freedom taken from him while he suffers in prison his conscience is most free in short he is made free of a Company the innumerable company of Angels Heb. 12. 22. 5. A righteous man hath more excellent food Carnalists feed only on earthly provision he feeds on heavenly He tasts how sweet the Lord is Psal 34. 8. He feeds on Gods love this is the hidden manna he eats Christs flesh which not only begets life Joh. 6. 33. but prevents death Joh. 6. 50. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven that a man may eat of it and not die That is not die the second death other bread may nauseate or cause surfeit but there is no excess here we cannot eat too much of the bread of life we cannot have too much of Christ as one cannot have too much health Oh what excellent food is this God himself is in this chear 6. A righteous man hath more excellent armour viz. the armour of light Rom 13. 12. this is armour of Gods making Ephes. 6. 16. and the Lord with his armour gives strength Alexander might give a coward his armour but he could not give him his courage but God infuseth a spirit of magnanimity into his people with his armor he conveys strength 2 Cor. 12. 9. My strength is made perfect in weakness A Christian having on Gods armour and going forth in the power of his might nothing can hurt him 1 Joh. 〈◊〉 18. That wicked one toucheth him not That is Tastu lethali with a deadly touch saith Cajetan Grace is armour of proof it may be shot at but it cannot be shot thorough this spiritual armour is not burdensome a Christian may run his race in it as well as fight * The armour of God the more it is struck at the stronger it is the more saith is assaulted the more vigorous it is the more zeal is opposed the hotter it is this excellent armour makes a Christian stedfast in Religion Hypocrites wear Christs colours but want his armour therefore fall away The righteous man never gives over the Spiritual combat till the trophies are hung up and the palm-branches are put in his hand in token of victory 7. A righteous man hath more excellent hopes Credula vitam Spes fovet melius cras fore semper ait A sinners hope is in this life he hopes to encrease his Estate he makes the wedg of gold his hope 't is a perishing hope Prov. 11. 7. But the righteous mans hope excells his hope is in Christ his hope is both an helmet 1 Thes. 5. 8. and an anchor Heb. 6. 19. while he is fighting with tentation hope is an helmet while he is upon the waters of affliction hope is an anchor the anchor of a Ship is cast downwards the anchor of the Soul is cast upwards in heaven a Saints hope is a purifying hope 1 Joh. 3. 3. a death-bed hope Prov. 14. 33. a Soul-comforting hope Tit. 2. 13. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour When Christ was in the flesh he appeared as a surety now in heaven he appears as an advocate and when he comes in the Clouds he will appear as a Judg a righteous man hopes for this blessed appearing when Christ shall vindicate his Saints from all unjust calumnies and openly acquit them in the Court. 9. A righteous man hath more excellent joys Religion doth not restrain but resine his joy what is the joy of a sinner he takes joy in corn and wine he sucks from the flower of pleasure alas what is this to the joy of the righteous Rom. 5. 11. We joy in God This joy ariseth from the pardon of sin the first-fruits of the spirit the praelibation and fore-tast of glory the gleanings of this heavenly joy are better than the vintage of carnal joy Plato told the Musitians That Philosophers could dine and sup without them much more a Believer can be merry in the Lord without the supplement of worldly comforts 1. It is a more inward joy Psal. 4. 7. Thou hast put gladness in my heart Other joy lies more in the surface it pleaseth the senses 't is like the Paradise the Turks dream of where they shall have all dainty dishes served in they have gold in abundance silken and purple apparel and angels their servitors bringing them red wine in silver cups this delights the fancy and the senses but divine joy cheers the conscience Aecolampadius on his sick-bed when they asked him if he wanted any light putting his hand to his heart said Hic sat lucis Here I have light enough The Saints joy being inward sweetens affliction it turns their water into wine 1 Thes. 1. 6. Having received the word in much affliction with joy Theodoret when he was on the Rack in the midst of his Torments said He did find no anguish and when they took him down from the Rack he complained they did him wrong in so doing for saith he all the while I was on the Rack I thought there was one in white an Angel stood by which wiped off the sweat and I found much sweetness which now I have lost 2. It is a more unmixed joy Worldly joy is usually spiced with some bitterness guilt eclipseth it Prov. 14. 13. In laughter the heart is sorrowful One may drink wormwood in a golden-cup but the joy of the righteous like David's Harp drives away sadness it gives honey without gall it hath no allay or umbrage 3. The joy of the righteous is more durable Other joy is like a flower which withers while you are smelling to it I have read of a River in America which runs in the day with a full Torrent but it is dry at nigâ—… The comforts of the world run strongly in the day of health and prosperity but at the night of death they are dried up but as joy abounds in the godly so it abides Joh. 16. 22. Your joy no man taketh from you Divine joy is but begun in this life it is perfected in glory here is but the tuning of the instrument the sweet consort is reserved for heaven here the Saints do but sip of the cup there they shall drink of the rivers of divine pleasure for evermore Psal. 16. 11. 3. A righteous man is more excellent than a wicked in respect of what he Shall Have He shall have a better reward both righteous and wicked are rewarded but there is a vast difference the wicked shall have a reward of punishment the righteous of mercy Psal. 58. 11. So that a man shall say verily there is a reward for the righteous They shall be rewarded with a Kingdom Luke 12. 32. The heighth of mens ambition is a Kingdom Earthly Kingdomes are corruptible What is become of the pride of Babylon the glory of Athens the pomp of Troy they lie buried in their own ruins But the Kingdom
his Resolution When the Emperor Valens promised Basil great Preferment if he would subscribe to the Arrian heresie Sir said he these speeches are fit to catch little Children but we who are taught by the Spirit are ready to endure a thousand deaths rather than suffer one syllable of Scripture to be altered A righteous man is willing to take the Cross for his Joynture and with Ignatius wear Christ's Sufferings as a collar of Pearl Rom. 5. 3. We glory in Tribulation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 St. Paul rattles his Chain and did glory in it as a woman saith Chrysostom that is proud of her Jewels It is to my loss said Gordius the Martyr if you bate me any thing of my sufferings Of what Heroick undaunted spirits were the Primitive Christians who could scorn Preferments laugh at Imprisonments snatch up Torments as Crowns and whose love to Christ burned hotter than the Fire insomuch that the Heathens cried out Verè magnus est Deus Christianorum Great is the GOD of the Christians 8. The Prayers of a righteous man are more excellent Another may have more Elegancy in Prayer he hath more sincerity Prov. 15. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the Prayer of the upright is his delight A sinners praying is howling Hos. 7. 14. but the prayer of a righteous man is musick in Gods ears Cant. 2. 14. Let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice Maximinus a persecuter being on his sick-bed craved the prayers of the Godly The excellency of a righteous mans prayer is seen by its 1. Noble Exploits  2. Gracious Returns 1. By its Noble Exploits Luther's prayer recovered Theodorus Vitus of a Consumption after the Physitians had given him over for dead The prayer of the righteous hath stopt the Sun in its full career Josh. 10. 13. It hath divided the Waters Exod. 14 15 â—…1 Overcome Armies Exod. 17. 11 Caâ—…t out Devils Mat. 17. 21. Opened Prisons Act. 12. 9. Shut Heaven Jam 5. 17. Prayer hath had power with God Hos. 12. 4. The Tyrians tyed fast their God Hercules with a golden Chain the great Jehovah is held by the prayers of his people Gen. 32. 26. I will not let thee go till thou bless me 2. By its Gracious Returns When the tree of the promise is shaked by the hand of prayer some fruit falls Job 33. 26. He shall pray unto God and he will be favourable unto him Prayer is the Golden fleet the Saints send out to Heaven which comes home richly laden with mercy Sometimes God gives his people the same mercy in kind that they beg 1 Sam. 1. 27. For this Child I praid and the Lord hath given me my petition Sometimes God gives them that which is better than they ask they pray for Temporal things and he gives them Spiritual they pray for more health and he gives them more grace they desire the venison and instead of that he gives them the blessing so he pays them in a better coyn That which makes the prayer of a righteous man so excellent and available is 1. Because his Affections are drawn sorth strongly in prayer his eyes melt his heart burns He is fervent in spirit Rom 12. 11. It is a Metaphor alludes to water quae ebullit prae ardore which boils over a good heart boils over with hot Affections in prayer there may be powder in a Gun when there is no fire some may have good matter in prayer but no fire of affection to discharge it Prayer without fervency is like wine that hath lost the Spirits Fervency as Ambrose saith baptizeth a duty and gives it a name without this prayer is no prayer A righteous man is carried up to heaven in a Fiery Chariot of Devotion This holy Fervency is caused by the Spirit of God which both indites and inflames the Saints prayers Rom. 8. 26. The spirit helps us with sighs and groans Not only gifts but groans and surely the incense of a righteous mans prayer with the holy Ghosts fire put to it must needs ascend as a sweet perfume to Heaven 9. A righteous mans prayers are so excellent because he sprinkles faith in every prayer Psal. 25. 1 2. Unto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul O my God I trust in thee Faith is the breath of prayer as the body cannot live without breath so prayer cannot live unless faith breathes in it Faith is the bullet which is shot in Prayer a believing Prayer can obtain any thing from God It is reported of a Nobleman of this Nati on that the Queen gave him a Ring and told him that when he was in any streight let him send that Ring to her and she would relieve him To this Ring I compare Prayer when a child of God stands in need of any thing he sends this Ring to God and presents it by the hand of faith and hath his desires granted Mat. 21. 22. 3. A righteous mans prayers are so excellent because Jesus Christ presents them to his father Prayer as it comes from the Godly is mixed with sin but Christ takes out the dross of their Prayers and presents nothing but pure Gold he dips the Prayers of the righteous in his blood and mingles them with his sweet Odours and so they are to God most fragrant and aromatical A weak Prayer being laid upon Christ as the Altar the Altar sanctifies it Christ praying over a Saints prayer makes it prevalent both in respect of his office as he is a Priest and his relation as he is a Son and his merit as he is God 9. The Tears of a righteous man are more excellent Holy tears are the costly gum which distills from the trees of Righteousness Mary Magdalen stood at Christs feet weeping Luk. 7. 38. Her Tears dropped as pearls from her eyes the tears of the wicked are good for nothing they are either carnal they weep for worldly losses or spurious they are more troubled for Hell than Sin Conscience is in an agony there is water in their eyes because there is fire in their bones But the tears of a true Penitent are more precious they drop from the eye of Hope they are purifying Tears the holy Mourner weeps out fin these tears are the Wine of Angels Luk. 15. 10. So precious they are that God bottles them Psal. 56. 8. Put thou my tears in thy bottle In the Hebrew it is my Tear to show that God takes notice of every Tear Holy Tears though they are silent yet they have a voice Interdum lachrymae pondera vocis habent Though they fall to the Earth yet they reach Heaven Tears dropping from the Saints eyes are as sweet water dropping from the Roses 10. The life of a righteous man is more excellent 1. For Spiritualness 2. For Usefulness 1. For Spiritualness and that three ways 1. He lives by a
of Heaven cannot be shaken Heb. 12. 28. it runs parallel with Eternity In that blessed Kingdom we shall have a transforming sight of God 1 Joh. 3. 2. We shall be like him As a Pearl by the beams of the Sun becomes bright and radiant like the Sun Gods terror shall be then laid aside Majesty in God shall appear but Majesty shining with Beauty and sweetned with Love This will be unspeakable and full of glory And this reward is near at hand Rom. 13. 11. Now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed When Columbus his men were weary of their Voyage he desired them to go on but three days longer they did so and discovered America While the righteous sail upon the waters of Affliction this may comfort them in their Voyage it is but going a little further and they will see Heaven there the Tree of Life grows and the crystal streams flow from Lebanon the Saints Salvation is now nearer than upon the birth-day of their faith Thus I have beaten out this Gold in the Text into the Leaf and shown you wherein the Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour 2. The second thing is Why a righteous man is more excellent than another The Reason is in respect of that near relation he stands in to Christ. 1. There is Consanguinity he is brother to Christ Heb. 3. 11. Christ partakes of his flesh and he partakes of Christs Spirit 2. There is Unity a righteous man is one with Christ as the members are one with the head Ephes. 1. 22 23. Then surely the righteous must needs have a surpassing dignity If Christ be a precious corner-stone 1 Pet. 2. 6. those lively stones must needs be precious which are built upon him Use 1. See from hence what it is that raiseth the price of a person it is righteousness this puts a glory and excellency upon him He that is graceless is worthless Prov. 10. 20. The heart of the wicked is little worth But righteousness makes the heart like the Heaven bespangled with Stars The Graces are compared to Chains of Gold for their value Cant. 1. 10. and to myrrh and cassia for their fragrancy Cant. 4. 13. As the precious stones did shine upon Aaron's brest-plate so doth righteousness shine in the eyes of God and Angels What made Christ admire the Woman of Canaan but her Graces Great is thy faith Mat. 15. 28. Christ was more taken with that than with all the goodly buildings of the Temple God esteems not the better of any man because he is rich or noble or embellished with worldly Ornaments it is righteousness advanceth him Righteousness is to the Soul as the Diamond to the Ring as Light to the World which bespangles and adorns it 2 Br. Learn then that it is no disparagement to any person to be righteous seeing it casts a splendor and renown on him and makes him more excellent than others Some are loth to espouse Religion because they think it will be a stain to their reputation but you see how righteousness doth emblazon ones Scutcheon and give him a supereminency above others Novarinus relates of an ancient King who invited a company of poor Christians and set them above some of his Nobles and being ask'd why he showed so much respect to men of such mean birth and extract he replied I must needs honour these as the Children of the high God they will be Kings and Princes with me in another world Theodosius thought it a greater renown to be Membrum Christi than Caput Imperii a Member of Christ than the head of an Empire The righteous are highly in favour with God and he hath enrolled their names in the Book of Life Phil. 4. 3. It was a custom among the Romans to write down the names of their Senators in a Book therefore they were called Patres Conscripti this is the honour of the righteous their names are written among the Courtiers of Heaven Believers in regard of their mystical Union with Christ have a kind of excellency above the Angels the Angels are Morning Stars Job 38. 7. but these are Clothed with the Sun Can it be any shame to be listed among the Saints when God is not ashamed to be called their God Heb. 11. 16. 3 Br. See what high thoughts God hath of the righteous he looks upon them more excellent than others and his judgment is best worth prizing The Saints have low thoughts of themselves they overlook their own worth like Moses who wist not that his face shined Exod. 34. 29. The eye though beautiful doth not see it self yet as low thoughts as the righteous have of themselves God hath high thoughts of them Isa. 43. 4. Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable The Lord puts away the wicked like dross Psal. 119. 119. The greatest man in the world wanting holiness is res nihili like Naaman who was Captain of the Kings host and a mighty man of valour but he was a Leper 2 King 5. 1. A wicked man may be higher than others in Nobility and worldly Grandure a dunghil is higher than other ground but it is never the better it sends forth noisome vapours But God sets an high estimate upon the righteous and that appears by bestowing more excellent Titles upon them than upon any others 1. God calls them his Jewels Mal. 3. 17. he laid his best Jewel to pawn for them They are Jewels 1. For their sparkling quality they shine in Gods eye The Saints have animas Angelificatas a kind of angelical brightness as one of the Ancients expresseth it 2. They are Jewels for their Price Diamonds saith Pliny were not known a long time but among Kings and Emperors the price of a Saint is above others Prov. 28. 6. Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness than he that perverteth his ways though he be rich 2. God calls the righteous his hidden ones Psal. 83. 3. they are hidden first for their invisibility their excellency is not known to many the world can see their infirmity not their eminency a Saint hath that internal Glory as cannot be beheld by a carnal eye the fair face is hid under a vail 2. The righteous are hidden for their safety Diamonds are hid in the Rock so the Saints life is hid in Christ the rock of Ages Col. 3. 3. 3. God calls the righteous the excellent of the earth Psal. 16. 2. Or the magnificent as Junius renders it they are the spiritual Phoenixes they are the cream and flower of the Creation they are purior pars mundi the purer part of the world double-refined Zach. 13. 9. 4. God calls them vessels of Honour 2 Tim. 2. 21. though they are earthen vessels yet they have heavenly treasure in them they are fill'd with the wine of the Spirit Ephes. 5. 18. Though they are scowred with affliction yet it is to make
was dear to God Job on the dunghil was more excellent than Pharaoh on the throne God boasts of Job to Satan Chap. 2. 3. None like him in the earth The Lord esteems not the worse of the righteous because he makes them pass under the Rod. A Goldsmith esteems his Gold though it be in the furnace God sees an excellency in the Saints when they are bleeding under their sufferings A piece of Plate is of great value though it be battered Grapes are precious though they are in the Winepress Jesus Christ was on the Cross yet proclaimed to be Gods beloved Son by a voice from heaven Mat. 3. 17. 3. It is comfort when the righteous are humbled by desertion Job 6. 4. The arrows of the Almighty are within me The Hebrew word for arrow 〈◊〉 comes from a radix that signifies to cut to show that the poyson'd arrow of desertion cuts to the heart Heman crys out Psal. 88. 7. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me like a mountain of lead it even sinks my spirits in this forâ—…orn state the Saints think God esteems them vile and hath cast them off Psal. 88. 14. Lord why castest thou off my soul God holds his deserted ones as it were over the fire of hell and they think they are ready to drop in But Christian thou mayst be sorely deserted yet God may judg thee excellent Sion thought she was quite forsaken Isai. 49. 14. Sion said the Lord hath forsaken me But at that time God had a dear respect for her Ver. 16. I have graven thee upon the palms of my hand God may have the face of an enemy yet the heart of a father The Lord deserts his people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for their profit Heb. 12. 10. While he is humbling them he is healing them he seems to put them away from him but it is to draw them nearer to him he would exercise their faith and prayer the more God is all this while preparing the Saints for the sweet embraces of his love Desertion is like purging-physick the Lord will purge out some ill humour of sin and afterwards will manifest his love to his Children The Cordial is kept till the working of the Physick is over The Conclusion THus Good Reader I have with all convenient brevity endeavoured to vindicate the true Saint and take him out of the fogg I have set before thy eyes a child of light Mark the perfect man and imitate him If notwithstanding all this surpassing excellency of the righteous any shall be so wicked as to persist in unrighteousness they love death Prov. 8. 36. If they shall glory in their unrighteousness it is as if beggars should boast of their sores If they shall disparage Holiness it is like a blind man's reproaching the Sun let the righteous biâ—…d reproaches as a Crown about their head and be no more troubled then they would be to have mad men laugh at them Psal. 37. 7. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him The time is shortly coming when God â—…ill clear the innocency of his Servants after he hath wiped off tears from their eyes he will wipe off reproach from their name and then this Text shall be universally subscribed to The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour FINIS Books to be sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Commentary on the Hebrews By John Owen D. D. fol. Mr. Sedgwick's Bowels of Mercy fol. Tho. Taylor 's Works the first vol. fol. 2. An Exposition of Temptation on Matth. 4. verse 1. to the end of the eleventh Forty-nine Sermons upon the whole Epistle of the Apostle St. Paul to the Colossiansâ—… in three parts By that famous Minister of the Reformed Church in Paris Mr. John Daille Translated into English by F. S. An Antidote against Quakerism wherein these following questions are opened the truth concerning them proved the contrary arguments examined and confuted 1. Whether the Scriptures or the light in every man be our rule to heaven 2. Whether the Light in every man be a saving Light here something also concerning immediate teaching 3. Whether Perfection viz. a state free from all sin be attainable in this life 4. Whether Baptism with water be an Ordinance of Christ binding us 5. Whether the Supper be an Ordinance of Christ binding us 6. Whether Justification be by the Righteousness of Christ imputed By Stephen Scandret Minister of Gods Word These Treatises next following are written by Mr. Tho. Watson The Doctrine of Repentance Heaven taken by storm The mischief of sin it brings a person low A Divine Cordial A word of Comfort for the Church and people of God A Plea for Alms in a Sermon at the Spittle The Holy Eucharist or the Sacrament of the Lords Supper briefly opened All Seven by Tho. Watson The Immortality of the Soul explained and proved by Scripture and Reason To which is added Faith's Triumph over the fear of Death By Tho. Wadsworth The Childs Delight together with an English Grammar By Tho. Lye The Practical Christian or a summary view of the chief heads of Practical Divinity By J. Bartlet of Exeter The inseperable Union between Christ and a Believer opened in a Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Dorothy Freeborn By Tho. Beck The Life and Death of that eminently learned pious and painful Minister of the Gospel Dr. Samuel Winter sometime Provest of Trinity Colledg near Dublin in Ireland Path-way to Prayer and Piety By R. Hills The Royal Robe or a Treatise of Meekness By J. Barker Comfortable Crumbs of Refreshment by Prayer Meditations Consolations and Ejaculations with a Confession of Faith and summ of the Bible The difference between the Spots of the Godly and Wicked in four Sermons By J. Burroughs FINIS * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Nazian * Dicimur infandi incestus râ—…i c. Tertul. Apol. * i. e. In tempore Judicij quantum diversa sit sors Pii impii Grotius * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 1 King 4. 33. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag b Sordet in conspectâ—… judic is quod fulget in conspectu operantis Imputata a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c Impertita a Qualitates sunt in subjecto extensivè * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b Praestat proximo suo Druâ—… * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Excellentior est illo qui justus non est Cart. in loc Doct. * 2 Tim. 3. 5. * Deificâ—… Professio Ambros. * Pro. 4. 7. a De essentia salutis * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost. * Quo pejus se babet miâ—…s sentit a Augustine b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c Idâ—…o est Christi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incognita quic est 〈◊〉 Calvin Psal. 119. 126. * 1 Joh. 3. 9. Ob indolem divinae similem Grot. Isa. 40. 31. Prov. 28. 1. * Psal. 110. 3. * 2 Pet.