Selected quad for the lemma: grace_n

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grace_n	faith_n	justification_n	sanctification_n	4,477	5	10.0495	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58958	The Second and last collection of the late London ministers farewel sermons preached by Dr. Seaman, Dr. Bates, Mr. Caryll, [brace] Mr. Brooks, Mr. Venning, and Mr. Mead ; to which is added a farewell sermon preached at Dedham in Essex by Mr. Matthew Newcomen ; as also Mr. Lyes sermon at the conclusion of the last morning-exercise at All-hallows in Lumbard-street, being a summary rehearsal of the whole monthly-lectures.	Seaman, Lazarus, d. 1675.; Bates, William, 1625-1699.; Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673.; Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680.; Venning, Ralph, 1621?-1674.; Mead, Matthew, 1630?-1699.; Newcomen, Matthew, 1610?-1669.; Lye, Thomas, 1621-1684.	1663 (1663)	Wing S2257; ESTC R41075	195,536	326

Cure so there can be no sweeter peace then when mercy and peace meet together and when Conscience and Pe●ce kisleth each other The former is the tast of Heaven the latter is the perambulation of Heaven both which the Believer shares in upon his Justification by Faith If Christ had peace who was made our sin● needs must the Believer have peace who is made the righteousness of God in him Secondly Sanctifying grace has a peace attending it and this peace differs from the former as the root from the fruit The peace of Justification is a radical peace the root of peace but the peace of Sanctification is the Bud the Blossom of the Tree The former flows from the Bloud of Christ sprinkled on the Conscience the latte● from the conformity that is between the Word and Will between the Commands and the Conscience As many as walk according to this Rules grace be unto them and peace Gal. 6.16 So that peace is the frui of sanctifying grace Now as the bloud of the Paschal Lamb which was a token of peace was not to be struck on the Posts of the Egyptians but upon the Posts of the Israelites so neither is the bloud of sprinkling which brings perfect peace to be struck on the posts of the carnal sinner but on the post of the true Believer an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guil no grace no peace that is God's Law How can a sinner have peace in a state of sin when God and Conscience when Word and Conscience when Law and Conscience and all the Attributes of God are against the sinner No peace saith my God to the wicked Pray mark that Chapter it begins with peace and ends in no peace In vers 2. it 's said He shall enter into peace that is the Righteous In the last verse There is no peace to the wicked It 's the state of grace that 's the onely state of peace And thus I pass from the double grace desired grace and peace to the double Fountain discovered God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ But here 's a Question to be answered If Grace and Peace be from God the Father then how is it said to be from Christ and if from Christ how then from God the Father Answ It 's a known rule thar the transient exernal works of God are attributed to all the Three Persons in the Trinity the same Works that are attributed to the Father are also attributed to the Son and the same Works attributed to the Son the same also to the Father so grace and peace are here ascribed both to God the Father and to our Lord Jesus Christ that is they are both from mercy and from merit From mercy on God's part to us from merits on Christ's part for us They are from God the Father because he wills them to us from God the Son because he works them in us They are from God to Christ from Christ to us they are from God the Father originally and from Christ derivatively and to us actually God the Father is the Fountain of all grace and peace Christ as Mediator is the Conduit of all grace and peace Man in union to Christ is the Cistern into which these streams of grace and peace run God wills grace and peace to us and Christ works them in us God gives grace and peace to be applyed to the Creature this is from the love of the Father but the Application of this peace to the Soul is from the merit of Christ the Redeemer Thus you see there 's a double Spring of this double Blessing Time will not serve me further The onely Observation is That all the grace and peace which Believers share in is derived from God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ these three things opened will clear this 1. That grace and peace are the Believer's priviledge 2. That the Fountain of this grace and peace is from God the Father 3. That it is not given out from God the Father but through Christ First That grace and peace are the Saints priviledge if grace is then peace is But grace is the priviledge of every Believer and that whether you look upon it as taken from the love and favour of God to us This is the Believers priviledge God can as well forget Christ at his right hand as cease his love and favour to the Soul of a Believer The Believers Title to all their blessings arises out of this never-failing love of God or if you take grace for the fruit of God's love to the Soul still it falls to the Believers priviledge Vocation Justification Adoption Pardon of Sin purging from Sins strength against Sin Holiness Love Faith Obedience Perseverance all these are the priviledges of every Believer nay a man cannot be a Believer without any one of them they are as essential to the being of a Christian as reason to the being of a man Secondly as grace so peace is the Believers priviledge There is peace Eternal peace Supernal peace Internal and peace External There is peace External this is peace with Men There is peace Supernal that is peace with God There is peace Internal that is peace with Conscience All these three are to be had upon Earth and then there 's peace Eternal and that is onely to be had in Heaven The Apostle here doth not exclude the former but chiefly intends the latter Peace with man is a good thing to be 〈◊〉 but peace with God and Conscience is 〈…〉 to be desired Peace with God is the 〈…〉 things both within and without both below and above both in time and Eternity so says Job If he gives peace who then can make trouble Now this peace is the Saints priviledge It is a Legacy left to every Believer by the last Will and Testament of a dying Redeemer Will you see a Copy of his Will then look in John 14.27 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you There is it seems a peace in the Worlds power to give and there 's a peace of Christ's bestowing Now Christ would have us here not to mistake the World's peace for his for the difference is very great for first the World's peace is a false peace it is a counterfeit Coyn it has not the currant stamp of Heaven on it but the peace that Christ gives to a Believer is true peace and perfect peace Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee Secondly the Worlds peace is an outward peace It is but skin-deep it wets the mouth cannot wash the heart Prov. 14.13 In laughter the heart is sorrowful and the end of that mirth is heaviness The Worlds peace is but the shell of peace their Conscience lowres when their countenance laughs but the Peace that Christ gives is an inward and spiritual peace Psal 4.7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart more then in the time

THE Second and Last Collection OF THE Late London Ministers Farewel Sermons Preached by Dr. Seaman Dr. Bates Mr. Caryll Mr. Brooks Mr. Venning And Mr. Mead. To which is added a Farewell Sermon Preached at Dedham in Essex by Mr. Matthew Newcomen And also Mr. Lyes Sermon at the conclusion of the last Morning-Exercise at All-hallows in Lumbard-street Being a Summary Rehearsal of the whole Monthly-Lectures 2 Sam. 23.1 Now these are the last words of David the sweet singer of Israel LONDON Printed in the year 1663. Price 1 s. 6 d. bound THE PREFACE TO THE Christian Reader Reader THe good acceptance which the former Collection of farewell Sermons already Published have found among the people of God together with the importunate desires of many godly Persons that were hearers of these sermons have put us upon recommending them unto the world not doubting with the blessing of God of the same success Our design in Publishing these Sermons is not to make old fores bleed or foment any ones discontent concerning the laying aside of these Reverend and Godly Ministers nor shall we mention what great losse the Church of God hath suffered in their being made useless herein wee must be silent and acquiess under this sad Providence Much might be said as to the excellency of these following Sermons but wee forbear they are of age let them speak for themselves but thus much we are bold to say Here lurks no Snake under these Herbs no poysonous Serpent under these fragrant Flowers no root of errour no slip of Schisme no fruit of disobedience whatever some men may prejudge concerning them These Sermons do breathe forth the holiness and plainness of the Preachers spirits who were very laborious and prosperous in the work of the Ministry and although they be not so Notional and Rhetorical as many may desire yet they are substantially profitable and fitted to the capacities of their Auditors indeed they may well be stiled the Spiritual mans directory to the Caelestial Canaan the names and memories of the judicious and learned Authors of these Sermons are so precious to us for their great worths and eminent abilities that we cannot but rejoyce at the publication of these their labours that are so proper and genuine and that these are such we are confidently assured If thou question the truth of this come and see do but peruse them their features will shew who was their Father sic oculos sic ille manus sic ora ferebat If thou seriously peruse them thou shalt find much cause to encrease thy tears in the remembrance of those faithful Labourers that sin hath deprived England of We commend them therefore to thy perusal and the blessing of the Lords Grace in whom we are thine in all Christian Service Farewel Doctor SEAMAN's Farewel SERMON HEB. 13.20 21. Now the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Bloud of the Everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever AMEN THE Apostle being now upon the conclusion of this Epistle after a very large discovery of Jesus Christ in all those things that belong to his Person concerning his Nature as God as Man and concerning his Offices especially concer-cerning his Priestly and concerning the blessings and benefits especially in the matter of his Sacrifice doth in this last Chapter insist on matters Hortatory and in the words draws near to a conclusion which contains a Prayer wish or desire which he puts up unto God in the behalf of them in order to their good and benefit Now the God of Peace that brought again c. In which words considered by themselves there are two things considerable 1 The matter of the Apostle's Prayer 2 The grounds which he doth insinuate for Audience In the things he desires the Matter of the Prayer is laid down in the 21 v. and is summarily and generally propounded in several expressions yet nevertheless so as they have their Specialities belonging to them In the beginning he shews what he aims at make you perfect c. In general it refers to their Sanctification that they might be throughly sanctified as to their inward man and outward Conversation as to those things that belong to them in the Habits of their Minds and external Carriage The grounds which the Apostle uses by way of insinuation for Audience are contained in the words of the 30th verse wherein we have a very large Description of the Person prayed unto The God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus c. He describes him under such Notes and Marks as serve much for inlargement and inforcement in the matter of his Prayer But here a Question may arise Seeing Grace is the thing the Apostle principally desires and 't is usual with holy men both under the Old and New Testament 〈◊〉 ●hoose out such Attributes as sute most with their part●cular occasions and are most agreeable to those requests they have Why he doth not apply himself to God as the God of all Grace but rather the God of Peace Therein first the Apostle seems to make use of that same liberty which belongs to holy men As there is in the general a liberty left to God's People from God himself Paul in this place makes use of that liberty he had as to the manner of Prayer using such a description of God as seemed good to him at the present But secondly If he be the God of Peace it follows he is the God of Grace If God hath glorified himself so far among the Hebrews as to reconcile them to himself by the bloud of Christ then there is no question God will proceed further and having provided for those things which appertain to their Justification no question but he will for those things that are necessary to their Sanctification Therefore the Apostle argues plainly from Justification to Sanctification He that justifies his People through the bloud of Christ sanctifie you by the Spirit of Christ make you perfect to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight c. so desires we should be sanctified on the consideration of our Justification having provided for Justification by the bloud of Christ follows Sanctification by the Spirit of Christ 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly c. That God who is allay'd to you the God of Peace and hath provided for you Peace I desire he would further provide Sanctification for Sanctification is nothing else but the effect of that Grace which is procured for Believers through the bloud of Christ There is no access to God for sanctification of our Natures until we prevail with him for the Justification of our Persons and he first shews himself to be a God of Peace by

way of Justification before a God of Grace by way of Sanctification But to proceed First for the description of the Person wherein take notice of him 1 By one of his Attributes 2 By one of his special Works whereby he hath manifested that Attribute 1 The Attribute of God is imply'd under those wo●ds that he is called the God of Peace The gracious God that provides for Reconciliation between himself and sinners that finds out ways and means to win those who are by Nature Children of Wrath to be the Children of God There is no peace but God is Author of Whether natural peace or civil peace or political peace he is pleased to provide for them But there is a transcendent kind of Peace which doth with a peculiarity belong to God's People i. e. Spiritual Peace between God and Sinners and that inward peace that we enioy if our Conscience hath been troubled with terrors of sin wrath c. Peace belongs so to God as none of the Creatures c●n have any glory of it Psal 4.7 This Peace is God's Peace none can effect or devise it but God and with respect to this he is more especially called the God of Peace because he hath found out a way to make Reconciliation between God and his sinful perishing Creatures 2 Cor. 5.19 Ephes 2.14 c. Col. 1.13 2 There is a special Work of God attributed to him that the Apostle take into consideration i. e. That he brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the sheep through the bloud of the everlasting Covenant wherein we have many words and every word its weight and we shall scarce be able to weigh every one so as to take the ' ull sense and emphasis of them In the words there is 1 Something imply'd 2 Something express'd 1 Something imply'd namely That the Lord Jesus Christ was sometimes in the state of Death and that being in the state of the Dead it was not any ordinary power way or means could ransom him He was in the state and condition of the Dead he was for a while under the power and dominion of Death his Body for the space of three days lay in the Grave and in that sense was under the dominion of Death as all dead men are The great Shepherd of the sheep could not have his own life in some sense no interest he had in God by virtue of his Sonship or any of his Offices could save him from Death though the Son of God and Head of the Church and Christ looked upon it so far from being below him as he thought it necessary for him and it was his glory Joh. 10.11 12. I am the g●od Shepherd the good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep but he that is an Hireling and not the Shepherd whose own the sheep are not seeth the Wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and fleeth c. ●●elings they have no such spirit or principle in the● that they should lay down their lives for the Sheep b●● he so much respected his Father's glory and good of his Flock finding there was no way to bring them to Salvation As he deny'd himself in all other respects for their good so in this respect lays down his life for them And herein the Church of God seems to have a deadly kind of wound to be at a deadly loss Zach. 13.7 I will smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered But herein lye the wonderful goodness and wisdom of God he is pleased to improve as the life so the death of Christ for the good of his Church Luk. 24.16 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things It was very expedient that seeing the sheep could not otherwise be saved but by the Shepherd's dying that the Shepherd should lay down his life for the sheep and seeing no other way to make Reconciliation to God it was very expedient Christ should dye Therefore 't is to be taken notice of That it doth not misbecome the Head therefore not the Members of the Body they must be content to lay down their lives for their Flock for so did the great Shepherd 2 Something express'd Where take notice First of the Person spoken of Secondly of that which is given us to be taken notice of in particular 1 The Person to be taken notice of is Our Lord Jesus Christ That which we have considerable is First The Title that belongs to him in his Church in this regard called The great Shepherd of his sheep The Shepherd of the sheep yea the great Shepherd of the sheep Whatsoever glory was 〈◊〉 be communicated to any Member of the Church 〈◊〉 was first put into the Head before they were to be made partaker of it Some were to be made inferiour Ranks Ephes 4.11 But it was not fit any should have such glory to be called Shepherds before he had that honour on him Therefore 't is the great Shepherd he that is Shepherd not of a particular Congregation but of the whole Church of God he is the Saviour of all his Body he hath the full number of all the Elect both among the Jews and Gentiles committed to his charge to save 2 What betides this great Shepherd through God's grace towards him that is that he is brought again from the Dead i. e. that he doth attain to a state of Resurrection And here take notice of this by the way for Consolation The great Shepherd of the sheep doth dye but the great Shepherd of the sheep rises again Herein argues God's love that though he would suffer him to dye yet not to see Corruption Psal 16.10 Because he is the great Shepherd therefore he must dye but because he is the Great Shepherd therefore he cannot continue in the state of the Dead Death must not tryumph over the great Shepherd of the sheep no not by any means As it was necessary that he should dye much more that he should rise again We read Revelations the eleventh concerning two Prophets when they had finished their course they dye and their dead bodies are cast into the Streets c. but we read also of their Resurrection There is a two-fold state incident to those 〈◊〉 one estate of Dying another estate of Rising 〈…〉 it is not peculiar to Christ onely but to others with him The great Shepherd of the sheep dyes no wonder if the little Shepherds dye too But the great Shepherd is raised so shall the little ones in their order and in their time 1 Peter 5.6 When the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Resurrection is that which Christ exemplifies first in his own Person in order to assure all his Members they shall attain to the same state with him and God is as easily able to provide when he sees expedient to raise them from the Dead as to suffer them to dye Christ he brought again by a high hand and in a

c. 8 The strange and wonderful Affections and tenderness that God hath wrought in his Children to the Gospel What meltings and mournings and what a spirit of Prayer hath God put upon his People 9 There are many young tender Plants and Buds of grace such in whom the Spirit of God hath stirred a hungring thirsting and longing after the great Concernments of Eternity I would upon these grounds with others of the like import hope and believe that the Lord will not remove his everlasting Gospel however he may correct his People for their trifling with and slighting the glorious Gospel I have several times thought what a day of darkness was upon the World in respect of Sin and Superstition When Christ brought the everlasting Gospel what a day of Darkness and Superstition was on the whole Earth But you know what the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 1.21 For after that in the wisdom of God the World by wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe When it is nearest day then it is darkest There may be an hour of Darkness that may be upon the Gospel as to its liberty purity and glory and yet there may be a Sun-shining day ready to tread on the heels of it And so much for the Resolution of those Queries I shall proceed as I said and leave some Legacies with you which may by the finger of the Spirit be made advantageous to you whom we are not advantaged to speak unto you LEGACY 1. The first Legacy I would leave with you shall be this Secure your Interest in Christ Make it your great business your work your Heaven to secure your interest in Christ This is not an Age an Hour for a man to be between fears and hopes between doubting and believing Take not up in a name to live when you are dead God-ward and Christ-ward Take not up in an outward form and outward priviledges They cryed out The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord that had no interest in or love to the Lord of the Temple Follow God leave no means unattempted whereby your blessed interest may be cleared up Leg. 2. Make Christ and Scripture the onely foundation for your souls and faith to build on as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundations can no man lay then that which is layd even Jesus Christ Isa 28.6 Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone a tryed stone a corner stone a pretious stone a sure foundation Ephes 2.10 Since its a very dangerous thing as much as your souls and eternity is worth for you to build on any thing besides Jesus Christ many will say Come build on this authority and that on this saying and that but take heed Leg. 3. In all places and company be sure to carry your soul-preservatives with you go into no place or company except you carry your soul-preservations with you that is a holy care and wisdom You know in infectious times men will carry outward preservatives with them you had need to carry your preservatives about you else you will be in danger of being infected with the ill customs and vanities of the times wherein you live and that is a third Leg. 4. I would leave with you is this look that all within you rises higher and higher by oppositions threatnings and sufferings that is that your faith your love your courage your zeal your resolutions and magnanimity rises higher by opposition and a spirit of prayer this it did Acts 4.18 19 20 21 29 30 31. compared all their sufferings did but raise up a more noble spirit in them they did but raise up their faith and courage So Acts 5.40 41 42. they looked on it as a grace to be disgraced for Christ and as an honour to b● dishonoured for him They say as David If th● be to be vile I will be more vile If to be found in th● way of my God to act for my God to be vile I will be more vile Leg. 5. Take more pains and make more Conscience of keeping your selves from sin than suffering from the pollutions and defilements of the day then from the sufferings of the day this Legacy I would beg that you would consider take more pains and make more conscience of keeping your selves from the evil of sin than the evil of punishment from the pollutions and corruptions of the times than the sufferings of the times Acts 2.40 Save your selves from this untoward generation Phil. 2.15 The Children of God must be harmless and blameless without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation Heb. 11. speaks full to the poin in hand Rev. 3 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis that have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy White was the habit of Nobles which imports the honour that God will put on those that keep their garments pure in a defiling day Rev. 8.4 And I heard another voyce from Heaven saying Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues If you will be tasting and sipping at Babylon's Cup you must resolve to receive more or lesse of Babylons plagues Leg. 6. I would leave with you is this Be alwayes doing or receiving good Our Lord and Master went up and down in this world doing good he was still doing good to body and soul he was acted by an untired power be still doing or receiving good this will make your lives comfortable your deaths happy and your accompt glorious in the great day of our Lord. Oh how useless are many men in their generation oh that our lips might be as so many Honey-combs that we might scarter knowledge Leg. 7. I would leave with you is this Set the highest examples and patterns before your face of grace and godliness for your imitation In the business of Faith set an Abraham before your eyes in the business of Courage set a Joshua In the business of uprightness set a Job of meekness a Moses c. There is a disadvantage that redounds to Christians by looking more backwards than forwards Men look on whom they excel not on those they fall short of Of all examples set them before you that are most eminent for grace and holiness for communion with God and acting for God next to Christ set the pattern of the choisest Saints before you Leg. 8. Hold fast your Integrity and rather let all go than let that go A man had better let liberty estate relations and life go than let his integrity go yea let Ordinances themselves go when they cannot be held with the hand of integrity Job 27. 5 6. God forbid that I should justify you till I die I will not remove my integrity from me my Righteousness I will hold fast and I will not let it go my heart shall not reproach

debasement of Christ yet if he had been born to a Crown to Honour it had been something but he was born to shame to sorrow and death But man by grace is born to a Crown to a Kingdom he has a title to all the glory and blessedness of Heaven from the first moment of his new birth So 't is in the Text Grace be unto you and peace Peace in Scripture is a very comprehensive term it carries in it all happiness It was the common greeting of the Jews Peace be unto you Thus David by his Proxy salutes Nabal Peace be to thee and thy House and the Apostle here alludes to this form of Salutation that he might mix new Testament mercy to old Testament manners he first stiles grace before peace as Jacob did with his Venison he made it a savoury meat such as Isaac loved Peace is the glory of Heaven in the Bosom of God and brought into the World in the Arms of Angels the first peace you read of in the Gospel was peace by the administration of Angels Luke 2.13 14. And suddenly there was with the Angels a multitude of Heavenly Host praising and saying Glory be to God in the highest and on Earth peace good will towards men And when our Lord Christ first sent out his Disciples this was the Doctrine that he bid them preach Matth. 10.12 13. When you come into a house salute it and if it be worthy let grace peace come upon it Mark here by the way Our Lord Jesus Christ is no enemy to good manners he would not have Christians to be Clowns which is the use of some among us who would have their Religion quarrel with good manners no but in whatsoever City or Town you enter salute it and let grace peace come upon it that is wish peace to them saying The peace of God be upon this place upon the head and hearts of all in it So that peace is both a Gospel-salutation when Ministers and People meet and it 's also a Gospel-valediction when the Minister and the People part So did the Apostle and so do I now Grace be with you and peace I observe in Matth. 10.13 14. our Lord bids his Disciples when they enter into a house if the house be worthy to let their peace come upon it but if they be not worthy let grace peace return unto you Instead of leaving peace with them to shake off the dust of their feet against them that is to shew that God will shake them off as dust and tread them under feet as fewel My Brethren your diligent atteddance on the Word at this place hath comfortably prevented that part of my charge to shake off the du● of my feet for how beautiful have the feet of a poo● Worm been to you being shod with the prep●ranon of the Gospel of Christ And therefore seeing our Lord Jesus Christ said If they be worthy of th●● peace abide with them On this account I wish to you Grace and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ But what is this Peace It 's the beauty of Union the harmony of the Creation the pleasure of Life the feast of a good Conscience it 's that which makes life sweet and death easie● Peace sweetens all our Possessions and all our Afflictions without this the fulness of the World is a burden with this poverty and emptiness is a pleasant Companion without this our bread is gravelled with sowrness and our water mingled with bitterness with this green herbs become a feast and our Water is turned into Wine Peace it 's the most beautiful Creature in the World and therefore it 's beloved of all courted of all many fee● her but few there be that enjoy her they do not go the right way to find her for in the ways of right● ousness is peace Peace is the seminary of all blessing● Temporal as Grace is of all blessings Spiritu●l In Grace you have implyed all holiness in Peace all happiness In grace all inward in peace all ou● ward blessings Grace and Peace are the Alp● and Omcga of all Blessings as God is of all Being● no blessing comes before grace and no blessing l●● longer Then see in this phrase of speech the 〈◊〉 postle wishes upon them as I do upon you all 〈◊〉 blessings both of Time and Eternity and yet 〈◊〉 wished no more to them then God promise● give them 1 Tim. 4.8 For godliness hath the promise of this life and that which is to come Grace be unto you and peace c. not one without the other though a man may have grace without peace as in a time of desertion or temptation and a man may have peace without grace as in a secure and unregenerate Condition grace without peace is often found in a troubled Conscience and peace without grace is often found in a seared Conscience as grace without peace is very uncomfortable so peace without grace is very unprofitable like Rachel beautiful but barren Therefore the Apostle desires ye should have both grace and peace and we say the Sun and Salt are the most useful Creatures in the World the one for shining the other for seasoning My Brethren grace and peace are the Christian's Sun and Salt grace is the light of their souls and peace is the savour of their comforts grace shines through all their faculties and peace seasons all their mercies The blessings of God are become as Twins as Christ said of the Spouse Cant. 4.2 She is like a flock of sheep that are even shorn which came up from the washing whereof every one bears twins and none is barren among them Grace and peace here are knit together by the Spirit of God in a sacred knot not to be untyed As Castor and Pollux when seen together portend happiness to the Mariner so when grace and peace are found in a Soul together they portend the highest security and blessing to the Believer they are said in Scripture to be bound together where God gives the one he never denyes the other If he gives you me Upper Spring of grace he will give you the other Spring of peace for they go both together If be gives you the Dew of Heaven you need not question the fatness of the Earth If his right hand be full of merey his left hand shall not be empty Therefore Grace and peace be with us from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ Grace has a double sense either for the grace of God to us that justifies us or the grace of God in us that sanctifies us Now there is a distant peace flowing from each of these but still its grace and peace First justifying grace has a peace attending that Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have peace with God So far as we have confidence in justifying grace there remains no Conscience of condemning sin As there can be no bitterer War then between Conscience and the

when as they who stand fast do even force a good Testimony from their Enemies So it was the unhappy chance of Cranmer the Papists did perswade him to subscribe and did he get any honour by it No truly they did upbraid him and reproach him and so he had dyed in a raving condition had not the Lord been merciful to him I remember a speech of St. Austin about drinking of Healths Oh! say they 't is upon the King's Birth-day and we cannot avoid it If we deny it say they we shall be reproached and scorned of men He gives them many Answers to it but one as I remember was this God will so work that if you will not comply with them they in their hearts will honour you and whereas if you did comply with them they would dishonour you and say you are base spirited That is one thing of this Point that keeping close to Jesus Christ will get you this Reward you shall walk with him in the white of honour they shall walk in the white of honour with his People and it may be with the World too 2 They shall walk in white in the white of peace and joy and inward comfort I shewed you in the opening of the Text how the Scripture calls that walking in white Then the Point is this What ever becomes of the other white of honour in the World they shall be sure of this that abundance of peace and joy and comfort shall possess their souls that keep their garments white they shall walk in the inward white of joy and peace with Jesus Christ and this is a blessed Reward Indeed now this joy this white of joy arises in the Soul three ways 1. From the Testimony of their own Consciences Oh! they who have a good Testimony from their own Consciences walk in white 2 Cor. 1.12 We have this for our rejoycing the Testimony of our Consciences that in all simplicity and godly sincerity we have our conversation in Heaven that is walking in white this is our rejoycing our Conscience speaks well of us and kindly to us and who is able to express the sweetness of this thing None can know what this is but they that have it as it is said of the New Name written upon the white Stone Rev. 2 1● 'T is a thing beyond expression what the joy an● peace of a good Conscience is Now this I say that our white Garments and our walking in white ariseth from the Testimony of our Consciences 2. As from the Testimony of our Consciences so from that Testimony which is greater than out Consciences the Spirit the shedding abroad of Divine Love thus it is with those that do not defile their Garments but endure any thing rather then defile their Garments Rom. 5.3 4 5. And not onely so but we glory in Tribulations knowing Tribulation worketh Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope and Hope maketh not ashamed and whence was all this because of the Holy Ghost which was given to us this causeth joy unspeakable The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God This Witness doth cause wonderful joy much more then the witnesses of our own Consciences 3. This ioy doth arise from that well-grounded hope which that Soul hath that keeps himself clean hope of enjoying Heaven at last hope of future glory is our present joy Rom. 5.2 By whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace wherein we stand and joyce in hope of the glory of God Now they who keep their Garments white have good ground of hope of the love of God therefore this must needs cause them to walk comfor ably as they who have this hope purifie themselves so they who purifie themselves have good ground of this hope and therein great cause to rejoyce Pet. 1.5 6. Who are kept by the power of God brough Faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in ●e last times wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for 〈◊〉 season if need be ye are in heaviness through many emptations We walk in white in the hope we have of that In●eritance Now lay these three things together ●f they who keep their Garments undefiled have ●he Testimony of their own Consciences and the ●estimony of the Spirit shedding the Love of God ●n their hearts and a well-grounded hope of fu●ure ●lory how can it be but these must walk in white ●ith Jesus Christ that is in comfort and joy of ●e Spirit and of their own spirits Thus David walked he had abundance of joy up●n the Conscience of his own integrity and keeping his heart and hands clean from those iniquities ●is enemies charged him with Ps 3. The Lord shall ●udge his people Judge me O Lord according to my ●ighteousness and according to mine integrity that is in ●●e He appeals to the Lord the Lord shall judge ●is people Judge me O Lord according to my ●ighteousness Thus he appeals to God himself he ●ad so much confidence and his heart gave him ●hat he kept himself from those iniquities So Job walkt in white though his Friends blackt him exceedingly yet he walked in white in his Conscience Job 16.19 Behold my Witness is in Heaven and my Record is on high I have not onely a Witness in my Conscience but my Witness is above He walked in white notwithstanding all his afflictions from God and his Friends Hezekiah walkt in this white when death 〈◊〉 him in the face Lord thou knowest I have we upright with thee I need not stay in the proof of the thing let 〈◊〉 make some Use and Improvement of it Vse Is this blessed reward to those who ke●● their garments white to walk in the white of peac● and joy then here we see the happiness of all tho●● who are true to Christ and his wayes Psal 119. ● Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in th● Law of the Lord. 'T is just in the Language of 〈◊〉 Text they indeed shall walk in white it is a grea● part of our blessedness to have peace of conscience and inward joy Oh how much better is it that the peace and joy of this world and the comforts of this world Prov. 15.13 A merry heart or as another Translation saith A good Conscience and indeed a merry heart and a good Conscience do but one explain the other a merry heart or a good Conscience is a continual Feast Here is no● surfeiting in this feast but a continual Musick co●tinual joy and comfort oh how blessed are the● who are undefiled in the way That which Christ said of the Lilly Solomon 〈◊〉 all his glory was not arrayed like one of these so may I say of the Lilly-white soul that keeps himself white in the world who keeps himself white i● matter of practice and worship Solomon in all 〈◊〉 glory was not arrayed like one of these Lilly-white ones Oh the Rivers of Consolations that flow to them that keep themselves out of

1.19 Phil. 1.4 Col. 1.3 And I trust that I shall not only now at this solemn parture but as long as I live still recommend you into the hands of God though I shall not preach to you yet I still shall make mention of you in my prayers that God would stablish and comfort preserve you to his heavenly kingdom 4 Why doth the Apostle commend them to the Word of his grace For these two Reasons First because all the good that any people can look for is from God it is declared and laid up in the Promises and in the Gospel there is the Treasure of God it is in the Gospel The grace of God which hath appeared to all men bringeth salvation T it 2.11 We could never have known the glorious mysteries of salvation had it not been for the grace of God we could never have expected good but from the Gospel that is the great Magna Charta wherein God hath made over whatsoever concerns the eternal good of his people We have nothing to shew for grace and comfort and heaven and glory but his Gospel that is the great deed of gift that God hath given to his people poor sinners might look a Saviour if the word of God had not revealed it those people would have no ground to expect salvation if God had not declared it in his Gospel to bestow it upon them 2 The Gospel is the only instrument by which God brings and conveys all that good to the soul that it stands in need of all spiritual and temporal good that accompanies salvation God works nothing immediately upon the soul but by the Gospel First If any soul be converted to God it is by the grace of God And as Conversion so Sanctification that is effected by the word of God so likewise in Edification Salvation and Preservation Use and Application Use I come now to the Application It may be I have been too long already but God knows that it may be the last time that I may trespass in this kind and I have the Apostles Example who preached at Troas til midnight but I promise to have done in a great deal less time Use In the Application I shall in the Apostles Example Commend to you to the grace of God My Brethren and dearly Beloved and longed for now God by his providence is taking me away from you in the exercising of my publick Ministry I commend you to God and to the word of his Grace This I shall do First by exhorting and counsel and then by prayer Use of Exhortation First by way of Exhortation 1 In reference to God and then 2. In reference to the word of his grace First of all my Exhortation in reference to God is that you would commit your selves to God If it should be so much a Ministers care to commend his people to God its good reason they should commend themselves 1. All a Ministers commending you to God will be to no purpose if you do not commit your selves I shall always make mention of you in my prayer as long as God shall continue me in this valley of tears I shall pray that God should build you up and sanctifie you I shall pray for you but God will not hear my prayers if you do not hearken to my counsel To commit your selves to God 2. Consider If you can so commit your selv●es to God as to get God to take charge of you you are made for ever God will be an All-sufficient God in stead of all thy friends in the world you shall not need any that shall provide for you to protect you God will be all in all in stead of father instead of mother houses lands relations God will be better to you then ten husbands then ten Ministers Ah better then ten thousand Worlds God can sweeten all your enjoyments God can provide for you and make you happy in the midst of the wants of creature-comforts God is a Sun and a Shield he will give grace and glory And no good thing will he with-hold from them that fear him God contains all in himself Eminenter get God and you get all Let the World frown or smile let it turn upside-down though the Mountains be thrown into the midst of the Sea though the World be set on fire yet a soul that is in Gods keeping is happy God is a present help in time of trouble 2 As God is an all-sufficient friend so he is a firm and a fast friend to them My father and mother forsook me then the Lord took me up Psal 27.10 My flesh and my heart fails but God fails me not though my Minister and my friends leave me yet God will not leave me he is engaged by his own promise truth and faithfulness I will never never never c. leave thee nor forsake thee If you do not forsake God God will never forsake you if once you have so committed your selves to God as God accepts the charge he hath undertaken that you shall never depart from him It is part of the Covenant and he is engaged to all the Relations wherein he stands to his people as a Husband as a Father as a Master But you will say How shall we commit our selves to God that God may have a charge of us I will give you one direction for all 1 Take God to be your God and give up your selves to be his people if you will before you and I part heartily and unreservedly give up your selves to God to be his people it will be the comfortablest day that ever I saw though in other respects it may be the saddest as certainly God is your God so certainly he will keep you if you will avouch your selves to be Gods I will avouch God to be yours 1 You must take God to be the portion of your souls inheritance lay up all your happinesse in God for if you choose any thing else for your happinesse but God God will have nothing to do with you God will be all or nothing Your hearts must say as Davids Lord thou art my portion whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee He accounted all nothing for God God was his happiness God was his portion God was his All in All. 2. You must make God the center of all your love and delight God will have all from you or nothing you must not divide your affection between God and the world you must love nothing in comparison of him love nothing but in subordination to him as you would have God to be wholly yours so you must be wholly his 3 You must take God to be the strength and shield of your hearts if you would have God to take care of you you must cast your care upon God if you place your hope any where else there will be no sure hold the Anchor of your hope must be cast no where else if you lay your

burden any where else God will not lend you a finger to help you but if you place your hope in God God will help you your extremity shall be his opportunity 4 You must take God to be the guide of your hearts if you would have the priviledge of Gods guard you must keep in Gods way keep in Gods way and you will be sure of Gods protection do you keep Gods precepts and God will keep your person do what God commands and avoid what God for bids and then you need not fear what will become of you Let the World frown and Friends forsake you resolve that you will follow God wheresoever he leads you then he will be your God all your dayes and he will guide you here by his counsel till at last he bring you to his glory And this leads me to the second Exhortation in respect to the Gospel Secondly Brethren I commend you to the word of Gods grace I commend you to the Precepts of God to be obeyed by them I commend you to the Promises of God to be believed by you 1 Keep them and hold them fast carefully it is your treasure it is your life keep it and it will keep you it is all that you can shew for Heaven I leave it as a Depositum if you part with it take heed how you will answer it at the last day it is the talent which God hath committed to you for which you will be commended for keeping at the great day Hold fast the word of Gods grace there is old tugging by the Devil and his Instruments either to pull you from the word or the word from you Let any thing go rather than the Gospel let your Friends your Estates your Lives rather than let go the Gospel Study Gods word do not keep them by for no purpose Search the Scriptures for in them you hope for eternall life There 's the pearl of great price there is direction there is comfort this book of God will make you wise unto salvation If you never hear Sermon more you have enough by the use of the Bible to carry you to Heaven There 's Divinity there is holinesse and heaven almost in every syllable when you cannot have it preached to you Be much in the study of it Then practice it conscionably Be not only hearers but doers of it let your conversation be such as becomes the Gospel It was the Apostles advice to the Philippians and it 's mine to you Let your conversation be such as becomes the Gospel Let your conversation become the Precepts the Priviledges the Promises of the Gospel Having then thus commended you to God give me leave before we part to commend God and his Gospel to you 1. Make it your daily business to walk with God make him the companion of your lives converse with God every day in the inward of your hearts He that is a stranger with God God will soon be a stranger to him and if you neglect God one day you may be to seek him when you may most need him 2. Live in the daily exercise of grace and godlinesse 1. Live in the continual exercise of Faith live by it you have need of the exercise of that grace every day you ca● as well live without food as live without faith it is that grace which feeds upon Christ 2 Be much in the exercise of the fear of the Lord all the day long be afraid to sin against God in the secret of your souls mind his presence in all places in all company in all businesses 3 Be much in the exercise of Humility live humbly and think better of others then your selves Humility will exceedingly adorn your profession 4 Be much in the exercise of Repentance Be frequent and constant in prayer Pray continually do it spiritually and do it exactly as to the season of it 5 Be fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Whatever you do for God do it with all your might do not put off God with the skin but give him the marrow 6 Be careful not onely to keep up secret but Family-worship the less preaching there is in publick the more catechising and instructing there should be in private I know no more likely means then the setting up the worship of God in private families 7. Prize the Sabbath be strict and exact in the observation of the Lords day I have shewed you many times wherein the spiritual observation of it doth consist it is your seed-time your market-day it is a sign you shall one day celebrate an everlasting Sabbath with God in the highest heavens 8 Be stedfast in the ways of God in a back-sliding age Keep your ground while others fall away stand fast in faith be not ashamed to own Christ before all the World teckon upon the reproaches of Christ and count them greater riches then the Treasures in Egypt Do not place Religion in a few shadows when the substance is neglected do not think that God will be put off with the skin without the substance and by your holy conversation labour to put to filence the foolishness and ignorance of wicked men that ●en may have nothing to accuse you but in the ma●●ers of Jesus Christ that you may cut off occasion from them that seek occasion Let no reproach make you lay aside holiness and say If this be to be vile I will be vile still And love all those that have been instrumental for your spiritual comfort Forget not to contribute to the necessities of the poor Saints think that God hath given you your Estates for such a time as this for this is acceptable to God Blesse them that curse you pray for them that despightfully use you so shall you heap coals of fire upon their heads when you are reviled revile not again Do your duty to your Superiours to those that God hath set over you and so carry your selves as it was in the case of Daniel that they may find nothing against you save in the matter of your God In all things let your conversation be as becomes the Gospel of Jesus Christ That I may rejoyce in the day of the Lord Jesus that we have not run in vain and laboured in vain And labour to keep up that Christian love which in this place hath been more eminent than any where I know I would preach St. Johns Doctrine Little children love one another And that my expression may be pathetical I shall speak it in the words of the Apostle in Phil. 2.1 2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfill ye my joy that ye be like-minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind I now have but a word more speaking of yours and mine own comfort under this sad Dispensation 1. It is a Ministers comfort that when he is taken from his people he can yet Commend them to

should be preserved 'T is necessary Religion should be advanced the power of Godlinesse preserved 't is not necessary I should be in this or that condition 9. Indulge not the least sin else thou wilt never be a Conquerour That man that will not lay down his Lust for Christ will never lay down his Life for Christ A man can never be resolved for Christs waies without if not resolved against all impurity within 10. Harden and anoint your selves with practical improvement of Christs sufferings in Christs death There was an inestimable price to purchase our conquest an infinite merit to strengthen to incourage our Conquest an all-sufficient vertue to cause our Conquest a pledge of our eternal Conquest we are Conquerours already we do but gather the Spoyle Make use of Christs death as the merit pattern and motive of your Conquest 11. Labouring for sincerity 12. Get well acquainted with Divine Attributes and Divine Promises and such especially as may be most suitable for your condition 13. Abhorre the Relicks of Superstition The very Nest the very Cage of the Bird is unclean Not a crum of that old Leaven 't will sower the whole Lump Antichrist is hugely like the Devil let him get in but one paw let him but get in his head hee will quickly get in the whole body If you would avoid the paw of Antichrist avoid as much as you can the very parings of his nails 14. Get an experimental knowledge of Gospel Truths They are your head Professors that turn Apostates 15. Let this be your first and chiefest care your first and last to seek and serve God Which if you do as all other things so this priviledge of Conquest shall be added unto you as your Crown Seek ye first the Kingdome of God and the righteousness thereof and all these things shall be added unto you which opens the door to The Seventeenth sermon Mat. 6.33 Seek yee first the Kingdome of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you FRom this Scripture you had a Remedy against Solicitous Thoughts and Fears given in this Proposition that a serious Inquiry and earnest Pursute of the Kingdome of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof is an excellent remedy against distracting cares and fears about Provision and safety Seek First and trouble your selves no more Seek first the Kingdome of God c. Two questions was proposed and answered 1. What is it earnestly to enquire after and seriously to pursue the Kingdome of God and his Righteousness In this Question three things included the Object the Act the Order 1. The Object the Kingdome of God the Kingdome of Heaven and its Righteousness The Kingdome of Heaven that is the Kingdome of Grace and the Kingdome of Glory the Kingdome of Grace as the means to the Kingdome of Glory The Righteousness of this Kingdome that is sanctification sincere holiness in heart and life which is the beginning or the way to and a sign or pledge of our interest in the Kingdome of Glory 2. The Act Seek i. e. bestir your utmost thoughts about your utmost time care and diligence upon these things 2. Seek i. e. set your choicest affections upon these things 3. Seek i. e. strive and labour go forth in utmost endeavours for obtaining of these things 3. The Order seek first seek it first in respect of time begin with God remember thy Creator in the daies of thy youth seek it first with the greatest care acquired diligence industry with the greatest seriousness The Kingdome of God is the most necessary thing indeed that one thing necessary 'T is the most excellent thing eternal all other things are temporal get this and you get all you get above the terrours of the world The best way to have the things of this world sanctified is this seek first the Kingdome of God c. 2. How is this a remedy against distracting cares and fears Answ 1. It is a remedy by divertion 2. Present things seem little when acquainted with eternal things Vse 1. This reproves those that observe not our Saviours direction 1. Those that are drowned in earthly things give them Onions and Garlick take the Kingdome of Heaven and Righteousness thereof who will Let mee have my part in Paris what care I for Paradice 2. Others that are for the Kingdome of God but not for the Righteousness of that Kingdome they are for the end but they do not care for the way they would have the fruit but they will not climbe the Tree 3. Others that could wish they had a portion in it but in a slight and perfunctory way if Heaven could be obtained with a few prayers this they 'd do but further they will not go 2. Is this such an excellent way to cure our carnal fears and cares what advantage hath a childe of God above all other men in the world both in this life and that to come in this life under a watchful providence not a hair of his head shall perish but chiefly the priviledges of an everlasting Kingdome hee hath a bird in the bush and in hand too choice enjoyments in the hand and in hope much more but much more above and this hope of his shall not make him ashamed The vision of his appointed comforts is for an appointed time and it will come will come said I Faith looks out and sees it coming already let but Faith look to Heaven and hee sees his Judge coming which brings mee to The Eighteenth Sermon Revel 22.12 Behold I come quickly and my reward is with mee THe Observation from the words was this The Lord Jesus will certainly and speedily come to Judgement when hee shall give reward equal to every man These two Questions was answered 1. In what sense Christ comes quickly Answ In Gods account with whom a thousand years are but as one day In our account Faith sees him coming though sense cannot Faith makes future things present 't is the perspective of the soul Beleevers receive part of their reward at death and that 's quickly 2. Why doth Christ defer his coming at all Ans 1. To stop the mouths of the wicked they will not have one word to reply they had time and space to repent 2. Out of his dear love hee bears to his Elect There 's many of his Elect not yet born and though born not new born now these must be born and new born and brought all in and when that time is come then hee will come Vse 1. Will Christ come quickly and with a reward then certainly remember this Atheist 't is no vain thing to serve our Lord Jesus What profit is it if wee serve him c what profit infinite profit there 's a reward coming 2. By way of Exhortation will Christ come oh then 1. Prepare for his coming labour to be prepared by his spiritual coming into thy heart that 's the way to be prepared for his last coming get thy understanding enlightened in