he saw Vzza smitten this made him change his note we can look cheerful in a day of prosperity rejoycing in our Lords presence but in our adversity we question the Lords presence and say with Gideon Iudg. 6.13 If the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us we can at a time when God reveals himself to us in some special testimony of his love with Peter in the Mount exult at a glance of his glory but at the time of our Lords suffering in his Mystical body our hearts become drousie and careless as Peters was in the Garden 3. In respect of the degree and measure of Faith at one time the renewed children of God will be like a Ship with all her sailes full they will have a plerophorie of Faith at another time like a Ship in a great storm with a peice of cross sail their Faith is but little and weak under some great tryal ye see it in David Psal 27.10 When my Father and my Mother did forsake me then the Lord did take me up and Psal 46.2 We will not fear though the earth be removed there was great Faith but ye see a slacking of his Faith Psal 31.22 I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes and 1 Sam. 27.1 David said in his heart I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul notwithstanding he had from God a special Promise to be King of Israel 4. In respect of their continuance in duties at one time the children of God will continue in some bensal of Spirit with delight in their secret devotion at another time they have not well begun but they become weary their untimous and impertinent thoughts puls them away to some other business It is thus also in their hearing reading and meditation on the good word of God at one time they will continue in hearing with much reverence and attention though the Minister be a man of weak gifts at another time though the Minister were like Paul they fall drousie like Eutychus and if God did not prevent with mercy they would fall from this drousiness into a deadness of Spirit but our God rich in mercy and long suffering waits upon his children and recovers them from these fits and faintings unto their former soule health As to the second What 〈◊〉 is that causeth the abatements in Grace consider what maketh this change in the children of God and procureth the abatement and decay of the degrees and strength of Grace in them 1. A careless neglect of the means of salvation or an overly and superficial performance of holy duties if such be thy care no wonder thy strength of Grace decay as children who altogether abstain from meat or make but a fashion of eating do decay in the vigour and strength of their body The Apostle will have us as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 in which words he insinuates this also that want of desire to the Word is a main impediment to our growth in Sanctification and a cause of the decay and consumption of the inner man 2. Spiritual pride and vain confidence in our own strength for the imploying and improving of any Grace or Gift received of God brings with it a decay of the vigor of Grace as the swelling bigness of the Spleen makes the other noble parts of the body to decay so the swelling pride of our Spirit makes the Graces of the innerman to abate of their strength Pride goeth before a fall It is ever followed in the children of God with a fall either into some cross or into some sin to humble them Ezekias was lifted up in the pride of his heart and therefore was wrath threatned against him and all Judah 2 Chron 32.25 Peter in the pride and presumption of his own strength boasted though all the world should be offended yet should not he be offended in Christ whereupon followed a great abatement of the strength of Grace when he denyed the Lord of Life 3. Sloathfulness in not improving the stock of Grace or Gifts God hath bestowed upon thee brings on a decay Strong bodies through laziness and want of exercise become weak and feeble It is no wonder the Merchant becomes poor who improves not his little stock to some advantage and it is no wonder a Christian decay in the measure of grace if he improve not his talent to the glory of his Lord to the good example of his neighbor and to his own comfort in laying up a sure foundation against the time to come that he may lay hold on eternal life 4. When our eye and heart is too much fixed on visible and sensible objects of sorrow or fear then our graces begin to abate somewhat of their former vigour great and long troubles oft-times weaken our Faith when Peter looked too much to the wind that was against him and not to the Lord who called him to come on the waters his Faith began to fail and his body that before was elevated by a believing soul did now begin to sink weak Faith made a heavy body As to the third how to prevent this decay of Grace it is evident by knowing and shunning the evils that procure it Means to prevent decay in grace Therefore 1. make conscience to use the means whereby grace is begun preserved and encreased in the soul as faith comes by hearing the word of God so is it thereby encreased The more thou knowest and seest of God in his Word thou wilt be the more conformed to him in holyness by knowing him in the Gospel we are transformed into his image 2 Cor. 3.18 by frequent hearing reading meditation and prayer we become heavenly and spiritual as Moses coming down from the Mount did shine in his countenance so this communion with God in his Ordinances will make our hearts to burn with love to God and our faces to shine in all manner of holy conversation before the world The conscionable and careful using the means of our spiritual food and life will prevent the decay of the inner man 2. Walk humbly in the remembrance of thy former sins in the sense of thy present infirmities in a jealousie of thy best endeavours and in a solicitous fear of manifold temptations men recovered out of a dangerous disease shun every morsel that may distemper them or may procure a recidivation so the humble man shuns every thing that may bring a change on his inward condition Remembrance of former sins and of mercy in pardoning of them doth much strengthen his graces It increaseth his zeal against sin and augments his love to God and his holy commandments 3. Improve thy grace and gift to thy Lords advantage To him that hath shall be given he that improved his five talents and the other that improved his two received much more from their Lord then they got at first Math. 25. God encreased knowledge
better for me to die then to live His fit groweth worse vers 9. I do well to be angry even unto death Yet his merciful Father takes not Jonah away in this fit but spared him and gave him grace to out-live this fit by repentance The children of God recover themselves by repentance and in an holy indignation revenge themselves upon themselves for their former distemper So David recovered from his fit of impatiency rebukes himself Psa 73.22 I was as a beast before thee 4. Cast not away thy confidence but walk by faith In a time of trouble the Just shall live by faith Hab. 2.4 The children of God in times of great and long troubles are subject to fits of unbelief Judg. 6.13 Gideon said O my Lord if the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt but now the Lord hath forsaken us And David Psa 116.11 I said in my haste All men are lyars Psa 31.22 I said in my haste I am cut off from before thine eyes Notwithstanding special promises of God to the contrary yet he had his own fit of distrustfull fear to be cut off by the hand of Saul Against such fits guard thy heart with submission to his divine wisedom in the training up of his own children He scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth Heb. 12.6 Consider his gracious wisedom ordering thy afflictions for thy souls good Heb. 12.13 He chastiseth us for our profit that we may be partakers of his holinesse But when thou hast such a fit of unbelief and canst not beleeve that the Lord in love chastiseth thee but punisheth thee in anger Remember the daies of old when the Lord heard thy praiers and thou hadst a sweet return of peace to thy soul In the experience of this say thou to thy heart as Sampsons Mother said to her Husband Manoah Judg. 13.23 If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have received a burnt-offering and a meat-offering at our hands Look into thy own heart and if thou in a time of great trouble fear to offend him and desire to obey thou maist and shouldst rest on him as thy God Isa 5.10 Who is amongst you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him rest in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Though thou see not any appearance of deliverance yet rest on the power of God submit to his will and use no unlawful means for thy own delivery So did the three children Dan. 3.17 Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand but if not Be it known unto thee O King we will not serve thy Gods The third particular to be considered is the way how the Apostle attained this contentation of minde in all estates of life I have learned saith he and I am instructed in the original it is I am instructed in a mystery or secret The mystery and secret of contentment in whatsoever estate Doct. The mystery of contentment is taught only in the School of Christ It is not taught from principles of nature is taught only in the School of Jesus Christ The truth of this Doctrine will appear if we consider 1. how it is not taught 2. how it is taught It is not taught from any principles of corrupt nature because this being alike in all the children of Adam must be uniform in its operations and so all men should be taught this contentment but the contrary is seen in many male-contents and murmurers under their present condition in the world Corrupt nature frets at every thing displeasing to flesh and bloud until it be healed by the grace of regeneration But where this secret fretting is there can be no true contentment Neither can it be taught by the moral precept of Natural men It is true heathen men Nor by morall precepts of natural men specially the Stoick Philosophers have spoken somewhat to this purpose yet they did not teach men to be content in whatsoever estate They did commend that horrid sinne of self-murther in the case of dis-contentment They compared mans life to a banquet that he might willingly leave when once he were full and to a stage-play that he might leave when once he were wearied And Seneca cals such a death a gate to liberty This is not to teach contentment in every estate As they failed fouly in their precepts so in their practise of contentment It is true some heathens appeared content in their sober and course diet of living Fabricius that Noble Romane Senator was content to feed upon his dish of Roots and he answered to these Legats who would have corrupted him with vast Sums of gold to betray his own Countrey that a man who was content to feed on Roots needed not their gold yet they were not content in every estate they could not endure disgrace in the world for their honour was their Idol Lucretia and Cato of Vtica could not bear their disgrace with any contentment but made away themselves in their violent fits of discontentment Augustine And August lib. 1. de Civit. Dei cap. 20. saith well That it is but a weak spirit that cannot comport with the want of health in the body or with the want of the applause of the people Next the truth of this Doctrine appeareth It is taught 1. By the Word if we consider positively how this mystery of contentment is taught It is taught in the School of Christ 1. By the Word of God 2. By the example of Christ 3. By the Spirit of Christ 1. Is is taught by the Word of God It is called the word of Patience because it commands us to be patient Rev. 3.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience saith the Angel of the Covenant to the Church of Philadelphia I will also keep thee from the hour of Temptation c. It is taught by the word of precept which commandeth us to be godly and where godlinesse is it hath with it contentment 1 Tim. 6.6 Godlinesse with contentment is great gain That is godlinesse which hath alwaies with it contentment is great gain 1 Tim. 6.8 Having food and raiment let us be therewith content Heb. 13.5 Be content with such things as ye have It is taught by the word of threatning 1 Cor. 10. Neither murmure ye as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer he threatens them from the fearfull destruction that fell upon murmurers against the Lords dispensation Jude ep 15 16 17. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him These are murmurers complainers It is taught fully by
compleat In these words we have first the vicissitude of Pauls outward condition Four Points observable in the words at one time he abounds at another he is abased At one time he is full at another he suffers need 2. The sweet and gracious composure of his spirit expressed in two singular acts The first is his contentation of minde in all conditions In whatsoever estate I am saith he I am therewith content The latter is his prudent and pertinent comportment with his present condition I know both how to be abased and how to abound 3. The way how he attained this Contentation of minde I have learned saith he I am instructed This he learned not at the feet of Gamaliel but in the School of Jesus Christ who at the first initiation of his Disciples teacheth them by word example and by the powerfull operation of his spirit inclining them to the lesson to deny themselves to take up their crosse and follow him 4. The sole Authour of all the strength and ability he had either for doing or suffering the good-will of God I can do all things saith he through Christ that strengtheneth me From the first particular the variety and vicissitude of his outward condition at one time he abounds at another time he is a based and suffers need we observe this Doctrine The dear children of God in their outward condition are subject to many changes At one time they are in prosperity Doct. at another in adversity at one time cried up and highly honoured in the world at another time cried down and abased Job a man fearing God and eschewing evil was the richest man in the East to day but on the morrow the poorest and most distressed of all men in the whole earth in his time in great honour and reputation at one time Job 29.8 The young men saw me and hid themselves like School-boys out of an awfull respect to their School-master And the aged arose and stood up when they heard him they blessed him and gave an honourable testimony to him by approving and commending what he had spoken but at another time not only is he misprised and neglected but derided by the younger and baser sort of the people Job 30.1 Joseph at one time in great esteem and credit with Potiphar None greater in the house then he at another time disgraced and without any just cause cast into prison Gen. 39.8 9 20. Moses for the space of fourty years was in great honour at Pharachs Court but afterward was forced to fly with his life in his hand to Midian and keep sheep there other fourty years David a man according to Gods heart at one time in great prosperity and credit at Sauls Court and greatly beloved 1 Sam. 16.21 at another time in great adversity and perplexity he who before in a sudden fit of Court-favour was sought out and brought from his Father to the King in a more violent fit of spight and malice was chased from Court and hunted as a Partridge in the wildernesse 1 Sam. 26.26 Jehoshaphat a man of an upright heart at one time in great prosperity and had rest from all his enemies 2 Chro. 17.10 at another time a great change whereas in former times other Kingdomes round about feared him now the fear of them falleth upon him 2 Chron. 20.12 Paul at one time abounded and by a divine dispensation is loaded with such things as were necessary for him Act. 28.10 at another time he is in great adversity Thrice he suffered shipwrack in perils of robbers and in many other troubles 2 Cor. 11. he was in esteem at Lystra far contrary to his desire and in the same place was he disgraced contrary to his deservings Act. 14. such was his zeal to the honour of God he was more grieved with their blasphemous honouring then with their malicious disgracing of him The Reasons wherefore the Lord our God without any change in the purpose of his love Reasons in his wisedome worketh such changes in the condition of his own dear children are 1. 1. Changes make men fear God For their Instruction By such changes the Lord instructs his children to fear him It is said of the wicked Psa 55.19 They have not changes and therefore they fear not God because Sentence against their evil works is not executed speedily therefore their heart is fully set in them to do evil But by great changes from prosperity into adversity the children of God learn to fear God and eschew evil Ezr. 9.13 After all that is come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great trespasse seeing our God hath punished us lesse then our iniquities deserve Should we again break thy Commandments Hos 3.4 5. The children of Israel shall abide many daies without a King and without a Prince and without a Sacrifice Afterward shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his goodnesse in the latter daies Here was a great change the people of Israel was sometime the praise of the earth for good policy both civill and ecclesiasticall but here a great change and desolation they have neither a King nor face of a Church God in his gracious and wise dispensation sendeth these changes in their outward condition that he may thereby work a change in their hearts and practice in after times that they may repent of their former evil doings and fear the Lord their God from generation to generation who shall hear of such fearfull changes and shall serve the Lord with fear the Lord sends changes to teach them where they should seek solid content and happinesse even in God himself who is alsufficient and without any shadow of change If our estate were alwaies prosperous in this world we would rest on it and say as Peter lifted up in the mountain Mat. 17. It is good to be here yea like beasts in fat pastures we would eat and lie down upon them Therefore the Lord sends a change and teacheth us to seek hearts rest in God alone Hos 2.6 I will hedge up thy way with thorns and make a wall that she shall not finde her paths She shall follow after her Lovers but shall not overtake them Then shall she say I will go and return to my first husband for then was it better with me then now 2. 2. By changes men are chastised for sins against mercies God doth it for their correction to chastise them for sinning against their father in a time of prosperity Solomon was in great peace and prosperity but when he sinned and to please his strange wives displeased the Lord his God by authorizing and countenancing a false and idolatrous worship God sent a change and stirred up against him one adversary after another 1 King 11.14 23. Ezechias was in health and prosperity after the time he had been dangerously sick yet for his ingratitude the Lord sent a change and
that betwixt the husband and the wife Eph. 5.23 the Believer is espoused to Jesus Christ by Faith we give our consent to him when we say with heart and mouth as the Spouse Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his It is the duty of the husband to use his utmost endeavours for protecting his wife from perishing David took no rest until he had rescued his wives out of the hands of his and their enemies 1 Sam. 30. But our Lord and husband Iesus Christ surpasseth all men both in affection and power for the protecting of his Spouse Therefore one espoused into him cannot fall away finally for the relation is perpetual he is a Lord and husband for ever of his Spouse To wit the Church of Believers Obj. Obj. Although this or that person once espoused to Christ may fall away finally yet Christ hath a Spouse still to wit other Believers who persevere Answ Answ The Spouse of Christ is made up of so many individual persons and if those one after another may perish then were it possible that the whole might perish for the whole subsists and is preserved in the particulars and so it were possible that the Lord Jesus Christ might be a King without Subjects a Shepheard without a flock a Head without a body and a Husband without a Spouse Obj. Obj. It is true so long as a soul remains espoused to Christ it cannot perish but when men divorce themselves from Christ by unducifulness and impudent lewdness in sinning they are no more his Spouse Answ Answ 1 1. A soul once espoused to him is never divorced from him It is true in that great day there will be a separation of hypocrites who gave their names but not their hearts to him Then will the Lord say to them depart from me It will not be a divorce but a nulling of their counterfeit communion with Christ Then will he declare there was never a consummate marriage betwixt him and them No union nor communion in the Spirit Then will our Lord disclaim them before man and Angel saying I never knew you Math. 7.23 he never knew them so that he approved them for his own people But a soul receiving Christ by Faith and once united to him will never be separate from him Rom. 8.35 Whosh all separate us from the love of Christ c. 2. Our Lord and Husband keepeth the heart of his Spouse in a dutiful affection to himself If a husband were able to restrain the affection of his wife from strange lovers he doubtless would and should do it that in so doing he might prevent all cause of divorce but our Lord hath promised in the Covenant of Grace to over-aw our hearts by his fear that we turn not away in our hearts from him after strange lovers Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me 3. It is true the sins and gross failings of regenerate men do for a time interrupt a communion in the sense and comfort of our Lords love and of their own peace and joy Then their Lord and husband frowns upon them withdraws the light and comfort of his countenance as an husband greatly displeased with his wife doth estrange himself for a time from her So the Lord hides his face for a time from them yet their sins do not turn off his heart from them Psal 89.32 33. I will visit their transgression with the rod nevertheless my loving kindness will I not take utterly from him yea he invites them to repent and notwithstanding their soul miscariages he promiseth to receive them Ier. 3.1 Thou hast plaid the harlot with many lovers yet return to me again saith the Lord. The fourth Reason is taken from the efficacy of Christs Prayer and the gracious acceptance it had alwayes with God Reas 4 The efficacy of Christs Prayer in the behalf of Believers Those for whom our Lord did pray that they might persevere to the end such do certainly persevere because the Father heareth him alwayes Iohn 11.42 But our Lord prayed for perseverance to Believers Iohn 17.15 I pray that thou shouldest keep them from the evil of the world For this he prayed not only in the behalf of the Apostles but also for all who should believe in his Name Ioh. 17.20 The fifth Reason is taken from that inviolable conjunction of the links in that golden chain of salvation Reason 5 The links of the chain of salvation inviolable Rom. 8.30 Whom he called he justified and whom he justified them he also glorified from hence we have this reason Those whom God will glorifie in heaven do certainly persevere to the end such as are once justified will be glorified for the Apostle to declare the certainty hereof expresseth it in the time past saying he hath gloriâ—ed as the like expression of a thing certain is found 1 Ioh. 3.14 We have passed from death to life because we love the brethren The sixth Reason is grounded on the Believers victory over the world he that overcometh the world Reas 6 falleth not away from the state of Grace because he could not fall away except he were overcome by temptations in the world But a regenerate man overcometh the world Rom. 8.37 1 Ioh. 5.4 It is a ridiculous exception to say the regenerate man is not overcome of the world so long as he is a Believer for that were asmuch as to say whosoever is born of God is not overcome of the world so long as he is not overcome which were a Tautologie If a Believer could become an Unbeliever by the prevalent temptations of Sathan from the world then should he be overcome of the world contrary to that assertion of the Apostle 1 Ioh. 5.4 This is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith It is true Tertullian as Tertullian saith the renewed man is subject to many infalls of temptations from the world and to daily out-fall from indwelling corruption yet in the end the Believer in the strength of our Lords Grace doth prevail Rom. 8.37 In all these things we are more then Conquerours through him that loved us The seventh and last Reason is taken from that inseparable connexion betwixt adoption Reas 7 Adoption and the inheritance inseperable and the heavenly inheritance Those who are designed heirs of eternal life do persevere in Grace to the end But so it is that regenerate men being adopted Sons to God are designed heirs of eternal life Rom. 8.17 Gal. 4.17 If a Son then an heir of God through Christ Obj. Obj. It is true say some so long as they remain Sons they have a right to the inheritance but they may fall from the estate of Adoption and so be disinherited Answ 1. That one who is once a Son may afterward fall from the estate of Adoption Answ 1 is expresly contrary to that of our Lord Ioh. 8.35 The Son abideth in the house for ever But if he