humane learning even amongst the rich-gifted Corinthians determined not to know 1 Cor. 2. 2. any thing but Jesus Christ and him crucified And himself elsewhere giveth a rationall a satisfying account of this his resolution viz. because of the superlative both excellency and utility of this knowledge Doubtlesse I count all things Phil. 3. 8 10. but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord That I may know him and the power of his resurrection c. Who can tell how many rarities lie hid in Christ or how great gain may be got by the knowledge of him 1. This is the way to procure justification by him By his knowledge shall my righteous Servant justifie many 2. Hereby Isa 53. the growth of all graces both in kindes and degrees is much promoted We all with open face beholding as in a glasse the Joh. 4. 10. 2 Cor. 4. 18. glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 3. And hence issueth glory The Text tells you that in him is the hope of glory This is life eternall that they may know thee the only true God Joh. 17. 3. and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent If all this be not sufficient to quicken diligence in seeking out after the knowledge of Christ let me adde a double consideration from the practice of the holy Angels though they be not so much concerned in and advantaged by Christ as our selves 1. They did desire to pry and peep into those Typical and Prophetical 1 Pet. 1. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 discoveries of him which were obscure before his Incarnation 2. And now they are content to come as it were to our Schools where we are taught unto our Congregations for clearer instruction in this mystery according to Gods minde Vnto the Principalities and Powers in heavenly places might be Eph. 3. 10. Sacro-sanctum vivificum mysterium Aug Est quidem fructuosum honorificum gloriosum hoc Evangelij mysterium Dav. in Text. known by the Church the manifold wisedom of God These things speak cogent arguments to them who are Christianly ingenuous to move more and more industrious endeavours to dive further and further into these rich divine mysteries whereof Gods Worthies have given many high commendations calling it an holy glorious fruitfull quickning happy-making mystery What commendation can be higher then that of our Apostle 1 Tim. 3. 16. Without controversie great is the mystery of godlinesse God manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles beleeved on in the world received up into glory Herein is contained the marrow of Christianity And doubtlesse every Christian who mindeth the power of godlinesse either in reference unto Gods honour or self-welfare will by these Meditations be prevailed with to seek acquaintance with this rich mystery I shall speak no more unto this first Point viz. That Christ is the riches of Gospel-glorious Mysteries but I proceed unto the second That reall Saints beleeving Christians have even while Doct. 2 here on earth hope of glory Such were these Colossians to whom these words were spoken The Saints and faithful brethren in Christ Not only Saints ver 2. titularly but in reality whose Saintship and faith was witnessed by their brotherly disposition towards one another and their faithful walking in the world these these were they who had hope of future glory The like expression hath the same Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Rom. 5. 1 2. Christ and we rejoyce in hope of the glory of God This Doctrine I shall not much dilate upon but only give one touch or two by way of application Hence we are informed that the gain of godlinesse and Vse 1 the profitablenesse of a religious life is not to be judged of alone by the outward visible fruit reaped here for the rich Revenues of holinesse are rather in hope then in hand The world knoweth us not and it doth not yet appear what we shall 1 Ioh. 3. 1 2. Eccl. 9. 1. be No man knoweth love or hatred by all that is before them And therefore in the estimation of those who judge according to the sight of the eye If in this life only we have hope 1 Cor. 15. 19. in Christ we are of all men most miserable Though in very truth Christians who live by faith and walk holily with the Lord have cordials in secret which the world knoweth not of viz. peace which passeth all understanding and joys most unspeakable Phil. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 8. 2 Cor. 1. 5. and full of glory which do wonderfully exceed and admirably sweeten all their sufferings yet the best is behinde these are only the tastes of that full glory reserved for them in heaven Thus the Prophet Malachy confuteth the carnall crew in his daies who said it was a vain thing to serve God He first telleth them of a book of Remembrance written before the Lord recording all the serviceablenesse of Saints in evil times and then referreth them to the last day when God shall make up his jewels adding these words Then Mal. 3. 17 18. shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Would you give a right estimate of the precious incoms by godlinesse do not so much view their present outward wants and pressures but rather hearken to the language of their hopes When Christ who is our life shall appear then we also Col. 3. 4. 1 Ioh. 3. 2. shall appear with him in glory And we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Vse 2 Therefore let us all try whether we can from good holding Ezek. 3. 6. Heb. 6. 11. grounds make out our hopes of glory As Ministers must beware of flattering people with vain hopes so the Apostle Paul perswadeth every one of us to shew diligence for the attaining the full assurance of hope yea the same diligence 1 Pet. 3. 15. which we use in reference to any act of obedience And Saint Peter would have all Christians ready to give a reason of the hope which is in them The necessity of this triall may be manifested by these following considerations 1. The worth of the thing hoped for viz. glory which is in value transcendently better then all things under the Sunne Herein consists everlasting heavenly happiness The phrase whereby the holy Scripture doth expresse it is very full a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory The 2 Cor. 4. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 value of any commodity causeth cautiousnesse to prevent cheating Wisedom therefore will make wary that hopes hereof may not be built upon sandy bottoms 2. The usefulnesse of hope being as an Helmet to secure
Divines do conjecture wherefore David who mourned excessively upon Absaloms death was more comfortable when he heard that his young childe was dead Now he is dead wherefore should I fast 2 Sam. 1â— 23. I shall go to him God gave into his heart assurance of his childes happinesse in heaven whereas the wickednesse wherein Absalom lived and died did suggest rather doubts concerning his future condition This Use puts a fair opportunity into my hand to reach forth a Cordiall unto the Father Mother Grand-mother and other Relations of the ingenuous gracious Childe whose Funerall hath occasioned this Assembly and whose affectionate minding of this Text upon which I have discoursed was the Argument which induced me to undertake it at this time He was but nine years old and a half when God translated him and above five years since this Text Christ in you the hope of glory took such hold upon his heart that he frequently spake of it and often entreated his Father to preach of it And doubtlesse it is not a thing usuall for a childe so young to be thus affected with thoughts of Christ and glory to be hoped for through him Some few things more I will adde 1. To relieve the sad hearts of his nearest friends 2. To move them with others unto thankfulnesse to the Lord for that which his Spirit had wrought in this hopefull childe 3. As also to quicken young ones unto the imitation of his vertues First His loving honourable respect to his dear Parents and dutifull observance of them was very great which was evidenced by these particulars 1. Having quick parts and an aptnesse to learning he was willing to apply himself unto any thing wherein they judged it meet to have him instructed 2. As he himself was afraid to offend his Parents so â—e was carefull to prevent amongst Servants that which â—ight trouble them and to keep from their knowledge whatsoever he thought would be grievous unto their spirits 3. When under griping pains by reason of the winde-Colick he would labour to forbear groans and outcries lest they should be over-much afflicted with his Lamentations 4. Being asked whether he desired prayers for the lengthening of his life his answer was I would live that I might glorifie God and be a comfort to my Father and mother And all these expressions of his tender love towards his Parents are the more considerable because there was reason to hope that they were encreased in him by their care of his Religious Education In all these particulars he was a rare example especially if his childehood be remembred of Childrens obedience to their Parents Secondly He was like young Timothy knowing the holy Scriptures in his Childehood Though his bodily distempers did often take him off from Reading in the Bible yet he had read it twice throughout and was the third time gotten into the New Testament before his last Sicknesse He was able also to give a good account both of the Chapters which he read and of the Sermons which he heard And I will here mention three Passages which manifest that he minded and was affected with the Word of God 1. Having been taught a short Prayer by his Parents his manner was to adde thereto Scripture-sentences from time to time Two I shall report The one from Psal 119. 68. Thou art good and dost good Teach me thy Statutes The other from Psa 120. 2. Deliver my Soul O Lord from lying lips and from a deceitfull tongue Were not these his desires of knowledge and of preservation from lying a sinne to which Children are subject very commendable 2. Hearing of the misery of wicked ones and Hypocrites laid open in a Sermon on the Sabbath-morning he durst not go to his diner till he had gone aside to praier whereas thousands of riper age have no obedientiall bents wrought by divine threatnings 3. And being once reproached some years since because the hair of his head was short he readily returned this Answer That Gods Word speaketh against long hair remembring those words of the Apostle Doth not even Nature it self teach you that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him 1 Cor. 11. 14. May not this give a check unto many both Ministers and others whose Ruffian-like locks are very offensive unto multitudes who fear the Lord Thirdly As he was a Childe of many Praiers not only being much praied for by his Parents and their Godly Friends but also because he himself did pray daily seeming also to make conscience of this duty And here I shall relate some things which I account considerable 1. Sundry years since he made this as a matter of complaint that he could not order his thoughts while he was at prayer How may this shame multitudes of people much elder to whom roving thoughts in prayer were never troublesom 2. Not long before his death staying at home on the Sabbath-morning with a maid-Servant he desired as he had done formerly that they might sing a Psalm and go to prayer And in his prayer he made this Petition Lord grant that we may leave our sinnes not as people do their old clothes with purpose to put them on again but that we may forsake our sins as rags with resolution to wear them no more Many times when sick and in pain he would use these words Lord help me He was thankfull to my self as to others for our prayers and that night before his death having been once praied for by them who watched with him who discerned the approach of his change he himself of his own accord entreated them to pray with him and for him again Do not these things speak his sensible apprehensions of dependance upon God with expectations of favour from him by means of praier Fourthly This must not be forgotten That for divers years before his death he would expresse much estimation of those Texts of Scripture which speak of heavens glory the glory provided for Gods Servants for ever He would often commend the grace of contentment saying that it was better then riches and that mans life consisted not in abundance If unto all these things we adde that with which I did begin viz. the words of my Text which did run much in his minde Christ in you the hope of glory we may thence charitably and probably conjecture that notwithstanding his religious education and the many things praise-worthy in his life yet he grounded his hope of glory alone upon the Lord Jesus These particulars I have judged meet to mention as I before hinted with respect to Gods honour the comfort of his mourning friends and the edification both of children and their Parents who may be herewith acquainted Now the practicall improvement both of my Sermon and this Narration I humbly commend unto the blessing of God through Jesus Christ FINIS
apud Londinenses Pastor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Upon the much lamented Death of the truly Pious Youth Mr William Spurstow who deceased Anno Dom. 1633 4 March Aetatis 9. BLest Soul thy Parents only Son Thou wast Nipt in the bud and into deaths Den cast In Spring time both of age and year Thy Sun Is soon gone down soon is thy short race run True an Apprentiship th' hast serv'd on earth Of nine years but the tenth thou paist to Death As her due Tithe She will not be deni'd Young old rich poor are carried down this Tide Thou liv'st though dead in th'memory of those Who knew thy life and saw its holy close The honour thou didst to thy Parents bear Thy humble carriage witty words indear Thee unto all Those sparks of Piety Kindled wiihin thy Soul by th' Almighty Dazled the eyes of men Thine exc'llent parts Admired were by all Thou wonst all hearts But stay needs he Encomiums Reader know He joys above while we him wail below E. C. Student in Syd Coll. Cam. Upon his Funerall Text Col. 1. 27. Christ in you the hope of glory With which he was much affected in his life time and of which he did often speak THis Text did much refresh this Saint now dead Christ was his Hope his Glory Crown and Head Whilst here on earth Christ dwelt in him by grace But now he dwells with Christ and sees his face His Body though in grave to Christ is knit His Soul with Christ in Christs own Throne doth sit Christ was his hope on earth but now he is His Heaven his All his his for ever his E. C. Student in Syd Coll. Cam. Upon the Death of M. william Spurstow YE Muses Helicon what can you lie Thus mantled in a stupid Lethargy Breathe out your souls with sighs melt into tears And let your griefs be equall to your fears For him poor soul whose Fate it was we see To bid adieu in its minority Mourn that gloomy day on which it took its rise To seek a mansion in heavens Paradise What was his worth what Friends losse in verse Were but lost pains in both for to rehearse His purer mettal'd Soul needeth no Praise Or Art to'dulterate all this can't raise The price of such a Pearl that had alone What bounteous Art or Nature made her own And boldly this I 'le speak unto his praise His holy Life doth much exceed his daies O pray that such bless'd hopes may longer live Examples to such youth as cannot give W. H. The Text. COL 1. 27. Which is Christ in you the hope of Glory THe Subject matter of this Text is Jesus Christ and therefore seasonably suitable to the expectation of this Assembly which is to hear a Funeral Sermon For whereas wine is to be given unto those that be of heavy hearts what Prov. 31. 6. Cordiall is comparable with Jesus Christ who is called and deserveth to be accounted The Consolation of Luk. 2. 25. Israel In the Text Christ is tendred or rather commended to the consideration of these Christian Colossians under a threefold notion 1. As containing the riches of all Evangelicall mysteries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 referre oportet Dav. in Text. The Relative which must necessarily be referred unto the word Riches in the fore-going part of this verse as is manifest from the Originall in our Greek Copies Although the vulgar applieth the Relative which unto mystery and I acknowledge Christ to be a mystery as the holy Ghost doth Eph. 3. 3 4. often suggest in the holy Scriptures And indeed his conception and his hypostaticall Union c. give us just occasion to call him wonderfull Isa 9. 6. yet in this place I humbly conceive that he is held forth to our view as the Riches of the glorious mystery of the Gospel 2. As being the groundwork and the foundation of every good Christians good hope of happinesse Christ the hope of glory I have heard of Ships laden with rich commodities from which their owners expect great advantage called The Hope or The good Hope Under this Name may beleevers reall Saints well own the Lord Jesus The Hope of glory 3. As inhabiting dwelling in beleeving Christians for this end that by his abiding and operating in them he might be unto them the hope of glory Christ in you the hope of glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Erasmus notat ccdices quosdam sic habere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inter vos ut legit etiam Syrus interpres Beza in Text. Some Translators render the words Christ among you but I rather cleave unto our English Translators both old and new which do answer our Greek Copies and accord with the most learned judicious Interpreters Christ in you the hope of glory Having thus briefly given in the division of the Text with the Interpretation of the words both together I proceed to the handling of the Points of Doctrine hence considerable for our Instruction The first Truth observable is this That Jesus Christ is the riches of all Gospel-glorious Mysteries Doct. 1 The Apostle Paul acknowledging much glory in the Administrations of Moses wherein there was much Gospel though vailed and shadowed under Types and Ceremonies yet telleth us That Evangelicall ministrations do exceed in glory and that the former had no glory in respect of this latter 2 Cor. 3. 9 10 11. which excelleth and is much more glorious Now the riches of all this glory are in Christ Concerning which the expression of the same Apostle is observable The unsearchable riches of Christ The riches of this Gospel-glory in Christ Eph. 3. 8. may be discovered with reference 1. both to God 2. and to Ex parte Dei ex parte nostri godly Christians First In regard of God All the revenues of glory which come unto his Majesty from the Gospel are most eminently in Jesus Christ And therefore at his birth the Angels sing Glory to God on high 1. In him are all the treasures Luk. 2. 14. Col. 2 3. 1 Cor. 2. 7. 1 Cor. 1. 24. Eph. 3. 18 19. Eph. 2. 7. Eph. 1. 6. of wisedom Here is wisedom in a mystery 2. And Christ is as the wisedom so the Power of God Divine Omnipotency is no way so fully discovered as in Christ 3. In him is divine love which passeth knowledge which is beyond all dimensions 4. And as for mercy how full is the language of the Apostle The exceeding riches of his grace in his kindeness through Christ Jesus And speaking elsewhere of Gospel-incoms he addeth To the praise of the glory of his grace Here might be added the unspotted holinesse and untainted justice of God more glorified in the unexpressible humiliation of Jesus Christ then in any other way whatsoever And who knoweth not how the honour of Gods Truth is triumphantly glorious in Christ because all things
foretold of him both substantiall and circumstantiall were exactly fullfilled in him The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Ioh. 1. 14. Jesus Christ These things I only touch upon without enlargement Secondly In relation to his people Christ is the riches of Christus est nobis thesaurus spiritualium divitiarum Day in Text. 1 Cor. 2. 7. the Gospels glory The blessed Apostle is very open in his expression to this purpose We speak the hidden wisedom of God which God ordained unto our glory Many rich and glorious are the true Christians advantages from Jesus Christ I shall briefly point at four which St Paul hath recorded together in Eph. 1. And before I mention the particulars the generall which he premiseth being very comprehensive is worthy consideration Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Eph. 1. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenlies in Christ The Originall neither restraineth the word Heavenly to places or things but the holy Ghost hinteth thus much That whatsoever spirituall blessings which are incomparably the best any Saints receive from the Lord either here upon earth or hereafter in heaven all are derived through Christ The particulars follow 1. Electing love is in Christ He hath chosen us in him before ver 4. the foundation of the world 2. Adoption into the right and priviledges of Gods children is by Christ Having predestinated us unto the Adoption ver 5. of Children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will 3. Fatherly acceptance with God pardoning all sins is upon the account of Jesus Christ He hath made us accepted ver 6 7. in the beloved in whom we have redemption through his bloud the forgivenesse of sins according to the riches of his grace 4. And the possession of our rich Inheritance is by reason of our co-heirship with Christ Jesus In whom also we have ver 11 12. Neque solum gratiam omnem inherentem habemus a Christo derivatam sed gratiam acceptationis divinae ad vitam aeternam habemus Dav. in Text. Vse 1. obtained an Inheritance c. that we should be unto the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ These short touches may be sufficient to clear the truth of the doctrine I proceed to the Application Ministers therefore should in this regard the more abundantly preach Christ Our Apostle having in the Text told the Colossians that Christ is the riches of the glorious Gospel he addeth immediately in the verse following whom we preach yea this is considerable that when Paul was a prisoner for such preaching he maketh this the greatest boon to be begg'd of God in his behalf that he might have liberty with ability to declare such things unto them in his Ministry Continue in prayer withall praying for us that God Col. 4. 2 3 4. would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the Mystery of Christ for which I am also in bonds that I may make it manifest The like request he maketh unto the Ephesians Pray Eph. 6. 18 19 20. alwaies in the Spirit c. And for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an Ambassadour in bonds And he greatly glorieth in this as a transcendent honour That he was made a Minister of the Gosple to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see Eph. 3. 7 8 9. what is the fellowship of the mystery c. And this practice may prevalently be perswaded by the consideration of 1. The Ministers Office 2. The Peoples need First By Office We are Stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4. 1. 2. and it is required in Stewards that a man be found faithfull In this respect we must produce for the honour of our Master and the use of his Family such Treasures with which he hath been pleased to entrust us As Abrahams servant Gen. 24. 53. brought forth Jewels of silver and Jewels of gold to win the heart of Rebecca to Isaac so should we spread before our people the unvaluable riches of Christ that we might work out their hearts unto him Secondly As our Office so the Peoples necessities do call for our help herein for there are hidden things herein as the word mystery intimateth 1 Cor. 2. 7. which very few understand in comparison of the multitudes who are palpably ignorant hereof This our Saviour suggests who having by the Parable of the Sower taught that not above one part of four receive saving profit by the Gospel preached among them he said unto his Disciples Vnto you it is given to know Luk. 8. 10. the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God but unto others in Parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand And nothing that can possibly be taught is more usefull Vt sciant nihâ— doâ—â—ri posse absolutius Cal. in ver 28. and advantagious Hereby the proud heart is most kindely humbled and the humbled heart most sweetly comforted This knowledge will enrich the poor in Spirit and keep them lowly who are rich in grace It will encrease the hatred of sinne the contempt of the world faith in the promises love to God Christian courage zeal patience together with humble boldnesse in addresses unto God upon all occasions It is the one thing necessary By means hereof as the Luk. 10. 42. Apostle hints in the verse following the Text Ministers may hope to present their people perfect in Jesus Christ But these things I do only name without enlargement yet before I dismisse this Use I desire leave to entreat my Brethren in the Ministry to minde the counsell and practice of this our Apostle 1 Cor. 14. 23. 18 19. viz. to study familiar plainnesse in unfolding these rich mysteries of glorious Gospel grace which are treasured up in Jesus Christ My second Use must be directed both unto Ministers and Vse 2 people To move them to seek more and more the knowledge of Christ Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you in Col. 3. 16. Prov. 2. all wisedom How unweariedly labourious are men in digging into the bowels of the earth to finde and to fetch out the riches there Now of how little worth is all the worlds wealth being compared with Christ The Gospel is the treasure Mat. 13. 44 46 in the Field of which the Parable speaketh and Christ is that one Pearl of great price which is of more worth then any mans All. Therefore the Scriptures should be searched as Joh. 5. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men search for treasures to make further and fuller discoveries of Christ because in him eternall life and all things conducible thereunto are to be enjoyed Saint Paul who by experience knew the worth of