they are suddenly blasted but God's Eternal Purpose that shall stand We are mutable and frequently change out of the levity of our Nature or the ignorance of Futurity therefore upon new Events we easily change our Minds but God that seeth all things at once cannot be deceived the first Reasons of God's Love to Man are without Man and so Eternal Among the Persons of the Godhead the Son loveth because the Father required it the Father because the Son merited it and the Holy Ghost because of the Purpose of the Father and the Purchase of the Son abideth in our Hearts to preserve us unto God's Use and to keep afoot his Interest in us Thirdly There are the like Fruits and Effects of it I shall instance in some which are like his Love to Christ. 1. Communication of Secrets All Things are in common amongst those that love one another Said Dalilah to Sampson Judges 16.15 How canst thou say I love thee when thy Heart is not with me Thou hast mocked me these three times and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth Now Jesus Christ knoweth all the Secrets of God John 1.18 No Man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him Christ lying in the Father's Bosom knoweth his Nature and his Will So it is with the Saints John 14.21 He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him As God manifested himself to Christ so Christ will to us Christ hath treated us as Friends John 15.15 Henceforth I call you not Servants for the Servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have called you Friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you The knowledg of God's Ways is a special Fruit of his Love 2. Spiritual Gifts God's Love to Christ was a bounteous Love John 3.34 35. God giveth not the Spirit by measure to him The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his Hands God's Love was shewed to Christ in qualifying the Humane Nature with such excellent Gifts of Grace As to us God's Love is not barren as a Fruit of God's Love Christ received all things needful for us You will perhaps say as they replied to God when he said I have loved you Wherein hast thou loved us Mal. 1.2 because he hath not made you Great Rich and Honourable If he hath given us such a proof of his Love as he gave to Christ namely such a measure of his Spirit as is fit for us we have no reason to murmur and complain The Spirit of Illumination is better than all the Glory of the World Prov. 3.32 The Froward is an Abomination to the Lord but his Secret is with the Righteous The Spirit of Regeneration to convert the Heart to God and Heaven 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the Spirit of the World but the Spirit that is of God that we might know the things that are freely given us of God The Spirit of Consolation to evidence God's Love to us and our right to Glory 2 Cor. 1.22 Who hath sealed us and given the earnest of his Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 5.5 Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God who also hath given unto us the Earnest of the Spirit As the End of his Love to Christ's Humane Nature was to bring it to Heaven so the End of God's Love to us is to sanctify us and so to make way for Glory 3. Sustentation and gracious Protection during our Work and Service This was his Love to Christ Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold I am not alone my Father is with me John 8.16 His Enemies could not touch him till his time came John 11.9 Are there not twelve hours in the day If any Man walk in the day he stumbleth not because he seeth the light of this World As long as the time of exercising his Function here lasted there was such a Providence about him as did secure him from all danger and till that time was past and the Providence withdrawn he was safe and when that time was out and he seemed to be delivered to the Will of his Enemies all the Creatures were in a rout the Sun was struck blind with astonishment the Earth staggered and reeled So God will carry us through our Work and keep us blameless to his Heavenly Kingdom but if we are cut off by the violence of Men all the Affairs of Mankind are put in confusion and carried headlong besides the confederacies of Nature disturbed and divers Judgments as in Egypt and the Land of the Philistines ensue Odium in Religionis Professores the World shall know how dear and precious they are to God 4. Acceptance of what we do God accepted all that Christ did it was very pleasing to God Ephes. 5.2 Walk in Love as Christ also hath loved us and given himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling Savour In every solemn Sacrifice for the Congregation the Blood of it was brought unto the Mercy-Seat with a perfume but Christ's Sacrifice received value from his Person he being one so dear to God so excellent in himself This kind of Love God sheweth to us the Persons of the Upright are God's delight and then their Prayers Cant. 5.1 I am come into my Garden my Sister my Spouse I have gathered my Myrrh with my Spice I have eaten my Hony-comb with my Hony Tho our Services are mingled with Weaknesses and Imperfection they shall be accepted But the Sacrifice of the Wicked is an Abomination to the Lord much more when he bringeth it with an evil Mind Prov. 15.8 5. Reward Christ was gloriously exalted after his Sufferings he entred into Glory and was conducted to Heaven by Angels and welcomed by the Father who as it were took him by the Hand Psal. 2.7 8. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession So if we do what he did we shall fare as he fared John 12.26 If any Man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall my Servant be If any Man serve me him will my Father honour When we die we shall be conveyed to Heaven by Angels Luke 16.22 The Beggar died and was carried by Angels into Abraham 's Bosom our Souls first then our Bodies Phil. 3.21 Who shall change our vile Bodies that they may be like unto his glorious Body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself And at last we shall have a solemn Welcome into Heaven Mat. 25.21 Well done good and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful over a
their Deeds were Evil. Man is in love with his own Misery when we should hate Sins we hate the Light that discovereth them an Ignorant People love a Sottish Ministry the Faithful Witnesses are the World's Torment Rev. 11.10 These two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the Earth The World would fain lie down upon the Bed of Ease and sleep Light is troublesome to sore Eyes Ignorant Priests are the People's Idols the Blind lead the Blind and they both fall into the Ditch They do not only err in their Minds but err in their Hearts the one is sad the other worse It is Evil that we do not know it is doubly Evil that we desire not to know Job 21.14 Therefore they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledg of thy ways Spiritual Blindness is worse than Bodily When Elymas was striken blind he desired some-body to lead him by the Hand Acts 13.11 We count it our Happiness to have fit Guides but in Spiritual Blindness it is quite otherwise we cannot endure a faithful Guide The Prophets prophesy Lies and the People love to have it so Blind People are all for blind Guides Vse 1. Let it set God clear He loveth to have it so When he cometh to Judgment the Books shall be opened Rev. 20.12 We are apt to quarrel his Justice for leaving so great a part of the World in the dark Remember he is aforehand with Means and they love the state they are in God leaveth no Man without a sufficient Conviction and Witness of himself Vse 2. Let sottish Men know that God is not all Mercy and all Hony Usually our Desires transform God into that shape which we fancy A Libertine would have God all Mercy and all Patience because he desires him to be so Affections make Opinions Psal. 50.21 Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thy self But be not deceived to the blind World God will be severe but just Isa. 27.11 It is a People of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Ignorance is fatal and deadly to the Heathens 2 Thess. 1.8 In flaming Fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pity them and say Poor ignorant Creatures We hate a Drunkard but we pity an Ignorant Man But God is very angry with them because he knoweth the wickedness of their Hearts how many Means they have withstood and how much Light they have abused God doth not measure Sins by the foulness of the Act but by the unkindness and ingratitude of it The Blind and the Lame are equally an abomination to the Lord to want Knowledg is as bad as to want Obedience it will be no excuse Object Ay but they have good meanings and surely God will not deal in Justice and rigor with them we are ignorant but our Heart is good Answ. Prov. 19.21 Without Knowledg the Heart is not good Ignorance is so far from being the Mother of Devotion as the Papists say that it is the great hindrance of it Simple Credulity may be more awful and scrupulous as Men in the Night have many Fears but God loveth rational Service not blind Obedience 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect Heart and a willing Mind Worship without Knowledg is but a blind Guess and loose Aim as Christ reproveth the Samaritans for worshipping they knew not what John 4.22 Certainly we are not so sensible of the danger of Ignorance as we should be Men live sensually and die sottishly and then perish eternally they live by guess at best and some devout Aims and when they come to die they die guess in a doubtful uncertain way like Men that leap over a deep Gulph blindfold they know not where their Feet shall light 2. Observe That God is not only merciful but just in the reward of the Godly or glorifying the Elect. Christ is praying and arguing for Heavenly Glory and he giveth God the Title of Righteous Father You shall see all your Privileges are made to come from Righteousness Pardon of Sins which is one of the freest Acts of God and wherein he discovereth most of his Mercy 1 John 1.9 If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness This is the Mystery of Divine Grace So also for Eternal Rewards 2 Thess. 1.6 7. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense Tribulation to them that trouble you You will think that it is righteous indeed that God should punish the Wicked but read on but to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed c. But how is God's Righteousness and Justice interested in our Rewards 1. Partly it is engaged by Christ's Merit Tho to us it be mere Grace yet as to Christ it is just Christ's Satisfaction being equivalent to the violation of God's Majesty and therefore it is just to pardon us It is just for the Creditor to forgive the Debtor when the Surety hath paid So Christ's Blood it is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Ransom but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Price It is just with God to glorify us Christ's Righteousness giveth us a Right This Reason you have Rom. 3.24 25 26. Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood to declare his Righteousness for the remission of Sins that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his Righteousness that he may be just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus God being satisfied by Christ can be gracious to the Creature without disparagement to his Justice The Mediator interposeth his Satisfaction is accepted This was that the wise Men of all Times busied themselves in How God could do good to the Creature without disparagement to his Justice But all their Devices were frustrate Christ alone bringeth the Blood to the Mercy-Seat 2. God is fast bound by his own Promise James 1.12 Blessed is the Man that endureth Temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him And it is a part of Justice to make good his Word Promittendo se facit debitorem The Qualification being supposed we may challenge him upon it Psal. 119.49 Remember thy Word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope He biddeth us put him in remembrance he hath drawn us to these Hopes 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judg shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them also that
according to the mind of the spirit 2. Gods knowing by way of approbation that he will accept and regard the prayer stirred up in us by his spirit the reason is given in the Text because he maketh requests for the saints according to the will of God In which clause we have 1. The work he maketh intercession 2. The persons for whom for the saints 3. The rule nature or kind of intercession 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the will of God Let us first open these things 2. Consider why the prayer so made must needs be acceptable and pleasing to God 1. The work of the spirit he maketh intercession that is exciteth and directeth us to pray he imployeth and maketh use of our faculties mind and heart and tongue yea of our graces faith hope and love of faith to believe Gods being and providence both as to his present government internal or external or as to the future and eternal recompences This faith is the life of prayer for how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed Rom. 10.14 And Heb. 11.6 of our hope looking for these things we ask of him according to his will otherwise prayer is but a wearisome fruitless task Mal. 3.14 'T is in vain to serve God what profit is it to call upon him When we expect what we ask there is more life in asking Psal. 130.5 I wait for the Lord my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope That 's the posture of the soul in prayer And for love for here we come to shew our hearty groans after every thing which will bring us nearer to God Surely they that call upon God aright are they which delight themselves in the Almighty Job 27.10 The duty is an act of love and the life of the duty cometh from the fervency of our love for 't is a solemn expression of our desires if God be our portion we will thirst after him and express our desires after what conduceth to communion with him Thus the spirit maketh use of our faculties and graces he strengtheneth our faith quickneth our love and stirreth up our hope so that as 't is said Matth. 10.20 'T is not ye spake but the spirit of your Father that spaketh in you when he doth inable us to speak what is fit and proper before the Tribunals of men So he maketh intercession when he inableth understanding creatures to speak what is fit and proper before the throne of grace what will become faith hope and love 2. The persons for whom he prayeth for the Saints for two reasons 1. Because the saints only are acquainted with these operations 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit and John 14.17 Whom the world cannot receive because they know him not and see him not They do not regard his motions and operations but have their eyes fixed upon this world and the sins and vanities thereof They have no mind to imploy him though he offereth himself to them but the Saints cannot live without him 2. These are only fit to converse with God in prayer the persons are qualified for audience and acceptance with God and may obtain whatsoever in reason and righteousness we can ask of him 1 John 3.22 And whatsoever we ask we receive because we keep his commandments and do what is pleasing in his sight None else are in grace and favour with God and in a receiving posture according to the terms of the promise none but such as are justified sanctified and live in obedience to him Prov. 15.8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the prayer of the upright is his delight John 9.31 God heareth not sinners but if any man be a worshipper of God and doth his will him he heareth And James 5.16 The fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much And Psal. 66.18 If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me So Prov. 28.9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law even his prayer is an abomination These and many more places shew who are they who have Gods ear the Saints and none but they who are careful to avoid all known sin and make conscience of performing all known duty then you will have a large share in his heart and love and he will be near you when you call upon him to counsel quicken and direct you and give you answers of grace upon all occasions 3. The rule nature or kind of this intercession he puts us upon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 26. according to the will of God for matter and manner and ask lawful things to an holy and lawful end 1. The matter of the prayer 1 John 5.14 15. And this is the confidence that we have in him That if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us What is the meaning of that According to his will Answer 1. With conformity to his revealed will 2. With due submission to and reservation of his secret will 1. With conformity to his revealed and commanding will that we ask nothing unjust and unholy as if we would have God to bless us in some unlawful purpose or being byassed by envy revenge or any corrupt and carnal affection ask any thing contrary to piety justice charity or that holy meek spirit which should be in Christians Unlawful desires vended in prayer are a double evil as they are contrary to Gods commanding will and as they are presented to him in prayer to accomplish what we desire by his help as we would have him accommodate his providence to fulfil our lusts 2. With a due reservation of and submission to his secret and decreeing will The things we ask of God are of three sorts 1. Barely lawful so is every indifferent thing as when Moses would said enter into Canaan We cannot say God will give us such things God denied it to Moses Let is suffice thee speak no more of this matter Deut. 3.22 God would only give him a Pisgah sight 2. Not only lawful but commanded such a thing as may fall within the compass of our duty as when parents ask the conversion of their children or children beg the continuance of their parents life 't is not only lawful but commanded yet God disposeth of the event as it pleaseth him 3. Some things are absolutely good and necessary for us as the gift of the holy spirit Luke 11.13 such God will give But in the two former things we must use the means but refer the event to God who can best dispose of us to his own glory for though the thing be lawful though it be good yet it beareth these exceptions 1. If it be not contrary to any decree of God and cross not the harmony of his providence Would we have God rescind and disorder his wise counsels for our sake 2. If it be not inconvenient and
have done how to preserve Peace as well as Truth Certainly we that have one Father are born of one Mother acknowledg one Elder Brother even Christ by whom we are adopted hope for one Patrimony we should be more careful to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace We have a great many Contentions now for one holy Contention Heb. 10.24 Let us consider one another to provoke to Love and to good Works What Arguments shall I use The danger of the Papists on one hand of Sects on the other Of Papists If ever the Beast were likely to recover of his Wounds now it is Our Divisions make us first a Laughing-Stock to the Enemy and then a Prey first we are had in contempt then they use violence And it may be just with God to suffer it when Piety decreaseth Charity is exiled and Bitterness Partialities Strife Suspicions are only left to reign and flourish Certainly if once a Peace were setled in the Reformed Churches the Prophecies concerning Antichrist would soon be accomplished those Relicts of God's Election which do as yet remain in Spiritual Babylon would soon come out from amongst them who are now scandalized at our Divisions As when a Boat is to take in Passengers when all the Passengers are in the Boat they lanch out and hoist up Sail. They are weary of the Idolatry and Superstitions of the Romish Church and would soon break the Cords wherewith they are now held Truth would have a greater Power Acts 4.32 33. And the multitude of them that believed were of one Heart and of one Soul neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own but they had all things common And with great Power gave the Apostles witness of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus and Grace was upon them all As to Sects on the other side Libertines daily increase by means of the Divisions amongst them that fear God and grow formidable in the variety of their Combinations and Endeavours Jude 11. Wo unto them for they 〈◊〉 gone in the way of Cain and run greedily after the Error of Baalam for Reward and perished in the gain-saying of Core There would be an end of this Itch if all that fear God would join together as one Man in the defence of the Gospel Alas we have striven long enough hindred the common Salvation long enough Scandals enough have been given it is high time to renounce all Fruits of Revenge and Ambition and think of Peace and Unity But you will say What would you have us to do I Answer Something with God something as to Men. Something with God Pray and Mourn lay to Heart the Divisions that are among God's People I speak for Sion's sake we should be very earnest with God for Sion Isa. 62.1 For Sion 's sake I will not hold my peace and for Jerusalem 's sake I will not rest until the Righteousness thereof go forth as Brightness and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth A great House is smitten with Breaches and a little House with Clefts not only Kingdoms but particular Families are destroyed when the Members of them are divided in Opinions and Affections Psal. 122.6 Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee Let this be your constant Request to God be not acted with a private factious Spirit Something is to be done with Men. I do not speak now how to keep Peace it is past that but how to restore it now it is lost What shall we do The Apostle telleth you Phil. 3.15 16. Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Nevertheless whereto ye have already attained let us walk by the same Rule let us mind the same Thing There is no Remedy now left but brotherly-forbearance towards those that hold the Foundation It were to be wished that we could agree not only in Fundamentals but in all other the Accessaries of Christian Doctrine But this cannot be hoped for What then shall the Rent go further and further without any Remedy No let therefore all Parties that in the judgment of a regular Charity may be presumed to have owned Christ walk together as far as they have attained And how is that I can only propound my Wishes and Desires let them reserving their private Differences to themselves come under some common Rule or solemn Acknowledgment of the Foundations of Religion What if there were a Form drawn up to that purpose to which both should stand I think to state Fundamentals is a Matter of great difficulty God would make us cautious of every Truth therefore the Canon of the Scripture is very large But there are some things propounded in the Scriptures as absolutely necessary without which Salvation cannot be had If we were mutually engaged to the Profession of these patiently bearing with one another in other things undecided mutually abstaining from Magisterial Decisions and Enforcements and obtruding Opinions upon one another by Violence and all rash Condemnations castings out of Christ limiting Religion to our own Party saying Here is Christ and there is Christ as if Christ were divided commending one another's Prosperity to God by mutual Prayers this were a healing Course Let us perform all mutual Offices of Love and Spiritual Counsel to one another strengthning one another in solid Piety holding forth light in the lesser Differences with all modesty and candor and in Civil Matters standing as one Man against the common Enemy and using Endeavours to promote the Kingdom of Christ without any Reflections on our private Honour Profit and Interests If this were once done I doubt not but the Fog would vanish and we should find our selves nearer to one another than we do imagine I am not altogether out of hope that this will be done because of the Promises It is done already in the Kingdom of Poland between the Lutherans and the Calvinists Vse 3. To perswade the Ministers of the Gospel to a greater Concord and Amity in the joint discharge of their Work Christ prayeth here for the Apostles that they may be One How should we agree together in pressing Duty reprehending Sin This would be an effectual and potent Means not only to the Peace of the Church but Success of the Gospel Schism in the Church of Corinth arose from the Emulation of Ministers among themselves one striving to excel the other in Eloquence and Favour among the People and contemning Paul and others that followed the simplicity of the Gospel So the Apostle noteth it elsewhere Phil. 1.15 Some preach Christ out of Envy and Strife and some also of Good-will It is usual that one carpeth at another's Gifts one standing in the way of another's Honour and Profit like Men in a Boat justling at one another till the Boat it self be sunk One faileth and yieldeth to the Promises and Threatnings
God's Wrath and Sin are exceeding terrible when they are charged on the Conscience Life is sweet and Man's Nature is afraid of Death it must be some great Matter that must cause a Man to make an end of himself and yet so great was his Despair that he was his own Destroyer Usually it is thus with grievous Sinners they dream of nothing but Mercy while they live and when they come they die have nothing but Wrath and Hell their presumption of Mercy doth but provide Matter for Despair He repented confessed his Sin restored the thirty pieces of Silver Conviction Confession Restitution are good yet do not always lead to God John 16.8 When he is come he will reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment This is as Water out of a Still that is forced by Fire not as Water out of a Fountain 2. We now come to his Punishment His Temporal Judgment you have recorded Mat. 27.5 He cast down the pieces of Silver in the Temple and departed and went and hanged himself The Pleasures of Sin are very short in the Midnight he receiveth the Mony and in the Morning hangeth himself The Pleasures of Sin are but for a Season Heb. 11.26 Till we sin Satan is a Parasite but when once we are in the Devil's Hands he turns Tyrant as an Angler when the Fish hath swallowed the Bait discovers himself or as an Hunter lies out of sight till the Beast is gotten into the Toil then he shouts and triumphs over the Prey Prov. 20.17 Bread of Deceit is sweet to a Man but afterwards his Mouth shall be filled with Gravel He went and hanged himself a Man will endure the greatest Evils rather than the Gripes of an awakened Conscience it is worse than all the Racks and Strappado's in the World A Man may make shift with other Calamities Prov. 18.14 The Spirit of a Man will sustain his Infirmity but a wounded Spirit who can bear When once he hath broken his Peace and run into God's displeasure Oh then who can stand under it Job 7.15 My Soul chuseth strangling and Death rather than Life Death the most violent and most disgraceful is more welcome to them than Life in such a case when a Man's Thoughts become his Hell and where-ever he goeth he carrieth his Hell about with him He hanged himself The event of Sin is always deadly to the Sinner Judas becometh his own Executioner Non potuit pejore manu perire quà m suâ non debuit tamen He could not die by a worser Hand God cannot want Instruments to punish Sinners he can arm our own Hands and Thoughts against our selves Judas was his own Judg and his own Executioner There is another Circumstance in his Death Acts 1.18 And falling headlong he burst asunder in the midst and all his Bowels gushed out The Rope breaking he fell down and then that accident befel him God suiteth Punishments to Sins to shew his detestation of Hypocrisy He turns the Traitor in and out he was outwardly an Apostle inwardly a Traitor therefore his Bowels and Inwards are now poured forth And then follows the Infamy of it Acts 1.19 And it was known unto all the Dwellers at Jerusalem insomuch as that Field is called in their proper Tongue Aceldama that is to say The Field of Blood Thus God will do pour shame and contempt upon them that are false to him Prov. 26.25 26. When he speaketh fair believe him not for there are seven Abominations in his Heart Whose Hatred is covered with Deceit his Wickedness shall be shewed before the whole Congregation First or last the Mask shall fall off and a Man shall be betrayed to shame and infamy Of the Woman whom Judas envied Christ saith Mat. 26.13 Verily I say unto you Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole World there shall also this that this Woman hath done be told for a Memorial of her As the Memorial of the Just doth not go into the Grave with him so neither the Infamy of the Wicked here is an everlasting Infamy upon Judas Judas is remembred in the Lord's Supper The Lord Jesus the same Night in which he was betrayed took Bread 1 Cor. 11.23 as Pilate is remembred in the Creed But all this is nothing to Hell he is gone to his own place where we must leave him as the first Fruits of Reprobates Vse Let us hate those Sins that brought Judas to destruction If you imitate him you make him your Patriarch We all defy his Memory but we love his Practices Every one that beareth the Name of a Christian would have nothing to do with Judas Abandon his Sins You have heard what they are 1. Covetousness It is the Root of all Evil. This is that which betrayed Christ Let us turn our dipleasure upon the Sin rather than the Person it made an Apostle to become a Devil We stroak it with a gentle Censure as if it were but a little Evil. Oh you do not know how far this may carry you Psal. 10.3 The Wicked boasteth of his Heart's desire and blesseth the Covetous whom the Lord abhorreth Sensuality hath more of the Beast Covetousness seems to have more of the Man Oh but think of it here was the Rise Covetousness beginneth with inordinate Desire and ends in Injustice that with Hypocrisy to vail it brings Hardning this Hardness brings at length to Despair and so you are made Sons of Perdition by degrees A Man may insensibly grow a perfect Judas to betray Christ and ruin his own Soul Cherish but this one Sin follow it and obey it and it will not leave you till it hath brought you in laqueum Diaboli into the Snare of the Devil 1 Tim. 6.9 They that will be Rich fall into Temptation and a Snare and into many foolish and hurtful Lusts which drown Men in Destruction and Perdition Beware of that Covetousness which is proper to Judas begrudging what is spent upon God If thou thinkest thy time is lost that is spent in Holy Services or thy Mony lost that is laid out upon God or good uses thou hast much of his Spirit and it is a step to it Seneca said of the Jews That they were a foolish People because they lost a full seventh part of their Lives meaning the Sabbath Oh there are more of his mind that think all is lost that is not laid out upon their Callings and upon their Sports and Pleasures and upon their temporal Provisions that look upon the Sabbath as a melancholy Interruption that say as Amos 8.5 When will the New Moon be gone that we may sell Corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth Wheat 2. Beware of Hypocrisy or of taking up the Profession of Christianity for Carnal Ends. O look to your Grounds and Motives when you take up with the stricter ways of Christ. A sound beginning will have an happy End but if you take up this Profession upon Carnal Reasons one time or other
one to convince the other to excite and rowse us up By sin man is an enemy to God and hateth him As to the punishment God is an enemy to man and will avenge himself upon him What greater sin than to be enemies to God What greater misery than that God should be an enemy to us Surely where both these are joyned it should awaken us and we should get out of this Condition as fast as we can 1. We are enemies and rebels to God In our natural estate we are all so We will not own this and are ready to defy any that should say we are Gods enemies or haters of God we count him to be a most profligate and forlorn wretch that should profess himself to be so That little spark of Conscience that is left in corrupt nat re will not suffer men openly to own themselves to be so They are ready to say as Hazael Is thy Servant a Dog that I should do this thing Yet the matter is clear we are in our natural estate enemies to God 1. 'T is possible that humane nature may be so far forsaken as that among men there should be found haters of God and enemies to him Rom. 1.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Haters of God And Psa. 139.21 Do not I hate them O Lord that hate thee There are an opposite party to God in the World some that hate him as well as some that love him some that walk contrary to him that oppose his interest oppress his Servants Psa. 83.2 They that hate thee are risen up against us without a cause The thing is possible then all the business is to find who they are 2. There are open enemies to God and secret enemies The open enemies are such as bid defiance to him Blaspheming his name and breaking his Laws opposing his interests and oppressing his Servants The open enmity is declared the secret is carryed on under a pretence of friendship by their living in the Church and having a form of Godliness and a blind zeal John 16.2 Not only Turks and Infidels and Apostates but also prophane Wretches though they live within the verge of the Church yet if they go on still in their trespasses Psa. 68.21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies and the hairy scalp of all those that go on in their trespasses If they oppose whatsoever of God is â—et a â—oot in their days they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 5.39 Fighters against God And Acts 23.9 Let us not fight against God Or if they oppose his Servants if they be not lovers of those which are good 2 Tim. 3.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 despisers of those which are good God and his people have one Common Interest Those that malign his Servants hate him for they hate his Image Pro. 29.27 The upright in his way is an abomination to the wicked There is a secret rising of heart against those that are stricter and have more of the Image of God then they There is an old enmity between the seeds as between the Raven and the Dove the Wolf and the Lamb now this is enmity against God 3. There are enemies to God directly and formally and implicitely and by Interpretation Directly and formally where there is a positive enmity against God whether secret or open The expressions of the open enmity against God have been already mentioned An hatred of his ways and a rage against his Servants The secret positive enmity is seen in the effect of slavish fear which only apprehendeth God as an avenger of sin And so men hate those whom they fear We have wronged God exceedingly and know that he will call us to an account and being sensible of a Revenge we hate him All that are afraid of God with such a fear as hath torment in it aut extinctum Deum cupiunt aut exarmatum 'T is a pleasing thought to them if no God Psal. 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart there is no God As the Devils tremble at their own thoughts of God it would be welcome news to them if there were none These are enemies directly and formally But now by Interpretation that will make us more work Certainly there is such a thing as hatred by Interpretation As appeareth Pro. 8.36 He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own Soul All that hate me love Death So where 't is said He that spareth the Rod hateth his Son Pro. 18.24 His fault is fond indulgence but a wrong love is an Interpretative hatred Now apply it to the case between us and God and those that pretend no such thing can be charged upon them may yet hate God Three ways we may be guilty of this Interpretative hatred and enmity 1. If we love not God at all For not to love is to hate in things worthy to be loved there is no medium For he that is not with God is against him Matth. 12.30 And he that loveth him not hateth him To be a neuter is to be a Rebel And you speak all manner of misery to that man of whom you may say that he loveth not God So Christ brandeth his enemies Joh. 5.42 But I know you that ye have not the love of God in you They pleaded zeal for the Sabbath and opposed Christ for working a miracle on that day Men are in a woful Condition if they be void of the true love of God love being the Fountain of desiring Communion with God and the Root of all sound obedience to him And certainly if men love not God being so deeply ingaged and God so deserving their love they hate him and are enemies to him there being no neutral or middle estate 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha 'T is danger enough not to love him though we break not out into open opposition against his ways 2dly If we love him not so much as we ought to do or not so much as we love some other thing for a lesser love is hatred in the sacred dialect as we see in the Law of the hated wife not that the one was not loved at all or absolutely hated but not loved so much as the others Deut. 21.15 16. So in that Proverb Pro. 14.20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour but the Rich hath many friends There hatred is taken for slighting or a less degree of love So in this case between us and God Matth. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me in Luke 't is said Luke 14.26 If any man hate not Father and Mother and Brother and Sisters he cannot be my Disciple Here to love less is to hate So Matth. 6.24 No man can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or he will hold to the one and despise the other ye cannot serve God and Mammon God is of that excellent nature that to esteem any thing