quickning to act in holy Duties assuring and confirming the Soul in the Favour of the Father and the Son unto eternal Life according to that Promise of God held forth by Ezekiel 11.19 20. I will give them one heart and I will put a new Spirit within them and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them a heart of flesh whence note by the way that the Spirit is here said to be a new Spirit not because it is any new erected thing in it self for it was of old from eternity but first because by its powerful influences and operations it doth take up its residence in that Creature that was formerly destitute thereof and so it is new to the Creature And secondly because it doth erect a new Work in the Creature so as to alter and change the Inclinations and Dispositions of the Heart by destroying the Carnality Earthliness and Rebelliousness thereof towards the things of God which is signified by the stony Heart and making it tender and pliable to yield a cheerful conformity to the Will of God which is signified by the Heart of Flesh This great Promise as to the end of it is further expressed in these words That they may walk in my Statutes and keep mine Ordinances and do them and they shall be my People and I will be their God To the same effect are the Words of the Apostle Paul Rom. 8.11 12 13. If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you He that raised up Christ from the Dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Therefore Brethren we are Debtors not to the Flesh to live after the Flesh for if ye live after the Flesh ye shall dye But if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Hereby saith John We know that we dwell in him 1 John 4.13 and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit The Apostle Paul giving Instructions to Timothy concerning the qualifications of Church-Officers maketh this application to Timothy These things Write I unto thee that thou mayest know how to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of the living God the Pillar and ground of the Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 So that first Gods people are called the house of God as they have the in-dwelings of God by his Spirit in its Influences Operations and Laws residing in their hearts Secondly They are called the Church of God as they are a company or Congregation of people imbodied together by the Ligaments and Nerves of Gods word and walk together in the observation of all his Laws and Ordinances according to his Will Thirdly such a people or Congregation are called the Pillar and ground of the truth as they perform the office of a Pillar in upholding and propagating truths interest before the men of the world by doctrine and practice answerable thereunto as the Apostle to the Ephesians teacheth To the intent saith he that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God Eph. 3.10 So that Gods people within the Evangelical Covenant of Grace believing on Christ and conforming to Christ in his holy Laws Orders and Ordinances according to the Gospel-dispensation and improving the same to the obtaining Victory or overcoming of their own Corruptions and inordinate affections to self and the World in its Vanities and live to God in holy Sanctity by the indwellings of God by his Spirit in the heart Such a people are by the Spirits demonstration called the House of God the Church of God and the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3.16 17. And such as overcome Christ makes Pillars in the same Rev. 3.12 In which Temple God doth dwell by his Spirit as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 6.19 20. What know you not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your Body and in your Spirit which is Gods chap. 3. ver 16 17. Know you not saith the Apostle that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you if any man defile the Temple of God him will God destroy for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are The Temple which Solomon built was called the Lords house upon four Considerations First He made choyce of that house above all other for an house of Sacrifice 2 Chron. 7.12 verse 16. Secondly He Sanctifieth that house to himself for that purpose Thirdly He placed there his name that his eyes verse 16. and his heart might be there perpetually Fourthly He promised such acceptation of the Worship there performed according to that dispensation that his eyes should be open and his ears attentive to the Prayers there made ver 15. and for a clear Testimony thereof he filled the house with his glory ver 2. In all these Considerations Gods faithful people may be accounted his house For first God hath chosen them and builds them up a Spiritual House 1 Pet. 2.5 A habitation for God through the Spirit Eph. 2.22 to the use of spiritual Service and the offering up the Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving to his name Secondly He sanctifieth them and fitteth them thereunto 1 Cor. 6.11 Eph. 5.26 Thirdly His eyes and his heart are upon them beholding with delight their Sacrifices and Services performed in Faith and Love Fourthly He so accepts of their worship performed in Spirit and Truth that his ears are open to their Prayers and for their consolation and assurance he fills them with Joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 Whence note by the way that when a peoples Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise and other obedience doth arise from an in-dwelling of the Spirit of Faith and Sanctifying grace and is offered upon the Altar Jesus Christ in the golden Censer of his merits this doubtless is highly accepted of God in what place soever it be performed according to the words of Christ Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the mid'st of them Math. 18.20 The Conclusion drawn from these considerations is this That although God doth dwell in Heaven by his divine Essence and all-glorious presence and so Heaven may properly be called his house and dwelling-place yet God dwelleth also spiritually in and among his people who may be called his house or dwelling-place where he doth Record his Name and where he doth give his Blessings of Grace and Mercy as the Apostles in their Epistles to the Churches do declare and the Author to the Hebrews doth testifie in these words But Christ as a Son over his own House whose House are we if we hold fast the Confidence and the Rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end Thus
blood to justifie us his precious word to direct us his precious promises to comfort us and many precious calls for to invite us with precious arguments to perswade us and precious cords of love in all to draw poor Sinners to himself and now a precious door of hope is opened to us but so it will not always be thy present time is a precious time the present means of the Gospel is a precious means given for precious ends as to reduce poor Sinners to their primitive state in Righteousness and true Holiness in true peace and happiness with God in glory in order thereunto we in time shall find that time 's best spended that 's spent in that kind Then let not this thy precious time be spent I' th Horseleach-Daughters their Broods content But by improvement of the precious means Endeavour thou thy heart of them to cleanse By often drinking of those livings springs That flows from him who is the King of Kings 'T is water of life with love compounded sure 'T will heal thy wounds and thy distempers cure But thy work is great thy time is but small Time's best improved in time of Gods call FOR When our time is over and opportunities cease We may lye in sorrow hopeless of release See then that ye walk circumspectly not as Fools but as Wise redeeming the time because the days are evil Motive the Nineth A nineth Motive to move us to improve the said means against the aforesaid distempers may be the consideration of that loss we shall sustain unto our selves if our hearts be not cured of the said distempers as the loss of our Union and Communion with God the Father and Christ and the Spirit and the Holy Angels and Saints in the Kingdom of glory with all the felicities thereof to all Eternity O what a sad loss will it be unto us how shall we befool our selves for yealding our selves and services unto the supremacy of these Task-masters these insatiable greedy worms always crying give give When we shall see Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all those that have been faithful to Christs supremacy accepted into the Kingdom and we our selves thrust out with that dreadful Sentence Go ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels where the Worm never dyeth and the fire is never quenched O sad Estate with sorrows intollerable and miseries endless Motive the Tenth or a Use of encouragement To go oft to the aforesaid springs and by an act of Faith improve the means thereof to the destroying of these lusts of Corruption out of our hearts is the consideration that they are not only our Enemies but they are also Gods Enemies as much as in them lyeth opposing him in the effecting of his eternal purpose and determined Counsel in bringing man to glorifie his name and to enjoy his glory and they are Antichristian against Christ and his supremacy and against the holy Spirit in its work of Illumination and Sanctification And therefore God gives special commands unto us to improve the Means and Counsel that he affords us in order to the destruction of them all and not to suffer one of them to live in our hearts unsubdued Therefore God in giving to us both Means and Counsel thereunto doth call upon us for to mortifie your inordinate affections crucifie the world deny self put off the old man with his deeds cleanse your selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God circumcising the fore-skin of your hearts the Lord lays many special injunctions upon us wherefore we may not let one live for they are Gods Enemies The Amalakites being Enemies to God God giveth command to King Saul utterly to destroy them old and young sparing none But Saul in sparing Agag the King lost both Gods favour and his Kingdom for his disobedience therein God hath given us the Commands and Testimonies of his Mind and Will that we should destroy these Amalakitish Lusts his Enemies and subdue them out of our hearts and not to let one of them to live and he hath given us means thereunto And may he not nay will he not deal as severely with us if we willingly spare any although never so dear unto us the dangerous consequence thereof considered David by suffering one Lust to live in his heart to Vriahs Wife it brought him to the guilt of Murder and Adultery to the great dishonour of God and the wounding of his soul with the sence of sin and Gods displeasure for the same to the loss of his strength of assurance and weakening his evidences of Salvation the which caused him to drink many a bitter cup of affliction with many a deep sigh and sob and sad complaint with tears and fears of being cut off in the want of his assurance which made him cry out in the bitterness of his soul in the sence of his loss O spare me that I may recover strength before I go hence and be no more Psal 39.13 One Dalilah having gained the heart of strong Sampson through her continual crying Give Give did soon surprise him and bring down his strength so as not to be able to resist his Enemies So one Lust suffered alive in the heart through its continual crying give give may soon surprise us and weaken our strength of faith and hope and comfortable evidences and assurances in Gods favour so as we may become weak as another man as not to be able to resist the assaults of many other Lusts in the temptations thereof Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own Lusts and enticed Jam. 1.14 Motive the Eleaventh Or A Use of encouragement to move us to a diligent use and improvement of the said means to the cleansing of our hearts of these greedy worms may be the consideration of that choyce and requirement that God hath made of the heart God requireth the heart as a Treasury to himself to be for himself as his Treasury or Store-house to lay in the Divine Treasures of his holy word his graces and gifts of grace and divine qualifications for his own pleasure and delight and for to enable his Creature to bring forth fruits to the praise and glory of his name and to edifie and comfort others as faith the Lord These words which I Command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them thy Children and talk of them in thy house Deut. 6.6 And saith the Lord Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your hearts and in your souls c. Deut. 11.18 The heart is a Treasury for Gods Love Rom. 5.5 and for the peace of God Col. 3.15 and for the spirit of Christ Gal. 4.6 Yea all the Laws of God and graces and gifts of grace comprehended in the new Evangelical Covenant in Christ God the Father hath chosen the heart to wright them in and as his Treasury to place them there Jer. 31.33
active in the things of God which concern its own salvation and the Edification Comfort 1 Thes 5.9 10 11. and Assurance of others and that not upon the account of merit or desert on the Creatures part but to glorifie God that hath freely given forth both means and merit in his Son whom God the Father hath ordained supream Head King and Governour to his Church and People that men might honour the Son by obedience to his Laws as they honour the Father Joh. 5.22 23. unto which obedience through Faith in the merits of Christ God the Father hath annexed the promise of Salvation of his own free Love and rich Mercy Heb. 5 9. so that Salvation is on God's part an act of Mercy on Christ's part an act of Merit on man's part it is undeserved in his best obedience for It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth Mercy Rom. 9.16 A second Use which the afore-mentioned considerations may direct us unto The second Vse is of Admiration is a use of Admiration It may raise up our Souls to behold with Admiration God's great Love All the Works of God are to be Admired of his Saints Especially his gâ—ace in Christ to effect holiness in his people and happiness thereupon and rich Mercy manifested in all his proceedings in and by Jesus Christ towards man a sinful and undeserving Creature who by sin had dishonoured God defaced his Image of Righteousness and true Holiness wherein he was at first Created and deprived himself of the Paradice of God and made himself an object of his displeasure according to due desert Now that God should look upon the Creature in its lost condition and corrupted state from which he was no way able to recover himself with such an eye of pity and bowels of compassion as to lay help upon one that is mighty even Jesus Christ his only Son both God and Man to take satisfaction in him that sinned not for the world of Sinners And by his grace to accept those unto the adoption of Sons that by Faith receive Jesus Christ as in the Gospel he is tendred Joh. 1.12 and to repair the decayes of Nature and to restore that Image of holiness which by sin was defaced to pardon the sin of Sinners and to impute Righteousness unto them without the deeds of the Law to behold the Creature in the Righteousness of his Son and to bestow upon him Heavenly felicity and eternal life is admirable Mercy and he is to be admired in all them that believe it 2 Thes 1.10 They may say with the Psalmist What is man that thou art mindful of him or the Son of man that thou visitest him Psal 8.4 And with the Apostle O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his Judgments and his ways past finding out For who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his Counseller or who hath first given to him and it shall be recompenced unto him again for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Rom. 11.33 34 35 36. Thirdly Is it so The third Vse is of Examination Self Examination of our hearts and ways is a Christians duty and of great concernment that holiness ever becometh the people of God and to be found adorned therewith is matter of great concernment it may then put us upon a third Use by way of Examination to move us to examine our own hearts and wayes how far we have attained to the Ornament of holiness which so becometh the people of God And in the prosecution of this Duty two things are to be considered First Our hearts or inward man Secondly Our wayes or outward walkings We may know our holiness by our Heavenliness Hath the Lord through the illuminations of his Spirit and the operations thereof manifested to thy Soul the great sufferings of Christ to procure the pardon of thy sins together with the priviledges of Adoption Justification and Salvation hath he shewed thee the dignity of Christ in respect of his Offices King Priest and Prophet hath he sealed the benefits and priviledges thereof to thy Soul with the signet of his Love through the demonstrations of his holy Spirit to thy great Consolation in the enjoyments thereof so that thy mind and affections are thereby raised up from Earthly and Carnal objects and seated on God with so earnest a desire and delight in him that thou canst truly say with the Psalmest Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none opon Earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73.25 Thy Testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart Psal 119.111 When thou canst experience by a supernatural work of grace that thy affections are so fixed on the Lord that thou canst sincerely love him for his own sake and in love to him bear an affectionate esteem to and delight in his Testimonies Statutes Ordinances and Commands so as to make them thy choyce Psal 119.30 or chosen Subjects of thy meditations and rule of observations when thou canst experience thy will by grace made free to stand in the will of God so as in love to him submit and wait upon him in all his dispensations serve worship and obey him in all his institutions When thou canst experience thy desires drawn forth towards him with holy longings thirstings and pantings after more enjoyments of him and supplications to him for further strength and power of grace to assist thee support and uphold thee against those corruptions and temptations that attend thee lest thou shouldest thereby be overcome to sin against God to the dishonour of his Name the grief of his Spirits and stain the profession of his Truth When thou canst experience this end in thy desires and supplications for his assisting grace as aforesaid The Saints end in their desires and supplications to God for grace A right end Crowns the action not only that thou mightest not dishonour God by sin but also that thou mightest honour him by such motions and actions as may answer his will in his commands to the experiencing of self-ends self-righteousness self-merits and carnal delights and the vain pleasures of this world in a dying or dead condition in thee and thee dead to them so as not to have any motion or action thereunto approved by thee when thou canst experience such a Love to the Lord as that for his sake thou canst perform Offices of Love towards all men as opportunity serveth thee Gal. 6.10 and that as they are his Workmanship by Creation but especially to his Saints as they bare his Image by Regeneration for every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 1 Joh. 5.1 So when thou canst experience such a supernatural work of grace in thee every
presseth after it but lying under the sense of his own weakness is cast down with doubts and fears of his not being accepted with God because he cannot attain to Holiness in the perfection thereof But although the full perfection of Holiness will not be attained till this vile Body be changed and this Mortal hath put on Immortality yet notwithstanding when the Creatures Endeavours after Holiness do arise from the work of Grace and renewed Mind and are performed in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ the spots and stains of Sin being beheld with grief of heart and the Blood of Christ thereunto applied by Faith both Persoâ— and Performance shall assuredly be accepted and through the sanctifying Grace of Christ shall appear in the comely Ornament of Holiness without spot before the Throne of God who did from eternity behold and accept his people in his Son and not in themselves as hath been before considered CHAP. IV. Of the Use of Exhortation A Fourth Use that presenteth it self unto us from the aforementioned Considerations is an Use of Exhortation Hath God chosen his people in Christ that they should be holy hath he called them thereunto with an holy Calling hath he commanded them to be holy in all manner of Conversation Then let us be exhorted to strive to answer Gods end in electing calling and commanding us to be holy by pressing after Holiness in the use of that means that God hath ordained to accomplish that End let us put on that noble Spirit of Blessed Paul that Servant of God I press towards the Mark saith he for the price of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.14 Holiness is an high Calling yea it is an high Calling of God in Jesus Christ well becoming the people of God Men are most earnest after a Comodity when they consider these two particulars in it first the Necessity of it secondly the Excellency of it wherefore to press on the Exhortation on our Spirits let us consider Holiness in these two particulars First Holiness is of great necessity for saith the Scripture without Holiness no man shall see the Lord. Hebr. 12.14 Want of Holiness deprives a Soul of the comfortable enjoyment of God Adam when he had defiled himself with Sin was thrust out of Paradice from the comfortable enjoyments and paradicical priviledges he was there invested with It is true that wicked men may and many times do enjoy a great measure of this worlds felicity in respect of the Riches Honours and Pleasures thereof while Gods faithful Servants suffer hard things which made David at a stand till he went into the Sanctuary of God and gained understanding in the Promises of true Felicity in eternal life made to the sanctified ones and then he understood the End of those wicked and unholy men That as to true peace with God and assurance of his favour as to enjoyment of Communion with him in Grace here or in Glory hereafter there is no Promise made to them in that their unsanctified estate and therefore he puts on this resolution But as for me I will behold thy Face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Psal 17.15 There is no beholding God without Holiness with true satisfaction to thy Soul Wherefore let that Exhortation of the Apostle be an Exhortation to us Follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. O let the consideration of the necessity of Holiness strengthen the Exhortation upon our Spirits so as to quicken us in our motion after the attainments thereof Secondly let us be exhorted to put on this Ornament of Holiness upon the consideration of the Excellency of it the which is very great in several respects first it is very beautiful in the sight of God it beareth his Image and adorns the Soul with the likeness of himself it beautifieth the Profession of Truth and filleth the Soul with Love both towards God and towards all men yea those excellent fruits of the Spirit as Love Joy Peâ—ce Long-suffering Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against which there is no Law What are they but effects of Sanctification 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Pet. 1.2 therefore let all persons that make profession of Christ be exhorted to worship the Lord in the Beauties of Holiness Ps 110.3 Ps 96.9 Secondly Holiness is of great Excellency in respect of its Descent it is of an heavenly Birth those only are the persons invested with it that are born not of Blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God Joh. 1.13 Joh. 3.3 5. It is the Church that is sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be Saints Rom. 1.7 1 Cor. 1.2 and for the Church he gave himself that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water through the Word that he might present it to himself a Glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Ephes 5.26 27. Holiness is therefore of great Excellency as also the Excellency of Holiness doth demonstrate it self by its Valuation nothing below the precious Blood of Jesus Christ could be a valuable price to purchase it 1 Pet. 1.18 19. yea those excellent Vertues that are in Charity must needs accompany 〈…〉 viz. it suffereth long and is kind 〈…〉 not it vaunteth not it self is not pâ—â—â—eâ— up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth it may be said though I speak with the tongues of Men and Angels though I understand all Mysteries though I bestow all my Goods to feed the Poor and give my Body to be burned and have not Holiness it profiteth me nothing O! therefore follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Thirdly Holiness is of great Excellency in regard of the priviledges it brings to the Soul it gives peace of Conscience and Comfort in a dying hour it gives Boldness to appear before the great tribunal Seat of Justice to behold the Face of the Judg with assurance of his Favour when the great Men of the Earth and the rich Men and the chief Captains and the mighty Men and every Bond-man and every Free-man that is not adorned with Holiness shall call to the Rocks and Mountains to hide them from the Face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb Revel 6.15 16. O! what would many a poor Soul give to be found in this Ornament of Holiness when Death shall summons him to the Grave and this Consideration is upon his Spirit that the next thing he hath to do after Death is to arise and come too Judgment when all his Riches Honours Pleasures and delightful Vanities carnal Friends and Companions in Iniquity with all those goodly things his Soul hath lusted after shall be turned into
Gall and Bitterness to his Soul and become his miserable Comforters to the greater horrour of his Conscience and the furtherance of his condemnation See Rom. 2.9 When tribulation and anguish shall be upon the Soul then will the poor Soul bewail his former Folly and careless Negligence in slighting the Means of Grace and the precious Price put into his hand and he had not a heart to improve it Prov. 17.16 and all those things whereon his heart was fixed shall be dissolved according as it is written But the Day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the night in the which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat and the Earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness 2 Pet. 3.10 11. Fourthly let us consider this Ornament of Holiness in respect of the Duration of it Holiness is an everlasting Ornament unto the people of God it becometh Gods House for ever It is the Wisdom of the Children of this world That when they want any Commodity as Apparel or otherwise they will endeavour to obtain it with these three considerations in their eye first where they may buy at the best hand or cheapest rate secondly which Commodities are likely to be of longest continuance thirdly which are most beautiful and fashionable Now let us cast our eye upon this Ornament of Holiness of which there is so much necessity that without it no man shall see the Lord and we may behold it tendred unto us at a very cheap rate as on our part for although Gold and Silver will not purchase it yet God doth freely give it in the use of the means that he hath ordained to effect it Let us then improve the means and God hath promised a Blessing It will indeed cost us the parting with our rotten rags of the Old man but what are they in comparison to the Ornaments of the New man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness it may be it will cost us the parting with our former Companions in worldly vanities and not only our gross sins but our own Righteousness which is of the Law Phil. 3. It may be it will cost us the parting with a good Name among men and with our Goods Liberty and Life which are things near and dear unto us but if we part with all these for Holiness we shall be abundantly gainers by the hand for what are corrupt Lusts and carnal Vanities in comparison of the Gifts and Graces and spiritual enjoyments of Christ and what is the Fellowship of carnal Friends and vain Companions unto the Communion of God in Jesus Christ and the Fellowship of the Saints and what are the Sufferings of Gods people though in Name Person and Estate in comparison of that exceeding and eternal weight of Glory promised unto a holy life Holiness doth far surpass all valuations that can be laid in opposition to it wherefore let us lay out for Holiness it is a rich bargain at the highest Rate Secondly Holiness is an Ornament exceeding durable in respect of its Use and Service the more it is made use of the more excellent it is Holiness is every way serviceable to the Creature it helps the Creature to glorifie God in obedience to his Commands as to find acceptance with him it helps towards peace of Conscience and Comfort in a dying hour it helps towards a sanctified use of all the Creatures with comfort in the enjoyments of them it helps a Soul to the sight of God and that blessed enjoyment of Communion with him in Glory Yea it is serviceable upon all accounts at all times in in all places in all companies in all conditions provided the Creature cast it not off as a Garment out of fashion esteem but put it on and gird it to him and be always found in it and it will be so serviceable to him that as abovesaid the more it is made use of the more excellent it is For Thirdly Holiness is never out of fashion and esteem with God and good men it is that which God in Christ designed from Eternity to accomplish in his people and Holiness shall be the Ornament of the people of God unto Eternity when all these outward things shall be dissolved holiness shall remain in its primitive beauty Holiness accompanieth and beautifies a Soul not only in this life but also in the life to come as saith the Text Holiness becometh thine House O Lord for ever O let us be exhorted and moved therefore by all these forementioned considerations to run the Race set before us to press after the Mark for the Price of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.14 to follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 CHAP. V. Containing some Directions how to puâ— on the Ornament of Holiness I Shall now apply my self to the enquiring Soul which happily may propound this question You exhort us to Holiness and to press after it because iâ— is excellent and of great necessity buâ— what course may we take that we may so press after Holiness as to obtain it In answer hereunto I shall lay before you these ensuing Considerations by way of Direction First I shall propound to your consideration the center where Holiness togetheâ— with the means for the obtaining thereof is placed Secondly the way in which a man must walk and the manner how he must press on to the Center where Holiness is centered so as to obtain the same First as Holiness in its perfection resideth in God the Father so Holiness together with the means for the effecting the same in the Children of Men is of the Father centered in God the Son Jesus Christ both God and man and by the holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son in its powerful influences and operations upon the inward man is wrought and effected in them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be Saints through the exercise of Faith in Christ Now for the clearing up of these things to our understanding let us consider some Scripture-Testimonies The Apostle Paul speaking of Jesus Christ hath these Expressions For it pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell Coll. 1.19 And in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 Saint John saith And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Joh. 1.14 in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg Col. 2.3 and of his Fulness have all we received and Grace for Grace Joh. 1.16 So that in Christ is centered both Holiness and the means to produce Holiness in the Sons and
of Christ Doubtless this was one among the rest the Vertue and Tendency of his Words was unto the Aâ—tainments of Holiness and Heavens Happiness to her Soul the words of Eternal Life This is that Lyon of the Tribe of Juda and Root of David that hath prevailed to open the Sealed Book Revel 5.5 even the Mysteries of the Kingdom and way of Holiness which from the beginning was hid in God but now made manifest for the Obedience of Faith This is that great Prophet of whom Moses spake saying A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you and it shall come to pass that every Soul that will not hear that Prophet shall be cut off from his people or I saith the Lord will require it of him Deuter. 18.18 Act. 3.22 23. Whence note by the way First That God the Father according to his fore-determination and ancient Promise hath raised up Jesus Christ and orâ—ained him chief Prophet to his People Secondly Christ the Mediator between God and Man Jesus Christ is here said to be a Prophet like unto Mosâ—s that is as Moses in that day did stand as a Mediator between God and his People to receive the holy and lively Oracles of the Mind and Will of God from the Mouth of God and dispence the same unto the People in that Dispensation so Christ is the Mediator between God and Man now under the New Covenant to receive of the Father the lively Oracles of the Mind and will of the Father and to communicate them unto the Sons and Daughters of Men in this Dispensation of the New Covenant Thirdly An Advertisement to all persons to observe the Voice of Christ in the Ministry of his Word a third thing to be noted here is the Injunction or Command of the Father Him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Fourthly the Danger that will ensue to that Soul that doth not hearken to this Prophet I will require it of him saith the Lord Deut. 18.19 Fifthly One thing more is considerable in vers An Advertisement to all Preachers to take heel they preach not any thing that the Voice of Christ in his Word doth not own 20. that if any Prophet shall presume to speak a Word in my Name saith the Lord that I have not commanded him or that shall speak in the Name of other Gods that Prophet shall die Would a poor Soul attain to Holiness so as to have an Interest in that comely Ornament then consider Jesus Christ in the Execution of his Prophetical Office which standeth in a revealing or discovering the Mind and Will of God the Father unto the Sons and Daughters of men with Advertisements and Perswasions to a Reception of the same and a walking answerable thereunto The Prosecution of which Office he did perform doctrinally in his own person in the days of his Humiliation and in the days of his Exaltation by his Spirit in his Apostles by immediate Inspiration whose Doctrine and Practice for Church-Constitution Order of Worship and Discipline he confirmed to all succeeding Generations with Signs and Wonders and Gifts of the Holy Ghost Heb. 2.4 and since more ordinarily by the Ministry of the word confirmed as aforesaid I say more ordinarily by the Offices and Officers as Pastors and Teachers gifted for the work of the Ministry to teach those confirmed Truths of Jesus Christ contained in his Gospel unto the Sons and Daughters of Men for their Conversion Edification Comfort and Confirmation of them in the Faith and Practice of all his holy Laws Ordinances and Order of Government and Discipline according to his own Institution Pattern and Appointment together with all those Promises and Priviledges in his Word of Truth given out to them that in Love and Loyalty unto him and his Soveraignty subject unto him and walk with him in the same Hereunto doth the Holy Ghost by the Apostle Paul witness Eph. 4.8 When he ascended up on high he led Captivity captive and gave Gifts unto men and vers 11. he gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the stature of the Fulness of Christ that we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning Craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive but speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the Head even Christ Ephes 4.11 12 13 14 15. Some few things I would here note by the way The Gospel Verities are Gods Oracles by him confirm'd to us for standing truths to be highly prized and faithfully embraced the Fountain from whence they flow being considered First that the Gospel-Dispensation is the lively and holy Oracles or Word of God the Father which Christ by his Prophetical Office hath received of the Father and made known to us the Sons and Daughters of Men and confirmed to us by the witness of the Father not only by the Resurrection of his Son but also by signs and wonders and Gifts of the Holy Ghost for the Glory of his Name and the Salvation of those that so embrace it as the Oracles of God so confirmed Secondly those Pastors and Teachers that in Love and Obedience to the Lord do make the Apostolical confirmed-Doctrine and Practice their Rule and Ground of Doctrine and Practice for Conversion of Souls to Christ An Advâ—rtisement to Gods people both Preachers and Hearers to keep close to the Gospel-Rule Constitution of Churches Admittance of Members Order of Government and Discipline accordingly are such as Christ hath given and gifted as Ministers in his hand Revel 1.20 whereby he doth prosecute perseveringly from age to age his Prophetical Office in order to Mans Salvation Thirdly the natural Use The Gospel is of great excellency and concernment to poor sinners the use tendency of is being coâ—sidered Vertue and proper Tendency of the Gospel Apostolically taught observed and confirmed as aforesaid is the ordinary means by the Father put into the Heart and Hand of Christ for Mans Edification in the Knowledg of Christ Unity in the Faith of Christ a Participation of the Fulness of Christ unto an attainment of Perfection in Christ together with Stability in Christ unto Salvation by Christ through believing in Christ and conforming to Christ in the Teachings and Administrations thereof wherefore as I am upon an Use of Direction to the enquiring Soul after the way to Holiness Attainments or the Attainment to Holiness so I have set before thee Jesus Christ in his Offices as an Object whom
Persecution arise against them Christians are required to pray for the civil Magistrate for Kings and all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour The Office of Magistracy is an Ordinance of God appointed to execute Justice against evil doers but for the praises and protection of them that do well the Office is weighty and of great concernment and requires not only humain Wisdom and Counsel but divine also to the well management thereof therefore it is of concernment that God be sought unto both by the Magistrate and also by the Subjects on the Magistrates behalf for divine assistance in Wisdom Understanding and Faithfulness of heart for the well management of the civil Laws according to the Will of God and the glory of his Name and the Subjects priviledges Wherefore as Gospel-injunction doth require the duty take heed of omitting the same lest it become a sin defiling and staining the Ornament of Holiness in your attainments thereof Also consider that this duty of Prayer is extended as the duty of every Christian not only for themselves but also for one another and for Enemies and Persecutors Therefore take heed omit not the duty lest it become sin unto us of a deep pollution Continue in Prayer and watch thereunto with thanksgiving Col. 4.2 Note Here is a further duty to be joyned with Prayer for Christians to be active in and that is Thanks-giving All our enjoyments are said to be sanctified to us by the Word of God and Prayer and are to be received with thanks-giving He that offereth praise glorifieth me saith the Lord Praises and thanks-giving to God is a Heavenly exercise a work requirable here in the Kingdom of grace and more perfectly performed in the Kingdom of glory by Saints and Angels in their glorified state God that hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus is worthy of all praise and thanksgiving to the glory of his Name from him we receive all our spiritual and temporal enjoyments and unto him belongeth praise and thanksgiving to the glory of his Name Every mercy enjoyed calls for a return of praise to the Lord from whom it doth proceed Therefore let us be careful here take heed of omitting this great duty lest we be found deep in sin and our Ornaments of Holiness be defiled Ten Leapers were cleansed by Christ but where are the nine only one returned to praise the Lord. Take heed therefore watch and pray that you may be sensible of God's mercies afforded and not forgetful of your returns I cannot here stand to number up the mercies afforded to us they are great and large yet here is one among the many I would say somthing to It is not long since a strong rough East wind did blow upon us for several years it may be the Lord had a good end in it as to sift us to prove and try the reality of our hearts towards him in our undertakings to blow away the Chaff but to preserve the Wheat so that although tryed yet the Lord in measure did debate with it so that although under the left hand of affliction yet upholden by a right hand of mercy So that as the Apostle saith We were troubled on every side yet not distressed Persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed Herein are we to behold God's hand with much thankfulness and to take heed that we forget not his Providences under which rough dispensation we may remember that we did set several days apart to seek the Lord by Fasting Prayer laying our condition cause before him And for as much as it hath pleased the Lord suddenly to turn back the rough stormy wind and to bring a calmy Southern serene refreshing gale upon us in such a way as was unexpected by us although our hope in him was for a deliverance in his time and which way should seem good unto himself for the glory of his name and indeed as the Lord is admirable in all his works and ways so in this that by the same hand he did chastise us by the same hand he should deliver us as if the Lord was minded to seal the truth of those words of Solomon unto us that the Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water he turneth it whither soever he will Prov. 21.1 O who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his Counseller did we think such a thing or did our Prosecutors expect it may not we herein say with the Psalmist When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion we were like them that dream Rather question whether it was a real thing or a fained then readily to believe it But for-as-much as it hath pleased God thus admirably to answer our poor Petitions put up unto him in the name of Jesus Christ beyond our deservings or expectations let us in these ensuing particulars be very cautious and take heed and beware First That we do not omit the attribution of this our deliverances to the Lord to the glory of his Name as the original Author thereof and to the King as an instrument in his hand lest the omission hereof become sin unto us and a stain unto our holy Atchievments but rather with Ezra say Blessed be the Lord that hath put such a thing as this in the Kings heart Secondly That we be very cautious and take great heed and beware of omitting our duty in a return of praises sutable to the benefits we receive by the Lords answering us in our requests unto him O let it not be said of us as once of Hezekiah But he rendered not again according to the Benefit done unto him 2 Chro. 32.25 And of Israel that when he slew them Then they sought him and enquired early after God and they remembred that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer Psal 78.34 35. but they soon forgot his works they waited not for his Counsel Psal 106.13 But rather so apply and improve his benefits herein as to make them the greater obligation to us to love the Lord to trust in him and to wait upon him in his holy appointments as long as we live as saith the Psalmist I love the Lord because he hath heard my voyce and my supplication because he hath enclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live Psal 116.1 2. Thirdly Let us be very cautious and take heed unto our selves and beware that by Carnal security we abuse not our liberty and priviledge of prosperity by acts of vanity and neglect of our duties in true Christianity and so make our priviledge of liberty and prosperity to become of greater damage to us than ten or twelve years of Persecution hath ever yet done for as much as we shall sin under the greater Mercies and so
unexpressible by the tongue of Men or Angels whereby Faith is the more confirmed and hope revived patience the more perfected the affections the more enflamed with desires and holy longings after further communion and fellowship with Christ whence these streams of living waters flow Stay me with Flagons saith the Espoused Soul For I am sick of Love Cant 2.5 chap. 8.6 chap. 2.14 chap. 5.16 chap. 1.2 Set me as a seal upon thy heart as a seal upon thine arm Let me see thy Countenance let me hear thy Voyce for sweet is thy Voyce and thy Countenance is comely he is altogether lovely Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for his love is better than Wine Thy Name is as oyntment poured forth therefore do the Virgins love thee And hence it is that Paul so highly esteemeth the knowledge of Christ as the most excellent of all knowledge and his Being in Christ the most excellent Being There he might drink his fill of the River of the most excellent pleasures even the pleasures of God and the joy of the Saints And therefore if ever we would overcome our corruptions and break off our affections from self and the world if ever we would have our hearts cleansed of sin and furnished with the qualifications of grace and evidences of assurance of eternal life then let us run the race that is set before us improving the means given out unto us looking to Jesus that spiritual Rock in whom all the the springs of free grace is centured and from whom all the streams thereof do flow unto Believers for their comfort support strengthening refreshing and confirming of them in the assurance of a possession in the promised Inheritance and weight of glory far exceeding all the glory of this present world If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith unto thee give me to drink Thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water Joh. 4.10 Motive the Sixth A sixth Motive and encouragement to a careful improvement of the aforesaid means against the aforesaid distempers may arise from the consideration of our sad estate whilst we are slaves unto those corrupt Lusts what heart so hard as will not a little commiserate the condition of such as are in captivity and slavery under the dominion of the Turks What poverty and want what hard service and cruel bondage such under-goe we have had related to us O what would such poor slaves give if they had it to be freed from such a bondage that they might enjoy the liberty and plenty of their Fathers house O how welcome would a Ransom be to such how readily would they accept thereof And shall not we consider and commiserate the sad estate of our selves whilst we are in bondage and slavery under the dominion of sin the Horseleach and her Brood Corrupt Lusts which war against the soul 1 Pet. 2.11 and force the Creature to run and go at every beck wait all opportunities and improve all means to satisfie the greedy appetites of carnal desire and unsanctified love to self and the world whilst the poor soul is faint to feed on Husks and pine and starve for want of food and bread enough in the Fathers house and a Ransom given for liberty thereunto and invitations to partake thereof and acceptation promised upon return and the poor carnal is so blinded with the God of this world and so enslaved to its Lusts through that contract between the affections and self and the world That although there be a price put in the hand to get Wisdom as Solomon saith yet he hath no heart thereunto Motive the Seaventh Seaventhly We may be moved and encouraged to a careful improvement of the means aforesaid in order to a Cure of our aforesaid disease by the due consideration of that eternal woful misery that this slavery to our Lusts will bring upon us if the aforesaid conjunction be not timely broken and the heart cleansed of the lusts therein conceived through that contract when God shall say unto us Go unto the Gods your Lusts whom ye have served Remember now in Youth and Age Thy sinful Lusts to mortifie For they sad Evils do presage To those that to them live and in them dye and let them deliver you then shall they call upon me saith the Lord but I will not answer they shall seek me early but shall not find me for that they hated knowledg and did not chose the fear of the Lord they would none of my Counsel they despised all my reproofs therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own doings the turning away of the simple shal slay them And as the Apostle Paul affirmeth 2 Thes 8 9. The Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power O sad slavery and servitude that bring-forth such sad effects To be Slaves to the Turks is but a temporal slavery of the body for a short time but the slavery to the lusts of Corruption tendeth to eternal wo and misery if not timely prevented Wherefore as ye have yeilded your Members servants to your Lusts unto Iniquity so now yeild your selves Servants to Righteousness unto Holiness For whilst ye are the Servants of sin ye are free from Righteousness and the end thereof is death Rom. 6.19 20 21 22. Motive the Eighth The eighth Motive to the aforesaid work may be the consideration of the little time we have in this life to mortifie our Corruptions and subdue our Lusts and crucifie the world and to deny self and so follow Christ in the way of his Commandements in holy sanctity to the glory of the Father and honour of the Son and edification and comfort and encouragement of his people and to get a stock of grace to help us in a time of Need. When our time is over our opportunities cease and therefore as Solomon faith Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do i. e. in answer to the will of God Do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest Eccle. 9.10 Therefore saith the Holy Ghost To day if ye will hear his voyce harden not your hearts that is neglect not the time reject not the means while they are afforded for time and means will not always attend upon us as saith the Holy Ghost Now is the acceptable time now is the day of Salvation i. e. now Christ with Salvation in him is freely tendred now the voyce of Christ in the Gospel is clearly demonstrated and the true light now shineth with the bright and beautiful beams of the Son of Righteousness now Christ waits upon us in the dispensation of his precious
And shall we suffer Gods Treasury to be defiled and polluted with these filthy worms seeing God hath put a price in our hands for a remedy seeing he hath opened a fountain of living springs of water of life for sin and for uncleanness Zach. 13.1 And seeing he hath commanded us to improve the same for cleansing O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Jer. 4.14 Wilt thou not be made clean when shall it once be Jer. 13.27 Motive the Twelfth Or A Use of encouragement to encourage us to a right and serious improvement of the aforesaid means to the breach of that affinity between our affections and self and the world and the subduing of those Lusts conceived in the heart thereby may be the consideration that they are the principal Enemies to true Reformation in Church and State The which Reformation hath been the subject of discourse in the mouths of many and in the prayers and desires of some for many years But until the Creatures affections be disunited from self and the world and really united to Christ and his Supremacy so that the honour of Christ and the promoting of his interest in his truth and people become in us the principle and only end and aime in all endeavours and self and the world denyed and cast aside We are unlikely to see either the birth or growth of that truly called Reformation in Church and State for self and the world retained in affinity with love and desire will assuredly hinder the work they are Enemies thereunto Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God Whosoever will be a Friend of the World is an Enemy of God Jam. 4.4 And as Saint John saith Love not the world nor the things in the world If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him 1 Joh. 2.15 In Ezras time when they were upon the work of Reformation in Church and State it is said of Ezra that he had Prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord and to do it Ezra 7.10 And they the better to compleat their Reformation fell to reforming the strange Marriages as a great evil and the more to be lamented because the Princes and Rulers were chief in that Trespass Thence came in Idolatry and many abominations of the Heathen and until this was Reformed all was but to little purpose therefore in this work they put away both Wives and all Born of them So also except this unlawful conjunction of affinity between our affections and self and the world be broken and self and the world put away and all born of them there is like to be no true Reformation compleated because self-ends and worldly interests will assuredly hinder the work But if one hearts were but truly reformed and with Ezras Prepared to seek the Law of the Lord and to do it the principle part of the work in the furtherance of Reformation in Church and State would be accomplished Wherefore as it is written Set your affections on things above and not on things on the Earth Col. 3.3 Draw nigh unto God and he will draw nigh unto you cleanse your hands ye Sinners and purifie your hearts ye double-minded Jam. 5.8 Motive the Thirteenth Or A Use of encouragement to a careful and diligent Use of the means prescribed may be the consideration of that pollution and defilement that this disease aforesaid will bring upon our most Religious performances If we will be Religious except this affinity be broken i. e. self and the world put away and all those Lusts by their influence in the heart conceived and the heart prepared and set for God only all Religious exercises must be dedicated unto self and the world If one in this affinity go to hear the Word yea if he Pray or Preach or perform any Religious exercise it will bring in self-Righteousness self-Justification or self-Pride in knowledg and gifts or for the praise of men yea all must be done to be seen of men and for worldly applause profit honour and advancement as our Saviour saith of the Scribes and Pharisees All their works they do to be seen of men and love the uppermost seats and to be called Rabbi and for a pretence make long Prayers Wherefore our Saviour compareth them to such as make clean the out-side and leave the inside filthy and to painted Supulchres beautiful outwardly in shew of Religious observations yet the heart full of pollution with these greedy worms to the devouring the Poor they devoured Widdows Houses as Christ seems to charge them And what is the Reason of this surely self and the world were retained in affinity with love and desire and therefore self-ends and worldly interests becomes the wheel of motion in all the actions of the unsanctified heart and is not this the cause and ground of that sad complaint that the Lord by the Prophet taketh up against the Priests and Prophets and Judges of Israel of old Thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets that make my people erre that bite with the Teeth and cry peace and he that putteth not into their mouths they even prepare war against him therefore Night shall be unto you Micah 3.5 The Heads thereof judge for reward and the Priests thereof Teach for hire and the Prophets thereof Divine for money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say is not the Lord among us ver 11. And what is the reason of all this surely the Horse-leach and her Daughters corrupt affections in affinity with self and the world do Monopolise all persons all places of dignity and honour all gifts all knowledge and all religious offices and performances unto themselves Where this affinity is retained as to have its lively residence in the heart all must be monopolised to self and worldly interests But I would present to consideration that more excellent way laid down by the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians which is the way of Charity without which all is nothing in the Lords esteem as saith the Apostle Though I speak with the tongues of Men and of Angels and have not Charity I am but as sounding Brass and a tinkling Cymbal And though I have the gift of Prophesie and understand all mysteries and all knowledge yea and all faith so that I could remove Mountains and have no Charity I am nothing and though I give all my goods to feed the Poor and my body to be burned and have not Charity it profits me nothing Whence Note that our highest actions will not reach to Gods approvance except Charity be a compound in the same Yea so excellent is the nature and vertue of Charity and of esteem with God that the meanest actions of it be but the gift of a cup of cold water where there is no better if compounded with Charity it hath the promise of reward so highly is Charity in
composed to the end that these lines within contained may be your Companions to consult with as you have opportunities thereunto and to remind you of your great concernments and be some direction to you in the way of Holy and Heavenly attainments when I have put off this my Tabernacle and am Deceased from you Wherefore let me remind you with the words of David to Solomon his Son Know ye the God of your Father and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts If you seek him he will be found of you but if ye forsake him he will cast you off for ever 1 Chron. 28.9 Take this promise also along in your Considerations which saith Then shall ye know if ye follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the Morning he shall come unto us as the Rain as the former and latter Rain upon the Earth Hos 6.3 As the going forth of the Morning light expelleth the darkness of the Night away and increaseth more and more unto the perfect day so will the Lord with the light of the Son of Righteousness the beams of his special favours in Christ break forth upon your souls to refresh nourish comfort and rejoyce your souls and cause you to grow up unto a state of perfection in Jesus Christ as the fruits of the Earth by the former and latter Rain For the Eyes of the Lord run too and fro throughout the whole Earth to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose hearts are perfect towards him 2 Chron. 16.9 The Lord is good a strong hold in the day of trouble and he knoweth them that trust in him Nahum 1.7 Wherefore eye the Lord in his providences and wait upon him in his dispensations praise him for all his Benefits trust in him at all times in all conditions and confide in him for the performance of all his promises in Christ unto you always remembring that he is faithful that hath promised One Text more I would mind you of which saith thus And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his Father David 2 Cor. 17.3.4 and sought not unto Baalim but sought to the Lord God of his Father and walked in his Commandements and not after the doings of Israel And now my dear Children my desire is that you would make my failings your warnings and what you have heard and seen in me of good make that examplary for your imitation and the God of peace be with you and make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen So I commit you to the Lord and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among them that are sanctified hoping in Heavenly glory You to see enjoying of each other in felicity Your loving Father Josias Bonham A word to my Book and I have done BEhold I send thee forth to th'Church and World Not knowing in whose hands thou may'st be hurld As well as Friends thou maist meet with Foes That will thy Plainness and thy Truth oppose Some may perhaps thee friendly entertain Whilst other-some behold thee with disdain But whether it be so or whether not Thou may'st expect it as thy adverss Lot For this be sure thou must expect to pass Through good and bad report for why alass Who so Gods Errand tells must bare his Cross Deny himself to his external loss
believeth not the Record that God gave of his Son Joh. 5.10 O what an obstruction is here to the Creatures attainments unto Holiness and Heavens Happiness O what a sad consequence doth follow hereupon He that believeth not is Condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God Joh. 3.18 O what a heart-worm is here that eateth out the very life of the Creature to Gods great dishonour and the Creatures ruine except such obstructions to be timely removed Another of this brood is Sloath in God's Service This greedy Heart-worm is a great obstruction to the use and efficasy of God's word and to the efficacy of the Creatures performances in God's Service This greedy Worm by its influence and operation in the heart devours all the Creatures Zeal for God and fervency in any performances in order to the worship and service of God This worm doth much hinder the Creature and obstruct its improvement of Gods Word and Ordinances to Gods Glory and its own benefit by application and meditation and action as it ought to do and hence or hereunto are those words of Solomon The sloathful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting Prov. 12.27 that is he doth not improve the means afforded as aforesaid What need saith Sloath so much strictness and preciseness in spending so much time in reading hearing preaching prayer meditation and assembling so often it is time enough for these things hereafter and the like the which 〈◊〉 of sad consequence for hereby God wants that honour that is due from the Creature unto his Name and the poor soul wants that spiritual nourishment to refresh comfort strengthen and support it in the way to its eternal rest whereby the poor soul is impoverished and destitute or at least much weakened in its knowledg faith hope love zeal and comfortable assurance in the Lord which in a good improvement of the means through Gods blessing hereupon happily it might have enjoyed Consider the foolish Virgins and the sloathful Servant that improved not his Talent Another of this Generation is Voluptiousness whose nature is most delightful in excessive feasting and drunkenness with other carnal delights and pleasures This Brat once getting residence in the heart and suffered doth much obstruct and destroy those vertues of moderation temperance sobriety and charity c. This is likewise an insatiable greedy Worm and doth much enslave the Creature for by its influence and operation it doth strongly work upon the Creature to yeald both Person and Purse Lands Livings and Lordships Time and Opportunity though never so precious all must be dedicated to the use and service of this greedy-guts this unsatiable heart-worm by whose influence those persons seem to be steered that Paul to the Philippians speaketh of chap. 3.19 Whose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things but as Solomon saith A word to the Wife is sufficient So I do but give a hint of these things to put you in mind of the sad effects of sin and of that conjunction wherein the Creatures affections and the world and self are united I have heard an Astrological story that when two malignant Planets as Mars and Saturn happen in Conjunction together in one Aspect House or Sign that that altogether operate to the prejudice of man by producing the sad effects of losses crosses sicknesses wars contentions death and the like But whether this be so or not sure I am that this is truth that when there is a Conjunction between the Creatures affections and self and the world that the operations and effects thereof is sad indeed for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it for thereby the understanding is darkened and the clear light of the Son of Righteousness eclipsed from the Soul the apprehensions be-nummed the judgment mis-informed the will obstinate and averse to the things of God the bowels of compassion shut up the hand of pitty clinched fast so that God may call in his word his spirit may strive Christ may weep and Lazarus may beg and Christs Ministers may like a Candle spend themselves to give light to others and yet all will do but little and why Corruption hath wrought a Conjunction between the Creatures affections and self and the world and therefore self-denyal and the loss of the worlds favour to follow Christ in his ways is become a hard saying who can bare it Many of the Rulers believed on Christ saith the Scriptures but they did not confess him for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God and many could follow Christ for the Loaves for self and worldly interests but when it cometh to pass that this conjunction must be broken and self and the world must be denyed to follow Christ in all his precepts and examples of sanctity and true holiness of life then the young man and the old also goes away sorrowful Demas must rather forsake Christ and his ways and all those of Asia forsake Paul and the true profession of the Gospel rather than self and the world must be parted with Oh saith Corruption that Horseleach and unsanctified Love and carnal desire her Daughters favour thy self let not these things be Yea so prevailing are these Blood-worms even in many Gospel-professors that it was the sad complaint of the Apostle Paul in his days that he had no man like-minded to Timothy whose special care was for the promoting of Christs interest in his truth and people for saith he all seek their own and not the things of Jesus Christ And therefore it is that God doth so often give unto his own people even his chosen ones and dear Children the bitter cup of the wormseed of Afflictions on purpose to break the bed of these Heart-worms and subdue them and the oftner because his people do often through carelesness and negligence of improving the means afforded suffer these greedy worms to breed and multiply in their hearts whereby the stomack groweth weak as to a spiritual digestion of the Heavenly Manna of Gods word and the conjunction between the affections and self and the world the more strengthened It is Gods usual way in such cases ever and anon to give his people a cup of that wormseed-bitter-afflictions yet mixt with Divine love and saving ends as to break the aforesaid conjunction and to cleanse the heart of corruption and to bring the affections home unto himself and to quicken the appetite unto a good digestion of the administrations of his grace in all his dispensations In their affections they will seek me early But is it so that corruption hath brought forth such a separation of the Creatures affections from God unto a conjunction with self and the world to the conception of many evils which cannot be cured but by a supernatural means it may put us into an admiration upon a two-fold account as first we may stand and wonder with
admiration to behold what a mistery of Iniquity what a Babel of Confusion is wrought in the heart of man in his unregenerate and carnal state what Conceptions Transgression hath wrought in the nature and heart of man here is a Horseleach-Corruption and unsanctified Love and carnal desire in affinity with Self and the World whereby is conceived in the heart the wicked fruits of Envy Pride Malice sloth in Gods service Hatred S. Gal. 5.19 20 21. Hipocrisy Strife Contentions prophan-Swearing Blasphemies Drunkenness Gluttony Whoredomes Adulteries Idolatries yea all manner of prophaness and ungodliness that beareth so much sway in the world as the Apostle James saith from whence cometh wars and fightings contentions amongst you come they not even of your Lusts James 4.1 VVe are ready to lay all the fault up on the Devil and so as the first moveing cause he was But man was the Effectual cause in yeilding to the serpentine motion Our Saviour Christ was as strongly tempted as man could be yet he in not yeilding thereto could triumphingly say The Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me John 14.30 That is none of his Evil principles nor wicked qualifications found in me The Devil is here said to be the Prince of this world as he by policy with subtil Temptation did prevail with man to transgress the will of God revealed by which transgression man came to contract unto himself the natural principles and evill qualifications of the Devil And by the vertue and opperation of the said natural principles and Evil qualifications the Creature in its unregenerate corrupted state is subject naturally unto his will in opposition to the will of God and the true power of Godliness Hence our Saviour telleth the unbelieving Jews 1 Joh. 8.44 1. Joh. 5.19 Ye are of our Father the Devil and his works ye will do And hence it is that John considereth the whole world to lye in wickedness only a small remnant that by the power of grace are wrought up to a conformity to Christ of whom Christ saith John 15.19 Ye are not of the world as I am not of the world but I have called you out of the world and therefore the world hateth you First note So that Godliness and the true professors thereof are the objects of the worlds hatred Secondly note That those called out of the world were once of the world as saith Paul Eph. 2.3 4 5. It is only Gods call by grace that makes the difference Thus man by action according to the Devils motion did corrupt himself and corruption brought forth a separation of the affections from God to self and the world and hence ariseth those many evils and great abominations that are committed the which may lead us to a second use of admiration To admire Gods Patience 4 Reasons why God destroyed not the World long agoe for the wickedness thereof First for his Covenant sake long-suffering and forbearance towards man in that he did not in Justice utterly destroy all his Creation and bring it to a nothing again the which he might in Justice have done As he shewed some sad examples of his Power and Justice in Noahs time by Water and in Lots time by Fire but only for some reasons As first For the sake of his covenant of Election made in Christ before the world was the which Reason may give us to understand that all the enjoyments of honour riches pleasures and treasures that ungodly men possess in this life is for the sake of the Elect or Believers in Christ whom the ungodly so much despise and persecute To manifest his power and faithfulness to his Secondly That he might manifest his Power Wisdom and Faithfulness to the glory of his Name in making good his Covenant and fore-determinations against all oppositions which may give us to understand the great priviledge Believers have in Christ as to have God the faithful God to be their God Thirdly That he might manifest his mercy and goodness by his long-suffering and patience Rom. 2.4 with administrations of means and pledges of his Love by him made forth for mans recovery 2 Pet. 3 9. as evidences of his unwillingness to mans destruction and as inducements to lead men to Repentance and conformity unto him The which may give us to consider that those persons that obstinately persist in wickedness and conform not to his will revealed Joh. 3 19. do sin against the Divine Love Light Mercy Goodness Long-suffering and Patience of Almighty God to the furthering of their own Condemnation Fourthly That he might honour his Son according to his fore-determinations Joh 5 22 23. Jude 15. 2 Thes 1.7 8 9. with the supremacy of government to his Church and with the seat of Justice for the Execution of Judgment upon all that turn the grace of God into Laciviousness that in love to their Lusts reject the Lord Christ in his gratious Raign and righteous Government to follow their own pernitious ways The which may give us to consider that God hath an attribute of Justice as well as Mercy and in his justice he will surely chuse to deal with those that do his grace abuse For information three-fold First These considerations fore-mentioned may inform us of the generality of this Disease mans nature being corrupted Eph. 2.3 and hath this Horse-leach-corruption in it so through corruption do these worms in the heart naturally breed and so by nature a general disease Secondly It may inform us of the dangerousness of the Disease which eateth and sucketh out of all the vital parts of the Soul all the life and power of Godliness to the impoverishing the poor soul of all its evidences for Heaven and to the producing eternal wrath thereunto except there be a speedy and effectual means applyed for a remedy against the same Thirdly The Use hereof may inform us of the great concernment that lyeth upon us to look out for an eternal means and with all carefulness to improve the same for a remedy as we tender the life and eternal well-being of our souls And that we may be the more sensible of this disease and the better gain some experience of our condition in order thereunto and lest we should deceive our selves and think all is well with us when it is not so like unto that Generation that Agur speaketh of Pro. 30.12 There is a Generation saith Agur that are pure in their own eyes and yet is not washed from their filthiness therefore the better to be acquainted with our own weakness and inward distempers of the heart by these insatiable heart-worms Let us fall upon a use of tryal every one to examine his own heart and try what Conceptions we can therein discover Vse for Examination In order whereunto let us take the Glass of Gods Word and therein cast our Heart-conceptions for the better finding out or discovering of the aforesaid disease As for example The glass