not so much to say Lord Thy Will be done but when Grace is conflicting and meets with crosses and tryals now to say Thy Will be done is a glorious thing indeed and prepares for the garland of honour 11. Consideration Persons are usually better in Adversity than Prosperity therefore stoop to Gods VVill. A prosperous condition is not alwayes so safe 't is true it is more pleasing to the Palate and every one desires to get on the warm side of the hedge where the Sun of Prosperity shines but it is not alwayes best In a prosperous Estate there is more burden many look at the shining and glittering of Prosperity but not at the burden Plus oneris 1. The burden of care therefore Christ calls Riches Cares Luke 8.14 A Rose hath its prickles so have Riches we think them happy that flourish in their Silks and Cloath of Gold but we see not the Troubles and Cares that attend them A Shooe may have Silver Lace on it yet pinch the Foot Many a Man that goes to his day-labour lives a more contented life than he that hath his Thousands per Annum Disquieting Care is the malus genius the evil Spirit that haunts the Rich Man When his Chests are full of Gold his Heart is full of Care how to encrease or how to secure what he hath gotten he is sometimes full of Care who he shall leave it to A large Estate like a long trailing garment is oft more troublesome than useful 2. In a prosperous Estate there is the burden of Account Such as are in high places have a far greater account to give to God than others Luke 12.48 Vnto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required The more golden Talents any are intrusted with the more they have to answer for the more their Revenues the more their Reckonings God will say I gave you a great Estate what have you done with it how have you employed it for my Glory I have read of Philip King of Spain
owe God themselves to pay it in part and do not look to have it all forgiven But why did Christ teach us to pray forgive us our sins if we can of our selves satisfie God for the wrong we have done him This Doctrine robs God of his Glory Christ of his Merit and the Soul of Salvation Alas is not the lock cut where our Strength lay are not all our Works fly-blown with sin and can sin satisfie for sin this Doctrine makes men their own Saviours it is most absurd to hold for can the Obedience of a finite Creature satisfie for an infinite Offence Sin being forgiven clearly implies we cannot satisfie for it 2. From this word Vs forgive us we learn that pardon is chiefly to be sought for our selves For tho' we are to pray for the pardon of others Iam. 6.16 Pray one for another yet in the first place we are to beg pardon for our selves What will anothers pardon do us good every one is to endeavour to have his own name in the pardon A Son may be made free by his Fathers Copy but he cannot be pardoned by his Fathers pardon he must have a pardon for himself In this sence selfiâ—hness is lawful every one must be for himself and get a pardon for his own sins Forgive Vs. 3. From this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OVR Our sins we learn how just God is in punishing us the Text saith Our Sins we are not punished for other mens sins but our own Nemo habet de proprio nisi peccatum Augustine There 's nothing we can call so properly ours as sin Our daily bread we have from God our daily sins we have from our selves Sin is our own Act a web of our own spinning How righteous therefore is God in punishing of us we sow the seed and God only makes us reap what we sow Ier. 17.10 I give every man the fruit of his own doings When we are punished we do but tast the fruit of our own grafting 4. From this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sins see from hence the multitude of sins we stand guilty of we pray not forgive us our Sin as if it were only a single debt but sins in the plural so vast is the Catalogue of our sins that David cries out Who can understand his Errors Ps. 19.12 Our sins are like the drops in the Sea like the atoms in the Sun they exceed all Arithmetick Our debts we owe to God we can no more number than we can satisfie Which as it should humble us to consider how full of black Spots our Souls are so it should put us upon seeking after the pardon of our sins and this brings to the second Vse Exhort To labour to have the forgiveness of sin sealed up to us How can we eat or drink or sleep without it 'T is sad dying without a pardon This is to fall into the Labyrinth of Despair of this the next time Vse 2. Let us labour for the forgiveness of sin If ever this was needful then now when the Times ring Changes and Dangers seem to be marching towards us Labour I say for the Forgiveness of sin this is a main Branch of the Charter or Covenant of Grace Heb. 10.12 I will be merciful to your Unrighteousness and your Sins and Iniquities I will remember no more It is Mercy to feed us but it is rich Mercy to pardon us this is spun and woven out of the Bowels of Free-grace Earthly things are no signs of God's love he may give the Venison but not the Blessing but when God seals up Forgiveness he gives his Love and Heaven with it Psal. 21.3 Thou settest a Crown of pure Gold on his head A Crown of Gold was a Mercy but if you look into 103. Psalm you shall find a greater Mercy v. 3 4. Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities who crowneth thee with loving-kindness To be crowned with Forgiveness and Loving kindness is a far greater Mercy than to have a Crown of pure Gold set upon the Head it was a Mercy when Christ cured the palsy man but when Christ said to him Thy sins are forgiven Mar. 2.5 this was more than to have his palsy healed forgiveness of Sin is the Chief thing to be sought after and sure if conscience be once touched with a sence of Sin there 's nothing a man will thirst after more than forgiveness Ps. 51.3 My Sin is ever before me this made David so earnest for pardon Ps. 51.1 Have Mercy upon me O God blot out my Transgressions If one should have come to David and asked him David where is thy pain what is it troubles thee is it the fear of shame which shall come upon thee in thy Wives is it the fear of the Sword which God hath threatned shall not depart from thy House he would have said No it is only my sin pains me My Sin is ever before me Were but this removed by forgiveness tho' the Sword did ride in circuit in my Family I should be well enough content When the Arrow of Guilt sticks in the Conscience nothing is so desirable as to have this Arrow plucked out by forgiveness Oh therefore seek after the Forgiveness of Sin can you make a shift to live without it but how will you do to die without it will not death have a sting to an unpardoned Sinner how do you think to get to Heaven without forgiveness as at some solemn Festivals there 's no being admitted unless you bring a Ticket so unless you have this Ticket to shew Forgiveness of Sin there 's no being admitted into the Holy Place of Heaven Will God ever Crown those that he will not forgive O be ambitious of pardoning Grace When God had made Abraham great and large Promises Abraham replies Lord what is all seeing I go Childless Gen. 15.2 so when God hath given thee Riches and all thy heart can wish say to him Lord what is all this seeing I want Forgiveness let my pardon be sealed in Christ's Blood A Prisoner in the Tower is in an ill Case notwithstanding his brave Diet great Attendance soft Bed to lie on because being Impeach'd he looks every day for his Arraignment and is afraid of the Sentence of Death In such a Case and worse is He that swims in the Pleasures of the World but his sins are not forgiven A guilty Conscience doth impeach him and he is in fear of being Arraign'd and Condemn'd at God's Judgment-Seat Give not then sleep to your Eyes or slumber to your Eye lids till you have gotten some well-grounded hope that your sins are blotted out Before I come to press the Exhortation to seek after forgiveness of Sin I shall propound one question Quest. If pardon of Sin be so absolutely necessary without it no Salvation what is the Reason that so few in the world seek after it If they want health they repair to the Physitian if they want Riches they take a Voyage to the Indies
Sin 4. Prudence and Holiness is seen in this to know what we 〈…〉 and do what we know To know what we should do thereâ—â— the Wisdom 〈◊〉 â—he Serpent to do what we know there is the â—nnocency of the Dove Iohn 〈…〉 Knowledge is a Jewel 〈◊〉 him that wear◠〈…〉 is the 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 of the Mind Knowledge i◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Eye of the Soul to guide it in the right way but this Knowledge must â—e joyn'd with holy 〈◊〉 To separate Practice from Knowledge is to separate the Dove from the Serpent Many illuminated Heads can discourse fluently in Matters of Religion but they do not live up to their knowledge This is to have good Eyes but to have the Feet cut off They know they should not break the Sabbath they should not defame or defraud but they do not practise what they know Here they separate the Dove from the Serpent Vertue from Knowledge How vain is Knowledge without Practice As if one should know a Sovereign Medicine and not apply it Satan is a knowing Spirit he hath enough of the Serpent but that which makes him a Devil is he wants the Dove he doth not practise Holiness 5. To mix the Serpent and the Dove is to keep two Trades going To understand worldly Affairs there is the Wisdom of the Serpent yet not neglect the Soul there is the Innocency of the Dove God hath said Six Days shalt thou Labour Exod. 20.9 Religion did never grant a Patent to idleness There is a Lawful Care to be had about Secular Things To have insight into one's Calling is a commendable Wisdom but with this wisdom joyn the Dove's Innocency so follow your Calling as not to neglect your Soul The Soul is a precious thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it would beggar the Angels to give half the price of a Soul Our greatest care should be to get Grace While you put Gold in your Bag do not forget to put Oil in your Vessel Trade beyond the East Indies Drive a Trade of Holiness This Merchandice is better than the Merchandice of Silver Prov. 3.14 Live in a Calling but especially live by Faith Look to the providing for your Families but especially to the saving of your Souls The Soul is the Angelical part the loss of this can never be made up again God saith Chrysostom hath given a Man two Eyes if he lose one Eye he hath another but he hath but one Soul if he lose that it is irrecoverable it can never be made up again O unite the Serpent and the Dove Prudence and Holiness use the World but love your Soul Trade on Earth but beware of breaking in your Trade for Heaven How many part these two the Serpent and the Dove they are wise for the World but Fools for their Souls 'T is too often seen that Men pull down their Souls to build up an Estate 6. To join the Serpent and the Dove Prudence and Innocency consists in this To know how to give Counsel and how to keep Counsel He hath the Wisdom of the Serpent that can give Counsel he knows how to advise another in difficult cases and speak a Word in due season 2 Sam. 16.23 The Counsel of Achitophel was as if a Man had enquired at the Oracle of God But this is not enough to have the Wisdom of the Serpent in being able to give Counsel but there must be the Innocency of the Dove too in keeping Counsel If a Friend's secret be imparted to us unless in case of Blood we are not to reveal it A Friend is alter idem as one's own Soul Deut. 13.6 And what he imparts of his Heart should be kept under Lock and Key Prov. 25.9 Discover not a Secret to another lest he that hear thee put thee to shame c. To disclose a Friend's secrets though it be not Treason it is Treachery it is most Unchristian a Word may be spoken in secret which when it is Trumpeted out may occasion Quarrels or Law-suits He that cannot keep a Matter committed to him is like a Vessel that runs out or a sick Stomach that cannot keep the Meat but brings it up again He that publisheth his Friends secret doth publish his own shame 7. To mix these two Prudence and Holiness is to know the Seasons of Grace and improve them To know the Seasons of Grace there 's the Wisdom of the Serpent 'T is Wisdom in an Husband-Man to know the fit time for pruning of Trees sowing of Seed so it is no less Wisdom to know the Golden Seasons of Grace While we hear the joyful Sound while we have praying Hours while the Spirit of God blows on our Hearts here is a Gale for Heaven The day of Grace will not always last the Shadows of the Evening seem to be stretched out Things look as if the Gospel tended a-pace to a Sun-setting Be Wise as Serpents to know what a prize is put in your Hands and with the Serpent joyn the Dove that is in improving the Seasons of Grace The Stork and Turtle not only know their Season but improve it they approach to the warmer Climate against Spring saith Pliny Here is the Serpent and Dove united knowing and improving the Day of Grace when we profit by Ordinances when we mix the Word with Faith when an Ordinance hath stamped Holiness upon us as the Seal leaves its print upon the Wax This is to improve the Seasons of Grace 8. The Serpent and the Dove Wisdom and Innocency is to be moderate yet zealous Moderation is good in some cases Phil. 4.5 Let your Moderation be known to all First Moderation is good in case of Anger When the Passions are up Moderation sits as Queen and Governess in the Soul it allays the Heat of Passion Moderation is Fraenum Irae the Bridle of Anger Secondly Moderation is good in case of Law-Suits so the Greek Word for Moderation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is properly taken If there be a Dispute in Law between us and others we are not to take the Extremity of the Law but use Christian Equity and Mildness nay for Peace sake cedere de Iure rather part with some of our right than oppress them this much Honours the Gospel Thirdly Moderation is good in Things indifferent Things ought not to be rigorously imposed in God's Worship which are not of Divine Injunction God never made Governours of the Church to be like Pilots of a Ship to steer Men's Consciences which way they please Moderation and Christian Forbearance in Things indifferent would much tend to the Peace and Unity of the Church All this Moderation is commendable and shows the Wisdom of the Serpent but remember to joyn the Dove with the Serpent We must so exercise Moderation as withal to cherish Zeal St. Paul in some things was moderate he did not press Circumcision Act. 15.25 He was tender of laying a Yoke upon the Consciences of the Disciples but he had Zeal with his
Believers Privilege after Death 231 Believers when they enter upon possession of Glory 233 Benefits of Believers at the Resurrection 234 Benefits of God's Children what they are 138 Bodies how shall we know they shall be raised at the Resurrection 236 Since they must lie long in the Grave what shall support us till then ibid. Bodies of the Saints shall be glorious at the Resurrection 237 C. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord what meant by it 28 Call twofold 127 Call effectual the Means of it 128 The Cause of it ibid. The Qualifications of it ibid. Cerinthian Hereticks their Error 94 Change in the new Creature wherein it consists 981 Charity the excellency of it 366 Children wherein they are to shew their respect to their Parents 353 Child of God how it appears that he has worldly things in Love 432 Children of God how they should behave themselves to such a Father 440 Christ the several Names given him in Scripture 93 Christ why called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word 94 Christ is eternal ibid. Christ a Prophet how he teaches 96 Christ what are the Lessons he teaches ib. Christ's Teaching how it differs from others Teaching 97 Christ what we shall do to have him for our Teacher 98 Christ the Parts of his Priestly Office 100 Christ how he could suffer being God ibid. Christ's Sufferings wherein the greatness of them did appear ibid. Christ why he did suffer ibid Christ who he intercedes for and what he doth in the Work of Intercession 103 How he intercedes 104 How we may know that Christ intercedes for us 107 Christ how he comes to be a King 108 In what sence he is a King and where he rules and what he rules by 108 109 When will Christ deliver his People ibid. Christ how he came to be made Flesh. 111 Christ why born of a Woman ibid. Why born of a Virgin 112 How Christ thus born could be free of Sin ib. Christ why made Flesh. ibid. Christ how we shall know that he is formed in us 115 Christ in what sence God exalted him and how many ways 118 Christ's sitting at the Right Hand of God what is meant by it 119 Christ how he doth redeem us and from what and to what 121 122 Christ how he was made a Curse for us 270 Christ how he will preserve the Saints Grace till they come to Heaven 439 Christ's Glory in Heaven how it can stand with it to have a Fellow-feeling in our Miseries 849 Christ how he succours them that are tempted 850 Commandments of God how we must keep them 292 How we shall keep them 295 Comforts of a pardoned Soul 823 Comforts for those that bewail their want of growth 470 Convictions what makes them prove Abortive 462 The Covenant of Works 74 Covenant why God made Man with Adam and his Posterity in Innocency and what it was ibid. Why he gave it to Adam since he foresaw he would transgress ibid. Covenant of Grace what it is 89 What Names are given to it ibid. Why God would make such a Covenant with us ibid. Covenant of Grace how it differs from that made with Adam 90 Covenant of Grace if Works be required in it ibid. What we must do to be in Covenant with God 91 To Covet what it is 382 Covetousness the danger of it 383 How we may be cured of it 385 Creation what it is 65 Creation and Generation difference between them 66 Creation 2 things to be considered in it ib. D Darling-Sin otherwise called our own how it may be known 492 869 Day of Judgment how it appears there shall be one 238 Why it must be ibid. Who shall be Iudge ibid. Deceit how many sorts of it there are 878 Decrees of God what they are and execution of them 65 Deliverance of Israel out of Egypt why God mentions it in the Preface to the Commandments 257 Deliverances of the Godly and Wicked out of trouble how they differ 265 Deliverance how it may be known that it comes out of Love ibid. Deliverance when we are fitted for it ibid. How we should praise God in a right manner for it 266 Desires unfeigned how they may be known 463 Desires after Heaven wherein they come short 488 Dignity of such as have God for their Father wherein it lies 427 Directions to obtain Pardon of Sin 826 Directions to such as have overcome Temptation 858 Doing of God's Will why so requisite 512 Doing Duty unseasonably an effect of Satan's Temptation 844 Doves we should be like them in three respects 972 Drunkenness defaces God's Image as much as any Sin 969 Duty of Christians it is to be settled in the Doctrine of Faith Prelim. Disc. 1 This is accomplished by being well grounded 111 Duties of such as have their Sins forgiven 825 E Earth whether it did bear Thorns in Innocency 67 Elect People how we shall know that we are of it 820 Encouragements to Faith in Prayer 444 Encouragements to Hallowing of God's Name 453 Encouragements to Perseverance 501 Chief End of Man what it is 1 Enjoying of God two fold and what 9 Eternity of God 33 Comfortable to the Godly and frightning to the Wicked 34 Evidence of Pardon why it may not appear for a time 818 What Evil we should pray to be delivered from 860 Examine we must our Sins and Graces 417 F Faith why more the condition of the New Covenant than any other Grace 90 Faith the Kinds of it 124 Iustifying Faith what it is ibid. Faith how it is wrought 125 Faith the preciousness of it wherein it lies ib. How it justifies ib. Faith why it should justifie and save more than any other Grace 126 Faith how to know if it be true ibid. How to judge of the growth of it 127 Faith a most precious Grace and how it comes to be so 398 True Faith how it may be known 400 Faith how it comes to be strong 502 Fallen Man could be restored no other way but by God's assuming Flesh. 111 False Witnessing what is condemned under it 379 The Evil of it 381 Father who meant by it in the Fifth Command 350 Father in Heaven how we shew our Honour to him 429 Forgiveness of Sin what it is 804 Forgiveness of Sin the necessity of it 812 Forgive others how can we when God only forgives Sin 828 Forgive how we must 831 G Gifts whether sufficient for the Ministerial Office 965 Give us this day our daily Bread the meaning of it 537 Why 't is said give us in the Plural 540 Why 't is called our Bread 541 Bread what is meant by it 542 Glory what is comprehended in it 231 God's Glory what we are to understand by it 1 To glorifie God wherein it consists ibid. Glorifie God why we must do it 2 How many ways we may do it 3 God's Glory how we shall aim at it 4 Glory who bring none to God 8 God's Glory who fight against it ibid. Glory of