Christ neuer rest vntill you become strong in Christ nay if you bee in Christ you will not rest till you come to some perfection in him 2. Pet. 1.5 Ioyne therfore vnto your vertue faith with faith knowledge with knowledge temperance with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse and with godlinesse brotherly kindnesse for if these bee in you they will make you neither vnfruitfull nor vnprofitable Keepe then thy grace in an honest heart and it will encrease like the Widdowes oyle in the Cruise and meale in the Barrell till thou come to be a perfect man in Christ Iesus The markes of an vpright heart is vniuersall obedience Now wee are come to the last part of this blessed mans delight and that is said here to bee in the Commandements and therefore that we may make sure worke in this regard let vs try our sincerity by the good effects that doe euer accompany the same The first note therefore of a sound heart which wee should take for our tryall is to bee vniuersall in our desires and in our practise that wee haue respect to euery Commandement of God Psal 119.8 to the first table as well as to the second and to the second as well as to the first that we bee righteous towards men as well as religious towards God that wee looke to our hearts as well to our actions and to our actions as well as to our hearts Contrary to this rule is the dealing of those that will giue dispensations vpon themselues for many things so that they can make a shew of some things what if we be not so liberall to the poore say they yet we are no swearers nor blasphemers what if wee take a little liberty these are but trifles wee will not bee adulterers nor filthy speakers c this is a shrewd signe of a heart full fraught with guile and deceit The property of a good conscience is to bee willing and desirous in all things to walke honestly Heb. 13.18 if one be neuer so strickt in hearing Sermons and abstaining from swearing yet if he will helpe himselfe with a lye now and then for his commodity and if a man bee neuer so rigorous and seuere for matters of Iustice against others yet will dispense with himselfe in a corner thinking that the name of a Professor and reputation of the brotherhood will beare him out this is an argument of a false and dissembling heart therfore this must be taken heed of as being very dangerous Therefore that we may not deceiue our selues in this one tryall the sincere and honest heart as our Sauiour calls it is that which cherisheth hatred of all sin without exception and carrieth a constant purpose and resolution in nothing willingly to sinne against God but to endeauour it selfe to the vtmost in euery good way of Gods Commandements Whatsoeuer it shall know to be a sinnes it will not purposely and deliberately do it for al the world this note the Prophet Dauid giueth for hauing said Psal 119.3 Blessed are the vpright in their way hee teacheth vs to discerne them by this note Surely they doe no iniquity With my whole heart haue I sought thee saith Dauid Psal 119.10 suffer mee not to wander from thy Commandements Insinuating thereby that such as doe not seeke God with their whole hearts that is in singlenes of heart vnfainedly God will suffer them to wander in crooked blind wayes and that fearefully irrecouerably To the like purpose is that in the same Psalme Let my heart be vpright in thy statutes that I may neuer be ashamed And although Saint Iames say Iam. 3.3.2 In many things we offend all yet wee must resolue our selues to leaue all sin For if we liue lie but in one sin that one sin is sufficiēt to presse vs down to hel Can. 4.7 therfore the spouse is said to haue no spot in her for if she had but one spot then were she not beautiful in his eyes let the walls of the City bee neuer so strong if there be one breach the enemy will enter in and sacke the City if a strong ship do but leake in one place it will be drowned a beast which is caught in the snare but by one leg cannot escape one Flie falling into the Apothecaries boxe will spoyle the whole oyntment 2. Sam. 15. Let vs remember Saul and forget not our owne soules God cōmanded him vtterly to destroy the Amalekites he sparing but some of them was cast off from God his Kingdome rent from him our sinnes are the sinnes of the Amalekites which God cōmandeth vs to destroy we must kill them all and spare none lest God forsake vs so we lose a better Kingdom then euer Saul found For Iam. 2.10 Iam. 1.17 Heb. 12.1 Whosoeuer shal keep the whole Law yet offend in one point he is guilty of all for pure religion and vndefiled is to keep our selues vnspotted of the world Let vs therfore cast euery sin away which is as great weight This discouers many to be lewd and dissolute persons when the Commandements are distastfull vnto them and lay aside euery sin with which we are beset First this serueth for the discouery of many to be the sonnes of Beliall lawlesse lewd and dissolute persons to whom nothing is more grieuous then Gods gouernement and nothing more distastfull then the Commandements of the Lord Gods Word is like hard meate lying heauy vpon the stomacke that cannot easily bee digested those precepts giuen for the ordering of our waies Sweare not at all Mat. 5.34 sanctifie my Sabboth they are hard sayings who can endure them nay they could wish they were rased out of the booke and there were no such iniunction debar them from swearing you were as good sowe vp their lippes keepe them from their sports on the Sabbath day why then take away their liues nay they cannot nor will not bee so straight laced their sports they must follow their pleasures they must take and no day fitter then that thus Sampson like they break Gods Lawes like twind threds and say Depart from vs wee will none of thy wayes Let all such then know that pretend what they will they are but lawlesse persons children of Belial who desire nothing more then to be from vnder Gods Commandements and to cast his yoke from off their necks therefore I may truely say that where the Sabbath is not sanctified there is neither sound Religion nor a Christian conuersation How God esteemeth the sanctification of the Sabbath may appeare by the exact deliuery of the Commandements for he hath fenced it about like Mount Sinai Exod. 19.12 with markes and bounds at the deliuery of the Law that no prophanenesse might approach neere vnto you first by his watch-word Remember secondly Exo. 20.8 9 by his bounty sixe dayes thou shalt labour and doe all that thou hast to doe thirdly
are thine euen all things are thine and thou art Christs and Christ is Gods onely stand fast in thy faith quit thy selfe like a man and bee strong gird thy sword vpon thy thigh buckle fast to thee the whole armour of God ride on because of the word of truth Psal 45.3 and the Lord thy God bee with thee breake through for a while with vndanted courage the bitternesse of the worlds malice the keene razours of empoysoned tongs the teares and tediousnes of a few wretched daies for thou art neerer the prize of the high calling thē when thou first beleeuedst shine more and more in faith in patience in loue in knowledge in obedience and all other christian graces vntill the perfect day vntill thou reach the height of heauen and the full glory of the Saints of God A true mark of our repētance if we haue left our euill wayes to serue the liuing God First here is matter of great consolation for vs for hereby wee may gather assurance vnto our owne hearts of the soundnesse of our repentance and conuersion to the Lord if we haue indeede turned from our euill wayes to serue the liuing God so that we delight in the commandements therefore they may take this for their comfort who are still proposing of good questiōs what they must do and how they must do it by what meanes they may get out of this or that sinne and attaine to such or such a grace how they may bee profitable helpfull and comfortable to themselues and others this was the practise of the Publicans and Souldiers and all sorts that were inwardly touched in their consciences by the preaching of Iohn Baptist Luk. 3.10 euery one of them came vnto him saying What must we do and of the Iayler who when once hee began to be humbled came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas saying Act. 18.29.30 What must I doe to be saued For howsoeuer Gods seruants haue learned for the most part what things in general must be done yet still they need to bee enformed in many things therefore if wee truely repent vs of our sinnes the Lord wil neeuer leaue vs till all our iniquities bee quite remoued from vs for they that turne to the Lord by true repentance the Lord will wash them from all their sinnes by the bloud of his Sonne that whatsoeuer offences we repent of wee shal be sure to haue thē pardoned Secondly God accepteth of penitent persons the wil for the deed as for the fulfilling of the law in absolute perfection If we haue a willing mind to performe our duty the Lord will accept the will for the deed that Christ alone hath performed he hath paid our debt and cancelled the bond and taken away the hand-writing that was against vs now this onely remaineth for vs that we haue a good inclination and a willing mind to performe our duty and labor to the vtmost of our strength so to do seeing and bewailing our manifold imperfections errors faylings in euery one of our seruices which if wee can doe God will bee as well pleased with vs through his beloued sonne as if wee had kept the whole law without any declining from it at al eyther to the right hand or to the left That which is spoken in the matter of communicating vnto the necessities of the Saints in the Epistle to the Corinthians to wit if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath Cor 2.8.12 not according to that he hath not holdeth as true in all other seruices that wee are accepted with the Lord according as we are inwardly affected albeit our actions bee not answerable to our desires for hee that hath a ready minde to what hee can and doth the same would bee as ready to doe a great deale more if his ability did serue and therefore the Lord will shew his gracious acceptance of that which is done by him though it be neuer so little as well as if it had beene a matter of a farre greater worth Now that the true purpose and intent of the heart is that which God principally regardeth in his seruants is plainly proued out of holy Scripture for we may reade in Genesis what God saith of Abraham Gen. 22.7 By my selfe haue I sworne saith the Lord because thou hast done this thing and not spared thine only son therefore I will surely blesse thee and yet Isaac was not slaine but Abraham withdrew his hand from him and spared him yet because hee was content to kill him and made all things ready for the sacrificing of him God accounts it as good and rewardeth it as wel as if he had killed him indeed So Dauid had but a purpose to build the temple 1. Chron. 17 1. 1. Kin. 8.16 which worke was afterward layd vpon Salomon and by him performed yet the Lord giueth him a good testimony and large reward for his readinesse that way hee was content to spare him because he had beene at great paines before in shedding the bloud of many enemies of the Church and some remained yet still to be subdued by him yet this he telleth him for his comfort whereas it was in thine heart to build an house vnto my name 1. Chro. 17.10.11.12 thou diddest well that thou wert so minded and besides this he biddeth Nathan to carry him this message that the Lord would build him an house and would raise vp seed after him and employ his sonne in that honourable seruice of building an house vnto the name of the Lord and that hee would establish his throne for euer and therefore if we can beleeue that hee is pleased with our good actions we may as well bee perswaded that hee is delighted with good our motions and holy desires that are stirred vp in our hearts by his owne spirit And the reason why God taketh such small things in good worth is Psal 103.13 because hee is both in name and nature a father Mal. 3.17 yea an heauenly father and therfore hath compassion of those that feare him now hee that is a most mercifull and wise and louing father as those will be most mercifull to others that haue tasted most of Gods mercy to themselues when he seeth that his child doth as well as he can though it be but simply and poorely yet hee will shew his liking of it commend him for it and so will God deale with vs though wee cannot doe things perfitly yet if we doe them obediently hee will shew his loue and approbation of vs and of our workes When a little child doth cheerefully ayme and shoot at the marke which his father proposeth vnto him though by reason of his weaknesse he shoot very wide and short yet it is well accepted of his father as if hee did hit the white and the like fatherly dealing shall we finde in God that if wee bee faithfull in a
of any thing in this life that he feareth Sweete is the fountaine to the weary traueller and rest to the tyred seruant comfortable is the coole euening after a hot Sunny day yet much more sweet will it be to the Saints of this heauēly citie to haue peace after warre pleasure after paine ioy after trouble and constant securitie after their so long endured sorrowes then shall we blessed indeed as here the Prophet sayth If one Sunne can lighten and fill the whole world with his brightnesse Dan. 3.12 Mat. 13 43 what shall so many glorified bodies of the blessed appeare that shall bee as so many Sunnes so many Lampes and so many shining Lights in heauen then shall we blessed indeed when we shall be like vnto God 1. Ioh. 3.2 1. Cor. 13. which by nature is blessed and we shall bee like vnto God when we shall see him as he is for this only sight of God is our whole happinesse O what a ioy shall it bee when at one view wee shall behold the most high and hidden mystery of the inseparable Trinity and of the loue of God therein then shall mans minde haue perpetuall rest and peace neither shall it desire any further vnderstanding when he hath all before his eyes that may be vnderstood then shall mans will bee quiet when hee enioyeth that felicitie wherein all other good things as in the fountaine of all happinesse are contained then shall faith haue her perfect worke and hope shall enioy that which shee long desired but charity shall endure for euer then shall bee sung continuall prayses vnto the Lambe Reu. 14.3 and the song although it be alwayes song yet it shall be euer new the ioy mirrh melody pleasure power wealth riches honour beauty fellowship dainties odors glory wisedome knowledge treasure securities peace quietnesse and eternall felicitie is beyond al vnderstanding and comprehension of man which the faithfull shall haue and enioy world without end with God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost with Angels and Arch-Angels Patriarkes and Prophets with the Apostles Euangelists with the Martyrs and Confessors and with the Saints of God in the pallace of the Lord in heauen there shall bee an euerlasting Sabaoth which no euening shal end then shall the geneartion of the righteous bee fully blessed There we shall rest and we shal see No content but in the kingdome of heauen we shall see and we shall loue we shall loue and we shall praise Behold saith Augustine That which is the end is without end For what other end is there ordained for the godly but to attaine to that Kingdome wich hath no end Wee call Paradise our Country and the Patriarkes our Fathers and the Saints our brethren and friends Why runne we not then with all speede to enioy our country and salute our Parents a great number of our friends and kinsfolkes brethren and children doe there attend wishing and expecting our comming what ioy will it bee both to them and vs there to meete one another what pleasures are there amongst the inhabitants of heauen which now feare death no more and are sure to liue for euer Those whose vnderstandings are darkened cannot see their happinesse Wo to the blindnesse of our eyes that see not this woe to the deafnesse of our eares that heare not this in such wise as a we should doe where through we might be so farre from fearing death that rather we should wish it with old Simeon Luke 2.29 Now let thy seruant depart in peace Psal 42.2 and with Dauid when shall I come and appeare before thee that we may be blessed for euermore Thirdly If true faith were placed in our hearts feare would vanish away if true knowledge and faith possest our hearts as they should feare and doubtfulnesse would vanquish quite away for assurance of heauenly things maketh vs willing to part with earthly he cannot contemne this life that knoweth not the other if wee would despise this world we must thinke of the glorious life that followeth it and if wee can endure paine for health much more should wee abide a few pangs for glory how foolish are we to feare a vanquished enemy Christ hath triumphed ouer death it bleedeth as it were and gaspeth vnder vs Death being conquered wee should desire to bee dissolued to be with Christ yet do we tremble it is enough that Christ dyed neither would he haue dyed but that we might dye with safety and pleasure how truely may we say of this our Dauid thou art worth ten thousand of vs yea worth a world of Angels yet he dyed for vs who would therefore liue that knowes his Sauiour dyed Who can be a Christian and would not bee like him that would not dye after him let vs thinke of this and iudge whether all the world can hire vs to die But alas great is our vnbeliefe full faint and weake is our faith or else night and day teares and cries should bee our meate and drinke whilst the wicked say vnto vs Where is now your God Psal 42.3 We should wish rather to be doore-keepers in the house of God Psal 84.10 then to dwell in these vngodly tents For one day in his Courts is better then a thousand it is a token of little loue to God to be so loath to goe vnto him when hee calleth herein wee ought to lament the weakenesse of our faith and seeing our wants to prepare for remedy against the time of neede and to beg of God his aide strength and comfort against the pinch which things vndoubtly if we aske in faith we shall obtaine and find his promise true God reacheth out his hand to conduct vs but wee draw backe our owne and runne away when hee calleth vs if hee bring vs into the way of saluation wee mourne for the World and we looke behinde vs with Lots Wife and hinder our desire of well doing wee must therefore rouze vp ourselues and not remaine still in the mire we must be fortified in this vertue who supporteth and comforteth vs in all distresse Lastly to conclude let vs attempt to despise corruptible things and to desire heauenly and eternall when God calleth at euery occasion let vs hearken vnto him if he be our Guide we must follow him for to arriue in his house let vs receiue his benefit and himselfe too for hee giues himselfe vnto vs in the person of his sonne hee causeth vs to see the meanes how to come vnto him wee must therefore request him to bestow vpon vs will and desire to come thither by Faith Repentance Hope c. And that hee would mainetaine his gifts and graces in vs to the end that heere wee may mourne in this mortall life and attend in the assurance of his mercy for the end of this world and our last day which shal bee the beginning of our true life when wee are to receiue an inheritance not mortall but immortall not earthly but heauenly not like the Goord of Ionas Ionas 4.7 but the Caeders of Libans Deut. 8.4 not like the garments in Egypt Gen. 3.7 but in the Wildernes not like the morning dew but the waters of Paradise Ephes 6.16 not Aprons of Fig-leaues but the Helmet of saluation Gen. 5.14 not like Iacobs Pottage which hee sold but the birth-right which hee bought 2. King 2.11 not a Tabernacle but a Temple not time but eternity not like an abortiue child but like Henoch and Elias which neuer tasted of death beseeching God our heauenly Father for his sonne Christ his sake to keepe vs soules and bodies to his kingdome and glory and to leade vs order vs and dispose of vs as he will in all things in all places and for euer that at the length we may come whether wee would that is into his owne blessed presence and fruition of immortality with Christ and his Saints world without end Amen FINIS