fixed his residence there and the Angels serve him and attend upon him and he will be no less terrible to his foes in Sion that oppose the Gospel than he shewed himself in Sinai when he gave the Law Where the King is there his attendants are so where Christ is the Courtiers of Heaven take up their station Now Christ is with his Church to the end of the World therefore these thousands of Angels are there ready to be employed by him Now we may be sure of this Ministry 1. They delight in the Preaching of the Gospel and the explication of the mysteries of Godliness 1 Pet. 1. 12. Which things the Angels desire to look into Eph. 3. 10. To the end that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God 2. They delight in the Holy Conversation of the Godly as they are offended with all impurity filthyness and ungodliness If good men be offended at the sins of the wicked as Lots righteous soul was vexed from day to day with their ungodly deeds 2 Pet. 2. 8. much more are these holy spirits especially when all things are irregularly carryed in the worship of God 1 Cor. 11. 10. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the Angels 1 Tim. 5. 21. I charge thee before God and the Lord Iesus Christ and the Elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality 3. They fight against the devil and defend the godly in their extream dangers When the devil cometh into the Church of God like a Wolf into the flock they oppose and resist him Therefore there is said to be War in Heaven that is in the Church between Michael and his Angels and the devil and his Angels Rev. 12. 7. And there was war in heaven Michael and his Angels fought against the dragon and the dragon fought and his Angels In the highest heaven there is no War In short the Angels and Believers make one Church under one Head Christ and at length shall both live together in the same place Why doth God make use of the Ministry of Angels and how far 1. To manifest unto them the greatness and glory of his work in the recovering Mankind that their delight in the Love and Wisdom of God may be increased All holy Creatures delight in any manifestation of God the Angels more especially 1 Pet. 1. 12. Which things the angels desire to look into And Eph. 3. 11. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places may be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God Though they themselves be not the parties interested the spectators not the guests yet they are delighted in the glory of God and are kindly affectionated to the salvation of lost men and that they may have a nearer view of this mistery God gratifieth them by sending them often to attend upon the dispensation of the Gospel and to assist in it so far as is meet for Creatures They are present in our Assemblies see 1 Cor. 11. 10. 1 Tim. 5. 21. they see who is negligent in his office who hindreth the preaching of the Gospel they observe what is the success of it and when it obtaineth its effect Luk. 15. 7. There shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repeteth They are hereby more excited to praise and glorifie God and are careful to vouchsafe their attendance about the meanest that believe in him Psal. 91. 11 12. He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes They shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone 2. To maintain a society and communion between all the parts of the family of God When God gathered together the things in Heaven and in Earth he brought all into subjection and dependance upon one common head Jesus Christ Eph. 1. 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him Men by Adoption Angels by Transition are taken into the family of Christ. Now there is some intercourse between the several parts thereof our goodness extendeth not to them but is confined to the Saints on earth in whom should be our delight yet their help may be useful to us they being such excellent and glorious Creatures But we are forbidden to invoke them or trust in them God doth imploy them in the Affairs of his people Their help is not the fruit of our trust in them but their obedience to God and it is seen in frustrating the endeavors of Satan and his Instruments and other services wherein Christ employeth them God shewed this to Iacob in the Vision of the Ladder which stood upon Earth and the top reached to heaven a figure of the Providence of God especially in and about the Gospel Ioh. 1. 51. Hereafter you shall see the heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man To carry on the work of the Gospel and to promote the glory and interest of Christs Kingdom in the World Thus far in the general we may be confident of 3. To preserve his people from many dangers and casualties which fall not within the foresight of man God imployeth the watchers as they are called in the book of Daniel chap. 4. 13 17. for he is tender of his people and doth all things by proper means Now the Angels having a larger foresight than we they are appointed to be Guardians This they do according to Gods pleasure preventing many dangers which we could by no means foresee They observe the devil in all his walkes and God useth them to prevent his sudden surprizals of his people as Instances are many 4. Because they are witnesses of the Obedience and Fidelity of Christs disciples and so far as God permitteth they cannot but assist them in their conflicts Thus Paul 1 Cor. 4. 9. We are made a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men Now the Angels that are witnesses to their combates and sufferings cannot but make report to God Mat. 18. 10. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my father which is in heaven The Angels which are appointed by God to be their Guardians have their continual recourses and returns to Gods glorious presence Now being so high in Gods favour and having continual access to make their requests and complaints known to him they will not be silent in the behalf of their fellow-servants that either the trial may be lessened or grace sufficient may be given to them 5. They do not only keep off hurt but there are many blessings and benefits that we are partakers of by their ministry As
either men slight sin and make light of it or sinners are apt to sorrow above measure as the incestuous Corinthian 2 Cor. 2. 17. Lest perhaps such an one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow And the Apostle sheweth there that these were the enterprizes of Satan Some men are careless of Gods interest in the World or else heated into the activity of a bitter Zeal Some are of a scrupulous Spirit that they make Conscience of all things and the devil hurrieth them into a large Atheistical Spirit that they make conscience of nothing How often have we known a fond scrupulosity to end in a prophane Licentiousness when they have been wearyed out of that kind of frame of Spirit Some are dead and heartless like Gallio care for none of these things fight Christ fight Antichrist 't is all one to them and usually they are such as formerly have been heated with a blind and bold madness As Peter at first refused to have his feet washed by Christ and then would have head hands feet and all washed Ioh. 13. 8 9. being out in both What sad work is there made in the Church of God by Solifidians and Nullifidians heretofore 't was all Faith and Free-Grace misapplied and misunderstood and now it is all Morality and Vertue while Christ is neglected and the mystery of the Gospel little set by or valued It is ever the devils policy to work upon the humour of people If they will reform the Church it shall be to a degree of separation and condemning all Churches and Christians that are not of their mode if they be for uniting Christs unquestionable interests must be trodden under foot and all care of Truth and Reformation must be laid aside If he can destroy Religion and Godliness no otherway he will be religious and godly himself but it is either as to private Christians to set them upon overdoing that he may make them weary of the service of Christ or as to the publick by crying up some unnecessary things which Christ never commanded If men be troubled with sin and see a necessity of the Gospel and prize the comforts of it the Gospel must be overgospelled or else it will not serve their turns and that over-gospel must be carried to such a length as to destroy the very Gospel and Free Grace it self The devil first tempted the World to despise the poor Fishermen that preached the Gospel but the World being convinced by the power of the Holy Ghost and gained to the Faith then he sought by Riches and Grandeur to debase the Gospel so that he hath got as much or more by the worldly glory he puts upon Christs Messengers as by Persecution Then when that is discovered the devil will turn Reformer and what Reformation is that the very necessary support and maintainance of Ministers must be taken away All over-doing in Gods work is undoing If Christ will trust the devil will perswade him to trust even to the degree of tempting God 5. Observe That the Devil himself may pretend Scripture to put a varnish upon his evil designs For here he seeketh to foil Christ with his own weapons Which serveth to prevent a double extream 1. One is not to be frighted with the mere noise and sound of Scriptures which men bring to countenance their errors See whether they be not wrested and misapplyed for the devil may quote Scripture but he perverts the meaning of it And usually it is so by his Instruments as that Pope who would prove a double power to be in himself Temporal and Spiritual by that Scripture Ecce duo gladii Behold here are two Swords Luk. 22. 38. It is easie to rehearse the words of Scripture and therefore not the bare words but the meaning must be regarded 2. The other extream is this Let none vilifie the Scriptures because pleaded by Satan for so he might as well vilifie Human Reason which is pleaded for all the Errors in the World or Law because it is urged sometimes to justifie a bad Cause For it is not Scripture that is not a Nose of Wax as Papists say It is a great proof of the Authority and honour of Scriptures that Satan and his greatest Instruments do place their greatest hopes of prevailing by perverting and misapplying of it 6. Observe That God hath given his Angels a special charge about his people to keep them from harm Here I shall show 1. That it is so 2. Why it is so First That it is so is evident by the Scripture which every where shews us that Angels are the first Instruments of his Providence which he maketh use of in guarding his faithful servants Heb. 1. 14. The Apostle saith Are they not all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ministering spirits sent forth to minister to them that shall be the heirs of salvation Their work and employment is to attend us at Gods direction not to be worshipped and served by us by any devotion They are ministring spirits not ours but Christs he that serveth hath a Master whom he serveth and by whom he is sent forth their work and employment is to attend us indeed but at the command and direction of their own Master they are not at our beck to go and come at our pleasure neither do they go and come at their inclination but at the Commission of God Their work is appointed by him they serve us as their Masters Children at his Command and Will and whom do they serve the heirs of salvation They are described Titus 3. 7. That being justified by grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal Life They are not Ministers of conversion and sanctification to this Ministry Christ hath called Men not Angels but in preserving the converted the Angels have an hand Therefore it is notable they are sometimes called Gods Angels Psal. 103. 21. Bless the Lord all ye his hosts ye ministers of his that do his pleasure sometimes their Angels Matth. 18. 10. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do alwayes behold the face of my father which is in heaven But whether every one hath an Angel-Guardian is a curious Question Sometimes one Angel serveth many Persons Psal. 34. 7. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them And sometimes many Angels are about one person 2 King 6. 17. And behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots round about Elisha And here in the Text quoted by satan He shall give his angels charge concerning thee There is not mention made of one but many Angels and the Angels in general are said to be ministring spirits When souldiers are said to watch for a City it is not meant that every Citizen hath a Souldier to watch for him The onely place which seemeth to countenance that Opinion is Acts 12. 15. Then said they it is his Angel But if Peter
had a peculiar Angel to guard him and look after him then when he was in great trouble and detained in prison it doth not follow that every person and every where should have an Angel-Guardian Besides an assertion in Scripture must be distinguished from men introduced speaking in Scripture it sheweth indeed that it was the Opinion of the Iews at that time which these holy men had imbibed and drunk in Or it may be the word Angel is onely taken for a Messenger sent from Peter why should an Angel stand knocking at the door who could easily make his entrance And is it credible that the Guardian Angels do take their shape and habit whose Angels they are It is enough for us to believe that all the Angels are our Guardians who are sent to keep us and preserve us as it pleaseth God But what is their Ministry and Custody It is not cura animarum care and charge of Souls that Christ taketh upon himself and performeth it by his Spirit but ministerium externi auxilii to afford us outward help and relief It is custodia corporis they guard the bodily life chiefly Thus we find them often employed An Angel brought Elijah his food under the Juniper Tree 1 King 19. 5. An Angel stirred the waters at the Pool of Siloam Ioh. 5. 4. An Angel was the guide of the way to Abraham's servant Gen. 24. 7. He will send his angel before thee and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence Angels defend us against Enemies Psal. 34. 7. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them 2 King 19. 35. The Angel of the Lord went out and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand An Angel opened the Prison doors to the Apostles Acts 5. 19. and 12. 7. But were not all these services extraordinary and Miraculous which we may not now expect Answ. The visible Ministry was extraordinary proper to those times but the invisible is perpetual and ordinary as Abraham's servant did not see the Angel in the journey The devil worketh in and about wicked men invisibly so do the good Angels Secondly Reasons Why it is so 1. To manifest the great Love and Care which God hath over his people therefore he giveth those blessed Spirits which behold his face charge concerning his people on Earth as if a Nobleman were charged to look to a Beggar by the Prince of both 2. We understand the operation of finite Agents better than infinite God is so far out of the reach of our commerce that we cannot understand the particularity of his Providence 3. To counterwork the devil evil Angels are ready to hurt us and therefore good Angels are ready to preserve us Well might the devil be so well versed in this place he hath often felt the effects of it he knew it by experience being so often encounter'd by the good Angels in his endeavors against the people of God 4. To begin our acquaintance which in Heaven shall be perfected Heb. 12. 22. Ye are come to an innumerable company of Angels USES 1. To shew the happy state of Gods people No Heirs of a Crown have such Guards as they have Christ dwelleth in their hearts as in a Throne Eph. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith The Holy Spirit guardeth them against all cares and fears Phil. 4. 7. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Iesus Christ. And the good Angels are as a Wall and Camp about them Psal. 34. 7. The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them Mat. 18. 10. Despise not one of these little ones for verily I say unto you that in heaven their angels do alwaies behold the face of my father which is in heaven If the Angels make an account of them surely men should not despise them Yea rather God esteemeth so much of the meanest of these little ones that the good Angels who daily enjoy Gods glorious presence are ministring spirits appointed to attend them If the Lord and his Holy Angels set such a price on the meanest Christians we should be loath to despise and offend them 2. It should breed some confidence and comfort in Christians in their sore straits and difficulties when all visible help seemeth to be cut off This invisible Ministry of the Angels is matter of Faith 2 Kings 6. 16 17. And he answered Fear not for they that be with us are more than they that be with them And Elisha prayed and said Lord I pray thee open the young mans eyes that he may see And the Lord opened the young mans eyes and he saw and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha These were no other but the Angels of God which were as an host to defend them Open the eye of Faith you may see God and his holy Angels to secure you 3. Take we heed how we carry our selves because of this Honourable presence In Congregations there should be no indecency because of the Angels 1 Cor. II. IC In all our wayes let us take heed that we do not step out of Gods way Do nothing that is unseemly and dishonest they are spies upon us And it is profitable for us that they may give an account of us to God with joy and not with grief SERMON IV. MATTH 4. 7. Iesus said unto him It is written again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God HEre is Christs Answer to the second Temptation where two things are Observable First That Christ Answered Secondly What he Answered First That Christ Answered Christ answered the more to convince and confound this old Deceiver that he might not think that he was ignorant of his sleights or that he fainted in the conflict as also to instruct us what to do in the renewed Assaults of the Devil to keep up our resistance still not letting go our sure hold which are the Scriptures Secondly What he Answered It is written c. But would it not have been more satisfactory to have said It is sufficiently manifest to me that I am the Son of God and cared for by him and that it is not for the children of God to run upon Precipices I Answer It is not for Humane Wisdom to interpose and prescribe to Christ who was the Wisdom and Power of God His Answer is most satisfactory for two Reasons 1. It striketh at the Throat of the Cause 2. It doth with advantage give us other instructions 1. Christ cutteth the throat of the Temptation by quoting a passage of Scripture out of Deut. 6. 16. Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God as ye tempted him in Massah If we must not tempt God then it doth not become Christ to tempt his Fathers Providence for a new proof of his Filiation and care over him Therefore the devils temptation was
Ezek. 14. 4. Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his Idols in his heart and putteth the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face and cometh to the Prophet I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his Idols Balaam had a mind to the wages of unrighteousness but yet he durst not go without God and till God had permitted him he would be asking again and again Numb 22. 12. compared with the 20 and 22 Verses God answered him in wrath according to the Idol of his Heart Thus you see men tempt God when either out of diffidence or presumption they seek an experience of his Wisdom Power Justice Truth Goodness against his Word and Command and the order he hath established as the Israelites when means failed murmured and prescribed Time Means and Manner of deliverance as if they would subject God to their Lusts. II. The Heinousness of the Sin 1. Because it is a great Arrogancy when we seek thus to subject the Lord to our Direction Will and Carnal Affections Prescribing to God argueth too great an Ascribing to our selves Certainly the Lord cannot endure that his People who ought wholly to depend upon him submit to him and be ruled by him should prescribe as they please how and when he should help them and that his Power and Goodness should lacquey upon and be at the beck of our idle and wanton humors The direction of the affairs of the world is one of the Flowers of Gods Crown Now to dislike of his Holy Government is a presumptuous Arrogancy in the creature we will take upon us to model our mercies and choose our means and will not tarry the time that he hath appointed for our relief but will anticipate it and shorten it according to our own Fancies God is Soveraign we are as clay in his hands he is our Potter and must prescribe the shape in which we must be formed and the use we must be put to Ier. 18. 6. O house of Israel cannot I do with you as the potter saith the Lord Behold as the clay is in the potters hand so are ye in mine hand O house of Israel He hath full right to dispose of the Creature as he pleaseth and according to the counsel of his own Will to which we are to be subject without murmuring or repining We cannot say to him what makest thou or why dost thou this Isa. 45. 9. Wo unto him that striveth with his maker let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it what makest thou or thy work he hath no hands Tempting before the Event is the same almost with murmuring after the Event 2. It is great Unbelief or a calling into Question Gods Power Mercy and Goodness to us We should entirely depend upon God for Salvation and whatsover is necessary to salvation and that he will supply our wants and bring us out of every streight in a way most conducing to our own welfare and his Honour But now we are not satisfied with the assurance God hath given us in those Lawes of Commerce which are established between him and us we must have extraordinary proofs or else we question all Tempting God seemeth rather to be opposed to the Fear and Reverence that we should have of him yet primarily and in it self it is rather opposite to our Trust. And though we take it for a sin which argueth too much Trust or an unwarrantable boldness in expecting unusual wayes of help from God yet generally it belongeth to unbelief and diffidence and ariseth from it For therefore we put him to proof tempt or make trial of God because we distrust his help and are not satisfied with his Goodness and Power till we have other Testimonies thereof than are ordinarily dispensed Therefore this Reason is given of their tempting God because they believed not God and trusted not in his Salvation Psal. 78. 22. They must have their own Salvation their own way of supply or deliverance or else they cannot trust God if he doth not help them at their time and by their means 3. It looseneth the bonds of all Obedience because we set up new Laws of Commerce between God and us For when we suspect Gods Fidelity to us unless he do such things as we fancy we suspect our Fidelity to him Therefore disobedience is made the fruit of tempting God Psal. 78. 56. Yea they tempted and provoked the most high God and kept not his testimonies They that tempt God cast away Gods Rule and Gods terms of Obedience and make others to themselves The Question is whether God shall direct us or we him We say unless God will do thus and thus we will no longer believe his power and serve him 4. It is great ingratitude or a lessening Gods benefits and works already done for us Psal. 78. 20. Behold he smote the rock that the waters gushed out and the streams overflowed can he give bread also can he provide flesh for his people As if what he had done formerly were nothing Now God cannot endure to have his benefits lessened or his former works forgotten and despised 5. It is wantonness rather than want puts us upon Tempting of God There is a Humour in men we are very desirous to try Conclusions condemning things common and are fond about strange Novelties It was told the Israelites as plain as could be that they should not reserve Manna till the morning and they need not to have reserved it they had fresh every day yet they would needs keep it for experiments sake to try whether it would stink or no Exod. 16. 20. And though they were forbidden to gather it on the Sabbath day having on the evening before enough for two dayes and it was told them they should find none on the Sabbath day yet they must try Where need is there a man may commit himself to the Providence of God and rely upon him and where means fail us God can help us by Prerogative that we may say with Abraham when we have no help present In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen Gen. 22. 14. and with Moses when the Red Sea was before them and the Enemy was behind them Fear ye not stand still and ye shall see the salvation of the Lord which he will shew to you to day Exod. 14. 13. when Elias was in distress the Angel brought him meat 1 King 19. 5 6. when Hagar and Ishmael was in the Wilderness and the bottle spent then God comforted her from Heaven Gen. 21. 17. when the three Children were in the fiery furnace then God sent an Angel to be their Deliverer Dan. 3. 28. But now in Wantonness to desire extraordinary proofs of Gods care over us when he hath in ordinary wayes provided for us is to tempt the Lord Psal. 106. 14. They lusted exceedingly in the desert and tempted God in the wilderness when
by his Instruments laying plots to take away his life as often but especially in his passion Luk. 22. 53. This is your hour and the power of darkness So Ioh. 14. 30. The prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me Satan shall joyn with the Iewes to destroy me but they shall find nothing to lay to my charge nor indeed have they power to do me any hurt but that in Obedience to my Fathers Will I mean voluntarily to lay down my life for sinners So he had a permitted power over him and was the prime instrumental cause of his sufferings set aside his voluntary condescension to be a Ransom for sinners satan had not any power over him or challenge against him Well then though he lost his Victory he retained his Malice 2. The second Branch the access of the good Angels and behold the Angels came and ministred to him There observe three things 1. The Note of Attention Behold the Holy Ghost would excite our Minds and have us mark this the Angels are alwayes at hand to serve Christ but now they come to him in some singular manner some notable appearance there was of them probably in a visible form and shape and so they presented themselves before the Lord to minister to him as the devil set himself before him to molest and vex him As Christs humiliation and humane nature was to be manifested by the devils comming to him and tempting Assaults so the honour of his divine Nature by the Ministry of Angels lest his temptations should seem to derogate from his Glory When we read the story of his Temptations how he was tempted in all parts like us we might seem to take scandal as if he were a mere man therefore his Humiliation is counter-ballanced with the special honour done to him he was tempted as man but as God ministred unto by Angels 2. Why they came not before the devil was departed I answer 1. Partly to shew that Christ had no help but his own when he grapled with Satan When the temptations were ended then the good Angels came least the Victory should seem to be gotten by their help and assistance They were admitted to the Triumph but they were not admitted to the Fight they were not spectators onely in the conflict for the Battle was certainly fought before God and Angels but partners in the Triumph they went away to give place to the Combate but they come visibly to congratulate the Conqueror after the battle fought and the Victory gotten Our Lord would alone foil the devil and when that was done the Angels came and ministred unto him 2. Partly to shew us that the going of the one is the coming of the other When the devil is gone the Angels come Certainly it is true on the contrary 1 Sam. 16. 14. The spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him and it is true in this sense if we entertain the Temptation we banish the good Angels from us there is no place for the good Angels till the Tempter be repulsed 3. Why now and to what end was this Ministry 1. To put Honour on the Redeemer who is the Head and Lord of the Angels Eph. 1. 20 21. He hath set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places far above all principalities and powers c. and gave him to be the head over all things to the church So 1 Pet. 3. 22. Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him Christ not only as God but as Mediator hath all of them subject to him Heb. 1. 6. and unto the son he saith Let all the angels of God worship him They as subjects and servants are bound to obey him Therefore on all occasions they attend on Christ at his Birth Luk. 2. 13 14. A multitude of the heavenly host praised God saying Glory be to God on high on earth peace good will towards men Now in his Temptations the Angels came and ministred unto him At his Passion Luk. 22. 43. There appeared to him an angel from heaven strengthning him At his Resurrection an angel rolled away the stone from the grave and attested the truth of it Matth. 28. 2. At his Ascension the Angels declared the manner of his going to Heaven and return to Judgment Acts 1. 10 11. So now they come to attend Christ as Subjects on their Prince to tender their service and homage to him and receive his Commands 2. For his Consolation Inward and Outward 1. Inward as Messengers sent from God and so their comming was a token of Gods special Love and Favour to him and care over him The Devil had mentioned in one of his temptations he shall give his angels charge over thee this is a truth and in due time to be verified not at Satans Instance but when God pleased Therefore it was a comfort to Christ to have solemn Messengers sent from Heaven to applaud his Triumph 2. Outward they were sent to serve him either to convey him back from the mountain where Satan had set him or to bring him food as they did to Elijah 1 King 19. 5 6. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree behold then an angel touched him and said unto him arise and eat And he looked and behold there was a cake baken on the coales and a cruse of water at his head and he did eat and drink and laid him down again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word here used is often taken in that sense in the New Testament Matth. 8. 15. She arose and ministred unto them that is served them at meat So Matth. 25. 44. When saw we thee an hungred c. and did not minister unto thee The name of Deacons is derived hence as they served tables or provided meat for the poor Acts 6. 2. So Luk. 10. 40. My sister hath left me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to serve alone meaning to prepare provisions for the family so Luk. 17. 8. Gird thy self and serve me that is at the Table Again Luk. 22. 27. Whether is greater he that sits at meat or he that serveth or ministreth So Ioh. 12. 2. They made a supper and Martha served but Lazarus was one of those that sat at the table with him Thus the Angels ministred unto Christ. This sort of Ministry agreeth with what was said of his Hunger which was the occasion of Satans Temptations Secondly The Observations As Christ is a Patern of all those Providences which are dispensed to the people of God Doct. I. That the dayes of Gods peoples Conflicts and Trials will not alwayes last There are alternative changes and vicissitudes in their condition upon Earth sometimes they are vexed with the coming of the Tempter and then incouraged and cheared by the presence of Angels after stormes come dayes of Joy and Gladness the devil departeth and the angels came
the Angel of the Lord delivered Peter out of Prison Acts 12. 7. And behold the angel of the Lord came upon him and a light shined in the prison and he smote Peter on the side and raised him up saying Arise up quickly and his chains fell off from his hands c. but he doth not give thanks to the Angel but to God ver 11. Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent his angel and hath delivered me c. He directeth it to God not to the creature The Angels do us many favours all the thanks we do them is that we do not offend them by our sins against God other gratitude they expect not 6. Their last office is at Death and Judgment In death to convey our souls to Christ Luk. 16. 22. And it came to pass that the beggar dyed and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom that so we may enjoy our rest in heaven In the last day they will gather the bodies of Christs Redeemed ones from all parts of the World after they have been resolved into dust and mingled with the dust of other men that every Saint may have his own body again wherein he hath obeyed and glorified God Matth. 24. 31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other That is from all parts and quarters of the World that their Souls may return to their old beloved habitations and then both in body and in soul they may be for ever with the Lord. USE Now this is a great comfort to the Church and People of God when the Powers and Principalities on earth are employed against them to consider what Powers and Principalities attend upon Christ. We serve such a Master as hath authority over the holy Angels to employ them at his pleasure and in their darkest condition his people feel the benefit of it As the Angel of the Lord appeared to Paul in a dreadful storm Acts 27. 23 24. There stood by me this night the angel of the Lord whose I am and whom I serve saying Fear not Paul c. So to Christ in his Agonies Luk. 22. 43. There appeared an angel to him from heaven strengthning him So against Satan the good Angels are ready to comfort us as the evil Angels are ready to trouble and tempt us Let us then look to God at whose direction they are sent to help and comfort us Doct. V. If God taketh away ordinary helpes from us he can supply us by means Extraordinary As he did Christ's hunger by the Ministry of Angels Therefore till Gods power be wasted there is no room for despair We must not limit the Holy One of Israel to our ways and means as they did Psal. 78. 41. They turned back and tempted God and limited the Holy One of Israel THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST SERMON I. Matthew 17. 1. And after six dayes Iesus taketh Peter Iames and Iohn his brother and bringeth them into an high mountain apart With Luke 9. 28. It came to pass about an eight dayes after these sayings he took Peter and Iohn and Iames and went up into a mountain to pray I Mean to handle the Transfiguration of Christ which was 1. A solemn Confirmation of his Person and Office 2. A pledge of that glorious estate which is reserved for us in Heaven 1. It was a confirmation of his Person and Office as appeareth Matth. 17. 5. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him So Peter who was one present urgeth it 2 Pet. 3. 16 17 18. We have not followed cunningly devised Fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of His Majesty For he received from God the Father Honour and Glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And this voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the Holy Mount and Iohn also Iohn 1. 14. We beheld his glory as the glory of the onely begotten of the Father they were Eye and Ear-witnesses and therefore could affirm the certainty of this Doctrine 2. It is a pledge of our glorious estate for Christs Body was adorned with heavenly Glory and he had spoken chap. 16. 27. of his coming in the glory of the Father and now he gives his Disciples a pledge and earnest of it In this Introduction four things are observable 1. The Time after six days 2. The Persons whom he takes with him Peter Iames and Iohn 3. The Place he bringeth them to into an high Mountain apart 4. The Preparative action he went up into a Mountain to pray First The Time The Evangelist Luke saith about an eight dayes Matthew and Mark after six days The Reconciliation is easie Matthew and Mark spake of the space of Time between the day of Prediction and the day of Transfiguration exclusively Luke includeth them both The Jews called that flux of time between one Sabbath and another eight dayes including not onely the intervening week but both the Sabbaths according to their custom Luke speaketh Matthew of the time between Secondly The Persons chosen to attend him in this Action Peter Iames and Iohn 1. Why Three 2. Why Those three 1. Why Three so great an Action as this was needed valuable Testimony for the Law saith in the mouth of two or three Witnesses every thing shall be established Deut. 17. 6. Now Christ would go to the utmost of the Law and would have not two onely but three Witnesses as the Apostle speaks of three Witnesses in Heaven and three on Earth 1 Iohn 5. 7 8. so here are three and three three from Heaven God the Father Moses and Elias and three from Earth Peter Iames and Iohn 2. Why those Three Many give divers reasons Peter had led the way to the rest in that notable confession of Christ Matth. 16. 16. and is conceived to have some primacy for the orderly beginning of Actions in the Colledge of the Apostles Iames was the first Apostle who shed his bloud for Christ Acts 12. 2. and Iohn was the most long lived of them all and so could the longer give testimony of those things which he heard and saw till the Church was well gathered and setled Others give other Reasons but to leave conjectures it is certain that these had many singular favours afforded them above the rest of the twelve as appeareth partly in this that Christ changed their names calling Peter Cephas or a stone and the other two Boanerges sons of Thunder which was a token that Christ loved these more then the rest Yea among these Iohn was his bosome Favorite and therefore called often the Disciple whom Jesus loved Partly because he was in the whole course of his life more intimate with these
Lord face to face and spake with him as a man doth with his Friend and Elias 1 Kings 19. Both had fasted fourty days as Christ also did therefore conveniently were these chosen 3. With respect to our Profit and Instruction Christ would not choose two Angels for this service but two Men. Here the business was not to see glorified Spirits but glorified Bodies therefore the Angels having no Bodies of their own and must appear in assumed Bodies if in any are not fit therefore two Men that had Bodies wherein they might appear But you will say if two men must appear in glorified Bodies why not Enoch rather then Moses who was translated into Heaven and remaineth there with a glorified Body as well as Elias Answ. Enoch had no publick charge Enoch lived before the legal dispensation these both belonged to it and were chief in it of great Authority among the Jews Enoch hath an honourable Testimony in the Word of God but had no publick office and charge in the Church which the other two had and managed with great Fidelity By the appearance of Moses the whole legal Oeconomy is supposed to appear in his Person and by the appearance of Elias the Prophetical Ministry which was a kind of Chancery to the Law is supposed to appear also Both do as it were deliver over to Christ their whole dispensation and lay it down at his feet as the Magistrates that are to go out of office solemnly resign the ensigns of their Authority to him that succeedeth and also they come both to reverence the majesty of their supream Lord. In short it is for our comfort that one that died and one alive in glory should come to shew that Christ is Lord of quick and dead Rom. 14. 9. Moses was dead Elias translated these two come the one to give a pledge of the glory of the World to come the other of the Resurrection of the dead which is the way and introduction to it and both these persons come to attend and adore our Saviour and do homage to him Secondly They appeared in glory that is in a corporeal shape shining with brightness glory as Christs body did bating only for the degree proportion that ther might be a difference between the Lord and his Servants Now whether they appeared in Bodies formed and assumed for the present purpose and to be laid down again as we do our Garments or in their own proper Bodies is often disputed by Interpreters upon this occasion That they appeared in bodies is certain for bodily acts and properties are ascribed to them as their talking with Christ their being seen by the Apostles for a spirit cannot be seen If in bodies why not their own It is as easie to the Lord to cause them to appear in their own bodies as in a body assumed for this special purpose and service and they were known by the Disciples to be Moses and Elias not by the external Lineaments for they never saw them in person before but either were made known to them by some internal Revelation or by Christs words or by some words of Moses and Elias themselves but which way soever they knew them certain it is they knew them and took them to be Moses and Elias therefore Moses and Elias they were both as to Soul and Body The Apostles that were admitted to this Transfiguration were not to be deceived by a false appearance for they were admitted to be confirmed in the Truth of Christs Person and Office that by what they saw they might confirm others How would it weaken the Testimony if what they saw appearing before them in glory were not the bodies of Moses and Elias but only other bodies assumed Concerning Elias the matter is without difficulty for since he saw not death but was translated both body and soul into Heaven why should he lay down his own body and take another to come and serve Christ upon this occasion cause sufficient there was why he should come from the blessedness of Heaven to Mount Tabor no cause why he should lay aside his own proper body It is no loss nor trouble but advantage to blessed and heavenly Creatures to be serviceable to their Redeemers Glory though it be to come out of the other into this World But concerning Moses the matter is more doubtful we read that he died in Mount Nebo and his body was buried by God in the Plains of Moab so that his Grave was known to no man unto this day Deut. 34. 5 6. Some think it was preserved from putrefaction by the extraordinary power of God that he might resume it at this time The Jews say that God sucked out Moses soul from his body with a kiss and afterwards restored it again and so he liveth in immortality but he that looketh for Divinity among the Jewish Rabbins will much sooner find a ridiculous Fable then any sound Doctrine suffice it to us that he was really dead and buryed and his body mouldred into dust as our bodies are and now on this special occasion raised out of the dust but after this whether it were laid down in dust again or carryed into Heaven it is not for us to determine it may be either according to the Analogy of the Christian Faith if his body returned to corruption again surely it is a great honour that it was raised up for this special use I say it was a great joy to these Prophets to see all their predictions fulfilled in Christ. If we say it entered into Glory what inconvenience was there If God would indulge him this peculiar Prerogative to be raised from the dead and enjoy blessedness both in soul and body before the last day He granted it to Enoch and Elias and those who came out of their Graves after Christs death Matth. 27. 53. the great Harvest is at the last day but some first-fruits before Secondly Their Conference with our Saviour they talked with him saith Matthew they spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Ierusalem saith Luke they talked with Christ not with the Apostles here is an Apparition to them but no parley and intercourse between them and the glorified Saints The Saints that are glorified are out of the sphere of commerce of the living nay it is a question whether they heard at all what was said to Christ but of that in the next verse Here observe three things 1. What they spake of Christs death 2. The notion by which his death is set forth it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. The necessity of undergoing it in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which he should accomplish at Jerusalem 1. What they spake of none could divine unless it had been told us and the Evangelist Luke telleth us that it was of his death This Argument was chosen 1. Because it was at hand the next solemn Mediatory Action after this was his Death and Bloody sufferings after he was Transfigured in
keep up the Honour of his Justice and the Authority of his Law for sin is not a wrong done to a private party offended but a disobedience to Authority and disturbeth the order of Government 2. To declare his Holiness that he is a Pure and Holy God hating sin This was demonstrated in the Sufferings of Christ and the dear rate at which it was expiated for if this was done in the green Tree what shall be done in the dry USES 1 Oh then be affected with this great Mistery the death which the Son of God accomplished at Ierusalem look upon it under a double Notion with respect to his Fathers Command it was an Act of Obedience carried on with such Humility Patience Self-denial Resignation of himself to God Charity Pity as the like cannot be done by Man or Angel Rom. 5. 19. by the obedience of one many were made Righteous Phil. 2. 7. He humbled himself and became obedient to the death even the death of the Cross this commendeth Obedience to us it was an Act of Love Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me and gave himself for me Rev. 1. 5. To him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his blood He thought no price too dear for our Salvation let us love him again who loved us first 1 Ioh. 4. 19. We love him because he first loved us And be contented to suffer with him and for him that we may enter into his Glory Rom. 8. 17. If so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together if he call us thereunto 2. Feel the Vertue of it in Heart and Conscience In Heart by our dying to sin then we are planted into the likeness of his death Rom. 6. 5. They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof Gal. 5. 24. Who his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness Then Glory in it Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified to me and I unto the world In Conscience 1 Ioh. 5. 10 He that believeth in the son of God hath the witness in himself c. Heb. 12. 24. And to Iesus the Mediator of the new covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel doth it appease our guilty fears and purge our Consciences from the stain and guilt of sin III. The State of Future Glory and Felicity 1. The dead in the Lord are not perished but live for ever with God in Heaven for here they appear long after their departure hence Luk. 20. 38. He is not the God of the dead but of the living for all live unto him They all live to God though they are gone out of the sphere of our commerce they have another Life with God Now fix this in your hearts for many carry it so as if there were no Immortality or Life to come we do not vanish into the Air when we die Moses is somewhere and Elias somewhere in the Hand of God and can appear when God will have them 2. The Saints appeared in a true and in their own Bodies to establish the Faith of the Resurrection their bodies were reserved for this use one of them was already in Glory in soul and body the other now raised out of the dust after many years Burial and why cannot God gather up our dust again and enliven it that we may accompany Christ at his coming 3. This Instance sheweth also the Degrees of Glory All the Saints have their Portion in Bliss but not a just equality Moses and Elias appeared in Glory not Enoch nor were any of the rest admitted to this solemnity Here were three choice disciples when the rest stood at a remote distance so two glorified Saints but the rest not admitted to this Honour but stood waiting for his glorious Ascension There is difference on Earth in the Worldly State some have greater Riches Honours and Dignity than others difference in the Church both in Gifts and Graces yea a difference in Hell some have a hotter others a cooler punishment so in Heaven according to eminency in Holiness and Faithfulness with God otherwise there would not be a suitableness in Gods dispensations 4. The perfect subjection of the glorified spirits to the will of God either to remain in the Vision of God or to be imployed in the service of their Redeemer we should think that a self-denial which they count an Happiness to come from Heaven to Mount Tabor they take up or lay down a body as God pleaseth Heaven is a state not onely of perfect Happiness but of exact conformity to God 5. We shall have the Company of the Blessed Saints in Heaven The disciples here did not onely enjoy the company and sight of Christ but the company and sight of Moses and Elias being glorified Saints so in the Heavenly Life Mat. 8. 11. It is made a part of our blessedness in the Kingdome of God to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Iacob And Heb. 12. 23. Ye are come to the general assembly and church of the first-born which are written in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect Here we are ioyned to them by Faith and Hope there by sight and Fellowship The company of wicked Men is now grievous and tedious to us Ezek. 2. 6. but we shall have better company hereafter here we often part with our choicest Friends and Acquaintance but there we shall meet and never part more It is not to be imagined but that we shall have the comfort of our glorified Fellow-creatures The Body hath its Objects and Felicity fit for a Body 6. The Saints shall know one another as the disciples knew Moses and Elias though not by Countenance having never seen them before but by Revelation Christ told them who they were and we who have known before our old Acquaintance shall know them again Memory is not abolished but perfected we shall make one body one society now we shall not converse as strangers Abraham knew Lazarus Luk. 16. 25. Ministers 1 Thes. 2. 19. What is our hope or joy or crown of Rejoycing are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his coming Christs Argument Luk. 16. 9. Make to your selves friends of the mamon of unrighteousness that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations Angels know not onely themselves but all the Elect now how else do they Minister about them they know the least believer Math. 18. 10. Take heed that ye offend not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven And they are at length to gather them from the four Winds Matth. 13. 41. The son of
is a sin God hath severely punished witness Eutychus Acts 20. 9. And there sat in the window a young man named Eutychus being faln into a deep sleep and as Paul was long Preaching he sunk down with sleep and fell down from the third loft and was taken up dead Mark though the Sermon continued till midnight and it was a youth that slept yet he fell down as dead it was a small sin a sin of infirmity a boys sin yet God would leave this warning I do not animadvert too severely upon this infirmity only give you caution Christ praying all night on mount Tabor this weakness prevailed on these choice Apostles and elsewhere during the time of Christs Agonies yet we are to strive against it and be sure it may be said of us as of them Mark 26. 41. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak Make conscience of avoiding this sin do not compose your selves to sleep do not come to these duties spent with labours and Worldly cares nor clogged with excess of meat or drink nor having defrauded our selves of necessary refreshing by sleep by vain pleasures the night before Secondly Their carriage when they were awake when they awaked they saw his Glory and the two men that stood with them they saw Christ transfigured before they fell asleep but I think they saw not Moses and Elias before but now saw them that they might give testimony of it to the Church not by common fame and hear say but as eye Witnesses and they knew Moses and Elias either by information from Christ or some secret instinct and Revelation of the Spirit or as hearing some part of the discourse they heard enough to shew what they were or what the general matter of their discourse was But that which is most remarkable is Peters motion and proposal It came to pass to pass as they departed from him just as they were parting Peter said Lord it is good for us to be here let us make three Tabernacles one for Thee one for Moses and one for Elias He mentioned no distinct Tabernacle for himself and fellow Disciples because they would be with Christ attending on their Master in his Tent. The Motion in the general is rash sudden and unadvised but being made by a good man though under a passion there is something good and something bad in it 1. That which was good in it is he yet retaineth his Reverence 1. That he submitteth his proposal to the judgement of his Lord and Master wherein he expresseth his Reverence of Christ Lord if thou wilt he desireth a continuance of this dispensation leaveth it to his consent acknowledging herein his Wisdom and Authority 2. It sheweth the valuableness and felicity of conversing with Christ and the glorified Saints for when but two of them appear in Glory talking with Christ Peter said it is good to be here to continue and abide in this place together with thy self Moses and Elias What a blessed dignity is this the Glory of Heaven is so ravishing and satisfactory to the soul that the soul can rest in the least glimpse and degree of it If a glimpse what is the fulness if the splendor of his humanity not yet Glorified be so great what is the Glory of his Godhead If a fight of these things at a distance what is the participation when the Glory shall be revealed in us or we shall appear with him in Glory If Moses and Elias what is the company of all the Saints and Angels If it be thus at Mount Tabor what will it be in Heaven when all the World is renewed and refined and the Church gathered together in one great Assembly 3. The nature of a state of Glory and how easily it maketh us to forget all things here below Peter had a Family and Houshold affairs to mind for we read in the Gospel that his Wives Mother was sick and cured by Christ Matth. 8. 14. he had Friends and a Brother called Andrew who was one of the Disciples of Christ left below in the Valley Iohn 1. 40. nay he forgot his own present condition of Life which could not long brook his remaining in that Mountain without the supply of Food and other necessaries Now all this sheweth that when we are translated to Heaven we shall be so ravished with that kind of Life we shall have there as that all sense and memory of things that we have left behind shall cease as Peter being ravished with this sight and spectacle thinketh not of Kindred Friends or Houshold or any kind of Worldly comfort but saith onely it is good to be here so that it teacheth us that the delights of the other World make us forget all our concernments here below all shall be forgotten and swallowed up in that heavenly delight we shall have there 2. That which was Evil in it 1. That he mistook the nature of the present dispensation this was to be a representation not a Fruition to be transient and momentany for confirmation not possession rather a viaticum a bit by the way then a Feast It was good and commendable to be affected with joy and delight in the presence and company of Christ and Moses and Elias but it was not to be rested in as their full Reward 2. If this request had taken place the work of our Redemption had been hindred what had become of Christs Death and Passion which he should accomplish at Ierusalem all our happiness dependeth on that and if God should give way to our carnal desires what mischief would ensue If Christ had hearkened to him he would not have gone up to Ierusalem to suffer nor would any man living have dared to lay hands upon him while he continued in this Glory and Majesty 3. This request was injurious to Moses and Elias that they should utterly forsake their Heavenly Mansions for an abode on Earth and therefore to desire their continuance there was to desire their loss they were a little time to appear on Earth with Christ and then to return to their blessedness or to the enjoyment of the sight of God in the third Heavens 4. It was injurious to Christ to hope to learn something from Moses and Elias which Christ could not teach them and to equal them with his Lord and Master in building Tabernacles for all three alike and without difference was some lessening of his respect to Christ. If they were to learn any thing from them they were to consult the Books not the Persons Luke 16. 29. They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them and the desires of extraordinary means argueth a contempt of ordinary 5. It was an error to imagin that Tabernacles were necessary for Moses and Elias who now appeared in such Heavenly Glory in the Mount they needed not earthly Houses and Tents to dwell in to defend them from the injuries of the weather neither had they such present conveniencies to prepare them Thirdly The
censure of the Holy Ghost Luke saith not knowing what he said In Mark chap. 9. 6. He wist not what to say for they were sore afraid They were words of a man in a Rapture or surprized with great astonishment There were two affections dazled with the Majesty of this Glory and transported with joy there was also a great fright usually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such things as bring a hurt occasion fear and also things of excellent Glory such as surpass our present meanness as here the change of Christs Person and the glorious Appearance of the great Prophets so long since separated from the commerce of mankind Observe before we proceed the inconvenience of great and excessive Passions they make us speak we know not what Peter is an instance in Scripture let us keep to him you see him surprized with a great passion of fear when at Christs command a great draught of Fish came to hand in an unlikely time Luke 5. 8 9. Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord. For he was astonished and all that were with him at the draught of Fishes that they had taken you find him at other times transported with a passion of excessive Reverence or Humility Iohn 13. 8. Lord thou shalt never wash my feet With a passion of Love or Pity to his Master Lord let it be far from thee this shall not be unto thee when his Master had foretold his death Mark 16. 22. in case of contempt of Christ here with a passion of joy or ravishment or transport of soul Lord it is good for us to be here Now all these passions were religiously exercised but it is dangerous when Religion which should bridle and govern our passions is made the matter and fuel of them Passionate joy or passionate fear passionate reverence or passionate zeal and anger may easily transport us to some uncomely action or motion for though in all these there was Religion at top yet sin at the bottom and therefore you see how much it concerneth us to moderate and reduce our selves to a due temper for passion causeth us to do things without and against reason yea to speak and do we know not what and when Religious matters over heat our affections we may erre exceedingly Now having opened this part of the History let us observe something that conduceth to our practical instruction I. Doctrine That the state and condition of the glorified Saints is a most delightful state and condition For when Peter had but a glimpse of it in the transfiguration of Christ it seemed so ravishing and transporting that here would he abide and stay by it so was he affected with joy in the company and presence of Christ and Moses and Elias appearing with him that all his natural comforts and relations were forgotten This would compensate all if once we be gotten into this blessed estate we shall never desire to come out of it and part with it this which the Disciples had was but a little glimpse and tast of the Life to come this must needs be so it is called joy Mat. 25. 21. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord and fulness of joy Psal. 16. 11. In thy presence there is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore no better estate can be expected The Soul is at rest as having obtained its end And it is also proved by the priviledges and benefits the Saints shall enjoy in the world to come 1. A Freedom from all Evil which here are matter of Grief to us And 2. The Fruition of all Good which may any way bring Ioy and Delight and Contentment 1. There is a Freedom from all Evil. There is a twofold evil either of Sin or Punishment In Heaven there is neither Sin nor Misery 1. To begin with sin that is the worst evil because it maketh us hateful to God and grieveth the Saints most Rom. 7. 24. Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this Death If any man had cause to complain of Afflictions Paul much more being often imprisoned whipped stoned but his lusts troubled him more then scourges and his captivity to the Law of sin more then Prisons Gods children are most weary of the World because they are sinning here whilst others are glorifying of God and enjoying God and the company of his blessed Ones Now in Heaven there is no sin Eph. 5. 27. there is neither spot nor blemish nor wrinkle on the face of the glorified Saints their faces were once as black as yours But now they are washed in the Lambs blood and fully cleansed now with much ado we mortifie sin but then it is nullified but if we subdue the power of sin we do not get rid of the being of it but then we are rid of all at once of all sin and temptation to sin There was a Serpent a tempter in Paradise but there is none in Heaven the devil is shut out and the old man is left in the Grave never to rise more 2. There is not the least evil of Affliction Rev. 21. 4. All tears shall be wiped away from their eyes whatsoever is painful and burdensome to nature is a fruit of sin a brand and mark of our Rebellion against God Therefore when sin is done away Affliction which is the fruit of it is done away also In Hell there is Evil and onely Evil in Heaven Happiness and onely Happiness here our wounds are healed but the scars remain something to put us in mind that we have sin yet dwelling in us but there all the effects of it cease there is neither death nor sorrow nor crying nor any more pain 2. They shall enjoy all Good things which shall bring Joy and Comfort to them in blessedness there is a confluence of all Good our joyes are full and eternal 1. There is the immediate sight and presence of God and Jesus Christ who shall be all in all to them 1 Cor. 13. 12. Now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part then shall I know as also I am known And John 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovest me before the foundation of the World We are brought into the presence of him who is blessedness it self 2. The society of all the blessed Angels and Saints glorified Mat. 8. 11. Many shall come from the East and West and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob in the Kingdom of Heaven 3. The perfection of all Heavenly gifts both in soul and body 1. In Soul that is the Heaven of Heaven 1 Iohn 3. 2. Now are we the sons of God but it doth not yet appear what we shall be but this we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him
Creatures and the infinite Majesty of God the brightness of his Glory soon burdeneth and over-burdeneth the infirmity of the best Creatures 2. Because of our Weakness 1. Natural We faint when we meet with any thing extraordinary and therefore no wonder if we are astonished with the near approach of the Excellent Majesty of God and made unfit for any action of Body or Mind If we cannot look on the Sun how can we see God our Felicity in Heaven would be our Misery on Earth This Wine is too strong for old Bottles 2. Sinful Infirmity consciousness of guilt is in it also and our disconformity to God through sin Isa. 6. 5 6. Wo is me I am for undone I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips and mine eyes have seen the king the Lord of hosts So Peter Luk. 5. 8. Depart from me for I am a sinful man this raiseth a fear in us upon every eminent approach or discovery of Gods Glory Before the Fall God and Adam were Friends he would have endured God to speak to him yet after the fall the appearance of God became terrible When he heareth his voice he is afraid and hideth himself and something of this fear sticketh to the best of his People and when God is eminently near it is discovered For persons that have sin in them to be near to so Holy and Glorious a Majesty that is a part of the reason of this Fear and Trouble Well then both these causes go together the Representation of the Majesty of God and the sense of our own frailty and weakness USE Is to press us to two things I. To press us to an holy Awe and Reverence when we come near to God II. To take heed that our fear of God do not degenerate into a slavish fear First To press us to an holy Awe and Reverence of God when we draw nigh unto him Surely we should in all our Worship have such thoughts of God as may leave a stamp of Humility and some Impressions of the Majesty and Excellency of God upon us and we should fall upon our faces though not in a way of Consternation yet in a way of Adoration And because usually we bewray much slightness and Irreverence in our converses with God and Approaches to him I shall press it a little 1. I will shew how the Scriptures in the general do call for this Holy Awe of the Majesty of God in all our Worship Psal. 111. 9. Holy and reverend is his name and therefore never to be used by us but in an awful and serious manner Psal. 96. 4. The Lord is great and greatly to be praised he is to be feared above all Gods Whether we pray or whether we praise God still the heart must be deeply possessed with a sense of his Excellency and we must admire him above all created or imaginable greatness whatsoever and so mingle reverence with our most delightful Addresses to him Again Psal. 89. 17. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of his Saints and to be had in reverence of all that are round about him Holy Angels and sanctified Men who of all Creatures have nearest Access to God should most adore and reverence him because they are best acquainted with him and have the clearest sight of him that mortal creatures are capable of The Angels are an assembly of holy Ones that alwayes behold his Face therefore alwayes Lauding and Glorifying God So God is said to be terrible in his holy places Psal. 68. 35. whether Heaven or the Church indeed the awful carriage of his people in his Worship should be one means to convince of the Excellency and Majesty of God 1 Cor. 14. 25. The Apostle sheweth there that an Unbeliever coming into the Christian Assemblies when they are managed with Gravity and Awe is convinced and judged and will fall down on his face and worship God and say God is in you of a truth That is seeing their Humility brokenness of Heart hearing their praises and admirations of God and seeing their orderliness and composedness of Spirit whereas rudeness slightness and irreverence doth pollute and stain the glory of God in their Minds 2. Other Addresses will not become Faith and Love 1. Faith for whosoever cometh to God must fix this principle in his Mind that God is Heb. 1. 6. We do not worship God aright if we do not Worship him as Believers and if we worship him as Believers we will worship him with reverence and godly fear Faith giveth us not only a thought of God but some kind of sight of God and sight will leave an impression upon the heart of reverence and seriousness surely a sight or believing thought of God should be able to do any thing upon the soul. It is the great work of Faith to see him that is invisible Heb. 11. 27. We should in our whole conversation live as in his sight and live as those that remember God standeth by and seeth all that we are about but especially in our worship we then set our selves as before the Lord. Pray as to our Father that seeth what we do Mat. 6. 6. Pray to thy father which is in secret and thy father which seeth in secret will reward thee openly Hear as before the Lord Acts 10. 33. We are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God Then the Soul should turn the back upon all other things that the mind may be taken up with nothing but God 2. No other worship will become Love Worship is an act of love and delight Now love is seen in admiring the Excellencies of that glorious Being whom we love and ascribing all to him as being deeply affected with his Goodness Rev. 4. 10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created They fell down not out of astonishment but reverence and cast their Crowns before the Throne Whatever Honour they have they had it from God and are content to lay it at his feet from whom they have life and being and all things They have such an high esteem of God that before him they cannot be too vile They are unworthy to wear any Crown in Gods presence and are content that their Honour be a footstool to advance and extol his Glory Certainly those that are heartily affected to God will go about his Worship as with Chearfulness so with Humility and Reverence Secondly To take heed that our Humility and Reverence do not degenerate into servile Fear and Discouragement It is apt to do so even in the best of Gods People We can hardly keep the middle between the extreams our Faith is