Christ is the poize of the heart and his grace the wheele therefore he performes duties like Christ Vse 1 Let us learne a point of wisdome how to carry our selves Remember who is your Leader See the Lord Iesus going before you and then goe on comfortably You know what Gideon said Iudg. 7.13 Iudg. 7.13 Looke upon mee and doe likewise So Christ saith how ever he be in the heavens yet he speaks out of his word Look on me and doe likewise I was meeke let the same minde be in you You know what the Psalmist saith Psal 16.8 I have set the Lord alwayes before me the word is in the originall I have equalled him with my eye So see Christ equall him and step no farther then he goes before thee Object Ob. But this is marvellous hard what to be fetterd to nothing but the thoughts of Christ how irkesome is this Sol. Sol. It is no matter of bondage it is liberty Iohn 5.19 Iohn 5.19 The Sonne can doe nothing but what hee seeth the Father doe was this the mind of our Saviour let the same minde be in you Let every one say I can doe nothing but that which Christ doth before mee and in all our actions let this be the question would Christ doe so then will I. Quest But how shall I learne the will of God Answ In approving that which shall be acceptable to God Eph. 5.10 See the pillar of fire that is the word of God goe before you Would you know whether you may buy or sell or bowle on the Sabbath day Aske would the Lord Iesus bowle or buy or sell on the Sabbâ—th day Would hee drop into Ale houses And if thou knowest these things and wilt not reforme them thou walkest not in the wayes of Christ Object But we are weake and feeble Sol. Then plucke up those feeble hands bee not sluggish but presse on as farre as thou canst and looke up to Christ The child that knowes not the way to the market when he is weary he cries father father leade mee and then his father takes him and carryes him in his armes Oh you little ones you younglings in Christ goe as fast as you can follow your father what Christ did performe doe you do not goe away and say I cannot pray hast thou the Spirit of Christ and canst thou doe nothing with it endeavour what you you can and when you cannot seeke to heaven and cry my father helpe me call on your Father and he wil carry you on Eagles wings and though you have not then ability you will have it afterwards He that is free in duty will be the better able to do it Enquire which way Christ went and goe that way to thy everlasting comfort Vse 2 It is a word of Examination Here we may see whether we follow Christ or no. Therefore examine your selves whether it be so with you or no whether we follow the steps of Christ here wee may see whether we be Christians or no if a man should call you an Infidel you would be very angry but now try yourselfe See if you follow Christ if not you are no Christians Iudg. 13.6 Iudg. 13.6 try as they did when they came for spies they were thus tryed by the word Shibboleth they pronounced it Sibboleth and so were found out and there fell forty two thousand of them So every mans tongue discovers him Trie thy selfe by sincere obedience canst thou speake the language of Vniversall Obedience if not you are not true Christians This word Shibboleth will discover you can you walke as Christ did then you are a Christian but if you say Sibboleth and have a lisping profession then you are no Christians Set your hearts at ease you were never true followers oâ— Christ And here are three sorts to bee excluded 1. See what will become of those that set thâ—mselves in desperate opposition against GOD such as are enemies to the Lord Iesus Revel 12.7 Rev. 12.7 And there was warre in heaven Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon and his Angels fought c. Michael is Christ and his servants they suffer The Dragon is the Devill and his instruments they persecute Now on his side you be whose Souldiers you be Paul did many things contrary to the Lord Iesus Act. 26.9 Acts 26.9 hee opposed his servants and if thou doe so thou art one of the Dragons servants thou art not a follower but a persecutor of the Lord Iesus a fighter against Christ he went not that way Dost thou oppose the power of the word when as it is preached then thou hatest and persecutest Christ and art no follower of him The word saith It was of Christs heart to doe his fathers will that is the good and ancient way canst thou walke in this but if thou saist thou wilt not walke in it it is cleare thou art no follower of Christ Psal 78.9 2. Apostates and Back-sliders Psal 78.9 The Children of Ephraim being harnessed and carrying bowes turned them back in the day of battle so men forsake Christ being armed with bowes that is with GODS Ordinances They follow Christ so farre as they may keepe company with ease liberty and their old lusts they will follow Christ to the Crosse and if he will come downe from the Crosse they will follow him like Demaâ— they will follow Christ so long as their pleasure lasts Matth. 8.19 Matth. 8.19 one came to Christ and said I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest wilt thou saith Christ then thou must fare as thou findest the birds have nests and the Foxes holes but the Sonne of man hath not where to lay his head and when he heard this he went his way we heare no more of him So many now a dayes seeme to be great Professours but when times are dangerous then farewell all profession Men indent with the Gospell and if the word pitch them higher then they say as they Iohn 6.60 Ioh. 6.60 this is a hard saying who can abide it What so strict To be pinioned to so nice courses What never take up a gay fashion but alwayes creepe into a corner to deny a mans selfe with a company of leather coate Christians and to walke by such a strict rule oh this is a hard saying But they can follow their fashions and courses of the world and yet would be Christians and followers of Christ Christians away with them shew me but one footstep of Christ in their courses sure he never went that way Shew me that ever Christ swore faith and troth shew mee where Christ said you must not be pure and singular but must shunne the Puritan Cut. It was meate and drink to him to doe his fathers will and thou art weary of it Now thou art an Apostate and not a follower of Christ 3. Such as doe openly professe but secretly work against the Gospell that howsoever they are not backsliders
the spirit whereby a man that is already justified doth by vertue of grace received bring forth fruits worthy of amendment of life It is a worke of the spirit Ezek. 36.27 Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes Of him that is already justified that is acquitted of his sins and made righteous in the sight of God Rom. 5 1. Rom. 5.1 6 1. c. 6.1 c. After the doctrine of justification followes the doctrine of new obedience to let us understand in what order they are in the Christian estate Doth by vertue of grace received from Christ Iohn 15.4 Ioh. 15.4 As the branch cannot beare fruit of it selfe except it abide in the Vine no more can yee except ye abide in me Phil. 4.13 Phil. 4.13 I can doe all things through Christ who strengthens mee bring forth fruits worthy of amendment of life Such workes as doe beseeme a man altered and changed that professeth another course of life these are those duties that concerne God or man comprised in the Scriptures Philip. 1.11 they are termed the fruits of righteousnesse So that he that would approve himselfe to his own soule to be a practiser of new obedience must consider whether he adorne his profession with the performance of such religious duties as the Lord commands Question 2 What is the least measure of it Answ It is an unfeined and constant endeavour to do the will of God I say an endeavour to difference it from the legall obedience which is the strict performance of such duties which God commands according to the rigour of his law In this the endeavour through Gods mercy is accepted for the deed done I say an unfeined endeavour to difference it from the glorious shew which hypocrites may and doe make Lastly I say it is constant with respect to the endeavours of the temporary which are soone out of breath and die before they come to perfection Now that this unfeined and constant endeavour is accepted as the deed done it appeareth first in the example of Abraham of whom the Scripture saith Heb. 11. that he offered up his sonne Isaac yet it is plaine that he did not sacrifice his sonne the Lord by an Angell from heaven forbidding him whereby we gather that in Gods acceptance he was offered up for that there was a faithfull endeavour on Abrahams part Secondly The godly and upright men are said Psal 119. To doe no iniquity Now we know this that there is none that sinneth not Onely for that the just man endeavoureth and doth his best to doe no iniquity he is accepted of God as if he did none So of David it is reported that he sinned only in the matter of â—â—iah when as notwithstanding he sâ—ned many wayes else in his raging anger at Nabal in câ—okering his children and likewise in his unjust dealing with Mephibâ—sheâ—h but yet for that in all these Davids heart was faithfull in endeavouring to doe Gods will they are not taken notice of being â—s â—yed in Gods acceptance who measureth obedience not by the effect but by the affection of the doer Thirdly The Lord is said to deale with his as a father with his children the matter of obedience Mal. 3.17 I will spaâ—â— them as a father spareth his owne sonne that serveth him Now if a man sets his sonne a taske enjoyning him to write a Coppy if hee sees that hee doth but his best eâ—deavour he accept it commends and encourageth his child even so doth the Lord deale with us when he perceives a faithfull labouring on our partâ— to doe what hee commands hee accepts iâ— this case the will 〈…〉 and accordingly rewards it Question 3 What be the marks of new obedience Answ Marks They are generall or speciall Generall That in new obedience it is onely the conscience of Gods commandements that sets heart and hand on worke not any other externall motives obedience not springing from the word is as one cals it wilde Oates Psal 18.22 Psal 18.22 the ground of Davids obedience was this all his lawes were before me and I did not cast his Commandements from me Psal 37.30 Psal 37.30 The mouth of the righteous will speake wisedome for the law of God is in his heart Iob 22.23 as the ground of turning to God saith Eliphaz receive I pray thee the law at his mouth and lay up his words in thine heart Many performe good duties that are moved thereunto by feare of punishment displeasure of man feare of discredit with a desire of praise that they may be seene of men as loath to sustaine damage in their outward estates all these doe not render to God that new obedience that the Lord requireth the Lord delights not in such sacrifices the performers can have no assurance that herein they please God Second marke That it carries a respective eye to all Gods Commandements it doth not call out any and leave the rest but all the knowne will of God so far as the judgement is convinced the heart endeavoureth to practise Psal 119. Psalme 119. I shall not be confounded when I have respect to all thy Commandements Zacharie and Elizabeth walked in all the Commandements of God Heb. 13.18 Heb. 13.18 wee trust wee have a good conscience in all things desiring to live honestly And great reason is there for this equall eye to be had to all Gods Commandements since they all lay a bond upon the conscience and the majesty of the Commander shines as well in the one as in another Now that a man may the better examine his obedience I will propound a five-fold difference of Gods Commandements by which the heart of man is apt to deceive it selfe Commandements are first either such as concerne the outward man as keeping the Sabbath just and righteous dealing amongst men or inward as confidence in God cleansing of the heart from evill thoughts Now new obedience must equally respect both 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Cor. 6.20 Glorifie God in your bodies and in your soules Secondly they are either the greater Commandements or such as are of lesse importance as the speaking of a vaine word idle mirth Christian obedience must have an eye as well to the one as to the other Matth. 23.23 these ought ye to have done and not to have left the other undone Thirdly Commandements are differenced according to the two Tables some concerning duties to God oâ—hers respecting duties to men Accordingly who ever would have comfort in his obedience must obey God in both not strict in the one loose in the other Isa 58.7.8 Isa 58.7.8 14 and 14. duties of the first and second Table are both enjoyned not onely to keepe Gods Sabbath humble thy selfe with fasting but also the practise of mercy and justice among men Fourthly the Commandements of God are either such as concerne our generall calling as we are Christians whereby we call upon God heare his
in his owne hand this is to be a God and this is in the heart of every naturall man Life Lusts Parts are the three Gods in the world and in mens hearts Drunkennesse svvayes the Drunkard svvearing is the chiefe commander over the black-mouth'd sweaâ—er the mony of the rich man is his commander The vvord of God saith Thou shalt not have this and that but the heart saith I must have it so and vvill have it so and it must be so thus rich men will doe vvhat they list because they are richer then others thus Riches is their God and they make it the first cause and their commander Reason 2 As men doe expect all from themselves so they ayme at themselves in what ever they doe they make their owne persons the end of their actions they doe homage to selfe and sinne and looke not to the obeying of God so every thing is wrought for a mans selfe Gen. 11.4 Gen. 11.4 they would build them a Tovver to get them a name They vvould build it as Authors of it themselves and then the end to get themselves a name So selfe was in all that they did and aymed at So Dan. 4.30 Dan. 4.30 Nebuchadnezzar did build Babell for the honour of his name Thus he made himselfe a God in building of it and a God in the end and aime of it hee workes all of himselfe and for himselfe Thus men make themselves gods as all Rivers come from the Sea and flow thâ—ther againe so we thinke all is done for us and by our selves It is my parts my gifts and my credit all is mine and all selfe Many Selfe-lovers that in the time of Queene Mary made a denyall of God and sinned against Conscience and against Nature and all for selfes sake 〈◊〉 because their God Life and Safety commands it So againe afterwards in Queene Elizabeths time then they would turne againe and say all is well thus a naturall man is nothing but selfe so it is in every particular Reason 3 Because men naturally being blinde doe conceive their owne credit and exellencie to be the chiefest good and this is the maine cause why we make our selves our Gods Adam fell for this he would faine be a God man being next to God and is the chiefest good of all other creatures and sees all other creatures are inferiour to him and therefore the soule of man being the chiefest good next God and so missing of the right God he makes that which he conceived to be the best his God that is selfe this is the reason God-selfe is best next to the God of heaven so a man sets up Selfe above all and it will be a God When there was no King in Israel every man did what was good in his owne eyes when there was no King to rule them then every man was his owne King so every man is his owne God Ephes 2.12 Eph. 2 12. the text saith They walked without God in the world as the Prophet said As thy cities are so are thy gods O Iudah Ier. 2.28 Ier. 2.28 So as thy sinnes are so are thy Gods O thou wretch God-Covetousnesse God-Selfe God-Pride is in every thing the creature missing of Gods sufficiencie will make his owne selfe sufficient and missing the commanding God he will command himselfe Vse 1 It is a word of Instruction Here we see why wicked mens hearts are so opposite to the word of God and are so troubled at it It is because the God of heaven by the word would pluck away these Dunghill-Gods hence comes an uproare in the towne and family here is the reason he would take away their Gods Iudg. 18.24 Iudg. 18.24 Ier. 2.11 Ier. 2.11 Hath any nation changed their Gods c. They will not change their Gods but maintaine them still and can you blame them that they maintaine their Gods So now when the God of heaven comes by his word and plucks at God-Covetousnesse and God-Pride and God-Lusts Oh Labans Gods are going he must needs pursue them So Demetrius his God-Covetousnesse was going as well as Diana therefore he stood stoutly for it Great was his covetousnesse the Text saith Great was the profit that came to him by Diana the profit was that that stuck in his stomack and therefore he stood for Diana Act. 19. And this is the reason why drunkards raile at the Ministers Oh the cup is plucking from their nose they would have thâ—ir God Bacchus still and therefore they are up in armes to maintaine it If an English man should goe to the French King and pluck off the Crowne from his head doe you thinke there would not be an uproare So when the King and God-Selfe is uncrowned Oh what an uproare is there to maintaine the Godhead of Corruption Hence the power of the word is very troublesome to them Oh they cry out they are undone Iudg. 18.24 Iudg. 18.24 Micah thought God could not but blesse him when he had a Levite in his house but when the Danites carry away his Priest and his Gods too he followes them and cryes out very much and they aske him why he did so saith he You have taken away my Gods and aske you me what I aile They were his Gods and he was the God-maker so it is in the world when the God-Sin and the God-Selfe is packing away from them then they play Micah cry after their Gods and they must by force be carried away or else they will not be suffered It grieves the drunkard to part with his God this is the reason why they cry out so Oh these base courses are their Gods and you take them away that is the reason of all their stirre Vse 2 It teacheth Selfe-Seekers what to expect from the hand of the Lord viz. The fiercenesse of his displeasure the heavie hand of his wrath and indignation for he is a jealous God of his honour and what greater wrong can you doe then admire Selfe and contemne God to preferre the gift before the giver to preferre life before God and to let sinne justle God out of his throne if we could and so set up a company of idolls nay what greater dishonour can you doe to God then to advance lust and Deifie sinne and let God be neglected How dares a poore creature doe this Is it not enough to have these but to thrust God out by them How shall God beare and endure this at your hands Dan. 4 31. Dan. 4 31. While Nebuchadnezzar was vaunting himselfe God sent him pâ—eking to graze among the beasts What strike at the Almighty What none else Oh the wrath of God will be upon thee while thou art so doing and he will make thee see God is God and he onely is to be worshipped Act. 12.23 Act. 12.23 While Herod was admiring himselfe the Lord sent vermine to devoure his carcasse and he immediatly died like a beast as he was As if the Angel should
have said Is it good now to be a God vengeance came presently from heaven Oh you that be sinfull and will still sell and talke vainly on the Sabbath day and sit prating at your doores still On God will come and push downe all these idolls of yours yea when you shall howle to him for helpe he will send you to them for helpe all you profane drunkards and cursed swearers the great God of heaven will come downe and pluck away all your Gods here and the Lord will bid you goe to your idolls for help and then they will leave you in the lurch and unlesse you leave them God will send you and them to hell Exod. 12.12 Pharaoh was a stout-hearted man and cared not for Iehovah but God saith I will smite him and execute my fierce wrath upon all the first-borne in Egypt Moses told him Iehovah commanded it but saith he he What care I for Iehovah I know him not but marke what followed God plagued him afterward for it If there be any Pharaoh in this Congregation let him know the Lord will make him stoope and he will pluck away all your idolls from you Doe you thinke he will be justled out of his throne No no and that you shall know one day If a man will be my Disciple let him deny himselfe Doct. Selfe-deniall is a speciall meanes to make us Disciples of Christ This is the way we must walk in we must have no other Lord then Christ and then come after Christ or else no following of him but Denying all makes a sound Disciple This truth is made knowne in three particulars Our safety sufficiency and the like must all be laid downe before we can be Christs Disciples Our selfe life and all must be laid downe at Christs feet 1. We must lay downe selfe Act. 15.26 Act. 15.26 It is a commendation to them that they hazarded their life for Christ to doe what he would with them Act. 21.14 Act. 21.14 He had in a readinesse not onely to be bound but to die for the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ as who should say What thou wilt Lord life or wealth or what thou wilt it is here Lord take it I will lay it downe at Christs feet Philip. 2.30 Epaphroditus was commended for that he was nigh unto death not regarding life but gave up himselfe so must we give up our selves not regarding life or any conceited excellencie of wit learning understanding c. all must lie in the dust a man must be a foole that he may be wise 2 Cor. 10.5 2 Cor. 10.5 Casting downe imaginations and every thing that exalteth it selfe and bringing into captivity every thought unto the obedience of Christ You say I wil never beare this Oh you must down with these they are treasonable thoughts must be captivated so also our wills they must down God will not have you women to take up these vaine fashions you must deny them all Act. 9.6 saith Paul Lord what wilt thou have me to do I wil do any thing I will lay downe any thing you must not have your wills but lay downe all at Christs feet and thou that wilt not lay downe every lust for Christ shalt never have him Christ prayed that if it were possible that cup might passe from him but he would have his Fathers will be done So we must doe what God will have us to doe yea all the violent affections of the world must downe Matth. 18.9 Matth 18.9 If thy eye cause thee to offend pluck it out out with all these right eyes Oh you love them dearly but out with them and resigne up reason will and affections as a man that sailes by a castle or the like he must pull downe the top saile in token of submission so we must pull downe our maâ—â—s or else the cannons of the vengeance of the Almighty will let flie against us 2. As all must be laid downe at Christs feet so we must not do at on any thing here below admire not the world neither expect any sufficiency from any thing selfe life parts c. Ier. 1â— The way of man is not in himselfe Therefore see the vilenesse of these things and mâ—st not to them for they will surely faile Ionah 1. Ionah 1. Ionah would make a shorter out to goe to Nineâ—â—th and goe to Tarshish but God sent a whirlewind and cast him into the sea and then he had enough of following himselfe Ionah 2.8 Ionah 2. And therefore he concludes They that follow lying vanities forsake their owne mercy this you shall finde in following lying vanities you shall forsake your owne mercy before Ionah thought it was best to goe to Tarshish but after he saw it otherwise Therefore let us 〈◊〉 out owne sufficiencie in our selves as nothing nor expect any thing from it Therefore because it is not in us to helpe our selves let us lay all at the feet of Christ and expect nothing from Selfe sufficiencie but all from Christ 3. When we have renounced the authority of all these and their sufficiencie Then thirdly Never love them more let not thy affections be hankering after them a servant if he be once out of a bad service he never returnes thither againe Matth. 4 20. They left their Nets and followed Christ Matth. 8. When the Disciple would goe bury his father Christ would not let him returne againe Let the dead bury the dead saith our Saviour so let not us have our hearts hankering after them when we have rid our fingers of them as Lots wife did after Sodome therefore looke not backe bestow not thy heart upon them and if thou canst thus follow him thou art a Disciple of our Saviour but if you know any thing that hath authority or sufficiencie or is to be loved besides Christ in a fit opportunity you will forsake Christ and stick to it therefore I beseech you looke to it Reason 1 Because that Christs and Selfes service cannot stand together to have Self in any thing is to put out Christ no man can serve two Masters the one will command one thing and the other will command another a man cannot serve the King of England and the King of Spaine for the King of Spaine commands to goe to Masse the King of England commands to serve the true God according to the Gospell a man cannot fight for the King of Denmark and the Emperour too so Christ commands to kill your lusts and you will keepe them these two commands cannot stand together there cannot be two Sunnes in one firmament nor two Gods in one heart therefore sin must be first downe before Christ can be up in the heart If a man be a hired servant he must not be at his own dispose but at the disposall of his master so if you be Christs servants you must serve him but if you will live as ye list and be free from his power you cannot be his