bury our Talents but trade them this is to put out our mercies to Use a gracious heart is like a peece of good ground that having received the seed of mercy thrusts forth a crop of obedience 6 Then wee are rightly thankful when we can have our hearts more enlarged for spiritual mercies than for temporal Eph. 1. 3. Blessed be God who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings A godly man blesseth God more for a fruitful heart than a full crop hee is more thankful for Christ than for a Kingdome Socrates was wont to say hee loved the Kings smile more than his gold a pious heart is more thankful for a smile of Gods face than hee would bee for the gold of the Indies 7 Then wee are rightly thankful when mercy is a wheâ— to duty it causeth a spirit of activity for God Mercy is not as the Sun to the fire to dull it but as oyl to the wheele to make it run faster David wisely argues from mercy to duty Psal. 116. 8 9. Thou hast delivered my Soul from death I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living It was a saying of Bernard Lord I have two Mites a soul and a body and I give them both to thee 8 Then wee are rightly thankful when we excite others to this Angelical work of praise David would not only bless God himself but calls upon others to do so Praise ye the Lord Psalm 111. 1. That is the sweetest musick which is in consort when many Saints joyn together in consort then they make heaven ring of their praises as one drunkard will bee calling upon another so in an holy sense one Christian must bee stirring up another to the work of thankfulness 9 Then we are rightly thankful when we do not only speak Gods praise but live his praise It is called gratiarum actio then wee give thanks when wee live thanks such as are mirrours of mercy should be patterns of piety Obad. 17. Upon Mount Sion shall be deliverance and there shall be holiness To give God orall praise and dishonour him in our lives is to commit a barbarism in religion and is to be like those Iews who bowed the knee to Christ and then did spit upon him Mark 15. 19. 10 Then wee are rightly thankful when wee do propagate Gods praises to posterity we tell our children what God hath done for us in such a want hee supplyed us in such a sickness he raised us in such a temptation he succoured us Psa. 44. 1. O God our Fathers have told us what work thou didst in their daies in the time of old By transmitting our experiences to our Children Gods name is eternized and his mercies will bring forth a plentiful crop of praise when wee are gone He man puts the question Psal. 88. 10. Shall the dead praise thee Yes in this sense when we are dead we praise God because having left the Chronicle of Gods mercies with our Children we put them upon thankfulness and so make Gods praises live when we are dead dumque aurea voluet astra polus Memori semper celebrabunt cantu Use 3 Let us evidence our godliness by gratefulness Psa. 29. 2. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name 1 It is a good thing to be thankful Psal 147. 1. It is good to sing praises to our God 'T is ill when the tongue that Organ of praise is out of tune and doth jar by murmuring and discontent but it is a good thing to be thankful it is good because this is all the creature can do to lift up Gods name and it is good because it tends to the making us good the more thankful we are the more holy while wee pay this tribute of praise our stock of grace increseth in other debts the more we pay the less wee have but the more wee pay this debt of thankfulness the more grace wee have 2 Thankfulness is the quit-rent wee owe to God Psa. 148. 11 13. King of the earth and all people let them praise the name of the Lord Praise is the tribute or custome to bee paid into the King of heavens Exchequor Surely while God renews our Lease we must renew our rent 3 The great cause we have to be thankful 't is a principle grafted in nature to be thankful for benefits The Heathens praised Iupiter for their victories What full clusters of mercies hang upon us when we go to enumerate Gods mercies we must with David confess our selves to bee nonplussed Psal. 40. 5. Many O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which thou hast done they cannot be reckoned up in Order And as Gods mercies are past numbring so they are past measuring David takes the longest measuring line hee could get hee measures from earth to the clouds nay above the clouds yet this measure would not reach the heighth of Gods mercies Psal. 108. 4. Thy mercy is great above the heavens O how hath God enriched us with his silver showers a whole constellation of mercies hath shined in our Hemisphere 1 What Temporal favours have wee received every day wee see a new tide of mercy coming in the wings of mercy have covered us the breast of mercy hath fed us Gen. 48. 15. The God which hath fed mee all my life long to this day What snares laid for us have been broken what fears blown over the Lord hath made our bed when he hath made others grave he hath taken such care of us as if he had none else to take care for never was the cloud of providence so black but we might see a Rainbow of Love in the cloud we have been made to swim in a sea of mercy and doth not all this call for thankfulness 2 That which may put a string more into the instrument of our praise and make it sound louder is to consider what spiritual blessings God hath conferred upon us he hath given us of the upper-springs he hath opened the Wardrobe of Heaven and fetched us out a better garment than any of the Angels wear he hath given us the best robe and put upon us the Ring of faith whereby wee are married to him These are mercies of the first magnitude which deserve to have an Asterist put upon them and God keeps the best Wine till last here hee gives us mercies but by retail the greatest things are laid up here are some Hony drops and fore-tastes of Gods love the Rivers of pleasure are reserved for Paradise well may we take the harp and viol and triumph in Gods praise who can tread upon these hot coals of Gods love and his heart not burn in thankfulness 4 Thankfulness is the best policy there is nothing lost by it to bee thankful for one mercy is the way to have more 't is like powring water into a Pump which fetcheth out more Musicians love to sound their trumpets where there is the best Eccho and
may attend upon the Lord without distraction Quest. But may not a godly man have roving thoughts in duty Answ. Yes sad experience sets seal to it the thoughts will bee dancing up and down in prayer the Saints are called Stars and many times in duty they are wandring stars The heart is like Quick-silver which will not fix 'T is hard to tye two good thoughts together we cannot lock our hearts so close but that distracting thoughts like winde will get in Hierom complains of himself sometimes saith he when I am about Gods service I am walking in the galleries or casting up of accounts But these wandring thoughts in the godly are not allowed Psa. 119. 113. I hate vain thoughts they come as unwelcome guests which are no sooner spied but are turned out of doors Quest. Whence do these impertinent thoughts arise in the godly Answ. 1 From the pravity of nature they are the mud which the hear casts up 2. From Satan the Devil if he cannot hinder us from duty â—hee will hinder us in duty when we come before the Lord he is at our right hand to resist us Zac. 3. 1. As when one is going to write another stands at his elbow and jogs him that he cannot write even Satan will set vain objects before the fancy to cause a diversion the Devil doth not oppose formality but fervency if he sees we set our selves in good earnest to seek God he will bee whispering things in our ears that wee can scarce minde what wee are doing 3 These impertinent thoughts arise from the world these vermine are bred out of the earth worldly business oft crouds into our duties and while we are speaking to God our hearts are talking with the world Ezek. 33. 31. They sit before me as my people but their heart goes after their covetousness While we are hearing the word or meditating one worldly business or other commonly knocks at the door and we are taken off the duty while we are in the duty 'T is with us as with Abraham when he was going to worship the fowles came down upon the sacrifice Gen. 15. 11. Quest. How may wee get rid of these wandring thoughts that we may be more spiritual in duty Answ. 1 Eye Gods purity hee is an holy God whom wee serve and cannot endure when wee are worshipping him that wee should converse with vanity Will a King like it that while his subject is speaking to him hee should bee playing with a feather will God endure light feathery hearts how devout and reverend are the Angels they cover their faces and cry Holy Holy 2 Think of the Grand importance of the duties we are engaged in as David said concerning his building an house for God 2 Chron. 29. 1. The work is great when wee are hearing the word the work is great this is the word by which we shall be judged when we are at prayer the work is great wee are pleading for the life of our souls and is this a time to trifle 3 Come with affection to duty the nature of love is to fix the minde upon the object he who is in love his thoughts are still upon the person he loves and nothing can take them off Hee that loves the world his thoughts are ever intent upon it were our hearts more fired with love they would be more fixed in duty and O! what cause have we to love duty is not this the direct road to heaven do we not meet with God here can the spouse be better than in her Husbands company where can the soul be better than in drawing nigh to God 4 Consider the mischief that these vain distracting thoughts do they fly-blow our duties they hinder fervency they shew high irreverence they tempt God to turn away his ear from us how do we think God should minde our prayers when we our selves scarce minde them 3 To do duties spiritually is to do them in faith Heb. 11. 4. By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain The holy oyle for the Tabernacle had several spices put into it Exod. 30. 34. Faith is the sweet spice which must be put into duty 'T is a wrong to God to doubt either of his Mercy or Truth a Christian may venture his soul upon the publick faith of heaven Use 1 How far are they out of the way of Godliness who are unspiritual in their worship who do not duties from a renewed principle and with the utmost intention of soul but meerly to stop the mouth of conscience many people look no farther than the bare doing of duties but never mind how they are done God doth not judge of our duties by the length but by the love when men put God off with the dreggish part of duty may not he say as Isa. 58. 5. Is it such a Fast that I have chosen Are these the duties I required I called for the heart and spirit and you bring nothing but the Carkass of Duty should I receive comfort in this Use 2. Let us show our selves godly by being more spiritual in duty 't is not the quantum but the quale 't is not how much we do but how well A Musitian is commended not for playing long but for playing well We must not only do what God appoints but as God appoints O how many are unspiritual in spiritual things they bring their services but not their hearts they give God the skin not the fat of the offering God is a Spirit Ioh. 4. 24. And it is the spirituality of duty he is best pleased with 1 Pet. 2. 5. Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God The spirits of the Wine are best so is the spiritual part of duty Eph. 5. 19. Making melody in your hearts to the Lord It is the heart makes the Musick the spiritualizing of duty gives life to it without this it is dead praying dead hearing and dead things are not pleasing a dead flower hath no beauty a dead breast hath no sweetness Quest. How may we do to perform duties in a spiritual manner Answ. 1. Let the Soul be kept a Virgin lust doth besot and dis-spirit a man beware of any tincture of uncleanness Iam. 1. 21. Wood that is full of sap will not easily burn and an heart steeped in sin is not fit to burn in holy devotion Can he be spiritual in worship who feeds carnal lust Hos. 4. 11. Whoredome and wine and new wine take away the heart Any sin lived in takes away the heart such an one hath no heart to pray or meditate The more alive the heart is in sin the more it dies to duty 2. If we would be spiritual in duty let us revolve these two things in our mind 1. The profit which comes from a duty performed in a spiritual manner it infeebles Corruption it encreaseth Grace it defeats Satan it strengthens our Communion with God it breeds peace of Conscience it procures Answers of Mercy and it
walk in my Statutes The Lord doth not only fit work for us but fit us for our work with his Command he gives power 6. Supplies A Master will not let his servants want Gods servants shall be provided for Psal. 37. 3. Verily thou shalt be fed Doth God give us a Christ and will he deny us a crust Gen. 48. 15. The God who hath fed me all my daies If God doth not give us what we crave he will give us what we need the wicked are fed who are dogs Phil. 3. 2. If a man feeds his dog sure he will feed his servant Oh then who would not be in love with Gods service 3. We are ingaged to serve God we are pretio empti bought with a price 1 Cor. 6. 20. 'T is a Metaphor taken from such as do ransom Captives out of prison by paying a sum of money for them they are to be at the service of them that ransomed them So when the Devil had taken us prisoners Christ ransomed us with a price not of money but bloud therefore we are to be only at his service If any can lay a better claim to us than Christ we may serve them but Christ having the best right to us we are to cleave to him and enroll our selves for ever in his service 2. I pass to the second Branch of this Character A godly man is not the servant of men 1 Cor. 7. 23. Be ye not the servants of men Quest. But is there no service we owe to men Answ. There is a three-fold serving of men 1. There is a Civil service we owe to men as the inferiour to the superiour The servant is a Living Tool as Aristotle saith Eph. 6. 5. Servants obey your Masters 2. There is a Religious serviceâ—we owe to men when we are serviceable to their souls 2 Cor. 4. 5. Your servants for Iesus sake 3. There is a sinfull serving of men this consists in three things 1. When we prefer mens Injunctions before Gods Institutions God commands one thing man commands another God saith sanctifie the Sabbath man saith prophane it When mens Edicts have more force upon us than Gods Precepts this is to be the servants of men 2. When we do voluntarily prostitute our selves to the impure lusts of men we let them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lord it over our Consciences when we are ductill and frameable to any thing either Arminian or Atheist either for the Gospel or the Alchoran when we will be what others will have us just of Issachars temper Gen. 49. 14. Issachar is a strong Ass couching down between two burdens This is not humility but sordidness and it is a serving of men 3. When we are Advocates in a bad Cause pleading for any impious unjustifiable actings when we baptize sin with the Name of Religion and with our Oratory wash the Devils face this is to be the servants of men in these cases a godly person will not so unman himself as to serve men he saith as Paul Gal. 1. 10. If I pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ And as Peter Act. 5. 23. We ought to obey God rather than men Use. How many leagues distant are they from godliness who do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who either for fear of punishment or hope of preferment comply with the sinful commands of men who will put their Conscience into any yoak and sail with any wind that blows profit These are the servants of men they have abjured their Baptismal Vow and renounced the Lord that bought them He who is such a Proteus who can change into any form and bow as low as hell to please men I would say two things to him 1. Thou that hast learned all thy postures who canst cringe and tack about how wilt thou look Christ in the face another day When thou shalt say upon thy death bed Lord look upon thy servant Christ shall disclaim thee and say 〈◊〉 servant No thou didst renounce my service thou wert a servant of men depart from me I know you not What a cooling card will this be at that day 2. What doth a man get by sinfully inslaving himself he gets a blot in his name a curse in his estate an hell in his Conscience nay even those that he basely stoops to will scorn and despise him How did the High-Priests kick off Iudas Mat. 27. 4. Look thou to that That we may not be the servants of men let us abandon fear and advance faith Faith is a world-conquering grace 1 Ioh. 5. 4. It overcomes the worlds musick and fornace it steels a Christian with Divine courage and makes him stand immoveable as a Rock in the midst of the Sea SECT VII 7. A godly man is a Christ-prizer To illustrate this I shall show 1. That Jesus Christ is in himself precious 2. That a godly man esteems him precious 1. That Jesus Christ is in himself precious 1 Pet. 2. 6. Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone elect precious Christ is compared to things most â—recious 1. To a bundle of myrrhe Cant. 1. 13. Myrrhe is very precious it was one of the chief spices whereof the holy anointing Oyl was made Exod 30. 25. 1. Myrrhe is of a perfuming Nature so Christ perfumes our persons and services that they are a sweet odour to God whence is it the Church that heavenly Bride is so perfumed with grace but because Christ that Myrrhe-tree hath dropped upon her 2. Myrrhe is of an exhilarating nature the smell of it doth comfort and refresh the spirits So Christ doth comfort the souls of his people when they are fainting under their sins and sufferings 2. Christ is compared to a Pearl Mat. 13. 46. When he had found one Pearl of great price Christ this Pearl was little in regard of his humility but of infinite value Jesus Christ is a Pearl that God wears in his bosome a Pearl whose lustre drowns the worlds glory a Pearl that enricheth the soul the Angelical part of man a Pearl that enlightens heaven a pearl so precious that it makes us precious to God a Pearl that is cordial and restorative a Pearl more worth than heaven The preciousness of Christ is seen three wayes 1. He is precious in his â—erson he is the picture of his Fathers glory Heb. 1. 3. 2. Christ is precious in his Offices which are several Rays of the Sun of Righteousness 1. Christs Prophetical Office is precious Deut. 18. 15. He is the great Oracle of Heaven he hath a preciousness above all the Prophets which went before him he teacheth not only the ear but the heart He who hath the Key of David in his hand opened the heart of Lydia Act. 16. 14. 2. Christs Priestly Office is precious This is the solid basis of our comfort Heb. 9. 26. Now once hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
their Dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season So though the Dominion of sin is taken away yet the life of it is prolonged for a season and while sin lives it molests The Persians were daily Enemies to the Râ—mans and would be invading upon their frontiers So sin wars against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. And no cessation of arms till death will not this cause tears 3. A Childe of God weeps that he is sometimes overcome by the prevalency of Corruption Rom. 7. 19. The evil I would not that do I. Paul was like a man carried down the stream How oft is a Saint overpowred with pride and passion When David had sinned he steeped his Soul in the brinish tears of Repentance It cannot but grieve a regenerate person to think he should be so foolish as after he hath felt the smart of sin yet to put this fire in his bosom again 4. A godly heart grieves that he can be no more holy it troubles him that he shoots so short of the Rule and Standard which God hath set I should faith he love the Lord with all my heart But how defective is my love how far short do I come of what I should be nay of what I might have been What can I see in my life but either blanks or blots 5. A godly man weeps sometimes out of the sense of Gods love Gold is the finest and most solid of all the metals yet is soonest melted with the fire Gracious hearts which are golden hearts are the soonest melted into tears by the fire of Gods love I once knew an holy man who walking in his garden and shedding plenty of tears a friend coming to him accidentally asked him why he wept He brake forth into this pathetical expression O the love of Christ the love of Christ Thus have we seen the Cloud melted into water by the Sun-beams 6. A godly person weeps because the sins he commits are in some sense worse than the sins of other men the sin of a justified person is very odious 1. Because he acts contrary to his own principles he doth not only sin against the Rule but against his Principles against his knowledge vows prayers hopes experiences He knows how dear sin will cost him yet he adventures upon the forbidden fruit 2. The sin of a Justified person is odious because it is a sin of unkindness 2 King 11. 9. Peters denying of Christ was a sin against love Christ had enrolled him among the Apostles he had taken him up into the Mount of Transfiguration and showed him the glory of Heaven in a Vision yet after all this signal Mercy that he should deny Christ it was high ingratitude This made him go out and weep bitterly Mat. 26. 75. He baptized himself as it were in his own tears The sins of the godly go neerest to Gods Heart Others sins anger God these grieve him The sins of the wicked pierce Christ sides the sins of the godly wound his heart the unkindness of a Spouse goes neerest the heart of her Husband 3. The sin of a Justified person is odious because it reflects more dishonor upon God 2 Sam. 12. 14. By this deed thou hast given occasion to the Enemies of the Lord to blaspheme The sins of Gods people put black spots in the face of Religion Thus we see what cause there is why a Childe of God should weep even after Conversion Quis talia fando temperet à lachrymis Now this sorrow of a godly man for sin is not a despairing sorrow he doth not mourn without hope Psal. 65. 3. Iniquities prevail against me There is the Holy Soul weeping as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away There is Faith triumphing Divine sorrow is excellent There is as much difference between the sorrow of a godly man and a wicked as between the water of a Spring which is clear and sweet and the water of the Sea which is salt and brackish A godly mans sorrow hath these three qualifications 1. It is internal it is a sorrow of Soul hypocrites disfigure their faces Mat. 6. 16. godly sorrow goes deep it is a pricking at the heart Acts 2. 37. True sorrow is a spiritual Martyrdome therefore called Soul-affliction Lev. 23. 29. 2. Godly sorrow is ingenuous it is more for the evil that is in sin than the evil which follows after it is more for the spot than the sting Hypocrites weep for sin only as it brings affliction I have read of a Fountain that never sends out streams but the Evening before a Famine Hypocrites never send forth the streams of their tears but when Gods Judgements are approaching 3. Godly sorrow is influential it makes the heart better Eccles. 7. 3. By the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better Divine tears do not only wet but wash they purge out the love of sin Use 1. How far are they from being godly who scarce ever shed a tear for sin If they lose a neer Relation they weep but though they are in danger of losing God and their Souls they weep not How few know what it is to be in an Agony for sin or what a broken heart means their eyes are not like the Fish-pools of Heshbon full of water Cant. 7. 4. but rather like the Mountains of Gilboa which had no dew upon them 2 Sam. 1. 21. It was a greater plague for Pharaoh to have his heart turned into stone than to have his Rivers turned into bloud Others if they do sometimes shed a tear yet they are never the better they go on in wickedness and do not drown their sins in their tears Use 2. Let us labour for this Divine Character be weepers This is a repentance not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7. 10. 'T is reported of Mr. Bradford Martyr that he was of a melting spirit he seldome sate down to his meat but some tears trickled down his cheeks There are two Lavors to wash away sin Bloud and Tears The Bloud of Christ washeth away the guilt of sin tears wash away the filth repenting tears are precious God puts them in his bottle Psal. 56. 8. They are beautifying a tear in the eye doth more adorn than a Ring on the finger Oyl makes the face shine Psal. 104. 15. Tears make the heart shine tears are comforting a sinners mirth turns to melancholy a Saints mourning turns to musick Repentance may be compared to Myrrhe which though it be bitter to the taste it is comforting to the spirits Repentance may be bitter to the fleshy part but it is most refreshing to the spiritual Wax that melts is fit for the Seal a melting Soul is fit to take the stamp of all heavenly blessings Let us give Christ the water of our tears and he will give us the Wine of his Bloud SECT IX 9. A godly man is a lover of the Word Psal. 119. 97. O how love I thy Law 1. A
below an heaven-born soul nay for such as profess to be enobled with a principle of Piety and to have their hopes above for them to have their hearts below how do they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 disparage their Heavenly Calling and spot their silver wings of Grace by beliming them with earth 3. Consider what a poor contemptible thing the world is it is not worth setting the affections on it cannot fill the heart if Satan should take a Christian up to the Mount of Temptation and show him all the Kingdomes and glory of the world what could he show him but a phancy an apparition Nothing here can be proportionable to the immense soul of man Iob 20. 22. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in streights Here is want in plenty the creature will no more fill the soul than a drop will fill the bucket and that little sweet we suck from the creature is intermixed with some bitterness like that Cup which the Jews gave Christ Mar. 15. 23. They gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrhe And this imperfect sweet will not last long 1 Iohn 2. 17. The world passeth away The creature doth but salute us and is presently upon the wing The world rings Changes it is never constant but in its disappointments how quickly may we remove our lodgings and make our pillow in the dust The world is but a great Inne where we are to stay a night or two and be gone what madness is it so to set our heart upon our Inne as to forget our home 4. Consider what a glorious place heaven is We read of an Angel coming down from heaven who did tread with his right foot on the Sea and with his left foot on the earth Revel 10. 2. Had we but once been in heaven and viewed the superlative glory of it how might we in an holy scorn trample with one foot upon the earth and with the other foot upon the Sea Heaven is called a better Country Heb. 11. 16. But now they desire a better Country that is an heavenly Heaven is said to be a better Country in opposition to the Country where we now sojourn What should we mind but that better Country Quest. In what sense is heaven a better Country Answ. 1. In that Country above there are better delights there is the Tree of Life the Rivers of Pleasure there is amazing beauty unsearchable riches there are the delights of Angels there is the Flower of Joy fully blown there is more than we can ask or think there is glory in its full dimensions and beyond all hyperbole 2. In that Country there is a better dwelling house 1. It is an house not made with hands 2 Cor. 5. 1. To denote the excellency of it There was never any house but was made with hands but the house above surpasseth the art of man or Angel none besides God could lay a stone in that building 2. It is eternal in the heavens it is not a sojourning house but a Mansion-house it is an house will never be out of repair Wisdome hath built this house and hewn out her seven Pillars which can never moulder 3. In that Country there are better provisions in our Fathers house is bread enough Heaven was typified by Canaan which did flow with milk and honey There is the Royal Feast the spiced Wine there is Angels food there are those rare viands and dainties served in as exceed not only our expressions but our faith 4. In that Country is better Society There is God blessed for ever How infinitely sweet and ravishing will a smile of his face be the Kings presence makes the Court There are the glorious Cherubims in this terrestrial Country where we now live we are among Wolves and Serpents in that Country above we shall be among Angels There are the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. Here the people of God are clouded with infirmities we see them with spots in their faces they are full of pride passion censoriousness in that Hierusalem above we shall see them in their Royal attire deck'd with unparallell'd beauty not having the least tincture or shadow of sin upon them 5. In that Country there is a better ayr to breathe in We go into the Country for ayr the best ayr is only to be had in that better Country 1. It is a more temperate ayr the Climate is calm and moderate we shall neither freeze with the cold nor faint with the heat 2. It is a brighter ayr there is a better light shines there The Sun of Righteousness enlightens that Horison with his glorious beams Rev. 21. 23. The Lamb is the light thereof 3. It is a purer ayr The Fens which are full of black vapours we count a bad ayr and unwholesome to live in This world is a place of Bogs and Fens where the noxious vapours of sin arise which make it pestilential and unwholesome to live in but in that Country above there are none of these vapours but a sweet perfume of holiness there is the smell of the Orange-tree and the Pomgranate there is the Myrrhe and Cassia coming from Christ which send forth a most odoriferous smell 6. In that Country there is a better soil the Land or Soil is better 1. For its altitude the earth lying low is of a baser pedigree the Element which is neerest heaven is purer and more excellent as the fire that Country above is the High Country Psal. 24. 3. it is seated far above all the visible Orbs. 2. It is a better Land for its fertilness it bear a richer Crop The richest Harvest on earth is the golden Harvest but the Country above yields Nobier Commodities there are Pearls Caelestial there is the Spiritual Vine there is the honey-comb of Gods love dropping there is the Water of Life the hidden Manna there is fruit that doth not rot flowers that never fade there is a Crop which cannot be quite reaped it will be ever reaping time in heaven and all this the Land yields without the labour of ploughing and sowing 3. It is a better Land for its inoffensiveness There are no bryars there the World is a Wilderness where are wicked men and the best of them is a bryar Mica 7. 4. They will be tearing the people of God in their spiritual Liberties but in the Country above there is not one bryar to be seen all the bryars are burned 4. It is a better Land for the rareness of the prospect all that a man sees there is his own I account that the best prospect where a man can see furthest on his own ground 7. In that Country is better union all the Inhabitants are knit together in love The poysonful weed of malice doth not grow there there is harmony without division and charity without envy In that Country above as in Solomons Temple no noyse of Hammer is heard 8. In that Country is better imployment while
we are here we are complaining of our wants weeping over our sins but there we shall be praising God How will the Birds of Paradise chirp when they are in that Caelestial Country There the Morning Stars will sing together and all the Saints of God shout for joy O what should we aspire after but this Country above Such as have their eyes opened will see that it doth infinitely excel An ignorant man looks upon a Star and it appears to him as a little silver spot but the Astronomer who hath his Instrument to judge of the dimension of a Star knows it to be many degrees bigger than the earth So a natural man hears of the heavenly Country that it is very glorious but it is at a great distance and because he hath not a spirit of discerning the world looks bigger in his eye but such as are Spiritual Artists who have the Instrument of Faith to judge of Heaven will say it is far the better Country and thither will they hasten with the Sails of desire SECT XV. 15. A godly man is a zealous man grace turns a Saint into a Seraphim it makes him burn in holy zeal zeal is a mixed affection a compound of love and anger it carries forth our love to God and anger against sin in the most intense manner Zeal is the flame of the affections a godly man hath a double baptism of water and fire he is baptized with a spirit of zeal hee is zealous for Gods honour truth worship Psal. 119. 139. my zeal hath consumed me it was a crown set on Phineas his head hee was zealous for his God Numb 25. 13. Moses being touched with a coal from Gods altar in his zeal hee breaks the Tables Exod. 32. 19. our blessed Saviour in his zeal whips the buyers and sellers out of the Temple Ioh. 2. 17. the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up But there is a Praeternatural heat something looking like zeal which is not a Comet looks like a Star I shall therefore show some differences between a true and a false zeal 1 A false zeal is a blinde zeal Rom. 10. 2. They have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge this is not the fire of the spirit but wild-fire The Athenians were very devout and zealous but they knew not for what Acts 17. 23. I found an Altar with this Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the unknown God Thus the Papists are zealous in their way but they have taken away the key of knowledge 2 A false zeal is a self-seeking zeal Iehu cries come see my zeal for the Lord 2 King 10. 16. but it was not zeal but ambition he was fishing for a Crown Demetrius pleads for the Goddess Diana but it was not her Temple but her Silver shrines he was zealous for Such zealots Ignatius complains of in his time that they made a Trade of Christ and Religion thereby to enrich themselves 'T is probable many in King Henry the eights time were forward to pull down the Abbies not out of any zeal against Popery but that they might build their own houses upon the ruines of those Abbies like Eagles which fly aloft but their eyes are down upon their prey If blind zeal be punished seven fold hypocritical zeal shall bee punished seventy and seven fold 3 A false praeposterous zeal is a misguided zeal it runs out most in things which are not commanded It is the sign of an hypocrite to be zealous for traditions and careless of institutions The Pharisees were more zealous about washing of their cups than their hearts 4 A false zeal is fired with passion Iames and Iohn when they would call for fire from heaven were rebuked by our Saviour Luk. 9. 54. Yee know not what spirit yee are off it was not zeal but choller many have espoused the cause of Religion rather out of faction and humour than out of zeal to the truth But the zeal of a godly man is a true and holy zeal which evidenceth it self in the effects of it 1 True zeal cannot bear an injury done to God zeal makes the blood rise when Gods honour is impeached Rev. 2. 2. I know thy works and thy labour and patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil hee who zealously affects his friend cannot hear him spoken against and be silent 2 True zeal will encounter with the greatest difficulties when the world holds out a Gorgons head of danger to discourage us zeal casts out fear it is quickned by opposition Zeal doth not say there is a Lyon in the way zeal will charge through an Army of dangers it will march in the face of death Let news be brought to Paul that he was way-laid in every City bonds and imprisonment did abide him this sets a keener edge upon his zeal Acts 21. 13. I am ready not only to bee bound but to dye for the name of the Lord Iesus as sharp frosts do by an antiparistasis make the fire burn hotter so sharp oppositions do but inflame zeal the more 3 True zeal as it hath knowledge to go before it so it hath sanctity to follow after it Wisdome leads the van of zeal and holiness brings up the rear an hypocrite seems to be zealous but he is vitious the godly man is white and ruddy white in purity as well as ruddy in zeal Christs zeal was hotter than the fire and his holiness purer than the sun 4 Zeal that is genuine loves truth when it is despised and opposed Psal. 119. 126. They have made void thy law therefore I love thy commandements above gold the more others deride holiness the more we love it what is Religion the worse for others disgracing it doth a Diamond sparkle the less because a blinde man disparageth it the more outragious the wicked are against the truth the more couragious the godly are for it When Mical scoffed at Davids religious dancing before the Ark if saith he this be to be vile I will yet be more vile 2 Sam. 6. 22. 5 True zeal causeth fervency in duty Rom. 12. 11. fervent in spirit Zeal makes us hear with reverence pray with affection love with ardency God kindled Moses his sacrifice from heaven Lev. 9. 24. There came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed upon the Altar the burnt offering when we are zealous in devotion and our heart waxeth hot within us here is a fire from heaven kindling our sacrifice how odious is it for a man to be all fire when he is sinning and all yâ—e when he is praying A pious heart like water seething hot boils over in holy affections 6. True zeal is never out of breath though it be violent 't is perpetual no waters can quench the flame of zeal it is torrid in the frigid zone The heat of zeal is like the natural heat coming from the heart which lasts as long as life That zeal which is not constant was
our felicity And thus I have shown the Marks and Characters of a godly man If a person thus described be reputed a Phanatick then Abraham and Moses and David and Paul were Phanaticks which I think none will dare to affirm but Atheists CHAP. V. Containing two Conclusions COncerning the Characteristical signs afore-mentioned I shall lay down two Conclusions 1 These Characters are a Christians box of evidences for as an impenitent sinner hath the signs of reprobation upon him whereby as by so many spots and tokens he may know he shall dye so he who can shew these happy signs of a godly man may see the Symptomes of Salvation in his Soul and may know he is passed from death to life he is as sure to go to heaven as if he were in heaven already such a person is undoubtedly a member of Christ and if he should perish then something of Christ might perish These blessed Characters may comfort a Christian under all worldly dejections and Diabolical suggestions Satan tempts a Childe of God with this that he is an hypocrite and hath no title to the Land of promise a Christian may pull out these evidences and put the Devil to prove that ever any wicked man or hypocrite had such a fair Certificate to shew for heaven Satan may sooner prove himself a lyar than the Saint an hypocrite 2 He who hath one of these Characters in truth hath seminally all he who hath one link of a Chain hath the whole Chain Object But may a Childe of God say either I have not all these Characters or they are so weakly wrought in me that I cannot discern them Answ. To satisfie this scruple you must diligently observe the distinctions the Scripture gives of Christians it casts them into several classes and orders some are infantuli little children who are but newly laid to the breast of the Gospel others are adulti Young men who are grown up to more maturity of Grace others are patres Fathers who are ready to take their degree of Glory 1 Iohn 2. 12. 13 4. Now you who are but in the first rank or classis yet you may have the vitals of Godliness as well as those who have arrived at an higher stature in Christ the Scripture speaks of the Cedar and the bruised Reed the last of which is as true a Plant of the heavenly Paradise as the other so that the weakest ought not to be discouraged all have not these characters of godliness written in Text-Letters if they be but dimly stamped upon their souls God can read the work of his spirit there Though the seal be but weakly set upon the wax it ratifies the will and gives a real conveyance of an estate If there be found but some good thing towards the Lord as it was said of Abijah God will accept it CHAP. VI. Containing the first Vse Exhorting all to become Godly Use 1 FRom all that hath been said I would draw three great Uses First Such as are still in their natural estate who never yet did relish any sweetness in the things of God let me beseech them in the bowels of Christ that they would labour to get these Characters of the Godly engraven upon their hearts though godliness be the object of the worlds scorn and haâ—ed as in Tertullians daies the name of a Christian was a crime yet be not ashamed to espouse godliness know that persecuted godliness is better than prosperous wickedness what will all the world avail a man without godliness To be learned and ungodly is like a Devil transformed into an Angel of light to be beautiful and ungodly is like a fair picture hung in an infected room to be honourable in the world and ungodly is like an Ape in purple or like that Image which had an head of gold upon feet of clay 't is godliness that en-nobles and consecrates the heart making God and Angels fall in love with it Labour for the reality of godliness rest not in the common workings of Gods spirit think not that it is enough to be intelligent and discurive a man may discourse of Religion to the admiration of others yet not feel the sweetness of those things in his own Soul the Lute gives a melodious sound to others but is not at all sensible of the sound it self Iudas could make an elegant discourse of Christ but did not feel vertue from him Rest not in having your affections a little stirred an hypocrite may have affections of sorrow as Ahab affections of desire as Balaam these are sleight and flashy and do not amount to real godliness Oh I labour to be as the Kings daughter glorious within Psa. 45. 13. That I may perswade the sons of men to become godly I shall lay down some forcible Motives and Arguments and the Lord make them as nails fastened by his spirit 1 Let men seriously weigh their misery while they remain in a state of ungodliness which may make them hasten out of this Sodome the misery of ungodly men appears in nine particulars 1 They are in a state of death Eph. 2. 1. dead in Trespasses dead they must needs be who are cut off from Christ the principle of life for as the body without the soul is dead so is the soul without Christ. This spiritual death is visible in the effect it bereaves men of their senses sinners have no sense of God in them Ephe. 4. 19. who being without feeling all their moral endowments are but strewing flowers upon a dead corpse and what is hell but a sepulchre to bury the dead in 2 Their offerings are polluted not only the Ploughing but the praying of the wicked is sin Prov. 15. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord If the water be foul in the well it cannot be clean in the bucket if the heart be full of sin the duties cannot be pure In what a strait is every ungodly person if he doth not come to the Ordinance he is a contemner of it if he doth come hee is a defiler of it 3. Such as live and die ungodly have no right to the Covenant of Grace Eph. 2. 12. At that time ye were without Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strangers from the Covenants of Promise And to be without Covenant is to be like one in the old World without an Ark. The Covenant is the Gospel-Charter which is enriched with many glorious priviledges but who may plead the benefit of this Covenant Surely only such whose hearts are in-laid with grace Read the Charter Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will I give you and I will put my spirit within you Then it follows ver 28. I will be your God A person dying in his ungodliness hath no more to do with the New Covenant than a Ploughman hath to do with the priviledges of a Corporation Gods Writing is always before his Seal 2 Cor. 3. 3. Ye are
hast been honourable The godly are a Crown of glory in the hand of God Isa. 62. 3. They are plants of Renown Ezek. 16. 14. They are not only Vessels of Mercy but Vessels of Honour 2 Tim. 2. 21. Aristotle calls Honor the chief good thing The godly are neer a Kin to the blessed Trinity they have the Tutelage and Guardianship of Angels they have Gods Name written upon them Revel 3. 12. and the Holy Ghost dwelling in them 2 Tim. 1. 14. The godly are a sacred Priesthood the Priesthood under the Law was honourable the Kings Daughter was wife to Iehoiada the Priest 2 Chron. 22. 11. It was a custome among the Egyptians to have their Kings chosen out of their Priests The Saints are a Divine Priesthood to offer up spritiual sacrifices 1 Pet. 2. 9. They are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coheirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. They are Kings Rev. 1. 6. Novarinus relates of an antient King who invited a Company of poor Christians and made them a great Feast and being asked why he showed so much respect to persons of such mean birth and Extract he told them these I must honour as the Children of the most high God they will be Kings and Princes with me in another world The godly are in some sense higher than the Angels the Angels are Christs friends these are his spouse the Angels are called morning-stars Iob 38. 7. but the Saints are clothed with the Sun of righteousness Rev. 12. 1. all men saith Chrysostome are ambitious of honour behold then the honour of the godly Prov. 7. 8. Wisdome is the principal thing therefore get wisdome exalt her and she shall promote thee she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her The Trophies of the Saints renown will be erected in another world Famaque post cineres major 3 The godly are beloved of God Psal. 47. 4. The excellency of Iacob whom he loved An holy heart is the garden where God plants the flower of his love Gods love to his people is an antient love it bears date from eternity Ephe. 1. 4. he loves them with a choice distinguishing love they are the dearly beloved of his soul Ier. 12. 7. The men of the world have bounty dropping from Gods fingers but the godly have love dropping from Gods heart he gives the one a golden cup the other a golden kiss he loves the godly as he loves Christ Iohn 17. 26. it is the same love for kinde though not for degree here the Saints do but pitissare sip of Gods love in heaven they shall drink of Rivers of pleasure Psa. 36. 8. And this love of God is permanent death may take away their life from them but not Gods love from them Ier. 31. 4. I have loved thee with a love of perpetuity 4 The godly are prudent persons they have good Insight and Foresight 1 They have good insight 1 Cor. 2. 10. He that is spiritual judgeth all things the godly have insight into Persons and Things 1 They have insight into persons they have the anointing of God and by a spirit of discerning they can see some difference between the precious and the vile Ier. 15. 19. Gods people are not censorious but they are juditious they can see a wanton heart through a naked breast and a spotted face they can see a revengeful spirit through a bitter tongue they can guess at the Tree by the fruit Mat. 12. 33. They can see the Plague-tokens of sin appear in the wicked which makes them remove from the tents of those sinners Num. 16. 26. 2 The godly have insight into Things Mysterious 1 They can see much of the mystery of their own hearts Take the greatest Politician who understands the mysteries of state yet he doth not understand the mystery of his own heart you shall sometimes hear him swear his heart is good but a Childe of God sees much heart-corruption 1 King 8. 38. though some flowers of grace grow there yet he sees how fast the weeds of sin grow therefore is continually weeding his heart by repentance and mortification 2 The godly can discern the mystery of the times 1 Chron. 12. 32. The children of Issachar were men that had understanding of the times The godly can see when an age runs dregs when Gods name is dishonoured his messengers despised his Gospel ecclipsed the people of God labour to keep their garments pure Rev. 16. 15. their care is that the times may not be the worse for them nor they the worse for the times 3 The godly understand the mystery of living by faith Heb. 10. 38. The just shall live by faith they can trust God where they cannot trace him they can fetch comfort out of a promise as Moses did water out of the rock Hab. 3. 17. Though the Fig-tree doth not blossome yet I will rejoyce in the Lord. 2 The godly have good foresight 1 They foresee the evil of a Temptation 2 Cor. 2. 11. We are not ignorant of his devices The wicked swallow temptations like Pills and when it is too late feel these Pills gripe their Conscience but the godly fore-see a Temptation and will not come near they see a snake under the green grass they know Satans kindness is craftiness hee doth as Iâ—phtha's daughter he brings forth the Timbrel and danceth before men with a temptation and then brings them very low Iudg. 11. 35. 2. The godly fore-see temporal dangers Pro. 22. 3. A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself The people of God see when the Cloud of wrath is ready to drop upon a Nation and they get into their Chambers Isa. 26. 20. The Attributes and Promises of God and into the clifts of the Rock the bleeding wounds of Christ and hide themselves well therefore may they be baptized with the name of Wise Virgins 5. The godly are the bull-wark of a Nation 2 Kin. 2. 12. O my Father the Chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof The godly are the Pillers to keep a City and Nation from falling they stave off Judgement from a Land It was said of old so long as Hector lived Troy could not be demolished God could do nothing to Sodom till Lot was gone out of it Genesis 19. 22. Golden Christians are Brazen Walls The Lord would soon break up house in the world were it not for the sakes of a few Religious ones Would God think we preserve the world only for Drunkards and Swearers He would soon sink the Ship of Church and State but that some of his Elect are in it Yet such is the indiscretion of men as to injure the Saints and to count them burdens which are the chief blessings 6. The godly are of a brave Heroick spirit Numb 14. 24. My servant Caleb because he had another spirit An excellent spirit was found in Daniel Cap. 5. 12. The godly hate that which is base and sordid they will not inrich their purses by inslaving
their Consciences they are Noble and couragious in Gods Cause Pro. 28. 1. The righteous are bold as a Lion The Saints live suitably to their high birth they breathe after Gods love they aspire after glory they set their feet where worldly men set their heart they display the Banner of the Gospel lifting up Christs Name and interest in the world 7. The godly are happy persons King Balak sent to curse the people of God but the Lord would not suffer it Numb 22. 12. God said unto Balaam thou shalt not curse the people for they are blessed And Moses afterwards records it as a thing memorable that that intended Curse of the King God did convert into a blessing Deut. 23. 5. The Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee They must needs be happy who are always on the strongest side Psa. 118. 6. The Lord is on my side they are happy who have all conditions sanctified to them Rom. 8. 28. Who are crowned with peace while they live Psa. 119. 165. and with glory when they die Psal. 73. 24. And may not this tempt all to become godly Deut. 33. 29. Happy art thou O Israel a people saved by the Lord. 3. To endeavour after godliness is most rational 1. It is the highest act of Reason for a man to become another man If while he remains in Natures Soil he is poysoned with sin no more actually fit for communion with God than a Toad is fit to be made an Angel then it is very consonant to Reason that he should endeavour after a change 2. It is rational because this change is for the better Eph. 5. 8. Now are yee light in the Lord. Will not any man be willing to exchange a dark prison for a Kings Palace Will he not change away his brass for gold Thou that becomest godly changest for the better thou changest thy pride for humility thy uncleanness for holiness thou changest a lust that will damn thee for a Christ that will save thee Were not men besotted had not their fall beat off their head-piece they would see it were the most rational thing in the world to become godly 4. The excellency of godliness Auro quid melius jaspis quid jaspide virtus The excellency of godliness appears several ways 1. Godliness is our spiritual beauty Psa. 110. 3. The beauties of holiness Godliness is to the soul as the light to the world to illustrate and adorn it 'T is not greatness sets us off in Gods eye but goodness What is the beauty of the Angels but their sanctity Godliness is the curious imbroidery and workmanship of the Holy Ghost A soul furnished with godliness is damask'd with beauty it is enamell'd with purity this is the cloathing of wrought gold which makes the King of heaven fall in love with us were there not an excellency in holiness the hypocrite would never go about to paint it Godliness sheds a glory and lustre upon the Saints What are the Graces but the golden feathers in which Christs Dove shines 2. Godliness is our defence Grace is called the Armour of Light Rom. 13. 12. It is light for beauty and armour for defence A Christian hath armour of Gods making which cannot be shot thorow he hath the Shield of Faith the Helmet of Hope the Breast-plate of Righteousness this is armour of proof which defends against the assaults of temptation and the terrour of hell 3 Godliness breeds solid peace Psa. 119. 165. Great peace have they that love thy Law Godlines composeth the heart making it sedate and calm like the upper Region where there are no winds and tempests How can that heart be unquiet where the Prince of Peace dwells Col. 1. 27. Christ in you An holy heart may be compared to the doors of Solomons Temple 1 Kin. 6. 32. which were made of Olive-tree carved with open Flowers There is the Olive of peace and the open Flowers of joy in that heart godlines doth not destroy a Christians mirth but refine it his Rose is without prickles his wine without froth he must needs be full of joy and peace who is a favourite of heaven he may truly sing a Requiem to his soul and say Soul take thy â—ase King Ptolomy asked one how he might be in rest when he dreamed He replied Let piety be the scope of all thy actions If one should ask me how he should be in rest when he is awake I would return the like answer Let his soul be in-laid with godliness 4. Godliness is the best Trade we can drive it brings profit wicked men say It is vain to serve God and what profit is it Mal. 3. 14. To be sure there is no profit in sin Pro. 10. 2. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing But godliness is profitable 1 Tim. 4. 8. It is like digging in a gold Mine where there is gain as well as toil godliness makes God himself over to us as a portion Psa. 16. 5. The Lord is the portion of my Inheritance If God be our portion all our estate lies in Jewels where God gives himself he gives every thing else he who hath the Mannor hath all the Royalties belonging to it God is a portion that can neither be spent nor lost Psa. 26. 73. Thus we see godliness is a thriving Trade And as godliness brings profit with it so it is profitable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for all things 1 Tim. 4. 8. What is so besides godliness Food will not give a man wisdome gold will not give him health honor will not give him beauty but godliness is useful for all things it fenceth off all troubles it supplies all wants it makes soul and body compleatly happy 5. Godliness is an enduring substance it knows no fall of the leaf All worldly delights have a Deaths-Head set upon them they are but shadows and they are flying Earthly comforts are like Pauls friends who brought him to the Ship and there left him Acts 20. 38. So these will bring a man to his grave and then take their farewell but godliness is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a possession we cannot be robbed of it runs parallel with Eternity force cannot weaken it age cannot wither it it out-braves sufferings it our-lives death Pro. 10. â— Death may pluck the stalk of the body but the Flower of grace is not hurt numquam stygias fertur ad umbras inclyta virtus 6 Godliness is so excellent that the worst men would have it when they are going hence though at present godliness be despised and under a cloud yet at death all would be godly A Philosopher asking a young man whether he would be rich Croesus or virtuous Socrates answered he would live with Croesus and dye with Socrates So men would live with the wicked in pleasure but dye with the godly Numb 23. 10. Let me dye the death of the righteous and let my end bee like his If then godliness be
a steeping in Christs blood and breathe holiness into your heart O what cause have you to write your selves eternal debtors to free grace Hee denies God to be the Authour of his Grace who doth not give him the praise of it O acknowledge the love of God admire distinguishing mercy set the Crown of your praise upon the head of free grace If wee are to bee thankful for the fruits of the earth much more for â—he fruits of the Spirit it is well there is an eternity coming when the Saints shall triumph in God and make his praise glorious 3 Let me speak to the godly by way of Comfort you that have but the least dram of godliness in sincerity let me give you two rich Consolations 1 That Jesus Christ will not discourage the weakest Grace but will cherish and preserve it to Eternity Grace which is but newly budded shall by the beams of the Sun of Righteousness bee concocted and ripened into Glory This I shall speak more fully to in the next CHAP. XI Showing that the least degree of Godliness shall bee preserved Mat. 12. 20. A bruised Reed shall hee not break and smoking flax shall hee not quench till hee send forth Iudgement unto Victory THis Text is spoken Prophetically of Christ hee will not insult over the infirmities of his people hee will not crush Grace in the infancy A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoking flax shall be not quench I begin with the first the bruised Reed Quest. What is to bee understood here by a Reed Answ. It is not to bee taken litterally but mystically It is a Rational Reed the Spiritual part of man the Soul which may well bee compared to a Reed because it is subject to imbecility and shaking in this life till it grow up unto a firm Cedar in Heaven Quest. What is meant by a bruised Reed Answ. It is a soul humbled and bruised in the sense of sin it weeps but doth not despair it is tossed upon the waves of fear yet not without the Anchor of Hope Quest. What is meant by Christs not breaking this reed Answ. The sense is Christ will not discourage any mournful spirit who is in the pangs of the New-birth If the bruise of sin be felt it shall not be mortal A bruised reed shall he not break In the words there is a Miâ—oâ—â—s he will not break that is he will bind up the bruised reed he will comfort it The result of the whole is to show Christs compassion to a poor dejected sinner that smites upon his breast and dares hardly lift up his eye for mercy the bowels of the Lord Jesus yern towards him this bruised reed he will not break In the Text there are two parts 1. A Supposition a soul penitentially bruised 2. A Proposition it shall not be broken Doct. The bruised soul shall not be broken Psal. 147. 3. He bindeth up their wounds For this end Christ received both his Mission and Unction that he might bind up the bruised soul Isa. 61. 1. The Lord hath anointed me to bind up the broken-hearted But why will not Christ break a bruised reed 1. Out of the sweetness of his Nature Iam. 5. 11. the Lord is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very pitiful he begets bowels in other creatures therefore is called the Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1. 3. and surely he himself is not without bowels when a poor soul is afflicted in spirit God will not exercise harshness towards it lest he should be thought to put off his own tender disposition Hence it is the Lord hath been ever most solicitous for his bruised ones as the Mother is most careful of her Children that are weak and sickly Isa. 40. 11. He shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in hiâ— bosome Such as have been spiritually bruised who like Lambs are weakly and tender Christ will carry them in the arms of free-grace 2 Jesus Christ will not break the bruised reed because a contrite heart is his sacrifice Psa. 51. 17. A bruised spirit sends forth tears which are as precious wine Psa. 56. 8. A bruised soul is big with holy desires yea is sick of love therefore if a bruised reed hath such virtue in it Christ will not break it no Spices when they are bruised are so fragant to us as a contrite spirit is to God 3 The bruised reed shall not be broken because it doth so nearly resemble Christ Jesus Christ was once bruised on the cross Isa. 53. 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him his hands and feet were bruised with the nails his side was bruised with the Spear A bruised reed resembles a bruised Saviour nay a bruised reed is a member of Christ which though it be weak Christ will not cut off but cherish so much the more 1. Will not Christ break the bruised reed this tacitly implies he will break unbruised reeds such as were never touched with trouble of spirit but live and die in impenitency these are hard reeds or rather rocks Christ will not break a bruised reed but he will break an hard reed Many know not what it is to be bruised reeds they are bruised outwardly by affliction but they are not bruised for sin they never knew what the pangs of the New birth meant You shall hear some thank God they were always quiet they never had any anxiety of spirit these bless God for the greatest Curse Such as are not bruised penitentially shall be broken judicially they whose hearts would not break for sin shall break with despair in hell there is nothing to be seen but an heâ—p of stones and an hammer an heap of stones that is hard hearts and an hammer that is Gods Power and Justice breaking them in pieces 2. Will not Christ break a bruised reed See then the gracious disposition of Jesus Christ he is full of clemency and sympathy though he may bruise the soul for sin he will not break it The Chyrurgion may lance the body and make it bleed but he will bind up the wound as Christ hath beams of Majesty so bowels of mercy Christ gives the Lyon in his Scutchion and the Lamb the Lyon in respect of his fierceness to the wicked Psal. 50. 22. And the Lamb in respect of his mildness to his people his name is Iesus a Saviour and his office is an healer Mal. 4. 2. Christ made a plaister of his own bloud to heal a broken heart Christ is the quintessence of love One saith if the sweetness of all flowers were in one flower how sweet would that flower be How full of Mercy is Christ in whom all mercy meets Christ hath a skilful hand and a tender heart He will not break a bruised reed Some are so full of Ostracisme and cruelty as to add affliction to affliction which is to lay more weight upon a dying man but our Lord Jesus is a compassionate
upon the soul Hos. 14. 5 6. I will be as the de◠unto Israel he shall grow as the Lilly his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree That God who made the dry rod blossome will make the dry reed flourish So much for the first expression in the Text I proceed to the second The smoaking Flax shall he not quench Quest. What is meant by smoak Answ. By smoak is meant corruption Smoak is offensive to the eye so sin offends the pure eye of God Quest. What is meant by smoaking flax Answ. It is meant Grace mingled with corruption as with a little fire there may be much smoak so with a little grace there may be much corruption Quest. What is Christs not quenching the Smoaking Flax Answ. The meaning is though there be but a spark of grace with much sin Christ will not put out this spark In the words there is a figure He will not quench that is he will encrease Nothing more easie than to quench Smoaking Flax the least touch doth it but Christ will not quench it he will not blow the spark of Grace out but will blow it up he will encrease it into a flame he will make this Smoaking Flax a burning Taper Doct. That a little grace mixed with much corruption shall not be quenched For the illustrating of this I shall show you 1. That often a little grace is mixed with much corruption 2. That this little grace interlined with corruption shall not be quenched 3. The Reasons of the Proposition 1. Often in the godly a little grace is mingled with much corruption Mark 9. 24. Lord I believe there was some Faith help my unbelief there was corruption mixed with it There are in the best Saints interweavings of sin and grace a dark side with the light much pride mixed with humility much earthliness with heavenliness Grace in the godly doth relish of an old Crabtree stock Nay in many of the Regenerate there is more corruption than grace so much smoak that you can scarce discern any fire so much distrust that you can hardly see any Faith so much passion that you can hardly see any meekness Ionah a peevish Prophet he quarrels with God nay he justifies his passion Ionah 4. 9. I do well to be angry to the death Here was so much passion that it was hard to see any grace A Christian in this life is like a glass that hath more froth than wine or like a diseased body that hath more humours than spirits This may humble the best to consider how much corruption is interlarded with their grace 2. This little grace mixed with much corruption shall not be quenched The smoaking flax he will not quench The Disciples Faith was at first but small they forsook Christ and fled Here was smoaking flax but Chirst did not quench that little grace but cherish and animate it their Faith afterwards grew stronger and they did openly confess Christ. Here was the flax flaming 3. The Reasons why Christ will not quench the smoaking flax 1. Because this Scintilla this little light which is in the smoaking flax is of divine production it comes from the Father of Lights and the Lord will not quench the work of 〈◊〉 own grace Every thing by the instinct of Nature will preserve its own The Hen that hatcheth her young will preserve and cherish them she will not destroy them as soon as they are hatched God who hath put this tenderness into the Creature to preserve its young will much more cherish the work of his own spirit in the heart Will he light up the Lamp of Grace in the soul and then put it out This would be neither for his interest nor honor 2. Christ will not quench the beginnings of grace because a little grace is precious as well as more A small Pearl is of value Though the Pearl of Faith be little yet if it be a true Pearl it shines gloriously in Gods eyes A Goldsmith makes reckoning of the least filings of gold and will not throw them away The pupilla oculi the apple of the eye is but little yet of great use it can at once view an huge part of the heavens A little Faith can justifie a weak hand can tye the Nuptial Knot a weak Faith can unite to Christ as well as a strong a little grace makes us like God a silver penny bears the Kings Image upon it as well as a larger piece of Coyn The least dram of grace bears Gods Image on it and will God destroy his own Image When the Temples in Greece were demolished Xerxes caused the Temple of Diana to be preserved for the beauty of its structure When God shall destroy all the glory of the world and set it on fire yet he will not destroy the least grace because it bears a print of his own likeness upon it That little spark in the smoaking flax is a ray and beam of Gods own glory 3. Christ will not quench the smoaking flax because this little light in the flax may grow bigger Grace is resembled to a grain of Mustard-seed of all seeds it is the least but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becometh a Tree Mat. 13. 32. The greatest grace was once little the Oak was once an Acorn the most Renowned Faith in the world was once in its Spiritual Infancy the greatest flame of zeal was once but smoaking flax Grace like the waters of the Sanctuary riseth higher If then the least Embryo and seed of holiness be of a ripening and growing nature the Lord will not suffer it to be abortive 4. Christ will not quench the smoaking flax because when he preserves a little light in a great deal of smoak here the glory of his power shines forth The trembling soul thinks it shall be swallowed up of sin but God by preserving a little quantity of grace in the heart nay by making that spark prevail over corruption as the fire from heaven licked up the water in the trench 1 King 18. 38. Now God gets himself a glorious Name and carries away the Trophies of Honor 2 Cor. 12. 9. My strength is made perfect in weakness 1. See the different dealings of God and men men for a little smoak will quench a great deal of light God for a great deal of smoak will not quench a little light 'T is the manner of the world if they see a little failing in another for that failing they will pass by and quench a great deal of worth This is our nature to aggravate a little fault and diminish a great deal of virtue to see the infirmities and darken the excellencies of others as we take more notice of the twinkling of a Star than the shining of a Star We censure others for their passion but do not admire them for their piety Thus for a little smoak that we see in others we