have not been moved and smitten with it The threatnings of the Lord by Moses did not move the heart of Pharaoh but rather he was the more hardened Answ The cause of this is 1. Their own unbelief although they have yet they lay not the threatnings to heart but put the evil day far from them As the hammer breaks not the hard stone except it be laid to it with some force the old world laid not to heart the threatning of the deluge by Noah Mat. 24.39 but the Ninivites believed the threatning by Jonah and repented Jonah 3.5 2. Love of some gainful sin keeps the will in an obstinacy against the Word that they will not be convinced of the sinfulness of their wayes they love darkness more than light and therefore they hate the light of the Word which makes their daâ—kness manifest Joh. 3.19 The Crafts-men in Ephesus Acts 19. have such love to their gainful idolatry that they will not be convinced of the absurdity and unreasonableness thereof 3. Pride and arrogancy will not suffer some men to be informed of the truth that is contrary to their own opinion and way and so because they will not be informed they cannot be convinced such was the pride and arrogancy of the Pharisees Joh. 9.34 4. Preposterous love of sinful company and society doth make some men sensless and fearless of the judgements threatned against such a society Lot his Sons in Law out of their love to Sodom were not moved with his preaching and threatning of sad judgement against that City Therefore as ye would be convinced of the evil and danger of sin by the Word of God and by his severe threatnings lay them to heart by believing Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God forsake the love of sin though never so gainful or pleasant and forsake all communion and fellowship with the workers of iniquity in their works of darkness Object 2. But wicked and reprobat men may be heart-smitten at a time with a convincing Sermon as Felix was How shall we discern the smiting of our heart by the Word to be from mercy and from a purpose to heal the soul wounded and pierced with sorrow and fear Ans 1. A wicked and reprobat person may be heart-smitten with grief and fear for some great and hainous sins whereof they are convinced not only by the light of the Word but also by the light and sorce of a natural conscience as was Cain and Judas Yea the morning light is to the adulterer even as the shadow of death Job 24.17 but the children of God their heart will smite them even for smaller offences Davids heart smote him for the cutting of Sauls garment and Paul is convinced not only that his persecution of the Saints was a sin but also that his inordinat concupiscence and its first stirrings was a transgression of the Law Rom. 7.7 2. In wicked and obstinat sinners the pain of heart-smiting lasteth not but as a Sea-sickness it evanisheth in a short time and is forgot as in Pharaoh Exod. 9.27 But it is not so in the children of God though their pain and remorse of conscience continues not alwayes in a sense of present grief and pain yet it remains in their memory they remember the gall and wormwood and in the remembrance thereof their heart is kept humble Psal 38.17 I am ready to halt and my sorrow is continually before me Wicked and obstinat sinners when the terrours of conscience are over at a time they do return like a deceitful Bow to their old posture and way but the godly with penitent Peter not only do weep for their former sinful courses but also they forsake the company of evil doers 3. The wicked and obstinat sinners when they are smitten with the word of reproof do hate him who reproves in the gate as Ahab did Elijah but the godly take well with the word of reproof as with a precious ointment that makes them afterward to shine in their conversation Psal 141.5 4. Wicked men who continue obstinat in their sins make no good use of their former heart-smiteing and pain of conscience like some men having at a time a great pain in their stomack and head from former excess in drinking make not good use thereof to shun the occasion of excess and riot in time coming but the children of God make better use of heart-smiting when they are again tempted to run in the excess of riot they remember their former distempers and consider the peace they have in their conscience for the present and do make good use of that admonition given by our Lord Joh 5.14 Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing befall thee Vse 2. It is our duty to take well with the word of reproof although it smite yet it will do good and heal again when it is received by an obedient ear and heart for to such it is an ear-ring and ornament of gold and adorns them in their after-conversation Prov. 25.12 It is as the lopping of a luxuriant branch it doth the tree no evil but makes it more fruitful Prov. 27.6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend It is a fearful thing to despise the word of reproof in the mouth of those who have a calling from God for in that case God many times takes the rod into his own immediat hand and smites the obstinat sinner severely and visibly as he did the old world who contemned the reproof of Noah as he did Sodom who contemned the reproof of Lot as he did Amaziah who rejected the counsel of the Prophet 2 Chron. 25.16 as he did severely punish the people of Israel who despised the counsel of the Prophets 2 Chron. 36.16 and Jerusalem who persecuted the Prophets that spake unto them Luk. 19.42 Therefore the faithful Ministers of God must not desist from their seasonable reprovings though possibly at first they be not well received yet afterward with the true children of God they shall be entertained as Medicaments for their recovery Prov. 28.23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour then he that flattereth with the tongue To this purpose saith Cyprian Though some people like way-ward sick children baul and cry against the Physician yet let him wait on and do his duty if the child shall recover he will be ashamed of his perâ—ishness and be the more thankful to his careful prudent and patient Physician vociferetur licet post tamen gratias aget although saith he the child cry out in the time of his pain yet afterward he will render thanks Observ 3. Earthly-mindedness is very displeasing unto God he shall smite the earth and men are much displeased with those whom they smite Because worldly-mindedness is a great impediment to our hearing and obeying the good Word of God Mat. 13.22 So is it unto Prayer which is a lifting up of the soul unto God and earthly-mindedness is like a paise or weight of
Lead bowing down the soul it is inconsisting with sincere love toward God 1 Joh. 2 15. And it makes a man unwilling to die Luk. 12.19 20. as the Jews who were joyned in marriage with the Babylonians had no will to come out of Babylon in like manner earthly-minded men whose hearts are espoused to this present world have no will to depart out of it at their death Quest 1. Whâ—t call ye earthly-mindedness Answ A man may and should be diligent in seeking the good things of this world because we are commanded of God to be diligent in our lawful Callings and Imployments Prov. 27.23 1 Thes 4.11 It is commended 2 Cor. 12.14 1 Tim. 5.8 It consists well with true devotion and with the fear of God Rom. 12.11 Not slothful in business fervent in spirit and serving the Lord Joseph was a man fearing God and diligent in his business Gen. 41.48 Such was Shecaniah Neh. 7.12 and Daniel Dan. 8.27 But we must not labour for the things of this present world only without any regard to our immortal condition in the world to come as these Epicures did Isai 22.13 who said Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die 2. We must not labour for them principally as our chief and supreme good Joh. 6.27 by preferring them as profane Esau did unto spiritual blessings by preferring worldly profites and emoluments to the precious truths of God and to a good conscience as Demas did nor by preferring honour and praise from men to our honouring of Christ and his truth in time of persecution as many of the chief Rulers amongst the Jews did Joh. 12.42 Because temporal things are to be sought alwayes in order to the great end which is the glorifying of God by these things which we seek after 1 Cor. 10.31 Yea our life and all things belonging to this life are to be desired and imployed toward that great and chief end Psal 80.18 Psal 119.175 3. We must not labour for them anxiously by tormenting our spirits about the event and success of our labours in our lawful imployments Phil. 4.6 but we should cast all our care for the event and success upon God 1 Pet. 4.7 4. We must not labour for them in an unlawful manner by covetousness and immoderate desire of them Heb. 13.5 because the Lord doth abhor the covetous man Ps 10.3 We must not labour for them by fraud and circumveening of the simple 1 Thes 4.2 6. nor by violence and oppression Mic. 2.2 Such men the Lord punisheth with great terrors in their consciences when in his fury he doth awake them out of their secure stattering of themselves in their wayes of oppression and one time or other spoils them or their postesterity of their unjust and violent purchases Job 20.19 20. c. Quest 2. What difference is there between an earthly-minded man and a frugal Christian Ans They differ 1. in their desires of the things of this world the earthly-minded man his heart is set on the things of this world as his chief good and place of rest Luk. 12.14 but the frugal Christian though he may desire them with submission to the good-will of God yet his heart is most set upon heavenly blessings Ps 4.6 Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us The earthly-minded man in his desires worldly is immoderat and insatiable Eccl. 5.10 but the frugal Christian is moderat and sober Pro. 30.8 9. 2. They differ in their indeavours The earthly-minded man has a conscience as large as his desires he maketh haste toward his worldly ends and adviseth not with God and a good conscience Pro. 28.20 1 Tim. 6.9 but the frugal Christian in using means and endeavours doth consult with God and a good conscience if he perceive the thing to be against justice and prejudicial to his neighbour he saith as Joseph How can I do this and sin against God for he knoweth that a little with righteousness is better than great revenues without right Prov. 16.8 3. They differ in their affections of joy and sorrow in order to the things of this present world the earthly-minded man through his ignorance of better things doth rejoyce most in things worldly like young children rejoycing and glorying in Crystal or Lamber-beeds for they know not yet the worth and excellency of Pearls but the frugal Christian though he rejoyce in things worldly as some common tokens of the love of God yet he rejoyces most in spiritual and heavenly commodities Ps 119.72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver The earthly-minded man being disappointed of his hope or deprived of the possession of the things of this world he howls like Micah robbed of his idol Judg. 18.24 like Nabal his heart is dead within him But the frugal Christian in disappointments or losses doth reverence the good and wise providence of God Job 1.21 and taketh joyfully all his osses which he suffers for keeping a good concience Heb. 10.34 4. In using the things of this present world which are called by the Apostle 1. John 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the earthly-minded man doth want in reâ—pect of a sober and honest use even what he enjoyes by possession Eccl. 6.2 He has neither a heart to bestow upon himself for honesty nor for others for their supply But the frugal Christian takes his own sober use of his worldly enjoyments he blesseth God for them and refresheth the bowels of the needy 5. The earthly-minded man trusts in his worldly goods but the frugal Christian doth not so Job 31.24 Job did not make gold his hope neither said he to the fine gold thou art my confidence 6. The earthly-minded man is proud of his worldly enjoyments Ps 49.6 They boast themselves in the multitude of their riches but the frugal Christian is the more humble as Jacob was Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy said he of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant for with my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands For he knows well the greater his receipt be his reckoning will be the greater in that day Obser 4. The sad judgement of God will overtake one time or other such as are wicked and obstinat in their evil wayes for it is said he will slay the wicked by the breath of his lips that is by his Word he shall destroy the wicked and obstinat sinners which he doth 1. by blinding and hardening them judicially by his Word Is 6.9 10. And he said go and tell this people hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not Make the heart of this people fat c. Like as clay which in its own natural temper is hard yet is more hardened by the heat of the Sun So wicked men though by nature of a hard heart unless God preveen them with his rich mercy and mighty
grace are more hardened by the Word of God through the fault of their own natural perverseness and corruption bending them the more against sins forbidden in the Word and Law of God Rom. 7.8 But sin taking occasion by the commandment wrought in me all manner of concupiscence 2. If wicked men continue obstinat in their evil wayes they shall be destroyed in the great day according to the threatnings of the Word Ps 7.12 13. Ps 9.17 Rom. 2.16 Vse For admonition Therefore let us not be obstinat in any sinful course but obey in time that warning 2 Chron. 30.8 Be not stiff-necked but yield your selves unto the Lord and serve the Lord your God that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you Quest What call ye obstinacy in sin that I may know whether my sin be of infirmity or obstinacy Ans 1. The obstinat man is one who goeth on in his sinful course notwithstanding frequent reproofs of the Word of God spoken by the Ministers thereof and secret challenges from his own conscience such was the obstinacy of some Jews Jer. 44.16 17. As for the word which thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee but we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth c. The obstinat man being reproved speaketh or in heart resolveth that he will act the evil deed over again Jer. 2.25 I have loved strangers and after them will I go Such obstinacy provokes God in his justice to give a man over unto himself Ps 81.13 and when God gives him over Satan finds such a man and drives him on in his sinful course as he did the swine into the lake of perdition 2. He is an obstinat man who notwithstanding God has met with him by some sad judgement in his evil way whereof he is convinced in conscience yet goes on in it as Balaam did toward Balak with whom in end he perished such an obstinat wicked man was Ahaz who in the time of his great distress did trespass yet more and more against the Lord 2 Chron. 28.22 This obstinacy is a fearful sin and presagious of a sad ensuing judgement Prov. 29.1 He that being often reproved hardneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy 3. When a man hardens himself against the frequent challenges and reproofs of his own conscience he provokes God to give him over unto a mind past feeling to commit sin with greediness Therefore despise thou not such warnings for if our heart condemn us God is greater then our heart and knoweth all things 1 Joh. 3.20 It is meet for us under such challenges to say unto God as Job 34.32 That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more VERSE V. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins IN these words is set down that great and necessary qualification required for right governing of people to wit righteousness and faithfulness this breeds and entertains great respect and confidence in the hearts of the Subjects toward their Governour The righteousness and faithfulness of Christ in governing his Church and people is evident especially in these four 1. His veracity and faithfulness in all his assertions for he is the faithful witness Rev. 1.5 and a faithful witness will not lye Prov. 14.5 2. His diligence in doing faithfully whatsoever was commanded him of God it is said Heb. 3.2 Moses was faithful in all the house of God making all things according to the pattern shown in the mount In like manner our blessed Lord was diligent and faithful in doing all things for the good of his Church according to the eternal counsel and decree of the Father Joh. 17.26 And I have declared unto them thy Name and will declare it 3. His carefulness in keeping all these who by saith and well-doing commit their souls to him Jacob was faithful and careful in keeping the sheep of Laban Our blessed Lord the great shepherd of our souls keepeth all his sheep who hear his voice and follow him by obedience Joh. 6.40 Joh. 10 27 28. 4. It comprehends also the righteousness and faithfulness in keeping and performing lawful promises Rahab was righteous and faithful in performing her promise made unto the spies our blessed Lord is righteous and faithful in performing all his promises in his own due time Heb. 10.23 1 Joh. 1 9. By the girdle of his loins and reins we understand 1. The delight which Christ hath in his faithfulness he looks upon his own faithfulness as a special point of his honour and glory as the golden and embroidered girdle was an ornament of Kings Job 12.18 2. His readiness and forwardness to perform all his promises as one girded and prepared for his journey therefore he is said to wait that he may be gracious Isa 30 18. and to stand at the door ready to enter in when it is opened Rev. 3.20 3. It signifieth the firmness and immutability of his promises his faithfulness cleaveth fast to him as a girdle to the loins or reins not like Ezekiel his girdle that by time was marred and spoiled but all the promises in Christ are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 Conclus 1. Seing our blessed Lord is righteous and faithful in all his assertions though some of them may seem strange and incredible to sense and humane reason not yet purified and elevated by the light of saith it is our duty to captivat sense and humane reason unto all his assertions 2 Cor. 10.4 5 as to believe the unity of his essence with the Father because he who is the faithful witness hath asserted it Joh. 10.31 I and my Father are one To believe his eternal existence before all time even his personal pre-existence with the Father before his coming forth in his Incarnation and assuming of the Humane Nature because he himself who is the truth hath asserted it Pro. 8.30 I was by him as one brought up with him He was co-eternal with the Father and yet in the fulness of time came forth from the Father into this inferiour world to take on him the vail of flesh and thereby consecrat an entry for us into the most holy place Joh. 16.28 I came forth from the Father and am come into the world Heb. 10.19 20. It is our duty to believe his individual operation with the Father in the works of Creation and Providence not as a cause social with the Father but as one prime cause with him because he himself who is righteous and faithful hath asserted it Joh. 5.17 19 20. My Father worketh hitherto and I work c. To believe the resurrection of the dead upon his own testimony full of veracity Joh. 5.28 The hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth But we are not too curiously to enquire about the
I can be changed into that state of glory in that other life but seing this change is not ordinarily upon a sudden as was that of Paul what shall I do as previous in order to such a change Ans 1. Thou would be first from the threatnings of the Law convinced of thy extreme danger if thou be not changed from thy former evil wayes Psal 7.11 12 13. and thou must believe the faithful promises of such benefits as will attend thy change to wit peace of conscience in this life Psal 119.165 Gal. 6.16 and eternal happiness in the life to come Ezek. 18.21 Rom. 8.13 2. Thou wouldest observe according to the threatnings of God his sad judgements accordingly falling upon some sinners that were obstinat and would not change from their former evil wayes some drunkards have been taken away suddenly others cloathed with rags and made visible documents of the revenging justice of God against excess and riot Likewayes some unclean persons have been seen pyning away in vile diseases and others of them brought to a morsel of bread through the whoorish woman Thou who art a drunkard or harlot observe this and change thy way lest a worse thing befall thee who has the advantage of such a severe warning from others it was said to Belshazzar Dan. 5.22 And thou his son O Belshazzar hast not humbled thine heart though thou knewest all this 3. Observe also some changes in thine own outward condition It may be thou hath met with some sad dispensations from providence when thou was running in the excess of riot which were like the Angels opposition unto Balaam in his way to Balaak make good use of such sad occurences before wrath be poured forth upon thee in the great day even to the uttermost and harden not thine heart against such warnings Job 9.4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength who hath hardened himself against him and prospered If God at any time has changed thine adversity into prosperity observe it and let the riches of his bounty lead thee to Repentance and to a change from thy former evil wayes and say as Ezra 9.13 14. Seing that thou our God hath punished us less then our iniquities deserve and hath given us such deliverance as this should we again break thy commandments 4. Be thou resolute against all the impediments of a future change especially against the bitter mockings of such as sometimes were thy prosane companions in iniquity who will speak all manner of evil against thee after thy change because thou wilt not run with them to the same excess of riot 1 Pet. 4.4 they will possibly call thee a vile hypocrite but labour thou to be of a sound and honest heart in all manner of conversation exercising thy self as Paul did Act. 24.16 to keep a good Conscience void of offence both toward God and man in all things willing to live honestly Heb 13.18 then shalt thou not need to be ashamed of thy fair profession Ps 119.80 let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be not ashamed 5. Be thou also resolute against the counsels of the evil men who would pervert the right ways of the Lord and draw away thine heart from entring into them as Elimas the sorcerer would have drawen away Sergius Paulus the Deputy from the way of the Christian Faith Act. 13.10 but resist thou such evil suggestions at the very first as our blessed Lord did the counsel of Peter Mat. 16.23 6. Be thou resolute against discouragements suggested by worldly men to hinder thee from the way of Godliness and going forward into that heavenly Canaan as the unfaithful spies did discourage the Israelits from going to that earthly Canaan Num. 13.32 They alledge the way of Godliness is a melancholious and comfortless course of life whereas on the contrary true joy and mirth comes to the soul after our change and conversion Luk. 15.32 It was meet that we should make merry and be glad for this thy brother was dead and is alive again and was lost and is found The Eunuch after his conversion to the Christian Faith went on his way rejoycing Act. 8.39 7. In order to thy future change thou must believe that infallible proposition If we change from our former evil ways God will turn from his wrath and pardon the iniquity of our former evil wayes Isa 55.6 7. Jer. 18.7 for a man will not change his way unless he think to be the better and happier by the change 8. Lastly thou must be frequent in prayer to God that he would produce this happy change in thee for though a man by a general concourse of divine help may do some Acts previous to the special change and conversion from the state of Nature into Grace yet can he not without the concourse and strong influence of the special help of supernatural Grace change himself from the state of nature into the state of grace Jer. 13 23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil Although some previous dispositions be ordinarly antecedent in order of time yet are they not the causes of our change and conversion which is wrought and brought forth by the invincible grace of God changing and inclining our will to the obedience of his holy will Jer. 17.14 Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed save me and I shall be saved August citing this place saith well In vain do vain men say I will heal my self no saith he let us say heal me O Lord and I shall behealed Jer. 31.18 Turn thou me and I shall be turned He preveens us by his grace and makes us willing and thereafter followeth us also with his grace lest we should will in vain Observ 3. A true and real change from the state of corrupt Nature unto a state of Grace is visible and evident in these four effects held forth in the text 1. A communion and fellowship with the godly already converted They shall dwell with the Lamb c. 2. A chearful submission to the Word of God though preached by weak men A little child shall lead them 3. Honesty and righteousness in their purchase and contentment with their own portion The Lyon shall eat straw like the Ox. 4. Peaceable-mindedness and a meek conversation They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain 1. Evidence Sincere and real Converts will delight themselves most in the society of the godly because they are forbidden to have any intimat fellowship with the ungodly 1 Cor. 5.11 If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous or an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with such an one no not to eat 2 Thes 3.14 If any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed It was the care of the Saints on earth to shun
his dealings and bargains with others will forsake these former evil ways and make conscience of lawful purchase in time coming this was manifestly seen in Zacheus who before his conversion was an extortioner and exactor of more than was due but after his conversion he restored four fold and made conscience of his purchase in all time coming Luke 19.8 The reasons why true Converts do so are 1. Because such men know that as they should walk humbly with God so they should walk honestly and justly with men Mic. 6.8 1 Thes 4.3 6. This is the will of God that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter 2. They know that God threatens severe judgements against extortioners and defrauders 1 Cor. 6.10 1 Thes 4.6 3. They know that faithfulness and uprightness in our particular Callings and Employments doth adorn their holy profession and stops the mouths of such as are adversaries to it 1 Pet. 2.15 For so is the will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men And they know also that unrighteousness in our particular stations and employments doth open the mouths of adversaries to speak evil of our profession thereby profane men within the visible Church are hardened in their sinful practices and they say Why may not they do as such and such great professors do Thereby men without the Church visible are hardened in their errour and alienation of heart from a communion with the Christian Church therefore Augustine unto this question well answereth if it be lawful to a Christian to spoil and rob a Jew who is an obstinat adversary to the Christian Religion he answers It is no way lawful because thou who art a Christian by so doing hardens the Jew in his errour and infidelity and hinders him to become a Christian Therefore it is our duty to walk in wisdom and uprightness toward them that are without the Christian Church Col. 4.5 remembring alwayes the second Table of the Divine Law is the sure Test according to which is tried the sincerity of men in the duties of the first Table Luk 18.19 20. Acts 10.35 He that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of God Such was the practice of sincere Converts recorded in holy Scripture Simeon was just and devout Luke 2.25 And Paul did exercise himself to keep a conscience void of offence both toward God and men Acts 24.16 Vse 1. For conviction of many who have an outward form of godliness and would be esteemed sincere Converts and yet make no conscience of righteousness in their dealings with men Mic. 6.11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked ballances The Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 6.7 8. will have all those who profess their conversion to the Christian faith rather to remit of the rigor of their own right in particular debates with others than to disgrace their holy profession by litigious pleaes much less should Professors disgrace it by injustice in their dealings with their neighbours The God of truth cares not for words and phrases of piety or for commending the Minister and his Sermon when in the mean time their works and doings are the fruits of unrighteousness Our blessed Lord said to that woman who lift up her voice and said unto him Luke 11.27 28. Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the papes which thou hast sucked but he said yea rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it Holy and humble Angustine on a time hearing the people highly commending a Sermon preached by himself said We tremble at your praises these are but leaves we seek fruits from you And certainly righteous dealing with men is a fruit of true piety toward God Vse 2. For exhortation to make conscience of your purchase 1. Consider the evil and danger if ye do otherwise Prov. 28.20 He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent Jer. 17.11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs and batcheth them not so he that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days and at his end shall be a fool Wicked Ahab made haste to get Naboth's Vineyard but he possess'd it not long 2. Unlawful purchase like a noisome morsel in the stomack doth pain and torment the conscience when God awakes it with terrour Job 20.20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly 1 Tim 6.9 They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition 3. Unlawful purchase makes a man unwilling and afraid to die as a thief taken with the sang is unwilling and afraid to come before the just Judge the unrighteous purchaser cannot leave his evil-gotten goods with any confidence of a blessing upon them from God to his children and heirs for he may know from the very light of nature that the righteous Judge of all the earth doth not approve the malefactors evil deeds yea though the children should prove good and upright men not walking in the ways of their father yet they being possessors of his evil-gotten goods are in mala fide unjust usurpers and the righteous Lord and Judge of all the earth doth oftentimes punish them or rather the memory of the unrighteous purchaser their Progenitor by taking the cursed thing out of their possession Therefore the Heathen Greek Poet Hesiod from the very light of Nature said well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. be not given to unlawful gain for such gain is alike to great losses Because the unrighteous purchaser in so doing loseth far more to wit a good conscience and peace therein which is better than gold or silver On the contrair consider the good and benefit of a lawful and righteous purchase 1. There is much peace in the enjoyment of it though it be but a little thing Prov. 16.8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right Prov. 15.17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a stalled ox and hatred therewith 2. Though men in this world should neglect or take little notice of a deserving man in publick employment who keeps a good conscience in all his ways yet his honesty in his particular actings toward men comforts and upholds him as it did Samuel when the people neglected him 1 Sam. 12.3 and as the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 7.2 3. The righteous purchaser doth at his death leave and bequeath his lawful purchase with confidence of a blessing with it from God as Jacob at his death said to Joseph Gen. 48.21 22. Behold I die but God shall be with you and bring you again unto the land of your fathers moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren c. Vse 3. For direction of our deportment in our particular Callings and Employments in order to the purchase of our livelihood 1. I recommend diligence in your lawful Imployments Rom. 12.11 Not
For if they be taken away with the common calamity yet they get their souls for a prey Good Josiah is said to have been gathered to his grave in peace 2 Chron. 34.28 Although he was slain by the bloody sword of an enemy 3. It is evident from the contrary evil of an hard heart because man's wilful hardning of himself in his evil wayes against warnings from the Word of God from the rod of God upon himself or others and from the sharp checks of a guilty conscience doth provoke God judicially to harden him by giving him up to a Conscience past feeling to commit sin with greediness and so to obstruct their own healing because not the hardned but the broken in heart are healed Mat. 13.15 For this peoples heart is waxed gross c. Lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them For when wicked men do wilfully harden themselves in their evil wayes it is just with God to withdraw his former common restraints such as were the checks of a â—emording Conscience and a panick fear of wrath to come thereafter he casts the bridle on their neck then do they run wild in their own imaginations when they are given up in the just judgement of God to walk in the counsels of their own hearts Psal 81.11 12. The means and helps for breaking of the heart that in all men is naturally hard are 1. A laying to heart the severe threatnings of God against sin Jer. 23.29 Is not my word like an hammer Many men hear the word of threatning but are still hardned their heart is not broken because the threatning is not said to heart by Faith The old world Mat. 24.39 though they knew the threatning of the deludge by the preaching of Noah yet they knew not that is they laid it not to heart till the flood came The hammer breaks not the hard stone until it be laid to it with some pith but when it is laid to heart it doth in some measure begin the work of heart-breaking Jonah 3.5 They believed God in his threatning and proclaimed a fast which was a proclamation of their sorrow for their sins Faith to the threatning worketh fear in the heart and fear breaks the heart with present sorrow from a present apprehension of the wrath to come this was the cause of Ahab his sorrow and legal humiliation 1 Kings 21.27 but in the children of God this fear and brokenness of heart is so ordered in the wisdom and mercy of God that it prepareth them for the comforts of the Gospel in Jesus Christ as Noah moved with fear and apprehension of the threatned deludge prepared an ark to the saving of himself and his house Heb. 11.7 In like manner the children of God warned and wakened by the threatning of the Law flee in to Christ the only Ark and propitiation that covereth believers from the curse of the Law and eternal wrath 1 Joh. 2.1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocat with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins 2. Sad afflictions laid home with conviction to the Conscience is a mean oft-times ordered by God to break an hard heart as is seen in Manasseh who was humbled by his fetters and in the Prodigal who was humbled by great famine and want the unjust reproaches of enemies contrary to their intention like that man who opened the Apostem in the body of his enemy by a dart thrown at him are ordered by God to break the heart of his children with sorrow for by-past sins the reproaches of vile Shimei calling David a bloody man in the matter of Saul wherein he was most innocent yet it did break his heart with sorrow in remembrance of the matter of Vriah 3. A particular confession of our sins is a mean blest of God to the breaking of the heart when we consider the circumstances of their number and greatness against infinit Majesty infinitly just who will not clear the guilty when we consider the Omniscience and Omni-presence of God that we have done this and the other evil in his sight and so have been shamless in our sinning as the vile adulteress is shameless by intertaining the adulterer in the presence of her husband when we consider our wilfulness and obstinacy in sinning against the light of our own conscience as these men did Act. 7.51 When we consider our relapses like the Sow to the puddle the Dog to the vomit after many promises and resolutions in the day of affliction to the contrair when we consider our base ungratitude not only neglecting to render to the Lord according to his benefits bestowed upon us but also our rendring to him evil for good and so deserving that evil of punishment should never depart from us Prov. 17.15 4. A particular register remembrance of Gods former mercies in doing us good all our dayes by providing for us and preserving us from many visible and invisible dangers when we call to remembrance his patience and long-suffering in bearing with us in our sins this brake the hard heart of the Prodigal when he remembred the former bounty of his gracious father Luk. 15.17 18. 5. A serious and frequent meditation of death and judgement will be a mean to break an hard heart aâ— a man drowned in debt not aquainted with any that will be surety for him and knoweth assuredly the rude Messenger will take him personally at the Term arrest him and present him to the Judge then the irrevockable sentence will come forth Take him bind him hand and foot c. It broke the heart of Pauls companions that he said they should see his face no more Act. 20.38 So the fear of the day of death and of judgement should break the hard heart when they consider if they go on and die in their sins they shall be separate from God for ever and never shall see his face Therefore break thine heart with sorrow for bygone sins break off thy course of iniquity by righteousness make thine aquaintance in time with Jesus Christ the Surety and Mediator of the New Covenant and pray with Hezekiah Lord I am oppressed undertake thou for me If now he be thine Advocat thou needest not be afraid of that day of judgement because thy Advocat will be thy Judge repent of thy sins and by faith make application to him as thy Advocat and intercessour at the Fathers right hand be of good courage he that speaketh for thee now will not speak against thee in that day 6. Look oft by Faith and frequent meditation upon Christ crucified this is a special Medicine and Lenitive to soften the hard heart Zach. 12.10 This look to him by faith is like the blood of the goat which breaketh the hard Adamant look on him wounded for thy transgressions both in his body and spirit
pot of earth Ministers are the Lords Heraulds and the affront done to the Heraulds doth reflect upon the Prince who sent them David was highly provocked by the affront done to his Ambassadours 2 Sam. 10. And he punished it severely 2 Sam. 12.31 In like manner our blessed Lord taketh the contempt done to his Ministers as done unto himself Luk. 10.16 Vse 2. For exhortation to receive this sacred Word as the Word of God It is the rod of his mouth the whole Scripture is given by inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 It is the Lanthorn which sheweth us the way to Heaven Psal 119.100 2 Pet. 1.19 It is the rule of our faith Joh. 20.31 and of our obedience and conversation Gal. 6.16 It worketh effectually only in these who with a single heart receive it as the Word of God 1 Thes 2.13 Observ 2. The Word of God is powerful He shall smite c. This is evident 1. From these things unto which it is compared as Jer. 23.29 to fire which so smiteth and pierceth the hard rock with heat that the same is rent in pieces and to an hammer which breaks the hard stone It is compared unto a sword Heb. 4.12 which opens up and discovers the heart like the Anatomists razor and sheweth the inward vileness of our hearts 2. It is evident from the high Elogies given to the Word it is called the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 12 8. and the reproof of wisdom doth come home to the heart and smite it soundly The wise reproof given by Nathan to David in a parable did smartly smite the heart of David The Word is called the power of God Rom. 1.16 not that any natural power is inherent in the letters or syllables of the words as may be seen Acts 19.15 but because God doth ordinarily with the power of the Holy Ghost accompany his own sacred Ordinance spoken in simplicity of words and in sincerity of affection unto the hearts of his Elect that so they are powerfully induced to believe the Word and tuâ—n unto the Lord Acts 11.21 3. It is evident from examples as in Josiah humbled at the heart by the reading of this word 2 Chron. 24 27. The convert-Jews were pricked at the heart by this word Acts 2.37 We have a memorable example of the power of the Word recorded by Cyrill Bishop of Alexandria an eye-witness of the same At the first Council of Nice saith he there came out of curiosity thither an Heathen Philosoph who was a subtile and acute Logician but a great adversary to the Christian Religion some of the learned Fathers there reasoned with him by way of School-disputes but he by one or other distinction did elude the force of their Arguments whereupon one of the most simple in that famous Council being a very pious though not a learned man came against him like David against Goliah and in great simplicity of words with much zeal saith to him O Philosopher in the Name of Jesus Christ hearken to these things that are truths there is one God who made Heaven and Earth who made man of the earth and breathed life into him who created all things visible and invisible by the power of his Word and upholds all things by the same this Word and Wisdom which we call the Son of God having pity on man in his lost condition was born of a Virgin and by his suffering of death hath delivered us from eternal death by his resurrection he applyes to us eternal life and we look for him to come and to judge us according to the things done in the body O Philosopher believest thou it to be so Then he without all contradiction as astonished with the power of the Word could only answer this that it was a truth indeed which he had spoken Thereafter the aged Father desired him to follow after himself and to receive Christian an Baptism the seal of his faith into that saving truth whereupon he immediatly followed and turning himself toward his Schollars that came along with him and to the other hearers said So long as men did deal with me by bare words only I did oppose words to words and by artifice of words I did elude what they spoke but when power came forth from the mouth of the speaker my naked words could not resist divine power neither could man withstand God and therefore saith he to his Schollars believe ye in Christ and together with me follow this aged man in and by whom God hath spoken to me at this time Ruffinus Hist Lib. 1. Cap. 13. relating this History saith It was from God for verifying that place of holy Scripture 1 Cor. 4.20 The kingdom of God is not in word but in power for when the Spirit of God is with the Word we see it can so smite the heart that it brings all our imaginations captive to it 2 Cor. 10.4 Quest How doth the Word of God smite the heart Ans 1. By light shewing and convincing the understanding of the errours and dangers of our sinful wayes for by the Law is the knowledge of sin Rom 7.7 And in the Word as in a mirrour the vileness of sin which is compared to things most vile as to the dross of mettal to the scum of a pot to putrified sores to leprosie to dung to swine wallowing in the mire and to a dog licking up his own vomit but the vileness of sin is most seen in the mirrour of the Gospel because nothing could cleanse us from the filth of sin but the precious bloud of the Son of God And the danger of sin is seen in consequents thereof to wit all misery in this life not only the first but also the second death and damnation eternal unless it be preveened by true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ Luke 13.5 Joh. 3.18 2. The heart is smitten after conviction by grief and sorrow Acts 2.37 The convert-Jews being convinced of the wickedness and hainousness of their sin by Peters Sermon were pricked in their hearts cried out from fear Men and brethren what shall we do And the afâ—â—gâ—ted Jaylour being afrighted from apprehension of the dangeâ— of his sins cried out Acts 16.30 Sirs What must I do to be saved In like manner Felix the Governour being convinced of his sins and afrighted with the apprehension of Judgement to come did tremble Acts 24.25 3. After the conscience is awakened with fear then the will is pained and confounded with shame and displeasure Jer. 31.18 19. Rom. 6.21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed for the end of those things is death Vse 1. For admonition unto men of an hard and stupid heart to resort often unto the hearing and reading of the Word of God for who can tell but God one time or another will smite the earthy and obdured heart and open it as he did the heart of Lydia Acts 14. Object 1. But many have heard the Word and yet their hearts