among the damned 2. How sweet is it to have it 1. The pardoned soul is out of the gun-shot of Hell Rom. 8. 33. Satan may accuse but Christ will show a discharge 2. The pardoned soul may goe to God with boldness in prayer Guilt clips the wings of prayer that it cannot flye to the Throne of Grace but forgiveness breeds confidence He who hath his pardon may look his Prince in the face with comfort This great mercy of pardon David had obtained as appears vers 5. Thou forgavest me And because he had found God a God of pardons therefore he encourageth others to seek God in the words of the Text For this cause shall every one that is godly pray unto thee CHAP. II. Opening the Nature of Godliness Every one that is godly IT will first be enquired What Godliness is I answer in general Godliness is the sacred impression and workmanship of God in a man whereby of carnal he is made spiritual When Godliness is wrought in a person he doth not receive a new soul but he hath another spirit Numb 14. 24. The faculties are not new but the qualities the Strings are the same but the Tune is mended Concerning Godliness I shall lay down these seven Maxims or Positions 1. Godliness is a Real thing it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Godliness is not the feaverish conceit of a sick brain a Christian is no Enthusiast one whose Religion is made up all of Fancy Godliness hath Truth for its foundation it is called the way of Truth Psal. 119. 30. godliness is a ray and beam that shines from God if God be true then godliness is true 2. Godliness is an intrinsecal thing it lies chiefly in the heart Rom. 2. 29. Circumcision is that of the heart The dew lies on the leaf the sap is hid in the root The Moralists Religion is all in the leaf it consists only in Externals but godliness is an holy sap which is radicated in the soul. Psal. 51. 6. in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom The Chalde expounds it In the close place of the heart 3 Godliness is a supernatural thing by nature we inherit nothing but evil Rom. 7. 5. When we were in the flesh the motions of sin did work in our members we did suck in sin as naturally as our Mothers milk but godliness is the wisdom from above Jam. 3. 17. it is breathed in from heaven God must light up the Lamp of Grace in the heart Weeds grow of themselves flowers are planted Godliness is a Coelestial Plant that comes from the New Hierusalem Therefore it is called a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. A man hath no more power to change himself than to create himself 4. Godliness is an extensive thing it is a sacred leaven that spreads it self into the whole soul. 1 Thess. 5. 23. The God of peace sanctifie you wholly There is light in the understanding order in the affections pliableness in the will exemplariness in the life We do not call a Blackamore white because he hath white teeth he is not godly who is good only in some part Grace is called the new man Col. 3. 10. not a new eye or tongue but a new man he who is godly is good all over though he be regenerate but in part yet it is in every part 5. Godliness is an intense thing it doth not lye in a dead formality and indifferency but is vigorous and flaming Rom. 12. 11. Fervent in spirit We call water hot when it is so in the third or fourth degree He is godly whose devotion is inflamed and his heart boyls over in holy affections 6. Godliness is a glorious thing As the Jewel to the Ring so is Piety to the Soul bespangling it in Gods eyes Reason makes us Men Godliness makes us earthly Angels by it we partake of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. Godliness is neer a kin to Glory 2 Pet. 1. 3. Glory and Vertue Godliness is glory in the â—eed and glory is godliness in the flower 7. Godliness is a permanent thing Aristotle saith denominations are given from the habit We do not call him sanguine that blusheth but who is of a ruddy complexion A blush of godliness is not enough to denominate a Christian but godliness must be the temper and complexion of the soul. Godliness is a fixed thing There is a great deal of difference between a Stake in the Hedge and a Tree in the Garden a stake rots and moulders but a tree having life in it abides and flourisheth When godliness hath taken root in the soul it abides to eternity 1 Ioh. 3. 9. his seed remaineth in him Godliness being engraven in the heart by the Holy Ghost as with the point of a Diamond can never be raced out CHAP. III. A Reproof to such as are but Pretenders to Godliness Use. HEre is a sharp Reprehension to such as are Alchimy Christians who do only make a show of godliness like Michal who put an Image in the bed and so deceived Sauls Messengers 1 Sam. 19. 16. these our Saviour calls whited Sepulchres They do not Virtutem colere but colorare In ancient times a third part of the Inhabitants of this Island were called Picts which signifies painted 't is to be feared they still retain their old name How many are painted only with the Vermilion of a Profession whose seeming lustre dazles the eyes of beholders but within there is nothing but putrefaction Hypocrites are like the Swan which hath white feathers but a black skin or like the Lilly which hath a fair colour but a bad sent Rev. 1. 3. Thou hast a name to live but thou art dead These the Apostle Iude compares to clouds without water vers 12. they pretend to be full of the Spirit but they are empty clouds their goodness is but a Religious Cheat. Quest. But why do persons content themselves with a show of godliness Answ. This helps to keep up their fame 1 Sam. 15. 30. Honour me before the people Men are ambitious of credit and would gain repute in the world therefore they will dress themselves in the garb and mode of Religion that others may write them down for Saints But alas what is one the better to have others commend him and his Conscience condemn him What good will it do a man when he is in Hell that others think he is gone to Heaven O beware of this Counterfeit piety is double iniquity 1. To have only a show of godliness is a God-enraging sin he who is a pretender to Saint-ship but his heart tells him he hath nothing but the Name he carries Christ in his Bible but not in his Heart some politick design spurs him on in the wayes of God he makes Religion a Lacquey to his carnal Interest What is this but to abuse God to his
of Christ we will be willing to help others to a part in him that which we esteem excellent we are desirous our friend should have a share in If a man hath found a Spring of water he will call others that they may drink and satisfie their thirst Do we commend Christ to others Do we take them by the hand and lead them to Christ This shows how few prize Christ because they strive no more that their Relations should have a part in him They get land and riches for their posterity but have no care to leave them the Pearl of Price for their portion 8. If we are prizers of Christ then we prize him in health as well as in sickness when we are inlarged as well as when we are straitned A friend is prized at all times the Rose of Sharon is always sweet He who values his Saviour aright hath as precious thoughts of him in a day of prosperity as in a day of adversity The wicked make use of Christ only when they are in straits as the Elders of Gilead went to Ieptha when they were in distress Iudg. 11. 7. Themistocies complained of the Athenians that they ran to him but as to a Tree to shelter them in a storm Sinners desire Christ only for a shelter The Hebrews never chose their Judges but when they were in some imminent dangers Godless persons never look after Christ but at death when they are in danger of hell Use 3. As we would evidence to the world that we have the impress of godliness on us let us be prizers of Jesus Christ he is Elect Precious Christ is the wonder of beauty Pliny saith of the Mulberry Tree there is nothing in it but what is medicinable and useful the fruit leaves bark So there is nothing in Christ but what is precious his Name is precious his Virtues precious his bloud precious Et precium mundi sanguiser at Domini Oh then let us have endearing thoughts of Christ let him be accounted our chief treasure and delight This is the reason why millions perish because they do not prize Christ Christ is the door by which men are to enter into heaven Iohn 10. 9. If they do not know this door or are so proud that they will not stoop to go in at iâ— how can they be saved That we may have Christ-admiring thoughts Let us consider 1. We cannot prize Christ at too high a rate we may prize other things above their worth that is our sin we commonly over-rate the creature we think there is more in it than there is therefore God withers our gourd because we over-prize it But we cannot raise our esteem high enough of Christ he is beyond all value There is no Ruby or Diamond but the Jeweller can set a just price upon it he can say it is worth so much and no more but Christs worth can never be fully known No Seraphim can set a due value on him his are unsearchable riches Eph. 3. 8. Christ is more precious than the Soul than the Angels than Heaven 2. Jesus Christ hath highly prized us he took our flesh upon him Heb. 2. 16. He made his Soul an offering for us Isa. 53. 10 How precious was our Salvation to Christ Shall not we prize and adore him who hath put such a value upon us 3. Not to prize Christ is high imprudence Christ is our Guide to Glory 't is folly for a man to slight his Guide he is our Physitian Mal. 4. 2. 'T is folly to despise our Physitian What to set light by Christ for things of no value Mat. 23. 17. Ye fools and blind How is a fool tryed but by showing him an Apple and a piece of Gold if he chuse the Apple before the Gold he is judged to be a fool and his Estate is begged How many such Ideots are there who prefer Husks before Manna the gaudy empty things of this life before the Prince of Glory Will not Satan beg them at last for fools 4. Such as slight Christ now and say There is no beauty in him that he should be desired There is a day shortly coming when Christ will as much slight them he will set as light by them as they do by him he will say I know you not Luk. 13. 27. What a slighting word will that be when men shall cry Lord Jesus save us and he shall say I was offered to you but you would none of me you scorned me and now I will set light by you and your Salvation Depart from me I know you not This is all that sinners get by rejecting the Lord of Life Christ will slight them at the day of Judgement who have sâ—ighted him in the day of Grace SECT VIII 8. A godly man is an Evangelical weeper David did sometimes sing with his Harp and sometimes the Organ of his eye did weep Psal. 6. 6. I water my couch with tears Christ calls his Spouse his Dove Cant. 2. 14. The Dove is a weeping creature Grace dissolves and liquifies and Soul causing a spiritual thaw The sorrow of the heart runs out at the eye Psa. 31. 9. The Rabbins report that the same night Israel departed out of Egypt towards Canaan all the Idols of Egypt were broken down by Lightning and Earthquake So at that very time men go forth out of their natural condition towards heaven all the Idols of sin in the heart must be broken down by Repentance A melting heart is the chief branch of the Covenant of Grace Ezek. 36. 26. and the product of the Spirit Zac. 12. 10. I will powre upon the House of David the Spirit of Grace and they shall look on me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him Quest. But why is a godly man a weeper Is not sin pardoned which is the ground of Ioy Hath ot he had a transforming work upon his heart why then doth he weep Answ. A godly man finds matter enough of weeping 1. He weeps for the in-being of sin the Law in his members Rom. 7. 23. The ebullitions and first risings of sin his Nature is a poysoned Fountain A regenerate person grieves that he carries that about him which is enmity to God his heart is like the wide Sea wherein there are creeping things innumerable vain sinful thoughts A Childe of God laments hidden wickedness he hath more evil in him than he knows of There are those Meanders in his heart which he cannot trace a terra incognita an unknown world of sin Psalm 19. 12. Who can understand his errors 2. A godly man weeps for the adherency of Corruption if he could get rid of sin there were some comfort but he cannot shake off this Viper Sin cleaves to him as the Leprosie to the wall Lev. 14. 39. Though a Childe of God forsakes his sin yet sin will not forsake him Dan. 7. 12. Concerning the rest of the beasts they had
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
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
bait with which Satan fisheth for souls dulcis odor lucri This was the last temptation hee used to Christ Mat. 4. 9. All this will I give thee But Christ saw the hook under the bait Many who have escaped gross sins yet are caught in a golden Net To gain the world they will use indirect courses A godly man dares not travel for riches thorow the Devils high-way Those are sad gains that make a man lose peace of conscience and heaven at last He who getteth an estate by injustice stuffs his pillow with thorns and his head will lye very uneasie when he comes to dye 3 A godly man will not allow himself in a beloved sin there is usually one sin that is the favorite the sin which the heart is most fond of A beloved Sin lies in a mans bosome as the Disciple whom Iesus loved leaned on his bosome Ioh. 13. 23. A godly man will not indulge a darling sin Psa. 18. 23. I have kept my self from mine iniquity The Sin of my constitution to which the byas of my heart doth more naturally incline 1 Kings 22. 31. Fight neither with small nor great save only with the King a godly man fights with this King-sin The Oracle of Apollo answered the people of Cyrrha that if they would live in peace among themselves they must make continual war with those strangers which were upon their confines If wee would have peace in our souls wee must maintain a war against our complexion-sin and never leave till it be subdued Quest. How shall we know the beloved sin Answ. 1 That sin which a man doth not love to have reproved is the darling Sin Herod could not endure to have his incest spoken against if the Prophet medles with that sin it shall cost him his head men can be content to have other sins declaimed against but if the Minister put his finger upon the sore and toucheth this sin their hearts begin to burn in malice against him a shrewd sign that is the Herodias 2 That sin the thoughts run most upon is the darling sin which way the thoughts go the heart goes he that is in love with a person cannot keep his thoughts off the object examine what sin runs most in your minde what sin is first in your thoughts and salutes you in the morning that is the praedominant 〈◊〉 3 That sin which hath most power over us and doth most easily lead us captive that is the beloved of the soul there â—re some sins a man can make better resistance against if they come for entertainment he can more easily put them off but there is one sin if that comes to be a suitor hee cannot deny it but is overcome by it this is the bosome sin The young man in the Gospel had given a repulse to many sins but there was one sin foiled him that was covetousness Christians mark what sins you are soonest led captive by that is the Harlot in your bosome 'T is a sad thing that a man should bee so bewitched by lust that if it ask to part with not only half the Kingdome but the whole Kingdome of heaven hee must part with it to gratifie that lust 4 That sin which men use arguments to defend is the beloved sin he that hath a jewâ—l in his bosome will defend it as his life so when there is any sin in the bosome men will defend it the sin we are advocates and disputants for is the complexion-sin if the sin be passion and we plead for it Ioâ— 4. 9. I do well to be angry if the sin be covetousness and we vindicate it and perhaps wrest Scripture to justifie it that is the sin which lies neerest the heart 5. That sin which doth most trouble us and flies most in our face in an hour of sickness and distress that is the Dalilah-sin When Iosephs Brethren were distressed their sin came to remembrance in selling their Brother Gen. 42. 21. We are verily guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of our brother when he be sought us and we would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us So when a man is upon his Sick-bed and Conscience shall say thou hast been guilty of such a sin thou didst go on in it and roul it as honey under thy tongue Conscience reads a sad Lecture sure that was the beloved sin 6. That sin which a man doth most hardly let go his hold of is the endeared sin Iacob could of all his sons most hardly part with Benjamin Gen. 42. 36. Joseph is not and Simeon is not and ye will take Benjamin away So saith the sinner this and that sin I have parted with but must Benjamin go must I part with this delightful sin that goes to the heart As it is with a Castle that hath several Forts about it the first and second Fort are taken but when it comes to the Castle the Governour will rather fight and die than yield that So a man may suffer some of his sins to be demolished but when it comes to one sin that is the taking of the Castle he will never yield to part with that surely that is the Master-sin The complexion-sin is a God-provoking sin The wise men of Troy counselled Priame to send back Helena to the Grecians not suffering himself to be any longer abused by the Charms of her beauty because the keeping her within the City would lay the foundation of a fatal war So should we put away our dalilah-Dalilah-sin least it incense the God of heaven and make him commence a war against us The complexion-complexion-sin is of all other most dangerous As Sampsons strength lay in his hair so the strength of sin lies in this beloved sin This is like an humour striking to the heart which brings death A godly man will lay the Axe of Repentance to this sin and hew it down he sets this sin as Uriah in the fore-front of the battel that it may be slain He will sacrifice this Isaack he will pluck out this right eye that he may see the better to go to heaven 4. A godly man will not allow himself in those which the world counts lesser sins There is no such thing as little sin yet some may be deemed less comparatively but a good man will not indulge himself in these As 〈◊〉 Sins of Omission Some think it no great matter to omit Family or Closet-prayer they can go several moneths and God never hear of them A godly man will as soon live without food as without prayer He knows every creature of God is sanctified by prayer 1 Tim. 4. 5. The Bird may shâ—me many Christians it never takes a drop but the eye is lift up towards heaven 2. A godly man daâ—es not allow himself in vain frothy discourse much less in that which looks like an oath If God will reckon for idle words will he not much more for idle oaths 3. A godly man dares not
profession The Samaritans sometimes sided with the Iews when they were in favour afterwards they disclaimed all kindred with the Iews when they were persecuted by Antiochus and no wonder they did shuffle so in their religion if you consider what Christ saith of the Samaritans Ioh. 4. 22. Ye worship ye know not what they were inveloped with ignorance blinde men are apt to fall so are they who are blinded in their mindes 4 If you would persist in godliness enter upon it purely out of choice Psa. 119. 30. I have chosen the way of truth espouse godliness for its own worth he that would persevere must rather choose godliness with reproach than sin with all its worldly pomp he who takes up religion for fear will lay it down again for fear he who imbraceth godliness for gain will desert it when the â—ewels of preferment are pulled off be not godly out of a wordly design but a religious choice 5 If you would persevere in godliness labour after integrity this will be a golden pillar to support you a tree that is hollow must needs be blown down the hypocrite sets up in the trade of religion but he will soon break Psa. 78. 37. Their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast Iudas was first a sly hypocrite and then a Traitor if a peece of copper be guilded the guilding will wash off nothing will hold out but sincerity Psa. 25. 21. Let integrity preserve me How many storms was Iob in not only Satan but God himself set against him Iob 7. 20. which was enough to have made him desist from being godly yet Iob stood fast because he stood upright Iob 27. 6. My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live those colours hold best which are laid in oyle if we would have our profession hold its colour it must be laid in the oyl of sincerity 6 If you would hold out in godliness hold up the life and fervour of duty Rom. 12. 1. 1. Fervent in spirit serving the Lord We put coals to the fire to keep it from going out when Christians grow into a dull formality they begin to be dis-spirited and by degrees abate in their godliness none so fit to make an Apostate as a lukewarm professour 7 If you would persevere in godliness be much in the exercise of self-denial Mat. 16. 24. let him deny himself self-ease self-ends whatever comes in competition with or stands in opposition to Christs glory and interest must be denied Self is the great snare self-love undermines the power of godliness The young man in the Gospel might have followed Christ but that something of self hindered Mat. 19. 20 22. Self-love is self hatred he will never get to heaven that cannot get beyond himself 8 If you would hold on in godliness preserve an holy jealousie over your hearts Rom. 11. 20. Be not high-minded but fear he that hath Gun powder in his house fears lest it should catch fire sin in the heart is like Gun-powder it may make us fear lest a sparkle of temptation falling upon us should blow us up There are two things may make us alwaies jealous of our hearts the deceits of our hearts and the lusts of our hearts When Peter was afraid hee should sink and cried to Christ Lord save me then Christ took him by the hand and helped him Mat. 14. 31. but when Peter grew confident and thought he could stand alone then Christ suffered him to fall Oh let us be suspitious of our selves and in an holy sense cloathe our selves with trembling Eze. 26. 16. 9 If you would continue your progress in godliness labour for assurance 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure He who is sure God is his God is like a Castle built upon a rock all the powers of Hell cannot shake him How can he be constant in religion who is at a loss about his spiritual estate and knows not whether he hath grace or no it will be a difficult matter for him to dye for Christ who doth not know that Christ hath died for him assurance establisheth a Christian in shaking times he is the likeliest to bear witness to the truth who hath the spirit of God bearing witness to his heart Rom. 8. 16. Oh give diligence be much in prayer reading holy conference these are the oyle without which the lamp of assurance will not shine 10 If you would hold out in godliness lay hold of Gods strength God is called the strength of Israel 1 Sam. 15. 29. It is in his strength we stand more than our own the childe is safest in the Nurses hands it is not our holding God but his holding us preserves us a little pinnace tyed fast to a rock is safe so are we when we are tyed to the rock of ages CHAP. IX Motives to persevere in Godliness THat I may excite Christians to persevere in the profession of Godliness I shall propose these four considerations 1 It is the glory and Crown of a Christian to be gray-headed in godliness Act. 21. 16. Mnason of Cyprus an old Disciple What an honour is it to see a Christians garments red with blood yet his conscience puâ—e white and his graces green and flourishing 2 How do sinners persevere in their sins they are setled on their lees Zeph. 1. 12. The judgements of God will not deter or remove them they say to their sin as Ruth to Naomi Ruth 1. 16. Where thou goest I will go the Lord do so to me and more if ought but death part thee and me so nothing shall part between men and their sins Oh! what a shame is it that the wicked should be fixed in evil and we unfixed in good that they should be more constant in the Devils service than we are in Christs 3 Our perseverance in godliness may be a means to confirm others Cyprians hearers followed him to the place of his suffering and seeing his stedfastness in the faith cryed out Let us also dye with our holy Pastor Phil. 4. 14. Many of the Brethren waxing confident by my Bonds are much more bold to speak the Word St. Paul's zeal and constancy did animate the beholders his Prison-chain made converts in Neroes Court and two of those Converts were afterwards Martyrs as History relates 4 Wee shall lose nothing by our perseverance in Godliness There are eight glorious Promises which God hath intailed upon the persevering Saints The first is Rev. 2. 10. Be thou constant to the death and I will give thee a Crown of life Christian thou mayest lose the breath of life but not the Crown of life The second promise is Revel 2. 7. To him that â—vercometh will I give to eat of the tree of life This Tree of life is the Lord Jesus This tree infuseth life and prevents death in the day we eat of this tree
quench much light God doth not thus for a great deal of smoak he will not quench a little light he sees the sincerity and over-looks many infirmities the least sparks of grace he cherisheth and blows them gently with the breath of his spirit till they break forth into a flame 2 If Christ will not quench the smoaking flax then we must not quench the smoaking flax in our selves if grace doth not increase into so great a flame as we see in others therefore to conclude we have no fire of the spirit in us this is to quench the smoaking flax and to bear false witness against our selves as we must not credit a false evidence so neither must we deny a true fire may be hid in the embers so may grace be hid under many distempers of soul some Christians are so skilful at this in accusing themselves for want of grace as if they had received a fee from Satan to plead for him against themselves This is a great mistake to argue from the weakness of grace to the nullity it is one thing to be wanting in faith and another thing to want faith he whose eye-sight is dim is wanting in his sight but he doth not want sight a little grace is grace though it be smothered under much corruption 3 If the least spark of grace shall not bee quenched then this follows as a great truth that there is no falling from grace if the least dram of grace should perish then the smoaking flax should be quenched grace may be shaken by fears and doubtings but not blown up by the roots I grant seeming grace may be lost this wilde-fire may be blown out but not the fire of the Spirits kindling Grace may be dormant in the soul but not dead as a man in an Appoplexy doth not put forth vital operations Grace may be eclipsed not extinct a Christian may lose his comfort like a tree in Autumn that hath shed its fruit but still there is sap in the vine and the seed of God remains 1 Ioh. 3. 9. Grace is a flower of eternity This smoaking flax cannot be quenched by affliction but like those trees Pliny writes of growing in the red Sea which being beaten upon by the waves stand immoovable and though they are sometimes covered with water flourish the more grace is like a true orient Diamond that sparkles and cannot be broken I confesse it is matter of wonder that grace should not be wholly annihilated especially if we consider two things 1 The malice of Satan he is a malignant spirit and laies bars in our way to heaven the Devil with the wind of temptation labours to blow out the spark of grace in our hearts if this will not do he stirs up wicked men and raiseth the Militia of Hell against us what a wonder is it that this bright Star of grace should not be swept down with the tail of the Dragon 2 It is an amazing thing that grace should subsist if we consider the world of corruption in our hearts sin makes the major part in a Christian there is in the best heart more dregs than spirits The heart swarms with sin what a deal of pride and Atheism is in the soul now is it not admirable that this Lilly of grace should be able to grow among so many thorns it is as great a wonder that a little grace should be preserved in the midst of so much corruption as to see a Taper burning in the Sea and not extinguished But though grace lives with so much difficulty as the infant that struggles for breath yet being born of God it is immortal grace conflicting with corruption is like a Ship tossed and beaten with the waves yet it weathers out the storm and at last gets to the desired Haven If grace should expire how could this Text be verified The smoaking flax he will not quench Quest. But whence is it that grace even the least degree of it should not be quenched Answ. It is from the mighty operation of the Holy Ghost the Spirit of God who is origo originans doth continually excite and quicken grace in the heart He is every day at work in a believer he powres in oyl and keeps the Lamp of Grace burning Grace is compared to a river of life Ioh. 7. 38. The river of grace can never be driâ—d up for the Spirit of God is the Spring which feeds it Now that the smoaking flax cannot be quenched is evident from the Covenant of Grace Isa. 54. 10. The Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but the Covenant of my peace shall not be removed saith the Lord. If there be falling from grace how is it an immoveable Covenant If grace die and the smoaking flax be quenched wherein is our state in Christ better than it was in Adam The Covenant of Grace is called A better Covenant Heb. 7. 22. How is it a better Covenant than that which was made with Adam Not only because it hath a better Surety and contains better priviledges but because it hath better conditions annexed to it It is ordered in all things and sure 2 Sam. 23. 5. Such as are taken into the Covenant shall be as stars fixed in their Orb and shall never fall away If grace might die and be quenched then it were not a better Covenant Object But we are bid not to quench the spirit 1 Thes. 5. 19. which implies that the grace of the Spirit may be lost and the smoaking flax quenched Answ. We must distinguish between the common work of the spirit and the sanctifying work the one may be quenched but not the other The common work of the spirit is like a picture drawn upon the yce which is soon defaced The sanctifying work is like a Statute carved in gold which endures The gifts of the spirit may be quenched but not the grace there is the enlightning of the spirit and the anointing the enlightning of the spirit may fail but the anointing of the spirit abides 1 Ioh. 2. 27. The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you The hypocrites blaze goes out the true believers spark lives and flourisheth thâ—â— one is the light of a Comet which wastes and evaporates the other is the light of a star which retains its lustre From all that hath been said let a Saint of the Lord be perswaded to these two things 1. To believe his priviledge 2. To pursue his duty 1. To believe his priviledge This is the incomparable and unparallel'd happiness of a Saint that his coal shall not be quenched That grace in his soul which is minute atâ— languid shall not give up the Ghost but recover its strength and encrease with the encrease of God The Lord will make the smoaking flax a burning lamp It were very sad that a Christian should be continually upon the Tropicks one day a member of Christ and the next day a limb of Satan one day to have
face and to serve the Devil in Christs Livery Hypocrisie makes the fury rise up in Gods face therefore he calls such persons the generation of his wrath Isa. 10. 6. God will send them to Hell to do penance for their hypocrisie 2 To make only a show of godliness is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 self-delusion Ajax in his phrensie took Sheep for men but it is a worse mistake to take a show of grace for grace This is for one to put a cheat upon himself Iam. 1. 22. Deceiving your own souls He who hath counterfeit Gold instead of true wrongs himself most The hypocrite deceives others while he lives but deceives himself when he dies 3 To have only a name and make a show 〈◊〉 godliness is odious to God and man The â—ypocrite is born under a sad Planet he is abâ—orred of all Wicked men hate him because 〈◊〉 makes a show and God hate him beâ—ause he doth but make a show The wicked â—ate him because he hath so much as a mask 〈◊〉 godliness and God hates him because he â—ath no more Act. 26. 28. Thou hast almost â—erswaded me to be a Christian. The wicked â—ate the hypocrite because he is almost a Christian and God hates him because he is 〈◊〉 almost 4 To be only Comets and make a show of â—iety is a vain thing Hypocrites losâ— all â—hey have done Their dissembling tears â—rop beside Gods bottle their Prayers and â—asts prove abortive Zack 7. 5. When yee â—asted and mourned did ye at all fast unto me â—ven to me as God will not recompence a â—othful so neither a treacherous servant All â—he hypocrites reward is in this life Matth. â— 5. They have their reward A poor reward â—he empty breath of men The hypocrite may make his Acquittance and write Received in ful payment Augustus Caesar had great triumphs granted him but the Senate would not suffer him to be Consul or sit in the Senate-house Hypocrites may have the praise of men but though these triumphs be granted them they shall never have the priviledge to sit in the Senate-house of Heaven What acceptance can he look for from God whose heart tels him he is no better than a Mountebank in Divinity 5 To have only a pretence of godliness will yeeld no comfort at death Will painted gold enrich a man Will painted wine refresh him that is thirsty will the paint of godliness stand thee in any stead what were the foolish Virgins better for their blazing lamps when they wanted oyle what is the lamp of Profession without the oyl of Grace he who hath only a painted holiness shal have a painted happiness 6 Thou who hast nothing but a specious pretext and mask of Piety exposest thy self to Satans scorn Thou shalt bee brought forth at the last day as Sampson to make the devil sport He wil say what is become of all thy Vows Tears Confessions Is all thy Religion come to this Didst thou so often defy the devil and art thou now come to dwel with me couldst thou meet with no weapon to kill thee but what was made of Gospel-mettle couldst thou suck poyson no where but out of Ordinances couldst thou finde no way to hell but by seeming godly what a vexation will this be to have the devil thus reproach a man 'T is sad to be insulted over in this life Cleopatra Queen of Egypt when shee saw shee was reserved by the Enemy for a triumph that shee might avoyd the infamy put Aspes to her breasts and dyed What then wil it be to have the devil triumph over a man at the last day Let us therefore take heed of this kinde of pageantry or devout stage-play That which may make us the more to fear our hearts is when we see tall Cedars in the Church worm-eaten with hypocrisy Balaam a Prophet Iehu a King Iudas an Apostle all of them stand to this day upon record for hypocrites 'T is true there are the seeds of this sin in the best but as it was with the Leprosy under the Law all that had risings or spots in the skin of the flesh were not reputed unclean and put out of the Camp so all that have the risings of hypocrisy in them are not to be judged hypocrites for these may be the spots of Gods children But that which denominates an hypocrite is when hypocrisy is predominant and is like a spreading humour in the body Quest. When is a man under the regency and power of hypocrisy Answ. There are two signes of its predominancy 1 A squint eye when one serves God for sinister ends 2 A right eye when there is some sin dear to a man which he cannot part with These two are as shrewd signes of an hypocrite as any I know Oh let us take Davids candle and lanthorn and search for this leven and burn it before the Lord. Christian if thou mournest for hypocrisy yet findest this sin so potent that thou canst not get the mastery of it go to Christ beg of him that he would exercise his Kingly Office in thy soul that he would subdue this sin and put it under the yoke Beg of Christ to exercise his spiritual Chirurgery upon thee desire him to lance thy heart and cut out the rotten and that he would apply the medicine of his blood to heal thee of thy hypocrisy Often make that prayer of David Psalm 119. 80. Let my heart be found in thy statutes Lord let mee be any thing rather than an hypocrite Two hearts will exclude from one heaven CHAP. IV. Shewing the Characters of a godly man 2. IT will be enquired in the next place Who is the godly man For the full answer whereunto I shall lay down several specifical signs and characters of a godly man SECT I. 1 The first fundamental sign is a godly man is a man of Knowledge Prov. 14. 18. The prudent are crowned with knowledge The Saints are called wise Virgins Mat. 25. 4. A natural man may have some discursive knowledge of God but he knoweth nothing as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8. 2. He knows not God savingly he may have the eye of Reason open but he discerns not the things of God after a spiritual manner Waters cannot goe beyond their Spring-head Vapors cannot rise higher than the Sun draws them 〈◊〉 natural man cannot act above his sphere 〈…〉 no more able to judge aright of sacred things than a blind man is to judge of colours 1 He sees not the evil of his heart if a face be never so black and deformed yet it is not seen under a Vail the heart of a sinner iâ— so black that nothing but Hell can pattern it yet the vail of ignorance hides it 2 He sees not the beauties of a Saviour Christ is a Pearl but an hid Pearl But a godly man is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taught of God 1 Ioh. 2. 27. The anointing teacheth you all
to purifie it and make it holy 2. Holiness is that alone which God is delighted with Tamerlain being presented with a pot of gold asked whether the gold had his Fathers stamp upon it But when he saw it had the Roman stamp he rejected it Holiness is Gods stamp and impress if he doth not see this stamp upon us he will not own us 3. Holiness fits us for communion with God communion with God is a paradox to the men of the world every one that hangs about the Court doth not speak with the King We may approach to God in duties and as it were hang about the Court of Heaven yet not have communion with God That which keeps up the intercourse with God is holiness the holy heart enjoys much of Gods presence he feels heart-warming and heart-comforting virtue in an Ordinance Where God sees his Likeness there he gives his love SECT V. 5. A godly man is very exact and curious about the Worship of God the Greek word for godly signifies a right Worshipper of God A godly man doth reverence Divine Institutions and is more for the Purity of Worship than the Pomp Mixture in sacred things is like a dash in the wine which though it gives it a colour yet doth but adulterate it The Lord would have Moses make the Tabernacle according to the pattern in the Mount Exod. 25. 40. If Moses had left out any thing in the pattern or added any thing to it it would have been very provoking The Lord hath always given testimonies of his displeasure against such as have corrupted his Worship Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire other than God had sanctified on the Altar and fire went out from the Lord and devoured them Levit. 10. 1. Whatsoever is not of Gods own appointment in his Worship that he looks upon as strange fire and no wonder he is so highly incensed at it for as if God were not wise enough to appoint the manner how he will be served Men will go to prescribe him and as if the rules for his Worship were defective they will attempt to mend the Copy and superadd their inventions A godly man dares not vary from the Pattern which God hath shewn him in the Scripture and probably this might not be the least reason why David was called a man after Gods own heart because he kept the springs of Gods Worship pure and in matters sacred did not super induce any thing of his own devising Use. By this Character we may try our selves whether we are godly Are we tender about the things of God Do we observe that mode of worship which hath the stamp of Divine Authority upon it 'T is of dangerous consequence to make a medley in Religion 1. Those who will add to one part of Gods Worship will be as ready to take away from another Mar. 7. 8. Laying aside the Commandment of God ye hold the Traditions of men They who will bring in a Tradition will in time lay aside a Command This the Papists are highly guilty of they bring in Altars and Crucifixes and lay aside the second Commandment They bring in Oyl and Cream in Baptism and leave out the Cup in the Lords Supper they bring in praying for the dead and lay aside reading the Scriptures intelligibly to the living They who will introduce that into Gods Worship which he hath not commanded will be as ready to blot out that which he hath commanded 2. Those who are for outward commixtures in Gods Worship are usually regardless of the Vitals of Religion living by Faith leading a strict mortified life these things are less minded by them Wasps have their Combs but no honey in them the Religion of many may be likened to those ears which run all into straw 3. Superstition and Prophaness kiss each other Hath it not been known that those who have kneeled at a Pillar have reeled against a Post. 4. Such as are devoted to Superstition are seldome or never converted Mat. 21. 31. Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdome of God before you It was spoken to the Chief Priests who were high Formalists and the reason why such persons are seldom wrought upon savingly is because they have a secret antipathy against the power of godliness the Snake is of a fine colour but it hath a sting so outwardly men may look zealous and devout but retain a sting of hatred in their hearts against goodness Hence it is that they who have been most hot for superstition have been most hot for persecution The Church of Rome wears white linnen an Embleme of Innocency but the Spirit of God paints her out in Scarlet Rev. 17. 4. Whence is this not only because she puts on a scarlet Robe but because her body is of a scarlet die having imbrued her hands in the bloud of the Saints Rev. 17. 6. Let us then as we would demonstrate our selves godly keep close to the rule of Worship and in the things of Iehovah go no further than we can say it is written SECT VI. 6 A godly man is a servant of God and not a servant of men This Character hath two distinct branches I shall speak of both in order 1. A godly man is a servant of God Ezra 5. 11. We are the servants of the God of Heaven Col. 4. 12. Epaphras a servant of Christ. Quest. In what sense is a godly man a servant of God Answ. In seven respects 1. A servant leaves all other and confines himself to one Master so a godly man â—eaves the service of sin and betakes himself â—o the service of God Rom. 6. 22. Sin is a tyrannizing thing a sinner is a slave when he â—ins with most freedome The wages which sin gives may deter us from its service Rom. â— 23. The wages of sin is death Here is â—amnable pay A godly man Lists himself 〈◊〉 Gods Family and is one of his menial serâ—ants Psalm 116. 16. O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant David useth an inâ—emination as if he had said Lord I have â—aken earnest none else can lay claim to me â—â—y ear is bored to thy service 2. A servant is not sui juris at his own â—ispose but at the dispose of his Master A servant must not do what he please but â—e at the will of his Lord. Thus a godly â—an is Gods servant he is wholly at Gods â—ispose he hath no will of his own Thy will 〈◊〉 done on earth Some will say to the godly why cannot you do as others Why will not you drink and swear and prophane the Sabbath as others do The godly are Gods servants they must not do what they will but be under the rules of the Family they must do nothing but what they can show their Masters hand for 3. A servant is bound there are Covenants and Indentures sealed between him and his Master Thus there are
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
godly man loves the Word written Chrysostom compares the Scripture to a garden set with knots and flowers A godly man delights to walk in this garden and sweetly solace himself he loves every branch and parcel of the Word 1. He loves the counselling part of the Word as it is a Directory and Rule of life The Word is the Mercurial Statue which points us to our duty it contains in it credendae and facâ—enda things to be believed and practised A godly man loves the Aphorismes of the Word 2. A godly man loves the Minatory part of the Word The Scripture like the Garden of Eden as it hath a Tree of Life in it so it hath a Flaming Sword at the Gates of it this is the threatning of the Word it flasheth fire in the face of every person that goes on obstinately in wickedness Psal. 68. 21. God shall wound the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses The Word gives no indulgence to evil it will not let a man halt between God and Sin The true Mother would not let the Childe be divided and God will not have the heart divided The Word thunders out threatnings against the very appearance of evil it is like that flying Roll full of curses Zac. 5. 1. A godly man loves the menaces of the Word he knows there is love in every threatning God would not have us perish therefore doth mercifully threaten us that he may scare us from sin Gods threatnings are as the Sea-mark which shows the Rocks in the Sea and threatneth death to such as come neer the threatning is a curbing bit to check us that we may not run in a full careir to hell there is mercy in every threatning 3. A godly man loves the consolatory part of the Word the Promises he goes feeding upon these as Sampson went on his way eating the honey-comb Iudg. 14. 8. The Promises are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all marrow and sweetness they are our Bezar-stone when we are fainting they are the conduits of the Water of Life Psal. 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my Soul The Promises were Davids Harp to drive away sad thoughts they were the breast which milked out Divine Consolation to him A godly man shows his love to the Word written 1. By diligent reading of it The Noble Bereans did search the Scriptures daily Act. 17. 11. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures Act. 18. 24. The Word is our Magna Charta for heaven we should be daily reading over this Charter The Word is index sui obliqui it shows what is truth and what is error it is the field where the Pearl of Price is hid How should we dig for this Pearl A godly mans heart is the Library to hold the Word of God it dwells richly in him Col. 3. 16. It is reported of Melancthon that when he was young he carried the Bible always about him and did greedily read in it The Word hath a double work to teach us and to judge us They that will not be taught by the Word shall be judged by the Word Oh let us make the Scripture familiar to us What if it should be as in the â—imes of Dioclesian who commanded by Proclamation the Bible to be burned or as in Queen Maries daies wherein it was death to have a Bible in English by diligent conversing with Scripture we may carry a Bible in our head 2. A godly man shows his love to the Word by frequent meditating in it Psalm 119. 97. It is my meditation all the day A pious Soul meditates of the Verity and Sanctity of the Word he hath not only a few transient thoughts but lays his mind a steeping in the Scripture by meditation he suckâ— from this sweet flower and concocts holy truths in his mind 3. He shows his love to the Word by delighting in it it is his recreation Ier. 15. 16. Thy wordâ— were found and I did eat them and thy Word waâ— unto me the Ioy and rejoycing of my heart Never did a man take such delight in a dish that he loved as the Prophet did in the Word And indeed how can a Saint chuse but take great complacency in the Word because all that ever he hopes to be worth is contained in it Doth not a son take pleasure in reading over his Fathers Will and Testament where he makes a conveyance of his Estate to him 4. He shows his love to the Word by hiding it Psal. 119. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my heart As one hides a treasure that it should not be stoln away The Word is the Jewel the heart is the Cabinet where it must be locked up Many hide the Word in their memory but not in their heart And why would David inclose the Word in his heart That I might be kept from sinning against thee As one would carry an Antidote about him when he comes neer an infected place so a godly man carries the Word in his heart as a spiritual antidote to preserve him from the infection of sin Why have so many been poysoned with error others with moral vice but because they have not hid the Word as an holy antidote in their heart 5. He shows his love to the Word by desending it A wise man will not let his Land be taken from him but will defend his Title David looked upon the Word as his Land of Inheritance Psal. 119. 111. Thy Testimonies have I taken as an Heritage for ever And do you think he would let his Inheritance be wrested out of his hands A godly man will not only dispute for the Word but die for it Rev. 6. 9. I saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God 6. He shows his love to the Word by preferring it above things most precious 1. Above food Iob 23. 12. I have â—esteemed the words of his mouth above my necessary food â— Above riches Psal. 119. 72. The Law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver 3. Above worldly honor Memorable is the story of King Edward the Sixth who upon the day of his Coronation when they presented before him three Swords signifying to him that he was Monarch of three Kingdomes the King said there is yet one Sword wanting being asked what that was he answered the Holy Bible which is the sword of the Spirit and is to be preferred before these Ensigns of Royalty 7. He shows his love to the Word by talking of it Psal. 119. 172. My tongue shall speak of thy Word As a covetous man is talking of his rich purchase so a godly man is speaking of the Word what a treasure it is how full of beauty and suavity they whose mouths the Devil hath gagg'd who never speak of Gods Word it is a sign they never reaped any good by it 8. He shows his
the spirit comes very neer to the despighting of it How can men be sanctified but by the spirit therefore to reproach that is to make merry with their own damnation Use 2. As you would be listed in the number of the godly labour for the blessed indwelling of the spirit pray with Melancthon Lord inflame my soul with thy holy spirit and with the Spouse Awake O North-wind aad come thou South blow upon my garden Cant. 4. 16. As a Mariner would desire a wind to carry him to Sea so beg the prosperous gales of the spirit and the Promise may add wings to prayer Luke 11. 13. If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Spirit to them that ask him Gods spirit is a rich Jewel go to him for it Lord give me thy spirit where is the Jewel thou didst promise me When shall my soul be as Gideons Fleece wet with the dew of heaven Consider how needful the spirit is without it we can do nothing acceptably to God 1 VVe cannot pray without it 't is a spirit of Supplication Zac. 12. 10. It both helps the invention and the affection Rom. 8. 26. The spirit helps us with sighs and groans 2. We cannot resist temptation without it Act. 1. 8. Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you He who hath the tyde of corrupt nature and the wind of temptation must needs be carried down the stream of sin if the contrary wind of the spirit doth not blow 3. VVe cannot be fruitful without the spirit Aureus imber sitientia caelo â—orda rigans VVhy is the spirit compared to dew and rain but to show us how unable we are to bring forth a Crop of Grace unless the dew of God fall upon us 4. VVithout the spirit no Ordinance is effectual to us Ordinances are the Conduit-Pipes of Grace but the spirit is the Spring Some content themselves that they have a Levite to their Priest but never look any further as if a Merchant should content himself that his ship hath good tackling and is well manned though it never have a gale of wind The Ship of Ordinances will not carry us to heaven though an Angel were the Pylot unless the wind of Gods Spirit blow The Spirit is the Soul of the Word without which it is but a dead letter Ministers may prescribe Physick but it is Gods spirit must make it work Our hearts are like Davids body when it grew old they covered him with cloathes but he gat no heat 1 King 1. 1. So though the Minister of God ply us with prayers and counsels as with hot cloathes yet we are cold and chill till Gods spirit comes and then we say as the Disciples Luke 24. 32. Did not our hearts burn within us Oh therefore what need have we of the spirit 3. You who have the blessed spirit manifested by its energy and vital operations 1. Acknowledge Gods distinguishing love the spirit is an ear-mark of Election 1 Iohn 3. 4. Christ gave the bag to Iudas but not his spirit The spirit is a Love-token where God gives his spirit for a pawn he gives himself for a portion The spirit is an Epitomizing blessing it is put for all good things Mat. 7. 11. What were you without the spirit but as so many carkasses Without this Christ would not profit you the Bloud of God is not enough without the Breath of God Oh then be thankful for the spirit this Loadstone will never leave drawing you till it hath drawn you up to heaven 2. If you have this spirit do not grieve it Eph. 4. 30. Shall we grieve our Comforter Quest. How do we grieve the Spirit Answ. 1. When we unkindly repel the motions of it The spirit sometimes whispers in our ears and calls to us as God did to Iacob Gen. 35. 1. Arise go to Bethel So saith the spirit Arise go to prayer retire thy self to meet thy God Now when we stifle these motions and entertain temptations to vanity this is a grieving of the spirit if we check the motions of the spirit we shall lose the comforts of the spirit 2. We grieve the spirit when we deny the work of the spirit in our hearts if one gives another a token and he should deny it and say he never received it this were to abuse the love of his friend So Christian when God hath given thee his spirit witnessed by those meltings of heart and passionate breathings after heaven yet thou deniest that thou ever hadst any renewing work of the spirit in thee this is high ingratitude and is a grieving the good spirit renounce the sinful works of the flesh but do not deny the gracious work of the spirit SECT XI 11. The godly man is an humble man he is like the Sun in the Zenith which when it is at the highest shows lowest St. Austin calls Humility the Mother of the Graces but ere I show you who is the humble man I shall lay down three distinctions 1. I distinguish between being humbled and humble a man may be humbled and not humble a sinner may be humbled by affliction his condition is low but not his disposition a godly man is not only humbled but humble his heart is as low as his condition 2. I distinguish between outward humility and inward there 's a great deal of difference between an humble carriage and an humble spirit a person may carry it humbly 1. Towards others yet be proud who more humble than Absalom in his outward behaviour 2 Sam. 15. 5. When any man came neer to do him obeysance Absalom took him by the hand and kissed him But though he had an humble carriage he aspired after the Crown ver 10. As soon as ye hear the sound of the Trumpet ye shall say Absalom reigneth in Hebron Here was Pride dressed in Humilities Mantle 2. A person may behave himself humbly towards God yet be proud 1 King 21. 27. Ahab put on sackcloth and fasted and went softly but his heart was not humble A man may bow his head like a bull-rush yet lift up the Ensigns of Pride in his heart 3. I distinguish between Humility and Policy many make a shew of Humility to work their own ends The Papists seem to be the most humble mortified Saints but it is rather subtilty than humility for by this means they get the Revenues of the earth into their possession all this may be and yet no godliness Quest. How may a Christian know that he is humble and consequently godly Answ. 1. An humble soul is emptied of all swelling thoughts of himself Bernard calls Humility a Self-annihilation Iob 22. 29. Thou wilt save the humble In the Hebrew it is Him that is of low eyes An humble man hath lower thoughts of himself than others can have of him
The body is but dust and blood kneaded together Solomon saith Beauty is vain Prov. 31. 30. Yet so vain are some as to be proud of vanity 4 VVho glory in their gifts These trappings and ornaments do not set them off in Gods eyes an Angel is a knowing creature but take away humility from an Angel and he is a devil 2 Are not they proud who are highly opinionated of their own excellencies who beholding themselves in philautiae speculo in the multiplying glass of self-love appear in their own eyes better than they are Simon Magus gave out that himself was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some great one Act. 8. 9. Alexander would needs be son to Iupiter and of the Race of the gods Sapor King of Persia stiles himself Brother of the Sun and Moon Projicit ampullas sesqui pedalia verba I have read of a Pope who trod upon the neck of Frederick the Emperour and as a Cloak for his pride cited that Text Psa. 91. 13. Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon and the Dragon shalt thou trample under feet No such Idol as Self the proud man bows down to this Idol 3. Are not they proud who despise others Luke 18. 9. The Pharisees trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others The people of the Chineses say that Europe hath one eye and they have two and all the world else is blind A proud man looks upon others with such an eye of scorn as Goliah did upon David 1 Sam. 17. 42. When the Philistim looked about and saw David he disdained him They who stand upon the Pinacle of Pride look upon other men no bigger than Crows 4. Are not they proud who are the Trumpets of their own praise Acts 5. 36. Before these days rose up Theudas boasting himself to be some body A proud man is the Herald of his own good deeds he blazeth his own fame and therein is his vice to paint his own virtue 5. Are not they proud who take the glory due to God to themselves Dan. 4. 30. Is not this great Babylon I have built So saith the proud man are not these the Prayers I have made Are not these the works of Charity I have done When Herod had made an Oration and the people cryed him up for a God Act. 12. 22. he was well content to have that honor done to him Pride is the greatest sacriledge it robs God of his glory 6. Are not they proud who are never pleased with their condition they speak hardly of God taxing his care and wisdom as if he had not dealt well with them A proud man God himself cannot please but like Momus he is ever finding fault and flying in the face of heaven Oh let us search if there be none of this leven of pride in us Man is Naturally a proud piece of flesh this sin runs in a bloud our first Parents fell by their Pride they did aspire after a Deity there are the seeds of this in the best but the godly do not allow themselves in it they labour to kill this weed by mortification But certainly where this sin is regnant and prevailing it cannot stand with grace you may as well call him a prudent man who wants discretion as a godly man who wants humility Use 2. Labour for this character be humble 'T is an Apostolical Exhortation 1 Pet. 5. 5. Be cloathed with humility Put it on as an embroydered robe better want any thing than humility better want parts than humility nay better want the comforts of the Spirit than want humility Micah 6. 8. What doth the Lord require of thee but to walk humbly with thy God 1. The more worth any man hath the more humble he is Feathers fly up but Gold descends The golden Saint descends in humility Some of the Ancients have compared Humility to the Celidonian stone which is little for substance but of rare virtue 2. God loves an humble soul. 'T is not our high birth but our low hearts God delights in An humble spirit is Gods prospect Isa. 66. 2. To this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit an humble heart is Gods Palace Isa. 57. 15. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble spirit Great Personages besides their houses of state have lesser houses which upon occasion they retreat to Besides Gods house of state in Heaven he hath the humble soul for his retiring-house where he takes up his rest and doth solace himself Let Italy boast that it is for pleasure the Garden of the world an humble heart glories in this that it is the Presence-chamber of the Great King 3. The Times we live in are humbling The Lord seems to say to us now as he did to Israel Exod. 33. 5. Put off thy Ornaments from thee that I may know what to do to thee My displeasure is breaking forth I have eclipsed the light of the Sanctuary I have stained the waters with blood I have shot the arrow of Pestilence therefore lay down your Pride put off your Ornaments Woe to them that lift themselves up when God is casting them down When should a people be humble if not under the rod 1 Pet. 5. 6. Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God When God afflicts his people and cuts them short in their priviledges 't is time then to sow sackcloath on their skin and defile their horn or honour in the dust Job 16. 15. 4. What an horrid sin Pride is St. Chrysostom calls it the mother of Hell Pride is a complicated evil as Aristotle saith Justice comprehends all virtue in it so Pride comprehends all vice 'T is a spiritual drunkenness it flies up as Wine into the brain and intoxicates it It is idolatry a proud maâ— is a self-worshipper 'T is revenge Hamaâ— plots Mordicaies death because he would not bow the knee How odious is this sin to God! Prov. 16. 5. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. 5. The mischief of pride It is the break-neck of souls Zeph. 2. 9 10. Surely Moab shall be as Sodom c. this shall they have for their pride The Doves saith Pliny take a pride in their feathers and in their flying high at last they fly so high that they are a prey to the Hawk Men fly so high in pride that at last they are a prey to the Devil the Prince of the aire 6. Humility raiseth ones esteem in the eyes of others All give respect to the humble Prov. 15. 33. Before honour is humility Quest. What means may we use to be humble Answ. 1. Let us set before us the golden pattern of Christ. He commenced Doctor â—n humility Phil. 2. 7. But made himself of â—o reputation and was made in the likeness of flesh O what abasement was it for the Son of God to
the Devil doth most assault we must labour most to maintain Sincerity is our Fort-Royal where our chief treasure lies this Fort is most shot at therefore let us be more careful to preserve it While a man keeps his Castle his Castle will keep him While we keep Sincerity Sincerity will keep us 6. Sincerity is the beauty of a Christian wherein lies the beauty of a Diamond but in this that it is a true Diamond If it be counterfeit it is worth nothing So wherein lies the beauty of a Christian but in this that he hath truth in the inward parts Sincerity is a Christians Ensign of glory 't is both his Breast-plate to defend him and his Crown to adorn him 7. The vileness of hypocrisie The Lord would have no leven offered up in Sacrifice leven did typifie hypocrisie Luke 12. 1. The hypocrite doth the devil double service under the Vizor of Piety he can sin more and be less suspected Mat. 23. 14. W◠unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye devoure Widows houses and for a pretence make long prayers Who would think they were guilty of Extortion that would pray so many hours together Who would suspect him of false weights that hath the Bible so often in his hand Who would think he would slander that seems to fear an oath Hypocrites are the worst sort of sinners they reflect infinite dishonor upon Religion hypocrisie for the most part ends in scandal and that brings an evil report upon the ways of God one man breaking makes such as are honest suspected one scandalous hypocrite makes the world suspect that all Professors are so the hypocrite was born to do Religion a spite and to bring it into an odium The hypocrite is a lyer he worships God with his knee and his lusts with his heart like those 2 Kin. 17. 33. They feared the Lord and served their own gods The hypocrite is an impudent sinner he knows his heart is false yet he goes on Iudas knew himself to be an hypocrite he asks Master is it I Christ replies Thou hast said it Yet so shameless was he as to persist in his falseness and betray Christ All the plagues and curses written in the Book of God are the hypocrites portion Hell is his place of Randezvous Mat. 24. 51. Hypocrites are the chief guests the Devil expects and he will make them as welcome as fire and brimstone can make them 8. If the heart be sincere God will wink at many failings Numb 23. 21. He hath not seen iniquity in Iacob Gods love doth not make him blind he can see infirmities but how not with an eye of revenge but pitty as a Physitian sees a disease in his Patient to heal him God doth not see iniquity in Iacob so as to destroy him but to heal him Isa. 57. 18. He went on frowardly I have seen his ways and I will heal him How much pride vanity passion doth the Lord pass by in his sincere ones He sees the integrity and pardons the infirmity How much did God overlook in Asa the high-places were not removed Yet it is said 2 Chron. 15. 17. The heart of Asa was perfect all his days We esteem of a picture though it be not drawn at the full length So though the graces of Gods people are not drawn at their full length nay have many scars and spots yet having something of God in sincerity they shall find mercy God loves the sincere and 't is the nature of love to cover infirmity 9. Nothing but sincerity will give us comfort in an houre of trouble King Hezekiah thought he had been dying yet this revived him that Conscience drew up a Certificate for him Isa. 38. 2. Remember O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth c. Sincerity was the best flower of his Crown What a golden Shield will this be against Satan when he shall roar upon us by his temptations and set our sins before us on our Death-bed then we shall answer 'T is true Satan these have been our miscarriages but we have bewailed them if we have sinned it was against the bent and purpose of our heart this will stop the Devils mouth and put him to a retreat therefore labour for this Jewel of Sincerity 1 Ioh. 3. 24. If our heart condemn us not then we have confidence towards God If we are cleared at the Petty Sessions in our own Conscience then we may be confident we shall be acquitted at the Great Assizes at the day of Judgement SECT XIV 14. A godly man is an heavenly man Heaven is in him before he is in Heaven the Greek word for Saint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a man taken off from the earth a person may live in one place yet belong to another he may live in Spain yet be a free Denizon of England Pomponius dwelt at Athens yet was a Citizen of Rome So a godly man is a while in the world but he belongs to the Hierusalem above that is the place to which he aspires every day is Ascension day with a Believer The Saints are called Stars for their sublimeness they are gotten above into the upper Region Pro. 15. 24. The way of life is above to the wise A godly man is Heavenly six ways 1. In his Election 2. In his Disposition 3. In his Communication 4. In his Operation 5. In his Expectation 6. In his Conversation 1. A godly man is heavenly in his Election he chuseth heavenly objects David did chuse to be a Residentiary in Gods house Psa. 84. 10. A godly person chuseth Christ and grace before the most illustrious things under the Sun That a man is that his choice is and this chusing of God is best seen in a critical houre When Christ and the World come in competition and we part with the world to keep Christ and a good Conscience a sign we have chosen the better part 2. A godly man is heavenly in his Disposition he sets his affections on things above Col. 3. 2. He sends his heart to heaven before he comes there he looks upon the world but as a beautiful prison and he cannot be much in love with his Fetters though they are made of gold An holy person contemplates glory and Eternity his defires have gotten wings and are fled to heaven Grace is in the heart like fire which makes it sparkle upwards in Divine breathings and ejaculations 3. A godly man is heavenly in his Communication his words are powdred with salt to season others Col. 4. 6. As soon as Christ was risen from the grave he was speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdome of God Act. 1. 3. No sooner is a man risen out of the grave of Unregeneracy but he is speaking of heaven Eccles. 10. 12. The words of a wise mans mouth are gracious He speaks so heavenly as if he had been already in heaven the love he bears to God will not suffer
of a Christians condition mercy interlined with judgement here is the rod and Manna 3 Patience evidenceth much of God in the heart patience is one of Gods titles Rom. 15. 5. The God of patience thou that hast thy heart cast into this blessed mould it is a sign God hath imparted much of his own nature to thee thou shinest with some of his beams Impatience evidenceth much unsoundness of heart as it is in the body if the body bee of that temper that every little scratch of a pin makes the flesh to rancle you will say sure this mans flesh is very unsound so for every petty cross to flye out in impatience and quarrel with providence it is the sign of a distempered Christian if there be any grace in such an heart they must have good eyes that can see it but he who is of a patient spirit is a graduate in Religion and doth much participate of the divine nature 4 The end of affliction is glorious the Iews were captive in Babylon but what was the end they departed out of Babylon with vessels of silver with gold and precious things Ezra 1. 6. So what is the end of affliction it ends in endless glory Acts 14. 22. 2 Cor. 4. 17. how may this rock our impatient hearts quiet who would not willingly travel through a little dirty way and ploughed lands at the end whereof is a fair Meadow and in that Meadow a golden Mine Quest. How shall I get my heart tuned into a patient frame Answ. 1 Get faith all our impatience proceeds from unbelief faith is the breeder of patience when a storm of passion begins to arise faith saith to the heart as Christ to the Sea peace be still and there is presently a calm Quest. How doth faith work patience Answ. Faith argues the soul into patience faith is like that Town-Clark in Ephesus who allayed the contention of the multitude and argued them soberly into peace Act. 19. 35 36. So when impatience begins to clamour and make an hubbub in the soul faith appeaseth the tumult and argues the soul into holy patience Saith faith Why art thou disquieted O my Soul art thou afflicted is it not thy Father hath done it he is carving and pollishing thee and making thee fit for glory he smites that hee may save what is thy tryal is it sickness God shakes the Tree of thy body that some fruit may fall even the peaceable fruit of righteousness Heb. 12. 11. Art thou driven from thy habitation God hath prepared for thee a City Heb. 11. 16. Dost thou suffer reproach for Christs sake a spirit of God and glory rest upon thee 1 Pet. 4. 14. Thus faith argues and disputes the soul into patience 2 Pray to God for patience patience is a flower of Gods planting pray that it may grow in your heart and send forth its sweet perfume Prayer is an holy charm to charm down the evil spirit prayer composeth the heart and puts it in Tune when impatience hath broken the strings and put all into a confusion Oh go to God prayer delights Gods ear it melts his heart it opens his hand God cannot deny a praying soul seek to him with importunity and either he will remove the affliction or which is better he will remove thy impatience SECT XVII 17 A Godly man is a thankful man praise and thanksgiving is the work of heaven and he begins that work here which he shall bee alwaies doing in heaven The Iews have a saying the world subsists by three things the Law the worship of God and thankfulness as if where thankfulness were wanting one of the Pillars of the world were taken away and it were ready to fall The Hebrew word for praise comes from a radix that signifies to shoot up the Godly man sends up his praises as a volly of shot towards heaven David who was modelled after Gods heart how melodiously did he warble out Gods praises therefore was called the sweet singer of Israel 1 Sam. 23. 1. Take a Christian at the worst yet hee is thankful The Prophet Ionah who was homo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a man of a waspish spirit the sea did not so work with the tempest as Ionahs heart wrought with passion yet through this cloud you might see grace appear he had a thankful heart Ionah 2. 9. I will Sacrifice to thee with the voice of thanksgiving I will pay that which I have vowed For the clearer illustrating of this I shall lay down these four particulars 1 Praise and thanksgiving is a Saint-like work we finde in Scripture the godly are still called upon to praise God Psa. 135. 20. Ye that fear the Lord bless the Lord. Psa. 149. 5. Let the Saints bee joyful in glory let the high praises of God be in their mouth praise is a work proper to a Saint 1 None but the godly can praise God aright as all have not skill to play on the Lute so every one cannot sound forth the harmonious praises of God wicked men are bound to praise God but they are not fit to praise him none but a living Christian can tune Gods praise wicked men are dead in sin how can they lift up Gods praises that are dead Isa. 38. 19. The grave cannot praise thee A wicked man stains and eclipseth Gods praise if a foul hand work in Damask or flowred Sattin it will slur the beauty of it God will say to the sinner what hast thou to do to take my name into thy mouth Psa. 50. 16. 2 Praise is not comely for any but the godly Psa. 33. 1. Praise is comely for the righteous A prophane man stuck with Gods praises is like a dunghill stuck with flowers praise in the mouth of a sinner is like an Oracle in the mouth of a fool how uncomely is it for him to praise God whose whole life is a dishonouring of God it is as undecent for a wicked man to praise God as it is for an Usurer to talk of living by faith or for the Devil to quote Scripture the godly only are fit to be queristers in Gods praises 't is called the Garment of praise Isaiah 61. 3. this garment sits handsome only on a Saints back 2 Thanksgiving is a more noble part of Gods worship our wants may send us to prayer but it argues an heart highly ingenuous to bless God the Raven cries the Lark sings in petition we act like men in thanksgiving we act like Angels 3 Thanksgiving is a God-exalting work Psa. 50. 23. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me though nothing can adde the least cubit to Gods essential glory yet praise exalts him in the eyes of others praise is a setting forth of Gods honour a lifting up of his name a displaying the trophy of his goodness a proclaiming his excellency a spreading his renown a breaking open the box of oyntment whereby the sweet savour and perfume of Gods name is sent abroad
God loves to bestow his mercies where there is the best Eccho of thankfulness 5 Thankfulness is a frame of heart God delights in if repentance bee the joy of heaven praise is the musick Bernard calls thankfulness the sweet Balm that drops from a Christian. Four Sacrifices God is much pleased with the sacrifice of Christs blood the sacrifice of a broken heart the sacrifice of Alms and the sacrifice of thanksgiving Praise and Thanksgiving saith Mr. Greenham is the most excellent part of Gods worship for this shall continue in the heavenly quire when all other exercises of Religion shall cease 6 What an horrid thing ingratitude is it gives a dye and tincture to every other sin and makes it Crimson ingratitude is the spirits of baseness Obad. v. 7. They that eat thy bread have laid a Wound under thee Ingratitude is worse than bruitish Isa. 1. 3. 'T is reported of Iulius Caesar that he would never forgive an ungrateful person though God be a sin-pardoning God he scarce knows not how to pardon for this Ier. 5. 7. How shall I pardon thee for this thy children have forsaken me when I had fed them to the full they then committed adultery Draco whose Laws were written in blood published and edict that if any man had received a benefit from another and it could bee proved against him that hee had not been grateful for it hee should be put to death an unthankful person is a monster in nature a Pardox in Christianity he is the scorn of heaven and the plague of earth an ungrateful man never doth well but in one thing that is when hee dies 7 The not being thankful is the cause of all the Judgements which have lain upon us our unthankfulness for health hath been the cause of so much Mortality our Gospel-unthankful thankfulness and Sermon-surfeiting hath been the reason why God hath put so many Lights under a Bushel as Bradford said my unthankfulness was the death of King Edward the sixth Who will bestow cost on a peece of ground that brings forth nothing but briars unthankfulness stops the golden Vial of Gods bounty that it will not drop Quest. How shall we do to be thankful Answ. 1. If you would be thankful get an heart deeply humbled in the sense of your own vileness a broken heart is the best pipe to sound forth Gods praise hee who studies his sins wonders that he hath any thing and that God should shine upon such a dunghill 1 Tim. 1. 13. Who was before a Blasphemer and a Persecuter but I obtained mercy How thankful was he how did he Trumpet forth free-grace A proud man will never bee thankful he looks upon all his mercies to bee either of his own procuring or deserving if he hath an Estate this he hath gotten by his wit and industry not considering that Scripture Deut. 8. 18. Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is he that gives thee power to get Riches Pride stops the Current of gratitude O Christian think of thy unworthiness see thy self the least of Saints and the chief of Sinners and then thou wilt be thankful 2 Labour for sound evidences of Gods love to you read Gods love in the impress of holiness upon your hearts Gods love powred in will make the Vessels of Mercy run over with thankfulness Rev. 1. 5 6. Unto him that loved us be glory and dominion for ever The deepest Springs yeeld the sweetest water hearts deeply sensible of Gods love yeeld the sweetest praises SECT XVIII 18 A godly man is a lover of the Saints the best way to discern grace in ones self is to love grace in others 1 Ioh. 3. 14. Wee know we have passed from death to life because we love the Brethren What is religion but religation a knitting together of hearts Faith knits us to God and love knits us one to another There is a two-fold love to others 1 A civil love a godly man hath a love of civility to all Gen. 23. 7. Abraham stood up and bewed to the children of Heth Though they were extraneous and not within the pale of the Covenant yet Abraham was affable to them grace doth sweeten and refine nature 1 Pet. 3. 8. be courteous wee are to have a love of civility to all 1 As they are ex eodem luto of the same lump and mould with our selves and are a peece of Gods curious needle-work 2 Because our sweet deportment towards them may bee a means to win upon them and make them in love with the waies of God a morose ruggid carriage often alienates the hearts of others and hardens them the more against holiness whereas a loving behaviour is very obliging and may bee as a load-stone to draw them to religion 2 There is a pious and an holy love and this a godly man doth bear chiefly to them who are of the houshold of faith the other was a love of courtesie this of complacency Our love to the Saints saith Austin should bee more than to our natural relations because the bond of the spirit is nearer than that of blood This love to the Saints which evidenceth a man godly must have seven ingredients in it 1 Love to the Saints must bee sincere 1 Ioh. 3. 18. Let us not love in word or in tongue but in deed and in truth The hony that drops from the comb is pure so must love be pure without deceit Many are like Naphtali Gen. 49. 21. he giveth goodly words Pretended love is like a painted fire which hath no heat in it Some hide malice under a false veil of love I have read of Antoninus the Emperour where he made a shew of Friendship there he intended the most mischief 2 Love to the Saints must be spiritual we must love them because they are Saints not out of self-respects because they are affable or have been kinde to us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hesh but we must love them under a spiritual notion because of the good that is in them we are to reverence their holiness else it is a carnal love 3 Love to the Saints must be extensive we must love all that bear Gods image 1 Though they have many infirmities a Christian in this life is like a good face full of Freckles thou that canst not love another because of his imperfections didst never yet see thy own face in the glass thy brothers infirmities may make thee pity him his graces must make thee love him 2 Wee must love the Saints though in some things they do not coalesce and agree with us another Christian may differ from me in less matters either because hee hath more light than I or because hee hath lesse light if he differs from me because he hath more light then I have no reason to censure him if because hee hath less light than I ought to bear with him as the weaker Vessel in things of an indifferent nature
in it Love one another how unworthy is it when Christians are suffering together to be then striving together 4 Not to love is very Sinful 1 For Saints not to love is to live in a contradiction to Scripture the Apostle is continually beating upon this string of love as if it made the sweetest musick in Religion Rom. 13. 8. Col. 3. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 22. 1 Ioh. 3. 11. 1 Iohn 4. 21. This Commandement we have from him that hee who loveth God love his Brother also not to love is to walk Antipodes to the word can he be a good Physician who goes against the rules of Physick can he be a good Christian who goes against the rules of Religion 2 Want of love among Christians doth much silence the spirit of prayer hot passions make cold prayers where animosities and contentions prevail instead of praying one for another Christians will be ready to pray one against another like the Disciples who prayed for fire from heaven upon the Samaritans Luke 9. 54. and will God think you hear such prayers as come from a wrathful heart will hee eat of our leavened bread will hee accept of those duties which are sowered with bitterness of spirit shall that prayer ever go up as incense which is offered with the strange fire of our sinful passions 3 These heart-burnings hinder the progress of piety in our own souls the flower of grace will not grow in a wrathful heart the body may as well thrive while it hath the Plague as a soul can that is infected with malice while Christians are debating grace is abating as the spleen grows health decaies and as hatred increaseth holiness declines 5 Not to love is very fatal the differences among Gods people portend ruine all mischiefs come in at this gap of division Mat. 12. 25. Animosities among Saints may make God leave his Temple Ezek. 10. 4. The glory of the Lord went up from the Cherub and stood upon the threshold Doth not God seem to stand upon the threshold of his house as if he were taking his wings to â—lye and wo to us if God depart from us If the Master leave the ship it is near sinkâ—ng indeed if God leave a land it must needs â—ink in ruine Quest. How shall wee attain this excellent grace of love Answ. 1 Beware of the Devils Footâ—osts I mean such as run on his errand and make it their work to blow the coals of contention among Christians and render one party odious to another 2 Keep up friendly meetings Christians should not be shy one of another as if they had the Plague 3 Let us plead that promise Ier. 32. 39. I will give them one heart and one way Let us pray that there may bee no strife among Christians but who shall love most let us â—ray that God will divide Babylon and unite â—ion Use 3 Is this a mark of a godly man to â—ove the Saints then they must stand inlighted for ungodly who hate the Saints the wicked have an implacable malice against Gods people and how can antipathies be reconciled To hate Saint-ship is a brand of a reprobate they that maligne the godly are the curse of the creation if all the scalding drops in Gods Vial will make them miserable they shall bee so Never did anyâ— who were the haters and persecuters of Saints thrive upon that Trade What became of Iulian Dioclesian Maximinus Valerian Cardinal Crescentius and others some of them their bowels came out others choked with their own blood that they might be set up as standing monuments of Gods vengeance Psa. 34. 21. They that hate the righteous shall be desolate SECT XIX 19 A godly man doth not indulge himself in any sin Though sin lives in him yet he doth not live in sin Every man that hath wine in him is not in wine A godly man may step into sin through infirmity but hee 〈◊〉 not keep the road Psal. 139. 24. See if there bee any way of wickedness in mee Quest. What is it to indulge sin Answ. 1 To give the breast to it and feed it as a fond Parent humours his childe and lets him have what he will so to indulge sin is to humour sin 2 To indulge sin is to commit it with delight 1 Thess. 2. 12. They have pleasure in unrighteousness In this sense a godly man doth not indulge sin though sin be in him hee is troubled at it and would fain get rid of it there is as much difference between sin in the wicked and the godly as between poyson being in a Serpent and in a Man Poyson in a Serpent is in its natural place and is delightful But poyson in a mans body is offensive and hee useth Antidotes to expel it So sin in a wicked man is delightful being in its natural place but sin in a childe of God is burdensome and he useth all means to expell it This pares off from the sin the will is against it A godly man enters his protest against sin Rom. 7. 15. What I do I allow not A childe of God while he commits sin hates the sin he commits Rom. 7. in particular there are four sorts of sins which a godly man will not allow himself in 1 Secret sins Some are more modest than to commit gross sin that would be a stain to their reputation but they will sit brooding upon sin in a corner 1 Sam. 23. 9. Saul secretâ—y practised mischief All will not sin in a Belcony but perhaps they will sin behind the curtain Rachel did not carry her fathers Images as a Sumpter-cloath to be exposed to publick view but she put them under her and sate upon them Gen. 31. 34. many carry their sins secretly as a candle in a dark lantâ—orn But a godly man dares not sin secretly 1 he knows that God sees in secret Psal. 44. 21. as God cannot be deceived by our subtilty so he cannot be excluded by our secresy 2 A godly man knows that secret sins are in some sense worse than others they discover more guile and Atheism The Curtain-sinner makes himself beleeve God doth not see Ezek. 8. 12. Son of man hast thou seen what the Antients of the house of Israel have done in the dark for they say the Lord seeth us not They that have bad eyes think the Sun is dim how doth this provoke God that mens Atheisme should give the lye to his Omnisciency Psal. 94. 9. He that formed the eye shall he not see 3 A godly man knows that secret sins shal not escape Gods Justice a Judge on the Bench can punish no offence but what is proved by Witness he cannot punish the Treason of the heart but the sins of the heart are as visible to God as if they were written upon the fore-head As God will reward secret duties so he will revenge secret sins 2 A godly man will not allow himself in gainful sins Gain is the golden
declared to be the Epistle of Christ written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in fleshy Tables of the heart Here is a golden Epistle the writing is the work of Faith the Table it is written in is the heart the finger that writes it is the spirit Now after the Spirits writing follows the Spirits sealing Ephes. 1. 13. After ye believed ye were sealed with the Spirit that is ye were sealed up to an assurance of glory What have ungodly men to do with the seal of the Covenant who have not the writing 4. The ungodly are spiritual fools Psalm 75. 4. I said to the fools deal not foolishly and to the wicked lift not up the horn If one had a Childe very beautiful yet if he were a fool the Parent would take little joy in him The Scripture hath dressed the Sinner in a Fools Coat and let me tell you better be a fool void of Reason than a fool void of Grace This is the Devils fool Pro. 14. 9. Is not he a fool who refuseth a rich portion God offers Christ and Salvation but the Sinner refuseth this portion Psal. 81. 11. Israel would none of me Is not he a fool who prefers an Annuity before an Inheritance Is not he a fool who tends his mortal part and neglects his Angelical part As if one should paint the wall of his house and let the Timber rot Is not he a fool who will feed the Devil with his Soul As that Emperour who fed his Lion with Feasant Is not he a fool who lays a snare for himself Pro. 1. 18. Who consults his own shame Hab. 2. 10. who loves death Pro. 8. 36. 5. The ungodly are vile persons Nahum â— 14. I will make thy grave for thou art vile 〈…〉 men base it blots their name it taints their bloud Psal. 14. 3. They are altogether become filthy In the Hebrew it is rancidi facti sunt they are become stinking Call wicked men never so bad you cannot call them out of their name they are swine Mat. 7. 6. Vipers Mat. 3. 7. Devils Iohn 6. 70. The wicked are scoria gluma the dross and refuse Psalm 119. 119. And heaven is too pure to have any dross mingle with it 6. Their Temporal Mercies are continued in Judgement The wicked may have health and estate yea more than heart can wish Psa. 73. 7. But their Table is a snare Psa. 69. 2â— Sinners have their mercies with Gods leave but not with his love The people of Israel had better been without their Quails than to have had such sowre sawce The ungodly are Usurpers they want a spiritual Title to what they possess their good things are like cloath taken up at the Drapers which is not paid for death will bring in a sad reckoning at last 7. Their Temporal Judgements are not removed in Mercy Pharaoh had ten Arrows shot at him ten Plagues and all those Plagues were removed but his heart remainiâ—g hard those Plagues were not removed in Mercy it was not a preservation but a reservation God reserved him for a signal Monument of his Justice when he was drowned in the depth of the Sea God may reprieve mens persons when he doth not remit their sins The wicked may have sparing Mercy but not saving Mercy 8. The ungodly while they live are exposed to the wrath of God Ioh. 3. 36. He that believeth not the wrath of God abideth on him He who wants Grace is like one who wants a pardon he is every hour in fear of Execution How can a wicked man rejoyce Over his head the Sword of Gods Justice hangs and under him hell fire burns 9. The ungodly at death must undergo Gods fury and indignation Psal. 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell I have read of a Loadstone in Aethiopia which hath two corners with one it draws the iron to it with the other it puts the iron from it So God hath two hands of Mercy and Justice with the one he will draw the godly to heaven with the other he will thrust the sinner to hell And O how dreadful is that place It is called a fiery lake Rev. 20. 15. A lake to denote the plenty of Torments in hell a fiery lake to show the fierceness of them Fire is the most torturing Element Strabo in his Geography mentions a Lake in Galilee of such a pestiferous nature that it scaldeth off the skin of whatsoever is cast into it But alas that Lake is cool compared with this fiery Lake into which the damned are thrown To demonstrate this fire terrible there are two most pernicious qualities in it 1. It is Sulphureous it is mixed with brimstone Revel 21. 8. which is unsavoury and suffocating 2. It is unextinguishable though the wicked shall be choaked in the flames yet not consumed Revel 20. 10. And the Devil was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the Beast and the False Prophet are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Behold the deplorable condition of all ungodly ones in the other world they shall have a life that always dies and a death that always lives May not this affright men out of their sins and make them become godly unless they are resolved to try how hot hell fire is 2. What rare persons the godly are Pro. 12. 26. The righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour As the Flower of the Sun as the Wine of Lebanon as the sparkling upon Aarons Breast-plate such is the Orient splendor of a person imbellished with godliness The exceâ—lency of the persons of the godly appears in seven particulars 1. They are precious therefore they are set apart for God Psal. 4. 3. Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself We set apart things that are precious the godly are set apart as Gods peculiar treasure Psa. 135. 4. As his garden of delight Cant. 4. 12. As his Royal Diadem Isa. 62. 3. The godly are the excellent of the earth Psa. 16. 2. Comparable to fine gold Lam. 4. 2. Double refined Zach. 13. 9. They are the glory of the Creation Isa. 46. 13. Origen compares the Saints to Saphires and Christal God calls them Iewels Mal. 3. 17. They are so 1. For their value Diamonds saith Pliny were not known a long time but among Princes and were hung upon their Diadem God doth so value his people that he will give Kingdomes for their ransome Isa. 43. 5. He laid his best Jewel to pawn for them Ioh. 3. 6. 2. They are Jewels for their lustre If one Pearl of grace doth shine so bright that it doth delight Christs heart Cant. 4. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes that is one of thy Graces Then how illustrious are all the Graces met in a Constellation 2. The godly are honourable Isa. 43. 4. Thou
take our Flesh nay that Christ â—hould take our Nature when it was in disgrace being stained with sin this was the wonder of humility Look upon an humble Saviour and let the plumes of Pride fall 2 Study Gods Immensity and Purity a sight of glory humbles Elijah wrap'd his face in a Mantle when Gods glory passed before him 1 King 19. 13. The Stars vanish when the Sun appears 3 Let us study our selves First our dark side by looking our faces in the glass of the Word we see our spots what a world of sin swarms in us We may say as Bernard Lord I am nothing but peccatum aut sterilitas either sinfulness or barrenness Secondly Our light side Is there any good in us 1 How disproportionable is it to the means of Grace we have enjoyed There is still something lacking in our Faith 1 Thess. 3. 10. O Christian be not proud of what thou hast but be humble for what thou wantest 2 The Grace we have is not of our owâ— growth We are beholding to Christ anâ— free Grace for it as he said of that Axâ— which fell in the water 2 King 6. 5. Alâ— master for it was borrowed So I may say 〈◊〉 all the good and excellency in us it is boâ—rowed Were it not folly to be proud of Ring that is lent 1 Cor. 4. 7. For 〈◊〉 maketh thee to differ from another and whâ— hast thou that thou didst not receive Thâ— Moon hath no cause to be proud of 〈◊〉 light when she borrows it from the Sun 3. How far short do we come of others perhaps other Christians are Gyants in Grace they are in Christ not only before us but above us We are but as the foot in Christs Body they are as the eye 4. Our beauty is spotted The Church is said to be fair as the Moon Cant. 6. 10. which when it shines brightest hath a dark spot in it Faith is mixed with infidelity a Christian hath that in his very grace may humble him 5. If we would be humble let us contemplate our mortality Shall dust exalt it self The thoughts of the grave should bury our pride They say when there is a Tympany in the body the hand of a dead man stroaking that part cures the Tympany The serious meditation of death is enough to cure the Tympany of Pride SECT XII 12. A godly man is a praying man This is in the Text Every one that is godly shall pray unto thee As soon as Grace is powred in prayer is powred out Psa. 109. 4. But I give my self to prayer in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I prayer Prayer and I are all one Prayer is the Souls traffique with heaven God comes down to us by his Spirit and we go up to him by prayer Caligula placed his Effigies in the Capitol whispering in Iupiters ear prayer whispers in Gods ear A godly man cannot live without prayer A man cannot live unless he takes his breath not can the Soul unless it breathes forth its desires to God As soon as the Babe of Grace is born it cryes no sooner was Paul converted but behold he prayeth Act. 9. 11. No doubt he prayed before being a Pharisee but it was either superficially or superstitiously but when the work of Grace had passed upon his soul behold now he prays A godly man is every day upon the Mount of Prayer he begins the day with prayer before he opens his shop he opens his heart to God We use to burn sweet perfumes in our houses a godly mans house is domus aromatum an house of perfume he ayrs it with the incense of prayer he ingageth in no business without seeking God Scipio never entred into the Senate House but first he ascended the Capitol where he did his devotion A godly man consults with God in every thing he asks his leave and his blessing The Grecians asked counsel at their Oracles so doth a godly man enquire at the Divine Oracle Gen. 24. 12. 1 Sam. 23. 3 4. A true Saint continually shoots up his heart to heaven by sacred ejaculations Quest. Is Prayer a sign of a godly man may not an hypocrite pray eloquently and with seeming devotion Answ. He may Isa. 58. 2. they seek me daily but an hypocrite doth not pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the spirit Eph. 6. 18. A man may have the gift of prayer and not have the spirit of prayer Quest. How shall we know that we have the Spirit of Prayer Answ. When the prayer which we make is spiritual Quest. What is it to make a Spiritual Prayer Answ. 1. When we pray with knowledge under the Law Aaron was to light the Lamps when he burned the Incense upon the Altar Exod. 30. 7. Incense did typifie prayer and the lighting of the Lamps did typifie knowledge when the Incense of prayer burns the Lamp of knowledge must be lighted 1 Cor. 14. 15. I will pray with the understanding We must know the Majesty and Holiness of God that we may be deeply affected with reverence when we come before him we must put up such Petitions as are exactly adequate and agreeable to Gods will Eccles. 5. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth to utter any thing before God The Lord would not have the blind offered to him Mal. 1. 8. How can we pray with affection when we do not pray with judgement The Papists pray in an unknown tongue Christ may reply to them as he did to the Mother of Zebedees Children Mat. 20. 22. Ye ask ye know not what He that prays he knows not how shall be heard he knows not when 2. A spiritual prayer is when the heart and spirit pray there are not only words but desires 'T is excellent when a man can say Lord my heart prays 1 Sam. 1. 13. Hannah prayed in her heart The sound of a Trumpet comes from within and the excellent Musick of Prayer comes from within the heart if the heart doth not go along in duty it is speaking not praying 3. A spiritual Prayer is a fervent Prayer Iam. 5. 16. An effectual fervent prayer prevails much The heart like the Primum Mobile should carry the affections in a most zealous and rapid manner fervency is the wing of Prayer by which it ascends to heaven Prayer is expressed by sighs and groans Rom. 8. 26. It is not so much the gifts of the spirit as the groans of the spirit God likes Prayer is called a wrestling Gen. 32. 24. and a powring out of the Soul 1 Sam. 1. 15. Prayer is compared to Incense Psa. 141. 2. Incense without fire makes no sweet smell Prayer without fervency is like Incense without fire Christ prayed with strong cryes and tears Heb. 5. 7. crying Prayer prevails When the heart is inflamed in Prayer a Christian is carried as it were in a Fiery Chariot up to heaven 4. A Spiritual Prayer is such as
comes from a broken heart Psa. 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit The Incense was to be beaten to typifie the breaking of the heart in Prayer 'T is not the voluble tongue but the melting heart God accepts Oh saith a Christian I cannot pray as others as Moses said to the Lord I am not eloquent But canst thou weep and sigh Doth thy soul melt out at thy eyes God accepts broken expressions when they come from broken hearts I have read of a Plant that bears no fruit but it weeps forth a kind of Gum which is very costly So though thou dost not flourish with those gifts and expressions as others yet if thou canst weep forth tears from a contrite heart these are exceeding precious to God and he will put them in his bottle Iacob wept in prayer and had power ever the Angel Hos. 12. 4. 5. A spiritual Prayer is a believing Prayer Mat. 21. 22. Whatever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive The reason why so many Prayers suffer shipwrack is because they split against the Rock of unbelief Praying without Faith is shooting without bullets When Faith takes Prayer by the hand then we draw neer to God we should come to God in Prayer as the Leper Mat. 8. 2. Lord if thou wilt thou canst heal me 'T is a disparagement to Deity to have such a whisper in the heart that Gods ear is heavy and cannot hear What is said of the people of Israel may be applyed to Prayer It could not enter in because of unbelief 6. A Spiritual Prayer is an holy Prayer 1 Tim. 2. 8. Wherefore lift up pure hands Prayer must be offered upon the Altar of a pure heart sin lived in makes the heart hard and Gods ear deaf sin stops the mouth of Prayer it doth as the Thief to the Traveller puts a Gagg in his mouth that he cannot speak sin poysons and infects prayer A wicked mans prayer is sick of the Plague and will God come neer him The Loadstone loseth its virtue when it is bespread with Garlick so doth prayer when it is polluted with sin Psa 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me 'T is foolish to pray against sin and then to sin against prayer a spiritual prayer like the spirits of Wine must be refined and taken off the Lees and dregs of sin Mal. 3. 3. That they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness If the heart be holy this Altar will sanctifie the gift 7. A spiritual prayer is an humble prayer Psa. 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble Prayer is the asking of an Alms which requires humility Luke 18. 13. The Publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner Gods incomprehensible glory may even amaze us and strike an holy consternation into us when we approach nigh to him Ezra 9. 6. O my God I blush to lift up my face to thee 'T is comely to see a poor nothing lye prostrate at the feet of its Maker Gen. 18. 27. Behold I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes The lower the heart descends the higher the prayer ascends 8. A spiritual prayer is when we pray in the name of Christ To pray in the name of Christ is not only to name Christ in prayer but to pray in the hope and confidence of Christs mediation as a Childe claims his Estate in the right of his Father who purchased it so we come for mercy in Christs Name who hath purchased it for us in his bloud unless we pray thus we do not pray at all nay we rather provoke God as it was with Uzziah when he would offer Incense without a Priest God was angry and struck him with Leprosie 2 Chron. 26. 16. So when we do not come in Christs Name in prayer we offer up Incense without a Priest and what can we expect but to meet with wrath 9. A spiritual prayer is when we pray out of love to prayer A wicked man may pray but he doth not love prayer Iob 27. 10. Will he delight himself in the Almighty A godly man is carried upon the wings of delight he is never so well as when he is praying he is not forced with fear but fired with love Isa. 56. 7. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer 10. A spiritual prayer is when we have spiritual ends in prayer There is a vast difference between a spiritual prayer and a carnal desire the ends of an Hypocrite are secular and carnal he looks asquint in prayer it is not the sense of his spiritual wants that moves him but rather lust Iam. 4. 3. Ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lusts The sinner prays more for food than Grace this God doth not interpret praying but howling Hosea 7. 14. They howled upon their beds they assemble for corn and wine Da modo lucra mihi Prayers which want a good aim want a good answer A godly man hath spiritual ends in prayer he sends out his prayer as a Merchant sends out his Ship that he may have large returns of spiritual blessings his design in prayer is that his heart may be more holy and that he may have more communion with God A godly man drives the Trade of prayer that he may encrease the stock of Grace 11. A spiritual prayer is accompanied with the use of means there must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When Hezekiah was sick he did not only pray for recovery but he laid a lump of figs to the boyl Isa. 38. 21. Thus it is in case of the soul when we pray against sin and avoid temptations when we pray for Grace and improve opportunities this is the laying a fig to the boil which wil make us recover To pray for holiness and neglect the means is like winding up the Clock and pulling off the weights 12. A spiritual prayer is that which leaves a spiritual frame behind upon the heart a Christian is better after prayer he hath gotten more strength over sin as a man by exercise gets strength The heart after prayer keeps a tincture of holiness as the Vessel savours and relisheth of the Wine that is put into it Moses having been with God on the Mount his face shined so having been on the Mount of prayer our Graces shine and our lives shine This is the sign of a godly man he prays in the spirit This is the right kind of praying the gift of prayer is ordinary like Culinary fire but spiritual prayer is more rare and excellent like Elementary fire which comes from heaven Use 1. Is a godly man of a praying spirit then this excludes them from being godly 1. Who pray not at all