11. They are Blessed men Matth. 5.3 4 5. Blessed are the poor in Spirit who are sensible of their own wants and weakness of their own nakedness and nothingnesse these have the promise of Heaven and Earth And if Heaven and Earth be taken up for the Humble in what place think you shall the proud be billetted not in Heaven for it will receive no proud person they must be like little children for Humility that will come thither Matth. 18.3 Now by serious Meditation work these eleven considerations on thy heart till they have wrought out pride and made thee universally Humble In Vestures Gestures Heart Words Works A man may have it in his Tongue and be full of complement as your Servant Sir c. and yet be full of craft But the most proper seat of Humility is the Heart We must learn of Christ to be Humble not onely in Words but in Heart Mat. 11.29 For if the heart be once humbled all will be humble if there be a Treasury of Humility within it will quickly appear in the Words and Works without Such will stoop to any employment whereby God may be glorified They can well be content to be dishonoured so God may be honoured to decrease so Christ may increase Iohn 3.30 This made Paul to become all things to all men and make himself a servant to all that he might gain the more 1 Cor. 9.19 20. How low did Christ stoop that he might glorify God in the work of our Redemption he made himself of no reputation but laid aside his glory for a time and took upon him the form of a servant Phil. 2.6 7. he conversed with sinners talkes with women heales the sick washeth his Disciples feet Many could be content to serve in places of Honour Pleasure Credit but a gracious soule can stoop to the meanest service and lowest place so God may be honoured yea the Saints in their highest condition carry humble hearts David when a King yet is as lowly as a weaned child Psal. 131. we need not levell good men they will levell themselves and carry low mindes in high estates The more they have or have done and suffered for God the more humble they be they lay all their Honours Learning Riches Excellencies c. at the feet of Christ as the twenty foure Elders cast downe their Crownes before the Throne saying Thou art worthy to receive Honour and Glory and Power Revel 4.10 Even Agathocles King of Sicily being a Potters sonne would alwayes eat his meat in earthen Vessels the better to mind him of his Originall Fictilibus coenâsse ferunt Agathoclea Regent That you may learn this choyce Lesson 1. Be familiar with Humble men make them thy bosome companions for as he that toucheth pitch shall be defiled so he that meddles with rich perfumes will smell of their sweetnesse 2. Remember thy last end remember thou art dust and must to dust again we dwell in houses of clay and our foundation is in the dust Iob 17.14.16 when the house is clay and the foundation dust such a house cannot long endure What made Ierusalem so proud and filthy Why She remembred not her last end Lam. 1.9 Pray that you may know in good earnest that you are but men Psalm 9.20 i. e poore fraile feeble creatures what ever thy endowments be yet this consideration that thou art Enosh a poore wretched miserable man will humble thee Remember what thou art by sin and what thou shalt be in thy Grave and thy Plumes will fall Every proud man forgets himself 3. To keep thee from pride in Externalls and Naturall excellencies consider how the creatures excell us therein the Lion in courage the Horse in strength the Birds in singing the Lillies in Beauty the Spider in spinning the Bee in working the Eagle in Seeing the Hare in running the Dogge in smelling c. 2. In obedience every creature excells man in his pure Naturalls All creatures are Gods servants and are ready to do whatsoever their Lord and Master shall command them Even the Winds and the Seas obey him Hence the Lord sends us Dullards to learn Industry of the Ant. Prov. 6.6 Prudence of the Stork Crane Swallow Ier. 8.7 and Gratitude of the Oxe and Asse Isa. 1.3 Against Pride see Alsteeds Encyclop Ethic. lib. 21. cap. 12 13. Vol. 2. in Folio p. 12.77 Perkins 2. Vol. on Gal. 6.14 Bernards Thesaurus in the end p. 134. Mr. Trapps Common-place on Arrogancy in the end of his Comment on the Epistles Mr. Woodwards childs Patrimony 2. Part. c. 4. Sect. 1. p. 50. c. Mr. Clerks Mirruor cap. 102. B. Hall's Ser. on Prov. 29.23 Vol. 2. Fol. p. 399. For Humility see Mr. Henry Smith's Serm. on 1 Peter 5.5 p. 203. Mr. Rogers of Dedham his Comment on 1 Pet. 5.5 Bernards Thesaurus in the end p. 136. D. Ier. Taylor 's Rule of Holy Living c. 2. Sect 4. Sibelius in Psal 132. Mr. Cawdry Humility the Saints Livery D. Featly on Matth. 5.3 3. Blasphemers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This sin is fitly linkt to the former Sins go not single but they beget one another Self-love begets Covetousnesse Covetousnesse Pride aud Pride Blasphemy So that Blasphemy is the genuine daughter of Pride when men have high conceits of themselves they are oft punisht with a fall and Pride being properly a spirituall sin is punisht with spirituall judgements God gives them up to a reprobate Sense so that they fall from one sin to another till at last they become Blasphemers 2. Proud persons are impatient discontented persons they can beare nothing if God crosse them or curse them as he delights to resist the Proud they presently fly in his face with Blasphemies Revel 16.9.11.27 as Iobs Wife would have had him do Iob 2.9 As a vile person utters Villany Isay 32.6 So a proud Atheist utters Blasphemy Quest. But what kind of Blasphemy doth the Apostle here mean when he saith Men shall be blasphemers Answ. Blasphemy in Scripture is taken many wayes but especially two 1. Largely and generally for any contumely or indignity which is done to men so reproachfull speeches tending to the disgrace of another mans name is in Scripture called Blasphemy Titus 3.2 that they speak evill of no man in the Originall 't is To blaspheme no man and so much the derivation of the word imports viz. to hurt the good name of another 2. 'T is taken strictly and most properly for opprobrious words which are uttered to the reproach of God his Word his Works his Spirit his Ordinances his Ministers his People Now though some learned men do take the words in the former sense viz. for defamers and slanderers yet our Translation renders it truly from the Originall Blasphemers as relating to the highest kind of evill speaking even to all manner of Blasphemy against the God of Heaven In all ages there have been such but in the last dayes men
the first cause of covetousnesse is Diffidence and Distrust of Gods providence and promises This unbelief is the very Root of all those Vexing Inordinate Tormenting cares which possesse mens hearts They question whether God will provide for them and therefore they are so excessively carefull to provide for themselves The weaknesse of the Disciples faith strengthened their fear about food and raiment Matth. 6.30 The Lord foreseeing this hath for our support promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us Heb. 13.5 there are five Negatives in the Text to assure us of the truth of it q. d. I will not no I will not I will in no wise leave thee nor forsake thee He that provides for Sparrowes and feeds the Ravens will not faile his people man is a poor weak creature and cannot live without some prop and if he trust not in God he will trust in uncertain riches Prov. 18.11 For this the Lord who is a jealous God and cannot endure a Corrivall crosseth and curseth him and sets an Ecce of detestation upon him Psal. 52.7 Lo this is the man that made not God his strength but trusted in his riches Let us therefore act and strengthen our faith for it fears no Famine Dangers or Difficulties Get assurance of heavenly things that will enoble your minds and make you to contemne earthly things If you be risen with Christ and have set your affections on things above they will dye to things below Colos. 3.1 2. He that is filled with sweet meats cannot away with courser fare 2. Discontent with mens present condition man is a poor froward wayward perverse dâ—scontented piece God hath much adoe with uâ— Iâ— Israel be in Egypt he then longs to be in Canaan let God bring them into Canaan and then they long to be in Egypt again Our present Callings dwellings Wives please us not The Servant would be a Master the Maid a Mistris the old man young the single man married and the married man would fein be single again 1. Consider that this discontent with thy present condition is a dangerous Temptation It makes men unthankfull to God for present enjoyments and to undervalue the blessings they have 2. Discontent makes men like to the Devill himself who is a proud discontented spirit Iude 6. as contentation make us like to God and partakers of the divine nature so Discontent makes men like to Satan A gracious man is a Self-sufficient man he rests contented with his little Suppose all the creatures in the world should be destroyed yet God would be El-shaddai all-sufficient still laying all happinesse in himselfe So if God should take away all creature-comforts from a gracious soul yet so long as he hath God for his portion he hath all and is as joyfull as if he abounded with all creature-comforts Hab. 3.17 Psal. 16.5 6 7. 3. Discontent brings ruine Ahab was not content with a Kingdome but he must have Naboths Vine-yard too and that ruined him 1 Kings 21. This cast the Angels from Heaven Adam out of Paradise he would be like God and made himself lower then man Psalm 49. ult Let the scratching bramble and tearing 〈◊〉 aspire after Ruâ—e and to be a King but let the Vines of Gods planting content themselves with the wine and sweetnesse which God hath given them Iudg. 9.14 15. when Israel was not content with Manna but they must have flesh they had it with a curse to boot Numb 11.31.33 Impatience may wrest a deliverance from God but we had better be without it Such Preservations oft-timâ—s are but Reservations to some greater judgement This ruines men in Temporals as a rolling stone gathers no mosse so a running discontented head gathers no riches 'T is not those which are rich in an orderly way but those that will be rich before their time and that by unjust practises such bring themselves into a snare and do so drown themselves in perdition that they seldome or never rise againe 1 Tim. 6.9 So did Balaam Iude 11. and Achan Ahab Iudas This ruines men in Spirituals It robs the soul of that Peace and Joy which it should find in God it distempers the spirit and makes it unfit for holy duties It lays men open to many sad Temptations What makes so many Witches Discontent What makes so many run to Withes Discontent What makes so many murder themselves Discontent This lets the Devill into mens hearts Ephes. 4.27 He loves to fish in troubled waters and carefully observes all excesses in us whether of sorrow or joy and acts accordingly Here some object If I had but such Gifts and Graces as others have I could be content but it troubles me that I come so short of many others Answ. You must know that God hath ordained some men for more eminent places and these he adornes with more eminent Gifts and Graces Others are for lower service and these he gifts accordingly Some are to be Eyes some Hands some Feet some little Toes in the body yet all usefull and beautifull in their places It 's a great dignity to be the least member of Christs mysticall body 2. Though thou be inferiour in some things yet thou mayest excell in others Another it may be may have more knowledge yet thou mayest practice more Another may have more Learning but thou more Humility Aaron excelled in eloquence and freedome of speech but Moses excelled in Wisdome Solidity and Meeknesse God in his Wisdom hath so ordered it that no man hath all things but some excell in one thing and some in another that we might all be usefull in our way and helpfull each to other Quest. But suppose the Lord should call me to a higher place must I still content my self with my low condition Answ. As when the Lord calls us to a lower condition to forsake all as he did Abraham to leave a certainty for an uncertainty Gen. 12.1 Acts 7.5 We must cheerfully obey So when he calls us to Riches and Honour as he did Ioseph David Hester Daniel We may and must with Thankfulnesse accept it or if the Lord by our industry or by the death of Parents and Friends shall enrich us we may accept of them and must improve them to the honour of that God that gave them As we have better wages so we must do do more work As he hath exalted us so we must exalt him Like Iehosaphat when God gave him riches in abundance his heart was lifted up in the wayes of the Lord 2 Chron. 17.5 6. Such are not slaves to their Riches they do possess it but it possesseth not them Quest. But how shall I know when I am called to an higher place Answ. When the Lord gives Gifts and Qualifications sutable to the work which he calls us to for God calls none to any imployment but he gives them gifts in some competent measure answerable thereunto 2. When we come not to our Places by Bribery Simony or
to use both estates well is a far greater praise Iacob who was little and low in his own eyes Gen. 32.10 desires no more but food and raiment and tells his Brother that he had enough Gen. 33.9.11 Esau could say I have Rab multum but Iacob sayes I have Col omne all things for contentment is All in All None so content as the Humble man who seeth himself to be less then the least of Gods mercies This made the Church quietly to bear not onely the Anger but the Indignation of the Lord when she considered how she had sinned against him Micah 7.19 Lam. 3.22 Humble David counts it an honour to be but a door-keeper in Gods house and the prodigall desires to be an hired servant there 2. Consider thou hast more then many of thy betters How many of Gods deare servants have been in a lower condition then thou art in Consider Iobs afflictions Pauls trialls our Saviours Poverty who had not a house of his own to dwell in nor a bed of his own to lye on Matth. 8 20. and barley bread for his followers Iohn 6.9 3. Contentment is the onely Riches 'T is not Money but the Mind which makes men rich Hence Socrates calls contentment the the Soules Riches We all desire Riches behold the way How many by over-reaching and being over-eager after the world have lost all This sweetens our little and makes it more comfortable to us then the great heapes of Riches which the wicked have with vexation and discontent Prov. 13.25 and 15 16 17. and 16.8 A good man rests as well contented with his little as if God had made him a King or an Emperour and when they have nothing yet they have all because they have the God of all 2 Cor. 6.10 4. 'T is a singular comely well-pleasing Grace it adornes our profession and winnes much upon the Spirits of men As Covetousnesse of all Vices is the basest so contentment of all Virtues is the most excellent 'T is the greatest happiness that we can attain to in this world perfect happiness consists in communion with God immediately but imperfect happiness consists in contentment when we enjoy God in his Creatures and Ordinances and this is the highest degree of happiness which this world affords This is Heaven upon earth Heaven is nothing else but a sweet and quiet Spirituall rest and satisfaction in the great God So that this is not onely our Duty but our Glory 'T is the ornament of a Christian and makes him lovely even in Gods eye 1 Pet. 3.4 When your Wills are submissive to his Will and we can be content to be what God will have us to be and to suffer what ever he will have us to suffer this is our Glory 1 Pet. 2.20 5. It s a sign of a magnanimous raised spirit when we can do well and yet be content to hear ill when we can passe through bad report as well as good and through losses crosses trialls and make nothing of them yea can bless God in the losse of all Iob 1.21 this is Noble and Heroick indeed 'T was Socrates commendation that though his condition oft changed yet he never changed but was still the same And if Heathens that had but the dimme light of nature for their guide have loved and practised in their way and according to their light contentment then we that have received more Light and Love from God should do more then they Matth. 5.47 for he that cannot submit to God in Passive Obedience the sincerity of his Active Obedience is justly to be suspected Obj. This is a hard and a harsh Lesson who can learn it Answ. The way to heaven is a hard and a straight way to flesh and blood Mat. 7.14 All Gods pleasant commands yet seem harsh and hard to wicked and unwilling men If God command liberality then the covetous man is angry if Frugality the Prodigall if Humility the Proud if Chastity the Incontinent if Sobriety the Intemperate But get thy nature changed and get in Love with contentment and goodnesse and then the good wayes of God will never displease thee Micah 2.7 Obj. But I am sick and poor I am lost and low Answ. It may be thou hast had a moneth or two of sicknesse but hast thou not had yeares of pleasure and health now shall we receive so much good at the hands of the Lord and shall we not endure a little evill of affliction especially since 't is for our good Iob 2.10 2. Be content with thy Poverty in some respects it may be better to thee then the riches and plenty of the wicked Many esteem poverty the greatest evill and therefore to avoid it they run into sin Whereas Poverty if it be not in extremity is the Nurse of Arrs the Schoole of Patience a Teacher of diligence a Bridle to Vice a Spur to Vertue such are apter to receive the Gospel and so more capable of grace and true contentment Zeph. 3.5 Matth. 11.5 Iames 2.5 The middle condition between extream Poverty and the height of riches hath alwayes been accounted safest and best Prov. 30 8 9. 3. Consider though Poverty be a crosse and sometimes a curse for sin Deut. 28.43 44. Psal. 109.10 yet 't is no sin for Christ himself was poor that he might sanctify our Poverty in his own person and honour it with his own example 2 Cor. 8.9 For our sakes he became poore though not so extream poor as to beg his bread for that was forbidden â—y the Law Deut. 15.4 and restrained by all Well-governed Common-weales yet he was so poor as to borrow he had not so much money as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to pay the Taxe with Matth. 17.24 which was about ten pence say some fifteen pence say others 4. You that are Poor are freed from many dangers which rich men are exposed to as Poysening Plundering Fining Envying c. How many Kings and great ones have been poysoned in their golden cups when thou fearest nothing in thy earthen dish Nulla aconita bibuntur Fictilibus Juven In times of war the souldier inquires not where dwells the poor man but where dwells the rich man the Usurer and the great man The finger is cut off for the golden ring when Zedokiah King of Iudah and the great ones were in distress yet the poor were spared Ier. 39.10 So 2 Kings 25.7.12 2. Thou art freed frow many dangerous Temptations and snares from many cares and fears which annoy the rich 1. They are apt to Pride 2 Chron. 26.16 2. To forget God Deut. 8.16 Prov. 30.9 3. To security and riot Luke 12 19. Besides great wealth brings great cares great feares and at last a great account they that have much of them shall be much required As thou hast less so thy cares feares and accounts will be less 5. The Lord can supply thy want of
their Services are precious mean works done in faith excell the Victories of a Caesar or Alexander Their teares are precious Psal. 56.8 their names are precious Proverbs 20 7. Psalm 112.6 and their death is precious Psalm 116.15 when one ask't Master Fox whether he knew such an honest poor man I tell you said he I forget Lords and Ladyes to think on such We should love them Intensivè appretiativè majore affectu effectu with the choycest of our affections and shew it in our Actions We should doe good to all but specially to the household servants of God Gal. 6.10 we should more freely and fully communicate to their necessities si caetera sint paria then to any others As God then delights in his Saints so must we for Grace puts a lustre on them which makes them lovely to the godly and terrible to their enemies So that there is more comfort and safety in the society of a few good men then in strong confederacies of the wicked Psalm 48.2 3 4. for God dwells amongst them by his speciall presence Psalm 76.1 2. and walks in the midst of them Revel 2.1 his speciall hand of protection is over them lest any should hurt his Vineyard he keepes it night and day i. e. continually Isay 27.3 It will be our wisdome then to be familiar with them they will help us Consilio Prece opere by Direction Prayer and Practice Their good Example will quicken us and be as a Starre to direct us so that by acquaintance with them we may come to be acquainted with God himself As Iron sharpens Iron and one living coale sets his fellow on fire and one couragious souldier quickens another so good company is a great incouragement against those discouragements which we meet with from an ungratefull world and a speciall meanes to keep uâ— from Apostasy Heb. 3.12 13. Green wood will hardly burn alone but put drye wood amongst the green and all will flame When the disciples were altogether in one place with one accord in an holy communion then the spirit came on them Acts 2.3 4. where Brethren are united there 's the blessing Psal. 133.1.3 VERSE 4. Traytours THE last dayes will be perilous in respect of the many Traytours which will then abound who shall ascend to that height of wickednesse that they will betray their dearest friends like Iudas who betrayed his Master and is therefore justly called the Traytour by way of eminency Luke 6.16 So themselves may be safe they care not who suffers They 'l spy and pry into the wayes of others that they may betray and destroy them and reveale their secrets No bonds of friendship can hold them but Brother will deliver up the Brother to death the Father will rise against his children and children against their Parents and cause them to be put to death Matth. 10.21 Christians will betray their fellow-Christians into the hands of persecutors Luke 21.16 and people will betray their Pastors and put them to death as did their fore-fathers of old Acts 7.52 Now of these Traytours there are three Sorts 1. Traytors Politicall 2. Ecclesiasticall 3. Domesticall 1. Some are Politicall State Traytors such as betray the land of their Nativity into the hands of its enemies Subjects are bound by Oath oft times to preserve their native country to their power But if they were not sworne yet naturall and common right calls for it our hands If the body be in danger all the parts and members of it will act for its defence and therefore great is the sin of those unnaturall children which betray their native country which like a Mother bred and bare them to ruine and to misery Of this sort are those who betray their trust in delivering up Castles and Garisons into the enemies hands 2. There are Ecclesiasticall Traytours such as betray the truth of God which he hath committed to his Ministers primarily and then to all the faithfull to be kept as a sacred depositum and choyce treasure 1 Tim. 6.20 esteeming every particle of it above the filings of the finest gold Now when men through feare and cowardlinesse dare not professe the truth of God in the midst of a perverse generation that oppose it God esteems this a betraying of his truth into the hands of its enemies Such are false Prophets Formalists and Time-servers which for a time make a shew but in time of tentation fall away 3. Domestick Traytors who betray the lives and estates of their dearest relations into the hands of their enemies Psal. 55.12 13 14. Matth. 10 21. So that the Poets complaint was never more true Non augenda fides potiùs minuenda videtur Vix cum sint homines tot quot in orbe fides Sortitur sibi quisque fidem sibi quisque Magistrum Nunquam plus fidei perfidiaeque fuit It behoves us then to stand upon our Guards and to watch against false Brethren If ever the counsell of the Prophets were in season 't is now Trust not in a Neighbour a Brother a Friend no not in thy dearest friend the wife of thy bosom how many have been drawn aside to errors in our dayes by their wives for a mans enemies still be those of his own house Ier. 9.4 5. Micah 7.5 6. In all ages Gods servants have been infested by Traytors David had not only open enemâ—es that conspired his ruine Psal. 35.20 21. but which was worst of all his familiar friends did so Psal. 41.9 Christ was betrayed by Iudas and Paul by the Jewes his kinsmen in the flesh Sampson by his wife Dalilah Iudg. 14.18 and David by his son Absolom 2 Sam. 1â— 14 This may comfort us when we fall into the hands of Traytors and Tyrants 't is no new thing So did Christ so did the Prophets so did the Apostles and so may we 1. Consider such cannot escape the revenging hand of God his Justice wil find them out Zimri had no peace who slew his Master Nor Sheba that rebelled against his Soveraign 2 Sam. 20.22 Nor Absolom who rose against his Father 2 Sam. 18.9 10. nor Corah Dathan and Abiram who rose against Moses Nor Iudas that betrayed Christ. Matth. 26.24 and 27.5 nor the Papists with their proditorious practises and principles 2. They are oft punisht by men who though they love the Treason yet hate the Traytour Though they love the Artifice yet hate the Artificer and when he hath done his work he hath oft-times an halter for his paines or at best he hath the honour never to be trusted more when Baanah and Rechab had treacherously slain Ishbosheth one of Sauls sons David commands them both to be slain 2 Sam. 4.9 to 13. As for our selves let us walk as becomes the Gospel in all simplicity and godly sincerity abhoring all Treachery falsenesse and perfideousnesse Let us be faithfull to the truth of God faithfull to the land of our Nativity and faithfull in all our Relations
consider that these persecutions and trials come not upon us by chance or fortune or according to the pleasure of men or devils but by Gods Decree and fore-appointment and special providence There is no evil in this kinde but it comes from God Amos 3.6 Deuteronomy 32.39 2 Samuel 16.10 11. Psalm 39.9 Iob 1.21 Isay 45.7 Hosea 6.1 I create evil not the evil of sinne but the evil of punishment which to our apprehension and feeling is evil Sin is simply per se evil but these sufferings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in our apprehension onely whatever the Instruments of our troubles are yet God is the Orderer and disposer of them Iosephs Brethren sell him into Egypt I but God disposed it unto good Gen. 50.20 the Assyrian is but Gods rod which can do nothing without the hand that moves it Isay 10.5 they have onely a dispensative power from God As our Saviour told Pilate so we may say to all the wicked they have no power to take a hair from our heads unlesse it be given them from above Iohn 19. Herod Iudas Pilate and the Iewes and the Devil had all ends of their own in persecuting Christ yet did they nothing but what God had fore-ordained and decreed should be done Acts 4.28 God hath fore-ordained the Beginning End Quantity and Quality of our Sufferings Romans 8.18 1 Thessalonians 3.3 God deals with us as a father doth with his children turning all to their good Romans 8.28 There is nothing will still the Soul like this viz. that 't is the Lord who in wisedom and love is pleased thus to try us we shall never be dumb and silent till we see 't is the Lord that doth it 2. We must not onely beare these Trials Patiently so as a Heathen may doe but Ioyfully When we suffer for Righteousnesse sake we must be exceeding glad and even leap for joy Luke 6.22 23. Though the flesh repine yet God would have us to mount it Joy all Joy when we fall not into one or two but into Varietie of Tentations viz. banishment imprisonment losse of goods Friends c. Iam. 1.2 We must glory in Tribulation Romans 5.3 Rejoyce even to Gloriation The Apostles went from the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy of that Honour to be dishonoured for Christ Acts 5.41 45. Paul oft glories that he was a prisoner for Christ and that he bare in his body the mark of the Lord Jesus Galathians 6.17 He had been whipt and stoned and stocked and he carried the marks of these as so many badges of honour Yea he chose rather to glory in tribulation and sufferings then in his Revelations and raptures into the third Heavens 2 Corinthians 11.23.24 30. His Glorying was in the Crosse of Christ Colossians 1.24 2 Corinthians 7.4 Ephesians 3.13 Philippians 2.17 Iohn did not boast that he was an Evangelist or of his Revelations but that he was a brother in Tribulation Revelations 1.9 'T is said of the Primitive Christians that they rejoyced in loosing their goods for Christ Hebrewes 10.34 and the Thessalonians received the word in much affliction and joy 1 Thessalonian 1.6 and Paul exceedingly desired to be made conformable to Christ even in his sufferings Philippians 3.10 Ignatius cryed Let sire crosse breaking of my bones come quartering of my members crushing my body and all the torments that Man and Devil can invent so I may but enjoy my Lord Jesus Christ. When the Emperour threatned Saint Basil with death He boldly answers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O that I might die for the Truth When Eudoxa the Empresse threatned Chrysostom He sent her word that he had learned to fear nothing but sinne A noble spirit knows not what discouragement means but like the valiant horse he breaks through dangers Iob 3.22 23. He triumphs in the midst of Trials and in an holy securitie he laughs at troubles Iob 5.22 Psalm 46. Romans 8.37 38. They onely are the Men that in a Spirituall sense doe tread on the Lion the Aspe and Adder Psalm 91.13 The water in Wether-glasses riseth highest when the Wether is foulest So Gods People when at worst then are they best when they have nothing in the creature they have most of God Habakkuk 3.17 18. Sense can say if we want Figges yet we have Wine to cheer us and if the Vine should fail yet the Olive may help for a time or if these should fail yet we have Corn in our Fields to support us or if a Famine should come yet if the Pastures abound with Flockes that will be some help or if the Flocks abroad should fail yet the Herds of the stall at home may support us Thus far Sense may goe But when all these fail and no outward comfort can be seen yet then can a Beleever rejoyce in his God This is the Happynesse of Gods People let things goe how they will or can yet he either doth or may comfort himselfe in his God When nothing but darkenesse is upon the Creature then Habbakuk hath an Yet and David a But wherewith to comfort and encourage themselves 1 Samuel 30.6 It may shame us who are cast downe by every light Affliction when we consider Davids condition at that time he comes to Ziglag which was given him for a Refuge He findeth the Citty burnt the Inhabitants taken Captive and amongst the rest his Wives and his Souldiers which should have ayded him they speake of stoning him yet in the midst of all these difficulties David corroborates himself in the Lord his God We use to rejoyce in gifts especially if one should give us a whole kingdom but 't is a greater Honour to be a Martyr for Christ then to be a Monarh of the world Heb. 11.26 'T is a great priviledge and a high Prerogative to suffer for the Gospel 't is no common gift but 't is a gift of free-grace and speciall love All the elect are called to be believers but not to be publick sufferers Suffering for the Gospel is in some respect a priviledge above believing the Gospel Phil. 1.29 such are the house and habitation of Gods Spirit there he rests and desires to dwell 1 Pet. 4.14 the Spirit of God will bring them to glory or the glorious Spirit of God will dwell in them in a glorious manner aud fill them full of Joy and Peace in believing This made the Saints so forward in the Primitive times to suffer for Christ that the bloudy Emperours were fain to make Decrees to hinder their Martyrdome I have read of a woman that in the time of Valens the Emperour ran with her haire loose about her eares and her child in her armes to the place where the Martyrs were slain and being askt whither she ran she answered Crownes are given to day and I will be partakers with them Thus in the reign of Charles the ninth when the Duke of Subaudia misused aud persecuted the men of the Valleyes burnt
onely in Reference to the Gospell The expresse words of our Commission are Goe Preach the Gospel to every Creature i. to every Rational Creature of what Nation Language Sex or Condition soever make a tender of Christ to them all Hence we are called Ministers of the Gospel because it is our Primary worke to publish Christ and his Benefits to the World The Gospel inlightens enlivens us it purifieth pacifieth the soul light is a desirable thing this is a light to them that sit in darknesse Esay 9.2 'T is the Horn of Salvation Luke 1.69 The Scepter of Christ Kingdome Psalm 44.7 The Kingdome of Christ because it sheweth us the way thither By it we receive the Spirit Galathians 3.2 Hence the Preaching of the Gospell is called the Ministery of the Spirit 2 Corinthians 3.5 by which the Spirit is conveighed into our souls 'T is the greatest Honour any Nation can have to be the Seat of the Gospel As the Arke was the Glory of Israel so is this of Gods People It ennobles and raiseth mens spirits and enables them to doe more then others Matthew 5.47 We dishonour the Gospel when we suffer Heathens by their Moral low Education to excell us who have the Gospel which is mighty to raise us to supernatural Operations Hence the Apostle blames the Corinthians because they walked like Natural men 1 Corinthians 3.3 We are Redeemed from the Earth Revlations 4.3 and therefore must not live like men of the Earth but must walke up to our Principles and Priviledges leading lives sutable to the Gospel Philippians 1.27 Let us highly prize it and receive it with all readinesse As Rachel cried for Children Give me Children or I die so say you Give me Christ or I die A man may want liberty and yet be happy as Ioseph He may want Peace and yet be happy as David Want Children and yet be happy as Iob. But he that wanteth the Gospel which should discover Christ to him wanteth every thing that is good A Throne without the Gospel is but the Devils Dungeon Wealth without the Gospel is but Fuel for Hell and Honour without Christ is but meere dishonour and a Cypher Let us then intreat the Lord to discover to us the deep Mysteries of it Ephesians 1.17 18. They are above Natures reach 2 Corinthians 2.9 and 1.2.14 Nil dat quod non habet The Vegitative Creature cannot doe the Acts of the Sensitive nor the Sensitive of the Rational nor the Rational of the Spiritual and believeing Christian Hence more Errours have risen about the Gospel then about the Law because the Principles of the Law are written in mens Natures Heathens have made Lawes against Drunkennesse Whoredome Theft c. But the Gospel is Supernatural Hence Arians Arminians Socinians and Papists have erred exceedingly concerning it 4. Observation Ministers must be Instant and Vrgent Active and Zealous in the discharge of their Dutie Many tentations from profits and pleasures from ease and quietnesse will assail us on the one hand and many discouragements from an ungrateful malignant world on the other hand so that if we be not instant and earnest we shall never breake through them but shall be ready to look back yea and to leave Gods Plough in the open field Men are dead in sin and therefore we had need to Cry aloud and lift up our voyces like Trumpets that we may help to raise them Isay 58.2 Cry it is not Say or Read a Sermon but Cry it and that aloud with fervour and affection that the dead may hear and live 2. Be impartial spare not for fear or favour but be they high or low rich or poore shew them their sins 3. Lift up thy voyce like a Trumpet i. set to all thy strength and rouse up others the speech is borrowed from souldiers in battle where if any be faint-hearted or drowsie yet the sound of the Trumpet quickens them to the battle 4. Shew my people their transgressions viz. plainly and particularly cause them to know their own abominations Thus it is good to be earnest and zealously affected in a good thing Gal. 4.18 We cannot be zealous in a better cause for it is Gods cause the Churches cause and the cause not of bodies but of souls their Eternal happinesse depends upon it This made Apâ—llos so fervent and diligent in teaching the things of God Acts 18.25 and Isay and Christ to labour and spend their strength Isay 49.4 lazinesse is naught in any calling but most odious in a Minister who is called to the highest and hardest work in the world This will require the whole man and therefore we should give up our selves wholly to it Acts 6.4 1 Timothy 4.15 for who is sufficient for this alone 2 Cor. 2.16 There is no grace that more graceth a Minister then zeal for God and his Worship hence Christ sent not fleshly but fiery tongues on his Disciples that thâ—y might inflame the hearts of their hearers Acts 2.3 The Angels that publish the Everlasting Gospel to the world doe not creep or walke but speedily fly upon that service Revelations 14.6 We must be Seraphims with â—ix wings which are most ready to doe what ever God shall command us Isay 6.2 we must be burning and shining lights Iohn 5.35 So was Elijha Isay Ieremy Iohn Bâ—ptist they were all men of fire who helpt to â—haw the frozen and cold hearts of their hearers Such a one was Luther what ever he spake or writ was operative on mens hearts what an intense and high degree of zeal was in our Saviour Iohn 2.17 his zeal for Gods House and the purity of his Worship was so vehement that like fire which eats up and devours that whereon it lights it even eat him up it even consumed his very moysture and exhausted him and made him unmindful of himself He neither regarded life nor limbe but exposed all to hazard in defence of Gods honour against a pack of malicious covetous Scribes and Pharisees Zeal in an Holy Sense consumeth the Flesh and eateth the bones Ierem. 20.9 many waste and consume themselves some in drunkennesse some in whoreing some in moyling for the world woe to such as dye of these unholy and unhappy Consumptions but when the zeal for Gods Glory consumes us happy those that dye of such holy consumptions Thus to loose our lives is to save them and to wast them is the way to preserve and renew them no man ever yet lost by spending himselfe for God And though we cannot be zealous as Christ was by way of Equality yet by way of Conformity and similitude we must in our Degree labour to resemble him Christ will owne none for his peculiar people but such as are zealous of good works Titus 2.14 The dull Asse is no sacrifice for the Living God Exodus 13.13 and the lingring Snail is reckoned amongst uncleane creatures Leviticus 11.30 Grace is no sleepy
experimentally see and therefore we confidently conclude that he will still deliver So Isay 51.2 3. One Blessing is a pledge of another he that hath subdued such a lust for me will do it still he that helped me in such a strait will do so still he that hath been with us in six troubles in the seventh he will not leave us Job 5.19 20. We should therefore treasure up our deliverances and record and file up our former experiences that they may be as Mannah for us to seed upon when we come into the Wilderness of New troubles Psal. 74.14 He smote the head of the Leviathan .i. He broke the power and policy of Pharaoh and his army and drowned them in the Sea and why so That he might be meat for his people in the Wilderness .i. That he might be food for their Faith to feed upon they were to pass through many difficulties in the Wilderness but God gave them this mercy as a pledge to assure them that he would also cast out the Canaanite and bring them to the possession of that good Land How quietly and comfortably might we live did we but take this course The Victories of old Souldiers encourageth them for a new conquest By this resting on God we ingage him to help us still if a man will not â—â—ceive his trust much less will the God of Heaven hence David useth this as an Argument to move the Lord Our fathers trusted in thee and thâ—u didst deliver them we also trust in thee and therefore deliver us also Psal. 22.4 5. hereby we bring much honour to God then indeed we make him our God when we make him our onely stay and trust God knowes and acknowledgeth such for his Nahum 1.7 From every evil work 2. Observation 2. Though God doth not save his people from suffering yet he will save them from sin and though he leave in them infirmities yet he will free them from enormities and from total Apostasy He will keep them from evil from every evil work that may any way be scandalous or a reproach to their profession He convinceth them of the Vileness of sin and discovers to them the snares of Satan he plants his fear in their hearts that they may not sin against him and inclines their hearts to an Holy Observation of all his Precepts And he will preserve me to his heavenly Kingdom 3. Observation 3. God is the Preserver of his people He doth not onely preserve their lives and estates with a general preservation and so is stiled the Preserver of men Job 7.20 But especially he keeps their Souls in an Holy Frame till he bring them to glory All Beleevers are preserved and kept as in a Garrison by the mighty power of God through faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 And this is called special preservation peculiar to the Godly 1 Sam. 2.9 Psal. 41.12 Iude 1. It is not sufficient that we light a Lamp but there must be a continual supply of Oil else the light will go out So it is not sufficient that we have Preventing Preparing Renewing grace but we must also have Subsequent Conserving Perfecting Persevering grace daily given in to preserve us from Apostasy We have alwaies need of a Divine manu-tenency till we have finisht our course Psal. 73.23 As he calls us out of sin so he must keep us from sin and confirm us to the end 1 Cor. 1.8 And this he will do in despite of all our enemies if any thing destroy us it is sin and for that we have Gods hand here that he will deliver us from every evil work that might any way ruine us and so preserve us till he have brought us to Heaven He keeps Heaven for the Saints and the Saints for Heaven 4. Observation Gods Goodness to his people is wholly free All his dispensations to his are free-grace and pure mercy 1. By his Preventing Grace he keeps us from evil works 2. By his subsequent grace he preserves us to his Kingdom Where then is our Merit if all be grace But of this before on V. 8. 4. Observation 5. God is a good and bountiful Master to his people None like him for 1. He delivers them from sin which is the greatest evil 2. He preserves them maugre the malice of all their enemies till he have brought them home to himself who is the chiefest good Who would not serve such a Master who first enables us to do our work and then payes us for it Can the son of Iesse give you Olive-yards and Vine-yard said Saâ—l to the followers of David So say I can the World the Devil and Sin give you grace and glory They cannot do it they can bewitch you and deceive you in promising pleasure and giving pain in promising liberty and bringing you into bondage in promising you life yet bringing you to death Come away then from the Garlick and Onions of this Egypt ascend out of the wilderness of this world and like spiritual Eagles soare aloft in your Meditations and desires after things above .i. Grace and glory Colos. 3.2 6. Observation 6. In our deepest distress we should have an eye to this Heavenly Kingdom So doth Paul here What ever thy sorrows or sufferings be here yet remember there is a Heavenly Kingdom will pay for all This will raise our spirit and uphold our heart in the midst of the greatest troubles Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 Heb. 10.34 and 11.35 But of this see more on V. 8. Obs. 3. 7. Observation 7. God will bring his people to a Kingdom to an Heavenly Kingdom It is not a Millenarian earthly kingdom that fancy was not heard of in St. Pauls time yet Paul was an eminent Martyr and Piscator and Alsteed make this Millenarian raign most proper if not peculiar to the Martyrs But the Scripture generally makes the Reward of the Saints and Martyrs to be in Heaven and not on earth Psal. 73.24 Matth. 5.12 Philip. 3.20 1 Pet. 1.4 The Godly long to be with Christ in Heaven 2 Cor. 5.1 Philip. 1.23 In this heavenly Kingdom we shall enjoy everlasting Communion with God and shall be for ever with the Lord which is the heaven of Heaven 1 Thes. 4.17 God himself will there be all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 Rev. 21.3 There we shall keep an Everlasting Sabbath Heb. 4.9 and shall be for ever free from sin and from the very possibility of sinning There we shall have light without darkness health without sickness peace without war joy without sorrow strength without weakness and life without death This should set our Souls a longing to be there As S. Austins Mother said when she heard of the Joyes of Heaven What then make â— here Onely we should labour to be fitted and qualified for this heavenly Kingdom Heaven is a Pure place and none but pure ones can come there all unclean dogs are shut out 1 Cor. 6.9 Rev. 21. ult there is
doth this great Apostle here he sendeth his salutations and best respects to Aquila a Tent-maker and his wife Priscilla and is not ashamed to own them as his coadjutors Romans 16.3 The Church of Christ in this world for the most part consisteth of mean and obscure persons as appeareth by those men and women whom the Apostle saluteth Rom. 16.1 to 16. not many wise not many noble not many mighty but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weake to confound the mighty 1 Cor. 1.26 27. Salute Aquila Salute Priscilla Salute Onesiphorus And why so because of their Piety and Zeal for Gods glory We had doubtlesse never heard of these persons but for that 6. Observation Hence Observe Piety bringeth praise It begetteth a good name and maketh a man famous to posterity Such honour God and therefore he honoureth them and setteth an Ecce of Admiration on them Iohn 1.47 Behold an Israelite indeed What hath made Iob Nehemiah David and all the good Kings of Israel so famous to all Generations but their Piety Wicked men by fine fare fine cloaths c. may beg a little praise but Piety commandeth Esteem even from those that cannot practice it themselves The intemperate man cannot but commend the Temperate though he cannot imitate him and the time-serving Polititian cannot but commend the sincere and constant man that sticks to his Principles though himselfe like a Wethercock cannot but turn with every wind VERS 20. Erastus abode at Corinth but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sicke ERastus is a Greek name and signifieth Amiable and lovely He was Chamberlain of the City of Corinth Romans 16.23 he was one that attended on Paul when he sent with Timothie into Macedonia Acts 19.22 Whilest Paul was prisoner at Rome he did abide at Corinth as appeareth by the Text waiting on his publick Office it seemeth he was a great man the Treasurer of the City yet neither his riches nor his great place could keep him from loving the Apostle and the people of God 1. Observation Hence Observe There are some great men that are good men not many yet some 1 Corinthians 1.26 Lot and Abraham two great men and yet good men Genesis 13.2 5 6. and 24.35 So was Iob 1.3 and Zaccheus Luke 19.2 David died full of riches and honour 1 Chronicles 29.28 Nehemiah a Courtier and Cupbearer to a King yet one that feareth the God of Heaven Neh. 1. ult So in the New Testament we read of a noble Theophilus Luk 1.3 and of an Elect Lady that loved the Truth 2 Iohn 1.2 and of a Ioseph of Arimathea and Sergius that embraced the Gospel 1. The Lord hath so ordered it to stop the mouths of wicked men who are ready to say as the Pharisees Iohn 7.48 do any of the Rulers or great ones believe in him q. d. there are none that follow Christ but a few simple people and illiterate fishermen c. Yet God hath some Kings and Queens some Lords and Ladies some of the great ones and some of the fat of the earth that worship him Psalm 22.29 He hath a learned Nicodemus and Paul with an eloquent Apollos to defend his truth 2. The Lord calleth some such that they may draw on others who are apt to be led by great ones They are the Looking-glasses of the Countrey by which many dress themselves 3. For the greater conviction of wicked men when they shall have the light of such and such great men who have broke through great temptations and denied themselves many lawful liberties that they might be the fitter for Gods service when many that had not the Tythe of these Tentations and hinderances yet would not serve him 4. For the greater manifestation of Gods Almighty Power though it be a very hard thing for a rich man to be saved and with men it is impossible by reason of the many snares and impediments which lie in their way hence the Apostle telleth us that none of the Princes of this world have known Christ id est almost none very few 1 Corinthians 1.8 yet Christ can pare off this Camels bunch and so untwist this cable rope that it shall goe through the eye of a needle Trophimus have I left sick at Miletum This Trophimus was a Citizen of Ephesus a Disciple of Pauls and his companion in his travels Acts 20.4 and 21.29 Paul travelling through many places after his first imprisonment at Rome leaveth this Trophimus sick at Miletum a City in Asia not far from Ephesus famous for its wooll and cloathing Question But would not the Apostle work a miracle and so heal him as he had done other sick persons Answer It was not in the Apostles power to work Miracles when they pleased but onely when there was a necessity for the conviction or conversion of unbelievers then the Holy Ghost enabled and excited them to it Acts 3.12 2. Observation 2. Sickness may seize even on good men As they are subject to death so to sickness also which is the fore-runner of death Epiphraditus a good man whose recovery Paul so greatly rejoyced in yet was very sick and nigh unto death Phil. 2.27 and so was Paul himself 2 Cor. 1.8 Hezekiah and David two holy men yet sick of the Plague as it is conceived the Corinthians were chastned by the Lord with the same violent disease as 't is conceived that they might not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11.30 But this needs no proof for we experimentally see that all things come alike to all and sickness is the portion of good men as well as bad only the wicked are punished in wrath their sickness and pains here are but praeludia futuri judicii fore-runners of greater pains besides they are hardned and made worse by them as Pharaoh and Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.22 God rains snares on wicked men if they be in health 't is a snare to them Psal. 69.22 Prov. 1.32 if sick 't is a snare to them their sin is drawn out discovered and ripened by it 'T is Luthers Observation that after long journeyes and long sicknesses few were better Cast a stinking weed into the fire and it smelleth worse but cast a sweet Herb into the fire and it smelleth the better God punisheth the wicked as a Iudge but he correcteth his children as a Father For their good to bring them nearer to himself and to fetch home his Prodigalls which wander after the creature and to bring their sinnes to remembrance In prosperity men cannot awhile to think of their sinnes but when sicknesse cometh they shall have time enough night and day they shall have no rest by reason of their sinne We reade of some Psalms whose Titles are A Psalm to bring to remembrance So we must say of many diseases A Feaver to bring our sinnes to remembrance a Consumption to bring our sinnes to remembrance As Pharaohs Butler said sometimes I remember my sinnes