I am sick of love if thou hadst ten thousand hearts they are too little and too few to love God with if Christ should ask thee as he asked Peter Doest thou love me more than these do love me let thy heart answer truly without guile Lord thou knowest I love thee 2. Deny thy self in all things that be near and dear to thee our Saviour Math. 16. couselleth every one that would follow him to deny himself from whence we may observe that a mans own self is the greatest enemy to himself self-denyal is a preferring of God before ones self a preferring Gods command before thine own will and his glory before thine own ends 3. Have respect to the recompence of reward this will encourage thee against all difficulties you shall meet withal in Gods work hope of spoil makes the Souldier venture his dearest bloud hope of gain makes the Merchant venture over the deep seas let the Papist with all his merits passe through Purgatory to Heaven if he can look thou and labour thou for an eternal habitation in the highest heavens by the merits of Christ alone the Papists to prove Purgatory urge that in Math. 5.26 Thou shalt by no meanes come out thence till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing But if this place be meant of Purgatory then these words are taken either in a metaphorical sense or in a litteral if in a metaphorical sense then purgatory fire is but a metaphorical fire that is none at all but if these words be taken literally then let any Papist answer me these two questions first how much money will serve to pay for ones ransome out of Purgatory for here is the uttermost farthing to be paid 2. How must poor people do that go into Purgatory but want money to pay for their ransome this place is meant of civil debts in this world between man and man Christ would have debtors to pay what they owe to their creditors for fear of imprisonment but this by the way Vse 7. I told you the seventh Reason was because God can trust none but the godly man the Use from hence arising serves to exhort you all to be faithful to God in all the works he sets you about Motives 1. A faithful man shall abound with blessings Prov. 28 20 Joseph was faithful to God and to his Master Potiphar and God raised him to great honour and wealth Jacob Nehemiah David and Daniel were blessed men of faithful spirits and you may read in the Scripture how God blessed them 2. Consider what a comfort and honour it is here in thy life and will be at thy death when the Lord shall say Well done good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord Math. 25.23 Hebr. 3.5 Moses verily was faithful in all his house c. it s recorded to his honour 3. Consider how few are faithful to God we may cry out Psalm 12.1 The faithful fail from among the children of men for in many places all seek their own not the things which are Jesus Christs let the perfidiousness of others incite you to faithfulness betray not Gods cause if you have power and opportunity to advance it rob not God of his honour but whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God 4. Consider what a blessed friend God is to you hath he not made you redeemed you a long time preserved you from many perils enriched you with many spiritual and earthly blessings can you have an heart to deal perfidiously with him when your earthly friends forsake you God failes you not he will be a friend in need and a friend in deed to you let all this make you trusty and faithful to him Vse 8. I told you the last Reason was because none will do Gods work so well as the godly man the Use springing from hence is to exhort you godly ones to do Gods work as exactly and as compleatly as ever you can Directions 1. Do his work according to his word for that is the rule of righteousness Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this rule c. rule all your thoughts words and deeds by this word Isaiah 8.20 to the Law and the Testimony c. that is to the Gospel which is called Testimony in John 32.33 to these must we repair for direction about the doing of Gods work and this is called our reasonable service Rom. 12.1 that is such a service as we can give a reason for out of Gods word it is opposed to will-worship which is a serving of God after the invention of man not according to Gods word let the holy Scriptures be your directory if you do not you will never please God 2. Do Gods work for his own glory his glory is his infinite worthiness whereby he doth far surpass the worthiness of all creatures it is so dear to him that he ordained and made all things for it he would not have made the world but for it he will not give his glory to another Isaiah 42.8 he gives us the comfort of all his mercies and blessings but the glory of them all he reserves to himself matter not what becomes of your own ends so that Gods glory may be advanced think it your greatest honour to honour God the Pharisees gave almes fasted and prayed and all to be seen of men but Christ called them hypocrites for it 3. Do Gods work constantly for to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life Rom. 2.7 Col 1.23 Continue in the faith Col. 4.2 Continue in prayer Hebr. 13.1 Let brotherly love continue 2 Tim. 3.14 Continue thou in the things thou hast learned and hast been assured of Acts 13.43 Continue in the grace of God Titus 3.8 I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have beleived in God might be careful to maintain good works a hypocrite can do some works for a fit and a start but when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended 4. Do Gods work with an upright heart then he will make thee ruler over much blessed is that servant whom when his Master cometh shall find so doing a hypocrite can do Gods work with his hand but not with his whole heart but this God chiefly requires a hypocrite is like a wind-mill whose sails turn about but the body of it stands still so a hypocrite serves God with his lips and hands but his heart moves not it is dead within him but a child of God is like a ship sayling on the Sea whose sails and body both move together so his heart hands lips and tongue go together about Gods work and he is better within then he seems to be without whatsoever work of God ye do do it heartily as to the Lord Col. 3.23 2 Tim. 2.22 call on the Lord with a pure heart Hebr. 10.23 draw neer to the Lord with a true heart 1 Peter 1.22 love one another with a pure heart fervently Rom. 6.17 obey from the heart that form of dâ—ctâ—ine which was delivered to you Math. 22.37 love the Lord with all thine heart Luke 8.15 having heard the word in an honest and good heart keep it and bring forth fruit with patience Labour to be of one heart and of one mind and serve God with gladness and singleness of heart then your heart shall rejoyce in God and your joy shall no man take from you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS
thee an upright body so as thou mayest look often up towards heaven that thine heart may be lifted up thither aquila non capit museas scorn to imbase thy noble soul by doting upon things of the earth a little meanes will suffice nature thou needest not be so greedy after gain hadst thou a whole Lordship nay a whole Kingdom yet thou canst dwell but in one house at a time hadst thou the richest Wardrobe in the world thou canst wear but one suite of apparrel at a time hadst thou thy Table furnisht with all varieties thou canst eat but a bellifull of meat at a time enough is as good as a feast Oh let thine heart mount up towards heaven daily upon the wings of divine contemplation then thy soul shall go thither at last it s no easie thing to get thither the way to hell is down the hill and down the stream but the way to heaven is up the hill and against the stream rightly said the Poet facilis descensus Averni Sed revocare gradum superasque evadere ad auras Hic labor hoc opus est Therefore look upward often whither thy Redeemer is ascended the sight of the outside of heaven here below should draw up our hearts thither and make us less regard these worldly delights for if the outside of heaven be so glorious that is bespangled with the Sun Moon and Stars how glorious is the inside of it you are daily within the sight of heaven your Fathers house Oh let your hearts be there till your soules be there for ever lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet loose not heaven for want of paines and labour you may buy gold too dear but heaven you cannot 7. I told you in the seventh place that a Christian walks with God by fervent and frequent prayer expecting an answer This Use still serves to exhort us all to walk with God after this manner pray continually ply the Throne of grace hard give the Lord no rest until he hath brought thee to sing everlasting hallelujah in heaven God hath in many places of his Word promised to hear and grant the sutes of his people if thou beest one of his thou mayest pray with confidence to be heard Moses talked with God in the Mount until his face shone be thou also frequent in fervent prayer and it will make thy soul to shine in grace Jacob wrestled with Christ by prayer untill he halted be thou likewise earnest with God until thou hast weakened thy corruptions and made them lame thou that hast the spirit of grace and supplication hast such a treasure to enrich thee such a weapon to defend thee as no worldling hath thou mayest by the key of prayer unlock heaven gates and fetch mercies thence in any place whereever thou livest for the way to heaveÌ„ is as near to a true Christian in one place as in another it s a sweet thing to talk often with God and to be inward with him he will give no little joy to such 8. I told you in the eighth place that a Christian walks with God by the life of faith This Use still serves to exhort you all to walk with God this way let your life be a continual dependance upon him trust in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength he is faithful that hath promised he never deceived any that trusted in him this is your sure hold true faith in his promises and providence will not fail you you will find friends riches pleasures honours and other delights of this world to be miserable comforters but rest upon God by faith and you will find him a fast friend and a sure comforter endeavour daily to rest upon him with such strength of faith as that when all outward helpes fail you may not doubt nor fear but may in patience possess your soules and quietly rest upon God for releif and succour not seeking after indirect meanes for your help if you can attain to this life of faith you will find more comfort in want than others in their wealth more comfort in sickness than others in their health it will make you better in your worst estate than unbeleivers are in their best estate you are better in disgrace than they are in honour you are better in bondage than they are in liberty when thou wast a little child thou couldst sport and play and tookest no care for maintenance but didst rest upon thy earthly parents for food and rayment and now thou art come to yeares of discretion wherein thou shouldest have attained to knowledge and faith hast thou not yet learned to trust thy heavenly Father for body and soul why do ye doubt oh ye of little faith cast thy care wholly upon God and he will care for you thou pretendest thou canst trust God for thy soules everlasting peace and canst thou not trust him for thy present bodily mantenance â—oul the weight of all thy cares wholly upon the Lords blessed providence live the life of faith and thou shalt die the death of the righteous yea thy last and shall be like his SERMON III. Text JOHN 13.8 If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me WE are all by nature polluted with iniquity both in soul and body and have need to cry with the Leper unclean unclean if this sinful pollution be not washt away it will prove destructive to our soules and bodies eternally the onely meanes to wash away this pollution is the pretious bloud of our blessed Redeemer which he doth by the merit and efficacy of it for if he wash us with his bloud we shall be Kings and Priests unto God Revel 1.5 6. but if he wash us not we have no part with him Touching the occasion and coherence of these words we read in the first verse of this chapter it s said Now before the feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father c. verse 2. and supper being ended c. verse 4. he riseth from supper and laid aside his garments and took a towell and girded himself verse 5. After that he poureth water into a bason and began to wash the Disciples feet and to wipe them with the towell wherewith he was girded verse 6. Then cometh he to Simon Peter and Peter saith unto him Lord doest thou wash my feet verse 7. Jesus answered and said unto him what I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter verse 8. Peter saith unto him Thou shalt never wash my feet Jesus answered him If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me Christ washt their feet partly to shew his admirable love to them partly to give them an example of humility and love one to another and lastly to intimate that he onely cleanseth us from our sins 1 John 1.7 when Peter said
and abillity he makes Gods will the rule of his and his word the rule of his life God puts every godly man into a general and particular calling and teacheth him how to behave himself in these callings this makes him a man after Gods own heart as David for this cause was so called Acts 13.22 4. Because every godly man is Gods factour he lies ligier for God as Merchants have their factors beyond sea to lie ligier for them to truck and barter for them so doth every godly man for God he trades for him all he can Rom. 14.8 For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord Phillip 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain that is the end and scope of my life is to honour and exalt Christ 5. Because a godly man is best fitted and prepared for Gods work and service he is one of Gods peculiar people zealous of good works Titus 2.14 Gods work is a pure and cleanly work and should be done with pure hearts and clean hands in the time of Moses Law the Priests onely might offer sacrifice and before they did it they might wash their bodies so a godly man is washt with the bloud of Christ and the grace of the holy Ghost by vertue whereof he is the fittest to do Gods work it is not for slovenly clowns to wait upon great men the work of the devil is filthy nasty and beastly wicked men delight in it and are the fittest for it 6. Because onely the heart of a godly man will bow and bend to Gods work it is a work requiring much labour and self-deniall one must stoop low to take up this burden he that loves God truly loves him with all his heart and strength onely the godly man doth this he that serves God truly is fervent in spirit serving the Lord onely the godly man doth this he that keeps Gods Commandements aright hath respect to all his Commandements and Gods Commandements are not grievous to him onely the godly man doth this The Jews say there be three hundred sixty five negative precepts in the Law according to the number of dayes in the year and two hundred forty eight affirmative commanding precepts according to the number of bones in a mans body whereby they would signifie that we must no day do those things which God hath forbidden and that with all the bones and members of our body we must do all those things which God hath commanded onely the godly man endeavours and desires to do this 7. Because God can trust none but the godly man for the godly man is the faithful man let an hypocrite have excellent parts of knowledge he will set up himself and seek his own ends as the Pharisees Mat. 6. gave almes prayed and fasted but did all to be seen of men like an idle unfaithful servant that works one hour for his master and two for himself but the godly man resolves to defend Gods cause to the utmost of his power and to bring all the glory he can to God Numb 12.7 Moses was said to be faithful in all Gods house the Martyrs would not for fear or favour of the world betray Gods cause but parted with their lives liberties and estates to glorifie Jesus Christ 8. Because none will doe Gods work so well as the godly man none have so much care to please God as he hypocrites slubber over the Lords work in prayer they draw near to God with their lips but their hearts are far from him when they hear his Word their hearts goe after their covetousness in receiving the Lords Supper they discern not the Lords body but receive onely the outward signs but a godly man prayes in prayer as Elias did James 5 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his heart is fixed with David trusting in the Lord in hearing the Word his heart burnes with holy zeal in him he will be careful and studious both to hear the Word and do it in receiving the Lords Supper he will examine himself before he eat of that bread and drink of that cup he will doe Gods work according to Gods will Vse The Uses I shall spin out of the Reasons the first reason is Because every godly man is a god-like man the first Use springing out of this Reason will be for consolation to all that be truly godly its ground of great comfort to thee that thou art like to God now thou mayest be assured of Gods dear love that he hath loved thee with an everlasting love which is better than life likeness is the cause of love this godliness is an infallible fruit of thine election and once elected alwayes beloved as earthly parents most affect those children which resemble them most so will thy heavenly Father exceedingly love thee for being so like to him the world derides and hates thee for godliness but be not dejected for godliness will be thine eternal honour and comfort 2. It may serve for admonition take heed of despising any man for being like to God for in despising him for godliness you despise God because godliness is his image Many excuse themselves and say they hate not a godly man for his godliness but for his hypocrisie I answer 1. Why doest thou not hate hypocrisie in thy self and in others who make no shew of godliness but live in hypocrisie and openly declare it 2. Godliness with some hypocrisie is better than hypocrisie without any godliness at all as corn with chaffe is better than chaffe without corn gold with dross is better than dross without gold you have more reason to love and honour them for their godliness than to hate them for hypocrisie because they hate hypocrisie and strive against it but they love godliness and labour to grow in it 3. It may serve to exhort you all to endeavour to be like to God in godliness both in heart and life Consider 1. what an honour it will be to you it will make your memories blessed when the names of the wicked shall rot very honourable and precious to this day are the names of Abraham for faith Moses for meekness Joseph for chastity Job for patience David for zeal Daniel for integrity of life Paul for love to Christ Peter and Magdalen for godly sorrow 2. Consider what a comfort it will be to your consciences when you follow God as dear children so that God is in you of a truth it was a greater comfort to blessed Hezekiah that he had walked before God in truth with a perfect heart than that he was honourable and wealthy none have so much cause to rejoyce and to be of good chear as the godly man for he is the friend of God his sins are pardoned Christ is his treasure the holy Ghost is his Comforter and heaven is his inheritance Psalm 32.11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in
heart Vse 2. I told you the second reason was because every godly man sets his heart upon God The Uses arising out of this Reason serve first for information to let us see the reason why Gods children enjoy such precious peace of conscience and rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory namely because they set their hearts on God and their entire love to him will assure them of his eternal love to them Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me now this is the principal ground of true peace and joy worldly favour makes carnal people merry outwardly and feeds them with vain hopes it makes them build Castles in the air and puts them into a fooles paradise but the assurance of Gods love fills the heart of the upright with such joy as no man can take from them John 16.22 wicked men may take their lives from them their estates from them their liberty from them but true peace and joy they cannot take from them for they set their hearts on the God of hope who fills them with joy and peace 2. It may inform us one reason why Gods children will not be drawn away from him and his wayes because their hearts are set upon God and they account it their best way to draw near to God all the wealth and honour of Egypt could not draw Moses from God and his People the King of Babylon with all his power terrour and pollicy could not make the three Children worship his Idol nor restrain Daniel from praying to God 3. It serves to exhort you all to get your hearts fixed on God let out all your love to him in as ample a manner as you can let your love be so hot as many waters cannot never quench it nor flouds drown it To move you to it consider first how infinitely amiable and perfect God is when you understand that from everlasting to everlasting he is God without beginning mutation and end strive to love this eternal God when you consider that God fils heaven and earth yea inhabiteth eternity no place can comprehend his incomprehensible essence set your selves to love this omni-present God when you see how easily powerfully and wisely God made heaven and earth with all things else strive to love this omnipotent God when you see how God pitties releives and succours his people in their misery and gives them help in their time of need O set your heartiest love upon this merciful God 2. Consider how eternally and unchangeably he hath loved thee Jerem. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love before thou wast born he loved thee yea when thou wast his enemy he loved thee and he will love thee for ever nothing in this world nor in the world to come shall separate thee from his love 3. Consider what comfort thou shalt have by loving God 1 John 4.16 God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him happy is that soul that hath such a guest for God will make any place a heaven to it Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me thy true love to him will assure thee of his love to thee which worldly wealth and honour cannot do Psalm 91.14 Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him God will be thy defence against danger he will be a wall of fire about thee Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God nothing shall fall out amiss to thee but God by his wisdom and power will give thee an holy comfortable use of all mercies with an holy use of and a comfortable issue out of all miseries Vse 3 I told you the third Reason was because the godly man indeavours to do every thing that God commands him The Uses springing out of this reason serve first to inform us the reason why the godly man is a man after Gods own heart namely because he sets himself to do all Gods will for this cause David was so called Acts 13.22 I have found David the son of Jesse a man after mine own heart which shall fulfil all my will O that every one of us had an heart to do all Gods will then we should be such as God would have us to be a hypocrite doth but some part of Gods commands therefore he is not a man after Gods own heart 2. It informes us one Reason is why God so willingly heares and grants the prayers of his people that is because they indeavour to do all Gods commands 1 John 3.22 And whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandement and do those things which are pleasing in his sight Humanity teacheth friends to grant one anothers suits when they please one another much more will the God of nature grace and glory graciously answer the prayers of his people that study to please him 2. It serves to exhort us to endeavour to do all that God requires us to do Motives 1. All his commands are holy just and good Rom. 7.12 Prov. 30 5. Every word of God is pure though carnal nature may cavil against some of Gods commands because they crosse it yet there is no defect in them but the Law of the Lord is perfect 2. To do all Gods will is the ready way to prosperity Job 36.11 If they obey and serve him they shall spend their dayes in prosperity and their yeares in pleasures God is the best Master to serve his work is the best and his pay is the best And above all Gods commandements I exhort you all to keep the Lords day holy because he in the fourth Commandement bids us remember to keep it holy 2. Because in Isaiah 58.13 14. he makes it an excellent way of honouring him and promiseth spiritual and temporal prosperity to such as do it but if that place be meant of an extraordinary Sabbath that is a fast appointed by man then doubtless the Lord would have us much more keep holy the ordinary Sabbath appointed by God If any object Col. 2.16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new moon or of the Sabbath dayes verse 17. which are a shadow of things to come c. I answer he meanes he would not have them observe the Jewish ceremonial Sabbaths of dayes as the three great feasts Passover Pentecost and Tabernacles and the feast of blowing the trumpets and the feast of expiation he would not have them observe the Sabbath of yeares which was every seventh year Levit. 25,4 5 6. nor the Sabbath of sevens of years the Jubile verse 8 9 10 11. which returned every fiftieth year but he speaks not here of the Sabbath day that is morall 1. Because the word is in the plural number Sabbaths 2. If he had meant the moral Sabbath and consequently the Lords day now observed then it would follow that it is unlawful to observe the