Christ can not hold such was the league betweene godly Iehosophat and wicked Ahab it brought him into daunger of his life 1. King 22. 32. as the ioyning with Ahaziah the sonne of Ahab was the cause of the losse of Iehosophats shippes 2. Chr. 20. 37. Secondly we learne that there can be no true internall peace but in Christ there may be a carnall securitie such as was in the old world that gaue themselues to eating and drinking till the floud came and destroyed them but this is farre from true peace The hypocrite also spareth no cost nor labour to be reconciled he will bring thousands of rammes and riuers of oyle Micah 6. 6. but he cannot find by his own workes the right way vnto peace A third sort there is that haue a feeling of this peace for a time but it continueth not As Ahab found the wrath of God somewhat appeased toward him after he had humbled himselfe with fasting and sackcloth 1. King 21. 27. but he soone returned to his old sinnes and kindled the wrath of God against him againe The only true peace then with God is wroght by faith in Christ Rom. 5. â— And the right concord and vnitie among men is made perfect by the profession of the truth as the heart of Dauid and Ionathan were linked together in faith and in the feare of God Hierâ—m well saith Vera est illa necessitudo Christi glutina copulata quam non vtilitas rei familiaris nec presentia tantùm corporum non subdola palpans adulatio sed Dei timor diuinarum ScripturaruÌ„ studia conciliant That is true friendship and ioyned together in Christ which not priuate profite or the bodily presence or flatterie but the feare of God and the studie of Scripture doth beget And hast loued them as thou hast loued me Like as Gods loue was manifested to Christ when the holy Ghost descended vpon him whereby he was sanctified and replenished in his humane nature with all heauenly gifts and graces at what time God proclaimed from heauen that Christ was his beloued sonne Mat. 3. So Gods loue is not in any thing more euident toward his children then when he endueth them with his holy Spirit whereby they are sanctified and therefore our Sauiour prayeth for their sanctification that the world may know that God loueth them 1 Thus the Apostle testifieth The loue of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is giuen vs. Rom. 5. 5. that is hereby the loue of God is apparant toward vs because he giueth vs his spirit whereby we are sanctified 2 Thus was the loue of God confirmed toward the holy Apostle who prayed that the temptation of his flesh might depart from him and receiued this answer My grace is sufficient for thee 2. Cor. 12. 9. The assistance of Gods grace was a sure testimonie of his loue So the Prophet Dauid prayeth Make me to heare ioy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce and againe Restore me to the ioy of thy saluation and stablish me with thy free spirit Psal. 51. 8. 12. He desireth none other testimonie of Gods loue toward him but that he may feele the inward comfort of Gods spirit 3 For Gods loue is best knowne by his best gifts the best things he reserueth for those whom he best loueth Now the graces of regeneration the spirituall giftes of faith hope and loue are without al comparison the most principall As the Apostle saith Desire you the best giftes and I will yet shew you a more excellent way 1. Cor. 12. 31. and then in the next chapter he treateth of faith hope and loue 4 Like as Ioseph sent vnto Beniamin more plentifull measses of meate Gen. 43. 34. and gaue him richer gifts and more costly sutes of apparell then to the rest of his brethren Gen. 45. 22. so the Lord bestoweth the best gifts vpon his owne children As the father caused the fat calfe to be killed for his returned sonne Luk. 15. so the fatnesse of spirituall graces the Lord vouchsafeth vnto such as truly turn vnto him 5 The vse of this doctrine is excellent that we should not grieue to see the prosperitie ease and wealth of many worldly men like as sometime the Prophet Dauid fretted in himselfe at that sight Psal. 73. 2 But let vs consider how plentifully the Lord doth recompence to his children the want of things temporall with the eternall graces of the spirit Dauid preferreth the light of Gods countenance before the abundance of wine corne oyle or any other worldly endowment Psal. 4. Augustine saith well Si Deus tanta dat malis quanta seruat bonis If God giue such things as riches and prosperitie to the wicked how great gifts hath he in store for his Say not then in thine heart why hath not God made me rich honorable strong beautifull he hath giuen thee a better portion the knowledge of his name an heart to feare him a conscience to abstaine froÌ„ euill Where as thou seest a rich man giuen to oppression a prophane person a senslesse ignorant man tell me wouldest thou chaunge states with him I think not be content then with thy best lot and desire still the increase and continuance of spirituall graces The sixteenth Lecture Vers. 24. Father I will c. NOw followeth the other petition of our Sauiour for the glorification of his Church where we haue the request it selfe that they may be with Christ the end to behold his glorie the assurance for thou louedst me before the foundation of the world First we see the efficacie of Christs prayer that whatsoeuer he but willeth of God as the Mediator of his Church it is accomplished 1 Thus the Apostle testifieth He is able perfectly to saue those that come vnto God by him because he euer liueth to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 25. 2 Thus our Sauiour was heard for Lazarus I know thou hearest me alwaies Ioh. 11. 42. Thus our Sauiour prayed for Peter that his faith failed him not Luk. 22. 32. and it was so fulfilled for though Peters faith was shaken yet was it not ouerthrowne though it fainted it failed not 3 If Moses by the lifting vp of his hands ruled the battell betweene Israel and Ameleck if Eliah by his toung gouerned the aire that it should not raine but according to his word If Peters shadow commaunded diseases Act. 5. 15. how much more effectuall is the holy will and desire of Christ. 4 For Christ is the beloued sonne of God in whom God is well pleased Mat. 3. 17. whatsoeuer Christ therefore willeth of his Father he cannot denie vnto him for the great loue he hath toward him 5 First to our great comfort we are taught that seeing the will of Christ is omnipotent whatsoeuer it pleased the Lord that did he in heauen and earth Psal. 135. 6. and his will toward his church is most
the one saying that Christ is not equall vnto God the other that he took beginning from Mary The Valentinians denied his humanitie saying he tooke nothing of his mother but passed through her as water through a pipe The Eutichians also are of this kind who confound the natures of Christ and affirme in him the diuine nature only to remaine Of the second sort are the Nestorians who make two persons in Christ one person of God-Christ another of man-Christ saying that Marie was the mother of the man-Christ not of God-Christ Of the third ranke were the Angelici so called because they worshipped Angels and made them their Mediators such are the Papists that pray vnto Saints and ioyne them with Christ in the office of the Mediatorship all these acknowledge not Iesus Christ truly whom God hath sent Secondly we must know that it is not sufficient to haue a general and superficial knowledge but liuely and effectuall such as Saint Paul had confessing thus of himselfe Gal. 2. 20. Thus I liue not I now but Christ liueth in me and in that I liue now in the flesh I liue by faith in the Sonne of God who hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me Such a faith and knowledge of Christ then is requisite whereby the soule liueth vnto God working alwaies by loue Gal. 5. 6. For there are two things necessarie to saluation the inward beleefe of the heart and the outward confession and demonstration of it as Saint Paule sheweth Rom. 10. 10. With the heart man beleeueth vnto righteousnesse with the mouth man confesseth to saluation And Saint Ambrose writeth well vpon these words Cant. 8. 6. Set me as a seale vpon thine hart as a signet vpon thine arme signaculum Christ us in corde vt semper diligamus signaculum de brachio vt semper operemus luceat imago eius in confessione nostra luceat in operibus factis vt si fieri possit tota eius species exprimatur in nobis c. Let Christ be a signet in our heart alwaies to loue him a bracelet vpon the arme alwaies to be working for him let his image shine in our faith and confession let it shine in our workes and actions that if it be possible the whole image of Christ may be expressed in vs. The fifth Lecture Vers. 4. I haue glorified thee in earth c. THis is the third reason which our Sauiour vseth for the obtaining of his glorification that because he had glorified his Father in earth and finished his worke that his father would glorifie him againe He reasoneth from the desert to the reward which are relatiues that is haue respect and mutuall relation the one to the other That Christ sought the glorie of his father both himselfe saith it Ioh. 4. 34. My meate is that I may do th◠will of him that sent me and finish his worke and his Father from heauen approueth the same for after our Sauiour had said Father glorifie thy name there came presently a voice from heauen saying I haue both glorified it and will glorifie it againe Ioh. 12. 28. Whereby it is euident that as God had bene glorified by the heauenly sermons and diuine miracles shewed by Christ in his life so also he would set foorth his glorie in his blessed death From hence then we learne that they which will be assured to receiue glorie at the hands of God in heauen must indeuour to set foorth his glorie here in earth This our Lord promiseth Reuel 3. 27. To him that ouercometh will I graunt to sit with me in my throne euen as I ouercame sit with my Father in his throne He that shall set foorth the kingdome of Christ in this world in ouercoming of sinne and subduing his owne affections shall be made partaker of Christs kingdome in heauen Thus our Sauior saith to his Apostles Mat. 19. 28. Verily I say vnto you that whē the Sonne of man shall sit in the throne of his maiestie ye which followed me in the regeneration shall sit vpon twelue thrones and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel As they in their regeneration expressed the spirituall kingdome of Christ so they shall enioy the fellowship of his euerlasting kingdome Saint Paule doth confirm the same by his owne example 2. Tim. 4. 8. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith from hence foorth is laid vp for me the crowne of righteousnesse For like as they that runne in a race and striue for maisteries obtain a corruptible crowne 1. Cor. 9. 25. so they which contend for the Lord and runne the way of his commaundements shall receiue an incorruptible crowne The great king of the Persians hearing out of the Chronicles of the faithfulnesse of Mordecai which had reuealed the conspiracie of two of the Kings Eunuches against him presently said What honour and dignitie hath bene giuen to Mordecai for this Esth. 6. 3. He thought it vnreasonable that his faithfull seruice should go vnrecompenced Much more is it iust with God to reward the faithfull seruice of his So the Apostle saith that God the righteous Iudge shall giue him the crown of righteousnesse 2. Timot. 4. 8. This iustice of God is the ground and cause of our reward which his iustice dependeth not vpon the merit of our workes or worthinesse of our obedience but vpon the free and most gracious promise of God in Christ which his most free and mercifull promise to fulfill and accomplish to his seruants it standeth with his stable and inuiolable iustice First then we see a difference by this doctrine betweene Christ and his members for thogh Christ our head by the desert and merit of his obedience is worthy of all glorie Reuel 4. 11. and might thus pleade with his father for his glorificatiō because he had glorified him yet the mēbers cannot challenge any thing at the hands of God for any worthinesse that is in them but onely for their Mediators sake Nehemiah thus praying Remember me O my God in goodnesse according to all that I haue done for this people Nehem. 5. 19. requesteth not to be remembred of God because of his faithfulnesse but according to the same his faithfulnesse is the rule or measure but Gods mercie is the cause or else where he confesseth cap. 13. 22. Remember me ô God concerning this and pardon me according to thy great mercie but where merit is challēged there is no mercie but iustice shewed so that as Bernard well saith Opera non sunt causa regnandi sed via regni Good workes are not the cause of raigning but the way to the kingdome Secondly we do learne that whosoeuer wil be assured to receiue glory in the kingdome of God must seeke to glorifie him here He then that dishonoureth God in this life how can he looke to receiue honour at the hands of God Consider this well all ye whom God hath honoured in this life with riches
of the church that oile and fatnesse whereby the light thereof is cherished and preserued Zach. 4. 4. For none in heauen or in earth was found worthy to open the book of Gods secrets and to looke thereon but onely the lambe Reu. 5. 3. 9. The booke had remained sealed still if Christ had not taken the booke out of the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne and opened the seales thereof 5. First then their blind endeuor is condemned which by the light of nature thinke to find out the truth The Philosophers among the heathen and wise among the Gentiles much busied themselues to find out the truth but they labored in vaine The three wise-men that came from the East did not content them selues with their humane wisedome and natural experience but followed the conduct of the starre to seeke for Christ. If Saul must haue a prophet to tell him what was become of his fathers asses to find out heauen hath much more need of a propheticall light Secondly all carnal and secure persons are admonished that if they desire knowledge they should seek it at Christs hands in his word it is no maruell that so many yet continue in ignorance seeing they despise the meanes of knowledge Heauen cannot be scaled without Iacobs ladder the top whereof resteth vpon Christ Gen. 28. One well saith Nemini credas tuum nisi praeeunte lucernae istius luce processum sit fides itineris tui praeuia sit tibi iter scriptura diuina Trust no man to direct thee vnles this light go before let faith be the foreman in thy iorney and let thy way be by the scripture Verse 26. And I haue declared vnto them thy name and will declare it Here our Sauior promiseth the perpetuall assistance of his spirit and continuall declaration of his word to his church that as he had preached and declared it so he would still instruct his seruants not leaue his church destitute of the ministerie of his word 1. Thus the Lord promiseth by his prophet I will make my couenant with them saith the Lord my spirit that is vpon thee the words which I haue put in thy mouth shal not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of the seed of thy seed saith the Lord from henceforth euen for euer Isay 59. 21. 2. Thus our Sauiour leauing the world ordained his Apostles in his stead to be witnesses of him to the ends of the world Act. 1. 8. The Apostles also constituted Euangelists as Timothy 2. Tim. 1. 6. To second their work the Euāgelists ordained Bishops Pastors and Elders in euery citie Tit. 1. 5. to finish the work of the Gospell 3. For like as it is not enough to sow the corne and cast it into the earth but it must haue both the first and latter raine Ioel 2. 23. so it is necessary that Apostles other succeeding Ministers should water that which Paul and the other Apostles had planted 1. Cor. 3. 6. And like as after the house is builded it must be continually repaired lest through the idlenesse of the hands the house drop through Eccl. 10. 18. so after the foundation laid and building finished by Christ and his Apostles the chiefe builders others must be raised vp to repaire the ruines of Gods house 4. Therefore as Saint Paul saith Christ gaue some to be Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists some Pastors and teachers for the gathering together of the saints the work of the ministery the edificatiō of the body of Christ Eph. 4. 11. So that al these offices are necessary Prophets to assist Apostles and Euangelists to second Prophets Pastors and teachers to succeed Euangelists that all the Saints in all ages may be gathered together and the whole body of Christ edified 5. How much then are we to giue thankes vnto God for this his prouident care ouer his church neuer leauing the same destitute of his word which we see to the praise of God this day for God hath furnished this Church of England with such abundance of learned pastors as I thinke few churches in the world may compare with it So that as Elias ascending left his spirit doubled vpon Elisha as Ambrose well noteth O haereditas preciosa in qua plus haeredi relinquitur quà m habetur mirum in modum plus Helias gratiae dimisit in terris quam secum portauit ad coelos A precious inheritance wherein more is left to the heire then was first had Elias leaueth more grace in earth then he caried to heauen so I doubt not but many faithfull seruants of God departed this life haue transmitted their spirit and giftes double vpon their posteritie Seeing Christ then hath such care to instruct his flocke as he hath declared his word so doth yet and will further declare let no man despise this so great riches but profit more and more by the ministerie of the word that the oftener it is declared the greater may be our increase in faith that as Gods graces are doubled vpon our teachers so they may be multiplied also vpon the hearers That the loue wherewith thou hast loued them may be in them that is they may haue a liuely sense feeling of the loue of God that as they abound in knowledge so they may also be quickned in the liuely feeling and apprehension of it 1. This is that which the Apostle saith That ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth length depth and height and to know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge Ephes. 3. 18. 19. 2 Such sense of the loue of Christ the Apostle Paul had who thus in particular professeth of himselfe Christ loued me and gaue himselfe for me Gal. 2. 20. Thus also the prophet Dauid spake from his inward feeling of Gods goodnesse toward him how deare are thy thoghts toward me ô God how great is the sum of them Psal. 132. 17. 3. Like as Iob saith I haue heard of thee by the hearing of the eare but now mine eye seeth thee Iob 42. 5. so they which haue only a speculatiue knowledge of God do heare as with the eare but they that haue an inward feeling and experience of his loue do see him with the eye this the prophet Dauid calleth the tast of the soule Tast ye and see how gracious the Lord is Psa. 34 8. Like as Manna though pleasant to the sight yet was more pleasant to the tast so is the mercie and loue of God more ioyous felt and comprehended then vnderstood onely and apprehended 4 For we are commanded to loue God with all the heart soule and mind Mat. 22. 37. God must not only haue our mind and vnderstanding but our heart and affectiō we do not otherwise honour God with all our strength 5 Hence then we are taught a most nenessarie point of Christian doctrine that we should labour
to our knowledge to ad affection to our iudgement zeale to our vnderstanding coÌ„science feeling Many seeme to know much but there is withall a coldnesse in their heart Happy it is with those that when they heare the word do not onely conceiue and vnderstand it as Herode did Marke 6. 20. but their hearts are inflamed as the two Disciples while Christ preached vnto them found their hearts burne within them Luke 24. The Prophet Dauid saith O how I loue thy law Psal. 119. 97. whereof Ambrose well saith Diligere amplius est quà m custodire hoc necessitatis est timeÌ„s illud charitatis To loue is more then to keepe this is of feare and necessitie that proceedeth of charitie So oâ—r obedience to God should proceede from a willing affection and louing heart That as God delighteth in the faithfull My delight is with the children of men Pro. 8. 31 so our delight may be in God that we may say with the prophet The desire of our soule is to thy name and to the remeÌ„brance Isa. 26. 8. So shall we be sure that if we desire his waies now the Lord wil delight in vs for euer and cause vs to enter into his euerlasting ioy FINIS Iud. â— 4â— lib. 〈…〉 Cantic 1. 2. Psal 134. Lib. 5. in Lâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ad Celâ—â—tium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 56. 8. Luk. 〈…〉 1. Thes. 5. 17. 〈◊〉 de obit Theodoâ—ii Xen. lib. 1. de Cyri 〈◊〉 Prou 4 23. aduer Luciferius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 King 3. â—d Câ—esiphon◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 11 3◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lib 1. de Genes 〈◊〉 Ioh. 11. Math. 26. 1. Thess. 5. 17. Math. 14. 31. Luk. 22. 61. Mar. 10. 4â— 1. King 8. Eâ—â—d 17. 2. King 2. Apoc. â—â— Numb â—1 9. Act. 7. 56. Hâ—b 9. 14. Leuit 1. 15. Leuit. 2. 13. Doctr. 1. Plutarc de garrulitat In Lâ—c. ca. 11. Doct. 2. Difference betwixt the prâ—uerâ— of Châ—â—st and of his members Christ praieth not in heaueÌ„ now as he did in the earth Tract 10â— in Ioannâ— How Christ is the Mediatour of his church How Christ appeâ—eth before God for vs. Lib 22. moâ—al cap. 13. Doctr. 3. Ad Eustaâ—hâ—â—m Vers. 1. Doctâ— 1. The gesture required in prayer God Christs father otherwise then ours Doct. 2. Pray with confidence Doct. 3. The appointment of times is from God Against Astrologers We must wait the acceptable time All gifts must 〈◊〉 vsed to Gods glory The Pope not Christs Vicar Lib. 2. de vocat gent. cap. 6. Ser. 19. in Psal. 119. Doct. 2. â—ternall life onely giuen to those that are giuen to Christ. Christ died not for all â—lection certaine In Mat. Homil 13. Doctr. 1. What things make the life oâ— man miserable Enemies to euerlasting life confuted The desire which we ought to haue to euerlasting life Doct. 2. Of the necessitie of the knowledge of God Heretickes enemies to the Trinitie confuted Against Atheists Ignorance dangerous Doct. 3. No saluation without faith in Christ. Diuerse heresies against the natures person of Christ. De Isaacho cap. 8. Doct. 1. Man cannot chalenge any thing from God by his merits Doct. 2. Continuance to the end Doct. 3. Christ merited not for himselfe Doct. 1. The word of God profitable onely to the elect The attentiue hearing of the word a marke of our effectuall vocation In Psal. 119. Doct. 2. In 2. Tim. cap. 1. Doct 3. Examination of doctrines Doct. 2. Gods word is chearfully to be heard Doct 3. Our knowledge of Christ must be certaine Against carnal professors Doct. 4. The Minister must be assured of his calling How Ministers are acertained of their calling Doct. 1. Christ a Mediator onely for the elect There is a world onely of the elect and faithfull Lib. 5. in Luc Whether the wicked may be prayed for Worldlings without the compasse of Christs praier Doct. 1. Christ God of himselfe August tract 19. in Ioann No accesse to God without Christ. De Fide lib. 3 cap. 3. Doct 3. All must be reâ—erred to Gods glorie which we ask in our praiers Doct. 1. Christ not present now in the world in his flesh The reasons of Christs bodily absence Against the carnall presence in the Sacrament Our desires must be in heauen Doct. 2. Our comming to God is by prayer Against neglect or discontinuance in prayer Against hypocriticall prayers Conc. 2 in Psal. 33. Doct. 3. Man hath no power of himselfe to keepe himselfe Against free will De Ecclesiast docum c. 56. Doct. 4. The loue of Christians must be in the truth Doct. 1. They which are once truly graft into Christ cannot finally fall away Iustifying faith cannot be lost Doct. 2. Some reiected from the beginning The doctrin of Predestination a spur to godlines Doct. 3. The certaintie of Gods word Gods foreknowledge not the cause of mens workes De Predest lib. 1. cap. 15. Doct. 4. Gods word worketh true comfort The danger of those that are ignorant of the word Doct. 1. The faithfull hated in the world A dangerous thing to hate the seruants of God 1. Chro. 16. 10. Hom. 11. in Exod. Doct. 2. Against separation from the Church Cont. Cresâ— lib. 3. cap. 35. 3. degrees of worldly men Doct. 3. Life not corruptly to be desired Serm. 20. in Psal. 119. Against a pre posterous desire of death Why the Scripture vseth repetitions Of vaine and idle repetitions Of the word Selah vsed in the Psalmes Hierom. Marcella Tom. 4. Doct. 1. The word of God onely conuerteth Mat. 3 11. Col. 4. 6. Heb. 4. 12. All truth necessarie to saluation to be found in Scripture Doct. 2. God sendeth none but enabled with gifts Ad Furiam Doct. 3. All gifts deriued vnto the Church by Christ. Ephes. 4. 16. 〈◊〉 merited not for himselfe Lib. 5. de fid cap. 7. Doct. 1. Christ praieth for all beleeuers to the end of the world Care of posteritie Doct. 2. Faith a rare thing where is no preaching Doct. 3. Augustine Doct. 4. Why God would haue the holy life of his faithful knowne to the world Mat. 18. 6. The dangeâ— of giuing ofâ—ence Doct. 1. We are elected to walke in good works â—lection not of workes but by grace Two books the booke of life the book of a mâ—ns conscience Three kinds of false peace Paulin. Tom. 4. Doct. 3. Gods loue best knowne by the graces of sanctification Doct. 1. The prayer of Christs mediation Doct. 2. The faithfull shal be in the same place with Christ in heauen Doct. 3. They that wil see Christ face to face in heauen must see him by faith here Hom. in Mat. 13. Heb. 6. 19. Doct. 4. Christ how said to be predestinate Assurance of heauen is neither impossible nor yet easie to be had The blindnes ignorance of the world Lib. 5 in Luc. Ignorance a sufficieÌ„t cause of condemnation Doct. 2. Al holy knowledge deriued from Christ. A vaine labor to seeke for true wisdome without Christ. Amb. serm 14 in Psal. 1 19. Doct. 3. God will neuer leaue his Church destitute of his word Ambros. Epist 60. Doct. 4. Knowledge without sense and feeling fruitlesse We must not onley vnderstaÌ„d the word but ioy in it Serm. 20. in Psal. 119.