Because here are the Lawes of Heaven Heb. 12. 25. Take heed speaking of the Ministry of the Gospel in the Churches that ye refuse not to hear him who speaketh from Heaven which Lawes are not only here promulgated as they be among the enemies of this Kingdom but accepted and received also without which Lawes what Kingdom could there be Christ's Kingdom in this world is neither tyrannical nor arbitrary to govern without Law no no but if he be our King he is our Law-giver also Isa. 33. 22. Nay the same Lawes by which we shall be ruled in Heaven we have here and we are now under That as our Divines say against the Papists though before Moses his time there was not scriptio verbi yet there was verbum scriptum which the Patriarchs had before the Floud and afterward until Moses his time So I say here though in Heaven the external Letter and scription both of Law and Gospel shall be abolished because they need theâ— not when the day-star is risen 2 Pet. 1. 19. Yet the living Rules of both for substance shall remain the end of the Ministry is to bring us to the unity of Faith in a perfect estate Eph. 4. 13. Therefore Faith shall not cease when Ministers shall and that perfect man shall come Our Faith indeed shall not then by such glasses see Christ nor adhere unto Christ by such means of Promises and Ordinances as we do now but without them we shall both see and for ever adhere to him who is our King at that day and though indeed the Law is now abolished as a Covenant of life yet it shall ever remain as a Rule of life perfect subjection to it is the happinesse of Saints in Heaven 1 Ioh. 1. as a heart contrary to it is the greatest misery of the Saints on earth Rom. 7. 24. 3. Because here are the Subjects of Heaven Eph. 2. 19. Fellow-Citizens of the Saints not only on earth but as Paul speaketh Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation or as it may be rendred our free Burgesse-ship is in Heaven God himself hath canonized all the true Members of visible Churches with the name of Saints throughout the whoâ—e new Testament here are the great heirs of Heaven nay possessours of Heaven by Faith as others are by feeling as near and dear to God in some respect as those that be in Heaven already because the same motive which makes him love them makes him love these though poor abjects and our-casts of the world there is but a paper-wall of their bodies between them and Heaven only here is the difference they there are Subjects in their own countrey these here are the same Countreymen only strangers for a time here upon earth Some define a Kingdom to be dominatus regis in populum subjectum If Christ the King was present and his Laws published but there were no people to be subject to him there could be no Kingdom but when the King Laws and Subjects of Heaven are here met together in the visible Church here is now the Kingdom of Heaven 4. Because here is the very Glory of Heaven begun that look as the same Sun which fils the Stars with Glory the very same beams touch the earth also so the same Glory which shines in Heaven shines into the poor Church here 1 Pet. 5. 10. God hath called his people into his eternal Glory And 〈◊〉 30. whom Christ hath justified them he hath glorified i. e. he hath begun it here 〈◊〉 in a special manner is the presence of the Angels in Heaven Eph. 3. 10. Here the pure in heart see God and that after another manner than many times they can in their solitary condition Psal. 63. 1 2 3. And what is this but Heaven SECT IV. 1. SEE therefore hence their happiness and honour whom God hath called out of the world and planted in his Church What hath the Lord done but opened the way to the Tree of life and let you into Paradise again Nay which is more What hath he done but taken you up into the very Kingdom of Heaven it self where you have the Lord of glory to be your King the Laws of Heaven made known his heart opened where you have the heirs of Heaven your companions and the Angels of Heaven your guard desiring to look into those things which your eyes see and your hearts feel 1 Pet. 1. 12. Where you have the love of a Father appearing the Son of God inhabiting and the Spirit of Heaven comforting Lord what is man that thou art thus mindful of him That when the Lord seeth it unmeet to take you out of this world up unto Heaven that Heaven should come down into this world unto you who were once enemies to this Kingdom shut up under the Kingdom of death and darknesse strangers to the Common-wealth of Israel without God and Christ in the world without promise without hope I do not cry the Temple of the Lord nor Idolize Order and Churches but I tell you what your priviledge is and thereby what Gods goodnesse is I know the world neither seeth not feeleth any such Heaven on earth but soon grow despisers secretly of all Ordinances who if they were in Heaven it self with their carnal hearts they would not abide there with much contentment yet verily Heaven hath been and is found here by Gods hidden one even such things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard and if it be not thus with thee blame thy self and mourn the more who in the midst of light art in utter darknesse and in the place where Heaven is begun to some it should be made a little Hell to thee 2. Take heed of defiling secretly the Church of God For what do you do thereby but pollute the Kingdom of Heaven it self And the better any thing is the greater is the defilement cast upon it It is said 1. Pet. 1. 4. that the Kingdom of Heaven above is an inheritance undeâ—iled never yet the subject place where any sin was committed and this is one part of the Glory of it Take you heed of coming into Church-fellowship with defiled hearts and so defiling Gods holy things for do you know where you are I know it is not in that Heaven where you cannot sin but yet 't is in such a Heaven where you should not sin much lesse defile the Church of God It was one of Gods heavy inditements against the Church of the Iews that when the Lord had brought them out of a land of pits into a plentiful countrey yet they defiled his Land neither Priests nor people said Where is the Lord Ier. 2. 7 8. It will be much more heavy another day with you that walking in the fellowship of Gods people shall be found guilty of defiling the Kingdom of Heaven it self which you should be careful to keep as an underfiled inheritance which 〈◊〉 whether spiritual or sensual as they stain the very glory of
Heaven it self so they keep you from feeling the Truth of this Doctrine even of this Heaven upon earth in your own experience 3. Let all Members of Churches hence learn to have their conversation in Heaven and walk as men come down from Heaven and returning thither again and that are as it were already in Heaven Paul did thus and wept to see so many that did not thus but did mind earthly things Phil. 3. 19 20. Do not only forsake but even forget your Countrey and your Fathers house so shall the King of Glory desire your beauty Psal. 45. 10 11 Let the reproach of earthly-mindednesse cast upon the face of Christians be wiped off by your carriage being heavenly holy loosened from things below Art thou in Heaven with an earthly heart Is not Heaven good enough for thee Cannot that content thee which many have desired to see and could not see even the Lord Jesus the King of Glory in his beauty in the assemblies of his Saints 4. Take heed of pulling down this Kingdom Loyal Subjects will rather lose their lives than their Prince shall lose his Kingdom Fear not enemies without but your selves at home The enemies of the Church did never yet hurt the Church but the Church's sins Zach. 7. 14. Oh consider what mercy the Lord hath betrusted us withal that unlesse the Lord should carry us to Heaven it self immediatly on the wings of Angels he can shew us no greater outward favour in this world than to bring us into this his Kingdom of Heaven on earth I professe one daies fellowship here with a number of broken-hearted Christians either mourning together or rejoycing in their God and King together it our-bids the many years Glory of the whole world howsoever 't is hidden from the world And will you betray this Kingdom SECT V. Quest. VVHat are those things that may pull down this Kingdom Answ. 1. Ignorance of those sins which may hurt and ruine it There are common infirmities which all the faithful have in common for which the Lord pities his but there are some that are proper and personal to some particular persons Psal. 18. 23. for which the Lord is angry even with his own so there are some sins which are common Church-infirmities for which the Lord will not cast off his people but there are sometimes in several Churches proper Church-sins Now the Rule here is if these be not seen and lamented and removed if the Lord be angry for these as verily he will and yet they do not so much as know all this while what it is that hurts them these sins will canker the roots and blast the most flourishing Churches Ephesus Rev. 1. 4. had her sin Sardis Rev. 2. 1. had her sin Laodicea had her sins Rev. 3. 16. Now what if they never know these nor repent of these you know then Ephesus Candlestick must be removed and Laodicea shall be spued out of Christs mouth Oh this hath been the bane of Churches while they enjoyed their liberties they could not nay in truth would not know their aile in the day of Christs visitation of them and hence came their ruine the cause of which they saw not only it may be the remnant that escaped to whom the Lord shewed mercy could read their sins in their plagues It is a lamentable spectacle to behold the ruines of Germany and that after such great slaughter and effusion of blood they cannot tell the thing that hath hurt and doth still wast them 2. Self-seeking a Spirit of self Look as it is in a Kingdom if there be a common enemy and the body of the Army which should encounter with them be every man taken up and taking thought how he may preserve his own Tent and do not joyn their forces together for common safety it must perish and the Kingdom will be easily conquered Or as it is with the body if every member seeks to preserve it self alone and not that which preserves them all viz. the Head the body will drop down and die shortly Christ Jesus is the Head of this Body his Church Now 't is certain if ye seek to preserve your own name more than Christ's to give more content to your own lusts then to the will and heart of Christ if more careful of fetching feathers to your own nests and to shift for your selves and not to attend every man in his place the publick good of the Church and Christ in it 't is certain God will forsake you and all will to ruine quickly 2 Chron. 15. 1 2. Church-members of publick spirits are ever prosperous men They shall prosper that love thee Psal. 122. 6. That say in their hearts out of sense of Christ's love Lord what shall I doe for thee How may I be useful to thy people But if back and belly mine and thine be chief in request this will ruine you 3. League and Amity with the enemies of Christ's Kingdom or peace with our lusts it is not sin but a privy peace with sin and a secret quietnesse in sin which overthrowes Christ's Kingdom The Canaanites that were left alive because 't is said they could not drive them out how often did they vex and prick and yoke the Israel of God Those sins which you say you cannot part with and hence yield unto them and mourn not under them those will ruine Churches Some sins you have forsaken and could forsake the danger lies not here Wrath goeth out against Iehosaphat because he loved him who hated the Lord 2 Chron. 19. 2. 4. When the Church laies by her weapons No Kingdom can be kept safe in an ordinary way where all their weapons are taken from them or not used by them when their 〈◊〉 upon their borders When the Church hang by and lay aside Faith the shield whereby we defend our selves and prayer whereby we offend our enemies what safety is to be expected now in Churches Only be strong saith the Lord to Ioshuah when he went out upon that great service of the Lord Iosh. 1. 7. Eph. 6. 13. There is no more fearful sign of ruine to a Church than where the Spirit of prayer begins to fail and verily if any people under Heaven are ready to miscarry herein we that have our fill of peace and our yokes broken off from our shoulders are in most danger but if it be so look for such shakings of all hearts and Churches also as shall make you find your tongues and knees and eares and hearts again if the Lord means to dwell with you 5. Not bringing forth the fruits of the Kingdom Mat. 21. 43. Cut that Church down that cumbers the ground after many years pruning and wetting That Kingdom where there is Church-trading but no considerable gain coming in will consume quickly and die of it self Fruit is the last end of the tree All duties you do wherein you attain nor or at least aim not at your last and utmost end but make your selves
him more when no tears shall ever prevail again Therefore if thou hast been found out this day confess and give glory to God and let thine eyes be tears that Christ would overcome and draw thy soul with love and espouse thee to himself for ever CHAP. VI. Containing Motives and Arguments to perswade us unto the Love of Christ and to be Espoused to him IS there no communion to be had with the Lord Jesus unlesse Virgins unlesse espoused to him Oh therefore here is a match for you chuse him get your affections if entangled to come off if ensnared to any other thing and set your hearts bestow your love upon him For 't is not a dead Faith but such a faith as is animated by love that doth espouse you to him Gal. 5. 6. Faith which works by love And therefore as the love of other things not worth looking after hath got the soveraignty and royalty of thy heart so this is a conjugal love when it bears rule in the heart let Christ have this love And as you have loved creatures for themselves now love the Lord Jesus for himself And as they have easily enticed you to set your hearts upon them now be perswaded to set your dearest affections on him It s said of Iohn Baptist he was the Bride-groom's Friend to speak for him Iohn 3. 29. And truly 't is the main work of the Ministry to wooe for Christ and so to present chast Virgins to Christ. This shall be my work now which may be seasonable in this decaying time Therefore I shall chiefly bend my speech to three sorts 1. To them that never yet loved the Lord Jesus unlesse it be from the teeth outward 2. Those that have been striving for this yet cannot to their own feeling come to this 3. Those that have so but their affections are dried up and love is parched away iniquity abounds c. And my Motives shall be these four 1. Consider the Glory of the person whom I shall be a spokes-man for this day 2. Consider he makes love to thee 3. Consider that all he seeks for is love 4. Consider what he will do for thee how he will love thee if thou wilt love him SECT I. 1. COnsider the Glory of the person for whom I plead for love What can you love besides him Where can you find any like unto him I know the Glory of the Lord is not revealed because the grasse withers not the flower fades not the creature appears not in his withering vanity Isa. 40. But if the Lord would but open your eyes to see him this would win your hearts alone to him Now I shall single out only these five things to give you a glimpse of his Glory Lift up thy heart and say Lord hide not now thy face from me 1. He is the Prince of the Kings of the earth Rev. 1. 5. The glory of the world is a Kingdom the glorious Diamond of that Kingdom is a Prince in his Glory now for a poor Beggar to have an offer of love from the greatest Prince in the world would it not tempt her Would she not forsake her lovers and set her heart on him Why look what a distance there is between the poorest Peasant and the highest Prince so base and a thousand times more are all the Princes of the world to Christ whose Dominion is from sea to sea from Sun to Sun who sets up and puls down Kings like Counters who rules their Courts their Kingdoms their hearts and they do not do they cannot do but what he will Other Kings are Princes are Rulers of men Christ Prince of Kings Now who would not be glad of his love who having tasted death is set down on the right hand of God on high cloathed with endlesse Glory who hath Kings in his chaines whose breath is not in his nostrils whose favour is not for a day but he lives and reignes for ever Now doth Christ reign Is he a Lord and in Glory upon his Throne Methinks I see Jesus at the right hand of God your foolish affections have undone you if you love him not 2. He is appointed by the Father to be Judge of quick and dead at the last day Iohn 5. 22 23. as well as to rule all now So that if you do maintain enmity against him he may let you alone you may live in health and die in peace in the eye of man and in thine own eyes too Yet there is a day coming he will break out of Heaven with a shout and appear in the clouds in the amazing Glory of his Father with all his mighty Angels and all the dead shall hear his voice and you shall appear before him with this body when the Heavens shall burn round about him and the earth shall tremble under him and all guilty eyes mourning and wayling because of him Then you shall know what 't is to despise him and wish oh that I had loved him Rev. 1. 7. You that say you love him yet by an imâ—enitent heart pierce him you shall wayl even so Amen Men do not see an end of these things not the Glory of the Lord another day Hence creatures are loved and the Lord of Glory is loathed A great Prince may not be so highly esteemed untill he appears in his state Prisoners would give any mony much more love for the Judges Favour 3. He only is the procuter and author of all the good that ever thou didst suck out here though thou hast neither known him not been thankful to him For look as it was with Angels so it should have been with man the wrath of God should have been poured out upon him and on all the world and creatures should have been tormentors of him but that the Lord Jesus begged and bought the world And hence 1 Tim. 4. 10. called Saviour of all but chiefly of the Elect. Micah 4. 4. In his daies men shall sit under Vines and Fig-trees So that if ever any creature did thee good it was Jesus that put that sweetnesse in it out of his fulnesse and set it awork sent it to thee gave it thee to do thee good Thou shouldst never have had winâ— of sleep never restrained from one sin but lived in blaspheming God never hà ve heard of a Gospel but for Christ And will you not love him Oh ungrateful world unnatural generation of men Why dost love any creature 'T is for the paint of it and good in it If there be so much in it what is there in Christ that gave it that dropt it into it Never love him if there be any thing good that is not by him Psal. 116. 1. The Lord hath heard my prayer I will call on him as long as I live Much more when the Lord hath delivered and thou didst never seek to him 4. He is the everlasting wonderment of Saints in Heaven the Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon which made her come to see him
been Imitators and Apeâ— of God to forge and make Grace like true Grace hence deceived This being pleasing to men is the practice of most men yea all men out of Christ. And this is one great part of the inward secret subtil spiritual whoredom of the soul. Thus men may force sorrow when yet there is little true sorrow and so in other cases SECT VII THat all these works though good in themselves yet are most vile before the Lord as Christ speaks of the Pharisees Its abomination in the sight of God which is glorious before man Luke 16. 15. 1. Because hereby the soul deprives Christ of the end of his coming for all men having lost the stock and power to live the Lord hence will trust no man with it again hence puts it into a surer and better hand that thither poor blind dead creatures might fly for life when they are there live there like â—ees on their hony Iohn 6. 27. 17. 23. He might never have looked after you and will you despise him now What folly and unkindnesse is this that when your pits are dry and bottles empty and souls miserable here you will not I do not say sip when water runs by your door but not live 2. Because whatever comeâ— from self it s ever for self A man can do nothing from himself but his last end is self As 't is with water-works they rise no higher than the spring Gen. 11. 4. This Babel I have built Dan. 4. 30. And a man that hath but common Grace look as by vertue of that Grace or gift of God he may act for God because it came from God so nature and sin being moâ—e powerful than that Grace hence he never so acts for God but in the last place acts for it self as in Iehu And so a man makes himself his own Goâ— 3. Because whatever a man doth from himself he will grow proud of it Rom. 4. Not of works lest any man should boast Hence Iâ—ab sent to David to take the City that he might have the Crown This robs Christ of the Glory 4. Because whatever work is not done by vertue of the Lord Jesus is a dead work which a living God and a living Christ and a living Spirit loâ—th Heb. 9. 14. Sprinkle your Consciences from dead works Deadly works are sins dead works are good works done but not from the principle of the life of Faith but life of Nature Now as Conscience is the principle of the life of Nature So Christ is the principle of a Christian life Col. 3. 1 Iohn 5. 10 11 12. For 't is not sanctification that is the principle of life but the life it self that flows from it as from union of soul and body the soul is not the life but the principle of it hence as soon as it s out the body is dead So c. And do you not find it thus whenas you do many duties how tedious wearison are they yet must be done this is a dead work What comfort what peace is there when you have done them because not from life 5. Because what come from self comes from all sin 't is dipt and dyed and tainted and poysoned with all sin in a manner Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean 6. Because when a man will act from himself and not suffer Christ to act for him he will not have Christ to reign over him he puâ—â— down the Kingdom of God that should be within him For when a man professeth Christ is King of his Church he is now a King in name When a man feels an impossibility to rule himself and hence desireth and chuseth Christ to rule now Christ is a King by choice When the soul after this choice depends on Christ for what he chose him for and the Lord works now Christ is a King indeed Now if you will not have the Lord to reign over you you will be found enemies to the Lords Kingdom SECT V. HEnce it will follow The soul is to act wholly and only from the Lord Iesus Christ and whatever fruits of love it shows to Christ to bring them forth from Christ. Which doth not only concern them that never yet knew Christ and yet pride up themselves in what they have and do but those that be in Christ in a special manner For Iohn 15. 2. Every Branch in me that brings not forth fruit 'T is not meant of one indeed in Christ for he shall bring forth fruit but every branch i. e. by outward profession so that it brings not forth fruit but appears fair and deceives man God will cast away And without me even ye Disciples can do nothing 1. How is the soul to act from Christ only when it hath life especially the elect 2. By what means may this be done to get and keep this chastity First How is the soul to act from Christ alone when there is sanctification within 1. If the soul feel no power to act from Grace received as Saints somtimes do either after Gods deserting them or their forsaking God long or after some hardning sin then 't is clear the soul in this case is though not in a way of carelesseness to depend upon the Lord Jesus that he would quicken and help As David after his grosse fall Lord create in me a clean heart And Isa. 63. 17. Why hast thou hardned our hearts from thy fear Oh return In this case the soul is not to bring the soul to God but God to the soul. As many a Christian cannot prize not love the Lord not his waies he is not to say I will bring my soul and oâ—fer it to him but look to the Lord that he would raise up my dead affections again As the Centurion of his Servant Speak the word c. Christ marveiled at his Faith Men think when they feel nothing that they must and can work it out and hence comes one of these three things 1. Either the soul cannot love Christ when it sees such Lawes it cannot submit to And hence a Christian once said to me If the least thing was left for me to do of my self I could not love Christ but now that when brought low and can do nothing he brings all the help we need This makes the Spouse go to the bosom of her Husband Psal. 116. 6 7. Or else 2. It cannot do it for corruption in a Saint is too hard for his Grace I am but a child and thy people many 1 Kings 3. 7. Hence he must be strong in the Lord. Or 3. If it do it never hath any peace in what it doth the duties never so well done Whereas otherwise the poorest duty done from Christ witnesse Heb. 11. 4 5. as a child begoâ— of the Father he will own but other children not If any poor tired heart that heaâ—s me this day thou hast been making thy Brick and promises and vowes will not help
saith the soul c. And now if any Woman lives with a man that is of a hoggish churlish disposition she will be ever doubting of his love Men do not know it I say and hence when any misery or trouble comes they grow jealous of him which the Lord takes exceeding ill Deut. 1. 27. Quest. How shall I know that tender-heartedness of Christ Answ. By his carriage towards men when he was here on earth for now he is in Heaven in Glory and we know not what his disposition is therefore his life on earth was the living looking-glasse of his heart for ever In Four Things 1. Never any came to him that he cast away whatever their sorrows or sins were but healed them every one if they came to him with their miseries for in healing their miseries he did but shew his readinesse to heal them of their sin hence Matthew applies that Mat. 8. 17. He bare our infirmities 2. When men came to him for by-ends not for himself chiefly he rebukes them for it and shews he was more ready to give himself than bread to them Iohn 6. 27. 3. Those that were lost and sick and miserable and came not to him he went up and down to seek and save them the lost Sheep Luke 19. 10. 4. Those that would none of his love he pittied and had compassion on their misery and sin as on them that were sheep without a shepheard he mourned for the hardnesse of their hearts he wept over Ierusalem Now look upon Christ the same still thou comest to him in secret to take away all iniquity to give thee himself tell me dost think the Lord if here would reject thee ever 2. But I dare not receive him Ans. Thou wilt take Bread from him daily and he is more willing to give himself 3. Thou canst not come to him nor find him but only sometimes nor see him well but then he will seek thee out 4. Oh but I oft reject yet he pitties thee still O think of this compassion of Christ and make him as if present 't is a special means to establish the heart in Believing Learn to know when you are bound not to give way to your fear of Gods love for sometime it is the case of many a precious soul that he hath clear evidence of Gods love to him and what is there against it nothing but a fear what if I should be deceived when all is done and hence the heart sinks exceedingly As some Women that have special love if once they take a jealousie of their Husbands love it 's never removed So here How shall I know this First If those fears thou hast drive thee farther from Christ it 's clear you are then to cast them off those fears that cause sin are sinful but to be driven from Christ is sinful Luke 5. 9 10. Lord depart from me I am sinful fear not saith Christ 1 Sam. 12. 20. they were ready to cast off all Fear not saith he think of this what 't is you get by nursing up those fears they hinder your joy in and your love to Christ your blessing of Christ cause a dead discouraged heart nay though they drive you to Christ one way if they drive you from Christ another way by questioning his care concluding against his Truth never doubt they are vile Mat. 8. 26. Why did ye fear O ye of little Faith So far therefore as fear drives us to Christ 't is good otherwise to be cut off 2. If the Lord hath drawn thy heart to come to Christ and when undone every way secretly perswaded thy heart that thou shalt have help if thou come and by coming hast received healing Vertues of thy lusts and vile affections from the Lord Jesus fear not now 't is a sin to fear I shall not have help as Mark 5. 33. the Woman with the Bloody-issue she was afraid she had presumed hence came trembling but the Lord told her Now fear not be it unto thee according to thy Faith only thy Issue is but begun to heal What say you have you never come to him never received any healing from him that is hard Surely 't is so that I would not be in my lust again for a world If none of these prevail but the Lord follows thee with fears on fears as wave on wave then see if there be not some guile of spirit in thee i. e. some sin you have or would give way to if you had assurance of Gods love It was the speech of one to me next to the Donation of Christ no mercy like this to deny assurance long and why for if the Lord had not I should have given way to a loose heart and life but c. so if the Lord should deal so with thee it may be thou would'st lye in thy sins if thou had'st peâ—ce there and it may be you have had it but sinned and not confessed not lamented not opposed Thus it was with David Psalm 32. 1 2 3 4. Hence when he confessed the Lord forgave in his Conscience his sin Men will withdraw their love from their Wives if it make them wanton and deal sharply with them so one that never restored could never get peace some ever complaining never setled because they have their Truces with sin and would have peace with Christ and it cannot be And this is a rule I have long held in them that have clear light of the Gospel long denial of assurance is like fire to burn out some sin and then the Lord will speak peace Iudg. 10. 16. And therefore take this counsel and God will tell thee thy sin if thou art desirous that he should find it out but get this mercy from him Zach. 13. 9. Bring thy heart to a straight either to reject or receive him to be thine he is offered to be King and Saviour and Lord and Husband now thou shalt have his heart his hand his Spirit his Father his Kingdom his Ordinances his Angels himself if you receive him or else if not you shall lose him and then woe to thee when any mercy any misery any Ordinance befalls thee for all shall suck thy Blood consume thee and fit thee for eternal ruine and then wish Oh that I had taken him but then too late therefore receive him or reject him Oh I cannot that 's another matter However we propound these Evangelical commands that may come with power and therefore know that if they do not now they shall arise again in time SECT II. THis is not all that which makes you ready for Christ unlesse your love is set and fixed on him and therefore look that it be ready I doubt not but that there is glowing in your hearts some love to the Lord it cannot be that all should be quenched that all his kindnesse should be forgotten but remembred many times with some affliction but know it if it be so your lamp is not
of the Spirit of God as that they should never have fallen nor have been able to fall in respect of the assistance of the Spirit He should have been green all the year long his Blossom should not have been blasted his fruit should never have withered And the ground is the Rule of Justice for if he falling all his posterity are forsaken of God and under the reign of sin and death and Satan Rom. 5. 18 21. Then he standing all his posterity should have had the everlasting presence of God and should have bin under the reign of the Spirit of Grace life Thus also the Covenant ran do and live 2. That the Lord Jesus the second Adam standing and rising in the room of all his people hence he doth convey and propâ—gate to all his posterity the immutable and constant assistance and presence of his Spirit whereby being once begotten of him called to him they never afterward depart from him And though weak in themselves yet assisted by this Spirit do not cannot depart wickedly again The Lord Jesus having stood they cannot fall because by vertue of his standing they have this presence of the Holy Ghost Iohn 14. 19. Because I live you shall live also John 6. 57. As the living Father sent me and I live by him c. Christ standing next to the Father lives by him we standing next to Christ live as infallibly by him And I say the ground is Christs standing For though there be many reasons why the Saints can never fall from Christ as the Spirit of Grace Covenant of Grace Intercession of Christ yet the main ground is Christs standing without the least fall from the fulfilling of the first Covenant which we having the first moment of believing kept in Christ hence the Spirit is given and the Covenant of Grace of strength And hence Rom. 5. 21. v. 17 18. And hence the Spirit is said to dwell in Believers Rom. 8. 11. And we are the Temples of the Spirit whether he dwell in them in his person personally the well is here deep but he dwells in theâ— so as he never ceaseth assisting of them so that they cannot depart from the Lord again hence Isa. 59. 21. My Spirit shall not depart from thy Seed Iohn 14. 'T is called the Spirit that abides for ever It knits the soul to the Lord and keeps it so for ever Never suffers that love-knot to be untied again When the soul is weak the Spirit helps him when careless of it self the Spirit keeps him though the soul offers to run from the Lord yet this Spirit follows him though he grieves the Spirit yet this Spirit still keeps his own house will not depart from him and so not suffer the soul to depart from the Lord. And this is the reason why the Saints never fall from the Lord though they have weak Grace poor beginnings many sins and Adam stood noâ— though with the perfect Image of God upon him because he had not this Spirit yet given though he had the Spirit of God yet not this Spirit which some call the Spirit of Adoption given to him because he had not fulfilled the first Covenant which we in Christ have which is not only the ground of our never falling but of assurance we shall never fall For what breaks a mans peace after Faith Apparition of sin in the Conscience What makes that terrible The Law Now when I see in Christ I have kept all things in the Law not only the cry and accusations of the Law and â—in are stilled but also there ariseth a holy boldness and confidence and joy even before the face of an angry God Eph. 3. 12. And as soul and body are ever knit so here c. 3. This Spirit thus assisting no unregenerate man ever hath I speak not now of keeping the soul from falling from Grace but from Christ. 1. Because the Spirit of Satan fills them he is the strong man that keeps the Palace under whose Kingdom and power they are and therefore this Spirit which destroyes the Kingdom of Satan is not in them 2. Because this was a Preâ—ogative that Adam had not though he had great Gifts and Glory otherwise So this is not the Gift which is given unto them 3. Because this ariseth and therefore is given because Christ stood and therefore those he never stood for rose for suffered for never have it 4. Therefore we shall see in experience take the best Professors living though they may come as they and others judged to the Lord and follow the Lord yet they will in time depart somtime outwardly Iohn 6. 64. There be some of you that believe not See them v. 66. And why did thâ—y depart It was not given them of the Faâ—her The Spirit never was given effectually to draw them nor yet to keep them Iâ— not outwardly at leâ—â—t inwardly and hence Hypocrites though they have marvellous affections unto Christ and so have spoke of him and commended him and seemed to be carried above all creatures and duties toward him yet himself and his mercy and his blood becomes a common thing to them and his knowledge and promise common and hence they slight and loath him and mourn not for it and so are so far from being kept close unto Christ as that they are nearer the unpardonable 〈◊〉 then him But all they have is like Ioâ—ahs gourd which suddenly riseth but there is a Worm at the root that pulls it down again And so their love dies to Ministers that Christ sent and to his Truth and Ordinances But if the Spirit doth thus Who then shall be saved for who is there that departs not When I say the Spirit doth so assist the faithful as that they never depart The meaning is not as though the soul should now never fall into any more sin or unbelief for what do the Saints more complain of then their backslidings Isa. 63. 17. Heb. 12. 1. Saints hearts are no sooner raised up but their weights grow heavy and press them down no sooner do they walk in the way but they begin to fall off But when I say so I say three things 1. Their whole heart never departs 2. They do not depart for ever 3. Though they do depart from the Lord yet the Spirit doth not depart from them as it is in common reason the same thing may go either in a straight or crooked line to the same point As a River may run in a straight or crooked line to the Sea So the Saints their springs their hearts being set a running after the Lord though they do not follow him in a straight line so as never to depart to the right hand or left yet they are so kept by the Spirit that they are continually making after him cleaving to him though with many crooked windings of their hearts this way and that way from the Lord. And therefore as it is in a wheel it
SECT VI. OF Confutation of those that think there is not that necessity of the Ministry to convey the Spirit But First think good Books may do the deed and hence can profit as much at home as thereby but these Virgins are not directed to books but persons though there is a good use of Books also Books are but a carkass of the living Word Secondly They that would have it by immediate revelation by elevations of the Soul to God a Familistical principle collected from the Apocrypha speculations of devout Monks received in Gâ—â—many when the Gospel was preached to overthrow it and entertained by the deceitful experiences of some as in London c. she that was conâ—erted by dreams c. indeed we are to look for the Spirit but to look for it without the Word is vile if the Apostles were living these would overthrow their doctrine Object What can man do say many you must look for the living voice of Christ the Word is but a dead letter and will only make you a Iew in letter Answ. If indeed we had only souls and no bodies then we might lay aside our Bibles but seeing it is not so look to the Word thus dispensed hence the Lord saith Hear and your souls shall live these say Hear not c. SECT VII OF Terror to all them that oppose the Ministry of the Lord Jesus and resist it the Holy Ghost being in it you resist the Holy Ghost himself and that not only where he is dropt but most abundantly poured out Acts 7 51 52. How did they resist the Holy Ghost they did but resist men No it was the Holy Ghost there for so he spake those words and the Spirit had some operation upon their hearts by those words Zach. 7. 12. Neh. 9. 30. Sometimes the Spirit puts forth its prerogative power then it is not overcome sometimes words without power and then men resist and overcome it for that is the meaning because all men resist more on less and this is enmity against the Spirit Act. 5. 39. Fighters against God which is a most sad and heavy evil for to be left to that evil to overcome the Comforter himself as he said Is it not enough to grieve man but you must grieve my God also Isa. 7. 13. SECT VIII Quest. BVt who doth resist thus Answ. 1. Some do it by filencing and persecuting of the Ministry of the Spirit which is most grievous When Amos preached against Bethel up steps Amaziah the Priest of Bethel Amos 7. 10. and first makes complaint of him to the King First that he was factious and conspired against the King And secondly That the Land was not able to beaâ— his words that he troubled the Country and Kingdom with his Doctrine viz. That we shall all dye if we receive not his Doctrine and hence he commands him to depart and flee from thence and prophesie no more there but you see what he answers I was a Herdsmaâ— and the Lord called me think not that you oppose a private spirit but the Lord 's that called me And hence see because he did but say so what his sentence is upon his Wife Children himself and upon all Israel Are there not many Amaziah's in these days do they not take the same course is not the same spirit working against the Spirit of God now what will their end be Let a man be never so peaceable in his place blessed in his work if he doth but reach Bethel nay if only the judgements of them the Altars there and Idols there Amos may prophesie in another Land but no more there but what will be the end of this see vers 17. it is a sad speech 1 Thess. 2. 16. Forbiding â—s to preach to the Gentiles that they may be saved for the wrath of God is come upon them to the utmost You know the Jews raised up persecution against them where ever they came but wrath is upon them for it evâ—n to the utmost why look as it is in hell to resist the Gospel ones self is heavy but when in hell there they wish that no others might receive it or that it might not be preached to any other that none might ever know the Lord So it is here it is greater wrath to oppose God in hell than to be opposed of God and the first they are come to Oh but they garnish the Sepulchres of the Prophets and beautifie their Temples and if they had lived in the days of the Prophets they would never oppose them Object But these are other kind of Hot-â—purs and Novices Answ. Matth. 23. 30 35. You shall have Scribes and Wise men and you shall kill them that upon you may come all the blood that ever was spilt and blood they must have who are the open persecutors of the Prophets and Saints of God first or last certainly God is remembring the tears and troubles of his banished distressed Seers 2. Some others by reviling and reproaching of the Ministry for Satan in the hearts of the wicked if he cannot hurt it with his teeth he will seek to destroy it by his tongue how was Paul censured by a company of proud Corinthians that when they had nothing against him almost yet they censure him for his manner of speaking and carriage 2 Cor. 10. 10. His lâ—tters are mighty but his presence base how was Iohn though for a time flock'd after and Christ Jesus himself was thus evilly reputed this was that which brought the total ruine of the Jews viz. mocking at the messengers of God 2 Chron. ult 16. When Paul had perswaded Sergius Paulus and Elymas gainsaid saith Paul Acts 13. 10. Oh full of subâ—ilty and child of the devil enemy to all righteousness why to all because all Grace comes to be wrought here by the Word thou shall be blind How have the Messengers and Ministers in this Country been trampled upon by some who though they have not yet been able to reach them by their power yet by vile reproaches so pursuing most of them that one would stand and wonder at the blindness and boldness not of moral men but Church-members and Professors and at the wrath of God upon them that ever they should be left to be scorners of them of whom the consciences of the vilest cannot but sometime say verily God is with you Yea Grace it sâ—lf hath been pretended to be the weapon by which the Ministers of the Gospel of Christ have been fought against and indeed the vilest opinions usually have been sheltered under Grace that hath been the Kings colours which the enemies of the Kingdom of Christ have lifted up to deceive for in places of profession not merit and works old shooes c. but Grace and Christ Matth. 24. 24. are most fit to deceive And hence if Ministers have perswaded men to believe and receive the Gospel what can we do say many God must do all if evidences and signs of a good estate
time to come agree with him now he sits on a throne of Mercy in Heaven if thou wouldst not be put to shame then Oh be ashamed for all sins now if not judged then then condemn and judge thy self now the Lord looks for no more Oh welcome him as King into thy heart as his Kingdom CHAP. XVII Of Christs coming as a Bridegroom to his own SECT I. THat the Lord Iesus Christ shall come as a Bridegroom to his 〈◊〉 people at his Second coming that as it is said of the Sun â—â— ariseth as a Bridegroom out of his chamber and rejoyceth c. so will the Lord arise upon the world at this day Psal. 19. 5. This Point will be cleared and proved by opening the several degrees wherein he will manifest himself to be a Bridegroom then to his people not but that Christ is a Bridegroom to his people now but then he shall be so also in a more eminent manner and then the perfect accomplishment of all First then theâ—re shall be a personal meeting between his Spouse and himself as it is in mariage before the mariage iâ— consummated there are the friends of the Bridegroom and Spokesmen and he sends letters and tokens but then he comes himself so here Christ sends his Spokesmen 2 Cor. 11. 2. and his word and spiritual refreshings but when this time comes he appears himself in person and both meet in person 1 Thâ—ss 4. 16 17. here we meet the Lord spiritually in his Ordinances but then visibly in the clouds while we live in this world it is a time of parting 2 Cor. 5. 8. and when we come to dye in respect of the whole man it is so also but then the whole man shall meet him these eyes shall see him and those arms shall imbrace him you are left as Orphans here in this world alone it will not alway be thus for there is a time of meeting Secondly Then all deformities shall be taken away from his people and he shall adorn his Bride in perfect beauty for this is one part of Christs conâ—ugal love to his Spouse and People Ephes. 5. 25. different from other Husbands who finde but do not make them beautiful for if the Lord should meet his people and they him with their deformities they would do it unwillingly and with shame as in this life why are Saints unwilling yet to be with the Lord viz. because there be so many deformities and spots abiding on the Spouse sometimes the soul would not have Christ and such a heart too though he offers himself to it Lord depart I am a sinâ—ul man Luk. 5. 8. Oh but then all deformities shall be removed Phil. 3. ult Who shall change our vile bodies not destroy them and make them like his glorious body which shines brighter than the Sun Matth. 13. 43. Then shall the righteous shine like the Sun is there any beauty like that of Christs then shall they be like unto him 1 Ioh. 3. 2. it is a dishonor for a mighty Prince on the day of mariage to let his Queen go in rags they shall be Christs then And look as it was with Ioseph all his shame baseness imprisomeâ—ts did but â—ake way for his glory and hence he was delivered out of prison by the Kings command now his apparel and countenance and name and estate and all is changed so here all your sheme imprisonment in the grave-chains of sins that enter into your soul doth but make way for this certain glory As it was with Iehosuah Satan stood at his right hand to accuse him he only stands before the Lord at last the Lord saith Take off these filthy garments is not this a brand So Satan and Conscience accuse often here but then it shall be so that all thy filthy garments shall be taken away Thirdly Then there shall be an open manifestation and glorious declaration of the dearest love of the Lord toward them before the great day of mariage comes there is love expressed concluded between the parties and it may be some few know of it as Friends and some of the Family but the open declaration is at the day of mariage so Christ loves his people now c. and will not only love them then but openly declare his love before all the world Come ye blessed he shall declare then his own love Matth. 10. 32. Luke 12 8. He that hath made it his glory to confess Christ in a holy life Christ will confess him before God and before Angels and so before all the world Men in great place will not know their poor friends especially in open places but the Lord Jesus will and he will divulge the Fathers love to them also Act 3. 19. You blessed of the Father Ioh. 17. 22 23 24. I have given them that glory united them and made them flesh of my flesh that the world may know thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me Here the Lord doth love his people dearly but it is not so known the Sun shines on good and bad the world hates and persecutes them as Hypocrites civil men think them like themselves worldlings think them as little loved as any their estates thrive not Hypocrites bear a base esteem of them and if they love them 't is because they love them Saints themselves many times suspect them or if not yet they judge as well of others as them nay it may be they are so disfigured sometimes by those sores that break out of them that they know not themselves but now the Lord will openly declare his love to them and to all the world besides These are the men which I have born on my brest and caried on my shoulders for whom I have built and planted Churches and destroyed enemies and trod the wine-press alone and prefered above mine own life and blood and glory whose hairs have been numbred by me whose walls have been continually before me No greater misery to a holy heart than this Psal. 42. 10. Where is now thy God So when conscience saith and men say it here Oh what a mercy is it that then it shall be heard I am now come to comfort thee Fourthly Then they shall be brought into actual possession and fruition of all the glory promised unto them of all their inheritance and portion Before mariage there be promises made of such an estate but when the day is come then they come to actual and full possession of it and become equal possessors of the estate so much in this life the Lord doth promise to possess his people of there be promises of peace redemption victory and triumph over all enemies fellowship with God and all the Saints and Angels together an incorruptible inheritance and now they shall enter into possession of all these nay all that Christ hath signified by that word Kingdom Matth. 25. Come and take the kingdom prepared for you 1 Cor. 15. 54. Then shall be broughâ— to pass