praemium Humility is the desert of glory glory the reward of humility si vis capere celsitudinem Dei prius cape humilitatem Dei In a word when every sin doth return as he is commanded from his evil way doth cease to do evil and learn to do good when in a holy anger and indignation that they have been the servants of sinn so long they cast off their old Livery of sin as blind Bartemeus cast off his old Cloak and with Ephraim smite upon their thigh asking and enquiring what have we done wretch as I am I am in way to be undone when he smites upon his breast with the Publican his breast the ark and chest of all iniquity and in faith and feeling cries out Lord be mercifull to me a sinner when weary of his sinfull course he doth resolve with the prodigal to leave it and return home to his Fathers with words of unfeigned sorrow and contrition I will go to my Father a happy thing we have a Father to go to and such a father tampater nemo When with Eliphas in Job a man seriously resolves and resolvedly purposes If I have done wickedly I will do no more which was the caveat Christ gave to them he healed considering that Inanis est paenitentia quam sequens culpa coinquinat That true repentance is not only a repentance for sin but a repentance from sin as the Apostle cals it Repentance from dead works then is this great work wrought this man is a new creature 2. To assure our selves that we are regenerate and born of God observe farther that as Elizabeth John the Baptists mother did assure herself that she was with childe when she felt the babe to leap and spring in her womb So when we find our wils conformable to Gods will when it is our meat and drink to do our heavenly Fathers will when we are ready to answer to the call of every heavenly motion as the eccho to the voice of man and answer with Samuel Speak Lord thy servant heareth With David It is written I should do thy will I am content to do it O my God thy Law is in my heart When the word of God is to us as it was to him our longing and our love this is a sure evidence of our new birth for where there is a new birth there will be a new life where there is a spiritual and heavenly birth there will be a spiritual and heavenly life if we be born of God we will with Enoch walk with God and will be followers of God as dear children The natural child they say lives not untill forty five daies after the conception be expired but the regenerate and new-born Christian begins to live assoon as he is conceived there will no longer be a life led after the will of the flesh or of our own lusts but after the will of God and the will of God is our holiness He that is born from above will resolve to spend the remainder of his short time to the honour of him that died for him and it will appear whose heeis by a life led in holiness and righteousness in faith and a good conscience he will walk worthy of the calling whereunto he is called and will say with David when he was moved to some undecent and uncivil action Is it nothing to be son in Law to a King If we be the sons of God our carriage and conversation will be according Our light will so shine before men c. Mat. 5. 14 God begets to holiness and righteousness and by this heavenly generation we are made partakers of the Divine nature having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We are the offspring of God and therefore the life led after our conversion is called the life of God to which the unregenerate are strangers And it is called the life of Christ too now that is after my conversion I live no longer but Christ liveth in me 1 Cor. 4. He that is Gods son will do Gods work and the work of God is constant and universal obedience A second note and evidence of our regeneration is a through change and reformation of heart and life The new man is of a renew'd mind old things will be cast away and all things will become new he will cleanse himself from all wickedness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 1. As first there will be a new light struck up into the mind and understanding they will be illuminated to conceive the things which be of God which the natural man cannot do as the further obduration or occecation and banding of a man is the note and signe of a reprobate when the God of the world blinds the eyes as St. Paul speaks So it is an evident note of one begotten of God of one born from above when he is renewed in knowledg and understanding and knows the mind of Christ Col. 3. 9. 2. Secondly there will be a new quality in the will ready to hearken to the voice of Christ in all things and to obey it He that is born of God heareth Gods word saith the Apostle 3. Thirdly there will be a new conversation in the life and this holy conversation will be manifested by the fruits and effects of the spirit love joy peace long-suffering patience meekness c. characters and stamps of holiness still led in the practice of any reigning sin after the lusts of the flesh is a manifest note of a carnal man but he that is born of God sins not as you shall hear anon sin is in him but it reignes not in him Inest but non praeest or obest it is in him but not over him nor doth he obey it in the lust and power thereof he sins indeed but yet not he but the sin that is in him In his mind he serves the law of God though in his flesh the law of sin it is against his heart and intention his will and purpose Again he liveth not nor lieth in any known sin but his course and indeavour is after the Commandment 4. There will be new affections as the love of God hatred of all sin for it is not enough to leave sin but to loath it and hate it as Ammon when he had satisfied his lust upon his sister Thamar it is said He hated her afterward more then ever he loved her Thus will Gods child deal with sin and desire to purifie himself as God is pure cast off his sin as a menstruous cloth and say Get thee hence 5. There will be constant and holy means used to preserve and improve all these graces to keep alive this heavenly fire is the spirit of prayer and supplication the bellows of the Sanctuary The child of God will speak the language of God Prayer is the Saints language on earth as praise is in heaven An infant is no sooner born into
religious and which he promiseth to give to his people Zealous and forward in the Duties of Christianity a lover and maintainer of the truth Certainly for the most part the people will be so affected That way which the Master Bee â—â—es all the rest follow and it is as true as old Regis ad exemplum Nothing is morâ— effectuall or perswasive with the vulgar than the example and president of their Governors who if they be godly and religious are notable meanes to draw men to Religion and Godlinesse Confessor Papa Confessor populus how true that is in the letter let the world observe But surely where the Prince or Governor is a true Protestant all will be of his profession Josuah is an excellent example and patterne for a Ruler to walke by and certainly his holinesse made him without compare successefull in this life and happy in the other who in the midst of an Idolatrous froward humorous and peâ—vâ—sh people resolves like a pious Ruler indeed I and my house will serve the Lord walk others which way they will I will walke this way the way of Gods Commandements When Religion or as into Zacheus Salvation is entred into the great house it cannot be long out of the little ones Having spoke something largely of our Father let us spend a word or two about our Mother because there is great controversie about her in the world some repudiating her some spitting in her face some making her an Idoll and Puppet some a Slut some Nothing I dare say most of the controversies of this late age have beene about dressing the Bride some would have her a painted and gaudy Puppet a finer Religion than the Protestants as a vaine Lady once said some a homely Slut without Forme and Beauâ—y as her Husband was accounted in the dayes of his flâ—sh whereas as God will be worshipped of all in his holy Temple and as David saith in the beauty of holinesse so he would have comelinesse and order decency and beauty in his house The spouse of Christ being indeed black but comely something obscured in her Beauty by the morphew of Faction and the Sun of Affliction and the Tan of Persecution but amiable and lovely for all that we are begotten you see and by whom by God the Father and by the Word of Truth but of whom are we begotten I answer As God is our Father so the Church is the Mother of us all Gal. 4 16. Of all the Children of God so saith Saint Paul Jerusalem which is from above is Free and Mother of us all What is Jerusalem but the Church For as the City was the Seate of David Psal 12 2. 5. so is the Church the throne of Christ signified and figured by the Kingdome of David Rev. 3. 7. Therefore of both these God proclaimes here shall be my rest for ever Psal 132. And rightly and justly is the Church called our Mother First Because her Maker is her Husband Esay 54. she is the spouse of our Father betroathed to him in Faith Hos 2. 19. I will marry thee unto me in Faith and Righteousnesse coupled together and made one by the unity and bond of the Spirit Love being the matriâ—oniall bond I am my Beloved and my Beloved is mine he feeds among the Lillies amongst the Innocent and Faithfull not amongst Bryars and Thorns Hemlock or Nettles And secondly Because we are children borne of her This teacheth us to honour our Mother and like little children hang upon her breasts for maintenance and succour Esa 66. 14. Suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolation milke out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory It is the Church which by the blessing of God brings forth Children unto God by the Ministry of the word as it is in my Text he begets us by the word of truth And if we be her children we must feed of that milks the word which still holds forth to us As new bornâ— babes 2 Pet. 2. 2. In a word out of the Church there is no Salvation who have not the Church for their Mother shall not have God for their Father was the saying of old and good reason for out of the Church there are no meanes of Salvation No word to teach no Sacrament to confirme no Prayer to blesse But all these and all other meanes are in the wombe of the Church It is here and here onely where the spirit of immortall seed begets grace and holinesse in the heart and so a man is new borne 1 Pet. 1. 23. we are borne not of mortall c. Thirdly Having God for our Father and the Church for our Mother we ought to be children of peace For our Father is the God of peace and our Saviour the Prince of peace and the Gospell a Gospell of peace and our Calling a Calling of peace c. ut dixi It was the Harlâ—t would have the child divided c. you know what Church it is that delights in blood which make themselves drunk with the blood of Saints and with the Martyrs of Jesus They that are Gods children are of one minde in one house and all believers are so as those primitive were Act. 4. the last They will not fall out because they are Brethren for we know it is a good and joyfull thing c. But my sheets swell to a bigger bulke than was intended what is spoken therefore shall suffice for the proof and demonstration of the two doctrines out of the first cause of our Regeneration First That the state of a Christian is a new geniture and birth a new formation or Creation Secondly That God himselfeis the Author and cause of this Birth He begets us no farther have I gone no farther dare I or will I goe untill I see what entertainment these poore and unpolished meditations shall receive in a froward and carping age But yet out of these two doctrines I shall desire two things more to be obsered for use and application 1. The Christians Dignity 2. His Duty and then I shall commit you to God and the Word of his Grace the Word of Truth which is able to build you farther c. Act. 19. 32. First then for the Christians dignity which is three fold To be regenerate and born againe 1. Dignity above men 2. It is a dignity above the Angells 3. It is a dignity above the Creatures I will begin with the last First It is a Dignity above the Creatures for all the Creatures which God made have not his Image but all that he doth begeâ— have he made Man Lord and Master of all his Creatures he made them for Man but Man himselfe for himselfe Secondly It is a Dignity above all Men the wicked have nothing to doe with this honour such honour have all Gods c. none â—lse They are the Lords portion his peculiar people his first fruits Israel is my first borne Jer. 2. 2. The first fruits of my increase
Tharpe TO THE READER Courteous Reader I May be by some wondred at for sending such rude and unpolished lines to the Presse which even groanes under the burden of multitude of bookes of the greater part whereof we may say with Socrates The Paper is more worth than the matter For there are scarce any that Preach that Print not insomuch as the Presse may say to the Pulpit in the words of Esau to his brother Keep that thou hast I have enough my brother And secondly it may be objected that I make too much use of other mens sentences and sense and so seeme to boast in other mens lines made ready to my hands To whom I answer no otherwise than As the Spiders fine web is never the better it may be the sooner swept away because it is spun out of her owne bowels So the Bees honey is never the lesse it may be the more sweet because it is extracted and gathered out of many flowers Thirdly I hope the subject will make an easie way for the acceptance treating of a through change and reformation And it is to be hoped and desired nay expected that amongst so many changes and mutations which have been abroad in the great world Man himselfe that little world will not still remaine quite unchanged For where Gods judgements are out in the world the Prophet gives it as granted Gods people will learne righteousnesse Againe howsoever art may move affection it is the plain Word in the evidence and power thereof which must remove corruption Fourthly I could adde they were preached in a very populous orthodox and judicious Auditory and desired earnestly of men of judgment and note of worth and parts whose respects I have rather satisfied in the printing of them than mine owne desires Besides I have not read any that have so fully treated or discoursed of this materiall and necessary subject and therefore I request every Reader in the words of Isocrates to Nicocles Aut hisce praeceptis utere aut tu ipse inveni meliora Either make use of these wholsome Doctrines and Exhortations with me or else publish better thy selfe if thou art able to publish better in the future yet it will profit thee to make use of these for the present I am bold therefore for the reasons aforesaid to send that to the eye which was at first presented to the â—are hoping that some way or other they may get to the heart and with Naamans poore servants send some to that Jordan which may cure them of their native leprosie Which that these distracted Meditations may help to do I leave and commend thee in my prayers and devotions to God and to the word of his grace which c. Act. 19. 32. So prayes Thy servant in Jesus Christ EDWARD THARPE HORAT Si quid novisti rectius ist is Candidus imperti si non his utere mecum Reader if better things be knowne to thee Impart them or make use of these with me THE HEAVENLY BIRTH OR BIRTH from ABOVE JAM 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures THis General Epistle of St. James so called not because it is more general or authentick than other of the Epistles all being of equal authority and holiness but in regard of the dedication it being directed and dedicated to the twelve dispersed Tribes ver 1. is full of very usefull and practicall doctrin especially this first Chapter which treates of divers Graces and Virtues and presses many heavenly precepts 1. It perswades to comfort in afflictions nay even to joy in tribulation and that by a sweet loving and insinuating compellation My brethren James was the Brother of our Lord and for his virtues and holiness called James the just yet out of Apostolical kindness and humility that his exhortations might be the more prevalent and perswasive being seasoned with meekness and love he calls them Brethren My brethren Ver. 2. count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations That is esteem it matter of chief joy and exultation to tread in their Mat. 5. 12. Masters steps Rejoyce and be glad for c. This lesson Paul and Sylas learnt out of the School of the Cross who went away Acts 5. 41. rejoycing that they were counted worthy c. The birds of Paradise sing sweetest in a cage knowing that to them it is given as a great blessing not onely to beleeve but to suffer for Christs sake and that through many tribulations we must enter into Philip. 1. 29. the kingdom of God The more we suffer the liker Christ and the longer the greater will be our reward Secondly In the two next verses it exhorts to Faith and Patience the two Legs of Christianity the two supporters under the cross the onely cordials in heavy and calamitous times such as those were For Faith beleeves the promises and Patience attends and waits for the accomplishment and indeed as the Apostle saith We have need of patience that when we have done the will of God in doing whereof we shall find great Heb 10. 27. opposition wee may receive the promise Faith holds up a Christians head but Patience and Perseverance crowns it He that beleeves makes not hast for he knows that in good time he shall reap if he faint not Knowing that the tryall of your Ver. 3 4. faith c. And let patience have her perfect work The nature of Afflictions is they are probations and tryals The effect of them they work Patience they bring the quiet Heb. 12. 11. fruit of righteousness to them that are exercised therein The finest Gold is put into the hottest furnace witness the three children Peter's faith was tryed by Sathans winnowing and Paul's by his buffeting but Christs prayer was sufficient for the one and his grace for the other And the Son of God walks with his children even in the hoâ—tâ—st fire and restrains the heat and flames Therefore whatsoever our sufferings are we ought to kiss Gods rod and to embrace his chastisements upon our knees like the Camel to take our load stooping and not to make those afflictions which are bitter enough of them selves to be far more bitter by our impatience 3. In the 5 6 7 and 8 verses the Apostle directs us how we should direct our prayers to God that we may speed in our suits and not be sent empty away If any man want wisdom that is the wisdom to behave himself quietly and Christianly under Gods correcting hand which requires great wisdom and prudence A Christian being so much a Christian as he is in temptations and tryals let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraids not c. But let him look to the manner of his asking which God regards more then the matter looking not so much at the thing and duty done as at the mind and affection with