is Iustice in Hell but sin is the most unjust thing It would rob God of his Glory Christ of his Purchase the Soul of it's Happiness 'T is more bitter to sin against Christ than to suffer the torments of Hell saith Chrysostom Is not sin then to be feared he who Fears God is afraid of touching this forbidden fruit More Particularly 1. He who Fears God is afraid to do any thing that he doubts may be sinful Rom. 14.23 He will not swallow Oaths like Pills lest they should afterwards work in his Conscience he dares not mix any thing in Gods Worship which he hath not appointed he doubts it is like Offering strange fire Where Conscience is Scrupulous it is safer to forbear for what is not of Faith is Sin 2. He who Fears God fears the appearance of Sin 1 Thes. 5.22 Abstain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from all appearance of Evil. Some things are Male colorata as Bernard speaks they have a bad look and carry a show of evil in them To go to the Idol Temple though one doth not joyn with them in Worship is an appearance of evil He whose Heart is ballasted with Gods Fear flies from that which looks like sin It was a good speech of Bernard to Eugenius By avoiding the Act of sin we preserve our Peace by avoiding the appearance of it we preserve our Fame The Fear of God makes us shun the Occasion of sin the Nazarite under the Law was not only to forbear Wine but he must not eat Grapes which might occasion intemperancy Ioseph fled from his Mistresses temptation he would not be seen in her company The appearance of evil though it defile not ones own Conscience it may offend anothers Conscience and hear what the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 8.12 When ye wound the weak Conscience ye sin against Christ. Such as avoid not the appearances and in-lets to sin make the truth of their Grace to be suspected How far are they from the Fear of God who forgetting their prayer Lead us not into temptation run themselves into the Devils mouth they go to Plays and Masquerades which are the Lures and Incentives of Filthiness others associate familiarly with the Wicked and are too often in their Company which is like going among them that have the Plague 1 Cor. 5.9 I wrote to you not to Company with Fornicators Traffique is one thing keeping Company is another Polycarp would have no Society with Marcion the Heretick Twisting into a cord of Friendship with sinners is a show of evil it hardens them in sin and wounds the credit of Religion But did not Christ often converse with Sinners 1. Christ did sometimes go among the Wicked not that he approved of their sins but as a Physitian goes among the diseased to heal them so Christ intended to Work a Cure upon them Mark 2.17 It was their conversion he aimed at 2. Though Jesus Christ did sometimes converse with Sinners yet he could receive no Infection by them his divine nature was a sufficient Antidote against the contagion of sin As the Sun cannot be defiled with the thick Vapours which are exhaled from the Earth and fly into the middle Region so the black Vapours of sin could not defile the Sun of Righteousness Christ was of that spotless purity that he had no receptibility of Evil but the case is altered with us we have a stock of corruption within therefore it is dangerous to incorporate with the Wicked lest we be defiled Such as revere the divine Majesty dare not go near the borders of Sin Those who went near the Fiery Furnace though they did not go into it were burned Dan. 3.22 A wise Christian should in all his transactions put those three questions of Bernard to himself Whether is this I do lawful or decent or expedient 3. He who Fears God dares not sin secretly An Hypocrite may forbear gross sin because of the shame but not clandestine secret sin He is like one that shuts up his Shop-windows but follows his Trade within doors But a man Fearing God dares not sin though he had Gyges's Ring and could walk invisibly and no eye see him Levit 19.14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind but shalt Fear thy God If one should curse a deaf man he cannot hear him or lay a stumbling block in a blind mans way he cannot see him Yea but the Fear of God will make one avoid those sins which can neither be heard or seen by men Gods Seeing in secret is a sufficient Supersedeas and Counterpoison against Sin 4. He who Fears God dares not commit sin though it might bring him in Emolument Gain is the Golden bait with which Satan fisheth for Souls this was the last temptation the Devil used to Christ All this will I give thee Mat. 4.9 How many bow down to the Golden Image Ioshua who could stop the course of the Sun could not stop Achan in his pursuit after the wedge of Gold But he who Fears God dares not sin to get preferment David durst not touch the Lords anointed though he knew he was to reign next 2 Sam. 26.23 A Godly man is assured that a full Purse is but a poor recompence for a wounded Conscience If any shall go to choak him with Steeples he saith as Peter Acts 8.20 Thy mony perish with thee 5. He who Fears God dares not gratifie his own revengeful humour Homer saith Revenge is sweet as dropping Hony but Grace makes a man rather bury an injury than revenge it He knows who hath said Vengeance is mine I will repay Rom. 12.19 He who hath the Fear of God before his eyes is so far from revenge that he requites good for evil Miriam murmured against Moses and Moses prayed for her that God would heal her of her Leprosie Numb 12.13 The Prophet Elisha instead of smiteing his Enemies set Bread and Water before them 2 King 6.22 6. He who Fears God dares not do that which is of evil report though possibly the thing in it self may be no sin 1 Cor. 6.1 Dare any of you having a matter against another go to law before the unjust Yes might some say what sin is it to have a just cause brought before unbelievers that it may be decided O but might the Apostle reply though the thing in it self be lawful yet because it sounds ill and exposeth your Religion to the Scorn and insult of unbelievers you that Fear God should not dare to do it It were better to decide it by a prudent arbitration 1 Cor. 6.12 All things are lawful unto me but all things are not expedient 7. He who Fears God is not only afraid of evil actions but to offend God in his Thoughts Deut. 19.6 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart c. To think of sin with delight is to act it over in the fancy this is Culpable A man may think himself
deal not Foolishly and to the wicked lift not up the Horn. 1. Are not they Fools who gratifie their Enemy They who want the Fear of God do so Satan baits his hook with pleasure and profit and they swallow bait and hook and all this pleaseth Satan mens sins feast the Devil Who but a Fool would humour his enemy 2. Is it not folly to preferre Slavery before Liberty if a Slave in the gally should have his freedom offered him but he should say he had rather Tug at the Oar and be a slave than have his liberty would not he be Judged indiscreet Such is the case of him who Fears not God The Gospel offers to free him from the miserable captivity of Sin but he chooseth rather to be a slave to his lusts He is like the Servant under the Law Exod. 21.5 I love my Master I will not go out free He was displeased with a year of Iubilee The Foolish sinner had rather have his Ear bored to the Devils service than be translated into the Glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 3. Is not he a Fool who having but one Jewel will venture the loss of it The Soul is this Jewel and the sinner is fearless of it he will throw it away upon the world as if one should throw Pearls and Diamonds at Pear-trees Ephrem Syrus used to say He who Pampers his body and neglects his Soul is like him who feasts his Slave and starves his Wife 4. Is not he a Fool who refuseth a rich offer if one should offer to adopt another and make him Heir of his Estate and he should refuse it would not his discretion be called in question God offers Christ to a sinner and promiseth to entail all the riches of Heaven upon him but wanting the Fear of God he refuseth this Great offer Psalm 81.11 Israel would none of me Is not this a Prodigy of madness may not the Devil beg every sinner for a Fool at the last day 15. The Fear of God is a Soveraign Antidote against Apostasie the Devil was the first Apostate How rife is this sin more shipwracks are at Land than at Sea men make shipwrack of a Good Conscience Apostates are said to put Christ to open shame Heb. 6.6 The Fear of God is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a preservative against Apostacy Ier. 32.40 I will put my Fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me I will so love them that I will not depart from them and they shall so Fear me that they shall not depart from me 15. There are excellent Promises made to them that Fear God Malach. 4.2 Vnto you that Fear my Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his Wings Here is a promise of Christ he is a Sun for Light and Vivifical Influence and a Sun of Righteousness as he diffuseth the Golden beams of Justification And he hath healing in his Wings the Sun heals the Air dries up the Cold moistures exhales the Vapours which would be Pestilential so Christ hath healing in his Wings he heals the hardness and impurity of the Soul And the Horison in which this Sun ariseth is in hearts Fearing God To you that Fear my Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise And there is another Great Promise Psalm 115.13 He will bless them that Fear the Lord both Small and Great God blesseth such in their Name Estate Souls And this blessing can never be reversed As Isaac said I have blessed him and he shall be blessed Gen. 27.33 Such as Fear God are priviledged Persons none can take away from them either their birth-right or their blessing 16. Fear is an admirable Instrument in Promoting Salvation Philip. 2.12 Work out your Salvation with Fear Fear is that flaming Sword which turns every way to keep sin from entring Prov. 6.16 Fear stands Sentinel in the Soul and is ever upon it's Watch-Tower Fear causeth circumspection he who walks in Fear treads warily Fear begets Prayer and Prayer engageth the help of Heaven 17. The Lord is much pleased with such as Fear him Psalm 147.11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that Fear him In the Septuagint it is The Lord bears Good will towards them that Fear him Pagnin and Buxtorf render it The Lord delights in them that Fear him Never did Suitor take such pleasure in a Person he loved as God doth in them that Fear him they are his Hephsibah or chief solace Isa. 62.4 He saith of them as of Sihon Psalm 132.14 Here is my rest for ever here will I dwell A sinner is a vessel in which is no pleasure Hosea 8.8 But Fearers of God are Favourites 18. Such as Fear God are the only persons that shall be saved Psalm 85.9 Salvation is nigh them that Fear him Salvation is said to be far from the Wicked Psalm 119.155 They and Salvation are so far asunder that they are like never to meet But Gods Salvation is nigh them that Fear him What do we aspire after but Salvation 'T is the end of all our Prayers Tears Sufferings Salvation is the Crown of our desires the flower of our joy And who shall be enriched with Salvation but the Fearers of God His Salvation is nigh them that Fear him Let these cogent arguments perswade to the Fear of God Let us put our selves upon a strict Scrutiny and Tryal whether we have the Fear of God planted in our hearts How may we know it 1. The Fear of God will make a man fear sin Gen. 39.9 How can I do this Great wickedness and sin against God indeed sin is the only Formidable thing this is the Gorgons Head that affrights it is the Evil of Evils 'T is the Poison the Old Serpent hath spit into our Virgin-nature In Sin is both Pollution and Enmity Sin is compared to a Thick Cloud Isa. 44.22 which not only hides the light of Gods Face but brings down showers of Wrath. Sin is worse than all penal evils there is more evil in a drop of Sin than in a Sea of Affliction 1. Sin is the cause of Affliction it conjures up all the Winds and Storms in the World Out of this Viperous womb come Mutinies Divisions Massacres and the cause is worse than the effect 2. In Affliction Conscience may be quiet the Hail may beat upon the Tiles when there is Musick in the room but Sin terrifies the Conscience Nero in the midst of Feasts and Roman sports was full of horrour of mind the numbers of men he had Killed troubled him Cataline was frighted at every noise Cain in Killing Abel stab'd half the World at one blow yet could not he Kill the Worm of his own Conscience Sin is the Spirits of Mischief distilled it puts a Sting into death 1 Cor. 15.56 It is worse than Hell 1. Hell is a burden only to the sinner but sin is a Burden to God Amos 2.13 2. There
feaâ— Assurance and Fear are diversa but not Opposita different but not contrary A Child may have assurance of his Fathers love yet hath a fear of offending him Who more fearful of Sin than St. Paul 1 Cor. 9.27 Yet who had more assurance Galat. 2.20 Who Loved me and Gave himself for me Faith procures assurance fear preserves it Is it a duty to Fear God what strangers then are they to Religion who are void of this Holy Fear The Godly fear and sin not the wicked sin and fear not They are like the Leviathan who is made without Fear Iob 41.33 Want of the fear of God is the innate Cause of all Wickedness Rom. 3.14 Whose mouth is full of Cursing and bitterness their feet are swift to shed blood Whence was this vers 18. There is no fear of God before their eyes Abraham surmized the men of Gerar would stick at no Sin why so Gen. 20.11 I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place The Judge in the Gospel is called an unjust Iudge Luke 18.6 And no wonder for vers 2. he feared not God There must needs be an excess of Sin where there wants the Fear of God to restrain it The water must needs Overflow where there are no banks to keep it out We live in a Godless age durst men Sin at that rate as they do if the fear of God were regent in their hearts durst they swear be unclean use False weights bear false witness hate purity deride Gods signs in the Heaven Forge Plots Persecute Christs body if they had the fear of God before their eyes these men proclaim to the World that they are Atheists they believe not the Immortality of the Soul They are worse than brutish a Beast fears the fire these fear not Hell Fire They are worse than Devils for they believe and tremble Jam. 2.19 Let us bewail the want of the Fear of God Terras Astraea reliquit Whence is it so few fear God 1. Because they have not the knowledge of God Prov. 1.24 They hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord did men know God in his immense glory they would be swallowed up with divine amazement When the Prophet Isaiah had a glimpse of Gods Glory he was stricken with holy consternation Isaiah 6.5 Wo is me I am undone for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts But the Ignorance of God banisheth fear 2. Men fear not God because they presume of his Mercy God is merciful and they doubt not of the Vertue of this soveraign Balm But who is Gods mercy for Luke 1.50 His mercy is on them that fear him Such as fear not Gods Justice shall not tast his Mercy Let this be for a Lamentation that the fear of God is so vanished Where almost is it to be found Some fear shame others fear danger but where is he who fears a Deity Diogenes came into a full Market with a Candle and Lanthorn they asked him what he sought saith he Hominem quaero I seek a man that is a wise man So in the Crowd of people we may go and seek a man fearing God And not only among the Commonalty but even among Professors how sew fear God in truth Profession is often made a Mantle to cover sin Absalom palliated his Treason with a Religious Vow 2 Sam. 15.7 The Pharisees made long Prayer a preface to Oppression Mat. 23.14 This is sordid to carry on wicked designs sublarva Pictatis under a pretext of Piety The Snow covers many a dung-hill A snovvy vvhite Profession covers many a foul heart The sins of Professors are more odious Thistles are bad in a Field but vvorse in a Garden The sins of the vvicked anger God but the sins of Professors Grieve him It reproves Iovial Sinners vvho are so far from fearing God that they spend their time in mirth and vvantonness Luke 17.27 They did eat they drank they married till the flood came and destroyed them all There is a place in Affrica called Tombutium where the Inhabitants spend all the day in piping and dancing What sensual effeminate lives do the Gallants of our age live They spend their Life in a Frolick As if God had made them to be like the Leviathan who plays in the Sea Job 21.13 They take the Timbrel and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ They ride to Hell upon the back of Pleasure and go merrily to damnation Though the Times are sad they have no fear in regard of the publique Doth not God call us to trembling our sins are the fiery Comets that presage evil May not we fear the Glory is departing may not we fear the death of Religion before the birth of Reformation May not we fear some portentous calamity should bring up the rear of former Judgments and as the Prophet Ezekiel saith Should me then make-mirth Ezek. 21.10 But Jovial spirits have banished the fear of God Amos 6.4 5. That lye upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches that drink wine in Bowls and anoint themselves with the chief Oyntments Sinners whose hearts are hardned with soft pleasures let them have their lusts and farewell Christ and his Gospel Iude 12. Feeding themselves without fear But they Forget death will bring in the reckoning and they must pay the reckoning in Hell The Great Turk when he intends the death of any of his Bashaws invites them to a Sumptuous Feast and then causeth them to be taken away from the Table and strangled so Satan Gluts men with sinful pastimes and delights and then strangles them Foolish Gallants are like the Fish that swim pleasantly through the Silver streams of Iordan till at last they fall into the dead Sea It reproves secure Sinners who have no Fear of God Like Laish of old Iudg. 18.27 A people quiet and secure Those who are least safe are most confident Security casts men into a deep Sleep Birds that build and roost in Steeples being used to the continual ringing of Bells the noise doth not at all disquiet them So Sinners who have been long used to the sound of Aarons Bells though ever and anon they have a peal rung out against their sins yet being used to it they are not startled A secure sinner is Known thus 1. He lives as bad as the worst yet hopes to be saved as well as the best He doth bless himself saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my heart Deut. 29.19 As if a man should drink Poison yet not doubt but he shall have his health A secure sinner lies in Delilahs lap yet hopes to be in Abrahams bosom 2. A secure sinner thinks all is well because all is in peace He hears others speak of a Spirit of bondage and the terrors they have felt for sin he thanks God he never Knew what Trouble of spirit meant he thinks his
when Conscience is awake when Death strikes when the last Trump sounds And shall not we Fear this God Ier. 5.22 Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not tremble at my presence The Fearing Gods Justice is the way not to feel it And let it not seem strange to you if I tell you that in respect of Gods infinite Majesty there will be some of this blessed Fear in Heaven Not a Fear that hath Torment in it for Perfect love will cast out Fear But an Holy Sweet Reverential fear Though God hath so much beauty in him as shall cause love and joy in Heaven yet this beauty is mixed with so much Majesty as shall cause a Veneration in Glorified Saints 5. The Fear of God tends to life Pro. 19.23 It is true 1. In a temporal sence Prov. 10.27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth daies in the Original it is It addeth dayes Long life is Promised as a blessing Psalm 91.16 With long Life will I satisfie him The best way to come to an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Good Old age is the Fear of God Sin curtails the life many a mans excess wasts his Vitals enervates his strength and cuts him short of those years which by the course of nature might be arrived at You that desire to live long live in the Fear of God Deut. 6.24 The Lord commanded us to fear the Lord our God that he might preserve us alive 2. It is true in a Spiritual sence The Fear of the Lord tendeth to life namely to life Eternal Life is sweet and Eternal makes it Sweeter The Life of bliss hath no Tearm of Years wherein it expires 1 Thes. 4.17 Ever with the Lord The Lamp of Glory shines but doth not spend so that divine Fear tends to Life a life with God and Angels for ever 6. The Fear of God gives full satisfaction Prov. 19.23 He that hath it shall abide satisfied Such as are destitute of Gods Fear never meet with satisfaction Iob 20.22 In the midst of his sufficiency he shall be in straits This is a riddle to be full yet not have enough The meaning is there is still something wanting he who Fears not God though his Barns are full yet his Mind is not quiet The sweet Waters of Pleasure do rather inflame the thirst than satisfie it Omnia fui et nihil expedit I have run through all the delights and Grandures of the world and could never find full contentment said the Emperour Severus But he who hath the Fear of the Lord shall abide satisfied 1. He shall be satisfied His Soul shall be filled with Grace his Conscience with peace an Holy man said when God had replenished him with inward joy It is enough Lord thy Servant is a clay vessel and can hold no more 2. He shall abide satisfied This satisfaction shall not cease it shall be a Cordial in death and a Crown after death 7. The fear of God makes a little to be sweet Prov. 15.16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord. Why is a little better because that little a Believer hath he holds in Capite in his Head Christ that little is sweetned with the love of God He hath with that little a contented mind and contentment turns Daniels Pulse into Venison Again that little is a Pledge of more that little Oyl in the Cruse is but an earnest of that Golden joy and bliss which the Soul shall have in Heaven Thus a little with the Fear of God is better than all unsanctified riches Lazarus's Crumbs were better than Dives his Banquet 8. The Fear of God is a Christians safety He is invulnerable nothing can hurt him Plunder him of his Money he carries a treasure about him he cannot be robbed of Isa. 33.6 Cast him into bonds his Conscience is free Kill his Body it shall rise again He who hath on this Breast-Plate of Gods Fear may be shot at but can never be shot thorow 9. The Fear of God makes all things go well with us Psalm 128.2 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee Is it not well with that man who hath all things go on his side and hath nothing wanting that may do him Good Psalm 84.11 If God sees Health or Riches Good for him he shall have them Every Providence shall center in his happiness O what an inducement is here to solid Piety Come what times will it shall be well with them that Fear God When they dye they shall go to God and while they live every thing in the world shall do them good 10. The Fear of God is a great Cleanser Psalm 19.9 The fear of the Lord is clean It is so 1. In its own nature it is a pure Christal Orient grace 2. It is clean Effective in the effect of it it cleanseth the Heart and Life as a Spring works out the mud so it purgeth out the love of sin The Heart is the Temple of God and Fear sweeps and cleanseth this Temple that it be not defiled 11. The Fear of God makes us accepted with God Act. 10.35 In every nation he that Feareth God is accepted with him What was St. Paul so ambitious of 2 Cor. 5.9 We labour that we may be accepted with him Divine Fear ingratiates us into divine Favour Such as are Fearless of God neither their Persons or Offerings find acceptance Amos 5.21 22. I despise your Feast dayes and I will not smell in your solemn Assemblies though ye offer me burnt-offerings I will not accept them Who will take a Gift from one that hath the plague 12. The Fear of God layes a train for spiritual joy some may think the Fear of God breeds sadness no it is the in-let to joy The Fear of God is the morning Star which ushers in the Sun light of comfort Acts 9.31 Walking in the Fear of the Lord and in the comforts of the Holy ghost The Fear of God hath solid joy in it though not wanton Oecolampadius an holy man being on his sick-bed was asked if the Light offended him he putting his hand to his heart said Hic sat lucis Here I have light enough God mixeth joy with Holy Fear that fear may not seem slavish 13. The Fear of God drives out all other base Fear Carnal fear is an enemy to Religion The Fear of God frights it away it causeth Courage Exod. 18.21 Able men such as Fear God some Translations render it Men of Courage When a Dictator Governed in Rome all other Offices ceased Where the Fear of God rules in the Heart it expells fleshly Fear When the Emperess Eudoxia threatned to banish Chrysostom Tell her saith he I fear nothing but sin The Fear of God swallows up all other Fear as Moses Rod swallowed up the Magitians Rods. 14. To be void of Gods Fear is Folly Psalm 75.4 I said to the Fools
Sodomites that he might preserve his Angel-guests who were come into his house Gen. 19.8 Did not Satan instigate him to this Necessity will not excuse impiety 3 d. Snare is to Colour over sin with the Pretence of Vertue Alcibiades hung a Curtain curiously embroidered over a foul Picture full of Owls and Satyrs Satan puts Good names on sin as Physitians call that Film in the eye which hinders the sight a Pearl in the eye Satan Colour'd over Jehu's Ambition with the Name of Zeal 2 Kin. 10.16 He makes men believe Revenge is Valour Covetousness Frugality as if one should write balm-water upon a glass of Poyson 4 th Snare of Satan is to carry on his mischievous designs under a pretence of Friendship He puts off his Lions Skin and comes in Sheeps Clothing Thus Satan came to Christ Command that these Stones be made bread Mat. 4.3 As if he had said I see thou art Hungry I therefore out of Pity Counsel thee to get something to eat turn stones to bread that thy hunger may be satisfied but Christ spied the Serpent in the Temptation and repulsed him Thus Satan came to Eve under the Notion of a Friend Eat saith he of the Tree in the midst of the Garden Ye shall not dye ye shall be as Gods Gen. 3.4 5. As if he had said I perswade you only to that which will put you into a better condition than now ye are eat of the Tree of knowledge and it will make you Omniscient What a kind Devil was here but Eve found a Worm in the Apple Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes 5 th Snare if Satan cannot take a Christian off from duty he will put him on too far in duty Humiliation is a duty but Satan suggests that the Soul is not humbled enough and indeed he never thinks it humbled enough till it despairs Satan comes thus to a man Thy sins have bin great and thy Sorrow should be proportionable But is it so canst thou say thou hast bin as great a Mourner as thou hast bin a Sinner what is a drop of Sorrow to a Sea of Sin This is laid only as a Snare the subtil enemy would have a Christian weep himself blind and in a desperate humour throw away the Anchor of Hope And if Satan hath such fallacies and as a Decoy draws so many Millions into his snares is there not cause of jealous fear lest we should be trappan'd The fear of God will make us Fear Hells stratagems Satans snares are worse than his darts 2. The Fear of God will make a man afraid of his own Heart Luther used to say he feared his Heart more than the Pope or Cardinals Ier. 17.9 The Heart is deceitful above all things 1. It is deceitful The word signifies it is a Jacob or Supplanter As Jacob supplanted his brother and got away the blessing so our Hearts would supplant and beguile us 2. Above all things There is deceit in Weights deceit in Friends but the Heart hath an art of deceiving beyond all In the best hearts there is some fallaciousness David was upright in all things save only in the matter of Vriah 1 King 15.5 A Godly man Knowing there is a spice of this deceit in his Heart Fears himself The flesh is a Bosom-Traitor No man can believe what evil is in his Heart 2 Kin. 8.12 Is thy Servant a Dog Hazael could not believe his Heart had bin big of such Monsters If one had come to Noah and said thou wilt be drunk shortly he would have said Is thy Servant a Dog No man knows what is in his breast or what scandal he may fall into if God leaveth him Christ warns his own Apostles to take heed of surfeiting and drunkenness Luk. 21.34 A Godly man therefore fears his Heart with a Fear of Caution and jealousie The Heart is not only stubborn but subtil Let us a little Trace this Impostor and see if there be not cause to fear it The heart shows it's deceitfulness about 1. Things Sinful 2. Things Sacred 1. The Heart shows it's deceitfulness about things sinful this deceit is 1. In hiding of sin as Rahab hid the spies in the flax Josh. 2.6 So the Heart Hides sin and how doth it hide it Just as Adam hid himself under fig-leaves so the Heart hides sin under the figleaves of excuses It was done against the will or in a Passion or it was long of others Aaron laid his sin in making the Golden calf upon the people Exo. 32.22 The people are set on mischief And Adam tacitly laid his sin upon God himself Gen. 3.12 The Woman thou gavest me she gave me of the tree As to say If thou hadst not given me this tempting woman I had not eat 2. The Hearts deceit is seen in Flattering of us it will make us believe we are not so bad as we are The Physitian deceives the patient when he tells him his disease is not so dangerous yet he is falling into the hands of death The Heart will tell a man he is free from Theft when yet he robs others of their Good Name he is free from Drunkenness when though he will not be drunk with Wine he will be drunk with Passion Thus the Heart is a flattering Glass to make one look fairer than he is and is there not cause to suspect this Impostor 2. The Heart shews it's deceitfulness about things Sacred it will be ready to put us off with Counterfeit Grace Many have bin deceived in taking false Mony and it is to be feared in taking false Grace 1. The Heart is ready to deceive with a false repentance A Sinner is troubled a little for Sin or rather the consequent of it and perhaps sheds a few tears and now his Heart sooths him up that he is a true Penitent But every legal terrour is not Repentance Acts 2.37 They were pricked in their Heart yet after this Peter said unto them Repent ver 38. If every slight Trouble for sin were true Repentance then Iudas and Cain may be listed in the number of penitents Evangelical Repentance works a change of Heart 1 Cor. 6.11 It produceth Sanctity But the false penitentiary though he hath trouble of Spirit yet no Metamorphise or change He hath a weeping Eye but an adulterous Heart Ahab Fasts and puts on sack-cloth but after this he puts the Prophet Micaiah in Prison 1 Kin. 22.27 2. The Heart is apt to deceive with a false Faith it would put the dead child in the room of the living They in the second of Iohn are said to believe But Christ did not believe their faith John 2.24 True Faith as it casts it self into Christs arms to embrace him so it casts it self at Christs feet to serve him But spurious Faith though it be forward to Receive Christs benefits yet it plucks the Government from his shoulders Isa. 9.6 It would have him a Priest but not upon his throne Zach. 6.13 Thus the Heart
suavity and if there be such deliciousness in the Creature what is in God He must needs be better than all O my Soul shall I admire the Drop and not the Ocean Shall I think of the Workmanship and not of him that made it This is the fruit of Original Sin it hath warped the Soul and taken it off from the right Object It reproves such as indeed think of God but they have not Right Thoughts of him As the Lord said to Eliphaz Job 42.7 Ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right so some think of God but they do not think of him the thing that is right 1. They have Low unworthy Thoughts of God they Fancy God to be like themselves Psalm 50.21 Men think God is as short-sighted as they and that he cannot see them through the thick Canopy of the Clouds but he that makes a Watch knows all the Wheeles and Pins in it and the Spring which causeth the Motion God who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the inspector of the Heart sees all the intrigues and Private Caballs in the Thoughts God knows the true Motion of a false Heart Ier. 29.23 I know and am a witness saith the Lord. 2. Men have Injurious Thoughts of God 1. They deem his wayes unequal Ezek. 18.25 Is not my way equal Some call Gods Providence to the Bar of Reason and Judge his proceedings excentrick but God laies Righteousness to the Plummet Isa. 28.17 His wayes are secret but alwayes just God is most in his way when we think he is out of his way 2. They think his wayes are not Profitable Mal. 3.14 What profit is it that we have kept his ordinance we cannot shew our earnings These are not Right Thoughts of God Men think him to be an hard Master But God will be in no mans debt he gives double pay Mal. 1.10 Neither do ye kindle a sire on my Altar for nought It reproves such as instead of thinking on God their minds are wholly taken up with Vain Thoughts Vain Thoughts are the froth of the Brain Ier. 4.14 How long shall Vain Thoughts lodge with thee I deny not but Vain Thoughts may sometimes come into the best Hearts but they have a care to turn them out before night that they do not Lodge This denominates a Wicked man his Thoughts Dwâ—ll upon Vanity and well may his Thoughts be said to be Vain because they do not turn to any profit Ier. 16.19 Vanity and things wherein there is no Profit They are Vain Thoughts which are about Foolish things and run all into straw They are Vain Thoughts which do not Better the Heart nor will give one drop of Comfort at death Psalm 146.4 In that very day his Thoughts perish Vain Thoughts are Pernitious they Fly-blow the Heart and leave an ill tincture behind 4. It reproves such as have not only Vain Thoughts but Vile Thoughts 1. Proud Thoughts while they view themselves in the Glass of Self-love they begin to take up Venerable Thoughts of themselves and so Pride fumes up into their Head and makes them Giddy 2. Impure Thoughts They think how to Gratifie their Lusts they do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make provision or as the word signifies become Caterers for the Flesh Rom. 13.14 Sin begins in the Thoughts first men Devise sin then Act it Mica 2.2 For instance would one have preferment he bethinks himself by what Ladder he may climb to Honour He will Cringe and comply and lay aside Conscience and this is the way to rise Would a man Grow rich he sets his Thoughts a work how to compass an estate he will circumvent and pull down his Soul to build up an estate Would he wreak his Malice on another he frames an Engine in his Thoughts to take away his Life as Iezabel that Painted Harlot when she would ruine Naboth presently fains a Sham-Plot and Subtilly thinks of a way how to dispatch him 1 King 21.9 Proclaim a fast and set Naboth on high among the People and set two men Sons of Belial to Witness against him saying thou didst blaspheme God and the King and carry him out and stone him O the Mischief of Thoughts A man may Deny God in his Thoughts Psalm 14.1 The Fool hath said in his Heart there is no God He may commit Adultery in his Thoughts Mat. 5.28 Whosoever looks on a Woman to Lust after her hath committed Adultery with her in his Heart A man may Murder another in his Thoughts 1 Ioh. 3.15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer O how much contemplative wickedness is in the World Tremble at sinful Thoughts We startle at Gross sin but we are not troubled so much for sinful Thoughts Know 1. That sin may be committed in the Thoughts though it never blossom into outward Act Prov. 24.9 The Thought of Foolishness is sin See this in two things 1. Envy the Jews envied Christ the fame of his Miracles Mat. 27.18 Pilat knew that for envy they had delivered him Here was sin committed in the Thoughts the Jews sinned by envying Christ though they had never Crucified him 2. Discontent Gen. 24.5 Cain was wroth and his Countenance fell He did Malign his Brother and his thoughts were boiled up to Discontent Here was sin committed in the thoughts Cain sinn'd by Discontent though he had never Murdered his Brother 2. God will punish for sinful thoughts We say Thoughts are free so they are in mans Court but God will punish for Thoughts it was set upon Herods score that he thought to have destroyed Christ under a pretence of worshipping him Mat. 2.8 Let us be humbled for the sins of our Thoughts Prov. 30.32 If thou hast thought evil lay thy hand upon thy Mouth That is humble and abase thy self before the Lord. The best alive had need be humbled for their thoughts 1. The Instability of their Thoughts How do the Thoughts Dance up and down in Prayer like Quick-silver they will not six 'T is hard to tye two Good Thoughts together 2. The Impiety of their Thoughts In the fairest fruit may be a Worm and in the best Heart evil Thoughts may arise Did mens Hearts stand where their faces do they would blush to look one upon another Let us I say be deeply humbled for our Thoughts Let us look up to Christ that he would stand between us and Gods Justice and that he would intercede for us that the Thoughts of our Hearts may be forgiven us Let us think of Gods Name let us lock up our selves with God every day let our Thoughts get Wings and with the Birds of Paradise fly up towards Heaven Christians look up on that day to be lost wherein you have not conversed with God in your Thoughts think of God in your Closet in your Shop Trade above the Moon Isaac went out into the field to meditate Gen. 24.63 He did take a turn in Heaven by holy Ejaculations Our Minds should
be steeped in holy Thoughts It is not enough to have a few Transient Thoughts of God by the By but there must be an immoration or staying our Minds on God till our Hearts are warmed in love to him and we can say as they Luk. 24.32 Did not our Hearts burn within us But what should be the matter of our holy Musings 1. Think of Gods Immense Being Adore his illustrious Attributes which are the Beams by which the Divine nature shines forth Think of Gods Omnisciency he makes a Curious and Critical descant upon all our Actions and enters them down into his day-book Think of Gods Holiness which is the most sparkling Jewel of his Crown Exod. 15.11 Think of Gods Mercy this makes all his other Attributes sweet Holiness without Mercy and Justice without Mercy would be terrible Think of Gods Veracity Exod. 34.6 Abundant in Truth that is God will be so far from coming short of his word that he doth more then he hath said He shoots beyond the Promise never short of it 2. Think of the Works of God Psalm 77.12 I will meditate of all thy Works Gods works are bound up in three great Volumes Creation Redemption Providence here is sweet matter for our Thoughts to expatiate upon CHAP. X. Swasives and Incentives to Holy Thoughts LET me to inforce the Exhortation propound some Swasives and Inducements to be frequent in the Thoughts of God 1. The end why God hath given us this thinking faculty is that we may think on his Name When our Cogitations run out in Impertinencies like water running beside the Mill we should think with our selves thus did God give us a Talent to misimploy did he give us Thoughts that we should think of every thing but him were these Arrows given us to shoot beside the Mark 2. If we do not inure our selves to Good thoughts we cannot be Good Christians Thinking seriously on Heavenly things makes them stay in our Mind causeth delight in them and makes them Nutritive Musing on Holy Objects is like concocting food which turns it to Blood and Spirits so that without Holy Cogitation no Religion Can a man be Religious and scarce ever think of it 3. We are deeply obliged to think on God 1. God is our maker Psalm 100.3 It is he that hath made us and not we our selves Our bodies are Gods curious needle work Psalm 139.15 And as God hath wrought the Cabinet so he hath put a Jewel in it the Precious Soul Hath God made us and shall not we think of him 2. God hath sweetned our Lives with Various Mercies The city of Syracuse in Sicily was so curiously scituated that the Sun was never out of sight God hath so placed us by his Providence that the Sun-shine of Mercy is never out of sight We are Bemiracled with Mercy Mercy feeds us with the Finest of the wheat the Bread of Life Mercy guards us with a Guard of Angels it makes the Rock pour forth Rivers of Oyl and shall not the Stream lead us to the Fountain shall not we think of the God of our Mercies this were high Ingratitude 4. To have frequent and Devout Thoughts of God witnesseth Sincerity No truer Touchstone of Sanctity than the Spirituality of the Thoughts that a man is that his Thoughts are Prov. 23.7 For as he thinketh in his Heart so is he Thoughts are freer from Hypocrisie than words one may speak well for applause or to stand right in the Opinion of others but when we are alone and think of Gods Name and admire his Excellencies this shews the Heart to be Right Thoughts are freer from Hypocrisie than an Unblamable Life A man may in his outward carriage be fair yet have a Covetous Revengeful mind The Acts of Sin may be forborn when the Heart sits brooding upon Sin but to have the Thoughts Spiritualized and set upon God is a truer Symptom of sincerity than a Life free from Vice Christians what do your Thoughts run upon where do they make their most frequent Visits can you say Lord our Hearts are still Mounting up to Heaven our Thoughts are lodg'd in Paradise though we do not see thy face yet we think on thy Name this is a good Evidence of Sincerity We Judge of men by their Actions God Judgeth of them by their Thoughts 5. Thinking much on God would Cure the Love of the World Great things seem little to him that stands high To such as stand upon the top of the Alps the great Cities of Campania seem little Villages they who are Mounted High in the contemplation of Christ and Glory how do the things of the World disappear and even shrink into nothing A Soul elevated by faith above the Visible Orbs hath the Moon under his feet A true Saint intermedles with Secular Affairs more out of Necessity than Choice St. Pauls Thoughts were sublime he lived in the Altitudes and how did he scorn the World Gal. 6.14 The world is crucified to me * 6. Thinking on God would be expulsive of Sin Whence is Impiety but from Incogitancy Did men Ruminate upon Gods Holiness and Justice durst they sin at that rate as they do That which check'd Ioseph was the Thoughts of a Sin-revenging God When the delights of sin Tickle let the Thoughts of God come into mens Minds that he is both the Spectatour and the Iudge and after the Golden Crowns and Womens Hair come the Lions Teeth Rev. 9.8 This would put them into a cold Sweat and be as the Angels drawn Sword it would scare them from sin 7. Thinking on God is an admirable means to encrease our love to God As it was with Davids musing on Mortality Psam 39.3 As I was Musing the fire burned so it is with our Musing on the Deity while we are thinking on God our Hearts will kindle in love to him The Reason our Affections are so chill and cold in Religion is because we do not warm them with the Thoughts of God Hold a Burning-glass to the Sun and the glass burns that which is near to it So when our Thoughts are lifted up to Christ the Sun of Righteousness our Affections are set on fire No sooner had the Spouse been thinking on her Saviours Beauty but she fell sick of love Cant. 5.8 O ye Saints do but let your Cogitations dwell upon the Love of Christ who did pass by Angels and think of you who was wounded that out of his wounds the Balm of Gilead might come to heal you who leaped into the Sea of his Fathers wrath to save you from drowning think of this unparallel'd love which sets the Angels a Wondring and see if it will not affect your Hearts and cause Tears of love to slow forth 8. Thinking on God will by degrees transform us into his Image As Jacobs Flock looking on the Rods that had White streaks conceived and brought forth like them Gen. â—â— 39. So by contemplating Gods Holiness we are in some
Law-Courts where there are Indictments against such Malefactours sealed up in a Bag and are produced at the assizes When God shall open his black book wherein mens Names are written and his bag wherein their sins are written then their Hearts will tremble and their knees smite one against another Every Lye a sinner tells every Oath he Swears every drunken bout God writes it down in his book of Remembrance and woe to him if the book be not crossed with the Blood of Christ. 3. See the Mercifulness of God to his Children who blots their sins out of his book of Remembrance and writes their good deeds in his book of Remembrance Isa. 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions 't is a Metaphor borrow'd from a Creditor who takes his pen and blots out the debt owing him so saith God I will blot out thy Transgressions Or as the Hebrew carries it I am blotting them out God in forgiving sin passeth an act of Oblivion Jer. 31.34 I will remember your sins no more God will not upbraid his People with their former offences We never read after Peter repented that Christ upbraided him with his denial of him O the Heavenly indulgence and kindness of God to his People he remembers every thing but their sins He writes down their good Thoughts and speeches in a Merciful book of Remembrance but their sins are as if they had never been they are carried into the Land of Oblivion If God records our services then let us record his Mercies let us have our Book of Remembrance A Christian should keep two books alwayes by him one to write his sins in that he may be humble the other to write his Mercies in that he may be thankful David had his book of Remembrance 1 Chron. 16.4 He appointed certain of the Levites to record and thank and praise the Lord God of Israel We should keep a Register-book of Gods Mercies though I think it is hard to get a book big enough to hold them At such a time we were in straits and God supplied us at such a time under sadness of Spirit and God dropped in the Oyl of gladness at such a time near death and God Miraculously restored us If God be mindful of what we do for him shall not we be mindful of what he doth for us Gods mercies like Jewels are too good to be lost get a Book of Remembrance It is Comfort to the Godly 1. In case of friends forgetting them Ioseph did Pharaoh's Butler a kindness yet did not the chief Butler remember Ioseph but forgat him Gen. 40.23 'T is too usual to remember Injuries and forget Friends but God hath a Book of Remembrance where he writes down all his old friends Near Relations may sometimes be forgetful the tender Mother may forget her infant Isa. 49.15 Can a Woman forget her sucking child yea she may but I will not forget thee a Mother may sooner be unnatural than God forgetful Christ our High-priest hath the Names of the Saints written upon his Breast-plate and all their good deeds written in his Book of Memorials Let this be as Bezar stone to revive the Hearts of Gods people though friends may blot you out of their Mind yet God will not blot you out of his Book 2. This is a consolation to the Godly the Lord keeps a Book of Remembrance for this end that he may at the last day make a publick and solemn mention of all the good which his Saints have done God will open his Book of Records and say as Mat. 25.35 I was an hundred and ye gave me meat thirsty and ye gave me drink c. God will make known all the memorable and pious actions of his People before men and Angels he will say here are they who have prayed and wept for Sin here are they who have been Advocates for my Truth here are they who have laid to Heart my dishonours and have mourned for what they could not reform These are my renowned ones my Hephzibahs in whom my Soul delights What a Glorious thing will this be to have God divulge the Encomium of his Saints when Alexander saw the Sepulcher of Achilles he cryed out O happy Achilles who hadst Homer to set forth thy praise what an honour will it be to have the Names and worthy deeds of the Saints mentioned and God himself to be the Herauld to proclaim their praises CHAP. XVI Shewing the Third Good Effect of the Saints Piety 3. THE third Good effect of the Saints Piety was God rewarded it vers 17. And they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Iewels The reward is threefold 1. Gods owning them they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts where observe 1. The Person speaking the Lord of Hosts 2. The Reward it self they shall be mine 1. The Person speaking the Lord of Hosts This is too great a word to be passed by in silence God is often in Scripture stiled Dominus exercituum the Lord of Hosts Psalm 46.11 Isa. 1.24 That is he is the Supream General and Commander of all Armies and forces and gives Victory to whom he will Why is this Name The Lord of Hosts given to God Not that God needs any Hosts to protect himself or Suppress his enemies Earthly Princes have Armies to defend their Persons from danger but God needs none to help him he can fight without an army God puts strength into all Armies other Captains may give their Soldiers Armour but they cannot give them Strength but God doth Psalm 18.39 Thou hast Girded me with strength unto battel Why then is God said to have Hosts and Armies if he needs them not 1. It is to set forth his Soveraign Power and Grandure all Armies and Regiments are under his command 2. It is to shew us that though God can effect all things by himself yet in his Wisdom he oft useth the Agency of the Creature to bring to pass his will and purpose What are these Hosts or Armies of which God is the Soveraign Lord 1. God hath an Army in Heaven Angels and Arch-angels 1 King 22.19 I saw the Lord sitting on his Throne and all the Host of Heaven standing by him By the Host of Heaven is meant the Angels they being Spirits are a Puissant Army Psalm 103.20 Ye Angels which excell in Strength We read of one Angel who destroy'd in one Night an hundred fourscore and five thousand 2 King 19.35 If one Angel destroy'd such a vast Army what can a Legion of Angels do a Legion consisted of six thousand six hundred sixty six saith Hesychius how many of these Legions go to make up the Heavenly Host 2 The Stars are Gods Army Deut. 4.19 These were set in Battalia and fought against Gods enemies Iudg. 5.20 The Stars in their courses fought against Sisera That is the Stars did charge like an Army raising
the foot was trod on the head cryed out The Saints are Gods Royal diadem Will a King endure to have his Robes spit upon or his Crown-royal thrown in the dust Psalm 105.14 He reproved Kings for their sakes What Monuments of Gods Vengeance were Nero Dioclesian Gardner and the rest of that persecuting tribe Luke 18.7 Shall not God avenge his own elect I tell you he will avenge them speedily Persecutors stand in the place where all Gods Arrows fly Psalm 7.13 He ordaineth his Arrows against the Persecutors That is a killing Scripture Zach. 13.12 And this shall be the Plague wherewith God will smite all the People that have fought against Jerusalem their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet and their eyes shall consume away in their holes and their Tongues shall consume away in their Mouth Here is Comfort to the people of God in case of the Worlds disesteem of them yet God values them as Jewels and his Judgment is according to truth Rom. 2.2 The Wicked have low Thoughts of the Righteous they beat down the price of these Jewels what they can they think them the refuse and scurse they disdain them load them with slanders and Invectives the Prophet Elijah was looked upon by King Ahab as the Troubler of Israel 1 Kin. 18.17 And Luther was called a Trumpet of Rebellion St. Paul was Judged a Pestilent fellow Acts 24.5 The Wicked think of all things in the World the Saints may be best spared 1 Cor. 4.13 We are made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the filth and off-scowring of all things but this is Vinum in pectore a great consolation to Believers that as low esteem as the reprobate world hath of them yet God hath high Thoughts of them he numbers them among his Jewels They are compared for their preciousness to Gold and Silver Rev. 1.20 They are the Coyn and Medals that bear Gods own Image They are Princes in all Lands Psalm 45.16 Christ engraves their Names on his breast as the Names of the twelve Tribes were set with Precious Stones in Gold upon Aarons Breast-plate God will give whole Kingdoms to ransome his jewells Isa. 43.3 The wicked think the Godly are not worthy to live in the world Acts 22. 21. and God thinks the World is not worthy of them Heb. 11.38 Hence it is God takes away his Jewels so fast and placeth them among the Cherubims To the People of God Are you Gods Jewels then I beseech you shine as Jewels walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accurately and Holily Phil. 2.15 Among whom ye shine as lights in the World Such as are Gods Jewels should let the World see they have worth in them O Christians let your Lives be an Imitation of the Life of Christ. Such a Jewel was Mr. Bradford Martyr so humble and Innocent in his carriage that at his death many of the Papists could not refrain from Weeping Are you Gods Jewels do nothing that may Eclipse or Sully your lustre When Professors are Proud Envious Censorious when they break their promises or Cheat their Creditors these do not look like Saints What will others say These are the Devils Lumber not Gods Iewels O I beseech you who profess to be of an higher rank than others Honour that Worthy name by which you are called shine as earthly Angels 1 Pet. 2.9 But ye are a Royal Priesthood a peculiar People that ye should shew forth the Praises of him who hath called you Alexander would have the Grecians known not only by their Garments but their Vertues Gods people should be known by the sparkling of their Graces shall there be no difference in behaviour between the Wicked and the Godly between a clod of Earth and a Diamond let it appear that you are Candidates for Heaven you who are Gods People the Lord expects some Singular thing from you Mat. 5.47 He looks that you should bring more Glory to him and by your exemplary Piety make Proselytes to Religion It exhorts the Godly to thankfulness God hath taken you out of the rubbish of mankind and made you Jewels Psalm 113.7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust that he may set him with Princes let me allude God hath raised you out of the dust of a natural Estate and ennobled you that he may set you with Angels those Princes above O admire God set the Crown of your praises upon the head of Free-grace A Gratulatory thankful frame of Heart is pleasing to God if Repentance be the Joy Praise is the Musick of Heaven Bless God who hath wrought such a change in you and of lumps of Earth and sin hath made you Jewels The Third Proposition is That there is a time shortly coming when God will make up his Jewels in that day when I make up my Jewels Here are two Questions 1. What is meant by Gods making up his Jewels 2. What is that day when God will make up his Jewels 1. What is meant by Gods making up his Jewels There is a difference between thâ—se two Gods making of Jewels and his making up of Jewels Gods making of Jewels is when he works Grace but what is Gods making up of Jewels Gods making up his Jewels implyes two things 1. Gods gathering his Saints together 2. Gods perfecting his Saints 1. Gods making up his Jewels implies his gathering his Saints together The Godly in this life are like scattered Pearls they lye distant one from another and are dispersed into several Regions but there is a day coming when God will gather all his Saints together as one puts all his Pearls together on a string There must be such an aggregation or gathering together Gods scattered Saints 1. From the near Relation they have to all the Persons in the Trinity 1. To God the Faterh he hath chosen these Jewels and set them apart for himself Psalm 4.3 and will he lose any of his Elect 2. They are related to Christ he hath bought these Jewels with his blood and will he lose his purchase 3. They are related to the Holy Ghost he hath sanctified them When they were a lump of sin he made them Jewels and when he hath bestowed cost on them will he lose his cost will he not string these Pearls and put them in his celestial Cabinet 2. There must be a gathering together Gods scattered Saints from the Prayer of Christ. It was Christs prayer to his Father that he would make up his Jewels that he would gather together his Pearls that they might be with him in Heaven Iohn 17.24 That they may be with me where I am Christ thinks long till all the Elect Jewels lye together in his bosom He thinks not himself compleat till all his Saints be with him Here is a Soveraign Comfort to the People of God in two cases 1. In case of Scattering 2. In case of Dividing 1. In case of Scattering Gods people are scattered up
and the Spirit to help them to pray and Jesus Christ as their Advocate to present their Prayers 4. Such as are Fearers of God God will bestow an Inheritance upon them as a Father doth upon his Son this Inheritance is no less than a Kingdom Luke 12.32 In it are Gates of Pearl Rivers of Pleasure and which is to be noted as a difference between Gods setling an Inheritance on his Children and a Fathers setling an Inheritance a Son cannot enjoy the Inheritance till his Father be dead but every adopted child of God may at once enjoy both the Inheritance and the Father because God is both Father and Inheritance 5. Such as are Fearers of God God will pass by many infirmities That is meant by this expression in the Text I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son What a wonder is this that God did not spare the Angels 2 Pet. 2.4 Nay he did not spare his natural Son Rom. 8.32 Yet he will spare his Adopted Sons I will spare them I will not use extremity as I might but pass by many aberrations Not that the Sins of Gods Children are hid from him but such is his paternal Clemency that he is pleased to bear with many frailties in his Children He spareth them as a Father spareth his Son How often do Gods people grieve his Spirit by the neglect of their Spiritual Watch the loss of their first-love but God spares them Israel provoked God with their murmurings but he used Fatherly Indulgence towards them Psalm 78.38 But he being full of Compassion forgave their Iniquity yea many a time turned he his anger away from them From this word I will spare them as a man spares his Son take Notice that the best need sparing Psalm 130.3 If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquities Lord who shall stand The Papists speak of Merits but how can we merit when our best services are so defective that we need sparing how can these two stand together our meriting and God's sparing what will become of us without sparing Mercy we had need pray as Nehemiah cap. 13.22 Remember me O my God concerning this and spare me according to the greatness of thy Mercy Let us fly to this Asylum Lord spare us as a Father spares his Son See Gods different dealing with the Godly and the Wicked the Lord will not spare the Wicked Jer. 13.14 I will not Pity nor spare nor have Mercy but destroy them 'T is sad when the Prisoner begs of the Judge to spare him but the Judge will shew him no favour Gods cup of wrath is unmixed Rev. 14.10 Yet it is said to be mixed Psal. 78.5 Gods cup of wrath he gives the Wicked is mixed with all sorts of Plagues but it is a Cup unmixed without the least drop of Mercy in it God for a while Reprieves men but forbearance is no forgiveness Though God spare his Children yet obdurate sinners shall feel the weight of his wrath If the Lord spares his people as a Father doth his Son then they should serve him as a Son doth his Father serve him willingly 1 Chron. 28.9 Know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a willing mind God doth not love to be put to strain Therefore Cains Sacrifice was rejected because he brought it grudgingly and against his Mind it was rather the paying of a tax than a free-will Offering That is the best obedience which is voluntary as that is the best Hony which drops from the Comb. God sometimes accepts of willingness without the Work but never of the work without willingness 2. Serve God Vniversally True obedience is Vniform it observes one command as well as another it sets upon duties difficult and dangerous As the Needle points that way which the Loadstone draws so a Gracious Heart inclines to those things which the word suggests Luke 1.6 'T is the note of an Hypocrite to be partial in Obedience some sin he will indulge some duty he will dispense with his Obedience is lame on one foot 3. Serve God Swiftly Beware of a dull temper of Soul the loveliness of Obedience is in the liveliness we read of two Women Zach. 5.9 The Wind was in their Wings Wings are Swift but Wind in the Wings denotes great Swiftness such Swiftness should be in our Obedience to God If God spares us as a Father doth his Son we should serve him as a Son doth his Father If God Spares us as a Father doth his Son let us imitate God 'T is natural for Children to imitate their Parents look what the Father doth the Child is apt to learn the same Let us imitate God in this one thing as God spares us and passeth by many failures so let us be sparing in our Censures of others let us look upon the Weaknesses and Indiscretions of our Brethren with a more tender compassionate eye Indeed in case of Scandal here we ought not to bear with others but sharply reprove them But if through Inadvertency or Passion they commit Indecencies let us Pity and Pray for them How much doth God bear with in us He Spares us and shall not we be Sparing to others perhaps they may be wronged and false things may be laid to their Charge Athanasius was falsely Accused by the Arrians of Adultery Basil of Heresie 'T is usual for the World to misrepresent the People of God therefore let us be sparing in our Censures God spares us and shall not we be sparing towards others Here is Comfort to the Children of God in case of Failings The Lord will not be severe to mark what they have done amiss but will Spare them He passeth by many Infirmities Zeph. 3.17 He will rest in his Love in the Original it is He will be silent in his Love As if the Prophet had said Though the Church had her Failings yet Gods Love was such that it would not suffer him to mention them He will be silent in his Love God winks at many oversights Ezek. 20.17 Mine eye Spared them from destroying them I speak not of presumptuous sins but Failings as vain Thoughts deadness in Duty suddain Surprizals by Temptation these being mourned for God for Christs fake will Spare us as a Father doth his Son This is one of the richest Comforts in the Book of God Who is he that lives and sins not how defective are we in our best Duties how full are our Lives either of Blanks or Blots Were it not for Sparing Mercy we should all goe to Hell but this Text is a standing Cordial if our Hearts are sincere God will Spare us as a Father doth his Son Hosea 11.9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine Anger I know not a greater Rock of Support for a fainting Christian than this God will abate of the Severity of the Law though we come short in our Duty he will not fail of his Mercy but